Hong Kong: Algernon Yau promotes HK in Dubai Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau has been attending the World Governments Summit 2024 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Mr Yau met yesterday and today with local government officials and representatives from various organisations to promote co-operation. Today he met Chief Executive Officer of Economic Development at the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism Hadi Badri, Executive Director of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone Ahmad Hamza, and Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority Arif Amiri. Mr Yau gave them updates on Hong Kongs latest developments and business opportunities, and exchanged views with them on various economic matters. Under the theme Shaping Future Governments, the three-day event, which started yesterday, is being attended by more than 4,000 participants. The summit provides a platform for leaders from governments and international organisations, as well as from private enterprises around the globe, to discuss innovative solutions to future challenges. This story has been published on: 2024-02-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Azernews Abbas Ganbay Sometimes, in the realm of diplomacy, being a peace broker does not work out for all parties. For example, although the intention of the European Union mission in Armenia to create peace in the South Caucasus and particularly with Azerbaijan seems convincing, there are nevertheless secret goals behind the issue. However, those goals are known only to the EU. While its internal problems are overwhelming, the European Union has decided to entrench itself on Armenia's borders under the guise of democracy and protection of freedoms. Although the EU appointed this mission on the borders of Armenians ostensibly to protect them from an alleged possible attack from Azerbaijan, the violations still come from the former. The EU monitoring mission in Armenia, with over 200 employees with 200 binoculars and more than 2000 patrols, has not seen any attempt at violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It should be noted that in recent days, it has become known that the EU mission on the Armenian border is engaged in espionage against Azerbaijan. The new was confirmed following a Czech citizen who was detained while crossing the border from Armenia on the Azerbaijani side. Also, the European Union Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Peter Mihalko, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in connection with serious concerns about the activities of the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) observers. We have repeatedly written about the suspicious activities of this EU mission near the border with Azerbaijan. The activities of the mission are not transparent, the Armenian public is not informed about the main activities of the mission in the country, and perhaps it is related to some authorities in Armenia. On the one hand, the EU wanted to put pressure on Azerbaijan with initiatives to impose sanctions against it; on the other hand, the EU is looking at Azerbaijan's energy, oil, and gas sectors. By establishing observation posts over Armenian territory, the EU is essentially serving its own political agenda, which includes targeting Russian forces throughout the region. It was brought to the EU's attention that the mission has essentially become an agent of "binocular diplomacy," facilitating visits by various European officials and unofficial delegations to the border regions. Indeed, as the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan noted, "all such visits, without exception, are used to spread unjustified Azerbaijanophobia." It was noted that the recent case of preventing an attempt to illegally cross the EUMA zone of responsibility casts a serious shadow on the stated tasks of the mission. Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated in a series of consultations with EU representatives that the presence of the EU mission in Armenia should not serve as a pretext for avoiding the fulfilment of the obligations undertaken. Abuse of the presence of this mission affects the process of normalisation of relations between the neighbours, including the process of border delimitation, which should be carried out on a bilateral basis, and the EU understands this well and is not acting dangerously for Azerbaijan but for itself. Let us recall that in Prague on October 6, 2022, Azerbaijan agreed to the deployment of an EU monitoring mission to Armenia, hoping that it would help the process of normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan. However, despite the clearly defined parameters and objectives of the mission agreed upon at the highest level, the monitoring mission's activities have been accompanied by serious deviations from the agreements reached in Prague due to the biased approach of some EU member states. Although AR PM Nikol Pashinyan, in his own manner, stated in a recent interview that "I will do everything to establish peace in our region," the actions of the monitoring mission tell a different story. Only they and their patrons know what they are looking at through their binoculars. Let us also recall that the head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Vasilis Maragos, said that one of the reasons why Brussels focused on Zangazur (Syunik) is that "the Armenian authorities approached us with this issue after the 2020 war, and from the local authorities of Syunik, we received a very clear concept and a very clear vision". In addition to the fact that the West has tried and is trying to hinder the peace process in the South Caucasus, they are also trying to create a space for themselves in the region through Armenia due to geopolitical and geostrategic purposes. Armenia is so into the sweet promises of the West that it is already ignoring its long-time ally, Russia. However, Yerevan is well aware that its borders are completely under the control of the Kremlin, and this is a reality that will not change for it even if Armenia leaves the CSTO. Denver is facing a migrant surge and officials have opted to slash $5 million from public services funds following the falling apart of the border deal. During Mayor Mike Johnston's first six months in office, he managed to get more than 1,200 homeless people off the streets and into housing. That development seemed like a fitting feat for a city that prided itself on its compassion for people. Denver's Migrant Surge However, it would turn out to be a footnote compared with the humanitarian crisis that the city would soon face. This was as thousands of migrants flooded the region, many of whom were bused from the southern border by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Nearly all of them are in need of shelter and support. As of last month, Denver, which has a population of 750,000, had received nearly 40,000 migrants, which is the most per capita of any city in the United States. This comes even as the flow of migrants slowed in the deep chill of winter, as per the New York Times. Furthermore, the city has begun to feel the same sort of strains that have confronted New York and Chicago as they contended with their own surge of migrants. Denver, which is the state capital and the center of a sprawling metropolitan area of more than 3 million people, has already spent over $42 million on asylum seekers. Read Also: FBI Arrests Tennessee Man for Planning Attack on US Southern Border If expenditures continue at their current rate of $3.5 million per week, the crisis could cost the city nearly $180 million this year, which is 10% or more of its annual budget. Officials have started to discharge dozens of families from hotels that they rented to house them temporarily. This created fresh hardship for those who were being displaced, as they no longer had shelter of their own. This week, the city will also start imposing a first round of budget cuts unrelated to migrant services, the first being with reductions in parks and motor vehicle services. Slashing Public Services Funds A Denver public school teacher said that they are already 100 students over projection, adding that new students are coming in weekly. She said that they are already past the October count, which means that every new student that they get, they do not have funds to provide them with resources, according to Fox News. The city's mayor laid the blame for the situation on Republican lawmakers and former United States President Donald Trump over the failure to pass the latest border deal. He said that the decision by GOP members in Congress to kill the bipartisan border deal will have a devastating impact on his city. Johnston's latest announcement follows another decision last month to divert $25 million from the city budget to the migrant crisis. That particular plan included pulling $10 million from a contingency fund and $15 million from a building remodel. He said that he is incredibly proud of how city team members have stepped up over the last year. However, he noted that it was clear that the federal government was not going to support his city, said Yahoo News. Related Article: Migrant Arrests at Arizona Bus Stop Following Times Square Police Attack Was Mistake, ICE Admits HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police have released new details about a deadly crash that occurred on Route 220 in Henry County on Monday morning. State police said the collision occurred around 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 12, when 44-year-old Joshua Brandon Verno, of Bassett, was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry south Route 220 when he changed lanes and lost control. Original Story: Crash on US-220 in Henry County now cleared, detour lifted VSP said the Toyota then crossed into the northbound lanes and was hit by a Chrysler van. Verno died at the scene. Troopers said the driver of the van was taken to the hospital for treatment. The crash shut down US-220 for hours and a detour was set in place as crews worked on the scene. Once the crash was cleared, all lanes were reopened. The crash remains under investigation; however, VSP said Verno was not wearing his seatbelt. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. From high school class clown to disillusioned college graduate to anti-establishment murder suspect, the radicalization of Justin Mohn can be traced for decades in his now deleted online writings, music, social media posts and a string of court documents. Before the 32-year-old Levittown man allegedly killed and beheaded his father, Michael Mohn, 68, and issued an online "call to arms" for bloody revolution on Jan. 30, Mohn complained that his status as an over-educated white man was keeping him from achieving his American dream as a financially secure artist. After graduating college in 2014, Mohn appeared to find enemies in his family, employers, law enforcement and the federal court system all cogs in a Satanic machine aimed at eroding if not destroying any remnants of the social contract that founded America. His growing resentment over his inability to achieve the success to which he believed he was entitled reshaped his world view, which he shared with thousands in a YouTube video complete with the display of his father's severed head, fueling his self-image from American victim to savior. The man who police say killed and then went to mobilize troops in his fight to take back America now sits in Bucks County prison charged with murder and other offenses including three counts of terrorism, in the crime that shocked the world last month. Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn, left, speaks to the media alongside Chief Deputy District Attorney - Chief of Child Abuse Prosecution, Matthew S. Lannetti, center, and other law enforcement partners while showing the mugshot of Justin Mohn in the background at the press conference about the Mohn murder case at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown on Friday, Feb.2, 2024. Daniella Heminghaus | Bucks County Courier Times What conspiracy theorists say about Mohn Fed or patsy: Conspiracy theorists converge on beheading murder. Why that's not uncommon. What happened to Justin Mohn in Colorado: How it shaped his beliefs After Mohn failed to find full-time jobs in Bucks County after his 2014 graduation from Penn State University, in 2015 he settled in Colorado Springs, known as the City of Millionaires, and quickly landed a job in a call center for $13 an hour. It didnt last long, and Mohn, a Neshaminy High School graduate who took the award as runnerup class clown, began a string of short-term jobs that left him struggling to afford his $165-a-month student loan payments for two years until they were reduced through an income-driven repayment plan. Three months after moving to Colorado, Mohn released the first in a series of self-published books with mostly violent dystopian, anti-government conspiracy themes. A year after his move, Mohn landed his best paying job yet. As a customer service representative for Progressive Insurance he made $16 an hour, according to court documents. Within months, though, another hint of his growing frustrations appeared. Mohn contacted the Colorado Springs Police Department in May 2017 requesting they investigate an incident where he felt he was being discriminated against, department spokesman Ira Cronin said. The report offered no additional details, he said. Shortly after he contacted police, Mohn started asking about other company openings, but was not promoted or moved to the IT or copywriting jobs he sought, according to emails associated with his lawsuits. In later court documents Mohn accused his supervisors of holding him back with the intent of destroying my livelihood. He claimed he was overlooked ... because of my learning pace being too fast and my overqualifications (sic) and overeducation for such a role. In an email, Mohn warned supervisors he could sue if he was terminated. He also vowed to use his publishing capability to publicly reveal (Progressives) violations of its core values as well as civil rights or labor law violations. Shortly after, the company suspended him, then terminated him for kicking open an office door. He would say he didn't intend any harm that as a socer player he "always" opened doors with his feet, according to court documents. In September, 2017, a month after he was terminated, Mohn released his first music album, The Story of Humanity which features songs like Gaslight and Zersetzung, a psychological technique used to repress political opponents in East Germany. Justin Mohn, who is a suspect in the murder and beheading of his father, Michael Mohn on January 30, 2024 Justin Mohn comes to the attention of the FBI; lawsuits begin In 2018, Mohns social media posts caught the attention of the FBI, after its National Threat Operations Center received a tip about concerning content. It was the first of four tips the FBI investigated involving Mohn, but found no evidence of illegal activity or imminent threat requiring further action, said spokesman Ned Conway. Later in 2018 Mohn took action, making good on his promise to sue Progressive. He filed a claim in Colorados U.S. District Court, alleging gender-based job discrimination. Less than a year later, in 2019, he was handed another defeat when Senior U.S. District Judge Marcia S. Krieger found in favor of Progressive Krieger wrote that Mohn often provided no or little evidence to support his claims he was terminated based on gender or that the women were given preferential treatment. A handful of women in his training class were paid the same as him, while several other women and the only other man in Mohns class were paid more, according to the lawsuit. Putting aside the question of whether Mr. Mohns actions did or could have damaged the door or injured anyone standing nearby, it is entirely permissible for an employer to decide that an employee who occasionally opens doors in such an unorthodox way is not an employee they wish to retain, Krieger wrote. The Mohn home of 145 Upper Orchard Dr. and the Upper Orchard neighborhood where a beheading took place the night prior in Middletown Township on Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. Daniella Heminghaus | Bucks County Courier Times Justin Mohn returns to Levittown After four years in Colorado, Mohn was back to part-time work, this time at a sandwich shop making $8 an hour plus tips. He lasted two months. He complained in later legal filings his dire financial situation forced him to leave Colorado, owing more than $4,600 in rent. After moving back to his parents home in the Upper Orchard section of Levittown in the summer of 2019, Mohn contacted Middletown police alleging someone at Progressive threatened him. He reported it so there would be a record, police said. Middletown Township Police Chief Joe Bartorilla speaks at the press conference about the Mohn murder case at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown on Friday, Feb.2, 2024. Daniella Heminghaus | Bucks County Courier Times In early 2020 he found temporary work as a client representative for a Bristol mortgage company earning $14 an hour. He lasted less than a month. But he kept himself busy, appealing the Progressive decision in Colorados Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected it, too. He also wrote three more books in 2020 including Second Messiah: King of the Earth, which Mohn called a dark comedy book not meant to offend anyone, on his now suspended Facebook page. The plot appears to be a fictionalized account of Mohns time in Colorado. The protagonist, Buster Moon, leaves his small Ohio town at the behest of a father who is verbally abusive and a mother who hardly intervenes. Buster moves to Colorado where he ends up working for Chaos Insurance earning $14 an hour, less than he was hoping for. In one scene, Mohn described Chaos managers, many of whom are deformed midgets forming a circle and chanting, before pulling out knives and cutting their hands and drinking each other's blood. Incest, incest, incest, demons, demons, demons, the demons chanted. One by one, the new employees stood up and joined one of the three groups of either dip(expletive), demons, or dogs, until only Buster Moon remained seated. The site director spoke. It seems everyone fits in with our culture except this young man. Justin Mohn decides the federal government is to blame for his finances, underemployment His Progressive lawsuit dead, Justin Mohn had a new scapegoat for his troubles the federal government, which would be the target in his call to arms years later in his online rant in the YouTube video after the murder. In March 2022 he filed the first of two lawsuits alleging negligence and misrepresentation against the U.S Department of Education and its Secretary. In a 450-page petition, Mohn argued that the federal government deceived him and his parents when it failed to warn them that as an overeducated white male he would be unable to find a satisfactory job after college to repay his student loans. He sought $10 million in damages, the same amount Mohn, on his Jan. 30 YouTube video, would claim he possessed to pay out the bounties he offered on federal officials and judges. A federal judge dismissed the suit two months later. But Mohn wasnt ready to admit defeat. In August 2022, he filed what he called Mohn II, against the same defendants in a lawsuit that largely mirrored his original one. This time, Mohn argued that had he prevailed against Progressive, he wouldnt need to sue the federal government for relief. He also implied that the federal government ultimately was to blame for his situation. The District Court of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit seem to believe that in the eyes of the EEOC affirmative action laws, Progressive and other employers are allowed and encouraged to harass, discriminate and wrongfully terminate white men in order to level the playing field, Mohn wrote in the lawsuit. This taught plaintiff that the true wrongdoing came from the federal government, not Progressive. Justin Mohn of Levittown is captured in this screenshot of the gruesome YouTube video he allegedly made after beheading his father in Levittown on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Another lawsuit, another book, and Justin Mohns last stand After his second lawsuit was dismissed in December 2022, Mohn appealed in Pennsylvanias Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Once again, the court system rejected his arguments. But Mohn stood his ground, taking aim at a new target: U.S. Attorneys Office and U.S. Attorney General who he sued for negligence. At this point, Mohn was working as a flower delivery man in Philadelphia, where his conduct and radical beliefs targeting women and the LGTBQ community were making his coworkers uncomfortable, authorities said. Last year his employer contacted Middletown police about Mohn and concerns about the content in his online books and seeking advice on how to fire him. Before the end of the year, Mohn got an answer on his latest lawsuit. In a December opinion dismissing it, U.S. Eastern Court Judge Mark Kearney wrote: Mr. Mohns negligence claim premised on an alleged fiduciary duty of the United States owed to him as a borrower, explaining a creditordebtor relationship does not give rise to a fiduciary duty, Kearney wrote. But he is back. Mr. Mohn cannot state a claim for negligence, Kearney added. The United States as a lender through the student loan program does not have a duty to him as a borrower. Mohn named Kearney in his YouTube video, where he offered $100,00 bounties on the heads of federal judges, and responded to the judges opinion. Judge Kearney also recently wrote in Mohn versus the United States that the federal government has no duty to care for its own citizens eroding, if not destroying, any remnants of the social contract, which was one of the key ideologies behind the Declaration of Independence. A month after his latest court rejection, Mohn released, The Punishing, the shortest and most violent of his books. The plot revolves around Rex Karlsson who grew up in a stereotypical middle-class family, as he battles beside archangels to save the world from Satan and his forces so a new generation can learn the true history from the Bible. Two weeks later, authorities allege Mohn traded in his medical marijuana card and purchased a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and ammunition on Jan. 29, the day before he allegedly fatally shot his father in the head and then decapitated him, leaving him in the bathroom for his mother to find as he fled to "mobilize" troops in his "revolution." Mohn, who faces a first-degree murder charge, was arrested on the grounds of the Pennsylvania National Guard headquarters two hours after he activated his video call for a militia-led insurrection, where, as the "commander," he issued orders to kill all federal employees and seize federal law enforcement offices and courthouses. Many of the themes and statements in his lawsuits and writings would be included in his nearly 15-minute anti-government rants on the YouTube video, puncuated by the showing of his father's head wrapped in plastic. He would identify his father as a federal employee and "traitor." Mohn was carrying the same 9mm when apprehended. It was allegedly loaded with one round missing. He also allegedly had a flash drive containing several photos of federal buildings and instructions that appeared to show how to make explosive devices,. Days later authorities would say the crime was not the work of a "crazy" man, and that their investigation was just beginning. It was evident to us that he was of clear mind in his purpose and what he was doing, aside from what his beliefs are, he was of clear mind doing this acting with a clear mind, aware of his actions and proud of his consequences, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: How lawsuits offer clues into the radicalization of Justin Mohn Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which held a hearing on the use of AI in healthcare last week. (Mariam Zuhaib / Associated Press) Lawmakers and regulators in Washington are starting to puzzle over how to regulate artificial intelligence in healthcare and the AI industry thinks theres a good chance theyll mess it up. Its an incredibly daunting problem, said Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UC San Francisco. Theres a risk we come in with guns blazing and overregulate. Already, AIs impact on healthcare is widespread. The Food and Drug Administration has approved 692 AI products. Algorithms are helping to schedule patients, determine staffing levels in emergency rooms and even transcribe and summarize clinical visits to save physicians time. Theyre starting to help radiologists read MRIs and X-rays. Wachter said he sometimes informally consults a version of GPT-4, a large language model from the company OpenAI, for complex cases. The scope of AIs impact and the potential for future changes means government is already playing catch-up. Policymakers are terribly behind the times, Michael Yang, senior managing partner at OMERS Ventures, a venture capital firm, said in an email. Yangs peers have made vast investments in the sector. Rock Health, a venture capital firm, says financiers have put nearly $28 billion into digital health firms specializing in artificial intelligence. Read more: Artificial intelligence has come to medicine. Are patients being put at risk? One issue regulators are grappling with, Wachter said, is that, unlike drugs, which will have the same chemistry five years from now as they do today, AI changes over time. But governance is forming, with the White House and multiple health-focused agencies developing rules to ensure transparency and privacy. Congress is also flashing interest; the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on AI in healthcare last week. Along with regulation and legislation comes increased lobbying. CNBC counted a 185% surge in the number of organizations disclosing AI lobbying activities in 2023. The trade group TechNet has launched a $25-million initiative, including TV ad buys, to educate viewers on the benefits of artificial intelligence. It is very hard to know how to smartly regulate AI since we are so early in the invention phase of the technology, Bob Kocher, a partner with venture capital firm Venrock who previously served in the Obama administration, said in an email. Kocher has spoken to senators about AI regulation. He emphasizes some of the difficulties the healthcare system will face in adopting the products. Doctors facing malpractice risks might be leery of using technology they dont understand to make clinical decisions. An analysis of Census Bureau data from January by the consultancy Capital Economics found 6.1% of healthcare businesses were planning to use AI in the next six months, roughly in the middle of the 14 sectors surveyed. Like any medical product, AI systems can pose risks to patients, sometimes in a novel way. One example: They might make things up. Read more: California examines benefits, risks of using artificial intelligence in state government Wachter recalled a colleague who, as a test, assigned OpenAIs GPT-3 to write a prior authorization letter to an insurer for a purposefully wacky prescription: a blood thinner to treat a patients insomnia. But the AI wrote a beautiful note, he said. The system so convincingly cited recent literature that Wachters colleague briefly wondered whether shed missed a new line of research. It turned out the chatbot had fabricated its claim. Theres a risk of AI magnifying bias already present in the healthcare system. Historically, people of color have received less care than white patients. Studies show, for example, that Black patients with fractures are less likely to get pain medication than white ones. This bias could get set in stone if artificial intelligence is trained on that data and subsequently acts on it. Research into AI deployed by large insurers has confirmed that has happened. But the problem is more widespread. Wachter said UCSF tested a product to predict no-shows for clinical appointments. Patients who are deemed unlikely to show up for a visit are more likely to be double-booked. The test showed that people of color were more likely not to show. Whether or not the finding was accurate, the ethical response is to ask, why is that, and is there something you can do, Wachter said. Read more: What would make a computer biased? Learning a language spoken by humans Hype aside, those risks will likely continue to grab attention over time. AI experts and FDA officials have emphasized the need for transparent algorithms, monitored over the long term by human beings regulators and outside researchers. AI products adapt and change as new data is incorporated. And scientists will develop new products. Policymakers will need to invest in new systems to track AI over time, said University of Chicago Provost Katherine Baicker, who testified at the Senate Finance Committee hearing. The biggest advance is something we havent thought of yet, she said in an interview. KFF Health News , formerly known as Kaiser Health News, is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Editors Note: The full names and some of the locations of the Belarusian citizens quoted in this article have been omitted at their request to protect their identities and those of their loved ones. After participating in protests and later witnessing the defeat of the Belarusian revolution in 2020, Yauhen and his family were faced with the option of either leaving Belarus or waiting to be arrested. Belarusians went out into the streets to protest against dictator Alexander Lukashenko when he declared victory against his political opponent Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in the 2020 presidential election. Hundreds of instances of voter fraud were recorded by NGOs like the Voice Platform, the Zubr Platform, and the Honest People Initiative, who came to the conclusion that Lukashenko could not have won 80% of the vote as he had claimed. Clampdowns against the Belarusian opposition started early on in the protests and have only intensified in the four years since then. The Belarusian human rights organization Viasna reported that as of Jan. 31, they had confirmed the identities of 1,429 political prisoners. Additionally, they were able to confirm criminal convictions against 4,500 people on politically-motivated charges. Up to 500,000 Belarusians have fled the country in the years that followed, according to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The passage of time (before my family managed to leave) became a constant battle between emotional states. One fear was the thought of prison, and the other was the anxiety of change and everything associated with it, Yauhen told the Kyiv Independent. Even though Yauhen and his family resettled in one of the Baltic countries, they, along with the rest of the Belarusian exile community, are now faced with a new setback. Lukashenkos regime barred in September 2023 the renewal of Belarusian passports in embassies abroad, putting those with soon-to-be-expired or already expired passports in a precarious legal situation. The renewal of residence permits or other bureaucratic matters abroad typically requires a valid passport from ones home country, and for many Belarusian exiles, the prospect of returning to Belarus is not an option for as long as Lukashenko remains in power. Tsikhanouskaya, who leads her opposition government in exile, has been lobbying other countries to aid Belarusian exiles. One important initiative is the creation of an alternative Belarusian passport that would protect the Belarusian exile community and allow them to take a renewed stance against Lukashenkos regime. While there is some historical precedent to these efforts, it is an ambitious undertaking that requires the support of the global community, and some Belarusian exiles fear that they are already running out of time. Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya voting at a polling place in Minsk, Belarus on Aug. 9, 2020. (Misha Friedman/Getty Images) The nightmare we lived in The Lukashenko regimes disregard toward Belarusian citizens had been clear for a long time, according to Yauhen. However, the level of cruelty and violence displayed from 2020 onward was unthinkable. Wanting to stick together, his family weighed their options, eventually deciding to leave the country. (Reports of) pressure on children in schools and visits from social services only reinforced our decision, he added. Yauhen and his family resettled in one of the Baltic countries in 2022 after some friends helped them prepare all the necessary documents and support for their departure. Before they managed to leave, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, and the presence of Russian soldiers in Belarus, coupled with the audible sounds of military aircraft and missile launches in the direction of Ukraine only added to their anxiety. Natasha's passport on Aug. 29, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. There have been daily protests since the disputed Aug. 9th presidential elections, along with strikes and walkouts from factories to tech companies. Protests have seen much of the middle-class population, a pillar of the economy, join in and demand Alexander Lukashenko resign from his 26-year rule. Andrei and Natasha, 26 and 27-years-old Belarusian couple, have attended most of the protests since the start. The couple plan on leaving Belarus and relocating to Ukraine, where Andrei's tech employer will be moving offices. (Misha Friedman/Getty Images) Two of Yauhens childrens passports were set to expire by the end of 2023. While they successfully managed to schedule an appointment to renew one of them in the spring, the other embassy appointment could only be scheduled for October. Then we were told (by the embassy in September) to go back to Belarus. Knowing it was not an option, we continued to seek alternatives in (the country where we now live). As of today, this issue remains unresolved, Yauhen said. I hope that something will be figured out soon. Like most Belarusians, my family does not have time, and the need to find a solution was yesterday. Another Belarusian exile, Pavel, wasnt surprised when he learned that Lukashenko had made it more difficult for Belarusian exiles to renew their passports. It was so petty of him and probably the last thing he thought he could do to somehow get back at those of us who openly turned their backs (on him) and took their taxes out of the country, Pavel said. Protesters unfurl a banner in the colors of the former Belarus national flag as they call for the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Hundreds of thousands of people joined peaceful rallies in the capital, Minsk, and in cities across the country Sunday calling for Lukashenkos resignation and the release of detainees. (Evgeny Maloletka/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Pavel realized his main task was to move to a safer place after receiving a call from a military official inviting him for a personal conversation about how it was better to reconsider his views on public policy and reminding him that he had a family. He left after the full-scale invasion and one of the last things he did was attend an anti-war protest. Upon resettling in Europe, he got emotional realizing that he could sleep peacefully without expecting a knock on the door in the middle of the night. Sometimes its frightening to realize the nightmare we lived in, he explained. On the inside, you kind of got used to it and couldnt grasp the full scale. Its only in another country that you begin to understand how abnormal (life in Belarus) is. Pavel is in the process of renewing his documents to remain in the country where he currently resides. His passport hasnt yet expired, but the bureaucratic process, such as waiting on a support hotline for two hours or trying to track down documents lost in the mail, can be dehumanizing. Across the European continent, there are countless stories of Belarusians facing bureaucratic hurdles and narrowing deadlines. In Poland, another Belarusian exile, Eugen, has been waiting for his temporary residence permit since 2020. He left Belarus in 2020 but dreamed of leaving even earlier because he saw no freedom or opportunities as long as Lukashenko remained in power. I dont agree with Lukashenkos idea of what it means to be Belarusian, he said. According to the Belarusian Solidarity Centers statistics from August of 2023, 91,000 Belarusians reside in Poland with some kind of official documents, as opposed to 28,000 three years prior. Belarusians make up the second-largest foreign community in Poland, second only to Ukrainians. However, only 35,749 of them have gained permanent residency. The majority have temporary residence permits. After the ban on renewing passports abroad was implemented by Lukashenko in September of 2023, Eugen said he began to get nervous. An official stamp in his passport indicating that he is in the process of filing for residency is what has allowed him to remain legally in Poland, but his passport is set to expire in 2024. I'm trying to be realistic and respond to any changes as they come, he added. Tsikhanouskaya told the Kyiv Independent that during her trip to Denmark in October, she met with members of the Belarusian diaspora, including an active Belarusian association that has done a lot to support her democratic initiative. One of the associations own board members, as well as their daughter, have passports set to expire in 2024. A cover of a biographical book by writer Ruslan Szoszyn about Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is seen during a demonstration of solidarity with Belarus at the Main Square in Krakow, Poland, on Oct. 2, 2022. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) They cant travel to Belarus to get a new passport because they expect that the regime will imprison them, she explained. The repressive acts taken by the Lukashenko regime against Belarusians in exile include not only the weaponization of passports but also conducting trials in absentia against Belarusians for extremism and putting pressure on their family members back home. (Thats why) we cant be surprised when they are now trying to use passports as a form of revenge to deprive up to half a million Belarusians in exile of their citizenship, Tsikhanouskaya added. Lukashenko signed a decree in February of 2023 establishing a commission to work with citizens who wish to return to their homeland and guarantee that they have not committed a possible violation of the law, as Belarusian state media quoted. However, very few Belarusians abroad actually believe in the authenticity of this commission. This is mainly because the attacks on Belarusian citizens back home are ongoing. A mass police raid and property seizure was carried out across Belarus at the end of November 2023, which was one of the most extensive and barbaric attacks by the regime since 2021, according to a statement later released by Tsikhanouskaya. The regimes logic makes every third person in Belarus a terrorist and a criminal, she wrote. They label us terrorists, call us a threat to society, and take our loved ones hostage. But exiled activists are not criminals. The people who continue making Belarus a prison are. Promising headway The design of the alternative Belarusian passport has already been completed, and the Belarusian opposition has made promising headway during meetings with foreign governments regarding the use of a specific country code for the passport, according to Tsikhanouskaya. The main task at this time is establishing a legal entity for producing and issuing these passports. Many governments clearly understand the need to find a solution for exiled Belarusians. It is important that they understand given that the biggest challenge is the legal and diplomatic groundwork needed to make such passports valid internationally, she added. The order for materials required to produce authentic passports has recently been placed, and Tsikhanouskaya said that she expects the specimens should be ready sometime before March. This is a precondition for us to address national governments with the request to (officially) recognize the passport. Tsikhanouskaya and her team have history to guide them, as Lukashenko's methods are reminiscent of those used by the Soviet Union. After Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were illegally occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, the Soviet authorities attempted to gain control of their diplomatic missions abroad and threatened citizens to return home. The Soviet authorities published a declaration in the Estonian State Gazette on Aug. 5, 1940, warning that those who did not return to their homeland were considered outlaws and, therefore, subject to being shot dead within 24 hours of falling into Soviet custody. Any remaining adult family members of Estonians considered outlaws risked up to 10 years in prison and property seizure if they were judged by a Soviet court to have contributed in any way to said act of treason. The decision of the court was final and couldnt be repealed. During the years of Soviet occupation, the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian diplomatic services abroad relied on each other for support, and with the backing of Western nations like the U.S. that continued to recognize their sovereignty independent of the USSR, they issued alternative passports to those that could prove their citizenship. These passports were not just travel documents they were powerful symbols of resistance, Tsikhanouskaya explained. They asserted the existence of the Baltic States as independent entities despite the occupation. A border guard patrol along the border wall at the Polish - Belarus border not far from Bialowieza, eastern Poland, on May 29, 2023. (WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images) In todays digital age, the Belarusian opposition have to contend with online disinformation campaigns reportedly conducted by the Lukashenko regime to hinder their efforts. A number of illicit websites, social media pages, and advertisements have surfaced online in recent weeks trying to solicit Belarusians names and other personal information under the guise of creating a registry for the alternative passport. Tsikhanouskaya accused Lukashenkos special services of being behind this operation on Feb. 1, aiming to gather information about Belarusians outside the country. She urged Belarusians to protect their personal data and only follow announcements through official channels. Belarusian state-controlled media later wrote on Feb. 6 that ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoy said Belarus was working with Russia to create a shared registry of extremists and extremist materials. The Belarusian exile community is largely supportive of Tsikhanouskayas initiative to create an alternative passport for both practical and symbolic reasons, even if some are skeptical that it can be implemented in the near future. The new Belarusian passport, as a continuation of our protracted revolution, is a fine and fortunate initiative. It is an opportunity to show that Belarusians do not identify themselves with the regime or the aggressor, Yauhen said. For those Belarusians residing in a country outside of the EU who cannot enjoy the freedom of movement of the Schengen area, such a document will be especially practical and useful. However, Yauhen also expressed his concern that the Belarusian opposition possessed enough intellectual and financial resources to make this act effective. This ambitious and unprecedented project requires perfection and time, he said. But Eugen in Poland is hopeful and believes the alternative Belarusian passport has a great chance to succeed. This could be a big step forward in this political war. No one lives forever, but ideas do. We all believe in better changes, he said. Pavel added that he hopes to hear less about how foreign officials are deeply concerned by the Lukashenko regimes actions and see them come up with strong actions of their own in support of the Belarusian exile community. Many Belarusians suffered for the ideals they pursued during the revolution, some by imprisonment, others by losing their homes and friends. The success of this new passport would be a symbol that, although it's difficult, we are moving toward building a new Belarus. Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this article. It's important to remember that the Belarusian people's fight for a better nation is ongoing, particularly in light of the Lukashenko regime continuing to target innocent people. If you enjoyed reading this story please consider supporting our reporting. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is accusing Russia of buying Starlink internet terminals for war operations. This latest revelation about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was shared by Kyiv's military intelligence agency. When Russia officially launched its full-blown invasion of Ukraine, Elon Musk decided to send its Starlink internet terminals to the European country. However, the tech billionaire reiterated multiple times that the internet service should not be used for military operations. Now, the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claims that Moscow is actually purchasing Starlinks from Arab countries. Ukraine Accuses Russia of Buying Starlink for War Operations According to The Guardian's latest report, GUR released what it claims to be an audio intercept of two Russian troops who were allegedly buying Starlink units from Arab providers. The Ukrainian military spy agency claims that these Russian soldiers were offering $2,200 for each Starlink internet terminal. "The aggressor state Russia is purchasing communications equipment, including Starlink satellite Internet terminals, for use in the war in Arab countries," said the Ukrainian defense ministry. On Monday, Feb. 12, Andriy Yusov, the GUR spokesperson, said that the Russian military was buying Starlink terminals from unspecified third countries. If this is true, then it goes against Starlink's recent promises; claiming that it doesn't operate or do business with Russian territories. The Russian government also clarified that they can't use Starlink internet terminals since these are not certified to be used or supplied to Russia. Read Also: Russia-China Ties: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping Forge Strong Relationship Amid Global Discord Elon Musk Denies Kyiv's Claims Elon Musk quickly commented after hearing the claims made by Ukraine regarding the alleged Starlink purchases of the Russian military. The tech billionaire strongly denied the accusations, saying that they don't sell their Starlink internet service to the Kremlin. "A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false," explained Elon Musk via Al Jazeera. "To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia," added the SpaceX CEO. Before Ukraine accused Russia of buying Starlink internet terminals from Arab nations, Starlink already explained that it doesn't do business with the Russian government or its military. As of writing, no strong evidence is able to prove that Russia is really purchasing Starlink internet terminals. In 2023, Elon Musk showed that he was against any military operation during a war after he refused Ukraine's request to activate Starlink to assist Ukrainian troops in their surprise attack on Russia's fleet in Crimea. Related Article: Russia Launches 45 Drones in Mass Barrage of Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelensky Continues War Cabinet Reshuffle US President Joe Biden and King Abdullah II of Jordan deliver a statement on the situation in the Gaza Strip at the Cross Hall of the White House. Oliver Contreras/White House via Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa US President Joe Biden has once again urgently called for the protection of the civilian population, as the Israeli military prepares for an assault on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. A military operation in Rafah "should not proceed without a credible plan a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there," Biden said on Monday after a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House. Many people in Gaza have been displaced and forced to move several times in order to flee the violence in the north. Now they are "packed into Rafah exposed and vulnerable." "They need to be protected," Biden said. The US government had also made it clear from the outset that it was against any forced expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Jordan's King Abdullah II warned against an offensive. "We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe," said Abdullah II. The situation is already unbearable for more than 1 million people who have been displaced there since the beginning of the war, according to the Jordanian king. He called for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. Abdullah II added that urgent and immediate work must be done to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip via all possible avenues. "No other UN agency can do what UNRWA is doing in helping the people of Gaza through this humanitarian catastrophe," he said. The Israeli military is said to be drawing up plans that include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians who are seeking shelter in Rafah, which is located in the very south of the Gaza Strip and borders Egypt. According to the UN, there are currently 1.3 million people in the town, which had around 250,000 inhabitants before the war. The 2024 election is in full swing, and the commander-in-chief is expected to return to California next week to raise money for his reelection campaign. President Joe Biden, who was just in Los Angeles on Feb. 3, is expected to return on Feb. 20 ahead of a Feb. 22 trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the Times, Bidens Feb. 20 trip will include a fundraiser at the home of businessman and media mogul Haim Saban. The Bay Area trip includes another fundraiser, this one in Los Altos Hills. Biden is gearing up for a likely rematch with former President Donald Trump, the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Statement: I cooperated far more than Joe Biden in the classified documents investigations. After the Justice Department said it would not pursue criminal charges against President Joe Biden for retaining classified documents, former President Donald Trump compared it with his own documents case and cried foul. "I did nothing wrong, and I cooperated far more," Trump wrote in a Feb. 8 statement. It will be up to a jury to decide whether Trump did "nothing wrong." But his statement that he cooperated far more than Biden is absurd. Robert Hur, the special counsel who investigated Biden, summarized Trumps lack of cooperation in a report about Bidens case. "Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did the opposite," Hur wrote. "According to the indictment, he not only refused to return the documents for many months, but he also obstructed justice by enlisting others to destroy evidence and then to lie about it. In contrast, Mr. Biden turned in classified documents to the National Archives and the Department of Justice, consented to the search of multiple locations including his homes, sat for a voluntary interview and in other ways cooperated with the investigation." Trumps spokesperson did not respond to PolitiFact for this fact-check. Bidens lawyers alerted federal officials to the documents A timeline of the Biden investigation that PolitiFact created based on news reports and statements by Biden lawyers showed that his lawyers quickly alerted federal officials after finding the documents. Biden also cooperated with federal law enforcement searches of his homes and offices. Nov. 2, 2022: Bidens lawyers discovered documents, some classified, in a locked closet at Bidens post-vice presidential office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington. They found the documents while cleaning out the office. That same day, the White House counsels office notified the National Archives and Records Administration, and the agency took the materials Nov. 3. Nov. 14, 2022: Attorney General Merrick Garland directed John Lausch, a U.S. attorney in Chicago, to conduct an initial investigation. At some point in November 2022: The FBI searched the Penn Biden Center with the Biden teams consent, according to Jan. 31, 2023, news reports by CBS and other outlets that did not name sources. CNN reported that a search warrant was not used, which is a sign that Bidens team cooperated. Dec. 20, 2022: Bidens personal attorneys searched his Wilmington, Del., homes garage and found more records. The attorneys notified Lausch so the Justice Department could arrange to take the documents. Jan. 12, 2023: Garland appointed Hur as special counsel. January and February 2023: On Jan. 20, 2023, the FBI searched Bidens Wilmington home and found more documents. A Feb. 1, 2023, search of Bidens home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., turned up no classified documents. In a statement about the Feb. 1 search, Bidens personal attorney Bob Bauer said that the DOJ "sought to do this work without advance public notice, and we agreed to cooperate." Oct. 8-9, 2023: Biden sat for a voluntary interview with Hur. The interview "lasted more than five hours," Hur wrote, and Biden "provided written answers to most of our additional written questions." Court records show Trump failed to cooperate The Trump timeline we wrote based on news reports and court records of his charges showed that Trump tried to thwart federal officials. May 6, 2021: The National Archives and Records Administrations chief counsel emailed Trumps representatives seeking missing records, a search warrant showed. December 2021: A search warrant stated that the National Archives continued to make requests of Trump representatives until late December, when the agency was advised that 12 boxes were ready for retrieval. January 2022: The National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of records from Trumps Mar-a-Lago, Fla., home. The National Archives said Trump had "torn up" some of the presidential records. April 29 and May 1, 2022: A lawyer wrote letters on Trumps behalf requesting that the National Archives delay the disclosure to the FBI of the retrieved records. Acting archivist Debra Steidel Wall denied this request and stated that the boxes contained "over 100 documents with classified markings, comprising 700 pages." May 11, 2022: Trump accepted a grand jury subpoena seeking classified documents. The indictment states that Trump told his attorney, "I dont want anybody looking through my boxes" and "What happens if we just dont respond at all or dont play ball with them?" and "Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything here?" Between May 23 and June 2, 2022: At Trumps direction, his personal aide Walter Nauta moved 64 boxes from a Mar-a-Lago storage room to Trumps residence, according to the indictment. June 2, 2022: A Trump attorney reviewed the documents in the Mar-a-Lago storage room and met with Trump. The attorney said that Trump made a plucking motion and told the attorney he should take the documents to his hotel room, and if there was anything "really bad in there," pluck it out. June 3, 2022: Justice Department officials briefly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and retrieved more documents marked classified. A Trump lawyer signed a declaration saying that all the materials marked classified were turned over. But investigators later learned there were more records and that same month subpoenaed Trump again, seeking surveillance footage. Aug. 8, 2022: The FBI, with a search warrant, searched Mar-a-Lago, removing 25 more boxes of documents. Days later, Garland said that the Justice Department had exhausted efforts to retrieve the material in other ways. "Where possible, it is standard practice to seek less intrusive means as an alternative to a search, and to narrowly scope any search that is undertaken." The indictment said that the search followed Trumps refusal to cede records. Trump indictment details his lack of cooperation Trump was indicted in June 2023 on about three dozen counts, including charges of willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements. "Trump endeavored to obstruct the FBI and the grand jury investigations and conceal his continued retention of classified documents," the indictment said. It said Trump did this by: "Suggesting that his attorney falsely represent to the FBI and grand jury that Trump did not have the documents called for by the grand jury subpoena." Directing Nauta "to move boxes of documents to conceal them from Trumps attorney, the FBI and the grand jury." (Nauta was also charged.) "Suggesting that his attorney hide or destroy documents" called for by the subpoena. Giving the FBI and the grand jury some of the documents called for by the subpoena "while claiming he was cooperating fully." Causing the submission of a certification to the FBI and grand jury "falsely representing" that all documents had been produced. PolitiFact's ruling Comparing himself with Biden, Trump said, "I cooperated far more" in his classified documents investigation. Government records rebut his statement. Biden lawyers alerted federal officials on the same day they found the documents, and Biden cooperated with searches and sat for an interview for the special counsels investigation. Trumps indictment shows he failed to cooperate on multiple occasions. He refused to return documents for months and enlisted others to hide or destroy evidence. Trump once asked his attorney, according to the indictment, "Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything here?" His lack of cooperation culminated in an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. Its ridiculous for Trump to state that he cooperated more than Biden. We rate this statement Pants on Fire! Our sources This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Biden cooperated far more than Trump did in classified documents cases (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden is forming a task force to address the issue of classified documents being mishandled during presidential transitions, following a special counsel report that found he had willfully kept such material after he was vice president. Most Read from Bloomberg The Presidential Records Transition Task Force will evaluate current policies and procedures and identify best practices for a transition to address the inadvertent removal of classified documents and to help prevent it from happening in the future, according to a White House fact sheet. The goal is to ensure that sensitive records are preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration in accordance with the terms of the Presidential Records Act. Katy Kale, the deputy administrator of the General Services Administration, will lead the task force, which will convene officials from government agencies, including members of the White House, GSA, National Archives and Records Administration, National Security Council and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The task force will provide recommendations before the next presidential transition. White House officials have said the handling of classified records is a systemic issue that has affected past administrations of both parties. Biden knowingly stored and disclosed classified material that was kept in unsecured locations at his homes, according to a Justice Department report released last week. The report found Biden willfully kept classified materials, but cleared him of criminal wrongdoing. Earlier: Biden Mishandled Classified Papers But Wont Be Charged President Biden takes classified information seriously he returned the documents that were found, he fully cooperated with the investigation, and it concluded that there was no case, Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, said in a statement late Monday night. Now he is taking action to help strengthen future transitions to better prevent classified documents from being accidentally packed up and removed from the government. The president has objected to Special Counsel Robert Hurs findings, including claims that he had memory lapses, insisting that he had done nothing wrong. They made a firm conclusion: I did not break the law, period, Biden said at a press conference on Thursday night. The president and his allies have also sought to draw a contrast between Bidens handling of the investigation, saying he fully cooperated with investigators, and the probe into former President Donald Trump. Trump is facing criminal charges over claims that he kept classified documents from his time in the White House and tried to block the federal government from recovering them. (Updates with White House statement, in eighth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Joe Biden hosted Jordans King Abdullah II in Washington Monday and the two leaders discussed the ongoing effort to free hostages held in Gaza, and growing concern over a possible Israeli military operation in the border city of Rafah. It is the first meeting between the allies since three American troops were killed last month in a drone strike against a U.S. base in Jordan. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the fatalities, the first for the U.S. after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting with King Abdullah II comes as Biden and his aides are working to broker another pause in Israels war against Hamas in order to send humanitarian aid and supplies into the region and get hostages out. The White House faces growing criticism from Arab-Americans over the administrations continued support for Israel in the face of growing casualties in Gaza. As discussed with the king today, the Palestinian Authority must urgently reform so it can effectively deliver it to the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza, Biden said. Once Hamas control of Gaza is over, they must prepare to build a state that accepts peace, does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Biden on a call Sunday to discuss the situation. Biden, who last week called Israels military response in Gaza over the top, sought urgent and specific steps to strengthen humanitarian aid. Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israels actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning over what happens next, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been demanding a cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket. Your leadership, my dear friend, Mr. President, is key to addressing this conflict, King Abdullah II said. And Jordan is ready to work, as always with you towards peace. The Associated Press contributed to this story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was granted parole on Tuesday (Feb. 13) and could be released as early as this weekend. According to Thai attorney-general Tawee Sodsong, the parole for Thaksin would be a symbol of reconciliation between his populist Pheu Thai Party and the country's conservative establishment, a rivalry defining Thai politics for nearly 20 years, which included two military coups. Tawee told reporters ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting in Bangkok that the 74-year-old former prime minister, who went into self-imposed exile for over a decade, qualified for an early release due to his eligibility as an inmate who may have serious illnesses, is disabled, or aged over 70. Pheu Thai Party leader and Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra told reporters last week that she has prepared her home in Bangkok in anticipation of her father's release. Read Also: Peace Between Thai Government and Muslim Separatists in Reach After Decades of Fighting Thaksin's Jail Time So Far Thaksin is currently confined to a police hospital in Bangkok where he was serving time for convictions related to corruption and abuse of power while in office, convictions he decried as politically motivated. Opponents have charged that serving his sentence in a hospital was a special privilege, suggesting that it was part of a political deal between his party and the military, the Associated Press reported. Thaksin had been in exile since 2008 but voluntarily returned to Thailand in August last year to serve his eight-year sentence on the same day as Srettha Thavisin was named prime minister after Pheu Thai garnered the support of military-linked parties. Thai monarch King Maha Vajiralongkorn eventually reduced his sentence to a single year. Last week, Thai officials said that they have reopened an investigation into Lese majeste allegations, where he purportedly defamed the monarchy almost nine years ago. Related Article: Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn Reduces Ex-PM Thaksin's Jail Time to 1 Year (Bloomberg) -- US President Joe Biden said hes pushing for a six-week pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow for the release of hostages, saying that could lay the groundwork for broader peace. Most Read from Bloomberg Such a pause would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm into Gaza for at least six weeks, which we could then take the time to build something more enduring, Biden said Monday following a meeting with Jordans King Abdullah II at the White House. Bidens comments were his most detailed yet about the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which the US is helping to facilitate along with the likes of Egypt and Qatar. The key elements of the deals are on the table, Biden said, adding that the US will do everything possible to make it happen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week downplayed the chances of a ceasefire. Hamass demands which include a condition that Israeli forces pull out of Gaza within about 90 days are delusional, he said. Biden and Abdullah met as concerns grow about a potential Israeli ground offensive in the city of Rafah that threatens to further inflame regional tensions and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden said he and the king a key US ally in the Middle East had discussed Rafah and how to bring more aid into Gaza. Earlier: Israel Conducts Strikes in Rafah as Humanitarian Concerns Mount We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe, the king said. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end. The US, its Arab partners and other nations must step up efforts to reach a ceasefire immediately and create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, Abdullah added, referring to his hopes for an independent Palestinian state. The heads of the CIA and Mossad, Israels external spy agency, are expected to meet with top Egyptian and Qatari officials Tuesday for talks, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the process. The meeting will probably be held in Cairo, it said. Israeli forces launched more airstrikes on Rafah Monday, ahead of possible ground operations in a city where more than a million people have sought refuge. Many refugees fled the north of Gaza after Israel launched its retaliatory campaign against Hamas for the groups Oct. 7 massacre. Some 1,200 people were killed in that attack. Almost 28,000 people have been killed by Israels retaliatory air and ground assault on Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory. On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said there was still heavy fighting in Khan Younis, a city to the north of Rafah. Biden has been criticized by Arab- and Muslim-Americans over his handling of the conflict, complicating his 2024 reelection bid. Michigan a battleground state where Biden trails Republican front-runner Donald Trump by 5 percentage points, according to a January Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll is home to one of the nations largest Arab and Muslim populations. The president has stepped up his criticism of Netanyahu, urging him to do more to shield civilians. Biden has pressured Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and has said Israel should not push into Rafah without first having a credible and executable plan to ensure the civilian safety. They need to be protected, Biden said. And weve also been clear from the start. We oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Biden and Netanyahu spoke on Sunday, and the Israeli leader said he was working on a plan to move civilians out of the Rafah area. Netanyahu has said the war on Hamas must continue until the group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union, is destroyed. When theres peace, Biden said the Palestinian Authority, which rules Palestinians in the West Bank, must reform. Once Hamas control of Gaza is over, they must prepare to build a state that accepts peace and does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, he said. The US Needs to Get Out of Middle EastSoon: Andreas Kluth The US has previously said the PA will probably have to play a part in running Gaza once the war is over. Israel has pushed back against that idea, saying the PA is corrupt and too hostile to the Jewish state. --With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron, Jordan Fabian, Jon Herskovitz and Michael Heath. (Updates with context on hostage talks and fighting in Gaza.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Donald Trump's comments calling into question the U.S. commitment to defend its NATO allies from attack were dangerous and un-American, seizing on the former president's comments that sowed fresh fears among U.S. partners about its dependability on the global stage. Trump, the front-runner in the U.S. for the Republican Partys nomination this year, said Saturday that he once warned that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that are delinquent in devoting 2% of their gross domestic product to defense. It was the latest instance in which the former president seemed to side with an authoritarian state over Americas democratic allies. Speaking from the White House as he encouraged the House to take up a Senate-passed aid bill to fund Ukraine's efforts to hold off a two-year Russian invasion, Biden said Trump's comments about the mutual defense pact were dangerous and shocking. The whole world heard it and the worst thing is he means it," Biden added. Biden said that when America gives its word, it means something," and called Trump's comments sowing doubt about its commitments un-American." Biden said of Trump: He doesnt understand that the sacred commitment that weve given works for us as well. NATOs Article 5 mutual defense clause states that an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members. But Trump has often depicted NATO allies as leeches on the U.S. military and openly questioned the value of the military alliance that has defined American foreign policy for more than 70 years. Since the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Biden has ushered Finland into the alliance and is clearing the way for Sweden to do the same. While Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the alliance has served as a key contributor of the U.S.-organized effort to support Kyiv's military defenses in the nearly two year old conflict. NATO allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move toward spending 2% of their GDP on defense by 2024. The spending target is not a requirement for NATO members. NATOs secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said in a statement Sunday that any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk. The defense minister in Poland, which has been under Russian control more often than not since the end of the 18th century, said no election campaign is an excuse for playing with the security of the alliance. President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer, said Jason Miller, a Trump senior adviser, in response to Biden's comments. "When you dont pay your defense spending you cant be surprised that you get more war. ___ AP writers Seung Min Kim and Jill Colvin contributed. With the United States having carried out retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria after Iran-linked militias killed three U.S. service members in Jordan, America is again engaged in a widening conflict in the Middle East, with little idea of where it will lead. Americas sprawling, illogical collection of military forces in the region, coupled with the Biden administrations unconditional support for Israels war effort, has enabled persistent tragedy and the ever-growing escalation of risk. Given the undeniable link between attacks on U.S. interests and the war in Gaza, President Joe Biden must stop ignoring the best option he has to safeguard American lives and prevent a wider war. It's time for the president to push hard for an Israel-Hamas cease-fire. The war in Gaza isnt the only factor driving attacks, but regional attacks slowed, and hostages held by Hamas were released, during a temporary pause in fighting in Gaza in November. Without a cease-fire, regional tensions will keep spiraling out of control. Shared vision for reconciliation: My family village in Israel shows why 'never again' must include innocent Palestinians US retaliation against Houthis isn't working The Biden administration has bypassed Congress twice to sell weapons to Israel, most recently $147.5 million in artillery munitions. In the Red Sea, the United States is engaged in combat against the Houthis, an effort Biden admitted is not working but will continue anyway. One might assume that enabling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus destructive escapade would give Biden influence over how it plays out. But so far, even Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins call for Israel to shift to less deadly surgical operations has gone unanswered. Families of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip protest outside the ministry of defense in Tel Aviv on Nov. 21, 2023. Supporters of Bidens approach argue that leverage is best exerted behind closed doors. They contend that Washington is unlikely to be able to dictate the terms of Israeli operations to dismantle Hamas. According to this reasoning, public calls for a cease-fire, if unanswered, erode Washingtons influence without producing changes in Israels behavior. That raises the question: Whats the point of having leverage if you cant use it? Netanyahu and his war Cabinet are in the drivers seat, with Washington picking up the regional tab. We must push for cease-fire in Gaza. Army veterans like me know that 'war is hell.' Israel rejects two-state solution to stop the conflict To complicate matters, the Israeli government has emphatically rejected the one post-conflict political proposal that stands a chance of producing a stable long-term result: a negotiated two state solution. So has Hamas, but a U.S. ally should be held to a higher standard than a terrorist organization. Netanyahu has bragged, for domestic political consumption, about having successfully made the blocking of a Palestinian state his lifelong mission. Some members of the Israeli government are pursuing ethnic cleansing of Gaza under the guise of resettlement. Netanyahu prioritizes his political survival over the interests of his own country, Israels closest allies or the safety of the Jewish diaspora. Netanyahu certainly is not concerned about the political consequences for a U.S. president whom he may believe has only one year left in office. Biden, however, should be. According to a New York Times poll, 57% of respondents disapprove of Bidens management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and key leaders in the Democratic Party are openly criticizing him. Now is the time for Biden to push for a cease-fire. He should not hesitate to challenge Netanyahu, especially considering Bidens higher popularity among Israelis. Washington holds leverage, with American hostages in Hamas custody and U.S. military support providing a tool to urge Israel toward short-term diplomacy and cease-fires that transition into a long-term one. Biden should collaborate with congressional allies to issue robust statements supporting a comprehensive cease-fire and potentially conditioning the delivery of continued aid on Israel's acceptance of a cease-fire. The message to Israel should be clear: Ignore these calls and youre on your own, and the consequences will last long after this administration. Israel will have to choose between Netanyahus ambitions or its most crucial partnerships. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Pushing Israel to initiate a cease-fire does not excuse Hamas. Hamas started this latest war with a sadistic terrorist attack that killed at least 1,200 people, knowing full well the destruction that would follow. Hamas leadership has yet to release all hostages, and the majority of its leaders still oppose a two-state solution. But Washington is not merely an onlooker in this conflict; it is actively supporting one side. Its doubtful that history will forgive the devastation of Gaza and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in a duel with a terrorist organization. Israel has the power not to play Hamas game, just as Washington has the choice not to be a cog in Netanyahus political schemes. Biden faces a rare opportunity where the morally right, strategically necessary and politically smart choice all align using the United States' leverage to advocate for a cease-fire in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Adam Weinstein Adam Weinstein is deputy director of the Middle East program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. His research focuses on security and rule of law in the Middle East. He previously served as a U.S. Marine. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden must push Israel. It's time for a ceasefire in Gaza President Joe Biden launched a cutting political attack on Donald Trump from the White House Tuesday, calling Trumps invitation to Russia to attack European allies dumb, shameful, dangerous and un-American. It was one the starkest rebukes Biden has made of his predecessor and showed Biden sharpening his critique of Trump as the presidential campaign kicks into gear. Biden spoke to reporters from a lectern set up below a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the White Houses State Dining Room, soon after the House Republican leadership said it would refuse to take up the $95 billion emergency defense spending bill that passed the Senate and included $60 billion for Ukraine. Trump, who hasnt held office for three years but has maintained a strong hold on Republicans in Congress, has been vocal in his opposition to sending Ukraine more funding. Last month, Trump told House Republicans not to sign onto a bipartisan deal for Ukraine and Israel funding that included adding Border Patrol agents and immigration officials to address the influx of migrants at the Southwest Border. Trump recently said Ukraine funding should come with strings attached. At a rally in Conway, South Carolina, on Saturday, Trump said that, while president, he had told a leader of a big country in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that if they didnt spend more on their own defense, he would tell Russia to do whatever they hell they want. Biden on Tuesday said that for Trump principles never matter, everything is transactional and compared Trump to a mob boss demanding money for protection. When he looks at NATO, he doesnt see the alliance that protects America and the world, he sees a protection racket, Biden said. Can you imagine a former President of the United States saying that? The whole world heard it. The worst thing is, he means it. "No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator," Biden continued. "Well, let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For Gods sake, its dumb, its shameful, its dangerous, its un-American. Biden emphasized that most of the money in the Senate bill would go to U.S. arms factories and workers building ammunition and equipment to replenish U.S. stocks when equipment is sent to Ukraine. He highlighted a handful of states considered battlegrounds in this years elections that have munitions factories like Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as Arizona, where Patriot missiles are built. He also name-checked Texas, as well as Alabama, where Javelin shoulder-fired rocket launchers are produced. Countries within NATO have long agreed to come to each others defense if one is attacked. In 2006, each country in NATO made a commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on building up its own defense forces. While the total amount NATO countries spend on defense has climbed steadily since 2017, not all countries have met the 2% commitment, according to NATO records. In 2023, the United States is estimated to have spent 3.49% of GDP on its own defense, behind only Poland, which borders Ukraine and faces challenging threats from Russia, and spent 3.9% of its GDP. France spent 1.9% of GDP on defense in 2023, and Germany is estimated to have spent 1.57%. Biden said he wanted to remind Trump that the only country that has ever invoked NATOs Article Five commitments to mutual defense was the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and NATO allies joined in the fight against Al Qaeda. The greatest hope of all those who wish America harm is for NATO to fall apart, Biden said. You can be sure that they all cheered when they heard Donald Trump. Contact us at letters@time.com. US President Joe Biden has called on House Speaker Mike Johnson in an emergency address on 13 February to "immediately" put to a vote the bill with additional funding for Ukraine that had been passed by the Senate. Source: European Pravda Details: Biden, addressing fellow Americans from the White House, stressed that the speaker of the lower house of Congress should bring a bill on supplemental funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan "to the floor immediately". Quote: "There's no question that if the Senate bill was brought to the House of Representatives, it would pass. And the Speaker knows that," the US president said. "So I call on the Speaker to let the full House speak its mind and not allow a minority of the most extreme voices in the House to block this bill even from being voted on," he added. Biden later noted that most of the funds allocated to support Ukraine in the package would be directed to the US defence industry and would create new jobs. Previously, the US Senate finally approved a bill to allocate US$95 billion for national security. The bill includes US$61 billion for Ukraine, US$14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas, and US$4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, and to deter Chinese aggression. Whether Republicans in the House of Representatives will agree to support the bill after it is approved in the Senate remains to be seen. In the meantime, House Speaker Mike Johnson has slammed its content. Support UP or become our patron! Did Trump just encourage Russia to invade U.S. allies in Europe if they dont spend more on defense? It seems so. At a campaign rally on Saturday, he recounted a story about a NATO summit he attended while he was president: One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, Well, sir, if we dont pay and were attacked by Russia, will you protect us? I said, You didnt pay, youre delinquent? He said, Yes, lets say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them [presumably the Russians] to do whatever the hell they want. In one aspect, this remarkwidely reported in news media the past few dayshas been taken a bit out of context. Trump cited the story as an example of how his tough-guy tactics were effective. He got the allies, he claimed, to pay upto boost their defense spending after years of shirking their obligations. This is a message of great appeal to his base. Yet, more broadly, the remark is just as alarming and dangerous as Trumps critics and many European officials are interpreting it. It reflects a long-standing attitude of indifference and borderline hostility to allies, of viewing them the same way that a Mafia boss regards his capos or clients in a protection racket. There is no question: Whennot ifVladimir Putin read that remark, he mused that he might get away with intimidating or invading Poland, the Baltic nations, or some other nearby countries if Trump wins the 2024 election. Ditto for Xi Jinping and Taiwan. Trumps purely transactional view of alliances is nothing new. It was widely reported that, as president, he told his aides several times that he wanted to pull out of NATO. In 2020 he told the European Unions president, Ursula von der Leyen, You need to understand that if Europe is under attack, we will never come to help you, adding, By the way, NATO is dead and we will leave. After he left office, some of his top aides said that if he had been reelected in 2020, Trump would have definitely quit the alliance. Still, even in those earlier comments, which allies and many U.S. politicians (including Republicans) found disturbing enough, Trump never went so far as to say he would encourage Russia to invade if some ally didnt meet its financial obligations. (It is also nerve-racking that much of the crowd at the campaign rally laughed and applauded when he said this.) Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which was drawn up in 1949, commits NATO members to treat an invasion of one as an invasion of them all. The only time Article 5 has ever been invoked was in 2001, after the U.S. was attacked by al-Qaida. It was a reversal of expectations: The assumption had always been that the U.S. would come to the defense of Western Europe; now Europe was coming to the defense of the U.S. (President George W. Bush brushed away the offer, though nearly all the NATO nations sent troops to Afghanistan, joining the U.S. invasion to oust the Taliban and protect a new government, even though they had no direct stakes in the fight.) Yet when aides first briefed Trump on Article 5, soon after he became president, he couldnt fathom the whole concept. You mean if Russia attacked Lithuania, we would go to war with Russia? he responded. Thats crazy! During his term, he made similar comments about South Korea, threatening to withdraw U.S. troops, which have been there as a deterrent to North Korean aggression since 1953, unless Seoul stepped up its (already-considerable) financial support for the deployment. This past July, he hinted in an interview with Fox News that he wouldnt protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion because it took away the U.S. microchip business. In short, when Trump says America First, he tends to mean America Only. But lets go back to the story he told at Saturdays campaign rally. First, its very likely that no such conversation with one of the presidents of a big country ever took place. It is sad and hilariousan illustration of this powerful mans astonishing need for relentless respect and esteemthat, in so many stories he tells, some person addresses him as sir. That the person in this story is a fellow president makes it extremely unlikely. All presidents and prime ministers address one another by their first names; the social privilege goes with the title. And it is nearly inconceivable that the specific leaders of Germany, France, Britain, or Canada (the biggest NATO allies), none of whom thought highly of Trump, would have shown such deference, except perhaps sardonically. Second, it is true that Trump pressed the allies to spend more on defense. But it is almost certainly untrue that he threatened to encourage Russia to attack if they didnt. Had he said something so provocative, it would have leaked to the press (like almost everything else he says). Trump was just bragging to his base. The disturbing thing is that he considers such an irresponsible remark to be a brag. Finally, on some level, was Trump right? Quite apart from the particulars, did he successfully pressure the allies to stop being delinquent on their bills and pay up? First, we need to clarify what these terms mean. NATO members have no bills; there is no such thing as being compliant or delinquent on dues payable to Washington or Brussels. Rather, back in 2006, NATOs members agreed to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. Very few members made good on this pledge. So, at a summit in 2014, they got a bit more concrete and practical, agreeing to meet their 2 percent goal by 2024. How well are they doing? At the moment, 11 of NATOs 30 countries have met the 2 percent goalPoland, the U.S., Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Britain, and Slovakiawith Germany on course to join the list this year. This is an improvement. In 2014, when the target date was set, just three countries (the U.S., Britain, and Greece) were spending that much. Did Trump bring about this improvement? Perhaps to some degree, but other factors played a role. When Trump took office in 2017, the number of compliant nations had risen from three to six. During his term, the number rose to 10. So, he could claim that hes responsible foror at least presided overa bit more than half the increase (four out of seven). But other factors intervened, not least Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and incursion into eastern Ukraine. That grabbed the attention of NATOs members, especially those in Eastern Europe, closest to Russias borders and in some cases former members of the Russia-led Warsaw Pact. (Seven of the 11 nations that now are 2-percenters are uncomfortably close to Russias borders.) Percentage of GDP is a measure of effort, not of capability. Looking at how much money the NATO countries besides the United States spend on defense, we see that the amount did rise during Trumps termfrom $277 billion in 2017 to $323 billion in 2021, an increase of $46 billion. But this trend of increasing spending began in 2014, the year of NATOs pledge and, more decisively, of Putins aggression in Ukraine. In those three years before Trump took office, spending rose from $250 billion to $277 billion, an increase of $27 billion. Trump presided over part of this growth in spending, and his pressure may have sustained it, but he did not spur it. Even granting Trump some credit, he has exaggerated its impact. In 2019 he claimed that NATO spending had gone up $130 billion during his termmore than five times the amount it had increased by that point. In sum, from start to finish, Trumps remark on Saturday is appalling: part falsehood, part exaggeration, but most significantly, a clear statement of his intentions in foreign policy should American voters return him to the White House. The strength of an alliance depends most of all on the credibility of its members commitments. Trump is throwing grave doubt on that credibility. He is telling allies that under a second Trump term, the United States cannot be trusted. Hes telling adversaries that they can, in his own words, do whatever the hell they want. Powerful Kansas lobbyists came out in force against Senate Bill 446, a bill that would bar foreign nationals from owning 10 or more acres of land unless approved by a council created by the bill. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach proposed the bill citing concerns about foreign countries pricing young farmers out of Kansas farmland, cartel-owned parcels used in the drug trade and the Chinese company Cnano creating a manufacturing plant in Johnson County. The bill wouldnt apply to foreign-born citizens or green card holders, but other residents or foreign companies would need an exemption when purchasing more than 3 acres. The states largest lobbyists in agriculture, utilities, business and civil rights rose in opposition to the bill. The Kansas Farm Bureau, Livestock Association, Agribusiness Retailers Association, Corn Growing Association and Soybean Association all opposed the motion, citing its infringement on private property rights and existing laws prohibiting corporate farming. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach proposed a bill that would mandate noncitizens get state approval before buying more than 3 acres of property. There are anti-corporate farming laws. Not only can a foreign corporation from China or any other foreign country not own agricultural land in the state of Kansas, neither can an evil corporation from Nebraska, said John Donley, a lobbyist with the Kansas Farm Bureau. The Kansas Livestock Association said the rise in noncitizen ownership of land is in leases for renewable energy companies. Of the 1.2 million acres of foreign-owned land in the state, about 67,000 acres are used for things besides wind and solar farms. The statewide Kansas Chamber of Commerce, several regional chambers and other business and economic development lobbies said the bill could impair foreign businesses from employing Kansans. Civil rights organizations said the bill could create discriminatory practices by the foreign land council. The council itself would be made up of the attorney general, the governor, the secretary of state, the adjutant general and the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. They would have sole authority over which foreign-owned companies would be given an exemption on purchases. Kobach said the council would probably approve purchases from individuals or companies from allied nations but would oppose adversaries from buying land due to the security risk. The commission, as you can tell because its the adjutant general bringing in national defense information in, the KBI and the AG, it would be for security risks, Kobach said. So, obviously a plant for producing US manufactured automobiles or distributing automobiles owned by a foreign corporation would not pose any sort of risk and presumably would be approved. Despite pushback from lobbyists, Kobach stressed that nearly half of all states have some prohibitions on the acquisition of land by a foreign entity. He said SB 446 avoids issues other states make when doing similar legislation by making it a blanked decision against foreign ownership, rather than targeting it at specific countries that are deemed adversaries by U.S. Department of State. Kobach said relying on official adversaries doesnt address cartels, can change at the whims of the state department and is more prone to legal challenges claiming ethnic discrimination. KBI supported the bill and said neighboring states have seen an increase in cartel-owned marijuana growing operations, and that they have classified information that would shock people but that they arent able to share. There are many things that we are aware of in law enforcement that we cant share with you. So, Im coming to you with trepidation saying were asking for your trust at some level, said Robert Stuart, executive officer of KBI. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas bill that would limit foreign land acquisition sparks pushback Yenifer Galicia, who has worked at From the Heart Preschool in Los Angeles for three years, watches over the children on Monday. Her boss, Betty Luckett, is planning to increase the rates she charges parents to give employees a raise. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) LaWanda Wesley had been working in child care for more than two decades, but no matter what she did, she couldn't seem to get a meaningful raise or the promotion she felt she deserved. Her salary was stuck at around $19 an hour. She earned her master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies, then a doctorate in educational leadership and management all while raising five children as a single mother. But the organizations she worked for told her not to expect any pay difference or title change. At one point, Wesley, who is Black, was demoted and asked to train a white co-worker to be her supervisor. At another, a company was audited by the state and required to give her a 7% raise because she was so underpaid. The message I got as a Black woman in early education was that no matter what you do what letters and degree attainment this is your place. And this place is not one of value," said Wesley. "I remember feeling so less than, so demeaned and confused." Women of color make up nearly two-thirds of the early childhood workforce in California, yet they routinely earn lower wages and hold lower positions than their white peers even when they have more education, according to a new report from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley. The researchers surveyed 7,500 individuals working in the child-care sector in late 2020 and found: Black and Latina educators are more likely to be employed in lower-paying roles. Black educators are not rewarded with pay increases for obtaining a higher educational degree. Black, Latina and Asian teachers receive smaller pay increases when they are promoted to director of a child-care center than do their white peers. White educators make up 35% of the overall workforce but hold 54% of leadership positions. Latinas represent 40% of the early childhood workforce but make up 24% of child-care center directors. Black directors earn $3,600 less and Latina directors earn $7,700 less than Asian or white center directors While Black educators make up 8% of the total early child-care workforce, they are 13% of in-home child-care providers, who are the most likely to report economic worries. People often assume that more education leads to higher wages or job advancements, but our data showed that wasnt the case," said Yoonjeon Kim, a lead research analyst at the UC Berkeley center. "Black educators were just as educated as white educators, but they were paid less," Kim said. Read more: Biting, kicking, hurling blocks. Preschools struggle with California law limiting expulsion Child-care workers have long struggled with some of the lowest wages in the economy, regardless of race or ethnicity. Assistant teachers in California were paid an average of $16 per hour, the survey found, and lead teachers $19.10 less than the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers that will begin in April. Unlike in public school districts, child-care workers do not have a standard salary ladder that sets wages based on education and years of experience, which can help safeguard against the biases. Wesley, who is now the director of government relations at the Child Care Resource Center, a large nonprofit that helps connect families in Los Angeles County with child care and other resources, says the results of the survey are not surprising. Early childhood educators of color, she said, are often encouraged to stay in roles that work directly with children, rather than being promoted into leadership. "You'll see us spend 20 to 30 years in the same position without being promoted," she said. "You just feel like you're stuck, and your dreams get squashed on any kind of pay equity. It's just out of reach." Keisha Nzewi, co-founder of Black Californians United for ECE, a nonprofit that works for Black children, families and workers, said the low wages in child care are a remnant of slavery. "Women were forced to do it for free and forced to care for their oppressors' children instead of their own children. When we begin to pay for it, we still barely pay for it." The inequities are built into the current funding structure, said Nzewi. State subsidies that help low-income families pay for child care are set according to the "market rate" in each community. In low-income communities, where many women of color set up child-care centers, they are paid less. People want to serve their community, they want to serve families in their neighborhood. But to do that they earn lower wages, she said. "We have the poor subsidizing the poor." One counterpoint is Head Start, where women of color are more likely to work and which pays higher wages than many privately owned child-care centers, the study notes. Lower pay in low-income communities Betty Luckett is struggling to make payroll as the owner of From the Heart Preschool and Enrichment Center in Inglewood, which cares for up to 40 children, including kindergartners. She charges her primarily working class parents $1,325 to $1,425 a month in tuition for a full-time spot at the child-care center, but its not enough, she said. Shes thinking of raising the fees soon, but she knows she cant raise prices as high as centers in wealthier parts of Los Angeles County families in the area wouldnt be able to afford it. The regional disparities have a big impact on how she can pay her seven employees, who are Black and Latino, she said. Luckett hopes to raise full-time teachers to $22 an hour and part-time teachers to $20 an hour to be competitive with other industries such as fast food and retail. Its frustrating to see how hard it is to match those industries when child-care workers deserve to earn more for their work, she said. This is a Black and brown problem, Luckett said. As a whole, we are just not valued. We're expected to do these things for our underserved communities, and our subsidies don't manage what we do. California looks to the future California is in the midst of a wave of policy changes that could shift the current disparities, the report notes. The state is overhauling the way it sets rates for publicly funded child care, for example, and could choose to incorporate a formal wage ladder, said Kim. At the same time, the state is also creating a new teaching credential for preschool through third grade, including the expanded transitional kindergarten program. "As of this writing, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing has made policy choices that privilege the current K-12 teacher pipeline (a traditionally White workforce) as well as early educators with greater financial means," the researchers wrote. "It is not too late to change course." The study found that Latina educators held lower levels of education than other racial and ethnic groups. Yohana I. Quiroz entered the child-care workforce in her early 20s, but she said it took her 15 years to earn the associates degree, while working full time, that allowed to her transfer to a four-year college. "I didnt see myself as a capable learner, and I was made to feel that way," said Quiroz, who is now the chief operating officer at the Felton Institute, a large nonprofit child-care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area. I felt like I didnt belong, Im not good enough, Im not smart enough." Eventually, she made it to a program at San Francisco State University that was tailored toward full-time workers and was able to get her bachelor's degree and then her doctorate in educational leadership. But how many people actually make it that far and dont give up on that journey? she asked. And what are the ways we can support the workforce so degree attainment is not the issue? This article is part of The Times early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed. Updates: 3:01 a.m. Feb. 13, 2024: Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The US Senate passed a $95 billion national security package to aid Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and other US allies 70-29 on early Tuesday (Feb. 13) after a months-long debate that deeply divided congressional Republicans, with some of them voting to approve the bill, while 29 Trump-aligned Republican senators rejected it. "These past few months have been a great test for the U.S. Senate, to see if we could escape the centrifugal pull of partisanship and summon the will to defend Western democracy when it mattered most," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said after the bill was passed. "Today, the Senate has resoundingly passed the test." "History settles every account," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added. "And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink." However, the legislation might not be able to pass on the other side of Capitol Hill after House Speaker Mike Johnson preemptively rejected it on Monday night (Feb. 12), saying in a statement that the package's failure to address US border security made it a nonstarter in the House. "In the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters," he said. "America deserves better than the Senate's status quo." Johnson and other House leaders were responsible for failing an earlier version of the legislation including sweeping border security measures and other reforms, the Washington Post reported. Read Also: US Senate Advances $95 Billion Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill After Failed Negotiations on Border Deal Supporting Allies vs. Border Security The aid package has been anticipated by the White House since US President Joe Biden appealed for the funding in October, shortly after Israel came under attack by Hamas. Johnson and House GOP lawmakers demanded that a border security package be included in it to gain votes from them. However, they have since abandoned the proposal amid opposition from former president Donald Trump, who has primarily focused on the border crisis as a core campaign issue and openly complained that the border reforms would only help Biden and the Democrats. In a recent rally, Trump took advantage of the unpopularity of Ukraine funding by publicly encouraging Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO nations that he viewed were not spending enough money on defense. Top NATO officials have since criticized his comments. Trump also explicitly opposed the foreign aid package, saying in a recent social media post that he believed that any aid from Washington should be given as a loan. There are efforts to utilize loopholes to go around Johnson and pass the bill through a Democratic-led discharge petition. Democrats would need to gather at least four signatures from Republicans supportive of Ukraine funding to be able to introduce the petition, which probably would not happen until the end of the month, given the congressional calendar. However, not all Democrats in the House were supportive of the Israeli government's handling of the war in Gaza. This meant that enough Republicans would need to support the bill to make up for those Democrats who would not vote for the bill over the aid to Israel. Related Article: Senate Clears Hurdle for Aid Package for Ukraine, Israel as Bipartisan Support Grows Washington Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke with Paul Whelan, an American businessman the U.S. considers to be wrongfully detained in Russia, on Monday. "Yesterday, as it happens, I spoke on the phone with Paul Whelan," Blinken said Tuesday at an event on hostage diplomacy at the Wilson Center in Washington. "Our intensive efforts to bring Paul home continue every single day, and they will until he and Evan Gershkovich and every other American wrongfully detained is back with their loved ones." It's the third time Blinken has spoken with Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges, which the U.S. has said are sham charges. Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. Blinken assured Whelan that the U.S. is working to bring him home, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in Tuesday's briefing. "He assured Paul Whelan, as he has in his previous calls, that we're with you. We have not forgotten you. We continue to work to try to secure your release. And we will continue to work to try to secure your release. It is the top priority, not just of the secretary but of President Biden as well," Miller said. Paul Whelan stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on Aug. 23, 2019. / Credit: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images Whelan's brother David told CBS News in an email that he does not think the phone call signals any positive movement in securing his release. "I don't think it signals anything other than that the U.S. government continues to try to reassure Paul that they are working on his freedom," David Whelan said. He added that the phone calls "mean a lot to Paul and our parents' morale," and that the call was originally meant to happen in January but the logistics didn't work out on Whelan's end. The president met with Whelan's sister, Elizabeth, in January at the White House, and his family repeatedly has pressed for the administration to do more to bring him home. In early December, the State Department said it made a "new and significant" proposal to Russia for the release of Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last March on unsubstantiated espionage charges while he was on a reporting trip. The U.S. has also declared Gershkovich, who is awaiting trial, wrongfully detained. "That proposal was rejected by Russia," Miller said in December. Miller said at Monday's briefing that the U.S. has put offers on the table "more than once" to secure their release. "We will continue to engage to try to pursue, or try to obtain, their release," he said. State Department issues travel warnings for the Bahamas and Jamaica Investigation after shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood church in Houston Harris says she's "ready to serve" amid questions over Biden's mental fitness Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently spoke with Paul Whelan, the former Marine who has been jailed in Russia for more than five years, Blinken said Tuesday. Blinken spoke on the phone with Whelan on Monday, he said during an event on hostage diplomacy in Washington D.C. But he provided few details about what he discussed with Whelan. The U.S. government, Whelan and his family maintain that he was unjustly accused and convicted after being arrested on espionage charges in Russia in 2018 and later sentenced to 16 years in prison. Our intensive efforts to bring Paul home continue every single day. And they will until he and Evan Gershkovich and every other American wrongfully detained [are] back with their loved ones, Blinken said, also referencing the Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia last March. In December, Whelan told BBC that he felt abandoned by the U.S. I know the U.S. [has] all sorts of proposals, but its not what the Russians want, Whelan told the British news outlet. They go back and forth, like throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. He called the situation extremely stressful, and said that he felt the U.S. had basically abandoned me here. SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) The American Red Cross is asking the public for a gift from the heart: blood donations. According to the Red Cross, fewer people donate blood during the winter due to storms. Although thousands of people have donated in recent weeks to combat the national blood shortage, more donors are needed to keep the blood supply ready to help save lives. The American Red Cross is asking people with all blood types, especially type O, to consider donating blood at one of the blood drives its holding across the Southern Tier this month. As an incentive, people who donate blood through the end of February will receive a $20 Amazon gift card via email. Those interested in donating blood can view a list of eligibility requirements on the Red Crosss website. What are the health benefits of dark chocolate? Upcoming blood drives in the Southern Tier can be found below broken down by location: Chemung County Big Flats Big Flats American Legion Feb. 20 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 45 Olcott Road Elmira First Presbyterian Church Feb. 22 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 1054 W. Clinton St. Horseheads Arnot Mall Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3300 Chambers Road American Legion Post 442 Feb. 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 71 Old Ithaca Road Schuyler County Montour Falls Montour Moose Lodge Feb. 14 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 2096 state Route 14 Watkins Glen Watkins Glen Community Center Feb. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 155 S. Clute Park Drive Schuyler County Public Health to hand out free toothbrushes this month Steuben County Addison Addison Community Center Feb. 17 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 13 Community Drive, Suite 103 Bath Centenary United Methodist Church Feb. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 3 W. Washington St. Canisteo American Legion Post 846 Feb. 19 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. 61 W. Main St. Corning Emanuel Lutheran Church Feb. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 149 W. William St. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 524 Feb. 26 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 281 Baker St. Hornell Hornell Area Family YMCA Feb. 16 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 18 Center St. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2250 Feb. 22 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 245 Canisteo St. Painted Post United Church of Painted Post Feb. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 201 N. Hamilton St. Corning-Painted Post Board of Education Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 165 Charles St. Wayland Lighthouse Wesleyan Church Feb. 27 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 101 S. Lackawanna St. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Russia and the West amid the conflict in Ukraine, Estonia's Prime Minister has been added to Russia's wanted list. The move comes on the heels of efforts to remove Soviet-era World War II monuments in the Baltic nation, officials revealed on Tuesday. According to an article published by The Associated Press, the name of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas appeared on the Russian Interior Ministry's list of people wanted on unspecified criminal charges. While independent Russian news outlet Mediazona first reported that Kallas was on the list, it claims she has been for a while. The list also includes scores of officials and lawmakers from other Baltic nations. Estonia and fellow NATO members Latvia and Lithuania have pulled down monuments that are widely seen as an unwanted legacy of the Soviet occupation of those countries. In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, both Poland and the Czech Republic have seen the removal of several monuments dedicated to Red Army soldiers. Moscow has denounced those moves as a desecration of the memory of Soviet soldiers who fell while fighting Nazi Germany. Reuters quoted Kallas from a post on social media platform X, "The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others - but it won't." "I will continue my strong support to Ukraine. I will continue to stand for increasing Europe's defense," she said, adding Russia's move was not a surprise. In response, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered a criminal investigation into the matter. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "This is only the beginning." "Crimes against the memory of the world's liberators from Nazism and fascism must be prosecuted," she said. What About The Other Baltic States? Baltic politicians risk being placed under arrest only if they cross the Russian border, otherwise declaring them as "wanted" is unlikely to have any practical consequence. In addition to Kallas, Estonian State Secretary Taimar Peterkop, Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, and about 60 of the 100 members of the previous Latvian parliament, which ended its term in November 2022, were put on the list, according to the ministry database. Kairys told Reuters the arrest order "means I acted actively and in a principled way." In 1940, the Baltic states were annexed by the Soviet Union, endured occupation by Nazi Germany, and then reverted to Moscow's rule within the Soviet Communist bloc. Independence was reestablished in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. All three are members of the European Union and NATO, and their relations with Moscow have worsened deeply since the start of the war. Several dozen other Baltic politicians were also added to the Russian wanted list, including mayors, municipal deputies, and the former Latvian interior minister, Marija Golubeva, reported Reuters. BOSTON A Brockton man accused of a home invasion robbery in Canton pleaded guilty Monday to racketeering conspiracy involving the Dorchester gang Cameron Street, the U.S. attorney's office said. Daronde "Freeze" Bethea, 32, of Boston and Brockton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly known as RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, prosecutors said a news release. Bethea was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2022. He was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston, prosecutors said. They said Bethea tried to kill a rival gang member in Dorchester in June 2018. As the victim got into his car, Bethea allegedly shot the victim multiple times. In addition, Bethea was involved in two violent home invasion robberies in November 2017 in Dorchester and July 2018 in Canton. During a chase from the Canton home, Bethea was captured on a police cruiser camera possessing a loaded handgun that was later recovered, prosecutors said. According to court documents, Cameron Street members use violence to protect and expand their territory. They allegedly use social media to promote the gang, celebrate murders and other violent crimes, and denigrate rival gangs. They use firearms, sell drugs, commit armed robberies and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income, prosecutors said. The charge of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence each carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 16. Among the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation were Quincy, Canton, Randolph, Brockton and Stoughton police; State Police; and the district attorney's offices in Norfolk and Plymouth counties. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Suspect in Canton home invasion pleads guilty to RICO charge At least one person was killed and five were injured after an apparent dispute between teenagers on the New York City subway turned deadly on Monday evening. Police said the rush hour shooting at Mount Eden Avenue station in the Bronx was not an indiscriminate act of violence but believed to have escalated from an argument between two groups of minors. One 34-year-old man was killed, while five other people ranging from 14 years old to 71 years old were taken to hospital in a stable condition. Some of the victims are believed to have been part of the dispute, while others were bystanders, police said. This is unacceptable, and when detectives make an arrest and Im very confident they will there must be swift, immediate, strong consequences, said New York Police Department (NYPD) chief of transit Michael Kemper. Follow live updates on the situation below. Key Points Shooting began as dispute between two groups of teens' What we know about the six victims Bronx shooter is now NYPDs most wanted' What we know, the morning after the violence 03:12 , Io Dodds Good morning. Police are still hunting for a suspect in yesterday's deadly shooting at Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx. At least one person was killed and five injured in what police believe was a dispute between two groups of teenagers that escalated into violence. "You are now NYPD's most wanted, and we have the greatest detectives in the world looking for you." said one NYPD official as he addressed the shooter directly during a press conference. "We suggest you turn yourself in, 'cause you're not gonna make it." We're hoping to hear more updates from the NYPD on their investigation today. A reportedly lethal shooting on the New York subway Monday 12 February 2024 22:47 , Io Dodds Good evening. At least six people have been hurt and one is reported to be dead in a shooting on the New York City subway. Based on early reports, the attack happened at the Mount Eden subway station in the Bronx at around 4:47pm Monday. We dont yet know whether this was a mass shooting by a single perpetrator, or something else, but well bring you more information as soon as we have it. Police urge people to avoid the area Monday 12 February 2024 22:59 , Io Dodds Police have asked New Yorkers and visitors to stay well clear of Jerome Ave between Inwood Ave and Townsend Ave. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs NYCs transit system, is rerouting trains around Mount Eden station. New York congressman calls the incident a mass shooting' Monday 12 February 2024 23:03 , Io Dodds New York congressman Ritchie Torres has commented on the attack, describing it as a mass shooting. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, about ten minutes ago, he said that the shoot was still at large and confirmed that one person had been killed. There was a mass shooting in and near the Mount Eden subway station in the Bronx. At least one person has been murdered and at least five have been shot. The shooter remains at large. The NYPD is advising the public to avoid the area of Jerome Avenue between Inwood Avenue Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) February 12, 2024 All five wounded expected to survive, say officials Monday 12 February 2024 23:16 , Io Dodds According to CBS news, all five of the people who were injured in the shooting are expected to survive. The New York Fire Department said that four of those people have serious injures, and one has minor injuries. Police said the victims comprised four men and two women. The identity of the person who was killed is not yet known. Man in his thirties was killed Monday 12 February 2024 23:18 , Io Dodds The Associated Press is now reporting that person killed in the shooting was a man in his thirties. According to police, a single suspect opened fire at bystanders on the station platform at 4:38pm. That suspect is as yet unidentified and still on the loose, as far as we know. Shooting reportedly began as a fight aboard a train Monday 12 February 2024 23:35 , Io Dodds Multiple outlets are reporting that the shooting began as an argument or fight aboard a train which then spread onto the platform. Both The New York Post and CBS News have made that claim, citing police sources. I heard gunshots running, shooting like maybe six times, five, six times. I heard two child[ren] screaming. And then, when I saw the train coming, thats when I ran downstairs, one witness told CBS. Different outlets are reporting contradictory information about the victims, so for now we are holding off on saying more until we can verify the reports. Victims age ranged from 14 to 71 00:14 , Io Dodds The NYPD has now confirmed some basic details about the victims. Heres what we know: A 34-year-old man, shot and later pronounced dead at St Barnabas hospital A 28-year-old man, shot in the right arm, taken to St Barnabas in a stable condition A 29-year-old woman, shot in the face and in the neck, taken to St Barnabas in stable condition A 15-year-old boy, shot in the thigh and in the ear, taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital in a stable condition A 14-year-old girl, shot in the foot, taken to Presbyterian in a stable condition A 71-year-old man, shot, taken to Bronx Care Hospital in a stable condition Early reports that all the victims were children or teenagers seem to have been unfounded. The NYPD will hold a press conference at 7:30pm Eastern Time to give out more information. Shooting began as dispute between two groups of teens' 00:26 , Io Dodds Police believe that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between two groups of teenagers riding a northbound subway train. At a press conference just now (it seems to have started early), NYPD chief of transit Michael Kemper said that detectives do not believe this was a case of one person firing indiscriminately into a crowd. Instead, he said, the dispute escalated until at least one person pulled a gun, causing commuters on the rush-hour train to scramble out onto the platform. Some of the victims are believed to have been part of the dispute, while others were bystanders, he added. This is unacceptable, and when detectives make an arrest and Im very confident they will there must be swift, immediate, strong consequences, said Mr Kemper. Corrected: NYPD officer is named Michael Kemper 00:37 , Io Dodds CORRECTION: The NYPD chief of transit is called Michael Kemper, not Michael Kaplan. The post below mentioning his name has been corrected. Bronx shooter is now NYPDs most wanted' 00:56 , Io Dodds At the end of the press conference, one NYPD official addressed the shooter directly with a special message. "You are now NYPD's most wanted," he said. "And we have the greatest detectives in the world looking for you. "We suggest you turn yourself in, 'cause you're not gonna make it." Watch as @NYPD1stDep Tania Kinsella makes a law enforcement announcement on an ongoing investigation in The Bronx within the confines of the @NYPD44Pct. https://t.co/YiOCsvt1FI NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 13, 2024 New Yorks heart breaks' 01:32 , Io Dodds The head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has given his condolences to the victims and their families, calling the shooting a heartbreaking act of senseless violence. New Yorks heart breaks when people who are headed home, and kids headed home from school to do their homework, are subjected to random acts of violence like what occurred here today late this afternoon, said MTA chairman and chief executive Janno Lieber at the press conference earlier today. New Yorks heart breaks when guns are on the streets, even though the mayor and the governor are doing everything possible to get guns off the streets... We have made tremendous progress against transit crime, with an amazing transit bureau. But right now we are in mourning, and determined to fight back against guns on our streets. New York is still fighting to preserve its strict gun laws 01:59 , Io Dodds Mondays shooting in the Bronx came as New Yorks state government continues to fight in court to preserve its historically strict gun laws. In 2022, the US Supreme Court struck down a century-old New York law that required gun owners to show they had proper cause before getting a concealed carry licence. State officials responded by crafting new legislation that allowed more people to get a licence while banning guns from actually being carried in schools, public playgrounds, theatres, bars, buses, airports, and more. Now those laws too are being challenged, and certain provisions such as banning guns from places of worship and requiring applicants to list their social media accounts have already been struck down. 'What I heard sounded like a battlefield' 02:44 , Io Dodds Witnesses have described the station at the centre of the shooting as "like a battlefield" as gunshots rang out and commuters fled for cover. Yanesa Ortega, a 29-year-old MTA bus driver, told The New York Times that she was walking home near the station when she heard multiple shots and saw people running and screaming down the station steps. Heriberto Paredes, a 52-year-old mechanic who works nearby, said that he gave first aid to a young woman whose coat was soaked with blood. "What I heard sounded like a battlefield, Mr Paredes told the Times. "I could see the despair on peoples faces, wondering how something like this could happen in a city thats supposedly safe." How bad is violent crime in New York right now? 03:37 , Io Dodds Reported crime rates in New York City have fallen overall since 2019, despite spiking after the end of Covid lockdowns. According to police statistics, the Big Apple's crime rates fell by 0.3 per cent between 2022 and 2024, with murders falling by 12 per cent. There were also significant drops in shootings, robberies, burglaries, sexual assaults, and grand larcenies. Compared to its population, New York has a considerably lower murder rate than other cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis, and Kansas City, Missouri. Crimes on the subway are relatively rare, but a number of headline-grabbing shootings on the system over the past few years have stoked public concern. In 2022, Frank James donned a gas mask before igniting smoke bombs and opening fire with a handgun on a crowded Manhattan-bound train, wounding ten people. And earlier this year, a man was shot and killed on the subway in Brooklyn when he tried to break up a fight between two other passengers who were arguing over loud music. Witness describes 'total pandemonium' 04:41 , Io Dodds A witness has described the scene at Mount Eden Avenue station as "total pandemonium". Luis Rodrigquez, 34, told The New York Post that he was a passenger on the train. He heard children screaming, and quickly ran out of the station as soon as he had disembarked. "It was total pandemonium," he said. "It makes you scared to ride the train." One woman, who called emergency services from her apartment close to the station, told the Post that she saw three teenage boys on the tracks after the shooting. Two of them appeared to be having an argument, she said, while another one ran away. She also said they were carrying book bags. ICYMI: What we know about the six victims 05:50 , Io Dodds Heres what the police have told us so far about the six victims: A 34-year-old man, shot and later pronounced dead at St Barnabas hospital A 28-year-old man, shot in the right arm, taken to St Barnabas in a stable condition A 29-year-old woman, shot in the face and in the neck, taken to St Barnabas in stable condition A 15-year-old boy, shot in the thigh and in the ear, taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital in a stable condition A 14-year-old girl, shot in the foot, taken to Presbyterian in a stable condition A 71-year-old man, shot, taken to Bronx Care Hospital in a stable condition Kathy Hochul comments on the tragedy 06:55 , Io Dodds New York governor Kathy Hochul has addressed the situation. Ive been briefed on the shooting at the Mount Eden station in the Bronx & have directed the MTA to provide all necessary support to the NYPD as they complete their investigation, she said on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Were deeply grateful to the NYPD and other first responders working to address this situation. I've been briefed on the shooting at the Mount Eden station in the Bronx & have directed the @MTA to provide all necessary support to the @NYPDnews as they complete their investigation. Were deeply grateful to the NYPD & other first responders working to address this situation. Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 12, 2024 'Not only must people be actually safe, they must feel safe' 08:01 , Io Dodds City mayor Eric Adams has vowed to make sure that New Yorkers feel safe travelling on the subway in the wake of Mondays shooting. Calling in to 1010 WINS radio on Monday evening, he said that the NYPD had done a lot of work to get guns off the street and reduce violence. But he said that more was needed to restore public confidence in the system, which is still recovering from the loss of riders and therefore revenue during the pandemic. Not only people must be actually safe, but what we have done in lowering crime, they must feel safe, Mr Adams said. "And something like this can send shockwaves throughout our entire system." ICYMI: Witnesses describe how station became a battlefield' 09:06 , Io Dodds Witnesses have described the station at the centre of the shooting as like a battlefield as gunshots rang out and commuters fled for cover. Yanesa Ortega, a 29-year-old MTA bus driver, told The New York Times that she was walking home near the station when she heard multiple shots and saw people running and screaming down the station steps. Heriberto Paredes, a 52-year-old mechanic who works nearby, said that he gave first aid to a young woman whose coat was soaked with blood. What I heard sounded like a battlefield, Mr Paredes told the Times. I could see the despair on peoples faces, wondering how something like this could happen in a city thats supposedly safe. ICYMI: New Yorks battle to preserve strict gun laws 09:53 , Io Dodds Mondays shooting in the Bronx came as New Yorks state government continues to fight in court to preserve its historically strict gun laws. In 2022, the US Supreme Court struck down a century-old New York law that required gun owners to show they had proper cause before getting a concealed carry licence. State officials responded by crafting new legislation that allowed more people to get a licence while banning guns from actually being carried in schools, public playgrounds, theatres, bars, buses, airports, and more. Now those laws too are being challenged, and certain provisions such as banning guns from places of worship and requiring applicants to list their social media accounts have already been struck down. ICYMI: How bad is violent crime in New York right now? 10:35 , Io Dodds Reported crime rates in New York City have fallen overall since 2019, despite spiking after the end of Covid lockdowns. According to police statistics, the Big Apples crime rates fell by 0.3 per cent between 2022 and 2024, with murders falling by 12 per cent. There were also significant drops in shootings, robberies, burglaries, sexual assaults, and grand larcenies. Compared to its population, New York has a considerably lower murder rate than other cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis, and Kansas City, Missouri. Crimes on the subway are relatively rare, but a number of headline-grabbing shootings on the system over the past few years have stoked public concern. In 2022, Frank James donned a gas mask before igniting smoke bombs and opening fire with a handgun on a crowded Manhattan-bound train, wounding ten people. And earlier this year, a man was shot and killed on the subway in Brooklyn when he tried to break up a fight between two other passengers who were arguing over loud music. NYPD hunt New Yorks most wanted after one killed and five wounded in subway shooting 14:57 , Graig Graziosi The person who opened fire at a subway station in New York, leaving one person dead and five others injured, is now the NYPDs most wanted, police said. Members of the public were advised to avoid the area following the mass shooting incident that took place at the Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx, in New York on Monday. One of the victims a 34-year-old male died at St Barnabas Hospital, police said. The other five victims were treated at the scene and transported to hospital, though their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. READ MORE: NYPD hunt New Yorks most wanted after one killed and five hurt in subway shooting NYPD releases photos, asks for help identifying two men allegedly connected to the shooting 15:32 , Graig Graziosi The NYPD is asking for help identifying two men who were at the Mt Eden Station in the Bronx on the night of the shooting that left one man dead and five others wounded. The police have not named the men as suspects. On Feb 12 at 4:35pm, the 2 males below were on the northbound #4 Train platform at the Mt. Eden Station where 6 people were shotwith 1 killed. @NYPDDetectives are seeking to identify these 2 individuals pictured. DM @NYPDTips or call 800-577-TIPS. All calls are confidential. pic.twitter.com/i3YAJBLZd0 NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 13, 2024 Blog closed 16:13 , Graig Graziosi Thanks for reading. Stick with the The Independent for more reporting on this and other stories. A man is in jail facing murder charges after police say a three-year-old boy shot himself in the face. On Saturday at around 7 a.m., DeKalb County police were called to the 2600 block of Habersham Drive, off Candler Road, regarding a person shot. When officers arrived, they learned a three-year-old shot himself in the face and his mother had taken him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Bryan Mims spoke with the childs father, who identified the toddler as Eric Jermon Duncan. The investigation showed that the gun belonged to 21-year-old Antoine Jordan, who police said left the gun unsecured. Jordan was the boys brother, the father said. He declined to speak on camera and offered no details about the shooting, saying he was not home at the time. Jordan was arrested and charged with murder in the second degree and cruelty to children in the second degree. He is now being held at the DeKalb County Jail and was denied bond at a court appearance Monday. TRENDING STORIES: DeKalb officials said multiple people were detained but have not said whether anyone else could face charges. Several neighbors declined to speak on camera. One neighbor across the street described the child as always sweet and came from a good family. Its just awful, he said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Navy explosive ordnance disposal units and divers concluded the seventh iteration of Exercise Snow Crab at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota, this month. The exercise, which involved sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, aimed to hone Navy EOD and diver capabilities in a simulated Arctic environment to test and evaluate tactics, equipment and operations. The first week of training focused on cold weather survival training and controlled ice diving training, according to Cdmr. Garrett Pankow, commanding officer of Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2. The weather this year was a little mild, so it challenged us to use both cold weather mobility skills with vehicles, as well as potential snowmobiles and other snow, Arctic-related mobility capabilities. Pankow, who oversaw the exercise, told Navy Times. Navy explosive ordnance disposal techs launch Snow Crab Exercise The second week of training focused on merging those cold weather skills into simulated problems sailors would encounter in such austere environments, Pankow said. Being in a new environment, and the realistic use of live unexploded ordnance here, built on our previous training and is critical to building confidence and competence for our platoons, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Calvin Quinn, lead chief petty officer of EODMU 12, said in a Navy news release. Every place is different; every piece of ordnance is different. This exercise gave us real-life training on what we simulate all the time. The Navy also teamed up with the Minnesota National Guard, who provided air support, and Air Force EOD Technicians from the 148th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, who provided demolition training and operations. Navy leaders have cited a need for a strong military presence in the Arctic as global warming opens more waters in the freezing-cold territory to navigation. As a result, the service has launched exercises like Snow Crab to allow sailors to become more adept at operating in the Arctic. In January 2021, the Navy released its Blue Arctic strategy for the region, calling on the sea service to operate more assertively there. It also warned that Russia is reopening old bases in the Arctic and reinvigorating regional exercises a trend thats expected to continue. That report also warns that China will bolster its naval activity on, below and above Arctic waters. Exercise Snow Crab kicked off on Jan 24 and concluded on Feb. 4. A case of bubonic plague has been reported in Oregon. Although the Black Death devastated Europe in the 1300s, the plague does exist around the world today. Cases of the plague also appear in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In Florida, it's been more than a century since the last reported case, but the Florida Department of Health warned "the disease still remains a threat." Here's what you should know about bubonic plague. What is bubonic plague? Plague is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, according to the CDC. "Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague." In the recent Oregon case of the plague, the person was likely infected by a house cat. How does bubonic plague spread? This embedded content is not available in your region. Many animals rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, and rabbits can be affected by plague. According to the CDC, it's transmitted to humans by: Flea bites. Contact with contaminated fluid or tissue. Infectious droplets spread by coughing and inhaling the droplets. How do cats get the plague? "Cats are particularly susceptible to plague, and can be infected by eating infected rodents," the CDC said. "Sick cats pose a risk of transmitting infectious plague droplets to their owners or to veterinarians. Several cases of human plague have occurred in the United States in recent decades as a result of contact with infected cats." How many cases of plague are there in the US? Reported cases of human plague in the U.S. from 1970 to 2020. Presently, human plague infections continue to occur in rural areas in the western United States, but significantly more cases occur in parts of Africa and Asia, according to the CDC. The plague was first introduced into the United States in 1900 by rat-infested ships arriving mostly from Asia. The last urban plague epidemic in the United States occurred in Los Angeles from 1924 through 1925, the CDC said. "Since then, all human plague cases in the U.S. have been sporadic cases acquired from wild rodents or their fleas or from direct contact with plague-infected animals," the Florida Department of Health said. In recent decades, an average of seven human plague cases have been reported each year, the CDC said. Most human cases in the United States occur in two areas: Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado. California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada. From 1970 to 2020, there were 496 reported cases of plague, the CDC said. The top states were: New Mexico: 253 Colorado: 66 Arizona: 65 California: 45 Oregon: 19 When was the last time the plague appeared in Florida? Pensacola Journal edition from June 14, 1920, discussing the presence of bubonic plague in the city. The last reported case of human plague in Florida occurred in 1920 during an outbreak in Pensacola, according to the Florida Department of Health. The human plague victims were isolated and those who consented were treated with serum. Out of 10 total cases, seven victims died, according to Florida Memory, the State Library and Archives of Florida. "Public health experts captured, examined and disposed of over 35,000 rats and mice from June 1920 to July 1921, carefully studying the fleas that came with them. "The programs final report gives 211 as the largest number of fleas found on a single rat, although the average was closer to about 10. City officials encouraged the public to do their share by trapping rats, covering them in oil to kill the fleas and turning them into the public health experts for processing," according to Florida Memory. "Wherever rats infected with plague bacteria were found, a team followed behind to clean up whatever conditions had made the property attractive to them. The eradication program ultimately used 1,228 pounds of cyanide and 1,854 pints of sulphuric acid to fumigate buildings. "The team also demolished seven houses and hauled 280 truckloads of trash and debris to the city dumps. The city government did its part to prevent future rodent infestations by passing new ordinances requiring business owners and residents to ratproof their buildings. "Plank sidewalks, which offered rats and mice a convenient space to live, were outlawed and replaced with stone, brick or concrete. Under the new laws, incoming ships had to attach rat shields to their mooring lines, and ramps and gangplanks leading from the ship to the wharf had to be taken up when not in use," according to Florida Memory. Read about the plague from Pensacola Journal accounts in the Library of Congress. Department of Health warns plague remains threat in Florida "The disease still remains a threat. "Even though plague is not currently in Florida, there is always the possibility that animals infected with Yersinia pestis may be imported into areas of the state that have suitable flea vectors." Can you treat the plague? If you get it, can you survive? Between 1900 and 2012, 1006 confirmed or probable human plague cases occurred in the United States. Between 1900 and 2012, 1,006 confirmed or probably cases of human plague occurred in the U.S., the CDC said. Plague is a very serious illness, but it is treatable with commonly available antibiotics. The earlier a patient seeks medical care and receives treatment, the better their chances are of a full recovery, the CDC said. However, without prompt treatment, the disease can cause serious illness or death as the bacteria spreads to other parts of the body. "If you live or have recently traveled to the western U.S. or any other plague endemic area and have symptoms suggestive of plague, seek health care immediately," the CDC said. Symptoms of bubonic plague The bubonic plague usually is caused by a bite from an infected flea. The bacteria multiply in a lymph node near where the bacteria entered the human body, the CDC said. The incubation period of bubonic plague is usually two to eight days. Symptoms include: Fever Headache Chills Weakness One or more swollen, painful lymph nodes (called buboes) How many died of the Black Death? The plague is infamous for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages, the CDC said. Exactly how many millions of people died? "The epidemic killed 30 percent to 50 percent of the entire population of Europe. "Between 75 million and 200 million people died in a few years time, starting in 1348 when the plague reached London," according to American Scientist. In comparison, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2023 population of the United States at just under 335 million. Estimated population of Florida as of July 1, 2023: 22.6 million. Is a common nursery rhyme really tied to the bubonic plague? Common folklore has it that the words in Ring Around the Rosie are referring to bubonic plague, with the words depicting the rash, flowers used to mask the smell of death and the final line referring to almost certain death. Ring around the rosie Pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes we all fall down The origins of the rhyme are lost in history and there are several different versions. Many experts doubt the connection to the plague. Some even have said the song is connected to courtship games, according to a Library of Congress blog. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Bubonic plague: Pensacola outbreak, symptoms, states high risk, cases A Buddhist monk at a temple in Brooklyn managed to fend off two armed robbers with a shelf bracket on Sunday, it was reported. The monk, Bun Sim was sleeping in his third-floor bedroom at the Watt Samakki Buddhist Temple in Brooklyn, New York, when the robbers, armed with a gun and a knife, entered attempting to steal valuables. Despite their efforts, the thieves only managed to take a small amount of cash from the donation jar and personal belongings from the monks and a retired handyman present at the time at the temple at Rugby Road in Flatbush. At least one assailant had a gun, according to the police. Mr Sim told Daily News that one of the robbers pointed a gun at his bedroom door as another tried to shove it open. Mr Sim resisted by pushing against the door and for self-defence, he quickly seized a nearby shelf bracket intended for wall mounting. The robbers backed off. I tried to make them afraid, Mr Sim told the outlet. I didnt want to hit them. If we are scared, they will destroy us. We have to scare them and protect the temple. I want to protect myself, he added. I dont want to destroy other people. Local media noted that the robbery has left the temple community shaken, fearing the impact on future donations and the safety of the monks, who are seen as vulnerable targets due to their non-violent beliefs and practices. The robbers reportedly couldnt get much about $50 from the donation jar at the feet of the temples first-floor Buddha idols and another $60 taken from monk Cannoeun Poun, 43, who was on the second floor when one robber approached him with a knife. I saw one knife and two people, Mr Poun recounted. He said, Wheres the money? The robbers took two cell phones from Mr Poun. A Buddhist monk used a spare shelf bracket to hold off a pair of gun-wielding bandits during the robbery of his Brooklyn temple. I tried to make them afraid. I didnt want to hit them, Bun Sim told the Daily News.https://t.co/UAL2pYzLIE New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 12, 2024 I was scared. It was a first time for me. I see knife, Im scared. Kay Sok, a 67-year-old retired handyman who previously worked and still resides at the temple, was in the basement bathroom when an intruder surprised him by pressing something against his back. Without seeing what it was, Mr Sok attempted to calm the masked thief by saying Tranquilo, tranquilo, trying to prevent any hasty actions from the robber. The temple, a place of prayer and meditation for the Cambodian community in New York since 1987, relies on donations for its upkeep. As the assault continues on the Palestinian enclave's southern city of Rafah, officials from the United States, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar meet in Cairo on Tuesday to agree on a truce in Gaza. Meanwhile, international calls continue to grow for Israel to halt its offensive. Over one million displaced Palestinians are crammed into Rafah, with many residing in tents and makeshift shelters under extremely poor conditions, having fled there from Israeli bombardments in other areas of Gaza during more than four months of Israeli assault on the territory. Reuters reports Israel claims it wants to flush out Hamas militants from hideouts in Rafah and free Israeli hostages being held there, and has no plans to evacuate trapped Palestinian civilians. It remains direly unclear where Palestinian civilians can go in the aftermath of a shattered territory. Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah overnight, causing waves of panic, residents said. Gaza health officials announced 133 new Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 28,473 killed and 68,146 wounded since Oct. 7. Many are buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings across the densely populated enclave, much of which is in ruins. Food supplies, water, and other essentials are running out, and diseases are spreading. Around half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are now packed into Rafah, many of whom fled other areas under fire. "Since Israel said they are invading Rafah soon...we read our last prayers every night. Every night we say farewell to one another and relatives outside Rafah," 30-year-old Aya, who is living in a tent with her mother, grandmother, and five siblings, told Reuters. Is The International Community Reacting? South Africa on Tuesday asked the World Court to consider whether Israel's plan to extend its offensive into Rafah required additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians' rights. Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it had not been informed of any Israeli evacuation plan for Rafah and was not part of it. "Where are you going to evacuate people to as no place is safe across the Gaza Strip, the north is shattered, riddled with unexploded weapons, it's pretty much unlivable," she said, adding that UNRWA would not participate in a forced evacuation. "Enough is enough. Any further escalation would be absolutely apocalyptic." On Monday, U.S. President and complicit ally, Joe Biden said Washington was working on a hostage deal to bring "immediate and sustained" calm to Gaza for at least six weeks. He has "urged Israel not to undertake a ground offensive in Rafah without a plan to protect civilians." Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), whos running for the Senate in California, said Monday that age limits for all elected officials should be discussed. I do think generally that age limits are a conversation for all elected officials that we ought to be having, Porter said Monday night during a California Senate debate. Porter made the remarks in response to a question about whether President Biden, 81, and former President Trump, 77, are too old to run for office. I think thats a conversation we ought to be open to. I think we need a mix of people whove had years of experience and people like me, whove only been in Congress for five years. But I think we have to have that conversation, Porter said. The House Democrat also lauded the Biden administration and said shes pleased with what hes done so far, during the debate moderated by Inside California Politics. Porter appeared alongside fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, as well as Republican candidate Steve Garvey. Theyre all vying for the seat opened up by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D). California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Sen. Laphonza Butler (D) to represent the Golden State until voters elect their next choice in 2024, and Butler has said she wont enter the crowded race. Feinsteins age was a matter of heavy discussion before her death at the age of 90. Questions were repeatedly raised in the last years of Feinsteins career about her ability to carry out her duties. California will hold a nonpartisan primary on March 5, in which the two candidates with the most votes will move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Schiff has been leading in recent polls. He also scored the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times and the backing of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Porter on Monday took a swing at Schiff over age limits. For his part, Schiff praised Biden and put Trump under the label that some people are unfit for office at any age. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Abhirup Roy (Reuters) - California lawmakers and labor unions rallied on Monday to call for laws to not allow autonomous trucks without human drivers, amid rising safety concerns after accidents involving self-driving taxis from General Motors and Alphabet. A robotaxi from Alphabet's Waymo was torched by people celebrating Chinese New Year on Saturday, marking the most destructive attack so far on driverless vehicles in the U.S. This comes after a Waymo vehicle hit a cyclist at a city intersection last week and a major accident in October where a GM Cruise robotaxi hit and dragged a pedestrian 20 feet (6 meters). The act of vandalism reflect a chaotic environment for robotaxis in San Francisco, where public ire has risen after the dragging and bicyclist accidents. State lawmakers are pushing for stricter control through two bills. "Those accidents have put an exclamation point on the need for legislation," Senator Dave Cortese, sponsor of a bill that would also give cities control over permits for AVs and enforcement of AV-related laws. Now, only state regulators control permitting. The other bill requires a trained human driver to be present behind the wheel of self-driving vehicles weighing more than 10,001 pounds, a classification that includes commercial trucks. "It's a common sense measure that keeps humans on board a truck until we have a plan for our workers and we're sure that tech bros aren't jamming unsafe technology down our throats," State Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry said at the rally on Monday. An earlier version of the same truck bill was passed by state lawmakers last year, but Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it, saying the current regulatory framework was enough to ensure safety. It was reintroduced in the state assembly on Thursday, in light of the Cruise accident. The Teamsters, one of America's biggest unions, has long opposed the deployment of AVs citing safety hazards and job losses, and it backs both bills. The Cruise and Waymo incidents "illustrate that this technology is not ready for prime time and that we can't trust these big tech corporations to regulate themselves," Peter Finn, a vice president at the union said. Tech companies are major contributors to the economy of California, and tightening regulations on autonomous vehicles is perceived by some as complicated. Waymo did not immediately respond to requests for comment on calls for more regulation and rising safety concerns. Cruise has said its handling of the October accident was a mistake and has offered to settle an investigation by a state regulator. Many states, including Texas and Arkansas, allow the testing and operation of self-driving trucks. California already bars heavy-weight autonomous trucks but is in the process of creating regulations that would allow it. The re-introduced truck bill would delay that process. Governor Newsom "will evaluate the bill on its merits if it reaches his desk," a spokesperson told Reuters, declining to comment further on pending legislation. Autonomous trucks, which operate mostly on set routes and highways, have avoided high-profile accidents. While Cruise is facing multiple investigations, including one by the Department of Justice, the Waymo incidents are being investigated by the city police. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Mrinmay Dey and Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Some European countries say they have stalled arms exports to Israel amid growing consternation about the way it is waging war against Hamas in Gaza, while the United States Senate on Tuesday passed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes further security assistance for Israel. A court in the Netherlands on Monday told the Dutch government it must stop exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk that Israels fleet was being used to commit serious violations of international law in the Gaza Strip. Three human rights groups, including Oxfam, brought the case to The Hague Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn a previous court decision that allowed the Dutch government to continue exporting F-35 parts to Israel. In Mondays ruling, the court ordered the government to stop such exports within seven days. The ruling came after the Italian and Spanish foreign ministers said recently that their countries had stopped all arms sales to Israel since the war began in Gaza more than four months ago, after Hamas attack on Israel. A regional government in Belgium also said it had suspended two licenses for gunpowder exports to Israel. The concern around continuing arms exports to Israel comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to take all measures to comply with international laws on genocide. Israel has vehemently rejected the allegations in the genocide case, but the ICJ ruling added to the domestic pressure on many of Israels allies to criticize more forcefully the humanitarian situation in Gaza and demand a ceasefire. The European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday suggested that the US cut arms supplies to Israel amid mounting concerns about the civilian toll of the war. More than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave. If you believe that the death toll is too high, maybe you can do something to make it lower, Borrell told reporters in Brussels. The European Union is not providing arms to Israel. Others do. The US Senate on Tuesday approved a foreign aid package that includes $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel and aid for civilians in Gaza, as well as more support for Ukraine, setting up a showdown with the House as Speaker Mike Johnson has criticized the legislation. But despite the US support for Israel, CNN has reported that President Joe Biden is growing increasingly frustrated behind the scenes with his Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden said last week he believes Israels campaign in Gaza is over the top, one of the sharpest condemnations to date of the war against Hamas. The US has long been the biggest supplier of arms to Israel, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and that support has continued despite the growing political pressure on the Biden administration over the Gaza offensive. Will Dutch ruling make a difference? The Dutch court said Monday that Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences of its attacks for the civilian population in Gaza, and ordered the Netherlands to stop the export of parts of F-35 jets to Israel within a week. The government said it would appeal the decision. In the governments view, the distribution of American F-35 parts is not unlawful. The government believes it is up to the State to determine foreign policy, it said in a statement. The ruling came as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz in Israel. Gantz said the courts decision will harm the global and Israeli imperative of fighting terror, although it is unclear whether a ban on exporting parts from the Netherlands will affect overall supplies to Israel. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024. - Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The US-made F-35 fighter jet is the Israeli Air Forces flagship asset, according to Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for airpower and technology at the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a think tank. But while the F-35 is their most capable asset for strikes on Gaza, it really isnt important, Bronk told CNN. Unlike in Lebanon, Syria and Iran, there is no air defense threat per se over Gaza, Bronk said, meaning Israel can conduct most of its strikes on Gaza with older, cheaper jets, such as the F-16 and F-15, as well as drones. Even if they have to stop flying F-35s entirely, it would have a pretty negligible effect on the Israeli Air Forces ability to conduct these sort of strikes on targets in Gaza, Bronk said. And if the Dutch government complies with the courts decision, it could also hinder the Netherlands own military, Bronk said. F-35 jets are maintained by a global supply chain designed to ensure large stockpiles of parts are not held in any given country. Instead, manufacturing occurs in multiple countries and depots are stationed across the world. The Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), developed by manufacturer Lockheed Martin, manages shipments between countries to ensure all users have the parts required when needed. Characterizing these as export sales of parts to Israel is not how this system works, said Bronk, adding it is difficult to see how the courts ruling would be implemented without breaking key clauses in the sustainment chain. If the Netherlands says, were putting conditions on where parts that have been stored or made in the Netherlands are going in the global supply chain, you might well see the organizing Joint Program Office in the US saying, Well, then, good luck getting parts for your own F-35 fleet, Netherlands Air Force, said Bronk. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told local media in late January that Italy had stopped all arms shipments to Israel since October 7. Pagella Politica, an Italian monitoring organization, said Italian companies had sold arms worth almost 120 million euros ($129 million) to Israel in the decade to 2022. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares too said in late January that his country had also halted arms sales to Israel in October. But Spanish outlet El Diaro reported Sunday that Spain in November exported 987,000 euros ($1.1 million) worth of ammunition to Israel, despite Albares claiming there was an embargo. Human rights group Amnesty International demanded the Spanish government make export data available to the public. CNNs Catherine Nicholls, Lauren Kent, Sharon Braithwaite, Claudia Rebazza, Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Valentine's Day is a very special day for long-time couples and those who just started dating. Of course, many people will make an effort to spend some time with their loved ones. Those who are in long-term relationships might already plan to split the bill since want to share the burdens or blessings they receive. But, some of those who are going on their first dates will most likely be confused about who will settle the bill. Some men will want to shoulder all the bills to impress the ladies. But, others might be hesitant since it will look like they don't see their dates independently enough. This could also be the case for women. If you are one of those who are having difficulties in choosing who will settle the bill on the first date, here's what experts say. Valentine's Day 2024: Who Should Pay on First Date? Knowing who should pay the bill on the first date is more complicated than you think. US News reported that there are many factors that need to be considered if only one person will shoulder the expenses. Certified financial therapist Traci Williams said that one person settling the entire bill is becoming less and less common nowadays, as reported by US News. "While some people continue to prefer the conventional approach, we're actually seeing more equity when it comes to who takes the bill," she explained. "We discovered that a majority of Americans are alternating paying for dates," added Williams. Now, here are factors that you need to consider when shouldering the entire bill or when splitting it: When To Split the Bill Williams said that if your first date doesn't cost much, it's okay to shoulder the entire bill. But, if the date is pretty expensive, such as attending a Taylor Swift concert, then couples need to have a clear conversation about it (it would be best to split the bill). Salary Differences Traci explained that allowing the higher-earning individual in a relationship is becoming more common. But, since the other person will likely ask to split the bill or shoulder it (especially if they're men), it would be best to go on a not-so-expensive date if the income disparity is too wide. Culture If you're going on a first date with people outside the U.S., it would be best to research their culture first. For example, Brazil's dating culture requires men to settle the entire bill on the first date. Meanwhile, Australians are okay to split the expenses. Who Initiated First Among the safest factors to rely on when it comes to settling the bill is who asked to go on a date first. This applies to both men and women. Read Also: Is It Time to Have Sex With Your Partner? Science Finally Provides the Best Time to Be Sexually Intimate in Relationships Men Should Still Try Paying for the Bill Let's face it, men are considered the providers in all relationships. This is why guys paying the bill on first dates is still the best bet. According to Gentleman's Journal, to ensure that your first date will be followed by other dates, men should shoulder the expenses no matter what. But, if you're dating Ms. Independent, then you need to know when to quit and just allow her to split the bill. If you can still persuade her to allow you to shoulder it, the better. Ladies and gentlemen, remember, there's nothing wrong with shouldering the entire bill or splitting the expenses. If you really want to secure the relationship you're about to start, think of it as an investment. Related Article: TRENDING: How Much Should Guys Earn Before Dating Girls? Let's Hear What Filipinos Say To help inform voters across the state, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Deborah Ross Political party: Democrat Age as of March 5, 2024: 60 Campaign website: www.deborahross.com Current occupation: Member of Congress Professional experience: Lawyer, private practice; state director, American Civil Liberties Union, 1994-2002; member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, 2003-2013; member of Congress, 2021-present. Education: Brown University (B.A.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (J.D.) What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? I served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013. I also ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2016 and have represented North Carolinas 2nd Congressional District since 2021. Im a former advisory member of YMCA Lightner Y Achievers and board member of the Brown Alumni Association. What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it ? Wake County is one of the best places in America to call home and we continue to attract new residents and businesses from across the country and around the world. While this growth has largely been positive, we have also seen rising rents and housing costs as well as lagging investment in modern infrastructure to meet our regions needs. In Congress, Im committed to securing greater federal resources for affordable housing and transportation for the people of Wake County. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue ? In contrast to some in my party, I believe good governance is about the art of the possible and that compromise often produces better results than confrontation. As Democrats, we should always remain faithful to our values but never be afraid to negotiate across the aisle. And unlike some Democrats, I believe its important to work with and listen to our local business community, especially the small business owners who form the backbone of our local economy. What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money ? We spend tens of billions of tax dollars every year to sustain an immigration system that almost everyone agrees is badly broken. Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts? I support eliminating the debt limit. It serves no practical purpose and has instead become the means by which extreme Republicans in Congress attempt to extract legislative concessions from Democrats. Instead of this kind of irresponsible brinkmanship, we need to come together across party lines to adopt a balanced approach to fiscal policy, including making smart investments in Americas future and requiring big corporations and the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion? I am a proud cosponsor of legislation to codify Roe v. Wade. What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support? I support the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who contribute to our communities. I also support allowing young immigrants to stay in the country they love and call home. In fact, I passed a measure through the House last Congress to protect the children of long-term visa holders from deportation. We need to work together to mold a better immigration system that keeps families together, invests in effective border security, and meets our nations economic needs. What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime? Im proud to serve on the Judiciary Committee as an advocate for sensible criminal justice reform that will keep our streets safe. I secured funding for Wake County to purchase equipment to analyze crime scene evidence. I also passed legislation to help survivors of child sex abuse seek damages in court. To combat the epidemic of gun violence in America, I voted to approve the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years and continue to call for a ban on assault weapons. (FOX40.COM) In the California primary election on March 5, four candidates are looking to get elected to the City Councils District 2 seat. Dan Wright is the current council member in the seat, but he is running for Stockton Mayor. Here is who is running for the District 2 seat, which covers parts of the North Stockton area. Californias primary election is around the corner: Heres the key dates, things to know Pamela Pettis-Houston Pamela Pettis-Houston is a business owner in the area, according to the San Joaquin Countys final qualified candidate list. A campaign website was not immediately available. These are the candidates and measures on the San Joaquin County primary election ballot Mariela Ponce Mariel Ponce is a healthcare worker, according to the San Joaquin Countys final qualified candidate list. A campaign website was not immediately available. Ponce was reportedly disqualified from the race, but was reinstated by a San Joaquin County judge following an error by the elections office inaccurately listing her as not a registered voter. Waqar Rizvi Waqar Rizvi is the chair of the Stockton Planning Commission and serves as the chair of the Salvation Armys Stockton Advisory Council. According to his campaign website, Rizvi governs 53 Rotary Clubs across the Central Valley. Anthony Silva Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva, who was embroiled in controversy during his time in office, announced his campaign in December. Silva served as Stocktons mayor from 2013 to 2017 and ran for re-election, but lost to Michael Tubbs. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. The election in the 22nd Assembly District is a rematch between Republican incumbent Juan Alanis and Democrat Jessica Self, both of Modesto. Alanis cruised to victory in November 2022 to win his first term in the California Legislature. He captured 58.1% of the vote to 41.9% for his opponent. The same two contestants are on the March 5 primary ballot and will advance to the election in November. Alanis is vice chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and also serves on the Business and Professions, Labor and Employment, Public Safety, and Water, Parks and Wildlife committees. Self declares on campaign materials that shes committed to better healthcare, education and housing and development of good-paying jobs. The 22nd Assembly was a new district drawn in 2021, putting Modesto and most of Stanislaus County in a single electoral district. The boundaries also include Turlock, Ceres, Patterson, Newman and a small part of Merced County. Alanis said hes working this year on a package of public safety bills on retail theft, including continued funding of anti-theft law enforcement operations and efforts to combat cargo theft, or theft of transported goods. He also will resume his work last year on legislation to combat the fentanyl epidemic and make sure the state is tracking tranq-laced fentanyl, which has caused at least three deaths in Stanislaus County. Asm. Juan Alanis represents the 22nd Assembly District, which includes Modesto and Turlock. Juan Alanis Other top issues for the incumbent are housing affordability and education. Alanis plans to promote bills related to California Environmental Quality Act lawsuits that are filed to derail construction of affordable housing. Other affordability bills will focus on senior financial assistance and youth homelessness, the assemblyman said. Alanis favors expanding scholarships for career technical education, with a mandate to notify parents about CTE classes and programs available on public campuses. My team and I had a very successful year representing the new 22nd Assembly District, Alanis said in an email. We were able to bring home significant wins for the district and get five bills signed into law. I look forward to continued success and am proud to be seeking a second term to represent our communities in Sacramento. A former sergeant for the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department, Alanis began his first term while still employed by the law enforcement agency but has officially retired, his office said. Jessica Self of Modesto, candidate for 22nd Assembly District Cost of living, education, housing issues for Self Self said shes running again to give a voice to working-class people and vulnerable members of the community. She said the affordability issue in California and the nation includes families that cant afford to buy groceries and deserve a quality education for their kids. The candidate said there isnt enough housing at every income level in the Modesto area. Her proposal for housing would include development of mixed use and rental housing downtown. Self also said the district needs common-sense, achievable goals around homelessness. A large portion of the homeless population are working people who resort to sleeping in cars or living with family members to the point there are two or three families sharing a home. Its easiest to provide help for those folks who have stable incomes, Self said. A combined effort also could assist those homeless people with substance use and mental health disorders, through CARE Court and other programs, she said. Self noted that the state is distributing money to counties to address homelessness, but theres not much accountability or coordination to solve the problems. We are trying to serve everyone with a blanket policy, she said. The Democrat recognized theres a push for tougher criminal laws, 10 years after state voters approved Proposition 47, which reclassified some nonviolent felonies as misdemeanors. Self, an attorney who does health and human services work for Stanislaus County, suggested that tougher penalties focus on people who repeatedly commit the same crimes, such as retail theft or burglary. That would give police officers and district attorneys more ability to enforce the law to protect businesses, she said, while keeping with the spirit of not-so-harsh penalties for first offenders supported by California voters. The challenger has endorsements from unions, including the Service Employees International Union representing Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers. Not much action in 9th Assembly District race In another contest in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, fourth-term incumbent Assemblyman Heath Flora, R-Ripon, is facing a challenge from another self-described conservative in the 9th Assembly District. Flora is a member of the Assembly Budget committee, is vice chairman of the Business and Professions, Labor and Employment, and Natural Resources panels and serves on the Health and Rules committees. He did not return messages from The Modesto Bee. His opponent, Tami Nobriga of Lodi, who has never held public office, said she has concerns about the abuse of children. My No. 1 priority is to save children, she said. I cant believe how many children are being trafficked. If elected, I would make sensible laws to protect children, protect our borders and our right to worship when we feel the need, for any religion, not just Christianity. Nobriga, whos on the candidates list as a member of the American Independent Party, said the connection to that right-wing party resulted from her mistake on registration paperwork. She said she stated her party preference as independent instead of identifying as nonpartisan, which is the designation in California for someone not registered with any party. The American Independent Party is a right-wing political group associated with the third-party presidential campaign of George Wallace in 1968. Nobriga said she was a longtime Republican until the financial collapse around 2008, but the partisan fighting in Congress during the economic crisis caused her to drift away from the GOP. She is still conservative. I lean all the way to the right, said Nobriga, who worked in newspaper and radio advertising. I am for God, country and family. I have been praying for the last eight months about what I can do. The 9th Assembly District includes more rural communities in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and other counties. People on Cape Cod are batten down the hatches as a fast-moving storm is expected to bring high winds, power outages and minor coastal flooding. The Harbormaster in Sandwich told Boston 25 News that hes hoping spectators stay away from areas frequently visited during storms. Winter storm, high wind, coastal flood warnings issued in Mass. as noreaster approaches He said astronomical hide tides are increasing the threat of wash over from the Cape Cod Canal and could leave some parking lots and coastal roadways partially submerged. Sandwich residents are also watching closely to see if this weather event adds to the on-going coastal erosion thats been plaguing the shoreline. Im hoping with the wind direction and the way it comes in, that it can spare our coastline a little bit, said Kayla Krueger. At the same time, we dont want it hitting the other side and banging the other side of the Cape. Barnstable County officials have recommended that families put together an emergency preparedness kit ahead of the storm. They say each kit should include a gallon of water per person, extra blankets, non-perishable food and flashlights with extra batteries. DPW crews across Norfolk County preparing for heavy snowfall Residents brace for possible coastal flooding from Tuesday noreaster This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Washington state has seen a dip in monthly car thefts, and authorities are crediting several key arrests of so-called Kia Boyz. According to the latest data from the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force, reported car thefts are down 21% statewide between 2023 and 2024. In King and Pierce counties, the average daily number of reported car thefts has ticked down from 78 last August, to 71 in September, 66 in December, and then down to 62 in January. This is after a handful of arrests of self-proclaimed Kia Boyz, who over the last year had surfaced on social media frequently boasting about cars they had reportedly stolen. One arrest in recent months included 18-year-old Saylen Kelly, who allegedly helped steal 13 cars between October 2023 and January 2024. A month before that, Bellevue police arrested 18-year-olds Ralphe Manuma and Ardell Davis as suspects in a series of gas station robberies and car thefts. The youngest person to live at the world famous poet and historian Carl Sandburg's Connemara in Flat Rock, now known as the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, has died. Paula Steichen Polega, one of two Sandburg grandchildren, died Jan. 13 at the age of 80. According to her obituary by Shuler Funeral Home, Polega died with her son, Birch, by her side at her Hendersonville home after a yearlong battle with colon cancer. Paula Steichen Polega, Carl Sandburg's only granddaughter, poses in her garden in Hendersonville. Polega died on Jan. 13 at the age of 80. Polly Angelakis, the superintendent at the Carl Sandburg Home, said she and her staff spent a lot of time with Polega, who visited her former home frequently. Like her grandfather, Polega was also a writer, and her book "My Connemara," which is sold at the Carl Sandburg Home park store, talks about when she lived on the farm between 1945-1952. "It was a privilege to know Paula and to see Connemara through her eyes, both through her book, 'My Connemara,' and through numerous conversations and walks with her over the years," Angelakis said. "Our staff, volunteers, and partners will miss her dearly. We all extend our deepest condolences to her family." Carl Sandburg spends time with his granddaughter, Paula, at their home in Flat Rock in the late 1940s. Polega was born in Chicago in 1943 to Helga Sandburg Crile and Joseph Thoman. Crile was the youngest of three Sandburg daughters and the only one to marry. The couple had two children, John Carl and Paula, and after they divorced, Crile moved to Connemara in 1945. Sandburg, who rose to fame as a Lincoln biographer, poet, social activist and Pulitzer Prize winner, was overjoyed. According to the National Park Service website, Sandburg said in a letter to a friend, "The grandchildren were almost too good to be true. And a fellow wonders what time will bring. They have loveliness and rare lights and shake the house with their promises. In 1946 when she was still 2, her grandfather wrote this poem for her: This is a part of a poem Carl Sandburg wrote for her when she was 2 in 1946: "Karlen Paula" Carl Sandburg, 1946 The seven years she spent at Connemara were years she always cherished, especially spending time with Sandburg, who she called "Buppong." In "My Connemara," Polega wrote, "So it was, I grew to regard Connemara and all that lived on her rolling land and mountainsides in a personal way. I was devoted to her and felt her promises: delight in the early morning and in the sun hot on one's back; in the feeling of power seeing Buppong (grandpa) lift the oaken chair high over his head and look beyond the pines to the mountains blue in the distance; in the newborn creatures and generous earth. She seemed to speak of a faith in the cycles of nature, and in the infinite capabilities of the human mind and heart. I once turned to Gramma in whom I had immense trust, and asked her how it could ever be bearable to live elsewhere." After spending her childhood in Flat Rock, Polega moved to Washington, D.C., in 1952 and later to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1972, she returned to Henderson County, moving to Tuxedo and then eventually to her home in Hendersonville, where she spent the rest of her life. Polega had two children a daughter, Sky, and a son, Birch. Sky Polega, a 1994 Hendersonville High graduate, died at the age of 25 in 2002 after a medical emergency while on an adventure trip in the Alaskan wilderness. According to a past Times-News article, it was determined that she had a hemorrhage near the base of her brain and later died after five days in a coma. More: Answer Man: When will the lake at Carl Sandburg Home be back to normal? More: Council selects 9 to new Affordable Housing Steering Committee Paula Polega is survived by her son, Birch Polega; her brother, Dr. John Steichen (and his wife, Liz); her half-sister Char Campbell (and her husband Evan). She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sky; her husband of 45 years, Stanley and her half-brother, Greg Thoman. According to Shuler Funeral Home, a private memorial service will be held in the spring. Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Carl Sandburg's only granddaughter dies at 80 in Hendersonville BROCKTON Third-generation Brocktonian Gerry Cassidy wanted to be a racquetball pro. He wound up in politics instead. Cassidy, a Democrat who won his fourth term representing the 9th Plymouth district in the State House in 2022, recently announced he won't seek reelection. He plans to serve out his term before retiring, he said Thursday, Feb. 8. Cassidy said he wanted to thank residents for being supportive of him both as a state rep, a Brockton city councilor and longtime aide to the late State Sen. Tom Kennedy. "Everyone was very kind," he said. Democratic incumbent in the 9th Plymouth state representative district Gerry Cassidy of Brockton speaks during Brockton Interfaith Community's candidates forum at Messiah Baptist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 05, 2022. Redistricting transformed 9th Plymouth The news sets up a wide-open race to succeed him. The 9th Plymouth changed drastically after redistricting. It went from being an all-Brockton seat to one representing parts of Brockton, Easton, East Bridgewater and all of West Bridgewater. While the district still draws nearly 40% of its residents from Brockton, Easton comes in a close second with nearly 36%. Add to that Brockton's generally low turnout compared to Easton, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater and you have a formula for more conservative candidates to do well. West Bridgewater accounts for about 17% of the district's residents and East Bridgewater about 8%. 'Miami vibe' in Easton New restaurant opens in Easton, serving steak, sushi, pasta and more Red areas show the 9th Plymouth State House district after the 2021 redistricting. It includes the West Side of Brockton, five precincts in Easton, one precinct in East Bridgewater and all of West Bridgewater. Take Cassidy's most recent election, for example. He won 60.5% to 39.3% over Brockton Republican Larry Novak. Dig deeper and you'll see that Novak won East Bridgwater and West Bridgewater. That's despite the race marking Novak's return to public life after serving six years in federal prison for money laundering. When are nomination papers available? Contenders could start their campaigns as early as Tuesday. That's when the state makes nomination papers available for potential candidates to pick up and begin collecting signatures. Historically, the district that was previously contained to Brockton has been solidly blue. The last time a Republican won a general election to the 9th Plymouth District was 1972, when Roger Sumner Babb topped William Finn with 52.7% of the vote. Cassidy said he'd wait to see how the field develops before he makes any endorsement. 'Never been done before' Brockton's Dybantsa, Maine's Flagg headline HoopHall Classic What's next for Cassidy? The 1977 Brockton High graduate said he'll be staying in the city, close to his two adult children who have both bought houses in Brockton. Asked what he considers his biggest accomplishments in politics, he cited several examples of bringing home earmarks from Beacon Hill. You don't have to look far in Brockton to see projects he helped shepherd through either as Kennedy's aide or his own two elected positions. They include a parking garage downtown, the unemployment building and money for repaving a parking lot at the high school, $50,000 for the Brockton main library and seed money for a statue of Marvelous Marvin Hagler due to be unveiled this spring. Brockton firefighters with John McGarry, Freddie Graca and state Rep. Gerry Cassidy during the 82nd Strand Theatre Fire Remembrance Ceremony at Brockton City Hall on Friday, March 10, 2023. What did he like about the job? Soft-spoken for a politician, Cassidy said he enjoyed doing what he could for constituents. "The best thing in the world is when you get a hand-written note from someone you've helped out," he said. Cassidy is still at work on what could be the defining achievement of his political career. He leads the House Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, which is considering the "HERO Act." That bill would expand and modernize benefits for veterans. Cassidy said work on the bill could wrap up by May. "These last eight years as your State Representative are the culmination of more than 35 years working in the Massachusetts Legislature," Cassidy wrote in the Facebook post announcing his plans to retire. "In my former position as a legislative aide, I learned so much about constituent service, the legislative process, and the essential need for discussion, understanding and compromise to continue to make this Commonwealth great." Oh, and Cassidy has no plans to pick up his abandoned career in racquetball. He said he hasn't played the fast-paced, intense sport in years. "Pickleball is not as exciting," he said. State House News Service contributed to this report. Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton State Rep. Gerry Cassidy not running in 9th Plymouth February is Black History Month and many people look for ways during this time in particular to support locally-owned Black businesses. And the Lexington area has many restaurants, bars and food businesses that are Black-owned or operated. Sign up for our LexGo Eat & Drink newsletters The latest on food, dining and bourbon delivered right to your inbox for free. See what's happening in the world of bourbon, including buying, tasting tips and more on Tuesday. Stick around for the biggest restaurant news in Central Kentucky on Thursday. Sign up here. Many are involved in the annual SoulFeast and Black Restaurant Week celebrations which usually take place in June. SoulFeast also maintains a directory of Black food and beverage businesses, many of which are included in this list and guide. But if weve missed someone, please drop me a line at jpatton1@herald-leader.com and we will update. List, guide: Black-owned dining in Lexington Alfalfa, alfalfa-catering.com, 859-977-0121. The former Lexington restaurant now owned by Tiffany and Wali Yusef El-Amin is operating as a caterer now and you may find it as a pop up in a Lexington park. Blue Skillet, 213 East Seventh Street, 859-537-9257. This restaurant specializes in soul food and southern specialties. Bubba Grub, 1007 Elizabeth St. in Nicholasville, 859-241-1379. Owned by Landon Marsh, Bubba Grub serves everything from gourmet burgers, wings and fried fish. Tia Chancellor, owner of Sweet Matriarch Bakery works to create one of her Cattywampus Milkshakes for a customer. Cattywampus Station in Lexington Green will reopen in March. Cattywampus Station and Sweet Matriarch Bakery, 161 Lexington Green Circle Suite 30, 859-523-7007. Cattywampus Station in Lexington Green serves wildly over-the-top milkshakes that include housemade sauces and pastries, many of which come from owner Tia Chancellors Sweet Matriarch Bakery. Cattywampus Station is closed until March 16, according to its website. From left, Cattywampus Milkshakes the Blue Monster, Salted Caramel and Unicorn. Creaux, 310 West Short Street, creauxlex.com, 859-469-8960. Co-owned by Dougie and Ieasha Allen and Stephen Scaldaferri, Creaux is a Creole bar and restaurant serving New Orleans-style drinks as well as other classics and food to go with it: Blue cheese lobster beignets, shrimp and grit cakes, southern style hotlink basket, chicken & sausage gumbo and more. Patrons enjoyed food and cocktails on the sidewalk outside Creaux, located at 310 W. Short St., in downtown Lexington. Daughters Southern, food truck/caterer, 859-576-2804. Chef Chris Cains food truck sets up at locations including The Garage on Leestown Road and local breweries, with a menu of burgers, sandwiches, brunch items including chicken and waffle skewers and Bluegrass Egg-in-A-Hole. Check out the amazing Buffalo cauliflower. Fresh Bourbon, 377 Main St Ste. 100, 859-327-2127. Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co., which is one of the few Black-owned Kentucky bourbon labels, was founded in 2017 by Sean and Tia Edwards. They launched their bourbon in 2020, produced in partnership with Hartfield & Co. Distillery in Paris. In September 2022 they opened a tasting room on Main Street that serves their bourbon straight and in cocktails. Fresh Bourbon emphasizes modern sophistication rather than age and history in its packaging, said co-owner Sean Edwards. Genesis Coffee House, 1403 North Forbes Road Suite 130, 859-309-0876. Tabet Wilson opened a coffee shop in 2020 in the Meadowthorpe area serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner sandwiches, pastries and sweets, soups and, of course, coffee and specialty drinks. Grimess Fast Food,4248 Saron Suite and 325 Roosevelt Blvd, 859-255-0445 for Roosevelt and 859-523-8222 for Saron Drive. This is one of several restaurants in Lexington that really knocks fried chicken out of the park. You can get hot & spicy or regular chicken, fish, barbecue and sides to complete the plate. Indis, 670 North Broadway, 859-233-7985. Indis specializes in fried chicken, perfectly spiced. You can get just chicken or go for barbecue chicken, ribs and tips, seafood and chicken strips. Sides include fried apples, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, rice, green beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, smoked baked beans, mashed potatoes, mixed greens and more. Jacks Sandbar & Grill, inside Malibu Jacks, 2536 Larkin Rd., 859-309-3211. Jacks serves cocktails, pizza, wings and the kind of snacks you want if youve been playing games or riding a go-kart. Josannes Homestyle Cooking serves comfort food with Southern sides. Josannes Homestyle Kitchen and Honey Js Southern Eatery, 3449 Buckhorn Drive, 859-245-0110 for Josannes and 1474 Anniston Dr., 859-293-0225 for Honey Js. Owned by Tamara Hall and Robert Webb, Josannes is a Black-owned, veteran-owned and woman-owned restaurant that features soul food and home-style cooking, made from scratch and reasonably priced. Besides classics like pork chops and catfish, you can get fried shrimp and baked potatoes with your choice of toppings. Last year, Hall also opened Honey Js, which also serves from-scratch Southern-style favorites and sandwiches in a quick-serve format. Its drive-thru and carry-out only, with no seating. Chicken and Waffles with Peach Chutney from Josannes. Mimis Southern Style Cooking, 126 East New Circle Rd, 859-523-0490. Visit Mimis for a menu of comfort food, sandwiches, salads, chicken dinners and Southern sides from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. MiMis Southern Style Cooking features homestyle mains such as pork chops with your choice of sides including green beans and mac and cheese. Moody Mikes, 859-433-7633. This vegan food truck frequently at Pivot Brewing and Pasta Garage but its about to open at 800 N. Limestone inside Broomwagon in March. The cafe will serve coffee and breakfast food, grab-and-go items, salads and seasonal vegetable dishes sourced through nearby Black Soil. Michael and Antoine Harris are bringing their Moody Mikes vegan menu to the former Broomwagon cafe space on North Limestone. They hope to open the new cafe in March. Never Too Much Creamery, 110 W. Sixth St., 859-309-0388, serves amazing ice cream and treats in endless combinations. Owner Jameshia Croley said she plans to reopen in the spring, so stay tuned. The Salad Bar, 859-474-0446, which started in Greyline Stations Julietta Market, is now in the Idle Hour Shopping Center at 2051 Richmond Road, serving fresh salads, soups and sandwiches every day except Sunday. The Salad Bar also offers meal prepping for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Stings Lounge, 123 W. Main St., stingslounge.com, 859-806-8064, is an upscale dance and night club on Main Street in an historic building. Owner DeBryant Beatty opened the lounge in February 2020, just before COVID hit, but the downtown late-night hot spot has weathered the pandemic in style. Stings Lounge at 123 West Main Street in Lexington, Ky. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. Tossin Tha Sauce Wings, 543 S. Limestone, 859-368-0098. Tossin Tha Sauce serves wings in a variety of flavors and fries. Wing KYng, inside Greyline Station at 101 W Loudon Ave unit 110, 859-785-1661. Owner Thomas Williams serves dry rub wings and sauced ones, with potatoes and desserts. Thomas Williams, the owner of Wing KYng, works to make wings in the kitchen of his storefront at Greyline Station in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, May 11, 2023. Eazys World flavored wings and potato slices with sauce from Thomas Williams at Wing KYng in Greyline Station in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, May 11, 2023. Woke Junk Food Vegan, wokejunkfoodvegan.com, and chef Anetra Polk creates a tasty all-vegan menu that she serves at catered events and have found a home at The 90, the dining hall at the University of Kentucky. The Israeli military confirmed that it took at least two people into custody but would not provide a total number or an on-the-record explanation Monday as to why they are being held. American and Canadian officials say they are still trying to sort out the cause behind the Israeli military detaining members of a Canadian-American family in the Gaza Strip. Members of the Alagha family say Ahmed Alagha and his two sons were arrested by Israeli forces last week. "We fear, to be honest, for their lives," said Khalil Alagha, the brother-in-law of one of three missing Canadians. "Because we don't know whether they have been only detained, or something else." Ahmed, originally hailing from Kuwait, made his way to Toronto in the late 1990s. According to his brother-in-law's statement, both Ahmed's sons, 18-year-old Borak and 20-year-old Hashem, were born in Toronto. Following their time in Canada, the family eventually relocated to the Middle East. Khalil and his cousin, Yasmeen Elagha, both said that all three men have Canadian citizenship and that they were kidnapped by Israeli forces early on Thursday. Elagha said Borak and Hashem are also American citizens. The family reported that men from a nearby household, as well as other adult male relatives from a different household, were taken away. The cousins stated that approximately 20 people in total were captured. Elagha, describing them as hostages, highlighted the family's lack of information regarding the reasons for their capture or the location of their detention. On Thursday, around 5:00 a.m., Israeli forces entered the family home in the al-Muwasi community near the southern city of Khan Younis. The three men, along with a mentally disabled uncle and two other adult male relatives, were abducted by Israeli forces and are currently unaccounted for. Soldiers then bound and blindfolded the women and children in the family, placing them outside the home. Khalil told The Canadian Press that neighbors located and released them sometime after. "They felt unsafe and vulnerable," he said. Several family members were able to cross into Egypt late Monday. Khalil revealed the three men taken into Israeli military custody had been denied approval to leave the Gaza Strip under a process run by Egyptian and Israeli officials. It has become increasingly difficult for Palestinian men of military age to get on the list of foreigners allowed to leave the Gaza Strip. Israel amended its Detention of Unlawful Combatants Law last December to bar detainees from meeting with lawyers for a month and to allow prison heads to extend that period up to 75 days. The measure has been used by those captured in Gaza, including, reportedly, an 82-year-old Gaza woman who has Alzheimer's disease. "We felt that (our family members) are really second-rate citizens. We understand the situation. But I think the Canadian authorities have the power to push for it, to get their citizens out," continued Khalil. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said she's raised the case with her Israeli counterpart as well as the Israeli military branch that operates in Gaza. "This is of the utmost priority for us," she said Monday on Parliament Hill. She added that parliamentary secretary Pam Damoff "has been in contact with the family." Joly added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's requirement for Palestinians to evacuate the southern Gaza city of Rafah ahead of more military strikes makes no sense since the entire territory is unsafe and neighboring Egypt has reinforced its border. "What the Netanyahu government is asking them to do, which is to leave again, is unacceptable because they have nowhere to go. And so that's why we need right now for the violence to stop." What Does The United States Say? According to The Associated Press, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday the administration will be talking with Israeli authorities about the reported detentions of the brothers, as well as the Israeli military's arrest of an American woman in the occupied West Bank earlier in the week. "We want to know more about the reasons here," Kirby told reporters at the White House. "Obviously, this is the kind of thing we take very seriously," he said, and the U.S. will be "trying to get information, more context here about what happened." Detention or death under an Israeli airstrike "were two of the biggest fears this family has had all along. And now the worst has happened," said Maria Kari, an immigration attorney who has been advocating for the family. "It could have been avoided if the U.S. had more timely advocated for this family.'' Morakinyo A.O. Kuti is the 10th president of Central State, Ohio's only public historically Black university. Central State University is raising up one of its own to be the university's next president. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti was selected as the 10th president of Central State, Ohio's only public historically Black university. Kuti currently serves as Central State's vice president for research and economic development and its director of land-grant programs, but his history with the institution goes back to his own college days. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Central State in 1982. He then earned a master's degree in business administration in finance from St. Thomas University, and later a doctorate in public policy and administration from Walden University. Higher education: From Kenyon to OU, meet the Ohio college presidents beginning their tenure this fall In 1992, Kuti returned to Central State as a staff member and went on to hold a number of leadership positions. His work has brought in more than $20 million in public and private fund to benefit Central State's infrastructure, faculty research, scholarships and other learning opportunities for students. Kuti takes over for Interim President Alex Johnson. Johnson stepped in last June, following the resignation of former President Jack Thomas whose tenure at the university was marked by controversy, including allegations of discriminating against female staff. Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120 This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio HBCU Central State taps one of its own for its next president Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said Monday that US credibility is at stake in the wake of comments from former President Donald Trump that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to NATO partners that dont meet spending guidelines on defense. Asked by NBC Nightly News about Trumps admission that he would not abide by the collective-defense clause at the heart of NATO if reelected, Brown said that the alliance is strong and has been around for 75 years. I think we have a responsibility to uphold those alliances, Brown told NBCs Lester Holt in an interview airing Monday evening. US credibility is at stake with each of our alliances, and US leadership is still needed, wanted, and watched. The US is committed, Brown added. And thats the message I communicate, and thats the message thats been received. Browns remarks come as Trump, the 2024 Republican front-runner, has come under fire for his comments over the weekend indicating he does not intend to defend NATO allies from Russian attack if he is reelected. At a rally in South Carolina Saturday, Trump recalled a conversation he had while president with one of the presidents of a big country, who asked him whether the US would defend them from a Russian invasion even if they dont pay. No, I would not protect you, he recalled saying. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills. According to NBC, Brown said that he realizes there will be various dialogue in discussions at the political level, but that he will focus on continuing to build and strengthen our relationship with NATO. My job is to make sure that we are doing everything we can with our NATO allies on the military aspect, he said, and Ill continue to do that throughout. Brown, who was sworn in as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff last fall, serves as the principal military advisor to the president. The military officer who serves in the role does so at the pleasure of the president, meaning that if Trump were reelected this year, Brown could serve as his chairman unless he appointed another officer. Gen. Mark Milley, Browns predecessor and Trumps chairman of the Joint Chiefs throughout his tenure, was a frequent target of Trumps ire, and the two have taken verbal - sometimes subtle - shots at each other after Trump left the White House. In late September, at the change of command ceremony between Milley and Brown, the outgoing chairman made it a point to underscore where his loyalty and the loyalty of the military should lie. We dont take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant or a dictator. And we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator, Milley said at the time, in a veiled reference to Trump. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America and were willing to die to protect it. Milley chose to deliver the scathing criticism of his former boss in his last address as the nations top general as he stood next to President Joe Biden. In a continuation of the acrimonious feud between the two, Trump fired back on social media, calling Milley a moron and STUPID & VERY DANGEROUS! Brown addressed recent criticism of his boss Monday following mention of apparent memory lapses in special counsel Robert Hurs report, calling Biden pretty sharp. Asked whether he was surprised by the comments made about the presidents memory, Brown said he was, adding they were not characteristic of what Ive seen. Hes got a very good grasp of the issues, Brown said. He asks, I think, very pertinent questions. Iran likely not looking for a broader conflict with US As the US is navigating increasingly high tensions in the Middle East from Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, and Israels campaign in Gaza against Hamas Brown echoed comments made by other US officials that deterrence is key. Broadly, the US is focused on deterring any further aggression, Brown said, while also protecting American forces. Asked whether he believed Iran wants a war with the US, Brown responded, I dont know that they do. Having watched Iran operate, they will do things through their militia groups and others to put pressure, to achieve their objectives, the chairman said. At the same time, not looking for a broader conflict with the United States. There have been at least 170 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since October 17. The Pentagon said Monday that those attacks have resulted in 186 wounded or killed in action including 130 traumatic brain injuries. Three US soldiers were killed in a drone attack in January on a US outpost in Jordan. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) A Champaign teenager has been sentenced to probation after he pleaded guilty to spray painting racist messages and symbols at gravesites in November. Dominic Koca, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of committing a hate crime in a cemetery, and was sentenced to two years of probation. A third count was dropped as part of the plea agreement. In addition, he must perform 200 hours of community service over a 20-month period, take part in an educational program that discourages hate crimes, comply with treatment recommended by a forensic psychiatrist and refrain from consuming alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. Champaign police increase patrols near places of worship Koca has been forthcoming about his actions since he was arrested on Nov. 2. Prosecutors and police officials said he admitted he was behind two instances of racist symbols and slurs being displayed in public one in a park and one at a cemetery. The first instance happened at Mattis Park on Nov. 1. A swastika was found painted on the sidewalk and another was on a flag hung from a tree. Koca said that when Champaign County Crime Stoppers referenced this in their bulletins, that enticed him to do more. The following day, Koca went to St. Marys Cemetery in the University of Illinois Research Park and defaced nine headstones and mausoleums. He painted on them more swastikas and racial slurs toward Jews and African Americans. A witness saw this happening and called police, who arrested Koca after he tried to flee. Israel and Hamas are making progress in cease-fire and hostage-release talks, officials say The motive, Koca said, was hateful feelings he had toward racial and ethnic groups that had intensified since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East several weeks earlier. Champaign County States Attorney Julia Rietz said he wanted to be known for something. Mental health records submitted in court also revealed that Koca has been diagnosed with autism and has intrusive thoughts and psychosis. That includes voices telling him that he is a Nazi. Koca faced between three and five years in prison for the cemetery vandalism. He had no criminal record prior to November. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. After 18 years in the Legislature, Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, has not been at the Capitol for her last session so far this year as she battles pancreatic cancer from the hospital. The 65-year-old announced she planned not to run again last year, almost two decades after she was first elected to represent the Boise Bench. She has since served nine consecutive terms. Her final two-year term ends at the end of this year. Chew was diagnosed with cancer last year, Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, told the Idaho Statesman, and was admitted to intensive care this week. She has been receiving chemotherapy, Rubel said. The longest-serving Democratic lawmaker, a pharmacist originally from Oakland, California, has advocated for reform on indigent health care, disability rights and the Add the Words campaign, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected against discrimination in state law. She is the champion of the underdog, said Rubel, who has worked with Chew since joining the Legislature in 2014. Health care was really her signature item. Rubel said Chew has been an inveterate door-knocker, and assisted Reclaim Idaho in gathering signatures for the ballot initiative that expanded Medicaid in 2018. A lot of the people who need help the most dont have paid lobbyists to come speak up for them at the Capitol, Rubel said. And the only place youre going to find them is at their doors. Nobody knocked doors like Sue. Chew in 2015 co-sponsored anti-bullying legislation, according to previous Statesman reporting, which mandated anti-bullying training in school districts and required staffers to intercede. Earlier this month, Chew received a letter from President Joe Biden wishing her well after a request from Betty Richardson, a Democratic activist and former U.S. attorney. You have embodied the best of Boise and the state of Idaho by working to do what all noble public servants do: make life better for our neighbors by giving them a bit more breathing room; promoting fairness and opportunity; and leaving a better, healthier world for the next generation, Biden said. Marjorie Wilson has been serving in her stead as a substitute since January. Chew has endorsed her as the Democratic candidate to replace her for District 17, which covers the Boise Bench and Southwest Boise, Rubel said. In an interview with the Statesman last year, she said the Legislature has become less civil in recent years. With good legislation, I find that its made much more powerful with a diversity of voices, she said. Willingness to listen to each other is important and, I would say, is a prerequisite before you start running your bill, before you start testifying. Can you do your homework? Thousands of juvenile white sea bass are nestled away in a Channel Islands Harbor dock where theyre given a fighting chance at maturity. Nets and fencing protect them from predators. Regular feedings help them grow. Volunteers check on them daily, take note of their behavior and clean their two pens. But all the precautions and amenities cant protect them from water toxicity that flows into the harbor after most rain storms. In November, the facility called a grow-out pen received about 8,300 sea bass as part of the state-funded Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program. That number had been diminished to less than 4,000 by the end of December due to heavy rainfall that pelted Ventura County that month, said Frank Sullivan, the Channel Islands Harbor pen operator. The ocean program started in 1982 and focused on California halibut and white sea bass, said Valerie Taylor, the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife program coordinator. By 1990, the reported number of halibut caught by anglers had started to rebound, but sea bass continued to decline. As a result, researchers began solely concentrating on sea bass, Taylor said Monday. The program helps researchers determine the feasibility of strengthening fish populations along the California coast through the use of hatchery raised stock, Taylor said. Funded through sport and commercial fishing licenses stamped for ocean use, the program has a $1.85 million budget this fiscal year, which ends on June 30, Taylor said. Funds cover the hatchery costs and research. The state provides the Oxnard facility with the fish and medical support, but Sullivan and his crew rely on volunteer hours and fundraisers to run the day-to-day operations. The Channel Islands grow-out pen typically runs on $1,500 to $2,000 each year, said Sullivan who has been with the local facility since 2004. The Oxnard facility opened in 1992, 10 years after the state program launched. Located near the Channel Islands Sportfishing building, the small facility is covered with a canopy to keep the water cool. Underwater nets attached to two docks to create three pens, but only two are currently in use. Resource 'we've been enjoying' Sullivan is one of 10 regular volunteers who care for the fish. But if he puts a call out for help on social media, he gets upward of 20 to 30 volunteers. Some are conservationists who have never held a fishing pole, but most are avid anglers. "We're interested in giving back to the resource that we've been enjoying," Sullivan said. A hatchery owned and operated by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in Carlsbad provides 4- to 6-inch sea bass to 13 grow-out facilities in Southern California, according Fish and Wildlife. When it comes time to release the fish in the spring, the sea bass are about 8 to 10 inches long, Sullivan said. Volunteers wait for a moonless or overcast night when the current is receding from the harbor. Then they drop the nets and release the stock. The darkness and tide gives the young fish a head start on ocean predators. Itll take another three to five years in the wild for the sea bass to reach the legal take limit of 28 inches, Taylor said. A fish raised in Channel Islands Harbor in 1997 was recaptured in 2009 and weighed about 33 pounds, Sullivan said in an email. Two more raised in 1997 were captured in 2002 near Catalina Island and weighed about 10 and 18 pounds. Officials are able to identify the fish by through a magnetic tag in gill. While the stock regularly die in captivity, the number of deaths jumps up from one or two per day to hundreds after a storm. It puts chemicals in the water that aren't usually there, Sullivan said referencing the trash and runoff the flows into the harbor. Sullivan said about 75% of the fish raised in the local facility typically survive captivity. Less than half will be released this year. Following the December storms, fish continued to die off for weeks. It wasnt until scientists treated the pens with peroxide that deaths started to taper. Volunteers also fed the stock medicated pellets to help them recover. While the county received heavy rainfall earlier this month, Sullivan said Friday he hasnt seen significant deaths. It could mean the peroxide and medication are having lasting effects. Or that volunteers havent been able to find the carcasses. When they die, the sea bass fall to the bottom of the pen where they are hidden by the waters depths and shadows, Sullivan said. The carcasses are then collected by the volunteers. A total of 2.7 million white sea bass have been released during the 41 years the program has been operating, according to state figures. As of 2022, the Channel Island Harbor pen released about 253,600. To volunteer with the local replenishment effort, reach out to Sullivan at fransull@charter.net. Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Sea bass growing at Channel Islands Harbor part of state program ST. LOUIS One man has been charged in connection with a shooting in St. Louis Citys Greater Ville neighborhood last week that injured three people. According to a spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened on February 8 in the 4400 block of Ashland Avenue. Police claim Rufus Roddy Jr., 67, suspected the victim had been involved in an assault that happened in October 2023 and went to the victims home to confront him. The victim was getting out of his car when Roddy approached, took out a gun, and shot the victim in the back. Watch the Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Super Bowl parade In response, the victim grabbed a gun from his car and returned fire in self-defense, striking Roddy in the left arm. A third person was sitting outside when this happened and suffered a gunshot wound in his upper leg. Police do not know from which gun that bullet was fired. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Roddy with first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, second-degree assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Because Roddy has a prior felony conviction, he remains jailed without bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Some of the most radical legal theories which animated Donald Trumps 2020 coup attempt filtered in from a once-obscure Wisconsin attorney. Ken Chesebro, an appellate lawyer and former acolyte of Harvard Law professor Larry Tribe, wound up as an ideas man for the Trump campaigns last, most desperate grasps at power in late 2020 and early 2021, a trove of documents obtained by TPM shows. He was the architect of the fake electors plan and, emails, texts, and memos reveal, played a critical role in developing the idea that Mike Pence had the power to gum up Congress on Jan. 6. That, Chesebro claimed, would start a chain reaction that could somehow lead to Trumps re-inauguration on Jan. 20. This article shows how some of the most radical ideas now associated with Jan. 6 filtered into the Trump campaign through three people who have been identified as unindicted co-conspirators listed in Jack Smiths Jan. 6 indictment. They are Chesebro, law professor John Eastman, and a third figure: Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump surrogate, attorney, and political consultant who reportedly sent emails matching those sent by a figure described as co-conspirator 6 in the Smith indictment. The trove of documents obtained by TPM reveals the division of labor between the three. Chesebro was an ideas man. Many of those ideas were divorced from the prior 150 years of practice. But Chesebro outlined a vision of Pences role and of stalemate in Congress which gave the Trump campaign what it was looking for, with academic laurels to boot: a shot at delaying the formalization of Bidens win for as long as possible. Epshteyn emerges in this picture as a coordinator, tasking Chesebro with preparing legal memos and connecting him with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Per the emails, Eastman largely begins to propose ideas after the fake elector scheme had been implemented, and complements Chesebros ideas while editing them and taking them to Trumps inner circle. TPM obtained the trove of documents after Michigan prosecutors received records from Ken Chesebro as part of their investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Chesebro supplied the documents, which include emails, texts, and legal memos, to prosecutors. Its one tranche of evidence in a coup attempt that was much broader it spanned months and involved hundreds of people and was provided as Chesebro sought to avoid prosecution in Michigan. The documents provide a look at the anatomy of the portion of the coup attempt which proceeded not through mobs at the Capitol or via angry tirades, but in staid legal briefs and hidebound argumentation, and which cast Vice President Mike Pence in a leading role. Epshteyn, a prominent Trump surrogate since the 2016 campaign, has largely managed to maintain a lower profile than the other co-conspirators with respect to his involvement in the legal portion of the coup attempt. He wasnt available for comment for this series. But the records show that he played a leading role in pulling together the legal theories that cast Jan. 6 as a critical date, asking Chesebro on Dec. 12 for a memo on VPs powers during Joint Session, and, after receiving the now-infamous Eastman memo, asking about steps that have to be taken BEFORE the 6th on this front? Chesebro also emerges from the emails and texts as a far more influential figure than previously understood. The records show that he provided substantial edits to the Eastman memo, which pushed the idea that Pence could unilaterally reject electoral votes on Jan. 6, and, in the three days before Jan. 6, peppered Epshteyn and Eastman with law review articles about the vice presidents ability to review and count electoral votes. On a normal Jan. 6, according to the Electoral Count Act, the vice president opens the electoral votes submitted by the states. Before a 2022 reform went into effect, one senator and one representative objecting to a particular states results would lead to time-limited debate. Chesebro volunteered the idea that Pence could throw a wrench in this process by declining to open Biden votes from swing states, instead using the fake electoral slates that Chesebro convened as a reason to not open any votes from those states. He brought this idea to an eager Trump campaign weeks ahead of the climactic series of meetings before Jan. 6 where Eastman and Trump sought to pressure Pence into stoking as much chaos as possible. The possibility that Pence might decline to open Biden votes at all was an option that Chesebro described as a fairly boss move. The documents, combined with a 4.5 hour interview that Chesebro gave to Michigan prosecutors last year reviewed by TPM, also reveal for the first time that the group received an early no from Pences camp. Chesebro told prosecutors that he walked away from a call with a legal adviser to Pence one month before Jan. 6 with the distinct impression that Pence would not diverge from a single letter of the Electoral Count Act. Despite that early demurral from Greg Jacob, Pences legal counsel, Chesebro spent the following weeks pushing for various ways that Pence could step beyond his authority to refuse to review electoral votes. Horatius at the Bridge Chesebro had entered the Trump campaigns post-election legal maneuvering in November via a lawsuit challenging the count in his home state of Wisconsin, an effort he worked on alongside an old friend of his, a former judge named Jim Troupis. An early outline for how leverage might be exerted in January to force Congress to delay Bidens certification in favor of examining claims of voter fraud came via a previously unreported Dec. 8 email to Troupis. It contained a rough sketch of the pressure campaign that came to pass: the Electoral Count Act, which specified Pences role and time limits for debate, was unconstitutional and non-binding on Congress, Chesebro argued. It meant, he theorized, that if Republican senators and Pence cooperated, the Jan. 6 election certification vote could be extended for days, perhaps until Jan. 20, at which point the Senate could resolve the impasse by electing Pence vice president. By contrast, if he has the will to do it, Pence could stand as Horatius at the Bridge, and help ensure adequate time for debate, Chesebro wrote in the Dec. 8 email, likening the vice president to an ancient Roman soldier who defended a bridge into Rome during a battle, becoming wounded but saving the city in so doing. But what might induce Pence to bring Roman virtue into Trumpworld? Chesebro wrote that Pence could find justification for his bold move in fake slates of electors that the Trump campaign could convene from swing states. These electors would create the pretext of disputed victories, allowing Pence to refuse to open the Biden electors and thereby buy Trump, potentially, days or weeks of time. The fake electors would make Pences exercise of his power to set the pace of the count look much more reasonable, Chesebro wrote. A quick call with Pences lawyer Chesebro did not wait long to see how his theory would fare in reality. One day after Chesebros email to Troupis, Dec. 9, Epshteyn asked Troupis if he would be willing to prepare sample fake elector ballots for Wisconsin and, if he agreed, to do the same for six other states: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Troupis said yes, and forwarded Epshteyns email to Chesebro: could he or another Wisconsin attorney do this for the other states? Oh, absolutely!!! Chesebro replied. Chesebro, believing, as he put it in a Dec. 9 email to Troupis, that Pence was President of the Senate in 2016, arranged a call with Greg Jacob, Pences legal adviser. Three years later, Chesebro recounted the conversation to Michigan prosecutors during a proffer interview. My immediate reaction was, well, I need to see the electoral votes that were cast in 2016. Thinking, well, the President of the Senate thats Pence! Ill reach out to his staff and theyll have copies, Chesebro recalled in December 2023. So I reached out, and eventually Greg Jacob, whos the key lawyer for Pence, who ended up being in the meetings with Eastman, he and I had a nice discussion, and he explained that actually, the President of the Senate in 2016 was Biden, and they were in his papers, so we dont have them, and it turned out they were online in the archive. Chesebro added that, after that flub, he gently suggested that Pence might decline to open the envelopes. Or, Chesebro recalled, that Pence might skip the states in dispute, and then lump them together at the end of the count to create a critical mass of states that need to be considered separately, even though that would violate the Electoral Count Act. I detected no enthusiasm, Chesebro told prosecutors of Jacobs response. By that time, emails show, others on the original Wisconsin team had found the certificates Chesebro was searching for on the National Archives website. Three years later in an interview with Michigan prosecutors, Chesebro made his view of Pence clear: Pence wouldnt do anything anyway, because his lawyer wouldnt even take a state out of order. Enter Boris The next day, on Dec. 10, Troupis sent an email directing Chesebro to work with two Trump campaign attorneys: Justin Clark, a deputy campaign manager and attorney, and Boris Epshteyn, an attorney for the President. Throughout, Epshteyn took on a coordinating role for Chesebro. He introduced Chesebro to Rudy Giuliani, and helped facilitate the fake electors effort. Emails and texts from the days before Dec. 14 the day the fake electors convened show Epshteyn coordinating with Chesebro and a coterie of other Trumpworld figures including Mike Roman. The former mayor and Chesebro spoke on the phone on Dec. 10, the emails indicate. Epshteyn also began to ask Chesebro to prepare legal arguments about Pences role. In a Dec. 12 text exchange between Epshteyn, Chesebro, and Trump operative Mike Roman, Epshteyn asked Chesebro whether Pence had the ultimate authority on which slate of electors should be chosen. Chesebro, forever lawyerly, cited the election of George Washington, numerous examples from the 1850s, and an October 2020 column from John Yoo to give a qualified answer: yes. Hours later, Epshteyn told Chesebro that he had briefed Giuliani. He then said a memo on VPs powers during Joint Session would be vital to have, reminding him in a separate thread about the memo and peppering Chesebro with questions once it came through. In his exchange with Epshteyn and Roman, Chesebro also mentioned that days before, on Dec. 9, he held a phone call with Jacob, Pences counsel. Chesebro was sparse on details in the texts to Epshteyn and Roman. Three years later, Chesebro would tell prosecutors that he tailored his legal advice based on what Jacob told him: that Pence was not likely to do anything that Chesebro was proposing. Editing Eastman Its not clear whether Chesebros Dec. 12 Pence memo, ordered by Epshteyn, went anywhere. The idea that Pence should do anything other than count the votes does not surface again in the documents shared with prosecutors until Dec. 23, when law professor John Eastman begins to work on the idea with Chesebro in his now-infamous Eastman memo. Drafts in the trove show that Chesebro added chunks of text to the document highlighting Pences role, including a line citing very solid legal authority for the idea that Pence could both count and resolve disputed electoral votes, while all the Members of Congress can do is watch. TPM visualization of edits to the Eastman memo Do we need to add any steps that have to be taken BEFORE the 6th on this front? Epshteyn asked in a Dec. 23 response. Chesebro, in a lengthy email 13 minutes later, replied that the Senate could hold hearings ahead of Jan. 6 on election fraud and the invalidity of the Electoral Count Act, but Eastman shot that idea down, writing: Better for them just to act boldly and be challenged. Three years later, Chesebro would tell Michigan prosecutors that he knew at least some of their work made it to Trumps inner circle via Epshteyn, who he described as funneling it out to GOP senators. Chesebro spoke dismissively of Eastman in the interview with prosecutors, calling some of his legal ideas ridiculous and complaining that he had to send Eastman basic law review articles on the Electoral Count Act and the 12th Amendment that he apparently had never looked at, and that he was trying to educate Eastman about stuff he was talking to the Vice President about. As Jan. 6 approached, Chesebro showered Eastman and Epshteyn with law review articles, including one where, Chesebro wrote, the author sketched how Republicans in a setting like the one we now have could plausibly rely on the view that the President of the Senate counts the votes, to totally gum up the count. He also forwarded Eastman the Dec. 13 memo on Pences powers which Epshteyn had told him to write, and sent both Eastman and Epshteyn a Twitter thread featuring law professor Jed Shugerman, which, he said, features a good summary of the other side. Jed is a rare honest liberal scholar. Its not clear from the emails why Chesebro was sending these, though he told prosecutors in the interview three years later that Eastman had asked him to do so. Eastman met with Pence and Greg Jacob on Jan. 5, where he failed to persuade them to adopt the plan. Nearly all of the law review articles were focused on the critical question: does the vice president count? For them, it was abstract. For the rest of the world, it was very real. South Africa is now urging the UN International Court of Justice to investigate Israel's military operations in Rafah; the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. South African government officials issued an "urgent request" with ICJ to consider that the activities of the Israel Defense Forces in Rafah violate the provisional orders handed down in January. What they exactly want is for ICJ to intervene in the military operations that Israel recently announced. But, will the UN International Court of Justice listen? South Africa Urges UN To Investigate Israel's Operations in Rafah According to Politico's latest report, South Africa's Presidency explained that Rafah is the " last refuge for surviving people in Gaza." Because of this, officials argue that it is required for the UN International Court of Justice to use its power to stop "further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza." The South African government wants ICJ to weigh if Israel's ground offensive in Rafah could breach the rights of Gazan residents, as reported by The Associated Press. Recently, ICJ issued six orders after South Africa lodged a case against Israel, accusing it of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Among these orders is to require Israel to prevent Palestinian civilian deaths and the destruction of Gaza. However, the UN International Court of Justice didn't include a cease-fire order. "The South African government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah," said South Africa's Presidency. "This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court's Order of 26 January 2024," it added. Read Also: Biden Welcomes Jordan's King Abdullah To Discuss Ongoing Hostage Deal in Israel-Hamas War Israel's Military Assault Plan in Rafah Previously, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it is preparing a military assault in Rafah, where four largely intact Hamas battalions are allegedly located. Reports stated that IDF troops already started their airstrikes and other military activities against the Palestinian terrorist organization. Israeli officials claimed that senior Hamas leaders are located in Rafah or are present below the Gaza city; in the military tunnel systems of Hamas. They added that these senior Hamas leaders could be holding Israeli hostages in Rafah. As of writing, the Israeli Foreign Ministry hasn't commented regarding the latest petition filed by the South African government against its operations in the southern Gaza city. If you want to learn more details about Israel's planned military operations in Rafah and South Africa's urgent request to ICJ, you can click here. Related Article: Rafah Under Fire as Ceasefire Talks Begin in Cairo CLARKSDALE, Miss. A teenager is dead after being shot in the head on Friday in Clarksdale, Mississippi, police say. The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Jameion Chatman. Clarksdale Assistant Police Chief, Vincent Ramirez, says Friday afternoon police were contacted by staff at Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center after the 17-year-old male gunshot victim was dropped off at the ER by two males in a private vehicle. Bond revoked for suspect in Sunday crime spree He was flown to Regional One Hospital in Memphis from the Medical Center but did not survive his injuries. We talked to the individuals that dropped the subject off at the ER and thats where we learned it occurred on the 200 block of Spruce, Ramirez said. Ramirez says the victim was a passenger and neither of the males have been charged. Police have no details on why the victim was in the 200 block of Spruce when the shooting happened but did confirm that multiple shots were fired. Theres several residences right there in that area, Ramirez said. At this point, we just know it happened in the 200 block. Man allegedly held, assaulted victim for 2 days in Southaven, MS The 17-year-old was also a student at Clarksdale High School. Monday Clarksdales Municipal School District issued the following statement, We are profoundly saddened by the untimely loss of our scholar Jameion Chatman. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. We request everyone to respect their privacy as they grieve this loss. One mother says the pain never goes away after her son was murdered last year on his birthday. My son got killed July 29th on his birthday, Lelia Perryman said. I just want to tell the young man and the young lady whose son died, Im truly sorry about your son. Im truly sorry. If you have any information that could help investigators, youre urged to call 662-621-8151. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Clearwater man was arrested after video of a pickup truck driver vandalizing a LGBTQ+ pride installation on February 4 sparked outrage. Dylan Brewer, 19, was accused of intentionally performing multiple burnouts in an intersection painted to look like the LGBTQ+ pride flag, according to Delray Beach police. Florida bill banning pride flags from schools, government buildings moves forward Several witnesses sent video to the police showing a dark-colored pickup truck with what appears to be a flag supporting former President Donald Trump leaving black marks across the intersection as its tires squealed. The reckless action caused significant damage to the streetscape painting, which serves as a symbol of unity and inclusivity for the LGBTQ community, a news release from the City of Delray Beach stated. Brewer turned himself in to Delray Beach police on Monday. He was charged with felony criminal mischief over $1,000 and reckless driving and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. In an exclusive report published by Reuters, serious threats to United States Federal Judges have more than doubled in the past three years according to data from the United States Marshals Service. The Marshals Service is responsible for the safety of 2,700 Federal Judges, 30,000 Federal Prosecutors as well as court personnel. The sharp rise in these threats has been linked to the ever-growing political divide within the country according to Marshals Director Ronald Davis who spoke with Reuters in an interview. The Rise In Numbers The service categorizes serious threats as threats that would trigger an investigation by an agency. According to the data by the end of the 2023 fiscal year threats to Federal Judges rose to 457 from 224 in 2021's fiscal year. There was also a rise in threats to Federal Prosecutors which went up from 68 in 2021 to 155 in 2023. The time of these threats spans a period that began in 2020 around the most recent Presidential Election during this time courts were hearing what were described as highly political cases which include the lawsuits filed by former President Donald Trump in his previous attempt to overturn the recent Presidential election. Reuters has also documented a tirade of threats from Trump's supporters towards election officials. However, a spokesperson for the former President did not provide a comment. There have also been threats from activists who were enraged by the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn the legal right to abortion. According to the report, Davis the agency has a "Growing concern" about the spike in threats fueled by partisan divisions and seemingly venomous language on social platforms. Davis is to testify on Wednesday at a United States House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee oversight hearing. Each year the Marshal's Service reviews hundreds upon thousands of threats and has been launching what has been described as "Protective investigations" on the ones it considers the most dangerous. However, they did not provide details on the threats themselves. The Justice Department was asked to provide the number of individuals charged or convicted for the threats they simply said that they do not track the data. Davis also pointed out that while usually threats are put out because of how an individual's case turned out, the threats are now coming from people who are enraged with politics. In the interview, Davis said the following "The threat environment right now that is causing me concern is when people disagree with the judicial process or the government, and that turns into those verbal attacks. And that is the beginning of the process that threatens the judiciary and threatens our democracy." It would seem that in the wake of more cases against the former President, including one regarding the former President's eligibility to run for re-election, continue to rise more Judges might end up facing threats that could lead to further escalation however, the outcome of those cases has not been determined. HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) A diner in Hilliard announced its merging with a restaurant based out of Clintonville and that has served customers for decades. Starliner Diner, located at 4121 Main St., announced on its social media page that its joining forces with Nancys Home Cooking. Nancys Home Cooking was originally located at 3133 N. High St. in Clintonville and moved to Lynn Street in Columbus before it closed in December 2020. Central Ohio schools with closures and early releases for the solar eclipse The post from Starliner said Nancys Home Cooking will serve its food inside the Hilliard diner, including its signature chicken and noodles. Nancys Home Cooking opened in Clintonville back in 1968 by Nancy Kimmerling. Kimmerling sold the business later to Cindy King, who ran the restaurant for many years. King became ill in 2008, and the business was taken over by Kings niece, Sheila Hahn. Her husband, Rick Hahn, now owns the business after Sheilas passing in November 2012. Starliner will continue serving its signature diner dishes as well. The Hilliard spot is excited for Nancys Home Cooking to join, noting that more updates will be available soon. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. On Read It's not just you college students are having trouble reading, too, and that's major cause for concern. In an editorial for Slate, Adam Kotsko, an assistant professor at Illinois' North Central College, said that over the past five years four of which, of course, have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath he and a lot of his colleagues have noticed that their students are really, really reticent to do the reading. "For most of my career, I assigned around 30 pages of reading per class meeting as a baseline expectation," Kotsko, whose classes largely include humanities and philosophy instruction, writes. "Now students are intimidated by anything over 10 pages and seem to walk away from readings of as little as 20 pages with no real understanding." While it's no secret that there's been a "very real learning loss" as a result of the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, there seems to be something much worse afoot, the author and educator muses. "Not only did the marked decline in reading resilience start before the pandemic, but the students I am seeing would have already been in high school during the school closures," Kotsko explains. "Hence they would be better equipped to get something out of the online format and, more importantly, their basic reading competence would have already been established." As he and his fellow teachers discuss the issue amongst themselves and, at times, in trade publications including how they're spending more and more time explaining "basic" concepts, the question remains: what gives? Core Cause The likely culprits aside from early pandemic school closures, Kotsko explains, are pretty evidence: smartphones becoming the main medium for reading and the "teach-to-test" style of pedagogy that has for decades now dominated primary and secondary education. Add in teaching fads like the "balanced literacy" movement that majorly de-emphasized phonics education in favor of reading comprehension which can, of course, be measured by standardized tests has led to a "vibes-based literacy," as the NCC assistant professor and others call it, in which students are not instructed to sound out word pronunciation anymore. "Even aside from the impact of smartphones," Kotsko writes, "their experience of reading is constantly interrupted by their intentionally cultivated inability to process unfamiliar words." Perhaps the most jarring source of the issue, however, is teachers' acquiescence to it by assigning shorter excerpts in yet another means of teaching for standardized tests and not, you know, for education and enrichment. "I have to think that we can, at the very least, stop actively preventing young people from developing the ability to follow extended narratives and arguments in the classroom," the impassioned assistant professor exclaims. "Regardless of their profession or ultimate educational level, they will need those skills." More on modern language: Lovers Who Can Only Communicate Through AI Get Engaged TENNESSEE (WJHL) College students who complete the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will see delays in processing and reporting to their specified colleges this year, the U.S. Department of Education said. A release from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) said the Department of Education notified its stakeholders that FAFSA records will not be released to colleges until mid-March this year. Former Emory & Henry QB shines with Kansas City Chiefs This means college students could see financial aid offers from selected institutions later than expected. The THEC said these delays wont impact state financial aid programs such as Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect or the states HOPE scholarship. The FAFSA typically launches each year on StudentAid.gov in October, but this year, applications didnt become available until January. The THEC said this delay was due to program updates to improve online functionality. Since applications didnt open until January this year, institutions will be delayed in receiving processed FAFSA reports, thus delaying any financial aid offers extended to students. A list of what the THEC called the most urgent deadlines for Tennessee students enrolling in the fall semester can be found below: April 15, 2024: Priority FAFSA Deadline for Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) May 15, 2024: FAFSA Deadline for Tennessee Promise Scholarship September 1, 2024: FAFSA Deadline for Tennessee HOPE Scholarship More information about FAFSA and the release of those records to Tennessee institutions can be found at CollegeForTN.org. While delays are expected in processing FAFSA records, THEC wants to assure students and their families that this will not hinder their ability to access the support needed for their education. Students FAFSA information is expected to be sent to their selected colleges in mid-March. Once processed, colleges will assess financial aid eligibility, ensuring students receive the financial aid for which they qualify. Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro was booked into the Collier County Jail on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. He was released the same day on $1,000 bond. Less than a week after authorities issued an arrest warrant for a Collier County official related to a domestic assault, and his subsequent hospitalization, he's back to work. Commissioner Rick LoCastro, 57, of Marco Island, appeared remotely during Tuesday's County Commission meeting, where he thanked the board for its support and referenced his ailing mother. His voice sounded like his usual charismatic self, his voice booming and oozing enthusiasm. "I am fully up and running and look forward to robust discussions," LoCastro said during the meeting. He also referenced "false police reports." LoCastro was released Monday from the Collier County Jail on $1,000 bond. He's next due in court March 6 for his arraignment. Rescue workers shuttled LoCastro to an undisclosed hospital Feb. 6 morning, where he remained shy of a week. The reason for the hospitalization remains unclear. At the end of an hours-long board meeting, Commissioner Bill McDaniel offered up words of encouragement to LoCastro, saying "We're all really happy to be hearing from you." Without getting into any of the details of LoCastro's personal situation, McDaniel also offered himself and his office up as a helping hand, if needed, such as with speaking engagements, or with addressing "constituency concerns." "Don't hesitate to reach out," he said. "I just want you to know that." LoCastro is charged with battery, stemming from an October incident at a Naples restaurant, which he denies. The incident, according to a police report Around 10:45 p.m. Oct. 28, Naples Police responded to a 911 call from a female involved in an altercation with LoCastro. Officers found a visibly upset female, with a laceration below her nose, bruising on both of her forearms, red markings on the back of her left shoulder, and leaves in her hair. LoCastro appeared to have no injuries but his left pant leg was torn, police said. Rick LoCastro probe: Naples police say October incident at Naples restaurant led to Rick LoCastro arrest warrant Both parties denied having a physical altercation and left separately, authorities said. Less than a week later, on Nov. 3, Naples Police's Criminal Investigations Division received information from detectives at the Marco Island Police Department. The same woman informed Marco Island authorities she was too afraid to press charges the night of Oct. 28, but she reconsidered. The woman told police LoCastro stopped their vehicle during a fight, pulled her out of the vehicle by the arm and pushed her into a hedgerow. The woman said that immediately following the incident she was in shock and was scared to tell officers what happened because of LoCastro's authority as a public figure and political influence in Southwest Florida. The investigation was referred to the Office of the Governor for reassignment, who then referred it to prosecutors of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, in Monroe County. The Office of the State Attorney approved the arrest warrant on Jan. 30. LoCastro, who was elected to the Collier board in 2020, is running for re-election this fall. No one has registered to run against him. His district encompasses East Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, Isles of Capri and Port of the Islands. Second SWFL elected official arrested in less than a year Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a stop in Cape Coral, said he was just made aware of LoCastro's arrest and charges Tuesday morning. The governor said his office is looking into LoCastro's matter, but didn't expand on a potential suspension, adding that his office is still gathering the facts and letting the case make its way through the clerk of court. DeSantis in November suspended Cape Coral Councilwoman Patty Cummings three days after an arrest warrant revealed possible election fraud. The State Attorneys Office, 20th Judicial Circuit, charged Patty Cummings, 52, with three third-degree felonies related to the 2022 election. The state attorney issued an arrest warrant Nov. 13, after it was approved by a judge. The State Attorneys Office, 20th Judicial Circuit, charged Cummings with three third-degree felonies related to the 2022 election. The state attorney issued an arrest warrant Nov. 13, after it was approved by a judge. Cummings' probe wasn't assigned to prosecutors in a different judicial district, unlike LoCastro. Cummings was released Nov. 14 on $7,500 bond and is next due in court April 9 for a case management conference. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro returns to work after arrest Columbus police have identified the person they say was responsible for the deaths of two women in a 2023 shooting in Columbus. An investigation into the deaths of Juantonja Richmond, 52, and Ronisha Anderson, 51 show Solomon Adams was responsible for the shooting deaths of both victims, according to police. Adams was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his residence two days after Richmond and Anderson were killed. Police said Adams had lived at a house next door to where the two victims were found on March 7, 2023, lying on the ground at a residence in the 3000 block of Clay Street. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds, according to police. In light of these findings, the case has been exceptionally cleared and closed in the name of Solomon Adams, read a news release from the Columbus Police Department. Police said the investigation was supported by results obtained from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime lab. At the time of the shooting, a local resident who heard the gunshots just as she woke up talked to the Ledger-Enquirer. Then something like this happens close to home, you know that really takes a toll on people, said Tennilly Miller. You hear about this every day. Miller said she heard multiple gunshots around 11 a.m. She said her son, Tamareious, was a victim of gun violence in 2022. She said shes reminded of her son every time she hears a gunshot. Columbus City Council approved payments of nearly $600,000 on city Division of Police lawsuits Monday, including three where officers are suing the city for being prosecuted. Columbus City Council approved nearly $600,000 in additional costs related to city police lawsuits Monday, including $300,000 for a man accidentally shot by police in 2015 while they were trying to arrest him at his home on the South Side. The other almost $300,000 is to pay a law firm to defend the city against a case filed by three city police officers who contend they were falsely charged with crimes during racial justice protests and rioting in Columbus in the aftermath of the 2020 murder of George Floyd Jr. by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The $300,000 settlement, approved unanimously by City Council, deals with a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the Columbus Division of Police by James England, who was shot at his house while wearing handcuffs after Officer Keith Abel stumbled as he tried to pull England through an opening on a patio door. Abel had England with one hand while holding his firearm with the other, according to a court document, when the officer was flipped onto the porch rather than vice versa. Two of England's dogs, including a pit bull, were on the patio acting aggressively at the time of the shooting. Police initially told The Dispatch in 2015 that Abel was shooting at the dogs and accidentally hit England, but that story changed later. Review panels differed on whether the officer's actions, which resulted in England being accidentally shot twice, were "inappropriate and outside of policy," with one panel finding it was. But former Police Chief Kim Jacobs overruled that determination, said Rich Coglianese, city solicitor general for Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein's Office. A court document says that Jacobs found Abel's actions "intentional," because the officer thought England might get control of his firearm. England, who was 29 at the time, was sentenced in 2016 to 13 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault and one count of attempted felonious assault. The charges stem from the incident that police were attempting to arrest England on attacking three men with a metal pipe during a road-rage incident in 2014. The biggest financial exposure the city has in "these types of cases" is attorneys' fees, Coglianese told the council, which in this case he estimated could be as high as $700,000. "So we believe that a $300,000 settlement in this case is appropriate," he said. The council approved another almost $300,000 to pay the law firm of Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Teetor LLC to defend the city in the alleged wrongful charges cases brought by three police officers two in Franklin County Common Pleas Court and one in federal court. All three of the cases "come out of the same basic set of facts," Coglianese said, which involves the city's decision to hire an independent investigator to determine if any criminal charges should be filed over the way police treated protesters and others during the 2020 demonstrations, rioting and vandalism in 2020 including the use of mace. Officers Traci Shaw and Phillip Walls and Sgt. Holly Kanode charge that the special investigator failed to follow basic investigatory procedures in determining the three should face various changes, such as assault, dereliction of duty and interference with civil rights. The criminal cases against Wall and Shaw were later dismissed. Kanode was ultimately found not guilty at trial. The city's total projected legal fees for the officers' three cases against the city now stands at just under $450,000. In other business Monday, the council: Increased by $3 million, to $3.6 million, funding for emergency housing for displaced residents of the Colonial Village Apartment complex on the East Side near East Livingston Avenue and Barnett Road. The complex, which includes 508 units spread across more than 20 acres, was shuttered in December for problems like bed bugs, rodents, water and fire damage and a lack of utilities after going into court-appointed receivership in early 2022. The money will go to the Community Shelter Board, which is now temporarily housing 1,300 people, officials said. Approved $1.5 million to develop Alkire Road Park on 25 acres of farmland the city acquired in 2007 at 6084 Alkire Road. Upon completion this spring, the park will feature a 7,900-square-foot playground, an open-air shelter, and an asphalt path connecting to the Camp Chase Trail as well as a driveway and parking lot. "The park will also include a meandering natural surface walking loop, open green spaces (and) strategically placed benches," according to the ordinance. Granted a zoning variance to allow for an existing dwelling at 44 E. Duncan St. in the University District to be converted into a shared living facility for people with disabilities who are unable to live independently, but do not need the full service provided by a nursing home. The "Melissas House" project would provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week care for between nine and 15 residents. New Housing Ohio, Inc. will spend $1.5 million to renovate the original 1905 house, which is 3,583 square feet, and its 2014 addition of 2,936 square feet, which sits on .31 acres. wbush@gannett.com @ReporterBush This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Police-related lawsuits cost Columbus taxpayers another $600,000 IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A combative teen is facing charges after spitting in a detectives face and making threats against a church during an attempted robbery, the Iredell County Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday. Deputies responded to calls regarding the incident last Friday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church on Bethlehem Road. An initial investigation stated that a person was held at gunpoint and robbed. Give me everything in your pockets, the victim said the suspect told him while refusing to turn anything over. I will come back and shoot up the whole church, the suspect said before fleeing on foot. MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS Crime & Public Safety Detectives later identified a 16-year-old boy, who is not being named, who lived in the area as the suspect and a search ensued. The juvenile was arrested after becoming combative when confronted by law enforcement and spitting in a detectives face while trying to run, according to the sheriffs office. He was being held at the Alexander County Detention Center and now faces multiple charges including communicating a threat of mass violence at a place of worship. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. With a new legislative session in full swing, affordability is a big theme for lawmakers in Trenton. But two diverging proposals to fund NJ Transit beg an important question: Who exactly are lawmakers trying to make the state affordable for? As New Jersey commuters brace for the possibility of double-digit fare hikes, the most profitable corporations in the world are enjoying a substantial tax cut after lawmakers let the Corporate Business Tax, or CBT, surcharge expire at the start of the new year. This corporate surcharge, paid only by ultra-wealthy companies like Amazon and Walmart, would not only offset NJ Transits looming shortfalls but fully fund the agency for the first time in decades. No question: NJ Transit needs more money There's no question that NJ Transit needs more funding, especially if lawmakers want to maintain reliable service for the millions of bus and train riders across the state. An NJ Transit train goes through Lyndhurst, Sunday, March 27, 2022. The agency faces a $119 million budget shortfall, which will balloon to nearly $1 billion next year. This shortfall is a crisis, but its not new news. As most commuters know firsthand, NJ Transit has been underfunded for decades, including a drastic 90% cut during the Christie administration that the agency still hasnt fully recovered from. NJ Transit is also the only transit agency of its kind in the country without a dedicated source of public funding. While transit agencies in other states receive more than half of their funding from direct state and local aid, only 5% of NJ Transit's annual funding comes from the state government. This explains the agencys over-reliance on farebox revenues, and why NJ Transit has made a bad habit of raiding its capital fund to cover annual operating expenses. Bringing back the corporate surcharge is the fairest way to fix NJ Transit, and a much better approach than balancing the agencys budget on the backs of working people. Not only would this generate about $1 billion annually and provide NJ Transit with a consistent, reliable, dedicated source of funding, but it would do so by targeting the biggest and most profitable corporations that can best afford the tax, like Amazon, Verizon, and Wells Fargo. The corporate surcharge is only paid by the top 2% of businesses operating in the state, including multinational corporations that arent even headquartered here. These are not your neighborhood pizzerias or local coffee shops; these are giant corporations that remained incredibly profitable with the corporate surcharge in effect, with many of them raking in record profits during the pandemic. Opinion: New Jersey plastic bag ban is a leader in reducing pollution Opinion: New Jersey taxpayers cannot tolerate a $1B shortfall for NJ Transit. We deserve solutions New Jersey needs action now Using the corporate surcharge to fund NJ Transit also isnt a new idea. Former Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg introduced legislation in 2020 to dedicate part of the surcharge to the transit agency. Then-Assemblyman Tom Giblin introduced a similar bill during the Legislature's last lame duck session. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop called for using the full surcharge to fund transit in his gubernatorial campaign policy platform. And Senate President Nick Scutari continues to make his support for this idea public. On top of this support from policymakers, this idea is incredibly popular among residents, according to a recent poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University. With New Jersey's transit system at a crossroads, the need for action is pressing. New Jersey Policy Perspectives recent report, "Getting Back on Track: Fully Fund NJ Transit by Taxing Big Corporations," underscores the vital link between robust public transit and the state's economic vitality. A well-functioning transit system benefits workers and businesses alike by ensuring workers have reliable transportation to and from their jobs, creating a positive cycle of attracting more businesses in New Jersey. Its hard to imagine a less equitable way to fix NJ Transit than to go through with double-digit fare hikes. The nurses, retail clerks, child care providers and millions of other New Jersey residents who rely on trains and buses need an affordability boost much more than the worlds biggest corporations making billions of dollars in profits. Alex Ambrose is a Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective and co-author of a recent report on the social and economic benefits of fully funding NJ Transit. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Transit funding: Corporate tax cut must end International companies listed by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAPC) as war sponsors will be unable to supply products to the Ukrainian army. Source: Dmytro Bihunets, the State Logistics Operator's director of risk management and compliance, stated this during a procurement presentation, reports Liga.net Details: According to Bihunets, the State Logistics Operator employs additional criteria when vetting suppliers to ensure integrity. Sanctions will be considered not only by the National Security and Defence Council, but also by Ukraine's partners, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Quote: "The sanctions apply to both the potential supplier and the products offered by the supplier," Bihunets explained. Furthermore, suppliers with any connection to Russia or Belarus, a criminal record, debts, or bankruptcies are not permitted to participate in the bidding process. One of the criteria for a ban is a breach of obligations to supply products to the Ministry of Defence in 2022-2023. "We also introduced an additional criterion, the presence of a participant on the list of international war sponsors. This list is administered by the NACP and is constantly updated. We believe it is fair to prevent potential participants who have been recognised by the NACP as international sponsors of war from participating in our tenders," the representative of the State Logistics Operator explained. At the same time, Bihunets did not name specific companies because the tender process is still ongoing. "We don't want to discriminate against suppliers who are still submitting offers," he added. According to the NACP, the war's sponsors include the Auchan and Metro retail chains, as well as the product companies Bonduelle, Mars Inc., Mondelez International, Nestle, Pepsi, and Viciunai Group. Background: The Ministry of Defence and the State Logistics Operator agency presented a new procurement architecture for the army, which will go into effect on 1 April. The Ministry of Defence suggested that supermarkets participate in army purchases; this service will be operational beginning in April. The State Logistics Operator announced the first Prozorro tenders for the purchase of Armed Forces products. Support UP or become our patron! Abbas Ganbay Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, commenting on the escalation on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, that Russia hopes that the peace process between Baku and Yerevan will continue, Azernews reports. Peskov called the military clash on the border of the two countries "alarming news" and urged the sides to restraint. The Kremlin spokesman added that such incidents do not contribute to the advancement of the negotiation process, bringing us closer to the moment of signing a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. On February 12, the Armenian Armed Forces shelled the positions of Azerbaijani State Border Guard Service (SBS) troops in the direction of Kollugishlak village in Zangilan district, as a result of which serviceman Parviz Aghakishi oglu Khalilzade was wounded. On Tuesday, the leader of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said that they blocked all Israeli-linked ships in the Gulf of Aden last week. "The Americans and the British failed to secure the passage of any ship heading to Israel. They were unable to protect these ships. They can no longer protect even American-British ships, and this is a real and major victory for us." Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech. Reuters noted the Houthi militants, who control Yemen's most populous regions, have repeatedly fired on international commercial ships since mid-November. Their targets have been vessels with commercial ties to the United States, Britain, or Israel, according to shipping sources. "The Israeli, American, and British agenda seeks to bring an end to the Palestinian issue," al-Houthi said. Houthi operations in the Red Sea, he said, were "legitimate (ones) to help support the people of Gaza and lift the siege being imposed on them." The Houthis claim they have targeted shipping in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war on Gaza. Several companies have decided to suspend Red Sea journeys in response to the attacks, choosing instead a lengthier and more expensive route around the African continent. Retaliatory strikes across Yemen have been carried out by both U.S. and British warplanes. The Houthi's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, had previously warned the United States in January, doubling down on the Houthi's stance that these blockade attempts will continue until aid is allowed to enter Gaza. "No U.S. attack will pass without a response or punishment," he said. What Caused The Escalation? Following the Houthi announcement in January, Al-Jazeera revealed that the Pentagon indicated a U.S. warship and multiple commercial ships faced an assault in the Red Sea. "We are aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon stated. However, it was reported that missiles landed near a U.S. warship after it helped an Israeli vessel that had been briefly seized by gunmen. In December, the Houthis also seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. There are few tasks in state government more obscure than setting budgets. But it is also one of the most important things that happens every year. Thats why you should pay attention to an unfolding crisis in the Idaho Legislature. Idahos longstanding and well-functioning budgeting process is in the process of breaking down. A few years down the road, you will feel the consequences in your kids schools, the roads you drive on, in crime rates and declining public safety. Budgets in Idaho are written by the Joint Finance-Approriations Committee, composed of 10 senators and 10 representatives. Previously, state agencies presented their requests, the governor made recommendations, then lawmakers made changes based on their priorities. Finally, full budgets went to the House and Senate floors for up-or-down votes. But this year, JFAC co-chairs Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, instituted a new process of setting so-called maintenance budgets (which arent really maintenance budgets) and then passing supplementary budgets for each agency. In early February, a group of 12 reasonable Republicans and Democrats joined together to pass traditional budgets, bypassing the new process and precipitating a fight within the GOP caucus that last week ended in the ouster of Majority Leader Megan Blanksma. So we seem to be veering into uncharted waters. The new process is not making better budgets or more conservative budgets or more closely scrutinized budgets. The only problem it solves is political. Every year the far-right segment of the Legislature decides its going to evoke and attack some bugaboo diversity, bathrooms, critical race theory so that they can go back to constituents and say, Im fighting for conservative values. Vote for me! Their political messaging problem is that budgets come packaged together. So if you want to cast a symbolic vote against the made-up problem of critical race theory in grade schools, for example, you might have to vote against the entire public schools budget. And then your constituents might ask you, Why did you vote to defund my kids schools? Under the new budget system, lawmakers might be able to vote for a public schools maintenance budget and then vote against a smaller secondary budget bill that includes supplementary curriculum funding, for example. This way, lawmakers can say they can vote against diversity programs without opening themselves up to attack ads saying they voted to defund public schools. But politics an incredibly bad reason to break a budget process that has functioned well for decades. The electoral fate of individual lawmakers simply doesnt matter very much when weighed against making state government function well for Idaho citizens. And there are gaping holes in the new budgets. As Clark Corbin, of the Idaho Capitol Sun, pointed out recently, JFAC has always started the budget process by making an educated guess about how much tax revenue will be collected in the next year. The budget is then built to aim for that target, since the Idaho Constitution requires a balanced budget. This year, Corbin noted, the budgets are moving before the revenue target has been determined. Its as if they decided to start driving, confident they could figure out their destination later. But theyre almost out of road. The proposed maintenance budgets spend about $5.1 billion of the $5.6 billion that another legislative committee projects the state will collect next year, Corbin reported. This is in many ways like the process used by Congress, nothing like the time-honored process that has led to Idahos top-shelf credit rating, overflowing rainy day funds and regular surpluses. Another problem is that the maintenance budgets really arent maintenance budgets at all. They dont include things like paying leases for existing buildings, replacing equipment that regularly ages out (police car fleets, for example), or population growth (if the school-age population goes up 5%, you need 5% more teachers). This experiment should be abandoned. There are warning lights flashing all over, and experienced budget watchers from all corners including a majority of the budget committee think the state is in real trouble. The question is: Will lawmakers be able to put the concrete interests of Idahoans ahead of their personal interest in winning the next election? Or will selfishness rule the day? Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Mary Rohlfing and Patricia Nilsson. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Lawmakers from both parties last December may have been anticipating former President Donald Trumps current NATO trash talk when they quietly slipped language limiting a presidents power to pull the US out the alliance into the annual defense policy bill, which passed with bipartisan support. Trump boasted at a weekend campaign rally that as president he told an unidentified NATO leader that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want with member countries who are in arrears on defense spending. The whole point of NATO is supposed to be that members act to defend each other if attacked. President Joe Biden seized on Trumps recent NATO bashing, suggesting in Tuesday remarks from the White House that Trump was the first president who bowed down to a Russian dictator, which Biden said was dumb, shameful, dangerous and un-American. Add that criticism to a chorus of alarm from NATO and European officials after Trumps comments and in the midst of House Republicans blockage of additional aid for Ukraine. Trumps desire to pull out of NATO The post-World War II alliance of Western democracies was built around NATO, but Trump has long complained that the US is getting a raw deal with the organization, paying too much and getting too little. Trumps ultimate goal, writes CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen, has long been to pull the US out of NATO, which was formed in 1949 to contain the threat of the Soviet Union and the spread of communism and is now organized around deterring Russian President Vladimir Putin. CNNs Jim Sciutto, in a forthcoming book, quotes a former official in both the Trump and Biden administrations who predicts a Trump election win in November would mean the US will be out of NATO. Sciutto also writes about how Trump nearly pulled the US from the alliance during a 2018 NATO meeting. At the same time, Trump tried to claim credit, arguing it is his tough talk and not the threat of Russian invasion that has caused NATO member countries to increase their defense budgets in recent years. Whats to stop him? If Trump wins the 2024 election and does turn on NATO, he would run into that new language from Congress, which says the president shall not suspend, terminate, denounce, or withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty without either a supermajority vote in the Senate or an act passed by the full Congress. When I asked the former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker about what Trump could do to undermine NATO as president, he first pointed out that Trump was boasting about his interaction with an unnamed world leader rather than promising future action. Kurt Volker testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on November 19, 2019, in Washington, DC. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Constitution, Volker noted, says the Senate must be involved with ratifying treaties but it is silent on the subject of withdrawing from a treaty. Any court battle could take years. Alternatives to withdrawal Rather than attempting to withdraw from NATO, a second Trump presidency could allow his allies to pursue a policy of making NATO dormant, an idea pushed by at least one Trump-allied think tank. Nobody knows exactly what that would look like, Volker said, but the president has immense power over how the US interacts with its allies. Theres lots of things that you can do administratively as the commander in chief that would still be very disruptive for NATO, Volker said. A president could reduce the number of exercises Americans take part in with NATO allies, further reduce troop presence in Europe, withhold payments to the NATO infrastructure or cut down on the US military budget. The US would still be bound, under this type of scenario, by the pledge to defend other NATO nations, but it would not be prepared. Its not just enough to say, yes, we will fight together, said Volker. You actually have to have the capabilities. Americans lead NATO by design If Trump wins the election this year and then seeks as president to reduce American military participation, he could, in theory, recall the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower first held the job after NATOs founding, and ever since, the top NATO commander has always been an American admiral or general. NATOs power to deter attacks on other countries rests in large part on American nuclear weapons, and so it is appropriate that an American service member sits atop the NATO structure, according to Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This December 1957 photo shows heads of government, including US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, attending the annual "family portrait" during NATO top-level meetings at the Palais de Chaillot. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Pulling American generals out of NATO might force other NATO countries to seek their own nuclear deterrents. Part of the reason Europeans have not pursued a collective European military is by American design and a result of security provided by NATO, Bergmann said. Countries are eager to be protected by Article 5 of NATOs charter, which is the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all of the members. Sweden and Finland have both worked hard to join after Russia invaded non-member Ukraine. Finland joined in 2023, and Sweden is inching closer to accession. That provision that Trump dislikes has only been invoked one time, after 9/11, when the US and NATO allies invaded Afghanistan after terror attacks brought down the World Trade Center and struck the Pentagon. More members hit 2% benchmark Trump frequently complains that NATO members other than the US dont pay dues, which is a misstatement of facts. Members are supposed to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defense, but it is just a guideline that doesnt require payments to NATO or the US. Multiple NATO countries do not hit that benchmark, although spending has risen since Russias invasion of Ukraine. That argument is weaker and weaker, because allies are indeed spending more and doing more, Volker said. NATOs charter is a relatively short and simple document. Its section on how a country withdraws from the alliance is further evidence of how central the US is to the organization: A country wishing to withdraw must notify the US a year before it plans to withdraw. No country, by the way, has ever withdrawn from NATO, although France did not take part in NATOs military operations from the mid-1960s until 2009. A difficult relationship to unbreak If Trump is reelected and chooses to hollow out NATO or make US participation dormant, it would sever ties that future presidents might have trouble repairing. Its just like any relationship, said Bergmann of the likelihood of permanent damage if Trump were to materially alter the NATO alliance. This would be seen as the US basically having a massive affair and like cheating on Europe. Could the marriage be restored? Well, potentially. But it would require, I think, a lot of effort on the part of future administrations. Marco Rubio is not worried Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was a sponsor of the new law meant to prohibit a president from leaving NATO. Appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, he dismissed the threat posed by Trump. Hes telling a story, Rubio said, adding, He doesnt talk like a traditional politician, and weve already been through this. You would think people wouldve figured it out by now. I have zero concern, because hes been president before. I know exactly what he has done and will do with the NATO alliance, Rubio said, although he added, But there has to be an alliance. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A pastor in Connecticut was arrested on five charges last week including for possession of crystal meth, authorities said. Herbert Miller, a church leader in Woodbury, has since been released on a $10,000 bond after police said they found him in possession of both rock and liquid forms of crystal meth. In an arrest report, state police said Miller, 63, was found driving without valid registration, as it had been suspended for his failure to maintain the proper insurance. "Subsequent investigation revealed that Miller was in possession of crystal methamphetamine in both rock and liquefied into a hypodermic needle prepared for injection," police said in the report, adding that he was processed and released on a $10,000 bond. Pastor Herb Miller, 63, was found with crystal meth during a traffic stop, police say. / Credit: Connecticut State Police Miller was charged on five counts operating an unregistered vehicle, operating a vehicle without the minimum insurance, use of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to sell narcotics and possession of a controlled substance, the police report says. He's scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 23. According to the Connecticut Post, Miller was the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Shelton before becoming the pastor of Woodbury United Methodist Church last July. Pastor Bill Florin of the Shelton church location told CBS News on Tuesday that "Herbert Miller is not a pastor at our local church in Shelton," but provided no further comment. When CBS News called Woodbury United Methodist Church, Miller was identified as their pastor in the facility's voicemail message. CBS News has also reached out to the New York Annual Conference for comment. Prior to the churches in Connecticut, Miller served as a pastor at Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York and studied at Yale Divinity School, according to his social media. The Park Slope church says that Miller was appointed to their leadership in 2004 and served there until 2018. During that tenure, the church said, he helped lead support for Occupy Wall Street and started a Sunday dinner program. Investigation after shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood church in Houston Inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture | 60 Minutes Archive Nikki Haley soldiering on despite Trump's double digit lead in South Carolina Edwin Avent goes to school every day in a suit and carrying a briefcase, a uniform partially reflected back to him in the neatly dressed students he oversees at the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. As Avent navigates the school halls, encouraging the students to straighten their ties and pull their pants up, hes met with high, boyish voices greeting him as Mr. CEO. Avent hopes holding that title will inspire dreams for the elementary and middle school students attending the all-boys fourth through eighth grade charter school that nearly shuttered last February. A year later, Avent says the school nestled in the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello neighborhood has turned things around and is able to offer an education focused on college readiness that also teaches students soft skills, like public speaking and how to carry themselves, that can set them up for success. We built a school that can actually impact the lives of young, African American males, Avent, 61, said. Nobody in this building is supposed to have low expectations of our boys. Baltimore Collegiates student body, which currently sits at 284 students below the schools 480-student cap is mostly Black, Avent said. And the school boasts a higher than average number of Black men on staff to highlight the importance of positive representation. Of the schools 22 teachers, 18 are Black and eight are Black men. Comparatively, according to Baltimore City Public Schools spokesperson Sherry Christian, 11.5% of the city systems 5,104 teachers are Black men. Last year, the states Department of Education said just 4% of the public teacher workforce was made up of Black men to serve a student body that is 17% Black. Having role models that value education, that value hard work, that also demonstrate love and compassion, I think is valuable for young boys. We get to inspire them in ways that other people might not. We have total empathy for them because they were us, Avent said. Were guys that were hoping our little boys would look up to and say, One day, I want to be like Mr. Such and such. But leading Baltimore Collegiate is not without its challenges, which came to a head during the schools operator renewal process last February. Avent is the CEO of Five Smooth Stones Foundation, the operator and charter holder of Baltimore Collegiate. He formally assumed the position in July 2022 but became the acting CEO in December 2021 following about four years as chair of the foundations Board of Trustees. Baltimore Collegiate was founded in 2015 by Jack Pannell, who has since left Baltimore to open Trinity Arch Preparatory School for Boys in Phoenix, Arizona. Pannell declined to comment for this story but calls himself a school choice advocate on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the Baltimore City Public Schools website, charter schools are run by outside entities and enjoy more independence than other public schools. There are currently 31 charter schools in the city. Charter schools submit applications to continue operating that are reviewed by the Charter and Operator-led Schools Advisory Board, which advises school system CEO Sonja Santelises on renewal recommendations. Santelises presents her recommendations at a public meeting of the board of school commissioners, which ultimately decides the fates of charters. The meeting on Baltimore Collegiates charter came after the school had been placed on probation due to mismanagement concerns; there were issues related to grant management, personnel qualifications and the delivery of services to students with disabilities. The school said it addressed those concerns, taking steps that included Panells departure and hiring a new principal with more experience. The board voted unanimously to extend Baltimore Collegiates charter for another three years in 2023. But the victory came with conditions, including requiring hiring additional staff knowledgeable in K12 education and requirements for public and charter schools in Maryland and showing improvement in compliance with special education requirements. Avent said the school is meeting those conditions and has taken steps such as hiring a new head of special education and a new operations manager. Some of the things that were pointed out during the renewal were things I definitely believe that came out of struggling through the pandemic, Avent said. But I think [they were] things that we have all worked very, very diligently here to get in order. Santelises did not return a request for comment. Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette Ramos, who represents the neighborhood where Baltimore Collegiate is, supported the school last year. She was spurred to action after a meeting the school held on its charter renewal process. This was a gymnasium that was full of people from the community but mostly parents, Ramos said. I just knew then that it was very important to fight for the school. While shes concerned about this years low enrollment numbers, Ramos said she thinks the school will bounce back. In the future, Avent hopes to expand the schools reach to include grades down to pre-kindergarten. He wants to ensure his students are reading at or above grade level by kindergarten. But expanding the schools offerings is a dream deferred, Avent said, until the school proves to Baltimore City that its educational model is working. Yet Baltimore Collegiate is also a dream realized for Avent, who said he has always tried to give voice to communities of color. Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, and raised in Philadelphia, Avent moved to Baltimore in 1985 after studying policy analysis and management at Cornell University. A serial entrepreneur, Avent has run several businesses and media publications. He once launched a line of condoms and a Protect the Blood HIV prevention campaign. Avent advises a mentorship and scholarship group he helped launch in the 1990s called Black Professional Men, with a mission to ensure the future of the African American male. Del. N. Scott Phillips, a Democrat who represents Baltimore County, helped start Black Professional Men. When asked about Avent, he immediately said thats my guy, adding that Avent has never wavered in his lifelong commitment to supporting Black boys and men. Related Articles Phillips, who said he has visited Baltimore Collegiate several times, called the school a jewel. The way that they approach teaching African American males is definitely culturally sensitive, Phillips said. It just instills kind of this idea of pride, of teamwork. Avent has been married to his wife, Tracey, for 22 years. The couple, who live in Ellicott City, have two sons, one at Towson University and the other in high school. Avent said both are honor roll students and Boy Scouts. His sons successes are partially what drives Avent: He wants the boys in his Baltimore school to have the same opportunities his sons did. Thats my whole driving force, is like, How can we change the circumstances of the community? Avent said. And I believe at the heart of them is education and opportunity. This article is part of our Newsmaker series, which profiles notable people in the Baltimore region who are having an impact in our diverse communities. If youd like to suggest someone who should be profiled, please send their name and a short description of what they are doing to make a difference to: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Editor Kamau High at khigh@baltsun.com. By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. government data breach disclosed earlier this year was tied to a bug in enterprise software maker Atlassian's Confluence suite of collaboration tools, an IT contractor said on Tuesday. CGI Federal, an IT contractor and unit of CGI Inc, said in a statement that it was working "with authorities and clients to identify and disclose any data affected by the Confluence exploitation," which was made public in October. Reuters has been unable to determine the size and scope of the breach. On Monday, the Government Accountability Office told Reuters that 6,000 current and former GAO employees had been victims of a data breach by an unnamed "threat actor" in connection with the hack. Whether any other government agencies have been affected has not been publicly disclosed. Atlassian said in a statement that it had warned customers that hackers were exploiting the bug on Oct. 4 and that it had been assisting clients with their response. The U.S. cyber watchdog agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, referred questions back to CGI. (Reporting by Raphael Satter in WashingtonEditing by Matthew Lewis, Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Shumaker) OCONTO, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities say a controlled burn lost control in Oconto Monday afternoon and burnt about 32 acres of land. According to a release from the Oconto Fire & Rescue, crews responded at 2:46 p.m. to the Oconto Sportsmans Club on 605 Wedgewood Avenue for reports of a controlled burn fire that got out of control. K9 Iro continues to make progress, has leg brace removed Firefighters first on the scene say they found a fire in the brush that was about 40 feet in diameter and was rapidly growing. With the fire continuing to grow rapidly, multiple brush vehicles and a dozer from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) worked together to bring the fire back under control. At the end of it all, officials say the fire was measured at 32 acres by the DNR, and a total of four engines, four rescue trucks, two UTVs, three tenders, one command vehicle, and 29 firefighters responded to the scene. Additional resources were also provided at the scene by the DNR, the Oconto Police Department, the Oconto County Sheriffs Office, and the Oconto County Emergency Management. Officials say no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Airboat crash during training operation injures three firefighters in Wisconsin The Oconto Fire & Rescue using this incident as a reminder that any burning from January 1 through June 30 requires a permit. Authorities add that all year a permit is needed to burn in the City of Oconto as well as notifying the Oconto County Sheriffs Office to inform them with the intent to burn. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. In a decision that the Coral Gables mayor said was fueled by personal vendettas, the City Commission voted Tuesday to fire City Manager Peter Iglesias. Commissioner Kirk Menendez made the tiebreaker vote, ending the will-he-or-wont-he questions swirling around City Hall for the past week. Menendez also made a new proposal Tuesday: that Iglesias be replaced by Ralph Cutie, director and CEO of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Menendez said Cutie has expressed to him that he is ready, willing and able to begin those discussions. Assistant City Manager Alberto Parjus took over Tuesday as acting city manager. Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson voted against firing Iglesias, who began hugging employees in City Hall on Tuesday afternoon during a break before the commission officially voted to terminate him. After the final vote, Iglesias walked out to standing applause in the City Hall chambers, where several employees were crying. Commissioners Ariel Fernandez and Melissa Castro joined Menendez in voting to fire Iglesias. City Manager Peter Iglesias empty chair, right, in the Coral Gables Commission chambers after he was fired on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, next to Commissioners Kirk Menendez, center and Ariel Fernandez, left. Tuesdays vote is perhaps the clearest indicator yet of the shifting power dynamics on the City Commission following the April election where Castro and Fernandez defeated two candidates who had been endorsed by the mayor and other members of the citys political establishment. Iglesias, an engineer by trade, was hired by the city of Coral Gables in 2016. He became the city manager in 2018 and earned a salary of $282,824. Before he became city manager, Iglesias was the assistant city manager of operations and infrastructure. Prior to that, he worked in the city of Miami as the senior director of building, planning and zoning. The proposal to fire Iglesias was prompted by Fernandez, who accused Iglesias of insubordination in part because of comments the city manager made when he expressed opposition to renewing the lease for Fritz & Franz, a popular German bierhaus. The message is clear: He only answers to those who voted to keep him in office, Fernandez said Tuesday. He added that, after watching last months meeting back, he realized last week that we could not continue to allow this toxicity to pollute our City Hall. Iglesias denied Fernandezs characterization in a statement last week, reaffirming that he follows the will of the commission. Manny Chamizo, left, speaks to Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago during a break in the City Commission meeting on Feb. 13, 2024. Lago previously appointed Chamizo to the citys Waterway Advisory Board. Anderson called Fernandezs claims of insubordination frivolous. He works night and day tirelessly, including managing projects. ... Hes more than a city manager, she said. Anderson added that it will be difficult to hire someone qualified for the position and that there is a lot of competition out there. This is not where you say off with his head like an Alice in Wonderland movie, she said. Lago thanked Iglesias for his service to the city and said the community was honored to have him as city manager. I think its a shame to let this man go, the mayor said, adding: After a 40-year career as a professional, this is not the way that you deserve to leave. Lago later said the termination sets a dangerous precedent. It seems we have come to a day where the very principles that should guide us are overshadowed by personal vendettas and irrational, impulsive decision making, Lago said. Very weird things have been happening The firing of Iglesias took place at a meeting where three elected officials were escorted by police because they said they feared for their safety after recent incidents. One commissioner said she spotted a drone outside her condo balcony and another reported slashed tires to police. Commissioners Menendez, Castro and Fernandez said they have received threats in recent months that they suspect may be politically motivated, especially with Menendez joining the pair on a series of contentious split votes about increasing commissioners salaries, changing election dates and censuring the mayor. Threats, intimidation and mafia-like thuggery have no place in Coral Gables, Menendez said Tuesday. There are some who think they can plot and lash out and harm others while hiding in the shadows. But Im letting you know now that a light is coming a light that shines brighter than the sun. And those who remain in the shadows purposely, causing harm to others, will be revealed. On Jan. 8 the day before the first City Commission meeting of the year Menendez reported to police that both tires on the drivers side of his wifes vehicle had been deflated, according to a police report. Speaking to the Herald on Tuesday, Menendez said there were puncture holes visible in the tires. I think the fact that there had been so many heated votes the possibility exists that someone somewhere has taken this personally, he said. Menendez said he asked police to escort him to the meeting because of the nature of todays agenda. Castro told the Herald that in December, she saw a drone hovering outside the 17th-story balcony of her condo. She said she was so close to the drone that she waved at it. Very weird things have been happening, Castro said. She added that she asked for a police escort Tuesday because she was scared for her safety, adding that she had her daughter stay home from school. Fernandez called the alleged incidents scare tactics. The establishment will stop at nothing to hold onto power, Fernandez said from the dais. Lago said threats and intimidation will not be tolerated, and he ordered Police Chief Ed Hudak to investigate. I want immediate action, Lago said. I dont want action tomorrow. I want action now. Hudak said that the police department has taken the threats seriously from beginning to end and that there have been no major connections between the reported incidents and the commissioners jobs at City Hall. Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro, right, listens to speakers during the Feb. 13, 2024, City Commission meeting. Do the right thing For more than two hours, community members and former city officials spoke for and against firing Iglesias on Tuesday. Coral Gables resident and lawyer Tom Wells said Iglesias had acted in a way that was grossly insubordinate. I have never seen such insubordination go unpunished as shown by Peter Iglesias in the last commission meeting, Wells said. Such insolence cannot be tolerated or condoned. Architect and Gables resident Willy Bermello said it would be disastrous for the city to lose Iglesias. This item, I will tell you, is galvanizing a silent majority that was asleep, Bermello said. Theyre now awake. So please hear our voices. Former Vice Mayor Michael Mena speaks in support of Coral Gables City Manager Peter Iglesias on Feb. 13, 2024. Former Vice Mayor Mike Mena, who worked with Iglesias until he left elected office last year, also spoke in Iglesias defense, gearing some of his commentary toward Menendez directly. Youre a good man, Commissioner Menendez, Mena said. You know better. Being a good man and a man of faith its about walking the walk every day, no matter how hard it is. ... Do the right thing. Dorothy Thomson, the citys first and only female mayor, called Iglesias an icon and a fine gentleman. However, Thomson said she wasnt taking sides Tuesday. Instead, she encouraged Fernandez to hash out his issues with the city manager behind closed doors. The majority of people who spoke during public comment Tuesday were in support of Iglesias. But resident Saralane Conde suggested many of them are connected to the development industry, directly or indirectly. I think we need a city manager thats responsible to all of the residents not just those who are connected, Conde said. Resident Carl Leon Prime said removing Iglesias would plunge the city in a state of catastrophic chaos. Yet another resident, Javier Banos, said some people who spoke against firing Iglesias were over-exaggerating potential fallout that would result from his ouster. Elections do have consequences. It is the most natural things that happens in many municipalities, Banos said. Theres nothing overly dramatic that is going on here today. A standing-room-only crowd listens at the Coral Gables City Commission meeting on Tuesday. A UN nuclear watchdog head claims that Iran is not entirely transparent about its atomic program. This hints that the Iranian government might be hiding some secrets regarding its nuclear efforts. This information was shared by UN International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Grossi shared his statements after Iran's former Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Akbar Salehi claimed that they already had what they needed to build an atomic weapon. UN Head Claims Iranian Government 'Not Entirely Transparent' About Its Atomic Program Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the Iranian government is not being entirely transparent regarding its nuclear activities, which likely increases the dangers Iran's atomic program poses. "There's loose talk about nuclear weapons more and more, including in Iran recently. A very high official said, in fact, we have everything, it's disassembled. Well, please let me know what you have," he explained via The Associated Press. Euro News reported that Grossi didn't specify the Iranian official he was talking about. But, he was most likely referring to Ali Akbar Salehi. This is because Salehi appeared on a late-night Iranian state television show on Sunday, Feb. 11. During his appearance, he said that Iran already has all it needs to create a new warfare weapon. "We have all the (pieces) of nuclear science and technology. Let me give an example," explained the Iranian academic. "What does a car need? It needs a chassis, it needs an engine, it needs a steering wheel, it needs a gearbox. Have you made a gearbox? I say yes. An engine? But each one is for its own purpose," he added. Read Also: Pentagon Sees China's Massive Nuclear Weapons Buildup at More Than 500 Warheads Iran Focusing on Nuclear Arsenal Ever since the 2015 deal between Iran with other superpower countries collapsed, the Iranian government has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. This means that Tehran can now start building several nuclear weapons if it chooses to do so, thanks to enough enriched uranium supplies. Iran's ongoing atomic program concerns many countries, especially since the militias it arms in the Middle East are launching attacks against Israel. These include the Houthi rebels and Hezbollah. Aside from this, Iran also conducted a ballistic missile test. Footage showing the missile being fired off the Shaid Mahdavi was even released. Related Article: Iran Increasing Enriched Uranium Stockpile While Still Barring Inspectors, IAEA Report Shows UPDATE: The intersection of Vista Del Sol and Lee Trevino has cleared after a crash involving a police unit, KTSM crews on the scene report. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A crash involving an El Paso Police Department vehicle is impacting traffic at a busy East El Paso intersection. The crash happened at about 12:45 p.m. at the intersection of Vista Del Sol and Lee Trevino. No major injuries were reported. However, the Police Departments Special Traffic Investigations Unit is on the scene to investigate the incident since the crash involved an police unit. Motorists are told to expect closures near the intersection eastbound traffic on Vista Del Sol is being diverted before Lee Trevino and southbound traffic on Lee Trevino is being diverted at La Quinta. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Crawford County judge and Crawford County Library System are asking for a lawsuit against the state to be thrown out. The lawsuit was filed in May 2023 and stated this matter arises from Crawford Countys unlawful censorship of materials in the county libraries. It continued to say that in late 2022 and the beginning of 2023, the countys Quorum Courts actions resulted in the stigmatization of certain books by placing a prominent color label on them and moving them into a separate Social Section. A motion by Crawford County Judge Chris Keith and the countys library system filed on Monday seeks to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the complaints against them are immaterial, redundant, impertinent, and have no bearing on this case. Crawford County plaintiffs have stated that they would have no choice but to enforce Act 372, which aims to protect minors from material believed to be harmful. 17 plaintiffs including the Fayetteville Public Library, Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library, Central Arkansas Library System and Pearls Books in Fayetteville filed a lawsuit against Crawford County and Judge Chris Keith in June 2023 to overturn two provisions. The defendants in the lawsuit are the prosecuting attorneys in each of the 28 Arkansas judicial districts, Crawford County and its county judge. The motion to dismiss states that the library system already had a Social Section which contains certain books on ongoing concerns of the community before the law went into effect in August 2023. Lawsuit filed over Crawford County book relocation Crawford County, like every other library that is a plaintiff in this case, would have to implement Act 372 if the Act is not enjoined, the brief said. The brief continued, The only difference between Crawford County and the library plaintiffs is that the library plaintiffs chose not to seek an injunction against implementing the act. Plaintiffs chose to sue to stop Act 372 and Crawford County did not. This leaves Crawford County defending itself against a law it did not draft or ever seek to implement. The brief also mentioned a timeline of events included have no bearing on the case because they occurred before the Act was filed in January 2023. It said the Social Section was established in December 2022. The record in this case is clear, Crawford County would enforce Act 372 because it has to, just like every library plaintiff in this case, the brief said. The brief said that the library plaintiffs and the county could choose not to enforce Act 372, but they dont have a choice. It continues by saying that Crawford County has to defend itself because the plaintiffs chose to add claims about the actions it took before the act was passed. The brief says that Crawford County takes the plaintiffs at their word and Nothing Plaintiffs ask for here would require Crawford County to establish or eliminate the Social Section[.] For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. MEMPHIS, Tenn. An attorney for Courdarion Craft, the man accused in a deadly weekend crime spree and citywide manhunt, asked for a mental evaluation for his client Tuesday. His mother, meanwhile, said there was more to the story as she defended her son outside the courtroom. And, in a separate case, a grand jury on Tuesday indicted Craft on charges of attempted first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in a shooting that was allegedly over a pair of shoes last November. Craft, 20, was officially arraigned Tuesday morning. Judge Karen Massey read aloud each of his seven charges: Carjacking, First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Child Abuse x2, Evading Arrest in Auto and Evading Arrest. Bond revoked for suspect in Sunday crime spree His most severe charge, first degree murder, could result in the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted, the judge told him. Bond was denied. This sparked emotion from Craft, who sat sobbing at times while his newly retained lawyer Brandon Hall addressed the court, appealing for a mental evaluation. Courdarion Craft Courdarion Craft (SCSO) If someone heard that it would be terrifying, so for him, this entire situation is scary and terrifying, Hall said. Anytime on a case this serious, if there is any indication of a prior mental case issue, you have to file it (request for evalution). Family grieving after teen killed in crime spree Emotions boiled over outside the courtroom. A woman who identified herself as Crafts mother and said her name was Nikki, defended her son and told WREG that there was more to the story. This is real life, this is something I have to deal with, along with the person that died. Everybody got to deal with all of this, she said. My son is not that type of person, and I am sorry for everything that happened to the other people, but its more to the story and when everything gets out, they will understand whats going on. We could learn whats next in the next two weeks, following that mental evaluation as Craft and his newly retained lawyer have been ordered back to court at the end of the month. Memphis murders and homicides 2024 In the separate indictment that was handed down Tuesday, a grand jury said Craft seriously injured a man in a robbery over a pair of shoes last Nov. 10. The district attorneys office said they had already asked for bond to be revoked in that case after Craft failed to show up for a hearing last Friday. Craft is accused of a string of crimes Sunday, beginning when he allegedly carjacked a woman and her children on Shelby Drive, then continued to a smoke shop where he shot and killed an 18-year-old employee. He is also accused of shooting two women near Winchester and Lamar before police apprehended him after a manhunt and chase in Whitehaven. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WJMN) Authorities in Manistique have identified individuals of interest in relation to a fire that caused nearly $100,000 in damage. According to the Manistique Public Safety Department, reports of a fire at U.P. Paper LLC were called in around 3 p.m. on Friday, February 9. When authorities arrived, they saw fire burning through one of five storage areas on the property. Courtesy Manistique Public Safety Department Courtesy Manistique Public Safety Department Courtesy Manistique Public Safety Department Burning inside the storage area was compressed bales of recycled cardboard and other items. An estimated 1,200 bales of recycled materials, weighing 1,100 pounds each were destroyed. The approximate cost of the damage is close to $100,000. Woman dies following house fire in Marinette, multiple agencies respond Numerous local fire departments aided in the 18-hour effort to control the flames. No injuries were reported from the fire. Manistique Public Safety Department reports there is a criminal investigation underway to determine the cause of the fire. While individuals of interest have been identified, no names or further details will be released by authorities while the investigation continues. Authorities did clarify that no one employed by U.P. Paper LLC are suspected of any wrongdoing in the incident. The suspects are not known to have any affiliation with the company or any of its employees. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com. A leading national security adviser to Donald Trump told Reuters on Tuesday that he would push for changes to NATO if the former president returns to power which could result in some member nations losing protection against an outside attack. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general and onetime chief of staff of the former president's National Security Council, said in an interview that if a member of the 31-country alliance failed to spend at least 2% of its gross domestic product on defense, as agreed, he would support removing that nation's Article 5 protections under the North Atlantic Treaty. The fifth article outlines that an assault targeting any member within the Europe-centric alliance will be treated as an attack on the entire alliance, and members must respond accordingly. Without those protections, a member country would not be guaranteed other NATO members would come to its aid. "Where I come from, alliances matter," said Kellogg, who also served as former Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser. "But if you're going to be part of an alliance, contribute to the alliance, be part of the alliance." Trump received criticism from President Joe Biden and prominent Western leaders after he hinted at a weekend rally that he might not support NATO allies falling short on defense spending and suggested a possible endorsement of Russian aggression against them. What Do European Leaders Have To Say? According to an article published by The Guardian, European leaders have called for greater unity and military cooperation across the continent in response to comments from Donald Trump that threatened to undermine the basis of NATO. Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, said on a visit to Paris that there was "no alternative" to the EU and the transatlantic alliance before a summit in which he discussed deepening defense relationships with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. "It is probably here in Paris that the words from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas resonate most clearly: 'All for one and one for all,'" said Tusk, in a thinly veiled riposte to the former U.S. president and frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. European leaders were openly critical of Trump. On a visit to Cyprus, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's president, said, "These statements are not responsible, and they help Russia." The Guardian reported others were more nuanced on the issue. David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, said Trump's remarks were unhelpful, "Of course we want all countries, like us, to spend 2% [of GDP], but I think what was said was not a sensible approach." There was a more sympathetic response from an EU neighbor of Russia. Kaja Kallas, Estonia's prime minister, said: "I think what the presidential candidate in America said is also something to maybe wake up some of the allies who haven't done that much." Dr Karin von Hippel, the director general of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said European countries were quickly adjusting to the possibility of a Trump presidency. "I think leaders across the continent are much more aware of what it could mean this time - and even if Biden wins, they know Congress could still be dysfunctional," she said. A crowd of people vandalized a Waymo self-driving car on the streets of San Franciscos Chinatown on Saturday evening, with one man lighting it on fire, the citys fire department said. Video of the incident shows a man stop the passenger-less car in the street and bash it with a skateboard. Soon, a crowd forms around the car, kicking it and drawing graffiti on its sides. Eventually, one man lights a firework inside the vehicle, causing a fire that destroyed it. Its unclear if the vandalism is a random act, concerted protest or the result of pent-up rage over the driverless vehicles, which have long caused tension with city residents. Waymo Vehicle surrounded and then graffitid, windows were broken, and firework lit on fire inside the vehicle which ultimately caught the entire vehicle on fire. #SFFD Photos by Seraphine Hossenlopp pic.twitter.com/aOTqL3Rk8V SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) February 11, 2024 Nobody was reported injured in the blaze. Mayor London Breed (D) warned that the fire could have been much worse. Chinatown is one of the densest neighborhoods in San Francisco, and any fire could explode and spread among tightly-packed buildings to endanger lives, homes and businesses, she said in a statement Monday. Witness Michael Vandi told The Washington Post that passersby near the Waymo car were celebrating Lunar New Year with fireworks. That was when it went WILD, he told The Post. There were 2 groups of people. Folks who encourage it and others who were just shocked & started filming. No one stood up i mean there wasnt anything you could do to stand up to dozens of people. happening NOW in SF. Waymo car vandalized & lit on fire @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/OEZYFiy6mv Michael Vandi (@michael_vandi) February 11, 2024 Driverless vehicles are common in San Francisco, where multiple startup companies have tested taxi-like products. The inundation of cars has sparked anger with some San Franciscans, with the vehicles often blocking traffic and being unable to handle detours or emergency situations. The vehicles have also raised safety concerns, especially after a Cruise vehicle ran over and dragged a woman last year. The accident sparked the California Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend Cruises operations, with the company halting all of its driverless vehicle operations nationwide days later. A Waymo vehicle also struck a cyclist last week in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, resulting in minor injuries, the Verge reported. The Waymo passenger was unhurt, and the cyclist left the scene on their own. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. On Jan. 25, Alabama transformed Kenneth Eugene Smith into a human guinea pig to test a method of execution never attempted before: nitrogen hypoxia. Hypoxia is a medical term describing an absence of enough oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions. Hypoxia means death by suffocation. Executioners strapped Kenneth to a gurney, then covered his face with an unfitted off-the-rack mask pumped full of nitrogen. Observers described the most violent execution they had ever witnessed. They saw Kenneth shaking, writhing and thrashing on the gurney for nearly 10 minutes while visibly conscious. His final words, spoken into the very mask that would kill him: Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. Im leaving with love, peace and light. Just two weeks later, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach introduced a bill in the Kansas Legislature that would enable the state secretary of corrections to use hypoxia as a method of execution. House Bill 2782 promises that death by hypoxia would be administered in such a way to cause death in a swift and humane manner. However, the experimental results of Kenneth Eugene Smiths execution demonstrate that death by suffocation is cruel, torturous and decidedly unusual. Cynicism must not allow us to overlook the irony of a proud right-to-life institution experimenting with the machinery of death. As laboratories of democracy, states must recognize when a law or policy has failed. In Kansas, the death penalty has failed by any objective measure of success. I should know. As a Kansas public defender specializing in the defense of death penalty cases, and as an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law, I have devoted my career to the rigorous study of the death penalty. Since Kansas reinstated the death penalty in 1994, there have been more 3,500 criminal homicides in the state, but no executions. Two men on death row have already died of natural causes before their first appeal was finalized. The two cases nearest to completing their appeals are still many years away from an execution date, and these two men are now 68 and 80 years old. Is the dubious purpose of retribution advanced by slowly suffocating elderly men to death many decades after their crimes of conviction? Moreover, the death penalty in Kansas and throughout the United States has failed to deter violent crime. The consensus in the scientific community, including the National Academy of Sciences National Research Councils 2012 report, is that there is no reliable evidence of a deterrent effect of the death penalty on homicide rates. It is particularly ineffective as a deterrent in Kansas. Since 1994, homicide rates in the state have continually fluctuated. Thus, there is no statistical correlation between the availability of the death penalty as a possible punishment in Kansas and a corresponding decline in homicide rates. Recent evidence also shows that there are no differences in the murder rates in states before and after abolition of the death penalty. Finally, the death penalty has utterly failed financially. Available data demonstrate that maintaining the death penalty in Kansas is significantly more costly then pursuing other forms of punishment and costs Kansas taxpayers millions of dollars each year. H.B. 2782 is set for a hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary on Feb. 15. Kansans should urge their elected officials to stop experimenting with the machinery of death and oppose this cruel and inhumane execution method. Instead, the Legislature should abolish the death penalty and end this expensive failed experiment once and for all. Jeffrey Dazey is a senior assistant capital defender with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit and an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law. He lives in Olathe. My wife died and left everything to me. Everything has been changed to my name except for our house and one checking account. How best to handle those assets? krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images Q: My wife passed away last May with a will leaving everything to me. Most of our financial accounts were held as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Our home was jointly owned. Everything has been changed to my name except for our house and one checking account. How critical is it to redo this account and the home? A: You may be able to go for years or decades with your wife's name on the checking account and on the title to your house. But at some point, you or the beneficiaries of your estate will want to close the checking account, sell the home or refinance your mortgage (if you have one). Closing the account may be easy, especially if there's little or no money in it, but that depends on how difficult the bank wants to make it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Selling the home may be more difficult. The title company involved in the sale may simply require only one or two affidavits of heirship to show that you inherited your wife's half of the home, but it might instead require that your wife's will be probated. In Texas, probate must be started within four years of a person's death unless you can prove to the court that you were "not in default in failing to present the will for probate" within the four-year time frame. Those are the exact words from the statute. Essentially, you need a good excuse for why you did not start the probate. Courts 20 or 30 years ago routinely let people probate a will more than four years after a person's death. At least that was my experience. But today, judges are far more reluctant to allow the probate to proceed, especially if your only excuse is that you didn't want to spend the money. If all of the children you and your wife had were from your marriage to each other, some attorneys in Texas would advise you to skip probating the will altogether and instead simply prepare and file two affidavits of heirship. But other attorneys will advise you to do the probate, regardless of cost. Other attorneys do not think affidavits of heirship should be viewed as an option until four years have elapsed after a persons death. If money is not an issue, or you want the home and account transferred to your name alone, you should opt for probate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Department of Education has announced a delay of 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid data to colleges and universities. The University of Arkansas said it will not affect the amount of federal aid each student will receive in a news release. We know that these delays have some parents and students concerned, said Suzanne McCray, vice provost of Enrollment Services at the U of A. McCray also says the new FAFSA form has fewer questions. She says the new process has caused some glitches. Hogs Suffer First Consecutive Losses, Fall at Tennessee When every you change a process that is that massive and affects that many people there can be glitches and delays, said McCray. Students can file for FAFSA now. The delay is how soon universities will get the information on what you qualify for. According to McCray, its still important you send in your FAFSA form as soon as possible. Dont delay. Submit your application. Get it in. We will get the information in time for you to make a good college decision, said McCray. Abigail David is a freshman at U of A. She is from Texas and wouldnt be able to go to U of A without the help of scholarships. Basically my scholarship makes it in-state tuition for me. So, thats a pretty big deal coming from Texas because it made it just as much as A&M, said David. She says for students in high school to not procrastinate when applying for things such as FAFSA and scholarships. If I spent more time then I could have gotten even more money off and I didnt. And even now Im applying for scholarships because some of them are still available even as a freshman, said David. On Dec. 30, a new FAFSA form was available for students. Since then, 4 million forms have successfully been submitted. The DOE announced it is taking additional steps to help colleges process financial aid forms as efficiently as possible. We want to make the financial aid process as seamless as possible, and we are working to send financial aid updates out as quickly as we can once we receive information from the Department of Education, McCray said. Our scholarship offers will continue to go out in a timely fashion, just as they always have, and we will be standing by to help students and families in every way we can. Students can find more information about FAFSA online. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Louisiana Democrats are asking Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to reverse a decision to opt out of a federal summer feeding program that could benefit almost 600,000 children in the state. Congress and Democratic President Joe Biden made the program permanent beginning in the summer of 2024. The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, is meant to supplement existing programs during the summer that have had a more limited reach, according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. But Landry's new secretary of the Department of Children and Family services said in a statement the state should be focused more on "a pathway to self-sufficiency" rather than rely on government programs. "Every child deserves a safe home, first and foremost, and families deserve a pathway to self-sufficiency," said Secretary David Matlock of Shreveport in a statement. "Staying focused on that mission, without adding piecemeal programs that come with more strings than long-term solutions, is what will deliver the biggest impact for the children and families we serve." But on Monday state House Democrats said Landry and Matlock should reconsider. House Democrats strongly oppose Gov. Jeff Landry's decision not to participate in the federal Summer EBT program and urge him to reverse course," House Democratic Caucus Chair Matt Willard of New Orleans said in a statement. "The Summer EBT program helps feed nearly 600,000 Louisiana children with food insecurity. As leaders, we have a moral obligation to our children and the future of our state. Childhood hunger can have lasting consequences. Children cannot learn, develop, or grow strong if they are hungry. We must put our children before partisan politics and do the right thing. We can feed hundreds of thousands of Louisiana children, helping them become intelligent, strong, successful adults. This is a no-brainer. Louisiana must participate in the Summer EBT program. Republicans control super majorities in both the state House and Senate. Jeff Landry is sworn in as Louisiana Governor on the steps of the State Capital in Baton Rouge La. Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Louisiana's only Democratic member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, blasted the decision over the weekend. The governors decision to turn down federal resources to feed children is unconscionable and it is ridiculous to assert that denying them food will somehow break the cycle of poverty," Carter said in a statement Saturday. "This decision will hurt our most vulnerable children and should be reversed immediately. The Summer EBT program adds $40 per month per child during the summer a total of $120 per child - to be loaded on an EBT card, which can be used at stores that also take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Thirty-five states are participating, but Louisiana along with Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming opted out this summer. No child in this country should go hungry, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview with The Associated Press. They certainly shouldnt go hungry because they lose access to nutritious school meals during the summer months. For the life of me I dont see why 50 governors arent doing (Summer EBT), he said, but were happy that 35 are, were happy that territories are in and were happy that the tribes are continuing to work with us. More: Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry deploys National Guard to Texas to assist in border control Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Jeff Landry pressed to restore summer feeding program for 600,000 kids Senate Democrats have increasingly criticised the Israeli government. But they have not taken legislative action to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. (Getty Images) During the final hours of debate on the security supplemental package, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland excoriated the Israeli governments actions in Gaza. In doing so, he all but accused Benjamin Netanyahus government of committing international war crimes. Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food, he said on the floor of the United States Senate. In addition to the horror of that news, one other thing is true. That is a war crime. Van Hollen is one of only a handful of Democratic senators who supports a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. And hearing any United States senator say Israel has effectively committed war crimes is unprecedented, given widespread support for Israel across both parties. Van Hollen joined 47 other Democratic Senators in the wee hours of Tuesday morning to vote for a national security legislative package that included $14.1bn in security assistance to Israel, along with aid to Ukraine and allies in the Indo-Pacific to push back against China. By comparison, the bill only included $9.15bn in humanitarian assistance to be split between Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine. The words came as Israel began a military campaign in Rafah, Gaza, which the White House condemned. The same day of Van Hollens blistering speech, President Joe Biden said Israel should not proceed without a credible plan. But during a press briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters when asked about whether the White House would strip aid to Israel that We're going to continue to support Israel. They have a right to defend themselves against Hamas and we're going to make sure they have the tools and the capabilities to do that. The White House and Democrats in the Senate are slowly realising that Israels current military campaign is incredibly unpopular politically and has caused a humanitarian crisis. An Associated Press-NORC poll earlier this month showed that about half of US adults think Israels military response in the Gaza strip has gone too far. Not only has it harmed Democrats with Muslim Americans, who make up a sizeable portion of the electorate in Michigan, but it has also hurt Biden with younger voters. But as of right now, while Democratic rhetoric around Israel grows more critical, the party is not willing to take concrete actions to force Israels conduct to change. During deliberations on the supplemental package, Van Hollen led a group of 17 other Democrats and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to support an amendment that would have required the State Department to review how weapons made supplied by the United States are used around the world, including those used by Israel in Gaza. Then, on Thursday, the White House released a memo that outlined existing laws which state that countries receiving US aid must follow humanitarian guidelines. That includes providing credible and reliable written assurances that countries are complying with international law and humanitarian standards. As a result, the 19 senators backed down, with Van Hollen calling it a BFD. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who has criticized the Netanyahu government in the past, told me the memo was historic. But White House memos still can be intepreted at the discretion of the president, whereas legislation would have had enforceable mandates. As Republicans continued to drag out the process for the security package, Democrats began to vocalize their concerns about the campaign in Rafah. Senator Mark Warner, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told me that I think we're all concerned about the number of innocent Palestinians being killed... I hope the Netanyahu government comes forward with a plan. Warner is far from a peacenik and, indeed, he represents Virginia, where a number of defence contractors are based, so his words hold extra weight. But when pressed about what the Senate could do, he said there are things that are included in the security package. His colleague from Virginia, Senator Tim Kaine, who was part of the 19 senators who wanted an amendment, also criticized Israels campaign in Rafah. Theyre not visibly listening to us to the degree that we think somebody who was relying on us so much should, he told me. In the end, he and Warner both voted to authorize the package. Similarly, Elizabeth Warren told me Israel should not be attacking Rafah, period. But when I asked if it could affect her vote, she said, Right now, the security package is about getting money to Ukraine, and called the decision to support Ukraine one of the most consequential decisions of the 21st century. In the end, only three Senators in the Democratic caucus -- including Sanders, Senators Peter Welch of Vermont and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the latter of whom both support a ceasefire -- voted against the security package. Merkley and Welch specifically cited Israels actions, while Sanders told me about Rafah that You're looking at a massive humanitarian disaster. The consensus on Israel being an indispensable ally in the Middle East has been so ingrained within both parties that politicians even slightly criticizing Israel has taken years. That alone is progress. But the White Houses decision to not take concrete action to hold Israel accountable and Senate Democrats decision to not demand accountability from the White House shows this progress will not be enough to prevent Israel from taking further action. New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy may have misread the moment. Murphy launched her Senate campaign perfectly at least by conventional standards. When federal prosecutors indicted Sen. Bob Menendez for corruption, Murphy called New Jerseys extraordinarily powerful county chairs to seek their support. She hoped to become the prohibitive favorite among Democrats when she formally announced in November. Instead, Murphy is facing resistance, verging on hostility, from the rank and file of her party. Anti-establishment sentiment that was evident in the last Senate election is now becoming an early and dominating theme of the primary contest between Murphy and her primary opponent, Rep. Andy Kim, who announced his run the day after Menendez was indicted seeking to harness a message of reform. On Saturday, the three-term House member notched a key victory showing that his message is breaking through, handily defeating Murphy in her home county in the New Jerseys first Democratic nominating convention. I think theres a genuine revolt going on in the ranks in the Democratic Party, said former Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli. Tammy Murphy, who is not in public office, is now a symbol of the establishment. And theres some admiration that Kim was the first to come out and challenge Menendez. The race has taken on implications that go beyond the two candidates themselves. Years of pent-up frustration with this only-in-Jersey system has burst into public discourse in a way it never has before. To critics, Murphy represents a broken establishment, while Andy Kim is a cause, said one party insider who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Murphy campaign spokesperson Alex Altman said that Tammy is excited to continue to engage in Monmouth County as she is with all communities around [the] state to build a broad coalition and earn the support of New Jersey voters. Kims campaign declined to comment, but after the convention Saturday, he said that the results confirmed what Ive always thought were the campaign that has the momentum. The signs that this revolt was coming have been there for years. During his last corruption trial in 2017, New Jersey Democratic leaders stuck with Menendez en masse, giving no oxygen to Democrats willing to challenge him. Menendez had party establishment support virtually everywhere, but in his 2018 primary, Lisa McCormick, an unknown Democrat, won 38 percent of the vote, carrying several counties in a clear protest following his mistrial. Nevertheless, Menendez running in an anti-Trump wave year managed to comfortably win reelection in the general. New Jersey county political chairs have long been able to weigh primaries in favor of their chosen candidates through the states unique ballot design system. When parties award the county line to candidates, they put them in a column or row with every other party-endorsed candidate, from the president of the United States to the lowly town council member. Candidates not backed by the party machinery can sometimes find themselves in ballot Siberia. Some counties, like Monmouth on the Jersey Shore, award the line in open conventions with a secret ballot. Others award them based largely on the influence of one or a handful of party leaders, like North Jerseys Passaic County, which awarded its line to Murphy based on the votes of mostly municipal Democratic chairs from the countys 16 towns and cities. Murphys playbook of locking up key organizational support is familiar her husband used it to vault from virtual unknown to front-runner in 2017. He spent about $250,000 to local parties in the two years before the primary and poured more than $16 million of his personal fortune into the nominating contest, dwarfing his rivals while getting key county endorsements. Progressives in 2021 filed a constitutional challenge to the county line system in federal court. But the case has moved slowly, and Kims campaign has taken up the flag, signing a letter to party leaders and county election officials with two other long-shot Democratic Senate candidates Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence Hamm urging them to ditch the line in favor of the office block balloting system employed by other states. Its no longer just the maligned progressives and activist wing of the party, said Antoinette Miles, interim director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, the lead plaintiff on the county line lawsuit. Theres a broader coalition of people who are reacting to the status quo politics of New Jersey. Torricelli speculated that this primary could spell the end, or at least portend a major change, for the way New Jersey primaries have been run for decades. This could actually take down the county line system, he said, suggesting that there may be pressure for other counties to at least open up their nominating processes. Uyen Winn Khuong, a progressive organizer, said county conventions like Monmouth that have secret ballots give rank-and-file Democrats a chance to show their preference without worrying about backlash. From all the tea that I got from county committee members, they felt pressured to say publicly that they would support [Murphy], said Khuong, who is unaffiliated in protest of corruption and high-pressure tactics but still re-registers as a Democrat to vote in party primaries. Publicly they felt pressured to say one way, but secret balloting they went another way. The Monmouth convention is far from the only sign of revolt against the Democratic machine. The only public poll of the Senate campaign so far showed Kim leading Murphy by 12 points. Murphy has outraised Kim, taking in $3.2 million last quarter to Kims $1.7 million. But Kims campaign has tapped a vast small donor network, with over 90 percent of donors giving under $100, compared to about half of Murphys. Even Murphy supporters acknowledge an enthusiasm gap between the two candidates. One Democratic operative described the attitude of high-ranking Democrats during the New Jersey League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City one of the states biggest political events when the newly announced Murphy had lined up endorsements from the party leaders in the states most Democratic vote-rich counties. No one really liked this. Its just for them, publicly, Andy Kim wasnt worth the fight with the governor, said the operative, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. I dont think any of them are going to be upset if Tammy loses the primary. Daniel Han contributed to this report. The Department of Education said Tuesday that its taking steps to speed up college financial aid awards for the upcoming 2024-25 school year after a bumpy rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. Its the first time students and their families are using a simpler version of the FAFSA to apply for student loans and grants. With the new form, more students are expected to be eligible for more financial aid but the rollout has been plagued with delays. First, the form which is usually released on October 1 wasnt widely available until early January. Then, after making a last-minute change to the financial aid calculation, the Department of Education said that it wont be able to transfer students financial information to colleges until the first half of March more than a month later than expected. The Department of Education has been facing criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for the delays. A group of Republicans sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office last month asking for an investigation. On Monday, more than 100 Democratic lawmakers called on Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to urgently address the operational problems. Any delays in financial aid processing will most impact the students that need aid most, wrote the lawmakers in a letter led by independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia. Department of Education officials have repeatedly said that overhauling the FAFSA has been a major, complicated undertaking that has been made more challenging by a lack of resources. In 2022, the Biden administration requested additional funding to handle a bigger workload, but Congress left its budget the same as the year before. Steps to speed up financial aid awards On Tuesday, the Department of Education announced three steps to help free up time for colleges to prepare financial aid packages before students must make a decision about where to enroll next school year. First, the agency will select fewer FAFSA filers for an added, often lengthy, process called verification to confirm that everything on the form is accurate. In past years, about one-third of applicants were selected for the audit-like process. Previously, the Department of Education waived some kinds of verification for students submitting the FAFSA for the 2021-22 award year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, the department is going to suspend all new routine program reviews, which are usually conducted to confirm a college is eligible to receive federal funds. In past years, several hundred college programs were reviewed annually. The agency will still conduct the review for programs related to the most serious issues like suspected fraud. Third, the Department of Education is giving colleges more flexibility to recertify eligibility for federal aid by temporarily waiving a requirement to apply 90 days before the expiration date. The flexibility will give more time back to those institutions at this critical moment, so they can focus on getting students the aid they need, Cardona said on a call with reporters Monday. Last week, the Department of Education also announced that it will be providing personnel, funding, resources and technology to some colleges and universities to help them get financial aid packages to students as quickly as possible. What is the FAFSA and how has it changed? The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal Pell grants and federal student loans and in most cases, the financial aid provided by colleges as well. The form has long been due for an update, and the new version released at the end of last year is a culmination of changes approved by Congress in 2019 and 2020. In previous years, the FAFSA could be as long as 108 questions. With the new form, some applicants will have to answer as few as 18 questions, which would take less than 10 minutes to complete, according to the Department of Education. Some information is now directly taken from a filers tax return so that the applicant doesnt have to hunt down numbers on old tax returns. With the new FAFSA, an increased number of families is expected to be eligible for financial aid. In fact, the Department of Education estimates that 610,000 more students will qualify for a Pell grant on an annual basis. The Pell grant program is a key way the federal government helps students from low-income families go to college by providing eligible students with money they dont have to pay back. And an estimated 1.5 million more students will be eligible for the maximum Pell grant amount, which typically changes each year. The Pell grant is worth up to $7,395 during the current school year. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Department of Public Health awarded Car Seat Mini-Grant COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Injury Prevention Program of the Georgia Department of Public Health has awarded the West Central Health District a 2024 mini-grant for car seats. The grant provides education and car seats to low-income families. It is funded each year by the Governors Office of Highway Safety to reduce the amount of fatal car crashes among children. Since the grant began in 2017, more than 437 Georgia children involved in car crashes were saved, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. WRBL spoke with Pamela Kirkland, Public relations coordinator for the West Central Health District, on how car seats can prevent your child from being seriously injured in a crash. If your child is not restrained, if you do get into an accident, even if you have to apply your brakes quickly, your child will be thrown over the seat. If theyre in the back seat, theyll be thrown at the front seat if theyre not restrained, shared Kirkland. Families that qualify for any public assistance are automatically eligible. Harris, Crisp, Chattahoochee, Marion, Dooly, Macon, and Stewart are other counties receiving the grant. More information on the car seat program can be found here. The West Central Health District also provides year-round child seat education and seats available for those people who are eligible to receive. Kirkland encourages parents to call them at 706-321-6108 if they have any questions or need help making sure the car seat is safely installed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Romanesco pasta by Anita Jaisinghani Carolina Ayala/Contributor Romanesco pasta by Anita Jaisinghani Carolina Ayala/Contributor Brassica season in Houston continues with beautiful heads of romanesco, a cousin of broccoli. With a fractal shape, this stunningly beautiful vegetable is packed with vitamins and fiber. Romanesco can be eaten raw, ceviche style, marinated with copious amounts of lemon juice and salt. Roasted and then drizzled with olive oil and lemon is another option. Or roast and puree into a creamy, colorful soup. If chopping and braising it with pasta and rice, it cooks quickly and evenly. The key is to cook it just enough to soften while maintaining its bright chlorophyll green color. All the vegetables in this pasta are just barely cooked, to help maintain their crispness and nutrients. If you buy romanesco at the farmers market, dont discard the green leaves they can be used as the base for the sauce. The addition of aromatic ginger offsets the sulfurous aroma that arises when almost any brassica is cooked. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Romanesco Pasta 1 pound of fresh pasta, preferably radiatore 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 2 stalks of green onion 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 small head or half of a large head of romanesco 2 cups of romanesco jacket greens (see note) 1 serrano pepper, minced 1 tablespoon grated unpeeled ginger 2 teaspoons salt 1 (13.5-ounce) can of coconut milk 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced 2 cups tightly packed spinach leaves 1 cup of grated Pecorino Romano cheese Juice of 1 lemon Instructions: Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water for 2 to 3 minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes then drain. Cut the romanesco head into small 1-inch florets and mince the greens. Thinly slice the green onions. In a large shallow brazier or saucepan, over high heat, warm the olive oil and add the minced green onions and garlic. Fry for a minute or two then add the romanesco and the greens. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cook on high heat for just 2 to 3 minutes, frequently stirring to get a slight char on the little florets. Add the serrano pepper, ginger, salt and coconut milk. Bring the entire mixture to a boil and simmer for just a minute or two. Add the cooked drained pasta and bring the sauce to a boil, immediately turn the heat off. Do not cover or the color will change. Let the pasta rest for 5 to 7 minutes, this will help absorb the sauce. Finally fold in the cabbage and spinach leaves. Serve hot, drizzled with more olive oil, topped with grated cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice. Notes & variations This recipe can be adapted to use broccoli or cauliflower instead. If the head does not come with its jacket greens, just add 2 more cups of spinach or other green leaves. To keep the pasta totally plant based, use coconut milk only and omit the cheese or replace it with tahini or cashew butter. The serrano pepper adds a slight bite to balance the creaminess of the pasta dish. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Serves 4 to 6 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Within minutes, crashes at two intersections roughly half-a-mile apart on U.S. 1 Tuesday led to the hospitalization of a deputy who was hit while driving to a call and another person who was thrown from a vehicle in a collision, officials said. The deputy was traveling to a firearm-related call for service with emergency lights and sirens activated, when he was T-boned, or struck broadside in the driver side by a black Jeep, which an agency spokesperson said failed to stop for the law enforcement vehicle as it passed through the 45th Street intersection. The crash happened around 12:15 p.m. and led to lane closures and traffic redirection to Old Dixie Highway during the subsequent clean up and investigations, said Indian River County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Kevin Jaworski. The deputys injuries were said to be non-life threatening, while the driver of the Jeep, he said, did not complain of injuries. Early investigation findings, Jaworski said, determined the Jeep driver was at fault for the crash, but he said he was unsure if the person would face charges of any kind. Although deputies are required to enter intersections with what Jaworski described as, caution and due diligence, he said it was the, obligation of traffic to yield. Youre supposed to yield to emergency vehicles, said Jaworski. Just under 30 minutes later, at 12:41 p.m., a second crash was reported at the 49th Street intersection of U.S.1. Florida Highway Patrol investigated what Jaworski said was a two-vehicle crash in which one person was ejected and taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. The woman's injuries were described by fire rescue officials as possibly life threatening, and she was transported by ambulance to the hospital. "We believe the patient was ejected form the vehicle as she was outside the vehicle upon (our) arrival," said Assistant Fire Chief Bill Herrington. The highway was shut down at the intersection following the crash. An FHP agency spokesperson could not be reached Tuesday for more information. More: Car crashes through house, missing 2 occupants in Indian River County More: Did you hear the nuclear plant sirens? What was it, and when is the next siren test? More: Investigation underway after body found in Martin County Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow @coreyarwood, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 2 injured, including deputy, in crashes at U.S.1 intersections in IRC Health care providers in Kansas want lawmakers to approve a new way to fight the rise in sexually transmitted diseases, but theyre facing broad skepticism. On Monday the House Committee on Health and Human Services considered a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe medications to treat the partners of those diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection without an in-person examination. Last week, the Senate committee heard an identical bill. The legislation does not provide a limit on the number of prescriptions a doctor can issue if a patient has multiple sexual partners, and it requires providers to send written information to sexual partners they did not examine in office. This treatment method, called expedited partner therapy, is already utilized in 46 other states. It enjoys endorsements from nearly every nationally recognized medical association, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Kansas has also experienced an uptake in STI cases over the past decade on par with a national trend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified as a public health crisis and has significantly higher rates of syphilis. Many sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, can be treated with a period of abstinence and a penicillin prescription. Lawmakers were skeptical about the method because it would allow a provider to prescribe medicine without ever seeing the patient. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican who is a physician, said prescribing medicine without seeing the patient violates informed consent and leads to a lower quality of care. This is clearly a degradation of quality of care whether we want to admit it here in this group or not, he said during a Feb. 8 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing. On the House side, Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who is also a physician, echoed Steffens concerns. There is no other health care scenario where a doctor can legally prescribe medicine without any direct consultation, he said. In any other area of health care that would be malpractice, he said. Proponents of the bill, however, said the method is key to stopping reinfection and to combating rising STI cases across the country. They said that certain groups of people such as men, who are less likely to exhibit symptoms of STIs, and people who have lower incomes or lack insurance are far less likely to seek treatment, putting their sexual partners at risk for reinfection. Kimberly Kern, a pharmacist at Walgreens, said there are many reasons why a person may not seek treatment. When a person cannot miss work, lacks transportation or does not have access to appointments, she said their accessibility to care is interrupted. Removing the step of needing an in-person consultation bridges the gap, it provides more accessibility and reduces the stigma surrounding STIs in addition to reducing health care costs, she said. And proponents say cumbersome wait times for appointments make it harder to get quality care, since treatment is most effective when its timely and administered when sexual partners are abstinent. They pointed to a plethora of negative health effects that can result from delayed treatment for STIs such as infertility, preterm births in pregnant women and ectopic pregnancies. Kelly Fritz, a volunteer with the Miami County Health Department, said she cold called a number of health care facilities, asking when their first available appointment was for a new patient. April 5, nearly two months out, was the soonest she could get an appointment. She said waiting to treat infected parties is dangerous. These are all barriers to care, testing, treatment and public health, she testified. In the face of all these barriers, expedited partner therapy is one tool that could have an impact on the increasing number of newly identified cases by reducing ongoing transmission and preventing reinfection of the original patient. The bill says the expedited treatment applies to any patient diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease, which lawmakers say is too vague, hypothetically applying to conditions such as COVID-19 or lice. The measure also does not require providers to keep medical records of sexual partners who are treated, one of the main points of contention for lawmakers. Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, said she was undecided about the bill but supported its intent. She said language should be added that allows for proper documentation of patients. There should be some language in there, she said. Because when you prescribe medication you have to know things like height, weight, that kind of thing. So I understand that. Thats a part of the medical practice that cant really change. Susan Gile, the director of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, provided neutral testimony. She said the legislation contains too many unknowns and gray areas, such as unknown allergies. If we have a female in a domestic violence situation, maybe they dont want to tell their partner they have an STI, she said. Maybe they didnt get it from their partner and theyre afraid. Maybe theyre slipping it into someones food without knowing they have a penicillin allergy. Proponents said that pharmacists have all the training and the ability to provide all necessary consultation to patients picking up a prescription. The bill also allows anyone over the age of 16 to participate in expedited partner therapy, which Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican who is a physician, said was a little on the young side. He said he wanted to research what other states had done before making a decision. Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, addressed some lawmakers concerns about ensuring the prescriptions ended up in the right hands, saying family members pick up prescriptions for others all the time. She called the legislation a no brainer. This is a $2 pill for treatment, she said. Whereas if this goes untreated, were talking about a potential case of an expectant mother enduring a ruptured membrane, or other very traumatic, problematic situations. Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, and Sen. Beverly Gossage, a Eudora Republican who chairs the Senate committee, both said they needed more information before deciding to support or oppose the measure. Detroit launched eight new technology hubs to provide residents access to internet and digital literacy training across various neighborhoods. Tech hubs must provide free Wi-Fi, offer basic digital literacy training software and have devices available for residents to use, such as laptops. Detroit's digital divide has been on the citys priority list to bridge the gap between residents with access to internet and hardware and those without. "We have 220,000 residents that are at or below poverty. It is so important. If we don't provide them with the basic digital literacy skill training that they need, they'll never skill up for those opportunities for job placement and, in turn, we want to make sure we are offering IT workforce development and training in each of these tech hubs," Christine Burkette, digital equity and inclusion director, said Monday at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus, which is one of eight hubs. Detroit launched eight tech hubs in the city to provide access to internet, hardware and digital literacy resources. Pictured is a hub at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus at 16500 Tireman Ave. in Detroit on Feb.12, 2024. The city has six more tech hubs pending approval. Burkette's goal is to have five hubs in every council district. Hubs will have signs posted indicating they're certified by the city of Detroit. Hubs are assessed to determine whether they provide a device loaner program, IT workforce training, wheelchair accessibility, tech support and English language resources. Organizations can register online to operate a certified tech hub at detroitmi.gov/digitalequity. "We all have heard about to get to digital divide, and with the pandemic, we realized more and more that we must have equitable, fast high-speed internet. More importantly, the devices also have to be available," Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison said. Comcast's Lift Zones make up three of the first eight hubs. The city spent about $535,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money for upgrades to its recreation centers, which serve as hubs. The eight hubs, located in an online interactive map, include: Dick and Sandy Club of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, 16500 Tireman Ave. Adams Butzel Recreation Center, 10500 Lyndon St. Comcast Lift Zone at SAY Detroit Play Center, 19320 Van Dyke Ave. Stoudamire Wellness Center at Eastside Community Network, 4401 Conner St. Comcast Lift Zone at Detroit Housing Commission Envision Center, 1047 E. Canfield St. Roberto Clemente Recreation Center, 2631 Bagley St. Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere St. Detroit Association of Black Organizations, 12048 Grand River Ave. From left, residents Veronica Armstead and Gwendolyn Jones discuss how tech hubs will be useful for residents in who lack Wi-Fi and computers on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus. Residents Veronica Armstead and Gwendolyn Jones said the resource will be useful for residents who lack Wi-Fi and computers. Jones added that she's grateful to have a hub nearby. "I'm computer savvy in some things, but there's other things I want to learn and this gives me the opportunity to do that. It also gives the opportunity for seniors to learn the basics, how to use emails and how to make a budget. There's so many things. I also believe this would bring together the young generation and the old generation," Jones said. Councilmembers Coleman Young II and Fred Durhal III praised Burkette and others for pushing the initiative. "Because of the dedication and hard work of what the people in this room have accomplished, we can say we are working toward a more equitable and inclusive city," Young said. "Were closing the racial divide, were closing the digital divide. More importantly were closing the humanity divide for Detroiters never again will Detroiters be left out of power for tomorrow." Durhal added that conversations about launching tech hubs have gone on for at least a year and thought about how residents who are not connected to the web are missing their current events in the news or local government meetings. "I think we often take for granted our internet or us being connected. I was thinking back at the internet in times of AOL or when we had dial-up, you hear that crazy sound," Durhal said. "Being a tech hub now right in this neighborhood is indicative of a great partnership." Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit opens 8 tech hubs with free Wi-Fi, digital training HENDERSONVILLE - Developers who are seeking to build a four-story, extended stay hotel behind the Blue Ridge Mall will have to wait a few more weeks in the process of it being approved, even though they submitted their plans to the city by the Feb. 2 deadline. This is the area behind the Blue Ridge Mall where a developer is seeking to build a four-story extended-stay hotel. Just beyond the parking lot are residents' houses. Hendersonville City Planner Tyler Morrow told the Times-News on Feb. 12 that developers will have to submit revised plans by March 1, because the original plans were incomplete. "The main reason the plans were deemed to be incomplete was that the developer did not provide staff with the required boundary survey of the area proposed for development," Hendersonville City Planner Tyler Morrow told the Times-News on Feb. 12. More: Developer of Wyndham extended-stay hotel behind Blue Ridge Mall hears from residents The proposed hotel is 51,463 square feet with 124 rooms, and the parking lot site plan shows 76 parking spaces. The project is on 1.4 acres directly behind the mall, which is located at 1800 Four Seasons Blvd. Cox said he and his staff took interest in the site after they got a call about a year ago from the Blue Ridge Mall Development Group, which is based out of Augusta, Georgia. The mall and the site for the proposed hotel is owned by James Hull Jr. The applicant, Philip Cox of Mitch Cox Companies in Johnson City, Tennessee, said his company chose that location because it "felt like it was a great fit for the Hendersonville area" and that his company has already built apartments in Hendersonville: Universal at Lakewood. A developer is wanting to build a four-story extended-stay hotel behind the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville. "We are just a big fan of that market," he said in a previous Times-News article. "We chose the location, because we thought it was a good central location for the community. It's in a commercial zoning area, so we felt like it was a good fit." If Cox and his team get the revised preliminary site plans in by March 1, these will be the next steps in the process: Meeting with the Tree Board on March 19 at the City Operations Center. Meeting with the Planning Board on April 11 at the City Operations Center. Presentation to the City Council on May 2at the City Operations Center. "City Council will review the project and the recommendations from the Tree Board and Planning Board and will give consideration to public comments before ultimately making the decision on rezoning," Morrow said in a previous Times-News article. A neighborhood compatibility meeting was held Jan. 29 at the City Operations Center, and residents near the proposed hotel voiced concerns over noise, possible crime, increased traffic and drainage issues. Cox said the hotel will be built under flagship of Wyndham Hotels, and it will be Wyndham's Echo Suites series of extended-stay hotels. But at the meeting, he told residents that rooms could be rented nightly. More: Saturday popup markets set for 7th Ave. businesses affected by Streetscape Project Some residents near the proposed hotel are not happy. Phillip Klein lives off Dellford Court, which is adjacent to the proposed hotel. On Feb. 9, he told the Times-News that the hotel's name, Echo Suites, is misleading. "They are not suites and they are not extended stay. These are spartan 300-square feet cubicles with a small refrigerator and a sink. They are not suites," he said. "Anyone can get a room for the night and rates will be the lowest in town." At the meeting, Cox said there would be a retaining wall and also a natural buffer of trees in between the hotel and residents adjacent to it at Blue Ridge Villas. Klein said despite the retaining wall, Blue Ridge Villas' residents will be "barraging the police department with calls about trespassing." "Mr. Cox proudly spoke of a retaining wall (at the meeting). Mr. Cox, your retaining wall will not be retaining anything and certainly not the 300 strangers a night and their animals, if this is pet-friendly motel," Klein said. Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Plans delayed but still ongoing for hotel behind Blue Ridge Mall NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Following the death of a 6-month-old child last week, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is now asking a judge to force an unlicensed daycare in South Nashville to close. The young girl was found unresponsive Thursday afternoon at the babysitters home off Welshwood Drive, where authorities said the woman had been charging $25 per day to watch multiple young children. PREVIOUS: Police, DCS open investigation into 6-month-old childs death in Nashville According to court documents, the babysitter told authorities that she had put the child in a swing to sleep and later found her unresponsive. The child was pronounced dead after being taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Metro Nashville police said there was no sign of trauma and no charges have been filed pending the outcome of a medical examiners findings. During their investigation, officers said they found 10 children under the age of three in the one-room apartment putting the babysitter out of compliance with the allowable number by law. On another occasion when a DHS Childcare Licensing Consultant and a Department of Childrens Services (DCS) investigator visited the home following the childs death, authorities said the babysitter admitted to regularly caring for up to six children unrelated to her at a time. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee Five children were at the home during the visit, with investigators reporting that the children were crying and had full diapers, according to court documents. Tennessee law states that any childcare agency must have that facility licensed by DHS. By definition, a childcare agency is any place that provides care for five or more children who are not related to the primary caregiver for three or more hours per day. According to DHS, the primary purpose of licensing is the protection of children. In addition to asking a judge to issue an injunction forbidding the babysitter from engaging in any kind of childcare without a license, DHS is also asking for the judge to allow the agency to monitor the woman for compliance with childcare licensing law. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The application for injunctive relief was filed in the Chancery Court of Davidson County on Tuesday, Feb. 13. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. HARRISBURG, Pa. Donald Trump on Friday acknowledged his cowardice when it comes to Americas epidemic of gun violence and the resulting slaughter of this country's children. Being Trump, he tried to make that sound like a virtue. Speaking at a National Rifle Association gun show in Pennsylvanias capital city Friday, Trump bragged about his record of inaction. During my four years nothing happened, Trump said. And there was great pressure on me, having to do with guns. We did nothing. We didnt yield. Thats Trump telling the truth for a change. Here's what did happen. From Jan. 20, 2017, to Jan. 19, 2021 Trump's time as president the country saw 1,714 mass shootings in which four or more people were killed or wounded, with 1,679 deaths and 7,355 injuries, Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for solutions to stop gun violence, told me. Trump didn't mention that in his NRA speech. He also skipped the context, of course, of the moment six years ago when he suggested making changes to gun laws that the NRA didn't want while accusing other Republicans of being too afraid to do it before eventually backing down. Supporters of former President Donald Trump wait to hear him speak at an NRA forum on Feb. 09, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. Trump and NRA profit off our divided country Trump cant stand up to the NRA because theyre too alike. They sell the same product division. They turn your fear into their money. Trump uses that money to seek power and avoid responsibility, funneling campaign contributions to lawyers in his criminal and civil cases. Does Trump prefer impeachment or courts? Former president thought the courts were safe bet against election denial charges. Now? Not so much. The NRA uses that money to live large private jets, luxury vacations, bespoke wardrobes all while masquerading as a defender of good-old plain-spoken American folk. Its leaders have long since made up from the momentary disagreement during Trump's one term as president. To be clear: The NRA doesnt serve the crowd assembled Friday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex to hear Trump. It is a lobbying arm of this countrys gun manufacturers. The NRA doesnt just want you to buy a gun. It wants you to buy as many guns as you can. And just like with Trump, division is its best marketing tactic. The NRAs constant clamor is Democrats want to seize guns from everyone. Its pitch is always about the good guy with a gun standing up in a shootout with a bad guy with a gun." Guess what the good guy and the bad guy have in common they both are armed with guns manufactured by companies that the NRA values more than your life. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Trump once suggested standing up the NRA Wednesday marks six years since a massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where a 19-year-old used a semiautomatic rifle to murder 14 students and three staff members. Trump hosted a White House meeting on gun reform two weeks after that, where he accused Republicans in a bipartisan group of legislators of avoiding some firearm issues because youre afraid of the NRA. On the table in that meeting, Trump openly considered raising the age requirement from 18 to 21 to purchase an assault rifle and making it easier to seize guns from people considered a danger to themselves or others. But he also supported an NRA-backed plan to arm teachers in schools. Whos afraid of the NRA? Thats all Trump. And why? The NRA spent more than $31 million to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. The NRA clearly only cares about the money In 2020, as the NRA was splintering with an internal conflict about lavish spending by its leaders, the group still spent more than $16 million in Trumps losing battle against Joe Biden. This has never been about guns, for Trump or the NRA. Its about money. Wayne LaPierre, the NRA leader who resigned last month, acknowledged in testimony during a civil trial that he spent the groups money and accepted gifts from vendors to live a lifestyle of private flights, luxury vacations and tailored suits. He's gone, but the gun grift goes on. Trumps speech Friday was the closing event for the NRAs Great American Outdoor Show. A ticket to hear Trump cost $15 or came free with a new membership with the group, which ranges from $45 for one year or $1,500 for a lifetime membership. Charles Cotton, the NRA president, introduced Trump, saying the group had "no greater friend" than the former president. Trump won't cross NRA again but will tell us to 'get over' the violence The crowd, many wearing attire emblazoned with Trumps Make America Great Again motto, welcomed him enthusiastically when he took the stage. But Trump soon turned lethargic, sounding weary, and the crowd matched his energy as he rattled off a rolling repetition of his usual grievances about immigration and crime and the economy. He twice predicted a 100% chance of a major terrorist attack in the near future and the advent of World War III if he is not elected president again. An entire generation of young people could very well be decimated by something that could very well happen, Trump said of that imagined war. GOP impeachment case against president: Do you know what Republicans don't need for a Biden investigation? Evidence, apparently. He didn't dare touch on the generations that have seen classmates murdered and wounded at school. Trump rarely seems to learn from his mistakes, but crossing the NRA is not a misstep he will repeat. He has a new approach to the slaughter of children in classrooms get over it. Campaigning last month ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Trump addressed a recent school shooting that left an 11-year-old boy and his principal dead and six wounded before the 17-year-old gunman killed himself. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2024. Its just horrible, so surprising to see it here, Trump said while campaigning for an office where, by his own account, he did nothing to stop this sort of thing. But we have to get over it, we have to move forward. School shootings are sadly no longer surprising. Neither is Trumps shrug at the slaughter and eagerness to move ahead and cash in with the NRA without doing anything to stop it. Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump NRA speech shows his cowardice on gun violence, school shootings If you spaced and forgot to pre-order Girl Scout cookies for 2024, but there's space in your pantry, don't worry! The Girl Scout cookie season has arrived and runs through March 17, 2024. Over one million boxes of cookies have arrived in Central Ohio, and not all of those are spoken for. In fact, Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland hopes to sell two million boxes this year! Feb. 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland will kick off the 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Season in a big way when more than a million packages of cookies roll into town for delivery. To be exact, 1,205,244 packages of cookies will be distributed to troops at the three-day mega drop event in Columbus, as well as at nine satellite locations across the council's 30-county region. Girl Scout volunteers will drive through an assembly line at mega drop, filling their vehicles with varieties of Girl Scout cookies to prepare their troops' orders. These cookies will be distributed by 7,442 Girl Scouts who are participating in the program from 934 troops. There are three ways to purchase Girl Scout Cookies this season: find a troop, find a booth, or order online. You can find a troop or a booth with the Cookie Connector on the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland website. Girl Scout cookie booths will be activated on February 9th and throughout the community through March 17th. Cookie booths are scheduled in all 30 counties in the GSOH area, with almost 6,000 booth time slots filled at locations such as Walmart, Joann Fabrics, Lowe's and others. Visit the Cookie Connector to find a troop or purchase cookies. Feb. 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Volunteers collect cartons of Girl Scout cookies assembly line style at Guardian Relocation as 1,205,244 packages of cookies were dispersed during a three day mega drop event at various locations around Columbus. The cookies will be distributed by 7,442 Girl Scouts who are participating in the program from 934 troops across the council's 30-county region. While 100% of the net revenue from cookie sales stays in the community, you can support Girl Scouts without consuming cookies by donating cookies through Operation Salute, which benefits military personnel, veterans and their families. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the world's largest entrepreneurial program for girls. Feb. 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A fork lift moves pallets of Girl Scout cookies at Guardian Relocation on the East Side as Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland received and dispersed 1,205,244 packages of cookies during a three day mega drop event at various locations around Columbus. Volunteers collected their cookies assembly line style, filling their vehicles with Girl Scout cookies to prepare their troops' orders. The cookies will be distributed by 7,442 Girl Scouts who are participating in the program from 934 troops across the council's 30-county region. Barbara J. Perenic This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How to order Girl Scout cookies in Central Ohio TAMPA (BLOOM) Get ready to set sail on a culinary journey like no other! Craft, Tampas inaugural dining river cruise, has officially opened reservations for its much-anticipated river journeys starting Friday, March 8, 2024. Setting off from the vibrant Channel District at the StarShip dock near Sparkman Wharf, Craft offers a two-hour voyage that combines elevated dining with picturesque views of Tampas waterways. Innovations on Board Craft is not just a boat; its a revolution in river cruising. With a design reminiscent of European riverboats, this sleek, low-profile vessel is poised to navigate under the numerous low bridges along the Hillsborough River and downtown channels, offering an unobstructed view of Tampas scenic beauty. A highlight of this unique experience is Crafts commitment to culinary excellence. Featuring the first open kitchen and cook-to-order galley on a U.S. dining cruise, Craft raises the bar with its use of gas cooking equipmenta rare find on water-bound eateries. The vessel also introduces Floridas first low-profile river dining cruise, including a boat within a boat concept with a 1914 vintage wood cruiser, repurposed as the Bow & Stern bar. Food and Cocktail Artistry At the helm of the kitchen is Executive Chef Allison Beasman, whose expertise promises to deliver an unforgettable dining experience. With a menu that celebrates the craft of culinary arts, guests can look forward to a selection of dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients and a touch of innovation. Tampa is a food-forward destination, says Chef Beasman. I am thrilled by the opportunity to blend the art of cooking with the spirit of exploration on Craft. Were ready to welcome guests aboard for a journey that tantalizes the taste buds and captivates the senses. A Journey Awaiting Crafts river journeys are an invitation to explore Tampas waterways in style, with three dining settings to choose from: indoor, outdoor, or bar. Each offers a unique perspective of the citys beauty, ensuring that every guest finds their perfect spot to enjoy the journey. With a capacity of 150 passengers, Craft aims to provide an intimate and immersive experience, making it an ideal choice for both locals and visitors looking to discover Tampa from a new vantage point. Setting Sail into the Future Craft is the latest venture by Manthey Hospitality, a family-owned business with a rich history of creating memorable experiences on Tampas waters. With this new addition, the company continues to expand its portfolio, which already includes the Yacht StarShip, Pirate Water Taxi, and several other attractions. As reservations open, excitement builds for the launch of Craft. Its not just a cruise; its a journey that promises to blend the art of fine dining with the serene beauty of Tampas rivers. For more information and to book your journey, visit Crafts website or follow them on social media. Tampas culinary and cruising scenes are about to embark on an exciting new chapter with Craft. Dont miss the boat on this unique dining adventure! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The Democratic Party has ramped up its attacks on independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in recent days, marking the first significant attempt by either party to shape voter sentiment around his candidacy ahead of a potential rematch of the 2020 election. The Democratic National Committee has taken multiple steps in recent days to portray Kennedy as a spoiler who would help Republican frontrunner Donald Trump defeat President Joe Biden, arguing Kennedy is funded primarily by wealthy donors aligned with the former president. Last week, the DNC filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that Kennedys campaign had illegally coordinated with American Values 2024, a PAC backing his White House bid. Kennedys campaign has denied coordinating with the group. In a call with reporters outlining the complaint, DNC adviser Ramsey Reid blamed Trump and his donors for turning Kennedy into a stalking horse by funding the PAC. Were concerned that Donald Trump is disrespecting the democratic process. Its pretty clear that Trump and his megadonors are propping up RFK Jr. as a stalking horse, Reid said. The DNC has homed in on donations to the PAC from billionaire Tim Mellon, an heir to a prominent banking fortune who has been a prolific donor to pro-Trump and other GOP causes over the years. Mellon gave approximately $15 million to American Values 2024 last year. In 2020, he gave $20 million to America First Action Inc., one of the leading outside groups backing Trumps reelection. On Saturday, as Kennedy held a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the DNC advertised on four billboards around the area accusing Kennedy of being powered by MAGA/Trump. And after the Kennedy-aligned PAC released a new TV ad during the Super Bowl that repurposed an old spot from the 1960 campaign of President John F. Kennedy, the candidates uncle, the DNC issued a statement highlighting the PACs funding from Mellon. Its fitting that the first national ad promoting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s candidacy was bought and paid for by Donald Trumps largest donor this cycle, DNC rapid response director Alex Floyd said in a statement released shortly after the ad aired Sunday. Kennedys team pushed back on the Democratic attacks, saying that donors from across the political spectrum are supporting the Kennedy campaign as they are tired of the corruption in the two-party system. Instead, donors want an independent candidate who will heal the divide, restore the middle class, end the forever wars, unravel corporate capture, and the end chronic disease epidemic, Kennedy campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear said in a statement to CNN. DNC adviser Lis Smith told CNN the partys latest efforts are meant to educate voters on the connections between Trump and Kennedy, while acknowledging the critical role Kennedy could play in the general election. Its clear that Donald Trump and his allies view him as a useful stalking horse who could help throw the election to Trump in November, Smith said. While his independent campaign faces steep odds of success, Kennedys candidacy could influence the outcome of a Biden-Trump rematch if he garners enough support in critical states. In the 2020 election, Biden flipped three states Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin by margins of less than 1%. Recent national polling of a Trump-Biden rematch suggests the race could be narrowly decided again. A CNN/SSRS poll released earlier this month showed Trump with 49% support among registered voters, compared with 45% for Biden. Its unclear as of now how Kennedy would affect a potential general election between Biden and Trump whether hed draw more support from historically Republican or Democratic voters, or whether hed receive enough total support to influence the election either way. An NBC News poll released this month found 34% of registered voters saying they could see themselves supporting Kennedy. But Kennedys allies have targeted Biden and Democrats as they look to gain traction in the race, a sign theyre ready to meet the DNCs escalating attacks straight ahead. In a statement released after the Super Bowl ad, American Values 2024 co-founder Mark Gorton criticized the DNC for its efforts targeting Kennedy. The only argument the DNC has left is that Biden is not Trump. When RFK Jr. gets on the ballot, the American public will have the ability to choose a candidate who is not Trump, who has integrity, bravery, a proven track record of fighting corporate corruption, and the ability to stand up to the corporate interests that have taken over the Biden administration. The American people are waking up, and the DNCs only hope is to prevent them from having a choice, Gorton said. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Edward-Isaac Dovere and David Wright contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A hospital in Dnipro is being evacuated and schools are being closed following a Russian attack on civil infrastructure, Mayor Borys Filatov announced on Feb. 13. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhii Lysak said on the morning of Feb. 13 that 10 Shahed-type attack drones had been downed over Dnipro district overnight, "but there were also several hits" and energy infrastructure caught on fire. DTEK, Ukraine's main private energy company, had reported at 1 a.m. on Feb. 13 that one of its thermal power plants had been "severely damaged" in an attack, without specifying the location. State-owned energy operator Ukrenergo later said that an attack on energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast damaged a thermal power plant, impacting the heating supply to Dnipro. Following the attack, there were also reports of power outages in the city of Pavlohrad and Pavlohrad district, around 80 kilometers east of Dnipro. "Due to nighttime attacks, we are evacuating one of the hospitals, draining the heating system, and taking out a considerable number of palliative patients," Filatov reported on Telegram. "We are also closing schools" since the weather will get colder and the heating system "may not be able to withstand the load," Filatov said. In a later message on Telegram, Filatov advised residents to go to the city's "points of invincibility," or specially equipped shelters that provide heating, electricity, and internet, if needed. Filatov said that Dnipro has more than 100 "points of invincibility" with "everything you need," including power generators and hot drinks. Read also: My hatred only grows: Kyiv residents lament over their homes destroyed by Russian attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A partial view of the Conservatory Galleria, Houston's newest food hall opening Feb. 19, 2024 Rochelle Abante / Abante Photography When the Conservatory Galleria, 5353 W. Alabama, opens Feb. 19, it will shift the focus from downtowns dominance as home to Houstons leading food halls. Over three levels, the dining hall will feature 11 food vendors and two bar concepts in the once-popular Roxy nightclub. Two nightlife veterans, Chase LoVullo and Roveen Abante, are the founding managing partners in the project, which they have described as capturing a slice of Houstons diverse dining scene. Its almost surreal, LoVullo said. Were excited about showing everyone the quality vendors and the comfortable layout. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants Clockwise from top left: Rollin' Phatties, Seoulside Wings, Luv'Em Leche and Bird Haus The 11 food vendors include: Bird Haus: fried hot chicken sandwiches Blk Mkt Birria: birria tacos Clutch City Grill: smash burgers, load cheese fries Cvche Kitichen: Peruvian fare La Taquiza Street Tacos: Mexico City-inspired tacos, tortas, quesadillas Luvem Leches: a variety tres leches cakes The Pita-Ria: flatbread pizzas, soups, salads Rollin Phatties: South Asian dishes including paratha rolls and rice plates Seoulside Wings: Korean fried chicken wings, rice bowls Thrive Juices: fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, acai bowls Wokker: Asian-meets-Southern fusion dishes served fast-casual style LoVullo and Abante, who also run Reset Rooftop Lounge, will oversee the two bars inside the food hall. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new Conservatory Galleria food hall spans three levels Over the past few years, the partners, who are joined by investor Dr. Abdulla Kudrath, have focused on building out a food hall thats more soothing than sterile no stainless steel in sight, LoVullo said. Theres lounge-style seating scattered throughout the space with different size tables that can seat parties of 2 to 8 customers. Much of the 12,000-square-foot, three-level venue is filled with natural light and plants. When the food halls operations are fine tuned, LoVullo said, the Conservatory Galleria will be open 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, which is much later than other similar venues. He adds that free parking, which has been a challenge for many food halls in the past, will feature more than 450 spots between a garage and outfront parking spots. MORE FROM BAO ONG: Owners who split with Brazos Bagel founder reopening shop near the Heights as Space City Bagels Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Roxy Room bar at the Conservatory Galleria Rochelle Abante / Abante Photography The Conservatory Galleria also hopes to lure customers in with a weekday happy hour running from noon-7 p.m. with gently-priced drink specials, according to LoVullo. Eventually, the food hall hopes to host programming with DJs, live bands, markets and other events throughout the year. For many Houstonians, the space will be unrecognizable from its Roxy heyday with thumping music and no windows. But the third level cocktail lounge, called the Roxy Room, does pay homage to the club, which closed nearly a decade ago. Id bet 90 percent of Houstonians above 30 know this as the Roxy nightclub, LoVullo said. When LoVullo spearheaded the construction of the space, he said he found an old, 3-by-7-foot Roxy sign in a storage room, which hell frame and display in the new space. The team plans to find old photos from the Roxy to display in the food hall, too. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com. Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. I dont remember ever living through such a sad, lonely, angry, and mean time in U.S. history. Most days I cant stand to look at television news. I hesitate to mention politics to neighbors for fear of finding out that we are on opposite sides of what has become a great divide. In the late '60s and early '70s, when I was coming of age and facing a military draft (and an all-but-certain deployment to Vietnam), the country felt to me, as it does now, as though it was coming apart at the seams. But even then, I dont remember such despair over the future, the future of democracy itself. I certainly dont remember elected representatives talking matter-of-factly about civil war or national divorce. The slogan back then make love, not war was kind of dumb, I thought, but hardly destabilizing to society. What I remember was a feeling that somehow democracy would survive. We would find a way out of Vietnam and into a better future, even if we couldnt quite imagine it. Douglas Brouwer And then, after a decade of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter, a former Hollywood actor (and California governor) came along to say, Lets make America great again. (Yes, they were originally Reagans words.) Something about that message took hold, and for a brief time, we believed it. In 1980, Reagan won in a landslide, taking all but five states (and the District of Columbia) and winning 489 electoral votes. Not only that, but for the first time since 1954 Republicans took control of the Senate. In 1984 Reagan won by an even bigger margin, taking 49 of 50 states and 525 votes in the Electoral College. That year his slogan was Its morning again in America. Not for everyone, of course. But thats to be expected in a healthy democracy. There should be an opposing voice, someone who raises thoughtful objections. Democracy thrives, as we have all heard, when there is lively, healthy debate. But those days seem like a long time ago. Lively, healthy debate has given way to anger and resentment, shouting and bullying. And so, when I saw David Brooks opinion column in the New York Times at the end of January with the headline How to Save a Sad, Lonely, Angry, and Mean Society, I scrolled quickly to the column and read it. I should note that Brooks is no liberal. His conversative credentials have been well established. The truth is, the Times has several conservative columnists Bret Stephens, Ross Douthat, David French, and (occasionally) Peter Wehner, among others. I feel as though I need to make this point because someone will want to dismiss anything in the Times as left-leaning and hopelessly liberal. Objectively, thats just not the case. Im not entirely sure what to make of Brooks January column. As much as I was attracted by the title, and as much as I believe his thesis namely, that art, literature and music will make us better people, able to have better conversations, and more willing to understand a different point of view I doubt his thesis is going to be heard in our current national discourse. Were just too angry. Still, I agree with him, and I admire him for writing what he did. Brooks has been doing more than most to raise the level of our national discourse. His latest book, "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen," has spent 13 weeks on the Times bestseller list, a remarkable achievement for a book that asks us to get back to basics in all our relationships. There is one skill, he writes, that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard and understood. Brooks was brought up Jewish, but rarely attended synagogue in his adult life. Its a long story, but Brooks has been moving, haltingly at times, in the direction of Christian faith. Everything he has discovered about this new faith has attracted him. And his writing both columns and recent books has been filled with references to the teaching and values of this new faith. I mention that because my faith too compels me to look beyond division, to see others deeply (and make them feel seen), to forgive the sins of others (while asking God to forgive my own), and even to love my enemies. I hope Brooks keeps listening to his new faith. Douglas Brouwer lives in Park Township. Previous columns and other writing can be found at dougsblog.substack.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Douglas Brouwer: How to save a broken society As neighbors and stakeholders on Monument Circle, we share with you what we are seeing on a daily basis: Downtown Indianapolis is coming back stronger than ever. Theres a palpable energy on our sidewalks at lunchtime as workers return to offices and workplaces. Our restaurants are bustling not only with convention visitors, but also with locals. Guests from near and far are attending live events downtown, including arts performances, worship services, professional sports, and more. Hospitality and safety ambassadors and cleaning teams are making regular rounds and know many of us by first name. The renewal were experiencing downtown is making us a standout leader among our Midwestern peer cities. A view of the south side of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, from Meridian Street in Indianapolis. A recent economic report notes that Indianapolis saw an 8.4% increase in our GDP last year; Marion County alone was responsible for 25% of the state of Indianas GDP growth in 2023. Both of our organizations, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, are experiencing the positive effects of this vitality. Overall concert attendance at the ISO is up: our recent Yuletide Celebration broke sales records in December, and we are welcoming significant new audiences of younger people through our Uncharted Series, which mixes the classical with the modern. The congregation of CCC similarly experienced a 20% increase in our average attendance last year. All this good news and upward trajectory is because we, our civic and community leaders, have come together with intention and purpose since 2020 to propel our city forward. Last November, a broad, deep, and diverse group of downtown residents, business owners, and nonprofits petitioned the City-County Council to enact an economic enhancement district for the Mile Square using a law enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 2023. This district will continue our efforts to enhance cleanliness and beautification efforts, fund operational costs for a low-barrier homeless shelter and housing hub to help people experiencing homelessness connect with resources and housing solutions and hire more safety ambassadors. Moreover, the City-County Council held a public hearing on the economic enhancement district, and support at that hearing was overwhelmingly positive, which led to its passage last December. We are deeply concerned that the Indiana General Assembly is now considering taking away this opportunity to help us, the residents and stakeholders of the Mile Square, help ourselves. We want to do the right thing by continuing to make the downtown experience clean, safe, and welcoming for both our symphony patrons and church congregants, not to mention the many out-of-town visitors and Indy locals who are coming downtown to shop, eat, play, worship, and enjoy the performing arts. We are committed to helping our unhoused neighbors connect with a 24/7, no-questions-asked, shelter that offers them safety and the ability to connect with resources that lead to permanent supportive housing. This goal is a critical component of our vision for a vibrant and thriving downtown. We are puzzled by and disappointed that out-of-state special interest groups, which have no stake in the welfare of our neighborhood, city, or state, are the leading voice in seeking to rescind this opportunity that the legislature offered to us less than a year ago. We invite our legislators considering the repeal of this economic enhancement district to come spend an afternoon with us. Let us walk you around Monument Circle and the Mile Square neighborhoods. Let us introduce you to our fantastic safety ambassadors. Let us show you how we are on the upswing and can continue to thrive, care for all our downtown neighbors, and propel economic growth throughout our city and state through an enhancement district. We promise that you will, like us, be convinced that the key to a strong and vibrant Indiana starts with a strong and vibrant capital city, whose heartbeat emanates from Monument Circle and the Mile Square. James Johnson is the CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Very Reverend Gray Lesesne is Dean of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why the economic enhancement district is needed for downtown Indy Like many states, Idaho has steadfast rules regarding speed limits on certain roadways. For example, the speed limit is 35 mph for any residential, business, or urban district or 65 mph on state highways. If youre driving over the posted speed limit at any capacity, youre increasing your chances of being pulled over by a police officer. But what if you were only speeding a little to pass a car or keep up with the rest of the traffic? Heres what the law in Idaho says about that: What happens if you go 10 mph over the speed limit in Idaho? Whenever youre pulled over by law enforcement, its often up to the police officers discretion on what to ticket you for. Even if you were driving only slightly above the speed limit, an officer can still ticket you for speeding if they deem it necessary. But it is unlikely that an officer would pull you over if youre going less than 5 mph over the limit because radar technology is not exact, and the officers speed gun or your speedometer may be slightly off. It gets more clear-cut if youre going at least 5 mph over the speed limit when you get pulled over. Under Idaho law, despite some officers showing leniency if youre marginally above the limit, it is technically illegal to drive at any speed greater than the posted speed limit. That means that, as long as the officer has recorded you driving over the limit, its within their right to ticket you. The more over the limit you were driving, the more likely youll receive a ticket. But there is one exception. The Idaho Code states that drivers can drive up to 15 mph over the posted speed limit while passing another vehicle going under the limit. This exception only applies on roadways with one lane in each direction and a minimum speed limit of 55 mph. The overtaking vehicle must not be towing another vehicle, and this rule does not apply in construction zones. Idaho speed limits If you need a refresher on Idahos maximum speed limits, heres a cheat sheet: Residential, business or urban district - 35 mph Interstate highways - 75 mph or 80 mph if a traffic study concludes its in the public interest to increase the limit. State highways - 65 mph or 70 mph if a traffic study concludes its in the public interest to increase the limit. School zone - 20 mph Other locations that dont fall into the above categories - 55 mph Its also important to note that local counties and cities may have speed limits different from the states guidelines, so always be on the lookout for speed limit signs. Idaho speeding penalties If youre caught speeding in Idaho, most of the time, the officer will issue you with either a warning or a speeding ticket. If you end up with a speeding ticket, heres what youll likely be paying, according to the Idaho Supreme Courts infraction breakdown: 1-15 mph - $90 16 mph or more - $155 Speeding in a construction zone - $106.50 Speeding in a school zone - $156.50 Youll also gain three points on your license if caught speeding below 15 mph or four points if speeding at 16 mph or more. Intercepted conversations, published on Ukrainian Intelligence You-tube channel on Feb. 12, have disclosed significant casualties among Russian forces mobilized for the conflict in Ukraine. These revelations paint a grim picture of the conditions faced by Russian soldiers, many of whom reportedly die before even reaching the Ukrainian border. Russian mobilized soldiers die before they even reach Ukraine. "People are dropping flies before even reaching Ukraine," the girlfriend of one of the Russian soldiers said in one intercepted call. Read also: Occupiers launch massive offensive actions on Avdiivka and Maryinka fronts The woman recounted a particularly disturbing incident where a soldier died during training, highlighting the dangers faced by recruits. "The main thing is not Ukraine, she said. They brought us [to our settlement] a dead man. He did not even reach Ukraine. He was killed during the training. The discussion further unveiled shocking instances of violence and abuse within the ranks, including hangings and assault. "There is a fload of such cases, she added. Someone was hanged, a man was raped." Similar incidents underscore the desperate measures the Russian military has resorted to, including the conscription of prisoners to bolster their numbers. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are effectively neutralizing Russian troops at a rate comparable to Russia's recruitment efforts, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Dec. 8, 2023. Read also: Russian forces intensify attacks amidst freezing conditions, suffer sharp increase in losses UK intelligence The Russian offensive has resulted in over 54,000 soldier fatalities within approximately two months, with the Kremlin sacrificing about 400 soldiers for every square kilometer gained in Ukraine, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, said on Jan. 23. British intelligence has assessed that, given the substantial losses suffered, it could take Russia five to ten years to reconstitute its military units to their former levels of training and experience. This ongoing attrition highlights the severe impact of the conflict on Russian military capabilities and raises questions about the sustainability of their offensive efforts in Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine DTEK, Ukraines main private energy company, said on Feb. 13 that one of its thermal power plants was targeted in an overnight Russian attack. The shelling severely damaged the plant, according to DTEK. The company did not specify where the plant that was hit is located, presumably to avoid giving up sensitive information about the location of Ukraines critical infrastructure. Earlier, Suspilne media outlet reported power outages in the city of Pavlohrad and Pavlohrad district. Pavlohrad is located 80 kilometers east of Dnipro, regional capital. Following the attack, the plant was unable to produce electricity. After the shelling stopped, DTEK immediately began repairing and restoring the equipment. No casualties were reported following the attack. Russia has carried out a sustained effort to attack Ukraines energy infrastructure, both through the winter of 2022-2023 and through the current one. These attacks have led to widespread power outages, temporarily depriving civilians of electricity, heat, and other vital services. Read also: Russia shells 4 communities in Sumy Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A 52-year-old Dunnellon woman has been charged by sheriff's detectives with reportedly swindling a woman out of thousands of dollars, and allegedly was positioning herself to inherit thousands more. Sherry Lynn Hayes-Luzander was booked into the county jail on Feb. 11, charged with crimes against person/exploitation of elderly/$50,000 or more. Jail records show Hayes-Luzander was released the next day after posting a $5,000 bond. Locally, Hayes-Luzander does not have a criminal record. Victim's family express concern Detectives Nicholas Austin and Richard Mead of the Marion County Sheriff's Office investigated a report where the family of an elderly woman believed she had been removed from an assisted living facility. Family members said it appears Hayes-Luzader added her name to the victim's bank account and was assisting the victim with signing bank documents. The family was concerned about the victim because she has dementia, according to the report. Mead was told the victim's daughter has power of attorney and, due to the victim's mental condition, she would need long-term memory care and is unable to make financial or legal decisions. Family members said they became worried when the victim's information was changed at various financial institutions. Those institutions would not release any information to the victim's daughter, despite the woman having power of attorney. In the investigation, the detectives were told the victim's family was exploiting the woman. But the detectives did not find any evidence to support that allegation. Additional investigation Continuing with their investigation, detectives discovered Hayes-Luzader was listed as the victim's power of attorney and she created a new bank account. Documents show Hayes-Luzader transferred nearly $61,000 to the new account, according to the arrest report. Other benefits, such as Social Security payments, were diverted to the new account, the report states. The titles of two vehicles belonging to the victim, valued at a total of $35,000, were in the names of Hayes-Luzader and the victim. The arrest report show Hayes-Luzader claimed she found what's called a Lady Bird deed, where the victim deeded the property to her. According to ASR Law Firm, a Lady Bird deed "formally known as an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, is designed to allow property owners in Florida to transfer property to others automatically upon their death while maintaining use, control and ownership while alive." Federal court: Man pleads guilty to fraud, another charged with false claims involving guns Austin found found the notary who processed the Lady Bird deed. The woman said the Lady Bird deed was notarized in 2023, and not two years prior. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Detectives say Dunnellon woman swindled elderly woman Police Chief Troy Finner speaks to the media in the aftermath of the shooting at Lakewood Church during a news conference at police headquarters on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire attends a news conference in the aftermath of the shooting at Lakewood Church on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Christopher Hassig, commander Houston Police Homicide speaks to members of the media in the aftermath of the shooting at Lakewood Church during a news conference at police headquarters on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The two police officers who shot and killed an armed woman at Lakewood Church on Sunday were hailed as heroes Monday by Houston officials for their quick reaction in stopping the shooter who they said fired indiscriminately with a rifle after entering the church. But as the investigation into the shooting continued, questions remained how the shooter, Genesse Moreno, was able to get into the church and how her 7-year-old son, who entered the building with her, was critically wounded. The Houston Police Department released new information about the Moreno and the shooting investigation during a news conference on Monday afternoon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police said Moreno had a history of mental illness and was engaged in an ongoing dispute with Jewish family members, which may have included her writing anti-Semitic comments. Police confirmed that Moreno brought her biological son with her to the church, was armed with two rifles only one of which she fired before she was killed. She purchased one of the guns in December, officials said. Police also identified the two officers who shot and killed Moreno within minutes of her entering the building. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Adrian Herrera and Houston Police Officer Christopher Moreno were both working as security at the church when Genesse Moreno walked into the west entrance of the church and began firing an AR-style rifle. "We are extremely thankful for the quick response of the two officers," said Douglas Williams, the special agent in charge of the Houston FBI office. "There is no doubt that their heroic actions saved lives." The police officer and Genesse Moreno are not related, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. Police said Genesse Moreno entered a gun battle with the officers before she was shot. During the exchange, the boy was hit in the head. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After Genesse Moreno was shot, officers "joined up" and approached her body, while another person pulled the child away. The 7-year-old boy, who hasn't been named, remained in critical condition Monday afternoon, Finner said. Montgomery County officials, in confirming a search warrant executed at Genesse Moreno's Conroe home, said the child wasn't expected to live. SHOOTING RECAP: What to know about the Lakewood Church shooting It remains unclear who shot the child, Finner said, acknowledging that it could have been one of the officers who fired the shot. "We just don't know right now," Finner said. "Was it the police officers who shot or was it her? We don't know. I think the worst thing we can do is speculate. Once we get the evidence in and the ballistics and all that, I think we'll know that." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Houston Police officer was wearing a body camera, Finner said. Police Chief Troy Finner speaks to the media in the aftermath of the shooting at Lakewood Church during a news conference at police headquarters on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The news conference also raised questions about how Genesse Moreno was able to enter the building. Before she entered the building, she confronted an unarmed security guard outside the building, officials said. The security guard let her into the building and she immediately began firing. "She displayed or possibly pointed a weapon at that security officer," Finner said. He said he didn't consider it a "security breach." "I want to acknowledge the security they have at that church that day and all the days," Finner said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hassig said police planned to re-interview the security guard. MORE ON THE SHOOTER: Woman suspected in Lakewood Church shooting identified as Genesse Moreno in search warrant The church regularly hires off-duty officers to provide security officials said, and has its own security team as well. It's unclear how many police officers were at the church at the time of the shooting. A Lakewood Church spokesman told the Houston Chronicle Moreno and the child entered through an entrance for disabled people, not the main entrance where a security bag check is located. Christopher Hassig, commander Houston Police Homicide speaks to members of the media in the aftermath of the shooting at Lakewood Church during a news conference at police headquarters on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Also unclear is how Moreno was able to obtain weapons. She had a criminal history, including misdemeanor convictions of assault and unlawful carrying of a weapon, as well a documented history of mental illness, which included her being placed in emergency detention by police in 2016, Hassig said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both Finner and Williams said the way Moreno obtained her weapons was still under investigation. Hassig said it appears that she purchased the weapon she fired, an Anderson Manufacturing AR-style rifle, in December. She also had a .22-caliber rifle, made by Blue Line Solutions, Hassig said. That gun stayed in Moreno's bag and wasn't fired, he said. During the news conference, Houston Mayor John Whitmire pledged the city would be transparent as the investigation into the shooting continued to unfold. When former state Sen. Jane Earll helped establish the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority in 2008, a single word resonated with her as arguably its most essential feature: its autonomy. Earll, a Republican who chaired the Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee, which oversaw the passage of the states casino gaming legislation, said ECGRA was purposely designed to be an independent authority, governed not by elected officials, but a volunteer board. The thinking was that an independent board, although appointed by Erie County Council, would be the best way to ensure that local share gaming revenue was distributed fairly across the county and not be subject to political whims. Former state Sen. Jane Earll, center, listens to speakers, Jan. 3, 2020, during a swearing-in ceremony for elected officials, including her husband, Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri (not pictured), in Courtroom H at the Erie County Courthouse. [CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS] But recently, Erie County Executive Brenton Davis has chipped away at that philosophy, publicly criticizing ECGRA and threatening to dismantle it. In recent weeks, Davis has singled out the authority for its operating costs and executive directors salary; rebuked it in the news media as a slush fund of walking-around money; and floated the idea of dissolving the board altogether, placing all funding decisions squarely in the hands of political leaders. Davis, whos presided over a 10.9% property tax hike for fiscal year 2024, has argued that the county could do a better job at leveraging ECGRAs funds in pursuit of tax relief and economic development projects. Denouncing the authority as an enabler of predatory lending, he's requested a detailed report on ECGRA's loan portfolio and years-worth of financial records to ensure its practices are above board. He's also joined a handful of state lawmakers, who, in a Feb. 1 letter sent by state Sen. Dan Laughlin's office, requested that ECGRA refrain from any long-term obligations pending an audit by the state Auditor Generals office. That includes not approving ECGRA Executive Director Perry Woods five-year contract extension, which is slated to be voted on Thursday. ECGRA board members, solicitor say evidence is lacking Despite the frequency of Davis' public comments, ECGRA Chairman Dale Barney, along with board members Whitey Cleaver, Kelly Hess and Angela Amatangelo, insist the county executive has produced no evidence of wrongdoing. While Davis stated in a recent Corry Journal report that there are a lot of legal questions surrounding ECGRAs decision-making and that where theres smoke, theres fire, County Public Information Officer Chris Carroll declined to comment on those questions for the Times-News. Erie County Executive Brenton Davis, seen here on Oct. 24, 2023. In fact, ECGRA Solicitor Tim Wachter informed the board in a Feb. 6 memo obtained by the Times-News that ECGRAs funding approvals have met both the spirit and letter of state gaming laws. ECGRAs finances are also audited by an independent accounting firm every year, the results of which are approved by the board and shared with County Council and Daviss office. The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority awarded more than $600,000 in grant funding to five Erie County organizations to boost economic development. ECGRA hosted a reception for the awardees on June 27, 2023, at at Enrique's Southeast Mexico Taqueria and Tortilleria, 1801 Liberty St., in Erie. For Earll, who represented Erie County in the 49th Senatorial district seat and who considers herself an architect of ECGRA, Davis' comments have done a disservice to the credibility of what has been a highly functional organization. To just cast aspersions that impugn the credibility of the whole organization is irresponsible, she said. I know the county executive wants to have more money at his discretion to invest in economic development. But this model has worked wonderfully. Earll also pushed back on Davis' frequent assertion that gaming revenue was designed to lower taxes, insisting the bulk of gaming revenue already goes toward property tax relief via the states share. The local share that comes to ECGRA, she said, was never earmarked for that purpose. Of the roughly $10 million of local share gaming revenue generated annually from Presque Isle Downs & Casino, roughly $5 million goes to the county, $1 million goes to the Erie Land Bank and about $4 million goes to ECGRA. Of ECGRAs share, about 25% goes toward public safety and infrastructure in Summit Township, which houses the casino, and to municipalities contiguous to the casino, and the county, as per a 2010 legal settlement. The remaining amount, roughly $3 million, goes towards municipal grants and loans to spur economic and community development across the county. Earll said these monies should go toward the best return on investment and that she has no confidence that the political decisionmakers are capable of that. Reasonable minds can disagree on how much someone should get paid or what percentage of your budget should go to overhead, Earll said. But thats why an independent board is there to make sure that those issues are addressed internally with the mindset of protecting the communitys interest. Thats the boards job. Davis has been accused of overreach and faced roadblocks before Could Davis actually dissolve ECGRA? It would be an uphill battle. He would need the ECGRA board to vote on a resolution to dissolve itself before passing it onto County Council, a proposition that a majority of both bodies already reject. Wachter also noted in a memo to the board that state lawmakers, while authorized to request a third-party audit, do not have the authority to force ECGRA to refrain from voting on long-term obligations. Similar roadblocks have hindered Davis before, especially when accused of overstepping his authority toward boards, commissions and authorities. In May 2022, Davis requested the resignations of three of the five members of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors, a move that he had described as part of a larger effort to "align the ECRDA board with the strategy of the current Erie County executive." The request was quickly condemned by the board and considered incongruous with the Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law, which provides that board members are appointed to a five-year term and will hold office until a successor has been appointed. Davis eventually backed off his request. In the fall of 2022, Davis called for the removal of six members of the Erie County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission and demanded the commission's funds be frozen until a full complement of members was seated. Davis removed the first three members because of what he considered conflicts of interest. However, Commission Solicitor Wachter stated the members had properly recused themselves from the grants process in accordance with the commission's bylaws and the Pennsylvania Ethics Act. Davis removed the other three members because they continued to move forward with the commission's business despite his request that they pause activities. The three members, who were not appointed by Davis, remained on the commission, arguing that Davis merely sought to frustrate and block the commission's work. A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Local leaders defend ECGRA amid scrutiny from Davis administration Ed Tarver reads the children's book "Miss Spider's New Car" to children from Loving Tots Daycare, Bessie's Child Care and Children Unique Christian Daycare, during Story Time at Pendleton Park, in this photo from 2008. Tarver died Feb. 9, 2024, at age 64. Edward J. Tarver, the Augusta attorney who became the first Black U.S. attorney for the federal Southern District of Georgia, has died. Tarver, 64, also represented the Augusta areas District 22 in the Georgia Senate from 2005 to 2009, helping round out a full life of public service. His death was announced Friday after developing complications from a December surgery. A 2017 Savannah Morning News editorial called Tarver one of the best U.S. attorneys in a long line of professional prosecutors who have held this important appointed post." The Texas-born Tarver arrived in Augusta, like many before him, as a U.S. Army brat. He finished high school at Glenn Hills High in 1977 and earned a political science degree from the former Augusta College in 1981. In 1982 he joined the Army but left on a medical discharge in 1989 as a field artillery captain. Tarver enrolled in law school at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1991, then clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Dudley Bowen. Tarver later rose to partner at Augusta law firm Hull Barrett, and after resigning his federal post in 2017 cofounded a new law firm with Augusta attorney Ed Enoch. Standing fast: Ed Tarver cites experience in refusing to withdraw from Senate race Bowen swore Tarver into office as U.S. attorney in 2009, praising his former clerks integrity. "The U.S. attorney can break a man either by convicting him or by ruining him financially," Bowen said. "So those who serve in that capacity must and always should be principled individuals." In civic roles, Tarver served either as president of chairman of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce; the Leadership Georgia Foundations Board of Trustees; Leadership Augusta; the Academy of Richmond County Boosters Club; the St. Johns Towers Advisory Board; the Augusta Technical College Board of Directors; and the East Georgia Easter Seals Society. His survivors include his wife, pediatrician Dr. Carol Thompson Tarver; and their four children, attorneys Edward Tarver Jr. and Beverly Tarver; Riley Armant, morning anchorwoman for WALB-TV in Albany; and Howard University graduate Ryan Armant. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Former Black U.S. Attorney Ed Tarver marked historic first for Georgia For the record: 2:51 p.m. Feb. 13, 2024: An earlier version of this editorial cited reporting that Joanna Weiss campaign said her husband had represented the Catholic diocese primarily on employment matters. Her campaign later said all of his work for the diocese was on employment matters. Shortly after Claudine Gay stepped down as president of Harvard University last month, an interesting sidelight to her years as a university administrator emerged: As dean of the faculty of arts and sciences a few years earlier, Gay was involved in removing a law professor from his secondary role as the dean of a campus dormitory. The professor, Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., had caused an uproar on campus in 2019 when he joined the legal defense team of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of rape or sexual assault by more than 80 women and whose case launched the #MeToo movement. Weinstein was later convicted of rape on two coasts, as well as other crimes, and is serving a lengthy sentence. Read more: Editorial: U.S. colleges are overusing and underpaying adjunct professors But at the time that Sullivan chose to defend him, Weinstein was legally an innocent man. He was as entitled to a robust defense as anyone else, as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Harvard administrators backed Sullivans right as a lawyer to defend Weinstein but also saw his act as one that failed to take into account, as the dean of a house, the turmoil felt by the students in his dormitory. When Sullivan responded to students' concerns by explaining the importance of a strong defense for unpopular defendants, Gay deemed it insufficient to address their feelings of being unsafe. Sullivan was pressured into stepping down as dean. Soon after, he also resigned from Weinsteins defense. This was hardly the first time that a lawyer has been vilified for representing people accused of heinous crimes. One hundred years ago, iconic lawyer Clarence Darrow, who already had a reputation for taking on controversial cases, was widely criticized for defending two teenage thrill killers. You would think that by now college students and the public would understand that no matter how heinous the alleged crime, our countrys legal system holds people innocent until proven guilty and aims to treat the accused fairly and without favor. Does it always work out that way? No. Wealthy people can afford entire teams of brilliant lawyers. Black men have historically received stiffer sentences than white men for the same crimes, according to a study by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. But either way, everyone is entitled to a defense, whether in criminal or civil court. That almost always means they need a lawyer. Read more: Endorsement: The Times' recommendation for L.A. District Attorney The same issue came up this month involving the contentious race for the 47th Congressional District in Orange County, which has included mudslinging on both sides. The campaign of Dave Min launched a political ad that accuses another Democratic candidate, Joanna Weiss, of funding her campaign with the money her husband earned representing the Catholic Church in sexual molestation cases. (The Times endorsed Min in this race as the better candidate.) Weiss campaign, which has its own ad attacking Min, said her husbands work for the church was on employment issues. But thats not the issue. The church had a right to legal defense on sexual abuse as well as any other matter, and lawyers (and their families) should not be demonized for providing it. Lawyers simply serve a function in the legal system, just as a judge does. Min, a former law professor at UC Irvine, certainly knows this. At times, even prosecutors feel the public lash for doing their work. Christopher Darden, who is running for Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, was vilified by some people in the Black community for prosecuting O.J. Simpson. Ultimately, better public understanding begins with better communication. And in this, Harvard missed an opportunity to educate by example by standing up for a basic principle. The public needs to be able to discern the difference between people and organizations that behave outrageously, and the rights of those people and organizations to be represented in courts of law. This includes the right of lawyers to take unpopular cases and their responsibility to give their clients the strongest possible defense. This does not make students or the public unsafe. What would make everyone less safe is a justice system that runs on popular opinion rather than on the intentions laid out in the Bill of Rights. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The chemical spill last week from a shuttered former electroplating business into the Bear Creek Drain in Warren poses no immediate health risks to the public and did not affect local drinking water. But aquatic life in the creek may be harmed, according to agencies involved in the containment, testing and cleanup of the spill. Booms placed Feb. 7, 2024 in the Bear Creek Drain in Warren after a chemical spill was discovered. Booms were placed at the direction of the Macomb County Public Works Office. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday completed its cleanup activities at the former Fini-Finish Metal Finishing electroplating shop, 24657 Mound Road, and turned oversight over to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Nearby storm sewers were cleaned and unplugged, and as a precaution, "pom-pom" booming is remaining in Bear Creek to slow sediment while the former shop's new owner continues an EGLE-monitored cleanup inside the facility. The first round of samples taken from Bear Creek and the Fini-Finish shop building show chemicals including metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were released into the waterway. Samples taken downstream from the release showed elevated levels of some chemicals, but not at concentrations that would pose immediate risk to humans, EGLE officials said in a statement. Of all chemicals analyzed in the first samples, only total copper results showed concentrations above those established to protect aquatic life in the stream. "EGLE will use the sampling data to assess the impact to Bear Creek and the environment, and work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the protection of human health," EGLE officials said. A burst water pipe in the former Fini-Finish shop caused extensive flooding in the building, where unknown substances were found on the floor, along with buckets and barrels of materials. Investigators believe the spill into the creek arose from the burst pipe floodwaters contacting the floor materials and exterior of the containers before flowing through storm drains into the nearby creek. A bluish substance on the surface of the Bear Creek drain was first noticed and reported Feb. 7 by a construction contractor doing culvert work nearby. The Bear Creek drain flows into the Red Run Drain and on into the Clinton River, a major tributary to Lake St. Clair. The owner of the Fini-Finish building, who purchased it last fall, has hired a contractor to begin cleanup work. More: Saving Lake St. Clair - a Free Press special report More: Most of Michigan's 24,000 contaminated sites await cleanup that might never come "EGLE continues to investigate the circumstances of the release and is monitoring the property owners removal of the chemicals from inside the facility. Additional water sampling results are expected later this week," agency officials said. Inspectors with the Macomb County Department of Public Works observed that water in the Bear Creek drain was still a greenish color at Chicago Road east of Van Dyke last Friday morning, but the discoloration was gone by about noon. An unknown amount of chemicals likely flowed on into the Red Run Drain, county Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said. "Our inspectors observed numerous wildlife and waterfowl in and about the drain on Monday, which points out to us all how important it is to be good stewards of our environment, and we appreciate the public notifying us," she said. Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: EGLE: 'No immediate human health risk' from Bear Creek spill in Warren Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. Egypt is boosting its security presence at its border with the Gaza Strip, wary of a spillover of Israels war on Hamas onto its territory should the Israeli military begin its ground assault on the enclaves southernmost city, Rafah, where more than half of Gazas population is sheltering just steps away from the frontier. The fortification by the border with Gaza is a precautionary measure ahead of an expected Israeli ground operation in Rafah, Egyptian security officials told CNN. As part of its security buildup, the officials said, Egypt has deployed more troops and machinery in North Sinai, bordering Gaza. Israels military campaign in Gaza may be putting its almost half-a-century-old ties with a key Arab partner at risk. Egypt has already condemned Israels move to push Palestinians southward in the enclave, suggesting it is part of a plan to expel Gazans and that it would spell the end of the Palestinian cause. Now, it is sounding alarms again as Israel pushes more than a million Palestinians toward its territory and prepares for a military operation in Rafah. Egypt also appears to be building a massive, miles-wide buffer zone and wall along its border with southern Gaza, new satellite images show. The images, taken this week by Maxar Technologies, show a significant section of Egypts territory between a roadway and the Gaza border has been bulldozed. At the actual border, multiple cranes can be seen laying sections of the wall. Additional satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows that bulldozers arrived on site on February 3, and the initial excavation of the buffer zone began on February 6. There has been a significant uptick in excavation this week. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian government for comment on the buffer zone and wall construction. Checkpoints leading to the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side have been boosted with more soldiers and the areas around the main road were being prepared for the deployment of tanks and military machinery, an eyewitness told CNN. Egyptian military helicopters were also seen flying on the Egyptian side this week, according to an eyewitness in Egypt and social media videos shot from the Gaza side of the border. Egyptian army soldiers look on from behind the barbed-wire border fence as Palestinian workers unload crates of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom (Karm Abu Salem) border crossing in the southern part of the enclave on January 29. - Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images Officials in Egypt and Israel rarely criticize one another in public, but Egypts foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday lambasted comments by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said Cairo bears considerable responsibility for the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of more than 250 people. Israels subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to the death of more than 28,000 there, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It is unfortunate and disgraceful that Smotrich continues to make irresponsible and inflammatory statements, which only reveal a hunger for killing and destruction, the Egyptian spokesperson said on X, formerly Twitter. Egypt was the first Arab nation to recognize Israel in 1979. The two signed a landmark pact that saw Israel return the Sinai Peninsula it captured from Egypt in the 1967 war in exchange for peace. The treaty also limited the number of troops stationed on the border between Egypt and Gaza, which at the time was controlled by Israel. The treaty turned Egypt into a pariah in the Arab world but decades later helped pave the way for other Arab nations to sign similar agreements with Israel. Western media outlets, including the Associated Press and The New York Times, have reported that Egypt has threatened to void the peace treaty if Israeli troops invaded Rafah. Egypts foreign minister dismissed those reports, but said in a news conference Monday that Cairo would adhere to the treaty as long as it remains reciprocal, the state-run Ahram newspaper reported. A satellite image from Maxar Technologies shows Rafah, Gaza, on February 3. - Maxar Technologies An Israeli official acknowledged that the Egyptians have been concerned with Israels operation, but said they are not aware of a specific threat with regard to the treaty. There is a collaboration between Israeli and Egyptian security forces. Always has been and always will be, the Israeli official told CNN. Emad Gad, an advisor at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies and a former member of Egypts parliament, said that Egypt suspending the treaty is totally unrealistic. The move, he told CNN, would have consequences with the United States, including on the significant financial and military aid Egypt receives from Washington. The present crisis presents potential dangers not seen in previous incidents, said Ofir Winter, senior researcher at Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv and lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Tel Aviv University. While Egypt and Israel have had rough patches since the treaty was signed, Winter told CNN, this is the worst period in Israeli-Egyptian ties since decade-long ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power. Israel has been under pressure from the international community to refrain from launching a ground operation in Rafah, which has for weeks been under Israeli aerial bombardment. The city is the last major refuge for Palestinians fleeing the north and center of Gaza. Palestinians crowd the streets of Rafah, southern Gaza on February 10. - Abed Zagout/Anadolu/Getty Images After numerous Israeli calls to evacuate other areas of the strip, more than 1.3 million people are now crammed into a sprawling tent city in Rafah. Families struggling with shortages of food, water and medicine are living in tents just meters from the barbed-wire fence separating them from Egypt. Several Israeli cabinet ministers, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, have publicly called for the resettlement of Gaza by Jews after the war. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of reestablishing settlements in Gaza, he has said that Israel will keep full security control. Refugee spillover The Egyptian foreign ministry warned Sunday of the grave consequences of an Israeli military operation in Rafah, calling on Israel to refrain from taking measures that would further complicate the situation and would harm the interests of everyone involved without exception. For Egypt, the prospect of millions of Palestinians pouring into the country brings memories of the 2008 border crisis, when hundreds of Gazans stormed into Egypt after the border wall was blown out and torn down. The Palestinians had been running out of fuel, food and other supplies after Israel closed Gazas border crossings. Egypt has said that since the war began, the Rafah crossing was bombed at least four times on the Palestinian side. In October, Egypt blocked the gates of the crossing with concrete slabs. Egypts Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday said that targeting this area of the strip, which is filled with so many civilians, poses a danger. This is very different than if these citizens were living in a larger or more spacious area, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said in an interview with Alghad TV. We are taking about an area in southern Gaza that used to be inhabited by 300,000 Palestinians, Abu Zeid said, adding that over a million people live there now. Children stand next to tents as displaced Palestinians, who fled their houses due to Israeli strikes, shelter in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on January 26. - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Crossing a demilitarized buffer zone The Egyptian official was keen to spell out the dangers of Israels ground offensive crossing the Philadelphi Corridor the14-kilometer (about 8.7 mile) long and 100-meter-wide strip of land on the border between Gaza and Egypt. The narrow line is a buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border, set in place as part of the 1979 peace treaty. It is part of a larger set of areas that Israel and Egypt agreed to demilitarize. Neither state can increase its military presence there without prior agreement of the other. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it agreed with Egypt on a mechanism to secure the area with only Egyptian border patrol forces on the Egyptian side of the border. Experts say Egypts recent deployments there could be a violation of that agreement unless it was done with Israels tacit approval. In boosting its security presence at the border with Gaza, Egypt says its acting under the terms of a 2016 agreement with Israel to increase forces in so-called Area C in Sinai, adjacent to the Israeli border, another Egyptian official told CNN. That 2016 agreement came at a time when Egypt was fighting an extremist insurgency. The security buildup on the Egyptian side is technically not in line with both countries security agreements, but it is likely taking place with Israels blessing, Gad said. It seems that this is a step approved by Israel as a way to calm Egyptian fears, Gad said. Egypt would not deploy (more forces) without Israels approval. Gad said an Israeli ground campaign in Rafah itself wouldnt constitute a breach of the treaty, but an operation in the Philadelphi Corridor would. Deployment of Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor without prior agreement between both countries would be a breach of the peace treaty, the Egyptian official told CNN, adding that the government had not approved such a deployment. Winter said that if Israel undertakes military operations in Rafah involving more than the four infantry battalions as allowed under the agreement, Egypt may assert a breach of the agreement. It is unclear if Israel and Egypt are speaking about the potential operation in Rafah. While Israeli media has previously reported some level of coordination, Egypts government-linked Al Qahera News said last month that Egypt had denied reports alleging any security coordination between Israel and Egypt on the Philadelphi Corridor. Gad of the Al-Ahram Center said that there are undoubtedly and absolutely security talks between Israel and Egypt, adding that whenever there have been political tensions, the security apparatuses have intervened to calm things down. Such talks, he said, are often denied by officials to appease public opinion. While relations between Israel and Egypt have not been this heated in years, they are mainly focused on the level of official statements, he said. On the practical level, on the security and military level, ties are stable. CNNs Lauren Izso and Paul P. Murphy contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Two California residential facilities that would house vulnerable Native women are supposed to break ground next month in El Dorado County. But the local community is mobilizing against the project. The county Board of Supervisors is appealing to state and federal lawmakers for help to block it. At a Board of Supervisors meeting last month, more than 20 community members spoke up and most objected. The project, which will be built in the Shingle Springs-Rescue area in the county, was approved in September 2023 by the Behavioral Health and Continuum Integration Program in the state Department of Health Care Services. Its going to consist of two facilities off of Deer Valley Road: one is a 16-bed, single story residence for Native, pregnant women under the age of 18 that and will accommodate young children if necessary. The second is an assisted living home, with 15 bedrooms, to serve Native women with disabilities who need assistance with things like bathing and grooming. Each center will have live-in staff members. The project is part of the Community Care Expansion (CCE) program, established by Assembly Bill 172, which passed in 2021 as part of the 2021-22 budget. The bill allocated $805 million to go toward adult and senior care facilities that serve those on Social Security, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as people with behavioral health conditions. The CCE program is administered by the California Department of Social Services. HomeCA, a nonprofit that seeks to shelter the unhoused, will manage the treatment facility with Native Directions, a San Joaquin County-based organization that supports Native Americans with substance use disorders. Counties opt in to the CCE program; San Joaquin has, but El Dorado hasnt. But at the Jan. 30 Board of Supervisors meeting, many constituents, voiced opposition to the project. They cited issues such as increased traffic, potential damage to the environment, wildfire risk, and loss of property value. Many also sent letters to the Board before the meeting. A neighborhood group called Rescue Deer Valley, led by Rescue resident Chris Silva, sent a 40-page document to the Board in January with questions and concerns about the project. HomeCA and Native Directions say there are serious misunderstandings about what the project actually is. Our mission is to fill a significant gap in services for tribal communities, said Ramona Valadez, Native Directions Inc. executive director in a joint statement with HomeCA, promoting equality and access to essential support services. This initiative underscores our commitment to creating residential, not medical, facilities catering exclusively to the needs of tribal women. Clarifying misunderstandings about first of its kind care facilities Written in large, black font on the Rescue Deer Valley website is a warning: Substance Abuse Centers in Rescue on Deer Valley. A Click here to learn more button takes the reader to another loud warning: Two Large Substance Abuse Medical Facilities HERE, in Rescue? Native Directions and HomeCA say that the centers are not medical facilities, and that the opponents are misinformed. The 16-bed residence for pregnant young women is being built to create a residential facility that feels like a home, that offers person-centered, culturally-sensitive care, said Valadez. Our services include counseling, horticultural, music, and arts therapy, tailored for healing and supporting young mothers, some of whom are recovering from substance use disorders or escaping abusive situations. To be clear: these are not medical facilities, she continued. These are care homes for young mothers and women with disabilities who will still need to access medical care through their doctor at nearby medical offices and facilities. The young women will get medical care both for their pregnancies and for any potential substance-related issues outside of the centers. The perinatal residence will be 7,000 square feet on an 18-acre parcel off of Deer Valley Road, and will be tucked away from the street on the end of the lot that backs up to federally owned land in El Dorado County in the town of Rescue, an unincorporated community just north of Cameron Park and Shingle Springs. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,568. The assisted living facility will be similar in size on a 10-acre parcel in a neighboring lot. Both were chosen for the same reason other Rescue residents choose to live there: for their natural beauty, privacy, and rural environment. The selection of Rescue as the location for this facility was a deliberate and thoughtful decision made in consultation with the Native communities we aim to serve, said the statement from HomeCA, which worked with local Miwok tribe members and the El Dorado County Planning and Building and Behavioral Health departments. Because the projects are funded from state-approved grants, they do not need official county approval. Silva and other neighbors arent happy to see the state overriding the county on a major development project, and while each individual has their own specific concerns traffic, water usage, property value they are all unified by that one complaint: government overreach. Silva lives right next door to the parcel of land where the perinatal facility would be built. He lived in El Dorado Hills, just down Highway 50, for 26 years, and moved to Rescue over a decade ago, mostly for the rural feel. And rural it is. A quick turn off of Green Valley Road the major thoroughfare connecting El Dorado County with the town of Folsom Deer Valley Road winds the through the foothills in two narrow lanes, shaded by oak trees, with the occasional single-lane bridge. Cows and goats look at passersby with curiosity. Recent storms left several of the houses in the area without power, and a wind-thrown tree left part of the road inaccessible, too. Silva and other neighbors became aware of the project in October 2023, a month after HomeCA and Native Directions received the grant to fund them. A group of about 15 neighbors have been meeting since November 2023 to try to push back against the project. That group became Rescue Deer Valley. Silva is not opposed to such facilities existing, he told The Bee. He just doesnt think El Dorado County is the right place for them, especially since its not opted into the CCE program. What we are trying to do is keep it very practical, he said. Were ignoring the fact of whether this is needed or not. We are not against a community-based facility, just do it in the right place where it makes sense for the patients. Silva is aware of how the opposition might come off like theyre against a support center for a vulnerable group. Proponents of the project immediately jump to Well, we need these, youre not considering the people it would serve. Thats false, he said. Thats not part of our argument. Our argument is that this is the wrong location, and that the state needs to consider a little more county oversight before they allow something like this. Wariness of government overreach is common in the conservative-leaning El Dorado County, and the Rescue Deer Valley website capitalizes on this shared concern. Dangerous traffic. Urban-style commercial structures in a rural residential community. An end-run around local planning and zoning laws. Patients imported from a distant county. An unfunded drain on county services. Dangerous traffic impacts. A potential spike in crime. Noise and parking headaches. This effort is forcing a square peg into a round hole, the website says. HomeCA and Native Directions remain steadfast that they are meeting all parameters of AB 172, which waives certain requirements, including California Environmental Quality Act compliance, in favor of creating more housing opportunities and meeting the needs of the state. They also insist that they have considered the Rescue Deer Valley concerns and confident that these are still the best properties for the facilities. Regarding traffic concerns, they say that because the staff will be live-in, there wont be much coming and going, and that traffic on the narrow rural road will not be exacerbated. The groups have a plan for fire safety and other emergencies, too. Our location provides an additional route to access medical facilities, including the Shingle Springs Wellness Center, which is operated by the Miwok tribe and capable of meeting our residents medical needs in a culturally sensitive manner. The Shingle Springs Wellness Center provides comprehensive health care to the area, including Native-specific services. Thats that NIMBY idea, We dont want you here Some members of the Native community see the language of the Rescue Deer Valley website as thinly veiled stereotypes against them. When you read and see words like, It will increase crime rates... the language is very stereotypical of the attitude of some of the people in that region, said Albert Titman, deputy director for the Native Dads Network, who is also involved in substance use disorder treatment for tribal people in California, and is familiar with the proposed Rescue facilities and Native Directions leadership. El Dorado has been historically racist, said Titman, of the county that is 87.4% white. For a long time, Natives werent really treated very well there ... and I do see stigmatizing language here. Once again, its that NIMBY idea, Not in my backyard, we dont want you here, you dont belong here. Some of these tensions were on display at the Jan. 30 board meeting, where the HomeCA Native Liaison, Deanne Pineda, was interrupted by community members during public comment until Board Chair Wendy Thomas forcefully told the crowd, Absolutely no until they stopped. Having the wisdom of Native Elders, including those of Miwok heritage, is crucial for the young women and disabled women who will find home in the Rescue facilities. Plus, said Titman, the Native community is the community just as much as those who live on Deer Valley Road. The tribal people that are in that region have creation stories that begin in the area of El Dorado, he said. Their burial mounds and village sites and ceremonial sacred places have existed right there, where that treatment facility is, right there. So when they say, The people of this community... Well, the Native people are of the community. He said the Rescue Deer Valley group is using fear tactics that stigmatize an already vulnerable group. This could happen to you in your community, he said, with a laugh. The Indians are coming with their money and their treatment programs, they want to steal your rights! They want to circumvent your policies and procedures! Its all fear mongering, he said. Asking lawmakers to intervene The Board of Supervisors has been reaching out to state lawmakers for support in stepping in to, at the very least, slow the project down to mitigate any potential problems. We are looking to you to assist with ensuring that the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is doing everything in its power to oversee these projects and minimize the negative impacts of these planned projects and, preferably, relocate them to a more suitable location, the board wrote to state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, D-Jackson and Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin. Neither elected official were in the state Legislature when AB 172 was passed. An unintended consequence of AB 172 is that it completely overrides local land uses and allows nonconforming uses to automatically be considered conforming, the board wrote, which bypasses enforcement of regulations that would normally provide for quality of life, compatibility, and public health and safety. At the Jan. 30 board meeting, all five board members voted to pursue further action to prevent the facilitys construction by directing the countys attorneys to explore any California Environmental Quality Assurance compliance issues, and authorizing Thomas, who represents the Placerville area in District 3, to write a letter to federal representatives encouraging them to intervene. Knowing that the (federal) Bureau of Land Management is the manager for that reserve, they need to know whats going on here, said Supervisor John Hidahl, who represents District 1, which encompasses El Dorado Hills. The proposed land parcels are near federally owned reserves. The BLM has leadership responsibilities and management responsibilities, he said. They should be aware of this before this just happens. Because I do believe that over a period of time theres going to be substantial environmental inputs from this facility affecting that reserve. El Dorado County is represented at the federal level by Republican Rep. Tom McClintock, who has not responded to requests for comment. The board also voted to direct county staff to get involved with related departments to minimize negative impacts of the project. Alvarado-Gil, then- chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, has heard the complaints from the community, and wrote to the DHCS requesting urgent assistance in responding to questions and concerns from county leaders and constituents about the project. Patterson, who serves as vice chair of the Assembly Housing and Development Committee, said that he too has concerns about how the county didnt get a say in the approval of the project. He has reached out to the DHCS, and told The Bee hes specifically concerned about how a county that has not opted into the CCE program could still end up becoming a site for a CCE program recipient in another county. In the meantime, the community-led Rescue Deer Valley, which is soliciting donations for legal fees, investigative fees, public relation fees, etc., plan to do everything possible to halt the project. We would love to see Native Directions do the right thing for their patients, said Silva. They have decades of experience in San Joaquin County. They should know that county really well, and all logic says this should be built in San Joaquin County. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 22-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter after a fatal crash in Northeast El Paso over the weekend, El Paso Police said. The three-vehicle crash happened a little after 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 along the 8500 block of Dyer. 3-vehicle crash in Northeast causes serious injuries Police say that Nadean Lopez, 22, was driving southbound on Dyer when she rear-ended another car that was stopped at a red light at Dyer and Tetons. Another car that was traveling through the intersection was hit by the force of the initial crash, police said. The driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended, identified as 50-year-old John Cryan, died at the scene, police said. The driver of the third vehicle involved in the crash was not hurt, police said. Lopez was arrested for intoxication manslaughter. She was later booked into the El Paso County Detention Center on a $205,000 bond, according to police. This is the eighth fatal crash in El Paso city limits so far this year, compared to 12 at the same time last year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Houston Police officers watch over displaced church goers outside Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Houston, after a reported shooting during a Spanish church service. Karen Warren/Staff photographer The former mother-in-law of Lakewood Church attacker Genesse Moreno said the shooting that left the woman dead and Morenos son critically wounded should be a wake-up call to authorities. In a Facebook post, Rabbi Walli Carranza also revealed that Moreno, 36, was taking medication for schizophrenia, and had raged against Israel and Jews in a pro Palestinian rant Sunday, before the shooting at the church 6 miles from downtown Houston. Carranza said that despite the rant, she believed the shooting has nothing to do with Judaism or Islam and was instead of a case of a person with mental illness not getting care and intervention she needed. LAKEWOOD RECAP: What to know about the Lakewood Church shooting Advertisement Article continues below this ad The fault lies in a child protective services of Montgomery County and Harris County that refused to remove custody from a woman with known mental illness that was not being treated and with the state of Texas for not having strong red flag laws that would have prevented her from owning or possessing a gun, Carranza said. Carranza also revealed her grandson had suffered a brain injury and was clinging to life at Texas Childrens Hospital. Carranza wrote she was coming to Houston from Mexico to be with the boy and that the boys father, who is from Florida, is joining them. Police said Moreno brought the child with her to the church Sunday afternoon, when she walked into a hallway and began firing indiscriminately with an AR-style rifle. Moreno was shot and killed by law enforcement officers who were working security jobs at the church. The boy and a 57-year-old man were wounded in the exchange. Its unclear who they were shot by. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Moreno had a documented history of mental health issues and run-ins with the law, police said Monday. She was held for emergency detention by police in 2016 and in 2022 was convicted of unlawful carrying of a weapon, a misdemeanor. Elon Musk has encouraged U.S. voters to ask their representatives to oppose further military funding for Ukraine, claiming that there is no way in hell that Russia will lose the war and that further support to Kyiv will only prolong a futile conflict. The billionaire shared his views while speaking to GOP Senators Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, and J.D. Vance, as well as former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in an X Spaces conversation hosted by venture capitalist David Sacks. The group discussed a $95 billion spending packageincluding $60 billion for Ukrainewhich cleared a key hurdle on Monday in a 66-33 Senate vote, meaning a vote on final passage could now take place this week. Zelensky Appoints New Army Chief Nicknamed the Butcher Sen. Johnson opined that the only way that the war in Ukraine could end is in a settlement. He added that sending another $60 billion in aid would senselessly add fuel to the flames of a bloody stalemate. As evil a war criminal as Putin is, hes not going to lose this war, and our colleagues here just arent willing to accept that reality and theyre living in a fantasy world thinking Ukraine can win this thingthey cant. Thats exactly right, Musk agreed. The Tesla boss said that he has been accused of being a Putin apologist when hes raised similar sentiments in the past, denouncing the charge as absurd in light of the work his companies have done to indirectly undermine Russia. He said that losing lives in war must be for a purpose and not just a mile here, a mile there like those lost on a daily basis in Ukraine. For what purpose? he asked. As you say, there is no way in hell that Putin is going to lose. He also claimed that if the Russian leader backed off from the war then he would be assassinated, likely leading to an even more hardcore replacement. At the end of the conversation, Musk said: Hopefully the public, American public, is able to listen to this and indeed contact their elected representatives. The really important thing to bear in mind here is that this spending does not help Ukraine, Musk said. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine. This is very important to appreciate. He added that he believes its fantastic that America wants to be the good guy, with Musk claiming most other countries are comparatively indifferent. We want to do the right thing. We want to help people, he said. The problem is, prolonging the war and sacrificing the flower of Ukrainian youthand we should have some sympathy for the Russian youth as well, its not like they want to be thereand having all these boys die for nothing is wrong, and it needs to stop. And thats what it comes down to. Shameful stuff, Josh Rogin, a columnist for The Washington Post, wrote in an X post criticizing Musks comments. Imagine telling Ukrainians fighting to protect their families and their towns they are dying for nothing. Disgraceful. There has been no change in the Russia-Ukraine border for a year, just lots of dead kids, Musk replied. What kind of psycho wants that to continue? Rogin hit back, insisting that Ukrainians want to keep fighting because they have seen what happens under Russian occupation. Mass murder. Mass deportation of children. Ukrainians just want to keep defending themselves, he wrote. Abandoning them would result in more dead young people not less. 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. The bill passed through the Senate in the early hours of Tuesday morning but still faces an uphill battle - SERGEI GAPON/AFP Elon Musk urged Republican senators to oppose a Ukraine aid bill on the eve of a critical vote because there is no way in hell that Vladimir Putin could lose the war. Speaking ahead of a Senate vote on a 75 billion ($95 billion) spending package, which included 47.6 billion ($60 billion) for Ukraine, Mr Musk rubbished the proposition, claiming this spending does not help Ukraine. The bill passed in the early hours of Tuesday morning by 70 votes to 29, after an all-night session which saw 22 Republicans vote with their Democrat peers to approve the aid. The bill now faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already denounced the legislation. Joe Biden, the US president, urged Republican Mr Johnson to bring the bill to the floor immediately. I call on the speaker to let the full house speak its mind and not allow a minority of the most extreme voices in the house to block this bill even from being voted on, he said. He added: For Republicans in Congress who think they can oppose funding for Ukraine and not be held accountable - history is watching. Failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will not be forgotten. Mr Musk discussed the proposed bill on X Spaces, part of his social media platform formerly known as Twitter, with Republican senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and JD Vance of Ohio, both of whom are sympathetic to Donald Trump. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate tipped as Mr Trumps possible vice president, also took part in the discussion along with David Sacks, a former PayPal entrepreneur and close friend of Mr Musk. Elon Musk's Starlink internet service has become a critical component of the war in Ukraine - GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS Mr Musks comments are his latest intervention into politics, as he increasingly leans towards the Republicans in what could have major implications for the election and the war in Ukraine. Mr Musk agreed with Mr Johnson that anyone who expected victory for Ukraine is living in a fantasy world, before urging we gotta kill this thing [the bill]. This spending does not help Ukraine, said Mr Musk, adding: Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine. He said he hoped Americans would contact their elected representatives about the bill. He said losing lives in a war must be for a purpose and not just a mile here, a mile there, before adding: There is no way in hell that Putin is going to lose. The Tesla billionaire also suggested that if Putin backed off from the war then he would be assassinated and it could lead to an even more hardcore replacement. Meanwhile, Mr Musk denounced accusations that he is a Putin apologist as absurd, arguing that his companies have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything. His firm, SpaceX, has provided Starlink internet service to Ukraine and the firm has also detracted business from Russias space launch industry. Ukraine claimed this week that Russia has skirted sanctions to supply Starlink to its troops on the frontline, a potentially game-changing development. Kyivs military claimed the receiver terminals are being supplied via Arab countries. Last week Putin referred to Mr Musk as a smart person during his controversial inverview with former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson. Responding later to a Tweet from a Washington Post columnist who criticised Mr Musks call to action as shameful, he said: There has been no change in the Russia-Ukraine border for a year, just lots of dead kids. What kind of psycho wants that to continue? Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks after the Senate passed a $95 billion aid package - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS It comes as Democrats face the challenge of trying to get the House to vote on the bill, which would also provide 11 billion ($14 billion) for Israel and almost 8 billion ($10 billion) for humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Palestinians in Gaza. Mr Johnson on Monday night preemptively rejected the bill because of its failure to address border security, despite playing a crucial role in helping reject an earlier version of the legislation that included sweeping immigration reforms. The previous bill had been denounced by Mr Trump, who called it a death wish for the GOP. The Democrats could launch a discharge petition to get the bill onto the House floor if they can gather at least four signatures from Republicans. Once in the House, the bill will face an uncertain future amid Republican opposition and the frustration of some progressive Democrats who oppose funding to Israel. 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. Elon Musk believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot lose in the war. He has also opposed the approval of assistance to Ukraine. Source: Elon Musk to US Republican senators during a discussion on X Spaces; Bloomberg The discussion was joined by opponents of the draft law on further assistance to Ukraine to combat the full-scale Russian invasion. Elon Musk said that "there is no way in hell" Vladimir Putin could lose the war in Ukraine. He said this in response to the words of one of the speakers, who said that people who expect victory in Ukraine are "living in a fantasy world". Commenting on the assistance to Ukraine from the United States, the billionaire said that it is ineffective. "This spending does not help Ukraine. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine," Elon Musk said about the bill which provides further assistance to Ukraine. Elon Musk also drew attention to the fact that he is often accused of defending the Russian president. However, in his opinion, this accusation is "absurd". In this context, the billionaire added that his companies "have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything". This, of course, is not true because, in addition to activating the Starlink satellite and transferring a limited number of terminals at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the contribution of Musk's companies to the "undermining" of Russia is minimal. After all, neither Tesla, with its electric vehicles, nor SpaceX, did not cause problems for the Russian raw material economy. The billionaire also believes that Vladimir Putin is being pressured to bring the war to an end because "if he were to back off, he would be assassinated". The businessman noted that his interest is to stop the death of people on both sides. However, he expressed doubt that seeking to remove Vladimir Putin is a wise decision. "For those who want regime change in Russia, they should think about who is the person that could take out Putin, and is that person likely to be a peacenik? Probably not," Elon Musk said. In his opinion, such a person will likely be "even more hardcore than Putin". Background: Last year, a scandal broke out due to Elon Musk's unilateral decision to not activate Starlink near Crimea. The incident occurred in 2022 and became known from an excerpt out of a biographical book about the billionaire. Support UP or become our patron! Businessman Elon Musk appeared in a live conversation on X on Feb. 12 along with Republican senators and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, where the participants broadly argued against the passage of $60 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The bill was passed by the Senate early on Feb. 13 and will now go to the Republican-controlled House, where it still faces significant obstacles. Musk gained praise across Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale invasion for helping the country access the internet through his Starlink network. He then made numerous comments that angered Ukrainians, including the suggestion that Ukrainian territory be exchanged for a peace deal with Russia. Musk has continued to amplify opinions reminiscent of Russian propaganda, drawing public rebukes from Ukrainian officials. Republican Senator JD Vance, who was on the X Spaces conversation with Musk, has been one of the most outspoken opponents of aid for Ukraine in the Senate. "There is no way in hell" that Russia could lose the war, Musk told the other participants, as cited by Bloomberg. "This spending does not help Ukraine. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine," he added. Senator Ron Johnson agreed, saying that those who think a Ukrainian victory is possible are "living in a fantasy world." Vance said, "we gotta kill this thing," in reference to the aid bill that was passed by the Senate. Vance, Johnson, and Senator Mike Lee, who also participated in the conversation, all voted against the bill earlier on Feb. 13. Musk said he was aware that he has been called an apologist for Russian President Vladimir Putin but said the charges were "absurd." At the same time, Musk's views on the war were reflected elsewhere online. He retweeted an interview that Vance gave on Feb. 12 with the far-right commentator Tucker Carlson, who gained global attention and condemnation days before for interviewing Putin in Moscow. In the interview, Vance and Carlson made a series of unsubstantiated claims and controversial comments, which Musk shared with the caption: "this demands closer scrutiny." Carlson said that Ukraine is not a democracy and claimed that 400,000 Ukrainians have died since the full-scale invasion, but said that the figure came from "reliable estimates in the area" without specifying the source. He also did not say if the figure included military and civilian casualties. Carlson has a long track record of demonstrably false statements. His lies about the U.S. presidential election in 2020 partially resulted in his former employer, Fox News, losing a $787 million defamation lawsuit. Ukraine does not publicly disclose its military casualties, but Western estimates are typically significantly lower than the figure Carlson cited. The UN estimated in January 2024 that around 10,000 civilians have been killed since the full-scale invasion, but Ukrainian officials believe the number is likely many times higher. Read also: Opinion: Tucker Carlson visiting Moscow is like touring Berlin in 1940 Speaking again about the aid bill just passed by the Senate, Vance said the legislation was specifically designed to "tie a future President (Donald) Trump's hands." Trump, who is currently the frontrunner to be the Republican candidate for president, has said his primary goal regarding the war would be to have an immediate peace deal within 24 hours. He has not specified the terms of the potential deal. "(Congress is) trying to make it impossible for the next president to conduct diplomacy on his own terms," Vance said. Vance went on to repeat common Republican talking points about the need to focus on what he considers to be more important problems, both domestically and abroad. "It's a massive campaign to distract people from the real problems in the world," Vance concluded. Read also: US Senate passes Ukraine aid bill Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The EU Councils decision on Russias frozen property paves the way for the use of profits from these assets in favor of Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Justice Iryna Mudra said in a statement on the departments website on Feb. 13. At the moment, 260 billion euros ($280 billion) of the Central Bank of Russias assets have been frozen in the jurisdictions of the G7 partners, the EU and Australia, with more than two-thirds of them in the EU, said the official. The decision adopted by the EU Council clarifies, among other things, the legal status of the income received by central securities depositories from the use of Russian assets. This opens the way for the use of profits from frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine. Read also: Ukrainian FM lauds EU move to aid Ukraine with profits from frozen Russian assets The EU Council, in particular, decided that depositories holding assets of the Russian central bank worth more than 1 million euros ($1.1 million) should separately account for the balances accumulated as a result of EU restrictive measures and should also keep the relevant income separately. In addition, depositories were prohibited from disposing of their net income. Taking into account the risks and costs associated with the custody of the assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia, each central securities depository may apply to its supervisory authority to authorize the release of a portion of this net profit, subject to compliance with the authorized capital and risks, the deputy minister said. Read also: Russian FM threatens tough response in case of confiscation of Russian assets in the West The relevant decision allows the EU Council to set a financial contribution to the EU budget, collected from the profits from the use of Russian assets. The funds are to be used to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier called for the transfer of frozen Russian assets abroad, which amount to about $300 billion, to Ukraine. On Feb. 12, the Council of the European Union approved a resolution allowing the use of profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. This decision enables the Council to decide on a possible financial contribution to the EU budget collected from this net profit to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction at a later stage. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Council of the European Union has decided to set aside profits generated from frozen Russian assets and use them to fund assistance to Ukraine, according to a Feb. 12 press release. Read also: New Finnish leader Stubb asserts support for Ukraine, reflects on NATO's pivotal role The message said the resolution allows the EU to use the windfall profits to offset EU budget expenditures on funding Ukraines recovery and reconstruction. This financial contribution may be channeled through the EU budget to the Ukraine Facility on which the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on Feb. 6, 2024, the press release reads. EU ambassadors agreed upon the draft of the proposal on Jan. 29. The frameworks for decisions necessary for the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine are already being prepared, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Dec. 17, 2023. Read also: EU envoys greenlight using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine aid Zelenskyy called for transfer of frozen Russian assets amounting up to $300 billion to Ukraine on Jan. 6. The United States forecast difficulties with the use of Russian frozen assets for Ukraine on Jan. 16. Read also: US Senate reluctant to seize frozen Russian assets former ambassador to Ukraine A decision on the fate of frozen Russian assets will be made before the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said in Brussels at a press conference. The next meeting is scheduled for March 18, according to the EU Council's work plan. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Exterior of Lakewood Church on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Houston Karen Warren/Staff photographer People listen to Houston police officers speak in front of the Lifetime Fitness outside of Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Houston, after a reported shooting during a Spanish church service. Karen Warren/Staff photographer From left, Police Chief Troy Finner, Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen, Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Department Chief Samuel Pena, participate in a press conference during an active shooter event at Lakewood Church Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Lakewood Church is considering new security measures, including metal detectors, after a deadly shooting Sunday between services at the megachurch, a spokesperson said. Its the latest shooting at a place of worship, which have been more frequent targets of shootings and other threats of violence as religious tensions rise nationwide. In recent years, its also become more commonplace for houses of worship to beef up their own security. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That was true at Lakewood: It has a dedicated staff in charge of church security and contracted off-duty officers as security guards. Two of those off-duty officers engaged the shooter Sunday, killing her, according to authorities. A 7-year-old child was critically wounded and a 57-year-old man was shot in the leg or hip; it is unclear who shot them, authorities said. Lakewood has a bag policy and bag search before entry. Backpacks, luggage, laptop bags or any other bags larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches are not permitted on Lakewood property, according to the churchs website. Lakewood spokesperson Don Iloff said the church has searched attendees bags before every in-person service for the last five years. The bag search occurs in between and during services for as long as people are entering, he said. The person suspected in the shooting, identified as Genesse Moreno, entered Lakewood on Sunday with a backpack and two rifles, police said Monday. Iloff said he didnt know whether Morenos backpack was searched Sunday, but police said she confronted a security guard and then entered. The backpack was worn by the child, not the woman, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Moreno and the child entered through an accessible entrance for disabled people, not the main entrance where the bag check is, Iloff said. MORE ON LAKEWOOD: Woman suspected in Lakewood Church shooting identified as Genesse Moreno in search warrant Church security expert: Bag searches not common Chuck Chadwick, founder of the National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management, has helped consult on and provide security to hundreds of churches across the United States, including several megachurches in Texas. Chadwick said hes not aware of other churches that search bags before entry. He wondered how Moreno and the child bypassed Lakewoods bag search and got into the church Sunday with a backpack and a long gun. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chadwick's organization trains churchgoers, some of whom have police or military experience, so that they can be licensed as security officers who work at lower rates than off-duty police officers. This helps reduce the cost of security for churches, some of which may have tighter budgets, he said. Texas law allows places of worship to establish volunteer security teams without obtaining a license or permission from the state. Chadwick called it a terrible law, saying that without licensing, he worries someone could get unintentionally hurt. In September, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that makes any security personnel hired or volunteer at a place of worship immune from civil liability for any death, damage or injury caused by their actions. As of 2018, Lakewood has signs posted that prohibit open carry but the church allows for people to carry concealed weapons. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Recent violence brings extra caution At a news briefing Monday afternoon about the shooting, Mayor John Whitmire said security would be increased at places of worship across the city. Were increasing security. We wont discuss publicly all provisions, but were going to continue making public safety our highest priority, Whitmire said. The city made the same push to increase security in religious communities after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. That month, a Houston man was arrested for posting online about killing Jewish people. Also in October, a Conroe pediatrician was stabbed to death, which a national Muslim civil rights group has asked authorities to investigate as a possible hate crime. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 21 mosques affiliated with the Islamic Society of Greater Houston have armed security guards at their events, said Zaiba Butt, an administrative assistant with the organization. The guards primarily help direct parking but also keep an eye out for suspicious activity, she said. Renee Wizig-Barrios, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, said it is also common practice for synagogues in the Houston area to hire off-duty officers for security and to check who visitors are before they come into the institution. Given an uptick in antisemitism in recent years, the federation hired a community security director in 2022, responsible for helping local synagogues establish a security plan and liaising with law enforcement when there is a potential threat. Last year, Houston synagogues received more than $1.6 million from the nonprofit security grant program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is available to all religious institutions, Wizig-Barrios said. We definitely know that every institution of worship is feeling this fear now, with the unfortunate nature of the way gun violence is growing in our community, Wizig-Barrios said. Donald Trump said he would 'encourage' Russia to attack Nato countries which did not meet the alliances spending commitments - REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/File Photo The European Union may need its own nuclear deterrent because it cannot rely on Nato support if Donald Trump becomes president, a close ally of Germanys chancellor said. Katarina Barley, a lead candidate for Olaf Scholzs SPD party in the EU parliament elections, said recent statements about Nato deterrence by Mr Trump gave her doubts about whether Europe would be protected under the US nuclear umbrella. On Saturday, Mr Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which did not meet the alliances spending commitments. In an interview with the German newspaper Tagesspiegel, Ms Barley said: The nuclear deterrent for Europe lies with Nato. As Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg rightly noted, it remains in the Americans interest to provide this significantly. Given Donald Trumps recent statements, this can no longer be relied upon. This could also become an issue on the way to a European army. Ms Barley, seen here with Mr Scholz, said EU having nuclear weapons could also 'become an issue on the way to a European army' - CLEMENS BILAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Joe Biden condemned Mr Trumps comments on Tuesday. Its dumb. Its shameful. Its dangerous. Its un-American, Mr Biden said. When he looks at Nato, he doesnt see the alliance that protects America and the world. He sees a protection racket. Under the terms of the so-called nuclear umbrella, the US provides deterrence and protection for Nato countries in return for them not pursuing their own nuclear weapons programmes. The key exceptions are Britain and France, two of nine countries worldwide which possess nuclear weapons along with Russia, Pakistan, Israel, China, India, the US, and North Korea. As it has long relied on the US nuclear umbrella, the EU does not have its own nuclear weapons programme. But Ms Barleys remarks suggest the idea is beginning to be discussed more seriously in Germany. It comes after similar proposals were raised in 2020 by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, which failed to gain broader European support at the time. Mr Scholz also joined in the condemnation of Mr Trumps comments. Natos promise of protection applies without restrictions: all for one, one for all. Any relativization of the guarantee of assistance is irresponsible and dangerous, he said in a post on social media. Jens Stoltenberg said Mr Trump's remarks 'undermines all of our security, including that of the US' - AP Photo/Evan Vucci At his rally on Saturday, Mr Trump revealed a discussion he once had with an unnamed Nato leader. He said: I said: You didnt pay? Youre delinquent?... No I would not protect you, in fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay. Mr Trumps claims prompted a swift rebuke from Mr Stoltenberg who warned that they put all Nato members at risk. He said: Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US. 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. EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Valentines Day is just around the corner on Wednesday, Feb. 14. If you have not made plans for the holiday yet, Eureka Springs might be perfect for a romantic getaway, according to a recent article by Thrillist. The city offers a variety of culture, dining and shopping nestled in the hills of Northwest Arkansas. Between the jazzy music scene, the haunted hotels with serious Overlook vibes, the majestic Victorian architecture, and the quirky shops slinging everything from sequined jackets to healing gemstones, Eureka Springs feels like a mini New Orleans in the Ozarksminus the swaths of tourists, steep hotel prices, and Mardi Gras melee, according to the article. WATCH: Kopper Kettle Candies fills candy boxes for Valentines Day The small Arkansas town is also home to rooftop bars, boutique leather shops and plenty of restaurants to keep you busy. A new hotel, called New Orleans, was recently built featuring authentic Vieux Carres and Sazarecs. For more information, check out Eureka Springs website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (R) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan speak during a press conference after the EU-Armenia Partnership Council meeting. Francois Lenoir/European Council/dpa The European Union's top diplomat on Tuesday condemned Azerbaijan's "disproportionate" response to alleged shooting by Armenian forces the day before. "The Armenian shooting of the Azerbaijani soldier yesterday was deplorable, but the Azerbaijani response today seems to be disproportionate," Josep Borrell said. Borrell was speaking at a press briefing in Brussels with Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan to mark the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council, first held in 2018. The meeting covered the "full spectrum" of EU-Armenian relations, Borrell said. "We discussed the regional situation and the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process, unhappily including the latest incident at the border." Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire on Monday and Tuesday in the latest skirmish of a long-running conflict the Nagorno-Karabakh region. On Tuesday, the European Commission announced it was allocating 5.5 million in new humanitarian aid to support Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU and Armenian delegations also discussed the potential for a "dialogue" on liberalizing the visa regime between the EU and Armenia, political reforms and human rights, as well as economic and trade cooperation. "Armenia believes that all the necessary requirements have been met and it is time to launch the Armenia-EU visa liberalisation dialogue," Mirzoyan said. "It is a choice to be made to bring our peoples closer and to provide them with tangible outcomes of our cooperation." The EU-Armenia Partnership Council is the product of an agreement signed in 2017 to deepen cooperation on a broad array of matters such as security, arms control, human rights, the environment, energy, migration, and combatting organized crime, terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking. In January 2023, EU member states agreed to establish a civilian mission to patrol and monitor the the region of Armenia near the Azerbaijani border, amid hostilities between the two countries. In September, the EU condemned Azerbaijan's military campaign against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. In November, Mirzoyan said Armenians "have European aspirations" in a speech welcoming the EU's decision to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to recognize Georgia, Armenia's neighbour, as an official candidate for EU membership. But the EU and Armenia have taken different positions on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While the EU has provided money and weapons for the Ukrainian war effort, Armenia has abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions against the invasion. Armenia is also a member of the Common Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance. Armenia has however sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which in September provoked the Russian government to summon the Armenian ambassador in Moscow. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan after the EU-Armenia Partnership Council meeting. Francois Lenoir/European Council/dpa EVANSVILLE The Evansville City Council will officially intervene on behalf of city residents in CenterPoint Energy's latest rate case. Monday evening, the council voted 9-0 to hire Indianapolis-based Lewis Kappes, PC as its legal counsel with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The fees for the work will not exceed $20,000. The potential approval of those dollars, to come out of the city's general fund, is set for council's next meeting. The council will join SABIC Innovative Plastics Mount Vernon, LLC; Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana and CenterPoint Energy Indiana South Industrial Group in their effort. As an intervenor, city council will be able to file testimony in the case, as well as participate in the hearings. According to the agreement, the firm will intervene on behalf of the city council and monitor the proceedings. This would include giving client reports, appear at public council meetings as requested, attend hearings as needed and participating in emails, calls and executive sessions. While the city council has not intervened in rate cases before, the former mayoral administrations of Lloyd Winnecke and Jonathan Weinzapfel both did. 'We have so much hardship in our wards' Missy Mosby, D-Second Ward, said many constituents have been calling their city councilors, especially in the last few days, to talk about high utility bills. "We have so much hardship in our wards," Missy said. "(There are) people struggling to to pay their utility bills, rent, take care of their children." CenterPoint Energy's main office in Downtown Evansville, Indiana. Alex Burton, D-Fourth Ward, talked about the median income in Evansville, which is $45,000, and said he would argue that in the Fourth Ward, it's even lower. Many of those residents who are most impacted by CenterPoint rate increases are also renters, Burton said. "The money that is going to our only energy provider is simply draining too many of us," he said. "Though this intervening will not solve all of our problems immediately, it is a start." Ben Trockman, D-First Ward, said it was time. "The cost of inaction was too great," he said. Both Burton and Trockman thanked activist Chris Norrick and the Direct Action Against CenterPoint group for advocating for the city to address the high utility costs locally. "We really believe that this will be a helpful tool for us as a council, for us as a city, to move forward and hopefully make some progress," Trockman said. There will be a public hearing on the CenterPoint rate request later this month. On Feb. 29, customers hoping to comment on CenterPoint Energy's request to raise its base electric rates will have two chances to do so, once at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. According to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the rate increase would take a residential electric bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours from $207.20 to $253.40. This request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is the company's first electric base rate filing since 2009. CenterPoint has had many other filings that impact rates in other forms since that time. The lack of attendance by elected officials at a public hearing on CenterPoint increases last year became a high-profile topic in the city election. This year, the two hearings will occur during a county election primary cycle. County council, county commission and state and federal positions are all up for election. Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry said in an "Ask the Mayor" series on Facebook that she would be in attendance at the Feb. 29 hearing. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville City Council is set to intervene in CenterPoint rate case Abdulrahman Al Ajmi, columnist and media consultant of Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-seyassah," has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, In the presidential elections held on February 7, the people of Azerbaijan showed a very high level of support for their leader. The people of Azerbaijan elected you again as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the February 7 elections with a large majority. I consider it an honor to congratulate you on this occasion. I was following the processes related to the election in Azerbaijan from the media and I wrote about it in multiple sites and newspapers. Azerbaijan's electoral experience is quite positive. The fact that journalists closely monitor the voting process on the day of the election, and even have the opportunity to participate in the counting of votes, can really be considered as an example at the international level. With the February 7 presidential elections, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated the tradition of democratic elections. It would be a pleasure and honor to meet you and congratulate you with a group of Kuwaiti journalists after winning these elections. I am sure that your presidency will have a beneficial effect on the development of Azerbaijan's relations with various countries, including Kuwait. I wish you new successes in the activities of the higher state. Sincerely, Abdulrahman Al Ajmi, columnist and media consultant of the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-seyassah" The United States Postal Service North Houston Processing and Distribution Center, 4600 Aldine Bender Rd., is shown Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Staff members from the offices of Rep. Sylvia Garcia and Rep. Al Green visited the two USPS facilities at the heart of Houston's mail delays last week. The staffers stopped by the North Houston facility and the Missouri City facility on Thursday. A press release from Green's office said the postal service officials who conducted the tours "provided responsive updates on the chronic delays and the material steps they are taking to resolve the past and current problems." Green and Garcia had been trying to schedule a tour for weeks, albeit for themselves. Advertisement Article continues below this ad USPS must be held accountable and provide transparency to ensure that our mail, medicines, money, merchandise, and other essentials are delivered in an efficient, timely, and seamless operation to our constituents," Garcia said in a statement. WHAT TO KNOW: Everything you need to know about the USPS mail delays in Houston Two weeks ago, Green and Garcia met with United States Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull to discuss the issues currently facing the postal service. It came one day after Green and staffers from Garcia's office and Rep. Michael McCaul's office held a meeting with two members of the National Association of Postal Supervisors. The meeting with Hull led to the revelation that the USPS Office of Inspector General is currently auditing the South Houston Local Processing Center in Missouri City. The office, which is an independent regulatory agency within the postal service, previously audited the Houston area last year. The USPS Office of Inspector General has also investigated the Delivering for America plan, which is at the heart of the mail delay problems. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Monday's news release included specific recommendations from previous audits from the agency such as improving communication methods with citizens. For a third straight presidential election campaign, former President Donald Trump is being serially inaccurate about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance. Trump caused a transatlantic uproar this weekend by claiming at a Saturday campaign rally that he had once told the president of a big NATO country that if that country didnt pay its bills, he would not protect the country from a Russian invasion and would even encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want. Trumps incendiary remarks contained a familiar false claim. His assertion about NATO allies supposedly having failed to pay bills is not true, as fact-checkers at CNN and elsewhere have pointed out for years. And Trump has for years made a variety of other false claims about spending by NATO and its members. Here is a fact check of five of his repeated statements. Spending by NATO members Trump has long claimed that various NATO members have failed to pay their bills, dues or NATO fees, that they owe us a tremendous amount of money or that they owe NATO billions of dollars. Facts First: All of these Trump claims are false. While a majority of NATO members do not meet the alliances target of each member spending a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product on defense, the 2% target is a guideline that does not create bills, debts or legal obligations if it is not met. In fact, the guideline doesnt require payments to NATO or the US at all. Rather, it simply requires each country to spend on their own defense programs. When Trump was president, the guideline was written in forgiving language that made clear that it was not a firm commitment. That version of the guideline, created at a NATO summit in Wales in 2014, said members that had yet to reach 2% would aim to move towards the 2% guideline within a decade with a view to meeting their NATO Capability Targets and filling NATOs capability shortfalls. In other words, the members that were below 2% in 2014 didnt even have to promise to hit the target by 2024 simply to make an effort to do so by then. NATO does require members to make direct contributions to fund the organizations own operations. But there is no sign that members have failed to make those contributions, which constitute a tiny fraction of the allies defense spending, and Trump has made clear that his talk of debts is about the 2% guideline. Stephen Saideman, the Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University in Canada, said in a Monday email that the word inaccurate really does not cover Trumps protection racket/country club perception of dues owed to the US. The money, as you and everyone else knows, is not sent from member states to the US or NATO (although there is a common fund that pays for the buildings in Brussels and elsewhere but it is not that much money and is not the focus of the 2% discussions). The commitment is for each country to spend enough on their own militaries 2% of GDP, 20% of defense spending on equipment so that the alliance as a whole is capable and can credibly deter Russia and do whatever else the alliance agrees to, Saideman said. As of 2023, 11 of 30 NATO members were meeting the 2% target, NATO estimates show. That was up from three members in 2014. Erwan Lagadec, a research professor at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs and director of its Transatlantic Program, noted in a Monday email that NATO members agreed to firmer language related to the 2% target in 2023, formally declaring that we make an enduring commitment to invest at least 2% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually on defence. Lagadec said that arguably for the first time the Allies HAVE made a hard commitment to reaching 2% (indeed, to reaching at least 2%) rather than merely trying to get there if possible. He noted, though, that even this stronger declaration doesnt provide a deadline to hit 2%. Regardless, it will not create actual debts to the US or NATO. NATO members spending before Trump took office As president, Trump claimed that NATO members spending had declined every single year until he took office in 2017. He sometimes claimed there had been 15, 16 or 18 years of declines. Facts First: Trumps claims that NATO members spending had declined every year until he took office are false. Official NATO data show that non-US members defense spending increased in each of the two years prior to Trumps presidency by 1.6% in 2015 and 3.0% in 2016. The increases came after NATO members recommitted to the 2%-of-GDP guideline at the 2014 summit in the wake of Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea region. Non-US members defense spending increases in each year of the Trump era were bigger than their increases in 2015 and 2016 the increases were 5.9% in 2017, 4.3% in 2018, 3.6% in 2019 and 4.6% in 2020 and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gave Trump at least partial credit. But Trump is wrong when he claims he reversed a downward trend. If you look at the year-on-year data, the turning point away from the nadir of European defense spending happened in 2014, pre-Trump, and clearly due to Crimea, Lagadec said. Saideman said that while its possible he is undervaluing Trumps impact because he generally dislikes Trump, Putin deserves most of the credit for defense spending increases in Europe. He said, Everyone was cutting their defense budgets after the 2008 economic crisis and as countries started pulling out of Afghanistan, and all that changed with the seizure of Crimea. And he argued that any increases sparked by Trump are likely less about his efforts to cajole allies than about those allies concerns about the US no longer keeping its commitments given what has sounded from Trump like genuine hostility to the alliance and to the allies. Under President Joe Biden, non-US NATO members increased their defense spending by 2.8% in 2021 and an estimated 2.0% in 2022, then by an estimated 8.3% in 2023. That large 2023 spike was clearly in reaction to the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lagadec said. The US share of NATO spending As president, Trump repeatedly claimed that, before him, the US was paying for 100% of NATO or paying close to 100%. Facts First: Trumps claims are false. Official NATO figures show that in 2016, the last year before Trump took office, US defense spending made up about 71% of total defense spending by NATO members a large majority, but not 100% or close to 100%. And Trumps claim is even more inaccurate if he was talking about the direct contributions to NATO that cover NATOs organizational expenses and are set based on each countrys national income; the US was responsible for about 22% of those contributions in 2016. The US share of total NATO military spending fell to about 68% in 2023. And the US is now responsible for about 16% of direct contributions to NATO, the same as Germany; Lagadec said the US share was reduced from 22% to placate Trump and is a sweetheart deal given that the US makes up more than half of the alliances total GDP. What previous presidents told NATO members As president, Trump repeatedly claimed that before he pressured NATO members to increase their defense spending, US presidents did not even ask them to do so. He singled out former President Barack Obama in his comments at the rally on Saturday. After referring to NATO members Trump said he pressured himself, he continued: And then I hear that they like Obama better. They should like Obama better. You know why? Because he didnt ask for anything. Facts First: Trumps claims are false. Both Obama and his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly pressed other NATO members to spend more on defense, though their public language was less confrontational than Trumps. At a news conference in Belgium in 2014, Obama said, If weve got collective defense, it means that everybody has got to chip in. And I have had some concerns about a diminished level of defense spending among some of our partners in NATO not all, but many. The trend lines have been going down. In a speech in Germany in 2016, Obama said, Every NATO member should be contributing its full share 2% of GDP towards our common security, something that doesnt always happen. And Ill be honest, sometimes Europe has been complacent about its own defense. In a speech to Canadas Parliament in 2016, he said, As your ally and as your friend, let me say that well be more secure when every NATO member, including Canada, contributes its full share to our common security. In a speech in the Czech Republic in 2002, before a NATO summit, Bush said that every NATO member needs to make a military contribution to the alliance, and for some allies, this will require higher defense spending. Bush and top administration officials continued for the rest of his presidency to push for increased spending. While visiting Romania in 2008, Bush said, Building a strong NATO alliance also requires a strong European defense capacity. So at this summit, I will encourage our European partners to increase their defense investments to support both NATO and EU operations. The cost of NATOs headquarters While criticizing NATO both during and after his presidency, Trump has claimed that NATO spent $3 billion on its headquarters building in Belgium. Facts First: Trumps $3 billion figure is not close to accurate. NATO told CNN in 2020 that the headquarters building was constructed for a sum under the approved budget of 1.178 billion euro, or about $1.27 billion at Monday exchange rates certainly an expensive facility, but less than half what Trump has claimed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON House Republicans on Tuesday night muscled through a vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border, exactly one week after their first attempt to impeach him collapsed spectacularly on the floor. The vote was 214-213, with three Republicans again opposing the impeachment. Mayorkas is just the second Cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached and the first in nearly 150 years. "From his first day in office, Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and consistently refused to comply with federal immigration laws, fueling the worst border catastrophe in American history," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. "He has undermined public trust through multiple false statements to Congress, obstructed lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, and violated his oath of office." "Since this Secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act," Johnson continued. President Joe Biden blasted House Republicans immediately after the vote. "History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games," he said in part of his statement. The matter now heads to the Senate, which almost certainly will vote to acquit Mayorkas given that two-thirds, or 67 senators, would be needed to convict and remove the secretary, whose Democratic Party controls the upper chamber. While all but a few House Republicans united behind the impeachment push, several GOP senators have poured cold water on the effort. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, a Trump ally, called it obviously dead on arrival and the worst, dumbest exercise and use of time. Once the House impeachment managers transmit the articles to the Senate, it would be required to hold an impeachment trial. Its expected that the articles would be quickly dismissed or that the trial will be sent to a special committee that would hear the evidence from the impeachment managers and report it to the full Senate. The Senate is out of session, and the soonest it would take up the matter of impeachment would be after lawmakers return to Washington on Feb. 26. In a scathing statement reacting to the House vote, Homeland Security Department spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg pointed out that Mayorkas had been involved in bipartisan Senate negotiations to shore up the southern border. House Republicans will be remembered by history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain rather than working to solve the serious challenges at our border. While Secretary Mayorkas was helping a group of Republican and Democratic Senators develop bipartisan solutions to strengthen border security and get needed resources for enforcement, House Republicans have wasted months with this baseless, unconstitutional impeachment," Ehrenberg said. Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country," she continued. "Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe. Just as in other votes, House Republicans had little room for error Tuesday given their razor-thin majority over the Democrats. Last week, a trio of impeachment-wary Republicans Ken Buck of Colorado, Tom McClintock of California and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin teamed up with all Democrats to force a 215-215 tie, tanking that impeachment vote and delivering an embarrassing blow to Johnson, the speaker, and his leadership team. Those same three Republicans also voted no Tuesday night. As he faced blowback from his party, Gallagher said over the weekend that he will not seek re-election this fall. But Tuesday brought a different outcome. With Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., returning to Washington this week after having undergone treatment for blood cancer, Republicans were back at full strength. Still, there were concerns. Whip teams in both parties fretted about unexpected absences, especially with a major snowstorm bearing down on the Northeast making travel to Washington difficult. "It's one of those days where you are tracking every flight," Scalise, who controls the floor schedule, said moments before the vote. The GOP also wanted to regroup and push forward now because of the potential impact of Tuesdays special election to replace George Santos, the expelled New York Republican congressman. If the Democratic nominee, former Rep. Tom Suozzi, defeats Republican Mazi Pilip and can be sworn in quickly, Republicans could lose only two GOP lawmakers on any vote, and the Mayorkas impeachment would most likely be dead. Campaigning for Pilip on Long Island on Monday, GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., confidently predicted the votes were there for impeachment. Yes, we will pass the impeachment of Mayorkas, Stefanik told NBC News. The vote came in the wake of the collapse of a rare bipartisan Senate deal that would have imposed tougher asylum and border policies. But Johnson and former President Donald Trump expressed vocal opposition to the agreement, saying it did not go far enough to stop illegal immigration, and Senate GOP leaders who had been involved in the talks abandoned it soon after, punting any potential border legislation until well after the November election. In an appearance Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Mayorkas dismissed the impeachment articles as "baseless allegations" and rejected the idea that he bears responsibility for the overwhelming number of migrants illegally crossing the southern border. It certainly is a crisis, and we dont bear responsibility for a broken system, and were doing a tremendous amount within that broken system, he said. But fundamentally, Congress is the only one who can fix it. The GOPs impeachment resolution, originally authored by far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, cleared the Homeland Security Committee late last month. It spells out two articles. The first accuses Mayorkas of willfully and systemically refusing to comply with federal immigration laws. As a result, it says, millions of aliens have illegally entered the United States on an annual basis with many unlawfully remaining in the United States. The second article says Mayorkas breached the public trust by making false statements to Congress and knowingly obstructing congressional oversight of the Homeland Security Department. But Mayorkas allies also have highlighted remarks by key conservative figures blasting the impeachment effort. Jonathan Turley, a legal scholar who was a GOP witness in Trumps first impeachment, said there is no current evidence" that Mayorkas "is corrupt or committed an impeachable offense," arguing that "the case has not been made to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas. And Alan Dershowitz, who was Trumps defense attorney during his first impeachment, declared that Mayorkas has not committed bribery, treason, or high crimes and misdemeanors and that Republicans are impeaching based on partisan considerations. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wrote in a recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled Dont Impeach Alejandro Mayorkas": As homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush and as a former federal judge, U.S. attorney and assistant attorney general I can say with confidence that, for all the investigating that the House Committee on Homeland Security has done, they have failed to put forth evidence that meets the bar. Along with the impeachment vote, the House approved 11 GOP impeachment managers who will prosecute the case against Mayorkas in the Senate. They are: Greene, the author of the impeachment resolution; Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green of Tennessee; Michael McCaul of Texas, a former chair of the Homeland Security panel; August Pfluger of Texas; Michael Guest of Mississippi; Andrew Garbarino of New York; Laurel Lee of Florida; and four members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus: Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Ben Cline of Virginia and Harriet Hageman of Wyoming. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Hundreds of drivers were ticketed on the A20 near Sidcup - STOCKNSHARES Up to 500 motorists are seeking to overturn speeding fines after a fake 50mph sign was placed on a dual carriageway in south London. Hundreds of drivers were ticketed on the A20 near Sidcup on a stretch of the road where the speed limit had been temporarily dropped to 40mph by Transport for London. Officials say the 50mph sign was installed by an unauthorised third party after speed cameras were set to match the lowered limit. The cameras are believed to have generated hundreds of automatic fines and penalty points to drivers who were guided by the incorrect sign. Dominic Smith, a solicitor and director of specialist motoring firm Patterson Law, said he and his colleagues had been contacted by hundreds of affected drivers. I havent ever seen anything quite like this, on this magnitude, he said. Weve been contacted in the last week by about 400 or 500 individuals, of which about 100 to 150 are at risk of losing their licences because of this, he told LBC. Usually when a new speed camera goes up, we can tell here because we get maybe about two or three enquiries a day for a couple of days 40 to 50 a day were getting at the moment. Ive never seen anything like it. The sign was placed on the A20 near Sidcup - BBC TfL claimed the offending 50mph sign was installed by an unauthorised third party in January. TfL reviewed the signage at this location and found that an incorrect 50mph sign had been recently placed at this location by an unauthorised third party. This has been replaced with the correct 40mph signage and TfL is investigating how the incorrect sign was installed. The Metropolitan Police said it was investigating an attempt to pervert the course of justice over the 50mph signs installation, while claiming its presence made no difference to the speeding fines already issued. If a motorist were to have travelled through the section that is signed as 40mph at the maximum permitted speed of 40mph, then sped up to 50mph after seeing the now removed 50mph sign, their average speed of the section covered by cameras would not have resulted in them being issued with a speeding ticket, a spokesman said. Twelve local MPs have written to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, urging him to cancel the fines. Your communication of this temporary change has been poor, with a combination of email enquiries and freedom of information requests being the main way in which the public have been informed of this change, said the letter, spearheaded by Louie French, the MP for Bexley. TfL have been quick to fine hundreds of drivers but slow to actually improve road safety on the A20, said French. The Mayor and TfL must urgently review this situation. A TfL spokesman said in a statement: Safety is our number one priority and we have temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road due to ongoing surface water flooding which has caused a number of safety concerns and serious risk to road users. The reduced speed limit has been introduced in response to that risk. Major work is required to put in place permanent measures to tackle flooding here and we are working to do this as soon as possible. We plan to begin construction work on these measures in May. The minimum penalty for speeding is a 100 fine and three penalty points. Drivers with 12 penalty points are banned from the road under a procedure known as totting up. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Massachusetts judge has dismissed a case brought forth by families who sued Harvard University after remains of their loved ones were allegedly stolen and sold on the black market. Cedric Lodge, the former manager of the morgue at the Harvard Medical School, was indicted in June, along with his wife and several others, for trafficking the remains stolen from the schools mortuary. The plaintiffs in the case are the relatives of the people who donated their bodies to the medical school for use in education or research. The families also filed claims against the university and two Harvard employees, Mark Cicchetti and Tracey Fay. The judge, Kenneth Salinger, argued that although Lodge did appalling things, the school, Cicchetti and Fay are not vicariously liable for his actions. The Court will allow the motions to dismiss all claims against Harvard, Cicchetti, and Fay, because the factual allegations in the complaints do not plausibly suggest that these Harvard Defendants failed to act in good faith in receiving and handling the donated bodies, or that they are legally responsible for Mr. Lodges alleged misconduct, the judge wrote in an order. The claims against Lodge were allowed to move forward. He faces federal charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods. At his indictment, Lodge was accused of working with a network of individuals across the country to sell human remains from the universitys medical school and a mortuary in Arkansas. Lodge allegedly stole the organs and other parts of cadavers and transported them to his New Hampshire residents. Authorities said the cadavers were usually cremated, and the ashes were returned to the donors family or buried after the school no longer needed them for educational purposes, The Associated Press reported. The Hill has reached out to Harvard for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The family of a man who was shot in broad daylight in downtown Champaign shared an update on his condition. Brandon Hardway, the General Manager of Pour Bros., was shot in the back Thursday afternoon outside the bar during a smoke break. According to his wife, Hardway is still in critical condition at a hospital. Its disheartening: Community reacts to Pour Bros shooting Brandon continues to be in critical condition with serious injuries, but we are seeing small improvements that have us cautiously optimistic for what is to come, a statement from his family reads. We are taking it day by day, knowing that Brandon is strong and a fighter. It will be a long road to recovery, and we arent out of the woods yet. But with the continued support of friends, family, and the community, we know he will pull through. The family also shared more photos of Brandon with WCIA, including pictures from his November wedding. The alleged shooter, 24-year-old Fidele Tshimanga, was arraigned Monday and is facing two charges, attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with firearm. Both are class X felonies. If convicted for both charges, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors said there were both surveillance video and an eyewitness who placed Tshimanga at the scene of the crime. During the interview, he admitted to shooting Mr. Hardway and disposing the firearm, Troy Lozar of the Champaign Co. States Attorney office, said. The firearm was located in the area as well that matched the report of a firearm stolen recently. The defendants also checked and appears to have no legal right, no Illinois FOID card or other right to possess the firearm. The preliminary trial will start March 19. Pour Bros. plans to reopen Monday evening. The Hardway family is still accepting donations through GoFundMe to help in his recovery. As of Monday evening, theyve received approximately $40,000 out of a $50,000 goal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. A man on a bike uses the cross walk as he and traffic pass one of several barriers recently installed on Houston Avenue at Washington Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Houston. Firefighters and police officers have complained about the barriers, and curbs installed in December. Houston Public Works has plans to remove the barriers. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Barely a month into his first term as Houston mayor, Sylvester Turner laid out a bold vision for regional transportation, calling for a paradigm shift with less emphasis on serving the needs of people in cars with empty passenger seats. A little more than a month into Mayor John Whitmire's first term, his first moves suggest a reverse in course. Turner's changes were incremental in the first place. Paradigms especially those involving large government agencies vulnerable to political pressures and financial constraints dont shift easily. From 2016 to 2020, 78% of Harris County workers drove alone to their jobs; the figure dropped to 76.5% from 2017-2021, due in large part to people staying home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Turner and his allies made some progress on transportation options: building new protected bike lanes despite neighborhood pushback; securing federal funds to make certain streets safer for pedestrians; and completing the Uptown bus rapid transit line, where ridership so far has been disappointing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I think over the last eight years, the city has done a better job than ever before in recognizing that people move in all kinds of ways, both inside a vehicle as well as outside the vehicle, said Gabe Cazares, the executive director of the advocacy group LINK Houston. Against this backdrop, Whitmire is taking office at a crucial moment. Metropolitan Transit Authority CEO Tom Lambert retired at the end of 2023, and Whitmire will have enormous influence over the choice of his successor. (The mayor of Houston appoints five of the Metro boards nine members, and Whitmire can replace the city appointees at any time.) Preliminary engineering work has begun on the long-delayed University bus rapid transit line, a key component of the Metro Next regional transit system approved by 68% of voters in 2019. Unlike his predecessor, Whitmire has steered clear of any grand pronouncements on transportation policy. During his campaign, he called mobility one of our highest priorities, emphasized the need for equitable access to public transportation and urged Metro to help pay for streets that their buses tear up. (This last statement is curious, since Metro already contributes millions of dollars annually for street projects through its General Mobility Program.) Those comments are concerning to Cazares, who worries this administration will siphon off Metro resources for unrelated projects. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a phone interview, Whitmire told us he supports transportation options and that his administration will look at projects one by one. If theyre safe, respect mobility and are economically viable, they (advocates) have got nothing to worry about. The mayor bristled when asked if he agreed with Turner about the need for a paradigm change in transportation policy. Dont put Sylvesters words in my mouth, Whitmire said. I ran to listen to the people. The people, of course, have varying perspectives. Council Member Mario Castillo said he wasnt consulted before the city's Feb. 2 announcement that it planned to remove barriers and medians in his district installed just weeks earlier on a stretch of Houston Avenue to improve safety. (A bicyclist was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver near the site in November.) About 70 people showed up at a hastily organized rally Feb. 4 to protest the decision to remove the new features. Whitmire told us he ordered the changes on Houston Avenue after a Metro bus got stuck on the median, police officials told him the new design was dangerous and the pastor of an adjacent church said the new barriers restricted access to the church parking lot. Ive never been more confident in a decision in my years of public service, said Whitmire, who was a state legislator for 50 years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The mayor said he did not ask for the resignations of two city officials, seen as advocates of complete streets policies, who left the city a week apart. Neither David Fields, the citys chief transportation planner, nor Veronica O. Davis, the head of traffic and drainage for the public works department, commented on why they stepped down. It seems likely, though, that policy differences with the new administration were a factor. Some of Whitmires comments about Metro during the campaign suggest suspicion of the agency. Metro needs to be scrubbed, he said during one televised debate. At another forum, mayoral candidate Gilbert Garcia, a former Metro board chairman, asked Whitmire to promise not to use money from Metros general mobility fund to ease the citys projected budget deficit. This fund provides for a quarter of the revenue from the agencys 1-cent sales tax to be distributed among the cities in Metros service area for street and bridge improvements, traffic signals and the like. It has generated more than $4 billion to date. Any change in the formula would require voter approval. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Whitmire's mayoral victory is well-deserved Whitmire did not directly answer Garcias question. He snapped back: Im not gonna play your game. You know that I support Metro, you know that Metro has a bright future in the city, but its going to have to be held accountable, its going to have to listen to the residents. Whitmire has every right to criticize and, where appropriate, change his predecessors policies. We do think he'd be wise to publicly embrace the core tenets of Turners message: A mobility policy based on adding freeway lanes as far as a lonely commuters eye can see is not sustainable or equitable. Designing local streets in ways that prioritize motorists convenience over the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is incompatible with the goal of Vision Zero Houston, which calls for ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has told US media she is carrying out the Trump probe as she would any other case Fulton County's first female district attorney has been spared the humiliation of being kicked off the highest-profile case of her career - prosecuting Donald Trump - because of her relationship with a man she hired to work on the case. Fani Willis was preparing to start her new role as Fulton County district attorney in Georgia when Donald Trump made a phone call to a top Republican in the state that would upend her work for the next several years. On 2 January 2021, the former president phoned Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to "find 11,780 votes", the number he needed to beat Joe Biden, who had won the state and the 2020 presidential election several weeks before. Audio from the call was leaked to US media the next day, whipping up a massive political and legal storm on Ms Willis's first day in office. "How soon I knew an investigation may be warranted was on day one," Ms Willis told USA Today in 2022. Two-and-a-half years after that phone call, on 14 August 2023, a grand jury in Fulton County voted to charge Mr Trump and 18 others with attempting to overturn the election result in the state. Mr Trump's lawyers called the indictment "shocking and absurd". Ms Willis is known by fellow Georgia lawyers and those who have worked with her as a dogged prosecutor capable of securing convictions in high-profile and complex cases. "She had a reputation of always being prepared," said Melissa Redmon, who worked in the Fulton County district attorney's office at the same time as Ms Willis. "Given the type of cases she prosecuted, that took a tremendous amount of dedication." Ms Willis used that rigour in a controversial Atlanta Public Schools scandal involving officials who cheated to improve standardised test scores, and in prosecuting several well-known rappers accused of gang crimes. She has insisted that in investigating Mr Trump, her office followed the same procedures it would use to look into any reports of a possible crime. "The reality is, we have a job, and the job is just to try to find the truth," she told the New York Times in February. "We're just going to do that [Trump] case like every other." The first female Fulton County DA Born in Inglewood, California in 1971, Ms Willis was raised primarily by her father, a criminal defence lawyer and member of the Black Panthers, the radical political party that championed African-American civil rights. She graduated from the historically black Howard University in 1993, before receiving a law degree from Emory University in Georgia in 1996. Just five years later, Ms Willis joined the Fulton County district attorney's office, where she served in several different divisions until 2018. During her nearly two decades there, Ms Willis led more than 100 jury trials, including the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. It ended with convictions for 11 of 12 Atlanta public school officials accused of cheating on state-administered standardised tests in 2009 for better bonuses and promotions. Her trials won her a reputation of being an exceptionally skilled prosecutor, even among the accused, said Ms Redmon. During her time at the DA's office, Ms Redmon remembers hearing a defendant once plead with a relative to try to get a witness to leave town because the prosecutor tackling their case, Ms Willis, was "a genius". In 2020, after years in private practice, Ms Willis decided to go head-to-head with her former boss, six-term Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard. She won in a runoff election with 73% of the votes, becoming the first black woman to serve as Fulton County's top prosecutor. The probe against Trump Ms Willis launched the investigation into Mr Trump's post-election conduct just a month after his phone call to Mr Raffensperger. Her office interviewed dozens of witnesses, including top Georgia Republican officials like Governor Brian Kemp and Mr Raffensperger as well as Mr Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Mr Trump has repeatedly lambasted the investigation on his Truth social media platform. The "Radical Left Democrat 'Prosecutor' from Georgia who is presiding over one of the most Crime Ridden and Corrupt places in the USA, Fulton County, has put together a Grand Jury to investigate an absolutely 'PERFECT' phone call to the Secretary of State", he wrote in 2022. Ms Willis had a comeback to the attacks: no-one is above the law. "I do not have the right to look the other way on a crime that could have impacted a major right of people in this community and throughout the nation," she told the New York Times last September, referring to the right to vote. The accusations against Fani Willis But the sprawling and historic case was almost derailed after it was revealed that Ms Willis had an affair with Nathan Wade, a lead prosecutor on the case. One of Mr Trump's co-defendants, Michael Roman, asked a judge to disqualify her and drop some of the charges, saying the case was tainted. She took the stand in an evidentiary hearing in February to deny testimony from a former friend of hers that the relationship with Mr Wade began long before Ms Willis hired him to the Trump case. The district attorney also rejected accusations of financial impropriety, telling the court that she and Mr Wade had split the cost of their holidays to destinations including Aruba, Belize, the Bahamas and Napa Valley. In March, Judge Scott McAfee agreed that her affair did create an "appearance of impropriety", but decided she could stay on the case so long as Mr Wade was removed from the proceedings. The judge also threw out six of the charges, including three against Mr Trump. But that is far from the end of the matter. Georgia Republicans have enacted a law that empowers a state commission to remove rogue and incompetent prosecutors. Democrats say the measure is aimed at Ms Willis. And the state Senate has created a special committee that is investigating whether she used state money to benefit herself by employing Mr Wade. The controversy is likely to continue to at least prove a distraction for the Fulton County district attorney as she pursues the high-stakes prosecution of a former US president. With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein An elderly man died on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula in the first confirmed death caused by Alaskapox virus (AKPV), according to recent reports. While experts have not yet reached a determination about how the man contracted the infectious disease, some speculate that he may have contracted it from a stray cat. AKPV is a so-called "orthopoxvirus" and as such is related to other diseases that include the '-pox' suffix including mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), cowpox and smallpox. It was first documented in Alaska in 2015, hence the name. The primary symptoms of Alaskapox include skin lesions like pustules and bumps, joint and muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes. While in most cases AKPV symptoms are mild, the disease can be deadly for individuals who are immunocompromised. Indeed, the six confirmed cases of Alaskapox since 2015 all involved minor symptoms with individuals who did not need to be hospitalized. All of those cases also occurred in or near the city of Fairbanks, which is more than 300 miles away from the Kenai Peninsula. There are mitigating circumstances which apply in the situation of the elderly man who died of AKPV. He was in the process of undergoing cancer treatment and his immune system was suppressed as a result of the drugs. Additionally, he frequently interacted with a stray cat that would scratch him, and this cat was known to interact with prey that frequently develops AKPV infections (including red-backed voles and shrews). The man even appeared to have a scratch mark on his armpit in the same area where the first lesion appeared. As such, local officials are warning residents to be careful when interacting with wildlife and with pets that interact with wildlife. "We are not sure exactly how the virus spreads from animals to people but contact with small mammals and potentially domestic pets who come into contact small wild mammals could play a role," the Alaska government explains on its website. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) A man whose familys gender reveal photo shoot sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter in 2020 has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday. The El Dorado Fire erupted on Sept. 5, 2020, when Refugio Jimenez Jr. and Angelina Jimenez and their young children staged a photo shoot for their baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, authorities said. Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. Charles Morton, the 39-year-old leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on Sept. 17, 2020, when flames overran a remote area where firefighters were cutting fire breaks. Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, mostly with the U.S. Forest Service. On Friday, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Refugio Jimenez Jr. had pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He will be taken into custody on Feb. 23 to serve a year in jail. His sentence also includes two years of felony probation and 200 hours of community service. Angelina Jimenez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to property of another. She was sentenced to a year of summary probation and 400 hours of community service. The couple was also ordered to pay $1,789,972 in restitution. Resolving the case was never going to be a win, District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a news release, offering his condolences to Mortons family. To the victims who lost so much, including their homes with valuables and memories, we understand those are intangibles can never be replaced. The U.S. Forest Service in September on the third anniversary of the ignition of the fire filed a lawsuit against the pyrotechnic devices manufacturers, distributors and sellers, as well as the couple. The lawsuit alleges that the Smoke Bombs used were illegal in California and known to be defective. Mike Scafiddi, the lawyer for Refugio Jimenez Jr., said the couple has wanted to speak publicly about the fire, its impact on the community and Mortons death but cannot because of the ongoing federal litigation. They have been praying for Mr. Morton and his family every night since his death, Scafiddi told The Associated Press on Sunday. It has touched them profoundly. The lawyer said his client had researched and tested the pyrotechnic device before setting it off that day, finding no problems online or during his test. It was unforeseeable in all minds, he said. Scafiddi said the couple had not, contrary to whats been said publicly for years, hosted a gender-reveal party. He said it was a photo shoot to discover the babys gender with the couple, a few relatives and their children. To infer that it was a gathering of multiple people with food and celebration is simply incorrect, he said. This was simply taking photographs in what was a beautiful backdrop. An attorney for Angelina Jimenez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. The blaze injured 13 other people and forced the evacuations of hundreds of residents in small communities in the San Bernardino National Forest area. It destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings. Flames blackened nearly 36 square miles (92 square kilometers) of land in San Bernardino and Riverside counties before the blaze was contained on Nov. 16, 2020. The fire was one of thousands during a record-breaking wildfire season in California that charred more than 4% of the state while destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people. Extremely dry conditions and heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The FBI revealed it used a controversial foreign surveillance tool to foil a terrorist plot on U.S. soil last year, part of a series of last-minute disclosures it hopes will sway Congress as lawmakers debate overhauling the measure later this week. The bureau shared three newly declassified instances with POLITICO in which its access to data collected under the digital spying authority codified in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allowed it to protect national security, including one in which it thwarted a potentially imminent terrorist attack against U.S. critical infrastructure last year. The spying tool is set to expire in April if Congress does not renew it. The House is expected to vote as early as Thursday on whether to approve a major change to the foreign surveillance authority, which has faced backlash because it also sweeps in data from Americans. That change would require bureau analysts to acquire a warrant or court order before searching a database of emails, texts and other digital communications of foreigners for information on U.S. citizens. The proposal has support from lawmakers in both parties, and the FBI is on a campaign to sway those who are undecided or willing to reconsider. The big point here is the warrant requirement and how damaging that would potentially be, if it were adopted as part of a legislation, argued a senior bureau official speaking on behalf of the FBI, who was granted anonymity to freely discuss the cases in detail. In the terrorist case, the FBI official said the ability to search the Section 702 database without a court order showed that a person located inside the U.S. was in regular contact with an unspecified foreign terrorist group, had acquired the means to conduct an attack and had already identified specific targets in the U.S. The FBI foiled the plot roughly 30 days after first uncovering it, the official said. Those searches were also key to unraveling a foreign adversarys efforts to illicitly acquire technology that can be used in biological weapons production. And in a third case, they revealed that the subject of one national security investigation was actively communicating with multiple foreign intelligence suspects tracked by other bureau field offices a discovery the FBI feels could have been blown if it had resorted to slower, more overt investigative tools, like a warrant. On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee will consider a compromise bill to update and renew Section 702. Lawmakers are then expected to vote on an amendment on the court order proviso if it gets sent to the House floor, potentially Thursday or Friday. The lower chamber vote is critical since the White House has come out vigorously against the idea, and it will likely face stiffer opposition in the Democratic-led Senate. A special federal court overseeing the program has uncovered a raft of compliance violations at the FBI since 2020, including instances in which bureau personnel improperly accessed the communications of Jan. 6 rioters, George Floyd protestors, and roughly 19,000 donors to an unnamed Congressional campaign. Though assessments show internal FBI reforms in the last two years have significantly reduced those problems, a bipartisan cohort of lawmakers has argued that judicial guardrails are one of the only ways to prevent future violations of Americans privacy. The FBI and the Biden administration have repeatedly countered that those restrictions could cripple one of the countrys most valuable intelligence tools. National security adviser Jake Sullivan will deliver a classified briefing to House Democrats on the looming vote on Wednesday afternoon. In an email announcing the briefing that was obtained by POLITICO, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, warned that approving the amendment on the court order would badly damage our national security. In the examples shared by the FBI, the agency was unusually specific about the drawbacks of proposed reforms up for consideration in Congress. The FBI official argued the bureau almost definitely could not have recreated its success in any of the three cases even if a court order mandate included an exception for national security matters an idea that is popular among privacy advocates. In the terrorism case, for example, the official said the searches were what revealed an attack was imminent in the first place. If we hadn't done the query, we would have lost valuable time we need to get ahead of a potential attack, the official argued. A federal judge on Tuesday blocked an Ohio law that would have forced social media companies to get parental permission before signing up minors for the platforms, ruling that the law violates the users free speech rights. The Social Media Parental Notification Act, passed in July, would have required sites to gain parental permission for all users under the age of 16. It was challenged by a consortium of social media companies, including TikTok parent ByteDance and Instagram parent Meta, via industry group NetChoice. Ohio federal judge Algenon Marbley agreed with NetChoice, determining that the parental permission requirement is an undue burden on the rights of platform users. Foreclosing minors under sixteen from accessing all content on websites that the Act purports to cover, absent affirmative parental consent, is a breathtakingly blunt instrument for reducing social medias harm to children, Marbley wrote. The ruling marks a speed bump for conservative efforts to hamper young peoples access to social media sites, citing mental health risks. Multiple states have pursued similar bans, including a law in Utah that is also under legal scrutiny from the same industry group. The Supreme Court also heard arguments on a pair of suits against Texas and Florida social media content moderation laws last year, also challenged by NetChoice. The laws prevented the sites from censoring users based on political beliefs. The high court has not released a decision in those cases. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) denounced Marbleys decision in a statement, calling the bill critical for young peoples wellbeing. There is overwhelming evidence that social media has a negative effect on the mental health of minors, including increases in depression and suicide-related behavior, DeWine said. The Social Media Parental Notification Act remains a reasonable, clear, narrowly tailored, and, I believe, lawful approach to provide safeguards and parental guidance. I am disappointed in todays ruling by the district court and respectfully disagree with it, he continued. Since the federal courts are interpreting federal constitutional law as preventing the State of Ohio from protecting Ohios children, then Congress needs to act to protect our countrys children. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A federal judge has extended a block on enforcement of the new Ohio law that limits childrens social media access. >>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Federal judge temporarily blocks Ohios new social media parental consent law U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbleys decision to grant a preliminary injunction prevents the law from taking effect while a lawsuit filed earlier this month by NetChoice winds its way through court, the Associated Press reported. In his decision, Marbley said NetChoice is likely to prevail on its First Amendment speech freedom arguments. There is no indication that the State disfavors the sort of content designed to appeal to children cartoons and the like, he wrote. Websites that children might access is not a topic or subject matter. Indeed, even though covered platforms contain some subject matter likely to appeal to children, most also contain subject matter as diverse as human thought. >>RELATED: Group representing Meta, TikTok sues Ohio over new law limiting kids use of social media News Center 7 previously reported last month that a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the new Ohio law. NetChoice, which represents Meta and TikTok, filed a lawsuit against the State of Ohio. The group asked the court to stop the Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act from going into effect while the lawsuit moves through the legal system. The group further claimed that the law violates constitutional rights and rips away parents authority. NetChoice filed suit last month against Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and a temporary injunction was issued shortly after, according to the AP. >>RELATED: Minors will soon need parental consent to create social media accounts Following Mondays ruling, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted released statements about the courts decision, both saying they were disappointed with the ruling. There is overwhelming evidence that social media has a negative effect on the mental health of minors, including increases in depression and suicide-related behavior, said Governor DeWine. The Social Media Parental Notification Act remains a reasonable, clear, narrowly tailored, and, I believe, lawful approach to provide safeguards and parental guidance. I am disappointed in todays ruling by the district court and respectfully disagree with it. Since the federal courts are interpreting federal constitutional law as preventing the State of Ohio from protecting Ohios children, then Congress needs to act to protect our countrys children. My response to the court decision of preliminary injunction that blocks the Social Media Parental Notification Act: pic.twitter.com/qDleGjbprZ Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) February 12, 2024 Husted said the ruling, will not deter us from our responsibility to protect children from exploitative social media algorithms that are causing a crisis of depression, suicide, bullying, and sexual exploitation among our children. These companies could solve this problem without passing new laws, but they refuse to do so. Because social media companies will not be responsible, we must hold them accountable. Now, more than ever, we have a responsibility to continue our fight to protect children so they will not be exploited and monetized at the hands of big tech. After we have time to review the decision, we will determine our next steps, but we are resolved to escalate our efforts to protect kids from further exploitation. The Associated Press also reported that Marbley pointed out that the Ohio law is not structured to prevent children from exploring the internet once theyve received parental permission, and it does not seem to attempt to limit individual social media features such as infinite scrolling that have been cited as the most detrimental. The approach is an untargeted one, as parents must only give one-time approval for the creation of an account, and parents and platforms are otherwise not required to protect against any of the specific dangers that social media might pose, he said. The judge also called it eyebrow-raising that the act makes an exception for children to access established and widely recognized news media outlets without defining what that means, and prohibits kids from accessing product reviews but not reviews for services or art. @GovMikeDeWine, Lt. Governor @JonHusted Release Statements Following Court Decision of Preliminary Injunction that Blocks Social Media Parental Notification Act Read their full statements here: https://t.co/RENV12gt7g pic.twitter.com/HQoQ4Zwm9m Lt. Governor Jon Husted (@LtGovHusted) February 12, 2024 >>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Ohio proposal would require verified parental consent before kids can use social media Netchoice released the following statement on social media praising the courts decision. We appreciate the district courts thoughtful opinion upholding the First Amendment and decision to prevent regulators from violating the free speech and online privacy rights of Ohioans and their kids as our case proceeds, said Chris Marchese, Director of the NetChoice Litigation Center. This is the fourth ruling NetChoice has obtained, demonstrating that this law and others like it in California and Arkansas not only violate constitutional rights but if enacted, would fail to achieve the states goal of protecting kids online. We look forward to seeing these laws permanently struck down and online speech and privacy fully protected across America. NETCHOICE HALTS OHIO LAW: 4TH RULING STOPPING LAWS THAT FAIL KIDS, PARENTS & CONSTITUTION COLUMBUS, OhioToday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio officially granted NetChoices request to halt the states unconstitutional Parental Notification by Social NetChoice (@NetChoice) February 12, 2024 The law, which forces social media platforms to get formal consent from parents before a child under 16 can create a social media account, was set to take effect on Jan. 15. A Texas federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administrations Medicare drug price negotiations filed by the pharmaceutical industry lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The decision marks a small victory for the Biden administration, as its the first time a court has outright dismissed a challenge to Medicares new price negotiation powers. There are eight other lawsuits filed by drug companies and other plaintiffs, and the legal fight could stretch for years. The federal government sent out its initial offer to drug companies earlier this month, and while the negotiations will end in August, the prices wont take effect until 2026. Judge David Alan Ezra in the Western District of Texas granted the Biden administrations request to dismiss the lawsuit, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing. PhRMA was joined in the lawsuit by the National Infusion Center Association (NICA) and the Global Colon Cancer Association, but Ezra dismissed the NICA from the case because he said the court lacked jurisdiction. As the NICA was the only plaintiff that resided in Texas, the entire case was dismissed. However, it was dismissed without prejudice and could be brought up again. We are disappointed with the courts decision, which does not address the merits of our lawsuit, and we are weighing our next legal steps, PhRMA spokesperson Nicole Longo said in a statement to The Hill. PhRMA represents some of the largest drug companies in the world. The group sued the administration in June, arguing Medicare negotiation is unconstitutional and violated drug companies due process. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Under enormous pressure, federal education officials announced Tuesday another round of steps to ease a crisis caused by the trouble-plagued rollout of the key form used by aspiring college students to calculate all-important financial aid packages linked to their upcoming college acceptances. The online form, known as FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which was previously available in late October, did not become fully accessible until mid-January. That delay and numerous computer glitches have resulted in a steep drop in the number of submissions by about half as of late January. The frustrating irony for students is that the new system was supposed to make things easier and faster but has so far resulted in just the opposite. The steps announced Tuesday don't actually fix the computer problems students have encountered with the forms. Instead, the Department of Education diminished at least temporarily federal oversight of the financial aid system to streamline the process. Fewer students will have to verify their identity or financial information; a smaller number of colleges will face program reviews and such reviews can be delayed past the current crunch period. Officials said they still would be able to target suspected fraud or prevent it in part because the new form connects online directly to tax information parents have filed with the Internal Revenue Service. "Our top priority is to ensure students can access the maximum financial aid possible to help them pursue their higher education goals," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a Monday telephone media briefing. "These steps reflect the many conversations my colleagues and I are having with college and university leaders, financial aid administrators, students and parents, and others who are on the front lines." Democratic lawmakers, loath to criticize the Biden administration in reelection mode, expressed exasperation in a Monday letter to Cardona's agency. "Any delays in financial aid processing will most impact the students that need aid most, including many students of color, students from mixed status families, students from rural backgrounds, students experiencing homelessness or in foster care, first-generation students, and students from underserved communities," wrote the lawmakers, who included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). Read more: 'This is just the biggest fiasco.' College admissions upended by financial aid form glitches Especially withering criticism has come from Republicans in Congress, including Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana. The Department of Education has had over three years to prepare and yet students are still not able to use their completed applications to secure federal, state, and campus-based financial aid, Cassidy wrote Cardona in a Jan. 12 letter. This is unacceptable and does not appear to be consistent with industry standards for website development and launch. He added: The botched rollout means students will be forced to make financial aid decisions with less time and less information than in the past. Where to go to college, and how to finance it, is one of the most important financial decisions a person will make in their lifetime. ED needs to be making that decision easier, not harder. Cassidy and other Republican lawmakers have called for an investigation. Each year, about 17 million students fill out the FAFSA as a first step to accessing financial aid. The feds turn over the processed applications to colleges, which use them to craft financial aid packages. The Education Department had predicted that the new FAFSA would result in 610,000 more students from low-income backgrounds becoming eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant and 1.5 million more becoming eligible to receive a maximum Pell award of $7,395. The latest actions follow those announced last week, including assigning assistance teams to help colleges manage the new process and the crush of data arriving later than usual. The department also pledged $50 million for nonprofits to provide similar assistance for both colleges and families. Education Department officials said a shortage of funding contributed mightily to the problems. Congress had "set deadlines requiring us to undertake three massive modernization projects within a few months of each other," said a senior department official, who spoke on condition of not being named. The official was referring to the complex fall resumption of student loan payments as well as the new FAFSA. "Congress did not provide the substantial amount of increased funding we requested to implement these ... bipartisan projects, and here we are well into the fiscal year and we don't have a budget for this year as well. So it's very, very challenging for us to deliver on the level of service we want to provide," the official said. The Democratic lawmakers also acknowledged in the letter that the Education Department has had to work with "less funding than it anticipated would be needed to complete the job correctly and on time." Read more: UC and CSU extend May 1 deadline to accept admission offers for fall 2024, citing FAFSA delays The latest FAFSA moves will be no panacea. The department, for example, still has no fix for the system's apparent breakdown when a student reports that a parent lacks a Social Security number. "We are meeting daily to form a path forward on it," a senior department official said. "I don't have news to share at the moment. But it's an issue that's very, very important to us and we're working very hard to find a path forward." One potential work-around is for families in this situation to file the paper version of the FAFSA, bypassing the computer glitch. Officials also had no ready answer for the near-interminable waits for help and automated hang-ups on phone-assistance lines. As a condition for taking part in the briefing, reporters had to agree to identify no senior officials by name. Only Secretary Cardona spoke on the record, but he did not take questions and left the briefing before the Q&A began. But Cardona did talk about the technical challenge having resulted in "delays that come with completely overhauling a broken system that is older than me." "This is about delivering the promise of transformational change," Cardona said. "It's about overhauling a broken system that was failing too many students and one that we normalized in this country. It's about making sure the doors of higher education open for so many more students whose lives can be changed for the better but had been deterred by the cost and complexity of the system." As of late January, about 700,000 seniors nationwide had filed applications, down from about 1.5 million applicants the same time last year, according to National College Attainment Network, which analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education. In California, only 16.1% of seniors had submitted a FAFSA through Feb. 2, a drop of more than 57% from that same date the previous year, according to the networks data. The delays prompted the University of California and California State University to announce last week that they would extend their May 1 deadline for first-year students to accept their admission offers for fall 2024. Both systems announced extensions until at least May 15. The state, which provides Cal Grants through the California Student Aid Commission, also extended the priority deadline to submit financial aid applications by one month, to April 2. Adam Swarth, a Calabasas High senior, had been hoping to finish the college application process early. But instead, the FAFSA issues worsened and lengthened a stressful time. Hes still worried. We dont understand exactly what the problems are, he said. We just know the problems exist. Maybe I won't be able to go to the college of my choice because the college wont have the financial package ready for me by the time I have to decide." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Alma Allen, candidate for State Rep District 131 (D). Jill Karnicki/Staff photographer Back in November, the only state proposition that voters rejected out of 14 was one that would have raised the retirement age for state justices. Turns out, Texas is no country for old judges. Will the same sentiment hold in the March primaries, where voters must decide in a number of races whether to stick with longtime incumbents or usher in change with new faces? Both James Guillory, 49, and Erik Wilson, 41, hope to be among the new faces. After running against incumbent state Rep. Alma Allen, 84, in the last Democratic primary, Guillory is trying again, doubling down on his claim that Allen once promised to step down and pass the torch. Wilson, the son of former state Rep. Ron Wilson, who lost his seat to Allen back in 2004, is throwing his hat in the ring as both a businessman and someone who's worked in state government. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since taking office, Allen has been a dedicated advocate for public education, scoring important wins, including badly needed funding boosts, and she's stood up for criminal justice reform. But in the most recent session with a fierce fight over school vouchers, she said, her opposition to the scheme to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school got her sidelined and unable to be as effective as she could've been. "I have to stand on my morals," she said. Allen, it seems, still has fight left. And when she steps down, it won't be for either of her current challengers: "I plan for a woman to take my seat," she said. Guillory is also a businessman with a background in hospitality with deep roots in the district running on a platform of public education, public safety, housing affordability and supporting small business, among other priorities. As a Madison High School graduate, hes focused on the long-struggling public schools in his district as proof that the incumbent hasnt done enough for the community. Long involved in his civic club and other organizations, Guillory said his motivation for running is about giving back to the community that raised him. He's also kept a watchful eye on the state takeover of Houston ISD in recent months, speaking with students affected by the changes that he said were too rigid and generic and have left students feeling like they're in military school. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This is not about unseating a longtime incumbent," he told us. "This is about an opportunity for another generation of ideas and vision." We admired his community focus but question if he has the policy experience necessary to turn his vision into reality. Wilson, meanwhile, said that in some ways, he's been in politics his whole life, watching his father. That was another era, of course, when divides weren't so deep and bipartisanship was a good thing. He draws inspiration from that time. "I know how to bring people together," he said. VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the 2024 Texas Primary Election Advertisement Article continues below this ad His resume includes five years in the office of the Texas Secretary of State before launching his own law firm. Many of his priorities, including supporting intergenerational wealth and professional knowledge building, stemmed from his experience starting and running a nail salon with his wife. He had a compelling pitch to use both community-level and policy-specific responses to a number of challenges but was light on substantive policy changes. When it comes to one of the most contested issues at the state-level, Allen is the strongest candidate. Legislative Democrats and mostly rural Republicans held off school vouchers despite repeated special sessions at the behest of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. As a consequence, they didnt get additional school funding, including badly needed support for special education. "I've been in education all my life," said Allen, a former educator, principal and school district employee who also has a doctorate in education. "It's all about education for me." Will incumbents like Allen have a better chance next session? Thats the question on the minds of many challengers, who want a shot to shake things up. Allen filed plenty of strong education bills last session that didnt get far. But we believe that in Allens case, shes still the best person for the job because, with public education under attack, the Houston area can't afford to lose her focus and experience. She has a record of being a fierce fighter when needed, even holding up one of fellow Democrat state Rep. Harold Duttons school takeover bills with a point of order. But shes also able to reach across the aisle, notably in the 2019 bipartisan legislation that increased school funding. If theres anyone who can help get it done again, its Allen. FILE PHOTO: Luis Montenegro, President of the Social Democratic Party, the main opposition in Portugal, during an interview with Reuters in Lisbon FILE PHOTO: Luis Montenegro, President of the Social Democratic Party, the main opposition in Portugal, during an interview with Reuters in Lisbon By Andrei Khalip and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) - The leaders of Portugal's centre-right and far-right parties clashed in a tense debate late on Monday, dimming prospects they will find enough common ground for the former to have a stable government if he wins next month's ballot without a majority. The Portuguese will vote in a snap election, the second in two years, on March 10 after the November resignation of centre-left Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of investment projects. He has denied any wrongdoing. Neither the centre-left nor the centre-right is expected to clinch an outright majority of parliamentary seats in the ballot and analysts expect a post-election stalemate as a likely scenario, potentially leading to a repeat ballot. An alliance led by the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) of Luis Montenegro has been slightly ahead in recent opinion polls, but with little chance of governing without some form of support from the anti-establishment, anti-immigration Chega party. "As a matter of principle, the PSD will never make a political agreement with someone who has policies, opinions, which are often xenophobic, racist, populist, excessively demagogic," Montenegro told Chega leader Andre Ventura in a televised debate. Ventura called the PSD "the useful idiot of the left" that will "never have a majority" without support from Chega, adding that the PSD will bear the blame for any ensuing instability. Montenegro has said that if he fails to garner an absolute majority of seats, he would potentially form a minority government. Chega would only be able to topple such a coalition if the right-wing party teamed with the left against it. In a regional election in the Azores Islands on Feb. 4, the PSD-led Democratic Alliance landed three seats short of an outright majority and refused Chega's offer to negotiate a deal, an approach Montenegro promised to replicate at the national level. (Reporting by Andrei Khalip and Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Brett Robinson is a candidate in the Democratic primary for House District 130. Brett Robinson The Democratic primary in the bright red Texas House District 130 in the very northwest corner of Harris County probably isnt on the radars of many voters there. It should be. The two candidates vying for a chance to deliver an upset, Brett Robinson, 24, and Henry Arturo, 41, took very different routes to running. Robinson is a motivated graduate student studying political science at the University of Houston who has blockwalked in a number of local campaigns and voter registration efforts. He has a progressive vision for the district but is laser focused on going after the so-called heartbeat act, the ban co-authored by the districts current incumbent Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson. The law, which effectively restricted abortions to the first six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they're pregnant, took effect in 2021, predating the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. Were looking at the results of this law, he told us. And its going too far. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Arturo's story begins in Colombia where he was born and raised until 1991, when his family fled cartel violence, eventually settling in New Jersey. He joined the U.S. Marines as a teenager, serving for 12 years with multiple deployments. After marrying his wife and becoming a naturalized citizen, Arturo shifted into the private sector, working first in oil and gas and later opening his own custom woodworking business. Along the way, he picked up a smattering of civic experience, as a precinct chair and working with non-profits, and he emphasized his experience creating and managing teams a skill he would deploy in seeking out experts to guide his decision-making. I had to lead and mentor thousands of Marines, as an instructor trainer, developing and communicating lesson plans and objectives, he explained. As in many primary races, Robinson and Arturo share a number of policy priorities: fully funding public education, paying teachers more, expanding Medicaid and improving infrastructure. But Robinson emphasized his motivation for running: reproductive freedom. Both candidates believe in it, but Robinson is doubling down on it because he thinks its a message that can clear a path for victory in the red district that many consider unwinnable for Democrats. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is a bipartisan issue, he told us. You look at a state like Ohio, that elected J.D. Vance by nearly 10 points, and then they put abortion on the ballot in the next cycle. And you saw that that had double-digit support. VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know for the 2024 Texas Primary Election Robinson first got interested in the race several years ago when Texas was debating abortion and he wondered what his own representative, a physician who specializes in anesthesiology, was up to. Helping write the heartbeat bill, it turns out. He was the catalyst, said Robinson. He also cited other potential areas for bipartisan collaboration including expanding broadband access, protecting public education against school vouchers and even pushing for gun safety reforms that prove popular in public polling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even as a former primary marksmanship instructor, Arturo said hes also supported gun safety reforms and only recently, after being disturbed by the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6., 2021, purchased his own gun. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida bill that would provide free swimming lessons to children from low-income families is quickly moving through the state legislature. Senate Bill 544, also known as the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, was filed on Nov. 20, 2023, aiming to increase water safety in the Sunshine State. The program was introduced by District 7 Republican Senator Travis Houston and has been moving quickly with bipartisan support. If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2024. WATCH: Truckers dashcam captures moment small jet crashed on I-75 According to the bill, the program will offer vouchers free of charge to families with an income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level who have one or more children age 4 or younger. The Department of Health would then need to contact vendors that will accept the vouchers in exchange for swimming lessons. SB 544 also states that any vendor that offers swimming lessons at a public pool that is owned or maintained by a county or municipality must participate in the program if requested by the department. Two other bills aimed at preventing childhood drownings moving through the state legislature: Senate Bill 274 and Senate Bill 706. Bill would give road going over Gandy Bridge new name SB 274 would require children aged 12 or younger in summer camps and school trips to wear flotation devices if they dont know how to swim. Meanwhile, SB 706 would require Florida homeowners to add at least one safety barrier to their before selling their homes. According to the Child Fatality Prevention website, there have been 88 child drownings in Florida so far this year. The CDC reported that more children ages 1 to 4 died from drowning than any other cause of death. Its also the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14, behind vehicle crashes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. FORT PIERCE, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida deputy who was part of the motorcade escorting former President Donald Trump to and from a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce was hurt in a crash Monday. WPTV reported that the crash happened in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Martin County. The Palm Beach County deputy was taken to a hospital, but her condition is unknown. Credit: WPTV The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. WPTV said the crash happened as Trump was returning from a hearing related to his upcoming classified documents trial. The Martin County Sheriffs Office told WPTV that Trump was not injured in the crash. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Last year Gov. Ron DeSantis, eager to punish the unions that did not support his re-election, teamed up with a right-wing group from Olympia, Washington, called the Freedom Foundation to craft a plan and target public sector workers. Rusty Brown of the Freedom Foundation proudly admitted he wrote SB 256 which eliminates employees right to control their own payroll deductions and arbitrarily mandated that voluntary union membership must be at 60%. SB 256 sailed through the legislature and was promptly signed by the governor. The governors commissioner of education was then the keynote speaker at the Freedom Foundation recruitment and planning effort in Colorado. During the trip to the five-star resort, they jointly launched what would become a million-dollar campaign to eliminate United Teachers of Dade (UTD). It was there that the staunchly anti-union Freedom Foundation decided to create a front group, pretending to be an independent alternative to UTD. Yet despite relentless union-busting efforts from Tallahassee and millions of dollars from out-of-state groups, the employees of Miami-Dade County Public Schools rallied to support their union, the United Teachers of Dade. In a testament to our collective strength and unity, over 11,000 education professionals who work in the nations third-largest school district signed interest cards to show the state of Florida that they value UTD. The 11,000+ individuals who signed interest cards overwhelmingly exceeded the requirement! That is a crystal-clear statement from our local educators about who they want to represent them. While extremist right-wing politicians have counted us out, we are poised to re-emerge from the latest attacks even stronger. Our membership is growing at a record rate nearly 1,000 new members have joined UTD in the past six months. We will continue to push back against Tallahassee politicians who make the profession and lives of educators more difficult. Educators can expect continued attacks from the dark-money Freedom Foundation and its front group, the Miami-Dade Education Coalition (MDEC). We know that Tallahassee legislators will continue their campaign to defund public education and weaken workers rights. But even as state agencies and legislators threaten our rights, they fuel a powerful backlash from educators, support staff and parents. Our members recognize that without UTD, their salary, healthcare and benefits would be at risk and their contract eliminated. Our community and parents realize that without quality public schools, our children will be at a disadvantage and face tremendous academic losses. Out-of-state extremists and the front group here in town are all in concert with the governor and his secretary of education. These folks think so little of teachers, they thought theyd be fooled by the whole million-dollar scheme. But Miami-Dade educators arent falling for it. We know that unions are the reason workers have basic rights in the workplace. We teach that history. As Florida legislators push bills to roll back decades of progress on basic human rights issues like child labor and free speech, we know that unions are strong enough to push back and preserve our freedoms. With so many important Florida institutions weakened or captured by the influence of wealthy, right-wing extremists, unions like UTD are effectively the only check left on state power. The United Teachers of Dade have an unwavering dedication to the teachers, paraprofessionals, administrative professionals and security monitors in our schools and we bring that same steadfast spirit into Miami-Dade classrooms every single day. While we fight to defend ourselves and take care of your children, we urge all South Floridians to join us in the fight for democracy, fair wages, respect and an improved contract. Together, we can build a brighter future for everyone. Karla Hernandez-Mats is president of United Teachers of Dade. Its no secret that businesses are struggling to hire workers. Rather than seeing that situation as a result of a strong economy and low unemployment rates, the Florida Legislature is using it as an excuse to dismantle protections for workers. Thats ironic given that Florida is not necessarily a state with a big social safety net to begin with. The Florida House passed a bill earlier this month that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work long hours during school days. House Bill 49 removes protections that prevent those minors from working more than eight hours when they have classes the next day and more than 30 hours a week when school is in session. Supporters say they want government to get out of the way of teenagers helping their families, but the legislation raises the question of whether Republican lawmakers are trying to use teens to replace cheap migrant workers who left the state after the Legislature cracked down on undocumented workers. And theres the issue of what happens when workers lose their jobs. Floridas unemployment insurance benefits are already among the most meager and hardest to obtain in the country. Apparently, thats not enough for some lawmakers supporting legislation aimed at making benefits harder to keep. Only 12% of Floridas out-of-work people receive unemployment benefits, and only six other states have lower acceptance rates, according to research by the Century Foundation. Florida pays the lowest average weekly benefits at $236, and for the shortest amount of time, 12 weeks, Forbes reported last year. Abuse happens in any government program, but Florida is hardly a haven for people who want to escape hard work and live on a couple hundred dollars a week. Yet that assumption seems to be the premise of legislation supported by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which represents big companies like Publix and others. The child labor law, by the way, is supported by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, which lobbies for the tourism and service industry. Those same business already pay the nations lowest tax rate to support Floridas unemployment benefits. You cant exactly argue that these taxes make the Sunshine State unfriendly to businesses, but the end goal seems to be to lower those costs even more by nearly dismantling the insurance that workers can rely if theyre laid off during another economic crisis such as the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsor Rep. Shane Abbott, a North Florida Republican, told a House committee last week hes struggled to hire workers at his businesses because theyd rather remain on unemployment. He didnt have data, however, to show how much of a systemic problem that is for the state. After a series of amendments, Abbotts bill, HB 1289, is actually less egregious than its Senate version, which adds the unrealistic requirement that out-of-work people apply in person for at least one job every week to continue receiving their unemployment insurance checks. Online applications wouldnt be allowed even though thats how most recruiting happens today. That proposal is either out of touch or purposely punitive. The House bill would kick people off benefits if they fail to contact at least five prospective employers per week, dont accept suitable work within two business days or dont show up for at least three scheduled job interviews. These may seem like reasonable requirements until you realize Florida already curbed access to benefits with reforms approved in 2011 under then-Gov. Rick Scott. Why are more reforms even needed? And there is the concern raised by Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, during the House hearing, when she said that more requirements could overwhelm a state system that struggles to handle current unemployment claims. If youve never tried to apply for unemployment in Florida, or if you never helped someone try to apply, you actually might think this bill is a good idea, Eskamani said. These bills might be a good idea the question is for whom. Click here to send the letter. Floridas Congressional maps will likely remain unchanged for the 2024 election. That means well likely not see the return of the old Congressional District 5, which allowed Black voters from Tallahassee to Jacksonvilles urban core to elect a candidate of their choice. On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court declined to expedite the case, and with the candidate qualifying just two months away, the chances of getting a hearing and a ruling from the court in that timeframe are slim to none. READ: Florida Supreme Court refuses to speed up challenge to North Florida redistricting plan Since Governor Ron DeSantis pushed his favored Congressional map in 2022, which dismantled the old Congressional District 5 and divided it up among several Republican-leaning districts, a coalition of voting rights groups has been fighting in the courts to restore the former minority access district. April England-Albright with Black Voters Matter, the lead plaintiff in the case, argued under the current map, that Black voters in Jacksonville have had their voice in government diminished. There are voters who dont even live in that community [who] are now going to be making decisions that are not going to be decided by people who actually live there, said England-Albright. After winning an initial battle in district court, which ordered a plaintiff-proposed map to be installed to replace the Governors preferred map, an appellate court reversed the decision back in December and put the Governors map back in play. The Florida Supreme Court was seen as the last hope for restoring the old CD 5 in time for the 2024 election, but with Mondays ruling, England-Albright argued voters are likely stuck with the current maps until 2026. We will not be able to get those maps redrawn unfortunately and the voters will continue to be silenced in Duval County, said England-Albright. UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder explained the impacts of the ruling go far beyond Florida. The map proposed by voting rights groups would have likely flipped at least one of Floridas 20 Republican-held Congressional seats. READ: State appeals ruling, which found Floridas congressional map unconstitutional There are so few competitive districts across the country that anytime you can flip a district from a safe D to safe R or vice versa, its meaningful and has impacts nationally for sure, said Binder. State Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville), who represents the Bold Citys urban core in the Florida Legislature, argued Democrats do still have opportunities to make some gains this year, whether its on the local, state, or national level. If we want to fund our futures, if we want folks to really start investing in our communities, we need to get out and elect those candidates who care about our community, said Nixon. There are also challenges to Floridas Congressional maps filed in federal court, but Nixon, Binder, and England-Albright all said they have no expectation those cases will be resolved in time for the November election. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Florida Supreme Court declined on Monday to expedite a challenge to a congressional redistricting plan pushed through the Legislature by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. This decision is likely to mean that the disputed map will remain in effect for this years elections. READ: State appeals ruling, which found Floridas congressional map unconstitutional In a brief one-sentence order, the court denied a request from voting rights groups and other plaintiffs to expedite the case, with arguments requested to be held during the first week of April. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs acknowledged in a motion filed on February 1 that without an expedited schedule, the disputed map would likely persist for this years elections, given the qualifying period for congressional candidates scheduled from April 22 to April 26. Without an expedited briefing schedule, petitioners and Floridians will again vote under a redistricting plan of questionable legality, the motion stated. The Supreme Courts decision follows objections filed by attorneys representing Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the Legislature on Friday. They argued that expediting the case would reintroduce uncertainty into the electoral process, particularly after the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the redistricting plan, providing clarity for state and county election officials. The case revolves around the overhaul of a North Florida district previously represented by Black Democrat Al Lawson. This district, Congressional District 5, was relocated to the Jacksonville area during the redistricting plan, resulting in white Republicans winning all North Florida congressional seats in the 2022 elections. READ: Racial discrimination claim key as North Florida redistricting trial starts The plaintiffs contend that the redistricting plan violates a 2010 state constitutional amendment, known as the Fair Districts Amendment, prohibiting the drawing of districts that would diminish the ability of minorities to elect representatives of their choice. While a Leon County circuit judge sided with the plaintiffs, the 1st District Court of Appeal overturned the decision on December 1, ruling in favor of the state. The Supreme Courts order on January 24 indicated that it would hear the case, setting deadlines for the filing of briefs. However, it did not specify a date for arguments, which will follow the filing of briefs. A separate challenge to the redistricting plan is pending in federal court, focusing on federal constitutional issues. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. After several speakers testified against what they called "predatory" practices by for-profit colleges, Milwaukee's City Plan Commission on Monday declined to approve a zoning change request that would allow the Arizona College of Nursing to operate in the city. The commission's vote to place the request "on file" rather than recommending it for later approval signaled a first win for advocates in a longer zoning process. "The Arizona College of Nursing is so well positioned to join a long line of predatory institutions of learning that have harmed Black and brown students," Quinton Cotton, a representative from the Committee for Equity in Nursing Education, testified during the meeting. "Advancing this proposal would undermine the city's important contributions to undo historical racial harms that have been enabled by policy decisions." Michael Rosen speaks in opposition to a plan by the for-profit Arizona College of Nursing to open a new location in Milwaukee during a meeting of the City Plan Commission in Milwaukee on Monday. The specific request is to allow a college to operate out of 9000 W. Chester St., a multi-use property not currently zoned for use by a college. That minor modification could still pass with approval from other city bodies in the multistep zoning process. In a statement on Monday evening, Arizona College of Nursing Director of Communications Melany Stroupe said a Milwaukee campus would help address a need for nurses in Wisconsin. She pointed to the college's founding in 1991, community partnerships, scholarships for Black and Latino students and student support services. Arizona College of Nursing is committed to helping Wisconsin reduce its nursing shortage by educating skilled nurses who are trained to serve their communities, and we are proud that we place over 90% of graduating students within 100 miles of their campus and of our students nursing exam (NCLEX) pass rate of 89%, which is in line with Wisconsins average pass rate," Stroupe said in an emailed statement. More: Nurses, educators: For-profit Arizona College of Nursing should not come to Wisconsin Concerns about Arizona College of Nursing reached Milwaukee city attorney's office Members of the city Plan Commission, including (from left) Department of City Development staffer Sam Leichtling, Catrina Crane, vice chair Allyson Nemec, plan commission chair Stephanie Bloomingdale, Brianna Sas-Perez, and Ranell Washington vote Monday during a commission meeting, at which several people voiced opposition against plans by the for-profit Arizona College of Nursing to open a new location in Milwaukee. Monday's decision by the plan commission to put the zoning change request "on file" is just a recommendation, Chair Stephanie Bloomingdale said during Monday's meeting. The request to change permitted uses at 9000 W. Chester St. will next go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee, then the full Milwaukee Common Council for votes. "Placing it on file is basically like putting it in the file cabinet. It just sits there. It's a denial," Bloomingdale said. The plan commission's decision went against against the recommendations of the Department of City Development, which recommended approving the zoning change request. The department of city development "reviewed the specific objections" to the Arizona College of Nursing, city planning manager Sam Leichtling said during the meeting. Department staff consulted with the city attorney's office on the degree to which they can consider those objections in making any recommendations for next steps. The department of city development eventually recommended approving the zoning change in favor of the Arizona College of Nursing. The department determined the question at hand was limited in scope and related specifically to land use issues, Leichtling said. More: Arizona College of Nursing, a for-profit school, plans to open campuses in Milwaukee and Madison Plan commission received five letters in opposition to Arizona College of Nursing in Milwaukee The commission received five letters in opposition to the Arizona College of Nursing's plans for Milwaukee, then heard from nine speakers with similar concerns during the meeting. "AZCN, like all for-profit colleges, targets low-income Black and Latinx students. It manipulates their desire toimprove their lives with misleading marketing information. The predictable results are high drop-out and defaultrates that leave students poorer and more in debt than when they enrolled," reads a letter from Lisa Conley, president of AFT Local 212, the union representing faculty and staff from Milwaukee Area Technical College as well as engineers and production specialists from Milwaukee Public Television. Several of those opponents referenced a lawsuit in Texas brought by former Arizona College of Nursing students accusing the school of fraud, breach of contract and deceptive trade practices. High school student Owen Driscoll speaks against a plan by the for-profit Arizona College of Nursing to open a new location in Milwaukee during a meeting of the city's plan commission in Milwaukee on Monday. Other letters of opposition were written by representatives from the Milwaukee Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity, the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals and the Committee for Equity in Nursing Education, among others. "We cannot let the urgency of a staffing crisis in healthcare allow us to open our collective arms to an organization as troubling as the Arizona College of Nursing," reads a letter from President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Connie Smith to the City Plan Commission. Three health care organizations submitted letters of support for new for-profit college in Milwaukee Representatives from Watertown Regional Medical Center, ProHealth Care and Children's Hospital and Health System Wisconsin submitted letters of support for the Arizona College of Nursing to the plan commission. Each institution wrote that they "(recognize) the pivotal role that nurses contribute in the delivery of patient care, improved outcomes, and safety. With an aging population and workforce, the need to expand nurse capacity is essential now and in the years to come." Arizona College of Nursing plans to open their new location, seen Sept. 7, 2023, at 9000 W. Chester St. in Milwaukee. By 2040, more than one in four registered nurse positions in Wisconsin could go unfilled, according to a 2022 projection report. Wisconsin is home to more than 40 in-state nursing programs, but still sees more than 1,000 qualified applicants for Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs denied admission annually. Just one in-state nursing program, Rasmussen University, is a for-profit. Stacy Wenner, a director of nursing systems at Children's, wrote that the Arizona College of Nursing could help diversify the nursing workforce. The college places an emphasis on diversity by making scholarships available to underrepresented students, Wenner wrote. The Arizona College has plans to open a campus in Madison in 2025. Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/RFADonation. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Arizona College of Nursing meets roadblock in zoning new Milwaukee site Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. She can be reached at jen.rice@houstonchronicle.com. A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A former Tennessee Department of Corrections officer was sentenced to 15 months in prison after writing a false report to cover up another officers use of excessive force, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday. Sebron Hollands, who was a tactical officer at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, was also sentenced to two years of supervised release following the prison sentence. He previously pled guilty on October 2, 2023. According to court documents, Hollands was present when fellow tactical officer Javian Griffin punched an inmate in the head, breaking the inmates jaw. The documents state that the inmate did not resist or pose a threat that justified the use of force. Woman says she was beaten by 3 other women After the incident, Hollands provided false information in his official use of force report to obstruct the FBIs investigation of the incident, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Griffin previously pled guilty to using excessive force against an inmate on October 11, 2023. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Richard Brunson, a former University of Wisconsin professor who sexually harassed students and went on to land two other jobs in education, was fired by his most recent employer a week after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on his disciplinary history. The story highlighted the unusual steps the UW System took to bring Brunson's background to light and how, despite those efforts, both a Wisconsin school district and an out-of-state college hired him. Contacted for comment on the termination, Brunson's lawyer, Michael Brown of DVG Law Partner, asked the Journal Sentinel to "please leave us alone." Brown has previously argued UW's actions amounted to overreach. He asked the student newspaper of the Indiana college where Brunson most recently worked: "At what point do ongoing punishments of Dr. Brunson become excessive (and unending)? How, if at all, can Dr. Brunson ever have an opportunity to move forward with his career and community life and have a chance to prove he has changed, and is changing, for the better? More: UW took unusual steps after a professor resigned amid sex harassment probe Here's what to know: Where did Richard Brunson work? Brunson was a music professor at the UW-Stevens Point Marshfield campus for just over a decade. A UW System investigation found he sexually harassed several of his students in a pattern going back several years, records show. Six students told investigators they received sexually suggestive messages from Brunson, often about masturbation. While the disciplinary process was playing out, Brunson applied for a job teaching choir to middle and high school students in the Medford School District, about 40 miles north of the Marshfield campus. Brunson resigned before the UW Board of Regents could vote on firing him. So instead, five months after Brunson quit, the board revoked his unused sick leave. A day later, a UW System lawyer called Medford's superintendent to share what had happened. Is what UW System did in this case rare? Yes. Proactively volunteering information on a former employee's disciplinary history is "unusual," one education risk-management expert told the Journal Sentinel. But it's something more schools should consider doing if their state laws allow them to do so, Brett Soklow of TNG said. It can help curb a common problem in education known as "pass-the-trash," where someone commits misconduct, quietly leaves and is hired elsewhere. How did Medford School District respond? Medford put Brunson on paid leave for the next seven months until he resigned at the end of the 2022-23 school year, according to a settlement agreement Brunson struck with the district. Medford agreed to provide a neutral letter of reference for Brunson. Medford Superintendent Pat Sullivan declined to answer questions about the district's hiring process. How did Brunson land job at Goshen College? Brunson applied for a music professor position at Goshen College, a private Mennonite liberal arts school in Indiana, two hours east of Chicago. He also sued UW System to prevent releasing public records associated with his time at UW-Stevens Point. The chair of Goshen's music department contacted UW-Stevens Point's human resources office about Brunson in June 2023, UW System spokesperson Mark Pitsch said. The HR office responded, saying Brunson hadn't been employed there since June 2022 and an ongoing court case prevented the university from releasing public records. A judge last August ordered the documents be turned over. Goshen had already hired Brunson by then. What has Goshen College said about its hiring process? Goshen College spokesperson Jodi Beyeler said the college had not submitted a formal records request to the UW System and did not know the reasons behind Brunson's resignations until the Journal Sentinel contacted the school in late January. The UW investigation "was not revealed to us through references or background checks," Goshen College human resources director Marlene Penner later said in an email to students and staff. The school put Brunson on leave a day after the Journal Sentinel story published Feb. 5. On Monday, Penner emailed the campus to say Brunson had been terminated. "We take all reports of sexual harassment very seriously, including from previous employers, and have sought to act with both due diligence and speed," Penner wrote to the campus community. "We are committed to examining our systems to strengthen our prevention and responses in the future." Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Goshen College fires Richard Brunson, former UW professor The Southeast Water Purification Plant, 3100 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., is shown Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Houston quietly ended its push to privatize the operations of the Southeast Water Purification Plant, according to a Jan. 18 notice posted to the citys procurement website. But the end of the contentious search for a third-party plant operator flew under the radar of Mayor John Whitmire, whose name is on the notices letterhead. He wasnt aware the city had ended the search until asked by the Chronicle, his spokesperson Mary Benton said Monday. The canceled search will keep the purification plants operations in the hands of Houstons Public Works Department, its spokesperson Erin Jones said Monday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In an email to the Chronicle, Jones wrote that during the process to find a third-party operator for the purification plant, city leaders discovered it was more cost-effective to keep operations under Public Works. She was not able to provide an estimate for what the cost difference would be and referred the question to the citys procurement office, which did not return requests for comment. The firm search was canceled under former Mayor Sylvester Turners administration, Jones said, but the public notice that the search was over was posted after Whitmires term began. Jones said Whitmires office would have to inquire about moves made by Turners administration. But Whitmires office took issue with that argument. Before posting anything under Mayor Whitmires name, Houston Public Works and Procurement should have informed the mayor about the projects status, Benton wrote in an email Tuesday. OPPOSITION TO PRIVATIZATION: Houstonians protest potential privatization of drinking water plant, but City not taken action since March Advertisement Article continues below this ad The plant at Genoa Red Bluff Road is one of the citys main drinking water treatment facilities and treats 200 million gallons of water a day for a million water customers. Houston leaders move away from seeking private plant operators follows a year and a half of outcry from activists who feared privatization would shift the plants focus toward making a profit rather than providing quality water service. Following the privatization of water plant operations in Pittsburgh, a lead crisis broke out, and the privatization of operations at a Bayonne, N.J., plant led to water bill increases, Neil Gupta, water campaign director at Boston-based watchdog group Corporate Accountability, said in March. Privatization of the Houston plant could have led to those same unaffordable bill hikes as well as labor abuses and layoffs, he said Monday. Gupta said it was exciting to know that Houstons public officials are listening to those opposed to the privatization plan after a year of fighting the issue. Its definitely a sense of relief this is a major win for public control of water, Gupta said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FIRM FINALIST: Firm behind Kingwood sewage leak is a finalist to run one of Houstons largest drinking water plants Corporate Accountability was the group that flagged the privatization search to local activist groups like West Street Recovery, HOPE Local 123, Bayou City Water Keepers and the Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience. Alice Liu, West Street Recoverys co-director of communications and organizing, said her team was working on trying to find ways to make sure a request for proposals process to privatize water in Houston doesnt happen again. Houston leaders decision on whether to privatize the plant has been up in the air since March 2023 when two finalists were named to oversee it. One of those finalists, Inframark, was the firm from the Kingwood wastewater plant that leaked inadequately treated sewage into a Lake Houston tributary. Representatives for Inframark and Jacobs Engineering, the other finalist to run the plants operations, did not immediately return requests for comment Monday afternoon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This was a really important reversal of what would have been a first step in privatizing water resources in Houston, Liu said, adding that those operations belong to Houstonians. Neandra Camil Boyd, who lives in East Sunnyside and is serviced by the Southeast Purification Plant, was initially devastated when she learned about the potential privatization of its operations. She was one of many residents who showed up to City Hall to speak out against the issue and said she was glad to see Houstons public officials listened to their concerns. For thousands of students in the metro-east, an empty stomach, inadequate clothing or a lack of access to hygiene products and other essentials prevents them from focusing on their education and reaching their full academic potential. Its like when you have an itch, said Miranda Walker Jones, chief executive officer of the Little Bit Foundation, a St. Louis-based organization working to break down barriers to learning. When you have that itch, you cant focus on anything else until you get that itch scratched. The foundation was established in 2001 and has grown its presence to 48 schools in St. Louis, providing a variety of programs to ensure students have what they need to thrive in the classroom. Now, its made the leap across the Mississippi for the first time, bringing that number to 50 with Annette Officer Elementary School and East St. Louis Senior High School. Hundreds of students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members gathered in the gym at Officer Elementary Friday morning to mark the beginning of the partnership between Little Bit and East St. Louis School District 189. Today we gather not just as a school, but as a compassionate community united to ensure that every childs basic needs are met so they can thrive in their education journey, Principal Darla Wall said. This is a momentous day. ... We believe that when a childs basic needs are met, they can fully engage in the joy of learning, dream big and reach for the stars. At Officer Elementary, the foundation will provide everyday essentials at a boutique set up on the second floor of the school, literacy programming, and health and nutrition. The Little Bit Foundation has a boutique on the second floor of Annette Officer Elementary School in East St. Louis where students can go to get everyday essentials. The Little Bit Foundation At East St. Louis Senior High School, students will benefit from Little Bits college and career readiness programs, including the annual Whats Next fair, as well as new STEM curriculum. Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, executive director of communications and strategic partnerships, said she first learned about the Little Bit Foundation 11 years ago and asked them to come to Illinois. Their reputation back then, and definitely today, is that they make a difference, she said. Our staff here at this school and at every campus across East St. Louis School District 189 are not just educators. Theyre mentors, advocates and sometimes caregivers, Stigge-Kaufman added. Ive witnessed firsthand their unwavering commitment, including reaching into their own pockets to provide essential resources for students. They know that most students here are school dependent. Our young people depend on their schools to make a difference in their lives. So today, we celebrate a new addition to this supportive community, the Little Bit Foundation. Miranda Walker Jones, chief executive officer of the Little Bit Foundation, speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony announcing a partnership with East St. Louis School District 189 at Annette Officer Elementary on Feb. 9, 2024. The Little Bit Foundation Walker Jones, who joined Little Bit in 2021, said when the foundations team first met with District 189 staff, they were fighting back tears because of the passion exuded by the teachers willing to do whatever needed to provide for their students. Now, theyll have the resources theyll need right in their school, she said. Walker Jones said she was similarly fighting back tears throughout the mornings celebration. For the East St. Louis native with more than 20 years in nonprofit leadership experience, the foundations expansion into the City of Champions feels like coming home, she said. The whole point of going out and finding success is to come back and share that success with the community, like Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee did. Its that JJK effect, she said. If youre not making sure that the rest of your community is well and that they have what they need, to me, what is that success without being able to turn back around and do that for your community? she said.It means the world to me. She emphasized that while the foundation is starting with Officer Elementary and East St. Louis Senior High School, the plan is to expand into all the citys schools. She also stressed that when Little Bit partners with a school, it doesnt just drop off stuff and leave. It makes a long-term commitment to help that school fill gaps in student needs with dedicated staff and volunteers. When we come, we stay, she said. The foundation is still looking for volunteers in East St. Louis, she said. Those interested can apply online. In her remarks at Friday mornings ceremony, Walker Jones addressed the elementary students directly. You guys should be so proud to be from the City of Champions, and know that you guys are champions, she said. We are looking for you guys to be the future of this community, the future of this country, and thats why we want to pour so much into you all today. Chaymeriyia Moncrief, the founder of Tesix Wireless Network, a prepaid wireless carrier, has restored her service to the public. In 2018, the entrepreneur launched Tesix Wireless when she was a teenager after she saw a gap in the telecommunications space. Since its inception, her company has seen great success in the last several years as it has raked in over $12 million before taxes were deducted, according to Black Business. Although operations have been great, last year she decided to pause operations for new customers to acquire access to her network after she noticed some major changes needed to be done to elevate her prepaid wireless company. She took seven months to put into place concepts that would reshape her product. Starting this week, its ready for more users. Her business bloomed from a place of irritation. When Moncrief turned 18, she was excited to become an independent adult, so much so that she was happy to take on the role of paying for her cell phone at the time. Things were great until she received the bill from her service provider, which exceeded the amount she saw advertised by the well-known carriers. Barely making enough money to survive at Taco Bell, it was hard for her to afford a wireless device. I was 18 years old, working at Taco Bell and making less than $450/month. I was finally old enough to get the phone I wanted on a contract. I thought everything was pay-as-you-see,' she said in an interview with Black Business. I thought I would be paying $90/month something I thought I could handle, but to my surprise, I had so many dierent fees that were resulting in $150 or more bills. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tesix Wireless Network (@tesixwireless) Since the Alabama native was planning on creating a smartphone, which eventually came to fruition in 2020 when it was released, she decided to go bigger and create an affordable phone service for teenagers and young adults. Customers who choose her service will pay $35 or $55 per month, based on the plan they choose. The frustration kind of got worse over time because I found myself spending my entire work checks just to get my phone back on. It finally got to the point I had to go prepaid, Moncrief told Black Business. That pain point kind of stuck with me in the launching of Tesix Wireless years later because of course, launching a wireless carrier was easier said than done. To establish a well-rounded telecommunications company, the main components needed in a great wireless business are having access to cellphone towers, land, and a lot of funds to build the infrastructure. Typically, prepaid carriers work with major networks like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to use their towers. When I learned this at 18 years old, I realized it was nearly impossible to get this kind of access or even that kind of money to launch a carrier. Expensive wasnt even the word for it, she told Black Business. I left the idea alone pretty quickly and it wasnt until a few years later that I realized I needed to lease space on the other major carriers tower to create a prepaid carrier. After learning the tools needed and the right approach, Moncrief set out to make her idea a reality, which steered the wheel for her to become one of the youngest founders of a Black-owned prepaid company at 25 years old. Although her journey hasnt been easy to accomplish this goal and is still thriving years later, so shes grateful just to be a long-standing business that overcame obstacles. When it came to the rebranding and reformation of the company, the technology expert geared up for the future of mobile wireless servicing with ready-to-go activation, embedding AI characteristics for enhanced account management and plan metric tracking. This year we will be putting heavy focus into our marketing, more than ever. The key for us is to continue building brand awareness and increasing our brand credibility because, in this space, that credibility means everything to our growth, she said. I am very excited about the future of the company and everything thats to come. Being a young entrepreneur thats doing groundbreaking work not only for her community but the industry as well. Her experience in technology has helped her be able to build a brand she can navigate. Being in this space has been a major eye-opener over the last 5 years. Ive learned a lot that will allow me to move forward to really build an amazing brand going forward, she said. Tech and telecom are a major part of the future one that we are already entering, and running my startups has allowed me to really position myself for whats to come in the space and to fully understand that there are no limitations. She added, The consistency and drive required to succeed in telecom when youre among giants that take up more than 90% of the space may be very intimidating, but Ive learned that if I can make it 5 years here, I can build something even more incredible. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Mo. A case that garnered national attention involving a Missouri mother and sheriffs deputy is now the topic of a FOX Files podcast. Subscribe to more podcasts like this by searching for FOX 2 in your favorite podcast app. Volunteers looking for Donna Eye, 44, discovered her body in the Mark Twain National Forest on January 17. A preliminary cause of death points to accidental hypothermia, however, the cause of death has not been finalized because the Mineral Area Major Case Squad is waiting on toxicology and other lab analyses. Donna Eye, 44 Eye disappeared after being dropped off by a female Washington County Sheriffs deputy on January 8. On January 11, her family filed a missing persons report. In a new FOX Files podcast, Investigator Mitch McCoy goes in-depth with seasoned law enforcement expert Major Steve Runge. Runge has decades of experience. According to a timeline released by authorities, Eye was released from Washington County Memorial Hospital around 6 p.m. on Jan. 8. Around 11:40 p.m., a female deputy gave her a ride to the area of Shirley School Road. Investigators stated Eye requested to be dropped off at Shirley School Road and Forest Service Road 2375. Eyes brother, Ronald, thinks she was confused because his property is a half mile or mile down the road. He said she has a medical condition that sometimes limits her ability to walk and has mental health issues. Donna was not in any condition to make a decision for herself, Ronald said. After a FOX Files investigation into the womans disappearance, Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen activated the Mineral Area Major Case Squad on January 15. Missouri Catholic first grade teacher fired after lesson on slavery Forest Rangers said they were never notified of Eyes disappearance until the Mineral Area Major Case Squad activation. We will continue the push for accountability of the public entities involved and we dont mean a smack on the hand, Ronald wrote in a statement. We mean the turning in of badges, the loss of licenses, credentials, and the formal charges of those public servants whose actions resulted in us mourning a life carelessly lost. Major Case Squad detectives will send their findings to the prosecutor for a review. Jacobsen said the prosecutors review will also include analyzing the deputys actions. The deputy was providing a community service by transporting her from the hospital to her residence, Jacobsen said. They get to Shirley School Road and Donna tells the deputy, This is where I want out; this is the beginning of my driveway. Jacobsen said hell order an internal investigation to determine if the deputy, who has been on the job for less than a year, violated any policies or procedures. The sheriff said he wants an independent body to review the entire situation and determine whether civilians should be given rides in patrol vehicles. It should never be repeated without a solid review, he said. Jacobsen said he wants the independent group to question if its a service worth providing or if additional safeguards are needed. The sheriff said he would encourage and welcome the entire case file to be released after the investigation is over and the case is closed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Fox host Shannon Bream sparred with Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton on Sunday over whether the GOP had handed Joe Biden and Democrats a messaging victory by bowing to Donald Trumps wishes and killing a bipartisan piece of immigration legislation negotiated in the Senate. Mr Cotton defended Republicans including himself who had voted against the legislation, which died in the Senate this past week after just a few Republicans (including the lead Republican negotiator for the compromise, James Lankford) crossed party lines to vote in favour of it. The move served to hang Mr Lankford out to dry while capitulating to Mr Trump and his loyalists who did not want to see Republicans hand Mr Biden an election-year messaging victory. But it also served to throw into question whether Republican elected officials are serious about addressing border security, or merely wish to use the immigration system in America as a political cudgel. By killing Mr Lankfords compromise with Democrats, Republicans effectively lost their shot at passing what could have been the first real piece of legislation addressing illegal border crossings in a decade while also giving up the opportunity to achieve a number of their own supposed priorities including the construction of fencing along the US-Mexico border. The likelihood of such legislation passing under a Trump presidency is far slimmer. Democrats, meanwhile, have turned on the offence and attacked their Republican colleagues for negotiating in bad faith and being unserious when they claim to want to address illegal border crossings. So President Biden not only gets to blame you guys about the border, but he gets to blame President Trump, who he says tanked this whole deal, saying he wants to keep it alive as a campaign issue and that basically, hes running the GOP at this point, said Bream. Senator Tom Cotton (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Then, she quoted a GOP strategist and former chair of the Nevada Republican Party interviewed by Politico: I dont know how to explain it... Its completely mind-boggling to me, the type of brainwashing that has been done. Mr Cottons defence on Sunday revolved around a typical Republican refrain: that the border compromise did not go far enough. Not all, Shannon. What President Trump saw about this bill is what most Arkansans saw about it, what all but four Republican senators saw, which is that it does not solve the problem, said Mr Cotton. What I want to do, what most Republican senators want to do, what President Trump wants to do is stop the border crisis. But Mr Cottons rebuttal ignores one clear fact: the likelihood of the Senate passing meaningful legislation addressing immigration in any way is now even less likely than before, thanks to Republican antics that have thrown into question their ability to stick to promises made to their political opponents. Most legislation requires 60 votes to pass the upper chamber; Republicans are currently in the minority, and are almost certain to not pick up the number of seats required for a fillibuster-proof majority; obtaining a majority of any kind will be a difficult fight this fall. And Democrats are far less likely to be willing to dole out political concessions to Republicans under a Trump presidency. The only reason they were willing to this time around stemmed from the partys desire to pass a foreign aid supplemental boosting support for Israel (amid its brutal siege of the Gaza Strip) and Ukraine, which is fighting an increasingly desperate battle against Russian invasion forces. Those motivating factors are not likely to still exist under a hypothetical second Trump administration, especially given the possibility that Mr Trump would cut off aid to Ukraine entirely were he to be elected president. Over the weekend, many of those same Republicans found themselves answering new, uncomfortable questions about the 2024 GOP frontrunner after Mr Trump threatened to violate Article 5 of the Nato charter. Meeting of the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland. Photo: Stephane Sejourne on Twitter () In a meeting, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland discussed the idea of mounting a joint resistance against extensive Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns in Europe carried out using coordinated networks of bots and trolls. Source: European Pravda, citing Spiegel. Stephane Sejourne, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, stated that the three capitals have agreed on a joint 'early warning mechanism' to resist influence operations. Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw expect particularly intensive campaigns before the European elections and during the Olympic Games in Paris. Since the summer of 2023, France has actively monitored Russian-led propaganda operations in several European countries, including those targeting French, German, and Polish populations. The large-scale usage of bots and trolls, as well as a network of almost 200 biassed content farms (low-quality online news outlets containing plagiarised, sensationalistic, and often automatically-generated content), has been observed. Paris warns that this was only a preparation for Russias deployment of an even larger campaign ahead of the European elections, aiming to influence public opinion and undermine support for aid to Ukraine. The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently uncovered a systemic disinformation campaign aiming to bolster pro-Russian sentiment within the German-speaking segment of the Twitter (X) social media platform. Annalena Baerbock, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, noted that Russia may blow real Western political issues out of proportion to support its narrative, including criticism directed at certain EU members for not "pulling their weight" in supporting Ukraine. "We must not play into this. Supporting Ukraine is not a competition, but a team effort. Our unity is our strength," she emphasised. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also believes that the 2024 elections will be a prime target for disinformation and foreign interference. Support UP or become our patron! SAN DIEGO The chief of naval operations is bullish on the Navys ability to operate a manned-unmanned fleet within the next decade or so, thanks to the prototyping and learning happening today. The promise of unmanned is actually here, as the Navy today experiments with unmanned systems in U.S. 5th Fleet in the Middle East, U.S. 4th Fleet in Central and South America, and U.S. 7th Fleet in the Pacific, Adm. Lisa Franchetti said Tuesday at the WEST 2024 conference in San Diego. Northrop to showcase Project Scion tech payloads for unmanned vessels She said the Navy is focused on the eventual incorporation of unmanned systems into real-world operations, even if they largely exist today as one-off prototypes. Defense News reported last year that the Navy viewed its manned-unmanned hybrid fleet in three phases: prototyping and experimentation in the five-year Future Years Defense Program, from fiscal 2024 through 2028; buying programs of record and beginning to use them in the next FYDP, from FY29-33; and having a fully operational unmanned fleet in the third FYDP. Franchetti told attendees at the conference hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute and AFCEA that she stands by that timeline and that the Navy would be operating unmanned systems at speed and scale in real-world missions by that third FYDP. U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti pauses between remarks Feb. 13, 2024, at the West conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET) In addition to the experimentation the U.S. Navy is undertaking today, the CNO said the service is focused on creating the infrastructure, networks, concepts of operations and other enablers of future unmanned operations. Franchetti said many of her foreign counterparts are also eyeing unmanned systems for warfighting or for maritime surveillance, creating an opportunity to learn together and partner as the technology matures. She also noted the U.S. Navy already has the MQ-4C Triton flying today out of Guam, with the next detachment standing up soon in at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy, and another detachment out of Bahrain to follow. The CNO added the Navy is still on track to hit initial operational capability for its MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based unmanned refueling aircraft in 2026, which will add range and lethality to the carrier air wing. Not about numbers Franchetti addressed ongoing concerns and criticisms that the Navys manned fleet is too small, sitting at 292 compared to a requirement for more than 380. Its clear that we do need a larger navy, she noted, adding that every Navy study supports that notion. But she added, I look at our navy as part of a broader warfighting ecosystem. Its not about numbers; its about how you put it all together. Its platforms on, under and above the sea; its the networks that enable them; its the cyber; its our work in space; its work with all the joint force. With this all, coupled with the Navys incorporation of emerging technologies, we are the dominant combat warfighting force, she concluded. Franchetti addressed four key technology focus areas during her prepared remarks. First, she said, the fleet is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to allow for condition-based maintenance that frees up sailors to do more important work to keep their ships ready to fight; its using additive manufacturing on large ships like aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships to keep the ships ready; and its using robotics to assess the material condition of ships. Second, she said the drive to incorporate unmanned systems will increase the range and lethality of the manned fleet. Third, she said the Project Overmatch fleetwide connectivity effort will support distributed maritime operations and decision superiority, allowing data to flow reliably when needed. And lastly, she said, the Navy is focused on getting its people ready to use these technologies. In addition to creating more training opportunities and empowering junior sailors who are proficient in using unmanned systems, big data, additive manufacturing and other highly sought-after skills, she said the service is also exploring the establishment of a robotics rating to create a cadre of experts to manage the future manned-unmanned fleet. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) arrives to a luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on February 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images WASHINGTON A $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that passed the Senate overnight has sparked a battle between two of Texas most prominent Republicans, with Attorney General Ken Paxton calling U.S. Sen. John Cornyn an America Last RINO and Cornyn raising Paxtons ongoing legal troubles. Paxton went after Cornyn on social media early Tuesday for supporting the foreign aid bill, writing it is unbelievable that (Cornyn) would stay up all night to defend other countries borders, but not America. Cornyn, a former attorney general, responded: Ken, your criminal defense lawyers are calling to suggest you spend less time pushing Russian propaganda and more time defending longstanding felony charges against you in Houston, as well as ongoing federal grand jury proceedings in San Antonio that will probably result in further criminal charges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Paxton is accused of encouraging investors in 2011 to invest in a technology startup without disclosing that he was being paid by the firm for those referrals. He has pleaded not guilty and the case is expected to go to trial this year. The FBI separately began investigating Paxton in late 2020 after eight of his senior aides accused him of corruption. No charges have been filed and Paxton denies any wrongdoing. Paxton followed that with another post calling Cornyn an America Last RINO who has once again joined hands with the Biden administration to fund and prioritize foreign wars over the national security crisis at the southern border. The feud highlights growing tensions within the GOP over the extent to which the U.S. should continue aiding Ukraines defense against Russian invasion, and what steps should be taken to address record crossings at the southern border. While 22 Senate Republicans supported the foreign aid bill, former President Donald Trump has railed against sending more aid to Ukraine, and House Speaker Mike Johnson released a statement Monday night indicating it would go nowhere in the House. The Senate passed the aid bill after most Republicans including both Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas last week blocked a version of it that included proposals aimed at securing the border, including an overhaul of the asylum system and new presidential powers to immediately turn away migrants at the border. The GOP had long pushed to capitalize on President Joe Bidens desire for more aid for Ukraine to pass sweeping border changes, and the bill was the product of months of bipartisan negotiations. But Trump mounted a pressure campaign against the border proposals, as well, arguing they could deliver Biden a victory months before the presidential election when the two are likely to face each other. Paxton, a close ally of Trumps, called the bill a complete disaster that would destroy our country. Cornyn and Cruz argued the proposal would do too little to slow crossings and said Biden could not be trusted to enforce its provisions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The two senators later split on the foreign aid package when it came back for a vote without the border measures late Monday. Cornyn joined 21 other Republican senators and most Democrats in approving the measure, saying the fact remains that the global threat landscape today is more complex than any point since World War II. While this bill leaves much to be desired and the process that led us here was deeply flawed, our national security is on the line, Cornyn said in a statement. Given the damage the Biden administration has done to our standing on the world stage, this bill represents a renewal of essential American leadership. Cruz, meanwhile, voted against it, saying he cannot in good conscience support this bill without real, substantial additions to bolster border security. It is important that Israel eradicates Hamas, that Taiwan remains resilient against Chinas threats, and that Ukraine defeats Russia. I have consistently supported providing aid to ensure these allies are strong, Cruz said in a statement. However, we must defend our nation first. I will vote to support aid to our allies, but only after Americas border is secured. House Freedom Caucus members gave a hardy push for adding a warrant requirement to an upcoming bill that would extend the nations warrantless surveillance program without the favored provisions from privacy advocates. The House this week is set to review a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on noncitizens located abroad. But surveillance of their communications sweeps in their contacts with U.S. citizens, something privacy advocates view as a backdoor search on Americans. At the end of the day, weve got to make sure that our government cant keep spying on us citizens without a warrant, House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) said at a Tuesday press conference. Simply put, anonymous bureaucrats have abused this tool that was intended for supporting surveillance of threats to spy on American citizens, but conservatives are fighting for strict reforms to this law. FISA Section 702 was set to expire at the end of the year, but it was revived through a roughly three-month extension after House Republicans were unable to reach a consensus on competing packages from the Intelligence and Judiciary committees. A working group from the two panels has continued that discussion, forwarding compromise text Monday that, while an amalgamation of the two bills, more heavily favors the Intel package. The bill includes numerous reforms for the FBI, the agency found to have most frequently improperly queried the 702 database, but does not include a warrant requirement. Instead, it severely limits the number of FBI personnel who can approve an agents search. Adding a warrant requirement has been called a red line by the intelligence community, who, with the backing of the White House, has argued it would severely hamper their ability to review lawfully collected information. Biden administration officials have warned theyd be blind to information they may need to act on in real time. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) dismissed those arguments Tuesday. The narrative from some on the other side is if you have warrants, if you require a warrant for a query, you will kill law enforcement and you will be responsible for dastardly deeds, he said. The Judiciary bill Biggs helped champion included various exceptions to the warrant requirement, which would be carried out by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). I strongly disagree that a requirement for FISC approval of U.S. person queries would amount to a de facto ban, and whats a FISC approval? Its a court order, he said. The press conference showed the rivalry between the Judiciary and Intelligence members is still raw, with many of the 10 members who spoke airing frustration with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and blaming him for favoring the Intelligence product. Several Republicans have been pushing for a queen-of-the-hill-style amendment process an approach first floated by Johnson through which the full House would get to weigh in on the controversial provisions. Freedom Caucus members echoed that call for an amendment process to the bill, one that would allow them to raise the warrant requirement as well as another provision that would bar the U.S. government from buying information from data brokers. As we go forward, Im requesting that the Speaker take his base bill, the leadership base bill and allow us to have a rational amendment process where we can do things like ask for warrants, see if our colleagues want to have warrants, Biggs said. The House Rules Committee is set to take up the bill Wednesday afternoon before it will be considered later this week. The warrant requirement is not just favored by the right wing of the GOP, with the Judiciary bill passing with strong bipartisan support. This reform effort is not your traditional fight that you guys are used to covering where its Republicans versus Democrats, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) said, pointing to other Judiciary co-sponsors including Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and House Judiciary ranking member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). You have a left and right coalition against the center that wants to keep spying on American citizens. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) An alleged copper wire thief at Fresno City College West Fresno Campus was arrested on Friday by the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Police Department. The Fresno City College West Fresno Campus says they suffered a significant amount of copper wire theft, which caused thousands of dollars in damage and impacted the parking lot lighting as well as lighting alongside walking trails and bike baths. Within this investigation, the State Center Community College District Police Department says they developed a plan to catch and arrest who was causing this problem. A team from the SCCCD Police Department went undercover on the campus on Friday night, aided by the use of a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) device, as police say this senses infrared radiation and heat sources, allowing them to observe movement on campus in the dark. In this operation, police say the FLIR device helped officers identify a suspect who was observed committing copper wire theft on the north end of campus. The suspect was arrested as he attempted to flee the scene and has been identified as Joshua Ray Deen, according to police. Officers say they found a large amount of copper wire and burglary tools inside a duffel bag that the suspect attempted to discard. The suspect was booked into the Fresno County Jail on numerous charges. Officers also charged Deen with some prior thefts, as evidence collected then led to Deen. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will give the Fulton County Government more than $2.8 million to assist with caring for homeless populations in the county. According to a release from Fulton County officials, the $2.81 million will be used for renewing and expanding projects in their Continuum of Care program. The program is aimed at reducing unsheltered homelessness throughout Fulton County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We are appreciative of HUDs approval to fund all renewal housing program applicants as well as approving funding to expand three of the programs. These programs and HUDs funding are critical to our efforts to reduce unsheltered homelessness throughout the Fulton County Continuum of Care, Stanley Wilson, Director of the Fulton County Department of Community Development, said in the announcement. County officials said the funding would be put toward specific location projects in addition to programs. TRENDING STORIES: The awarded funds are earmarked for a variety of projects, both existing and new, with the aim of enhancing the FC CoCs capacity to support individuals experiencing homelessness. The allocations include funding for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the Fulton Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and significant investments in coordinated intake and assessment systems, as well as housing and support services provided by entities like CaringWorks and Mary Hall, Fulton County officials said. These projects range from expansion of the Fulton Rise and MOVE programs to initiatives focusing on planning, domestic violence support, and safe housing solutions. According to Fulton County, the following projects were given funds from the award: Awardee Amount Georgia Department of Community Affairs: Fulton Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) $72,659 Fulton County Board of Commissioners: Coordinated Intake and Assessment System $385,751 CaringWorks Fulton Rise $381,223 CaringWorks Fulton Rise Expansion FY23 $123,417 CaringWorks MOVE $497,686 Fulton County Board of Commissioners: Planning $122,889 Mary Hall, Higher Ground- Phase III $374,163 Mary Hall, Marys Heart $247,517 Partnership for Domestic Violence $160,440 Partnership for Domestic Violence Expansion FY23 $187,790 Safe House $120,166 CaringWorks Move Expansion FY23 $140,892 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: I was disheartened when I met with Walter Iwanenko, president of Gannon University, about a lease between Gannon and Erie County government for rights to space in the Blasco Memorial Public Library for the university's Project NePTWNE. He cited statistics, shared by the county executive's administration about the future of public libraries that I feel deserve a deeper consideration. There has also been mention by Erie County Executive Brenton Davis of unused space in the bayfront library and the sharing of misinformation. It is past time for an open discussion on this controversy, including all of the stakeholders; a public meeting that should have occurred before a vote was ever undertaken by Erie County Council. This public meeting must occur before any construction on the part of Gannon University takes place in the main and only public library in Erie's downtown area. The people should demand it. Factual information is essential in decision-making. So, to be informed is key. What is the truth? In an open public forum, the Erie County Executive, president of Gannon University, Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence T. Persico, Erie County Council, library staff and advisory board and the common citizens can all bring their perspectives to the table. The subject can be understood; the truth can be illuminated. More than 100 people attend a public rally, to oppose the leasing of space at Blasco Memorial Library for a university water research center, in front of the library in Erie on Nov. 4, 2023. Organizers were protesting a 25-year lease agreement that was recently approved between the county and Gannon University. Open dialogue with the public, the ordinary people, is the premise the conversation must be built upon. A public library is a local center of information, a place for personal development, where children and all people strengthen their reading habits, where cultural identity within a community is supported. The public library's social importance is serving to provide a meeting place common spaces to interact with others. How could there ever be unused space? A public library serves as an agency for social activism, for positive change by providing information to fuel societal debates. For me, one of the most important purposes for a public library is the role in contributing to a well-informed public, strengthening democracy through empowering the lives of all those who walk through its doors. A public library offers opportunities for people to meet who look and think differently from one another, strengthening empathy, trust, cooperation and communication across differences. The public library is not a partisan entity, even though the government often tries to make it so through actions like book banning and defunding. A public library is not a tourist attraction or just a place for books. Within public libraries you can find resources for entrepreneurs, historical archives, collections for all segments of the population, meeting places, safe places for public discussion. Growth is inevitable. Community programming is the future and requires space. Few public places are left in Erie County. The public library requires nothing of its visitors. There are no purchases that need to be made, no dress code, no membership required, and you don't even need a library card to benefit from the resources of the public library. We live in a society with racial, ethnic, political and socioeconomic divides, but the public library serves without judgement, welcoming all. Public libraries are social equalizers. A public library belongs in Erie's downtown. History tells the story. In a diverse city such as ours with an identified public health problem, "poverty," a gathering place that belongs to everyone people of varied races, incomes and beliefs is crucial to the well-being of our community. Deborah Fallows, co-author with her husband James Fallows of the book "Our Towns," referred to public libraries and those that staff them as "vital to the civic, educational, technological, and even economic life of communities." Unfortunately, I question whether the county executive recognizes the value, vision and dedication of those who keep the library humming and moving into the 21st century. It is time to pause and learn the facts. The county executive, in my view, initiated a process of faulty local governance, driving through a resolution that could not happen today a recent Pennsylvania court ruling clarified the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act saying that adding last minute agenda items of major importance involving expenditure of funds, contracts and agreements is not permissible. Even discussion of such matters should be made public. The Davis administration has not upheld this obligation. It is sad to me that Gannon University has chosen to align itself with the county executive amid the questions and concerns surrounding these actions. Lorraine "Lori" Dolan, of Fairview, has served in community leadership roles, including her tenure as president of the League of Women Voters of Erie and her work with Fair Districts PA. She is a wife and mother, and has received the Erie County Bar Association's Liberty Bell award for strengthening freedom under law. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gannon's Blasco lease was negotiated with no public input LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Arizona authorities are looking for a truck used in the theft of an ATM in Littlefield, just northeast of Mesquite, Nevada, on Interstate 15. The Mohave County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) released photos of a truck and one of two men wanted in connection with the theft. Arizona authorities are looking for a truck used to steal an ATM in Littlefield, Arizona. The truck was stolen in Mesquite, Nevada, before the burglary occurred. (Mohave County Sheriffs Office) The truck was stolen in Mesquite, according to information provided by MCSO on social media. After the truck was used to back into the wall of a gas station in the 4000 block of Fleet St. in Littlefield, two men loaded an ATM onto the vehicle and drove away. Authorities did not say when the burglary occurred, but the information was posted on Sunday. Arizona authorities are looking for two men (one pictured here) in the investigation into the theft of an ATM in Littlefield, Arizona. (Mohave County Sheriffs Office) Authorities asked for the publics help in identifying the men and locating the vehicle. Anyone with information should contact the Mohave County Sheriffs Office at 928-753-0753 or call our toll free number at 1-800-522-4312. Littlefield is about 90 miles from Las Vegas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The last Christmas Day special in 2019 was the most-watched scripted show of the decade - TOM JACKSON/BBC BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey will reportedly return for a new Christmas special. The episode is in development and will be filmed over the summer, according to Deadline. The last Christmas Day special in 2019 was the most-watched scripted show of the decade with over 17 million viewers. Since then, the BBC has relied on Call the Midwife, Mrs Browns Boys and Michael McIntyre game shows to fill the Christmas Day schedule, sparking viewer complaints about the lack of variety and a slump in ratings. The 2019 special ended on a cliffhanger with Nessa (Ruth Jones) proposing to Smithy (James Corden). Corden and Jones, who co-write the series, have faced endless questions about the possibility of the shows return. Corden returned to the UK this year after ending his eight-year stint as host of The Late Late Show in the US. Corden and Jones co-write the series and also star in it as Smithy and Nessa - YUI MOK/PA At the Royal Television Societys Cambridge conference last September, Corden appeared uncertain about the merits of making another Gavin and Stacey episode, saying that it had ended on a perfect note. Honestly, I dont know if well ever do another one. Ruth and I would love to make something together again but I really dont know if that will be Gavin and Stacey, he said. We feel so proud of that last special. And I know people want resolution to that and all manner of other things in the show. But those characters carry on, theyre still out there living and breathing. Some people say to me, I want to know what happens, and I say, So do I. Maybe there was something really perfect about it ending there. Can we truly fulfil peoples ambitions for it? Theres got to be another one But Corden and Jones were photographed together in Soho in November, prompting speculation that they were meeting to discuss a new episode. According to Deadline, the majority of the cast members will return, including Mathew Horne and Joanna Page in the titular roles. Page said in December that she hoped the show would come back. They dont tell us anything and Ive never asked, she said. After filming [the 2019 special] I did think, There is another one. Theres got to be another one. Weve got to find out what Smithy says! But as times going by, Ive started to think, Well, maybe its been too long? Maybe there isnt going to be another one. Which makes me sad because Id love to do another one. If they do, I hope they hurry up because were all getting old. The 2019 special sparked controversy with a scene in which Nessa and Bryn, the latter played by Rob Brydon, sang Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and included the homophobic slur faggot. The BBC received 900 complaints and the word was removed from iPlayer and repeats of the show. The BBC declined to comment. 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. Palestinians inspect the damage to residential buildings in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than 1.4 million people fled to escape Israeli bombardment. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) Standing before an open gap where the windows of her family's sixth-floor apartment were blown out, Sara Ashour watched the bombing of Rafah move ever closer Monday. "We began to wonder when the roof would fall over our heads," the 23-year-old marketing content writer said. "We're high up, so we could see everything in front of us like a live broadcast. ... I wouldn't wish a night like this even on the Israelis." Israeli officials described the hourlong barrage in Rafah as a "diversion," to allow a special forces team to mount a rescue operation of two hostages. At least 74 Palestinians were killed in the process, Gaza health authorities said. Soldiers in southern Israel drive toward the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border attack in Israel. (Ariel Schalit / Associated Press) For the 1.4 million people almost two-thirds of the Gaza Strip's besieged population now crammed into this city along the Egyptian border, fears are spreading that an Israeli ground assault in Rafah would leave them with no place to escape. "The sound of the strikes we heard last night ... you couldn't imagine it," said Jamalat al Kurd, a 52-year-old homemaker from Rafah. "You're too afraid to move because you don't know what's coming from above, so we just stayed inside." Israeli authorities previously designated Rafah as an area safe from bombardment, causing the city's population to balloon to more than four times its original number. Six additional families took refuge in Al Kurd's apartment building alone. "If they attack Rafah, where can we go? The Egyptian border? The sea?" she asked. A single mother her husband had died in Israel's 2009 campaign in Gaza Al Kurd is taking care of her five kids as well as the children of relatives and friends displaced from other parts of the territory. "If we leave, whom do I choose to carry?" she asked. "The month-old infant, or the 2-year-old? It's no choice. Better to be killed with my family than suffer displacement." Palestinians in Rafah sit by the destruction Monday from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press) Egypt has warned Israel it will keep its border with Gaza sealed to prevent wide-scale displacement of Palestinians onto its territory with no clarity as to when they can return to the enclave. Monday's barrage comes more than four months into the most devastating conflict the Gaza Strip has witnessed, triggered by the militant group Hamas' blitz operation on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 people, two-thirds of them civilians. About 240 Israelis and foreigners were kidnapped and brought back to Gaza, according to Israel's official tally. Israel's retaliatory campaign has so far killed 28,340 people, most of them women and children, health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza say. It has destroyed buildings and infrastructure, leveling neighborhoods in the Detroit-sized territory. Israeli officials say an attack in Rafah now will finish off Hamas and free remaining hostages. After the nighttime raid that rescued two Israeli-Argentine men Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that "only the continuation of military pressure, until complete victory, will result in the release of all our hostages. Hostages Fernando Simon Marman, right, and Luis Har, second from left, hug relatives at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Monday after being rescued in the Gaza Strip. (Associated Press) The prospect of such a move has spurred a wave of opprobrium from aid organizations and governments, including some staunch Israel allies. After meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday, President Biden said an operation in Rafah shouldn't proceed without "a credible plan" to ensure the safety of those sheltering there. "Many people there have been displaced, displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north and now they're packed into Rafah, exposed and vulnerable," he said. "They need to be protected. And we've also been clear from the start, we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza." Officials from the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar met Tuesday in Cairo to try to forge another truce in Gaza. Saudi Arabia, which in recent years has flirted with normalizing relations with Israel, warned of "very serious repercussions." Some of the sharpest criticism came from Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, who said countries such as the U.S. should take concrete steps to blunt Israel's military response. "If you believe too many are being killed, maybe you should provide less arms in order to prevent so many being killed," he said Monday at a news conference in Brussels. Hamas, meanwhile, said a Rafah offensive would snarl any negotiations over hostages. A land incursion would be "catastrophic" for humanitarian deliveries into the strip, said one international aid logistics worker who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment. The area around Rafah, including the crossing between Gaza and Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel, are the primary routes for delivering aid. "An attack would essentially put a hard stop on all that, with no guidance on alternate entry points," the aid worker said, adding that most entities organized their supply chains from Egypt, but those coming in from Jordan would also be affected. Gazans who sought escape from the violence in Rafah are now wondering whether they should flee once more and if so, where? "I left my home in north Gaza more than 3 months ago, and I've yet to find a single square centimeter in Gaza where it's safe," said Ziyad al Najjar, 63, who was dismantling his tent and getting ready to move his 16 family members to be closer to relatives in the Zawaydeh neighborhood. A Palestinian woman walks past the destruction from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Monday. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press) Nearby, Zuhair Khalaf, a retired civil servant from Rafah, was also thinking about leaving the city. He's been listening to Israeli military officials on various radio stations to figure out the safest destination. But no options seemed good: He'd heard military officials on Israeli radio saying north Rafah was meant to be safe. But that's just south of Khan Yunis, he said, where there's massive fighting now, so how could he go there? The western part of Rafah, meanwhile, was full of people from north Gaza. To flee east was impossible; that would take them to open fields near the border with Israel where there would be no protection from air attack. Palestinians mourn a child killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Rafah on Monday. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press) After watching the bombardment Monday stop short of her family home, Ashour said the most she could hope for was that the Israeli army would drop leaflets before the assault reached her, instructing civilians how to move away from the fighting. "We're waiting on them to do that," she said. "We just hope there isn't a tank in front of our doorway tomorrow morning." The Times special correspondent in Gaza cannot be named for security reasons. Staff writer Bulos reported from Beirut. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gemma Collins announced her engagement to Rami Hawash for the third time after the businessman proposed during their Maldives getaway. The former The Only Way Is Essex star shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of the couple in which she is seen flashing a diamond engagement ring. She wrote on her story: Get ya hats ready. This is it. According to The Sun, the reality star had no idea Hawash was going to pop the question and was shocked by the proposal during their tropical getaway. The source shared: Rami popped the question again in the Maldives, and Gemma had no idea it was coming, she was so shocked. She is absolutely thrilled and she cant believe it is finally happening. She didn't know what was happening until a huge platter of cakes came out and as Gemma started eating her mango dessert, Rami surprised her and said, look at that. He had lit up, Will You Marry Me? on the sand. The couple first met in 2011 and got engaged two years later when Hawash proposed by hiding a ring in a Christmas pudding. However, just four weeks later, Collins ended the engagement. But during lockdown, seven years after their split, the couple reconciled and got back together. They then got engaged again in 2021. The couple had intially planned to marry this summer, but last July, Collins disclosed that they had opted to cancel their wedding arrangements and concentrate on other priorities. Their joyous news comes a week after Collins opened up about her battle to lose weight. The Diva Forever star is grappling with several health issues including an underactive thyroid, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome, a group of health problems that puts a person at risk of type 2 diabetes or conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels. She wrote on Instagram that she had been eating chicken and drinking water for a week and working out for two hours a day but had lost only 0.4lbs. Sharing her frsutration, Collins penned: Why can I master everything except weight loss? Im gonna keep showing up and Im gonna keep going against all odds but some days it just breaks you. Shout out too all the people who feel this. Can you IMAGINE!!! Eating a handful of chicken and water for a whole week and working out I was shook when the scales said .4 METABOLIC SYNDROME. UNDERACTIVE THYROID. PCOS, the struggle is real but like F will it stop me. The Federal Communication Commission has now made it illegal to use AI-generated voices to place robocalls over reasons that it could be used to manipulate voters. A unanimous decision from the commission was made last week restricting AI and pre-recorded voice messages for junk calls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. According to the FCC declaratory ruling, the implementation will help the commission and other agencies in "putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice." The commission pointed out AI robocalls can only be made if the callers "have obtained prior express consent" from the receiver, including providing "certain identification and disclosure information." The announcement came after AI-spliced voice messages of President Joe Biden went viral in New Hampshire, telling voters not to attend the Democrat primary in the state. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel also cited the AI-faked video of Tom Hanks promoting dental plans and the explicit images of Taylor Swift as aspects of AI that pose "new challenges to consumers." Also Read: New Hampshire Traces Biden AI Audio Deepfake to Texas Company US Gov't Starts Cracking Down on AI Disinformation Following the news of the AI-recorded voice of Biden, more and more politicians have started echoing calls for stricter regulations on AI use, especially to political figures. One particular was House Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat, pushed to further clarify the definitions of robocalls under the Supreme Court decision. It is worth noting, however, that the US has still to implement a standardized rule to regulate all applications of AI. So far, Biden has issued an executive order to seize opportunities and manage emerging risks of AI to the country. Several obligated departments have already provided their proposals on managing emerging risks brought by AI. Related Article: Democrats Push for Gov't Crack Downs on Deepfakes, AI Robocalls More AI-Powered Disinformation Expected for 2024 Elections Several digital experts have alerted people and the government that AI-fueled disinformation will rise as the 2024 Elections advance. Many websites have already been detected in the past months disseminating bogus information at a faster rate thanks to AI. So far, OpenAI has started to restrict the impersonation of known personalities through DALL-E and ChatGPT. Social media platforms have also implemented more rules on AI use, including disclosures that an image or video was generated by AI. Germany has pledged to fulfill its NATO commitment and reach the target of spending 2% of GDP on defense this year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, Reuters news agency reported on Feb. 12. Germany and Europes defense industry must switch toward mass production of arms as the war in Ukraine exposed how European manufacturers struggled to meet demand for ammunition, Scholz said. Read also: Scholz warns of looming arms shortage in Ukraine despite Western aid We have to move away from manufacturing towards large-scale production of defense equipment, Scholz said. Not only the United States, but all European countries must do even more to support Ukraine. The pledges made so far are not enough. Germanys power alone is not enough. The German army and defense industry can now rely on Berlins commitment to reach the 2% of NATO target, he said. Read also: EU falling short in support for Ukraine Chancellor Scholz That is urgently needed, the German Chancellor said. Because as harsh as this reality is: we do not live in times of peace. If Ukraines partners donated just 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraines struggle against Russia, this would win the war, said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Feb. 8. Donald Trump said on Jan. 11 that he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO member that fails to meet the Alliances financial obligations. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine German defense companies are unable to produce as many shells as Ukraine needs The Ukrainian military currently needs more than 2 million artillery rounds annually, and German domestic production cannot meet the demand, Armin Papperger, CEO of German defense contractor Rheinmetall, said in a comment to Bild on Feb. 12. Read also: Borrell: EU to deliver over one million artillery shells by years end "In total, we want to produce up to 700,000 artillery shells per year," said Papperger. It will take Germany 10 to 15 years to replenish its own stocks alone, he added. In early May 2023, the EU adopted a program to provide Ukraine with one million artillery shells by the end of 2023. The European Defense Agency signed the first contracts for the joint purchase of artillery shells for the Ukrainian military on Sept. 5, 2023. European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said during a press conference on Nov. 13 that EU countries may not be able to supply Ukraine with one million artillery shells by the end of 2023, as previously planned. Read also: Borrell plans strategic equipment aid for Ukraine Macron According to him, the European Union has completed the first part of the supply plan. As part of this stage, Ukraine received shells that were already in the arsenals of the bloc's member states. In total, about 300,000 artillery shells were delivered. Read also: Avdiivka may fall due to artillery shells shortage, says war veteran Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Nov. 29 that the European Union would provide Ukraine with the previously promised one million rounds of ammunition, but the timing of the delivery remained an open question. Read also: Ukraine to produce thousands of long-range strike drones in 2024 European Commission spokesperson Johanna Bernsel said at a briefing in Brussels on Jan. 11 that the European Union will be able to produce one million rounds by the end of winter 2024. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on Feb. 1 that the EU countries had failed to meet the goal of supplying Ukraine with one million shells, even though their production had tripled. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser gives a press conference on measures against right-wing extremism in Berlin, Tuesday Feb. 13, 2024. Faeser said Tuesday that she aims to make it easier to trace right-wing extremists' financing and plans to set up an early recognition unit to detect far-right and foreign disinformation campaigns as early as possible. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) Germany's top security official said Tuesday that she aims to make it easier to trace right-wing extremists' financing and plans to set up an early recognition unit to detect far-right and foreign disinformation campaigns as early as possible. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser's proposals follow large protests against the far right in Germany in recent weeks. They reflect growing concern after a report said extremists met to discuss deporting millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship, and that some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, whose support has doubled since the country's 2021 election, were present. Germany's domestic intelligence agency says the number of far-right extremists has been rising. In 2022, it reached 38,800, with 14,000 of them considered potentially violent. The agency's head, Thomas Haldenwang, said the numbers are believed to have risen again last year. Faeser said efforts to shut down extremists' financing have been hampered because financial investigations are limited to inciting and violence-oriented movements. She suggested that the law be changed to make a group's threat potential grounds for such investigations, and the proceedings should be faster and less bureaucratic. No one who donates to a right-wing extremist organization should be able to rely on remaining undiscovered, she said. Faeser added that she's working with regional authorities on preventing right-wing extremists from entering or leaving the country. German right-wing extremists and foreign autocrats have one thing in common: They want to stoke rage and divide, above all through disinformation, Faeser said. She pointed to fake accounts and, increasingly, AI-generated photos and videos as a problem. The early recognition unit," based at the Interior Ministry, should start work hopefully in a few months, she said, stressing the importance of catching manipulation and influence campaigns early. Twenty fun dates, then sudden silence. All around the dating world, the spectre of ghosting haunts those first few weeks of getting to know each other. One therapy centre specializing in ghosting is now helping victims to overcome the shame and fears they are left with. Christin Klose/dpa "I don't think things are going to work out between us." It's a sentence that seems too final, too absolute. What if my date from last weekend thinks I'm arrogant for writing a text like that? Instead, maybe not texting or talking to them at all will make things easier. But for whom? Mostly just for the one doing the ghosting. It can happen to anyone, and "Charlie's Angels" star and talk show host Drew Barrymore revealed in a 2022 interview with People magazine that she, too, had been a victim. Early in the 2000s, the term "ghosting" emerged in the Western dating scene to describe when someone suddenly cuts off all communication and contact without any warning or explanation. Ghosting is not the same as a breakup, says psychologist Anja Wermann, who herself was ghosted at the end of 2020. "When you split up, you usually see it coming, you might have a conversation to end the relationship. When it comes to ghosting, however, the reason for ending things is never given," the psychologist says. Since 2021 Wermann has been running a therapy centre called the Ghosting Ambulanz (outpatient clinic) for people who've been ghosted. The majority of her clients are women between their late 20s and early 50s, with some men also coming to seek her advice. Some people find it hard to move on from being ghosted years after the event. "Being ghosted always hits hard," says relationship psychologist Eric Hegmann. "If there is one phenomenon today that stands for the fear of non-commitment when getting to know someone, it's ghosting." He also knows the shame people feel after being ghosted. Ghosting is such a "widespread phenomenon" that it is referred to as a "plague" in the dating world, he says. Even though a short-lived relationship may end this way, the silence leaves its mark on future relationships. "People often complain that being ghosted makes it more difficult for them to trust new people," says Hegmann. And what's more: "I have clients who report severe symptoms such as weight loss, dizziness, physical pain, loss of appetite and insomnia." This is why ghosting is being talked about more and more in terms of health and mental health. Health insurance companies are providing advice about it, and there are podcasts and social media pages dedicated to the topic. This makes it clear that the belief that ghosting someone will spare the other person pain is wrong. "It's more the other way round: It takes you longer to get over being ghosted than if you had been given a clear no or goodbye," explains Wermann. Ghosting may sound like a new phenomenon, but it's really a new name for an old thing. People used to talk about being abandoned or jilted, or that someone simply walked out on them. There is a difference, however: "It has never been so easy to make contact with other people," says Hegmann. The internet and apps make it possible to meet people you would otherwise never have met. And it's just as easy to disappear without a trace. This would be different if there was some kind of social control because you know the person from your extended circle of friends, for example. "However, it's never the medium that does the ghosting, but the person," Hegmann points out. "After I was ghosted once, my perspective changed," says Wermann. "I would now always write: 'I'm sorry, it's not going to work out.' I think clear communication is always better." For Wermann it also helped her to believe that she might understand the experience in the future. "And in the meantime you try to move on your life and focus on the positive." Anja Wermann, a psychologist who herself was a victim of ghosting, has set up an outpatient clinic in Berlin called the "Ghosting Ambulanz." Sebastian Gollnow/dpa To victims of ghosting, every smartphone notification can bring hope - and then disappointment - that the person who cut off all contact has now finally responded. Weronika Peneshko/dpa A US agency was reportedly breached last month, compromising the personal information of more than 6,000 employees to hackers. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that it was by its IT service contractor CGI Federal that a data breach accessed information from both current employees and former workers from 2007 to 2017. Other businesses contracted with GAO during the time period may also be affected. The data breach was reported to have occurred on Jan. 17, Wednesday. Reuters first reported the incident. It is uncertain whether the breach was a direct attack on GAO or made via CGI's servers. CGI also provides IT protection for "100 participating agencies," including the State, Justice, Commerce, and Labor departments, according to Reuters. CGI has yet to provide a public statement regarding the data breach. Also Read: FBI Intercepts Alleged Chinese-Sponsored Hacking on the US More Cyberattacks on US Gov't Agencies The threat of a government shutdown has been looming over the past year as more and more government agencies are hit by cyberattacks. Many of the reported attacks have been attributed to Russian- or China-backed cybercriminal groups, most of which supposedly work with the state's intelligence groups. The tension between the three nations has been flaring up as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues. With the rise of AI-powered tools, cybersecurity experts warn of more targeted attacks on state agencies and critical facilities around the US. The past month has already seen several attempts to shut down critical services like water access and internet. This is not to include the ransomware attacks happening to government-contracted businesses as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and rampant. Related Article: FBI Attributes Increasing Cyber Attacks to AI Gov't Actions Hits Back on Bot Networks So far, the US government has started hitting back on bot networks associated with the previous cyberattacks. The Justice Department announced just last month that it is taking steps in "defending our critical infrastructure" from future cyberattacks. Other intelligence departments have also started employing more AI technologies and AI experts to boost its operability and protection from similar incidents. Mentorship is a cornerstone of the infrastructure supporting global health. Transferring knowledge, developing skills and cultivating a supportive professional environment among researchers and clinicians around the world are key to achieving health equity on a global scale. For example, most people in Africa would have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by now if the patented knowledge about the vaccine technology were shared with African scholars and local pharmaceutical companies to produce a generic version. As of October 2023, although over 95% of available doses have been used, less than 52% of the population is fully vaccinated. However, researchers from the Global South countries in the regions of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania with limited resources and a lower standard of living face challenges that impede effective mentorship. One reason is that mentorship is often hierarchical. Mentors, typically from the Global North, or high-income countries, are often seen as more credible than mentees who are mostly from the Global South. Mentees are often described as inexperienced, requiring training and guidance. While mentorships are by definition hierarchical, researchers from the Global South are assumed to lack the skills to adequately implement health programs or conduct research and would benefit from greater experience of scholars from the Global North. Hierarchical relationships, especially those between people from the Global North and Global South, are not mutually beneficial or fair. Based on our personal experiences and research as public health researchers, statisticians and social scientists, we believe that cultural humility and equitable partnerships are key to effective global health projects. Scholars from the Global North and Global South can learn from each other. Decolonizing mentorship in global health, or addressing the historical power imbalances between researchers from the Global North and Global South, can help advance global health for all. Challenges in global health research Some scholars have defined global health as collaborate transnational research and action for promoting health for all. Historically, however, the concept of global health is rooted in Western ideas of who is considered human. Europeans are depicted as the norm or standard, while non-Europeans are depicted as strange or inferior. This hierarchy is omnipresent in knowledge exchange and health resource allocation between the Global North and Global South. For example, the European Union rejected proposals that would have allowed African countries, mostly former European colonies, to manufacture generic COVID-19 vaccines when the 55 million doses the West donated expired in February 2022. Scholarly collaborations between the Global North and Global South are also unequal in power. Notably, most of the major global health institutes are located in the Global North, although the greatest burden of diseases such as HIV and malaria is centered in the Global South. Conferences where researchers gather to learn about new innovations in their field and to network are typically located in high-income countries. Few Global South scholars are able to attend because of travel restrictions and financial constraints, leaving them without guidance on how to navigate and significantly contribute to the field. For example, several scholars from the Global South have noted how visa restrictions and fees affected their ability to attend global health conferences in high-income countries. But even having a visa does not guarantee easy entry. Winifred Byanyima, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, who is originally from Uganda, was traveling to Montreal, Canada, to attend the worlds largest AIDS conference in 2022. She was almost denied boarding a plane, however, despite her high-level position. Moreover, a lack of healthy mentorship cultures and supportive networks among institutions in low- and middle-income countries impedes the professional development of Global South scholars. Furthermore, some current mentorship frameworks and best practices are mostly designed for high-income countries, where there is more institutional support. Language and cultural barriers are often significant obstacles for scholars in the Global South, hindering effective communication and collaboration. Colonialism, or the domination and exploitation of certain groups and individuals, has also influenced how education and research is conducted in the Global South, such that researchers are discouraged from questioning their seniors. This may limit a scholars critical thinking and create communication barriers between mentees and mentors. These hierarchical power dynamics also limit the full potential of cross-cultural learning and knowledge exchange between the Global North and Global South. Decolonizing global health A crucial strategy to empower Global South scholars is to decolonize mentorship. This means recognizing that people have different levels of skills and expertise in different contexts. Mentorship environments characterized by humility and co-learning can help researchers break free from historical power imbalances. This includes acknowledging and valuing the unique perspectives and experiences of scholars from local regions. For example, a researcher from the Global North may be more knowledgeable about a new technology, but a researcher from the Global South may know how best to adapt the technology locally. Tailoring mentorship programs to address the specific needs of scholars in the Global South will also help cultivate a sense of inclusivity and belonging. More even power dynamics between researchers can improve the field. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Imges Recognizing and valuing linguistic diversity can help address language barriers. Establishing communication channels that accommodate various languages would allow scholars to be able to fully participate in the global health dialogue. Finally, breaking the chains of the colonial mindset can help foster more egalitarian relationships in research. Mentors become facilitators of learning instead of dispensers of knowledge. Mentees become active contributors instead of consumers of knowledge. Challenging hierarchical relationships and power imbalances can enable a more collaborative and reciprocal dynamic where both parties benefit. Decolonizing mentorship in global health is not a theoretical concept but an actionable strategy. Addressing the unique challenges that researchers in the Global South face can help bridge the global health divide, allowing local scholars to actively shape the future of the field and their communities. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo, University of Iowa; Brenda Yankam, University of Nigeria, and Engelbert Bain Luchuo, University of Johannesburg Read more: Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo receives funding from National Institutes of Health and University of Iowa Brenda Yankam and Engelbert Bain Luchuo do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Golden Valley Health Centers is seeking students enrolled in, or accepted into, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or bachelor of science in nursing programs to apply for the Flora R. Martinez scholarship. A total of $25,000 in scholarships, distributed as $5,000 to each selected recipient, will be awarded. Nursing is a great career offering lifelong learning and lifelong employment opportunities, said Tony Weber, president and CEO of the not-for-profit GVHC. This scholarship program demonstrates our commitment to cultivating a strong workforce from the talent in our own communities. We know the need for skilled nurses is going to continue and hope that these students might consider GVHC when looking for a place to work. Ana Veloz was a 2023 recipient of this scholarship. The Atwater native is in her final year of nursing school at California State University, Stanislaus. I am a first-generation college student. My sisters actually a registered nurse, as well, so she kinda took the nursing route before me, Veloz said. I was about to start my last year of nursing school and I didnt know how Im gonna be able to afford all this. So I heard about the opportunity and I applied. Thank God that I received it. I was so grateful. Veloz is currently doing an internship in the emergency department at Memorial Medical Center. She said she plans to stay in the region. I grew up in the Central Valley, and I see that theres such a need for bilingual nurses. I just noticed (there are) not a lot of Spanish-speaking nurses in the ER, she said. She plans to become a nurse in an emergency department and maybe go into healthcare education in the future. Veloz offered advice to prospective scholarship applicants: If youre contemplating applying, go into depth on your personal insight questions. Tell them what youre gonna use the money for and why youre so passionate about nursing. Because the demand for skilled nurses in the Central Valley is so great, Golden Valley Health Centers has awarded 35 scholarships since its inception in 2014. Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Amy Collier Carroll said, There is an enormous demand for nurses in the Valley and across the state. California Primary Care Association reports a projected shortfall over the next decade in this state that reflects the need for more than 4,000 primary care providers, 44,000 nurses and 15,000 behavioral health providers. The Central Valley is an area considered a health care desert, so the need is dire here. The application period opened Feb. 1 and ends March 31. Students must reside in Stanislaus, Merced or San Joaquin counties, be enrolled or accepted in an RN, LVN or BSN program (CNA and FNP are not eligible), maintain a 3.0 gpa or higher in the last four completed high school or college semesters and submit the application with documentation and signature by the deadline. Candidates will also be asked to write a letter describing their career goals and why they are pursuing nursing. To apply and for full details, please visit www.gvhc.org/foundation/scholarships. Our review panel is mainly looking for people who are rooted in our community and care deeply about improving the health and well-being of our community, Carroll told The Bee. We are always thinking about diversity, as we serve a diverse community and we want the workforce to reflect the populations we care for. There is no requirement that a scholarship recipient goes to work for GVHC after graduation, she said, and we do not incentivize the award winners, but we hope they would consider a career at our clinics. The Republican-controlled Missouri House on Monday passed a bill that would ban local governments from issuing eviction moratoriums as lawmakers take aim at housing laws in Kansas City and St. Louis. The legislation, filed by Rep. Chris Brown, a Kansas City Republican who also co-owns a family real-estate business, enjoys the support of landlord and realty groups, such as the Missouri Association of Realtors. It would prohibit county and local governments from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless approved by state law. The House approved the bill in a 111-26 vote with 15 Democratic lawmakers voting present. Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican who voted in favor of the bill, said on the floor Monday that municipalities enacted eviction moratoriums the first time they got a chance, an apparent reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like a thief in the night, those municipalities swept in and took those authorities away from the property owner, Perkins said. This is a property rights bill at its base. The legislation comes nearly four years after the Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily halted evictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar bills in Missouri have long faced resistance from tenant advocacy groups that argue the legislation places landlord profits over renters lives. It is regressive, said Tara Raghuveer, the director of KC Tenants, a group that advocates for renters. Raghuveer pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that eviction moratoriums were an important life-saving measure at the time. It shows a concerning lack of learning from a time that I think could have taught us very important lessons about how to care for one another and our neighbors and our communities, Raghuveer said. Health Forward Foundation, a Kansas City-based health care advocacy group, testified against the legislation last month saying that it limits local governments abilities to meet the needs of their communities during public health crises. Because of the moratoria across the US in place during the COVID-19 outbreak, people who may have been otherwise exposed to the virus were safely sheltered in homes, the group said in written testimony. It had real, beneficial outcomes for peoples health. The organization said that eviction moratoriums were also a key tool to help reduce health disparities by race. The legislation now heads to the Missouri Senate, where its future is unclear as senators have yet to pass a single bill this year amid GOP infighting. Mondays vote comes as Missouri Republican lawmakers are also pushing separate legislation that would ban local governments from requiring landlords to rent to people who pay rent with federal housing assistance. Lawmakers held a hearing on that bill, filed by Rep. Ben Keathley, a Chesterfield Republican, late last month. It comes on the heels of a new Kansas City ordinance that requires landlords to rent to people who pay the bulk of their rent with federal housing assistance vouchers. The federal governments Section 8 program pays 70% of the rent for low-income people who qualify. Seventeen states, 21 counties and 85 cities had laws as of September 2022 prohibiting landlords from refusing to accept housing choice vouchers or from discriminating against renters based on their source of income, according to previous reporting. I dont think its right for government to be injecting itself and telling landlords you must accept these types of voucher systems and all the regulation and controls that go along with them, Keathley said in an interview. While much of the debate on the two Missouri bills has centered on landlord groups and tenant organizations, critics say theyre also the latest example of Republican-led legislation that attempts to strong-arm local officials in Democratic-leaning cities. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in a statement on Monday said that the Kansas City housing assistance ordinance, which goes into effect in August, struck a balance between housing more families and securing protections for housing providers. Kansas City will be a better place because of this policy, Lucas said. I urge lawmakers in Jefferson City to respect the broad consensus this compromise policy secured at the local level. But Stacey Johnson-Cosby, the president of a coalition of landlord groups called the Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance, pushed back against the Kansas City ordinance. She predicted it will cause landlords who offer affordable housing to sell their properties, resulting in rent skyrocketing. It is ridiculous for the government to overreach and try to put limits on small local businesses, said Johnson-Crosby, who supports both Missouri bills. That, to me, just doesnt make sense. Its an anti-business law. Eviction moratoriums in Missouri More than 25,000 eviction filings have been made in Kansas City since mid-March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. There were 9,051 filings in the past year. The legislation targeting eviction moratoriums comes in response to local agencies such as the circuit courts in Jackson County and St. Louis that temporarily halted evictions in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily suspended the issuance of writs for two months to protect the health of the public and court employees. In landlord-tenant cases, writs are delivered by process servers to tenants requiring the tenant to be evicted from the property, according to previous reporting. St. Louis Circuit Court suspended eviction proceedings from mid-March 2020 through July 2020. The St. Louis City Council later passed a 15-day eviction moratorium in December 2021. Missouri never implemented a statewide eviction moratorium. Brown, the bill sponsor, said little about the legislation on the floor on Monday other than clarifying that local governments would only be able to enact eviction moratoriums if allowed by state law or an order from the governor. The bill, he said, appeared to have support from some members of both parties. But for Raghuveer from KC tenants, both Missouri housing bills lay the groundwork for overreach of state government into local matters. They both come, she said, from an industry thats trying to preempt progress by taking local issues to state lawmakers. Theyre deeply related, Raghuveer said of the two bills. When tenants and local communities are making moves in the direction of sound policy and progressive policy, theyre taking their complaints to the state. Help may be on the way for Kentuckys early childhood education centers. Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, announced Tuesday hes filing the Horizons Act, a bill that would invest $300 million over the next two years into early childhood education. Industry leaders say an influx of cash is badly needed to keep these child care centers afloat as pandemic-era federal dollars run out. Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics Newsletter A must-read newsletter for political junkies across the Bluegrass State with reporting and analysis from the Lexington Herald-Leader. Never miss a story! Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics newsletter to connect with our reporting team and get behind-the-scenes insights, plus previews of the biggest stories. This transformational piece of legislation and the accompanying $150 million per year appropriation request will go a long way toward averting the pending crisis we are about to face if we dont act with purpose and certainty, Carroll said during a news conference announcing the bill. Were already seeing these crises beginning in other states that have ignored this issue. A January report from Kentucky Voices for Health and the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy warned of possible widespread childcare center closures, tuition hikes and employee wage cuts or layoffs without a substantial investment from the state to make up for $330 million in annual federal funding thats running out. The two groups surveyed 770 child care directors and owners, representing 117 of Kentuckys 120 counties. Of those respondents, 59% said their center would have closed already without federal dollars. Carroll said the commonwealths investment in child care is insignificant because many see early childhood education as nothing more than babysitting. We do our youngest students a huge disservice by not considering them as student and investing in them beginning the day they are born, Carroll said. This must change. Carrolls 50-page bill includes provisions that would: Require the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to offer an associates degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education entrepreneurship and add it to the list of eligible programs for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship. Establish the Division of Regulated Early Childhood Education within the Inspector Generals office and the Division of Early Childhood Education within the Department for Community Based Services, both housed within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. This removes references to the existing Division of Child Care and the Division of Regulated Child Care. Establishes four grant-making funds for the purpose of increasingly the availability of early childhood education services. Covers the cost of background checks for employees of early childhood education centers to the extent money is available to do so. Codifies eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program at 85% of the state median income and maintains the presumptive eligibility for child care workers. As a provider, I cannot tell you the benefit that that has brought. We have been fully staffed at our center, said Carroll, who is also CEO of Easterseals West Kentucky, a nonprofit that includes child care among its services. We have about 100, 110 kids, two or three times in the last several months. First time that has happened that I can remember. Charles Aull, Executive Director of the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research, said while this bill is about early childhood education, its also very much about workforce participation and economic development. As of December 2023, Kentuckys workforce participation rate was 57%, compared to 59% in December 2019, he said. About 40,000 workers have left the labor market entirely, he said. Aull cited census data and several surveys that show childcare responsibilities are a major reason Kentuckians leave the workforce. Among those figures is the finding that nearly 63,000 non-working Kentucky adults have cited caring for children not in school or childcare as their main reason for not working. These trends are simply not sustainable trends, and they are going to hold back our economy and hold us back from reaching the common goals that all of us in this room all share, he said. What we need is a strong workforce development strategy, and ensuring that parents have access to high-quality child care and educational opportunities for their children should be a foundational part of that strategy. Sarah Vanover, Policy and Research Director for Kentucky Youth Advocates, said Kentucky should not wait until a child is old enough for kindergarten to provide them with a health learning environment. When we have educated teachers that are supported in quality learning environments, we have children that are much more likely to be prepared for kindergarten, to have higher reading scores and math scores in third and fourth grade, and to be productive members of the workforce later on, she said. We start 20 years in advance to make sure that they are part of that workforce, and that means starting at birth with quality early education environments. Carroll said his colleagues in the legislature have a decision to make. We can either fall into the pit that other states are falling in right now because they have ignored the impending crisis, he said, or we can step up and we can take the lead in this nation in this area. We can tell business and industry within the commonwealth, those that are looking to come to the commonwealth, that providers in our commonwealth and families, our kids, you mean something to us and were going to invest in you. A San Francisco crowd just vandalized and set a Waymo driverless taxi on fire as the tension between residents and driverless car companies heightens. Videos of the car being totaled show several bystanders cheering the crowd while others record people slipping fireworks into the vehicle. Google's Waymo Autonomous car set on fire in San Francisco. 1. Fireworks start at Grant Ave x Jackson Street (Chinatown) for Lunar New Year 2. Waymo car got stuck immediately in front 3. Car vandalized, windows broken, fireworks put inside the car and blown up. #sf pic.twitter.com/gWbiLkmadr February 11, 2024 The incident occurred in San Francisco's Chinatown on Saturday night. Several eyewitnesses said the crowd was celebrating the Lunar New Year when the attack happened, Reuters reported. The damaged robotaxi was not carrying any passengers at the time of the attack. The city's fire department immediately put out the fire after it started. No injuries were reported. In response, Waymo dismissed the incident as a "one-off event" and will "continue serving riders during today's festivities." It is worth noting that the incident happened during the Super Bowl LVIII where the San Francisco 49ers lost to Also Read: San Francisco Sues California Regulators for Allowing Self-Driving Cars in the City San Francisco Mayor Slams Waymo Incident Following the incident, San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a statement on Monday condemning the group responsible for putting nearby establishments at risk. Breed considered the attack as an "isolated incident." It is worth noting that Breed has previously expressed criticisms for the technology due to its rapid expansion to the city. As of writing, no arrest was made yet. The investigations into the arson are still ongoing. Growing Discontent on Driverless Cars While companies and city officials have been dismissing the attack as a "one-off" incident, tensions between residents and driverless car companies have been growing over the past months. Just last month, San Francisco's general attorney sued California's Public Utilities Commission for "unlawfully" allowing the companies to operate in the city amid safety concerns. Many of the safety tests Waymo and other accredited driverless car companies provided were conducted by the company itself without much involvement from state officials. It did not help that a Waymo collided with a cyclist in San Francisco last week, further intensifying people's call to suspend driverless vehicle operations in the city. Concerns for safety violations started after a Cruise robotaxi hit a pedestrian before dragging them for 20 feet last October. California has already suspended Cruise's driverless testing license. Related Article: Uber, Lyft, DoorDash Drivers Plan Fair Pay Strike on Valentine's Day Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams $500 million plan to create a market for treated brackish, and oil and gas wastewater, faces an unexpected time crunch after it was struck this weekend from a list of long-term funding proposals. The governors much-touted Strategic Water Supply will now have to face the gauntlet of committees and chamber votes with a few days left in the session. Sen. George Munoz (D-Gallup), who chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee, told Source New Mexico Sunday that the measure was removed from the capital outlay package, which is scheduled to go before the Senate Finance Committee later today. Its in flux, Munoz said in the interview, adding that the Strategic Water Supply bill will contain more details about the proposal. Capital outlay projects which involve local improvement and construction projects are often wrapped into the budget process, and are approved in one fell swoop. Munoz expressed misgivings about the states plans to make water into a commodity, and said he wants more information, considering its a half-billion dollar request. Maddy Hayden, a spokesperson for the governor, confirmed the Strategic Water Supply is no longer in the capital outlay package, and that a bill will be brought forward. There was no further comment on the bills chances. Its unclear what chamber the bill will be introduced in, and which lawmaker would be the sponsor. No new bill was introduced Sunday before the Senate adjourned. The deadline to introduce legislation passed on Jan. 31. However, the water initiative can be brought forward by amending an already-filed bill. This marks a shift from Lujan Grishams optimism at a press conference Friday that the measure was funded in the capital outlay package, and that she would continue to push for future water funding. You should expect me to push harder on some of that, the strategic water supply is a really important first step to making sure that were creating revenue that we can then apply to protecting our drinking water and freshwater, Lujan Grisham said on Friday. The governor warned of a more expensive future. I think that were going to have to do a lot more on water in general, water is going to cost every state including this one, hundreds of billions of dollars, she told Source NM. A lot of money to spend on something thats not proven yet The $500 million-proposal has prompted fierce pushback from climate groups and advocates, who said that neither the treatment science nor the states water data is sufficient. For every barrel of oil, New Mexico produces four barrels of produced water, according to the Office of the State Engineer. The water contains contaminants such as sand, dissolved oils, radioactive materials, hydrocarbons, and proprietary additive chemicals used in fracking. Last year, New Mexico pumped more than 64 billion gallons of produced water which outstrips the states daily municipal water consumption. Melissa Troutman, a climate and energy advocate for WildEarth Guardians, said that the state still doesnt have guidance from scientists about treatments that will work beyond small, laboratory experiments. Its a terrible, very risky investment by the state on unproven technology, and nobodys asking for the science, Troutman said. Half a billion dollars is a lot of money to spend on something thats not proven yet. Troutman is also a member of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, a private-public entity thats supposed to provide the data for using oil and gas wastewater outside of the industry. The consortiums working groups have not met recently, Troutman said. On Sunday, Troutman said shes looking forward to seeing more information on the governors water initiatives in a bill, if and when it arrives. I like that its becoming its own thing, it certainly deserves to have a larger conversation around it, Troutman said. Julia Bernal (Sandia), the executive director of Pueblo Action Alliance, said the effort to treat produced water is a bailout for the oil and gas industry, and focuses too much on making a profit off of the solution rather than scaling back use of fossil fuels. Its this backwards thing because oil and gas is causing climate change, yet, were also going to rely on that same industry to implement a just transition, I mean, that just doesnt make sense for me, Bernal said. While Bernal supports efforts to improve clean up and even examine brackish water (salty water found in deep aquifers), she said the plans to do so are vague and missing water data. I dont think anybody should be sure about it, because studies need to be done she said. Even with desalinated water plants, we have to ask where is that waste going to go? I dont know, will the state build new pipelines to transport waste from here to there? Theres just a lot of uncertainty at this point, Bernal said. What exactly is the Strategic Water Supply? Lujan Grisham first announced the plans for the Strategic Water Supply during a November climate summit in Dubai. Treated produced water could be used for building a clean energy economy by replacing water used in solar and wind manufacturing, she said, adding the water could be used for hydrogen fuel production which has failed before in previous sessions. Since then, few details have been shared. The initiative is a cornerstone of the long-awaited 50-year water plan Lujan Grisham announced in January. The 23-page document that came with the announcement, does not elaborate on legislative action beyond securing $500 million in severance tax bonds for investment. The plan notes in a return on investment that the state would have 100,000 acre feet of new water by 2028, but does not provide any supporting documentation for that figure. The water plan said the effort will reduce risk for private companies looking to build desalination and produced water treatment facilities to convert brackish groundwater and oil and gas sector wastewater to valuable resources. In December, the New Mexico Environment Department announced it would be updating rules to allow for pilot projects for treating brackish, produced and wastewater treatment projects. Those projects are closed, meaning they cant be discharged into surface waters or aquifers. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney and State Engineer Mike Hamman have made presentations before the legislature promoting the idea during the session. In a Jan. 22 presentation to the Senate Finance Committee, Kenney said the state government would be a middleman in purchasing treated oil and gas wastewater or desalinated brackish water from contractors who treat it, and provide it for industrial uses. The state will ideally have a match for every barrel produced, there would be a consumptive use of that water, Kenney told lawmakers. So it would never fit into the scenario that it would be discharged into the environment. In that January meeting, Munoz called the idea of making the brackish and produced water a commodity absolutely scary. Danielle Prokop covers the environment and local government in Southern New Mexico for Source NM. Her coverage has delved into climate crisis on the Rio Grande, water litigation and health impacts from pollution. She is based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gov.'s half-billion bid on Strategic Water Supply wobbles Milton voters will head to the polls a day later than originally planned for a referendum on whether to comply with a state zoning reform law, and Gov. Maura Healey hopes theyll fill in the bubble for yes. On the ballot is a high-stakes vote on a zoning plan that would clear the way for more development of multifamily housing, which supporters -- including Healey -- contend is needed to address a statewide lack of affordable homes that is stifling economic growth and pushing residents to leave. Milton Town Meeting approved the new plan in December, but opponents who see more development as harmful to the suburb pushed for a referendum at the ballot box. My message to voters is that if you want your kids to be able to afford to live here in Massachusetts, if you want to be able to continue to live in Massachusetts as you get older, if you want our companies and our businesses growing and expanding, we need housing across the state, and we need communities like Milton and communities across the state to do what needs doing in terms of creating more housing opportunities, Healey told reporters Monday. Spiking the zoning plan could put Milton out of compliance with a 2021 state law, often referred to as the MBTA Communities Act, requiring cities and towns served by the T to zone for more multifamily housing. Healey and other state officials have warned for months that municipalities could lose state funding if they fail to follow the law, and the governor on Monday reiterated that threat. Our administration has been clear that communities that fail to comply with the MBTA Communities Act will not be receiving state funding, she said. Town officials secured a courts approval to postpone the special election by one day due to the inclement weather forecast for Tuesday. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Svitlana Kashenets and Tetyana Tokarchuk from their positions as deputy ministers of veteran affairs, Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in parliament said on Feb. 13. The decision follows the resignation of the former Veterans Affairs Minister, Yuliia Laputina, earlier this month. The day before, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was planning a large-scale reset of Ukraines leadership. Oleksandr Porkhun, a war veteran and Hero of Ukraine, was later appointed acting minister on Feb. 9. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs was created in 2018, four years after Russia first invaded Ukraine and illegally annexed Crimea, to implement state policy on the social protection of war veterans. Since the beginning of the year, President Zelensky has said that Ukraine needs "fresh energy" in its leadership. With the dismissal of Tokarchuk and Kashenets, government also announced several new senior government appointments today. Mykhailo Latynskyi will become the Deputy Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories for European Integration and Liliya Kravchuk will serve as deputy head of Ukraine's State Service for Children. The Veterans Affairs Ministry was created in 2018, four years after Russia first invaded Donbas and illegally annexed Crimea, to implement state policy on social protections for war veterans. Read also: Who is General Syrskyi, Ukraines new chief commander? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. One year after the tragic loss of life our community experienced, we continue to honor the lives of the three Spartans who were taken from us and wrap our arms around the countless other students who were affected by this tragic act. School should be a place of learning and opportunity, not a place of fear. No parent should be afraid to send their child to school. No student should be afraid to enter a classroom. We must support common sense gun laws to restore a common sense of peace. Our hearts are with MSU today and every day. Let us stand with the students, families, and friends who are all still grieving the immense loss to our community. Let us continue working together to ensure that no student, parent, or Michigander has to endure a tragedy like this. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist (D-MI) Russian troops shelled Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast at around 11 a.m. local time, killing a woman and wounding another, Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, reported on Feb. 13. Civilians in Kharkiv Oblasts settlements are subjected to frequent attacks by Russian forces due to their proximity to the front line and the border with Russia. According to Syniehubov, a 61-year-old female civilian died from a mine-explosive injury when Russia hit the city of Vovchansk, around 50 kilometers northeast of Kharkiv and less than 10 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border. Another female civilian aged 50 was wounded in the shelling that hit a market in central Vovchansk, the official said on Telegram. Russian forces struck an agricultural facility in the village of Kurylivka in Kharkiv Oblast earlier the same day, killing two men and wounding two more people, as reported by Syniehubov. A Russian drone attack on an oil depot in Kharkiv overnight on Feb. 10 led to a fuel leak that has contaminated over 10,000 square meters of land, Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, said on Feb. 12. The attack caused a fire that engulfed 15 homes and killed at least seven people, including a family with three children. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov later reported that 57 people had been injured in the attack and declared Feb. 11 as a day of mourning in the city. Read also: Pro-Russian sympathies make life harder for soldiers, cops in Kupiansk district Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. There is another migrant crisis brewing. Unlike the one at the southern border, this one will be all over the country. A recent Harvard study found that half of the countrys renters are spending a third or more of their income on housing. Those are the people fortunate enough to find housing when theres a nationwide shortage of affordable homes. Combine the rent line item with the soaring cost of child care, and dont forget groceries, and well, you can understand why evictions have spiked and homelessness has reached a record high . Were living through an age of contradictions. The United States is the strongest economy in the world, and Americans credit card debt has never been higher . The unemployment rate has been less than 5% for President Bidens entire first term, and voters disapprove of his handling of the economy. Wall Street predicted that last years gross domestic product would grow by less than 2%, and instead it was 2.5% yet the economy feels weak to a lot of people . Thats because for many people, the economy is weak. Read more: Opinion: I'm a tenant in the mass eviction at Barrington Plaza. This developer decision could devastate L.A. Right now the top 1% has more money than the nations entire middle class . For Americans with the lowest incomes, rent is just the beginning of the worries. Unaffordable rent is a continuation of the wealth redistribution that accompanied the economic policies of President Reagan. Read more: Opinion: No more billionaires? We can be more ambitious than that. No one needs more than $20 million Before disco, the top 10% shared 30% of the nations income, while the remaining 90% lived off the rest. Today, the bottom 90% is getting by with less than 60% of the income. The top 1% took in 14.6% in 2021, which is twice their 7.3% share in 1979, according to the Economic Policy Institute . After 1979, Reagan convinced voters to make capital more important than people. Give the rich more, and the extra will trickle down remember that? Greed is a part of capitalism, but its not a part of patriotism. Reagans characterization of our economy conflated those two concepts, and many Americans embraced that fallacy as truth. Those who struggled to achieve prosperity were viewed as lazy and unworthy of help. Something had to be wrong with them, the thinking went, because nothing was wrong with this land of opportunity. Read more: Granderson: Marijuana isn't fueling cartels. U.S. laws drive the violence This was the era when well-paying manufacturing jobs went elsewhere. This was when large, successful companies were able to rake in record profits, while hardworking employees began to rely on food stamps to feed their families. And now Congress is trying to solve the housing crisis by offering housing developers more tax credits . So much for the invisible hand of the free market, right? Although there is a desperate need for more affordable housing, developers apparently do not make enough money to want to do it, so government has to dangle a carrot to ensure that thriving corporations will thrive even more. Conservatives often talk of the countrys unsustainable spending. It isnt federal debt that should worry them most, though. How much longer can 22 million people spend a third or more of their earnings on rent? In 2023, some states saw eviction filings jump more than 50% compared with pre-pandemic levels and back then, the unemployment rate was higher. Thats not sustainable either. Whether it's living off borrowings in order to avoid taxable income or reporting losses legally while still making money, the various ways billionaire owners end up paying a lower tax rate than many of their employees are well-documented. When rising costs are passed down to consumers rent, baby formula , bacon we are conditioned to blame the government and not the price-gougers. When gas prices are up, many point fingers at the White House, even though, of course, presidents dont control gas prices . This sorry state of the American economy is not attributable entirely to either party or any one presidential administration. This redistribution has continued on everyones watch. However, we are reaching a point where a lot of people are fed up with their hard work not paying off, and theyre going to take action. Thats why the Wall Street Journal dubbed 2023 the year of the strike. Workers saw the prosperity at the top and demanded their fair share. Now more than ever, we need Congress to close the tax loopholes that have allowed trillions of dollars to be redirected away from the many and hoarded by the few. Because the rent crisis isnt a new problem: Its the latest incarnation of the one that started when policymakers began to pretend that greed is good. @LZGranderson If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Kenneth Knauer, a project manager with Prock Marine, one of Maines largest marine contractors, is used to being busy. But the past few weeks have been an exception. Weve been getting phone calls pretty steady ever since the storms hit, said Knauer, referring to the back-to-back January storms that walloped the states coast, with gusts from the southeast clocking in at 92 mph in some places. Commercial docks are taking priority, said Knauer, while residential customers will have to wait. Weve been telling people for a residential dock or pier we wont be able to get to them until the summer of 2025, he said. Marsh surrounds Mile Road in Wells. By the end of the century, sea-level rise is projected to fully submerge the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve lands. Navigating the world of shoreland zoning is complicated on a good day. Now, Prock engineers are trying to draft designs for new wharves, docks and piers that will make the infrastructure less vulnerable to rising seas and stronger storms while still meeting regulations set by communities, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There also are practical constraints, like lobster fishermen who need docks to be at a certain level to be able to unload or load their traps. Marginal Way: Ogunquits coastal treasure closed due to storm damage Many wharfs today are built at 6 feet above mean high tide, said Knauer, but he is recommending upping that to 8 feet, given the historic high tides seen in much of the state last month, which topped 14.5 feet in some places. When I first started, we would do 5 feet, then 6 feet," Knauer said. "The norm should be 8 feet above the mean high water. Meeting all these needs might mean not just building higher but changing up materials altogether. Some waterfront property owners, said Knauer, are rethinking wooden piers and docks and considering using aluminum instead, or adding concrete or granite structures below as supports. Flooding in downtown Castine in January. Photo by Merissa Rogers. Even concrete and stone, however, are no guarantee, said Knauer, and may not make sense everywhere. Weve seen some large concrete slabs and granite walls get destroyed because theyre so rigid and compact, he said. Aluminum decking can be removed ahead of a storm, but if its left in place, creates a large surface area that could be impacted by the wind and waves. Wood pilings and wood decking are more breathable, and its cheaper to replace, Knauer said. Sometimes you have to think: If something is going to break, how hard is it to fix? Previous story: Maine coastal communities struggle to recover from storms that caused millions in damage What works in one place might not work in another, said Knauer everything is on a case-by-case basis. We normally go look at a site, give a proposal, and a lot of times refer them to other agents and engineers to help them get a permit, Knauer said. It seems like every town has their own little thing. Then you add DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Under the DEPs permit by rule, anyone seeking to rebuild or repair a damaged structure as it existed prior to the storms is able to begin work two weeks after filing for a permit, as long as DEP staff havent raised any objections. The Legislatures Committee on Environment and Natural Resources is considering a bill to allow fast-track permitting and wharves built up to 4 feet higher than previously allowed. More: Without a dune and seawall, Kennebunk's Seaside Inn owner fears the next big storm Robert Wood, director of the Bureau of Land Resources for the DEP, said the bill would allow repair and replacement of wharfs, docks, and piers without a Natural Resources Protection Act permit, as long as the structure is the same as what existed before. The legislation would also allow the new structure to be 4 feet higher than previously permitted. A lot of folks who had damage are going to be repairing those structures, in some cases, replacing, and are very interested in bringing them up higher to be more resilient, said Wood. Some docks are right above the normal high water line. Chipmans Wharf, a wholesale seafood and retail establishment in Milbridge lost 130 feet of dock and a bait shed in the storms, and is one of the many waterfront businesses tackling the rebuilding process. Co-owner Amity Chipman said the family is working with an engineer on a design to make the wharf better able to withstand storms like the ones in January, which she said they had never encountered before. At the moment, the proposed wharf design might be higher and wider. Chipman said that with the added height of the wharf, fishermen also likely will be making more regular use of hoists to lift traps. The company had two hoists that were lost in the storms. Those who live and work on the waterfront have a short list of options as sea levels rise, as marine geologist Peter Slovinsky told the Monitor last year: Do nothing, avoid, accommodate, adapt, protect and relocate. One thing, said Knauer, is for certain. Try as you might, youre not going to stop the water. This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Waterfront owners rethink coastal infrastructure in wake of storms Greece is the latest country to sign up to the United States' club for guiding principles of space exploration. Greece's foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of his country at the U.S. State Department on Feb. 9, during a wider U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue meeting. "Congratulations to Greece on becoming the 35th country to join the Artemis Accords family," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at the ceremony, according to a NASA statement . "The U.S. and Greece are long-time partners and friends, and we are excited to expand this partnership in the cosmos," Nelson added. "Together, we are shaping the future of cooperation in space for the Artemis Generation." Related: What are the Artemis Accords? The Accords set out principles for peaceful and responsible exploration, most immediately guiding NASA's lunar Artemis program . "As humanity embarks on a great adventure, returning to the moon and preparing for traveling beyond the moon, the Artemis Accords serve as a beacon of collaboration and cooperation among nations, paving the way for a sustainable and peaceful exploration of space," Gerapetritis said in the same statement. The United States established the Artemis Accords in 2020. They were first signed by the United States along with seven other original signatories. The band of countries has now expanded to include nations from six of the world's seven continents, with only Antarctica which does not have a government not represented. RELATED STORIES: NASA's Artemis program: Everything you need to know Not just Artemis: China and Russia plan to put boots on the moon, too Nigeria, Rwanda become 1st African nations to sign Artemis Accords The Artemis Accords initiative has an apparent alternative and potential competitor, in the form of the China-led International Lunar Research Station Cooperation Organization (ILRSCO). So far Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa and Venezuela have joined up with that effort. ILRSCO will coordinate and manage how these countries go about establishing the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in the 2030s. The Artemis Accords builds upon the principles set out by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty , according to NASA, and strengthens best practices such as the public release of scientific data. Major signatories include Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Kingdom. ATHENSGreece is expected to legalize same-sex weddings this week, in a vote due to be held the day after Valentines Day. Not everyone is feeling the love, however, and the Greek Orthodox church has become an outspoken and powerful opponent of the changes. Even though the bill isnt forcing the priests to marry gay people and has nothing to do with the church, it is church officials who have been the loudest opponents, with bishops appearing on television programs making outdated and false accusations, calling homosexuality a mental illness and suggesting that gay men and women are sick and only the church can heal them. When the bill passes, Greece will be the first Christian Orthodox country with strong roots in religion to allow same-sex marriage. Ultra-orthodox and far-right groups protested in central Athens on Sunday against the bill. Among them were many who were holding Greek flags, icons with Jesus and the Virgin Mary, and of course members of the clergy. Fatherland, Religion, Family, was one of their slogans. Ever since psychiatry removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders, it gave up on related research and these unfortunate people were left helpless with only solace the hope of a convenient legislation and the assertion of rights with parades of self-deprecation and shame, said Nikolaos, the Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, during a meeting of the Greek churchs Holy Synod in late January. These words angered many Greeks who took to social media to express their disapproval and even forced the Hellenic Psychiatric Association to release a statement clarifying that homosexuality is not a mental illness. According to the Greek church, homosexuality is a sin and of course the traditional family is in danger. A homosexual relationship can neither be a family nor a marriage, Panteleimon, the Metropolitan of Maroneia and Komotini, the spokesperson of the Holy Synod, said to The Daily Beast, and continued: The church only recognizes as marriage the relationship between a man and a woman, whose relationship is sanctified through the holy mystery of marriage. I didnt expect anything different from the church, said Stella Belia, who was among a group of independent consultants who worked on the national strategy for the equality of LGBTQ+ people, which is being implemented by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in accordance with a European Commission initiative. She told The Daily Beast that she has been out and proud since she was in high school, but is also a deeply religious person. Despite being abandoned by her church, Belia has made huge progress as the president of Rainbow Families Greece, an NGO focusing on LGBTQ+ parents and their families. While there are politicians who also oppose the bill, it is expected to pass with the majority of the parliamentary votes. Although Greece has recognized a cohabitation agreement, as an alternative to marriage for same-sex couples since 2015, this addition to the civil wedding bill will also acknowledge the children of those couples who have not been officially considered a family and dont enjoy the same rights as straight families. However, the right to medically assisted reproduction and surrogacy will still not be extended to same-sex couples. It is very important for many [gay] families who have been feeling insecure, like families where the one member who is the legal parent is a person whose life is in danger. Those families will finally be able to have a shared parenting role, said Belia, who is the biological mother of two 16-year-old boys, Giannis and Antonis, and looks after the three children of an ex-partner. When her partners son Christos, had an accident with a motorcycle on July 6, 2022, he was hospitalized in the ICU for over a month. He was under sedation and we didnt know if he would live or die. And I was outside that ICU, inside was my child and I was nobody [to him according to the hospital rules], she said, describing the difficulties many same-sex families in Greece face. According to current law, if the legal parent in a same-sex family dies, the child will most possibly end up in foster care. The partner does not have any rights associated with the child and cannot have custody. This bill is currently in parliament and will be brought to a vote on Feb. 15. The church must then decide how to respond to the new law within religious settings. Though it is not an official decision yet, and the Greek Archbishop Ieronymos has been trying to push a more neutral stance for now, other members of the clergy have suggested that they will refuse to christen the children of gay couples, with Seraphim, the Metropolitan of Piraeus, saying on Greek network SKAI that: If we baptize the children of gay couples, the children will become gay too. I joke sometimes about this with my sons, said Belia who had her children through IVF. My boys tell me, Mom do you still love us the same now that we are straight? At the moment the Greek church has been waiting for the governments next move and at the next meeting of the Holy Synod will decide how they will proceed. True love has a cost; it has a sacrifice. The message of the church is clear; the church accepts everyone in repentance, Panteleimon said. Belia replied: None of them will deprive me of my faith. And this has nothing to do with me rejecting the church, it has to do with the church not wanting me in its bosom. I will not force myself to go where they do not want me. All this comes only months after the country had its first ever gay party leader. The newly elected leader of the main opposition party in the Greek parliament, Stefanos Kasselakis of SYRIZA, is a gay man who recently married his husband in New York. Same-sex marriage has been on Kasselakis agenda as well since day one and this has been one of the few things Greeces main political parties agree on. Mitsotakis said in a recent interview on national television ERT that the church could not stop the democratic will. I absolutely respect our fellow citizens who have a different point of view, just as I respect the churchs point of view. We will respect the different opinion, but the state legislates; it does not co-legislate with the church, he said. The bill will finally give visibility to a large number of people in Greece and mostly their children. All these years we have been fighting for the obvious, Belia said. 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. Abbas Ganbay Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Ayhan Hajizade, responded to the question of the local media about the interview of Russian Federation Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov published in "Izvestia" newspaper, Azernews reports. "According to the November 10 statement of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the President of the Russian Federation, the term of the Russian Federation peacekeeping contingent in the Republic of Azerbaijan will end in 2025," the head of the department said. "After the anti-terrorist activities carried out by Azerbaijan in the region last year, there was a need for regular meetings and discussions on the daily activities of the peacekeeping contingent and their various needs. At the same time, given that the Armenian armed forces have been conducting large-scale mine laying in our territories where peacekeepers are stationed for the past 3 years, as well as the problem of unexploded ordnance on the territory, it is necessary to hold consultations on the realisation of joint efforts to eliminate these threats," he noted. Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov said in an interview with the "Izvestia" newspaper that the date of the next round of talks between Moscow and Baku on the Russian peacekeeping contingent is being coordinated with the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Alfa Romeo, announced its plan to adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its battery-electric vehicles (BEV). The proposed SAE J3400 connector will be used by select models in 2025. Read Also: Tesla Driver Using the Apple Vision Pro Mid-Drive is Noticed by US Government Stellantis to Implement Charging Changes in 2025 In a press release, Stellantis stated that the company will make adapters available for vehicles fit with the Combined Charging System (CCS) port. In addition, the company also revealed that the J3400/1 requirements are still being developed. The company is collaborating with six other major global automakers to install at least 30,000 high-powered charge points in North America's urban and highway locations by 2030. Once accomplished, drivers will be able to charge with J3400 and CCS natively. "Customers win when the industry aligns on open standards ... a milestone for all customers on the path to open and seamless charging," Stellantis SVP of global energy and seamless charging, Ricardo Stamatti stated. Tesla Successfully Pushes EV Charging Standard in North America In 2022, Tesla announced that it was extending access to its Supercharge network by publishing the design specs and allowing other automakers to create NACS ports into their EVs. Ford was the first manufacturer to adopt it only six months after the announcement. EV customers of Ford would gain access to Tesla superchargers across the U.S. and Canada starting in Spring. Customers will also be able to reserve a complimentary fast-charging adapter soon. In addition, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz also followed suit. Upstarts like Rivian and Lucid also welcomed Tesla's supercharging network. As for Stellantis, the first charging stations are expected to open sometime in 2024. The charging stations will be accessible to its BEV customers and will help promote the use of renewable energy for vehicles. Related Article: Tesla Superchargers in New York Gets Overpopulated After Launching New Program With Uber By Lefteris Papadimas ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's conservative government on Tuesday proposed further support measures for farmers who have been protesting for weeks over rising energy costs and competition from abroad. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who won a second term last year, met representatives of farmers' unions at his office around midday to discuss their demands. "I believe we can find common ground, taking into account your justified concerns," Mitsotakis told farmers' representatives ahead of the meeting. Last week, the government promised farmers a one-year extension of a tax rebate for agricultural diesel by the end of 2024 and discounts on their power bills. But the pledges were not enough to appease the farmers. Their unions briefly blocked roads and a border crossing for freight trucks, saying the measures did not address their concerns over rising costs which have forced some of them to leave farming and look for a stable income. Sharing many of the same grievances, farmers in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy have taken similar action in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the Greek government announced that farmers will be eligible for cheaper electricity for two years from April, a measure that will be partly financed from proceeds from renewables and carbon market credits. After that period, electricity prices will be stabilised for a third of their power consumption for another eight years, the energy ministry said in a statement. Farmers told reporters after the meeting they would examine the proposals before making a decision on their next moves. Greece has been recovering from a decade-long financial crisis and three international bailouts. Its economy is growing faster than its euro zone peers. Mitsotakis told farmers they had received more than 1 billion euros in compensation for crops damaged in natural disasters since 2019 and noted Greece's fiscal constraints. Operations at the Belgian port of Antwerp, one of Europe's biggest container ports, were seriously impacted on Tuesday as hundreds of farmers on tractors blocked the roads to demand better pay and working conditions, officials said. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas and Renee Maltezou; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Ros Russell) CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story did not include Greenville County Schools' response to Adam Morgan's allegations of DEI. A response from Burke Royster to Adam Morgan has been added to the story. Greenville Patriot Caucus held an official launch Monday night at Hughes Main Library by hosting a panel of elected officials. The conservative group works to encourage residents to become informed and get involved in local politics. The group sends out calls of action like reaching out and contacting local representatives. On Monday, one of the calls to action was to make a plan to vote in the Republican Presidential Primary on Feb. 24. At our core, the Greenville Patriot Caucus believes in inspiring the advancement of liberty, the preservation of rights for all, and the complete eradication of tyranny, Dakota Fitzgerald, chairman of the caucus, said. Other members of the caucus include Tiffany Mauk and Kelly Wood, both co-chairs and Shawn Miller, treasurer. The caucus also announced an official endorsement of former president Donald Trump to an excited room that erupted into cheers at the announcement. Panelists included SC Sen. Dwight Loftis, SC Rep. Adam Morgan, Greenville County Councilman Benton Blount, Greenville County School Board member Amanda Brett and GCSO Sherriff Hobart Lewis. Out of the five panelists, three are up for re-election: Loftis, Morgan and Lewis. Loftis will not be seeking re-election; SC House Rep Jason Elliott has announced his run for that seat. Morgan will be vying for William Timmons seat for SCs 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lewis will be seeking re-election as Sheriff. In the panel, moderated by Charlie James, host of the radio show The Charlie James Show on 98.9 WORD, elected officials spoke on topics like the importance of being involved in politics, top issues concerning the officials and the best way to stay informed. Asked about top concerns, Blount noted that the immediate concerns that we need to take on this council is to get a group of people together that are willing to actually get our roads fixed, and willing to figure out a way to slow our growth so we're not inundated with traffic. Other panelists recommended the importance of being involved. For Brett as a school board member, she notes that coming to board meetings and getting involved with a childs PTA can be a good start on involvement. Start with classrooms, start looking at what your children are learning, read the books that theyre bringing home, she said. Adam Morgan reignites DEI debate During the panel, Morgan mentioned the weaponization of government and spoke on a recent event where the South Carolina Freedom Caucus mentioned Greenville County Schools and Superintendent Burke Royster, for using tax dollars to indoctrinate students and teachers through a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, often recognized as DEI. Just a couple of weeks ago, we were able to call out a superintendent who wants to impose a five-year DEI plan using your tax money that was just raised. The tax money being taken in for schools, they're going to implement a five-year diversity equity inclusion plan into Greenville County Schools, Morgan said. Royster sent a response to Morgan on Jan. 31, denying the claims. "I wish to make it very clear that we neither advance political agendas nor indoctrinate students at Greenville County Schools," Royster said in the response. "I anticipate that one of your concerns may relate to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Stakeholder Team convened by the District to review key practices and make recommendations to help GCS in its mission to meet the needs of ALL students. This broadly representative group of 37 leaders from businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, parents, GCS leadership, and educators represented every geographic area and reflected the demographic make-up of our District and met monthly from May 2021 through May 2023," Royster said. In the letter, Royster also defined what the words diversity, equity and inclusion met regarding "specific definitions used in our district's work by the members of our community": Diversity is the recognition, understanding, and appreciation of our visible and invisible differences and commonalities. Equity is providing access, opportunity, and appropriate support to maximize the potential of each individual. Inclusion is the intentional involvement of everyone to create and sustain a community of diverse individuals who are welcomed, valued, and engaged. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville Patriot Caucus officially launches, endorses Donald Trump WASHINGTON (KXAN) Two Democratic members of Congress are planning to put forward a plan that would require Texas to connect to other larger power grids in the nation, potentially upending the states standalone approach to producing and overseeing its own energy market. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, announced hell author a bill called the Connect the Grid Act alongside U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. While his office is not sharing many details yet about the proposed legislation, the lawmakers said theyll speak more in-depth about the particulars during a news conference planned for Wednesday afternoon. According to a news release, though, the progressive lawmakers said the legislation would require the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to connect to the nations major electric grids. However, the proposal may not gain much traction in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives amid a major election year. By connecting the ERCOT grid, all Texans and Americans would have more reliable electricity, saving lives in future natural disasters, the release continued. The U.S. would also be better-able to reach its climate goals with Texass clean energy production. A spokesperson for ERCOT released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying there would be no comment about legislation that has not been filed yet. However, the spokesperson added, Any proposal to interconnect ERCOT to other regions raises potentially significant economic and reliability considerations that the Public Utility Commission of Texas is best situated to evaluate in its role as the state agency responsible for overseeing the design of the ERCOT market and the development of the ERCOT grid. The Commission has recently initiated a proceeding to consider issues relating to interconnections to other regions. ERCOT will continue to participate in that proceeding and looks forward to the Commissions guidance. KXAN also reached out Tuesday to Gov. Greg Abbotts office for comment about Casars proposal. This story will be updated once any responses are shared. Texans largely had little familiarity with the operations of ERCOT, which manages the Texas power grid. However, that all changed when a deadly winter storm in February 2021 left millions without heat or lights for days. After that disaster, state lawmakers focused some of their efforts on enacting reforms to create a more reliable power grid and rebuild trust with the public. Since that time, ERCOT has largely maintained system-wide reliability, but Texans have gotten spooked a few times when ERCOT asked them to conserve power during high-demand stretches of intense heat and frigid cold, including just last month. At the end of last year, CEO Pablo Vegas told KXAN that ERCOT performed more than 1,500 inspections of power plants in the last two years and expects to complete 500 more this winter. He highlighted these as part of ERCOTs ongoing efforts to better prepare facilities and provide more comfort to Texans about the grids strength. The 2021 fallout did lead to critics calling for changes that would allow Texas to tap more into the nations two other major power grids so that ERCOT can access more resources when needed. However, no serious efforts to do so have ever progressed. Casar is perhaps hoping his legislation could generate more conversation about that again when he unveils it Wednesday. Hell speak at a news conference in Washington, D.C., alongside these Democratic members of the Texas Congressional delegation: Reps. Sylvia Garcia of Houston, Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston, Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and Jasmine Crockett of Dallas. KXAN plans to carry a live stream of the lawmakers remarks in this story and on the stations Facebook page starting at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. Casar and Ocasio-Cortez are longtime political allies. She even came to campaign with him at an event in Austin when he first ran for Congress in 2022. Casars name will once again appear on the ballot for voters on March 5, where hes running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House District 35 seat. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A Grovetown man whose 4-year-old daughter allegedly shot herself in the head with his unattended machine gun was recently indicted by the U.S. District Court Grand Jury. Deveon Daniels, 25, of Grovetown, is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a news release from the Southern District of Georgia. In May 2023, Columbia County Sheriff's Office dispatch notified the Grovetown Police Department about a possible shooting on the 5000 block of Sterlington Drive. Columbia County dispatch told the department one of their units was flagged down by two adults in a car on Horizon South Parkway, near Gateway Boulevard, according to previous reporting. The two adults were attempting to bring a 4-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the hospital. Previous reporting: Grovetown father arrested after 4-year-old shot with unattended gun left on the floor Investigators learned the toddler was in a unit in Sterlington Apartments with her father, Daniels, as well as several others at the time of the shooting, according to previous reporting. Daniels admitted to placing a loaded 9mm Glock handgun on the floor while he went downstairs to take a phone call. Daniels told police that shortly after going downstairs, he heard a gunshot and ran upstairs to find the toddler suffering from a wound to the head, according to previous reporting. Daniels was initially charged with cruelty to children in the second degree and possession of a machine gun. Grovetown Police could not be reached as of Tuesday afternoon for comment on why the cruelty charge was dropped. The machine gun charge was added because the gun was illegally modified to a fully automatic configuration, according to previous reporting. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Grovetown man indicted in district court for weapons charges GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Grand Rapids Public Schools staff recommended building a new elementary school on the northeast side of the city. The new school, which would open in the fall of 2027, would replace the current Aberdeen Academy and Palmer Academy elementary schools that are set to close the same year. GRPS said the new school would be state-of-the-art. The board has not yet voted to build the new school but will decide after community feedback. A GRPS upgrade plan was released in mid-November, calling for the closure of several of its schools. In 2027, the plan outlined that some students from then-closed Palmer Elementary and Aberdeen Academy could move to the site currently being used by North Park Montessori, which would be renovated. GRPS changes upgrade plan after community feedback But community members spoke out, saying the North Park location was too far north to replace Palmer and Aberdeen. GRPS looked at current scholar addresses and recent birthrate data from the Kent County Health Department and decided Aberdeen would be the best location for a neighborhood elementary school. The cost estimate to renovate the 95-year-old Aberdeen building came out to be over 80% of the cost of building a new school. The construction would be funded by funds from the bond voters passed in November. Students at the current Aberdeen Academy are not expected to be impacted by construction of the new school. GRPS will host two feedback sessions about this new proposal: Feb. 21 at 3:45 p.m. at Palmer Elementary and Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Aberdeen Academy. People unable to attend the sessions can complete an online feedback form. After feedback, the board will vote whether to build the new school. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Gulfport Police Department arrested a teenager for the murder of a 16-year-old over $10 for a vape pen. Elijah Lamar Eckford, 18, was charged with second degree murder for shooting Zaelyn Braxton at a home in the 16000 block of Kenwood Drive home. Officers found Braxton lying dead in the doorway of the home upon arriving at the scene at around 2:19 a.m. During the investigation, Detectives learned Eckford traveled to Braxtons location where they got into a verbal altercation over ten dollars for a vape pen, said Sgt. Jason DuCre. Eckford discharged his firearm several times, which struck Braxton, and then fled the scene. Investigators charged Taishawn Rashaud Holloway, 21, with accessory after the fact after his vehicle was identified leaving the scene with Eckford and another passenger. Holloway provided transportation to Eckford to the location, waited for him until he heard the gunshots, and then picked Eckford up from the scene and fled the area, said DuCre. The passenger, Christopher Dirrell Fletcher, 21, provided the gun to Eckford, Ducre said in an updated news release on Thursday. Fletcher was first arrested Monday for possession of marijuana. Police arrested him again on Wednesday after they confirmed more details in the case, Ducre said, and Fletcher now faces a charge of accessory after the fact. Investigators interviewed, processed and transported the trio to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center to be on bonds. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. New Michigan laws approved by Democrats take effect Tuesday, ushering in changes to a slew of policies from labor to abortion rights. These laws received little or no Republican support in the state Legislature. For laws to take effect immediately after the governor signs the legislation, at least six GOP votes in the state Senate are needed under the current partisan makeup of the chamber. The Democratic bills didn't meet that threshold, meaning they instead went into effect 90 days after lawmakers adjourned their legislative session last year early. Last year Democrats held a "trifecta" for the first time in forty years with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's reelection and the party holding majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature. Here's a look at the new laws they crafted wielding that power. Right-to-work repeal and prevailing wage reinstated On a party-line vote, Democrats repealed Michigan's "right-to-work" law that had allowed workers in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying union dues. About half of U.S. states have right-to-work laws in place. With the repeal, Michigan became the first state in nearly 60 years to abandon the policy, which is opposed by labor advocates. The change only affects workers in the private sector because a U.S. Supreme Court decision currently bars the public sector from requiring employees covered by collective bargaining agreements to pay union dues. But Democrats passed a state law that would also repeal right-to-work for public sector workers in the event the court reverses its earlier decision. Democrats also reinstated a prevailing wage law requiring union-level wages and benefits for state-funded construction projects. Expanding abortion access Michigan has a new "Reproductive Health Act" aimed at reducing barriers to abortion access. That includes the repeal of an abortion insurance law that had required the purchase of a special rider to cover abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest. Democrats removed other abortion restrictions such as a state law that banned higher education institutions' pregnant and parenting services offices from providing referrals for abortion services. Michigan Representative Laurie Pohutsky hugs Dr. Sarah Wallett, Planned Parenthood Chief Medical Operating Officer, before a press conference where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign the Reproductive Health Act with lawmakers and activists who worked to get the legislation passed at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Mich. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. Both women were instrumental in getting the legislation passed and vow to keep working to get the rest of the bill passed that was excluded like mandatory 24-hour, and Medicaid coverage. Some state laws Democrats eyed for repeal remain on the books such as a mandated 24-hour waiting period before obtaining an abortion. Abortion rights proponents have sued the state asking the judge to declare the law unconstitutional under a ballot proposal adopted by voters enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. LGBTQ+ rights Democrats have tried for years to expand the state's anti-discrimination law to include LGBTQ+ Michiganders. And last year, they changed the law to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The move came after the Michigan Supreme Court previously ruled that Michigan's civil rights law prohibits such discrimination. Lawmakers also banned conversion therapy targeting LGBTQ+ youth to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Gun violence prevention A trio of new gun laws take effect Tuesday: universal background checks for all gun purchases, safe storage requirements to keep guns out of the hands of children and a "red flag" law enabling courts to temporarily order the removal of guns from those posing an imminent risk to themselves or others. Whitmer signed the laws within a few months of the school shooting at Michigan State University. Officials and people in the crowd cheer on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer after she signs into law bills that would allow police officers, family members and medical professionals to ask courts to issue an extreme risk protection order to temporarily take away guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others on Monday, May 22, 2023, outside of the 44th District Court in Royal Oak. Whitmer also signed into law a temporary gun ban for those with domestic violence convictions. Michigan gun laws: Gun safety advocates want to see more measures to curb violence in Michigan Education changes Michigan's public schools will no longer be ranked using an A-F letter system to grade their performance. The rankings had provided a way for parents to evaluate and compare public schools in their communities. Whitmer characterized the system as burdensome red tape for Michigan's schools. The Democratic bill passed on a party-line vote in the state Senate but received bipartisan support in the state House. While the legislation signed by Whitmer repeals the current grading system for ranking schools, it preserves the current index system that also measures school performance. Meanwhile, Michigan's third grade reading law now no longer requires holding back students who fail a reading proficiency test. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New Michigan gun, prevailing wage, abortion laws take effect (Photo : Unsplash/Andres Siimon) Aware, a software startup, uses AI to scan employee messages on platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Workplace by Meta to monitor employee behavior and assess potential risks. Major American companies like Starbucks, Chevron, T-Mobile, Walmart, and Delta use Aware to analyze around 20 billion messages from over three million employees, as reported by CNBC. While workplace surveillance isn't new, experts worry that relying on emerging AI for employee monitoring could result in decision-making errors and privacy issues. Aware, Starbucks, Chevron, T-Mobile, and Walmart didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comment before publication. Delta informed BI that it uses Aware on its internal social media platform for regular trend and sentiment monitoring and legal records management. Aware's AI Tool in the Workplace Employers utilize Aware's AI tool to assess how their employees react to company policy changes or marketing initiatives, explained Jeff Schumann, co-founder and CEO of Aware, to CNBC. This allows employers to observe variations in employee attitudes based on factors such as age and location. READ ALSO: Amazon France Logistique Using Measures on Employee Activity, Now Faces Fine for Being "Excessively Intrusive" AI Aware is also employed to detect potential risks in the workplace. Equipped with large language models, the startup's software can analyze text and images in conversations to flag incidents related to behaviors like bullying, discrimination, harassment, pornography, nudity, and other perceived toxic behaviors. "It's always tracking real-time employee sentiments and real-time toxicity," explained Schumann. The CEO mentioned that the data Aware collects on workers' sentiments and toxicity doesn't include their names, but confidentiality might be lifted in extreme cases. How Aware AI Works Aware's eDiscovery feature lets AI pull an individual's name if it detects specific keywords and statements in a Slack or Teams message as a policy violation. If the AI flags the message as an "extreme risk," the employer can send the name of the suspected perpetrator to human resources, Schumann explained to CNBC. Some common ones include extreme violence, extreme bullying, and harassment, but it varies by industry, the CEO explained. Incidents like insider trading would also be tracked using this tool. Privacy Experts' Concerns While the CEO of Aware told CNBC that companies don't use its AI models to make decisions or as a basis for disciplinary action, some privacy experts disagree. Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute at New York University, told CNBC that no company can make sweeping assurances about the privacy and security of LLMs and similar systems. Jutta Williams, the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, a nonprofit organization, told the outlet that it's challenging to face your accuser when AI's explanations are still immature, referring to how AI findings may not fully represent a workplace incident. Mandate Informing Employees About Digital Monitoring Practices While Starbucks, Chevron, T-Mobile, Walmart, and Delta didn't tell BI about their disclosure of surveillance practices to employees, certain state laws, such as New York's Senate Bill S2628, mandate that employers inform their workers about digital monitoring practices. Using AI to monitor employees is one of big companies' newest methods to keep tabs on their workers, particularly as employers push return-to-office mandates. Last February, workers at Tesla's autopilot division in New York said the company was monitoring their keystrokes to check if they were working. Some workers told Bloomberg they were refused bathroom breaks because of this system. Less than a year earlier, a Business Insider investigation found that JPMorgan Chase was using an internal tool to monitor their employees' office attendance, calls, and calendars, where one employee claimed to create a culture of "paranoia, distrust, and disrespect. In severe instances, employee tracking systems were linked to firings. RELATED ARTICLE: Micromanagement As Top Indicator of a Toxic Workplace, Causing People to Quit -Survey Finds 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Lee Gyu-lee Since gaining global recognition with the popular Netflix series "Kingdom," Kim Hye-jun has established her career in the dark thriller genre. In the Disney+ original "A Shop for Killers," Kim portrays an ordinary college girl who becomes a killer, marking her return to the action-packed thriller genre she is best known for. Based on the novel of the same name, the eight-part series revolves around Ji-an (Kim) who was raised by her uncle, Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook), after her parents died when she was young. One day, Ji-an receives news of her uncle's apparent suicide and discovers that he had been operating a suspicious shopping mall. Following his unexpected death, she becomes the target of an unidentified group of killers who are after her uncle's supplies. Ji-an soon learns that she has been named the co-owner of the mall, uncovering a new reality about her uncle's secret life and the circumstances surrounding his death. Kim revealed that she was offered the role right after finishing up the crime mystery series Inspector Koo, but initially turned it down. When I first got the script, I declined it because I wanted to show my acting abilities in a genre that doesnt involve so much blood. Ive typically taken on roles of tough characters, so I was keen to show a different side of myself, the actor said during an interview with The Korea Times, at a cafe in Jongno District, Seoul, Feb. 7. However, a renewed offer a few months later, coupled with the news of Lee's casting, prompted her to reconsider. I felt Lees chic personality would make the character of Jin-man really captivating I had high hopes and was curious (about how it would turn out), she said. And when I reread the script, I found it very intriguing and thought that regardless of the genre, it feels right to just do what I want to do. So, I took the role. After her parents and grandmothers death, Ji-an lives an ordinary life, or so she thinks, until the death of her uncle, which turns her life upside down. Kim focused on highlighting Ji-an's evolution throughout the story as she meets a series of unexpected and tense situations. I saw her as a person who has something special within her ordinary self. So I focused on how she brings out that specialness. She may seem small and weak at a glance but shes a type of character with a kick. Everyone underrates her but she grows into someone that cannot be ignored, which I felt was like the power of a slingshot, she said. I felt Ji-an has loneliness deep down and it explodes with her uncle's death. I think those series of incidents led her to really react to her uncle's absence. There's a sense of guilt towards him, but also feelings of resentment and longing that emotionally build up and eventually burst out. The uncle rather showed tough love to his niece, which in retrospect was his way of secretly training her for the dangers in his line of business. Despite the apparent cold nature of their relationship, they had a strong bond rooted in a family tragedy. During filming, Kim relied heavily on Lee, fostering a favorable dynamic for their on-screen uncle-niece relationship. On the set, we would eat together and build our relationship. He put faith in me and helped me to bring out what I wanted to show, which was really supporting Hes not the type to give advice but shows great consideration, she said. When I read the script, I felt the two characters relationship simply as a cynical uncle and niece, like they are just dismissive and taciturn. But as I discussed with Lee (about the characters), we came to think if the two show 'cute' bickering moments, the viewers will find them endearing and root for them. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. While the 2024 presidential race seems set in stone as a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, its also true that things happen. Back in November 1872, for instance, the newspaper publisher and Democratic presidential candidate Horace Greeley died after Election Day but before the casting of Electoral College votes. While it did not affect the outcome President Ulysses S. Grant easily won reelection Greeleys death created the difficult question of what to do with the 66 Electoral College votes he had won. Most electors, meeting in state capitols, did not cast votes for the deceased Greeley, but rather split them among four other candidates. Congress did not count the three votes that were cast for a dead man. Pictured is American abolitionist, journalist and politician Horace Greeley, who edited the New York Tribune. - MPI/Getty Images In the more than 150 years since Greeleys death, there have been two constitutional amendments related to presidential succession, but there is still some gray area when it comes to an unforeseen event that strikes a presidential nominee or candidate. Today, polling suggests voters are worried that both Trump and Biden are too old for the job. Trump will be 78 on Election Day in November, and Biden will turn 82 later that month. Without being macabre, its worth knowing what would happen if, for whatever reason, either man was unable to continue with the race. Replacing either man on the ballot not that anyone is seriously talking about it would be a messy and chaotic process that would uncover divisions and disagreements within the political parties. No one knows for sure what would happen if a candidate died or for some reason needed to withdraw from the race. Heres a look at the rules for Republicans and Democrats as they currently stand. What happens if a candidate cannot continue his or her campaign? The process of replacing a presidential candidate very much depends on when the vacancy occurs during the primary process and before the party convention; during the convention or after the convention; or before or after people vote in November. What happens if a vacancy occurs during the primary process? While Trump and Biden are in total command of the respective races to be the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, that process will play out between now and June as states conduct primaries and caucuses and assign delegates based on the results. If a vacancy on either side happens before most of those primaries were to occur, its possible that another candidate could emerge and rack up some delegates. But since filing deadlines have already passed for many primaries, its unlikely any single candidate, other than Trump or Biden, could rack up enough delegates to win the nomination before party conventions this summer. It is, however, possible that states could decide to delay their primaries, according to Elaine Kamarck, a member of the Democratic National Committee rules committee and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied the issue. Republicans will hold their convention in Milwaukee in July, and Democrats will hold theirs just to the south in Chicago in August. Most delegates will have been awarded by the end of March. Biden has not faced serious opposition in the Democratic primary, has won every delegate at stake so far and needs to win at least 1,968 of 3,934 to secure the nomination on the first ballot of voting. On the Republican side, Trump has won every contest so far and ultimately needs 1,215 of 2,429 delegates. His top rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, is far behind Trump in the delegate race. What if a vacancy occurs after the primaries and before or during the convention? If the leading candidate was to drop out of the campaign after most primaries or even during the convention, individual delegates would likely decide the partys nominee on the convention floor. That would shine a spotlight on the normally niche question of who those actual delegates are. There would be a messy political battle in every state over who would get to be a delegate (if the vacancy happened before many of those people were chosen) and then who they would ultimately support. Even people who did not run primary campaigns could ultimately be considered. You can assume, for instance, that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a top contender to be on the ballot if, for some reason, Biden left the race. At the same time, given Haleys weakness in primaries, it seems unlikely that Republicans would coalesce around her if Trump was unable to run. On the Democratic side, there would also be another group to consider: the superdelegates, a group of about 700 senior party leaders and elected officials who are automatically delegates to the convention based on their position. Under normal party rules, they cant vote on the first ballot if they could swing the nomination, but theyre free to vote on subsequent ballots. Has anything like this ever happened before? The modern primary and caucus system evolved only in recent generations as voters demanded more involvement in the nominating process. The election that sparked change was in 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to run after an embarrassing finish in New Hampshires primary. Johnson won, but just barely. When he dropped out of the presidential race, it set off a chaotic dash to replace him. One candidate who jumped in the race, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles just after winning the California primary, creating the difficult question of who his delegates should support. The ultimate Democratic winner that year, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, amassed his delegates in states that did not conduct primaries, securing enough support to win the nomination. Violence on the streets of Chicago around the convention marred the event and helped inspire the system of primaries and caucuses we have today where voters pick presidential candidates through delegates bound to support a specific candidate. What if a candidate left the race after the convention? It would take a drastic event for a candidate to leave the race in the few months between a partys nominating convention in the summer and the general election in November. Democrats and Republicans have slightly different methods of dealing with this possibility. You can imagine the end result would probably be that the running mate stepped up to be on the general election ballot, but that is not necessarily guaranteed. Democrats The Democratic National Committee is empowered to fill a vacancy on the national ticket after the convention under party rules, after the party chair consults with Democratic governors and congressional leadership. Republicans If a vacancy occurs on the Republican side, the Republican National Committee can either reconvene the national convention or select a new candidate itself. Would the running mate automatically become the nominee? An in-depth Congressional Research Service memo also notes that if an incumbent president becomes incapacitated after winning the partys nomination, the 25th Amendment would elevate the vice president to the presidency, but party rules would determine who rises to become the partys nominee. Neither party, according to CRS, requires that the presidential candidates running mate be elevated to the top of the ticket, but that would obviously be the most likely scenario. Has a candidate ever left the race after the convention? In modern times, per CRS, the Democrat running for vice president in 1972, Sen. Thomas Eagleton, was forced to step aside after the convention after it was discovered that he was treated for mental illness (1972 was a very different time! Today, thankfully, there is not nearly the stigma attached to mental health). The DNC actually needed to convene a meeting to affirm Sargent Shriver as Democratic nominee George McGoverns second-choice running mate. What if a president-elect was incapacitated after the election? If a president-elect was to die, timing is again important. Under the Constitution, it is electors meeting in state capitols who technically cast votes for the presidency. While some states require that they vote for the winner of the election in their state, in others they have leeway. The CRS memo, which cites several congressional hearings on the subject, suggests it would clearly make sense for a vice president-elect to simply assume the role of president-elect, but the law itself is murky. Under the 20th Amendment, if a president-elect dies, his or her running mate, the vice president-elect, becomes president. There could be some question, for instance, about when exactly a person becomes president-elect. Is it after the electors meet in December, or after Congress meets to count Electoral College votes on January 6? For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Duke and Duchess have used coat of arms given to Meghan when she joined the Royal family - PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be stopped from using the coat of arms she was issued when she married into the Royal family on their newly-rebranded website, the Telegraph understands. An old version of the Duchess coat of arms has been placed at the centre of the Sussexes new website, as they relaunch as the The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have been accused by critics of attempting to re-assert their royal status by using the distinctive emblem, ahead of a mini tour to Canada in February. Sussex.com describes the Duke as a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate and environmental campaigner and the Duchess as a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity as well as one of the most influential women in the world. Their children are named Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The site does not specifically mention the Royal family in Prince Harry and Meghans biographies, which total nearly 1,000 words. The couple have also updated their old domain to link to the new site. They had stopped using it shortly after their departure from the UK after conceding that it was agreed they could not use the word royal for their work. It is understood that there have been no such specific agreements about the use of coats of arms. One source suggested that the palace and Lord Chamberlains Office, responsible for such protocol, would at one time have clamped down firmly on the use of the coat of arms, but must now remain silent for fear of appearing vindictive. Their hands are tied, said a second source. The couple's crest features on their site The new website is intended to streamline the Sussexes communication with the public, allowing their team to post about events which fall outside their non-profit Archewell foundation and broadcast production channels. Articles posted so far include the Dukes visit to an NFL award show, his charity polo match in Singapore, and Meghans recognition as top entertainment podcast host at the Gracie Awards. It comes ahead of their three-day trip to Canada to promote the Invictus Games. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace did not comment on the update. The King is undergoing treatment for cancer. The Prince and Princess of Wales are spending the half term holiday with their three children, following the Princesss abdominal surgery. The coat of arms used on the Sussexes website features the motif given to the Duchess. Issued in 2018, it includes numerous references to her upbringing, with rays of sunshine and flowers representing California and a songbird with wings elevated as if flying and an open beak, which with the quill represents the power of communication. The couple's most recent overseas trip together was to Jamaica for the premiere of a Bob Marley film - Getty Prince Harry is represented on the left by the lion, known in heraldic tradition as his Supporter. The coat of arms was issued under the late Queen Elizabeth II and has not been updated for the new reign to reflect Prince Harrys position as son of the monarch. Theyre now so far removed from the Royal family that they dont seem to have noticed they should have a new one, said one source in Britain. Theyre Hollywood royalty. Hugo Vickers, royal biographer, said the use of the coat of arms showed the Sussexes are still asserting their royal status. They said they would not trade on their royal status, and this is very much doing so, he added. A source close to the couple has dismissed criticism of the Duke and Duchess use of their titles in America, stating: Sussex is their surname and family name. That is a fact. The websites homepage declares: The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy. It is illustrated by a picture of the couple smiling and clapping at last years Invictus Games. Under the terms of the Sandringham Summit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not to use their HRH titles, keeping them in abeyance, and have used their cyphers their initials with a coronet above only on personal documents. At the time, a statement said they have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. This week, they will be in Vancouver and Whistler to mark one year until the opening of a winter sports version of the Invictus Games 2025. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to re-criminalize multiple city ordinances after months of debate and vocal opposition about the potential impacts on people experiencing homelessness. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police will now in the coming weeks have the authority to issue criminal citations to or arrest people violating ordinances on public masturbation; beer and wine consumption, possession of open containers and disposal of containers; trespassing in a motor vehicle; public urination and defecation; behavior in public parks; and soliciting from street or median strip, which could include panhandling. The measure passed by a vote of 7-3, with council members Tiawana Brown, Renee Johnson and Lawana Mayfield voting against it. Council member Victoria Watlington, whose safety committee has led much of the discussion of the ordinances, was absent from the meeting. Council members have been discussing whether to re-criminalize the ordinances for months, since uptown residents came forward with health and safety concerns. A state law decriminalized the city ordinances in 2021, which meant officers only options when facing people violating the ordinances were to ask for compliance, give a verbal warning or issue a written civil citation. The law allows municipalities to reinstate criminal penalties for some local laws if they vote to do so. The City Council did so previously on seven other local laws in 2022. The city has highlighted its efforts to provide an holistic approach, including working to expand funding for street outreach and affordable housing as well as more public restrooms, throughout the process. But that hasnt stopped groups such as Roof Above, the ACLU of North Carolina and Action NC from raising concerns. Mondays vote came after council members heard from more than 30 residents on the ordinances, the majority of whom opposed re-criminalizing the ordinances. Council member Tariq Bokhari initially introduced a motion to re-criminalize all eight of the ordinances originally recommended by CMPD. That was followed by the substitute motion that ultimately passed, which omitted ordinances on unauthorized people in parking lots and loitering for the purpose of engaging in drug-related activity. City attorneys said last week there were Constitutional concerns with those two ordinances. The substitute motion, introduced by council member Dimple Ajmera, also called for the re-criminalized ordinances to not take effect until March 1 to allow the community to prepare for the change. A visibly emotional Ajmera said Mondays discussion brought back memories of when her family lived in a motel because we didnt have anywhere else to go. This has been a very difficult decision. This just has been a difficult conversation all along, she said. Johnson introduced an amendment to Ajmeras motion that would have left the ordinances on public masturbation and trespassing on motor vehicles on the table, but it was voted down. Johnson said her amendment would have called for the council to revisit the other ordinances in six months, after other efforts and services could be implemented. The District 4 representative said shes concerned that re-criminalization will lead to more criminal records for people experiencing homelessness, making it harder for them to get housing. I know that a criminal record is a barrier to housing. I dont understand how we can vote for this. This exacerbates the problem, she said. Brown, who is formerly incarcerated and now runs a nonprofit focused on reentry, cited her personal experiences with housing when explaining her opposition. When you think about being homeless, I can speak on it because Ive been there When you think about what its like to be in these peoples shoes, theyre humans. We need to learn how to restore humanity, and thats something that were missing, she said. City Council member Malcolm Graham, whose District 2 includes parts of uptown, said while hes in agreement with 98% of what those who spoke Monday said, he ultimately supported the motion due to public safety. We all deserve to live in an environment that is safe, that is clean, that we know our neighbors, that we have the ability to walk our dogs or walk our children throughout the community and feel safe, he said. ... For me this is not about either/or, either we put the ordinances in place or we provide wraparound services. Council member Ed Driggs said he believes the move criminalizes behaviors rather than homelessness. I think its really unfortunate that this topic has become a flashpoint that has created this sort of sense of adversity among us here. We are all on the same team, he said. ... The fact is there are a lot of people who are homeless who are not in any way responsible for this. And there are people who arent homeless who are. Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson, whose District 1 also includes parts of uptown, said her vote for the ordinances doesnt mean she doesnt empathize with those who opposed the idea, noting that she experienced housing insecurity as a young person. We have to continue to move forward with that continuum of care while also holding individuals accountable, she said. Some who opposed the re-criminalization, whod held signs saying Ordinances are not the solution, shouted shame at council members who voted in favor of the changes as they left council chambers after the vote. Residents call for compassion, action Many of the speakers who opposed the ordinances were clergy members, including the Rev. Kate Murphy of Grove Presbyterian Church. She recalled a situation where a woman experiencing homelessness came into her church during a service asking for a place to rest. The church let the woman use a room in their facility, Murphy said, but couldnt let her stay after church activities concluded because of fire regulations. I am glad that people are upset. I am glad that there is a sense of urgency about the fact that people have no place to live in our community. The problem isnt that people have to see how hard it is to be unhoused, the problem is that people are unhoused. It should not be illegal to rest in our community. It should not be illegal to have a digestive system and a body in our community, she said. James Lee, who shared that he previously experienced homelessness, recalled his own struggles finding a place to use the restroom when he was experiencing homelessness. Theres a lot of people just outside this door. They need us to get this right, he said. Some uptown residents said while they support help for people experiencing homelessness, they also have concerns about their own health and safety and that of their families. Kristin Smith, who said shes lived in Fourth Ward for almost 24 years, said that she knew her home was near a park where people experiencing homelessness go when she moved in, and was OK with that. But shes now concerned about a rise in frequent drinking and drug use in the park. Smith said her dog became ill after eating human feces and that she sees people gathering in the park to drink for hours. Many of those people arent homeless, she added. Although I am passionately committed to living in uptown Charlotte. Im very worried that were becoming known as an unsafe unclean place to live, she said. We need to have the tools to keep our beautiful uptown a desirable place to live and work. How to help the family of slain Las Cruces Police officer EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Las Cruces Police Officers Association has established a GoFundMe for donations on behalf of Police Officer Jonah Hernandez family after he was fatally stabbed this past Sunday, Feb. 11. To donate, click here: GoFundMe for Officer Jonah Hernadez Checks made out to the Benefit of Jonah Hernandez fund can also be dropped off at the Las Cruces Police Department. Donations can also be made at any Citizens Bank of Las Cruces branch in Las Cruces. Those who donate are asked to make checks or money orders payable to the Benefit of Jonah Hernandez fund. The Las Cruces Police Department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays and is located on 217 E. Picacho Ave. The Police Officers Association ensures that all proceeds generated on either account will go directly to the family of fallen officer Jonah Hernandez, the association said. Las Cruces Police officer stabbed, killed in line of duty What Borderland leaders are saying about death of Las Cruces officer Fallen Las Cruces officer to be escorted through state to El Paso For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. HENDERSON, Texas (KETK) The Rusk County Sheriffs Office said a Henderson woman was arrested and charged with burglary, theft and possession of suspected meth and marijuana. Woman arrested after spending night in Walgreens, leaving with stolen goods On Sunday, authorities said they conducted a follow up investigation on a vehicle that was possibly stolen. During the investigation, they said suspected stolen firearms and archery equipment were found in a vehicle that was in the custody of Jamie King, 39 of Henderson. The estimated value of the property recovered during this investigation is $8,000, the sheriffs office said. The Rusk County Sheriffs Office said after further investigation, they seized suspected methamphetamine and suspected marijuana, and placed King under arrest. 12 bottles of promethazine cough syrup seized in Nacogdoches County traffic stop According to the sheriffs office, a Rusk County Justice of the Peace set Kings bond at $76,000. This is an on-going investigation being conducted by Rusk County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division, and more arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues, the sheriffs office said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. BRIDGEWATER - A liquor store may be coming to the Somerset Shopping Center on the Somerville Circle. Liquor Cave has applied to the Township Council for approval of a liquor license transfer to move into 309 Route 202/206 at the center, a space previously occupied by New York & Company. Before that, the 7,442-square foot space next to Men's Wearhouse and two doors down from Barnes & Noble had been occupied by FYE. The space was also used as a pop-up Vineyard Vines store in 2022. The application has been cleared by state Alcohol Beverage Control and approved by the police department following an investigation. The Township Council is expected to vote Thursday on the application. Liquor Cave is owned by Bridgewater Wines LLC. More: New restaurant to open at former Bridgewater Houlihan's in April Also coming to the center is Strand Salon Studios in the space between Gap Factory and Fortunoff Backyard. Fred Astaire Dance Studio is also expected to open in the Bank of America space. Like retail centers across the country, the Somerset Shopping Center, managed by Levin Management of North Plainfield, has seen its share of closings and vacancies in recent years. Still vacant at the shopping center are spaces once occupied by Christmas Tree Shops, Rite Aid and Modell's. The 210,685-square foot center, one of the first suburban shopping centers in the United States, has more than 1.2 million visitors a year, according to Levin Management. Founded in 1952, Levin Management also manages the Somerville Circle Shopping Center on the other side of Route 28, the Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, Flemington Marketplace, The Shoppes at Flemington and Rutgers Plaza in Franklin Township. mail: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Here's what may be coming to the Somerset Circle Pueblo is rich with history and tradition. Some of its buildings are named after lifelong Puebloans with decorated pasts, while the names of its neighborhoods have historical ties, too. Its no different for some of Pueblos streets, which have names that acknowledge and embrace the Steel Citys history. Heres how some Pueblo streets got their names and helped archive the Steel Citys past. The former Spanish names of Pueblo streets in the Mesa Junction area can be seen on street signs throughout the area. Mesa Junction streets used to be named after cities in Mexico, The Mesa Junction has perhaps some of the most notable street name changes in Pueblo. In the 1870s, the roads in the area were labeled with Spanish names to reflect the citys Mexican heritage. The Arkansas River once was the international border between the United States and Mexico. Its believed that some of those streets were named after cities in Mexico, such as San Luis, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, San Juan and Las Animas, among others. William Jackson Palmer, a civil engineer, named them that way because he wanted to connect the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to Mexico, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia. He brought that railroad to Pueblo in 1872. However, those street names were changed decades later. San Luis was changed to Adams Avenue in honor of former Colorado governor Alva Adams. Similarly, Orman Avenue which was formerly San Juan was renamed after James B. Orman, another governor of Colorado. A few other examples in the Mesa Junction include Routt Avenue, which was changed from San Pedro to honor Colorados first governor, John Long Routt, and Las Animas, which became Pitkin Avenue for Frederick Pitkin, the second governor of Colorado. Its unclear what led to the changes, but Heraldo Acosta, former head of the nonprofit Pueblo Celebration of Culture and Diversity, told the Chieftain in 2001 that cultural and racial differences were likely factors. Today, many Mesa Junction street signs have brown circles with their former Spanish name etched within. East Side street names are alphabetical from east to west In the 1920s, several street names on the East Side were changed to what they are today. One street formerly referred to as Water changed to Erie Avenue, while Center was renamed Glendale Avenue. The original names were used to reflect geographical features and the interests of Donald Fletcher, a former Pueblo developer. During the changes, the streets were named alphabetically from west to east. Albany Avenue was followed by Bradford Avenue, then Chester Avenue and so on. One street that was not renamed was Fountain Avenue. How other Pueblo streets got their names One recent street name change happened in 2020, when Pueblo City Council approved renaming Central Avenue to McCulley Avenue to honor the McCulley family, which contributed to the community for decades upon their arrival in 1968. Beulah has long been synonymous with Pueblo through its historic valley and small town. Beulah Avenue reflects that history and is located on the South Side. Union Avenue is believed to have gotten its name at some point in the 1880s. As early as 1872, it was referred to as 5th Street. One of the more mysterious street names in Pueblo is Northern Avenue, not because of its name but because of where its located the South Side. It runs east and west and was once considered the center of Bessemer because dozens of shops were stationed along it. Jerry Murphy Road in Belmont was named after Raymond Jerry Murphy, a decorated veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1953. In the same area, Bonforte Boulevard was likely named in honor of John Bonforte, a Pueblo developer who donated land so Colorado State University Pueblo, formerly the University of Southern Colorado, could be built. He was the leading figure in the development of the Belmont neighborhood. Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @josuepwrites. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: How did Pueblo streets get their names? Begin to find out here Fried fish and shrimp are ready to be served to patrons during the 2021 fish fry at the Polish American Club in Akron. It's fish fry time in Northeast Ohio. The Akron area offers plenty of options for people seeking meat-free dining options on Fridays throughout Lent. You can find fish fries at area churches, clubs, lodges and restaurants. Many offer carryout or drive-thru pickup options. And if you're not a fan of fried fish, some places are offering baked fish. A few have other meat-free meals, such as scallops, shrimp, crab cakes, pierogi and salad. Some even have chicken tenders on the menu for the kiddos or those who simply don't like seafood. Fish fries take place every Friday during the Lenten season unless otherwise noted. Akron-area churches, clubs and lodges serving fish fry meals Akron FOP Lodge No. 7: 5-8 p.m. Feb. 23, March 1, 8, 15 and 29. 2610 Ley Drive, Akron. 330-773-3032. Beer-battered pollock, pan-fried flounder or baked cod, $12 adults, $6 ages 10-and-younger. Extra pan-fried and beer-battered can be purchased for $2 per piece. Chicken tenders or shrimp dinners $8. All meals include choice of potato, coleslaw and rolls. Ancient Order of Hibernians: 5-7 p.m. Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 1, 8 and 22. 2000 Brown St., Akron. 330-724-2083. Six-ounce baked or fried cod; eight-piece shrimp; one-piece cod and four shrimp; chicken tenders for children. Prices range from $12-15. All dinners come with choice of two sides: baked potato, french fries, macaroni and cheese, hot rice, coleslaw, applesauce or cottage cheese. Carryout available. No phone orders. Boy Scout Troop 382: 4:30-7 p.m. Feb. 23, Copley High School, 3807 Ridgewood Road, Copley. Choice of breaded lake perch, salmon or chicken tenders. French fries, cole slaw, applesauce. Dessert and beverage. Adults $15, children age 10 and under $10. For more information, call 330-701-0702. British American Club: 6:30-8:30 p.m. through March 29. 8564 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg. 330-963-6370. British-style fish and chips dinner, hand-dipped in made-from-scratch batter. Also shrimp, chicken or fish and shrimp combo dinners. Each served with fries, coleslaw, mushy peas (a British specialty), bread and coffee or tea. Soft drinks and a cash bar available. Macaroni and cheese dinners and childrens portions available. Carryout available. Price $12 to $15. Cash and checks only. www.baclubohio.com. German Family Society: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 1. 3871 Ranfield Rd, Brimfield Township. 330-813-0486, www.germanfamilysociety.com. Fried, hand-breaded, two-piece cod dinner with potatoes, green beans and coleslaw, $15. Children's cod dinner with green beans and applesauce, $7. Macaroni and cheese dinner with green beans and coleslaw, $8. Children's macaroni and cheese with green beans and applesauce, $5. All dinners include bread. Potato soup and homemade pastries, $3. Dine in and carryout (order inside club). Basket Raffle each week. Knights of Columbus 3410: 4:30-7 p.m. 2055 Glenmount Ave., Akron. 330-773-3410 or kofc3410@gmail.com. Hall is open for dine-in. Dinner choices: Fried whitefish, baked cod, fried shrimp, seafood platter, chicken fingers. Choice of two sides: French fries, baked potato, coleslaw, macaroni & cheese, hot rice. Price range $10-15. Carryout available. Dessert and soft drinks available for purchase. Knights of Columbus Stow/Hudson/Peninsula, Holy Family Parish: Dine in or carryout, 4:30-7 p.m. through March 22. 3179 Kent Road, Stow. 330-813-1144. Fried or baked cod or breaded shrimp with two side dishes. Sides include french fries, sweet potato tots, pierogi, green beans, rice, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and applesauce. Also, a dinner roll is available for each dinner by request. $13 for adults, $7 for children. Pierogi, macaroni and cheese, or Altieri's Pizza dinners $11. $6 for a children's dinner. Online orders for take-out can be placed at kofcstowfishfry.com between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. the Friday of the event and will be assigned a specific pickup time. Takeout orders can also be placed in person at Holy Family with payment at the time of pick-up. Knights of Columbus Council Hall 3213: 4-6:30 p.m. through March 29. 148 Lyman St., Wadsworth. 330-334-0030. Alaskan Pollock with french fries, coleslaw, applesauce and tartar sauce. Adults $12, children $7. Little Flower Catholic Parish Men's Club Fish Fry: 4:30-7 p.m. 2040 Diamond St. NE, Canton. Dine in or carryout (no phone orders). Two-piece fried or baked cod dinner with two sides, $12; eight fantail shrimp dinner with two sides, $12; four shrimp and one fish combo with two sides, $12; one piece fish dinner wih two sides, $9; four fantail shrimp dinner wih two sides, $9; children's mac & cheese dinner with one side, $7. Extra piece of fish, $3. Sides include applesauce, french fries, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and green beans. Coffee and soft drinks included with dine-in orders only. Desserts sold separately. Credit cards accepted, $1 service fee. Polish American Citizens Club: 4:30-8 p.m. 472 E. Glenwood Ave. (entrance on Dan Street), Akron. 330-253-0496. Choice of fried fish, baked cod, fried shrimp, kielbasa, chicken tenders or fried chicken wings. Each dinner also comes with bread and butter and your choice of two side dishes. Options for sides include salad, french fries, cabbage and noodles, coleslaw, cottage cheese, hot rice and applesauce. Dinner prices from $10 to $15. Additionally, indulge in homemade pierogi available at two for $3. For takeout orders, simply visit the entrance of the Polish American Club. No phone orders or reservations during Lent. Queen of Heaven Church: 4:30-7 p.m. through March 22. Parish Life Center, 1800 Steese Road, Green. 330-896-2345 and www.queenofheavenparish.org. Dine in or carryout. fried or baked cod $12; three fish tacos $12; shrimp $14; combo shrimp/cod baked or fried $14; pierogies, or two slices pizza or macaroni and cheese $10. Childrens or seniors dinners are $10. All dinners are served with a glass of water, bread and butter, coffee/tea and include two hot sides selected from green beans, french fries, buttered red-skin potatoes, mixed vegetables, hot rice, macaroni and cheese or pierogi; and one cold side selected from applesauce or coleslaw. Only with dinners, extra sides: $2 each; fried fish $3 each; baked fish $7 each; shrimp $1 each; slice pizza $3 each. Soft drinks and desserts available for purchase. No phone orders. Ralph Huff VFW Post No. 1062: 5-7:30 p.m. through March 29. 1581 Main St., Cuyahoga Falls. 330-929-9494. Dine in or carryout. Three-piece breaded perch dinner, $15; two-piece breaded perch dinner, $13. Three-piece chicken tenders or seven-piece shrimp dinner, $12. Combination platter (one fish, two chicken tenders, three shrimp), $15. All served with bread and choice of two sides (fries, salad, coleslaw, applesauce). Fish sandwich, $6. Extra fish, $3 a piece (limit two per dinner). Bake sale to support auxiliary. Cash preferred but credit card accepted. ATM onsite. St. Andrew the Apostle Church: 4-7 p.m. through March 22, 4022 Johnson Road, Norton, 330-825-2617. Baked or fried fish, fried shrimp or combo dinners, choice of two sides (french fries, cabbage noodles, hot rice, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw or applesauce), bread and dessert, $14 adults, $10 children. Dine-in or carryout. Cash or checks only. Handicapped persons can call 330-803-5006 to order and pick up. St. George Orthodox Church: 5-7 p.m. through March 29. 3204 Ridgewood Road, Fairlawn. Fried or baked fish or fried shrimp dinners, all include choice of three sides (coleslaw, rice, french fries, roasted vegetables or macaroni and cheese). Adults $15, ages 12 and younger $10. Pop, water and dessert available. Dine in or carryout. St. Joseph Church/School: 5-7 p.m. through March 22. 2643 Waterloo Road, Randolph Township. Adult dinners $10-$15. Adult entrees: baked cod (8 ounces), fried pollock, six shrimp, or macaroni and cheese or combo meals of baked cod (4 ounces) with three shrimp or fried pollock and three shrimp. Child dinners $7- $10. Child entrees: baked cod (4 ounces), fried pollock, four shrimp, or macaroni & cheese or combo meals of baked cod with two shrimp or fried pollock and two shrimp. Adult dinners include entree, rolls, beverage, dessert, applesauce or coleslaw and choice of two sides (baked potato, rice pilaf, french fries, green beans or macaroni and cheese). Child dinners include entree, rolls, beverage, dessert, applesauce or coleslaw and choice of one side (baked potato, rice pilaf, french fries, green beans or macaroni & cheese. Extra fish or shrimp $8, extra side dish $3. Dine in, walk in or carryout. Online ordering and car-side pickup available- stjosephschoolrandolph.org St. Mary Parish Mens Club: 5-7:30 p.m. through March 22. 340 N. Main St., Hudson. 330-650-0722, ext. 244. A wide variety of Lenten seafood menu items, including beer-battered cod, lemon-pepper haddock, crab cakes, fried shrimp and salads. Sides and soups from pierogies to lobster bisque plus kids meals (pizza and mac and cheese). Full meals from $12.25 to $17. No phone orders. Online orders: seafood.stmaryhudson.cc St. Nicholas Orthodox Church: 755 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore. Fish Fry Feb. 16 and March 29. Dine in 4:30-6 p.m. (last seating at 6 p.m.) or walk in to carry out. Beer-battered cod dinner or baked cod dinner served with jo-jo potatoes, hot sauce rice, tangy vinegar coleslaw and tartar sauce $16. Homemade sides $5: pierogi, halushki, rice pudding, Easter Paska breads. Pre-order and pay online at marketplace.stnickoca.org Last order taken 8 p.m. the night before. Need help placing an order? Call 330-289-7068. St. Philips Episcopal Church: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 16 and March 15. 1130 Mercer Ave., Akron. 330-535-7295. Dinners include fish, tilapia, catfish and whiting, and sides coleslaw, green beans, baked beans, cake and water. Cost is $15. St. Vincent de Paul Parish: 5:30-7:30 p.m. through March 22. 17 S. Maple St., Akron. All meals include one entree, two sides, saladand a dessert. Main entrees are beer-battered fried cod, baked cod, pierogies or fish tacos. Shrimp tacos will also be served weeks 2, 4 and 6. Sides include macaroni and cheese, green beans, coleslaw, pierogies or french fries. Choice of a homemade dessert. Children will have an option for cheese pizza. $17 for adults, $13 for seniors (age 60 and older) and $10 for children. Slovak J Club: 4:30-7 p.m. through March 29. 485 Morgan Ave., Akron. 330-786-9972 (after 3 p.m.). All-you-can-eat fried fish $15. Baked cod dinners (two pieces), must be preordered by Wednesday each week after 3 p.m., includes all-you-can-eat fried fish and sides for $20. All dinners include macaroni and cheese, fries, haluski, hot rice, coleslaw and bread. Five-piece chicken tenders with all sides $12. Three-piece chicken tenders with sides (ages 10 and under) $8. Carryout available. Tadmor Shrine Center: 5-7:30 p.m. through April 5. 3000 Krebs Drive, Akron. 330-644-8494. All-you-can-eat buffet featuring Alaskan pollock, french fries, apple sauce, coleslaw and rolls. Shrimp or chicken dinners also available. Free coffee, tea, punch and water. Cash bar available. $16 per person. Ages 6-12 $8. Ages 5 and younger eat free. Fresh pie slices $3 or two for $5. Greater Akron restaurants offering Lent fish fry meals The Boulevard: 2-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays. 435 Chestnut Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. 330-208-6599. Three-piece lake perch dinners with two sides, $17.99; five piece $20.99. Special hours Ash Wednesday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Coventry Diner: 3333 Manchester Road, Akron. 330-644-7933. All-you-can-eat fish fry Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m-7 p.m. during Lent. Fish with french fries and coleslaw, $14; fish with fries, clams and coleslaw, $15; fish with fries, shrimp and coleslaw, $16. Other Lent specials will include clam chowder, shrimp dinners and surf and turf. The Original Peppe & Luigi's Restaurant: 240 5th Street SE, Barberton. 330-745-1121 or 330-745-1122. Currently offering take-out counter service only. Fish specials every Friday during Lent, starting Ash Wednesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Shrimp dinner: breaded and deep-fried, medium-sized shrimp (15-22 shrimp per dinner), with french fries and coleslaw. Flounder dinner with jo-jo potatoes and tossed salad. Fish sandwich with french fries. Beer-battered haddock with jo-jo potatoes and coleslaw. Dinners $14.99 each. Diners can substitute french fries with jo-jo potatoes or onion rings. Also offered are hot rice, cottage cheese and applesauce as substitutions for the coleslaw. Roses Run Country Club: 4-9 p.m. every Friday. 2636 N. River Road, Stow. 330-688-4653. New England Clam Chowder, $4.99. Crab rangoon dip, $9.99. Beer-battered fish sandwich, served on a brioche bun topped with lettuce and homemade tarter sauce, and served with fresh cut fries, $8.99. Beer-battered fish dinner, with hush puppies and coleslaw, $13.99. Shrimp scampi, sauteed shrimp tossed in a roasted garlic cream sauce over capelinni pasta, $14.99. Blackened grouper seasoned with blackening blend, topped with pepper butter served with fries and coleslaw, $14.99. Seafood mac & cheese, $15.99. Create your own burger, $11.99. Sides: salad $2.99, basket of fries $4.99. Beer, wine and soft drinks available. Kids chicken fingers or fish dinners with fries, $7.99; macaroni and cheese, $5.99. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Lenten fish fry 2024 locations in and around Akron Brokerages set sights on young investors By Yi Whan-woo The number of Korean minors who own shares increased more than 15 times from 2019 to 2023, driven by a growing trend of parents gifting stocks to their children. This trend reflects the hopes of parents that their children will learn about investing and money management starting at a young age. According to data released by KB Securities, Tuesday, a total of 175,260 customers who are aged 18 or under traded stocks via the brokerage in 2023. The number marked a steep increase from 11,632 in 2019. KB Securities said clients aged 18 or under accounted for only 1.5 percent of the brokerages total customers in 2019, but rose to 5.93 percent in 2023. "For instance, parents are now giving stocks instead of cash on Seollal," noted the brokerage house, contrasting this with the traditional practice of giving cash as a reward for ceremonial bows to parents and older relatives during the Lunar New Year holiday. If a parent had purchased Samsung Electronics shares for their child right after the Lunar New Year holiday in 2014 and the child had held onto them, the investment return could be nearly triple the initial amount. "I've been buying Samsung Electronics' shares for my son with money he got during Lunar New Year each year, but bought other shares in case he had some other choices. The total investment is not huge, but he checks the investment return from time to time," a stock investor wrote at an online forum. Multiple brokerage houses are now targeting children as potential new customers after the holiday, even offering cash-equivalent gifts for minors who open new stock trading accounts. The increasing number of minor stockholders and the rising value of stocks held by them are also partly due to affluent families utilizing stocks to alleviate the burden of gift and inheritance taxes when transferring wealth to their children. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the total value of stocks owned by minors surpassed 1.5 trillion won ($1.12 billion) as of the third quarter of 2023. The breakdown of the value of stocks held by minors is as follows: those aged six or younger held stocks worth 272.1 billion won, while those between seven and 12 held stocks worth 468.7 billion won. The remaining 788.8 billion won was held by minors aged between 13 and 18. The ratio of Koreas gift and inheritance taxes to its gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.7 percent in 2021, which was on a par with France and Belgium. The three countries jointly ranked at the top among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). KB Securities also highlighted the influx of new retail investors, including minors, who entered the stock market during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic hit the global economy hard, but on the other hand, the benchmark KOPSI at one point topped the 3,000-point milestone in January 2021, driven by hopes of an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. A separate study by Hankook Research showed 43 percent of retail investors in 2021 responded that they either started investing in stocks in 2020 or after the KOSPI surpassed the 3,000-point mark. Some 92 percent of the new comers to the market expressed their intention to continue investing even after the pandemic subsides. "Under the circumstances, the pandemic can be seen as a turning point, as it marked the beginning of a significant increase in the number of underage stock investors. Eventually, this number grew more than 15 times larger compared to 2019," KB Securities noted. A 58-year-old man was hiking in the woods in Rhode Island when he was attacked by a rabid coyote, news outlets reported. He had to strangle the animal to stop it, Johnston Police Chief Mark A. Vieira told the Warwick Beacon. Now officials have confirmed the same coyote was responsible for two recent attacks, the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said in a Feb. 12 news release. The coyote first attacked a person who was walking their dog Feb. 8 in Scituate, officials and The Boston Globe reported. Then the next day the rabid animal appeared as a man was hiking in Johnston, the news outlet reported. It bit the man on his leg, police told The Associated Press. He had to subdue the coyote by pinning it down by its neck, subsequently suffocating the coyote, Vieira told the Warwick Beacon. Health officials said they tested the animals body for rabies, and it came back positive for the virus. Now officials are warning anyone in the Scituate and Johnston areas to call the Rhode Island Department of Healths Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology if they had any contact with the rabid coyote. If a pet was in contact with it, owners should contact their veterinarian, officials said. The Johnston Police Department did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for more information Feb. 13. What are the signs of a rabid animal? Rabies is a viral infection that can be transmitted to animals and humans, according to the National Park Service. When an animal becomes infected with rabies, they can lose their fear of humans and appear sleepy, confused or aggressive, officials said. An animal may also drool more, have trouble moving, look paralyzed or bite at the air, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Some animals dont show any signs of the virus, the CDC said. How to prevent getting rabies To avoid getting rabies, people should keep a distance from wildlife and report sick animals to rangers or wildlife officials, the NPS said. This includes not touching wildlife. Small openings on homes, cabins and tents should also be blocked off so wildlife cant get through, officials said. Officials also advise teaching children about the dangers of rabies. If someone is bitten by an animal, immediate medical attention should be sought. Animals are acting strange at an Arizona national park. Now officials have theory why Aggressive bobcat attacks children, prompting public warning, Georgia officials say Man races to save dog from coyote attack, video shows. Id do anything to protect her The lesson begins with a little song and ends with a roller coaster cheer. The 30 minutes in between could be described as tedious. But 22 second graders dont think so, and they give it their unwavering attention. Seated shoulder-to-shoulder on a multicolored rug, they learn about five ways to form a long U sound and four ways to form a long I. They learn how an A sometimes sounds like a short O, especially when it follows a W. On and on goes teacher Barbara Zimmer, clicking through a slide show in a recent lesson and directing the students to write words and letter sounds on marker boards. What the veteran teacher is doing in these daily lessons at Bay Crest Elementary School could hold the answer to Hillsborough Countys deficiency in student reading skills. Hillsborough students trail slightly behind the rest of the state in English language arts, as measured by state exams. Tired of disappointing results, the school district commissioned a team of consultants in 2019 to find out why. The answers they uncovered included inconsistent teaching methods and a short supply of culturally relevant texts. District leaders tried, under a succession of superintendents, to produce stronger readers. But the last batch of test results in 2023 were not much better. Fifty percent of the states students scored at least a Level 3 in English language arts, which is considered passing. That number was 48% for Hillsborough, with the biggest gaps in third and fourth grades. Zimmer, a teacher for nearly 20 years and a Teacher of the Year finalist for the district this year, had long wondered why so many students struggled to read. I felt like the district did a good job of trying to put things together, she said. But I felt that not one thing really meshed and really went together. She scoured teacher websites, listened to podcasts and shopped for materials until she heard about the University of Florida Literacy Institute, commonly known by the acronym UFLI, pronounced You Fly. She bought a $70 manual from the institute and tried the system on her first graders last year. Their reading improved, she said. An assistant principal showed interest. Soon, other teachers at the Town N Country school were using it in classes as young as kindergarten. Separately, district leaders were exploring various teaching programs, said Tracie Bergman, executive director of literacy. Impressed by the University of Florida program and encouraged by the success at Bay Crest, they expanded it to other elementary schools, where it is now standard. One key problem the program addresses is a prior weakness in kindergarten through second grade instruction. Schools were so focused on state tests, which begin in third grade, there was no systematic way to make sure younger children acquired foundational skills. Bergman said the program has tools to help teachers track student progress and help them in small groups to catch up. Teaching products like this one stress what educators call the science of reading, which means they are guided by research. An important component is phonics, which teaches the reader how to decode words through letters and letter sounds. Educators have long debated the relative importance of phonics, with many preferring so-called whole language methods that teach through images, word recognition and context. In recent years, phonics has gained popularity. More than a dozen states, including Florida, have new laws requiring the science of reading with phonics as a key component at the heart of instruction. A system of guessing called the three cueing method is no longer allowed in Florida classrooms. For Zimmer, the UF institutes program works because of the way lessons systematically build upon each other, then circle back so they are reinforced. Children in the recent lesson learned that ea can sometimes produce a short vowel sound, as in thread. Later Zimmer says, I know that I just learned that ea spells eh. So Im going to read this word, head. After that: Read, bread, meant. The 30 minutes include a sequence of writing words after changing just one letter: Pause, cause, case, cane, can, fan, fawn. This exercise, sometimes called a word chain, helps solidify connections in the brain between letters and the sounds they represent. A student asks if fawn is really a word. Zimmer tells her, a fawn is a young deer, and the child smiles. There is handwriting practice. And the following day the children will work in teams to find words that fit the newly learned patterns. Zimmer can easily diffuse any fidgeting with teacher phrases such as eyes on me or show me youre ready. Speaking after the lesson, she said she was surprised at how easy it is to keep the childrens attention. Thats another thing that hooked me, she said. Right at the beginning, they were just hungry for it. While phonics is important in the early grades, it is not the only element of the science of reading. Current research also recognizes the importance of background knowledge, vocabulary and language structures if a student is to advance from decoding words to enjoying a novel. Zimmer said that in her class, children are reading Dr. Seuss, the Lego books, and the Amelia Bedelia and Fancy Nancy series for pleasure. They read all different types of stuff, she said, including books about animals from her personal library. She has read one so many times, she said, that books falling apart. What have I done to be placed on the sanctions list of the Russian Foreign Ministry, alongside several distinguished historians of eastern Europe? My normal hunting ground (not the right word for a maritime historian) is the Mediterranean and the oceans beyond. But maybe Russias mandarins know that I am now writing about the Black Sea. Since the reign of Peter the Great in the 18th century, Russia has seen the Black Sea as a vital gateway to the wider world. The Ottoman sultans blocked Russian attempts to reach warmer waters via Istanbul. Russian ships bound for intended conquests had to creak their way out of the Baltic, entering the Mediterranean at Gibraltar. The search for Mediterranean harbours became a central theme of Russias foreign policy, and Putin has not lost sight of it. Witness the Russian naval base at Tartus in Syria, not far from the British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. The inclusion of historians on the latest list of people who are persona non grata reflects Putins certainty that he is Russias best historian. But is he? Much turns on the question of the origins of Russia. Was the early medieval principality of Rus a Slavonic foundation, as Putin told Tucker Carlson, or was it founded by Viking warriors? The eminent Oxford historian Dimitri Obolensky, himself descended from the Viking prince Rurik, was happy to recognise them as Scandinavian warriors and traders who carved out territory in Ukraine and Belarus. Towards the end of the ninth century, they established themselves around a pre-existing settlement at Kyiv, making it into the capital of a principality whose rulers eventually adopted eastern Orthodox Christianity. This created a bond with the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople that was perpetuated through the long centuries of Ottoman rule over Istanbul and the Black Sea. The Russian tsars dreamt of recovering Constantinople for Christendom, and under Catherine the Great they colonised Ukraine with Russian serfs, as well as with plenty of Greeks, who settled in newly-founded cities such as Odesa and Mariupol. The Scandinavian lords of Kyiv spoke a form of Swedish. Their names included Harald. Not so, numerous Russian historians have insisted. In the Soviet period, they wrote the Swedes out of their early history. In their version of Marxism-Leninism, state-formation could only be achieved by the native population, mostly Slav; and these Slavs had supposedly lived under the rule of Slav princes, beginning with Kyi after whom Kyiv was apparently named. The truth about the ethnic history of Ukraine is that the open spaces north of the Black Sea have permitted mobile populations to come and go: ancient Scythians, Turkic Khazars (whose leaders adopted Judaism), Mongol Tatars, Buddhist Kalmyks, Christian Cossacks the list is virtually endless. The idea that any single group has dominated these lands since time immemorial does not stand up. Modern Ukraine is a nation made up of people of varied origins whose sense of a common identity has only been strengthened by the Russian invasion. Writing history well depends on using hard evidence. Personal preferences about what one wishes had happened in the past have had a corrosive effect on the study of history. Putins version of Russian history falls at the first hurdle. David Abulafia is professor emeritus of history at the University of Cambridge 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. Last week, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was at 30 days notice for sea. That means exactly what it sounds like: if such a ship is ordered to sail, it is expected that it will take the captain and ships company 30 days to get ready. For once they can relax go on leave, go on a course, commit to some deep maintenance, send items away to have things done to them. They can chill out, up to a point. Thats not to say the Prince was not busy she was. Apart from the day before sailing, a warship rarely has such a buzz of activity as it does at the start of a maintenance period, which the Prince was about to commence having recently returned from a voyage to the United States. The engineering department has hundreds, if not thousands of lines of work to deliver in a synchronised manner to ensure that the ship is ready on time at the end of the period. As planned work commences, other problems pop up and have to be added to the plan. All the while the team are asking, does this emerging defect take us outside the 30 day window for sea? The minute it does, or might, its up to the captains cabin to discuss. The avilability of a ship can have implications, as it did here, all across Nato. Maintenance in a warship never stops. It perhaps exemplifies the difference in complexity and operating environment when compared to your car more than anything else. If you serviced a warship once a year, it wouldnt work. Being the captain of a ship in maintenance is a weird feeling. Three things always struck me in these periods. First, how big the team is from ashore. Dozens in the case of the PoW, hundreds of people are now aboard who you have never seen before. Many of them have no idea who you are nor do some of them seem to care. Second, there is the state of the ship. Your carefully manicured diplomacy and warfighting machine is under attack. Scaffolders are everywhere putting up poles and tents. Holes appear in decks to take engines out. Paint gets stripped back to reveal undercoats. Deck protectors go down everywhere to protect them from oily boots. Equipment is tagged out to allow for maintenance and there is a perpetual sound of banging, drilling and announcements (pipes, we say in the Service) on the main broadcast. Its well organised, but a mess nonetheless. Third, and related to point two, is safety. Carefully crafted systems to keep you both watertight and able to rapidly deal with incidents at sea all change. Pipes and cable pass through watertight, fireproof doors and hatches meaning they cant be shut. There is little that can be done about this, its part of a major work package, but it is not a comfortable feeling. The USS Bonhomme Richard was in deep maintenance in July 2020 when a small fire, started as arson, spread so completely that it destroyed the ship. It was five days before all fires were reported extinguished. Then imagine that one quiet evening your sister ship, preparing to sail for the biggest Nato exercise in decades, is found to have a shaft corrosion problem. You get a call, probably from your administrative chain of command saying, you know that 30 days notice to sail thing? Yup, youre now at seven make it so. This wont be a complete surprise. Chances are the captain of the other ship already called informing you that they have an issue. Royal Navy aircraft carrier Prince of Wales sails from Portsmouth Harbour to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, involving more than 40 vessels, after her sister ship Queen Elizabeth was forced to cancel its deployment due to mechanical problems - Gareth Fuller/PA Wire You will then gather your heads of department, recalling them from leave if necessary to break the good news. Thus begins the rebuild. Scaffolding that took six weeks to put up has to be taken down in four days. This has to be coordinated with the radar work that had just started. Getting equipment off the ship is complicated by having 600 or so newly joined people coming up the gangways. Many of these are from the Battle Staff who only a few days ago thought that HMS Queen Elizabeth was their home. Overall numbers onboard just increased to over 1000 who all now need to be accommodated and fed. Whatever work was being done on the fridges needs to be stopped right now. Large bits of engine need to be put back together and tested. Many things need to be rushed back from having stuff done to them and reinstalled. The ship needs to do a basin trial to make sure the engines are now working and that they will deliver thrust in the direction expected but this puts loads on the berthing lines holding you in place so the gangways will have to be closed and all work between the ship and the jetty paused. Given everything, youre going to want divers to check your shafts. Seems sensible. But this has to be deconflicted with the basin trial and other engineering evolutions and tests. With that number of new joiners you are going to want to do a alongside personnel check called a Fast Cruise essentially simulating going to sea to ensure that everyone knows where they should be in the case of an emergency, action stations and various other situations. The executive officer of the Prince of Wales (the second in command) called it a giant game of Tetris to indicate the interconnected nature of all this which is a good description. We know this because he had to take a break from his day job he is the intensely busy administrator striving to make it all come out right and on time to make an excellent video about it. Such is life in the intense glare of the carrier spotlight. Having said that, it was a shame that much of this effort was derailed by poorly handled communications from the navy to the public. QE class carriers now book a sailing window on three consecutive days with the Kings Harbour Master, Portsmouth, during any of which they can sail. Advance booking is essential as Portsmouth itself is a busy harbour and other ships must not be coming in and out when a carrier is moving. Then once the carrier is out in the Solent there are often massive commercial vessels wanting to get in and out of Southampton Water, including supertankers for the Fawley oil terminal, massive container ships and other vessels which have no freedom of manoeuvre once theyre in the tight Solent channel. The three day window also provides options for the carrier in the event of bad weather or mechanical issues. In this case, a combination of high winds, low tides and a minor leak on one of the many engines rebuilt at the rush caused the captain, very sensibly, to sail on the middle day. To be clear, this does not represent any sort of failure by the Royal Navy. Even the mighty USS Eisenhower now in the thick of the Red Sea fight sailed 24 hours later than expected when her deployment was brought forward back in October: and the alteration to Ikes schedule was less sudden and traumatic. An F-18 fighter jet is launched from US Navy carrier Dwight D Eisenhower on operations against the Houthi militants in the Red Sea, 3 Feb 2024. Eisenhower was a day later than expected getting to sea when her own deployment was abruptly brought forward - Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janae Chambers/US Navy via Reuters Unfortunately, the message that was put out there by the RN was PoW sailing on Sunday and when this didnt happen, there were howls of outrage about national embarrassments, Nato let down etc. Even at this stage, a pithy official statement could have controlled the speculation but, for whatever reason, that option was not taken and the fury online and in the media continued unchecked. The carriers generate enough division as it is, sometimes warranted its silly to cause it by sitting silent and unwilling to say anything. For HMS Prince of Wales the hard work is far from over. She is currently headed for the ammunition jetty in Scotland to refill her magazines. She will also have a number of tests and trials to do to prove her seaworthiness before she can even consider doing fancier stuff like working with the battle staff, leading Nato exercises and flying fast jets. As the lower readiness carrier for her life so far, she has had less experience in much of this which she will now need to accrue quickly. She has probably stolen quite a few people from QE to help. In my view the Prince of Wales should not be going to the Red Sea not right now anyway. This might sound odd from someone who has been saying for months that QE should. But QE was the up-and-ready carrier. PoW isnt that yet, though she will be soon. Life at sea is about pushing but not exceeding your limits. If you do, you are now gambling and thats when accidents happen. If there was a war that absolutely demanded her, she would be there. In fact, dealing with QEs shaft corrosion issue would probably have been postponed in that case. You would also not be delayed sailing by high winds you would take more tugs and take the risk. Herein lies the difference between peace and wartime risk tolerance. Were not in a critical position yet so the decisions to dock QE and repair her, scramble PoW but then send her to the Nato exercise not the Red Sea are sensible. How PoW comes out of the Nato exercise and at what state QE is in at that point will be interesting to track. Eisenhower will be six months into her deployment by then and whilst our carriers are not a like-for-like replacement for a US supercarrier, they could offer many options there in an environment where most of our carriers well-publicised shortcomings could be mitigated by US forces already there. In one of the worst cases of fitted for but not with around today, the RN only has enough Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS) for one of the carriers. Where those systems end up might well be an indicator of which ship is set to take the lead once QEs shaft is fixed. All of which assumes the global situation hasnt all changed by then. Petty Officer Nicholas Baker holds his daughter Amelia-Rose after the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales returns to Portsmouth Naval Base following a three-month deployment to the United States. Picture date: Monday December 11, 2023 - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire Ships are complex and require constant maintenance. In peacetime, you cant operate all of them at very high readiness or they, and their people break. No navy in the world attempts it. In wartime the rules are different and a greater appetite for risk can be explored. Turning a ship of that size at 30 days notice for sea in eight days is remarkable although it had to be done or the this is why we have two starts to look hollow. Hopefully Ive painted a clear picture. Beating a 30 days notice for sea by 22 days instead of 23 is not the screaming national embarrassment that some would have you believe. I would have preferred it if it didnt have to be largely me saying it in the Telegraph, instead of official RN communications channels. These ships are unique across defence in their ability to generate debate, good and bad, and their communications should be handled accordingly. In the meantime, the ships company and other teams that made this happen should be congratulated: although, to an extent, that is life in a blue suit and what they signed up for. The people we should probably salute, therefore, are the thousand-plus families who have just had their plans turned upside down, waving goodbye to loved ones for an unknown duration. It was ever thus it doesnt make it any easier though. Tom Sharpe was captain of four different Royal Navy warships, and later became the navys top PR officer. Nowadays he works in strategic communications at SPP 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. Of the many weird, cringeworthy, or confusing ads to run in the Super Bowl on Sunday, one stood out as especially eyeroll-inducing: a footwashing ad from the "He Gets Us" campaign. The commercial flashed a series of images of people washing another person's feet, with most offering an attention-grabbing role reversal of oppressor and oppressed: A cop washing a young Black man's feet, a white woman serving a migrant, and, for the one that made me guffaw the loudest, an anti-abortion protester kneeling before a presumed patient of a family planning clinic. "Jesus didn't teach hate," reads the tagline as an INXS cover plays. "He washed feet." Jesus washed the feet of friends and enemies. No ego or hate. He humbly loved his neighbors. How can we do the same? pic.twitter.com/kXift42ZG9 HeGetsUs (@HeGetsUs) February 11, 2024 The funders of the ad were obscure to the audience, leaving open the question: Are the people behind this simply naive? Are they the last remaining liberal Christians, trying to convince Donald Trump-obsessed evangelicals to stop the tidal wave of hate? Or is this ad a bait-and-switch, trying to lure unchurched people in with a phony message of love and acceptance, only to push them into joining up with the MAGA movement? There's no point in phony suspense here: It's option number three. Jesus may have been against lying, but his wealthiest self-appointed champions in American society do not hesitate to use deceit to build up their army of MAGA Christianity. Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only. As many journalists have carefully detailed, the "He Gets Us" campaign is funded in large part by the Green family, who owns Hobby Lobby. Their life mission, besides getting rich by selling cheap tchotchkes, is to push their brand of far-right Christianity on the country. The Green-funded group that ran the "He Gets Us" ads last year has funneled money into anti-LGBTQ hate groups and organizations opposing women's rights. The family has funded initiatives to put religious propaganda into public school classrooms, demanded the right to fire people for being gay, passed off forgeries as the "Dead Sea Scrolls," stole antiquities from Iraq, and, of course, refused to comply with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions for fear of losing profits. They also successfully sued to block their employees from using their own health insurance to cover contraception. Despite their opposition to birth control, however, Hobby Lobby isn't too keen on women who have babies, either. When a Hobby Lobby employee fell pregnant in 2010, she alleges she was fired for asking for time off to have the baby. Losing your job is the Christian "compassion" the people behind the Super Bowl ads have on offer. The Greens have been upfront about their donations to the "He Gets Us" campaign, but other donors remain anonymous. That's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the layers of deceit the campaign is using in order to lure unsuspecting people with the appealing but false promise of love and acceptance offered in the ads. The group behind the ads, for instance, is the newly formed Come Near. The far-right Servant Foundation ran it last year. This shift in management not-so-coincidentally allows the campaign to further conceal its funding and leadership because its tax documents aren't yet publicly available. The sleaziness gets even worse if one goes to the "He Gets Us" website. On the FAQ sheet, they claim "Jesus loves gay people and Jesus loves trans people." That could lead queer people to falsely believe that they will find affirmation from this group. In reality, as the anti-LGBTQ donation record suggests, this is that game right-wing Christians play where they say "loving" queer people means telling them they are sinners who need to give up their "lifestyle." The site also offers a chance to be "connected with someone near you who can help you learn more about Jesus and his life or get plugged into a group where you can bring your questions about life and faith." But when I clicked the link, it did not draw up a searchable list of churches or Bible study groups a person could research on their own before reaching out. Instead, the user is asked to fill out a form and told someone will reach out to them. That is a giant red flag. There's no way for a user to know who this information is going to. Instead, they're going to be contacted by a person whose affiliations and agenda are hidden and who is likely to use high-pressure sales techniques to manipulate a person who was lonely enough to click these links in the first place. This has all the hallmarks of what psychology experts call "spiritual abuse," which is where a person's longing for faith or higher meaning is used as a weapon to control them. I've been interviewing experts on this topic for an upcoming investigative report, and repeatedly, they emphasize that high-control religions often use bait-and-switch techniques to bamboozle vulnerable people. First the person is subjected to "love bombing," where they are repeatedly told they are safe and cared for now that they've joined this community. Once they've become emotionally dependent on the church or group, however, they are bullied and degraded. If they're queer, they're told they're going to hell unless they try (and invariably fail) to change who they fundamentally are. If they're female, they're told that their duty is to give up on their ambitions and even self-esteem, in order to be a "helpmeet" for a man. There can be little doubt that is exactly the switcheroo that is going on here, which is why there are so many layers of obfuscation around who is behind the "He Gets Us" campaign. For someone who sees the ads and isn't aware of the malicious politics of the people behind it, the packaging is quite appealing. It's easy to see how queer people, young women, or progressives could think this is the faith community for them, only to find out long after they've been recruited that, no, it's actually just the same right-wing Christianity they've been avoiding. The tactic is to get them in so deep that, by the time they figure that out, they're too afraid of losing community to leave. Evangelicals claim to believe in the "truth and the light," and yet here they are, using duplicitous techniques borrowed from the world of con artists. But this is sadly not surprising, in an era where white evangelicals have convinced themselves they're at war with the larger culture. The framework of "holy war" creates permission to violate all sorts of moral codes. Over 60% of white evangelicals back Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election, and nearly one-third say they believe political violence is justified to get their way. (Odds are that the real number is much higher, but there's a reluctance to admit as much to a pollster.) White evangelicals feel entitled to use lies and violence in order to gain political power. So of course they are fine with using deception to trick more people into becoming warriors for MAGA Christ. ST. LOUIS The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged two men for a murder that happened last month in the citys Holly Hills neighborhood. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statements, the murder occurred on January 18 in the 5200 block of South Grand Boulevard near Walsh Street. Police claim earlier in the day, Anthony Hill entered a business at that location and inquired about the victims whereabouts. The co-defendant, Calvin Anderson, operates said business. Later that day, Anderson allegedly called Hill to tell him the victim was at his business. Hill and another person return to the business and confront the victim. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Prosecutors and police claim surveillance video shows Hill and this third individual assault the victim outside a vacant storefront. Meanwhile, Anderson is filming the incident on a cellphone. Hill eventually takes out a handgun and shoots the victim several times. Anderson can be observed on surveillance video picking up and removing the bullet casings from the crime scene. Hill and the other individual leave the area. Over the next few hours, Anderson is seen walking outside his business and looking at the victims body. At no point did Anderson attempt to aid the victim or call for help. Investigators believe the victim was alive for approximately 13 hours before dying. Police questioned Anderson, who admitted informing Hill of the victims location, knowing Hill intended to harm the victim. He also admitted removing the bullet casings. Police searched Hills home and found a gun and bullets matching those used in the shooting. Hill, 47, was charged on February 7 with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Anderson, 48, was charged the same day with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, and third-degree assault. Both men remain jailed without bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The Government has pledged to reduce its use of hotels to house migrants and the Home Office is now expanding its use of rented accommodation - James Manning/PA The Home Office has built up a stock of 16,000 properties for asylum seekers, despite acute shortages of homes for young workers and families. Contractors working for the Home Office are offering landlords five-year guaranteed full rent deals to take over the management of properties as they race to transfer asylum seekers out of hotels. The properties, drawn from the private rental and social housing markets, are being used to house more than 58,000 asylum seekers across England, Wales and Scotland double the number in so-called dispersed accommodation a decade ago. Insiders told Planet Normal that the Home Office was expanding its use of rented accommodation to meet Rishi Sunaks pledge to reduce the use of hotels, which have been costing up to 8 million a day. Fifty asylum hotels were due to shut by the end of last month with a further 50 closed by the spring. Until the end of last year, there were about 50,000 asylum seekers in 400 hotels paid for by the taxpayer. Putting up asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation can cost as little as 30 a day, compared with 150 a day for hotels. Asylum seekers at the Atrium Hotel in Feltham, London. The government is working to cut the use of hotels to house migrants - Maureen McLean /Alamy However, experts advising the Home Office have warned that local families and young workers face being deprived of cheaper rented accommodation. A Home Office insider said: The departments strong preference is for dispersal accommodation because it is so much cheaper and much more discreet than hotels. Thats not to say its not unpopular. Some of the contractors are taking properties in pretty normal streets. You can buy yourself a 300,000 house and suddenly find your next-door neighbour is a house full of asylum seekers. MPs are starting to report problems as a result of this. Scheme creates ghettos It has also been very heavily clustered in places where property is cheap Hull, Bradford and Teesside. It is potentially damaging to these places because it creates ghettos which are terrible for integration. The Telegraph understands that as many as 30,000 properties may be needed to end the use of hotels unless the Government can substantially reduce the 100,000 backlog of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on whether they can remain in the country. There is a shift away from hotels to putting people into housing which on one level is not a bad idea but on another level, on the scale it is being done, is going to have quite a significant impact in areas where it is being done at scale, said one insider. Thats 16,000 properties that would normally be available to families looking for somewhere to rent and live, and often to get themselves off the local housing register. There were 1.2 million people registered on council house waiting lists at the end of 2021-22, up from 1.19 million in 2020-21. The contractors behind the scheme Serco, Clearsprings and Mears have been paid 4 billion over 10 years to provide accommodation to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers have been put up in hotels as the Home Office deals with the backlog of 100,00 applications - Jordan Pettitt/PA Serco promotes the benefits to landlords as five-year leases with rent paid in full, on time, every month, with no arrears, as well as full repair and maintenance, except for structural defects. Utilities and council tax bills are also paid under the contracts, which offer full Houses of Multiple Occupation and property management and no letting or management costs. With more than a third of UK landlords experiencing rental arrears a year, one housing expert close to the project said the deals were highly attractive. If youre a landlord, wouldnt you take a five-year contract where theyre going to pay all the rent regardless, they said. A Home Office spokesman said: We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options to reduce the unacceptable use of hotels which cost 8 million a day. The government remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process. The spokesman refused to comment on the figures but said: We are working to procure sufficient dispersal accommodation to meet our statutory obligation. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: The Governments gross mismanagement of the asylum system has led to immense human misery, with people left in limbo for years on end in a huge backlog of cases resulting in billions being wasted on hotels and other accommodation. It would not be like this if the Government focused on operating a fair, efficient and effective system instead of the Rwanda plan that will only lead to more cost and chaos. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) DC News Now is celebrating Black History Month by focusing on Black youth and the positive changes they have created around their communities. Covering stories across DC, Maryland, and Northern VA, read about a few of the teenagers we featured in our special Honoring Black History. In the district, Kaniyah Glover is the creator of a non-profit called Broken Concrete which supports people grieving over loved ones lost to gun violence. At a young age, Kaniyah has already lost two close relatives to gun violence prompting her to turn her pain into purpose. The pillars of Broken Concrete are educating, empowering, and healing through the arts, which is displayed through her powerful art and emotional social media posts. Until Kaniyah can make Broken Concrete into a nationwide non-profit it will live on at Duke Ellington and in the hearts of those touched by her work. Black History Month Spotlight: Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery In Maryland, DC News Now visited students at North Hagerstown High School who are involved in the schools first-ever Black Student Union. In 2019, the club was formed by some friends who wanted a safe place where they could fit in at the school. One of the original members of the club, Sitta Sheriff, says that there was pushback on creating the club, but through staff support and strong perseverance the club still exists today. According to current members, the Black Student Union helps students become more open-minded to different cultures, produces insightful conversations, and makes students feel more comfortable in their own skin. Over in Virginia, a teenage scientist named Heman Bekele is helping the fight against skin cancer with a skin cancer-fighting soap. The idea for the soap came from growing up in Ethiopia where he saw people work long hours in the hot sun, some of whom experienced skin cancer. This passion project has named him Americas Top Young Scientist of 3M and Discover Education for 2023. Heman is not stopping at just soap, as he hopes to one day launch a non-profit that will provide equitable access to skin cancer treatments around the world. Celebrate Black History Month this year by watching all of these amazing stories and more on DC News Now. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. FRANKFORT Kentuckys child care industry is facing an impending crisis but it could get a boost if state Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, has his way. Carroll said he will introduce the "Horizons Bill" in the state Senate on Tuesday aimed at helping Kentuckys faltering early childhood industry. The state faces a child care crisis due to high demand among working families, a lack of child care centers and low wages for workers, and the expiration of federal COVID relief funds that have helped prop up the industry for the past few years, said Jennifer Washburn, the executive director of an early childhood education center in Benton. Carroll estimates his proposal would cost $150 million annually. He is the CEO of Easter Seals West Kentucky, which provides child care and other social services. His plan stands in sharp contrast to a key part of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears budget proposal: universal public pre-K for 4-year-olds, with an estimated price tag of $172 million per year. Carroll called Beshears proposal a political statement not based on reality. He said universal pre-K would damage the child care industry because it would take 4-year-olds out of child care facilities, undercutting a crucial source of income for the centers and risking their financial stability. Carroll said his bill would help the industry as a whole, which will help keep parents in the workforce and prepare young children to succeed in school. Many see early childhood education as nothing more than babysitting, Carroll said. We do our youngest students a huge disservice by not considering them as students and investing in them beginning the day they are born. Putting more children in early childhood education facilities could protect children at risk of abuse and neglect and help them get early intervention, Carroll said. The bill includes a number of provisions. It would: Create a foundation fund that would provide a per-child payment to eligible child-care centers or family child-care homes. That would amount to around $567 per child. Create an innovations fund to encourage child care innovations among businesses, nonprofits, public school districts and other organizations to foster new approaches to child care options, such as a public school district establishing a child care center for employees. Create a new early childhood education entrepreneurship program within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Make education programs for early childhood professionals eligible for Work Ready Kentucky Scholarships to help pay tuition. Allow families earning up to 85% of the state median income to participate in the child care assistance program, which helps families pay child care tuition, and continue the assistance program for child care workers so they can get care for their own children while working. Pay the costs for mandatory background checks for child care centers to the extent funds are available. Carroll said the current version of the House budget bill does not include funding for the bill, but money for the plan could still be added as the budget moves through the legislative process. Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 'Horizons Bill' unveiled to avoid Kentucky child care crisis HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Grand Strand-based pool contractor accused of illegally dumping in a January lawsuit filed by DHEC has removed most of the materials from the work site, a spokesperson said. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control last August ordered Active Shortcrete and Plaster, to clean up the property at 319 Reindeer Moss Court and pay a $6,000 fine, according to the lawsuit. Photo from DHEC consent order Photo from DHEC consent order Photo from DHEC consent order Photo from DHEC consent order Photo from DHEC consent order Photo from DHEC consent order News13 previously reported that the company had not complied as of Jan. 16, but on Tuesday, a DHEC spokesperson said the agencys Bureau of Land and Waste Management confirmed that most but not all of the solid waste material at the site had been removed. DHEC began investigating after getting a complaint on March 30, 2022, about unpermitted dumping and covering of solid waste. The complaint was accompanied by video footage showing individuals dumping 55-gallon drum of blue sludge onto the ground. A year later, Horry County officials responded to the area for a fire, according to a DHEC consent order. Two piles of what turned out to be muriatic acid bottles, old bags of plaster, paint cans and other waste items were burning when crews arrived. Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is used for cleaning and preparing concrete. It is also used to lower pH levels in pools and spas. During a follow-up inspection, officials recorded open dumping of off-site materials and/or buried waste, the order said. A company spokesman told the inspector that they were having trouble removing the materials because of the weight and that they had been burning wood but not pool chemicals. Another inspection a month later, revealed that the debris was still at the site and that more had been added, the order said. The company was given two more weeks to complete the cleanup. A subsequent inspection later in April 2023 found that some of the waste had been removed but that open bottles of muriatic acid had been discarded onto the ground, the order said. An inspector told the company that the acid needed to be cleaned up immediately and that covering the waste was not an approved means of disposal. An inspection in May 2023 found that the muriatic acid bottles had been removed and the soil cleaned up, but other debris remained, the order said. However, when an inspector returned in June 2023, there were open bottles of muriatic acid and other items at the site. DHEC officials met with the company in July 2023 to discuss the situation, at which time the company did not contest the findings but said that the site had been significantly cleaned up. The consent order filed in August 2023 gave the company 30 days to finish cleaning up the property. However, DHEC filed the lawsuit in January, saying that the company had not complied with the consent order. * * * Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. By Yi Whan-woo Jeong Eun-bo, the incoming chief of the countrys sole bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX), is drawing attention for his decades of financial expertise on the governments path to boost the prices of undervalued stocks. A former governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Jeong was nominated as the next KRX CEO in January. He will be officially appointed to the job Thursday, if the KRX shareholders endorse his nomination during their regular meeting the day before. Jeong is very likely to win approval from the shareholders, given his track record as a seasoned financial bureaucrat and his in-depth knowledge on macroeconomic issues as well as the equity market, an industry source said. The source noted Jeongs priority will be formulating detailed measures on the "Corporate Value-up Program" in consultation with the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The commission first announced the general plan for the program in mid-January and will release details this month. The program is aimed at countering the so-called Korea discount undervaluation or higher-risk premium of Korean stocks compared to their global peers. It is attributed to regulatory policies, corporate governance and geopolitical risks, which Jeong has been dealing with since he became a financial bureaucrat in the 1980s and climbed the ladder thereafter. He served as the deputy finance minister from 2013 to 2016. He was promoted to the FSC vice chairman afterward, before serving as the FSS chief from 2021 to 2022. He was hired at Korea Insurance Research Institute as a research adviser before his KRX CEO nomination. Jeong will fit his new job considering he is required to work closely with both the FSC and the FSS as he is already familiar with those two institutions, another source said. Yemens Hot Houthi claimed on Tuesday that the Iran-backed rebel group had taken 25 hostages from a hijacked cargo ship to a secret location on land. Rashid Al Haddad, 19, has emerged as the face of the Islamist militia after his TikTok videos on board the Galaxy Leader ship went viral. The Israeli-owned vessel was stormed in November by armed Houthi rebels and now functions as a tourist destination for curious locals. In a series of calls and messages with The Telegraph, the young man dubbed Timhouthi Chalamet on account of his Hollywood-like good looks, said the crew, which includes Mexican, Romanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Filipino seamen were safe but have been relocated from the hijacked carriers living quarters to a location on land. Mr Haddad said: They [hostages] are living with us Yemenis, they like it here. The Galaxy Leader is being held at Hodeida port, a Houthi-controlled part of the country, as the rebel group continues its blockade of the Red Sea. The Galaxy Leader, seen here escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea, was captured by the militia in November last year - HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA British and American air strikes have so far failed to deter the militia whose attacks have reshaped global shipping routes. Niku Jafarnia, from Human Rights Watch, warned that the crews treatment may be less welcoming than Mr Haddad claims. While its unclear what situation these men are being held in. Yhe Houthis have systematically used torture on those theyve imprisoned, in some cases killing detainees, she said. Mr Haddad said the crew would not be released until Israels bombardment of Gaza stops. The Houthis goal is to force a ceasefire on the Jewish state, which has been fighting an all-out war on Gaza since the Hamas massacre of Oct 7. Importantly, Israel must lift its war on Palestine, he said. Yemeni tribesmen belonging to the Houthi movement carry a model of the Galaxy Leader during a pro-Palestine rally - Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images Mr Haddad admits the Galaxy Leader crew have nothing to do with the conflict themselves. Its correct that this is not the hostages war, theyre not Israeli, but we will not stop our mission until the end of Israel. It will be soon, Mr Haddad said. All of us in Yemen are prepared to be pirates against Israel and its ships and they will not survive. We were proud that we took this ship for Palestine. We will take another and another and another. Last week, Romanias foreign ministry said it was working to release the one seaman it has among the crew. Though he has not been named, a spokesman said the hostage was in good health and had been allowed a call to his family since being taken captive. We maintain an active dialogue with the family of the Romanian sailor and will continue to work in close cooperation with its international partners for the release of the Romanian citizen, the spokesman said. 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. 2nd round of FSS on-site inspection begins By Lee Kyung-min The financial authorities will look into whether sellers of troubled Hong Kong-tied financial derivatives fulfilled an obligation to recommend investments suitable for each retail investor based on the purpose of their investment, asset status and investment experience, according to market watchers, Tuesday. The countrys five commercial lenders KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup and six brokerages sold the equity-linked securities (ELS) tied to the performance of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI). The high-risk, high-volatility index encompasses stakes in 50 Chinese firms traded outside mainland China. More investors will incur losses in the coming months, given the maturity of a combined 15.4 trillion won ($11.5 billion) worth of three-year securities sold mostly in 2021. Up to 7 trillion won in losses are certain unless the current 5,000 level gains at least 60 percent of the previous peak of over 12,200 in the first half of 2021. The five commercial lenders have incurred a combined loss of 522 billion won from Jan. 1 to Feb. 7, raising the loss rate to 53.6 percent. According to market watchers, almost all banks and brokerages will be held liable unless they can prove that they made sure buyers fully understood the risks associated with the highly volatile, complicated financial investment vehicles in advance. Recommending the high-risk derivative to retirees whose priority is the stable management of retirement funds, for example, is a violation of the consumer protection principle. Similarly, the sales of the derivatives will be declared irresponsible if the sales representatives failed to fully explain the possibility of loss, such as by comparing the volatile products to savings accounts. However, the sellers maintain the obligation was met since the buyers were notified of the risk ratings of each product in advance. They also say the final sales were made in accordance with investor tendencies, as measured by a survey of each investor on their risk preferences and investment objectives. Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun called on the banks to come up with compensation plans, Feb. 5. It will be desirable for the financial services firms in question to present compensation packages of their own apart from the authorities guidelines, Lee said. The obligation would be considered breached, the financial regulator stressed, if the sellers sold the products without following protocol. This was in reference to sales officials, many of whose strategies rely on the blind trust of customers in the well-established financial service providers. WASHINGTON (AP) The Republican-controlled House voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the Biden administrations handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. The vote marks the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary has been impeached. House Republicans have spent months investigating the secretary's actions as theyve aimed to make immigration and border security a key election issue. Heres a look at how the House arrived at the impeachment vote and what could happen next: WAIT ... DIDN'T THEY VOTE ON THIS LAST WEEK? Yes. House Republicans tried to impeach the secretary on Feb. 6 but failed. With Democrats united against the effort, Republicans needed every vote they could muster from their razor-thin majority. But in a rowdy, dramatic evening Republicans fell short, with three Republicans voting against the measure. A fourth flipped his vote from yes to no in a tactical move that allowed the impeachment issue to be revisited, so the final vote was 214-216. But Republicans vowed to bring the impeachment vote back again. WHATS GOING ON AT THE BORDER? Migrants have long come across the southern U.S. border looking for a new life in the United States, but not like whats happening now. Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high in December. In fiscal year 2022, Border Patrol encountered 2.2 million people crossing the border illegally. You have to go back decades to see comparable numbers. Statistics arent always a perfect measure, though, and they can change. The numbers from the 1990s and 2000s are considered vast undercounts because migrants sought to evade authorities as they entered the U.S. And after the dramatic highs of December, the numbers fell by half in January. Decades ago, the typical migrant trying to come to the U.S. was a man from Mexico looking for work, and he tried to dodge Border Patrol agents. That dynamic has changed drastically. Migrants now are still coming from Central and South America but theyre also coming from much farther away China, Afghanistan and Mauritania, to name just a few countries. And theyre often seeking out Border Patrol agents in an effort to seek protection in America. The numbers have at times overwhelmed the ability of border officials to handle, leading to temporary closures of border crossings so officials can process migrants. They have also had repercussions far from the border. Migrants going to cities like Chicago, New York, Boston and Denver have strained city services, leading to Democratic officials pushing the administration to take action. WHAT DO REPUBLICANS SAY? Republicans have laid the blame for all of this on the Homeland Security secretary and said that because of it, he needs to go. They say the Biden administration has either gotten rid of policies that were in place under the Trump administration that were deterring migrants or that the Biden administration implemented policies of its own that have attracted migrants. The House Homeland Security Committee has been holding hearings over roughly the last year where Republicans have repeatedly lambasted Mayorkas. Witnesses have included an Arizona sheriff, families who have lost loved ones to the fentanyl crisis, experts on constitutional law, and former Homeland Security officials who served under former President Donald Trump. U.S. House Republicans say the secretary is violating immigration laws by not detaining enough migrants and by implementing a humanitarian parole program that they say bypasses Congress to allow people into the country who wouldnt otherwise qualify to enter. And they allege that hes lied to Congress when he has said things like the border is secure. All of this together, they argue, has created a prolonged crisis that is having repercussions across the country, is squarely the secretarys fault and warrants impeachment. However, the three House Republicans who voted against impeachment argued that the charges didn't meet that bar. WHAT DO MAYORKAS, HIS SUPPORTERS AND OTHERS SAY? Democrats and many legal experts have said that this is essentially a policy dispute and that Republicans just dont like the immigration policies that the Biden administration, via Mayorkas, has implemented. Thats an issue for voters to decide, not an issue that meets the level of high crimes and misdemeanors required to impeach a Cabinet official, they argue. That one congressional party disapproves, even disapproves vigorously, of President Bidens policies on immigration or other matters within the secretarys purview does not make the secretary impeachable, testified University of Missouri law professor Frank O. Bowman during a January committee hearing. Mayorkas and his supporters have often said that its not the actions of the administration that are drawing migrants to the southern border, but that it is part of a worldwide phenomenon of migrants, driven by political, economic and climate turmoil, who are more willing to embark on life-threatening journeys to seek out a better life. They argue the administration has tried to deal with the chaos at the border. Over roughly the last year, Mayorkas has been the public face of a policy that seeks to create pathways for migrants to come to the U.S., such as an app that lets them schedule a time to come to the border and seek entry. And, they argue, that policy has new efforts to limit who can get asylum and to order aggressive deportations. But the Biden administration and supporters contend that the secretary is dealing with a wildly underfunded and outdated immigration system that only Congress has the power to truly fix. So far, they argue, it hasnt. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Mayorkas still keeps his job. It's the Senate that decides whether an impeached official is convicted and thus ousted from their position. But conviction is a much higher bar than impeachment, and Democrats control the Senate 51-49. Two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict as opposed to the simple majority needed to impeach in the House. That means all Republicans as well as a substantial number of Democrats would have to vote to convict Mayorkas a highly unlikely scenario considering some Republicans are cool to the idea of impeachment. Mayorkas has said hes ready to defend himself in the Senate if it comes to a trial. And in the meantime, he says hes focused on his job. Sheriffs deputies in Houston repeatedly shot at a woman after mistaking her for an intruder inside her friends apartment, body camera footage released over the weekend shows. The woman, Eboni Pouncy, was shot five times during the February 3 confrontation and her attorney, Ben Crump, called for the release of the two deputies body camera footage. Authorities say Pouncy was holding a gun when they opened fire. Following the release of the edited footage by the Harris County Sheriffs Office on Saturday, Crump said in a release that the video is evidence of the unnecessary and excessive force used against her. Im traumatized. Im heartbroken, Pouncy told ABC News. I feel stripped of my identity. It was a miracle Pouncy survived, Crump told CNN. Over two dozen bullets (were fired) and she lived, he said Tuesday. Pouncy was hit in the chest, abdomen, thigh, leg and foot, Crump said. She will be OK, but she requires physical rehabilitation, Crump said. Crump says client didnt hear deputies announce themselves On the night of the shooting, the sheriffs deputies responded to an east Houston apartment complex, where a tenant called 911 to report someone was inside her apartment, according to a release from the sheriffs office. At approximately 2:14 a.m., the first deputy arrived to the scene and cleared the apartment, the release said. There was no intruder located. A second deputy had arrived to assist, but before they left, a person living in a neighboring apartment flagged the deputies down and reported that someone had broken into another nearby apartment. At the second apartment, the deputies noticed a front window screen had been removed, the glass was broken and the blinds were raised, the sheriffs office said in a video statement when releasing the footage. The footage shows a deputy knocking on the apartment door and announcing, sheriffs office. Both deputies then move away from the door and stand next to the windows. A deputy saw a female approaching the door holding a firearm, the sheriffs office said in its release. Crump said Pouncy didnt hear the announcement and didnt know law enforcement officers were at the door. She was shot as she moved to the door, intending to defend the property with a gun she was within her rights to own, Crump told CNN Tuesday. Soon after, one deputy begins yelling at the person inside to drop the gun or weapon, then it appears one or both deputies open fire before the command is complete. They both shoot repeatedly, and at least one deputy continues firing after reloading. Edited body-worn camera footage shows the deputies approaching the apartment. - Harris County Sheriff's Office After the deputies performed life-saving efforts on the woman they shot, she was taken to a local hospital, where she was in stable condition. according to the release. Deputies conducted a safety sweep and did not locate anyone else inside the apartment, the release said. A handgun was found inside the apartment, which authorities believe is the one seen by the deputy before they began shooting, it added. Investigators later discovered that Pouncy was a guest of the apartment resident and that they had broken the window to get inside because they did not have a key with them, the video statement said. Earlier, the sheriffs department said Pouncy was the apartment resident. The two deputies have been placed on administrative leave and the sheriffs department said it is conducting an internal investigation. County district attorneys office is investigating The Harris County district attorneys office is independently investigating the incident, which is standard when a deputy uses potentially deadly force, according to the department. The shooting appears problematic, in part, because deputies opened fire before finishing their command that the person inside the apartment drop their weapon, CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said. Before the command is over, theyve already opened fire, Miller said. So, the subject inside, whether theyre a burglar or a resident and remember, this is Texas, where a resident coming to the door with a gun is not unusual there is no time between the command and opening fire. Another issue is fire control, Miller said, pointing to the fact the deputies fired repeatedly before reloading and continuing to fire. In general, police training is to shoot to stop the threat, Miller said. Training also includes a pause in shooting to assess whether the threat has been neutralized and if additional fire is necessary. The deputies should be held accountable for their impulsive actions, Crump said in his Monday news release. The sheriffs department asked that anyone with information relevant to the shooting contact their office. The investigation into this incident is ongoing by the Sheriffs Office Homicide Unit, the release read. All evidence gathered in the investigation will be given to the district attorneys office for presentation to an independent grand jury. CNNs Steve Almasy, Sabrina Shulman and Dakin Andone contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Citizens form a human chain on Neumarkt in front of the Frauenkirche during an event marking the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden in World War II. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa Numerous events are due to be held in Dresden on Tuesday to commemorate the destruction of the eastern German city in World War II 79 years ago. With the traditional human chain through the historic centre and across the river Elbe, politicians and society want to send a particularly strong signal for peace and democracy this year. A large number of protests against the appropriation of the anniversary by right-wing extremists have once again been announced, with the police saying they are prepared. At the exact time of the first attack on February 13, 1945, the bells of the city centre churches will ring as usual while people join hands for a few minutes. The main focus of the police operation is the evening, when events organized by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and groups from across the right-wing spectrum as well as counter-protests are planned for the landmark Old Market Square, the Altmarkt. Both right-wing and left-wing extremists are expected to attend. The former residential city was destroyed by Allied bombs on February 13, 1945, and in the days that followed. According to research by historians, up to 25,000 people lost their lives. Heavy snow from this weeks winter storm is wreaking havoc on the northeasts major airports. LaGuardia Airport is leading the pack with nearly 400 cancelled flights and more than 100 delays as of Tuesday morning, according to FlightAware. Meanwhile, Newark Liberty International, Boston Logan International and John F Kennedy International are all seeing similar rates of cancellations as snow piles up across the region. In total, some 1,100 flights into, out of or within the US have been cancelled as of early Tuesday, while another 1,500 have been delayed. That number will likely rise throughout the day as snow continues to accumulate. John F Kennedy International Airport, pictured above, has already cancelled 184 flights as of Tuesday morning (AP) Road travel isnt looking much better, either. Throughout the northeast, local officials are warning against travel unless necessary. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay home as the snowfall intensifies throughout Tuesday, while the National Weather Service (NWS) for Philadelphia asked residents to delay travel if possible. To keep people off the roads, public schools in New York City and Boston were closed on Tuesday. Non-essential state employees across Massachusetts were also asked to stay home. A last-minute shift in the storm on Monday night caused much of the early snow to miss the Boston area, hitting southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island instead, according to forecasts from the NWS. This noreaster is already a record-setter, with meteorologists expecting it to bring the highest snowfall totals in more than two years in New York. Several inches of snow have already hit New York state, pictured above (AFP via Getty Images) Up to eight inches of snow is expected to be dumped on the Big Apple, while parts of New Jersey and Connecticut could see up to fifteen inches. High winds are also possible throughout much of the region, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour forecasted off the Massachusetts coast. Given these conditions, power outages are also likely to affect much of the northeast today. As of Tuesday morning, more than 100,000 homes were already without power in Pennsylvania, according to PowerOutage.us. In New Jersey, outages surpassed 10,000 and could rise before the day is over. By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) -Large chunks of Australia's Victoria state lost power on Tuesday afternoon when a major power plant shut down because a storm knocked out parts of the state's electricity transmission network. AGL's Loy Yang A power station, responsible for about a third of the state's power, was forced to shut down on Tuesday afternoon after several towers along a major section of the state's transmission network collapsed in bad weather. More than 500,000 homes or businesses had lost power, state energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio said in a social media post. As the plant shut down, electricity prices spiked across the state to their maximum of A$16,600 per megawatt hour, up from around A$200, according to data from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). In response, AEMO ordered electricity usage cut across the network, according to a statement on Tuesday afternoon. D'Ambrosio said in her post that one of Loy Yang's four units had been brought back online and the mandatory power cuts had ended. AGL said in a statement it was working to bring three of Loy Yang's units back online through Tuesday evening. "We continue to work with AEMO and stakeholders to investigate the cause of the issue." The failure comes amid repeated warnings from AEMO that urgent investment is required to ensure power supply remains reliable as the country's fleet of aging coal-fired power plants are retired. (Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Michael Perry) Video above: The National Hurricane Centers maps will look different this upcoming season TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A report from the National Hurricane Center gives new insight into Hurricane Idalias impact on Floridas Gulf coast last year. The NHC released its findings in a tropical cyclone report Wednesday, over five months after the storm struck Florida as a major hurricane. National Hurricane Centers maps to look different this upcoming season Idalia intensified rapidly from a tropical storm to a major hurricane on Aug. 29, 2023 as it approached the Gulf coast. The storm reached peak winds of 132 mph, making it a short-lived Category 4 hurricane before it weakened slightly ahead of landfall. (CIRA/NOAA) The storm came ashore at around 7:45 a.m. on August 30 near Keaton Beach, located in the Big Bend region of Florida. It was the third-largest hurricane to hit the Big Bend, only behind the 1896 Cedar Key Hurricane and Hurricane Easy in 1950, according to the NHC report. 12 deaths were attributed to the storm, eight of which were direct. All of the direct fatalities were caused by rip currents and rough seas. In Florida, a 60-year-old man drowned while windsurfing on the Atlantic coast. Another person was killed by a falling tree while cleaning up after the storm. Rough surf claimed seven lives off the southeastern U.S. coast: three in North Carolina, three in New Jersey and one in Delaware. An additional indirect death was caused by a falling tree in Georgia. Hurricane Idalia at landfall. (National Hurricane Center) The Big Bend region of Florida is largely undeveloped and rural, which meant Idalias surge and winds resulted in less damage than other storms that recently struck the Sunshine State. The relatively remote location also meant there were no measurements of Idalias sustained hurricane-force winds. According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the estimated damage from Idalia is $3.6 billion, most of which occurred in the Big Bend. The total cost of the damage is believed to have ranged from $2.6 to $4.2 billion. The agriculture industry in north Florida took a sizable hit from the major storm. Farmers reported the loss of buildings, trees, peanut and cotton crops, infrastructure, irrigation rigs, aquaculture and livestock. Idalias devastating storm surge reached miles inland along the coasts of Taylor and Dixie counties. The storm produced 8-to-12 feet of surge above normal sea levels, inundating businesses, homes and infrastructure. The NHC said the impacted structures and infrastructure will take a considerable time to rebuild. Flood waters pushed by Hurricane Idalia pour over the sea wall along Old Tampa Bay as paddle boarder Zeke Pierce, of Tampa, rides Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara) A fire is seen as flood waters inundate the downtown area after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A woman walks through flooded water along Bayshore Blvd., from storm surge from Hurricane Idalia Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara) Makatla Ritchter wades through flood waters after having to evacuate her home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) This Riverview neighborhood flooded after Hurricane Idalia. (WFLA) Courtesy: City of Venice The Tampa Bay area saw 3-to-5 feet of surge, with a National Weather Service station on Hillsborough Bay indicating the surge reached 5.7 feet above normal tides (though the surge did not occur at high tide). The surge flooded Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa and locations along the coast, while some inland areas were affected by river flooding. Trailing ran bands brought 4-to-8 inches of rain to parts of southwest and west-central Florida. A weather station at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport measured Idalias sustained winds at 42 mph, with 61 mph wind gusts, just before 2 a.m. on August 30. Idalia spun up 12 tornados, including an EF-0 in west central Florida the only one in the state. The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season ranks fourth for the most named storms in a year since 1950. Idalia was one of seven hurricanes three of which were major hurricanes and the only one to reach the mainland U.S. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. By Anna J. Park Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spending patterns of tourists in Seoul have shifted towards seeking more enjoyable experiences in trendy districts within the capital city. This marks a departure from their previous focus on shopping-centric activities in commercial districts. This is according to BC Card, which analyzed credit card transactions in Korea by tourists. The card company compared last year's data to 2019 numbers, before the pandemic erupted. It was found that areas in Seoul offering cafes and instant photo services experienced a notable surge in revenues from foreign visitors. Specifically, Seongsu-dong in eastern Seoul, known for its abundance of cafes and instant photo booths, witnessed a staggering 973 percent increase in credit card transactions by tourists last year compared to four years ago. Yeouido-dong, situated within Seoul's financial district of Yeouido, and the affluent and trendy Hannam-dong, also experienced significant increases in the number of card transactions by tourists. Yeouido-dong saw a rise of 479 percent, while Hannam-dong observed a 429 percent increase last year compared to 2019. The significant increase in spending in Yeouido-dong is largely attributed to The Hyundai, a mega-sized department store that opened in 2021. The luxury department store, as well as nearby hotels, led the influx of tourists into the area. In fact, while sales and earnings at department stores and duty-free shops in central Seoul, traditionally popular shopping destinations among foreigners, decreased by 77 percent and 85 percent, respectively, compared to 2019 figures, the sales and earnings in department stores and duty-free shops in Yeongdeungpo District, where Yeouido is located, increased by four times and two times, respectively. By sector, the revenues from experience-focused industries, such as karaoke and instant photo booths, accounted for approximately seven percent of foreign tourists' spending in 2023. This marks a significant increase from around one percent in 2019, representing nearly a seven-fold rise. On the other hand, the proportion of shopping sectors, which traditionally benefited group tourists, was 79 percent in 2019, but decreased significantly to 58 percent last year. As a result, the number of tourists' credit card transactions in Sogong-dong in central Seoul, Jamsil 3-dong, and Jangchung-dong, where major duty-free shops are situated, declined significantly by 90 percent, 88 percent, and 77 percent, respectively, compared to figures from four years ago. As tourists increasingly prioritize pleasure-seeking experiences over shopping, there has been a rise in card transactions during the evening and late-night hours. Conversely, spending during the morning and afternoon hours has shown a decreasing trend. According to the data, October is the most favored period for visits to Korea among tourists. The Earth may be warming at an even faster rate than expected, escalating the threat from climate change, according to a new study by a research team that included an Indiana State University professor. The study, published this month by Nature Climate Change, says global mean temperatures are higher and rising more quickly than expert estimates and could hit 2 degrees Celsius above pre-Industrial levels by 2030. That's nearly 20 years sooner than previously expected. The 2-degree threshold (equivalent to 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit) is viewed as an important turning point. NASA led an earlier study concluding that reaching that threshold would have dangerous and cascading effects of human-generated climate change. These effects, the study says, include longer periods and increasing risks of severe heat stress for people and an increased risk of wildfires due to higher temperatures and drought. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change within the UN uses temperatures recorded in 1850 as its pre-Industrial baseline for determining how much warmer the planet is. But the researchers, including ISUs Amos Winter, wanted to define a pre-Industrial reference period in the mid-1700s because human-caused concentrations of atmospheric CO2 started to increase in the early 1800s. Malcolm McCulloch, right, and Amos Winter, studied sclerosponges pulled from the Caribbean Sea near Puerto Rico to determine pre-Industrial temperature changes. Winter and his colleagues turned to a species of ocean sponge pulled from the Caribbean Sea near Puerto Rico to help determine the Earths temperature prior to IPCCs current 1850 benchmark. Unique sponge help researchers study climate The sponges Winter and the studys authors researched arent the soft ocean sponges some might think of. The Coralline sclerosponge they used are a calcifying organism, meaning they grow a sold, limestone skeleton. The sponges grow deep underwater, and the field experts who pulled the samples up needed special rebreathing equipment to dive for them. Once the researchers had the sponges, they were able to do a number of tests on the organisms including one on calcium, which Winter said is a fantastic source for studying temperature. This data, which can take the place of scientific instruments, helped the group reconstruct temperature changes in the Caribbean waters for 300 years. The big issue the study found, Winter said, was the rapid rate of temperature change. Yes, weve had (climate) changes in the past, maybe as much as now, but the rate of change is the thing that is interesting, Winter said. The study shows we are nearly at the 2-degree threshold, and Winter said with the current rate of CO2 released into the atmosphere, well hit 2.5 near 2040. Well, now weve really got to take it seriously, Winter said. ISU professor Amos Winter was part of a study on sclerosponges that determined the Earth may have exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since pre-Industrial times and is warming more rapidly than expected. Caribbean Sea as a marker for global trends When you really boil it down, the Caribbean is a really great place to study global temperatures, Winter said. One instance of the Caribbean being influenced by global events is the eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia. The sea's waters are tied to the rest of the world, Winter said, and if they werent the evidence of Krakatoas temperature disrupting eruption would not be seen in the Caribbean. The sponges are good evidence off what happened in Indonesia halfway around the world, Winter said. Were very confident for many reasons the record is global because we are picking up those global signals. Sclerosponges are hard sponge species found in the Caribbean Ocean and used by Amos Winter of Indiana State University in a study concluding global mean temperatures are more rapidly increasing that previously thought. Study is culmination of 15 years of work Prior to studying sponges, Amos worked in Puerto Rico reconstructing its climate history studying other ocean life. After meeting with a colleague in Miami, he turned his focus to sponges. They are really great organisms to reconstruct temperatures, Winter said. Sponges, specifically the sclerosponge species Winter studied, grow very slowly. It takes about 400 years for them to grow 10 centimeters, Winter said, and a huge amount of water passes through them. The sponges are constantly sensitive to changes in temperature, making them an ideal organism to study how the global mean temperature changed prior to IPCCs 1850 benchmark. The information Winter and his colleagues obtained for the sponges related well to already established temperature records when scientific equipment was more available. Were saying its a robust record, Winter said. We have five or six sponges showing pretty much the same thing. Local environment: Advocates say wetlands bill is flying through legislature to 'quiet public outcry' Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ISU professor study on sponges shows increased rate of climate change (Bloomberg) -- Voting has finished in Indonesias election that has turned outgoing President Joko Widodo into a polarizing figure amid mounting backlash over moves to get his preferred successor in power to continue his policies. Most Read from Bloomberg The worlds biggest single-day polls that took place over a six-hour period will also elect on Wednesday thousands of lawmakers to local and national legislatures. The new leadership to take over from Jokowi in October will help shape the policies that will chart investment and growth in Southeast Asias largest economy. Running for president are Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and former regional governors Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan in the first three-way race in 15 years. If no candidate secures the required threshold of 50% to win outright, Indonesia will head to a run-off election in June. A second-round voting last happened in 2004. Unofficial quick count by private pollsters are expected to trickle in about two hours after voting closes in the west, while official results will take several weeks. The privately-run quick count will be based on snapshots of actual votes from more than 800,000 polling stations across the country. The margin of error depends on the sample size, though these polls have proven accurate in the past. Polls opened at 7 a.m. Wednesday in the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands stretching a distance similar to New York to Alaska. Voting ended by 1 p.m. local time, according to the election commission, with West Indonesia, including Jakarta, closing voting booths two hours after it ends in Papua. The worlds fourth-most populous nation with 205 million eligible voters has three time zones. Heavy rains on Wednesday morning caused flooding and disrupted voting in 70 out of over 30,000 polling stations across Jakarta, according to data from the regional disaster management agency. Ballot boxes had to be secured on higher ground. Chairman of the General Election Commission Hasyim Asyari said affected polling stations can extend the voting schedule as long as ballots are available and volunteers report the event to the commission. Boosting Exports Indonesias next president inherits a $1-trillion economy that has fast risen in the global resource supply chain, thanks to Jokowis focus on overseas sale of refined rather than raw commodities. That move has boosted exports, narrowed the fiscal deficit and steadied the currency, making Indonesia an emerging-market favorite. The popular Jokowi, however, has courted criticism throughout the campaign period. The older of his two sons became Prabowos running mate following a controversial constitutional court ruling presided by Jokowis brother-in-law. The incumbent leaders attempt to extend his influence has also fractured his cabinet, with several ministers including his finance chief said to be mulling resignations. A successor who will build on his reforms can attain 6%-7% growth, the fastest in three decades, Jokowi said last year. The goal to spur Indonesias gross domestic product beyond 5% was one that he failed to achieve during his 10-year rule. The new president will lead a country that must create jobs for a large youth population while managing supply chain disruptions and the green transition that curbs reliance on locally-abundant coal. He must also navigate regional security concerns amid the heightening rivalry between the US and China. The presidential contenders have mostly focused on themes of job creation, anti-corruption and economic growth. Prabowo and Ganjar the latter backed by the ruling party have largely pledged to continue Jokowis policies, such as accelerating infrastructure development, including the $34-billion new capital. Anies has positioned himself as an opposition candidate, seeking a review of Jokowis downstreaming push and the relocation of the new capital. According to Alessandro Gazzini, who heads the Indonesia unit of consultancy Alvarez & Marsal, investors can be relatively assured of policy continuity as all three candidates have participated under Jokowis government, until recently. Even Anies will unlikely make any revolutionary changes to the national agenda, based on his track record, Gazzini told Bloomberg Television. Markets are relatively calm ahead of the election, Commerzbank AG analysts including Charlie Lay wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday. They are not pricing in any surprises and expect a smooth outcome and transition of power. It may not come as early as today, but should be done and dusted by June, it said. --With assistance from Claire Jiao and Matthew Burgess. (Updates with close of polls, flooding in Jakarta) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A delegation of North Korea's ruling party officials have left for Russia to attend an international forum, state media reported Tuesday, amid deepening bilateral cooperation in the military and other sectors. Kim Su-gil, alternate member of the political bureau of the Workers' Party, and other delegates departed Pyongyang on Monday for a trip to Russia at the invitation of Russia's ruling United Russia party, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The delegation plans to attend the first meeting of the forum, "For the Freedom of Nations," the KCNA said, without disclosing other details of the itinerary. The forum will be held on Feb. 15-17 in a bid to develop multilateral cooperation for "the fight against modern practices of neo-colonialism," according to the website of United Russia. North Korea and Russia have expanded the scope of cooperation following the summit between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year. Pyongyang is suspected of having provided artillery and munitions to Russia for use in Moscow's war in Ukraine in exchange for Russia's potential transfer of weapons technology. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui made an official trip to Russia in January after her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, visited Pyongyang last year. Russian tourists also recently visited North Korea as part of the first group trip to the secretive regime since last year when North Korea partially opened its border amid eased concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Seoul's unification ministry said exchanges between North Korea and Russia have become "vibrant" following last year's summit. "We do not evaluate ordinary exchanges between North Korea and Russia. But they should stop illegal activities that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, such as arms trades or the dispatch of (North Korean) workers," a ministry official told reporters. (Yonhap) A worker carries a ballot box for distribution to polling stations at a distribution centre ahead of the presidential election in Jakarta A worker carries a ballot box for distribution to polling stations at a distribution centre ahead of the presidential election in Jakarta By Ananda Teresia JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia finalised complex logistics for Wednesday's election across thousands of islands, with defence minister and former special forces commander Prabowo Subianto frontrunner in the race to win power in the world's third-largest democracy. It was unclear, however, whether Prabowo would be able get the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff. His cause was not helped by protests on Monday from hundreds of students and activists accusing his current boss, the wildly popular outgoing President Joko Widodo, of abusing power to back the minister's third tilt at the top job. The 72-year-old Prabowo, who was in the military under late strongman Suharto, led two recent opinion polls with more than 50% against ex-governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo. However, the margin of error still left open the possibility of a June runoff if he falls short of a simple majority. Prabowo's vice-presidential running mate is the 36-year-old son of the president. Nearly 205 million Indonesians are registered to vote. The president, known as Jokowi, has not explicitly endorsed any candidate but has made highly publicised appearances with Prabowo, including at some state events, interpreted by many as a tacit endorsement even though he beat him at the last two elections. Also, Jokowi's eldest son became Prabowo's running mate after a last-minute decision by a court headed by Jokowi's brother-in-law to change election rules. Jokowi's allies have insisted the president had no involvement in the court decision, and he has denied favouring any candidate in the election. Indonesia's election law allows leaders to campaign for any candidate as long as state resources are not used and they take official leave to do so. But incumbents have tended to stay neutral in the past. 'NEW ORDER' RECALLED To activists, though, the pre-election events represent a worrying backsliding on hard-won democratic gains made after the fall of the "New Order" era of Suharto's decades-long rule before he was toppled in 1998. "We don't want the New Order to return," Sulistyowati Irianto, law professor at the University of Indonesia, said during an event on Monday, referring to Jokowi's perceived involvement in the election. Some critics say discontent with Jokowi could chip away at public trust for Prabowo. "It might be translated into Prabowo losing some votes but not sure how many percent," said Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch. Indonesia has entered a cooling-off period until voting day, with candidates barred from campaigning. Running an election is a gargantuan task: the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands stretches across three times zones. Some 200,000 security personnel will be on guard. Officials have delivered ballot boxes and papers to far-flung regions, in some cases by boat, helicopter or ox-drawn carts. The weather agency has warned about the risk of heavy rains in West Java on polling day, media reported. Meanwhile, the election commission has postponed voting in ten villages in the Demak area in Central Java due to flooding. Voting in Paniai regency of Central Papua province could also be delayed after frustrated residents in the area burned ballot papers and boxes because of missing supplies. (Writing by Ed Davies and Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Kay Johnson and Andrew Cawthorne) Authorities in Indonesia were preparing to host the world's biggest single-day election spanned across 17,000 islands on Wednesday, where more than 200 million people will exercise their democratic right to elect a new president. More than 25,000 police have been deployed to ensure security in the tightly-contested election seen as a test of democracy for the Southeast Asian country, more than 25 years after the end of an authoritarian rule. The polls in the worlds third-largest democracy, closely watched by the US and China, would also elect future executives and legislative representatives at administration levels. Opinion polls have projected that in a three-way contest, Prabowo Subianto 72-year-old incumbent defence minister and former military general could secure more than 50 per cent of the votes. His rivals Anies Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta and Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java were seen at least 27 and 31 points behind him respectively. If none of the candidates manage to secure more than 50 per cent of the national votes and at least 20 per cent in each province in the first round, a runoff between the top two is scheduled for 26 June. Presidential candidates, from left, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo (AP) Outgoing president Joko Widodo, who has presided over the steady growth of the mineral-rich Group of 20 economy for the past decade, has been criticised for his political meddling in the 14 February elections. He has been accused of promoting Mr Prabowo by making highly publicised appearances with the controversial military commander. Mr Prabowo is running in a joint ticket with Mr Joko's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the vice presidential candidate. Mr Joko's office, however, denies the president explicitly endorsing Mr Prabowo and flouting election rules. Sitting presidents in Indonesia can campaign for candidates provided they do not use state resources and must take official leave to do so. Workers prepare ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of elections (AP) Critics accuse Mr Joko of using his government resources to boost Mr Prabowo to retain influence even after leaving office after his second and final term. The president has also distanced himself from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, under whose banner he ran in 2014 and 2019, since the party nominated Ganjar Pranowo and Mohammad Mahfud, as presidential and vice presidential candidates. Hundreds of students on Monday held street protests against alleged democratic backsliding under Mr Joko. Amid the protests, election officials delivered ballot boxes and papers to far-flung regions across three time zones, in some cases travelling hours by boat, helicopter or ox-drawn carts. Men prepare a polling station in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (AP) Apart from the three main contenders for the president's office, tens of thousands of candidates across the nation are battling for some 20,000 national, provincial and district parliamentary positions. About 10,000 candidates from 18 political parties are contesting for spots in the 580-seat national parliament alone. Political parties are required to have a woman in at least every third position in their party list, and parties need at least 4 per cent of votes across the country to qualify for representation in the parliament. Nearly 205 million voters aged above the age of 17 will cast their ballots on Wednesday at over 820,000 polling stations. Indonesians living overseas have been casting votes since 5 February at 3,000 polling stations in many countries or by mail. The Muslim-majority nation has been a key battleground near the South China Sea where the US, China along with regional players are vying for political dominance. The outgoing president's foreign policy avoids criticism of Beijing and Washington but also rejects alignment with either power. The delicate balancing act has won considerable Chinese trade and investment for Indonesia, including a $7.3bn high-speed railway that was largely funded by China, while Jakarta has also boosted defense ties and intensified military exercises with the US. "None of the major structural features of defense and foreign policy, I think, will change," said Evan Laksmana, a Southeast Asia security expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, told the Associated Press. The official vote-counting process is expected to take up to 35 days to be completed, the maximum time regulated by the Elections Law. The early results, widely known as a "quick count," are considered a reliable indicator of what the official count will show when all votes are tallied in about a month. The new president will be inaugurated on 20 October and will have to appoint a cabinet within two weeks. Additional reporting by agencies Donald Trump says the 'lovebirds', District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, must face the 'appropriate consequences' - CHP For critics of Donald Trump, the election interference case in Georgia has often been presented as a slam dunk. Here, after all, was the former president allegedly caught on tape asking a top official to find the 11,000 or so votes he needed to win the Peach State and deny Joe Biden victory. But six months after Mr Trump and 18 others were charged, the prosecution is under scrutiny because of an allegedly improper relationship between District Attorney Fani Willis and the lawyer she hired to head the case. A judge on Thursday will open a hearing into whether the claims Ms Willis was taken on luxury cruises by her boyfriend, whom she agreed to pay up to $1 million for his legal services, amount to impropriety. Although legal experts have cast doubt on the claims (which have been brought by one of Mr Trumps co-defendants), they are nevertheless feeding his conspiracy narrative and adding to delays in the bid to pin at least one conviction on the former president before the election. Ms Willis hired Nathan Wade in November 2021 to spearhead the investigation into whether Mr Trump and others broke any laws as they tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. One day later, Mr Wade filed for divorce. It is in legal papers filed to the court by his ex-wife that details of the Willis affair were revealed. Court papers show Nathan Wade booked at least two cruises - Joe Raedle/Getty Both parties accuse the other of having affairs, but to back up claims, Mr Wades wife provided credit card statements showing he booked flights for himself and Ms Willis to Miami and on the same day paid more than $2,500 (1,985) to Royal Caribbean Cruises. The same statements show $992 paid to the Freedom of the Seas Caribbean cruise liner complete with casino, four swimming pools, a spa and the Bull & Bear English pub. Further payments also show $3,000 to the Norwegian Cruise Line. There appears to be no reasonable explanation for their travels apart from a romantic relationship, lawyers for Mr Wades ex-wife said in court filings. Details of the affair were seized upon by Mike Roman, one of the 19 defendants in Mr Trumps election interference case. Lawyers for Mr Roman, who worked at digging up dirt on the opposition in the 2020 campaign, claim the money spent on romantic trips away were part of an exchange for his lucrative contract to prosecute Mr Trump. The proceedings have been brought by Mike Roman, one of Donald Trump's co-defendants in the election interference case in Georgia In a filing by Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Mr Roman, it was alleged Mr Wade also had lack of relevant experience but nevertheless been paid up to $650,000 in legal fees since being appointed. Accordingly, the district attorney and the special prosecutor have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter, according to the 127-page filing. Ms Williss lawyers have dismissed the case as based on mere gossip. But Mr Trump has wasted no time in seizing on the revelations, claiming that Ms Willis and her lover had perpetrated a conspiracy to enrich themselves and interfere in the 2024 race. This case is a hoax, just like Russia, Russia, Russia (and all of the rest!), and everybody in America knows it, he said on social media. On another occasion, he wrote The Lovers knew that I did nothing wrong, adding: The Lovebirds should face appropriate consequences. Donald Trump hopes to derail or delay the three other criminal cases he is facing - EDUARDO MUNOZ/reuters The former president is sticking the knife in while also trying to derail or delay the three other criminal cases his opponents are desperate to push through before election day in November. Prosecutions are likely to pause if Mr Trump enters the White House. A central part of the Georgia prosecution, brought under the states Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisation Act, was the recording of a Jan 2 2021 phone call from Mr Trump to Brad Raffensperger, Georgias Republican Secretary of State. During that call, he asked him to help find additional votes. Mr Raffensperger declined to do so, and Mr Biden won by 11,845 votes, the first Democrat to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1996. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty and insisted he had the right to act as he did. It is unclear whether Ms Willis will be able to continue to oversee the prosecution of Mr Trump and others, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, and Jenna Ellis. I think its possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification, Judge Scott McAfee said this week. I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations. The judge, who is overseeing the case against Mr Trump, said Ms Willis should appear to answer the allegations on Thursday and provide evidence. I think the issues at point here are whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed and whether it continues, he said. Legal arguments weak Experts say the efforts to disqualify Ms Willis and her lead lawyer are based on weak legal arguments but the judge will also be weighing whether the case is being affected by the appearance of impropriety. While she [Ms Willis] may eventually win and show that there wasnt any actual conflict of interest, this is still just very bad news for the case generally, in terms of public perception, Caren Morrison, an associate law professor at Georgia State University, told The New York Times. Ms Willis and Mr Wade were forced to admit last month to having a personal relationship after claims were made to disqualify them. They insisted there was nothing inappropriate about it as Ms Willis, a mother-of-two, has been divorced since 2005 and had been seeing Mr Wade since 2022. In a court filing in her defence, Ms Williss office said she and Mr Wade had in 2022 developed a personal relationship in addition to our professional association and friendship. However, she insisted she had no no financial conflict of interest that constitutes a legal basis for disqualification from the case and had no personal conflict of interest. In a separate affidavit, Mr Wade said he and Ms Willis were both financially independent professionals; expenses or personal travel were roughly divided equally between us. He added: At times I have made and purchased travel for District Attorney Willis and myself from my personal funds. At other times District Attorney Willis has made and purchased travel for she and I from her personal funds. Long before the relationship became public, Ms Willis said she found it difficult to find a suitable prosecutor due to concerns about personal security while working against Mr Trump. She said Mr Wade was not her first choice. But he wasnt afraid. And I needed someone not afraid, she told The New York Times in 2022. 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. Russia has added Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to a wanted list over her efforts to take down Soviet-era World War II monuments. This is just the beginning, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. The liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must answer for crimes. Other officials from Latvia and Lithuania who have supported the remova; of soviet-era monuments are also on the list. The revelation that Kallas is on the list coincides with mounting Russian-Estonian tensions. On Tuesday, Estonias foreign intelligence service issued a new report warning that Moscow has plans to double the number of troops along its borders with the Baltic states and Finland in preparation for possible conflict with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). European governments have been warning about the possibility that Russia could expand its war beyond the borders of Ukraine for months. The Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with NATO within the next decade, the report states. For Estonia, Russias military reform entails a significant increase in Russian forces near the Estonian border in the coming years. As Russia works to build up its forces, European allies need to prepare to bolster their ability to defend against attacks, the report adds. Defending against a possible conventional attack from such an army would require allied defence forces and defence industries to be significantly more prepared, capable and better-stocked with ammunition and materiel than they currently are. What Happens to NATO if Trump Wins in 2024? Kaupo Rosin, the director general of Estonias foreign intelligence service, told reporters that Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation, according to The Guardian. Kallas, who has been a vocal supporter of Kyiv during the Russian war on Ukraine, said Moscows attempt at intimidation would not stop her. The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and othersbut it won't. The opposite. I will continue my strong support to Ukraine. I will continue to stand for increasing Europe's defences, she said on social media. Concerns about the future of NATOs ability to defend itself against Russian aggression have bubbled up in recent days, as former president Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner for the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, revealed this weekend that he had previously warned a NATO member that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wanted with NATO countries that are not contributing two percent of their GDP on defense spending. You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Trump said, referring to something he claimed to have said to a NATO member. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. NATO members agreed in 2014 to work towards contributing 2 percent of GDP on defense spending, but there is no delinquency or debt that comes along with that. The alliance members invest that money into their militaries, but dont pay it to NATO. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sharply criticized Trumps remarks. Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk, Stoltenberg said. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said Trump was irresponsible and putting U.S. troops at risk. Encouraging the Kremlin to attack any NATO ally or alliance territory really puts our soldiersU.S. soldiers and our allies soldiersin greater danger. Doing so, making those types of statements, is dangerous and frankly irresponsible. 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. Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol speaks during the Annual Meeting 2019 of the World Economic Forum. Valeriano Di Domenico/World Economic Forum/dpa The International Energy Agency (IEA) was discussing energy security and climate targets at its ministerial meeting starting on Tuesday. In addition to ministers from the 31 IEA member states and other countries, leaders from industry, the financial world and civil society were attending the two-day meeting in Paris. The most important topics include the risks to energy security in connection with Russia's war against Ukraine, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the implementation of the results of the COP28 climate conference. At the start of the meeting, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol called for joint efforts for a reliable energy supply and action on climate change. "Energy security and climate action are interwoven and claiming that we need to focus on just one or the other is an outdated view," said Birol. "Governments must work together to address our major common challenges because uncoordinated, individual efforts from countries will fall short." The IEA is an interest group that advises industrialized countries on energy issues and is celebrating its 50th anniversary at the Paris meeting. The agency was founded in the wake of the global oil crisis of 1973-74 with the intention of being able to take coordinated measures to secure oil supplies in the event of recurring crises. Fifty years after the IEA was founded, the ministerial meeting will also discuss how the global energy system has changed and how the energy and climate challenges can be tackled. Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! INTRODUCING KEVIN MCCARTY (THE OTHER ONE) If youve done a double-take driving up Highway 50 recently, wondering why Kevin McCarty has campaign signs both in Sacramento and El Dorado counties, dont worry its not a Vince Fong situation. The assemblyman and Sacramento mayoral candidate is only running for one seat, but a political newcomer, also named Kevin McCarty, is running for a seat on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The young McCarty, 34, moved to Placerville in 2018 with his wife. They recently bought land in Somerset, south of the highway, where theyre building a home and a farm for their organic food-consuming family of four. His wife, he says, is as crunchy as crunchy can be. McCarty decided to run for District 2 which encompasses Cameron Park, Somerset, and Grizzly Flats while going through the building process. Ive had a hell of a process getting anything done, McCarty said. Hes not so delusional that he thought it would be entirely seamless; he works as the Director of Licensing and Compliance for Capitol Compliance Management, a Sacramento-based firm, and his clients include many in the cannabis industry. He is no stranger to government compliance and regulations. But he said some on the Board of Supervisors, including District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo, are simply not effective leaders an observation McCarty made when he started attending and watching county board meetings. The consequences of that ineffective leadership, he says, are poor processes and bad decisions for constituents. The current board is behind the times, McCarty said, and he wants to bring some fresher eyes and some fresher leadership to the county. Its a nonpartisan seat, and McCarty is registered as a No Party Preference voter. Its what he loves about local politics::To get things done, community members can set aside national issues and put their heads together to address the problem at hand, regardless of party affiliation. Its also what he loves about the other Kevin McCarty, who he calls a moderate, common sense candidate, and whose views on housing affordability and homelessness crises he respects. The two actually met last year and a fundraising event, and get along swimmingly. Theres been a lot of confusion, the first-time candidate told The Bee, about running at the same time as well-known legislator with the same name. But hopefully 2024 is a good year for Kevin McCartys. LGBTQ ADVOCATES PUBLISH PROJECT RAINBOW REPORT, POLICY RECS FOR LAWMAKERS A coalition of health care professionals and LGBTQ+ advocates, under the name Project RAINBOW, have published a dozen policy recommendations for the California legislature, pertaining specifically to transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) people.. The Project RAINBOW coalition includes Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, Equality California, the California Academy of Family Physicians, and other similar organizations. They recommend the legislature work to ensure comprehensive access to information for TGI people, support research and data on the provision of gender affirming care in the state, and enshrine the right to gender affirming care free from discrimination, among other suggestions relating to health care access for TGI people and a discrimination-free experience on college campuses and in medical environments. Many states have passed legislation that limits or outright bans access to (gender affirming care), the report reads. State law should reflect Californias values that people are free to live their true lives with autonomy and dignity and hold lawmakers accountable to those principles. The report comes amid a sweep of conservative states seeking to ban gender affirming care for trans people, specifically children, regardless of whether their parents support their medical transition or not. Upholding the principles of dignity, respect, and accessibility, we affirm that access to safe and affirming healthcare environments is imperative for all, especially our transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) communities, the California Academy of Family Physicians said in a statement. Most Republicans in the legislature oppose gender affirming care for trans minors. Working with parents rights activists, it has become a hot button issue for some conservative lawmakers. But California at large has some of the most progressive laws in the country when it comes to LGBTQ rights, and Democratic legislators work closely with some of the organizations ho published the report, like Planned Parenthood and Equality California. QUOTE OF THE DAY Twenty years ago today we began marrying same sex couples in San Francisco. During that time, I walked out of my office and a little girl came up and said, Thank you for giving me two mommies. Ill never forget that moment. - Gov. Gavin Newsom via X, formerly known as Twitter. Best of The Bee: For the third consecutive year, former State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins , D-San Diego, hosted a fundraiser at Sundays Super Bowl, via Andrew Sheeler . To lower energy costs, California wants to tie bills to income. That plan is making enemies, via Ari Plachta Return to office: State workers say looming mandate would cost more than money, via Maya Miller. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) A formal investigation will be launched into what caused the Utah National Guard helicopter to go down in West Jordan earlier this week. The AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter crashed around 1:20 p.m. at South Valley Regional Airport on Monday, Feb. 12. Two pilots were onboard the helicopter at the time of the incident and were both taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition. On Tuesday, Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber confirmed in a press release that one pilot was released from the hospital at around 6 p.m. The other pilot, who is from the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, remains in the hospital. Kroeber said that the pilot is still in stable condition and is talking with friends and families. 6 p.m. sunsets are back in Utah heres a timetable for longer days The names and identities of both pilots have not been publicly released. A team of incidents is expected to arrive in Utah from the Armys Combat Readiness Center in Fort Novosel, Alabama this afternoon to start an investigation. These investigations may take up to 90 days to complete and the results will not be released publicly as a matter of Army policy, said Kroeber via press release. The helicopter, which belongs to the 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, was being flown as part of a routine training mission jointly done with Army and other military branches, according to Kroeber. He said missions like the one flown on Monday help the military stay ready in joint and integrated warfare by improving communication and processes. The Utah National Guard reportedly has a total of 18 AH-64D helicopters, which fly more than 3,000 hours per year. The battalion of Apache helicopters is one of four in the Army Natural Guard For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Just weeks after a a shooting at Perry High School, a bill that would allow Iowa schools to arm staff and require others to hire school resource officers is advancing in the Iowa Legislature. The bill would also give school staff qualified immunity against legal action if they are armed. The Republican-led House introduced the bill more than a month after police say Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old Perry student, fatally shot Ahmir Jolliff, an 11-year-old sixth-grader, and wounded seven other people, including Principal Dan Marburger. Marburger who police say tried to intervene to protect students died 10 days later. Butler was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said. Flameless candles flicker in front of a picture of Perry High School prinicpal Dan Marburger, who died after being shot on Jan. 4, during a March for Our Lives vigil for gun violence victims at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Des Moines. This is not the first time Iowa lawmakers have tried to clear the way for school officials to arm staff. A previously passed state law gave school officials the authority to have employees carry firearms. But two schools that were ready to allow staff to carry weapons reversed course after their insurers said they wouldn't cover them because of liability concerns. Those who registered in favor of House Study Bill 675 said neither the current law nor the bill address the long-standing issues around companies declining to insure schools where staff are approved to carry guns. After more than 30 minutes of discussion Monday, the three-member committee voted 2-1 to advance the bill. Related: Active shooter drills are required in Iowa schools: What that means after Perry shooting Here is what you need to know about House Study Bill 675: What would House Study Bill 675 do in Iowa schools? HSB 675 would require school districts with 8,000 or more students to have at least one security officer or school resource officer in schools where ninth through 12th-grade students regularly attend classes. Private schools and public schools with fewer than 8,000 students are encouraged to contract with or employ a security guard or school resource officer. The bill also allows school districts, private schools and colleges and universities to arm staff. Those who want to carry would need to go through a permit process that includes one-time, in-person legal training covering "qualified immunity, annual emergency medical training and annual communication training" approved by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The department would also need to "implement required annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearm training" for school employees with permits. What is a school resource officer? School resource officers, also known as SROs, are trained law enforcement officers assigned or contracted to work in schools. They have full police powers. Des Moines Public Schools ended its SRO program several years ago. Related: Des Moines school officials are deciding whether to keep school resource officers. What are SROs? How will Iowa school districts cover the cost? The bill, if passed, would require the Iowa Department of Education to create a school security personnel grant to provide up to $50,000 per district in matching funds to help cover the cost. During Monday's hearing, it was suggested lawmakers increase the amount because some school districts, including Des Moines, have more than one high school. Related: Des Moines School Board approves doubling security spending as part of $610M budget Does Iowa law allow school staff to carry firearms? Yes, Iowa code 724.4B allows approved school staff to carry a gun on campus. But few schools have tried to implement the law. Related: Two Iowa school districts rescind policies allowing armed teachers in class. Here's why: Why aren't Iowa schools arming staff? While Iowa law allows school staff to be armed, it does not require insurance carriers to cover those districts. During the 2022-23 school year, Spirit Lake and Cherokee school districts approved arming staff. In June 2023, officials at both schools reversed their decisions after EMC Insurance declined to cover the two small rural districts ahead of the 2023-24 school year if staff were allowed to carry weapons. How does the House study bill differ from Iowa law? Unlike the previous code, the House bill includes a qualified immunity provision for permitted staff. Qualified immunity is a "type of legal immunity that protects a government official from lawsuits alleging that the official violated a plaintiff's rights," according to Cornell Law School website. Proponents of the bill say this is a step in the right direction. "We had implemented guns as a safety measure in our school had it in place for six months and then EMC told us they were going to terminate our insurance, said Spirit Lake Superintendent David Smith during the hearing. So, we had to go away from it and we're struggling to find a new carrier. We know immunity is a big piece that will help us find people from the outside to come in and insure us. The insurance issue is why more districts, many of them in rural areas, have not explored the option said Panorama Community School District Superintendent Kasey Huebner. This includes his own district. District families have been asking him about security since the Perry shooting in early January, Huebner said. His district is about 20 miles away from Perry Community School District. "I have 1,400 parents that are trying to trust me to keep their kids safe," he said. "All right, regardless I'm going to be running towards the fire. All I ask is that I actually have the chance to go back to my family because I would be prepared enough." Huebner also spoke in favor of districts adding school resource officers. Have lawmakers tried to fix the insurance issue previously? During the 2023 legislative session Iowa lawmakers introduced House File 654 which would have prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage to districts who want to arm their staff. The bill did not pass the Senate. As House Study Bill 675 progresses, the hope is EMC will meet with lawmakers, said State Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone. No one from EMC signed up to speak during the hearing. "I think this sets a very good bar, a very good standard for our schools to participate," Thompson said before announcing the bill would advance, "and it allows those schools that want to do the right thing to protect their kids to do just that. We do have some insurance issues to address." Related: Rural Iowa has a mental health care crisis, and school superintendents want more help Who opposes House Study Bill 675? Several groups registered against the study bill. Roosevelt High School student Hannah Hayes opposed the bill on behalf of Students Demand Action. "We ask that you oppose this bill because of its provisions of qualified immunity," Hayes said. "To arm school personnel raises concerns about accountability and oversight, further undermining the bill's efficacy and potential for unintended consequences. As a student myself, I can tell you that adding more guns to schools is not going to make me safer." Iowa ACEs 360 a coalition of groups that support policies to strengthen families said the bill did not go far enough to address student safety, including mental health support. More: Kim Reynolds has released her plan to restructure Iowa's mental health systems. Here's what it says: Our primary concern with the bill is that addressing school safety requires a comprehensive strategy," said Lisa Cushatt, the organization's executive director, "and this just focuses on one and as we've heard some other folks talk about, there's a lot of different things within the different safety plans." Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa bill moves to arm school staff after Perry High shooting By Jung Min-ho Pyongyang and Moscow are stepping up efforts to boost cultural exchanges as more Russian tourists are expected to visit the reclusive country next month. According to Russian media reports on Tuesday, the second and third groups of Russians are scheduled to travel to selected tourist sites in North Korea in early March. This comes after the first group of 97 Russian tourists were allowed into the country on Feb. 9 for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic more than three years ago. Alexei Starichkov, director of the international cooperation agency of Russias Primorye region, reportedly said the second group is set to embark on a four-day trip from March 8 through 11, followed by a five-day trip by a third group from March 11 through 15. According to an ad for the tour, the first group is believed to have visited Pyongyang as well as the Masikryong Ski Resort in Kangwon Province, some 20 kilometers outside of Wonsan. Amid deepening relations between the two countries since Russias invasion of Ukraine two years ago, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in October that he would recommend North Korea as a holiday destination for Russians. As part of the joint effort to strengthen ties, officials of North Koreas ruling Workers Party departed for Russia on Monday to attend an international forum scheduled to be held from Feb. 15 to 17, North Koreas state media reported the next day without elaborating. Tourism is one of the few possible sources of hard currency for North Korea as it has been excluded from sanctions imposed by the U.N. and individual countries. Those sanctions specifically target the transfer of bulk cash, but not small sums of money visitors bring to the country. EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Corewell Health is hosting a 5K race the day before St. Patricks Day for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Irish Jig will take place March 16 in East Grand Rapids, beginning and ending on Lakeside Drive in front of the library. The run will begin at 8:30 a.m., and walking participants will start at 8:45 a.m. Corewell Health is inviting people to wear 80s-inspired attire as it celebrates the 40th iteration of the race. The race has been raising awareness for the early detection of colorectal cancer since 1983, only skipping 2020. Colon and rectal cancers are the second leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths and risk increases with age, Corewell Health said. Early detection is important and regular colon screenings are recommended for most people after age 45. Money raised at the 5K will go to support people with cancer and their families through the Corewell Health Patient Assistance Fund. Registration is open through March 1. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Tuesday, Feb. 13. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Wednesday, Feb. 14. A top United Nations official on Tuesday warned of a "slaughter'' if Israel invades the southern Gaza city of Rafah, while the Israeli military chief said civilians can be protected even though thousands have already been killed in the war. Martin Griffiths, head of U.N. emergency relief efforts, said he feared for the fate of about 1.4 million people sheltering in and around Rafah, the border city Israel considers Hamas' last stronghold and plans to attack. "Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza,'' Griffiths said in an online statement. "They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at deaths door.'' About two-thirds of the more than 28,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza have been women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Still, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, said they have plenty of experience keeping civilians out of harm's way. In previous parts of the war, we sought to isolate the population,'' Halevi said in a news conference. "We have the capabilities to do it. We did it in Gaza City. We did it in Khan Younis. We did it in the central camps.'' On Monday, a brazen Israeli hostage rescue mission backed by heavy air power freed two hostages held in Rafah while killing at least 74 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The U.S. is looking into reports of the Israeli military harming civilians and whether the longtime ally is conforming with guidelines for receiving American weapons, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday. Developments: A Western diplomat in Cairo told AP the six-week deal was on the table but cautioned that more work is still needed to reach an agreement. The primary issues that continue to block a cease-fire include Israel's pledge to crush Hamas and remain in charge of security in Gaza after the war and Hamas' demands of a permanent cease-fire and withdrawal of all Israeli troops. South Africas government said Tuesday that it has made an "urgent request" to the U.N.s International Court of Justice to consider whether Israels military operations targeting Rafah are a breach of the court's provisional orders to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide. The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill Tuesday that includes $14 billion in military aid to Israel, but it faced long odds in the House because of GOP opposition, stoked by former President Donald Trump. The Al Jazeera network said two of its journalists were injured in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah and one of them required an amputation. People gather for a rally calling on Israel to stop its Rafah invasion in Gaza at Union Square in New York on Feb,.12, 2024. US is working on new hostage deal: Would pause fighting in Gaza for 6 weeks Cease-fire talks don't yield results but get extended The progress reported in recent negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza did not lead to a breakthrough Tuesday in Cairo, but the participants agreed to extend the talks for three more days with lower-level officials, the New York Times reported. Tuesday's meeting involving the U.S., Israel, Egypt and Qatar concluded with a keenness to continue consultation and coordination on the main topics, Egypts state information service said, according to Reuters. President Joe Biden said Monday that key elements of a six-week truce were in place and he encouraged Israel to work through the gaps that remain, ideally before an expected offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that could scuttle an agreement. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had balked at sending representatives to Cairo but bowed to pressure from the Biden administration. Political support in the U.S., crucial to Israel for gaining congressional approval of military aid, has been fading amid the rising civilian casualties. A weeklong cease-fire in November led to the release of more than 100 hostages. Recent talks have focused on freeing the 100-plus remaining captives even as Israel intensifies its offensive in Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have fled to seeking shelter from fighting elsewhere. US fighting 'rising trend' of hostage-taking, Blinken says Speaking to a Washington audience about arbitrary detention, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday hostage-taking is "genuinely a crisis'' and "part of a rising trend.'' Blinken said he spoke Monday with businessman Paul Whelan, who along with Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is one of two Americans the U.S. considers wrongfully detained in Russia. Blinken also referenced the Biden administration's continued efforts to gain the release of hostages held in Gaza, including eight Americans, and said of their families: "The agony that they face simply not knowing, not knowing the fate of their loved ones is beyond our imaginations.'' To increase global pressure against hostage-taking, the U.S. joined in 2021 a coalition that now includes 74 nations and the European Union, Blinken said. "Together were sending a clear message: Our citizens are not human bargaining chips. They are not political pawns,'' he said. "If any country wrongfully holds any of our people, we will hold them accountable.'' American Jews feel less safe since war began More than three-quarters of American Jews feel less safe in the U.S. because of the Hamas attacks and nearly half have changed their behavior as a result, according to a report on antisemitism released Tuesday by the American Jewish Committee. The AJC's State of Antisemitism in America 2023 report comes four months after the Oct. 7 assaults on Israel that sparked the war and a subsequent wave of rising antisemitism worldwide. It found that 63% of American Jews feel Jewish people in the U.S. are less secure than a year ago, a sharp increase from 41% in 2022 and 31% in 2021. "No one should be fearful of being targeted or harassed for being Jewish when walking down the street, going to school, or being at work," said Ted Deutch, the American Jewish Committees CEO. "This isnt a new problem, but the explosion of antisemitism since Oct. 7 demands that we take collective action now." Marc Ramirez Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: UN official warns of 'slaughter' in Rafah (FOX40.COM) The primary election in the Sacramento mayoral race is less than a month away and current Mayor Darrell Steinberg has opted not to run for a third term. Six candidates will be on the March 5 ballot seeking to win a term as Sacramentos mayor. In early February, FOX40.com sent a questionnaire to all candidates requesting information on their background and what they consider to be the most important issues facing the city. Below are the candidates responses. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Jose Antonio Avina II Occupation: Marine Corps Captain and Small Business Owner Bio: Jose Antonio Avina II bridges the gap between military service and community building. He leads Marines with expertise honed through his years in the Marine Corps, rising from the rank of Private to Captain and earning the title of a Marine Corps Mustang. Beyond the Marines, he fuels his passion for fitness by empowering his Sacramento community through his gym, showing his dedication to both duty and local impact. Other relevant experience: United States Marine Corps Party Affiliation: No Affiliation Key Issues Crime and Public Safety Crime and public safety is at the top of my list of priorities. We must enforce the laws of this community and no longer permit criminals to go unpunished. We have to increase the number of Community Service Officers to help fill the gaps of our current Police force and increase our Police presence throughout the community. This will be a perfect opportunity to build greater community relationships and to recruit younger candidates and assess them over time for their abilities to make sound and moral decisions. We can no longer permit illegal drugs from entering our streets and we must make every effort possible to prevent the drugs from affecting our youth. Its no secret that some of the homeless population refuses to leave their current situation because they refuse to get clean and we must address this issue if we wish to clean up our streets. I will take a hard stance on drugs, we will not permit them. We will work with state and federal agencies to go after the individuals who are part of the distribution chain, we will not allow them to conduct business here. Infrastructure Infrastructure is second on my list of priorities. As we enter a new era of remote working we must begin to build for that future and reimagine how the downtown landscape will appear. We must look to providing more connectivity between communities to ensure the longevity of our local economy. We must invest into making Sacramento a more livable community for all to enjoy. This includes building more housing to help reduce the cost of living that so many community members are feeling the pressure of. We must work with startups and local businesses to help solve some of issues putting a strain on our current infrastructure system and to introduce new concept ideas to help improve our daily commutes. We must revisit specific building codes and regulations that delay a timely building process and see if the city can find ways to reduce approval times for building plans while not sacrificing safety for time. We have to improve our building process or we will never meet the demands of the growing population and the housing crisis will only worsen. Sustainability Sustainability will play a major role in how our city meets its 2040 goal of becoming one of the top most livable cities in the United States and Californias energy efficiency goal as well. In order for Sacramento to attain its goal of top five livable communities we must address some major issues affecting our daily lives today for example: rising cost of utilities, healthy foods, unhealthy air quality levels, increased road times and most importantly mental health. My vision for this city is one thats prepared for the reality of the situation. In less than 30 years we will have a massive generational gap and the available workforce will not be able to meet the demands of a growing city. We must use the available landscape we have now to build for the future. Finding creative solutions to solve our modern problems. For example, repurposing the downtown skyline to introduce indoor farming to help provide fresh and affordable produce for our communities. By harnessing the power of the newest technology we can maximize each harvest and reduce waste. We can also introduce a water-capturing system to store rainwater for the city to utilize to fight fires during the summer period. Reducing the annual cost to taxpayer and reducing the total demand on the reservoir. Campaign Website: JoseAntonioAvinaII.com Who is running for the Sacramento City Council District 2 seat? Flo Cofer Occupation: Public health professional Bio: My parents were both hard-working school teachers. When I was 11 years old I watched my dad die of a heart attack from preventable illness. Today, as a public health expert and advocate I fight for everyones ability to live a long, healthy, and happy life. In recent years, Ive watched the homelessness crisis spiral horribly out of control in Sacramento, as politicians cater to their corporate donors. Im running for mayor to create a city where all of us can thrive, not just those at the top. Other relevant experience: Senior Director of Policy for Public Health Advocates; led the preconception health initiative for the California Department of Public Health; served in various capacities on local boards, committees and commissions, including the Active Transportation Commission, Mayors Commission on Climate Change, Sheriffs Outreach Community Advisory Board, Board of Directors for Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, and four-term Chair of the City of Sacramento Measure U Community Oversight Commission Party Affiliation: Democratic Party Key Issues Housing and homelessness As mayor, I will immediately reduce homelessness and encampments by expanding temporary shelter space and safeground options that provide basic services to our unhoused neighbors and put them on a path to more permanent housing. Keeping residents housed in the first place creates a stronger community, provides greater family stability, and is a much more effective use of tax dollars. Once residents lose their homes, every step towards re-establishing housing is more difficult. We cannot adequately address this issue until we help people remain in their homes, stem the flow of Sacramento families pushed onto our streets, and meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors while putting them on a path to permanent housing. We must immediately act to reduce homelessness and expand affordable housing to ensure that everyone in Sacramento has a roof over their head. Community Safety Public safety means everyone can enjoy our citys neighborhoods and walk around midtown and downtown without worrying. We should feel safe in our communities and across the city. Supporters have called me the fund public safety candidate because Ill prioritize programs that prevent violence and poverty, in addition to supporting emergency response. Sacramento went two years without any youth homicides. Then politicians cut the youth programs that prevented homicides, and weve seen violence rise. We must invest in our youth, and invest in programs that prevent violence and poverty in order to keep everyone safe. Economic Prosperity in a Changing Climate The climate crisis is an enormous challenge. Its also an enormous opportunity for Sacramento to invest in our infrastructure, our economy, and our families futures. Transforming our energy system to 100 percent renewable will create thousands of jobs from building new bike lanes, to weatherizing existing homes, planting trees, and building thousands of new units of sustainably designed affordable housing. Sacramento can be a national leader for a just transition. Campaign Website: FloForMayor.com These are the candidates and measures on the primary election ballot in Stanislaus County Julius Engel Occupation: Asset Protection Officer (Federal/DHS for 4 years now private) Bio: I am a 46-year resident of Sacramento. I am 67 years old and a McGeorge Law School graduate. I have decades of experience in law enforcement. My late wife and I raised three fine adult children in Sacramento; one a lawyer, the second an entrepreneur and the third Federal Asset Protection, all born and educated in Sacramento. Other relevant experience: Attorney, Small Claims Judge, 7-year US Military Veteran (Vietnam era) Party Affiliation: Republican Party Key Issues Homelessness Minimum Wage Reduce SMUD Bills Campaign Website: Engel4Mayor.com Measures and candidates on the primary election ballot in Sacramento County Steve Hansen Occupation: Small Businessman Bio: Steve is a small businessman, dad, and former City Councilmember, running for mayor to tackle Sacramentos homelessness crisis, improve public safety, build more housing, and create good-paying jobs. Steve is endorsed by grassroots Democrats, small business owners and working families. Party Affiliation: Democratic Party Key Issues Homelessness Tackling homelessness with bold, urgent action is Steves top priority and one of the core reasons why he is running for Mayor. When Steve left the Sacramento City Council, he never thought hed run for office again, but over the last several years, homelessness and neighborhood safety have gotten to crisis levels in Sacramento. Steve is stepping up and will make the hard choices and put in the work necessary to truly address this crisis. Steve has been focused on genuinely addressing the homelessness crisis since long before it started getting the attention it is getting today. While serving as a Sacramento City Councilmember, Steve helped create the citys first homelessness program, opened the first long-term homeless triage center with over 100 beds, helped build 300 emergency shelter beds and permanent supportive housing, and worked to secure millions in new funding to get those in need off of the streets. Since Steve left the City Council, homelessness and community safety have only gotten worse. Additionally, peoples trust in the City to take action has also diminished. We need to do more. As Mayor, Steve will ensure that the City properly enforces, streamlines, and strengthens existing laws like the camping ordinances on sidewalks, near schools, and on private property, while simultaneously working with the County and State to implement new programs like the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which will bring mental health and other treatment options to the individuals who struggling the most and may present a danger to themselves or others. Steve firmly believes that tent encampments are not a housing solution and that the City needs to expand their efforts to make everyone in our community feel safe walking and biking in their neighborhood. While the City can make major improvements on homelessness policy, Steve will make sure the County and the State are playing their part, including providing the necessary funding and assistance to properly implement the CARE Act and Project Homekey, which rehabilitates hotels, motels, and vacant apartment buildings into permanent supportive housing. Additionally, Steve is a supporter of Proposition 1 a $6.38 billion bond to build new behavioral health housing and treatment settings across the state that will be on the March, 2024 ballot. As Mayor, Steve will secure these funds and ensure Sacramento gets its fair share to address the homelessness and mental health crisis in our community. Public Safety Steve understands the impact of crime, social justice, and failed public safety policy firsthand. Growing up he lived it. Raised in a poor, disadvantaged community in Minnesota, Steve overcame significant struggle and societal barriers living through poverty and crime as a child, forced to move around constantly, even staying in domestic violence shelters. It is undeniable that Steves experiences have now become an all too common reality in Sacramento people in our community simply do not feel safe. Failed leadership, lack of resources, and an absence of political will to address homelessness has allowed crime to proliferate throughout the City, disproportionately impacting our low-income and historically disadvantaged communities. As Mayor, Steve will prioritize expediting law enforcement response times, increasing training for first responders, and ensuring we improve public safety through thoughtful leadership, compassion, and collaboration with the community. He will also ensure that proper enforcement and prosecutions of those who commit criminal activity are upheld to stop the cycle of the early release of dangerous individuals into our community. Recognizing the importance of maintaining a responsible and equitable justice system, Steve will expand upon his successful reform efforts. During his service as a Sacramento City Councilmember, he helped mandate body-worn cameras, reform use-of-force policies, and created implicit bias training for all law enforcement officers. Additionally, Steve helped pass mandated de-escalation training and expanded efforts to diversify the police force, hiring from neighborhoods that traditionally did not always see law enforcement or officers from their communities. Affordable Housing Steves track record fighting for affordable housing is extensive and notable for some major successes in our community. Steve also successfully authored and passed a major affordable housing bond that has helped accelerate the construction of affordable housing and the preservation of existing affordable units in our community, and set in motion a plan to build 10,000 new units in the City of Sacramento. As Mayor, Steve will expand upon these housing wins with plans to build more housing at all levels of affordability to ensure all Sacramento residents can meet their housing needs through two comprehensive plans: a regional affordable housing finance plan that ensure Sacramento secures its fair share of state and federal funds to build workforce housing, senior housing, and permanent supportive housing, and an expansive streamlining plan to cut red tape, bureaucracy, and reduce costs so that housing projects do not stagnate waiting for approval to get built. Steve has also been a champion for tenants and renter protection. As a Sacramento City Councilmember, Steve led the successful passage of the Tenant Protection Relief Act, a historic rent control measure that made Sacramento the first major non-coastal city in California to adopt significant renter protections. The law enshrined tenant protections that included a cap on how much landlords can increase the rent and a prohibition on evictions without a cause. Campaign Website: Steve4Sacramento.com Maggy Krell now running for state Assembly seat Kevin McCarty Occupation: State Assemblymember Bio: Kevin McCarty has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the people of Sacramento. His track record of delivering results at multiple levels of government over 20 years is a testament to his effectiveness and dedication to serving the people of Sacramento. Other relevant experience: City Councilmember, Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner Party Affiliation: Democratic Party Key Issues Homelessness Our citys epidemic of homelessness is a crisis. We see it around us every day. This affects public safety, affordability, and public health. In the Assembly, Ive been working on reforms that are beginning to show results. New ideas like working with regional District Attorneys on a new law to provide drug treatment program opportunities for those incarcerated. Sacramentos District Attorney aims to begin this program later this year. As Mayor I will set a clear policy for our homeless situation. We need to end urban camping in our neighborhoods, but those on the street need to be directed to safe places not just moved around. We will need to continue to find safe camping sites without creating more problems for our neighbors. These sites have to be in cooperation with the county who has the resources for the badly needed services. Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe The residents of Sacramento are looking to address our rising crime rates, but they want to make sure the city makes smart reforms that will actually make a difference. Ive made a career out of enacting smart solutions to public safety. We need to think differently about how our police deal with issues like those who are having a mental health crisis. I worked on a new law that allows our city to use trained professionals to handle these calls. But we need to ensure that our police are fully staffed and able to do their job. I will not cut police funding as Mayor. Affordable Housing Sacramento needs more affordable housing. The regions cost of living is rapidly increasing, pricing many working families out of this great city. I will tackle this issue on day one as Mayor because I already have a record of enacting meaningful reforms that are helping increase our housing stock. In the Assembly, I authored the adaptive reuse law that is currently helping to convert underutilized state office buildings into much needed housing. Right now these vacant state office buildings create a hole in our central city. By turning these buildings into quality affordable housing we can jump start parts of our downtown core. The city also needs to be more nimble and lower barriers including reforming the permitting process to build more housing. Sacramento needs to be a city where it is easy to build the type of housing that will ease our communities affordability crisis. Campaign Website: McCartyforMayor.com/ Who is running for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Dianne Feinstein? Richard Pan Occupation: Physician, Educator, Small Business Owner Bio: Dr. Richard Pan is a pediatrician, educator, small business owner, and proud Sacramento father who dedicated his life to building healthy, safe communities. He delivered results for California including fixing the state budget deficit and reducing the number of uninsured Californians by over half. He is the child of Taiwanese immigrants who lives with his wife, a dentist, and two young children in Sacramento. Other relevant experience: CA State Senator; Vice-Chair, United Way California Capital Region Party Affiliation: Democratic Party Key Issues Homelessness I will make reducing homelessness my top priority as Mayor, addressing the frustration of city residents witnessing the deterioration of their neighborhoods and city. As a physician, public health expert, and former state legislator, I have the experience and expertise necessary to make real progress. I will bring a fact-based, results-oriented approach that is focused on more housing, counseling, outreach, mental health services, and enforcement strategies proven to work. Public Safety It is unacceptable when people do not feel safe on Sacramento streets and parks. We all deserve a city where people want to live, work, and play in. I will bring a Back To Basics agenda to City Hall focused on improving city services, response times, cleaning up blight, and restoring order and safety to our parks and streets. Create Jobs Sacramento needs our businesses to create good jobs. As a small business owner, I want Sacramento to help small businesses grow instead of doubling their taxes this ballot. I recruited a Fortune 100 regional headquarters and a teaching hospital that will generate billions in economic activity. Campaign Website: DrRichardPan.com/ For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. According to experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Russian State Duma is considering a bill that would restrict the long-term activities of Russia's opposition media. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: According to the review, the Russian State Duma is considering a bill that would restrict the entry into Russia of people the Russian government considers "undesirable." Analysts believe it is part of a long-term effort to censor opposition media and undermine ties between Russia and foreign and international nongovernmental organisations. On 12 February, Vasily Piskarev, Russian State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Head, announced that he and other deputies had filed a bill that would allow the Russian government to designate foreign organisations whose founders or participants are likely to be connected with foreign governments as "undesirable." The bill also prohibits foreigners and stateless people from entering Russia if they participate in the activities of such "undesirable" organisations. According to experts, this bill will most likely prohibit Russian opposition journalists based outside of the country from entering Russia, as well as foreign media outlets with Russian divisions (such as the British BBC and German Deutsche Welle), limiting their ability to cover internal Russian Federation affairs, and will also further impede the work of international non-governmental organisations in Russia. According to the ISW, individuals found guilty of participating in "undesirable" organisations may face criminal charges and have their Russian citizenship revoked. Piskarev recently announced that the State Duma is debating another bill that would prohibit Russian citizens and businesses from advertising on platforms owned by organisations designated as "foreign agents," which are likely to use financial coercion to censor Russian opposition media and critical Russian ultranationalist military bloggers. According to ISW estimates, the Kremlin is attempting to consolidate control over the Russian information space and suppress dissent in the run-up to Russia's presidential elections in March 2024, though this bill is likely to severely restrict opposition media activities in Russia in the long run. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 13 February: Ukraines Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that elements of Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are training Russian drone operators at the Shayrat Air Base in Syria. The Russian State Duma is considering a bill to restrict actors that the Russian government designates as "undesirable" from entering Russia, likely as part of ongoing efforts to censor opposition media outlets and dismantle ties between Russia and foreign and international non-governmental organisations. Boris Nadezhdin, the only openly anti-war Russian presidential candidate, filed two lawsuits in the Russian Supreme Court challenging the Russian Central Election Commissions (CEC) refusal to register him as a candidate as the Kremlin continues efforts to suppress popular opposition while trying to preserve the veneer of legitimacy of Russian presidential elections. The European Union (EU) is beginning to take concrete steps towards possibly using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. Ukrainian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kreminna and Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kupiansk and Kreminna. South Korean news outlet Yonhap News Agency reported on 12 February that North Korea has developed 240mm guided multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS) missiles that North Korea may export to Russia. Russian authorities continue to use youth engagement programs to Russify Ukrainian youth. Support UP or become our patron! Editor's Note: The article initially said Italy had provided Ukraine with 45 million euros. Later, Ukraine's Culture Ministry deleted the announcement, while the Italian Embassy in Ukraine issued a statement saying that the actual amount provided was 500,000 euros. Italy will help restore the Transfiguration Cathedral, significantly damaged by a Russian missile attack on the night of July 22-23. The Italian Embassy in Ukraine said it will provide 500,000 euros to repair the cathedral's roof. Russia has already damaged or destroyed over 120 nationally significant monuments since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to UNESCO, Russia's war has damaged at least 337 cultural sites in Ukraine between the start of the invasion and Jan. 10. Read also: Understanding Zelenskys decree on Russian lands historically inhabited by Ukrainians Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Health ministry denies rumors that med school quota hike is linked to general elections By Jun Ji-hye The health ministry urged interns and resident doctors on Tuesday to refrain from going on strike to protest the governments plan to increase the number of medical school students starting next year. The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued the appeal due to concerns that a strike by interns and resident doctors, potentially involving actions such as taking annual leave or submitting resignation letters en masse, could have a more significant impact than actions by senior doctors. This strike poses the biggest challenge to the government's efforts to increase the medical school enrollment quota. This appeal was based on the lessons of the past. During the previous Moon Jae-in government's 2020 proposal to raise the quota, fierce protests by trainee doctors, which included collective action, led to substantial inconveniences for patients, especially at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as those physicians play a significant role in large hospitals. As a result, the Moon government eventually retracted its proposal. During a media briefing, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo urged the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), a group of interns and resident doctors, to "make a resolute decision to protect patients." This statement referred to the association's all-night discussion, during which its representatives deliberated on their upcoming actions. Following the discussion, KIRA announced the resignation of its entire executive board and the establishment of an emergency response committee to address the government's actions. However, the association did not disclose specific details about its planned actions, such as the timing or methods of staging a collective walkout. The cautious approach was seen as a response to the government's warnings of stern repercussions for doctors participating in strikes, including the possibility of license revocations. We are relieved that there was no announcement by KIRA about collective action plans, Park said. But, this is not a confirmation that the association will not engage in collective action. Thus, we are keeping our guard up and monitoring the development of situations. We have prepared various measures to respond to any kind of collective action. Tensions between doctors and the government have escalated, with both sides heading for a collision course. This comes after the health ministry's announcement on Feb. 6 that the annual enrollment quota at 40 medical schools nationwide will increase next year to 5,058 from the current 3,058. The government said the decision was aimed at addressing shortages of doctors and improving public access to medical services, while doctors raised concerns that expanding the number of placements for medical schools could adversely affect the quality of education and training. In protest of the plan, the Korea Medical Association (KMA), the nations largest coalition of doctors, previously declared its intention to hold massive rallies across the nation on Thursday. The KMA also established an emergency response committee and indicated that it will soon finalize the details of additional collective action. The Korea Emergency Medical Association followed suit by forming an emergency council, and said its members will join the collective action led by the KMA. Regarding doctors resistance, Park said the government is determined to overcome any obstacles so that medical reforms, supported by the majority of the Korean people, will not falter due to objections from some. Doctors can criticize the government, but I strongly call on them not to take advantage of patients lives through collective leave or resignations, Park said. In addition, the second vice health minister denied rumors that the governments push for the medical school quota hike was designed to woo voters ahead of general elections slated for April, stressing once again that the decision was aimed only at reforming the countrys health care system. Rumors circulating within medical circles suggest that the government might consider compromising with the KMA by scaling back and reducing the number of medical students after the elections. We will promptly implement follow-up measures. We will consult with the education ministry so the distribution of the additional 2,000 students among medical schools can be determined before April, Park said. FILE - A Jet Blue jetliner taxis down a runway as a Southwest Airlines airliner takes off from Denver International Airport Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in Denver. Shares of JetBlue are rising more than 15% before the market open on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, as activist investor Carl Icahn took an almost 10% stake in the airline. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Shares of JetBlue are up more than 18% in Tuesday afternoon trading as activist investor Carl Icahn took an almost 10% stake in the airline. Icahn, who purchased the shares in January and February, said in a regulatory filing that he believe JetBlue's stock is undervalued and represents an attractive investment opportunity. The stock is down abut 29% in the past year. He has had talks, and plans to continue talking with JetBlue in regards to possible representation on its board of directors. We are always open to constructive dialogue with our investors as we continue to execute our plan to enhance value for all of our shareholders and stakeholders, JetBlue said in a statement. Icahn became widely known as a corporate raider in the 1980s when he engineered a takeover of TWA, or Trans World Airlines. Icahn bought the airline in 1985 but by 1992 it filed for bankruptcy. TWA emerged from bankruptcy a year later but continued to operate at a loss and its assets were sold to American Airlines in 2001. JetBlue was dealt a major blow last month when a federal judge sided with the Biden administration and blocked JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition. Both airlines have filed their intention to appeal with a higher court, and a June hearing date has been set. New York-based JetBlue had argued that it needed the deal to grow quickly and better compete against bigger rivals that dominate the U.S. air-travel market. But shortly after the ruling, JetBlue told Spirit that it may terminate the deal. JetBlue, the nations sixth-largest airline by revenue, now must come up with another growth plan. That will be an assignment for CEO Joanna Geraghty. She just took over for Robin Hayes, who had engineered the deal. JetBlue has struggled to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic while its bigger rivals have returned to healthy profitability. JetBlue has lost more than $2 billion since the start of 2020. (Bloomberg) -- Australia will move quickly to legislate new measures targeting the malicious leaking of individuals personal data, or doxxing, following the distribution of a group of Jewish citizens contact details and photographs on the Internet. Most Read from Bloomberg Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he has asked the attorney generals department to bring forward legislation on doxxing, which was already under consideration as part of a broader revision of Australias Privacy Act. Potential measures include takedown notices and penalties for social media companies, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said Tuesday. He gave no timeline for the passage of the changes. Almost 600 Jewish Australians in academia and the creative industries had their names, images and professional details leaked online last week, local media reported. They were part of a private WhatsApp group that pro-Palestinian activists alleged was targeting anti-Israel voices in Australias arts community. The publication of Jewish Australians contact information was malicious, Albanese said in a radio interview. The idea that in Australia, someone should be targeted because of their religion, because of their faith, whether they be Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Catholic or Buddhist, is just completely unacceptable, the prime minister said. The government is increasingly concerned about community tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has occasionally been reflected in Parliament with walkouts by Green lawmakers and claims of antisemitism by the center-right opposition. Australia is home to both a large Jewish community and a large Palestinian diaspora. The center-left Labor government has repeatedly called for a cease-fire in Gaza, while reiterating Israels right to defend itself. Australia has historically been strongly pro-Israel, though like many western countries its seeing a groundswell of sympathy for the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Dreyfus said the governments measures would include new provisions to target the malicious use of peoples personal information without their consent, as well as faster passage of laws intended to target hate speech. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The numerous criminal trials of former President Donald Trump are troubling. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing opposing arguments whether states may remove Trump from the ballot if they believe he violated the 14th Amendment. Vile cans of worms have been opened. Some experts say its an open and shut case. As an officer of the United States, sworn to uphold the Constitution, did Trump incite or encourage insurgents to riot against the constitutional duty of Congress to certify the election? If so, it disqualifies him from holding office again. Jim Martin Others object accurately that he has not yet been convicted of anything disqualifying. He may never be if his trials stall beyond November. If elected, he could then pardon himself of all crimes past, present and future. Who thinks he wouldnt? As free citizens, we can debate his guilt or innocence. Our judiciary may never be able to contain Trump. The Supreme Court could act swiftly. Complicating this are partisan-inspired charges of partisanship leveled at some justices on both sides. If they rule that Trump has violated the U.S. Constitution, they will ignite a forest fire. Thats not just a metaphor. The precedent for accusing future presidents of violating the Constitution could soon become as ordinary as impeachment has become. If they find on technical grounds theres nothing to empower states to disqualify him from ballots, then his campaign will act like hes exonerated, not guilty of anything. Advantage Trump. It is uncertain that the courts will or can make the decision for us. This leaves the solemn civic responsibility on us whether to elect Trump to rule over us, or consign him to the proverbial dustbin of history. Courts must presume anyone innocent until proven guilty. This standard has never been applied to voters. We may consider whatever matters to us. We can weigh Trumps accomplishments and failures, along with his bold promises of what he will do for us and against his enemies if elected. We may evaluate his integrity and character. His contempt calling soldiers, suckers. Whatever. We can consider his own words and actions before and during Jan. 6, 2021, when he excited his roughnecks to go intimidate Congress. He was not inviting them to enjoy a Capitol tour. He sent them word that then-Vice President Pence had violated his constitutional duty. He lied, knowing then that his Proud Boys and QAnon ruffians were destructively roaming the halls of Congress chanting Traitor Pence! and Hang Mike Pence! Had they caught Pence, we can imagine where such passions of mob violence would have led. Trump didnt care. We can read the House Jan. 6 committees report regarding what happened that day. Clearly, that committee, as constituted, was not even-handed. Shrewdly, it wasted no time with testimony from hostile Democrats. Instead, we saw Trumps loyal Republican staff supporters testify under oath about his illegal attitudes and behavior, and how he ignored advice to abandon his dangerous scheme. Some think Trump is the second coming. Others close to me consider Trump a clear and present danger. This elegant phrase comes from a 1919 Supreme Court 9-to-0 decision limiting the First Amendments freedom of speech. Citing limitations against shouting Fire! in a crowded theater, it affirmed the right and duty of government to protect itself and us from an imminent threat to its survival, calling this a clear and present danger. We saw it with our own eyes. We the people have a solemn duty. November may be too late to rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. For unaffiliated voters in North Carolina, the March 5 primary offers our only real opportunity to nominate an honorable Republican if we care. Our decisions as voters could be more important for the future of constitutional democracy than anything the courts may or may not do. Jim Martin, a Republican, was North Carolina governor from 1985-93 and is a regular contributor to our pages. In his 345-page report, Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded that no criminal charges are warranted concerning President Joe Bidens removal, retention, and disclosure of classified documents. However the special counsel was concerned that his conclusion might be misconstrued as a double standard in light of the prosecution of Donald Trump for his own removal and retention of classified documents. Hur compared the two cases as follows: Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Trump allegedly did the opposite. According to the indictment, he not only refused to return the documents for many months, but he also obstructed justice by enlisting others to destroy evidence and then lie about it. In contrast, Biden turned in classified documents to the National Archives and the Department of Justice, consented to the search of multiple locations including his homes, sat for a voluntary interview, and in other ways cooperated with the investigation. Concerning classified documents about Afghanistan, the special counsel found that there was both a shortage of evidence needed to convict on these potential charges and several defenses likely to create reasonable doubt as to such charges. Despite this shortage of evidence and the inability to make a case at trial, the special counsel nevertheless opined that Biden also might be perceived by a jury as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. During my service with the Department of Justice in the 1980s, attorneys in my section gave witnesses deposition preparation sheets that advised: Do not be evasive. However, if you honestly cant remember, dont be afraid to say so. Deposition and investigative interviews are stressful, no matter the litigation stakes or the circumstances in which the testimony is given. If the testimony is given by the president of the United States in the midst of an international crisis, there are even more reasons to expect an inability to recall specific matters during five hours of prosecutorial questioning. How common is it for those accused of wrongdoing to not recall specifics from many years ago? Pretty standard, at least in recent high-stakes litigation. For instance, the BBC has reported that Ivanka Trump, in the New York civil fraud trial involving her family, repeatedly said she did not recall specifics, or was not aware. Nor does the former president himself have the world-class memory that he claims. On June 23, 2006, NBC reported on his deposition in a lawsuit brought against Trump University: Donald Trump claims to have a world-class memory, but it certainly wasnt on display during his deposition for a lawsuit over Trump University. I dont remember, Trump told lawyers 35 times during his December testimony, which was released on Wednesday. His inability to recall covered a wide range of subjects including whether he had told NBC News Katy Tur just a month earlier that he had the worlds greatest memory. Even more relevant may be the 27 times that Trump did not remember or could not recall answers to questions put to him by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Biden is a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man. Like virtually all litigants, he apparently had memory lapses during his five hours of investigative testimony. Whether or not a jury might consider these as negating proof beyond a reasonable doubt, they in no way negate his record as either vice president or president of the United States. R. Lawrence Dessem is dean emeritus and Timothy J. Heinsz Professor Emeritus of Law at the University of Missouri School of Law. He served as trial attorney and senior trial counsel in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice during the Carter and Reagan administrations. The Buna Payment System for the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organisation was launched at the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024 in Dubai on Monday. HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, launched the system in the presence of the Governors of Arab central banks, and a number of senior officials from the financial sector, said a Wam news agency report. Sheikh Maktoum emphasised the importance of enhancing Arab cooperation, economic and financial integration, and establishing connections with trading partners of Arab countries, directly or by linking financial infrastructure systems with similar systems in various countries. He noted that close cooperation helps to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities. He said: As a hub for the flow of capital and trade among Arab countries, whose economic standing is increasing on a global scale, the role of the UAE is pivotal in promoting economic integration. Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said: The UAEs hosting of the headquarters of the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organization in Abu Dhabi reflects the strategic importance of this institution and the leading role of the UAE as a global hub for trade and investment, especially since 63 percent of the platforms transactions occurred in the dirham currency. He added: With the many opportunities for cross-border payment systems, the importance of the multi-currency system, Buna, encourages the use of Arab currencies in clearing and settling Arab transactions. Through Buna, Arab countries are making an effort to provide advanced and secure payment services for cross-border transactions, and to facilitate trade exchange and mutual investments. Sheikh Maktoum praised the tangible achievements made by the Buna Payments System since it began its operations, as it launched the instant settlement service for cross-border payments. The system has gained international acceptance, being viewed as a model that reflects the G20s directions in developing and improving the efficiency of cross-border payment systems. This has been further reinforced by the platforms high-level systems that have been well received by international regulatory institutions. Dr Fahad M. Alturki, Chairman of the Board of the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organisation, highlighted the importance of enhancing financial inclusion and the role of payment systems as a pillar of the financial market infrastructure. The Buna system provides modern payment solutions that align with international standards, principles, and compliance requirements. It supports efforts to enhance economic and financial integration opportunities in the Arab region and deepen investment and trade ties with key trading partners across various continents. Participation in the system is available to all banks and financial institutions that meet the criteria and conditions of participation, primarily those related to compliance aspects. He referred to the role of the Buna Payments System in enabling financial and banking institutions in the Arab region and beyond, including central and commercial banks, to send and receive interbank payments across the Arab region and beyond securely, reliably, cost-effectively, and efficiently. It forms an integrated and specialised system operated by the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organisation, fully owned by the Arab Monetary Fund. It provides clearing and settlement services in six currencies, including four Arab currencies: the Emirati Dirham, the Saudi Riyal, the Jordanian Dinar, and the Egyptian Pound, as well as two international currencies the US Dollar and the Euro. On the sidelines of the Buna system launch event, specialised sessions were held that discussed the nature of the systems work and its future prospects. Participants included Fabio Panetta, Governor of the Bank of Italy; Mehdi Manaa, CEO of Buna; and Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of the First Abu Dhabi Bank. Buna is operated by the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organization, which functions as an independent organisation fully owned by the Arab Monetary Fund. It contributes to enhancing economic and financial integration opportunities and supporting the investment links of the Arab countries with trading partners across different continents. It was established in response to an initiative proposed by the UAE during the Council of Arab Finance Ministers meeting, aiming to support economic stability in Arab countries. Abu Dhabi hosts the headquarters of the institution in the building of the Arab Monetary Fund. A total of 108 Arab banks have completed linking with the platform out of 120 banks that have signed the linking agreement. The target is to link with 160 banks before the end of 2024. UAE financial institutions participating in the platform include First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreq Bank, and RAKBANK. A White House official on Monday highlighted strengthened trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan among key achievements of the Joe Biden administration's Indo-Pacific Strategy unveiled two years ago. During a press briefing, John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, catalogued key examples of progress in the strategy that Washington rolled out to deepen engagement with the region, which it has cast as the "epicenter" of geopolitics in the 21st century. "The president hosted the leaders in Japan and South Korea to Camp David and really got not only significant developments in terms of our bilateral relationship with each country, each ally, but improved opportunities to get trilateral cooperation in a much better place than it's ever been," he said. "I could go on and on, including adding capabilities in and around the Korean Peninsula to keep a better eye on what (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un is doing and of course, bolstering all the rest of our alliances and partnerships in the region," he added. Kirby was referring to the landmark trilateral summit that President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held at Camp David last August. The summit produced a series of agreements, including the "Commitment to Consult" each other in case of shared security threats. It came in the wake of a thaw in Seoul-Tokyo ties long strained over historical issues stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Kirby also pointed out the 2021 launch of the AUKUS partnership among the U.S., Britain and Australia designed to equip Australia with conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs), as well as strengthening the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue consisting of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. In a fact sheet released last week, the State Department said that since the release of the Indo-Pacific Strategy in February 2022, the U.S. has taken "strides" to advance a shared vision for the region that is "free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient." The statement came amid lingering speculation that the U.S.' commitment to the region could weaken amid its focus on responding to Russia's war in Ukraine and growing instability in the Middle East. (Yonhap) President Joe Biden speaks Monday at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington. As he runs for re-election, his record on immigration reform and border security has critics from Republicans and Democrats. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI Feb. 13 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden's record on immigration reform and border security has critics from Republicans and Democrats as Congress mulls a path forward. It's a challenge many of his predecessors have also grappled with. There is agreement across the board politically, and among migrant advocates, that changes must be made. Yet for nearly 30 years, Congress has punted on significant immigration reform. The president campaigned in 2020 on bringing about a more humane approach to immigration policy. Though he signaled that he would undo many of the more controversial policies enacted by former President Donald Trump, some of those key policies remain. "One of the similarities between the two are that for both administrations they've faced this kind of really odd scenario where Congress hasn't really passed any meaningful legislation on immigration for many years," Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst for the Migration Policy Institute, told UPI. "They've had to move to using executive decisions, which makes them vulnerable to litigation." 'Mired up' in court President Joe Biden meets with members of U.S Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas, on January 8, 2023, his first trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office. File Photo courtesy of the White House Photo/UPI On the campaign trail in October 2020, Biden vowed to deliver a bill to Congress that would give immigrants a route to citizenship. He also called for a review of temporary protected status for vulnerable populations, particularly those fleeing violence in their home countries. "Within 100 days, I'm going to send to the United States Congress a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented people," said Biden, who is running for a second term this November, as is Trump. Migrants continue stuck between the Tijuana-San Diego border as some have resorted to calling food and drink services on their phones to eat, while also receiving donations from good samaritans, as many of the migrants are waiting and hoping to be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. more easily after the "Title-42" deportation order expires on May 11, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. Photo by Carlos Moreno/UPI Within hours of being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2021, Biden unveiled a number of policies and executive actions aimed at achieving what he called a "comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our nation's values." Among those actions was an executive order to revise the U.S. Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities. The order would revoke Trump's executive order that called for the removal of all undocumented immigrants and stoppage of all federal funding to sanctuary cities. This portion of Biden's executive order was enacted. Hundreds of asylum seekers set up tents by the port of entry at El Chaparral plaza in Tijuana, Mexico on March 26, 2021. File Photo by Ariana Drehsler/UPI The order's call for a 100-day pause on removals was not. A federal judge challenged the moratorium days after it was issued. It would later be blocked indefinitely by a Texas judge. "With President Biden, we've seen lots of different changes, but the same problems persist," Putzel-Kavanaugh said. "Things get mired up in the court system." Asylum seekers demonstrate at the San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, praying and listening to speeches on March 26, 2021. File Photo by Ariana Drehsler/UPI The president sent his first bill to Congress as well. The immigration bill sought to make several reforms to immigration policy. Among the most notable was its "roadmap to citizenship" that would put undocumented immigrants on an eight-year plan toward legal status. They would be allowed to apply for temporary legal status and apply for a green card after five years if they paid their taxes and passed a background check. The immigration bill has remained dormant in Congress since being introduced. It has been referred to 12 committees but no other action has taken place. Asylum seekers stand in a line while volunteers hand out food, water, blankets, hats and clothes near the border wall in Jacumba, Calif., on May 13, 2023. File Photo by Ariana Dreshler/UPI The Department of Homeland Security was directed to suspend the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols, also referred to as the "Remain in Mexico" policy. The policy directed migrants from Mexico to remain there awaiting their appearance in court. The suspension of the Migrant Protection Protocols was challenged in court and reinstated. It was challenged again and ultimately ended in October 2022. The Trump border wall stands near El Paso, Texas, in 2021. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI DACA Among the Trump administration's most controversial policies was his attempt to greatly limit the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Biden pushed back on these restrictions while campaigning for the presidency. Children draw with chalk on the ground at El Chaparral plaza in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 26, 2021. File Photo by Ariana Drehsler/UPI "All of those so-called dreamers, those DACA kids, they're going to be immediately certified again to be able to stay in this country and put on a path to citizenship," Biden said in October 2020. Biden's stagnant day-one immigration reform bill included language to make dreamers, individuals with TPS and immigrant farmworkers immediately eligible to apply for green cards. But it was not the only approach the president has taken to provide protections and rights to immigrants. Also on day one, Biden released the memorandum Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The DACA program provides protection from deportation and work permits for nearly 600,000 people. More than 800,000 young immigrants have been part of the program since its inception under the Obama administration in 2012. In September, a federal judge in Texas ruled that Biden's actions to strengthen the program are illegal. He added that the issues with the program can only be fixed through legislative action. "While sympathetic to the predicament of DACA recipients and their families, this court has expressed its concerns about the legality of the program for some time," U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen said in his ruling. "The solution for these deficiencies lies with the legislature, not the executive or judicial branches." Hanen stopped short of saying the federal government must take any actions on immigration, such as carrying out deportations. Trump had attempted to terminate the program outright, ordering DHS to stop processing DACA applications when he took office. This was ruled unlawful in 2020. Family separations were another crisis that Biden focused on when he took office. On Feb. 2, 2021, he issued an executive order to create a task force focused on the reunification of families. The Department of Health and Human Services found more than 3,000 cases of children being separated from their parents during the Trump administration. This followed the Trump administration's zero-tolerance border policy that used separations as a deterrent. According to a November report by the human services department, 3,147 children separated from their families under the Trump administration have been reunited. This includes 775 children reunited with their parents by the task force. Refugees, asylum seekers Political opponents of Trump long challenged his executive order that restricted travel and visas from a number of countries in Africa and South America. Biden almost immediately pulled back on these bans, starting with the Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans of Entry to the United States. The proclamation lifted many restrictions on visas for nationals of Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen. Biden has extended restrictions that Trump placed on North Korea following the killing of 22-year-old American college student Otto Warmbier. An executive order by Biden revoked more Trump-era policies at the same time, including the policies that blocked asylum seekers from work authorization and ruled immigrants who entered the United States illegally are ineligible for asylum. The COVID-19 slowed the number of refugees admitted into the United States through the end of 2020 and into Biden's presidency. Biden said he would increase the cap on refugees and he did so in 2022. After limiting the number of refugees accepted in 2021 to 62,500 -- less than 12,000 were actually admitted -- the cap increased to 125,000 in fiscal year 2022. In the spring of 2023 however, Biden rolled out the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways, a proposed rule that would presume migrants are ineligible for asylum if they enter the country unlawfully. It also required asylum seekers to use a phone app to apply for protections. The proposal was one of several Biden rolled out as Title 42 was set to expire. Title 42 was used by the Trump administration to slow immigration during the pandemic in relation to the public health crisis. The Biden administration credited a steep drop in illegal crossings to his new policy, but it was quickly challenged in court. Immigration advocates largely opposed the rule as well, referring to it as an asylum ban. About 300 organizations penned a letter to Biden ahead of the policy being enacted, asking him not to move forward with it. The policy was struck down in court in July 2023, when a federal judge ruled it was "arbitrary" and "capricious." Border wall Biden's stance on Trump's border wall came into conflict with his actions in the fall when his administration waived 26 federal laws, including environmental protections and land seizure laws to clear the way for more construction. In a 2020 interview with the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Biden said he would not build "another foot" of Trump's border wall during his administration. When Biden took office, he issued a proclamation to end the national emergency at the southern border and redirect funds from wall construction. The work stopped, but Congress did not redirect the funds appropriated to the wall. Through three years in office, Biden has been called to take action on border security by Republican and Democratic leaders, including governors. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York Mayor Eric Adams are among the prominent Democrats who have requested aid and reform as Chicago and New York have taken in an influx of migrants. Meanwhile, Republican Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida have taken to sending migrants from their states to Democrat-led cities while deriding the president's immigration policies. Immigration advocates raised the alarm after a document from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas revealed plans to continue construction of "physical barriers" at the southern border in October. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center called his apparent reversal on the wall and other policy reversals a "betrayal." Biden stated he did not have the legal authority to stop construction of the wall as the funding had been authorized by Congress. He also said the wall is "not serious policy." Carlos Guevara, director of policy at The Immigration Hub, told UPI Biden's change of direction is not so simple to understand. "Some of that money had been committed already and had to be moved forward on. Folks on the advocacy side were more frustrated there wasn't more pushback to pursue alternative paths," Guevara said. "For many in the community, the idea of the wall is, one, such a symbol of hate and everything, from our perspective, America stands not to be. It's more complicated than he just turned his back on the community." Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. said Monday the countrys credibility is on the line when asked about former President Trumps recent comments admitting he once threatened NATO allies he would encourage Russian aggression if they failed to spend enough on collective defense. Trump recounted the remarks during a campaign rally Saturday, saying he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to countries that are delinquent on NATO financial and military contributions. Brown, during an interview with Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News, said he has reassured NATO allies that the U.S. stands by the alliance, and that the allies have been receptive. We have a strong alliance. This year is the 75th anniversary of NATO, and I think we have a responsibility to uphold those alliances, he said in an NBC Nightly News interview Monday. U.S. credibility is at stake with each of our alliances, and US leadership is still needed, wanted and watched. And the steps that we take to support those alliances are important, not just with NATO, but actually the other alliances we have around the world as well, he added. President Biden also denounced the comments on Sunday, calling them appalling and dangerous. If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies if Russia attacks and allow Russia to do whatever the hell they want with them, he said in a statement. Sadly, [the comments] are also predictable coming from a man who is promising to rule as a dictator like the ones he praises on day one if he returns to the oval office, he added. Trump was critical of NATO allies while president and repeatedly threatened to undermine the international defensive alliance. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement Sunday that any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk. Trump has similarly called on the U.S. to halt foreign aid spending, including to Ukraine, raising concerns among Democrats and Americas allies in Europe. Trump campaign doubled down on his comments in a post to Truth Social on Monday. We have nobody that they respect, and they insist on paying far less than we do, Trump wrote of the alliance. Wrong, NATO has to equalize, and now. They will do that if properly asked. If not, America first! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More than 60 Massachusetts state troopers made covert investigative recordings in recent years that were never turned over to prosecutors and in many cases violated the states wiretapping law, documents obtained by the Telegram & Gazette show. The recordings, which mostly appear to have been made during drug investigations, were made in more than 250 criminal cases, the documents show, including cases brought by local, state and federal prosecutors. That were even here, frankly, is shocking to me, Christopher P. LoConto, first justice of the Fitchburg District Court, said during a recent court hearing on the recordings in which he asked pointed questions of current and former troopers under oath. It was while discussing a Fitchburg drug case with an undercover state police detective in 2023 that local prosecutors first learned troopers had made, but failed to disclose, audio and video recordings of drug purchases. Prosecutors are legally bound to provide defendants with any evidence of their statements, and a failure to do so could open the door to court challenges or civil lawsuits that could threaten convictions or lead to monetary damages. As the Telegram & Gazette reported last year, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.s office, after learning of the undercover officers recordings, informed members of the defense bar and asked state police for more information about what happened. Since that time, state police conducted an audit that found that more than 60 troopers made recordings they never disclosed to prosecutors in more than 260 cases dating to at least 2013, a June 2023 state police memorandum shows. Many recordings were made outside of legal parameters governing surreptitious audio recordings in Massachusetts, state police wrote in a training document summarizing lessons learned from the probe. The review shows that state police have never had a policy regarding covert audio recordings, and that the department, despite acquiring technology in recent years that allowed officers to secretly make recordings on their smartphones, never trained officers in how to use it. This is a failure of the state police in terms of giving out equipment and not providing training, LoConto remarked at one point after hearing testimony from multiple troopers. LoConto has conducted three hearings since November in which he has questioned troopers under oath in connection with requests from defendants for new trials. Audio the T&G reviewed of the hearings show LoConto made clear his frustration with the answers troopers, as well as state police lawyers, have provided to his questions. The state police which, the documents show, have since created a policy on the use of covert audio recordings and required training did not return a set of questions sent to a spokesman Monday. Among the queries was whether the department expects any high-profile cases to potentially be impacted by the undisclosed recordings. According to a list of docket numbers of potentially impacted cases contained in the police memorandum, undisclosed recordings were made in cases in superior courts throughout the state, as well as more than a dozen cases in federal court. One of the cases listed is that of Vincent Fatz Caruso, a Salem man sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison in June 2022. The office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy, which in a news release described Caruso as a Crip-associated leader of a violent fentanyl pill trafficking organization, declined a request for comment. Federal law is less stringent than Massachusetts law on secret recordings it only requires one party's consent to the recording so it was not immediately clear whether any federal case could be impacted. There did not appear to be any docket entries in Carusos case indicating his defense had raised the issue since his conviction. Police say recordings linked to safety concerns The recordings under scrutiny are connected to a Motorola-based smartphone application, Callyo, that law enforcement across the country use during drug investigations. The application, which supplants use of the more dangerous physical wires police formerly used, allows officers to use their phones as covert recording devices, marketing materials show. Testimony in LoContos court indicates that the company defaults the application to audio- and, depending on the app, video-record the interactions. Marketing materials show the company has touted the technology in assisting in prosecutions. But Massachusetts law, unlike most other states, makes covert recordings illegal under its wiretapping law and, with limited exceptions for officer safety, requires police to get warrants before recording undercover operations. Troopers testifying in LoContos hearings said theyve been using Callyo for about five or six years. Their prime goal, they said, was to monitor the application, which allows real-time streaming of audio and sometimes video, to ensure officer safety during drug buys. Some of the troopers testified they didn't initially know the application was recording they only thought it was streaming though it appeared that all eventually were made aware of the capability during the investigation. Questions by defense lawyers and LoConto during the hearings indicated the videos were also used for investigative purposes in Fitchburg drug investigations, and the judge asked troopers why they would need to record the operations if their prime goal was safety. Troopers questioned agreed that the undercover trooper who made the Fitchburg videos did not initially provide them to prosecutors, and that law enforcement never mentioned the existence of the videos in their reports. Troopers, including a supervisor, told LoConto and defense lawyers that different drug units had different practices on report writing and undercover work, and gave answers to probing questions that the judge found lacking. Its shocking to me that these are the answers Im getting, he said at one point when speaking to a state police lawyer about his efforts to get answers to some questions he saw as basic regarding responsibility for turning over evidence. These are relatively simple tasks to complete. Producing evidence, turning over evidence. "Its very simple, LoConto said. And no ones in charge, and no ones responsible. LoConto specifically homed in on the lack of mention of the recordings in police reports. You want me to believe that was accidental? he asked at one point of a state police lawyer, who said that was the judges discretion to determine. Interim state police Col. John Mawn did not appear in response to a subpoena requested by defense lawyers because the state police determined the subpoena was not legally valid. LoConto was sharply critical at times in his remarks about the state police, who told the judge that interim state police Col. John Mawn Jr. did not appear for a requested subpoena from defense lawyers because the department determined the subpoena was not legally valid. You cant ignore the summons because you dont think its valid, LoConto said at the first hearing Nov. 29. If you dont believe the summons is valid, you come to the court. Rules apply to everyone. Mawn has not testified in the case, and later court proceedings show LoConto did not appear inclined to believe his testimony was necessary. Supervisor: 'Not too good with policy' LoConto did hear from a supervisor of the Fitchburg drug operation in question, retired Sgt. Gregg Desfosses, at a hearing Jan. 17. Desfosses testified he had told troopers involved in the probe they needed to acquire warrants to record in the past, but that he wasnt familiar with the recording capabilities of Callyo because he never received training on it. Desfosses acknowledged he became aware of the recording capabilities during the investigation, however, when the undercover officer forwarded a photograph of a target to him and other troopers for investigative purposes. He testified he did not make further inquiries about the recordings, or alert prosecutors about them, saying it was not my responsibility. He said multiple times under questioning that he was not a micromanager. At one point during questioning, LoConto asked Desfosses, who served for more than 25 years, whether he knew if state police have a policy on whether troopers have an affirmative obligation to turn over evidence. To be honest with you, your honor, I dont know if its specifically written in the policy. Im not too good with policy and procedure, Desfosses replied. But I believe that there would be something that yes, troopers are required to turn over evidence to the district attorneys office, yes. Desfosses testified it was generally the responsibility of case officers in this case, Trooper Justin Burd to transmit such information to prosecutors. Burd, asked whether it was his training to wait to turn over evidence to prosecutors until asked for things specifically, replied: Typically, the way that I dont want to say trained, but culturally examined, would be that I would wait until I was asked. Burd testified that, while the undercover officer mentioned the Callyo technology during briefings prior to operations, he didnt initially know it could record, or was being recorded. LoConto at one point noted that email records showed Burd and other troopers were sent photographs of people by the undercover officer asking who they were. The judge, in questioning Burd directly, asked how, other than secretly recording, he thought the undercover trooper could have obtained photographs of his targets. Youll have to ask him that. I dont know, sir, Burd replied. LoConto then asked whether, in Burds experience, a person selling drugs would be OK with someone taking out their cellphone and shooting a picture of them. No, Burd replied. Burd ultimately agreed he should have known what to do once he was aware of recordings being made, but stressed that state police gave him no training. As far as the video goes, I was completely ignorant to any policy, any training, any supervisory direction on what to do with this type of evidence, he testified. Documents obtained by the T&G show Mawn, June 29, 2023, promulgated a policy governing the use of covert audio recordings in the department. The policy states troopers will be, among other things, trained with the capabilities of the recording technologies they use, will not initiate secret recordings without supervisory approval absent emergency circumstances, obtain a warrant or prosecutorial approval before making a secret recording, obtain written authorization from federal prosecutors before making secret recordings in federal cases, and document the existence and supervisory approval of all secret recordings within a written investigatory report. In training documents obtained by the T&G regarding lessons learned from their investigation, state police found many troopers werent aware of all the functions of the Callyo suite of applications, that poor case management practices were employed by certain members and that there was a lack of understanding among certain members about the responsibilities of an undercover or case officer pertaining to evidence identification and production. A training document obtained by the T&G highlights "lessons learned" from the state police investigation of troopers' use of Callyo, an app that allows people to use smartphones as recording devices. Court testimony indicated the department has opened internal affairs investigations into some troopers in connection with the recordings, and internal investigators were present in LoContos courtroom during testimony. LoConto to rule on Fitchburg cases LoContos hearings regarding the Fitchburg drug cases in which illegal recordings were made is slated to continue in March. The judge will be tasked with issuing a ruling on whether to grant motions for new trials in about half a dozen cases from a drug sweep state police conducted with members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force in the winter of 2022. Court records and testimony show most of the people charged in the sweep were low-level drug users charged with selling small amounts usually $100 or less worth of heroin, cocaine or fentanyl to the undercover trooper. None of the defendants received significant jail time, and LoConto stayed any jail sentence or probation terms after the existence of the recordings came to light. Court records show defense lawyers in the cases have requested and been granted thousands of dollars in public funds for transcripts and other posttrial motions as a result of the disclosures. Documents show cases in which secret recordings were made include cases across the state and in nearly a dozen case prosecuted by the attorney generals office. The AG's office declined to comment. An offer of comment to the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association lodged Monday had not been returned as of Tuesday morning. The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the taxpayer-funded entity that represents indigent defendants, declined to comment Tuesday, noting the ongoing nature of the litigation. In addition to representing clients in the Fitchburg hearings and in other affected cases, the committee recently sued state police under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, including for records related to the Callyo investigation. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. state troopers found making illegal audio recordings with app A judge in Georgia said Monday its possible Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could be disqualified from the states election interference case against former President Donald Trump. Scott McAfee, a judge on the Fulton County Superior Court, said he would hold an evidentiary hearing Thursday to investigate claims about a romantic relationship between Willis and the top prosecutor on the case, Nathan Wade. Trump and 18 others were indicted last August in a sweeping racketeering case centered on efforts to overturn Georgias 2020 presidential election results. One of those co-defendants, former Trump campaign official Mike Roman, brought forward the claims against Willis in a filing in January. Romans attorneys claimed Willis and Wade had engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship that had tainted the case, calling for them to be disqualified and the charges against Trump dismissed. Willis and Wade initially resisted addressing the matter but acknowledged the relationship earlier this month. The district attorney, however, rejected assertions that the personal relationship had influenced the case and suggested attacks against her were motivated by her race. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks alongside special prosecutor Nathan Wade at an Aug. 14, 2023, news conference at the Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks alongside special prosecutor Nathan Wade at an Aug. 14, 2023, news conference at the Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta. Still, McAfee said he would hear arguments on the matter, which could only undercut public faith in the investigation into an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential vote that involved Trump and the 18 co-defendants who were indicted last August. Its clear that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one, McAfee said at a proceeding. I think its possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification. I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations. McAfee declined to quash subpoenas for several witnesses to testify on Thursday. But the judge added that he would move to keep the hearing focused and would act to protect Willis and Wade from undue embarrassment. The issues at point here are whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed and whether it continues, McAfee said Monday. And thats only relevant because its in combination with the question of the existence and extent of any benefit conveyed as a result of their relationship. The Washington Post reported that Trump plans to attend the hearing in Atlanta in what would be his first court appearance linked to the case since the indictment. Any appearance would likely be used politically for and against Trump as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination. Four of the defendants have already pleaded guilty in the Georgia case. Related... The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia indicated Monday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could face disqualification after she and a prosecutor on her team admitted earlier this month they were romantically involved. The pair's acknowledgment came in response to a co-defendant in the racketeering case accusing Willis of financially benefitting from an alleged "improper relationship" with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, allegations both have denied. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that he would hold an evidentiary hearing Thursday to investigate the co-defendant's claims and consider his request to have Willis, Wade and her office nixed from the case. Its clear that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one, McAfee said, according to HuffPost. I think its possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification. I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations. The judge's precise language appears to show his cautious approach to the matter, attorney John Acevedo, a visiting professor with Emory University, told Atlanta local news organization, 11Alive News. "The key phrase from Judge McAfee was 'the appearance of conflict of interest,'" Acevedo said. "And that's clearly what's on Judge McAfee's mind here; it's the appearance of impropriety, even where there may not be any." McAfee also declined to address subpoenas for witness testimony from Willis, Wade and other prosecutors in her office in Thursday's hearing, but said he intended to maintain focus and act during the proceedings to shield Willis and Wade from "undue embarrassment." The judge added, "The issues at point here are whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed and whether it continues. And thats only relevant because its in combination with the question of the existence and extent of any benefit conveyed as a result of their relationship. ATLANTA The Georgia judge presiding over the election interference case against former President Donald Trump gave the green light Monday for a hearing this week involving misconduct allegations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and said her disqualification from the case is "possible." Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee made the remarks at a hearing where he denied Willis' bid to toss out a subpoena for her testimony at the hearing Thursday, at least for now. "Disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one," he said. One of Trump's co-defendants in the election case, Michael Roman, alleged that Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade had a personal relationship that was "improper." "That is no longer a matter of complete speculation," McAfee said. "The state has admitted a relationship existed, and so what remains to be proven is the existence and extent of any financial benefit, if there even was one. "Because I think its possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification, I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations, he added. Roman has alleged Willis was engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship with Wade, the lawyer she appointed as a special counsel in the case, and that the pair have enriched themselves off this case. Roman's filings pointed to plane tickets Wade paid for for trips he took with Willis. Willis acknowledged in a Feb. 2 court filing that she had been in a personal relationship with Wade but said his appointment "never involved direct or indirect financial benefit to her. In an affidavit, Wade said that the relationship began after he was appointed special counsel in 2022 and that they would split their travel costs. In a filing last week, Roman said he has a witness who "will refute" those claims Terrence Bradley, Wade's former divorce lawyer. Bradley has non-privileged, personal knowledge that the romantic relationship between Wade and Willis began prior to Willis being sworn as the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia in January 2021, the filing said. Anna Cross, a lawyer for the DA's office, said that the accusation is not true and that there was no need to proceed with the hearing because Willis and Wade have already addressed the claims in their court filing. The defense is not bringing you facts. The defense is not bringing you law. The defense is bringing you gossip, Cross said. Roman's lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, has also subpoenaed other members of the DA's office who Bradley said were aware of the relationship, which Cross also denied. McAfee said that the hearing would proceed as scheduled Thursday with Bradley testifying and that he would decide after his testimony whether Willis and others would need to testify. Cross said that among the witnesses the DA's office plans to call is Willis' father, who will testify remotely. The judge said he set aside both Thursday and Friday for the hearing. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com South Korea is "open-minded" about the idea of Japan participating in a currently bilateral nuclear deterrence dialogue between Seoul and Washington, a former South Korean national security advisor said Monday. Kim Sung-han, who served as President Yoon Suk Yeol's top security advisor from 2022-2023, made the remarks, noting that while in office, he had discussions with his counterpart over the idea of Japan's participation in the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration that Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted during their summit in Washington last April as part of efforts to enhance deterrence against evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats. "It depends on Japan. Korea is open-minded," Kim said during the form hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "So we need to think about whether we will have ROK-U.S. NCG and ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral NCG, respectively, or we can have Japan join ROK-U.S. NCG in a gradual manner. It depends on Japan, which requires some closer cooperation and consultation beforehand," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Kim pointed out that for Japan, its participation in such an apparatus about the use of nuclear arms would be a sensitive issue in an apparent reference to domestic opposition in Japan about any potential employment of nuclear weapons. "I myself had a chance to talk to my Japanese counterpart about that issue when I was in the government. But this is a somewhat sensitive issue to Japan because NCG is about how to use nuclear weapons in a contingency," he said. "So from the Japanese perspective, this might provoke some domestic kind of discussions." Expansion discussions of the NCG to include Japan came as Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have been stepping up security cooperation through three-way military drills and diplomatic talks to counter unceasing security threats from Pyongyang. The CSIS forum centered on the issue of how to strengthen trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan amid the possibility that the three-way partnership could be affected by the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November. Sung Kim, former U.S. special representative for North Korea, stressed the need to "institutionalize" three-way cooperation to ensure that tripartite efforts to promote mutual interests continue regardless of domestic political events. "Whether it's military exercises, information sharing or cooperation in cyber, once we institutionalize and establish friendly, cooperative activities among the three countries, less likely that they will be affected by elections," he said. Highlighting the current stature, power and influence of South Korea and Japan, Kim stressed that it is "only natural" that there will be greater "challenge-sharing" and "burden-sharing" among the U.S. and its key Asian allies. "I would say that irrespective of what happens in November here, we should expect to see more of an active role played by both Japan and ROK diplomacy," he said. Noting that Pyongyang remains uninterested in dialogue and continues its weapons programs, Sung Kim underscored the growing need to cement trilateral cooperation. "This is why it's even more critical that our three governments continue to focus on strengthening our extended deterrence cooperation, trilateral cooperation more broadly," he said. (Yonhap) Davenport Junior Theatre is starting the hard process of finding a new home. In the meantime, it will present Disney and Pixars Finding Nemo Jr. at its current home, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport, from Saturday, Feb. 17th through Feb. 25th at 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Junior Theatres Finding Nemo Jr. stars (L-R) Olivia Young as Nemo, William Sivula as Marlin, and Elizabeth Young as Dory. The charming 60-minute musical is based on the beloved 2003 Pixar film Finding Nemo. The Junior Theatre cast includes 41 students ages 1018 led by DJT artistic director Ashley Becher. I cant say enough about how fun and enjoyable this show is. The material is excellent, and we have a stellar cast and crew that have been working so hard to make this show fantastic, Becher (the show director and choreographer) said in a Monday release. The show is equal parts funny, heartwarming, and inspiring, and 100% entertaining, she said. Audiences will be warmed and encouraged by not only the material and talent, but the heart and spirit of this group. A scene from Junior Theatres new production of Finding Nemo Jr., opening Feb. 17. This new stage musical is an hour-long adaptation of the classic computer-animated 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Disneys Frozen). Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. From left are Ruby Baldridge, Kennan Baldridge, Olivia Young, and Katelyn Morris. The musical features memorable songs such as Just Keep Swimming, Fish Are Friends Not Food, and Go With the Flow, and Finding Nemo Jr. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure, the Junior Theatre release said. Elizabeth Young, 17, who is playing the character of Dory, believes that audiences will enjoy this show. This musical has been a family favorite of ours for a long time and to finally be part of it, has made me realize even more how awesome it is, she said. The lights, music, costumes, makeup, and set are incredible and really fit the oceanic vibe. Its a production you do not want to miss! You will be singing the songs long after the musical ends. You can tell the directors and cast have put so much into the show and we are all so excited to perform. Assistant stage manager Esther Moore, 16, agrees. People are going to love this show. We have a super talented and hardworking cast and crew who really bring this story to life. Bonnie Sloat, president of the Junior Theatre, Inc. board of directors, hopes people will use this as an opportunity to visit Junior Theatre, and be reminded of why its such a unique community asset. Junior Theatre has been in the news a lot lately as we face a possible transition. The community has been so supportive and vocal in their love for Junior Theatre over the last month, and it has meant a lot, Sloat said. Finding Nemo Jr. features Anemone Rachel Harris, Ashley Smith, Rose Hains, and Grace Mitchell, with William Sivula and Olivia Young (center). We hope that this showlike all of our mainstage productionscan give families the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of high-quality live theater, she said. The city of Davenport has conveyed the 32-acre Annie Wittenmyer campus (longtime home of DJT, which uses 10 cottages and the main theater) to a private developer for creation of 99 units of mixed-use rental housing. No buildings on campus are to be demolished and new structures will be built, but Junior Theatre is working with the city for a potential new location, starting in late 2025. We are hopeful to find a new home for Junior Theatre, where this vital community program can continue to thrive, Ashley Becher said Monday. We are trusting our city council members word that they will take care to help us transition the organization. Ashley Becher is the artistic director of Davenport Junior Theatre and a veteran Circa director/choreographer. Junior Theatre has been able to not only survive, but grow in these last 72 years because of its ability to adapt and change, she said. While the Annie Wittenmyer complex has been our longest home, we know that the true heart of Junior Theatre is its community. Re-homing this organization will be an enormous project, which will require support from both the Davenport Parks and Recreation Department, and the Davenport City Council. We encourage anyone who values Junior Theatre to help us remind their representatives of the breadth and impact of the program, and their responsibility to help maintain and continue our accessible programming, Becher said. We look forward to this new chapter with fresh eyes, an open mind, and confidence we will be able to continue our mission to inspire and grow confident, empathetic, and responsible future citizens. DJT performs at the Mary Fluhrer Nighswander Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport. The mission of Junior Theatre Inc. is to partner with DJT to build self-confidence and offer creative opportunities by producing accessible theatre for kids by kids ages 3-18. Programs are built upon its lasting heritage to become a premier center for the performing arts for youth of all ages and ability levels, enriching their childhood experiences and their knowledge of the performing arts to lead them to a brave, bold tomorrow. Finding Nemo Jr. has free admission (donations welcomed) and performances will be 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 17 and 24, and 3 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 18 and 25. An ASL interpreted performance will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 17. To learn more, visit the DJT website HERE. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Bakersfield police are asking the community to look for a missing, at-risk juvenile in downtown Bakersfield. Julian Soto, 14, was reported missing on Feb. 12, around 3 p.m., according to police. Soto is considered at-risk due to this being his first disappearance, with no prior history of going missing. Soto was last seen in the 2300 block of K Street in downtown Bakersfield. Bakersfield welcomes the Year of the Dragon: Asian culture and heritage highlight significance of the Lunar New Year Police describe Soto as a 14-year-old male who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall. Soto weighs about 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray long sleeve shirt, with black jeans and white Nike shoes. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. A white Missouri law enforcement officer whose seven years with the Kansas City Police Department have been tainted with accusations of killing three civilians, police brutality and legal actions against him remains on the job, even as a new lawsuit accuses him of excessive force against a Black woman. In a lawsuit filed Feb. 6 with the Platte County Circuit Court, Bermeeka Mitchell of Lansing, Kansas, accused Officer Blayne Newton of assault and battery stemming from events that unfolded on Sept. 11, 2022. Mitchell was livestreaming an arrest at a Walmart in Platte County, Missouri, as Newton was working off-duty, reported the Kansas City Star. Kansas City Police Officer Blayne Newton has an alarming record of excessive force, according to reports. (Photos: Getty Images, Video screenshot) According to the lawsuit, an unknown individual motioned for Nelson to arrest Mitchell for trespassing, at which time the officer grabbed and twisted both her arms in a forceful manner and took his boots heel and ground it into Mitchells foot. His handcuffing during an arrest of Mitchell which, according to the lawsuit, Mitchell said he had no legal basis to do was done so tightly that it left visible marks, the lawsuit claims. After being detained in a private room at the store, the officer told Mitchell she would not face trespassing and resisting arrest charges if she agreed to not make a scene as she left, the lawsuit states, according to the Kansas City Star. In the lawsuit, Mitchell says she did not resist arrest. No charges were filed against her. Court records obtained by the Kansas City Star showed that while the Kansas City Police Departments Office of Community Complaints did sustain Mitchells allegations of excessive force against Newton, there were no details on the disciplinary action said to have been taken against him in a May 2023 letter from the department. Ive been on a traumatizing emotional rollercoaster over a year. Keep fighting for justice! Mitchell wrote on her social media page following the lawsuits announcement. She said in the Facebook post that she hoped the officer was removed from the police department before he finds another Black victim. This is not the first lawsuit involving Newton and his conduct on the job, which has included kneeling down on a heavily pregnant Black woman. He was also accused of shooting and killing Marcell T. Nelson and Kristen Fairchild, both 42, in Kansas City on June 9, 2023. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Newton saw a passenger exiting a pickup truck and approaching a minivan with a gun before getting back into the truck and speeding off, Atlanta Black Star reported previously. Newtons dashcam didnt record the interaction because he pulled his vehicle alongside it, according to the MSHP. He allegedly shot several times into the minivan. On Sept. 30, 2020, Newton held down Deja Stallings, who at the time was 25 years old and nine months pregnant, as he arrested her in Kansas City, Atlanta Black Star reported. Her baby was born two weeks early via emergency C-section following the incident. Authorities said the arrest happened after Stallings interfered during the attempted arrest of local activist Troy Robertson by grabbing an officer. The footage of her arrest, which showed Newtons knee on her back as he handcuffed her, sparked outrage, protests, and calls for then-Kansas City Police Department chief Richard Smith to step down. When Newton shot and killed Donnie Sanders, 47, an unarmed Black man, in March 2020, his dashcam also did not record the shooting, though authorities say it recorded him passing Sanders vehicle and making a U-turn to follow him. After Sanders pulled over and ran, Newton chased him down, ordering him to stop before shooting five times. Three bullets hit Sanders, who died in a hospital the next day. His family filed a wrongful death suit against Newton and the citys police commissioners, seeking at least $10 million in compensation. The ongoing suit filed in March 2022 in part accused the commissioners of failing to properly train, supervise, screen, discipline, transfer, counsel or otherwise properly equip and control officers including those who are known, or who should have been known, to engage in the use of excessive force and/or deadly force. Newton countered another lawsuit filed against him in relation to Sanders death by asserting he is entitled to qualified immunity in the death. Last month, Newton requested an oral argument to discuss, in part, whether the District Court erred in denying [him] qualified immunity for what was, under the circumstances, a reasonable use of force. A Kansas City Cop Has Killed 3 People on the Job, and Hes Still Employed. Now, a Black Woman is Suing Him for Excessive Force TOPEKA (KSNT) Governor Laura Kelly is directing flags to be lowered across the state to pay respects to a fallen Kansas Marine. Earlier this month, five Marines died when their helicopter crashed during a storm near San Diego. One of the victims of the crash was later identified as 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis of Olathe. Kelly is ordering flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, Feb. 16 to honor Davis memory. Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis was a crew chief for the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that crashed during a storm in the mountains outside San Diego. Lance Cpl. Daviss life was cut tragically short while serving our country. We will not forget the sacrifices he and the four other young marines made to protect our freedom, Kelly said. My condolences go out to these heroes families and loved ones. Sex change surgery for Kansas minors could be banned with new bill For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, February 16, in honor of an Olathe Marine who was killed last week in a helicopter crash in California. Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, was a crew chief for the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that crashed during a storm in the mountains outside San Diego on February 7. Paola mans body found during fire investigation in Miami County Davis enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2019 and was just recently promoted to the rank of lance corporal in January 2024. He has been honored with a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Lance Cpl. Daviss life was cut tragically short while serving our country. We will not forget the sacrifices he and the four other young marines made to protect our freedom, Kelly said. My condolences go out to these heroes families and loved ones. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Officials have identified the other four Marines killed as: Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan The five Marines were assigned to Miramars Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. CHAPMAN, Kan. (KSNW) A police sergeant in Kansas followed through with a friendly wager he made with 5th graders over who would win Super Bowl LVIII. On Wednesday, Chapman Police Department Sgt. James Reynolds and the 5th graders at Chapman Elementary made the friendly wager. If the Chiefs were to win, Reynolds would have to shave his head. The Chapman Police Department-Kansas Facebook page made the comment that he was looking pretty shaggy. If the 49ers were to win, the students would get to have lunch with Reynolds. Wichita Public Schools to name schools that could close The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime on Sunday. On Monday, Reynolds kept true to his words. This morning before his shift, you could see how much hair he had, said the CPD Facebook page. (Courtesy: Chapman Police Department-Kansas) Reynolds met with the fifth graders sporting his new look. They took the photo above together. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Kayla Montgomery recounted what she and her estranged husband did as her stepdaughter Harmony Montgomerys body lay covered under a blanket in the back of their car. Kayla took the stand at Adam Montgomerys murder trial over the 7 December 2019 death of his five-year-old daughter. Prosecutors in Manchester, New Hampshire, have alleged, based on Kaylas testimony, that Montgomery beat Harmony to death after he became enraged because the little girl had bathroom accidents in the car. Harmony, her father, stepmother and two half-siblings were living in a car at the time after being evicted from their home. Meanwhile, Montgomerys attorneys have claimed that Harmony actually died under Kaylas care and that their client initially took the fall and helped destroy the body to protect Kayla and their two young sons. On Monday, Kayla told jurors about the rampant abuse that Harmony was subjected to in the days leading up to her death. Kayla had previously revealed that neither she nor Montgomery realised Harmony was dead for hours. Kayla told jurors Montgomery always kept Harmony covered with a blanket to hide her bruised body from strangers. The couple pulled up to a Burger King drive-thru to get food, with Kayla allegedly even putting a sandwich on the dead little girls lap. They then drove to a friends apartment complex, where they purchased drugs before finally realising Harmony had died. After the defendant repeatedly struck Harmony. After he put the blanket over her. After she moaned. After the strange crying moaning stopped. After you did drugs and after the car died, you thought she was sleeping under that blanket, a prosecutor asked Kayla. Why did you think that she may be sleeping after Adam repeatedly struck her? Because she would usually just go to sleep after, she answered. Under cross-examination by the defence, Kayla also admitted that Harmony had dried blood on her face from beatings days before she was killed. And you didnt clean her face? Montgomerys attorney Caroline Smith asked in shock. No, we just kept her under the blanket, an emotionless Kayla answered. After Montgomery realised his daughter was dead, he placed the body inside a duffel bag that he buried in the snow for a few days. The remains were later crushed to fit inside a diaper bag and further manipulated with lime and different power tools, according to the prosecution, before Montgomery disposed of what was left at an unknown location in March 2021. Harmonys remains have never been found. Last week, her father said he intended to plead guilty to two lesser charges of abuse of a corpse and falsifying information. Kayla Montgomery is currently serving a prison sentence on perjury charges after initially lying to a grand jury about Harmonys whereabouts. Azhar Ali (left) and Sir Keir Starmer The Conservatives labelled Sir Keir Starmer a moral vacuum after his U-turn on support for Labours Rochdale by-election candidate. Labour withdrew its support from Azhar Ali on Monday night and suspended him from the party after he was embroiled in a row over anti-Semitism. Sir Keir initially backed Mr Ali despite growing protests from Jewish community leaders and within his own party after the aspiring MP claimed Israel had deliberately let Hamas massacre its citizens on Oct 7 to give the green light to the bombardment of Gaza. But the Labour leader was forced into an about-turn after the Daily Mail reported Mr Ali blamed people in the media from certain Jewish quarters for criticisms of a pro-Palestinian politician and said Israel planned to get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza. Richard Holden, the Conservative Party chairman, said Sir Keir had known about the views of his candidate for days, adding: Who knows how long other people in Labour knew about this racist anti-Semitism and said nothing, either because they [think] the same or dared not speak out? Starmer is a moral vacuum acting not out of principle but purely due to pressure. Sir Keir has failed to change his party, in fact hes been defending a racist hoping the outrage went away and only acted when he had no choice. It is now too late for Labour to replace Mr Ali on the ballot paper for the Feb 29 by-election because nominations have already closed and so the official opposition party no longer has a candidate. Labour did not offer up any of its frontbenchers on Tuesdays morning broadcast round, which would likely have seen them asked about why it took further reported comments for the party to cut ties with Mr Ali. Lee Rowley, the housing minister who appeared on breakfast television for the Conservatives on Tuesday, told Sky News: Where is Labour today? Talking to people like yourselves? Theyre not doing it. Theyre going to ground. He went on to claim Labour was in a real mess over the Rochdale row. Mr Alis name will appear on the ballot paper alongside the party name and logo, but as a result of his suspension it is unlikely he would be allowed to take up the Labour whip if elected. George Galloway on ballot In addition to Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates, George Galloway, a former Labour MP, is among those on the ballot in Rochdale. He is standing for the Workers Party of Britain and campaigning against Labours stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has seen Sir Keir Starmer come under fire for not having demanded an immediate ceasefire or being strong enough in his criticisms of Israel, which Mr Galloway has repeatedly accused of genocide. Simon Danczuk, who is also a former Labour MP, is standing as the candidate for Reform UK. He left parliament in May 2017 after reports emerged at the end of 2015 that he allegedly sent suggestive messages to a 17-year-old girl. Mr Danczuk apologised for inappropriate behaviour and was found not to have broken the law. However, the Labour Partys national executive committee withdrew its support from him at the snap election in June 2017, in which he finished fifth. Mr Ali, who has remained silent on both Labours withdrawal of support for his candidacy and his suspension, has been contacted for further comment. Earlier this week, he apologised unreservedly to the Jewish community for his deeply offensive, ignorant and false comments, before arguing Labour had changed unrecognisably under Keir Starmers leadership. 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. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said he would like meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol in the near future and discuss ways to work together with Korea in the defense industry, the National Assembly speaker's office said Tuesday. Radev made the remarks in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the presidential palace in the country's capital of Sofia on Monday (local time). Kim was in Bulgaria as part of a nine-day trip that also includes a stop in Croatia. Radev was quoted as saying that Bulgaria is very interested in the FA-50 fighter jet and the K-2 tank that was exported to Poland recently, and that he hopes to meet with Yoon in person to discuss active cooperation in the sector. During the meeting, Kim also delivered his support for Bulgaria's bid to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and asked for the country's support for Korean firms operating in the European country. In response, Radev said he will request relevant government departments to provide support, while expressing hopes for more Korean companies in the information technology and other high-tech fields to do business in Bulgaria. Ahead of the meeting, Kim met with his Bulgarian counterpart, Rosen Zhelyazkov, and requested for the country's support for Korean companies trying to participate in a nuclear reactor construction project in the northwestern town of Kozloduy. He also proposed that Bulgaria sign the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF), a trade promotion partnership agreement, with Korea, Kim's office said. (Yonhap) LINCOLN COUNTY, Tenn. (WHNT) An investigation continues after a second theft took place at a Lincoln County family-owned carving business. One person who works there says these incidents have hurt not just their business, but their hearts and their family. Elk River Carving Co. was started by Roark Phillips about seventeen years ago, right outside of Fayetteville, Tennessee and inside their studio off of Pulaski Highway, you can find many different kinds of handcrafted pieces. Limestone County Schools holds last informational meeting on redistricting proposal Phillips is a chainsaw artist who carves all sorts of animals and figures into pieces of wood. His chainsaw carvings have taken off and he says hes sent pieces all over the country and even the world. Recently, the business gained traction on social media when they posted a video of someone stealing one of his pieces of art. January 21st [2024] 9 a.m., a Sunday morning, he said. I had an eagle [sculpture] and a guy walked up and tried to pick it up and walk away with it and then he started moving it over to his truck and away he went, Phillips said. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) is investigating that theft and another that took place on Tuesday morning. The sheriffs office said a statue of an eagle, a climbing bear and a standing bear were taken in the second theft. Brandi Welch, also with Elk River Carving Co., said they have footage of the suspect turning into the parking lot at around 6:12 a.m. on Tuesday. Overturned semi-truck blocking WB lanes on Governors Dr. in southeast Huntsville Security video from the business shows a man driving a white four-door Dodge Ram back up to the front porch, take the wood carvings and load one of the carvings into the cab of the truck and the other two into the bed of the Dodge truck. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was there for a purpose. And he was in and out, Welch said. She says losing these valuable pieces really affects the business because a lot of time and effort go into the carvings. Obviously, it hurts our business this artwork requires a lot of physical labor, a lot of mental load goes into this, Welch said. And then to be targeted twice now within such a short time, its I dont know. It hurts. It hurts the business. It hurts our hearts. It hurts our family. I dont know. I dont know how else to explain it. Really, and to try to stay positive throughout the day and not let it get us down. Its its hard. Welch says the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office has been very helpful over the course of this investigation. I know that the police are theyre working very hard for us and to help find this man. Were so thankful to our local sheriffs department, She said. Theyve been amazing. They were. Like I said, they were here so fast. The investigator on the case, hes just hes doing amazing. Were very, very thankful for our local law enforcement. Anyone with information regarding these thefts is urged to contact Lincoln County Sheriffs Department Investigator Patrick Murdock at (931) 433-9821. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. There are no safe havens in Gaza. That much has been clear since the early weeks of the war, when half of the Strips population was ordered to flee south amid unrelenting bombardment in preparation for an Israeli ground invasion. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians heeded that call in the hopes that they might be spared from the deadly violence that has killed more than 28,000 people to date. As the Israeli ground offensive moved south, so did they, with many ultimately ending up in the Strips southernmost city of Rafah. Now, as Israel announces its intention to direct its offensive towards Rafahwhich Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dubbed the last bastion of Hamasmore than half of the Strips 2.2 million population fear being caught in the crossfire. Some already have. More than 100 Palestinains were killed in Rafah early Monday in an Israeli military raid that resulted in the rescue of two Israeli hostages. U.N. officials and humanitarian organizations alike have warned that further attacks on the city would be catastrophic for civilians sheltering there, who remain physically trapped between Egypt to the south (which refuses to open its border to Palestinians, in part out of fear of abetting their permanent displacement) Israel to the east (which is unlikely to accept taking Palestinian civilians onto its territory), and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Gazas north, much of which has been destroyed, remains cordoned off by the Israeli military. Rafah literally cant absorb any more, Amir Hasanain, a 21-year-old native of the city, tells TIME. Before the war, the city had a population of roughly 280,000. Over the past four months, that number has quintupled, transforming its landscape into a sea of tents. The situation, he says, is only getting worse. Below, what to know about Rafah and Israels expanding ground assault. What are the current conditions in Rafah? Rafah was already one of the most densely-populated cities in Gaza before Oct. 7, housing some 280,000 people within 23 square miles. Today, it is bursting at the seams as one of the sole places of refuge in the besieged enclave, now home to some 1.4 million people. You cannot find four square meters empty in Rafah, says Yousef Hammash, a Gaza-based advocacy officer at the Norwegian Refugee Council. Maxar satellite imagery of crowds and shelters at a U.N. aid center in Rafah on Dec. 3, 2023. 2023 Maxar TechnologiesGetty Images So congested is the city that its shelters have spilled out onto the streets, where tens of thousands of families have been forced to set up makeshift shelters using plastic and nylon. Disease has become rampant amid the overcrowding. Essentials such as clean water and medicine are scarce. Against this backdrop, the prospect of an Israeli military incursion on the city is crazy even to think about, says Hammash. People are terrified. How will an Israeli offensive in Rafah impact the humanitarian situation in Gaza? Among the biggest concerns surrounding Israels impending assault on Rafah is the impact it could have on the flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip, which has already seen heavy disruptions. At present, there are only two border crossings for transmitting humanitarian aidthe Rafah crossing (from Egypt) and the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing (from Israel)both of which transmit into Rafah governorate. If hostilities were to take place in Rafah, that would seriously hamper aid operations, says Shaina Low, a communications adviser at the East Jerusalem-based Norwegian Refugee Council. If they arent killed in the fighting, Palestinian children, women and men will be at risk of dying by starvation or disease, Bob Kitchen, the vice president of emergencies at the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement last week. There will no longer be a single safe area for Palestinians to go to as their homes, markets, and health services have been annihilated. Will civilians be able to evacuate Rafah? While the Israeli prime ministers office conceded that such an incursion requires that civilians evacuate the areas of combat, no such evacuation plans have yet to be articulated. (The Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.) In order for Israels proposed evacuation to abide by international law, Low addes, People evacuating need to be guaranteed safe passage, they need to have assurances of their safety once they reach where theyre being told to evacuate to, and they need to have guarantees that they will have the ability to return home once hostilities have ended and its safe for them to do so. So far, Rafahs population has received no such assurances. People are showing signs of confusion and fear [over] what might happen to them once they invade Rafah, where will they go, says Hasanain, and if this prolonged nightmare may ever come to an end. Thousands of people attend a rally at Downing Street on February 12, 2024 in London, England. Stop The War Coalition and other pro-Palestinian groups are protesting Israel's attacks on Rafah. Guy Smallman/Getty Images How are global leaders reacting? The prospect of an Israeli incursion on Rafah has sparked widespread alarm, particularly among Israels close allies. U.S. National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters last week that the U.S. would not support Israels assault on Rafah absent any full consideration for protecting civilians, noting that such an incursion would be a disaster for those people. That sentiment was echoed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who stressed that Israel has the obligation to do everything possible to ensure that civilians are protected and that they get the assistance they need in the course of this conflict. On Monday, however, Kirby clarified that the U.S. never said that [Israel] cant go into Rafah to remove Hamas, but rather that it is not advisable to do so without a credible plan for the safety of Palestinians there. Politico reports that the Biden Administration has no reprimand plans in the works should Israeli forces enter the city without one. European leaders expressed similar concerns, with the E.U.s top diplomat Josep Borrell warning last week that an Israeli offensive would have catastrophic consequences for Gazas civilian population. (In separate comments on Monday, Borrell suggested that the U.S. and others should consider withholding arms exports to Israel amid the mounting death toll.) U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Israel to stop and think very seriously before it takes any further action, reiterating the need for a sustainable ceasefire. Speaking alongside President Biden at the White House on Monday, Jordan's King Abdullah warned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would be "unbearable" for the Palestinian civilians residing there. "We cannot stand by and let this continue," he said. "We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end." Perhaps the most significant challenge to Israels proposed incursion came on Monday, when the South African government submitted an urgent request to the International Court of Justice to consider whether Israels impending invasion of Rafah constitutes a breach of the courts orders. In January, in response to a case brought forward by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, the top U.N. court ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide. In its request, South Africa cited section 1 of Article 75 of the Rules of Court, which states that the ICJ may at any time decide to examine proprio motu whether the circumstances of the case require the indication of provisional measures which ought to be taken or complied with by any or all of the parties. Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com. It's a voting year in Knox County Board of Education Districts 2, 3, 5 and 8. This spring, if you live in one of those communities, you'll have a chance to narrow down who could represent you on the school board. The primary election is March 5 and early voting is open Feb. 14-27. A change in Tennessee law means school board races are partisan now. If there are multiple Democratic or Republican candidates in each district, voters will select their favorite this time around. Then those candidates will face off in August. Here's what the candidates told us in person and in submitted answers to our questions. Get the details: Presidential and Knox County primary elections are coming in March. Here's what to know Knox County Board of Education District 2 Democrat Anne Templeton, 44 Anne Templeton Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Templeton told Knox News she's been following the school board since the first year her children entered KCS eight years ago, when she helped defend magnet school funding. In the years since, she said, she was introduced to the importance of working with the community as the president of a parent-teacher association. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) Templeton is committed to creating spaces where students feel safe and welcome, and that means "unbounding" teachers and allowing them to do their jobs. She's an advocate for higher pay not just for teachers, but also staff. She acknowledged that is easier said than done, and suggested KCS administrators must find more money for classroom resources. What is the biggest issue facing Knox County Schools and how would you address it as a board member? (from candidate questionnaire) Teacher attrition. We are only as good as the teachers in the classroom. Fundamentally, we need to support them so they can create innovative teaching plans, ensure a safe environment for their students, and develop meaningful mentor relationships. We need to listen to their needs, address the pay discrepancy, and make it a priority to break down any barriers to their success. What specific actions can a board member take to most effectively represent families, students, teachers and taxpayers? (from candidate questionnaire) Collaborative problem solving. It is in the best interest of our community that students are given every opportunity to succeed. This means creating a school board environment that is inclusive and willing to problem solve with input from the community, parents, students, teachers and administrators. We must: Invest our time in face-to-face conversations with people in our community. Seek out the needs of our schools from the administrators and teachers who work in them. Listen to students to recognize their motivators and invest appropriately. What role should school board members play in the following (from candidate questionnaire): Working with the city of Knoxville to address shared challenges? Educating our children is a collaborative effort. Our growth is linked to the diverse environments where we work, live and learn. The city is tasked with developing initiatives that bolster the well-being of the families engaged with Knox County Schools. We must work in tandem to ensure success. Working with the Knox County Commission? On a county level, we need more schools and teachers. In addition, we need to address the capital improvement needs throughout the district. The county commission approves any fiscal policies proposed by the school board. For example, new schools will need to be maintained in perpetuity and existing schools need updates. These have a direct impact on their communities in the form of infrastructure, safety and tax rates. I plan to ensure the commission and school board communicate effectively with both each other and the community to make positive change. Does Knox County Schools need to change its budgeting to keep up with building improvements and meet salary demands for teachers and staff? If so, how? If not, how do you think the district and county can pay for those demands? (from candidate questionnaire) The 2nd District is home to some of the countys oldest school buildings, many of which have received minimal capital improvements since their inception. Coupled with teacher attrition, this has created challenging educational environments. To begin resolving these issues, its essential to scrutinize every budget item in addition to actively pursuing additional community and statewide partnerships to address current shortcomings. Schools are integral to our community, and securing individual student success will require a larger community effort. What are the core philosophies that guide your approach to governing? (from candidate questionnaire) Listen first. Lead and work with integrity guided by the belief that every child has the right to receive an equitable and safe public education that results in critical thinking skills, social awareness and the opportunity to succeed. Independents Jennifer Owen, 56, incumbent Jennifer Owen Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Owen told Knox News she's running for a third term because while she feels she's accomplished a lot, she hasn't completed her goal of increasing transparency on the school board. "I think the board has moved more toward appearance over that transparency and accountability ... and finding the balance between the two is difficult," she said. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) Owen hopes to bring factual information and move away from working based on assumptions of how things work. "As an individual, what I've tried to do is go out and try to get as many different viewpoints I can find," she said. "If we're talking about custodial responsibilities and custodial pay, I need to go talk to custodians." She'll make tough choices when it comes to buildings across the county with different needs. Pat Polis Declined to be interviewed. District 3 Democrat Patricia Fontenot-Ridley, 56 Patricia Fontenot-Ridley Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Fontenot-Ridley said upon her Knox County Schools retirement in May, she couldn't think of a better way to continue serving the community than running for school board. "Some of the school board members have no idea what happens in a classroom," she said. "Children who have struggles and trauma who bring that to school ... (some people) make decisions based on the budget and not on the students." What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) She acknowledged the importance mental health-based practices in schools, saying teachers can play a unique role in supporting students who may not get support in other areas of their lives. "I think the days of punishment and referrals is outdated. The school-to-prison pipeline is real, and that first referral that they get (has a lasting impact)," she said. Republicans Robert Daspit, 72 Robert Daspit Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Daspit said he's running for school board because he saw a need for someone with a certified teaching background to step up on the board. "What I've seen seen with our school board, and with what's going on with KCS, is that we don't have any accountability from the board," he said. He touted his campaign slogan: Tough choices, better schools. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) He told Knox News the board needs to step up and hire more teachers. To do so, the district must compete with neighboring systems in Oak Ridge and Alcoa. "What you have to do is work with the teachers. And you have to take the classrooms and take them down (to the number of students) where they used to be," he said. What is the biggest issue facing Knox County Schools and how would you address it as a board member? (from candidate questionnaire) Budgeting. KCS school board must be held accountable for the money that is budgeted from the county. Raising taxes is not the answer. We need to immediately adjust our school staff salary programs. Address and make changes as needed to the superintendent's organization. I will make sure our parents, as well as our school's staff, have an opportunity to have their voices heard. I will push the board to pursue financial policies which provide an outstanding return on the communitys investment in our schools. The school board has a responsibility to the community and to make sure our school system is the best in Tennessee. I will push to have our entire budget reviewed, with an immediate focus on ensuring the school system meets any of the staffing shortages. What specific actions can a board member take to most effectively represent families, students, teachers and taxpayers? (from candidate questionnaire) All board members should always meet with everyone involved with our schools on a routine basis and get their input. All voices must be heard, especially our parents. As a board member, I will insist on making sure our classrooms are not crowded because of a staffing shortages. The board must make sure our stakeholders have an input into our future policies. The KCS board must do a review of all the school systems operations and if needed make changes, then report that back to all our stakeholders. What role should school board members play in the following (from candidate questionnaire): Working with the city of Knoxville to address shared challenges? I propose that the school board share a formal meeting with the city and county commission, to form an alliance or a team to address all the needs of our schools. This meeting should occur immediately, especially if we want any type of changes to our schools or have a joint commitment to making Knox County Schools the best in Tennessee. By having all three organizations working together, this is the best approach to addressing and solving all our needs as a team. Working with the Knox County Commission? Same as city. Does Knox County Schools need to change its budgeting to keep up with building improvements and meet salary demands for teachers and staff? If so, how? If not, how do you think the district and county can pay for those demands? (from candidate questionnaire) The KCS must change its budgeting process immediately. Why are we paying for a consulting firm to address the teacher and staff salary issues, when it is the boards job to fix our staff shortages. We have enough money now to address all our school system and it needs. I will introduce a plan to have an auditing consultant review the KCS financial and organizational structures. This report and recommendations will be presented back to the community first. Why is the school system human resource organization not addressing our staff shortages with a better retainment and recruiting organization. Asking for more money from the county is not the first step, first we must ask why we are not addressing our organization for proposed changes. Teachers and staff are people who make our schools great for our students and having a plan to save these employees should be a top priority for our school board. What are the core philosophies that guide your approach to governing? (from candidate questionnaire) As a certified teacher and former business executive, I plan on approaching every meeting with a report from my meetings with parents, teachers, and school staff, which is the best approach to making the best decisions for our schools. My philosophy in being a member of the board is to make a solid business decision at each meeting and lead our school system with input from our stake holders. I will fight for our schools in all districts and move forward to make our schools the best in Tennessee. I am committed to making the tough decision as a board member, that will make our schools better. Angie Goethert, 56 Angie Goethert Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Goethert's children inspired her to run. After years volunteering and helping wherever she could, her kids pushed her to run for the board, she said. Her children told her, she said, "Mom, you really should advocate for all the kids in Knox County and parents, not just the ones that are in our schools. ... When your kids tell you things, you have a tendency to listen a little more." She said she's not afraid of asking tough questions. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) She wants to ensure every high school student has access to career and technical training, especially with the help of community partnerships. "Whether a student wants to be employed, enlisted or enrolled, we have to be there for them and meet them where they are so that we can help them, because our whole goal is for them to be productive adults and contribute to society," Goethert said. District 5 Democrat Terrye Whitaker, 72 Terrye Whitaker Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Whitaker is running for school board because she wants to give voters a choice. She's a strong advocate for public schools because they're an equalizer for everyone, she said. She believes it's important to put every dollar possible into public schools so students get the best education. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) If elected, Whitaker hopes to alleviate some of the pressure teachers are facing to make up for deficiencies in other staffing areas. She also hopes to prioritize better test preparation for students so when it comes time for testing, they're more comfortable. What is the biggest issue facing Knox County Schools and how would you address it as a board member? (from candidate questionnaire) I think the biggest issue is twofold - being a fully funded school and paying teachers and staff an appropriate wage along with having enough teachers and staff. The budget process is talking to all the departments, and they should be forthcoming in what they actually need and what they want to help make Knox County Schools the best they can be. In the meantime the chair of the board should be lobbying the county commissioners and the state legislature to prioritize education which means the legislature doesn't turn down federal funds, nor do they take money away to fund private schools through state funded vouchers. For the commissioners to be able to fund the school system they may need to look at new and better ways to fund the school system, including looking at the need to raise taxes just for school funding. I know this is not what anyone wants to hear, but if all the reasons why the taxes need to be increased can be shown, then homeowners should be able to make an appropriate decision on what is important to them. What specific actions can a board member take to most effectively represent families, students, teachers and taxpayers? (from candidate questionnaire) I would like to host a monthly meeting with people in my district to hear what they have to say about any issues they have. This can then be brought back to the board as well as the administrative staff within the school system. I would also like to regularly meet with the school staff, administrators and teachers to hear from them as well. Does Knox County Schools need to change its budgeting to keep up with building improvements and meet salary demands for teachers and staff? If so, how? If not, how do you think the district and county can pay for those demands? (from candidate questionnaire) I think the KCS staff need to have a needs budget prepared each year as mentioned above. With that comes all the reasons as to why it should be funded. If the legislature and county commissioners do not have the funds to provide then the administration/school board should prioritize what can be funded with what is provided. But both the legislature and county commissioners need to look at more ways to fund public schools to ensure we get the best educated citizens of tomorrow. The school system also needs to be efficient and transparent in its spending. What role should school board members play in the following (from candidate questionnaire): Working with the city of Knoxville to address shared challenges? Working with the Knox County Commission? Not sure if this is technically allowed, but as a resident and concerned citizen I do not see there being an issue of writing letters to the city or the county commissioner to see what ideas they have and how they see opportunities to work with the school board. Communication is a big key to this. What are the core philosophies that guide your approach to governing? (from candidate questionnaire) Equality and fairness. All students should be treated equally regardless of what school they attend. They need to have the best teachers we can provide to them. Republican Lauren Morgan, 36 Lauren Morgan Why are you running for school board? (from in-person interview) Morgan has been an advocate for various causes - helping grieving women through miscarriage or the loss of a baby and advocating for children in foster care. She has fought for years for the right resources for her children, Morgan said, "full force." Now she's ready to advocate for all Knox County students, she said. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) Retaining quality teachers at Knox County Schools is chief among her concerns. "We're going to have to be creative and how we're doing that because what we've been doing isn't working," Morgan said, addressing teacher retention. Morgan wants to make sure teachers are given the right size of classes and ensure that schools are fully staffed with support staff. What is your experience that qualifies you to serve? (from in-person interview) Morgan serves on the parent-teacher organization boards at Farragut Primary and Farragut Intermediate schools. She is a graduate of Knox County Schools and the University of Tennessee. She also runs Project Gabriel, a nonprofit support group that helps support families who have suffered the loss of a baby. District 8 Republicans Tommy Lakins, 65 Tommy Lakins Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Lakins said he was inspired to run when members of his community approached him because of his leadership skills. He said people can either be part of the problem or the solution, and he wants to be the latter. Lakins said after attending county meetings about growth and development, he's concerned about where schools fit into the growth plan. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) If he's elected, Lakins hopes to use his experience in the technology industry to improve the way students are taught. After schools locked down for COVID-19, he saw how important technology is becoming to teaching. Teachers are going to have to change the way they teach and students are going to have to change the way they learn, he said. What is the biggest issue facing Knox County Schools and how would you address it as a board member? (from candidate questionnaire) One of the paramount challenges facing Knox County Schools is the teacher and staff hiring, development and retention. These aspects are pivotal to the success of our education system, directly impacting the quality of education and support our children obtain. Having spent many years in the information technology field, I bring a wealth of experience in hiring, developing, and retaining highly demanded resources. I propose a multifaceted approach to tackle this issue. Firstly, a comprehensive review of our current hiring processes and an exploration of innovative recruitment strategies will be undertaken. I will advocate for the development of robust professional development programs to nurture the growth and skill enhancement of our existing teachers and staff. This fosters a sense of professional fulfillment, contributing to staff retention. I am committed to applying my expertise to meticulously review our options, build on proven successes, and navigate the challenges associated with enhancing teacher and staff hiring, development, and retention. By prioritizing these crucial resources, we can ensure a brighter future for our children, grandchildren, and the entire community. What specific actions can a board member take to most effectively represent families, students, teachers and taxpayers? (from candidate questionnaire) I am committed to establishing Talk with Tommy quarterly meetings to actively listen to the concerns and ideas of families, students, teachers, and taxpayers. This includes maintaining accessible communication channels, such as a dedicated email address and phone to encourage direct engagement and ensure that constituents feel heard and valued. I will utilize multiple communication channels, including social media and community meetings to disseminate information transparently and consistently. Conducting regular visits to schools and classrooms to support, appreciate, and observe firsthand the challenges and successes of students, teachers and our schools is imperative. This collaboration with teachers and schools will help me create a supportive environment that fosters greater trust, professional growth, and aids with addressing the concerns of teachers and staff to enhance overall job satisfaction. What role should school board members play in the following (from candidate questionnaire): Working with the city of Knoxville to address shared challenges? Working with the Knox County Commission? The school board should collaborate with the Knox County Commission to advocate for adequate funding for education, ensuring that the budget reflects the needs of the school district and the broader community. The school board members should establish regular communication channels with members of the Knox County Commission and the Knoxville City Council to stay informed about countywide and city initiatives and to provide updates on the school district's progress and challenges. We should work towards aligning school district policies with broader county goals and plans to ensure that education is integrated into the overall development and planning of the community. Exploring partnerships with county and city services to provide additional resources and support for students, such as mental health services, afterschool programs, and community outreach initiatives is vital to the future and safety of our children. Work in partnership on planning for community growth to anticipate the impact on schools, ensuring that new developments consider the educational needs of the residents. Jointly advocate for legislative changes that positively impact both the school district and the city, emphasizing the interconnectedness of education and community well-being. Does Knox County Schools need to change its budgeting to keep up with building improvements and meet salary demands for teachers and staff? If so, how? If not, how do you think the district and county can pay for those demands? (from candidate questionnaire) Ensuring the prudent and responsible management of Knox County Schools' budget is a top priority for me. Regardless of the challenges or needs the budget may face, I am committed to being mindful of taxpayers' hard-earned money. It is crucial to adopt a long-term vision for the school system's needs. Performance pay can be a valuable component, aligning success in our students, classrooms, and schools with compensation. I propose a strategic approach that involves evaluating the effectiveness of existing programs. By identifying which programs yield success and which do not provide a satisfactory return on investment, we can reallocate resources to initiatives that genuinely benefit our students and staff. I advocate for a comprehensive review of our infrastructure needs, prioritizing investments that offer lasting benefits and contribute to the overall success of our educational environment. To finance these demands, collaboration with the county is key. Working closely with the Knox County Commission, we can explore innovative funding solutions and advocate for a budget that reflects the priorities of our community. My approach revolves around maintaining fiscal responsibility, conducting a thorough evaluation of existing programs, prioritizing long-term solutions for building improvements, and collaborating with the county to explore diverse funding avenues. What are the core philosophies that guide your approach to governing? (from candidate questionnaire) I believe in providing individuals and families with freedom of choice, allowing them to make decisions that best suit their needs and aspirations. As a Christian, my guiding principles are grounded in God's love and grace for all members of our community, promoting compassion, understanding, and inclusivity. I want to emphasize the importance of fiscal responsibility. In my view, a government that operates within its means and prioritizes efficient use of taxpayer dollars is essential for the well-being of our community. This approach ensures that government interventions are focused and effective, allowing individuals and businesses to thrive. I strongly believe in the power of competition to drive excellence. Competition fosters innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement. In the context of governance, this means promoting policies that encourage a competitive environment, whether in the economy, education, or public services. In summary, my governing philosophy centers on individual freedom, family values, fiscal responsibility, Christian principles, and the belief that competition is a driving force for excellence. By adhering to these core values, I aim to contribute to the well-being and success of our community, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive, and our shared values are upheld. Travis Wright, 44 Travis Wright Why are you running? (from in-person interview) Wright told Knox News he's in the race to give back to the community he grew up in and the one his son is growing up in. "It's kind of a way to give back and be a voice for the schools that I loved and to show my communication for everyone who was involved along the way," he said. What are your goals for school board? (from in-person interview) Wright said he hopes to be an advocate for parents on the school board. "I want parents to be involved," he said. "We have to take responsibility and help our kids understand there are consequences for your actions. ... If parents are involved and dedicated enough, (incidents) won't happen." This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County school board candidates: 2024 Knox News voter guide Sir Keir had vowed to 'tear out the poison' of anti-Semitism in his party when he took over from Jeremy Corbyn - Eddie Keogh/Getty Images Sir Keir Starmer faces a deepening anti-Semitism crisis after he was forced to take action against a second parliamentary candidate in 24 hours. The Labour leader suspended Graham Jones, who was due to stand in Hyndburn, where he was MP until 2019, after it emerged that he referred to f---ing Israel at a public meeting and said that British volunteers in the Israel Defense Forces should be locked up. He was pushed into the decision less than a day after he was forced to remove support for Azhar Ali, his candidate for this months Rochdale by-election, following an outcry over a string of anti-Semitic remarks made by Mr Ali at the same gathering that went unchallenged. On Tuesday, Sir Keir insisted that his party had changed and vowed to punish any more candidates accused of making similar comments, saying any allegations would be thoroughly investigated. However, he was criticised over his shambolic handling of the crisis and urged to get a grip on anti-Semitism in the party, instead of simply playing racist whack-a-mole. Sir Keir will come under further pressure to investigate five more MPs and candidates who The Telegraph can reveal have been involved in controversies over Israel. Two shadow cabinet ministers Thangam Debonnaire and Shabana Mahmood are among those to have expressed contentious views on Gaza, while Afzal Khan, a former shadow minister, previously compared the Israeli government to Nazis. Zarah Sultana, the Left-wing MP, liked an anti-Israel social media post last month while a councillor running in Southampton allegedly attended a pro-Palestine rally in November. Sir Keir is also facing growing demands to reveal which MPs and councillors were at the Lancashire meeting where Mr Jones and Mr Ali made their incendiary remarks. The issue of anti-Semitism has long plagued the Labour Party, with Sir Keir vowing to tear out the poison after taking over as leader from Jeremy Corbyn, who was found to have overseen the spread of racism against Jewish people within the party. Sir Keir has come under fire from his own party over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza, with Labour MPs privately fearing that some could fail to get re-elected because of a backlash among Muslim voters. One former Labour official, who was a senior figure in Gordon Browns No 10, said Sir Keir needed to swiftly get a grip and warned that anti-Semitism was still rife within the party. If we are going to clean it up, lets clean it up the test will be whether Labour keeps playing racist whack-a-mole or actually decides to get a grip, they said. Sir Keir faced criticism over his initial decision to stick by Mr Ali for two days after it emerged that the candidate had told a meeting of local activists in Hyndburn, Lancashire, that Israel may have deliberately allowed the Hamas terror attacks on Oct 7 to happen in order to justify its war in Gaza. After Mr Ali apologised, a succession of frontbenchers were sent out onto the airwaves to defend him with Pat McFadden, Labours campaign chief, telling Sky News Trevor Phillips that Mr Ali had issued a full apology and retraction and he hoped he learns a good lesson from it. Nick Thomas-Symonds, a shadow Cabinet minister said Mr Ali fell for an online conspiracy. But then on Monday night, a fresh recording of the meeting revealed Mr Ali had also railed against people in the media from certain Jewish quarters. Sir Keir learnt of the comments on Monday afternoon and finally withdrew his support three hours later. The crisis intensified on Tuesday when a recording emerged of Mr Jones, a former Labour MP who had been selected to run again as the partys candidate in Hyndburn, making his own speech at the gathering. This time Sir Keir reacted much more swiftly and suspended him within the hour. Labour sources said Mr Jones had been hauled into a meeting with party bosses on Tuesday evening to explain himself. Charlotte Nichols, a former shadow minister, questioned why Sir Keir had acted swiftly in his case but had taken so long to drop Mr Ali. She said the Labour leader had made the right decision, in both cases but added: Im glad that the second one was quicker than the first. Martin Forde KC, a lawyer who led a 2022 review into anti-Semitism within the Labour Party under Mr Corbyn, said it was very concerning that nobody present at the gathering appeared to have pushed back against the comments. The Campaign Against Antisemitism urged Sir Keir to publicly identify the attendees, saying that Labour must put a line in the sand and declare that it will not tolerate extremist views. A spokesman for the group said: The question remains who else was at that October meeting, what else was said, and who else knew, and why did nobody act? The Jewish Labour Movement said the two incidents showed that the importance of a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism in Labour has become clearer than ever. Sir Keir defended his actions on Tuesday, telling reporters that he had taken decisive action to make it absolutely clear that this is a changed Labour Party. Speaking before suspending Mr Jones, he added that if any other candidates were found to have made incendiary remarks then any allegation that needs to be investigated will be investigated. Labour backbenchers were angered by how their leader handled the scandal, with one branding the last few days shambolic crisis management. The MP said it would raise questions over whether the partys vetting of candidates is up to scratch, saying it seemed officials didnt do due diligence. Left-wing MPs and activists accused Sir Keir of double standards by treating candidates on the Right of the party more favourably. Inside story How Starmer dithered for five hours before disowning Azhar Ali Read more Andrew Fisher, a former head of policy under Mr Corbyn, claimed that Sir Keir initially gave Mr Ali the benefit of the doubt, while Mish Rahman, a Left-wing member of Labours governing body, the National Executive Committee, also suggested vetting had been relaxed for allies of the party leader. It just shows clearly that the partys due diligence, which should be done for all candidates, is not done properly, its not taken seriously, he said. Mr Jones, who was MP for Hyndburn from 2010 to 2019, had been embroiled in two separate anti-Semitism rows while in office. In 2014 he was forced to apologise and delete a Twitter exchange with Justin Cohen, the then editor of the Jewish News, after he accused Israel of a series of murders in Gaza. When Mr Cohen said that Israel was taking steps to avoid civilian casualties, Mr Jones replied: Youve lost any sense of humanity & justice. Youre killing children. The former MP was also spoken to by police after calling the Israeli ambassador a t---er at a Labour Party conference event in 2018. Controversial remarks The Telegraph can reveal that several other candidates, including two members of the shadow cabinet, have previously made controversial remarks about Israel that contradict Labours official stance. Ms Sultana, the Left-wing MP for Coventry South who is running again, liked a post on Twitter, last month which accused Israel of genocidal intent. Satvir Kaur, the Labour candidate for Southampton Test, allegedly attended a pro-Palestine demonstration on Remembrance Sunday last year. Ms Kaur, who was leader of Southampton city council at the time, was among those gathered in the city centre on Nov 12. Labour sources insisted she did not take part in the march through the city and had only briefly attended a multi-faith peace vigil for around 10 minutes. Mr Khan, who resigned as a shadow minister last November over Labours stance on a ceasefire in Gaza, wrote on Twitter in 2014 that the Israeli government are acting like Nazis in Gaza. Mr Khan, who was an MEP at the time, apologised for the post after being selected to run for the Commons, saying that he did not endorse the content of an article he linked to and that he had made a mistake. Ms Debonnaire, the shadow culture secretary, said in 2015 that selling arms to Israel was a grave concern and accused the Jewish state of violating international law. She wrote in a now-deleted blog post that the country appeared to have engaged in internal repression in the aftermath of its 2014 war with Hamas. Ms Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary, urged thousands of people to boycott Israeli goods and bombard their MPs at their constituency surgeries back in 2014. Speaking at a demonstration in Hyde Park, she told activists: Please educate yourselves about the different boycott campaigns and get involved in them. Please keep up the pressure on your Members of Parliament, go to their advice surgeries, take 20 people with you and ask them to justify their views on Palestine and on Gaza. Comment This almighty mess leaves Starmer indistinguishable from Corbyn Read more The Tories leapt on the crisis engulfing Labour, saying it showed the party had not really changed and there was still the cancer of anti-Semitism at its heart. Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, told The Telegraph: Its becoming increasingly clear that racism against Jewish people remains a cancer in the Labour Party. Keir Starmer is only acting now out of political expediency because he has been under media pressure, not out of principle. Thats weak leadership. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A Lake Isabella man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to distributing explosives to an unlicensed person, prosecutors said. Joseph Roy Vigneault, 21, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at next months sentencing hearing, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California. 1 arrested in Lamont after search warrant leads to stolen copper wire: KCSO In May, Vigneault and Michael Roy Anglin, 21, of Wofford Heights delivered stolen boxes of blasting agent Hydromite to someone not licensed to handle explosives, prosecutors said. The explosives went missing from Austin Powder Wests Lake Isabella Isabella storage facility sometime between May 6 and 11, according to the release. Vigneault has agreed to pay $7,603 in restitution to the explosives manufacturer, prosecutors said. Charges are pending against Anglin. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. The City of Galesburg has closed water access to Lake Storey after a diesel fuel truck leak on Feb. 8. In a news release, the city said the closure, which includes boating, swimming and wading, is out of "an abundance of caution." The leak happened near 3150 Log City Trail near South Lake Storey, according to officials. The city said the leak utilized large absorbent booms to help mitigate the spill. As the owner of the original leak contamination site, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services is currently utilizing a remediation contractor, in conjunction with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, to complete a thorough remediation of the spill. To allow ample space for clean-up efforts, and proactively prevent residents and pets from exposure to any potential water contamination, the lake is currently closed to all water activity. Signage will be posted at lake access points and parking areas to notify park patrons that water access at Lake Storey Park is currently closed. The closure is anticipated to be temporary, and the City of Galesburg will issue further information once the lake is once again open for water access. The Illinois Department of Central Management Services will manage the ongoing mitigation process in correspondence with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Any updates or information regarding the diesel fuel leak or the status of remediation efforts will be issued by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, according to the city. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Lake Storey temporarily closed days after diesel fuel truck leak N. Korea, nationalism, skepticism of US still play roles in left-wing politics: experts By Jung Min-ho In most Western countries, voters who identify themselves as liberal tend to be more open toward expanding immigration. But the same rule does not hold in South Korean politics. In the latest survey result showing this distinction, released on Monday by broadcaster KBS, 64 percent of supporters of the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP) said they are in favor of accepting more foreign immigrants. This figure is higher than the rate among supporters of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party of Korea with 55 percent and that of those who support the Justice Party with 58 percent, which is regarded as being more progressive on social issues. Why? Experts told The Korea Times on Tuesday that a combination of many factors liberal politicians historical ties with nationalists and laborers as well as the significant influence of North Korea in national politics may have played a role in shaping such a cautious view. Nationalism still plays a critical role in left-wing politics here, unlike most countries in the West. Thats because how to view and approach issues related to North Korea remains a decisive factor between South Koreas left and right, said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University. Views of those who claimed to be liberals tend to be more nationalistic, as they see unification as one of the most important political issues. Shin said their strong nationalistic, pro-unification views may have been reinforced by their skepticism about the U.S. government, which, to their disappointment, maintained a rather practical approach toward South Koreas dictatorial leaders. In the 80s, national liberation (from foreign nations) emerged as one of their key political messages that united the liberal bloc, he added. Immigration had never been a mainstream political issue in a country surrounded by water, except for its closed border with North Korea. But as fewer babies were born in recent years, politicians who represented businesses saw the need for more workers from overseas. Experts said that was the driving force behind Jasmine Lees political rise. Recruited by the main conservative party back then, she became South Koreas first immigrant-turned-lawmaker in 2012. Meanwhile, the liberal bloc was struggling with balancing between the political minority group of immigrants and Koreas working class, its core political base, who saw immigrants as competitors in the job market, according to experts. Unlike conservative politicians who tend to focus mainly on business, tradition and stability, liberal politicians have been struggling to embrace more broad values and ideas as demanded by voters, said Cho Jin-man, a politics professor at Duksung Womens University. The immigration issue, for many reasons, still is not among their political priorities when it should be, given the countrys tumbling birthrate, Cho said. South Koreas fertility rate the average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime reached 0.78 in 2022, the worlds lowest level. Experts say a mixture of more support for families and well-designed policies to accept more workers from other countries is required to minimize the impact of the drastic demographic shift. To reverse the worrying trend, the PPP and the Yoon Suk Yeol administration have pressed forward with creating a new immigration agency to take charge of relevant issues. Han Dong-hoon, interim chief of the party, had been working on that project as the justice minister before entering politics in December 2023. The fact that Han pushed for the agency as minister may have also positively affected how conservative voters see the issue, Cho added. The South Korean military said Tuesday it is ready to "overwhelmingly" respond to any North Korean provocations as Pyongyang is dialing up tensions with a series of new weapons tests. North Korea said Monday it has developed a 240 millimeter-caliber controllable multiple rocket launcher shell and its ballistic control system to expand its weapons arsenal. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected and monitored the North's test firing in real time Sunday afternoon and has been analyzing its specifications jointly with the United States. "Our military maintains a posture that can overwhelmingly respond to North Korea's artillery provocations, while continuously monitoring its weapons development and enhancing our deterrence and response capabilities," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a regular press briefing. Lee said the military didn't immediately release the information as the rocket launcher does not fall within the scope of disclosure as outlined in its protocol. The JCS usually unveils the North's ballistic missile and major weapons tests. The North conducted the test firing of the multiple rocket launcher shells toward the Yellow Sea from an area near the western port city of Nampho on Sunday, according to military sources. The North's 240 millimeter multiple rocket launcher system is known to be deployed near the border, posing potential threats to the South's broader capital area. The latest test came just days ahead of the late leader Kim Jong-il's birthday, a major holiday that falls on Friday this year, but there have been no special movements by the North Korean military so far, according to the JCS. North Korea has ratcheted up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with weapons tests in the new year, including launches of cruise missiles from sea and land, as well as artillery firings into waters near the western inter-Korean sea border. (Yonhap) Following allegations of abuse at a facility for people with developmental disabilities in Enid, a bill is advancing in the Oklahoma Legislature that would move an oversight office out of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, who wrote the bill, told fellow lawmakers last week that the Department of Human Services Office of Client Advocacy did not do very well watching over vulnerable adults at the Robert M. Greer Center in Enid. His bill would move the office to the Oklahoma State Department of Health in an effort to make improvements, he said. The Greer Center treats people with developmental disabilities and mental or behavioral health conditions. At least eight Greer staff members have been charged on allegations related to systemic abuse of residents after whistleblowers reported concerns to police last year. DHS said staff in the Office of Client Advocacy which has about 50 staffers and is responsible for investigating complaints for minors in state custody, clients receiving developmental disability services and foster parents investigated abuse at the Greer Center last spring. Police records say staff had a hard time getting Greer employees to cooperate, but DHS officials said Client Advocacy staff did not have trouble investigating. Instead, the agency said it didnt realize the extent of the mistreatment at the time. Families weren't notified of situation at Greer Center for months, DHS spokeswoman says The Office of Client Advocacy once reported directly to the director of DHS. But a change under Gov. Kevin Stitt appointee Justin Brown, who led the agency from June 2019 to July 2022, moved the office under the director of adult services instead. The shift means the Office of Client Advocacy is under the same department that manages some of the programs it is tasked with investigating for allegations of abuse. An organizational chart from 2020 shows the change. Casey White, a spokeswoman for DHS, said she couldnt speak to why the organizational change was made, but said its not uncommon for directors to make adjustments. Rosino said families with loved ones at the Greer Center werent notified of the situation at the facility until months after the Office of Client Advocacy began investigating. More: Greer Center accused of shredding evidence; judge issues temporary restraining order Having this office inside the Department of Human Services kind of puts the fox guarding the hen house, Rosino said in a committee meeting. So we have to make an improvement and we have to make a change so this doesnt happen again to anyone. A DHS spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending legislation. RoseAnn Duplan, a policy specialist with the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, said transferring the office to the Health Department wont increase the diligence or the outcomes. The Health Department already has oversight to do inspections or to investigate complaints in facilities like Greer because it is the agency that licenses those facilities. The Department of Health is having a hard enough time completing the inspections they do now in a timely manner, Duplan said. More: After alleging abuse, Greer Center staffer found flyers advertising her for sex acts Senate Bill 1709 also would transfer the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office from DHS to the Health Department. The ombudsmans office is responsible for investigating and resolving complaints related to long-term care facilities like nursing homes. But Duplan said federal law prohibits the ombudsmans office from being in the agency that licenses long-term care facilities, which the Health Department also does. Instead, Duplan said lawmakers should consider changing the organizational structure at DHS to give the Office of Client Advocacy more autonomy. The bill passed out of its first committee and is now eligible to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Human Services Committee Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, said he is open to discussing the move. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Greer Center abuse allegations prompt new Oklahoma Senate bill A group of people watch a woman deposit a ballot at the Maricopa County early ballot drop box on Oct. 24, 2022, in Mesa. A lawsuit challenging Arizona's new voting rulebook alleges its limitations on monitoring ballot drop boxes and polling locations are unconstitutional. The suit, which comes from the America First Policy Institute on behalf of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, is the most recent from conservatives challenging Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes over his Elections Procedures Manual. That rulebook provides detailed guidance for county officials on how to run elections. Two other complaints from Republicans centered largely around voter registration and early voting provisions included in the manual. The lawsuit is also one of several recent cases taking aim at ballot drop boxes. The boxes are used in most Arizona counties and are popular with voters, but have become the focal point of false election theories around widespread ballot harvesting and fraud. Those conspiracies prompted groups of people to surveil drop boxes in Maricopa and Yavapai counties during the 2022 midterms. The monitors became one of the defining images of the election cycle and prompted dozens of voter intimidation complaints. The Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a conservative grassroots organization, has previously challenged a variety of statewide voting practices in court and is currently awaiting a judge's ruling on a pivotal Yavapai County case that aims to ban unstaffed ballot drop boxes. Their latest suit argues drop box monitors are protected by the First Amendment. It contends the new voting rulebook aims to "criminalize" their conduct. They note their organization is "interested in observing activities at drop boxes" and "conveying a message to others that the drop boxes are being watched and should be watched." "These activities watching drop boxes, speaking to people at election sites, and photographing activity at election sites all constitute forms of speech," the suit reads. The new elections manual allows county recorders and other election officials to restrict behavior at drop boxes or polling sites that could intimidate voters. It lists examples of such conduct that include openly carrying weapons in the vicinity of a ballot drop box, intentionally following voters near drop boxes and confronting or questioning voters as they are entering or leaving a polling location. Spokesperson Aaron Thacker said Fontes and his staff are reviewing the lawsuit, but declined further comment. A group of people watch a vehicle approach a Maricopa County early ballot drop box on Oct. 24, 2022, in Mesa. A constitutional right to monitor drop boxes? During the 2022 midterms, a federal judge decided to place some restrictions on drop box monitors via an emergency order. U.S. District Judge Michael Liburdi initially rejected a request for an injunction. But he said in a different lawsuit that he saw an opportunity for a limited set of restrictions that balanced the right to vote safely with freedom of expression. His order ultimately banned ballot box observers from taking photos of voters within 75 feet of a ballot box or openly carrying guns within 250 feet of the boxes. It also prohibited observers from posting identifying images or information about voters online and making false statements about election laws until the end of the voting period. Those limitations are largely in line with examples of voter harassment and intimidation included in the new voting rulebook. Liburdi's restrictions helped stem the tide of voter intimidation complaints related to the monitors, although some still came to election officials in the days after his order took effect. The rules set by the order ceased after Election Day and the case was ultimately settled on mostly private terms. Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip to share on elections or voting? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New suit challenges AZ voting rulebook, limits on drop box monitors Leah Remini has said that life after leaving Scientology has been a constant struggle in a candid new post on X/Twitter. The King of Queens actor, who left the Church of Scientology over a decade ago, said that her experiences from the ensuing fallout had been filled with depression, anxiety and fear. She also alleged that operatives from the Church had orchestrated a campaign against her which had left her friends and family in danger. Remini, 53, left the church in 2013 and says she only recently started saying yes instead of no to opportunities that involve leaving my home and venturing out into the world. In the social media post, the actor and activist said: It has been a decade since I fled from Scientology with my family, but it is a constant struggle to push myself to experience my life. I will have a good day and think to myself, OK, tomorrow Im going to continue to do things that I want to do, and then depression takes over. I get consumed by fear and find every reason not to go. The former follower made numerous claims about her former Church, which counts Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its most famous members, in her 2016 book Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology. Leah Remini said her life had been a constant struggle since leaving the Church (Getty Images) She produced an Emmy award-winning documentary called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath upon leaving the religion. She won the International Documentary Associations Truth to Power Award in 2019. Remini has long alleged that Scientology members have attempted to intimidate and harass her. Since I escaped from Scientology in 2013, I have been followed constantly by Scientology operatives and agents, she claimed in her recent post. These people hide in the shadows to monitor my movements and who I am meeting with so they can report back to Scientologys intelligence agency, the Office of Special Affairs. Remini also went on to accuse the Church of taking unflattering photos of her and recruiting vulnerable people living with severe mental illness to harass and intimidate her. In addition to the impact on her mental health, the actor said she had been struggling with the physical effects of menopause adding: Not only did I, out of nowhere, break out in hives and have some allergic reaction to something for which I now have to carry an EpiPen everywhere I go, but I am also going through Perimenopause. A spokesperson for the Church of Scientology said: If Remini can no longer get a job, she has nobody to blame but herself. Obviously everybody in Hollywood now knows what we already knew: That Remini is a horrible person and toxic to so many who have the misfortune to come in contact with her. The Independent has contacted Reminis representative for comment. Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-general of Hezbollah, speaks via a video link, during an event to mark the "Wounded Resistance Fighter Day" Marwan Naamani/dpa Lebanon has received a written proposal from France that aims to halt border clashes between pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters and Israeli soldiers, a Lebanese government source told dpa on Tuesday. "I can confirm that Lebanon received this proposal, which calls mainly for Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters around 10 kilometres from the border with Israel," said the source, who requested anonymity. The document was delivered by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, who visited Beirut last week. The source added that the text was handed over to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and House speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah. The French proposal is said to stipulate that Hezbollah withdraw its elite fighters - mainly members of the Radwan brigade - from areas close to the border with Israel in southern Lebanon. "Mainly the plan - which was worked out by the US, France, Egypt and Qatari officials - calls for the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to monitor this area," the source said. According to a source close to Hezbollah, "the proposal or a paper with suggestions from France and other sides in Europe was delivered, but not officially to Hezbollah." "We repeat our stance, which is there will be no halt of attacks from southern Lebanon unless the aggression on Gaza is halted," the source said, adding that the final word will come from Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Commenting on the recent visits to Lebanon by Arab and Western delegations, Nasrallah stressed that "all the delegations that came to Lebanon over the past months had one objective, which is the security and protection of Israel." "Western delegations do not address in their papers any matter related to the aggression, crimes and famine that is happening in Gaza," Nasrallah said in a speech in Beirut to honour the wounded in the ranks of his movement. The Hezbollah chief was making an apparent reference to the French paper. He accused the Western delegations of the always "adopting the Israeli stance and then presenting it to Lebanon." Tensions have been high along the border since war erupted months ago between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in Gaza. According to Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas, 194 of its fighters have been killed since the current war started on October 7. Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer, as they listen to a speech by Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-general of Hezbollah, who appears via a video link, during an event to mark the "Wounded Resistance Fighter Day". Marwan Naamani/dpa Troops and their families who have already cast an absentee ballot for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential primaries in Colorado or Maine may be wondering: What happens to their vote if the Republican frontrunner is removed from the ballot in those states? In essence, those votes wouldnt be counted, state officials tell Military Times. Officials in both states are seeking to disqualify Trump as a presidential candidate for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which they argue violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The provision bars anyone who has engaged in insurrection from holding office. Other states are considering following their lead as well. The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 8 heard oral arguments in a challenge to the Colorado Supreme Courts earlier decision to boot the former president from the states ballot. If the justices uphold Colorados ruling, it would effectively nullify any votes for Trump cast on an absentee ballot ahead of the presidential primaries slated for March 5 in both Colorado and Maine, where the Democratic secretary of state has also sought to remove Trump from the primary ballot, state officials said. A decision to throw out Colorados ruling would allow Trumps name to move forward on ballots as initially planned. A ruling in favor of Colorado would spur ripple effects across the military communities in Colorado and Maine. Heres why. Military members and their spouses are in a class of voters with special protections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. If someone in that group legitimately requests an absentee ballot more than 45 days ahead of a federal election, including primaries, election officials must send the ballot to them by the 45-day deadline. Those covered by the law include troops, their spouses and other American citizens living outside the U.S. In the case of military members and their spouses, it applies to anyone who is away from their legal voting district, whether they are stationed in a different part of the state, across the country or overseas. Maine and Colorado began sending absentee ballots weeks ago to their military and overseas voters (known as UOCAVA voters) who had already requested them, and are still responding to new requests, state officials told Military Times. More than 42,000 of those voters were registered to cast ballots in Colorado in 2020, about 15,000 of whom belonged to the military community, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. About 6,500 more of those voters were registered in Maine, including nearly 1,400 in the military community. Heres what happens to any votes cast for Trump in those absentee ballots if he is disqualified. Colorado If the Supreme Court rules before the March 5 presidential primary that Trump can be disqualified, votes cast for the former president would not be counted, said Kailee Stiles, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Secretary of State. In Colorado, you can register to vote in the primary by March 5, and theres no deadline for ballot requests. Voted ballots can be returned by mail, email, online or fax, and will be counted if they are received by March 13 the eighth day after the election. Maine Maines secretary of state is also waiting on the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling on the Colorado case, and will follow whatever that ruling directs states to do, said Emily Cook, a spokeswoman for the Maine secretary of state. Should any candidate withdraw or be disqualified, now that ballots have been issued votes for that candidate would be treated as blanks, pursuant to Maine election law, Cook said. If that happens, the department will notify municipal clerks of how to proceed. A notice of the change would accompany absentee ballots that are sent out, and would be posted at voting locations and on the Secretary of States website, she said. Mainers can still register to vote and request an absentee ballot by 12 p.m. on March 4. Residents can take both actions by downloading the Federal Post Card Application (also known as the FPCA) at www.fvap.gov, and mailing, emailing or faxing it to their local election jurisdiction. A voted ballot can be returned by mail, email or fax, and must be received by local election officials by 8 p.m. March 5. Help is available Theres still time to register to vote, request a ballot and send the voted ballot in both states primaries, as well as most other states, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Prospective voters can find information on registering to vote in their local area through the voting assistance programs website, and can sign up to vote in Novembers general election even if they dont participate in a primary. Federal Voting Assistance Program officials advise military and overseas voters to submit the Federal Post Card Application to their election office every year. Check with the fvap.gov site for specific state deadlines, help in finding a local election office, assistance with filling out the Federal Post Card Application and other questions. Damaged food, overstocked merchandise and store returns are just a few of the things you might find in a metro-east dumpster before items are taken to the landfill. Dumpster diving, or searching through others garbage cans for items to keep, is practiced in Illinois and across the U.S., and some social media users have hailed it as an effective way to fight waste. A 1988 U.S. Supreme Court case ruled its generally legal to take items from trash cans in public places as long as state, county or city ordinances dont differ. But is it legal to dumpster dive in Illinois? What about in Belleville specifically? Heres what state law and a city ordinance say on the topic. Is it legal to dumpster dive in Illinois? Illinois state law doesnt directly regulate the legality of dumpster diving, but does prohibit scavenging from open waste, or disposed items outside of a trash can. So as long as you stay on public property, avoid trespassing on private property and make sure your city does not have an ordinance prohibiting it, you should be able to lawfully dumpster dive in Illinois. Several Illinois municipalities have enacted ordinances regulating dumpster diving, so its important to check before heading out. Some localities, like Chicago and Aurora, issue permits specific to the practice of dumpster diving. Is dumpster diving allowed in Belleville? A Belleville city ordinance restricts dumpster diving without a license. No person shall engage in the business of scavenging for the removal of garbage, rubbish, offal, swill, carcasses and the like without a license to do so, approved by the mayor, according to the Belleville city ordinance. The fee for this scavenging license is $400. The city of Belleville did not issue any scavenger licenses in the 2022-23 license year and has not yet issued any for the 2023-24 year, which ends April 30, city clerk Jennifer Gain Meyer said in an email to the News-Democrat. The Belleville Police Department made one arrest Oct. 26, 2023, leading to a charge of scavenging without a permit. A pair of legislative measures that would reshape the bail system in Tennessee moved forward in a state House of Representatives subcommittee Tuesday with near unanimous "aye" votes for both. The first measure up for consideration was a constitutional amendment, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, that would enable Tennessee judges to deny bail for a broader set of charges, including acts of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, and grave torture. Language in the amendment also allows bail denial for other offenses where the convicted has to serve at least 85% of the sentence. Currently, judges in Tennessee can allow deny bail for first-degree murder. The amendment has, so far, received increasingly rare bipartisan support from lawmakers and elected Memphis and Shelby County officials. A late January news conference detailing the amendment was attended not only by Sexton, the amendment's sponsor, but also by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, and local law enforcement officials. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton listens as Mayor Paul Young speaks during a press conference where Sexton announced plans to introduce a bill that would amend the state constitution and allow judges to not set bail for a wider variety of violent charges at Memphis City Hall on Friday, January 26, 2024. Bail has been the focal point of frustrated law enforcement and elected officials in response to a year-over-year rise in homicides, and steady gains in major violent crimes since 2022 in Memphis and Shelby County. Former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Memphis Police Department brass both have pointed to the bail current process, in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways, as a root cause that contributes to Memphis' rise in violent crimes, citing repeat offenders as a primary culprit. Mulroy has pushed back on this assertion, pointing to data from his office that shows since the start of 2021, 12.5% of all offenses committed were alleged to have been committed by people out on bail. The data also shows less than 1% of offenses committed while the offender was out on bail were violent offenses. The amendment's arrival also comes as Shelby County's reformed bail system rolled out a year ago. The new system, which included a bail hearing room, drew political scrutiny despite general sessions court data that shows bail amounts have increased overall. The data also shows that fewer accused offenders are being arrested while out on bail. Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson speaks surrounded by state and local officials during a press conference where Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced plans to introduce a bill that would amend the state constitution and allow judges to not set bail for a wider variety of violent charges at Memphis City Hall on Friday, January 26, 2024. Mulroy has stated that while the amendment has his conditional support, he does not expect the amendment to be a "radical" game changer. State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, was the sole "no" vote for the amendment in subcommittee Tuesday. Memphis criminal justice reform nonprofit Just City has also opposed the amendment. The amendment would have to pass the legislature this year and again next year before it could go before voters for approval in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Bill that would make financial status a non-factor in bail hearings contested by Memphians A second measure, a bill that would amend a judge or magistrate's lawful requirement to consider an accused person's financial ability to pay bail, moved forward Tuesday with a majority vote in favor. Several Memphis delegates attended and spoke at Tuesday's hearing, warning of not only inequity in how bail will be assessed, but the potential ramifications of crowded jails, rising budgets, and lawsuits. More: Shelby County judge reprimanded by state board for saying he 'detests' bail bond system "This bill impacts the poorest in our society," said Nashville defense attorney Madison Biggs. "It only seeks to harm those who need help most." Just City Executive Director Josh Spickler said the bill could translate into guaranteed detention for low or no-income Shelby Countians a further exacerbation of an already unbalanced cash bail process. Defenders of the bill said the ability to pay bail is but one of multiple criteria magistrates must consider when setting bail amounts; other levers besides income could also determine a fair bail. Additionally, the language of the bill still allows for defendants to petition the bail amount, just not immediately. Both measures will move to a full committee vote. Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering issues tied to hospitals, healthcare, and resource access. She can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Proposed laws targeting bail in Tennessee move forward to House committee Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Rafah on Saturday. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press) To the editor: As Princeton human rights expert Kenneth Roth has stated, "If the administration is so indifferent to existing law, it's not clear what difference a new set of reports will make." ("Biden order attaches human rights conditions to U.S. military aid," Feb. 9, and "Israel's next target in Gaza war is likely Rafah. Terrified people say there's nowhere left to go," Feb. 9) Israel has ignored the ruling from the United Nations International Court of Justice for it to avoid killing innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Now, it plans a siege of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians fled after Israel declared it a safe zone. Facing famine and lacking medical access, people in Gaza have nowhere to find safety and security from Israeli bombs or from street-to-street fighting. Perhaps another approach by the U.S. might deter Israel's plans for Rafah: The Biden administration could simply stop funding and arming Israel's military if not for a timely brief pause, then a clear demand for a cease-fire to save Palestinian lives. Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles .. To the editor: From the outset of Israel's war with Hamas, the entire world should have been pressuring Egypt to open its border and let those who wished to leave to do so, even temporarily. Nearby Arab countries could have offered safe haven to countless civilians. Canada and Turkey offered them safe haven. Israel's sole aims in prosecuting this war have been to root out an evil enemy and rescue its hostages, not to kill innocent civilians. Unfortunately, the world has been complicit in so much suffering and unnecessary death by not screaming from the rooftops to open the Rafah border crossing and let these people leave. Pauline Regev, Santa Monica This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Selfless service and kindness. Those were the words used by Lexington Fire Chief Jason Wells to describe fallen firefighter Brenda Cowan at a ceremony Tuesday marking the 20th anniversary of her death. Wells said Cowan was dedicated to improving the quality of life for the community through her church, volunteer work and service with the fire department. Her kindness and passion for service has left an indelible mark on all who knew her, Wells said at a remembrance and wreath ceremony for Cowan. Its now our solemn duty to carry forth that which Brenda has taught us, so that her legacy of service will continue through us. Cowan was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 13, 2004, while she and her engine company were responding to a reported shooting. Police previously said Patrick Hutchinson shot Cowan while she tried to render aid to Hutchinsons 60-year-old wife, Fontaine, who was also shot and killed that day. Firefighter Jim Sandford was shot and injured that day as well. A wreath in remembrance of Brenda Cowan, Lexingtons first Black female firefighter who died on duty in 2004, was placed in front of the Lexington Fallen Firefighters Monument at Phoenix Park. February 13, 2024. In 2009 Patrick Hutchinson was sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a guilty plea deal in his case. He is serving his sentence at the Kentucky State Reformatory and isnt eligible for parole until 2028. Cowan was a 12-year veteran with the fire department at the time of her death, according to Wells. She was the first Black female firefighter in the fire departments history, and the first lieutenant. She was promoted to that role just one month before her death. Her death also marked the first Black female firefighter to die in the line of duty in the United States. While we often speak of Brenda in terms of firsts, Id like for us today to also remember the lasting legacy that she has left on all of us, Wells said. Firefighter Brenda Cowan Dozens of firefighters were at the Fallen Firefighters Monument at Phoenix Park next to Main Street Tuesday morning for the remembrance ceremony. A wreath was laid in front of the monument in Cowans honor. Brenda wasnt a leader merely by virtue of rank. She was a leader because of her servant heart, her dedication to helping others, her brilliant smile and her unshakable optimism, Wells said. Wells said he worked at the same station as Cowan at the time of her death. He would often see her at shift change and remembered her smile and optimism. The job of a firefighter is providing service to the community and Cowan personified that, Wells said. She was a person of selfless service, Wells said. She was an individual who always put service above self and that incredibly brilliant smile and that unshakable optimism makes us all want to be better people. Cowans death led to an important change for the fire department. Now when firefighters respond to scenes with the potential for violence, theyll stage nearby until law enforcement secures the scene. Its really important that we pay close attention to whats going on around us and never forget the lesson that we had to learn, Wells said. Division of Fire Major Mike Runnels talks with Karen Trivette, executive director of the coalition at the Brenda D. Cowan Coalition for Kentucky, Inc. on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at a news conference in Lexington. Firefighters presented the coalition with a recently discovered candid photo of Lt. Cowan, who was shot and killed in 2004 when responding to a fire call. Photo by David Perry | Staff An appellate court upheld an 18-month prison sentence for an Uzbek national accused of sending money to a U.N.-designated terrorist group while residing in Korea, judicial officials said Tuesday. The Seoul Central District Court confirmed the lower court's ruling on the migrant worker from Uzbekistan, saying the provision of aid to the terrorist group carries a high risk of harming global peace as well as the safety of the country and the public. The 35-year-old was indicted for providing money and valuables worth some 4 million won ($3,010) to two members of the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) from 2021 to 2022 despite knowing it was a terrorist organization. The KTJ, a combat force affiliated with al-Qaeda, was designated as a terrorist group by the U.N. in 2022. The Uzbek allegedly committed the crime upon receiving requests for aid via telegram, after entering Korea with a non-professional E-9 visa in 2017. The defendant appealed to the Supreme Court. (Yonhap) A man was recently found with a deadly explosive inside his home near the University of Kentuckys campus, according to court documents. On February 7, the Lexington Police Department went to a home on the 200 block of University Avenue and found Timothy Umstead, 19, in possession of a deadly explosive, court documents say. The explosive contained a substance known as rocket fuel, which is potassium nitrate mixed with granulated sugar. Potassium nitrate is an irritant that can intensify fire or can explode from heat or contamination, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Inhalation, ingestion or contact potassium nitrate can cause severe injury, burns or death. Umstead was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, one count for each roommate at Umsteads home address. Court records show that Umstead pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree wanton endangerment on Monday and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation. Umstead is not allowed to possess explosive devices or materials during his probation, according to court records. Lexington police did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the investigation. Umstead was previously a student at UK but hasnt been enrolled with the school since the fall 2023 semester, according to university spokesperson Jay Blanton. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the agency assisted Lexington police with its investigation. The days of stuffing Conex boxes full of any and all gear on hand and shipping them to a combat zone are over. The Army wants sleeker formations. The service is modernizing everything from night vision and rifles to tanks and artillery. Theres no more room in the supply section for unused gear thats piled up over the recent wars. And that gear is more than an eyesore: its a time suck. As the service prepares for the possibility of a conventional war, the one thing soldiers cant spare is time. Every set of outdated optics, old M4s or obsolete radios add up to days each month that soldiers have to drag out, inventory and maintain gear they dont use. And those days rob soldiers of training time on basic skills and new equipment needed to fight the next war. It appears that top Army leaders feel their pain. A recent pilot program now making its way across the force aims to clear out the junk cluttering a units space and free up time for soldiering. Commanders a generation ago might have kept a property book with five to 10 pages of equipment. Today, their counterparts at operational units such as the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division and 2nd Cavalry Regiment now tote books with 50, 70, or more than 100 pages. A company commander in the 82nd Airborne can carry a property book of 50 pages or more, Capt. Stephen Glynn, headquarters company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division told Army Times. That book alone accounts for 3,200 pieces of equipment that he or she must inventory, clean, and maintain throughout the year. That could mean more than 200 rifles and optics, 45 handguns, 35 vehicles and thousands of other pieces of gear, ranging from communications equipment to chemical protection kits and other mission essential tools and supplies for a single company. But not all of that is essential any longer. The 82nd Special Troops Battalion along with the 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade prep equipment for the Rapid Removal of Excess Pilot Program (R2E), Fort Liberty, N.C., Oct 30, 2023. (Sgt. Vincent Levelev/Army) Much of the growing property list for these combat units are holdovers from decades of Global War on Terrorism deployments, commanders said. And a complicated process for ditching unnecessary or unserviceable equipment has, for years, stymied unit leaders efforts to trim their books. When Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George took office in September, he laid out clear priorities warfighting, continuous transformation, strengthening the profession and delivering ready combat formations. George has commanded at all levels, from tactical to strategic. Hes had his soldiers roll out warehouses full of gear, unpackage it, handle inventory and account for thousands of items. Laying out, counting it, you only have to do it once or twice to know how painful it is, George told Army Times. At the time he took over, he also announced a pilot program, later called Rapid Removal of Excess, from which he expected quick results. The chiefs directive was far-reaching. He told his staff to identify two divisions, one light and one heavy, in the same corps. Larger Army formations such as Army Materiel Command, Forces Command and Army headquarters would support those divisions over a 90-day period while they cut excess from their inventory. The move clearing out old gear may seem administrative, but theres a bigger plan at play, George said. I think its going to improve our readiness, he said. Obviously if youre out on todays battlefield you need to be able to move, you need to be able to conceal yourself, youre dragging all of this stuff around. If youre significantly leaner, youre significantly less targetable. By cutting down on how much time and energy officers, and by extension, rank-and-file soldiers, spend sorting through warehouses full of gear nobody uses, theyll be freed up to focus on the many other demands already on their plates. Soldiers inventory tents and camoflauge netting at Storck Barracks in Illesheim, Germany, Sept. 24, 2020. (Staff Sgt. Garrett L. Dipuma/Army) Reducing the burden on soldiers For generations, the Army has dictated what equipment various kinds of units must keep in their inventory. At the same time, each unit may be tasked with a new mission or duty that then adds more to that load. Typically, a unit commander inventories about 10% of their gear each month throughout the year. Equipment that they had to track but didnt use, sometimes for years, could stack up. The sheer volume of gear created storage problems, and spilled over into areas originally meant for training. It also meant time spent maintaining that gear, which had to be kept intact, clean and in working order, just in case. For a long time, getting rid of anything was an uphill battle. Maj. Brian Campbell, executive officer of 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne, told Army Times that getting permission to remove the equipment required approval all the way up the unit chain of command, from company to division or even corps. Simply getting the green light could take months. A major hurdle every commander faced was the requirement that equipment couldnt be turned in until it was in operational condition. That meant spending time cleaning, fixing and ordering any missing or broken parts, which ate up time, money and led to a backlog that stalled the process. The equipment removal pilot reversed those requirements. Soldiers from Army Materiel Command, Forces Command and the 3rd Expeditionary Support Corps, the unit responsible for coordinating sustainment operations for XVIII Airborne Corps, the parent unit of 3rd Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne, the two divisions chosen for the programs first iteration, set up mobile sites at Fort Liberty, North Carolina and Fort Stewart, Georgia. They also waived the maintenance requirement so soldiers could bring in gear as is. So, drive it, tow it, drag it down, we will take it and they are immediately relieved of that excess equipment, said Eric Cowan, a longtime logistician with Army Materiel Command. The move quantifiably streamlined the process. In one example, a typical Humvee turn in, which would include a detailed inspection, could take two to three hours on average. Through the pilot process it took about 15 minutes, said Col. David Alvarez, 3rd Expeditionary Support Corps assistant chief of staff for support operations. And with 800 rolling stock items Humvees, trailers, mobile generators turned in by the two divisions, that time adds up. Glynn had a Humvee that his unit had been trying to get rid of for five years, long before he took command. But the maintenance and permissions just never aligned. Three weeks into the pilot, the Humvee was gone. Both the support corps commander, Brig. Gen. John Hinson, and 82nd Airborne Deputy Commanding Officer Col. Jason Williams told Army Times that the key to coordinating so many units to turn in so much equipment in about 35 working days involved treating it like an operation. Units even conducted rehearsals before the pilot kicked off, noting which units would bring their gear in when and how much they expected to offload. In the past, Williams said, getting rid of gear was seen as something the executive officers, unit logistics sections and supply sergeants would take care of while everyone else was out training. For this pilot, instead of dragging out the inventory on a continuous basis, soldiers at Fort Liberty and Fort Stewart spent several days clearing out old and unused gear in one fell swoop. Despite the arduous and monotonous task, this means that future gear checks will be shorter and more seamless. Spc. Kyle Doyle, a truck driver with 110th Composite Truck Company, lays out his gear for an inventory inspection in preparation for a rapid deployment to the areas affected by Hurricane Florence in 2018. (Sgt. Liane Hatch/Army) Those moves buy back time for all the other things soldiers have to do. First and foremost, were gonna train more, Glynn said. Now that Im not wasting time every month, that time can be reinvested on training and maintaining mission essential equipment. Soldiers dragged out piles and rows of everything from generators, computer systems, automation equipment, tents, blue force trackers, satellites, drones, nuclear, biological, and chemical protection equipment, night vision goggles, sniper rifles, aged M4 carbines, small terrain utility vehicles, trailers, Humvees, light medium tactical vehicles, route clearance vehicles and unserviceable tanks. Many of the changes could be likened to clearing out a cluttered garage. If you havent done spring cleaning for years in your garage, its almost impossible to get anything done, Campbell said. Its just so jam-packed with stuff youre unable to use it. What the pilot program did, Campbell said, was give units a chance to clean out their space, organize it and figure out how to use what they had in their facilities to work better. Before the pilot began, the 82nd Airborne Division was tasked with cutting 2,700 items. They got rid of 16,400. Among those items, an estimated 3,000 pieces would have required maintenance to bring them up to the operational standard that units have had to meet before turning items over. Handing off that equipment as is saved more than 120,000-man hours of maintenance, Williams said. Thats less time cleaning old weapons, scanning NBC gear for cracks, counting radio cables and servicing vehicles that nobody drives anymore because theyve been replaced. That time saved has a ripple effect, Williams explained. Every item in the inventory has its share of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Scheduled items include oil changes for vehicles or function checks for weapons and other gear as theyre used for training or checked periodically. Unscheduled maintenance often means that something broke. Maintainers only have so much time, so when something breaks down, that takes priority, Williams said. That means that sometimes the scheduled maintenance gets pushed, creating backlogs. Enough broken equipment and those scheduled maintenance backlogs could bring down the readiness of both the equipment and the unit. In February, the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will begin the next equipment removal, Hinson said. Following that, I Corps, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, then III Corps at Fort Cavazos, Texas are on the schedule. George said theres interest across the active Army and Guard. Units in Europe and the Pacific have asked to undergo the gear-shedding process. A soldier turns in excess equipment to the Modernization Displacement and Repair Site at Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 2, 2023. (Lindsay Grant/Army) Other efforts to save soldiers time The pilot program is one of multiple efforts that George has highlighted in his first few months as chief, all aimed at moving both the physical and bureaucratic workload up the chain of command. A simultaneous effort that hasnt gotten as much publicity is the Modified Table of Organization and Equipment Reduction Pilot. The table is the Army-assigned list of equipment and personnel a unit must have on hand, in good working order, to perform their primary mission. That can vary widely depending on the unit, but it is the linchpin for a units capabilities. The team reviewed 10,699 pieces of equipment on the various lists at the 3rd Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne and identified 159 pieces they recommended for removal. Thats in addition to the excess equipment not on the equipment table. Some examples included computer and data systems, avionics testing equipment, a grader in the combat engineer company and secure telephones, Ashley Patoka, a Forces Command spokesperson, told Army Times. George also noted early on in his tenure that he wanted to drastically reduce the footprint of units command posts. He sees a not-too-distant future where a commander uses no more than a tablet from the back of a vehicle to share an operating picture with their staff. He also told Army Times that he met with senior chief warrant officers from across the force to examine how often mechanics were doing unnecessary vehicle maintenance simply because it was part of the regulation or schedule. If you could save 50 hours inside your formation and spend 25 of that on the range or doing some training, shoot, I dont care if you use the other 25 to spend time with your family because were so busy, George said. Staff Sgt. Camilla Brock and Cpt. Amanda Smith of the 210th Mobile Affairs Detachment verifies the serial number of a pair Night Vision Goggles as part of an arms inventory on Jan. 13, 2019. (Sgt. Charity Boedeker/Army) How the Armys inventory overhaul is going When the pilot began on Oct. 23, program overseers estimated theyd see 21,464 pieces of equipment leave the inventories of 3rd Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne and about a dozen other smaller units at both Fort Stewart and Fort Liberty. By the pilots end on Dec. 15, the units had turned in more than 37,000 pieces of equipment. More than 16,000 pieces came out of Fort Liberty units and another 11,000 pieces from the Fort Stewart units. An estimated 19,000 pieces were transferred to other units or depots for maintenance. The rest went to the Defense Logistics Agency for other dispositions such as foreign military sales, donations to veterans organizations think of the tanks in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars halls across the country or to be sold for scrap. But to drill down to the effects on soldiers tasked with tracking all this gear, Glynn, the headquarters company commander with 82nd, shaved 20 pages out of his property book. The captain estimates that simply tracking the excess equipment took at least two workdays a month. Soldiers receive and inventory equipment issued to the 41st Field Artillery Brigade at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sept. 26, 2019. (Matthias Fruth/Army) Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Conde, property book officer for 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, shrank his property book by 10 pages, cutting 4,200 pieces of equipment out of a 28,000-item property book, or about 15% of what he had to track. I have never in my 25 years of active duty, seen this happen before, said Williams, the 82nd Airbornes deputy commanding officer. When asked how long cutting so much gear from their lists would have taken under the old system where the burden was on the smaller unit and everything had to be in top maintenance condition, soldiers from the rank of general down to captain estimated between one and three years. Beyond time, Glynn pointed to visible differences at his company headquarters. Half of his storage space was filled with excess equipment. He now has a Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear training cage with 600 suits and training aids ready to use. I have a workshop for my (communications) section where they can innovate and train on new communications equipment and my companys supply cage is now in order and streamlined for distribution, Glynn said. The captain also pointed to an intangible aspect of the lighter load credibility. Too many times soldiers were hauling out gear they couldnt identify and didnt use, degrading trust that what they were doing mattered. Were not asking a soldier to dig out something that is 20-25 years obsolete, Glynn said. Theyre focusing on equipment that matters and they know that everything they touch is a piece of equipment that they need to be prepared to go to war with. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined a unique list of luminaries on Sunday when he decided to yell at an inanimate object on the floor of the U.S. Senate. During a Senate session discussion of a bill that would provide $95.3 billion in foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine, the South Carolina Republican called out a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made last week. The post criticized the reluctance of GOP politicians to provide aid to Ukraine to help their war against Russia, with Tusk writing: Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us to win back our freedom and independence, must be turning in his grave today. Shame on you. Graham was so bothered by Tusks post that he had it printed out on a big piece of stock paper and placed on a tripod so he could argue with it instead of addressing Tusk directly on X. To the Prime Minister of Poland, I could care less what you think. To the Prime Minister of Poland, if Ronald Reagan were alive today, we wouldnt have this broken border, he said. Heres a video of Grahams exchange with Tusks post. To the Prime Minister of Poland: I could care less what you think Lindsey Graham lashed out at the Polish PM, for criticizing Senate Republicans blocking aid for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/rMJI7zoEGG Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 11, 2024 The Senate ended up passing the legislation on Tuesday, but Grahams performative arguing with Tusks post put him in a class with other famous, old and pissed-off dudes, including Clint Eastwood, who yelled at an empty chair representing Barack Obama at the 2012 Republican Convention, and The Simpsons Abe Simpson, whose angry fist shaking at a cloud became a popular internet meme. As of Tuesday afternoon, Tusk had not commented on Graham yelling at a giant paperboard printout of the post. But, not surprisingly, other people had thoughts. Lindsey Graham arguing with a tweet on a poster is the new Old Man Yells At Cloud. https://t.co/DcuHylJ3cy Mark Mucci (Not Eiting Yet) (@MLMucci) February 13, 2024 #BREAKINGNEWS Senator Lindsey Graham tells the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk that he doesn't care about the problems faced with Russia when United States has its own issues. This comes less than 24 hours after Donald Trump gave Vladimir Putin the green light to attack Ford News (@FordJohnathan5) February 11, 2024 Hes blaming Poland now for the border bill the Republicans couldnt get through Andrew Mc Cormack (@phpfyi) February 11, 2024 Lindsey Graham said if Ronald Reagan were alive today, we wouldnt have this broken border. Conservatives HATE that Reagan gave amnesty to undocumented immigrants with IRCA and they think it did not do enough to secure the US-Mexico border. https://t.co/3yN5G9Ym2i Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) February 13, 2024 Mr Principled: "Prosecuting tRump will blow up the country..." 3/21/2023 L.G. "You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell. Lindsey Graham, 2015 "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed, and we will deserve it." 5/3/2016 Lindsey GrahamSC pic.twitter.com/9svgVcZPCC sobroquet (@sobroquet) February 12, 2024 Every time Lindsey Graham speaks, I think the blackmail against him is more and more heinous. Not embarrassing as a white male Republican. But, like Silence Of The Lambs, horrifying. The truth will come out. https://t.co/do0xWDsEYU Marmel (@Marmel) February 11, 2024 What a statesman. To Poland, please ignore this pathetic closeted remora. He has the integrity of quicksand and speaks for almost nobody in this country, not even the poor lost souls who elected him. C-Bo the Eggman (@CBoTheEggman) February 11, 2024 Not to be outdone by Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham pulls this. His turnaround and pro-Putin stance makes even less sense than Rubios. Wonder what his former BFF, John McCain would say. https://t.co/Xko7aRNNxd Luis Moreno (@LuisMorenolg) February 12, 2024 To the President of Czechoslovakia, I could care less what you think. UK PM Neville Chamberlain, 1938. Only morons like Lindsey Graham dont believe history repeats itself. He cant be that naive. But maybe he is that stupid. #UkrianeAidhttps://t.co/ELcBI617fcpic.twitter.com/7rFq2CiXLc Dr. Daniel, PhD (@SirDanielJ) February 12, 2024 Since when does Lindsay Graham pass up a chance to warmonger? Indict The Far Reich (@IndictTheReich) February 12, 2024 Poland has been an insanely loyal American ally for 30 years. What is the possible advantage to cooling the security relationship with them? +0.3% in safe red districts? https://t.co/T811DLdUDf polycarp pat (@Monocarp_) February 13, 2024 Related... A winter storm is moving into Massachusetts Tuesday morning, bringing snow, strong wind gusts, and coastal flooding. List of school and business closings The storm has shifted significantly in 24 hours but Boston 25 Meteroloigsts are still expecting messy conditions, especially in southeastern Massachusetts. For an updated list of closures, click here. Tuesday noreaster: Latest timeline, expected snow totals, maps, threats after storm shifts Winter storm, high wind, coastal flood warnings issued in Mass. for Tuesdays noreaster Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Every time an election looms, Baton Rouge resident Ashley Shelton notices the red flags the signs sprinkled around the city and other parts of Louisiana that give the wrong information about when voters can cast their ballots. She doesnt know who the bad actors are. But whenever she sees one of these signs they usually crop up near predominantly Black neighborhoods she takes it down, tosses it into the back of her car, and puts up a sign with the correct information. It seems like theres always an attempt in Louisiana to confuse people about when Election Day really is, said Shelton, the president and founder of the New Orleans-based nonprofit Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, referring to last falls statewide elections. Campaigns to mislead Black Americans and ultimately suppress their votes arent new. But as the 2024 elections draw closer, advocates across the U.S. especially across the South are preparing for what they believe will be even more intense and sophisticated efforts to deceive, including artificial intelligence-generated voice clones that mimic public figures and dish out false information. The way I see it, explained Sarah J. Jackson, a presidential associate professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication, [the environment today] is the new literacy test. Those old literacy tests were designed to be impossible for most people to pass. In some ways, what were seeing now is a media literacy test: How do you know which information youre getting from Facebook or X or even robocalls is legitimate? To push back against these schemes in the absence of robust federal intervention, advocates are starting to increase their presence in vulnerable communities and make sure that voters understand the perils of disinformation. Some also are creating digital toolkits, guides, or apps that provide reliable data about key issues and candidates. Read More: A Lot to Be Concerned About: Jim Clyburn on the Stakes of the 2024 Election I think that disinformation is one of the biggest threats to our freedom and our democracy. I often tell folks that whoever controls the narrative controls the power, said Anneshia Hardy, the executive director of Alabama Values, a grassroots communications organization that this month began testing out Megaphone, an app that counters disinformation by serving as a one-stop shop where residents and advocates can learn about the challenges affecting their communities. Narratives and messaging are critical for building equitable power structures, closing the knowledge gap, raising awareness, holding elected officials accountable, and increasing transparency for the public, she added. Heres everything you need to know about what, exactly, disinformation is including how it differs from its very close cousin, misinformation and what advocates are doing to protect and empower Black communities. What is disinformation? In recent weeks, two images have been attracting lots of attention on social media. Both feature Black men clad in what appears to be Make America Great Again apparel. And theyre trying to get other Black men to register to vote, presumably with the Republican Party, which for decades has struggled to appeal to Black voters. But something is off. Several things, actually. In one image, a picture frame juts out from the house. In the other, a Black man has three arms, and the text on the clothing isnt legible. This screen capture of an image circulating on social media shows what appears to be an AI-generated photo of a man with three arms talking with a Black Republican activist. (X) These are AI-generated images, and they exemplify disinformation they were designed and sent out into the world to do just one thing: deceive. Tequila Johnson, the CEO and co-founder of the Nashville-based nonprofit Equity Alliance, said that these images harmonize with disinformation shes detected in Tennessee. Shes observed very deliberate PR messaging insisting that Black Americans, and in particular Black men, are fleeing the Democratic Party in record numbers and joining the Republican Party. These assertions, however, are specious. The GOP is actually caught in a rut when it comes to winning over Black voters. Yet, disinformation isnt always as obvious as an image of a three-armed man. Some of the most common political narratives of the past several years also are examples of disinformation, according to advocates. Alabama began its 2024 legislative session this month, and were seeing a narrative that the right is pushing about election integrity, and [Republican] lawmakers are using this narrative as an excuse to launch some of the most egregious voter suppression bills weve seen in the state, Hardy said. Take Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Garlan Gudger. It would largely criminalize absentee ballot assistance by outlawing anyone from ordering, requesting, collecting, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot or an absentee ballot application that isnt their own. Bills like this are being presented on the grounds of, Oh, we have to protect elections, even though that isnt an issue, Hardy said, referring to lies about voter fraud, which is so incredibly rare that its almost a myth. Disinformation provides fuel for lawmakers to try to pass unfair policies and adopt fake political realities that disadvantage communities of color. Read More: This Case Could Undermine Voting Rights and Black-Latino Political Solidarity Notably, while some use disinformation and misinformation interchangeably, theyre different. And at the heart of that difference is intent. The former is false information thats spread with the intent to mislead. The latter is false information thats spread regardless of intent to mislead maybe polling locations or mail-in voting rules suddenly change, but someone shares the outdated information. Jackson echoed Hardys concerns, highlighting that allegations of fraud have always given cover to anti-Black voter suppression schemes, from literacy tests to voter ID laws. What makes disinformation campaigns so alarming today, as the country approaches the 2024 elections, is the fact that theyre increasingly tied to technology. Technology is being taken up to spread disinformation at a scale that hadnt really been possible before, Jackson said. With the development and advancement of algorithms and AI, its easier, especially but not only online, to engage in deepfakes, cloning all these things. Additionally, algorithms and AI make it simpler to do large sweeps of ZIP codes, census records, and other data that can enable more old-fashioned forms of disinformation, including directing deceitful robocalls and text messages at Black communities. How are organizers combating disinformation? Advocates are taking a multipronged approach to tackling disinformation. For instance, the Power Coalition is bolstering its presence on the ground. The organization is adding about 20 people across Louisiana so that it can strengthen its pre-existing connections with vulnerable groups and act as a resource. To build real power, you have to invest. So were going to have folks on the ground working with trusted community leaders to address what people are hearing, Shelton said. Were trying to drive a campaign around voter education, because one thing we learned from the redistricting process is that nobody understands all the things that are happening. She added that deep listening is a central part of the organizations mission. It wants to learn about the disinformation thats shutting Black Americans out of the political process. Read More: Black Louisianans Enter a New Political Era Meanwhile, Alabama Values is beta testing Megaphone, an app to beat back disinformation. The app, which will be more widely available to the public this summer, is meant to centralize data-driven content from videos to stories to polls covering a variety of topics. This is just our way of ensuring that when it comes to building a narrative around issues, people have access to accurate, reliable information, Hardy said. We also see this as a way to create a pro-democracy messaging ecosystem. I often talk about the importance of empowering citizen journalists, or directly impacted people who can bring essential information into their neighborhoods. While the Equity Alliance isnt developing an app, the organization is putting out a voter guide and going on what it calls a barbershop tour. The purpose, said Johnson, is to meet Tennesseans where they are and give them pertinent, relevant information at a moment when communities are being bombarded with falsehoods and conspiracy theories. Sometimes, the information-sharing is extremely difficult, because it requires a lot of manpower and a lot of outreach, she acknowledged. But its also really necessary especially at a time like this. Of course, the burden of battling disinformation shouldnt rest solely, or even primarily, on Black Americans or on other people of color who are already disenfranchised and lacking resources. Federal intervention is necessary. I dont like to displace the responsibility of figuring all this out onto groups or individuals. My position is very much that we need regulation we need federal regulation. We cant count on, say, media companies to regulate themselves without being pushed, said Jackson, also the co-author of the 2020 book #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice. President Joe Biden has signed an executive order seeking to oversee some AI. And the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched website hubs in seven languages that provide advocates with resources that it views as a counterpunch to disinformation aimed at voters of color. But muscular federal regulation is still elusive. As a result, advocates remain on the front lines, wrestling with disinformation app by app and sign by sign. Were committed to building an environment where people can get information that they can trust, Shelton said. We want people to understand what their power is and how they can use it to change their communities. The post New Literacy Test: The Black Organizers Waging War on Disinformation appeared first on Capital B News. MANHATTAN (KSNT) The Little Apple wants your input to help future development of the east side of town. The City of Manhattan held an open house for its East Manhattan Gateway Plan Monday. The city wants your feedback on what improvements can be made in the area between the intersection of Highway 24 and Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Hopkins Creek Road. We are just at the beginning of this process, so your input will guide the vision for this plan, Ben Chmiel, a senior planner with the Citys Community Development Department, said in a press release. The focus area includes the McCall Triangle in eastern Manhattan, as well as several greenfields east of the city. Fremont St. section closes for reconstruction project in Manhattan Stantec, the citys consultant for the project, will help develop a plan, according to the citys website. The process started early last year, and hopes to adopt a plan in 2025. A committee of members appointed by the City of Manhattan will also guide the plan. Mondays open house was at the Army National Guard, located at 721 Levee Dr, Manhattan, KS 66502. Tuesdays open house will be at Crestview Christian Church from 4-5:30 p.m., located at 3940 Excel Road, Manhattan, KS 66502. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Israeli soldiers with a surfboard on the roof of their vehicle drive towards the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli hostage rescue operation in a key Gaza city rose to 74 on Tuesday, officials in the war-ravaged enclave said, even as the warring sides appear to have made progress toward a deal that aims to bring about a cease-fire and free hostages held by Hamas. The raid took place early Monday in Rafah, a city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to escape fighting elsewhere in the Israel-Hamas war. Women and children were among those killed in the airstrikes, Palestinian officials said. The overall Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza has surpassed 28,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. A quarter of Gazas residents are starving. The war began with Hamas assault into Israel on Oct. 7, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December. Currently: South Africa launches an urgent request with the top UN court over Israels targeting of Rafah US Senate passes a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel, but fate in the House is uncertain Family of Palestinian-American detained by Israel seeks her release Biden says key elements of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordans King Abdullah The Israeli military says it has rescued 2 hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip. Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war. Here's the latest: ISRAELI MILITARY RELEASES VIDEO OF WHAT IT CLAIMS IS A HAMAS LEADER IN UNDERGROUND TUNNELS JERUSALEM The Israeli military has released a video of what it claims is Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar walking through tunnels underneath Gaza's second-largest city with his family. The Israeli military says the video was taken under Khan Younis days after Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel. In the video, a man identified as Sinwar is seen from the back, with his wife and three children walking ahead of him. He is wearing sandals and carrying a bag. His daughter clutches a doll as the family, led by what the army claims is Sinwars brother, makes their way through the tunnels. The face of the man identified as Sinwar is not visible and the claims could not be independently verified. The army also released video of a tunnel compound where it claimed Sinwar was recently hiding with his family. The compound had a bathroom and kitchen with stockpiles of food, including bags marked with logos of the U.N. agency that delivers most aid to people in Gaza. Israel has long accused UNRWA of tolerating or collaborating with Hamas a charge the agency denies. Another room had a safe with plastic storage bags filled with shekels and dollars. The army did not provide information to support its claim that Sinwar had spent time in that tunnel compound. Sinwar is Hamas top leader inside the Palestinian territory. Israeli officials have vowed to kill him and crush the militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday evening that the army was combing through intelligence files seized during operations in the tunnels. He said the army had multiple videos of Sinwar. While the people of Gaza are suffering above ground, Sinwar is hiding in tunnels and the ground underneath them, running like the coward that he is, said Hagari. UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF ISSUES DIRE WARNING ABOUT ISRAELI OPERATIONS IN RAFA UNITED NATIONS The U.N. humanitarian chief is warning that Israeli military operations in Gazas southern city of Rafah could lead to a slaughter. Martin Griffiths said Tuesday more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have fled to Rafah seeking safety from Israeli attacks and are staring death in the face, with little to eat, hardly any access to medical care, nowhere to sleep, nowhere safe to go. Gazas residents, he said, are the victim of an Israeli assault that is unparalleled in its intensity, brutality and scope. Griffiths reiterated U.N. demands for an end to the war that Israel launched after Hamas surprise attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked his military to prepare plans to evacuate Rafah so it can pursue Hamas fighters in the city. The Hamas attacks in Israel killed about 1,200 people and led to the taking of about 250 hostages. More than 28,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed across Gaza in the Israeli offensive, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, he said. Griffiths said in a statement that he has been warning for weeks that the U.N. humanitarian response is in tatters and now he is sounding the alarm again. Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza, he said. They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at deaths door. ISRAEL SAYS NORTHERN GAZA RESIDENTS CAN RETURN HOME ONCE IT'S CLEAR OF MILITANTS JERUSALEM Israels top general says the army will not allow residents of northern Gaza to return to their homes until the area is completely cleared of militants. At a press conference Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said that although many of the estimated 15,000 Hamas militants originally in northern Gaza had been killed or wounded, rocket launches and attacks against Israeli troops are still occurring there. He says residents will return there when it is safe to return and there are no more terror activities. Northern Gaza was the first target of Israels ground invasion in late October, after weeks of heavy airstrikes and artillery shelling. Most of the more than 1 million people living there fled in the opening weeks of the war, which has flattened entire neighborhoods. Israel is now threatening to expand its operation to the southern city of Rafah, where over half of Gazas population is sheltering. Halevi says the army is weighing different options to evacuate Rafah, though no final decisions have been made. He says the army has learned how to evacuate civilians during previous operations and would apply those lessons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to prepare a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah. He has suggested civilians could go to areas that have been cleared elsewhere in Gaza. Humanitarian groups say nowhere in Gaza is safe and that a ground operation in Rafah would be catastrophic. ISRAEL BLOCKS FLOUR SHIPMENT TO GAZA JERUSALEM Israels far-right finance minister has confirmed that he is blocking a massive shipment of flour to the Gaza Strip because the supplies are destined for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. In a post Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused UNRWA of cooperating with Hamas. He said he is working with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find an alternative distribution mechanism that wont reach the hands of Hamas. UNRWAs director, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Friday that the convoy of food donated by Turkey has been held up by Israeli authorities in an Israeli port for weeks. The agency says the shipment includes rice, flour, chickpeas, sugar and cooking oil. It's enough to feed 1.1 million people for one month. The holdup comes as an estimated 25% of Gaza families face catastrophic hunger. Israel has long accused UNRWA of tolerating or collaborating with Hamas a charge the agency denies. Israel last month said 12 UNRWA employees participated in the deadly Oct. 7 cross-border raid that sparked the war. UNRWA immediately fired most of the employees, but the allegations prompted key donors, including the United States, to suspend funding. UNRWA, the largest distributor of aid in Gaza, has launched reviews into its operations and the allegations against it. It has warned that it will have to halt its operations by the end of the month if funding isnt restored. UN CHIEF CITES DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF AN ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN GAZA'S RAFAH UNITED NATIONS The United Nations chief says public order has broken down in Gaza and an Israeli military offensive in Rafah, the southern city where some 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge, would have devastating consequences. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also told reporters Tuesday that Israel has imposed restrictions that are limiting the distribution of desperately needed humanitarian aid. He said the current mechanisms for protecting humanitarian workers distributing aid in Gaza are not effective. My sincere hope is that negotiations for the release of hostages and some form of cessation of hostilities to be successful to avoid an all-out offensive over Rafah, Guterres said. Guterres has spent months calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. In recent days he has expressed fear over what could happen to the displaced Palestinians who have crowded into Rafah if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead with his announced military offensive in the southern city. The secretary-general said the core of the U.N. humanitarian system is located in Rafah and an Israeli offensive there would have devastating consequences. MOODY'S DOWNGRADES RATINGS OF DEPOSITS AT 5 ISRAELI BANKS JERUSALEM Ratings agency Moodys has downgraded the deposit ratings of five Israeli banks after it earlier downgraded the countrys sovereign credit rating and warned that the ongoing war in Gaza and a possible war with Hezbollah could negatively affect Israels economy. Moodys on Tuesday downgraded the long- and short-term deposit ratings of Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Israel Discount Bank and First International Bank of Israel from A2 to A3, with a negative outlook. On Friday, the agency downgraded the countrys sovereign debt rating, which is used by investors to gauge the risk of investing in a country, from A1 to A2. The A2 rating still carries relatively low risk and is well within investment grade, but it was the first time Moodys lowered Israels credit rating. The countrys finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, dismissed the move, describing the announcement as a political manifesto that did not include serious economic claims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israels economy was strong and attributed the downgrade to the fact that we are at war. He vowed the rating would go up again once the war against Hamas was over. HEZBOLLAH'S LEADER DANGLES TRUCE PROSPECT ALONG LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER BEIRUT The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group indicated on Tuesday that it would halt its attacks on Israel and commit to a cease-fire in southern Lebanon after a settlement is reached in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. Hassan Nasrallah, however, said the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is also an ally of the Palestinian militant Hamas group, would continue its attacks if Israel resumes cross-border fire. When there is a cease-fire in Gaza, we will stop in the south, he said. The remark was apparently in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments saying that strikes against the militant group wont stop even with a cease-fire in Gaza. Nasrallah also called on residents in southern Lebanon to turn off their cellphones and cameras, warning them that they are key sources of Israeli intelligence gathering activities that are used to target Hezbollah officials and militants. Since the Oct. 7 eruption of the Israel-Hamas war, escalation along the Lebanon-Israeli border and prospects of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has terrified people on both sides of the border. Secretary of defense Lloyd Austin has cancelled a trip to Brussels for Nato and Ukraine meetings as he remains in hospital for treatment for a bladder issue. Mr Austin, a retired four-star general and the first Black secretary of defense, was put under general anaesthesia on Monday for a non-surgical procedure to treat the emergent bladder issue, his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said in a new statement. They added that he was set to get back to work on Tuesday and that a prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. But Mr Austin had to cancel a planned trip to Brussels this week, where he was set to attend a monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which includes the more than 50 countries that are sending military aid to Ukraine to help them push back the Russian invasion. Mr Austin was also scheduled to take part in a separate meeting of Nato defence secretaries in the Belgian capital. Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said that the meeting would now be virtual, ABC News noted. This weekends hospital visit was Mr Austins third hospitalisation following his prostate cancer diagnosis in December. Maj Gen Ryder was unable to state on Monday if the bladder issue was a complication following his 22 December surgery for prostate cancer. Maj Gen Ryder added that Mr Austin is no longer receiving treatment for his cancer diagnosis apart from physical therapy to deal with leg pain. Dr John Maddox and Dr Gregory Chesnut at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland just outside Washington DC, said in a statement on Monday: We anticipate the secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent. Mr Austin previously transferred duties to his deputy after he was moved to a critical care unit for treatment this weekend. The news came following widespread criticism of the lack of communication in connection to Mr Austins previous hospitalisation for prostate cancer. It was reported that President Joe Biden was unaware of his top defence official being out of action for several days before Mr Austins condition was communicated. Maj Gen Patrick Ryder said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Austin, 70, was taken to hospital by his security detail at about 2.20pm. He added that Mr Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. The deputy secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and congressional notifications have occurred. Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on 7 February (Getty) Initially, Mr Austin retained the duties of his office, but in a follow-up statement, the press secretary said that at approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the secretary of defense to deputy secretary of defense Kathleen Hicks. The deputy secretary of defense has assumed the functions and duties. Doctors at the hospital said in yet another statement later on Sunday that after a series of tests and evaluations, the secretary was admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring. At this time, it is not clear how long secretary Austin will remain hospitalised. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent, they added. The initial statement regarding Mr Austins hospitalisation came within three hours of his arrival at Walter Reed, a clear reaction to avoid mistakes of the past. Mr Austin previously said that there had been failures in the lack of communication about his medical status both towards the public and the rest of the Biden administration. Mr Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties, the Pentagon press secretary said before the defense secretary handed over his duties to Ms Hicks. A Seoul court sentenced a suspected lobbyist to five years in prison Tuesday in connection with the high-profile corruption scandal involving a property development project in Seongnam City. The scandal, stemming from opposition leader Lee Jae-myung's previous term as Seongnam mayor, centers on allegations that the municipal government gave special favors to a private developer in connection with the project to develop the city's Baekhyeon-dong area into apartment complexes between 2015 and 2016. The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday delivered a five-year prison term for Kim In-seob, a former campaign policy chief for Lee's Seongnam mayorship bid, on charges of taking 7.7 billion won ($5.8 million) and other business rights from the property development firm in return for helping secure administrative favors. The court also ordered a forfeit of 6.35 billion won from Kim. Tuesday's ruling marks the first court decision in the far-reaching development corruption scandal that also implicates Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, who served as Seongnam mayor from 2014 to 2017. Lee is currently standing trial on charges of involvement in the scandal and inflicting a 20 billion-won loss on Seongnam's housing development agency. Prosecutors have concluded that Kim illegally lobbied then Seongnam Mayor Lee and one of his aides to have the private developer, Seongnam R&D PFV, picked as the sole partner of the development project to the exclusion of the city-run development agency, Seongnam Development Corp. (Yonhap) Madison County lawyer Angela Joy Hopson, 45, was disbarred permanently on Friday on 13 separate complaints concerning several professional conduct violations. Hopson was ordered to pay $35,234 to eight individuals in restitution, according to a report from the Supreme Court of Tennessee's Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). The Highland Law Services building is located on 423 N. Highland in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Angela Joy Hopson of Highland Law services was recently disbarred following professional conduct violations. Per the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), Hopson was found guilty of multiple of the following offenses: failing to prosecute cases diligently failing to refund unearned fees failing to appear failing to communicate with clients misappropriating client money misleading clients and failing to notify clients of their case status charging an unreasonable fee engaging in unauthorized practice of law while suspended failing to respond to the Board [of Professional Responsibility] More: Suspended Madison County attorney faces felony charges after 2017 car crash Licensed in the state to practice law since 2003, Hopson has had a checkered past with RPC violations, resulting in public censures and suspensions from practicing law in 2014, 2018 and 2021 ranging from 30 days to one year. Hopson routinely disregarded complaints of ethical violations brought before her by the Board. Of the 13 complaints, Hopson was ultimately disbarred permanently for, she failed to respond to 12, according to an Oct. 2 report from the BPR. By Order of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, Hopson was issued a temporary suspension on July 28, 2021 for failing to respond to an unrelated complaint. Per her disbarring, the Board dissolved the prior temporary suspension. With a BOPR status code of "Disbarred Permanently," Hopson's status as a lawyer is terminated, and she will not have the opportunity to be reinstated after five years like a "Disbarred" coded lawyer would. She has ninety days to pay the restitution and must comply with the responsibilities of a disbarred attorney under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 2. This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Madison County, TN, lawyer is disbarred after 13 complaints An association of trainee doctors was seen shifting into cautious mode Tuesday after it set up an emergency committee in protest of a government plan to increase the number of medical students, as the health ministry called on them to avert collective action against the plan. The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), the major organization of trainee doctors, announced the resignation of its entire executive board, forming an emergency committee, but stopped short of making an announcement about their actions. Doctors and the government have shown signs of heading for a collision course over last week's decision to add 2,000 to the country's medical school enrollment quota next year, a sharp rise from the current 3,058 seats. Earlier in the day, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo called for trainee doctors to avert looming collective action. "We urge doctors to make a resolute decision to protect the patients by their side," Park told reporters. "The government will continue to make efforts to reform the medical sector to make hospitals a sustainable workplace." Park said the government is still cautiously monitoring the situation amid lingering concerns that the trainee doctors could take collective action at any time. Korea has been pushing to raise the quota amid the country's chronic shortage of doctors in crucial areas, as medical professionals tend to prefer practicing in nonessential areas with lower risks. The health ministry earlier made it clear that the government possesses the authority to potentially revoke doctors' licenses should they receive criminal punishments after failing to adhere to the order to return to work. On Monday, the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said the government's decision to increase the medical school quota is "irreversible," denouncing doctors' threats of collective action as unjustifiable. The health ministry also decided on the previous day to establish an emergency hotline to address complaints related to the disruption of medical services, bracing for potential collective action by local doctors. (Yonhap) "Malibu hasn't done anything for the homeless," says Elvin Rudolph Dekle, 69, who spends most of his days in Legacy Park. The city, which participated in the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, says it has seen a 30% decline since last year's survey. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) A few days after a yearlong stint at a sober living home in Los Angeles, Kacy Richardson finished a sandwich and stared at the gray clouds cruising over the green slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains. He was happy to be back in Malibu. Richardson, 33, said he's lived outdoors in the wealthy beach town for much of the past 10 years because it's peaceful and people are kinder than those in Los Angeles or Santa Monica. Like several of his companions in Legacy Park, Richardson has some complaints about the treatment of homeless people by sheriff's deputies. But over the past two years, he said, he has seen increased efforts by the city to move people into shelters or permanent housing, including two friends who lived outdoors in Malibu for many years and now have apartments. "It feels like the process is faster, he said. Ive definitely seen more people being placed in apartments. City officials agree and are promoting statistics to back up the claim. In an early release of its annual homeless count, Malibu announced a fourth straight year of declining encampments on its streets and beaches. The team surveying Malibu as part of the annual countywide point-in-time count found 51 people living outdoors in January, compared with 71 in 2023 and 239 at the peak in 2020. Two fires were caused by homeless people last year, the report said, a dramatic decline from the 23 in 2021. There were four in 2022. Read more: How problems at two of Skid Rows largest landlords threaten to worsen L.A.'s homelessness crisis The results reflect Malibu's proactive approach combining contracted outreach with enforcement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, said Luis Flores, the city's public safety liaison. Flores said Malibu is showcasing its preliminary numbers months ahead of the official countywide release "to be proactive with our messaging." Over the years, he said, there's been an ebb and flow that creates "a perception that not a lot is being done and that we have a major crisis on our hands. We want to ensure and highlight that a lot of great work is being done." Homeless people in Malibu's Legacy Park on Thursday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The city's preliminary numbers may change slightly in the official count, which is generally not released until late spring or early summer. That's because statisticians contracted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority will adjust for the average number of people estimated to live in cars, vans, tents and makeshift shelters observed over the three days of the count. Flores said he doesn't expect the adjustment to be significant because the city's count was conducted by skilled volunteers and outreach workers who are familiar with the local homeless population. Since 2017, Malibu has contracted with the People Concern for services and currently has two outreach workers and a housing navigator, Flores said. In Legacy Park, Richardson's hangout, he and his companions said they have seen the difference. But they fault the city for not having a shelter or affordable housing. At night they move across the street to the library, adjacent to the courthouse. The buildings provide protection from cold winds, and the awnings keep them dry from rain. "There's a lot of towns that have to build housing for low-income people, but Malibu has zero," said Elvin Dekle, pushing his belongings into the park in a shopping cart one recent afternoon. Dekle, 69, said he has been living in Malibu for 20 years. He acknowledged an improvement in services but wonders why the city doesn't use vacant land near Pepperdine University to build housing or, at least, establish a place where people can sleep. The City Council rejected a 2022 recommendation by its task force on homelessness to provide funds to create interim housing outside the city limits. Instead, the city funds for four shelter beds in Santa Monica, Flores said. Dekle's friend Kenneth Erickson agreed that a designated sleeping space would be helpful, especially since he is not ready to live indoors, paying rent and other bills. Erickson, 38, a former pyrotechnic artist for music concerts, said he came to Malibu after spiraling into homelessness eight years ago, because it felt safe. "The area is peaceful," he said. "You don't have to worry about people robbing you or hurting you while you're sleeping." While he appreciates that the city is trying to get people indoors, he thinks it is moving those who are not mentally ready and need more guidance to prepare them for the responsibilities that come with housing. According to monthly outcome records posted on the city's homelessness website, the People Concern outreach workers made more than 3,900 contacts last year, with a monthly average of 72 individuals. Over the year, the team moved 51 people off the streets: 28 went into shelters, 15 went to permanent housing, and eight relocated to live with family or friends elsewhere. Another 14 have vouchers and are searching for housing. The monthly reports indicated that 100 new homeless individuals had been identified during the year. With the decline of 20 in the overall count and 51 moved from the street, there are dozens unaccounted for. It's not uncommon, Flores said, for people to show up in the city, hang around for a day or two, then leave, especially near the end of the Metro bus line that runs from Santa Monica to Trancas Canyon. A man rests next to his belongings Thursday in front of the Malibu Library. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) "We see faces on a routine basis, and we never see them the following day or the following week," he said. A Malibu ordinance prohibits overnight stays "in any public park, public beach or public street (including in a vehicle parked on a public street)." An amendment bringing the law into compliance with federal court rulings specifies that it will not be enforced on people who "do not have access to adequate temporary shelter." The city's removal program cleared 29 encampments in 2023, half as many as it did in 2021, reflecting the decline in the overall homeless numbers. Outreach workers provide advance notice of encampment removals and offer services and shelter, Flores said. Sites are revisited to ensure that no campers return. Flores attributed the decrease in fires to an aggressive media campaign and enforcement. Signs have been posted in canyons and parks warning people not to start fires. Also, the Sheriff's Department identified and arrested people who were known to start fires, Flores said; others got housed or simply left. Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Soderlund reported that eight of the city's 11 arson arrests since 2020 involved homeless people. "Once one individual gets arrested and charged, we use outreach and the Sheriffs Department to push that," he said. "The message spreads. A lot of individuals who started fires are no longer here." After a decade on and off Malibu's streets, Richardson hopes to get on a housing list, "because being out here sucks," he said. Though it's relatively safe, and people are kind, he sometimes feels hassled by deputies who tell him where he can and cannot linger. His main complaint is being cited for taking shopping carts from Malibu Village, a shopping center lined with restaurants and boutiques. "We have nowhere to put our stuff and no way to transport it," he said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A Sacramento County jury found a 68-year-old guilty last week of 12 counts related to sexually assaulting two preteen girls and faces a sentence of more than a 100 years in a California prison, prosecutors said. Greg Jimenez was found guilty of three counts of lewd acts on a child and nine counts of forcible lewd acts on a child. The jury also found true a substantial sexual misconduct allegation, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. Jimenez, a friend of the victims family, sexually assaulted two girls when they visited his home and were passengers in his car. One child was between 6 and 11 years old, prosecutors said. Jimenez pulled this girls hair and choked her, prosecutors said. He dissuaded the girl from speaking about the abuse by saying no one loved her and she would get into trouble if she revealed the abuse. The victims sister also was sexually assaulted, the District Attorneys Office said. Jimenez is scheduled to be sentenced March 29, and could receive as many as 102 years in his sentence, prosecutors said. Pennsylvania State Police in Mercer County are searching for a man suspected of robbing a business at gunpoint. Police say the incident happened at an Amish store on Osborn Road in Salem Township around 11:20 a.m. Monday. A female employee told police a man entered the business and displayed a gun before attempting to force her to come with him. She was able to run away from him. The suspect then reportedly stole money from the register before driving west on Osborn Road toward Methodist Road. Police describe the suspect as a white man who stands 5 feet 5 inches tall, has a small build and weighs 150 pounds. He was last known to be wearing dark clothing, a pull over hat and mask. The man may be driving a dark gray or charcoal-colored sedan, possibly with a roof rack. Anyone with information should contact police by calling 724-662-6162. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Why is Facebook chirping on phones? How to turn off the sound Man charged in overnight Moon Township shooting Were all hurting: Friend of man killed during argument with his girlfriends father speaks out VIDEO: Karns City QB Mason Martins father remains hopeful his son will fully recover from brain injury DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A man died after he was accused of shoplifting from an Atlanta-area Target store, Georgia authorities said. Robert Cornelious Powell of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested Feb. 11 and fell unconscious after leading officers on a foot chase, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A loss prevention officer called police about Powell, 32, who investigators said was suspected of stealing from two Target stores, including one in Cumming. He ran when officers arrived and led them on a chase through woods before surrendering, according to the GBI. Officers said they noticed Powells leg was injured but didnt give specifics. Thats when he told officers he was having trouble breathing and EMS was called. Powells condition continued to decline, and he was ultimately pronounced dead at the hospital, the GBI said. His body will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death, investigators said. Authorities didnt release additional details but said the case will be turned over to the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office after the GBI wraps up its investigation. Cumming is about 40 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. Dad accused of shoplifting abandons scared son in car to flee, Georgia cops say Mom accused of theft tries framing her child, Florida cops say. Thats not true mom Man was eaten alive by bugs in Georgia cell, attorneys say. Now feds investigate jail After losing his attorney and facing a new witness intimidation charge, Aaron Schoenrock will argue he was insane when he allegedly tortured a woman in May in Port Huron. Aaron Schoenrock filed his notice to argue insanity on Thursday. A notice was also filed stating he would now be represented in his torture case by Senior Assistant Public Defenders Meggan Delisi and Jennifer Rutkowski. Schoenrock was arrested in June after a woman reported she was held captive and tortured by Schoenrock and his then-girlfriend, Jolynn Hirsch. The victim said she was beaten, threatened with a chainsaw and forced to write a suicide letter at gunpoint. Hirsch has since admitted guilt and entered a plea deal which requires her to testify against Schoenrock if his case goes to trial. Officials allege Schoenrock tried to have his mother forward Hirsch a letter asking her to recant her statements to police. The letter was intercepted by law enforcement and he was charged. St. Clair County Senior Prosecutor Joshua Sparling has requested the two cases be consolidated. Delisi first raised concern about Schoenrock's mental health at his preliminary hearing for the witness intimidation charge, saying Schoenrock had said he was hearing voices. The judge dismissed her request for a competency evaluation , expressing concern that Schoenrock was being disingenuous to delay court proceedings. The defense has since filed a new motion for Schoenrock to undergo a mental health evaluation. The motion states Schoenrock has been seeing mental health professionals during his incarceration. It also cites several interactions between Schoenrock and his attorneys, both current and former, which the defense says raised questions about his ability to understand the trial and contribute to his own defense. In his motion to withdraw, David Goldstein, Schoenrock's previous attorney, said there had been a breakdown of trust between them, but he did not want to include the reasons in writing to protect Schoenrock's privacy. The motion sets out the standards for legal insanity under Michigan law. "A defendant is legally insane, or lacking criminal responsibility, when defendant lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the nature and quality of the wrongfulness of his or her conduct," the motion states. Schoenrock has been charged with 10 felonies including torture, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, and three counts of felony firearm possession. A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 26. Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Man accused of torturing woman files notice for insanity defense Editors Note: Items described in this article may be disturbing for some viewers. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) One man was arrested on February 11 after allegedly beating and drowning a Shih Tzu following an argument with the dogs owner. Brendan Griffin, 32, was booked in the Tom Green County Detention Center and charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal by killing, poisoning or causing serious bodily injury. SAFD to celebrate new engines with centuries-old ceremony Mugshot: Brendan Griffin 2-11-2024 courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office Officers began their investigation on February 8, 2024, after being dispatched for the death of an animal, according to records filed in Tom Green County. Officers spoke with an individual who shared Griffin had told them that the 10-pound dog was deceased. After speaking with the individual, the San Angelo police officer went to an apartment in the 1800 Blk of S. Harrison and found the dog. While at this location, officers noticed that the dog had red markings which were described as suspected ligature markings. During this time, officers spoke with the dogs owner, who was Griffins girlfriend. She shared the two had gotten into an argument before Griffin took the black and white dog to the kitchen sink and then to a bathtub. On the following day, according to an affidavit, officers came in contact with Griffin over the phone. Griffin told officers his actions during the death of the dog. Officers soon went back to the apartment to Miranideze him at the apartment. During this time, Griffin told officers that on February 7, he and his girlfriend had gotten into a verbal argument about him contacting another female. Records state this argument resulted in an outburst of anger which led Griffin to hit the dog with an open hand. After hitting the dog an estimated five times, Griffin recalled bathing the dog. While bathing the Shih Tzu, Griffin described holding it underwater and placing it on the floor where it soon died. Griffin told officers that discharge started coming from the black and white dogs nose and rectum, and a discoloration in the canines abdomen which he believed to be a result of an intestinal rupture, records state. Loop Etiquette: Are you driving the right way? The deceased canine was taken to the Main Street Animal Clinic where detectives came in contact with Dr. Kerbey Johansen on February 9. Detectives witnessed the markings along the canine including a deep red mark on the chest and abdomen area and staining near the small dogs rectum. Dr. Johansen shared that these markings were indicative of blunt force trauma and the dog had been seen at the end of January. The Shih Tzu was said to be healthy at that time. Detectives spoke with another individual involved who recalled moments from February 7. According to her, Griffin told her that the dog had died at 11:42 p.m. on February 7. The individual soon went to the apartment where she noticed markings on the small canines body, its wet fur and discharge near the rectum area. Griffin told the individual that the canine had passed in its sleep or possibly ingested a toxic substance, records state. During the argument, it was said that the dogs owner left the apartment with a third party to clear their head. Griffin was booked in the Tom Green County Detention Center on February 11 and had a $1,500 bond. He was released the following day, February 12. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. By Nam Hyun-woo The Reform Party, a big-tent political party comprised of politicians who broke away from their former parties, held its inaugural Supreme Council meeting, Tuesday, promising that it will end the meaningless competition between President Yoon Suk Yeol and main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung. The most wanted political reform that the people desire is ending the meaningless competition between Yoon and Lee which has lasted for the past few years, its Co-Chairman Lee Jun-seok said. Our party will be the strongest check on the president, who has been solely focused on consolidating his power while neglecting his duty of achieving a prosperous nation for the people. He denounced both the DPK and the ruling People Power Party (PPP), saying they have failed to address issues that should have been addressed. How can we expect social reform from the PPP, which is obsessed with a battle against activist-turned-politicians? Lee said, referring to PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoons catchphrase of clearing out the privilege-based politics by activist-turned-politicians. Those in their 20s and 30s who spent their college and university days in the 2000s never had a chance to experience student activism. Lee also criticized the DPK, which is championing the catchphrase handing down judgment to the Yoon administrations prosecutor autocracy. Most ordinary citizens are living without ever visiting a police station, and the main opposition party is coercing them to engage in a showdown with the prosecution, he said. Unlike them, we have to take care of issues that must be addressed, even if they require debate. Reform Party Co-Chairman Lee Nak-yon stressed the unity between the different political groups that joined the party. The Reform Party was created, Friday, in a merger between four political parties comprised of both conservative and liberal breakaway members from the main rival parties. Lee Jun-seok was a former PPP chairman, while Lee Nak-yon previously led the DPK. There can be differences between ourselves, Lee Nak-yon said. We will manage the difference wisely and amplify things we have in common. Lee Nak-yon noted that it is the first time in Koreas history to have four new political parties form in a short period of time, and it is because of the publics disappointment in the existing rival parties. The rival parties were supposed to scrutinize themselves about why the public is disappointed in them, the former DPK chairman said. If we let the current politics based on rivalry between Yoon and (DPK Chairman) Lee remain unchanged, the country will deteriorate to a much more serious state than it is now. On Monday, the party appointed independent Rep. Yang Hyang-ja as its floor leader, former lawmaker Keum Tae-seop, Reps. Kim Jong-min and Cho Eung-cheon as its Supreme Council members. During a radio interview with SBS, Tuesday, Lee Nak-yon said the Reform Party seeks to secure at least 30 National Assembly seats during the April 10 general elections, while Lee Jun-seok said in a separate interview with CBS that the more (seats) the better. AUSTIN (KXAN) A man who was charged in two separate shootings in April 2022 was found guilty of capital murder of multiple persons on Monday. Eric Rollins, 53, was arrested and charged in connection with two separate, deadly shootings in east Austin on April 28, 2022. The first shooting happened near East 12th Street and Webberville Road, and the second happened shortly after in the 400 block of East Sixth Street, according to previous coverage. APD: Man arrested in connection with two separate Austin shootings A Travis County jury returned a guilty verdict on Feb. 12, 2024, according to District Attorney Jose Garzas office. He was sentenced on the same day to life without parole, to be served in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victims families, Garza said. We hope this verdict brings closure and peace to the families. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) An Indiana man has been sentenced for child sex crimes. 20-year-old Dylan B. Clark has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison after picking up a girl from Vermilion County and bringing her to his home in Indiana. Clark was 19 years old at the time of the crime. He traveled across state lines to meet up with an 11-year-old girl from Georgetown and lure her back to his Franklin, Ind. home, where he engaged in sexual conduct. An investigation was conducted by the FBIs Springfield Field Office, the Vermilion County Sheriffs Department, and Indianas Johnson County Sheriffs Office. Clark was arrested in September 2022 and was placed into the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. One year later, he pled guilty to transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. READ MORE: Missing Georgetown girl found safe A childs vulnerability can easily be exploited by offenders like Clark. Even though this sentence reflects the magnitude of his criminal conduct, it cannot undo the impact suffered by an 11-year-old child, said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. The FBI is committed to ensuring that those intent on harming children will instead spend their days behind bars. During the sentencing hearing, the judge called the offense horrific, noting that Clark had irrevocably scarred a child through his actions. Following his 172-month prison sentence, Clark is to have 10 years of supervised release. The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Central District of Illinois and elsewhere continues to fight to protect this nations children from sexual abusers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel E. Ritzer said. Through the hard work of specialized agents within the Federal Bureau of Investigation and close cooperation with local law enforcement agencies across Illinois and Indiana, justice was gained for the minor victim in this tragic case. This case was investigated as part of the U.S. Department of Justices initiative to prevent child exploitation and abuse, Project Safe Childhood. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. A man described as being elderly was seriously injured when he was thrown from escalator steps in a Texas mall, police say. The incident happened Jan. 27 in the Dillards store at the North Star Mall in San Antonio. The San Antonio Police Department shared video of the incident Monday, Feb. 12, in its attempt to find a man and woman involved. The video shows the older man step onto the escalator steps, then another man follow him. That man grabbed the victim by the shoulders, according to the video, then threw him to the bottom of the escalator. A woman who appeared to be with the male suspect is shown in the video standing over the victim as he laid horizontal at the bottom of the steps. Then, the male and female suspects fled the area without helping the victim, video shows. Police said the victims head was impacted by the fall, and he suffered severe injuries to his whole body. Police are now searching for the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact San Antonio police at 210-207-7635. Man getting haircut in mall is shot dead in cold blood, Texas police say Predator stalked woman while she shopped at mall before kidnapping her, CA cops say In December, Mohammed al-Hijoj was driving for Uber to support his family, prosecutors and relatives say, when a passenger he picked up fatally shot him after he reached the drop-off point in the North Austin neighborhood. A judge on Tuesday ordered an 18-year-old man detained while awaiting trial on murder charges just one day before a coalition of Uber and Lyft drivers go on a one-day strike to protest poor pay and unsafe working conditions amid instances of violence against the workers. They need to think about ways to protect the drivers and their families, said Kawkab al-Hijoj, Mohammeds sister, referring to the ride-share companies. He came into this country 15 years ago looking for a better future for his family, for his kids. Cook County prosecutors charged Zayin Kelly with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the Dec. 3 killing of al-Hijoj, 39. Family members packed the hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building after gathering outside the building with signs demanding justice in the slaying as well as fair working conditions for other drivers. Mohammed al-Hijoj had been driving for 15 years in the Chicago area after moving from Jordan. Fellow drivers knew him as a friend who would bring them coffee or a snack when they were nearby and in between clients. His sister said he was studying for a doctorate at Concordia University Chicago and was close to finishing his dissertation. He was married with three children. A lot of people love Mohammed, Kawkab al-Hijoj said. He is decent, respectful. While arguing for detention, Assistant States Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers said al-Hijoj picked up Kelly and three other males in the 1500 block of North Lawler Avenue on the citys West Side and drove them a short distance to the 1700 block of North Lotus Avenue where the ride ended just after 5:30 p.m. A witness parked outside saw a passenger climb from the back of the car to the front while another passenger patted down the driver as he raised his hands, McCord Rodgers said. The witness ran inside, heard gunshots and told his wife to call 911. As the passengers ran away, Kelly accidentally shot himself while getting out of the car, she said. The events were captured on private surveillance video, with the audio recording someone saying, Call 911, I shot my leg, McCord Rodgers alleged. When arriving on the scene, police found a trail of blood that led from the car to Kellys home, prosecutors said. Kelly asked a neighbor to drive him to the hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg, McCord Rodgers said. Investigators matched blood on his hospital gown to the blood trail at the crime scene, she said. Investigators were able to connect a phone number and email address associated with the Uber account to Kelly, she said. Kelly was on juvenile probation for robbery and aggravated battery, McCord Rodgers said. Assistant Public Defender Joseph Crawford asked that Kelly not be detained, arguing that though the evidence suggests his client was present, the state did not show he was the shooter. He noted he had not yet heard the audio of the individual proclaiming that he shot himself. There is a level of trust in that who you are picking up is not going to rob you and murder you, and its precisely what this defendant did, McCord Rodgers countered. Weighing the evidence, Judge David Kelly said he believed the state met its burden of proof and ordered the defendant detained. On Wednesday, ride-share drivers in Chicago plan to rally at OHare International Airport with other protests happening simultaneously across the country. In a news release, the coalition of drivers said they are seeing less and less money from each ride as Silicon Valley and Wall Street take an ever-increasing cut of driver earnings, despite drivers footing all industry expenses. Boats are everywhere in Florida, but one motorist is accused of leaving his in an odd place blocking the entrance to a sheriffs office substation, investigators say. The derelict craft was found just after 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, in the 4900 block of Thomas Nursery Road near Lake Wales, the Polk County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Lake Wales is about 60 miles east of Tampa. Investigators say the airboat was being towed when it fell from a trailer into the road and was abandoned by the driver. The same substation serves Polk County Fire Rescue and it was a fire captain who alerted deputies to a boat blocking the entrance. The captain reported that the driver of a dark Ford F150 that had been hauling the boat appeared intoxicated before he drove away from the area, the sheriffs office says. Investigators say the owner returned with another man to retrieve the boat, and a deputy noted he appeared agitated and was yelling, officials said. An attempt to calm him had the opposite effect, the report states. At that time, (the suspect) became irate with the deputy, took an aggressive stance towards him, charged in his direction, pushed his chest out at the deputy with his fist balled up, began yelling in the deputys face, and ignored the deputys commands, the sheriffs office said. Deputies arrested the man after observing he exhibited slurred speech, balance issues and had bloodshot eyes, officials said. He was charged with DUI, assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence, officials said. One of (the suspects) breath samples showed him to be four times the legal limit. Im not sure how he was walking, let alone driving, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in the release. Mom accused of theft tries framing her child, Florida cops say. Thats not true mom Crash sends biker flying through the air and into a pedestrian, Florida troopers say 11-year-old hatched plot to kill girl flirting with her boyfriend, Florida cops say TAVARES A judge has sentenced a man to 29 months in prison for performing a C-section on a French bulldog killing both her and two puppies and practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Frankie H. Rivera, 36, performed the operation for the dogs owner, Larry Colon, who held the dog down on a table, according to court records. The operation was videotaped by his 15-year-old daughter, who intended to show it on TikTok. Other minors were also present. Colon, 53, said he paid his friend $650 to perform the operation on Feb. 9, 2021. In the video, which authorities said is "hard to watch," the dog shakes and squirms in pain, indicating that she is not completely sedated. Colon later told a veterinarian that he was trying to save money and knew it was not what should have been done, according to the arrest affidavit. Ricci May, DVM, of St. Charles Veterinarian Hospital, concluded that the incident caused unjust cruelty and suffering due to unethical medical services performed, according to the affidavit. The veterinarian said the cause of death was likely septic shock secondary to contamination and additional fetuses left in the uterus due to non-sterile surgery performed by unlicensed individual with medical care and diagnostics that do not meet minimum requirements to be safe for the patient. The doctor urged Colon to have the surviving puppies examined by a vet immediately. The next day, on Feb. 10, when investigators questioned Colon, the surviving puppies still had not been examined by a veterinarian, according to the affidavit. Circuit Judge James Baxley imposed the sentence on Feb. 9 after Rivera pleaded no contest. The police report said Colon and Rivera have been Facebook friends since 2017, and that his cover photo is of the dog that Rivera uses for stud service. Rivera also faces five years of probation after his release. Colon faces the same charges: seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count each of conspiracy to commit aggravated animal cruelty and practicing veterinary medicine without a license. No trial date has been set for him. This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Lake County courts: Punishment for man who killed dog with C-section? SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A Pomona man was sentenced to twelve years in prison in a San Diego federal court Monday for sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl, according to the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. Gabriel Joseph Gonzalez, 20, had pleaded guilty to one charge of sex trafficking a minor last year after the victim, a runaway living at a group home in Los Angeles County, was rescued by the San Diego Police Department in late January. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor is inexcusable, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said of the case in a statement. At the California Department of Justice, we are fighting to hold perpetrators accountable and help survivors get a fresh start. Suspect detained after fight between siblings prompts standoff According to prosecutors, Gonzalez, who had known the victim since she was 13 years old, enticed the teen to leave the group home to engage in commercial sex work in early 2023. He then transported her to San Diego, where she was forced to walk areas known for prostitution. After several weeks, she escaped to call 9-1-1 and was later rescued by SDPD on Jan. 26 around the time the department was conducting a major human trafficking operation that led to the arrest of 48 people and rescue of 16 trafficking victims, including eight children. It is unclear whether Gonzalezs victim was counted as one of the individuals saved in the operation in the numbers provided by law enforcement. The victims courage to call 911 in this case was extraordinary, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a release. Her trust in law enforcement demonstrated that when someone reports abuse, the public servants in this community are all hands on deck to bring abusers to justice. Gonzalez entered his guilty plea before a federal court several months after his arrest and his victims rescue, in July 2023. However, prosecutors say he attempted to continue trafficking the victim while in custody through jail cells. LA man arrested after assault turns fatal in Fallbrook According to the U.S. Attorneys office, the federal judges decision to pronounce a 12-year sentence reflected this apparent lack of remorse in Gonzalez for his conduct in custody and continued victimization of the minor. If you are living or working under threat of violence or extortion, or you suspect someone else may be, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center toll free, 24/7 Hotline: CALL: 888-373-7888 or TEXT BeFree or 233733. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Cho Kuk's election bid concerns main opposition party By Nam Hyun-woo Cho Kuk, a former justice minister during the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration, announced his bid to create a party and run in the April 10 general elections, despite concerns that his move may aggravate factional infighting in the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). During a press conference in Busan, Cho said that he would create his own political party, I will stand on the frontline for the end of the incompetent (Yoon Suk Yeol) administrations prosecutor autocracy. The country is facing crises in almost all fields including diplomacy, national security and the economy The April 10 general elections should be a chance to not only hand down judgment on the incompetent Yoon administration but also rebuild the Republic of Korea. Cho said that he is yet to determine the details of his envisaged party or his plan for the election campaign, adding, I will discuss with party members the rules and the process. He ruled out the chance of joining the Reform Party, a big-tent party comprised of both conservative and liberal politicians who broke away from the DPK and the ruling People Power Party, but left room for affiliation with the DPK, saying, I dont know what will happen at the end. Cho, who has been standing trial for years over allegations that he and his wife fabricated various academic documents to get their daughter admitted to a medical school, is widely seen as a figure who gave critical opportunities to then-Prosecutor General Yoon to become a political star among the conservatives and eventually become the president. In a high court trial on the academic scandal and 12 other accusations, Thursday, Cho was sentenced to a two-year prison term, but was not detained immediately because the court believed that the chances of him fleeing were slim. He then said in a statement that he would run in the general elections. Chos intention to run in the general elections came amid intensifying infighting between the DPKs mainstream and a pro-Moon faction. On Feb. 6, Im Hyug-baeg, the DPKs candidate recommendation committee head, said, Those who contributed to the birth of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration should show gestures of taking responsibility. The comment was interpreted as being targeted at former officials in the Moon administration who are still in the party, including Moon's chief of staff Lim Jong-seok, who is seeking to run in a DPK stronghold in Seoul. The comment triggered a major confrontation between the two sides. DPK Rep. Ko Min-jung, who is a former spokesperson of Moon, said in a radio interview with CBS on Tuesday, We should not ban a person for his or her experience for working for the Moon administration and The issue of recommending a candidate should not be swayed by faction, previous career and remarks. To address those conflicts, DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said during a radio interview with MBC, Monday, If the birth of the Yoon administration is an outcome of the Moon administrations failure, all of the DPK lawmakers should be blamed. However, former Justice Minister Chos participation in the general elections is anticipated to worsen the factional feud. During Mondays interview, the DPK floor leader was negative about Chos election bid, ruling out the possibility of affiliation between the DPK and Chos new party. DPK Rep. Park Hong-keun, who is leading the partys work regarding the launching of a satellite party, which is affiliated with minor liberal political groups, wrote on Facebook Tuesday that the party is not considering Chos new party as an affiliation partner, because Chos participation will end up creating unnecessary controversies, conflicts and political offensives. Another concern for the DPK is that Chos election bid may steal the support of Moon loyalists while prompting swing voters to have negative sentiments against the entire liberal bloc because Cho was already convicted for the crime of academic fraud related to his daughter's medical school admission. To achieve the victory of the liberal and progressive bloc and hand down judgment to the Yoon administration, we have to secure ballots from swing voters, and in that sense, Chos election bid is worrisome, DPK Rep. Kim Du-kwan said during an interview with YTN, Tuesday. Jared Michael Shaw looks toward the gallery during his trial Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. A homeless man who fatally stabbed a homeless woman sleeping on a bench in DeLand was found guilty of first-degree murder Tuesday and sentenced to life in prison. Jared Shaw, 36, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Christine McCaleb, 67. The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before returning the guilty verdict. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn sentenced Shaw Tuesday to the mandatory life in prison. Shaw did not appear to show any reaction at the verdict or the sentence. No one disputed what happened around 3 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2019. McCaleb was sleeping on a bench in front of the Bank of America at 230 N. Woodland Boulevard in DeLand. Shaw walked up to her, stabbed her in the chest and also sliced the back of her neck. She suffered wounds on one of her hands that the medical examiner testified could be defensive wounds from trying to grab the knife's blade. She died from the chest wound. The defense argued that Shaw was legally insane, meaning he suffered from mental illness or defect at the time of the crime and did not know what he was doing, or that did know what he was doing but did not realize it was wrong. On Tuesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys called dueling experts to the stand who shared opposite opinions on that point. Lisa Potash, a psychologist retained by the defense, testified that at the time of the murder Shaw was suffering from schizoaffective disorder bi-polar type and he did not appear to be aware of what he was doing or the consequences of his actions. That would mean Shaw met the statutory requirement of insanity. Dr. Jason Demery, a psychologist retained by prosecutors, testified that he did not believe Shaw met the statutory requirements to be found insane at the time of the crime, because he could not rule out that Shaw was under the effects of illicit drugs. Prosecutors argue murder was premeditated Assistant State Attorney Mark Interlicchio, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz, asked jurors to convict Shaw of first-degree premeditated murder. He said Shaws purchase of a knife at Walmart two days before the killing was evidence of premeditation. He said Shaw walked back and forth by the bench were McCaleb was sleeping, stalking her before stabbing her. Interlicchio also said Shaw stabbed McCaleb forcefully. He said Shaw tried to decapitate McCaleb. Interlicchio also pointed to Shaw's behavior with deputies, saying he did not appear psychotic as he followed directions and answered questions from law enforcement. He said that Potash ignored Shaws drug use in finding him insane at the time of the crime, even though police found meth in Shaw's pants pocket. Shaw had also overdosed 10 days earlier. Interlicchio admitted Shaw had mental health issues, but he said Shaw was angry and fed up when he killed McCaleb. Assistant Public Defender Brian Smith, who along with Assistant Public Defender Jessica Roberts represented Shaw, said after stabbing McCaleb, Shaw stood by her long enough to leave a small amount of his own blood. Then he rode his bicycle to a bench near Flagler Hall at Stetson University. He left a puddle of blood there along with the bloody bicycle. Then Shaw walked halfway to McCalebs bench before encountering deputies. And the state wants you to believe those are the actions of a sane man, Smith said. He said Shaw had no plan to kill when he bought the knife and that some homeless people carry knives. And he said the state had not presented any evidence that Shaw had used meth that night. Slain woman's family about Shaw: 'We don't hate him' McCalebs daughter, Michelle Arel, of Ormond Beach, said it had been a long and emotional wait for the trial, which included a delay due to the COVID pandemic. Her husband, Stan Arel, said the family does not have animosity toward Shaw. We dont hate him, but we just dont want him to do it again, Stan Arel said. No, I forgave him, Michelle Arel said. Michelle Arel spoke to Shaw's adoptive family after the verdict. I dont put any ill will toward his parents, his family, I love them, Michelle Arel said. I pray the best for them. She added as she held back tears: I understand what they are going through because my mom was mentally ill too. Jared Shaw looks toward the family that adopted him when he was a child during his trial on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, for the murder of Christine McCaleb as she slept on a bench in 2019 in DeLand. Man describes Shaw: 'He just wasn't right' Christopher Rodgers testified he met Shaw while both men were homeless. Rodgers said he has since turned his life around, but in 2019 he was living on the streets of DeLand. He said homeless people would hang out in parks and go to soup kitchens. Rodgers told Interlicchio that he was friends with Shaw and that they would give each other cigarettes. In response to a question from Interlicchio, Rodgers described Shaw: He was slow. He was not as advanced as a normal person . He just wasnt right. He wasnt like a normal person." He said he may have seen Shaw angry at times, but he had not seen him act physically violent. Rodgers said at the time we were all on dope," specifying methamphetamine when the prosecutor asked. But he said he had not seen Shaw use meth. He said on the evening before the murder they had been hanging out by the tag office in DeLand because there was Wi-Fi there. He said Shaw was there among some others. Rodgers said he did not see anyone doing drugs but said we were all high. Thats just what we did. When asked if Shaw was acting violent toward anyone, Rodgers said not that I recall, no, sir. Under cross examination, Rodgers said the only drug he had done with Shaw was marijuana. Christine's Blankets After his arrest, Shaw told DeLand Police that he thought the blanket McCaleb was using actually belonged to him, DeLand Police said at the time. But Shaw's defense attorneys successfully argued that his statements should not be allowed at trial because police obtained them while Shaw was still recovering from surgery and under the influence of medication at Halifax Health Medical Center. After her death, McCaleb's family founded Christine's Blankets in her honor to provide blankets and other items to the homeless. McCaleb "was homeless for many years due to her struggle with mental illness," according to the organization's pamphlet. Besides blankets, the organization provides items like care bags throughout the year and seasonal bags, with knit hats, gloves and scarves for the winter and flip flops, lip balm and sunscreen for the summer, according to the pamphlet from the group. For information, email christinesblankets@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Man gets life in prison for fatally stabbing homeless woman in DeLand The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a man who allegedly died running away from police after he shoplifted from a Forsyth County Target. On Sunday, a loss prevention officer at Target contacted police regarding a man identified as Robert Cornelious Powell who had allegedly been shoplifting. When Cumming officers arrived, Powell ran away, going into a nearby wooded area, according to the GBI. Eventually, Powell ran through the woods before surrendering to the police. During his arrest, Powell told officers that he was having trouble breathing and had an injury on his leg, so he was taken to a nearby hospital. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] At the hospital, Powell became unresponsive and was pronounced dead. His cause of death remains unclear. Powells body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating after a man was shot and killed in Northwest D.C. on Monday. Officers responded to the report of gunshots in the 900 block of Shepherd St. NW at about 2:41 a.m. There, they found a man with gunshot wound injuries. He died there. Woman, dog nearly hit by stolen SUV as DC police chase He was identified as 32-year-old Jeremy Dewayne Johnson of Southeast D.C. Anyone with information is asked to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. As an active, longtime member of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, Pat Manchester has taken part many times in the process of choosing the winners of the organizations Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year awards. Im familiar with this award, so I know its about what you do for the community, not just what you do in business, he said. That made it especially meaningful to Manchester and his wife Rita when Manchester Agency LLC Farmers Insurance won the 2023 Business of the Year award from the chamber during the organizations annual banquet on Friday, Feb. 2 at the Farmington Civic Center. Manchester said the chambers recognition of businesses that support nonprofit organizations are a big part of what keeps the community strong. He said he was deeply honored to receive the award. Pat Manchester and Rita Hollar-Manchester of the Manchester Agency -- Farmers Insurance accept the 2023 Business of the Year award from Farmington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jamie Church Feb. 2 at the Farmington Civic Center. Im still kind of just pinching myself, he said. Pat and Rita Hollar-Manchester have been involved in numerous community endeavors over the years shes has worked on behalf of the San Juan County Sheriffs Office Foundation, while he is a major supporter of the Grace Place Family Health Center in Farmington but their most significant contribution in recent years may have been the launch of 100 Men/100 Women Who Care, an organization that financially supports a rotating roster of nonprofit organizations in San Juan County. Pat Manchester said a friend in Texas gave him the idea for the group, and Manchester and his wife decided to start an organization here. Once each quarter, members of the group get together over lunch to hear a presentation from the leader of a preselected nonprofit organization about the groups work, then the members write a check to donate to that cause. Rita Hollar-Manchester and Pat Manchester launched the 100 Men/100 Women Who Care organization in Farmington in 2019, Manchester said the organization is in its fourth year and has raised $300,000 for a variety of local nonprofit groups, including Inspire HeArt, the Rio del Sol Kiwanis Club and Its My Very Own Bags of Love. All we ask is that they promise to pledge something, Manchester said, noting there are no membership fees, and any member is free to nominate a nonprofit organization in good financial standing. The two groups have approximately 30 or 40 folks who participate regularly, he said, and nearly 70 who take part periodically. John Byrom named Farmington Citizen of the Year The winner of the chambers 2023 Citizen of the Year award was John Byrom, the business development manager at the Process Equipment & Service Co. Inc. Byrom has worked at PESCO since 2016 and is a longtime member of the board of directors at Four Corners Economic Development. He recently rotated off the board at the San Juan Regional Medical Center after serving two terms and also is a supporter of the San Juan Symphony and other cultural organizations. John Byrom of PESCO addresses the crowd after being presented with the 2023 Citizen of the Year award at the Farmington Chamber of Commerce banquet on Feb. 2 at the Farmington Civic Center. Byrom said he gets as much out of the community service he performs as what he puts into it. I think its a positive thing just to have in your life, he said. It makes you a happier person, and you wind up leading a better life. I think thats pretty evident. Byrom grew up in Farmington, but he left the Four Corners to go to college at Texas A&M, then worked for Union Carbide in Houston for many years. Eventually tiring of big city life, he returned to Farmington to work for DJ Simmons Inc. before landing at PESCO in 2016. He said hes pleased at the changes hes seen in Farmington in recent years, most notably the $12 million renovation of downtown. I think we have one of the most beautiful downtowns in the state now, he said. More: Farmington, Dineh chambers of commerce sign memorandum of understanding Byrom also noted the influx of new residents in San Juan County since the COVID-19 pandemic. He encouraged those newcomers to get involved in community service, explaining he thinks theyll find the experience as rewarding as he has. A lot of us can feel like theres no control over our situation, he said. And that can lead to a jaundiced eye or pessimism. But if you look at it as an opportunity to be involved, it helps you appreciate the efforts that are being made and helps you meet the many wonderful people who are out there in the community. Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Manchester Agency, John Byrom earn Business, Citizen of Year awards Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, proposed a bill that would eliminate cost-sharing for pregnancy related health care costs that was reported out favorably from the Committee on Financial Services. BOSTON Having a baby in Massachusetts may not require prospective parents to meet insurance deductibles or shell out copays if a bill eyed favorably by the Joint Committee of Financial Services makes it through the next steps needed for it to arrive on the governors desk. This bill removes barriers from the continuum of pregnancy-related medical care, ensuring that all medical care related to pregnancy be provided free of all deductibles, copays and cost sharing, said Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, the bills sponsor. We did this for MassHealth (the state program that covers Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program), Im asking we do this for all commercial payers to ensure that people get needed care at important times in the developmental cycles. The bill, as it is written, does not dictate what is or is not covered by insurance policies; it just states that there be no cost-sharing of any kind for the services. It would include all private, fully-funded insurance plans and insurance provided through the state for state and municipal employees. It is already a benefit for residents insured through MassHealth. During the last legislative session, state lawmakers made sure that abortion and abortion care services were fully covered by health insurers and abolished the practice of meeting deductibles, charging copays or otherwise requesting patients foot part of the bill. That law was a reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. Does the bill change what's covered? In the last session, with the repeal of Roe, the Senate came to have a greater awareness of how best to support pregnant people and the need for maternal health care, said Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Marlborough, one of the co-sponsors of the bill. Its not just a question of reproductive rights, but a recognition that the health care system is private, for-profit. The costs for pregnancy is borne by families and is a burden on the states poorer residents and people of color. Im proud to co-sponsor this bill, which puts the health of pregnant people first, said Sen. Rebecca Rausch, D-Needham, in a prepared statement. There should never be a question, hesitation, or concern about accessing maternal health care, and yet that is the circumstance for too many people for whom that routine and necessary care is financially out of reach. Whether the decision is to start a family, grow a family, or end a pregnancy, pregnancy care must be affordable and accessible to all Bay Staters. Supporters said financial considerations prompt many Massachusetts residents to opt for insurance coverage that has lower monthly premium costs and higher deductibles, meaning patients have to pay a certain amount for covered services out-of-pocket before the insurance kicks in. More than 1.7 million Massachusetts residents have opted for a low-cost/high deductible health care plan, said Claire Teylouni, of Reproductive Equity Now, at a hearing on the bill held in May. The number of residents opting for those low-cost plans has risen from 14% to 43% of people paying for private, commercial market insurers since 2013. Those high-deductible thresholds and copays serve to discourage pregnant people from seeking necessary pregnancy-related medical care, or any medical care, Friedman said, adding that the lack of services could have serious health consequences for the mothers and their children. In her testimony, the senator quoted a Center for Health Information and Analysis review of the proposal that predicted a miniscule increase of premiums across the board to lie between 0.23% and 0.32%. Its looking like a very small impact to the cost of the premiums, Friedman said. Concerns from Massachusetts health plan providers However, the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans president and CEO Lora Pellegrini said the organization and its members are deeply concerned about efforts to eliminate consumer cost-sharing whether for a particular drug or a broad range of services. The organization anticipates increased premiums for covered individuals in the state. Without the ability to share costs with patients, Pellegrini predicted a $237 million increase in premium costs over five years. If cost-sharing is eliminated for one service, the actuarial value of the insurance product changes, increasing the overall premium, Pellegrini said in a prepared statement. She said members work diligently to keep premiums and cost-sharing as low as possible. In the case of pregnancy and childbirth, health plans provide coverage for routine prenatal care including office visits without cost-sharing, as well as preventive services as outlined in federal guidance including no-cost depression and anxiety screenings and interventions, gestational diabetes screenings and healthy weight counseling, screenings for hypertension and sexually transmitted infections, and breastfeeding interventions for postpartum women, Pellegrini said. Barriers to accessing health care for low-income households Statistically, lower-income households pay more of their total incomes for health care costs, including insurance premiums, than higher-income households, according to Freedman Healthcare in a report released in 2017 that provided a view of price variations between insurance providers. A Massachusetts family of three with a $60,000 household income paid 30% of that for health care costs; the percentage of income dedicated to health care decreased as earnings increased: Households with an income of $120,000 spent 18% of it on health care costs, according to the report. Cost-sharing demands, coupled with a low income, can be a prohibitive obstacle to accessing pregnancy care. Women should not face the choice of going into debt for basic reproductive services or putting food on the table, said Judith Hirschfield-Bartek, of Falmouth who spoke in favor of the bill in May. Health care is a right for all women, not a privilege reserved only for those who can afford it. Jan Soma, with the Massachusetts Chapter of the League of Women Voters, pointed out that 97% of women in Massachusetts are covered by health insurance, yet many still have challenges affording reproductive health care. Lower income women are least able to afford the extra costs, Soma said, adding that, on average, Massachusetts women pay about $4,500 for pregnancy care; funds that could better be dedicated to the cost of rearing the child rather than birthing it. Costs soar with complications; as visits increase, so do co-pays One woman, Katie Ford, spoke of the financial burden she faced when she became pregnant with Mono-di twins, (Monochorionic diamniotic). The fetuses share a placenta, but each has their own amniotic sac, a rare pregnancy that enhances the potential for complications. Weekly visits for scans were the norm, each requiring a co-pay and out-of-pocket costs that were random, inconsistent and always high. Changes in insurance, including a renewal, meant that she failed to meet her deductible while she was pregnant and then had the deductible reapplied on the policy renewal. It was the same pregnancy, Ford said. Throughout her pregnancy, Ford said, rather than focus on her condition and the coming leap into parenthood, she fretted about whether costs incurred were covered by insurance. It took us three years to pay off the cost of maternity care, Ford said. Families should not have to risk bankruptcy to have a child. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Barriers to health care include high deductibles, frequent co-pays Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) encouraged House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to move forward with a vote on Ukraine aid and other foreign policy spending Tuesday, after the Senate passed the measure in a predawn vote. Weve heard all kinds of rumors about whether the House supports Ukraine or doesnt. It seems to me that the easy way to solve that would be to vote, McConnell told Politico. And I hope the Speaker will find a way to allow the House to work its will on the issue of Ukraine aid and the other parts of the bill, as well. The $95 billion funding measure includes $60 billion for Ukraine aid, and billions more for Israel, Taiwan and other foreign policy priorities. Johnson has been reluctant to hold a vote on the supplemental spending after the House GOP tanked a bipartisan Senate border security measure last week. He brushed off the pressure when reporters asked him about the supplemental spending vote Tuesday. National security begins with border security, Johnson said. The comments double down on efforts to get the Senate and President Biden to pass border security measures more strict than last weeks bill before foreign spending is considered. McConnells comments Tuesday also did not address the possibility of a discharge petition for the foreign spending measure in the House. A discharge petition, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), would force a floor vote on the bill without Johnsons support. McConnell did not comment on a discharge petition, saying the decision should be left to Jeffries, who said Tuesday that he will use every available legislative tool to urge a floor vote on the foreign aid bill. But a discharge petition would require a majority of House members, meaning multiple GOP members going against their conference, to bring it to the floor. A number of progressive Democrats are also likely to remove their name from the pre-written ripe discharge petition due to their opposition to Israel aid. Aid for Israel amidst its war against Hamas has been stuck in a legislative standoff, with both parties tying aid to other priorities Republicans connecting it to border security requirements, and Democrats to Ukraine spending. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Muscogee County Sheriffs Office said that during a recent operation, MCSO along with partnering law enforcement agencies were able to make a significant impact against crime in our county, after arresting multiple individuals including validated gang members. MCSO says on Feb. 9 and 10, the sheriffs office led Operation One Fight with the Lee County Sheriffs Office, CPD, Coweta Sheriffs Office, Randolph County Sheriffs Office, Ft. Moore CID, Russell County Sheriffs Office, Georgia State Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal partners. The operations goal was to locate and apprehend wanted fugitives and curtailing criminal activity, while taking as many gang members, firearms, and narcotics off the streets as possible. The following individuals were arrested during the operation: Fredrick Williams False imprisonment Battery by strangulation Battery (FV) Algie Lawrence Violation of probation (MCSO) Bench warrant (3) (MCSO) Korey Galloway Bench warrant for simple battery (FV) (MCSO) Joshua Crowell Flee to elude Reckless driving Excessive tint Herman Huston Violation of probation (MCSO) Summer Brookshire Possession of Methamphetamine Possession of a knife during the commission of a crime Jaramie Cofer Possession of Methamphetamine Possession of a knife during the commission of a crime Dillon Lowe Violation of probation Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute Tampering with evidence Possession of drug related objects Michael York (validated gang member) Theft by receiving stolen property (firearm) Fleeing to elude Possession of Cocaine with the intent to distribute Possession of Marijuana with the intent to distribte Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime Interference with government property No state drivers license Obstruction of a law enforcement officer Failure to maintain lane Failure to obey a traffic control device Mackenzie Martin Theft by shoplifting Patrick Murphy (validated gang member) Violation of probation (2) (MCSO) Violation of probation Violation of probation Contempt of court Markieth Ware (validated gang member) Fleeing to elude No lights Collision with fixed object Violation of probation (MCSO) Ronald Stringer Possession of Cocaine Possession of Methamphetamine Mallory Thomas Theft by taking Patrick Montgomery Possession of Cocaine Possession of schedule I drug (Psilocybin) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime (2) Victoria Love Flee to elude Possession of a controlled substance Possession of drug related paraphernalia Seatbelt violation Tamika Evans Possession of Fentanyl Possession of Methamphetamine David Woodard (validated gang member) Possession of a controlled substance Possession of drug paraphernalia Violation of probation (MCSO) Tommy Jackson Fleeing to elude Christian Johnson Contempt of court (2) Tint violation Marquis Burton Simple assault Third-degree cruelty to children Criminal tresspass Violation of probation Donnell Porter Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute Abandonment of a controlled substance Fleeing to elude Randall Millwood Possession of Methamphetamine Holly Millwood Theft by taking (motor vehicle) Violation of probation Giving false information Anthony Ragster Violation of probation (MCSO) Theft by shoplifting Joseph Benson Violation of probation (2) (MCSO) Careyton Brown Grand Theft (Automobile) Organized fraud Possession Of Methamphetamine Possession Of Marijuana Possession Of Drug Related Objects Kari Klinger Possession Of Methamphetamin Possession Of Marijuana Possession of drug related objects Elijah Greene Violation of probation (MCSO) Lonny Tarver (validated gang member) Fleeing to elude Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime Obstruction of a law enforcement officer Reckless driving Carlos Rodriguez Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Schedule II Possession of drug related objects Violation of probation Louis Copridge Contempt Of Court (2) (MCSO) Darrell Body Possession of MDMA with intent to distribute Possession of Marijuana Jodi Stil Well Possession of Methamphetamine Shayedia Goodman Contempt of Recorders Court Theft by taking Xavier Igus Driving under the influence gf alcohol or drugs No Insurance Suspended Registration Kelley Lewis Contempt of Recorders Court Edward Walker Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Defective equipment Jasmine Lowery Possession of Methamphetamine Judavian Foster Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute Possession of drug related objects Robert Shirley Possession of hydrocodone Possession of drug related objects For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Emirates Steel Arkan, one of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, has said that its full year (FY) 2023 net profit rose 18% to AED601.9 million ($164 million) compared to FY22. This increase was driven by robust sales of value-added products in both domestic and international markets, the consistent enhancement of revenues and profits in the Building Materials division, coupled with increased operational efficiencies and revenue optimisation. The group achieved a solid operational and financial performance in 2023 and recorded revenues of AED8.9 billion, despite a challenging and volatile global economic landscape and its impact on commodity prices. EBITDA up 8pc EBITDA in 2023 was AED1.26 billion, up by 8% on 2022. The EBITDA margin in 2023 was 14.2% versus 12.4% reported in 2022. Revenue from the Steel division totalled AED8.03 billion during 2023 and profit from the division amounted to AED457 million, driven by the successful launch of new value-added products for both the domestic and export markets and by growth in construction activities in the UAE. Revenue from the Building Materials division was AED871 million in 2023, with a profit of AED145 million. Since December 31, 2022, the group has reduced its net bank debt by 94% from AED1.1 billion to AED63 million, resulting in a net bank debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.05 as of December 31, 2023. Financial highlights for Q4 2023 The combined business experienced a record-breaking Q4 2023, achieving an EBITDA of AED379.7 million. EBITDA witnessed a 23% year-on-year increase during Q4 2023, with the EBITDA margin growing from 13.2% in Q4 2022 to 15.7% in Q4 2023. This growth was driven by enhanced steel sales in the UAE and a sustained improvement in the profitability of the Building Materials division. In Q4 2023 the combined business recorded revenues of AED2.4 billion, a 4% growth compared to the same period in 2022. The growth in revenue was mainly driven by higher volumes of rebar sales to the domestic market. Net profit in Q4 2023 grew by 69% year-on-year, up to AED215 million. Strategic highlights 2023 Implemented a new operating model that establishes two distinct business divisions: Emirates Steel and Building Materials. This strategic move aims to capitalise on the unique strengths of the two divisions. The group continued to build the foundations for a new low-carbon emission iron hub associated MoUs signed with Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, AD Ports Group, ITOCHU and JFE Steel. The company signed a contract with Bahrain Steel Company (BSC), a global leader in high-grade iron-ore pellet (IOP) supply. The contract, valued at approximately $2 billion, will guarantee 5-years IOP supply to Emirates Steel Arkan. The group is working on new value-added products, successfully marketed the innovative ES600 low-carbon high tensile rebar and delivered the first order of the new U-type sheet piles. The company partnered with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) on an innovative green hydrogen pilot project. This collaboration marks a historic milestone, positioning the Group as the first steel company in the Mena region and a global pioneer in adopting green hydrogen for sustainable steel production. It partnered with renowned climate consulting firm A&Co. to drive an innovative decarbonisation initiative at the Al Ain Cement Factory. Emirates Steel Arkan participated in COP28, where it showcased innovative low-carbon solutions in steel and building materials, fostering collaboration with stakeholders to drive collective actions for decarbonising these sectors and contributing to sustainable growth in line with the UAEs climate goals. Resiliency and efficiency Hamad Al Hammadi, Chairman, Emirates Steel Arkan, said: The groups robust performance in 2023 demonstrates our resilience and efficiency amidst challenging market conditions. As the largest steel and building materials company in the UAE, we remain confident in sustaining competitiveness, seizing growth opportunities, and delivering substantial value for our shareholders. The strength of our business across the value chain demonstrates our aptitude to be among the leading contributors to Operation 300 billion, the UAEs industrial strategy, and contribute to the countrys increasingly diversified economy. Eng Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Steel Arkan, said: Emirates Steel Arkans financial results for 2023 mark a continuation of our strong performance. During this time, we remained committed to prioritising the safety of our people, achieving operational excellence, effective cost management, and fostering customer relationships. "As we look to 2024, our strategic focus revolves around boosting output, reducing costs, and surpassing our production targets. With a robust financial position, reduced debt and a commitment to sustainability, we approach the future with confidence, navigating emerging opportunities and actively contributing to positive climate actions in the UAE and beyond."--TradeArabia News Service By Lee Hae-rin The Seoul Metropolitan Government said, Tuesday, it will set out to capture feral dogs in the coming weeks amid a growing number of such animals roaming the streets and mountains, thereby posing safety concerns to residents and hikers. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a team which will include members with veterinary qualifications and who can administer tranquilizers, will be deployed in February and March across nine districts within the vicinity of Mounts Gwanak and Bukhan, estimated to be inhabited by over 200 feral dogs. The metropolitan and district governments have regularly captured reported animals within their administrative capacity for years, but failed to control their population as the dogs mostly abandoned by their owners learned to avoid and escape traps set by local authorities. In response, the city saw growing public concern over safety issues related to wild and stray dogs. The number of civil complaints on potential dangers posed by feral dogs nearly quadrupled from 197 in 2019 to 749 in 2021 and stood at 471 last year. Also, 202 dogs were captured last year, up from 121 in 2019. Several other regions like Busan and Jeju have also seen increasing numbers of feral dogs and reports of dog attacks. Taean County of South Chungcheong Province formed a professional dog-catching team, while Ganghwa County of Incheon selected a private company to deal with them. The city government will set some 120 traps in mountainous areas and capture as many dogs as possible using tranquilizers before April, when springtime picnickers are expected to visit mountains for outdoor activities. Although feral animals are often wary of people and tend to stay away from them, they may attack humans or other animals in an encounter if they feel threatened. Thus, the city government advised people to refrain from approaching traps or free-roaming dogs and report them to local authorities if they see a trapped animal. Freeing or feeding them could disturb the local ecosystem and make it more difficult to re-capture the released animal, the city government noted. Once captured, feral dogs are classified as abandoned animals and sent to local animal shelters, where they are put up for adoption for a maximum of 20 days. Although some are provided with socialization training, the vast majority are euthanized after the period as their wild nature cannot be changed in such a short time. We ask for active cooperation from the public during the planned capture period, a senior city official in charge of the project said. Adult dogs with a strong wild nature will be euthanized if they are not adopted, so we hope many people take interest in adopting them, she added. Challengers Craig R. Tesch and Jacqui Guthrie will compete for the open District 2 seat on the Stevens Point Common Council after current Alderperson David Shorr filed a statement of noncandidacy. A third candidate, Cole Verbeten, will also appear on the ballot but he notified the Stevens Point Journal that he has withdrawn from the race. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the Feb. 20 primary will move on to the April 2 ballot. Alderpersons serve a two-year term. To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin. The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position. Jacqui Guthrie Jacqui Guthrie Age: 40 Residence: Stevens Point Occupation and education: I coordinate career services at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I have an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison in political science and a master's degree in student personnel administration. Relevant experience: In my 17-year career working for the Universities of Wisconsin, I have managed personnel, budgets, software transitions and communication strategy. I am curious, inclusive, collegial and productive. Outside of work, I serve our community as a part-time foster parent for the county and have supported refugee resettlement efforts. Over the past two years, I participated in a series of conversations about our neighborhood's component of the Stevens Point Comprehensive Plan, helping facilitate a party in Atwell Park to celebrate that collaborative effort. Campaign website/Facebook page: Jacqui Guthrie for Alder Craig R. Tesch Craig R. Tesch Age: did not provide Residence: Stevens Point Occupation and education: I worked my way through school, through work study and foundry along with the GI Bill. I earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with majors in accounting and finance and an emphasis in computers, and later a master's degree in business administration from UW-Oshkosh at age 44. I then worked as a manager in systems accounting at Sentry Insurance for 11 years before running my own business for 33 years. I am a certified public accountant and certified financial planner, and I did taxes and financial planning. During that time, I also bought and coordinated the renovation of commercial buildings, which I then rented out and/or sold. Relevant experience: Ive been a resident of this District for 48 years. I have attended many City Council meetings during that time and I have also researched and spoken or written on various topics brought up during those meetings and interacted with those involved on numerous occasions, to the point of running for mayor last year. My military background, working as a manager in a business environment and coordinating the renovation of commercial buildings has instilled leadership skills. Doing taxes and especially financial planning develops the skills of listening to the concerns people have and then working with them to resolve those concerns. And, most importantly, having a family with loved ones who have had more then their share of medical problems has built in me a compassion for helping others. Campaign website/Facebook page: Craig Tesch for Alder Why are you running for office? Guthrie: There are so many challenges in the world today. Its easy to feel helpless in the face of large, complex problems. Instead of languishing in despair and inaction, I feel called to serve locally. If enough folks around the world act locally to address global challenges I hope that, knit together, we can move the planet in the right direction. Tesch: Going before the City Council to express concerns I had, I felt unheard, my words ignored, and then watched other citizens being treated the same way. Looking at someone doesnt mean theyre listening. I will be someone who actually listens. First, I will establish regular office hours where the people of District 2 can meet with me and discuss any problems or concerns they might have, and then do my best to resolve them. Second, I will ensure that anyone going before the Council is actually listened to, especially when it affects a constituent of District 2. I will represent you. What makes you the better candidate in this race? Guthrie: My goals and values are in alignment with the majority of District 2 residents. If elected, I will endeavor to strengthen our already thriving local economy, increase the stock of housing in the city, prepare our infrastructure for the coming climate, invest in recreational infrastructure, and refresh the Stanley Street commercial corridor. I will be service-oriented and collaborative. Tesch: 1) My length of time living in the District. 2) My involvement over the years in affairs that have affected the community, including running for mayor. 3) The leadership skills I have learned through the military, corporate management and coordinating renovating commercial buildings. 4) The penchant for listening to people and working with them to resolve their concerns through doing taxes and financial planning. 5) The compassion to help those with their problems, from helping those in my own family to overcome theirs. 6) Being able to devote more time to this position, all make me the more viable candidate. What are residents telling you are the most important issues in Stevens Point, and how would you address them? Guthrie: As I speak with neighbors, the vast majority are happy with the direction the city is going in and are grateful that I am willing to serve considering recent vitriol. Some have recommendations or requests about traffic slowing efforts, safe crossings, where parking is allowed, and the volume of the new stadium sound-system. Some tell me that they wish there were better ways of learning what the city is working on. I've been transparent about how I can advocate for them and our needs as a neighborhood from the alder position and will endeavor to follow through. Tesch: The largest complaint expressed to me by the people of District 2 was the recent increase in property taxes for 2023, which hit people on fixed income especially hard. They already had a substantial increase in 2017. As a CPA and tax preparer, its something I want to delve into. Second, residents like to bike but do not like doing so in heavy traffic areas. Narrow bike lanes in those areas do not make them that much safer. I want to work with biking organizations to set up a network of safe bicycle routes for them. More election news: Voters will see spring primary for Stevens Point Common Council, School Board and Portage County Board seats More local news: Street reconstruction project on Stevens Point's north side adds roundabout and extends sidewalk Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz. This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: February 2024 primary election: Stevens Point District 2 alderperson Lemonada Media, a Minnesota-based podcast company that specializes in exploring the human experience from a female perspective, has just landed its biggest partner. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will host a new podcast for the network. In addition, Lemonada will pick up Markle's "Archetypes," in which she chats with high-profile women about shattering stereotypes. The program was Spotify's most popular show when it debuted in August 2022. Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, left Spotify last year. "We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to 'Archetypes," and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon.," co-founder and CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer said Tuesday in a press release. "Meghan's talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters." Kramer, who works out of Minneapolis, declined to add any further comment. Lemonada has grown leaps and bounds since Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs launched the company in 2019. "We're all about making life suck less," Kramer said in a 2019 interview with the Star Tribune. "We want to make programming that helps you roll out of bed in the morning." Since then, the company has developed projects with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sarah Silverman and Samantha Bee. Last December, Apple Podcasts named Louis-Dreyfus' "Wiser Than Me" as the 2023 Show of the Year. That series will return in the spring. Working with Markle could take the company to a whole new level. "I'm proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting," Markle said in a press release. "Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024. Our plan to re-release 'Archetypes' so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I'm so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family." No dates for a premiere have been announced. The dire situation in the Palestinian city of Rafah is the latest challenge to face President Biden as he seeks to navigate the conflict in the Middle East. Progressive activists say he is failing miserably. Were tired of hearing that Biden has criticized [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu behind closed doors, or used strong words on a phone call, while simultaneously urging Congress to approve over $14 billion to the Israeli military, Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, told this column. Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt, is now home to more than half the population of the entire territory of Gaza. An estimated 1.4 million people are sheltering there. Many are refugees from other parts of the Gaza Strip. The Washington Post reported Monday that families are packed into houses and tents in the city, while newer arrivals are sleeping in the streets. Soon after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, Israel began a reprisal campaign. As part of its purported aim to uproot Hamas, it warned Gazans in the north of the strip to move south. Having done so, they are now penned into Rafah as Israel escalates its attacks. Early Monday, Israel reportedly killed around 67 Palestinians, including women and children, in strikes amid a raid that also freed two Israeli hostages. Palestinians sit by the destruction from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) Israel has killed more than 28,000 people in total, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. The death toll is estimated to include more than 20,000 women and children. Concern about the situation in Gaza extends internationally and it is not confined to the political left. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, a conservative, said Monday that Israel should stop and think seriously before proceeding with further actions in Rafah, The Guardian newspaper reported. Cameron noted that many of the people in Rafah have already been displaced multiple times. It really, we think, is impossible to see how you can fight a war among these people. There is nowhere for them to go, he added. But so far Netanyahu has shown no inclination to back off, arguing instead that Israels actions are necessary if Hamas is to be defeated. He characterized Rafah as the militant groups last bastion during an interview with ABC Newss This Week on Sunday. The Biden administration says it has emphasized to the Israelis the importance of minimizing civilian casualties. At Mondays White House press briefing, national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Biden is confident that our Israeli counterparts understand our concerns. Weve made them privately, weve made them publicly. Theyve heard loud and clear our concerns that the civilians need to be protected. Biden himself last week called Israels overall response to the Oct. 7 attack over the top. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said that he told Netanyahu that the rate of the killing of civilians was unacceptably high. On Monday, an NBC News report underlined the apparent extent of White House exasperation with Netanyahu. The report contended Biden had told donors and others in private conversations that Netanyahu is troublesome and impossible to deal with. The report further stated Biden had described Netanyahu as an asshole on at least three recent occasions. Speaking at the White House on Monday alongside King Abdullah II of Jordan, Biden said the people in Rafah were exposed and vulnerable and need to be protected. He said the major military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there. But at this stage, words cut little ice with progressive activists who are outraged by Bidens broad public support for Israel generally and by his push for $14 billion in new military aid, without conditions. Kirby, asked Monday whether any action by Israel would force a change in U.S. policy, simply reiterated U.S. support for Israel and actions that it considers necessary in its defense. Eva Borgwardt, the national spokesperson for IfNotNow, an American Jewish group sharply critical of Israeli policies regarding Palestinians, said it was maddening to hear the president privately expressing frustration with the Netanyahu government while doing everything in his power to drive $14 billion for additional weapons through Congress. Top stories from The Hill Borgwardt also predicted there would be serious political consequences for the presidents handling of the conflict. The majority of Democratic voters want a cease-fire, and Biden continues to ignore the fact that his base is watching the devastation in Gaza with horror, she said. Im terrified of Trump and furious with Biden for this catastrophic negligence. Polling shows that, while Democrats are roughly evenly split on whether they sympathize more with Israel or the Palestinians, they are increasingly convinced that the Israeli response to Oct. 7 has been disproportionate. An Associated Press/NORC poll released earlier this month found 63 percent of Democrats now think Israels military response has gone too far. Only 24 percent characterized it as about right, and just 9 percent say it has not gone far enough. Meanwhile, an Economist/YouGov poll in late January found 49 percent of Democrats believe Israel is engaging in genocide against Palestinian civilians. Only 21 percent of Democrats asserted the opposite, while 30 percent said they were not sure. On top of all that, the conflict has particular political salience in Michigan, one of roughly a half-dozen battleground states that will determine the outcome of Novembers election. Michigan has a sizable Arab American population, and Biden is faring poorly there. He is almost 4 points down in the state against former President Trump, according to the polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. Bidens support for Israel is sincere, and his supporters can fairly assert the conflict has put him in a tough spot. But the grim near-certainty of more bloodshed in Rafah will come with a steep political price. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Gwynne Dyer "God is usually on the side of the big battalions," Voltaire allegedly said. Not always, but "usually." So how much do you want to bet? Coming up to the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, things aren't looking bright for the Ukrainians, particularly for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The war has not been going well: Ukraine's vaunted summer offensive sputtered out with almost no gains. Russia's winter offensive is showing equally unimpressive results so far, but the Russians always have that four-to-one numerical superiority on their side. After all the refugees fled, there are probably no more than 35 million people left in Ukraine. More important than that is the fact that the Russians have accessed new sources of weapons and ammunition, mostly from Iran and North Korea, that give them fire superiority on the battlefield, while the flow of American money and arms to Ukraine has been blocked in U.S. Congress. It has become a war of attrition in which the Russians can fire ten thousand artillery shells a day, and the Ukrainians can fire back only 1,500-2,500. True, modern Western artillery is more accurate, but it has become a war of drones. Both sides have them, and every target is equally vulnerable. So the mood in Kyiv is somewhere between gloomy and grim, and Zelenskyy is showing signs of panic. After a week of public dithering, he has fired General Valerii Zaluzhny, who has commanded Ukraine's armed forces since the start of the war. Zaluzhny had the misfortune to be in charge when the balance in battle shifted decisively in favor of the defensive. The last time that happened was at the start of World War I in 1914 when defensive weapons became so effective machine guns, rapid-firing artillery, barbed wire and more that the soldiers had to take shelter in trenches. It took four years for new generals to figure out ways to break through the trench lines and restore movement to the battlefield. It will probably take at least as long this time, and meanwhile, everybody is stuck in the trenches again which is very bad luck for Ukraine. Zaluzhny has figured out why Ukraine's summer offensive failed and was indiscreet enough to say it out loud. "First, I thought there was something wrong with our commanders, so I changed some of them. Then I thought maybe our soldiers are not fit for purpose." But nothing could put the front into motion. "The simple fact is that we see everything the enemy is doing, and they see everything we are doing. In order to break this deadlock, we need something [as new as] gunpowder," he concluded. Welcome to 1916. The first truly new instrument of destruction since the invention of gunpowder is nuclear weapons, and that took 800 years. This deadlock will not last so long it's only drones, precision-guided weapons and electronic warfare, all just incremental improvements in existing technologies but Ukraine probably cannot wait another two years. That is why Zelenskyy has fired Zaluzhny, a quite serviceable general who made no huge mistakes: The Ukrainian president has reached the point where he is hoping for a miracle. Replacing him with Oleksandr Syrsky, another serviceable but hardly stellar general, is unlikely to deliver that miracle. This point always arrives in any war that does not achieve instant victory for one side or the other. Frustration and exhaustion begin to play bigger roles, and people inevitably start calculating whether it is better to cut their losses or keep their winnings so far by opting for a compromise peace or at least a long-term ceasefire. However, hanging on through a long and bloody war of attrition and "hoping for something to turn up" is not a terrible strategy. Politics, and especially war, is so capricious and unpredictable that something often does turn up. For example, if Empress Elizabeth of Russia had not died from a stroke in 1761, Frederick the Great of Prussia would have been totally defeated, and there might never have been a united Germany. World history would have been very different. The major imponderables for Ukraine today are the electoral prospects of Donald Trump, who has effectively blocked all U.S. aid to Ukraine even before the election, and the longevity of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has many enemies, uncertain health but is cunning and only 71. Zelenskyy's job now is to calculate how much more territory Ukraine would lose in a ceasefire in 2025 than it would lose by making some kind of peace right now. If the answer is not all that much more because the battlefield has been immobilized for both sides, then his best policy, for now, is probably to hang on and hope something turns up. Gwynne Dyer is the author of the 2021 book "The Shortest History of War." He can be reached at gwynne763121476@aol.com. Michigan Church Keeps Its Promise To Pay $100K In Reparations To The Local Black Community: We Want Everyone To Know This Is Possible | Yevgen Romanenko via Getty Images The First Presbyterian Church in Lansing, Michigan has kept its promise to pay reparations for the Black community. The church most recently provided a $40,000 check to the Justice League Of Greater Lansing, an organization that collects reparations for the citys Black community. The latest contribution comes after the church previously raised $18,000 for the Justice League in 2023. Willye Bryan, a member of The First Presbyterian Church and founder of the Justice League, said churches have a responsibility to provide reparations. Churches have been just as complicit in slavery as any other group in the country and sometimes even more so, Bryan said in an interview with the Lansing State Journal. Bryan said she asked churches to transfer the funds to the Black community as a form of repentance, reconciliation and reparations. According to the Justice League, The First Presbyterian Church of Lansing has pledged to make another $40,000 contribution. In total, the church has committed to give an amount of about $100,000. The Rev. Stanley Jenkins, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at 510 W Ottawa St. in Lansing, said the league also plans to soon launch a $50,000 scholarship. Were an ordinary church, ordinary people, not wealthy or powerful and it is astonishing that we can do this. And we want everyone to know this is possible, Jenkins told the Lansing State Journal. The topic of reparations continues to be discussed around the country. California made history in 2022 when it became the first state to designate a reparations task force. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also revealed recently that the city is pushing for reparations. As Blavity reported, Johnson said reparations can be used to reduce crime in Chicago. The Justice League will have a meeting on Feb. 28 to discuss how to distribute the reparations it received, Jenkins said. Republican State Rep. Josh Schriver of Oxford, Mich., was stripped of legislative staff resources and a committee assignment on Monday amid a furor over his sharing of a social media graphic advocating the far-right "great replacement" theory. Photo courtesy of Michigan House of Representatives Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A Republican state lawmaker from Michigan was stripped of staff resources and a committee post on Monday following his reposting of a social media graphic advocating a racist conspiracy theory. Freshman state Rep. Josh Schriver of Oxford, Mich., saw his state-supplied staff reassigned to other lawmakers and has been removed from the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee in a move announced by House Speaker Joe Tate. Tate, a Democrat from Detroit, said Schriver's reposting last week of a graphic authored by a right-wing commentator about the "great replacement" theory on the X social media platform amounted to "racist, hateful and bigoted speech." "Representative Schriver has a history of promoting debunked theories and dangerous rhetoric that jeopardizes the safety of Michigan residents and contributes to a hostile and uncomfortable environment for others," Tate said. While Schriver will still be able to participate in voting, the speaker said he is taking advantage of his discretion to allocate resources and committee assignments within the Capitol chamber. "The House of Representatives is the people's house, and all Michiganders should look upon this body and take pride in how we conduct ourselves," he said. "It is also a workplace, and I have a responsibility to make sure the employees of the House feel safe and secure." Tate and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer first spoke out against Schriver's social media activity last week, when he shared a post of a map produced by right-wing figure Jack Posobiec. The map showed Black human figures placed across most of the world, with white figures inhabiting much a smaller area, including the northern United States and northern Europe. At the bottom of the graphic was the statement, "The great replacement!" "The abhorrent rhetoric pushed by a member of the Michigan House of Representatives goes against our state and national values," Whitmer said Friday. "We have a moral obligation to speak out against hatred. It is a failure of leadership for this kind of action to take place unchecked by the leaders of Rep. Schriver's caucus, and the longer there is no action taken, the more responsibility leadership bears." The "great replacement" theory is a racist narrative that falsely asserts there is an active, ongoing and covert effort to replace white populations in current white-majority countries with a non-white population, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. These efforts are frequently linked to shadowy "elites" or "globalists," often portrayed as Jewish. The theory was cited by prosecutors as a motivation for the gunman who killed 10 people at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket in May 2022. After the shooting, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asked Attorney General Letitia James to investigate social media platforms seeking to give credibility to the "great replacement" theory. The Jewish Anti-Defamation League points to former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson as a "key promoter" of the theory, claiming he "elevated the conspiracy theory that Democrats are plotting to replace 'legacy American' voters with immigrants." Schriver defended the post to the The Detroit News last week, saying he is not a racist. "I'm opposed to racists, race baiters, and victim politics," he said. "What I find strange is the agenda to demoralize and reduce the white portion of our population. That's not inclusive and Christ is inclusive! I'm glad Tucker Carlson and Jack Posobiec are sharing links so I can continue my research on these issues." A Michigan state lawmaker was stripped of his committee assignments and office staff budget Monday after he shared posts about the white supremacist great replacement conspiracy theory on social media. Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D) announced the punishment for Rep. Josh Schriver (R), saying he would not allow the House to be a forum for the proliferation of racist, hateful and bigoted speech. Rep. Schriver has a history of promoting debunked theories and dangerous rhetoric that jeopardizes the safety of Michigan residents and contributes to a hostile and uncomfortable environment for others, Tate said in a statement Monday. The House of Representatives is the peoples house, and all Michiganders should look upon this body and take pride in how we conduct ourselves, he continued. It is also a workplace, and I have a responsibility to make sure the employees of the House feel safe and secure. State house committee assignments and staff budgets are at the complete discretion of the Speaker, according to state law. Last week, Schriver reposted a graphic depicting black figurines covering most of a map of the world, with white figures occupying smaller sections of Australia, Canada, northern Europe and the northern United States. Its caption read The great replacement! The image was first posted by right-wing pundit Jack Posobiec on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The great replacement white supremacist conspiracy is the idea that world governments are conspiring to lessen the white population and replace them with other races of people. The conspiracy also features antisemitism. Schriver was immediately met with mass criticism for the post but later doubled down while denying being racist. Im opposed to racists, race baiters, and victim politics, he said in a statement last week. What I find strange is the agenda to demoralize and reduce the white portion of our population. Thats not inclusive and Christ is inclusive! Im glad Tucker Carlson and Jack Posobiec are sharing links so I can continue my research on these issues. Schriver has since refused to apologize for the post and denied being racist in a series of X posts. Im a White rapper and most conservative voting Representative in Michigan, he wrote on X Monday. I guess it was only a matter of time before I was falsely labeled a raaacist! Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) denounced Schrivers post Friday. It is a failure of leadership for this kind of action to take place unchecked by the leaders of Rep. Schrivers caucus, and the longer there is no action taken, the more responsibility leadership bears, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Join News 8 for Spartan Stronger, a special report, at 7 p.m. on WOOD TV8 and streaming live on woodtv.com. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Tuesday marks one year since a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University, killing three students and injuring five others. Somber students piled flowers and notes in front of the campus Spartan statue, the landmark Rock, Berkey Hall and the Union to honor the dead. It is very quiet today. Not a lot of movement, not a lot of talking. But I understand that and I hope that they people are grieving in the way they need to, student Janay Duncan said. Flowers laid at the Spartan statue at Michigan State University mark one year since a deadly campus shooting. (Feb. 13, 2024) Flowers laid at the Spartan statue at Michigan State University mark one year since a deadly campus shooting. (Feb. 13, 2024) A memorial for three students killed on Michigan State Universitys campus. (Feb. 13, 2024) The Spartan statue on Michigan State Universitys campus on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. A memorial for three students killed on Michigan State Universitys campus. (Feb. 13, 2024) The Spartan statue on Michigan State Universitys campus on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Still processing the trauma, students said their emotions about the shooting change moment to moment. They told News 8 that their motto was, Its OK not to be OK. Emotional. Sad. Its tough. Its hard to really describe into words. Its almost like a gut punch, in a sense, student Evan Katz said. I just feel sad for the losses, of course, and I just hope that nothing like that happens again, student Zion Williams said. Its sad, obviously, the day of remembrance. Its hard. Its not that you forget about it but, you know, life moves on, student Sam Tuori said. Many students said their parents called them Tuesday to check in and some even came to campus to support them. Inside woodtv.com: Michigan State University shooting Michigan State did not hold classes to allow the campus community to mourn. A remembrance gathering including moments of silence and the ringing of the Beaumont Tower Bells is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Lot 62, north of Spartan Stadium. It will stream live on woodtv.com. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered flags around the state to be lowered to half-staff Tuesday to in remembrance of the shooting. THE SHOOTING The first reports of shots fired on Feb. 13, 2023, came in at 8:18 p.m. from Berkey Hall. The gunman had sprayed gunfire into a classroom, killing 19-year-old Arielle Anderson of Grosse Pointe and 20-year-old Alexandria Verner of Clawson. He shot and shot and shot and shot, and I just felt as though this was not real, the professor, Marco Diaz-Munoz, recently recalled to News 8. Diaz-Munoz previously told NBC News that after the shooter left, he used his own body to hold the door closed, fearing the man would return. He told his students to kick out the windows and run. Several did. Others stayed, starting first aid for injured classmates until emergency responders arrived. MSU professor haunted by gunshots 1 year later The gunman, meanwhile, was walking a few buildings away to the MSU Union. There, he shot and killed Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe. Student Jack Gibson, who was working at the Union with Fraser, said last year that he initially thought the gunfire was a balloon popping. Then he saw a man with a gun. He and his fellow students ran. The shooting at the Union was first reported to dispatchers at 8:26 p.m. Police rushed there, but again, the gunman was already gone. What followed were hours of fear amid a massive manhunt that drew law enforcement from as far away as Grand Rapids and Detroit. Police kept getting calls of more shots fired and sightings of the suspect the kind of false alarms common in a mass shooting, but they had to chase every one down. Students locked themselves in dorm rooms, crawl spaces and side rooms around campus, waiting for the all-clear. Finally, around midnight, a woman on the north side of Lansing spotted the shooter outside her home. She called 911. When officers approached the man, he shot and killed himself. This embedded content is not available in your region. Anderson was recalled by her family as sweet and loving with an infectious smile. At his funeral, Fraser was described by his priest as charismatic and smiling. A scholarship was later created in his name. Verner was described as loving, someone who saw something greater in mankind. Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner. In addition to the three dead, five students were injured. Some spent weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation facilities. One of them, Troy Forbush, was the first to be discharged after recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Another, John Hao, was paralyzed. VIGILS AND PROTESTS In the days following the shooting, students and staff vacillated between shock, grieving and anger. MSU tour guide grapples with questions, memories They left flowers outside Berkey Hall and the Union and around the base of the campus Spartan statue. They held vigils at local churches and on campus. They sang and prayed together. I dont understand why someone would come on to a college campus and kill a bunch of teenagers, student Cathryn Johnson told News 8 last year after leaving flowers at one of the makeshift memorials. I dont know who is so evil to do that. A memorial outside of Berkey Hall on Michigan State Universitys campus as students return to class on Feb. 20, 2023. Flowers placed outside Berkey Hall after a shooting on MSUs campus killed three students and injured five others. (Feb. 14, 2023) A memorial outside of Berkey Hall on Michigan State Universitys campus as students return to class on Feb. 20, 2023. Flowers at the Spartan statue on Michigan State University the day after a shooting killed three students and injured five more. (Feb. 14, 2023) Many students had grown up with active shooter drills, told to run, hide, fight, in the event of a shooting. Some who had been at Oxford High School when three students died in a shooting there in 2021 were at Michigan State by the time of the 2023 shooting. All I could think of was, Not again, MSU student Sophia Miller, an Oxford graduate, told News 8 last year. The worst feeling, the same way I felt with Oxford, is helplessness, she continued. Theres nothing we can do about what happened. It already happened. Students lost their lives. Students just like us. Therapy dogs assist in continued healing at MSU Students mobilized, telling lawmakers they were fed up. They held demonstrations at the state Capitol, which is only about 3 miles from campus, with speakers telling lawmakers they wanted stronger gun laws. We have lost too much. Its only getting worse. It wont get better unless we start changing. That starts with you, MSU student organizer Maya Manuel said at one of the rallies. Words cannot describe how tired I am, Ashlynne Sutton, an Oxford survivor, said. Im tired of watching the news and seeing yet another tragedy happen. Im tired of texting my friends and asking if they are safe. The Rock at MSU reads, How many more? on the day after a shooting killed three students and injured five others. (Feb. 14, 2023) The Rock at Michigan State University shares the message, Always a Spartan with the names of the three students killed in the campus shooting. (Feb. 15, 2023) The state Legislature, led by Democrats, responded by passing stricter background check and safe storage gun laws, as well as red flag laws that allow a judge to temporarily prohibit someone from having guns if they are found to be a threat to themselves or others. Those laws went into effect Tuesday. MSU provides update on security nearly 1 year after shooting Students returned to class a week after the shooting, but it wasnt until January of this year that classes resumed at Berkey Hall though the rooms where the violence occurred remained sealed off. A permanent memorial is still being planned, with artist proposals expected to be requested this spring. A memorial bench donated by the Associated Students of MSU will be placed in April, along with new landscaping outside of Berkey Hall. News 8s Meghan Bunchman contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Tech giant Microsoft has made an agreement with startup Chestnut Carbon to secure carbon offset credits the amount of which equates to the removal of up to 2.7 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere, Reuters reported. The credits aid in Microsofts effort to become carbon negative by 2030. This 15-year deal, made in December, works a little differently than many other carbon offset purchases. Instead of merely preserving trees, according to Reuters, Chestnut plants new trees on what was previously farmland or land under other usage. Planting trees where forests never existed or afforestation has a more significant environmental benefit, according to Chestnut Carbon founder Ben Dell. This is, I believe, the largest U.S. afforestation project ever registered, said Dell in an interview with Reuters. Under the contract, Chestnut will give Microsoft carbon removal credits from trees planted in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, the historic floodplain of the Mississippi River. The first credits will be given to Microsoft in three years, allowing time for the new trees to mature. According to the Carbon Offset Guide, a credit is a transferable instrument used to represent a pollution reduction of about 1.1 tons of carbon dioxide. Microsoft views carbon removal programs as essential to reaching its goal to be carbon negative or contributing to the net removal of toxic heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere by 2030. These removal techniques include, in addition to afforestation, direct air capture, meaning technology that extracts carbon gas directly from the atmosphere. By 2050, Microsoft aims to remove the equivalent of all the carbon created by the company since its founding in 1975, according to GreenBiz. Carbon offsets are a popular way for companies to signal their commitment to aiding the planet. However, critics of the trading mechanism often say that it lacks transparency, and some argue that it is ineffective. For example, in November, Greenpeace called out Chinese oil and gas companies for buying liquid natural gas and labeling it carbon neutral. According to Reuters, Microsoft declined to say how much it was paying for its carbon offset credits. We are excited to collaborate with Chestnut and its Sustainable Restoration Project for high-quality, nature-based solutions located in the United States, said Brian Marrs, senior director of energy and carbon removal at Microsoft, in a statement. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter lets off a flare after firing near the Gaza border - DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS The heads of the CIA and Israeli intelligence have met Qatars prime minister in Egypt to discuss truce talks in Gaza. William Burns, the CIA director, and David Barnea, the head of Israels Mossad, met Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari prime minister, and Egyptian officials. The Israeli spy agency said it was evaluating Hamass response to a proposed deal to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip. Al-Qahera News, which has links to Egyptian intelligence, reported the quartet meeting. Hamas and the (other militant) factions are awaiting the outcome of the Cairo meetings, and Hamas is open to discussing any initiative that achieves an end to aggression and war, a Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media. On Monday, Joe Biden declared that the key elements of the deal are on the table but admitted there are gaps that remain. 04:07 PM GMT Today's liveblog is now closed Thanks for following todays liveblog. We will be back tomorrow to guide you through all the latest updates. 04:05 PM GMT Israel must 'stop and think' before launching more attacks in Rafah, says Cameron Lord Cameron has said that Israel should stop and think before launching more attacks in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. He said: The people who are in Rafah, on many occasions, have already moved three, four or five times, and its not possible to move again. They cant go north, because theyll be going back to homes that have been destroyed, they cant go south, because that would involve going into Egypt, which none of us want to see and the Egyptians dont want to see. And that is why its so important that the Israelis must stop and think before going ahead with any operations in Rafah. His comments came as Liberal Democrat peer Lord Purvis of Tweed argued Israels actions constitute a war crime. He said: Any belligerent in the conflict that advises children and civilians to relocate on the pretext of their safety, but relocate to an area where there is no shelter, where there is no water, where there is no medicine and where there is no security guarantees - is a war crime. 03:42 PM GMT Cameron: Cameron: We want to see an end to this killing Lord Cameron has said the best way to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza is to end the fighting as soon as possible. When asked about the fate of the six-year-old girl Hind Rajab [see post at 10:03 ] he said: what is happening in Gaza is tragic. We want to see an end to this fighting, an end to this killing. The pause we are calling for we want to turn into a ceasefire by making sure the conditions are right for getting a stop in the fighting to mean a permanent ceasefire. The way you do that is while fulfilling a number of conditions. Youve got to get, in our view, the Hamas leaders out of Gaza. Otherwise any ceasefire wont last because the problem will still be there. He added: Crucially you have to release all of the hostages. He insisted that the UK challenges Israel over individual episodes and said he had done it personally. 03:21 PM GMT UNRWA not informed of any Israeli evacuation plan for Rafah Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it had not been informed of any Israeli evacuation plan for Rafah and was not part of it. Where are you going to evacuate people to as no place is safe across the Gaza Strip, the north is shattered, riddled with unexploded weapons, its pretty much unlivable, she said, adding that UNRWA would not participate in a forced evacuation. Enough is enough. Any further escalation would be absolutely apocalyptic. 02:30 PM GMT Calls for closure of UNRWA short-sighted, says head of relief agency The head of UNRWA said calls for it to be dismantled were short-sighted and that terminating the mandate of the agency that provides essential services to Palestinian refugees would deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has said UNRWA, which has helped Palestinians for over 70 years, is not fit for purpose and major donors have suspended funding after allegations that 12 of UNRWAs thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel. After meeting member states at the United Nations in Geneva, Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, said: I have talked to the member states about all these calls to have UNRWA dismantled, to be terminated. I have warned about the impact, I have said that these calls are short-sighted. 02:15 PM GMT Israeli assault on Gaza disproportionate, says Italy An Italian foreign minister has called the Israeli attacks on Gaza in response to the Oct 7 attacks disproportionate as he said there were too many victims. In an interview on RAI radio, Antonio Tajani strongly condemned the savage terror attacks by Hamas and said Israel had the right to defend itself. He said at this point Israels reaction against the Palestinian civilian population is disproportionate... there are too many victims who have nothing to do with Hamas. Mr Tajani distanced himself from comments made last week by Francesca Albanese, an Italian who is United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, who denied the Hamas attacks were anti-Semitic. Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, and Moshe Arbel, the interior minister, called her online remark outrageous and said in a statement Monday that she was now denied entry to the State of Israel. 02:11 PM GMT South Africa asks World Court to weigh Israels plan to extend offensive into Rafah South Africa said it had asked the World Court to consider whether Israels plan to extend its offensive in Gaza into the city of Rafah requires additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians rights. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa. Israel has denied all allegations of genocide in connection with its war against Hamas and asked the court to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself. 02:00 PM GMT Iran fires first ship-based long-range ballistic missiles Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday it has launched long-range ballistic missiles from a warship for the first time. The launch from the Shahid Mahdavi during naval manoeuvres involved firing two ballistic missiles capable of striking targets up to 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) away. The IRGC for the first time has fired ballistic missiles in the Gulf of Oman, state television reported. Hossein Salami, the IRGC commander in chief, said The firing of a long-range ballistic missile from the warship was successfully carried out. 01:35 PM GMT France to impose travel bans on violent Israeli settlers France will ban 28 Israeli settlers from entering the country, accusing them of attacking Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement: These measures come as violence perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian population has increased in recent months. France reaffirms its firm condemnation of this unacceptable violence. It did not name the individuals. UN figures show that daily settler attacks have more than doubled since Hamass attack on Israel on Oct. 7. 12:51 PM GMT Pictured: Israeli soldiers cross the border from inside Gaza Strip in to southern Israel Israeli soldiers drive a tank as they cross the border from inside Gaza Strip in to southern Israel - Ariel Schalit/AP 12:46 PM GMT Two journalists severely wounded in Gaza strike Two journalists working for Al Jazeera have been severely wounded in an Israeli strike in Gazas southern city of Rafah. Ismail Abu Omar and his cameraman, Ahmad Matar, were reportedly struck by a missile fired by a drone in what Al Jazeera say was a direct target. The pair were transferred to Gazas European hospital. Omar underwent a life-saving amputation to his leg as a result of shrapnel wounds and Matar suffered multiple wounds and severe bleeding, the Qatar-based broadcaster said quoting an emergency physician. 12:11 PM GMT Gaza truce talks take place in Egypt William Burns, the CIA director; David Barnea, the director of Mossad; and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari Prime Minister have met Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss a truce in Gaza, Egyptian media reported. Al-Qahera News, which has links to Egyptian intelligence, reported the quartet meeting as international pressure grows for a truce between Israel and Hamas. Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, said it was evaluating Hamass response to a proposed deal to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip. 11:58 AM GMT Israel must provide safe corridors in Rafah, says Germany Israel has a duty to guarantee safe corridors for civilians in Rafah before conducting any incursion against Hamas in the southern Gaza city, Germanys foreign minister said Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of people had fled from the north of Gaza to Rafah on Israels advice previously, said Annalena Baerbock. Following talks with Riad al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, in Berlin, Ms Baerbock said: If action is to be taken now against the terror organisation in Rafah, then it is ... the responsibility of the Israeli army to provide safe corridors for the people who have sought protection there. These parents, these children, these families cant just vanish into thin air. They have nowhere to go to not further south in any case, she added. The border to Egypt is located to the south of Rafah, and the crossing remains closed to Gazans. 11:35 AM GMT Pictured: A shelter centre in Gaza City in the aftermath of Israeli attacks Palestinians try to live under harsh conditions with limited facilities at a shelter center while the Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City - Anadolu/Anadolu A view of a shelter center as the Palestinians try to live under harsh conditions with limited facilities - Anadolu/Anadolu 11:11 AM GMT Germany worried about Israeli plans for assault on Rafah The German foreign minister has said she is very concerned about Israels announcement that it is planning a large military offensive in Rafah. Annalena Baerbock said at a news conference with the Palestinian foreign minister in the German capital: I am especially concerned about the announcement by the Israeli government of a large ground military operation in Rafah. Of course, it is completely clear that also in Rafah, there is an unbelievably large net of [the] Hamas terrorist organisation, she said, adding Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorism. 10:59 AM GMT IDF release new footage of hostage rescue 10:35 AM GMT More and more difficult to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza, says UNRWA Despite panic and lack of resources, @UNRWA colleagues in #Rafah continue to deliver urgent humanitarian supplies to displaced families in our shelters. The ongoing attacks in Rafah mean it is becoming more and more difficult to operate and deliver aid to people in#Gaza pic.twitter.com/tWN8izDGJd UNRWA (@UNRWA) February 13, 2024 10:03 AM GMT US urges Israel to investigate death of six-year-old Palestinian girl who pleaded to be rescued Israel must investigate the heartbreaking death of a six-year-old Gazan girl whose body was recovered Saturday along with a number of her relatives and two Red Crescent workers who went to find her, the US State Department has said. Six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab - AFP Matthew Miller, a spokesman, said: We have asked the Israeli authorities to investigate this incident on an urgent basis. We understand that theyre doing so. We expect to see those results in a timely fashion and they should include accountability measures as appropriate. Her familys car came under fire while trying to flee an Israeli advance in Gaza City. She was last heard from in a desperate phone call to the Red Crescent, telling them she was so scared. We are devastated about reports of the death of Hind Rajab. I will tell you that I have a little girl thats about to turn six myself, and so its just a devastating account, a heartbreaking account for this child, Miller added. Read: Body of six-year-old Palestinian girl who pleaded to be rescued found in Gaza 09:51 AM GMT China urges Israel to stop military operation in Rafah as soon as possible China urged Israel to stop its military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah as soon as possible, warning of a serious humanitarian disaster there if fighting did not stop. A foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement: China follows closely the developments in the Rafah area, opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians and violate international law. Beijing urged Israel to to stop its military operation as soon as possible, (and) make every effort to avoid innocent civilian casualties, in order to prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area. 09:35 AM GMT Israeli troops in pictures: Israeli soldiers view stack burnt and crushed cars stacked up in an area outside Netivot, southern Israel - UPI / Alamy Live News/https://www.alamy.com The forces of the 98th Division in Khan Younis The forces of the 98th Division c in the west of Khan Younis 09:24 AM GMT UN will not be party to forced displacement of people There is currently no safe place in Gaza, a United Nations spokesperson has said. When asked about an evacuation mission, Stephane Dujarric said the UN would not be party to forced displacement of people. Volker Turk, the UNs human rights chief, warned that an extremely high number of civilians would likely be killed or injured in a full Israeli incursion into Rafah, which could also spell the end of the meagre humanitarian aid entering Gaza. 08:50 AM GMT Israeli spy chief travels to Cairo for Gaza talks Israels spy chief will travel to Cairo for talks with his Egyptian and US counterparts on a Gaza truce proposal, Israeli officials have said. David Barnea, the head of Mossad, will meet William Burns, the CIA chief, Israeli officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions. They will be joined in the Egyptian capital by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari prime minister, who also serves as the countrys top diplomat and has brokered previous Gaza ceasefires. Washington sources familiar with developments confirmed on Monday that William Burns, the CIA chief, is expected in Cairo for talks on a Qatari-brokered truce proposal, after Israel rejected the initial response last week from Gaza rulers Hamas. 08:36 AM GMT IDF has not shown plans to evacuate Rafah to government The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not yet shown its government plans to evacuate Rafah, a spokesman has said. Lt Col Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, told CNN: The government has instructed the IDF to devise a plan to achieve our goals, our war goals, in the area of Rafah. The plan that youre asking for has still yet to be presented, of course, to the government. There are great humanitarian concerns about the potential assault on the southern Gazan city where 1.4 million Palestinians are understood to be sheltering Lt Col Lerner insisted it was possible to differentiate between innocent civilians and terrorists, admitting that it was not without challenge. It can be done, he said. We have confidence in our ability to differentiate and distinguish. 08:30 AM GMT Pictured: A protest outside the White House calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Non-governmental organisations and university students gather in front of the White House to attend a demonstration of support for the Palestinian people in Washington - Anadolu/Anadolu 08:29 AM GMT Joe Biden considers going public with frustration over a--hole Benjamin Netanyahu Joe Biden is growing increasingly irritated with Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he is understood to have called an a--hole several times in private. Amid mounting frustration with the Israeli leader, the US president is believed to be edging closer to a public breach with Mr Netanyahu in a bid to distance himself from the unpopular prime minister. Mr Netanyahu has infuriated the Biden administration in recent days by announcing, despite US opposition, plans for a military operation in Rafah, where around 1.4 million Palestinians are believed to be sheltering. Read more here 08:28 AM GMT Israel could face war crimes charges if it goes ahead with Rafah invasion The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned Israel it could face war crimes charges if it pushes ahead with an invasion of Rafah. Karim Khan, a British lawyer, said he was deeply concerned about the potential assault on the southern Gazan city where 1.4 million Palestinians are understood to be sheltering, and reiterated that those who commit war crimes will be held accountable. International pressure was mounting on Monday against the planned attack on the last remaining Gazan enclave, with Lord Cameron urging Israel to stop and think seriously before taking any further action. Read more here 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. Merged Reform Party must present clear vision A new political party has been established through the merger of four minor parties, ahead of the April 10 general elections. This "big tent" coalition brings together prominent figures such as former Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Lee Nak-yon, and former ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok. Additionally, it incorporates two other minor political parties recently formed by individuals who left their parties. The formation had seemed unlikely. On a political spectrum, the four minor political forces span a broad swath from left to right. Recent opinion polls indicate more than 30 percent do not back either the DPK or the PPP, a figure election experts construe as meaning many voters are ready to back the third party or mavericks. Over the past few years, the rigid partisan divide in the National Assembly has intensified, leading to stalled bills and even laws being enacted without adequate groundwork. More worryingly, the politics of confrontation has fueled a climate of animosity in the public sphere. Many voters are questioning what their representatives have achieved for them, particularly as concerns grow over the soaring costs of housing, education, raising a family, and everyday essentials. The Reform Party has finally recognized and responded to voter frustration, albeit belatedly. Lee Jun-seok, serving as co-chairman of the new party alongside Lee Nak-yon, pledged on Monday that the Reform Party "will emerge as the strongest opposition party and an alternative political force" during the party's Supreme Council meeting. As former members of the two-party dominated, winner-take-all electoral system, these four political forces are well aware of the shortcomings of the existing party leaderships. The PPP and the DPK are attempting to categorize this third party as a small bump on a road or a recurring election-year scheme rather than a legitimate political party movement. The PPP called the party a "hodgepodge mix of rice" and while the DPK has criticized it as being "an integration for the minus." But neither party can quite stop looking over their shoulder to see how the Reform Party will proceed. As the first step to distinguish itself from the main two parties, the Reform Party has announced that it will not establish a satellite party solely to secure more proportional seats. In contrast, both the PPP and the DPK have expressed their intent to create satellite parties for the upcoming April 10 general elections. The Reform Party is swiftly appointing officials, but its leaders are also grappling with how to reconcile the competing interests of their existing supporters, balancing between conservatives and liberals. The divergence in policy proposals among the four political forces mirrors the breadth of the political spectrum. For instance, Lee Jun-seok's proposals, such as allowing only women who have completed military service to apply to become police officers or firefighters, or eliminating free rides for citizens aged 65 or older, may not align well with the former DPK members. The ability of the new party to effectively develop a compelling and cohesive political vision, party platform, policy pledges, and select party officials will be closely scrutinized. The challenging task of nominating party candidates in a short timeframe leading up to the April 10 elections will serve as a litmus test for the type of political force they can become. The election timetable does not favor the Reform Party, and there is limited common ground among the four factions. Relying solely on voter frustration may lead to setbacks for the Reform Party. However, if the party can effectively address constituents' concerns about fundamental livelihood challenges, they stand a better chance of performing well in the elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) issued a preemptive warning on Monday that the Republican-controlled chamber was unlikely to take up the Senates $95 billion foreign aid package, sharply criticizing the proposed legislations failure to address the border crisisthe most critical aspect of our national security, as a statement from his office characterized it. In the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said in the statement. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. Johnsons statement was issued minutes before the packagewhich will aid Israel, Ukraine, and other U.S. allieswas set to go before the Senate for a vote. Final passage in the upper chamber is expected by Wednesday at the latest, but the speakers statement all but precludes its passage in the House. My statement on Senates failure to address the most critical aspect of national security supplemental legislation: pic.twitter.com/ENjJ0WzKsK Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 13, 2024 After Johnson and other Republican leaders in the House helped to sink an earlier version of the legislation that, notably, did include an overhaul of immigration and border security policy, the new package has all but fractured the party, particularly in the Senate. Though it has enjoyed the support of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and 17 other Republican senators, a hard-right contingent of Republicans in the chamber worked Monday to filibuster the package out of existence. Wish us stamina. We fight for you. We stand with America, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted amid delaying the vote for as long as he and his allies could. They had already spent several hours railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process, according to the Associated Press. Paul also called the bill a middle finger to every working man and woman in America, to every struggling family, encapsulating Republican fears that it prioritizes foreign funding over tackling issues at home. Open the champagne, pop the cork! he ranted during his time on the Senate floor. The Senate Democrat leader and the Republican leader are on their way to Kyiv!... Theyre taking your money to Kyiv! The package earmarks $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, as well as a further $10 billion for humanitarian aid, including to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee. In addition to Republicans inside the Senate, the package has found an enemy in Donald Trump, who has spent days railing against its contents. We should never give money anymore without the hope of a payback, or without strings attached, he blared in an all-caps Truth Social screed on Saturday. The United States of America should be stupid no longer! The former president was similarly opposed to the previous $118 billion iteration of the package, and celebrated that Republicans had followed his lead in collapsing the deal theyd demanded. We crushed Crooked Joe Bidens disastrous open borders bill. Crushed it, he said along the campaign trail over the weekend, according to CNN. Trumps comments also came as he suggested on Saturday he would disregard the treaty statutes between the U.S. and its allies, indicating hed let Russia do whatever the hell they want to any NATO member that doesnt meet spending guidelines. Some Republican lawmakers fell over themselves to back him up on Monday, with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) saying he was 100 percent behind Trump, according to ABC News. Others, including Paul, pushed back lightly on the former presidents rhetoric, calling it a careless remark. Before opening the Senate chamber on Monday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) described the bill as nothing less than a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of American values, the AP reported. These are the enormously high stakes of the supplemental package: our security, our values, our democracy, he said. 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. Russia has allegedly been purchasing Starlink terminals from "Arab countries," Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Feb. 13, citing intercepted communications. Claims have circulated that Russian troops were reportedly using the Starlink terminals, which are operated by SpaceX and have been extensively deployed by Ukrainian forces for military purposes. Ukraine's military intelligence agency said on Feb. 13 that it had intercepted radio communications where Russians were discussing the purchase of Starlink terminals in "Arab countries" but did not specify which countries. Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, denied on Feb. 11 that his company had sold any Starlink terminals to Russia. "To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia." In a follow-up statement, Musk said that Starlink would not connect to devices in Russia: "Starlink satellites will not close the link in Russia." Both military intelligence and media reports said that Russian forces connected Starlink in occupied Ukraine, not on Russian territory. Read also: Russian military uses Starlink inside Ukraine, intelligence confirms Ukraine's military intelligence agency published a clip from an intercepted phone call, where Russian soldiers allegedly discuss having successfully set up a Starlink terminal. Military intelligence spokesman Andrii Yusov told RBC-Ukraine that Russia's use of Starlink is growing to systemic levels. Yusov also said on air on Feb. 12 that "no one claims that Starlink is officially being sold" to Russia. Moscow is likely acquiring the terminals through smuggling and third-party countries, he clarified. The Starlink terminals reportedly cost 200,000 rubles (~$2,200) and come with all the necessary equipment. SpaceX began providing the Starlink satellite internet system to Ukraine shortly after the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022. In June 2023, the Pentagon confirmed that SpaceX had won a contract from the U.S. Defense Department to provide Ukraine with Starlink satellite services. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia stops using human wave attacks in Avdiivka, deploys small assault groups instead, commander says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is reinforcing its troops fighting in Donetsk Oblast's Avdiivka, and some units of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade were withdrawn from the city for rotation for the first time in almost two years, the brigade's spokesman Ivan Siekach said on Feb. 13. Avdiivka, lying only kilometers away from Russian-occupied Donetsk, has suffered intensified Russian attacks since October 2023 as Moscow's troops aim to encircle and capture the city. The head of the city's military administration said on Feb. 6 that the situation around Avdiivka was becoming "very difficult." The 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade "no longer has sufficient capabilities to hold the city" on its own, but "reinforcement is coming," Siekach told the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He did not say which unit was deployed to Avdiivka to reinforce the 110th brigade, noting only that "this is powerful support, we felt a little calmer when they came." The 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade has been defending Avdiivka since March 2022. Intense fighting continues in the eastern city, with Russian forces trying to cut Ukraine's main supply route, according to Siekach. Read also: Fate of Avdiivka uncertain as Ukrainian forces defending it struggle with fortifications, resources "They (Russian forces) have a complete advantage in aviation. We can not in any way influence their air raids, the bombing of the city, and our positions," he added. "They have a huge number of personnel whom they do not count, and they are constantly experimenting with different (assault) groups, using armored vehicles." Russia has stopped using its infamous "human wave" attacks in Avdiivka, instead deploying small assault groups supported by aviation to probe Ukrainian defenses, Dmytro Riumshyn, the commander of Ukraine's 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said on Feb. 12. Russian troops continue their assaults in the south-eastern limits of Avdiivka, where street-to-street combat is taking place, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its intelligence update on Feb. 8. Russia has likely deployed additional forces in the Avdiivka sector over the past weeks, increasing the pressure on Ukrainian positions around the city, reads the update. "Russia is almost certain to continue offensive pressure in this area over the next several weeks, highly leveraging tactical air power to support its effort," the ministry wrote. Read also: I wanted to save lives. How pregnant medic kept working on front line amid heavy combat Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MILLCREEK, Utah (ABC4) At a meeting on Monday night, the Millcreek City Council unanimously passed a resolution to call for the resignation of State School Board Member Natalie Cline following her controversial comments on social media. The passing of the resolution makes Millcreek one of the many groups speaking out against Cline following her actions on social media, after Cline posted a photo on social media and publicly questioned whether a high school athlete was transgender. PREVIOUS STORY: Adults bullying a child: Parents of child targeted in Natalie Cline social media post become crusaders for attacked teens The resolution that was passed by Millcreek is demanding Cline resign immediately in order to own up to her actions. Unfortunately, Board Member Cline has shown us, over and over again, that she doesnt represent the people who have elected her, Councilmember Silvia Catten said at Mondays meeting. Cline has already been formally and repeatedly reprimanded by the State School Board, according to the resolution. Im afraid for our community and for our state, that this is just the tip of the iceberg, Councilmember Thom DeSirant said at the meeting. While this was a case of a cisgender child being targeted as trans, I think we have to be really, really careful about the trans children who are targeted by this as well. Millcreek is joining the voices of Utah Democrats and the Granite School District, both groups that have recently expressed their disapproval of Clines comments and called for her resignation. The resolution states that this is not the first time Board Member Cline has made false, inflammatory, divisive, and unfair social media posts about our public schools, students, and teachers. SEE MORE: Utah lawmakers move forward with action against Natalie Cline The students parents have also spoken out about the situation, calling for Cline to face serious consequences after saying Clines posting led to adults bullying their child. Our job, as adults, is to protect our kids, to empower our kids, and to really support them, Mayor Pro Tempore Bev Uipi said on Monday. Clines post which was later deleted was met with backlash as the comment section turned intense, prompting Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Diedre Henderson to release a joint statement on Feb. 7 saying Cline embarrassed the state of Utah. The resolution passed by Millcreek says Clines post encouraged online vitriol and threats in the comments and put the targeted student and her family in danger. Im honored to join the Granite School District in their call to action for this particular resolution, Uipi said at the meeting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson (left) and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley talk before a ribbon cutting ceremony for a transit line in June. Both officials have endorsed a referendum for MPS funding. The push for a referendum to support Milwaukee Public Schools gained two key endorsements from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Vote Yes For MPS Committee announced Monday. The group is asking voters to raise city property taxes to ultimately provide MPS with up to $252 million in additional annual funding. Milwaukee residents will vote on the referendum April 2. If approved, the Milwaukee property tax rate for the next school year would rise by about $2.16 per $1,000 of property value. For a $200,000 home, that would be an increase of about $432. More: What to know about the 2024 MPS referendum Milwaukee leaders say the referendum is necessary to maintain operations and avoid severe cuts amid rising costs. "We have to make sure Milwaukee students return to school next fall without cuts to their schools and with every opportunity we can provide them, Crowley said in a statement. Johnson and Crowley, who are both MPS graduates and parents, said they will vote yes. Milwaukees future is our children and we must provide them the resources to ensure they are in quality learning environments," Johnson said in a statement. School districts around the state are utilizing referendums to give their students the opportunities they deserve, and Milwaukee students shouldnt be left behind. School districts across Wisconsin are facing daunting financial deficits, causing some to close school buildings and many others to turn to voters with referendums to raise taxes. A report from Forward Analytics found that 82% of school districts in the state have called for a referendum in the past three decades. More: Wisconsin schools are facing fiscal cliffs, closing buildings and going to referendum. How did we get here? What is the Vote Yes For MPS Committee? The Vote Yes for MPS Committee, which already existed to support the last MPS referendum in 2020, has been resurrected to generate support for this spring's referendum. Milwaukee residents approved the 2020 referendum, with support from 78% of voters. MPS has used those funds for recruitment, increasing salaries and funding teaching positions in kindergarten, music, physical education, art and other specialties. The committee filed a campaign finance report in January, showing it had a cash balance of over $15,000. Ben Ward, the executive director of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, said he will leave his post Thursday to begin working on staff for the Vote Yes committee through April 2. The committee lists MTEA and many other community organizations as supporters: Leaders Igniting Transformation, Black Leaders Organizing Communities, Citizen Action, Wisconsin Public Education Network, Parents for Public Schools-Milwaukee, Schools and Communities United, Working Families Party, Voces de la Frontera, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, Democratic Party of Milwaukee County, Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood, Power to the Polls Wisconsin, For Our Future, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, Wisconsin Education Association Council, and Administrators and Supervisors Council. According to the committees 2020 finance reports, which is the last documentation of significant fundraising, the organizations largest contributions that year were from the National Education Association, MTEA, Working Families Organization, the state council of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @RoryLinnane. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee mayor, county executive back referendum to raise taxes for MPS LAS VEGAS (KLAS) It was a reunion unlikely for a Las Vegas family and their pet cat after the four-legged feline went missing not months but years ago. Cat found 50 miles away, reunites with Las Vegas family after 2 years apart Lucipurr a 10-year-old cat waited a long two years to get back home. On Sunday he was finally reunited with his owner, Katelyn Mendes. One morning around mid-March Mendes said she let Lucipurr out to use the restroom and did not return. Lucipurr the cat was reunited with his family after two years. (Katelyn Mendes) Hearing cats roam and spending weeks or months just looking and hoping hed come back, she recalled. After posting pictures on social media and flyers around the neighborhood, Mendes and her husband were shocked to finally get the call they had been waiting for all along. They told 8 News Now they were surprised about where he was found, which was inside a wall. A few stray cats were living inside of a wall in an alley, so she coaxed him out with food and was able to get him closer enough to catch him and bring him in, Mendes told 8 News Now. The rescuer lives six miles away, so just knowing he crossed six miles to be found again. She believes if it hadnt been for Lucipurrs microchip he might never have been found. Lucipurr the cat was reunited with his family after two years. (Katelyn Mendes) The importance of how powerful it is to bring your pet back and how it worked for us and it was the best investment we did, she added. Dr. Mark Ben Paulino with Cactus Pet Hospital told 8 News Now with the amount of lost pets he sees weekly, microchipping is vital and a simple process. The microchip is the size of a rice grain, most animals do quite well and you can equivalent to getting an ear piercing, he explained. Microchips should be recommended for every pet. Mendes added that even though its been two years, she can tell Lucipurr is comfortable and knows he is home. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. By Kim Sang-woo In times of shifting geopolitical moments, levels of volatility are typically matched by the potential to address unfolding crises and challenges to shape history. Now is no exception. Its leadership that makes the difference it will be so again. At the World Economic Forum last month, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan defined our currently unfolding post-Cold War era as strategic competition in an age of interdependence. He added, We have the capacity to shape what it looks like The question is, are we prepared to put it to work? It is a question of summoning the political will to respond to the challenges that we face. At the end of 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that reunification with the South was impossible and that the two Koreas no longer have any kinship or homogeneity. They are instead, he said, two separate belligerent states in the midst of war. This declaration is a significant, even momentous event. With this statement, Kim criticized and reversed his fathers and revered grandfathers policies concerning reunification. However, it is unclear whether Kims abandonment of reunification will lead to peace on the Korean Peninsula, because this policy shift was accompanied by Kims instruction to the military to prepare for a showdown with the enemy. This should, he said, be done through nuclear war, if necessary. War could break out due to North Korean provocations, ranging from more missile or nuclear tests to limited conventional clashes with South Korea. It is still doubtful that Kim would launch a nuclear attack on the South, because it would likely result in North Koreas demise, but a raid similar to the one undertaken by Hamas against Israel in October is a possibility that concerns South Korea. Kim might be tempted to ramp up tensions to keep the pressure on during this election year, on both South Korea and the U.S., and to set the stage for negotiations if Trump wins the presidency. Kim has learned through experience that there are few consequences for misconduct but many potential rewards. Kim probably does not want a major war, but it is possible that he could miscalculate and accidentally start one. Since the failure of the Hanoi summit in 2019, there have been almost no guardrails to prevent situations from spiraling out of control. The advice offered by a fourth-century Roman general, "Si vis pacem para bellum" (if you want peace, prepare for war), has been a critical foundation of security for many centuries. Today it is called deterrence. Deterrence or peace through strength has stood the test of time because it is widely believed to have worked. But it is not without risks. Strengthening defenses to deter an adversary may be interpreted by that adversary as an indication of aggressive intent and a serious threat to one's own security. North Koreas initial motivation for pursuing nuclear weapons may well have been defensive to deter what it perceived as efforts to undermine or eliminate its regime. But now, Kim may feel emboldened by his increased capabilities to pursue offensive objectives. In such an environment, the risk of armed conflict breaking out as a result of an accident, misperception or miscalculation can grow. To avoid war and ultimately achieve peace, deterrence should be accompanied by diplomacy. North Korea recently denounced the reunification of the Korean Peninsula and began calling South Korea by its official name (the Republic of Korea). This was followed by describing South Korea as a separate belligerent state. Despite the ambivalence, South Korea should consider Kim Jong-uns separate state statement as an opportunity to raise the idea of a two-state system to North Korea. A two-state system would establish a legal and political framework that could help facilitate peaceful coexistence and reduce security risks on the Korean Peninsula. Although experts have explored a two-state system in the past, public sentiment has been negative due to criticism that it was anti-nationalist, anti-unification and anti-constitutional. However, today more than a majority of South Koreans approve of such a system, and amid the risk of conflict, especially nuclear, it is certainly worth exploring. South Korea should take the initiative and convene an inter-Korean dialogue for the discussion as it did in 1991, when both Koreas entered the United Nations. At the time, they signed the Basic Agreement and were even considering to institutionalize it. The two Koreas could sign a basic treaty that enables a two-state system. And the new treaty should include most elements of the 1991 Basic Agreement, and recognize each other as sovereign states with territorial integrity just like the 1972 Basic Treaty between the two Germanys. To ensure the international legal status of this treaty, it should be signed by the heads of the two Koreas, ratified by their legislatures and registered as an international treaty at the U.N. Secretariat per article 102 of the U.N. Charter. Furthermore, it is essential to secure the support of major stakeholder states such as the United States, China, Japan and Russia. Negotiating both the Basic Treaty between the two Koreas and U.S.-North Korea diplomatic normalization will be extremely challenging. Nevertheless, the parties concerned should take these measures seriously, and try to realize a two-state system even if the possibility of success is low. John Maynard Keynes wrote in a 1930 essay: I predict that both of the two opposed errors of pessimism will be proved wrong over time: the pessimism of the revolutionaries who think that things are so bad that nothing can save us but violent change, and the pessimism of the reactionaries who consider the balance of our economic and social life so precarious that we must risk no experiments. Kim Sang-woo (swkim54@hotmail.com), a former lawmaker, is chairman of the East Asia Cultural Project and a member of the board of directors at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation. Southern California officials found a hiker dead Sunday after she was reported missing a week earlier. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said it received a call on Feb. 4 about a hiker who was alone in the Mount Baldy area of the San Gabriel Mountains and hadn't been heard from in several hours, according to a news release. The crew began searching, but was called off because of the mountain conditions. On Saturday, a citizen flying a drone reported they may have located the woman. After further weather delays, medics were airlifted in to the scene Sunday, where they located the woman identified as Lifei Huang, 22, of El Monte. 'No words': Utah teen falls to death after cliff edge crumbles beneath him This embedded content is not available in your region. Weather and mountain condition thwarted rescue efforts The day Huang went missing, an atmospheric river dumped rain and snowfall in the West, causing devastating floods and mudslides, throughout the region and turning to heavy snowfall as it made its way up the mountain. The weather and avalanche risk after the storm thwarted officials' search efforts multiple times: Monday, Feb. 5: After Huang was reported missing, a search and rescue crew arrived in the Mount Baldy area and began a search but did not find the woman. Tuesday, Feb. 6: Crews continued the search in the heavily snow-covered area; however, avalanche risks hindered the search efforts, and the crews were pulled off the mountain, sheriff's officials said. Rescue teams remained at the trailhead and continued their search when conditions were safe, sheriffs officials said. Friday, Feb. 9: Sheriff's officials stated that Huang remained missing and that ground efforts would resume when weather and mountain conditions improved. Even after the storm rolled through, Huang's friends, who know her as Ada, held out hope. "We are doing everything for her," cousin Ally Zhang told KABC 7. "We never blamed her for doing this. We don't think that she wanted this to happen." The body of a missing hiker Lifei Huang, 22, of El Monte was found and recovered from a snow-covered Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. At about 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, the U.S. Forestry Department told the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office that a citizen flying a drone may have spotted Huangs body. When rescuers arrived, they were unable to hike to the spot where Huang's body was believed to be due to dangerous conditions on the mountain, authorities said. Sheriff's aviation crews were also unable to perform an aerial search due to high winds. Rescue team members stayed the night near the location to preserve the scene. At 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, sheriffs Air Rescue 306 hoisted medics down to the location. Huang's body was then airlifted off the mountain. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Division will determine what caused Huang's death. Mount Baldy known for being treacherous to hikers San Bernardino County Sheriffs officials announced a major ground and air search effort on Saturday, June 17, 2023 for missing hiker and actor Julian Sands, who went missing on Mount Baldy. Huang is not the first life lost on Mount Baldy. In recent years, the sheriffs department has conducted more than 100 search and rescue operations for missing hikers, with over 10 fatalities. The dangerous nature of Mount Baldy was highlighted in January 2023, when accomplished mountaineer and actor Julian Sands went missing and was found dead. The local sheriff has asked legislators for help in adding safety measures, pointing to the steep costs associated with rescue missions. Along with the financial costs, the search and rescue missions have come at a much higher price the death of Tim Staples, 32. In 2019, Staples, a nine-year search and rescue veteran, was one of 126 volunteers searching for a missing hiker in Mount Baldys icy, rugged terrain. Staples became separated from his partner and was later found dead after suffering a fatal fall. The problem extends beyond Mount Baldy, and rescuers in Southern California have struggled to keep up. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lifei 'Ada' Huang: Missing hiker found dead on Mount Baldy, California Jill Jefferson was arrested in June 2023 while filming a traffic stop. Jill Jefferson was arrested in June 2023 while filming a traffic stop. A judge took the extraordinary step of rescinding his own guilty verdict last week in the case of a Mississippi civil rights attorney whom police arrested for filming a traffic stop last summer. Lexington police arrested Jill Collen Jefferson, who founded the grassroots group Julian in 2020, in June after she recorded officers performing a traffic stop. Julian was already suing the police department at the time, and her arrest happened just nine days after the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division traveled to the small, predominantly Black city following multiple allegations of police abuse and excessive force. Holmes County Justice Court Judge Marcus Fisher convicted Jefferson of multiple misdemeanors related to the incident on Jan. 31 after a bench trial. But he rescinded his own verdicts in a one-page decision that mentioned only a thorough review of facts and evidence as a basis for the reversal. Jefferson told local media she knew the verdict was going to be thrown out before her trial started. She noted she could tell Fisher did not write the verdict because he had trouble pronouncing the words. In Fishers verdict document, he said he was resending the verdict instead of rescinding. Jeffersons attorneys said they understand him to have meant rescind, but the court did not respond to repeated requests for comment. And when the trial was over and it was time for him to render his verdict, he read verbatim from that paper, even flipping pages, and we could tell he didnt write that because he couldnt pronounce some of the words in the verdict, Jefferson told Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Jefferson, who wrote speeches for former President Barack Obamas 2012 campaign, released a copy of the decision on X, formerly known as Twitter. HuffPost verified the documents through Jeffersons attorney, Michael Carr. Black folks get mistreated in Lexington courts every day without a second thought by any judge, she wrote in her post. While this is a good thing for me personally, its also an example of the unequal application of justice in Mississippi and America. Thanks to everyone who spoke up for me. Jefferson and other local civil rights attorneys filed another lawsuitlast month against Lexington and its police department, outlining alleged racist tactics and misconduct by officers. The Department of Justice launched a pattern or practice investigation into the Lexington Police Department in November, following several allegations of police abuse and misconduct by officers. Lexington is a town of approximately 1,600 people with an 80% Black population compared to an 18% white population, according to a 2020 census. Nearly 20 Black people in Lexington have filed federal lawsuits against the police department in the last two years. The towns former police chief, Sam Dobbins, was recorded in 2022 going on a racist tirade where he made multiple racial slurs, homophobic comments and bragged about shooting a Black man over 100 times. ST. LOUIS A Jefferson County man is accused of breaking into a St. Louis womans home three times in one night and beating up another man inside the residence each time. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the break-ins occurred on the night of February 4 and the early morning hours of February 5, in the 3400 block of Miami Street, in the citys Gravois Park neighborhood. Around 9:40 p.m. on February 4, police claim Thomas Ward Power entered the womans apartment without permission and assaulted a man who was there with her. Power left and returned at 1:20 a.m. the next morning, stole the womans cellphone, and attacked the same man again. Power left and returned a third time at 4:35 a.m. He beat up the man in the womans apartment and then broke the womans television before leaving for good. Police eventually located and arrested Power. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Power, 35, with three counts of fourth-degree assault, three counts of first-degree trespassing, one count of stealing, and one count of second-degree property damage. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The Missouri Senate started debating a plan this week to roll back direct democracy by making the votes of rural residents more powerful than urban residents when it comes to amending the state constitution. The Republican-led measure comes as abortion rights advocates embark on an ambitious campaign to overturn a near-total ban on the procedure and enshrine the right to an abortion in the Missouri Constitution. The debate marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy, bitter dispute among senators, who have yet to pass a single bill this year. Democrats immediately launched a filibuster of the proposal, blocking an initial vote late Monday evening. The Senate resumed debate on Tuesday. The measure, filed by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican running for Congress, would overhaul Missouris century-old initiative petition process that allows voters to place constitutional amendments on the ballot by gathering signatures. Currently, constitutional amendments must win a simple majority of voters statewide. But Colemans proposal would require amendments to also receive a majority vote in at least five of the states eight congressional districts. That change would hand rural residents more power in statewide votes on constitutional amendments. A coalition of rural congressional districts would have effective veto control over amendments, no matter how popular a measure might enjoy in Kansas City or St. Louis. Our founding documents should not be able to be changed just with a simple majority of vote, Coleman said in a floor speech. It should have to have a majority of congressional districts as well. Any proposal raising the threshold for amending the state constitution would itself have to be approved by a simple majority of voters statewide. A hard-right faction of senators called the Missouri Freedom Caucus has put pressure on Senate Republican leadership to pass the proposal early in the session in the wake of the campaign to overturn the abortion ban. If the Senate advances the plan, it would head to the House, which passed similar proposals last year. Some Republicans appear to want to put the proposal on the August ballot, hoping to raise the bar for amendments ahead of a potential abortion rights vote in November. Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, is pictured in this file photo when she was in the Missouri House. As written, the proposal by default would go on the November ballot but Republican Gov. Mike Parson, a staunch abortion opponent, would have the power to set a special election for the measure and could set it to occur concurrently with the August primary election. Missouri Republicans have for years attacked the states initiative petition process, which has been utilized by voters of both parties to bypass the General Assembly and put measures to a statewide vote. The criticism comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion. I think it is important that it is harder to change our founding documents than it is state statutes, Coleman said. While Coleman and Republican senators say that the state constitution has been too easy to change, data shows voters have historically rejected most initiative petition questions. There have been 69 citizen-driven initiative petitions placed in front of voters between 1910 and 2022. Of those petitions, voters have approved 28 40.6%. Voters shot down the remaining 41 or 59.4%. That data only analyzes the proposals that have reached the ballot most petitions fail to make it through the expensive and time-consuming signature-gathering process. For example, more than 80 initiative petitions were filed with the Missouri Secretary of States Office in 2022 but only one, marijuana legalization, reached the ballot. About 170,000 signatures are currently required to qualify an initiative petition for the ballot. The signature-gathering process also currently includes a congressional district requirement and petitions must be signed by 8% of legal voters in six of the eight districts. The reality is voters are smart and discerning, Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said Tuesday. Usually, they only approve things that they feel are necessary if the legislative body of the General Assembly ignores the proposals that they think are important. Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, debates legislation in 2023. Legal experts told The Star last year that changing the initiative petition process could violate the U.S. Constitution and the principle of one person, one vote meant to ensure each voters ballot holds equal weight. The idea of requiring a second vote, after all Missouri citizens have already had an opportunity to vote, violates the long-established principle of one-person, one-vote, said Scott Charton, spokesman for Missourians for Fair Governance, a group defending the current process. Defenders of the initiative petition process call Republican efforts to raise the threshold for passing amendments an attack on direct democracy, whittling away at a crucial tool used by voters to bypass the legislature. There is one step between the voters and this and thats us, Sen. Doug Beck, a St. Louis Democrat, said on Monday before launching a filibuster against the proposal. Were gonna be here to try to uphold democracy in the state of Missouri. But the Freedom Caucus has for the first month of session used social media, procedural maneuvers and criticism of more moderate Republicans to try to get the proposal to a vote. The caucus has touted the legislation, which they call IP Reform, as its No. 1 priority this year. The caucus remains steadfast in advancing the cause of IP Reform, guaranteeing that the will of the people resonates in the decisions made by elected officials, the group said in a recent statement. Colemans proposal would also ban initiative petitions on certain topics, including raising taxes on food, cutting funding for law enforcement, raising taxes on real estate, allowing lobbyist gifts to politicians and cutting money to protect the countrys borders. Several GOP-led states, including Ohio and South Dakota, have pushed to raise the threshold for citizen-led petitions in recent years. Voters in both states struck down those measures at the ballot box. Missouri Republicans, seeking to overcome voter opposition, have included what critics describe as deceptive language in the proposal. It would ask voters to ban foreign interference in ballot measures and limit voting on citizen-led petitions to U.S. citizens, despite the fact that voting is already restricted to U.S. citizens. Sen. Tracy McCreery, a St. Louis area Democrat, and Beck on Monday criticized Republicans for trying to entice voters with ballot candy. The first three bullet points that the voters will see are all things that are already illegal, McCreery said, referring to how the measure would be summarized on ballots. Very disingenuous, quite honestly. But I do think the voters will see through it. Coleman, the bill sponsor, acknowledged on the floor that the measure has been crafted to lure voters. There absolutely is ballot candy in the Senate substitute, she said. By Baek Byung-yeul The government will actively recruit overseas researchers specialized in quantum computing, AI and bio this year to make the country a global R&D hub. Additionally, it will focus on driving economic growth and job creation based on AI technology and enhancing digital inclusion through advanced digital services, the ICT minister said Tuesday. "This year, as the Yoon Suk Yeol administration enters its third year, the government will take more immediate action for Koreas future, Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho said during a briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul. "We will create an R&D hub where the world's top researchers can perform innovative research together, and thoroughly prepare for a major transition to AI and digital, so that Korea can leap forward as a powerhouse in science and technology and be a model digital nation." The Ministry of Science and ICT announced its major projects to be promoted this year, setting strategies under the goal of making Korea a powerhouse in science and technology and a leading country in digital technology. The ministry said that it will expand joint research with advanced countries and actively recruit overseas experts to strengthen cooperation to make Korea the world's best R&D hub. The government will invest 1.8 trillion won ($1.35 billion) this year, up from 0.5 trillion won in 2023, to significantly expand joint research with the world's top research institutions centered on basic and national strategic technologies, and will improve systems to make it easier for overseas researchers to settle in Korea. Amid fierce competition among advanced nations for technological hegemony, Korea also plans to focus on R&D for technologies that possess a huge potential to disrupt many sectors such as quantum computing, AI, bio, semiconductor packaging, network and space, so as not to fall behind. In the field of AI, 58 billion won will be invested in developing technology to overcome the problem of generative AI giving false answers or providing biased opinions, and 9 billion won will be invested to establish AI research hubs in Korea and the U.S. to collaborate with overseas researchers. For advanced bio, global cooperation will be expanded, such as supporting joint research projects in the U.S. city of Boston, which has the world's top biocluster. In addition, the Korea Aerospace Administration will be operational as of this May to establish better governance of the countrys space industry. Also, private companies that are going to receive the transfer of launch vehicle technology will be selected in March. The ICT ministry predicted that AI technology will help Korea to leap forward in terms of its economy and industries, and will lead global norms based on this. Under the plan, the ministry plans to attain global leadership in AI technology and support productivity innovation through regulatory innovation across the economy and industries, and create new markets. In addition, it will work to become the leader in the on-device AI market, which is still in its early stages. On-device refers to technology that runs AI services without requiring a network connection. The ministry plans to invest 773.7 billion won to enable AI to be widely used in everyday life such as education, medical care and law, and provide comprehensive support for data, regulatory innovation, cultivating professionals and financial and tax support so that AI services can quickly spread. To lead the global norm discussions in the AI and digital sectors, Korea, jointly with the U.K., plans to solidify its status as a model nation in the digital field by hosting the AI Safety Summit in May, the ministry added. More than a third of teenagers in England do not want to have children in the future, a study has found. Fears about pregnancy and childbirth were among the reasons cited by young girls in the research by University College London (UCL). Some of the 16 to 18-year-olds were also put off by the turbulent state of the world and climate change. Others felt nervous at the idea of being a parent and found children a nuisance. Nearly 1,000 sixth form pupils were surveyed in 20 schools in England between May 2021 and July 2022. Researchers found that 36 per cent of teenagers did not want to have children in the future. While 64 per cent said they did want to have them nearly half (45 per cent) said they had concerns about becoming parents. Britains birth rate is at a two-decade low. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 605,479 live births in England and Wales in 2022, the lowest number since 2002. Joyce Harper, a senior author professor from the UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health, said: Sadly, a number of female students expressed a lack of interest in future parenthood due to their fears about pregnancy and childbirth. Shortcomings in fertility education in schools also meant that students were left feeling both ill-informed and negative towards their own fertility and ability to have children. Since September 2020, relationships and sex education has been compulsory in secondary schools in England while relationships education has been compulsory in primary schools. Gaps in young peoples education Statutory guidance from the Government on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) says that facts about reproductive health, including fertility, and the menopause, should be taught to pupils by the end of secondary school in England. But a second study by UCL researchers, published in Health Education Journal, suggested there were still gaps in young peoples education and that many teenagers were not being taught about key reproductive issues such as endometriosis, infertility and the impact of lifestyle on fertility. Nearly two in three pupils rated the sex education they had received as adequate or below, and nearly half said they did not know when a woman was most fertile. One female pupil said: All weve done in school is go over and over having safe sex and talked about periods which, while it is important, is barely scratching the surface of things people need to know about. If miscarriage and infertility were better taught then that could reduce the guilt and embarrassment people who struggle with it would feel. Prof Harper said: It is not surprising that we take so long to diagnose conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome when pupils are not taught about these conditions. It seems we are afraid to talk about a normal and abnormal menstrual cycle. With regards to fertility education, most teenagers told us they want children in the future but at school we concentrate on teaching them how not to get pregnant, not how to have a healthy pregnancy. The Department for Education said: By the time students enter post-16 settings, they will already have had a number of years of compulsory lessons on RSHE and science, which covers topics including menstruation, contraception, fertility and the menopause. We are also considering a recommendation from the women and equalities select committee to make RSHE compulsory for young people in post-16 settings. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Kremlin would like you all to know that Vladimir Putin is a hot commodityand not at all an aging dictatorand that his interview with Tucker Carlson was such a blockbuster hit that Ukraine might as well throw in the towel. No, seriously. Carlson may have left the country days ago, but Moscow also now seems to be using his sit-down with the Russian leader to celebrate Putins inevitable victory in the upcoming presidential election. Vyacheslav Nikonov, a member of Putins United Russia party, took to the podium of the State Duma on Tuesday to boast of how many people tuned in to watch the Russian leader speak. All [political] factions, in one way or another, are talking about the main event of recent days: Tucker Carlsons interview with the president of our country, Nikonov said. It really is the most discussed world event, both in the world of politics and the world of information. We all understand very well that on the X platform alone, more than 200 million people watched this interview. That means that in the world, I would estimate the number of those who listened attentively to our president as at least one billion people, he said. Thanks to this event, Vladimir Putin, of course, has become the top global newsmaker of the year, Nikonov said, going on to reveal what was perhaps the Kremlins true intention all along: The West must now find ways to save face by finding paths to start negotiations. Carlson, he noted, has left but promised to return. Putin Nearly Bores Tucker Carlson to Death With Two-Hour History Lesson And any Russians who missed the interview may soon have a chance (or be forced?) to watch the two-hour trainwreck in movie theaters: the mayor of at least one city has arranged a free showing. Sergei Voropanov, the mayor of Vologda, has commandeered a local theater to air the interview for those who havent seen it yet, he announced on Telegram. Free screenings have also been proposed elsewhere. Mikhail Isayev, the speaker of the Saratov Regional Duma, suggested showing school children the interview in theaters throughout the region, declaring that the truth about the inevitability of victory must be heard from movie screens. Viewers will not, however, get to see the informal chat that took place between Putin and Carlson after the interview, a conversation confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday. It was brief, Peskov assured curious reporters. Elsewhere, the Kremlin is taking great pains to keep up the appearance of Putins overwhelming popularity. Sergei Nechaev, Russias ambassador to Germany, was quoted telling RBC on Tuesday that diplomats have asked local authorities to block any anti-Putin protests outside the embassy on the day of the presidential election. We know that anti-Russian rallies are being prepared. German authorities were asked to take comprehensive security measures. We insist on a ban on holding mass rallies in the immediate vicinity of diplomatic missions in order to avoid clashes and threats to voters, he said. 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. About 18.2 million occupied rental units in the United States, or more than 41%, are located in areas exposed to severe climate-related threats, according to a new study from Harvard. California has the most rental units at risk from severe climate-related threats, like hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes and more, followed by Florida. The Hartford announces it wont issue new home insurance policies to California homeowners About 4.6 million units, or 77% of Californias rental stock, is at risk of damage or destruction due to severe climate threats. Nearly 2.4 million rentals, or 89% of the rental units in Florida, are at risk, according to the report. Harvard researchers used data from the Federal Emergency Management Agencys National Risk Index and the five-year American Community Survey to determine which areas were most impacted. Rental Units Map Nationally, over one-third of units in small, midsize and large multifamily buildings are located in census tracts with substantial annual losses, as are 45% of single-family rentals and just over half of manufactured rentals, the report stated. Additionally, about 4.4 million low-rent or federally subsidized units are in at-risk areas. This includes 960,000 units that are public housing, Project-Based Section 8, affordable housing for older adults, and supportive housing for householders with disabilities, the report said. Also at risk are 200,000 units, or 52%, are subsidized by the US Department of Agricultures rural multifamily housing program. As the US rental supply ages, more rental units are vulnerable to environmental damage, according to the report. This is what a $1,700 rental budget will get you in California Notably, newer rental units are much more likely to be vulnerable to weather- and climate-related hazards. Nearly half of rentals built in 2000 or later are in areas with substantial losses, double the 24 percent of rentals built before 1940, according to the report. Still, those built before 1940 have the highest rate of physical inadequacy of any rental units so that they may be more vulnerable to damage caused by environmental hazards. So, what can renters do to protect their personal property? Its recommended that renters obtain a form of renters insurance and understand what the policies cover. The complete report can be viewed here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. PROVIDENCE Gov. Dan McKee issued an executive order giving the vast majority of state employees a paid day off on Tuesday ahead of the snowstorm. Under the heading "Declaration of Disaster Emergency" the governor late Monday afternoon issued the executive order, which banned tractor-trailers from interstate highways and state roads until further notice, announced that all state offices would be closed on Tuesday and declared that all "non-essential personnel [would] be relieved from duty during this time." "Essential personnel, as determined by their respective agencies, should report to work and/or remain at work," it said. (Of note, the tractor trailer ban was lifted at 2:26 p.m. when the snowstorm subsided.) Employees notified at around 5 p.m. of state office closure The notice about the closing of state offices went out to state employees from Jonathan Womer, the director of the Department of Administration, around 5 p.m., according to spokesman Derek Gomes. By then, many state workers who worked from home during the pandemic had already left work at 4 p.m. without knowing they might want to take their computers and other work essentials home with them. A plow cleans up midday in Barrington. Asked why the McKee administration waited until so late in the day, and then chose to give state employees a paid day off, rather than invoking the option for them to take an accrued personal leave day under the state's adverse weather policy, spokeswoman Olivia DaRocha said: "Given the timing of the storm and the anticipated snowfall, closure was necessary to ensure the safety of state employees." "The decision was made late Monday afternoon and resulted in the Executive Order that was promulgated," she continued. "The timing of the decision ensured the most up-to-date information on the storms forecast impacts while providing employees as much notice as possible." The state's adverse weather policy allows the closing of state offices, but it also allows the state to keep state offices open but "in consideration of the timing of the storm and to allow for employees to travel to or from work safely" it also allows the state to give workers the opportunity to stay home and "record such absence as either annual leave, personal leave, or leave without pay at the employee's option." Neither the governor's office, nor the Department of Administration, answered why state employees were not told to work from home, rather than giving them a paid day off. More: How was it crossing the Washington Bridge in the snowstorm? We made the trip. Essential employees paid time-and-a-half or more to work Gomes was unable to provide an estimate of how much the paid day off for most state workers would cost. But he said "all essential employees (i.e., those employees required to work to carry out the critical business of the state while state offices are closed) will be compensated for all hours worked at the rate of time-and-a-half ... during the period of the state office closures." "Essential employees who are part of the RI Brotherhood of Correctional Officers are paid double time-and-a-half based [on] agreement with the collective bargaining unit," he continued. "The actual cost needs to be calculated after the costs are incurred." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island state workers get paid day off for snowstorm A North Carolina man confessed to robbing a Capital One Bank branch in Mount Airy on two separate occasions in 2016 and 2017, according to a news release from the Office of the States Attorney for Carroll County. Jimmie Haney, 28, who was in police custody in North Carolina for other alleged crimes, was sentenced Friday to 35 years in prison with all but 10 years suspended in Carroll County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count of robbery and one count of armed robbery. According to the states attorneys office, Haney entered the bank at 402 E. Ridgeville Blvd. on Sept. 9, 2016 and handed a teller a note demanding money. He took $4,000 in cash. Haney returned on Jan. 14, 2017, wearing a disguise and gave a teller a note indicating he had a gun and demanded $5,000. Haney was given $630 in cash and fled. The Greensboro Police Department arrested Haney on Dec. 16, 2022, after two bank robberies in North Carolina. Haney confessed to the Mount Airy robberies while in custody, according to the news release. Carroll County Circuit Judge Brian DeLeonardo sentenced Haney Friday to 15 years imprisonment with all but 5 years suspended for the 2016 robbery and 20 years imprisonment all suspended for the 2017 armed robbery. Upon release, he will be subject to five years of probation, according to the news release. Editors note: This is issue 42 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniaks weekly Ukrainian Economy in Brief newsletter, covering events from Feb. 5-11, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. This is the first time it is appearing in the Kyiv Independent. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. IMF benchmarks in focus The Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy will submit a revised alternative draft laws on the Bureau of Economic Security reform. The Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy on Feb. 12 submitted the draft law on restarting the Bureau of Economic Security which is an alternative to the Cabinet of Ministers draft law #10439. The Committees draft law is based on the text of the draft law #10088-1 which was supported by key Ukrainian business associations, experts and anti-corruption NGOs. The new alternative draft law was revised in cooperation with the experts from Anti-Corruption Action Center, International Development Law Organization, business associations and Ukraine's international partners. Moreover, the Committee will submit the alternative draft law to the Cabinet of Minister's bill with amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. The alternative draft law aims to ensure additional protection of business interests during searches, seizure of property and other procedural actions, as well as reducing the illegal pressure of pre-trial investigation bodies and prosecutor's offices on business. An investigator from the Bureau of Economic Security on Jan. 4, 2024. (Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine / X) The Business Ombudsman Council of Ukraine criticized the governments draft law on the BES reform. Roman Waschuk, Business Ombudsman of Ukraine, spoke out against the draft law #10439 on the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. During a podcast hosted by the Center of Economic Strategy, Mr. Waschuk criticized the provision which obliges the representatives of the Business Ombudsman of Ukraine to take part in all BESs searches. He claimed that the presence of the Business Ombudsman representatives takes away the Councils right to consider the legitimacy of the search process. Moreover, the Business Ombudsman Council doesnt even have enough employees to implement such provision. According to Mr. Waschuk, the Business Ombudsman Council sent its negative assessment of the draft law to the Prime Minister, Justice Minister, and the Economy Ministry. However, the Cabinet of Ministers submitted its draft law #10439 with this provision anyway. World Bank priorities The Office of the President withdrew the draft law on financial markets from the Parliaments agenda. Last week, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, had only two plenary days instead of planned three. As a result, lawmakers didn't have time to consider two draft laws from the World Banks Development Policy Loan (DPL). The two draft laws concern draft law #5593-d on state-owned enterprise corporate governance reform and draft law #9266 on electronic crop receipts. The Parliament also had to consider draft law #5865 on strengthening the independence and institutional capacity of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) in accordance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles. However, the draft law was withdrawn from the Parliament according to the demand from the Deputy Head of the Office of the President. As we reported earlier the Office of the President opposes the provision which requires to appoint the NSSMCs members based on the results of competitive selection. Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov attends the Verkhovna Rada as lawmakers vote in the first reading for the government bill on mobilization in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 7, 2024. The draft law on mobilization was supported by 243 peoples deputies. (Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) Other key economic issues The President signed the draft laws to extend the martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine. Martial law was extended from Feb. 14 for another 90 days until May 13. The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the new Cabinet of Ministers draft law on mobilization. The draft law #10449 received 243 votes (226 minimum required). The draft law was adopted in the first reading without the proposals of the Security and Defense Committee. Lawmakers can submit their amendments until Feb. 21. Most likely the draft law will be considered and adopted in the second reading during the last week of February (Feb. 22-24). That means that it could be signed at the beginning of March and will come into effect in a month, i.e. in April. The Temporary Investigative Commission on Economic Security of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will renew its work. On Feb. 9 in the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy the First Deputy Head of the Committee Yaroslav Zhelezniak held a meeting Where to find more money for the Ukrainian state budget." More than 50 participants from key business associations, expert NGOs and embassies of foreign countries in Ukraine (particularly G7 members) took part in the meeting. Problems of illegal markets and ways to solve them were discussed using concrete examples, particularly in illegal tobacco, alcohol and fuel markets. The unsatisfactory performance of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) and other law enforcement agencies was also a primary focus of the conversation. Business associations and experts once again emphasized the importance of fighting the shadow economy sector, which on some markets, unfortunately, continues to grow. In addition, the community emphasized the importance of restarting the BES and improving the work of law enforcement agencies, as well as restarting the State Customs Service. To address all the issues Yaroslav Zhelezniak and his colleagues have already submitted to the Parliament the resolution to launch the new Temporary Investigative Commission on Economic Security. It will continue its last year's work to solve the above-mentioned problems. It will also have additional topics in focus including the aim to increase the effectiveness of management of state property and implementation of Ukraines obligations within the international financial programs. Read also: Case against investment banker points to increasing pressure by state on business in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Wake County health officials are urging more people at risk for Mpox to get vaccinated after three people tested positive for the virus in the past six weeks. The virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is in the smallpox family and involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a bumpy, fluid-filled rash before scabbing. This is important because its preventable, said Kevin Harrell, the Wake County preventative health director. We want people to actually get vaccinated, and if they notice any unusual scabs, lesions, blisters or anything like that, they can also be tested. Awareness of the virus spread in 2022 after an outbreak of more than 31,000 cases in the United States. Since then, 721 cases have been reported in North Carolina, 119 of them in Wake County. Of the number in Wake County, 96% of cases were male, 91% were between the ages of 18 and 49, 67% of those infected were Black or African American and 53% were people living with HIV, Harrell said. The World Health Organization changed the virus name to Mpox, saying the original name was racist and stigmatizing language. Additionally, rodents, not monkeys, are the main source of the virus, according to WHO. Local LGBTQ+ groups have spoken out about the stigma surrounding the illness. Mpox disproportionately affects men who have sex with men, but it can affect anyone who comes into contact with an infected person and not just through sexual intercourse. (Mpox) affects anyone. Its definitely not that people in the LGBT community are more prone to the virus, Harrell said. Were seeing it in that community right now, but its not that they are more prone to getting it. What to know about the vaccine JYNNEOS is a two-dose injection four weeks apart that helps prevent Mpox when given before or shortly after exposure. JYNNEOS is safe to use if you have HIV, eczema, skin conditions, or a weakened immune system. The state recommends people to seek, scan and search their bodies and their partners bodies for blisters or items of concern. Seek the facts. Understand that anyone can get Mpox and understand how Mpox is and isnt spread, Harrell said. Obviously sexual contact, coming in contact skin to skin with someone who has rashes or lesions that are infected, and then just general skin-to-skin contact are those higher-risk activities, Harrell said.. Where to get vaccinated Wake County offers the JYNNEOS vaccine at the Public Health Center (10 Sunnybrook Road in Raleigh) in Clinic E for walk-in services and by appointment. Walk-in services No appointment is needed for the vaccine. The center is open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointment-only services Call 919-250-3900 to make an appointment. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Symptoms of Mpox How long symptoms last or how severe they are all depends on a persons health or how soon they identify any new rashes. They include: Fever Headache Swollen lymph nodes Chills Exhaustion Rash that resembled pimples or blisters on the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus Groups most at risk for exposure Anyone who has had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with Mpox Gay, bisexual, transgender, or other men who have sex with men or are sexually active People who have had sexual contact with gay, bisexual, transgender, or men who have had sex with men in the past 90 days People living with HIV or taking PrEP or who were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days Anyone who, in the past six months, has had sex at a commercial sex venue or sex in association with a large public event Anyone who sexual partners of people with the listed risks Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that Samsung Research America (SRA), its research and development organization, has partnered with Princeton University in the United States to jointly develop next-generation 6G network technologies. Under the collaboration, SRA will become a founding member of Princeton University's "NextG Initiative Corporate Affiliates Program," aiming to spearhead R&D in 6G technologies, according to Samsung Electronics. The program was launched by the university's School of Engineering and Applied Science last year to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and enhance innovation across various sectors, including cloud and edge networks, intelligence sensing and network resilience. SRA will participate in the corporate affiliate program, along with other companies, including Ericsson, Intel, MediaTek, Nokia Bell Labs, Qualcomm Technologies and Vodafone. "We encourage Princeton's researchers to continue innovation and develop disruptive technologies that could bring major breakthroughs in 6G," Charlie Zhang, senior vice president at SRA, was quoted as saying in a statement by Samsung Electronics. The move came as Samsung Electronics, a global leader in the world's smartphone and memory chip markets, has been actively focusing on the development of next-generation communication technology. It established the Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) in 2019 and hosted the inaugural Samsung 6G Forum in 2022. (Yonhap) A World War II-era steamship that sank along with its captain in a strong storm in 1940 has been found at the bottom of Lake Superior after a 10-year search. The 244-foot SS Arlington was lying under 650 feet of water around 35 miles north of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula for 84 years. It was found only after a dogged shipwreck hunter kept up the painstaking hunt. Mystery shipwreck that claimed captain's life found at bottom of Lake Superior after 74 years (Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society) The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, which worked on the discovery with researcher Dan Fountain, confirmed the find in a statement Monday. Fountain spotted something at the bottom of the lake using remote sensing data and contacted the society for help to find out what it was. Last year, the society towed a sonar device over the suspected resting place and confirmed that it was a shipwreck, before underwater drones verified that it was the missing Arlington. Video released by the society showed decayed wreckage, with its smokestack toppled over but its helm, or steering wheel, still intact. Mystery shipwreck that claimed captain's life found at bottom of Lake Superior after 74 years (Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society) Captain Frederick "Tatey Bug" Burke, an experienced sailor in the Great Lakes, was the sole crew member to die in the incident. It remains a mystery why he went down with the ship and didn't escape to a nearby vessel like his crew. The Arlington was a Canadian bulk carrier that had set off fully loaded with wheat from Port Arthur, Ontario, on April 30, 1940, bound for Owen Sound, Ontario, 1,000 miles to the east on Lake Huron. It was found near Copper Harbor, Michigan. The ship and another that it accompanied, the Collingwood, ran into thick fog on Lake Superior that turned into a storm as night fell, with both ships rocked by the churning waters, the society said. The Arlington's first mate, Junis Macksey, ordered the ship to sail close to the Canadian shore to the north to provide some cover from the swirling winds and waves. But Burke overrode the order and sent the ship back out into open waters. At 4:30 a.m. May 1, chief engineer Fred Gilbert sounded the alarm the Arlington was sinking. "Out of fear for their lives, and without orders from Captain Burke, the crew began to abandon ship on their own. Luckily, everyone safely got off the Arlington and made it to the safety of the Collingwood everyone but Captain 'Tatey Bug' Burke," the society's statement said. Mystery shipwreck that claimed captain's life found at bottom of Lake Superior after 74 years (Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society) Despite an inquiry and decades of speculation, Burke's fate has remained a puzzle ever since. The society said some reports from the time indicated that he was seen near the pilothouse of the ship and waved to the Collingwood as he sank to the bottom. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society's executive director, Bruce Lynn, said teamwork made the discovery possible. "These targets dont always amount to anything but this time it absolutely was a shipwreck. A wreck with an interesting and perhaps mysterious story. Had Dan not reached out to us, we might never have located the Arlington and we certainly wouldnt know as much about her story as we do today," he said. "And this was absolutely demonstrated when Negaunee resident Dan Fountain approached us with a potential target near the Copper Harbor area of Lake Superior. "Its exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superiors many mysteries, finding Arlington so far out in the lake," Fountain said. "I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke." Correction: (Feb 13, 2024, 8:20 a.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misstated how long the Arlington had been missing. It is 84 years, not 74. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Lander on the surface of the moon in an illustration, with earth in behind. NASA hopes a robotic moon landing this month will help prep the lunar ground for astronauts a few years from now. Intuitive Machines' Nova-C moon lander, named Odysseus after the mythical Trojan War voyager, is scheduled to launch early Wednesday morning (Feb. 14) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Valentine's Day launch will happen from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in coastal Florida. If all goes according to plan, Odysseus will touch down near the moon's south pole on Feb. 22, pulling off the first-ever private lunar landing. Odysseus' mission, known as IM-1, includes 12 payloads, half commercial and half NASA science packages. NASA is using this research to get ready for the Artemis program missions that will land astronauts near the moon's south pole, beginning in 2026 or so. Related: Intuitive Machines moon lander to carry tiny NASA cameras to study lunar surface (video) IM-1 is part of the series of low-cost private moon missions that include NASA-funded instruments, which are manifested via the agency's Commercial Lunar Payloads Services (CLPS) program. Each of these private robotic missions is small in cost individually, with the tradeoff being fewer backup systems in case of trouble. That tradeoff was illustrated vividly by the first CLPS mission, which launched Astrobotic's Peregrine lander last month. Peregrine suffered an anomaly shortly after deploying from its United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket, scuttling its moon dreams. Peregrine ended up coming back home for a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere. Smaller and cheaper missions allow NASA to test technologies faster than traditional mission planning allows for, emphasized Susan Lederer, CLPS project scientist at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, during a teleconference today (Feb. 12). The high risk is worth it, as "this will allow us to prepare for Artemis more efficiently," with more missions launching more frequently, Lederer said. Another advantage is the proliferation of landing options if multiple CLPS missions succeed: There's "a far greater number of places you can go to on the moon and the diversity of people involved" if lots of CLPS missions reach the surface, Lederer said. IM-1 will help NASA engineers learn about how to communicate from the moon's south pole, where staying in touch with Earth is a challenge due to our planet being at a "very, very low point on the horizon," Lederer said. "The communications can kind of bounce along the terrain, coming and going," she added. "So, having a location that's close to the south pole will help us to start investigating those kinds of things that are happening." RELATED STORIES: Astronauts won't walk on the moon until 2026 after NASA delays next 2 Artemis missions SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission How to watch SpaceX launch the private Intuitive Machines moon lander IM-1 on Feb. 14 live online Additionally, IM-1's equipment will be assessed for how well it performs in the harsh cold of the moon, including components such as solar panels and instruments. But even if that mission or some other CLPS landers don't make it, she emphasized, NASA will proceed with plans for its Artemis 3 mission, which aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole in September 2026. "It won't endanger efficiency," Lederer said. The experiments on board IM-1 from NASA include "instruments focusing on plume-surface (dust) interactions, space weather/lunar surface interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and a communication and navigation node for future autonomous navigation technologies," the agency's website states. Editor's note: This story was corrected at 5:15 p.m. ET on Feb. 12 to state that IM-1 will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, not Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Antitrust watchdog even fails to tell difference between US Chamber and AMCHAM By Park Jae-hyuk The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will soon convene a teleconference with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to hear the opinions of American companies regarding Korea's proposed plans to regulate market-dominant online platforms, the commission said, Tuesday. The FTC decided to hold a teleconference with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce after realizing the distinction between the U.S. Chamber and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM). The former mainly advocates U.S. companies across the country, while the latter represents those doing business in Korea. Although the two organizations have sometimes cooperated with each other to defend American companies in Korea, AMCHAM is not affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Previously, the commission had only met with AMCHAM officials to discuss the proposed Platform Fair Competition Act, which aims to prohibit unfair practices by monopolistic online and mobile platforms by designating certain companies as "influential players." As concerns from U.S. firms grew regarding this act, the FTC sought to hear the opinions of the broader U.S. business community represented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We plan to meet the U.S. Chamber, although it remains unclear when we will hold the meeting, said an official at the FTCs digital economy policy division, which is in charge of handling platform regulations. Last month, when the U.S. Chamber issued a statement criticizing Korea's planned regulations as unfair, the FTC failed to distinguish between the U.S. Chamber and AMCHAM in its press release. The regulator responded to criticism by emphasizing its past and upcoming meetings with AMCHAM, defending its efforts to engage with the American business community in Korea. After being informed by The Korea Times about the distinction between the U.S. Chamber and AMCHAM and asked whether the commission had communicated with the U.S. Chamber regarding the platform law, the antitrust watchdog corrected its press release. The FTC intends to meet with the U.S. Chamber following the lobby group's call for transparency and open dialogue regarding the issue. However, this communication is viewed as belated, as the FTC had already indicated its intention last week to reconsider the legislation of the controversial act from scratch. The watchdog indefinitely postponed the disclosure of a detailed government plan, which was initially expected to be announced this month before the Lunar New Year. Amid escalating protests from U.S. companies and domestic IT industry officials, the FTC announced that it will continue to review whether there are any alternative policies to pre-designating influential market players. We will take more time to listen to the opinions of experts and academics, rather than (hastily) sharing details of the act, FTC Vice Chairman Cho Hong-sun told reporters, adding that the commission will not scrap its plan. The antitrust agency is also reportedly struggling to persuade lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties to propose bills to enact the platform laws. Earlier this month, the National Assembly Research Service released a report stating that the pre-designation policy could stigmatize market-dominant players, irrespective of whether they have violated laws. Questions also remain whether the FTC will be able to impose the same regulations on foreign platforms, without discriminating against Korean companies, the think tank said. Given the criticism both domestically and internationally, it is anticipated to take some time for the platform act to come into effect. Earlier this year, the Center for Strategic & International Studies said in a report that Koreas proposed platform regulations unfairly target U.S. companies which will, in turn, end up helping Chinese rivals gain a larger market share. Last December, Robert OBrien, former national security adviser for former U.S. President Donald Trump, claimed that Koreas proposed regulations to prevent unfair market activities by major online platform businesses would be a gift to China, warning they could cause friction with the U.S. if enacted. Parents and community members from District 1 in the Metro Nashville Public Schools district urged school board candidates to consider issues of equity, funding, school vouchers and more last week. All four candidates running for the District 1 seat on the MNPS Board of Education gathered for a community listening session Thursday at Jere Baxter Middle School over a spaghetti dinner. The district covers the northwestern portion of Davidson County and part of East Nashville. While the candidates Dominique McCord-Cotton, Demytris Savage-Short, Robert Taylor and LaTonya Winfrey were allotted time for brief opening and closing statements, they spent the rest of the session listening to community members. Around 30 gathered in the cafeteria of the school for the event, hosted by Opportunity Nashville. The local nonprofit is focused on advocacy and educational equity. "We believe if you do not get education right, nothing else matters in this city," Tanaka Vercher, who leads Opportunity Nashville, told the crowd. District 1 candidates for the Metro Nashville Public Schools board listen as community members voice ideas and questions at Jere Baxter Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Several members of the crowd took to the microphone to voice concerns over the course of an hour. A few spoke about the push by Gov. Bill Lee to expand publicly funded school vouchers for families to use toward private school costs, along with concerns over underfunding at their own schools. A retired teacher also shared how, in her nearly 30 years of teaching in District 1, she was often heartbroken over how few resources her students and colleagues had. Others called for candidates to speak openly about the "why" behind their decisions to run and to not be afraid to tackle difficult issues, including ongoing conversations about charter schools and school funding. Candidates respond Nashville School Board District 1 candidates: Dominique McCord-Cotton, Demytris Savage-Short, Robert Taylor, LaTonta Winfrey Candidates took notes as they listened and were encouraged to use brief closing statements to address the comments that stood out to them. McCord-Cotton, who teaches at a public charter school, said she supports parents' right to choose what's best for their children but also fully supports public schools. If elected, she said she hopes to advocate for high quality education and resources for children, and focus on teacher recruitment and retention. Savage-Short, a nurse, said she would host regular town hall meetings focused on creating solutions together if elected. She said she feels called to run for school board after pulling her daughter out of an MNPS school to home-school over concerns about a lack of basic education and "indoctrination" by the district. Taylor, an instructor at Meharry Medical College, said he was inspired to run again after losing in 2020 to then-incumbent District 1 board member Sharon Gentry. Gentry is not running for re-election. He said he wants to partner with families, if elected. He also talked about his time helping lead a charter school, and his experience raising seven children including two who are enrolled in MNPS. Winfrey, a school counselor, said she strongly opposes school vouchers and that the discussion around them is a distraction from what public schools really need. While she supports charter schools, she does not approve of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission overriding the district's decisions to deny them. What's next, how to vote in the Nashville school board race This year's race is made up of three Democrats (McCord Cotton, Taylor and Winfrey) and one Republican (Savage-Short). After a 2022 state law permitted school board races to be partisan, Davidson County adopted the rule, meaning Democratic and Republican candidates must undergo a primary election. Early voting runs from Feb. 14-27, with primary elections falling on March 5, which coincides with Super Tuesday. Since independents are not required to undergo primary elections, there is a chance that additional candidates may join the race later and appear on the county's general election ballot on Aug. 1. More information, including how to register to vote and polling place information, can be found at nashville.gov/vote. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Board candidates join community listening session A couple accused of starting a deadly wildfire in California during a gender reveal photo shoot pleaded guilty to the charges they faced which highlighted a bigger conversation about holding people accountable for the damage the events can have in protected natural areas. The couple was accused of setting off smoke bombs during a photo shoot they staged for their babys gender reveal on Sept. 5, 2020, at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains, the Associated Press reported. The smoke bombs ignited dry grass, and strong winds stoked the flames on the U.S. Forest Service land about 75 miles east of Los Angeles, the outlet reported. The blaze grew into the El Dorado Fire, which forced hundreds of residents to evacuate, destroyed five homes and 15 buildings, injured 13 people and killed a firefighter, the outlet reported. The husband faced felony charges of involuntary manslaughter for the death of firefighter Charlie Morton and recklessly causing fire to an inhabited structure, and the wife faced misdemeanor charges of recklessly causing fire to property of another, the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. They pleaded guilty to the charges on Friday, Feb. 9. The husband was sentenced to a year in county jail, 200 hours of community service and two years of felony probation, officials said. The wife was sentenced to one year of probation and 400 hours of community service. The couple was ordered to pay $1,789,972 in restitution to the victims, officials said. Wildlife advocates have been calling for heftier fines and heavier consequences for damaging protected natural resources for months now. And not only in this case. Beth Pratt, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation California, previously told McClatchy News on the phone that events like gender reveal parties can damage the ecosystem even when they dont cause deadly wildfires. Certainly glitter or other microplastics hugely impact wildlife, she told McClatchy News. Those can take hundreds of years to break down, if at all. She said the same thing about those who drive across a fragile meadow or leave graffiti on a rock in a sensitive habitat. She shared her frustration about the issue in a Jan. 29 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a photo of the remnants of a gender reveal party in Yosemite National Park. I just cant. We need to start issuing heavy fines if entitled people are going to keep causing resource damage in our national parks. And maybe people need to start taking a test before than can visit to show they understand these areas are protected places and home to wildlife. pic.twitter.com/y3qyRUlftb Beth Pratt (@bethpratt) January 29, 2024 I just cant. We need to start issuing heavy fines if entitled people are going to keep causing resource damage in our national parks, she said. And maybe people need to start taking a test before (they) can visit to show they understand these areas are protected places and home to wildlife. Shes seen the issue ramp up in the last five or six years, she told McClatchy News. She believes heavier fines coupled with education could help. Its a fine line because sometimes they may just not know. I think most people love wildlife, most people dont want to harm wildlife, she said. But on the other hand, people need to be held accountable. (The parks) are not Disneyland, they are natural places that are protected. I ask that people really think about the impact they can have when theyre in some of the few protected places on the planet where wildlife is supposed to be relatively free from human impacts. She popularized gender reveal parties but wants them gone after California wildfire Earth-shaking gender-reveal explosion rattles New Hampshire towns. (Its a boy!) Three schools go on lockdown because of a couples gender reveal, Tennessee cops say In December 2023, HMS Protector was deployed with scientists from Portsmouth University on board to conduct a penguin count on the South Sandwich Islands - Belinda Alker/Royal Navy The Royal Navy is considering introducing compulsory climate change courses for all sailors, The Telegraph can reveal. A leaked briefing paper suggests that all Navy personnel could be forced to attend online training sessions about the impact of climate change on defence. While this course is not yet mandated, it does provide a comprehensive overview on the science behind climate change and most importantly its relevance to defence, the paper reads. The document, published last autumn, reveals that the Navys climate change and sustainability unit is exploring opportunities to pay for sailors to study postgraduate courses on global warming. Environmental scientists could also be given berths on board Britains warships to conduct research, the paper says. We are developing relationships with universities to offer enduring opportunities to use Royal Navy platforms for their research, such as this Decembers deployment in HMS Protector with scientists from Portsmouth University onboard, it reads. Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, told The Telegraph that he supported the proposals as long as one does not go stupid. Climate change is not more important than fighting the Kings enemies, so it has to be done with a balance, he said. Get a grip Andrew Montford, director of the Net Zero Watch think tank, said Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, needs to get a grip on the proposals. Net zero zealots will sacrifice anything and everything to their irrational faith, he said. Economic security and energy security have already been tossed aside, so its no surprise to see national security taking a back seat as well. The currently optional climate change and security awareness course is hosted on the Navys online learning platform. The Armed Forces will have to hit net zero by 2050 as part of the Governments broader commitment to the target. The Navy said it was developing relationships with universities to use Royal Navy platforms for their research, such as HMS Protectors mission to the Arctic Circle - Belinda Alker/Royal Navy The Navy has previously said it will paint ships with environmentally friendly paint, roll out solar power and use more electric vehicles to cut its emissions. In December 2022, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, then chief of the defence staff, said melting ice caps will enable Chinas military forces to reach into the Atlantic in the coming decades. The month previously, Lt Gen Richard Nugee, then climate tsar at the Ministry of Defence, added that some warships could be left unable to operate if warming sea temperatures get too high. The briefing paper is sent by Navy Command to all divisional officers and troop commanders twice a year and covers a range of topics. In the latest autumn 2023 edition, the Navy said that Britains armed forces are responsible for 50 per cent of the governments carbon emissions. Climate threat to peace The paper adds that climate change threatens peace, could worsen gender inequality and global poverty, and that globally rising sea levels could damage ports and maritime infrastructure. Elsewhere, the paper references a number of green initiatives already rolled out by naval chiefs. The defence green network is made up of sailors who enjoy regular informal webinars on the environment. The Navy also hands out annual defence sanctuary awards for outstanding sustainability and conservation achievements across defence. The section of the paper on the environment was drawn up by Sally Webster, a climate change and sustainability officer at the Navys headquarters on Whale Island, Hants. A Navy spokesman said: The Royal Navy has a long history of conservation and sustainability and as mariners, we appreciate the vital importance of the sea to our nation and as a source of life for the planet. Thats why the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper outlines how climate change presents challenges for our security. This activity is part of how we understand and address the issues we face. Craig Mackinlay MP, chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group in Parliament, said: Sadly nothing surprises me anymore. The green blob keeps expanding and our public institutions appear to enjoy nothing better than getting distracted by fashionable causes. The Royal Navy once inspired awe and admiration but that legacy is being squandered. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A North Carolina State Bar committee admonished a Durham prosecutor after a crime victim complained that she wasnt notified before her perpetrators rape convictions were downgraded, allowing him to leave prison. The State Bars grievance committee found probable cause to believe that Durham Assistant District Attorney Michael Wallace violated the State Bars rules of professional conduct. Specifically Wallace did not make a reasonable effort to notify a victim before finalizing the deal to reduce a sentence for David Felton, the letter states. The committee issued Wallace an admonition, describing it as a minor violation of the rules of professional conduct, which outline policies and practices for North Carolina attorneys. The admonition is private, the Feb. 1 letter said. The woman shared the letter with The News & Observer, which in 2022 reported on concerns by her and others over not being notified about changes in sentences supported by Durhams district attorneys office. Wallace is a senior prosecutor who oversees homicides and violent crimes for District Attorney Satana Deberry. Deberry, a candidate for state attorney general, said in a statement that not notifying victims was an isolated occurrence and that her office has taken steps to address the lapse. Through Durham DA spokesperson Sarah Willets, Wallace said he complied with the grievance committees review and respects its decision. Katherine Jean, counsel for the State Bar, wrote in an email that state law prevents staff from commenting on confidential grievances. A 1972 sentence not possible today Felton, who died in January, was convicted of rape in 1972 under an old sentencing system, which resulted in him being in prison for more than 50 years. That is more than twice than what he would received under current laws, Deberry wrote in an statement about the case in 2022. Wallace consented to a motion by Felton to have his rape conviction vacated in November 2021, which now-retired Judge Orlando Hudson agreed to. As part of an agreement, Felton pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit rape and left prison without having to register as a sex offender. The woman didnt learn of the change until she was contacted by a nonprofit agency that Felton had contacted asking to investigate his claim of innocence. She understood why the DAs office changed his sentence, but said the way the DAs Office handled it was hurtful, the woman said. The News & Observer generally does not name survivors of sexual abuse and assault. The woman who released the letter said her concerns included Wallace not contacting or consulting her before the charge was vacated and not informing her when Felton was released. In her February 2022 grievance, the woman alleged that Wallace also tried to take advantage of her lack of knowledge by saying in a virtual meeting that the law forced the change instead of clearly explaining the role the prosecutors discretion played in the process. The Grievance Committee made a recommendation for discipline at a quarterly meeting in October 2022, according to information provided by the woman. Wallace then requested additional time to decide whether to accept or reject the recommendation, the woman said State Bar officials told her. Wallace asked the committee to reconsider their proposed recommendation in March 2023, the woman was told by State Bar officials, she said. Its not clear if officials changed their initial recommendation. More severe punishments issued by the grievance committee include reprimand, censure or a referral the the discipline hearing commission, which could suspend or disbar an attorney. Regarding improvements in Durham, Deberry said her office has trained staff on crime victims rights and notifications and on making additional efforts to reach victims and their families in post-conviction cases. The office also established a new protocol that requires staff to notify Deberry about victim notification in each case, spokesperson Sarah Willits wrote in an email. ADA Wallace has had a respected 40-year legal career and I know he and this office take our responsibilities very seriously, wrote Deberry. Later this year, North Carolinians will pick a new state treasurer. With current Treasurer Dale Folwell stepping down to run for governor, several Republican and Democratic candidates have come forward to take his place. North Carolinas state treasurer is responsible for overseeing the State Health Plan and the states pension fund. The treasurer is also tasked with maintaining the states credit rating, currently the top-level AAA. Folwell, a Republican, was first elected to the position in 2016 and won reelection in 2020. During his tenure, Folwell has frequently criticized hospitals for inflating prices, not being transparent about costs and not providing adequate care to poor patients. Now, a new treasurer will have to work with hospitals while overseeing the State Health Plan, which provides coverage to more than 750,000 current and former government employees. The new treasurer will also have to manage investments in the states pension fund, worth over $122 billion. This fund provides retirement benefits to nearly a million public employees. Five candidates have emerged to fill the role, all of whom would bring different experience, perspective and plans to the office. Voters will narrow the field down to one Democrat and one Republican on March 5. Candidate questionnaires The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer asked candidates running in contested races in the primary election to fill out a candidate questionnaire. That includes the Republican and Democratic primaries for state treasurer, and four out of five candidates participated. Find responses from the candidates below or by visiting newsobserver.com/voter-guide. Democrats: Gabe Esparza Wesley Harris Republicans: Brad Briner A.J. Daoud Rachel Johnson In the dozen years that she spent with Aaron Hewitt first as his colleague, then as his friend, then as his girlfriend, and ultimately as his wife Valentines Day was never really that important to Amanda Hewitt. Aaron, she says, was really good about giving her cards and gifts and showing affection all year long. But in June 2022, while Aaron was walking a section of the famed Camino de Santiago trail in northern Spain, the Charlotte-based physicians assistant collapsed and died of sudden cardiac arrest. He was only 46 years old, and Amanda, just shy of her 39th birthday at the time, was suddenly a widow. Although celebrating their love on Feb. 14 had never been a big deal for them before, last year she found herself dreading Valentines Day as the date approached. Once its taken from you, Amanda Hewitt admits, that void is felt pretty immensely. This uniquely painful feeling of emptiness is felt, of course, by legions of women whove lost husbands and is precisely the feeling Charlotte florist Ashley Manning was aiming to address in 2021 when she created the Valentines Day Widow Outreach Project, which centers on the act of delivering floral arrangements and baskets of gifts to local widows. The undertaking gained swift momentum: In 2023, Amandas first Valentines Day since Aarons passing, it counted her among 800 who got surprise visitors, in her case three of her friends bearing a bouquet, wine, jewelry and other goodies donated by local vendors. There were hugs, of course; and tears, of course. Mostly, however, there were smiles. Amanda Hewitt, second from right, with the friends who made the Valentines Day delivery to her in 2023. Theres no real substitute, Hewitt says, but I feel like this program is so thoughtful, especially on that day when its so Hallmark about love and couples. ... I think her (Mannings) whole impetus for this program is just letting these women know that they are still remembered and seen. And the projects impact continues to grow. Manning says she hopes this years tally will include 1,000 deliveries. Maybe even 1,200. At the same time, theres a case to be made that this thing she started is already touching the lives of far more people than shell ever be able to count. I want you to know how much that meant Manning started her flower business Pretty Things by A.E. Manning in 2019, shortly after the birth of her fourth child, son Luke. A former pharmaceutical sales rep turned full-time mom, she was just looking for some sort of mental-health release from the kid-caused chaos in her life. She did her arranging out of the garage. When her first Valentines Day as a florist rolled around in 2020, on a whim, she decided to buy some flowers at Trader Joes to assemble special bouquets for some single women she knew through Calvary Church and for her middle son Marcs preschool teacher, whom Manning knew had been widowed. After the pandemic started that March, she didnt see his teacher again until a year-end drive-by event for the children. But when she did, Manning recalls, she told her, I just want you to know how much that meant to me, that you thought of me on that day. Manning was inspired by those words. By her own idea, and by the notion of doing it on a larger scale. So, as Valentines Day 2021 approached, she posted a challenge to her followers on social media. The basic idea was: If you place an order with me, and note on the form that youd like to add $5 to do something nice for a widow, Ill add $5 of my own to make a $10 donation to my project. Few people did what she was suggesting. Instead, many simply reached into their pocketbooks and gave her a straight-up donation. There was this quote from (noted pastor) Andy Stanley, she says. It said, Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise. And for the first (several) years of motherhood, I just told myself that every day, The work I do here in this house with my family is more important than anything Ill ever do. But shortly before she started her flower business shortly before she decided to give flowers to her sons preschool teacher she found herself wondering: Is there something Im gonna do in this world thats greater than just this? Two Valentines Days later, she had an answer. On Feb. 14, 2021, 119 widows (and two widowers) opened their doors to find a bouquet of flowers thanks to Manning. Its just so rewarding, Ashley Manning says of her project, adding: I want to sit at the table with the people that are hurting. I dont need to sit at the table with all the people that are fine. That fall, though, she would experience a tragedy of her own. A devastating blow In November 2021, she was hanging out at her home with a girlfriend and playing with their kids on the floor when her then-6-year-old son Marc came up behind her and swung his hand at her head. He was just goofing around, but he managed to inadvertently clock her squarely in her right eye. Initially, it didnt seem like hed hit her that hard. But the next day she experienced a flash in her vision and the day after that, yet more unsettling flashes. She wound up being admitted to the emergency room and would learn that the blow had caused hemorrhaging, a detachment and retinal tears. Before the end of the year, she would undergo multiple eye surgeries. By the time Valentines Day rolled around in 2022, Manning was still coping with chronic pain and a rigorous parade of medical procedures. Still, she was optimistic that doctors could save the vision in that eye, while her Widow Outreach Project served as a welcome joyful distraction, with Year Two seeing 300 volunteers make arrangements out of 13,000 stems of flowers in the front yard of her south Charlotte home. More than $22,000 was donated to the cause. National media including People Magazine and Good Morning America picked up the story. For most of the year, though, she was ailing both physically and emotionally. In total, she had 11 surgeries, and recovery from retinal surgery required Manning to lie face down on a massage table for up to several weeks to ensure proper healing. She often wore a patch, or had gauze taped over her eye. Despite having four children, she wasnt able to drive for 10 months. And ultimately, efforts to preserve the sight in her injured eye were unsuccessful. After all that, to then lose it like, its one thing if I just lost it right away, and then I had grieved. But ... my grief lasted a long time. And once she learned there was no hope, I was a mess. I lost every good part of me, I feel like. Manning was struggling so severely that she wasnt sure she even felt like doing her Valentines Day event anymore. Publicly, however, she rolled ahead with 2023 plans that included not just a goal of serving 800 widows in Charlotte, but also providing a template for women who wanted to start Widow Outreach Projects in the Pittsburgh area (the woman there being her sister, Lisa) and in a Minneapolis suburb. The message kept spreading. Donations totaled roughly $70,000 (including $5,000 from actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who apparently learned about Mannings project via social media and praised Manning on Instagram for her advocacy and love and humanity). USA Today called wanting to put together a story about it. So did the Today show. Between Feb. 13 and 14 of last year, prep work and day-of deliveries was handled by roughly 500 volunteers enough that the traffic into her neighborhood backed up all the way out onto Rea Road. Imagine the men in heaven watching you Manning says she doesnt personally make any money off of the endeavor at all, and in earlier years she spent money out of her own pocket to make it happen. In 2023, however, the total costs ran up to only $44,000, meaning $26,000 was carried over to this year. Including that remainder of funds, the project once again went into 2024 with right around $70,000 at its disposal, with most of the donations coming from community members. (There is no title sponsor or significant source of any corporate funding.) About a thousand widows have been nominated, but shes budgeted for 1,200 and widows can indeed be repeat customers, so to speak. Its my wish, Manning says, that everybody gets it every year. Theres no limit to how many times they can get it. Due to the growth, the operation will move off of her street and into nearby William R. Davie Park on Pineville-Matthews Road. Meanwhile, her sisters program anticipates some 300 deliveries, Kayleen Jensen is shooting for 150 up in Minnesota, and women inspired by Manning are launching events this year in Nashville, Tennessee; Buffalo, New York; Spokane, Washington; Cincinnati, Ohio; and The Woodlands in Texas. Manning gets emotional when she thinks about the growth and the impact of her idea. Last year, she recalls, a woman she knows from church said to her: Can you imagine the men in heaven watching you take care of their wives? If that was you, and its your wife, and youre just watching. Her voice shakes. It was like, This is what its all about. But while her idea is niche-focused, she hopes it inspires more people to put love into other things not just widows, if thats not somebody relevant in your life. She can rest assured that it has. A special connection Consider Michelle Boudin, the Charlotte woman who wrote the story about Manning for People Magazine in 2022. Although she says Valentines Day wasnt necessarily a holiday that I loved before, Boudin was so taken by the Widow Outreach Project that she returned in a dual capacity in 2023: as a reporter covering the event for Charlottes NBC affiliate, WCNC, but also as a volunteer who helped out by making deliveries. Michelle Boudin, photographed among fellow volunteers at Ashley Mannings front yard in 2023. I mean, its an immediate mood boost, she says, just this incredible, uplifting way to spend Valentines Day. Now, Boudin says Feb. 14 is something that I genuinely look forward to, and she plans to return this year in both roles again, with friends. On top of that, theres this: I lost my mom a year and a half ago, in May of 2022, she says. And when the one-year anniversary came around, I was trying to figure out how to mark the day. Well, I thought about Valentines Day and how that changed my thought process. Because her mother was a schoolteacher, Boudin decided to spend the whole day volunteering in a local classroom, where she threw a party for the kids and gave them books. So the one-year anniversary of my moms death became this loving tribute to her and the concept came from Ashley and Valentines Day. And then theres Amanda Hewitt, the Charlotte woman who lost her husband Aaron a year and a half ago. Amanda actually knew Manning before all this they were sorority sisters at Virginia Tech in the early 2000s. The two women moved to Charlotte around the same time after college, but over the years fell mostly out of touch as Amanda and Aaron relocated to Naples, Florida, in 2018, and as Manning got absorbed with her fast-growing family. Their lives intersected again, due to tragic circumstances, after the Hewitts moved back to Charlotte in late May of 2022. Aaron died just two weeks later. The following February, Amandas three friends showed up on her doorstep with flowers, gifts and a card with Mannings name on it. She relayed the experience to her mother, who lives in Virginia and who also wound up taking inspiration from it Hewitts mom plans, this year, to do something special for a friend who recently lost her husband. Its a neat thing to see that its spider-webbing out, Amanda Hewitt says, that its catching on. Even so, her voice shakes as she talks about Mannings Widow Outreach Project. It is neat, and it is catching on. But its also worth remembering that, for someone whos been through what Hewitt has, it can be equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. In fact, when asked whether she plans to volunteer, as other widow-recipients have gone on to do, she hesitates. I was talking with her just the other night (about this), Hewitt says. I have mixed feelings. I have this calling to want to volunteer. But then, as it got closer, I didnt feel like I was She pauses, stays silent for a moment, then restarts: maybe emotionally ready for being around it. And she was just like, Its there when you need it. You take your time. Youll know when youre ready. So yes, I mean, I hate for anyone to be in those shoes, but I would like to think at some point in my life that I can be there and do that. Because it is such a sweet program. Says Ashley Manning: I had no idea five years ago this would be what it is, but I am fully confident that this is Gods plan for me by the way that everything has happened how it has. - For more information about Mannings Valentines Day Widow Outreach Program: www.valentinesdaywidowoutreach.com. In their official report on streaming data for 2023, Nielsen listed NCIS as the third-most-viewed program, trailing only on-demand babysitter Bluey and the curious post-facto new-to-Netflix juggernaut Suits. The CBS procedural, spun off in 2003 as the order to the similarly Navy-oriented JAGs law, racked up a cumulative total of 39.4 billion minutes in front of our eyeballs; last year alone, the human race spent nearly 75 millennia watching Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs get the drop on no-goodniks around the DC metro area. His closest competitors in spirit, the various public service squads peopling the Dick Wolf-verse over on NBC, didnt even crack the top 10. A logical person might assume that there must be something special about a cultural object of such remarkable popularity and longevity, but during tonights double season premiere for NCIS and fourth spinoff NCIS: Hawaii, the opposite appears true. The bone-deep ordinariness of this franchise is its greatest strength, or at least its secret to success with viewers in search of programming that demands so little of them, it can feasibly be watched all the time forever. Forget challenging, this school of TV production barely even aspires to stimulating, instead going for a pleasant numbing effect not unlike a strong dose of morphine or the final stages before one freezes to death. As the flagship series launches its 21st season, some anxiety about aging wouldve been understandable. After all, longtime lead Mark Harmon left during the 19th, and replacing his squad supervisoreven with the stalwart, dependable Gary Cole, his confident baritone assuring us that the American people are in good handscouldve provoked a full-on existential crisis in the writing staff. But no: The premiere is standard operating procedure. It follows up on a cliffhanger that saw agent Torres (Wilmer Valderrama, erstwhile Fez of That 70s Show) remanded to the prison where hed just done an undercover stint, checked back in under his own name after confessing to the murder of his boyhood abuser (Al Sapienza, perhaps best known as The Sopranos Mikey Mr. GQ Palmice). Of course theres more to the situation than that, but hell have to make it through a dark night of the soul before anyone proves it, during which he gets to do lots of the thoughtful glowering that constitutes Serious Acting under the CBS Method. The intent, visible beat-hitting in his performance pales next to that of the hyper-prescriptive writing; presumably, a big neon sign that says NEVER GO TO COMMERCIAL WITHOUT A SUSPENSEFUL ACT BREAK buzzes above the staffers in some on-the-lot bungalow. The sweatiest of all comes at the end, when Torres answers a call on his cell phone, only for the freeze-frame to usher in the credits before we can find out whos on the line. It could be anyone! Which is to say it doesnt really matter, so long as we can get together with the gang again next week. LL Cool J and Vanessa Lachey Karen Neal/CBS Just entering a third season cut to a half-order of episodes by the strikes, Hawaii doesnt enjoy this same affection of familiarity, and the uneasy coalescing of workplace associates into a family is very much a work in progress. Agent-in-charge Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) still pushes herself to earn the title, receiving a post-traumatic pep talk from NCIS: Los Angeles alum L.L. Cool J, who recommends Transcendental Meditation; back at the ranch, everyone seems to detest wry tech goblin Ernie (Jason Antoon), and a burgeoning love triangle involving the most conspicuously telegenic in the cast (Yasmine Al-Bustami, Alex Tarrant, Tori Anderson) exists in its own orbit. Katrina Law and Gary Cole Robert Voets/CBS The case of the week starts with a shooting on the beach and ends with a plane nosediving into the Pacific, with mischief from a Russian hacker farm hidden in our own backyard filling out the middle. Where the Dick Wolf productions thrive by ripping from the headlines, the sundry NCISes are shaped more by the general vibe of the news, or perhaps some email forwards passed along by an elderly relative. The Rooskies evil scheme to leak the entire US Marshals databaseevery witness, every whistleblowerhits the nights steepest high of absurdity, though this also makes the rest of the episode feel drabber by comparison. Not even the location scouting around a vivid, little-photographed pocket of America can cut through the mildness, the agreeability that makes a show hard to dislike but impossible to love. Though the NCIS Connected Universe represents the network TV machine firing at max capacity, its fitting that these series would find unprecedented success through streaming; the formats infinite binge is ideally matched to the contents potato-chippish addictiveness and lack of substance. This stuff keeps the lights on at CBS, and fills the silence in a lot of living rooms. In aiming for the middle, NCIS evinces an awareness that this is all it has to accomplish. Thats how the show has come so far. Its also a guarantee itll never push itself any further. 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. FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 file photo, a student at Eastside Elementary School in Clinton, Miss., holds a school lunch served under federal standards, consisting of a flatbread roast beef sandwich, apple sauce, chocolate milk and a cookie. After just one year, some schools across the nation are dropping out of what was touted as a healthier federal lunch program, complaining that so many students refused the meals packed with whole grains, fruits and vegetables that their cafeterias were losing money. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) ORG XMIT: NYR201 Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appears to have had a change of heart, confirming Monday that the state will now accept $18 million in federal funds to feed an estimated 150,000 at-risk children this summer. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Summer Electronic Benefits Program (EBT) will provide low-income families whose kids are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals with preloaded cards to purchase additional groceries: $40 a month or $120 for the whole summer. The governor, who stonewalled earlier attempts to opt into the program, said his perspective changed after speaking with students across the state who didnt get enough to eat over the summer months. When you sit down with kids that are living it, Ive learned life lessons from the students that I talked to, Pillen said. We have to do better for them, pure and simple. More: As prices soared and government assistance dwindled, more Americans went hungry in 2022 Eric Savaiano, who works for Nebraska Appleseed, a non-profit that advocates for underserved communities, said the organization is excited about the governors plan and looks forward to working with the state to help implement it. This would not be possible without the tremendous amount of outreach and pressure the public put on our elected officials to do the right thing, Savaiano said. In 2022, 12.1% of households in Nebraska experienced food insecurity, above the 11.2% national rate, according to a survey by the USDA. Nebraska State Sen. Ray Aguilar The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will also train staff to follow up with EBT recipients to see if more aid is needed, according to HHS Director Dr. Steve Corsi. We wont just be transferring money, were setting up the program to ensure kids are safe in the summer and families have the resources they need, Corsi said. Earlier this month, Omaha Sen. Jen Day introduced legislation that would urge the state to join the program along with 35 other states, which Republican Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island prioritized. I am pleased that we have come up with a solution that will allow us to pursue summer EBT funding for this year, Aguilar said at the press conference. Rural kids dont have the networks of support that are available to some other area of the state. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska accepts $18M in Summer EBT to feed 150,000 low-income kids While many people the monarchs age might prefer to take it easy after receiving treatment for cancer, instead the King intends to fly to Australia this autumn, and has said he remains hopeful it will go ahead. Even the most direct flight from the UK to Down Under requires 16 and a half hours in the air. The most common complaint among older travellers is the exorbitant cost of holiday insurance as premiums are generally hiked once youve turned 65. This is because the risks of flying, and travelling in general, become greater as we age. While the King clearly doesnt have to worry about the financial penalties involved, the increased health risks associated with air travel will certainly be taken into account by his medical team. Not that age should ever hamper the spirit of adventure. As 82-year-old travel writer and author of Taking the Risk, Hilary Bradt says: Its laughable that anyone aged 65 should be considered elderly when it comes to flying. I recently spent two consecutive nights on a plane in the company of several people older than me. Whether your own approach is gung-ho or more cautious, here are things worth considering before you book your flight. What are the particular health concerns around flying as you get older? Just like other activities, flying long distances is harder on your body when youre older, says Dr Dev Patel, a Portsmouth GP and former Royal Navy doctor with experience of aviation medicine. Older travellers are more susceptible to the risks of flying because of their reduced mobility and their increased susceptibility to dehydration, he explains. Anyone who takes an aeroplane, especially on long-haul flights, carries the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Its a small risk, but this does increase with age. Whats more, existing health conditions such as heart disease and respiratory issues can be exacerbated by air travel, especially over a sustained number of hours. I dont personally know the Kings medical background, but I think its great hes not allowing his cancer diagnosis to hold him back. And he will certainly be guided by his medical team, so if he takes care there is no reason why he shouldnt fly. As eco-conscious as the King is, hes unlikely to be flying in economy class. He will probably have the luxury of having more room to move about, which is important, adds Dr Patel. But like any mature flyer, there are measures he should take to remain as safe as possible. The King remains hopeful that his Australia visit will go head - Chris Jackson/Getty Images How to avoid DVT Older adults run a higher-than-average risk of DVT, which happens when a blood clot forms in your deep veins and blocks blood flow, usually in your legs. Travel-related DVT can occur as a result of prolonged immobility from being kept in a cramped seat with limited leg room. For healthy people, the absolute risk of getting DVT on a flight lasting less than four hours is one in 106,667 flights. But for flights lasting over 16 hours, this increases to one in 1,264 flights. This risk would be greater still at the age of 75. Its crucial to try to get in as much movement while on board as you can, says Dr Patel. Try to stand up and walk down the aisle every two to three hours while the seat belt signs are off. If you can get to an area near the WC, there is usually more space to try some gentle stretching exercises. And ideally book a seat with additional leg room. Even when just sitting in your chair you can stretch your calves and rotate your feet as often as you can remember. Theres strong evidence supporting the use of compression stockings as a preventive measure since these work by improving blood circulation in the legs, reducing the risk of blood clots forming. For older travellers, or those with a history of DVT, speak to your healthcare professional about the possibility of taking anticoagulant medication. Some people believe taking aspirin before a long flight helps to prevent DVT, but its effectiveness is debated, says Dr Patel. While some studies suggest aspirin may offer some protection, particularly for those at higher risk, other research has found no significant benefits, or has highlighted potential risks associated with aspirin use, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. It is essential to consult with your doctor before starting any new medication regimen, including aspirin, during air travel. Compression stockings can help as a preventative measure for DVT - Roman Lacheev/Alamy Stock Photo The need to stay hydrated This really is one of the most crucial bits of flying advice at any age, as the cabin air is very drying, says Dr Patel. I would advise steering clear of caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee and certainly alcohol (yes, even if its included for free) as these would only dehydrate you further. The gold standard advice is to drink water only. Dont wait until youre thirsty, just keep drinking it. If it means more trips to the loo youll be moving more too. Be aware of taking any medications If you take medications such as pills for high blood pressure or any other existing pre-conditions, and will be crossing time zones, discuss with your GP whether you should take your medicines at your usual time at home or switch to the local time zone, says Dr Patel. The cheap pill boxes sold in chemists, which are divided and labelled into the days of the week, can be useful for keeping track of meds. Half the pleasure of travelling is surely trying new foods, but its wise to check that nothing youre likely to eat will interact with your medications or health conditions. High altitude when you have a heart or lung condition The changes in cabin air pressure, decreased oxygen levels and limited access to medical care can make travelling with pre-existing lung conditions more risky. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may experience difficulty breathing at high altitudes. While the dry and recirculated cabin air can exacerbate respiratory symptoms. Air travel can trigger asthma and exposure to allergens or irritants in the aircraft can worsen asthma symptoms. Its essential for anyone with a lung condition to consult with their healthcare provider before flying and receive personalised recommendations, says Dr Patel. In some cases, supplemental oxygen or adjustments to medication regimens can make flying more comfortable. Flying with existing conditions (including cancer and dementia) Cancer is a process but not a single disease, so when it comes to flying there is no single rule, says Dr Patel. Fitness to fly would very much depend on the individual, although that said, DVT risk is higher if someone has cancer, so considering preventative measures is important. Air travel is not generally advised for the month after any surgery. With regards to dementia sufferers, says Dr Patel, it would be extremely prudent to travel with someone they are close to. Unfamiliar environments can be very distressing. Airlines may also have a policy in place for this so it is worth checking with them before booking. Even for mild dementia, it would be sensible to inform the crew on board so that they are aware and to have a letter from your doctor to support this. What are the benefits of flying when youre older? Travelling expands the mind and enriches your life whatever your age. The Telegraphs hotel expert Fiona Duncan, 70, says: One good thing about ageing is that I am no longer a nervous flyer, she says. Im much more relaxed. I know Ive had a good life. Duncans most recent long-haul flight was to India last October. She says her fragile sleep pattern was disrupted for days after arriving there, and weeks after returning home. But mild sleeping pills helped me break the cycle of waking at odd hours. In all the many years I have flown long-haul, I never ever ceased to wonder at the miracle of being in Heathrow Airport one minute and then somewhere incredible and thrilling just a few hours later, says Duncan. It has been the great privilege of my life. Meanwhile seasoned traveller Hilary Bradt who hitchhiked in Germany last year says: I wish we werent so hung up on safety rather than enjoyment these days. My only advice to the King and anyone else in their 70s, 80s and beyond is just do it. Recommended Dont let DVT destroy your holiday Read more 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. Korean automakers look to grab market share from Toyota in Southeast Asia By Lee Min-hyung Hyundai Motor and Kia will be able to capitalize on Toyota Motors manipulation of quality certification for its diesel engines as the scandal presents a promising opportunity for the two Korean automakers to challenge Toyota's longstanding dominance in Southeast Asia, according to industry officials and experts, Tuesday. Last month, the Japanese automaker admitted to reporting false data in the diesel engine certification test for 10 of its models. This was reminiscent of Volkswagens Dieselgate scandal in 2017 when the company caught heavy flak for manipulating emissions outputs of its diesel-powered vehicles to show different results in laboratory tests and real-world use. While the latest incident may appear less controversial than the German automakers actions, auto experts and industry insiders argued that the two scandals are of equal gravity. They said Hyundai Motor and Kia, both of which positioned similarly to Toyota in terms of selling reasonable-priced vehicles, need to take advantage of the Japanese giants tainted corporate image, particularly in the Southeast Asian market which Hyundai Motor Group has identified as its next major growth area. Toyota maintains good relationships with local subcontractors and establishes strong sales channels in the region, but Hyundai Motor and Kia can take advantage of the latest scandal to steal some market share from Toyota there, Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University, said. While Toyota's position remains unmatched, especially in crucial Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia and Thailand, automotive experts note that there is still ample opportunity for Korean rivals such as Hyundai Motor and Kia to expand their presence in these regions. This potential is highlighted by their recent sales growth in these markets. Toyota ranks as the top-selling brand in most Asian regions, but Hyundai and Kia have displayed outstanding sales growth in some markets, such as Vietnam and the Philippines. According to data from the two automakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia sold some 67,450 and 40,770 vehicles in Vietnam last year, respectively, gaining the title as the countrys top-selling and third-best-selling automakers. Hyundai Motor and Kias combined operating profit ratio last year surpassed most huge automakers such as Tesla and both automakers are gradually increasing their market share in the strategic Asian regions, the professor said. My thought is the two automakers can boost their sales growth if they utilize the Toyota scandal in their marketing and sales activities in Southeast Asia. Hyundai Motor Groups global reputation is not what it used to be, after rising to become the worlds third-largest automaker. Officials at global automakers also voiced their consensus that Toyotas involvement in the testing fraud will negatively affect its auto sales and brand value. Luxury automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW gained huge advantages from Volkswagens Dieselgate back in 2017 and 2018, an official from an automaker said on condition of anonymity. It remains to be seen whether Toyotas sales will be hit seriously by the latest scandal, but its involvement in such negative incidents, in itself, will do no good to revving up its auto sales and enhancing its brand identity. Considering the previous fiasco by Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor and Kia can gain a chance to raise their brand image and expand sales in Toyotas major sales territories, even if this cannot be made possible in a short period of time. A spokesman from Toyota Motor Korea said the local subsidiary of the Japanese automaker has little to do with the scandal, as it does not sell any vehicles here mired in the testing fraud, and declined to comment further. In an earlier statement, Toyota said: We deeply apologize to our customers who have been supporting affected vehicles and waiting for a long time, and also to all other stakeholders for the significant inconvenience and concern that this has caused, the automaker said after admitting to the irregularities. Another official from an overseas automaker said the key reason behind the scandal looks to have been attributable to toughened regulatory hurdles here and abroad regarding non-eco-friendly vehicles. There has been a long-lasting trend for toughened regulatory rules for eco-friendliness in the global auto industry, and Toyota appears to have set an excessively tight internal plan to meet the standard, the official said. This is why sales of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid cars have significantly grown over the past few years. Dahron Johnson, who chairs the Nashville Committee of the Tennessee Equality Project, speaks to reporters during a news conference on Feb. 13, 2024. Hours after a bill allowing marriage officiants to decline to solemnize weddings if they have moral objections received final passage from lawmakers, a vibrant crowd rallied on Capitol Hill advocating against a slate of bills aimed at placing new restrictions on Tennessees LGBTQ community. Senate Bill 596, which would allow officiants to decline to perform weddings, passed the Tennessee Senate without debate along party lines on Monday evening. The bill passed the House last year, and will head to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Already in this session, we have an anti-LGBT bill headed to the governors desk, Tennessee Equality Project Director Chris Sanders told reporters Tuesday morning. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, who sponsored the bill, told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee this month that the goal of his bill is to provide clarity on whether officiants are required to perform marriages. "A lot of times these bills are introduced to intentionally and directly attack certain groups," Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, said before voting against the bill. "Let's just try not to have legislation to single out groups. We're better than that as a legislature." Molly Whitehorn, an organizer with the Human Rights Campaign, called the bill the latest example of overreach by the legislature. Lets be clear this bill is intended to exclude LGBTQ+ folks from equal protection under the law, Whitehorn said. Marriage equality was settled by the Supreme Court in 2015, reaffirmed by a bipartisan majority in Congress in 2022, and there is overwhelming support nationally for same-sex marriage. All Tennesseans have a right to marry the person they love regardless of gender and should not be turned away by a government employee based upon that employee's personal beliefs. People hold pride flags during a news conference on Feb. 13, 2024. A group brought together by TEP rallied at the Cordell Hull Legislative Office Building on Tuesday to call attention to a list of bills which they describe as antagonistic to the LGBTQ community, including a bill that would permit lawsuits against adults who help children travel out of state to receive gender-affirming medical or surgical care, and another bill requiring schools to notify parents if a student requests accommodations to affirm their gender identity. TEP Nashville Committee Chair Dahron Johnson, who earlier this month became the first transgender person in state history to offer a prayer on the floor of the House of Representatives, said the group came to Capitol Hill to hold folks accountable. When we come down to this space though, we come to speak to our lived realities and we're told to quiet down," Johnson said. "We're told to get out of that balcony, to put away our signs." Dahron Johnson, who chairs the Nashville Committee of the Tennessee Equality Project, speaks to reporters during a news conference on Feb. 13, 2024. Among the bills opposed by the group is a controversial measure by Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, which seeks to prohibit display of ideological flags in public schools. When we try to simply signal safe space for those afraid or hurting by waving a small flag of safety, they seek to silence such speech, Johnson said. Stephanie Mahnke, executive director of the Tennessee Pride Chamber, on Monday asked lawmakers to consider the direct impact of their bills on LGBTQ owned and allied businesses across the state, adding that the chamber has heard from countless business and tourism groups, considering or rethinking investments in the state. Whenever LGBTQ people are excluded from participation in their schools and in their workplaces, when their mere existence is erased or criminalized, we have seen we know that this also impacts workforce retention, recruitment activity, as well as our students, Mahnke said. Bills opposed by the Tennessee Equality Project include: SB1722/HB1605, would prohibit publicly-funded schools from displaying certain political flags. SB2780/HB1995, which would require the Tennessee Department of Health to create a separate marriage license application form and license to be used for heterosexual marriage applicants only, and prohibit county clerks from certifying marriages between persons other than a female bride and a male groom. SB2781/HB1949, which would expand the offense of observation without consent to include entities with policies that allow restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, showers designed for single-sex use. SB2782/HB2310, which would create legal grounds to sue anyone who knowingly removes a minor from this state without parental consent for the purpose of assisting the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minors sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minors sex and asserted identity. SB1738/HB2169, which would prohibit the Department of Childrens Services from requiring adoptive and foster parents to support policies on sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parents religious or moral beliefs. SB1810/HB2165 which would require schools to notify parents of any student's request for accommodation to affirm the student's gender identity. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: LGBTQ advocates rally as new marriage bill heads to Tennessee governor Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley suggested Tuesday that former President Donald Trump is trying to "take" the 2024 election by promoting a former adviser, a current campaign adviser and his daughter-in-law to top GOP leadership posts. "Now he has decided he has fired the RNC chair," Haley said at an event Tuesday morning in her hometown of Bamberg, South Carolina, referring to Trump's endorsement of a successor to Ronna McDaniel as chair of the Republican National Committee if she decides to step down in the coming days. "He's named who's going to be the new RNC chair. His daughter-in-law will be the co-chair, and he is making his campaign manager the officer that runs the party." "Think about whats happening right now," she continued. "Is that how youre going to try and take an election?" At a separate event later in the day, Haley said Trump is going to "try and continue to take the party so that it does what he wants it to do." Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley speaks on Feb. 13, 2024, in Bamberg, S.C. (Allison Joyce / AFP - Getty Images) Asked for comment Tuesday, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told NBC News, "Nikki Braindead Birdbrain Haley reeks of desperation as its clear she knows she has no shot, and is now auditioning for a cable news contract when her 15 minutes are over. But not before she can squeeze every last dollar out of her Democrat benefactors." NBC News has reached out to Haley's team for further comment on her remarks. In a statement Monday, Trump endorsed Michael Whatley to be the next head of the Republican National Committee and said he supports his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, for co-chair. I think my friend Michael Whatley should be the RNCs next leader, Trump said, adding that Whatley has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina. Whatley serves as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and general counsel for the RNC. He previously served on the Trump-Pence campaign and transition team. Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, has much less political experience than Whatley. She assisted her father-in-law's 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and was an on-air contributor on Fox News. During a Newsmax interview that aired Tuesday night, Lara Trump said that the RNC needs to be the leanest, most lethal political fighting machine weve ever seen in American history." She added that if elected to serve as co-chair she would ensure that "every single penny will go to the number one and the only job of the RNC that is electing Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country." In his Monday statement, Trump said he is also supporting Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to his re-election campaign, to be the RNC's chief operating officer. There have been recent signs that McDaniel could soon step down from the RNC leadership role she's held since January 2017, with The New York Times and The Associated Press among the news outlets reporting that she could leave her position after South Carolina holds its GOP primary on Feb. 24. Trump, who has routinely made baseless claims that the last presidential election was "rigged" against him, has been charged by special counsel Jack Smith with unlawfully trying to overturn the 2020 election results. He faces similar charges in Fulton County, Georgia, and has pleaded not guilty in both cases. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The attack left the Gloria Sanchez unable to speak when she got a 911 operator on the line. It was Nov. 20, 2016, and shed just been stabbed in what White Settlement police describe as a brutal knife attack. Police didnt know that at the time because Sanchezs side of the call was silent. But they did know something was wrong. Police were able to use Sanchezs call to trace her location to a generalized area, sending officers to sound their emergency sirens to see if the call would pick up the noise and allow dispatchers to narrow down the location even further. And it worked. Sanchez was found and officers and paramedics were able to save her life. But her attacker still hasnt been caught, police said. Sanchezs story was featured on Americas Most Wanted, a TV show that recently was revived after originally airing more than 20 seasons on Fox from 1988-2011. The show advocates for victims and tries to help law enforcement capture fugitives and suspected criminals. The episode aired Monday night, with John Walsh and Callahan Walsh asking Americans to help find the man suspected of attacking Sanchez. The image of Cesar Colin, 38, was broadcast across the country along with a plea from John Walsh and Callahan Walsh: Help law enforcement find this man. The images are around seven years old, according to police, so he may look different today. Police say Cesar Colin, suspected of trying to rape and then using a knife to attack his then-partner in 2016, may look different than this photo today. The photos is from around seven years ago, before authorities say he tried to kill Gloria Sanchez and fled from their home on foot. Colin had what police describe as a romantic relationship with Sanchez at the time he stabbed her, according to a news release from White Settlement police. Theyd returned to their home around 3 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2016, after going to a club in the area. Police said the night turned violent after they returned home. Colin got angry with Sanchez, pulled a knife and tried to rape her, investigators said. Sanchez managed to get away and call 911, but Colin followed her, police said. He threatened to kill her if she called 911, and when he heard the dispatchers voice on the phone he started stabbing her, according to the police account. He left her there to die, fleeing the scene on foot, the news release states. Today's top stories: Cuts coming to Fort Worth ISD staff, budgets Former police chief has his day in court delayed on whistleblower suit Fort Worth police release parts of vehicle chase policy but much remains secret Get free alerts when news breaks. Investigators still havent been able to find Colin, who had family in North Texas, according to police. At first, they thought he might have fled to Mexico, where he also has relatives. He hasnt been on social media since the attack, as far as investigators can tell. But about six months after the attack, Sanchez called police again. Two men, armed with handguns, showed up at her apartment looking for her. One of Sanchezs relatives was there and told the two men they didnt know where Sanchez was. Sanchez said she believes Colin sent the men to kill her. Now she lives a private life, in fear that the man who attacked her has returned to the area. Police released two photos of Sanchez, saying in the release that she wants Colin and the rest of the world to know that the attack has not stopped her from living her life. Gloria Sanchez has moved on since she was attacked by a man, who investigators say was her then-partner, Cesar Colin, on Nov. 20, 2016. She is living her life, but will be in fear until Colin is arrested, police said. Gloria Sanchez was stabbed so brutally on Nov. 20, 2016, that she couldnt talk to police on the phone. Now, authorities say she is trying to move on and live her life but feels like she has to keep that life secret, for fear that her attacker will find her again. Police want to help her let go of those fears, but they need help. Someone has information on Colins whereabouts, and we need to hear from them, White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook said in the release. Recent information leads our investigative team to believe that this fugitive on the run may have returned to the North Texas area so we want to increase the pressure and elevate the profile of this case to help our team and federal partners locate Colin so we can bring justice to the victim. Anybody who knows where Colin is or where he might be is asked to contact White Settlement police at 817-246-4973, by email at investigator@swpd.us or through Tarrant County Crime Stoppers, 817-469-TIPS (8477). Tips to Crime Stoppers can be provided anonymously. Information leading to an arrest and conviction may make tipsters eligible for a reward. When a Miami Beach marine patrol officer was sitting in his boat near the units headquarters at the Maurice Gibb Memorial Park pier late last month, he noticed something unusual on the nearby dock: Miami Beach City Commissioner David Suarez arguing with a local boater. The officer quickly turned on his body-worn camera to capture their interaction. A second officer, who was returning from lunch, also noticed the dispute and walked over to try to intervene. The newly released body-camera footage, which shows the freshman commissioner telling a boater he isnt man enough and grilling a marine patrol officer about boating laws, is emblematic of Suarezs confrontational approach as he pursues an ambitious agenda during his first year in office. Since his election in November, Suarez has been relentless in his quest to crack down on people who live on boats in Biscayne Bay and to address other quality of life issues like homelessness and has quickly found himself at odds both with members of the public who oppose his initiatives and with longtime city administrators he has maligned, ranging from the fire chief to the parking director. The Jan. 25 incident at the Maurice Gibb Memorial Park pier is a stark depiction of Suarezs willingness to butt heads with residents and city employees to achieve his goals. In the video, Suarez is seen riding a scooter and approaching Carlos Leon, who lives on a sailboat in Biscayne Bay and has led a charge against Suarezs efforts to push live-aboards out of the waters near Miami Beach. You dont want to say it? Youre not man enough to say it? Suarez asked Leon as the video began. Leon told the Herald that before the video started, he had exchanged words with Suarez after unexpectedly seeing the commissioner at the pier. As Suarez was walking away, Leon called the commissioner a p----, and Suarez came back and asked Leon to repeat it, according to Leon. Youre not man enough to say it again? Suarez said, according to the video. After a brief exchange, Suarez told Leon: At the end of this year, youre not gonna be living out here. David Suarez is sworn into office with his family by his side during a ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Nov. 28, 2023. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com The bodycam video, obtained by the Miami Herald through a public records request, also demonstrates Suarezs willingness to challenge public sector employees in Miami Beach. After the dispute with Leon, Suarez approached a marine patrol officer, Sgt. Duane Rezende, and asked if growth of marine life such as algae and barnacles on a boat could contribute to it being tagged as derelict. Just one day earlier, Suarez had posted a video of himself in a wetsuit, capturing footage of what he described as the horrible condition of boats anchored in the bay. Ive been doing this 17 years. Ive never written a ticket for growth, Rezende told Suarez. Suarez pushed back, saying Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials told him otherwise at a recent meeting. Thats just coming from the lieutenant colonel himself, from FWC, he said. READ MORE: Miami Beach candidate had to turn over guns after claim they werent stored safely During their 40-minute interaction, Suarez made two phone calls to FWC officers and put them on speakerphone as he sought clarification. In the second call, FWC Lt. Col. Alfredo Escanio said that while growth may be an indicator of other problems, it doesnt necessarily mean a boat is derelict. Not happy with my response, [Suarez] began asking me the same question repeatedly, questioning my knowledge on derelict vessels, Rezende later wrote in a report about the incident. Suarez declined to comment or to answer a list of detailed questions from the Herald for this story. Please manage this issue accordingly Suarez, 39, the marketing director for a skin care company, entered the Miami Beach political scene in 2021 as he spearheaded efforts to prevent short-term rentals in his South of Fifth neighborhood. His activism led to a ban on apartment hotels buildings with a mix of apartment and hotel rooms in the area and a city investigation into permitting issues. Since his election, he has shaken up City Hall with his confrontational, hands-on style of politics. At his first commission meeting in December, he proposed that the city remove a dock that boat dwellers rely on to get food and water at a nearby Publix, saying his goal was to cut off their access to supplies on the mainland in response to resident complaints and environmental concerns about boats anchored in Biscayne Bay. The City Commission approved the item, and the dock was removed Dec. 19. READ MORE: Boat dwellers protest as Miami Beach shuts down dock they use to go get food Suarez has also pushed for stricter enforcement for boaters, forwarding emails to City Manager Alina Hudak from residents complaining about illegal charter activity, dinghies docking to seawalls and live-aboards camping in a park near Lincoln Road. Please manage this issue accordingly, Suarez told Hudak repeatedly in emails obtained by the Herald. Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak is pictured at Miami Beach City Hall on Nov. 22, 2021. SAM NAVARRO/Special for the Miami Herald Such direction from a commissioner to the city manager is unusual under Miami Beachs form of government, in which elected officials are part-time employees tasked with setting policy and typically show a level of deference to the city manager and full-time employees who run day-to-day operations. The Miami Beach city charter doesnt address how elected officials should engage with city staff, but the citys independent inspector general, Joseph Centorino, has urged the city to adopt new language addressing those interactions and barring elected officials from giving orders to the manager and her employees. Suarez has said he is seeking information and accountability, not giving orders. But his scathing criticism has rattled several city leaders including Hudak, who said she felt so disrespected after Suarez blasted her performance during the December commission meeting. READ MORE: So disrespected by you: Miami Beach city manager put on defensive by new commissioner Suarezs approach has also forced his fellow elected officials to walk a delicate line as they seek to support the type of tough-on-crime, quality-of-life measures that they campaigned on, while distancing themselves from Suarezs abrasive style and fierce critiques of city staff. Mayor Steven Meiner, who billed himself as the law-and-order mayor in campaign literature, has backed many of Suarezs initiatives but criticized his actions at the December commission meeting. I agree with the premise that we all want things to be better, Meiner said. [But] on every item youve brought today, youve attacked our city manager. I dont think thats constructive. Others have applauded Suarezs demands of the administration. He is really making some changes and holding people accountable in the city, Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez said during a Feb. 1 discussion with Suarez on Facebook Live. Suarez has publicly defended his approach by saying that the city is slow to address residents problems and that he was elected to hold the administration accountable in making Miami Beach safer and more peaceful a central focus for residents in the tourist hub. Other elected officials have called for changes to city departments in recent years, lamenting red tape that makes it difficult for residents and business owners to navigate City Hall. Suarez spelled out his viewpoint in a Jan. 3 email to a resident. The reason nothing changes is because the only constant through so many elections are the city staff, Suarez wrote. They are your typical government bureaucrats who hold on to power by doing the bare minimum with zero accountability. I am doing my best to at least change our current leadership, he added. The light is at the end of the tunnel. People who live on boats in Biscayne Bay protest a decision by Miami Beach officials to restrict access to a dock near Dade Boulevard and Michigan Avenue on Dec. 19, 2023. Carlos Leon (far right) has sparred with Commissioner David Suarez over the move. Aaron Leibowitz/aleibowitz@miamiherald.com Harsh words for city staff Suarezs criticism of the city administration has extended beyond the issue of boaters. In December, when police told Suarez a pro-Palestinian protest was planned for the following day outside Art Basel, Suarez emailed Hudak to say that elected officials should have been informed sooner. The failure to provide us with this information when it first came to the administrations attention is very disappointing, he wrote. Is there anything else that we should be aware of that you might be holding back on? On Feb. 1, Suarez emailed officials the results of a mold assessment he commissioned and paid for at a fire station in South Beach an unusual step that reflects his willingness to work outside city norms and even spend his own funds on issues hes passionate about. The report, Suarez wrote, showed that our guys are breathing in toxins every day. Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez responded that morning, thanking Suarez for sharing the report and assuring him the department was looking into it. Virgil, spare me your sudden performative attention to detail regarding the conditions of respiratory systems at fire station No. 1, Suarez wrote back. In my opinion, this dereliction of duty and concern for the men and women who work under you is a stain on your overall excellent reputation. The next day, Suarez walked into the fire station, shirtless, and began taking photos, according to a pair of memos written later that day by firefighters to their superior. One of the firefighters, Melissa Ramirez, said she told Suarez he needed to put a shirt on. The man condescendingly replied that he was Commissioner David Suarez, Ramirez wrote. I replied back saying, I understand, but you still need to put a shirt on. He then proceeded to leave and nothing else was said. The second firefighter, Eric Cento, confirmed Ramirezs account and said he, too, told Suarez to put on a shirt. Suarez declined to comment on the incident. Commissioner David Suarez speaks at the Miami Beach City Commission meeting on Dec. 13, 2023. Carl Juste/cjuste@miamiherald.com Even the citys parking director, Monica Beltran, has faced Suarezs disapproval. When Beltran emailed Suarez a map of the North Beach neighborhood on Dec. 4, Suarez, who is exploring a residential parking permit system in the neighborhood, said it wasnt the map he had requested. I really hope this is some kind of Monday joke, Suarez wrote, explaining what he was looking for instead. Beltran wrote back that the map she sent was the one he had asked for. I respect you too much to joke, she said. During his Feb. 1 conversation with Rosen Gonzalez on Facebook Live, Suarez was eager to affirm a residents displeasure over an interaction with the citys interim facilities and fleet management director, Elizabeth Miro. Let me tell you, Elizabeth Miro is on my s--- list, Suarez said. In emails to Miro earlier this month, Suarez questioned why fountains at South Pointe Park had not been operational for two years. When Miro replied that the city is working to address plumbing issues there, Suarez fired back in an email at 1:46 a.m. Our residents and I do not want to be given excuses. We simply want our taxpayer funded facilities to function as intended, he wrote. Are you sure that you are capable of continuing to manage our Facilities Department efficiently? Hudak, the city manager, rushed to Miros defense. Your pattern of addressing our directors in such a disrespectful manner is fundamentally wrong, she wrote. Your constant demands and directives of her and others are bordering on ignoring our city charter. Suarez disputed that characterization, saying he was not giving demands but simply asking for data/information from one of our directors. Through a city spokesperson, Hudak, Fernandez, Beltran and Miro declined to comment on their interactions with Suarez. The spokesperson, Melissa Berthier, said in a statement that the citys professional staff remains committed to excellence in all aspects of serving our community and maintains the utmost respect for our elected officials, residents and stakeholders. Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. We're just two days away from Intuitive Machines' first-ever mission to the moon. Pro-tip: If you haven't already, check out this ultra thorough press kit on the mission -- the company goes into a ton of detail about the lander architecture, the payloads on board and everything that will happen during the mission. Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at aria.techcrunch@gmail.com or send me a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at tips@techcrunch.com. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and links to encrypted messaging apps. In honor of the forthcoming IM-1 launch, this week I'm highlighting a story I wrote about the mission when SpaceX and Intuitive Machines (finally) announced the date and time for lift-off. Like many guessed, they're targeting February 14 at 12:57 a.m. EST, with an extra few days as back up in case weather or some other issue delays launch. Intuitive Machines is hoping to pave the way for commercial success in the nascent lunar economy, with the company saying in the press kit that this mission's success "will lay the groundwork for a burgeoning lunar economy, opening new possibilities for research, commerce, and exploration." intuitive machines im-1 Image Credits: SpaceX Last week, I wrote about Interlune, a stealthy startup founded by ex-Blue Origin leaders that closed $15 million in new funding. But the rationale for raising the capital was poorly understood. Interlune, headed by ex-Blue Origin President Robert Meyerson, had kept things very, very close to the chest. Until now. Two of Interlunes confidential pitch decks, dated spring 2022 and fall 2023 and viewed by TechCrunch, reveal that the startup was seeking that funding to build and test resource extraction hardware for lunar helium-3 (He-3). Interlune lunar mining Image Credits: Interlune Launch highlights SpaceX launched a $1 billion NASA Earth science satellite on a Falcon 9 last week, bringing to a close around two decades of development and planning. The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft will collect data on marine ecosystems, the ocean and our atmosphere, which will help scientists better understand everything from phytoplankton to air quality to how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon. "PACE is going to show us the biology of the oceans at a scale that we've never been able to see before," Karen St. Germain, director of NASA's Earth Science division, said during a media briefing. SpaceX Pace mission NASA Image Credits: SpaceX CNBC's Michael Sheetz spoke to seven bankers about the probable sale of United Launch Alliance and the three bidders currently in the running, including Blue Origin and aerospace contractor Textron. He takes a closer look at what the acquisition would mean for each of the possible buyers -- and for the future of launch. Amazon branding on a ULA Atlas V rocket Image Credits: Amazon / ULA This week in space history I finally have an excuse to use one of my favorite photographs from the history of space, ever: that of astronaut Bruce McCandless, who on February 12, 1984, used a nitrogen jet-propelled backpack to venture farther from the space shuttle than anyone ever had before. Image Credits: NASA (opens in a new window) By Lee Min-hyung Korean Air won the approval of the European Union's antitrust agency for the long-delayed bid for Asiana Airlines, leaving only one decision by a U.S. authority before the complete takeover of the cash-strapped airline, the nations flag carrier said Tuesday. Korean Air has overcome a significant obstacle in its years-long struggle to finalize the mega-sized deal. The airline is now poised to launch the combined entity pending potential approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. While the U.S. authority has not provided a timeline for its announcement, Korean Air aims to complete the deal by the end of 2024. The European Commission (EC) has expressed concerns over the deal impacting competition and urged Korean Air to divest Asianas cargo freighter business and facilitate the entry of a new airline on four overlapping passenger routes between Korea and the European Union. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will need to take several steps, such as appointing an advisory firm to oversee the divestment of Asiana Airlines cargo freighter business, as well as initiating the bidding process, and selecting a buyer of the cargo business, Korean Air said in a statement. The approval by the EC of the selected buyer is required to close the deal. Once Korean Air completes the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, the actual cargo divestment process will take place. The airline also noted that Tway Air, a Seoul-based low-cost carrier, has been designated as a remedy for the specified European passenger routes. Korean Air has committed to assisting Tway in commencing operations on the four routes from Incheon to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Frankfurt in the second half of this year. Korean Air shared its plans to focus on negotiations with the U.S. authority for the timely completion of the deal. After announcing the takeover plan back in November 2020, Korean Air has filed notifications of the deal to a total of 14 competition authorities across the globe. With the EC approval secured, Korean Air will continue to be focused on its discussions with the U.S. competition authority to finalize the overall review processes as soon as possible, the airline said in the statement. Dive into the wonderful world of independent cinema at this year's Ocean City Film Festival. The 8th Annual Ocean City Film Festival, a production of the Art League of Ocean City showcasing 100 new films by regional and international filmmakers of all backgrounds and genres, is coming to resort town theaters and venues from March 7-10, 2024. The festival will showcase independent films at various locations across Ocean City, including Flagship Cinemas in West Ocean City, Morley Hall at Seacrets, Princess Royale Oceanfront, Ashore Resort Hotel and the Performing Arts Center. From ticket options to celebrity guest appearances to special film screenings, here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Ocean City Film Festival. MARYLAND-MADE MOVIES: Sleepless in Seattle... in Baltimore? Eight great romantic comedies filmed in Maryland Genres aplenty: Movies for horror lovers, comedy fans and more The 8th Annual Ocean City Film Festival, a production of the Art League of Ocean City, is coming to resort theaters and venues March 7-10, 2024. This years festival features films both local and international, including from Canada, Portugal, Iran, Turkey, France and Germany. Short films are packaged into showcases so viewers can attend their preferences, said the Art League in a news release. The showcases include Listening Experience; For Your Health; Chuckles, Chortles, Snickers & Snorts; Environmental & Aquatic; For the Love of Film; Horror, Sci-Fi & the Weird; Its Personal; Old Line Cinema, and Pride. Also, Tire Tales, Spotlight on Fatherhood, Storytelling Ability, Strife Stories, Surfs Up and The Media & Me. In addition, the festival will screen nine feature length films, including American Meltdown," which won best feature at the Chattanooga Film Festival, and Get on the Bus, a documentary about the James Taylor Justice Coalition's second Justice Day event in Chestertown, Md. The films have not been rated and may feature adult content, so viewer discretion is advised. SHOP LOCAL THIS VALENTINE'S DAY: Shop local and fall in love with five, small Eastern Shore businesses this Valentine's Day Meet John Waters, director of the 1988 cult hit 'Hairspray' Legendary filmmaker John Waters will return to the Eastern Shore for the 8th Annual Ocean City Film Festival. Legendary filmmaker John Waters will also be making a grand return to the resort town for the film festival. Waters will give a live performance on Saturday, March 9, at 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center as part of the festival. We are honored to welcome back the legendary filmmaker, John Waters, as the headliner for the 2024 OC Film Fest, said Rina Thaler, executive director of the festival and Art League of Ocean City. The entire festival is a great opportunity for film lovers to watch never-before-seen films, including locally-created movies, and mingle with the filmmakers and film crews. Waters performed to a sold-out audience in 2023 with his stand-up show at Ocean Downs Casino. This year, the Baltimore-based filmmaker will perform at a larger venue, the Performing Arts Center, with increased seating and accessibility available. MORE MARYLAND-MADE MOVIES: Maryland movies to make you scream: Check out this list of horror flicks shot here Legendary filmmaker John Waters will present his movie Hairspray at the 8th Annual Ocean City Film Festival. Waters will present his 1998 film Hairspray, and provide eye-popping commentary during the screening, sharing memories of making the film in Baltimore the 1970s and the true events that inspired it. General admission tickets are available, with a limited number of VIP tickets to meet and greet Waters after the show available at a special price and on a first-come-first-serve basis. Like a sneaker wave dancing on an unwanted wind turbine, I cant wait to get back to Ocean City to infect the winter community with musical mayhem and cinematic turbulence, Waters said. Were off-season! Were off our rocker! Were the Ocean City Film Festival. Ticket Options for the Ocean City Film Festival Ocean City Film Festival passes are available for one day of films and parties, four days of films and parties, and individually-sold John Waters tickets. All three tickets options are as follows: Bundle Pass for $169: Includes the John Waters show on March 9 at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center. Plus, enjoy all the films, parties, and events with the 4-day festival pass. Four-day Festival Pass for $125: Includes all in-person screenings of feature films and short film blocks, as well as all in-person events. Does not include John Waters. One-day Festival Pass for $35: Includes all in-person screenings of feature films and short film blocks and all in-person events for that specific day. Does not include John Waters. JEEP FESTIVAL TO RETURN: Ocean City Jeep Fest given the greenlight for 2024: All to know about beloved gathering Also listed on the Ocean City Film Festival website are special, off-season hotel rates for festivalgoers, with oceanfront resort rooms starting at $99 per night. Traveling to Ocean City is incredibly affordable this time of year, even more now that our hotel sponsors are offering festival attendees discounted rates, said film festival director B.L. Strang-Moya. These are waterfront rooms in major hotels that are booked solid in the summer season. The festival, organized by Film Festival Director and Towson University alumnus B.L. Strang-Moya, receives support from the town of Ocean City, the State of Maryland Film Office and the Ocean City community. If you go: WHAT: Ocean City Film Festival WHEN: March 7-10, 2024 WHERE: Ocean City theaters and venues: Flagship Cinemas in West OC, Morley Hall at Seacrets, Princess Royale Oceanfront, Ashore Resort Hotel and the Performing Arts Center COST: Bundle Pass for $169, Four-day Festival Pass for $125, One-day Festival Pass for $35 INFO: https://ocmdfilmfestival.com/ DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: When does Daylight Saving Time begin? Here's when to 'spring forward' in 2024 Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City Film Fest puts indie flicks in spotlight, plus John Waters A doberman found alone with a zip-tied snout was adopted days later by the Indiana officer who discovered him. South Bend police officers, including Stephanie Northcutt, responded to a call Friday, Feb. 9, about a loose dog with its snout zip-tied shut. Good Samaritans tried to catch the dog but had been unsuccessful. But not Northcutt, who police said was able to build trust with the doberman to safely catch him. Video shows her crouching and slowly approaching the dog, who was quickly comforted by the officer. Northcutt, shown in the video with a tattoo of a paw print on her wrist, petted the dog as a citizen helped free his snout. The dog was taken to South Bend Animal Resource Center, police said. Northcutts relationship with the doberman, however, was only just beginning. Police said Monday, Feb. 12, Northcutt adopted the dog she has now named Zeus. Officer Northcutt said she knew the moment she laid eyes on the pup that he was the perfect addition to her family, police said. Zeus is doing extremely well, police said, and he will not suffer any long-term effects from his injuries Its familiar territory for Northcutt, who previously adopted a dog she rescued from a tough situation while on patrol, police said. She joked that the dispatchers at St. Joseph County 9-1-1 should stop sending her to animal calls because she will soon rut out of room at her house, police said. Northcutt also plans to sponsor two adoptions at the animal shelter after seeing how deeply this story has affected the South Bend community. Thank you Officer Northcutt, the South Bend Animal Resource Center said in a Facebook post. South Bend is about 70 miles southeast of Chicago. Pup set to be euthanized saved by a stranger and pilot from hundreds of miles away Amazon box hid abandoned months-old dog on porch. Now GI Joe is proving hes a fighter Puppy was abandoned in cold with nothing but a crate. Then his life took a turn Indianapolis Police Officer Breann Leath was fatally shot within seconds of arriving at the scene of a domestic disturbance call on April 9, 2020, an officer who accompanied her testified on the first day of the murder trial of her accused killer. I remember seeing drywall and wood passing by my head, within seconds of police knocking on the door at 1803 Edinburgh Square at 2:45 p.m. said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department East District Officer Dillon Webb. I turned away and when I turned back I saw my partner, Officer Leath, lying on the ground. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath was fatally shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call on the city's east side on Thursday, April 9, 2020. Elliahs Dorsey, 31, is charged with murder for Leaths slaying and the attempted murder of three other officers, as well as the attempted murder and criminal confinement of his girlfriend, who called 911. Dorsey fired several shots through the door when three IMPD officers answered the call from his girlfriend, who said he was behaving erratically, Deputy Prosecutor Nate Leffler said in his opening statement before Marion County Superior Court Judge Mark Stoner at the Marion County Community Justice Center. A hail of eight gunshots, ripping through apartment 10, Leffler told the jury. A high-powered semi-automatic pistol that sliced right through that door right through that wall. Leath, who had been on the force 2 years, was struck twice in the head. Dorsey has been declared mentally ill but can stand trial under Indiana law. The declaration, however, meant the Marion County prosecutor had to drop its plan to seek the death penalty. Defense attorneys are seeking a verdict of not responsible by reason of insanity. Webb said after the initial burst of gunfire he returned to the second-floor landing of the 3-story apartment building, then went outside and called for backup. When more officers arrived they went back upstairs to get Leath and they heard another round of gunfire. When they got to the second-floor landing they saw Dorseys girlfriend. She had been shot several times but was awake and talking. Leffler said Dorsey had chased her when she fled the apartment and shot her four times in the back. Police with rifles entered the apartment and arrested Dorsey, said former Officer Joseph Charles, who was on the call, but said he left the force because of the stress of the shooting. Public Defender Denna Martin told the jury in her opening statement Dorsey suffered paranoid delusions at the time. He woke up and thought his family had been killed and thought he was going to be killed, Martin said. He thought (the girlfriend) was setting him up. She said the paranoia was recent, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the break-up of his girlfriend of seven years. People started noticing lots of changes, Martin said He used to be fastidious but now he was sweaty and unkempt. His bedroom was filled with sweaty dirty clothes. He stared off in space. Webb said the officers arrived at the apartment with their lights and sirens off and didnt identify themselves as police when they knocked on the door with a flashlight. Martin said that fed Dorseys delusion that someone was after him. The first witness called by the prosecutor, Leaths mother, Jennifer Leath, recounted in brief testimony how when she learned of the shooting. She said she had a fluttering premonition beforehand. I felt it before I heard, it was like something punched me and I felt sick immediately, Leath said. More police officers from the scene and crime scene technicians were scheduled to testify Tuesday. The trial is expected to last seven days. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police shooting trial underway for accused cop killer SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The San Augustine County Sheriffs Office said on Sunday they seeking the publics help in finding a missing teenage girl. $1 million lottery ticket sold to Tatum resident According to officials, Alissa Sandefer, 15, was last seen on Saturday on old FM 705, and is known to frequent the Jasper area. She is described as 54, 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on her location is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 936-275-2424. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) provides "actual security" for America, the State Department said Monday, amid a controversy over former President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO members if they fail to fulfill their spending obligations. Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, made the point as Trump's remarks raised concerns that the United States' security commitments to NATO and other alliances could erode should Trump return to the White House. "I would just say, as we often say, that the NATO Alliance provides actual security to the American people," Miller told a press briefing. "This isn't just a benefit. ... This isn't just an alliance that the U.S. puts into. We also get a lot out of this alliance." Miller also pointed out that the transatlantic alliance came to the defense of the U.S. after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. "The only time that NATO has ever come to the defense of one of its member countries, it was coming to the defense of the United States after 9/11," he said. "We have been heartened by the broad support for NATO from the American people. We have been supported ... been heartened by the broad support for NATO from Congress." Last week, Trump said that he would "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to "delinquent" NATO countries that fail to meet their spending obligations to the alliance. The remarks deepened speculation among observers that a second-term Trump administration could turn to an isolationist approach that would see the U.S. curtail its global security role and heap pressure on allies to do more for their own security. The remarks drew immediate pushback, including from President Joe Biden. In a statement, Biden lambasted the remarks as "appalling and dangerous." (Yonhap) Christies International Real Estate Dubai, one of the UAEs leading luxury real estate firms and the sole Middle Eastern affiliate of Christies International Real Estate, recently hosted a bespoke luncheon to support women entering the world of investments and real estate and honour some of the regions most successful female leaders. Welcoming the citys leading female figures to the invite-only 'The Women Investment Empowerment Luncheon' at Josette in Dubai, the luxury real estate firm said the event was aimed at not only celebrating those women who had overcome significant challenges to emerge as luminaries in their fields, but also strive to foster lasting relationships as part of a wider, supportive female community. Amidst the elegant surroundings of the Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant, around 50 of Dubais most inspiring women attended the event, co-hosted by renowned entrepreneur and media personality, Rosemin Madhavji. Among the attendees were Alejandra Castro Rioseca, Chilean philanthropist and founder of MIA art collection, Nada Kabbani, Editor in Chief Elle Arabia, Zeina Ladki, Creative Director of FLTRD, Zina Khair, Syrian fashion entrepreneur, Eliane Amer, CEO of Trevi Group and Dalia El Ali, Founder of Dee by Dalia. Jackie Johns, the Managing Partner at Christies International Real Estate Dubai, said: "The Women Investment Empowerment Luncheon is our way of augmenting the immense strides women are taking in various sectors across Dubai, particularly in the world of investments." "We are providing a platform for them to share their experiences, empower other women, and create communities they can rely on for support. This is vital in a city where women are rapidly breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling," stated Johns, who herself is a real estate doyenne with over 30 years of industry experience. Female empowerment is an increasingly trending topic in Dubai, with a string of high-profile events aiming to buttress the rise in gender parity the city is currently enjoying, she added. It is a recent phenomenon. As late as Q1 2023, a survey by Fidelity found that women were significantly less confident of investing, with only 33% of women actually seeing themselves as investors. Similarly, Vanguard revealed that 50% of women were less likely than men to trade actively, while BNY Mellon asserted that only one in every ten women globally felt they fully understood investing. The UAE seems to be leading the charge when it comes to bucking this trend. Its historically male-dominated real estate market saw female investment increase by a staggering 50.7% in 2022, amounting to $16 billion in real estate transactions. According to the Dubai Land Department, women also accounted for approximately 34.8% of registered real essays brokers.-TradeArabia News Service Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town in the Gaza Strip as airstrikes carried out to cover the raid killed more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children. The rescue in Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of Israelis shaken by the plight of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The nation is still reeling from the militant groups cross-border raid last year that started the war. The overnight bombardment brought devastation in Rafah, which is packed with some 1.4 million people, most of whom fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape fighting. Associated Press footage showed a large area of flattened houses, tattered tents and lines of bloodied bodies brought into nearby hospitals. Israels offensive has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians in the territory, displaced over 80 percent of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis. More than 12,300 Palestinian children and young teens have been killed in the conflict, Gazas Health Ministry said Monday. About 8,400 women were also among those killed. That means children and young teens make up about 43 percent of the dead, and women and minors together make up three quarters. The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown at the request of the AP. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided evidence. In Hamas cross-border raid on Oct. 7, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has described Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the town on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after dozens were freed during a cease-fire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. The government has made freeing the hostages a top aim of its war, along with destroying Hamas military and governing capabilities. But as the fighting drags on , rifts have emerged in Israel over how to retrieve them. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says persistent military pressure will bring about the captives freedom even as families of the hostages and many of their supporters have called on the government to make another deal with Hamas. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. He said Hamas militants were guarding the captives and that members of the rescue team shielded the hostages with their bodies as the battle erupted. The army identified those rescued as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. They also hold Argentinian citizenship. They are among just three hostages to be rescued ; a female soldier was rescued in November. The rescue, which Hagari said was based on precise intelligence and planned for some time, is a morale booster for Israelis but a small step toward winning the release of the remaining hostages, who are believed to be spread out and hidden in tunnels. Har's son-in-law, Idan Begerano, who saw the released captives at the hospital where they were airlifted, said the two men were thin and pale, but communicating well and aware of their surroundings. Begerano said Har told him immediately upon seeing him: You have a birthday today, mazal tov." The men held long, tearful embraces with their relatives at the hospital, according to video released by Netanyahu's office. The airstrikes hit jam-packed Rafah in the middle of the night, and dozens of explosions could be heard around 2 a.m. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said at least 67 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Al-Qidra said rescuers were still searching the rubble. An Associated Press journalist counted at least 50 bodies at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Mohamed Zoghroub, a Palestinian living in Rafah, said he saw a black jeep speeding through the town followed by clashes and heavy airstrikes. We found ourselves running with our children, from the airstrikes, in every direction, he said, speaking from an area flattened by the bombardment. Footage circulating on social media from Rafah's Kuwaiti hospital showed dead or wounded children. The footage could not immediately be verified but was consistent with AP reporting. A young man could be seen carrying the body of an infant who he said was killed in the attacks. He said the girl, the daughter of his neighbor, was born and killed during the war. Let Netanyahu come and see: Is this one of your designated targets?" he said. Netanyahu has said sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel's war goals. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden had warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation there without a credible and executable plan to protect civilians. More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population is now crammed into Rafah , where hundreds of thousands live in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters. Biden's remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call , a senior U.S. administration official said. The official said that after weeks of diplomacy, a framework is now pretty much in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, acknowledged that gaps remain but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal. Netanyahus office declined to comment on the call. Hamas Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying any invasion of Rafah would blow up the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. (AP) A new automation facility is bringing more than 100 jobs and creating a $9.2 million investment at the Inland Port in Greer. Omron Automation Americas is moving its facility from Renton, Washington, to Atlas at Inland Port Greer, located at 311 Genoble Road. The announcement was made on Feb. 8 during news conference held at Spartanburg Community College's Spark Center SC in Duncan, located at the college's Tyger River campus in Duncan. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Greer Mayor Rick Danner, County Councilman David Britt, and SCC President Michael Mikota joined representatives from the company to celebrate the move to Spartanburg County. South Carolina local and state officials welcomed Omron Automation to Spartanburg Community College (SCC) on Feb. 8. 2024. The team announced the company will be relocating its facility at Renton, Washington facility to Atlas at the Inland Port in Greer. South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, left, and David Britt, vice chairman of Spartanburg County Council, at the event. Omron Automation will join BMW, Keurig Dr. Pepper, and Milo's Tea in making items in the county that will be used throughout the country and the world. Since starting its move, the company has used the Spark Center as a local base. "Sometimes we get lulled into this sense that everybody does what we do, but they don't. I'm reminded of that every time I'm with my colleagues from around the country, and I talk about all the amazing things going on here," Evette said. "A place like we're standing in today, a soft landing pad for businesses, that doesn't happen everywhere, but it does happen here." Moving and expanding in South Carolina Omron Automation will relocate to Greer between now and May. The facility will manufacture motion controllers and drives, machine vision, barcode readers and verification systems. South Carolina local and state officials welcomed Omron Automation to Spartanburg Community College (SCC) on Feb. 8. 2024. The team announced the company will be relocating its facility at Renton, Washington facility to Atlas at the Inland Port in Greer. These are some of the products the company makes. The move will coincide with an expansion of the facility's use, which will include the creation of a Proof of Concept Center. "This latest facility proudly is our fourteenth location in the Americas. It stands as our principal automation manufacturing location, and it joins a network of engineering design test labs (and) state-of-the-art proof of concept centers spanning from coast to coast," President and CEO of Omron Automation Americas Robb Black said. "This site will include manufacturing, warehousing, and a new state-of-the-art automation Proof of Concept Center (that) will demonstrate the latest innovations in sensing control, safety, vision, motion and robotics." South Carolina local and state officials welcomed Omron Automation to Spartanburg Community College (SCC) on Feb. 8. 2024. The team announced the company will be relocating its facility at Renton, Washington facility to Atlas at the Inland Port in Greer. Nigel Blakeway, senior managing executive officer, is greeted by South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette at the event. Chairman and CEO of Omron Management Center of America Nigel Blakeway said Greer was chosen after a comprehensive search of 85 cities. "Spartanburg County stood out as an outstanding location because of the great access we have to a world-class workforce and the community partners that are already established here," Blakeway said. Now hiring: 100 + new jobs in manufacturing The company is creating 162 jobs at the Inland Port Greer facility. Omron Automation offers paid holidays, community service leave, a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, a 401(k) with a 4% company match and performance-based bonuses to employees. They are currently hiring for the Greer facility. Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Omron Automation relocates manufacturing plant to Inland Port Greer LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) One year after the shooting at Michigan State University, students are spending the day reflecting, reacting in their own way, and reaching out to help the community. They will also be remembering three students who lost their lives in last years shooting that also injured five others. Arielle Anderson (left), Brian Frazier (center) and Alexandria Verner (right) were killed in the shooting on the campus of Michigan State University. (WLNS) The three students who were killed were 19-year-old Arielle Anderson, 20-year-old Brian Fraser, both from Grosse Pointe, and 20-year-old Alexandria Verner, from Clawson. An official remembrance gathering will take place outside of Spartan Stadium. It will offer opportunities for community art, reflective messages, and moments of silence. State leaders have also been weighing in on the anniversary, like Governor Gretchen Whitmer who said: Today, lets lean on each other, its what we do best. Spartans are strong because we always have each others backs. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also commented on the anniversary and the work that has been done in the time since to strengthen gun laws. When our neighbors, our friends, our children are dying by firearms at ever-increasing rates, we need to be doing much more and I am proud of the steps Michigan has taken to answer that call, Nessel said. Some of these new laws, like safe storage, expanded universal background checks, and red flag laws took effect today. MSU has also worked to improve its security over the past year, although gaps remain, and work continues. Buildings where the shooting took place have reopened, including Berkey Hall, and the MSU Union. Memorials have emerged around campus landmarks, like Spartan Stature, the Rock, and the Breslin Event Center. Flags across the state have also been ordered to fly at half-staff. Comfort dogs have also been mobilized across campus, and mental health services have been offered throughout the year. A permanent memorial is being planned, and community members will be asked to provide input at the remembrance event tonight to help contribute to a final design. One thing remains certain after one year, the community is still spartan strong. Six News will continue to cover the events today you can find our coverage here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. A most optimistic take on Roger Smiths abrupt resignation is Phoenixs opportunity to advance more smoothly the police oversight office he led. Smith whose last day was Friday had done the heavy lifting, including what turned out to be a more contentious than necessary interpretation of what the Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) is permitted to do on reviewing police misconduct investigations. A contention that got him in the crosshairs of higher-ups. He also found out the hard way that a job offer and acceptance do not guarantee a hire. At the last minute, the city deemed Smiths pick for the staff attorney unqualified because of a previous stint she had with Tucson Police, a law enforcement relationship that city code forbids. Smith's work should help the next director Smiths successor wont face the same challenges. Or need to ramp up the office as he had to. In his two years at the helm, Smith hired most of the staff of 15, helped set up the expectations of the office that was created mere months before he joined, and began monitoring the investigations of several dozen cases involving use of force and other incidents. That work should allow the new director of the Office of Accountability and Transparency to hit the ground running, perhaps even before the long-awaited civilian review board thats part of OAT gets installed. The relationship between Smith and city leadership unquestionably deteriorated over the last few months. Going from a strong job evaluation he got over the summer to being put on a performance improvement plan in early January underscored that. Both sides botched his departure Phoenix's new Office of Accountability and Transparency Director Roger Smith takes questions from the media during a one-on-one interview at Phoenix City Hall on Feb. 2, 2022. His departure was poorly handled, both by Smith and in the citys response. It packed a lot of weight for the person helping to hold police accountable to accuse city leadership of interfering with the offices independence at a moment when the Department of Justice is on the verge of releasing its findings into possible constitutional violations by the police department. Smiths implication was the city is in cahoots with police and police advocates in stonewalling reform. Highly charged, that insinuation. And the city responded by fighting fire with fire. On top of releasing the evaluation painting him as an unsavvy and tactless administrator who didnt know when to pick his battles, it had its contract attorney fire off a letter to DOJ that painted Smith as a disgruntled employee who tried to overstep his role. The records provided no foundation to the city's scant portrait of him as an abrasive personality who tried to impose an agenda beyond the scope of the office. An excessive move by Phoenix to assure the Justice Department that its house is in order by throwing Smith under the bus. After all, the Office of Accountability and Transparency plays neither a role in DOJs investigation nor in policymaking and enforcement. Accountability job changed midstream Neither party appears wholly sympathetic. Yet the departure is a needed, if inevitable, outcome. Smith was hired when the office was contemplated as a true civilian oversight entity, one with independent powers to investigate police misconduct and to recommend discipline. His previous role, in Cleveland, was with such an entity, and he clashed with the police chief there on occasion regarding who should have been disciplined and the severity of the discipline. Then in the summer of 2022, less than a year into the job, the Arizona Legislature took aim at OAT and passed legislation that gutted its authority. The law requires any disciplinary board with powers like OAT to be staffed predominately by certified law enforcement personnel from the same agency it oversees. Smith quit. Phoenix said 'good riddance' Its certainly plausible that Smith chafed at the new law, as Phoenixs outside counsel asserts he denies it. And there were times when Smith felt his offices work was being micromanaged by city leadership that were highly sensitive to how Phoenix is viewed. He cited, as an example, a report summarizing the number of police shootings that included a mention of how many shootings that worked out to per week. He said he was instructed to strike the clause. The 11th-hour denial of his pick for staff attorney proved to be the final straw. On the latter controversy, both Smith and the city have reasonable arguments over whether Catherine Bowmans volunteer work with Tucson Police qualified her as an employee of that department he believes it doesnt, the city contends it does. Regardless, things soured sufficiently for Smith to call it quits. And an unsupportive city management retorted good riddance. A new beginning for both is about as good as it gets. And for the next director of OAT, that means a job that wont change midstream. Reach Abe Kwok at akwok@azcentral.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @abekwok. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix can handle police oversight better after leader's botched exit Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., right, speaks alongside Robert Zimmerman, Democratic candidate for New York's 3rd Congressional District, during a news conference, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Great Neck, N.Y. The Tuesday contest for New York's District 3 House seat held by George Santos until his recent expulsion is shaping up to be a bellwether in the fight for control of Congress, with Suozzi pitted against GOP candidate Mazi Pilip. Hello OnPolitics readers! Voters in New York's 3rd congressional district head to the polls Tuesday to select a replacement for embattled former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December. Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip are vying for the seat. Democrats are hoping to flip back the once-blue district, while both parties are using Tuesday's election to test the waters ahead of other 2024 races, USA TODAYs Rachel Looker and Ken Tran report. Heres a look at the race: Why was Santos expelled from Congress? The House expelled the former New York lawmaker after a scathing House Ethics Committee report found evidence he misused campaign funds for his own personal benefit and committed federal crimes. Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide Who are Suozzi and Pilip? Suozzi is a former three-term U.S. House member who was first elected in 2016. While in Congress, he served as vice chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Pilip is a Nassau County legislator born in Ethiopia. She moved to Israel with her family and served in the Israel Defense Force before immigrating to the United States. Why does one New York race matter? The stakes for this election are high given House Republicans razor-thin majority in the lower chamber. The party breakdown in the House is currently 219-212. A Suozzi or Pilip victory will determine just how much breathing room GOP leaders will have when it comes to passing key legislation. Read more: New York is holding a special election to replace George Santos. Here's what to know about the stakes. Stay in the know on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about the special election to replace George Santos ONTARIO An Ontario police officer and a woman who were wounded by gunfire during a domestic disturbance Sunday night that turned into a hostage situation and standoff remained hospitalized Monday in stable condition. Officer Dylain Bailey, 29, sustained three gunshot wounds two to a leg and a third to an elbow when he responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block of the Landings Court housing complex, Ontario police Chief Tommy Hill said Monday at a news conference. A 43-year-old Galion woman who was being held hostage by her ex-boyfriend inside a home sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower extremities as she tried to flee the gunman, Hill said. A four-hour standoff ensued, after which the gunman surrendered. Previous reporting: Ontario police officer, female hostage wounded by gunfire as four-hour standoff unfolded The suspect, Jareth Vance, 32, of Perrysville, is charged with attempted aggravated murder, Hill said, and additional charges are pending with the Richland County Prosecutor's Office. Vance is being held in the Richland County Jail on a $1 million bond. "This was a disturbance call at first and ... we were caught off guard. We didn't know the domestic violence relationship (between those involved)," Hill said. "They're heroes," he said of his officers. "I just love them and they just did an amazing job." Shootings, standoff evolved from earlier incident that day Ontario police Chief Tommy Hill Monday describes the dangerous situation when officers arrived Sunday night to Landings Court on a disturbance call. An officer was wounded by gunfire and a female hostage was wounded by gunfire before the four-hour standoff unfolded. There was an earlier incident Sunday in Crawford County between the female victim and Vance that continued over into Richland County, Hill said. There had been friction in the relationship between Vance and the woman involved, Hill said. Vance had a history of charges, including domestic violence and assault, and officers later learned that the wounded woman had a no contact order against Vance, he said. Vance later drove to the Ontario housing complex in a U-Haul van. Once Vance got there, the police chief characterized what happened as like a home invasion, a burglary charge with an unwanted guest. Ontario police received a 911 call at 8:47 p.m. Sunday about a disturbance in Landings Court at Walker Lake and Home roads. The caller indicated the suspect was armed. Upon arrival, officers could see through a window that the suspect was holding the female victim hostage at gunpoint inside the house, Hill said. There were a lot of other people in the house and officers were urging them to get out, Hill said. he estimated five children ranging in age from 6 to 10, two adult females and two older adult males ran out of the house. When officers tried to rescue the hostage, Vance fired at them, striking Officer Bailey, Hill said. Shortly after Bailey was shot, the hostage escaped Vance's control and ran out the front door. Vance shot her as well, the chief said. Vance then barricaded himself inside the residence, where he held a 16-year-old girl hostage, Hill said. Acts of heroism Law enforcement officers on Monday investigate a crime scene on the 1000 block of Landings Court in Ontario, where a city police officer and a 43-year-old domestic violence victim were shot Sunday night, leading to a four-hour standoff before the gunman surrended. On Bailey's body camera audio played during the news conference, he can be heard telling dispatch he's been "hit" by gunfire. "After he got pulled off and got a tourniquet put on his leg, he actually asked the officers to lift him up to where he could get his rifle in the car and still point to the front door so he could protect everybody who was there," Hill said. This was not the first time Bailey had acted courageously in protecting public safety, Hill said. A few years ago, Bailey received a lifesaving award for helping a juvenile who was attempting to jump off a bridge on Lexington-Springmill Road. As other officers talked to the juvenile, Bailey came up behind from behind and got him off the bridge, saving his life. "Salt of the earth," Hill said of Bailey. Meanwhile, Hill said the teen girl, who had locked herself inside a bathroom, "did an absolutely amazing job of keeping herself where she was at ... One of our sergeants that was on the scene was actually able to talk to her (on a cellphone) and keep her calm. Her survival because of her instincts and what she did she's a hero." Hostage negotiators talked to the suspect, Hill said, "and ultimately were able to get him to come out with no further injuries." Asked if police had been able to determine what Vance's intention or motive Sunday night, Hill said Vance had been "semi-cooperative" with police, but "we haven't had a chance to (fully) interview Mr. Vance. That's part of the investigation." Domestic violence calls the most dangerous, chief says Hill told media during the Monday afternoon news conference that domestic violence calls are the most dangerous calls for responding officers. "This is one of those calls you train for, but you could never prepare for all of the other people that are there," Hill said of the Sunday night situation. "When we're engaged in a situation like this, a lot of time it's usually an armed suspect and us. On Sunday night, Hill said, "This was a situation that was unraveling and there were children running out of the house. There were adults running out of the house. We didn't know if the suspect was coming out. ... We couldn't get some people to move," Hill said. "... This guy was shooting from inside to out; you had the people who were standing or sat down (outside), and we had to worry about them. When I watched this, my heart just sank. This is the worst situation you ever want your officers to be involved in." Hill thanked all the law enforcement and other agencies who responded to the shooting and standoff Sunday night, and to the public for their support, prayers and messages since. "Our prayers go to our officer and the family of the 43-year-old victim," he said. lwhitmir@gannett.com 419-521-7223 X (formerly Twitter): @LWhitmir This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Suspect Jareth Vance, 32, charged with attempted aggravated murder OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday warned the very subtle societal misalignments within artificial intelligence (AI) could cause things to go horribly wrong, while still expressing optimism about the technologys benefits. Theres some things in there that are easy to imagine where things really go wrong. And Im not that interested in the killer robots walking on the street direction of things going wrong, Altman said Tuesday via a video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Im much more interested in the very subtle societal misalignments where we just have these systems out in society and through no particular ill intention, things just go horribly wrong, added Altman, whose company created ChatGPT. Altman, however, said he believes things will go tremendously right, if efforts are made to mitigate the downsides of AI technology. I think we can imagine a world in the not super distant future where everybodys got a better life than people have today, he said. I think we can raise the standard of living so incredibly much if everyone has access to abundant amounts of really high-quality intelligence and they can use that tools to create whatever they want to dothats like pretty amazing. The tech executive emphasized his push for a body similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency to be established to supervise AI. We are going to need, I believe at some point, some sort of global system, he said, adding later, What sort of auditing? What sort of safety measures do we want in place before you can deploy a super intelligence, or however you want to call an AGI [artificial general intelligence]. Asked what more government should be doing on the regulatory side, Altman argued the world is still in a stage of a lot of discussion. So theres, you know, everybody in the world is having a conference. Everyones got an idea, a policy paper, and thats OK, Altman said. I think were still at a time where debate is needed and healthy, but at some point in the next few years, I think we have to move towards an action plan with real buy-in around the world. But he argued OpenAI should not be the one determining regulations over its quickly advancing technology. Altman has repeatedly called for government regulation of AI and has warned the rapidly changing technology has its risks. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have raised concerns over the dangers, and Altman pledged to work with these lawmakers to minimize the risks. The San Francisco-based AI startup has been a significant player in the AI race, with Microsoft investing billions into the company. The Associated Press signed a deal with OpenAI last year to license APs archive of news stories to help train the artificial intelligence companys systems. OpenAI has also come under scrutiny, however, for the process in which it trains its chatbots. The New York Times sued Microsoft and OpenAI for copy infringement shortly before the new year, accusing companies of using millions of its articles to train their AI models. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Dartmouth College announced last week it will reinstate a standardized test requirement beginning with the next application cycle, for the class of 2029. (Scott Eisen / Getty Images) For the record: 12:02 p.m. Feb. 16, 2024: A prior version of this piece incorrectly identified Eileen Strempel as inaugural dean of the Herb Albert School of Music. It is the Herb Alpert School of Music. Dartmouths decision last week to reinstate its SAT or ACT requirement for admissions , and recent coverage extolling the benefits of standardized testing in predicting college success, have thrust testing into higher education news yet again. This will not be a surprise to Californians. In 2021, the University of California concluded a highly publicized effort banning the test for admission. California State University followed soon after. Enough. Some schools will mandate standardized testing, others will not, and some might change their minds. The extent to which the SAT predicts college success or helps identify exceptional students is a debate that, like many concerns in pre-pandemic America, needs to be retired or at least reconsidered in light of higher educations current struggles. Read more: Opinion: Want more diversity in schools? Copy the University of California and look to community colleges It is not that testing battles and elite admissions have no importance. Rather it is the fact that higher education has a much bigger set of challenges, including degree completion, affordability and a rapidly sinking reputation. Nationally, only about 6 in 10 students who enter college ever earn a credential or a degree in six years , and far fewer graduate on time (four years), the National Student Clearinghouse found. According to the University of California public dashboards , 72.9% of UC students graduate in four years; Cal State s dashboards show a rate of just 35.5%. Completion rates for students from low-income, historically underrepresented or rural backgrounds are even lower. Those students who leave frequently carry with them a trifecta of dismay: some college experience, loan debt and no degree. The result? We now have more than 40 million Americans with some college and no degree to show for it. Higher educations struggles have not gone unnoticed. The percentage of Americans expressing confidence in our colleges and universities has sunk to a new low of 36%, down from 57% about a decade ago. According to a recent survey , at least half of currently enrolled high school students the traditional cohort entering colleges and universities are less interested than ever in taking the time or paying the money to earn a college degree. Read more: Editorial: Early decision admissions for college unfairly favor wealthy students And those who do enter college face threats to their basic needs that undermine their ability to complete a degree. A 2023 California Student Aid Commission Report revealed that an appalling 53% of respondents identified as housing insecure, while 66% were food insecure. At the same time, many studies, including a 2024 report from Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce, affirm the substantial economic value of earning a postsecondary degree. This is in addition to other benefits including better health, higher levels of voter participation and volunteering, greater job satisfaction and greater social mobility . So how do we give more Americans access to those benefits? Not by obsessing over big-name institutions use of the SAT or ACT. These schools and their testing (or lack thereof) appear to entrance the media. But the extremely competitive Harvards and Stanfords of the world account for just about 4% of U.S. college students . For financial and other reasons, the majority of Americans will not pursue an elite college education. Thus in California and in other parts of the country, what matters more is how higher education leaders are maneuvering their campuses toward greater affordability, student inclusivity and better degree attainment. Read more: 'This is just the biggest fiasco.' College admissions upended by financial aid form glitches Consider the free college movement. While it may not be gaining federal traction, at least 32 states have some form of free college , including California Promise programs that support more than 1 million students annually in the Golden State. State-supported free college is gaining momentum with bipartisan support and may be one of the most fruitful paths toward wider affordability. On the degree completion front, focused efforts in Georgia have shrunk equity gaps between Hispanic and white non-Hispanic students pursuing their associates degrees. This success challenges outcomes in California, where 58% of Asian and 41% of white young adults born in the state have a bachelors degree, compared with 25% of Black and 20% of Latino students. It's also worth taking note of rural students living in learning deserts where there is no institution of higher education within 50 miles. Those students, not surprisingly, are much less likely to attend college. But access is expanding; in at least 23 states across the country, including California, community colleges can now offer bachelors degrees . As for supporting students once they are on campus, although much more progress should be made, the mandated establishment of basic needs centers at California's community colleges is a step in the right direction. These one-stop centers connect students to food pantries, housing assistance and additional resources such as the CalFresh nutrition program. All of this good work is happening largely on unheralded college and university campuses where standardized admissions tests are often not required and even irrelevant. Lets focus our attention on these issues and on those institutions that are trying to serve all students, not merely the most favored. Stephen Handel is the strategy director for postsecondary education transformation at ECMC Foundation in Los Angeles and previously worked for UC systemwide admissions and the College Board. Eileen Strempel is the inaugural dean of the Herb Alpert School of Music and a professor of education at UCLA. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Editors Note: Bill Carter covered the media business for more than 25 years at The New York Times. He has also been a contributor to CNN, and the author of four books about television, including The Late Shift. He was the Emmy-nominated writer of the HBO film adaptation of that book. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. Would he be political? Would he be funny? Would he still have his fastball? Bill Carter - Bill Carter Would he still be Jon Stewart, the Jon Stewart whose take on the infuriating foolishness and corruption of American public life and events made The Daily Show hilariously compelling viewing for 16 years? Based on Stewarts return to the anchor desk on Comedy Central Monday night, lets give that entire list a resounding, Oh yes he would. Stewarts first night back was full of high energy, big-fisted punches of comedy and satire, lots of commercials and no shelter for presidential candidates of either party. Nor, at one peak-comedy moment, for the host himself. The show looked and sounded much like the one Stewart left, with a slashing monologue, illustrated by brilliantly chosen video, followed by mock anchor-reporter interactions with the shows cast of correspondents. Inevitably the main focus was on the presidential election. (Stewart told CBS Mornings in an interview Monday that the reason he was returning to his old haunt was that he wanted to have some place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season.) His central thought last night: Why are we stuck with the same two old guys? The show resurrected its old Indecision election-year motif, and Stewart tried out several potential iterations, including Indecision 2024: Electile Dysfunction. He finally seemed to settle on: Indecision 2024: What the F#@k Are We Doing? (The use of highly identifiable bleeped epithets remains a show trademark.) Neither of the geriatric party front-runners was spared. President Joe Biden was battered for the special counsels description of an elderly man with a poor memory. But Stewart found more fodder in Bidens appearance on TikTok praising Travis Kelce mothers chocolate chip cookies. How do you go on TikTok and end up looking older? Stewart wanted to know. He also disparaged Bidens description of what Stewart called Israels incessant bombing of civilians in Gaza as over the top. He couldnt believe how trivial that sounded basically the same as his mothers critique of the Super Bowl half-time show: Did they need to be on roller skates? As for the Presidents massive press conference gaffe, confusing Mexico with Egypt in referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Geography buffs might have noticed, Gaza and Mexico do not share a border, Stewart joked. But it would be even worse, Stewart said, if Biden thought the President of Mexico is actually named Si, Si. The Daily Show audience, once so pro-Democratic that Stewart had to urge them not to boo jokes skewering former President Barack Obama, had no problem eating up the barbs about Bidens age. Maybe because Stewart hardly gave former President Donald Trump a pass. In an example of the shows signature excavation of strategically perfect old video, the mentions of Bidens forgetfulness in his special counsel deposition were backed up by video from Trumps previous depositions in legal cases, where he said he forgot just about everything, including having once said he has a great memory. Stewart also only had to play a few recent clips of Trump, including his saying Democrats would change the name of Pennsylvania if they won, to get laughs on their own. The mutual assured destruction of the candidates over their age focus, which Stewart defended as totally fair because voters have the right to question the acuity of candidates, reached a high point when he stressed that these two men are by far the oldest people ever to run for president, breaking, by only four years, the record that they set! As a visual exclamation point, Stewart brought the camera in tight, pointing to his own more-lined face, gray hair and beard, saying, Look at me: Look what time hath wrought. He noted that he is about 20 years younger than the two candidates and they could only wish to look only as old as he does. (Hes 61.) Stewart was greeted by a wildly enthusiastic standing ovation from the studio audience, which looked younger than most late-night audiences, one reason perhaps for the heavy commercial load and extra length, coming in at about 50 minutes rather than 30. The show was a big draw for advertiser-coveted younger viewers during Stewarts previous run. He made overt acknowledgement of his return after a more than eight-year absence at the top of his monologue, starting up with: Now, where was I? (Whether conscious or not, it was an homage to a famous line from a late-night legend, Jack Paar of the The Tonight Show, who, after an infamous walk-off from the show in 1960, opened his return with, As I was saying.) The best inside joke of the night came when Stewart was having his colloquies with the correspondents. Dulce Sloan, one of the holdovers who was touted as a potential permanent host after the departure of Stewarts successor, Trevor Noah, got increasingly faux-angry responding to the idea of a rematch of Biden-Trump, saying, We need more than just the same show with an older, but familiar face. Stewart showed some mock offense that she might be talking about him and not the candidates. That bit may have drawn the biggest laughs of a night filled with them. But it also underscored one problem The Daily Show has with this comeback: Stewart is only going to host the shows on Monday nights. He remains a very tough act to follow. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A statue of Louis Frederick Moench, founder and first principal of Weber State University, is pictured on the Weber State University campus in Ogden on Nov. 10, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Oct. 7 of last year has taken its place in history as yet another day that will live in infamy. The shock of the Hamas slaughter of Israeli innocents and the baffling response from so many young Americans continues to reverberate. The tragedy threw a bright spotlight on the shocking moral vacuity rampant on todays university campus, which for many of us was no surprise. These events compounded a growing skepticism about the work-readiness of our college graduates, even from the nations most elite schools. Several CEOs and a number of major law firms have, for example, expressed reluctance to continue hiring Ivy League graduates. A Harvard graduate, billionaire Ken Griffin, withdrew his support from his alma mater, calling its graduates whiny snowflakes. As skepticism grows, public confidence in higher education has reached all-time lows nationally, with many questioning the value proposition of a college degree. University of Utah president Taylor Randall has rightly noted that Americans confidence in higher education has declined steeply to 36%. Fortunately, Deseret News polling shows that a majority of Utahns (52%) still maintain significant faith in higher education, but that does not mean there is no work to be done. I agree with Randall that we must address this eroding faith in higher education. I believe that it will require a fundamental rethinking of our approach to a university education, starting with core curriculum requirements. How have university values become so unmoored? I believe it is the abandonment of the foundational principles that once produced generations of grounded, educated citizens. Woke dogma has infected academic curriculum, stifling free speech and critical thinking. a fact well summarized by Michael Gibson, even though there are some 5,300 universities and colleges in the U.S., there is only one point of view on every campus. Critical theory and post-modernism have superseded Western thought, art and literature, giving way to the narcissistic nihilism of the modern academy. So-called neo-Marxism underlies much of this shift; it is the driving force of the New Left and source of the false binary of oppressed vs. oppressor that appears to govern most behavior and belief in todays academia. Worse yet, taxpayers are footing the bill for all of this. To repeat an apocryphal Marxist adage, The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we hang them. In fact, its even worse. By funding todays universities, we are not selling the rope to those who wish to destroy our republic; we are handing it to them for free, paid for with taxpayer dollars. That begs the question, why would we continue to do so? Yet as one who holds a Ph.D. and taught for many years at Utah State University, I continue to believe in the value of a university education for many. I do not believe that it is too late to restore higher education to its rightful, essential place in a free society. That is why I am introducing reforms that will retune our Utah universities to the timeless truths that built our nation. To save the university, we must go back to the future. SB226 proposes that we begin by redirecting general education the fundamental coursework graduates must complete on the way to their major degree to once again inspire free thought and solid citizenship. We must return to the intellectual foundations of American and Western civilization to produce the leaders and the informed, conscientious citizens of tomorrow. Utah lags behind where it should be in foundational higher education. Our initial proposed reforms include the restoration of rhetoric and English composition, Western and American history, classical philosophy and civics, plus neoclassical economics. No matter what specialty a student may choose as a major, they ought to have solid grounding in the fundamental skills, principles and thought upon which America was built. America is far from perfect and Western thought is not without flaw. But while imperfect, America is still the greatest nation ever established; it is indeed the last best hope of man on earth. In composing our establishing documents, the Founders relied upon what came before them the Bible, Greek philosophy, the Roman republic, the Magna Carta, a thousand years of British Common Law, and the corpus of great Western thought. We would do well to follow their lead. The woke curriculum currently in vogue will remain available and uncensored. But reinstituting a traditional introductory curriculum, with faculty qualified to teach it, will help reestablish a truly competitive marketplace of ideas at our public universities. Utahs public higher education system is obligated to produce leaders that value intellectual rigor, innovation and open inquiry, and who understand the past. Every student should be clear-eyed about Americas triumphs and tragedies so they may better navigate Americas future challenges. Let elite colleges and universities double down on cultural division and political zealotry. Utahs institutions must lead in building a citizenry capable of meeting the needs of our future workforce, our communities and our constitutional republic. Sen. John Johnson is an entrepreneur and an academic, and represents Utah Senate District 3. He and his wife live in Ogden. Cillian Murphy has revealed that director Christopher Nolan typically sends one of his family members to drop off top-secret scripts for unreleased films. Nolan, the director of the Oscar-nominated film Oppenheimer, and Murphy, who stars in the title role, have worked together on six films. Each time, Nolan has made sure the scripts for the unreleased films are delivered to Murphy by hand. His latest war drama, which is nominated for 13 Academy Awards, is about the life of theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, who developed the first nuclear bomb for the top-secret Manhattan Project. Its been his mum whos delivered the script to me before. Or his brother; hell go away and come back in three hours. Murphy told British GQ in a cover story for its March issue. Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. Theyve always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me. Murphy explained that Nolan in fact went against type for Oppenheimer, and instead flew to meet the actor in Dublin, Ireland, and delivered the script himself. Hed already called me and said he wanted me to play the part. And I had said yes, because I always say yes to him, said Murphy. Murphy and Nolan on the Oppenheimer set ( Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.) Nolan left Murphy alone in a Dublin hotel room to read over the script. And [Nolan] doesnt have a phone or anything. But he knew instinctively when to come back, the actor recalled. Oppenheimer marks Murphys sixth collaboration with the Interstellar director after the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk. Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal) Murphy told the publication that being on a Nolan set feels like being in a private, intimate laboratory. Even though [Nolan] works at a tremendous pace, theres always room for curiosity and finding things out, and thats what making art should be about, you know? Theres no phones but also no announcement: everybody just knows. Murphy added that Nolan does not allow chairs on his sets. And theres no chairs. Because he doesnt sit down. Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. Everyones got their chairs and their snacks and everyones texting and showing each other f*****, you know, emojis or whatever. The March issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on 27 February. Declaring that "every innocent life lost in Gaza is a tragedy, President Joe Biden welcomed Jordans King Abdullah II to the White House Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward. The meeting with Abdullah comes as Biden and his aides are working to broker another pause in Israel's war against Hamas in order to send humanitarian aid and supplies into the region and get hostages out. The White House faces growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration's continued support for Israel in the face of rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its Oct 7 attack on Israel. The key elements of the deal are on the table, Biden said alongside the king, though "there are gaps that remain. He said the U.S. would do everything possible to make an agreement happen: a pause to fighting for at least six weeks and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. A senior U.S. administration official said Sunday that after weeks of shuttle diplomacy and phone conversations, a framework was essentially in place for a deal. The official said Israeli military pressure on Hamas in Khan Younis over the last several week s has helped bring the militant group closer to accepting an agreement. Abdullah said Biden's leadership was key to addressing this conflict, as he raised the plight of the tens of thousands of civilians killed and wounded in the fighting. We need a lasting cease-fire now," the king said. This war must end. Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israels actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning over what happens next, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been demanding a cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket. Biden's stance marks a subtle but notable break for the president, who has continued to oppose a permanent cease-fire. His administration has insisted that Hamas not retain political or military control over Gaza after the war a key objective of the Israeli operation to prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 taken hostage. Biden repeated his warning that Israel must not launch a full-scale attack on Rafah, the last major holdout of Hamas where more than 1.3 million people are sheltering unless it devises plans to safeguard the civilians there from harm's way. Earlier Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged there were legitimate military targets for Israel in Rafah, but said the Israelis must ensure their operations are designed to protect the lives of innocent civilians. Officials have said the U.S. is not sure there is a feasible plan to relocate civilians out of Rafah to allow military operations to take place. Biden, who has held out hope for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, added that he and the king discussed the need for the Palestinian Authority, which has some control over parts of the West Bank, to urgently reform to be ready to assume some authorities in Gaza if Hamas is removed from power. They must prepare to build a state that accepts peace, does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Biden said. Abdullah insisted that Separation of the West Bank and Gaza cannot be accepted. Earlier Monday, Biden, joined by his wife, Jill, welcomed the king, Queen Rania, and crown prince Hussein at the White House before the leaders met. It was the first meeting between the allies since three American troops were killed last month in a drone strike against a U.S. base in Jordan. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the deaths, the first for the U.S. after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war . Biden had planned to visit Jordan during his trip to Israel in October shortly after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, but the trip was scrapped. On his way home from Israel, Biden announced he'd helped broker the first deal to pause fighting temporarily and to open the crossing in Rafah to humanitarian aid. In the months since, members of his administration have made repeated trips to the region to engage with leaders there. (AP) Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings branded it a conflict for the countys own lobbyist to draft a bill restricting its ability to cut the funding of the Visit Orlando tourism agency, and said there may be consequences for the advocates secretive actions. In a heated reaction to revelations published Sunday in the Orlando Sentinel, Demings said lobbyist Chris Carmodys actions could lead the county to sever its relationship with his employer, GrayRobinson, and may trigger a Florida Bar complaint. Whether we get there or not, well certainly explore it, said Demings, who shared his ire in a lengthy conversation Sunday with the Sentinel. That may be the consequence of all this. The Sentinels story showed that Senate Bill 1594 filed last month by Orlando Democrat Linda Stewart at a time county commissioners were eyeing cuts to Visit Orlandos $100 million county subsidy was actually written by Carmody, not the lawmaker. The bill would have required a supermajority of five of the seven commissioners to make such cuts. Try not to mention my name on this one. :) Carmody texted Stewart at one point, according to a transcript provided to the Sentinel in response to a public records request. Thats not what we expect the lobbyists we pay to do, Demings said of those actions, arguing Carmody had a duty to disclose the possible conflict of interest. It was and is disturbing that he placed himself in a position to be advocating a position contrary to ours, his paying client. We pay his firm to lobby for us and so there may be consequences for that. Carmody did not immediately answer an email from the Sentinel on Monday. Last week, he said he responded to Stewarts request for help with the legislation as a courtesy. The mayor said he did not learn of Stewarts bill until after she filed it. We had a tough conversation about it in her office in Tallahassee, Demings said. I told her I could not support it because it was contrary to positions we had taken as a board and I thought it was bad politics for her. The bill now appears dead without a Florida House sponsor, Stewart said last week. But she said it accomplished its purpose: The county commission backed off its sharpest threats against Visit Orlando, leaving its budget mostly intact. The tax is forecast to raise $328.3 million in fiscal year 2023-24. Visit Orlandos share would be $98.5 million. Demings said he plans to discuss next steps this week with Orange County Attorney Jeff Newton. Orange County Administrator Byron Brooks shared with commissioners Monday an email the mayor sent to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell, which mostly repeated his Sunday comments about Carmodys role. Lastly, yes, there are consequences for any of the Countys paid lobbyists to knowingly work in conflict with the best interests of the County, Demings wrote. To do so could sever the Countys business relationship with the lobby firm and could trigger a potential Florida Bar complaint for a lawyer. I will look to our county attorney to advise me and the Board of County Commissioners in this regard. Lobbyist wrote bill to protect Visit Orlando but sought to hide his role GrayRobinsons contract with the county, in place since 2018, pays the firm $6,000 a month. It will expire in April unless extended. A state lobbyist website lists Carmody as the representative for more than two dozen clients, including the Association of Builders and Contractors, the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation, CarMax and the Central Florida Hotel Lodging Association, which had opposed the commissioners proposals for deeper funding cuts for Visit Orlando. As to Stewarts bill, the mayor blasted it as eroding home-rule, a local governments authority to decide local matters without state interference or pre-emptions. Philosophically, Im never going to support legislation that preempts local governments, Demings said. Commissioner Nicole Wilson agreed. It is a disappointment to see the undermining of home-rule by even lawmakers who served on this dais, said Wilson, who represents west Orange. Defending home rule authority is literally our top [legislative] priority. Commissioner Christine Moore praised Carmodys work overall but frowned on his help with Stewarts bill. It probably wasnt the wisest thing for him to do, she said. Moore said she would not support cutting ties with GrayRobinson or Carmody, whom she credited with landing state funds for public jobs in her district, including expanding the Wekiva Trail and maintaining the Vision Zero pedestrian safety project. They do excellent work, Moore said. shudak@orlandosentinel.com February is Career and Technical Education Month. Its a time to recognize the value that CTE programs offer to students, the workforce, and the overall economy. Orange Technical College is training its students to help fill a skilled labor shortage in Central Florida. From surgical technology, to cosmetology, to construction, OTC offers dozens of programs for students in a unique setting. I prepare for my future for looking for a new career, Sylvia Gonzalez, an ESOL student at OTC said. In the real world Im an immigrant so Im thankful for this opportunity. The programs help students learn skills and take part in hands-on training for their chosen field. READ: Raising Canes to open new Central Florida location Tuesday Theyre moving into our work force, theyre providing industry with what we need, Felecia Boyd, Senior Director for OTCs main campus, said. OTCs main campus focuses on health services. Boyd said that field has been struggling to hire since the Covid-19 pandemic. With nearly 3,000 students enrolled on that campus, theyre looking to fill the void. READ: A more integrated place: Local students share how they celebrate Lunar New Year in their community We want the students to have real world experience, Boyd said. Having the opportunity in the clinical setting to get those skills and to apply those skills that theyre learning. Wayne Manhertz is just one of the dental assisting students. Weve done a lot of radiographs, impressions, weve done crown preps, he told Channel 9s Sam Martello. With just three months left to complete the ten-month program, Manhertz said he is ready to make an impact on the Central Florida work force. READ: Why is Facebook chirping on phones? How to turn off the sound Dentistry was a field that I thought could really make an impact on people, smiles, and things like that. OTC is accepting applications for enrollment on all four campuses. There are more than 60 programs to choose from. For more information, click here. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. As former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla awaits trial on corruption charges, he is suing the city over recent changes to the voting map that he says are illegal. Diaz de la Portilla and Jose Garcia, the pastor at the Allapattah church New Hope Ministries, accuse the city of violating a state law when commissioners approved a change to Miamis voting map in January. In a 3-1 vote, commissioners shifted the boundary for District 1 to include the longtime family home of Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela, whose house had been excluded from the district in a previous voting map approved in June. Gabela had initially proposed re-including his home in the district in December shortly after he beat Diaz de la Portilla in the runoff election. Commissioners approved the shifted boundary in a vote that included Gabela, and on Christmas Eve, Mayor Francis Suarez vetoed the resolution, citing a state law that prevents sitting elected officials from redrawing district boundaries to favor themselves. City of Miami Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela listens during a City Commission meeting to vote to repeal a city law allowing super-sized digital billboards at the Perez Art Museum Miami and the Arsht performance center, at City Hall, on Thursday February 08, 2024. In January, commissioners allowed the mayors veto to stand. But in separate 3-1 vote where Gabela did not participate, the commission approved the same boundary change that places Gabelas home in his district. The day before, Miami-Dades top ethics official said that Gabela would violate the county ethics code if he voted on the matter. In the lawsuit they filed Monday, Diaz de la Portilla and Garcia cite that same state law while arguing that the commissions January vote was illegal. The Citys gerrymandered redistricting to accommodate the residency of an incumbent Commissioner violates Florida law and the Constitutions and laws of the United States and the State of Florida, and denying them equal protection of the laws, reads the lawsuit. The law went into effect July 1. Districts may not be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a candidate for member of the governing body or an incumbent member of the governing body based on the candidates or incumbents residential address, the law states. The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court by Diaz de la Portillas defense attorney, Benedict Kuehne. Kuehne is also representing Diaz de la Portilla in a criminal case that led to the commissioners removal from office in September after he was arrested and accused of selling his vote in exchange for campaign contributions and gifts. The commissioner, who pleaded not guilty, is awaiting trial. The complaint lists the city of Miami and City Clerk Todd Hannon as defendants. City Attorney Victoria Mendez did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment on Tuesday. Multiple lawsuits Mondays lawsuit is the latest in a wave of litigation stemming from the controversial redrawing of the citys voting map. In separate suit, Diaz de la Portilla has accused Gabela of living outside the district boundaries as he campaigned for the District 1 seat. That case is pending. Meanwhile, the citys voting map is in flux because of a separate federal lawsuit. Community groups and residents allege the city adopted an unconstitutional, racially gerrymandered map that used racial quotas to sort city residents by race and ethnicity. After a two-day trial in early February, the judge is expected to rule in the federal case in the coming weeks. The city and plaintiffs could settle before then. This embedded content is not available in your region. The claim: Fiery red color palette on weather map is the only evidence of climate change A Feb. 1 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows images of two weather reports one from 2017 and one from 2022 broadcast by the German weather channel tagesthemen. The 2017 image shows a green-toned map of Germany with temperature values superimposed over different areas of the country, while the 2022 image shows the same area with lower temperatures, but the map is colored in shades of red, orange and yellow. "The only evidence of (((climate change))) is a change in color on your dumby (sic) screens," reads the post's caption. The post garnered more than 1,300 likes in a week. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False More than a century of observational and experimental research shows that climate change is happening and is driven by greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. The new map color was part of a broader graphic design update, the TV station said. 'Overwhelming' evidence that human greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change The style of tagesthemen's temperature maps changed in 2020 when the public broadcaster ARD Weather Competence Center began producing the show, according to Silke Hansen, head of the ARD Weather Competence Center. "We changed the entire design and adapted it to the design of the most important news program on German television, 'tagesschau', which we have been producing for ARD since 1960," she told USA TODAY in an email. "The temperature colors are used to depict the degrees in color. This makes it possible for the viewer to estimate the temperature even in a place where there is no temperature number. The scale can range from dark red for hot temperatures to cold blue." She said tagesschau had been using color to depict temperature on maps since the 1990s, although there have been redesigns since that time due to technological developments in graphics software, the display of colors on monitors and the resolution of monitors. The "evidence" of climate change is extensive no matter what graphic design choices are made by a German weather station. Multiple independent climate agencies have reported a long-term increase in Earth's average global temperature. Scientists have also documented the consequences of this warming, including polar and glacial ice melt, sea level rise (due to ice melt and the expansion of warming seawater) and an increase in the frequency of certain extreme weather events, such as heat waves. There are various ways scientists know greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity cause this warming, Josh Willis, a NASA climate scientist, previously told USA TODAY. Researchers have shown that CO2 slows the escape of heat into space and that the amount of global warming that has occurred "matches what we expect based on the increased CO2 we've added," said Willis. "The timing of the warming matches the timing of the CO2 increase caused by people. Not only that, the timing of global sea level rise matches the CO2 increase." Scientists also know the excess CO2 in the atmosphere comes from humans because it matches the amount humans have emitted and because a disproportionate amount of the accumulated carbon is the type found in fossil fuels. Further, researchers have been able to test their understanding of climate change and greenhouse gas physics by developing climate models and later examining how accurately they predicted warming. Major climate models published between 1973 and 2013 were fairly accurate in their projections, according to a Carbon Brief analysis. "Climate models published since 1973 have generally been quite skillful in projecting future warming," Carbon Brief reported. "While some were too low and some too high, they all show outcomes reasonably close to what has actually occurred, especially when discrepancies between predicted and actual CO2 concentrations and other climate forcings are taken into account." Fact check: Can we count on renewable energy? Four ways wind, solar and water can power the US Scientists working at oil giant ExxonMobil in the 1970s were also quite skillful at predicting future global warming based on CO2 emissions, according to a 2023 analysis that found 63% to 83% of the projections reported by ExxonMobil researchers accurately predicted subsequent global warming. Many different lines of evidence show "industrial pollution is the cause of recent global heating," Dargan Frierson, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington, previously told USA TODAY. "This is not exactly a 'whodunit' situation. The evidence is overwhelming." USA TODAY reached out to the Instagram user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earth's climate changing regardless of weather graphics | Fact check California residents have received a welcome break from rain and storms following the deadly mudslides that tore through southern parts of the state earlier in the month. The floodgates of the Pacific Ocean will again be flung open as AccuWeather meteorologists project a storm duo to provide a one-two punch of wet weather this weekend into early next week. A brief storm will break the dry stretch for Northern California around midweek. "After several days of mostly dry weather, there will be a quick but heavy shot of rain moving through northern parts of the state through Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. "Some places along the central coast, near San Francisco, may pick up 0.50-1 inch of rain with this first event, with 2-4 inches possible along the Northern California coast up through coastal Oregon," Zehr added. Areas of Southern California that received historic rain amounts from the atmospheric river last week will be spared from any precipitation with this round. However, AccuWeather experts say the next pair of storms will take a path farther to the south, increasing the risk of hard-hit areas receiving additional rainfall. The week will end on a dry note before the first of the two storms arrives along the West Coast over the weekend. "This first storm in the two-part rain threat will likely bring the heaviest precipitation to some of the same areas that got hit at midweek, especially the Redwood coast of Northern California, which can increase the risk of flooding," Zehr said. How far south precipitation gets in California will depend on the storm's track, but the latest indications point toward the Los Angeles basin receiving no more than a stray shower or two over the weekend. "Parts of Southern California will likely get heavier rain from the second, more impactful storm which is expected to arrive early next week," Zehr said. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP This storm, expected to move in on Sunday, Feb.18, will take a path farther to the south than its predecessors, allowing it to tap into more tropical moisture. There is the potential for at least several inches of rain to fall along portions of the Southern California coast and nearby high terrain. "This can affect areas around the Los Angeles basin and northward, some of the hardest-hit areas from the recent atmospheric river event during the first week of February," Zehr said. Even with over a week of dry weather ahead of the next rain event, the wet and unstable nature of the soil plus the additional rainfall can create a dangerous mudslide risk. AccuWeather's long-range forecasting team, led by Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, expects the storm track to shift farther north heading into late February. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. ST. LOUIS A woman from Pacific, Missouri, is the latest person to be charged in connection with a plot to rob thousands of dollars worth of cash and jewelry from a St. Louis mans apartment. The robbery happened on the morning of Dec. 7, 2023, at an apartment in the 1400 block of Union Boulevard, located in the Academy neighborhood, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement. The victim told police two masked people entered his apartment, pointed a gun at him, and then stole $4,300 in cash and jewelry worth an estimated $2,000. St. Louis police reviewed surveillance video from inside the victims residence. The woman who set the victim up and spent the night at his apartment, identified as Brittany Gilpin, 37, can be seen on the surveillance video walking out the front door. Gilpin is on her phone as she heads toward the door. When she leaves, the two masked people enter the apartment. Gilpin appears to show no concern as the armed individuals walk past her. Watch the Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Super Bowl parade Investigators later learned Gilpin lived with a man named Lamandris Bobo, 32. The victim identified Bobo as one of the masked robbers. Police claim Gilpin told them Bobo put her up to the scheme to rob the victim. Police searched Bobos residence and found several firearms, one of which matched the description of the gun used in the robbery. Police eventually arrested the third person involved in the robbery, identified as Keyera Moore, 27. Police claim Moore confessed to the scheme. On Feb. 10, 2024, the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Moore with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Prosecutors charged Bobo on Jan. 9 with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Bobo has a prior felony conviction and at least one pending felony criminal case in St. Louis. Gilpin was charged on Jan. 2 with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Both Bobo and Gilpin were jailed without bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Ivan Aivazovsky's painting Lunar Night is being auctioned in Russia. At the start of the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, it was illegally transferred to the Simferopol Art Museum alongside over fifty other paintings. The Russians' plans to auction Aivazovsky's painting were announced by Gunduz Mammadov, ex-deputy of the Prosecutor General and former prosecutor of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, on Twitter (X). He recalled that in 2017, Interpol added 52 paintings transferred to the occupied Crimea to the international wanted list at the request of the Crimean Prosecutor's Office. "In this way, the Russian Federation openly disregards international law, because according to the UNESCO Convention of 1970, the export of cultural property and the transfer of property rights are prohibited," Mammadov emphasised. The Russian media reported that Lunar Night will be the main lot in the auction, which is to take place at the Moscow Auction House on 18 February. They note that the painting is estimated to be worth RUB 100 million (about US$1.09 million) prior to sale. Screenshot: Moscow Auction House website In addition to Aivazovsky's work, 123 works by artists from the 18th to 20th centuries will be offered for sale. They include six works by Ilya Repin, as well as works by Isaac Levitan, Vasily Vereshchagin, Nikolai Roerich, and others. According to Russian media, the auction will be held in the same manner as Christie's and Sotheby's (which have refused putting Russian lots for auction), and the website will allow visitors to "fill out a form for the export of art objects from Russia." How Russia stole Lunar Night On 18 February 2014, the Simferopol Art Museum and the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore signed an agreement to display paintings as part of the "Russian and Ukrainian Art of the 18th Early 20th Centuries" exhibition. On the same day, 52 paintings from the Ukrainian Museum Fund arrived in Mariupol from Crimea. Among them were Lunar Night by Ivan Aivazovsky; Road in the Forest by Ivan Shishkin; Landscape.Evening by Alexei Savrasov; Swamp by Isaac Levitan, and others. Lunar Night by Ivan Aivazovsky The exhibition in Mariupol was scheduled to run until 31 May 2014, but it was closed earlier because the Simferopol Museum's management demanded that the paintings be returned to the already-occupied Crimea. On 19 March 2014, Mariupol Museum workers received a letter from the director of the Simferopol Art Museum. In response, the-then director of the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore, Olha Chaplynska, unilaterally terminated the agreement for the exhibition of Crimean paintings. On 20 March, Natalia Kuronysheva, head of the funds department at the Kuindzhi Art Museum, handed over 52 exhibited paintings to the envoy. Employees of the Mariupol Museum who gave the paintings to the Russians In August 2017, Radio Liberty reported, citing Russian media, that a group of retired military men from Crimea stole and delivered paintings from the Mariupol Museum to the occupied peninsula. On 17 August 2017, the Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office in Crimea announced that 50 paintings had been added to the wanted list via Interpol channels after being illegally transferred to the Simferopol Art Museum in March 2014. Interpol recognised the paintings as "stolen" Chaplynska and Kuronysheva were notified of suspicion in September 2017. They faced seven and twelve-year prison sentences. However, in February 2018, the court sentenced both women to three years in prison, with one year of deprivation of the right to hold positions related to the performance of organisational, administrative, and economic duties. Furthermore, by enacting the amnesty law, the court absolved them of their prescribed punishment. Support UP or become our patron! Former U.S. president Donald Trump defended his record on NATO Monday, saying he had made it "strong" after sparking a firestorm of criticism over comments downplaying his commitment to the alliance. Trump was rebuked from all sides after saying in a speech Saturday that he would "encourage" Russia to attack members of NATO who had not met their financial obligations, in his most extreme broadside against the organization. "I MADE NATO STRONG, and even the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats admit that," Trump said on Truth Social Monday, using an acronym deployed by conservatives for critics within their own party: Republicans in Name Only. "When I told the 20 Countries that weren't paying their fair share that they had to PAY UP, and said without doing that you will not have U.S. Military Protection, the money came rolling in. After so many years of the United States picking up the tab, it was a beautiful sight to see." Trump has long complained about NATO, accusing Western allies of being freeloaders that do not pull their weight on military spending, taking for granted that they can rely on the U.S. as a defensive shield. But he demonstrated repeatedly both during and after his time in office that he either doesn't understand how NATO works or is unwilling to speak accurately about it. In 2006, NATO countries made a vague commitment formalized in 2014 to spend two percent of their gross domestic product on their own defense, but members do not pay subscription fees and do not "owe" the alliance money for defense. The two percent benchmark is voluntary and there are no penalties enshrined in NATO's founding treaty for falling short. Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump had described what he said was a conversation with a fellow head of state at an unspecified NATO meeting. "One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' I said, 'You didn't pay, you're delinquent? No, I would not protect you,'" Trump told his supporters. "In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want." President Joe Biden slammed the comments as "appalling and dangerous," warning that his predecessor, who is running for reelection, intended to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin "a greenlight for more war and violence." Trump's remarks came after Senate Republicans last week rejected a bipartisan bill that would have included $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, plus aid for ally Israel, along with reforms to address the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. A foreign aid package that includes the Kyiv support but decouples the funding from the border issue entirely passed a key procedural vote in the U.S. Senate on Sunday, though Republicans are still expected to block it from becoming law. (AFP) The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But 22 Republicans voted with nearly all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe . With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waiver, will not falter, will not fail, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation. The bills passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical shortages on the battlefield . Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk if at all. Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of considerable pushback from his own GOP conference. Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that the eyes of the world were on the U.S. Senate. Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength? McConnell asked. Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war. In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israels war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza . Two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. The progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. I cannot in good conscience support sending billions of additional taxpayer dollars for Prime Minister Netanyahu's military campaign in Gaza, Welch said. Its a campaign that has killed and wounded a shocking number of civilians. Its created a massive humanitarian crisis. The bills passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies. But a bipartisan deal on border security fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and blocked it on the Senate floor. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone as Democrats had originally intended. While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down. Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraines defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years. I think it deals with the reality that were living in, which is theyre a more powerful country, and its their region of the world, he said. Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak. Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks. Why am I so focused on this vote? Tillis said. Because I dont want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here, he said, his voice cracking. Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House. At a rally Saturday, Trump said that he had once told a NATO ally he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to members that are delinquent in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has led his party away from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an America First isolationism. Evoking the slogan, Moran said, I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world. While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that I reiterated Americas commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October. Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is silent on the most pressing issue facing our country. It was the latest and potentially most consequential sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a non-starter, contributing to its rapid demise. Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence. As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country. He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war, Spanberger said. Its critical to their own freedom. And importantly, its critical to U.S. national security interests. (AP) (FOX40.COM) Pearl Jam announced a new studio album and a world tour that will include a stop in Sacramento later this year. The legendary grunge rock band from Seattle is slated to perform at the Golden 1 Center for the Dark Matter World Tour on May 13. The tour will support the bands upcoming 12th studio album with the same name, which will be released on April 19. Pop rock band Deep Sea Diver, another Seattle-based band, is advertised as the supporting act for the Sacramento concert. Pearl Jam, consisting of Eddie Vedder (vocals), Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (guitar), Mike McCready (guitar) and Matt Cameron (drums), will perform in 25 cities across North America and nine different countries. Concerts, events coming to the Golden 1 Center in 2024 Sacramento is one of three California cities on the tour. The band will have two concerts in Los Angeles and perform as a headliner at the BottleRock Festival in Napa on May 25. The upcoming 2024 tour will kick off on May 4 in Canada at Vancouver, British Columbia and will end on Nov. 21 in Sydney, Australia. In an effort to help block bots and scalpers, fans are asked to register for tickets online by Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11:59 p.m. Registration doesnt guarantee access to the general public sale. Click or tap here to register for tickets. Pearl Jam was slated to perform at the Golden 1 Center on May 2022, but the concert was canceled after Ament tested positive for COVID-19. The bands Las Vegas concert after their Sacramento stop was also canceled. Hozier adds more tour dates including Sacramento stop Prior to the bands previously scheduled 2022 concert, Cameron tested positive for the virus, prompting the band to perform without their drummer in Oakland and Fresno. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) defended President Bidens mental acuity Monday, calling him very sharp and saying she cannot judge the president as she is older than him. Ive worked with the president for a long time, especially closely as Speaker when he was president, and now since then, and he knows I mean, hes always on the ball, she said during an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper. He knows these issues; he knows the legislation. He helped write some of it; he campaigned on it. Anyone who would think that theyre at some advantage because of his age thinks that at their peril, because hes very sharp, she continued. Cooper noted some Democrats are concerned over the presidents age and mental fitness, and referred to Bidens gaffe last week when he mixed up the leaders of Egypt and Mexico. It was the third time in a week that the president appeared to mix up world leaders and came during a last-minute press conference in which he lashed out at special counsel Robert Hurs scathing report that detailed various memory lapses. Hurs assessment of Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory was included as part of his investigation into the presidents handling of classified documents and pushed concerns over Bidens age and ability to serve further into the spotlight. At 81, Biden is the oldest sitting U.S. president and, if reelected in November, he would be 86 at the end of his second term. Pressed for her response to these concerns, Pelosi said, Well, I think that people do make mistakes. I think his age is one thing, thats an objective fact. His make a mistake from time to time. We all do that. So I think that again, age is an objective fact, Pelosi, 83, added later. As I say, its all relative. Hes younger than I am, so what do I have to say about his age? The former Speaker also pointed to former President Trump, who she claimed would make the same mistake seven times about one thing or another. It wasnt a slip of the tongue, it was a complete going down a path of something that wasnt even true, intentionally or otherwise, Pelosi said, referring to Trump. Trump, 77, has had his own gaffes in recent months, including mixing up Pelosi with GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley when discussing the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, that a lower court was right in deeming that property owned by Emmanuel Worship Center in Petersburg was not exempt from real-estate taxes. It also upheld that Petersburg could not get the church to pay its attorneys' fees generated by the Virginia Supreme Court sending the original case back. RICHMOND Property owned by a Petersburg church is not exempt from real-estate taxes, but the house of worship will not have to pay additional attorneys fees for having the issue reheard as the state Supreme Court ordered. That summarizes a ruling released Tuesday by the Virginia Court of Appeals in the ongoing saga between the city and Emmanuel Worship Center over the tax status of church-owned property. A three-judge panel of the appellate court said that since EWC had rented a portion of the property to a commercial tenant, that erases the traditional tax exemption on buildings owned by houses of worship. But because EWC had previously paid back the owed taxes plus attorneys fee from the original case run, it did not have to pay the citys tab for the second run-through. The property in question is located at 214 Grove St, next to the church. EWC bought the building in 2004 and in doing so, inherited an auto window tinting company tenant. The church agreed to let Wooden Leg Van Shop remain on the site and charged it rent. The rest of the property has never been used for religious services. Petersburg sued EWC in 2019 over four years' worth of back taxes and wanted the court to order the building sold to cover both the amount of taxes owed plus interest and attorneys fees. The church paid the city $114,000 to stave off the sale, but six months later, it appealed the sale claiming the religious exemption. At that time, Petersburg Circuit Court sided with the city, and EWC appealed. The appeal made it all the way to the state Supreme Court, who sent the case back to Petersburg in 2022 so EWC could prove the exemption. In that rehearing, the Circuit Court ruled that because the building had a commercial tenant occupying a portion, it did not fall under the religious tax exemption. However, the court also ruled that EWC was not responsible for the last round of attorneys fee generated by the Supreme Courts remand. On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals announced that the ruling was correct. It cited the ruling on a Richmond case that Virginias statute as written does not cover fees if the Supreme Court sends a case back. EWC already paid the attorneys fee on the first round of litigation; therefore, it was not required to pick up the check for a round it did not instigate. We appreciate the Citys argument that denying attorney fees for successfully defending litigation like this makes it more difficult and expensive for localities to collect delinquent taxes. No doubt, that is true, the opinion read. But this Court must determine 'legislative intent by what the statute says and not by what we think it should have said. The statutory text here simply fails to support the Citys argument for fee-shifting. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Va. court says church-owned property rented out is not tax-exempt A preliminary analysis concluded that Russia hit Kyiv last week with the hypersonic Zircon missile, its first use in the nearly two-year-old war, the head of a Kyiv research institute said on Monday, presenting a new challenge to Ukraine's air defences. Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, said on his Telegram channel that his institute completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments from a Russian attack on Feb. 7. He included a video of alleged missile wreckage showing specific markings. "In this case, we see elements that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanisms have specific markings," he wrote. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The Zircon has a range of 1,000 kilometers and travels at nine times the speed of sound, according to Russia. Military analysts have said its hypersonic speed could mean greatly reduced reaction time for air defences and a capability to attack large, deep and hardened targets. Russia previously said it completed testing of the Zircon missile in June 2022, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivalled arms systems. If its use in Ukraine is confirmed, the weapon could pose an additional challenge for the embattled country's air defences, amid uncertainty over future Western military aid. Russia conducts regular air strikes on Ukraine using an array of different long-range missiles and drones. The Zircon was initially designed as a sea-launched weapon and a ground-launched version was developed later. Ruvin's statement did not say whether the weapon had been fired from land or from sea. The markings recovered from the wreckage indicated the weapon had been assembled recently, he said. The Feb. 7 attack killed at least five people and damaged residential buildings and energy infrastructure, officials said. (Reuters) PETERSBURG The search is on for a man police believe carried a gun into Bon Secours Southside Medical Center Monday threatening an employee. The hospital was placed on lockdown for most of Monday night while officers scoured the building looking for the suspect. Hospital visitors were escorted to their cars as a safety measure, and only a limited number of emergency cases were being allowed inside. When the search inside the hospital turned up empty, the manhunt extended into a nearby neighborhood. Residents of that neighborhood were encouraged to stay indoors while the canvass continued. Police said no one was reported injured during the threat, which was believed to be domestic in nature. Rasheem Anthony Beam The suspect has been identified as Rasheed Anthony Beam, 30. He is wanted on multiple charges stemming from the incident. Police released a photo of Beam along with a warning not to approach or try to catch him. Anyone who sees him should call 911 or Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212; or use the P3Tips mobile app. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Police look for man with gun in Petersburg hospital Upon becoming mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker announced that she will establish a working group on full-day and year-round schooling an idea she had supported while campaigning. The group will develop a strategy to keep Philadelphia public schools open for longer hours during the week, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as over the summer, and to provide meaningful, instructive out-of-school programming and job opportunities for students. Below, education expert Daniel H. Robinson answers five questions about year-round schooling in Philadelphia. What do we know about the mayors plan? Parker is proposing to keep Philadelphia public school buildings open longer hours and more days throughout the year. According to Superintendent Tony Watlingtons Accelerate Philly strategic plan, a year-round and extended-day school calendar will be piloted in up to 10 schools, with the goal of increasing student academic achievement. It does not state how many days or hours will be added to the 180 days Philadelphia currently requires. This is different from whats commonly known as year-round schooling, which doesnt add extra school days but simply moves the existing days around so that there are multiple short breaks instead of a long summer break. For example, students might have 45 school days followed by 15 days of break, or 60 school days followed by 20 days of break. The Philadelphia school district plan aligns with a recommendation made over 40 years ago, in 1983, in the Nation at Risk report commissioned by the Department of Education. The report suggested that the school year should be increased to 200 to 220 days. How prevalent is year-round schooling? The length of the school day and year varies around the world. Japan and Australia have school for almost the entire year, while the U.S. has school for only about nine months. In contrast, countries like Finland, Iceland and Ireland have shorter school days and years than the U.S. France has a longer school year but similar total hours per year as the U.S. French students get a two-hour lunch and do not attend school on Wednesdays. In Philadelphia, some charter schools have added a summer extension program. But they still maintain traditional school hours during the school year. Several states are participating in an initiative this year called the Time Collaborative. This three-year initiative involves 40 schools that will add 300 hours to their existing school calendar by having either longer days, longer school years or both. Can the mayor legally do this? The current minimum number of days that Pennsylvania schools are required to be open is 180 similar to most other states. Districts can decide when they start and finish. The Philadelphia mayor can certainly extend the school day and the school hours since she appoints the school board members, who in turn control who is hired or fired as superintendent. And, most importantly, the new superintendent is supportive of the mayors plan. A more important question is: Should the mayor do this? Parker has said that she wants to catch kids up academically to grade level. Only about 15% of fourth graders in Philadelphia public schools score at or above the proficient level on standardized reading tests, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But what are the additional costs? In addition to possible increased student and teacher fatigue and stress, the main cost is money. Keeping schools open and staffed longer requires more dollars. Despite the hope that longer school days or years will lead to gains in student achievement, theres little evidence that they will. If Philly does in fact adopt a longer school day or year, even with just 10 schools on a voluntary basis, it could prove difficult to evaluate the effects. Foremost among these challenges is selection bias. Schools that have support to opt in are likely different from schools that do not. A better evaluation plan would be to first solicit applications for the pilot program from the more than 200 Philadelphia schools. Then, from those schools who volunteer to participate, randomly choose 10 for the pilot and then, at the end of the school year, measure the outcomes and compare them to the schools that werent chosen. What are the potential gains? The Accelerate Philly plan cites a 2023 study, which suggests that summer and after-school programming can be effective in accelerating learning. Adding additional hours for before-school and after-school enrichment, and for more days during the school year, supports parents by providing free and convenient child care. It makes it easier for them to drop off and pick up kids on their way to and from work. It also provides kids a safe and supportive environment for more hours. Keeping kids at school longer during the day and for more days during the year can lower juvenile crime. More time in school can mean less time on the streets. There is still no decision on whether student participation will be mandatory. If it is not, some kids who might benefit may not get their parents consent to go to school earlier, stay longer and go for more days over the summer. What hurdles might year-round schooling face in Philly? Funding will be a big hurdle. Keeping school buildings open longer requires more energy. Many Philly public schools do not have adequate air conditioning to be open throughout the hot summer months. More importantly, this plan requires more personnel particularly teachers who can stay more hours. A January 2024 report from Penn State Universitys Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis found that Philadelphia teachers are leaving the profession at relatively high attrition rates considerably higher than the rest of Pennsylvania. More Philadelphia teachers are quitting or retiring than those who are being newly trained, according to the report. It is not clear yet how the teachers union would react to year-round schooling throughout the district or how all the additional hours and programming would fit into the annual operating budget. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Daniel H. Robinson, University of Texas at Arlington Read more: Daniel H. Robinson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. (NEXSTAR/KGET) The four leading candidates for the U.S. Senate in California took to the stage for a lively debate on Monday. Rep. Adam Schiff, Steve Garvey, Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Barbara Lee met at KRON-TV studios in San Francisco. The candidates touched on topics that voters said matter to them such as the economy, the minimum wage in California and homelessness. Images capturing the candidates most passionate moments during the debate can be seen below: The four leading California Senate candidates at their podiums during the California Senate debate hosted by KRON-TV in San Francisco / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Rep. Adam Schiff answers a question during a California Senate debate hosted at KRON-TV studios in San Francisco on Feb. 12, 2024. / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Rep. Adam Schiff / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Steve Garvey / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Rep. Barbara Lee / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Rep. Katie Porter / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Nexstar Media Group hosted a debate between the four leading candidates Monday from KRON-TV studios in San Francisco on Feb. 12, 2024. / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Steve Garvey and Rep. Adam Schiff at their podiums during a California Senate debate from KRON-TV studios in San Francisco. / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Rep. Barbara Lee answers a question during a California Senate debate hosted by KRON-TV in San Francisco. / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Candidates Rep. Barbara Lee and Steve Garvey during the California Senate debate from San Francisco. / Photo: Nexstar Media Group Photo: Nexstar Media Group Among the highlights: Steve Garvey said the minimum wage is where it is and should be. Garvey also said its personal on whether he would accept an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The candidates discussed a $50 minimum wage. They also discussed the border crisis no one is talking about. You can let us know: Who won the debate? Vote in the poll at this link. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. NEW YORK Police released surveillance images Tuesday of two young men wanted for the bloody gang shooting on a Bronx subway train that killed one man and wounded five people, most of them innocent bystanders. Investigators believe the two suspects, both in their 20s, are gang members who both opened fire on a rival crew after a chance encounter on the uptown No. 4 train. A third gang member also pulled a gun and fired, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a City Hall press conference Tuesday. Police have identified one person of interest in the shooting and are looking to identify the two gunmen in the surveillance images. No arrests have been made. The gunmen may have been targeting a 15-year-old boy wounded in the skirmish, a police source said. The boy, who was shot in the thigh and right ear, is a suspect in a non-fatal prior shooting in the Bronx that occurred north of the station, the source said, and cops are investigating if Tuesday nights shooting was payback. The teen remained in a Manhattan hospital Tuesday, under police guard. Mondays shooting started on the train but continued onto the train platform and then to the street below, Kenny said. We will solve this crime and bring the people responsible to justice, Mayor Adams vowed Tuesday. The shooting erupted after members of the two gangs got onto the same uptown No. 4 train heading toward the Mount Eden Ave. station about 4:30 p.m., Kenny said. We have two groups known to each other, Kenny said. One group gets on at 125th St. in Manhattan and the other at the 161st St. station in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium. Once the groups come together on the train theres a verbal dispute that leads to a physical fight. As the train entered the Mount Eden station shots were fired in the train car. You can imagine the chaotic scene, Kenny said. You have a crowded train heading into a crowded platform where one shot is fired and everyones trying to get off the platform. The three suspects pulled .9-mm pistols and fired off 19 shots, Kenny said. Three shell casings were found on the train car while the rest were found on the platform and the street below. Cops are unsure if anyone from the rival gang fired back in the clash. At least one person was shot on the train. The others were on the platform waiting to get on the train when bullets started flying. Obed Beltran-Sanchez, 35, was hit multiple times in the chest and died at St. Barnabas Hospital, cops said. Believed by cops to be homeless, Beltran-Sanchez was an innocent bystander, police said. In addition to the wounded 15-year-old boy, Alpha Oumar Diallo, 28, was struck in the right arm, a 29-year-old woman shot in the face and neck, and a 14-year-old girl shot in the foot, sources said. A 71-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his left thumb. Cops stressed that Mondays shooting was not random and such violence is not the norm in the subway system. To have a shooting like this in the subway system is extremely rare and unacceptable, NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said Monday. This is not indicative to what goes on in the subway system. Officials called the suspects NYPDs most wanted and encouraged them to turn themselves in. One suspect in the surveillance photos was wearing a dark-colored North Face jacket, gray hoodie, dark-colored ski mask, dark-colored pants and black-and-yellow Air Jordans. The other was wearing a black jacket, black hoodie, black ski mask, blue ripped jeans and white-and-red Air Jordans. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. The Prime Minister says any reform 'must protect our countryside' - Steven May / Alamy Stock Photo Planning laws have had to be eased because of the pressure record immigration is putting on the availability of housing, a minister has said. Lee Rowley, the housing minister, said the Tories cant divorce the discussion over the lack of new homes from the need to cut levels of migration. Writing for The Telegraph, he acknowledged that talk of easing restrictions on building was often a very difficult subject in many communities. He made the remarks after Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to force Britains biggest 20 cities to build hundreds of thousands more homes on brownfield sites. The Prime Minister said the reforms would protect our precious countryside whilst ensuring more young families can get on the property ladder. Under the proposals more abandoned commercial buildings such as former offices and department stores will be converted into flats. Ministers also announced proposals to loosen the rules so that homeowners can build larger extensions without needing planning permission. Mr Rowley, who is the MP for North East Derbyshire, said: I know that planning is often a very difficult subject in many communities. I also know that we cant divorce discussion of it from other policy areas. Pressure on housing is caused by population growth which is why the Prime Minister is absolutely right to focus on cutting both illegal and legal immigration. At the same time, it is absolutely vital we build more homes for the next generation. London mayor ineptitude Mr Rowley ripped into Sadiq Khan, saying that his ineptitude in London showed Labour would not deliver on its housing promises. Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to bulldoze local opposition so that he can deliver a commitment to build 1.5m new homes in five years. The Tories have accused the Labour leader of planning to concrete over the countryside with his proposals to water down green belt protections. Instead they plan to deliver extra housing in cities where there is the highest demand and existing infrastructure to support new development. Mr Rowley said: Our capital is a great example of where, thanks to the Mayor of Londons ineptitude, house building is not supporting the dreams of younger people. Lee Rowley, the housing minister, says you can't divorce housing crisis from immigration crisis - Jamie Lorriman Sadiq Khan is an absolute master in saying one thing and doing another and the truth is that he has consistently failed to deliver new houses in London for years. He said the Mayors meddling had seen just 35,000 new homes built last year which was a tragedy for those who need to get on the housing ladder. If you want an example of Labour in action, look at Khans failure year after year on housing, Mr Rowley added. Whilst the Conservatives bring forward practical solutions to resolve long-term, difficult issues, Labour promise the world but deliver little when they actually have the ability to put policy into action. Housing is set to be a major battleground at the next election, with Labour accusing the Tories of having wrecked the home-owning aspirations of a generation. Mr Sunak, meanwhile, will accuse Sir Keir of threatening to concrete over the countryside with his plans to override local objections to new developments. Brownfield first: unlocking home ownership for the next generation By Lee Rowley, Housing Minister Our country needs more houses but they absolutely must be in the right places. Too often I have seen, both as an MP and minister, the understandable frustrations of communities when houses are built in the wrong place and devoid of the infrastructure needed to support them. That needs to change. As a conservative, our mission is to set people free by giving people the opportunity to own their own home. That dream is fundamental to allowing the next generation to build their lives, their futures and their capital for the long term. Our primary job, therefore, is to unlock home ownership for the next generation exactly what our long-term plan for housing is doing. After 20 years of decline, progress has already been made, with the proportion of younger people getting on the housing ladder starting to increase again. And now, we need to marry together the need to build more houses with the absolute requirement to build them in the right places. So, today, we are announcing our next steps in making that a reality. And we are saying very clearly: we need to build more on brownfield [sites] in the hearts of our cities. In 2020, we shifted a greater proportion of future house-building requirements into large urban areas those towns and cities which already generally have good infrastructure, such as transport links, which can accommodate more people. In a time when some primary schools are threatened with closure in places like Hackney, we need to make sure more properties are built in places like London so that this vital infrastructure is used properly. Our capital is a great example of where, thanks to the Mayor of Londons ineptitude, house building is not supporting the dreams of younger people. Sadiq Khan is an absolute master in saying one thing and doing another and the truth is that he has consistently failed to deliver new houses in London for years. The combination of the Mayors unrealistic requirements and meddling has meant that building has fallen to only 35,000 new houses in the last year; a tragedy both for those who need to get on the housing ladder and in ensuring that the good infrastructure of the capital is used to best effect. If you want an example of Labour in action, look at Khans failure year after year on housing. We are going to change that. The rules on brownfield construction are going to change in our 20 biggest urban areas so that, where housebuilding is too low, we will introduce a presumption that brownfield can be developed. That should make it easier for development to take place and help transform neighbourhoods with beautiful new homes. Focus on immigration After six years as an MP, I know that planning is often a very difficult subject in many communities. I also know that we cant divorce discussion of it from other policy areas; pressure on housing is caused by population growth which is why the Prime Minister is absolutely right to focus on cutting both illegal and legal immigration. At the same time, it is absolutely vital we build more homes for the next generation. And, since 2010, our record is good; 2.5 million more homes supporting people to build their futures every day. Our even clearer focus on brownfield will allow us to build more and, vitally, build housing in the right places. In doing so, we are highlighting a real difference between the Government and the opposition. Whilst the Conservatives bring forward practical solutions to resolve long-term, difficult issues, Labour promise the world but deliver little when they actually have the ability to put policy into action. Just last year they voted against measures which would have unlocked 100,000 additional homes. Our long-term plan for housing will deliver through more brownfield building; Labour will only take us back to square one. 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. Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove will champion an overhaul of planning rules designed to save the greenbelt while boosting the number of new homes - WPA POOL/GETTY Cities which fail to meet tough new housing targets will be forced to build on brownfield sites to protect our precious countryside, Rishi Sunak has announced. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will champion an overhaul of planning rules designed to protect the greenbelt while boosting the number of new homes. Under the proposals millions of homeowners will also be allowed to build bigger extensions to their property without having to get planning permission. Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, will unveil the changes after warning young voters risk being turned away from democracy if more homes are not built. Rules have been drawn up which will mean the 20 biggest cities have to fulfil 95 per cent of their housing needs or be made to build on brownfield sites. To help them hit the target the laws around converting commercial buildings like former office blocks and department stores into flats are being relaxed. Overcome tiresome bureaucracy Ministers said the reforms will overcome tiresome bureaucracy and allow thousands of properties across England to be repurposed as new homes. Downing Street has London in particular in its sights after accusing Sadiq Khan, the capitals mayor, of failing to approve enough new developments. Mr Sunak said: We pledged to build the right homes in the right places protecting our precious countryside and building more in urban areas where demand is highest. We are sticking to our plan and are on track to meet our commitment to deliver one million homes over the course of this Parliament. The changes announced today will deliver the right mix of homes across England. Under the current rules, councils only have to meet 75 per cent of their annual housing requirement to avoid being forced into allowing more brownfield development. Bigger extensions and loft conversions Ministers are now hiking that target to 95 per cent in a move that they say will deliver up to 11,500 extra new homes every year in London alone. Mr Gove said the Government was taking a brownfield first approach to deliver thousands of new homes where people want to live and work, without concreting over the countryside. Our new brownfield presumption will tackle underdelivery in our key towns and cities where new homes are most needed to support jobs and drive growth, he added. Under the changes millions of homeowners will also be able to build bigger extensions and loft conversions without needing permission. The proposals will see homeowners allowed to extend outwards from their property by an extra metre without having to apply to the council for permission. It would mean the owner of a semi-detached house being able to build back by four metres, whilst detached homes could be extended by five metres. Mr Gove has previously said he wants to relax the rules around extensions both outwards and upwards to improve housing density in Britains cities. 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. Scanner for lorries at the Krakovets checkpoint. Stock photo: Wikipedia Polish farmers have started blocking lorry traffic near the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing point. Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "At around 14:00 on 13 February, Polish farmers initiated a protest near the Korczowa border crossing point, opposite the Ukrainian point Krakovets. Ukrainian border guards received information from their Polish counterparts that the protesters intend to block the movement of lorries heading into Ukraine for one hour. The blockade will not affect passenger transport." Updated: An hour later the blockade was lifted. Demchenko added that as of 15:00 the traffic through the border is back to normal. Due to protest actions by Polish farmers, the movement is restricted through five border crossing points on the Ukrainian-Polish border. Support UP or become our patron! Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., the man accused of killing a Blount County deputy and injuring another, was captured Feb. 13 in Knoxville, the Blount County Sheriff's Office announced. Detectives tracked DeHart's cellphone during the manhunt, and eventually their work led them to a home on Linden Avenue in Knoxville's Park City neighborhood. When they saw him step outside, they moved in using flash-bangs, partially to freeze a dog at the house. DeHart surrendered with his hands up, police said, and he was arrested about 3:20 p.m. Officers from the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Knox County Sheriff's Office, Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service were on the scene with tactical gear and vehicles. No one was hurt. DeHart was booked in a Blount County jail at the same time Deputy Greg McCowan's friends and family were mourning him a few miles away at Sevier Heights Baptist Church. DeHart was moved to an undisclosed facility outside of Blount County after he was booked so that he was in custody of authorities not connected to the sheriff's office. He killed one of my deputies," Sheriff James Berrong explained. "I didnt want any appearance that if something happened it was at our fault or our doing. DeHart was wanted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a weapon. Just before 8:30 p.m. Feb. 8, McCowan and deputy Shelby Eggers tried to stop his SUV in on Sevierville Road in Maryville, a release from TBI said, and DeHart shot both deputies. The Blount County DA will determine in the coming weeks, in consultation with McCowan's family, whether to pursue the death penalty. I want the death penalty. I want to go, Berrong said after the arrest. How police tracked Kenneth DeHart Investigators think DeHart could have used multiple vehicles to get around after he ran from the shooting scene the night of Feb. 8. He was traced in several counties and may have left Tennessee at some point, perhaps into Georgia. Police say the home where he was arrested, about 15 miles north of where the shooting occurred, didn't belong to him. Investigators will continue to look into whether he had any help along the way. His brother and girlfriend are facing charges that they helped him escape. "He may have been in and out of that location (the house) a few times during the five days and then reappeared back there today. Were not totally sure how long he was there today when this happened. We actually do not think that he was probably at that house that long today, said U.S. Marshal David Jolley. Thousands of tips came in, Berrong said, but the $100,000 reward likely won't be paid out because none led police to the house where DeHart was found. A community in mourning At the Blount County Justice Center in Maryville, on East Lamar Alexander Parkway, McCowan's cruiser was on display, almost unrecognizable beneath mounds of flowers and handwritten notes. Just steps away, veteran Patrick Barlow paid his respects by holding an American flag on the sidewalk for those passing by. He planned his arrival and departure around a shift change so more law enforcement officers could see his message. This mans family shared him with us, he told Knox News. This isnt about me. Every vehicle, if theyre using this entrance and exit, theyre getting a salute because it might be family or it might be the janitor or something, but it takes everybody. Moments later, people nearby received a cellphone news alert: DeHart has been located. Audible cheers erupted from across the street at Blount Memorial Hospital. Blount County deputy's funeral A funeral service with police honors for McCowan will take place at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, 3140 Maloney Road in Knoxville. Following the funeral, which should end between 2:30-3 p.m., there will be a funeral procession from Sevier Heights Baptist Church to Grandview Cemetery at 2304 Tuckaleechee Pike in Maryville. The procession will take Alcoa Highway southbound to Hall Road in Blount County, and then to Tuckaleechee Pike in Maryville and end at Grandview Cemetery. Community members are welcome to stand in a safe spot along the route. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Police capture Kenneth DeHart, wanted in killing of Blount County deputy A 30-year-old woman killed Saturday night when she crashed into a parked flatbed tow truck in Fox Point has been identified by Delaware State Police as Bria Nix. Nix, of the Wilmington area, had been driving a Kia Optima south on Governor Printz Boulevard, past Lore Avenue, when police said she veered off the road at about 10:35 p.m. As she traveled onto the shoulder, police said, Nix crashed into an unoccupied Ford F-650 flatbed tow truck that was parked. The Kia became lodged underneath the tow truck, which subsequently moved the flatbed into the gated entrance of Ellmore Auto Collision. Nix, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Delaware State Police continue to investigate this crash and ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact investigators at (302) 365-8483. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. More: Man, 63, dies after single-vehicle crash in Wilmington's South Bridge neighborhood Tuesday This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police ID woman who was killed in crash into tow truck in Fox Point A Russian drone attack on an oil depot in Kharkiv overnight on Feb. 10 led to a fuel leak that has contaminated over 10,000 square meters of land, Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the regional police, said on Feb. 12. The attack caused a fire that engulfed 15 homes and killed at least seven people, including a family with three children. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov later reported that 57 people had been injured in the attack and declared Feb. 11 as a day of mourning in the city. Due to its proximity to the Russian border, Kharkiv and the surrounding oblast are frequently targeted by Russian drones and missiles. Over 3,800 metric tons of fuel were stored in the targeted oil depot, Bolvinov told local media outlet Gwara. In addition to polluting the land, these oil products reportedly spilled into the Nemyshlia River, which flows through Kharkiv. Bolvinov said the State Environmental Inspection in Kharkiv Oblast had collected soil and water samples at the contamination sites for analysis. The police are considering opening a criminal case under Article 441 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers ecocide, added Bolvinov. As of October last year, Russian aggression in Ukraine caused more than 55.6 billion euros ($59.8 billion) in environmental damage, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a speech on Oct. 20, citing figures from the Environmental Protection Ministry. One of the most serious cases of environmental harm was caused by the destruction of the Kahovka hydroelectric plant on June 6, 2023, which led to massive floods in Ukraine's south and a large-scale humanitarian and environmental crisis. Mines and unexploded ordnances left behind by Russian troops cover an estimated 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine's territory, and more than 3 million hectares of forest have been affected by the war, according to the ministry's figures. Read also: Ukraines south threatened with long-term economic, agricultural decline after Kakhovka dam destruction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski issued an apology after a group of Polish farmers had spilled Ukrainian grain on the border between the two countries. Read also: Polish farmers lift blockade at major Ukraine border crossing after truck traffic halted The minister described the situation as "tense" and deemed the farmers' actions as "the wrong form of protest, but one often used by farmers in different countries." "The farmers did not hold back their emotions, but it is worth remembering that they are in a very difficult economic situation, a Feb. 12 message on the ministrys website quotes Siekierski. At the spring approaches, they have no money to buy fertilizers and start planting. It's hard not to understand their desperation. I am a supporter of dialogue and direct conversations as the best form of solving difficult problems." Read also: Man in critical condition after Russia targets agricultural storage facilities in Mykolaiv Oblast Warsaw is engaged in technical negotiations with Ukraines Agriculture Ministry to establish trade terms that would limit the flow of goods "that disrupt the stability of agricultural markets," the minister said. Read also: Ukrainian Ambassador urges strong response to Polish farmers shameful and offensive grain spillage Regarding the Ukrainian government officials' reaction to the spilled grain, the minister characterized it as "harsh and emotional," but expressed understanding for the dissatisfaction with export difficulties. "Polish farmers have helped Ukraine and want to continue helping," Siekierski adds. "However, they would like the Ukrainian budget and small farmers to benefit from this aidnot oligarchs who have huge swaths of land to grow grain and other types of agricultural products. They are mainly behind this large import [of Ukrainian grain], which destabilizes European food markets." Read also: Polish farmers resume protests, block key Ukraine border crossings Polish protesters near the Dorohusk checkpoint on the border with Ukraine damaged Ukrainian trucks and threw grain out of them on Feb. 11. According to the reports, there were three tons of grain spilled from each damaged truck. On Feb. 12, Polish police launched an investigation of the incident. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine TOKYO, Feb 14 (News On Japan) - A surge of tourists from China and beyond are exploring Japan during the Lunar New Year, with Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market experiencing a particularly lively atmosphere, with long lines for beef skewers priced over 5,000 yen. No Budget Too High for Gourmet Delights Tourists from across the globe are flocking to Tsukiji in search of unique Japanese flavors not found anywhere else. A tourist from Shanghai shared, "Tsukiji is very famous. I learned about it from Japanese variety shows and social media. I bought octopus and Wagyu beef for my father. It's delicious and authentic." Even on weekdays, the streets are packed with people, with queues stretching around the stores. The prime attraction is the sushi made on the spot, featuring fresh tuna. A visitor from Hong Kong remarked, "It's delicious and very fresh. I don't have a budget limit for my trip to Japan." "Why visit Japan now?" a tourist from Taiwan responded, "It's the Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival. I found out about Tsukiji from YouTube and Instagram." A family from Taiwan mentioned they had visited Mount Fuji and Asakusa in Tokyo before coming to Tsukiji, experiencing the Spring Festival's impact firsthand. Yuri Inoue of Maguroya Kurogin Tsukiji Honpo noted, "Due to the Lunar New Year, we have many customers from Asia. On weekdays, about 80% of our patrons are from overseas." Queues for 6,000 Yen Toro Skewers The most popular item is a set allowing a comparison of three types of toro. Inoue added, "Many want to try the kamatoro." Everywhere you look, there are lines. The crowd's favorite is the A5 grade Wagyu beef, cooked right before their eyes. Another top seller is the sea urchin sirloin skewer, priced at 6,000 yen. Despite its hefty price tag, it sells over 100 pieces a day. A tourist from Taiwan said, "It's very tender. In Taiwan, Wagyu beef is hard to find. You can only eat it at high-end restaurants, so it's great to have it here." "Oideya," where over 80% of the customers are foreigners, has seen an increase in visitors from Asia during the Spring Festival, underscoring the event's widespread appeal. Source: ANN A professional rock climber was convicted Tuesday in federal court for sexual abuse he committed in Yosemite National Park, prosecutors said. A federal jury found Charles Charlie Barrett guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact during a weekend trip to Yosemite in 2016, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release. The 39-year-old was living and working in the national park in Central California when he sexually assaulted a visitor who had made a trip to the park to hike, prosecutors said. During trial, three other victims testified Barrett also sexually assaulted them, prosecutors said. Those alleged assaults were not inside of federal jurisdiction so they did not lead to charges during the court proceedings, according to the news release. This defendant used his renown and physical presence as a rock climber to lure and intimidate victims who were part of the rock-climbing community, Talbert said in the news release. His violent sexual assaults were devastating to the victims, whom he later threatened in the lead-up to trial. Barretts attorney Timothy Hennessy submitted a statement following the conviction, saying the case was difficult and complex. He said Barrett will appeal the verdict. While it is not a verdict we believe was warranted by the evidence, Mr. Barrett understands the importance in respecting a (jurys) verdict. Mr. Barrett has issues he wishes to raise on appeal, the statement said. Particularly, evidence objected to by the government early on in this case. Evidence that Mr. Barrett believes would vindicate him. Mr. Barrett knew going into this that it would be a long fight to clear his name. But it is a fight he will not give up. Barrett faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine at a sentencing hearing on May 21. Barrett made a name for himself by scaling difficult rock faces in California and has written guidebooks on climbing in Yosemite National Park and the eastern Sierra, according to Tahoe Quarterly magazine. The Senate chamber was empty before gaveling in on the first day of the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort, Ky. Jan. 2, 2024 A constitutional amendment that would prevent property tax increases for Kentucky homeowners who are 65 years old and older could be on the November ballot. Senate Bill 23 is a constitutional amendment that is meant to help Kentucky seniors who are struggling with rising tax bills on their homes by freezing the property values of their homes for tax purposes once they turn 65. The bill passed the Senate on a 32-2 vote Monday afternoon. Sen. Michael Nemes, R-Shepherdsville, is the bills primary sponsor. Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, spoke in support of the bill and said its supposed to benefit the elderly population. The purpose of this amendment is clearly to provide relief to those who can least afford a property tax increase, Wheeler said. Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, was the only senator who abstained from voting, saying she couldnt vote yes on a bill that she could personally gain from. Sen. Matthew Deenen, R-Elizabethtown, pointed out though that the bill benefits all of society instead of just the senators and said it isnt wrong to vote for it. Turner also said he wanted to clarify that the bill wont let anyone get by without paying property taxes. He said instead homeowners will pay the tax thats owed on the value of their home when they turn 65 and will continue to stay at that value. The measure now heads to the House. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Property tax bills for Kentucky seniors would be frozen under SB 23 Around 30 activists gathered near the entrance to OpenAI's San Francisco office earlier this week, Bloomberg reports, calling for an AI boycott in light of the company announcing it was working with the US military. Last month, the Sam Altman-led company quietly removed a ban on "military and warfare" from its usage policies, a change first spotted by The Intercept. Days later, OpenAI confirmed it was working with the US Defense Department on open-source cybersecurity software. Holly Elmore, who helped organize this week's OpenAI protest, told Bloomberg that the problem is even bigger than the company's questionable willingness to work with military contractors. "Even when there are very sensible limits set by the companies, they can just change them whenever they want," she said. OpenAI maintains that in spite of its obvious flexibility around rules, it still has a ban in place against having its AI be used to build weapons or harm people. During a Bloomberg talk at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month, OpenAI VP of global affairs Anna Makanju argued that its collaboration with the military "very much aligned with what we want to see in the world." "We are already working with DARPA to spur the creation of new cybersecurity tools to secure open source software that critical infrastructure and industry depend on," an OpenAI spokesperson told The Register at the time. OpenAI's quiet policy reversal hasn't sat well with organizers of this week's demonstration. Elmore leads US operations for a community of volunteers called PauseAI, which is calling for a ban on the "development of the largest general-purpose AI systems," due to their potential of becoming an "existential threat." And PauseAI isn't alone in that. Even top AI executives have voiced concerns over AI becoming a considerable threat to humanity. Polls have recently found that a majority of voters also believe AI could accidentally cause a catastrophic event. "You dont have to be a genius to understand that building powerful machines you cant control is maybe a bad idea," Elmore told Bloomberg. "Maybe we shouldnt just leave it up to the market to protect us from this." Altman, however, believes the key is to proactively develop the technology in a safe and responsible way, instead of opposing the concept of AI entirely. "Theres some things in there that are easy to imagine where things really go wrong," he said during the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. "And Im not that interested in the killer robots walking on the street direction of things going wrong." "Im much more interested in the very subtle societal misalignments where we just have these systems out in society and through no particular ill intention, things just go horribly wrong," he added. To Altman, who has clearly had enough of people calling for a pause on AI, it's a very simple matter. "You can grind to help secure our collective future or you can write Substacks about why we are going fail," he tweeted over the weekend. More on OpenAI: Sam Altman Seeking Trillions of Dollars for New AI Venture Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The UN Human Rights Office said on Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" by the crisis in Senegal arising from "the suspension of the presidential election" ORWELL, TWP., BRADFORD COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) State police are reporting that a 15-year-old sent a message making threats against a high school in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, on February 2 around 8:00 a.m., troopers were called to Northeast Bradford High School. PD: 14-year-old girl shot in Wilkes-Barre, several juveniles involved Police say investigators were called for a threat against the Bradford County school. It was later determined a 15-year-old male student sent a message threatening the school, PSP stated State police did not say if the teen would be charged for this incident. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Columbus public toilets fiasco beats Air Force toilet covers Several years ago, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, highlighted the U.S. Air Force force spending $10,000+ for toilet seat covers. Now, Columbus city leaders have shown that amount is minimal comparatively, spending more than $2.1 million for three outdoor public toilets in downtown Columbus. The toilets currently don't meet code and freeze up in cold weather. At least the Air Force seat covers worked. Jan 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The city of Columbus, using federal COVID-relief money, has allocated more than $2 million to install three public restroom units on Downtown sidewalks like this one on W. Long St. These are stainless steel, permanent structures with running water that and installed in such a way as to keep them from freezing in the winter so they can be used year-round. This fiasco is another example of Columbus city leaders who are clueless and can't find economical, workable solutions. Raymond D'Angelo, Westerville Bring back parking meters to increase Short North visitors In an otherwise well- researched and written article about what's causing a business decline in the Short North, one important factor was omitted. The City of Columbus, no doubt under the sway of tech-savvy teenagers, eliminated all the parking meters and substituted an electronic system that requires one to own and use a cellphone, log in to a fairly confusing system and provide credit card information. Want to increase Short North visitors? Bring back the parking meters. While this may be acceptable to Columbus-area residents, it may be confounding and frustrating for tourists and other visitors. In fact, based on multiple conversations I have had with Short North employees, confusion about what to do and how to do it is often reported by visitors. Please remember that there are many communities within a few hours drive of Columbus that have only parking meters, and a few small communities have free downtown parking. Some of those visitors, seeing no parking meters, have just parked and walked away, only to be ticketed. Welcome to Columbus! Edward Krauss, Grandview Heights Sensenbrenner's annexation policy behind Columbus growth Reading Edward William Sensenbrenners name in The Dispatch obituaries reminds me of what a transformational leader his father, Columbus Mayor Jack Sensenbrenner, was in the growth of our city. The mayor, along with Harrison Smith, prominent real estate attorney, carved out a unique annexation policy, which is the reason Columbus has been able to grow beyond its suburbs. The Sensenbrenner administration withheld necessary Columbus utilities unless the suburbs agreed to reserve Columbus land corridors, extending outward, even beyond Franklin County. Absent this policy, Columbus would be a much smaller urban city, hemmed in by the suburbs. Thank you, Mayor Sensenbrenner, and Bill Smith. Bob Weiler, Columbus Share your opinions: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch Nitrogen gas leaves DeWine with no excuse on executions "DeWine rethinks executions, death penalty in Ohio". This headline in the Jan. 29 Dispatch is disturbing. At the moment, we have 118 prisoners on death row. That means that 1,416 jurors, 12 judges and the families of 118 criminals will have to wait until at least 2026 when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine leaves office before they have closure. Alabama recently executed a prisoner by having him breathe nitrogen gas, so the excuse that DeWine does not know if he can buy drugs to use for death by injection is no longer a valid excuse. And as far as what we do in the future and whether executions might deter crime, our governor should not, as DeWine was quoted as saying, pick and choose what you want to focus on. I agree, but DeWine cannot pick and choose which laws he wants to focus on. Finally, as to whether or not executions might deter crime, he can test the theory by executing a few of the 118 inmates on death row and see. Tom P. Currie, Westerville This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Toilets freeze in cold? Columbus public bathroom fiasco is wasteful SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) Nine puppies died in a duplex fire Monday evening. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, South Davis Metro fire crews were dispatched to a fire at a two-story duplex in north Salt Lake City. Heres how Utahns can get real gold out of ATMs Firefighters said they cooled flames from the basement before making entry, where they found the puppies. Fire crews got the puppies out of the house, but said they died from their injuries. There was one occupant at the house, who was able to get themselves out. They were transported to the hospital in stable condition for smoke inhalation. Firefighters said a large snake was also removed, but appeared to be unharmed. Fire investigators are currently at the scene, working to determine a cause. There is no further information at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) A milk jug of muddy water accompanied one landowners comments at a meeting Monday night. The brown liquid was meant to represent effluent, wastewater that has been treated and then reused. The landowner, like others in the Dripping Springs Ranch Park event center, worried that similar water could soon run into the groundwater near the Pedernales River in Hays County. The meeting was the latest in a series that could soon lead to the construction of Mirasol Springs, a 1,400-acre conservation development in western Travis and Hays counties. Monday nights meeting opened the floor to public comment regarding a permit, filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility. Mirasol Springs, through utility company Clancy Utility Holdings LLC, is requesting the installation of a public access subsurface area drip dispersal system. Plans for Mirasol Springs include around 40 homesites, cabins and a hotel. Much of the land will be placed in a conservation easement, preventing further development on the land. (Credit: Mirasol Capital) Details on the system were displayed during the meeting: The system is restricted to the disposal of 39,000 gallons of wastewater per day. It will be located on 16.2 acres. It uses activated sludge, microorganisms that clean wastewater. Water will be disinfected with chlorine. 180,000 gallons of the cleaned water will be used for irrigation on the property. None of the effluent will be discharged into the nearby creeks and Pedernales River, according to the plan. Not enough water to go around: Why landowners are pushing back against new development Landowners, who have spoken out against the development in the past, worried the area is too sensitive for any construction. Nearby springs, endangered species and an untouched canyon can be found in the surrounding area. Karst, a type of porous rock that develops in limestone rock, can be seen in the immediate area. Landowners worry that any wastewater at the facility or used in irrigation could drain through this karst to the springs below. Representatives with Mirasol Springs previously said they have conducted numerous research projects alongside the University of Texas and other experts as part of their planning. The Roy Creek Canyon Reserve has served as a sacred site for scientists for 80 years. Its owner is worried a new development is putting its future at risk. (Courtesy: Lew Adams) This is not just an ordinary field, thats flat This is on a river with sloped topography with karst. It has unique endangered species. This is different, you cant do whats normally done, said one landowner during the formal public comment period. New UT Hill Country lab will soon pop up near best-kept secret in Texas Scientists working with Mirasol Springs say the area beneath the proposed site has no apparent karst. They plan to track the water quality in the area by placing monitors. After Monday nights meeting, formal public comment will be reviewed by the TCEQ. The permit could then be approved or face a formal hearing to debate changes to the plan. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Russian dictator Vladimir Putins goals are to dismantle the European Union and isolate Ukraine from the rest of Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Feb. 12, as reported by public broadcaster Polskie Radio. Following a meeting with his French and German counterparts, Sikorski noted the importance of fully enforcing the sanctions the EU has imposed on Russia. He focused on the need for Europe to counter Russian cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Read also: EU sanctions target ammunition deliveries from North Korea to Russia report The minister spoke about Russian attempts to interfere in the internal politics of European countries, noting that the threat remains, especially with several upcoming elections this year. Read also: Ukrainian Defense Forces brace against Russian offensive in Avdiivka The bloodstained dictator in Moscow knows that his chances of success are higher if he can separate Ukraine from the rest of Europe, if he can demolish the EU, if he can divide Europe from the United States, said Sikorski. Read also: Putin's useful lackey. Biden reacts to Trump's statement about encouraging Russia to attack NATO German newspaper Bild, citing intelligence sources, recently reported that Russia may attempt to attack Europe towards the end of 2024 or early 2025, when the United States could be paralyzed by a chaotic presidential election. On Dec. 6, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Russia would attack NATO countries if it succeeded in conquering Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to double the number of his country's troops stationed along its border with the Baltic states and Finland as part of Moscow's preparations for a potential military conflict with NATO within the next decade, Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service said Tuesday. The assessment was made in an annual report released by Estonia's foreign spying agency. Kaupo Rosin, its director-general, told reporters that "Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation." Rosin is the latest Western official to warn that Moscow still harbors an appetite for conflict and represents an unpredictable threat to countries on NATO's eastern flank nearly two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rosin stressed, however, that Russia is "highly unlikely" to attack a NATO country in the short term. Ukraine is running out of weapons: Is it also running low on the time-tested coping mechanism of humor? Russian President Vladimir Putin attends his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (Aleksander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) "We see the Russians in their own thinking are calculating military conflict with NATO is possible in the next decade," he said. "Russians are planning to increase the military force along the Baltic states border but also the Finnish border. We will highly likely see an increase of manpower, about doubling perhaps. We will see an increase in armed personnel carriers, tanks, artillery systems over the coming years." The Estonian intelligence report comes as likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member country that doesnt meet the 31-nation military organization's defense spending guidelines currently 2% of GDP. 'NATO was busted until I came along': Estonia says comments not helpful "NATO was busted until I came along," Trump said at a rally in Conway, South Carolina. "I said, 'Everybodys gonna pay.' They said, 'Well, if we dont pay, are you still going to protect us? I said, Absolutely not.' They couldnt believe the answer." Rosin said Trump's comments weren't "helpful," adding, "but probably the Russians are paranoid enough not just to listen to the words which are said but they will definitely look at the actions." President Joe Biden condemned Trump's NATO threat as an "un-American signal to the world." He said "no other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Well, let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For God's sake, it's dumb, it's shameful, it's dangerous." President Biden on Trump's NATO threat: An 'un-American signal to the world' It also comes as Ukraine is running low on weapons in its fight with Russia. The U.S. Senate approved $95 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine and Israel on Tuesday. But the bill's fate in the House of Representatives remains unclear, and it probably faces an uphill battle there with Republicans. Long odds in the House: Senate passes $95 billion foreign aid bill Under one scenario forecast by Estonia's intelligence service, Russia could double the 19,000 troops it has positioned near Estonia. Russia's troop presence near Finland, with whom it shares an 830-mile border, has been fairly small. But that is almost certain to change, the intelligence report said, not least because Finland recently became a NATO member. The report said that the Russia's "formation will probably be built around at least two or three maneuver units with around a dozen fire support and combat support units." Estonia gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. It became a NATO member in 2004. Western officials have been sounding the alarm over Russia's military intentions in recent months, saying Putin's veiled threats to attack NATO countries could turn out to be real. Under NATO's Article 5, an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned in late January that "we hear threats from the Kremlin every day" and that "for now our experts expect a period of five to eight years in which (an attack on a NATO country) could be possible." Denmarks defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, made similar comments last week. Putin said in a recent interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that the war in Ukraine would end if the U.S. and other Western nations stopped supplying Kyiv with weapons. There's a lot of skepticism over that claim because of Putin's long history of spreading misinformation and taking actions that don't match his words. In Tucker Carlson interview: Putin's plans for Ukraine appear to echo Trump's Estonias Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was declared a wanted person by Russias interior ministry on Tuesday, marking the first time Russia has brought a criminal case against the head of a foreign government. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, said Kallas was a wanted person on the grounds of "desecration of historical memory." The move is linked to recent calls by Kallas for Estonia to dismantle Soviet-era monuments to prevent Russia from using them to "mobilize more hostility in society and tearing open old wounds." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Putin, Russia plan to double number of troops along NATO border Conservatives who are leery of government power in other contexts often have a blind spot when it comes to police officers. Tough-on-crime instincts, coupled with anger at left-wing critics of police practices, frequently translate into a reflexive "back the blue" stance that is inconsistent with limited government, civil liberties, and the rule of law. Donald Trump's promise to "restore law and order" by indemnifying police officers "against any and all liability" appeals to that sentiment, even as it underestimates the difficulty of successfully suing police officers and overlooks the fact that cops already are routinely indemnified against damages when plaintiffs manage to overcome the barrier created by qualified immunity. Qualified immunity bars federal civil rights claims unless they allege misconduct that violated "clearly established" law. A new Institute for Justice (I.J.) report on the consequences of that doctrine further complicates the conventional conservative narrative by debunking the assumption that qualified immunity mainly applies to allegations of police brutality. In an analysis of 5,526 appeals involving qualified immunity that federal circuit courts heard from 2010 through 2020, I.J. researchers found that half involved lawsuits against other kinds of government officials, including "mayors and city managers, university and school officials, prosecutors and judges, and child protective services workers." The report reinforces the complaint that qualified immunity frustrates meritorious claims of constitutional violations and casts doubt on the belief that it mitigates the burden of litigation for defendants. "While police were the most common defendants, fully half of appeals featured other types of government officials, either alongside or instead of police," data scientist Jason Tiezzi, I.J. deputy litigation director Robert McNamara, and I.J. attorney Elyse Smith Pohl report. "Prison officials made up the next largest share, but in more than one in five of all appeals, or 21%, defendants were neither police nor prison officials." Many of the appeals involved claims of excessive force (27 percent) or false arrest (25 percent). But nearly a fifth (18 percent) "encompassed violations of First Amendment rights, including speech, association, and religious liberty." In total, "only 23% of appeals fit the popular conception of police accused of excessive force." What do the other cases look like? Based on a representative sample of 125 First Amendment cases, Tiezzi et al. found that three-fifths "involved plaintiffs alleging premeditated abuse by government officials in retaliation for protected First Amendment activity." Nearly half involved government workers who "alleged retaliation from their superiors," while nearly a third were filed by private citizens who "claimed they were targeted for retaliation by government officials." Sylvia Gonzalez's case illustrates the point that claims under 42 USC 1983, which authorizes lawsuits against state and local officials for constitutional violations, frequently deviate from "the popular conception of police accused of excessive force." Five years ago, Gonzalez, a newly elected member of the Castle Hills, Texas, city council, was charged with concealing a government record, a misdemeanor that would have resulted in her removal from office if she had been convicted. The charge was based on a documenta petition that Gonzalez herself spearheadedthat she says she accidentally collected with other papers during a city council meeting. Although Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales declined to pursue the charge, Gonzalez, who is represented by I.J., plausibly argued that her arrest was politically motivated. The lead defendant in her lawsuit was Castle Hills Mayor Edward Trevino, a political opponent who she said had instigated the arrest. Last fall, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider Gonzalez's appeal, which poses the question of what counts as "objective evidence" that someone was arrested in retaliation for constitutionally protected activity. Another case that contrasts with popular impressions of qualified immunity involves Priscilla Villarreal, a Laredo, Texas, gadfly and citizen journalist who was arrested for violating an obscure state law that supposedly criminalized a standard reporting practice: obtaining information that "has not been made public" from a "backchannel source" at the local police department. Villarreal argued that police punished her for her vocal criticism of local law enforcement agencies. But an appeals court ruled that the officers who were involved in her arrest were protected by qualified immunity because busting someone for practicing journalism was not "obviously unconstitutional." Other Section 1983 lawsuits have involved people who were arrested for jokes posted on social media. In a Louisiana case, Waylon Bailey, who made a questionable but constitutionally protected joke about COVID-19 on Facebook, ultimately recovered damages. But he was initially frustrated by a ruling based on qualified immunity before he persuaded an appeals court to reverse that decision. In an Ohio case, an appeals court concluded that qualified immunity barred a First Amendment claim by Anthony Novak, who was arrested because of a Facebook parody mocking the Parma Police Department. Even though these incidents involved police officers, they should give pause to conservatives who see qualified immunity as a shield that protects cops from frivolous claims of excessive force. It is not hard to imagine how a conservative's controversial opinions or attempts at humor might provoke the sort of retaliation that Gonzalez, Villarreal, Bailey, and Novak suffered. Or consider Allan Minnerath, an I.J. client who "saw his company's trucks and drivers detained for hours by an overzealous county road engineer in Mahnomen County, Minnesota." The official, "who opposed a state contract awarded to Allan's firm, decided to do something about it: He changed the weight limits on roads he knew the trucks would travel, then played traffic cop by personally stopping the now-overweight vehicles." None of these cases involves the sort of good-faith, "split-second" decisions for which qualified immunity is supposedly designed. The defendants all had plenty of time to think better of their actions after considering the relevant constitutional constraints. Those situations had nothing to do with the scenario that Trump imagines, in which fear of litigation prevents police officers from doing their jobs, forcing them to "let a lot of bad people do what they want to do." That scenario is also quite different from cases in which school officials retaliate against irksome parents, state university officials try to squelch views that offend them, or government-employed social workers separate parents from their children for no good reason. And again, these abuses do not uniquely affect people of any particular ideology. Keeping in mind that civil rights claims may involve government abuses that would outrage conservatives and plaintiffs they would find sympathetic, how does qualified immunity figure in these cases? In the cases analyzed by I.J., "59% of qualified immunity appeals were resolved solely in favor of government defendants, while 24% were resolved solely in favor of plaintiffs." Tiezzi et al. note that "qualified immunity disadvantages plaintiffs for arbitrary reasons" because a circuit's population and publication rate affect the availability of precedents that could be used to overcome that barrier. Unlike plaintiffs, the report notes, defendants in these cases have a right to immediately appeal an adverse ruling on qualified immunity, and "they can do this multiple times in the same lawsuit." Nearly all of the cases that I.J. analyzed involved such "interlocutory appeals," which help explain "why the median duration of a qualified immunity lawsuit was three years and two months, 23% longer than the typical federal civil suit up on appeal." Worse, "qualified immunity rulings often lack precision and clarity," which makes it "hard for plaintiffs to pinpoint the clearly established law required to win." The report's authors "often could not untangle courts' reasons for granting qualified immunityif reasons were even offered." This opacity poses a challenge for defendants as well as plaintiffs. "Qualified immunity confuses instead of clarifies the rules government workers must follow to avoid burdensome litigation," Tiezzi et al. write. "If legal experts struggle to make sense of qualified immunity, the average government officiallet alone one facing a life-or-death situationcannot be expected to do so." UCLA law professor Joanna Schwartz, a leading critic of qualified immunity, has made the same point. Schwartz argues that "qualified immunity's boldest lie" is the premise that police officers can reasonably be expected to keep abreast of relevant case law, such that they would know when their actions closely resemble conduct that was previously deemed unconstitutional. She documented a yawning gap between that implausible assumption and the reality of how cops are actually trained. "Nowhere in the [Supreme] Court's decisions is consideration given to how, exactly, police officers are expected to learn about the facts and holdings of the hundredsif not thousandsof Supreme Court, circuit court, and district court opinions that could be used to clearly establish the law for qualified immunity purposes," Schwartz notes. "Nor has much consideration been given to the likelihood that police officers recall the facts and holdings of these hundreds or thousands of cases as they are making split-second decisions about whether to stop and frisk someone, search a car, or shoot their gun." Even if that information is nearly impossible to collect and remember, you might assume, qualified immunity at least reduces the burden that litigation imposes on defendants. Schwartz's research suggests otherwise. Her conclusions are based on an analysis of nearly 1,200 federal civil rights cases, a survey of about 100 lawyers practicing in this area, and in-depth interviews with 35 of them. While abolishing qualified immunity can be expected to increase the number of claims filed, she says, it is unlikely to result in a flood of frivolous lawsuits, given the financial and professional incentives that lawyers face. At the same time, she concludes, scrapping the doctrine would tend to make any given lawsuit less burdensome for defendants because qualified immunity "increases the cost, complexity, and time associated with civil rights litigation." Tiezzi et al.'s findings jibe with that assessment. "Qualified immunity fails to protect officials from the burdens of litigation, most notably potentially intrusive discovery," they write. "Nearly 70% of appeals came at the summary judgment stage of litigation, when courts typically have already allowed discovery. Qualified immunity clogs up the courts with extra, often lengthy, appealssome 2,000 interlocutory appeals that would not have existed without the special appeal rights given to government defendants." This evidence suggests that qualified immunity blocks meritorious claims while increasing the complexity and cost of litigation for both sides. "Our results add to a growing body of research finding qualified immunity unacceptably burdens plaintiffs and fails at its goals," Tiezzi et al. conclude. "This strengthens the argument for the Supreme Court to overturn [Harlow v. Fitzgerald], the case in which it created the doctrine four decades ago. If it will not, Congress can and should act to end qualified immunity." The post Qualified Immunity Is Not Limited to Police Brutality. It Protects a Wide Variety of Abusive Officials. appeared first on Reason.com. Families at St. Robert School in Shorewood were told last week that Assistant Principal Curtis Hart would no longer be part of the school's "family," according to an email from the school's principal that was shared with the Journal Sentinel. Lucas Stangler, the school's principal, has not answered questions from the Journal Sentinel about why Hart left. Hart, reached by phone last week, told the Journal Sentinel he had "no comment" about his departure. "There's nothing to say," Hart said, declining to answer questions about why he was leaving and whether he had been terminated. Stangler's message to families went out on Monday, Feb. 5. On the previous Thursday, Feb. 1, Stangler sent an email to parents, notifying them of "an incident in the lunchroom today that may have left your students feeling upset or even scared," according to an email shared with the Journal Sentinel. "I am aware of this incident and I can assure you I am taking it seriously," Stangler wrote. Stangler told families he was working to thoroughly understand the situation, which he didn't explain. "Given the nature of this situation, I cannot share many more details at this time," Stangler's message said. Stangler and Hart did not answer questions from the Journal Sentinel about whether the incident was related to Hart's departure. In an email to the Journal Sentinel, in response to questions about the incident and Hart, Stangler said he could not share details. "While I am not able to provide details involving personnel matters I can assure our families that the situation was immediately addressed, the appropriate authorities have been notified, and personnel measures have been implemented," Stangler said. Stangler did not answer additional questions from the Journal Sentinel about which authorities were notified. Shorewood police told the Journal Sentinel they did not have a record of any reports from St. Robert since the incident. A spokesperson for the state Department of Public Instruction said the department has not been notified of any "immoral conduct" incidents involving Hart, which includes behavior that endangers the health, safety, welfare or education of any student. In Wisconsin, public and private school administrators are required by state law to notify the state Department of Public Instruction within 15 days if an employee is terminated based on immoral conduct or if an employee resigns and the administrator suspects the resignation is related to immoral conduct. It's not clear whether the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which oversees St. Robert and about 100 other schools in southeastern Wisconsin, was notified. Sandra Peterson, communications director, said the archdiocese's human resources department provides consultations to schools and is notified of any terminations, but also said she could not say whether Hart had been terminated because she can't comment on personnel issues. More: Five things to know about the new superintendent of 100 Milwaukee Archdiocese schools Peterson said the archdiocese follows state law to notify the DPI about suspected immoral conduct by an educator. She said the archdiocese also requires all Catholic school employees and volunteers working with minors to go through its Safe Environment Education child abuse training, pass a background check and sign a Code of Ethical Standards. Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane. Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: St. Robert assistant principal Curtis Hart leaves without explanation A storm that dumped a foot or more of snow in parts of the Northeast Tuesday will mark a change to a weather pattern more typical of mid-February for the Northeast and much of the Midwest. An Alberta clipper will bring a small accumulation of snow to some areas missed by the East Coast storm from into Thursday evening, AccuWeather meteorologists advise. The colder pattern will allow many to enjoy some time on the ski slopes, as areas that have not picked up fresh, natural powder will be able to make snow during the coming nights. For others more sensitive to the cold or who may have gotten used to the balmy conditions of late, the pattern will be an uncomfortable change. A dip in the jet stream will bring temperatures more typical of February's second and third weeks. For example, in New York City, historical average temperatures range from a low near 30 F to a high in the low 40s. Into Friday, low temperatures will range from the low to mid-30s, with highs from the upper 30s to the mid-40s. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Farther to the west, in Chicago and Detroit, historical average temperatures range from a low in the lower 20s to a high in the mid-30s. Forecast temperatures into Thursday will be a bit above the historical average but significantly lower than a few days ago. By Friday, more of a downturn is in store, with highs in the 30s and lows in the mid-10s to lower 20s. The snowfall in the Northeast will raise the risk of potentially dangerous freeze-ups. In areas where natural melting occurs during the day, wet and slushy areas will freeze at night and may create thin sheets of ice. Motorists and pedestrians should use caution when traveling in areas that appear to be wet, as some surfaces may be icy. Many slip-and-fall incidents occur days after a snowstorm, according to forensics experts. The conditions may persist throughout the week, including areas where snow has been shoveled or plowed. A pedestrian crosses a street during a winter snowstorm in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Accompanying the more typical temperature pattern will be at least one storm with snow that travels along the northern tier of the United States into Thursday evening. This storm produced widely separated snow showers in Montana and Idaho Tuesday morning. As the system streaks eastward, it will gather some moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and, to some extent, the open waters of the Great Lakes. The clipper storm brought a general 1-7 inches of snow from South Dakota to central and southern Minnesota, Wisconsin and in western parts of Michigan from late Wednesday to Thursday morning. From 1 to 3 inches fell in southern Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee and Madison metro areas. A maximum of about 8 inches fell on Huron, South Dakota. Just rain fell on Chicago. From 5 to 7 inches of snow fell on the Minneapolis metro area from the storm. This has been the biggest storm of the season and the first time in many months that the Twin Cities have seen an inch or more of fresh powder. The last time there was an inch of snow or greater on a single calendar day was back on Halloween. Before this storm, only 7.3 inches of snow had fallen on the city thus far this winter; much of that has been a few tenths of an inch at a time. The historical average for snow through Feb. 13 is about 39 inches. The storm has boosted the seasonal total to 14.2 inches as of the start of Feb. 15. Farther to the east, 1-2 inches of snow fell on Detroit during the midday hours as heavier snow fell on central Michigan. In the Northeast, no accumulating snow is anticipated from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City during Thursday night, but those in northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and central and northern New England may have snow showers frequent enough to bring 1-3 inches with locally higher amounts. Any snow showers around New York City Thursday night will not amount to much. Parts of northern New York state may pick up a 6- to 12-inch snowfall with up to half a foot of snow on the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. A second storm will reach the Central and Eastern states 24 to 36 hours later, but this storm is forecast to take a path farther to the south over the Plains, Midwest and mid-Atlantic. Snowy and slippery travel may spread eastward for nearly 2,000 miles from the Rockies Thursday night to the mid-Atlantic coast by Saturday morning. The strip of snow farther south from the second storm is likely to slow travel in metro areas such as St. Louis, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. It's likely that snow from the second storm will pass to the south of Chicago and Detroit but could swing northward enough at the last minute to graze New York City. The air associated with and behind that second cross-country storm this weekend will be several degrees colder than conditions during much of this week. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. 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) Shapoorji Pallonji Group, a major Indian construction and real estate conglomerate, has announced the successful completion of its iconic project - the BAPS Hindu Mandir - in Abu Dhabi. An architectural marvel, it is the first traditional stone Hindu temple in the entire Middle East, located on 27 acres of land. Built at a cost of more than AED400 million ($108 million), the Hindu Mandir, (open to all faiths) is an initiative of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the institution behind several Swaminarayan temples across India and the world. Around 13.5 acres of land was gifted in 2019 personally by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and today's UAE President for the temple, said Shapoorji Pallonji in its statement. The iconic temple will be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow (February 14) during a grand ceremony in the UAE capital. Lauding the feat, the Indian construction conglomerate said the temple, built to last a 1,000 years, is a testimony of Indias culture and ancient architectural knowledge. On the temple architecture, Shapoorji Pallonji said: "It is a traditional stone Hindu temple with seven shikhars. Built in the traditional Nagar style, the temples front panel depicts universal values, stories of harmony from different cultures, Hindu spiritual leaders and avatars." "Spread over 27 acres, the temple complex is on 13.5 acres, with a parking area of 13.5 acres that can accommodate around 1,400 cars and 50 buses," stated the top Indian builder. "The height of the temple is 108 ft, length 262 ft and width 180 ft. While the external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, the interior uses Italian marbles. A total of 20,000 tonnes of stones and marble was shipped in 700 containers for the temple," it added. The temple has two central domes, Dome of Harmony and Dome of Peace, emphasising human coexistence through the carvings of earth, water, fire, air, and plants. A Wall of Harmony, one of the largest 3D-printed walls in the UAE, features a video showcasing key milestones of the temples construction. The word harmony has been written in 30 different ancient and modern languages. The seven shikhars (spires) are representative of the seven emirates of the UAE, stated the company. Other amenities include an assembly hall with a capacity of 3,000 people, a community centre, exhibitions, classrooms, and a majlis venue. "We, at Shapoorji Pallonji are honoured to have played a pivotal role in the building of this spiritual oasis for global harmony. The SP Group has continued to partner with UAE and after almost half a century of presence in the Middle East, several of our projects dot the GCC skyline," the company said in its statement. It is indeed an honour to contribute towards strengthening bilateral relations between India and the UAE, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Farmers protest: Some gates at metro stations closed as per security instructions In view of farmers' call for the Delhi Chalo march, some gates at metro stations are closed due to security reasons, however, the stations are operational. "Some gates of Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath and Barakhamba Road have been closed as per security instructions. However, the stations are still operational," said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at the entry and exit points of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gear placed multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers in view of the 'Delhi Chalo march' call of farmers. To stop the farmers from entering the national capital, the police along with the paramilitary forces have been deployed as security measures on Delhi borders, including at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, with cement blocks and pickets with nails installed on the approach roads. Delhi Police on Monday had invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders as a precautionary measure. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued these directives for the next 30 days to ensure law and order amidst planned farmer protests against the Central government. A total of 114 companies, including 64 from paramilitary forces and 50 from the Haryana Police, have been deployed across various districts. Equipped with anti-riot gear, these units are stationed in the border areas and sensitive districts. Additionally, surveillance technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor any disruptive activities Im not enjoying the final season of The Conservatives, wails a friend. The plotlines are too farfetched, the heros rubbish and you know itll end badly. My friend calls herself a Tory through and through with no one to vote for. Shes not alone. There are millions of us probably. Watching the Prime Ministers well-briefed but gawky, uncomfortable appearance on the GB News Peoples Forum, in which he took questions from 100 undecided voters, I realised there is only one way were going to get through nine whole months of this electioneering purgatory. Play Rishi Bingo! Just fill a dozen shot or sherry glasses with an alcoholic beverage of your choice and place them on a tray near the TV. Then knock back a drink every time Rishi Sunak says one of the following: Stick to the plan. Labour simply dont have a plan. If we stick to the plan and start to deliver change. Peace of mind. If you dont have a plan, you cant deliver any change. The plan is working, right? You will be none the wiser as to what the PMs plan is but, on the plus side, youll be too inebriated to worry. Being pleasantly numb may be the only thing that makes the on-a-loop soundbites bearable. Not to mention easing the ear-splitting embarrassment caused by Rishis dropped consonants and glottal stops (Stopping the boats became Stoppin da boaws) which Tony Blair always deployed to make himself sound less public school, more relatable and down wiv da kids. Except Blair was a good actor, a veritable honey-glazed ham, and poor Rishi really isnt. I couldnt help thinking how Boris Yorick Johnson would soon have had that stony-faced audience cracking a smile a fellow of infinite jest his flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar. The Conservatives really miss their court jester on the big occasions. If Number 10s strategy is to convince voters that Tories can put right the multiple messes at the end of 14 years of Conservative government, let me refer them to the excellent elderly chap from Leigh in Lancashire who was asked on a GB News vox pop what he thought about their pledge to reduce illegal migration. Theyve had plenty of chances, he said grimly. Indeed they have. And thats why theyre going to be hammered in two safe Tory seats on Thursday: Kingswood and Wellingborough. All trust is gone. The only significant applause on Monday night was not for Sunak, but for John, who was rightly enraged that thousands of the Covid vaccine-injured have been silenced. Then came heartfelt clapping for Jack who asked: What are you going to do to convince traditional Conservative voters that their vote is still better off with you? It was a straightforward choice, the PM said rather tersely. A vote for anyone who is not a Conservative is a vote for Keir Starmer who is more likely to deliver what you want? Neither, muttered the nation, head in its hands. The coming general election is an unenviable choice between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Sadly, theres not much deep blue about Sunaks Conservatives; theyre more of a cowardy-custard yellow with green top notes of Caroline Nokes. Rishi did produce one fruitful attack line on Labour. Minutes before the show started, the party had performed a screeching U-turn on its disgraceful decision to stand by Azhar Ali, the partys candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Ali, who told a Labour Party meeting that Israel allowed 1,400 of her citzens to be raped and murdered so the Jews could have the green light to do what they wanted in Gaza, clearly has no place in Parliament. The man is either stupid or bad. His carefully crafted apology was no remedy for peddling a grotesque anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. (Even worse, none of the Labour members at the meeting apparently raised any objections: in fact, Ali probably calculated that Jew-hatred would endear him to party activists.) But Sir Keir hesitated. It is often observed that many of the Conservative Partys current woes come from being a broad church with arguments in the apse and fisticuffs at the font. What the Azhar Ali case exposes is that, despite Starmers boast that the party has changed and he has rooted out Corbyn-era anti-Semitism, Labour is also a fractious coalition. Of barely compatible Blairites, hard-Left agitators and Islamist sympathisers. Not so much a broad church as a capacious mosque. How ironic that this internecine drama unfolded in Rochdale, the textile town where the industrial-scale sexual abuse of white slags by mainly Pakistani grooming gangs went unchallenged for years because, as Dame Louise Casey said in her 2016 review, the police, council and social services failed to confront wrongdoing for fear of allegations of racism and Islamophobia. The Labour leader failed to disown Azhar Ali immediately because he knew he would lose a lot of votes, potentially allowing George Galloway to achieve victory. Up to a third of voters in Rochdale are Muslim. Why has Palestine got anything to do with Rochdale? one bemused local resident asked a TV news reporter. The truth is that conflict in the Middle East is intruding more and more into our domestic politics because an estimated four million Muslims in the UK wield increasing electoral power, having a major influence in over 60 seats. Unfortunately, anti-Semitism is hardwired into too many in that community from childhood. A lack of successful integration means anti-Western and illiberal tribal attitudes persist in some places. This leaves the Labour leader between a rock and a hard place. Starmers wife is Jewish. He has said his family attends a liberal synagogue and his kids honour the faith of their grandfather. As a husband and father he must be painfully aware that, since the atrocities of Oct 7 and Israels invasion of Gaza, an ancient hatred has risen up from the dripping caves of the internet and is on the loose. We see it in the threatening chants of From the river to the sea on the pro-Palestine Saturday marches through London, emboldened by shamefully light-touch policing. At the Soho Theatre, comedian Paul Currie told an Israeli member of the audience, Liahav Eitan, to get the f--- out after he failed to applaud the Palestinian flag. A badly shaken Eitan criticised the West End audiences mob mentality. A pro-Israel fundraiser hosted by the author Douglas Murray was cancelled by another West End theatre after staff allegedly received threats. A Jewish chaplain at Leeds University, Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, his wife and their two children were moved a few days ago to a safe location on police advice after receiving death threats over his role as an Israel Defense Forces reservist. Meanwhile Stephen Pollard, the distinguished journalist and former editor of The Jewish Chronicle, wrote on social media that he has been on a couple of online dating sites. A few weeks after Oct 7, some profiles started to show the Palestinian flag. I didnt think much of it more recently, many profiles I see now say, No Zionists. It is now, it seems, a normal thing for people to declare publicly that they refuse to consider dating a Jew (which is of course what No Zionists means). This is where we now are. These are dark times. Those are just a handful of horrifying recent incidents which sound like something out of Nazi Germany. Obviously, it is vital that all MPs and lawmakers take the firmest of stands against this eruption of anti-Jewish prejudice. But where does that leave Labour with candidates who depend on Muslim votes? On Tuesday, Sir Keir insisted decisive action had been taken against Azhar Ali in Rochdale to make it absolutely clear that this is a changed Labour Party. And tonight, the party suspended another Parliamentary candidate, former Labour MP Graham Jones, after the website Guido Fawkes published a recording of him making anti-Semitic remarks at the same meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party in October. Sorry, Im not convinced. Far from decisive, Labour stood by Ali for two days, even sending out senior figures like Lisa Nandy and Nick Thomas-Symonds to make the case for keeping him on. Only a public outcry and media pressure, including the Daily Mail disclosing further damning remarks by Ali about Jews in the media stirring things up, saw the candidate dropped. Whatever Sir Keir may claim, there are forces impacting his party, reflecting huge demographic changes in the UK, which may yet prove beyond his control. As I write, #STARMEROUT is trending on X (formerly Twitter), a sign that the Left wants rid of him because he failed to stick with a Jew-despising candidate. It is a worrying preview of the kind of pressures he may be swayed by when he becomes prime minister. Labour hasnt changed, Rishi Sunak said at the GB News Peoples Forum. About that, at least, the Prime Minister was right. He must go on saying it, and loudly. On Thursday, Labour will record two notable victories in the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections and, for a while, all will be sweetness and light between moderates and extremists. But, in the case of Azhar Ali, we have glimpsed what many in the party truly think. A government coming to power that is on the hook to anti-Semitic forces? Nobody should vote for such dark times. 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. CORNING, N.Y. (WETM) A Rochester man remains in police custody on Tuesday after an early morning warrant search into a residence police claim had drugs inside. According to the City of Corning Police Department, 34-year-old Brian C. Weaver of Rochester was arrested and was charged with the following: Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony. Criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, around 6 a.m., units from the Corning City Police Department and the Steuben County Sheriffs Office SWAT team went to the Meadow Brook Apartments in Corning to serve a no-knock warrant at one of the buildings. Liberty VFW to host Suicide Awareness Benefit Brunch Police say the warrant was granted as a result of an ongoing investigation into the sale and possession of crack cocaine by the residents of the apartment. As a result of the search, police seized narcotics, packaging materials, scales, and cash. Weaver was arrested and taken to the Corning Police Department for processing before going to the Steuben County jail where he is being held without bail for being a two-time convicted felon. Police say that further charges may be filed in the future. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. NEW PHILADELPHIA A rubber molding company that sells its products in 35 different countries is asking the city to rezone a piece of property from residential to industrial so it can expand its business. MPS manufacturing in New Philadelphia. Michael Stein, who owns MPS Manufacturing, 326 Pearl St. NE, along with his wife, Bobie, recently made the request of council. His company purchased property at 407 Kaserman Ave. NE to put a CNC mold shop in an existing building there. CNC stands for computer numerical control, where tools are controlled by means of a computer. More on New Philadelphia industry: Transformed: ProVia's new manufacturing facility taking shape in former T-R building MPS recently acquired a machine shop in Tallmadge and is moving it to New Philadelphia. The shop was the company's mold maker. Stein said the owner of the company will work for MPS for a few years to train someone to take his place. The move will create one new job. "The larger job creation will come from freeing up the space in the existing building," Stein told council. The company is hoping to bring in some aerospace work. Company background MPS Manufacturing was started in 2005. It began in the business incubator in Dover operated by the Economic Development and Finance Alliance of Tuscarawas County (port authority). It moved into its present facility in 2010. MPS manufacturing in New Philadelphia. The company manufactures rubber moldings. Stein said it makes everything from wine corks to satellite parts. It supplies the entire North American GM Truck market with shackles, including plants in Silao, Mexico, Oshawa, Canada, and several facilities in the U.S. The company has nine robots in its plant. MPS Manufacturing has 18 employees. It just recently hired another worker. "It's a great company," Service Director Ron McAbier told council. "You ought to see what they do over there." The zoning change was approved by the city's planning commission in December. An ordinance to make the change has received its first reading in January and will get two more readings this month. A public hearing will be held on Feb. 26 before the measure gets its third reading. Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: MPS Manufacturing seeks to expand business in New Philadelphia Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot The Delhi Government has denied Centre's request to convert Bawana stadium into temporary prison in the national capital, saying the farmers demands are genuine. Turning down the request, Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot said: "The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the Constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers." "The Central Government, in fact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers of the Country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central Government," the reply further stated. "Hence, approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail," it added. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at the entry and exit points of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gear placed multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers in view of the 'Delhi Chalo march' call of farmers. To stop the farmers from entering the national capital, the police, along with the paramilitary forces, have been deployed as security measures on Delhi borders, including at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, with cement blocks and pickets with nails installed on the approach roads. Delhi Police on Monday had invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders as a precautionary measure. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued these directives for the next 30 days to ensure law and order amidst planned farmer protests against the central government. A total of 114 companies, including 64 from paramilitary forces and 50 from the Haryana Police, have been deployed across various districts. Equipped with anti-riot gear, these units are stationed in the border areas and sensitive districts. Additionally, surveillance technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor any disruptive activities The Russian Federation will suspend its participation in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian parliament, announced on Feb. 13. Volodin reportedly called the assembly an absolutely dependent politicized organization that dances to Washingtons tune. The State Duma and Federation Council will consider suspending Russia's participation in the Assembly on Feb. 21. "The worst thing in this situation is that we are still paying money, and we are one of the largest players, so we need to go out and stop transferring funds," he added. The OSCE PA is an interparliamentary body consisting of 57 member states. The Assembly was created in 1991 to facilitate OSCE goals, including conflict prevention and resolution as well as the consolidation of democratic institutions across OSCE member countries. Since 1993, the Assembly has monitored elections in more than 30 nations across Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia. Last summer, the OSCE PA formally recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism for its involvement with the Wagner Group. Around this time last year, the OSCE Secretary General told German journalists that Russia should remain in the organization to maintain diplomatic channels. Read also: Ukraines Foreign Minister Kuleba: Europe doesnt know how to fight wars Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba later boycotted OSCE meetings due to Russia's continued presence in the organization. Kuleba's spokesperson said that Russia was abusing the OSCE's rule of consensus and resorting to blackmail and open threats to block key issues, such as Estonia's candidacy for the 2024 chairmanship. Russia has been expelled from several international rights organizations over the last two years, including the United Nations Human Rights Council. Read also: Zakhar Tropin: Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism a legal perspective Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The 19-mile long defensive line has been dubbed the 'tsar-train' online - DEEP STATE/TELEGRAM Russian forces have constructed a nearly 20-mile barricade made of old train carriages in eastern Ukraine, thought to be a defensive fortification designed to slow any Ukrainian counterattack. Dubbed the tsar train online, satellite images show thousands of freight cars placed in a chain between Olenivka and Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The barricade is believed to comprise 2,100 railcars, mainly rolling stock taken from other occupied territory in Ukraine, according to military Telegram channel Deep State. Russian forces reportedly began creating the makeshift defensive line in July, soon after Ukraine launched its counter-offensive, according to a Ukrainian source cited by the think tank. The source suggested that Russian forces intend to use the train as a defensive line against future Ukrainian assaults, ISW said, before adding a caveat: The Russians could have assembled the train for other purposes as well. The tsar train is a little under four miles from the current front line, according to ISW. This is a very specific engineering structure, the effectiveness of which is difficult to assess, a post on Deep State read. The idea is clear an obstacle to the advancement of the Defence Forces. It can be considered a separate line of defence, because it is extremely difficult to damage, move or blow up a 30km mass of metal. The movement of equipment through such an obstacle without breaking through the corridor is impossible. The railcars used to construct the defensive structure were stolen from Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, the blogger added. Ukraines advances in the region stalled in the autumn, and its exhausted troops have been pushed back as Moscow makes inroads. Russia seized the Donetsk town of Marinka in December, which was Kyivs first major territorial loss in months, and is now advancing on Avdiivka. The city was seen as Ukraines eastern fortress but has been worn down by repeated assaults as its supply lines are severed. Brig Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, a senior Ukrainian commander, pledged on Sunday to reinforce the city with fresh troops, amid reports of manpower and ammunition shortages. The decision to dig in, rather than retreat to a more fortified position, raises the prospect of a repeat of the brutal months-long battle over nearby Bakhmut. Russian defences were responsible for exhausting Ukraines push in June to regain territory seized in the early part of the war. Forces attempted to punch through the Surovikin Line an 81-mile system of trenches, anti-tank ditches and minefields in southern and eastern Ukraine. Despite localised successes, the counteroffensive had petered out by November. 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. Kyiv claims Russia is 'purchasing communications equipment, including Starlink satellite internet terminals, for use in the war' - STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images Russian forces are acquiring Starlink terminals from Arab countries for use on the front line, according to the Ukrainian military. On Tuesday, Kyivs military intelligence agency (HUR) released what it said was intercepted audio of two Russian soldiers discussing the purchase of the satellite internet units produced by Elon Musks SpaceX. The agency wrote on Telegram: The aggressor state, Russia, is purchasing communications equipment, including Starlink satellite internet terminals, for use in the war in Arab countries. Media outlets in Ukraine reported that Russian forces may have used intermediaries in Dubai to obtain the distinctive square-shaped satellite terminals. The evidence published by HUR appears to be the first official confirmation of the methods used by Russians to circumvent swathes of Western sanctions preventing Moscow from obtaining technologies with military application. In the audio clip released by the Ukrainian intelligence agency, two Russian soldiers are allegedly discussing their poor internet connections. Let me order you a Starlink? And you will have a f---ing good connection. Dude, do you need a Starlink, one says. The Russian soldier adds: Then you need 200,000 rubles (1,728). Do you know Oboz? You go up to him, and hell order it for you. The Arabs bring everything to us: wires, wifi, routers. The Telegraph could not independently verify the claims. Last week, HUR released details appearing to confirm the use of Starlink terminals by Russian forces operating in occupied areas of Ukraines eastern Donetsk region. A pro-Russian volunteer group also shared what it said were boxed Starlink terminals and commercial Chinese-made drones earmarked for Putins forces fighting in Ukraine. SpaceX, which owns Starlink, denied reports that it had sold equipment to the Russian government or military. In response to the allegations, Mr Musk, the firms billionaire owner, wrote on X: A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia. Western officials have identified the UAE, which does not enforce sanctions on Russia, as one of the main hubs used by Moscow to evade the punitive measures. The UK targeted businesses in Dubai in December last year as part of a crackdown on firms exploited by Russia for trade in oil, gold and other goods. The US has also been steadily increasing its sanctions against Moscow by targeting individuals in the UAE, Turkey and China that are used to secure dual-use technologies for Vladimir Putins war machine. Brussels is preparing to impose sanctions on three Chinese firms and one Indian company as part of the EUs latest package of measures against Russia, expected to be announced on the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. 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. EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell has said that after the Russian presidential "elections" in March, Russia could launch another major offensive in Ukraine. Source: Borrell in his blog after a visit to Kyiv, reported by European Pravda Quote: "Another major Russian offensive could be starting in the months after the Russian elections in March. However, I have found that the Ukrainian people remain determined to continue the fight and I saw their ingenuity and resilience at work." Details: He stressed that, unlike their Russian counterparts, Ukrainian soldiers know what they are fighting for and they are not lacking motivation. "But they (Ukrainian soldiers ed.) cannot do it without our support, which has to increase urgently. What the EU and its Member States do in the coming months to provide Ukraine with the tools to withstand a Russian offensive will be decisive, for both Ukraine, but also for the security of the European Union," Borrell said. He called on EU member states to work with their defence companies to renegotiate contracts and prioritise the supply of arms and ammunition to Ukraine. Background: Borrell paid a two-day visit to Kyiv last week, where he addressed the need for political unity, the implementation of reforms and the need for democratic mechanisms to work effectively. During the meeting, President Zelenskyy asked the EU to provide additional ammunition, drones and air defence systems. Read Borrells speech in the Verkhovna Rada: Ukraine's victory with "whatever it takes," dialogue with opposition, and Kyiv's two battles Support UP or become our patron! Riders depart a train that has pulled into the Oakland 12th Street Station. BART officials said they expected to remedy the source of a potent smell that some riders found offensive. Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2003 For months, some Bay Area Rapid Transit riders have noticed a pungent stench filling trains heading south toward San Francisco from the 12th Street Station in Oakland. It smells like a mix of burning plastic, burning hair and burnt toast, said commuter Rowan Bariteau, one of several people who unsuccessfully sought answers on a Reddit forum. Bariteau wondered why she frequently detected the scent traveling to San Francisco, but never on her return to Oakland. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its weird its only in one direction, she told the Chronicle. Waiting for a northbound train one recent weekday morning, Bruce Simonsen said the smell was redolent of diesel fumes, while Dylan King wondered why the transit agency has so far been unable to fix what he called the horrible smell. You sniff it and it makes you gag, King said. While its detection isnt universal some riders said they hadnt noticed it others described it as an ongoing nuisance and continual source of mystery. The scent is strongest as trains screech around the sharp turn between the 12th Street and West Oakland stations near the point where trains emerge from an underground tunnel, riders said. A representative for BART offered multiple explanations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Transit employees described it as a petroleum smell and said it might be related to lubricant used on the rails to mitigate noise, BART spokesperson James Allison initially said when reached for comment. Several weeks later, after additional investigations of the underground track structures to pinpoint the source of the odor, Allison said employees now believe it may be due to a water leak. Air sampling did not detect any hazardous conditions and employees do not believe the smell poses any safety risks, Allison said, adding that employees hope to resolve the issue this week. Employees discovered leaking water in the area where the odor is noticeable, Allison said. He could not make an expert available to explain how the water could cause what riders described as a caustic, burning smell. He later added that the offending odor may result from oily water leaking from a traction power facility that powers BART trains. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Told of BARTs explanation, some riders were dubious. Meleah Baker, a Laney College student, said she was greeted by the gasoline-like smell every single time she takes BART to the public community college near Lake Merritt. Its kind of like burning rubber, Baker said. Thea Galli was unsure how a water leak would produce what she also described as a burnt rubber smell, but said she had not considered filing a complaint and was not concerned for her safety. Its unpleasant, she said. The Oakland Police Department released photos of a person of interest in a fatal shooting and asked the public to help identify the person. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The Oakland Police Department on Monday released photos of a person of interest in a fatal shooting and asked the public to help identify the person. The shooting occurred in the area of Seventh Avenue and International Boulevard about 5:15 a.m. on July 23, 2023. Officers found the victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He died at the scene, police said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police identified him as Satyan Dave. The 49-year-old lived in London and worked as a contractor for a shipping company that has offices in Oakland, according to the Mercury News. Dave, a father of two, arrived aboard a ship at the Port of Oakland a day before the shooting, which apparently stemmed from an argument, the newspaper reported last year. The Martinez Refining Company participated in a settlement agreement with regional air regulators to slash pollution. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2023 Two Bay Area oil refineries agreed to dramatically slash particulate pollution churned into the air from their facilities, ending the companies nearly three-year battle against some of the most stringent antipollution regulations for refiners in the country. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Tuesday announced that it reached separate agreements with Chevron in Richmond and Martinez Refining Company, operated by New Jersey-based PBF Energy, to end lawsuits that had stalled new rules requiring oil refineries slash particulate emissions. We stood up to the refineries we fought them, and they blinked, said Alexander Crockett, general counsel for the air district. They agreed to drop their lawsuit, come into compliance and pay enormous fines if they dont. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The legal battle began in September 2021, two months after the air districts board of directors tightened its particulate matter limits, which established the most stringent emissions rules in the country for oil refineries. The regulations targeted the biggest source of particulate matter pollution generated by oil refineries: fluidized catalytic cracking units, often called cat crackers, which refine heavy crude oil into petroleum products like gasoline. The rules were passed over staunch opposition from both Chevron and PBF Energy and required these companies to lower airborne pollution by an estimated 70% for Chevron and 80% for the Martinez refinery. Chevron and PBF Energy sued the air district to block the new rule, arguing the regulations essentially required they adopt new technology that was too expensive, among other objections. PBF Energy at the time complained the new rule could cost the company $800 million and force us to close. But on Tuesday both companies agreed to give up their lawsuits. PBF Energys Martinez Refining Company has since 2021 made changes to its facility that have already slashed particulate pollution enough to nearly meet the standard, according to the air district. Brandon Matson, a company spokesperson, said the refiner worked with technical experts in process engineering and air quality to develop alternatives so it can meet pollution goals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Martinez refinery has achieved these reductions in large part by reducing the amount of sulfur a key source of particulate matter in crude oil before it enters the cat crackers, according to the air district. Crockett said the new system measures inputs such as chemicals going into the process and then estimates the pollution coming out of its stacks. Air district experts will be testing the accuracy of those estimates over the next year, he said. We thank our employees and consultants whose ingenuity and hard work led to an innovative technical solution to comply with the rule, as well as the BAAQMD for working constructively with us to arrive at our mutually desired goal of improving air quality in the Bay Area, Matson said. The Martinez refinery remains under investigation for a series of emissions problems since Thanksgiving 2022. Chevron, in its settlement, admitted the company will not reach pollution targets by the 2026 deadline and has agreed in advance to pay record-setting penalties of $17 million for the first three years of noncompliance starting in 2026 and $32 million in the fourth year while it works toward that goal, air district officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chevron will also establish a Community Air Quality Fund with an initial $20 million followed by $3.5 million in annual funding while it works to comply with the rule. Crockett, with the air district, said the fund will help pay for pollution-reducing projects in Richmond, such as home retrofits for residents with asthma or equipment upgrades at restaurants. Chevron has also agreed to pay $20 million in penalties to settle 678 other violation issues and agreed to a series of measures designed to reduce persistent flaring. Chevron, through a spokesperson, said the agreement, including the fines while it works to comply with the new emissions standards, provides an extended compliance timeframe to help the company navigate Californias difficult permitting landscape. Chevron is committed to working with agencies, like the BAAQMD, on efforts to improve air quality, the company said in a statement emailed to the Chronicle. However, we remain concerned that the BAAQMDs rulemaking process is fundamentally broken and believe its another example of how California policies have led to a hostile business environment for manufacturers, disincentivizing production of the transportation fuels that millions of Californians depend on every day. Air district officials said they expect the Martinez Refining Company will meet the target date, but if not, the company would be subject to penalties as well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chevron and the Martinez Refining Company agreed to split the air districts attorneys fees, which totaled about $1 million. Martinez Vice Mayor Mark Ross, a member of the air board, said the settlement protects our communities from particulate matter 50 yards down the street. Kevin and Brian Fisher-Paulson are shown on their second wedding day, Sept. 19, 2008, the 21st anniversary of their first wedding. Kevin Fisher-Paulson Like most secular holidays, Feb. 14 is a commercialization of a Christian feast day, that of Valentine, the patron saint of epilepsy, beekeepers and love. And like most Christian observations, it is an adaptation of a more debaucherous pagan holiday. Lupercalia was a festival celebrating the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. In the second month of the year, the priests of Lupercali sacrificed a goat and a dog and cut them into strips. They soaked those strips in blood and went around town slapping virgins with them to increase their fertility. When Constantine Christianized the empire, the only way to sell the new religion was to rebrand the old feast days. Saturnalia became Christmas and Easter replaced the Festival of Venus. That left Lupercalia, so Pope Gelasius looked around for a good martyr. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There were two or three guys named Valentine who had lived in Rome, and not one, apparently, was in good graces with previous emperors. They were also executed, supposedly and coincidentally, on Feb. 14. One of these Valentines was a priest in 3rd century Rome. The story goes that Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than married ones, so he forbade weddings in his legions. But Valentine conducted marriages in secret and for that he was beheaded. Thus, this tale says, a festival of fecundity became a feast of marriage. Brian, left, and Kevin Fisher-Paulson hold their sons, Aidan, 1, and Zane, 3, as they march down Market Street on June 25, 2006, in San Franciscos 36th Annual Gay Pride Parade. Courtesy Kevin Fisher-Paulson Which brings me to 1966. Mrs. Esposito taught the third-grade class at St. Anthony of Padua in South Ozone Park. The second grade and fourth grade were both taught by nuns, members of an order Brother X referred to as the Little Sisters of the Gestapo. It had been a rough year. There were 47 students in our class, and Id been a pariah since December. The eve of Christmas Eve, Mrs. Esposito conducted a spelling bee of boys against the girls. The prize was that the winning gender got no homework over the 10-day holiday vacation. On the eighth round, with every other boy gone, and three girls left, Mrs. Esposito looked me dead in the eye and said, Spell Wednesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At dinner that night, my father explained: The first D is silent, like the P in ocean bathing. But by then the damage had been done. It was a very long January, with every boy in the class blaming me that they had to copy over the Baltimore Catechism. Still every winter has a spring, and that was true even in that large classroom on Rockaway Boulevard. The Irish parish to our north, St. Clement, celebrated St. Brigids Day in early February, but we had St. Blaise. Father Fusco crossed two candles at our necks to bless our throats. Immediately after, Mrs. Esposito handed each student 46 pieces of construction paper. She explained that we would make a valentine for each of our classmates, with no exceptions. Did not matter sex. Did not matter race. Did not matter creed (although everyone in St. Anthonys was Catholic). This meant that Joanne Stallone, the coolest girl, still had to draw hearts out for Elizabeth, the only Black girl in the class, and the boy Elizabeth sat next to, the nerd who couldnt spell Wednesday. Joanne had the 64-color Crayola box, so she used the gold- and copper-colored crayons that we did not get in our eight-packs. But Elizabeth and I worked as a team. She cut hearts out of notebook paper, and we stapled them on the construction paper. I drew cherubs on each. Furthermore, my mother, Nurse Vivian, sent me in with four dozen chocolate cupcakes. The boys forgave me, though I was called Wednesday the rest of the year. In 1969, the church removed St. Valentines Day from its calendar, but for Hallmark and FTD, it was a moneymaker, so it still gets celebrated. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And me? I dont color in construction and notebook paper anymore. My love letter instead is this column, written to a man I love in a city I love. This is our 39th Valentines Day together, and although we dont celebrate the fertility business, we do celebrate the romance. For two decades now weve taken our sons out to dinner with us. But this year, both sons have their own sweethearts, so we parents can celebrate on our own. Kevin, left, and Brian Fisher-Paulson, on their (first) wedding day, Sept. 19, 1987, at the Chelsea Transfer bar in New York City. Courtesy Kevin Fisher-Paulson Thus, Brian and I are going back to the roots of the festival. As you read this column, we are flying to the Eternal City to honor a marriage that until 2008 had been just as illegal as those conducted by Valentine. Whether your joy this week be secular, Christian or pagan, may your Valentines Day be filled with goat pelts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Charlie Hallowell pictured in Penrose in Oakland in 2013. Years after being accused of sexual harassment, he is planning to open a new restaurant. Sam Wolson/Special to the Chronicle Plans from a Bay Area chef accused of sexual misconduct to open a new restaurant in Oakland at the site of a beloved longtime business are being met with concern from former employees and community members. Charlie Hallowell, who was accused by more than 30 former workers of sexual harassment and verbal abuse in 2017 and 2018, has purchased 3724-3726 MacArthur Blvd., currently the site of the longtime World Ground Cafe in the Laurel District. The purchase was first reported by Oaklandside. Hallowell, who also owns Pizzaiolo in Oakland, and his business partner, Donna Insalaco, plan to open a new restaurant there a return thats prompted an outpouring of questions around redemption for those accused of misconduct. I dont wish him harm, said Sara Mizner, who worked for Hallowell as a server at Penrose, which later became Almond & Oak. But I think its clear he shouldnt be in a position of power. He shouldnt be anyones boss. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hallowell did not respond to requests for comment. Some voiced concerns about the new business replacing a decades-old neighborhood institution. Uffe Gustafsson, who opened World Ground Cafe in 1998, said he knew the owners had put the building up for sale, but was unaware it had been sold until he was told to write rent checks to the new owner, an investment company. He had no idea who was behind the company. I dont know who this person is, he said of Hallowell. All I know is Im writing a check to an investment company. Chef Charlie Hallowell has purchased the Laurel District building where World Ground Cafe has operated since 1998. Frederic Larson/The Chronicle He said hes looking for a new location for World Ground Cafe and hopes to stay in the neighborhood. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I dont know what to do, Gustafsson said. I dont want to leave this particular neighborhood. I live here and have worked here forever. In 2017, at the height of the national #MeToo movement, employees from all three of Hallowells restaurants Pizzaiolo, Boot & Shoe Service and Penrose described a degrading work environment where frequent sexual comments and inappropriate touching were the norm. The businesses also lacked a human resource department and structures for reporting harassment, workers said. Hallowell, then a celebrated chef who came up through Berkeley institution Chez Panisse, apologized for his behavior, temporarily stepped away and proposed a 12-step plan for him to return to restaurants, including setting up a monthly dunk tank behind Pizzaiolo. In the wake of the allegations, Hallowell sold Boot & Shoe and Penrose to former employees, who turned them into different restaurants. Mizner said she was hopeful at the time, as a believer in restorative justice, that there would be positive change. But she feels Hallowell hasnt taken full accountability. He can use the language and the discourse of accountability but he actually doesnt practice any accountability, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Charlie Hallowell talks with servers before service at Penrose in Oakland in 2014. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle Madeline Janning, who runs restaurant public-relations company M. Janning Communications, helped the new owners of Boot & Shoe Service transform it into the restaurant Sister. She also lives near World Ground Cafe and frequents businesses on MacArthur Boulevard almost daily. The thought of driving past his establishment, she said, kind of makes me sick. Janning applauded his public commitment to accountability and therapy, and said she believes in personal growth. But to her, that doesnt mean he should get another chance to be an employer in the hospitality industry. I dont think he should be able to open and operate restaurants, Janning said. Christina Alexis, a private chef in Oakland who has worked with former employees of Hallowells, including ones who came forward with allegations in 2017, said the news was quickly met in her circle with a frustrating feeling that its business as usual for Hallowell. There have been early conversations about protesting the new restaurant, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some social media commenters, meanwhile, defended Hallowell, questioning whether people accused of misconduct should be banned from returning to their careers. Flying Lizard, a sour beer brewed with lychee and dragon fruit, at the Rare Barrel in 2022, shortly before the Berkeley brewery was acquired by Cellarmaker. Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle For a brief, shining moment in Northern California, getting ones hands on sour beer was almost like a sport. Restaurants and bars would fight for the right to buy bottles from breweries like Berkeleys the Rare Barrel. Throngs of fans would congregate outside Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola (Santa Cruz County) every time it released a new beer, and anyone who snagged a bottle could later resell it online for multiples of the original price. It was like, oh my god, you released a beer with cherries, and there would be a line out the door, said Sante Adairius owner Adair Paterno. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the Bay Areas sour beer obsession has waned. The Rare Barrel, once considered one of the top producers of this style in the country, turned into a brewery known for IPAs. Another once-vaunted sour beer brand, Monterey Countys Yeast of Eden, hasnt released anything new since 2022. Even Sante Adairius, whose sours catapulted it to beer-nerd fame, has seen a cooling off. Weve seen a decrease in the craze, said Paterno. The bottles still sell, and they do eventually sell out, but its more of a trickle. Bottles at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, which has gained a frenzied following for its mixed-fermentation beers. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle There remains a niche market for sour beers, and many breweries continue to make them as a passion project. But there was a big correction, said Connor Casey, whose brewery Cellarmaker acquired the Rare Barrel. Sour beer is an umbrella term for several different beer styles, some of which have long histories in Europe, like Belgian lambic and Flanders red ale. Broadly, the term refers to a beer that has been fermented with wild, ambient yeast and bacteria, as opposed to inoculated with a lab-cultured yeast strain. Then its aged in a barrel, as opposed to steel tanks. Microbes that might be considered undesirable in a so-called clean beer, like a lager or IPA, are generally welcomed in a sour beer. The yeast brettanomyces might imbue a beer with a barnyard-like note, and the bacteria lactobacillus can produce that mouth-puckering acidity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad American brewers some of whom prefer the term mixed fermentation over sour have made these European traditions their own. Among the most established practitioners is Russian River Brewing Co., whose co-owner Vinnie Cilurzo began brewing with brettanomyces in 1999. Hes earned a steady following for these beers, which he ages in wine barrels with tart fruits, though theyve never approached the popularity of his cultish triple IPA, Pliny the Younger. Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo, owners of Russian River Brewing Co., seen in 2006 with two of their sour beers. The Sonoma County brewery has been making sours since 1999. Craig Lee/The Chronicle A new wave began forming around 2012, the year that both the Rare Barrel and Sante Adairius were founded. They put the creative sour-beer energy into overdrive, riffing on semi-obscure European recipes and throwing in all sorts of fruits for added flavor. There was something distinctly wine-like about this approach to brewing, with its dependence on the unique ambient yeast that lived in the brewery. (These beers often appeared in wine-like settings, too: The fine-dining restaurant Cyrus pours Sante Adairius as part of its wine pairing menu.) When J.C. Hill, co-founder of Montereys Alvarado Street Brewery, first tasted the Sante Adairius beers, it was a revelation. The idea of taking these European traditions and adding a local element, he said, just felt unreal. He began to think of these beers as having terroir a sense of place. With Alvarado Street brewer Andrew Rose, Hill launched a dedicated mixed-fermentation brand, Yeast of Eden, and opened a tasting room for it in Carmel-by-the-Sea. We were just enamored by the mystery and magic behind the microorganisms and how they can create such complex flavors, Hill said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sour Sunday, a huge tasting at Berkeleys Triple Rock and Jupiter brewpubs, became one of the cornerstone events of SF Beer Week each year. We had always loved the imports, but then we saw all these brewers in California experimenting with sours and barrel-aged beers, said John Martin, who owns the brew pubs. It was really this exciting, growing segment of the market. Drakes Brewing, which Martin also owns, started brewing a fair amount of sours, too. Yeast of Eden, a sour beer brand launched by Alvarado Street Brewery, is now on the back burner, its owner says. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle In these years, from around 2012 to 2016, demand for sour beer far exceeded supply, according to Cellarmakers Casey. But just as more breweries were getting in on the action, consumer interest shifted to other styles and demand decreased, he said. Suddenly, in his view, there was an oversupply. Palate fatigue set in for some drinkers. Its not for everybody, said Martin. Even at Sour Sunday, after youve had a bunch of them oh boy. It can be a little too much sour. From a raw materials standpoint, a sour is often less expensive to produce than, say, an IPA, which requires large amounts of pricey hops. But the overhead costs of mixed fermentation are high. They take much longer to ferment and age Sante Adairius sours take a full year from brewing to release. And because they often teeter on the edge of spoilage, with their ambient microbes, many batches end up going bad. Last year, Paterno dumped a batch of beer that would have been worth $50,000 because she didnt think it tasted good enough. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the pandemic, Hill turned the Yeast of Eden tasting room into another Alvarado Street taproom. (Despite the clever, Monterey County-specific pun, the name may have been a mistake: We didnt really realize how off-putting the word yeast is in the name of a restaurant, he laughed.) In 2022, Cellarmaker took over the Rare Barrel, and has begun brewing its other beers in the Berkeley facility. Yeast of Eden opened a tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea, but during the pandemic it became another taproom for its parent company, Alvarado Street Brewery. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle Neither Yeast of Eden nor the Rare Barrel is dead. Cellarmaker and Alvarado Street both continue to produce sours under these respective brands, albeit less of them. Its just on the back burner, Hill said of Yeast of Eden. Its not going to move the needle for us as a viable business, but we have a lot of pride in it. For the first time since it began, Sour Sunday wont be happening this year though Martin said that the main reason for that is that it would have conflicted with the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, some breweries are finding larger audiences for kettle sours a shortcut version of mixed-fermentation beers. To make a kettle sour, a brewer doses a tank with bacteria like lactobacillus, rather than hoping the bacteria makes its way into the beer naturally through the air. Its a quick, cheap, efficient and predictable way to give a beer that sour taste. While Alvarado Street is focusing less attention on Yeast of Eden, its been ramping up its production of kettle sours like Howzit Punch, brewed with passion fruit, orange and guava. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fieldwork Brewing Co. sells thousands of glasses of kettle sours a week at its various Bay Area taprooms, said co-founder Barry Braden. Known as the Parfait series, these kettle sours are made with oats, milk sugar, vanilla and various fruits like raspberry, blueberry and orange. They look as colorful as a tub of rainbow sherbet. The Rare Barrel taproom in Berkeley in 2022, shortly before it was acquired by Cellarmaker. Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle They comprise the third most-popular style of beer at Fieldworks taprooms, Braden said, after IPA and lager. Were totally committed, he said of the kettle sours. I just wouldnt be able to build a business plan around being a sour-focused brewery, especially if we had to barrel age them for a year or two. The brewers who continue to invest in the old-school, European-inspired, mixed-fermentation beers are doing it because they love the style and theyre still reaching the customers who share that passion, just as Russian River Brewing Co. did in the years before the sour beer craze. Teacher Mimi Leung greets students at Edwin and Anita Lee Newcomer School in San Francisco. The school boards citywide elections consistently elect members from Asian American, Latino and Black communities. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2023 San Franciscos schools are facing numerous challenges but how we elect the school board has never been one of them. Thats about to change. As reported by the Chronicle, the San Francisco Board of Education recently made a rushed decision to change the way its members get elected from citywide, or at-large, elections to smaller district elections. The move is a response to a threatened lawsuit claiming a violation of the 2002 California Voting Rights Act, which was created to give minority voters better representation by redrawing election maps. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the decision makes no sense because in San Francisco, candidates from minority groups have consistently been elected in at-large elections. The same cannot be said for district elections. Since 1972, the San Francisco school board has held citywide elections. This system has consistently produced school board members from Asian American, Latino and Black communities. By comparison, historical San Francisco voting patterns suggest district elections will result in fewer members of these minority communities being elected. For example, the election process for city supervisors returned to district elections in 2000. Since then, white candidates have won a majority of the elections. In the same period, Asian Americans, Latinos and African Americans have won two-thirds of citywide school board elections. In each minority group, candidates typically fared worse for district supervisor than in at-large elections for school board. Why the difference in outcome? While once geographically concentrated, Asian American, Latino and African American San Franciscans now live in various parts of the city and cannot easily be concentrated to maximize voting power in particular districts. Because of the way election data are collected in precincts that contain about 1,000 voters each and the lack of polling or exit voter data on school board races, how any particular demographic group votes is a guess. But shifting from an at-large system in which Asian Americans, Latinos and African Americans win two-thirds of the time to a district system where they win less than half the time runs contrary to the California Voting Rights Acts purpose to empower minority communities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad District election of school board members ends a voters access to all seven board members in exchange for one district board member. This will be confusing. Unlike the neighborhood issues that supervisors help their constituents with, such as streets, branch libraries and businesses, San Francisco students choose or are assigned to schools all over the city. If a Mission District parents children attend an elementary school in the Haight and a high school in the Sunset, which board member does the parent talk to about their childrens experiences? The one they vote for or the ones where the schools are located? Over the years, some of our strongest school board member advocates for non-English speaking immigrant students, such as Eddie Chin and Carlota Del Portillo, have not resided in areas with large concentrations of those families. Will we be asking school board members to disregard the new district lines to engage with students outside their districts? The California Voting Rights Act was written by two well-respected attorneys Joaquin Avila, one of my mentors who, like me, was president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Robert Rubin, a top immigration attorney. It was written to address gaps in coverage in the federal Voting Rights Act that were created by the U.S. Supreme Court and was intended primarily for small and rural California counties and school districts that had sizable Latino populations but never elected a Latino or resident from often segregated neighborhoods. Today, the well-intentioned legislation is being weaponized by a cottage industry of attorneys seeking the payment fee built into the law to incentivize attorneys to take on these cases. A Chronicle investigation found that these lawyers have made more than $15 million in the past decade from California Voting Rights Act lawsuits and settlements. In other words, the school boards shift to district elections has nothing to do with protecting minority communities and everything to do with protecting the district from lawyers ready to take advantage of the situation to fill their pockets. A district election system will only make it that much harder to tackle the budgetary and educational challenges ahead. Its not inconceivable that district-elected board members might one day gang up on one or two districts and disproportionately close schools there because they do not represent those neighborhoods. This is how citywide vision is lost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The right to vote is the most basic right in our democracy. We must not let it be infringed upon, especially with no demonstrated record of a problem and no public input into remedies. A closed-door settlement between school board incumbents and an out-of-town lawyer with no known ties to San Francisco parents or communities is unacceptable. The world will be different in 10 years and hence leaders must get prepared for the intelligent age and use technology to create a more human-centric and inclusive world. As a first step, we need ethical framework to regulate Artificial Intelligence, said World Economic Forum (WEF) Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab in the opening session at the World Governments Summit 2024. Schwab laid out three goals that governments should work to achieve amid the rapid technological transformation. He said the first goal was to use technology in making the world more sustainable, resilient, humane and inclusive. He urged world leaders, as a second goal, to engage their populations in the transition to an intelligent age, as people fear this fast speed of change which they have to digest, he said. As for the third goal, Schwab emphasised the need to establish ethical frameworks to regulate AI and ensure it is used for good, not for malicious purposes. "If we look forward, we dont want to move into using the Fourth Industrial Revolution into a cold bureaucracy. We dont want to move into a technocracy. We want to move towards what I would call a humanocracy, a world where we use technology to use all our human potential and to create even a better world," remarked Schwab. He touched on the integration of big data, quantum computing and AI. He added, We have to be ready for a world where we combine all of these together to get the greatest possible benefit to serve humanity. The WEF chief noted that we are witnessing a future driven by the technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; we see the dawn of a new era for human civilization. This vision will unleash potential for societies, where the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence are available. Schwab pointed out that technology in the new era of AI will not be just a tool or an extension of humanitys capabilities, but rather a partner in shaping the world. "In the new era, human well-being will be prioritized through robotics and AI. At the core of this transformation, there is commitment to ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are equally shared to bridge the digital gap within societies," he said, stressing that the human being should be the core of this vision for the new era. Highlighting the potential of the intelligent age, he pointed out that the intelligent era will contribute to the development of healthcare and improved telehealth technology, so it can help whoever needs it anywhere in the world. The future isnt happening, but government leaders are shaping the future. We want to move into a human-technological world to use all our technological potential, he added. This new civilisation is within reach and is not something that will happen with the next generation. The speed of this transformation is very great, and we have to prepare with all our forces for this new type of intelligent age, he concluded. The WGS 2024, hosts over 25 heads of state and governments, over 85 international organisations, 140 governments, thought leaders and experts, to discuss major global future trends in 110 interactive dialogues with over 200 prominent speakers. The summit will host 23 ministerial meetings and executive sessions welcoming over 300 ministers.-TradeArabia News Service Charlene Nijmeh, left, chair of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, is running to unseat Rep. Zoe Lofgren, right. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2020; JIm Gensheimer/Special to the Chronicle 2022 Top Democratic leaders waded into a Bay Area House race after they said voters received flyers that wrongly imply they endorsed the Democratic incumbents challenger. Charlene Nijmeh, chair of the Castro Valley-based Muwekma Ohlone tribe, is running against Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, whos represented the district since 1995. On Monday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., condemned Nijmehs use of photos that show them each posing with Nijmeh next to the words Its time to pass the torch to the next generation. Imagine what she will get done in office, working for you. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were quite surprised to see that somebody who is running against our colleague and friend Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren had recently sent a campaign brochure with our photos, giving the false impression that she may have our support in this race. That is not true, Pelosi and Jeffries said in a statement. Politics can be a messy sport, but its pretty disgraceful to use our images to try to mislead voters. We cannot be more clear and enthusiastic in our complete endorsement of Zoe Lofgren. Nijmeh said in a statement to the Chronicle that the photos werent meant to suggest an endorsement but were my way of aligning myself with democrats who actually support my tribe as opposed to Zoe Lofgren. Early last year, some California lawmakers came into conflict with Nijmeh and the Muwekma tribe after the San Francisco Inquirer which is operated by a man who has done paid consulting work for Nijmeh published more than a dozen articles about the tribes recognition efforts. During a contentious January 2023 meeting between members of the tribe and members of Congress, lawmakers including Lofgren, Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, Eric Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, and Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, said the website had made false claims about their positions on the tribes bid for recognition. Nijmeh told lawmakers then that the consultant had a right to free speech and that she couldnt stop him from exercising it. Nijmeh and the consultant each told the Chronicle that the statements and articles on the Inquirer website were accurate. Another politician said a separate campaign mailer is touting a false endorsement of Nijmeh from her. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Blanca Alvarado, former chair of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and vice mayor of San Jose, said she was distressed to learn voters were being told she endorsed Nijmeh. The purported endorsement was made in a print publication meant to look like a newspaper that was received by voters. The publication promotes Nijmehs candidacy but doesnt include any information about who distributed it. I did not endorse Charlene Nijmeh. I am a longtime supporter of Zoe Lofgren and the fact that Charlene used my name without authorization is a disaster, is a tragedy. She is not to be believed, period, Alvarado told the Chronicle on Monday. Nijmeh said she was not involved with and didnt authorize the print publication that said Alvarado endorsed her. She said she believes the publication was the work of Matthew Ricchiazzi, the consultant who launched the San Francisco Inquirer. Ricchiazzi could not be reached for comment. It is disrespectful to the voters in Californias 18th Congressional District that one of my opponents has chosen to embrace fake news and disinformation and deceive the public about endorsements as part of her campaign, Lofgren said in a statement to the Chronicle. I am proud of the overwhelming real endorsements I have earned I dont need to lie about them or make them up. Nijmeh said in her statement that her campaign has not put out any literature that is false or misleading. If you are suggesting that my publishing pictures of myself with leading democrats is misleading, then everyone should delete all of their social media pages with any pictures with any politicians. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another endorsement being touted by Nijmeh is legitimate, but may run afoul of federal regulations governing nonprofit groups. Nijmehs campaign posted a letter of support Feb. 2 from Tuan Nguyen, chair of the Asian-American National Committee Inc., calling for voters to join me in supporting and/or voting for Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh to be the next United States Congresswoman. Nguyen confirmed to the Chronicle on Monday that he endorsed Nijmeh. She is a good friend of mine. So, the endorsement is for myself, not so much the organization. I do this personally support candidates, individually, not as an organization. The letter was written on letterhead for the Asian-American National Committee, referred to Nguyen as its founder, chairman and CEO several times, includes a stamp of the organizations logo and has a footer that says, A National Non-Profit, Non-Partisan 501(c)(3) Federal Tax-Exempt and Bona Fide Organization. Nguyens organization is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To retain that tax-exempt status, such groups are prohibited from engaging in political activity. The brass doors at the Little Fox Theatre building on Pacific Avenue in San Francisco were on the grand Fox Theatre movie palace from 1929 to 1963. Peter Hartlaub/The Chronicle As one San Francisco mogul shrinks his real estate footprint in the city, another is slowly scooping up an entire block in a coveted neighborhood on the edge of the Financial District. Public records show that real estate investor Clint Reilly has sold the Little Fox Theatre property at 535 Pacific Ave. in Jackson Square that hes owned for decades. The buyer is listed as 535 Pacific LLC, a limited liability company that is registered to a Bayview warehouse thats linked to LoveFrom, the design firm of famed former Apple designer Jony Ive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The value of the sale was recorded as $59.7 million meaning that the roughly 35,200-square-foot building traded for $1,695 per square foot. A representative of LoveFrom did not respond to an inquiry about the deal. Over the last three decades of owning this building I developed a great sense of loyalty to Jackson Squares historic architecture and deep roots in the founding of our city," said Reilly in a statemetn to the Chronicle. "This area is a mecca for creators, innovators and iconoclasts as is its neighbor the Financial District. This is a great vote of confidence in the future of San Francisco real estate. According to real estate information firm Costar, Reilly acquired the former theater in the early1990s for roughly $4 million. Clint Reilly, with wife Janet in 2017, has sold some of his San Francisco property. Susana Bates The Clint Reilly Organizations website describes the Little Fox Theatre building as perhaps best known as the location in which Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas edited elements of films like Apocalypse Now and American Graffiti. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prior to the pandemic, the Jackson Square neighborhood was a popular landing spot for venture capital firms, and the former theater has operated as an office building in recent decades. The property is around the corner from multiple properties owned by Ive, who worked for Apple for more than two decades. In 2019, he co-founded the LoveFrom creative collective with fellow designer Marc Newsom. Public records show that Ive owns two adjacent buildings at 809 and 831 Montgomery Street, as well as a third nearby at 100 Columbus Ave. that is used as a parking lot. He paid a total of $35.5 million for the three properties. And, last year, a 10,000-square-foot office building in San Franciscos Jackson Square neighborhood was acquired for $38 million by an unidentified buyer said to be linked to Ive. Apple CEO Tim Cook, left, and chief design officer Jony Ive look at the Mac Pro in the display room at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose in 2019. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press 2019 Additionally, public records show that Ive purchased two condo units in 2022 and in 2023 at 845 Montgomery St. a condo building that sits adjacent to 831 Montgomery, for a collective $4.5 million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Plans filed with the San Francisco Planning department suggest that representatives of Ive last year sought to merge his 809 and 831 Montgomery properties and turn them into a studio and meeting spaces. On the block of Montgomery Street between Jackson Street and Pacific Avenue, Ive now owns three buildings, plus the two condos at 845 Montgomery St., one of which is a ground-floor storefront. The 100 Columbus Ave. parking site is behind the Montgomery Street buildings, and the Pacific Avenue building acquired last week is just around the corner. Fridays sale marks the second time this year that Reilly has reduced his real estate holdings in San Francisco. Last month, Reilly, a former political consultant who also owns the Nob Hill Gazette, sold a 5,200-square-foot Sea Cliff mansion an investment property at 870 El Camino Del Mar that's located nearby his personal home for $14.5 million. As of last year, Reilly and his wife, Janet, also sought to sell their 130-acre Napa estate, seeking roughly $22 million. Meanwhile Ukrainian Security is Deteriorating by Stephen Bryen French President Emmanuel Macron has put off his visit to Ukraine, officially scheduled for this week, citing security concerns. The French government has not issued any public statement. Macrons change of plans was revealed in the French Magazine Challenges. Macrons effusive promises to Ukraine may now be on hold. Macron was expected to make a number of attractive offers to Ukraine including (1) new warplanes (2) reconstruction aid and (3) a bilateral security guarantee agreement. Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron The Mirage 2000 goes back to 1986 but the D model comes later, entering service in 1995. Designated as a Diversifie/Multirole model, unlike its predecessors it was not engineered to carry nuclear weapons. It does, however, carry the SCALP-EG, which is the French-version of the Franco-British Storm Shadow, which Ukraine has been using. To handle the SCALP cruise missiles, the Ukrainians rely on the Su-24S which has been specially modified. Originally Ukraine had 24 Su-24s, but 18 of them have been shot down, damaged or destroyed by the Russians. To protect these aircraft, Ukraine keeps them at the Starokostiantyniv air base in western Ukraine, far from Russian air defense systems. The Russians have repeatedly bombed this base. The French Air Force initially had 86 Mirage 2000D (all the other models have been retired). The Air Force decided to retain 55 of them, after improvements and modifications, and retire the remaining 20 platforms. It is these 20 Ukraine wants. At present there is no answer whether France will hand over the surplus Mirage 2000Ds. Even if the French are pushed into offering them, there are multiple problems. The Mirage 2000 series requires significant logistical and maintenance support, none of which exists in Ukraine. Ukraine, which already is facing severe challenges in supporting used F-16s coming from Europe, would now have to maintain a totally different aircraft, meaning Ukraine would need to find the technicians, build parts and supply warehouses, to support non-replaceable aircraft. Likewise the Mirage 2000D means pilots will have to be trained to operate them. Ukraine has already lost most of its qualified top gun-type pilots, so it will need to start from scratch. Even if France sent the planes tomorrow to Ukraine, at least a year of training will be needed for pilots to adapt to them. Unfortunately, the Mirage 2000D was designed mostly as a ground-attack plane; it would face Russian top of the line air superiority fighters in the class of the Su-35 and, as a result, would fare badly from such encounters. Whether this type of jet can survive Russian air defense systems, including mobile platforms such as Pantsir, is open to doubt. Macron was also supposed to coordinate his visit with an organization called MEDEF International. MEDEF is a non-profit organization created by the French Business Council. It was to go with Macron to set up a reconstruction program in Ukraine that would, in practice, significantly benefit French companies. It is in parallel to what the EU and the US are doing toward the same goal. All are looking to use post-war donations to boost each of the participants private sector. It is not clear if MEDEF would go to Ukraine without Macron, but it is unlikely. Macron was looking to leverage Frances weapons donations with money back from the EU (and maybe the US) for its private companies rebuilding Ukraine. The third goal of Macrons visit was to offer Ukraine a bilateral security guarantee deal under which Paris would deliver more sophisticated weaponry, including long-range cruise missiles. Just like the French, the Germans are offering Ukraine a bilateral security guarantee and plan to sign it at the Munich Security Conference. The UK in January already signed a security guarantee for Ukraine, part of a package of security agreements promised at the Vilnius Summit. At that meeting in Vilnius, G7 the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan signed a Joint Declaration (PDF) committing to the creation of long term security guarantees for Ukraine. THe US started negotiating a bilateral security guarantee for Ukraine in August, 2023 but has not reached any agreement as yet. None of these agreements have or will have mutual security pledges in case of an external attack (something NATO offers under Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO Treaty). It is worth considering that despite Western claims that Russias Special Military Operation (SMO) was an invasion of Ukraine and constitutes aggression, NATO partners are stymied by the fact that the United Nations has made no such declaration. This is important because the NATO Treaty in Article 1 directly invokes the United Nations in the following treaty language: The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. As the SMO cannot be labelled an aggression under the UN, NATO is not in a legal position to offer Ukraine NATO membership, at least while the current war is going on. Thus the Europeans are offering security guarantees that actually are not guarantees. Even the promise of weapons is not a guarantee, for the simple reason that Europe has to have weapons it can hand over to Ukraine. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Euro-weapons are becoming an endangered species. Why Did Macron Cancel? Did Macron have second thoughts about handing over money and weapons to Ukraine? There is some evidence that is the case, as political commentators in France are saying that while Ukraine is getting handouts, suffering French farmers are getting nothing. But Macron also says Ukraine will be a long conflict and France will support Ukraine. On February 10th Macron announced an Artillery Coalition with the United States to send more Caesar 155mm artillery systems, a self-propelled howitzer, to Ukraine, leaving the French arsenal nearly empty. Internally the French president is under pressure not only from farmers but also from the political right. Marine Le Pens Rassemblement National (RN) will likely win the French portion of the EU election, upsetting Macrons Renaissance Party. Le Pen has consistently opposed economic sanctions on Russia and French and European deliveries of weapons to Ukraine. While her partys vote in the EU parliament wont by itself change the direction of Europe, there is a growing tendency in Europe to vote right and to be increasingly critical of support for Ukraine. Security Situation in Ukraine The security situation in Ukraine is deteriorating, fed by dissonance inside the Ukrainian army and by a conscription drive that has led to violence, including the shooting of a Ukrainian conscription agent. Increasingly the Ukrainian government is using savage methods to go after potential recruits. There are now videos showing violence against them by government and police agents as well as violence against recruits once taken to army barracks. Incidents are widespread and growing. Meanwhile some units of the Ukrainian army are in open revolt. A report coming from the front line near the village of Marinka from a group of soldiers in the Ukrainian 46th Separate AirMobile Brigade, demanded relief from the battlefront. The video statement (here translated) is quite amazing. An unnamed commander says: We are mobilized servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we are located near the village of Marinka. For more than 18 months we have been defending the section of the front allocated to us. While we are shedding blood for our Motherland, the children of oligarchs and deputies are vacationing abroad, driving expensive cars, having fun in clubs, knowing that mobilization will not affect them. We have no ammunition, we are running out of food and water, we are abandoned by our commanders to certain death. We appeal to Mr. President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a request to return us home, because we have already paid our debt to the Motherland, and we demand that the so-called golden youth, deputies who sit in their offices and steal the budget of Ukraine, are sent to the front. We require rotation. If there is no action on the part of the command, in the near future we will leave our positions and go to Kyiv. We are not against defending our Motherland, we are not traitors, but the actions of the command force us to act radically. Glory to Ukraine. Macron probably now knows that the Ukrainian government is sitting on tenterhooks. Crumbling around them are military units while the recruiting process and the new conscription law are starting to get a stiff, negative public reaction. The last thing Macron needs is to be associated with a humanitarian disaster while he is touting Ukraine and disregarding struggles inside France. Macron is in a trap. Stephen Bryen is a former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and is a leading expert in security strategy and technology. Bryen writes for Asia Times, American Thinker, Epoch Times, Newsweek, Washington Times, the Jewish Policy Center and others. Ruen ... The time has come for young emaSwati entrepreneurs to seize opportunities to manufacture basic every day consumer products for export to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The main drive is to get emaSwati to manufacture products locally, sell locally, regionally and internationally using the various initiatives made available by government. Youth Chamber of Commerce, Industries, AGOA Eswatinis economy is at a crossroads. While the country boasts a strong manufacturing sector, diversification and export growth are crucial for sustainable development. AGOA presents a unique opportunity for Eswatinis small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tap into the vast US market for manufactured goods. I have asked Allan-Lloyd Junior Hamusokwe, Head Researcher at the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries (YCCIE) - Eswatini, to delve into the potential of AGOA for Eswatinis SMEs, introduce the YCCIE 2024 SME Start-Up Tool Kit, and emphasise the importance of value chain development for risk reduction, profit maximisation and sustainable success. This article has been presented by him to try and give us as much information as possible on this topic. Manufactured goods landscape Eswatinis manufacturing sector significantly contributes to the economy, accounting for around 30 per cent of GDP and employing over 20 per cent of the workforce. The sector is dominated by textiles and apparel, with exports exceeding US$1 billion annually. However, diversification is essential for long-term growth. Current exports and AGOAs potential Eswatinis current manufactured goods exports to the US under AGOA primarily comprise: * Textiles and apparel: Cotton yarn, fabric and finished garments benefit from duty-free access under AGOA. * Wood and wood products: Furniture, doors and processed wood products offer export potential. * Agro-processed products: Canned fruits, jams and beverages present opportunities for value-added exports. AGOA opens doors for further diversification: * Metal products: The National Development Plan (NDP) envisions expansion beyond mining, with potential for steel fabrication, wire products and light engineering. * Electronics and light assembly: Government seeks to attract foreign direct investment in electronics manufacturing, creating opportunities for SMEs in light assembly. * Plastics: Existing plastic injection molding and extrusion plants can expand production for export. * Advanced textiles: Technical textiles and non-woven fabrics hold promise, as highlighted in the NDP. Manufactured goods exports statistics The International Trade Centre (ITC) reports that Eswatinis exports of manufactured goods to the US under AGOA reached US$137 million in 2021, with textiles and apparel accounted for the majority. However, the growth potential is significant. The AGOA market for apparel alone is estimated at US$19.6 billion, with opportunities in other sectors like furniture, plastics and machinery. The country can effectively use light manufacturing to create jobs for the youth, earn foreign currency and create wealth for many young emaSwati who will choose to start these businesses. Empowering entrepreneurs Recognising the challenges aspiring SMEs face, the YCCIE has developed the 2024 SME Start-Up Tool Kit. This comprehensive guide provides: * Market research and feasibility analysis tools to identify viable opportunities in the US market under AGOA. * Information on AGOA eligibility requirements and compliance procedures to navigate the trade agreement effectively. * Guidance on value chain development to build strategic partnerships and reduce risks. * Financial planning and resource mobilisation strategies to secure funding for business ventures. * Mentorship and networking opportunities to connect with experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. Importance of value chain development for SMEs Understanding and integrating into value chains is crucial for SME success in the export market. Value chain development involves: * Identifying your niche within the manufacturing process (eg supplying raw materials, processing intermediate goods or assembling final products). * Building strong relationships with other actors in the chain (eg suppliers, distributors and customers). * Investing in quality control and certification to meet US standards. * Continuously innovating and adapting to market trends and customer demands. By adopting a value chain approach, SMEs can: * Reduce risks by mitigating dependence on single buyers or suppliers. * Increase profits by capturing a larger share of the value added in the production process. * Improve efficiency through collaboration and knowledge sharing. * Enhance sustainability by adopting responsible sourcing and production practices. Conclusion Eswatinis SMEs have the potential to be major players in the export of manufactured goods to the US under AGOA. By leveraging the YCCIE 2024 SME Start-Up Tool Kit, understanding the importance of value chain development and capitalising on the opportunities presented by AGOA, Eswatinis SMEs can contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation and sustainable development. The focus has been on AGOA for this article because it is an opportunity that emaSwati are not taking full advantage of. The reason might have been that they simply do not know much about the initiative, or they know but do not know how it can be accessed. The general feeling has been that AGOA is for big businesses and that access is very difficult. We need to have more information on how an ordinary liSwati can manufacture for international markets such as AGOA because the aim was to help ordinary Africans. Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com MBABANE Former DPM Albert Heshane Shabangus daughter-in-law says the country is in danger of inyoka makhandakhanda. Sihle Mhlanga, who was staying with Alberts son, Mduduzi Shabangu, made this utterance when she was speaking about an alleged syndicate or monster, which she purported, had rendered emaSwati unsafe. Albert died in 2006. She was appearing before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that is investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the Office of the Master of the High Court Office yesterday. Mhlanga alleged that the syndicate involved the courts, banks, Masters Office, the police service, lawyers, Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and the registrar of companies. Mhlanga told the commission that people could no longer run to the courts or the police, not even to their parents. The courts and the police service, according to Mhlanga, were allegedly redundant. We are now gangsters. Its the survival of the fittest. MaSwati, sitokhona kuphila lemphilo lena? Nobody is safe. Even as we sit here we are not safe, said Mhlanga. Son According to Mhlanga, Mduduzi died in 2021. They stayed together for 10 years and deliberately chose not to get married. She said they had a son, who is six years old. She narrated that she and Mduduzi were responsible, private and hard-working, regardless of who their parents were. She said everyone was aware of the contribution of their parents to the country. She also told the commission that she and Mduduzi were not aware that their parents were related, not only due to that, they were running the government of the country at some point. Mhlanga pointed out that they came from decent families and she gave the Shabangu family stability. She stated that there were no squabbles in Mduduzis estate. There is only one thing that is muddying the waters. It was Mduduzis business partner, Mabandla Nxumalo, alleged Mhlanga. Mduduzi was a lecturer at Eswatini College of Technology and also a co-director of Swazi Lifts with Nxumalo. The business, according to Mhlanga, was Mduduzis idea and he decided to work with Nxumalo. The assets in Mduduzis estate, Mhlanga submitted, were the income from the business, cars, lifts and their parts, among others. She mentioned that the company had installed over 100 lifts in the country. She alleged that the company installed 18 lifts at the International Convention Centre and Five Star Hotel (ICC&Fish). Mhlanga said she was an accountant and a public officer of Swazi Lifts. However, she told the commission that she was no longer part of the company. Died She told the court that she did not know how ERS had got her removed. She stated that after Mduduzi died, she could not enter the building and Nxumalo allegedly wrote to ERS questioning who was fiddling (didnt say with what) because Mduduzi had died. Mhlanga said ERS was still to explain to her how she was removed. She also alleged that when Mduduzi died, Nxumalo had resigned as director. They removed me in September 2021. I saw a notice in the newspaper telling the public to be aware of me as Swazi Lifts did not know me. Now my child and I are not getting anything from the company, she alleged. Other property, according to Mhlanga, were eight company vehicles, which were allegedly kept by Nxumalo while Mduduzi had only two in his possession. She said this was despite that they were both 50 per cent shareholders. We are not getting anything. Not even a car. Shabangu (Mduduzi) bought me a car, thanking me for giving him a child. I then saw Mabandla (Nxumalo) coming to attach the car through a deputy sheriff and he said it belonged to him. That sheriff wanted to assault me. I recently saw him going round my residence. Mhlanga also told the commission that she had a joint Will with Mduduzi. However, she said Mduduzis mother, Minah Shabangu, contested the signature on the Will at the High Court. She stated that Minah, with whom she said she had a good relationship with, told her that she was not aware who had suggested that she should challenge the signature on the Will. The court, according to Mhlanga, said a handwriting expert should be involved to determine its authenticity. She said up to today, nothing had happened, more than six months later. The master appointed a curator and when she wanted maintenance money from the company, the attorney who was the curator called to tell her to lower the amount she wanted. Mhlanga said the attorney later called to tell her that he would no longer proceed with being the curator because he had discovered that he was related to Nxumalo. Another attorney, according to Mhlanga, was appointed and he avoided her afterwards. She alleged that Nxumalo instituted frivolous proceedings against her in court and those matters were all pending. Mhlanga alleged that Nxumalo transferred large sums of money from the company despite that he and Mduduzi were the two signatories. She said the master was aware of this information. When the commission asked what her gripe was, she said she had discovered that there was a syndicate in the country, which she referred to as inyoka makhandakhanda. Incarcerated There is no way that Nxumalo angasi knocker if he is not in bed with the courts, banks, Masters Office and the police, because all things being equal, he should be incarcerated. What brought me here is the monster that has put this country in danger. We cant run to court or the police or to our parents because they are too old. Members of the commission are Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini (Chairperson), Judge President Sifiso Nsibande, Judge Mzwandile Fakudze, Judge Maxine Langwenya and Judge Lorraine Hlophe. MBABANE The Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) has announced a scholarship worth E0.5 million for all deserving emaSwati. The announcement was made during the forums general meeting held in Ermelo over the weekend. MSF Spokesperson Sivumelwano Nyembe said the funding known as Mngomezulu Eswatini Bursary Scheme, aims to assist emaSwati students and pupils. This means the scholarship is open to pupils who have completed Grade VII and are going to high school, as well as those who have completed high school and have been accepted in tertiary institutions. Assistance Nyembe said financial assistance would be extended to learners who came from disadvantaged backgrounds and individuals with disabilities. By investing in education, we strive to create a brighter future for our community and contribute to the overall development of Eswatini, Nyembe said. The spokesperson said the bursary would also be extended to the children of those who were incarcerated due to their political beliefs and those who became victims of the June/July 2021 political unrest. He stated that preference would be given to high school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds based on their assessments. To apply for the bursary, the spokesperson said an application could be downloaded on www.lawderswa.com. Students are advised to send applications to admin@lawderswa.com and ensure that all required documents are attached, including proof of academic achievements and registration. Registration For one to qualify, they must have passed Grade VII and obtained a primary school certificate or passed Form V or equivalent. They must be registered in a high school or tertiary institution in Eswatini with proof of academic record. Furthermore, the applicants should provide proof of registration from the relevant school or institution. Meanwhile, he stated that other discussions in their meeting included reflecting on the recent national elections and what positives they had brought so far. According to Nyembe, during their reflection, it was pointed out that nothing positive had come out of the national elections and that there was no promise in that things would change, but instead they were getting worse. These elections are a licence for those in authority to use government coffers as they please, he alleged. This, he said, showed that there would be more erosion in terms of lack of governance to provide service delivery for critical things. Nyembe said relief could be made by government, but there would be instances when a reoccurrence of events would be met, making the situation worse-off. MBABANE Coarse salt was found scattered on the premises of the Mbabane Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (ENFRES), raising suspicions that someone may have performed a ritual. ENFRES personnel said the discovery had left them shell-shocked as they struggled to go about their duties as usual. The salt was found scattered next to one of the offices, some at the entrance to the office, while some was scattered towards the hallway to the first floor. Suspicious The personnel claimed to have seen an officer engage in suspicious behaviour on Saturday and yesterday. When the Times journalist arrived, cleaners at the institution were standing aloof, saying they were afraid to do their work in fear of receiving spells, should they touch the foreign substances. They said the salt particles looked like they had been mixed with other oily substances. One of the fire personnel alleged that an officer came to work on Saturday, despite being off-duty. It was alleged that the officer should be held liable for the scattered salt. One of the fire personnel, who allegedly witnessed the Saturday incident, told this publication that, the official made certain incantations while dispersing the salt. The source said the official had continued to scatter the salt, despite being aware that some junior officers were watching. I was left shocked and speechless to see one of the officials performing such stunts in broad daylight. I have never seen someone doing such a thing since I was born, alleged the eyewitness. Another officer said as if that was not enough, the same official arrived early at work yesterday and continued where he left off on Saturday, by scattering more salt in different entrances to the offices. Information gathered from the sources was that the officer allegedly scattered the salt on the pathway, where everyone was bound to pass through to access other offices, situated on the first floor. When journalists went to investigate, part of the salt was found in the garage. Staff members who looked distraught could not respond to questions with ease, saying they feared being victimised, should they be caught out for speaking to the media. While conversing among themselves, they said they were tired of the said official. On the other hand, the official accused of scattering the salt said; I did not see any salt on the ground. I came as early as 7:30am yesterday. It means someone did this purposely to tarnish my name. Confirmed The officer further told this publication that one of the officers confirmed to have seen salt on the ground but had no idea of its source. According to the officer, there was currently ongoing tensions between him and some fire personnel, following the ongoing recruitment exercise. The officer said accusations were flying now and then. When asked about Saturdays incident, the senior officer confirmed coming to work on the day, since the recruitment exercise had not been finalised. I did not see the salt they are talking about even on Saturday. Angiwubonangaloswayi mine ngalelolanga, said the officer. MANZINI In a shocking and tragic incident, a member of the K9 gang at Mbhuleni was assaulted and killed by a group of men, allegedly sent by his boss. The attack took place at KaGcina, Sigodvweni on Friday night, and the deceased suffered multiple stab wounds. The name of the deceased is known to this publication but cannot be published because his family could not be drawn for comment at the time of compiling this report. It is alleged that there was once a conflict between the deceased and his boss, and the incident may be connected to the members killing gang. The incident is currently under investigation and the police have arrested two people who have been charged in connection with the murder case. According to sources, the deceased had a squabble with the K9 gang boss in November last year, which turned into a physical fight, leading to both parties stabbing each other. It was further revealed that they both sustained injuries, where the deceased was admitted to hospital for a week, and the boss for two weeks. It was further disclosed that both the deceased and the K9 gang boss supposedly smoked the peace pipe, as they would be seen socialising. Organised However, it was not until Friday, that the boss allegedly organised his members to tail the deceased and identify his whereabouts. He was said to have been spotted at KaGcina, a local drinking spot, where he was reportedly enjoying alcoholic beverages. The nine members of the gang waited until the premises were closed. On his way back home, they caught up with him and attacked him, where they stabbed him, the sources narrated. They further revealed that seven of the gang members fled while two remained to see that he was indeed dead. It was disclosed that when they realised that he was still breathing, they then took a knife which they used to slit his throat. It was then that he reportedly succumbed to his injuries and the men fled. Meanwhile, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old man of Mbekelweni and a 29-year-old man of Mbhuleni. She said the pair was charged in connection with the murder of a 31-year-old man of Siphofaneni, who died after being stabbed several times all over the body with a sharp object at Sigodvweni. Mnguni revealed that the arrests were made on Sunday at around 2:20pm. In another incident, the deputy police spokesperson revealed that a 45-year-old man of Montigny was discovered dead with a wound on the scalp, as well as a fracture on the right arm while at Alpha Six Mhlambanyatsi Montigny forest on Sunday. Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, illuminated the skyline in a dazzling display to celebrate the unveiling of Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport's new brand identity. The momentous occasion paid tribute to the visionary leadership and lasting legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's Founding Father. Abu Dhabi International Airport was renamed as Zayed International Airport on February 9, following the recent launch of the Terminal A. The new terminal, one of the worlds largest terminals, can accommodate up to 45 million passengers per year. Sheikh Zayed's unwavering commitment to progress has paved the way for the remarkable transformation of the UAE, and the newly named airport marks a pivotal milestone in bringing his powerful vision to life. Zayed International Airport welcomes travellers to embark on a journey, reimagined, promising exceptional experiences and seamless connections to the world, while upholding the values and aspirations of Sheikh Zayed, said a statement. -TradeArabia News Service MBABANE - Following His Majesty King Mswati IIIs directive on tackling corruption in the country, corruption-related cases will now be dealt with. This means that the cases will be fully investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), taken to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and if ripe, find their way to court. This follows the launch of a tripartite committee, the Anti-corruption Task Team, to enhance the fight against corruption. The task team, which was launched by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, comprises of the DPP, the national commissioner of police (NATCOM) and the commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The DPPs Office is currently held by the Acting DPP, Lomvula Hlophe, while the NATCOMs Office is occupied by Lydia Dlamini. Maphevu Mkhatshwa is holding the fort at the ACC Commissioners Office. Report The task team will report to the PM and will work with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane. The PM said corruption was a worldwide problem that had become endemic in the country. The launch follows a number of complaints by the nation during Sibaya last year, whereby they voiced their frustrations on people getting away with corrupt acts. They suggested that those found responsible for any corrupt practices should be held accountable. His Majesty King Mswati III also raised his concerns about corruption, which he said stood in the way of progress in the nations plans, programmes and projects for development. He was speaking during the official opening of the 12th Parliament on Friday last week His Majesty said emaSwati made their voices heard during Sibaya, expressing frustration with the lack of tangible progress in addressing this issue. The King encouraged government to prioritise taking action on this matter and said it was high time they witnessed judgments passed on individuals involved in corruption, holding them accountable for their actions. Speaking during the launch of the task team, the PM said corruption significantly impacted democracy and the rule of law. When power is utilised for personal gain, the political system loses credibility and justice cannot prevail. Corruption undermines our progress as a nation and impacts negatively on service delivery, human and socio-economic development, job creation and public trust in government, as well as investor confidence and the objectives and goals of the new government given to us at Sibaya and waters down investment, the PM said. He said the launch of the task team was a positive step towards promoting transparency, accountability and good governance in line with the policy direction that was so clearly articulated by His Majesty during the official opening of Parliament. In the same vein, the PM said government had committed itself to having zero tolerance for corruption in all sectors of society. Commitment He said the team reflected on governments commitment to combating corruption and ensuring the efficient use of public resources for the betterment of society. The task team will be responsible for investigating corruption allegations, prosecuting cases, implementing preventive measures and strengthening legal frameworks to address corruption effectively. The team will immediately deal with corruption cases that have been reported and ensure that the offenders are brought to book with immediate effect just as it was commanded by the King in his address to Parliament. Cases must be dealt with to finality and not be dropped mid-process, he said. Adding, the PM highlighted that corruption was caused by greed for money, poverty, lack of values and ethics, high level of bureaucracy and inefficient administrative structures, which must also be dealt with concurrently. He stated that the DPP was expected to prioritise corruption cases henceforth. Dlamini urged the nation to work with the team as they fought this scourge. Furthermore, he said they had all the confidence in the team, that they would deliver. Dlamini said they were looking forward to having those responsible for corruption held accountable. He also challenged the nation to come together and fight against corruption. Fighting corruption should not be rhetoric, but must be demonstrated by action and evidence that corrupt individuals are brought to book and are dealt with according to the law. Speaking about corruption and doing nothing is worse than corruption itself as it exacerbates it because those who are corrupt gain confidence that nothing will be done to them. Hence, we are tasking this team to act decisively on corruption. We look forward to bobhabuli kutsi babanjwe lihhuka, baye ebhodweni, Dlamini said. Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane challenged the team to work diligently in fighting corruption. He urged the nation to report about any corruption practices, as this was rife in the country. He thanked the PM for setting up the team as mandated by His Majesty to fight corruption in the country. Afghan, Pak trade blows after suicide attack on Pakistani military Post 18 Mar 2024 | 5:39 PM Kabul, Mar 18 (UNI) Afghanistan and Pakistan targeted each other's border regions with strikes on Monday following a suicide attack on a Pakistani military outpost over the weekend. see more.. Japan's Kishida not planning elections until LDP lawmakers penalised for scandal 18 Mar 2024 | 3:37 PM Tokyo, Mar 18 (UNI) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to take disciplinary action against the lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) involved in the slush funds scandal before calling snap elections, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Monday. see more.. Leaders of 6 CIS states congratulate Putin on victory in prez election 18 Mar 2024 | 3:26 PM Minsk, Mar 18 (UNI) The leaders of six member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistanhave congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his victory in the presidential election, noting the broad support of Russian citizens, the Kremlin said on Monday. see more.. Kuwaiti Emir 1st among Gulf leaders to congratulate Putin on re-election as Russian prez 18 Mar 2024 | 3:26 PM Kuwait City, Mar 18 (UNI) Kuwaiti Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the first among the leaders of the Gulf countries to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his victory in the presidential election, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported on Monday. see more.. The Minister for Housing meets with the Charles Bruzon House Tenants Association The Minister for Housing, the Hon Pat Orfila MP, chaired a productive meeting with representatives of the Charles Bruzon House Tenants Association. Officials from the Ministry, Department for Housing, and the Housing Works Agency also attended. The Chair of the Tenants Association Mrs Angela Perez, and fellow association members Mrs Anita Wright and Maricela Wood, presented several key points for discussion, including the floor surface, the buildings entrance, the installation of CCTV cameras within elevators and the great work being carried out by their Warden and Cleaner. Following the meeting, Mrs Perez expressed her satisfaction with the fruitful discussion, noting progress had already been made with points on the agenda prior to the meeting and the ongoing efforts on others. She emphasised the importance of maintaining regular communication with Housing officials and further extended an invitation to Minister Orfila to attend one of the many Social Functions the Tenants Association organise. The Minister for Housing, the Hon Pat Orfila MP, said: I remain dedicated to regular engagements with all tenants associations, especially with this specific part of our society that has given so much to the fabric on which our current community is built on. First Meeting of Select Committee on People with Disabilities The Select Committee on People with Disabilities met for the first time on Monday 5th February 2024 in the Parliament Chamber. The Select Committee is chaired by the Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, the Hon Christian Santos. The Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, the Hon John Cortes, the Hon Damon Bossino and the Hon Atrish Sanchez also form part of the Committee. The Select Committee discussed general housekeeping matters as well as the programme of work which will include reviewing legislation, and other matters that impact the lives of people with disabilities. The aim is to identify and report, on a cross-party basis, on issues which require addressing to ensure that the lives of individuals with special needs and their families are properly and adequately catered for in the medium to long term. Additionally, the Select Committee, in due course, will be providing members of the public, civil society, groups and associations an opportunity to make written or oral submissions which will assist it in making its Report to Parliament. The Select Committee may also call on expert witnesses to give evidence. The Select Committee on People with Disabilities is scheduled to meet again in six weeks time. St Pauls School Goes Camping! On Friday 2nd February, St Pauls School hosted a new whole school event, St Pauls Goes Camping , for their children to enjoy. With a view to promote outdoor and active learning, collaboration and social communication skills, this initiative focused on providing children with a wide range of activities to highlight the importance of rest, warmth, taking care of nature, belonging to a group and key life skills. To help bring learning to life and support this theme, the children were invited to come to school wearing their pyjamas and bring along their favourite cushion and/or stuffed toy. The school entrances were transformed into camping-style check-in desks and each child was gifted with their own glow stick on entry to school. The children thoroughly enjoyed this event and participated in a number of learning tasks which included the children roasting their own marshmallows, making hot chocolate, singing campfire songs around their base camp in the schools Outdoor Forest Zone, as well as taking part in sessions led by members of the wider community such as Scout Leaders and Girl Guides. The children were also surprised by a member of the Sea Scouts who came along to play the bagpipes. Once the school day concluded, the children and their loved ones were also able to go inside the St Pauls Camper Van which was parked outside and take photos to have as a keepsake of this school experience. St Pauls School would like to thank everyone who assisted in making this initiative such a successful one, especially the pupils loved ones for their continuous support in helping the school to make learning a fun and memorable experience for their children. Stuart Jeffries at Literary Review: When Hannah Arendt looked at the man wearing an ill-fitting suit in the bulletproof dock inside a Jerusalem courtroom in 1961, she saw something different from everybody else. The prosecution, writes Lyndsey Stonebridge, saw an ancient crime in modern garb, and portrayed Eichmann as the latest monster in the long history of anti-Semitism who had simply used novel methods to take hatred for Jews to a new level. Arendt thought otherwise. Adolf Eichmann was on trial after being captured by Israeli agents in Argentina and brought to Israel to face charges of being a leading organiser of the Holocaust. Arendt was there to report on the trial for the New Yorker. The commission would lead to Arendts most famous book, Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963). Arendt was the ideal woman for the job: she was not just a Jewish refugee who had fled Hitler in 1933, and a philosopher who had studied with and loved the one-time Nazi Martin Heidegger, but also someone who had reinvented herself in America as a journalist and political theorist, and the author of The Origins of Totalitarianism, about the rise of Nazism and Stalinism. She was, if anything, overqualified. more here. Bernie and Andrea Engel had plenty of dreams when they were growing up in their respective rural Illinois towns. But the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, talks about one specific moment neither of them ever expected to experience. Growing up you hear about the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But we would never have imagined that one day we would be there. We were truly overwhelmed. The Engels left for their first trip to India on a snowy Chicago day in January landing in New Delhi anticipating summerlike weather. The weather was colder and wetter than theyd expected, with fog occasionally so thick they couldnt see their hands in front of them. Still, Engel says the weather took a definite backseat to the experiences they had during their two-week trip. Engel said he cant imagine their trip without his Purdue Agricultural Biological Engineering colleague Dharmendra Saraswat, who is currently in India on a Fulbright Fellowship. Saraswat is working at his alma mater, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, collaborating with scientists at IARIs Division of Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Physics to help adapt spatial data science course and create workflow for an early warning rice disease forecasting system. Without Dharmendra, it would have been a very different trip, Engel says. Hes very well connected with key leadership, many of who are his former classmates. And he helped make the trip go as smoothly as possible while also being memorable. One of those memorable moments was when Saraswat took the Engels to the Ganges River at dusk. The Ganges River provides water to 40% of Indias population and is also a source of irrigation for a wide variety of crops. For centuries, ceremonies have been conducted at the river every day at dusk and dawn with prayers for the river to continue flowing. Another moment was when the Engels had space in their schedule to drive to the foothills of the Himalayas. The foothills were actually 6,000 feet high, says Engel. The drive was on very narrow roads that winded around the mountain. Unnerving, but totally worth it, Engel says. In the midst of experiencing Indias sights, culture and food (almost all vegetarian with amazing Naan bread), Dean Engel also represented Purdue Agriculture at the International Conference on Future of Water Resources at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. He delivered a lecture on The Future of Modeling Water Resources, chaired another session and offered greetings from Purdue in the conferences plenary session. During the conference and later on at the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi, Engel was especially pleased to see how the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, developed by two of his former graduate students, is now the international standard in soil and water assessment. Engel signed letters of intent for collaboration with IIT Roorkee and the Dayalbagh Educational Institute at Agra. Saraswat also arranged for Engel to meet with numerous other Indian academic and political leaders as well as a group of Delhi-based Purdue alumni. "I wanted Dean Engel to get a feel of an aspirational and booming India with a warm tradition of welcoming guests, says Saraswat. Engel and Saraswat agree that there are numerous opportunities in India for building on existing relationships and forging new ones. The number of graduates from public and private sector universities in India is less than 100,000 per year. Policymakers recognize the need to train several times more students than at present, incorporate new pedagogical approaches, reform course curricula, and develop partnerships for preparing next-generation students to solve global challenges in agriculture. Through several new online programs, a strong focus on pedagogy, and a modern curriculum, Purdue's College of Agriculture can assist in fulfilling these needs, explains Saraswat. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Saudi-owned Front End has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with The Drone Centre (TDC) for the distribution of DJI drones in the oil and gas sector. This strategic alliance grants Front End exclusive rights to offer specialised payloads that are inaccessible to resellers in other industries. The agreement aligns with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030's National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), which seeks to increase the localisation of the oil and gas industry including the equipment, services and implementation work related to the energy sector. The use of DJI drones will revolutionise Saudi oil and gas operations the beyond traditional pipeline inspections to encompass remote rural areas. The drones are equipped with advanced imaging technology to detect leaks and structural issues with precision, ultimately enhancing environmental protection and the infrastructure integrity of the fields. Due to their ability to navigate challenging terrains safely, they provide efficient surveys of remote landscapes. This transformative approach improves safety and streamlines operations, rendering drone use indispensable in modern oil and gas management. Majid Alghaslan, Chairman and CEO, Front End Limited Company commented, I am proud to announce our exclusive partnership with The Drone Centre (TDC), marking a significant milestone in our journey towards Saudi Arabias industrial development. This collaboration represents our dedication to Saudi Vision 2030's goals, particularly in localising the oil and gas industry. By leveraging DJI drones, we aim to revolutionise oil and gas operations, extending beyond traditional inspections to use in remote rural areas. We at Front End are committed to innovation and excellence, aligning perfectly with DJI's pioneering spirit to pave the way for co-developing next-generation drone solutions tailored to the specific needs of the Kingdoms ever-growing demand. A spokesperson for The Drone Centre commented, Our exclusive agency partnership with Front End Limited Company reinforces our commitment to driving efficiency and innovation in the oil and gas sector, and our ambition to enter the Saudi market with our innovative products. Together, we are setting a new standard in drone technology customised for the unique challenges of the industry. We look forward to being part of revolutionising oil and gas operations in Saudi Arabia and demonstrating DJI drones capabilities to unlock new levels of safety, precision, and environmental protection. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service The desecration of the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, once the largest burial site for free and enslaved Black people in the nation, has taken many forms. An 1880s road project exposed dead bodies and bones, some of which were used for fill, leading Richmond Planet editor John Mitchell Jr. to decry people who profited by the desecration of the burial ground ... where graves were dug into, bones scattered, coffins exposed, and the hearts of the surviving families made to bleed by the desecration of the remains of their loved ones, according to the richmondcemeteries.org website of VCU professor Ryan Smith. The 1930s construction of a nearby Fifth Street viaduct, named for Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, further disturbed the site. And in the 1950s, a Sunoco gas station dealt another blow to the sanctity of the burial ground. This was the landscape that Texas resident Lenora McQueen discovered when she traveled to Richmond in search of the gravesite of her fourth great-grandmother. Confusion turned into outrage, and then activism, as McQueen and others successfully secured a Virginia Department of Historic Resources marker at the site and got it listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The city, in a tax sale, purchased the abandoned gas station at North Fifth and Hospital streets. A mural on the building transformed it into a memorial. But what should be hallowed ground remains the victim of drive-by desecration, in the form of a double billboard advertising political and commercial messages for drivers on Interstate 64. It is an abomination. Its awful; its horrible, McQueen said during an interview Thursday. In May 2022 about a month before the Virginia Department of Historic Resources unveiled a marker at the site McQueen reached out to Lamar Advertising about donating half of the billboard for the historic site. Jeff Gschwind, a sales manager for Lamar, seemed amenable to donating space on the billboard. But when I read the details of what they were offering, they were offering the billboard down the street, not the one on the burial ground, McQueen said. Gschwind also thought that she wanted to commemorate the historical marker event rather than the burial ground. She wrote back to clarify that she was talking about the billboard on 1305 N. Fifth St. What I would like to do is announce the presence of the burial ground at that spot. I want people to know that it is right there, and people are driving over it at that moment as they see the sign, McQueen wrote. Also, it can be clearly seen in the burial ground. Gschwind wrote back that the billboard at the burying ground will not be an option, as both sides of the billboard are sold annually. What we have offered is valued at nearly $6,000. However, I completely understand what you are looking for and unfortunately, its not something that Lamar is able to provide. Complicating matters was that a previous owner of the Sunoco station had given Lamar the right to use the billboard in perpetuity. Twenty-one months passed before McQueen was triggered by a photo of VCU Health advertising on the billboard jarring, given the history of the Medical College of Virginia, among other medical schools, robbing graves at the burial ground for medical research during the 19th century. But in the meantime, 6th District Councilperson Ellen Robertson, who represents the area where the burying ground is located, had been in talks with Lamar about removing or repurposing the billboard. They said they completely understood, but thats a very significant billboard in their inventory, Robertson said Friday. And they are willing to swap that billboard out for a different site or a billboard that the city may own. Lamar Advertising sent a list of Richmond sites they would be interested in. Weve responded that were very interested and willing to talk with them about looking at the locations they suggested, Robertson said. City staff are awaiting advice from the city attorneys office on how to proceed with a swap before consulting with the mayors office. Were optimistic. We think its going to happen, Robertson said. So then, the question is, what happens with the billboard? Does the city take it down and risk disturbing the burial ground further? Or does it find a respectable way to tell the story of the burial ground and use the billboard as a part of the storytelling? Robertson said. Right now, we dont have any answers to that. My answer would be to repurpose the sign, not unlike the Sunoco station, as a vehicle to interpret a burying ground stripped by development of evidence of its existence. The exploitation of enslaved labor in Virginia cannot be allowed to morph into a commercial interest profiting from a billboard that sits on what should be hallowed ground. This history is finally being unearthed and properly commemorated, long after the bodies themselves were disinterred or otherwise debased. Id like Lamar to view this as a form of community repair, and not seek a quid pro quo. But, Im grateful that they were willing to recognize that this was the right thing to do, even though they want to recover whatever their value is, Robertson said. There can be no reconciliation without truth, no matter how ugly. The billboard would let passing motorists know what transpired on this soil: a civic and national crime on multiple levels that abused Black people in life and defiled them after death. Itd be a welcome sign that Richmond is no longer hiding from its history, but announcing it to the world. Close The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. PHOTOS: Renovation at 17th Street Farmers Market The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. The green-roofed sheds at Richmond's 17th Street Farmers Market are being removed as part of the first phase of a plan to revitalize the Shockoe Bottom landmark, Monday Aug. 10, 2015. OSAKA, Feb 13 (News On Japan) - Stones once destined for the walls of Osaka Castle, but never used and hence nicknamed the "unfortunate stones," are set to be repurposed for restroom facilities at next year's Osaka-Kansai Expo, sparking a backlash from concerned citizens. These stones, extracted some 400 years ago during the early Edo period from mountains around the Kizugawa area in Kyoto for the castle's reconstruction, ended up unused. Local Kizugawa City has been considering how to utilize these historical stones, leading to the innovative yet contentious idea of using them as pillars for a restroom building at the Expo site. Kizugawa City's Cultural Property Protection Division sees this as an opportunity to raise awareness about the stones and the city. The plan, initiated without altering or damaging the stones to ensure their return, aims to breathe life into architecture using the legacy of these stones. However, this unique utilization has drawn criticism from both experts and the public, with concerns about the appropriateness of using culturally significant stones in such a context. Despite the project's intentions to highlight the stones' historical significance, including plans for explanatory displays at the Expo, voices from the local community express mixed feelings. Some see the potential for greater public engagement with the stones' history as positive, while others feel that a more dignified use, such as in a museum setting, would better honor their legacy. Experts in archaeology and castle studies voice significant concerns over the repurposing, pointing out the potential loss of historical information embedded in the stones' original use and markings. These stones, meticulously marked for their intended placement within Osaka Castle's walls, represent a critical piece of history that risks being obscured if used as vertical pillars. As Kizugawa City moves forward with the plan, it commits to carefully explaining its rationale, hoping to secure understanding and support for a project that walks the line between innovative reuse and preservation of historical integrity. Source: ANN TOKYO, Feb 13 (News On Japan) - Actor Tsuyoshi Muro showcased his exceptional communication skills during his appearance on NHK General's travel and variety program "Tsurube's Family Toast," which aired on Monday, charming even the cows. The episode was broadcast live from Kamiue Town in Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture, at the Okina-za. Centered around VTRs of Muro's prior visit to the town, residents he had met during his visit were welcomed into the audience. On the day of the pre-recorded footage, the area was covered in heavy snow. Despite being covered in snow, Muro visited various places in the town. At the beginning, when Muro heard singing from somewhere as he waited to meet with comedian Tsurube Shofukutei, he headed towards the singing without hesitation, saying, "Hello, I'm just dropping by!" He casually struck up a conversation with a local resident singing outside their home, prompting Tsurube to express his surprise, "You really called out to them!" In another scene, Muro visited a local butcher shop. He rang the doorbell of a house, saying, "Excuse me, I came to talk about meat!" only to find out it was the wrong house. However, he quickly apologized, "Oh, this is the wrong house! Sorry for ringing your bell!" and explained to the 90-year-old resident about the "Family Toast" program. In no time, he had charmed his way into being invited into the house. At the butcher shop he visited next, Muro greeted the returning shopkeeper with a big smile, saying, "I finally got to meet you!" The shopkeeper, charmed by his smile, offered a gift, to which Muro brightly responded, "Today is actually my birthday!" and was delighted to receive steak meat as a present. Tsuyoshi Muro also received praise from a rancher for feeding cattle. Later, Muro stopped by a ranch he happened to pass by. Although the rancher, who was a fan of Muro, called out "Mr. Muro!" he showed consideration by asking, "Is there a limit to where I can go?" and then helped feed the cattle while being taught by the rancher. According to the rancher, cattle usually run away when a stranger tries to feed them, but they didn't flee from Muro, and he was able to feed them without any trouble. The rancher's words of high praise, "That's really amazing," made Muro smile bashfully. Online, Muro's ability to charm both people and cattle has been a hot topic. Comments included, "Now I totally understand why Muro-san is called a charmer! If someone with such a kind smile talks to you, you'd instantly like them," "He's someone who naturally knows how to engage with people. It's no wonder his juniors look up to him," and "Mr. Muro! Have you even won over the cattle?" There was a buzz about Muro's natural and gentle way of speaking. Source: MDPR Kyushu, Feb 14 (News On Japan) - Kitakyushu City has announced that it will create a new "Generation Z Division" in its organizational reform this April, focusing on support for young people. Mayor Kenji Kitahashi of Kitakyushu unveiled the initial budget plan for the new fiscal year and an outline of the organizational reform on the 13th, revealing the city's plan to establish a "Generation Z Division" within the city hall this April. The term "Generation Z" refers to young people born in the 1990s and 2000s, and Kitakyushu City is committed to supporting this generation. In a press conference, Mayor Kitahashi stated, "A reboot towards growth is most necessary, and we want to concentrate our resources and efforts there." The initial general account budget plan for the new fiscal year of Kitakyushu City amounts to a total of 627.9 billion yen. Included in this budget is an "Investment for the Next Generation" fund of 11.1 billion yen, which will be allocated to policies related to children and projects aimed at strengthening and creating industrial infrastructure. Source: NHK OSAKA, Feb 14 (News On Japan) - A video, shot in the kitchen of a delivery pizza store late at night and spread on social media, has sparked widespread controversy, with images of a worker picking his nose and wiping it on pizza dough. This footage was recorded around 2:00 AM on February 12th at the Amagasaki branch of the popular delivery pizza chain, Domino's Pizza. "What time is it now?" "It's 2 am, this won't stretch." "Then, then, then," "Why not just pick your nose and wipe it here?" A man, donning a Domino's Pizza hat and uniform with the brand's red and blue logo, is seen spreading pizza dough on a kitchen counter. Upon the other worker's suggestion, he gestures as if inserting a finger into his nose and then touches the dough with that finger. The video of employee's misbehaviour, termed "part-time terror," spread like wildfire on social media. The 'terrorist' activities were carried out with smiles, conveying an atmosphere of jest between the individuals involved. When shown the video, reactions from the public were of disgust and dismay. A person in their 60s commented, "It's just disgusting, makes you not want to order. Why would they do something like this? It just causes trouble." A person in their 30s said, "With so many similar videos surfacing and the consequent lawsuits and legal actions, how do they still have the guts to do this?" Domino's Pizza Japan issued an apology on its official social media. Additionally, they clarified that the dough involved was not yet fermented and had not been served to customers. All dough in the store was disposed of, and the outlet was temporarily closed. The part-time employee, upon questioning by the company, stated, "It was a prank intended for social media, and we deeply regret our actions." Domino's Pizza had faced a similar "part-time terror" incident three years ago involving an employee licking a shake spoon. On preventing such nuisance acts, Sasaki Seizo, former head of Saitama Prefecture Police's Digital Investigation Team, suggested, "Physical measures to prevent smartphones in the workplace are necessary, but education is also crucial. Young people posting such videos could face lawsuits, with claims often directed at their parents. Hence, it's important to actively communicate with them about the responsible use of smartphones and information ethics." Domino's Pizza Japan is considering legal action against the employee involved in this latest incident. Source: FNN KYIV, Ukraine (AP) First responders who arrived at the scene of a Russian missile attack on homes in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Friday were themselves struck by a second missile, officials said. A paramedic and an emergency service worker were among the 14 people killed. 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. Rabat will host this February 15-16 a parliamentary conference on South-South Cooperation that will discuss the Role of National Parliaments and Regional and Continental Parliamentary Unions in Africa, the Arab World, and Latin America in Enhancing Strategic Partnerships and Achieving Joint Integration and Development. The conference will address current strategic issues, mainly those related to development, economic transition, trade, investment, technology, innovation and energy, health, food and water security, with the aim of elaborating and adopting recommendations, proposals and practical decisions designed to highlight the role of national parliaments and regional and continental parliamentary unions in Africa, the Arab world and Latin America, in promoting and strengthening strategic partnerships in the economic, social and humanitarian fields. Discussions will focus on three themes, namely Enhancing Political Dialogue and Regional Security in Africa, the Arab World, and Latin America for the Achievement of Peace, Stability, and Prosperity; Achieving Economic Transformation, Regional Integration, and Shared Development: The Importance of Policies Linked to Enhancing Strategic Partnerships, Encouraging Investment, Technology, Infrastructure, and Enhancing Competitive Capacities; and Achieving the Sustainable Development-Energy-Environment Triad. The meeting, held at the initiative of the Moroccan Upper House in collaboration with the Association of Senates, Shoora, and Equivalent Councils in Africa and Arab world (ASSECAA), reflects Moroccos leadership in launching all development and solidarity initiatives aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation. A statement by the Upper House said that this conference is also part of the implementation of the Rabat Declaration on South-South Cooperation, issued at the end of the South-South Forum held in March 2022, and reaffirms the need to strengthen South-South cooperation ties and the common action of legislative institutions, particularly amidst the multidimensional and successive crises the world is currently facing. It also reaffirms the firm conviction that South-South cooperation remains a strategic option for sustainable development and an essential lever for bolstering economic interests and human connections, as well as achieving integration and inclusion in the global economy. There have now been three fatalities amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential election until December, which has been condemned by the opposition as a constitutional coup and that could have dire consequences for the entire coup-hit West Africa. Clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in the capital Dakar and other cities last week, which have so far claimed the lives of three young men, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties. The violent clashes were triggered by the announcement of the election delay just three weeks ahead of the planned vote on 25 February that have escalated into a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability. As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Senegalese President Macky Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing. But Sall is showing no signs of backing down, said Sidy Diop, deputy editor of Le Soleil daily. He has never backed down, for him its a question of self-respect, said Diop. However, he added that the head of state is in a very bad position because if civil society and the opposition manage to impose a balance of power unfavorable to the government and rally the international community, the president may then back down. While until now, Senegal was seen as a stable democracy in a region that has experienced six coups since August 2020, the growing instability could lead to a new surge in emigration with serious repercussions not just for Senegal but also for Europe. President of the Transitional National Assembly of the Republic of Gabon, Jean-Francois Ndongou, reiterated, Monday from Rabat, his countrys firm position in favor of the kingdoms territorial integrity and the Moroccan sovereignty over of the Sahara. This position was expressed during a meeting between Ndongou, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom at the head of a delegation of the Gabonese Transitional National Assembly, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, the Lower House said in a press release. Ndongou recalled that Gabon was one of the first countries to participate in the Green March in 1975, the press release said. During this meeting, Ndongou gave an overview of the transition phase in Gabon and the roadmap to establish strong institutions and achieve a fluid democratic transition, through honest and transparent elections reflecting the consensus of all Gabonese political parties. For his part, Talbi Alami hailed the strong brotherly relations between the two countries and the two peoples, and expressed the will of the Moroccan House of Representatives to share its experience and expertise in matters of parliamentary action and to strengthen cooperation with the Transitional National Assembly of Gabon, particularly in the areas of digital transition, archiving, and parliamentary administration. The visiting gabonese parliamentary delegation also held talks with members of the Upper House. Talbi Alami also highlighted the major projects and deep reforms underway in the Kingdom under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and surveyed the history and composition of the legislative institution and its constitutional roles. An Algerian prison sentence against a member of the Rguibat tribe provoked violent protests that took aim at the Polisario leadership in the Tindouf camps. Ahmed Ould Ben Ali, one of the thousands of disenchanted youths in Tindouf camps, was sentenced to 5 years in prison by the Algerian court on charges of drug trafficking. The sentence led many youths from his tribe to organize protests against Algerian authorities and their Polisario proxies, burning tires and blocking a key road. They also attacked Polisario administrative facilities including the general secretariat and the headquarters of the so-called intelligence service of the separatist militia. The obstinacy of Algeria in perpetuating the conflict over the Sahara by arming and pulling the strings of the Polisario has started the backfire with scores of Tindouf camp youths seeking to join drug traffickers or even terrorist groups as was the case with former camp dweller Abu Walid Sahrawi, former head of ISIS branch in the greater Sahara. The situation is expected to worsen with the current Polisario leadership crackdown on dissident voices including those who call for compromise and back Moroccos autonomy plan. Rights groups had repeatedly warned of the degradation of living conditions in the Tindouf camps and the UN urged Algeria to allow a census of the camps population. Ways to bolster cooperation between Morocco and Spain in the realms of security and intelligence were reviewed at a meeting in Rabat Tuesday between, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, and Spanish Commissioner-General of Information, Eugenio Pereiro Blanco, who is currently on a working visit to Morocco at the head of a large security delegation. This meeting is part of the bilateral meetings held regularly between the officials of the security and intelligence services of the two countries, with the aim of examining ways to develop cooperation in a number of security fields, the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) said in a statement. The meeting also represents a new opportunity for the two parties to take stock of their distinguished cooperation relations in the field of security, and to exchange views on a range of issues of common interest, in addition to monitoring and preventing emerging dangers and challenges with a view to tackling them. These talks reflect, once again, the high importance and advanced level of cooperation between the Moroccan and Spanish security services, which is based on the depth of the strategic partnership linking the two countries, the DGST statement added. Bratislava, capital of Slovakia and just an hour by train from Vienna, is the comeback kid among European capitals. A generation ago, the city was virtually a ghost town. Today, Bratislava is not only thriving bursting with colorfully restored facades, lively outdoor cafes, and swanky boutiques but its also growing at an incredible pace. World War II left Bratislava a damaged husk. Following the war, communists showed little interest in preserving the citys heritage, razing the Jewish quarter to make way for their ultramodern New Bridge, erecting a highway that sliced through the Old Town, and even selling the citys medieval cobbles to cute German towns, which were rebuilding after the war and trying to restore some of their elegant Old World character. With the collapse of communism in 1989, Slovakias new government began a nearly decade-long process of sorting out building rights and returning them to their original owners. By 1998, most of these property issues had been resolved, and owners were encouraged to restore their buildings. The city also did its part, replacing all the street cobbles, sprucing up public buildings, and making the Old Town traffic-free. Bratislava was reborn, and life returned with a vengeance. The bustling centerpiece of Old World Bratislava is its main square, Hlavne Namestie. It's lined by extremely atmospheric cafes, from Kaffee Mayer, an institution here since 1873, to Cafe Mondieu, housed in an Art Nouveau bank building and known for its 1904 Klimt-style mosaics. During the holidays, a Christmas market blankets the square. The buildings that surround the square date from different architectural periods. When these buildings were restored, great pains were taken to achieve authenticity, each one matching the color most likely used when it was originally built. The impressive Old Town Hall, with a Gothic core and Baroque facade, stands at the top of the square. Near the bottom of its bold yellow tower, a cannonball embedded in the facade acts as a reminder of Napoleons impact on Bratislava. Another reminder is the cartoonish statue of a Napoleonic officer bent over one of the benches on the square. With bare feet and a hat pulled over his eyes, its hardly a flattering portrait. This is just one of several whimsical statues dotting Bratislavas Old Town. Most of these date from the late 1990s, when city leaders wanted to entice locals back into the newly prettied-up Old Town. Standing outside Kaffee Mayer, a jovial chap doffs his top hat. This is a statue of Schoner Naci, a poor carpet cleaner who, dressed in a black suit and top hat, brightened the streets of Bratislava during the communist days, offering gifts to the women he fancied. Another Bratislava fixture is the statue of Cumil the Peeper, popping out of a manhole with a grin plastered on his face (despite being driven over by a truck twice). Exploring the Old Town provides a look at where this country has been. But wandering outside the center offers a look at where its headed. Construction continues along the Danube riverfront, which has already been transformed into a people-friendly park. Just downstream from the Old Town is the futuristic Eurovea, resembling a computer-generated urban dreamscape come true. This development includes a riverside park, luxury condos, a modern shopping mall, and shiny office buildings. Despite massive progress, holdovers from the citys communist past remain. The most prominent landmark from this time is the bizarre, flying-saucer-capped SNP Bridge. Locals arent crazy about this structure not only for the questionable Starship Enterprise design, but also because of the oppressive regime it represents. However, capitalists have reclaimed the bridge in part, turning the space up top into a posh eatery and observation deck called, appropriately enough, UFO. With tens of thousands of students at several universities, Bratislava has a youthful energy and optimism. You can feel their presence, especially at night. Because there are no campuses as such, the Old Town is the place where students go to play. Some of the partying goes on in former bomb shelters, built during the tense times around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Today these make ideal venues for clubs right in the town, but powerfully soundproof. For me, Bratislava is one of Europes great urban success stories. What I once thought of as a drab, depressing place is now lively and joyful, with an inspiring energy. Bratislava has blossomed into the quintessential post-communist Central European city, showing what can happen when a government and its people work together to rebuild a city. (Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick's favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.) If Biden leaves the stage of his own accord, Democrats will have options. Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images One byproduct of what some are calling Oldgate a panic over Special Counsel Robert Hurs suggestion that President Joe Biden is an elderly man with memory issues has been media efforts to understand and explain how Democrats could replace the 46th president as their 2024 nominee, either with or without his consent. From a political perspective, the idea that Biden might be dumped from the ticket is extremely far-fetched. But technically it is possible, though increasingly complicated, right up to Election Day. When it comes to changing horses in the middle of a presidential race, Democrats differ from Republicans in one fundamental respect: While GOP rules bind delegates to the candidates who win primaries or caucuses, Democrats have a moral rather than a legal obligation to remain faithful to their candidate. Fourteen states have laws that seek to bind delegates to the winning candidate, but its reasonably clear that party rules supersede such laws when they are in conflict. And in most states, delegates are released from their obligations if a candidate withdraws from the race. Another difference between the parties is that Democrats have an established set of unpledged delegates who hold convention seats by virtue of elected or party offices they hold. These superdelegates dont get to vote unless theres a second presidential ballot. At the 2024 Democratic convention in Chicago this August, there will be 744 superdelegates out of a total of 4,532 delegates. The idea that superdelegates might vote for anyone they want is largely fictional. They are chosen by campaigns to be 100 percent loyal to their candidate. This loyalty is even fiercer when the candidate is the incumbent president of the United States. Theres a reason no sitting president has been denied renomination if he wanted it since Republican Chester Arthur in 1884. So the idea that Democratic delegates are going to look at the polls in August and decide they can do better than Biden is nonsense; its not going to happen. Even if faced with the emergency of avoiding a Trump presidency, the Democratic Party will remain a coalition of interests and principles, not just a vehicle for winning one election. But if Biden, for whatever reason, chooses to step aside as a self-defenestration is euphemistically described its another matter altogether. The problem for Democratic delegates wont be liberating themselves to look elsewhere (with the possible exception of those from a few states with stricter binding statutes than others); it will be agreeing upon a successor. And the closer to the convention that this decision has to be made, the likelier it is that these 4,000-plus Biden loyalists will back whoever he designated as his successor. Fantasies of a President Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom or J.B. Pritzker or Pete Buttigieg or Michelle Obama notwithstanding, that successor will almost certainly be Vice-President Kamala Harris. Any other choice would not only infuriate Harris and her supporters; it would also retroactively label Bidens first decision as party leader in 2020 as a mistake. For better or worse, the party will unite around its new leader; the Trump factor will, if anything, give Democrats an abiding hope of victory no matter how things look a few months out. It is possible, I suppose, that Biden and Harris could decide to step aside together as an act of patriotic self-sacrifice and help design a spanking new ticket thats dressed for success. But thats more likely the stuff of potboiling novels from the kind of writers who pretend there are such things as spontaneous candidate drafts and moderate Republicans. The cleanest Plan B scenario would involve some cataclysmic event happening to Biden that leads him or the party to reconsider his candidacy after the Chicago convention. In that extremely remote contingency, the Democratic National Committee would have the power to name a replacement nominee, just as it did in 1972 when vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton stepped aside after revelations of DUIs and shock therapy. The DNC isnt going to dump a renominated incumbent president, no matter how poorly hes doing in the polls; back in the days when presidential elections werent almost always desperately close or vulnerable to post-election challenges and insurrections, one party regularly went to battle after Labor Day knowing it was likely to lose. But if Joe Biden cannot take up the cudgels for the last stages of a rematch with Trump (assuming the 45th president isnt himself dumped for his vast record of misconduct, if not for some physical ailment), the party can quickly move on with Kamala Harris. When mainstream Republicans explain away the crazy or dangerous things Donald Trump says he will do such as, most recently, encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies they generally point to his first term. Trump talked a big game about locking up all the Democrats, injecting bleach, and so on, but he generally failed to follow through on these ideas. So theres no reason to hesitate in handing him a second chance at the presidency. What these rationalizations fail to account for is that the first Trump term, the one his Republican partners look back on so proudly, was a failure in Trumps mind. Trump calls it a success because he calls everything he does a success. But most of his ideas were frustrated, and his term ended in defeat. He has dedicated himself to producing a different result by purging the party of secret heretics and staffing it with loyalists. The character of the Republican Partys elite cadres is transforming in accordance with this desire. The most recent iteration is a purge atop the Republican National Committee. Trump is proposing (a proposal almost certain to be obeyed) to remove the committees stolid functionary, Ronna McDaniel, and replace her with a combination of his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and former campaign aide Michael Whatley. It is easy to dismiss this maneuver as merely the latest reshuffling among party apparatchiks. But it is an important signal of the elevated expectation of loyalty Trump is imposing on the party. Whats notable about McDaniel is that she is not a Trump skeptic. The former Ronna Romney McDaniel is known for her obeisance, having famously removed her middle name as a kind of tribute. McDaniels crime is that her endorsement of Trumps stolen-election lies did not go far enough. She has claimed the 2020 election had problems that were concerning and it wasnt fair in an interview with CNNs Chris Wallace: I think saying that there were problems with 2020 is very real. I dont think thats election denying, McDaniel told Wallace. Im from Wayne County. We had a woman send a note saying Im being told to backdate ballots. We had to look into that. Thats deeply concerning. When you have friends who are poll-watching and being kicked out, thats deeply concerning. We have every right to look at that I think there were lots of problems with 2020. Ultimately, [Joe Biden] won the election, but there were lots of problems with the 2020 election, she said. I dont think he won it fair. I dont. Im not going to say that. These comments are a signal to Trump loyalists that she shares their concerns. But it falls short of directly stating that Trump absolutely won the election. The New York Times reported that Trump prefers Whatley for one overwhelming reason, according to people who have discussed him with the former president: He is a stop the steal guy, as one of the people described him. Lara Trump, a former personal trainer and producer for Inside Edition, has likewise demonstrated her complete reliance on her father-in-law and energetically endorsed even his most deranged election-conspiracy theories. The Republican National Committee, a private body, is hardly in a position to restrain Trumps criminal or authoritarian orders even if it desired. The purpose of replacing its leaders is to reward loyalists and demonstrate that even the faintest signs of Trump skepticism are career suicide. One reason Trump has continued to press his disproved claim to have won the 2020 election is to force fellow Republicans to comply. As frustrating as it may be for the party that he continues elevating an issue that hurts him with swing voters, its value as a tool for exposing secret skeptics has proven invaluable. The partys trajectory since the insurrection is stark. In the days after January 6, 2021, Trump was deemed totally toxic. Business groups pledged to deny funds to any Republican candidate who refused to accept the election result. But since then, Liz Cheney was purged from her leadership post for continuing to maintain that the insurrection was wrong, then was successfully targeted in a primary. Mike Pence, once the ultimate Republican hyperpartisan, became loathed solely because he refused to help steal the election. The House replaced its Speaker with one of the legal architects of Trumps coup attempt. If Trump returns to office, he wont literally need allies who say he won in 2020. What he will need is for the entire party to understand that the price of disobedience of any of his whims, however deranged or illegal it may be, is political death. Republicans at best are dragging their feet. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Not that very long ago, there was a clear path forward for congressional Republicans on the fraught issue of aid to Ukraine, which is supported strongly by old-school conservative Republicans (including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell) and opposed to one degree or another by MAGA folk. The White House had proposed a foreign aid package that included assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The latter two items had strong bipartisan support, and McConnell suggested adding in a nativist-flavored border-security measure to secure support among House Republicans. After much backpedaling, congressional Democrats accepted a deal that gave Republicans most of what they wanted in border policy changes. But then the whole package was torpedoed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was under steady pressure from Donald Trump to avoid taking away an important campaign issue. So pro-Ukraine Democrats and Republicans went back to Plan A and designed a package that did not include border provisions. Then they managed to get it through the Senate (Democrats favored it by a 48-3 margin, with the no votes coming from progressives Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Jeff Merkley, who were upset about the blank check they thought Israel was receiving for bad behavior in Gaza; Republicans split 22 votes for and 27 votes against the measure). Now Speaker Johnson is in a quandary. If he just refuses to bring the Senate-passed bill to the floor, he risks triggering a discharge petition, a rarely used device whereby a majority of House members can bypass the committee system and the Speaker to push legislation directly to the floor. In effect, it would give Democrats control of the House for a minute in order to enact legislation opposed by a majority of Republicans in both chambers (and even more crucially, by Trump). Johnsons alternatives to inviting a discharge petition are not great, as Punchbowl News reports: Johnson says the House will have to work its own will. One way for the House to do that is to put this bill on the floor and allow lawmakers to amend it. But Johnson is almost certainly not going to do that. What Johnson really means is that he wants the House GOP Conference which hasnt agreed on anything for months to figure out what it wants and then try to pass it. That could ultimately lead to a bill thats markedly different from the current Senate bipartisan product. Or it could lead to more stalemate. Its unclear what sweeteners Johnson could give to make it MAGA-acceptable to vote for the foreign-aid package now that hes rejected the border-security treat he was offered and rejected. Trump has added a new complication to the quagmire by suddenly going all isolationist on foreign aid generally in a Truth Social post: This position is not going to be acceptable to Ukraine supporters in either party or congressional chamber. And if applied to Israel, it could spur a significant backlash even in parts of MAGA land. Unless Trump backs down, hes really put Johnson in an impossible position. But it sure looks like many Republicans are joining Team Impossible, including ultimate old-school defense hawk Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, as Axios reported: Its a notable stance for Graham, who has been one of Senate Republicans most ardent supporters of Ukraine. He reiterated the importance of helping the country in its war against Russia, but added we must deal with our border first. I hope the House will take another meaningful look at border security so that it can pass the Senate, Graham said in a Monday night statement. I also hope the House will turn the supplemental aid package into a loan instead of a grant. Until that day comes, I will be voting no. The whole saga has become so strange that predictions are perilous. But it seems Johnson is likely to keep tossing out possible conservative-pleasing amendments to the foreign-aid package to keep Republicans from backing the discharge petition. And then I dont know, maybe hell kill the whole thing in the dark by inaction? Whatever happens, its now clear that the much-discussed Democratic divisions over unconditional aid to Israel are a lot smaller than the Republican differences over helping Ukraine at all. The more Mike Johnson flounders over the bill the Senate has sent him, the more obvious that will become. Who's gonna do the acting then? Reply Thread Link Amells Ted Black is described as a charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is his character supposed to resemble Harvey Specter? Because he could never pull that off. Reply Parent Thread Link Literally was gonna day the same thing cuz like who would believe that from him? Reply Parent Thread Link The acting job of his life. Reply Parent Thread Link Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. How are you going to take a show that's making streaming records and then put Amell in the lead? How do you fuck it up that bad? Reply Thread Link definitely a clueless top exec decision! god, what a way to tank existing IP just do a spinoff with donna or louis and people would eat it up jesus christ not the fucking arrow guy everyone HATES lmfaooooooo it's probably cuz they like that he's anti-union??? idek Reply Parent Thread Link Say less. Out af. Reply Thread Link Welp! Way to kill my interest. Reply Thread Link Right? I casually watched the original and would have prob checked this version out but not anymore! Reply Parent Thread Link Absolutely not. Not that I have interest in Suits or Suits LA, but one definite way to keep me away from something is to cast this asshole. How the fuck is he gonna play a charismatic human? Reply Thread Link A charismatic force of nature? LOL Reply Thread Link Lol nooooope. Im a geriatric, someone post the Grant Gustin peace sign photo! Reply Thread Link I live to serve! Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you!! Reply Parent Thread Link DOA Reply Thread Link I'll be impressed if he pulls that off Reply Thread Link This seemed like such a slam dunk for them... apparently not. Reply Thread Link ummmmmm....if they were looking for someone to match the charisma of gabriel macht this ain't it! Reply Thread Link charismatic force of nature And they cast HIM? Alright Reply Thread Link a charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others. He doesn't have the range Reply Thread Link OSHA Concludes Investigation into Household Cleaning Manufacturer After Worker Amputation Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Tufco LP faces $194,518 in proposed penalties. OSHA has cited Tufco LPa Green Bay, Wisconsin-based manufacturer of household cleaning productsfor serious safety violations following a workers amputation. According to a release dated Feb. 9, the August 2023 incident resulted in an employees loss of a fingertip while they were attempting to clear a pumps outfeed. This machinery is part of the process used to produce scented laundry beads. The ensuing OSHA investigation found this equipment was not locked out or shut down during maintenance. The agency found that Tufco LP lacked necessary lockout/tagout procedures as well as machine guarding to prevent such accidents, had not adequately retrained employees reassigned to new production areas and lacked a respiratory protection program. As a result, the company is now facing $194,518 in proposed penalties. Tufco LP expanded their capabilities with new products and machines but failed to assess and mitigate potential hazards prior to allowing employees to run the new product lines, OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack in Appleton, Wisconsin, said in a statement. Each year, hundreds of workers suffer injuries because their employers expose them to machine operating parts and fail to train them in safety procedures. Employers should make the health and safety of workers a core value in their workplaces. Notably, Tufco LP was previously cited in 2019 and 2021 for similar safety oversights, including inadequate machine guarding and safety procedures. The company now has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the agencys findings. Last week, Brent crude closed above $81 per barrel, close to $82. This was a solid increase from the start of the week when the international benchmark was trading at around $78 per barrel. Yet these prices are about the same as prices were when the Yemeni Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea. The seemingly unnatural price movement probably played a part in Saudi Arabias decision to stop working on expanding its production capacity and contributed to already rife uncertainty about the long-term future of the oil industry in investment circles. It also made oil traders complacent. And complacency is dangerous. Because the situation is quite dynamic, and there are already warnings that it can change quickly. When the Houthis struck their first ship in early November, oil prices actually went downfrom over $90 per barrel of Brent in late October, the price was some $77 per barrel by early December. Nobody worried about supply disruption in the Red Sea because the Houthis were not targeting oil tankers. Where it gets more interesting is that even when they did attack an oil tankera fuel vessel for Trafiguraprices did not tick up. Benchmarks remained stubbornly range-bound. The dominant sentiment in oil markets was that supply was sufficient. In fact, a feeling was settling that there is an oversupply of oil. There were some pretty good reasons for that feeling. For starters, fears of an escalation of the Israel-Hamas war have subsided amid talks about a ceasefire. The lower the risk of escalation, the thinking goes, the lower the risk of oil supply disruption. Related: Oil Markets Are Much Tighter Than Oil Prices Suggest Then there is the spare capacity argument: ING analysts reminded the market about it last week when they wrote that OPEC has some 5 million bpd in spare production capacity. Of this, 3 million bpd was in Saudi Arabia. Traders appear to assume that should supply be disrupted in the Middle East, the Saudis will step in to helpwhich they might not do, if recent history is any indication. Back in 2022, when sanctions potentially threatened several million barrels of Russian oil and fuels, prices surged into three-digit territory. In the summer of that year, worried about rising retail gasoline prices, President Biden asked the Saudis to boost production. The Saudis responded with the equivalent of Well see and then did nothing. Chances are this will repeat should prices surge once again, for whatever reason. The reason it will repeat is that the Saudis have been trying for months now to push prices higher, to no avail. The market simply refuses to acknowledge the possibility of demand outpacing supply, and this is thanks to forecasts like the International Energy Agencys monthly oil market report, which often underestimates demand trends. For this year, for instance, the IEA has so far forecasted an oil demand growth of 1.2 million barrels daily while supply, according to its estimates, should expand by 1.5 million barrels daily. However, the estimates have failed to incorporate the effect of the Red Sea crisis on oil demand, which has been notableand quite literal. Rerouting vessels from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope adds over a week to journeys between Asia and Europe. The overwhelming majority of these vessels are powered by petroleum fuel. The rerouting directly increases oil demandby around 200,000 bpd so far, according to an unnamed source who spoke to Reuters commentators George Hay and Yawen Chen. This means, then, that in a best-case scenario, oil demand this year will grow by 1.4 million bpd rather than 1.2 million bpdand possibly much higher. And there is never certainty about non-OPEC supply, either. Usually, supply forecasts focus on U.S. production growth, but this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said it expected a sharp slowdown in production growth. In fairness, very much like the IEA, the EIA has been wrong before, but it still pays to keep an eye on the pessimistic scenarios for the immediate future as well. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Standard Chartered warned that global oil supply may be much tighter than previously believed, and the market could swing into a deficit as soon as this month, to the tune of 1.6 million bpd. Its not the only one, either. The EIA also expects an oil supply deficit for February, and a larger one than StanChart, at 2.3 million bpd. The balancing factor for prices, somewhat ironically, is the fallout of the Red Sea crisis itself. Because of longer journeys, trade between Asia and Europe has become costlier, impeding business activity expansion and, as a consequence, putting a lid on oil prices. For now, this is working for oil traders, who appear to be more focused on economic updates rather than news from the oil industry, thanks to the increase in algorithmic trading. ADVERTISEMENT Most analysts still warn about the potential for escalation in the Middle East. The risk is there but has not yet manifested itself, which is why oil prices are where they are. Nobody seems to be really interested in further escalation. And thats really good news for oil consumers. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Countries in southeastern and central Europe have begun working together to create a new gas transit route to help compensate for the loss of Russian gas exports to Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. If realized, the "Vertical Corridor" would offer Azerbaijan a new route to export its gas to east and central European markets and, as such, could help Baku to meet its pledge to the European Union to double its gas exports to Europe to 20 billion cubic meters a year by 2027. The planned new route would mainly utilize existing pipelines connecting the gas transit systems of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine but would require capacity expansion of some sections and of the cross-border connections. As such the "Vertical Corridor" would be able to provide valuable new sources of gas for Moldova and Ukraine, which since the Russian invasion have experienced problems meeting domestic demand. No less significantly it would also be able to feed gas into Ukraine's existing major east-west gas transmission system which has been largely unused since Russia's invasion of that country in 2022 and the subsequent halting of gas transit to Europe. The project was kick-started at a January 19 meeting in Athens of energy ministers from southeastern and central Europe under the European Union's Central and South Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity initiative (CESEC). The meeting, which was attended by EU energy Commissioner Kadri Simson saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the gas transmission operators of EU member states Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, as well as those of Ukraine and Moldova, aimed at creating a north-south gas transmission corridor between the seven states. Commenting on the agreement Simson said that the vertical corridor will: "[E]nable bi-directional flows of natural gas from North to South and back," which would "help ensure energy supplies to Ukraine and Moldova and enhance the overall energy security of the region." New corridor, old infrastructure The new agreement proposes upgrading and expanding the existing gas transit infrastructure of the seven countries to create a new higher-capacity gas transit corridor which would reverse the direction of gas flow in some sections and allow larger volumes of gas to be transported from Greece and Turkey to Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Ukraine's own existing transit pipelines could then carry the gas directly to Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, and on to other European markets further west. The new corridor would be able to carry gas imported into Greece and Turkey by ship as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and also gas from Azerbaijan imported through Turkey to Greece, The first step towards realizing the vertical corridor was taken on February 1 with Bulgaria's state-owned gas transit operator Bulgartransgaz EAD launching the EU-required public consultations for the capacity expansion, in parallel with the state operators of Greece, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. The final capacity for the new corridor has yet to be decided, but according to Ukrainian state gas transit grid operator GTSOU, there is sufficient demand from European gas buyers for a capacity of as much as 21 million cubic meters a day through Moldova to Ukraine, That's double the existing capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor which currently carries all of Azerbaijan's gas exports to Europe. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on the existing Southern Gas Corridor, more specifically its final stage, the TAP pipeline. TAP is owned by a consortium that includes Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR and BP, which operates Azerbaijan's biggest gas field, Shah Deniz, from which the bulk of Azerbaijan's gas exports are produced. TAP has a nominal maximum capacity of 20 billion cubic meters a year but has been operating at around 10 billion cubic meters a year, pending a decision by the partners of the TAP consortium to make the necessary investment to add new compressors to allow the pipeline to carry more gas. In January last year the consortium announced it would expand capacity by 1.2 billion cubic meters a year by 2026, but has yet to indicate when or if it will invest to boost capacity to the full 20 billion cubic meters a year. The creation of a new vertical corridor could make that extra expansion unnecessary - unless and until new sources of gas become available which could fill both corridors. As it stands, the only sources of gas available are LNG - imported via terminals in Greece and Turkey, and gas transited by pipeline from Turkey, of which currently only gas from Azerbaijan is available. ADVERTISEMENT Efforts to boost Azerbaijan's own gas production are well underway. BP announced January 30 that it expects to begin production of gas from a new "deep" gas field early in 2024 while France's TotalEnergies, which last July began producing gas from Azerbaijan's Absheron gas field, has confirmed it plans to boost production from 1.5 billion cubic meters a year to around 5.5 billion cubic meters a year. Baku continues to claim that it is on target to meet its promise to deliver 20 billion cubic meters a year to Europe by 2027, but doubts remain as to whether it can meet that target without imports from its neighbors, Turkmenistan and Iran. Gas from Turkmenistan could become available for either or both corridors if negotiations between Turkey, Turkmenistan and Iran to deliver Turkmen gas to Turkey via Iran bear fruit. By David OByrne via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. oil industry and climate activists on Monday filed lawsuits against the federal government challenging its lease sale plans for the Gulf of Mexico. While Big Oil is attacking the government for curbing the acreage to be made available to drillers, environmentalists are challenging the very existence of those plans. "Demand for affordable, reliable energy is only growing, yet this administration has used every tool at its disposal to restrict access to vast energy resources in federal waters," said Ryan Meyers, General Counsel for the American Petroleum Institute, which filed the first suit, as quoted by Reuters. In the other corner are climate activists from Earthjustice filed a suit on behalf of eight environmentalist organizations claiming the lease sale plans have not taken the impact of oil and gas drilling on local coastal communities into adequate consideration. The Biden administration released its new five-year plan for offshore leases in October, causing outrage in the oil industry because of intentions to hold only three lease sales over the whole period. This would be the lowest number of lease sales over any five-year period since these plans began to be published, back in 1980. The federal government also tried to stop a lease sale scheduled under the previous five-year plan that was to take place late in 2023. Despite its efforts, the lease sale was conducted, after the oil industry sued the Interior Department and won. The lease sale attracted $382 million in high bids, which made it the biggest lease sale for the past eight years. "In issuing a five-year programme with the fewest lease sales in history, the administration is limiting access in a region responsible for generating among the lowest carbon-intensive barrels in the world, putting American consumers at greater risk of relying on foreign sources for our future energy needs, the APIs Meyers said as quoted by the FT. ADVERTISEMENT On the other hand, The oil and gas industry is already sitting on 9mn acres of undeveloped leases. They certainly are not entitled to more, Earthjustice attorney Brettny Hardy told the publication. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Global oil demand is expected to remain robust in the long term and the recent Saudi reversal of production capacity expansion shouldnt be read as a view of falling demand, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais told Reuters on Tuesday. First of all I want to be clear I cannot comment on a Saudi decision ... but this is in no way to be misconstrued as a view that demand is falling, Al Ghais told the newswire on the sidelines of a summit in Dubai. At the end of last month, Saudi Arabia surprised the oil market by announcing a shift in production capacity strategy. State oil giant Aramco said it was ordered by the Kingdoms leadership to stop work on expanding its maximum sustainable capacity to 13 million barrels per day, instead keeping it at 12 million bpd. Saudi Arabias decision to abandon the expansion plans is a result of the energy transition, Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said earlier this week. OPECs Al Ghais said that the cartel stands firmly behind its latest long-term outlook on oil demand from October, when OPEC raised significantly its long-term demand estimate and now expects global oil demand at around 116 million bpd in 2045, up by 6 million bpd compared to the previous assessment from 2022. In its latest annual World Oil Outlook, OPEC expects global oil demand to increase by more than 16 million bpd between 2022 and 2045, rising from 99.6 million bpd in 2022 to 116 million bpd in 2045. We stand by what was published in our latest outlook we firmly believe that it is robust, Al Ghais told Reuters today. If anything, changing narratives we are seeing now ... a lot of countries in the world turning back and slowing down and rethinking their net zero goals ... that will create further long-term demand for oil, OPECs secretary general said. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran is relying on a network of foreign refiners to secure demand for its crude oil amid the stranglehold of sanctions, Argus has reported, citing export data and sources from the industry. Last year, Irans crude oil production rose by a sizeable 650,000 bpd, the report noted, largely thanks to an improvement in exports, which averaged almost 1.3 million barrels daily, per Vortexa data. Thats up from about 1.05 million bpd for full 2023 and a little over 800,000 bpd for 2022. As in previous years, the bulk of those daily exports went to Chinese refiners who have developed a taste for discount Iranian crudethus ensuring sustained demand for it. But Iran has also been exporting crude to allies Syria and Venezuela, to feed Syrias 140,000-bpd Banias refinery and Venezuelas El Palito facility, which has the same daily processing capacity as Banias. "The biggest benefit of such refineries is securing markets for the stable sale of our crude," Ali Shahverdi, who is in charge of relations with overseas refiners at state downstream company NIORDC, told Argus. Iran is looking for long-term commitments, the report also noted, that would make it harder for the buyer to give up Iranian crude, if they wanted to, for some reason. The pool of such buyers is limited, Argus also wrote, but Iran seems to be making good use of what buyers are available to it. "The sanctions that the US imposed on [state-run oil firm] PdV in 2019 dramatically increased relations with Russia first," the director of the Latin American energy program at Rice University's Baker Institute, Francisco Monaldi, told Argus. "But when secondary sanctions kicked in [in 2020], we saw a severing of relations with [Russian state-owned] Rosneft, and China and India stopped buying [Venezuelan] crude. This is when the relationship with Iran took on another level," Monaldi explained. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via Metal Miner The downtrend for nickel prices showed signs of exhaustion, with significant potential to impact stainless steel prices. Nickel moved sideways throughout January with a modest 1.60% decline. While directional momentum remained slow, prices continued to edge lower during the first weeks of February and now sit at their lowest level since April 2021. Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, falling 0.5% from January to February. Outokumpus Q4 Reports Show Weaker 2023 Market Outokumpu noted a challenging market environment throughout 2023 in its fourth-quarter results. Although the company reported that distributor destocking efforts slowed by the end of the second half, global deliveries nonetheless saw an overall 9% decline. In the Americas, Outokumpu described the 2023 market as relatively strong, although it began to weaken toward the end of the year. Despite the companys seemingly positive characterization, stainless steel deliveries in the region fell by 16% from 2022. Meanwhile, Outokumpus European operations found a bottom during the third quarter, which turned into a slow recovery during Q4. Furthermore, stainless steel deliveries saw a 4% year-over-year decline. In addition to lower stainless steel prices, this negatively impacted the companys profitability. Source: MetalMiner Insights, Chart & Correlation Analysis ToolSource: MetalMiner Insights, Chart & Correlation Analysis Tool Outokumpus results appear emblematic of the global market. Moreover, both European and U.S. 304 cold rolled stainless steel prices saw considerable downside throughout the year. Nickel prices, which boast respective 78% and 82% correlations to European and U.S. 304 prices, proved a significant drag on global stainless steel costs even as base prices held flat. Despite Outokumpu favorable opinion of the U.S. market, data from WorldStainless states that slower demand led to a 12.9% year-over-year cut in U.S. stainless steel melt shop production during the first three quarters. Furthermore, European production saw an 8% decline during the same period. Outokumpu Expects Q1 2024 Increase in Deliveries, Hopes to Expand U.S. Cold Rolled Capacity In the same quarterly report, Outokumpu forecasted a 5 to 15% increase in its global stainless steel deliveries for the first quarter of 2024. Q1 typically experiences a seasonal rise in stainless steel demand, which Outokumpu likely factored into its outlook. The company also believes Europes slow recovery will continue, thus helping to boost the market. However, the company made no mention of its outlook for the Americas, as that market has yet to find a bottom. Simultaneously, Outokumpu continued to pursue increased cold rolling capacity as part of its larger strategy for the Americas. The companys current capacity stands at 55 kilotons, with the overall goal being to reach 80 kilotons. That said, Outokumpu opted not to specify how it intended to increase its market share. However, it did note that capacity expansion would target North America and that the firm would make final decisions within a year. Market Sources Have Yet to Experience Q1 Pickup While Outokumpu remains optimistic, some U.S. distributors continued to experience bearish market conditions throughout January. Meanwhile, mill lead times have yet to increase from historically low levels despite lower output from mills. Many manufacturers continued to work through inventories they overbuilt back when markets began to rebalance following years of tight supply conditions. The over-purchasing led numerous manufacturers to forgo H1 negotiations, which likely contributed to a slowdown in stainless steel deliveries. ADVERTISEMENT This caused some distributors to speculate that H2 negotiations could begin earlier than usual if those end users manage to rebalance inventories in the coming months. However, as nickel prices continue to show a downside bias, buyers remain unwilling to make long purchases, expecting the surcharge to continue to fall. This, combined with a still well-supplied market, will challenge steelmakers efforts to increase prices without further cuts to capacity. By Nichole Bastin More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: () Miyako Isand is quick flight from Okinawa. Miyako Island has plenty of culture, shopping, activities and food, which make it a great place for a getaway. Some of the must-see spots on Miyako Island include: Sunayama Beach Only a 15-minute drive away from Miyakojima Airport, this sandy beach is as its name in Japanese suggests: a beach beyond a small sand mountain. Once you reach the bottom of the mountain, you will be greeted by a cove in the shape of a gateway welcoming you to this beautiful location. As of Oct. 2023, this cove is cordoned off and designated as an off-limits area. Higashihennazaki This is a cape stretching about 1.2 miles providing a dynamic view you will not find anywhere else in Okinawa. As you travel through this stretch, youll notice large rocks and boulders along the coastline thought to be remnants of an earthquake from 250 years ago. Irabu-Ohashi Bridge The bridge, at 2.2-miles long, is the lengthiest toll-free bridge in Japan and it connects Miyako and Irabu islands. This bridge also provides stunning ocean views. Tooriike on Shimoji Island This area along the islands rocky coast is a popular diving spot and consists of two interconnected ponds. While touring Miyako, make sure you try some local mango. Especially during the summer, the juicy taste of the islands signature fruit dazzles many tourists and locals. Despite a last-minute attempt to withdraw his no contest plea, an Omaha man was sentenced Tuesday to 90 to 115 years in prison for shooting and killing a teenager in what prosecutors have characterized as a case of mistaken identity. Justyn Wagner, 21, initially charged with first-degree murder in the October 2021 killing of 18-year-old KorVanta Hill, accepted a plea deal last year and pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. Elijah Robinson, 20, also pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison for being the getaway driver. According to previous testimony from detectives, Wagner and Robinson were driving around the area of 39th and Pratt Streets on the evening of Oct. 18, 2021, looking to shoot rival gang members. Instead, they came across Hill, who was walking through the neighborhood with his stepfather. After circling the pair multiple times, Wagner exited the car and shot at Hill 10 times, striking him in the chest and killing him. Hill was not associated with any gangs, according to prosecutors. On Monday one day before sentencing Wagner filed a motion to withdraw his plea of no contest. According to Douglas County District Court Judge Tressa Alioth, his reasoning for doing so was because he wanted the plea agreement to specify a sentence, which Alioth said was not a sufficient reason to withdraw the plea. Wagners attorney, Nebraska State Sen. Justin Wayne, asked Alioth to take a hard look at the mitigating circumstances. Wagner started picking up charges when his longtime girlfriend died after a four-year battle with a brain tumor, Wayne said. He was convicted of felony marijuana and opioid possession in September 2021 and placed on probation. The lack of support and supervision that Wagner had while on probation is an example of a systematic failure in Nebraskas justice system, Wayne said. Wagner made a tearful statement to the court before he was sentenced and asked for forgiveness from Hills family. I just hope my remorse is enough, Wagner said. Im sorry that everything happened the way it happened. Hills father, Jefferey Johnson, spoke directly to Wagner. Having been to prison himself, Johnson said, he never thought hed wish it upon anyone else. Losing his son changed that. My son is gone forever, Johnson said. I think everyone involved should be off the street forever. Maybe one day Ill feel different. But I feel like you should be gone. For a very, very, very long time. The four finalists for Omaha Public Schools superintendent didnt escape critical questions and scrutiny Monday night. During a 90-minute session at the districts Buena Vista High School, dozens of teachers, parents, residents and students gathered to ask the candidates what changes they might bring if hired to lead OPS. The finalists, who were announced Thursday, are: Christopher Bernier, a Florida superintendent; Luis Solano, a top administrator in Detroit; Thomas Ahart, a former Des Moines superintendent; and Matt Ray, the current OPS interim superintendent. Some people grilled the finalists on how they would improve academic achievement in OPS while others asked the candidates to address staff pay and problems with student behavior. A few of the questions were pointed. For example, one man asked Ahart when he last stepped foot in the classroom and if he would prioritize visiting schools while on the job. Ahart noted that its been a year and half since he last worked as a superintendent, but he said its important for administrators to understand whats going on in schools. He said he used to ride school buses or help serve lunch during school visits. Bernier was pressed by one OPS resident about the need to consider everyone in the district, including taxpayers without children in OPS. Bernier said he would want to talk to ordinary taxpayers about their concerns, saying that it would help him make better decisions. As the incumbent superintendent, Ray heard from multiple teachers about their individual workload challenges and district staffing needs. He replied that those reflect issues that are a priority for him, and in some cases he promised to look into specific circumstances. A woman asked Solano about low academic achievement and students who are falling behind. Solano discussed his strategy of coming into the job, if hired, with a comprehensive plan of action that would address that issue. And he spoke of visits he made Monday to OPS schools. I visited four schools today. Incredible teachers; beautiful, incredible schools, Solano said. You could see true learning was going on in the classrooms. It was easy for me to see you all love and care deeply for your kids. This is an amazing district. JR Jasso, a kitchen aide at Buena Vista, said he hopes the next superintendent really understands what students and teachers have to deal with. You can see what these kids need if you sit down with them at lunch and see what theyre talking about, Jasso said. Whoever is selected as superintendent, they really need to put the student first. But they have to know they have to see what the student wants. Jasso said the departure of the last superintendent, Cheryl Logan, left a bad taste in peoples mouths when she returned to the East Coast after five years, just after her retirement pension became fully vested. He said he hopes the districts next leader stays longer. The public will also be able to watch each finalist get interviewed on Tuesday. The district is hosting interviews at 5 p.m. at the Teacher Administration Center, 3215 Cuming St. Each finalist will be interviewed for an hour by school board members. The board will then go into closed session to discuss the candidates. School board meetings can be live-streamed at ops.org/page/326. OPS officials have said the board could announce its decision after the closed session, but it isnt required to come to a conclusion Tuesday night. Photos: Community members meet with OPS superintendent candidates Phillip Bell met his future wife while helping deliver a baby. Dorothy Lammers saw the world with her youngest sister. Jo Olson's future husband was the one boy she didn't dump. To celebrate Valentine's Day, The World-Herald asked Omaha-area seniors to talk about the people they've loved in their lives. THEIR HANDS MET OVER THE DELIVERY TABLE Phillip Bell asked Miriam "Mim" Bell to marry him on Valentine's Day in 1956. She said no. "I said, 'OK,'" Phillip said. "She says, 'You're not going to ask me again?'" Phillip told Mim nope. He asked her once, and that was good enough. "She said, 'OK, then, I'll marry you,'" Phillip, now 87, recalled. Phillip and Mim were married for 57 years and 10 months. And then she died on me," Phillip said. "And that ticked me off. The Bells met in the delivery room at the hospital where they both worked. Mim was an OB-GYN nurse, and Phillip was a medical technologist. Phillip was in the middle of delivering blood when a doctor roped him into helping deliver a baby. Phillip was told to put on scrubs and push on the patient's abdomen when she had a contraction. "What's a contraction?" Phillip remembers asking the doctor. A nurse with the prettiest blue eyes showed him where to place his hands and then put her hands on top of his, Phillip said. For years, Phillip told that story when people asked how the couple met. I said we held hands over the delivery table, Phillip said while laughing. And it was true. Mim was 13 years older than Phillip. When Phillip started talking about marriage, Mim told him to go talk to a chaplain about it. With their age difference, the chaplain told Phillip that he had to stick to the marriage. Phillip couldn't ditch Mim just because he got tired of her or because things got tough. So I didnt," Phillip said. "I kept her. SISTERS LIVED, TRAVELED THE WORLD TOGETHER The Lammers sisters traveled all over the world. Dorothy Lammers liked to go to spots where she could see the Alps. Alice Lammers was partial to Venice, Italy. But together, they saw it all. When they weren't traveling, Dorothy and Alice lived together for more than 60 years. Dorothy, who turns 100 on March 4, was the oldest child in the family and 12 years older than Alice, the youngest. There were six siblings between them. Due to their age differences, Dorothy said the sisters didn't get to know each other until adulthood when they both moved to Omaha. She was a lot of fun," Dorothy said. The sisters were close but also wanted to have separate lives. "We had separate friends. We didnt do everything together," Dorothy said. "We decided that right away, we werent going to just be a pair all the time. Alice died in 2021. I miss her so much, Dorothy said. When Dorothy thinks about people she's loved, she thinks of Alice. She also thinks about her parents. I never heard a cross word between the two of them," Dorothy said. "Never. 'JUST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN' When Jo Olson talks about love, she quotes lyrics from a Nat Cole King song. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return," Cole sings in "Nature Boy." Olson, 97, repeated that line over and over when asked about love. She said she's repeated it to her children and grandchildren for years. I think its important that every human being find somebody to love and get it in return or theyre not living, Olson said. In her younger years, Olson never had a problem with falling in love. She just hated it when the boys got too serious. "When they got mushy, I left them, Olson said with a laugh. Eventually, there was one boy she couldn't shake. Harold Olson pursued her, and he was cute. There was something about him," Olson said of her husband. "That he was gentle and he thought I was the cats meow. That helped. And so I fell in love with him and we got married. Together, they had six children. After Olson's husband died in 2010, people asked her whether she'd consider getting married again. She told them she'd do whatever God gave her. It happens," Olson said of love. "If you want it. Even if you dont, its going to happen anyhow. It will. Olson hasn't remarried, but her advice to those looking for love is to be social. Social is just being kind and loving. Thats it. Thats what I tell my kids. Be kind and loving to everyone, and youll be happy because what is anybody going to do if youre kind and loving to them? Theyre going to like it. Love is the most important thing in the world because it's the most positive thing, Olson said. Its a free thing that you can give and you can get it back in many ways," Olson said. If you think about it, if you dont have that, what have you got in life? What do you have to look forward to? Check out what specials Omaha restaurants have to offer for Valentine's Day Valentine's Day gives you an excuse to dine out in Omaha during the middle of the week. Here are some bars and restaurants with special offers and events. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 There is a legitimate IRS program thats designed to allow 70% of taxpayers to file their federal income tax returns for free using online software. But hundreds of millions fail to take advantage, potentially overspending by billions, according to the latest IRS data. The Free File program began 20 years ago to create a way for the lowest earners to file their federal taxes using free online software. Each year, the income threshold for eligibility is adjusted so that each year, 70% qualify. For instance, for tax year 2023 (those were preparing to file now), people with adjusted gross incomes of $79,000 or less qualify to use Free File. An examination of 2022 IRS data, the most recent available, reveals that despite 70% qualifying, just 2.2% actually took advantage of the program. Share of taxpayers using Free File declined in 2022 Just under 3.3 million federal taxpayers used Free File in fiscal year 2022. But 102 million didnt, despite being qualified. In 2020 and 2021, the share of Free File users had increased over previous years to 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. That increase couldve been due in part to the very public push to get filers and nonfilers alike on record and eligible for Economic Impact Payments as part of COVID-19 pandemic relief. The tool created to help facilitate the delivery of those payments was built in cooperation with the Free File program. But that progress nearly faded away by 2022. Overall taxpayer knowledge about the program appears low. A survey conducted in conjunction with the NerdWallet 2024 Tax Report found just 13% of Americans know if they qualify for the Free File program, and a 2020 survey from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that 30% of people who paid to file their taxes were unaware of Free File altogether. So, how much are taxpayers overspending? Its tough to say, but a conservative estimate assuming a $40 fee per return would amount to $4 billion. Online tax prep, where 'free' can be misleading In January, the Federal Trade Commission found Intuit Inc., the maker of TurboTax, engaged in deceptive practices when advertising free tax software. Only after users went through a fairly lengthy process of online form filling would TurboTax disclose whether they could file for free. Many could not and were then steered toward paid products. The FTC now prohibits the company from advertising services as free unless they are, in fact, free for everyone or it discloses the percentage who will qualify before the user begins. Intuit called the FTC decision flawed and said it will appeal. At the writing of this article, TurboTax now advertises on its Free Edition landing page that ~37% of filers qualify. That, however, is roughly half of the 70% of all tax filers that qualify for IRS Free File. The FTC ruling against TurboTax isnt the first criticism a tax software company has faced about their free software. In 2020, the New York State Department of Financial Services ruled that several tax software providers engaged in deceptive practices by steering would-be free filers into paid products. At the time, these providers were members of the Free File Alliance, the name given to the group of online tax software companies authorized by the IRS to provide Free File services via the IRS website. But in the wake of the New York DFS investigation, ProPublica reporting and the 2020 Treasury Inspector survey, the IRS tightened its regulations and oversight of these companies. Ultimately, some companies left the Free File Alliance, including TurboTax and H&R Block. Where to find the real Free File The IRS provides a tool that will point you to several appropriate Free File providers, given your responses to a brief set (roughly five minutes worth) of questions. Not all Free File providers are right for everyone; they can set their own income and age requirements, so the IRS matches you appropriately and will indicate if a provider allows free state filing, too. Accessing these providers directly through the IRS helps ensure youre not landing on a page that appears to offer free tax filing but pulls a switcheroo. The IRS is also offering free tax filing through Direct File for eligible taxpayers in 12 states this year. Direct File doesnt have income limitations like Free File but isnt available for more complex filing needs. If you arent eligible for Free File and live in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington or Wyoming, this option could be for you. The agency expects to roll Direct File out in stages with wide availability across the eligible states by mid-March. ___ Analysis methodology is available in the original article, published at NerdWallet. ___ LINCOLN A lack of committee support indicates that a constitutional amendment to restructure the State Board of Education may be dead in the Nebraska Legislature for this year, although its introducer hasnt given up hope just yet. The Legislatures Education Committee held off on voting to advance Legislative Resolution 278CA Tuesday, and few committee members spoke in support of the measure. The constitutional amendment, introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, the education chairperson, would reduce the number of elected members on the State Board of Education to five, with two additional members appointed by the governor. The board is currently composed of eight members, each elected from separate districts. Murmans resolution would have three board members elected by Nebraskas congressional districts, plus two members elected at large. The new rules would take effect for members seeking election in 2026. Murman said Tuesday that his proposal would make Nebraska more similar to a majority of other states, which do not elect board of education members. But Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul said that the current structure is adequate and that Murmans proposal could reduce representation for rural parts of the state. Meyer said the board has worked well under the existing system for a long time, up until a few years ago, when the board faced public backlash for considering a set of health and sex education standards proposed by the Department of Education. Though those standards never advanced, Meyer laid fault with the press for not reporting the opinions of board members on such issues during their election cycles. Murman acquiesced to not voting on the constitutional amendment Tuesday, noting that there also was opposition to the proposal voiced at its public hearing. But after the meeting, he said he wasnt committed to leaving the proposal stuck in committee for the rest of the session. While it is common for committees to postpone votes on legislation and come back to it later, that usually happens to allow lawmakers to further negotiate possible amendments. That wasnt the case for LR 278CA. Meanwhile, the committee did vote to advance several other bills, including Legislative Bill 635, which would require providers of digital and online resources to K-12 schools to filter and block illegally obscene materials. The committee also advanced LB 1052, which would provide funding to reimburse teachers for out-of-pocket costs to pay for school supplies. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 LINCOLN In between her packed schedule full of debate team practices, club meetings and presidential duties for the schools Feminist Club Cassidy Bell spends her free time unlike most high school students: advocating for menstrual equity. The Lincoln East seniors passion started a few years back when she and her friends realized that not everybody has easy access to menstrual products, that period poverty is a very real thing, even in Nebraska. Even in their own school. She instantly wanted to jump into action. She started by spending a day with her friends set up outside a Hy-Vee asking shoppers for donations to buy period products to place in the bathrooms at East. Then, Bell helped found the Feminist Club to keep the conversation going. I was really, really happy with the results, she said. But it wasnt enough to just have the womens restrooms at her high school stocked. Bell believed everybody in need of tampons or pads at all of Lincoln Public Schools middle and high schools deserved free access to those products. So she began advocating for menstrual equity at school board meetingss. I feel like every step of the way was very encouraging, she said. I feel like there was never anyone who heard my idea and was like, No, thats not a good idea. Thats not appropriate. Everyone was very open, and that was really encouraging. When the board voted in September to allocate $100,000 in the budget toward placing period products in the womens restrooms at each of the districts middle and high schools, she was thrilled. But the satisfaction was short-lived. It still wasnt enough. She decided it was time to take her project statewide. She spent the summer researching legislation passed in other states that required schools to provide free period products in bathrooms, leading her to help draft a bill that would do just that here in Nebraska. Bell worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln to create Legislative Bill 1050, a bill that would require the Nebraska Department of Education to provide every public school the appropriate amount of period products for the projected number of menstruating students in each female restroom, including locker rooms and single-use restrooms. While crafting the bill, both Bell and Conrad knew they wanted to avoid creating an unfunded mandate. Currently, the bill does not specify exactly how this measure would be funded; however, Conrad said thats something that will likely be figured out later in the legislative process. Everybody agreed that we want to make sure that students have access to menstrual supplies, she said, but we also wanted to recognize that we didnt want to just add an unfunded mandate on the school districts. Funding will likely be appropriated by the Legislature, Conrad said, but she can always make amendments to the bill if needed. The Legislature held a hearing on the bill Monday, where a handful of people, including students, parents and representatives of several school districts, testified in favor of it. No one testified against it. John Neal said LPS provided free menstrual products for a while before the board allocated money at the start of this school year to place products in restrooms, but the location of those products matters. In the past, free tampons and pads could be found in nurses offices, but not in bathrooms where they are more readily available. Free is not the same as available, he said. Amanda Roe, a parent of a middle school-aged daughter, said free products in school bathrooms would allow menstruating students to have less stress while on their periods, thus helping them focus more in class during that time. I want my daughter and all menstruating children to be focused on learning while at school, not worrying about period products, she said. According to Conrad, bills regarding period poverty have been introduced in the past, specifically looking at incarcerated womens access to products and the sales tax on menstrual supplies. It seemed like this was a good next step to continue the dialogue, she said. A study showed that 25% of menstruating students across the nation struggled to afford or access period products last year. However, Bell said she was unsuccessful in finding data on a local scale during her research for the bill, which she found alarming. Theres no numbers on how many girls are struggling with this, particularly in rural areas, and Nebraska is a rural state. That was very frustrating, she said. This is what happens when we dont talk about things: We dont know if people are struggling. Through the bill and her advocacy, Bell hopes to not only help end period poverty for students across the state, but also to encourage other women and girls to break their silence when it comes to talking about menstruation. Menstruation is so stigmatized. The only way that we solve that is by talking about it. Issues like this just fall to the bottom. We cant legislate things and we cant make policy around things that we dont understand, she said. Advocating for this issue is so important just because more people need to be aware of what girls go through when theyre menstruating. Conrad, who has been a mentor for Bell for several years, said working with her has been a full-circle moment as she sees the same love for advocacy and will to use her voice in Bell as she did in herself when she was a teenager. Cassidy is just clearly whip-smart, super fun, completely passionate, Conrad said. She is, I think, exactly what we want young leaders to be: authentic and caring and dedicated and bright and always working to widen the circle to bring more ideas and more people to the table. Next fall, Bell plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continue to blossom her passion for advocacy while pursuing a degree in political science. Theres no better way to spend her time, she said, than by using her voice. Being able to spend my time this way, I just feel so fulfilled. For some people, its sports. For some people, its drama. For me, I feel like the best way that I can spend my time is by making a tangible impact, she said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja inaugurated the Audit Committee on Federal Governments Policies, Programmes and Projects. Osinbajo said the committee was set up with a view to taking stock of the administrations efforts so far and making concrete preparations for the second term in office which would begin on May 29. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday set up a committee chaired by the vice president to audit policies, programmes and projects in his first term in office. The committee members are the Chief of Staff to the President, Head of Civil Service of the Federation , Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Finance, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Others are the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister of Water Resources, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) National Security Adviser, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President. Osinbajo said that the terms of reference of the committee wereto audit and determine the status of implementation of policies, programmes and projects either inherited or commenced by the out-going Administration According to Osinbajo, in the next few weeks, the team will determine the current status and performance of Federal Governments projects and programmes relying on submissions made by the various Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs). He said that aside such submissions, the committee would also do an objective assessment of experts who were already engaged on similar assessments and would be co-opted to assist in the mission. Osinbajo said that the team would be required to produce a detailed implementation plan based on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and several documents including the Next Level document. He said that the committee would also ensure that there was an objective report; very critical analysis and realistic projections. Osinbajo said that the report would constitute clear guideline for each cabinet minister on ensuring that the incoming government had a clear presentation, ministry by ministry of what government needed to do; the challenges to be envisaged and the implementation plan. He said that all members of the committee would be required to work with teams of their own choice but the committee would work with a team of experts which had already been engaged. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, in conjunction with other governors and state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north central, on Thursday, guaranteed the national leadership of the APC of the mass support of the newly elected lawmakers on the platform of the APC in the north central for the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who is contesting for the senate president, and the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, candidate for the Speaker of the House. Other APC governors in the north central were said to be part of the decision in conjunction with the state chairmen in the zone to endorse Lawan and Gbajabiamila for the Ninth National Assembly leadership. ALSO READ: NASS Leadership: Igbo group endorses Lawan, Okafor The endorsement was said to be disclosed at a closed-door stakeholders meeting of the north central at the Plateau State Governors Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja. The Chief Press Secretary to the Plateau State Governor, Mark Longyen, said that the meeting was presided over by Governor Lalong. Governor Lalong had declared: A meeting of governors and the party chairmen from North Central on Thursday resolved to go along with the decision of the partys endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 9th National Assembly. Since it was a party affair, our decision was in line with the wish of the party and that is why we the governors and state chairmen of our party from the zone are in support of the decision of the party. The Plateau governor could not say specifically what the north central benefits from the power sharing scheme of the APC. We are still deliberating. We have not exhausted the positions with respect to zoning. Our decision and position are only on two issues, while the rest deliberations are ongoing. There is going to be a continuation of our meeting in respect of positions to the North Central with both Mr. President and the party, Lalong declared. Post Views: 98 FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Ekene Franklin Ezeunala, who scored 347 to emerge the overall best in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) targeted 370 out of a possible 400, it was learnt yesterday. The SS3 pupil of Meiran Community Secondary School, Meiran, on the outskirts of Lagos, is, however, happy with his mark. He said yesterday that he was shocked to be announced the candidate with the highest score. Ekene told The Nation: I tried to make a good score while preparing for the examination. The score I was targeting was 370. I still feel happy that I still achieved a good result. The teenager, who will turn 15 May 27, said: When I first heard I was the highest, I was a bit shocked. But I became glad and happy. He attributed his feat to regular participation in competitions oragnised by of Lagos State government. The competitions impacted positively on my preparation. Some of the subjects I did I had done them in preparing for the competitions and met the same thing in the exams, he said. Read also: Lagos celebrates pupil for topping UTME nationwide Ekene wants to study Chemical Engineering in the university for the love of it and to impact the society. He said he was already working on some bio-fuel research to reduce carbon emissions in Nigeria. I want to study Chemical Engineering because I feel that chemistry and technology can impact the general public and society in various ways; and personally, I have a flair for chemistry, he said. His mother, Mrs. Chinelo Ezeunala, a Chemistry teacher at Hightree College, a private school at Berger, Lagos, said she was happy about her sons feat. The Chemistry graduate said her son had always shown brilliance in his education and as a result skipped some classes in primary school. He started school early at two years plus because I was serving when I had him. He attended Philthel Primary School, Akoka. The school was owned by a professor teaching at the University of Lagos. But the woman is late now. In primary school he was very bright so he was promoted twice that was why he is 14 years in SS3, she said. Mrs Ezeunala learnt of a scholarship offer by Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, from this reporter. When asked if she would allow the boy to go, she said it would be discussed as a family. She said the family was not buoyant enough to afford private university fees if the offer was not a full scholarship. She said her husband was a retired staff of the defunct NITEL where he worked as a technician and had experienced hard luck in his efforts at running businesses. She said: We are not really well off and we cannot afford private university fees. If it is full scholarship, my opinion is why not? The Uturu, Okigwe, Abia-based varsity, awarded scholarship to Ekene and Emmanuel Chidiebube 16, who scored 346. By Izunna Okafor, Awka Barely three years after unidentified gunmen attacked the Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo in Anambra State, police operatives in the State have recovered one of the guns stolen by the gunmen during the attack. The States Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, disclosed this in a statement to newsmen on Monday, February 12 2024, in which he said the police operatives also recovered another AK-47 stolen from the Area Command Headquarters, Ogidi, early last year when the formation was attacked by insurgents. The statement reads: Anambra State Police Command has recovered two AK-47 Rifles stolen from two Police formations years back. One of the rifles was stolen when Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo was attacked by unknown gunmen in 2021. The second rifle was stolen from Area Command Headquarters, Ogidi, early last year when the formation was attacked by insurgents. Painstaking intelligence gathering by undercover operatives led to uncovering of a location where the arms were hidden in Nnobi, Idemili South LGA of the State. The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who commended the operatives for their diligence urged them not to relent until perpetrators of the attacks which claimed Police lives are brought to justice. He assured the team that every logistic support they require would be provided until the objectives are achieved. At least seven inmates have been set free following the attack by unknown gunmen at Okigwe Correctional Service Farm Settlement in Okigwe LGA of Imo State. The attackers struck on Monday morning and abducted an officer in charge of the Correctional Service, after killing a police inspector on duty. However, the Imo state police command, in its release, signed by Henry Okoye, the Spokesman, said the command had deployed Special Tactical Squad to hunt down the attackers and killers of a police inspector. The release said, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma has deployed the Commands Special Tactical Squad and equipped them with the available resources to go all out in synergy with the Military and other sister security agencies to hunt down suspected IPOB/ESN disgruntled elements, allegedly responsible for the attacks on Correctional Service Farm Settlements, in Umualomoke Okigwe LGA of Imo state in the early hours of 12/02/2024, which resulted in the release of seven (7) inmates, and abduction of the officer in charge of the farm settlement, and the death of a Police Inspector respectively . The CP visited the said Correctional Service on-the-spot assessment of the ugly incidents wherein he mandated the special tactical squad operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring that the officer in charge of the farm settlement is rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. While calling on the general public who may have any useful information that will assist the operatives in arresting the hoodlums responsible for the attacks to kindly report at the nearest Police Station or via 08034773600, CP Danjuma encourages the good people of Imo State to go about their lawful business without any form of fear as the Command is on top of the situation and have emplaced adequate security measures to forestall future occurrence. The Commissioner of Police reaffirms the Commands unwavering commitment to ensuring that the State is adequately protected. He vowed that the hoodlums responsible for the attacks would be arrested and brought to book. Related The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the ongoing trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Ogau Onyeka Michael, on Monday, February 12, 2024 told Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, how the ex-CBN boss approved the payment of $6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) in cash for international election observers in the last 2023 general election. Michael made the revelation while testifying at the ongoing trial of Emefiele. The former CBN boss is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.00 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar). At the resumed trial on Monday, Michael, a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, identified the documents presented to him by the prosecution adding that he worked on the documents. According to him, on January 8, 2023, a request for payment in the sum of $6,230,000 came to his office and that documents for the disbursement of the money were approved by the then CBN boss in cash for international election observers My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channeled to the branch controller and that is my office. And on that day, my Lord, the request to my office was $6,230,000 and my attention was drawn towards it by my office assistant. It came from the banking services department and the memo carried the signature of the Director, Banking Services, with an instruction to the branch controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bearing the name and identity card of the person, he said. Continuing, Michael explained that, it stated that the payment was for election observance and be paid cash in a naira equivalent of the said amount. It further stated that the money should be refunded in the second quarter of 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Finance. My Lord, the document also stated that, find attached the approval of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the payment. Also, the memo had an attached approval of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and that of the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . Having gone through the document and satisfied that it met the requirement, I then minuted it to the head of the banking services unit for processing and subsequent payment. Mr. Williams, head of banking services compiled and made the payment on April 8, 2023, and the payment was in cash. I can identify the document because it also carries my signature, he said. Oyedepo, while trying to tender all the six documents as exhibits, told the court that two of the documents that had the former SGF and the Presidents approval was a photocopy, and therefore sought to tender the remaining four which were original, praying that the remaining two be tendered later in the course of the trial. He also asked the court for a 30 minutes stand-down to go to the CBN complex and secure the original copies. Defence counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, objected to Oyedepos prayers arguing that since the case was slated for February 12 and 13, he moved that the matter be adjourned till February 13 arguing further that 30 minutes sought by Oyedepo wont be enough for the prosecution to secure the original documents from the CBN. After listening to their arguments, Justice Muazu adjourned the matter till February 13, 2024, for continuation of trial. Related By Israel Bulus, Kaduna The Executive Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Hon. Nasara Rabo, has rewarded a Divisional Police Officer with the sum of N1million for rejecting a colossal amount of money offered by a suspected kidnapper to help truncate his investigation. PUNCH reports that Idris Ibrahim, serves as the Divisional Police Officer of Tafa in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Council Chairman who stated this in a letter of recommendation issued obtained by Our Correspondent on Monday, disclosed that the DPO made an arrest of a kidnapper on 22nd January 2024 who attempted to bribe him some huge amounts so that the investigation could be truncated or distort the investigation process, but the Police Officer rejected the bribe but vow to allow the law to take its full course due to his patriotic principle and firm steadfast for justice. This singular effort you made has not only made the Nigeria Police Force proud but it had also made the good people of Kagarko Local Government Area, the good people of Kaduna State, and Nigeria at large, adding this is a testimony that with the caliber of officers like you in service insecurity and other criminality that bedeviled our society today will become history. Under the foregoing, my Council and the Management Staff of Kagarko Local Government Council hereby serve you with a formal letter of commendation and also present you with a token gift of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) as a morale booster to make you put more patriotic effort in dealing with criminality in the Local Government Area and the country at large, The Chairman added. Nasara urged all police personnel in the state to always uphold the ethics of the professional by refusing to be compromised in the discharge of their duties. He further prayed to Almighty God to continue to encourage him to put in his best in the protection of the lives and properties of the good people of Nigeria. Related From Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI Bauchi State Government said arrangements has reached an advanced stage by members of the Central Planning Committee for the hosting of the 15th edition of the North East Joint Trade Fair in Bauchi. The State Commissioner for Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Alh. Mahmud Baba Maaji, revealed that one of the resolutions from the recent Northeast Governors Forum Meeting in Maiduguri was to revive the Trade Fair in Bauchi State to boost commerce and commercial operations in the sub-region that the insurgents actions had impacted. The central and subcommittees have also been formed to energize businessmen and women to take part in the trade show, according to Barrister Ibrahim Kashim, the chairman of the central planning committee and secretary to the government of Bauchi State. He commended the Governor Bala Mohammeds dedication to the states economic development appealed to traders and business owners in Bauchi to utilize the event to increase their revenue. The Commissioner has emphasized the trade fairs economic significance and predicted that the state would be successful in diversifying its economy by promoting small and medium-sized enterprises and public-private partnerships (PPPs). He has also applauded Governor Balas government efforts and commitment for supplying the needed things to guarantee a nonviolent demonstration of the participating domestic trade shows in Bauchi State as well as the entire Northeast region. Related At 1.49am on Monday, Israeli commandos climbed to the roof of a two-storey building in the middle of the southern city of Rafah. Acting on intelligence that two hostages were being held inside, the elite counter-terrorism soldiers blasted their way into an apartment on the second floor, setting off explosives attached to the front door to force their way in. Three Hamas terrorists standing in the corridor were killed instantly. Those men were guarding Fernando Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were kidnapped from their kibbutz of Nir Yitzhak just across from Gaza 129 days earlier. The daring raid marks one of the few occasions Israeli ground forces have entered Rafah since their war on Hamas began. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, is preparing to launch a full-scale assault on the city where one million Gazans are sheltering. The raid on Rafah was made possible by advanced Israeli intelligence. Commandos were alerted not only about the situation inside the apartment complex but also that a high number of Hamas fighters were stationed in two adjacent buildings. During the operation, troops from the Yamam counter-terrorism unit ushered the hostages to safety. READ ALSO: Israel PM, Netanyahu outlines prerequisites for peace in Gaza From the moment of the breach and entry of the apartment, Yamam forces shielded Louis and Fernando with their bodies, initiating a daring battle and heavy exchange of fire at several locations simultaneously, with many terrorists, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said on Monday. Additional ground troops from the Navys Shayetet 13 commando unit and 7th Armoured Brigade provided cover for the commandos and the hostages as Hamas fighters opened fire from the surrounding buildings, injuring one soldier. At around 1.50am, Israel called in airstrikes as a diversion to help the soldiers and the hostages escape. The devastating bombings destroyed 14 buildings and killed at least 67 Palestinians, authorities in Gaza said. Footage from the scene showed a dozen buildings reduced to a rubble of concrete and houses left without windows. The apartment building where the hostages were held before being rescued by Israeli commandos. The airstrikes helped the commandos evacuate the two men in an armoured vehicle, which transported them to the border just a few kilometres away. A military helicopter with Israeli soldiers was waiting outside the fence to airlift the hostages to the Sheba medical centre near Tel Aviv, where the families were already waiting. Israel had intelligence about the two mens whereabouts and had been preparing the operation for some time, according to the Israeli military. They were waiting for the right conditions on the ground and had to abort a rescue mission last week. Israels top brass assembled on Monday night at an operational headquarters in Beer Sheva on the northern edge of the Negev desert to monitor the rescue in real time. Mr Netanyahu, the Israeli president, and the defence minister joined them at what was a very tense and emotional night, according to the IDF. The joint operation by the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, the Shin Bet security agency at the IDF is the first successful hostage rescue since a female Israeli soldier was saved from Gaza in the early days of the ground offensive in late October. A lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has filed an action at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja against the President-General of Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU) in Anambra State, Vincent Dike over alleged defamation of his name and character. The lawyer to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the suit with No. CV/1224/24 filed on Monday February 12 is demanding N50 billion from Dike. Dike, Manager of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Ejiofor are both kinsmen in Orafite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. The suit was filed by Chinwe Umeche, Esq, Head of Chambers/Managing Partner in the chambers of I.C. Ejiofor (Ugochinyere Chambers). The defendant had during a meeting with members of Oraifite community at Oraifite Civic Center on February 4 reportedly told lies against Ejiofor which the plaintiff described as false, defamatory and highly injurious. Although Notice for immediate retraction of the offending publications was immediately served on him, Dike reportedly refused, neglected and declined to retract the publications, prompting Ejiofor to challenge the infractions in court. Ejiofor, among other reliefs, asked the court to direct Vincent Dike, to publish a full retraction of the utterly defamatory publication, in at least three national dailies/Newspapers with nationwide and global circulation. Others are An Order directing Vincent Dike to forthwith publish a written undertaking not to publish any similar or further libel of and concerning Bar. Ejiofor; A compensatory payment in the sum of 50,000,0000,000.00 (Fifty Billion Naira Only), as general damages Ejiofor suffered on account of the defamatory publications; And further payment of 100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira Only) being the cost of the suit. The suit is yet to be assigned a date for hearing. Related Okigwe has become a war zone where no one is saved. We are living in total fear. Most of our youths have run away for fear of being killed. Residents Lament. From Joshua Chibuzo Andrew Gunmen on Monday attacked the Senator representing Imo-North senatorial district (Okigwe zone), Senator Patrick Ndubueze, killing one of his orderlies. According to reports, the gunmen stormed the residence of the senator in the early hours of Monday and while the lawmaker escaped, a policeman attached to him was shot dead. A source close to the senator confirmed the attack to newsmen. According to the source, the same incident took place at the Correctional Service in Okigwe where several inmates were set free, and an Inspector killed in the process. He said, the news of Senator Patrick Ndubueze being attacked is true. They stormed his residence at Umualumoke and killed a policeman working for him. It could be the same set of hoodlums that also ambushed the Correctional Service in Okigwe and set prisoners free after killing a police inspector and abducting the officer in charge of the centre. Okigwe has become a war zone where no one is saved. We are living in total fear. Most of our youths have run away for fear of being killed. Our security agencies are not doing enough to combat crimes in the state. Yet, there are so many of them (security men)in this area, he lamented. Senator Patrick Ndubueze is currently the serving as an APC senator who won the February 25, 2023 National Assembly elections. But the Imo state police command had confirmed the incident through a press release signed by its Spokesman, Henry Okoye. See part of the release, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma has deployed the Commands Special Tactical Squad and equipped them with the available resources to go all out in synergy with the Military and other sister security agencies to hunt down suspected IPOB/ESN disgruntled elements, allegedly responsible for the attacks on Correctional Service Farm Settlements, in Umualomoke Okigwe LGA of Imo state in the early hours of 12/02/2024, which resulted in the release of seven (7) inmates, and abduction of the officer in charge of the farm settlement, and the death of a Police Inspector respectively . The CP visited the said Correctional Service on-the-spot assessment of the ugly incidents wherein he mandated the special tactical squad operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring that the officer in charge of the farm settlement is rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. While calling on the general public who may have any useful information that will assist the operatives in arresting the hoodlums responsible for the attacks to kindly report at the nearest Police Station or via 08034773600, CP Danjuma encourages the good people of Imo State to go about their lawful business without any form of fear as the Command is on top of the situation and have emplaced adequate security measures to forestall future occurrence. The Commissioner of Police reaffirms the Commands unwavering commitment to ensuring that the State is adequately protected. He vowed that the hoodlums responsible for the attacks would soon be arrested and brought to book. Related Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has appealed to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to help convey the message of hunger and economic quagmire in the land to her husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The First Class Monarch made the appeal in his Palace on Monday, while receiving the First Lady who came to pay homage to him. Mrs. Tinubu was in Kano to commission a building iat the Faculty of Law, Maryam Abacha University of Nigeria, named after her. The state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf joined her at the University to commission the building. Emir Aminu Bayero urged the First Lady to encourage her husband to redouble efforts in salvaging hunger and economic challenges facing Nigerians. The Royal Father also spoke on the need for President Tinubu to resolve the crisis of relocation of headquarters being experienced in the Federal Aviation Authorities of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to him: Athough we have several means of communicating to the Government on our needs and request, but through you is the surest way that we would tell the President the actual happenings in the country. The Emir further stated that, the hunger and starvation, in the land, though didnt start with this Government, but the situation has become more alarming and needs urgent attention. The issues of Insecurity is another serious problem we are facing, I know your Government inherited it, but something more seriously should be done to take care of the threats. We are receiving a series of messages from our people. One of such message is the much talked about relocation of CBN and FAAN to Lagos, I think the Government should come out clean on this matter and talk to Nigerians in the languages they would understand. Do more enlightenment on this matter, I for one cannot tell the actual intentions of the Government, we should be made to actually understand why the relocation of the CBN and FAAN offices now to Lagos. Emir Aminu Bayero commended the First Lady for her care on the wellbeing and welfare of the Children and women. In her remarks, Mrs. Tinubu thanked the Royal Father for the warm reception accorded to her in Kano. She advised Nigerians to steadfast and support Prrsiendnt Tinubu with prayers, assuring that very soon all the challenges would be tackled headlong. She also promised to take the message and appeals of the Emir to President Tinubu. Her convoy left the Emirs Palace to Maryam Abacha University of Nigeria, Hotoro, Kano, where she commissioned the edifice at the Faculty of Law named after her. She was assisted by Govenor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Among the entourage of the First Lady include Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jubril; wife of the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje; Minister of State for Federal Capital Terrotory, among others. Related Social commentator Aisha Yesufu asserted that Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has conceded that former President Muhammadu Buhari was a failure. Yesufu emphasized that Oshiomholes remarks have authorized Nigerians to openly criticize Buhari. Her comments were prompted by Oshiomholes acknowledgment of the adverse impact of Buharis economic policies on Nigerians. Yesufu highlighted Oshiomholes statement, stating, Adams Oshiomhole has now agreed Buhari was a failure and has given citizens permission to criticise him. In response to Oshiomholes statements, Yesufu remarked on X, Just yesterday Buhari was their hero. They defended him and were always in Daura. Today they blame him. She continued, characterizing the shifting loyalty as indicative of sycophancy, Their new hero is the Lagos man. Just wait for the illegally gotten power to be over and then their mouths will open. Sycophants. Regarding Oshiomholes role in enabling criticism of Buhari, Yesufu concluded, Adams Oshiomhole has now given you all permission to criticise Buhari. Thirteen villagers who were abducted by gunmen 62 days ago from their residences at Unguwar Liman, Gwada ward of Igabi LGA of Kaduna State have been freed from captivity. The captives were part of the 30 abducted in the community in December 2023. According to the Daily Trust, the kidnappers collected N6.5 million with the agreement to release all the victims but ended up releasing only 17 and demanded an additional N16 million for the others. The remaining 13 people were released last Saturday after payment of ransom, Malam Jafaru Anaba, a community leader, whose relations were among those released, confirmed to Daily Trust on Monday, February 12. He, however, declined to mention the amount paid to the abductors but said the victims had been reunited with their family members. We give thanks to God that the remaining abductees have regained their freedom after 62 days in the forest. As we speak, some of them are receiving treatment, he said. Front End, a leader in the integration of advanced technology across sectors, is captivating audiences at the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2024, from February 12 to 14 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The focal point of its participation will be its cutting-edge autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) by Ehang on display at booth 6140, that aim to revolutionise various sectors, including tourism through passenger transport, logistics, and civil defence by enhancing firefighting operations. Aligned with the visionary goals of Saudi Vision 2030, Front End plays a key role by introducing its Ehang autonomous aerial vehicles throughout Saudi Arabia, a strategic move that positions the kingdom as a global catalyst to the paradigm shift in autonomous aerial vehicles and the future of air mobility. Future of air mobility Majid Alghaslan, Chairman and CEO, Front End Limited Company emphasised the company's commitment to spearheading the future of air mobility saying: Our participation at IPTC 2024 signifies a transformative moment in our journey to bring groundbreaking technology to air transportation, logistics, and public safety. We are determined to redefine how people and goods move, not only within the Kingdom but also on a global scale. Adding to their list of benefits, these AAVs are also set to significantly enhance safety and reduce operational costs for offshore platforms and rigs in oil & gas fields. By minimising the need for flights and operations that can be autonomously conducted, these vehicles promise to improve safety measures and cut down expenses associated with traditional methods. Their capability to deliver goods to ships offshore presents a cost-effective alternative to conventional supply chain logistics, marking a significant advancement in operational efficiency and safety in maritime activities.--TradeArabia News Service Aisha Yesufu has revealed that Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole admitted that former President Muhammadu Buhari was a failure. The social commentator said this on social media. Yesufu said Oshiomhole has given Nigerians the permission to criticize Buhari. She was reacting to remarks by Oshiomhole that Nigerians are suffering due to the bad economic policies of Buhari. He said President Bola Tinubu cant be held responsible for the sufferings Nigerians are going through. Posting on X, Yesufu wrote: Adams Oshiomhole has now agreed Buhari was a failure and has given citizens permission to criticise him. Just yesterday Buhari was their hero. They defended him and were always in Daura. Today they blame him. Their new hero is the Lagos man. Just wait for the illegally gotten power to be over and then their mouths will open. Sycophants. All it took was for Buhari to leave the office and loyalty has shifted to the illegal occupant. Adams Oshiomhole has now given you all permission to criticise Buhari. A renown activist, Senator Shehu Sani, has expressed strong disagreement with the planned Nigerian Youths National Prayer Day to curse Prof. Mahmoud Yakuibu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for alleged subversion of the will of the people in the February 25, 2023 presidential election. The Nigerian Youths have scheduled the National Prayer Day to hold on the first anniversary of the 2023 presidential election February 25, 2024. The agitating Nigerian Youths perceived the INEC Chairman to have sold the 2023 elections to the highest bidder. According to them, Curse be unto Mahmoud Yakubu, INEC Chairman who sold elections to the highest bidder. He rigged the elections that brought Bola Ahmed TInubu to power. Muslims, Christians, traditionalists, atheist; we gather swear for INEC Chairman. However, Shehu Sani is indifferent to the national curse on the INEC chairman. According to Senator Shehu Sani, @ShehuSani This is actually meaningless and unnecessary. The government of the Republic of Niger has placed a ban on all commercial and international flights coming from or going to Nigeria. In a similar move, the Republic of Niger announced the opening of its airspace to all national and international commercial flights, effective immediately. The new directive specifies that commercial flights passing over Nigerian airspace without landing will not be affected by these restrictions. Nevertheless, it is mandatory for all flights operating within Nigers airspace to have their ADS-B and/or radar transponders operational throughout the duration of the flight. In the press statement shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, the government of Niger said that, The airspace of the Republic of Niger is open to all national and international commercial flights from ground to unlimited, except for Nigerian flights to or from Nigeria. These restrictions do not affect commercial flights that fly over Nigerian airspace without landing there. However, it is recalled that ads-b and/or radar transporders must remain on for any flight taking place in the Niger Republic. It added that the countrys airspace continues to remain closed for all military, operational, and special flights. These types of flights will only be permitted with prior authorization from the competent authorities. It said that the circular specifically concerns Niger and Nigeria and does not revoke any existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in force. The circular concluded, This circular, which only concerns Niger and Nigeria, does not repeal no NOTAM in force. This instruction is a countermeasure against a similar reinforced ban placed on all commercial and international flights from Niger to Nigeria. Since the circular was circulated on X, previously known as Twitter, Nigerians have been sharing their sentiments regarding this development. Some express optimism for a swift resolution, while others highlight the profound impact, particularly since the military assumed control in Niger last July. @OjiUgo_nwa, an environment service provider with over 16k followers, tweeted, Just in: Niger has announced that they are restricting flights from Nigeria from using its airspace; both national and international are suspended. Tinubu on the beat. In response to her tweet, @_nonconformist1 made a sarcastic comment, urging the former president to intervene and address the escalating diplomatic issue now attracting global attention. He tweeted, Buhari, come out and talk yo your cousins o. You carried all our money to build rail line to Maradi, the Maradi that Amaech kept shouting everyday on tv Yet investigative journalist @DavidHundeyin, who previously disclosed a plan for the Nigerian military to invade Niger during the initial days of the diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and Niger Republic, tweeted: I quite literally set myself on fire last year to stop Nigeria from going to war with Niger, so my conscience is very clear in all of this. Congratulations to everyone who accused me of treason and tried to end my life back then. Your new flight ticket prices are saying. In response to a query from one of his followers regarding the bans implications, Hundeyin explained that if other countries, especially those allied with the Niger Republic, were to support its decision, it could have significant cost and non-cost ramifications for Nigeria. He tweeted, The other AES states could still follow Nigers lead, so even this convoluted flight path might not be the end of it. If Burkina Faso and Mali also close their airspace to Nigerian traffic, we will either have to fly an extra 3,000km west to Senegal or start relying on Chad. Presently, a budget flight from Lagos to London is priced at approximately N947,989 on Royal Air Maroc. Given the daily depreciation of the naira against the US dollar, the immobilised funds of foreign airlines, and the rising cost of aviation fuel, there is apprehension that this latest development will exacerbate the mounting challenges faced by both passengers and operators in the aviation sector. Related Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, paid a condolence visit to the residence of the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe. They were joined by other well-wishers to offer their condolences to Pastor Shyngle Wigwe and his wife, Stella Wigwe, over the loss of their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Also present at the residence were prominent Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote and former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. The tragic incident occurred last Friday when a plane carrying Wigwe, his family, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two others crashed near a small town in Californias Mojave Desert. The crash took place around 10 pm while the aircraft was traveling from Palm Springs, California, to Boulder City, Nevada. According to US authorities, witness reports indicate that it was raining at the time of the helicopter crash near the Nevada border in California. An investigation into the incident has been initiated by the authorities. The meeting is set to take place at the Conference Hall of the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Wuse, the Federal Capital Territory FCT ). The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in Abuja for a important meeting. The meeting is set to take place at the Conference Hall of the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Wuse, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The meeting will be presided over by the acting Chairman of the BoT, Adolphus Wabara, while former governors, Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna State), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun State), and former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, have arrived for the partys BoT meeting. Other arrived party leaders include the former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Shuaibu Oyedokun, and the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido. Recall that the PDP Governors Forum, under the leadership of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, on Monday, charged the National Working Committee to set in motion the machinery for convening meetings of the appropriate organs of the party from the Caucus to the National Executive Council Meeting as soon as possible. Therefore, the ongoing PDP BoT meeting is set to discuss the state of the party, the yet-to-be-scheduled NEC meeting, and other party-related matters. Details later As Nigerians remember the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed today, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has urged the government to look to his policies and programs as a source of inspiration to address the current socio-economic challenges in the country. In a statement to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the death of Gen. Muhammed, Dr. Aisha Muhammad-Oyebode, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, emphasized the need to revisit the policies and programs of the former administration and implement those that are relevant to address the current challenges faced by the people of Nigeria. It is important to recall that during the first 200 days of his administration in 1975/76, there was a significant improvement in the socio-economic situation of the country, bringing relief and hope to the citizens. However, this progress was tragically interrupted by the unsuccessful coup of February 13, 1976, led by the late Buka Suka Dimka. Gen. Muhammed was widely renowned as a detribalized, bold, and authentic leader with a commitment to pan-Africanism. His legacy was marked by both economic prosperity and anti corruption with significant improvements in the quality of life in Nigeria. In spite of the progress achieved during Gen. Murtala Muhammeds administration, Nigeria currently confronts the looming threat of socio-economic collapse. The MMF CEO expressed concern over the prevailing hardships in the country and called on the government to take urgent measures to restore socio-economic prosperity, echoing the achievements of the Muhammad-Obasanjo military regime that brought hope to Nigerians in the 1975/76 period. Dr. Muhammed-Oyebode emphasized the urgent need for positive change, drawing attention to the remarkable achievements of Gen. Muhammed and his team during their brief tenure in power. She highlighted their successful efforts to combat indiscipline, promote nationalism, and address bureaucratic inefficiency while also initiating the process for a return to civilian rule. Gen. Muhammeds administration also made significant strides in fighting corruption, facilitating the relocation of the federal capital to Abuja, and initiating reforms to address economic inefficiency. Through these efforts, he sought to create a powerful and affluent Nigeria within an independent, yet united, Africa. The Murtala Muhammed Foundation believes that the current administration has the potential to replicate these achievements, particularly in the area of economic prosperity, and calls on the government to draw inspiration from Gen. Muhammeds vision and initiatives to revive the economy and uplift the lives of the Nigerian people, Muhammed-Oyebode stated. The MMF also advocates for a renewed focus on combating illiteracy, poverty, and advancing the process for sustainable economic development. By embracing the principles and ideals of Gen. Muhammeds administration, the government can pave the way for a prosperous and vibrant Nigeria that resonates with the aspirations of its citizens and contributes to a more prosperous Africa. As we commemorate the legacy of Gen. Murtala Muhammed, let us draw strength and inspiration from his achievements and leadership to chart a path towards a brighter future for Nigeria. It is our hope that the government will heed this call and take concrete steps to revitalize the economy and restore hope to the Nigerian people, in line with the ideals of our late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, she said. Related By Izunna Okafor, Awka The Anambra State Police Command, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has recounted a memorable and impressive experience of how he and some other officers of the Command fought tooth and nail against the unknown gunmen, to ensure that election held in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State during the 2021 gubernatorial election in the State. CP Adeoye, who shared the experience on Tuesday in Awka, during the decoration of the newly-promoted officers of the states Command, said police profession was a national call to duty, while also reminding the officers that promotion comes with higher responsibilities, even as new posting comes with new task and new test of competence. Recounting some of the places he had previously been posted to serve in different capacities in different parts of the country since his 35 years in the Police profession, including Maiduguri where he served as a Sector Commander, JTF and Anambra State; the Police Commissioner, said he said he accepted all the postings in good fate and used the opportunities to shine and prove his competence. He recalled how the Unknown Gunmen vowed that election would not hold in Ihiala Local Government, where they had their headquarters during the time they were massively territorizing the state and even designated some places as no-go areas in the State during the time. While advising officers of the Command never to lobby for posting, the CP recalled that he was posted from the National Headquarters Abuja down to the Southeast to Coordinate the Police Mobile Force in the five south-eastern states; and from where he was later posted down to Anambra state as a Deputy Commissioner of Police to help sanitize the state of insecurity then, shortly after the assassination (in Nkpor) of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of former NAFDAC Boss, Prof. Dora Akunyili. Continuing with the narration, he recalled that upon his posting, he and other officers under his control worked tirelessly to see that the security narrative in the state changed for good. I was here for one year, and God helped us, the election everybody thought would not hold eventually held. That was the election that produced the current Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo. At first, there was an election in all parts of Anambra State, but no election in Ihiala Local Government Area, because the Unknown Gunmen had their headquarters there. And immediately we finished election in other parts of the State, we mobilized the whole Force to Ihiala and said Their real father, let them come out. And we engage them in a shootout in a bush from morning till night, so that they would not go to the Ihiala town to disrupt the election. I was in the helicopter, coordinating the operation. And today Anambra is safe and peaceful because some of you (referring to the officers) have worked hard to make you so. And I stand here to declare and assure that never again will the people of Anambra State be subjected to that kind of mindless bloodletting by miscreants. If they raise their heads to do it again we will take the battle to them, he said. While thanking God for victory and commending his men for their gallantry, CP Adeoye, who was re-posted to Anambra State last year (now as Police Commissioner) also prayed for the sustenance of the peace that has returned to the state as well as the instant stoppage of the various minor crimes and pockets of violence that are periodically recorded in some parts of the state, especially in the Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu and Isekke areas. Congratulating the newly-promoted officers, he reminded them of the need to continue to work harder, and also charged them to always be professional and exemplary in their conducts henceforth, even as he enjoined them to see the promotion as a better opportunity to do better in their service of sacrifice to the nation and humanity at large, as well as to justify the approval of their promotion by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun. Aside David Iloyanomon, former DCP Administration, who was promoted and now posted to Taraba State as Police Commissioner; other newly-promoted officers from the Anambra State Police Command who were decorated at the event include four officers promoted from Chief Superintendent of Police to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police, four officers promoted from Supritendent of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police; as well as one officer promoted from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police. Speaking on behalf of others, some of the newly-promoted officers, ACP Collins Eruogu thanked the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Egbetokun, the Police Service Commission, and CP Adeoye, for the promotion, adding that the promotion will motivate them to continue being outstanding and professional in the discharge of their duties. Some senior and junior officers of the Command, as well as the spouses and relatives of the newly-promoted officers were also present at the event. Related The police on Wednesday arraigned a 25-year-old taxi driver, Kenneth Edet, in a Grade I Area Court in Mpape, Abuja, for allegedly kidnapping 10 children. The police charged Edet, who lives in Mpape, with one count of abduction. The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Edwin Ochayi, told the court that the case was reported at the Mpape Police Station on June 22. Ochayi alleged that the defendant was apprehended at a burial ground in Mashafa Village by some people when they heard a sound coming from his car. He said that the children were aged between 12 and 18 years. Ochayi said that during police investigation, the defendant could not give satisfactory answer as to where he was taking them to. ALSO READ:Dont defend Kidnappers, terrorists at all cost SAN advises lawyers The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 272 of the Penal Code. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Judge, Salihu Ibrahim, admitted the the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with one surety each in like sum. Ibrahim ordered that the surety must be reasonable and reliable. He also ordered that the surety must deposit his or her identity card at the court registry for verification. Ibrahim adjourned the case until July 24 for hearing. Post Views: 97 Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen Thursday criticised Beijing for making a big strategic mistake by halting individual travel to the island while her government relaxed rules on Chinese visits in a rebuke to the mainland.Relations between Beijing and Taipei have plummeted since Tsai of the Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of one China. As punishment, Beijing has cut official communications, ramped up military exercises, poached diplomatic allies and ratcheted up economic pressure on the island. Chinas tourism ministry announced Wednesday the suspension of individual travel permits to Taiwan due to current cross-strait relations a move that could hurt the islands economy. The statement did not mention restrictions on group tours. The move comes as Taiwan gears up for a presidential election in January, with China-friendly candidate Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party hoping to defeat Tsai. Chinas decision is a big strategic mistake using tourists as political tools will only spark negative sentiments among Taiwanese people. Tourism should not be politicised, Tsai told reporters. Chinese young people who visit Taiwan as individual travellers is the best way to get to know Taiwan I regret that the young people are deprived of their rights. She said China had always enhanced its verbal intimidation and sabre-rattling against Taiwan before elections and accused it of acting unwisely and irresponsibly with its recent military drills in the region. China had allowed its citizens in 47 cities to apply for permits to visit Taiwan on their own instead of on group tours. Taiwan experienced a sharp drop in mainland tourists since Tsai took office three years ago. The DPP has accused Beijing of using its tourists as a weapon to threaten her government. Taiwans interior ministry announced Thursday it had relaxed restrictions on visits by Chinese relatives, a move aimed at highlighting its human rights values. Under new rules which take effect immediately, the spouses of Taiwan residents blood relations, such as a step-parent or sister-in-law, are eligible to apply for a relatives visiting permit. Chinas arbitrary suspension of individual travellers to Taiwan highlights Chinese peoples lack of free travel rights but we treat the visits by foreign and Chinese nationals the same with open arms, the ministry said in a statement. Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing still views the democratic island as its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The Pastor A preacher has been arrested after police claimed he repeatedly raped two young girls in his bedroom and forced them to witness each others assault. The girls are 9 and 10 years old. Yunior Beltres, a 54-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, was charged with two counts of sexual battery on a minor, police in Miami, Florida said. The girls, whose relationship to Beltres was not disclosed, reported the abuse to police in July. They said the assaults occurred in May and June at his home in the 300 block of Northeast 118th Terrace in Miami, the Miami Herald reported. Beltres, a preacher at Evangelistic Ministry of Columns of Fire, also known as Ministerio Evangelistico Columnas de Fuego. Beltres has been affiliated with the organization since at least 1996, according to the records. A woman who answered the phone number listed for the religious organization on Friday said that Beltres was a pastor at the congregation and that the accusations against him were false. She did not provide her name and hung up on a reporter. In the voice greeting for the phone number, Beltres identifies himself as a pastor and wishes blessings on his callers. Videos posted to Facebook by members of the congregation show Beltres delivering impassioned and booming sermons in Spanish. In one video, posted Aug. 15, Beltres preaches about responding to critics of his faith. He comments on the lost souls of society. Even if they reject you a thousand times or spit in your face even if they call you a crazy fanatic, he said, yelling. Yes, Im a crazy person of the third heaven. There are a thousand lost souls out there, but you all are pleased that you are saved, he added. Beltres, accompanied by an attorney, turned himself into authorities Thursday. He was being held Friday in Miami-Dades Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with no bond, said the Miami Herald. By Odoh Michael In 2003 when President Muhammadu Buhari first ran for the office of President and lost, he went to court to challenge the result of the election because he felt he was cheated and his mandate stolen. He did same in 2007 and 2011, and never called to congratulate his opponents in these elections. Adams Oshiomhole, Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbeshola, stalwarts of the ruling party also challenged their various governorship elections and won at the Supreme Court. The electoral act that gave room for candidates to go to court and challenge their election results did that to checkmate the rigging of elections. Destiny may be delayed but it cannot be denied and this to me is the reason for the tribunal. I was shocked when I read Dele Momodus tweet asking Atiku Abubakar to call President Muhammadu Buhari and congratulate him. The worse was when I saw same from a senior advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba. Goodluck Jonathans decision to call his opponent in 2015 was because he felt that the election, he conducted was free and fair. But that is not the same with 2019. Atikus decision to go to court is a victory for democracy. The court is there to settle issues between parties; it is legal so Atikus decision to go to court is in line with the law. The benefit of this is simple, if Atiku emerges victorious in court, Nigerias democracy will become reborn. No leader will have the mind to sit back, do nothing and when the people decides to vote him out, he/she rigs the election in their favour because they will know that they will have their day in court and be disgraced out of office. If Atiku sits back and do nothing, two things will happen which will be bad for our democracy: Nigerians will no longer have the zeal to go and vote because they would have lost faith in the electoral system and secondly, it will give room for massive rigging and manipulation of election results and nothing will happen to the perpetrators. The former Vice President has not declared himself president-elect, neither has he asked his supporters to go against the law so it beats my imagination why people who claim to be defenders of democracy will be against an idea that will strengthen our democracy and give power back to the people. If Atiku refuses to go to court, it means he would have failed the millions of Nigerians who came out to vote for him and who believe that he won the elections. The decision will also affect our democracy negatively as stated above. My advice to Dele Momodu and Olisa Agbakoba is simple, Atiku is not going against the law, he is exercising his right as enshrined in our electoral act, Buhari has done it thrice in the past, let Atiku be. If the APC feels they won the election free and fair, they will have their day in court to defend the victory but let it be known, that Nigerians will no longer sit back under a false peace agreement that will look the other way when our mandate is stolen and expects us to do nothing but remain silent like a lamb that is being led to the slaughter house. Just like I said earlier, if Atiku does nothing, our democracy will die because it will give room for what we saw on the 23rd of February 2019. People must be held accountable for their actions. He who has nothing to hide goes to equity with clean hands. Atiku is a true democrat who has continued to fight for democracy and 2019 should not be different. Let both parties meet in court, it will only strengthen our democracy. No matter the outcome, the Nigerian people and our democracy will emerge victorious because Nigerians will now know that, the court is there for us and we have a right to use it whenever we feel cheated. The Judiciary is the best part of democracy and today, Nigerians democracy lies before our judiciary, it is up to them to either save it and be on the right side of history or destroy it permanently. Time will tell. Micahel, a public affairs analyst wrote from Abuja. Mr Simon Achuba Mr Simon Achuba has insisted that he is the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. He stated this in a telephone interview with Channels Television on Friday, shortly after he was impeached by members of the State House of Assembly. What they have done is nothing. I am the deputy governor of Kogi State and I remain the deputy governor of Kogi State, Achuba said while condemning the action of the lawmakers. Earlier, the House in a unanimous decision impeached the embattled former deputy governor following the submission of a report of the committee set up by the State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajana, to investigate an allegation of gross misconduct against him. Majority Leader of the House and member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Mr Hassan Abdullahi, had told reporters that the Speaker, Mr Mathew Kolawole, received the committees report which was studied and deliberated upon before the lawmakers took the decision. A Complete Illegality? Moments later, Mr Achuba stressed that his impeachment by the lawmakers was illegal, saying they didnt follow the due process involved. He said, Impeachment has processes and the last process of impeachment is the verdict of the panel. If the panel says the case of the complainant is proved, it means that the accused which is the respondent in the case can be removed. But if their case is not proved, they cant do anything concerning my office and that is the situation. According to Mr Achuba, the report before the Assembly stated that the case brought against him was not proved. He explained that he did what was expected of him and presented himself before members of the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge in the state. So, what you have seen is the continuation of the illegality that I have complained about loudly. I will get a copy of the report in no time to prove to you that what they have done is complete illegality, Achuba said. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has warned financial technology (Fintech) operators against disclosing their customers financial details without appropriate permission. Dr Kabir Katata, Deputy Director, Research Department of NDIC, gave the advice in Yola on Wednesday at the 2019 NDIC Workshop for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN). Katata said that concealing customers data and information was necessary to ensure financial system integrity. Data privacy, consumer protection is the only way of regulation and supervision. You cannot play with a customers data because you have it. Banks need to understand that they have responsibility to protect customers data. You have collected data, it does not mean you should do whatever you wish with it,he said. The age and time where a bank will say that your data or record is ours, it is not true. The data does not belong to you, it belongs to the customer. He or she has to give you express permission to share it and you cannot disclose the financial status of a person without permission. This issue of data privacy is a big problem, but compliance is now very fast unlike before, he said. Katata advised fintech operators and banks to invest heavily to support new partnerships and train your staff to effectively meet best practices. In commemoration of the 2019 International Day of Women and Girls in Science themed Investment in Women in Science for Inclusive Green Growth, Oando PLC led by a delegation of its female engineers mentored female pupils in one of the Oando Foundation adopted primary schools, Arch Bishop Taylor Primary School, Victoria Island, Lagos. The session focused on the role and importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the world, why they are passionate about STEM and proud to have built successful careers in it. The aim of the programme was to provide a platform for the female engineers to engage female pupils towards considering and embracing STEM subjects for a future career in STEM by sharing real life and relatable stories that would inspire the young girls. In order to achieve full and equal access to, and participation in science for women and girls, and to further achieve gender equality and female empowerment, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 11 February of every year as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. According to the United Nations (UN) a significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under represented in these fields. Globally, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014 2016), only around 30% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Worldwide, female students enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%t) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%). In a bid to fight the long-standing biases and gender stereotypes steering girls and women away from science related fields, a cross section of Oandos female engineers spoke to the pupils on a wide range of STEM related topics, such as: Why mathematics and science are important in the real world; Opportunities that exist for girls/women in STEM; as well as games and engaging activities intended to stimulate the pupils interest in the sciences. It is interesting to note that research from different bodies are singular in their belief that there is little to no difference between boys and girls average ability in STEM subjects; however girls are still lagging behind boys in studying and in a career in STEM. In order to attract more girls to aspire to STEM careers, experts suggest the need to encourage young women through mentorship programs, creating an enabling environment and profiling women in science as role models. Such initiatives can inspire and encourage young women and girls to become more confident in their capabilities and can serve to empower aspiring and early-career women scientists. The lack of female interest in STEM related professions was reinforced during the mentorship session where 95% of the mentees when asked what they aspired to be in future chose Arts and Humanities related professions whilst only a meagre 5% chose STEM-related professions. However, after an invigorating day filled with activities aimed at rousing their interest in STEM, the girls were asked the same question at the end of the session and there was a remarkable 35% increase in the number of girls interested in STEM-related professions. Seun Solanke, Principal Reservoir Engineer, Oando Energy Resources, one of the mentors, advised the girls to be proactive in their research into STEM-related careers, she also spoke extensively on what motivated her to a career in the sciences. Lolade Shebanjo, Project Planning & Controls Engineer, Oando said; I felt fortunate to be surrounded by future female scientists. I was reminded of the fact that when you wear a helmet, it doesnt matter if you are a woman or a man; your mission is to keep achieving. Speaking further on the initiative, Abimbola Otulayo, Project Document Comptroller, Oando said; It was awe-inspiring seeing the little girls faces light up with attentiveness and interest during the sessions. I am definitely inspired to do more to help the youth of Nigeria. Through its independent charity, Oando Foundation, Oando is setting the pace for other corporates by adopting dilapidated public primary schools across the country, carrying out infrastructural upgrade in these schools, training teachers and establishing digital learning (ICT) centres to promote STEM. All efforts to create a more conducive learning environment and improve learning outcomes for pupils. To date, Oando Foundation has established46 ICT centres in its adopted schools impacting over 45,000 pupils; a deliberate attempt to encourage an interest in technology and science from an early age because Innovative Technology would not be possible without scientific research. Speaking during the event, the Programme Manager, Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh emphasized the need for girls to embrace STEM at an early age. It is pertinent for young girls to understand that STEM subjects and careers are not for a select few; that with hard work and a real desire they too can excel in subjects that will enable them build successful careers in STEM. Globally, it is estimated that the percentage of young girls enrolling in STEM-related courses is relatively low compared to their male counterparts. The resultant effect of this becomes evident with fewer women pursuing long term careers in STEM. Women make up over 50% of the population of Africa and form the majority of the work force in most African countries. However, women account for only 30% of the workforce in STEM fields in sub-Saharan Africa. The presence of women in STEM careers is essential to ensure the continent realizes its full potential of innovative solutions to Africas developmental challenges. February 11 serves as an opportunity for African countries, Nigeria included to reflect on the importance of science and technology to the development of the continent. Speaking on the initiative, Head, Corporate Communications, Oando, Alero Balogun said: When barriers to the participation of women and girls in STEM fields are removed, women do better, countries do better, and the world does better. To ensure more female participation in STEM, we need to create an enabling environment for them, starting from the primary level of education where their interest can be piqued at a very young age and they can then be gradually and intentionally steered into STEM careers. For us at Oando we didnt want today to just be another international day. We wanted it to be a day that we could proudly say we contributed our quota no matter how small to changing the way girls think about STEM. Science-related fields are critical to developing national economies. Unfortunately, most countries are yet to achieve gender equality in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In order to bridge this gap Tonia Uduimoh said: At Oando Foundation, we are committed to changing the narrative, particularly for young girls in our adopted schools. We are achieving this through various initiatives such as the digital literacy component of our Adopt-A-School programme that provides solar-powered ICT centers for effective curriculum deployment in schools; the Girls Code Club that is empowering young girls with technology skills through creativity and learning, among others. We therefore expect todays practical sessions to further stimulate our beneficiaries towards sustained interest in STEM. In a joint statement Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO and Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women said: Young women scientists are already making a difference in the fight against climate change, including South-African teenager Kiara Nirghin whose inventions minimize the impact of droughts. By harnessing the creativity and innovation of all women and girls in science, and properly investing in inclusive STEM education, research and development and STI ecosystems, we have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to benefit society. The National Broadcasting Company (NBC), on Friday night, honored Brian Dennehy, a versatile stage and screen actor, who died of natural causes in Connecticut (where he was born) on Wednesday, with a special episode of The Blacklist. Dennehy, who was known for action movies, comedies and classics, recurred as Dominic Wilkinson, the father of infamous Russian spy Katarina Rostova (Lotte Verbeek) and the grandfather of Elizabeth Keen, played by Megan Boone, in the series starring James Spader and Boone. The network adjusted its schedule to re-air the Rassvet (Dawn) episode, which originally aired on April 26, 2019, at 9 Pm last night. TVline.com disclosed the re-airing, at exactly 10:29pm, yesterday in a tweet via its Twitter handle. TVline.com tweeted: In honor of Brian Dennehy, who passed away on Wednesday, NBC will re-air #TheBlacklists Rassvet episode which featured Dennehy prominently tonight at 9/8c (after a new episode of the show at 8 pm). In honor of Brian Dennehy, who passed away on Wednesday, NBC will re-air #TheBlacklists Rassvet episode which featured Dennehy prominently tonight at 9/8c (after a new episode of the show at 8 pm). pic.twitter.com/bT2OTjDA6D TVLine.com (@TVLine) April 17, 2020 BLOOMINGTON Illinois Art Station will host a guest exhibit "Curse of the Cute" from Central Illinois artist Lauren Guttschow. The "Curse of the Cute" will be on display at the Illinois Art Station starting from Feb. 17 to March 30, with an opening reception with the artist from 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday. The exhibit is a reference to a joke Guttschow often makes about her artwork because her "scary art" meant to capture her love of horror often turns out to be cute instead. The reception is free and open to the public. A $9 admission will apply for young artists who decide to stay after to make and create at IAS until 2 p.m. Guttschow will also take part in the art station's March session of Art After 3 p.m. for artists age 6-12. AA3 artists will receive an introduction to needle felting March 6-7. Registration is still open. Illinois Art Station 1st year Anniversary Celebration Shari Buckellew, Kristie Toohill Deb and Maggie Lesser Pam Eaton, Melissa and Kevin McCarthy, Chemberly Cummings Terri Cannon, ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy Cat Woods, Marlene Woodruff, Bill Brady Beth Whisman, Nate and Rachel Carpenter Lacey Glandon, Hannah Johnson, Kyle Glandon NORMAL After co-teaching their first honors course together, Chicago-based cultural anthropologist Stanford Carpenter and Illinois State University professor Eric Wesselmann are diving into Blaxploitation films. The film series titled Can You Dig It? Exploring Race, Representation and Culture in Blaxploitation Films" is a five-week honors exploration course in which students and other audience members can watch four films and a documentary that showcase the Blaxploitation era of the early 1970s. The films have been and will be shown at the Normal Theater, 209 W. North Street, through Feb. 22. Blaxploitation films were part of an ethic subgenre of films that "featured Black characters fighting racist systems on their own terms," according to Wesselman and Carpenter's course description. Carpenter said Blaxploitation films were more than just part of a genre; they had movement behind them, as many of these films came after the Civil Rights Movement gave rise to Black politics. These films gave Black filmmakers the opportunity to create independent films focused on Black actors and made for Black audiences. Blaxploitation films often embraced themes of politics, revenge, sex and violence while showcasing Black music and fashion, Carpenter said. "They're being shown in a movie theater where anybody can come to see, and it introduces different sets of representation into movies, into cinema and throughout Hollywood," said Carpenter, who is the chair of the Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival in San Francisco. " It sets the stage for most the Black superheroes and comic books at the time because those movies were being watched. There's so many different genres represented even though people refer to it as a genre itself." Wesselmann said Blaxploitation, as a combination of Black and exploitation, colloquially could have a negative view nowadays, but at their peak and in cinema history, exploitation films were seen as films that succeeded by exploiting current trends, niche genres or sensational content. "Blaxploitation is a movement that doesn't really fit the traditional exploitation genres like horror and action, but it's more based upon the identity of the folks involved with the stories being told, making it unique from the other types of exploitation film genres," said Wesselmann, who teaches psychology. Having already known each other before 2020, Wesselmann and Carpenter said during the COVID-19 pandemic, they started to interact more often through virtual panels and events. That led to Wesselmann asking Carpenter to co-teach his first honors exploration course in fall 2023 titled "Exploring the EthnoGothic: Horror, Race, Social Identity, and Culture." As for this course, the Blaxploitation series has already shown films like "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," directed, written and starring Melvin Van Peebles. It centers on a Black orphan, who grows up with impoverished background, fighting and inspiring others to fight back against the system. Other films shown included "Shaft," which was directed by Gordon Parks, one of the first Black filmmakers to director a major Hollywood film. The titular character is a Black detective fighting the mob to prevent a race war in Harlem. "Cleopatra Jones" also played as part of the film series. The 1973 action flick follows undercover U.S. special agent Cleo's fight against drug trafficking in her community and abroad. Adam Fox, civics arts manager for the Town of Normal, said he loves being able to share these films with audiences in a space where they were intended to be seen. "That is the beauty of film is that you go and experience all those highs and lows together so being able to do that with films that maybe don't always get put up on screen," Fox said. "Let's show things that really resonate for a lot of reasons and that we want to show because they have a real cultural impact; they have a context that is important for everyone to understand and have the freedom to show that and then have that dialogue build around." Fox said the course has even brought students back to the Normal Theater on their own to catch showings and appreciate the space for how welcoming it is for audiences. Only two more showings remain in the series, including "Coffy," which made Pam Grier the first woman action film star of American cinema and follows the story of a nurse who takes the law into her own hands to avenge her little sister's hardship with drug addiction. The other film "Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted" is a documentary directed and written by David Walker, an author, filmmaker and comic book writer. The film examines the Blaxploitation film movement of the 1970s, featuring interviews with actors like Jim Brown, Jamaa Fanaka, Rudy Ray Moore, Ron ONeal, and Fred Williamson. "Coffy" will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 15, and "Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted" will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 and followed by a panel discussion with Walker. Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for students, available at the Normal Theater or online at normaltheater.com. Wesselmann said he hopes students and audience members can see that these films are products of their time. For those who may be seeing them for the first time, he said they are going to have their own reactions based on their own sensibilities, but the films do allow for complex conversations about how audiences may feel included or excluded through representation in film. "Some are allowed more complexity than others, and that affords us the opportunity to have that conversation and the ambivalence therein because even for those folks who are in these films, either in front of the camera or behind, they will often talk about how there is stereotypical problematic aspects and they were also getting experience," Wesselmann said. The casts and crews "had to wrestle with those complex things." Carpenter said through films they can help expand people's vocabularies and the ways they think about issues of race and culture, regardless of what background people may have, and create more nuanced conversations to hopefully bring people together. "I think that the richer and the more nuanced the conversation is the more we can connect with one another around these things as opposed to these things being a moment of disconnect," Carpenter said. "That's what's important about this. We're doing our part to push the debate forward but also add to the debate." 23 photos from the 48th Annual MLK Awards Luncheon Friends and family of the I Have a Dream honoree Bradley Ross Jackson (center) I Have a Dream award winners Harini Shloka Ravinuthala, Siddhi Hindurao with Shree Aytam (center) Willie Holton Halbert, Ryleigh Rose Beaulieu, Shirley Boykin Dan Brady, Greg Fraley Memuna Lee, Michael Brown Shari Harris, Barb Waddell, Kiara Armstrong Jeff Jurgens, Mose Rickey, Michael Brown Carol Calhoun, Vanessa Rice, Mamie Duggon Delta Sigma Theta Sorority alumnae Cheryl Jackson, Krystal Shelvin, Cheryl Fluker, Beverly Butler Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Jaeda Thomas Dr. Cathy Lust, Valeda Harvey, Kim Taber Messina Lambert Donise Brown, Arlene Stevens, Carolyn Ware Senator David Koehler, Sharon Chung, Mike Matejka, Kevin McCarthy Dr. Carla Campbell Jackson, "I Have a Dream" honoree Bradley Ross Jackson Virgie Ray, Kiara Armstrong Shari Harris, Barb Waddell, Vanessa Rice Longtime friends Bradley Ross Jackson, Seth Harrison Cheryl Fluker, Chemberly Harris Prajna Kurella, Pritika Jakka Rhonda Smith, Tony Jones Pamela Davidson, Sharon Chung, ISU Interim President Aondover Tarhule, Rose Tarhule Rev. Terrance Thomas, Rev. Elexis Wilson Doris Houston, Terrance Bond, Janet Hood Cody Hendricks, Mose Rickey Dan Brady, Shirley Boykin BLOOMINGTON Residents can now satisfy their sweet tooth with a new Bloomington home bakery. Sweet Somethings by Monica, owned by Monica Tessier, is this week's pick for Eats of the Week. "I've always liked to bake and cook. Since I was young, I've been doing it. And then I started working in restaurants and kitchens," said Tessier, who is originally from Massachusetts. "One of my coworkers told me that she was opening her own cottage business and it was a pretty simple process. And I was like 'Well, I think I would like to do that.'" Tessier, now mom of three, started the Bloomington-based business in October. She said she is often inspired by ideas shared online and then tries them herself, since she is always looking for something new. The business mainly does custom orders, especially for holidays. For example, Tessier made cupcakes decorated to look like turkeys for a customer last Thanksgiving. "I just do a wider variety of things because I do anything that I know how to," she said, noting her business is still "pretty new." "I like to do custom things. I think people like (it) because you can't really get custom stuff from the stores." Tessier said she typically fills one to two orders a week, but she also likes to bake for her family frequently. Her most popular items include cookies and cupcakes, mainly the vanilla and chocolate flavors, but Tessier noted customers like different kinds of frosting and decorations for holiday orders. The best way to contact Tessier for custom orders is by email at sweetsomethingsbymonica@gmail.com or on social media via Facebook and Instagram. Orders can also be placed at sweetsomethingsbymonica.com, which allows for shipping. "Just being able to do what I like, what I love, finding like a job and doing something that you really like to do is difficult, I think, so I was glad to do that," Tessier said. Tessier recently supplied 50 goodie bags for the Nomad Theatre's singing telegrams for Valentine's Day, which included cake pops, chocolate-covered pretzels and meringues. She said the owner of the theater contacted her directly and she agreed to make the goodie bags as a donation to spread the word about her business. The singing telegrams took place Feb. 10, 11 and 13 and they will continue Wednesday, Feb. 14. Tessier is currently working on a variety of chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate chip muffins for the holiday as well. The cottage business owner said she would eventually like to have her own office in a restaurant or bakery where she can make her baked goods and reach more people. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago Feb. 13, 1924: Miss Estelle Hughes, now living in retirement at her home, 407 E. Washington St., is probably the only living member of the choir that sang at Springfield some 59 years ago when the nation paid its final tribute to President Abraham Lincoln during his funeral service in the capital. Miss Hughes, before her retirement, taught music in Springfield for 40 years. 75 years ago Feb. 13, 1949: The nucleus of a classical phonograph record library was started at Withers Public Library last week with a donation by Amateur Musical Club. The gift consisted of three albums and three single records which comprise the program of the Bloomington-Normal Symphony orchestra next month. 50 years ago Feb. 13, 1974: Illinois Department of Transportation crews moved into the Bloomington-Normal area to begin changing speed limit signs to 55 miles an hour. The new 55-mile-an-hour law takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25. 25 years ago Feb. 13, 1999: The final hurdle to the opening of Michael's Family Restaurant in downtown Bloomington was cleared when owner Michael Nurceski handed over $450,000 to Bank One for the building at 110 W. Washington St., the former site of the Xi Do restaurant. The new restaurant, slated to open as early as May, is expected to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with mid-priced American meals. Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977 GOODFIELD John Deere Construction and Forestry has presented the Onyx Circle Award to Martin Equipment. The award honors the top-performing dealerships throughout the United States and Canada, and recognizes outstanding achievement in customer, product, and service support. The award was developed by John Deere to recognize and commend North American dealers that go above and beyond for customers and employees. Since the award was started in 2011, Martin Equipment has received the Onyx Circle Award seven times. Martin's Equipment is a fourth generation, family-owned John Deere Construction & Forestry deal headquartered in Goodfield, with nine locations throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. It was established in 1926 as Sam F. Martin's Equipment in Roanoke. Visit MartinEquipment.com for more information. Caitlin Clark begins her run in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-014a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-053a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-097a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-104a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-108a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-003a.jpg 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-207a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-230a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-233a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-258a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-201a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-181a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-caitlin-221a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-jdc-006a.JPG 070523-qc-spt-jdc-013a.JPG DANVERS A woman was pronounced dead Monday afternoon after fire crews were called to a structure fire in Dry Grove Township. Crews from Danvers, Dale Township, Stanford, Carlock, Bloomington and Normal fire departments were dispatched about 2:24 p.m. to a fire at a residence. Authorities did not release a more specific location for the fire in Dry Grove Township. A woman was found inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene by the McLean County Coroners Office. Her identity and cause of death was not immediately available Monday. A McLean County sheriffs deputy was evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation caused by the fire. No other injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation by the McLean County sheriffs and coroners offices, the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office and Danvers Fire Department. This story may be updated. Co-founder of Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and Governance Expert Professor Baffuor Agyemang Duah has stated emphatically that, it will be difficult for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu bawumia to exonerate himself from the failures of the government if there are any. He noted that although the vice president, generally, does not take the final decision, Dr Bawumia is the one who has for so many years, been very vocal on government economic policies. In view of this, it is difficult for Dr. Bawumia, according to Professor Baffuor Agyemang Duah, to insulate himself from any blame in the face of challenges because people will always associate the economic policies to the vice President. His comments come at a time when the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said that the EMT does not have decision-making powers. Dr Bawumia said they only advise the cabinet. As head of the EMT, he had been blamed for the economic challenges that Ghana is facing. Delivering his address at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Wednesday February 7, Dr. Bawumia said Thankfully, I was appointed as chair of the EMT, as a sub-committee to Cabinet we do not have decision-making powers but I am very proud of the quality of advice we have been providing over the years to Cabinet. As vice president, I was asked by the president to assist in solving the problems that were inhibiting the economy. My approach was to help formalize the economy through digitalization as stated in our 2016 manifesto. But speaking on the News 360 on TV3 monitored by Peacefmonline.com, on Thursday February 8, Prof Agyemang Duah said The reality is that generally, vice presidents do not make the last call, they provide advice and the buck simply stops on the desk of the president which has been the reality of all vice presidents in republican states. He further added, But in this particular case, it seems to me Dr Bawumia was very vocal, in fact, in a way being loquacious in articulating the economic policies of this government therefore, a lot of people look at him as spearheading the governments economic policies and therefore if there is a failure in those policies it has been difficult for many people to death him. 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 Schools in Zambia have reopened for the first time this year, after several delays following a deadly cholera outbreak. The reopening of schools was delayed by five weeks as part of a series of preventative measures to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease. The education ministry said it had been conducting school inspections across the country to gauge their readiness to reopen. The spread of the disease has eased, according to the authorities. About 500 people have died since the outbreak was reported last October. More than 15,000 cases have so far been reported, many of them affecting children. Zambia has had several major cholera outbreaks but the current outbreak is the worst in 20 years, according to the government. The outbreak has also caused several infections and deaths in neighbouring Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The international aid group Save the Children says that this latest health crisis is a threat to children's education and protection not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, has stated emphatically that he will not apologize for expressing his opinion on the Ghana Journalists Associations (GJA) blacklisting directive against two Members of Parliament. The two, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Yendi, Hon. Farouk Mahama and MP for Awutu Senya East constituency, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson stand accused of assaulting journalists in the heat of the NPPs parliamentary primaries. Mr. Ayeboafo publicly criticized the GJAs directive, claiming it is dysfunctional and unproductive to the public interest. He would rather legal avenues are pursued to address such acts of impunity against journalists rather than the directive issued by the leaders of the GJA. But the NMC boss position has raised so many criticisms from some section of the public. For instance, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mr. Mensah Thompson, expressed disappointment with Mr. Ayeboafos comments. The ASEPA boss portrayed Ayeboafo as a failed journalist who has not recognized the assaults against his former colleagues. However, in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ayeboafo asserted that he, like others, is entitled to his views and opinions. He also stated that he would not hold a grudge against anyone for their opinions on the matter. "The thing is that boycotting or blackout is something that is not part of normal democratic culture. It is only when everything possible through the rule of law has broken down [that you adopt such measures]. But sometimes it may result in impunity It is not the most efficacious tool in dealing with attacks on journalists. I will not apologise to anybody for holding that position because that is my view and I will not begrudge anybody from holding a contrary view. My position, and I posited it in my presentation, is that we must not be dismayed because there was something, and we said that there were impediments in our way. We must work together to ensure that those impediments are removed and from henceforth we demand justice, he added. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Access Bank womenpreneur Pitch-a-thon initiative has graduated 50 women led businesses in the agriculture value chain after being equipped with the requisite knowledge to help bolster their businesses. The Womenpreneur Pitch-a-thon which is in its 5th season, aims to empower female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the 5th edition of the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton competition, Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at Access Bank Ghana, Pearl Nkrumah, said this edition allowed women in agribusinesses to build their capacity in business management and receive financial support for their businesses. 10 women-led businesses were awarded as the top 10 participants, with three of such businesses receiving 100,000 cedis as the ultimate prizes for the competition. Outlining the factors that catapulted the three ladies to the top, the Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at Access Bank, Pearl Nkrumah, indicated that the judges and partners believed that their ideas were great and had a proof of concept. Pearl Nkrumah said that the remaining participants will also benefit from advertisements on all Access Bank platforms across all the countries they operate in and will also be entitled to easy loan processes to boost their businesses. The top three womenpreneurs that were awarded with the ultimate 100,000 cedis are Sava Shea, founded by Ruth Wewura Guiribi, Ayden Ventures, owned by Rosemond Afful, and Tropical Snack, owned by Augustina Asor Tuffour. On his part, the Project Lead for the GIZ AgriBiz Programme, Christoph Pannhausen, said the goal of the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton competition aligns with that of GIZ, as they seek to support small, micro, and medium businesses, especially in the agribusiness sector. Commenting on the contributions of the seed capital to her business, Rosemond Afful, one of the winners of the ultimate prices, said the amount will go a long way to help me restructure my business, procure equipment to enhance productivity, and employ more people. She further commended Access Bank Ghana PLC for their continuous support for women businesses. Source: Portia Mensah Bonsu/Peace FM Newsroom 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 20-year-old man, Abdullah Mohammed, who allegedly killed a 74-year-old stroke patient, Alice Kakari, after robbing her home, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the robbery. According to reports, the incident occurred near the Ballon Hotel at Awutu Senya East in the Central Region. The Kasoa Ofaakor Circuit Court presided over by His Lordship Oheneba Kuffour, is still trying him for the murder, for which he has been remanded. This comes after the prosecutor, on January 25, 2024, told the court that the convict robbed and killed Alice Kakari after she tried to shout for help. He said the suspect tied the woman with a rope, cut her neck, and ransacked the three-bedroom house, stealing valuable items and an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was caught on a CCTV mounted in the deceaseds home. Following the court proceedings, a daughter of the deceased, Gifty Obenewaa Yeboah, told the media that although she is happy about the sentence, she is very sad that her mother is no more. In fact, 50 years is enough because he has really caused us so much pain. We are also waiting for the murder case as well. He needs to be punished very well, she said. Source: Daily Guide 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 Head of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress, Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tameklo has opined that the role of Ghanas Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cannot be likened to a drivers mate. To him, the position of the Vice President, as enshrined in the constitution, is rather comparable to a co-driver or spare driver. He is not a drivers mate; he is like what we call a co-driver or a spare driver. STC where Nana Akomea is the Managing Director, when going on a long journey have 2 drivers. One takes it for about 6 hours, the other driver will take over. That driver is not the drivers mate. He is a co-driver. "And the record will show in Ghana that when Akufo Addo traveled after the Ayawaso case, thus the shooting incident, it was Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia acting as the President, who set up the Emile Short Commission. Mates dont do that; it is the spare driver or a co-driver that will do that. he said whiles contributing to discussions on Tv3's Big Issues monitored by Peacefmonline.com on Monday February 12, 2024, Mr Tameklo further pointed out that the persons who put Ghana's 1992 constitution together envisioned the Vice President as someone who would assume presidential duties when necessary. "You also noticed that as far as the 1992 Constitution is concerned, it has never been in the contemplation of the makers of the Constitution that our Vice President should be a mate. They had always seen the Vice President as somebody who will act in the absence of the President. Very important. And that is why the ticket is always one, he added. He accused the Vice President of having "destroyed" the economy he was tasked to manage as head of the Economic Management Team (EMT), and attempting to pass the buck. "All because the economy that was given to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to manage, he has destroyed it. There is no economy today. This country is bankrupt. The budget, the economy is that of the President and his vice. And in the specific case of Dr. Bawumia, according to Nana Yaw Sarfo Marfo, he says at cabinet hes the star boy in economic management conversation. So, it is too late in the day for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to run away from the mess that he has created in the economy," he indicted. 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 Nana Ofori Owusu, National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Party, has slammed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for promising to abolish E-Levy if voted into power. The Vice President noted in his address at UPSA on Wednesday, February 7, that he will scrap the E-Levy under his tenure. To move towards a cashless economy however, we have to encourage the population to use electronic channels payment. To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore, be abolished", he pledged. Dr. Bawumia further touched on some areas he will amend in line with his vision to improving the lives of Ghanaians and one notable thing he established is National Service will no longer be mandatory under his reign. Analyzing Bawumias vision during Kokrokoo panel discussion show on Peace FM, Nana Ofori opined that the Vice Presidents delivery was full of contradictions. Expounding on the contradictions, he stated the claims by the New Patriotic Party that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as Vice President, isnt in charge of running the State but rather plays a supporting role to President Nana Addo for which reason they implore Ghanaians to vote him into power is nothing but lies. "Vice President does not have power, at the same time, he is the best Vice President ever in the history of Ghana. Vice President did not agree with policies of this administration for which he is part and he is the Vice President and that he is going to turn claws of time when he becomes President meaning when the bad policies were being put in place for which he did not agree, he kept mute. So, he was silent; it is now that he is going to speak because he has power. I don't think that augurs well", he argued. To him, Dr. Bawumia cannot distance himself from what he described as bad governance by President Nana Addo neither can he be absolved from blame. "Are we now saying that the man with the great vision who came to sacrifice for his party didn't have influence? He had no influence to be able to deter people from doing what we all knew was wrong?", he questioned. 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 Flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Dramani Mahama, has accused the Akufo-Addo government of resorting to desperate manoeuvres to win back the trust of Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 general elections. According to him, the current administration is attempting to force draconian policies down the throats of Ghanaians by the introduction of unbearable taxes and other financial burdens. Mr Mahama was addressing the Minority Members of Parliament in Ho over the weekend. Your return is opportune and timely, as it accords you an opportunity to maintain even greater vigilance and oversight over a government that is becoming increasingly desperate and, with no doubt, attempting to ramp Draconian policies down the throats of Ghanaians, he said. Whiles patting the Minority on the back for their hard work in holding the government accountable, the former president however, entreated them to work harder in order to return to power come December 2024 when the election is held. On the evidence of what we have seen so far, I believe I speak for the generality of Ghanaians when I say that you in the Minority have lived up to expectations, he added. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Akufo-Addo has dismissed as misguided and unfortunate sentiments comments made by former President and current National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama that students were permitted to cheat in the 2023 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Mr. Mahama, during one of his Building Ghana Tours, questioned the integrity of the results, claiming, In many places, they let the children cheat. You go to places and the teachers are conniving with the students to cheat. The effect will be seen later. However, at the 187th Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo stated that it is unfortunate that politics has caused supposed responsible persons such as ex-President Mahama to question the progress in learning outcomes at the Senior High Schools. It is a pity though that the sad nature of aspects of contemporary Ghanaian politics drove some otherwise allegedly responsible people including your former President and current NDC presidential candidate to question the integrity of the results happily without any foundation and to attribute these results to cheating, the President stressed. According to him, the 2023 result, which is the best since 2015, is indicative of the quality of education provided by the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, rather than cheating. President Akufo-Addo described Mahamas criticism as unfounded, and expressed concern that politics had forced the NDC flagbearer to play to the gallery. He praised the Akufo-Addo graduates, saying that from 2020 to 2023, more than half of candidates obtained grades A1 to C6 in all core subjects, which is an indication of a significant improvement in the quality of education. Students of Wesley Girls High School, do you cheat in examinations? he quizzed, and the students shouted, NO. This loud no will send a strong message to those who expressed these unfortunate, misguided sentiments, the President added. The WASSCE results of the students I proudly call the Akufo-Addo graduates have shown that the quality of education has not deteriorated but on the contrary, it has improved significantly. The results of the Akufo-Addo graduates in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the only years in the past decade that show that more than 50% of the candidates obtained A1 to C6 in all core subjects, he emphasised. Source: Daily Guide 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 President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is expected to announce his most radical ministerial reshuffle since he took office on 7 January 2017. The announcement of the changes to the line-up of ministers, our Jubilee House sources say, is scheduled for Wednesday (14 February, Valentines Day). This Tuesday afternoon witnessed several movements to the fourth floor of Jubilee House by ministers expected to be affected and other MPs expected to benefit from the ministerial changes. The president, as required by the 1992 constitution, will submit the list of ministerial appointments to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, and the appointments will be announced on the floor of Parliament. President Akufo-Addo will be travelling out of the country to Europe tomorrow, Valentines Day, on an official engagement in the Federal Republic of Germany. The list should be delivered to the Speaker tomorrow. Asaase News sources close to the Presidency say that up to 12 current, substantive ministers of state may be affected, including ten cabinet ministers and two regional ministers. Asaase News sources on the third and fourth floors of Jubilee House confirm that some very big names will be among those dropped from their positions as ministers of state. While some may be dropped completely, others are expected to be reshuffled. It is also anticipated that about seven deputy ministers will lose out. The biggest beneficiaries are expected to be backbenchers from the Majority side of the House, several of whom will fill the vacant slots. According to other sources at Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo has been using the whole of the time available to him today to meet with all the ministers and deputy ministers who may be shifting places, leaving, or joining his government in the upcoming reshuffle. Asaase News sources on the fourth floor of Jubilee House also say there is talk of a possible reshuffle of the leaders of the Majority in Parliament. This change, one source says, will follow a planned meeting between the leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party and the presidency, to take place soon. Source: Asaaseradio 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: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new study examines the circumstances behind who is found at fault when cars hit pedestrians in an urban area. Results showed that the environment where the crash took placeespecially the types of roads and the amount of access to marked crosswalksplayed a key role in whether the pedestrian or the driver was blamed for the collision. In the study, done in Columbus, pedestrians were more likely to be blamed when they were crossing roads with a high volume of cars traveling at faster speeds, and where crosswalks were few and far between. In areas of the citysuch as downtownwhere there were more marked intersections with pedestrian crossings, drivers were more likely to be found at fault. "Our findings suggest that while the tendency is to blame individuals, the built environment where the crash occurs plays an important role," said Jonathan Stiles, who led the study as a postdoctoral researcher in geography at The Ohio State University. This was evident in areas of the city where there was an average of a quarter-mile between crosswalks with signals. "In neighborhoods where there is less pedestrian infrastructure, pedestrians tend to be blamed more for crashes," said co-author Harvey Miller, professor of geography at Ohio State. "There needs to be more attention to road design and the built environment that contributes to crashes." The study was published recently in the Journal of Transport and Land Use. Miller and Stiles, who is now a visiting assistant professor at Columbia University, analyzed five years of data on pedestrian crashes in Franklin County, Ohio, the home of Columbus. There were 2,757 pedestrian crashes in the county between 2015 and 2019. In slightly more than half the crashes (54%), the driver was found at fault, and in 36%, the pedestrian was blamed. No fault was found in the remaining crashes. As expected, the pedestrian being in the middle of a block or in a travel lane (outside of a crosswalk) increased the likelihood of them being found at fault. Aspects of the built environment had a strong impact on who was found at fault. Pedestrians were more likely to be found at fault on arterial roadshigh-capacity thoroughfares that have heavier traffic and higher speed limits than local roads. The presence of bus stops in the area also increased the odds of the pedestrian being found at faultprobably because most bus stops are dropping off pedestrians on the busy arterial roads with fewer crosswalks, researchers said, meaning many people may be crossing between blocks. To get a better handle on how the built environment affected who was found at fault, Miller and Stiles did case studies of various neighborhoods in Columbus. They found that downtown Columbuswhich has pedestrian-friendly street design and infrastructure, with automatic pedestrian traffic controls at most intersectionswas the area where drivers were most likely to be found at fault for crashes. Here, drivers were found at fault in 3 out of 4 crashes, and pedestrians were faulted only 17% of the time. The situation was much different in the Hilltop and South Linden, both of which are lower-income neighborhoods in the city. Unlike in downtown, crosswalks with signals were much less common in these neighborhoods, making it more difficult for pedestrians to cross busy streets safely. In the Hilltop, pedestrians and drivers were equally likely to be found at fault (46% of the crashes). The researchers described Broad Street, a five-lane arterial road, as "a daunting road to cross with or without a signal in Hilltop, and distances to signalized crossing areas can be several blocks." On one part of Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop, there was an average of 418 meters between signalized intersectionsone-fourth of a mile. The situation for pedestrians was even more difficult in South Linden, a predominantly Black neighborhood to the northwest of downtown, where pedestrians were found at fault in 55% of crashes. Here, the average distance between pedestrian crossings with signals was 429 meters in some locations. Some busy areas were well above this average, including one that lacked a crossing for more than 640 metersabout 0.4 miles. That stretch included a mix of residences, retail, day care, religious facilities, a library and bus stops. "This makes it very difficult for pedestrians who may be carrying bags from a store to find a crosswalk to get across the street," Stiles said. "It makes it more understandable why pedestrians may try to cross a street between crosswalks." It is also understandable why police officers mark pedestrians at fault on official reports when people get hit while trying to cross in the middle of blocks, said Miller, who is director of the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at Ohio State. "Police officers are concerned about the safety of people, so they're trying to do the right thing when they find pedestrians at fault in these situations," Miller said. "But what we're seeing in this research is that the built environment is a key factor. People make errors in judgment, but no one deserves to die or get injured for such errors. And they would be less likely to make these choices if there were more pedestrian infrastructure," he said. One recommendation from the researchers is to redesign the crash forms completed by police to include information on the built environment around the crash site, such as distance to the nearest pedestrian crossing, to give more context on why pedestrians make certain choices. The built environment for pedestrians isn't just a problem in Columbus, according to the researchers. Many cities have similar issues. And the situation in Columbus is improving because of Vision Zero Columbus, a government effort focused on reducing crash-related fatalities and injuries in the city. But this study shows the importance of a Safe System Approach to designing roadways to minimize the effects of human errors and allow pedestrians, as well as cars, to move safely through the city. "We don't have to design the streets the way we do. We can make fundamental design choices that could prioritize safety over the speed of traffic," Miller said. More information: Jonathan Stiles et al, The built environment and the determination of fault in urban pedestrian crashes: Toward a systems-oriented crash investigation, Journal of Transport and Land Use (2024). DOI: 10.5198/jtlu.2024.2335 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: Dynamic impact of PPTF investigations on 311 calls, with 95 percent confidence intervals, reporting physical disorder at a property. Credit: Criminology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/1745-9125.12361 Communities across the country have been trying to tackle "problem properties," centers for crime, violence and other public safety concerns. For the first time, research proves how effective these strategies can be. For years, communities across the country have been trying to tackle "problem properties," specific addresses that are centers of crime, drug use, violence and other public safety hazards. Despite how widespread problem properties are, there hasn't been any evidence to prove that intervention efforts workuntil now. A recent comprehensive assessment of Boston's Problem Properties Task Force published in Criminology, using almost a decade's worth of data, is the first of its kind to show how effective these strategies can be. Boston's approach, which focuses on collaborating with landlords to create custom solutions that avoid policing an entire community, not only reduces crime on the property but in the surrounding neighborhood as well, according to the analysis. "What we find in the paper is, very simply, that the interventions do lower crime and disorder at the target property and it's sustained over many years, through the end of our analysis, which is almost a decade's worth of data," says Dan O'Brien, author of the paper and a professor of public policy and urban affairs and criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University. Boston established its Problem Properties Task Force in 2011 with the aim of identifying so-called "problem properties" across the city, amounting to 408 properties investigated between 2011 and 2019. Representing more than a dozen city departments and agencies, the task force focuses on holding property owners responsible and giving citizens a way to address quality-of-life issues on the properties. The way Boston's system works is when a property receives at least four valid complaints in 12 months, it gets put on the task force's radar as a problem property. These complaints come from both city agencies and the public, giving the public a chance to let the city know where areas of need are. There is then a follow-up investigation by the task force that can result in a formal notice for the property owner. The notice includes information about the issues on the property and a request to contact the task force and local law enforcement and inspection services. The idea is that these officials can then work with the property owner to create a custom plan to address these issues in a way that makes sense for the specific situation on that property with the help of the person who has a vested financial and legal interest in doing so. In case the carrot doesn't work, the ordinance establishing the task force also gives city officials a pretty big stick to help get landlords on board. "When that letter is sent by legal, it basically says, 'If you have another 911 call or 311 call that requires us to send either police or inspections [staff] to your property, you are going to get billed for those personnel, thousands of dollars per visit,'" O'Brien says. "There's some other legalistic stuff about the right to put a lien on that property if fines are not paid on time." The results speak for themselves, O'Brien says. Not only did the task force's work reduce crime and disorderly conduct on the property itself, it also addressed one of the primary critiques of these strategies: If the city targets only one property, won't crime just get displaced to other parts of the neighborhood? "In fact, it leads to drops in crime at other properties on the same street, indicating that these places really are burdens on the local community," O'Brien says. "Intervening on [these properties] and rehabilitating them is actually not only getting rid of crime at the property itself but it's benefiting everyone around it, beyond just the exposure to the building itself." It's a different, more targeted approach to crime management than strategies like traditional community policing. O'Brien says it's more in line with the concept of problem-oriented policing, which identifies problems with the stakeholders who are directly affected by it in order to collaboratively create a solution. It's an approach that O'Brien thinks sidesteps the polarizing debate around policing and, if implemented in more communities, could potentially be embraced by a broader range of people. "You maintain public safety by targeting very efficiently and effectively the places that are most burdensome to the local community without over-policing all of the people who live there, without assuming that every individual, every household, every group in the community is generating crime and disorder," O'Brien says. "It gives us a bit of a middle way or even something that's outside of that debate where you can be efficient, you can be effective and you can be respectful of the communities that you're trying to support." More information: Michael Zoorob et al, Pacifying problem places: How problem property interventions increase guardianship and reduce disorder and crime, Criminology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/1745-9125.12361 Journal information: Criminology This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu. 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 small-scale fisherman lands a yellowtail while fishing off of Isla Tortuga in the Central Gulf of California. Credit: Timothy Frawley Timothy Frawley has spent the better of the past two decades working in and around commercial fisheries. Born and raised in Casco Bay, Maine, he grew up packing lobsters and pitching bait on Portland's working waterfront. He has worked in commercial fisheries in California, Alaska and the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Throughout his years spent on working waterfronts, Frawley, a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the University of Maine's Darling Marine Center, closely observed the ways in which fishermen conducted their business, making decisions about what and how they fished, and how it affected their operations and profit. "While the desert of northwest Mexico and the rocky coast of Maine might seem to be worlds apart, I found surprising similarities between the coast of Baja and the coast of Maine," Frawley reflected. "Both places include communities that are quite remote with local cultures and traditions defined by people's strong and enduring connections to the ocean." With extensive knowledge of commercial fishing and observational and investigative skills he's refined over the years, Frawley led an international team of researchers to determine how fishermen's operational decisions affected their ability to adapt to climate change, a global force threatening their livelihoods. In their new study published in the journal Global Environmental Change, researchers found that fishermen's responses to a changing climate can be strongly influenced by how they fish and how they're organized. The study highlights the role that distinct strategies associated with different group sizes and levels of cooperation play in how fishers respond and adapt to climate change. "Climate variability and change in ocean ecosystems create challenges for fisheries' sustainability, both economically and environmentally," said Frawley. "While we know quite a bit about how individual fishermen and coastal fishing communities are responding to changing oceans, less is known about how the social structures through which they choose to organize themselves may influence their vulnerability to associated shocks and stressors and their capacity to adapt." Understanding factors that enhance fishers' ability to adapt to environmental variability and change is critical. Coastal communities worldwide, including many fishing-dependent communities in Maine, are challenged by impacts of the climate crisis, including rising seas, reduced access to working waterfronts, shifting ranges of economically important species and rapidly changing technologies and economic conditions. Frawley conducted this research while working as a postdoctoral research associate affiliated with the University of California Santa Cruz, NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center and UMaine. Together with collaborators at UMaine, Stanford University, Stockholm University, University of Rhode Island, Duke University, Oregon State University, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparaja, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI), Frawley synthesized information on how and what people fish throughout northwest Mexico and how those behaviors shifted in the face of changing ocean conditions. Some of these fishers belong to cooperatives, while others work as independent owner-operators or as part of businesses backed by private capital from patrons. The regular "fish-tickets" through which fishers are required to report their harvests to the Mexican government provided the team an opportunity to examine how fishing strategies differed among business types before and after a series of marine heat waves, and what it meant for the profitability of each. The results indicate that while fishers working as part of cooperatives can be resilient to short-term environmental shocks, the narrow scope of the species they target may increase their vulnerability as climate change progresses. In many ways, small-scale cooperative fishers on the Pacific Coast of Baja California are becoming more and more like their counterparts in Maine and California. As other fisheries have faltered, the harvest of crustaceans such as lobster or Dungeness Crab is becoming increasingly dominant. This study is part of MAREA+, a long-term interdisciplinary project focused on the environmental and human dimensions of small-scale fisheries in the Gulf of California region. The study was based on more than 10 years of fisheries data collected by fishermen and curated by the Mexican government. Heather Leslie, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine based at the Darling Marine Center, mentored Frawley as part of this project. "It is really exciting to see how fine-scale information on fishing organizations can illuminate our understanding of responses to climate impacts," she observed. "It would be great to be able to do this type of analysis in New England, particularly given the growing interest in innovative approaches to fisheries, aquaculture and other dimensions of the blue economy." More information: Timothy H. Frawley et al, Self-governance mediates small-scale fishing strategies, vulnerability and adaptive response, Global Environmental Change (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102805 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 China has announced that in 2023 its population declined from 1.4118 to 1.4097 billion people. Forecasting by the UN suggests China's population will dip to 1.313 billion by 2050 and then down to about 800 million by 2100. This is a significant change and will have ramifications well beyond its borders. There are two trends that underline such a demographic shift. First is the aging population with the percentage of those aged 60 and older currently above 20% of the total population. Second, birth rates have dropped significantly, from 17.86 million births in 2016 to 9.02 million in 2023. Several interrelated economic consequences of such shifts could emerge which ultimately can affect China's economic well-being in the mid-to-long term and resonate globally. More than one-quarter of China's population will be over 60 by 2040 and so less economically active (retirement age for men is 60 and for women it's 50-55). This will put pressure on China's pension and elderly care systems with some predictions indicating that the pension system could be bankrupted by 2035. To avoid pension-related issues straining public resources, possible scenarios include raising the retirement age to get people to work for longer, increasing taxes to cover additional pension requirements and shrinking current benefits. Changes in the health care system to cope with population changes could leave the many people feeling less well off or unhappy with services being reduced. This in turn could result in some degree of political instability. In addition, as the dependency of the elderly on their children increases, household consumption, savings and investment levels are likely to decline, which in turns negatively affects the overall health of the economy. Labor force reductions As older workers retire, there will be fewer people of working age in the total population, and therefore available to work. Taking measures to help older people continue to work for longer, for example, could become fundamental to long-term economic growth and to sustain the levels of GDP per capita. Nevertheless, as pointed out above, such measures could be politically unpopular. Productivity gains (GDP per employed person) may also be affected by a reduced workforce, and one which is getting older. Some studies find evidence that labor productivity (output per working hour) varies with age. It tends to increase as a person enters the labor market, then plateaus between 30 and 40, and eventually declines as an individual's work life comes to an end. Population shifts can lead to a "doom loop", where one economic situation creates a negative impact and then another and another. As lower productivity begins to affect production in particular sectors, China may be compelled to increase imports to satisfy demand in those industries. This could significantly affect innovation and entrepreneurship which in turn can further diminish productivity. New ideas, drive economic growth. The size of the workforce affects innovation because as the number of employed individuals shrinks, the pool of new ideas becomes narrower. If population growth becomes negative or falls to zero, then the knowledge behind those ideas stagnates. In addition, there is evidence that the peak of a person's innovative activities and scientific output comes at around 30 and 40 years of age. Current demographic trends are therefore likely to stifle technological advances and innovation in China. Innovation is essential to sustain and improve living standards, consequently the levels of quality of life may come under strain as the population reduces. At the same time, studies suggest that entrepreneurship can be negatively affected by the aging of the population as the percentage of young people is positively linked to entrepreneurial activities. This hampers the dynamism of the economy and contributes to slower economic growth. China's economic growth depends on productivity and employment growth. Economic growth is driven by the effective combination of labor and capital (money) to generate services or products. This requires a constant or increasing population size. Importantly, with its population going down, China would need to increase its per capita productivity so as to sustain economic growth. As we have seen, Chinese productivity is also likely to go down as a result of the demographic changes. Therefore, it is expected that the Chinese economy will experience a slower economic growth through, for example, the shrinking of the numbers of shoppers or consumers which will directly impact the retail trade sector. In addition, lower demand is likely to intensify the ongoing crisis in the property sector. Fewer people able to buy property will mean a fall in prices. And prices go up outside China China is the second largest market in the world responsible for over one-third of the world's growth and the second largest importer, so any changes will have global repercussions. In Brazil and South Africa, for instance, both significant trading partners with China, these population shifts may lead to a lower demand for their exports. This may result in lower employment levels in those countries as exporting companies are forced to reduce operations. As productivity declines in China, its trading partners may be compelled to import products from other economies which in turn can increase the prices of their products. In addition, emerging economies such as Thailand and Vietnam that rely on Chinese outbound tourism will experience a significant downturn in all tourism-related sectors such as transport and hospitality as the effect of population shifts lowers the number of people able to travel overseas. Multinational corporations will also feel demand drop as the Chinese consumer market is a large source of their revenue. The knock-on effect is likely to be global as suppliers and workers around the world find jobs disappearing. In short, as a recent OECD report puts it, a sharp economic slowdown in China would drag down global growth, the effects of which could be devastating. 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: Researchers diving on a coral reef in Mo'orea, French Polynesia during the 2019 bleaching event. Credit: Milou Arts of NIOZ On healthy reefs around the world, corals, algae, fishes and microbes live interconnected and in balanceexchanging nutrients, resources, and chemical signals. However, new research led by the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) has revealed that when coral bleaching occurs, corals release unique organic compounds into the surrounding water that not only promote bacterial growth overall, but select for opportunistic bacteria that may further stress reefs. The work appears in Communications Biology. "Our results demonstrate how the impacts of both short-term thermal stress and long-term bleaching may extend beyond coral and into the water column," said Wesley Sparagon, co-lead author, postdoctoral researcher in the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and previous doctoral student with the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). The research team, which included scientists from UH Manoa, NIOZ, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of California, Santa Barbara, conducted experiments on bleached and unbleached corals gathered during a bleaching event in Moorea, French Polynesia in 2019. "Although coral bleaching is a well-documented and increasingly widespread phenomenon in reefs across the globe, there has been relatively little research on the implications for reef water column microbiology and biogeochemistry," said Craig Nelson, senior author on the study and professor in SOEST. In a heating experiment, the team determined that both thermally stressed and bleached coral exude a different composition of organic matter in response to thermal stress as compared to unbleached coral. These unique compounds fed microbial communities in the surrounding water, causing an increase in their abundance. Authors Dr. Irina Koester (left) and Jessica Bullington (right) and co-lead author Dr. Wesley Sparagon (center) using a peristaltic pump to sample microbial communities at Gump Station in Mo'orea. Credit: Craig Nelson, UH Manoa/ SOEST Author Dr. Zach Quinlan (left) and co-lead author Milou Arts (right) collect dissolved organic carbon samples using a peristaltic pump. Credit: Wesley Sparagon, UH Manoa "Interestingly, the microbes responding to bleaching coral exudates were distinct from those grown on healthy coral exudates," said Sparagon. "And, there were higher abundances of fast-growing opportunists and potential pathogens. The growth of these microbial communities around stressed corals may harm corals, either through suffocation or by introducing disease." The biggest surprise was that this shift in the compounds coral release occurred in coral that experienced any stress in the study: Corals that had been warmed but not bleached yet, corals that were both heated and bleached, and corals that had bleached previously in the field. "This suggests that this process occurs throughout the period of coral bleaching, from onset of thermal stress all the way through recovery," said Milou Arts, co-lead author of NIOZ. "Importantly, it is most pronounced in healthy corals under thermal stress, suggesting that it is most influential at the onset of thermal stress and may push corals towards more severe bleaching, and ultimately mortality." The researchers are now actively working on identifying compounds and microbes in the water column that serve as an early-warning system for coral reefs under stress. This could enhance or complement other coral reef conservation efforts, especially in terms of identifying coral reef stress before catastrophic damage has occurred. More information: Coral thermal stress and bleaching enrich and restructure reef microbial communities via altered organic matter exudation, Communications Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05730-0 Journal information: Communications Biology 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: JCU PhD candidate Scott Morrissey examines an Australian box jellyfish specimen in the lab. Credit: James Cook University Work by a James Cook University researcher could soon keep swimmers safer, thanks to a revolutionary technology that can track one of the world's most venomous animals, the Australian box jellyfish. In a new paper published in the Marine Ecology Progress series, JCU Ph.D. candidate Scott Morrissey documents how Environmental DNA (eDNA) taken from water samples can be used to track the location of early polyp and mature tentacled medusae stages of the Australian box jellyfish in and around Port Musgrave on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. "We can now utilize eDNA to locate deadly box jellyfish, which will improve our ability to understand these deadly creatures and in turn help us keep swimmers safer," Morrissey said. "In this study, we took water samples in summer, when the stinging medusae stage is around, to find where they are and what they are doing, and then again in winter when the medusae are absent, so any detection we found at that time would reveal where their polyp stage was. "Finding the polyps is very important as they give rise to the nasty stinging medusae stage, and we need to know where the stingers are coming from. "Finding an actual polyp is very difficult, but with eDNA we believe we can detect them as eDNA is based on looking for an organism's genetic signature in the water instead of having to physically find the animal. "It's essentially like a CSI crime show where detectives use fingerprints to locate a suspect." Morrissey said the findings, which were confirmed as part of his four-year-long Ph.D., now opened the door to using eDNA to detect the presence of jellyfish in waters across Australia. "For example, in Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island, we now know that the polyp stage of the box jellyfish is in the bay, so it's a high-risk area for swimmers as those polyps grow into medusae," he said. "Knowing where the polyps are means we can adjust how we're looking for stingers when they mature into the medusae stage. "Next, we are going to try and turn what we do in the lab into an in-field tool which could potentially be used by Surf Life Savers if we make it more user-friendly. This would help move towards something like an early warning system." Morrissey said he found no detection of polyps in mangroves during his fieldwork at Port Musgrave, but instead on carbonate reefs near sandy beaches. "Not only can we use eDNA to detect those polyps, but for the first time, we can use it to determine the habitats polyps are in," he said. JCU Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology Michael Kingsford and JCU College of Science and Engineering Associate Dean Professor Dean Jerry were co-authors on Morrisey's study. More information: SJ Morrissey et al, Use of eDNA to test hypotheses on the ecology of Chironex fleckeri (Cubozoa), Marine Ecology Progress Series (2023). DOI: 10.3354/meps14507 Journal information: Marine Ecology Progress Series 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 TikTok is a popular social media platform where users can create and share short videos, often featuring music, dance, comedy, and other creative content. Research published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications has compared TikTok usage between China and the United States of America and offers invaluable insights into user behavior and motivations on the social media platform and how they differ between these two regions. The study involved surveying 150 Chinese and 148 U.S. users and introduced the Comprehensive Gratifications Engagement Model to reveal how users interact with TikTok content. Jian Shi, Mohammad Ali, and Fiona Chew of Syracuse University, New York, U.S., make several points based on their study. First, TikTok users engage more in self-promotion and with the platform's video content compared with other short-video apps such as Snapchat. This would suggest that part of TikTok's unique appeal is its potential for working as a goal-oriented activity. Second, differences in user engagement between TikTok users in China and the U.S. were apparent, particularly when it comes to the degree of gratification people hope for in using the app, users in the U.S. seek a greater degree of gratification than those in China, the team reports. Understanding such cultural differences is essential for companies hoping to tailor marketing strategies on social media in different countries. Fundamentally, TikTok is widely used as a pastime to help someone escape their everyday life, to relax, to learn, but also as a tool for procrastination and as a status-seeking tool and to impress others. Thankfully, it's not all about self-aggrandizement, people also want to meet and discover interesting people on the app and to make connections and thus feel like they belong to an interesting community. There remains an element of social in this form of social media. The specifics as detailed in the paper showed the nuanced differences between users in China and the U.S. More information: Jian Shi et al, Understanding gratifications for engaging with short-video: a comparison of TikTok use in the USA and China, International Journal of Mobile Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.136627 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: Oriana Aragon. Credit: Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand A romantic spark this Valentine's Day could lead to playful bites of a partner, tears of joy at the sight of an engagement ring or the birth of a baby who's so cute you just want to pinch him. Don't worry, that little baby is safe. Those physical displays of what might look like aggression actually signal intense love. And they are perfectly normal, says Oriana Aragon, Ph.D., a social psychologist and assistant professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati. "Those strong feelings are welling up in us, and we are displaying something that's the opposite of care and affection," she says. "We're biting and pinching and doing things that on the surface are associated with aggression." Aragon has spent more than a decade researching dimorphous expressions, which is when outside displays or expressions seemingly don't match what a person is feeling. These dimorphous expressions can be exhibited in many ways, including tears of joy, nervous laughter, pinching babies, squeezing puppies or playfully biting a romantic partner. The mismatch of feelings and expressions actually are very common. Aragon's 2021 research found that more than 75% of people cry tears of joy at some point in their life. Other expressions, while less common, aren't unusual. "When people do them, they seem to do more than one," Aragon says. "And some people don't do them at all. The person who cries at a wedding is more likely to be the person who pinches the baby's cheeks and also more likely to be the person who would playfully bite a lover." Aragon is a leading expert on dimorphous expressions and first identified the phenomenon of "cute aggression," which causes people to grit their teeth, clench their fists or feel the urge to bite, pinch and squeeze something cute. While the actions might seem aggressive, there's no desire to cause harm. Aragon's interest in the subject sparked when she saw actress Leslie Bibb on an episode of "Conan" with Conan O'Brien, telling the host about finding a dog or baby so cute, she wanted to punch them. The shock of how Bibb exhibited such intense and extreme emotions led Aragon to investigate the seemingly contradictory feelings that people experience. Dimorphous expressions seen across countries, cultures Conducting research in the United States and South Korea, Aragon found dimorphous expressions are expressed in both countries and experienced regardless of gender. "I can get someone pinching and squeezing at a little baby or a puppy with just a photograph, something they think is unbearably cute," Aragon says. There were some differences across the cultures that could be influenced by societal display norms. Americans are more likely to respond to victory and positive emotions with clenched jaws, gritted teeth and pumping fists. Koreans are more likely to make a sad or crying expression when something great has happened. To convey their true emotions, people sometimes explicitly state what they're feeling or might exaggerate their actions to ensure they're not being misinterpreted. "I know from my work with tears of joy, people who do a dimorphous expression who are around others who don't or who are not dimorphously expressing will actually explicitly say, 'These are happy tears. These are happy tears,'" Aragon says. "They try to make sure it's very clear that it's not intended to be the negative thing that's showing. "With the love bites, I might imagine that in that situation where you have one person who's playfully love biting and the other person is not, the person who is doing it might overly exaggerate the playfulness of it by growling or doing something that really makes it over-the-top playful to make it very clear that this is not any sort of aggression, this is most certainly playfulness." Don't grab a stranger's baby Aragon is continuing her research into dimorphous expressions. One aspect she's investigating is how common it is for people to display cute aggression toward a close friend or family member's baby versus a stranger's baby. "I think in the United States, it would be really frowned upon to go up to a stranger's baby and be like, 'I'm gonna eat you!' I think people would get upset with that," Aragon says. "Whereas, you might be more comfortable with a really good friend's baby or a cousin's baby." In the case of a stranger's baby, it's probably more socially acceptable to display cute sadness, such as making a pouting face. Many dimorphous expressions are relationship dependent like that. Playfully biting a romantic partner is often seen as socially acceptable. Nibbling on a stranger is not. That might get you arrested. 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: Willingness to contribute one percent of own income to climate protection (A, B); support for social climate protection standards (C, D); demand for political measures (E, F). Credit: Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3 A recent study by behavioral researchers at the University of Bonn, the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE in Frankfurt, and the University of Copenhagen demonstrates for the first time that a broad majority of the world's population supports climate action and is willing to incur a personal cost to fight climate change. The findings, published in Nature Climate Change, are based on a globally representative survey conducted in 125 countries, involving approximately 130,000 individuals. According to the study, 69% of the world's population is willing to contribute 1% of their personal income to the fight against climate changea significant contribution to climate action. An overwhelming majority of 86% endorses pro-climate social norms, and 89% call for increased political action. In countries particularly affected by global warming, the willingness to fight climate change is significantly higher. In countries with a high GDP per capita, the willingness is lower compared to other countries. "The results are tremendously encouraging," says Armin Falk, behavioral economist and professor of economics, who conducted the study with colleagues from the Universities of Bonn and Copenhagen and SAFE. "The world's climate is a global public good, and its protection requires the cooperative effort of the world's population. We establish that a broad majority of the world's population supports climate action." "We also document widespread approval of pro-climate social norms in almost all countries," says SAFE economist Peter Andre. According to the survey results, 86% of respondents believe that people in their country should try to fight global warming. "Moreover, there is an almost universal global demand that national governments should do more to fight climate change," adds Andre. Willingness to contribute to climate protection depending on the perceived willingness of others (A). Perception gap sorted according to the actual willingness in the respective countries (B). Credit: Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3 Willingness to act is systematically underestimated Despite these encouraging statistics, the researchers also document that the willingness of fellow citizens to fight climate change is systematically underestimated in every single country. According to the study, the actual proportion of fellow citizens willing to contribute 1% of their income to climate action (69%) is underestimated by 26 percentage points globally. "Systematic misperceptions about other people's willingness to take action against climate change can be an obstacle to the successful fight against climate change. People who systematically underestimate public support for climate action are often less willing to take action themselves," says Falk. The results suggest a potentially effective strategy to further increase individual willingness to fight climate change. "Rather than echoing the concerns of a vocal minority who oppose any form of climate action, we need to effectively communicate that the vast majority of people around the world are willing to act on climate change and expect their national government to act," the researchers write. "The current pessimism is discouraging and paralyzing. Our findings suggest that more optimism about climate action can unleash a positive dynamic," adds Andre. Willingness to contribute to climate protection depending on GDP (A), average annual temperature (B) and threat of global warming. Credit: Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3 Methodology The survey was conducted as part of the 2021/2022 Gallup World Poll. The countries included in the Global Climate Change Survey account for 96% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 96% of global GDP and 92% of the world's population. To ensure representativeness within countries, each country sample was randomly selected from the resident population aged 15 years and older. Interviews were conducted by telephone (in high-income countries) or in person (in low-income countries). Most country samples include approximately 1,000 respondents, and the total sample includes 129,902 individuals. To ensure comparability across countries and cultures, the survey was professionally translated and extensively tested. More information: Peter Andre et al, Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action, Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01925-3 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: Russell Glacier and proglacial area, near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland. Credit: Jonathan Carrivick An estimated 11,000 sq miles or 28,707 sq kilometers of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted over the last three decades, according to a major analysis of historic satellite records. The total area of ice loss is equivalent to the size of Albania, and represents about 1.6% of Greenland's total ice and glacier cover. Where there was once ice and snow, there is now barren rock, wetlands and areas of shrub. A team of scientists from the University of Leeds, who have tracked the changes across Greenland from the 1980s through to the 2010s, say warmer air temperatures are causing the ice to retreat, which in turn is having an impact on the temperature of the land surface, greenhouse gas emissions and the stability of the landscape. Permafrosta permanently frozen layer below the Earth's surfaceis being "degraded" by the warming and in some areas, scientists warn that it could have an impact on the infrastructure, buildings and communities that exist above it. Their findings are published in an article titled "Land cover changes across Greenland dominated by a doubling of vegetation in three decades" in the journal Scientific Reports. Impact of global warming Greenland is part of the Arctic region. It is the world's biggest island, around 836,330 sq miles in size (2.1 million sq km). Most of the land is covered by ice and glaciers and it is home to almost 57,000 people. Since the 1970s, the region has been warming at double the global mean rate. On Greenland, average annual air temperatures between 2007 and 2012 were 3C warmer, compared with the 1979 to 2000 average. And the researchers warn that more extreme temperatures are likely in the future. Jonathan Carrivick, an Earth scientist based in the Faculty of Environment at Leeds and one of the authors of the study, said, "Warmer temperatures are linked to the land cover changes that we are seeing on Greenland. "By analyzing high resolution satellite images, we have been able to produce a detailed record of the land cover changes that are taking place." Ice disappears to be replaced by bare rock and shrubs Ice loss was concentrated around the edges of present-day glaciers but also in the north and south-west of Greenland. There were also high levels of ice loss in localized areas in the west, mid-north-west and south-east. Over the three decades, the amount of land with vegetation growing on it increased by 33,774 sq miles (87,475 sq km), more than doubling over the study period. A pronounced increase in vegetation was seen across the south-west, east and north-east. The greatest increase in dense wetland vegetation occurred in the vicinity of Kangerlussuaq in the south-west and in isolated areas in the north-east. Analysis by the researchers revealed that vegetation had increased along a latitudinal gradient between 63 north and 69 north and declined north of this. Carrivick said, "We have seen signs that the loss of ice is triggering other reactions which will result in further loss of ice and further 'greening' of Greenland, where shrinking ice exposes bare rock that is then colonized by tundra and eventually shrub. "At the same time, water released from the melting ice is moving sediment and silt, and that eventually forms wetlands and fenlands." Comparison between landcover classifications for the late 1980s and for the late 2010s at 30 m resolution reveals greening as vegetation coverage expands, especially in the south-west and north-east. Credit: University of Leeds Loss of ice triggers further warming The loss of ice affects land surface temperatures because of albedo, which is the measure of how reflective a surface is. Snow and ice are good reflectors of the sun's energy hitting the Earth's surface and this helps to keep the Earth cooler. As the ice retreats, it exposes bedrock which absorbs more solar energy, raising the temperature of the land surface. Similarly, as ice melts it increases the quantity of water in lakes. Water absorbs more solar energy than snow and this also increases the temperature of the land surface. Greenhouse gas emitter The analysis shows a near quadrupling of wetlands across Greenland, particularly in the east and north-east. The wetlands are a source of methane emissions. Writing in the paper, the researchers noted, "Expansion of vegetation and especially in wetland areas indicates but also exacerbates permafrost thaw, active layer thickening and thus emissions of greenhouse gases previously stored in these Arctic soils." The researchers also developed a model to predict those areas on Greenland that are likely to see "marked and accelerated" change in the future. Dr. Michael Grimes, the lead author of the report who conducted the research as part of their Ph.D., added, "The expansion of vegetation, occurring in tandem with the retreat of glaciers and the ice sheet, is significantly altering the flow of sediments and nutrients into coastal waters. "These changes are critical, particularly for the indigenous populations whose traditional subsistence hunting practices rely on the stability of these delicate ecosystems. "Moreover, the loss of ice mass in Greenland is a substantial contributor to global sea level rise, a trend that poses significant challenges both now and in the future." More information: Land cover changes across Greenland dominated by a doubling of vegetation in three decades, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52124-1 Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Data reduction. Credit: Accounting Forum (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01559982.2024.2303839 Long-serving non-executive directors (NEDs) who can't wean themselves off the social status attached to belonging to the corporate board are failing shareholders and damaging the companies they are meant to serve, new research from the University of Bath and Queensland University of Technology shows. Board members who exceed their tenure are putting the identity and self-worth they gain from being a director ahead of their duty to shareholders, compromising board renewal and its financial and strategic performance. Non-executive directors interviewed for the study acknowledged the problem of colleagues staying 'too long' and said prolonged tenures can create governance concerns for boards and shareholders, according to the research published in Accounting Forum. Through in-depth interviews with 11 experienced non-executive directors who have served on 68 boards in Australia, across public companies, government-owned organizations, private companies, and mutual banks, the study set out to explore the motives for some non-executive directors to serve on boards beyond recommended tenure limits. While financial reward and intellectual stimulation undoubtedly played a part in their residency, it was the thought of no longer being able to call themselves a board directora status that went to the core of how they defined themselves- that compelled them to stay. Dr. Johanne Grosvold, from the University of Bath's School of Management, said, "Our findings show that for some NEDs, their identity as a board director is more important to them than acting in the interests of shareholders. When it's a healthy time to step down, they don't want to relinquish an important part of who they are, so instead, they ignore their accountability to shareholders." "It's like another world; where else do you get the respect just because of your role [as a director]?" said one NED interviewed for the study. "People like to be a directorand like to know that people know that they're a director," said another. Regulators in UK and Australia recommend a limit of between nine and 12 years for non-executive directors to step down and give way to new candidates, and the NEDs interviewed for the study spoke of a maximum tenure of 10 years being ideal. Nevertheless, the interviewed directors could easily recount the experiences of board colleagues who had served for 15, 18, and over 20 years. "Unfortunately, it would be the one director duty that I see directors most breachthat duty to act in the best interests of the board when it comes to their tenureit's actually more about keeping their board seat they just want to stay on the board, they just don't want to give up their board seat," said a study participant. The researchers suggest that a board tenure policy can act as an important safeguard against excessive tenure and the stale thinking that can ensue. Co-author Dr. Natalie Elms, from Queensland University of Technology, said, "Prolonged tenure is a governance concern for corporate boards and exposes the limits of a board's self-regulation. The issue of term limits is important for ensuring that directors are acting in the best interests of shareholders, and a board renewal policy can act as an important defense against directors' reluctance to leave a board voluntarily." More information: Natalie Elms et al, When accountability and identity collide: how director identity shapes board tenure, Accounting Forum (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01559982.2024.2303839 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 photograph shows a mockup laser retroreflector array (LRA) at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, demonstrating the basic design: a metallic semi-hemispheric disk, with eight silica glass cubes embedded in its surface. NASA/Goddard NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to determine the locations of lunar landers more accurately. They will be attached to most of the landers from United States companies as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. LRAs are inexpensive, small, and lightweight, allowing future lunar orbiters or landers to locate them on the moon. These devices consist of a small aluminum hemisphere, 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter and 0.7 ounces (20 grams) in weight, inset with eight 0.5-inch-diameter (1.27-centimeter) corner cube retroreflectors made of fused silica glass. LRAs are targeted for inclusion on most of the upcoming CLPS deliveries headed to the lunar surface. LRAs are designed to reflect laser light shone on them from a large range of angles. Dr. Daniel Cremons of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, deputy principal investigator for the LRA project, describes this as being similar to the reflective strips featured on road signs to aid in nighttime driving here on Earth. "Unlike a mirror where it has to be pointed exactly back at you, you can come in at a wide variety of angles, and the light will head directly back to the source," he said. By shining a laser beam from one spacecraft toward the retroreflectors on another and measuring how long it takes for the light to get back to its source, scientists can determine the distance between them. "We have been putting these on satellites and ranging to them from ground-based lasers for years," said Dr. Xiaoli Sun, also of NASA Goddard and principal investigator for the LRA project. "Then, twenty years ago, someone got the idea to put them on the landers. Then you can range to those landers from orbit and know where they are on the surface." It is important to know the location of landers on the surface of another planetary body, and these LRAs act as markers that work with orbiting satellites to establish a navigation aid like the global positioning system (GPS) we take for granted here on Earth. NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to determine the locations of lunar landers more accurately. They will be attached to landers sent to the Moon as part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. LRAs are inexpensive, small, and lightweight. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio James Tralie (ADNET Systems, Inc.). Lead Producer Xiaoli Sun (NASA/GSFC): Scientist Laser ranging is also used for docking spacecraft, like the cargo spacecraft that are used for the International Space Station, pointed out Cremons. The LRAs light up when you shine light on them which helps to guide precision docking. They can also be detected by lidars on spacecraft from far away to determine their range and approach speed down to very tight accuracy ratings and free from the need for illumination from the sun, which allows docking to happen at nighttime. He adds that the reflectors could allow spacecraft to accurately range-find their way to a landing pad, even without the aid of external light to guide the approach. This means that LRAs can eventually be used to help spacecraft land in otherwise pitch-dark places close to permanently shadowed regions near the lunar South Pole, which are prime target areas for crewed missions because of the resources that might exist there, such as water ice. Since LRAs are small and made of simple materials, they can fly on scientific missions as a beneficial but low-risk add-on. "By itself, it's completely passive," said Clemons. "LRAs will survive the harsh lunar environment and continue to be usable on the surface for decades. Additionally, besides navigating and finding out where your landers are, you can also use laser ranging to tell where your orbiter is around the moon." This means that, as more landers, rovers, and orbiters are sent to the moon bearing one or more LRAs, our ability to gauge the location of each accurately will only improve. As such, as we deploy more LRAs to the lunar surface, this growing network will allow scientists to gauge the location of key landers and other points of interest more and more accurately, allowing for bigger, better science to be accomplished. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is currently the only NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon with laser-ranging capability. LRO has already succeeded in ranging to the LRA on the Indian Space Research Organization's Vikram lander on the lunar surface and will continue to range to LRAs on future landers. Under Artemis, CLPS deliveries will perform science experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the moon and prepare for human missions. With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. The agency will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the moon. Then, NASA will use what we learn on and around the moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars. Provided by NASA 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: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center technologists Les Johnson and Leslie McNutt at Redwire Space on Jan. 30, 2024, following a successful solar sail deployment test. NASA cleared a key technology milestone at Redwires new facility in Longmont, Colorado, with the successful deployment of one of four identical solar sail quadrants. Credit: Redwire Space In his youth, NASA technologist Les Johnson was riveted by the 1974 novel "The Mote in God's Eye," by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven, in which an alien spacecraft propelled by solar sails visits humanity. Today, Johnson and a NASA team are preparing to test a similar technology. NASA continues to unfurl plans for solar sail technology as a promising method of deep space transportation. The agency cleared a key technology milestone in January with the successful deployment of one of four identical solar sail quadrants. The deployment was showcased Jan. 30 at Redwire Corp.'s new facility in Longmont, Colorado. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, leads the solar sail team, comprised of prime contractor Redwire, which developed the deployment mechanisms and the nearly 100-foot-long booms, and subcontractor NeXolve, of Huntsville, which provided the sail membrane. In addition to leading the project, Marshall developed the algorithms needed to control and navigate with the sail when it flies in space. NASA and industry partners used two 100-foot lightweight composite booms to stretch out a 4,445-square-footsquare-foot (400-square-meter) prototype solar sail quadrant for the first time Jan. 30, 2024. While just one quarter of the sail was unfurled in the deployment at Redwire, the complete sail will measure 17,780 square feet when fully deployed, with the thickness less than a human hair at 2 and a half microns. The sail is made of a polymer material coated with aluminum. Credit: Redwire Space The sail is a propulsion system powered by sunlight reflecting from the sail, much like a sailboat reflects the wind. While just one-quarter of the sail was unfurled in the deployment at Redwire, the complete sail will measure 17,780 square feet when fully deployed, with a thickness less than a human hair at 2 and a half microns. The sail is made of a polymer material coated with aluminum. NASA's Science Mission Directorate recently funded the solar sail technology to reach a new technology readiness level, or TRL 6, which means it's ready for proposals to be flown on science missions. "This was a major last step on the ground before it's ready to be proposed for space missions," Johnson, who has been involved with sail technology at Marshall for about 25 years, said. "What's next is for scientists to propose the use of solar sails in their missions. We've met our goal and demonstrated that we're ready to be flown." A solar sail traveling through deep space provides many potential benefits to missions using the technology because it doesn't require any fuel, allowing very high propulsive performance with very little mass. This in-space propulsion system is well-suited for low-mass missions in novel orbits. "Once you get away from Earth's gravity and into space, what is important is efficiency and enough thrust to travel from one position to another," Johnson said. Some of the missions of interest using solar sail technology include studying space weather and its effects on the Earth, or for advanced studies of the north and south poles of the sun. The latter has been limited because the propulsion required to get a spacecraft into a polar orbit around the sun is very high and simply not feasible using most of the propulsion systems available today. Solar sail propulsion is also possible for enhancing future missions to Venus or Mercury, given their closeness to the sun and the enhanced thrust a solar sail would achieve in the more intense sunlight there. Moreover, it's the ultimate green propulsion system, Johnson saidas long as the sun is shining, the sail will have propulsion. Where the sunlight is less, he envisions a future where lasers could be used to accelerate the solar sails to high speeds, pushing them outside the solar system and beyond, perhaps even to another star. "In the future, we might place big lasers in space that shine their beams on the sails as they depart the solar system, accelerating them to higher and higher speeds, until eventually they are going fast enough to reach another star in a reasonable amount of time." More information: To learn more about solar sails and other NASA advanced space technology, see www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate Provided by NASA 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 Wildfires in Southeast Asia significantly affect peoples' moods, especially if the fires originate outside a person's own country, according to a new study. The study, which measures sentiment by analyzing large amounts of social media data, helps show the psychological toll of wildfires that result in substantial air pollution, at a time when such fires are becoming a high-profile marker of climate change. "It has a substantial negative impact on people's subjective well-being," says Siqi Zheng, an MIT professor and co-author of a new paper detailing the results. "This is a big effect." The magnitude of the effect is about the same as another shift uncovered through large-scale studies of sentiment expressed online: When the weekend ends and the work week starts, people's online postings reflect a sharp drop in mood. The new study finds that daily exposure to typical wildfire smoke levels in the region produces an equivalently large change in sentiment. "People feel anxious or sad when they have to go to work on Monday, and what we find with the fires is that this is, in fact, comparable to a Sunday-to-Monday sentiment drop," says co-author Rui Du, a former MIT postdoc who is now an economist at Oklahoma State University. The paper, "Transboundary Vegetation Fire Smoke and Expressed Sentiment: Evidence from Twitter," has been published online in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. The authors are Zheng, who is the STL Champion Professor of Urban and Real Estate Sustainability in the Center for Real Estate and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT; Du, an assistant professor of economics at Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business; Ajkel Mino, of the Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering at Maastricht University; and Jianghao Wang, of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The research is based on an examination of the events of 2019 in Southeast Asia, in which a huge series of Indonesian wildfires, seemingly related to climate change and deforestation for the palm oil industry, produced a massive amount of haze in the region. The air-quality problems affected seven countries: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. To conduct the study, the scholars produced a large-scale analysis of postings from 2019 on X (formerly known as Twitter) to sample public sentiment. The study involved 1,270,927 tweets from 378,300 users who agreed to have their locations made available. The researchers compiled the data with a web crawler program and multilingual natural language processing applications that review the content of tweets and rate them in affective terms based on the vocabulary used. They also used satellite data from NASA and NOAA to create a map of wildfires and haze over time, linking that to the social media data. Using this method creates an advantage that regular public-opinion polling does not have: It creates a measurement of mood that is effectively a real-time metric rather than an after-the-fact assessment. Moreover, substantial wind shifts in the region at the time in 2019 essentially randomize which countries were exposed to more haze at various points, making the results less likely to be influenced by other factors. The researchers also made a point to disentangle the sentiment change due to wildfire smoke and that due to other factors. After all, people experience mood changes all the time from various natural and socioeconomic events. Wildfires may be correlated with some of them, which makes it hard to tease out the singular effect of the smoke. By comparing only the difference in exposure to wildfire smoke, blown in by wind, within the same locations over time, this study is able to isolate the impact of local wildfire haze on mood, filtering out nonpollution influences. "What we are seeing from our estimates is really just the pure causal effect of the transboundary wildfire smoke," Du says. The study also revealed that people living near international borders are much more likely to be upset when affected by wildfire smoke that comes from a neighboring country. When similar conditions originate in their own country, there is a considerably more muted reaction. "Notably, individuals do not seem to respond to domestically produced fire plumes," the authors write in the paper. The small size of many countries in the region, coupled with a fire-prone climate, make this an ongoing source of concern, however. "In Southeast Asia this is really a big problem, with small countries clustered together," Zheng observes. Zheng also co-authored a 2022 study using a related methodology to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the moods of residents in about 100 countries. In that case, the research showed that the global pandemic depressed sentiment about 4.7 times as much as the normal Sunday-to-Monday shift. "There was a huge toll of COVID on people's sentiment, and while the impact of the wildfires was about one-fifth of COVID, that's still quite large," Du says. In policy terms, Zheng suggests that the global implications of cross-border smoke pollution could give countries a shared incentive to cooperate further. If one country's fires become another country's problem, they may all have reason to limit them. Scientists warn of a rising number of wildfires globally, fueled by climate change conditions in which more fires can proliferate, posing a persistent threat across societies. "If they don't work on this collaboratively, it could be damaging to everyone," Zheng says. More information: Rui Du et al, Transboundary vegetation fire smoke and expressed sentiment: Evidence from Twitter, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2024.102928 This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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 When a teacher refers a student to the principal's office or a principal suspends a student, parents might first receive a phone call and then have a conference with administrators and teachers. But what role do prior interactions and the relationships between families and school personnel play in successfully minimizing these instances of exclusionary discipline? A study published in Educational Researcher suggests parental trust of school personnel may be key. Findings indicate that strong parental trust of teachers and principals reduces the probability that a student receives exclusionary discipline, whether as an office disciplinary referral or a suspension. Additionally, school outreach and communication predict a lower likelihood of a student experiencing exclusionary discipline, with these factors more firmly predicting this outcome for Black students and students with special education needs. "Our results demonstrate that strong school-family relationships, grounded in mutual trust, but especially the trust of the parent in the school, greatly improves a child's chances of thriving and remaining in the classroom, rather than being subjected to exclusionary discipline. These relationships are particularly important for helping to reduce disparities in exclusionary discipline, which is why schools should take action to strengthen relationships with families," said Richard Welsh, associate professor of leadership, policy, and organizations at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development and co-author on the study. Welsh and co-author Luis Rodriguez, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at New York University, suggest that parents' increased trust in their child's school may lead parents to reinforce the school's behavioral strategies at home or remind their child to follow school personnel's directions. The reinforcing relationships between parents and schools may make children more mindful of their behavior. Likewise, parents inquiring about their child's academic and behavioral progress may increase a student's awareness of parental monitoring and improve school personnel's perceptions and expectations of the student. That could lead staff to show more leniency and understanding when the student misbehaves. This study adds to a growing body of research that underscores the importance of investing in and implementing school-level policies and practices that welcome all families and that aim to strengthen trust and build cooperative relationships. For example, schools could work to improve programs to partner with parents, especially Black parents and parents of students with special needs. Schools could also invest in teacher and principal trainings on cultivating and sustaining relationships with families. The authors note that future research should explore racial inequality in school discipline as an ecological issuein other words, examining how school, home, community, and other environments are interconnected systems that affect child development and disciplinary outcomes. As is the case with all good relationships, the one that binds schools and families is built on trust. It is up to researchers, educators, and parents to find the best path forward for cultivating that trust. More information: Luis A. Rodriguez et al, The Ties That Bind: An Examination of School-Family Relationships and Middle School Discipline in New York City, Educational Researcher (2023). DOI: 10.3102/0013189X231203696 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 extent of what is now believed to be the largest and oldest network of pre-Hispanic cities was first unveiled in 2023 after a project scanning the area with laser-mapping techonology from above. Shielded by the jungle for hundreds of years, the remains of a massive 2,500-year-old network of Ecuadoran cities are being threatened by road and farm encroachment just as its long-held secrets are being revealed, researchers say. Traces of an Amazonian "lost city" were first discovered in 1978, but the full extent of what is now believed to be the largest and oldest such urban expanse were only revealed last year with the help of laser mapping. The vast site, which covers more than 1,000 square kilometers (385 square miles), lies deep in the Upano valley on the foothills of the Andes mountain range in eastern Ecuador. It consists of ancient settlements of different sizes, connected by what researchers describe as a complex system of roads. Archaeologists have also identified some 7,400 mounds in various shapes, made by human hands millennia ago. They stand up to four meters (about 13 feet) tall and five times as wide and are believed to have been the foundations of homes, or communal areas for rituals or festivals. Some have already been damagedwrongly thought by road developers to be natural formations that they could break through. "There is an urgent need... for a protection plan," said Spanish archaeologist Alejandra Sanchez, who has been studying the site for a decade. Intricately designed items have been found at the site of the ancient settlements in recent decades. Beyond the road construction issue, Sanchez also described the risks posed by erosion, deforestation, and agriculture to the mounds, which she said are "destroyed very easily by rain, wind, plows." The Upano River, cradle of the Indigenous culture of the same name, is also the victim of voracious mining, both legal and wildcat. 'The tip of the iceberg' As a first step towards having the site protected, Ecuador's National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) is working on delineating the complex. The INPC in 2015 started mapping out the area using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, bouncing laser light off buildings or trees to measure landscapes. The data was shared with archaeologists in 2021. Last year, Sanchez and Argentine researcher Rita Alvarez presented their analysis of the images in an INPC publication. Then in January, a French-led team reported their own findings based on the mapping data in the journal Sciencegiving global news coverage to the discovery. The Catholic University's Wilbauer-Porras museum displays a piece of volcanic rock carved in a half-human, half-animal shape. The site was first described by priest and archaeologist Pedro Porras in the 1980s, according to the private Catholic University's Weilbauer-Porras museum in Quito, which displays finely decorated red-tinted vessels, and a piece of volcanic rock carved in a half-human, half-animal shape. It also houses maps and black-and-white photographs of Porras pointing to the mounds protruding from the ground. According to researchers who have studied the city network since the 1980s, the Upano people who built it had the political, economic, and religious organization typical of great civilizations. Construction on the mounds is thought to have begun between 500 BC and 300-600 ADaround the time of the Roman empire. Other urban sites discovered in the Amazon date from between 500-1,500 AD. And while Ecuador may once have "envied" the archaeological riches of other Latin American nations, the Upano site matches them in "quantity, grandeur, history and cultural expression," archaeologist Alden Yepez of the Catholic University told AFP. He believes discoveries so far are only "the tip of the iceberg" of an even bigger civilization, and that the site may extend up to 2,000 square km around the Upano, Palora and Pastaza rivers, where there are also signs of settlements. "The idea that the Amazon was an unpopulated space or only inhabited by nomads has been discarded," said INPC director Catalina Tello. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain With their bright, orange feet and colorful beaks full of glistening fish, puffins are really charismatic seabirds. But puffin populations are in decline, largely due to their struggle to catch enough of these shiny fish: sandeels. Sandeels have been industrially fished on an industrial scale since the 1950s, not for human consumption but to make fishmeal. They are the bedrock of marine ecosystems in the North Sea. But a new fishing ban could provide welcome respite for puffins and other marine wildlife. The UK and Scottish governments have announced a permanent end to industrial sandeel fishing in English and Scottish waters. This ban will begin on April 1the start of this year's sandeel fishing season. The news of the closure of this sandeel fishery has been met with praise from across the conservation sector. A quarter of a century of campaigning by the RSPB seems to have paid off. The health of sandeel populations in Scottish and English seas can link to the breeding success of the seabirds that feed on them, but the correlation is complex. This fishing ban is a start but, with the added pressures of climate change, more is needed to save Britain's seabirds. The significance of sandeels These small, silver, schooling fish pack a large nutritional punch. They feed on zooplankton and are a vital source of food for larger fish such as cod, haddock and whiting, as well as top predators such as seals. Sandeels are also a favorite food for seabirds such as surface-feeding gulls and terns, and deep-diving auk species including puffins, razorbills and guillemots. As well as falling foul of marine predators, sandeels are caught by humans, largely to be used as feed for farmed fish, such as salmon, or livestock. The sandeel fishing grounds around the UK are jointly managed by the UK and the European Union. But the UK government has not allowed British vessels to fish for sandeels since 2021. Instead, commercial fishing for sandeels has most recently been carried out by European vessels, particularly those from Denmark that regularly fish in UK waters during the summer. Data from the Marine Management Organisation suggests that an average of 257,000 tons of sandeels were caught annually by EU vessels between 2015 and 2019. One of the major sandeel fishing areas in the North Sea, a 21,000 km2 area off the east coast of Scotland and northeast England called sandeel area 4, has been closed to both UK and EU vessels since 2000although a small scientific fishery continued to conduct stock assessments during this time. Following the area's closure, sandeel numbers grew and that corresponded with an initial increase in the number of fledged chicks in black-legged kittiwakes, an iconic gull species that has declined in recent decades. Elsewhere in the world, closures of other "forage fish" fisheries (those that catch species that are prey for larger predators) have revealed positive impacts. African penguins rear more chicks in years when anchovy and sardine fishery areas off the coastline of South Africa are closed. As well as removing sandeels from the sea, industrial fishing can disturb them and drive them to different locations or to deeper depths, away from the hungry beaks of kittiwakes that catch prey for themselves and their chicks at the sea's surface. Relationships between the closure of sandeel area 4 and the breeding success of other sandeel-reliant seabirds around northern England and Scotland have not been obvious. This is potentially due to differences in foraging ranges and diving abilities between different seabirds. For kittiwakes, breeding success initially rose after the closures until 2018, but did not bounce right back to the levels observed before fishing here began, despite 20 years of potential recovery time. This suggests that other factors influence breeding success in kittiwake colonies. Climate drivers Studies of the impacts that forage fishery closures have on seabirds consistently flag the importance of environmental influences. Although fisheries could exacerbate declines in some seabird species, changing environmental conditions have larger impacts. Sandeels bury themselves in the sand during the winter and come out during the day to feed in the summer, but warmer temperatures can cause them to emerge from the sand earlier in the year. This change might have detrimental knock-on effects on the seabirds that feed sandeels to their chicks during their summer breeding seasons. Climate change, which has already given rise to a warmer North Sea, is a main driver of sandeel declines. This has important ramifications for birds and other animals higher up the food chain. The fourth national seabird census (20152021) revealed that more than half the seabird species breeding around Britain and Ireland's coastlines have declined over the past 20 years. Many of these declines have been linked to the influence of climate change on the availability of their prey. The government's environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection, recently warned that the government's progress on its promise to stem declines in British nature by 2030 has been scant. The halting of sandeel fishing around Scotland and northern England is not enough to conserve the seabirds that breed around our coastlines. A more ambitious plan is called for. Achieving the sandeel fisheries closure involved an immense lobbying effort that has been backed up by scientific evidence. This success has demonstrated the importance that the British public places on protecting nature. Now, the government ought to not only combine fisheries closures with effective monitoring, but to diverge from burning fossil fuels that continue to heat our planet and choke conservation efforts. Ultimately, to ensure that healthy sandeel populations will support seabirds in the future, we need to maintain cool seas that will allow their stocks to bounce back to pre-fishing levels. 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: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Nearly three years after Gov. Gavin Newsom directed it, California's oil and gas industry regulator kickstarted a process to outright ban hydraulic fracturing, the fossil fuel extraction method known as 'fracking.' Fracking permits have not been issued in the state since 2021, but environmentalists celebrated the move as a win in the fight against climate change. Oil industry groups called it yet another example of regulatory overreach and argued it could lead to higher oil prices. Late last week, the Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) said in a draft rule that it will officially cease to approve hydraulic fracturing permits on California oil and gas wells. "This regulatory change will improve the Department's Geologic Energy Management Division's ability to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources... including the mitigation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions," said Jacob Roper, a spokesperson for the Department of Conservation. Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals underground to fracture subterranean layers of rock and release oil and gas. The practice is more common in larger oil gas producing states such as Texas and Pennsylvania. As the practice exploded in the mid-2000s, research gave fracking a reputation for pollution and public health dangers. Fracking not only is water intensive, it releases potent greenhouse gases such as methane and benzyne and can contaminate groundwater basins with chemical additives. Even in earlier days of oil and gas extraction in California, fracking was not widespread. Roughly 13% of California oil and gas wells have been fracked at least once. Overall, permitted fracking operations accounted for just 2% of statewide oil production in 2021. CalGem estimated that the new ban, which it expects to be approved by the end of 2024, would have moderate impact on oil production. The agency said the rule would lead to $190 million in costs incurred by oil and gas operators and cut production by 4%. California's oil production industry has been on the decline since the 1980s, but that doesn't mean it's going down without a fight. Last year Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association collectively spent more than $18 million on lobbying in Sacramento. Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president and CEO of WSPA, said CalGEM had already instituted a de-facto ban on fracking but that this rule would exceed the limit of the agency's regulatory authority and overlooks "decades of safe operations." "This decision is another misplaced political assault on production and energy supplies by the Newsom administration," she said. "These types of policies are devastating to our state's energy supplies, which are rapidly shrinking under the Newsom administration, and will likely lead to even higher energy costs for California consumers." Three years ago, after Newsom directed CalGEM to cease issuing fracking permits and set a 2024 deadline to legally end the practice, the state denied a string of at least 100 fracking permit applications. Several oil companies filed suit, claiming the agency could not reject permits without a formal ban. Now, after three years of quiet on the issue from the agency, this new effort could put those lawsuits to bed, said Hollin Kretzmann, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute. "Symbolically, it means California is moving in the right direction. A ban on fracking is a simple no brainer," he said. "Californians have wanted to end fracking for years, and hopefully this rule is an indication that they're getting serious on the rest of the fossil fuel industry." If CalGEM was serious about addressing the climate crisis, Kretzmann said, it could use its authority to put a new oil well setback restriction into regulation. California passed a restriction 2022 but that law has been suspended pending a referendum vote in 2024. CalGEM said it will hold a virtual public hearing on the fracking rule on Tuesday, March 26 ahead of the public comment deadline. 2024 The Sacramento Bee. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ATLANTIC CITY The Atlantic City Housing Authority has known for more than a month it would temporarily relocate 19 families from Stanley Holmes Village this week to fix sewer pipes, an official said Monday night, but didnt tell residents until Thursday. The families had to be checked in to the Claridge Hotel by midnight Monday, according to a notice dated Feb. 8. They had to get themselves to the Claridge with clothes and cleaning supplies, and no provision was made for cooking or pet care. That was an administrative decision. Ive known at least a month, said Judy Grate, resident services supervisor at the Housing Authority, when asked why residents werent given more time to prepare for the relocation. The work on the pipes is expected to take at least three weeks, according to the notice. Grate was speaking to about 25 residents via speaker phone at a meeting organized by Steve Young of the National Action Networks South Jersey chapter. The families in a blocklong building bounded by Mediterranean Avenue, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and City Place were told nothing about how they would get meals, since they would have no ability to cook. Grate said at the meeting that she had spent the day arranging for them to get breakfast and dinner at the hotel restaurant free of charge. They will be allowed to go back and forth to their homes to get more clothes and other belongings, they just cannot sleep and eat there because the water will be turned off so a contractor can fix the sewer pipes and there will likely be no heat. Atlantic City Housing Authority springs major move on Stanley Holmes Village residents The Atlantic City Housing Authority is giving dozens of Stanley Holmes Village residents until Tuesday to move to the Claridge Hotel for about a month so it can make repairs to crawl space pipes, but has made no provision for them to be able to cook and no food vouchers. Executive Director Tom Sahlin did not respond to repeated requests for information about the relocation Friday and Monday. Residents said they have lived with the smell of sewer water and gas for six months, but one resident, Tiffany Brown, provided video evidence of a sewer leak as far back as December 2022. Residents also asked Grate whether they would get refunded some of the rent they paid for February and March, to make up for the inconvenience of having to leave their homes. Grate said she had no information about that, or about what kind of security would be provided to protect their apartments. Young said he called the meeting in part to get more information for tenants, but also to start the process of developing a tenant association for Stanley Holmes residents. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds and oversees the authority, requires resident associations to be formed. Brown was voted to be president of an interim tenant association and Tammy Bethea to be vice president. HUD has found the authority to be in noncompliance with dozens of its requirements and has designated the authority troubled for failing to file a 2022 audit. Sahlin has said that audit will be submitted soon, and the 2023 audit started. He has gotten an extension on the deadline for the 2023 audit. About 100 residents are suing over conditions at the 420-unit complex, which include lack of consistent heat and hot water and the need to use space heaters, which they say do not provide enough heat to keep them warm. HAMMONTON A new hardware store being built on the White Horse Pike said Tuesday it is looking to hire 25 to 30 people ahead of its spring opening. Harbor Freight Tools said it is looking to hire for a variety of positions with competitive starting rates and benefits, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Roles include sales and logistic supervisors, senior associates, sales associates and seasonal labor. Weve been looking to open a location in Hammonton for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community, said Trey Feiler, senior vice president of real estate and construction for Harbor Freight Tools. In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great associates in the Hammonton area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team. The company, which has been in business since 1977, has more than 28,000 employees and more than 1,400 locations nationwide. The Hammonton location would be the company's 30th in New Jersey. Harbor Freight Tools also has locations in Egg Harbor Township, Vineland and Middle Township. Job seekers can apply at harborfreightjobs.com/retail and search Hammonton, NJ." CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE A Sea Isle City man who assaulted a TV reporter at a bar last year was sentenced to three years of probation Monday. Patrick Iannone, 22, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault Dec. 4 for punching Fox 29's Bob Kelly during a charity event at the Oar House Pub in Sea Isle on July 30. As part of his sentencing, Cape May County Superior Court Judge Christine Smith ordered Iannone to continue alcohol abuse treatment, attend anger management counseling and pay Kelly $5,000 in restitution, according to court documents. Kelly is a traffic anchor and feature reporter for Fox 29's "Good Day Philadelphia." He was emceeing an event at the bar when Iannone, who recorded the encounter, doused Kelly with beer and punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious. Kelly was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center and received treatment for a gash above his eye. Kelly addressed the incident on his first appearance back to work several days afterward. He believes the assault stemmed from a TikTok challenge, similar to an incident involving rapper Cardi B in which liquid was splashed onto her while she performed. The assault wasn't Iannone's only run-in with police last year. He was charged with simple assault and criminal mischief after an incident at the Dead Dog Saloon on Landis Avenue in Sea Isle, according to municipal court records. He pleaded guilty to the assault charge while the criminal mischief charge was dismissed. Iannone was fined and banned from the bar, records show. BRIDGETON A suspect wanted for killing a city man nearly three years ago was arrested Thursday at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said. David Morales-Olmedo, 28, was charged with homicide and related weapons offenses in the shooting death of Mario Soriano. Olmedo is being held in the San Diego County Central Jail awaiting extradition to New Jersey. Officers responded to shots being fired in the 100 block of North Pearl Street in Bridgeton about 10:15 p.m. Jun. 3, 2021. The victim, Soriano, was transported by personal vehicle to Inspira Health Center Bridgeton, where he died from his injuries after sustaining several gunshot wounds, police said at the time. Olmedo was named a suspect the day after the murder and remained on the run for over two years until U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers took him into custody at the San Ysidro port of entry in California. Authorities said Olmedo applied for admission into the U.S. but was flagged down as a wanted person and arrested. Former congressional candidate Amy Kennedy, of Brigantine, endorsed New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Murphys campaign said. Tammy and I have worked closely together on youth mental health and maternal and infant health as part of the National Governors Association, Kennedy said in a Murphy campaign news release. I witnessed firsthand how Tammy worked with national experts, community leaders, and people with lived experience to create a playbook to guide our nations critical work to improve maternal and infant health. Kennedy, a mother of five who is married to former Rhode Island Democratic Congressman Patrick Kennedy the son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts also said Murphy has worked with leaders from Los Angeles to Philadelphia on health and other issues. Tammys approach to working with leaders from other states is incredibly effective, and a true testament to how she will lead in the U.S. Senate, Kennedy said. Murphy is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in the wake of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez being charged with corruption and other federal crimes. Also running for the Democratic nomination are U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, and Menendez himself, as well as Patrick Merrill, Lawrence Hamm, Kevin Cupples and Patricia Campos-Medina. Kennedy, Lutz-Koch appointed to Stockton University board GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP The state Senate on Monday approved two nominees to Stockton University I am incredibly honored to receive Amys endorsement, Murphy said. Together, well work to prioritize our childrens well-being and build a better future for the next generation. Republicans running for the nomination include former television news reporter Alex Zdan, Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano-Glassner and Cape May businessman Curtis Bashaw, as well as Gregg Mele, Daniel Cruz, Michael Estrada, Albert Harshaw, Justine Murphy and Shirley Maia-Cusick. Kennedy is a youth mental health advocate and co-founder of the Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that works to transform the health care system by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, according to the release. She ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District in 2020 against U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd. It was Van Drews first reelection campaign to Congress, a year after he switched parties to Republican after refusing to vote to impeach President Donald Trump. Murphy has received endorsements from more than 80 faith and community leaders, six congressional members and more than 100 elected officials, as well as a number of unions, her campaign said. ATLANTIC CITY The South Jersey AIDS Alliance is calling the resolution of its lawsuit against the city over a needle exchange program amicable, and said Tuesday it ensures the continuity of the SJAAs crucial syringe access services at its Oasis site. The settlement, which a city spokesperson has said did not involve money, was approved by City Council on Jan. 24 and by Superior Court Assignment Judge Michael Blee on Feb. 8. With this settlement, we can maintain our unwavering dedication to saving lives and promoting community health, Georgett Shelton, president of the AIDS Alliance, said Tuesday in a news release. Since 2007, the AIDS Alliance has run southeastern New Jerseys only syringe access program out of a facility on Tennessee Avenue, where it also provides other harm reduction services for free. They include HIV and hepatitis C testing, sexually transmitted infection testing, education, case management, nursing and wound care services and overdose prevention, including the distribution of naloxone kits, the nonprofit said. This was a mutually agreed upon settlement. Because of the recently enacted legislation, the city cannot unilaterally prevent the SJAA from operating, a city spokesperson said Tuesday. At the point of the new legislation, the lawsuit became moot. The settlement declares the citys ordinance attempting to remove the exchange null and void, permanently stops the city from taking action to enforce it, and restrains the city from taking any unlawful action to hinder or obstruct the AIDS Alliances syringe access program, according to the alliance. City Council passed an ordinance in 2021 reversing its decision to allow a needle exchange to operate there. Council members said at the time the site created crime and other burdens that hurt its tourism industry, and attracted substance abusers from all over South Jersey because it is the only such site in a large geographic area. Murphy signs syringe access expansion bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Tuesday a bill that gives the New Jersey Department of Heal The AIDS Alliance immediately sued, and a judge stopped the ordinance from taking effect. In 2023, the state Legislature amended the law, giving the state Health Department jurisdiction over where needle exchange services are provided. Since then, no new sites have opened. The settlement also requires the city to provide advance notice to the AIDS Alliance of any land use or other regulations it intends to promulgate that would affect the operation of the Oasis center and/or prohibit or limit the distribution of syringes, the release states. The court retains jurisdiction for the purposes of enforcement of the settlement. We are grateful for the support and expertise of our talented team of legal professionals, those in the harm reduction community, and countless others whose unwavering commitment to our cause has enabled us to continue our mission of providing vital services to those in need, Shelton said. The AIDS Alliance was founded in 1985 to provide services to those affected by HIV/AIDS. It services Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. VINELAND Former Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner was appointed municipal prosecutor for the city Tuesday. Tyner will make $53,500 under his contract, which runs from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31, 2025, according to city records. Tyner is no stranger to working with Vineland. Last year, City Council approved a contract with Tyner to represent it in cannabis issues. The contract ran from July 26 to Jan. 31 and paid Tyner $165 an hour. City officials did not respond to requests for comment prior to his appointment. Tyner also did not respond to a request for comment prior to the vote on his appointment. In a letter to council dated Feb. 6, Mayor Anthony Fanucci asked them to consider Tyner for the job. Tyner resigns as Atlantic County prosecutor Damon G. Tyner resigned Tuesday from his position as Atlantic County prosecutor, his office Tyner resigned in July 2021 from his position as Atlantic County prosecutor. His tenure there was not without issues. In April 2021, an investigation by the state Attorney Generals Office found evidence to support a number of alleged ethics violations, including lying, nepotism and mishandling of funds and misuse of a vehicle by Tyner and his first assistant prosecutor. The resignation followed a letter the Northfield law firm of Burnham Douglass sent to members of the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association demanding it rescind an award naming Tyner Prosecutor of the Year. It outlined numerous ethics violations sustained by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, along with new allegations. Tyner played a key role in bringing charges in the 2012 murder of radio personality and veterans advocate April Kauffman. In January 2018, Tyner brought charges against six people, including her husband, Dr. James Kauffman, for her murder. James Kauffman died by suicide while being held for trial in the case. ATLANTIC CITY Its a sight that visitors and residents have grown accustomed to over the years. Furry cats emerging from underneath the Boardwalk, or tiny kittens scurrying across the street. An estimated 500 feral cats call the city home, according to cat advocates. Area residents and organizations are working to try to keep that feral cat population under control through a variety of trap-neuter-release programs. Organizations like Cape Atlantic Citizens Altering the Strays (CATS), Hi Arbor Cat Adoption Rescue Education and Sanctuary (CARES), Life Improvement for Cats and Kittens (LICK) and Alley Cat Allies Boardwalk Cats program focus on getting the felines spayed and neutered. Theres just so many people that put them outside, and the poor things dont know. Theyre just trying to survive out there, said Rebecca Cooney-Williams, an Egg Harbor Township resident who monitors and maintains about seven to eight cat colonies throughout the city, mainly on the Boardwalk. She also makes sure any new cats that join the colonies are spayed, neutered or adopted, depending on whether they were domesticated before they were abandoned. There are more than a dozen cat colonies scattered throughout the city, containing anywhere from a couple felines to about 30-60 abandoned or feral cats, officials said. The city does not view feral/abandoned cat populations as a major concern right now, but it would be addressed accordingly by our Heath and Human Services Departments Environmental Health division if it were to become one at any point, said Andrew Kramer, a spokesperson for the city. Whitworth wins Ocean City spelling bee: Hometown briefs Fifth grader Emma Whitworth won the ninth annual spelling bee held recently at the Ocean City Intermediate School, besting 17 other classmates. Although the city does not view the growing free-range cat population as cause for concern, the community does. We all work together to help each other, and there are a lot of individuals out there that help, too, said Jane Ibberson, one of the founders of the Animal Network Association, which has been helping the unwanted cat and dog populations in the county since 1992. Theres such a problem with the cat situation, were basically trying to stop their reproduction. So we try to do the TNR, which is the trap-neuter-release, rehabilitating them or getting them adopted. Ibberson feeds at least 30 to 60 cats daily around the city. The local rescues have teamed up to do the legwork, we do all the spay/neutering, in addition to the community food program, said Jessie Scholder, the community outreach coordinator for the Humane Society of Atlantic County. Theres been an influx in the amount of need within the last two years. Cape Atlantic CATS, Animal Network and Hi Arbor do a lot of that daily feeding, along with volunteers. And were trying to do the best we can, but there has been a need an endless need for the cats. Alley Cat Allies pays for $50 of every spay/neuter done at the local Humane Society via grant, in addition to the Humane Society giving rescues discounts for their spay/neuters, Scholder said. Cooney-Williams added the citys cat population was probably the biggest in the county, but noted Egg Harbor City also has a growing number of free-range cats for which she also cares. Any place where theres the subsidized housing, where people just cant afford it, they get the kittens when theyre cute and little; and then they might not be able to afford to keep the home. They just put them outside when they start getting fleas, or they just dont know what to do with them, so they just put them outside, said Cooney-Williams. If Atlantic County had a free spay-and-neuter it would make it much easier for people to get them done because we get a lot of people that dont drive, or dont know how it works. Last year, the county Humane Society spayed/neutered more than 1,000 cats, Scholder said. Absegami club participates in Stockton Day of Service: Hometown briefs Sixteen members of Absegami High Schools Interact Club joined hundreds of other community members at Stockton University's 20th annual MLK Day of Service on Monday. The Atlantic County Animal Shelter took in 1,517 cats last year, of which 355 came from Atlantic City. A total of 1,206 stray cats were reclaimed or rehoused, while 698 were transferred to an animal rescue organization, said the shelter. Six stray cats were fostered in homes and/or the Atlantic County Animal Shelter, while 309 stray felines were euthanized. Whats going on in the city is people are getting kittens or cats from friends, not from shelters, because those are usually neutered, and then letting them out. So they go out, get other cats pregnant and the cycle continues, Ibberson said. Everyone should have pets, but they have to be responsible and get their pets fixed. Until that happens, this is going to continue to go on and on. GALLERY: Volunteers manage Atlantic City's feral cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats Cat colony care in Atlantic City 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats 02xx24-pac-nws-cats Feral Cat Management 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats 020324-pac-nws-cats Snow forecasting is never easy. However, the past couple of years, it's been relatively pain-free to create a snow forecast, I won't lie. That changes with Tuesday's storm. As time progressed, computer models insisted on rain going to snow farther south into New Jersey. While it's my job to ultimately forecast what will happen, sometimes the trend is your friend in this case, bringing at least some accumulating snow into South Jersey. This is all due to a more southerly solution for this storm, which brings stronger winds and will bring a round of moderate stage coastal flooding during the Tuesday morning high tide. Here's what to know. Follow Meteorologist Joe Martucci on social media to connect with him. Send in your snow photos and videos to www.pressofac.com/photosubmissions. In the Region Kyrgyz Court Closes Down Kloop A Bishkek court ruled on February 9 to liquidate the independent Kyrgyz outlet Kloop Media. At times, testimony at the trial could have been called outrageous, and the ruling is a bad omen of things to come for independent media. The court found in favor of the prosecutors office, which claimed Kloops activities go beyond the scope of the [media organizations] charter, essentially that Kloop Media was illegally reporting the news. Since its debut in 2007, Kloop has offered critical coverage of the government and highlighted state corruption, which has made the outlet some enemies. When the charges were announced against Kloop in late August, it sparked an outcry from domestic and international media freedom organizations. Not only were the charges suspected to be politically motivated, but from the start, it was clear Kloop would face flimsy evidence used to justify the media outlets closure. Bishkek prosecutor Emilbek Abdymannapov alleged in August that Kloops reporting has a negative emotional-psychological effect on society generating fear, anxiety, despair, and panic among a huge number of people In the last days of the trial, the prosecution called in its experts to testify about Kloops reporting. Zhanna Karabaeva from the Republican Narcology Center testified Kloops reporting was socially irresponsible, and because of [their reporting] the number of people with mental disorders is growing. Psychologist Veronika Terekhova testified in a secular state, there should be no criticism of the authorities. Another expert, Cholpon Abdullaeva, testified that the media in general was increasing mental illness in Kyrgyzstan. However, she admitted, under questioning from Kloops lawyer, that she had never read any of Kloops reports. Why Its Important: The Kloop trial is a preview of what other independent media outlets can expect from Kyrgyzstans court system. Two draft laws have been introduced in parliament, one on the media, the other on foreign representatives, that are aimed at nongovernmental organizations receiving foreign funding. Both echo laws passed in Russia that led to the closure of independent media outlets. Either could spell doom for many independent media outlets in Kyrgyzstan, and the latter would undoubtedly contest in court decisions not to re-register, or to close them down. The Kloop case indicates they would have little chance of obtaining a court decision allowing their media outlets to continue operating. Activists Out in Kazakhstan Ahead of International Womens Day Authorities in Kazakhstan are denying permission to conduct marches marking International Womens Day on March 8. The Kazakh government did the same last year. This year, activists are out early, working to be allowed to gather publicly on March 8. Authorities are allowing one-person pickets to call for equal rights, the right to march on International Womens Day, and action against domestic violence. Liya Bergen stood by the monument to independence in Almaty on February 2 holding a sign that read Dosaev, dont break tradition, allow the march! Erbolat Dosaev is the mayor of Almaty. On February 3, Veronika Fonova, an activist from the feminist movement KazFem, staged a one-person picket in Almaty with a sign asking city authorities to permit the International Womens Day march. Fonova was only on the street a few minutes before an unknown man attempted to snatch her sign and tear it up. Anel Aligazina staged her one-person picket in the north city of Kostanay on February 4, holding a sign that read New Kazakhstan is not safe for women. Several passers-by tried to grab the sign from Aligazina, and at one point another woman arrived and stood by Aligazina with a sign that read Against feminism. Temirlan Yensebek from the Oyan, Qazaqstan (Wake up, Kazakhstan) movement conducted a one-person picket in Almaty on February 8, calling for the march on March 8 to be allowed. Authorities have shown no sign they will grant permission for any sort of mass public event to mark International Womens Day. Why Its Important: Concerns over womens rights have been growing, and the issue of domestic violence came to the forefront when a former Kazakh minister of economy beat his wife to death in a restaurant in November. The issue is not going away and the stonewalling of Kazakh officials again in permitting a march on International Womens Day is not helping to resolve the problem. There is a bill to toughen punishment for domestic violence in Kazakhstan, but it has not been adopted yet. Deputy in Kazakhstans lower house of parliament, Anas Bakkozhaev, threw more fuel on the fire on February 5. Bakkozhaev said he agreed with the bill on domestic violence, but added, Where do conflicts begin? Of course, because of a womans wagging tongue. That somehow women provoke the violence against them is the sort of attitude womens and feminist groups in Kazakhstan are fighting against. Denying women the right to march publicly, on International Womens Day, seems to prove that authorities are not supportive of womens rights. Majlis Podcast The most recent Majlis podcast looks at a new European Union-Central Asian program that will see 10 billion euros of financing and investment flowing into Central Asia. It is part of the EUs Global Gateway trade network, and the money is intended to help expand transportation infrastructure in Central Asia to better connect the region to Europe. What is in the program and how will it benefit Central Asia? The guests for this podcast are: Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, director of the European Neighborhood Council; and Kestutis Jankauskas, the European Unions Ambassador to Kazakhstan. What Im Following C5+1 Meet to Discuss Critical Minerals The inaugural meeting of representatives of the five Central Asian states and the United States, the C5+1, Critical Minerals Dialogue was held in Washington on February 8. The meeting is part of agreements reached at the C5+1 summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly when U.S. President Joe Biden met with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Critical minerals are increasingly important for a range of electronic products from automobiles and cell phones, to computers and other products. Central Asia is believed to have vast and relatively untouched reserves of critical minerals and the United States is one of many countries looking at Central Asia for supplies. Tajik Government Seizes Aga-Khans University Tajik authorities have nationalized the University of Central Asia (UCA) built by the Aga Khan in Khorugh, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Chairman of Tajikistans Supreme Economic Court Rustam Mirzozoda confirmed the nationalization of the UCA on February 8, saying GBAO local authorities in the late 1990s made mistakes in transferring the land. Its the latest blow to the Pamiri community in GBAO. Most Pamiris are Ismaili Shiite Muslims and followers of the Aga Khan. Since a government security operation in May 2022, the Aga Khan Development Network medical center, lyceum, park in Khorugh, and other facilities in GBAO have all been nationalized. Fact of the Week Kazakhstan shipped 100,000 metric tons of oil to Germany in January via pipelines running through Russia. Thanks for Reading Thanks for reading Central Asia in Focus! I appreciate you sharing it with other readers who may be interested. Feel free to contact me on X, especially if you have any questions, comments, or just want to connect about topics concerning Central Asia. Until next time, Bruce P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter and dont want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. Moline-Coal Valley schools will welcome Erin Terstriep as the district's assistant superintendent of student services and special education for the 2024-25 school year. After the school board unanimously approved the hire on Monday, Terstriep will take over for Kristin Sanders, assistant superintendent for pupil personnel and special services, who will retire in June after 27 years in the district. "I am thrilled to accept the position and work alongside the dedicated educators of the Moline-Coal Valley School District," Terstriep says in a district press release. "It is truly an honor to join such a committed team and contribute to the ongoing academic success and well-being of the students in our great community." Beginning her career as a special education teacher in St. Louis, Missouri, Terstriep now serves as the director of special education services at United Township High School District. She has worn several hats during her 17-year career at United Township, including dean of students and administrative building leader for UT's alternative school. Erin is a student-centered positive and approachable leader whose experiences will serve our district students and staff well. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, and respected among her peers. We are grateful to have her join our team and look forward to welcoming her this fall, Moline Coal-Valley Superintendent Rachel Savage said in the release. According to the release, Terstriep earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, along with master's degrees in special education and general administration from Truman and Western Illinois University, respectively. Moline students eat donuts to raise money As part of the Timeless Tickets series, we've already talked about the "Day The Music Died." In 1959, Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens all died in a plane crash in Clear Lake, less than a week after performing in Davenport. But did you know that from that tragedy, a star was born of the Midwest? And that star came to Davenport almost exactly two years later? Fargo, North Dakota, native Bobby Vee was little-known in the winter of 1959, but he was called to fill in for the great Buddy Holly at the star's planned show in Moorhead, Minnesota, the day after the crash. Vee's performance was a hit. It kickstarted his career and led to the release of "Suzie Baby," Vee's first big single and a riff on Buddy Holly's own work. By 1961, Bobby Vee was a full-blown teenage heartthrob. At just 17 years old, Vee had a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Take Good Care Of My Baby," which peaked in the summer of '61. But earlier that year, the star made his first appearance in Davenport. The show While on tour with surf-rock act The Ventures and doo-wop quartet The Checkers, Vee stopped at Davenport's Col. Ballroom on Feb. 17, 1961. The show started at 8 p.m., with advance tickets going for just $1 or $1.25 at the door. The Ventures were already a notable name in rock and roll, but this show was before their stretch of success in the mid-60s, when the band charted dozens of singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The week of the show, the Daily Times in Davenport shared some other news about Bobby Vee. His fans had officially popularized a niche article of clothing: the V-neck sweater. "Bobby Vee's fan club officers have started all of their members on a V-neck sweater kick," they wrote. "This pleases all those merchants who've been trying for years to unload the sweaters." Vee returned again to Col. Ballroom later that year, on July 11, in the "newly air-conditioned" venue with The Shadows. Just under two years before their appearance in Davenport, Bobby Vee and The Shadows had a different pianist, an 18-year-old Minnesotan who went by the name of Elston Gunnn. In 1962, Gunnn whose real name was Bobby Zimmerman released his debut album ... as Bob Dylan. Around the world in February 1961 The front page story in both the Daily Times and Moline Dispatch is about the daughter of a Sheldon, Iowa, banker who admitted to embezzling $2 million from her father's bank. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In the Daily Times, there's also news of a criminal investigation for the murder of Raymond Case at Ray and Edith's Tavern, as local detectives narrowed their search to three suspects. The murder was never solved. Where the tavern once stood on Locust Street, there's now a Walgreens pharmacy. Around world history, the Bobby Vee show took place just weeks before the introduction of the "Ken" doll as Barbie's partner. Residents of Washington, D.C., are given the right to vote in presidential elections in March, and Yuri Gagarin became the first person to go to space in April. On July 8, 1961, just three days before Bobby Vee's second Quad-Cities appearance, country music star Toby Keith, who died earlier this month, was born. Also born that year were Woody Harrelson, former President Barack Obama, James Gandolfini, Eddie Murphy and Meg Ryan. Editor's note: This is the third in a three-part series about how Quad-Cities schools address safety. This story focuses on the role of law enforcement and communication in responding to a crisis. In Quad-City metro school districts, mutual aid and coordination between local law enforcement and timely but accurate family notification protocols are crucial during emergencies. Particularly since school resource officers (SROs) cant be everywhere at once. We have mutual-aid agreements with all the departments around here, said Jack Schwertman, North Scotts sole SRO and an Eldridge police officer, noting the Princeton Police Department keeps tabs on Virgil Grissom Elementary School. It's not out of the ordinary for a deputy to stop in and check on the school, just because they know Im one person to seven schools in a 20-mile radius, he said. If an emergency were to happen at a Davenport school, he explained, officers from the Eldridge Police Department would respond and vice versa. In todays environment, it is vital that first responders and schools nationwide collaborate to ensure that safety of students and staff remains a top priority, said Owen Farrell, Davenport Police Departments public safety communications manager. Davenport Police school resource officers and supervisors routinely coordinate with school personnel to prepare for and continually adapt emergency operations and response plans to achieve this goal. Situations that show the necessity of this kind of approach include threats made by one student to another from different local districts. Were (communicating) back-and-forth, Schwertman said. Id say the mutual agreements are pretty strong; it works well not just for school stuff, but crime in general. While hed like to see another officer employed in the district, Schwertman said it ultimately comes down to available funds and staffing. We're fortunate enough in Eldridge to have a lot of locally-based and -living law enforcement, so we're pretty safe in that sense, he added. We maintain a pretty tight ship. A lot of the students have a good rapport with administration our juvenile court liaison is probably the best thing that's happened in this (high school) building. Davenport schools safety director, Andy Neyrinck, and communications director, Sarah Ott, also spoke about the importance of a multi-agency response, particularly if a larger safety incident were to happen. We dont live in a silo, Ott said. So that coordination is essential for a very quick response but also a very effective response. In June, Davenport schools will host weeklong training for Quad-Cities law enforcement agencies from both sides of the river. If the unfortunate were to happen, we want that (law enforcement) response to be seamless between all of the agencies responding, including our own, Ott said. So those trainings are very vital. Every other year, Iowa State Patrol and Scott County Emergency Management also partner to host ALERRT Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training hosted most recently at North Scott High School. How do schools notify families during an emergency? The impact level of a school-related emergency typically determines how parents or families are notified. For example, Bettendorf schools follow this format: For a low-impact incident, such as temporary power outages, posing no or minimal risk to school safety, the district would notify parents via email. Incidents that result in some type of disruption to school activities are deemed moderate impact, warranting an email, text message and school website post. Examples of these incidents include threats to a school or gas leaks. High-impact incidents such as a school intruder or shooting would be communicated via phone, text, email, press release and the district website. For high-impact incidents warranting evacuation, Bettendorf Superintendent Michelle Morse said each district school has a walk-to evacuation site. She urged parents and guardians to refrain from going to that location in these instances. We're not going to release your child at that site, she said. They're coming back to school with us when it's safe unless we designate that as the reunification spot, and we would communicate that out. While Neyrinck understands why parents may get upset if they arent notified the second (an incident) happens, he said internal communication takes priority. We're trying to make that situation safe (first), so it may take a little bit of time, he said. We also need to let the bus lots know, food service, warehouse, maintenance any of those within, because if a building is on lockdown, we don't want our (staff) going there. Farrell echoed this sentiment. Any additional people arriving at the location of a threat makes it more logistically challenging to be able to quickly respond and make the scene safe, he said. If an incident should occur, law enforcement asks parents (and) guardians to look for communications from law enforcement or the school before heading to an incident, he said. We need to ensure first responders have direct access to be able to appropriately respond. Having access points and roadways open allows for swift response from first responders. On this front, Morse also argued the importance of accurate communication, noting students initial panic or social media use may cause misinformation to spread. Let us be your communicator, she said. So you can return to your child safely. Fearing it could create a fog with crisis response messaging or add stress to an emergency, Bettendorf parent and School Improvement Advisory Committee member Michael Burns said hes a staunch advocate for banning students use of cell phones during the school day. He has no doubt that any safety concerns brought to his childrens school leaders would be taken seriously and addressed via two-way communication. Even if the outcome wasn't what I would like, I would at least get some feedback on why, Burns said. And it (concerns) wouldnt just be addressed locally; Im sure they would push it up through the district and work together to figure out a potential solution. Like the districts constantly evolving emergency operations plan, Davenport schools are also working to improve its threat assessment document. This helps determine the appropriate notification process and response to threats made among students, which could range from cyberbullying to physical violence. While it ultimately depends on the threat level and other factors, disciplining the student making threats may be one response, while Neyrinck said another might be to implement a safety plan for the student being victimized. Tim Hamman a parent of three Walcott K-8 students took to Davenports Jan. 22 school board meeting to express concern about the schools response when another student threatened his son via TikTok. He said his son told the principal about the threat at 9:10 a.m., but Hamman wasnt informed of the situation until his wife an employee at Walcott called him at 11:45 that morning. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about, Hamman said. She (was) hearing secondhand, from other people in the building, about our sons life being threatened. He was frustrated by the schools lack of immediate response, having initially called the principal at 12:30 p.m. that day and leaving a voicemail. He ended up meeting with the principal that afternoon, who Hamman said was apologetic for the poor timing and assured him that his son was safe. While Hamman was told that district SROs were notified about the threat, he thinks the local Walcott Police Department should have also been informed. While he serves as the districts only SRO, Schwertman is also a North Scott parent. For every situation more serious than a slap on the wrist, I would say the parents are always well-informed, he said. Just as parents need to be informed about a crisis at their childs school, students should be advised to say something if they see something. Thats one of those conversations parents need to be having with their students, Ott said. I don't want to (armchair) any tragic incident that has occurred around the country because sometimes you can't predict these things. In other cases, she said, possible warning signs were there. So it is just vitally important () to tell people, like a trusted family member, adult or teacher, Ott said. Students know what's going on in the buildings. For students who may recognize a possible school safety threat, but are hesitant to speak out, she and Neyrinck urged the use of P3 Campus, an anonymous threat-reporting app used across Iowa. That information is what then allows our security team and law enforcement to appropriately assess the threat and then deal with the threat, Ott said. She also suggested parents reiterate certain safety protocols such as ALICE drills to their children, as it could help students instill confidence in both themselves and school staff during a crisis. We, as parents, can't leave that just to school staff, Ott said. We need to be engaged in those conversations, too. Considering todays digital age, Neyrinck also suggested parents monitor their childrens Internet usage, particularly for elementary-aged students, to avoid predators or access to harmful content. It's your job as a parent to protect your child and keep them safe, he said. Since most parents dont always have time to fully sift through an emergency operations plan (EOP), McKinley Elementary's Susan Roelle wishes for more two-way safety communication from district leaders. They could do a better job of informing parents about Hey, just in case this ever was to happen, heres what we have in place, she said, suggesting bi-annual reminders. Instead of just leaving it as our responsibility to read through the district handbook. Still, Roelle has confidence in how Davenport school officials would respond to a crisis. Roelle said McKinley staff and administration were awesome about answering families questions or addressing their concerns but was unsure how district higher-ups would handle things. I feel like I could go to (Principal Aaron Vincent) and ask any question, and my child's teacher (...). If she didn't know the answer, she would find it for me, she said. I don't think they're afraid to talk about it. If certain concerns move up the chain, Roelle suspects district officials may be less likely to disseminate information thats going to get any parents riled up. Saying that schools dont exist in a vacuum, Ott said keeping schools safe is a community effort. I think we would be wise to understand that (...) there's a lot we can do to ensure our community, and, as a byproduct, our schools are safer, she said. To address some of those things gun violence, whatever they might be from a community-wide perspective is only going to make our schools safer. How can parents stay on top of school safety? Keep contact information up-to-date in your school districts internal systems. Ensure children have their emergency contacts memorized. Make sure to bring personal identification in the event of a school evacuation or reunification. Have regular conversations with children about school safety, violence and their emergency response plans. Regularly refresh themselves on schools' emergency response plans, and reach out to school leaders and/or staff with questions or suggestions. Promote the See Something, Say Something framework, and make sure children are comfortable talking with trusted adults if they notice a potential threat. Practice self-advocacy skills particularly, in regards to bullying and their individual behavioral and/or physical health needs. 5 statistics that explain the current teen mental health crisis 5 statistics that explain the current teen mental health crisis Hopelessness feelings in school-age children rise 40% over 10 years Depression and anxiety affected almost 30% more children in 2020 compared to 2016 Youth suicides grew by 57% over a decade Almost half of LGBTQ+ youth considered suicide in 2021 1 in 5 teens do not get treatment for their mental health struggles 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. United Way Quad Cities is seeking 300 volunteer reading mentors, to help more students get back on track in school through Read United. Since its start in 2022, the United Way program has been a community-wide effort to address a decline in youth reading proficiency. All students deserve success in school, but the reality is, only 55% of Quad-Cities third graders are reading at grade level, said Marci Zogg, United Ways Vice President of Community Impact. Read United offers a unique opportunity for community members to be a hero for struggling readers, instilling a lifelong love of reading." Those interested in becoming a reading volunteer with Read United can sign up for 30-minute weekly reading sessions with a student at www.readunitedqc.org. Interested volunteers can choose from 16 participating schools in Scott and Rock Island counties and volunteer for a time during school hours that lines up with their schedules through the remainder of the school year. New volunteers are encouraged to sign up by March 1. Early test scores of participating students have shown promise as well. After the spring 2023 session of Read United, 62% of students who participated in the program improved their reading proficiency levels. The program focuses on students in third grade and younger. Children are recommended by the teacher. Anyone can volunteer, as long as they are at least 18, pass a background check and complete a 30-minute training held virtually. Registration can be completed online at https://www.unitedwayqc.org/VolunteerToRead where volunteers can find options for the day, time, and location that works best with their schedule. Photos: United Way of the Quad Cities hosting Day of Caring An effort by State Rep. Kirk Chaffee (R-Dist. 29) and State Sen. Randy Deibert (R-Dist. 31) to reclassify and tax lithium has failed a second time to secure the two-thirds majority required to pass the Senate. House Bill 1043 would have classified lithium as a precious metal and implemented a 5% severance tax. It previously passed with a 57-to-9 vote in the House and failed last week 23-to-9 in the Senate to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to establish a new tax. Monday's reconsideration vote failed 21-to-12. Spirited debate before the second vote again highlighted gaps between the bill's supporters and naysayers. Deibert urged his colleagues to support the bill in order to proactively establish revenue streams that the state will benefit from when exploration turns to mining. Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller (R-Dist. 30), who was absent from last week's vote, agreed with Sen. Steve Kolbeck (R-Dist. 2) that H.B. 1043 isn't a new tax, but is simply adding a new definition to a statute. She also questioned why South Dakota isn't extracting its own resources. "Why aren't we utilizing our own resources? But guess what? The foreign countries are," Frye-Mueller said. "They are, and if you look into who's taking out some of these claims...I mean, if we're supposed to be protecting South Dakota land, I don't think we're doing that." Sens. David Johnson (R-Dist. 33), Shawn Bordeaux (D-Dist. 26) and Brent Hoffman (R-Dist. 9) expressed their opposition ahead of the vote. Bordeaux cited treaty rights, and said the legislation was "putting the cart before the horse." Hoffman's disapproval came purely out of the fact that identifying lithium as a precious metal is inaccurate. Johnson called the bill "flawed" and said it would de-incentivize investments in the future. "Let's be honest with the taxpayers of South Dakota," he said. "This is the type of maneuvering...that leads to the public's distrust in the tax system and the way that South Dakota governments fund themselves. Techniques and tax maneuvers like this lead to citizens' skepticism and mistrust." The legislation is now officially lost. H.B. 1043 is the second time Chaffee has tried to get legislation through regarding lithium severance taxes. His attempt in 2023 with House Bill 1072 would have classified lithium as an energy mineral. It passed through the House with a 57-to-13 vote, but failed in the Senate Taxation Committee. There are 16 days left in the 99th legislative session. The owner of a now-dissolved ammunition component manufacturing business in Rapid City was sentenced to federal prison Feb. 7 for failing to pay a quarter million dollars of payroll taxes to the government. Chief Judge Roberto Lange sentenced 48-year-old Asher Wagh of Nanuet, New York to 14 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. Lange also ordered Wagh to pay over $273,000 in restitution to the IRS. Wagh, a co-owner of the company, acted as the sole manager of Captech International, LLC when he withheld the money from employees' paychecks between 2015 and 2017 but did not pay the IRS. According to court documents, he spent at least a portion of the money for his own personal use. In February 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Wagh on 10 counts of failure to withhold, properly account for, and pay over tax. The company dissolved in July 2022. Wagh pleaded guilty to one of the 10 counts in October 2023. In exchange, the government agreed to drop the other nine charges. At sentencing, Wagh faced a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. Wagh is held at the Pennington County Jail awaiting transportation to a federal prison. A former Spearfish EMT and firefighter was sentenced to decades in prison on Feb. 5 after he admitted to taking pornographic photos and video of a young child, allegedly with the help and participation of his wife. Chief Judge Roberto Lange sentenced Timothy Scott White, 43, of Vale, to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor, 45 years in prison for attempted enticement of a minor, and two years in prison for receipt of child pornography. All sentences will run concurrent to each other. Lange also sentenced White to 10 years of supervised release and ordered he pay $28,000 in restitution and $300 to the federal Crime Victims Fund. Law enforcement began looking into White and his wife Leslie White in December 2022, according to a court document signed by both the government and White that summarized the facts of the case. The FBI received a tip about a married couple producing child pornography and sharing it on the social media platform Wickr, which features an encrypted messenger application. The FBI found 19 explicit images and one video shared from the account. The FBI traced the images to an address in Utah where the Whites had previously lived. Law enforcement then found the two had relocated to Vale. When Leslie White spoke with law enforcement on Dec. 15, 2022, she told them she is pictured in some of the images, and her husband took the photos and video. At that time, the account was still posting. On Dec. 19, 2022, law enforcement arrested Timothy White while he was working at the Spearfish Emergency Ambulance Service. He admitted he produced the images in Utah and South Dakota and identified the woman pictured in the images as his wife. He told law enforcement he is a nudist and was "educating" the child. After searching White's locker at the fire department and the couples' Vale home, law enforcement seized 33 devices. Evidence on three devices showed 169 videos, 443 images, and eight live photos of the child. At least 37 of the pornographic images were distributed. Timothy White distributed over 500 images of other victims and received over 11,000 images and videos that law enforcement found on several devices. He also asked someone else to have their child engage in sex acts on web camera. White pleaded guilty to the attempted enticement, exploitation, and receipt of child pornography charges in November 2023. In exchange, the government dismissed additional charges of sexual exploitation, enticement, and child pornography distribution. Leslie White's case is ongoing. She faces one child pornography production charge. She pleaded not guilty in December 2022. Her trial is scheduled to begin on May 7 at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. Guns were confiscated at Billings Logan International Airport security checkpoints at almost twice the national rate per passenger screened last year. Transportation Security Administration data shows officers in 2023 found 15 firearms in travelers carry-on luggage in Billings. Thats one gun for every 66,214 passengers screened, versus one for every 127,356 travelers nationwide. At airports across Montana, TSA officers discovered a record 59 firearms during routine x-ray inspections of passengers carry-on luggage. They found 16 in Bozeman, 15 in Billings, 11 in Missoula, seven in Kalispell, six in Great Falls, two in Helena, one in Havre and one in Sidney. People are very careless, TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said. Theres no excuse for an increase because guns have never been allowed. Congress first enacted legislation to prohibit accessible weapons aboard aircraft in 1961, decades before TSA was created. The launch of TSA was to help secure the nations transportation system in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. With the exception of a decline in 2020, likely due to travel precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, firearm finds at airports in Montana have steadily increased during the past five years. TSA officers detected 50 guns during passenger screenings statewide in 2022. Thats up from 45 guns in 2021, 24 in 2020 and 34 in 2019. Billings saw a slight dip in the number of guns carried through airport security last year, down two from the state's record high of 17 in 2022. Bozeman, however, had a significant rise in 2023, up six from the 10 guns confiscated by TSA officers the previous year. During the same time, the number of guns carried through airport security increased by two in Helena and by one each in Great Falls, Havre and Sidney. Firearm finds in Missoula and Kalispell remained steady from 2022 to 2023, with 11 and seven respectively each year. The uptick of guns found travelers carry-on bags in Montana mirrors the trend at airports across the country. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport topped the list last year with 451 guns confiscated. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport came in second with 378, followed by Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport with 311, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with 235 and Nashville International Airport with 188. The record number of firearms discovered last year by TSA in carry-on luggage, both in Montana and nationally, is sobering, TSA Federal Security Director for Montana Kc Wurtsbaugh said in a news release. These are not the types of records that we want to break, so please pay attention to where your firearm is at all times and be sure to pack it properly. When a gun is found at a security checkpoint, TSA notifies local airport law enforcement, who come remove the gun from the x-ray machine. Most people claim they forgot it was in there, said Billings Airport Police Supervisor Keith Edgell. But, he often wonders what the point of carrying a gun is, if the person cant remember they have it with them in the first place. Hows it going to help you, if you forgot about it, he said. Once airport police remove the firearm from the security checkpoint, Edgell said, the passenger usually goes through some additional screening before going on to catch their flight. Because carrying a gun through airport security is not a violation of local or Montana law, Edgell said, those who do so are not arrested or subject to criminal charges, as they would be in some states. TSA, however, can levy a civil penalty of up to $14,950 against the traveler. Airport police hold the gun until TSA determines the fine. Among the factors considered when determining the amount of the fine are whether the gun was loaded, if there was accessible ammunition and whether the traveler has a history of violations. Even if a passenger has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not allowed in carry-on luggage. Dankers said she could not provide the amounts of the penalties TSA imposed for the 15 guns found in Billings last year. But, she suggested the Gazette could try to obtain them through Freedom of Information Act and local public records requests or interviews with individuals who were fined. Although the civil penalty can be up $14,950, Edgell said, that isnt typical for gun infractions hes seen in Billings. However, fines between $2,500 and $5,000 are not uncommon. And, he said, the federal agency will often agree to reduce the amount significantly in exchange for prompt payment. Once the passenger has proof they paid the fine, they can come pick up their firearm from the airport police. With Montanas relaxed rules for carrying guns and more people packing them, Edgell said, he believes travelers are rushing and forgetting to think ahead about what they can and can not bring on a plane. In addition to the 15 guns confiscated at BIL security checkpoints last year, he said, there were a dozen others found in passengers checked luggage. Its the mindset in Montana, Edgell said. Were a gun-toting state. The good news then, is guns can be taken on a commercial aircraft if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared in checked baggage at the airline ticket counter. Before traveling, passengers are encouraged to check firearms regulations at their destination to make sure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline to make sure they comply with any carrier-specific requirements. TSA has multiple resources available to help travelers determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked luggage or not at all. Passengers can use the Can I Bring feature on TSAs website or mobile app. They can also message "@AskTSA" if they have a question and get real-time help from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. TSA has detailed information on its website about traveling with firearms and ammunition and a summary of penalties for prohibited items. Not being aware of where your weapon is, violates the first rule of gun ownership, Dankers said. Its important that people think about it and do better in 2024. Down from the Mountain author Bryce Andrews will be discussing his third book, Holding Fire: a Reckoning with the American West on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Ravalli County Museum. We are excited to host Bryce Andrews in Hamilton," said Katrina Mendrey, Chapter One Book Store owner. "Hes an influential writer who brings his perspectives as a rancher, hunter and conservationist to important issues affecting communities across the West. While Andrewss previous books have focused on the confluence of agriculture, human settlement and Montanas wilderness ideals, Holding Fire asks the reader to carefully consider the role of guns in our culture and the lore of the West that is so embedded in our modern lives. As a rancher and hunter, Andrews uses guns as a tool for his work. Upon realizing that the Smith & Wesson pistol gifted by his grandfather serves neither as a tool for hunting or protecting his livestock, but as a weapon meant for killing people, Andrews embarks on a journey to transform the gun into something more useful to him. Ultimately, the gun becomes a tree spade. We chose to partner with SAFE for this event as guns are a contributing factor to domestic violence and while this book is not anti-gun it is about responsible gun ownership and calling attention to gun violence, Mendrey said. 20% of book sales and any additional donations from this event will go towards SAFEs Outreach and Prevention Programming in Ravalli County. According to SAFE Marketing and Development Coordinator Brooke Angst, national statistics show that a woman is five times more likely to be murdered when her abuser has access to a gun. Statistics like these are a powerful consideration given the context of Andrews's book," Angst said. "SAFE is thrilled to partner with Chapter One for this event to bring awareness and expand community perspective on domestic violence." For more information on the event or to pre-order the book visit Chapter One Book Store at 252 W. Main St in Hamilton or online at www.chapter1bookstore.com. The 19th annual Backcountry Film Festival is headed to Hamilton on Friday, Feb. 23, at Hamilton City Hall. Presented by Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Backcountry Film Festival celebrates human-powered recreation and wild winters. For nearly 20 years, the festival has sparked conversations about the human connection to wild places, encouraged grassroots activism in the face of warming winters, and inspired stewardship of our wild public lands and waters. Festival-goers will enjoy films featuring backcountry experiences, conservation efforts, and personal stories of reflection and discovery while traversing wild landscapes. The festival raises funds for local groups and nonprofits through a national film tour directly benefiting local projects and programs that promote access and stewardship of public lands. The Bitterroot screening will benefit Wild Montanas Shining Mountains Chapter, which unites and mobilizes communities to keep Montana wild by organizing trail maintenance and other projects, organizing free educational events, as well as leading free group hikes that connect people with wild public lands. At the Hamilton screening, attendees will have a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses, including gift certificates for Chapter One Book Store and Westslope Distillery, cross-country ski rentals from Valley Bicycles and Ski, passes for the International Wildlife Film Festival, and more. Sierra Nevada Brewing has also graciously donated a variety of their beers for attendees 21 and over. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the screening begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at wildmontana.org/smc/bcff or at the door. 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 Fresca on Addison, the vegan restaurant at 22 S. Addison St. in the Fan, recently announced that it would be adding a few meat and dairy options to the menu. It has been difficult to stay in business selling only vegan, owner Simo Boudouaia posted to social media. This has been a moment of deep reflection and decision-making for us. We wouldnt be able to pay our staff or support our family if we dont make this change. The vegan menu will stay the same, with customer favorites such as the black bean burger with cilantro vegan mayo, the vegan chicken salad sandwich (all sandwiches $12) and the vegan tacos ($13 for 3), as well as soups, salads and vegan side dishes. The biggest difference is that Fresca will be adding meat options to its brick-oven fired pizza such as pepperoni and sausage as well as dairy cheese ($10-$12). Fresca has an original brick-oven pizza oven that was originally installed by its first owner, legendary Richmond restaurateur Jimmy Sneed. Born in Morocco and raised in Italy, Boudouaia has been using the pizza oven more frequently than previous owners. He and his team make the pizza dough fresh every day in house. People would come in looking for regular pizza, Boudouaia said. I did my best for 10 months, trying to keep it vegan. But there werent enough customers. Fresca wasnt growing as it should to keep up with expenses. Fresca is also hoping to add a chicken sandwich or a chicken wrap to the menu. New vision, new owner for Fresca On Addison Fresca on Addison, a vegan restaurant started by legendary Richmond restaurateur Jimmy Sneed Some vegan diners expressed concern about possible cross-contamination with preparing vegan food in the same kitchen as non-vegan food. Boudouaia said the staff has been trained on proper preparation to avoid cross-contamination. Fresca opened as a vegetarian restaurant in 2011 from Sneed and his daughter Jenna. They ran it for 11 years before selling the business to Angela and Rasool Al Hasani in 2021. Boudouaia took over the restaurant in 2023. He envisions Fresca as a neighborhood spot and hopes to draw visitors from the surrounding Fan houses and college students. We want everybody to come to Fresca. Vegan or not vegan. Its for everybody. I hope the community will understand. And Fresca will keep our promise to keep vegan food, he added. Fresca on Addison is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. *** Hop Craft Pizza named one of best vegan pizzas in U.S. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recently announced its Top 10 Vegan Pizzas in the U.S., and Richmonds The Hop Craft Pizza & Beer scored a spot on the list. No matter how you slice it, the dillicious Pickle Back pizza from The Hop Craft Pizza & Beer delivers flavor that cant be topped, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. The Pickle Back pizza ($21.95-$25.95) from Hop Craft scored high marks for its house-made red sauce, Udderless plant-based cheese, dill pickles, soy chorizo and a swirl of hot pepper relish on a white sesame seed crust. The Hop Craft Pizza & Beer will receive a framed certificate from PETA along with bragging rights. PHOTOS: Fresca on Addison Police are investigating after a car was pulled out of the James River on Monday morning in an area between Pony Pasture and the Huguenot Memorial Bridge. Police said officers and rescue crews responded to the 7900 block of Riverside Drive at around 4:23 a.m. Monday for reports of a vehicle in the James River. At the scene, first responders found a silver sedan underwater. Police said a water rescue team with the Richmond Fire Department searched the vehicle and the nearby area, but no person was found. Crews then removed the vehicle from the river, police said. A Richmond police spokesperson said the vehicle had not been reported stolen as of Monday afternoon. The spokesperson did not say whether investigators had identified the owner of the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. 5 budget-friendly cookbooks to help you save money on groceries 1. Budget Bytes by Beth Moncel 2. Broke Vegan: Speedy by Saskia Sidey 3. Trader Joes 5 Items or Less Cookbook by Anna Lisa 4. Perfectly Good Food by Margaret Li and Irene Li 5. Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown The Virginia House of Delegates on Monday overwhelmingly voted down a bill that would have prohibited the use of public funds for abortions. With Democratic control of the chamber, the bill would ordinarily have been defeated in a committee, but Democrats sent to the full chamber to force Republicans to cast recorded votes. Current law allows public funds to be used for abortions for low-income people on Medicaid in the cases of rape, incest, incapacitating fetal anomalies, and when the persons life is at risk from continuing a pregnancy. House Bill 404 by Del. Tim Griffin, R-Bedford, would have cut off public funding to organizations like Planned Parenthood as well as hospitals at which abortion services are provided. Gilbert criticizes political move House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, repeatedly criticized the Democrats for their political move and for not allowing a substitute version of the bill that would have removed the lack of exemptions for rape, incest and fetal anomalies that Griffins original bill lacked. That opportunity was not afforded to us in committee because this got sent straight to the floor in what was clearly a political move, Gilbert said. Dels. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William the only woman to speak during the debate and Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, argued that the substitute was antithetical to what the bill was meant to accomplish. They each referenced the portions of Griffins bill that specifically would have repealed parts of state law that allow for cases of rape, incest, and when a doctor certifies that a fetus will have a totally incapacitating abnormality. Griffin stressed that was not the intent of his bill, despite the language in the bill stating so. He said the bills purpose was so that taxpayers would not be forced into something that goes against their religion and their conscience. Gilbert called Griffin who was first elected last November a freshman delegate who has never done this before and repeatedly urged the body to accept his substitute that had the exceptions. Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, declared the substitute was not germane to the original bill. I think the substitute is exactly the opposite of what the bill originally did, Scott said after citing the state code the bill sought to repeal. Griffin asked that his bill be stricken rather than voted on, but lawmakers voted down that request in a near party-line vote. Griffin referred to the situation as a circus, while Mundon King said his and Gilberts effort to fix the bill was the circus. Lies, a circus and political maneuvers. Thats what were watching, she said. All of this is in an attempt to hide behind just how cruel this bill actually is. Thats what we see. She asserted that the bill could more adversely affect some of Griffins constituents amid the closing or pausing of obstetrics at some hospitals in Southside and Southwest Virginia. His constituents already live in a maternal health desert, Mundon King said. If this bill were to pass, it would only make their conditions even worse. Aside from hospitals, there are 16 abortion providers throughout the state such as Planned Parenthood and Whole Womens Health clinics. Virginia is now the least restrictive Southern state for abortion access, and providers say they are noting an uptick in out-of-state patients. Last week, a House panel defeated other abortion-restricting bills including Griffins House Bill 1364, which proposed a near-total abortion ban, for which the life of the pregnant person was the only exception. The Rules Committee, led by Democrats, reported Griffins bill on public funding to the floor without a recommendation. While it is rare that the motion to report without recommendation is exercised ... I believe this moment called for its use so that Virginians know exactly what their representatives choose to do with the power granted to them by their constituents, Scott said in a news release. Today in history: Feb. 12 1909: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 1983: Eubie Blake 1999: Bill Clinton 2000: Charles M. Schulz 2006: Shaun White 2012: Adele 2018: National Portrait Gallery 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman 23 arrested from fake Cancun tourist call centre Cancun, Q. R. Nearly two dozen people were arrested during a building search in SM 44 of Cancun. The building was searched after an investigation into a fraudulent tourist call center lead police to the address. In a statement, the State Attorney General reported 23 arrests from inside the building which functioned as a call center for tourist services. The property in which the procedure was carried out was investigated for its possible use for retail drug sales. During the search, participating agents seized doses of substances similar to marijuana and methamphetamines as well as cell phones, bank cards, laptops and seven motorcycles. Photo: FGE February 12, 2024. As a result, it was established that the ground floor of the property functioned as a call center in which tourist trips and sporting events were offered, a business that served as a facade to carry out activities related to drug dealing. Almost a year ago, your humble columnist took artificial intelligence for a test drive on ChatGPT, the first publicly available AI program. It located Roanoke in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains and awarded The Roanoke Times several Pulitzer Prizes. And somewhat hilariously, it declared the horseshoe-shaped counter of the Texas Tavern as the longtime diners most distinctive interior-design feature. Todays marks the venerable restaurants 94th year in business. To celebrate that, we have a true-false quiz based on even more AI-generated information about the eatery. Get all the questions right, and this quiz becomes a valuable coupon, which you should cut out and bring to the TT. Today only, a perfect score and $2.55 (plus tax) will get you a bowl of the diners famed chile. A heck of a bargain! But first, here are some important real facts about the Texas Tavern. Because more crazy stories have been told about the place than the Kennedy assassination: Theres no record of Elvis Presley dining at the TT, either at its counter or to-go. And the Kings 1972 hit Burning Love had nothing to do with the after-effects of the TTs famed chile. The South American nation of Chile did NOT sue the TT in the Hagues International Court of Justice over the unique spelling of the diners signature stew. Despite drawn-out negotiations with Elon Musk and SpaceX, the Texas Tavern has yet to open its first extraterrestrial franchise on Mars. But that could happen any day. Now here are the bona fide Texas Tavern quiz questions, gleaned from real artificial intelligence-generated essays by ChatGPT and Bard (which Google has since renamed Gemini). Gemini is especially fun because, besides creating facts out of thin air, it will do the same thing with photos, except for those involving real people. For example Gemini resolutely refuses to create a photo of Donald Trump in a g-string (shucks, eh?). But ask it to devise an image of the most popular salad at the Texas Tavern thats never existed, and it displays no hesitation whatsoever. By the way, AI already is causing thousands of layoffs in both the tech and media industries. And its blurring the lines between fiction and reality just a little bit more every stinking day. Circle T or F at the end of each statement: 1. The Texas Taverns current fourth-generation owners are Nicholas Bullington III and his sister, Susan. T or F (circle one). 2. Founded by Charles and Clifford Street, Texas Tavern was established during the Great Depression. The Street brothers had a vision to create a place that offered affordable, hearty meals that brought people together. T or F 3. The diners iconic and much-imitated sandwich, the Cheesy Western, is a bacon cheeseburger smothered in chile. T or F. 4. The very first Texas Tavern opened on Feb. 13, 1930 on Church Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia. T or F. 5. The Gus is counter-slang for a Texas Tavern hotdog topped with chile, onions and mustard. When regulars order chile, they typically request a Bowl of Red. T or F. 6. Among the classic breakfast offerings on the Texas Taverns menu are eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, toast, pancakes, waffles, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches. T or F. 7. A hidden tunnel connecting the Texas Tavern to the Hotel Roanoke was used for smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. T or F. 8. In the 21st century, the Bullington family faces preserving the Texas Taverns heritage while catering to modern tastes. So theyve introduced new menu items such as meatless chile, a veggie burger and craft beers while staying true to their core values. T or F. 9. The Cobb Salad (photo courtesy of Gemini, formerly Bard) is the most popular healthy-eating option on the Texas Taverns menu. T or F. To score your quiz, mark your answers, cut out this column and take it to the Texas Tavern. An extra-polite counterman will score it for you. If he doesnt throw it in your face and shout scram! you can redeem it for a $2.55 (plus tax) bowl of chile. And moving forward, keep in mind that garbage information comprises a larger and larger proportion of online content with every dawn. Those lies will multiple like rats in sewer. God help us all and Happy Birthday, Texas Tavern! Virginia Military Institute is denying claims that a prospective student was sexually assaulted by a cadet in the schools barracks during an overnight Open House event. In a response to a lawsuit filed last year, attorneys for the state-supported military school acknowledged that the unnamed plaintiff attended an orientation session in September 2021 and was assigned a cadet host with whom she shared a room. But VMI denied her allegation of sexual assault, writing that its barracks have been, and continue to be, a safe environment. The document also states that plaintiffs claims are barred by unclean hands. No additional details are contained in the document filed in U.S. District Court in Roanoke; a VMI spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Monday. Identified only as Jane Doe in court records, the woman accused the school and its Board of Visitors of violating Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination against students, prospective students and employees of public schools. Doe attended a two-day Open House event described on the schools website as the best way for high school juniors and seniors to see and experience first-hand what its like being a cadet at VMI. As part of the program, Doe was assigned a cadet host to house her for the evening in a shared single-room space, the lawsuit alleges. The cadet was not identified by name or sex in the pleading. The sexual assault allegedly happened during the early-morning hours of Sept. 18, 2021. According to the lawsuit, the incident was reported to the VMI Police Department the next day, and the matter was turned over to the schools Title IX coordinator. VMI, however, states the Doe declined to file a complaint under the federal law and therefore cannot now claim that VMI violated Title IX because of her decision. In 2021 four months before the incident alleged in the lawsuit happened an independent investigation of the military school in Lexington found what it called a pattern of institutional racism and sexism. Although the inquiry was ordered by then-Gov. Ralph Northam after complaints of racism were made by cadets and alumni, many people who spoke with investigators also identified the treatment of women as a problem. A survey found that 14% of female cadets reported being sexually assaulted at VMI and 63% said another cadet told them that shed been sexually assaulted, according to the investigations report. Officials at VMI said at the time that the school had taken a number of steps in response to the report, including hiring a new inspector general and Title IX investigator to work on preventing sexual violence. A master plan to guide development of Evans Spring was approved by Roanokes Planning Commission and will next advance to the city council, while citizens continue speaking in opposition. Commission members said the Evans Spring document they recommended by a 5-2 vote on Monday provides more protections than currently exist on the more than 100 acres of privately owned properties south of Interstate 581 in Roanoke. It is the largest undeveloped tract of its kind left in the city. Theres still much more work to be done, but this gives us flexibility and options in terms of whats there, said commissioner Kevin Berry, who voted yes on the plan. This is master planning, not a rezoning. Theres going to be plenty more opportunities there. Berry referred to further opportunities for community members, who throughout the process have spoken out against development, to provide more input on the plan. The current plan document calls for a mix of housing, business and greenspace offerings to develop Evans Spring into more usable space. This plan has a lot of really good things in it that will benefit the neighborhood, will benefit Roanoke, said commissioner Sarah Glenn, who voted no. I am inclined to say we could do a little bit better here I would like to see more work done before voting yes for it. During an hourlong public comment session Monday, 20 people spoke, all expressing words of caution or outright opposition to developing anything other than park space around Evans Spring. Citizens throughout the planning process have shared similar sentiments as northwest resident JoAnn Hayden on Monday. I am opposed to the development of Evans Spring as a commercial area, Hayden said. I would rather see it preserved. But commissioners, including James Smith, said preservation was part of their reason for voting to recommend the city council approve the plan. Were not here to determine what to do with Evans Spring. Somebody owns that property, James Smith said. It will be developed. So how do we want to see it developed? He said nobody would be happy if the landowners decided to develop their property using the rights currently conveyed for those parcels, which are owned by a few different private entities. Were trying to put some plans in place so we have some say, James Smith said. Im all in favor of asking the council to put this into action. Chris Chittum, Roanokes executive director of community development and placemaking, said the current zoning for Evans Spring would allow for large lots on which to build single-family homes. But city street standards and other code requirements would probably make that cost-prohibitive for developers, he added. Commissioner Scott Terry-Cabbler said years ago he staunchly opposed development at the riverside properties where Victory Stadium once stood in southeast. Today, as a medical research sector continues to grow in place of the stadium, he said the experience taught him objectivity. I wanted to run Carilion [Clinic] out of the city of Roanoke at one point in my life, Terry-Cabbler said. I look around now and I thank God for Carilion. He pushed back against claims by citizens that development at Evans Spring would take away from predominantly Black communities in northwest where he grew up. He said he is all too familiar with urban renewal, but, this is not that. I want more options, more amenities. I want us to be objective, Terry-Cabbler said. Emotions dont sustain communities. Industry does. Economic development does. Thats where I am. Along with Glenn, commissioner Pamela Smith was the other no vote. She said citizen comments gave the commission a lot to think about. Its gonna be developed one way or the other. I think in this way, we at least get a way to say how we would like that to happen, Pamela Smith said. As much as I agree with what everyone has said, I think that is something we should not discredit either. Commissioner Karri Atwood said she was on the planning commission that rejected a 2019 development plan for Evans Spring. She said by comparison, the current plan calls for more shared amenities to draw neighborhood residents and visitors alike, and takes more consideration of the natural environment. The reason that I will be voting for this is so that the community does have access to it, Atwood said. I want to see this be a vibrant neighborhood marketplace, along with a nature walk. She said forces of economic development and environmental sustainability can work together, rather than solely in contradiction. Commission Chairman Frank Martin said the public will have plenty of opportunity to provide input on a more specific plan for the Evans Spring area, at whatever future time a developer is ready to approach the city with it. Im in favor of this because I think this plan is infinitely superior to what currently is in place there to protect that, Martin said. This is an additional layer of protection to that. The master plan will next go to the city council for a vote, likely during its Feb. 20 meeting. If the council approves the document, it will be incorporated into City Plan 2040, the long-range Comprehensive Plan, which in Virginia is a localitys main planning blueprint. Obviously, weve got many other questions to answer, Martin said. Were a long way away from bulldozers coming in and taking down trees. SUMTER, S.C. Adam Towner won the South Carolina Quadrant No. 3 contest for the American Legion Oratorical Contest on Saturday at Sumter Post 15. Towner, the representative from Post 53 in Hartsville, now advances to the state level contest on March 9 in Columbia. The winner of the state contest will go on to compete in the American Legion National Oratorical Contest May 17-19 at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. There were three contestants. Each contestant spoke for eight to ten minutes about a U.S. Constitution topic of their choice and the duties of citizenship relating to the Constitution. Each contestant was also was required to speak for three to five minutes about one of four assigned Constitution topics. The contestants knew in advance what the four potential topics were, but the specific topic was selected at random during the event. Each contestant was given five minutes to collect their thoughts about the selected topic prior to speaking. The topic selected for the Quadrant No. 3 contest was the 23rd Amendment, which provides for the residents of the District of Columbia to have representation in the electoral college for electing the president and vice president. Prior to the amendment the residents of the District of Columbia had no voice in the selection of the president and vice president. The residents still have no representation in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. For this reason, the citizens of the District of Columbia are campaigning to become a U.S. state. COLUMBIA On a day when state judges are normally elected, political grandstanding ensued, including threats of worsening an already clogged state criminal justice system. After learning Tuesday that Senate members would not move forward with judicial elections without judicial reform, House Speaker Murrell Smith of Sumter delivered a scathing speech Wednesday, signaling an impasse, citing more than 20 vacancies on the states circuit court, which could potentially backlog criminal and civil cases further. The move could mean delayed justice for South Carolinians. If you claim to be for (judicial reform), thats your prerogative, Smith said on the House floor, referring to the Senate. But destroying the current system to make the case for change still destroys the system and puts the public in harms way. Im pleading with my colleagues across the hall to simply do your job that you were elected to do. Smiths remarks prompted Senate President Thomas Alexander of Oconee County to fire back. If the speaker of the House wants to accomplish what he says he wants to accomplish, his time might be better spent working with his colleagues in the Senate rather than demagoguing them, Alexander said. Mr. Speaker of the House, the Senate, as always, stands ready to work with you, but we do not work for you. Smith said the Senates decision to choke judicial elections threatens public safety by stalling a number of criminal court cases after July 1 due to a potential increase in vacancies on the states circuit court. Unlike positions on the states Supreme Court, which enjoy a holdover status during pending vacancies, the same is not true of lower courts, such as the circuit courts, which hear most cases. The state is at a very real risk of its criminal justice system coming to a catastrophic halt, Smith said, pointing to an existing backlog of criminal court cases. State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a Democrat from Richland, a lawyer legislator and major proponent of judicial reform, said Smiths remarks were disingenuous. Im a consumer of this (judicial selection) process, and what I see and hear offends me, Harpootlian said. Hopefully, the speaker will wake up and smell the coffee on the fact we need to do something on judicial reform. Giving speeches about how the public is going to be in danger is irresponsible, because nothing happens (relating to judicial vacancies) until July 1. State Sens. Wes Climer, R-York, and Harpootlian, pointed to the yawning gap between now and July 1, insisting that the General Assembly has plenty of time to hold judicial elections after a judicial reform bill is passed. Its the same as saying, Oh, we dont have a budget yet for 2024-2025 (which is due Jun. 30), so the state is going to shut down. I mean, its just irresponsible, Harpootlian said Smith said 24 circuit court vacancies would result if judicial elections arent held before July 1. As of Nov. 30, 2023, South Carolina had a total of 175,167 criminal cases pending, according to data from S.C. Court Administration, which considers cases more than 365 days old as backlogged. Of the total number of cases, 81,854 are more than a year old, while 56,077 have been stale for more than 545 days, or a year and a half. But the backlog has declined over the past two years. In 2021, the state reached an unprecedented level of backlog cases with 191,708 pending criminal cases on court dockets. That number decreased in 2022 to 179,100, and again in 2023 to 175,167. Steps to unwind judicial blockade Climer and Harpootlian both say judicial elections only proceed if a bill on judicial reform passes the General Assembly. Currently, several proposals are in the Senate, and most of them involve changing the makeup of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission a 10-member body charged with considering judicial candidates qualifications. The majority of proposals seek to address concerns raised about the transparency and perception of trustworthiness of the judiciary, and particularly concerns about what level of influence is held by lawyer-legislators who hold power over screening judges. In a bill by Climer, S. 178, all legislators, lawyer or otherwise, would be excluded from the JMSC and would, instead, include the governor and six members of the public. It would also reduce the number of commissioners from 10 to seven. Harpootlian has proposed a bill, S. 879, that would disqualify a legislators close relative from seeking a judgeship, remove the ability for members of the bar to submit anonymous complaints against judicial candidates, and prohibit candidates from withdrawing their candidacy once the JMSC begins vetting that candidate. Its the appearance of impropriety, Harpootlian told The State last December. Im not alleging there actually is impropriety, although there are certainly cases that raise huge questions, but the appearance of impropriety shakes the publics faith in the judiciary. Harpootlians measure, like others, would also expand the number of judicial candidates eligible to be forwarded to the General Assembly for consideration. The JMSC can currently recommend up to three candidates for each vacant judgeship. Harpootlians proposal would instead allow the committee to send an unlimited number of candidates to the legislature for consideration. Another proposal, S. 871, by state Sen. Mia McLeod, an Independent from Richland, would require all legislators who actively practice law in the Palmetto State to recuse themselves from voting in judicial elections. Like Harpootlian, McLeod also sponsored a measure S. 872 to remove the three-judicial-candidate cap the JMSC follows when it submits qualified candidates to the General Assembly. Despite the variety of proposed measures in the Senate, Climer and Harpootlain said theyre confident the Upper Chamber can deliver on judicial reform in a matter of weeks. Im confident that at the end of the day, the Senate will produce a bill that accomplishes the goals of remedying the conflict of interest (among lawyer-legislators) and giving the people of South Carolina more confidence in the judicial system, Climer said. But in the meantime, you should continue to expect those who profit most from the status quo to defend it most vigorously. Moreover, after a bill on judicial reform passes the Senate, Harpootlian said, Smith has the power to bring that bill directly to the floor. Unlike in the Senate, (Smith) has the sole ability to set (bills) and have them voted on, Harpootlian said. Still, the House has been working to address judicial reform through several ad hoc committee meetings, where testimony by several key players, including S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, have offered solutions to correct problems associated with the judicial selection process. If the speaker is that concerned, he should move a bill that solves the problem, Climer said. Westports operation in Klang. (Photo: Richard Humphries/Bloomberg) By Ram Anand (Bloomberg) Malaysias biggest port operator, Westports Holdings Bhd., is considering external strategic investors to help fund a 39.6 billion ringgit ($8.3 billion) expansion that will see capacity nearly double in coming decades. We would be open to it, if its someone who can come and add value to us, Executive Chairman Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said. We have not ruled anything out. Ruben Emir Gnanalingam on Feb. 8. Photo: Richard Humphries/Bloomberg (Bloomberg) The company is also looking at a dividend reinvestment plan and borrowing to help fund the expansion of the facility in Klang, he said in an interview at the site. The port is the second-biggest in Southeast Asia and its plan will see capacity increase to 27 million twenty-foot equivalent units, from 14 million currently, over the course of its concession, which runs until 2082. ADVERTISEMENT Westports expansion, which kicks off with the first of eight new container terminals becoming operational in 2027, echoes similarly ambitious plans from neighbors across the Malacca Strait, one of the worlds busiest sea routes. Singapore is building what will be the worlds largest automated terminal when its Tuas Port is completed in 2040 at an expected cost of S$20 billion ($15 billion). Meanwhile, with traffic volumes forecast to exceed the straits capacity by 2030, Thailand has proposed bypassing the shipping lane entirely. Its put forward a plan to build a $28 billion, 62-mile Landbridge that will link two seaports and cut travel time by four days. On that front, Ruben said hes not worried by the idea at the moment because his customers are yet to seriously consider the project as an alternative. Westports operation in Klang. (Photo: Richard Humphries/Bloomberg) Buying Assets The companys shares have surged more than 20% since their recent low in October, beating the roughly 5% gain in the Kuala Lumpur benchmark. Two-thirds of analysts who cover the firm have a buy recommendation. Westports is looking at opportunities to buy other ports in Southeast Asia, but wont overpay for an asset, according to Ruben, who succeeded his late father Gnanalingam Gunanath Lingam as chairman last year. Story continues There have been ports we have bid for, but we have a limit of how high you can go, he said. Our goal is to make decent returns on investment. Our goal is not to plant flags and lose money. Shipping containers stacked at Westport. (Photo: Richard Humphries/Bloombe) Sustainability is another major focus. The global maritime industry is under growing scrutiny as its greenhouse gas emissions have increased 20% in the past decade and it now accounts for about 3% of the worlds total. Shipping firms are accelerating efforts to go green, overhauling fleets to meet an industry target for net zero emissions by 2050. Westports efforts to reduce its carbon footprint have seen mixed results, and the firm is now rethinking its use of electric vehicles a mainstay of many companies efforts to reduce their emissions. The crazy thing is, the EV trucks we tried produced more emissions than diesel under certain conditions, because our grid is so dirty due to coal, he said. So we have decided to slow down on EV use. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. JERUSALEM The family of a Palestinian-American woman arrested by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank says they still haven't had contact with her more than a week after she was seized from her home in an overnight raid. Relatives of Samaher Esmail said they are getting increasingly worried because they believe the 46-year-old woman has not received the medication she takes for her cancer treatment. "I want my mother back," her son, Ibrahim Esmail, told a Monday news conference hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington. Esmail's family said she was dragged out of bed in the early hours of Feb. 5. They expressed concerns about her health because she is undergoing treatment for uterine cancer. The Israeli military said she was arrested for "incitement on social media" but gave no other details. The army and Israeli prison service did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Esmail's family said Tuesday that a lawyer visited her and reported that she was in poor condition and had been beaten. They claimed she had not received her medication. Esmail is from Gretna, Louisiana, the same hometown of a Palestinian American teenager who was recently killed by Israeli fire in a nearby village. The death of 17-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar drew an expression of concern from the White House and an uncommonly quick pledge to investigate from the Israeli police. No findings from that investigation have been released. Esmail's family said she often traveled back and forth between the West Bank and the U.S., where she managed a family-owned grocery store in Gretna and worked as a tutor at a nearby high school. At his news conference, Ibrahim Esmail said the family had not heard from his mother and said that as of Monday, the embassy had not contacted them nor sent consular officials to visit her. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment. He said the family is seeking his mother's "unconditional release" from what it says is wrongful detention. "I want our government to be much more aware and active," he said. EARLY, Iowa -- Law enforcement officers will have a noticeable presence in and around Ridge View Middle School in Early as a precautionary measure following an unsubstantiated threat of gun violence, which was allegedly made on the instant messaging app Snapchat. On Monday morning, Sac County deputies were dispatched to the middle school for a reported fight between two male students. One of the students is from Holstein, which is in neighboring Ida County, while the other is from Schaller. "During this investigation, it was learned that there may have been a threat of undisclosed violence at a dance scheduled for this coming Friday night in Holstein," the Sac County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "After several students were interviewed, it was determined that the threat of violence involved two male students who had been fighting." One of the students planned to fight with the other student at the upcoming dance. However, when he learned that particular student wasn't going to the dance, he decided to assault the student at the school, according to the statement. "This altercation is alleged to have occurred over a TikTok video that one of the two males had made," the statement said. Later Monday evening, deputies were dispatched to a residence near Schaller. The student from Holstein, who had been the primary aggressor in the earlier incident allegedly sent a threatening message to the other male student, according to the statement. "The rumor was that someone had sent a Snapchat photo of a gun. School staff were made aware of this concern from several parents," the statement said. Deputies from both Sac and Ida counties interviewed several more students, but "nothing was found that corroborates that threat with a gun," according to the statement. "Law enforcement takes these type of alleged threats very seriously. As a precaution, a law enforcement presence will be seen in and around the Ridge View Middle School," the statement said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sac County Sheriff's Office at 712-662-7127 or the Ida County Sheriff's Office at 712-364-3146. SIOUX FALLS -- A Larchwood, Iowa, man has pleaded guilty of receiving nude photos of an underage girl. Shane Nelson, 37, entered his plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls to one count of receipt of child pornography. Initially charged with production of child pornography, the new charge was contained in a superseding indictment. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to terms of a plea agreement, attorneys will recommend he receive a five-year prison sentence. According to court documents, Nelson admitted that from March 13-18, 2020, he used his cellphone to access the internet and receive photos of a naked 16-year-old girl. LE MARS, Iowa A Le Mars man arrested after an alleged assault now faces a murder charge because the victim has died. Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond on Monday filed formal charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder against 24-year-old Reese Harms. An arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 26 in Plymouth County District Court. Harms was arrested Jan. 19 on charges of attempted murder and willful injury after police responded to an assault in which Michael Gomez was found not breathing. Gomez, 44, of Merrill, Iowa, later was revived but died four days later in a Sioux Falls hospital. The alleged incident occurred at the Fieldcrest Apartments, 1120 Second St. SE, where, according to court documents, Harms had put Gomez in a choke hold, telling a woman present at the time he was "going to choke him till he stopped breathing to teach him a lesson." Harms told police Gomez had come into his bedroom and punched him several times, and Harms responded by putting him in a choke hold with his legs wrapped around Gomez' torso and had "clenched down very hard" on him as he fought back. Harms, who told police he'd been drinking, said he believed Gomez had overdosed on methamphetamine. The female witness told police Harms became angry and attacked Gomez after Gomez made a comment to him. She said Harms choked Gomez for about three minutes before she was able to get Harms off of him. Court documents said she confirmed Harms' statement to police that he had threatened to stab Gomez earlier in the day. The charges Harms faces are both Class B felonies. Second-degree murder carries a 50-year prison sentence, attempted murder is punishable by 25 years in prison. HARTINGTON, Neb. The woman charged in connection with a quadruple homicide in Laurel, Nebraska, is seeking to keep statements she made to law enforcement officers from being used against her at trial. Douglas Stratton, who represents Carrie Jones, filed a motion to suppress those statements because, he says, they were not freely and voluntarily given. Stratton said more information would be presented at a hearing on the matter. Jones is next scheduled to appear in Cedar County District Court for a March 28 pretrial conference. Jones, 44, has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting her husband, Jason Jones, in the Aug. 4, 2022, death of Gene Twiford, whom she told investigators had verbally harassed her for several years. Jason Jones, 43, has pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. He is charged with the deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home and setting both houses on fire. Jason Jones was arrested a day after the bodies of all four victims were found with gunshot wounds in their burned homes. Carrie Jones was arrested four months later after a series of interviews with investigators. In the motion to suppress, Stratton said her statements were coerced by threats and promises of leniency, were given without her being informed of her constitutional rights and were obtained unconstitutionally and were gathered during a custodial interrogation that occurred after Jones was unlawfully arrested without probable cause. Stratton had previously argued prosecutors failed to establish probable cause that Jones aided and abetted her husband, but District Judge Bryan Meismer ruled prosecutors presented sufficient evidence at Jones' preliminary hearing to justify the case proceeding to trial and denied a motion to dismiss the charges. In addition to the motion to suppress, Stratton also filed a motion requesting a supplemental questionnaire be sent to potential jurors in advance of an expected filing for a change of venue. Judge Meismer previously granted a similar request made by Jason Jones' attorney. Defense attorneys in both cases have said they plan to request the change of venue in order to have their clients, who are charged and will stand trial separately, tried in a county where they have a better chance of finding impartial juries. Media coverage of the cases in Cedar County has been extensive, and defense attorneys likely would argue it would be hard to find impartial jurors who have been unswayed by pretrial publicity. Carrie Jones remains in custody in the Antelope (Nebraska) County Jail. She told investigators she had arrived home from work minutes before seeing her badly burned husband emerge from Ebelings home across the street at 209 Elm St. after fire was spotted coming from it. She helped him into their home and put away his .44-caliber handgun, which he had been carrying. Authorities responding to the fire in the early morning hours found Ebelings body with two gunshot wounds. A second fire at the Twiford home at 503 Elm St. was reported soon after, and responders found the family members' bodies. Jason Jones was arrested at his home about 24 hours later and airlifted to a Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns. He remains held without bond at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. Investigators found empty .44-caliber shell casings near Ebelings body and a Ruger handgun registered to Jones, plus credit card receipts for gas and gas cans, in the Twiford home. Trial dates have not been set. Prosecutors have filed notice they would seek the death penalty if Jason Jones is found guilty of first-degree murder. SIOUX CITY -- A man suspected of the November robbery of a Morningside convenience store was arrested Tuesday. Sioux City police said Christopher Bauer, 35, of Sioux City, was arrested on a charge of second-degree robbery. He's suspected of robbing Sarg's Mini Mart, 3407 Glenn Ave., at approximately 6:45 a.m. Nov. 29, when a man entered the store and handed the clerk a note demanding cash from the register. The suspect grabbed two cartons of cigarettes when other customers walked in, but didn't get any money from the register before leaving the store and the area on foot. ELK POINT, S.D. -- Longtime Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges died Tuesday. His death was announced by the Union County Sheriff's Office Tuesday in a Facebook post. "Sheriff Limoges will be greatly missed," the sheriff's office said in its post. Limoges, 64, served as Union County Sheriff for more than three decades. He was named interim sheriff of Union County in February 1990, following the retirement of Sheriff Eugene "Bud" Rasmussen, only a few months after Limoges joined the force in September 1989. He ran as a Republican for a term of his own in November 1990 and won; he was re-elected in every election since then. "He done a good job," Union County Commission Chair Milton Ustad said by phone Tuesday. Ustad said the commission will hold a special meeting Wednesday to appoint an interim sheriff who will serve for a limited period. Applications will then be accepted for a more-permanent replacement. "We'll appoint somebody for that job for, maybe like 30 days or maybe a little more, and then we'll probably advertise," Ustad said. Limoges' current terms runs through 2026. It was not immediately clear Tuesday if a special election would be held to fill the remainder. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley on Tuesday released a statement mourning the loss of Limoges, who was also a past president of the South Dakota Sheriffs' Association. The South Dakota Attorney Generals Office is saddened to hear of the passing of Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges. Sheriff Limoges was a law enforcement officer for almost 40 years, and Union County Sheriff for more than 30. He was a strong public servant who was dedicated to his county and his profession. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and agency during this time," Jackley said in the statement. Limoges, who was born in Yankton on April 7, 1959, and grew up in Alcester, joined the Alcester Police Department as a part-timer in 1985 when he was in his mid-20s. He was named Alcester police chief not long after, when the former police chief killed his wife and himself. His handling of a murder case and armed standoff in late 1986 won him praise in Alcester, leading to a recommendation from the Alcester City Council that Limoges be named sheriff when Rasmussen retired. Union County, 467 square miles policed by fewer than a dozen sheriff's deputies, saw a number of high-profile cases during Limoges' tenure. Perhaps none garnered wider attention than the discovery in 2013 of the remains of Pamella Jackson and Cheryl Miller, Vermillion teens who disappeared on May 29, 1971. The 1960 Studebaker they'd been riding in was found in 2013 overturned in Brule Creek. In 2004, the Union County Sheriff's Office investigated an infanticide case referred to colloquially as "Baby Moses," in which a baby was thrown away with household garbage in Alcester and taken to a landfill. Months later, Limoges acknowledged public frustration with a lack of progress in the case. "I can assure you calls are still being made, we're following up," Limoges said. The baby's mother was later arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for second-degree manslaughter. Limoges' department also worked cases that were weird but not tragic: In September 1992, a partial skeleton was found in rural Union County, wrapped in a snowmobile suit. The bones were sent to Kansas City to be analyzed. The skeleton turned out to be that of an unknown animal, speculated at the time to be a large dog or a deer. In 2013, Limoges fought to prevent Union County's 911 services from being transferred to Lincoln County, which was pitched as a way to save taxpayer money. "For a few more dollars, we would be in control of it," Limoges said at the time. "It is a win-win to keep it local." Limoges and the sheriff's department took part in flood response and evacuation measures during the catastrophic Missouri River flooding in 2011, which involved multiple local and federal agencies. Information on Limoges' survivors was not immediately available. A House education subcommittee Monday voted along party lines to advance a proposal that would bring meaningful change to the Board of Regents, the universities they oversee, and the students those institutions serve including through tuition-hike caps and DEI-related directives. The proposals DEI restrictions and revisions would bake into Iowa law a list of recommendations regents issued its campuses in the fall including to eliminate any DEI functions not necessary for compliance or accreditation. I will reserve my comments for committee work, subcommittee member Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, said Monday referencing a regent update on what previously were characterized as its DEI recommendations. But I do support this bill, and I want to thank the board for coming to clarify that those recommendations are now directives and that we are just codifying what the universities are already doing. Before casting their votes, though, members of the subcommittee heard from supporters and opponents primarily related to House File 2327s DEI components. I urge you to take a look at this issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion from the perspective of our Black and brown and Indigenous siblings, Connie Ryan, with the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund, said to subcommittee members while speaking in opposition to the specific parts of the bill that would limit or eliminate DEI-related programming, staffing, or spending. There are many groups that benefit from the idea and from the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our higher education institutions, in our public schools. When Ryan said that being straight, white, cis, for me female, for you male, and all the other privileges that we carry with us can make it hard to recognize, understand, and empathize with others of different backgrounds, subcommittee Chair Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, started laughing. I'm sorry that you're humored by that, Ryan said. But it's hard to look at those challenges with open eyes and open hearts. Others spoke in support of the proposed DEI restrictions and revisions. Whatever the motivations behind DEI are, in practice, DEI programs have been used to perpetuate racism, said Ryan Benn, director of policy for The Family Leader, a faith-based socially-conservative advocacy organization led by President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats. DEI policies have used race-based decision making, and they discriminate against people who are unwilling to affirm certain ideologies, which were against those things, Benn said. We cant defeat racism with more racism. Scripture teaches the gospel is available to all, and that race doesn't matter. Race shouldnt matter to us either, and thats why were in support of this bill. Board changes, powers The sole subcommittee member who voted against advancing the proposal Rep. Sue Cahill, D-Marshalltown also was the only person Monday to address other aspects of the sweeping bill, like its changes to the Board of Regents and how it hires university presidents. I have to admit, Cahill said. I have a few questions. To the bills suggestion that Iowa expand its nine-member volunteer Board of Regents to 11 with the addition of two non-voting members of the Legislature, appointed by the majority leader of each chamber Cahill suggested a balancing amendment that would further swell the board to 13. I would plan on putting forth an amendment that would say we could include also the minority leader in the House and the same in the Senate, she said, in an effort to keep our thought process growing. Cahill raised questions about portions of the bill changing how the board selects university presidents, like a provision creating a presidential selection committee made up of a subset of regents. The committee would recommend the best candidate for the job, and the full board couldnt hire a president unless they were recommended by the committee. The legislation also would keep finalist names confidential where historically theyve been made public and invited to campus for community forums and public feedback. So that was a concern of mine, Cahill said about the lack of transparency. No member of the public or subcommittee who spoke Monday addressed a key piece of the legislation capping annual undergraduate tuition increases at 3% severely restricting the boards control over what has grown to be their largest revenue source, with state appropriations waning. DEI pros, cons Most speakers focused on the DEI changes the bill would make law, including: Eliminating any DEI functions, positions or job duties not necessary for compliance or accreditation. Ensuring no one on campus is compelled to submit a DEI statement or disclose their pronouns. Issuing employee guidance regarding separation of personal political advocacy from their university business. Exploring ways to advance intellectual and philosophical diversity. I would like to speak a little bit to what DEI programming has done for me, University of Iowa doctoral candidate Emma Denney told the committee, sharing ways in which shes been mocked and marginalized for her transgender status by my peers and professors. What DEI did was link me to both legal resources through Title IX and personal support resources through my community at the University of Iowa, to know that I wasn't alone and that I didn't have to abandon my studies because people didn't understand who I was and were afraid of it, she said. Courtney Collier, an Iowa mom, spoke in support of the bill even asking they expand the recommendations to Iowas K-12 education system. My first-graders were taught at school about pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving in a way that left them feeling personally responsible for harms done to the Native Americans, she said. They came home and said they were sad that their skin was white. There's so much wrong with that scenario, including the fact that although my children have fairly light skin, we have Native American ancestry. Trade programs, unlike other areas of higher education, are in hot demand Trade programs, unlike other areas of higher education, are in hot demand SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council green-lighted the addition of 11 more firefighter positions Monday, which will help Sioux City Fire Rescue fully staff ambulances. The city has seen more firefighter candidates than EMT and paramedic candidates. Last month, the council voted to add four firefighters positions. One of the resolutions the council approved Monday deletes three EMS medical technician positions and eight paramedic positions. The resolution also adds 11 firefighter positions. The council took action to limit the number of firefighters that can be hired to fill vacant EMS positions through attrition or retirements. Going forward, that number will be capped at 15. "The original (resolution) requested that the whole operating division of the EMS division be replaced by firefighters over time, whereas now, we are capping that at 15 positions," Fire Chief Tom Everett said. "We've already done four, so we're asking for 11 more firefighter positions." Firefighters are required to have an Iowa EMT certification before being hired and they currently perform EMT and paramedic duties, including being first responders on emergency medical services calls. The move to hire firefighters to fill current vacant EMT and paramedic positions will increase the amount of time Medic 5 in Morningside is staffed and decrease overall overtime. Sioux City Fire Rescue started the new EMS division on Jan. 1, 2018 to fill the void left by Siouxland Paramedics, the nonprofit agency that stopped providing emergency services due to financial difficulties. SIOUX CITY Before they were masters of the air, Everett Blakely, Howard Hamilton and hundreds of other Army airmen were just young guys with down time between training flights seeking fun in Sioux City. Blakely and Hamilton found much more than that. Sioux City air base -- Masters of the Air An aerial photo shows the Sioux City Air Base, which was a major training center beginning in July 1942 for B-17 bomber crews and later B-24 b At a USO dance near the Sioux City Army Air Base, Blakely met Margaret Ann Spence and Hamilton met Geraldine "Gerry" Karr, two young women who had been classmates at Central High School. By the time the two young officers in the 100th Bomb Group were shipped to their next training base a couple weeks later, Hamilton and Karr were married, and Blakely and Spence were engaged. "He was just a fellow I liked. I thought he was a gentleman. He called me the next day after the dance and asked me on a date," Margaret Blakely, now 101 and living in San Luis Obispo, California, said of the night she met her future husband. They were engaged by the end of the week, and the rest, as the saying goes, was history. A chunk of the history of the 100th Bomb Group is front and center in "Masters of the Air," a nine-part miniseries currently streaming on Apple TV+, the latest World War II drama series by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who also were behind "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific." "Masters of the Air" brings to light the bravery men like Blakely and Hamilton showed while they and hundreds of B-17 bomber crews flew dangerous daytime bombing missions over Germany and enemy territories to knock out military and manufacturing targets. Through the first four episodes, viewers have become familiar with Blakely and Hamilton as well as three other men of the 100th who are more prominently featured -- pilots Gale "Buck" Cleven and John "Bucky" Egan and navigator Harry Crosby. In January 1943, just months before the events shown thus far in the TV series, all five men and many of the others seen on screen were in Sioux City, which by then had become a major training site for bomber crews and ground personnel and would remain so until war's end. Air warfare was evolving, and heavy bombers such as the B-17 were new. Strategic bombing and formation flying also were new strategies, and the men of "Masters of the Air" learned them here. "Their time in Sioux City was foundational for that. It's special thinking they spent a series of weeks there honing their craft," said Matt Mabe, a historian and board of directors member of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, started by veterans to preserve the history of the men and their missions and now maintained by volunteers. The foundation played an advisory role in the development of the miniseries. The 100th arrived in Sioux City in the middle of winter, greeted by subzero temperatures that members mentioned in books and articles published in the years after their service. Crosby wrote of stepping off the train in Sioux City: "... the initial nine degrees below zero blast had a definite sobering effect. It proved to be one of the warmer days. There was glazed ice on the ground, interspersed with patches of snow. On the concrete apron and runways of the airdrome, the ice was a solid two inches thick -- making a fine, vast skating rink, but a treacherous place for flight operations." Despite the cold, the men of the 100th familiarized themselves with Sioux City. When not training, they frequented establishments such as the Glass Hat Bar at the West Hotel, the Rathskeller, the Oasis, the Beer Cellar and the Alamo. They ate at the Savoy, and Charlie's Steak House "was the supreme spot for sheer pleasure of the palate." With its hotels and bars, Sioux City was a soldier's "promised land," Crosby said. "The 100th gave it their stamp of approval," he wrote. Harry Crosby in Sioux City -- Masters of the Air Harry Crosby is shown in this photo shortly after his arrival with the 100th Bomb Group for training at the Sioux City Army Air Base in Januar Temperatures during the 100th's stay in Sioux City were frequently below zero, sometimes so cold that bomber engines wouldn't start and training flights were canceled. It was a fortuitous break for Blakely and the rest of the men seeking the warmth of female companionship. "This was a big opportunity for the airmen. They had time to socialize," said Jim Blakely, the second of Everett and Margaret Blakely's six children. If not for the down time resulting from the freezing temperatures, Everett Blakely and Margaret Spence might never have met. Born in Storm Lake, Margaret grew up in Sioux City on West 17th Street, in a house that still stands near the present-day Liberty Elementary School, with her mother, also named Margaret, maternal grandparents Mamme and Jim Flanagan, three uncles and two aunts. A 1940 Central High graduate, Spence attended Briar Cliff College. USO dances at the club near Sioux City's air base were common by then, and the young Army men needed dance partners. "There were society ladies, and they used to take young ladies out to dance with the officers at the club," Margaret Blakely said. "They asked me if I'd go out, and I said, "yes, I'd go.' We went out to the base and danced with these fellas." At a dance one January night, Margaret was approached by Blakely, a young pilot who grew up in Seattle. "Everett asked me to dance," she said. "I just danced with him one dance, and the next day he called me." "They must have gotten along well. He proposed about a week later," Jim Blakely said. It wasn't the sweeping romance one sees in the movies. Son David Blakely, the third of the Blakely children, who lives near his mother in California, said his mother was the practical one in the couple and doesn't describe their meeting as love at first sight or being swept off her feet. Everett was more of a romantic, and perhaps thought that because of what awaited him in Europe, he might never again have the chance to experience love and marriage. "I think my father was going off to war, and this was a good-looking woman and he thought what the heck," David Blakely said. Margaret matter-of-factly said she accepted Everett's marriage proposal even though they'd only known each other for a few days. "When he asked me to marry him, I said, 'Well, there's a difference between you and me. I'm a Catholic and your dad is a Mason.' And he said, 'I will never, ever interfere in your faith.' "At first he said we'd get married in Sioux City, then he got transferred to Boise." Sioux City air base -- Masters of the Air The Sioux City Army Air Base is shown from the air in this undated photo. Though not mentioned in the current miniseries "Masters of the Air," Two months later, Margaret and her mother boarded a train to Idaho, where she and Everett married. Howard Hamilton didn't wait that long. Before he left Sioux City, he and Gerry Karr had already married. After the men had shipped out to England in May 1943, Margaret and Gerry moved to Chicago with Crosby's wife, Jean, to get jobs and await their husbands' return. Margaret was a receptionist at Owens Corning, Gerry performed as a rollerskater with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Meanwhile, their husbands, as shown in the TV miniseries, risked their lives in mission after dangerous mission in the skies above enemy territory. Like their wives, Blakely and Crosby also were together, Blakely the pilot of the B-17 "Just-a-Snappin'" and Crosby the navigator. Hamilton was a bombardier on another B-17 that was shot down during a mission over Munster, Germany, on Oct. 10, 1943. He was taken prisoner and spent 19 months in a German POW camp before he was liberated in May 1945. Blakely and Crosby had close calls of their own, and a harrowing mission on Oct. 8, 1943, led to another wedding between a Sioux City woman and member of the 100th. In an article he wrote for the 100th Bomb Group Foundation newsletter, Jim Blakely described how his father's bomber, with two of its four engines destroyed, shot down a record nine Nazi fighter planes as it limped back to England after the bombing run. Finding the nearest airfield, Blakely crash-landed, the bomber coming to rest after slamming into a tree. Ground crews found 800 holes made by German bullets and flak before they stopped counting. B-17 bomber -- Masters of the Air A B-17 bomber is shown at the Sioux City Army Air Base in 1943. Thousands of bomber air and ground crew members trained at the air base during Blakely was OK, but his co-pilot, Charley Via, had been severely wounded when his hips were struck by flak projectiles, and he was transferred to Walter Reed Hospital near Washington, D.C. At that time, Margaret Ann McDonald, a Central High classmate of Margaret Blakely and Gerry Hamilton, was living in Washington, D.C., and worked near the hospital. Margaret Blakely called McDonald, asking her to go visit her husband's co-pilot. McDonald made that visit, and many more. In July 1944, Margaret Blakely was Margaret McDonald's bridesmaid as she married Via, becoming the third member of Central High's class of 1940 to marry a member of the 100th Bomb Group. At least two other men of the 100th also married women they met while in Sioux City, Jim Blakely said. As the stories of the men of the 100th unfold through the remaining episodes of the miniseries, viewers will see more and more of their legacy. Though not addressed in the series, that legacy is rooted in Sioux City, where crews began forming bonds with one another that would last a lifetime. Many of those men seen portrayed on TV could have been seen in downtown Sioux City, enjoying a good meal or a drink. "Any bars or restaurants in town at that time, chances are these guys passed through them," Mabe said. Once they returned home from war, Blakely and Hamilton reunited with their Sioux City wives. According to information provided by Jim Blakely, Hamilton earned a Ph.D. in engineering and eventually became chairman of the University of Pittsburgh's engineering department. He and Gerry had four children, and she was a paralegal, earning a college degree at age 63. Via became a lawyer and had four children before he died in 1965. His wife, Margaret, later earned a degree in social work and became a counselor. Blakely remained in the service. He and Margaret moved frequently, with assignments in Colombia in South America, the Philippines, Arizona, California and Georgia. Blakely was the head of the Air Force ROTC at Notre Dame and later served in Germany and France. He retired from the military in 1968 as a lieutenant colonel and worked at Lockheed Aircraft before retiring and moving with Margaret to San Luis Obispo, California. They returned to Sioux City periodically to visit relatives still living here. "She came back when she could. My dad really enjoyed Sioux City," Jim Blakely said. Of the Sioux City brides and their husbands, Margaret is the sole survivor. David Blakely arranged for a movie theater to show the premier of "Masters of the Air" for his mother. Margaret said it was hard to follow who was her husband, though to be fair, actor David Shields, who portrays Everett, doesn't look very much like him and during much of his screen time he appeared wearing his air mask while in flight. Regardless, she enjoyed it. "I thought it was a terrific story," she said. A story in which Sioux City played a minor role in the men's performance of their missions, but a major role in how some of them later lived their lives. Like a lot of mothers, North Dakota state Rep. Emily O'Brien struggled to find infant care when her daughter Lennon was born in 2019. So O'Brien, a Republican who represents the Grand Forks region, brought Lennon along to meetings with local leaders and constituents. O'Brien had her second daughter, Jolene, in 2022, not long before legislators were due to meet. Wanting more time to bond before returning to work, O'Brien brought the newborn with her to Bismarck, where she snoozed through Gov. Doug Burgum's State of the State address on her mother's desk. Not long after, O'Brien persuaded her colleagues to back a plan to invest $66 million in child care, an unprecedented sum for a state that had, like others with Republican leadership, long resisted such spending. But O'Brien argued it could help the state's workforce shortage by helping more parents go to work and attracting new families to the state. It was definitely not, you know, an easy sell, because this is probably somewhere where you dont want the government to get involved, O'Brien said. But its a workforce solution. We have people that are willing and able to work, but finding child care was an obstacle. Republicans historically have been lukewarm about using taxpayer money for child care, even as they have embraced prekindergarten. But the pandemic, which left many child care providers in crisis, underscored how precarious the industry is and how many working parents rely on it. In 2021, Congress passed $24 billion of pandemic aid for child care businesses, an unprecedented federal investment. Now, as that aid dries up, Republican state lawmakers across the country are embracing plans to support child care and even making it central to their policy agendas. To be sure, the largest investments in child care have come not from Republicans but from Democratic lawmakers. In New Mexico, the state is covering child care for most children under 5 using a trust funded by oil and natural gas production. In Vermont, Democratic state lawmakers overrode a Republican governor's veto to pass a payroll tax hike to fund child care subsidies. Red states are following suit with more modest but nonetheless historic investments in child care. In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson has proposed spending nearly $130 million to help low-income families access child care once the pandemic relief money dries up and to create tax credits to support child care providers. The House passed the tax credit legislation Thursday with bipartisan support, sending it to the Senate. Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields, who sponsored the tax credit bill, said she tells conservative colleagues that child care accessibility is vital to grow the states economy. Child care is a critical infrastructure, just like roads and bridges and ports and trains, Shields said. Businesses have been saying, What are you doing about child care? So Im trying to be part of the solution. Missouri's number of child-care facilities is down 14%, and the 167,000 slots for children is about 6,000 fewer than before the coronavirus pandemic in December 2019, according to data from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Elsewhere, Louisiana last year approved an unprecedented $52 million for child care subsidies for low-income families. Alabama provided $17 million worth of incentives for child care providers to get licensed. And Texas voters approved a property tax cut for some day care centers. More Republicans have pledged to tackle the child care crisis this year. In Missouri, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, a Republican, said he hoped the Statehouse would focus less on culture war issues like criminalizing drag shows and censoring library books and more on expanding access to child care and school choice. Nebraska and Indiana have both pitched programs to make child care free for child care workers. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican who ran on a conservative education agenda, pitched boosting the state's child care and education spending by $180 million. Child care advocates say the investments are not enough and called on Congress to authorize a new round of money to keep the child care industry afloat. Already, day care centers report they are raising tuition and losing workers because they are no longer receiving federal subsidies. Some have folded. The new and expanded funding reflects a growing sentiment that the nations broken child care system will not be fixed without public support. Families have long faced issues finding affordable, reliable child care. But during the pandemic, many child care workers left the industry for better-paying jobs, and some child care centers closed for good, exacerbating the problem. Child care is a labor-heavy enterprise in some states, one person may only care for four infants at once. Even before the pandemic, child care providers often had razor-thin margins. When families kept their children home during the pandemic, many day cares were barely hanging on. Many parts of the country do not have enough child care providers to offer slots for all children. Even when slots are available, the cost is out of reach for many families. It's a problem that disproportionately affects women, who are typically the primary caregivers for children. But a lack of child care access is also keeping people from the workforce, contributing to a labor shortage in many states. What America can learn from Canada's new '$10 a day' child care system What America can learn from Canada's new '$10 a day' child care system In the US, congressional support for child care has been tough to find, leaving the country far below many developed nations Despite the youth of the initiative, the stability provided by $10 a Day is being realized at care centers, though home-based providers have yet to be brought into the fold RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town in the Gaza Strip as airstrikes carried out to cover the raid killed more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children. The rescue in Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of Israelis shaken by the plight of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The nation is still reeling from the militant group's cross-border raid last year that started the war. The overnight bombardment brought devastation in Rafah, which is packed with some 1.4 million people, most of whom fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape fighting. Associated Press footage showed a large area of flattened houses, tattered tents and lines of bloodied bodies brought into nearby hospitals. Israel's offensive has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians in the territory, displaced more than 80% of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis. More than 12,300 Palestinian children have been killed in the conflict, Gaza's Health Ministry said Monday. About 8,400 women were also among those killed. The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown at the request of the AP. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided evidence. In Hamas' cross-border raid on Oct. 7, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel describes Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the town on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after dozens were freed during a cease-fire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of about 30 others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says persistent military pressure will bring about the captives' freedom even as families of the hostages and many of their supporters have called on the government to make another deal with Hamas. Overnight raid Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. The army identified those rescued as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. They also hold Argentinian citizenship. They are among just three hostages to be rescued; a female soldier was rescued in November. The rescue is a morale booster for Israelis but a small step toward winning the release of the remaining hostages, who are believed to be spread out and hidden. Har's son-in-law, Idan Begerano, who saw the released captives at the hospital where they were airlifted, said the two men were thin and pale, but communicating well and aware of their surroundings. Dozens killed in strikes The airstrikes hit jam-packed Rafah in the middle of the night, and dozens of explosions could be heard about 2 a.m. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said at least 67 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Al-Qidra said rescuers were still searching the rubble. An Associated Press journalist counted at least 50 bodies at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Footage circulating on social media from Rafah's Kuwaiti hospital showed dead or wounded children. The footage could not immediately be verified but was consistent with AP reporting. A young man could be seen carrying the body of an infant who he said was killed in the attacks. He said the girl, the daughter of his neighbor, was born and killed during the war. "Let Netanyahu come and see: Is this one of your designated targets?" he said. Concerns about Rafah Netanyahu says sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel's war goals. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation there without a "credible and executable" plan to protect civilians. More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population is crammed into Rafah, where hundreds of thousands live in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters. Biden's remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, a senior U.S. administration official said. The official said that after weeks of diplomacy, a "framework" is now "pretty much" in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that "gaps remain" but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal. Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the call. Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. Today in history: Feb. 12 1909: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 1983: Eubie Blake 1999: Bill Clinton 2000: Charles M. Schulz 2006: Shaun White 2012: Adele 2018: National Portrait Gallery 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trump's attorneys asked the Supreme Court on Monday to extend the delay in his election interference trial, saying he is immune from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 election loss. His lawyers filed an emergency appeal with the court on Monday, just four days after the justices heard Trump's separate appeal to remain on the presidential ballot despite attempts to kick him off because of his efforts following his election loss in 2020. "Without immunity from criminal prosecution, the Presidency as we know it will cease to exist," Trump's lawyers wrote, repeating arguments that so far failed in federal courts. The filing keeps on hold what would be a landmark criminal trial of a former president while the nation's highest court decides what to do. It met a deadline to ask the justices to intervene that the federal appeals court in Washington set when it rejected Trump's immunity claims and ruled the trial could proceed. The Supreme Court's decision on what to do, and how quickly it acts, could determine whether the Republican presidential primary front-runner stands trial in the case before the November. There is no timetable for the court to act, but special counsel Jack Smith's team wants the trial to take place this year. Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly sought to delay the case. If Trump were to defeat President Joe Biden in November, he could potentially try to use his position as head of the executive branch to order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases he faces or even seek a pardon for himself. The Supreme Court's options include rejecting the emergency appeal, which would enable U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to restart the trial proceedings in Washington's federal court. The trial was initially scheduled to begin in early March. The court also could extend the delay while it hears arguments on the immunity issue. In that event, the schedule the justices might set could determine how soon a trial might begin, if indeed they agree with lower court rulings that Trump is not immune from prosecution. In December, Smith and his team urged the justices to take up and decide the immunity issue, even before the appeals court weighed in. "It is of imperative public importance that Respondent's claim of immunity be resolved by this Court and that Respondent's trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected," prosecutors wrote in December. Now it's up to a court on which three justices, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, were appointed by Trump when he was president. They have moved the court to the right in major decisions that overturned abortion rights, expanded gun rights and ended affirmative action in college admissions. But the Supreme Court hasn't been especially friendly to Trump on legal matters directly concerning the former president. The court declined to take up several appeals filed by Trump and his allies related to the 2020 election. It also refused to prevent tax files and other documents from being turned over to congressional committees and prosecutors in New York. Last week, however, the justices seemed likely to end the efforts to prevent Trump from being on the 2024 ballot. A decision in that case could come any time. The Supreme Court previously held that presidents are immune from civil liability for official acts, and Trump's lawyers argue that protection should be extended to criminal prosecution as well. Last week, a unanimous panel of two judges appointed by President Joe Biden and one by a Republican president sharply rejected Trump's novel claim that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity for actions that fall within their official job duties. It was the second time since December that judges have held that Trump can be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The case was argued before Judges Florence Pan and J. Michelle Childs, appointees of Biden, a Democrat, and Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was named to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. The case in Washington is one of four prosecutions Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House. He faces federal charges in Florida that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a case that was also brought by Smith and is set for trial in May. He's also charged in state court in Georgia with scheming to subvert that state's 2020 election and in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. He denies wrongdoing. Today in history: Feb. 12 1909: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 1983: Eubie Blake 1999: Bill Clinton 2000: Charles M. Schulz 2006: Shaun White 2012: Adele 2018: National Portrait Gallery 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman HARTFORD, Conn. A quick-moving snowstorm hit the Northeast on Tuesday canceling and delaying flights, making roads slippery and prompting many school districts to cancel classes or switch to remote learning or at least try to switch. In New York City, the online learning system that serves the nations largest school district experienced technical problems first thing in the morning, preventing many of the 915,000 students from logging in. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Tuesday morning, mostly at the airports in the New York City area and in Boston. Accidents were reported across the region and several states banned tandem and empty tractor-trailers from highways. Some areas in Pennsylvania and Connecticut were hit with 15 inches of snow, while other parts saw smaller accumulations than anticipated, the National Weather Service said. The Massachusetts coast saw high wind gusts, the agency said. Its been a quiet winter, so its kind of welcoming, Ricky Smith said as he made his way to a construction job in New York City. "I just hope nobody gets hurt. The city's decision to push ahead with remote learning instead of declaring a snow day drew criticism from many parents and students, and the problems with the online system exacerbated the discontent. School officials said they were working with IBM to fix the issue, which they said involved authentication services. Chong Bretillon, a parent in Queens, said she received repeated errors as she tried to gain entry to a Zoom room for her elementary school student, while messaging with dozens of other parents who were encountering the same problems. I just spent almost an hour trying to log in and log out, Bretillon said. Everyones frustrated. New York Mayor Eric Adams defended the decision to go remote in the schools, saying it was necessary because of learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents agreed. I know people around the country get really frustrated with the idea of these remote days and not just letting the kids have a day, said Gina Cirrito, a parent of three boys in Manhattan's Lower East Side. "But I dont think the teachers are asking above and beyond and to be honest, theyre so far behind. If theres a way to keep their brains a little engaged, Im all for it. School officials blamed the troubles on IBM, with Schools Chancellor David Banks saying the company was not ready for primetime. IBM said Tuesday afternoon that it worked with the schools and the issues were largely resolved but did not immediately respond to questions about what specifically happened and why. City officials said there were problems with authentication services. Throughout the region, officials urged people to take precautions including staying off the roads. In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont ordered all executive branch office buildings closed to the public for the day, and all state courts were closed. Susan Smith was spending the day with her three children, ages 14, 11 and 8, at her home in Columbia, Connecticut, because schools were closed. She said she likes traditional snow days off, but would also like to see remote learning on some bad weather days. But I still remember being a kid and really looking forward to snow days, so I dont want to completely wipe that off the map with remote learning, Smith said. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation temporarily reduced the speed limit on several interstates to 45 mph in the east-central region of the state because of the storm. Simply put, conditions are extremely poor, The Doylestown Township Police Department posted. Most roads are snow covered and slick. Please stay home unless absolutely necessary." Authorities in Newberry Township, Pennsylvania, said a man operating a snowmobile was killed when he hit a downed utility line around 8 a.m. Tuesday during the storm. The cause and manner of death were pending further investigation. Ahead of the storm, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told all non-essential Executive Branch employees to not report to work Tuesday. Boston schools were closed and a parking ban was in effect until 4 p.m. Similar closures and bans were put in place in other cities and towns. Emergency officials had equipment in place to help keep roads clear. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the citys homeless shelters would remain open. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signed an executive order shuttering state government offices Tuesday and banning tractor-trailer travel on all interstates and state roads beginning at midnight. McKee said he issued the tractor-trailer ban in coordination with Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Airports in the region asked travelers to check with their airlines in case of cancellations and delays. Power companies said they were ready to respond to possible outages that could occur because of trees and branches falling onto electricity lines. More than 145,000 outages were reported Tuesday morning in Pennsylvania, but few outages in New York and New England, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. The hazardous conditions can also make travel challenging for our crews, so were staging extra staff and equipment across the state to ensure were ready to respond as quickly as possible, said Steve Sullivan, Eversources president of Connecticut electric operations. New York City officials said that despite the snow predictions, they had no plans to relocate people from several large, heated tent shelter complexes built for thousands of homeless migrants. In the South, flood watches covered much of Alabama and parts of central Georgia on Monday. Up to 5 inches of rain was expected in parts of Georgia and Alabama, the National Weather Service warned. WHITEFISH POINT, Mich. Shipwreck hunters have discovered a merchant ship that sank in Lake Superior in 1940, taking its captain with it, during a storm off Michigans Upper Peninsula. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain announced Monday the discovery of the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington in about 650 feet of water some 35 miles north of Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula. The Arlington left Port Arthur, Ontario, on April 30, 1940, fully loaded with wheat and headed to Owen Sound, Ontario, under the command of Captain Frederick Tatey Bug Burke, a veteran of the Great Lakes. But as the Arlington and a larger freighter, the Collingwood, made their way across Lake Superior they encountered dense fog and then a storm after nightfall that battered both ships. The Arlington began to take on water. The ship's first mate ordered the Arlington onto a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Burke countermanded and ordered his ship back onto a course across the open lake, the discoverers said. Early on May 1, 1940, the Arlington began to sink and the ship's chief engineer sounded the alarm. The crew, out of fear for their lives, and without orders from Captain Burke, began to abandon ship, they said in a statement. All crew made it safely to the Collingwood except for Burke, who went down with the Arlington. Reports indicate he was last seen near its pilothouse, waving at the Collingwood, minutes before his ship vanished into the lake. The shipwreck society said in the statement that no one will ever know the answer as to why Burke acted as he did before his ship was lost. Its exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superiors many mysteries, finding Arlington so far out in the lake," Fountain said in a statement. "I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke. The Arlington was discovered thanks to Fountain, a resident of Negaunee, Michigan, who has been conducting remote sensing in Lake Superior in search of shipwrecks for about a decade, said Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Fountain approached the group with a potential target" near the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, and the Arlington was discovered last year. Lynn said. These targets dont always amount to anything but this time it absolutely was a shipwreck. A wreck with an interesting, and perhaps mysterious story," he said in the statement. "Had Dan not reached out to us, we might never have located the Arlington. In between her jam-packed schedule full of debate team practices, various club meetings and presidential duties for the schools Feminist Club Cassidy Bell spends her free time unlike most high school students: Advocating for menstrual equity. The Lincoln East seniors passion started a few years back when she and her friends realized that not everybody has easy access to menstrual products, that period poverty is a very real thing, even in Nebraska. Even in their own school. It was as if a light bulb had suddenly lit up above Bells head. She instantly wanted to jump into action and she did. She started by spending a day with her friends set up outside of a local Hy-Vee asking grocery shoppers for donations to buy period products to place in the bathrooms at East. Then, Bell helped found the Feminist Club to keep the conversation going. I was really, really happy with the results, she said. But, it wasnt enough to just have the womens restrooms at her high school stocked. Bell believed everybody in need of tampons or pads at all Lincoln Public Schools middle and high schools deserved free access to those products. So, she began advocating for menstrual equity at Lincoln Board of Education meetings, speaking during the public comment period and meeting with board members one on one throughout the school year to discuss providing free period supplies to students. I feel like every step of the way was very encouraging, she said. I feel like there was never anyone who heard my idea and was like, No, thats not a good idea. Thats not appropriate. Everyone was very open, and that was really encouraging. So, when the board voted in September to allocate $100,000 in the budget toward placing period products in the womens restrooms at each of the districts middle and high schools, she was obviously thrilled. But, the satisfaction was short-lived. It still wasnt enough. She decided it was time to take her project statewide. She spent the summer researching legislation passed in other states that required schools to provide free period products in bathrooms, leading her to help draft a bill that would do just that here in Nebraska. Bell worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln to create LB1050, a bill that would require the Nebraska Department of Education to provide every public school the appropriate amount of period products for the projected number of menstruating students in each female restroom, including locker rooms and single-use restrooms. While crafting the bill, both Bell and Conrad knew they wanted to avoid creating an unfunded mandate. Currently, the bill does not specify exactly how this measure would be funded; however, Conrad said thats something that will likely be figured out later in the legislative process. Everybody agreed that we want to make sure that students have access to menstrual supplies, she said, but we also wanted to recognize that we didnt want to just add an unfunded mandate on the school districts. Funding will likely be appropriated by the Legislature, Conrad said, but she can always make amendments to the bill if needed. The Legislature held a hearing on the bill Monday evening where a handful of people, including students, parents and representatives of several school districts, testified in favor of it. No one testified against it. John Neal, associate superintendent for civic engagement at LPS, said the district provided free menstrual products for a while before the board allocated money at the start of this school year to place products in restrooms, but the location of those products matters. In the past, free tampons and pads could be found in nurses offices, but not in bathrooms where they are more readily available. Free is not the same as available, he said. Amanda Roe, a parent of a middle school-aged daughter, said free products in school bathrooms would allow menstruating students to have less stress while on their periods, thus helping them focus more in class during that time. I want my daughter and all menstruating children to be focused on learning while at school, not worrying about period products, she said. According to Conrad, bills regarding period poverty have been introduced in the past, specifically looking at incarcerated womens access to products and the sales tax on menstrual supplies. It seemed like this was a good next step to continue the dialogue, she said. A study showed that 25% of menstruating students across the nation struggled to afford or access period products last year. However, Bell said she was unsuccessful in finding data on a local scale during her research for the bill, which she found alarming. Theres no numbers on how many girls are struggling with this, particularly in rural areas, and Nebraska is a rural state. That was very frustrating, she said. This is what happens when we dont talk about things: We dont know if people are struggling. Through the bill and her advocacy, Bell hopes to not only help end period poverty for students across the state, but to end the stigma around periods and encourage other women and girls to break their silence when it comes to talking about menstruation. Menstruation is so stigmatized. The only way that we solve that is by talking about it. Issues like this just fall to the bottom. We cant legislate things and we cant make policy around things that we dont understand, she said. Advocating for this issue is so important just because more people need to be aware of what girls go through when theyre menstruating. Conrad, who has been a mentor for Bell for several years, said working with her has been a full-circle moment as she sees the same love for advocacy and will to use her voice in Bell as she did in herself when she was a teenager. Cassidy is just clearly whip-smart, super fun, completely passionate, Conrad said. She is, I think, exactly what we want young leaders to be: authentic and caring and dedicated and bright and always working to widen the circle to bring more ideas and more people to the table. Next fall, Bell plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continue to blossom her passion for advocacy while pursuing a degree in political science. Theres no better way to spend her time, she said, than by using her voice. Being able to spend my time this way, I just feel so fulfilled. For some people, its sports. For some people, its drama. For me, I feel like the best way that I can spend my time is by making a tangible impact, she said. Insisting any Palestinian state include the Gaza Strip poses an insuperable obstacle to their self-determination. Gaza became economically unviable after terrorism emanating from the Strip forced Jerusalem decades ago to limits its inhabitants' employment opportunities in Israel. The post-October 7th war then rendered this economically unviable territory uninhabitable. Accordingly, spending tens of billions of dollars rebuilding Gaza defies reason, especially if many Hamas fighters remain. They will prevent any "revamped" Palestinian Authority (PA) from securing Gaza, causing future wars that require the Strip's repeated reconstruction. Nevertheless, the Biden administration remains "clear, consistent, and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel." Biden favors a revamped PA governing Gaza even as administration officials concede the plan's unfeasibility. Politico quoted a State Department official saying, "We're stuck... There's a strong policy preference for the PA to play a governing role in Gaza, but it has significant legitimacy and capability challenges." Rather than commit to a self-acknowledged unworkable solution, Washington should advocate dissolving the 141 sq mi Strip and enlarging the 1,352 sq mi West Bank to compensate for Gaza's loss. Investing international aid in developing an expanded West Bank's economy, along with reforming its current regime, is more practical than hoping a revamped PA can supervise Gaza's reconstruction amidst a Hamas-led insurgency. As the West Bank's affluence grows, it can gradually absorb Gazan refugees temporarily settled elsewhere. This approach also removes another longstanding barrier to Palestinian political unity, Gaza not adjoining the West Bank. Gaza only prospered when fully integrated into Israel's labor market (1968-91). For decades after the Six Day War, Palestinians moved freely from Gaza to Israel, where many found work. That combined with Israeli investment in development projects caused the Strip's GNP to grow during 1968-82 on average by 9.7 percent per annum. However, Jerusalem met increasing terrorism from Gaza with progressively stricter restrictions on Palestinian movement, finally imposing a draconian blockade after Hamas seized power in 2007. Economic conditions declined during the First Intifada (1987-93) and then deteriorated further when Yasser Arafat's newly installed PA allowed terrorism to worsen following the 1993 Oslo I Accord. In 1992, 116,000 Gazans worked in Israel. By 1996, the number fell to 28,000. Palestinian terrorist groups commenced shooting rockets at Israel during the Second Intifada (2000-2005) after the Gaza security barrier effectively reduced terrorist infiltration. Their volume increased following Israel's 2005 unilateral disengagement from Gaza and again after Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Israel responded with a blockade to intercept materials used to manufacture weapons and for other military purposes. The resulting high unemployment meant 63 percent of Gazans relied on international food aid before October 7th. Hamas-led massacres on that day instigated a war which rendered Gaza uninhabitable. According to a January World Bank report, 45 percent of Gazan homes are destroyed, as well as 46 percent of commercial and industrial buildings. The toll on infrastructure is even greater, destroying or damaging around 57 percent of Gaza's power lines, four of its six power plants, and 92 percent of major roads. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini concluded in December, "Gaza is not really a habitable place anymore." Meanwhile, American intelligence officials informed members of Congress during a closed-door briefing last week that most Hamas fighters have probably survived Israel's assault while the group's guerilla tactics and extensive tunnel network make degrading its combat effectiveness a more realistic goal than eliminating it. Since the West Bank-based PA regime depends on Israeli military support, expecting its constabulary to secure a Hamas-infested Gaza strains credulity. Resettling Gazan civilians - first in foreign countries and then in an economically developed, enlarged West Bank - would enable Israel to extirpate Hamas before resuming peace negotiations with a reformed PA. Hamas preserving its Gazan territorial base will sustain Palestinian political disunity while empowering the group to derail peace negotiations through massive terrorist attacks. Despite Gaza clearly being uninhabitable and ungovernable, a consensus developed that any Palestinian state must arise on those parts of British Mandatory Palestine occupied by Arab armies during Israel's War for Independence (1947-49). Gaza's borders merely reflect the 1949 armistice line between Egyptian and Israeli forces. The part seized by Jordan became the West Bank. Consequently, principled opposition to dissolving Gaza and expanding the West Bank is unfounded and blocks the sole economically and politically viable postwar arrangement. For small businesses looking to increase their social media marketing in the new year, there are many social media platforms that could be a great fit. There are many popular social media platforms out there with an active user base, making it easier to find your target audience. Well look at some of the top social media sites to help you develop your social media plans. Most Popular Social Media Sites Social Media Page Description Facebook The largest social media site, known for its steady growth and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger is also popular for its advertising opportunities. YouTube A video-sharing platform great for long-form content. Offers businesses a promotional avenue to build a following. It is one of the most frequently visited sites with a billion monthly active users. LinkedIn A professional networking site best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. Especially valuable for B2B businesses in building awareness and generating leads. TikTok A newer social networking site that has skyrocketed in popularity. It focuses on short-form video content and is especially popular among younger users. An excellent platform for businesses looking to build their brand in a fun, exciting way. Instagram An excellent platform for building an online community and promoting a brand. Supports both video and image content and offers opportunities for influencer marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness. Pinterest A visual search engine and publishing platform allowing users to 'pin' images they like. A useful tool for businesses looking to increase brand awareness and create easily discoverable content. WhatsApp An instant messaging platform that has become popular for business use. WhatsApp Business includes features for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. Twitter A microblogging platform that lets businesses tweet short informational bites, updates, and promotions. It is primarily used as a customer service channel, but due to the active user base, promotional activities should also be considered. Snapchat Known for its quick and easy use, Snapchat allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Despite slower growth compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with. Vimeo A professional video platform that shares content. It's a paid platform, perfect for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work. Offers high-quality features for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. Tumblr Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. Quora Quora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. Reddit Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. The great thing about social media platforms is that they come with a social networking app. That means you can reach users on a variety of devices to raise brand awareness, including mobile devices. The most popular social media platforms include: 1. Facebook Facebook is the largest social media site and has seen steady growth over the years. It is the most popular social media platform with an active user base and wide reach for businesses. Facebook Messenger, which is Facebooks messaging app, is incredibly popular as well and offers advertising opportunities. 2. YouTube Youtube is a video-sharing platform that is great for long-form video content, and its parent company is Google. A YouTube channel is one of the best promotional avenues for businesses and can be a way to build a following. With a billion monthly active users, there is a lot of potential to build a social media presence and connect to Youtube users. 3. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional social networking site with a large subset of active users. LinkedIn is best used for personal and professional support and connecting with other users. If your business is B2B, LinkedIn can be immensely valuable in building awareness and generating leads through your professional network. 4. TikTok TikTok has been a more recent addition to social networking sites and has skyrocketed in popularity. Its currently one of the most downloaded apps on both the Google Store and the App store. TikTok is a video-sharing platform similar to Youtube but more focused on short-form video content such as music and lipsync videos. For businesses looking to build their personal brand in a fun, exciting way with younger users, TikTok is a great platform to add to their social media strategy. 5. Instagram Instagram is another social media website that is an excellent platform for building your online community and promoting your brand. You can reach potential customers in many ways on Instagram, as it supports both video and images. For example, you can use your business page to post images, short videos, and repost user-generated content. You can also create influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram to increase brand awareness. 6. Pinterest Pinterest is a purely visual search engine and publishing platform that enables users to pin images they like according to themes and groups. For businesses, Pinterest is a great way to increase brand awareness and create content that users can quickly discover and pin. This can include DIY tips and processes, inspirational content, and other unique visuals that are pinnable for users. 7. Whatsapp Whatsapp is an instant messaging platform used by people all over the world. With Whatsapp, users can send text messages, voice and video calls, and group video chats over Wi-Fi. Many businesses have now started using WhatsApp Business and have created their own Whatsapp business accounts to enable easy communication with customers via instant message. Whatsapp for Business also includes features to make it easy for businesses to send messages to customers and create a fast communication channel. More Top Social Media Platforms Many other social media platforms have an active user base and are used by businesses for promotions, marketing, and customer communication. These include: 8. Twitter Twitter is a microblogging platform used by users and businesses. With Twitter, companies can quickly tweet out short informational bites, updates, and promotions and easily communicate with customers. Its primarily used as a customer service channel, but Twitter users are very active, so promotional activities should also be considered on the social networking platform. 9. Snapchat Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms because it is so quick and easy to use and has a lot of visual user-generated content. In addition, Snapchat has a social networking feature that allows businesses to share promotions, updates, and other visual content to engage with users. Although growth has slowed for Snapchat compared to other platforms, there are still millions of active users that businesses can connect with using the platform. 10. Vimeo Like YouTube and Twitch, Vimeo is a professional video platform that shares content. It is a paid platform, so monthly fees are associated with it; it is excellent for professional videographers and creatives to showcase work and provide information. In addition, Vimeo has some great, high-quality features regarding videos, so it is beneficial for long-form, gated videos for communication and marketing. 11. Tumblr Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that allows users to post multimedia content and other short-form content. It is known for its highly visual and creative content, as well as its strong community of users who share similar interests. Tumblr provides a platform for artists, photographers, writers, and other creatives who want to share their work. 12. Quora quora is a question-and-answer platform that allows users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. It is known for its high-quality content and its community of experts who provide insightful answers to users questions. Quora is for anyone who wants to learn more about a particular topic or share their knowledge. 13. Reddit reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that allows users to submit content and vote on it. It is known for its highly engaged community of users who are passionate about a wide range of topics. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, as well as connect with like-minded individuals Reddit is for you. Why Should Your Business Use Social Media? Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach new customers, build relationships with existing customers, and promote your business. If youre not using social media, youre missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your business. There are many benefits to using social media for business, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help you reach new customers who may not have heard of your business before. You can use social media to target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Social media can help you reach new customers who may not have heard of your business before. You can use social media to target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Building relationships with customers: Social media is a great way to build relationships with your customers. You can interact with them directly, answer their questions, and get their feedback. This can help you improve your products and services and create a more loyal customer base. Social media is a great way to build relationships with your customers. You can interact with them directly, answer their questions, and get their feedback. This can help you improve your products and services and create a more loyal customer base. Promoting your business: Social media is a great way to promote your business. You can share news about your company, your products, and your services. You can also run contests and giveaways to generate excitement and engagement. Social media is a great way to promote your business. You can share news about your company, your products, and your services. You can also run contests and giveaways to generate excitement and engagement. Gathering customer feedback: Social media is a great way to gather customer feedback. You can ask questions, solicit suggestions, and get feedback on your products and services. This feedback can help you improve your business and make it more successful. Social media is a great way to gather customer feedback. You can ask questions, solicit suggestions, and get feedback on your products and services. This feedback can help you improve your business and make it more successful. Building brand awareness: Social media can help you build brand awareness. When you share interesting and informative content on social media, youre putting your brand in front of potential customers. This can help people become more familiar with your brand and what you have to offer. If youre not sure how to get started with social media for business, here are a few tips: Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some platforms are better suited for certain businesses than others. For example, if youre a B2B business, LinkedIn is a great platform to reach your target audience. If youre a retail business, Instagram is a great platform to showcase your products. Create a strong social media presence: Once youve chosen the right platforms, you need to create a strong social media presence. This means creating a professional profile, sharing interesting and informative content, and interacting with your followers. Run social media ads: Social media ads can be a great way to reach new customers and promote your business. You can target your ads to specific demographics, interests, and even locations. Measure your results: Its important to measure your results so you can see whats working and whats not. You can use social media analytics tools to track your followers, engagement, and website traffic. Here are some additional tips for using social media for business: Be consistent: The key to success on social media is consistency. You need to post regularly and share interesting and informative content. The key to success on social media is consistency. You need to post regularly and share interesting and informative content. Be authentic: People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be yourself and let your personality shine through on social media. People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be yourself and let your personality shine through on social media. Be responsive: Respond to comments and questions from your followers as quickly as possible. This shows that you care about their feedback and that youre engaged with them. Respond to comments and questions from your followers as quickly as possible. This shows that you care about their feedback and that youre engaged with them. Have fun: Social media should be fun! If youre not enjoying yourself, it will show in your posts. So relax, have fun, and let your personality shine through. Analyzing Social Media Trends and Metrics Understanding and analyzing social media trends and metrics is vital for businesses to effectively navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media. Heres how to leverage this data to refine your marketing strategies and improve engagement: Identifying Key Metrics : Different platforms have different metrics. Key metrics typically include engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), reach, impressions, follower growth, and click-through rate. Identify which metrics are most relevant to your business goals. : Different platforms have different metrics. Key metrics typically include engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), reach, impressions, follower growth, and click-through rate. Identify which metrics are most relevant to your business goals. Utilizing Analytics Tools : Most social media platforms offer built-in analytics tools. Use these to gather data on your audience demographics, engagement trends, and content performance. Third-party tools can also provide more in-depth analysis and cross-platform comparisons. : Most social media platforms offer built-in analytics tools. Use these to gather data on your audience demographics, engagement trends, and content performance. Third-party tools can also provide more in-depth analysis and cross-platform comparisons. Monitoring Trends : Stay updated with the latest social media trends. This includes understanding popular content formats, hashtag usage, and emerging platforms. Tools like Google Trends and social listening software can be invaluable in tracking these trends. : Stay updated with the latest social media trends. This includes understanding popular content formats, hashtag usage, and emerging platforms. Tools like Google Trends and social listening software can be invaluable in tracking these trends. Competitor Analysis : Analyze your competitors social media presence. Look at their content strategy, engagement rates, and follower growth. This can provide insights into what works well in your industry and help you identify opportunities to differentiate your brand. : Analyze your competitors social media presence. Look at their content strategy, engagement rates, and follower growth. This can provide insights into what works well in your industry and help you identify opportunities to differentiate your brand. Content Performance Review : Regularly review the performance of your content. Identify which types of posts generate the most engagement and adjust your content strategy accordingly. Pay attention to the time of day and week when your posts receive the most interaction. : Regularly review the performance of your content. Identify which types of posts generate the most engagement and adjust your content strategy accordingly. Pay attention to the time of day and week when your posts receive the most interaction. Audience Feedback : Beyond quantitative metrics, qualitative feedback like comments and messages can provide valuable insights into your audiences preferences and perceptions. Use this feedback to refine your messaging and content. : Beyond quantitative metrics, qualitative feedback like comments and messages can provide valuable insights into your audiences preferences and perceptions. Use this feedback to refine your messaging and content. ROI Measurement : If youre running paid social media campaigns, calculate the return on investment (ROI) by measuring the cost per engagement and the conversion rate. This will help in assessing the effectiveness of your ad spend. : If youre running paid social media campaigns, calculate the return on investment (ROI) by measuring the cost per engagement and the conversion rate. This will help in assessing the effectiveness of your ad spend. Adaptive Strategy : Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Use the insights from metrics and trends analysis to continually adapt and refine your social media strategy for better alignment with your audiences interests and behaviors. : Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Use the insights from metrics and trends analysis to continually adapt and refine your social media strategy for better alignment with your audiences interests and behaviors. READ MORE: Social Media Channels for Marketing Your Business: The Ultimate Guide FAQs What is the best social media site for businesses? The best social media site for businesses depends on the type of business and the target audience. However, some popular social media sites for businesses include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. What are the benefits of using social media for businesses? There are many benefits to using social media for businesses, including: Reaching new customers: Social media can help businesses reach new customers who may not have heard of them before. Building relationships with customers: Social media can help businesses build relationships with their customers by interacting with them directly and answering their questions. Promoting products and services: Social media can help businesses promote their products and services by sharing photos, videos, and blog posts. Gathering customer feedback: Social media can help businesses gather customer feedback by asking questions and soliciting suggestions. Building brand awareness: Social media can help businesses build brand awareness by sharing interesting and informative content. What are the risks of using social media for businesses? There are also some risks associated with using social media for businesses, such as: Negative customer feedback: Businesses may receive negative customer feedback on social media, which can damage their reputation. Cyberbullying: Businesses may be the target of cyberbullying on social media, which can damage their reputation and morale. Data privacy: Businesses need to be careful about how they collect and use data on social media, as they may be subject to data privacy laws. Security risks: Businesses need to be careful about the security of their social media accounts, as they may be hacked. What are the most popular social media platforms for different age groups? The most popular social media platforms for different age groups vary, but some general trends include: Teenagers: Teenagers are most likely to use social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Young adults: Young adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Middle-aged adults: Middle-aged adults are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Seniors: Seniors are most likely to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. How can businesses use social media to reach different age groups? Businesses can use social media to reach different age groups by: Using different social media platforms: Businesses can use different social media platforms that are popular with different age groups. Creating different types of content: Businesses can create different types of content that appeal to different age groups. Using different marketing strategies: Businesses can use different marketing strategies to reach different age groups. What are the future trends for social media? The future trends for social media are difficult to predict, but some possible trends include: Increased use of video: Video is becoming increasingly popular on social media, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. Increased use of live streaming: Live streaming is becoming increasingly popular on social media, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. Increased use of augmented reality and virtual reality: Augmented reality and virtual reality are still in their early stages, but they have the potential to revolutionize social media in the future. Increased personalization: Social media platforms are becoming increasingly personalized, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. Fiverr International Ltd. announced its latest Winter Product Release to redefine the digital freelance and agency ecosystem. This comprehensive update, the first of two slated for 2024, introduces a suite of innovative features and enhancements designed to elevate the working dynamics between freelancers, agencies, and businesses. The update heralds the launch of Fiverr Agencies, a new consulting category, and a revamped rating and review system, among other significant improvements. Micha Kaufman, Founder and CEO of Fiverr, emphasized the companys dedication to its community, stating, This release is shaped by the invaluable feedback from our vibrant global community and the rich insights weve gathered since Fiverrs launch. Kaufman further highlighted the introduction of Fiverr Agencies and the new Consulting Category as pivotal enhancements aimed at bolstering the platforms utility for both freelancers and businesses seeking specialized services. Fiverr Agencies: A New Era for Agency Collaboration Fiverr Agencies emerges as a standout feature, designed to streamline the way agencies connect with potential clients. This new framework provides a comprehensive profile showcasing an agencys capabilities, team, and portfolio, thereby simplifying the process for businesses to find and collaborate with agencies that can bring their brands to life. Innovations for a Transparent Freelance Marketplace The Winter Product Release brings significant advancements in personalization and transparency. A new Consulting Category introduces on-demand access to industry experts across fields such as legal, finance, and technology, offering businesses critical insights and support to scale their operations. Furthermore, updated ratings, reviews, and leveling system provide freelancers with actionable feedback and data analytics, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and client satisfaction. Enhancing User Experience and Productivity The overhaul of Fiverrs homepage and the introduction of Fiverr Neo, an AI-powered copilot technology, promise a more personalized and streamlined navigation experience for businesses seeking freelance talent. On the Fiverr Pro front, new features like the Freelancer Briefing with AI assistance, the Freelance Network, and enriched freelancer profiles aim to facilitate easier hiring, collaboration, and long-term relationships between businesses and top-tier freelancers. Empowering the Fiverr Community The release also unveils a dedicated community for Fiverr Pro users, offering a platform for knowledge sharing and access to training resources to enhance their capabilities and success on the platform. A Commitment to Global Collaboration With a mission to revolutionize the way the world works together, Fiverrs latest update is a testament to the companys commitment to democratizing access to talent and opportunities. Over 4 million customers worldwide, including small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, have leveraged Fiverrs Talent Cloud in the past year, benefiting from a flexible, adaptive, and agile workforce spanning over 550 service categories. This Winter Product Release not only responds to the evolving needs of the digital workforce but also solidifies Fiverrs position as a pivotal platform for freelancers and businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive marketplace. With these innovations, Fiverr continues to pave the way for a future where anyone, anywhere, can grow their business, brand, or dreams through the power of global collaboration. Mastercard announced the integration of generative AI into its Decision Intelligence (DI) platform to combat the rising tide of financial fraud. This enhancement is set to redefine the consumer protection landscape within the payments network, leveraging advanced technology to outpace fraudsters increasingly using sophisticated methods to undermine bank security and customer safety. Mastercards DI, a pioneering real-time decisioning solution, currently facilitates the secure approval of 143 billion transactions annually. With the introduction of generative AI, the systems capabilities are poised for a monumental leap forward. The new technology aims to scrutinize an astounding one trillion data points to discern the legitimacy of a transaction. This marks a significant advancement in Mastercards existing framework, which analyzes account details, purchase data, merchant information, and device identifiers in real time to ensure transaction integrity. The forthcoming version, dubbed Decision Intelligence Pro, promises to elevate the fraud detection process to new heights. By examining the intricate web of relationships between various entities involved in a transaction, DI Pro can ascertain the risk level of a transaction in under 50 milliseconds. This rapid assessment not only enhances the overall DI score provided to banks but also, according to initial models, amplifies fraud detection rates by an average of 20%and in certain scenarios, by as much as 300%. Ajay Bhalla, president of Cyber and Intelligence at Mastercard, emphasized the transformative potential of generative AI, stating, With generative AI we are transforming the speed and accuracy of our anti-fraud solutions, deflecting the efforts of criminals, and protecting banks and their customers. Supercharging our algorithm will improve our ability to anticipate the next potential fraudulent event, instilling trust into every interaction. One of the critical challenges in digital transaction security is the issue of false positiveslegitimate transactions erroneously flagged as fraudulent. The enhancement of DI with AI is expected to significantly mitigate this issue. Bhalla highlighted the solutions precision, achieved by scanning potential points of sale in real-time, which has been shown in our own analysis to not only increase accuracy but also reduce the number of false positives by more than 85%. The roll-out of DI Pro is slated for later this year, signaling a significant step forward in the fight against financial fraud. For small business owners, this development holds particular relevance. The heightened accuracy and efficiency of Mastercards enhanced DI system mean improved transaction safety for both merchants and consumers. Small businesses, often more vulnerable to the repercussions of fraudulent transactions and false positives, can look forward to a more secure, trustworthy payment environment. This advancement not only promises to safeguard revenues but also to bolster consumer confidencea critical component in the sustainability and growth of small enterprises in an increasingly digital marketplace. As Mastercard gears up to deploy this cutting-edge technology, the implications for the payments industry and beyond are profound. In an era where digital transactions are ubiquitous, ensuring their security is paramount. Mastercards initiative represents a significant stride in building a safer, more reliable future for consumers and businesses alike, reinforcing the companys position at the forefront of payment security innovation. LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. Many business owners are drawn to forming an LLC because of that business entitys most attractive feature: An LLC provides protection for the personal assets of owners and members. Is a Limited Liability Company the right choice for your business? Lets explore the business structure its pros and cons so you can decide. What is an LLC, and How does it Work? With the limited liability company structure, there can be one owner, two owners (a partnership), or many members. Similarly, what is an LLC operating agreement? There are choices in the management structure. All the members can have a role in management by having voting rights. The voting rights can be weighted or have more clout according to the percentage of ownership the member has in the company. Memberships in an Limited Liability Company are transferable. Members share in profit and losses; if its a partnership, the partners share in profit and losses. The owners can choose whether or not to be taxed as a partnership or an S Corp, whichever will be more beneficial. All these types of decisions are spelled out in two key documents: articles of organization and operating agreement. The articles of organization name who is who, and what their roles are. The operating agreement details the business structure, steps for transferring memberships, and how the Limited Liability Company will be managed. Should I Start an LLC? There are two main reasons for forming a limited liability company: 1. To protect the owners or members personal assets from liability if the business fails and 2. To realize tax advantages. For more information read reasons to start an LLC and what type of businesses should be one, for example, small business LLC. What are the Benefits of having an LLC? There are many benefits to forming a limited liability company, which also begs the question what can you do with an LLC? That doesnt mean an LLC is the best choice for every business. There can be as many cons to match the pros see Pros and Cons of an LLC. Here is a list of the benefits: Limited Liability Protection: Personal assets of owners and members protected. Taxation Choices: Tax impacts can be passed through to owners or members as income on an individuals tax return (pass-through taxation), or the Limited Liability Company can be taxed as a C Corp or S Corp. Transferability of Membership: This can be quite simple as spelled out in the operating agreement. Management Flexibility: The Limited Liability Company can have one manager who is a member of the LLC, or the Limited Liability Company can hire a manager who is not a member. The Limited Liability Company can be run by a committee. Profit and Loss Pass-through: The Limited Liability Company profit and loss can be passed through to individual members (pass-through taxation), and adjusted to reflect the percentage of ownership. Members can have voting rights. Silent Memberships: When the Limited Liability Company is formed, the members dont have to be listed on the documents. Taxation: Forming a Limited Liability Company can be a way to avoid double taxation. If a business is a corporation, the business itself may be taxed, and the owners may also be taxed on profits. What are the Downsides to a Limited Liability Company? One of the main downsides of forming an Limited Liability Company is that the annual renewal fees can be high. The fees vary by state. Also, there are publication requirements also vary by state which must be met for the Limited Liability Company to remain in operation. To learn more read the Pros and Cons of an LLC. There are additional downsides. It may be difficult to raise capital when the Limited Liability Company is being formed. Although its easy to transfer memberships, it can be difficult to transfer ownership. Profits are taxed immediately. Theres not an option to instead reinvest profits, as you can with a corporation. Some states restrict certain types of businesses from forming an Limited Liability Company. Where Should I Form a Limited Liability Company? You form a Limited Liability Company with your secretary of state. The filing fee may vary from $40 to $500 depending on where you live. Filing requirements may vary according to state law. Before you file, youll need to name your Limited Liability Company, and also write your articles of organization and operating agreement. What are the Different Types of LLCs? There are many different types. Single Member LLC: This is like a sole proprietorship with benefits. The sole proprietorship doesnt protect its owner from liability, but the single-member Limited Liability Company does. This is like a sole proprietorship with benefits. The sole proprietorship doesnt protect its owner from liability, but the single-member Limited Liability Company does. Member Managed LLC: profits and losses go to members (pass-through taxation), and members run the company. The LLC is a type of multi-member LLCs. profits and losses go to members (pass-through taxation), and members run the company. The LLC is a type of multi-member LLCs. Family Limited Partnership LLC: The Limited Liability Company is owned by family members as in multi-member LLCs. The Limited Liability Company is owned by family members as in multi-member LLCs. Professional LLC: The Limited Liability Company is managed by a manager. The Limited Liability Company is managed by a manager. Restricted LLC: This type of Limited Liability Company only exists in Nevada. The LLC cannot distribute profits until its been in operation for 10 years. This type of Limited Liability Company only exists in Nevada. The LLC cannot distribute profits until its been in operation for 10 years. L3C Company: The Limited Liability Company is for-profit but with the philanthropic distribution of profits. The Limited Liability Company is for-profit but with the philanthropic distribution of profits. Anonymous LLC: This type of Limited Liability Company only exists in New Mexico. The ownership details are not on any documents. This type of Limited Liability Company only exists in New Mexico. The ownership details are not on any documents. Non-Profit LLC: The Limited Liability Company is a nonprofit with 501c3 status. The Limited Liability Company is a nonprofit with 501c3 status. Series LLC: The series Limited Liability Company is available in 8 states. A series LLC is organized by internal segments, such as members, managers, assets, and interests. Profits are shared by members. The series Limited Liability Company is available in 8 states. A series LLC is organized by internal segments, such as members, managers, assets, and interests. Profits are shared by members. General Partnership LLC The Limited Liability Company is a multiple-member LLC. The Limited Liability Company is a multiple-member LLC. Limited Partnership LLC There are at least two members, one is a general partner and one is a limited partner. Usually, the limited partner is a silent partner. Types of Limited Liability Company Summary Type of LLC Description Single Member LLC Sole proprietorship with liability protection. Member Managed LLC Multi-member; profits/losses go to members; members run the company. Family Limited Partnership LLC Owned by family members. Professional LLC Managed by a manager. Restricted LLC Only in Nevada; Can't distribute profits for 10 years. L3C Company For-profit with philanthropic distribution of profits. Anonymous LLC Only in New Mexico; Ownership details not documented. Non-Profit LLC Nonprofit with 501c3 status. Series LLC Available in 8 states; Organized by internal segments. General Partnership LLC Multi-member LLC. Limited Partnership LLC At least two members; one general partne What Type of Business Entity Could I Form Instead of an LLC? You can form a partnership for a business that isnt an LLC, or you could form a corporation a c corporation or an s corporation. Heres a look at how each type of business entity is different from a Limited Liability Company, and from each other. In each, the ownership structure is different. Partnership: As with an Limited Liability Company, you can have a general, limited or limited liability partnership. With a limited partnership, the partners report to a general partner. In a general partnership, all owners are equally responsible for debts and profits. The limited liability partnership protects personal assets. So why do an Limited Liability Company instead? The paperwork is easier. S Corporations: The S Corporation issues stock and owners are shareholders. An S corporation also provides liability protection for owners. S Corporation owners are taxed based on the number of shares they own. The S Corporation owners must report earnings on their personal income tax returns. If you are asking should I elect S Corp status for my LLC, it is always an option as your business continues to grow. C Corporations: The C Corporation is an incorporated business that is taxed separately from its owners, who are also taxed. The C-Corporation also provides liability protection for owners. Employees of C Corporations have stock options and benefits. Business owners may choose limited liability companies for tax purposes instead of C Corporations to avoid double taxation of their company. How to Form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) Limited Liability Companies must be filed with the secretary of state where the companies are formed. Youll need to have developed your articles of organization, which include the names of all members and management, your company name and address, and the name and address of your registered agent. Youll need to have also developed your operating agreement, which establishes the rules and bylaws of the company. The operating agreement also includes the details of the company management and the business plan for company operations. For more information on these topics go to How do you Create an LLC. After youve formed and done the filing for your LLC business entity, youll have some additional steps to take: Check out 10 Things You Need To Do After Forming An LLC. Roles and Responsibilities in an LLC Just like corporations, Limited Liability Companyies can also define roles and responsibilities for their members. While not mandatory, its a good practice, especially as the LLC grows: Operating Agreement : Its crucial for an Limited Liability Company to draft an operating agreement. This document outlines the operational procedures of the business and the roles and responsibilities of each member. It can be seen as the rulebook of the company. : Its crucial for an Limited Liability Company to draft an operating agreement. This document outlines the operational procedures of the business and the roles and responsibilities of each member. It can be seen as the rulebook of the company. Decision-making Process : In a Limited Liability Company, decisions can be made collectively or might require unanimous approval, depending on the operating agreement. Important decisions, like bringing in a new member or taking on significant debt, should have clear voting processes. : In a Limited Liability Company, decisions can be made collectively or might require unanimous approval, depending on the operating agreement. Important decisions, like bringing in a new member or taking on significant debt, should have clear voting processes. Duties and Responsibilities: Each member may have specific duties and responsibilities, such as managing financials, overseeing marketing, or handling day-to-day operations. Its crucial to clarify these roles to avoid overlaps or gaps. Management and Business Structure of an LLC Corporations have structured management and business structures. For example, there are meetings of boards of directors of corporations, and the content of the corporation meetings must be noted in writing and recorded. Limited Liability Company structures are generally not as strict as they are with corporations. Thats because the owners or members who establish the LLC set the guidelines for the Limited Liability Company companies. Thats not to say that an Limited Liability Company cant have a board of directors, similar to a corporation setup. There are two main types of LLC business structures. With either structure, the members can decide to have a board of directors. Members will have voting rights based on their amount of capital investment in the company. Member managed Typically this type of LLC structure has a small number of members. Usually, each member has the experience and wants an active role. This is a good choice for small businesses. Manager managed In this LLC structure, one person is chosen as manager. The person chosen as a manager can be a member or non-member. Members can replace the manager and that is typically done by vote. Limited Liability Company Taxation and Financial Management Navigating the complexities of LLC taxation and financial management is essential for ensuring the financial health and sustainability of your business. Here are key points to consider: Flexible Taxation : Unlike corporations, LLCs benefit from pass-through taxation, allowing profits and losses to be reported on members personal tax returns. However, an LLC can choose corporate taxation if it offers financial advantages. : Unlike corporations, LLCs benefit from pass-through taxation, allowing profits and losses to be reported on members personal tax returns. However, an LLC can choose corporate taxation if it offers financial advantages. Financial Management Essentials : Meticulous Bookkeeping : Keep detailed records of all business transactions. Separation of Finances : Ensure a clear distinction between personal and business finances to maintain the integrity of your LLCs financial management. Tax Planning : Engage in proactive tax planning, including making estimated tax payments quarterly and understanding state-specific tax obligations. Expense Deductions : Maximize tax deductions by accurately tracking and deducting eligible business expenses. : Professional Advice: Consulting with financial advisors or accountants familiar with LLC structures can offer strategies for asset protection, profit maximization, and efficient tax planning. Succession Planning and Future Proofing Your Limited Liability Company Ensuring the longevity and legacy of your LLC involves thoughtful succession planning and strategies to adapt to future challenges. Heres how to approach it: Succession Planning : Operating Agreement Provisions : Include clear protocols in the operating agreement for the transfer of membership interests and decision-making in the event of a members departure. Leadership Development : Identify and develop potential future leaders within the organization to ensure a smooth transition. : Future-Proofing Strategies : Technological Investment : Stay ahead by investing in technology that improves efficiency, diversifies product offerings, and enhances customer engagement. Organizational Culture : Foster a culture that values innovation, flexibility, and continuous learning to empower your team to navigate future challenges. Legal Safeguards : Regularly review your operating agreement, compliance practices, and insurance coverage to protect against future legal challenges. Market Trends and Regulatory Changes : Keep abreast of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and market trends that could impact your business. : How Much Does it Cost to Form an LLC? Depending on the cost from state to state, the cost to file can vary from $40 to $500. Limited Liability Companies are filed with the secretary of state. Youll incur additional costs of course if you elect to hire a lawyer and/or accountant. You may need an accountant to advise you of the tax implications of the various types of LLCs and corporations setups. How are LLCs taxed? All Limited Liability Companies provide asset protection and all are taxed. The tax classification depends on the structure of the LLCs: If there is only one member the LLCs are taxed as a sole proprietorship. In tax lingo, the single-member LLCs are called disregarded entities and profits and losses are reported on Schedule C of tax returns. If there are two members, the LLCs are taxed as partnerships. Multi-member Limited Liability Companies are taxed as partnerships. The members must report LLC profits and losses using two forms, 1065 for overall figures and Schedule K-1 for individual figures. A C-Corporation is taxed as a business. C-corporation owners also report income on personal taxes. Company debts and profits must be reported. This is double taxation. For an S corporation, owners are shareholders. The owners report their share of the income on Schedule K-1. Should I Change my Sole Proprietorship to an LLC? The main reason to join the ranks of limited liability companies would be to protect personal assets. If you are a sole proprietor, you may be able to enjoy a low-income tax rate. However, you are also liable for business debts. If you have business debts as a sole proprietor, creditors may be able to go after your personal property. Want more in-depth information? Go to How to Change Your Sole Proprietorship to LLC: 6 Easy Steps. How do LLC owners get paid? LLC owners get paid by their share of the profit. The owners or members are paid via a distribution that passes from the LLCs to them. They must report the income from LLCs on their personal income tax return that they file. If the Limited Liability Company is an S corp, the company issues stocks and the owners are taxed based on the shares that they own. If the Limited Liability Company is a C Corp, the owners are taxed based on their earnings with the company. What is a registered agent? A registered agent is a person appointed by the leaders of the Limited Liability Company. The registered agent accepts legal documents on behalf of the business. To fulfill that role, the person must be available during business hours. The registered agent must be filed with the state when the Limited Liability Company information is filed. The person must be registered in the state as a registered agent, and be a resident of the state. What is an LLC operating agreement? The LLCs operating agreement spells out the roles of the owners, manager, and members. The agreements also include the bylaws of the Limited Liability Companies, and management and operations details of the LLCs. How do you prepare an operating agreement? For more info, go to Does Your LLC Need an Operating Agreement?. To learn more about what should be included, check if amending an LLC operating agreement is the right step for you. Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC? That depends on how complicated your Limited Liability Company is. Is it a single owner? You can probably walk yourself through it. If youre going to have a complicated operating agreement or a multi-member LLC, it may be best to retain a lawyer. Some of the paperwork especially the annual refiling and reporting can be daunting and it must be completed in a timely manner. Miss a deadline? Youll have to file all over again. And why shouldnt business owners be free to concentrate on building the business? You can put all your legal matters into the hands of an attorney whos well-versed in limited liability companies. There are lawyers who specialize in this LLC limited liability field. Your lawyer may also be able to give you guidance as to which type of Limited Liability Company is best for your business. Should I form a partnership or an LLC? Both a partnership and an LLC business provide limited liability protection. A general partnership as a business operates under the names of the owners, as a joint venture. The owners share in profit and loss and owners are personally liable for business debts. What does an LLC protect your business from? An Limited Liability Company protects you from: Seizure of your personal assets. In other words, if your LLC business fails, creditors cant put a lien on your house, or personal bank account or possessions. Double taxation. Youll pay income tax on any profits the LLC makes (or on your share of the profits). Youll report that income or loss on your personal income tax on Schedule C. Being named as involved in a business as an LLC member. LLCs dont have to list the names of all their members on documents filed for the business. Do I need an EIN number for an LLC? Yes, if youre a single-member LLC. In other words, if youve turned a sole proprietorship into a single-member LLC. Never lose your sense of humour when trying to speak a foreign language. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share To start a new chapter of your life in a new country where everything may seem unusual and incomprehensible, you need to equip yourself with new words (and even new letters) to be able write this chapter. I've learned myself that it's not necessarily easy. Still, it's the best way, and often a necessary step, for a newcomer - like me - to become part of the new world around them. I have a sufficiently vast experience of travelling abroad and long-term life in foreign countries. So, as time flew by, I managed to develop an algorithm for myself with the help of my dog. In part, he helps me get through the adaptation process as quickly as possible, and with minimal emotional costs. Of course, speaking a new language from the start would be ideal. But as we know, it takes a lot of time, especially if you're getting older. Life - and integration - can't wait that long, right? In Slovakia, my new home, I must have communicated with Slovak people almost from my first day in the country. I usually handled a situational conversation easily, even without speaking Slovak, so I at first didn't feel any language discomfort. Slovak is very similar to Ukrainian, in particular if people speak slowly. And when you add up non-verbal communication, the language barrier might gradually disappear. In fact, it's enough to use just a few Slovak words or phrases in a conversation for contact to be established. Slovaks are very empathetic, ready to help when you ask them politely and make it clear that their help is very important. A friendly smile, a kind voice, or thanks at the end of the conversation are all small, but very helpful tips if you can't find the right word in a foreign language. But as I have said, my dog, Pablo (he's a Jack Russell terrier if anyone's asking!) helps me lot with integration into the Slovak community. He's very cute. It may thus come as no surprise that he often receives compliments from random people. Moreover, these situations often spark a short conversation. Conversations with other dog lovers and owners is a whole different story; when we start talking about dogs, the language barrier doesn't exist any more. A case in point: Once I was walking Pablo around Lake Strkovec in Bratislava and I encountered a man of my age walking his dog. Word by word, we started talking about a range of topics. From summer activities on the shores of the lake to the MH17 aircraft crash, for more than half an hour in a kind of Slovak-Ukrainian dialect. We understood each other. Another time, I spoke to an older lady with a Labrador who was waiting for her granddaughter. She told me that she'd ordered a children's book online and was heading to the bookstore to pick up the book. I understood everything! This is how Pablo helps me find new friends in our neighbourhood as well as learn new words and phrases in Slovak at the same time. Of course, my daughter, Tamara, and I also use the classic way of learning Slovak. A few weeks ago, we started an online language course. We watch Slovak TV channels (sports channels are my favourite!). When I go out, I read signs, advertisements, announcements and so on. I listen to people on public transport and shops (even though I know I shouldn't). All these steps I take make me feel more comfortable in Slovakia. The most important thing is to overcome internal obstacles, to not be afraid of making blunders. Remember: If a mistake happens, just accept it with a smile on your face. Jan Mikas will be dismissed by Wednesday. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini (Hlas) announced on Tuesday that chief hygienist Jan Mikas would be removed from the post within hours. The expert has been blamed by the now coalition parties (SNS, Hlas, and Smer) for the alleged mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic for a long time. Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova (Hlas) will dismiss Mikas on Wednesday, February 14, at the latest. Due to the fact that there are only a few qualified experts in public health in Slovakia, the selection of a new chief hygienist was not easy, said the minister. A long-time worker in the public health field, Tatiana Cervenova will replace Mikas as of Thursday. SNS achieves its goal In an interview on Tuesday, the Hlas leader noted that the dismissal wasnt related to the Slovak National Party (SNS)s earlier request to sack Mikas. Wed discussed his replacement long before [SNS leader] Andrej Dankos proposal, said Pellegrini. Hlas called on his removal as early as in 2021. SNS asked the chief hygienist to resign on February 10, calling him a symbol of failure to handle the coronavirus pandemic well. Restrictions often affecting personal freedoms, which were adopted in the years 2020 to 2022 to limit the spread of Covid-19, divided society. Mikas became one of the targets of hatred. SNS and Smer questioned pandemic measures and vaccinations and ignored them. If Mikas doesnt draw responsibility for the previous three years on his own, SNS will ask the health minister to dismiss him at the next coalition council session, the party said in its press release several days ago. Appointed in 2016, Mikas told the TASR news agency that the partys recent call was yet another attack on himself and other experts who tried to reduce impacts of the pandemic on peoples health and lives. At the same time, he added that he was prepared to cooperate with any institution that would investigate the management of the coronavirus pandemic. It is the SNS party that has been calling for this investigation. I dont oppose examination of the management of the coronavirus pandemic by the General Prosecutors Office, the Supreme Audit Office, or the government proxy for investigation into management of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mikas said on February 11. This proxy is anti-vaxxer and SNS MP Peter Kotlar. He would like to turn Mikas into a cooperating defendant to learn more about the management of the pandemic by the past OLaNO-led governments. It is unknown who will help him investigate the handling of the pandemic. Last week, PM Robert Fico (Smer) sent a letter to the health minister to make all relevant information available to the Kotlar-led commission, wrote Dennik N. The opposition stands up for Mikas The opposition parties condemned the coalition for an attack on Mikas. KDH parliamentary caucus chair Martina Holeckova has said that she understands that SNS has problems with Mikas, as the party put a disseminator of hoaxes in charge of the commission investigating the pandemic. SaS MP Jana Bitto Ciganikova has also denounced attacks on experts. We should be grateful when experts with a quality education help the state to function, she said. If the health minister cannot weather the pressure from SNS, she has no business being a minister, Bitto Ciganikova concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/us-senate-candidates-campaign-says-biden-unfit-for-office-national-security-at-risk-1116746594.html US Senate Candidate's Campaign Says Biden Unfit for Office, National Security at Risk US Senate Candidate's Campaign Says Biden Unfit for Office, National Security at Risk Sputnik International Joe Biden is not mentally fit to serve as US president and his reelection may put US national security at risk, US Senate candidate Michael Hoover's spokesperson told Sputnik. 2024-02-12T21:47+0000 2024-02-12T21:47+0000 2024-02-12T21:47+0000 americas us joe biden beau biden senate https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1d/1116478865_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_3fcb57d8999ca9054ecbaf075f97795f.jpg "American sovereignty, independence and national security is at stake," Hoover campaign spokesperson Hannah Ellithorpe said about the upcoming presidential election. "We have an invasion occurring across our borders, the weaponization of our justice system, and Biden has us engaged in multiple wars." Ellithorpe added that Biden is "mentally not fit" to serve as US president.Last week, US Special Counsel Robert Hur released a report on his investigation into Bidens mishandling of classified documents, in which he cited several instances of Biden forgetting key dates in his life and career, including his time serving as US vice president and the date of the death of his son Beau Biden. Following the release of the report, Biden delivered a speech defending his memory, but subsequently mixed up Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as the leader of Mexico and became upset after reporters questioned whether his memory had gotten worse with age. Moreover, former President Donald Trump has accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the US justice system to go after him to stop him from running for office. He faces federal court cases related to his alleged role in the riot at the US Capitol in 2021 and for allegedly mishandling classified documents. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/gaffes-mistakes--bloodshed-scandals-that-enveloped-joe-biden-in-2023-1115840507.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240210/bidens-angry-press-conference-made-hurs-memory-report-infinitely-worse-1116706609.html americas 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 senate candidate michael hoover, us senate candidate michael hoover, joe biden gaffes, us special counsel robert hur, hur report, biden mental abilities https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/us-senators-filibuster-in-opposition-to-95bln-ukraine-israel-aid-bill-1116748440.html US Senators Filibuster in Opposition to $95Bln Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill US Senators Filibuster in Opposition to $95Bln Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill Sputnik International A group of Republican US Senators began filibustering on the Senate floor on Monday, amid disagreements over a $95 billion supplemental funding bill with aid for Ukraine and Israel. 2024-02-12T23:23+0000 2024-02-12T23:23+0000 2024-02-12T23:23+0000 americas us mike lee rand paul jonathan vance us arms for ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105741459_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_6972b4fec55579f702a16b8f0e4c3103.jpg "Talking filibuster begins in earnest this afternoon," Paul said in a statement via social media platform X. Later on Monday, the US Senate will consider further procedural motions to advance the legislation, which includes approximately $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Senators were able to speak for one hour each on the floor, delaying consideration of the bill. Senators Paul, Mike Lee, and J.D. Vance have delivered remarks in opposition to the legislation. Senator Thom Tillis also delivered a speech blaming his Republican colleagues for holding up an agreement to unlock amendment votes.Earlier on Monday, Vance sent a memo to Senate Republicans, contending that the bill could allow Democrats to attempt to impeach Donald Trump in 2024, if he is reelected and attempts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Vance and Lee will join entrepreneur Elon Musk in a discussion later on Monday to discuss the legislation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/us-senator-says-dems-congressmen-want-to-fight-russia-to-last-ukrainian-drop-of-blood-1116748296.html americas 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 filibuster, 95 billion supplemental funding bill, 95 billion for ukraine, us aid for ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/2024-munich-security-index-most-g7-nations-no-longer-see-russia-as-top-threat-1116761608.html 2024 Munich Security Index: Most G7 Nations No Longer See Russia as Top Threat 2024 Munich Security Index: Most G7 Nations No Longer See Russia as Top Threat Sputnik International The index has indicated that the perception of Russia as a "major risk" has decreased significantly compared to last year's study. 2024-02-13T16:26+0000 2024-02-13T16:26+0000 2024-02-13T16:26+0000 us tucker carlson joe biden russia ukraine brics nato tomahawk china coronavirus https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0b/1b/1091058643_0:59:2949:1718_1920x0_80_0_0_a7a0ad202a559c8f4a9560e3e1bfaccf.jpg The Munich Security Index (MSI) is a dataset on global risk perceptions among the so-called Group of Seven a forum of industrialized nations consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US and BRICS the five initial members of the group of major developing nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which expanded to ten in January 2024.The survey has been conducted annually since 2021 ahead of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) alongside the Kekst CNC, a global strategic communications consultancy. Since 2023, Ukraine has been included in the MSI instead of Russia.Based on a poll conducted among 12,000 people globally, the MSI is designed to show how G7 and BRICS view 31 major global and domestic risks by combining five metrics:Munich Security Index 2021The 2021 MSI, conducted in February and March, showed that slightly over half of respondents in all countries surveyed saw Russia as a "major risk". Still, it was markedly less than those who named China (64%) a high threat.Russia was ranked 24th in the survey's "risk bump chart". The world's top five perceived risks included: the coronavirus pandemic; extreme weather and forest fires; destruction of natural habitats; climate change generally; and a future pandemic.According to the survey, anti-Russia perception was strongest in the US (63%) and the UK (61%). On the other hand, Italy (46%) and China (41%) were the only countries whose perception of Russia as a "major risk" scored below the global average.Thirty-four percent of respondents overall expected that the risk from Russia "would increase" over the next year, while around 50% of Chinese respondents said that the risk from Russia would remain stable; 29% said it would decrease; just 20% said it would increase.The security index indicated a serious gap in the perception of Russia between G7 nations and BRICS with the latter characterizing the country in a more favorable light.Munich Security Index 2022The second edition of the index was based on surveys conducted in November 2021.Russia moved up from 24th place to 23d in the risk bump chart, with the top five major risks being named at the time as: climate change generally; destruction of natural habitats; extreme weather and forest fires; the coronavirus pandemic; cyberattacks on your country.According to the 2022 MSI, the people polled became "more risk-aware" than in March/February 2021: "This increased awareness pertains, among other things, to the perceived risk posed by mass migration, food shortages, climate change, extreme weather events, rising inequality, and cyberattacks. But it is also evident in risk perceptions toward other countries China and Russia chief among them." In March 2021, a new Military Strategy was adopted in Ukraine, too, being almost entirely dedicated to confrontation with Russia and setting the goal of involving foreign states in a possible conflict with Moscow.Likewise, the US mainstream media had fanned the idea of Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine through the second half of 2021, totally overlooking Moscow's draft security agreements on common European security, non-expansion of NATO, as well as Ukraine's non-aligned status and de-militarization amid Kiev's defiance of the Minsk agreements. The US/NATO decision to snub Russia's draft security accords left Moscow with little if any choice: Russia was forced to prevent the Kiev regime from continuing to indiscriminately shell Donbass and to ensure that NATO military installations wouldn't be placed on Russia's doorstep.The Munich Security Index 2023In contrast to the two previous surveys, the 2023 MSI did not poll Russia - citing Moscow's special military in Ukraine.Thus the study was based on representative samples of 1,000 people from each G7 and BRICS country, except Russia (BICS), and Ukraine. The total sample amounted to 12,000 people with polling being conducted from October 19 to November 7, 2022."In all countries surveyed bar India, the risk index score for Russia rose significantly," the paper said. "While Russia was not seen as a top five risk in any of the G7 countries only a year ago, citizens in five G7 countries now consider Moscow the number one risk."Meanwhile, G7 countries saw Russia as a number one "threat". Italy, which used to hold a positive view of Russia, ranked the country sixth in its list of major risks, whereas the US, Canada, France, Japan and Germany ranked Russia first with the UK placing it second only to "energy supply disruption."Eventually, Russia leaped to the first place in the G7 risk bump chart. When it comes to "BICS", Russia went just slightly up from 29th place to 28th.The Munich Security Index 2024However, the 2024 MSI saw Russia drop to fourth place in the survey's risk bump chart for G7 industrialized economies, while in the similar chart for "BICS" Russia returned to 29th place.If one takes a closer look at G7 countries, one would see that Canada ranked Russia third, outlining extreme weather and forest fires and destruction of natural habitats as its top two major risks, respectively.France ranked Russia sixth: the nation's top five perceived major risks now include: radical Islamic terrorism; mass migration; climate change generally; extreme weather and forest fires; racism and other discrimination.Germany ranked Russia seventh. The country's top six major risks are mass migration; radical Islamic terrorism; cyberattacks; international organized crime; destruction of natural habitats; and rising inequality.Italy ranked Russia 12th. The US ranked Russia fourth (seeing cyberattacks, political polarization, and China as greater threats). Only Japan and the UK say that Russia remains the number one threat for them.The change in perception of Russia among G7 countries those who spearheaded sanctions against Moscow and have been arming Ukraine throughout the conflict was admitted by the MSI authors as a "moderation of trends" in the wake of the Russian special military operation. Remarkably, it occurred as Ukraine's counteroffensive failed and Russia saw new successes on the battlefield.At the same time, the aforementioned "moderation of trends" coincided with Ukraine fatigue among the US public, which as national polls showed started to see Washington's supplying of the Kiev regime as "excessive". Likewise, House Republicans put the brakes on President Joe Biden's $60 billion Ukraine package. Meanwhile, despite approving a $54 billion package to patch the gaps in Ukraine's budget, the EU is seeing steady erosion in support for the Kiev regime among the European public. Moreover, the bloc, as well as the UK, has seen stagnation with Germany suffering from the GDP contraction and de-industrialization.The interview between US journalist Tucker Carlson and President Vladimir Putin seems to dot the i's and cross the t's on the causes of the Russian special military operation as well as its objectives. As Larry Johnson, a retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official, told Sputnik following the Carlson-Putin conversation, the interview will further erode the funding crusade for US proxy conflict in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230220/munich-security-conference-2023-an-exercise-in-western-self-delusion-1107625453.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220109/ex-pentagon-officer-biden-should-accept-russias-draft-security-agreements-as-basis-for-yalta-20-1092128161.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/military-experts-shake-up-of-ukrainian-top-brass-wont-help-zelensky-1116743539.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240211/carlsons-interview-putin-and-trump-seen-as-threat-by-davos-globalists--wall-street-analyst-1116731246.html russia ukraine china 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 munich security index, msi, most g7 countries no longer see russia as major risk, 2024 munich security index, munich security conference, russian president vladimir putin, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky, major risks, climate change, radical islamic terrorism. war in ukraine, west's dwindling support to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/french-farmers-to-resume-strikes-unless-government-adopts-new-support-measures-1116762513.html French Farmers to Resume Strikes Unless Government Adopts New Support Measures French Farmers to Resume Strikes Unless Government Adopts New Support Measures Sputnik International French farmers' protests, which are gradually eroding confidence in the European Union, will resume if the country's authorities do not take additional support measures, the head of the FNSEA farmers' union, Arnaud Rousseau, said 2024-02-13T17:50+0000 2024-02-13T17:50+0000 2024-02-13T17:50+0000 world france protest farmers french farmers protests europe's farmer protests https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1f/1116506122_0:74:3072:1802_1920x0_80_0_0_15a0acf878d6de391c4990a9fe35d761.jpg "We want additional measures ... If we don't see any change within 10 days, we are ready to resume the strikes," Russo said on air of French broadcaster TF1. He added that since the government announced the agrarian changes, little has been done to implement them and the farmers are not happy. As a result, farmers have already returned to strikes in some departments of the country.Meanwhile, commenting on a recent Elabe poll, Florian Philippot, the leader of The Patriots party, said that the farmers' strike had "opened the eyes of a large number of French people."According to the recent poll, more than a third of the French (36%) believe that membership in the EU brings France more problems than benefits. Moreover, among supporters of the National Union Party, the number of those who are skeptical about France's membership in the bloc reaches 60%.In France, farmer protests have gained momentum in recent weeks. Protesters have blocked key highways, cut down traffic with tractors and haystacks. Farmers also pelted prefectures and administration buildings with manure and waste. They denounced the government's agricultural policies, which they felt were making them non-competitive. In particular, the farmers opposed the importation of agricultural products, restrictions on the use of water for irrigation, the rising cost of diesel fuel, as well as restrictive environmental protection measures and the increasing financial burden on production. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/farmers-protests-in-europe-facts-and-figures-1116744482.html france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International french farmers' protests https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/ground-is-shifting-under-bidens-feet-after-hur-report-1116748950.html Ground is Shifting Under Bidens Feet After Hur Report Ground is Shifting Under Bidens Feet After Hur Report Sputnik International After Special Counsel Robert Hur's report that mentioned US President Joe Biden's poor memory leading to calls for him to step aside, author Dan Lazare told Radio Sputnik that "the ground is shifting beneath Biden's feet." 2024-02-13T01:14+0000 2024-02-13T01:14+0000 2024-02-13T01:14+0000 analysis joe biden dan lazare kamala harris republican dementia 2024 us presidential election https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1d/1116459888_0:0:3112:1751_1920x0_80_0_0_ab896a1603784b7a0a5d971aec6831e9.jpg The report also noted that he forgot when his term as Vice President ended and started, and couldnt remember what year his son died.Biden attempted to quell concerns about his age by calling a press conference addressing the report but proceeded to confuse Mexico and Egypt while speaking to reporters. While Democratic leaders and administration officials were quick to defend the President, the cracks have started to show.Independent journalist and author Dan Lazare told Sputniks The Final Countdown on Monday that the Biden administration is in real trouble, and that the ground is shifting beneath Bidens feet.On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris told a US media outlet she is ready to serve while slamming the report as wrong and politically motivated.Earlier in the week, former First Lady and 2016 democratic nominee Hillary Clinton admitted that Bidens age is an issue. Finally, the New York Times editorial board released its opinion that Biden needs to do more to show the public that he is capable of holding office until age 86 when his potential second term would end. It called on him to hold regular news conferences and said it looks like he is hiding or worse, being hidden.Co-host Ted Rall asked how Republicans should tread the line between criticizing the president and being sensitive to people who have experienced dementia in their own families. They can say, look, that guys too old, hes senile. and jump up and down [...] [Or] is the best tactic to basically express sympathy and say, look this can happen to any of us. We have sympathy for the president and his family [...] but the needs of the country come first, and maybe they should call for Harris to take over knowing full well [that] politically she is unpopular.However, co-host Angie Wong, a Republican, argued that she would love Biden to remain on the ticket in November. Thatll be fantastic for Donald Trump and [in down-ballot races]. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/over-80-of-us-citizens-deem-biden-too-old-for-another-presidential-term---poll-1116738410.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino should joe biden step aside, what happens if joe biden resigns, will kamala harris be president, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/hardline-us-policies-after-ukraine-conflict-could-increase-risk-of-war-with-russia---think-tank-1116765982.html Hardline US Policies After Ukraine Conflict Could Increase Risk of War With Russia - Think Tank Hardline US Policies After Ukraine Conflict Could Increase Risk of War With Russia - Think Tank Sputnik International A hardline strategy by the United States after the resolution of the Ukraine conflict could make war with Russia in Europe more likely, the US think tank RAND Corporation said in a report. 2024-02-13T22:32+0000 2024-02-13T22:32+0000 2024-02-13T22:32+0000 world rand corporation ukraine crisis ukrainian conflict russia ukraine nato us us hegemony us arms for ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105618/68/1056186827_0:218:4193:2576_1920x0_80_0_0_eaa71fedd12575a3ce4adf6c0634fee7.jpg A hardline postwar US strategy in Europe could make conflict with Russia more not less likely, the report stressed on Tuesday. Hardline policies, such as further military buildup in Europe, are unlikely to be necessary to effectively deter a Russian attack on a NATO country, the corporation emphasized. Such policies could increase the risk of conflict with Russia, the report highlighted. A longer, more violent conflict in Ukraine could have long-term and irreversible negative consequences for US interests, the corporation warned. The US has policy options to encourage Russia and Ukraine to pursue a ceasefire sooner rather than later, the report insisted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230327/us-nukes-in-europe-where-are-they-stationed-1108844053.html 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 us-russia war, deter russia, policy of deterrence, nuclear war, us-russia conflict, us arms for ukraine, us assistance to ukraine, aid allocations for ukraine, ukraine aid, money for ukraine, us for ukraine, us weapons for ukraine, us aid to ukraine, us funding for ukraine, us funding to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/idf-kills-over-10000-hamas-fighters-in-gaza-strip-since-october-7-1116764283.html IDF Kills Over 10,000 Hamas Fighters in Gaza Strip Since October 7 IDF Kills Over 10,000 Hamas Fighters in Gaza Strip Since October 7 Sputnik International The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has eliminated more than 10,000 Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, including many commanders, since the escalation of the Middle East conflict, but much remains to be done to reach the war's objectives, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday. 2024-02-13T20:32+0000 2024-02-13T20:32+0000 2024-02-13T20:32+0000 military palestine-israel conflict benjamin netanyahu israel gaza strip israel defense forces (idf) hamas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1e/1116500566_0:101:3072:1829_1920x0_80_0_0_c33d3b1253fe08612b49b891f200c6a7.jpg "So far, we have eliminated over 10,000 terrorists, including many commanders. This is what dismantling Hamas means. Our military achievements, as I previously mentioned, are very high, but there is still a long way to go before we can achieve the war's objectives. We need to eliminate the senior leadership, eliminate more of the enemy's commanders and operatives, return civilians to their homes safely, and bring the hostages home a supreme mission and moral obligation," Halevi said in a statement published by the IDF on Telegram. The IDF continues to operate "wherever terrorism exists" and does not intend to stop, Halevi added. On February 5, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the IDF had destroyed 18 out of Hamas' 24 battalions. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 28,400 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/20231215/idf-reveals-forces-mistakenly-killed-three-israeli-hostages-in-gaza-1115612647.html israel 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 humanitarian disaster, 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 deathsmilitary advisors, us involvement, us army, us military, us-israel military cooperation, american advisors https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/israeli-jets-strike-airport-in-syrias-aleppo-from-lebanon---russian-military-1116763583.html Israeli Jets Strike Airport in Syria's Aleppo From Lebanon - Russian Military Israeli Jets Strike Airport in Syria's Aleppo From Lebanon - Russian Military Sputnik International Israeli jets have attacked using cruise missiles the Nayrab airport in Syria's Aleppo from the territory of Lebanon on February 12, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Tuesday. 2024-02-13T19:45+0000 2024-02-13T19:45+0000 2024-02-13T19:45+0000 israel syria lebanon aleppo military air strikes israel defense forces (idf) syrian army israeli-palestinian conflict palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/0a/1081723714_0:166:3072:1894_1920x0_80_0_0_4431dff5a98a96fa4192bdc964d6487a.jpg "Two F-16 tactical fighter jets of the Israeli air force launched an air strike with two cruise missiles at Nayrab International Airport in the Aleppo province from the territory of Lebanon without entering Syrian airspace on February 12," the official told a briefing, adding that as a result of the strike three civilian airport employees were injured. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240208/israeli-strikes-against-syrias-homs-leave-9-died-13-injured---source-1116655439.html israel syria lebanon aleppo 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 air strikes, israel-syria war, israel strikes syria, israel attacks syria, strikes on syria, israeli strikes, syria, israel strikes syria, isral-syria war, israel-syria tensions, israel-syria conflict, israeli defense forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/russia-security-council-on-austin-hiding-hospitalization-nuclear-state-must-be-liable-1116765583.html Russian Security Council on Austin 'Secret' Hospitalization: Nuclear State Must Be Liable Russian Security Council on Austin 'Secret' Hospitalization: Nuclear State Must Be Liable Sputnik International A country that possesses nuclear weapons must demonstrate a sense of responsibility and a call of duty in the case of the hospitalization of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Mikhail Popov said. 2024-02-13T22:11+0000 2024-02-13T22:11+0000 2024-02-14T02:01+0000 world joe biden mikhail popov us department of defense (dod) biden administration us us hegemony russia nuclear war us nuclear weapons https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0d/1116765158_0:159:3071:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_aef389f5b31f19678aa6b809d3d517d8.jpg "It is clear that the Secretary of Defense is not young and probably not an absolutely healthy person, like many US leaders... But in this case, on the contrary, a sense of responsibility and a call of duty should be demonstrated. We are talking about... a state possessing nuclear weapons and constantly claiming to be a global hegemon," Popov said in an interview for the Izvestia newspaper.Moreover, the risk of an accidental nuclear war at the hands of the US has increased dramatically in recent days after a special counsel report determined US President Joe Biden's mental acuity is on the decline, the official highlighted. Biden has the sole authority to authorize the use of nuclear arms, Popov stressed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/ground-is-shifting-under-bidens-feet-after-hur-report-1116748950.html 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 biden administration, biden's mental capacity, biden's dementia, demented biden, lloyd austin, us defense secretary, us politics, politician medical scare, joe biden, what happened to lloyd austin, implications of austins hospitalization, why was austin hospitalized, whats happening in the us defense department, latest news from the us dod, us department of defense, what are the consequences of austins hospitalization, is lloyd austin ok https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/russian-fm-lavrov-addresses-valdai-discussion-club-in-moscow-1116751624.html Russian FM Lavrov Addresses Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow Russian FM Lavrov Addresses Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow Sputnik International On February 13, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's top diplomat, will be speaking to the attendees of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow. 2024-02-13T09:08+0000 2024-02-13T09:08+0000 2024-02-13T09:08+0000 russia sergey lavrov moscow russia russian academy of sciences (ras) valdai discussion club middle east https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/1f/1115906339_0:0:3115:1753_1920x0_80_0_0_d5df0861f78ca62346dc2653b0377c78.jpg Sputnik is bringing you live coverage of the 13th annual Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club, running from February 13 to 14, 2024, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be delivering a speech.The event entitled Time for decisive action: a comprehensive settlement for the sake of stability in the region is organized by the Valdai Discussion Club and supported by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Clubs Middle East conferences have been held regularly since 2009, with Moscow hosting them every year since 2016.Follow Sputniks live feed to learn more! moscow 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 Lavrov delivers a speech at the 13th Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club Sputnik International Lavrov delivers a speech at the 13th Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club 2024-02-13T09:08+0000 true PT22M02S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sergey lavrov at valdai, valdai discussion club, lavrov's recent speeches, lavrov's recent remarks, lavrov's recent comments, guests at valdai discussion club https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/tucker-putin-interview-shows-americans-are-hungry-for-information-from-russia-1116749627.html Scott Ritter: Tucker-Putin Interview Shows Americans Hungry for Information From Russia Scott Ritter: Tucker-Putin Interview Shows Americans Hungry for Information From Russia Sputnik International Former US Marines Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter told Radio Sputnik on Monday that Tucker Carlson's interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin showed Americans are hungry for information. 2024-02-13T03:55+0000 2024-02-13T03:55+0000 2024-02-13T04:34+0000 analysis vladimir putin russia sputnik european parliament white house the critical hour https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/09/1116698991_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_a09d1b7a352e9cf8e81aaad65633312c.jpg The success of the Tucker-Putin interview was the result of Americans being hungry for information about what Russia is thinking, former US Marines Corps intelligence officer and author Scott Ritter told Sputniks The Critical Hour on Monday.Earlier, Ritter spoke about attempts to punish Tucker for giving the interview, including former Belgian prime minister and current member of the European Parliament who suggested Carlson could face sanctions for giving the interview.The interview has over 198 million views on X, more than 15 million views on YouTube, plus an unknown amount across other platforms including Carlsons website.Ritter noted that Tuckers interview is protected by free speech, which does not automatically equate to wise speech, he argued.But the thing about free speech is that the antidote to bad speech is better free speech, Ritter explained. Meaning, that if you have a problem with what somebodys saying [...] come up with better ideas and put them out there.While Ritter called Tucker an idiot for not being better prepared for the interview, he said that the important thing is that Putin got to speak to the American people through their own lens.Earlier, despite his criticisms, Ritter said he hopes a future President will recognize the service he [Tucker Carlson] did for the world and [bring] him to the White House and put the Presidential Medal of Freedom around his neck. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/us-senators-filibuster-in-opposition-to-95bln-ukraine-israel-aid-bill-1116748440.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino scott ritter, tucker carlson interview, putin interview, what effect will putin's interview have https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/ukraine-loses-around-325-soldiers-near-donetsk-in-past-day---russian-mod-1116755512.html Ukraine Loses Around 325 Soldiers Near Donetsk in Past Day - Russian MoD Ukraine Loses Around 325 Soldiers Near Donetsk in Past Day - Russian MoD Sputnik International Ukraine has lost up to 325 soldiers in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Tuesday 2024-02-13T11:57+0000 2024-02-13T11:57+0000 2024-02-13T11:57+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine donetsk ministry of defense (mod) russian ministry of defense donetsk peoples republic https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0d/1116755321_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_239f733ba86d1710fbfd5dc361ff1f6e.jpg Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repelled five attacks by Ukrainian troops around Donetsk and four attacks in the Kupyansk area. Ukraine has also lost up to 310 soldiers in Krasny Liman, up to 250 soldiers south of Donetsk, and up to 180 soldiers around Kupyansk, the MoD added. ukraine donetsk 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/20240213/us-base-in-syrias-omar-oil-field-attacked-three-times-within-hour---source-1116764460.html US Base in Syria's Omar Oil Field Attacked Three Times Within Hour - Source US Base in Syria's Omar Oil Field Attacked Three Times Within Hour - Source Sputnik International A US military base sitting on natural oil and gas fields in eastern Syria was shelled three times within one hour, a local Syrian source told Sputnik. 2024-02-13T21:37+0000 2024-02-13T21:37+0000 2024-02-13T21:38+0000 us syria deir ez-zor military drone strikes us forces us army us hegemony us interventions oil and gas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/04/1080367483_0:105:3072:1833_1920x0_80_0_0_42ea00604c430b21c3edba3e4dbbbf3f.jpg "Within less than an hour, the US base was attacked three times - first two, then three more missiles were fired at it, the US air defences were unable to intercept them. During the third strike, more than 10 missiles were fired and struck the base, causing a fire to break out," the source said.According to the source, the US military responded to the incident by shelling the attackers' positions. US attack helicopters have since been deployed to patrol the area.The US armed forces illegally control territories in the east and northeast of Syria in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Al-Hasakah, and Raqqa, where Syria's largest oil and gas fields are located. Damascus has repeatedly called the presence of the US military on its territory an occupation and state piracy for the purpose of blatantly stealing the nation's oil. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220925/us-forces-reportedly-smuggle-79-more-tankers-filled-to-the-brim-with-stolen-syrian-oil-1101213908.html syria deir ez-zor 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 syrian oil, us steals oil, us smuggles oil, attack on us base, syria-us war, us intervention, us hegemony, us war in syria, us base, us base in syria, us base shelled, us occupation, oil field, omar oil field https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/us-pushing-israel-and-palestine-towards-catastrophe---russian-fm-lavrov-1116754118.html US Pushing Israel and Palestine Towards Catastrophe - Russian FM Lavrov US Pushing Israel and Palestine Towards Catastrophe - Russian FM Lavrov Sputnik International Russia does not see any prospects for a quick stabilization of the situation around the Gaza Strip, especially against the backdrop of Israeli plans to expand the military operation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday 2024-02-13T11:23+0000 2024-02-13T11:23+0000 2024-02-13T11:23+0000 russia sergey lavrov palestinians americans russia east israel russian academy of sciences (ras) institute of oriental studies palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0d/1116753795_0:113:3239:1935_1920x0_80_0_0_d03865260a3d7db7c6daf192b7607c28.jpg Russia's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov has addressed attendees of the 13th annual Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club. The event entitled Time for decisive action: a comprehensive settlement for the sake of stability in the region is supported by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.In his speech, Lavrov touched upon a variety of pressing issues about the unraveling developments in the Middle East. No Prospects for Palestine-Israel Settlement at the MomentThe minister emphasized that the recent expansion of Israel's ground operation further into the Gaza Strip dramatically undermines a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict. It is necessary to look for a way out of this catastrophic situation, the minister said, adding that it is the US that is "pushing Palestine, Israel and the entire Middle East into a catastrophe."US Seeks to Exclude Russia From MidEast ResolutionWashington intends to exclude Moscow from international efforts for a Middle East crisis settlement, as the US is betting on its own dominance in the region, Lavrov added.The FM recalled that Washington effectively "blocked the work of international mediators on the Middle East settlement, consisting of Russia, the US, the UN and the EU."Lavrov added that in the current situation, the US applies "its recipes that are divorced from reality and one-sided solutions that ignore the specifics of either countries or the region as a whole."Russia Suggests Holding Intra-Palestinian DialogueAccording to the Russian foreign minister, Moscow plans to hold an inter-Palestinian meeting in the "foreseeable future" with the support of the Palestinians themselves.Lavrov also pointed out that at the UN, Russia had drawn attention to the long-standing Russian initiative to hold consultations involving key countries in the region in order to harmonize their approaches and support the creation of a Palestinian state.Russia Keeps Working on Evacuating People From GazaLavrov also noted that Russia continues to try to evacuate citizens of the Russian Federation and other countries from the Gaza Strip. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/aftermath-of-missile-hits-on-gazas-rafah---photos-1116740268.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/russia-evacuates-citizens-of-ukraine-kyrgyzstan-sweden-morocco-from-gaza-1115851528.html russia east israel gaza strip rafah 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 https://sputnikglobe.com/20240213/zelensky-may-visit-western-europe-again-to-ask-for-more-aid-as-supplies-dwindle-1116750632.html Zelensky May Visit Western Europe Again to Ask for More Aid as Supplies Dwindle Zelensky May Visit Western Europe Again to Ask for More Aid as Supplies Dwindle Sputnik International This will be the Ukrainian leader's second Western European tour since the start of Russia's special military operation, a trip aimed at begging for money from EU members currently going through economic malaise. 2024-02-13T07:41+0000 2024-02-13T07:41+0000 2024-02-13T07:41+0000 world ukraine germany france volodymyr zelensky aid tour visit special operation https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0d/1116750165_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a95eec8c12ea035e016b87bd598c29aa.jpg Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may visit Berlin, Munich and Paris later this week to lobby for additional military aid for Kiev amid the Ukrainian funding furor in the US Senate, Bloomberg news agency reported, citing unnamed sources.One of the sources suggested that the Ukrainian leader is likely to push for talks on security guarantees during his possible visits to European cities. The sources stressed that the Ukrainian side has not yet confirmed the information about Zelensky's plans, while representatives of the French and German governments declined to comment on the matter.This comes after the EU secured a deal to send 50 billion euros ($53 billion) more to Ukraine, which came amid attempts by a group of Republicans in the US Senate to thwart Washington's efforts to approve $60 billion in additional aid to Kiev.The US and its allies increased their military aid to Ukraine shortly after the beginning of the Russian special military operation.Moscow has repeatedly warned that such aid will only serve to prolong the conflict in Ukraine, and that any cargo entering Ukraine will be considered a legitimate military target by Russian forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/french-politician-says-54bln-in-aid-to-ukraine-will-cost-france-86bln-in-taxpayers-money-1116546030.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/ukraine-aid-bill-advanced-in-us-senate-amid-republican-and-trump-opposition--1116737796.html ukraine germany france 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 ukraine, germany, france, volodymyr zelensky, aid, tour, visit, special operation Equine Guelph has partnered with Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing and Central Ontario Standardbred Association to offer three online courses in the winter of 2024 in priority healthcare areas of respiratory, lameness and gut health. Sponsored by Standardbred Canada, the Racehorse Respiratory Health course is the final course in this winter series. The two-week online short course, developed specifically for the horse racing industry, will be offered from March 4 March 15, 2024 and will be available free (value of $95) to the first 100 Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) licence holders and/or Standardbred Canada members who enroll. In the 2017 Ontario Horse Racing Industry Survey conducted by Equine Guelph, respiratory issues was ranked the top health issue of concern. The Racehorse Respiratory Health course will cover topics such as the anatomy and function of the equine respiratory system, the causes and prevention of respiratory diseases, and the evaluation and management of respiratory health in racehorses. Respiratory health is essential for any racehorse, as it affects their performance and well-being. However, many racehorses are exposed to various risk factors that can compromise their respiratory function, such as cold air, dust, ammonia, infections and inflammation. This course will provide practical and evidence-based information on how to reduce these risks and improve respiratory health in racehorses, using the latest research and expert advice from veterinarians and industry professionals. The most recent update to the course includes a video interview with Dr. Luis Arroyo, who has been involved with research studies on exerciseinduced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Horses suffering from EIPH are known as bleeders. Watch a sneak peek below. Dr. Janet Beeler-Marfisi will be following up as guest expert, available in week two of the course, answering any further questions on bleeders and other respiratory health concerns. Dr. Beeler-Marfisi is a researcher, assistant professor and a diagnostic clinical pathologist at the Ontario Veterinary College. She studies the equine lung diseases, mild and severe equine asthma (inflammatory airway disease and heaves) and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Shes particularly interested in the role of air pollution (smog) in causing these diseases, as well as unravelling the relationship between barn dusts and lung inflammation. Dr. Beeler-Marfisi has always had an interest in horse health, having grown up around her fathers Standardbreds and having married a Standardbred racehorse trainer. She is also a teacher who is dedicated to helping her students find ways to truly understand the information she shares. Doctors Sarah Shaw and Amy Lack will return as the course co-instructors for the Racehorse Respiratory Health online course. Dr. Sarah Shaw is a private practice owner and a large animal internal medicine specialist working in Ontario. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College, she spent one year in a large animal ambulatory practice and then completed an internship at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala. She then pursued a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M where her research focused on Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. In 2016, Dr. Shaw began working at Rotenberg Veterinary P.C., a practice with a focus on Thoroughbred mares, foals, sales yearlings and racehorses. Concurrently, she has developed a diverse equine internal medicine referral caseload and is an adjunct professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Amy Lack grew up riding and showing horses in western New York. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2015 and completed a residency in internal medicine at Mississippi State University in 2019. During her residency, she completed a Masters thesis with a focus on equine asthma. Dr. Lack joined the Large Animal Internal Medicine service at the Ontario Veterinary College in July of 2020. Dr. Shaw and Dr. Lack will be discussing common respiratory issues for racehorses as well as early detection and prevention. Course participants will journey through the anatomy of a horses respiratory system and finish the course with an understanding of how these obligate nose-breathers differ from yourself. Shaw and Lack will also be joined by Industry Ambassadors, Ruleen Lilley and Renee Kierans, who will be on-hand as peer helpers to assist students and ask questions on hot topics. "We are pleased to partner with Equine Guelph in providing valuable training and education to horse people across Canada," said Darryl Kaplan, Standardbred Canada President and CEO. The course is suitable for anyone involved in the horse racing industry, such as trainers, grooms, owners and anyone who wants their horse to reach its full potential! The course is delivered completely online through the Horse Portal, a user-friendly and flexible learning platform that allows participants to access the course materials anytime and anywhere and interact with the instructors and other learners through discussion forums. No prior online learning experience is required. Sign up now as registration is limited, for the free Racehorse Respiratory Health course on the thehorseportal.ca. (With files from Equine Guelph) Recently retired after 50 years in the legal profession, John J. Butch Davies III is the Culpeper honoree for this years 5 Over 50 Awards of Aging Together. Over 50 nominations were submitted this year for the annual contest, recognizing outstanding citizens aged 50 or older in Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. This is the most nominations ever received, according to an Aging Together release. We are gratified for the overwhelming response of this celebration in recognition of the many hundreds of older adults who make a difference, said Aging Together Executive Director Ellen Phipps. If we could honor every single one, we would. Choosing one from each county is next to impossible. Davies, a former state delegate and lifelong Culpeper resident, retired Dec. 31 from his downtown law firm, Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards. He is a businessman who has been active in several community pursuits including with Culpeper Renaissance, Virginia Main Street Lions and the local bar association, as well as instrumental in bringing a community college in Culpeper. Davies is also an Army veteran who served stateside during the Vietnam War. According to Aging Together, after much deliberation by the Board of Directors, the five for 2024 were selected. The others are: Carolyn Kirkland from Fauquier; Karen and Troy Coppage from Madison; Donna Waugh-Robinson from Orange; and Steph Ridder from from Rappahannock. Each year Aging Together honors one person (or couple) from each county who has made a significant positive impact making their community a better place to live or work. Nominations are sought at large and the final five are chosen by committee, according to the release. Culpeper Media Network highlights each nominee, who will also be recognized May 1 during multiple watch parties with wine-and-cheese style receptions. Older adults make significant contributions to our communities through paid work, volunteering and caregiving, among a myriad of other ways, Phipps said. In fact, older Virginians provide an estimated $38.5 billion in paid and unpaid contributions to the commonwealth. The biggest takeaway from the nomination process is that people of all ages want to honor older adults and highlight these contributions. If you want to see some great examples, check back on May 1, she said. Aging Together is grateful to the many people who submitted nominations. If your person wasnt chosen, its not because they didnt merit being honored. Nominate them again next year, said Phipps. See agingtogether.org for more information. In the months leading up to their decision, jurors heard testimony from a Virginia State Police agent who investigated the death, the medical examiner who performed Charles James Givens autopsy, several MCTC correctional officers and another inmate who claimed to have witnessed Givens being beaten by correctional officers just two hours before he was found unresponsive in his cell. What that testimony consisted of is largely unknown due to the secretive nature of special grand juries. However, a lawsuit filed last February by Givens sister, Kymberly Hobbs, against five MCTC correctional officers sheds light on the allegations against them and also puts a spotlight on the purported attempts by prison administration to cover up wrongdoing. Givens Death Hobbs lawsuit came three months after the grand jury declined to indict Sgt. Anthony Raymond Kelly and officers Joshua Caleb Jackson, William Zachary Montgomery, Gregory Scott Plummer and Samuel Dale Osborne. Last month, Hobbs attorneys filed an amended complaint also naming then-MCTC Warden Jeffrey Artrip and Capt. Travis Poston in the suit. According to the suit, which was filed in federal court, Givens was found unresponsive in his cell on Feb. 5, 2022. The inmate had been housed on one of the facilitys restorative housing units, which are sometimes referred to as solitary confinement, segregation, or the hole. Earlier that morning, Givens was seen being taken to the shower room by the five officers and later returned with a different, hunched-over posture. Givens was incarcerated at MCTC after he was convicted of murder in the 2010 shooting death of 22-year-old Misty Leann Garrett, a home health nurse who worked with Givens mother in Lee County. MCTC houses inmates who are mentally ill or intellectually disabled. According to the suit, Givens suffered a traumatic brain injury as a small child when he fell down a flight of steps and went into a coma. The fall left him with permanent brain damage that would limit his intellectual and emotional development to that of a 2nd- or 3rd-grade child, the suit says. The 52-year-old also suffered from Crohns Disease, which sometimes made it difficult for him to control his bowels and, at times, caused him to soil himself. While some correctional officers understood the issue, the suit says, others asserted that Mr. Givens defecated on himself intentionally, and, upon information and belief, became angry at having to assist Mr. Givens clean up, making Mr. Givens the target of the Defendant correctional officers abuse. On Feb. 5, 2022, the morning he died, Givens had defecated on himself in his cell. Security footage obtained by NPR from inside the prison shows several officers accompanying the inmate to an off-camera shower area. Another inmate who was tasked with cleaning Givens cell and who later testified before the grand jury was in a position to see inside the shower room as he collected cleaning supplies, the court document states. The suit alleges that while in the shower area, Plummer repeatedly whipped Givens in the torso and genitals with a wet towel, while Jackson and Montgomery dumped cold water onto him. Kelly, who the suit says also acted as a lookout for the group and who entered the shower room several times, violently punched Mr. Givens in the torso. According to the suit, Osborne, who along with Montgomery were the only officers assigned to Givens cell area, was chided by the other four officers for not taking part. However, the complaint reads, Osborne did not act to protect Mr. Givens from the attacks of the others. And Defendant COs Plummer, Jackson and Montgomery did not try to protect Mr. Givens from Defendant Kellys ferocious punches to Mr. Givens side. Once out of the shower area, Givens can be seen on the security footage returning to his cell with the help of two officers. According to the inmate witness, Givens asked to be taken to the medical ward, but was denied his request. A short time later, at 9:35 a.m., Givens was found unresponsive and was declared dead at Smyth County Community Hospital an hour later. The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial and $15 million in damages, accuses Kelly, Plummer, Jackson and Montgomery of using excessive force and of state law battery. Osborne, it accuses of gross negligence, willful and wanton negligence and failure to intervene. It also accuses all five men of state law conspiracy and of depriving Givens of his civil rights by denying, delaying or withholding medical treatment. Artrip and Poston, the suit says, were in supervisory positions and were aware of previous allegations of misconduct, but failed to correct or discipline their subordinates. Thus, the suit alleges the two men also deprived Givens of his civil rights. In answer to both the original and amended complaints, Kelly, Plummer, Jackson and Montgomery categorically denied the allegations against them. Osborne, who is represented by a separate attorney and so filed a separate response, also denied the allegations against him. Artrip and Poston, who had only recently been added to the suit, had not yet responded to the complaint as of press time. Attorneys for the five correctional officers did not respond to requests for comment. The Investigation About two hours after her brother was found unresponsive in his cell, according to the suit, Hobbs was contacted by Artrip, who told her that her brother had died that morning of natural causes. A week later, though, Hobbs got a call from a woman who told her she had information that indicated otherwise. The woman, a close friend of a third MCTC inmate, told Hobbs that that inmate told her that Givens had been savagely beaten by staff members in the stomach area. Following that phone call, Hobbs went to state police, who had launched an investigation into her brothers death. The fact that it was state police investigating and not the VDOCs Special Investigation Unit is a source of concern for Paul Stanley, one of three attorneys representing Hobbs in the suit. Per VDOC protocol, Stanley said, the SIU is usually tasked with conducting such investigations. According to the original complaint filed in the suit, an SIU investigator was initially assigned to the case, but was removed from the investigation after the Warden Jeffery Artrip falsely accused the investigator of using abusive language over the phone. What concerns Stanley is that certain procedures are in place for the collection and preservation of evidence in VDOC investigations. SIU investigators, he said, would have been aware of those procedures and could have sought evidence that state police may not have even known to look for. All that was deliberate and was set up on the day that Mr. Givens died, Stanley asserted, saying that had an SIU investigator conducted the probe, they would immediately clamp down on everything and it would be impossible to get away from it. Hobbs also discussed what shed learned in the phone call with then-Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Eli Goodman, who performed her brothers autopsy. At the time, Goodman, who had ruled Givens cause of death as blunt force trauma of the torso, listed his manner of death as undetermined. In the autopsy report, Goodman noted the conversation hed had with Hobbs, saying that the claims were unable to be adequately corroborated or disproven, leading him to certify the manner of death as undetermined. The autopsy findings clearly demonstrate that the cause of death was blunt force trauma of the torso, resulting in laceration of the spleen and massive internal bleeding, Goodman wrote. Noting in other parts of the report that Givens was considered a fall risk, he continued, While it is possible that the decedent sustained the acute rib fractures and associated splenic laceration as the result of a fall, no fall or injury was witnessed. Goodman went on to write that the presence of contusions to Givens lower abdomen, a contusion/hemorrhage of the small bowel and the unsubstantiated report from the inmate that Givens had been assaulted by correctional officers all raise the possibility that the decedent was involved in an unreported altercation. As such, the manner of death is certified as undetermined at this time. As with all death investigations, opinions expressed herein are amenable to change should new reliable and pertinent information come to light in the future. Meanwhile, according to the suit, the inmate whose friend called Hobbs was charged by MCTC staff with institutional crimes that had taken place several months earlier. The suit argues that the charges were brought specifically to discourage cooperation with the investigation. These bogus charges were later recognized by the Virginia State Police and the Commonwealth Attorneys office as an attempt to prevent the cooperation of both [inmates] in the investigation, it reads. The inmate who said he witnessed the beating was later transferred to Bland Correctional Center under state police direction. From there, agents took him to VSPs area headquarters in Wytheville for an interview. During a previous interview that took place at MCTC, the inmate told Special Agent Heath Segal he couldnt discuss the incident with him, the suit says. The lawsuit goes on to claim Artrip chastised the inmate afterward, asking him, Why didnt you say you didnt see anything? Segals second interview with the inmate proved more fruitful, according to the court document, with the inmate identifying the five correctional officers as those who abused Givens. During that second interview, the inmate submitted to a polygraph test. The lawsuit claims the examiner reported that the inmate had achieved the second highest truthfulness score ever obtained at that facility. Following that interview, Segal reached out to the medical examiners office to inform Goodman of the new information, but learned that Goodman had since left the MEs office, the suit says. The document noted that Segal was advised by the chief medical examiner who took over Givens case that the original report could not be amended without overwhelming evidence, and that the interview, polygraph and other evidence was insufficient in meeting that criteria. As of this reporting, Goodmans report had not been updated. Abuse Hobbs lawsuit goes on to detail a number of hospitalizations that it says points to long-term abuse. In the weeks, months, and years preceding the coordinated attack upon Mr. Givens, and the delayed indifferent response resulting in his death, MCTC records and those of the local Smyth County Community Hospital ED document CO abuse and/or neglect, the suit reads. The suit claims that staff members regularly opened windows that inmates couldnt close, lowered the temperature inside the building in the colder months and subjected prisoners to cold showers, which led to Mr. Givens, as well as other inmates, being hospitalized multiple times for hypothermia. It additionally accuses some correctional officers of physically abusing inmates and subjecting them to cold-water torture. According to witnesses, it was very common for COs to punish/abuse prisoners in this manner, the suit says of the cold showers. Givens was last hospitalized with hypothermia just days before his death, according to the suit. Prior to that, he was treated at SCCH on Dec. 1, 2021 for the same. During that visit, the suit says medical records note that Givens was cool to the touch, and that his temperature would not register on an oral thermometer. A little more than a month before that, Givens was found unresponsive and in an altered mental state in his cell on Oct. 26, 2021. MCTC staff used specialized warming equipment to try to bring his body temperature back up but were only able to do so by a fraction of a degree. Givens was taken to SCCH for further evaluation and treatment and released the next morning. The day after his release, Givens was brought back to the emergency department, where The ED physician noted increased acuity of illness and likely septic, the suit reads. According to the lawsuit, hospital admission records also indicate Givens was treated for hypothermia on March 13, 2021, Feb. 5, 2021 and Oct. 15, 2018. The suit alleges that nearly all of those medical emergencies were the result of cold-shower torture. In addition to the treatments for hypothermia, the suit also notes treatment in June 2021 following a reported fall and describes an April 25, 2018 incident in which Givens was scalded by hot tap water while in the shower. The latter incident led to an investigation by the VDOCs Special Investigations Unit. According to the investigation report, Givens accused a fellow inmate of spraying hot water on him and holding him under the shower head while an officer was present. Givens received first- and second-degree burns to the scalp, abdomen, buttocks, right hand and genital area. The suit also highlighted two instances in which other MCTC staff noted reports from Givens that hed been injured by correctional officers. On Dec. 3, 2018, the suit says Givens was taken to the shower, where he complained of dizziness and pain in his sides. At a sick call a large bruise on Givens left buttock was noted, as well as an injury to his finger. According to the suit, a social worker documenting the injuries noted that he told us that he had been hit by soap thrown by two officers the night before, when he messed himself and had to go to the shower. He said that this caused the bruise on his butt. The social worker also noted Givens indicated, They hit him in the groin with a rolled up towel, as well. In December 2015 Givens was treated at SCCH for a bruised eye. The suit says Givens asserted then that hed been kicked by a correctional officer. A note attributable to Mr. Givens states, that he couldnt lie, he had been kicked in the head by an officer., the suit reads. Also noted in the suit is an Oct. 29, 2014 incident in which Givens said a correctional officer had thrown him into a cement block wall causing bruising and swelling of his head. The suit notes that records confirm Givens was escorted to the shower by the accused correctional officer that day. Former MCTC inmates have told attorneys representing Hobbs that abuse at the hands of correctional officers often took place in the shower rooms, which prior to Givens death did not have cameras in place. The COs even had an expression for the practice; they called it being taken to the office, the suit claims. The suit also claims a number of complaints of physical abuse upon prisoners by correctional officers were made, but that Artrip and Poston failed to do anything to halt the abuse. The indifference of these supervisors to CO violence and cruelty against Mr. Givens (and other prisoners) created an environment of no accountability for such actions, which was no doubt seen as tacit approval, which directly resulted in Mr. Givens death, the suit reads. Grand Jury Findings Following the investigation into Givens death, the grand jury met on Aug. 23, 2022 and Oct. 21, 2022 to hear evidence and testimony. According to a grand juror handbook, special grand juries are summoned to investigate any condition which tends to promote criminal activity in the community or by any governmental authority, agency or official. On Nov. 16, 2022, jurors issued their findings. The death of Charles James Givens was, in fact, suspicious, they determined. In their report, jurors noted that while the testimony of each of the correctional officers was nearly identical, it was not consistent with the findings of the medical examiner nor was it consistent with the physical evidence. However, there is not sufficient evidence at this time to support an indictment, the report reads. We recommend that the case be reconsidered should other evidence come to light. Saying it was an ongoing investigation, Roy Evans, who served as Smyth Countys commonwealths attorney at the time of the investigation and special grand jury, declined to speak on the matter. While Phillip Blevins, who took over the office in January, indicated that hed like to discuss the matter and likely would at some point in the future, said Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct prohibited him from doing so at this time. While its still listed as an active investigation, Special Agent Hody Viars said last fall that there had been no movement in the local probe since the evidence was presented to the grand jury. Viars took over management of the case file in the spring of 2023 after Segal took another position with VSP in a different area. Viars, who said the agency had taken the investigation as far as it could, expressed disappointment in the lack of criminal charges, saying he felt the case could move forward, but noted that any further action would have to be determined by the commonwealths attorney. Around the time Segal was transferred, state police turned over all its findings to the FBI, which picked up the investigation in the spring of 2023. Viars didnt know where the FBI stood in its investigation, saying that hed had no word from the agency, but also noting that that is not unusual of FBI investigations. When asked about the status of the investigation, an FBI spokesperson said it was not the agencys practice to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. Stanley, however, was able to confirm that it is still underway. Deplorable Conditions Although jurors didnt find enough evidence for criminal charges in Givens death, they made known their disdain for the living conditions at the prison and for prison administrations reaction to the medical examiners concerns about his findings. Upon completion of the autopsy the medical examiner expressed concern about his findings to the MCTC Administration, the jury wrote. He was alarmed by the reaction that he described as nonchalant. We find that this [sic] to be irresponsible and unacceptable. Of the living conditions, they said, Nearly every witness described the living conditions in this area of MCTC where mentally ill inmates are housed as unsuitable. Specifically, they described it as very hot in summer months and extremely cold in winter. More than one witness had observed ice formed on the water in toilets. We find these conditions to be inhumane and deplorable. In response to a public records request for reports of any temperature-related illness or medical emergency, such as hypothermia or heat exhaustion, at the facility since Jan. 1, 2020, a VDOC records custodian estimated it would take as many as six months to compile that information. A revised request for informal complaints netted no records. Last August, answering an Associated Press request for inmate complaints about uncomfortably cold temperatures at the prison, nonfunctioning or poorly functioning heating systems or windows being left open during cold temperatures, a records custodian reported finding 46 pages of responsive records. However, the AP reported that VDOC invoked an exemption that allows the agency to withhold records of inmates. Like the witnesses who testified before the grand jury, former MCTC employees who spoke with the News & Messenger described the facility as outdated, poorly insulated, incredibly hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. In the summer up there, its miserable hot and the winters, it can be really chilly, one said. Another said that the restorative housing unit on which Givens was frequently housed also had problems with heat circulation in the wintertime, leading staff members to place a large fan at the end of the hall to help blow in heat from another part of the building. One of the former correctional officers also noted that many of the inmates in restorative housing are considered a danger to themselves and were only allowed two stiff blankets to keep them from harming themselves. VDOC policy states that Inmates placed on precautions will be allowed the approved safety smock and/or safety blanket only, except in situations in which the Mental Health Clinician documents justification that the use of a paper garment provides a safer management option. . . Two of the former employees were also quick to point out that staff members are also affected. Its cold and hot on the inmates, but at the same time, the ones working there are going through the same thing, because they dont have any control on the temperature on that wing either, one said. In stark contrast to the accounts of the former employees and to the testimony given to the grand jury, shift reports obtained through public records requests for the months of February 2021 and October 2021 document a near-constant temperature of 72 degrees on the Restorative Housing Units 1-B wing. That wing is the only wing for which temperatures are documented at the facility. Similarly, the logs document steady temperatures between 70 and 72 degrees in December of that year, rising above that range only six times and never dipping below 70. Likewise, logs for July 2021 only document four shifts with temperatures deviating from 72 degrees two for 76 degrees, one for 75 degrees and one for 70 degrees despite reports that as of late 2023 the facility had not been equipped with air conditioning. Despite the heat and cold, the former employees, none of whom worked at MCTC at the time of Givens death, all said theyd never known an inmate to have a temperature-related medical emergency while they were there. They also said they never witnessed any abuse or torment against inmates during their times at the prison. One said he was very shocked when he learned of the allegations. Noting that MCTC is a forced-medication facility, another said the most force he ever saw used came at medication time. Even with the harsh conditions at the prison, each of the former employees said MCTC was one of the more appealing facilities in the state prison system. Inmates from other state prisons, they said, frequently did everything they could to get a transfer. Asked about the conditions of the prison, as well as number of other matters regarding Givens death and a subsequent internal investigation, VDOC Director of Communications Kyle Gibson declined any comment. Accountability But for Hobbs lawsuit, the allegations against the correctional officers, the considerations of the special grand jury and its findings would have gone unknown to the public. Special grand jury sessions do not appear on court dockets and Virginia law requires commonwealths attorneys, investigators and jurors to keep secret all proceedings which occurred during sessions of the grand jury Additionally, special grand jury reports are sealed once they are issued, released only to certain parties and unavailable to the public without a court order. Three months after Hobbs filed her lawsuit in federal courtabout a year after Givens death NPR released an in-depth piece on the matter, forcing the allegations into the light. Since then, a number of national media outlets have done the same. Stanley said the case never ceases to keep me angry. A Wytheville-based attorney, Stanley also serves with the Police Benevolent Association, an organization that councils and represents police officers accused of wrongdoing. As such, Stanley considers himself a very pro-law enforcement attorney, so he said a case like this has to have a lot of merit for him to want to take it on. The more you know about this, the more troubling it is, because it is a large-scale cover up from the day that he died, he said. He explained that in most police brutality cases, theres typically an allegation that the person who was beaten or killed did something to provoke the response from police, like act aggressively or threateningly toward the public or law enforcement. In this particular case, there was no allegation that Mr. Givens did anything wrong, he said. The only statements made by the department of corrections officials and investigators were things such as nothing at all occurred or perhaps he slipped and fell in his cell, but we didnt see it and we dont know that that happened. Thats a good start if youre looking for a case to have merit. He reiterated that point, saying, Here, you have someone who was severely limited physically he had just been released from the hospital days before this occurred was physically frail and was mentally functioning at the level of a small child and no allegations that he did anything to provoke any type of assault that, in fact [according to MCTC officials at the time] no assault occurred whatsoever. Troubling to Stanley was that no internal investigation was launched until after the lawsuit was filed in February 2023. So, you have a guy dead with an accusation that he was beaten to death, then you have an autopsy a few weeks later that says blunt force trauma, which is not a natural death, and you have nobody in Richmond that does anything or gives a flip until we file a lawsuit and then they commence with this grand investigation, he said. Also troubling to the attorney is that the accused officers maintained their employment without so much as a suspension until the suit was filed. And then suddenly, a light came on in Richmond that there might be a problem down here, the attorney said. Its just because we filed a lawsuit. Before that, they were working just like normal and thats not how you handle misconduct. The timing, status and outcome of that internal investigation and the employment status of the accused officers were among the subjects on which Gibson declined to comment. According to the VDOC website, though, Artrip currently serves as warden at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap and Christopher Armes took the helm of MCTC. Armes previously served as assistant warden at the Marion prison. In July, a VDOC spokesperson told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Kelly was no longer with the department. Its unclear the circumstances of Kellys departure, but the Times-Dispatch reported that he was first demoted and transferred to another facility after the investigation into Givens death began. According to the newspaper, Kellys last day with the department came six days after NPR published its first report in June 2023. The Times-Dispatch went on to note that at the time of its reporting, Kellys four colleagues were still employed at MCTC. Jackson, the report stated, had been promoted to a caseworker position. Stanley said when he first spoke to Hobbs about the case, she was quick to stress that she did not condone the actions that landed her brother in prison. But, she said, he did not deserve to be beaten and killed by the people who were supposed to be taking care of him, Stanley recounted. She just wants accountability, he said. Thats all shes wanted all along. Stanley, who made clear he believed most of the staff at the prison are great people, said accountability is paramount when misconduct arises. Last year, Hobbs told NPR that she wanted justice. What I want is for them to be in prison, she told the news outlet. What I want is for them to stand for what they done. These people are getting paid to protect and serve. Theyre getting paid to do their job. They take an oath, and to me that should hold them higher and more accountable. The case is set to be heard in August at the federal courthouse in Abingdon. The report calls on all parties to the conflict to fully adhere to international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report on Tuesday documenting grave violations against Syrian refugees during their return to Syria. The report underscores that these documented violations were primarily perpetrated by the Syrian regime, in addition to de facto authorities across the country. Violations highlighted in the report encompass arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as enforced disappearance and abduction. Reasonable reasons not to return According to the report, returning Syrians are subjected to extortion of their money and property, alongside being deprived of identity and other essential documents. While such abuses are faced by the Syrian populace at large, returnees appear to be exceptionally vulnerable, it stated. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed grave concerns about the situation of these returnees, emphasizing states obligations regarding due process and non-refoulement. Individuals seeking to return and rebuild their lives in Syria should not encounter stigma, discrimination, or any form of violence or mistreatment upon their return to their homeland, Turk emphasized. He stressed that Syrians residing in host countries should be treated in accordance with international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, and that their return should be voluntary, with the provision of necessary conditions for a safe, dignified, and sustainable return. Economic hardship, abuse, escalating anti-refugee rhetoric, and mass raids and arrests in some host countries have compelled many to return to Syria. However, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the general conditions in Syria do not permit the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. The report calls on all parties to the conflict to fully adhere to international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Furthermore, it urges the Syrian regime and all involved parties in the conflict to grant UN entities and other international and non-governmental organizations unrestricted access to monitor the situation of Syrians returning home. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The US House of Representatives is set to vote on Tuesday, on a bill aimed at opposing normalization with the Syrian regime. The US House of Representatives is set to vote on Tuesday, on a bill aimed at opposing normalization with the Syrian regime. This bill was initially introduced last year in the House of Representatives and subsequently in the US Senate. According to the official website of the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Steve Scalise, the House will vote on a series of laws, including the anti-normalization legislation concerning the Assad regime, albeit in a modified version from its 2023 iteration. The proposed US bill prohibits the federal government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any government in Syria under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad. Additionally, it extends the duration of the Caesar Act, grants expanded powers to the US President to penalize individuals involved in the exploitation of Syrians and imposes measures to enhance monitoring of commercial transactions that could potentially breach sanctions. The draft legislation against normalization with the Syrian regime, which was introduced by a group of American representatives, was initially presented in the House of Representatives on May 11, 2023. Notably, the Foreign Relations Committee in the House of Representatives unanimously approved it just two working days after its introduction, a move that was promptly labelled as contravening legislative norms. In conjunction with Arab attempts This measure coincided with Arab efforts to reintegrate Assad into the Arab world, as evidenced by Saudi Arabia hosting Assad on its territory to participate in the Arab summit held in Jeddah on May 19, 2023, following Syrias reinstatement in the Arab League. For the bill to become law, it must pass through both chambers of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and then be sent to the office of US President Joe Biden for final approval. Jordan had proposed an Arab-led initiative for a political resolution in Syria, outlining requirements presented to the regime. However, the Jordanian initiative outcomes took a divergent path, implementing measures contrary to its objectives. On July 13, 2023, a resolution was introduced in the US House of Representatives, advocating for the establishment of a special international tribunal to prosecute the Syrian regime for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Syrian populace. This proposed tribunal would operate through an international judicial mechanism specialized in Syria, potentially bypassing Russian opposition in the United Nations General Assembly. On June 30 of the same year, the US State Department issued a report to the US Congress detailing its written strategy to disrupt and dismantle drug production and trafficking networks associated with the Syrian regime. This action aligns with the objectives outlined in the US Captagon Act, enacted at the conclusion of 2023. 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. Lavrov emphasized that Russia can no longer regard Switzerland as a neutral platform, according to the pro-government Athr Press. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that the progress of the Constitutional Committee is now halted due to Genevas diminishing reputation as a neutral mediator, following its stance on the Ukrainian conflict. Speaking at the thirteenth Middle East conference of the Valdai International Club on Tuesday, Lavrov stated, as reported by the Russian agency Sputnik, that Switzerlands departure from its traditionally neutral position and its adoption of an anti-Russian policy led to the suspension of the Syrian Constitutional Committees work in Geneva. Lavrov emphasized that Moscow can no longer regard Switzerland as a neutral platform, given its overtly anti-Russian stance. He highlighted that Switzerlands recently approved foreign policy concept explicitly aims to bolster European security not in cooperation with Russia, but rather in opposition to it, as outlined in an official document. This, Lavrov argued, raises doubts about Switzerlands suitability as a mediator. Switzerland aligned itself with European nations imposing sanctions on Russia starting from February 24, 2022, in response to the conflict in Ukraine. This alignment resulted in the suspension of the Constitutional Committees proceedings, including the cancellation of its ninth session scheduled for July 25, 2022. Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian presidents special envoy for Syrian settlement, suggested in January that the meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee might resume in March or April, with the venue to be determined shortly. 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. Saraf Trexim Limited Vs Deputy Commissioner Of State Tax And Ors (Calcutta High Court) In a significant judgment, the Calcutta High Court provided relief to Saraf Trexim Limited in the case against the Deputy Commissioner of State Tax and Others, highlighting the critical nuances of the West Bengal Goods and Services Tax (WBGST) Act related to the transportation of goods and the validity of e-way bills. This article delves into the details of the case, where an expired e-way bill due to an unforeseen accident led to a substantial penalty, and the subsequent ruling by the Calcutta High Court that quashed the 200% penalty imposed on the appellant. Detailed Analysis The case revolves around Saraf Trexim Limited, which faced a hefty penalty under the WBGST Act for transporting goods with an expired e-way bill. The goods were being exported to Bangladesh, and due to an accident involving the transporting vehicle, the validity of the e-way bill expired before renewal. Upon interception by the authorities, it was discovered that the e-way bill had expired, leading to the imposition of a 200% penalty as per Section 129 of the WBGST Act. The appellant argued that the delay in generating a new e-way bill was due to the accident and subsequent settlement between the involved parties, which was a genuine and unavoidable delay. The High Court, upon reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, recognized the bona fides of the transaction and the unintentional delay caused by the accident. It was noted that similar cases had been adjudicated with a consideration for the intent behind the contravention of the e-way bill provisions. Conclusion The judgment rendered by the Calcutta High Court in favor of Saraf Trexim Limited sets a precedent for considering the genuine difficulties faced by businesses in adhering to the procedural timelines under the GST framework. The courts decision to quash the 200% penalty underscores the importance of assessing the intent and circumstances behind such violations. This case highlights the judiciarys role in ensuring that the application of tax laws does not unduly penalize businesses for uncontrollable or unforeseen events, thereby safeguarding the interests of the trade and commerce community. The ruling also emphasizes the need for a balanced approach in enforcing tax laws, where genuine errors and accidents are differentiated from deliberate attempts to evade taxes. FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF CALCUTTA HIGH COURT 1. This intra court appeal by the writ petitioner is directed against the order passed by the learned Single Bench dismissing the writ petition filed by the appellant challenging the order passed by the authorities imposing penalty under the provisions of the WBGST Act on the ground that the e-way bill generated by the appellant for transporting the articles for export to Bangladesh had expired and, therefore, on the date and time when the vehicle was intercepted, the vehicle did not have a valid e-way Therefore, penalty in terms of Section 129 of the Act has been imposed. 2. Affidavit-in-opposition has been filed by the department and reply has been filed by the appellant/writ petitioner. 3. We have elaborately heard the submissions of the learned advocate for the appellant and T.M. Siddique, learned Government counsel appearing for the respondent. 4. The undisputed facts are that the goods in question were transported by the appellant in the vehicle bearing Registration WB-27-2590 accompanied by an e-way bill generated on 11.06.2022. The e-way bill was valid upto midnight on 13.06.2022. On 14.06.2022 the vehicle was intercepted at about 5.30 p.m. The authorities found that the e-way bill had expired at 12 midnight on 13.06.2022 and fresh e-way bill has not been generated. Consequently, it was held that the goods were transported without a valid e-way bill. Though the appellant had sought to explain the lapse on the ground that the vehicle met to the accident and there was a settlement made between the owner of the motorcycle and the owner of the truck carrying the goods, this also had added to the delay in the process and in any event on 15.06.2022 the second e-way bill was generated and at the time when the vehicle was intercepted, hardly 24 hours had expired from the time at which the first e-way bill had expired. In similar matters court has taken a view that unless and until it is established by the department that the transporter of the goods or the owner of the goods had an intention to contravene the provisions of the Act, the question of imposing penalty under Section 129 of the Act that too 200% would not be justified. Each case has to be decided on the peculiar facts and circumstances and the court can definitely take into consideration the bonafide of the transaction and in the instant case the delay have been less than 24 hours. 5. We are of the view that it is not a case where penalty can be imposed that too 200%. The other factors which are also to be taken note of that the goods have been transported and the goods in question have been exported to Bangladesh. 6. Considering all these facts which we find to the peculiar case on hand, we are of the view that in the instant case no penalty can be imposed on the appellant. 7. Accordingly, the appeal is The order passed in the writ petition is set aside and the writ petition is allowed and the order of the penalty imposed on the appellant is set aside and quashed. 8. Since the appellant had paid the penalty during the pendency of the proceedings, the appellant is entitled to file an application for refund of the amount of the penalty collected which shall be considered and refund be effected as expeditiously as possible preferably within six weeks from the date of receipt of the server copy of this order. CIT (IT) 2 Vs HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Ltd. (Bombay High Court) In a significant judgment, the Bombay High Court has ruled in favor of HSBC Bank Mauritius Ltd., holding that as a bona fide banking business in Mauritius, it is exempt from tax in India. This decision pertains to the Assessment Year 2011-12 and stems from an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against an order by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The case, CIT (IT) 2 Vs HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Ltd., has far-reaching implications for foreign institutional investors and the interpretation of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs). Detailed Analysis The core issue revolves around the exemption claimed by HSBC Mauritius on its interest income from securities in India under the Indo-Mauritius DTAA. The Assessing Officer (AO) initially rejected this claim, not recognizing the banks interest income from securities as exempt under the DTAA, while accepting the exemption for interest from External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) acknowledging the banks bona fide banking activities in Mauritius. The Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) upheld the AOs decision, leading to an appeal to the ITAT, which eventually ruled in favor of HSBC Mauritius. The ITATs ruling, based on Clause (c) of Article 11(3) of the DTAA, recognized that interest income earned by a bank conducting bona fide banking activities in Mauritius is exempt from tax in India. The Bombay High Court, in dismissing the appeal by the tax authorities, affirmed this position, clarifying that the requirement for a banking license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is not applicable for the exemption under the DTAA. Conclusion This landmark judgment by the Bombay High Court underscores the importance of the DTAAs provisions and the criteria for what constitutes bona fide banking activities for the purposes of tax exemptions. It clarifies the legal landscape for foreign banks operating in India through countries with which India has DTAAs, particularly in determining the applicability of exemptions for income earned within Indian borders. For HSBC Mauritius and similar institutions, this ruling not only provides a pathway to tax relief but also affirms the principle of fair and consistent application of international tax agreements. FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT 1. Appellant has preferred this Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) impugning an order pronounced on 16th December 2016 by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The appeal pertains to Assessment Year 2011-12. 2. Respondent-Assessee is a Limited Liability Company incorporated and registered in and tax resident of Mauritius. It is admittedly a Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) duly licensed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). During the course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer (AO) noticed that assessee earned an amount of Rs.94,57,45,856/- as interest income on securities. Assessee claimed the same as Exempt Income under Article 11(3) of the Indo-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The AO did not accept assessees claim that the interest income from securities in India was exempt from tax in India as per clause (c) of Article 11(3) of the DTAA. The AO, however, had accepted that assessees income from External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) was exempt under Section 90 of the Act read with Article 11 of the DTAA as the company was carrying on bona fide banking business in Mauritius. 3. Against the order disallowing the interest income from securities in India, assessee filed objections with the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) under Section 144C of the Act. The DRP upheld the findings of the AO based on which the AO passed the assessment order under sub-section (13) of Section 144C of the Act r/w 143(3) of the Act. The matter was carried in appeal to the ITAT and the ITAT allowed assessees appeal and by the impugned order held that the interest income on securities was exempt from tax in India under Clause (c) of Article 11(3) of the DTAA. 4. It is this order, which is impugned in the Appeal and the following five substantial questions of law are proposed: (a) Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, Honble Tribunal has erred in holding that assessee in involved in bonafide banking activity, whereas on the other hand Honble Tribunal has accepted that the assessee has failed to prove beneficial ownership of funds which have bearing on establishment of bonafide banking activity of assessee and has already set-aside on this issue? (b) Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, Honble Tribunal has erred in holding that the assessee is involved in bonafide banking activities ignoring the fact that assessee has even not furnished the financials e.g. Annual reports etc during the course of assessment proceedings, whereas Honble ITAT has itself held that onus is on assessee to demonstrate that assessee is not conduit company for the benefit of third person? (c) Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, Honble Tribunal has erred in holding assessee is involved in bonafide banking activities, ignoring the fact that in India, the assessee is involved in only FII activity and no banking license has been granted by the RBI to the assessee for banking activities in India? (d) Without prejudice to the above, whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, Honble Tribunal has erred in holding assessee is entitled to the benefit of Article 11(3)(c) of the India Mauritius Treaty, whereas, the interest income derived by assessee in India not derived from its banking activity in India? (e) Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, Honble ITAT has erred in holding that assessee has interest income derived from bonafide banking activity ignoring the fact that assessee is not involved in any banking activities in India. This is in contravention to the ratio of Honble Supreme Court in the case of Liberty India. 5. As regards questions (a) and (b), Mr. Kaka points out will not arise inasmuch as this has been subsequently recalled by the ITAT in a Miscellaneous Application filed by assessee where the ITAT has held that assessee satisfies the beneficial ownership requirement. Therefore, what we need to consider are the remaining three questions proposed. 6. Revenues case in short is Clause (c) of Article 11 of the DTAA will not apply to assessee. This is because assessee does not have a banking business license from the Reserve Bank of India. In our view, to fall under Clause 3(c) of Article 11 of the DTAA, assessee need not have to be carrying on banking business in India. Assessee should only be a resident of Mauritius and must be carrying on bona fide banking business in Mauritius. We have to note that in the draft assessment order dated 30th March 2015 passed under Section 144C (1) r/w Section 143(3) of the Act, the AO while granting exemption to the interest on ECB has accepted that assessee is carrying on bona fide banking business in Mauritius. So also in the final assessment order dated 28th January 2016. Therefore, the fact that assessee is carrying on a bona fide banking business in Mauritius is not disputed. Would such an assessee be entitled to exemption from tax in India is what we need to consider. Article 11(3) of the DTAA reads as under: Interest arising in a Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in that State provided it is derived and beneficially owned by: (a) the Government or a local authority of the other Contracting State; (b) any agency or entity created or organised by the Government of the other Contracting State; or (c) any bank carrying on a bona fide banking business which is a resident of the other Contracting State. Under the said Article, therefore, interest arising in a contracting state (in this Case India) shall be exempt from tax in that State (in India) provided it (the Income) is derived and beneficially owned by any bank carrying on a bona fide banking business which is a resident of the other contracting State (Mauritius). Therefore, so long as assessee is carrying on bona fide banking business in Mauritius being a resident of Mauritius, the interest that assessee would earn in India shall be exempt from tax in India. 7. If we have to accept, what Mr. Suresh Kumar submitted, that assessee should have had a banking license from the Reserve Bank of India, then what would be applicable is Clause 6 of Article 11 of the DTAA and that has not been relied upon by the AO. Moreover, the AO has, as noted earlier, granted exemption to the interest on FCB by accepting that assessee is carrying on bona fide banking business in 8. In the circumstances, we do not find any infirmity in the order passed by the ITAT. No substantial question of law arises. Appeal dismissed. A Woodland man is in Cowlitz County Jail for suspicion of shooting his roommate at their home, down the street from the Woodland Corner Store & Deli. Todd Arthur Loewen, 62, of Woodland, was arrested Friday and his bail is set at $1 million. He is to appear in court on Feb. 22, but no formal charges had been issued as of Monday afternoon. According to the police report that led to Loewens arrest, the incident occurred before 9:42 p.m. Thursday at a home in the 70 block of River Rock Lane when Loewen was asked to leave his two roommates alone while the pair was talking. The report says Loewen admitted to shooting the man in the chest and the other roommate, who witnessed the shooting, said Loewen fired because he was drunk. According to Woodland Police Chief Jim Kelly, the suspect fired a single shot and police arrived at about 9:45 p.m. As stated in the police report, the victim had a bullet entry wound to the left side of his chest and an exit wound in his left back, was conscious and breathing, and transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. The report indicates a bullet also shattered the window adjacent to the homes front door. In December, another dispute between Woodland roommates led to a fatal shooting in the 1000 block of South Pekin Road. A new state report shows there is no central location to determine how many rentals in Washington state are OKd to receive government assistance. Steve Bourassa, director of the Washington Center For Real Estate Research, said the agency recently released a report for the first time on the amount of subsidized housing in Washington in 2023 using data from agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Right now, there is no reliable single source of data for subsidized housing, he said. The report comes as a Washington state Senate housing committee plans to hold a public hearing this week on a bill to consolidate the states scattered housing services under one new housing agency. Scattered programs Bourassa said the report was created for the Washington State Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce provides funds for a lot of the states housing and homeless programs, including rental subsidies and tenant rental assistance programs, according to the report for House Bill 2270. Other state agencies like the Washington State Housing Finance Commission administer low-income housing tax credits. Instead of keeping these housing programs under different agencies, House Bill 2270 aims to have all state housing programs under one new department. If passed, the Office of Financial Management would research how the transition would work and locate where gaps in current housing programs exist. A public hearing on the bill is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Senates Committee on Housing. How does Cowlitz County stack up? The Center for Real Estate Researchs first-of-its-kind report found Cowlitz County has 1,294 units of subsidized housing in 2023, or one unit per 87 residents. That ranks Cowlitz County 29th of the states 39 counties for the amount of subsidized housing per resident. In Cowlitz County, 677 units of housing received subsidies from Washington State Housing Finance Commission, in the form of tax credit rental properties. These units set income limits for potential tenants based on the median income for the county. Rental property managers choose how many units to set aside as tax credit rental properties, and depending on the number of units the property owner sets aside, the higher or lower the income limit for the potential tenant. This income limit also changes with family size, being higher the larger the household. The Housing Trust Fund is the next highest reporting source of subsidized rental housing. The Department of Commerce distributes money from this fund in the form of loans or grants to local organizations with the intention of investing in housing assistance and affordable housing. Longview has 487 subsidized rental units, and Kelso has 312, according to the report. The state estimates much more affordable housing is needed in the future. The Washington State Department of Commerce projects Cowlitz County alone will need 10,000 housing units by 2024, with about 65% for low-income residents making 50% or below the area median income, which is about $75,000 for a family of four. The state will need 1.1 million more housing units in the same time frame, with half of those units needing to be for low income. The Center for Real Estate Research report counted a total of 155,158 subsidized rental housing units across the state. Housing units sometimes qualify for a number of subsidies from federal, state and local funds, so the totals from each agency were compared to ensure the same unit wasnt counted twice in the report, said Bourassa. Smelt-dipping will return to the banks of the Cowlitz River Thursday. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the one-day recreational fishery from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fishery managers will continue to monitor the run and catch effort from Thursdays fishery to determine if additional fishing days can open. As of early 2024, a fishing license is not required for dip-netting smelt. Dip-netting from the shore is permitted on the river from the Highway 432 bridge near Kelso upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, about 1,300 feet upstream of the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock. It is unlawful to harvest smelt from a vessel. Each dip-netter is allowed to retain a daily limit of up to 10 pounds of smelt. For reference, 10 pounds of smelt fills about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket, though anglers are advised to bring their own scale to keep track of their catch. Anglers must keep all smelt caught until they reach the daily limit. Each harvester is required to use a separate container to hold their catch, which must be either in their presence or marked with their name. With potentially strong river levels and flows on the Cowlitz River Thursday, dip-netters are strongly advised to exercise caution. The state recommends the use of personal flotation devices. Also, state enforcement officers will be present to ensure public safety and enforce regulations, including the 10-pound limit and separate container requirement, during the open hours of the fishery. Eulachon, commonly known as Columbia River smelt, have been listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 2010 due to a sharp decline in returns that began in the 1990s. To ensure a sustainable harvest, fishery managers monitor the fish population each year. The state updated its smelt management plan in September 2023. The new plan identifies current management strategies and makes recommendations for monitoring and evaluation of the population, as well as harvest criteria and communication between state and federal managers. OLYMPIA Washington lawmakers unanimously passed a bill last week that would make financial education a graduation requirement, an attempt to address poor financial decisions young people make because they lack financial literacy. Most of us are brought up learning that we need money to survive, but not learning how to manage money to thrive, Ashwin Joshi, a Southridge High School student, said in public testimony on Jan. 15. House Bill 1915, sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, passed in the House Thursday after garnering bipartisan support, with more than 55 initial sponsors, an unusually high number for a single bill. The bill now awaits action in the Senate. I see high quality education increasing opportunities in peoples lives and helping people lift out of poverty, Rude said in an interview. According to a 2021 study by FINRA Investor Education Foundation, 47% of adults do not have a rainy-day fund or money set aside for unexpected expenses. For HB 1915, some lawmakers expressed concern over the credit requirement for graduation. Currently, high school students need 24 credits to graduate, and many of those credits are in core subjects such as language arts, social studies, math and science. However, Rude says the bill was designed to give districts the flexibility to fit financial education into their curriculum to avoid conflict with credits. Districts and schools could take multiple avenues to administer the requirement, such as offering financial education as an elective, a mastery-based learning project, a Career and Technical Education class or as part of an existing class such as math. According to Rude, there are schools in his district that go beyond what the bill would require by offering one full credit of financial education to students. There are also plenty of resources available to educators through the states Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, which focuses on expanding financial education. The group is housed under the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, but operates separately. By bringing in the public and private sectors, FEPPP can provide resources for public school teachers, according to FEPPP Executive Director Tracy Godat. It also reviews existing curricula and shows teachers how to apply them in the classroom. Were not just training teachers, teachers are training students and students train their parents. said Pam Whalley, associate director of FEPPP. There is research that shows that this kind of learning is going across generations. High school students learn about credit cards, debt, budgeting and other skills to hit learning standards developed by the JumpStart Coalition and the Council for Economic Education, two organizations focused on developing financial education. While a district can choose its curriculum, FEPPP vets and recommends curricula along with books, games, activities and videos on its website. We also perform bias and sensitivity analysis, because we know that students from different backgrounds come to financial education from different places, Whalley said. In 2022, the legislature passed a bill establishing a grant program that provides professional development training for educators looking to integrate financial literacy into their curriculum. Weve been very intentional to take the guesswork out for the educators so it doesnt feel like theyre overwhelmed on where to even start, Godat said. Students graduating high school in 2031 would be required to have a financial education credit, meaning the subject would be a required offering as early as the 2027-2028 school year. Godat said the timeline would give districts time to choose a curriculum and train teachers. If the bill does not receive a hearing in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee by March 1, it will not survive the session. I wish I had financial education in school and as Im working through this bill Im reminded of that comment all the time, Rude said. The plan to eliminate homelessness downtown attracted funding from the private sector like never before. The startup-like energy of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, its charismatic CEO, and the allure of innovating a new approach to what many saw as an intractable problem excited some of the regions richest foundations and companies. But after a messy collapse, the philanthropic sector is learning a lesson that many public officials have learned before them rushing to back a silver bullet in homelessness is often a fraught endeavor. We Are In was the regional philanthropies largest foray into addressing street-level homelessness thus far. Created in 2020 as a private-sector counterpart to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, it represented philanthropies, along with businesses, service providers, people with lived experience, and advocates. Big names like Gates, Ballmer, Microsoft, and Amazon poured millions of dollars into it. Many of these organizations have funded journalism at The Seattle Times, including Project Homeless. In the past few months, all of We Are Ins staff were either fired or furloughed after its leadership was accused of financial and organizational mismanagement. Its financial backers have either walked away or are distancing themselves until the dust settles. These organizations, with billionaire founders, have the capacity to make a huge dent in homelessness. In other cities, they have. And some say they have a responsibility to address homelessness after contributing to its growth. But their role as a partner in the regions response appears tenuous while they decide what to do with the money they were spending on homelessness. Public-private partnership In King County, some believe that the major corporations and their billionaire founders have a responsibility to address homelessness because they have contributed to it. Former Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant launched a Tax Amazon campaign in 2020 to get large companies to pay their fair share of addressing the homelessness and housing crises. University of Washington researcher Gregg Colburn, author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem, says that while blame for the regions homelessness crisis does not rest solely on companies like Microsoft and Amazon, their growth has contributed to it. By adding thousands of high-paying jobs in the region, their workers have strained the housing supply, causing prices to rise and availability to decline, pushing low-income and vulnerable people into homelessness. He added that could have largely been prevented if the region had adequately scaled up its housing. Up until We Are In, local philanthropies had focused mostly on youth, young adult, and family homelessness, segments of the population homelessness they have helped make considerable advances in. In other cities, philanthropies play a larger role in addressing homelessness. Private donors in Austin have pledged $150 million to expand a single tiny home village to house thousands of people while also paying around $13 million a year to help operate it. That kind of private investment does not yet exist in King Countys homelessness system. But former Regional Homelessness Authority CEO Marc Dones innovative idea to address homelessness in downtown Seattle succeeded in drawing philanthropies interest. Andi Smith, executive director of the Washington team at the Ballmer Group, said these are exactly the opportunities that philanthropies look for in homelessness, projects that government partners present to them in pioneering new approaches that are potentially more effective. We can try things and we can try to understand what works and what doesnt and whats next, Smith said. Ballmer Group, along with the Gates Foundation, Amazon, Microsoft and other groups, pledged $10 million for this effort. We Are In was also tasked with shaping the public narrative around homelessness, collecting data about what was working, and advocating for policy solutions. Excitement and expectations were high, creating a rush to get the project off the ground. We Are In advisory board co-chair Derrick Belgarde said the organization decided to take an administrative shortcut. Instead of incorporating as a 501(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, We Are In took on a fiscal sponsor that would manage its finances, staffing and HR functions. Belgarde said that shaved off more than a year in the time it could take for the money to start paying the bills for the downtown project. But the shortcut would create complications in assigning blame when things fell apart. Partnership for Zero was slow to get off the ground and show results. Then, Dones, its chief architect, resigned in May 2023. By September, the authority shut down the project. Funding and supporting that project had become the main role of We Are In. With its collapse, it became unclear what its function would be, and by extension, it became unclear how involved the major philanthropies would be with the regional homelessness response. A messy collapse Behind the scenes, We Are In was falling apart. Staff were raising concerns about the organizations leadership. In a letter that was later sent to the board, they accused executive director Felicia Salcedo and managing director of external affairs Erik Houser of discrimination, racism and creating a hostile work environment. Salcedo was also accused of financial misconduct and negligence. Because of the way the organization was structured at its creation, those complaints went to its fiscal sponsor, an organization called Building Changes, which began an investigation into Salcedo and Houser. Partly due to that investigation, Building Changes told We Are Ins advisory board that it would cease being the organizations fiscal sponsor once their contract expired at the end of the year. We Are In scrambled to find a new fiscal sponsor and began to transfer operations to Panorama Global. Then, Building Changes fired Salcedo and Houser on Dec. 13. Salcedo did not respond to a request for comment. Houser denied all claims against him and said that he was not told the reasons for his firing or the scope or outcome of the investigation. Belgarde said board members were in the dark because Building Changes handled employment and HR issues. But at that point, the philanthropies and corporations financially backing We Are In indicated to Belgarde they still intended to support it going forward. So the day Salcedo and Houser were fired, he wrote in an email to the three remaining staff that we want to assure you that your jobs are secure. Then on Jan. 11, We Are Ins new fiscal sponsor, Panorama Global, furloughed the remaining three staff, again catching board members by surprise. Belgarde said Panorama told the board We Are In didnt have enough money to pay employees. Building Changes executive director Daniel Zavala said they sent Panorama Global an initial $500,000 to begin the transfer of the fiscal sponsorship, but We Are In had overspent its operating funding, the account that pays employee salaries. Similar finger-pointing occurred after the collapse of a hotel shelter program last year. Building Changes served as fiscal sponsor for another organization, the Lived Experience Coalition, in that case and also said it overspent funds. Its not our role as fiscal sponsor to manage how We Are In is spending their funds, Zavala said. Zavala said there is another half million that Building Changes is waiting to send after it pays the balance on existing commitments. Some of those are to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to wind down its Partnership For Zero project. We Are Ins philanthropy and corporate funders have distanced themselves from the mess and resigned from the board. Microsoft, Gates Foundation, Ballmer Group, Raikes Foundation, Amazon, and Campion Foundation who collectively provided millions to We Are In over the last few years say they have not decided if theyre funding the organization going forward. At a crossroads Smith with the Ballmer Group said the philanthropic sector is at a crossroads in terms of where to go next on homelessness funding. This all just unfolded, Smith said. And so we are in the process of figuring out what is to be taken from the messiness to inform our next level of strategy. She said Ballmer Group and other funders didnt know about issues at We Are In until the end of 2023. Regardless of what happens there, she said they are not walking away from homelessness or the ideas behind the Regional Homelessness Authority and We Are In. It hits the idea that there is not a magic bullet for these issues, Smith said. This is long-term work. As we engage and try different things with philanthropic capital, some things will work and some things will work less well. And we need to stay at the table. As plans are made, she said Ballmer could consider funding the Regional Homelessness Authoritys general operating budget. The city of Seattle and King County say that partnerships with the philanthropic and private sector are necessary to address homelessness and that they expect these partnerships to continue regardless of what is happening with We Are In. Any one organization facing challenges does not imperil the broader work, wrote Chase Gallagher, spokesperson for King County Executive Dow Constantine. The current circumstances give us an opportunity as partners to pause, look at how things are going, and roll up our sleeves to continue the work, wrote Jamie Housen, a spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell. The Regional Homelessness Authority said its important to keep in context where the responsibility and ability to address homelessness truly lies. Public-private partnerships are an essential part of a community effort to solve homelessness, but private funding will never replace public funding. To solve problems at scale, public funding is required, said Anne Martens, spokesperson for the authority. For Belgarde, We Are In could have been set up to succeed. Had the organization waited to incorporate as a tax-exempt nonprofit, board members could have had greater oversight of the organizations leadership and financial management and avoided conflict with its fiscal sponsor. If I could go back in time, I would have slowed down the ramp-up, Belgarde said. AMD announced that JR Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), a Japanese bullet train operator, is using the AMD Kria K26 System-on-Module (SOM) to automate track inspection. This AI-based solution replaces traditional methods of inspecting miles of track on foot, creating significant efficiencies by improving the inspection speed, cost and accuracy to meet Japans stringent railway safety requirements. JR Kyushu bullet trains operate across an enormous territory of more than 1,455 miles of railroad tracks, with trains traveling at speeds of up to 161 mph. Safety is the companys number-one priority, requiring diligent track inspections carried out at specified intervals. To increase the efficiency and accuracy of assessments, JR Kyushu chose an AMD-powered solution from Tokyo Artisan Intelligence (TAI), which uses high-speed image processing and advanced AI capabilities to detect and inspect loose bolts and other track issues. With the new solution from TAI and AMD, we were able to improve the efficiency of conventional track inspection, and we anticipate further improvements in inspection efficiency through future functional enhancements, said Kazuhiro Sakaguchi, deputy manager in the Engineering Division, Shinkansen Department at JR Kyushu. At the heart of the track inspection solution is a vision computing box attached to a cart that inspects tracks at speeds of 12 mph. The box features a high-speed camera that uses the FPGA-based Kria K26 SOM for AI-enhanced pre-and-post data and image processing. The Kria K26 SOM is a compact, all-in-one embedded platform that integrates a custom-built AMD Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC with DDR memory, nonvolatile storage devices, a security module, and an aluminum thermal heat spreader. The most important benefit of AI in this case was reduction of cost, said Hiroki Nakahara, co-founder and CEO of TAI. Replacing the conventional method of inspecting tracks on foot with carts has led to a dramatic improvement in operational efficiency. The programmability, durability, and embedded intelligence of the AMD Kria SOM-powered solution also make it adaptable to the unique and changing conditions, geographies, and needs of JR Kyushus territory and ridership. Since railways are installed in a natural environment, the ability to update the Kria SOM to suit the daily changing natural conditions is critical and helps future-proof investments. AMD Kria SOMs are accelerating innovation at the edge and simplifying solution development through deployment, said Chetan Khona, senior director of Industrial, Vision, Healthcare and Sciences Markets, AMD. JR Kyushu is a perfect example of how the endless programmability of Kria SOMs, combined with edge AI computing, can automate processes and dramatically enhance operational efficiency across a variety of applications, from machine vision to industrial robotics and AI/ML computing. Bandhan Bank announces the successful overhaul of its core banking system and the expansion of its digital services through a strategic collaboration with Oracle. Leveraging Oracle FLEXCUBE and Oracle Banking Digital Experience, Bandhan Bank has not only modernized its operations in Retail and Wholesale Banking areas, but has also introduced new digital capabilities implementing Oracle Payments, Retail Loan Originations, and services for Retail Internet and Mobile Banking to cater to millions of customers, particularly focusing on underserved segments within Indian society. Bandhan Bank, serving a vast customer base of nearly 32 million through a robust network of over 6,250 banking outlets across 35 states (out of 36 states in India) and union territories, has consistently grown since its establishment in 2001. Originally founded as a not-for-profit institution, providing micro loans to underprivileged sections of the society, the bank has evolved into one of the fastest-growing private banks in India. The rapid expansion prompted Bandhan Bank to work with Oracle, replacing legacy systems and manual processes with cutting-edge banking technology. The comprehensive transformation, including diverse businesses of Housing Finance, General Banking, and Microcredit (the largest in India), was successfully completed within a commendable two-year timeframe. The implementation of Oracle FLEXCUBEs scalable and flexible platform, along with Oracles digital banking services, has significantly enhanced operational efficiency and elevated customer experiences. Our rapid expansion required us to rethink the structure of our core banking operations, said Ratan Kumar Kesh, Executive Director, and COO of Bandhan Bank. He further highlighted that Transforming our core processes and migrating to digital offerings with Oracle technology will give further boost to our growth and enable us to provide enhanced customer experience through innovative financial solutions. Bandhan Bank now efficiently streamlines General Banking, Housing Finance, and Emerging Enterprise Business (EEB) operations, offering end-to-end support for critical market functionalities, including Group Loans, Housing Loans, Personal & Vehicle loans, Payments, and Taxes, across its retail and corporate banking business verticals. The platform also introduces corporate banking modules to support the banks Domestic trade business and ensures a uniform approach for non-performing assets (NPA) processing across all its advances portfolios. As an example, earlier, banking staff had the capability to initiate micro loans using handheld devices. With the implementation of Oracles mid-office loan workflow system, the process has gained enhanced autonomy. The system can independently originate loans or seamlessly resume processing from where the handheld left off, culminating in a more efficient and dependable origination and processing of micro loans. The new technology has also enabled the bank to improve the processing to disburse the Small Business Loans, valued at INR 300+ crores (US$ 36.5 M) a day. The complete journey from loan application to sanction and final disbursement is seamlessly concluded within an impressively brief timeframe of just 3 days. Compliance emerged as one of the vital driving forces for this transformation, with Oracles solution providing transparent data supported by documented business logic and a granular audit trail, ensuring comprehensive compliance across all aspects of Core and Digital Banking. In addition to faster loan origination, Bandhan Bank can now offer its customers a seamless omnichannel experience, whether transacting online or visiting a branch, banking unit, or being served by bank staff. This includes empowering micro loan customers with the ability to make recurring deposits and create term deposit accounts to improve their savings habits. Oracles payment services further enhance operational capabilities, facilitating straight-through processing of domestic and cross-border payments for various business use cases, including vendor, retail, and corporate banking payments. This feature enables the bank to increase revenues through fee charging and recovery. Looking ahead, Bandhan Bank is slated to unveil its own credit card. It is likely to be launched in early FY 2024-25, with Oracles digital and core banking serving as the front-end platform and the back-end customer store. With Oracle, Bandhan Bank can accelerate its go-to-market strategy across multiple banking business lines and achieve the agility with total compliance necessary to grow in Indias rapidly changing environment, said Sonny Singh, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Financial Services. Now, the bank can scale its operations in line with its rapid growth and more quickly bring new enriching and contextual experiences to its customers and continue its important mission of bringing financial opportunity to both the general and the underserved segments of Indian society, through digital access, he emphasized. 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 On the morning of Dec. 21, 1999, William Fyfe went to a clothing drop-off at Trinity Church in Toronto and left three pairs of running shoes. An undercover Ontario Provincial Police officer was tailing him, and retrieved the shoes for forensic analysis. What they revealed was important: on one of the shoes, the tread pattern matched a shoeprint taken from the room where, only a few months earlier in the Quebec town of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, a woman named Monique Gaudreau had been murdered. The police arrested Fyfe the next day. And what eventually came to light was shocking: over the last two decades in Quebec, between 1979 and 1999, he had murdered at least nine women, making him the most notorious serial killer in the province's history. The case illustrates the importance of physical evidence in solving crimesin this example, shoeprints taken at the crime scene. For a shoeprint to be useful, its tread pattern must be meticulously coded and entered into a shoeprint database. Typically, this coding is done manually by forensic analysts, but is this method reliable? Vincent Mousseau, a Ph.D. student at UdeM's School of Criminology, decided to find out. He enlisted the help of Quebec's forensic science lab, the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de medecine legale (LSJML). His findings were recently published in the Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal. A range of evidence "Shoeprints are part of a range of circumstantial evidence that can move an investigation forward," said Mousseau. "They are rarely presented as evidence in court, but they can help steer the investigation in the right direction by, for example, determining the number of people present at the time of the crime, ruling out suspects, or linking crimes that police initially thought were unrelated." As part of his research, Mousseau helped set up a project at the LSJML, where he had been working as a student for several years, to analyze the validity of the coding of the thousands of shoeprint images contained in its database. "This database is similar to the fingerprint database is used by police across Quebec," he explained. "After receiving an image of a shoeprint taken at a crime scene, the forensic analyst has to scrutinize and code the different patterns." It's not an easy task. "The quality of the shoeprint is often suboptimal; for example, it could be a partial print or the tread could be obscured by mud or sand," explained Mousseau. "So we need to make sure the people who query the database are reading the patterns in the same way." Mousseau and two forensic analysts from the LSJML's forensic intelligence service extracted a set of about 30 shoeprints from the database and then coded them using an analytical grid. Each analyst coded each shoeprint twice, two weeks apart. Mousseau then checked to see whether the analysts and the coding systems agreed. Near-perfect consistency "Apart from some minor variations, two of the three analysts showed near-perfect consistency in their coding between the two testing times, and there was a strong consensus among all three analysts," reported Mousseau. Although the level of agreement was lower for some patterns and shapes, the coding system developed by the three analysts generally showed a satisfactory degree of reliability. But why measure the reliability of manual coding when the task could be performed by a computer? "A computer can detect identical shoeprints but only under optimal conditions; in other words, when there is no background noise in the image," said Mousseau. "Computers are still deficient at analyzing 3D shoeprints, and they can't make all the connections that a human can. So while there is growing interest in automated coding systems, these results suggest that manual coding of shoeprints is still an appropriate method for generating forensic intelligence." More information: Vincent Mousseau et al, Intra- and inter-rater reliability of a manual codification system for footwear impressions: first lessons learned from the development of a footwear database for forensic intelligence purposes, Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00085030.2023.2278911 First National Advisers LLC increased its stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 112.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,547 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 1,346 shares during the quarter. First National Advisers LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $1,647,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $26,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth $27,000. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: BlackRock Trading Down 2.4 % BLK traded down $19.53 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $782.23. The companys stock had a trading volume of 206,769 shares, compared to its average volume of 625,104. BlackRock, Inc. has a twelve month low of $596.18 and a twelve month high of $819.00. The company has a quick ratio of 3.72, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $789.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $716.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $116.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.36, a PEG ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.38. BlackRock Increases Dividend BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.84 by $0.82. The firm had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.65 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.85% and a net margin of 30.81%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $8.93 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.64 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $5.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $20.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is 54.78%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group lifted their target price on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. TD Cowen raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. BNP Paribas raised BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $785.73. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BlackRock Insider Buying and Selling In related news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total transaction of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other BlackRock news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total value of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 3,418 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $781.11, for a total value of $2,669,833.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 70,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $54,972,959.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 32,524 shares of company stock worth $16,510,628. 1.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About BlackRock (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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 NEWPORT Not far from where Sinking Creek winds through this historic village and passes under a covered bridge, muddy water flowed up from the ground Wednesday in what is normally a clear-running natural spring. About a half mile away, construction crews worked on steep slopes to build a natural gas pipeline that descends into the community, burrows under Blue Grass Trail (Virginia 42) and the adjacent Greenbrier Branch, and makes its way back up a mountainside. Did muddy runoff from work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline wind up in the natural spring? Direct answers were not available from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or Mountain Valley. But whats happening at Sinking Creek is just the latest in a series of problems that have long plagued the controversial project, opponents say. A letter from 29 community and statewide organizations asks DEQ to stop work on the pipeline. Despite the fact that MVP has been allowed to rip and blast through the countryside and our waters for extended periods since early 2018, it has yet to correct its plans and its behavior in a way that avoids the very same kind of violations first seen six years ago, states a letter sent Thursday to DEQ Director Michael Rolband. In the past, DEQ has cited the company for violations of erosion and sediment control regulations, which sometimes allowed muddy runoff to flow directly from construction sites onto nearby private property and into streams. The situation at Sinking Creek appears to be different. Karst topography in the area sinkholes, caves and caverns caused by the dissolving of limestone and other rock over time may have created a channel that allowed sediment-laden water to travel a longer distance underground before it surfaced in the natural spring, which feeds into Sinking Creek. Donna Pitt of Preserve Giles County watched the orange-brown water flow past her as she stood next to the spring Wednesday afternoon. What she saw, Pitt said, was exactly what pipeline opponents have warned about for years in comments to regulatory agencies. We knew that it was going to be a disaster of some kind, somewhere, Pitt said. And the fact that it is in Sinking Creek, the community that has fought Mountain Valley from the beginning, just infuriates me. Drinking water has been contaminated for at least two homes that rely on wells or springs, she said. And plumes of sediment were visible in the creek as far as three miles downstream from the contaminated spring. I have lived in this community my entire life and am hard-pressed to recall a time seeing this much mud in the stream, Perry Martin, a member of the Giles County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a recent email to DEQ. The Roanoke Times submitted questions to DEQ about the situation at Sinking Creek on Tuesday. Additional inquiries about the request for a stop work order were emailed to the agencys spokeswoman on Friday. In a response Saturday morning, Irinia Calos wrote in an email that Mountain Valley is working with the karst expert at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and its karst consultants regarding mitigation and minimization options. Karst specialists and inspectors continue investigating this issue. DEQ did not respond to questions about the stop-work request. Although a spokeswoman for Mountain Valley did not confirm that the sediment came from pipeline work some distance away, she acknowledged there was a problem. Mountain Valley is actively addressing the situation in an effort to protect the surrounding resources and alleviate community concerns, Natalie Cox wrote in an email. On Wednesday, workers at the scene were pumping water from the spring, before it reached the creek, and hauling it away in tanker trucks. On Friday, Pitt said, they had placed a floating dam in Sinking Creek in an effort to catch the sediment before it was carried downstream. Cox did not provide a detailed answer to questions about the cleanup efforts. But in response to the call for a stop-work order, she wrote: MVP project opponents continue to promote factual inaccuracies in support of their agenda, which includes a primary objective to stop MVP and other linear infrastructure. Construction of the buried pipeline has undergone an unprecedented level of scrutiny from DEQ and other regulatory agencies, Cox wrote. Erosion control devices temporary measures intended to curb the flow of storm water while construction is underway can be overwhelmed by heavy rains. During January 2024, MVPs six Virginia counties received between 4.2 and 6.8 inches of rain, which was well above the 20-year average for these counties, Cox wrote. As has always been the case, completing construction and fully restoring the projects right-of-way remains the best method of permanent environmental protection. Long delayed by legal challenges filed by environmental groups, the project was fast-tracked by Congress last year. Mountain Valley says it hopes to have the pipeline in service by late March, providing needed natural gas to East Coast markets. Over the past six years, opponents have repeatedly asked DEQ to stop work on the pipeline until Mountain Valley can demonstrate compliance with state environmental standards. There has been just one such order, in the summer of 2019, on a small stretch of the 303-mile pipeline in Montgomery County. Problems then paled in comparison to whats happening now, according to David Sligh, conservation director of Wild Virginia. The states inaction is part of the pattern that has been set throughout the period when this has been under construction, where DEQ has been timid about saying there are problems, Sligh said. Its an abdication of their duty. Last weeks request for a stop-work order was made by groups that include Wild Virginia, the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights coalition, Preserve Giles County, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Clubs New River Valley Group. The 17-page letter included detailed descriptions of cases in which sediment infiltrated Sinking Creek, the Bottom Creek watershed on Bent Mountain and other streams and wetland along the pipelines route, which runs from northern West Virginia, through Southwest Virginia, to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line. The reality of the effects on water bodies, which DEQ personnel seem all too willing to ignore or dismiss, must not be discounted, the letter stated. In addition to inspections by DEQ, monitoring is conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. A review of weekly reports from Dec. 31 through Feb. 3 filed with FERC shows at least 32 cases where sediment was washed off the pipeline right-of-way, sometimes into streams and wetlands. During todays heavy rain event, turbid water undermined a compost filter sock and entered stream S-Y7, a report from Jan. 9 stated. Streams are seldom identified by name in the environmental compliance reports. Despite that incident and others, FERC found no cases of problem areas or non-compliance, two of the terms used to describe incidents recorded by inspectors. Instead, the federal agency handled the matters through communication reports, which provide documentation of meetings held to resolve the issues. These events and reports are all considered equally by FERC staff as part of the overall compliance record and for purposes of requiring follow-up remediation, agency spokeswoman Celeste Miller wrote in an email. Sedimentation which can clog waterways, impede wildlife and aquatic vegetation, contribute to flooding and increase the cost of treating drinking water is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a common form of water pollution. Existing problems in Southwest Virginia will not be addressed, the letter requesting a stop-work order said, if MVP is allowed to rush forward with construction at its current breakneck pace. CURTIS Chase Glover didnt think college was for him. He knew he wanted to work in agriculture, but he wasnt big on school. So, he figured he would go straight into the workforce after graduating from high school in Grand Island, Nebraska. His plans changed after his Future Farmers of America adviser at Northwest High School in Grand Island suggested he check out the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He traveled to Curtis and took a tour. What he saw on campus changed Glovers mind about college and planted the seeds for his future career. My love for NCTA has just grown so much over the past year and a half, said Glover, who will graduate in May with an Associate of Science degree in agronomy. I think its great that Nebraska has a school dedicated to straight-up agriculture and animal science. This past fall, 232 students were enrolled in NCTA, a two-year college that is the rural arm of the University of Nebraska System. NCTA leaders seek to increase enrollment to 500 students over the next 10 years to address workforce needs in Nebraskas agriculture sector. A key piece of that plan involves modernizing facilities on the historic campus in southwest Nebraska to aid in recruiting and retaining more students. Omaha philanthropists Barbara and Wally Weitz have made a $6 million challenge gift toward a $12 million project to create the Student Success and Activity Center. The project will renovate and expand the student union, known as The Barn, originally built in 1917, to create a new student union on campus with technology-enabled study spaces, a place to hold social events and an accessible dining hall. Fundraising is underway for the remaining $6 million, with work to begin after those commitments are in place. Barbara Weitz has called NCTA a too-well-kept secret south of North Platte. The college with the slogan Small Campus. Big Impact. is ranked by Forbes Magazine as among the top 30 trade schools in the country. NCTA Dean Larry Gossen, Ph.D., said Aggie graduates are in high demand. In surveys, 100% of graduates report being employed in their field of study or planning to go back to the family ranching or farming operation or to continue their education at another institution. Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Nebraska, with nearly one in four jobs in the state related to the industry, and it accounts for more than one-fifth of the gross state product. But without the workforce to fill jobs in all aspects of the industry, the ag economy is at risk. Every field of agriculture is looking for NCTA graduates. There are shortages across the board in agronomy, animal science, ag sales, veterinary technology and irrigation technology, Gossen said. We have more job openings than we have graduates to fill them. At NCTA, Gossen said students receive hands-on, applicable instruction that prepares them to advance in ag industry jobs or to become a partner in their family operation. NCTA provides a skilled workforce to rural Nebraska, he said. Students enjoy small-town living, and many plan on returning to rural Nebraska to begin their careers. Glover said NCTA has opened doors and prepared him for the real world of agriculture. In his agronomy major, he engages in the latest plant and soil science while learning about water resource conservation and production techniques. To gain hands-on experience, he scouts crops in the agronomy farm lab on campus, looking for stressors on plants throughout their life cycle, from seeds in the ground to fully grown plants; crunches the numbers on the cost of inputs such as fertilizer; and learns about irrigation. I just like looking at the plants, he said. I know I sound like a crop nerd. Glover also is a member of NCTAs award-winning crops judging team and president of the Farm Bureau Club. I love working in small groups and one on one with my professors, he said. After he graduates, Glover plans to complete a second internship as a crop scout at Long Agronomics in Minden, where he spent last summer learning about crop diseases and their impact on plants. I didnt really have a background in agronomy before coming to NCTA, Glover said, and now I feel like Im prepared to go out into the world. Could there be a better home for a woman who runs a paranormal investigation business than a 6,800 square-foot Victorian house that was used as a funeral home for 100 years? Jennifer VanBoskerck of Raven Paranormal bought the former Smith Brothers Funeral home in December and has begun renovating the dilapidated house and overgrown 2.5 acres in the downtown Marion historic district. Daunting and costly is how she describes it. Abandoned since 2015, the house has ceilings falling in, rotted staircases, missing or damaged floors and broken windows. The first thing she did was spend $60,000 replacing the hurricane-battered roof. Neglect caused some damage, but most was caused by squatters and just-plain nosy people wanting to walk around a historic and abandoned building. They trashed rooms and left clothing. Some of the embalming tools were taken. But what VanBoskerck sees are the hidden gems intricate woodwork, a turret, the original fireplace mantels, Eastlake Victorian locks, eight working fireplaces. Its listed as historic by the South Carolina Department of Archives. And then there is the stuff left behind by three businesses that took care of the after-death needs of generations of Pee Dee families. The embalming room is in place. An array of available burial suits in picture frames. Womens clothing in boxes. Victorian era furniture. And the spirits. VanBoskerck counts many. There are children a boy, a girl, an infant a woman believed to be the standoffish first wife of Jesse Holliday, who built the house in 1895. He is of the family known for the Galivants Ferry Stump meeting that began with a Wade Hampton speech in 1876 and remains a must do for Democratic candidates. VanBoskerck and her associates have experienced drawers opening with no one seemingly around. Her business partner Ken Holden said unseen spirits have clawed him in the back to get his attention. Four times. Sometimes it was so off putting he just had to leave. He also has seen a woman in a Victorian-era dress, another wearing more modern clothing and a boy floating outside a window. VanBoskerck said when she first went into the house, she told the spirits she was the new owner and assured them she knew this was their home. She addresses them like friends. Shes been in this sort of work for decades. Rarely has she been frightened. Several people have died in the house, including one of the funeral directors who had a heart attack outside the embalming room. A man pulled up to the magnolia tree at the back and shot himself. A psychic believes three people are buried on the property. VanBoskerck has also felt the spirit of a nanny. The provenance of ownership is not exactly clear. What VanBoskerck does know is Holliday built the house, then a man named Pace opened a funeral home in 1903 but it doesnt seem he ever owned the house. The Smith family continued the mortuary business in the 1940s and a family named Collins bought it in the 1980s and renamed it Smith Collins funeral home until 2015. The next project will be pulling up the old pine floors damaged by rain from a hole in the roof. VanBoskerck has renamed the property the Holliday House and has opened it up to other paranormal groups for meetings and investigations. Several have already been booked. There will be historic tours in September, Halloween events such as costume contests, games and a haunted house (with respect to the on-site spirits, she said), Christmas events, and movie nights in the spring. And a gift shop with T-shirts, flashlights for investigations, sage kits. Ultimately, she hopes to expand into a metaphysical store with herbs, candles and teas. She has a gofundme page as well. All proceeds go to a fund set aside for renovating the house, she said. This is my dream, she said. (TBTCO) - Sang nay, gia vang the gioi chua co bien ong moi. Cac chuyen gia cho rang, quan iem va quyet inh lai suat cua cac ngan hang trung uong se tac ong en huong i cua vang tuan nay. Trong nuoc, tai thoi iem 6h30, vang SJC tai Ha Noi van uoc niem yet o moc 81,72 trieu ong/luong o chieu ban ra. at hon gia vang the gioi 15,684 trieu ong/luong. 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). Over the last few years, Leon Coldero has arguably become just as renowned for his insatiable cuisine as he is as an entertainer. Having spent four decades in entertainment, giving soca parang lovers hits that never get old, opening his restaurant was just a natural progression for Coldero, who used the downtime during the Covid-19 pandemic, to delve full throttle into the restaurant business. 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. The Civic Orchestra of Tucson was the first in Tucson to host a youth concerto competition for kids younger than college age. On Saturday, Feb. 17, the orchestra will shine the spotlight on one of the most recent winners of its Young Artists Competition in a benefit concert to raise money for this years 39th annual contest. Pianist Hannah Kim, 13, will perform the first movement of Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 20 with the 75-piece orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Keun Oh. In addition to her Civic Orchestra win, Hannah, a Basis Tucson North eighth-grader, has won a number of piano competitions, including first place in the Roberta Savler Piano Competition in Chicago and top prizes in the Tucson Music Teachers Association Merit Scholarship Auditions, the Arizona State Music Teachers Associations Honors Recital Auditions and the Charleston International Music Competition. The COT Young Artists Competition has five solo categories winds, percussion, piano, harp and strings and each has a junior and senior division. Saturdays Scenes de Ballet program also includes Mars from Holsts The Planets; Tchaikovskys Romeo and Juliet and the Enchanted Lake and Waltz movements from Swan Lake; and Coplands Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. Civic Orchestra of Tucson performs eight free concerts a year; this is the only one where they charge a fee ($20 for adults, $10 for students 18 and younger), with proceeds benefiting the Young Artists Competition. Saturdays concert begins at 3 p.m. at the Center for the Arts on the Pima Community College West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at cotmusic.org. For the second time since December, humanitarian volunteers say on Saturday they had to transport hundreds of migrants from the border wall east of Sasabe, Arizona where they were waiting to turn themselves in to border agents due to potentially deadly winter-weather conditions and lack of response from border agents. About 400 migrants, including children and elderly people, waited at the border wall more than 15 miles east of Sasabe from Friday evening into Saturday morning, when aid workers arrived amid snow and freezing temperatures, volunteers said. Border agents didnt come to the wall in response to volunteers calls for help because they claimed Border Patrol vehicles couldnt make it over the steep, muddy roads on Saturday, said Aryanna Tischler, volunteer with Tucson humanitarian-aid group No More Deaths. So the aid workers with No More Deaths, Tucson Samaritans and Green Valley Samaritans began evacuating people themselves to the Border Patrol processing station in Sasabe, despite border agents threatening them with arrest for doing so, Tischler said. Legally, we know what were doing is not smuggling. We know that were not evading Border Patrol by bringing people to the station in Sasabe, she said. We know what were doing is legal, and we know if we dont get people off the wall, that people could die. Particularly since November, human smugglers have been dropping large groups of migrants off in this remote area of the border wall much further east of the Sasabe port of entry than before which is only accessible over roller-coaster steep gravel roads that some two-wheel-drive Border Patrol vans have trouble navigating. Aid workers are frustrated that after so many months, Border Patrol hasnt allocated more resources to the region, both in the form of more four-wheel-drive vehicles and personnel to transport migrants, and boosting processing capacity at the center in Sasabe, volunteers said. On Saturday and Sunday, many migrants continued to wait exposed to the elements outside the processing center because border agents said theyd reached capacity at the center, Tischler said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees Border Patrol, says agents prioritize transport of the most vulnerable to the best of their ability. But the agency is funded through a continuing resolution and cant overspend its allocation. In places where we are encountering large groups, Tucson Sector prioritizes vulnerable populations for transportation and is generally able to accomplish our goal to move everybody that is gathered overnight in from the field that day, according to a CBP statement. CBP has taken significant steps to surge personnel and resources to impacted sectors and address the challenges we are experiencing across the southwest border. Encounter numbers continue to fluctuate, as smugglers and bad actors continue to spread falsehoods and show complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable migrants, CBP said. Logistical nightmare is a choice Immigration experts say ongoing humanitarian crises along the border are the result of U.S. legislators decades-long failure to update the nations outdated and underfunded immigration system and to keep pace with evolving trends in migration. The basis for most of the legal processing for migrants at the border today is rooted in policy established in 1996, when most migrant arrivals between ports of entry were Mexican men seeking work, and few were presenting as asylum seekers turning themselves in to agents, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the immigrant-rights nonprofit American Immigration Council. That system has never been funded to the level it should be, he said. Congress in 1996 said it would create a system to rapidly screen asylum seekers who cross the U.S.-Mexico border, but its never given the resources nor the asylum officers necessary to carry out those screenings in large numbers. Its also created a logistical nightmare for border agents whose mission is supposed to be focused on interdicting contraband and the migrants who are trying to evade law enforcement. The outdated system also makes it virtually impossible for those fleeing poverty and seeking work in the U.S. to access work visas, despite a significant labor shortage in the U.S., Reichlin-Melnick said. If you filled every single open position in the U.S. right now with every unemployed American, there would still be millions of open positions, because unemployment is so low. Our legal immigration system is simply not flexible enough to allow that, due to the limited number of guest-worker permits, he said. For the vast majority of people coming to our border, there is no line they can stand in, no legal pathway they can access, and so the asylum process has become in many ways the only way for people to have any chance of getting into the U.S., he said. The right way Many who are showing up and presenting themselves to border agents today will ultimately be denied asylum when they get their day in court. But due to a massive backlog of 3 million pending cases in the immigration courts, most asylum hearings are being scheduled five to six years from now. In the meantime, border agents are releasing legally processed migrants into the U.S. with a notice to appear in court. If people have a strong claim, they should be able to get that claim heard in a reasonable period of time, Reichlin-Melnick said. And if people dont have a strong claim, we should not incentivize them into accessing the asylum system and clogging it up. The lack of options for requesting asylum the right way has helped create a massively profitable smuggling industry that organized crime groups in Mexico have taken over, immigration experts say. Asylum seekers turn to human smugglers out of desperation, said Pedro De Velasco, director of education and advocacy for Kino Border Initiative. The binational nonprofit offers food, shelter, legal assistance, psychological support and other services to migrants at its resource center in Nogales, Sonora. Thousands are waiting in northern Mexico for an appointment through the CBP One application, which, under a controversial Biden administration policy called Circumvention of Lawful Pathways, is the only way for most migrants to request an appointment to seek asylum. But the DeConcini port of entry in Nogales is the only port that accepts CBP One appointments in the 700 miles between Calexico, California, and El Paso, Texas, and it only accepts 100 appointments a day. Thats left thousands of vulnerable migrants waiting up to six months in dangerous border communities, where criminal organizations are preying on them through kidnapping, extortion, robbery and assaults. Smugglers are misleading migrants, telling them the U.S. has open borders, Reichlin-Melnick said. Theyre also falsely telling migrants who may not have a strong asylum claim or who are primarily fleeing poverty, rather than persecution that they could qualify for asylum when they likely wont, he said. Many migrants dont really understand that years down the line, they might end up thrown in detention and deported because all theyve heard is, This is your way to come to the U.S. Not aiding and abetting Many factors are at play in the current surge of migrants at the southern border, including global trends, Reichlin-Melnick said. One of the biggest issues here is that we are in an unprecedented time for displacement globally, he said. The United Nations estimates there are more people displaced outside of their countries than at any point in human history, and the U.S. remains in many ways the most secure, stable, safe and rich country in the world. Tischler says humanitarian volunteers have been accused of aiding and abetting human smugglers, and of encouraging migrants to come to the U.S., through their efforts to render aid to migrants who are lost in the desert or whom smugglers have dropped off in remote areas of the U.S.-Mexico border. More than 4,100 migrants are known to have died in the southern Arizona desert since 1990, and thousands more are missing, according to Humane Borders. People arent fleeing (their homes) to receive humanitarian aid at the border, she said. All were doing is supporting peoples needs, so that people dont die. Theres nothing were doing thats enabling migration. Migration will continue even if we stop rendering aid in the desert. Reichlin-Melnick said there isnt evidence to support the idea that humanitarian aid on the border, or in temporary shelters like Casa Alitas in Tucson is driving migration. It bears no relationship to reality, he said. You dont travel 3,000 miles or further because you want a bottle of water and a blanket. If a University of Arizona student wanted to put on their cowboy boots, enjoy a cold drink and dance the night away to country classics, they would have to endure a 20-minute drive and a $30 Uber to The Maverick or Whiskey Roads. Thankfully, the country drought on University Boulevard has come to an end. Mobeen Moslem and Rick Cano are bringing the hoedown to Main Gate Square with their new bar and restaurant Bourbon Bent, specializing in a country theme with Southern comfort food and refreshing cocktails at 820 E. University Blvd. Rick and I kind of brainstormed, what does University need? What does it have? Moslem said. You have a lot of cool places already with No Anchovies and Frog & Firkin. We thought there was a place for a bar with different bourbons and whiskeys that brings a country twist to Main Gate. Moslem is no stranger to the restaurant business. As a Tucson native, he grew up in his fathers restaurant and took on many roles, including bussing, cleaning and serving. Despite the restaurant business in his blood, Moslems father urged him to avoid the tough industry, instead pushing him to go to school. So, Moslem did a complete 180 and got a degree in pharmacy from the University of Arizona. Although Moslem described pharmacy as an awesome profession, he still found himself drawn to the restaurant business. It's in our bloodline to be involved in restaurants and I missed that impact that we could have, Moslem said. So I decided to combine my alma mater and my love for restaurants. When this place opened up on University, I knew I had to go for it. Moslem remembers spending countless hours on University Boulevard during his time at the UA. Whether he was studying or hanging out with friends, Moslem loved being in Main Gate Square. When a spot opened up in Geronimo Plaza, it was too good to pass up. With the perfect spot available, Moslem enlisted the help of his longtime friend Rick Cano, a 20-year industry veteran who has operated various restaurants and bars around Tucson. On University Boulevard, you can get sushi, Mexican food, hamburgers, pizza, Italian and barbecue but something was missing. Theres not a place near campus that has a bar dedicated to whiskey and bourbon, or a spot where students can stop by and enjoy a good old-fashioned steak dinner. Thats when the light bulb went off for Moslem and Cano. We wanted it to be, kind of like a modern dive bar feel that's still clean and safe for students, Cano said. With that in mind, Cano and Moslem did a lot of research to nail the dive bar theme, making sure it had that dark-but-warm feel to it. Since the space is a historic building, it already had a lot of the quirks that classic country bars have. We walked into this 100-year-old building and it already has this, kind of like, rustic saloon feel to it. So, we embraced that instead of trying to modernize it too much, Cano said. We preserved the wood floors that were in there already. There's a lot of exposed brick in there that just adds to the whole feel of the restaurant. After executing the country theme, it was time to tackle the menu. To help make their Southern comfort vision come true, Cano recruited local chef Justin Stewart to help. Stewart is known for his work at the Wooden Nickel Tavern, plus he was the one who taught Cano how to cook in a commercial kitchen, showing him that bar food doesnt just have to be mozzarella sticks. Since Stewarts specialty is in comfort food, it was a match made in heaven. They put their heads together and came up with dishes like chicken and waffles, which includes crispy chicken paired with a corn waffle, topped with bourbon maple and rosemary butter. Other menu standouts include their chicken sandwiches; a steak and fries plate; their bourbon balls, which are chicken and beef meatballs with bourbon barbecue sauce and crispy onions; and their Not-chos, which are potato chips topped with brisket, cheese sauce, sour cream and green onions. Their real forte is the wings tossed in your choice of buffalo, barbecue or honey hot sauces. Stewarts Coca-Cola brine makes them shine. Cano said this particular brine helps tenderize the chicken so it gets nice and crispy when fried. Of course, no country bar is complete without themed cocktails. Moslem and Cano worked together to come up with their cocktail menu, serving drinks like a classic Old Fashioned and a Peachy Rita (their take on a margarita) in mason jars. Their most popular cocktail is the Porch Swing, which is made with peach whiskey, house-made lemonade and black tea. Bourbon Bent also has 12 beers on tap and you can even enjoy your drink in a 30-ounce glass shaped like a cowboy boot if you really want to embrace your country side. Since the restaurant is on University Boulevard, the duo has to keep up with the vibrant nightlife. They built a DJ booth so people can dance the night away to a mixture of country music and EDM. Once it gets warmer, Moslem and Cano plan to start Party on the Porch, where customers can grab brunch on their scenic patio while listening to music. Positive reviews have already started rolling in for Bourbon Bent, and Moslem and Cano are taking in all the feedback from customers who are saddling up and heading to the eatery where they can unleash their inner cowboy. We put a lot of effort into making sure we have a unique experience for our customers, Cano said. It's that neighborhood feel which I feel like was missing a little bit. A Florida-based company is acquiring all seven auto dealerships operated by longtime dealer Lawley Automotive in Sierra Vista. The dealerships will be the first in Arizona for the Ed Morse Automotive Group, which is based in Delray Beach, Florida and was founded in 1946. With the Lawley sites, Morse has 55 dealership locations, 111 automotive, motorcycle and marine franchises, and 33 different brands in eight states. Lawley was founded by Sean Lawley in 1995, and the seven Sierra Vista dealerships offer sales and service for Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan makes. This deal with Lawley is the ideal fit, as they are an established, family-owned, well-respected and well-run group of dealerships," Teddy Morse, chairman and CEO of Ed Morse Automotive Group, said in a news release. Authorities have yet to publicly identify a man who was shot and killed Saturday in a shootout with Marana police. The man was fatally shot after police say he man ran off about 5:30 p.m. as he was being taken into custody near West Ina Road and North Oldfather Drive for suspicion of driving impaired, Marana police said this weekend. During the chase, an officer saw what appeared to be a handgun. When police found the man, shots were exchanged and the man was struck, police said. Life saving measures were started, but the man died at the scene, police said. The multi-agency Pima Regional Critical Incident Team is handling the investigation, which is standard practice for police-involved shootings. The Tucson Police Department is the lead agency investigating. PHOENIX Republican lawmakers are moving to forever quash the idea of intercity rail. And theyre doing it in a way that could force Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs to go along. The move comes as the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology and Missing Children gave its approval Monday to continuing the state Department of Transportation. Without legislative approval, the agency which is responsible for road maintenance and construction, goes away July 1. But the vote to continue the agency came only after GOP lawmakers added a series of conditions and restrictions. And one of them spells out that ADOT cannot accept any grants, donations, aid or other federal funds to operate or maintain a commuter rail. This is something out there that the people do not want, said Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek. He said it amounts to the state promoting 100-year-old technology. Killing the idea of commuter rail between Phoenix and Tucson before its even gotten off the ground is only one of the policy issues that Republicans stuffed into SB 1184. Other conditions they added to the legislation include: Prohibiting the agency from proposing plans to reduce carbon greenhouse gases; Build or maintain charging stations for electric vehicles; Reduce the number of lanes on any road; Consider or adopt a motor vehicle travel mile reduction plan. Hobbs, however, may be unwilling to sign a measure laden down with all those issues. Politicizing ADOTs continuation is a non-starter, said gubernatorial press aide Christian Slater. Arizonans want sanity, not chaos that threatens the agency that builds roads, bridges and critical infrastructure they rely on to get around safely each and every day. Hoffman said he has a particular interest in quashing the idea of a train, saying that several of the proposed routes run right through his district. Hoffman argued that if the commuter rail runs along the Union Pacific tracks between the two cities it would cannibalize the transport of goods. But the bottom line, he said, is that it would be a waste of money. Nobodys going to ride it, Hoffman argued, saying that has been proven by what he calls completely ridiculous ridership numbers on light rail. We should be prioritizing those funds to go toward something like the expansion of the I-10, he said, calling it a Katie Hobbs, Pete Buttigieg kind of idea, referring to the Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration. For the moment, there is no adopted plan and no funding. But Amtrak officials announced in 2021 they were looking at three round trips per day, with a one-way time of about 2 1/2 hours. And Hobbs announced in December that ADOT had obtained a $500,000 federal grant to continue studying the potential restarting Amtrak service between Phoenix and Tucson. Amtrak abandoned service to Phoenix in 1996 following a derailment near Hyder that killed a crew member and injured dozens of others. Hoffman derided the whole idea. Democrats have this weird idea of going back like 100 years in technology as somehow the answer to commute issues, he said. People love their personal automobiles, Hoffman said. They love the freedom that it entails them, they love the ability to go when they want, where they want, how they want. Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, said she doubts that most Arizonans dont want the option of intercity rail. But Hoffman said the number of people riding rail now compared with those in cars proves his point. Another policy preference added to the legislation would bar ADOT from coming up with any programs designed to get people to use their vehicles less. This is another insane policy of the climate change leftists in this country who are pushing all sorts of alternative focal points, said Hoffman. I want a transportation department that works for the people of Arizona when it comes to transportation, not one that social engineers and uses half-cocked faulty data to justify some insane social agenda. That characterization annoyed Sen. Teresa Hatathlie, D-Tuba City. Its not so much a leftist issue, she said. Its an environmental issue. And Hatathlie said she sees from the personal level of ensuring her grandchildren have clean air. If you want to go and suck on somebodys tail pipe, be my guest, she said. But Hoffman responded that claims that pollution is causing damage are not backed by science. This is a political agenda, he said. While all the Republicans on the panel approved all the add-on amendments, Rep. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, said he wasnt sure that it was proper to make continuation of the needed agency contingent on all the conditions. He said he would prefer a clean bill. But Hoffman said the restrictions are justified, saying it is the role of the Legislature to oversee the operations of state agencies. The measure now needs approval of the full Senate. PHOENIX Saying he wants to short-circuit defund the police movements here, a first-term state lawmaker is pushing legislation designed to bar cities from cutting public safety funding. HB 2120 seeks to spell out in state law that it is illegal to reduce the operating budget for a law enforcement agency by any amount below the previous years budget. And the measure, has teeth. It says any community that ignores the law would see a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their state shared revenues until the funding is restored, essentially eating up any savings. Rep. David Marshall, who crafted the measure, acknowledged that the movements to reduce police budgets that have occurred elsewhere have not hit Arizona. But the Snowflake Republican said the legislation has merit. We should never be reactive, he told members of the House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety when they considered and approved the measure late Monday. We should always be proactive, taking care of issues before they occur. Marshall also said there are still activists in Arizona and in Phoenix in particular who are trying to defund police. And he said the experience of other cities across the nation explains why Arizona needs to get out ahead of the issue. Theyre losing businesses, crime is running rampant, theres no consequences to the crimes that are being committed, and people are leaving, Marshall said. Approval of the measure by the committee on a party-line vote came over the objections of Marshall Pimentel, lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. We view this bill as a fundamental issue of local control, he told lawmakers. Just as state voters elect you all to craft a budget that will work for the entirety of the state, they do the same thing with our council members to craft a budget that will work for their individual communities. Anyway, Pimentel said, there is no evidence any city where there is such a movement. On a more practical level, he said the legislation ignores that sometimes there are practical reasons that a city might decide to reduce the budget of a police department. That, Pimentel said, could include administrative savings. Consider, he said communities where things like code enforcement officers or neighborhood outreach staffers are part of the police department even though they are not sworn police officers. They may be moved into another department, Pimentel said. What the legislation also does not consider, he said, are efficiency savings. And Pimentel said departments may hire new officers at starting salary levels to replace more senior ones that have left. Marshall said he is willing to provide a bit of leeway. He promised to amend the measure when it now goes to the full House to permit reductions in law enforcement funding if a city reduces the budgets of all agencies at the same or greater rate. That, however, would apply only if a city has not experienced population growth. There also would be an exception if the police budget had been boosted the prior year by a one-time operating expense or spending on equipment. Even with those promised changes, Rep. Sarah Liguori, D-Phoenix, said she could not support the measure. I dont think that the current economic and financial conditions and future uncertainties are prudent for our state to be hampering our cities and towns budgets, she said. Rep. Marcelino Quinonez, D-Phoenix, said his opposition was more basic. James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A new exhibit on the Irish band The Pogues, who blended traditional Irish music tropes with punk sensibilities, will make its U.S. debut March 8, when it opens at the Bob Dylan Center, 116 E. Reconciliation Way. The exhibit, titled They Gave the Walls A Talking: The Extraordinary Story of The Pogues and Shane MacGowan, is on loan from EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin. It will be the first exhibit at the Bob Dylan Center that does not focus on its namesakes life and career. The exhibit was curated by Niall Stokes, leading Irish music writer and editor of Hot Press magazine. It features contributions from family members, band members and more, including Victoria Mary Clarke, Siobhan MacGowan, Jem Finer, Nick Cave, Imelda May, Glen Hansard, producer Steve Lillywhite and the family of the late Frank Murray, the bands original manager. The Pogues combined rowdy punk rock with traditional Irish music to create some of the most dynamic and memorable songs of the 1980s and 90s, including The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, A Pair of Brown Eyes, Rainy Night in Soho, If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Misty Morning, Albert Bridge and the Ewan MacColl cover Dirty Old Town, as well as the Christmas ballad Fairytale of New York. Exclusive to the Tulsa run, the exhibit will include rare material selected by MacGowans wife Victoria Mary Clarke. Taken from the book The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold, the selections include never-before-seen or published illustrations, drawings, lyrics, stories and snippets dating back to his childhood and journeying through six decades of punk and Irish revelry, including handwritten lyrics to what is perhaps the bands best-known song, Fairytale of New York. They Gave The Walls A Talking opened at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in December 2023, shortly after the death of Pogues co-founder, primary songwriter and frontman Shane MacGowan. Nathan Mannion, head of exhibitions and programs at EPIC, said, We take immense pride in highlighting the stories and accomplishments of Irish emigrants, demonstrating that Irish identity transcends the geographical boundaries of our island. With that in mind, we commissioned this special exhibition to celebrate one of the greatest transnational Irish bands of all time. President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, who was among the mourners at MacGowans funeral, described him as one of the greatest ever Irish songwriters. One of the hallmarks of Shanes writing was his intrinsic understanding of the vital importance of bringing a poetic sensibility to those wonderful, evocative songs. These are qualities that he shared with Bob Dylan. The VIP members-only opening event on March 7 will feature Clarke and Stokes in conversation with author and editor Anne Margaret Daniel. On March 8, Clarke will appear at a special public screening at the Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave., of Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, the 2020 documentary directed by Julien Temple and produced by Johnny Depp. The film will be shown Tulsas Circle Cinema. How Many Roads: Bob Dylan and His Changing Times, 1961-64, which had been planned for a February opening at the center, will now open on May 24 following the run of the Pogues exhibit. For tickets and more information: bobdylancenter.com The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Carry Nation earned fame as a hatchet-wielding woman who smashed bars and other places that served liquor. But when she came to Tulsa in October 1905, even her hatchet couldn't get her into the dining room at the new Robinson Hotel, where liquor was being served at its opening celebration. The Robinson banquet had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but was moved up 30 minutes after the hotel's owner, W.N. Robinson, heard that the saloon smasher was in town. When Nation arrived at the hotel, she found both of the dining room's doors locked, and no one answered her pounding. Meanwhile, the 200 at the party drank a toast to her at the suggestion of George W. Mowbray Sr., the president of the Commercial Club, clinking bottles and glasses loud enough that she could hear them, the Tulsa World reported years later in a special Chamber of Commerce section March 19, 1952. Her trip to Tulsa was one of Nation's last crusading expeditions. A short while later she moved to near Eureka Springs, Ark., where she housed widows, battered women and college girls at "Hatchet Hall." She began smashing saloons in 1899 when she and her second husband, David Nation, lived in Medicine Lodge, Kan., where he became the pastor of a Christian Church and she helped organize the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They had come from Seiling, Okla., where they had homesteaded a farm. David Nation, a preacher, lawyer and newspaper man, was the pastor of a church. Carry Nation earned a reputation of lecturing in schools and churches against liquor and tobacco. She didn't begin breaking up saloons until the couple moved to Medicine Lodge, but she was known earlier for pulling pipes and cigars from men's mouths. Nation used rocks and bricks wrapped in newspaper to smash several saloons before she adopted the hatchet as her symbol. She sold cheap pewter hatchet pins at speaking engagements and used the proceeds to finance her activities. Although she had moved to Kansas, Nation didn't forget Oklahoma, making bar-smashing crusades in Oklahoma City and Guthrie and campaigning in other cities for two years before Oklahoma became a state. She was arrested at least 30 times during her crusades. She also fought against the Masonic Lodge and other secret societies, a hatred that probably stemmed from her first marriage, to a man who she said spent too much time drinking and with Masonic lodge members. The spelling of her first name is disputed. It appears on posters announcing her crusades as "Carrie" and that apparently was the common spelling early in her life, but she later chose to be known as "Carry A. Nation" and is so listed in the Kansas Museum of History, the Encyclopaedia Britannica and Webster's New World College Dictionary. Carry Amelia Moore was born in 1846 in Kentucky and was married in 1867 to Dr. Charles Gloyd, who had been a Civil War surgeon and was a heavy drinker. She later complained that Gloyd, who had lived with the Moore family for two years while seeking a place to establish his medical practice, was drunk on their wedding day. She left Gloyd, who died within six months, and met and married David Nation a short time later. The Nations were divorced in 1901, when her husband lost patience with her frequent trips and told her that she would have to choose between him and her hatchet. She chose the hatchet. Nation collapsed in January 1911 while speaking at Eureka Springs after a final public statement: "I have done what I could." She died June 9, 1911, in Leavenworth, Kan. Those last words were chiseled onto her tombstone. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. 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 More than 105,000 additional Oklahoma children will have access this summer to a federal program targeting food insecurity. On Monday, Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill signed a trio of bills that were approved by the Muscogee Nation National Council at an emergency meeting Thursday evening to bring the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program to the tribes reservation. Administered via the tribes WIC Program, any student who lives on the Muscogee Nation reservation and is eligible for free or reduced price school meals will be able to receive $40 per month for June, July and August on a pre-loaded debit card to help cover the cost of groceries. To qualify, a childs household has to have an annual income of up to 185% of the federal poverty limit. For a family of four, that means an annual income of $55,500 or less. With the tribes reservation extending north to Admiral Boulevard, students attending 73 eastern Oklahoma school districts will be affected by Mondays announcement, including most of Tulsa and Sand Springs, plus all of Union, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Glenpool, Sapulpa, Kiefer, Mounds and Liberty. I thought it was important for us as a nation to step in and make sure these eligible children on our reservation have a program that meets their nutritional needs throughout the summer, said the measures sponsor, Second Speaker Thomasene Yahola Osborn. Many times, tribes have the opportunity to work together with partners to ensure there are no gaps in crucial services for people who are in need. When we say that we are here for our people, and for our communities, this is what we mean. The Okmulgee-based tribe originally did not submit an application because its leadership wanted additional time to work through the administrative logistics. However, the trio of bills include memoranda of understanding with both the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations to help implement and administer the program within the Muscogee Nation reservation. Both were previously approved to participate in the Summer EBT program, with the Chickasaw Nations program extending to cover school districts and a charter school within other tribes reservations and jurisdictional areas. While introducing the measures Thursday night to the tribes legislative branch, Second Chief Del Beaver specifically cited Gov. Kevin Stitts refusal to participate in the program as a factor in the decision to collaborate with the other two tribes and Hunger Free Oklahoma to bring the program to its reservation. Oklahomas other participating tribe, the Osage Nation, also cited the governors refusal in its decision to administer Summer EBT benefits to all eligible children living on its reservation. Once again where the state has created the void, the tribes have stepped up and filled that void, Beaver said, thanking the National Council in Muscogee. This is for our children. Mvto. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today School board elections would be held on the same days as state partisan primaries and general elections under legislation advanced from an Oklahoma House of Representatives committee on Monday. House Bill 3365, by Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, changes the current system of February primaries and April general elections for local school boards to June and November. Banning said moving the elections would increase turnout. Bradley Ward with Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma, a component of the Koch political network, said moving the elections from dates set aside for nonpartisan votes is not without precedent. Specifically, he noted that Oklahomas nonpartisan judicial elections coincide with the partisan election cycle. Tulsas nonpartisan city elections are held the same day as partisan runoff and general elections. Banning said the move would save districts about $16 million a year in election costs. The bill would require one additional poll worker per precinct, costing about $230,000 per election. Critics of school elections have long pushed for such a move, arguing that the current system contributes to low participation. The House Elections and Ethics Commission passed HB 3365 by a vote of 6-2. It is now eligible to be heard by the full House. The same committee also sent to the House floor a ban on ranked-choice voting, which Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, described as confusing and subject to algorithms. Voting one ballot at a time has worked very well, said Roberts. Also known as the instant runoff method, ranked-choice voting involves ranking candidates in order of preference. As candidates are eliminated, their votes are shifted to the remaining ones according to those preferences. Supporters believe that ranked choice is fairer and produces more moderate winners. Detractors cite its complexity, unfamiliarity and the days or weeks it can take to determine an outcome. Their reliance on algorithms essentially detailed instructions for carrying out complex mathematical operations raises further misgivings among some. In response to questions, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said Oklahomas current voting machines are incapable of processing ranked-choice ballots. A different committee, meanwhile, approved special election runoffs for legislative races. The state has runoffs for congressional vacancies, but not for the Legislature. Two Republican special election primaries one House, one Senate late last year resulted in winners with considerably less than 50% of the vote. The Appropriations and Budget subcommittee on general government approved HB 3511, by Rep. Ronnie Johns, R-Ada, without dissent, thus moving it along to the full A&B committee. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. One person was reported missing after a fire broke out on Monday at Sweden's largest amusement park, engulfing a newly built water park in flames, authorities said. Police and the park owners said they were searching for one worker at the Liseberg Amusement Park in central Gothenburg. Police evacuated a hotel and offices connected to the amusement park and warned households in the area to remain indoors due to smoke. According to police, 16 people suffered minor injuries but none needed hospital treatment. Gothenburg's emergency services said it would take until Tuesday morning to extinguish the blaze. Images showed exploding fireballs, as flames and several blasts tore up a water slide and a pall of black smoke rose over the city. "The fire originated at one of the water attractions" outside the water park's main building "and then spread throughout the building", Liseberg said in a statement. The cause of the fire was unknown, however police said the incident was being investigated as a "workplace accident". The water park is part of an expansion of the park and was set to open this year. News agency TT said reports estimated the cost of the new water park at 1.2 billion kronor ($115 million). NCC, the construction company building the facility, said work had been ongoing at the site, but they did not know the cause of the fire. Sixty-seven people were killed in traffic accidents across Vietnam during the first four days of the 2024 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday starting February 8, a decrease of 17 deaths, or 20.2 percent, compared to the same period of last year, the Ministry of Health reported on Monday. The period also saw 9,920 cases of medical examination and emergency aid due to traffic accidents across the country, a reduction of 14.4 percent year on year. These cases accounted for 6.6 percent of the total number of patients receiving examination and emergency aid over the first four days of Tet. The number of examinations and hospital transfers due to serious conditions, and the fatalities in relation to traffic accidents dropped compared to last years Tet, the ministry commented. All health facilities have strictly implemented the ministrys direction on strengthening medical examination and treatment during the 2024 Tet festival, ensuring timely and effective services for patients. Since 2012, Vietnams National Traffic Safety Committee has annually conducted a requiem in November to commemorate road traffic victims in response to the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Accidents, which is held on the third Sunday of every November by the United Nations (UN). Vietnam is among 45 UN member countries which managed to slash the number of traffic-related deaths by more than 30 percent during the 2011-20 period, the National Traffic Safety Committee recently announced, citing a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) released in December last year. As a member of the Global Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for Road Safety, Vietnam will attend the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, scheduled to be held in Morocco from February 18 - 21, 2025 (GMCRS 2025). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to be packed with returnees after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. Many passengers have voiced fears that their luggage on baggage carousels at the airport might be stuck due to large crowds. The airport was set to handle 843 flights, with over 136,000 passengers on board, on Tuesday, or the fourth day of Tet. The majority of these passengers who mainly hail from other localities are returning to the city for work. Nguyen Anh Khoa, a resident of Da Nang City, central Vietnam, said that after the Tet holiday, people tend to carry many bags of food, gifts and clothes to return to the southern metropolis. Air passengers will have to wait long by baggage carousels for their luggage to come out after their planes touch down. The domestic terminal of the airport houses six baggage carousels, with each handling bags from three to five flights. A representative of a ground service company at Tan Son Nhat International Airport said that during peak periods, some planes make a landing next to others, lengthening the time of transporting bags from planes to the terminal. As such, long waits by baggage carousels for luggage at the airport are unavoidable. Local airlines have asked their partners to beef up staffing to help ease congestion at the airport. Pacific Airlines had previously recruited an additional 103 drivers, baggage handlers and aircraft cleaners at Tan Son Nhat International Airport during the nations biggest holiday. Taxi service providers and ride-hailing service operators are committed to supplying an adequate number of cabs to serve passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport after Tet. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre The lack of taxicabs at the airport is another headache. However, many taxi service operators and ride-hailing service providers have pledged to supply an adequate number of cabs to serve returnees after Tet, said a representative of the airport management board. Since the start of February, multiple tech-based solutions have been employed at the airport to ease overcrowding inside the airport. In particular, the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) model was aimed at enhancing on-time take-off and landing rates for flights. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Lisa Wilkinson claims she was dumped from The Project by Network 10 management following criticism of her Logies speech in the media. She said she found out from her agent Nick Fordham that 10 was doing a rebrand and she was off the panel due to brand damage. I was shocked, embarrassed and deeply disappointed by (10 CEO Beverley) McGarveys decision to remove me from The Project, Wilkinson said in an affidavit. At that time, my most recent contract as co-host of The Project had only been signed 11 months before and still had more than two years to run. The claims were heard today during a cross-claim against 10 over a dispute about payment of more than $700,000 in legal costs in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case. Wilkinsons Logie speech of 2022 led to the criminal trial of Lehrmann in the ACT Supreme Court for the alleged sexual assault of Higgins being delayed by three months. Wilkinson told the court Network 10 had approved her Logies speech but refused to issue a public statement to confirm this. My understanding was that they were putting out something that was very legally considered, she told the court. [They] missed out on the exact fact I had begged them to put out something to make clear publicly the fact that they had asked me to give the speech, they had been involved in legalling that speech right up until 4:37 on the afternoon of the Logies. That speech had also been approved by the CEO Ms Bev McGarvey, it had also been approved by the head of Network Communications Ms Cat Donovan. All of them had approved the speech, but I was the one that was accused in this Daily Mail headline me alone as derailing the rape case. She continued, They said they wouldnt waive privilege over the legal advice that they had (been) given. And so the conclusion, which you would see from any of the headlines around that time, was that the media believed that I had got up on that stage and given a speech, pretty much off the top of my head without any consideration to the legal proceedings that were going on and that was completely incorrect. I was being blamed for giving that speech, and all the blame was falling on me, she said. She said a significant number of journalists were calling 10 to ask whether or not they legalled the speech. They refused to give any answer to those questions. Asked if she was concerned about her reputation she replied, It was being trashed in the media. Wilkinson also revealed she found out she was the subject of defamation proceedings in the press. I didnt find out that I was even being sued until I woke up on the eighth of December [sic], and saw a photograph of myself with the words Reckless indifference to the truth. And I found out by reading the media that I was being sued, she said. But nobody from Network 10 had advised her until she contacted them. Asked if she had read an affidavit from lawyer Marlia Saunders, representing 10, as to why there was a delay, Lisa Wilkinson replied, I found it deeply unsatisfactory. And it indicated to me that I was never top of mind in Miss Saunders representation of me legally. Lisa Wilkinson hired her own legal representation, defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou, whose legal bills are now part of the cross-claim. Tasha Smithies, Senior Litigation Counsel at Paramount Network 10, conceded under cross examination that she was shown the speech and did not tell Wilkinson not to deliver it. I dont believe the advice exposed her to public criticism, Ms Smithies said. I believe what followed from there did. But she maintained both herself and Network 10 were concerned about the prospect of being found in contempt of court, and that the advice given was privileged. I think immediately after the judgement is given and then for an extended period of time, my view was the sub judice issue was a live issue, Ms Smithies told the court. Particularly because her honour [Chief Justice McCallum] could, at any point in time, choose to do something about that. Wilkinson also said she was promised an interview series from 10 but nothing has yet eventuated. What is Bevs plan for the interview series I am now contracted to do? she wrote in an affadavit. Who will be EPing, what is the time slot, production budget, marketing budgetwhat calibre of interview subject does she envisage for the three episodes that will have any kind of ratings cut-through that such a short-lived series would justify? Ms Wilkinsons affidavit states that the CEO replied that she would go through Wilkinsons agent and that any meeting would have to be attended by 10s legal team. No such meeting took place, Ms Wilkinson said. The hearing continues. Updated: Details of a letter from 10 CEO Beverley McGarvey to Lisa Wilkinsons agent Nick Fordham indicate the network was concerned for her welfare amid ongoing media stories. Can you please come back to me on the note I sent last week on how Lisa is doing; we are concerned about the strain these last few weeks are putting on her mental health, she said. As such I do not feel it is appropriate that we meet tomorrow to discuss new projects, it feels very premature. Source: Guardian Australia, ABC, news.com.au Prime Videos very first Australian-made movie is a romantic comedy landing just in time for Valentines Day, Five Blind Dates. Co-created and co-written by actor Shuang Hu (The Family Law), and actor / comedian Nathan Ramos-Park (As We Babble On) it is part of a growing slate of Asian-Australian scripted projects aimed at mainstream audiences. Perhaps borrowing a (tea) leaf from the success of Crazy Rich Asians -itself referenced in the story- it isnt afraid to celebrate the bonkers collision of traditional China with contemporary Australia. Lia (Shuang Hu) runs an authentic Chinese tea shop in Sydney, dedicated to the customs handed down from her late grandmother and refusing to jump on board the bubble tea bandwagon. Who can blame her? But she struggles for parental approval and remains hopelessly single, all of which is highlighted at the engagement party of her sister Alice (Tiffany Wong) in the very true blue Townsville. There she is challenged by the prediction of a fortune teller (Gabrielle Chan) who insists she will meet her future husband amongst the next five dates if they happen before the wedding. While the first is former teenage beau Richard (Yoson An) another is a wealthy Sydney playboy (Desmond Chiam) arranged by father Xian (Tzi Ma). Spurred on by her gay BFF (Ilai Swindells) she next meets teacher (Jon Prasida), this time as arranged by mum Jing (Renee Lim), before an encounter with a dreamy mediation guru (Rob Collins). Some of the dates, and Id use that term loosely frankly, are so devoid of chemistry as to being a bit of a problem for a romantic comedy. But more visits from Richard and the audience knows where this is headed. The film directed by Shawn Seet offers sweet performances from Hu and An in the lead roles, with Swindells as a colourfully camp sidekick. It works best in Shuang Hus desire to honour traditions and in the unresolved moments with Yoson An. Less successful are the moments of conflict where sisters tear strips off one another, literally, in outburts that might be more fitting in a Real Housewives episode, or in a tirade that predictably goes viral via someones uploaded video. But it is all designed to sink our heroine to deep lows before lifting her up. Does it qualify as comedy? Points to the locations manager who has managed to show off every flashy Sydney backdrop for an international audience, although I cant help but wonder what the story might have elicited if it spent longer exploring the cultural canyons in Townsville. Five Blind Dates surely has its heart in the right place, and offers nuanced insight into a community usually the domain of an SBS drama. Its a promising start for more local features to come. Five Blind Dates is now screening on Prime Video BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Oil major Shell has withdrawn from talks on building a petrochemicals plant in the southern oil hub of Basra, Iraq's oil ministry said on Tuesday. Shell in a separate statement confirmed it was leaving the project. A statement from Iraq's oil ministry said Shell would not continue discussions with the Ministry of Industry and Minerals and the Ministry of Oil regarding its role as "a major investor" in the Nebras Petrochemical Project, although it affirmed its continued support for the project through its partnership with Basra Gas Company. In 2015, Shell signed an outline deal worth $11 billion with Iraq to build the petrochemical complex that would in theory come online within six years and would make Iraq the largest petrochemical producer in the Middle East. ADVERTISEMENT An Iraqi energy official with knowledge of the project talks said financial and contractual issues delayed reaching a final deal with Shell and "caused the initial deal to collapse". (Reporting by Yomna Ehab and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by David Goodman and Barbara Lewis) PARIS (Reuters) - The head of France's biggest farming union - the FNSEA - said on Tuesday that protests that hit the sector last month could resume if the government does not do more to meet their demands for better pay and working conditions. The government is in talks with farmers over getting them higher selling prices to supermarkets and over loosening regulation and bureaucracy which farmers have said was a burden on their businesses. However, FNSEA head Arnaud Rousseau said that, with 10 days to go until the start of the annual national farming convention, the government was not doing enough. "We are not moving at the right pace," Rousseau told French TV station TF1. Asked if farmers could restart the roadblocks that hit many motorways in January, Rousseau replied: "Very probably." Farmers across Europe - in countries such as Poland, Spain, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands - have demonstrated over the last month for more money and better working conditions. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Jason Neely) Ask anyone who works in the fashion industry, and theyll be quick to tell you its a competitive, sometimes brutal business and they wouldnt dream of doing anything else. Another truism: The creatives behind it outwardly seem to possess spines made of steel, and yet every element of their soul will go into a collection. That was undeniably true on the first day of New York Fashion Week, when Prabal Gurung presented a wholly poetic Fall Winter 2024 collection inspired by personal loss. The Singapore-born Gurung was raised by Nepali parents in Katmandu, and hes often said that he knew from an early age that he wanted to come to the U.S. and launch his own label; that decision, however, strained his relationship with his father, who died this past November. I always had a fraught relationship with him, and now I had to go back to Nepal and deal with it, he told The Hollywood Reporter backstage before the collections unveiling. You know, nobody teaches you how to grieve, nobody talks about it. But while I was back there I came across all these old diaries I had, in which I talked about wanting to work in fashion, and there were all these pressed flowers between the pages. And for the first time, I also looked at old photos from my fathers side of the family. I got so much comfort from it, and out of all of that, this collection emerged. More from The Hollywood Reporter Comfort indeed was a key descriptor for the clothes Gurung designed, from cashmere wraps and shearling coats that were essential to a theme of enveloping the body to evening gowns that exhibited a beautiful movement via a sense of subtle deconstruction. Story continues Pieces from me that normally would be beaded, instead theyre hand-cut bias strips of chiffon and organza that took months to hand-sew, explained Gurung of the latter. And I like how they sort of start off strong, and then theres a sort of unraveling effect. Prabal Gurung Runway With Kiki Layne among the celebrities on Gurungs front row, the designers love of tailoring also was much in evidence, in suits crafted of crimson velvet or sparkling silver beading, but if any of his designs are poised to be a surprise on upcoming red carpets, it will be those hand-sewn gowns. Sometimes you should create those unexpected moments, added Gurung. Kiki Layne at Prabal Gurung Fall Winter 2024 Deconstruction also quickly revealed itself as a theme at Jason Wus Fall Winter 2024 collection debut on the afternoon of Feb. 11, though his desire was rooted in exploring the beauty of construction. With stars including Diane Kruger, Misty Copeland and Louisa Jacobson on the front row, Wu said he wanted to create a collection that felt inspired by two heroes, Charles James and Geoffrey Beene, which he accomplished nicely with structured ballgowns that evoked the first designer, and sleek dresses of Fortuny pleats, in a length that hit a few inches above the ankle for a modern sensibility, as part of an homage to Mr. Beene. What tied it all together is these masters Ive studied, because Im a fashion nerd, Wu said to THR backstage after the show. In todays American fashion, he really is one of the pioneers of craftsmanship, Kruger noted to THR. His designs are as close as you can get to what we see in European ateliers, also because he doesnt follow fashion as much as he does his own instincts, and its always timeless and wearable and beautiful. To me hes the real deal. Jacobson agreed. Jason surprises me every time, because hes not afraid to take risks, and yet its always very wearable, said The Gilded Age actress. Hes also a wonderful designer for the carpet, because he has amazing attention to detail for that specific purpose not only creating designs that photograph beautifully, but he also knows how to create something that gives a woman incredible confidence. Jason Wu Fall Winter 2024 For this latest collection, Wu also name-checked British illustrator Arthur Rackham as an influence, one he had explored in his Fall 2009 collection, soon after he designed Michelle Obamas inaugural ball gown (Wu also designed Mrs. Obamas gown for the inaugural ball in 2013). Christening this collection Arthur 2.0, Wu noted that its also the first time in years has been able to put his hands on the designs during the process of creation. Because Im always in meetings, because fashion is a business, he added. (Thats also the reason why, for the first time, he brought the team from his workrooms out with him for the final bow because I couldnt do it without them.) An artful strapless ballgown crafted in muslin, meanwhile, was pronounced by Wu as the dress I always wanted to make, he said. It was hard to pull off, and I dont think I wouldve had the maturity to do it before. A balance of deconstruction fashioned through an elegant eye, the dress is the most pointed example of Wus desire to create a thoughtful, chic update of work he did 15 years ago. Ive always been known as a ladylike and pretty designer, but after 15 years I wanted to show evolution, he said. So what I envisioned is that I took the pieces from that 2009 collection, stored them, they became moth-eaten, and so I put them back together, but in a sort of fucked-up way and you can quote me on that. Amid the unveiling of collections and several mentions of how American fashion can and should compete with European labels, two high-profile Italian brands also have been in New York to tout their own launches. On Feb. 9, Prada Beauty debuted the U.S. launch of its Skin and Color Collection at a Williamsburg party that included Sofia Richie Grainge, sisters Maude and Iris Apatow, Tommy Dorfman, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid and Katie Holmes. Iris Apatow (L) and Maude Apatow attend the Prada makeup and skincare launch party at Skylight at The Refinery in Brooklyn on Feb. 9, 2024 in New York City. The next night, Gucci combined the U.S. arrival of Ancora creative director Sebato De Sarnos first collection for the house with a look at the labels refurbished Wooster Street boutique, which De Sarno likewise has styled to reflect his aesthetic, including the addition of video installations and modernist sculptures by Taezoo Park, Larry Bell and others. Daisy Edgar-Jones (left) and Jessica Chastain at Gucci Wooster Street in New York. Anyone familiar with Guccis cred among Hollywood stars shouldnt be surprised by the crush of A-listers who attended, which included Jessica Chastain, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Elliot Page, Jodie Turner-Smith, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Beanie Feldstein and many (many) others. Guccis newly renovated Wooster Street boutique in New York. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Attempting to recall prison break movies like The Great Escape is already a pretty tall order, as that classic already had the perfect setup of good vs. evil and the spectacle to back it up. But The Last Castle wades in much murkier waters politically, and unfortunately, it doesnt commit to much to strike that sense of hoorah heroism that pervades in other more notable works. Its just left with a denouement that leaves the story tangled, and a classic Robert Redford performance that doesnt match the material. The Last Castle follows Eugene Irwin (Redford), a court-martialed Army General who has landed in The Castle, a maximum-security prison for disgraced members of the military. Irwin immediately butts heads with the boorish, autocratic warden of the prison, Colonel Winter (Gandolfini). When Irwin bears witness to the murder of a fellow inmate, he starts to realize this is the norm, and that the prison must be overthrown to unseat Colonel Winter from power. Soon, all the inmates are reporting like soldiers to Irwin as the imprisoned General hatches his plan for revolt. For a character who purports to be an intellectual whos smarter than the prisons entire population, Gandolfini is not the right fit at all. His sweaty, angry, and irritable outlook runs up against Redfords emotionally reserved General. Youd think this would cause central conflict, but it doesnt. It only sinks underneath the message of the movie, which is already obfuscated by a slow pace and lack of general energy. Because the film fails to commit completely to any of its ideas, were left with a lukewarm thriller easily digested between commercial breaks than in one unbroken sitting. What I find to be the most disappointing part of the film is its extended action climax, one that hasnt been earned or even built up naturally in the preceding scenes. Prisoners pull homemade weapons out of nowhere and even launch a makeshift trebuchet. How did they hide these things? Not sure, but I think the powers that be thought it would work better as a surprise, though not showing the work makes everything feel weightless. All in all, The Last Castle is an overlong drama in search of a higher purpose. Part of me thinks if they dug into the pulp of a prison break, that the film itself could be an apolitical, nasty little slice of work. But here, its a sanitized attempt at questioning those who lead us. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-rays Its time to storm The Last Castle in 4K Ultra HD with a two-disc BD-100 for the 4K and BD-50 for the Blu-ray set that comes housed in a standard black 4K Blu-ray case with o-card slipcover going over it. The sleeve in the case is reversible as well. Both discs boot up to standard menu screens with option to play the film, set up audio, browse bonus features and select chapters. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India Ashok Chavan, another tainted, dynast politician, joins BJP Ashok Chavan owes his entire political career to his father Shankarrao Chavan who served as CM Maharashtra twice. Read More Tuesday February 13, 2024 3:28 PM , ummid.com News Network Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Senior Congress Leader Ashok Chavan, another tainted and dynast' politician, Tuesday Feb 13, 2024 joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Ashok Chavan had resigned from the Primary Membership of the Congress yesterday. Ashok Chavan joined the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the party headquarters in Mumbai. Ashok Chavan is son of the veteran Congress leader from Mharashtra, Shankarrao Chavan. Shankarrao Chavan served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra twice. He also served as Union Finance Minister in former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhis cabinet. Ashok Chavan Political Career Ashok Chavan owes his entire political career to his father. Chavans tenure as Chief Minister was marred by scandals including Adarsh Society scam. Ashok chavan, congress leader joins bjp, list of congress leaders who joined bjp, maharashtra congress, congress, bjp Ashok Chavan was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. Ashok Chavan also served as MPCC president. He was the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1987 to 1989 and was re-elected to the lower house of the Parliament in May 2014. "A matter of anguish" Chavans departure comes days after Baba Siddiqui, Milind Deora and some other Congress leaders too resigned the party. Commenting on the resignation of Ashok Chavan from the party, Congress General Secretary had said the party had given much more than they deserved and their resignations from the party is a "matter of anguish". "When friends and colleagues leave a political party that has given them much perhaps much more they deserved it is always a matter of anguish. But to those who are vulnerable, THAT Washing Machine will always prove more attractive than ideological commitment or personal loyalties", he wrote on X, originally launched as Twitter. "These betrayers don't realise that their exit opens up vast new opportunities to those whose growth they have always stunted", he added. Meanwhile, Ashok Chavan on his way to the BJP headquarters in Mumbai Tuesday said he is starting a "new political journey" from today. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India Delhi Chalo: Massive Jam as Farmers March to National Capital Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced to go ahead with the Delhi Chalo March after the talks with the government failed. Read More Tuesday February 13, 2024 12:39 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi: Hundreds of thousands of farmers onboard trucks, tractors, trollies and other vehicles are marching toward the National Capital, New Delhi, as part of their Delhi Chalo March or Dilli Chalo agitation protesting against the Modi governments betrayal. All roads leading to Delhi are witnessing a huge traffic because of the farmers protest and consequent blockade of key border points connecting Delhi. The government officials led by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda held a series of talks with farmers leaders without any result. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced to go ahead with the Delhi Chalo March after the talks with the government failed. Earlier, the administer had blocked all the roads leading to the National Capital Delhi, deploying battalions of police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gears, multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers have been put up at three border points - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. The local administration in Haryana were also seen warning using microphones the farmers against marching to the National Capital and participating in Dilli Chalo March. Despite the crackdown and blockade farmers are marching towards Delhi. Meanwhile, AAP government in Delhi has refused to convert Bawana Stadium into a temporary jail. The farmers announced Delhi March on February 13, 2024 alleging that the government betrayed them and did not fulfil the promises believing which they had ended their 378-day long protest in December 2021 . "We waited for two years for the government to fulfil the promises which PM Modi himself had made to us. We decided to march again after we did not get any positive response from the government", Sarwan Singh Pandher told media. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda told media that there was unanimity on various points but on some points decision was supposed to be taken after forming a committee. "We are ready for further talks with farmers", he said. The 'Delhi Chalo' march which has been supported by more than 200 farmers' unions across the country is aimed at pressing the Centre to address their various demands, including the enactment of a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Views & Analysis International outrage over Israeli plan to lay siege to Rafah After decimating Gaza completely, it seems that Israel is hell-bent on laying siege to Rafah, the last border point for Palestinians, on its border with Egypt. Read More Tuesday February 13, 2024 8:30 PM , Asad Mirza It seems that at last, the international community and leaders have become fully exasperated with Israel over its continued aggression against Israel. The EU Vice-Chief and US president have sharply criticised Netanyahus plans to lay siege to Rafah. After decimating Gaza completely, it seems that Israel is hell-bent on laying siege to Rafah, the last border point for Palestinians, on its border with Egypt. Israeli strategy right from day one, after it claimed the Hamas attack on 7 October, as an attack on its sovereignty and against Israeli citizens, is to get the whole of Palestine cleared of Palestinians, so that in future it could reinforce its claim to the promised land for Jews only. On this point, it also negates the history of the Abrahamic faiths, and instead of being inclusive, by assimilating Christians and Muslims communities in Israel, it lays claim to the whole of Israel, by displacing the original inhabitants of Palestine the land of Canaanites. However, the recent outrage expressed by international leaders, gives hope that the international comity is coming together to isolate Israel, on its aggressive policy towards Palestinians. The latest Israeli strategy is to decimate the city of Rafah after more or less completely destroying the Gaza city and parts of West Bank. The Vice-President and EUs High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles sharply criticised the Biden administration for ignoring the growing death toll in Gaza while, at the same time, providing Israel with weapons to prop up its military campaign. Speaking in Brussels on Monday, hours after Israeli forces bombarded the southern Gazan town of Rafah, the EU's foreign policy chief called on Washington to stop pleading with Israel to cease the killing of civilians and to start doing something instead. Borrell further said that if you believe that too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide fewer arms in order to prevent so many people being killed. Responding to Netanyahus statement that refugees in Rafah would be evacuated from the area before a major military offensive, Borrell said: Where? To the moon? Where are they going to evacuate these people to? International Outrage The EU reproach came hours after an appeals court in the Netherlands ordered the government to halt deliveries of parts of F-35 fighter jets to Israel for fears that Dutch exports could be contributing to violations of international law in light of the ICJ ruling. In addition, outpourings by international leaders and various countries suggest that more and more countries are now coming out against Israel and its policy of apartheid against Palestinians. Meanwhile, the US administration has in recent months bypassed Congress to continue sending weapons to Israel, whilst also calling for restraint in its war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of some 28,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Senate Democrats have in recent days pushed on the White House to consult Congress before any future arms sales to Tel Aviv, fearing American complicity in the devastation and humanitarian crisis wrecked on Gaza. President Biden responded to those calls last Thursday with an executive order authorising the cut-off of military aid to foreign governments that do not abide by international law. The memorandum claims to "strengthen" US national security by "reinforcing respect for human rights, international humanitarian law, democratic governance, and the rule of law," and hopes to "reduce the risk of civilian harm." It is estimated that Israel has received more military aid from the US than any other nation since the 1950s owing to a long-standing, bipartisan policy of support. Data shows that many other EU countries including Italy and Germany have also provided Israel with some of the military equipment and components used in its offensives. Barcelona-based Centre Delas dEstudis per la Pau (Centre of Studies for Peace J.M. Delas) in one of its reports said that Europeans are together one of Israel's main suppliers of military systems and equipment behind the US, and that member states have licensed military contracts worth over 2 billion to Israel. Organisations like Amnesty International and the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) have long called for a comprehensive arms embargo on both Israel and Hamas. Rafahs Siege Meanwhile, in a somewhat encouraging development, US President Joe Biden has added his voice to growing international calls for Israel to drop plans for an all-out military assault on the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, after a ferocious hostage rescue operation that killed dozens of Palestinians. Speaking after talks with Jordans King Abdullah at the White House on Monday, the US president said that a major military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there. King Abdullah echoed Bidens appeal for a broad ceasefire, saying, We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end. Borrells sentiments were echoed in more diplomatic language by David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, who said: It really, we think, is impossible to see how you can fight a war among these people, there is nowhere for them to go. Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, also suggested that a failure to ensure special care for civilians in Rafah would cause serious harm to Israels own interests. Last week, her German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, warned that an Israeli offensive on Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe in the making. The people in Gaza cannot disappear into thin air. Volker Turk, the UNs human rights chief, said: The world must not allow this to happen. Those with influence must restrain rather than enable. Hundreds of thousands of families from other parts of Gaza who are now living in makeshift tents in Rafah, which sits on the border with Egypt, have moved up to half a dozen times in the past four months in desperate attempts to flee bombardment and ground fighting. Despite mounting warnings from aid agencies and the international community that an assault on Rafah would be catastrophic, Netanyahu has reiterated his intention to extend Israels offensive. Hamas said a new advance into Rafah would blow up continuing negotiations to return hostages in exchange for a ceasefire. The only encouraging sign emerging during the last week is that many European supporters of Israel are coming out openly against Israel and its aggressive policies. Now it remains to be seen whether theyll be able to execute these sentiments into real action on the ground or not. (The writer, Asad Mirza, is a Delhi-based senior political and international affairs commentator) Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home International South Africa re-approaches ICJ as Israel massacres Palestinians in Rafah In an urgent petition, South Africa urged the ICJ to review the ramifications of Israel's expansion of military activities in Rafah. Read More Wednesday February 14, 2024 0:42 AM , ummid.com News Network The Hague: South Africa Tuesday February 13, 2024 once again approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after the Israeli Occupied Forces massacred over 100 Palestinians in Rafah and declared to continue its barbarism in the besieged territory. In an urgent petition, South Africa urged the ICJ to review the ramifications of Israel's expansion of military activities in Rafah, questioning whether the court ought to intervene to safeguard the rights of Palestinians in Gaza from further violation. Rafah, which is the last refuge for surviving people in Gaza, requires that the court uses its power to prevent further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, South Africas Presidency said on Tuesday. South Africa is gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of Israel, has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm and destruction, the Presidency said. This is the second time in three months when South Africa has approached the UN Court against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and other occupied territories. In a petition filed at the ICJ on December 29, 2023 , South Africa had accused of violating the provisions of Genocide Convention and sought the World Courts intervention . Acting on the South Africas petition against Israel, the ICJ in a historic ruling on January 26, 2024 announced provisional measures mandating Israel to use all the power in its hand to prevent genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. The ICJ also asked Israel to allow unhindered aid into Gaza and submit in a month the action taken report about the implementation of its order. The Israeli Occupation Forces have continued their carnage against the Palestinians despite the ICJ ruling. They are now bombing Rafah the territory in the besieged strip. Where more than half the population of Gaza has moved after Israel started bombing on Gaza on Oct 7, 2023. Ironically, the Israel forces had declared Rafah a safe zone and urged the Palestinians to move there. The Israeli forces have killed more than 100 Palestinians since yesterday in Rafah and have announced a ground invasion of the area. South Africa in its latest petition at the ICJ said: "It (ground invasion of Rafah) would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Courts Order of 26 January 2024. Wanting to know if additional emergency measures are required to protect the Palestinians in Rafah, South Africa cited the ICJ rules that say the court can decide, when it so chooses, whether the circumstances of the case require the indication of provisional measures which ought to be taken or complied with by any or all of the parties. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. PM holds road show in Kovai ahead of LS polls 18 Mar 2024 | 7:11 PM Coimbatore, Mar 18 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening held an hour long road show in this Textile City of Tamil Nadu to garner votes for the candidates of the BJP and its allies for the Lok Sabha polls to be held on April 19. see more.. Dr MCR HRD Institute hosts training prog for media professionals from Vietnam 18 Mar 2024 | 7:08 PM Hyderabad, Mar 18 (UNI) Dr. MCR HRD Institute, under the aegis of the Government of Telangana, has initiated a "Two-week Training Programme on Journalism and Public Relations" tailored specifically for media professionals hailing from Vietnam. see more.. IAF successfully lands Aircrafts on ELR on NH-16 in AP 18 Mar 2024 | 7:08 PM Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh), Mar 18 (UNI) The Indian Air Force on Monday successfully landed aircrafts on the 'Emergency Landing Runway (ELR)' on the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway-16 on Monday. see more.. Former BSP Telangana chief Praveen Kumar joins BRS 18 Mar 2024 | 6:56 PM Hyderabad, Mar 18 (UNI) Former BSP Telangana President and retired IAS officer R. S. Praveen Kumar officially became a member of the BRS Party on Monday, marking a significant shift in his political affiliation. see more.. HA NOI Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly leveraging the Amazon platform not only to boost product sales but also to successfully establish brands in overseas markets, Amazon's latest report showed. According to the "Vietnams SMEs Empowerment" report, during the 12 months ending on August 31, 2023, Vietnamese selling partners collectively sold over 17 million products on Amazon, achieving an impressive 50 per cent year-on-year export value growth. The overall export value of Vietnamese selling partners on Amazon witnessed an impressive year-on-year growth of over 50 per cent, with the number of partners surpassing US$100,000 in sales increasing by 70 per cent. Home, kitchen, health and personal care, apparel and beauty emerged as the most exported and sold categories on Amazon. This trend highlights Viet Nam's historical expertise in producing and exporting key goods such as furniture, handcrafted home decor, and garments. Notably, the rise of health and personal care and beauty categories indicates the expansion of online exports into new and growing sectors. According to the report, local companies are not only focusing on traditional best-selling products but also venturing into niche products within their top categories. An exemplary case is Abera, a Vietnamese beauty brand focusing on customer-centric product development and brand cultivation has resulted in remarkable success, with over $1 million in revenue within a year on Amazon and a sixfold increase in conversion rates. This success story encourages other local beauty brands to establish their unique identities on the global stage. Cross-border e-commerce emerged as a crucial factor in the export success of Vietnamese businesses, with the number of selling partners on Amazon's platform increasing by more than 40 per cent. Businesses of various sizes and types, from established retailers like Lamer to traditional manufacturers like Beefurni and start-ups like Tidita and Abera, capitalised on the platform to reach international consumers. The impact of selling on Amazon goes beyond individual businesses, it has contributed to the revival of local economic communities, the creation of more jobs, and the enhancement of digital skills in the local workforce. Vietnamese selling partners leveraged Amazon's tools, programmes, and services to achieve significant growth. TIDITA, a wooden kitchenware and home decor brand, attributed its success to robust investment in research and development, early brand building, and the utilisation of Amazon's research tools. LAMER, a fashion producer, streamlined operations and saved costs through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), leading to an over 70 per cent increase in the number of partners using FBA and an over 80 per cent increase in their sales. Furthermore, Amazon Seller University played a crucial role, offering educational resources to help sellers learn the intricacies of global selling on Amazon and grow their businesses and brands internationally. Gijae Seong, Head of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, expressed his enthusiasm for the sustainable growth of Vietnamese entrepreneurs and manufacturers, emphasising the vital role of SMEs in the local economy. He affirmed Amazon's commitment to continue innovating and supporting the growth of these businesses into thriving success stories. VNS BA RIA-VUNG TAU Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday (or the fourth day of the lunar New Year) attended a ceremony to welcome international ships and give the order to handle the first cargo in the Year of the Dragon at Tan Cang-Cai Mep (TCIT) in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Over the past 15 years, the port, run by the Saigon New Port Corporation under the Viet Nam People's Navy, has become the countrys deep-water container port with largest throughput. In 2023, despite many difficulties, the corporation completed its set plan. The throughput of containers through ports in the system reached 9.75 million TEU, equivalent to nearly 140 million tonnes of cargo, up nearly 1 per cent (accounting for 56.8 per cent of the countrys total). The Tan Cang-Cai Mep port cluster alone posted a growth rate of 10 per cent, with the throughput reaching 1.7 million TEU. Addressing the event, PM Chinh praised the corporations contributions to the achievements of the Viet Nam People's Army and the whole country in 2023. He said Viet Nam is promoting the development of the marine economy, with the aim of becoming a strong marine nation. The PM asked the corporation to participate in the development of seaports to connect the country's inland ports with international ones, and support localities having its seaports to develop logistics to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese products, especially agricultural products. The corporation was urged to join the modernisation of ports, promote greening and digital transformation to build smart ports. According to the PM, Viet Nam has export and import relations with more than 60 major markets in the world within the framework of free trade agreements (FTA), so the volume of exported and imported goods is very large. The corporation needs to work to ensure a smooth flow of goods, for the benefit of the people. He also asked officials of relevant ministries and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to support the corporation to build a mart, modern, green and safe Tan Cang-Cai Mep international port. On the occasion, he presented new year gifts to officials and workers at the port. VNS QUANG NINH The border gate of Bac Luan 2 Bridge in Mong Cai city, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, resumed customs clearance after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday on February 12, five days early. The management board of the Mong Cai International Border Gate said that on February 12 the third day of the Year of the Dragon, authorities at the Bac Luan 2 Bridge border gate handled export procedures for nearly 60 tonnes of live seafood, comprising lobster and crab, worth over US$781,000. Leaders of Mong Cai city also visited and extended Tet greetings to the officers and businesses working at this border gate on the day. Earlier, the Vietnamese and Chinese sides had agreed on the Tet holiday plan for the Mong Cai (Vietnam) - Dongxing (China) international border gate pair. Accordingly, the two international facilities are scheduled to suspend handling customs clearance procedures from February 10 through 17 at the Bac Luan 2 Bridge border gate, along with the pair of the Dongxing border market and the Km3 4 Hai Yen border crossing. After discussion with Vietnamese authorities, the Chinese side decided to allow imports, mainly fresh produce from Viet Nam, to enter its country from February 12. Regarding entry and exit, authorities of both sides have been working throughout Tet at the Mong Cai and Dongxing international border gates, including the border gates of Bac Luan 1 and Bac Luan 2 bridges, to serve people and tourists travel demand. VNA/VNS By Luong Thu Huong A Vietnamese painter has set a world record for a unique artistic talent - creating fantastic reverse glass paintings by fingers, instead of brushes, in minutes. This is the second time that Ho Chi Minh City-based oan Viet Tien, 63, has set a world record. He has also been honoured for using his 10 fingers, instead of brushes, to paint 12 abstracts on the reverse side of tempered glass, at a time, in six minutes and 24 seconds. In his 30-year career, Tien made over 1,500 glass paintings depicting the scenery of his hometown and his past, in addition to 350 portraits of politicians and cultural figures of Viet Nam and the world. The highlights in the collection are portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, former US President Donald Trump, King of Bhutan, President Fidel Castro, among others. Besides breaking world records twice, the talented painter has also set several Viet Nam records. His works display creativity, dedication, and artistic talent, making each piece a unique example of his relentless commitment to art. Aside from his unique drawing technique and time, the paintings express the sophistication and personality of the characters. His works are the results of an infinite imagination crystallized through hard work alongside an artist's innate talent. Tien was born in Phu uc Commune in the southern province of Ben Tre in 1961. Drawing was his passion from a young age. However, due to the war, he had to put aside his passion to join the volunteer army fighting the Khmer Rouge troops in the Cambodian battlefields in 1979. After returning from war, Tien made ends meet as a portrait painter, travelling across all the provinces in the southwest. "I was not professionally trained in arts. However, my uncle, writer oan Gioi, (author of the novel Southern Land and Forest) saw my innate ability and encouraged me to pursue fine art," Tien said. In 1989 he first tried painting on the reverse side of a piece of glass with a paintbrush but failed due to the smooth glass surface that didn't hold the paint and caused it to smudge. After using his fingers and noticing the smooth strokes of colours, Tien decided to practise painting with all of his ten fingertips at a time. His first creation was a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh. In the initial days, the artist's fingers became numb and stiff, requiring several days to recover. He had to soak his hands in various medicinal herb water to soothe his hands. "There were paintings I worked on to the point where my fingers were bleeding," he said. He finally mastered his unique painting technique after 10 years, creating hundreds of portraits of political figures and celebrities, landscapes and abstracts. "During the US-North Korea Summit in Ha Noi in 2019, I presented US President Donald Trump with his portrait I painted myself. He really liked it," Tien recalled. As a member of the Fine Arts Association of HCM City, he became a sensation with his reverse glass painting style, having three solo exhibitions and over 30 group exhibitions, where all of his artworks were sold out. His works are found displayed in many countries around the world, such as Cuba and Israel. He has been invited to demonstrate his glass painting technique in England, Austria, India and the United Arab Emirates. The record holder was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the World Record University for his research on mindful painting: "Entering the Life of the Human Mind." Tien believes the ultimate purpose of creating art is "unlocking the subconscious mind, enlightening the essence, developing personality, and contributing to society." The majority of the proceeds from the selling of his works are donated to charities such as for building homes for the needy, providing support to the impoverished, and assisting poor artists across the western provinces, particularly those in his hometown of Ben Tre. In the art programme to pay tribute to Ben Tre, held in HCM City in January, Tien made a glass painting entitled Rong Xanh Song Sai Gon (Blue Dragon - Sai Gon River) in four minutes. It was sold at VN300,000,000 (US$12,000), which will be donated to disadvantaged school students in Ben Tre. He revealed that he would introduce a collection of landscapes in 2024, each of which would be accompanied by a poem written by himself. He said the paintings would enable viewers to contemplate their own souls, as well as find calmness and positivity in life. VNS Applause An engineering professor at McLennan Community College has been selected to perform new astronomy research in a yearlong project with the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program. April Andreas and a research team of three high school astronomy educators, along with their students, will work with research scientist Luisa Rebull at Caltech. They will use archival data from the school's Infrared Science Archive to look for young stars, either confirming or questioning the new artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms currently being used to drive astronomical research. The team will present its results at the American Astronomical Society's winter meeting in January 2025. Funding comes from the NASA Astrophysics Data Program. Only 145 educators nationwide have participated in this selective program since it began in 2005, giving students real-world science experience and exposing them to the wealth of publicly accessible astronomy data. Class acts Students who graduated in fall 2023 from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville included: Waco residents Raelynn Faulkner, Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, cum laude; Mikayla Dennis, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; Skyler Toney, Master of Agriculture in sustainable agriculture and food environment; Carolina Ugarte, Master of Science in criminal justice; and Isaiah Watley, Bachelor of Science in human performance wellness management Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, cum laude; Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; Master of Agriculture in sustainable agriculture and food environment; Master of Science in criminal justice; and Bachelor of Science in human performance wellness management Woodway residents Meghan Franks, Bachelor of Science in psychology, with honors, from the honors college; Bri Hawthorne-Brobston, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; and Johnson Prothro, Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Science in psychology, with honors, from the honors college; Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; and Master of Business Administration Robinson's Jared Willis , Bachelor of Science in criminal justice , Bachelor of Science in criminal justice Abbott's Harrison Steele, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice Bachelor of Science in criminal justice Aquilla's Emory Marsh, Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary agriculture Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary agriculture Bynum's Laura Popp, Master of Arts in history. Travis Stewart of China Spring graduated in December from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, with a master's degree in organizational leadership. Vanguard College Preparatory School recently won the Region 12 Texas High School Mock Trial Competition held at Baylor Law School and earned a trip to state. Vanguard and Waco High School were the finalists in the contest held Feb. 1-3. Seven teams competed in four preliminary rounds, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. Other teams participating were Midway High School, Live Oak Classical School, Valor Preparatory Academy, Gatesville High School and Greater Waco Christian Home Educators. During the preliminary rounds, Waco High's Anna Hogue and Vanguard's Ellen Weaver won awards as best advocates while GWCHE student Jana Fourie and Vanguard student Marshall Wray were recognized as best witnesses. Elaina Knobloch of Gatesville High School won the courtroom artist competition and will also advance to state. Judges for the Region 12 competition included Justice Steve Smith of the Waco-based 10th Court of Appeals, Waco City Council Member Josh Borderud and attorneys from the McLennan County District Attorneys Office. The contest was sponsored by the McLennan County Young Lawyers Association. The state competition will be held March 8-9 at the George Allen Sr. Courts Building in Dallas. On the third anniversary of the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol to undo an election he lost, former President Trump, reality-TV superstar and author of the bestselling book "Trump: The Art of the Deal," claimed while campaigning for reelection in Iowa the Civil War could have been prevented through negotiations. The implication was Trump could have done what Congress, departing President Buchanan and incoming President Lincoln could not. It was a typically ignorant and boastful claim for Trump, who is after all the architect of the January 6 insurrection to snuff out the votes of millions of fellow citizens in battleground states. And it was a typically ignorant and misleading thing for his enraptured followers to swallow. Trump, who noted how the Civil War was so horrible but so fascinating (well, he got that part right), offered not the slightest hint of how the conflict might have been avoided through negotiations. For the uninformed, some 200 efforts at compromise were attempted between December 1860 and April 1861, all futile. And as the Sons of Confederate Veterans will accurately remind you, Lincoln though personally opposed to slavery anywhere was amenable to allowing slavery to continue where it existed but unwilling to compromise on its expansion. Lincoln had successfully campaigned for president on a policy of halting its spread into the American West a significant concession, by the way. And so, on April 12, 1861, while naval forces sought to bring provisions to U.S. Army personnel at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, Confederate batteries demanding its surrender fired on the fort. The war was on. Four days after Trump claimed differences over slavery could have been successfully negotiated, the Texas National Guard and state troopers under orders from Gov. Greg Abbott seized 47-acre Shelby Park in the Texas border town of Eagle Pass where the U.S. Border Patrol employs surveillance equipment. The Texas National Guard also limited Border Patrol access to other areas of the border in the vicinity and erected razor wire, fencing and gates. Sideshow vs. substance Other red-state governors promised their support in defying federal authority on the border. The Texas Nationalist Movement, with whom I spent three days in November, encouraged Texas independence: If you support what Texas is doing on the border, you better get here before you need a visa to get in. TEXIT will be here before you know it. Leading Russian lawmaker Sergey Mironov encouraged Texas to secede from the United States and promised Russian recognition of the Peoples Republic of Texas. Clearly, Abbott will be responsible for ensuring the arrival of militiamen, some with white supremacist aims, doesnt touch off violence in a town where 97 percent of the population is Hispanic. Not helping: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks trumpeting the Great Replacement Theory and blaming the Biden Deep State for it: And what is their goal? To put millions of people into this country, one day turn them into citizens and one day turn them into voters and take over the country. That's their goal. Take Our Border Back convoy rallies in Texas showcased conspiracy theories, January 6 testimonials, evangelism, music, self-indulgent patriotism and anti-Biden rants. Ted Nugent, whose entourage included local businessman and state representative candidate Pat Curry, headlined the poorly attended Dripping Springs event. The rocker who famously did not fight for his country during the Vietnam War apologized to its war dead for allowing this piece of s to get in the White House. What do we have here? Fort Sumter? Mexican standoff? Whatever, it was to the credit of several Senate Republicans that they ignored the extremists and worked to fix what isnt exactly an open border but is sufficiently porous to raise legitimate concerns. The deal President Biden had agreed to sign would have sharply limited border crossings, beefed up security personnel, purchased fentanyl-detection devices, aggressively tightened standards for asylum appeals and deported thousands of illegal immigrants. Yet these proposed improvements angered Trump, who wants to campaign on border security through 2024 and wants no timely solutions. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and other Capitol Hill Republicans acknowledged that Trump demanded they shelve any deal. Of course, shelving it now leaves the Republicans responsible for the open border for nearly a year and allows thousands if not millions more illegal immigrants to invade the United States. Are they serious? All this exposes the carnival barkers and snake-oil salesmen infesting the Republican Party for what they really are. Is this continued invasion (Abbotts word) worth allowing Trump to have a provocative issue to run on through 2024 when a smart deal is on the table? If one says yes, that Republicans must defer to Trump, whatever harm might come to our country, then I must discount alarms and fears expressed over illegal immigrants running amok in our country alarms and fears I shared. You see, I want this invasion halted now, tomorrow if not today, as soon as possible not a year later at some overbaked politicians convenience. If Trump regains the presidency in 2025, he can always build on this compromise crafted by members of his own party and even restart his quest to build a border wall. But if as Lt. Gov. Patrick said during a Jan. 26 border visit the invasion force consists of murderers, molesters, terrorists, rapists, gang members, drug dealers, carjackers, kidnappers, and if a firm deal is at hand to shut down the entire border and deter this invasion, why on earth would any self-respecting American balk? And why is Abbott transporting murderers, molesters, terrorists, rapists, gang members, drug dealers, carjackers, kidnappers to other U.S. cities and states? If this is an invasion, sending the enemy into the interior is treasonous. Paul M. Davis, the attorney who filed a suit in Waco to shelve the 2020 election on Trumps behalf, accurately asks: Do people not understand Texas is part of the United States, and its still our federal taxpayer dollars that will support these illegals whether they live in Texas or New York? Whats more, Trump overstates his own art of the deal. In January 2018 then-President Trump put forward a compromise offering 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship in return for $25 billion for his long-promised border wall. Upon hearing out U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas on the deal, the Waco Tribune-Herald heartily endorsed the Trump plan. And we reminded Republicans skeptical of the Trump compromise of the risks ahead, even as some Democrats also resisted. To quote the Trib: "By the same token, Republicans obviously trying to scotch the deal with amendments such as one on sanctuary cities should remember how easily Capitol Hill can be lost in yet another election. As Cornyn said of a long-elusive agreement this week: 'Now is the time and now is our opportunity and I hope we won't blow it.'" Yet Trump ultimately sold out to the talk-show demagogues and right-wing lawmakers who like railing on about illegal immigration but not doing anything about it. Not only did Trump allow the proposal to die but, just as the Trib predicted, Democrats assumed control of the U.S. House of Representatives the following January. Dereliction and delay Though House Republicans now in control have done Trumps bidding and opted to allow the invasion to continue so Trump can campaign on the issue, Senate Republicans initially did sound alarm about any delay. To quote Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, hardly a moderate: I didnt come here to have the president as a boss or a candidate as a boss. I came here to pass good, solid policy. It is immoral for me to think you looked the other way because you think this is the linchpin for President Trump to win. And maverick Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw of Texas quite correctly suggested Republican lawmakers who worked against the Senate bill would stand guilty of dereliction of duty: Im extremely disappointed in the very strange maneuvering by many on the right to torpedo a potential border reform bill if we have a bill that, on net, significantly decreases illegal immigration, and we sabotage that, then that is inconsistent with what we told our voters we would do. Were in this pickle precisely because our federal immigration law is decades old and outdated. And because lawmakers always want one more election cycle to campaign on this volatile issue, the law isnt updated. Thus our presidents Obama, Trump and Biden included use executive orders to manage developing border crises. And because these orders often bend or counter immigration law, they wind up in federal court. Meanwhile, Congress always wants just one more election cycle to rile up the voters. Of the bill now abandoned, Bill Melugin of Fox News reported that upon a rolling average of 5,000 encounters per day or 8,500 in a single day, the federal government must shut down the border and turn away anyone who crosses over. No new asylum claims would be allowed. Melugins assessment: The border has seen at least 5,000 encounters almost every single day the last couple years under Biden. If this bill were signed into law, the border would likely be shut down on the first day it takes effect. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who led in crafting this proposal, said that, once in effect, this new law "will protect our nation from having another month like September, October, November or December 2023 when more than 10,000 people a day crossed the southern border." Once shut down, he said, "the border continues to stay closed for up to an additional two weeks to continue to drive the numbers down." Deportations would be carried out swiftly in days or weeks, not years. The kicker: This shutdown policy, plus tighter all-around asylum standards for immigrants apprehended, plus more provisions for detain-and-deport protocols, would occur all along our 1,933-mile southern border not just that ridiculously miniscule stretch of muddy borderland now in the spotlight in Eagle Pass, an operation that counts as an expensive campaign stunt more than a true border solution. And remember: Ultimate immigration authority resides with Congress, not the president and not Abbott. On Jan. 27, Trump sent out a fundraising email declaring: "Our border has been transformed into a total WARZONE! Biden has SURRENDED (sic) to the cartels. And now, hes going after Texas for protecting its citizens against an INVASION!" Yet a day earlier Biden formally acknowledged the southern border was "broken" and the bipartisan pact then in negotiation would give him legal authority to shut down the border immediately "and I would use it the day I sign the bill into law." Sounds to me like Biden had run up the white flag and Senate Republicans had set tough conditions. But in doing so, they exposed Trump, Abbott, Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz, right-wing spinmeisters and Make America Great Again followers for what they may well be: charlatans, frauds and con men agitating for ratings, votes and attaboys and in no way interested in calming tensions in America and staunching the invasion at our southern border. In a blaze of on-the-border theatrics and monarchial deference, defeat has now been snatched from the jaws of victory, courtesy of the man who would have us believe he could have prevented the Civil War. A graduate of Cannon Financial Institute Personal Trust School, Claussen comes to First Bank with over seven years of trust experience and over 20 years in the financial services industry. Claussen will be working out of the Waverly office while also taking appointments in the Cedar Falls office. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase with police in a Volkswagen in October. According to authorities, a Cedar Falls police officer attempted to pull over the Volkswagen Taos for allegedly making a U turn on a red light in the area of Greenhill Road and Iowa Highway 58 around 2:20 p.m. Oct. 25. The chase reached speeds of up to 100 mph on Iowa Highway 58 and then continued onto U.S. Highway 218, with the Taos driving on the shoulder to pass other vehicles, according to court records. The Taos disappeared in the area of Westfield and Ansborough avenues. Witnesses later identified the possible driver. Keontay Trevon Sexton-Pate, 22, was arrested Feb. 8 for eluding, reckless driving and driving under suspension. Sexton-Pate is also awaiting trial for a Jan. 16 incident where police attempted to stop the Taos on Logan in Waterloo. They later found the vehicle parked on Thompson Avenue and discovered a .357-caliber Taurus revolver and K2 synthetic marijuana in the car. Photos: From Nazis to hippies: End of the road for Volkswagen Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle The Last Beetle CEDAR FALLS A former internet service company employee has been arrested for allegedly stealing equipment from his employer. According to court records, Andrew J. Mosley, 31, told police he pawned the gear to get money for drugs. Authorities allege Mosley took more than $10,000 worth of items from Nextlink Internet and Phone, 1916 State St., between January 2022 and December 2023. Company officials went to police in December. Officers used pawn shop records to find and recover some of the missing items. On Monday, police arrested Mosley, of Cedar Falls, for one count of first-degree theft. He was released pending trial. How each state is affected by e-commerce scams How each state is affected by e-commerce scams #51. Washington D.C. #50. Kansas #49. Kentucky #48. New Hampshire #47. Nebraska #46. Tennessee #45. Arkansas #44. Michigan #43. New Mexico #42. Indiana #41. Montana #40. Delaware #39. Virginia #38. Alabama #37. Mississippi #36. Wisconsin #35. Maryland #34. Pennsylvania #33. Washington #32. Idaho #31. West Virginia #30. Vermont #29. Nevada #28. Oklahoma #27. Arizona #26. South Dakota #25. North Carolina #24. Massachusetts #23. Alaska #22. Connecticut #21. Missouri #20. Texas #19. South Carolina #18. California #17. Maine #16. Hawaii #15. Minnesota #14. North Dakota #13. Colorado #12. Louisiana #11. Illinois #10. Oregon #9. New York #8. New Jersey #7. Wyoming #6. Rhode Island #5. Florida #4. Ohio #3. Utah #2. Georgia #1. Iowa WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to more time in prison for almost killing someone than he was sentenced to for actually killing someone else. Judge David Odekirk on Monday sentenced Robert Lee Williams Jr., 34, to 45 years in prison for attempted murder, willful injury and felon on possession of a firearm for shooting Tony Campbell in the face in an alley off West Sixth Street in July 2020. The 45-year sentence was added to a 10-year prison stint Williams is currently serving for voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting Vincent Hemenway in a garage in August 2020. In the alley shooting, prosecutors allege Williams suspected Campbell of poisoning his brother. Williams and Campbell had been drinking, and Williams then pulled out a handgun and shot Campbell once in the face. Campbell fled, then circled back to the alley and fired off a few shots from his own gun. Williams later admitted to police he wanted to kill Campbell because of what happened to his brother. At trial, Williams claimed he acted in self-defense saying he shot Campbell because Campbell was about to shoot him but jurors found him guilty as charged. Before sentencing Monday, the defense unsuccessfully requested a new trial, claiming that Patrick Sallis a person who was present during the shooting but wasnt called to testify at trial made a statement that backed Williams account. The judge found the defense had the option to put Sallis on the stand at trial and declined. Williams is currently serving 10 years in prison for Hemenways death. Authorities allege Williams and his brother had planned to rob a drug stash house but then turned their attention to an Adrian Street garage where Hemenway was working on motorcycles with friends. Williams pulled out a handgun, and Hemenway lunged for the weapon to protect his friends. Williams pulled the trigger, and Hemenway was shot and later died. Prosecutors charged Williams with murder, but a jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Williams is also awaiting trial for an August 2020 gunfight on Argyle Street in which two people were injured. Photos: Homicide, Adrian St. Aug. 15, 2020 081820jr-adrian-homicide-1 081620jr-homicide-search-1 081620jr-homicide-search-2 081620jr-homicide-search-3 081620jr-homicide-search-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-2 040622jr-robbery-trial-1 040622jr-robbery-trial-3 040622jr-robbery-trial-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-5 040722jr-robbery-trial-1 040722jr-robbery-trial-3 040822jr-robbery-verdict-1 042023jr-williams-trial-1 042023jr-williams-trial-4 042023jr-williams-trial-3 042023jr-williams-trial-2 042023jr-williams-trial-5 041923jr-williams-trial-2 041923jr-williams-trial-1 041923jr-williams-trial-3 041923jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-1 042123jr-williams-trial-2 042123jr-williams-trial-3 042423jr-williams-trial-1 042423jr-williams-trial-2 Robert Lee Williams Jr. verdict 062823jr-williams-sentencing-1 062823jr-williams-sentencing-3 062823jr-williams-sentencing-2 CEDAR FALLS Planning is underway for a roundabout at a dangerous intersection that was recently the focus of public complaints. Iowa Department of Transportation and city officials confirmed a roundabout is the preferred traffic control measure after completing a safety analysis for the West First Street (Iowa Highway 57) and North Union Road intersection on the western outskirts of town. Weve had discussions with the city. Weve had discussions as DOT staff, and that is the direction we are moving in, said Pete Hjelmstad, DOT District 2 field services coordinator. The DOT decision came after an impassioned group of residents packed a City Council meeting Dec. 4 seeking improvements. Six people were injured in a crash at the intersection the month before. Stop signs halt Union Road traffic from the north and south, whereas eastbound and westbound vehicles on First Street travel through the intersection uninterrupted. The speed limit of 55 mph dips to 50 mph at the intersection for vehicles traveling eastbound and then down to 45 mph a little further into town. The DOT estimates approximately 7,000 vehicles pass through the intersection per day. Additional safety improvements were made to the intersection after that December council meeting, including the trimming of shrubs and trees impeding drivers sight distance. Planning is underway for a single-lane roundabout, but the design and construction is not a foregone conclusion, although opponents of a roundabout are no longer on the council. Hjelmstad said a roundabout was deemed the best option because of the types of crashes and the many left turns at the intersection, as well as the communitys familiarity with roundabouts and the anticipated growth in the area. He said construction could start in 2026, but details are being ironed out. I dont have a timeline yet, but I do know that we are going to be moving forward with that, said City Engineer David Wicke. The residents plea was the third time in recent few months a grassroots effort emerged to support making a Cedar Falls intersection safer. The North Cedar Neighborhood Association successfully lobbied the City Council for a four-way stop at Center Street and Lone Tree Road despite it not qualifying for one under transportation standards. A trio of family members were also somewhat victorious in their attempt to bring attention and improvements to 12th and Clay streets for the sake of pedestrians. Roundabout craze Cedar Falls has not always embraced the roundabout concept, but seemingly has turned the page. They have a higher upfront cost compared with traffic lights, but reportedly save money in upkeep and are more efficient and safer, reducing the probability of a crash. And, if collisions happen, they are at slower speeds and likely not head on. Several roundabouts have been constructed along the University Avenue corridor near the Iowa Highway 58 interchange and three are part of the ongoing reconstruction of Main Street at the intersections of 12th and 18th streets and Seerley Boulevard. Councilmember Daryl Kruse suggested a roundabout be considered at First Street and Union Road as an avid supporter of the configuration. They make sense in many places, he said over the phone. Many people are getting used to them and there hasnt been too much resistance, but they are expensive depending on the design. They slow traffic, which is a big concern wed be addressing, and are incredibly effective while not making you stop. Before the intersection in question came up, the longest-serving councilmember attempted unsuccessfully to convince his colleagues at the 11th hour to add a fourth roundabout to the Main Street reconstruction plans at the Sixth Street intersection. There are also roundabout supporters like Councilmember Kelly Dunn, whos a little more conservative in her public response to outcries, preferring instead to weigh the opinions of experts. But she has said shed put one in her driveway if she could because of her love for them. Former Councilmembers Dave Sires and Susan deBuhr were adamantly against the concept but each left the council in December after not seeking reelection. Sires was the biggest proponent for change at the First Street and Union Road intersection during the emotional December council meeting and even admitted hed be willing to forgo his beliefs if a roundabout was proposed there. The intersection had been on the citys radar before the outcry and is a stones throw from where the controversial Autumn Ridge housing project is proposed. City Administrator Ron Gaines told council meeting attendees at the time that leadership previously put pressure on the Iowa DOT to act and had hopes the latest pleas would lead to more results. The DOT says it had made lots of improvements to the intersection over time. For example, right and left turn lanes on First Street and stop signs with flashing beacons on Union Road have been added. The preliminary cost estimate for intersection reconstruction is $1.5 million. For comparison, the recently completed Greenhill Road and South Main Street roundabout cost $3.3 million and another proposed at Viking Road and Prairie Parkway is estimated to cost $3.1 million. First Street is a state roadway. Costs would likely be shared between the city and state. Wicke said its possible the city could take on awarding the project. Photos: UNI softball vs. Western Illinois, Feb. 9 Today is Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Let's get caught up. Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast: *** Senate passes $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after rare all-night session The Senate has passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after almost a week of debate and growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. A small group of Republican senators who are strongly opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, arguing that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But enough Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe. *** House votes again on impeachment of Homeland Security secretary. Here's what you should know The Republican-controlled House is set to vote Tuesday on whether to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the Biden administrations handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. If they succeed, it would mark the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary has been impeached. House Republicans have spent months investigating the secretary's actions as theyve aimed to make immigration and border security a key election issue. Heres a look at how the House arrived at the impeachment vote and what could happen next: *** Israel and Hamas are making progress in cease-fire and hostage release talks, officials say Talks are moving forward even after Israel intensified its offensive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have fled to seek shelter from fighting elsewhere. A brazen Israeli hostage rescue mission freed two captives held in the town along the Egyptian border, a raid that killed at least 74 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and left a trail of destruction. *** MORE TOP STORIES *** MORNING LISTEN *** TODAY IN HISTORY Today in history: Feb. 13 In 1935, a jury in Flemington, New Jersey, found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnap-slaying of the Lindbergh baby. Today in sports history: Feb. 13 In 1923, the New York Renaissance, the first all-Black pro basketball team, is organized. Rens become one of the dominant basketball team of t *** TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS Celebrity birthdays: Feb. 13 Henry Rollins Kelly Hu Kim Novak Matt Berninger Mena Suvari Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. Natalie Stewart Neal McDonough Peter Gabriel Robbie Williams Sen. Richard Blumenthal A man found guilty of laundering money on behalf of online fraudsters has been ordered to pay a substantial fine. Shea Benson, aged 23, who traded as Infinity, with an address at Manulla, Castlebar, previously pleaded not guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to allowing his bank account to be used by criminals as part of an elaborate smishing scam. The case was heard before Judge Eoin Garavan and a jury in February last year. The court was told that Bank of Ireland had to reimburse more than 1.3 million to 241 customers following an elaborate online fraud in 2019. Between August and December of that year, cybercriminals created a fake Bank of Ireland website and duped unsuspecting people by sending them a text message purporting to be from Bank of Ireland and directing them to the bogus website. The fraudsters then used a series of ploys to elicit peoples account log-ins and passwords. Alan Boland, a senior financial crime investigator with Bank of Ireland, said 4,900 was taken from the account of Phyllis Reid, of Chapelizod in Dublin, and traced to an account held by Benson. On November 15, 2019, three transactions occurred on Benson's account in the space of 33 minutes which led to it being frozen. A payment of 949 was made to a Galway phone shop, a further payment of 492.93 was made to An Post and there was a 600 withdrawal from an ATM in Salthill, Galway. The total withdrawn in the 33 minutes was 2,041.93, leaving a balance of 2,848.27 by the time the account was frozen. The accused told Gardai he had given a young female college friend, Natalie Ahmed, the details of a bank account he used for Infinity, a clothing brand he operated. She told him her own account had been frozen and it would only be a temporary arrangement. Benson said he was initially reluctant but eventually agreed to provide Ms Ahmed with access to the account. He transferred all his money from the business account to his personal account before giving the friend his details. Ms Ahmed also asked for his passport. He gave it to her and it was later returned. The defendant said he did not contact his bank because he did not have any significant information to give them and did not contact the gardai because he was unaware of the seriousness of the incident. A jury returned a guilty verdict with the case adjourned for sentencing until last Tuesday. Judge Eoin Garavan said a custodial sentence would not appropriate in the circumstances. This is a smart young man with excellent parents, said the judge. The court heard Benson is pursuing a career in finance. Young people make mistakes the odd time and they have to be forgiven when other circumstances are favourable, stated Judge Garavan. The court was told Benson has already made a contribution of 2,000 to Manulla FC. Judge Garavan imposed a 5,000 fine. Today is Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Get caught up with today's top headlines and weather. Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast: *** Mahomes, the Chiefs, Taylor Swift and a thrilling game -- it all came together at the Super Bowl The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in a Super Bowl unlike any other. Here's a look at a few topics that will linger in the aftermath: *** Senators push forward with Ukraine aid package as their leaders say the world is watching As former President Donald Trump and a growing number of Republicans oppose U.S. aid to Ukraine, the Senate's leaders argued in strong terms on Sunday that the money is crucial to pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin and maintaining America's global standing. In the Capitol for a rare weekend session, the Senate voted again to move forward with the assistance as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky issued stark warnings about the consequences of abandoning longtime U.S. allies in Europe. *** What to know about a shooting at Joel Osteen's megachurch in Texas during Sunday services A womans motive for opening fire in celebrity pastor Joel Osteens megachurch was unclear Monday, a day after the shooting sent worshippers rushing for safety in between busy services. Police say two off-duty officers working security at Lakewood Church, one of the largest megachurches in the U.S., shot and killed the suspect. Two other people were also shot and wounded, including a 5-year-old boy who entered the church with the shooter and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Osteen said the violence could have been worse if the shooting had happened during the earlier and larger late Sunday morning service. Here's what to know about the shooting: *** MORE TOP STORIES *** MORNING LISTEN Israels Consul General to South Florida Maor Elbaz-Starinsky sits down with Lynn Schmidt to discuss Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the rise of antisemitism, and the desire for living in peace. *** TODAY IN HISTORY Today in history: Feb. 12 In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded, and more events that happened on this day in history. Today in sports history: Feb. 12 The largest crowd (44,735) in NBA All-Star Game history turns out at the Houston Astrodome, watches Karl Malone spark West victory. See more s *** TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS Celebrity birthdays: Feb. 12 Arsenio Hall Brett Kavanaugh Christina Ricci Chynna Phillips Costa-Gavras Ehud Barak Gucci Mane Jesse Spencer Jim Creeggan John Michael Higgins Josh Brolin Judy Blume Michael McDonald Sarah Lancaster Zach Grenier Three Beaver Dam firefighters were injured, one seriously, after the departments hovercraft crashed into Grape Island on Beaver Dam Lake Monday night. The crash occurred about 7:42 p.m. when the fire department was doing training on the lake off of Tahoe Park, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a press release. The Fire Department had been on the lake since about 6 p.m. while training. Specifics related to injuries are not being released at this time nor are the names of the firefighters, Schmidt said. The three firefighters were treated at the scene by Beaver Dam paramedics before being taken to Marshfield Medical CenterBeaver Dam, Beaver Dam Fire Chief Michael Wesle said in a press release. Two of the firefighters were treated and released Tuesday morning. The third firefighter, who sustained serious injuries, was taken by Flight for Life to Aurora Summit Hospital in Oconomowoc. He remains hospitalized but is stable. This is the second hovercraft the Beaver Dam Fire Department has had and it was purchased about 2018 It is part of the departments ice and water rescue equipment. Responders can travel in it on land, water, mud, ice and other surfaces. The hovercraft was damaged in the crash and is being looked at as part of the investigation, said Lt. John Sinclair, a conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which is leading an investigation and will provide additional information about the crash. Sinclair said Grape Island is a very small island directly west of downtown Beaver Dam. The island is not far from Tahoe Park. The Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Beaver Dam Police Department are assisting the DNR in the investigation. The Beaver Dam Fire Department would like to thank the Beaver Dam Police Department, Dodge County Sheriffs Office, Flight for Life, Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam, UW Hospital, and Aurora Summit Hospital for your assistance and support during this incident, Wesle said in his press release. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed legislative maps on Tuesday in a bid to select the states new boundaries before the Wisconsin Supreme Court does. The maps, which the governor proposed to the high court after it declared the current, Republican-drawn maps unconstitutional, will now head to Evers, who has said hell sign them into law. Legislative approval of the maps marks a dramatic political shift in Wisconsin where, for over a decade, Republicans benefitted from maps that experts say give the GOP a baked-in electoral advantage. Those maps, which determine which legislative district each voter gets to participate in, have helped hand Republicans a 22-10 supermajority in the Senate and a 64-35 majority in the Assembly. While Evers maps could shrink and even reverse those majorities, GOP lawmakers have found the governors maps to be more favorable for them than three other Democratic alternatives before the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Legislature faces two choices, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said ahead of the vote. Either pass the governors maps as is or let the liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court gerrymander the status quo. Others put it in starker terms. It was a matter of choosing to be stabbed, shot, poisoned or led to the guillotine, said Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine. We chose to be stabbed, so we can live to fight another day. The proposal passed the Senate 18-14 and the Assembly 63-33. Every Democrat except Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, and Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, voted against the proposal along with several Republicans. The approved boundaries, an amended version of Senate Bill 488, is identical in all respects to the maps Evers proposed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. The bill that was amended originally called for the Legislative Reference Bureau to redraw the states maps using nonpartisan principles. That broad policy change, which had been stuck in the Senate since October, was thrown out entirely in favor of simply adopting Evers maps. The lawsuits stop The amendment was introduced on the Senate floor Tuesday without a public hearing or committee vote. Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said that was not how the government is supposed to work. Although it largely gave them what they wanted, Democrats said the measure was a Republican ruse to bypass the Wisconsin Supreme Court and ultimately give Republicans a new set of maps they could appeal in federal court. Republicans said that wasnt true. Once we pass the maps, more or less, the lawsuits stop, Vos said. Theres no need for us to try to do an appeal to the (U.S. Supreme Court) because the Legislature has adopted a map. Its been signed by the governor. I think a lot of the things that we have for the potential to go to the U.S. Supreme Court and win on no longer are viable, Vos added. Which is why, if the governor signs the map, I am supremely confident that that is the map that we will run on in November. Whether I like it or not, thats what were going to deal with. As part of the new boundaries, Evers maps would require incumbent lawmakers in 15 Assembly districts and six Senate districts to run against one another, the Legislative Reference Bureau memo states. Republican incumbents would be paired in 15 districts, according to the reference bureau. There are Democratic pairings in just two districts, and four of the new districts would include both Republican and Democratic incumbents. Democrats also criticized a provision in the amended bill that would keep the maps from being enacted for special and recall elections until the 2024 general election. Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, questioned whether the provision was designed to protect Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, whos facing a recall effort. Deadline approaches Tuesdays vote came as the high court nears its deadline to choose new maps after declaring the current Republican-drawn maps unconstitutional in December. Wisconsin elections officials have said any new maps need to be in place by mid-March. When the court struck down the current maps, the four liberal justices comprising the majority said they would select new ones unless the Legislature did so first. If Evers signs the proposal into law, one of the parties involved in the court case could ask the court to dismiss the case as moot, UW-Madison Law School associate professor Robert Yablon said. The court called for new legislative maps that include contiguous districts that are equally populated; bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; are as compact as possible; comply with federal law, including the Voting Rights Act; preserve communities of interest; and reduce municipal splits. Additionally, the court called for maps that dont favor one party over another. That amounted to a major victory for Democrats, because experts say the current GOP maps were drawn to benefit Republicans. Two Republican groups and four parties supported by Democrats have submitted map proposals to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Two weeks ago two court-hired redistricting consultants appeared to rule out the GOP-aligned maps, calling them partisan gerrymanders. They said Evers maps would maintain a slight Republican bias but would likely give legislative majorities to the party that wins the most statewide votes. This isnt the first time Republicans tried to pass maps through the Legislature to make the court case moot. Republican legislators in January passed a map proposal similar to the governors but modified it to reduce the number of Republican incumbents who would have to run against one another. Evers vetoed the proposal because he said Republicans were gerrymandering to save incumbents. State Journal reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this report. The Republican-controlled Senate is scheduled to pick a new legislative map Tuesday before the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court does it for them. It's not clear which proposal the senators will approve, but Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, told the Wisconsin State Journal last week that senators are taking a serious look at adopting the maps Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The effort surrounds Senate Bill 488, which currently calls for a legislative agency to redraw the state's maps using nonpartisan principles. Lawmakers said they plan to amend the proposal, which has been stalled in the Senate since October, possibly ditching the original idea and instead simply adopting Evers' maps. While Evers' maps could dramatically reduce and even reverse Republicans legislative majority, GOP lawmakers have found the governors maps to be more favorable for them than three other Democrat-supported alternatives before the state high court. Evers said last week he would sign those maps into law if they get to his desk. But it remained unclear Monday whether it had enough support to pass. The Tuesday vote on the maps will come as the states high court nears its deadline to choose new maps after declaring the current Republican-drawn maps unconstitutional. Wisconsin elections officials have said any new maps need to be in place by mid-March. The court called for new legislative maps that include contiguous districts that are equally populated; bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; are as compact as possible; comply with federal law, including the Voting Rights Act; preserve communities of interest; and reduce municipal splits. Additionally, the court called for maps that dont favor one party over another. That amounted to a major victory for Democrats, because experts say the current legislative maps have a baked-in Republican advantage. Two Republican groups and four parties supported by Democrats have submitted map proposals to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Two weeks ago two court-hired redistricting consultants appeared to rule out the GOP-aligned maps, calling them partisan gerrymanders. They said Evers maps would maintain a slight Republican bias but would likely give legislative majorities to the party that wins the most statewide votes. This isn't the first time Republicans tried to pass maps through the Legislature to make the court case moot. Republican legislators in January passed a map proposal similar to the governors but modified it to reduce the number of Republican incumbents who would have to run against one another. Evers vetoed the proposal because he said Republicans were gerrymandering to save incumbents. Election bills The Senate is also scheduled to vote on Assembly Bill 572, which would require circuit courts to alert the Wisconsin Election Commission when it rules that certain Wisconsinites are incompetent and therefore unable to vote. The proposal already passed the Assembly on a voice vote. Additionally, the chamber is slated to approve Senate Bill 736, which calls for the Legislative Audit Bureau to select four counties to audit following general elections. Proponents of the bill say it could increase public trust in elections. No lobbying groups have registered for or against the bill. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Senate early Tuesday passed an emergency spending package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel; replenish U.S. weapons systems; and provide food, water, and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Test Program for Lithium Carbonate Refinery Underway Melbourne, Feb 13, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Lithium Universe Limited ( ASX:LU7 ) is pleased to announce that in response to the Lithium conversion capacity gap in the North American market, the Company has initiated metallurgical testing on various sources of spodumene. This process involves utilizing the flow sheet developed for the Quebec Lithium Processing Hub Refinery. As previously disclosed, the QLPH refinery will mirror the successful Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate plant, incorporating all the enhancements made during commissioning and startup. The objective of establishing a downstream standalone lithium refinery is to design it with the robust capability to process spodumene feedstock from any part of the world, subject to freight and transportation costs. Samples from Australia and South America featuring various lithium grades have been collected and are currently undergoing metallurgical laboratory processing in LU7's contracted laboratory. It is critical that the proposed refinery has the capability to efficiently process spodumene feedstock from diverse sources worldwide. This adaptability ensures that the lithium production operation remains robust and flexible, offering optionality in spodumene feedstock while the Canadian supply chain continues to develop. This strategic approach positions the proposed lithium refinery to navigate fluctuations in the global spodumene market, maintaining operational continuity and stability. The proposed site that the Company is targeting has port and river access allowing spodumene import from Africa and South America. Under the guidance of lithium expert Dr. Jingyuan Liu (NED), the testing protocol faithfully replicates the lithium carbonate process established for the Company's proposed Quebec Lithium Carbonate Refinery. The program is strategically designed to demonstrate the viability of the process in generating battery-grade lithium carbonate from various spodumene concentrates available in the market. Lithium Universe has meticulously selected a diverse range of commercial spodumene concentrates for these tests, encompassing a broad spectrum of lithium grades, particle sizes, and impurities. The comprehensive test program encompasses calcination, sulphation, leaching, impurity removal, precipitation, and final purification, all aimed at achieving a battery-grade product. Currently, the testing is progressing smoothly, and no challenges have been identified with any of the spodumene samples. Each test program is thorough and spans several weeks, with one complete program already concluded successfully achieved 99.7% LiCO3 against the international battery grade specification of 99.5% Li CO3. All impurity levels were well within specification limits. The ongoing testwork program is an integral component of the engineering study being conducted by Hatch Ltd Hatch) for the Company's Quebec Lithium Processing Hub (QLPH) multi-purpose battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery. The Refinery is designed to handle a capacity of 16,000 metric tons per annum, assuming a spodumene feed grade of approximately 5.5% Li2O. Within the scope of this program, spodumene samples, ranging from 5.0% to 6.0% Li2O with diverse particle sizes, are being subjected to comprehensive testing. This initiative aligns with the overall engineering study aimed at ensuring the efficacy of the lithium carbonate production process within the specified parameters of the QLPH refinery. The laboratory testing process for lithium carbonate production from spodumene involves several key steps: 1. Calcination: Spodumene is heated to 1080degC to undergo calcination, a process that removes impurities and prepares the material for further processing. 2. Dry Milling: The calcined spodumene is dry-milled to reduce particle size to less than 300 um. 3. Sulphation and Roasting: The milled spodumene is mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid and roasted at 250degC, resulting in sulphated spodumene. 4. Leaching: The sulphated spodumene is cooled and introduced into the leach circuit to extract lithium. 5. Thickening and Filtration: The combined leached solids and precipitated impurities undergo thickening and are then filtered using a belt filter. 6. Polishing and Ion Exchange: The filtrate, combined with thickener overflow, is processed through a polishing sand filter and an ion exchange column to remove residual calcium, magnesium, and other multivalent cations. 7. Lithium Carbonate Production Area: The solution is heated and reacted with a hot sodium carbonate solution in a single crystallizer operating at 95degC. 8. Crystallization: Coarse crystals from the crystallizer are thickened before passing to filtration. 9. Purification to Battery Grade: Raw lithium carbonate undergoes further purification using the carbonation process. The solution is slurried in demineralized water, forming soluble lithium bicarbonate through the bubbling of carbon dioxide gas. 10. Filtration and Recrystallization: The solution is filtered, and lithium carbonate is re-crystallized by heating with injected steam. Carbon dioxide gas generated in this step is recycled to the front end of the purification process. 11. Centrifugation and Drying: Battery-grade lithium carbonate is centrifuged and then dried at 120degC. This series of laboratory tests ensures the transformation of spodumene into high-purity battery-grade lithium carbonate through a systematic and controlled process, (See Figure 2* Process Flow Diagram) Commenting on the test work, Chairman, Mr. Iggy Tan expressed his satisfaction with the remarkable advancements in metallurgical test work and the swift setup process. "I appreciate Dr. Jingyuan Liu's outstanding efforts and connections that enabled the initiation of this test work program six months post-listing. Despite the decline in lithium prices affecting numerous industry players, Lithium Universe is full steam ahead. We view the current short-term dip in lithium prices as an advantageous window to finalize feasibility studies before the onset of the next cycle. These moments present tangible opportunities for our organization." he said. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/623W5X05 About Lithium Universe Ltd Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7) (OTCMKTS:ESMAF), headed by industry trail blazer, Iggy Tan, and the Lithium Universe team has a proven track record of fast-tracking lithium projects, demonstrated by the successful development of the Mt Cattlin spodumene project for Galaxy Resources Limited. Instead of exploring for the sake of exploration, Lithium Universe's mission is to quickly obtain a resource and construct a spodumene-producing mine in Quebec, Canada. Unlike many other Lithium exploration companies, Lithium Universe possesses the essential expertise and skills to develop and construct profitable projects. Related Companies Horizon and Greenstone Merger Announcement Perth, Feb 13, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) and Greenstone Resources Limited ( ASX:GSR ) have agreed to a merger to be conducted by way of schemes of arrangement under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), whereby Horizon will acquire 100% of the fully paid ordinary shares in Greenstone (Share Scheme) and 100% of the listed Greenstone options (Options Scheme, and together with the Share Scheme, the Schemes), subject to the satisfaction of various conditions. Under the Schemes: o each Greenstone shareholder will receive 0.2868 Horizon shares for every Greenstone share held; and o each Greenstone listed option holder will receive 0.2868 new Horizon listed options for every listed Greenstone option held. - Based on the last trading price of Horizon and Greenstone, the exchange ratio under the Share Scheme represents: o an 89% premium to Greenstone's last traded price on 9 February 2024 of $0.0055; and o a 40% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of $0.0074 per Greenstone share for the period up to 9 February 2024. - Horizon shareholders will own 63.1% of the merged entity while Greenstone shareholders will own the remaining 36.9%. - The Schemes are unanimously recommended by the Greenstone Board and each member of the Greenstone Board intends to vote all Greenstone Shares they control in favour of the Share Scheme and all Greenstone Listed Options they control in favour of the Option Scheme, subject to no superior proposal emerging and the Independent Expert concluding (and continuing to conclude) that the Schemes are in the best interests of Greenstone shareholders and option holders respectively. - The combined group will have a global JORC Mineral Resource of ~1.8 million ounces, as well as an enviable exploration holding, all of which is centered around the gold mining hubs of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. - The transaction brings together complementary assets with both near-term small mining opportunities and larger baseload deposits with potential to develop into long-life cornerstone operations. - The combined group will be pursuing its growth strategy from a position of greater market scale, underpinned by a cash and listed investments balance of ~$14.9 million and lower consolidated cost base. - Post implementation, the merged entity will continue to trade as Horizon Minerals Ltd under the ticker ( ASX:HRZ ). - Completion of the Schemes is targeted for June 2024. The Schemes remain subject to various customary closing conditions which are summarised below. Commenting on the proposed merger, Horizon Chief Executive Officer Mr Grant Haywood said: "We believe this proposed merger represents a unique opportunity to build our resource base in the WA Goldfields with higher grade deposits near established mining and processing infrastructure. This really is a logical consolidation of complementary assets which creates greater potential for Horizon to unlock the value within our longer project pipeline. Following a period where we divested non-core assets and brought greater focus onto a pipeline of smaller, near-term cash generating mining opportunities, this merger with Greenstone will both add to this near-term pipeline and bring greater scale to our baseload assets with the addition of the high-grade Burbanks deposit." Greenstone Resources Ltd Managing Director & CEO Mr Chris Hansen said: "There is strong alignment between Greenstone's strategy and that of Horizon, which is one of the core pillars underpinning this regional consolidation. Together we have greater capability to deliver on near-term cashflow generation which provides a stepping stone to delivering a longer-life, cornerstone operations fitting for an emerging mid-tier producer. Through the combination of our teams, we are also able to bring all the necessary skillsets at a Board and senior management level which will enable us to achieve our ambitions. When put together, the merged entity will be in a much stronger position to deliver value for both sets of shareholders." Transaction Highlights Logical combination of complementary assets in the Western Australian Goldfields - The transaction will result in a strategic consolidation of Horizon's and Greenstone's gold assets in the Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie district, with the merged group to have a combined landholding of 939km2, Figure 1*. - The combination of Horizon's baseload feed with Greenstone's high-grade resources will be situated amongst a wealth of regional gold mining and processing infrastructure. - Supports a dual-track strategy, focused on low-capital and near term cashflow to support the development of long-life cornerstone assets. *To view the Merger Presentation, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/75S75AYV About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Related Companies J W Marriott Hotel, Kolkata is delighted to announce the appointment of Gaurahari Rana as the Director of Services. With a substantial background in the hospitality industry, Gaurahari brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his new role. Gaurahari Rana is recognized for his friendly and engaging leadership style, known to inspire teams to deliver their best. His expertise as a detail-oriented Housekeeper is complemented by a track record of successful staff training and recruitment. Gaurahari has consistently ensured excellent customer service and satisfaction throughout his career. In addition to his extensive experience, Gaurahari has received notable awards such as The Best Leader and the Care for Business Award, highlighting his dedication and contributions to the industry. Born on June 8, 1982, Gaurahari Rana is a graduate of the Central Institute of Hotel Management, Bhubaneswar, in 2005.In his current role as the Director of Services at Hotel JW Marriott, Kolkata, Gaurahari oversees a range of responsibilities. This includes managing staff providing supportive services to clients, coordinating efforts of social workers and staff, and ensuring the smooth implementation of new programs based on client needs. His leadership extends to maintaining accurate client progress records, addressing complaints, and developing pricing structures for services. Before joining J W Marriott Hotel, Kolkata, Gaurahari held significant roles in other prestigious establishments. These include serving as the Director of Services at The Westin, Goa, from January 2021 to December 2023. Before that, he was the Executive Housekeeper at W Goa and Assistant Executive Housekeeper at St. Regis Mumbai. "Gaurahari Rana's exceptional leadership and commitment to excellence align seamlessly with J W Marriott's dedication to providing unparalleled service. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team and look forward to the continued success he will undoubtedly bring to our hotel," says Mr. Sunil Kumar, General Manager at J W Marriott Hotel Kolkata. J W Marriott Hotel, Kolkata is confident that Gaurahari Rana's expertise and leadership will significantly contribute to the continued success and excellence of the hotel. The entire team extends a warm welcome to him, anticipating a fruitful collaboration. Landeed, a leading prop-tech startup dedicated to revolutionizing the property technology landscape announces the launch of India's first AI Property analyzer feature. Currently in beta, the AI Property Analyzer represents a groundbreaking advancement in the analysis and understanding of property titles, poised to redefine the Indian real estate market. The AI Property Analyzer furnishes the complete ownership history of properties, encompassing details from the initial owner to the most recent one, including any transactions or encumbrances that have occurred. It delivers a clear and concise title flow efficiently. The model is trained to comprehend legal understanding within Indian property documents. Landeed is dedicated to enhancing accessibility in property title management, particularly for brokers, landlords, and landowners. Through its innovative approach, Landeed enables users to effortlessly retrieve various property documents, including Encumbrance Certificates, 7/12 records, Records of Rights (RoR), and more, within minutes. The newly introduced AI analyzer takes this convenience to the next level, automating document analysis and streamlining the extraction of relevant information in a clear and organized manner. This transformative feature allows users to navigate complex property documents with ease, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. Sanjay Mandava, Founder & CEO of Landeed, expressed enthusiasm about the groundbreaking technology, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce India's first AI Property Analyzer, a testament to Landeed's commitment to innovation and excellence in the real estate technology space. By providing users with cutting-edge tools like this, we aim to empower them to make informed decisions and navigate the real estate market with confidence." This initial release is designed to gather valuable user feedback for continuous improvement and refinement of the feature based on user insights. Users are invited to experience the seamless integration of advanced technology with property title management, contributing feedback on the AI Property Analyzer to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the real estate market. Laqshya Media Group, one of Indias largest Comprehensive Marketing Communications Group, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the advertising rights for Cochin International Airport, effective February 11, 2024. This strategic move underscores Laqshyas commitment to expanding its market presence in South India and further solidifying its position as a key player in airport advertising as well. Airports are prime advertising locations, given their premium traffic and captive audience. The acquisition of advertising rights at Cochin International Airport provides Laqshya Media Group access to a valuable advertising channel, enabling brands to reach a diverse and international audience. With this acquisition, Laqshya now holds advertising rights at two major airports in South India, including Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and now Cochin International Airport, apart from traditional media presence in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. At Laqshya Media Group, we understand the power of airport advertising in todays marketing landscape, noted Atul Shrivastava, CEO, Laqshya Media Group. Securing advertising rights at Cochin International Airport strengthens our presence in South India, offering brands innovative opportunities to boost visibility and engagement. Were excited about the potential at Cochin International Airport and committed to delivering creative excellence to leave lasting impressions and drive success for our clients. Furthermore, we are not limited to media assets but also pioneering DOOH and experiential zones at Cochin Airport. These zones will revolutionise advertising by offering immersive experiences that create stronger connections with consumers, enhancing brand loyalty and recognition. The ten-year contract includes provisions for static media, digital media, experiential spaces, and other advertising innovations, offering brands a comprehensive platform to showcase their products and services. Cochin International Airport, with an annual passenger count exceeding 10 million and recognition for its innovative and sustainable practices, presents an ideal opportunity for brands to enhance their brand perception and reach a wide audience. Film Companion proudly introduces FC Classroom, a groundbreaking Screenwriting Masterclass in the Hindi language, led by the accomplished Satyanshu Singh. As a National Award-winning filmmaker, writer, and esteemed screenwriting professor, Satyanshu Singh brings a wealth of industry experience, making this course a guiding beacon for aspiring storytellers looking to delve into the captivating world of filmmaking. The masterclass comprises 12 thoughtfully structured modules, each offering an in-depth exploration of crucial aspects of writing and filmmaking. The concise yet engaging video format, launching exclusively on YouTube Course with each session lasting 7-12 minutes, ensures an immersive learning experience. To reinforce learning, practical activities, and exercises are seamlessly integrated into each module, promoting a hands-on approach. Satyanshu Singh, renowned for his directorial debut 'Chintu Ka Birthday' and contributions to films like 'Udaan,' 'Tamaash,' and 'Cobalt Blue,' infuses this masterclass with invaluable insights and expertise. The course covers a diverse range of topics, including understanding the role of a screenwriter, story development and structuring, crafting conflicts and consequences, building the world and setting of your story, thorough research and development, decoding the three-act structure, writing for different formats (Series vs. Films), crafting a Series Bible and Pilot, scene breakdowns, mastering dialogue, and gaining insights into the life of a screenwriter. What sets FC Classroom apart is its commitment to not just being a spectator in the world of filmmaking but an active participant. It doesn't merely encourage you to watch movies; it empowers you to write them, making the art of storytelling accessible to all. In addition to its enriching content, FC Classroom ensures affordability, allowing you to embark on a transformative journey into the world of screenwriting without financial constraints. Satyanshu Singh shared his thoughts on FC Classroom: "I am thrilled to embark on this journey with aspiring storytellers through FC Classroom's Screenwriting Masterclass in Hindi. Teaching the art of screenwriting is not just a passion for me; it's an absolute joy. Guiding young minds, sharing insights, and fostering creativity in the world of storytelling brings me immense excitement. I believe in the transformative power of storytelling, and through this masterclass, I am eager to empower the next generation of filmmakers, helping them unlock their potential and script their cinematic dreams. Join me on this exciting adventure, and let's craft compelling narratives together!" Anupama Chopra said, As we unveil FC Classroom, a project that holds a special place in my heart, I am delighted to partner with Satyanshu Singh in providing a unique and immersive learning experience for aspiring filmmakers. Cinema, for me, is not just an art form; it's a profound love affair. FC Classroom is an embodiment of that passion a space where the love for cinema is shared and nurtured. Collaborating with Satyanshu, our aim is to foster not only knowledge but a deep-seated appreciation for the art of storytelling. Join us on this exciting journey into the heart of cinema with FC Classroom, where our shared love for the craft unfolds, and the magic of storytelling comes alive. Let's embark on this cinematic odyssey together!" Whether you're a budding filmmaker or a passionate storyteller, FC Classroom invites you to unleash your creativity, enroll in the masterclass, and script your cinematic success. Versuni, a trailblazer in turning houses into homes, is set to amplify the joy of Valentine's Day with the heartwarming twist to the traditional Valentine's narrative as it encourages a shift from store-bought gestures to heartfelt homemade moments with its latest campaign - #MakeNotBuy. Embracing the sentiment that true affection is best expressed through personal efforts, the brand invites individuals to go beyond the conventional and take the path of culinary creativity. The campaign revolves around the notion that you buy something for those you like, but you cook for the one you love. The campaign urges people to not only savor the taste of love but also to venture into the world of diverse dishes that can be effortlessly prepared with our innovative range of its Philips Airfryers. Embracing a digital-first strategy, the campaign will debut with a captivating digital film that unfolds the narrative of this culinary love affair. The story is intricately woven through various digital and social platforms, engaging audiences in a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. Versuni has partnered with Terribly Tiny Tales, a renowned social media community of storytellers, encouraging people to share the delightful dishes they will be preparing for their loved ones this Valentine's Day. This collaborative effort amplifies the campaign's reach, fostering a community of individuals who celebrate love through the art of cooking. Pooja Baid, Chief Marketing Officer at Versuni India, shared her excitement, stating, "At Versuni, we believe in the power of love and its seamless connection with the culinary world. The #MakeNotBuy campaign is not just about flavors; it's a celebration of the heartfelt moments we create through the joy of cooking. The overwhelming response to our #TasteOfLove campaign last year was truly heartening. This year, we are bringing it back with even more passion and creativity. Our goal is to reach a wider audience, spreading the message that a thoughtful, homemade gesture can create lasting memories. With Versuni's exceptional range of domestic appliances, we empower consumers to make this Valentine's Day and the entire month of love extraordinary." In Alabama, Black students are disproportionately likely to be sent to alternative school and be removed from normal classroom instruction. Lack of alternative rehabilitation methods have left Alabama with the sixth-highest suspension and expulsion rates and eighth-highest youth incarceration rate in the nation, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center report released Tuesday. Advocates claim juvenile detention centers across the state have overly criminalized Black youth, pushing them out of school without due process and into abusive and costly youth detention facilities. The report, Only Young Once: Alabamas Overreliance on School Pushout and For-Profit Youth Incarceration, makes the claim that an overreliance on juvenile detention centers causes harm to both Black youth and taxpayers. This isnt a new problem for Alabama. Theyve been incarcerating young Black youth for a very long time, even going back to Bull Connor. Those kids were incarcerated. They were separated from schools, expelled and suspended from school. Were seeing that same thing where they are incarcerating and disposing Black kids, Delvin Davis, senior policy analyst with the Southern Poverty Law Center and author of the report, said. According to the report, Black students are 19% more likely to be suspended than their white counterparts for disciplinary infractions. During the 2017-18 school year, 34,969 Black students were suspended. A Black youth was suspended every 15 minutes in Alabama. And out-of-school suspensions are the overwhelming type of discipline enacted, compared to calling a parent or guardian. Seperating a kid from school is usually the first step in the school to prison pipeline, Davis said. The report found that youth in detention centers experience excessive solitary confinement, physical and sexual abuse and educational disruption. In August, a Tuskegee youth residential facility, Brighter Path Tuskegee, formerly known as Sequel Tuskegee, a for-profit youth facility, was once again the subject of a lawsuit alleging physical abuse and neglect of a 15-year-old boy who allegedly lived in constant fear for his safety. Another lawsuit against Sequels Tuskegee facility described the company as having a culture of violence where staff would pick [a child] up by the throat until he passed out. Among the previous lawsuits was one against the same facility was a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Connor Bennett, who died by suicide in 2022 after he claimed he was repeatedly sexually, emotionally and physically abused at the facility. According to the centers report, Sequel facilities are known for taking advantage of troubled youth and maximizing profit by minimally staffing facilities. Alabama is one of the only states in the Southeast that doesnt have a guarantee of due process in school discipline, allowing each district to set its own policies. State Sen. Rodger Smitherman filed bills in 2023, 2022 and 2021 to standardize due process for students, but they failed to pass each time. A former student, Cory Jones, filed a lawsuit against Tuscaloosa City Schools earlier this month alleging he was unlawfully and arbitrarily suspended and deprived of his education. The SPLC report references AL.coms reporting on Jones case. Cory Jones Sr. told AL.com last year that Alabama is building mega prisons and I wont give them to my son to help fill them. There are a lot of community based alternatives to incarceration where you can divert a child out of the court system, the youth justice system, Davis said. You can care for a kid in the community and not disrupt their education and the services that theyre used to school and really think about more of a rehabilitative model that does not require incarceration to do it. These facilities are not really designed for rehabilitation, but more so for punishment and separating kids from society. Thats the system that creates more recidivism. State taxpayers are footing the high costs of the juvenile detention facilities. Incarcerating a young person in Alabama for one year costs $161,694 in a public facility or $120,450 in a private facility, according to the report. Alternatively, it costs $12,092 a year to educate that child in Alabama public schools, $20,075 to fund community-based programs and $54,672 to pay for attendance at the University of Alabama and Auburn University combined, according to the report. These facilities are understaffed, underfunded, not as well resourced as they should be, especially when you compare the money going into these incarceration systems compared to alternatives. Theyre not really effective either, Davis said. Whether its a privately owned facility or a publicly owned facility, either way, its very expensive. Southern Poverty Law Center advocates suggest Alabama lawmakers: Tianas Bayou Adventure, the new ride coming to both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, will open at the Orlando theme parks Magic Kingdom this summer, Disney announced on Fat Tuesday -- appropriate for a New Orleans-themed attraction. The ride is an upgrade, renovation and reimagining of Splash Mountain, which closed at both parks just over a year ago. Disneylands Tiana attraction will open later in 2024, according to the company. Disney had originally said both versions of the ride would likely not open until late in 2024. Also on Tuesday, Disney offered the first look at a Tiana audio-animatronic which will be featured in the ride along with other characters from the 2009 Disney animated movie The Princess and the Frog, including Naveen, Louis, Mama Odie, Prince Raphie and more, the company said. In the video, posted to the Disney Parks TikTok account, Executive Creative Producer Charita Carter of Disney Imagineering runs the Tiana animatronic through a few movements. We cant wait for you to come and experience this attraction, Carter says. See you in the bayou, summer of 2024. While the attraction is undergoing a nearly-complete overhaul, it will retain the famous 50-foot log drop -- where scores of ride photos have been snapped at the end of the ride since it opened in 1989 at Disneyland and 1992 at Walt Disney World. The attractions storyline picks up after the events of Princess and the Frog, according to Magic Kingdom Vice President Sarah Riles. In Tianas Bayou Adventure, shes throwing a festive party during Mardi Gras season to thank her family, friends and the entire community for all the support theyve given her as a successful business owner, Riles wrote. Its incredibly special that we get to celebrate with her. Pete Davidson has added another Alabama stop to his comedy tour, this time in the Birmingham area. Davidsons Wellness Check tour comes to the Comedy Club Stardome in Hoover on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 general admission, $80 for premium seating, via the Stardome website. Davidson is set to perform one show in the main room at the Stardome, 1818 Data Drive. Capacity for that room is 390 people, according to Bruce Ayers, the venues owner. Davidsons performance was announced on Monday and marks his debut at the Stardome. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. This will be a phone free event, the Stardome website says. Yondr will be on site to provide Yondr pouches to securely place all phones and smart watches in. The comedian, 30, recently announced two shows on Feb. 24 at Mars Music Hall in Huntsville. A handful of tickets remain available for those shows via Ticketmaster, priced at $63-$298, according to the Ticketmaster website. Davidson also is set to perform in Mobile on March 23 at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show go on sale Friday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $51. Davidson came to fame on Saturday Night Live, and was a cast member on the popular NBC series from 2014 to 2022. (He returned to SNL in October 2023 to host the show.) Davidsons also known for his stand-up specials, including 2024s Turbo Fonzarelli on Netflix. The comedian has starred in movies such as Meet Cute, The King of Staten Island and Big Time Adolescence. Limestone County investigators said nine men have been arrested in a human trafficking sting after they tried to pay for sexual acts with online decoys they believed were children. The Limestone County Sheriffs office announced the arrest today, saying the men arrested targeted and solicited for sex through chat rooms, social media, and other sites. These offenders then agreed on cash payments to engage in sexual acts with children and then traveled to designated locations in Limestone County to engage in these unlawful sex acts, the sheriffs office said in a news release. Several were charged with first degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child. They were: Gilbert Jordan, 30, of Madison. Brandon Adamson, 31, of Athens. Edgar Castro-Juarez, 28, of Albertville. Christopher Tomasello, 31, of Blountsville. Bernardo Sanchez, 41, of Huntsville. Jacob Farley, 22, of Huntsville. Collin McGee, 30, of Athens. Bobby Pincheon, 37, of Hazel Green, was also charged with first degree human trafficking and traveling to meet a child for unlawful sex act. These eight men will have an Aniahs Law hearing on Thursday. Cameron Abernathy, 29, of Athens, was charged with traveling to meet a child for unlawful sex act and transmitting obscene material to a child by computer. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond. Investigators said the men were not coordinated into any type of ring. According to the sheriffs office, several months of planning went into the operation, and similar investigations are planned. We remain committed to protecting those who are most vulnerable in our community by proactively disrupting the child sex trade and arresting sex traffickers, the sheriffs office stated. In a message, the sheriffs office urged parents to supervise and monitor all electronic devices used by their children. These devices, such as smartphones, tablets, video gaming platforms, and computers, are an open door to your childs mind. If unguarded, I assure you these online predators will be looking, the sheriffs office stated. An Alabama native held in a Russian prison for the past two years was sentenced to 21 years in a penal colony Tuesday on charges for which he had previously been exonerated in the U.S. David Barnes, 66, was found guilty by a Russian judge of abusing his two sons in Texas, according to ABC News. Barnes attorney, Gleb Glinka, plans an appeal. Frankly Im horrified, Glinka told ABC News. There was almost no evidence that the court could base that verdict on. A native of Gadsden and a former Huntsville resident, Barnes was arrested in January 2022 after he traveled to Russia to meet with his two sons. He was accused of sexually abusing his two sons several years ago in Montgomery County, Texas. The charges were brought by his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva. Because at least one of the children has Russian nationality, according to reports, Russian authorities claimed jurisdiction in the case. The couple divorced in 2015, followed by a messy child custody case. Koptyaeva made allegations of sexual abuse against Barnes, which were investigated and found not credible, according to Kelly Blackburn, an assistant district attorney with the Montgomery County D.A.s office in Texas. No charges were ever filed against him in the U.S. After Barnes was awarded custody of the children, Koptyaeva left the country that same week with the two sons, and David Barnes eventually tracked them to Russia. Koptyaeva was indicted in Montgomery County, Texas on Dec. 12, 2019, for felony interference with child custody. A warrant was issued for her arrest. When Barnes entered Russia in 2022 to make contact with his sons, he was arrested by Russian police after a report by Koptyaeva. His sister, Carol Barnes, said she expected the result. Im devastated, but not surprised. After all, were talking about Russia! she said. I didnt steal anyone, Koptyaeva said Tuesday following court. I was just protecting my kids. All of Barnes previous court appearances were closed to the press and U.S. embassy representatives. Barnes appeared in a cell in the courtroom, telling ABC News that he feels that justice will triumph. A Calhoun County woman and her daughter are charged in the shooting of her ex-husband after initially claiming she was the victim of a home invasion. On Feb. 6, deputies responded to a shooting call on Pattiway Drive in Alexandria where they found 47-year-old Scott Ingram suffering from multiple gunshots wounds. Wendy Ralston, 46, had an active protection from abuse order against Ingram and she claimed that he had appeared at the residence in violation of that order. Ralston told authorities that Ingram had physically assaulted her and that she had escaped from the residence earlier in the day. Ralston did not contact law enforcement at that time. Ralston returned to the home later in the day with her daughter, 24-year-old Destynee Cheshire, said Sheriff Matthew Wade. Cheshire began searching the home for Ingram. The investigation shows that Cheshire kicked open a locked bedroom door and encountered Ingram in the room. Ultimately, the sheriff said, Cheshire fired three shots at Ingram with a 9 mm pistol, striking him three times, once each in the abdomen, arm, and leg. Ingram was transported to an area hospital. The investigation showed through digital evidence that Ralston misled law enforcement in the events that had taken place. Additionally, Wade said, she had allowed Ingram to be in the home in violation of the protection order and that she was aware that he was in the residence when she and Cheshire returned. Ralston filed false reports with law enforcement and subsequently filed a warrant under false pretense, he said. Ralston is charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and false reporting to law enforcement, which is a misdemeanor. Cheshire is charged with first-degree assault. Ralston had made allegations that she didnt call law enforcement due to our lack of action, Wade said. In reality, Ralston had a secret relationship with Ingram. She made detrimental allegations to her daughter and others that led to the shooting of Scott Ingram, he said. Wade said Ralston tried to hide information from law enforcement, but the facts were discovered through a forensic examination of digital media belonging to Ralston. Ingram even told Ralston in a discovered text that he felt like he was being set-up. As sheriff, I take great caution in arresting anyone claiming to be a victim of domestic violence, Wade said. However, the facts discovered in this investigation are clear and overwhelmingly proves that Ralston has lied manipulating the system for her person benefit. In addition, her lies have caused the physical injury to Scott Ingram and caused him to be accused in our criminal justice system, the sheriff said. Ralstons actions are offensive to the true victims of domestic violence and law enforcement. How will Alabamas House delegation vote on a possible foreign aid package to Ukraine and Israel? The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with both Alabama senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, voting against it. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29. Speaker Mike Johnson cast doubt on the bills passage in the House, saying it does not contain adequate provisions for the Southern border with Mexico. Last week, Republicans rejected a bipartisan proposal intended to curb the number of illegal crossings. Rep. Barry Moore, the Republican from Alabamas second congressional district made it clear hes in opposition. On social media platform X, Moore posted: We are $34 TRILLION in debt, our borders are overrun, and Bidenflation is up 3.1 percent this month. But while you were sleeping, the Senate swamp was working hard to send another $60 billion to Ukraine. Their legislation is DOA in the House. Americans deserve better. Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) February 13, 2024 Through his office, Moore commented: The Senate swamp fought harder to pass a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine than it did for anything that would actually improve the lives of American families, Moore said. I will do everything I can to prevent this America last legislation from passing the House of Representatives. Rep. Gary Palmer echoed some of Johnsons sentiments in a statement: Right now, the Senate is the birthplace of poor policy, Palmer said. The lack of serious border security measures in this foreign aid package shows how disconnected this bill is from reality. The Senate has ignored the House of Representatives and the will of the American people this entire Congress. The American people have made it very clear where they stand, and they want the southern border secure. House Republicans are working to make this happen. Rep. Jerry Carl said, Im thankful Speaker Johnson put this bill to rest in the House. Our top priority needs to be securing the border. Other congressional offices did not immediately respond to request for comment. A congressional scorecard last year by Republicans for Ukraine rated GOP members of the House according to their past support for aid legislation and public comments. Moore, for example, received an F, or very poor rating. Rep. Mike Rogers was the lone Alabama congressman to receive an A. Rep. Robert Aderholt got a B, noting that he was neutral in public statements but supportive of most Ukraine aid. Rep. Dale Strong received a B-, noting pro-Ukraine votes but anti-Ukraine statements. Gary Palmer received a B, with only one vote listed against aid in 2023. Carl received an F, with several votes against Ukraine aid. It should be stated that Carl has voted for aid to Israel, something he noted on his X account: I fully support Israel and their ability to defend themselves from violent terrorists. I voted to help aid Israel in this fight because its our Biblical duty to support Gods chosen people. Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) February 6, 2024 Alabamas lone Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell, has voted for assistance to both Israel and Ukraine, but voted against a Republican-led aid package last November. While I fully support assistance to Israel, the partisan bill that House Republicans pushed through provides no assistance to Ukraine, blocks humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and includes billions in tax giveaways to the rich, Sewell said in a statement at the time. A Shelby County man has been convicted of capital murder in the fatal stabbing and bludgeoning of a Vietnam veteran nearly six years ago. A Shelby County jury Tuesday evening - after one hour of deliberations - found Randall Anthony Gargone, a handyman and four-time convicted felon, guilty in the 2018 murder of 68-year-old Tracy Ward. The jury delivered the swift verdict only hours after Gargone had testified in his own defense, chronicling the events of the killing. He had a grip on my arm and out of the corner of my eye, I seen something silver coming at me, Gargone said when he took the stand in his own defense in his capital murder trial. It was a hammer, the now-68-year-old Gargone said. He kept swinging that hammer. Austin was killed in his familys Chelsea home on March 5, 2018. Shelby County District Attorney Matt Casey, and assistant district attorneys Ben Fuller and Brooke Grigsby, previously said they were seeking the death penalty for Gargone. Prosecutors contended Gargone intended to burglarize the home and unexpectedly encountered the victim. Gargones attorneys, Mickey Johnson and Victor Portella, claimed Gargone killed Austin in self-defense. Gargones parole on previous convictions was revoked after Austins death and he has been in state prison since then. Testimony in the case began Thursday after three days of jury selection. The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriffs Office and is being tried before Shelby County Circuit Judge Bill Bostick. Gargone was the only defense witness. The brutal crime happened that Monday in the 5800 block of Shelby County Highway 39. Gargone said it was October or November of 2017 when he saw the victims elderly mother struggling to take her garbage can to the street. He said he was on his way home from McDonalds and stopped to help her. He then asked her if she needed any work done around her home. She asked for his help fixing an ATV that she used to drive her garbage to the street. Gargone said he wasnt able to determine what was wrong with the ATV but asked if there was anything else he could do to make some money, and she asked him to install a storm door. Austins mother had Gargone fix a broken kitchen door, but the family was not pleased with Gargones work. He said it was missing a part and would not open from the outside. He said he encountered the victims brother that day in the home. He throwed his hands up and said, Man, you messed that door up,' Gargone said. Gargone said he returned to the home a couple more times in the following months looking for work, but to no avail. On March 5, he said he again returned to the home and knocked on the door. He said a man later determined to be Austin said, Up here. Im up here. Gargone said he then went upstairs to Austins bedroom. Austin, who prosecutors said had numerous health issues, was sitting in his recliner. When I first go in there, something came over me, Gargone testified. I didnt feel right because I seen several guns laying around. Gargone said he kneeled down beside the victim so as not to appear disrespectful standing over him and put his left hand on Austins leg. He said he started to introduce himself when Austin grabbed his left wrist. Thats when he said Austin hit him with the claw hammer. Gargone said Austin moved toward the edge of a chair like he was going to stand up, and a knife dropped from Austins lap to the floor. He said he pushed Austin back into the chair. I grabbed that knife and came back up and started stabbing him, Gargone testified. Gargone said he had hammer wounds to his own head, as well as injuries to both arms. I didnt know where I was stabbing, he testified. It was like the stabbing wasnt doing no good. After all the times Id done the stabbing and nothing was happening, I cut him across the neck and that didnt do no good, he said. Gargone said Austins arm began to relax and he dropped the hammer. Gargone picked it up and hit Austin. Austins autopsy showed he was stabbed more than 12 times and bludgeoned in the head. He had multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen area, as well as in his eye. When I felt I could get out of there, I got up and started out the door, he said. Gargone testified he left the hammer there and threw the knife in some pine trees before he drove away. He said the entire ordeal lasted about 30 to 45 seconds, and that Austin appeared to still be breathing when Gargone left. He was moving, he said. I dont know when he died. He said he did not take any weapons into Austins home. After he left, Gargone went to the home he shared with his son and said he cleaned up his own wounds. I had to sit down because I was really disturbed at what happened, he said. He said he then got himself together and drank a glass of tea, and then went to the store to buy some Skoal tobacco. He was later seen washing his car at Mr. Car Wash in Inverness, to which he admitted. Gargone who was on parole for two life sentences for robbery said he went to see his parole officer the following day for a scheduled meeting and then spent the next couple of days visiting his brother and two sisters, one of whom lived in Georgia. He said he did so because, I knew I was going back to prison. He told his family members, and later investigators, that his injuries were from cutting down trees. He was arrested three days later when he returned home from Georgia. During cross examination, Fuller asked Gargone about a Google search on his computer about how long it takes DNA evidence to come back. Gargone said that search was in relation to a Forensic Files episode he was watching, not Austins killing. I didnt think it was bad to Google that, Gargone said. I used to Google all the time because I watched that show all the time. Prosecutors also showed a text message conversation which Gargone said was between him and his son. That conversation included Gargone saying he had a plan and that they would have to worry about bills for a while. A large majority of respondents to an Alabama survey last month said they would support legislation to give people sentenced to life in prison for crimes that did not cause serious physical injury a chance for a new sentence, according to an organization that advocates for criminal justice reforms. The Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice reported the results of the survey of 600 Alabamians on Jan. 29-30 by the polling firm Cygnal. A bill that would provide people who have been in prison at least 23 years and who meet other eligibility requirements a chance for a new sentence, HB 29 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, is scheduled for consideration in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Alabama Appleseed supports the bill, which passed the House last year but not the Senate. Under HB29, a person who received an enhanced sentence under Alabamas Habitual Felony Offender Act before May 26, 2000, could file a petition for a new sentence to the court where they were convicted. Those convicted of homicide, a sex offense, or a crime that caused a serious physical injury would not be eligible. The district attorney and the victim would be notified of the request for a new sentence and would have an opportunity to be heard in court. The judge, in deciding whether to change the sentence, would consider the underlying offense, whether a firearm was used, the persons age, conduct in prison, and the likelihood of success after leaving prison based on a re-entry plan. Alabama Appleseed said the Cygnal poll showed that 88% of Alabama voters favor second chance legislation, with 86% of Alabama Republicans and 92% of Democrats in support of the idea. Data shows that older prisoners are the most expensive to incarcerate and the least likely to reoffend once released, Alabama Appleseed Executive Director Carla Crowder said in a news release. The Cygnal polling data validates that Alabamians want common sense and data driven solutions to the prison crisis and that keeping older prisoners behind bars does not improve public safety, draining our state of needed resources. In the news release, Alabama Appleseed included a statement from former U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, a Republican from Birmingham who represented Alabamas 6th Congressional District from 1993 to 2015. When Alabamians understand exactly what the bill does and who it helps, they overwhelmingly support it, Bachus said in response to the poll findings. They believe in punishment and consequences but not outrageously unfair or unreasonable punishment. Read more: Im haunted by this: Retired Congressman Spencer Bachus returns to Montgomery to lobby for Second Chance legislation Second Chance bill could free some older prisoners serving life sentences in Alabama How a second chance for aging, nonviolent Alabama prison inmates died in Montgomery A new bill proposed in the Alabama Legislature would make it illegal for clergy to have sexual interactions with children and teens under 19 years old. House Bill 125, sponsored by State Rep. Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena), creates the crime of unlawful sex acts committed by clergy. Its modeled on Alabamas law prohibiting teachers from having sexual relationships with students. Its almost identical to that bill, Hulsey told AL.com. In the state of Alabama, consent for sexual activity is 16 years of age. Our law explicitly waives that as a defense for teachers, but it does not anywhere else, such as where people are underneath the trust or authority of someone like you would find yourself in a church Sunday school class. Hulsey said the experiences of several constituents convinced her a new law was needed. Ivy Victoria Laine Jeter said she reported to Hueytown Police that a staff member at a Baptist church in Hueytown had abused his authority with her to engage in sexual activity. It was a youth pastor, Jeter told AL.com. When he started grooming me, I was like 12 to 13 years old, Jeter said. Sexual stuff did not happen till age of consent, which is when I was 16. There was like a 20-year age difference. Hes 40-something now. When she went to the police years later, she was told no laws had been broken, she said. I reported it in 2022, Jeter said. There was legally nothing they could do. I never said no. Clergy are in a position of authority similar to teachers and should be held to the same legal standard, she said. If he was a teacher, he would have been arrested, Jeter said. Age of consent doesnt matter if youre a teacher. If youre abusing your power, thats where you get in trouble, if youre on the staff of a school. Jeters story was compelling, but not the only one, Hulsey said. Ivy was absolutely a part of that, Hulsey said. It was a collection of efforts of constituents. She was not the only person that called, but she was certainly the forerunner of that. Hulsey said she worked with leadership of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the Alabama Citizens Action Program, or ALCAP, to get their input, along with the attorney generals office. They have been very helpful in addressing this pressing issue, Hulsey said. She hopes a new law can help victims whove been left unprotected by current law. We looked at why they were told they could not do anything and whats a good way to tackle this that we can prevent this in the future. Hulsey said she introduced the bill last week and she expects it to make it to a House committee possibly on Wednesday. The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe. Alabamas senators, Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, were among the the 29 voting no. Tuberville spoke against the package in the late night debate. Were $35 trillion in debt with NOTHING to show for it. Theres an invasion at our southern border. Our roads and bridges are falling apart. Our schools systems are getting worse by the day. Our military cant recruit, Tuberville posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. And the US Senate just prioritized Ukrainian pensions over Americans. Considering a supplemental funding bill at this juncture is nonsensical, because there is no base funding FY24 appropriations are still up in the air, Britt said in a statement released Tuesday morning. Senator Schumer is trying to ice a cake that hasnt been baked. Its been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation. The bills passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical shortages on the battlefield. The final vote gained 22 Republicans supporting its passage, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Bidens desk if at all. Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of considerable pushback from his own GOP conference. Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that the eyes of the world were on the U.S. Senate. Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength? McConnell asked. Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israels war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. The bills passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and blocked it on the Senate floor. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone as Democrats had originally intended. While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down. Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russias Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraines defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years. I think it deals with the reality that were living in, which is theyre a more powerful country, and its their region of the world, he said. Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak. Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks. Why am I so focused on this vote? Tillis said. Because I dont want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here, he said, his voice cracking. Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House. At a rally Saturday, Trump said that he had once told a NATO ally he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to members that are delinquent in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has led his party away from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an America First isolationism. Evoking the slogan, Moran said, I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world. While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that I reiterated Americas commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October. Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is silent on the most pressing issue facing our country. It was the latest and potentially most consequential sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a non-starter, contributing to its rapid demise. Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence. As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country. He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war, Spanberger said. Its critical to their own freedom. And importantly, its critical to U.S. national security interests. AL.com contributed to this report. By MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press Antoine Mordican has a medical cannabis cultivation license. And he is building out a facility to begin growing the product. Under state law, he has to demonstrate he can maintain cultivation facilities; use an inventory control system approved by the state; can start cannabis cultivation within 60 days; can dispose of plant waste according to regulations, and can maintain financial stability. Im building getting everything in place, getting the necessary parameters and everything in place to be in compliance, such as security, said Mordican, the CEO of Native Black Cultivation. More from Alabama Reflector But when he will see actual marijuana plants grow depends on what approach he takes. If he grows from seed, which Mordican plans to start out with, it would take about six to eight months before he can get the first harvest. If growing from a clone, or a cutting from a growing plant, it would be closer to four to six months. Mordican said he might look at that approach, but added that hes not in a rush. Everybodys got their own techniques, he said. My goal is to be within compliance with the revenue rules and regulations. A long wait The Alabama Legislature approved a medical marijuana program in 2021. When the product is available, patients certified by participating physicians will be able to use medical cannabis for 15 conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, depression and Parkinsons Disease. Patients will have to apply for a card to obtain medical cannabis from licensed dispensers. The law bans smoking cannabis or consuming it in food. Cannabis will be available in tablets, capsules, gelatins like gummies, oils, gels, creams, suppositories, transdermal patches, or inhalable oils or liquids. Cannabis gummies will only be allowed to be peach-flavored. But delivery of the product has yet to occur. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) began accepting applications in late 2022. The AMCC initially issued licenses in June but voided them due to scoring inconsistencies, later rescinding awards again in August amid a lawsuit over Open Meetings Act violations. The AMCC issued new licensing rules in October. The commission issued licenses a third time in December, but litigation halted the licensing process again in January for dispensaries and integrated facilities. The litigation over the charges has ground the process to a halt. Even if the lawsuits are resolved, it could be several months before legal medical cannabis appears in the state. Aaron Smith, co-founder and CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said that its possible to get an indoor harvest in as little as three months. But he expects it may take longer for some cultivators, especially in the first round, because of inexperience with factors that can impact growth, such as climate and soil conditions. The quickest Ive heard through the years but its usually between three to five months. Its sort of the cycle so Im not surprised theres folks that are ready to do it within three, Smith said. After harvesting, Mordican said he can freeze or cure the plant, depending on how the processor wants it. Or he can just cut down the whole plant if they want to extract THC, the psychoactive ingredient to be used in the final products, from other parts of the plant aside from the flower, such as leaves. Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said that because Alabamas medical cannabis law bans smoking, the THC compound must be extracted by processors to be made into the products that can be sold under the law. He said it wont be as simple as growing and harvesting the plant. First youve got to grow the marijuana, then youve got to harvest the flower from the marijuana, then youve got to turn that flower into a product that the Alabama law allows to be dispensed, because it doesnt allow the flower to be dispensed, Armentano said. Extraction times vary from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the method. Once the THC is extracted, it can be made into medical cannabis products. Jason Cobb, owner and CEO of Organic Harvest Lab, a processing company that was awarded a license, said that with the process they are using, from getting the plant from a cultivator to packaging the product may take about a week. In the initial stages, it may take slightly longer due to employees learning how to use the system Alabama uses to monitor the market. Once they put that into our facility, its not immediately going into the extraction. Were going to make sure that were accounting for it, integrated into [the system]. So its just not a simple process, Cobb said. He said he wants to provide the best medical products to patients, which is why hes using an extraction method that may take longer. Alabama medical products cant be coated in sugar, which is often done to hide the taste from the marijuana plant. His extraction method removes that taste. We just think that weve got the best methods for that extraction so that youre not going to taste that skunky, or that terpene flavor, he said. We knew this was going to happen Melissa Mullins, a patient advocate, said when the Legislature passed the law setting up a legal medical cannabis market in the state, she was cautiously optimistic that the state would have medical cannabis products by the end of 2022. We did know however that there would be trial and error while working to implement the program. Did we like it? No, we didnt. Because sick, suffering and dying patients do not have the luxury of time, Mullins said. She said from the moment the licenses were awarded, she predicted there would be delays with a limited number of licenses. We knew this was going to happen. We have seen Alabama going down the same road as other states that we had researched and spoken with, she said. Armentano agrees. He said that if lawmakers in Alabama had taken into consideration programs in other states and not focused on establishing a restrictive program, the process may not have been as delayed. To me, whats the most vexing about this is Alabama had 30-plus states, in many cases, states that have had programs up and running for more than three decades, to learn from to learn what to do and to learn what not to do and lawmakers clearly didnt heed any of those lessons, he said. Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, who sponsored the 2021 bill, did not return a request for comment. Armentano said theres no way to tell how long the litigation process will take. Georgia which does not have its program up to capacity after eight years of making low-THC medical cannabis products available for certain conditions faced lawsuits because of limited licenses on its program. The state opened its first dispensary in 2023. Too often, we see that these GOP-led efforts are more interested in being able to take bragging rights that theyve passed the most restrictive medical marijuana law in the country, and they prioritize that goal over actually writing and implementing a workable law that will help patients, he said. Every states program is different and has faced unique challenges during and after its roll out, he said, adding that were talking about 38 states so theres no rule of thumb, but that most states that started with a limited program revised their rules to expand access to more patients. I would emphasize the reason that we see these programs expand over time, so that theyre easier to access so that they can serve a greater number of patients so that more healthcare professionals can be involved. Thats something a number of states do over time, Armentano said. As of Monday, no bill had been filed in the Alabama Legislature addressing medical cannabis. Those of us that live with chronic pain all day every day are desperately trying to ride it out. Unfortunately, not all of us will be here when product is ready. Its a dark side of medical cannabis regulation that people dont want to talk about, Mullins said. The woman who opened fire at Joel Osteens Lakewood Church in Houston was identified Monday as Genesse Ivonne Moreno. Moreno, 36, was killed by two off-duty cops working security at the megachurch. She opened fire with a rifle while the church was between services, and the two cops returned fire, according to police. A boy and a 57-year-old boy were wounded in the shootout. The child is not expected to survive his injuries, the Houston Chronicle reported. Moreno walked into the building alongside the boy, but police officials would not say who shot him. The 7-year-old, who was shot in the head in head, is the son of the shooter, The Associated Press reported Monday. That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. Im going to put that blame on her, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Sunday at a press conference. The middle-aged man, who has not been publicly identified, was shot in the leg or hip area and is expected to survive, according to Finner. Authorities searched Morenos home in Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston, on Monday morning, the Chronicle reported. At the church, Moreno had claimed to have a bomb, but authorities never found one. Police also searched her home for explosives and weapons, according to the Chronicle. Morenos rifle had the word Palestine written on it, police sources told ABC News and NBC News. However, police said they were not confident in publicly speculating on a motive for the attack. Lakewood Church is one of the largest congregations in the U.S., but Moreno opened fire between services, when fewer people were in the building. I can only imagine if it would have happened during the 11:00 service, Osteen said Sunday afternoon. One of the security officers who killed Moreno was also identified Monday. Adrian Herrera, a 38-year-old agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, was placed on leave after the shooting, local NBC affiliate KPRC reported. The other cop, a member of the Houston Police Department, has not been publicly identified. Lakewood Church is so popular that services are held in a renovated arena that used to be the home of the NBAs Houston Rockets. Some of Osteens services are also broadcast on television in nearly 100 countries. With News Wire Services 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The father of a 16-year-old Alabama boy who died by suicide filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his sons private school, claiming systemic failures to stop incessant bullying caused his sons death. John Nichols, the father of 16-year-old Bradley David Nichols, who died by suicide in 2022, accused Edgewood Academy in Elmore County of ignoring its own handbook on student harassment and bullying and failing to inform Bradleys parents of the bullying despite knowing it was taking place. This case involves truly tragic circumstances and systemic failures by defendants which allowed, encouraged, failed to prevent and failed to stop incessant bullying which led to the death of Bradley David Nichols, the lawsuit filed Friday in Elmore County Circuit Court alleges. Jay Adams, Edgewood Academys headmaster and Bradleys geometry teacher at the time of the bullying, was fired from the private school for a lack of institutional control and lack of discipline, according to the suit. He and Susan Barner, an Edgewood Academy teacher at the time of the incidents who has since been promoted to head of school, according to the lawsuit, were also sued in their individual capacities. Barner could not immediately be reached for a response to the suit. At 6-feet tall and 270 pounds, Bradley was a loving 16-year-old teenager with a heart to match, the lawsuit stated. But the teen was also an emotionally complex 16-year-old with a slight speech impediment. The impediment, coupled with his gentle nature, made him a target for bullying, according to the suit. Besides being made fun of for his speech impediment and his weight, Bradley was told to go kill himself or he had no balls by a female student and had food thrown at him while students recorded the bullying, the suit claimed. After Bradleys death in 2022, students made a Snapchat video titled The Lynching of John Nichols, the lawsuit alleged. The lawsuit does not seek an exact dollar amount from the schools in damages. Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to peace but D.C. warmongers want to extend the conflict in Ukraine, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said in explaining why he opposes the $60 billion aid package for Ukraine. Vladimir Putin wants out of this you heard that on Tucker Carlson, Tuberville told Fox Business Larry Kudlow during an appearance on the network Monday to discuss the Senate bill that ties funding for Ukraine and Israel to border security provisions. We need to get this over with for the American people, and for the Ukrainians and the Russians but nobody wants to talk about it, Tuberville said, referring to diplomacy. They have no clue up here [in Washington] about that. If the package were to pass, the $60 billion wouldnt make a difference in the Ukrainian armys effort to repel Russia from its border, Tuberville said. Its not an immediate help, he told Kudlow. Ukraine cant win. Tuberville comments came three days after Carlsons sit-down interview with Putin, the Russian presidents first with a Western media figure since the war with Ukraine began. The interview shows that Russia is open to a peace agreement, while it is DC warmongers who want to prolong the war. That is why Im voting to stop 60 BILLION MORE of our tax dollars to this conflict, Tuberville tweeted. Last nights @TuckerCarlson's interview with Putin shows that Russia is open to a peace agreement, while it is DC warmongers who want to prolong the war. That is why Im voting to stop 60 BILLION MORE of our tax dollars to this conflict. Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) February 9, 2024 Lawmakers have cast the aid as a direct investment in American interests to ensure global stability. The package would allot roughly $60 billion to Ukraine, and about a third of that would be spent replenishing the U.S. military with the weapons and equipment that are sent to Kyiv. These are the enormously high stakes of the supplemental package: our security, our values, our democracy, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. as he opened the chamber. It is a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of American values. Schumer worked closely with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kent., for months searching for a way to win favor in the House for tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine. But after the carefully negotiated Senate compromise that included border policy collapsed last week, Republicans have been deeply divided on the legislation. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with a bipartisan group that included Reps. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, as well as French Hill, R-Ark., Jason Crow, D-Colo. and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa. Spanberger said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence. As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances the American people still stood with his country. He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war, Spanberger said. Its critical to their own freedom. And importantly, its critical to U.S. national security interests. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The global and domestic landscape is one of turmoil and indecision. Everywhere one looks there is chaos and potential disaster, whether in the financial, economic, political, or military sphere. Since the beginning of the post-World War II era there has been one constant that has been the stabilizing force in the world: the stature, power, and influence of the United States. The twelve years of Barack Obama and his ventriloquist dummy, Joe Biden, have overwhelmingly eroded America and dramatically accelerated the demise of western civilization. Barack Obama assumed the office of the presidency as a man brought up and steeped in 1960s radicalism as well as his Kenyan fathers rabid anti-colonialism, a combination which advanced the doctrine that America, as the current Western super-power, represents the evil nature of colonialism, western civilization, and capitalisms exploitation of the masses. The intellectual, material, and military success of America and the West could only have come about from expropriating the wealth and labor of the peoples of the world, therefore what is defined as western civilization must be destroyed and replaced. But that can only come about if the United States is dismantled. The mindset of Barack Obama and his ideological fellow-travelers is such that under no circumstances can they defend the West; instead, they must not only transform the United States, but destroy any vestiges of its accomplishments. By doing so they, in their addled thinking, exact revenge for the alleged transgressions of the fictitious White Race and their dominate global culture. Barack Obama and these indoctrinated malcontents have spent their entire lives, from birth to the present wallowing in this mindset. Due to his preeminence in the movement, this philosophy, and tactics to overthrow American culture and society as the final step in destroying western culture can be rightfully captioned as the Obama Doctrine. The ongoing chaos in the United States is a direct result of their tactical methodology. Which is to: Tribalize the American populace through an incessant drumbeat of the iniquities of the so-called white race and their attendant white supremacy and privilege, Infiltrate the universities in order to indoctrinate the younger generations about Americas supposed role in the evils of exploitation and colonialism, Collapse the economy through the exploitation of unsubstantiated climate change and an equally fatuous green agenda, Undermine the Judeo-Christian foundation of the nation by promoting unfettered sexual and lifestyle freedoms, Manipulate the voting process in order to achieve permanent government power, Flood the nation with untold millions of illegal immigrants who will refuse to assimilate and will create massive dislocations in the society and the economy. The suffering of the average American citizen facing economic ruin and the very real threat of Islamic terrorism within this, or any western nations borders, are mere means to an end. To Obama and his confederates, the radical jihadist movement is the tip of the spear to bring down the United States and the West. Thus Obama, and his allied neo-Marxists that control the Biden Administration, can justify bankrupting the country as well as promoting unfettered illegal immigration of those who will not assimilate and are from non-European nations around the globe, including those who harbor Islamic terrorists. Primarily because it is an outpost of western civilization in the Middle East and despite the brutality of Hamas on October 7, 2023, Obama and these racially radicalized collectivists have no compunction in forcing Israel to compromise with the Palestinians for a so-called two-state solution knowing those concessions will eventually spell the end of the Jewish state. To this cabal there is no overriding American interest in international affairs except to take a back seat and surrender its influence to other non-western powers, in particular Communist China. The acolytes of the Obama Doctrine are well aware that over the past three decades the United States has been increasingly alone in carrying the banner for western civilization. Far too many western nations are incompetent and easily intimidated democracies. The leadership in Europe has been essentially nonexistent, as those nations are on what is now a path of inevitable societal suicide. A path upon which the United States has also embarked. The population of the European continent is rapidly aging as the result of a catastrophically negative birth rate -- the end product of nearly 160 million abortions since 1980 as nearly 45% of Europeans believe there are no moral absolutes. As a solution to this dilemma, the countries of Western Europe have, over the years, flung open their borders to waves of legal and illegal immigrants from primarily Muslim nations in Africa and the Middle East. The bulk of them adamantly refuse to assimilate and are currently and deliberately fomenting societal upheaval with an eye to eventually dominating a majority of European nations. The Obama cabal are also counting on the fact that among the most insidious traits of the Americas and the Wests so-called best and brightest is that they are incredibly self-absorbed and, thus incapable of admitting their mistakes and taking corrective actions. Instead of dealing with the harsh realities of what is happening in their respective societies today, far too many seek shelter in unknowingly abetting the downfall of their nations and the West by collapsing their societies and economies in the quixotic pursuit of vague and unproven climate-change theories. There are only a handful of leaders in the United States and other Western countries willing to repudiate the tenets of these racially-inspired neo-Marxists as well as telling their citizenries the unadulterated truth about the accelerating demise of the West. The rest are incapable of handling the truth themselves, much less knowing what to do about the situations and dilemmas at hand. They react instead with futile collectivist theories promulgated by self-proclaimed and egocentric intellectuals who themselves have no worldly experience except self-induced guilt and, for some, a desire to be part of the in-crowd in the thrall of the Obama Doctrine. This mindset, combined with a lack of forceful and determined leadership by the United States, will eventuate in another global financial catastrophe, a hegemonic Communist China, an inevitable full-blown military conflict in the Middle East, and the unchecked spread of radical Islam. The ultimate goal of the fall of western civilization will then be realized, but at a massive and bloody cost. Until the narcissism and ideology of todays American ruling class is replaced by those willing to repudiate and expose the Obama Doctrine and act accordingly, the world will continue to evolve into an exceedingly dangerous place as once the United States is lost there will be no turning back. Due to the base nature of the human race, with its failings and foibles, all societies have shortcomings, but the key measure of any civilization is what it does to control these tendencies and strive for a culture of equality. No nation or civilization in history has done more to assimilate virtually all races and ethnicities and advance the well-being of mankind than the United States and western civilization. In 2024 the American people have the unique opportunity to overwhelmingly reject the ideology and machinations of Barack Obama, the addled treachery of Joe Biden, and the complicity of a neo-Marxist Democrat Party and essentially save western civilization. Image: National Archives Many have discussed a second Trump presidency revolving around retribution. Trumps Republican primary opponents have claimed that Trump, if re-elected, would be consumed with personal grievances at the expense of real issues. Across the aisle, leftists have attempted to program the masses into believing that any form of retribution more on what they mean by that later would render President Trump a dictator. However, both narratives contain easily exposed flaws. The media have been champing at the bit to twist Trumps words to advance their dictator narrative. In response, Trump has given smart political answers in saying winning the election, as well as success, will be his retribution. There is no doubting that winning and undoing detrimental Biden policies, similar to when he succeeded the Obama administration, would be one form of retribution. However, no amount of politically nuanced attacks by his fellow Republicans, or mainstream leftist gaslighting, can alter reality. Attacks on Trump are real issues that need to be addressed. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley were predictably the loudest Republican voices echoing the real issues talking point. DeSantis has said Trump becoming the nominee would make the election about legal issues, criminal trials, and January 6, suggesting that those issues, as well as people who have been wrongly harmed as collateral damage for aligning with Trump such as January 6 prisoners who continue to rot in prison, or Douglass Mackey, who was sentenced to seven months in prison after the newly inaugurated illegitimate Biden regime raided his home for a meme he had posted five years prior will never receive the justice they deserve. As for Haley, after continuing to be soundly defeated in every primary election, including in Nevada, where she came in a distant second to None of These Candidates, she continues to point out all of the dysfunction that comes with Trump, essentially placing the blame on him for being the target of increasingly obvious political persecution. Both were unique in how they demonstrated their lack of understanding of the seriousness of our newly weaponized government. Trumps entrance into politics began as a mockery but has now progressed into impeachments, indictments, ballot removals, arrests, and God knows what else to come between now and November. These are real issues, and any candidate who suggests that these things should be left in the past concedes that he either isnt aware of the legitimacy of voter concerns about these issues or is willfully ignoring them for political gain. Either explanation is disqualifying. Republicans ignoring or not recognizing these attacks as real issues is a wrong. But Democrats current and most brazenly hypocritical instance of gaslighting to date is even more alarming. Leftist TV panels can frequently be heard shrieking at the thought of Trump indicting his political opponents. Yes, they somehow say this without ever noting that Biden and his cronies have already set the precedent for this. They almost deserve credit for getting through their TV segments with a straight face. But despite all their theatre, it isnt retribution they truly fear, but rather accountability, and perhaps with good reason. Joe Biden has presided over a blatant, unconstitutionally weaponized government. His former (and likely current) boss, Barack Hussein Obama, began this tactic of American politicking by allowing his FBI to spy on an incoming president, which Hillary Clinton and her campaign masterminded. Nancy Pelosi willfully failed to secure proper security measures in the lead up to January 6, prioritizing optics instead, which has led to the unconstitutional denial of due process for many Americans. This was followed by an obviously biased January 6th Select Committee, which was recently revealed to have operated in a less than ethical manner. When you consider all of this, and too much more to mention, it is no surprise that they are hammering the retribution talking point, trying to convince America that any instance of them finally being held accountable for their own conduct would undoubtedly be a product of a dictatorial regime. The irony. Despite their attempts, the truth remains the same. The oath of office mandates that a president faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and to the best of their ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath is broad by design, as each president faces a unique set of challenges at the time of their reign, and is entrusted by voters to be able to recognize, and determine how to properly address them. Lincoln dealt with slavery and the Civil War, FDR Hitler and World War II, Reagan the Cold War and the USSR, and the list goes on. There is now a new war that has begun inside the United States by those who have weaponized their power. Getting answers from and delivering justice to those who have carried out these harmful acts on Trump, and by extension the United States, to prevent it from occurring further would not be a distraction, nor would it be dictatorial. Trump would be just as obligated to attempt to fix this new problem, known as the weaponization of government, as other presidents were to fix the problems of their time. In fact, Trump would be derelict in his duty if he were to not address these issues at least in some way, as he has already stated he believes that the problem will continue in perpetuity if not addressed. How one defines retribution in political terms is ambiguous. So how should we expect Trump to address this if he returns to office? Last year, he pulled no punches in stating, I am your warrior, I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. Then, asked by Glenn Beck if he would lock people up, Trump said, The answer is, you have no choice, because theyre doing it to us. Further, during his postNew Hampshire victory speech, when referencing an embarrassing Nikki Haley celebratory I-came-in-last address to her astroturfed Democrat supporters, Trump said, I dont get angry. I get even. Trump, ever the believer in an eye for an eye, in a business sense, to prevent misdeeds from continuing, seems to understand the long-term importance of how what has taken place must be rectified. If Trump fulfills his constitutional duty in this regard, he will not be using government as a weapon for payback, or personal grievances, as Biden has. Instead, he will be cleaning up the deeply rooted, decades-long corruption in government that now plagues America, which would certainly fall under success, as he regularly references. No, Trump will not be going after journalists or the media or any given political opponent who has criticized him, as the media suggest. Instead, he will, within the confines of the law and presidency, aim to protect America from enemies seeking to destroy it, whether they be foreign or domestic, as all presidents are required to do. That is something all Americans, regardless of candidate preference or political affiliation, should demand from their commander in chief. Matt Kane graduated from Stony Brook University with a bachelors degree in political science. His work has been posted by President Trump and published by RealClearPolitics. Follow on Truth Social: @MattKane. X: @MattKaneUSA Is embattled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas leaking to Axios now? That's my opinion, but more about that in a minute. Axios reports that Joe Biden's White House was a complete clown show on the matter of the border crisis, with Joe himself blowing up at staff over impossible things, staff oozily doing all they could to cravenly pass the problem onto some other guy, and some of them with decision-making power flamingly ignorant and incompetent. The idiocy worsened the border crisis, Axios argued. The title of their piece is "How Biden Botched the Border." It's an exclusive scoop, and it starts like this: Aboard Air Force One en route to tour the southern border in January 2023, President Biden sat at the head of his conference table and exploded with fury. The president lit into his team, which included then-Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and other immigration officials. He demanded obscure immigration data points and vented when his staff didn't have them handy. Why it matters: The previously unreported meeting, recounted to Axios by three people familiar with the events, is emblematic of the Biden administration's struggle with the border crisis during the past three years infighting, blame-shifting and indecision. Biden's fury subsided, and aides scrambled for the information he wanted. People in the meeting later told others in frustration that his winding process and irritability were making it more difficult to reach decisions about the border. What a jackass. Any questions about his fitness to lead the United States? Senile or not, someone like that is no leader and obviously doesn't know what he's doing. Other reports have stated that he took his marching orders solely from open-borders activists. As far as White House staff go, it was a nest of stinking, slinking, weasels. The idea that no one wanted to "own it" came up repeatedly in interviews about the border crisis. But the problem required a robust and coordinated response at several levels of the federal government. ...and... "There are definite incentives ... to not be the person who owns the scary issue with no solutions," a former government official close to the issue told Axios. Kamala Harris was particularly craven: Vice President Kamala Harris and her office made clear to others in the administration that her responsibilities began and ended with the factors driving people to leave Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador the issue Biden had assigned her to examine. As the migration became more global, Harris' team remained focused on the Northern Triangle and Mexico. Not my circus, not my monkey. Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan turned his end of the migration crisis over to someone named Liz Sherwood-Randall whose title was Homeland Security advisor, and who was so ignorant about the matter she didn't know the difference between an asylum-seeker and a refugee. Rather than cover her tracks by secretly googling the difference, she asked staff to prepare a briefing for her on this Wikipedia-level matter. There was finger-pointing at the Department of State for "dragging its feet" on migrant intake centers in countries of origin, which is baloney, and State rightly denied it because we have been following this issue, and there was constant staff turnover since everyone knew it was a mess and nobody wanted to have their name on it. They fought with each other, with some clearly cognizant of what was happening and others in the throes of the open-borders activists who obviously have a monetary interest in perpetuating the crisis. Susan Rice eventually ended up running the mess, and she bickered and fought with Sherwood-Randall and Harris, as well as connived against sleazy Housing and Urban Development Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who never bothered to do his job at all on migrant housing. According to the report, she called him a "bitch-ass" and an "idiot" in private. When Rice left her post, she was replaced by another viper, Neera Tanden who paid little attention to the matter. One guy who comes out smelling like a rose here in all this organizational sewage is Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who famously assured us all through this White House infighting that "The border is secure." He repeated that talking point from at least March 2021, two months into Biden's presidency. It makes me suspect he is the primary leaker of the story to Axios. The Axios report claims that Mayorkas was Mister Responsible here, being against Biden's early executive order putting a 100-day moratorium on migrant deportations to start. Really? Sounds a little convenient for him at this juncture with a second congressional impeachment on him. That sure as heck wasn't his story when he was out assuring the public that the border was "secure," there was no border crisis, and oh, he was against Biden's halt on deportations. It's at odds with his current behavior, shielding more than a million deportable illegal aliens from deportation right now. He could deport them ... and won't. Color me skeptical that he was against any Biden moratorium on deportations. There's also a laughable claim in the Axios report that the Bidenites muzzled Mayorkas from speaking to the press and allowed Biden's opponents to define the issue. Really? A Google search shows that he was talking all the time, constantly defending the indefensible to the point where he seemed as though he lived on another planet. His own Border Patrol grew to hate him in these years, too, back when he was out hanging them out to dry in the press. As for opponents defining the issue, did he notice the 2022 election midterms, when much of always-blue southern Texas counties flipped red? Did he think that was GOP campaign prowess or television ads? He must have missed the detail about voters feeling the actual lived effects of open borders. Give us a break. The worst of it is when Axios excuses him from the entire border crisis, claiming the whole thing was out of anyone's control, a global phenomenon: Reality check: Much of the current crisis is rooted in factors Biden's team has had little control over including unprecedented global calamities that have pushed millions of migrants to the U.S., decades of congressional inaction, and the state of key agencies after the Trump administration. Many current and former Biden officials say they believe they've done their best considering the circumstances. But others told Axios they think the administration has fallen far short on matters within its control. This is pure fiction-writing. What global calamities explain migrants from Congo and China and Togo and Mexico and India and more than 100 other countries from flooding on in? Are they all in calamities? Or did Joe Biden invite them on in, which is what the presidents of Mexico and Guatemala have openly stated. Funny how all the "calamities" they claim weren't there when President Trump was in office, and they only started when Joe Biden took the helm. It's ridiculous. But it is ... what Mayorkas has been saying for a while in all those supposedly muzzled press appearances. That's his talking point, something he has been claiming since 2023, according to this recent gushing Associated Press piece: Mayorkas sat down with Arulanantham nearly a year ago for what at times was a contentious interview. Arulanantham pressed him on issues such as the treatment of children in the immigration court system and policies on asylum. But, Arulanantham said, he did not doubt that Mayorkas would speak to him again if he asked. Mayorkas and many immigration experts argue that what is happening on the southern border is part of a global phenomenon where people around the world, aided by social media and smugglers, are more likely to move in search of a better life. That's his talking point for weaseling out of responsibility for his own role in enabling millions of unvetted illegal migrants into the U.S. Yep, the global phenomenon did it, as if the curious pause in wild migration numbers between the hordes invading Europe on Angela Merkel's watch, and the hordes invading the U.S. on Biden's watch, during President Trump's administration didn't happen. That Axios has laid that out that ridiculous claim as if it were a newsroom fact now pretty well suggests that they are in Mayorkas' tree. Obviously, Mayorkas has become the designated fall guy at Joe Biden's chaos-filled White House and now faces his second impeachment in Congress as the process ramps up again. Nobody from the Biden administration is seriously defending him. That's why it looks to me like he's leaking all the dirt about how bad the White House is, in order to make himself look like Mister Responsible, when in fact he was probably one of the most malevolent drivers of the crisis. Feel free to leak, Secretary Mayorkas, if you are indeed the leaker, it's good that this information gets out there. Just don't imagine that the mud of the pigs in that place isn't all over you, too. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License On January 8, I posted Terrorist Attacks In America: For What Are They Waiting? An excerpt: The FBI has admitted theyre watching at least 300 people on the Terrorist Watch List (TWL). Never mind why people on the TWL were allowed into the country so they could be watched in the first place. Thats need to know and Americans dont have a need to know. Our security apparatus has also admitted thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of military aged males from countries that would like every American dead have crossed the border. These are countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and many others. Theyve also grudgingly admitted it appears plenty of these military aged males, who happen to be Chinese, just might be members of the Chinese military. Gordon G. Chang is an invaluable source of insight into Chinese Communist thinking and tactics. At the Gatestone Institute, he writes: *China's Communist Party is at this moment putting in place the infrastructure in America to attack America. *[I]n Reedley, California, near Fresno, authorities found a secret Chinese biological weapons lab with at least 20 pathogens, including the one for Ebola, and almost a thousand mice that had been genetically engineered to spread disease. *Chinese agents, in addition to hobbling Americans with disease and gunning them down, could bomb power stations, attack military bases, start wildfires, poison reservoirs, or create terror in dozens of ways. *These tactics come straight out of Unrestricted Warfare, a 1999 book written by two Chinese air force colonels and first published by the PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House in Beijing. The colonels argued that China can and should employ any tactic in attacking a militarily superior United States. Now, Americans can see how Beijing is operationalizing the suggestions in this how-to manual. When disasters happen, people inevitably lament: If only someone warned us about this beforehand! Chang, and the two Chinese AF colonels, have. Chinese attackers are already in America, more are arriving by the day, and they are armed. Videos posted to X (Twitter) show Chinese migrants firing pistols. One video is of a Chinese female with a sniper rifle. Graphic: Twitter screenshot via Gatestone Institute What the?! There is no Second Amendment in China, and Chinese citizens are not permitted to possess firearms. So is it possible that the shooters in the videos are merely taking advantage of a new-found freedom in their new home country? Unlikely. One of the migrants videoed was in America for only three weeks and arrived in the country with no money and no identification. If you had just landed somewhere as a migrant with nothing to your name, you would undoubtedly be preoccupied with finding your next meal, getting a place to live, making a livelihood. You would not, within weeks of entering your new homeland, be sharpening your skills to kill. You would not be thinking of killing unless... that is what you came to do. Exactly so. Illegal immigrants would normally be entirely concerned with housing, food and other essentials of daily life. Members of the Chinese military would be used to deprivation, to living off the land, so to speak. Fortunately for them, the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA) and its NGO helpers are taking care of their transportation, lodging and food needs, and now it seems, their weapon needs as well. Illegal immigrants cannot legally buy firearms. They would have to steal them or be supplied by their handlers. And of course, Mexican cartels are surely helping them with supply needs. Non-English speaking Chinese trying to buy ammo would raise eyebrows, unless they dont need to buy ammo. War correspondent Michael Yon and the Rubin brothers of Muckraker.com have documented the presence of dangerous-looking elements from China, Iran, Syria and Venezuela among the hordes of migrants traveling up from Central America. Yon and the Rubins have noticed, among other things, that Chinese males of military age are traveling in packs of five to fifteen, are unaccompanied by family members, and are pretending not to speak English. Some of them, on their way to America, have performed Chinese military rituals. As American Thinker readers know, our DOJ and FBI are working up a new round of hundreds of January 6 arrests, but this time, of Americans who were merely standing somewhere near the Capitol Building, people who never entered. Apparently, our guardians havent the manpower--or interest--to keep track of the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of military-aged men from countries that would delight in killing as many Americans on our own soil. Theyve had plenty of practice on theirs. For what are they waiting? Equipment, intelligence, adequate on-site reconnaissancethe Chinese spy balloon--and most of all, orders from their home nations and terrorist commanders. Theyre also waiting for the MMPA to create exactly the right circumstances to make their attacks as devastating as possible. They wont have to wait long. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Joe Biden's defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, is back in the hospital, with the stated reason complications from cancer surgery earlier this year. According to Fox News: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent non-surgical procedures after he was admitted to the hospital over the weekend for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue, doctors said Monday. Austin was taken to the Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Maryland on Sunday. "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue. We anticipate a successful recovery and will closely monitor him overnight," read a statement from Walter Reed Dr. John Maddox, trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, Center for Prostate Disease Research of the Murtha Cancer Center Director. They're trying to make it sound like a little old surgical glitch, nothing to see here, much as they tried to hide that he was ill at all last month. But the poor man is in critical care and being closely monitored; taken to the hospital because of an emergency, and now has transferred his duties to his deputy. According to Fox News's medical expert cited in its video at the link above, it does appear serious. Dr. Nicole Saphier told Fox it's unlikely to be a typical complication of the kind of surgery he had, such as bleeding or incontinence, and could be something along the lines of infection, or complications from surgery. She called his course "very complicated" and said the toll on anyone's body from prostate cancer treatment is high. One thing not mentioned in the interview is that Austin is quite obese, which is against military custom, but a potential reason for complications. In response to a query, she recommended he take time off to allow his body to heal. Of course, nobody knows for sure if he's going to heal in time to lead at Defense because they aren't really saying much from the Biden camp, just that the poor man is constantly in and out of the hospital. Austin has stayed out of sight for most of this year, though he has stated that he mishandled his earlier health episode and would do better in the future. While Austin's condition does evoke sympathy, it doesn't inspire confidence that a time of wars breaking out all over the world that the U.S. has anyone in charge. The swamp defends its own, of course, and swampers don't give up power easily. But this sets the stage for swamper mischief, now that the cat's away and they're making their own decisions, and it also gives the world's bad actors a new window to make their moves, knowing that there's some kind of power void in Washington, not just with Joe Biden, but with his secretary of defense. The only people who don't know anything are the American people who are continually surprised by these kinds of stories. In a common-sense world, Austin would resign his post and devote his time to recovery. In the world of Biden, he's just another player in the 'Weekend at Bernie's' drama they've got going on. Both Austin and the American people deserve better. Image: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released // public domain dedication Jesus Christ was not a hater, but he believed in Jewish moral strictures and the idea of sin. He also believed in the power of redemption, something entirely different from embracing Marxist social justice concepts that demand aborting children, bowing before hostile faiths, or embracing homosexuality, among other things. Nevertheless, according to a very well-funded ad campaign that bought a video during the Super Bowl, those are exactly the precepts Jesus advanced. This is part of an increasingly visible campaign to reframe Jesus as a leftist and impose a new form of Christian supremacism on America. I first took note of this movement more than a decade ago. In 2011, The Guardian published an essay in which the writer insisted that new evidence revealed that Jesus Christ was unambiguously and openly gay. He and his disciples formed a same-sex coterie, bound by feelings of love and mutual support. There are recorded instances of same-sex activity the "beloved disciple" plays a significant role and there is affirmation of the joys of friendship and of living and loving together. I bet you didnt learn that in Sunday school. In 2015, a blogger insisted, Sorry, right-wing Christians: Jesus Christ is a liberal and these 20 quotes prove it. She then cherry-picked her way through the gospels to prove that Jesus was completely non-judgmental, supported gay marriage and abortion, opposed all wars, wanted government welfare and socialized medicine, hated capitalism, opposed all government legislation, and wanted higher taxes. Image: Things Jesus never said meme. Creator unknown What she said was a far cry from the man who, although sparing the adultress from the stoning that Jewish law called for, nevertheless told the woman sin no morea meaningless instruction if he did not believe in sin or judgment. Jesus also felt that good acts were individual requirements that could not be foisted onto the government, for he said, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. Nor was Jesus taking a stand against capitalism when he threw the money changers out of the temple. Instead, he was opposed to Mammon despoiling my Fathers house, another indication that he sought to keep the spiritual and moral plane separate from the world of politics and commerce. One can also argue that theres no greater embrace of capitalism than the Parable of the Talents. I could go on and, in fact, did so here. In 2016, Nicholas Kristof, from his bully pulpit at the New York Times, preached to the leftist choir that Jesus would be a Democrat, something that John Ellis swiftly debunked. By 2018, Tat-Siong Benny Liew, a heavily credentialed New Testament scholar at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, was arguing that Christ was actually a gay pederast who was also a drag king or even a trans man. All of the above, of course, are examples of leftists preaching to the choir. Over the last few years, though, something new has happened: Were beginning to see very well-funded advertising campaigns aimed at convincing ordinary people that Jesus and God are woke social justice activists. Just last year, a group called Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) bought seven billboards on Interstate 26 in Charleston, the main artery in that region. One said, God loves trans kids, while the other said, God loves LGBTQ+ people. The implication wasnt that God hated the sin but loved the sinner. Instead, ordinary people would understand that to mean that God had no trouble with the sin. Indeed, AFFAs executive director explained, People who use religion to excuse their bigotry and hate hurt our children and damage our communities. The problem isnt sin; its the people who dare to notice it. All of the above leads me to the much-talked-about He Gets Us Super Bowl ad. That ad is the biggest splash (to date) of a multi-year, multi-million dollar effort that kicked off in March 2022 and will run through 2025, according to an ad executive behind the He Gets Us promotion. The same executive explained that the ads are intended to generate support and opportunities to share the confounding love of the Jesus of the Bible. Jesus washed the feet of friends and enemies. No ego or hate. He humbly loved his neighbors. How can we do the same? pic.twitter.com/kXift42ZG9 HeGetsUs (@HeGetsUs) February 11, 2024 If you watched the ad, you saw obviously AI-generated images of people washing other peoples feet: a young man washes an older mans feet; a cop washes the feet of a man-bunned black man in an alley; a blonde, cheerleader type washes the feet of the eccentric girl at high school; an old white man washes a Native Americans feet; a blonde, pro-life activist washes the feet of a woman whos obviously going to or coming from an abortion clinic; a young woman washes the feet of an older alcoholic woman living in chaos; a white oil worker washes the feet of an Asian green activist; a blonde woman washes the feet of a Hispanic illegal alien woman holding a baby; a suburban white woman washes a Muslim womans feet as the latters husband supervises approvingly; a young black woman washes the feet of a slightly less dark woman at a protest; an old black man and white man each soak a foot in a shared bucket; and a white minister at the beach washes the feet of an effeminate black man. Then, were told, Jesus didnt teach hate. He washed feet. He gets us. All of us. The message is clear: If youre a cop, a blonde, a white person, a pro-life activist, an opponent of illegal immigration, someone working to produce the hydrocarbons that make the world work, a non-Muslim, or someone who believes homosexuality should not be celebrated, you are a hater, and you need to humble yourself before minorities, illegal aliens, weird people, abortionists, Muslims, and homosexuals. In other words, hidden behind the anti-hate message isa whole lot of hate. Whats happening here is an attempted religious revival that rewrites scripture, and that intends to use the protections of the First Amendment to create a new American theocracy. This one, though, wont be informed by the actual Bible. Instead, it will be in a Marxist mold with a light Christian gloss. There are countless similarities between Nikki Haley and Hillary Clinton, with the former even crediting the latter as her inspiration for entering the world of politics; both are warmongers, both are extremely unlikeable, both will have a failed presidential campaign under their belts, and both are apparently unteachable regarding the fact that we live in an era of cameras, because they cant stop from lying and flip-flopping, despite the guarantee that their words are being video-recorded and documented. Remember when Hillary Clinton relayed the saga of landing under sniper fire in Bosnia? Well, unfortunately for her, someone had a video camera, and the alleged attack was really just a little girl welcoming her with flowers, and no sniper fire to be foundClinton said she simply misspoke. Mortifying. It doesnt get any better for Haley, whose misspeaking on what her policy towards entitlement benefits would be if she were president, is the subject of a hilarious new campaign ad out from Trumps team: #NikkiHaley does indeed want to make us work until we die before we ever see social security benefits Savage! pic.twitter.com/FPSQhyMcRW Salty Texan (@texan_maga) February 11, 2024 Humiliation to the nth degree. But Haleys a bitter and petty woman, and shes not the type to quit while shes metaphorically ahead, because in reality, shes actually behind very behind. Despite having claimed victory over President Trump, shes yet to actually secure it, and shes so far behind in the polls you might forget shes still running. So dignity be darned, Haleys flip-flopping againand where the woke left was once the enemy, now its Donald Trump. Heres this, from Haleys CNN interview with Jake Tapper, via Breitbart News: Former Gov. Nikki Haley said that she believed former President Donald Trump was lowering recruitment numbers when he mocks it or makes fun of military service. She continued [speaking of her husband and his colleagues], They have been without internet, so I was able to catch him for, a brief period of time. I saw the tweet. Just like you saw the tweet. I did not get a chance to talk to him when that happened. But I will tell you. I mean, look, hes angry. I mean, he and his brothers and sisters, they dont go there just because for kicks and giggles, they go there because they still believe in this amazing experiment that is America. Theyre willing to go and sacrifice their lives and their families because they still believe America is worth fighting for. And when anybody mocks it or makes fun of it, it does make them all question like, whats happening to America? And thats a very sad state of affairs. If you want to see why recruitment is down in the military, 25%, its because of comments like that. Its because of how America has treated our veterans. First of all, lets do another instant replay of what Haley said, from just one month ago: We're down 25% in recruitment for our military. Why is that happening? Were focused on all the wrong things. Stop making them take gender pronoun classes. We have to be mission focused. pic.twitter.com/zyZxzTUH4f Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) December 30, 2023 Okay, now that thats out of the way what is she mad about this time? Well, heres this, from an item at the New York Post today: Nikki Haley is mocking GOP presidential foe Donald Trumps lack of military experience after he took a disgusting jab at her deployed husbands absence while shes on the campaign trail. Its disgusting! said Haley, 52, on Fox News on Monday, referring to Trump, 78, repeatedly asking the crowd at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend about the whereabouts of her husband, Maj. Michael Haley. You mock one veteran, youre mocking all veterans, Haley told Fox host Dana Perino, echoing comments she made right after Trumps remarks. Birdbrain really is birdbrainingbut at least a real bird brain knows that males can never become female, unlike this birdbrainbecause Trump wasnt ridiculing military service, he was ridiculing her. Secondly, Ill mock Lloyd Austin the Lampshade and Harpy Daniels all the way to the gulag, and I love our military men. Then, Haley went on to recycle the rest of the lefts manufactured narratives on how Trump allegedly slighted our veterans and servicemembers, but all she really did was remind the Republican voters why her poll numbers are what they are. President Trump has a proven track record for peace, which is undoubtedly the best case scenario for our troops and veterans; yet in a matter of weeks (or is it days?), whether its Haleys demand that we support the Border Bill warchest, or her trigger-happy response to wage war against Iran after the drone strike at Tower 22, shes shown that shes itching to go to war. Image from X. Twilight Zone Politics is when Islamist jihadis who gang-raped women, butchered civilian Jews, and traded hostage children to other terrorists groups (among other things), once again play the victim card, and denounce their enemys retaliation as cruel and inhuman; these sickos are now dubbing a hostage rescue mission a massacre because their own were killed during the military operation. From a Joel B. Pollak item at Breitbart News yesterday: The Palestinian Hamas terrorist organization issued a statement Monday morning complaining about the overnight rescue of two Israeli hostages by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), claiming that the rescue had caused a massacre in the city of Rafah. Per Pollak, Rafah is Hamass last stronghold, and the IDFs operation, which freed two Israeli men, left at least dozens of Gazan Arabs dead: The exact death toll on the Palestinian side is unclear; the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry said that over 100 people had been killed, without distinguishing between terrorists and civilians. Footage circulated of the alleged site of the rescue and battle. At this point, is there a whole lot of difference between terrorists and civilians? Sure, if the Gazan Arabs about whom were talking are babies, and theyre incapable of being malicious. But lets not forget, these civilian women are the same ones who waved their fathers, husbands, and brothers farewell, praying for a favorable jihad (as much innocent blood shed as possible); they are the same ones who came into the kibbutzim and cooked in Israeli homes, serving refreshments while the men continued their killing sprees outside; and they are the same ones who scorned their human sisters held as sex slaves by their jihadi husbands. If these people really are civilians, then why wont the other Arab countries in the area take them in? Oh thats right, because those Arab countries know better; from AP News: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi made his toughest remarks yet on Wednesday, saying the current war was not just aimed at fighting Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, but also an attempt to push the civilian inhabitants to ... migrate to Egypt. He warned this could wreck peace in the region. Jordans King Abdullah II gave a similar message a day earlier, saying, No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt. Their refusal is rooted in fear that Israel wants to force a permanent expulsion of Palestinians into their countries and nullify Palestinian demands for statehood. El-Sissi also said a mass exodus would risk bringing militants into Egypts Sinai Peninsula, from where they might launch attacks on Israel, endangering the two countries 40-year-old peace treaty. (If these people really were civilians in the truest sense of the word, no one would need to worry that they might engage in jihad at some point in the near future.) However, thats all beside the point: The deaths of the people in Rafah (who may or may not have been civilians) fall entirely on Hamas. As much as the Arabs in Gaza are a problem people, even on a good day, its not as though Israel bombarded into Gaza while families were sleeping, and began to rape and execute real civiliansrather, it was the men of Hamas who broke an existing ceasefire. If youre going to cry about getting blasted away in an armed conflict, dont go picking a fight with an enemy thats not actively aggressing against you and taking their people hostage, especially when that enemy has military superiority. Seems like a pretty easy concept to grasp. Furthermore, this is coming from the demographic that surrounds itself with human shieldsthe complaint seems a little, disingenuous. Image: Public domain. Why did the so-called climate change experts predict a continued drought in California, instead of predicting the record snow and rain the state actually received? Precipitation that has caused the reservoirs to be well above the historical average? See the article below, shared by Yahoo News: Californias Lake Shasta rising from severe-drought levels in stunning before and after images Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California, is on an unexpectedthough welcomedrise in water levels. Heavy storms in the state have saturated the area, with nearly 37 inches of rain falling in the Shasta Damn [sic] surroundings since October 2023. Recently, heavy rainfall has increased water levels by a foot in just one week, bringing the record to about 70% full, well above the historical average. When looking at the timeline of the drought-riddled scene from just two years ago to now, there has been quite an impressive and dramatic change. Why was it unexpected? Why should we believe they can predict climate conditions a hundred years from now when they cant predict the current weather? Why should we base policies on computer model predictions that have continuously been wrong? How is Alaska reaching such extreme negatives when the Democrats and other green pushers tell us that everything we do and use are causing existential warming? From RedState: Minus-30Even for Alaska, Thats Cold! The largest utility in Alaska delivered a record amount of natural gas this week as customers cranked up the heat to warm buildings and homes during a brutal cold snap that has lasted more than a week. Enstar broke its record around midnight on Wednesday, delivering 268 million cubic feet of gas a day to its 150,000 customers, said Enstar president John Sims. That beat the previous record of 254 million cubic feet, set on Jan. 19, 2017 during a frigid spell then. How many times have we been told falsely over the last hundred years that the ocean currents are collapsing? Well again, just the other day from CNN: A crucial system of ocean currents may already be on course to collapse, according to a new report, with alarming implications for sea level rise and global weather leading temperatures to plunge dramatically in some regions and rise in others. How does a warming climate cause temperatures to plunge dramatically in some regions of the ocean? Why would any person with common sense believe that politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, or anyone else could establish policies that could change or control ocean currents with all the natural variables in the climate? Does anyone believe that complex and expensive computer systems, that are programmed by people pushing the green agenda, could be unbiased and accurate? Death Valley has essentially been in a 10,000 year drought that was/is clearly not caused by humans, CO2, or our use of natural resources. From Yahoo News: California rainstorms brought and kept a lake at Death Valley A temporary lake at Badwater Basin is rare, according to the park service. The basin is itself a former inland lake, called Lake Manly, which has long since dried up. It existed in two past periods, and most recently dried around 10,000 years ago, according to the park. Here is a sample of things that have not caused (or even contributed to) reservoirs rising so rapidly in California, extremely cold weather in Alaska, ocean currents to change, or a Death Valley lake to temporarily return for the first time in 10,000 years: moving from power produced by oil, coal, and natural gas to wind and solar power; forcing people to buy vehicles powered by a highly flammable pollutant; eating less meat; burying carbon; less breathing; buying and selling worthless pieces of paper called carbon credits; gabfests at the UN and Davos where elitists fly in their private jets to pretend they can control the climate; the worthless Paris climate accord. So what caused all these things to happen? The natural cyclical pattern of the climate. The earth has gone through many warming and cooling periods throughout its history. It is gratuitous for the media and other green pushers to denigrate those of us who tell the truth that the climate has always changed cyclically and naturally as climate change deniers, anti-science, and stupid. The purpose of such derogatory adjectives is to mislead the public and shame them into silence, to get people to capitulate. They are interfering in elections. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. When it comes to news media these days, they like to play things out with a particular tone painting some people as heroes, while just as casually painting others as villains. For the longest time, theyve considered former president Donald Trump a villain. They pick on his policies, insist hes been the mastermind behind the insurrection, and call the FBI invasion on Mar-a-Lago a victory when it was anything but. But, aha. Theyve just come across a bit of news that isnt going to work in their favor. Now the question is if theyll state anything about it, or simply try to bury Trump elsewhere. That news comes in the form of the ongoing election interference case against Trump. U.S. district judge Tanya Chutkan was supposed to set a trial date, but, for the moment, its postponed, pending a decision to be made on the former presidents immunity from the matter. The court will set a new schedule if and when the mandate is returned, Chutkan wrote. This does allow Trump to focus more on other things surrounding the past few years, as well as his potential push for a Republican nomination to get back into the White House which Im perfectly fine with, especially considering the corruption weve seen over the past few years. But, again, youll notice that the media likely wont be partying over this story. The idea of Trump going through an election interference case wouldve had them frothing at the mouth, looking for any given opportunity to bury the former president that they could get. When theres blood in the water, buy property. Thats the old mantra they seem to follow. With this case, however, it appears that Trump is going to continue to push for his immunity against such charges, insisting that his presidential power would protect him. Honestly, why wouldnt it? Look at the protection that Joe Biden has gotten and were talking about a guy who had top-secret files stored unsecured at his home. Of course, the FBI didnt go raiding and taking home boxes from his residence, youll notice. I know that some people simply want to see Trump fry for his supposed actions in the insurrection, but theres a bigger picture at play here. And the media dont really want you to see that, going with this whole its fine! mentality as they continue to paint their portraits of heroes and villains. With the decision to postpone this case, the media will simply have to dig up their stories elsewhere, something theyve been prone to do. Just watch within a matter of days, theyll find some new bones to pick in Trumps life, in the hopes of keeping him off the ballot. Honestly, I miss the days when news was fair and balanced, when reporters put together their articles based on their instincts rather than their interests. You can just tell that its lost its way, based on the tone of some reports toward Biden compared to other reports against Trump. Theyre entitled to their opinions. But when they twist around opinions and try to make them come across as facts, theres a problem. And the fact is, theres more to Donald Trump than what theyre putting on the digital page. So lets see how the media report this case postponement and the potential results, rather than the speculation that Trumps just going to be up to something else over the next few days. The last thing theyre going to do is acknowledge some sort of loss. Nope they need to be winners here, while Trump takes the losing side. Keep a close eye on the way these stories are reported. You never know where the true heroes and villains might be. Michael Letts is the founder, president, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Officer Letts has been a frequent guest on Fox Business News, NewsMax TV, One America News, and hundreds of radio programs. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website. Image via Raw Pixel. Apple researchers have introduced a groundbreaking AI model, MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE), capable of editing images based on text prompts. Developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, this model represents a significant advancement in image editing technology. Unlike existing models, MGIE reportedly handles a wide range of editing scenarios, from simple color adjustments to complex object manipulations. The core of the MGIE is a Multimodal Large Language Model (MLLM), which interprets user requests and provides concise instructions for image editing. This approach enables the model to address ambiguous commands effectively, achieving reasonable editing results. For instance, the MLLM understands a request to make a pizza more healthy, and connects the term healthy with vegetable toppings, instructing the diffusion model to edit the image accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement The MGIE can edit images from your text description What sets MGIE apart from existing models like LLM-Guided Image Editing (LGIE) is its enhanced visual perception. While LGIE is confined to a single modality, MLLM within MGIE has access to the input image and cross-modal understanding, allowing for more descriptive instructions. This capability enables the model to identify specific regions in the image that need adjustment, such as brightening certain areas for a desired effect. MGIE is now available as an open-source project on GitHub, offering code, data, and pre-trained models for download. Additionally, a web demo hosted on Hugging Face spaces allows users to experience the image editing capabilities of the model firsthand. However, Apple has not yet disclosed its plans for integrating MGIE into its products beyond research projects. During Apples recent quarterly earnings call, CEO Tim Cook confirmed the companys ongoing work on AI features for its devices. The company is likely to announce the results later this year. Business Standard expects these AI enhancements to extend to various Apple services, including Siri, Messages, and Apple Music. With the incorporation of generative AI features, users can anticipate improvements such as text summarization, personalized suggestions, and enhanced functionality across Apples ecosystem. Google has announced 25 million (approx. $27 million) funding to boost AI training and skills in Europe. The funding is part of its AI Opportunity Initiative which will provide foundational and advanced AI training to people across the region. The initiative will have a particular focus on vulnerable and underserved communities, while simultaneously supporting startups and the general public. Google to help Europeans seize the opportunity of AI with its initiative Artificial intelligence or AI has revolutionized a wide range of industries and is reshaping the global economy. As AI adoption grows, it will impact society in new wayssome good and some bad. Google says AI will create new opportunities for people who can understand and utilize its potential. Through its AI Opportunity Initiative, the company wants to empower Europeans with skills that will help them seize the opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Europe can lead the way in harnessing AI to create a strong and equitable economy with more productive industries, more meaningful work, and many new kinds of jobs. We want to play our part in empowering Europes workforce, supporting people through change so that everyone can benefit, said Matt Brittin, the President of Google EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). Google is working with European governments and local communities to ensure that its initiative reaches the people who are most likely to benefit from this training. It has teamed up with the Centre for Public Impact and is seeking applications from social enterprises and nonprofits who can help it maximize the impact of the initiative. The firm will provide bespoke and facilitated training to selected organizations. Google will also provide cash grants to these organizations for critical wraparound support. The company will begin with 10 million in funding dedicated to equipping workers with the AI skills they need to enhance their productivity so they arent left behind in this ever-evolving world of AI. The initiative will also help startups leverage AI to scale their business across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Advertisement Google now offers AI foundational courses in 18 languages As part of the AI Opportunity Initiative, Google has expanded its AI foundational courses to 18 languages. The courses are available to everyone for free. They include a series of modules on AI skills tailored to help people and businesses develop practical skills and knowledge. Google also plans to add more AI resources to its Google Career Certificates program that offers a professional certificate. This isnt the first such initiative Google has launched in Europe. In 2015, the company debuted the Grow with Google initiative to offer free training on digital skills. It has so far trained over 12 million people across the region. The tech behemoth says that many of the people it trained have gone on to grow their careers, start new businesses, or get a new job using what they learned. A few months back, a report surfaced that Qualcomm plans to dual-source the production of its first 2nm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. The company was said to split its manufacturing between Samsung and TSMC, the worlds two largest semiconductor foundries. It may have yet to finalize the production plan, though. Qualcomm recently requested 2nm samples from both foundries and may take the final call depending on their results. Samsung and TSMC could manufacture Qualcomms first 2nm chip Qualcomm has always maintained healthy relationships with Samsung and TSMC. The American semiconductor giant frequently switches between the two leading foundries for the production of its flagship smartphone processors. It used TSMCs foundry between 2013 and 2015, switched to Samsung in 2016, went back to TSMC in 2019, returned to Samsung in 2021, and then switched to TSMC again in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement TSMC manufactured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It is also expected to manufacture this years Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which will be Qualcomms first 3nm chip. Reports suggest Samsung lost the race due to a poor 3nm yield rate and production capacity. However, it is now in contention to manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 next year. Thats if it impresses Qualcomm with its 2nm yield rate, production capacity, and performance. Samsung and TSMC will start mass production on their respective 2nm processes in 2025, and Qualcomm wants to try out both processes. Depending on the results of prototype samples, it will pick one or both foundries for the mass production of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. Industry insiders say TSMC will manufacture the standard solution while Samsung will produce the For Galaxy version used in its S-series flagships. Since both foundries are still finalizing their 2nm processes, there are uncertainties about performance and yield. Qualcomm reportedly wont finalize the production plan for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 before the end of this year or in early 2025. Prototype development itself usually takes six months to a year, so Qualcomm wont receive early 2nm samples anytime soon. It remains to be seen if Samsung manages to win Qualcomms trust this time around. Samsung has the advantage of using the GAA architecture in its 3nm chips Samsung is likely hoping for its experience in making chips with the GAA (Gate All Around) transistor architecture to come in handy when it starts mass-producing 2nm chips. The company employed the new architecture for its 3nm solutions. TSMC stuck with the previous-gen FinFET architecture for its 3nm chips. The Taiwanese firm will switch to the GAA architecture for the 2nm solutions. Whether Samsung makes this advantage count, time will tell. Sign in with Google is undoubtedly one of the best sign-in methods. At least, I think so. Because its such a pain to remember login credentials of multiple apps or accounts. Similarly, it also helps you sign up at different sites. And if you use this feature, youd know that it hasnt gone through a revamp in a long time. But Google may be considering taking this screen through an overhaul in the coming days. Lately, its teasing A new look is coming soon on both the desktop and mobile browsers. Sign in with Google could be getting an overhaul soon Its official. Google is telling people theyre making changes by putting up a notice at the top of their sign-in pages. So, Sign in with Google could be getting an overhaul or a minor redesign soon. The banner message is just a heads-up so users arent caught off guard when the page gets updated soon. Advertisement Advertisement Google is improving the sign-in page with a more modern look and feel. Well, we dont know how it would look but we guess it might follow the Material You design language, similar to the recent changes in Google Chrome. Android Central explains that Google might ditch the old plain and white designs for more colorful ones everywhere. It comes as no shocker, given Googles history of bringing minor or major changes to UI, every once in a while. This may be a part of a similar effort. Could Google push passkeys with this move, finally? Another report by PhoneArena says this redesign might be Googles way of putting even more focus on using passkeys. Right now, Googles sign-in pages suggest using them, but it feels like theyre not the main option. For those unaware, Google began prompting users to use Passkeys last October and made them the default for all Google users. Now, with the upcoming redesign, Passkeys might become even more prominent. Until then, well have to wait to see how Google pulls off Sign In with Googles overhaul. Its not exactly a secret that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will launch at this years Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will launch alongside the Xiaomi 14, and the price of the companys Ultra phone may shock you. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra price may end up shocking you A recent rumor suggested that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra could be more expensive than the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, but the difference will be bigger than we thought. According to a new report, the phone will cost 1,699, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra was priced at 1,499. Advertisement Advertisement Now, theres also mention of some coupons that surfaced in Europe, on the companys official website (in Netherlands). If those coupons are taken into consideration, the price will be much closer to what the Xiaomi 13 Ultra cost when it got launched. It is also suggested that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will go on sale in early March, so we will get some sort of a pre-order period for the device. As a reminder, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra could launch in China a couple of days before its global launch. The Xiaomi 14 & Xiaomi 14 Ultra will arrive to global markets on February 25 The global launch for the device is tipped for February 25, in Barcelona. The phone could launch in China on February 22, though. That would not surprise us, as thats what Xiaomi usually does with its products. In fact, the Xiaomi 14 launched in China back in November last year, alongside the Xiaomi 14 Pro. We had to wait quite a bit of time to get the Xiaomi 14 in global markets. That phone will launch alongside the Xiaomi 14 Ultra on February 25. What about the Xiaomi 14 Pro? Well, based on everything weve seen thus far, that phone will not arrive to global markets. It will remain exclusive to China, as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra kind of replaced it on the global scene. Do note that Xiaomi will also bring its new Xiaomi SU7 electric car to Barcelona. That is the companys very first EV, and it does look quite compelling. Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark are among the stars who are sporting this years special Red Nose Day aprons in support of Comic Relief. The collections features new illustrations of characters including Wallace and Gromit and Shaun The Sheep from the Oscar-winning animation company Aardman. Rapper Big Zuu, MasterChef stars Grace Dent and Monica Galetti, TV chefs The Hairy Bikers and presenter Laura Jackson are also among the famous faces taking part in the campaign. Rylan Clark (Dan Kennedy/TK Maxx/Comic Relief/PA) Great British Bake Off presenter Hammond said: Laughter truly is the best medicine, so Im thrilled to be teaming up with Comic Relief this year for Red Nose Day, and this years aprons are real showstoppers. I had the best time on set and it was made all the better knowing the money raised from this years range from Homesense goes towards supporting those facing the toughest times of their lives. If you can, get involved and help make a difference. Comic Relief has partnered with homeware brand Homesense, which is part of the TK Maxx family, for the collection of aprons and homeware which includes tote bags, lunch bags, notebooks and plush toys. The money raised from the collection will support Comic Reliefs work in tackling issues facing children and young people globally, including poverty, conflict and climate change. Monica Galetti (Dan Kennedy/TK Maxx/Comic Relief/PA) Love Actually filmmaker Richard Curtis co-founded the charity with Sir Lenny Henry in 1985. Oscar-winning director and creator of Wallace and Gromit, Nick Park, said: It was such an honour to be asked by Richard Curtis and (his partner) Emma Freud to lend our characters to the Red Nose Day 2024 campaign, a lovely request that I couldnt turn down, and the rest of the studio couldnt resist. It has been a joy to create new artwork and animation for the campaign, working with the talented TJX (owner of TK Maxx) team has been a great experience for us all at Aardman. Im really proud of the range of products and hope they bring a smile. The Hairy Bikers (Dan Kennedy/Comic Relief/TK Maxx/PA) Chief executive of Comic Relief, Samir Patel, said: Once again our fantastic partner, Homesense, has pulled out all the stops to create the most wonderful homeware and apron range for Red Nose Day. Its exciting to see true pop culture icons from the much-loved Aardman family feature across this years designs its a beautiful collection guaranteed to raise smiles as well as all important funds to help change lives in the UK and around the world. Huge thank you to Homesense and everyone who is able to support us we hope you wear the new range with pride, knowing the huge difference you are making. Comic Reliefs Red Nose Day is being held on Friday March 15. This years collection of aprons featuring designs from Aardman are available at Homesense and TK Maxx stores and online at tkmaxx.com to raise money for Comic Relief. British Army troops and vehicles are en route to Poland to take part in the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War. Armoured vehicles belonging to 7 Light Mechanised Brigade, also known as The Desert Rats, alongside Land Rovers, engineers tractors and support vehicles were loaded into a 23,000-tonne cargo vessel, Anvil Point, near Southampton on Tuesday. Some 600 vehicles will sail from the UK, and 1,500 service personnel will fly out to join the Nato exercise called Steadfast Defender, in a demonstration of the alliances unity and capability. MV Anvil Point as vehicles and equipment are loaded onboard at the Sea Mounting Centre in Marchwood near Southampton (Ben Birchall/PA) Major Simon Robertson of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, told the PA news agency: Its very much down to us to ensure that we get the vehicles where they need to be and the people in order (so) they can move on to conduct the exercise. Its a busy one, its got a number of moving parts and its over a four, five month period for us, but actually for the regiment itself we do this day in day out. Yes its got a bit more focus and attention on it but its something we do on a regular basis, so for us its very much business as usual. The departure comes as HMS Prince of Wales, which is leading the military maritime mission, set sail for near Norway on Monday. The British warship will be at the centre of Nato exercises involving more than 20,000 UK military personnel across Scandinavia and northern Europe. Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group leading the HMS Prince of Wales, said on Monday: The UK has an unwavering commitment to Nato and collective deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic region. There is no better demonstration of that than HMS Prince of Wales being at the heart of the upcoming Nato maritime exercises, the largest in over 40 years. The Queens love of fans has seen her become a member of a City of London livery company dedicated to their promotion. Camilla was left fanning herself in delight after she was made an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and put on their robes during a ceremony rarely seen outside of the City of London. She was presented with a fan made by designer Stewart Parvin, who created dresses for Queen Elizabeth II and was commissioned by the Fan Makers in 2020, to mark the impact of Covid-19 on so many lives with his design. The Queen told the assembled Liverymen at Clarence House: Im very proud to be part of the family, and explained that upstairs in her private apartment she had a collection of fans. The Queen took part in an installation ceremony at Clarence House (Jordan Pettitt/PA) A fan belonging to the Queens great-grandmother Alice Keppel famed for being the mistress of Edward VII was the star attraction of a small exhibition of fans with a royal connection, held during the event. Camilla is patron of Londons Fan Museum and the institution was able to find an expert fan maker to help repair the accessory, made with feathers from the jay bird. The Queen donned special robes for the occasion (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Queen was joined by the Duchess of Gloucester, installed as a Liveryman of the Fan Makers in 2005, and as they both looked at the delicate Keppel fan, Camilla told her: I said: Can you do anything about this? And here we are. The Fan Makers can trace their origins back to 1670 when a guild was formed via a petition to Parliament concerning the threat of imported fans and later gained a royal charter in 1709. Today, its focus is charitable and community projects with its members drawn from a wide group of individuals whose association with fans may relate to modern fans like turbines. Peter Dove, Master of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, said about Camillas decision to join the ancient organisation: Amazing, because were a small company, were not well known, were a little bit different. We are absolutely thrilled to have somebody who is interested in fans in her own right, this is something for her really, and we just hope that will be a two-way street shell be a good ambassador for us. Cillian Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded ceremony on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Murphy plays J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolans epic biopic, while Keoghan plays a student at Oxford who becomes enthralled by a wealthier classmate and pays a visit to his sprawling estate in Emerald Fennells viral black comedy. Cillian Murphy is nominated for his role in Oppenheimer (Ian West/PA) The Crown star Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize for her performance in All Of Us Strangers, Andrew Haighs searing drama about grief and loneliness. Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan will also attend the ceremony, which will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, but details of what have not been shared. Hannah Waddingham will perform (Yui Mok/PA) Also in attendance will be Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for his role in Rustin, as the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March on Washington. Mulligans best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, who is nominated for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, who is nominated for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, who is nominated for The Colour Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Robbies Barbie director Greta Gerwig, who was snubbed in the directing category, will also attend alongside her husband and co-writer Noah Baumbach, and co-star Ryan Gosling, who is nominated for best supporting actor. Greta Gerwig was snubbed in the director category (Ian West/PA) Gerwig and Baumbach are nominated for their screenplay for the film, which was the highest-grossing of 2023. Foys All Of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott was a notable absence from the best actor contenders but will be in attendance at the ceremony as a presenter, alongside co-star Paul Mescal, who is nominated for the supporting actor prize. Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. David Beckham will present an award (Ian West/PA) It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, will be presented to actress Samantha Morton. Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: It is a privilege to welcome so many nominees to the EE Bafta film awards this Sunday, representing some of the best on-screen and behind-the-screen creative talent working in film today who have provided audiences worldwide with an incredible year of film. It is a joy to bring these 38 remarkable films and the teams that made them to public attention. With host David Tennant bringing his charm and charisma to the ceremony, and performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham, it promises to be an entertaining show for all our nominees and guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home around the world. The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall on February 18. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said that Israel has become blinded by rage and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States anymore. The Taoiseach was answering questions in the Dail about the number of Palestinians that have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation. Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said people had been killed or brutally displaced, and that there was nowhere left for Palestinian citizens to go. Were witnessing Armageddon, she told parliamentarians. She said that as long as Ireland delays taking meaningful steps, then our complicity in what is happening there is being prolonged. Its not good enough to say wait a little longer, she said, adding that they need to move to end trade with occupied territories. Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Varadkar said he shared her distress and said there was a serious risk of a massacre occurring in Rafah if there was a ground assault, which he said would be a gross violation of international law on top of all the other violations of international law which Israel is responsible for. He said that both Hamas and Israel should accept the three-month ceasefire proposal that has been brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. We do all need to be realistic Its very very clear to me though, that Israel is not listening to any country in the world, I dont even think theyre listening to the Americans anymore. They have become blinded by rage. They are going to make the situation I believe much worse for their own security in the long-term by going down the path that theyre going. While he said Ireland would continue to take action in response to Israels campaign in Gaza, he said there was a need to be honest about the situation that we see unfolding. Mr Varadkar added: We will take action, we have taken action, well even take more action, but its very clear to me that Israel doesnt listen to us, doesnt listen to the world, probably doesnt even listen to the Americans anymore. And thats what makes the situation all the more dangerous and all the more worrying. I am concerned that there are people who shout at us and abuse us in the streets, maybe they dont do it to you, but they do it to me and my colleagues here, who believe that there is some action that we can take that will change Benjamin Netanyahus mind. I think thats incorrect, and I dont think people should spread that idea. I think its actually irresponsible. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin has said the country will again be increasing its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UK and other western countries froze funding to the UN aid agency, after a dozen of its employees were accused by Israel of taking part in the Hamas attack on October 7. Mr Varadkar said other states had incorrectly suspended funding to UNRWA. Ireland provided 18 million euros (15 million) to the agency last year, up from a regular contribution of six million euros. Mr Martin said Ireland would again provide an increased contribution from the base six million euros in 2024. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, he said: UNRWA is the only effective organisation on the ground in Gaza that can distribute aid and humanitarian supplies at scale. On the domestic front, Irelands government has faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society for its stance on the conflict. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Ireland would continue to increase its funding for UNRWA (Niall Carson/PA) There have been calls for the government to voice stronger support for South Africas case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Opposition parties have also called for government to expel the Israeli ambassador and for the State to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. However, Mr Martin said some of the calls from the opposition are without substance. He said: Theres been an unhealthy desire on some in the opposition to try and create a wedge as to whos more virtuous in Ireland on this question than I think is merited on any objective analysis of the facts. Mr Martin said EU leaders, Israel and the Palestinian people recognise that Ireland is the strongest supporter of Palestine in the European Union. He said Ireland was a leader in calling for an immediate ceasefire when the majority of the EU initially had a more restrained position. In addition, he told reporters that the Government was working with other EU states to examine recognition of Palestine as well as imposing a travel ban for Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The Irish Attorney General will be travelling to The Hague on February 22 to make Irelands intervention in relation to an ongoing case at the International Criminal Court relating to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Llyn Celyn Reservoir, constructed between 1960 and 1965, stands on the site of Capel Celyn, cleared of its inhabitants to provide fresh water for the people of Merseyside - David Pimborough/Alamy For the people of the valley, it was just another day farmers milked their cows, rapids poured down the hills into the creaming turbulence of the Tryweryn river, and the schoolroom reverberated to the sound of English lessons. At night, the lilts and tones of Welsh poetry could be heard rising into the sky as farmers gathered around harps in the valley, all the farmers were poets and all the poets were farmers. But little did they know, there were aliens in their midst. In the fields, on the edge of town, appeared men in trench coats and wellington boots sinking their spades into the soil, measuring the depth of the rock, photographing the landscape and making notes. A few villagers asked them what they were doing but their answers were evasive, and they soon disappeared. Life continued in the remote rural community in North Wales as it had for centuries. The postmaster Jones Parry waves to a customer outside his post office at Capel Celyn in December 1956. At this stage, plans had already been announced to flood the village - Mirrorpix/Getty Three months passed. Some of the villagers were sitting down for breakfast. It was five days before Christmas, 1955. They glanced at a paper, the Welsh edition of the Liverpool Daily Post. There was the usual quota of good news and bad. Then, at the top of page two, something no one was expecting. Their village, Capel Celyn, was to be drowned. The walk to the valley, from the hills of Bala, takes around five hours. When I visited, 60 years after that fateful headline, the peaks were shrouded in mist, the sun puny behind a thick veil of cloud; it was hard to tell where the mist ended and the skies began. Eventually, I arrived at the eastern end of an enormous reservoir, quivering in the silver gloom of the late-afternoon light. In front of an electricity pylon was a stone building spray-painted with the words Cofio Celyn Remember Celyn along with the spider-like insignia of the Free Wales Army. Visitors are often struck by the restfulness of the lake, belying the areas traumatic past. But when I visited, the water seemed restless, imprisoned, pent up. Not far from the southern shore, a forlorn concrete structure rose from the water: the drawing-off tower, the orifice through which water was sucked out or stolen. Somewhere down there, beneath the little rippling waves, was the stub of the chapel after which the village is named. And it was here, in 1956, that the beleaguered locals gathered, as their enemys strategy was uncloaked. Liverpool, apparently, was running out of water. To sustain its industry and provide water for Merseyside, it was in dire need of a new reservoir. Six locations were considered. This was soon whittled down to two, both in Wales. The Tryweryn valley had one of the biggest watersheds in Wales. Water could be channelled into the River Dee, to be extracted at Chester, supplying Liverpool with 60 million gallons per day. Yes, there was the small matter of flooding a village and a dozen of its outlying farms, but the Liverpool Corporation was confident there would be no hard feelings because Great Britain was a tight little island and this was a just and necessary measure. A blizzard of questions arose from the church pews that day. Was this legal? Potentially, yes. The Corporation could bulldoze a private members bill through an English-MP-dominated Parliament to obtain a compulsory purchase order. Did they not have to take Welsh opinion into account? No. What would happen if the villagers simply refused to leave their homes? They were probably going to find out. The Capel Celyn Defence Committee whirred to life with the selfless teacher Elizabeth Watkin Jones, who had grown up in the village post office, as its secretary. She was friends with Gwynfor Evans, the leader of the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru. A passionate advocate for cultural nationalism, particularly the protection of the Welsh language, he described Tryweryn as the most important of all our battles. Over the months and years ahead, in large part thanks to these two, the iniquities of Liverpools scheme were debated and denounced, not just within the valley but all over Wales and beyond, in pubs, chapels, societies, newspapers, and on radio and television. The odds were not good: a rural David pitted against a corporate Goliath. But Watkin Jones in particular proved a woman of Herculean diplomatic prowess. The Committee implored people to write, and write they did, in their thousands. The red dragon of Wales had roared to life and was ready to breathe fire. A demonstration in Treweryn valley by the Free Wales Army in November 1965, protesting the building of the Llyn Celyn Reservoir - Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy Tryweryn was always about much more than a dam and a village; it was a painful reminder of Waless age-old lack of political independence, of its powerlessness to shape its own destiny. No doubt this is why the many hundreds of letters sent to Liverpool Town Hall and the Department for Welsh Affairs in Whitehall seethe and boil with rage, their anti-English sentiment somewhat reminiscent of the letters sent more recently to second-home owners in Aberystwyth. My advice to the people of Tryweryn, begins one, is to shoot the first devil that puts his foot in the valley. Yes England! screamed another, your days are over . . . Hands off Wales! The scheme itself is variously described as a wicked plan and sacrilegious plundering; the councillors of Liverpool Corporation were snakes in the grass and greedy capitalists. The English were no better than the Soviets, opined another, taking a Welsh village as the Russians had seized Hungarian ones and massacred civilians in Budapest. The Welsh language the oldest surviving language in these isles was sacred. It was therefore appalling, agreed the correspondents, that one of Waless last solely Welsh-speaking villages was to be obliterated at a time when that very language was so gravely imperilled. Half the population of Wales had spoken Welsh in 1911; by 1950, that figure had fallen to 29 per cent, eroded by English-language cinema, radio, television and newspapers. The actual dam had not been built yet but with each day that passed, bitter cultural memories amassed in the mental reservoir of the Welsh people. The Welsh, as some of the protesters saw it, had a special connection to the island, being descended from the Celtic tribes who were amongst the earliest inhabitants of Britain. Yet what a hand fate had dealt them shunted into the western extremity of Britain by the Anglo-Saxon settlers, the border thrust westwards under William the Conqueror, who presided over the growth of that anarchic shadowland called the Marches, a bloody domain of colonist warlords, and Edward Is conquest of Wales, stamping castles across the coastal landscape. Its laws emasculated, language became the standard-bearer of Welsh identity; but here, too, the Brythonic language was suppressed, castigated as sinister by Henry VIIIs ministers, and relegated to the status of a useless, backward tongue banished from law courts, schools and palaces and mansions, compelling Waless landowning classes, and anyone who wanted to get ahead, to learn and speak English. Yet, against the odds, parts of Wales had survived into the 20th century with the old language and culture intact, due in no small part to the impact of the Reformation, Methodist revival and a revolution in grassroots schooling, which sought to save souls by increasing literacy amongst ordinary people. All of which made it so much more of a tragedy, thought the protesters, that the essence of traditional Welshness found itself under threat, once again. For some, meek surrender wasnt an option. One letter arrived in a dainty envelope with a red stamp of a very youthful-looking queen and a beautiful post early for Christmas graphic. But inside was a piece of blunt menace, fist-scrawled in block capitals intersecting the ruled lines with diagonal disdain: THEY TRY, it warned, AND WE GO DOWN FIGHTING THE ENGLISH ANY PLACE. THIS WILL BE A LONG WAR. It was signed the WRA the Welsh Republican Army. A rally on the Tryweryn Dam in February 2013, commemorating the 50th anniversary of a bomb being exploded on the site by protestors, with assorted protest flags - Alamy Action accompanied words. The villagers twice marched on Liverpool in the winter of 1956 as the Corporation was voting on whether to proceed with the drowning. They witnessed the formidable Labour MP and tireless socialist campaigner Bessie Braddock explain in that deep, menacing voice of hers that if Liverpool didnt secure a new source of water soon, jobs would be lost, living standards would fall, disease would break out, the slum clearance programme would falter, and a wave of crime, suicide and homelessness would roll in. All it would take would be a couple of dry summers, she claimed, and Liverpool would die of thirst. The first time, Gwynfor Evans was yelled at by a fist-thumping Braddock and bundled out by the police; the second, they won a sympathetic hearing in the Grand Council Chamber, even a thundering ovation, only for the councillors to vote 94 to 1 to proceed anyway. Liverpool seems genuinely to have believed it was all a storm in a teacup. Had it not welcomed a constant flow of economic migrants from Wales with open arms over the last 200 years? Were there not in fact infinitely more Welsh in Liverpool than in Capel Celyn itself? With adequate compensation and relocation, they thought the valley could be washed away with a minimum of fuss. There was one last hope for the Capel Celyn protestors: Westminster. But this was a long shot, since English MPs outnumbered Welsh ones by six to one. Still, the Welsh MPs gave it their all. Couldnt Liverpool just tap the Mersey, they asked? How could the plan even be proposed when half of rural Wales didnt have running water? And besides, wasnt the water patently for industrial resale not domestic consumption? English MPs batted these points away. Yes, the optics were unfortunate, but coldly utilitarian arguments won the day. Dressed in black, wearing her trademark pearl necklace, the nemesis of Tryweryn took to the floor. Everyone deplores the fact that in the interests of progress sometimes some people must suffer, said Bessie Braddock, but that is progress. The bill passed comfortably. Capel Celyn now found itself in the shadow of annihilation. Work on the lake began in November 1959. Plaid Cymru never gave up, continuing to produce ever more elaborate schemes to prevent the drowning, but few of the residents had any time for these pipe dreams and reluctantly they made terms. In 1961, Mabel and John Evans posed for one final photograph on the porch of the house where they had lived their entire married life. They repaired to a farm that Liverpool had bought for them in the hills above Bala. It was not so bad theyd have 34 acres of land and, excitingly, electricity. But they did not have time to enjoy their new home for long. They were both killed soon after in a car crash. As families trickled out, Capel Celyn was forensically dismantled. The last train to Capel Celyn trundled in on January 2, 1960, accompanied by a funeral band. That summer, clay for the dams core was laid down and, not far from the village, gravel was gauged from pits to cover the surface. Up went a grotesquely ironic sign: Trespassers will be prosecuted, and the valley degenerated into a dust-ridden wasteland. Welsh protestors disrupt speeches by officials from the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks during the official opening of the Llyn Celyn reservoir in October 1965 - Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty At three in the morning, on February 10, 1963, as snow fell on the bonnets of bulldozers, a massive explosion tore through the valley. Three men slunk away, the blood of one of them dripping into the snow. The three activists, the farmers son Owain Williams, Aberystwyth student Emyr Llewelyn, and former military policeman John Albert Jones, had formed the Movement for the Defence of Wales in an espresso bar. They had managed to destroy a transformer, but were soon caught. Their eventual sentences were lenient, though, as they were heroes to many. The last church service took place a year before the waters came. The visitors book lay on a coffin for people to sign. Afterwards, there was a funereal cheerfulness they were on camera, of course, and wanted one last image for themselves, of mutual respect, companionship, and close community spirit, for it was precisely these things which were being obliterated. Eight months later, the deconsecrated chapel was ripped down. Some of its stone blocks were insultingly used in the construction of the dam itself. Then, on a bleak misty morning, the agents of the Corporation went to the graveyard to dig up the dead, carefully marking the cobwebbed coffins and driving them off in a truck. If their families preferred, their relatives could be left in their graves, snug beneath a blanket of concrete, marked by a lonely underwater plaque. Many are still down there. The valley grew starker by the day. All the trees were chopped down, in case they blocked the floodgates; the hedges too. What buildings remained stood like lonely dominoes and when the grouse and swallows flew across Cwm Tryweryn now, they looked down upon an eerie lunar landscape, scoured of life. The older people were devastated. You could see it in their faces, recalled Martha Robert Jones. Finally, the basins floodgates were closed and the river dammed. Now the rainwater flowing down the Merionethshire hills, finding its path to the sea blocked, amassed in the valley as the lake came into being. Protestors disrupted the official opening of the Llyn Celyn reservoir in October 1965 by cutting microphone wires and chanting during the official speeches - Daily MIrror/Mirrorpix/Getty By autumn 1965, it was complete: a magnificent reservoir two and a half miles long and a mile across, with a depth of 43 metres. It was only right that dignitaries from Liverpool should come down to admire their handiwork for a grand opening ceremony and five-course luncheon. Predictably this soon descended into farce: protestors placards thwacking down on aldermens bonnets, bricks lobbed at the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and a Union Jack set on fire by the Free Wales Army (they couldnt get it to stay lit, in the event, and the tattered flag ended up in the reservoir, a vivid emblem of national discord). The Welsh protestors sang a hymn whose words, unbeknownst to the Liverpudlians, meant all English are arseholes, and when the Lord Mayor tried to speak he realised the microphone wires had been cut. To cries of Hands off Wales! and You fascist Scouser bastard! the chairman of the Water Committee yanked on a lever, sending millions of gallons of water spurting from the stilling basin into the river below, drowning out the rousing tones of Land of My Fathers in a monstrous gush just as they, earlier, had drowned him out. Standing in the twilight, seeing the reservoir fading into an abyss of mist, was one of the most haunting sights I have ever seen. And occasionally, the village reappears. During the droughts of 1976, 1986, 1989, 1995 and 1998 people were able to walk its old high street. Everywhere were ruins, a Golgotha of stubs, roots and waste. Mysteriously, some of the stubs of houses had suspiciously fresh-looking slogans spray-painted on their sides: DROWNED BY ENGLISH PIGS and WE WILL REBUILD in a continuity of sabotage. But ghostly apparitions are not necessary to sustain the memory of the village. Tryweryn has become both a byword for courageous resistance to an act of tyranny and a rallying call for the protection of Welsh language and identity. In the 1960s and 1970s, when the campaign to protect the Welsh language reached its peak, you could see Cofiwch Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) all over Wales, daubed on bridges and buildings. Most have vanished, although one can be seen by the side of the A487, overlooking the seaside village of Llanrhystud, some 60 miles from Llyn Celyn. The Manic Street Preachers song Ready for Drowning is about the outrage and in series three of The Crown it provided context as one of the reasons why people were so bitter about Charless investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969. In Merionethshire at least, the memory is still poignant. In the archives, one woman told me she lived near the lake and had called her daughter Celyn; there is apparently a cluster of children called Celyn, all perpetuating the memory of the vanished village. A mural announcing 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' (Remember Treweryn) on the A487 at Llanrhystud, south of Aberystwyth, around 60 miles from the site of Capel Celyn. Similar graffiti was once popular all around Wales - Paul Quayle/Alamy Capel Celyn did not die in vain. It inspired people to teach their children Welsh (the number of Welsh speakers is currently rising) and contributed to the establishment of a Welsh-language BBC channel in 1964. It led, too, to the establishment of the office of Secretary of State for Wales in 1964. No doubt some of these developments would have happened anyway, but Tryweryn gave them a fillip. Whether there is much of a link between the drowning of the valley in the 1960s and the inauguration of the Welsh Assembly (now the Welsh Parliament) in 1999 is less clear-cut the Welsh overwhelmingly rejected the very same thing in a referendum in 1979, and Tryweryn isnt evoked by Plaid Cymru, still a relatively minor force in Welsh politics, all that often. But we can say that the white-hot indignation fomented by Liverpools handling of the affair galvanised the age-old quest for Welsh self-determination, even if that quest played out in various complex ways. In 2005, Liverpool Corporation finally apologised for the hurt of 40 years ago. But for those who remembered the drowning, this was too little too late. Elwyn Edwards, who had gone on the Liverpool march as a schoolboy, was 22 when the river was dammed. We lost our heritage, he says; we lost everything. For him and his family it is not a lake at all. It is a graveyard. Cofiwch Dryweryn. Dr Matthew Green is the author of Shadowlands: A Journey through Lost Britain (Faber), out now in paperback. He also leads immersive walking tours of Lost London. Parents are being warned not to allow children under four to consume slushie drinks because of the risk of glycerol intoxication. (Getty Images) (Getty) A mum has issued a warning to other parents after revealing her four-year-old son almost died after drinking a slushie drink. Beth Green said her son Albie was rushed to hospital after having a strawberry-flavoured slush while out bowling with a friend. "He started hallucinating, scratching himself, biting himself," Albie's mother explained during an interview with Good Morning Britain. Albie became unresponsive and was rushed to Birmingham Childrens hospital, following the incident in October last year. The family say doctors believe the episode was likely caused by glycerol intolerance after drinking the slush-ice drink. It isn't the first time a child has experienced adverse effects following the drinking of a slushie. In January, this year, Scottish mother Victoria Anderson revealed her son Angus, three, became unconscious and was taken to hospital after consuming a similar drink. The Food Standards Agency has issued a warning about slushie drinks. (Getty Images) (Getty) "I think slushies should be banned altogether or at the very least there needs to be a warning sign for under-4s. But this could potentially happen to any kid of any age," Ms Anderson told MailOnline. Last August the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued new guidance on slush-ice drinks, advising that they should not be sold to children four years of age and under. Manufacturers are also being advised to tell retailers that they should not offer free refill promotions to under-10s, to prevent young children being exposed to excessive amounts of glycerol. The updated guidance follows an FSA risk assessment which found that children below this age may suffer from headaches and sickness caused by exposure to glycerol. It comes after the government body became aware of two cases in Scotland, one in 2021 and one in 2022, where children were also hospitalised because of glycerol intoxication. What is glycerol in slushies? Also referred to as E422, glycerol is a key ingredient used to make many slushy drinks. Its a colourless, odourless liquid used as an additive in the food industry. Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to create the slush effect. It acts as a freezing agent to keep the ice from freezing solid and help maintain its slush-like consistency. While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks. The risk of adverse impacts from glycerol are related to body weight. (Getty Images) (Getty) What are the risks of glycerol in children? According to Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy glycerol is generally low in toxicity and adults rarely experience side effects, but younger children remain at adverse risk of effects because they struggle to process it because of their lower body weight. "Mild symptoms of ingestion of glycerol include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea," explains Dr Lee. "However, the effects of severe glycerol intoxication are similar to alcohol intoxication and can result in low blood sugar and mental confusion." At very high levels of exposure typically when several of these products are drunk by a child in a short space of time glycerol intoxication could cause shock, hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness. "While the symptoms of glycerol intoxication are usually mild, it is important that parents are aware of the risks particularly at high levels of consumption," explains FSA head of additives, Adam Hardgrave. "It is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol intoxication, as parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors. We are grateful to those manufacturers who have already taken steps to reduce levels of glycerol, and to those who have already told us they will be adopting our new guidelines." The FSAs risk assessment considered a worst-case exposure scenario in which a child consumed a 350 ml slush drink containing the highest level of glycerol used (50,000 mg/L) and compared this to a threshold above which adverse effects could occur. Children aged 4 or below would exceed this threshold. What is the future of glycerol? After issuing its guidelines last year the FSA says it plans to monitor how widely the guidelines are adopted and could take further action in future. "Severe effects can occur if a child under four consumes a 350 ml slushie drink containing 50,000 mg/L of glycerol or more," Dr Lee continues. "Slushie manufacturers have been asked to only add the minimum amount of glycerol to their slushie products." When asked why the governing body aren't considering a flat ban on glycerol the FSA's Professor Robin May said it is important to put the risk into proportion. "In the UK 50 million slushie drinks are sold per year, but we are only aware of five cases like Albie's over the last three years. So just to reassure parents it is still a very rare side effect," he explained on Good Morning Britain. "However because it can happen that's why we are asking all businesses to clearly mark their products as not being suitable for four and under. And its very important to make sure people throughout the business chain understand that.". Children's health: Read more Watch: Disposable vapes to be banned to protect childrens health Taking steps towards potentially recognising a Palestinian state as part of a peace process isnt rewarding Hamas, Lord David Cameron has said. The Foreign Secretary was defending past remarks which prompted a backlash a few weeks ago when he discussed the need to give the Palestinian people a political horizon as part of efforts to end the Israeli-Hamas war. Lord Cameron said at the end of January: We should be starting to set out what a Palestinian state would look like what it would comprise, how it would work. Speaking in the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Cameron said Hamas does not believe in a two-state solution, and so of course it isnt rewarding Hamas. He suggested recognition should not be the first thing we should do, warning against taking pressure off the Palestinians to reform, but said: Just because it doesnt happen in the beginning doesnt mean it has to wait right until the end. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron during Question to the Foreign Secretary in the House of Lords (House of Lords/PA) Although he insisted his remarks in January were in line with the UKs longstanding position on the issue, he also suggested they had swayed opinion in Washington. He said: After I made my statement, which is absolutely in line with our longstanding policy that recognition should come when it gives the maximum impetus and input to a solution, after that, the Americans announced that they were re-examining their policy and looking at options to see if they could examine how best recognition could play a part in bringing a two-state solution about. He also told peers: This Government has always supported a two-state solution, and that remains the case. Clearly, recognising a Palestinian state at the right time is part of that policy. Conservative peer Lord Jackson of Peterborough said: Palestinian statehood is, I trust, something all of us in this House wish to see. But does (Lord Cameron) share my very grave concerns that premature unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state now risks rewarding Hamas, playing into Irans hands, and perhaps jeopardising the chances for a long-term sustainable peace? Lord Cameron said: I absolutely understand where (Lord Jackson) is coming from. I would just say to him that of course it isnt rewarding Hamas. Hamas dont believe in a two-state solution. They believe in the destruction of Israel. He said the point of a two-state solution is to create long-term sustainable peace, adding: I think that the last 30 years have shown that we wont solve this problem without a solution that gives dignity and security to Palestinian people as well as giving vital security to Israel. So I say this as a strong friend of Israel. This is the right approach and we should pursue it. He also said recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a first step. The peer said: Recognition is obviously part of a two-state solution, and it is something that should help with the momentum. The point I have been making is it should not be the first thing we should do. I think that would take the pressure off the Palestinians to reform, the things that need to happen in the Palestinian Authority. But just because it doesnt happen in the beginning doesnt mean it has to wait right until the end. Addressing a question on whether he discussed the issue with the US before making his remarks a few weeks ago on recognition, Lord Cameron said: We discuss all issues relating to the conflict in Gaza and Israel-Palestine relations, but ultimately Im pleased to tell (Lord Jackson) that the UK has a sovereign and independent foreign policy. The Foreign Secretary said there will be a meeting of European and Arab states on Friday in the hopes of forming a contact group to try to facilitate an end to the conflict in Gaza. He said: At the Munich Security Conference on Friday, there will be a meeting of the key European countries that help to fund the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the key Arab states and Gulf states that are working to help support a future Palestinian authority, and we very much hope the Secretary of State for the United States will be there as well. This isnt yet the formation of a contact group. There are a number of countries, particularly in the Arab world, who are understandably nervous of meeting in advance of a proper ceasefire and plan towards a cessation of hostilities, but I think we are on the way to getting this group up and running. Lord Cameron said the UK would continue to challenge Israel over individual episodes of its campaign in Gaza. He later added that while Israel was responding to the biggest pogrom since the Holocaust in terms of the loss of life of Jewish people it had to obey international humanitarian law. The Foreign Secretary said: Lets be clear, that involves not only what the IDF do in terms of the way they prosecute their actions in terms of this war but it also means as they are the occupying power in Gaza, that they have to make sure that humanitarian aid, that food and water and shelter are available to people in Gaza, because if they dont do that that would be a breach of international humanitarian law as well. A Stormont minister is set to propose Northern Irelands first environmental improvement plan. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir made the announcement during a debate on a motion in the Assembly calling for a new management structure to protect Lough Neagh. Alarm was sparked last summer when the huge freshwater lake in the centre of Northern Ireland was beset by noxious blooms of blue green algae. It is the biggest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, and supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Algae on the surface of Lough Neagh at Ballyronan Marina last September. Noxious blooms covered large parts of the lough across the summer, and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields is believed to be a major contributory factor. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Climate change is another factor cited, with the highest ever water temperature at Lough Neagh recorded last June. A cross departmental water quality steering group is currently drafting recommendations to tackle blue green algae in Lough Neagh. Three Sinn Fein MLAs brought a motion to the recently restored Stormont Assembly calling for action to protect the lough. It called on the Executive to put in place a new management structure and plan for the management, protection and promotion of the lough. The Assembly also heard calls for Lough Neagh to be taken into public ownership. Mr Muir and Infrastructure Minister John ODowd were both present in the chamber for the debate as the motion. Responding Mr Muir revealed he is set to meet with the owner of the lough bed Lord Shaftesbury, and said it would be in a frank and open manner. Daera Minister Andrew Muir (PA) The minister said he was encouraged to see agreement across the chamber as well as society on the need for collective action. He said he visited Lough Neagh with his first few days in office, and has made a commitment to go back regularly. This is just the beginning of my engagement with stakeholders and I intend to regularly seek views and work together to take forward evidence based solutions to tackle blue green algae and secure long term water quality improvements, he told MLAs. While we all recognise that it will take significant time, investment, commitment and working in partnership to make the improvements needed, we all wish to see those improvements affected. The scale of the problem should not prevent us from taking action now, and we need to move from debating these motions to taking action. As minister I am willing and ready to lead, to drive action, to co-ordinate but may I say, the responsibility is upon us all in this chamber and in the Executive to turn the situation around. Mr Muir also described the blue green algae as a wider issue than simply in Lough Neagh. In the next few weeks I will bring to the Executive a new environment strategy which I will propose is adopted as Northern Irelands first environmental improvement plan, he said. This will take a strategic approach to all the issues facing our environment. Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan (PA) Proposing the motion in the Assembly chamber earlier Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan described an ecological catastrophe. We need to see decisive action. The public want to see decisive action, he told MLAs. The issue of resources are quite rightly a key focus for the new Executive. What were asking for is that the Executive must ensure that a rescue package and plan for Lough Neagh is properly resourced, both in terms of a financial recovery package but also in terms of necessary personnel within departments to take agreed actions forward. Mr McGuigan also stated that it is not contained with his partys motion, they also want to see the lough brought into public ownership as soon as possible adding: We can no longer be expected to own the problems of the lough but not the lough itself. The Body Shop is set to appoint administrators, putting thousands of jobs at the cosmetics chain at risk. The retailer, which runs more than 200 shops across the UK, filed a notice to appoint administrators late on Monday. It is understood the business could enter administration as soon as Tuesday, with insolvency experts at FRP Advisory lined up to oversee the process. The proposed administrators are expected to seek buyers for the business and its assets, but the process will nonetheless cast a shadow over the future of its stores and workforce. Aurelius secured a takeover of the retailer in November and officially took control last month (Yui Mok/PA) The retailer was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon as one of the first companies to promote so-called ethical consumerism, focusing on ethically produced cosmetics and skincare products. It comes only weeks after new owners, European private equity firm Aurelius, took control of the business. Aurelius, which specialises in buying and turning around troubled firms, secured a 207 million deal in November to buy the Body Shop from Brazilian cosmetics giant Natura & Co. It only took control of operations officially on January 1. The business employed around 10,000 people worldwide at the time of the takeover. Aurelius agreed a deal late last month to sell the companys operations in most of mainland Europe and in parts of Asia to an international family office in a decisive step towards delivering a strong turnaround strategy at The Body Shop. Sir Jim Ratcliffes purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United has obtained Premier League approval. Confirmation that the league had given its backing to the deal was contained within an update to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday evening. The club are still awaiting Football Association approval. The period in which holders of Class A shares can tender them for sale has been extended from February 14 until 23:59pm on February 16. Sir Jim Ratcliffes investment also includes a pledge of 300m US dollars to upgrade club infrastructure, including Old Trafford (Nick Potts/PA) So far 36.7 per cent of Class A shares have been tendered, already enough to complete the 25 per cent acquisition. Ratcliffes offer is capped at 25 per cent, so even though more shares are available, that is the most which will be purchased. The Premier League announced on Tuesday afternoon that the deal had been approved following the completion of the owners and directors test (OADT). The (Premier League) board agreed to the change of the clubs ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an independent oversight panel, a league statement read. The Premier Leagues Owners Charter has also been signed. Club sources say the process is now moving positively towards completion. It was announced on Christmas Eve that the Ineos chairman had agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the Red Devils in a deal that included investing a further 300 million US dollars (238million) into their infrastructure. As well as buying Class B shares held by the Glazer family, the announcement confirmed Ratcliffe would offer to acquire up to 25 per cent of all Class A shares at a price of 33 US dollars (26) per share. Manchester United reaches agreement for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, to acquire up to a 25% shareholding in the Company.#MUFC Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 24, 2023 Ratcliffe has conducted a series of meetings with club staff and associates in recent days. He has met leaders of the independent Manchester United Supporters Trust and spoken with local leaders, including senior representatives of Trafford Council, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. He was also among those in attendance at the Munich Air Disaster memorial last week. Ratcliffe is reportedly already planning to lead an overhaul of Uniteds playing squad, starting with four new players to aid Erik ten Hags bid to ensure qualification for the Champions League. The stars of Oscar frontrunner Oppenheimer reunited on the red carpet at the annual luncheon for the Academy Awards nominees. Irish star Cillian Murphy, who is nominated for the best actor prize for his role as J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolans epic biopic, was joined by his co-stars Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr for the event at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Blunt is nominated for the best supporting actress prize for her turn as Oppenheimers wife Kitty, while Downey Jr is considered the favourite to win the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as Lewis Strauss, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Robert Downey Jr with Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy at the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon (Jordan Strauss/AP) The trio were joined on the red carpet by Nolan, who is tipped to win his first directing Oscar for the film after scoring the top prize at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards on Saturday, usually a significant indicator of who will win the Academy Award. Christopher Nolan arrives at the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Also at the star-studded event was Margot Robbie, who was snubbed in the best actress category for her leading role in Barbie, but who is nominated in the best picture category as a producer on the film. Margot Robbie (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) She continued to take style inspiration from her character, opting for a classic pink Chanel skirt suit and matching bag. Barbie director Greta Gerwig was also at the luncheon, despite her snub in the best director category. She is nominated as a screenwriter on the film, alongside her husband Noah Baumbach. Greta Gerwig (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Emma Stone, who is nominated for the best actress prize for her role as Bella Baxter in the steampunk coming of age story Poor Things, arrived at the event with the films director Yorgos Lanthimos, who is also nominated. The film marks a reunion for the duo, who previously worked together on The Favourite, which landed British actress Olivia Colman her Oscar. Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Stones closest rival for the best actress gong, Lily Gladstone, chose a smart white trouser suit for the lunch. She is nominated for her performance in Martin Scorseses Western crime epic Killers Of The Flower Moon. Lily Gladstone (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Also nominated in the best actress category is British actress Carey Mulligan, who received a nod for her turn as Leonard Bernsteins wife Felicia Montealegre in Bradley Coopers biopic Maestro. Carey Mulligan (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 10. The Labour leadership is facing questions after withdrawing the partys support for its Rochdale by-election candidate, amid a storm of criticism of remarks he made about Israel. Azhar Ali had apologised after he was recorded suggesting in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza. But a party spokesperson said on Monday evening that Mr Ali, who is understood to be suspended pending an investigation, had Labours backing withdrawn following new information about further comments. According to a story published by the Daily Mail on Monday night, Mr Ali also said people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about MP Andy McDonald, who was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase between the river and the sea in a speech during a rally. The paper also said the now-former Labour candidate claimed that Israel planned to get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza and grab some of the land. Labour had come under serious pressure after the previous remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as by political opponents. Sir Keir Starmer has sought to move his party on from the Corbyn era, which was overshadowed by controversies over antisemitism. But the party leadership is now being pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labour recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. Labours national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden told broadcasters the party acted because new information and more comments have come to light which meant that we had to look at this situation again. A spokesperson said: Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate. The elction follows the death of Sir Tony Lloyd (Liam McBurney/PA) The decision to withdraw backing for the candidate will come as a blow to the party, which had hoped to retain the seat following the death last month of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd. Mr Ali, who is also a Lancashire County Councillor, apologised to the Jewish community and retracted his original remarks, which he described as deeply offensive, ignorant and false. The PA news agency has contacted Mr Ali about the latest reported comments. The decision to withdraw support for the candidate came the same day that shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Mr Ali had fallen for an online conspiracy theory and insisted Labour would continue this campaign in Rochdale. Frontbenchers Lisa Nandy and Anneliese Dodds had been out campaigning for Mr Ali in the constituency at the weekend. Rishi Sunak, speaking to GB News viewers on Monday at an event in County Durham, said it was a con to suggest Labour has been reformed. He said: Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year trying to tell everybody Okay, Labour Partys changed. Well, look what just happened in Rochdale. He accused Sir Keir of having stood by and sent cabinet ministers to support him, until literally five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, has decided to change his mind on principle. No principles at all, he added. Labours decision will add considerable uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election when voters go to the polls at the end of the month. Also running in Rochdale are former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, now the Reform Party candidate, and George Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain, who is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. About 20% of the electorate and 30% of the population of the town are Asian, with polls nationally suggesting Labours vote could be hit by Asian people unhappy with the party over Palestine and its perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: Sir Keir Starmer has blotted an otherwise fairly admirable copybook and given the public reason to doubt the earnestness of his promise to tear antisemitism out by its roots in Labour. People will have to judge for themselves whether the additional reported comments by Azhar Ali are really any worse than the comments that had already been reported. Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labours withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour. Sadiq Khans London development plan is working to frustrate rather than facilitate the delivery of new homes, according to a Government-commissioned report. The independent review, ordered by Housing Secretary Michael Gove last December and published on Tuesday, recommended making it easier to get permission to build on brownfield sites in the capital. But it was rejected by the London Mayor, who branded it a stunt and accused Rishi Sunak of undermining devolution. The 46-page report, following a review led by barrister Christopher Katkowski, considered whether changes might be required to the 542-page London Plan to boost housing provision on brownfield land. It found that there is persuasive evidence that the combined effect of the multiplicity of policies in the London Plan work to frustrate rather than facilitate the delivery of new homes on brownfield sites, not least in terms of creating very real challenges to viability. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (PA) There is just so much to navigate and negotiate that it should come as no surprise that wending ones way through the application process is expensive and time-consuming. Without a step change, it is highly unlikely that the housing targets of the London Plan will be met within its 10-year period and, as a consequence, the current housing crisis will continue, if not worsen. The review also noted the London plan was not the sole source of the problem, also pointing to wider economic conditions, fire safety and pressures on planning resources as among a host of other factors. In a letter to the London mayor along the report, Mr Gove also said he was seeking views on whether changes are required to the threshold at which a residential planning application is referrable to you as the Mayor of London, which is currently set at 150 homes or more. Published early on Tuesday, Mr Gove wrote: The Government will not hesitate to go further, making sure that our capital city has the housing it needs. Alongside consulting on these changes, I want to inform you that I am also announcing 50 million of new investment in London to unlock new homes through estate regeneration. Mr Khan, who faces re-election in May, hit back with a defence about of his housebuilding record. A spokeswoman for the London mayor said: The facts are clear London under Sadiq Khan is outbuilding the rest of the country. Housing completions in the capital have hit the highest level since the 1930s, according to the Governments own data. London is also delivering twice the level of council homebuilding as the rest of the country combined, showing up ministers dismal failure nationally. Accusing ministers of previously ignoring calls for greater investment in brownfield development, she said Mr Khan would not take lectures from a government that has scrapped housing targets nationally and sent peoples rents and mortgages soaring. A second Labour parliamentary candidate has been suspended over remarks about Israel, only a day after Sir Keir Starmers party withdrew support for its Rochdale by-election candidate. Audio emerged on Tuesday that appeared to show former Labour MP Graham Jones use the words f****** Israel at the same meeting that led to the withdrawal of support for Rochdales Azhar Ali, while also allegedly suggesting that British people who volunteer to fight with the Israeli Defence Forces should be locked up. The Hyndburn candidate is understood to have been administratively suspended from the party, pending an investigation, following the report from website Guido. Labour would have to follow a formal process if the party wanted to strip him of his candidacy, but he is believed to have been called for an interview on Tuesday evening. The latest row to emerge from the meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party came only hours after the Labour leader insisted the party had changed under his leadership, following the move to strip Mr Ali, who is believed to be suspended pending an investigation, of his partys backing. Mr Ali had apologised after he was recorded in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party suggesting that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza. But Labour said it moved to end its backing of the candidate following new information about further comments. Speaking as he campaigned in Wellingborough, Sir Keir Starmer said: Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate. There was a fulsome apology. Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action. It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. Its a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it. Labour had come under serious pressure after the original remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as by political opponents. Sir Keir sought to move his party on from the Jeremy Corbyn era, which was overshadowed by controversies over antisemitism. But the party leadership is now being pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labours handling of the row was branded shambolic by the lawyer who led a review into the partys culture, as the Conservatives also seized on the controversy. Azhar Ali has apologised for his comments (Peter Byrne/PA) Martin Forde KC said MPs within the party feel there has been a disparity in treatment of allegations of antisemitism. Labour withdrew backing for Mr Ali after the Daily Mail reported that he had blamed people in the media from certain Jewish quarters for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP. Left-wing critics of the Starmer leadership accused him of showing inconsistency in the handling of the allegations. The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism all their lives in a letter to the Observer last year. She apologised and suggested errors arose in the drafting of the letter. Mr Forde also highlighted the previous cases, saying things seemed to drag on in terms of disciplining certain elements of the party, and be dealt with swiftly in others. There are over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians in Rafah and it is the gateway to aid for Gaza an Israeli offensive there would be catastrophic. The fighting must stop now. We need a sustainable ceasefire. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 11, 2024 Sir Keir on Tuesday denied that factionalism played a role in the handling of complaints or allegations of antisemitism. I set out four years ago to tear antisemitism out of the Labour Party. Its the first thing I said Id do as Labour leader, and to change our party. I have taken a series of decisions along those lines, ruthlessly changing our party, and its made no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party. The change Ive brought about is a Labour Party that is now back in the service of working people, he told broadcasters. He also said any allegations against other Labour councillors present at the event at which Mr Ali made his widely condemned remarks would be fully investigated by the party. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said the latest comments attributed to Mr Jones are not only ignorant but grossly offensive. Labour must make clear that it will not back Graham Jones rhetoric and his candidacy. Labours decision will add considerable uncertainty to the outcome of the Rochdale by-election when voters go to the polls at the end of the month. Also running in Rochdale are former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, now the Reform Party candidate, and George Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain, who is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. About 20% of the electorate and 30% of the population of the town are Asian, with polls nationally suggesting Labours vote could be hit by Asian people unhappy with the party over Palestine and its perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election. The Tories sought to pile further pressure on Sir Keir over the row, even after the decision to ditch Mr Ali as a candidate. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: Sir Keir Starmer says hes taken tough and decisive action over Labours candidate in Rochdale. But the truth is that this shouldnt be tough it should be the simplest thing to do the right thing and stand up against antisemitism. And it clearly is not decisive because Labour have been backing their man throughout this and have only done yet another U-turn because of the headlines. How can the public, and particularly the Jewish community, have any trust in Labour when Keir Starmer seems to be protecting those who heard what was said and did nothing. Some of the secrets of gold have been uncovered by a team of scientists led by a Belfast university. The team conducted a series of ground-breaking experiments on the precious metal and its melting point. The metal was found to react unexpectedly to extreme temperatures. The scientists used high-intensity lasers to heat gold to very high temperatures and observe the results at the atomic level. Contrary to expectations, the metal stopped melting and instead became harder and stronger past a certain heat threshold. Scientists using some of the worlds most hi-spec laser facilities at the Linac Coherent Light Source at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, California (SLAC/PA) Ever-increasing amounts of energy (heat) were then required to bring the gold to melting point. The lasers used are called femtosecond lasers and operate on ultrafast timescales, with a femtosecond being one millionth of a billionth of a second. The scientists followed up the laser hits by observing the changes using femtosecond-duration X-ray pulses. These experiments were carried out using the highest-resolution X-ray machines available in the world. Only five research facilities exist globally with this kind of equipment and top researchers must compete for highly prized and restricted timeslots. The discovery is set to have wide-ranging implications for technology and industry. Dr Adrien Descamps and Dr Emma McBride, from the Queens University Belfast, led a team from the UK, US, Germany and France, at the Linac Coherent Light Source, an X-ray Free Electron Laser at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Dr Descamps described the study as a bridge between theoretical physics and the real world. He said: And while the simulations of the past may have posited that this effect might be possible, our experiment has provided hundreds of data points, giving an enormous amount of detail and evidence which was previously unavailable. You can only get this kind of detail at the atomic level we were probing the timescale between before applying the laser and the material blowing up which is a tiny fraction of a split-second. You can only really study that at pico-second scale it happens too fast to see with the naked eye or in real time. Dr McBride added: It was such a privilege to use these highly specialised and expensive X-Ray machines and we are amazingly grateful for that opportunity. We wouldnt have been able to carry out this experiment more than 10 years ago this kind of sophisticated machinery simply didnt exist, and we had no way of knowing how materials would respond to lasers at such intensity. By proving that phonon hardening is indeed real and can be evidenced, it will increase our understanding of how energy flows and how materials respond. This will be invaluable for the future of applied science and technology. The research is published in Science Advances. Lead singer of the Happy Mondays Shaun Ryder has said the band will be going to bed for about three or four years when they take a break after their upcoming UK tour. The 61-year-old will embark on the Been There Done That Tour in March alongside band members Mark Bez Berry, vocalist Rowetta, guitarist Mark Day, drummer Gary Whelan and keyboard player and guitarist Dan Broad. The band will then take a break from the road while Ryder concentrates on other projects. He told the PA news agency: Im really looking forward to it (the tour). I mean, its gonna be the last one anyway. Its not really. I mean, weve just come back from touring Australia, not long ago, we were on the road doing festivals, but its going to be the last tour for a while. Weve constantly been doing the Mondays now since 2012 with the original line-up, so its now time to make this the last tour and no summer shows so I can concentrate on (bands) Black Grape and Mantra Of The Cosmos and a few things. He added: The Mondays are going to bed for about three or four years. Ryder co-founded rock group Black Grape in the 1990s and the band released debut album Its Great When Youre StraightYeah in 1995. In 2023 he revealed he had formed a new band called Mantra Of The Cosmos. Speaking about the possibility of retirement, Ryder said: In this game you dont, you stop when you f****** want to or when you cant walk on stage anymore. Mark Day, Paul Ryder and Shaun Ryder of The Happy Mondays with the Inspiration Award during the 61st Annual Ivor Novello Music Awards at Grosvenor House in London in 2016 (Ian West/PA) He added: When we were young men, you made an album, you toured it for three years, came back, made another album, and toured that for three years. So youd do that for years and years and years and youd go touring, you learn what touring is about. Now, I dont do that. I mean, we do a lot of festivals all over the place with the Mondays and Black Grape, we just toured Australia, I do it at my own pace now. I tour when I want to at my own pace. And Ive gone through hating it then loving it to f****** hating it, to loving it, to f****** hating it, to loving it, and I just do it at my own pace now. Speaking about the upcoming dates, he added: Manchesters always mad. We have more guestlists then we have fans in Manchester it gets a bit mad. Shaun Ryder has said he likes to tour at his own pace (Ian West/PA) During the tour the group, who will be joined by music artists Inspiral Carpets and Stereo MCs, will perform some of their classic hits including 24 Hour Party People, Step On, Hallelujah, Loose Fit and Judge Fudge. Shows will take place in cities including Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester, Brighton and London. Happy Mondays signed to Tony Wilsons Factory Records in the late 1980s and blended their love of funk, rock, psychedelia and house with sounds from the UKs emerging rave scene. In 2016, the band won the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award and in recent years members Ryder and Bez have been spotted in episodes of Channel 4s Celebrity Gogglebox. The band, who are now without Ryders brother, bassist Paul, who died in 2022 aged 58, finished a tour of Australia and New Zealand in October. Sir Keir Starmer said he took tough and decisive action to withdraw support for Labours Rochdale by-election candidate, after a storm of criticism about remarks Azhar Ali made about Israel. The Labour leader insisted the party had changed under his leadership after it was confirmed on Monday evening that Mr Ali, who is understood to be suspended pending an investigation, would have Labours backing withdrawn. Mr Ali had apologised after he was recorded in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party suggesting that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza. But Labour said it moved to end its backing of the candidate following new information about further comments. Speaking as he campaigned in Wellingborough, Sir Keir Starmer said: Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate. There was a fulsome apology. Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action. It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. Its a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it. Labour had come under serious pressure after the original remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as by political opponents. Sir Keir sought to move his party on from the Corbyn era, which was overshadowed by controversies over antisemitism. But the party leadership is now being pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labours handling of the row was branded shambolic by the lawyer who led a review into the partys culture, as the Conservatives also seized on the controversy. Azhar Ali has apologised for his comments (Peter Byrne/PA) Martin Forde KC said MPs within the party feel there has been a disparity in treatment of allegations of antisemitism. Labour withdrew backing for Mr Ali after the Daily Mail reported that he had blamed people in the media from certain Jewish quarters for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP. Left-wing critics of the Starmer leadership accused him of showing inconsistency in the handling of the allegations. The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism all their lives in a letter to the Observer last year. She apologised and suggested errors arose in the drafting of the letter. Mr Forde also highlighted the previous cases, saying things seemed to drag on in terms of disciplining certain elements of the party, and be dealt with swiftly in others. There are over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians in Rafah and it is the gateway to aid for Gaza an Israeli offensive there would be catastrophic. The fighting must stop now. We need a sustainable ceasefire. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 11, 2024 Sir Keir on Tuesday denied that factionalism played a role in the handling of complaints or allegations of antisemitism. I set out four years ago to tear antisemitism out of the Labour Party. Its the first thing I said Id do as Labour leader, and to change our party. I have taken a series of decisions along those lines, ruthlessly changing our party, and its made no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party. The change Ive brought about is a Labour Party that is now back in the service of working people, he told broadcasters. He also said any allegations against other Labour councillors present at the event at which Mr Ali made his widely condemned remarks would be fully investigated by the party. Labours decision will add considerable uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election when voters go to the polls at the end of the month. Also running in Rochdale are former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, now the Reform Party candidate, and George Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain, who is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. About 20% of the electorate and 30% of the population of the town are Asian, with polls nationally suggesting Labours vote could be hit by Asian people unhappy with the party over Palestine and its perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election. The Tories sought to pile further pressure on Sir Keir over the row, even after the decision to ditch Mr Ali as a candidate. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: Sir Keir Starmer says hes taken tough and decisive action over Labours candidate in Rochdale. But the truth is that this shouldnt be tough it should be the simplest thing to do the right thing and stand up against antisemitism. And it clearly is not decisive because Labour have been backing their man throughout this and have only done yet another U-turn because of the headlines. How can the public, and particularly the Jewish community, have any trust in Labour when Keir Starmer seems to be protecting those who heard what was said and did nothing. Trio placed public in danger as they used city roads as race track, say police Three motorists have received 12-month driving bans after they treated roads in Manchester like a race track, police said. Seized dashcam footage showed the trio travelling at speeds in excess of 100mph as they ignored red traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. April Farnworth, 27, Oliver Rothwell, 29, and Nabil Adil, 27, had met up at a car park in Manchester city centre before they set off to a car meet and photoshoot in Bolton, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP). They can be heard laughing during the footage, released by GMP, and saying: I f****ing beat Nabil on that straight and I think we need to start driving nicely now as they regularly broke speed limits in residential areas. Roads policing officers were conducting high-visibility speed checks at Wharfside Way, Trafford, near to Manchester United FCs stadium, when the defendants were captured on a laser device, travelling at almost 80mph. Farnworth was pulled over in her vehicle and an investigation was launched to identify the other drivers. On Friday, Farnworth, Rothwell and Adil appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court where they pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on May 30 2020, said police. Farnworth, of Lostock Road, Trafford, and Rothwell, of Hartford Road, Trafford, were both disqualified from driving, fined 245 and ordered to carry out community service of 100 hours of unpaid work. Adil, of Moor Hill, Rochdale was also banned from driving, fined 695 and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. Sgt Antony Hannon, from GMPs roads policing unit said: This group treated our roads like a race track, placing members of the public in real danger. They travelled in excess of 100mph in busy residential built up areas, racing each other with no regard for anyone else. Speeding makes up one of the Fatal 4 alongside drink and drug driving, seatbelt misuse and the use of mobile devices behind the wheel, and I would urge drivers to think about the potentially fatal consequences their behaviour can have. Voters in Rochdale have tuned out of local politics as a by-election mired in controversy approaches, local people said. But one candidate claimed he has taken to wearing a stab vest, saying such are tensions in the town as campaigning continues for the poll on February 29. Labours candidate Azhar Ali was dropped by the party on Monday, after apologising for remarks he made about Israel, deemed a conspiracy theory, became public. Mr Ali has since gone to ground, less than a week after his campaign launch when Labour were hot favourites to retain the seat following the sudden death of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd. A man walks past Labours campaign centre in Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Danny Lawson/PA) The parliamentary seat of Good old Tony as one local voter described the late MP, is now to be contested by no official Labour candidate. But election law means Mr Ali will still appear on the ballot for Labour, along with two other former Labour MPs, political firebrand George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain, and ex-Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, of the Reform Party. A roll of the eyes or shrug of the shoulders is a common response from locals asked about the by-election, some not even aware the poll is taking place later this month in one of the most deprived towns in England. Michael Mills, a retired delivery driver helping the flower stall on Yorkshire Street, the main shopping strip in the town, described the latest political developments in his home town as pathetic. Azhar Ali as he launched his campaign for the up-coming Rochdale by-election a week ago (Peter Byrne/PA) He said: The trouble with Rochdale is, its always been either Liberal or Labour. Now Labour is guaranteed that Labour always win, because of the Muslim vote. The amount of bloody poverty in Rochdale, but the politicians are so far up their own backsides. Its making people angry and frustrated. Some shops on Yorkshire Street have buckets inside on counters wrapped in the flag of Palestine or in Palestine flag colours. Some shop windows have Free Palestine stickers on them. Another man, who did not want to be named, said: I think people are blase about it. They think politics again and have stopped paying attention to it all. Its a circus. They have tuned out of it all. Nothing changes so who do you vote for? Joyce Matthew, a retired care worker, said: Theyve ruined Rochdale, Labour, ruined it, whats happened over the last 30 years. I will vote for an independent or spoil my ballot. Theres none I can vote for. One independent who is standing is Billy Howarth, who runs a local group, Parents Against Grooming and is well known in the area. He says he wants to hold officials in Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Council to account over the failings regarding grooming gangs in the town. Mr Howarth said: This election isnt about Palestine, its about Rochdale. They have turned it into all about Palestine. Someone needs to stand up for Rochdale. Rochdale has massive issues. The guy (Galloway) thinks if hes got all the Muslim votes, its in the bag. It has created such a division in the town. Its not something we have seen since the 1970s. If you walk about and you are white, you are a Zionist. I sympathise with the Palestinians, but this is Rochdale. Ive told my team they cant go out in certain areas. I wear a stab vest. The feeling is nothing has happened yet, but something is going to happen. It is genuinely scary. George Galloways campaign HQ is at a Suzuki car dealership outside the town centre, given over by the garage owner and now scattered with boxes of campaign materials ready to be put through letter boxes. Mr Galloway is not there but his campaign manager James Giles, an independent councillor in Kingston, London, insists the Galloway campaign is more than Gaza though all the literature prominently includes the green, white and red of the Palestinian flag. A woman walks past a sign for a polling station location in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, ahead of the by-election (Danny Lawson/PA) Mr Giles said Rochdale has 30,000 Muslims and 15,000 votes are enough to deliver a victory at most by-elections and his campaign has garnered hundreds of volunteers. Mr Giles said: The issue of Palestine or Gaza is not just a Muslim issue. Emotions are heightened in certain communities in the constituency. Gaza comes up in Deeplish on most doors. In other parts people are appalled about the state of the roads, the NHS, poor services. In some parts of the constituency it is criminal grooming gangs. Its Labour here who control the police force and run the council. Voters go to the polls on February 29. Angela Chao, the CEO of the dry bulk shipping company Foremost Group and the sister of former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, has died in a car accident, according to the company and her family. Her father, James S.C. Chao, said the family was heartbroken over her death. Neither the company nor her family provided further details of the accident. Angelas name in Chinese sounds like the characters for peace and prosperity. She certainly gave more than her share of both to this world, the elder Chao said in a statement. Her absence leaves a void not only in our hearts, but in the Asian-American community. Angela Chao, one of six children, served as the Foremost Groups CEO since 2018 and was also involved in a number of organizations, holding board positions on the American Bureau of Shipping Council, Harvard Business Schools Board of Deans Advisors, and the Metropolitan Opera, among others. Additionally, she was a founding advisory council co-chair of the nonprofit The Asian American Foundation, as well as chair of the foundations education committee, which aimed to help students access quality education. The Asian American Foundation is heartbroken to learn of the devastating death of Angela Chao, a beloved businesswoman, philanthropist and respected leader, the nonprofit said in a statement. Angela has left an indelible mark on The Asian American Foundation and the AAPI community. A brilliant and committed leader, Angelas warmth, kindness, and infectious energy will live on in our work for decades to come. Chao was born in 1973 to James S.C. Chao, founder of the prominent shipping company, and the late Ruth Mulan Chu Chao. Her sister Elaine is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Information on other survivors was not immediately available. Early on in life, Angela expressed interest in the shipping industry, according to her father. [She] was a wonderful and inquisitive companion accompanying me to the office on Take Your Daughter to Work days, he said in the statement. She also took to music as a child, playing the French horn and insisting on carrying it to every lesson, her father said. These early experiences created a lifelong, passionate commitment to the fine arts. Angela Chao graduated from Harvard College, then attended Harvard Business School. She worked in the mergers & acquisitions department of Smith Barney, now part of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, before joining the Foremost Group in 1996. As a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, wife and friend, she was unfailingly filial, thoughtful, kind and devoted, the elder Chao said in the family statement. She kept us laughing and smiling. She believed deeply that the true treasures in life are family, friends and helping others. Losing her at such a young age is something we never even imagined, and our entire family is devastated with grief. For more from NBC Asian America, sign up for our weekly newsletter. Washington President Biden said Monday the U.S. is working to negotiate a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that would pause fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks. In White House remarks alongside King Abdullah II of Jordan, Mr. Biden said the deal "would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks, which we could then take the time to build something more enduring." "Over the past month I've had calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to push this forward," Mr. Biden said. "The key elements of the deal are on the table. There are gaps that remain but I've encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve the deal. The United States will do everything possible to make it happen." Mr. Biden also said the U.S. did not know how many of the hostages being held by the terrorist group are still alive. "The anguish that their families are enduring, week after week, month after month is unimaginable," he said. "And it's a top priority for the United States to bring them home." The president has dispatched the CIA director, William Burns, to Cairo for further hostage talks this week after Hamas provided a new set of terms to the Qatari government, CBS News reported. Abdullah has pushed for a cease-fire in Gaza in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7. After meeting with Mr. Biden at the White House, the Jordanian leader called for a "lasting cease-fire now." "This war must end," he said, also calling for immediate and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Their meeting comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Rafah, a crowded city in southern Gaza near Egypt's border. Israel says Rafah is Hamas's last remaining stronghold, but more than one million displaced Palestinians are estimated to have taken refuge there after fleeing fighting elsewhere in Gaza. Mr. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, telling him that Israel "should not proceed" with an invasion of Rafah unless it had a "credible" plan for ensuring the safety of the people sheltering there. Mr. Biden reiterated that in his remarks from the White House. "Many people there have been displaced, displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they're packed into Rafah, exposed and vulnerable. They need to be protected," Mr. Biden said. "We've also been clear from the start, we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza." Abdullah condemned Israel's military operation, saying "it is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe." "We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah," Abdullah said. "The situation is already unbearable for over a million people who have been pushed into Rafah since the war started. We cannot stand by and let this continue." Paul Giamatti, 2024 Oscars nominee for "The Holdovers" "Hello Vincent": Artificial intelligence brings Van Gogh to life Investigation after shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood church in Houston Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Verizon Actor Brian Baumgartner is down to reprise his role as Kevin Malone on The Office in a potential revival on one condition. If [showrunner] Greg Daniels was involved, then yeah, of course, Baumgartner, 51, exclusively told Us Weekly at Rob Gronkowskis preSuper Bowl Gronk Beach party in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 10. While rumors of a revival of the hit sitcom have been swirling for years, Baumgartner noted that nothing concrete is in the works right now. Maybe someday, he shared. I think at some point well be back together, but theres no immediate plans. The Office followed the hilarious workplace hijinks of the staff of Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The sitcom, based on the U.K. series of the same name, ended its nine-season run on NBC in May 2013. 'The Office' Cast Then and Now: Photos Nearly 10 years later, Baumgartner said he still doesnt get tired of being recognized as his iconic character, Kevin. I appreciate and am a fan of the show myself, so when I meet people who are fans of the show, I appreciate it, he told Us. Its always nice. Multiple outlets reported in December 2017 that an Office reboot was in the works without original star Steve Carell, who played Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott for seven seasons. While the series never came to fruition, hopes of a revival were reignited last fall after Puck News reported a reboot was expected to be announced following the conclusion of the Writers Guild of America strike, which ended in September 2023. At the time, Daniels, 60, clarified that the news was simply speculatory. The fact that it kind of blew up based on one line in a Puck piece was kind of cool, I guess, in the sense that the fans still care a lot, he told Collider in October 2023. Kevin Winter/Getty Images The executive producer didnt completely shut down the idea of bringing back The Office. When theres something to announce, I will definitely announce it, he teased. Baumgartner is one of many Office stars who have expressed their hopes for a revival over the years. I mean, I would do it, Angela Kinsey, who played Angela Martin, said on her and Jenna Fischers The Office Ladies podcast last month. I would do it for my kids because I think they would think thats fun. 'Scranton, What?!' The Office Casts Best Reunions Over the Years Fischer, who portrayed Pam Beesly, echoed Baumgartners comments, stating, As long as Greg is writing it and hes in charge of it, then I say yes. John Krasinski, who played fan-favorite Jim Halpert, shared his desire for an onscreen Office reunion back in February 2020. I mean it is my beginning and my end. Im pretty sure at the end of my career Ill still be known for Jim, he shared in an interview with Esquire. That was my first experience with Hollywood. It was the first creative family Ive ever had. In many ways, they will always be the most important people in that most important experience in my career. So yeah, if they did a reunion, I would absolutely love to do it. With reporting by Hannah Kahn By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - An election result in Tuvalu has been delayed by two weeks as dangerous weather stops boats from bringing new lawmakers to the capital to vote for prime minister, highlighting why climate change is the top political issue in the Pacific Islands nation. Tuvalu's prime minister, Kausea Natano, lost his seat in a general election on Jan. 26 closely watched by Taiwan, China, the United States and Australia, amid a geopolitical tussle for influence in the South Pacific. Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, and one contender for prime minister has said the new government should review whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu's development needs. A vote of 16 newly elected lawmakers will decide who the prime minister. But dangerous weather conditions, including forecasts of 4 metre (13 ft) waves, has stopped boats from reaching the capital, Funafuti. "Four elect-MPs are still stuck on the outer-islands. The proposed date to elect the PM is not possible now," election commissioner Tufoua Panapa told Reuters on Tuesday. Boats have been unable to come alongside the wharf in Funafuti's small port, which is exposed to western winds, Funafuti Port acting director Taasi Pitoi said by telephone. High tides in Funafuti have compounded the problem. "It is flooding some places where there has never been flooding before," he said, attributing this to rising sea levels. Tuvalu's meteorological service warned Funafuti residents to stay indoors as a 3.2-metre tide inundated the island. Photographs on social media show water lapping at the front doors of elevated homes, and waves crashing onto roads. "We're fatigued of telling our story over and over again," Maina Talia, a climate activist elected to represent the atoll of Vaitupu, wrote on Facebook. Scientists predict Funafuti risks being inundated by tides by 2050, and Tuvalu has struck a deal with Australia to allow its population to gradually migrate, but it is also seeking urgent action to fortify its coast. Talia arrived by boat in Funafuti on Sunday night. Commenting on images of residents wading through water, he wrote the intensity and frequency of sea water seeping through the road to houses had left residents of Vaitupu with "very limited options". "To address this issue we need an aggressive and serious approach ," he wrote on Facebook. It is cyclone season in the Pacific Islands region. Philip Malsale, a climatologist with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, said climate change was increasing the frequency and intensity of Tuvalu's coastal inundation and rough seas over the past fortnight. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham. Editing by Gerry Doyle) The 250 members of the Florida Republican Party's Executive Committee who arrived in Tallahassee last month to remove the party chair and elect a new one were greeted by the then-vice chair with a handshake and a smile. Evan Power stood in the doorway of the Tallahassee Conference Center, just off the interstate, next to a Cracker Barrel and minutes away from securing a long-sought goal - to be named leader of the Florida Republican Party. The 41-year-old Chattanooga, Tennessee, native was in his third attempt to be state chair. He had worked nearly 20 years for the opportunity that came when Christian Zieglers term as chair was derailed by allegations of rape and video voyeurism. Ziegler is still under investigation for the latter but police decided not to charge him with sexual battery. Power greeted committee members by name as they lined up for voting credentials and posed for pictures. He introduced his wife Melissa and their newborn, then chaperoned U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, walking with a cane, through the crowded hallway and into the meeting room. I tell people this is my Super Bowl," Power said. "I really feel the party leadership is my true fit, working with elected officials, working with grassroots to build a common cause so that we can win elections. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Powers poses for a portrait in front of the Historic Florida Capitol building on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Power was talking as much about his career as he was about the campaign to become Florida GOP chief. He tells people about expanding party membership in Democratic-rooted Tallahassee, even reclaiming a state senate seat that had been blue since the end of Reconstruction, and electing a Republican to the non-partisan local school board. Although outnumbered almost 2-to-1 in Leon County, the GOP has steadily eaten into Democrats' lead in voter registration during Power's tenure. They have increased registration and turnout locally in each election cycle since 2014 and outpaced Democrats 69% to 58% in voter turnout for the 2022 election. Jon Ausman ran the Leon Democratic Party for more than 20 years beginning in the 1980s, and was the longest serving member of the Democratic National Committee in Florida history. Retired from politics but still a collector of political data, he dismisses Power's accomplishments as the kind of stuff that looks good on paper: "Very flammable paper. If he ever meets competent competition, he's going down in flames." When Ausman, for example, looks at Leon County voter registration numbers, voter turnout, and party spending in campaigns, he concludes Power is a paper tiger "blessed" with inept opposition. Florida GOP Vice Chair Evan Power speaks to reporters after an emergency meeting of the party's executive board Sunday where Chair Christian Ziegler was stripped of his authority amid a rape allegation. Of the 5,162 new voters in the last election cycle, just 58 were registered by either political party. "That's 1.1% of new voters and shows neither party is registering voters," Ausman said. An examination of the 2022 contributions and expenditures by the Leon County Republican Party finds that almost 80% of funds were used on social events not for what Ausman considers the fundamental party responsibility: Educating and turning out voters. An early life in politics After his 2004 graduation from Florida State University with a degree in finance, Power went to work for then-Florida House Rep. Marco Rubio, now the state's senior U.S. senator, before joining the Ramba Consulting Group. The six-member lobbying team consistently lands on the Top 25 lobbyist leaderboard as compiled by Florida Politics. State lobbyist compensation reports show Ramba Consulting billed clients an estimated $2.2 million in 2021. Power's clients this year include AT&T, the Automobile Dealers Association, the City of Daytona, the Florida Chiropractic Association, Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Professional Vacation Rental Coalition, state records show. Evan Power and family were on hand to greet committee members when they arrived in Tallahassee While working for Rubio he also became active in the local party, getting elected vice chair of the Leon County GOP in 2010 and then chair in 2014. Power leveraged the local chairmanship to become the assistant treasurer of the state GOP in 2017. But a bid to become state party chair in 2018 was derailed by a drunk driving charge after Power declined to take a breath test. An off-duty police officer saw Power hit a parked vehicle. An edited version of the arresting officer's body-cam video recently went viral when tweeted on X by Democratic provocateur Thomas Kennedy. It shows Power explaining how he the collision occurred: "I turned. I couldn't see that car, and I just, like, drove," he slurred to a police officer. Power said at the scene he had two bottles of Bud Light, added he was "not over the limit," but conceded he knew the incident was not going to end well for him. A year later, however, Power went old school to reestablish himself as a statewide leader. He was named chair of the committee of county GOP chairs, according to University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett, in a discussion of Powers rise in state politics. Evan Power watches as election results come in, with a group of party members on Election Night, Nov. 3, 2020. 'Chair of chairs' turns road warrior As the "chair of chairs," Power logged over 270,000 miles traveling to party events in rural Hernando and Hamilton counties and others in urban Orange and Palm Beach. He didnt do it virtually. He physically showed up, put in the miles, established relationships, persuaded people and counted votes, Jewett said, describing what he called politics the way it used to be. In 2022, Ziegler defeated Power for state chair after state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, stepped down. But Jewett noted that the role of a lobbyist and state party chair are quite similar, with the core of both being the establishment of relationships. He put in tens of thousands of miles a month traveling to see people face-to-face, meet them at their events and talk with them," Jewett said. "Thats old-school politics in the best sense. Power said his dual roles are a natural fit given his ability to work with lawmakers. That ability, he said, could reap benefits both for the GOP and for his employer. That I have really good relationships with legislators, I guess, makes me valuable to my employer. But it is also why I could be a successful party chair because I have relationships with the elected officials and the ability to get them to help me raise money, Power said. Power said his priorities as party chair include raising money to maintain the GOPs supermajority status in the Legislature, continue growing voter registration across the state and outpace Democrats in voter turnout. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Evan Power: A look at his rise to Florida Republican Party chair A child custody exchange turned fatal after a man shot the father of the child during a fight in Colorado on Sunday. The Elbert County Sheriff's Office said officers were called to a gas station in unincorporated Elbert County, southeast of Denver, around 3 p.m. on Sunday after reports that two men were fighting and one had pulled out a gun and shot the other in the chest. A 36-year-old father from Parker, Colorado had gone to the gas station to conduct a custody exchange of his 4-year-old daughter with his ex-girlfriend, the sheriff's office said. The father's identity has not been released. Authorities said the father was fatally shot by his ex-girlfriend's fiance, identified as 26-year-old Jeffrey Church, after the two men were involved in a fight. Church was arrested on first-degree murder charges and is being held at the detention facility at the sheriff's office. Fatal attack: Suspect killed 6, including his parents, in separate Texas attacks, authorities say According to a press release, the first sheriff's deputy to arrive on the scene held Church until additional deputies arrived. He then began life-saving measures for the father. Elizabeth Fire Rescue personnel took over attempts to save the man's life before he was transported to AdventHealth Parker and pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information has been released so far. Church is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 20, KUSA in Denver reported. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Father shot during child custody exchange in Colorado: Officials The fight to protect end-to-end encryption is a never-ending one, and its seen some setbacks in recent months, most notably the passage in the U.K. of the Online Safety Act, which (theoretically, for now) empowers the government there to order communications providers like Signal or WhatsApp to bypass the strong encryption on their messages. Well, heres some good news for those who are keen on protecting their messages from prying eyes. The European Court of Human Rights said today that, while security services may want to decrypt some peoples communications to fight crime, weakening encryption for some people means weakening it for alland that would violate human rights law (specifically, Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to privacy). This useful nugget of wisdom came in a long-awaited ruling about the Telegram messaging service and its tussle with the Russian authorities. (It may be located in France, but the European Court of Human Rights has nothing to do with the European Union, instead having jurisdiction over the entire Council of Europe, whose members include not only EU countries, but also neighbors like Turkey and the U.K. Russia was a member until early 2022, when it stormed off in the wake of its Ukraine invasionbut that didnt put an end to this case.) Back in 2017, Russia told Dubai-based Telegram that it had to give the authorities the keys to the encrypted conversations of its users. With Telegram pointedly ignoring the order, Moscow blocked the app the following yearor at least, it tried to. A kind-of-hilarious game of whack-a-mole ensued, with Telegram merrily skipping from IP address to IP address, and Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor blocking entire Google and Amazon sub-networks in its attempt to enforce the order. Swathes of the Russian internet got taken out in the mayhem. In the end, the authorities seemingly gave up, and Telegram (which is notoriously popular with Kremlin officials) remains available in Russia to this day. But all the while, Telegrams lawyers tried to fight the original give-up-your-keys order in the courts. It had no luck in Russia itself, which is how the case ended up at the European Court of Human Rights. Fast-forward to todays ruling about Russias security laws. In so far as this legislation permits the public authorities to have access, on a generalized basis and without sufficient safeguards, to the content of electronic communications, it impairs the very essence of the right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the Convention, the court concluded. That obviously implies that, with proper targeting and safeguards, an anti-encryption law might be kosher. But the ruling also sings the praises of end-to-end encryption, noting that it protects freedom of expression and appears to help citizens and businesses to defend themselves against abuses of information technologies, such as hacking, identity and personal data theft, fraud and the improper disclosure of confidential information. A law obliging a communications provider to decrypt communications risks amounting to a requirement that providers of such services weaken the encryption mechanism for all users. To be clear, even though Russia has slipped out of its jurisdiction, the European Court of Human Rights has no enforcement powers anyway. But, that said, ignoring its rulings is not a good look if you claim to be pro-human-rights. What the court just said about encryption could well prove influential if and when the U.K. government decides to use its new Online Safety Act powers to try forcing a service like Signal to undermine users encryption. Same goes for the EU, where the European Commission was recently trying to do the same thing with a proposal aimed at fighting child sexual abuse materialEU lawmakers pushed back, leading to an ongoing deadlock, but again, the war over encryption seems destined to go on forever. More news below. David Meyer Want to send thoughts or suggestions to Data Sheet? Drop a line here. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski knows were all obsessed with IPOs. When I ask about the IPO-shaped elephant-in-the-room, Siemiatkowski is clear on the plan, and flexible on the timeline: He wants to take the fintech giant public, and does believe that Klarna will be ready for that next stepwhen the company takes it. In my opinion, Ive been extremely consistent, Ive always said the exact same thing, he tells Term Sheet on a Monday video call. First, yes, that its not too far away, probably a few years, and, then, that Ive always dreamed Klarna would be a global company. And what that means is success in the U.S. Check: Klarna, founded in Stockholm in 2005 by Siemiatkowski and Niklas Adalberth, has been barreling into the U.S. market in recent years. And it seems to have workedthe company now has 37 million users in the U.S., and Klarnas warm, millennial pink branding has grown (at least, to me) increasingly familiar. Second, you have to make it profitable as wellspending a lot of money to buy a bunch of Super Bowl ads doesnt necessarily mean youre a functioning business. Check, again: Klarna, which was profitable for its first 16 years, went into the red for a time, spending heavily on its U.S. expansion. But those days are goneKlarna went back into the black in November, after a process that involved layoffs. We were investing at very, very intense levels, Siemiatkowski said. We were basically booking a loss of negative Ebitda of $100 million or even $250 million a month. A giant company is like a cruise ship. You can turn it around, but its toughand if youre not careful, you can hit an iceberg. Very few know this as well as Siemiatkowski, whos weathered three downturns. And in this current downturn, fintech has been hit especially hardfunding in the sector fell 42% year-over-year to $35 billion in 2023, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Does he have any advice for fintech founders, at a moment where the sector itself feels especially vulnerable? Siemiatkowski has two pieces of advice. First, don't expect times to get better very quickly, because I don't think they will. Second, Many people have tried to apply AI and failed, or it didnt work out and theyll say that was a fun thing, but it didnt really make a difference'But dont get fooled by that, because it can work for real and is going to have a significant impact on business. Siemiatkowski seems to follow his own advice, as hes led Klarna headfirst into AI innovation and experimentationwith some help. Drawing on a common investor, Siemiatkowski reached out to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman last year, telling him: I want Klarna to be your favorite guinea pig. The two companies have worked together ever since. Weve had a very close relationship, and weve been able to try and test these technologies very early on, he said. It took us some time to get there, but now were seeing a very concrete impact. In 2023, the payments and shopping company rolled out a range of AI features, including AI-powered image search and highly personalized shopping feeds. The tangible impact of AI has led Siemiatkowski to a new hypothesis: Startups could see a massive business model change, as companies emerge that are AI-driven and characterized by high revenue per employee, as growth and operations become more efficient. Companies like this, he says, could be a reality within a year and we might call them, say, AI tigers. I tell him this sounds like something Klarna aspires to. Well, of course. In the end, we're a business, here to create value for customers and shareholders and society as a wholeto me, as much as profits debated, in the end, profit is just proof that the value we create for our customers is worth more than it costs us to produce it. Next actFormer Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor is unveiling his new startup, one year after leaving his old job. Sierra, as the new company is called, is betting that conversational AI "agents" will become standard features for business of all types, and it has raised $110 million in funding from top-tier VCs including Sequoia and Benchmark. Taylor and former Google executive Clay Bavor, Sierra's cofounders, sat down with Fortune's Kylie Robison to provide the first up-close look at the company, its technology, and its roster of customers. Alexei Oreskovic ThrivingThrive Capitals Joshua Kushner has invested in more than a dozen VC firms from its $3.3 billion eighth growth-stage fund, my colleague Jessica Mathews has exclusively learned. Many of the firms that Thrives invested in are emerging managers. See you tomorrow, Allie Garfinkle Twitter: @agarfinks Email: alexandra.garfinkle@fortune.com Submit a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joe Abrams curated the deals section of today's newsletter. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com House Republicans have reached out to special counsel Robert Hur to discuss having him testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee about his report on President Joe Bidens handling of classified documents, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Hurs report released last week did not charge the president with a crime, but it painted a picture of a forgetful commander in chief who failed to properly protect highly sensitive classified information a depiction that could hurt Biden politically and that Republicans have seized on. Hur has retained Bill Burck, who previously represented special counsel John Durham, as his personal attorney. While there is no date on the calendar, they are looking toward the end of February, one of the sources told CNN. The Justice Department declined to comment. House Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry also asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to turn over the transcript of the special counsels interview with the president in a new letter on Monday. The Republican committee chairs are also asking the Department of Justice to supply Congress with any recordings, notes, or summaries of the special counsels interview with the president. Beyond that, Republicans request the Justice Department turn over classified documents related to Ukraine as they continue to attempt to draw connections between Bidens official actions as vice president and his sons foreign business dealings at the time. There is concern that President Biden may have retained sensitive documents related to specific countries involving his familys foreign business dealings House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, Oversight Chair James Comer, and Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith wrote in the letter. The two special counsels appointed during the Trump presidency, Robert Mueller and Durham, both testified to Congress once they submitted their reports to the Justice Department. After expressing some reluctance, Mueller agreed to testify before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees in July 2019 about his investigation, delivering halting and stilted responses that mostly stuck to his report. The negotiations for Muellers appearance stretched out for weeks, ultimately leading to an agreement in which he appeared after he was subpoenaed. Last June, Durham testified to the House Judiciary Committee about his investigation and report into the FBIs probe into Trump and Russia, and he spoke behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee. Hurs special counsel report found that Biden willfully retained classified information, including top secret documents, and knew he was in possession of some documents as far back as 2017. He also shared some of that information with the ghostwriter of his 2017 memoir. The special counsel decided not to charge the president in the case primarily because he found that nothing proved a willful intent by Biden to illegally hold onto classified information and the president cooperated with the investigation. Yet, in a politically damaging line of reasoning, Hur wrote that one reason Biden wasnt going to be prosecuted was because he would present to a jury as an elderly man with a poor memory. Bidens lawyers objected to the description calling it investigative excess and accusing Hur of flouting Justice Department rules and norms. The report is sure to become an issue in the 2024 campaign where Bidens likely opponent, Donald Trump, is facing criminal charges for his handling of classified material, even though Hur made clear how different the two cases were. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Veteran Wall Street executive Omeed Malik plans to raise over $3 million and donate at least $100,000 in support of Donald Trumps campaign, making him the latest backer of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis failed bid to help the former president. Malik, who is the CEO of Farvahar Partners, said in an interview that after having helped to raise money and give voice to the likes of DeSantis and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he now plans to turn to his extensive network to help finance Trumps campaign for president. What I am committing to doing is putting the resources that I have and Rolodex I have, both of which are material, behind the president on a go-forward basis, Malik said. Maliks bona fides are rare in Trumps orbit. Until recently, he was living in New York City and identifying as a Democrat. He was a regular donor to both Democrats and Republicans, sitting on the Council of Foreign Relations and building a traditional Wall Street resume with stints at Bank of America and the corporate law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. But Malik was disturbed by what he saw as government overreach during the Covid pandemic, which pushed him to move to Florida and begin gravitating toward the right side of the aisle. And, like many Trump voters, he said it was what he deemed the weaponization of regulatory and legal systems that drew him to the former president. Its starting to become prime time here between [President Joe] Biden and Trump, and this is when I can be much more effective, Malik said. The pandemic also inspired him to pursue alternative ventures. Maliks firm, 1789 Capital, is a financial backer behind Tucker Carlsons media company. The firm aims to help create a sort of parallel economy that appeals to more conservative consumers. Hes also behind PublicSquare, a conservative shopping app meant to rival Amazon. Now his focus is turning to making a marked impact on the 2024 election. Malik plans to raise at least $3 million for Trumps campaign for president, an adviser told CNBC. Thats the same amount he raised for DeSantis 2022 campaign for governor. The adviser was granted anonymity to describe private efforts to help Trump. Malik also donated over $100,000 to DeSantis allied political action committee during his successful 2022 re-election bid, according to state campaign finance records. When DeSantis ran for president, Malik co-hosted an event for him in the lucrative Hamptons region of New York. The adviser said Malik aims to give at least $100,000 to a Trump fundraising committee but has yet to decide which one. He also plans to meet privately with Trump in Florida to discuss their fundraising strategy, the adviser said. Malik is already a member of Mar-a-Lago, Trumps private club in Palm Beach. Maliks officially moving over to help Trump makes him the latest former DeSantis fundraiser to bet on Trump to win the Republican primary campaign over Nikki Haley and possibly defeat Biden in the general election. Dan Eberhart, another DeSantis bundler, announced during the New Hampshire primary that he was moving back to help Trump. Maliks decision to become so visible and outspoken in his support of Trump is a rarity among his peers in the Wall Street establishment. The group has been known to keep a safe distance from Trump. Many had chosen to support Haley or DeSantis or stay on the sidelines until a strong Trump alternative appeared a donor dream that never became reality. And Malik had some choice words for his contemporaries. He described a trend in the donor community that he views as virtue signaling saying the common refrain is that they agree with Trumps policies; they just dont like his character. But then he points to the Bill Clinton era, when, he says, the mindset in the same donor crowd was to put policy first and see personal failings as secondary or simply irrelevant. But all of those people that supported Clinton now claim that they dont like Trump for character reasons. It just doesnt make any sense, Malik said. The reason theyre holding their nose seems to me to be disingenuous and sanctimonious. He also noted in the interview that he has observed growing donor frustrations with Biden. And he sees controversies like the one over how college campuses should address antisemitism pushing big money toward Trump again. The effort by Malik and some others from Wall Street, including John Paulson, to start helping Trump may not have come at a better time for Trump, as his political operation continues to burn through cash. Trumps affiliated committees combined to spend about $27 million on legal fees in the final six months of 2023 while he faces a variety of criminal cases, according to an NBC News analysis of campaign finance filings. One of those entities spending on legal fees in Save America came into this year with around $5 million on hand. Malik has had ties to Trump and his larger orbit for years, including having been a Trump donor. He contributed $25,000 to Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee that benefited Trumps 2020 campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, are reportedly investors into PublicSquare, the conservative shopping app that went public on the New York Stock Exchange thanks to a merger with Maliks Colombier Acquisition Corp. Omeed is a close friend, business partner and one of the most important donors and bundlers in Republican politics. Im excited that hes all in on my fathers reelection campaign and look forward to working with him to Make America Great Again this November! Trump Jr. said in a statement to NBC News. Malik also has ties to one of Trumps wealthier supporters during his 2016 campaign, Rebekah Mercer. She is among a group of reported investors in 1789 Capital. Mercer is the daughter of Robert Mercer, the former co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies, who gave $15 million to a super PAC that backed Trumps first successful run for president. Robert Mercer also invested in the controversial, now-defunct data company Cambridge Analytica, where his daughter was on the board. After having distanced themselves for years from Trump, the Mercers have been weighing whether to financially back his latest run for president. They reportedly have made the move to support him again. Others in Maliks orbit include Nick Ayers, a former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, who recently endorsed Trump, and Blake Masters, a candidate for Congress in Arizona and an ally of GOP financier Peter Thiel. An extremely important baby animal so small it can fit in your hands was born, according to a Louisiana aquarium. An African penguin chick was born at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, according to a Feb. 9 news release. Ritz and Saltine, the babys mother and father, are first-time parents in the penguin colony to the brand-new bundle of joy, according to the aquarium. Now the pair have been trading shifts of caring for the baby in their nest to keep it warm. The chicks birth marked an important step forward for African penguin conservation efforts, the Audubon Nature Institute said. African penguins like this chick are among the worlds most endangered and every chick that hatches is an extremely important part of efforts to save the penguin population, the institute said. From the start of the 20th century, the African penguin population has dwindled down 90% from its original population, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. The species has been threatened by climate change on its environment, as well as commercial fishing and oil spills, the center said. Unlike the other 17 species of penguins, African penguins live in the warmer climate of southern Africa along the coastline, according to Audubon Nature Institutes website. African penguins are known for the raucous noises of their colony, which the organization compared to loud donkey-like braying. African penguins lay two eggs in holes they dig in the sand, and the parents form tight pair bonds, according to the institute. There are more than 20 African penguins at the aquarium, according to the institute. After about three weeks, the institute staff will assist Ritz and Saltine in caring for the baby, according to the aquariums post. The sex of the chick is unknown until its shell is tested, the institute said. Rare chimp is born while astonished zoo visitors watch. See the precious baby Precious litter of baby critters welcomed at South Carolina zoo. See the fuzzy pups Splishy splashes. Watch elephant have a ball in storms aftermath at California zoo When historic high-tide flooding struck Hampton Beach on a Saturday in January, Unitil received reports of submerged natural gas service meters and regulators. Gas technicians decided to proactively conduct door-to-door inspections approximately 3,000 meters were checked for damage. As unprecedented flooding walloped the coast that day, Unitil warned customers about serious hazards, namely wet electrical wiring and gas service equipment. If someone suspected a gas leak, they were urged to call 911 and move to a safe environment. While the gas system itself wasnt directly impacted by the flooding, Unitil ultimately shut off about 100 meters that had sustained damage and required repairs or replacement. Unitil gas technician Scott Murray checks gas service meters at Hampton Beach after historic high-tide flooding on Jan. 13. The science of what actually happened on Jan. 13 isnt settled whether the area was due for a historic extreme weather event, akin to the Blizzard of 78, or if the storm was climate change-driven said Jennifer Jacobs, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire. But what is certain is that high-tide flooding is becoming increasingly common due to years of sea level rise, scientists say. For the utilities that provide residents and businesses with electricity and gas services, its an escalating reality theyre considering in their strategic plans. From substations, to transformers, to individual gas meters at homes, flooding and storm surge pose threats to energy infrastructure. More: Sen. Shaheen: Seacoast storm damage expected to qualify for FEMA funds Its very fair to say this will be a reference point event for us as we think about things like coastal flooding and what that means, Alec OMeara, external affairs director for Unitil, said about the Jan. 13 ordeal. According to UNH research projections, between 2020 and 2099, the state can expect a twofold or threefold increase in extreme precipitation events. Sea levels are estimated to rise between 0.6 and 2 feet by 2050, and between 1.6 and 6.6 feet by 2100, depending on greenhouse gas concentrations. During the back-to-back flood events on Jan. 10 and 13, municipal officials and coastal residents remarked theyd never seen storm impacts quite so bad. Seawalls were breached and destroyed, swaths of Route 1A were closed entirely, and handfuls of residents along Hampton Beach evacuated their homes. I was surprised not by which areas flooded, because weve mapped them out pretty well, but that these levels were levels I wasnt expecting now, said Jacobs, who studies flooding and its impact on coastal resiliency, infrastructure, and transportation. The verdict is still out on the true cause of the extreme weather in January, and Jacobs said her colleagues at UNH are actively working on related research. Regardless, she said, the flooding serves as a grim harbinger. I think as a community, this is a wake-up call because with a changing climate, what this does is it shows us a little bit about what it would look like if the sea level was a couple extra feet higher, Jacobs said. Unitils response to Jan. 13 flooding Unitils response efforts on the weekend of Jan. 13 were zeroed in on Hampton because it experienced the worst coastal flooding. The morning after the storm, the utilitys mobile emergency operations center was deployed and the door-to-door inspections began. OMeara said technicians were looking specifically at the gas meters and regulators at each individual home, both the entry points for gas service into a structure. Those need to be functioning properly for any of the appliances in the home to do what theyre supposed to do, he said. Of most concern is that submerged or partially submerged gas meters can leak or malfunction. If any natural gas equipment has been underwater, it shouldnt be used until its been inspected by a professional. The good news, OMeara said, is the majority of inspections didnt reveal damage approximately 100 of the 3,000 meters inspected had to be shut off, and most of those impacted were back up and running by Tuesday of the following week. The historic flood event reminded Unitil why it embarked on a company-wide climate scenario exercise during the summer of 2022, where employees took two possible climate change outcomes varying degrees of warming and applied them to their infrastructure. Based on the analysis, OMeara said, Unitils substations, poles, and transformers dont appear to be significantly impacted, but the exercise underscored the need to be prepared for extreme weather that strikes unexpectedly, because the utility will likely find itself responding to outages more frequently. Were going to be looking at what happened with the flooding on the beach and compare that to the modeling we did ahead of time, OMeara said. Does it align with what we did? Do we need to change our strategic plan? Broadly speaking, based on the work weve done so far, we feel good about the infrastructure itself. The thing we need to plan for is how we make sure we have a robust emergency management system in place so that as more frequent storms occur, we are well-prepared to take those on. Its not just the coast Inland parts of the state have also experienced recent historical flood events, meaning its not just coastal infrastructure thats at risk. Last July, the Monadnock Region was pummeled by quick and heavy rain that led to washed-out, impassable roads and evacuations. That same rainstorm put much of the downtown area of Vermonts capital city, Montpelier, underwater. Then, in December, New England was hit with another record-setting, powerful storm that saw rivers overflow in the North County and White Mountains. A beaver dam caused flooding at an Eversource substation in Northwood last year following a heavy rain. Eversource spokesman William Hinkle said electric substations are one of their primary concerns when it comes to flooding for accessibility, reliability, and safety reasons. Last May, one of the utilitys substations in Northwood experienced flooding, caused by a beaver dam in a culvert nearby after heavy rain. The substation was under about a foot of water, and the Northwood Fire Department had to bring in a pump truck to pull it from the site. Flooding can pose challenges for accessing our substations during storms, and if equipment is damaged, it could cause an outage for all customers served by that particular substation, Hinkle said. The state ultimately had to use high pressure hoses to break-up the dam in Northwood, and later installed a cage in front of the culvert. Eversource has been closely monitoring the situation in case the beavers return. Hinkle noted flooding can also increase safety risks for Eversource crews that have to make repairs, ones that can be much more time-intensive than the repairs to the distribution lines that most people are generally more familiar with. Eversource, the states largest electric utility, is performing a new flood study this year, having changed to a 500-year-flood risk assessment and design as opposed to a 100-year-flood design. Thats because 100-year floods are increasing in frequency. In essence, a 100-year flood has a 1 percent chance of happening each year, while a 500-year flood has a 0.2 percent chance. According to a study from First Street Foundation, a research nonprofit that releases climate risk data, roughly 21 percent of the country can now expect their 1-in-100-year flood to happen every 25 years. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What Hampton Beach area floods mean for NH energy infrastructure Polls opened in the vast country of Indonesia on Wednesday with more than 200 million voters casting their ballots to elect a new president, in what is billed as the worlds biggest single-day election. The sprawling Southeast Asian nation, the worlds third-largest electoral democracy and largest Muslim-majority country, has made impressive gains since the fall of the late dictator Suhartos authoritarian regime in 1998 morphing into one of Asias most vibrant democracies and economies. Hosting a vote in the worlds largest archipelagic nation is a huge effort. The country is wider than the United States and straddles three time zones. It is made up of over 18,000 islands and islets, of which 6,000 are inhabited, and over 150 languages spoken across its breadth. The campaign has been dominated by big personalities in a decisive election that will also select some 20,000 other national and provincial lawmakers. Younger Indonesians are key, with around half of registered voters being under the age of 40, according to the General Election Commission. A woman casts her ballot in Banjar Teba, Jimbaran on the resort island of Bali on February 14, 2024. - Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images Job opportunities are top of mind for many voters, with presidential hopefuls vowing to propel the countrys economic growth fueled by rich natural resources and trade opportunities. But climate change and illegal logging challenge Indonesias sustainable future. Heres what to expect. The presidential candidates The race is a three-way contest between a former army general and two former governors. Prabowo Subianto, 72, a former military general and incumbent defense minister, is running for president for a third time, and hes leading the polls. Prabowo is the former son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto and his controversial background hasnt dented his popularity, as experts warn dynastic politics is making a comeback. He is accused of kidnapping and torturing pro-democracy activists in the late 1990s when he served as general which he repeatedly denied responsibility for. In the years since he has re-made his image as a democracy supporter, but many activists and analysts remain fearful of his authoritarian past. That he was favored by former leader Suharto and has now found it politically advantageous to transform himself into an ostensible democrat doesnt change the very real prospect that he would revert to his brutal past should he manage to ascend to the presidency and no longer need to feign respect for human rights to advance his ambitions, Kenneth Roth, former executive director at Human Rights Watch and visiting professor at Princeton University, told CNN. Indonesia's 2024 presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan (R) - Getty Images Another main contender is Ganjar Pranowo, the candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. He served two terms as governor of Central Java which has won him a large following outside the capital Jakarta in Indonesias most populous island. His running mate is senior minister Mahfud MD. Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan is running as an independent candidate. He has strong links with Islamic political groups, and his vice-presidential pick, Muhaimin Iskandar, is the leader of Indonesias largest Muslim political party, the National Awakening Party. Anies was the former governor of Jakarta, a position he won in 2017 after accusing his main contender an ethnic Chinese Christian, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok of blasphemy. Jokowis influence Outgoing President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, has dominated Indonesian politics since 2014, but is constitutionally barred from seeking a consecutive third term. He was hailed at the time as a break from Indonesias dynastic politics. But concerns have been growing over what many view as moves by Jokowi to secure influence after leaving office through his 36-year-old son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is running for vice president with Prabowo. Gibran was made eligible to run despite being below the age limit after a constitutional court ruling headed by Jokowis brother in law granted him an exception. The plan is clearly to establish a Jokowi dynasty and Gibran fits the mold, said Adrian Vickers, professor of Southeast Asian studies at the University of Sydney. He is also clearly the asset for Prabowo in getting the millennial vote. Mascots depicting presidential candidate and Indonesia's Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (R) in an election event on February 5, 2024. - Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images Will there be a run-off? Its very likely, experts say, even as Prabowo and running mate Gibran emerge as frontrunners in various polls. A presidential candidate needs a simple majority of at least 50% of total votes and 20% of votes in more than half of the countrys 38 provinces to win. If no one succeeds, a run-off will take place on June 26. A lot of people are worried about Prabowo becoming president and are pulling out all the stops to head him off, said Vickers from the University of Sydney. Anies could get a strong enough vote to force a run-off, he added. What change do voters want to see? Indonesia is a youthful nation. At least a third of voters are millennials, and 22% are Gen Z. But nearly one in five Indonesians aged between 15 and 24 are unable to find work, based on government data. The young electorate has emphasized job opportunities, eradicating poverty and corruption as their top three priorities in the vote, according to a survey conducted in November 2023 by Lembaga Survei Indonesia and the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. Creating high-quality jobs with fair pay hinges on Indonesias governance system where corruption is not uncommon to lure foreign investments according to Maria Monica Wihardja, an economist and visiting fellow at the institute. When you dont have good institutions, that will affect the investment climate. And when it affects investment climate that will affect job creation, Wihardja told CNN. Transparency International ranks Indonesia at 110 out of 180 nations in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index and says the country has backslid somewhat during Jokowis time in office. Casting his ballot at a polling station Wednesday in Bekasi, West Java, 34-year-old Karim Saputra said he hopes the new president can propel Indonesia to advance and prosper. I hope the elected president can eradicate corruption and stabilize the price of goods and help the underprivileged with healthcare and [social security], he told CNN, saying the new leader should also work on improving the education system. The use and abuse of AI With more than 210 million Internet users, Indonesia boasts one of the worlds largest digital populations. The internet plays a huge role in the countrys politics. Sixty percent of voters under 40 said social media was their primary source for information, according to a 2022 survey, followed by television at 40%. Online hoaxes, misinformation and smear campaigns were rampant during the 2019 election and with the rise and advancement of AI technology, experts say the situation has grown more concerning. One deepfake in particular, of the late dictator Suharto, went viral, spreading across social media platforms and through chat apps fueling public debate about the ethics of AI in the election. What about the environment? Indonesias rainforests are the third largest in the world but industrial-led deforestation has accelerated land degradation in recent years. Lucrative businesses thrive as theres few punitive measures for polluters and illegal land grabs in industries such as palm oil and raw materials mining, according to Sayyidatiihayaa Afra, a researcher at Indonesian conservation group Satya Bumi. Detrimental environmental damage has come alongside Jokowis mandated plans to develop a homegrown nickel processing industry to fuel the electric vehicle boom which some presidential hopefuls are also aiming to fulfil. So many commodities come from Indonesia from illegal logging and illegal plantation, and from the mining sector that violates human rights, and local communities which are being put on the table in this election, Sayyidatiihayaa said. A man attempts to extinguish a wildfire in a palm oil plantation in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia on September 23, 2023. - Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images Jokowi made it his hallmark policy to relocate the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara on Borneo, in a $30 billion plan to distribute economic activity throughout the country as the capital struggles with flooding and congestion. Presidential contenders Ganjar and Prabowo said they would back building the new capital but Anies openly rejects the plan saying it would fuel new inequality across different regions. Journalist Agustinus Beo da Costa contributed reporting from West Java, Indonesia. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Courtesy Coqodaq Whether its glamorous fine dining, undiscovered international fare, or chefs exploring familiar ingredients in innovative ways, New York Citys newest hot spots are all offering something special when it comes to creativity. As this list of T&C's new favorites proves, dining out in the Big Apple has never been more thrilling. COQODAQ From the team behind COTE Korean Steakhouse emerges a new spot dedicated to fried chicken and bubbles. Housed in what could be New York's sexiest new dining room, masterfully crafted by the Rockwell Group, COQODAQ reimagines the art of fried chicken by seamlessly blending Korean and American influences. Much like COTE's renowned Butcher's Feast, COQODAQ's Bucket List includes fried chicken in two flavors, a soothing chicken consomme infused with Korean red ginseng, a selection of pickled seasonal vegetables, and scallion salad (ban-chan), refreshing cold perilla seed noodles, and delightful soft-serve frozen yogurt. To complement this feast, a raw bar awaits, offering a variety of tartares, oysters, and caviar. Not to be missed are the decadent Golden Nuggets, chicken nuggets topped with ocean trout roe or luscious Golden Daurenki caviar, delivering the ultimate high-low bite. At COQODAQ, champagne takes center stage as the perfect accompaniment to fried chicken. Boasting America's most extensive restaurant champagne list, featuring over 500 rare bottles, it's a haven for bubbly enthusiasts. Additionally, there's a thoughtfully curated selection of 100 sparkling wines priced under $100, ensuring delightful pairings accessible to all. Courtesy Coqodaq Four Twenty Five Four Twenty Five, the latest venture from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, anchors 425 Park Avenue, a new tower designed by Lord Norman Foster. Collaborating with culinary director Jonathan Benno, Vongerichten crafts a menu that showcases a deep appreciation of French, American, Italian, and Asian flavors. The a la carte menu features Nantucket Bay scallop tartare with tahini citrus dressing, chili oil, and shiso; sauteed langoustines in their shell with kombu-herb butter and lemon dressing; winter squash agnolotti with ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano; seared Wagyu beef tenderloin with aromatic beef jus, and much more. A selection of cocktails and wines from Italy, France, Oregon, and California complement the meal. Standout drinks include the olive-oil-washed martini, bergamot margarita, and rye-spiced sidecar. For those wanting a more casual bite, the bar and lounge on the first floor, featuring a 24-foot painting by Larry Poons, offers snacks such as uni crostini, shrimp satay, cheeseburger sliders, and chicken samosas. Courtesy Four Twenty Five Noksu The subway station at West 32nd Street and Broadway has long served as a gateway to New York City's Koreatown, a hub of culinary delights. However, it now also offers a passage to the world of Korean fine dining, courtesy of Noksu. Here, 29 years old wunderkind chef Dae Kim orchestrates an exquisite 12-course tasting menu, elegantly presented in a chic subterranean dining space designed by Claire Soojin Kim. Among the menu's highlights, which seamlessly blend Kim's fine dining expertise (picked up during a stint at Per Se) with his Korean heritage, are the barbecue squab with a truffle bao bun filled with squab liver; two-day vinegar-aged mackerel with celtuce, lime, carrot, and brown butter; and a delightful take on gyeran-jjim, the Korean steamed egg dish, featuring caviar and stewed surf clams in scallion sauce. For those seeking the perfect wine pairing, Juliette Dottle, Noksus sommelier, has curated a flight featuring German, Austrian, and California varietals. Also worth noting is the excellent playlist curated by owner Bobby Kwak. Featuring hits from the 1980s, '90s, and 2000s, the soundtrack (available on Spotify) is an integral part of a fun and delicious evening at Noksu. Courtesy Noksu Point Seven Point Seven, the latest venture from Chef Franklin Becker and Loffredo's Hospitality Department located in the iconic Met Life Building, finds its inspiration in coastal cuisines from around the world and the bounty of the ocean. Becker's menu is a celebration of diverse techniques and flavors, and commences with a selection of small bites such as live scallop ceviche with lemon and truffle and smoked sturgeon and caviar with chive cream cheese on a pumpernickel bagel. The raw bar proudly presents lobster, king crab, oysters, and exquisite seafood towersaptly named The MetLife and The Vanderbilt. Small plates include grilled octopus prepared "Veracruz" style with tomato sauce, peppers, onions, chiles, and olives, while steamed Bangs Island mussels delight in Thai curry and fresh herbs. Caribbean fish stew and handmade spaghetti alla chitarra with sea urchin and Calabrian chili bread crumbs are two of the notable main courses. Desserts by pastry chef Sam Mason include banana cream chai with hot honey granola and a rotation of soft serve "Sam style," with chocolate shells and cherry dips. The beverage program, carefully crafted by Bar Director Max Green, features seasonal cocktails like the 4 Corners Martini (gin, Oka Kura, Timbal Dry, and Seville orange bitters) and Crow's Nest, an on-tap Japanese highball with Toki, apple brandy, corn tea, lemon cordial, and soda. Additionally, it offers a well-rounded wine list with biodynamic and organic selections, complementing Becker's seafood-inspired menu. Ken Goodman Demo Demo, on Carmine Street in the West Village, brings the creative vision of three Wildair alums to life. Owners Jacob Nass and Ian Henderson-Charnow, in collaboration with Chef Quang Q Nguyen, craft an inventive menu featuring dishes like lengua tonnata, lobster au poivre, and baked oysters with Cafe de Paris butter. Although chef Q and sous chef Dina Fan, who has experience in Japanese cuisine, have Asian roots, the menu is a harmonious fusion of local and global flavors. Notable dishes include the golden brown griddled arroz a la plancha enriched with mushrooms, taleggio, and fontal cheeses, and a dessert of brown butter caramelized banana pudding adorned with coconut, toasted almonds, and a dusting of coffee powder. Jacob Nass has curated an eclectic wine list, showcasing a selection of old world and French bottles, as well as offerings from smaller producers dedicated to natural farming and vinification practices. The restaurant's name, Demo, serves as a tribute to nearby Father Demo Square and the neighborhood's esteemed civic activist after whom the square was named. Courtesy Demo Lupetto In the heart of NoMad's bustling dining scene lies Lupetto. Translating to "little wolf" in Italian, this chic wood-fired eatery from restaurateur Mark Barak has made its lair in a landmarked space offering panoramic views of Madison Square Park. Crafted by the team at Parts and Labor Design, Lupetto exudes an ambiance of refined elegance, complemented by a menu that celebrates the artistry of wood-fired Italian cooking. From succulent meats to artisanal pizzas and vibrant vegetables, each dish embodies the smoky essence of the open flame. Notable menu offerings include veal Milanese adorned with gem lettuce, artichokes, radish, and saffron aioli; potato pizza featuring leeks, goat cheese, and pine nuts; and spaghetti al limone boasting Meyer lemon and Bronte pistachio. Lupetto's craft cocktail program harmonizes the allure of Italian aperitivo culture with classic New York libations, while the wine list showcases a diverse selection of old and new world wines from esteemed producers. Nicole Franzen Cecily Cecily, one of Greenpoint's newest restaurants, is led by Kristin Ma and Tara Noble, both alumni of esteemed Michelin-starred establishments like Estela and LaLou. The menu by executive chef Zach Frieling (Jupiter, The Four Horsemen) showcases an array of seasonal, vegetable-centric snacks and larger plates catering to vegetarians and vegans, while also embracing meat and fish-forward options. Highlights include porcini "chicharrones" with egg yolk, mackerel toast adorned with parsley, red onion, and garlic aioli, butter beans paired with braised collards, sweet onions, and sourdough bread, and a roasted half chicken complemented by Castelvetrano olives, wheat berries, and pomegranate. The thoughtfully curated wine list showcases bottles from lesser-explored Spanish regions like Galicia, Basque Country, and Catalunya. This selection is complemented by bubbles and natural whites and reds from around the world. Cecily's beverage program also offers a variety of craft cocktails and zero-proof cocktail and wine options. David Malosh Tsubame At Tsubame, chef-owner Jay Zheng has meticulously crafted an omakase experience that pays tribute to the rich traditions of kaiseki cuisine. The menu unfolds as a succession of vibrant compositions, artfully assembled from seasonal ingredients primarily sourced from Japan. The restaurant's name, Tsubame, is inspired by the barn swallow that annually nested in Zheng's childhood village each spring. The dining space, a minimalist jewel box, is dedicated entirely to a 10-seat chef's counter. Drawing from the ambiance of traditional kappo spots in Japan, Tsubame places a strong emphasis on the cuisine and offers an interactive and less formal experience. Chef Zheng actively participates in much of the preparation and service, creating a more engaging and intimate dining atmosphere. In addition to the exquisite nigiri, Tsubame's standout dishes include the Osetra caviar shiso potato pave, featuring a harmonious blend of sea and land; the Dungeness crab and nagaimo (mountain yam) egg custard, elevated with the luxurious addition of shaved black truffles; and the slow-braised Hokkaido octopus, a succulent and flavorful delight that showcases Zheng's deft hand. Courtesy Tsubame Naks Naks, a newcomer from the team behind Indian hits Adda, Semma, and Dhamaka, embarks on a culinary journey to the Philippines. Under the leadership of Chef Eric Valdez, a native of the Philippines, Naks celebrates the flavors of his heritage. The restaurant's name, a colloquial Pinoy expression signifying surprise and admiration, encapsulates its essence. Valdezs menu is a homage to his upbringing and adventures across the Philippines, blending family recipes with his formal culinary training. The dining experience at Naks offers two distinct options: a 14-seat front room with an a la carte menu and a communal "kamayan" experience for 20 guests, immersing diners in the art of eating with their hands. Banana leaves serve as individual plates, with convenient hand washing stations enhancing the experience. Naks' a la carte menu delves into regional Filipino cuisine, boasting robust flavors and unique ingredients such as coconut vinegar, banana ketchup, and bitter gourd. Standout dishes like Kanto fried chicken, BBQ pork jowl, eel with ginger and lemon soda, and Imbaliktad (bison ribeye) provide a rare taste of Filipino street food seldom found in New York City. Paul McDonough Maison Sun Maison Sun, a modern French fine dining destination in Downtown Brooklyn, welcomes diners to an intimate culinary experience limited to 12 guests each evening. Executive Chef Aaron Whittle, who boasts experience from Eleven Madison Park and Le Coucou, offers a 10-course menu that marries innovation and French culinary techniques. Dishes like coconut brioche adorned with abalone XO saffron butter, sea urchin paired with bruleed plantain and Royal Ossetra caviar, and venison served alongside pommes Robuchon showcase Whittle's commitment to culinary creativity. The wine program specializes in regions like Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Tokaj, offering pairings ranging from $175 to $2,000. The restaurant's decor, featuring an open kitchen and a theater-like counter setting, reflects a curated culinary experience with meticulously chosen elements like a vintage Molteni stove, Mauvier cookware, Laguiole cutlery, and collections of gold and sterling Christofle silverware. FSM Soledad Soledad, chef Julian Medina's latest culinary venture on the Upper East Side, is a heartfelt tribute to his grandmother, Soledad Diaz, an indispensable figure in his family and a culinary icon in her own right. Raised in Michoacan, Mexico, Soledad's culinary legacy enriched the lives of her seven children, including Medina's mother, Bertha. The restaurant's inspiration springs from Soledad's handwritten recipe book, an heirloom originating in the 1950s. Many dishes draw from Medina's own childhood memories in Mexico City, where nightly family gatherings featured Soledad's culinary masterpieces. The culinary journey at Soledad begins with starters like albondigas (Iberico pork meatballs) with spicy tomato-almond salsa and crispy potatoes; corunda (Michoacan corn tamal) filled with mushrooms, black bean puree, habanero tomato salsa, and bacon; and taquitos de kipe. Entrees include enchiladas Soledad with chicken, Medina's mother's signature salsa verde, crema, and queso fresco; and duck carnitas with sweet plantains, Mexican rice, Soledad's mole, and a sunny-side-up duck egg. The dessert section boasts sweet treats such as pineapple upside-down cake, honey crisp apple strudel, and carrot cake with parsnip icing. Marconi Gonzalez You Might Also Like We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we believe in. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Here's where to shop the 8 newly released colors of the famous Stanley tumbler before they sell out It seems like every time Stanley releases new colors of its big tumbler, pandemonium ensues. In early January, when the brand rolled out special red and pink versions for Valentine's Day at Target, people were camping out in the parking lot and clamoring for the cups like it was Black Friday. So get ready: Stanley's famous Adventure Quencher debuts in eight new colors today. The lineup: Blue Spruce, Lilac, Azure, Mist, Plum, Fuchsia, Tiger Lily and Pomelo. They're available on Stanley's website (listed under "all" colors on the Adventure Quencher's product page), on Dick's Sporting Goods and other stores where Stanley is sold. (Pro tip: If they're already sold out on Stanley, Dick's Sporting Goods usually still has them in stock.) If the color you're eyeing sells out, there's no need to panic. The brand shared in a TikTok post that the new colors are part of its 2024 Annual Color Palette, so it plans to restock them all year long. Nonetheless, if youre a Stanley cup devotee, you know you have to add one of these new colors to your cart right away. If youre new to the craze, people love the recycled stainless steel cups for a few reasons: They have a handle that makes them easy to carry, a straw that locks into place, and they fit into most car cupholders despite their considerable size. Plus, they keep drinks cold (or hot) for hours, thanks to double-wall vacuum insulation. "This cup is definitely worth the hype. It does the job and keeps the water nice and cold," wrote one of the 3,700-plus five-star reviewers on Stanley's website. "I would definitely recommend the Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler," shared another satisfied shopper. "The one thing I like about it is it keeps my water cold all day and I don't have to worry about refilling it or having to add ice ... I have no dislikes about this product. Very satisfied." "I love my Stanley holds ice longer than my Yeti!" wrote another fan. Of course, you may have heard earlier this month that people on social media started calling out Stanley and its cups for containing lead. According to the brand's website, that's true but you shouldn't worry. Stanley says it uses "an industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products" and that "the sealing material includes some lead." However, this area is totally covered with a layer of stainless steel. The New York Times spoke to Jack Caravanos, a professor of public health at New York University who studies lead. After testing three Stanley cup models of different sizes, he concluded that the cups were safe. "I did not find lead sort of superficial lead on the surface in any part of the cup," Caravanos said. He even tried to deconstruct the bottom of the cup, where Stanley says the lead is contained. "I tried repeatedly to pry open the bottom cap with various tools and failed," he said. "Perhaps the lead is being used to seal the cap closed. In any case, it should further assure the public that lead material is very unlikely to ever be released from the cup and be made available for ingestion." The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Hurricane Idalia was the only hurricane to make landfall in the United States in 2023. After reaching Category 4 strength in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on Aug. 30 near Keaton Beach, in Florida's Big Bend. It brought a storm surge of 7 to 12 feet and widespread rainfall flooding in Florida and throughout the Southeast, according to NOAA. Idalia led to seven direct and three indirect deaths in the U.S. On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center released it tropical cyclone report on Idalia. Here are its findings. Where did Idalia originate? What would eventually become a monster Category 4 hurricane originated in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Aug. 23, the Hurricane Center said. It brought heavy rain to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua as it moved into the Caribbean Sea. Timeline of Hurricane Idalia Track the path of Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. Aug. 26: Tropical depression forms east-southeast of Cancun, Mexico. Winds at 25 mph. Aug. 27: Tropical storm forms . Winds at 40 mph. Aug. 29: Idalia become a hurricane with winds at 74 mph as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico. Aug. 29: Idalia's eye passes about 180 miles west of Key West. Outer-most bands move across Florida Keys and South Florida. Aug. 30: Idalia's eye passes 110 nautical miles west of Tampa. Bands of heavy rain and gusty winds spread across Southwest and Central Florida. Aug. 30, 5 a.m. EST: Idalia's winds top out at 132 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. Aug. 30, 7:45 a.m.: Idalia makes landfall near Keaton Beach. Winds at 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane. Aug. 30, 2 p.m.: Idalia weakens into tropical storm over central Georgia. Winds at 69 mph. Aug. 31: Idalia moves off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach. Winds drop to 57 mph. Aug. 31: Idalia becomes extratropical. Sept. 2: The center of Idalia passes south of Bermuda. Sept. 8: What was Idalia dissipates off the coast of Atlantic Canada. Idalia 3rd strongest hurricane to hit Florida's Big Bend Idalia was the third-strongest hurricane to affect the Big Bend region of Florida, only behind the 1896 Cedar Key Hurricane and Hurricane Easy in 1950. Why did Idalia weaken before making landfall in Florida? Doppler radar indicates Idalia was going through an eyewall replacement cycle and the inner eyewall was opening on the south side around the time it made landfall, the Hurricane Center said. The estimated peak intensity at landfall is 115 mph, but there is some uncertainty because of the lack of surface data. The hurricane made landfall in one of the more remote parts of Florida, there were no observations of sustained hurricane-force winds. Fatalities associated with Hurricane Idalia Number of fatalities associated with Hurricane Idalia. Idalia was responsible for 12 fatalities, all of which occurred in the United States, the Hurricane Center said. Of the casualties, eight of them were direct and all of them were caused by rough surfand rip currents. In Brevard County, a 60-year-old man drowned while windsurfing in rough surf due to Idalias winds. When Idalia was off the southeast U.S. coast, the associated rough surf took seven lives: three in North Carolina, three in New Jersey, and one in Delaware. Of the four indirect fatalities, two were due to falling trees during cleanup after the stormspassage, one in Florida and one in Georgia. The other two indirect fatalities occurred due tovehicle accidents in Florida while the storm was passing through the area. Idalia brought dangerous storm surge to Florida's Big Bend Storm surge associated with Hurricane Idalia, "Hurricane Idalia brought a dangerous storm surge to the Florida Big Bend region, with themaximum inundation of 8 to 12 feet above ground level occurring from Keaton Beach toSteinhatchee," the Hurricane Center said. The "relatively remote location" where Idalia made landfall makes it unlikely "Bend of Florida, and for this reason, it is unlikely that "the highest storm surge values were observed or measured." In Keaton Beach, the National Weather Service found evidence of water marks with suspected wave action between 10 and 14 feet. Storm surge of 2 to 4 feet also affected Georgia and South Carolina coastlines. Did Idalia spawn any tornadoes? Hurricane Idalia spawned 12 tornadoes. There were 12 tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Idalia as it moved into Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. An EF-0 tornado was reported in Florida. Three EF-0 tornadoes and one EF-1 tornado were reported in Georgia. Two EF-0 and one EF-1 tornadoes were reported in South Carolina. Two EF-0 and two EF-1 tornadoes were reported in North Carolina. Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina hit by damaging winds Idalia was still a strong storm after moving through Florida and into the Southeast. St. Simons and Tybee in Georgia reported wind gusts of 65 mph and 69 mph, respectively. Tropical-storm-force winds were also reported along the coasts of North and South Carolina. The highest wind speed was reported in Cape Lookout, with sustained winds of 50 mph and a wind gust of 73 mph. Idalia brought heavy rain to Florida, Southeast US Rainfall associated with Hurricane Idalia. There were widespread totals of 5-7 inches of rain from the Florida's Big Bend to eastern North Carolina. Rainfall amounts of 7-10 inches were reported from the western side of Idalia in southern Georgia, South Carolina, and far southeastern North Carolina. The highest rainfall was reported in Holly Hill, South Carolina, which received 13.55 inches. Trailing rain bands from the hurricane brought 4 to 8 inches of rain occurred to southwest and west-central Florida. What was the damage estimate left by Idalia? According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the estimated damage from Idalia is $3.6 billion, most of which occurred in Floridas Big Bend region. The majority of the damage affected Floridas agriculture industry in the Big Bend region and northern portions of the state. Gusty winds and heavy rains caused damage to tens of thousands of structures in portions of southwest, central, and northeast Florida. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: National Hurricane Center report on Hurricane Idalia: Impacts, deaths When border security provisions were stripped from the national security supplemental bill in the Senate last week because of Republican opposition, a doomsday clock began ticking for cities struggling to cope with an influx of migrants and federal agencies bracing for a new surge at the border. The Department of Homeland Security was supposed to get more than $15 billion to do things Republicans had demanded, such as deporting more migrants and stopping fentanyl smuggling. Without the new funding, the agency will not only be unprepared to deal with a rapid increase in migrant flow across the border, but it will also be unable to maintain the status quo, two DHS officials told NBC News. The officials said DHS agencies will soon have to move resources from other areas to scrape by. Nathan McCarthy walks through a parking lot outside the 15th District police station, a space he shares with newly arrived migrants in Chicago's Austin neighborhood on Nov. 5, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune via Getty Images) Cities such as Chicago, New York, Denver, Los Angeles and Boston, where the numbers of newly arrived migrants have exploded, were going to get $1.4 billion from the bill to help them cope. Democratic mayors of those cities had repeatedly pleaded with the Biden administration for more help to house and educate, provide medical care for and find work authorization for the tens of thousands of new migrants who have arrived since summer 2022, some of them shipped north by Republican governors. The aid was part of the bipartisan border security deal negotiated by Republicans and Democrats over many months but killed by Republicans last week. The federal government has doled out $370 million to the cities, but they have not received federal support since last fall, and without more congressional funding, a DHS spokesperson said, cities and communities along the border and in the interior of the United States where migrants are awaiting their immigration court proceedings would suffer. Congress failure to pass the supplemental will put at risk DHSs current removal operations, put further strain on our already overtaxed workforce, and make it harder to catch fentanyl at ports of entry. Without adequate funding for CBP, ICE, and USCIS, the Department will have to reprogram or pull resources from other efforts, a DHS spokesperson said. ICE is Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and USCIS is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Shortfalls for ICE and CBP At the southwest border, meanwhile, the federal agencies will not have enough money for needed new hires, and there will be fewer arrests, detentions and deportations of immigrants. The bill would have included $7.6 billion for ICE and it would have dramatically increased detention space for migrants. Now not only will ICE be unable to increase detention space, but it will also have to carry out fewer deportations than it has in the past year, when deportations nearly doubled from the previous year to 142,580. It may be unable to deport many migrants who already have final orders of deportation. Migrants evacuated from Floyd Bennett Field arrive at James Madison High School on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York during a storm on Jan. 9, 2024. (Gardiner Anderson / NY Daily News via Getty Images) A reduction in ICE operations would significantly harm border security, national security and public safety, a DHS spokesperson said. Estimates of the exact dollar amounts DHS would need to stay afloat and maintain the status quo have varied, depending on different projections for how high border crossings may surge. In spring 2023, ICE warned that the number of migrants crossing daily could rise to 14,000, which would have led it to run out of money as soon as July. Numbers never reached that level in spring 2023. In December, however, they reached more than 12,000 per day, a record, straining the resources of ICE, as well as Customs and Border Protection, whose Border Patrol agents are responsible for apprehending and processing migrants. CBP has long faced challenges recruiting new agents and officers. The bill asked for nearly $6.8 billion for CBP, of which $723 million was for new hires. Instead, CBP will now need to repurpose funds, while drawing back operations in non-essential areas, the DHS spokesperson said. migrants shelter chicago o'hare airport (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images file) The repurposing is likely to include pulling back on investments in technology to better detect migrants along the border and detect fentanyl coming in vehicles across ports of entry, DHS said. Immigrants coming into the U.S. through legal means will also feel the effects of the DHS funding drain. Without the needed funds, USCIS will have to reallocate personnel to screen migrants crossing the border for asylum while taking them away from adjudicating green card applications, the DHS spokesperson said. To help inform voters, this candidate questionnaire is available without a subscription and may be republished by local publications across North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible. Name: Jon Hardister Political party: Republican Age as of March 5, 2024: 41 Campaign website: JonHardister.com Current occupation: Legislator/Marketing Professional experience: Member, N.C. House of Representatives; Vice President, First Carolina Mortgage. Education: BA in Political Science, Greensboro College. What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? N.C. House of Representatives, Deputy Majority Whip. What do you think is the biggest issue in North Carolina that you would be able to shape if elected? Workforce development, workplace safety and maintaining our status as the best place for business will be top priorities. What do you think is or is not working well under the current labor commissioner? If not, how would you change it? We need to encourage more students to consider trade skills and vocational education. These jobs pay well and they strengthen our states economy. What can be done to make sure the state is regularly inspecting workplaces for health and safety? As labor commissioner, I will collaborate with the private sector to identify best practices and ensure that we have inspectors who are fair and professional. Should North Carolina increase penalties for health and safety violations by employers? Do you believe that would reduce workplace deaths and injuries? We do not need to increase penalties at this time. The vast majority of companies care about their employees and do not want them to get hurt. What should be done to address staff vacancies in your agency and in state government as a whole? As labor commissioner, I will do my best to promote a positive, collaborative work environment. I will also work with the N.C. General Assembly to ensure that our salaries are competitive. North Carolina has the second-lowest unionization rate in the country. Do you think that should change, and how? I believe we should maintain our status as a right-to-work state. Employees should not be forced to join or pay dues to a union; it should be a personal choice. This has worked well for businesses and workers in our state. Two relatively new apps, Temu and Microsofts Copilot, topped the download charts after their Super Bowl commercials aired Sunday in some of the most prized ad spots on television. Microsofts Copilot, an artificial intelligence chatbot, launched a year ago, and Temu, an e-commerce marketplace with staggeringly low prices, launched in September 2022. On Apples App Store on Monday, the top three most downloaded free apps were Paramount+, Copilot and Temu. All three companies advertised during the Super Bowl, and Paramount+ was also used to stream the event, which contributed to its rise to the top of the chart. On Google Play, where Android users can download apps, Temu is the sixth most popular app. Super Bowl commercials have historically held the potential for big impact for both well-known brands and emerging ones. Over the past few years, buzzy innovations like cryptocurrency (which dominated 2022 Super Bowl ads, only to almost disappear in 2023 and 2024 ads) have played a major role in the ad spending frenzy. In 2024, AI tools like Copilot and e-commerce giants like Temu took center stage. Temu had a Super Bowl commercial spot in 2023, but this year the Chinese-operated company ran four identical commercials with a jingle and the slogan Shop like a billionaire alongside $15 million in giveaways. The ads struck a chord on social media, with several viral posts making fun of Temus cheap offerings and its apparent ability to afford so many ads. Temu has experienced meteoric growth since it entered the U.S. market in September 2022, and the four 2024 Super Bowl ads seem to have paid off. Mobile intelligence company Apptopias vice president of research, Tom Grant, told NBC News in a statement Monday that Temus app downloads increased 34% on Super Bowl Sunday from the day before, which was Temus fastest day-over-day growth since November. Temu continues to dwarf the competition when it comes to advertising spend and adding new users, Grant said, also noting that Temu app downloads were still down 13% compared to last years Super Bowl. The market intelligence firm Sensor Tower said Monday that Temus ad spend has driven its enormous growth in under two years. In 2023, Temu was the No. 1 most downloaded app in the U.S. and the eighth most downloaded app globally. Temu has completely captivated consumers over the course of last year, Sensor Tower said in a statement. Temus popularity grew alongside its major ad spending on social media platforms like Facebook, where it spent more than any other retailer besides Amazon during the last few months of 2023, Sensor Tower said. The ad spend was reflected in the time users spent on Temu during the same period, according to Sensor Tower, which found that users spent an average of 23 minutes a week on it at the end of 2023, compared to 18 minutes for Amazon and 14 minutes for Walmart. Temus appeal stems from prices even lower than Amazons for merchandise often delivered directly from manufacturers in China. The app has also used a gamified design approach, with in-app games that have discount rewards and countdown deal timers. Temus success has been so rapid and intense that other e-commerce platforms have said it has affected them. After Jane.com, an American e-commerce platform for small businesses, shut down in late 2023, company bankruptcy documents said it was impossible to compete with Temus low prices. Temus success has also been followed by some concern. A TikTok creator who has touted hauls and deals from Temu told NBC News in June that viewers were concerned about the labor conditions behind the cheap products and the environmental impact of creating and shipping so many products. Community college bachelors programs may play a major role in closing the higher education gap for Latino students, according to a report UCLA published Tuesday. Since 2014, only a handful of Californias community colleges have been approved to offer two-year bachelors degree programs. For Latinos who were able to complete the program, the degree can be life-changing in terms of educational attainment and financial stability, according to the new UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute study. The UCLA institute examined data from students enrolled in the first five cohorts, or groups, of Californias inaugural community college baccalaureate, or CCB, programs and surveyed graduates to study certain postgraduate outcomes. higher education community college (Google Maps) About 64% of all Latino students who enrolled in CCB programs graduated within two years of enrollment similar to the 68% of non-Latino students who graduated. The report also found fewer Latino CCB graduates had to take out student loans to fund their educations, 35%, compared to 46% of all California college graduates. The community college bachelor's degrees also led to higher financial outcomes. Latino CCB graduates reported earning over $22,600 more per year on average than they did before the program. They also boasted higher rates of employment compared to non-Latino CCB graduates. In California, 22% of Hispanic adults (25 and older) had earned associate degrees or higher, compared to 56% of white non-Hispanic adults, according to Excelencia in Education, an organization that analyzes strategies to boost Latino college completion. The CCB programs also address industry and labor needs: Some are in the fields of dental hygiene, respiratory care, automotive technology and biomanufacturing. 'Life-changing' The reports first author, Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, a faculty member at the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, said in an interview that CCB programs are particularly helpful because of their accessibility in terms of location, cost and connections to certain fields and industries. You dont have to relocate, you dont have to give up your current work, and you dont have to give up who you are, Rios-Aguilar said. Your lived experiences will remain, and you can still achieve a bachelors degree under those conditions. Rios-Aguilar added that community college bachelors programs make returning to school easier for students from nontraditional educational backgrounds. Its opening the doors very concretely to Latino communities and Latino students in different parts of California to access to persist and to finish these degrees and get a job, Rios-Aguilar said. Weve noticed that the CCBs are serving more nontraditional students, again, because of the value proposition. Susan Mendoza, 37, is a licensed dental hygienist who graduated from a two-year bachelors degree program at West Los Angeles College a community college in Culver City. Mendoza grew up with a single mother who held down two jobs and with two grandparents. She said that when she accompanied her grandparents to their dental visits, she saw that there was a large disconnect in dentistry when it came to Latinos. It was hard to communicate their needs, insurance benefits," Mendoza said, as well as the necessity of what the dental staff was recommending. Seeing that, she said, motivated her to become a dental hygienist. Mendoza took prerequisite courses at a night school while she worked a day job at a dental office and earned admission into the two-year bachelors program. She said the programs location and its affordability were the primary reasons she could access the degree program, which was necessary for her educational and career goals. The program at WLAC provided a unique opportunity to help Latino community members get access to dental services, Mendoza said. She described a class trip on which she and other Latino dental hygiene students went to provide care at dental clinics in Montebello and Simi Valley, where the patients spoke only Spanish. Mendoza described her experience with WLACs bachelors program as nothing less than life-changing," and after she graduated in December with her degree, she is focusing on treating patients in underserved areas. The ability to earn a bachelor's degree in two years is especially significant considering the number of Latinos attending community college: In California, about 640,000 Latino students were enrolled in community colleges in fall 2022 more than twice the number who were enrolled in the California State University and the University of California systems combined (about 285,000 students), according to the report. Promising but still too inaccessible The wrinkle is that despite the immense boost they can provide to Latino and other students, CCBs are still largely inaccessible. California, with 31 approved CCB programs, is one of only 23 states that have authorized at least one community college to offer bachelors degree programs. The data also found there are still gaps in Latino enrollment in those two-year bachelor's programs: Of the 1,486 students enrolled in the first five groups that were studied, about 30% were Latino, though the overall Latino student share at those 15 community colleges was 46% at that time. "We need a new marketing campaign and awareness campaign to reach out to those Latino communities and to the public in general," Rios-Aguilar said. What were really wanting to work in is making our research actionable and translatable. For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter. A Minnesota woman is suing after she says the university she attended failed to help her while she lay dying in her student apartment, according to a lawsuit. Genevieve Lizotte was a student at the University of Minnesota. She lived in student housing at Radius Apartments in Minneapolis, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 17 against the University of Minnesota and Hart Radius LLC. On March 31, Lizotte had a major knee surgery. After the surgery, she went back to her apartment to recover, according to court documents. By April 23, Lizotte became ill from the surgery. She called the community advisor of her apartment building at 2:30 a.m. after she fell and couldnt get up, the lawsuit said. Please help me, she told the advisor, according to the lawsuit. The community advisor went to Lizottes room and knocked, but the advisor left when no one answered, the lawsuit said. Lizottes family reached out to the community advisor later that day when they became worried after they couldnt get a hold of her, the lawsuit said. Yeah, she called last night at 2:30 a.m. saying she had fallen and asking for water, but she didnt answer her door, so I left. We havent heard anything more, the advisor told her family, according to the lawsuit. Lizottes family became worried and called law enforcement. Authorities went to Lizottes apartment and found her on the bathroom floor, 16 hours after she called for help, the lawsuit said. She was unresponsive, having a seizure, barely alive, in a pool of blood, and with a fever of 106 degrees, according to court documents. She was rushed to a hospital where she fell into a coma. Her family was told, its not good, we are not sure she will make it as she is very, very sick, the lawsuit said. Lizotte remained in a coma for a week, while the infection impacted her lungs, heart and brain, according to the lawsuit. Her family was repeatedly told she may not live. The lawsuit says as part of the University of Minnesotas Housing and Residential Lifes Community Behavioral Standards, students are told to alert the community advisor on duty if a student is in need of medical care. There are also signs posted in the building that say staff is available 24/7, and there is a community advisor on duty all night to respond to emergencies/crisis issues or wellness concerns. Lizotte says in the lawsuit the advisor and university failed to uphold these standards when her call for help went unanswered, which allowed the infection to spread and left her nearly dead. The lawsuit says that months later she was subjected to hostile treatment by the same community advisor who left her lying on her floor near death. Response In an answer filed by Hart Radius LLC, the company denies the allegations made against it in the lawsuit. It says it did not fail to provide aid to Lizotte and that is not liable for any injuries Lizotte sustained. Any injuries or damages sustained by (Lizotte) was caused by her own fault, and as such, her claims may be barred by contributory negligence, the court document said. McClatchy News reached out to the University of Minnesota which said it cannot comment on active litigation. McClatchy News also reached out to Hart Radius LLC for comment but did not immediately hear back. The lawsuit is seeking $50,000 in damages. Graduate assistant was making meth in science lab on Illinois college campus, cops say College student was hit by car and left to die, TN cops say. Months later, man arrested College student dies after being stabbed in head at Planet Fitness, Indiana cops say More than 100 health care facilities in Romania are offline after hackers launched a ransomware attack on at least 25 hospitals, the countrys cybersecurity agency said Tuesday. According to the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate, the attack started with the Pitesti Pediatric Hospital and quickly spread to others. An additional 79 health care facilities have disconnected from the internet to try to avoid the hackers, it said. The affected facilities represent a significant portion of the countrys health care system. According to a study last year from researchers at multiple Romanian universities, the country has 543 hospitals nationwide. Multiple studies have shown that hospitals have higher mortality rates when they experience downtime from ransomware attacks. Pitesti Pediatric Hospital in Romania. (Google Maps) Despite some global efforts to combat them, ransomware attacks where cybercriminals infect a computer system and demand a bitcoin payment for a promise to help unlock them are globally on the rise. Last year, victims paid their attackers a record $1 billion. The hackers identities are not public, but according to the Romanian agency, they used a strain of ransomware called Phobos, created by Russian-speaking hackers. That strain has been leaked and can be used by any criminal hacker, said Allan Liska, a ransomware analyst at the cybersecurity company Recorded Future. This appears to be, by far, the largest attack using Phobos, he said. The hackers have asked for $3.5 bitcoin in ransom, the equivalent of almost $170,000, the Romanian agency said. The agency has advised victims to not pay, a spokesperson told NBC News. Romanias top cybersecurity company, Bitdefender, is providing aid to the hospitals, the agency announced. By Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) -A Massachusetts judge on Monday dismissed lawsuits by families accusing Harvard of mishandling the bodies of loved ones that were donated to its medical school and whose parts were then sold on the black market by the former manager of its morgue. Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger in Boston ruled the 12 lawsuits failed to plausibly allege Harvard Medical School (HMS) failed to act in good faith in handling the bodies or was legally responsible for ex-morgue manager Cedric Lodge's "horrifying" alleged conduct. Those lawsuits had accused Harvard of negligence and sought to hold it responsible for Lodge's misconduct, which the families' lawyers said the school had turned a blind eye to over its years-long span. "It may not seem fair that Harvard can avoid responsibility and liability in this case even if, as plaintiffs allege, it was negligent in overseeing the HMS morgue and as a result let Lodge get away with stealing body parts for years," Salinger wrote. But the judge said Harvard enjoyed broad immunity from liability so long as it attempted in good faith to comply with the state's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which governs the donation of human bodies for research and education. He also dismissed claims against two employees who ran Harvard's anatomical gift program, Mark Cicchetti and Tracey Fay. Kathryn Barnett, a lawyer for the families at Morgan & Morgan, promised an appeal. "These families have had to relive the trauma of losing their loved ones many times over, and we strongly believe that they deserve a day in court," she said in a statement. Harvard did not respond to requests for comment. The lawsuits were filed after federal prosecutors brought charges in June against Lodge and five others accused of buying and selling human remains stolen from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary. Prosecutors said Lodge from 2018 through 2022 would at times let potential buyers into the school's morgue to examine cadavers and select what parts to buy. The buyers mostly resold the body parts, prosecutors said. They said Lodge also transported stolen remains to his home in New Hampshire, where he and his wife sold them to others. They also shipped stolen remains to people out of state, prosecutors said. The Lodges pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods charges. They and two other defendants are slated to face trial in federal court in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 5. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Sonali Paul andStephen Coates) By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's controversial billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted parole after serving six months in detention, the prime minister said Tuesday, while highlighting his service to the country. The influential Thaksin, a political heavyweight and arguably Thailand's best known prime minister, made a dramatic homecoming after living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid prison for a conflict of interest. Thaksin, 74, soon after had his eight-year jail term commuted to a year by the king. He has served six months of that in hospital detention over an undisclosed health condition and did not spend a single night in prison. "It's official that he received parole. It's in line with the corrections department regulations," Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a fellow tycoon and ally of the Shinawatra family, told reporters. "Thaksin was prime minister for many years and did many good things for the country for a long time. After he comes out, he would be a normal citizen." A former policeman and telecoms magnate who has been at the centre of a tumultuous two-decade battle for power in Thailand, Thaksin was on a list of 930 prisoners who were considered elderly or ill and approved for parole, according to media reports. He could be released after Feb. 18, according to corrections department rules. Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontri said he has yet to receive a release date. Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra told reporters it was time her father came home. "I hope you're strong and healthy ... come out and live your life in Thailand," she added. Despite being granted parole, the former leader could, however, still be detained, as public prosecutors consider charging him for insulting the monarchy during a 2015 interview. Thaksin's return last year coincided with ally and political newcomer Srettha being chosen as prime minister on the same day, adding to speculation that both developments were part of a behind-the-scenes deal between Thaksin and his powerful enemies in Thailand's royalist-military establishment. Thaksin's allies and the government, led by the Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai Party, have dismissed that. On his first night in prison, Thaksin was moved to a police hospital, with doctors saying he had experienced tightness in his chest and high blood pressure. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, Edited by Kanupriya Kapoor, Ed Davies, Martin Petty and Miral Fahmy) The man accused of fatally shooting a sheriff's deputy in Tennessee last week has been captured in Knoxville. Kenneth DeHart, 42, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said. DeHart is accused of shooting a deputy and injuring another during a traffic stop in Maryville on Thursday evening. Officials launched a manhunt and warned the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Knoxville police said on X that DeHart was arrested at a residence in the city. No additional details about the arrest were unavailable. DeHart is accused of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the Blount County Sheriff's Office has said. Deputies Greg McCowan, 43, and Shelby Eggers, 22, stopped DeHart's SUV on Thursday evening. For reasons not made clear, deputies ordered him out of the vehicle, but he stayed put, and they deployed a stun gun that had "no affect," according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. At some point during the encounter, DeHart produced a gun and fired shots, striking both deputies, the agency said in a statement. McCowan was struck and died at a hospital, authorities said. Eggers was struck in a leg and hospitalized, and she was released Friday, the sheriff's office said. She continued to recover at her home, it said. McCowan was a reserve deputy who elevated his role to full-time deputy in 2020 during the pandemic, the sheriff's office said. Blount County is just south of Knoxville. Its time to break out your beads and get in your last bites of king cake Mardi Gras time is here. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Its also called Shrove Tuesday, Carnival Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, depending on where the celebration is taking place. No matter the name, its a day of revelry that includes parades, parties and gastronomic indulgence before the Christian fasting season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14 in 2024). It marks the last day of the Carnival season, basically a six-week period of partying around the globe. Mardi Gras is synonymous with Carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Venice and Rio, but the day is marked in similarly festive fashion around the world in countries with large Roman Catholic populations. However, what began as a holiday rooted in religious tradition has become a cultural phenomenon, leading to parties for the sake of partying, and not necessarily in anticipation of 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Whatever your motivation, heres everything you need to know about Mardi Gras to be conversant in the holidays history. The celebration dates back to the Romans The Butterfly King float makes its way down St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans in 2014. - Sean Gardner/Getty Images According to historians, festivities resembling Mardi Gras go back thousands of years to ancient Roman festivals celebrating the harvest season. After Christianity arrived in Rome, old traditions were incorporated into the new faith and debauchery became a prelude to the Lenten season. This fusion resulted in a hedonistic period of boozing, masquerading and dancing with a heavy dose of religion. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, so did the pre-Lenten festivities. Along the way, new traditions were born and some old ones took on new incarnations. One of those Roman traditions became the sweet staple of New Orleans Mardi Gras known as the king cake. During Saturnalia, a winter solstice celebration of Saturn, the god of agriculture, beans were baked into cakes to celebrate the harvest. Whoever found the bean was named king of the day. In the Middle Ages, Christianity appropriated the tradition for the festival of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day. Also known as Twelfth Night, Three Kings Day marks the start of the Carnival season each year on January 6. It commemorates the visit of the three kings or wise men or magi to the Christ child on the 12th night after his birth, for a celebration, gifts and feasting. Christians in Spain, Latin America and the United States mark the occasion with parades, gifts and family feasts. Thousands of people gather each year in Mexico City to polish off a mile-long Rosca de Reyes, or king cake, a staple of the holiday. Elsewhere, families prepare the crown-shaped dessert at home. The cake has a trinket or baby figurine baked inside it to symbolize Christ and is eaten throughout Carnival festivities. Just as in Roman times, the person who finds the trinket is crowned king or queen of the Carnival, a distinction that carries various duties depending on the culture, from preparing tamales for the next family party to riding on a parade float. Shrove Tuesday is basically the same thing Elaborate masks are another long beloved tradition of Mardi Gras. - Getty Images/Getty Images Along the way, Shrove Tuesday emerged as the last day of Shrovetide, the week preceding the start of Lent. The word Shrovetide is the English equivalent of Carnival, which comes from the Latin words carnem levare, meaning to take away the flesh. To shrive means to hear confessions, according to Catholic theologian Father William P. Saunders. While this was seen as the last chance for merriment, and, unfortunately in some places, has resulted in excessive pleasure, Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent, he wrote in CatholicCulture.org. To prepare for Lent, Christians prepared pancakes to deplete their stock of eggs, milk, butter and fat, giving rise to Pancake Day in England. As the tradition spread through Europe, it became Mardi Gras in France, where waffles and crepes are prepared as part of a lavish feast. Mardi Gras in the New World Following a long tradition, revelers pack Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras day back in 2016. - Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images European colonists and slave traders brought the pre-Lenten festivities to the Americas, where they became huge celebrations throughout the Carnival season. Celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti include musical competitions, elaborate costumes, feasts and cultural shows at various points leading up to Mardi Gras, or Carnival Tuesday. French settlers brought Mardi Gras to New Orleans and the Louisiana territory. The Galette des Rois, or king cake, came too, becoming a symbol of New Orleans brand of Mardi Gras. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans is believed to have held in 1837. Over time, balls, parties and parades have spread out to take place throughout Carnival season, organized by social clubs called Krewes. People shout for beads on Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras day back in 2007. The celebration took on even more meaning for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. - Chris Graythen/Getty Images The tradition of parade throws is thought to have originated in the 1920s with the Rex Krewe, the citys oldest social club, whose colors of purple (justice) gold, (power) and green (faith) have come to symbolize New Orleans Mardi Gras. After starting with necklaces, they moved onto coins called doubloons stamped with their logos, and other krewes adopted the practice. Contrary to popular belief, there is no need for nudity to attract throws. Local historians say the trend emerged in the latter 20th century as Mardi Gras attracted more college-aged revelers. While New Orleans is practically synonymous with Mardi Gras, doesnt have a lock on the celebrations in the United States. Another Gulf Coast city about 170 miles to the east Mobile, Alabama also has a long history with Mardi Gras, with lots of fashionable balls and special events leading up to the big day. There can be heated debate between the two cities on which has bragging rights to claim the first celebration. Other cities, mostly along the Gulf Coast area, also have notable Mardi Gras celebrations, including Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Galveston, Texas. Cake fit for a king Read on to find out how to make your own King Cake, Heres a king cake recipe from Food52 that allows you to recreate the New Orleans-style magic in your own kitchen. It makes one large cake. 3/4 cup warm milk 2 1/4 teaspoons or one packet of dry yeast 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 stick of butter, melted and cooled 2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon kosher salt Filling and topping 1 stick of butter 8 ounces cream cheese 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped 1 plastic baby 2 cups powdered sugar 3 tablespoons milk Sanding sugar, marzipan circles, or other decorations in yellow, green, and purple Directions 1. Combine the warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar and let proof. While yeast is proofing, whisk together the butter, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, flour, nutmeg, and salt. 2. When the yeast mixture is foamy, add that and the butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix to combine. Using a dough hook, or kneading by hand on a floured surface, work the dough (adding flour as needed) for 5 to 7 minutes until you have a smooth dough. Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let rise for 2 hours, until doubled in size. Begin making the filling as soon as the dough begins rising. 3. In a large sauce pan, melt together the butter and cream cheese. Stir in the brown sugar and continue stirring until the mixture starts to bubble. Remove it from heat, stir in the pecans, and then set it aside to cool while the dough finishes rising. 4. When the dough is finished rising, transfer it to a large piece of parchment paper and roll it out to a 9 X 13-inch rectangle. Spread the filling on evenly, leaving an inch along one of the long sides so that the filling doesnt ooze out. Starting opposite of that end, roll up the dough like a jelly roll, sticking the baby in somewhere in the middle. 5. Grease an empty 28-ounce can and place it in the center of a large baking sheet thats been lined with parchment. Gently wrap the dough roll around the can, seam side down, and pinch the ends well. Let rise for another half an hour. 6. Preheat oven to 375 F. Once the cake has gone through its second rising, bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the cake is a nice brown color. Remove the can as soon as the cake comes out of the oven. Let the cake cool completely before decorating. 7. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. If the consistency is too thick for your taste, add more milk a little bit at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. Once the cake is out of the oven and cooled, pour on the the glaze and then decorate as you wish. For my decoration, I kneaded liquid food coloring into marzipan, rolled it out, and then cut out circles. If youd like to go the traditional route and use standing sugar, you can either use store-bought or make your own by placing a few tablespoons of white sugar in a Ziploc bag with a few drops of food coloring and shaking it up. This story was first published in 2019 and updated for 2024. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A group of 43 mayors from around the country are asking the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to permanently extend work permits for migrants, citing economic concerns and shelter space. In a letter delivered Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou, the mayors and county executives asked for automatic extensions for existing work permits of at least 540 days. Without this, hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers will lose their work authorization, businesses will lose staff, and our cities and counties will face an increasing challenge to provide shelter to the public, wrote the mayors. Those signing the letter include New York Mayor Eric Adams (D), who at times has generated ire in the immigration advocacy world for his rhetoric around migrants, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D), whos been publicly vocal about his citys struggles to house migrants. Over the past few weeks, Denver has seen record-high numbers of migrants arriving in our city, and very few have the ability to work and make a living for their families, said Johnston. This has created simultaneous humanitarian and fiscal crises for our city, forcing us to look at significant budget cuts and reduction in services. We know that the ability for migrants to work is critical to Denvers success, and it is imperative that [the Department of Homeland Security] take immediate action to prevent even more migrants from losing their work authorization. The request to extend work permits comes months after the sunset of a USCIS rule from 2022 that had extended automatic renewals to last 540 days. As of October, those automatic renewals reverted to last only 180 days, meaning some foreign nationals who renewed their work papers after the rules sunset will start losing their right to work legally this spring. Local businesses are still struggling to address the current labor shortage and cannot handle further disruption to their operations from losing the employees they already have. A longer extension will allow immigrants to keep their jobs and businesses to operate without interruption, wrote the mayors. Since October, USCIS has been under pressure from elected officials, advocates and immigrants to reinstate the automatic 540-day extensions. New York City thrives on the diverse and dedicated contributions of these community members and stripping people of their right to work is simply un-American. Im hopeful the federal government acts swiftly to protect the stability and security of hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers and their families, said Adams in a statement. In September, the agency amended its manual to allow extensions of up to five years for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain categories of foreign nationals, including asylum-seekers, but automatic extensions are currently limited to 180 days. A spokesperson for USCIS did not immediately return a request for comment. The length of EADs is important because it allows immigrants and their employers to plan ahead six-month permits limit the kinds of jobs people can apply for and because a series of other benefits are tied to the work permit in many jurisdictions. My work permit gave me access to all the things I need to live and provide for my family a job, a drivers license, health care, and more. It is critical that the government extend work permits for immigrants who are waiting for their applications to be processed, and are scared their work permits wont come in time, said Charity R., an asylum-seeker from Nigeria and member of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. The short-term renewals also tie in to another issue dogging USCIS: application backlogs. USCISs goal is to process EADs in three months on average. According to the agencys numbers, processing times for EADs were reduced by 32 percent between the end of fiscal 2022 and the end of fiscal 2023, from 6.8 to 4.6 months on average. On Monday, USCIS announced it has reduced overall backlogs for the first time in more than a decade it currently has 4.3 million cases pending that have exceeded their target processing times, compared with about five million pending cases at the end of fiscal 2022. The mayors recognized USCISs efforts, in particular granting the five-year EADs to certain groups, like some recipients of Temporary Protected Status, a program that allows nationals of certain countries in crisis to live and work in the United States. While laudable, these actions will not help immigrants who are currently in the work permit renewal backlog and whose EADs are about to expire, they wrote. Those backlogs can mean long wait times without the ability to work for some migrants, and theyre made worse by accumulation of applications as short-term work permits expire. The long waits often generate artificial deadlines for immigrants who can lose their jobs from one day to the next. I waited over a year for my work permit renewal application to be processed. It was scary I was afraid every day that I would lose my job if my work permit didnt come in time, said Charity R. The mayors called on USCIS to permanently implement the 540-day extensions, or at least extend 2022s temporary rule until backlogs are sorted out. If DHS does not implement a permanent change to the automatic extension, any temporary extension should be for a period of no less than three years, to allow sufficient time for USCIS to work through the extensive work permit renewal backlog. We ask that you act swiftly so that the communities we represent do not experience the destabilizing effects of immigrant workers falling out of the workforce, they wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haleys campaign is adding $2 million to its South Carolina advertising plans and is putting out a new TV ad claiming that Donald Trump would raise taxes and allow a Russian victory. The added funds will increase Haleys previously announced $4 million ad buy to $6 million by the South Carolina primary Feb. 24. The new 30-second spot, titled More Chaos and shared first with NBC News, takes direct aim at Trump, including language and themes that Democrats have also wielded against the former president. A narrator says: The chaos that surrounds him is bad enough. But what is Trump saying hell actually do in office? The new ad then highlights Trumps proposal for a 10% tariff on trade imports: A 10% across-the-board tax increase. More record-breaking debt. Trump first outlined a potential 10% tariff on imports in August, saying, I think when companies come in and they dump their products in the United States, they should pay automatically, lets say, a 10% tax. The Biden administration jumped to criticize the plan, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warning that Trumps plan to raise tariffs would increase costs for U.S. consumers. It would certainly raise the cost of a wide variety of goods that American businesses and consumers rely on, Yellen told reporters. She added, In some cases, I think tariffs are appropriate. In addition to tariffs, the new Haley spot pivots to Trumps recent comments about NATO. At a rally in South Carolina, Trump said hed let Russia do whatever the hell they want to NATO countries that dont pay enough. A Russian victory that will bring more war, the Haley ads narrator says. With a world on fire and a crisis at home, with Trump, its just more chaos." Haley has said on the campaign trail that Trumps comments put every military member in danger; he put every country in danger. Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said, With a world on fire and a crisis at home, America cant afford Donald Trumps chaos and unhinged policies. The increased ad buy comes amid increased online fundraising around Haleys jabs at Trump and after Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney recently said that the campaign had the resources to go to the distance. The campaign has already aired $3.4 million in ads in South Carolina since the New Hampshire primary, according to AdImpact. But Haley still trails by large margins in public polling. Two Republican candidates in North Carolinas race for governor condemned the front-runner Monday for his comments about transgender people using the restroom. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is the leading Republican candidate ahead of the states primary for governor on March 5, implied at a campaign event this month that transgender women should be arrested if they use womens restrooms. Were going to defend women in this state, he said in a speech at a campaign stop in Cary. That means if youre a man on Friday night and all of the sudden on Saturday, you feel like a woman and you want to go in the womens bathroom in the mall, you will be arrested or whatever we got to do to you. Republican candidate for North Carolina governor Mark Robinson speaks at a rally on Jan. 26, 2024, in Roxboro, N.C. (Chris Seward / AP file) At an event in Greenville, Robinson said people who are confused about their gender should find a corner outside somewhere to go to the bathroom. Were not tearing society down because of this, he added, seven years after North Carolina partly repealed HB 2, also known as the bathroom bill, which barred transgender people from using the restrooms and changing facilities that match their gender identities in most public spaces. The bill drew nationwide criticism and boycotts, and it was projected to cost the state billions. Robinsons two Republican opponents, state Treasurer Dale Folwell and attorney Bill Graham, criticized him. Mark Robinson is historys latest example of someone rising to power through hate, Folwell said in a written statement to NBC News. If he really cared about NC or the Republican party he would resign now. If he wanted the Senate to run a piece of legislation to his liking, maybe he should show up more than 10% of the time. Alex Baltzegar, Grahams spokesperson, said Robinson will lose and hurt all Republican candidates if he is the nominee. His comments about the Holocaust being hogwash along with his demeaning comments about women will wreck GOP chances for regaining the White House and the Governorship here in North Carolina, Baltzegar added in an emailed statement. In 2018, Robinson shared an anti-gun-control post on Facebook that said, in part: This foolishness about Hitler disarming MILLIONS of Jews and then marching them off to concentration camps is a bunch of hogwash. And last year, speaking at a Charlotte-area church, he said Christians are called to be led by men, though he later appeared to backtrack, saying his remarks were meant to encourage men, not imply women couldnt be leaders. At a news conference in October, Robinson also downplayed his previous statements about Jews and the Holocaust. There have been some Facebook posts that were poorly worded on my part, he said, according to NBC affiliate WRAL of Raleigh. There is no antisemitism standing here in front of you. Robinson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. He has also faced criticism for previous comments about LGBTQ people. In October 2021, multiple North Carolina representatives called for him to resign after a progressive advocacy group shared a video of him calling LGBTQ people filth. John Wesley Waugh, a spokesperson for Robinson, said in an email at the time that Robinsons comments refer to education and that topics surrounding transgenderism and homosexuality should be discussed at home and not in public education. LOS ANGELES (AP) Nearly 50 years ago, Gloria Gaynor released I Will Survive, the first disco song to top the Billboard charts and the only one to be awarded a Grammy for best disco recording. Then, 40 years later, she earned another Grammy: for her 2019's gospel album, Testimony. She'd made a triumphant genre pivot to the music that has always fueled her faith, following a devastating divorce at age 65, financial woes and health issues all while staying true to the resilient spirit and idiosyncratic talent that made her a superstar in the first place. A new film, Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, celebrates her legacy, and will hit U.S. theaters for a special one-night only presentation on Tuesday. It examines the long road to Testimony, but also Gaynor's traumatic past: how she was raised in poverty, survived childhood sexual assault and went on to become a music icon. Beyond the title, the documentary uses I Will Survive as a framework to describe Gaynor's extraordinary life and the lives of every generation that finds it and uses it as a soundtrack for their own struggles. That song, for me, is the core of my purpose, which is to bring hope, encouragement, inspiration and empowerment to people especially women," Gaynor told The Associated Press over Zoom from New York City. That's what my life is about now. And thats what I think its been about for many years and will continue to be about. This interview edited for clarity and brevity. AP: A documentary is a wonderful opportunity to consider your own career. Did you learn anything about yourself in this process? GAYNOR: What I did learn in the process was how Ive been able to, through my faith, not allow my experiences to define me anymore. I had at one time allowed that. And so Ive been able to release myself from that and thats one of the things I want to impart to the audience that your bad experiences dont need to define you. AP: In the film, it seems like I Will Survive is a song that came to define you many times in your life with issues in the industry, your ex-husband, your childhood and beyond. GAYNOR: The song was my mantra before I heard the melody. Just from the first time I read the lyrics, it became my mantra, and it remained my mantra, and still is, pretty much, throughout my life. Its just a wonderful tool to keep me in check and to keep me grounded and remind me who I am: that I am truly a survivor and that can continue throughout my life. AP: When did your love of gospel begin? GAYNOR: From my childhood. There was always gospel music playing in my house. My grandmother was a devout Christian... We had a lot of gospel music happening in my house as a child. And so I learned to love it there. AP: Are there similarities, in your view, between disco and gospel? GAYNOR: I think there are two things, two similarities, between disco gospel music. The first one is that both of them do touch your soul and do express things that are happening within. And the other thing is that disco music is the only music, in the history of music, ever to bring people together from every race, creed, color, nationality and age group. And gospel music has that same unifying power. AP: I've heard people refer to disco dancing as going to church, as if there's some religious experience there. GAYNOR: It is spiritual. AP: The film ends with a new music tease were you going to release a new album last year, on your 80th birthday? When is it coming out? GAYNOR: It is coming later this year. We are writing. We have written several songs for it already with great writers that Im still continuing to work with. People who have written for Miley Cyrus and Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, Dolly Parton so great, great writers. And were doing some really good stuff. We got some really good stuff coming out for people. AP: How did you celebrate turning 80? GAYNOR: We had a wonderful party on a three-decker cruise ship. It went around New York City and we stopped and took pictures in front of the Empire State Building. My friends got together, chipped in, to bring in from Florida this painter who did a portrait of me upside down while we all watched him do it. And it was amazing because we were looking at him saying, What is he doing? Hes like slinging paint and flailing his arms and all this. And Im thinking, I hope they dont mind paying for this. But when he finished, he flipped it and Oh my God, its awesome. AP: Disco has entered the pop mainstream even with the Barbie soundtrack. What are your thoughts on that continued legacy? GAYNOR: I think its wonderful. And perhaps the world is beginning, or at least the music world is beginning to recognize that. Disco never got its due... It deserves a place in every decade of music. AP: When the U.S. turned its back on disco, you found great success in Europe. What's different about those audiences? GAYNOR: What I saw and continue to see in the audiences is that they are not, disposable. They like older things. They appreciate older things that endure. I often say America is a teenage rock star whos having an identity crisis. We do live in a kind of a disposable society and we were always ready to throw out something that is more than a few years old. Whereas they treasure it. They see the value in it and embrace it. AP: How do you consider your legacy, now? GAYNOR: I was given a wonderful gift with the song I Will Survive to share with the world, to help them to grow and to inspire, uplift, empower, encourage them. And I hope that thats my legacy, that is what I have done and what my music will allow me to continue to do long after Im gone. WASHINGTON Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that he spoke this week with Paul Whelan, the former Marine and businessman who the U.S. government says is being wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. Speaking at an event centered on arbitrary detention, Blinken said he spoke with Whelan by phone Monday. "Yesterday, as it happens, I spoke on the phone with Paul Whelan," Blinken said. "Our intensive efforts to bring Paul home continue every single day. And they will until he and Evan Gershkovich and every other American wrongfully detained is back with their loved ones," Blinken said in his remarks Tuesday, also referring to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who the U.S. also says is wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. Gershkovich, 32, was detained in March on espionage-related allegations that he and his employer deny. Blinken did not detail the contents of his phone call with Whelan. A State Department spokesperson said in a statement that Monday's call was the third time Blinken has spoken with Whelan. "The Secretary conveyed that the United State continues to work intensively to bring Paul home," the spokesperson said in response to NBC News' request for further details about the call. "The United States is committed to securing the release of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich." Whelan, 53, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on allegations of suspicion of spying. In 2020 he was sentenced to 16 years in jail. Whelan and the U.S. government have denied the espionage allegations. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden met with Whelan's sister and called his parents to discuss efforts to bring him home. Our citizens are not human bargaining chips. They are not political pawns, Blinken said in his remarks at Tuesdays event. If any country wrongfully holds any of our people, we will hold them accountable. Blinken also pointed to the Biden administration's efforts to "bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza," noting that the White House is working with countries in the region on a proposal for hostages' release. "Heres the truly heartbreaking part: Unfortunately, this is part of a rising trend. Increasingly, states but also nonstate actors are wrongfully detaining people, often as political pawns," he said. "This practice threatens the safety of everyone who travels, conducts business, who lives abroad." The Biden administration had been seeking both Whelan's and WNBA star Brittney Griner's release from Russia during previous negotiations, but ultimately Russia agreed to release only Griner in 2022. "Paul and the Whelan family recently showed the entire country the meaning of generosity of spirit in celebrating a fellow Americans return while Russia continues its deplorable treatment of Paul as a bargaining chip," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement in December 2022, weeks after Griner was released. Mazi Pilip speaks to reporters after voting in Massapequa, New York (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Fred Forgione doesnt bring up politics with family and friends anymore. He doesnt engage with political posts on Facebook, and certainly doesnt mention his progressive abortion views to fellow members of the Knights of Columbus Catholic fraternal order. Most of my family and friends are staunch Republicans, I dont get it. I used to have arguments all the time to the point where I just shut up. I dont talk anymore, the 67-year-old retired banker told The Independent in a strip mall car park in New Hyde Park, Long Island, on Monday. Tuesdays by-election in New Yorks 3rd Congressional to replace the scandal-plagued, federally indicted former Congressman George Santos has largely turned into a national referendum on immigration, abortion, Donald Trump and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Democratic veteran Tom Suozzi, 61, and the GOPs Mazi Pilip have spent around $20m on negative adverts that have bombarded local news channels and sportscasts, and even ran during Sundays Super Bowl. Mr Suozzi has tried to paint Ms Pilip, a 44-year-old Ethiopian-born, Israeli-American Nassau County legislator, as an extremist, Santos 2.0. He claims she is unvetted and untested in Washington DC, and that she has refused to give a straight answer on whether she would support a national bill to protect womens reproductive rights. Republican ad spots have tied Mr Suozzi to Democratic failures to rein in illegal immigration, the dominant issue on voters minds in the district, according to an Emerson poll in January. What used to be a Democratic stronghold has in recent years turned into a Republican-leaning bellwether for how suburban districts across the country could vote in Novembers general election. Recent polling suggests the race is a statistical dead heat. The sharp tribal divisions that have convulsed national politics were evident among voters in the NY03 district as they did their grocery shopping and ran errands on Monday. Motorists sped past the candidates duelling lawn signs on busy intersections, an indication of the energetic campaigns both have run. Mr Forgione said he plans to turn out to vote Democrat regardless of dire weather forecasts that suggest up to five inches of snow could fall on Long Island on Tuesday morning. A special election to replace the serial liar and alleged conman George Santos is being held in New Yorks 3rd Congressional district on Tuesday (Associated Press) Ill make it, snow storm or whatever. Mr Forgione says he cant abide Republican policies on abortion and immigration, and sees Ms Pilip as an extension of the divisiveness being sown by Donald Trump. I think shes another liar, shes a Trump supporter. I have taken grief from relatives about what a loser (Trump) is. And I think he and his people have become the radical right. I dont agree with her abortion stance. Im in favour of women having a voice and if the Democrats gain control of Congress, they will protect those rights. Regardless of who ends up winning, he says, anyone would be better than Santos. Mr Forgione lives near the shuttered Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where New York City last year opened a tent shelter to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers. Duelling yard signs in New Yorks 3rd district for Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip (Bevan Hurley / The Independent) He says that the citys migrant crisis is upsetting, and he agrees border security needs to be tightened. But he believes Mr Trumps demonisation of migrants is poisoning the discourse around how to solve the problem, especially after Republicans backed out of a bipartisan Senate deal last week. Perhaps due to the entrenched partisan divide, Republican voters spoken to by The Independent said that Mr Santoss fall from grace had done nothing to dissuade them from voting for the party again. Mr Santos became only the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House of Congress after the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report late last year. He was indicted in October on fraud and dishonesty offences that included stealing campaign donors credit card numbers and using their credit cards to ring up tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. He has denied any wrongdoing. Frank Williams told The Independent he felt the scandal had been blown out of proportion. Tom Suozzi speaking in Plainview, New York (AP) Compared to half the people in Congress, hes a saint, he said. A lot of people like to brag about things. Its a shame because we lost the seat, and its going to be difficult to get back. He said he and many of his friends preferred Mr Suozzi, who is a more known quantity after serving three terms in Congress. The Democrat has held elected office in the district for much of the past three decades, first as mayor of Glen Cove, and later as Nassau County executive. Mr Williams, a registered Republican, said he would be voting for Ms Pilip because of her tough stance on immigration. Suozzi is aligning with the mayor of New York City Eric Adams, who I cannot stand. Dorothy Di Lazzaro, a fellow Republican, told The Independent that Ms Pilips extraordinary backstory was proof she had what it takes to represent the district. Ms Pilip left Ethiopia at the age of 12, when she was among the 14,500 Jewish people airlifted out of the country during Operation Solomon. After serving in a gunsmith unit in the IDF, she earned a bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Haifa and a masters in diplomacy and security from Tel Aviv University. She speaks to me, Ms Di Lazzaro said. Suozzi is rinse and repeat. Hes been in Congress, and hes done nothing except raise our taxes. Some new blood is needed here in Nassau County. She claimed that Mr Santos had become a convenient punching bag for Democrats, who attacked him just like they denigrate Trump. Trump hasnt been in office for three years and they still blame him for everything. Santoss problem was that he just couldnt shut up. Ms Di Lazzaro doubted the predicted blizzard would deter voters from coming out. If they dont shame, on them. Not everyone has been overtaken by the partisan fervour. Bill Fink, a retiree from Nassau County, told The Independent that neither candidate had done enough to get his vote. Forget it, he said in brief remarks while heading to the supermarket. If I had to pick the lesser of the evils, it would be Suozzi. Pilips too conservative. Especially her stance on abortion. You gotta have some heart, and she doesnt. In a race this tight, the weather could yet have the final say. Early voting in the race has heavily favoured the Democrats, with results so far suggesting Mr Suozzi will take a sizeable lead heading into election day. Republicans tend to prefer same-day voting, which will require a strong turnout potentially in up to half a foot of snow and 40 mph gusts of wind. NYC Emergency Management issued a travel advisory on Monday afternoon saying the hazardous travel conditions could make roads and public transport routes dangerous. It recommended avoiding any unnecessary travel. Former President Trump on Monday urged the Supreme Court to keep his federal election subversion criminal trial on hold as he appeals a ruling that he doesnt have immunity from the charges. Trumps appeal sets up a potentially landmark case at the high court over the bounds of presidential immunity, and it also places the justices in a position to dictate when Trump can head to trial. The former president has long looked to delay his criminal cases, and he has found initial success in postponing his Washington, D.C., trial date originally scheduled for March 4 by first appealing his immunity claims. Now, as the historic dispute reaches the Supreme Court, the justices decision is poised to have an outsized influence on whether Trump can push the trial beyond the presidential election. Such a feat would enable Trump to potentially first return to the White House and subsequently pardon himself or direct his Justice Department to drop the prosecution. One of four criminal cases Trump faces, special counsel Jack Smith charged the former president with four federal felonies that accuse him of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump pleaded not guilty. Conducting a months-long criminal trial of President Trump at the height of election season will radically disrupt President Trumps ability to campaign against President Bidenwhich appears to be the whole point of the Special Counsels persistent demands for expedition, Trumps lawyers wrote. The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals roundly rejected Trumps claim that a former president enjoys near-total immunity from criminal prosecution unless they have first been impeached and convicted. For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant, the panel for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in its 57-page decision. We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter. Careful evaluation of these concerns leads us to conclude that there is no functional justification for immunizing former Presidents from federal prosecution in general or for immunizing former President Trump from the specific charges in the Indictment. The unanimous decision from the three-judge panel reflected the skepticism the judges expressed during the hearing, where Trumps attorneys agreed that presidential immunity would cover actions such as ordering an assassination of a political rival. They also warned the Trump stance that presidents must first be impeached would shield presidents from prosecution for crimes committed while leaving office or those that are discovered later on. The judges also took aim at a refrain that has been just as present in Trumps campaign stump speeches as it has in court documents that he is being unfairly targeted. As former President Trump acknowledges that this is the first time since the Founding that a former President has been federally indicted, the judges wrote. Weighing these factors, we conclude that the risk that former Presidents will be unduly harassed by meritless federal criminal prosecutions appears slight. Two of the judges who wrote the ruling were nominated by President Biden, while the third was appointed by President George H. W. Bush. In court papers filed Monday at the Supreme Court, Trump said he would soon file his appeal of the D.C. Circuits ruling. In the meantime, he asked the high court to issue an emergency order keeping the trial proceedings on hold until any appeals are resolved. Only four justices must vote to take up Trumps eventual appeal. But the former presidents emergency request to pause his trial proceedings, known as a stay, will require five votes. Chief Justice John Roberts will automatically receive the stay motion, and, in theory, he could act on the request alone. But given the seismic stakes, he is likely to refer the matter to the full court for a vote. That emergency ruling, which could come within days, will serve as a major indication for when this Trump case may reach trial. Before bringing the immunity appeal to the Supreme Court on the merits, Trumps attorneys indicated they next want to ask the full D.C. Circuit bench to reconsider the three-judge panels ruling. Pursuing that step would take additional time, aiding Trump in his goal of moving the trial after the 2024 election. The justices could grant that request in an emergency ruling, issuing a pause that allows Trump to first seek the full D.C. Circuits review. The reasons to do so are compelling, Trumps lawyers wrote. President Trumps claim that Presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts presents a novel, complex, and momentous question that warrants careful consideration on appeal. But the justices also have the option to simultaneously announce they will hear Trumps appeal in full without waiting for him to run out the clock. In that scenario, the court would also set a schedule for the written briefing schedule and oral arguments. The court has begun taking up cases for its next term, but it could expedite the schedule to still announce a decision on Trumps immunity in the coming months. It would follow the Supreme Courts decision to expedite Trumps appeal of a ruling disqualifying him from Colorados ballot under the 14th Amendments insurrection ban. Some spectators however, have posited that the high court may decline to take up the immunity case. Although the conservative-majority court includes three Trump appointees, the justices have at times sided against the former president in his various legal entanglements or refused to get involved. The court previously declined a petition from Smith to leapfrog the appeals court and immediately take up the case, instead opting to first let it be heard by the lower court. But it could again decline to take up the case, with some arguing the strength of the lower courts opinions prompt the court to leave the case be. I do not think the Supreme Court will hear Trumps appeal. Of course, anything can happen and it takes 4 of the 9 Justices to vote to hear a case. But Trumps argument is so weak and the Court of Appeals decision so thorough and well done, I can see SCOTUS voting not to hear it, Neal Katyal, who served as acting solicitor general under the Obama administration, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. CNN legal analyst Elie Honig agreed, noting that at every turn, the courts have ruled against Trump and those who aided in his effort to stay in power, determining their government role offered no legal cover for their actions. Everyone whos made this argument that What we did in connection with what led up to Jan. 6 was somehow within our jobs is 0-for-however many now. And I do think this unanimity makes it more likely that the Supreme Court may say, No, we dont need to interfere, he said last week. While it is widely expected the Supreme Court would uphold the lower courts decision, taking up the case would mean more delay for Trumps ultimate trial date, which U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan has said she will bump back in accordance with the time spent weighing the appeal. Proceedings before the lower court took roughly two months between the briefings leading up to the hearing and their consideration of the issue afterwards. A grant by the Supreme Court would similarly suck up additional time, with Andrew Weissmann, a former prosecutor on special counsel Robert Muellers team, warning a delay could punt the trial too close to election season for the Justice Department to contribute with the case. The Supreme Court would be taking the appeal of the DC Circuit immunity decision to affirm it, not to reverse it; but by taking it they would risk in effect giving Trump immunity by pushing the trial past the election, and thereby denying the publics right to a speedy trial, he previously wrote on X. Updated at 5:48 p.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is reviewing reports that Israel has harmed civilians in its war in Gaza under a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring countries receiving U.S. arms conduct military operations in line with international humanitarian law, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday. The Biden administration has faced criticism for continuing to supply arms to Israel as allegations pile up that American-made weapons have been used in strikes that have killed or injured civilians. "We do seek to thoroughly assess reports of civilian harm by authorized recipients of U.S.-provided defense articles around the world," Miller said at a press briefing, adding that a process under the State Department's Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance (CHIRG) was assessing incidents in the current conflict. CHIRG was established in August last year, just weeks before Palestinian militant group Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages during a raid into southern Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israeli figures. Israel's ensuing assault on Gaza has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 68,000, according to Gaza health officials. The guidance sets out a process by which State Department officials investigate specific incidents where civilians may have been harmed by U.S. weapons. Miller did not specify when the CHIRG process was initiated or say how many incidents were being reviewed. But a source familiar with the process said the department was looking at least 50 reported incidents of civilian harm. "That process is not intended to function as a rapid response mechanism," Miller said. "Rather, it is designed to systematically assess civilian harm incidents and develop appropriate policy responses to reduce the risk of such incidents recurring in the future and to drive partners to conduct military operations in accordance with international humanitarian law." The process is separate from assessments the State Department sometimes undertakes to determine whether atrocities, including crimes against humanity or even genocide, have been committed in a conflict. Reuters previously reported that Washington had set up a channel to get answers from Israel about incidents in which civilians have been killed or injured or where civilian facilities have been targeted. To date, Washington has not said whether such incidents could trigger restrictions on U.S. assistance, or any other action, if Israel were to be found at fault. President Joe Biden last week issued a new national security memorandum that requires countries receiving U.S. security assistance to provide assurances that they will comply with international law and not restrict aid access in conflicts. The memorandum also requires the departments of State and Defense to report to Congress on whether U.S.-funded weapons have been used in a way inconsistent with international law or inconsistent with established best practices for preventing civilian harm. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis; Editing by Sandra Maler) (Reuters) -The U.S. CDC plans to drop its five-day COVID-19 isolation recommendations under new guidance planned by the agency, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. The health agency plans to recommend people who test positive for COVID-19 to take a call on when to end isolation based on their symptoms. People with mild and improving symptoms would no longer need to stay home if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours, the report said citing CDC officials familiar with the matter, adding the new recommendations would not apply to hospitals and other health-care settings with more vulnerable populations. The government has yet to sign off on the guidelines the agency is expected to release in April for public feedback, the report added. "There are no updates to COVID guidelines to announce at this time. We will continue to make decisions based on the best evidence and science to keep communities healthy and safe," CDC said in an email response. The guidelines for isolation when tested positive for COVID-19 has not been updated since Dec. 2021, when the CDC had shortened the recommended isolation time for Americans with asymptomatic cases to five days from the previous guidance of 10 days. CDC data showed nearly 86% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, as of Jan. 19, were caused by the sub-variant JN.1, classified as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization. (Reporting by Chandni Shah and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Alex Richardson and Krishna Chandra Eluri) A whimpering 2-year-old boy was locked in a room while his mother was dead in the next room, Texas cops said. Though he was not physically harmed, he was left alone for about four hours, Houston police said. Police were called to the Harris County home at 8:41 a.m. for a welfare check. They knocked on the door and listened for movement but heard nothing. Houston police were called again at 12:43 p.m. When they arrived at the home a second time, the suspects daughter met them at the home. Officers went to the second floor where they found bedroom doors locked using wire secured to the doorknob and the banister, police said. Even if she was alive, she wouldnt have been able to open the door from the inside, Assistant Chief of Houston Police Patricia Cantu said. They heard a whimper from one of the rooms, which prompted police to cut the wires to find the 2-year-old in one room and the deceased mother in the next, Cantu said. Police said the woman appeared to have been stabbed and beaten, and an autopsy will determine her cause of death. The suspect was the mothers boyfriend, his daughter told police when they were called to the home a second time. We know the suspect called his daughter to let her know that he killed his girlfriend, Cantu said. She added that police did not have that information until they were called the second time. The daughter told police the mothers boyfriend had gone to Louisiana and was staying with family, Cantu said. Louisiana police were at the home prior to the boyfriends arrival. The suspect died by suicide after arriving at his familys house at 11:45 a.m., Houston police said. The identities of the mother and boyfriend are being confirmed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. All these scenes are very, very tragic, especially when its somebody youre in a relationship (with), Cantu said. When youre trusting somebody to care for you and this happens. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988. If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Dad abducted 5-year-old, drove off in stolen car from Michigan to Arkansas, cops say 12-year-old, two dads on motorcycles killed by suspected DWI driver, Texas cops say 18-year-old could face death penalty after two found dead in vehicle, Texas cops say WASHINGTON Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley joined the growing chorus of GOP leaders who are calling for President Joe Biden to resign after a special counsel report over his handling of classified documents drew questions last week about the presidents memory and mental acuity. When asked directly about whether she believed Biden should step down during an appearance on Hugh Hewitts conservative radio show on Tuesday morning, Haley responded: Yes, I do. And I think the Democrat party knows that, she added. It is not just in the best interest of their party. It's in the best interest of the country. Hewitt penned an opinion piece for Fox News on Tuesday similarly calling for Biden to relinquish his role, arguing that Special Counsel Robert Hurs report showed the president is impaired. The 345-page report, published last Thursday, portrayed Biden as an elderly man with "diminished capacities," including memory loss. It found that Biden, 81, "willfully retained" classified materials but that the evidence was not sufficient to prosecute the president. Bidens age has long been a talking point of Republican presidential candidates on the campaign trail and the report has put fresh focus on those concerns. GOP lawmakers including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., have called for the removal of Biden from office through the 25th Amendment of the Constitution. The White House has rejected the claims about Biden's age, with his attorneys criticizing what they called "highly prejudicial language" in the report. Biden also denied concerns about his mental abilities, telling a press conference on Thursday that "his memory is fine." It's not the first time Haley has urged Biden to resign. In 2022, she told conservative commentator Guy Benson that "if Biden loved our country, he would step down and take [Vice President] Kamala [Harris] with him." She cited the president's handling of foreign policy, including in Russia and Ukraine, as cause for him to leave office. Haley goes after Harris Haley has also long argued that the danger of re-electing Biden lies in the possibility that Harris could take office, often telling voters during her stump speeches that we cant afford a President Kamala Harris. Hewitt pressed Haley on those claims during his interview on Tuesday, asking whether she believed Harris could execute the duties of president if Biden were to step aside. I don't think Kamala Harris can handle it, Haley responded. But I don't know that she's any worse or better than Joe Biden. Harris directly addressed concerns about her capability to serve in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that was conducted two days before the special counsel report was released. "I am ready to serve. Theres no question about that, she told the paper, adding that everyone who sees her work "walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead." Haley postulated on Hewitt's show that one way or another the U.S. would have its first female president after the 2024 election. It will either be me or it will be Kamala Harris. Because if Donald Trump runs you have seen in multiple polls, he cannot win a general election, she said. Trump has so far dominated the GOP presidential race, winning contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. He is leading Haley by over 30 points in her home state of South Carolina, which is set to vote on Feb. 24. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley calls on President Biden to resign for 'the best interest of the country' The person who opened fire at a subway station in New York, leaving one person dead and five others injured, is now the NYPDs most wanted, police said. Members of the public were advised to avoid the area following the mass shooting incident that took place at the Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx, in New York on Monday. One of the victims a 34-year-old male died at St Barnabas Hospital, police said. The other five victims were treated at the scene and transported to hospital, though their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. One killed and five wounded in shooting at subway station in The Bronx (AP) An NYPD spokesperson later confirmed to The Independent that the victims included a two teenagers a male and a female. The male, 15, was shot twice, once in the thigh and once in the ear, and the female, 14, was shot in the foot. A 29-year-old woman was shot in the face and the neck, and a 28-year-old man was shot in the right arm. A 71-year-old man was also shot during the incident, police said. The names of the victims have not been released. ADVISORY: Due to an active police investigation, please avoid the area of Jerome Ave between Inwood Ave and Townsend Ave in Bronx, NY which is in the confines of the @NYPD44Pct . Please use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area. pic.twitter.com/myEeFoTJJi NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 12, 2024 No arrests have been made, and a gun has yet to be recovered by authorities. It is believed the gunman is still at large and a police investigation is ongoing. A spokesperson for the NYPD addressed the shooter at a press conference on Monday evening, saying: You are now the NYPDs most wanted, youve got the greatest detectives in the world looking for you. We suggest you turn yourself in. Because youre not going to make it. NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper told reporters that the attack was not a random shooting and had stemmed from a dispute on the train between two groups of teenagers, describing the incident as rare and unacceptable. Shots were fired when the train arrived at the Mount Eden Avenue station, and it is believed that both members of the two groups and members of the public were among the victims. This is unacceptable and when det make an arrest there must be swift immediate strong consequences, Mr Kemper said. This is not the norm, thats why were out here - outraged. The question is, why do people feelemboldened to take guns out and shoot them? There must be consequences. Police tape closes off Mount Eden Avenue station in New York City on 12 February 2024 (AP) The shooting occurred on the uptown four train platform at 4:47p.m. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said northbound No. 4 trains are running on the express track from 149 St.-Grand Concourse to Burnside Ave and No. 4 trains are bypassing Mount Eden Ave in both directions. According to witness, who spoke to CBS, there were about a dozen people on the platform when the shooting occured, including children. I heard gunshots, running, shooting, like, maybe, six times, five, six times. I heard two child screaming. And then, when I saw the train coming, thats when I ran downstairs, because there was too many noise, the witness told the outlet. Tania Kinsella, First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, added: Today another senseless act of violence occurred on our transit system. We have innocent victims and we want New Yorkers to know that we will get you, whoever was responsible for this. New York congressman Ritche Torres described the incident as a mass shooting. There was a mass shooting in and near the Mount Eden subway station in the Bronx. At least one person has been murdered and at least five have been shot., Mr Torres wrote on X. There was a mass shooting in and near the Mount Eden subway station in the Bronx. At least one person has been murdered and at least five have been shot. The shooter remains at large. The NYPD is advising the public to avoid the area of Jerome Avenue between Inwood Avenue Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) February 12, 2024 The shooter remains at large. The NYPD is advising the public to avoid the area of Jerome Avenue between Inwood Avenue and Townsend Avenue. Video from television news helicopters showed a subway train stopped at the station and orange evidence cones on the elevated platform at the station at the intersection of Mount Eden and Jerome Avenues. In a post on X, the NYPD wrote: Due to an active police investigation, please avoid the area of Jerome Ave between Inwood Ave and Townsend Ave in Bronx, NY which is in the confines of the @NYPD44Pct . Please use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area. Mass transit disruptions, delays, and road closures are expected to continue. Los Angeles city officials further sounded the alarm Monday after video circulated on social media, appearing to show someone paragliding from unfinished towers that attracted graffiti artists and taggers in downtown L.A. The buildings appearing in the footage appear to be the same unfinished high risers that were tagged with nearly 30 floors of graffiti. Im terrified someones going to fall or be pushed, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said. There are people who are parachuting off of the building. Bass said city leaders had no choice but to use already-stretched-thin resources from the Los Angeles Police Department with officers dispatched to surround the site as the building developers did not propose safety measures to keep people off the property. I guarantee you tragedy will take place there if that place is not boarded up quickly, Bass warned. New fences will be put up, but itll take a few days. The owner should reimburse the city for every dime. Graffiti slammed Oceanwide Plaza tower. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file) Construction for Oceanwide Plaza on the 1100 block of Flower Street was halted in 2019 when the Chinese developers who had initially planned for condos, a mall and a hotel, ran out of funding. Since work stopped, the uninhibited complex of empty towers became an attraction for graffiti artists. The L.A. City Council unanimously approved a motion Friday to give the property owners until Feb. 17 to respond to the citys request to secure the vacant building and restore the nearby sidewalks. City Councilmember Kevin de Leon said city officials notified the property owners in several different ways, such as email, phone calls, fax and messages through social media platforms. Im not holding my breath, de Leon responded when asked whether city officials believed the developer that ran out of money in 2019 would secure the site. But that does not mean we cannot continue putting the pressure on them. If the Oceanwide Inc. does not respond by the deadline, de Leon said city staffers will step in to remove all obstructions that are blocking sidewalks and streets, such as K-rail and scaffolding. The long-term plan was to find a group of investors who would take over the project on prime land in Los Angeles, according to de Leon. LAPD Central Division, which oversees Downtown L.A. and other areas, reported at least seven individuals have been arrested on suspicion of vandalism, trespass, burglary and other crimes. Central Division detectives were also placed to investigate crimes committed at the site, the LAPD said. A small plane with two people on board landed safely at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York after it lost a door mid-flight, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The incident involving a single-engine Diamond DA40 took place around 5:30 p.m. Monday, said the FAA, adding that the pilot "reported losing the left rear passenger door." Cheektowaga Police, in a statement, said authorities received a call for assistance from the airport around 6:00 p.m. "A small plane carrying two people reported losing a door to the plane while flying over the area of Stiglmeier Park in Cheektowaga," said the police in a statement. A spokesperson for Buffalo International Airport told USA TODAY that the plane, operated privately, had taken off from the airport and was 10 minutes into the flight when the door blew off, prompting them to immediately turn back. Missing door While the plane was reported to have landed safely, the door of the plane continues to be missing Tuesday morning, said the police. "Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the door," said the police. No injuries or damage to property was reported. Authorities have requested residents of the area to contact the Cheektowaga Police Dispatch at 716-686-3500 if they have any information about the plane door. A spokesperson of the Cheektowaga Police told USA TODAY that the FAA will be leading the investigation into the incident and that they will be assisting them with any requests they make. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Small plane lands safely at Buffalo airport after door falls off A finalized police sketch of the man suspected of killing 37-year-old Rachel Morin the night of Aug. 5, 2023. Rachel Hannah Morins killer is still at large, but Maryland authorities said Monday that finalized suspect sketches could lend a hand in putting the man responsible for her killing behind bars. The Harford County Sheriff's Office has spent the last six months investigating the circumstances leading up to the 37-year-olds woman death. Morin, a mother of five, was initially reported missing the night of Aug. 5 after failing to return home from an evening walk on a trail in Bel Air, a small Baltimore suburb. Deputies identified a body that was found near the trail as Morin the next day, saying that she was the victim of a violent homicide, USA TODAY previously reported. A couple weeks after Morins body was found, authorities announced that the DNA from the suspected killer matched a man who assaulted a girl in Southern California during a home invasion in March. But the break in the case has not yielded too many promising results, as authorities have yet to find the assailant. The sheriffs office assured the public that they continue to do all they can, including conducting interviews, following up on tips, offering rewards, investigating across state lines and distributing flyers. This week marked six months since Rachel Morin was needlessly and tragically killed while on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air This investigation has not slowed or stalled, they said. Heres what we know about the case. A timeline of events in the Rachel Morin case Rachel Morin was a 37-year-old Maryland mother of five who vanished at dusk while walking on a trail in the state's small northeast town of Bel Air. Aug. 5: Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend at around 11:20 p.m. after failing to return home from her evening walk on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. She was last seen in the area around 6 p.m. Aug. 6: The Harford County Sheriff's Office got a 911 call from a search volunteer reporting a dead body near the Ma and Pa Trail around 1 p.m. Authorities said the body recovered was Morin. Aug. 17: Authorities announce a DNA connection between Morin's suspected killer and a man who assaulted a girl in Southern California during a home invasion on March 26. Los Angeles police would not comment further on the matter, but the sheriffs office released a video asking the public to help identify the man seen in the video in relation to the homicide of Rachel Morin. Sept. 7: The Harford County Sheriffs Office posts a video update related to the case on Facebook, saying that they had collected and watched hours of video footage from in and around the trail where she disappeared to look for additional witnesses and evidence. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said he was concerned the suspect, who could be a serial killer, was escalating and could kill again. Gahler also said they planned to patrol the trail accordingly, aiming to get cameras installed along the trails since they see a decrease in use of the trail in the winter. Feb. 12: Harford County Sheriffs Office release a finalized sketch of the suspect, whose name has not been formally released. They have asked the public take a look and share the sketch, saying they believe that there were still people who could provide information. Suspect believed to be in the area long before Morin was killed Officials believe they found the body of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman who vanished after going for a walk on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. The man suspected of killing Morin may have been in the area for days before the crime, with authorities saying they believe there were people in the area who could provide information on the suspect. He was previously described as a 5-foot, 9-inch man in his mid 20s to 30s who weighs about 160 pounds and has dark hair. The detectives assigned to the case are hopeful that someone can tell them where the man was staying, who he was speaking with and where he worked. They have also asked members of the public to keep Rachels family in your thoughts. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the community for its support throughout this challenging time, the post reads. Your cooperation and solidarity are invaluable as we strive to find answers and deliver justice. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to send tips to RMTips@harfordsheriff.org for the chance to earn a reward of $35,000 if the information provided leads to an arrest and conviction. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Anthony Robledo and Francisco Guzman; USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sketches of Maryland mom Rachel Morin's suspected killer released WASHINGTON House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has filed a complaint against New York Attorney General Letitia James over her multimillion-dollar civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump, NBC News has exclusively learned. Stefanik, R-N.Y., alleges that James is "conducting a biased investigation and prosecution" of Trump and "attacking" him through "extrajudicial statements," her letter to the New York Committee on Professional Standards says. She also argues that James made "highly inappropriate and prejudicial comments on social media" and asks that the Attorney Grievance Committee investigate James and issue consequences, such as disbarring or suspending her. Stefanik, a staunch ally of Trump's who is seen as a potential running mate, has filed multiple ethics complaints against judges associated with cases against Trump or the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In November, she filed an ethics complaint against state Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the New York civil fraud case against Trump, and the following month she filed a complaint against U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, based in Washington, D.C., who has overseen Jan. 6-related cases. "While all Americans possess the right to express their opinions on matters of public interest, attorneys particularly state attorneys general are held to a higher standard due to their unique role as officers of the court," Stefanik said in a statement. The former president has previously claimed that James "hates" him and doesn't want him "to get elected." James this year called for a $370 million fine against Trump and his companies, as well as a lifetime ban on him and two former company executives from the New York real estate industry. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. A verdict in the case is expected sometime this month. The state attorney general's office has argued that Trump and his company falsely inflated statements to financially benefit themselves with better bank loans and insurance policies. James alleged that Trump overstated his net worth by as much as $2.2 billion one year. Trump has repeatedly launched criticisms against James, at times calling her "rogue," "corrupt" and "out of control." Engoron imposed a gag order on Trump last year after he disparaged a law clerk on social media; he called the attack "unacceptable" and "inappropriate." An appeals court temporarily blocked the gag order. Trump faces a slew of legal woes, including charges related to allegations he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, his handling of classified documents and allegations of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to an adult film star in 2016. The Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in a vote early Tuesday morning, setting up a showdown with the House as Speaker Mike Johnson has said he does not plan to bring the bill to the floor. The foreign aid package includes billions of dollars to support Ukraine and for security assistance for Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine, among other priorities. The bill passed the Senate despite Johnsons criticism of the legislation and former President Donald Trump signaling opposition to the bill by arguing the US should stop providing foreign aid unless it is in the form of a loan. The Senate vote was 70 to 29 with 22 Republicans voting in favor, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. History settles every account, McConnell said in a statement following the vote. And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink. The bill includes $60 billion to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance and $4.8 billion to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region in addition to other policy provisions, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he is not planning to put the package on the House floor, setting up a major clash between the two chambers. I certainly dont, Johnson said when asked if he plans to put the bill on the floor. Right now, were dealing with the appropriations process, we have immediate deadlines upon us and thats where the attention is in the House in this moment. President Joe Biden called on House Republicans to hold a vote on the bill in remarks from the White House, saying that a minority of the most extreme voices in the House, should not be permitted to block the bill. The president issued a stark warning, cautioning that if lawmakers fail to act, Russian President Vladimir Putin, wont limit himself just to Ukraine, and the costs for America and our allies and partners are going to rise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Schumer, McConnell and every US Senator who has supported continued assistance to Ukraine as we fight for freedom, democracy, and the values we all hold dear in a statement Tuesday. For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war, Zelensky said on X. American assistance brings just peace in Ukraine closer and restores global stability, resulting in increased security and prosperity for all Americans and all the free world. Bill faces Johnsons opposition in the House The Senate passed the legislation after Republicans blocked a broader bill last week that would have combined foreign aid with a bipartisan border deal. Republicans had initially demanded that border security be part of the bill, but went on to reject the bipartisan border deal amid forceful attacks on the measure by Trump and top House Republicans. In a statement on Monday, Johnson criticized the foreign aid bill over its lack of border provisions, saying, the Senate should have gone back to the drawing board to amend the current bill to include real border security provisions that would actually help end the ongoing catastrophe. Johnson had previously opposed the broader bill that did include border provisions. The speaker has characterized those provisions as insufficient, despite the fact that they were the product of bipartisan negotiations and included restrictive border measures. The House will have to figure out a path forward and theyll have to do it their way, but we needed to start the process and weve done that, Senate GOP Whip John Thune told reporters on Tuesday. House Republicans debated several ideas to change the Senate-passed foreign aid package during a closed-door party meeting Tuesday night, including paring back money to Ukraine, multiple attendees told CNN. An option that was discussed during the House GOP whips meeting was stripping the aid package of its humanitarian assistance and only including military aid for Ukraine, with the thinking that it could be more palatable to the Republican conference. Another idea was incorporating some of the funding into portions of an upcoming annual spending bill for the Pentagon. No decisions have made been, however, and the issue is expected to be a topic of conversation at Wednesdays larger House GOP conference meeting. While Johnson has made clear that he would not put the Senate aid passage on the floor in its current form, he may feel pressure to articulate a plan in order to head off potential Republican support for a so-called discharge petition. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed to use every available legislative tool to get comprehensive national security legislation over the finish line in a letter to colleagues. Democrats are limited in their options, however, if Johnson does not bring the bill to the floor. Democrats would need to get the support of a majority of the House or 218 members when every seat is filled to sign on to an effort to circumvent GOP leadership and force a floor vote. That effort, known on Capitol Hill as a discharge petition, rarely succeeds and would be difficult to pull off. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated passage of the legislation, saying in remarks on the floor, Its been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but the security of western democracy. I believe that if Speaker Johnson brought this bill to the House floor, it will pass with the same strong bipartisan support, Schumer said. Trumps stance on foreign aid looms The Senate continued to move forward on the bill even as Trump argued the US should not grant foreign aid unless it is a loan, signaling opposition to the legislation. Trump has also indicated he would encourage Russian aggression against any NATO member country that doesnt pay enough. A number of Senate Republicans either defended or downplayed Trumps NATO comments on Monday. Im 100% behind him, Sen. Tommy Tuberville said of Trump saying NATO members should be paying their dues or risk Putin invading their country. The Alabama Republican also suggested European allies should be very worried about an invasion, saying they should protect themselves and not rely on the US, adding the country cant protect everybody. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said European allies who are worried about Trumps comments need to get over it. You know, they need to get over it. They need to stand up and be tough. We need to secure our own border first. We need to take care of things here at home first. When we secure our own border, when we take care of home, great. Lets help other people as well, the Republican from Kansas said. In the Senate, consideration of the bill crawled along for days as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky vowed to drag out the timeline in protest over the legislation. Paul continued to dig in on Sunday, saying that he will hold out until hell freezes over. He indicated he is ready to hold the floor by speaking on the issue of national debt and other matters. I love to talk. Thats one of my favorite things to do, he said. We do this for a purpose, Paul said. I dont like being here. Im not here because its fun, Im here because I dont think enough people are talking about the danger of the debt. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Manu Raju, Annie Grayer, Sam Fossum, Melanie Zanona, DJ Judd and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Esther Howland isnt a household name for most Americans. But those whove studied the history behind the intricate, hand-crafted cards she started making some 175 years ago argue that she should be. She was the Martha Stewart of her day. She would have killed it on Etsy, says Vanessa Bumpus, exhibit coordinator at the Worcester Historical Museum in Massachusetts. Howland lived in Worcester and built a business in the central Massachusetts city that brought fame and fortune in her lifetime, and a nickname that lasted long after her 1904 death: The mother of the American valentine. Howland didnt invent valentines or bring them to the United States. But shes credited with sparking the spread of the ornate cards that became a staple of Valentines Day celebrations here and eventually blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar industry. She was a visionary. A lot of what we think about as valentines were things that she made, says Nancy Rosin, president of the National Valentine Collectors Association. She popularized the valentine in America. And she did it with style. There were many, many layers of lace and many elaborate embellishments, Rosin says. Tiny pieces of paper were folded like accordions to make the layers of the card pop up. Brightly-colored paper wafers placed beneath lace accentuated the intricate designs. Higher-end cards included ribbon trimmings, pages of artistic illustrations, hidden doors and gilded lace, according to a post describing Howlands work on the Library of Congress website. Many of Howlands designs were labelled with a trademark red H. Rosin says shes able to recognize others that are likely Howlands work but dont have the markings. I dont think she signed them until she started getting competition, Rosin says. And the message was always tucked away inside. Rosin says its not just the artistry of Howlands valentines that captures the attention of collectors; its the story behind them. She was really quite the entrepreneur, Rosin says in a video describing Howlands work for the Huntington Library in suburban Los Angeles, which is home to thousands of valentines and ephemera Rosin donated, including hundreds of Howlands cards. Ornate lace designs were a trademark of Esther Howland's valentines. - Courtesy Collection of Worcester Historical Museum Brightly colored paper placed beneath the lace accentuates the design. - Collection of Worcester Historical Museum The Valentines assembly line Howland graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1847. As the story goes, she was inspired by a valentine she received from England that year. She thought, I could do that, Bumpus says. And so Howland, whose father owned a stationery store, set about making valentines of her own. She persuaded her father to order materials and enlisted the help of other women on the third floor of her familys home. They sat in rows on either side of tables, just literally passing the valentines down so each person could add their thing Shes doing it before Henry Ford. Theyve got assembly lines going, Bumpus says. The process was more efficient, but still done by hand, leading to some inconsistencies. No two cards were alike, Bumpus says. Howland enlisted the help of other women to make her cards, using an assembly-line approach. - Courtesy Collection of Worcester Historical Museum Shes fresh out of school, launching her own business. Its kind of word of mouth at the beginning, Bumpus says. But once Howland started advertising, the popularity of her valentines grew. Before long, they were sold across the country, according to Rosin, whos shared a history of Howland on her website. The achievement is even more notable given when it happened. As a biography on Mt. Holyokes website notes, Howland pioneered an industry at a time when most women didnt have the opportunity to be employed, let alone lead. Eventually, Howland partnered with Edward Taft, whose family had also been making valentines, to form the New England Valentine Company. The George C. Whitney Company also based in Worcester bought that company around 1880, and Howland left the valentine business to care for her ailing father. She died in 1904 at age 75. She never marries, which we always find ironic, Bumpus says. But her business was a big success. And the city where Howland started her company was known for years as the valentine capital of the United States, until paper shortages in World War II sent business grinding to a halt. The Queen of Valentines legacy remains While many Americans might not be familiar with Howland today, its a different story in Worcester. The room where the City Council meets is even named after Howland, Bumpus says. She isnt the only famous person to emerge from Worcester. The city was also once home to the father of modern rocketry and the inventor of the smiley face. But in February, Bumpus says, Howland is the star of the show. The citys history museum offers free admission in her honor. Esther is really kind of our queen of valentines around here. We put her up on a pedestal, Bumpus says. Every year Worcester residents try their hand at making Howland-style valentines as part of contests and events honoring her legacy. This photo shows a group making valentines recently at the Worcester Historical Museum. - Courtesy Collection of Worcester Historical Museum Adults meet up at a local brewery and at the museum for card-making workshops. And kids from local schools design cards of their own as they learn about Howlands story. This year they submitted hundreds of designs to the 45th annual valentine design contest sponsored by the museum and the library. Some emulated Howlands style. Others took a more modern approach. We have some Pokemon. We have some New England Patriots. This year, we have a lot of Minecraft, Bumpus says. Its nice to see how every year the trends change. But one thing remains constant: Pride in Howlands legacy. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A former student of a North Carolina wilderness camp where a 12-year-old boy recently died is suing the program, alleging staff members dismissed her claims of sexual assault by another camper and denied her basic necessities when she attended in 2016. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina over the weekend, accuses Trails Carolina of creating an environment where troubled children have and do sexually assault other children and of failing to provide adequate medical care, food, and shelter for the children in its custody. The suit comes a week after a child died the morning after he arrived at Trails Carolina, a camp for troubled youths in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Authorities have said the boys death appeared to not be natural. A public relations firm for Trails Carolina said Monday afternoon that it had not yet been served the lawsuit and did not yet have a comment. Trails Carolinas owner, Wilderness Training & Consulting, which is also named as a defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In statements issued in the days after the boys death on Feb. 3, the camp cautioned against speculation and said through the PR firm that its priority has been to acknowledge and respect the unfathomable impact on this familys life and maintain the integrity of the investigation. Saturdays suit was filed on behalf of Gertie, a 20-year-old woman from New England who attended Trails Carolina for three months at age 12, and who asked NBC News to identify her by her first name only for her safety. NBC News does not typically identify survivors of sexual abuse without their consent. The lawsuit says Gertie was assigned to live with a group of girls at Trails Carolina in which one student sexually assaulted another a week after Gertie arrived. The student who was assaulted told staff members and the rest of the group about the attack, but staff members did not remove the alleged abuser from the group, and she became fixated on Gertie, the suit says. Do you have a story to share with NBC News? Email reporter Elizabeth Chuck The girl, who is identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, began making sexual comments to Gertie, the suit says. Gertie expressed her discomfort to staff members, who, instead of protecting her, placed her bed next to the alleged abusers, according to the lawsuit. The suit says that the girl then sexually assaulted Gertie and that when Gertie told her therapist at Trails Carolina, her therapist did not disclose the sexual assault to the authorities. Rather, the suit says, she made Gertie promise not to tell anyone else about the assault and told Gertie she was equally at fault. The therapist, Derry OKane, who is also named as a defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gertie, whose parents had sent her to Trails Carolina to help her with her depression, said she told other staff members about being assaulted, as well. It felt like they didnt care about what was happening to me or that they didnt believe me, she said in a phone interview. The lawsuit describes other alarming events that allegedly occurred during the rest of Gerties time. It says that when the group was camping, water filters the group used to drink water from a nearby stream broke and the group members were forced to filter water through a dirty bandanna while they waited about three weeks for Trails Carolina to get new filters. Some students allegedly developed pinworms. Gertie had other medical issues during her stay, including symptoms of a urinary tract infection for weeks before eventually being given a UTI test by staff, the suit says. She was given antibiotics but was not taken to a doctor, and her symptoms did not fully resolve, it adds. She also lost a significant amount of weight from hiking all day without being given adequate food, the suit says. The legal complaint seeks monetary damages and a jury trial, and it says Gertie has been left with emotional pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. My experience at Trails was pretty traumatic, Gertie said. It has caused a lot of damage. A controversial history Trails Carolinas wilderness program, which serves children with behavioral and emotional difficulties, has a controversial history beyond the recent death of the 12-year-old boy in its care. In November 2014, Alec, 17, Lansing walked away from the camp. His body was found in a stream, where investigators believe he tumbled after he climbed a tree and broke his hip, leaving him unable to move. Reports from the time said he died of hypothermia. A 2021 investigation by WBTV-TV of Charlotte reported that a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services report showed Trails Carolina waited five hours before it called for help to find Alec. The camp was cited for failing to supervise a student and fined $12,000, but it was allowed to continue operating, according to the station. Trails Carolina told WBTV at the time that it was proud of the work it had done serving children and that it had helped make a difference in the lives of thousands of adolescents. In a similar lawsuit to Gertie's, a former student alleges that she was molested in 2019 at age 14 by a female student in her group and that staff members denied her request to be in housing separate from her alleged abuser. Trails Carolina has denied those allegations in court documents, and the case is ongoing. Few details have been released about the 12-year-old who died this month. On Monday afternoon, the state Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to Trails Carolina that it shared with NBC News in which it ordered the camp to cease new admissions until the agency had completed its investigation of the childs death and required that at least one staff member remain awake when children are asleep. Gertie said she felt heartbroken for the boy who died and said she hoped her lawsuit would help other children. My biggest hope is to spread awareness and to inspire anyone else who has experienced trauma in a wilderness program or a residential treatment center or anything like that, she said. Because we deserve to be believed, and we deserve to get justice for what happened to us. More than 100 opponents of the Republican redistricting plans vow to fight the maps at a rally ahead of a joint legislative committee hearing at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, Oct. 28, 2021. Photograph: Scott Bauer/AP Wisconsin lawmakers voted on Tuesday to adopt legislative maps drawn by the Democratic governor, Tony Evers inching the state closer to undoing the extreme gerrymander that has ensured Republican control of the state for more than a decade. The pair of votes in the Republican-dominated state assembly and state senate are a sign that the years-long battle over Wisconsins legislative maps may be finally drawing to a close, giving Democrats a chance to win control of the state legislature in upcoming elections for the first time since 2012. The vote is the result of a December ruling from the Wisconsin supreme court that the current state assembly and senate maps are unconstitutional, ordering the state to adopt new legislative maps before the 2024 election and setting a mid-March deadline. Republican and Democratic lawmakers, the governor and multiple third-party groups submitted revised maps to the court for consideration, and in a 1 February report, consultants hired by the court to review them said that the GOP-drawn maps maintained the partisan gerrymander and do not deserve further consideration. The maps submitted by Democrats retained a Republican advantage, the consultants found, but to a much-reduced degree. Democrats in both chambers overwhelmingly voted against the bill after a failed attempt send it back to committee for review, alleging that because the bill would not go into effect until fall 2024, it was designed to protect Republicans such as assembly speaker Robin Vos, who is currently facing a recall attempt. We should let the supreme court continue to do its job to put in place a fair map in just a couple weeks, said Democratic senator Mark Spreitzer. The maps still need to be signed by Evers to go into effect. Evers previously signaled he would sign the legislation if it came to his desk A Marquette University researcher, John Johnson, found that Evers maps still give Republicans a slight edge at retaining their legislative majorities, but by a much narrower margin than the current maps. By accepting Evers maps, Republicans avoid rolling the dice on a court-drawn map that could be less favorable to them. The court will likely pick one of the other three maps, said the Republican senator Devin LeMahieu. Were going to end this sham litigation and pass the governors map. This fight was set in motion when liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz won an April 2023 state supreme court race, giving liberals a majority on the court for the first time in more than a decade. Protasiewicz had telegraphed her views of the Republican gerrymander during the election, calling the maps rigged. Republican legislators spent months threatening to impeach her if she didnt recuse herself from the case, but dropped the issue after consulting with former Wisconsin supreme court justices who recommended against pursuing impeachment. Wisconsins current legislative maps, drawn by Republicans, are among the most gerrymandered in the country. The GOP in Wisconsin has strong majorities in both houses of the state legislature, holding nearly twice as many seats as Democrats in the assembly and senate even though statewide races are often decided by razor-thin margins. These new maps will erase much of that partisan advantage. 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. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans aggressive actions showcase that it is seeking pretexts to escalate the situation on the border, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement after the Azeri military killed 4 Armenian troops in Syunik province. The Armenian side has 4 casualties and 1 wounded as a result of a new provocation and use of force by the Azerbaijani armed forces near Nerkin Hand community, Kapan municipality of Syunik province of the Republic of Armenia. Despite the February 12 statement released by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia that the images and information released by Azerbaijani media on the same day alleging that Armenian border troops wounded an Azerbaijani soldier is under investigation, nevertheless the Azerbaijani side took aggressive actions in the morning of February 13. This showcases that Azerbaijan is seeking pretexts to commit border escalations. These actions of use of force were preceded by the belligerent statements of the Azerbaijani military-political leadership, as well as the latest information-propaganda preparations. The Azerbaijani leadership is continuously attempting to derail the efforts of the actors interested in the stability and security in South Caucasus to resume the negotiations aimed at the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We strongly condemn Azerbaijans actions of resorting to military provocations, and we call for refraining from destabilizing steps, and a return to negotiations. We once again reiterate the previously stated proposals of the Armenian side on implementing reliable measures to increase border security, the foreign ministry said in a statement. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Locals in the Armenian village of Nerkin Hand in Syunik were terrorized by the Azeri shooting Tuesday morning, the Human Rights Defenders Office said in a statement. The Ombudspersons Office is studying the impact of the Azeri gunfire of February 13 in Syunik in terms of violations of human rights of the civilians. Multiple local residents told the Human Rights Defenders Office that they personally heard the gunshots, which left them in panic and terror, as well as uncertainty. The Ombudspersons office said that the Azeri gunfire disrupted the fundamental rights of the civilian population, such as the right to life, right to live safely and others rights. The Azeri militarys actions pose a real danger in terms of ensuring the rights of the locals. 4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded in the morning of February 13 when Azerbaijani forces opened fire at a border post in Syunik. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia released the names of the 4 soldiers who were killed in action in Syunik when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at their post near Nerkin Hand. The names of the fallen troops: Eduard H. Harutyunyan (born 1974), Gagik V. Manukyan (born 1982), Arsen G. Hambardzumyan (born 1979), Hrachya T. Hovhannisyan (born 1957). The Ministry of Defense extended condolences to the families and friends of the fallen troops. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council is underway in Brussels. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Josep Borrell, the Vice President of the European Commission, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy are participating in the meeting. The agenda of the meeting includes a wide range of issues: the implementation process of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, including the reforms implemented in Armenia and their results. The prospects of deepening the Armenia-EU partnership in various fields will also be touched upon, taking into account the current priorities and existing challenges. The security situation in the South Caucasus and regional issues will also be discussed. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Vice President of the European Commission, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell held a meeting on February 13 in Brussels ahead of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council meeting. Views were exchanged around Armenia-EU Partnership agenda issues, the foreign ministry said in a readout. The course of implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), democratic developments in Armenia, as well as the joint steps implemented for developing partnership in new directions and the existing prospects were also discussed. The security issues in the South Caucasus were discussed. The February 13 Azerbaijani military provocation in Syunik Province, Armenia was also discussed. FM Mirzoyan emphasized that the provocation once again showcases that Azerbaijan is seeking pretexts to escalate the situation on the border and is continuously attempting to derail the efforts of the actors interested in stability and security in the South Caucasus aimed at resuming the talks. The suppression of further actions aimed at destabilization in the South Caucasus was highlighted. 4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at an Armenian military post in Syunik province on February 13. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case on hate-fueled murder and attempted murder after Azerbaijani forces shot and killed 4 Armenian soldiers in Syunik Province on February 13. Another soldier was wounded in the shooting. In a statement, the Investigative Committee said the Azerbaijani troops were motivated by racial, ethnic or national hatred when they murdered the 4 Armenian troops near Nerkin Hand, Syunik. A preliminary investigation is underway. The necessary and urgent investigative and other procedural actions are being taken, the Investigative Committee added. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The European Union reaffirms its commitment to expanding cooperation with Armenia in the field of security and defense. According to the Armenpress Brussels correspondent, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said during the joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan following the results of the 5th session of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council. "Today's discussions clearly showed that our relations are developing in a positive direction. We have addressed all the aspects of our relationship within the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. We recognize, however, that we still need to work to realize the full potential of this agreement. We have decided to start a new agenda of very ambitious partnership between the European Union and Armenia," said Borrell. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has welcomed the initiatives of the Armenian government in the direction of reforms in the field of justice and the fight against corruption. As reported by the Armenpress Brussels correspondent, Borrell made the remarks during a joint press conference with Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan. Borrell announced that he welcomed the steps taken in the justice reform, the fight against corruption and encouraged Armenia to further address challenges in the fight against discrimination, hate speech and disinformation. Borrell also referred to Armenia's decision to join the Rome Statute, assessing it as an important and courageous decision. Earnings before tax sat at $386.7 million, down 19.3 per cent from the previous half-year while net profit dipped from $330 million down to $264.3 million. "We are pleased with our performance as we cycled the elevated customer demand in the prior year. As expected, we saw the trading environment become more challenging, marked by heightened competitive activity and increased on-floor discounting," group CEO Terry Smart said. "Our focus remained on maximising customer demand through delivering consistently high levels of customer service and driving best value for our customers." In Australia, total sales increased 0.7 per cent to $3.62 billion driven by customer demand for technology and consumer electronics, however EBIT declined 13.7 per cent to A$294.6 million. Key growth categories were mobile phones, gaming hardware, small appliances, whitegoods and services. Online sales grew 0.8 per cent to $543.1 million, making up 15 per cent of total sales. While in New Zealand, the business was outperforming, recording a 5.1 per cent half-year sales lift compared with an overall group revenue decline of 2.2 per cent. The retailers local unit reported $168.7 million in sales for the six month to 31 December and an 8.9 per cent increase in gross profit to $28.2 million. EBIT, however, was down $5.8 million, landing in negative territory by $0.4 million. That was in part a product of investment in new stores and other initiatives in the region, which helped push cost of doing business up by 11.9 per cent. Online sales lifted 5.8 per cent to $20.4 million, 12 per cent of total sales. The companys Australian Good Guys chain, which it bought in 2016 for A$870 million, recorded a near 10 per cent decline in sales to $1.4 billion. EBIT was down 30.5 per cent to A$92.5 million. As reported last September, JB Hi-Fis FY23 net profit took a A$20 million hit, falling from A$545 million to A$525, while earnings before tax (EBIT) shrunk 3.2 per cent to $769 million. "In a challenging retail environment, we continue to adapt and innovate to maximise the opportunities it gives us," Smart said. "Our unwavering focus on delivering value for our customers by leveraging our established and proven low-price market position and providing exceptional customer service continues to ensure we remain top of mind for shoppers. "This strategy not only ensures our continued relevance to our loyal existing customers but also drives the expansion of our market share." Following this was cyber security architect at $222,000 and then cloud architect in third with $212,000. After the top three, next came program managers at $210,000, security operations centre managers at $205,000, cyber security managers at $202,000, business intelligence architects at $195,900, infrastructure architect at $190,000, solutions architect at $189,000 and senior data scientist at $186,000. Additionally, the report found 78 per cent of workers value remote working as the most significant flexible working arrangement - surpassing flexible hours at 16 per cent, compressed work weeks at 6 per cent and job-sharing arrangements at 1 per cent. This is despite most companies requesting their employees to come back to the office on a semi-regular or permanent basis, according to Talent managing director for NSW Matthew Munson, claiming that this could be disastrous in the long term. "From the job seekers perspective, there is higher demand on wanting more flexibility around working from home and general flexibility - but although this is the case, we are seeing the majority of companies are enforcing a return to the office (3-5 days per week)," he said. "In a tougher market this may work, but Australia still has a skills shortage, so when the market lifts, we suspect employers that offer less flexibility will suffer." Agile Analytics has appointed former Microsoft Australia Azure CTO Andrew Cobb to the role of customer CTO. Cobb, who entered the position in November last year, holds a myriad of responsibilities at Agile, such as working with customers to maximise Azure investments and internal teams on best Microsoft practices, solution and intellectual property (IP) development and oversee the delivery of technical projects. Additionally, he will also present at technical conferences and other events to showcase Agile's Microsoft knowledge. He joins the data management firm after more than 16 years at Microsoft, with the last two years of his tenure spent as Microsoft Australia's Azure CTO, which ended in May last year. According to Agile, his "wealth of knowledge, breadth and depth of experience and diverse skill set make him a valuable addition" to the company. The Prime Minister virtually handed over appointment letters to one lakh newly recruited individuals NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised his governments track record of job creation over the past decade, citing a 1.5-fold increase compared to previous administrations. The statement came during a Rozgar Mela, where the Prime Minister virtually handed over appointment letters to one lakh newly recruited individuals. During the event, Modi also inaugurated Phase I of the Integrated Complex Karmayogi Bhavan in the national capital. The initiative aims to foster collaboration and synergy among various aspects of mission Karmayogi. Addressing the issue of delays between job notifications and appointment letters, which often led to corruption, he highlighted the governments efforts to streamline the recruitment process, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Modi stressed the importance of providing equal opportunities to all youth based on their skills and hard work, emphasising their role as partners in the nation's development. Discussing initiatives to stimulate employment, the Prime Minister referenced the Budget announcement regarding the installation of one crore rooftop solar plants, which not only reduce household power bills but also create job opportunities. He also highlighted India's thriving startup ecosystem, with over 1.25 lakh startups, many of which are based in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, contributing to job creation. Turning his attention to the railway sector, Modi noted ongoing recruitment through Rozgar Melas and outlined plans for modernisation and expansion. He underscored the significant transformation underway in Indian Railways since 2014, focusing on electrification, infrastructure upg-rades, and passenger amenities. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of connectivity in driving economic growth and job creation, citing investments of Rs 11 lakh crore in infrastructure projects outlined in the recent Budget. These investments, including new rail, road, airport, and waterway projects, are expected to generate further employment opportunities. In addressing reforms in the selection process for paramilitary forces, Modi announced changes to examination procedures to ensure equal opportunities for candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds. He also highlighted increased quotas for recruitment from border and extremism-affected districts. Modi to visit Doha on Feb. 14 after UAE trip New Delhi: In a huge diplomatic win for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ordered the release of the eight Indian nationals and former naval personnel who were sentenced earlier to varying prison terms on alleged charges of spying for Israel. In the early hours of Monday morning, New Delhi put out a statement announcing and welcoming the release of the eight Indians, of whom seven have already returned to India. India also thanked the Qatar Emir for the release of the eight Indians, who had been earlier sentenced to death by a Qatari court in October 2023 but which was later commuted to varying prison terms in December by a higher court in the tiny oil-rich Gulf nation. The eight Indians were in the process of filing an appeal in Qatars highest court for their acquittal when the countrys ruler ordered their release and allowed them to return to India, in a huge relief for them and their families. The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Emir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and homecoming of these nationals, the MEA said in the early hours Monday. It may be noted a conversation had taken place at a meeting in early December last year between Prime Minister Modi and the Qatar Emir on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. While New Delhi had declined to go into the specifics of that conversation between the two leaders, it is believed Mr Modi had sought the Qatar Emirs intervention. The former naval personnel were shown on TV channels praising Mr Modi on their return for his personal intervention in securing their release. The eight Indian former naval personnel in Qatari custody were earlier identified in media reports as Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Saurabh Vashisht, Amit Nagpal, Purnendu Tiwari, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta and Ragesh. Most of them were officers of captain or commander rank. Of the eight Indians, seven had earlier served as officers in the Navy while one was a sailor. Minister of state for external affairs Meenakashi Lekhi hailed the role of Mr Modi and the Qatar Emir in the release of the eight Indians. I&B minister Anurag Thakur also hailed Mr Modis efforts and said it was proof of Indias rising prestige on the global stage in the past decade. New Delhi had always reiterated it stands by the eight Indians and would continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to them as well as continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities for their release, which has now been accomplished successfully. The eight Indians were earlier sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance on October 26, 2023, reportedly on espionage charges. Two months later, on December 28 last year, the Qatari Court of Appeal had commuted the death sentences of all these eight Indian nationals to varying prison terms, and had also given a time-period of 60 days to the eight Indians to file an appeal, should they choose to, in the Court of Cassation, the highest court in Qatars judicial system. Some media reports suggested the eight Indians had been sentenced to jail terms ranging from three years to 25 years of imprisonment. It may be recalled that going by media reports in the past several months, the eight Indians were accused by the Gulf nation of spying for Israel on a secret Qatari programme on stealth submarines. The eight Indians were reportedly employees of an Oman-based company, Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services, which was advising on a Qatari programme aimed at obtaining high-tech Italian-made submarines that could evade radar detection and providing training for Qatars Navy. They were all reportedly picked up from their residences in Qatar in August 2021 for questioning and subsequently detained before being convicted. The charges were never spelt out in public by Qatar. The former Maharashtra chief minister is likely to join the BJP on February 14 Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Monday quit the primary membership of the party as well as resigned from the state Legislative Assembly. He is likely to join the BJP on February 14. However, he said he has not taken any decision yet. Mr Chavan, who was authorised by the Congress to hold seat-sharing negotiations with the alliance partners in the state, is the third prominent exit in less than a month. Earlier, former Union minister Milind Deora joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Some more Congress leaders are also set to quit the party and join the ruling parties before the Lok Sabha election. Mr Chavan sent his resignation from the membership of the Assembly to Speaker Rahul Narwekar in the morning. Subsequently, he also sent a one-line resignation to Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole. Informing about his resignation, Mr. Chavan posted on his social media account: Today, on Monday, February 12, 2024, I have tendered my resignation as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 85-Bhokar Assembly Constituency to the Assembly Speaker Rahulji Narvekar. Later, the 65-year-old Congress leader denied that he had taken any decision regarding joining the BJP. I have been in the Congress since my birth. I worked for the party honestly till yesterday. But now I feel it is time to explore other options, he said. When asked about the reports of him joining the BJP, Mr Chavan said: I have not taken any decision yet. I need some time to think about my future course of action. I will announce my decision in a couple of days. However, sources said Mr Chavan is likely to be formally inducted into the BJP on February 14 or 15. Mr Chavan has been unhappy in the Congress for more than a year now. Though he never openly admitted it, he was miffed with state Congress president Nana Patole. According to a Congress insider, Mr Chavan and a few other senior Congress leaders felt that Mr Patole did not give them due respect and often kept them out while taking major party decisions. According to sources, Mr Chavan had even raised the issue with the Congress high command and demanded a change of leadership in the state Congress, but his pleas were ignored. Another former chief minister, Prithviraj Chavan, and Congress legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat expressed surprise over Ashok Chavans decision. Prithviraj Chavan said: He was there with us till 5 pm yesterday (Sunday). He attended the meeting called by the partys Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala in Mumbai to discuss the partys election strategy. It did not appear that he was upset with anything. We have no clue about what happened overnight. Only he can tell what were his compulsions or whether he was under any pressure from anyone. Mr Thorat said that Ashok Chavan wanted to continue the discussion on Monday. After yesterdays meeting, he told me that we will meet again at 11 am today (Monday) to discuss our strategy for the Rajya Sabha elections. But today, when I tried to contact him, he was unavailable, Mr Thorat said. Last week, Mr Chennithala had authorised Ashok Chavan along with Mr Patole and Mr Thorat, to negotiate seat-sharing for Lok Sabha elections with alliance partners on behalf of the Congress party. Accordingly, Mr Chavan attended all alliance meetings. The Congress has denied that any more of its MLAs will join Mr Chavan. But the indications of Congress defections have been there for nearly two years now. In the Legislative Council elections held on June 20, 2022, several Congress legislators had cross-voted. As a result, the Congress first choice candidate Chandrakant Handore lost the election. He needed 27 votes to win. However, he received only 22 votes even though his party had 45 MLAs. About 10 Congress MLAs, including Ashok Chavan, were not present in the Assembly during the trust vote moved by the Eknath Shinde government on July 4, 2022. However, the Congress did not take any action in both cases. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis did not confirm or deny the reports about Mr Chavans induction into the BJP. I heard about Ashok Chavan from the media. But the only thing I can say now is that several good leaders from the Congress are in touch with the BJP. Those leaders who are connected with the masses are feeling suffocated in the Congress. I will only say Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya, (wait and watch what happens next), he said. The writer, a retired Army officer, is the author of Watershed 1967, based on a forgotten war between India and China, and a member of the guest faculty at New Yorks Columbia University. As President Mohammed Muizzu won power in Male, shocking Ibrahim Solih, it was known he would lean towards China. In a unique phenomenon, the Maldives periodically chooses between two of the largest contestants on earth in a national election. The individual candidates may go by any other name, but the influencer emerges from among the behemoths: India or China. In successive polls, power has changed hands with such metronomic fidelity that the losing candidate bides his time to turn the tables next time. As President Mohammed Muizzu won power in Male, shocking Ibrahim Solih, it was known he would lean towards China. In Mr Muizzus early days, with Beijing promising increased infrastructure investments, there was an eagerness to cosy up. This wasnt unusual as past governments had sided with either of the two powers. But this time, a fine balance was sacrificed in favour of brazenness and antipathy towards an old friend. A trio of deputy ministers threw the gauntlet by ridiculing Indias Prime Minister in an unacceptable manner, rousing anti-India sentiments. The improper comments upset Indians, whose anger virtually scorched the digital space. The Maldives government acted in time and suspended the deputy ministers, but the damage was done. That junior ministers could actually whip up a frenzy and had the agency to drive a wedge in the India-Maldives equation was worrisome. Conversely, it also meant any traveling lowball could catch Indias heels. Does a collective national outburst over any comments, even excessive ones, make India too predictable? Does it hurt Indias journey to becoming a bigger force in the region? The rivalry in the region between India and China has turned into a surrogate one. The scrimmage in the Himalayas is likely to be of contained tactical importance, since neither can make headway in the mountains. However, when dimensions of conflict expand to include the oceans and the nations that dot them, it gives rise to the real risk of a Chinese string of pearls around India through satellite states and naval bases. That is where emotional outbursts on every issue can become self-goals for India. The Chinese positions have stayed the course. Beijings thinking on the Maldives began even before the rise of Xi Jinping. Until 2002, there was no worthwhile trade, but in the next decade, trade increased from $3 million to over $60 million. In the next decade, trade volumes crossed $500 million. China has been working hard in these countries to build infrastructure which it can later leverage. The extent of Chinas footprint in the country can be gauged by the fact that Chinas Exim Bank funded the construction of the Sinamale bridge connection to Male and modernisation of Velana International Airport in Male alongside investments in agriculture. Lt. Gen. Rakesh Sharma of the Vivekananda International Foundation believes that, unlike Chinas deep pockets for investment, India is known to build relationships through people and essential services like medical tourism and education. Though he asserts the initial anguish against the remarks of the Maldivian ministers was normal, he cautions about going on an overdrive. A senior diplomat was heard on television sermonising our neighbours not to cross red lines. The strength of diplomacy is to deal with inimical governments, counters Lt. Gen. Sharma. In support, he notes recent examples of Indias dealings with the Taliban and earlier with Pakistani governments where back channels were deftly used. There is an impression in India that any hostile issue can be whipped up into a public interest phenomenon by crowding out unfavourable views using sheer numbers on social media. But those jumping on this bandwagon have little or no understanding of how international affairs and strategic choices work. The theatrics of tour and travel operators and celebrities falling over themselves by cancelling tours to prove loyalty, when the government had refrained from indulging in mudslinging, was a case of unsought genuflection by those whose decisions were skewed by an outburst of emotions. Take the case of a tourism outfit promising to transform Lakshadweep into the Maldives. Any comparison of infrastructure and potential between the Maldives and Lakshadweep is untenable. To claim that Lakshadweep, with its vulnerable ecosystem and just 36 islands, can be transformed into a tourist paradise, outstripping the Maldives with over 1,100 islands (of which 187 are inhabited) is outrageous and fanciful. According to Maldives tourism ministry, the Chinese didnt comprise the top 10 list of tourists in January 2023 while Indian tourists were the second highest contributor. However, by the end of 2023, the surge of Chinese tourists catapulted it to the third spot. Given the rapid change in tourist demographics, Mr Muizzus plea to China for tourists will increase the Chinese footprint in the islands and could challenge Indias influence in future. In the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maldives was the only nation accessible to Indians without a visa. Previously, Sri Lanka went through a cycle of pro-China and pro-India periods. Indias relations with Nepal hit a roller- coaster. After his China visit, Mr Muizzu spat out: We may be small, but that doesnt give you the licence to bully us. Mr Muizzu knows his cards well, having scrapped the India-Maldives hydrography agreement. This makes way for a Chinese research ship to dock in Male in February, despite Indias concerns over Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean. India managed to turn things around in Sri Lanka earlier. Given its location, size and lack of democracy, Maldives is a more vulnerable state. Lt. Gen. Sharma believes India needs to work with its neighbours if it aspires to leadership of the Global South. Given Beijings malevolent machinations, a powerful India that treats its neighbours as equals stands to gain much greater acceptability. Like accountability in a war stops at the generals door, the buck in political tussles must stop at the gates of diplomacy. by Dario Salvi The ground operation in the south risks dragging Cairo into the conflict. The Camp David Accords at risk. After 130 days of conflict and a number of dead and wounded exceeding 100,000, the spectre of a new Nakba. Custody of the Holy Land: land operation "final drama" for the Strip. Fr. Romanelli: Rafah "only contact" with foreign countries, Gaza is "a cage". Milan (AsiaNews) - First in the north, Gaza, then Khan Younis and today Rafah. The attention, and the concern of the international community, is now focused on the southernmost area of the Strip. In the Palestinian enclave, the extreme right-wing Israeli government has been waging a bloody war for more than four months (more than 28,000 victims, mostly civilians, including women and children), in response to the 7 October Hamas attack that left 1,200 dead in Israel. At the southern gateway to the Strip, on the border with Egypt, up to 1.4 million refugees who fled their homes following the advance of the Jewish state's military are amassed. Now, however, there is no escape route left and the announced ground offensive, preceded in recent days by heavy bombardment by fighter planes with the Star of David that grazed the refugee camps and destroyed a mosque, could have "disastrous" consequences according to the UN. Egypt freezes Camp David? Moving ever further south, the front of Israel's war on Hamas risks also involving Egypt, which is closely observing what is happening just a few metres from its own territory. The Cairo government is relaunching its efforts for a ceasefire and the achievement of a "radical solution" to the crisis, exploring every diplomatic avenue - for now - in an attempt to start "serious negotiations" for peace. The Country of the Pharaohs has repeatedly reiterated in recent hours its opposition to a ground operation, the consequences of which are more uncertain than ever and which risks starting a mass exodus of desperate people who have nowhere else to escape the bombs. Striking Rafah and, at the same time, continuing to prevent aid from entering the Strip, according to Cairo, risks worsening a humanitarian catastrophe that is already underway, which is why it does not rule out the possibility of suspending the Camp David peace treaties with Israel. And open a further international crisis front in a Middle East area where hotbeds of war and tension are multiplying. "The escalation at Rafah," Fr. Rafic Greiche, former president of the Media Committee of the Council of Churches of Egypt and spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, explains to AsiaNews, "is very dangerous. Israel wants to take the borders, it is also bombing the wall that separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt and allows the transit of Palestinians to Sinai'. For the priest, what has been happening in the last few days 'represents a serious escalation', because 'the Israelis are embarking on a very, very big adventure. I hope nothing irreparable happens,' he warns, 'and, above all, that there is no new war between Israel and Egypt because the risk is real and concrete'. There is also a second element, he continues, which is the intense diplomatic work that Cairo is doing from behind the scenes and involving Israel, Hamas, the United States and Qatar "to reach a ceasefire" and which escalation at the borders may jeopardise. "If Israel really wanted peace," says Fr Rafic, "it would make no sense to fuel the war in the south, in Rafah, on the borders. This - he warns - is really an adventure with unpredictable results" also because "although the Egyptian army is not as strong and numerous as Israel's, the danger is great for everyone". Rafah: Israel blocks aid "We Egyptians," the priest recounts, "want peace" while across the border the Jewish State seems willing to proceed heedless of the consequences, also because "those who will pay the price will not be Hamas, but the inhabitants of Gaza: elderly people, women, children who die every day" and already today the results are visible even on Egyptian territory. "Egypt is trying to help the people in the Strip, trying to make goods and aid enter Rafah," Fr. Rafic recounts, "but the Israelis are preventing this by putting ultra-orthodox at the borders that block the passage of humanitarian convoys. From the Land of the Pharaohs, the common opinion is that "the Israelis are trying to provoke a mass exodus of the population towards Egypt," stresses Fr. Rafic, evoking the (feared) second Nakba already recalled several times in recent days by analysts and humanitarian workers on the ground. 'Israel,' he concludes, 'seems to want to empty the Strip in order to then occupy it, this seems to be the impression of us Egyptians. This is also why the government is threatening to freeze all the Camp David Accords [which led to the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty] and this is very dangerous'. Concerns, those of the Egyptian priest, shared on the Israeli-Palestinian front by Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem. "A situation that is becoming more and more serious," he recounts, "as shown by the very high number of deaths in the last few hours. From the victims to the 1.4 million refugees amassed, up to the threat to freeze Camp David - continues the cleric - we are facing a dangerous escalation'. The Strip risks turning into "an open-air cemetery", which is why "as the Church of the Holy Land we renew our appeal for a ceasefire, the only way to peace. No to violence, no to war and a return to negotiations after 130 days of conflict and a number of dead and wounded that has exceeded 100,000". And in this perspective, a ground invasion in Rafah "would be a disaster, the ultimate drama for which today more than ever," Fr. Ibrahim concludes, "the international community is called upon to intervene". A trapped people The testimonies arriving from Rafah are increasingly dramatic, with images of families sleeping in the streets or, the 'luckiest' in tents in the freezing cold, all united by the vain search for food, water, medicines or blankets. To the original residents has been added the massive and progressive exodus from the north, for a population density today of 22,000 inhabitants per square kilometre, a number that is already unsustainable in the short term. However, even in the north, in Gaza, the reality remains one of extreme emergency, as pointed out to AsiaNews by the parish priest of the Holy Family, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, who since the beginning of the conflict has been unable to return to his people because of the border closure imposed by Israel. He is in constant connection with Pope Francis "whom I hear from almost every day" and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa tries to coordinate the (little) aid and show the face of solidarity and closeness to a people trapped. "The Christians of Gaza - underlines the Argentinean priest of the Incarnate Word - live a condition of continuous anxiety and concern. On the one hand, they hope for a truce, which will come soon and be permanent, despite the fact that the reality on the other hand is very serious'. The attack on Rafah, continues Fr. Romanelli, "is very scary, because it is the only contact left with the outside world, and the open-air prison has now turned into a cage. In the parish we host 600 people, in the Greek Orthodox Church there are another 200, while 200 Christians are in the south where they had gone in recent weeks with the prospect of getting out, some to emigrate to Australia, but they too have been stuck. No one can get out and everyone, from Gaza to Khan Younis, all the way to Rafah have been bombed,' but what is most worrying now is 'how to manage the 1.4 million people' [according to some, the displaced are up to 1.8 million] who are crowded at the border. Finally, the parish priest of Gaza emphasises the dramatic humanitarian conditions of the population, where people are dying, as was the case for Hani Abu Daoud, even from diseases that are easily treatable outside. "He had four children, the last only a few months old," he concludes, "but he died alone. This tragedy must be stopped, because every day, every hour means more victims, more injured in a tragedy that is getting bigger and bigger'. GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO MIDDLE EAST. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY TUESDAY, CLICK HERE. Today's news: Indian-made drones also in the Israeli offensive on Gaza; China will have a surplus of nearly 2 million teachers in 2035 due to population decline; Motion of no confidence in PM Marape in Papua New Guinea; Online summit between the US and Central Asian countries on the race for raw materials. INDIA Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have announced a march on Delhi today to protest against the failure to fulfill the promises made by the Union government when repealing the farm laws in November 2021. The Haryana government, led by the BJP, has sealed the borders with Punjab at three places to prevent farmers from entering the state. Delhi Police also erected barricades at the city limits. ISRAEL-INDIA-GAZA The Israeli military is also set to include Indian-made Hermes 900 drones in its unmanned aerial vehicle fleet, in a move that human rights activists and defense analysts say will further embroil India in the war of Israel against Gaza. The delivery of the Hermes 900 drones comes as Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah ahead of a major offensive against the densely populated Palestinian urban area. CHINA The People's Republic of China will face a surplus of 1.5 million primary school teachers and 370,000 middle school teachers by 2035. Newborn births in China have fallen since 2017, with declining numbers of students of kindergarten for the first time in nearly two decades in 2021. JAPAN In an experiment that raises delicate questions from a bioethical point of view, a Japanese team has successfully bred three genetically modified pigs to be used for human organ and cell transplants. The safety of this type of interspecies transplant will for the moment be studied with further tests on animals. There are currently about 16,000 people registered waiting for organ donations in Japan, but only about 3 percent receive them each year, according to the Japan Organ Transplant Network. PAPUA NEW GUINEA Papua New Guinea's opposition party has tabled a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister James Marape in the first sitting of the Pacific island nation's parliament since January's riots that claimed many lives. According to Parliament's rules, the vote cannot be held for another week. Marape said he was confident he had the numbers to defeat the motion. CENTRAL ASIA UNITED STATES An online meeting was held between representatives of Central Asian countries and the US State Department, at the initiative of President Joe Biden himself, to discuss critical raw materials. As reported by the Minister of Industry of Kazakhstan, Kanat Sarlapaev, "we want to unite our region with the global chains of the sector". RUSSIA The Orthodox hieromonk Petr (Stefanov) of Baskortostan, a priest for four years, announced via the social network VKontakte that he had decided to leave the Church of the Patriarchate of Moscow, due to the corruption of the hierarchical leaders and support for the war in Ukraine. You have turned against God and dedicated yourself to the service of Satan, squandering Grace, he wrote. by Mathias Hariyadi Tomorrow the country will choose its new president and vice president. The latest polls suggest that the current defence minister will win with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of the outgoing president. Remarks by the Archbishop of Jakarta, Card Ignatius Suharyo, about the "collapse" of democracy and the Old Testament stir social media with people giving vent to hate but also expression of maturity. Jakarta (AsiaNews) A day before voters cast their ballots in Indonesias presidential election, remarks by Archbishop Card Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta about outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, deemed critical by some, have sparked a controversy. The issue began with an attack by academics against the president, because, in their view, the countrys democracy collapsed under his leadership. Following the criticism, some universities and scholars allege that they were suffered intimidation and attacks by the police. On social media, the cardinal's remarks and the issue of democratic rights and freedoms have generated heated discussions among Catholics, pitting supporters against critics of President Joko Widodo, who has led the worlds most populous Muslim country for 10 years. While religion played a role in the past, like in the 2019 presidential elections, in identity politics and a clash between moderates and fundamentalists, in this election personal attacks and innuendos seem to prevail. The integrity of political rivals and opposing factions is questioned without hesitation with charges of malfeasance, graft, and nepotism, with bullying tactics that flood social media, often via smartphones. Despite online hate campaign among the three main tickets for the posts of president and vice president, which has inevitably affected the election campaign, no violent incidents have been reported hitherto, a sign of greater maturity among voters. In this election, Indonesians have not been driven by a destructive feeling, said Hung, a financial expert from South Jakarta. Quarrels "have been limited to the virtual world". Card Suharyos remarks reverberated among Catholics though; for some people, they are critical of the president. Any power can collapse, said the prelate, if it does not heed the "criticism coming from the "watchdogs of morality: academia and other prominent figures." AsiaNews spoke to the cardinal for a clarification. He said he was surprised by the affair. All he did was to respond spontaneously to an "unexpected" question about views expressed by academics vis-a-vis the outgoing president. In his statement, he cited the Old Testament where it mentions the "collapse" of ancient Jewish kingdoms due to the failure to heed the views expressed by the prophets." Some have interpreted such words as an "attack" by the Catholic Church, fuelling arguments "for and against Jokowi." Other bishops have also been dragged into the matter, when in fact some have had "cordial meetings" with the outgoing leader. Reacting to the situation, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) reiterated the traits that a future president should have: integrity; upholding the countrys principles like Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, human rights; protecting the countrys interests; not pursue personal gains; care for those most in need; show respect for humans and God's creatures. Meanwhile, the latest polls give the lead to the ticket of Gen (ret) Prabowo Subianto, the current Minister of Defence, and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of the outgoing president, with more than 50 per cent, far ahead of the other tickets. To be elected, candidates also need at least 20 per cent of the vote in 19 of Indonesia's 38 provinces. For Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Jesuit philosopher and morality expert, elections should be considered a political means to prevent bad guys" from governing the country. More than 500 Nepali savings cooperatives are in dire straits with US$ 490 million in depositors money at risk. The lack of controls and the use of money by promoters to obtain bank loans are blamed. The prime minister promises to intervene, but victims accuse politicians of complicity. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) In Nepal, more than 500 savings and credit unions are unable to return depositors money. Harish Chandra Shrestha, coordinator of the National Campaign for the Protection of Cooperative Depositors, reports that these cooperatives have embezzled hard-earned savings worth Rs 65 billion (US$ 490 million) from hundreds and thousands of depositors. According to the Department of Cooperatives, more than 32,000 coops of various kinds operate across the country with 7.3 million members and a combined share capital of Rs 94 billion (US$ 705 million), with Rs 478 billion (US$ 3.6 billion) in deposits and Rs 426 billion (US$ 3.2 billion) in loans. Many of those who embezzled peoples money parked in cooperatives are now affiliated with different political parties. Some have fled the country, Shrestha explained. Most of the promoters of cooperatives are affiliated with one party or another, he added. They become lawmakers and formulate laws that suit them. That is why the voices of cooperative victims go unheard. The government, he notes, has done nothing even when a single individual opened as many as six or seven cooperatives. The government itself declared 16 coops to be "troubled", with deposits of 272 members worth Rs 13.14 billion (US$ 100 million). For Kashi Raj Dahal, chairman of the Troubled Cooperatives Management Committee (TCMC), cooperatives involved in financial transactions and those based in cities have run into trouble. Most coops lacked resources, means and staff. Many promoters were found to have used money collected as deposits to buy fixed assets and as collateral to take out bank loans. Many cooperatives are found to have violated the rules. Some promoters lacked the expertise to run institutions that mobilise peoples money, Dahal noted. Some promoters had the bad intention of misusing depositors money for personal gains. Those misusing peoples money must be brought to book, he added. He also noted that promoters have had a free hand with cooperatives due to a lack of effective monitoring and regulation by state agencies. It is necessary, the TCMC chairman believes, to instruct state agencies to facilitate unfreezing of assets of cooperative promoters so that their liabilities can be settled. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also spoke about the issue today, expressing his commitment to addressing the victims' grievances. At a meeting with a delegation from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) at his official residence in Baluwatar, he pledged to address the concerns raised by those impacted by the mismanagement of cooperatives and microfinance. by Nirmala Carvalho In the State of Tripura a group wants to impose a Hindu celebration at the Don Bosco School. In Assam they use the clothes of Christian religious as a pretext to cry out for conversions. Bishop Moolachira: "The government protect us". The bishop of Agartala: 'We serve everyone selflessly. And in our classes the poor have found dignity'. Guwahati (AsiaNews) - Two disturbing cases of threats against Christian schools have occurred in recent days in the north-eastern region of India. In the first case, a missionary school in Tripura approached the administration requesting protection from a group of people who identified themselves as members of the Hindu Jagran Manch and Sanatani Dharma and threatened to bring into the institution on February 14 with by hook or by crook the Saraswati Puja, a Hindu rite. Tessy Joseph, principal of the Don Bosco School in Dhajanagar, on the outskirts of Udaipur, asked the district magistrate of Gomati to take measures to "prevent this illegal act and protect the institution, its property and its rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution". Similar Puja "requests" were also made to three schools in Assam, prompting representatives of missionary schools in the North East to hold a meeting in Guwahati on Sunday to address the situation. A leader of the Hindu Jagran Manch of Gomati district said that "a group of people belonging to the Hindu Samaj and some parents met the principal of the Don Bosco school with a request to celebrate Saraswati Puja there, just like Christmas is celebrated by everyone, because most of the students in the school are Hindus." In his request for protection, the principal of the school - founded in 1999 - recounted the three visits made between February 8 and 9 by people who wanted to celebrate Saraswati Puja. Although it is a Christian minority institution intended primarily for Christian students - explains Joseph - our school caters to students of all religions and we are committed to making students better human beings and better citizens of India. We reiterated that we have full respect for Saraswati Puja and other religious rituals of any religion, but we reserve the right to run our institution in accordance with Article 30 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees minorities the freedom to run their own schools. However, they were adamant, we read in the letter. In a second case, a Hindu group in Assam gave the state's Christian schools a 15-day ultimatum to remove all Christian symbols and religious clothing worn by priests, nuns and clerics on their campuses. The initiative comes from a little-known group, the Kutumba Surakshya Parishad, which also calls for the removal of statues and images of Jesus and Mary, as well as the closure of churches located in school complexes. Its leader Satya Ranjan Borah told reporters: Christian missionaries are converting schools and educational institutes into religious institutes for conversion activities. We will not allow it." The archbishop of Guwahati, Msgr. John Moolachira who is also president of the Episcopal Conference of the North-East region, commented on this news to AsiaNews: "We do not allow the celebration of a Puja on our premises. They can drink tea or promote cultural programs within the complex, but not carry out religious activities. Christian religious programs are also not held during school hours. We fear that these elements may enter the school and perform the Puja. If the government doesn't protect us, we won't be able to continue as before. As for religious dress, we have our dress and we will not remove the statues. Before these groups, no one ever raised any problems." Also Msgr. Lumen Monteiro, bishop of Agartala in Tripura, adds to AsiaNews: "The Catholic Church in the diocese selflessly serves the people, without discrimination of caste or creed, through our apostolate of education. We work for nation building without performing any religious function in our schools because they are not a suitable place. We have no intention of giving in to any of these groups. Many of our region's best scholars, public officials, entrepreneurs, doctors and educators have been students in our schools. And the poor have found dignity and valorized their God-given talents in our classrooms." Photo: Behance | Nihar Mazumdar ICE DRL Thus, it's safe to say the brand is a mere shadow of its former self. However, it wasn't always like this, as Dodge's portfolio used to be vast. Besides the muscly models of its past, it also had a lot of other low-slung models, and if it is one that doesn't get much love these days, that is the Neon Also marketed as a Chrysler and Plymouth, it came out in the 1990s, with the second generation following it. The Neon was put to sleep in the mid-2000s and made another appearance some ten years later as a rebadged Fiat Tipo for Mexico and the Middle East.Since traditional compacts (and other body styles) are no longer popular, we can assume the Dodge Neon will not make a comeback in our market at least not in this shape. Nevertheless, Stellantis, which is the brand's parent company, possesses the right tools to rebadge a compact vehicle sold on the other side of the pond and bring it to North America as a brand-new Neon. You know, just like Nihar Mazumdar did in the virtual world.Does the design of this CGI-infused 2025 Dodge Neon look familiar? That's because it was based on the third-generation Peugeot 308, a compact hatchback that is nearly two and a half years old. It builds on the EMP2 modular platform, just like the Opel Astra, DS 4, and Citroen C5 X, and it is a versatile proposal with purepower, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric, with the latter adding the 'e' prefix.Compared to its French cousin, this hypothetical revival of the Neon brings a less intricate face that makes it look more like a Dodge than a virtually rebadged 308. It has a smaller grille, a full-width light bar, a differentsignature, and an identical lower part of the bumper. Not much has changed on the sides either, and at the rear, it retains the same bumper and diffuser, save for a few tweaks, and brings a fresh lighting signature and a modified tailgate.The digital artist gave it the SRT-4 moniker and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, as emphasized by the charging port and fuel filler cap on the left and right rear quarter panels. The yellow finish, black accents, Neon logo on the tailgate, and a dark hue applied to the wheels complete the car's virtual makeover. We wouldn't necessarily support such a model, but if Dodge was given the green light for it, is it something you'd consider buying over a similarly-sized (and priced) crossover? SUV PHEV EV A couple of years ago, Alfa Romeo was only marginally better than other Italian brands put on life support by Stellantis, like Abarth or Lancia. In fact, Alfa had just two models in the lineup: the compact executive Giulia sedan and the premium Stelvio crossover. Now, though, the brand is quite well situated.That is because Stellantis finally understood that a lot of eager fans were waiting for novelties the facelifts for both Giulia and Stelvio were well welcomed but nowhere near enough to satisfy enthusiasts. Luckily, the company is firing rapidly one novelty after another the all-new first-ever Tonale compact crossover SUV that's also offered as a, the modern incarnation of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale packing either a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 or a tri-motoroption, plus the upcoming Milano subcompact crossover SUV.Set to become the direct successor of the MiTo hatchback and an indirect replacement for the Giulietta, this is Alfa Romeo's model on the CMP architecture that also underpins the Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka, DS Automobiles DS 3 Crossback, the Jeep Avenger, or the all-new Fiat 600. With four regulars and a flagship special edition hero vehicle, Alfa Rome sure looks a lot better. Alas, the Milano doesn't seem directed at the American audience too much, right?So, what if Alfa Romeo dared a leap of faith into an unknown segment for them just to attract a wide-ranging North American audience? Well, if things like this don't necessarily trouble the sleep of Stellantis' corner office head honchos, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators dream about it actively. For example, Tommaso D'Amico is present both on YouTube and other social media venues under the alias tda_automotive and loves everything Italian and related to cars or trucks.More precisely, the pixel master shared an intriguing idea for Alfa Romeo's next project after Milano it's called 'Vulcano,' and it's a very tough and adventurous-looking pickup truck. Because it's not real, it is pretty hard to make out its exact dimensions, but as far as we can tell, the CGI expert probably envisioned it as a compact or mid-size pickup truck. However, there's a catch looking all rugged with red tow/recovery hooks, giant side and rear steps, lots of black plastic body cladding, and a generous ride height; this looks more like a body-on-frame project rather than a unibody affair.As such, it would probably use a Ram Trucks chassis and dive head-first into the segment controlled by the all-new Toyota Tacoma, where it would clash with the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Honda Ridgeline, and also the Jeep Gladiator sibling. By the rugged looks of the author's design, it has what it takes to defeat them all and still look 'frowned' about it.As for motivation, Alfa Romeo sure has a few options it could easily borrow some of the powertrains from the Giulia and Stelvio, while the company could also gift it an upgraded version of the Tonale plug-in-hybrid setup, just to be sure it can battle the Tacoma i-Force Max more appropriately than others. Well, too bad it's just wishful thinking, right? There is always a shift in popularity in the used car market, and it happens quite often. Now, the time has come for a South Korean model to take the crown in the UK. The award for the fastest-selling used car in the Kingdom goes to Kia XCeed. Tesla Model 3 comes in second. Photo: Tesla Fastest-selling used cars (from January 15 to February 11) Only 14 days. This is how much it takes for the retailers to sell a Kia XCeed . That is the speed of light on the used car market, considering that used cars take an average of 34 days to sell in the United Kingdom.Two electric models, the Tesla Model 3 and the Mercedes EQC, follow the XCeed, with 14.5 days to sell. The Hyundai Ioniq hatchback is also among the popular models on the used car market, even though it was discontinued, taking 15 days to sell. The Ioniq is followed by another discontinued model, the Ford Fiesta, with 16 days.The used car market confirms the customers' preference for crossovers and SUVs. This body type makes up six of the ten current fastest-selling used cars, with the ranking leader Kia XCeed, the Mercedes EQC, Ford Puma , Skoda Karoq, and Volvo XC60 being on the list.At the opposite end sits the Vauxhall Crossland, which is right now the slowest-selling used car in the United Kingdom. It takes an average of 75 days for the Crossland to sell. The second slowest is the Land Rover Range Rover, with 72.5 days, followed by the Mazda CX-30, with 70 days, according to data provided by Auto Trader.Scotland tops the charts when it comes to selling their stock to customers, with an average of 24 days. The North East is up next, followed by the West Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber, all tied in second with an average of 25 days.When it comes to regions, London is the slowest-selling location, with retailers taking as long as 31 days on average to sell used cars.The EVs have been topping the rankings in terms of powertrains but trailed behind the petrol cars this past month. They took 28 days to sell, just as fast as the diesel-powered vehicles, but slower than petrols, with only 26 days.The used car market is not slowing down, with second-hand cars selling as fast as last year, according to Richard Walker, Data & Insight Director at Auto Trader. Many of the models topping the charts are less than 12 months old.Kia XCeed - 14 daysTesla Model 3 14.5 daysMercedes EQC - 14.5 daysMercedes-Benz CLA - 15 daysFord Puma - 15 daysHyundai Ioniq - 15.5 daysSkoda Karoq - 15.5 daysFord Fiesta - 16 daysKia Sportage - 16 daysVolvo XC60 - 16.5 days Bentley has just rolled out a bespoke limited edition of the Bentayga. The special version is inspired by Private Jack White, who was awarded the Victoria Cross after World War 1. Photo: Bentley SUV Commissioned by Bentley Manchester and Mulliner and sold fast to a local enthusiast, the model is a one-of-one and can be instantly recognized. It proudly wears copper detailing, referring to the copper line that Private White used to save the lives of his comrades. There is copper in the seat piping, embroidery, and other bespoke elements. Meanwhile, organ stops finished in anodized copper are visible on the dashboard.There is bespoke sewing onboard, reflecting the V.C. design origins. The silhouette of the Cottenham House, the Private White V.C. factory built in 1853, shows up on the wood-veneered passenger dashboard.Furthermore, the sewing lines reflect the style and functionality of military clothing. The Victoria Cross emblem shows up on the headrests. Loose cushions at the rear have been made of a Lancashire-woven cashmere cloth to commemorate Jack White's regimental blanket stripe.A representation of the company's unofficial mascot, a bulldog, can be found in the door pockets subtly embroidered.The Bentayga is painted in Dark Sapphire with Blackline Specification and rear privacy glass. Therides on unique color-matched 22-inch wheels with copper accents.The customer who drives the special edition Bentayga home will also receive a capsule collection of bespoke clothing, handcrafted by Private White V.C.The Bentley Bentayga Azure is the variant that the one-off is based on. This means that it is powered by a hybrid powertrain , which integrates a 4.0-liter V8 good for 542 horsepower (550 metric horsepower) and 568 pound-feet (770 Newton meters) of torque. Those are enough for a run from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph (290 kph).Born on December 23, 1896, in Leeds, Private Jack White enrolled in the army in World War 1, being enlisted in the sixth Battalion King's Own. He served in the Middle East at Gallipoli and Mesopotamia in Iraq.He was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the life of an officer, other men, and also equipment during an attempt of his company to cross the Dial River under heavy machine gunfire on the night of March 7 to March 8, 1917.Seeing that his boat was about to come under fire, he jumped overboard, tied a copper line to it and around himself, and swam to the shore, helping the vessel to land. However, most men on board were either dead or severely wounded.Private Jack White returned to Manchester as a war hero and started life as an apprentice in his local raincoat factory. In 1934, he was appointed general manager. Three years later, he became the sole owner of the factory. In the 1940s, his factory supplied waterproof parkas to the RAF.The production facility is still operating today. Over 100 people of 13 different nationalities produce high-quality garments using only regionally sourced clothing and materials. A front-biased crossover between model years 2011 and 2019, the Ford Explorer was redesigned on the rear-drive CD6 platform for model year 2020. Unfortunately, the Dearborn-based automaker botched up the mid-size utility vehicle's rollout. NHTSA Photo: Ford Despite the initial manufacturing- and quality-related concerns, the sixth-gen Explorer soldiers on as the Ford Motor Company's best-selling utility vehicle. It sold 186,799 units in the United States last year, whereas F-Series deliveries topped 750,789 trucks. Even so, FoMoCo still hasn't sorted out all of the Explorer's manufacturing-/quality-related concerns.The latest safety recall published on the's website reads that certain 2023 models feature fasteners that may be loose or missing. The fasteners in question connect the right front lower steering knuckle to the strut. If missing, the tire can experience a change in camber, leading to increased steering effort/steering pull. That's not all, though.The right front tire, knuckle, or strut may come into contact with the brake hose, leading to a brake fluid leak. According to documents filed with the federal watchdog, the double spindle fixture tool was offline for repairs for a brief period on December 19, 2023. Plant workers used the backup tool, namely a calibrated clicker wrench, which is unable to identify incomplete or missed torque operations.The subsequent investigation determined that 121 vehicles had their fasteners installed using the backup tool. Of those 121 vehicles, one was fixed by a dealer. The suspect nut and bolt bear part numbers W520517-S440 and W715932-S339 in the automaker's parts system. Ford also highlights that the Lincoln Aviator isn't affected because it does not utilize the Explorer's knuckle-to-strut joint design.Owner notifications will be carried out via first-class mail between March 4 and March 8. Dealers will visually inspect the presence of the upper and lower fasteners. If present, technicians are required to verify the torque. In case of improperly torqued or missing fasteners, both the upper and lower fasteners will be replaced and torqued to specification at no cost whatsoever to the owner.As mentioned earlier, only a handful of sport utility vehicles produced on December 19 last year are recalled. In addition to the 2023 model year Explorer fixed by a dealer, the Ford Motor Company made sure that two additional vehicles were shipped with properly torqued fasteners. The recall population, therefore, numbers 118 vehicles.Potentially affected owners can easily determine whether their Explorers are included in this recall or not by entering the 17-character VIN on the automaker's US website or the NHTSA's website. The vehicle identification number should begin with 1, whereas the Ford Explorer for the Chinese market features a VIN beginning with the letter L.Recently updated for model year 2025, the Explorer is listed on the automaker's US website with a starting price of $39,625 for the Active trim level. Over in China, the folks at Changan Ford charge 309,800 yuan or 43,085 dollars at current rates. ICE FSD The brand with the scorpion image has had a challenging time over the years, as its fortunes are intertwined with Fiat's. Luckily, now they have something new to chew on aside from-powered models, there's also the Abarth 500e, and soon they will also rock the Abarth 600e The latter was recently teased with no less than 237 horsepower on tap. Both the Abarth 500e and 600e are a sign of things to come, though they might not be as beloved as ICE-powered models because one of the signature cues of an Abarth was its distinctive exhaust note. These models may be small, but they did have powerful voices.Well, if money is no object of concern Abarth vehicles have always been a little pricey the Italian high-performance is giving us one of the last chances to grab something special featuring the T-Jet engine. The new Abarth 695 75 Anniversario edition, available in just 1,368 units to pay its respect to the 1.4-liter engine, references two things the brand's milestone age and the mill's capacity: 1,368cc.Packing a Garrett GT 1446 turbocharger, the engine delivers 180 ponies and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque at 3,000 rpm. With a maximum speed of 140 mph (225 kph) and a sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) in 6.7 seconds, the Abarth 695 is no snail , even though some would liken it to one because it resembles the shelled gastropod. Anyway, the model also features the Record Monza active valve exhaust setup, as well as Konishock absorbers on both axles.To ensure everyone notices this special edition, there's also a bespoke livery with a massive gold scorpion logo on the roof, Abarth script on the sides, and other distinctive touches. Gold Abarth logos are also featured on each side, there are original 75 Anniversario decals in the shape of a piston head, and the exclusive 17-inch gold wheels cover the braking system with 305x28mm ventilated and perforated disks packing black Brembo aluminum calipers.Moving inside, customers will find a high-quality black Alcantara dashboard, new Sabelt carbon fiber seats, more Alcantara inserts, a 7-inch DAB radio infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, automatic AC, Beats audio and a navigation system, plus Mopar Connect features like My:Assistant, My:Remote Control, My:Car and My:Journey. Moving on, the next special edition will be none other than the New Abarth 600e Scorpionissima launch version, also offered in minimal examples just 1,949 units will be up for grabs. We're told again and again these days that the environmental ramifications of private and commercial aviation are so severe that we ought to drastically decrease the level of global air traffic, lest we poke even more holes in the ozone layer with jet and piston engine exhaust. In the same way that the automobile routinely takes the fall for the state of the environment, so do their brethren in the sky.But what if engineers simply changed the fuel in modern airplanes? That's exactly what General Aviation Modifications Inc. is trying to accomplish. Based out of the little town of Ada, Oklahoma, GAMI, as they're often referred to, is preparing to roll out an all-new formula for aviation fuel to a market more obsessed than any other with its environmental footprint, California. Ordinarily, the bread and butter of GAMI's operation is manufacturing very high-quality fuel injectors for aviation-optimized internal combustion engines in smaller private aircraft, of which they manufacture parts for over 300 different engines. But undoubtedly, GAMI's most exciting project is their proprietary 100-octane aviation fuel dubbed G100UL.In a report first detailed by avweb.com, GAMI's head of engineering George Braly, revealed that the company had reached an agreement with the internationally renowned Vitol Aviation petroleum company to mass produce this eco-conscious new aviation fuel for its first foray into a Californian market. It's a market that's the most likely of any in the North America to embrace a lower-cost alternative to traditional avgas.According to GAMI, the total cost of all the materials in G100UL's proprietary fuel blend is between 85 cents and $1.15 more costly per gallon than the alkylate-based avgas private plane flyers the world over are familiar with. Word of the wise there, traditional avgas often contain delightful chemicals like tetraethyl lead as an agent to prevent engine knocking at high altitudes.Should all go according to plans, GAMI intends to use the California market as a launching point for their unleaded avgas to ship nationwide and potentially even further beyond in the future. As federal regulators and bigwigs in Washington DC prepare to pass legislation effectively outlawing the mass production of lead-based avgas, this puts GAMI and its industry competitors in a particularly lucrative situation, depending on which team can provide the most satisfactory product.As for GAMI, its recent FAA approval means its contractors can go hog-wild with production if the tree-hugging Californian private pilots eager to rid their state of lead-based fuels take to G100UL as the company hopes. If the trial run turns out successful, it might even signal a profound turning point in the history of aviation. So to say, the period where aviation kicked leaded fuel to the curb forever . You know, like cars and trucks have been doing since the 1990s. Tesla Cybertruck has been often mocked for its supposed lackluster off-road capabilities. This is why Cybertruck owners are willing to set the balance straight and show the other side of the story. In a recent video, a Cybertruck owner recorded how his truck helped a Ford F-150 get unstuck from a snow mound. 4WD As Tesla started testing Cybertruck prototypes last year, the pickup truck has been caught in less than flattering situations while trying to prove its off-road prowess. It was first ridiculed after the groundbreaking ceremony of Tesla's lithium refinery in Texas when the Cybertruck got stuck in a cornfield and had to be rescued by a Ford truck. Tesla's love-and-hate relationship with Ford haunted the Cybertruck in various situations for much of the past year.Still, none was as viral as the employee Cybertruck stuck in the snow in December with a Christmas tree in the bed. I can't say what was funnier: the idea that a Tesla employee went to the woods to cut their own tree, the hopeless Cybertruck trying to climb back to the road, or the party-dressed girlfriend watching the rescue efforts from the side. Either way, the video made Ford CEO very happy because a 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty rescued the Cybertruck.Farley hasn't hesitated to make fun of Tesla in the past, not least when launching the F-150 Lightning with an adapter to help "charge a stranded Tesla." Tesla returned the favor when it released a promo video about the Cybertruck's PowerShare bi-directional charging capabilities. This is why a solid reply to the Cybertruck off-road struggles was bound to happen. And it just did, as a Cybertruck owner recorded the rescue operation of a Ford F-150 truck stuck in the snow.Based on the description of the video shared on YouTube, the Ford driver seemed quite inexperienced. Although the truck was switched to/4Lo, the traction control wasn't cooperating. He also doubted that the truck had a rear locking differential because it couldn't move on its own power despite appearing to have winter tires.Funny thing, the lack of a working locking differential was also causing the Cybertruck's misery in December. Tesla hasn't yet released a software update to activate the locking diff , and if you try to enable it, you get a strange "coming soon" message. The ability to lock the differential can be a lifesaver in a low-grip situation, sending power to all wheels instead of just the spinning one.Besides differentials, many of these situations have been blamed on either wrong tires/vehicle configuration or bad drivers. These are actually the most important factors that can make a difference. Without the right tires (and the proper tire pressure, I might say), nothing can help you move. Also, if you don't know what you're doing, you're a lost hope in low-grip situations, and no professional off-road configuration will help you. This is why these videos showing truck X or truck Y stuck might not be the best measuring stick for a vehicle's performance. 13 February 2024 17:45 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more "I believe that the European Union mission may have a hand in the latest Armenian provocation," Gunel Safarova, head of the "Citizen" Research and Development Public Union, said in her comment to Azernews, about the Armenian Armed Forces' attack on Azerbaijani Army positions. It is worth noting that on February 12, at 20:50 and 23:40, Armenian Armed Forces' units from positions in the direction of the Chinarli settlement in the Tovuzgali region subjected the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement in the Tovuz region to small arms fire. On the same day, as a result of another military provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was wounded. Gunel Safarova said that since the European Union mission was deployed to the borders of Armenia, they did not only observe. According to the expert, EU observers also fulfil the tasks of their patrons in the West, who gave them a mandate. "We know that there are more French experts in the mission, and we have seen France's approach to the situation in the South Caucasus in the steps taken in support of Armenia in the OSCE Minsk Group for many years, in their groundless post-war statements, and at UN Security Council meetings." She added that today, the mission has gone beyond the scope of the monitoring and border control mechanisms. "Although, in terms of legislation, there were UN Security Council resolutions and mission groups created in this regard, we did not see any concrete steps being taken against Armenian aggression. A serviceman of the Azerbaijan State Border Service was wounded as a result of another military provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces. That shows that this mission also has a hand in the implementation of this provocation," Safarova added. Following the splendid victory of Azerbaijan in the Patriotic War, Armenia took a lot of provocative steps. Azerbaijan mentioned in diplomatic meetings and separate discussions that this mission would act as a camouflage for future provocations by Armenia, and we were right. However, the West's role in the area should have been to eliminate the actions that Armenia's aggressive policy committed from an economic, environmental, and human rights perspective and inflicted on Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus. But after the conflict is over in the entire Garabagh region, the 180-degree change in the West's position does not correspond to the concept of human rights protection that they have turned into a flag in their hands. Does the protection of human rights include environmental terrorism or health rights violations? The Armenian government must understand that there is one and only country that they can go to the dialogue and make a peace agreement, and it is Azerbaijan. If they continue these provocations, the loser in any conflict will be Armenia again. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 14:52 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more Four Armenian Armed Forces soldiers were neutralised as a result of Operation Revenge that Azerbaijan State Border Service units (SBS) carried out today, Azernews reports. The eliminated Armenian soldiers are Edward Arutiunian, Gagik Manukian, Arsen Ambartsumian, and Grachia Oganesian. It is worth noting that on February 12, at 20:50 and 23:40, Armenian armed forces' units from positions in the direction of the Chinarli settlement in the Tovuzgali region subjected the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement in the Tovuz region to small arms fire. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry commented on the Armenian provocation, adding that on February 12, as a result of another military provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was wounded. On February 13, the Azerbaijan State Border Service units (SBS) carried out a Revenge Operation in response to the Armenian armed forces' provocation. As a result of the operation, the Armenian armed forces combat post near the Gafan district's Nerkin-And residential area, which opened fire on Azerbaijani soldiers yesterday, was destroyed, and the combat positions were silenced. This provocation by Armenia is a serious blow to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Such provocative actions in an environment where stability has prevailed for the past 4-5 months are in clear contradiction with Armenia's declared messages of peace. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 16:55 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more Claims by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia that the measures undertaken by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan against the provocation of the Armenian side are pretext for escalation are groundless, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Azerbaijani side has eliminated the threat emanating from the Armenian military outpost following the military provocation that injured an Azerbaijani serviceman. This measure was purely a retaliatory one. Azerbaijan is committed to the peace process and calls on the Armenian side to refrain from military escalations that would jeopardise the efforts to that end. It is worth noting that on February 12, at 20:50 and 23:40, Armenian armed forces' units from positions in the direction of the Chinarli settlement in the Tovuzgali region subjected the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement in the Tovuz region to small arms fire, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry commented on the Armenian provocation, adding that on February 12, as a result of another military provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was wounded. On February 13, the Azerbaijan State Border Service units (SBS) carried out a Revenge Operation in response to the Armenian armed forces' provocation. As a result of the operation, the Armenian armed forces combat post near the Gafan district's Nerkin-And residential area, which opened fire on Azerbaijani soldiers yesterday, was destroyed, and the combat positions were silenced. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 12:47 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Sometimes, in the realm of diplomacy, being a peace broker does not work out for all parties. For example, although the intention of the European Union mission in Armenia to create peace in the South Caucasus and particularly with Azerbaijan seems convincing, there are nevertheless secret goals behind the issue. However, those goals are known only to the EU. While its internal problems are overwhelming, the European Union has decided to entrench itself on Armenia's borders under the guise of democracy and protection of freedoms. Although the EU appointed this mission on the borders of Armenians ostensibly to protect them from an alleged possible attack from Azerbaijan, the violations still come from the former. The EU monitoring mission in Armenia, with over 200 employees with 200 binoculars and more than 2000 patrols, has not seen any attempt at violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It should be noted that in recent days, it has become known that the EU mission on the Armenian border is engaged in espionage against Azerbaijan. The new was confirmed following a Czech citizen who was detained while crossing the border from Armenia on the Azerbaijani side. Also, the European Union Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Peter Mihalko, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in connection with serious concerns about the activities of the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) observers. We have repeatedly written about the suspicious activities of this EU mission near the border with Azerbaijan. The activities of the mission are not transparent, the Armenian public is not informed about the main activities of the mission in the country, and perhaps it is related to some authorities in Armenia. On the one hand, the EU wanted to put pressure on Azerbaijan with initiatives to impose sanctions against it; on the other hand, the EU is looking at Azerbaijan's energy, oil, and gas sectors. By establishing observation posts over Armenian territory, the EU is essentially serving its own political agenda, which includes targeting Russian forces throughout the region. It was brought to the EU's attention that the mission has essentially become an agent of "binocular diplomacy," facilitating visits by various European officials and unofficial delegations to the border regions. Indeed, as the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan noted, "all such visits, without exception, are used to spread unjustified Azerbaijanophobia." It was noted that the recent case of preventing an attempt to illegally cross the EUMA zone of responsibility casts a serious shadow on the stated tasks of the mission. Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated in a series of consultations with EU representatives that the presence of the EU mission in Armenia should not serve as a pretext for avoiding the fulfilment of the obligations undertaken. Abuse of the presence of this mission affects the process of normalisation of relations between the neighbours, including the process of border delimitation, which should be carried out on a bilateral basis, and the EU understands this well and is not acting dangerously for Azerbaijan but for itself. Let us recall that in Prague on October 6, 2022, Azerbaijan agreed to the deployment of an EU monitoring mission to Armenia, hoping that it would help the process of normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan. However, despite the clearly defined parameters and objectives of the mission agreed upon at the highest level, the monitoring mission's activities have been accompanied by serious deviations from the agreements reached in Prague due to the biased approach of some EU member states. Although AR PM Nikol Pashinyan, in his own manner, stated in a recent interview that "I will do everything to establish peace in our region," the actions of the monitoring mission tell a different story. Only they and their patrons know what they are looking at through their binoculars. Let us also recall that the head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Vasilis Maragos, said that one of the reasons why Brussels focused on Zangazur (Syunik) is that "the Armenian authorities approached us with this issue after the 2020 war, and from the local authorities of Syunik, we received a very clear concept and a very clear vision". In addition to the fact that the West has tried and is trying to hinder the peace process in the South Caucasus, they are also trying to create a space for themselves in the region through Armenia due to geopolitical and geostrategic purposes. Armenia is so into the sweet promises of the West that it is already ignoring its long-time ally, Russia. However, Yerevan is well aware that its borders are completely under the control of the Kremlin, and this is a reality that will not change for it even if Armenia leaves the CSTO. --- Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 10:16 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more In January this year natural gas exports to Azerbaijan increased by almost 4.5% compared to the same period last year, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said in his account in social network "X", Azernews reports. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 13 February 2024 13:32 (UTC+04:00) By Fatime Letifova The Azerbaijan delegation, participating in the World Government Summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, holds several meetings as the leading country of COP29, Azernews reports, citing the COP29 official X account. Mukhtar Babayev, President of the 29th Session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Parties Conference (COP29), Ecology and Natural Resources Minister, is head of the delegation. Within the COP28 framework, Azerbaijan and Brazil launched a partnership to strengthen cooperation and continuity between the current and future COP presidents. By supporting Mission 1.5C, this partnership aims to boost action on climate change. The "troika" will soon provide a platform for cooperation among the three COP presidents, starting today and ending at COP30, to raise claims and proposals on the Paris Agreement's key areas and to adjust the course according to the UAE consensus reached in Dubai. The COP president's trio reached an agreement on this. Note that the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Recall that Azerbaijan successfully participated at the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year. Addressing the event, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev expressed gratitude to the Convention Secretariat and the United Arab Emirates for the excellent organisation of the COP28. Besides, Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent in 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 10:44 (UTC+04:00) On February 13, the Azerbaijan State Border Service units (SBS) carried out a Revenge Operation in response to the Armenian armed forces' provocation, Azernews reports, citing the information shared by Azerbaijan's State Border Service. As a result of the operation, the Armenian armed forces combat post near the Gafan district's Nerkin-And residential area, which opened fire on Azerbaijani soldiers yesterday, was destroyed, and the combat positions were silenced. Every provocation of the Armenian side aimed at aggravating the operational conditions at the Azerbaijan-Armenia conditional state border will be answered with more serious and decisive measures from now on. The Armenian military and political leadership, as well as the EU mission, are fully responsible for the incident at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Given yesterday's provocation, we wonder why the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, with over 200 employees with 200 binoculars and more than 2000 patrols, has not seen any attempt at violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 14:27 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement strongly condemning Armenia's recent military provocation on the traditional border, Azernews reports. In the statement, the Western Azerbaijan Community says that this is not only the result of arming Armenia by a number of countries, especially France, but also shows its evasion from signing a peace treaty. Why is the EU mission in Armenia, which is sifting the notional border and the Zangazur Mountains with binoculars in hand, not responding to this planned provocation? Why aren't the voices of Joseph Borel, the State Department, congressmen, French racist politicians, the Netherlands, Canada, Lithuania, the European Parliament, and donkeyhoppers like Frank Schwabe, Nathalie Loiseau, Marina Calluran, and Jean-Christophe Buisson heard? Armenia seems to be taking dangerous steps against Azerbaijan again, believing in some international support, as it did in the summer months of 2023. Once again, Armenia should not sit on the words of foreign capitals, be a puppet state, and not repeat the mistakes of the "first republic". --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 17:00 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, commenting on the escalation on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, that Russia hopes that the peace process between Baku and Yerevan will continue, Azernews reports. Peskov called the military clash on the border of the two countries "alarming news" and urged the sides to restraint. The Kremlin spokesman added that such incidents do not contribute to the advancement of the negotiation process, bringing us closer to the moment of signing a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. On February 12, the Armenian Armed Forces shelled the positions of Azerbaijani State Border Guard Service (SBS) troops in the direction of Kollugishlak village in Zangilan district, as a result of which serviceman Parviz Aghakishi oglu Khalilzade was wounded. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 18:39 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, has expressed her concern about the recent shootout on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The official of the council said dialogue is the only way to ensure peace between the parties, Azernews reports. Concerned about reports of exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Call on both sides to abstain from the use of force. Dialogue is the only way to lasting peace @coe @CoESpokesperson Marija Pejcinovic Buric (@MarijaPBuric) February 13, 2024 Concerned about reports of the exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Call on both sides to abstain from the use of force. Dialogue is the only way to lasting peace. Recall that on February 12, at 13:37 local time, in the vicinity of the Zangilan district along the Azerbaijan-Armenia conventional border, gunfire erupted from the positions held by the Armenian Armed Forces located in the Nerkin-And residential settlement of the Gafan district, targeting the positions of the Border Guards of the State Border Service in the Kollugishlaq village of the Zangilan district. As a result of the incident, soldier Khalilzade Parviz Aghakishi oglu, a serviceman of the State Border Service, was injured. The military serviceman was evacuated to a specialised medical facility via helicopter. The incident, including the opening of gunfire from the opposing side, was captured by video surveillance cameras. At the same time, the fact that such a provocation took place exactly in the territory where the European Union mission in Armenia is monitoring raises serious questions about the goals and intentions of this mission. According to Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry, Armenia's military-political leadership is responsible for such provocations against Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 10:29 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more On February 12, at 20:50 and at 23:40, Armenian armed forces' units from positions in the direction of Chinarli settlement in the Tovuzgali region subjected the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement in the Tovuz region to small arms fire, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry commented on the Armenian provocation, adding that on February 12, as a result of another military provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was wounded. This provocation by Armenia is a serious blow to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Such provocative actions in an environment where stability has prevailed for the past 4-5 months are in clear contradiction with Armenia's declared messages of peace. At the same time, the fact that such a provocation took place exactly in the territory where the European Union mission in Armenia is monitoring raises serious questions about the goals and intentions of this mission. Armenia's military-political leadership is responsible for such provocations against Azerbaijan," the report says. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 February 2024 09:52 (UTC+04:00) President of Napoli-Baku Association Guiseppe M. Caniglia has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, We write to you from Naples-Italy to express our sincere congratulations on your re-election as President of Azerbaijan. We share the joy and satisfaction of the Azerbaijani people for this result, which confirms the esteem and trust they place in you and your leadership. Under your wise and enlightened leadership, Azerbaijan has made significant progress in all areas, achieving important economic, social and political goals. We are confident that you will continue to lead the country with firmness and farsightedness, towards an even brighter future of peace, prosperity and well-being. To you, your government and the faithful Azerbaijani people, we extend our warmest wishes for success and every good thing. With the most sincere feelings of esteem and cordiality, Guiseppe M. Caniglia President of Napoli-Baku Association" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 February 2024 11:05 (UTC+04:00) Chairman of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederations Irakli Petriashvili has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. "The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC), its members and myself personally, I would like to congratulate you on your reelection as the President of Azerbaijan. We hope that trust and hope that the people of Azerbaijan expressed towards you by casting the vote in your favour will even further strengthen friendship and cooperation of Azerbaijani and Georgian people, as you have been supporting this for many years. We believe that this will further support welfare and success of our countries. Please accept our congratulations once again and our best wishes for your further success and achievements. Sincerely, Irakli Petriashvili Chairman of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederations" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 February 2024 15:58 (UTC+04:00) Director-General of the ICESCO Salim bin Mohammed Almalik has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, On behalf of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Your landslide victory in the recent election is a testament to the trust and confidence that the people of Azerbaijan have placed in your leadership. It is also a reflection of your dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment to the progress and prosperity of your nation. We at ICESCO look forward to continuing our collaboration with Azerbaijan under your esteemed leadership, working towards the advancement of education, science, and culture in the Islamic world. Your ongoing support for initiatives that promote cultural exchange, scientific research, and educational development has had a positive impact on the region, and we are confident that, with your renewed mandate, Azerbaijan will achieve even greater milestones in the coming years. Let me also express my personal admiration for your remarkable leadership in promoting the youth and advancing the peace and prosperity that resonates deeply throughout the entire Islamic World. Once again, congratulations on your re-election, and may your continued tenure bring prosperity and success to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Most respectfully, Salim bin Mohammed Almalik Director-General of the ICESCO" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 February 2024 16:57 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your landslide victory and reelection as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I wish you the most successful administration along with new accomplishments for prosperity, peace and stability of your country and the friendly people of Azerbaijan. I am confident that peoples trust will reveal additional ways for the success of the Republic of Azerbaijan and your determination will remain a symbol of your leadership in facing future purposes. Hereby, based on mutual confidence and respect, which has bound our countries for so long, I avail myself of this opportunity to reaffirm that I look forward to the close cooperation with you, not only to further strengthen solid friendship and strategic partnership between our countries but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and prosperity of our region and people. Excellency, Allow me to once again offer to you my most heartfelt wishes for a very successful term. Sincerely, Irakli Kobakhidze Prime Minister of Georgia" 13 February 2024 11:39 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Chaired by Farhad Abdullayev, a session of the Plenum of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan convened on February 13, Azernews reports. During the session, the Constitutional Court reviewed constitutional matters based on materials received from the Central Election Commission regarding the outcomes of the snap presidential election held on February 7, 2024, following special constitutional procedures. The Constitutional Court heard reports from judges, speeches from legal representatives of interested parties, and opinions from experts. After a thorough review, the Court adopted a decision to confirm and formally announce the results of the snap presidential election of the Republic of Azerbaijan held on February 7, 2024. Chairman of the Constitutional Court Farhad Abdullayev read out the decision, affirming that the results reflected in the protocol of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the snap presidential elections held on February 7, 2024, are hereby confirmed. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev has been declared as the President-elect of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The decision of the Constitutional Court takes effect upon announcement and is definitive, not subject to revocation, amendment, or officially interpretation by any organ or official person. Following the announcement, the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played, and Farhad Abdullayev closed the session of the Plenum of the Constitutional Court. It is noteworthy that, according to the final protocol of the Central Election Commission, Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev won the presidential elections with 92.12% of the votes. https://video.azertag.az/en/site/video/200584 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 16:00 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more UK Minister for Energy Security and Zero Emissions Strategy Graham Stuart has shred a tweet on his X social account following a meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador Elin Suleymanov. According to Azernews, the minister said his post that the UK is working closely with Azerbaijan in preparation for COP29. "As the first major economy to halve its emissions, the UK is working closely with Azerbaijan in preparation for the COP to encourage international cooperation to limit global warming within the '1.5C mission'," the post reads. Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, increasing this objective to 40% by 2050. The government of Azerbaijan prioritises fulfilling the pledges made under the 2015 Paris Agreement and actively works towards this goal. Since 1995, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been convened every year. The event aims to examine global progress in combating climate change. The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will take place in Azerbaijan in 2024. The decision was made during the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Addressing the event, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, thanked the Convention Secretariat and the United Arab Emirates for the exceptional organisation of COP28. "The issues we face necessitate collective effort and adherence to broadly shared goals and ideals. Azerbaijan recognises the critical importance of collaborative efforts to combat climate change," the minister stated. Following that announcement, Azerbaijan hosted the first meeting of the Organising Committee in conjunction with the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the 19th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, and the 6th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement. Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Organising Committee, opened the meeting by stating that one of Azerbaijan's national priorities for social and economic development until 2030 is defined as a Country of Clean Environment and Green Growth, which is our country's base year. In comparison to 1990, he promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2030, declaring the economic zones of liberated Garabagh and East Zangazur, and designating the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic a green energy zone. He further emphasised that Azerbaijan actively participates in international efforts to protect the environment and combat global climate change. Since taking on the position of host, Azerbaijan has addressed numerous collaboration opportunities as well as preparation processes with several countries. A positive meeting with Azerbaijan's @ElinSuleymanov, as we look ahead to #COP29 later this year. pic.twitter.com/GHUnJefCUP Graham Stuart MP (@grahamstuart) February 12, 2024 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 12:45 (UTC+04:00) Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, King of Bahrain has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, We are pleased to express to Your Excellency our sincere congratulations and blessings on the occasion of Your Excellency's re-election as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for a new presidential term, and for renewing the great trust placed in Your Excellency by the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I would also like to confirm to Your Excellency our deep appreciation for the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Azerbaijan, to which we give all attention and appreciation, and we look forward to working with Your Excellency to strengthen them in all fields for the good and benefit of our two countries and our peoples. We wish Your Excellency good health, happiness, success, and progress in carrying out your presidential duties in leading the Republic during the next stage, to achieve the ambitions and aspirations of your friendly people towards further prosperity and progress. I willingly assure Your Excellency of my highest consideration. Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa King of the Kingdom of Bahrain --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 17:33 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijani delegation headed by Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is taking part in the 11th World Government Summit held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Azernews reports. According to the public relations department of the state agency, the summit aims to promote innovation and technology in the field of government services, discuss the latest trends related to the impact of artificial intelligence on human life and the future of the world. More than 5,000 guests are taking part in the summit, which is held under the slogan "Predicting Future Governments." They include heads of state and government of more than 100 countries, heads of leading international organisations, ministers, prominent public and political figures, scientists, and experts. During the first day of the summit, Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency, spoke at a roundtable session on "The Future of Human Resources". The chairman spoke about the contribution of introducing new technologies, including artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making mechanisms, to enhancing the skills of human resources in the developing global world. The importance of ASAN's xidmt customised employee performance appraisal platform was brought to the attention of the event. The same session was addressed by the heads of relevant government agencies in the UAE, Qatar, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Peru, Uzbekistan, and South Africa, as well as representatives of prestigious international companies. The chairman of the state agency also addressed the ministerial meeting on "Development Directions Towards 2045: Focusing on the Future of the World" under the platform of "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2024". It was noted at the meeting that 2024 was declared the Year of Solidarity for a Green World in our country, and the participants were informed that Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29. The necessity to implement partnership activities in all spheres and expand joint efforts in this direction to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further goals was emphasised. At the same time, smart governmental decisions implemented by the state agency and ASAN xidmt experience in achieving the SDGs were noted. In addition to the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ministers from different spheres of the UAE, Romania, Albania, Rwanda, Egypt, and the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the leading staff of specialised organisations and units of the UN and relevant international organisations, participated in the meeting. The visit of the delegation of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovation to the UAE continues. The summit will last until February 14. Azerbaijani and Norwegian musicians have united to engage music fans on environmental issues. The magnificent concert in Oslo was held under the highly topical theme-preservation of the green world, Azernews reports. Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan Rain Sultanov performed two concerts together with the well-known pianist of the ECM label, Tord Gustavsen, and a gala concert with acclaimed Norwegian jazzmen musicians Arild Andersen, Bendik Hofseth, Helge Iberg, Helge Lin, and Karl Seglem. Azerbaijani musicians Tural Rafael and Hikmat Babazade also performed at the gala night. The gala concert drew attention to the conservation of nature, endangered species of animals, and solidarity in the name of a green world, which united and became the common idea of all the musicians who took part in the initiative. The audience rewarded the musicians with standing ovations. Rain Sultanov is a highly acclaimed musician and composer. His contributions have been highlighted in the world jazz encyclopaedia and are associated with the development of modern Azerbaijani jazz. Rain Sultanov's project "Blue Whale" unites musicians who contribute to nature protection through music. "The music project was recorded in one of the most prestigious recording studios in Europe and will soon be released by a European label," says the director of the Baku Jazz Festival, member of the European Jazz Network, Leyla Afandiyeva. Note that Azerbaijan actively maintains a consistent focuses on environmental protection. Over the past few years, Azerbaijan has successfully implemented various initiatives aimed at preserving ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. The year 2024 has been declared the Green World Solidarity Year in Azerbaijan in accordance with the presidential order. The order demonstrates Azerbaijan's commitment to combat climate change and enhance environmental protection. Azerbaijan has been entrusted with the honor of hosting the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November, 2024. The conference program includes the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29), the 19th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19), and the sixth meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6) that will convene to complete the first enhanced transparency framework and the new collective quantified goal on finance, among other matters. The 61st sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 61) will also meet within COP29. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 14:19 (UTC+04:00) Abdulrahman Al Ajmi, columnist and media consultant of Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-seyassah," has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his landslide victory in the election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, In the presidential elections held on February 7, the people of Azerbaijan showed a very high level of support for their leader. The people of Azerbaijan elected you again as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the February 7 elections with a large majority. I consider it an honor to congratulate you on this occasion. I was following the processes related to the election in Azerbaijan from the media and I wrote about it in multiple sites and newspapers. Azerbaijan's electoral experience is quite positive. The fact that journalists closely monitor the voting process on the day of the election, and even have the opportunity to participate in the counting of votes, can really be considered as an example at the international level. With the February 7 presidential elections, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated the tradition of democratic elections. It would be a pleasure and honor to meet you and congratulate you with a group of Kuwaiti journalists after winning these elections. I am sure that your presidency will have a beneficial effect on the development of Azerbaijan's relations with various countries, including Kuwait. I wish you new successes in the activities of the higher state. Sincerely, Abdulrahman Al Ajmi, columnist and media consultant of the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-seyassah" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 18:17 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Ayhan Hajizade, responded to the question of the local media about the interview of Russian Federation Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov published in "Izvestia" newspaper, Azernews reports. "According to the November 10 statement of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the President of the Russian Federation, the term of the Russian Federation peacekeeping contingent in the Republic of Azerbaijan will end in 2025," the head of the department said. "After the anti-terrorist activities carried out by Azerbaijan in the region last year, there was a need for regular meetings and discussions on the daily activities of the peacekeeping contingent and their various needs. At the same time, given that the Armenian armed forces have been conducting large-scale mine laying in our territories where peacekeepers are stationed for the past 3 years, as well as the problem of unexploded ordnance on the territory, it is necessary to hold consultations on the realisation of joint efforts to eliminate these threats," he noted. Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov said in an interview with the "Izvestia" newspaper that the date of the next round of talks between Moscow and Baku on the Russian peacekeeping contingent is being coordinated with the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 17:59 (UTC+04:00) The President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, has sent a congratulatory letter to the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his landslide victory in the snap presidential election, Azernews reports. His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, Allow me, on behalf of the state and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and personally, to extend my sincere congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Vietnam closely observes and rejoices in the achievements of the Azerbaijani people under your leadership in the construction and development of the country. I am fully convinced that the traditional friendship, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen and develop, meeting the aspirations and interests of both peoples. Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish you, Mr. President, robust health, happiness, and many victories in your esteemed position. Sincerely, Vo Van Thuong President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 20:21 (UTC+04:00) The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his victory in the extraordinary presidential election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on your victory in the presidential election of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I wish you robust health and happiness, and extend my best wishes for progress and prosperity to the government and people of the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan. Respectfully, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 16:18 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Operational data from the Ministry of Energy for January 2024 says that Azerbaijan exported 1.1 bln m of natural gas to Europe in January this year, Azernews reports. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 13 February 2024 19:50 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye's industry and technology minister hailed the return on Monday of the countrys first astronaut from a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), saying a new chapter in space science and technologies has opened for the nation, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Speaking at the arrival ceremony for Alper Gezeravci in the capital Ankara, Mehmet Fatih Kacir said his space mission was the just the beginning. "Within the scope of the mission, 13 scientific experiments prepared by Turkish scientists were successfully completed by our astronaut under microgravity conditions in the laboratory infrastructure on the International Space Station, Kacir said. "Our first crewed space science mission will bring significant gains to the research conducted by our scientists in the disciplines of biology, medicine, genetics, physics and materials science." In the experiments carried out by Gezeravci, the effects of microgravity and other conditions in space on human health, physiology and the immune system were investigated, he added. He said the greatest result of this historical mission was the message it presented to Turkish youth and children to give them self-confidence. Targets Kacir also emphasized the country's targets in the field. "We will carefully evaluate the outcomes of the scientific experiments of our crewed space science mission and provide the necessary support to continue this research. "We will finalize preparations for our next astronaut mission and ensure that our second astronaut will conduct scientific experiments on a suborbital flight. We will initiate programs to conduct further scientific research on the ISS and strengthen international cooperation," he added. Kacir also said they would evaluate possible international collaborations for other crewed space missions and that they would initiate research and development programs for the development of space stations and other systems used in space missions. He said the country would also establish a space technology development zone in Ankara and develop the space industry and attain a larger share of the global space economy, which reaches $600 billion annually. Turkiye will continue its independent access to space programs, its projects to develop launch rockets will continue, and it will establish a spaceport with international cooperation by 2030, Kacir said. "We will realize our moon program. We will reach the moon with a spacecraft designed and built by our own engineers and scientists, with a propulsion system developed with national capabilities," he said. By realizing the regional positioning and timing system project, Turkiye will achieve a strategic gain that will strengthen its technological independence in the defense industry and civilian areas, he noted. He added that by completing the Eastern Anatolia Observatory Project, Turkiye will have the most advanced telescope in its region. Turkiye to get share in space activities Gezeravci said at the press conference that "with the education provided to me by my country and the capabilities it has given me, I have accomplished this mission. "The strong will of our president and all the institutions of our state, like the perfectly functioning cogs of a wheel, did not allow any disruptions," he added. He expressed his gratitude to the employees of the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology, Turkish Space Agency and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye, which managed the preparation process. "Turkiye will get the share it deserves in space activities. No one should have any doubts," he added. Journey Gezeravci joined Italian, Spanish and Swedish astronauts on the Axiom-3 Mission, which was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 19 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Its crew docked at the ISS the next day. During their over-two-week stay on the station, Gezeravci, a Turkish Air Force pilot, and his three crewmates carried out over 30 scientific experiments, around half of them by Gezeravci himself. The capsule undocked from the International Space Station on Feb. 7 and began its return to Earth. SpaceX's Dragon Capsule, carrying the crew, splashed down successfully on Saturday off the coast of Florida. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 21:40 (UTC+04:00) Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Tuesday met United Arab Emirates officials to discuss trade and economic ties on the sidelines of the ongoing World Governments Summit in Dubai, Azernews reports, Agenda. The Economy Ministry said the meeting featured Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the countrys Minister of State for Foreign Trade. Davitashvili noted Georgia's economic relations with the UAE were actively developing and noted last years data showed the trade turnover between the two countries had increased by 39 percent. He also said 18.9 percent more tourists from the Emirates visited Georgia, with the number of passengers transported by direct regular flights in 2023 showing a 23.1 percent increase over the previous year. The Ministry said the meeting with Al Zeyoudi highlighted the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the two states, signed in October, with Georgia benefiting from the free trade deal with the Emirates and access to an additional market of 10 million consumers with high purchasing power. The body added the officials also discussed the next stages of stimulating the agreement to bring the private sector even closer and increase the volume of investments from the Emirates to Georgia. It also said relations and cooperation were highly appreciated in a meeting with Al Mazrouei, with the Georgian official noting development priorities and future plans of the countrys energy sector. Davitashvili said the cooperation in the energy sector with the UAE was particularly interesting, and noted the Georgian Government was ready to take active steps to deepen the ties and create additional investment opportunities. The meeting emphasised the plans for the largest solar power plant project in Georgia, implemented by the Emirati state-owned renewable energy company Masdar in the Gardabani Municipality of the southern Kvemo Kartli region. The plant will reduce the countrys dependence on energy imports and diversify local sources of electricity supply, as well as contribute to the achievement of renewable energy, climate change goals and the fulfilment of obligations under the Association Agreement, it added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 February 2024 23:15 (UTC+04:00) Citizens of Uzbekistan can now stay in Azerbaijan for 15 days without registration, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news agency. Similar rule applies to citizens of Azerbaijan planning to travel to Uzbekistan. The protocol amending the agreement between the governments of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on visa-free travel for citizens has come into force, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed. The document establishes a new regime for entry, exit, transit, and stay on the territories of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan for a period of 15 days without the need for permit issuance and temporary registration. This protocol was signed on August 22, 2023, in Baku and came into effect on January 15, 2024. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Jim Hoft, Gateway Pundit Feb. 12, 2024 On Monday morning, Trump-supporting Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) posted a shocking report at The American Conservative and on X about the Senate RINOs plot to take out Trump and destroy the MAGA movement. According to Senator Vance, the Senate funding package that was passed on Super Bowl Sunday thanks to 18 RINO Senators, included language that makes it impossible for President Trump to terminate the Ukraine War funding into his second term. Once again Here are the 18 Senate RINOs who voted on this Ukraine funding package that is designed to destroy Trump and the MAGA movement. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Susan Collins (R-ME) John Cornyn (R-TX) Joni Ernst (R-IA) Chuck Grassley (R-IA) John Kennedy (R-LA) Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Jerry Moran (R-KS) Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Mitt Romney (R-UT) Mike Rounds (R-SD) Dan Sullivan (R-AK) John Thune (R-SD) Thom Tillis (R-NC) Roger Wicker (R-MS) Todd Young (R-IN) The legislation passed cloture in a rare Super Bowl Sunday vote. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) on Monday joined Steve Bannon on The War Room to discuss the Senators report in The American Conservative. Senator Vance explains how the RINOs are using the Ukraine funding to target and ruin President Trump once and for all. Steve Bannon: I want to take some time and walk through this because this audience must understand this. This piece headline said how the Republican Party and the Senate is working on, on funding the Ukraine forever war and to stop the reelection of Donald Trump. I want to take our time and go through this piece because this is the type of kind of intellectual work that we need to frame this debate so people know whats going on. Can you walk us through that, sir? Senator Vance: Yeah. Steve. So, so first of all, just think about this in two phases, and well walk through each. Theres the political phase to prevent Donald Trump from being elected president. And then theres sort of an insurance policy phase where even if he is president, this bill contains wording that would effectively make it illegal for him to discharge his campaign promises as president. But lets start with the political dynamic here, Steve. You saw this play out over the last two weeks. So McConnell and a few other Republican leaders come out and say, weve got this great piece of bipartisan policy, when in reality, the bipartisan border policies youve talked about, weve talked about, was a disaster. So step two is then to say, well, we cant advance this great piece of policy. Why cant we advance this policy? Because of Donald Trump, because of the MAGA Republicans in the House, and because of their allies in the Senate. So you do this two step where you say that Democrats have done a great job on policy, and then you immediately turn around and say its Donald Trumps fault that this great policy is not passing. And why are they doing this, Steve? Theyre doing it to apply as much political pressure as possible to House Republicans to get in line and support this Ukraine funding. And importantly, the fight is not even close to over. So youre going to have a fight over the government funding deadline, which will involve whether we fund Ukraine, in part. Youre going to have this talk of a discharge petition, effectively, where a few Republicans give control of the House floor to Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, to try to pass more Ukraine funding. Theres going to be an omnibus package where Im sure Ukraine funding will be on the docket. And the point is that the establishments obsession with funding Ukraine will force them to throw Donald Trump under the bus again and again and again. This will be a nonstop, rinse and repeat news cycle where every time the republican party gets close to standing on principle and beating back $61 billion of Ukraine funding, you will have the republican establishment singing the praises of Democrats and then attacking our nominee. And of course, as we get deeper and deeper into the spring and summer, Steve, the political cost is going to be greater and greater. You know this as well as anybody, but there will be advertisements run against Donald Trump and swing states that say, look, even some Senate Republicans are saying this was great policy, but Donald Trump killed it. We know voters are really worried about the chaos of the Biden administration, especially on the world stage. They will run advertisements saying, we had a solution to the chaos. But then Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans killed it. This is a constant structure within which they can drive down voter turnout on the republican side and drive up democratic turnout on their side in an effort to destroy Donald Trump politically. And I think, Steve, youre going to see this news cycle repeat itself. The particulars will be a little bit different, but the news cycle will repeat itself. And the goal is going to be to destroy a potential Trump presidency. The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear a couple of cases in its current term, which could have a significant impact on the power and authority of the Executive Branch. A constitutional expert believes that this could bring about a change in how administrations govern. The decisions made in these cases could considerably alter the way federal agencies interpret the laws passed by Congress. This could lead to a significant reduction in their ability to issue rules with the binding effect of legislation. Thomas M. Boyd, a former US assistant attorney general who served under President Ronald Reagan, has highlighted the potential impact of these cases. The courts rulings could put an end to a constitutional revolution that has lasted for four decades since Reagans administration. According to a column by Boyd this month, Justice John Paul Stephens opinion in the Chevron U.S.A. v. National Resources Defense Council case in 1984, midway through Reagans two terms, was the beginning of what legal scholar Gary Lawson would later describe as nothing less than a bloodless constitutional revolution. The ruling fundamentally altered the way federal agencies could interpret laws they considered to be ambiguous. Following Stephens decision, subsequent presidential administrations utilized it to enact policies that effectively functioned as laws, often deviating from the exact wording of the legislation passed by Congress, Boyd pointed out. At long last, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear two cases that may signal the beginning of the end to that revolution, Boyds New York Post column noted. Boyd noted that Article I of the Constitution says explicitly, All legislative power herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States not federal regulatory agencies. However, he adds, Justice Stephens opinion found that agenc[ies] may . . . properly rely upon the incumbent administrations views of wise policy in reasonably defining statutory ambiguities. In simpler terms, Stephens argued that the Executive Branch had the power to determine specific interpretations of laws enacted by the Legislative Branch. That, Boyd added, was at the center of the Chevron decision and became known as the Chevron defense, leading President Ronald Reagans White House counsel, Peter Wallison, to describe it as the single most important reason the administrative state has continued to grow out of control.' Boyd notes: Forty years of regulatory and judicial tumult have ensued, finally crescendoing to a point that has compelled the Supreme Court to intervene. Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, from the District of Columbia Circuit, and Relentless v. Department of Commerce, from the First Circuit, are now before the court. Both are companies that fish for herring in New England and are family-owned and operated, and both are subject to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which governs fishery management in federal waters. The act allowed the National Marine Fisheries Service to require herring boats, relatively small vessels that normally carry only five to six people, to also carry federal monitors to enforce its regulations. However, it gets even worse. The former Reagan assistant attorney general mentioned that the agency, without explicit statutory authorization, proceeded to require Loper Bright and Relentless to bear the expenses for the salaries of these monitors. The NMFS estimated these costs at $710 per day, at times exceeding the income generated from a days fishing. Both federal circuit courts ruled that statutory silence on the matter was an ambiguity that required the application of the Chevron deference. But in accepting the cases, the justices posed a two-part question to be answered and settled: Whether the Court should overrule Chevron or at least clarify that statutory silence concerning controversial powers expressly but narrowly granted elsewhere in the statute does not constitute an ambiguity requiring deference to the agency. Boyd noted that some of the current justices, the constitutional originalists, have already indicated how they are likely to rule. Several have indicated suspicion in allowing federal agenciesand, by definition, the Executive Branch in generalto have too much leeway in the interpretation of laws, giving them nearly limitless power in governing, Boyd noted. Source: SCOTUS Poised To End 'Constitutional Revolution' That's Marred US Govt For 40 Years (conservativebrief.com) 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? A Kentucky physician has pleaded guilty to a $14 million Medicare fraud scheme in which he accepted kickbacks for medically unnecessary equipment and tests, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Feb. 12. From March 2018 to April 2019, Amr Mohamed, MD, 55, accepted kickbacks from telemedicine company RediDoc to order medically unnecessary equipment, creams and testing for more than 7,000 Medicare beneficiaries. RediDoc paid Dr. Mohamed $261,054 in that period. Dr. Mohamed has agreed to pay at least that much in restitution. He was employed by Lexington-based UK HealthCare when he was indicted last year. His clinical privileges have been suspended. He pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiring to violate a federal anti-kickback law, according to the report. A Massachusetts physician has been convicted for his involvement in an international money laundering scheme involving importing illegal and misbranded drugs. From January 2008 through January 2018, Lexington-based psychiatrist Rahim Shafa, MD, 66, was a part of a scheme where he purchased naltrexone pellet implants and disulfiram pellet implants and injections from Hong Kong, according to a Feb. 9 news release. While these drugs are approved by the FDA for alcohol and opioid dependence treatment, the pellet form of these substances are not. Dr. Shafa falsified documents to conceal the packages containing the drugs - including declaring the implants as plastic beads in plastic tubes, according to the report. He sold these drugs to patients of his practice and implanted them without understanding the risks. Patients at the trial testified regarding the complications they received from the implantation procedure. Here are five healthcare partnerships, acquisitions and mergers that ASC leaders should know, as reported by Becker's since Jan. 30: 1. Kings Row Medical Properties acquired a medical building housing MidJersey Orthopaedics with two ASCs and a physician therapy practice in Bridgewater, N.J., for $10.5 million. 2. A planned ASC in Orlando, Fla., secured $22.5 million in funding from Raleigh, N.C.-based First Citizens Bank. 3. Orange, Calif.-based UCI Health finalized a definitive agreement to acquire Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's Pacific Coast Network, which consists of four hospitals and Pacific Endoscopy & Surgery Center in Mountain Valley and Reagan Street Surgery Center in Los Alamitos. 4. Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, finalized the sale of three hospitals in South Carolina to Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health for $2.4 billion. Novant and USPI will also enhance their ASC partnership to increase access to care. 5. Healthcare real estate firm Flagship Healthcare Properties acquired a medical office building leased by Richmond Pediatric Associates and Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in Mechanicsville, Va., for $5.4 million. Marshfield Clinic Health System, which has more than 60 locations across Wisconsin and Michigan, is planning to bring back its oral surgery services, according to a Feb. 13 report by Marshfield News Herald. The health system previously announced that it was discontinuing its oral surgery services Jan. 31 because it was unable to meet patient demand. In addition to oral surgery services returning, the health system is also considering adding a training program for oral surgeries. As of Jan. 1, the Marshfield facility was the system's only location providing oral surgery consults or procedures. There is currently no timeline or estimated date for when the health system will bring back its oral surgery services, the report said. Wisconsin lawmakers and health systems are working to ensure that patient care does not falter ahead of the planned closure of two Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals and regional clinics it operates with Green Bay, Wis.-based Prevea Health. Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health recently shared it is ramping up care access at its locations closest to communities impacted by the closure. Chippewa Falls, Wis.-based St. Joseph's Hospital is expected to close on or before March 22, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Sacred Heart Hospital is expected to close on or before April 21 and the health centers are expected to shut down on or before June 30. "We understand how important it is for people to have excellent, compassionate health care when they need it," Matthew Heywood, president and CEO of Aspirus Health, said in a news release shared with Becker's. "We serve communities along the eastern edge of the Chippewa Valley and are moving quickly to safely increase our capacity to support patients seeking health care services." In an effort to tackle the expected increase of new patients following the closures, Aspirus is adding six inpatient beds and increasing surgical capacity at its Aspirus Stanley (Wis.) Hospital; adding eight inpatient beds at its Aspirus Medford (Wis.) Hospital; increasing recruitment efforts; enhancing resources at its Wausau, Wis.-based tertiary care center, along with other regional hospitals; and building added ancillary service capacity in its hospitals and clinics, like lab, imaging and wound care, according to the release. The nonprofit health system is also near finalization of its affiliation with Duluth, Minn.-based St. Luke's, which would further care access expansion in the regions impacted by the closures. The two systems hope to wrap up their affiliation in the next few weeks pending final regulatory approvals, the release said. News of Aspirus' care access plans comes as Wisconsin lawmakers are also working to ensure patients are taken care of in light of the closures. Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin recently expressed her disappointment in the "abrupt announcement" of the hospital and clinic closures to HSHS CEO Damond Boatwright in a Feb. 12 letter. Ms. Baldwin urged the system to "make every effort to support the continuation of care, particularly as stakeholders and neighbors work together to fill the gap [the system is] leaving behind." In two recently proposed bills, Wisconsin legislators are also working to use the $15 million originally set aside for HSHS psychiatric bed space expansion in 2021 to protect emergency department services in the communities impacted by the closures, Wisconsin Public Radio reported Feb. 13. SB 1015, which was introduced on Feb. 9, would transfer the funds from the state building trust fund to the general fund, using them as grants to "support hospital emergency department services." SB 1014, also introduced on Feb. 9, would ensure the $15 million in grants would fund health systems that "commit to providing hospital emergency department services in Chippewa County or Eau Claire County." "It's a longer term issue that will take both an immediate response, which we're appreciative of for this bill, as well as medium- and long-term responses and issues such as a funding model for health care, especially for those on Medicaid or Medicare," Steve Nick, city attorney for Eau Claire, told the Wisconsin Public Radio. NewYork-Presbyterian plans to build a nearly 400,000-square-foot cancer center at its Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood. According to documents NewYork-Presbyterian submitted to the city's zoning application portal Feb. 8, the proposed building would consolidate cancer care facilities that are currently spread across different facilities on the medical campus. It would include space for diagnostic services, treatment and ambulatory surgery. It would also enable the medical center to expand cancer research and clinical trials. The plannng documents did not include cost estimates. "The proposed center will be a new hub for innovative outpatient cancer care and other clinical services, as well as dynamic research, all designed to address the clinical needs of the communities we serve in Northern Manhattan and beyond," NewYork-Presbyterian said in a statement to Becker's. "We are working with the community, elected officials and the Department of Health as the planning process continues. We look forward to sharing additional details about this important project over the coming months." NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center includes the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. The New Jersey Department of Health has asked CarePoint Health to provide state officials with its "disaster plans" amid the three-hospital system's ongoing financial challenges, News12 New Jersey reported Feb. 12. State officials argue that CarePoint's safety-net hospitals are at risk of further financial deterioration and "have consistently maintained low days cash on hand, maintained negative operating margins and a high number of days in accounts receivable," according to the report. All hospitals in the state are required to have disaster plans, which should include a list of hospitals for relocating patients, emergency procedures for evacuating patients and plans in case there is an interruption in services. "While it's clear that CarePoint's hospitals are in great financial need, it is absolutely, categorically false to claim that any of them are at imminent risk of closing, and doing so only creates unnecessary stress on the dedicated physicians and staff," CarePoint spokesperson Philip Swibinski said in a statement shared with Becker's. "It is unfortunate that someone chose to leak this confidential document in an effort to cause a panic." Uncompensated care demands, escalating homelessness, workforce challenges and rising costs have left the system in a financial bind, reporting a $34.4 million loss for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, down from a $7.5 million loss in the prior-year period. In 2023, CarePoint saw a substantial spike in charity care and uninsured patients, with more than 50% of its patients now underinsured or uninsured. Almost 95,000 patients visit one of CarePoint's emergency departments each year, but since the pandemic, about 57,000 of those patients came under charity care or self-pay, according to data CarePoint shared with Becker's. "The national median for charity care is 1.4%, and we're seeing more than 10%. That makes things very difficult," CarePoint President and CEO Achintya Moulick, MD, told Becker's. "It cannot be our burden to bear alone. It should be a collective burden due to the societal problems we are dealing with. We've seen almost 12,000 homeless people in our emergency rooms since the pandemic." CarePoint's safety-net hospitals include Hoboken University Medical Center and Christ Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., two nonprofit facilities, and Bayonne Medical Center, a for-profit entity. Last month, CarePoint and Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus, N.J., signed a letter of intent to combine under a new management company, Hudson Health System. Hudson Regional, a for-profit facility, would combine with CarePoint's three hospitals under a new operating company. The proposed transaction, which is subject to state approval, would help improve CarePoint's financial position as well as patient care and outcomes across the hospitals. In response to CarePoint's financial uncertainty, for-profit Hudson Regional "has prepared to assume operational control of all three hospitals on a moment's notice," hospital spokesperson Ron Simoncini told NJ.com. CarePoint says it received $10 million in state funding in 2023 and is requesting at least $100 million in state appropriations to continue optimal pace operations. "Leaders have continuously asked for state assistance to support the system's operations, but those needs have largely been unmet - that is the root of this crisis, and the solution is a dramatic increase in state support," a CarePoint spokesperson said in a statement. The sentiments surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are changing as are the words used to describe them, according to a recent report from The New York Times. DEI executives became a more common C-suite fixture in 2020 amid a racial reckoning spurred by the murder of George Floyd, according to the Times. In recent years, many leaders have left the roles, while some companies have cut them or combined them with other departments. Expectations on new CDEIs were often high, but unclear, leading to frustration among under-resourced leaders. As Yelp Chief Diversity Officer Miriam Warren told The Wall Street Journal in July, "There's a combination of grief, being very tired, and being, in some cases, overwhelmed." Diversity efforts came under greater scrutiny in June, when the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action. Debates over DEI have gained steam, playing out on social media among high-profile executives like Mark Cuban (who says these efforts are "good for business") and Elon Musk (who says they are "racist"). The issue has become increasingly partisan; a recent Pew study found that 78% of Democratic workers agree it is good for companies to focus on DEI, compared to 30% of Republican workers. As such, growing backlash against the framework "is usually the first agenda item on every call," Joelle Emerson, founder and CEO of DEI consulting firm Paradigm, told the Times. Research on how that backlash has affected business decisions is mixed. "DEI" is mentioned much less frequently on recent investor calls than it was between 2020 and 2021. But the mention of these efforts in annual filings is at an all-time high, according to AlphaSense. And, in a recent survey of 320 C-suite executives from employment law firm Littler, just 1% said they had significantly decreased their DEI commitments in the past year, while 57% said they had expanded efforts. DEI is likely not disappearing, but rebranding. "This term seems to be pretty widely misunderstood in ways that I don't think any of us realized until the past couple of months," Ms. Emerson said. Now, companies aim to "be far more specific about exactly what it is that we're talking about." For example, some companies are renaming their "DEI survey" to "culture survey"; reframing DEI trainings as courses to help managers deliver more effective performance reviews; and saying "IED" over "DEI" to center "inclusion" over "diversity." "I think instead of saying this is a program for Black employees, it would be more like, 'This is a program to increase the equity of promotion rates across the firm, and everybody is included to apply to be part of this program, but will play different roles,'" Porter Braswell, founder of 2045 Studio, a membership network for professionals of color, told the Times. DEI programs are at their best when they emphasize their breadth, Lois Greene, DHA, BSN, RN, senior vice president of wellness, diversity, equity and inclusion at Newark, N.J.-based University Hospital, told Becker's last year. "You cannot just focus on one thing, right? If I'm the pencil officer, and everybody's using typewriters or pens, then I'm not addressing the needs of the organization," Dr. Greene said. "In the past, a DEI role could be sort of set up as, you know, 'We are racist and we need to fix that.' It's not that. It's coming from a place of understanding that everyone is different. And when you put all these different people into one space, you're going to have conflict, you're going to have misunderstandings. How do we learn to communicate better as an organization?" However, not all DEI executives agree that a shift in language and presentation could benefit the sector, including Misty Gaither, vice president of diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging at Indeed. "We need to call it what it is," Ms. Gaither told the Times. "The data says that all of these positive things happen when you have diversity, equity and inclusion. So we're not going to mask it or call it something different." Read more about the evolving role of health system DEI executives here. Rightsizing. Involuntary career events. Offboarding. There are lots of names for the same thing: Someone losing their job. Companies laying off workers are increasingly using jargon to describe the terminations. "Executives are using all kinds of euphemisms to avoid being straightforward with their employees," Bloomberg reported Feb. 12. The news outlet tracked references to job cuts from S&P 500 companies on earnings calls and other meetings, finding use of "reduction in force" and "rightsizing" ticking up in 2020 and again in 2023. While "reduction in force" was used more frequently as an alternative to "layoffs" around the Great Recession, "rightsizing" is now the more popular alternative. Whatever language du jour a layoff is wrapped in, business professors say it doesn't make much difference to the person receiving the news even if executives may wish otherwise. "They somehow seem to believe that if they use language that is more vague and less emotional, that people won't get as upset," said Robert Sutton, PhD, professor of management science and organizational behavior with Stanford University School of Engineering. Instead, euphemisms tend to have the opposite effect. Harvard Business School professor Sandra Sucher told Bloomberg that instead of using language to soften layoffs for the employer, leaders should take accountability and recognize the difficulty of these decisions. "You have to acknowledge the fact that you have done something that you understand has hurt their life in a very direct way," Ms. Sucher told Bloomberg. The Apples, Microsofts and Amazons of the world are admired for many reasons, but one supersedes all: financial stability, according to Korn Ferry. The Los Angeles-based consulting firm partnered with Fortune on its "most admired companies" ranking for the 27th year. To compile the list, the pair examined the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S. companies in Fortune's Global 500 database with revenues of $10 billion or more. The highest-earning companies in each industry become candidates, which are rated for "admirability" by other executives, directors and analysts in the same industry. Nine attributes are used to rank firms, according to a recent article from Korn Ferry. This year, survey respondents most frequently cited "soundness of financial position" as integral to admiration status more than quality of products or quality of management. "It's probably no surprise that soundness of financial position comes out on top, especially in the current climate," Laura Manson-Smith, Korn Ferry's global leader of organization strategy consulting, said in the article. Mark Royal, PhD, a leader of the Fortune study and senior client partner for Korn Ferry Advisory said this is particularly true amid political and economic uncertainty. As more companies struggle to achieve organic growth, manageable debt and a high cash supply have become revered marks of stability. One more climbing attribute of most-admired companies: innovativeness. Eli Lilly, Mastercard and Adobe ascended into the top 50 in part due to high scores in this category, per Korn Ferry. View Fortune and Korn Ferry's ranking of the world's most admired healthcare companies here. Orthopedic and gastrointestinal physicians at Mass General Brigham have returned to their posts at two Steward hospital campuses after a two-week hiatus, a Mass General Brigham spokesperson confirmed to Becker's. In late January, Mass General Brigham pulled an unknown number of its physicians from Steward's Holy Family hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, Mass., citing concerns about a low supply of surgical equipment. The Somerville, Mass.-based system rescheduled two weeks' worth of orthopedic and gastrointestinal procedures as it waited for a supply restock. Patients were redirected to a nearby Mass General Brigham or community hospital, Tom Sequist, MD, chief medical officer of Mass General Brigham, said in a statement shared with Becker's. On Feb. 9, the state's largest health system sent its physicians back following a resupply of surgical items and conversations about staffing and supplies, Boston Business Journal first reported. The physicians have resumed taking calls and performing emergency procedures, Dr. Sequist said in a statement. When Mass General Brigham removed its employees from the hospitals, a spokesperson for Dallas-based Steward Health Care told Becker's it disagreed with the decision. "The fact that one of the largest healthcare providers in Massachusetts rescinded their care underscores the fact that Steward hospitals do not receive the support they need, nor the recognition of the quality care they provide," the spokesperson said. Becker's has reached out to both systems for comment and will update the story if more information becomes available. Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare is acquiring Bowling Green (Ky.) Internal Medicine and Pediatric Associates, the Bowling Green Daily News reported Feb. 8. "It's about taking our specialized services out into the state," Steve Hester, MD, senior vice president and chief clinical and strategy officer at Norton Healthcare, told the publication. "We appreciate the relationships we already have with providers in Bowling Green. Now we want to look at what things we can bring that aren't already there." BGIMP currently has nine providers listed on its website, all of which Dr. Hester expects to stay onboard with potential full-time or-part time specialist enhancements. "We're looking to bring those specialized services to the community," Dr. Hester told the publication. "Some [specialists] will be full-time and some will be rotating." Any expansions or added personnel to BGIMP's facility will depend on demand, Dr. Hester said. A nonprofit health system, Norton Healthcare comprises five Louisville-based hospitals; three hospitals in Southern Indiana; one hospital under construction in West Louisville, Ky., which is expected to open in late 2024; and multiple care centers, clinics and programs. It has more than 20,000 employees, including over 1,750 employed medical providers and more than 3,000 total providers, according to its website. Questions about Steward Health Care's stability have spread from Massachusetts to a 278-bed hospital in Louisiana. Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, La., is one of 33 hospitals owned by Dallas-based Steward, which has recently made headlines amid concerns about its financial position. The health system owes $50 million in rent to its landlord, Medical Properties Trust, plus $4 million to other contractors among its nine Massachusetts hospitals alone. In the Bay State, possibilities range from hospital bankruptcies to the declaration of a public health emergency. In West Monroe, lawmakers aren't waiting around to see the possibilities, according to a Feb. 13 news release the city shared with Becker's. Hospital Service District #1 Commissioners recently unanimously voted to hire a consultant "to represent [the district's] interest and the interest of the community regarding concerns over the future of Glenwood Regional Medical Center," the news release said. The consultant William F. Barrow, president of Barrow Management, and a board member and past chair of the Louisiana Hospital Association will represent the hospital service district in the search for a potential private equity firm to purchase Glenwood Regional and continue its operations. Mike Mulhearn, chair of the hospital service district, told Becker's that the city has been in talks with Steward and believes the system would be open to selling the hospital. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has also been monitoring the situation, according to the news release. A Steward representative declined to immediately comment on Feb. 13. A parish police jury ordinance first created the hospital service district in 1951 in an effort to establish a hospital in West Monroe. Eleven years later, Glenwood Regional then known as Glenwood Hospital opened its doors. The hospital was sold to Iasis Healthcare in 2007, and Iasis was acquired by Steward in 2017. Hospital physicians and staff, and community members, have raised concerns about Steward's stability to both the city and the hospital service district, the news release claims. Mr. Mulhearn declined to specify the nature of those concerns or who, precisely, raised them. However, he told Becker's the matter is particularly concerning as all surrounding parishes come to Glenwood Regional for care not just residents of West Monroe. "In conjunction with the city, we're concerned about the hospital," Mr. Mulhearn said. "There's a lot of information going around about Steward and their hospitals all across the country, so we just made a proactive choice, and hopefully we can find a group that can come in and take care of the needs in West Monroe." There is an urgent need for a radical reimagination of the healthcare system, Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, told Becker's. "We just have to reimagine healthcare. And we have to challenge ourselves to think differently, be willing to disrupt ourselves," he said. "Our ambition at Hartford HealthCare is to be the best at getting better. It's not to be the best." Hartford HealthCare's commitment to this goal is reflected in its laser focus on addressing healthcare access challenges. The health system is leveraging technology, forming strategic partnerships, and embracing AI and predictive analytics to enhance care accessibility, affordability, quality and equity. One notable partnership is with Google, where the focus is on utilizing predictive analytics to connect with patients more effectively. "With Google, we're figuring out how we can dramatically increase access to care and coordination of care," Mr. Flaks said. The collaboration enables more personalized patient interactions, anticipating and addressing individual needs, such as recommending preventive screenings for patients with high-risk factors in their families, as well as determining the ideal duration of patient stay to effectively plan for discharge. Beyond the Google partnership, Hartford HealthCare also forged a partnership with Amazon's One Medical in June. This collaboration, according to Mr. Flaks, introduces a subscription-based healthcare model and offers patients coordinated care close to where they live and work. "Similar to Netflix, people sign up and join the Amazon One Medical model with Hartford HealthCare," he said. "With this, Amazon's One Medical provides the front door and the primary care component for the patient while Hartford provides all the diagnostic, ancillary services and care coordination for specialty care to those patients." Mr. Flaks said the model has been working "tremendously." In addition to these partnerships, Hartford Healthcare has ventured into software solutions through a company called H2O, developed in collaboration with MIT faculty members. This cloud-based software focuses on reducing hospital length of stay, optimizing operating room efficiency, and enhancing staffing models in emergency departments. Implementation of H2O software, according to Mr. Flaks, has yielded tangible results for Hartford, including a significant reduction in hospital length of stay as well as using predictive analytics in operating rooms that help reshape case sequencing to maximize capacity without expanding physical infrastructure. "This is why I'm extraordinarily enthusiastic about how impactful artificial intelligence is already demonstrating, but will become over time in healthcare," Mr. Flaks said. "The technology is ubiquitous. It goes across every aspect of healthcare, from clinical domains to operational administrative domains, and it can make us so much better. The opportunities are endless, and it will be enormously impactful." As Hartford HealthCare continues to forge strategic partnerships, it sets an example of how reimagining healthcare can lead to transformative improvements in accessibility, affordability and overall patient care. A Pennsylvania physician was sentenced to 22 years in prison for overprescribing controlled substances that resulted in the death of a patient. Martin Evers, MD, 66, was a primary care physician at Richmond, Va.-based Bon Secours Charity Health System at the time he was charged, according to a Feb. 12 Justice Department news release. In February 2019, a 48-year-old woman died as a result of the oxycodone and fentanyl prescription Mr. Evers prescribed. He was charged with 71 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances including oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone and diazepam, to three patients, the release said. Mr. Evers was found guilty of all counts on Dec. 5, 2022. He also was fined $50,000. For many, recent headlines on cancer rates rising among younger adults have been jarring. But those working in oncology have had their eyes on worrisome trends for more than a decade. "Now, to see someone in their 20s and 30s, it doesn't wow us anymore," Nancy You, MD, a professor of colon and rectal surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Becker's. She also leads the Houston-based institutions' young-onset colorectal cancer program. The American Cancer Society projects the U.S. will see more than 2 million new cancer diagnoses in 2024 a record high. Over the years, national data has shown diagnosis rates are rising among people younger than 50. From 2000 to 2019, the rate among this group jumped nearly 13% to 107.8 per 100,000 population. Colon cancer trends have been particularly concerning, with the proportion of diagnoses among people younger than 55 increasing from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019. "Even when I was a fellow in 2008 at Mayo Clinic, we were already seeing young patients with colorectal cancer, and even then we were writing about the increased rates," Dr. You said. "It's something that's been ongoing, but I'm glad the media and general public are finally paying attention." In light of these evolving trends, Becker's spoke to three experts on what healthcare needs to do more of and how the oncology field is adjusting. Awareness across the healthcare spectrum In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the screening age recommendation for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45. The American Cancer Society had issued the same guidance a few years earlier in 2018, causing confusion and coverage variations among insurers. The USPSTF guidance update essentially ensured screenings would be covered for all insured Americans who are at least 45. The experts Becker's spoke to acknowledged lowering the screening age as a step in the right direction. But beyond this, they pointed to the need for further awareness across the entire healthcare spectrum so that patients are steered in the right direction as quickly as possible when they have symptoms no matter what their age is. "A lot of the patients I see who are younger, you hear the story over and over that they have these symptoms for a couple of years and they didn't really think [anything of it]," said Avni Desai, MD, a gastrointestinal oncologist at New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "They'll think, 'Oh, this is normal or I have hemorrhoids' and sometimes they'll go to their provider with these symptoms, and they'll be told that this is probably just hemorrhoids or you're a little anemic, and it takes a while to really get to that diagnosis." Expediting the diagnostic process requires more recognition and coordination on the primary care side, oncology leaders said. For patients coming in with hemorrhoid symptoms, for instance, the care shouldn't stop at writing a prescription for the issue. Instead, first line providers can support advanced care coordination by having proactive plans in place when a patients' symptoms, such as bleeding during bowel movements, don't resolve quickly. "We have to make sure that the symptom resolves and if it doesn't, there needs to be a follow-up plan offered to the patient on the first encounter," Dr. You said. "That is where I think a lot of improvement can happen." Studies indicate that a lack of early recognition and coordination is likely linked to an increase in the proportion of colon cancer cases that are diagnosed at a more advanced stage. In 2019, 60% of all new cases were advanced, compared to 52% in the mid-2000s, according to an American Cancer Society report published last spring, which also pointed to challenges in identifying early colon cancer symptoms among younger patients. "A study of symptomatic patients found a 40% longer time to diagnosis among individuals younger than 50 years versus older individuals, including both longer duration of symptoms and work-up time, often because of misdiagnosis with more common conditions," the ACS report said. Such reports speak to how on both patients and providers' part cancer is still not considered to be in the realm of likely possibilities when younger patients present with symptoms of colorectal cancer. "There has to be continued education on potential early signs and symtpoms," as well as improvements in identifying those at increased risk, said Sonia Kupfer, MD, who leads the gastrointestinal cancer risk and prevention clinic at UChicago Medicine. Identifying a larger proportion of patients with a family history of colorectal cancer early on is a piece of low lying fruit, experts said. For those that do have a family history, guidelines recommend screening start at age 40 or 10 years before the age that an immediate family member was diagnosed. "We're missing people that way [there are] missed opportunities where there is a history or there are other features that should clue us in and we just don't know about it, so we have to think along the entire spectrum," Dr. Kupfer said. Integrating supportive services Ten-plus years ago, Dr. Desai said she and her colleagues in gastrointestinal oncology didn't need to think as much about certain supportive services like fertility and family planning. Now, experts say close coordination with partners in a range of supportive areas such as psychiatry and social work is becoming an increasingly important part of their work as cancer rates rise, especially among younger adults. "We've had to rethink some of what we do," when it comes to considerations around younger patients' quality of life and individual priorities, Dr. Desai said. "Younger patients often have different priorities. They [are thinking about working,] but also having the time to take care of their family. They may have younger children," or may still be thinking about having children. "While I can treat cancer, we really need everyone else to help with how someone is navigating the illness the day-to-day aspects of it," Dr. Desai said. "It really makes a really big difference." Trends in colon cancer shifting to more advanced disease have made enhanced collaboration with supportive services critical. "The medical piece itself tends to be more complicated for younger patients," particularly when they present with stage 3 and 4 disease, Dr. You said. While surgery tends to be the mainstay therapy for stage 1 and 2, advanced stages involve the addition of chemotherapy and radiation. "Figuring out the right sequencing of those components, and balancing that with patients' desires," adds another layer of complexity, she said. Balancing priorities Amid perturbing trends, Dr. Kupfer maintains a glass-half-full mindset. "If we identify things early, we have a good shot in terms of outcomes," she said. "People now are being recommended to come in at 45 [for screening] and I'm finding precancerous polyps that, if they had waited a few years, probably would have become cancer. That is incredibly satisfying to think that by a simple procedure that has removed a polyp, I've hopefully averted a diagnosis like colorectal colon cancer." On the clinical side, experts say screening, early detection and treatment are the key areas of focus to ensure the best outcomes. But ultimately, reversing the trend of rising cancer rates will require continued investments in research to identify specific culprits a task that has proved much more complex relative to the unraveling of rising lung cancer deaths in the 20th century, when smoking was identified as a key driver. More inactive lifestyles and ultra-processed foods are among the factors researchers suspect are contributing to increased cancer risks for younger generations. "There is something about our lifestyle that is driving this, but exactly what it is remains unknown, and maybe a combination of a whole lot of things that are compounded and leading to higher development of cancer," Dr. Kupfer said. "The way in which we are going to combat these trends is we have to find out why they are happening. What environmental factors are we being exposed to? Can we identify them and reduce those for the population?" While other physician specialties have seen a decline in burnout, oncologists are reporting slightly higher rates of burnout. Medscape's "Physician Burnout and Depression Report 2024" surveyed 9,226 physicians across 29 specialties between July 5 and Oct. 9. In the rankings, 53% of oncologists said they experienced burnout. This is a 1% increase over the 2023 report, though oncologists jumped to the second-most burned out specialty, up from the 12th spot in 2023. Becker's asked five leaders why more oncologists may be experiencing burnout during a time when the numbers are declining for other physician specialties: Wendy Baer, MD. Director of Psychiatric Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (Atlanta): It's really hard to know exactly how these burnout scores reflect individual experiences versus team experiences. Cancer care is very much a team operation, so in terms of feeling well in their workspace, they probably need good energy from everybody else they work with, even more so maybe than other medical disciplines. They have a very elaborate team of people that are interacting. So if you have systemic pressures on all those people maybe from a global pandemic, maybe from an economic crisis, maybe from a social justice movement where concerns about being treated fairly in the workplace are more prominent I think oncologists are going to end up reflecting that because their teams are reflecting of all those issues. And if the physicians feel like they're doing more than their medical expertise, like more administrative work than ever before, I think that's going to be a big part of contributing to burnout. I do love that oncologists continue to say that taking care of patients and families rejuvenates them. Jennifer Bickel, MD. Chief Wellness Officer at Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, Fla.): There's no hard data on this but in my work with oncologists, it's clear that the EHR often falls short of meeting the intense and complex documentation needs of medical oncologists. In addition, cancer care has always been a place of strong patient and family emotions. However, there's been an escalation in harassment and violence against doctors and nurses. This has long lasting impacts on morale and, frankly, on the joy the physician has in practicing medicine. It's incredibly hard work to start with but then when you add excessive administrative tasks and violent patients, it can be overwhelming and unfulfilling. Ken Chaij, MD. Executive Director of the Oncology Service Line at Kettering (Ohio) Health: Burnout is coming from the workload and what physicians have to do in a given day. I was talking to one oncologist earlier this week and he said a number of years ago he could see a full day of patients and leave at 5 [p.m.] with all his charts done, but with constant changes in our EHR and regulations, he now typically leaves after 7 [p.m.]. There is always a balancing act between personal and professional life, and that can add stress to a person if they feel there is an imbalance. At the same time, we are seeing physicians retiring out and we're getting fewer physicians come in who fit with our group. And thanks to treatment, people are living longer with the disease. We're starting to see people coming back and having other forms of cancer, and the older they get the higher the chance for that. And we see survivors that need more and more services to manage and provide palliative care. We're also seeing an increase of new patients, so overall there's this volume uptick. Yuman Fong, MD. Sangiacomo Family Chair in Surgical Oncology at City of Hope (Los Angeles): The many recent successes in medicines for the treatment of cancer mean that there is more to learn, and the demand to stay current is more challenging than ever before. The work of the medical and surgical oncologist also now requires added time for the electronic medical record, negotiation with third-party payers for authorization of treatments, and education to patients on all of the options and related outcomes. These added demands contribute to burnout, and as we look to the future, it highlights the importance of screening as well the role of partnering with community oncologists (where 80% of care is delivered) to ensure timely and seamless access to care. Mothaffar Rimawi, MD. Executive Medical Director at Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (Houston): We should not be surprised at the precipitous rise of burnout in oncologists. These medical professionals are faced with the convergence of an increasingly complex treatment landscape and testing platforms, which requires them to spend more time explaining these complex concepts to patients. While physicians are inclined to spend more time with their patients, the pressure of productivity targets and limited time in clinic appointments, combined with the complexity of securing insurance company approvals for expensive treatments may become too much for the practicing oncologist. Oncologists now spend long hours on the phone for a peer-to-peer or to appeal denials for drugs even when approved by the FDA and incorporated in practice guidelines by authoritative organizations. We need a national initiative that can help alleviate some of those converging pressures in oncology. Burnout not only means people leave the specialty, it means fewer younger physicians go into oncology, and that can seriously impact clinical care, research and training. Simple assaults against healthcare workers increased from 17.7 incidents per 100 beds to 22 incidents, and 65% of hospitals said it was difficult or very difficult to retain full, qualified security staff, according to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation's 2023 Healthcare Crime survey. The survey found the average hospital had 9.5 full-time security employees per 100 beds, a decrease from 10.7 security personnel in the previous year. "Hospitals are microcosms of the communities they serve, meaning that whatever types of crime or criminal activity are occurring on the streets, they are also likely occurring in and around the healthcare organization," Jeff Hauk, director of public safety and police authority services for Hollywood, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare, told Campus Safety. "Attractiveness, brand, and customer service are also important parts of the healthcare industry's philosophy, so creating a comprehensive protective process for safely and efficiently identifying individuals entering a facility while not impending upon or delaying medical services or creating poor public perception through an intrusive process is extremely challenging." Security can also be difficult to retain as it is considered a "cost center" and does not generate revenue for hospitals. Here are five strategies Mr. Hauk suggests for recruiting and retaining security staff: Acute care hospitals have until July 1 to join the National Healthcare Safety Network. Membership with the network will now be required for acute care hospitals to receive federal funding from CMS. Beginning in July, The Joint Commission will now also evaluate acute care hospitals based on deidentified data from five key areas outlined by the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, including measurements for the outcomes of: catheter-associated urinary tract infections, facilitywide inpatient hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infections after colon, abdominal, and hysterectomy procedures, and facilitywide inpatient hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Membership within the network will allow assessors from The Joint Commission to more easily, and safely, access a data source "to evaluate patient safety and clinical quality performance." "Communication" is the most in-demand skill for 2024, according to a recent analysis from LinkedIn. To determine the most desirable skills for workers this year, LinkedIn analyzed data from its 1 billion international users. Skills were given desirability scores based upon the share of workers who possessed them and had been recently hired or recently received recruiter InMails, along with how frequently they were listed in paid job listings between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2023. A recent LinkedIn survey found that 9 in 10 executives say soft skills are more important now than ever, as the list illustrates. But hard skills like analytics and research knowledge still found a place on the ranking. These 10 capabilities are most demanded by employers: 1. Communication 2. Customer service 3. Leadership 4. Project management 5. Management 6. Analytics 7. Teamwork 8. Sales 9. Problem-solving 10. Research Orthopedic physicians who were working at Mass General Brigham in Boston are returning to Holy Family hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, Mass., Boston Business Journal reported Feb. 12. The orthopedic physicians, along with gastrointestinal physicians, are coming back after "extensive conversations" regarding supplies and staffing, the report said. They are now taking calls and performing emergency procedures at the Holy Family hospitals. Holy Family is owned by Dallas-based Steward Health Care, which has struggled financially. The health system fell $50 million behind on its rent to Medical Properties Trust and is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and community members in response to the risk of hospital closures. Former police station in Belfast to be converted into a new 74-bedroom hotel. Former police station in Belfast to be converted into a new 74-bedroom hotel. A landmark former police station looks set to be converted into a hotel in Belfast city centre. The City Hall planning committee has given the green light for a new 74-bedroom hotel on Queen Street and has granted listed building consent to bring the building into use again. Permission for the change of use of the old police station at number 21 means the Grade B1 listed building is set to be refurbished, with a new nine storey extension to be added to the rear of the building. The development proposals include a bar and restaurant among other facilities. Planning committee chair councillor Matt Garrett said: Granting planning approval for this new hotel in the city centre and for these major residential developments across the city is fantastic news for visitors to Belfast and residents and potential residents to the city. The planning application for the new hotel in Queen Street is of particular significance as the building is Grade B1 listed and on the heritage risk register so bringing it into use again by converting to a new hotel is to warmly welcomed. Former police station in Belfast to be converted into a new 74-bedroom hotel. "Its another great attraction for the city centre showing councils commitment to develop the city centre to make it an attractive place to live, work, study and visit, socialise and invest in. So far this year, and we are only in the second month, the Committee has granted approval to 773 housing units in the city. This also complements the citys community plan Belfast Agendas aim of increasing the citys residential population and bringing forward residential opportunities across all housing tenures. The building served as a police station in the heart of Belfast from 1933 to 2000. Designed by Thomas Jackson & Son, it initially served as a hospital after completion in 1877. The building has been abandoned since 2000, and has been on the at risk register since 2006. Planning committee members at Belfast City Council also approved applications for two residential developments in the east and north of the city. One relates to a four storey apartment block comprising 16 units on 215-225 Castlereagh Road. The other is for a three-and-a-half storey development on 22-30 Hopefield Avenue with 33 units including a mix of social housing and wheelchair friendly apartments. It follows a number of approvals granted at last months meeting which has paved the way for a number of major residential developments in the city centre, including 298 new apartments in Tomb Street/Corporation Street; 256 apartments in City Quays and 77 new apartments in May Street/Victoria Street/Gloucester Street. A social housing development at Pilot Street in the Sailortown area of the city made up of 69 units including a mix of townhouses and apartments and 24 two and three-bed apartments in Ballygomartin Road in the west of the city has also been given the go-ahead. Dr Birnie says revenue raising essential for future of NI economy An economist has warned that the clock is ticking for the NI Executive to create extra resources to be invested in the Northern Ireland economy. It comes after former NI Secretary Julian Smith indicated that money raising initiatives are expected from Stormont, following a 3.3bn financial deal agreed with the current Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris at the end of last year. Stormont is facing a huge financial challenge. As the Assembly got down to its first day of real business in two years, new Education Minister Paul Givan laid out plans that would cost almost 1bn. First Minister Michelle ONeill, however, ruled out introducing water charges as a form of revenue raising. Dr Esmond Birnie, who is also member of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council, said: Theres a real sense that clock is ticking here; were into day 10 of the devolved government, we will soon have used up the first 100 days which many consider to be fundamental reform period. We desperately need extra resources, but they need to be invested into the long term in terms of transformation. The [3.3bn] package will not last forever and there is a real danger that in two years time we could be back in the same position we were in before in terms of severe overspends and the system grinding to a halt. He was speaking on Tuesday mornings Good Morning Ulster programme. The senior economist at Ulster University said that there is a terrible sense of deja vu. Weve heard the same arguments since 2010 on water charges but the Northern Ireland government does need to make some contributions towards the cost of running - we all, as tax-payers, do, he said. Part of the problem in terms of overspending back in 2023 was made in Stormont, so its no real surprise the HM Treasury has insisted that part of the deal would mean some sort of contribution. Dr Birnie has suggested that the most feasible terms of revenue raising in NI could be raising rates. But we do have to look at reliefs for rates, which has sort of mushroomed during the absence of the devolved period, he said. We have a wrong-headed way of doing things here with regards of rates. Weve allowed the base of the parts of society eligible to pay rates get smaller, and those who have to pay rates have to pay them at the higher value; its a wrong-headed way of doing things but thats driven by politics, its popular to put rates relief on but Its unpopular to takes these away. Ahead of speaking at the Belfast Summit on Thursday, Amy Lame offers her vision on the most effective ways to energise our after-dark offerings Plans are in motion to encourage people to stay in Belfast after 6pm Londons night czar would warmly welcome the creation of a similar role in Belfast. Amy Lame, who is one of the speakers at Thursdays Belfast Summit, believes the addition is important considering the citys growth that offers loads of opportunity. The event will discuss the challenges and opportunities for Belfast, part of which includes building a night-time economy, where people will stay longer in the city. For too long, weve kind of let things at night just happen without planning for it, but we over-regulated night-time, said Amy, who has been championing Londons night-time economy as part of her role since 2016. What a night czar or night-time adviser could do would be to start planning for night-time, working with the council to develop a night-time strategy based on data and engagement with local people. Belfast has a really interesting future ahead because I understand that youre building more houses in the city centre. You dont want those people to move into the city centre and then start complaining that theres noise because theres a nightclub, a historic pub or a loved music venture. You will need to plan for this. Plans are in motion to encourage people to stay in Belfast after 6pm Outlining that shes a regular visitor to Belfast and feels it has so much to enjoy, Amy praises it and Londons collective commitment to creating fair, inclusive and sustainable nightlife. We know that we have 1.3 million people that are regularly working in London at night, and most of those people are working in health and social care, explained Amy. Theyre doing really important jobs to keep us healthy, safe and alive. Theyre also people that are part of often the hidden workforce and face some really important inequalities that we need to address. One such inequality is access to fresh and healthy foods. Amy added: Because even in hospitals, the canteens are closed overnight and its often very difficult to even find a cup of tea somewhere if youre coming off your shift at 3am or 4am. We have to really spare a thought for all those people that work so hard to keep our cities ticking, making sure that the supermarket shelves are stocked in the morning and that the schools are cleaned and offices are ready for workers. Youve got so many major hospitals in Belfast, universities, theres a whole life thats thriving that isnt about the bars and clubs. Thats why I love that Belfast is adopting this holistic approach, which is what we pioneered in London. To really look at every aspect of our lives at night between 6pm and 6am. Many people in Belfast work at night Another key aspect is safety; many women feel unsafe while working, travelling or going out at night. Campaigns have been developed across the UK, with night-time businesses redesigning spaces through the lens of womens safety. Hospitality Ulster recently joined forces with White Ribbon NI to adopt the Womens Night Safe Charter and support its roll-out throughout Northern Ireland. We know that if we make places and spaces safer for women, everyone benefits, said Amy, previously mayor of the London borough of Camden. Thats one of the projects that weve done in London that Im so proud of and really pleased that Belfast, and all of Northern Ireland, is looking to adopt the Womens Night Safety Charter. We have over 2,100 organisations and businesses signed up to take action to make sure that women and girls feel safe at night regardless of what theyre doing, be it studying, travelling, going out to meet their friends or picking up their kids. Last January, Amy came to Belfast to speak with representatives from the citys night-time economy partnership. These include Translink, Belfast City Council, the PSNI and Belfast Chamber. I think London and Belfast share so much together, she said. First of all, we love to go out and Ive been out in Belfast a number of times and had unforgettable experiences. Also our love of music. In London, music is so much a part of our city and its true for Belfast as well. I think weve got so much to learn from each other. Ive been over to Belfast a number of times, meeting with councillors and Translink, speaking to them about what they want to do around offering more night-time transport, sharing the information of the projects that weve done in London. Its a different scale, but thats one of the great things about this job is that working in partnership enables us to say we have more in common than our differences. The Albert Clock in Belfast city centre In terms of suggestions to help boost Belfasts post-6pm economy, Amy would encourage a data study of the number of night-time employees and businesses, getting the building blocks in place from which to measure progress. One of the things weve been doing in London is advocating for better paying conditions for our 1.3 million night workers and weve been able to do that through the London Living Wage, she said, adding that 80% of night workers now receive the wage. Then you could also look at things like boosting your high streets after 6pm. Most shopping precincts and shopping areas close around five or six. And I just think: why? Who made that rule? Peoples habits have changed, particularly after Covid. A lot of people dont finish work until 6pm and arent able to pick anything up on their local high street or do a bit of shopping. I think we need to look at that diversification of our high streets at night offering something for everyone. Amy is speaking at Belfast Summit on Thursday at Ulster University. For more information see belfastsummit.com Executive must lead the charge to hit 2030 target of 80% renewables, says NI energy leader Richard Murphy, head of energy at law firm Pinsent Masons, tells the Belfast Telegraph delivering on the transition of our power supply system must be a priority for the reformed Stormont Richard Murphy, energy partner at law firm Pinsent Masons Margaret Canning Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 07:00 The new Stormont Executive has a lot on its plate including the race to reach a 2030 target for 80% of electricity to come from renewable resources. The company has two stores in Northern Ireland The Body Shop poised to fall into administration and has two stores in Northern Ireland Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP The Body Shop has hired administrators, putting thousands of jobs at the cosmetics chain at risk. The retailer has two stores in Northern Ireland including one in Belfasts Victoria Square and Derrys Foyleside. It also has four shops in the Republic of Ireland. The retailer, which runs more than 200 shops across the UK, has appointed insolvency experts from FRP Advisory to oversee the process. FRP said the administrators will consider all options to find a way forward for the business after years of financial struggles and amid a challenging backdrop for shoppers. The chain will continue to trade through stores and online during the administration process. The Body Shop employs more than 2,000 people in the UK. Administrators stressed that the process will only affect its UK business, with international franchises not impacted. FRP said: The Body Shop remains guided by its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term. Creating a more nimble and financially stable UK business is an important step in achieving this. The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. The retailer was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon as one of the first companies to promote so-called ethical consumerism, focusing on ethically produced cosmetics and skincare products. It comes only weeks after new owners, European private equity firm Aurelius, took control of the business. Aurelius, which specialises in buying and turning around troubled firms, secured a 207 million deal in November to buy The Body Shop from Brazilian cosmetics giant Natura & Co. It only took control of operations officially on January 1. Aurelius said it had been unable to revive the fortunes of the business after difficult trading conditions over Christmas and new year. The business employed around 10,000 people worldwide at the time of the takeover. Aurelius agreed a deal late last month to sell the companys operations in most of mainland Europe and in parts of Asia to an international family office in a decisive step towards delivering a strong turnaround strategy at The Body Shop. Mark Crimmins, Regional Managing Director of Ulster Bank and Business Editor Margaret Canning launching the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards 2024 in partnership with Ulster Bank. (Photo by Aodhan Roberts for Belfast Telegraph) The awards are now open for entries across 17 categories until the closing date on April 3. An awards ceremony takes place at Belfasts Crowne Plaza Hotel on May 2. Mark Crimmins, head of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, said: Once again Ulster Bank is proud to partner with the Belfast Telegraph to deliver these awards, and as we launch the call for entries, we are excited about showcasing the very best of business in Northern Ireland. Many firms and individuals here continue to flourish and have demonstrated enormous capabilities in adapting to new challenges, changing working environments, a fast-paced digital landscape, and ever-evolving regulation. Recognising this success is more important than ever, and we look forward to another great event for our local business community and to celebrating with the next cohort of winners on the night. In addition to recognising the great work of businesses, a key thing for me is to engage with companies about how Ulster Bank can best help them meet their objectives. We have access to a wealth of knowledge and insight through our parent bank NatWest and through our range of products and tools, we can help local businesses with all aspects of their everyday banking, funding, making and receiving payments, trading overseas, and business insurance. By taking care of these, we can allow firms the time and space to focus on growth and achieving their goals and to be the best they can be. Eoin Brannigan, editor in chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: We are delighted to launch the 2024 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank, the most prestigious awards of their kind in Northern Ireland. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of firms and businesspeople and wish everyone good luck in their entries. The awards ceremony has grown into one of the highlights of the year for business, and we look forward to seeing everyone there. Now in their 24th year, the prestigious awards attract entries from all sectors and sizes of company, and are judged by an expert, independent panel. Clare Guinness, chief executive of Belfast Chamber and chair of the judging panel, said: I am delighted to be chairing the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards for the second year. The awards give an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our business community across numerous sectors. I am so proud of the entrepreneurial spirit and business success of this city and region. The judges will have some tough decisions to make choosing winners. There are 17 categories this year, including new categories Excellence in Manufacturing and Family Business of the Year. There are also non-entry awards for Outstanding Business of the Year and Lifetime Achievement, which are proposed and chosen by the judges. To enter the Business Awards click on any of the links below. The closing date is Wednesday April 3 at 12noon. For queries, contact Karen McGarvey at karen.mcgarvey@mediahuis.co.uk Joan Dunlop, who is about to start treatment for the disease, tells Belfast Telegraph why she and her loved ones threw a Brave the Shave party For Bangor woman Joan Dunlop, shaving her long brunette curls was an act of defiance. As her hair was plaited, cut, and then shorn close to her scalp at the Groomsport Inn on Sunday, Joan punched the air to a round of applause from her gathered family and friends. Looking on, partner Johnny McCormick said: She still looks absolutely gorgeous. But it was an emotional afternoon for Joan as she sat holding hands with her brother Terry Noble and Johnnys daughter Rachel McCormick, who were among the 10 volunteers getting buzz-cuts. The mum-of-three starts over two years of cancer treatment tomorrow with chemotherapy to treat breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes and lung. Joan (51) wanted to show that hope outshines fear. Joan Dunlop before losing her locks So she threw a Brave the Shave party to raise money for the Ulster Hospitals McMillan Cancer Unit. Local barbers volunteered to do the shaving, meaning the haircuts could be carried out at the same time, and the ladies with long hair donated their locks to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for children with cancer. I originally thought Id go for a pixie cut, but seeing everyone else getting shaved around me that felt like cheating, so I just said: Take it all off, explained Joan. It was an emotional moment. For everyone else, this is a haircut for charity, but for me it also marks the start of a long battle. But cancer beware: I wont be defined by my hair! Joan found a lump in her right armpit in December. In January she underwent a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, and tumours were found in her breast and armpit. The consultant didnt even need to wait for the biopsy results. He knew what he was looking at, he told me he was 100% sure it was cancer, Joan said. After a full-body CT scan at Lagan Valley Hospital, cancer cells were also detected in Joans lung. Ive been told itll be two-and-a-half years of treatment, she added. Im having chemotherapy first to blast the tumours and shrink them, then a mastectomy in the summer, then radiotherapy and immunotherapy. They told me its better to cut your hair before treatment because it can be quite traumatic to watch it falling out. Thats what gave me the idea to do a Brave the Shave. Im so lucky to have access to treatment like immunotherapy, so I wanted to give something back. My chemo starts on Valentines Day, so doing this event the weekend beforehand felt like a good way to stand shoulder-to-shoulder against cancer. Front: Noah McCormick, Lee Scofield, Debbie Neeson, Joan Dunlop, Rachel McCormick. Back: Gary Schofield, Terry Noble, Dylan Galloway and Aaron McCullough Those whod originally agreed to Brave the Shave alongside Joan were Rachel; Terry; Rachels younger brother Noah McCormick; brother-in-law Aaron McCullough, and friends Lee and Gary Schofield, Debbie Neeson and Dylan Galloway. Meanwhile, her sister Anne Quinn (55) had her long blonde hair plaited and cut short to donate to the Little Princess Trust. The volunteers sat in a circle, each with their own barber including influencer Jay Millar from Jays Barber Club and his hairdresser wife Orla. Then Robert Gillespie pledged a 100 donation for his dad Gorgeous George Gillespie to join the group and get his head shaved too. Were all leaving bald, quipped Joan. There was a countdown from the gathered family and friends, including Joans other siblings and mum Edwina, then the girls donating their hair had their plaits cut first, before the razors were powered up. Rachel (32) had her waist-length brown locks shaved and donated 60cm of hair to the Little Princess Trust. She said: Im a classroom assistant at Blessed Trinity College, so loads of the students have sponsored me and Ive been making the point to all the kids in school that, at the end of the day, its just hair. Health is whats most important. Ive been told Im giving Demi Moore vibes now its shaved, so Ill take that! Her brother Noah (14) added: We just wanted to support Joan. It felt like the right thing to do. As the dramatic haircuts began, musician Taylor Lally performed Rise Up. Terry (44) flew over from England to be have his head shaved beside his sister. I didnt look at her much as it was happening because I didnt want to set us off, he said. Its the right way to start her journey. Kellie Dineley-Nichols was the one who shaved Joans head. A hairdresser from Saks in Newtownards, shes a long-time friend of Joan and her late husband Phillip, and said she was devastated when Joan called in January to share her news. Tragically, Phillip died suddenly in April 2019 while walking the Camino de Santiago, just before they celebrated their 20th anniversary. Immediately she was talking about doing some fundraising, said Kellie. Thats typical Joan, she just wants to help people. Also, by taking control of her hair shes taking control of whats happening. Joan Dunlop and Rachel McCormick Joan wanted to use Sundays event to remind women to check their breasts regularly, looking for any unusual changes, including lumps, any puckering, thickening or dimpling, or changes to the nipple. Ive never checked myself in my life before finding this lump. Now I know how important it is, I want to get that message out there, she added. Women aged 40-49 who are not yet eligible for screening on the NHS can get a free mammogram with Action Cancer NI. Lee Schofield (50), who had the bottom half of her blonde hair shaved into an undercut, said the event was typical of Joan. She explained: Joan is my hero. She has faced so much and she is always so brave and upbeat. I think we could all do with being a little bit more like Joan. She laughs her way through life, and as soon as she was diagnosed the first thing she was thinking about what how she could raise money and help others. Joan also wanted to praise the Groomsport Inn for donating the room and food for her Brave the Shave event, and donating 500 towards her fundraising goal. Joans fundraising target is 10,000 and you can still donate. Visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/BravetheShavewithJoanDunlop?utm_term=N9Rx8rGRq A group of five men attacked Ian Ogle like a pack of hyenas as he stood praying with a pastor close to his east Belfast home, a murder trial heard today. The father-of-two (45) was beaten and stabbed 11 times yards from his Cluan Place home at around 9.20pm on Sunday, January 27, 2019. CCTV of the 30-second attack which claimed Mr Ogles life was played during the first day of a trial into his murder. Three men are standing trial at Belfast Crown Court. Glenn Rainey (37), whose address was given as Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, Walter Alan Ervine (42), from Litchfield Street in Belfast, and Robert Spiers (41), from Millars Park in Dundonald, have all denied the murder charge. Two co-accused Jonathan Brown (38), from Whinney Hill in Dundonald, and Mark Sewell (45), of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Ogle earlier this month and were handed life sentences. As the Crown opened its case against Rainey, Ervine and Spiers to Mr Justice McFarland, it emerged that Mr Ogles murder followed a year-plus of tensions in east Belfast between his family and another group of men. A senior prosecutor told the non-jury hearing that an altercation occurred in the Prince Albert Bar on July 1, 2017. This involved Ian Ogle and his son Ryan Johnston on one side and Glenn Rainey, Jonathan Brown and Alan Ervine on the other. Saying this incident resulted in ongoing tensions, the prosecutor revealed that 35 minutes before Ian Ogle was attacked, both he and his son Ryan were involved in an assault on the Beersbridge Road. The father and son got out of a car and attacked Neil Ogle, a cousin of Ian Ogle, as he walked along the Beersbridge Road. Its the Crowns case that this attack on Neil Ogle was by way of a reprisal for the previous incident in the Prince Albert Bar when Neil Ogle failed to intervene on the side of his family. Following this, the Crown barrister spoke of a group being assembled in order to mount the attack on Ian Ogle, which he said included mobile phone activity between Brown, Spiers, Rainey, Sewell and Ervine. Just minutes before the attack, CCTV from a Glider bus on the Albertbridge Road captured a group of five men walking towards Cluan Place. This CCTV footage was played in court, as was footage recorded from a police camera situated at Cluan Place which captured the fatal attack. The Crown barrister said: Ian Ogle was standing near the entrance to Cluan Place. He lived at 4 Cluan Place. He was talking to a local pastor who had stopped to speak to him. Ian Ogle told the pastor that they were on their way. The pastor prayed with him. They were joined by another local man. The pastor then became aware of the group-of-five approaching and saw them attack Ian Ogle like a pack of hyenas, laying into him. He described at least one bat or baton striking Ian Ogle multiple times and, when he went to ground, his head was stamped on repeatedly. Both the pastor and the other man who was present shouted at them to stop and eventually they did. It was apparent that Ian Ogle was seriously injured. His son Ryan Johnston was alerted and the ambulance was called. The prosecutor said the CCTV footage of the attack showed Mr Ogle being punched and kicked before he ended up on the ground. He tried to get back up but was stamped on and kicked for around 30 seconds by the attackers, who then fled in the direction from which they had arrived. A second piece of CCTV taken from same Glider bus stop recorded five men two running and three walking in the moments following the attack. Its the Crowns case that Ervine was captured on this footage carrying a long, brass implement in his left hand while Spiers was carrying an item which the prosecution contend may be a knife. When the paramedics arrived at Cluan Place, they described the scene as crazy. A group of men and women, who were screaming and shouting, were present and Mr Ogle was lying on his back. Telling Mr Justice McFarland it was clear to the paramedic that he [Ian Ogle] was dead, the prosecutor said: The blood was pumping out of him and there were stab wounds to his shoulder. Stab wounds were also observed to his back, but there were too many to count with any accuracy. He was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital where life was pronounced extinct at 10.12pm. A post-mortem conducted on January 29, 2019, concluded that Mr Ogle had been stabbed 11 times in the back. He also sustained a fracture to the skull and bruises to his face, head and other parts of the body caused by punches and kicks. Turning to the three accused, the prosecutor spoke of cell site evidence, CCTV footage, DNA evidence, clothing identification and their movements in the aftermath of the murder, all of which will feature in the case against them. It also emerged that the day after the murder, Rainey flew from Dublin Airport to Thailand, while Ervine went to Scotland via the ferry from Larne. Ervine returned on February 3 through Belfast Port and was arrested the next day, while Rainey was apprehended on March 3 at Manchester Airport after arriving from Bangkok. Spiers was arrested two days after the murder at a house in east Belfast. Following their arrests, all three accused were interviewed by police. Rainey gave a no comment response to all questions and in his final interview he denied involvement in the murder. Ervine also gave a no comment interview, while Spiers answered no comment to most questions put to him and also gave a statement denying his involvement. The Crown barrister concluded the opening by saying: The prosecution contend that Rainey, Ervine and Spiers were involved in a joint enterprise to attack Ian Ogle with the intention of causing at least serious harm to him. Four co-accused have pleaded guilty to lesser charges arising from the murder and have been told they will be sentenced at a later date, as will Jonathan Brown and Mark Sewell. The trial continues. Royal Courts of Justice where the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit A teenage asylum seeker from Iran who travelled alone on a small boat to the UK has secured High Court permission to challenge the Illegal Migration Act (IMA). The 16-year-old boy, who is currently staying at a childrens home in Northern Ireland, was granted leave to seek a judicial review amid claims the controversial legislation breaches the Windsor Framework. A judge in Belfast ruled he has also established an arguable case that parts of the IMA are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). His solicitor, Sinead Marmion of Phoenix Law, hailed it as a significant decision for cases involving unaccompanied children in the asylum system. As part of the Governments attempts to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, anyone arriving illegally in the UK will be detained and removed under the terms of the IMA. A separate High Court challenge to the Act mounted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is currently awaiting determination. But proceedings brought on behalf of the Iranian teenager focused on the impact of the IMA on unaccompanied children. The court heard he travelled through Turkey, Greece and France before getting on a small boat to the UK and claiming asylum in July last year. He stated that he travelled by a dangerous route and is terrified of being sent back to Iran, claiming he would be killed or sent to prison. Ms Marmion argued that the IMA could provide unaccompanied children in the asylum asylum system with an incentive to run away in a bid to avoid removal once they turn 18, driving them into the arms of exploiters and traffickers. It was contended that provisions in the Act are incompatible with Article 2 of the post-Brexit Windsor Framework, which commits the UK not to diminish human rights safeguarded from the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Mr Justice Humphreys ruled: It is clearly arguable that this applicant enjoys the protection of Article 2(1) of the Windsor Framework and can seek to rely on the rights enshrined in the various EU Directives, Regulations and the Charter in order to challenge the provisions of the IMA. The judge also held that the boy had cleared the preliminary stage in arguing the Act breached his rights under the ECHR. Granting him the necessary legal status as a potential victim, Mr Justice Humphreys pointed out: This applicant is at real risk of removal from the UK without his protection claim being determined. The evidence reveals that the UK Government intends to commence these provisions. He confirmed: The applicant has clearly established an arguable case with realistic prospects of success and there are no discretionary bars to the grant of leave. The application for judicial review will now be heard in full next month. Welcoming the determination, Ms Marmion said later: This is a significant decision in the journey to challenging the lawfulness of the Illegal Migration Act. We act for an unaccompanied minor, who are among the most vulnerable in society. Further strike action by teachers in coming weeks has been put on hold during talks with the Education Minister Paul Givan. Its after Mr Givan met with union representatives on Tuesday and said he's "concerned about the detrimental impact" of further strikes on young people after several days of strike in recent months. He urged the unions to suspend any further industrial action to allow negotiations to take place. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council (NITC) met with Mr Givan in Lisburn on Tuesday in what they described as a constructive meeting which included the leaders of five teacher unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI). They said it has been agreed that talks in relation to a settlement of the long-awaited cost of living uplift for teachers and school leaders will begin in the next few days. In light of this positive development the NITC have decided to put further strike dates agreed in the coming weeks on hold during these talks. The ongoing action short of strike in schools will remain in place. Action short of strike includes measures such as limiting the total number of hours worked. Mark McTaggart, NITC secretary said: We would like to thank the minister for the positive engagement this morning and look forward to further meetings with a view to finding a resolution to the pay dispute as quickly as possible. Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: I welcome todays positive engagement with teachers unions and the opportunity it gave to discuss our shared objective of a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute. Teachers fully deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I will work to deliver that. It is rightly of the highest priority. Mr Givan said he was concerned about the detrimental impact continued action is having on the education of pupils, including on vulnerable children and young people. In view of this, and in the context of the opportunity before us to resolve outstanding issues, I asked the unions to suspend industrial action, including action short of strike, to allow negotiations to take place in a more positive atmosphere, he said. I have made my position very clear. I am committed to working with Executive colleagues to address public sector pay issues and I want to create the environment whereby meaningful pay negotiations through the Teachers Negotiating Committee (TNC) can commence. Report says sector continues to face barriers as result of religious divide impacting on location and catchment area of colleges Annie, Lorenzo and Isla from Brefne Nursery School in north Belfast. A LucidTalk poll in 2021 found 73% of people thought integrated schools should be the norm A new report has found many schools which have gone integrated continue to draw pupils mainly from just one section of the community. The latest paper from Ulster Universitys Transforming Education series looked specifically at the sector over the last four decades. It found that while progress had been steady, the process of a school transforming remains too arduous and demanding, with environmental, political and societal barriers preventing integrated schools having a deeper impact and reach. The report said: In the school year 2022-23, the overall pupil profile of integrated schools 35% Protestant, 34% Catholic, 31% Other is broadly reflective of the community composition revealed in the census results. However, these aggregate figures mask a deeper imbalance. Whilst pupils from a Catholic background make up the majority of the student body in grant maintained integrated schools, they are notably less plentiful in controlled integrated schools a trend which is particularly notable in the post-primary sector. Figures from the 2022-23 Department of Education school enrolment data show that only 15% of pupils who attend Priory Integrated College in Holywood are from a Catholic background despite the school having transformed in 1997. Only 11% of pupils at Forthill Integrated College, Lisburn, (which transformed in 1998) identify as Catholic. Both are illustrative of the enduring demographic profile of the schools locations and catchments as well as the fact that these schools were permitted to transform when there was a lack of balance in projected enrolments. This suggests that some controlled schools which have transformed to integrated schools may still be drawing pupils mainly from their previous, religiously-defined catchment areas. These schools were permitted to transform when there was a lack of balance in projected enrolments a community imbalance could have implications for the living out of integrated principles. At the start of the 2023-24 school year there were 70 integrated schools. In total, 2,814 pupils applied for the 2,310 places available in integrated schools for the September 2021 intake. In one of its final acts before the DUP collapsed it in 2022, Stormont passed Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrongs Integrated Education Bill. The Bill required the Department of Education to increase the number of integrated school places and set targets for the number of children being educated in them. The university report found, for many children, currently attaining a place at an integrated school is currently not a realistic proposition as integrated schools remain rare. This pattern of demand for places exceeding supply is, however, by no means consistent in applications to integrated schools, the Ulster University report added. A number of integrated schools have experienced falling pupil numbers impacting on their long term viability. In 2009, Armagh Integrated College closed just five years after opening. Declining pupil enrolment at Down Academy (Downpatrick) led to a merger with Rowallane Integrated College to become Blackwater Integrated College in 2008. In October 2023, the department approved the closure of Blackwater Integrated College with a replacement integrated post-primary school to be built in the Mid Down area with an anticipated opening of September 2024. TV presenter Gerry Kelly has been left confused about why his interview with Charlie Lawson did not air on Sky as planned. The ex-UTV host took to social media on Monday night to explain to fans that he did not know why Conversations with Gerry Kelly was not broadcast as scheduled at 9pm on Sky TV channel 181. "Sincere apologies to anyone trying to watch 'Conversations with Gerry Kelly on SKY 181 tonight, Mr Kelly posted on X We are at a loss to know why it wasn't transmitted. "You can still see the show however on YouTube. @kellytonight.com. Sincere apologies to anyone trying to watch 'Conversations with Gerry Kelly on SKY 181 tonight. We are at a loss to know why it wasn't transmitted. You can still see the show however on YouTube. @kellytonight.com Gerry Kelly (@GerryKellyShow) February 12, 2024 In a response to one disappointed viewer who tried to record to the programme, Mr Kelly replied: Charlie Lawson tonight Simon. Caused a bit of a stir in the weekend papers here. The episode saw former Coronation Street star Lawson reveal he was involved with a loyalist paramilitary organisation in his youth. The Enniskillen-born actor has talked in the past of his support for the actions of such gangs during the Ulster Workers Council strike in 1974. But in his latest new interview, the 62-year-old said he started to mix with nefarious company while boarding at the prestigious Campbell College in east Belfast before he was suspended for being a complete loon. My mother moved us all to Scotland to get me away from all that, at which point I jumped from the frying pan into the fire and got involved with a paramilitary organisation of the loyalist persuasion and I got into trouble, he said. Lawson did not name the group in the programme which was screened on the community station NVTV, but said his hopes of joining the Royal Marines were shattered due to him being investigated by Special Branch. On a past appearance on Eamonn Mallie: Face To Face With Charlie Lawson on UTV in 2019, the ex-soap star explained: I never took up arms. "I suspect if I had stayed and not had the opportunities thrown at me and been unemployed staying up the Newtownards Road, I would say it probably would have been highly likely, he continued. Lawson was subsequently accepted to drama school in London, where he became friendly with fellow Enniskillen-native Adrian Dunbar, who was the first Catholic he had ever met and who changed his attitudes. The pair appeared together in a Peter Sheridan play, Diary of a Hunger Strike, about Bobby Sands. Sky has been contacted for comment. The PSNI is investigating after a dual language street sign was damaged in south Belfast on Monday. Images shared on social media showed the Irish and English sign on Haypark Avenue near the Ormeau Road had been significantly damaged. Writing on social media local SDLP councillor Gary McKeown said: Disgusted that the bilingual street sign on Haypark Avenue has been vandalised again. "This time broken into pieces. Imagine the effort that went into doing this by someone just because they have no respect for their neighbours or their community. The destruction of the sign is the second time it has been vandalised in less than two months. In a statement the PSNI said: Police received a report of criminal damage to a dual-lingual street sign in the Haypark Avenue area of south Belfast on Monday 12th February. Anyone who may have any information or anyone with CCTV or other footage that could assist with enquiries is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1841 12/02/24. The sign is just one of several dual language street signs which have been vandalised over the years. In 2021, two bilingual signs at Crannog Way in Enniskillen were targeted by black paint in a sectarian attack. Earlier this year Belfast City Council also said they would fix several of the signs after they were reported to contain spelling mistakes including the translation of Haypark Avenue. The sign was spelt Ascaill Pharie an Fheir when the correct spelling is Ascaill Phairc an Fheir. Belfast City Council adopted their current policy on street signage back in 2021, allowing residents to apply for a dual language street sign in any language where they live. Although Irish is the most popular choice for an alternative language in Belfast, applications can be made for any language including Ulster Scots and Chinese. If the application gains the support of 15% of residents on the electoral register it can go forward for approval by the council. First Minister ONeill ruled out introducing water charges despite Westminster claims The Government and new Stormont Executive are already on a collision course after the First Minister Michelle ONeill categorically ruled out introducing water charges during her time in office. The Sinn Fein vice president, who disclosed that she received a message of congratulations from King Charles after being sworn into the top job at Stormont, has denied Government claims that the main political parties here have signed up to revenue raising measures. It comes after former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith indicated that money raising initiatives are expected from Stormont, following a 3.3bn financial deal agreed with the current Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris at the end of last year. Stormont is facing a huge financial challenge. As the Assembly got down to its first day of real business in two years, new Education Minister Paul Givan laid out plans that would cost almost 1bn. However, Ms ONeill said: Im saying very clearly, no to water charges. Im saying quite clearly that you cant burden people who are living through a cost-of-living crisis with additional household bills while public services are declining. Thats not the right spot for us to be. But on Monday night, a Government source insisted that the 3.3bn came with strings attached. They said that, as with all financial settlements, the Treasury would write to the Finance Minister Sinn Feins Caoimhe Archibald setting out the details of the funding and the associated conditions in due course. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said the Government had provided the new Executive with an unprecedented spending settlement. As with any other administration in the UK, the Executive will need to make choices to support stability, prosperity, and sustainable public services, they added. The NI Affairs Committee was told in November that water charges could bring in 350m a year. However the chair of the Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland conceded that despite the big number there is not a great deal of keenness to make that change. Julian Smith Speaking to BBC News NI, Ms ONeill said all the parties in the Executive are united when it comes to fighting for a proper funding model and intend to be at the table with UK Treasury chiefs in the coming weeks. The issue will also be discussed by ministers at Stormont this week. On Sunday, Mr Smith weighed into the debate on social media. NI Executive cannot any longer avoid revenue raising as the parties themselves accepted in their letter to HMG last week; if NI Executive doesnt do it, HMG will no doubt have to, he posted on X. The Deputy First Minister has also claimed it is unsustainable to ask people to pay more for poor public services. The DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly expressed serious concerns over the weekend about the impact of revenue-raising measures on already struggling families. The quality of our public services is not up to scratch and asking people right now to pay more for poor public services, I dont think is a sustainable decision, she said. Around 580m of the funding due to be released by the UK Government has been earmarked to settle public-sector pay disputes. More than 1bn has been allocated to the stabilisation of public services. Stormont departments were ordered by Mr Heaton-Harris to launch public consultations on money raising measures last September. It has been estimated that raising tuition fees could raise as much as 90.5m for Stormonts coffers. Scrapping various forms of rates relief could raise a further 130m, whereas doing away with free bus and rail travel for the over 60s could save another 29.2m. In the wide ranging BBC interview, the First Minister stopped short of making a commitment not to attend IRA commemoration events while in the top position, but vowed to be true to the office she now holds. We need to be mature enough to understand that we all come from different backgrounds and people have a right to remember their dead, she said. I will be very conscious of the office that I hold and any decision that I take will be based on the fact that I will be true and respectful of the office of First Minster. Ms ONeill reiterated her pledge to be a First Minister for all and said she plans to attend events across community divides which included a promise to go to Windsor Park. Last year she tweeted her support for Northern Ireland manager Michael ONeill and his side ahead of a crucial match. Asked if she will now attend a game Ms ONeill replied: I have no doubt that I will. As soon as I get an invitation. Meanwhile Mr Givan said he has submitted funding bids of 528m to the Department of Finance to meet education capital needs next year. As an absolute minimum, I require an additional 100m of capital above the draft budget allocation to meet pressures in regard to Special Educational Needs placements. He also said he will bring an early learning and childcare strategy paper to the Stormont Executive this week. Mr Givan told MLAs a new early learning and childcare strategy for Northern Ireland could cost 400m a year, and is a top priority for me. The Government has reiterated their 3.3b financial package to Stormont, but said the Executive must raise a minimum of 113m through revenue raising. In a letter from the Northern Ireland Office to the new Stormont Finance Minister, they confirmed the enhanced financial package offered upon the return of the political institutions here would be honoured with the funds to deal with public sector pay disputes and the pressures on public services and hospital waiting lists. The Government described it as a significant, fair and generous package. "The UK Government has committed to providing a needs-based factor in the Barnett formula for Northern Ireland to be set at 24% from 2024-25. Based on forecasts, this is projected to generate 785 million over the next five years, they said in their letter. "The UK Government will also open discussions with the Executive on a new Fiscal Framework for Northern Ireland. "In recognition of the vital role that those in the public sector play, the UK Government has committed 584 million to provide public sector pay awards for 2023-24. It will be up to the Executive to decide on the levels of pay awards and to balance these costs against other priorities. "To stabilise the Executives financial position, the UK Government has also agreed to pause repayments from 2022-23 and 2023-24 of up to 559 million to allow time for the Executive to stabilise services and begin implementing its plan to deliver sustainable finances. The UK Government will no longer require these funds to be repaid subject to the Executive publishing and implementing a plan to deliver sustainable public finances and services. Read more Government and Stormont set to clash over revenue raising after Michelle ONeill rules out water charges Within this obligation to deliver sustainable public finances, the letter makes clear Stormont will have to raise a minimum of 113 million through locally generated income. Ministers in Belfast will also be expected to publish a comprehensive and costed long-term strategic infrastructure plan that sets out priority areas for action and how they will support prosperity and growth. On Monday First Minister Michelle ONeill categorically ruled out introducing water charges during her time in office. She also denied Government claims that the main political parties here have signed up to revenue raising measures. Ms ONeill said: Im saying very clearly, no to water charges. Im saying quite clearly that you cant burden people who are living through a cost-of-living crisis with additional household bills while public services are declining. Thats not the right spot for us to be. Responding to the NIO letter, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris said: This package tackles the immediate budget pressures facing the restored Executive and allows it to take action to rapidly stabilise public services, while increasing opportunities for investment and improved infrastructure. It also paves the way for vital transformation of public services, and will deliver well-deserved pay awards for public sector workers. It is now for the Northern Ireland Executive to use this significant financial package to take forward the vital work of public service transformation and the commitment to deliver sustainable finances - ensuring better outcomes in the day to day lives of the people in Northern Ireland. Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl has spoken about how she tried to "make friends" with TUV leader Jim Allister after she was first elected to the Assembly describing him as a "hurt person" who could become "really cuddly and sweet". On an episode of the Show Some Love podcast, which was created by the voluntary organisation Another World Belfast, Ms Nicholl discussed her first days as an MLA. When I first went in I thought Im going to make friends with this man, I'm going to make friends with Jim Allister so I went in and sat next to him and was like, Hi Jim how are you? He looked a bit shocked and didnt say anything, and then I did a debate with him a couple of days later and I said to him, You are such a clever man and I have so much admiration for your intelligence, but I feel like you dont use your powers for good. Then he started to laugh and said I do use by powers for good Im trying to create change and then that was it. And then I thought Im going to keep working on this, Im going to try and break through," she said. Jim Allister The former Belfast lord mayor added: What I see is someone who the things he's said and the pain he's caused other people with his views, I don't forget that. But for someone to talk the way he does and to be the way he does, I see real pain there, he seems like a really hurt person I just wonder could we really break through there." She said: "Imagine he had this revelation where he just wanted to give hugs to everyone and be really cuddly and sweet, imagine if he could he change? "If we're going to make this place work, we're really going to have to nurture those human relationships," she said. "I don't want to have to go into a chamber and have that Jim Allister kind of stuff. I want us to be kinder." A TUV spokesperson said: "Mr Allister has more to concern himself with than the self-promoting condescension of the Alliance Party." Stormont Executive has been ordered to raise 113 million in revenue Northern Irelands newly-reformed Executive has been told to raise at least 113m through revenue raising. The Treasury has offered to write off almost 600m of Stormont debt, conditional on ministers raising the amount and producing a plan to deliver sustainable finances. Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris previously put forward ideas to raise revenue, including water charges, increased tuition fees and prescription charges. However, Andrew Webb, chief economist at Grant Thornton, has examined the impact of the Executive's attempts to find 113m, highlighting the potential consequences of each revenue-raising measure. "I have long held the view that Stormont needs to get its finances in order first, then consider raising revenue," he said. "I don't discount it being part of the solution, but until they can prove they are performing well, spending efficiently and effectively, and achieving good outcomes with the money they have, then they should focus on that. Otherwise, it's throwing money at problems that need fixing." Read more Government confirms revenue raising strings attached to 3.3b Stormont financial package One possibility is the Department of Economy raising tuition fees. Mr Webb described this move, which would raise an estimated 90 million, as risky. "There will be difficult decisions on where the burden falls," he said. "We want to be highly competitive on skills, but by talking about raising fees, we risk pushing more people away from this route." Another contentious issue is water charges. Northern Ireland remains unique in the UK in not imposing the charges. Earlier this week, First Minister Michelle ONeill ruled them out while she was in office. But if water charges had to be introduced, previous reports suggest they would generate over 300 million, far exceeding the requested 113 million. "That's a concern," continued Mr Webb. "You're entering the territory of affordability for many people. I don't rule out the need to raise revenue, but it needs to be the subject of mature and well-considered discussions." "I understand the logic when they look at the average cost of Northern Ireland household taxation, compared to the rest of the UK. But equally, any attempt to introduce charges or ease us in would cause significant pain for households." In terms of a rates increase, Mr Webb advocated a "banding model" as a solution rather than a complete removal of rates relief, which would bring in an estimated 130 million. "Rates, for example is it fair to lift the cap completely, when England and Wales have caps on their council tax? Shouldn't we move to a banding model instead? These are the sorts of things that need careful consideration. "Introducing these measures to raise 113 million cannot be straightforward. At Grant Thornton, our household expenditure tracker shows that a significant proportion of Northern Ireland households don't have disposable income. So where will the money come from? "There will be people who can afford to pay, but many will not and we cannot simply squeeze these people harder. "Affordability needs to be at the forefront of all this." Should measures such as the removal of free travel cards and prescription charges be introduced, Mr Webb said "people will find the money" but will divert their spending away from other sectors, impacting the wider economy. "They will cut back on other things, which will hit retail and hospitality people won't be able to go to the theatre, go shopping or book a holiday, he added. "A significant part of the economy relies on consumer spending. The Bar Council of Northern Ireland has welcomed the appointment of Emma Little-Pengelly as the first barrister to hold the position of Deputy First Minister. In a message to its members, the Bar Council expressed hope that the DUP politician would be able to use her legal skills effectively in The Executive Office. Emma was called to the bar in 2003 and practised successfully across a wide range of legal disciplines including criminal law, family law, and judicial review, it said. She will no doubt use her skills and experience as a barrister to great effect in The Executive Office in developing and scrutinising legislation, promoting the jurisdiction, overseeing the provision of effective and sustainable public services, including access to justice for all citizens. We hope that Emma's relevant insight and knowledge will amplify the Bar Councils efforts to demonstrate the crucial role that our profession plays in upholding the rule of law which forms a vital underpinning to any stable democracy. The Bar Council noted that women were now in charge of several key Stormont departments. In being appointed as Deputy First Minister, Emma is also, along with the First Minister and Minister of Justice, one of several female leaders within this new executive, it said. Given the Bar Councils ongoing efforts to promote gender equality within the profession, Emma's appointment is to be particularly welcomed. The Bar Council looks forward to the opportunity to engage with Emma and our other local ministers and MLAs on matters of relevance to the profession and those whom we serve. The body said it was looking forward to working once more with political representatives of all parties It said it was already in the process of renewing its engagement with Naomi Long on urgent issues including legal aid. Through our ongoing engagement with politicians and wider society, the Bar Council has worked, and continues to work, diligently to raise awareness around the value of the barrister profession, the challenges it faces, and the contribution it can make to an accessible, fair, and effective justice system in Northern Ireland, it added. Jon Jonsson (41) has not been seen since February 9, 2019He was seen leaving the Bonnington Hotel after a poker game on the day he disappeared Gardai appeal to anonymous letter author on 5th anniversary of disappearance of Icelander Jon Jonsson in Dublin Gardai are carrying out searches of a north Dublin park as part of the investigation into an Icelandic poker player who has been missing for five years. The development comes on the foot of information gardai received in two anonymous letters about the disappearance. Jon Jonsson (41) was last seen on the morning of February 9, 2019, in the Whitehall area following a poker game. He had just left the Bonnington Hotel on the Swords Road at 11am and there has been no sighting of him since. This morning gardai cordoned off a section of Santry Demesne, also known as Santry Park, to conduct searches of the area. It is located just over 3km away from where he was last seen alive. Members of Jon Jonssons family Anna his sister and David his brother Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins The operation is involving specialist search teams who are being assisted by the Garda dog unit and water unit, and will focus on wooded areas and a lake in the park. Last week gardai renewed their appeal for information about Mr Jonssons disappearance. Investigators at Ballymun have so far generated over 270 lines of inquiry and taken numerous statements while also trawling hours of CCTV footage. Superintendent Darren McCarthy said that during the course of the investigation gardai received two items of anonymous correspondence, the contents of which have been assessed. He also appealed for the author or authors of those correspondences to make direct contact with them, adding that it would be dealt with in the strictest confidence. Jon Jonsson is described as being 6 ft tall and of medium build with short brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing a black padded jacket. Gardai are continuing to appeal for anyone else with information in relation to Mr Jonssons disappearance to contact them. The missing mans brother, David Karl Wiium, last week thanked gardai for carrying out inquiries into the anonymous correspondence. I would really like to underline the importance of what has just been said and how important it is to Jons family that the investigation keeps going on and people with any knowledge stepping forward with any information they might have. He also expressed his thanks on behalf of the family for the help and love they have received from the Irish people over the last five years. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a new website (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a new website. Harry and Meghans previous site, Archewell, now automatically redirects to Sussex.com, which consistently refers to the couple by their official royal titles. A picture of the couple dominates the main web page, overlaid with the text: The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex. It also features a royal coat of arms. In the About section, the website states: The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy. Screengrab from Sussex.com of The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs new website (Sussex.com/PA) This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organisations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together. In individual biographies of the couple, Harry is highlighted as a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner, while Meghan is described as a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity who has been named one of the most influential women in the world across a series of rankings. Archewell had replaced Harry and Meghans previous Sussex Royal brand after they quit royal duties. The name was inspired by their son Archie combining arche, the Greek word meaning source of action, and well as a plentiful source or supply; a place we go to dig deep. Harry and Meghans previous site, Archewell, now automatically redirects to Sussex.com (Sussex.com/PA) The new website links to the couples non-profit organisation the Archewell Foundation and their production company Archewell Productions. The launch of the site comes as the Kings slimmed-down monarchy has been put under pressure in a way not seen before during his reign, with Charles postponing all public-facing duties due to his cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales out of action for the immediate future following abdominal surgery. Harry, who lives in California with his wife and their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet flew to the UK last week to meet with the King following his diagnosis. He made the visit without Meghan and their children less than 24 hours after the announcement about Charles health was made to the nation by Buckingham Palace. But there was no meeting with his brother, the Prince of Wales, after Harry spent around 45 minutes at Clarence House seeing their father. Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he made about Israel. Mr Ali had apologised after he was recorded suggesting in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza. A party spokesperson said: Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate. The elction follows the death of Sir Tony Lloyd (Liam McBurney/PA) Labour had come under serious pressure after the previous remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as political opponents. Sir Keir Starmer has sought to move his party on from the Corbyn era, which was overshadowed by controversies over antisemitism. But the party leadership had been pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labour recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. It is understood Mr Ali has now been suspended from Labour pending a party investigation. The decision to withdraw backing for the candidate will come as a blow to the party, which had hoped to retain the seat following the death last month of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd. Mr Ali, who is also a Lancashire County Councillor, has apologised to the Jewish community and retracted his remarks, which he described as deeply offensive, ignorant and false. Frontbenchers Lisa Nandy and Anneliese Dodds had been out campaigning for Mr Ali in the constituency at the weekend. Labours national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden told broadcasters the party acted because new information and more comments have come to light which meant that we had to look at this situation again. Earlier shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that he believed Mr Ali, had fallen for an online conspiracy theory. According to a story published by the Daily Mail on Monday night, Mr Ali also said people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about MP Andy McDonald, who was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase between the river and the sea in a speech during a rally. The paper also said the now-former Labour candidate claimed that Israel planned to get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza and grab some of the land. Rishi Sunak, speaking to GB News viewers on Monday at an event in County Durham, said it was a con to suggest Labour has been reformed. He said: Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year trying to tell everybody Okay, Labour Partys changed. Well, look what just happened in Rochdale. He accused Sir Keir of having stood by and sent cabinet ministers to support him, until literally five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, has decided to change his mind on principle. No principles at all, he added. Labours decision will add considerable uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election when voters go to the polls at the end of the month. Also running in Rochdale are former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, now the Reform Party candidate, and George Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain, who is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. About 20% of the electorate and 30% of the population of the town are Asian, with polls nationally suggesting Labours vote could be hit by Asian people unhappy with the party over Palestine and its perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: Sir Keir Starmer has blotted an otherwise fairly admirable copybook and given the public reason to doubt the earnestness of his promise to tear antisemitism out by its roots in Labour. People will have to judge for themselves whether the additional reported comments by Azhar Ali are really any worse than the comments that had already been reported. Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labours withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour. Joe Bidens re-election campaign has defended its new TikTok account citing it is a vital way to boost its appeal with young voters (Niall Carson/PA) By Will Weissert and Zeke Miller, Associated Press By Will Weissert and Zeke Miller, Associated Press US President Joe Bidens re-election campaign has defended its new TikTok account as a vital way to boost its appeal with young voters even as his administration continued to raise security concerns about whether the popular social media app might be sharing user data with Chinas government. The campaigns first post featured the president being quizzed on Sundays Super Bowl and included a reference to the latest political conspiracy theory involving pop superstar Taylor Swift. The Presidents TikTok debut last night with more than five million views and counting is proof positive of both our commitment and success in finding new, innovative ways to reach voters in an evolving, fragmented, and increasingly personalised media environment, Mr Bidens re-election deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty said in a statement. The Biden campaign said it had been mulling over setting up a TikTok account for months (Yui Mok/PA) At the White House, however, national security spokesman John Kirby said there are still national security concerns about the use of TikTok on government devices and theres been no change to our policy not to allow that. Mr Kirby referred most questions about TikTok to the Biden campaign and ducked a more general query about whether it was wise to use the app at all. He said the potential security issues have to do with concerns about the preservation of data and potential misuse of that data and privacy information by foreign actors. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that TikToks Chinese owner, ByteDance, could share user data such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers with that countrys authoritarian government. Biden signed legislation banning the use of TikTok by the federal governments nearly 4 million employees on devices owned by its agencies in 2022, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and security research purposes. Separately, the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the US has been reviewing the app for years while trying unsuccessfully to force TikTok ownership to divest from its parent company. The White House said on Monday the review is ongoing. With 150 million US users, TikTok is best known for quick snippets of viral dance routines. But senator Josh Hawley posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Bidens campaign is bragging about using a Chinese spy app even though Biden signed a law banning it on all federal devices. The Biden campaign said it had been mulling over setting up a TikTok account for months and had ultimately done so at the urging of youth activists and organisations, who argued that the app was key to reaching young voters. The campaign said it is using a separate mobile phone to engage on TikTok in order to isolate using the app from other workstreams and communications, including emails. The campaign said it was taking additional steps but declined to name them, citing security concerns. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she isnt in contact with the campaign and had no advance warning that its TikTok account was going live. The governments of Poland, France and Germany have vowed to make Europe a defence power with a greater ability to back Ukraine, as fears grow that former US president Donald Trump might return to the White House and allow Russia to expand its aggression on the continent. The foreign ministers of the three countries met in the Paris suburb of La Celle-Saint-Cloud on Monday to hold talks about Ukraine, amid other issues. The ministers discussed reviving the so-called Weimar Triangle, a long dormant regional grouping that was designed to promote cooperation between France, Germany and Poland. German chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) The Weimar Triangle was created in 1991 as Poland was emerging from decades of communism as a platform for political cooperation among the three nations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners. There is no reason why we should be so clearly militarily weaker than Russia, and therefore increasing production and intensifying our cooperation are absolutely indisputable priorities, Mr Tusk said in arguing for the European Union to become a military power in its own right. The diplomatic push came after Mr Trump shocked many in Europe over the weekend by appearing to invite Russia to invade any Nato member not spending enough on its own defence. You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Mr Trump recounted telling an unidentified Nato member during his presidency. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP) The Republican front-runners words at a campaign rally were particularly shocking for frontline Nato countries like Poland, which experienced both German and Soviet occupation during the Second World War and later spent decades under Soviet control. Speaking alongside Mr Tusk in Berlin, Mr Scholz blasted Mr Trumps comments. Natos promise of protection is unrestricted all for one and one for all, Mr Scholz said without mentioning the former president by name. And let me say clearly for current reasons, any relativisation of Natos support guarantee is irresponsible and dangerous, and is in the interest of Russia alone, the chancellor added. No-one can play, or deal, with Europes security. Mr Trumps remarks raised concerns that if re-elected, he could embolden Russia to attack other countries besides Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement on Sunday saying that Mr Trumps remarks put American troops and their allies at greater risk. Nato does not require its 31 members to pay bills, but they are expected to invest a certain percentage of their own budgets ideally, 2% of their gross domestic product on defence. Some countries, like Poland, have long met the target. Other European nations ramped up their military spending after Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. Germany, with a post-Second World War political culture of military caution, was a frequent target of Mr Trumps scorn during his presidency for falling short of the 2% target, but Berlin announced plans to step up military spending after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and plans to hit the benchmark this year. Frances military budget grew in recent years and reached the level of about 2% of GDP. Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski noted that he and his French and German counterparts meet at a dramatic, but also solemn moment. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war. We must fulfil our obligations toward Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said each minute counts to get Europeans prepared to absorb the shock of a scenario that has been well described by Donald Trump. Free childcare its something of which Northern Ireland parents could only dream. And with the return of Stormont and the positive vibes that seem to be emerging from that long-beleaguered building, such a fantasy seemed like it was finally almost close enough to touch. Weve long been the poor cousin of our neighbours in England who were promised the benefit of a flagship government childcare scheme in a major extension of state support for childcare costs. It seemed like something we hardly dared to dream was on the horizon in recent weeks as our political parties appeared to be in agreement on how crucial further childcare support is to parents, with one politician Alliances Kate Nicholl rightly arguing Northern Ireland couldnt afford not to invest in the issue. Kan Kerdmeemun, 72, (left) and her life partner, Pakodchakon Wongsupha, 67, pose in the front yard of their home on the west side of Bangkok, where they operate a cafe as a safe space for same-sex couples, Jan. 11, 2024. Pakodchakon Wongsupha and her partner are among aging gay couples in Thailand eagerly anticipating the finalization of a marriage equality bill, so they can enjoy their golden years together with the same rights as their traditionally wed compatriots. Pakodchakon and her partner of over three decades, Kan Kerdmeemun, have been advocating for LGBTQ rights and allowing same-sex couples to make critical medical decisions for each other and be on an equal legal footing as other married couples. We have mental stability to a certain level. But its necessary to have social and legal support, too. If not, it will be very difficult to do anything, Pakodchakon, 67, told BenarNews. She calls herself grandma, while Kan, 72, refers to herself as grandpa. With our age, if grandpa becomes critically ill and needs a life support device, I dont have any legal right to sign off for the medical treatment, Pakodchakon said. If something went wrong that resulted in death, I wouldnt have the legal right to file any complaint like other legalized couples, Pakodchakon said. It makes me hurt when I think about it, she said while squeezing her partners hand. Their wish may come true after the lower house of Parliament passed the Marriage Equality Bill, which aims to legalize same-sex marriage in Thailand, at its first reading in December. The push for legalizing same-sex marriage in the country gained momentum in mid-2012 when LGBTQ activist Natee Theerarojanapong and his partner were denied marriage registration because of their gender, leading to the drafting of a civil partnership bill in 2013. A military coup that forced Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office and brought Prayuth Chan-o-cha to power in 2014 derailed efforts on the legislation. Fast forward to late 2023, the tides turned again. The equality bill cleared its first hurdle in the House of Representatives. It is being reviewed by a committee and must pass both houses before being sent to the king for his approval. If he approves, the government will publish the bill in the Royal Gazette before it becomes law a process that would make Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and only the third in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage. There is no timeline for completing the process. Would you marry me when its legalized? Kan asked, turning her head to look at Pakodchakon. To show that I love you the most. On Wednesday Valentines Day the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to allow LGBTQ couples to register as married even though the registration would have no standing unless the bill becomes law. Spokesman Ekwaranyu Amrapal said the initiative shows that the citys administration is ready to give equal importance to all groups of citizens and act if the equality bill passes. In 2023, about 130 LGBTQ couples registered in five districts of the BMA, less than half the 269 couples in 2022 when it opened registration for the first time. Members of Thailands LGBTQ community gather for a gay pride parade in Bangkok, Nov. 29, 2018. [Ann Wang/Reuters] Pakodchakon said although this registration has no legal effect, it will encourage LGBTQ couples to be proud of living together with their partners. Without legal support, it will be difficult to manage the assets that we created together when we lose our loved one, Pakodchakon said. While we are suffering from the loss, we still suffer from not being recognized. And it will be hard to carry on with this life. Thailands 1990s werent kind to same-sex couples. Societal norms dictated disapproval, often labeling them as mentally ill and perverted, Pakodchakon said. Unaccepted love She remembers facing harsh judgment some mothers would forbid their children from playing with her. In the past, if people knew that we were lovers, we were deemed as having a mental illness and were perverted, Pakodchakon said. Even her own family was slow to accept her. Pakodchakon, whose Thai-Chinese-Vietnamese family operated a business in northeastern Sakon Nakhon, faced questions from relatives. My family didnt try to stop us, but they raised many questions, Pakodchakon said. How could we live like this? What did the future look like and what will happen in our old age? Pakodchakon and Kan demonstrated their ability to build a stable and loving life together, proving their commitment to each other and defying societal expectations. Slowly but surely, acceptance took root. We showed them that we can live together comfortably and didnt become a problem for anyone, Kan said. And promised not to be a burden to anyone. We are still living together and there is nothing changed, Pakodchakon said. My family accepted us now because they didnt see it as alienation. Kan Kerdmeemun (standing) and life partner Pakodchakon Wongsupha (second from right) speak with customers eating at their front-yard cafe at their home in Charansanitwong, on the western side of Bangkok, Feb. 12, 2024. [Wilawan Watcharasakwej/BenarNews] After more than 30 years together, Pakodchakon and Kan are well known in online communities. Sharing their story and experiences through social media, they have connected with others from Thailand, Laos and the Philippines who find encouragement and solace in their openness and dedication. We help each other every day. We love each other every day. Its about the two of us, nothing to do with others, Kan said while squeezing Pakodchakons hand. LGBTQ cafe In early January, the two decided to renovate their house in Charansanitwong, on the western side of Bangkok to create Pukaya Cafe or Grandpa and Grandma Cafe. It offers a menu of traditional pad Thai, stir-fried basil, spring rolls and fried tofu. Gone are the days of chasing profit. For Pakodchakon and Kan, Pukaya Cafe is a labor of love born from a desire to keep Kan engaged and combating concerns about potentially suffering from Alzheimers disease. Transforming their front yard into a cafe with Kan taking the reins as chef has yielded heartwarming results. Shes happier, more vibrant, and her memory seems to blossom when shes cooking and interacting with guests, Pakodchakon said, smiling. We dont open a restaurant for profit, but to improve society. Our profit is our happiness, Pakodchakon said. She noted that while views have changed, some Thai families do not accept LGBTQ people. Their home cafe is a safe space for same-sex couples to get to know each other and share experiences. They remain committed to equal rights and legal recognition for life partners of all genders. Our hope, Pakodchakon said, is to inspire other LGBTQ couples to celebrate their relationships, showing that a fulfilling life together until the very end, is truly possible. All human beings who live as a life partner in every gender shall deserve equal rights, welfare and legal recognition. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, joined by his daughter, Paetongtarn, greets supporters following his arrival at the Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok, Aug. 22, 2023. Convicted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is to be released from prison on parole, the current prime minister and other officials announced on Tuesday. Thaksin, 74, the patriarch of the Pheu Thai party that returned to power at the head of a new coalition government in September, has spent the past six months at a Bangkok hospital and less than a day in his prison after he was sentenced to eight years on a corruption conviction. About 10 days after Thaksin was sent to prison in August on the day he returned home from self-exile, the king slashed his sentence to one year. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told reporters that the parole committee at the Department of Corrections had approved the list of 930 prisoners, and Thaksins name was on it. The list was submitted by Ayuth Sintoppant, the departments director-general, Tawee said. Thaksin was sentenced and sent to prison on the day in August when he came home from years of exile. In Thaksins case, he will be released after six months automatically, Tawee told reporters while not specifying when that would occur. In the complete list, Thaksins name is included because he falls into the category of being seriously ill, disabled or over the age of 70. It was not immediately clear when Thaksin might be released from custody. The Reuters news service, citing correction department rules, said this could happen after Feb. 18. Reuters quoted Thaksins attorney as saying that he had not been given a release date for his client. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday defended the decision to grant parole to Thaksin, who led the Thai government from 2001 to 2006 when he was forced from office by a military coup. He fled the country, was convicted in absentia and returned to Thailand last Aug. 22. Thaksin served as prime minister for many years and has benefited the country for a long time. What happened in the past is in the past, Srettha said on Tuesday. Critics had already accused Sretthas government of giving Thaksin, a polarizing figure in Thai politics, special treatment compared with most inmates by allowing him to stay at a VIP ward at the Police Hospital. He has been receiving treatment there for unspecified health problems since he was admitted there after complaining about suffering from insomnia, chest pain, high blood pressure and low oxygen during his first night in his prison cell. Last month, corrections officials announced they were allowing the former PM to stay in hospital for longer due to health conditions that need close medical attention. The pardon process is governed by Section 52 of the Department of Corrections law, which stipulates that to be considered for parole, prisoners must have served at least six months of their sentences or one-third of their term, whichever is longer. The remaining two-thirds of the sentence must not exceed 10 years. He went through the legal process and we followed the law. Thaksin returned and served his sentence, meeting all the criteria, Srettha told reporters on Tuesday. After returning to Thailand aboard an executive jet on Aug. 22, Thaksin was sentenced to eight years for his convictions on three charges that occurred during his term as prime minister, including abuse of power. A day after Thaksin applied for a royal pardon from his hospital bed, the king on Sept. 1 issued a decree cutting seven years from the sentence. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksins daughter and leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, expressed relief at the announcement. This is good news, she said. We previously discussed having a doctor check his health once released. Hes preparing to remain at home. She called the process legitimate. Parole criteria are reviewed by multiple agencies, not just one. Thaksin isnt the only one eligible, he went through the same process as everyone else, she said. Pichit Chaimongkol, a leader of Students and the Peoples Network for Thailand Reform said Thaksin was not being punished properly and questioned the parole process. Thaksin is a convicted criminal who should be serving his full sentence in prison, Pichit told BenarNews. His release on parole is a clear sign that the Thai justice system is broken. Ruj Chuenban in Bangkok contributed to this report. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BENNINGTON When multiple headstones in the towns Village Cemetery were toppled or damaged through vandalism, the Vermont Old Cemetery Association responded to help restore the historic burial site off Morgan Street. On Monday, the Bennington Select Board approved a request to recognize and thank the nonprofit organizations physical and technical assistance with a donation from the town. At the request of town Communications Coordinator Jonah Spivak, the board voted unanimously to send the group a $500 donation. I cant emphasize enough how much not just the labor of volunteers from the Vermont Old Cemetery Association gave to our community but also the expertise on how to deal with these stones and treat them properly. And they do all of this for free, Spivak said. He reminded the board that he had previously raised the suggestion of a donation to the association, adding, So that is what is before you today. Basically, this is a thank you to what is a grassroots, nonprofit organization, which donated literally hundreds of hours of their time and expertise to helping our community restore the Village Cemetery. The Select Board approved the request unanimously. Vandals struck In the first incidence of vandalism in October 2022, more than 200 headstones were knocked over and had to be reset, and a number were damaged and had to be repaired, Spivak said. Volunteers from Bennington and throughout the area responded in November to help reset stones and restore the damaged ones. Tom Giffin of Rutland, president of the association, contacted the town after the vandalism was reported, offering assistance, Spivak said. The statewide group offered to help the many Bennington area residents who volunteered, Spivak said Monday, with association members also providing expertise in repairing broken stones. In a second incident in early May 2023, about 10 stones at Village Cemetery which dates to before the American Revolution were toppled and some were damaged. The cemetery association held a headstone repair work session in Bennington on May 27, which Giffin attended. Why we do this It was a very nice project, Giffin said Tuesday of the initial work session in Bennington to reset and restore the markers. And that is why we do this; it is always a great community effort. He lauded the efforts of residents from the area, along with town highway and office staff members, who participated. I was not aware of the $500 donation, but we certainly do appreciate it, Giffin said Tuesday. The association, he said, does a lot of similar restoration work around the state and typically relies on donations and volunteerism. Not all projects undertaken by association members are related to cemetery vandalism, Giffin said. Many are to restore old cemeteries that have been neglected through a lack of local or private funding to maintain them through storm damage, forest overgrowth or simple deterioration of stones over time. In addition to volunteers with experience repairing headstones, the association provides communities with grants when needed, which is a key goal of fundraising efforts. We were established in 1958 and we are totally volunteer, he said. The money that we receive from donations and memberships goes into our coffers and into paying for newsletters and for cemetery repair. In Bennington, he said, the association provided volunteers, including some with expertise who like him have worked on multiple cemetery restoration projects. We repaired an awful lot of stones, he said, including some that had not been toppled in the vandalism incidents. The restored look of a cemetery at the end a project, he added, is one of the reasons our volunteers get hooked on it. Its an immediate gratification. Founded in 1958 The Vermont Old Cemetery Association was founded in 1958 to encourage the restoration and preservation of neglected and abandoned cemeteries in Vermont, which date back to the 1700s. According to the associations website, members are constantly working in all parts of the state, in cemeteries large and small, righting and cleaning grave markers, clearing brush, fixing fences, repairing damaged markers, and recording inscriptions. We provide cash grants to individuals and groups who need financial assistance in starting and conducting restoration projects. The association also publishes a newsletter, including articles on cemetery laws, care, and preservation aids. The organization also encourages memorial gifts of any denomination, which are tax-deductible. The group has hundreds of members, including individuals and groups, such as towns, historical and patriotic societies, farm granges, and home demonstration and other community groups. WILLIAMSTOWN Starting today, you can order a Jenny Gersten off the menu at Pappa Charlies Deli. The addition of the sandwich a grilled provolone, cheddar and Swiss cheese sandwich on sourdough was announced at the end of Monday nights Williamstown Theater Festival Gala at City Winery in New York City. Jenny Gersten to exit Williamstown Theatre Festival at end of 2024 season as it moves forward with new artistic leadership model Beginning in the 2025 season, Williamstown Theatre Festival will have a new artistic leadership model and a new leader, with Interim Artistic Director Jenny Gersten stepping down at the end of this summer. Sign up for the In The Berkshires This Week newsletter Sign up These things are harder to get than a Tony, joked actress Kate Burton, who had called interim Artistic Director Jenny Gersten out on the stage for one more thing before the evening ended. She presented a shocked and elated Gersten with a statuette topped with a sandwich. This summer will be your 16th season at the festival and we think youre pretty amazing. Were inviting you to be part of a very rarified group, Burton said. Sure, anyone can do a bunch of plays and musicals in Williamstown, but there is a group, created in true greatness and immortality. A few members of this group are here Sir James Naughton and Dame Blythe Danner. And now that you are entering your 16th season, weve all agreed, that it's time you join the Pappa Charlies Deli sandwich board. Burton and her husband, Michael Ritchie, who served as the festivals artistic director from 1996 to 2004, both have sandwiches on the board. Burtons is a hot ham sandwich with cream cheese, tomatoes and onions. Ritchies is a cold ham sandwich with sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, horseradish and mayo. Other artistic directors with sandwiches named after them include: Peter Hunt, Austin Pendleton and Nicholas Martin. Gersten has been the interim artistic director since returning to the role in November 2021, following the resignation of Mandy Greenfield. Gersten, who previously served as the artistic director from 2010 to 2014 and as associate producer from 1996 to 2004, recently announced she will leave the festival at the end of the 2024 season. Audience members erupted in applause and hooted as a 2022 clip of Gersten describing what her sandwich would be during an interview with Jane Patten and Antonello Di Benedetto on WilliNets Window on the Weekend with Antonello and Jane. What would be on it? Di Benedetto asks. Oh, goodness. What if it was? Oh, boy. What a good question, a visibly flustered Gersten replies. I really think, I would want some kind of variation on a grilled cheese. A really, really delicious grilled cheese with several kinds of cheeses, caramelized onions and a little bit of balsamic. On a delicious focaccia, maybe? Did you hear that Pappa Charlies?," Di Benedetto asks, turning to the camera, at the end of the clip. Obviously, they got the message. Perhaps the greatest joy of retirement is being able to visit grandbabies at any time, not just during school vacations. Even more special is being able to help out or babysit when asked. For me, its especially heartwarming to know that my contributions are valued and appreciated. We just spent a week in Grand Rapids, Mich., the first few days included our daughter-in-law, Greta, and the remaining days, when she had a work trip to Texas, were spent helping Daniel with our 6-month-old granddaughter, as well as with errands and cooking and such. Now Daniel certainly could have managed perfectly well on his own, but in the colder winter weather, with their dog, Libby, who needs to be walked, it certainly made life easier for him. In any event, almost as soon as we arrived, they informed us that while she was away, Daniel wanted things for dinner that Greta doesnt like, that he doesnt get to have very much. One such ingredient is mushrooms. So, one night we decided to make chicken paprikash. (The mushrooms are optional, and weve made it for Greta without them.) I still remember the first time I made this for my boys. They tasted it and glared at me. It was the look of annoyance and disbelief that I had never made it for them before. Its not a very difficult recipe, but you will want to get sweet Hungarian paprika for it. Ive been asked about using hot, but once when I was a kid, my father who loved to cook and loved spicy food used hot instead of sweet. We had to rinse the chicken and make more sauce, and it was still pretty much inedible. I suppose you could experiment with some sweet and some hot, and the level of spiciness certainly will vary depending on the brand, but Ive never tried it. We tend to buy whole, air-chilled chickens from our local butcher and have them break it down into eight pieces but feel free to substitute whatever bone-in, skin-on parts you prefer, all thighs, or all breasts, or a combination will be fine. Be sure to serve this with something for the sauce, preferably noodles, although rice or baked potatoes would be fine, too. CHICKEN PAPRIKASH Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 1 whole chicken, 3-4 pounds, cut into eight pieces, or whatever combination of bone-in, skin-on pieces you prefer 1 teaspoon salt, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil, more as needed 1 medium onion chopped 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (optional) 1 large garlic clove, chopped or put through a garlic press 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes (canned) 1 1/4 cups chicken broth 1/3 cup flour 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup sour cream 1-2 tablespoons dry sherry DIRECTIONS In a large Dutch oven that will hold all the chicken, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering and fragrant. Start the chicken skin side down and brown on all sides, in batches if necessary. Sprinkle pieces with salt as you add them to the pot, about 1/2 teaspoon total. (Be patient the chicken will stick at first, then release once it has gotten hot enough.) Remove pieces to a bowl. Add the onion and about 1/4 teaspoon salt to the fat remaining in the pot, and saute until beginning to color. If you are using mushrooms add them to the pot, sprinkle with remaining salt, and saute until they have given up their liquid and are beginning to brown. Add garlic and saute for a minute while stirring. Add the paprika and stir briefly to release the oils into the pan. Add a small amount of the chicken broth to scrape up anything stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add the rest of the broth and tomatoes, stir, and let warm a bit. Add chicken back to pot, along with any juices that have settled in the bottom of the bowl. Cook covered at a medium simmer for 30-40 minutes. Remove chicken to a platter or glass baking dish. Combine flour and heavy cream in a bowl (it will be a sticky mess) and add to the sauce in the pot, whisking well. (Some of the flour will clump, but eventually, it all disappears as the sauce soaks in.) Stir in the sour cream and allow to heat through, without letting it boil. Stir in sherry and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Serve over egg noodles or something else with which to enjoy the sauce. This is a subscriber exclusive story. Subscribe today to access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle. UPDATE: This story was updated at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday to reflect the following clarifications: The Nature Conservancy owns and manages 8,000 acres across Western Massachusetts. The Headwaters Trail will originate from Cross Place Road. There is also a clarification about the ownership of land where houses were taken down. WASHINGTON The Nature Conservancys third-largest preserve in Berkshire County is about to get just a little bigger. At a cost of $25,100, the nonprofit conservation organization is poised to buy 20 acres along with some peace of mind filling in most of a proverbial doughnut hole at 1,418-acre Coles Brook Preserve, which straddles Washington and Middlefield and borders Middlefield State Forest. The land bounded by a dammed lake and other land all owned by The Nature Conservancy became part of the town of Washington in the 1970s after a development known as Berkshire Mountain Lakes failed and the town took over the parcels. Town Administrator Sean Curran advertised the parcels and opened bids Wednesday. There were two: one for $10,023 from Anne Marie Visconti of Middlefield, the other was $25,100 from The Nature Conservancy. On Monday the Select Board voted unanimously to award the bid to The Nature Conservancy despite the fact that its bid came in nearly $10,000 below the appraisal of $35,000. I think that we are not ever going to get more, Select Board Chair Kent Lew said at Mondays meeting. We always knew that the most likely bidder, the ones who would be able to place the greatest value on it, would be Nature Conservancy because it is not developable in any foreseeable circumstance and not readily accessible. HOW THESE PARCELS FIT IN Angela Sirois-Pitel, The Nature Conservancys stewardship manager, was at the bid opening Wednesday. Weve always had our eye on the inholdings as wanting to fill this hole in, she said. This will be a great opportunity for us to advance that work and work toward completing the vision of what we think is ideal for land protection in this watershed. Sirois-Pitel explained how the land surrounding Coles Brook fits into the mission of The Nature Conservancy. This area stood out for us in the beginning," she said. "Because when TNC did its scientific map and analysis, this area lit up as having really unfragmented forest, meaning it was not developed forest, and high quality streams, streams that were free running for the most part and were in good ecological condition." Sirois-Pitel described the terrain of the preserve. Theres a lot of flat areas, gentle sloping, Sirois-Pitel said. Down in towards where the river comes in, you can get into some steeper slopes. You get a few little peaks, but theres a lot of expansive wetlands and just lengths of bubbling brook that you can kind of meander along. Its really quiet and quaint. Sirois-Pitel said she saw her first moose in Berkshire County at Coles Brook Preserve and that neighbors use wildlife cameras to document the mammals in the area. Migratory birds, wood ducks and hooded mergansers can be seen at the preserve. There are two beaver impoundments as well as the manmade lake. Its 12-foot dam is listed as low hazard in Department of Conservation and Recreation paperwork filed with the Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds, and The Nature Conservancy hasn't made any decision about its long-term future. TRAILS AT THE PRESERVE Hikers and cross-country skiers (and deer and turkey hunters, by permission) have used two wooded roads off Rainy Day Camp Road in Middlefield. Those are called the Osprey Trail, which is three-quarters of a mile, and the one-mile Rainy Day Trail. The Nature Conservancy purchased the first of 16 tracts in 2005 creating Coles Brook Preserve. Two had homes on them. Now, there are plans to build a one-mile trail starting in Washington called the Headwaters Trail beginning with the driveway at 441 Cross Place Road, where the Minnichs lived. Rene Wendell, land steward for The Nature Conservancy, described what a hiker might see once the Headwaters Trail is finished. You walk along a beautiful driveway that has a really stable bed, he said. And then youre looking off into mixed hardwood forest. Theres a lot of ash in here. A hiker will walk past a beautiful dedication plaque and then will walk by a very large beaver impoundment. At Coles Brook, theres a bridge and big hemlock trees and its wet and its dank and its moist in these areas, lots of ferns. Continuing to the Minnich household site, which was decommissioned, theres a meadow area with nice wildflowers and stuff that Sue planted. Hes been removing plant invasives, but everything else is staying. Another bridge over Coles Brook takes the hiker to a connector trail to the Latham tract, with a woods road dating to the late 1800s or early 1900s and intact stone walls. The Student Conservation Association has already installed a bridge across Coles Brook and will finish the trail this summer. There's already a kiosk awaiting signs and maps. LOOKING AHEAD The Nature Conservancy owns and manages about 8,000 acres in Western Massachusetts. Its largest preserves in Berkshire County are in Sheffield and Mount Washington. Karen Lombard, director of stewardship and restoration for The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, said most of Coles Brook is now protected, from its headwaters to the West Branch of the Westfield River. Its still growing, Lombard said of the preserve. We have a tract that will likely come in sometime this year. For the right parcels, were still interested in protecting around this preserve. Start the day with the latest headlines Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter Around the world, wedding ceremonies occur in various locations, from church buildings to local parks. In this post-pandemic time, destination weddings are still popular, and couples choose to invite their guests to a favorite locale, be it tropical or in view of a snow-capped mountain. Nontraditional? You bet. Biblically sanctioned? It depends. What Do Traditional Christian Weddings Look Like? Christian wedding customs have varied throughout history and largely depend on the culture where the ceremony occurs. Time-honored U.S. traditions include pre-wedding bridal showers and then simple or elaborate ceremonies in a church building or chapel. The celebrations have grown to include grooms and couples showers to honor and equip the man and woman for married life. The wedding ceremony begins with music selected by the couple and is timed according to the arrival of the guests. Honored invitees (close friends and family members) are given front or near front row seating to witness the wedding. A clergyman or other officiate settles in the front center, facing the assembled guests, and the groom stands and faces the spectators in front of the clergyman and to his left (spectators right). Once the groom is in place, his groomsmen accompany the bridesmaids to the front of the sanctuary and separate at the front the men go to the grooms side and the bridesmaids go to the left, all facing the sanctuary. A special song begins (as chosen by the bride and groom) and the father of the bride accompanies his daughter to the waiting groom. The usual progression is the father gives his daughter to the groom by placing her right hand in the grooms. The officiating minister then performs the ceremony, thereby marrying the couple and then presents them to the assemblage as, Mr. and Mrs. __________. A reception held after the wedding gives family and friends an informal way to honor and celebrate with the newly married couple. Receptions are either at the wedding venue itself or at a remote location. What Does the Bible Say about Weddings? As expected, the weddings mentioned in the Bible were Jewish, and without explicit details, we can glean the following: The father of the groom chose the bride for his son. The betrothal period (Deuteronomy 20:7) lasted up to a year and it was a covenant before consummation. The groom would make all preparations for the wedding day, and upon his fathers approval, the wedding feast day (which lasted up to seven days) commenced when the groom went for his bride and brought her back to the house he had prepared for them. Must a Christian Get Married in a Church? Herein lies the crux of the matter. A marriage between a man and a woman (as created by God), is a covenant, and vows made between the man and the woman are in the sight of God. Because God instituted marriage, it must conform to His guidelines and purposes. As such, a Christian couple is to: 1. Make sure they are equally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14). Both the man and woman are to be true Christians, that is, people who have surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior according to the Gospel. And each is to pray about and for the spouse the Lord has for them. 2. Meet and pray with their pastor for marriage counseling so there is a greater understanding of what a Christian marriage entails. Once their pastor approves based on what the Bible says, they can then move forward. 3. Secure a marriage license from the authorities God has placed over us for our protection (Romans 13:1). In the sight of God and men, a man and a woman are joined in holy matrimony. This demonstrates the betrothed are endeavoring to keep themselves from every sort of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), which a public declaration of their union in part assures (as far as being wedded under the law). 4. Arrange for a date and a venue for the wedding ceremony to be performed by their pastor (or another Christian officiate). And be very discerning to make sure the pastor provides a biblical wedding ceremony. A solid Bible-teaching pastor will expect this and will probably give the couple a huge Attaboy for their care in making sure they are entering a covenant which glorifies the Lord. Whether the couple has their wedding in a church or somewhere else, the important factor is meeting all the criteria listed in the four points above. In marriage and in all of life, we are to honor the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31). God established marriage when He created Eve as a suitable helper for Adam (Genesis 2:20). When a woman marries the man God has chosen for her, she is obeying the Lord in her submission to her husband as the spiritual head of their household, and each should honor the other as they love the Lord first (see Ephesians 5). We are the church, so true believers always get married in the church no matter the location of the ceremony (assuming a Christian couple would not choose a questionable site). Weddings performed in a church setting, however, have a special nature about them because its where the church gathers every week to worship the Lord. The sacred setting lends itself to the solemnity of the couples vows as they make their covenant to each other before the Lord. But to reiterate, its the hearts of the couple that matters as they come before God to pledge their love and loyalty until death separates them. A beautiful saying that exemplifies the vows as the rings are exchanged is, "Before God, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and I promise to honor you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Will There Be Weddings in Heaven? While our thoughts are on weddings and spouses, lets look at what the Bible says will happen when we are in glory. The Lord Jesus answers this question about marriage in heaven: At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven (Matthew 22:29). But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (Luke 20:35-36). Pastor Don Stewart adds, Marriage, as we know it, is not necessary in heaven because there is no need for continuing the race. The number of people in heaven will not increase or decrease - it will remain the same. Believers will be married to Christ and have even deeper relationships than we have ever experienced on the earth. Instead, believers from all earths ages will be married to Christ. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are true words of God (Revelation 19:7-9). A wedding is a beautiful affirmation of a Christian couples covenant to each other before the Lord. It should be a joyous event for everyone involved, no matter where the wedding ceremony takes place. When God is in the center of it all, He is sure to be glorified. Photo credit: Getty Images/Rawpixel Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers mentor and is part of a critique group. She also is a member of BRRC. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Out of the deal consideration of Rs 637.50 crore for Eris 51% stake, Rs 200 crore will be paid at closing Ahmedabad-based Eris Lifesciences has announced the expansion of its sterile injectables footprint through the acquisition of 51% equity stake in Swiss Parenterals for a consideration of Rs 637.50 crore. This deal also marks the entry of Eris into the RoW (rest of the world) export markets. Out of the deal consideration of Rs 637.50 crore for Eris 51% stake, Rs 200 crore will be paid at closing and the remainder will be paid 12 months from closing. The transaction is expected to achieve financial closure before 31st March 2024. Eris Promoter group will concurrently acquire an additional 19% in Swiss for Rs 237.5 crore, thereby bringing the total equity stake of Eris and its Promoter Group in Swiss to 70%. With a 25+ year legacy, Swiss Parenterals is a leading player in the sterile injectables business in 80+ emerging markets across Africa, the Asia Pacific and Latin America. It has two facilities in Gujarat capable of manufacturing a wide range of sterile injectable formulations. These facilities are accredited by 50+ regulatory authorities worldwide including the EU-GMP, Brazilian Anvisa, Mexican Cofepris and the Australian TGA. Commenting on the acquisition, Amit Bakshi, Chairman & Managing Director of Eris Lifesciences, said, Eris has established itself in Indian branded formulations with leading positions across a range of specialties. The acquisition of Swiss Parenterals will help us strengthen our India footprint through the launch of a domestic injectables-focused branded formulations business. Besides, the emerging markets focus of Swiss Parenterals complements our India focus very well. In addition to investing to grow the Swiss Parenterals business further, we will kickstart exports of oral solid dosage formulations from Eris manufacturing facilities to various semi-regulated markets by leveraging Swiss overseas distribution channels and regulatory expertise. The Senate worked through the dead of night on Monday to pass a $95 billion aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan with nothing for securing the US border. JUST IN - U.S. Senate passes a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan without border security provisions while most Americans are still asleep. pic.twitter.com/9iNJTFkEWt Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 13, 2024 MORE - 22 Republicans joined Democrats, voting yes: McConnell, Thune, Boozman, Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cramer, Crapo, Ernst, Grassley, Hoeven, Kennedy, Moran, Murkowski, Risch, Rounds, Sullivan, Tillis, Wicker, Young and Romney. Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 13, 2024 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the "national security bill" was passed to advance "our security, our values, and our democracy." BREAKING NEWS: The Senate has just passed the national security bill for our security, our values, and our democracy. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 13, 2024 The previous version of the bill went down in flames due to the border provisions enacting de facto open borders. Rather than grant the American people any concessions, the Senate decided to rework the bill to give us absolutely nothing as a giant "F you." "22 Republicans voted with nearly all Democrats to pass the package 70-29," the AP reports: Two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. The progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. "I cannot in good conscience support sending billions of additional taxpayer dollars for Prime Minister Netanyahu's military campaign in Gaza," Welch said. "It's a campaign that has killed and wounded a shocking number of civilians. It's created a massive humanitarian crisis." The bill is allegedly going to be dead on arrival in the House: [House Speaker Mike Johnson], R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is "silent on the most pressing issue facing our country." It was the latest -- and potentially most consequential -- sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a "non-starter," contributing to its rapid demise. "Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters," Johnson said. "America deserves better than the Senate's status quo." He'd better follow through. My statement on Senates failure to address the most critical aspect of national security supplemental legislation: pic.twitter.com/ENjJ0WzKsK Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 13, 2024 Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A senior executive who works from home in Co Clare has gone to the High Court in a row over attempts to make him work from the Dublin office. Brian Fitzpatrick, who works as a senior executive at an aircraft leasing firm, has launched proceedings aimed at preventing his employer from sanctioning him. Advertisement Mr Fitzpatrick claims the dispute between him and his employer arises over its demand that he work several days a week from its Dublin offices and not spend all his time working remotely from his home in Quin, Co Clare. Mr Fitzpatrick is a senior vice president of the Bocomm Aviation Leasing Ireland Company Limited, which is headquartered in Shanghai, China. His counsel told the High Court that late last year, following the row over working at the office, the company informed Mr Fitzpatrick that he would not be paid his annual bonus. Advertisement Counsel said the bonus his client receives is generally over 200,000, and it is his case that under his contract of employment, Mr Fitzpatrick is entitled to be paid the bonus. It is not accepted that the bonus is purely discretionary, counsel added. Advertisement Mr Fitzpatrick claims the dispute arose several months ago when his employer demanded that he work several days each week from its Dublin office. He claims the company never had an issue with him working from his home in Danganbrack, Quin, Co Clare, which he has done for several years. Disciplinary process While some informal discussions between him and the company took place over him working from the office, no issue nor formal demand was made of him by his employer on the matter. Last August, he claims he was made the subject of a disciplinary process completely out of the blue over his alleged refusal to work from the Dublin office. Advertisement He claims he explained to the company that working several days a month from Dublin was impractical. He also rejects his employer's claims that he is required under company policy to work from the Dublin office and claims that the company has wrongfully refused to pay him his annual six-figure bonus. Represented by Gary McCarthy SC, with Jack Nicholas Bl instructed by O'Gorman solicitors, Mr Fitzpatrick seeks various orders, including an injunction restraining his employer from imposing a sanction on him, from continuing a purported investigation into allegations against him and from interfering with the terms of his employment. He further seeks an order requiring the defendant to pay all salary and benefits, including his annual bonus, under his contract of employment. Advertisement Seeking the injunction, counsel said that for many years Mr Fitzpatrick has worked remotely and from his home in Co Clare, and before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Counsel said it had never been an issue for the parties until the demand that he work several days from the Dublin office, following which Mr Fitzpatrick was made the subject of an internal investigation. The matter came before Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy on Tuesday. The judge granted Mr Fitzpatrick permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the defendant. The matter will return before the court later this week. Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded ceremony on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Advertisement Murphy plays J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolans epic biopic, while Keoghan plays a student at Oxford who becomes enthralled by a wealthier classmate and pays a visit to his sprawling estate in Emerald Fennells viral black comedy. Cillian Murphy is nominated for his role in Oppenheimer (Ian West/PA) Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan will also attend the ceremony, which will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. Advertisement It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Advertisement Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, but details of what have not been shared. Hannah Waddingham will perform (Yui Mok/PA) Advertisement Also in attendance will be Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for his role in Rustin, as the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March on Washington. Mulligans best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, who is nominated for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, who is nominated for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, who is nominated for The Colour Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Robbies Barbie director Greta Gerwig, who was snubbed in the directing category, will also attend alongside her husband and co-writer Noah Baumbach, and co-star Ryan Gosling, who is nominated for best supporting actor. Advertisement Greta Gerwig was snubbed in the director category (Ian West/PA) Gerwig and Baumbach are nominated for their screenplay for the film, which was the highest-grossing of 2023. All Of Us Strangers star Andrew Scott was a notable absence from the best actor contenders but will be in attendance at the ceremony as a presenter, alongside co-star Paul Mescal, who is nominated for the supporting actor prize. Advertisement The Crown star Claire Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize for her performance in All Of Us Strangers, Andrew Haighs searing drama about grief and loneliness. Advertisement Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. David Beckham will present an award (Ian West/PA) It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, will be presented to actress Samantha Morton. Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: It is a privilege to welcome so many nominees to the EE Bafta film awards this Sunday, representing some of the best on-screen and behind-the-screen creative talent working in film today who have provided audiences worldwide with an incredible year of film. It is a joy to bring these 38 remarkable films and the teams that made them to public attention. With host David Tennant bringing his charm and charisma to the ceremony, and performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham, it promises to be an entertaining show for all our nominees and guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home around the world. The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 18th. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One from 7pm. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said he hopes for humane and respectful debate as he warned about the risk of disinformation affecting voters in the upcoming referendums. Two votes will be held on March 8th to amend the Constitution. Advertisement The first is on whether the Constitution should be changed to extend the definition of family beyond only those based on marriage to include durable relationships. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. The second is on whether to delete a reference to the role and duties of women in the home and replace it with a new article placing an obligation on the state to strive to support the provision of care by families. Advertisement Launching his partys campaign for yes votes, Mr Martin said on Tuesday that there was a need to be vigilant that the debate does not get distorted by unreasonable claims. Advertisement He said: The harsh reality is that we have at various points over the years had referendum campaigns which have been distorted by what we today call disinformation. He said extreme and invented claims have often caused public concern. Advertisement Micheal Martin and director of elections deputy Thomas Byrne listen as Minister for Education Norma Foley speaks Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Mr Martin said the proposed changes would reflect the reality of contemporary Irish society. A reality which is more inclusive, a reality which respects the right of women to choose their own role in society, a reality which acknowledges the diversity of Irish families, a reality which values the role of care for our more vulnerable citizens. Also speaking at the event, education minister Norma Foley said women should not be held back by archaic language in our Constitution. Advertisement She added: This is why we are proposing to update our constitutional wording to remove any doubt: A womans place is wherever she chooses it to be. Leitrim County Council has issued High Court enforcement proceedings over a proposal to house some 150 international protection applicants at a former hotel in Dromahair village. The local authority alleges Dromaprop Limited intends to change the use of its Abbey Manor Hotel from a specific form of tourist accommodation to temporary use for asylum seekers and has carried out unauthorised works in preparation for this change. Advertisement Planning permission granted for the premises was based on commercial tourism use, where specific tourism-related policies were cited, the council alleges. Last November, a large group of Dromahair locals held protests in the village over concerns that asylum seekers were to be accommodated at the hotel. Dromaprop, which owns the premises, asked the court on Monday to fix an urgent hearing date for the councils proceedings alongside the companys separate but related judicial review action. Advertisement The firms case seeks to quash the councils decision of January 9th to declare as invalid its certificate of compliance with building regulations. Dromaprop also wants the court to direct Leitrim County Council to enter the certificate of compliance onto its official register. Advertisement It says it was entitled to avail of an exemption for the change of use to temporary accommodation for displaced people or those seeking international protection. The company's senior counsel, Niall Handy, instructed by Shannon & OConnor Solicitors, told the court on Monday that a full compliance certification was completed in December following a long process of engagement with the council. From his clients perspective, all required works have been completed but the councils decision to invalidate his compliance certification and to issue enforcement proceedings is preventing the building from operating. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission for Dromaprop to pursue its claim and transferred the case to the High Courts Planning and Environment list. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who deals with planning matters, scheduled for both cases to be heard in April. Advertisement Limerick County Council is asking the court to restrain Dromaprop from carrying out what it alleges is unauthorised development at the hotel, specifically in changing its use from commercial tourist accommodation to temporary use to accommodate displaced people or those seeking asylum. Advertisement It says the company should also be prevented from carrying out works, including to the layout of the premises, that relate to this alleged change of use. In an affidavit to the court, council senior planner Bernard Greene, said the local authority is acutely aware of the accommodation issues facing persons seeking international protection and has no desire to impede the lawful accommodation of such persons. However, here, what is proposed is not per planning code requirements, he said. Advertisement The proposed new use will see a significant increase in the volume of people accommodated, while a condition of the hotels planning permission restricted its use for short-term letting only, he said. The council has been briefed by the Department of Integration that the hotel will have capacity for 155 people in 47 bedrooms, with 124 beds for families, he said. Mr Greene said the council does not accept Dromaprops contention that the change of use is exempted development. The company should not proceed with the intended change in use until it obtains planning permission for this, he added. In its case, Dromaprop, which has offices in Lucan, Co Dublin, alleges the council committed a fundamental error in invalidating its certificate on the sole basis that it relates only to a phase of construction works and does not include the whole building completion. Advertisement The council erred factually in stating that it could not assess the completed phase of the development of compliance while the completion of the entirety of the development was pending. This was materially incorrect where the only portions of the development not included in the certificate were in the basement, which is not going to be used at all. Declan Hallinan, a director of the company, said in an affidavit that Dromaprop has liaised with the council and the Department of Integration to ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Israel has become blinded by rage and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally, the United States, anymore. The Fine Gael was answering questions in the Dail about the number of Palestinians that have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation. Advertisement Labour leader Ivana Bacik said people had been killed or brutally displaced, and that there was nowhere left for Palestinian citizens to go. Were witnessing Armageddon, she told TDs. She said that as long as Ireland delays taking meaningful steps, then our complicity in what is happening there is being prolonged. Its not good enough to say wait a little longer, she said, adding that they need to move to end trade with occupied territories. Advertisement Advertisement Labour leader Ivana Bacik (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Varadkar said he shared her distress and said there was a serious risk of a massacre occurring in Rafah if there was a ground assault, which he said would be a gross violation of international law on top of all the other violations of international law which Israel is responsible for. He said that both Hamas and Israel should accept the three-month ceasefire proposal that has been brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. Advertisement We do all need to be realistic Its very, very clear to me though, that Israel is not listening to any country in the world, I dont even think theyre listening to the Americans anymore. They have become blinded by rage. They are going to make the situation, I believe, much worse for their own security in the long-term by going down the path that theyre going. While he said Ireland would continue to take action in response to Israels campaign in Gaza, he said there was a need to be honest about the situation that we see unfolding. Mr Varadkar added: We will take action, we have taken action, well even take more action, but its very clear to me that Israel doesnt listen to us, doesnt listen to the world, probably doesnt even listen to the Americans anymore. Advertisement Advertisement And thats what makes the situation all the more dangerous and all the more worrying. I am concerned that there are people who shout at us and abuse us in the streets, maybe they dont do it to you, but they do it to me and my colleagues here, who believe that there is some action that we can take that will change [Israeli prime minister] Binyamin Netanyahus mind. I think thats incorrect, and I dont think people should spread that idea. I think its actually irresponsible. Advertisement Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said Ireland will again be increasing its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UK and other western countries froze funding to the UN aid agency, after a dozen of its employees were accused by Israel of taking part in the Hamas attack on October 7th. Mr Varadkar said other states had incorrectly suspended funding to UNRWA. Ireland provided 18 million to the agency last year, up from a regular contribution of 6 million. Mr Martin said Ireland would again provide an increased contribution from the base 6 million in 2024. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, he said: UNRWA is the only effective organisation on the ground in Gaza that can distribute aid and humanitarian supplies at scale. Advertisement On the domestic front, the Government faced criticism for its stance on the conflict. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Ireland would continue to increase its funding for UNRWA (Niall Carson/PA) There have been calls for the Government to voice stronger support for South Africas case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Opposition parties have also called for the Government to expel the Israeli ambassador, and for the State to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. However, Mr Martin said some of the calls from the opposition are without substance. The Minister for Foreign Affairs said: Theres been an unhealthy desire on some in the opposition to try and create a wedge as to whos more virtuous in Ireland on this question than I think is merited on any objective analysis of the facts. Mr Martin said EU leaders, Israel and the Palestinian people recognise that Ireland is the strongest supporter of Palestine in the EU. He said Ireland was a leader in calling for an immediate ceasefire when the majority of the EU initially had a more restrained position. In addition, he told reporters that the Government is working with other EU states to examine the recognition of Palestine as a state, as well as imposing a travel ban for Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Advertisement The Attorney General will be travelling to The Hague on February 22nd to make Irelands intervention in relation to an ongoing case at the International Criminal Court relating to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. A man jailed after being caught with his fingerprints on a shopping bag containing heroin accused his barristers of collaborating with gardai to get him to enter a guilty plea. When the sentence was imposed, Sean Mooney (40), of Barry Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, accused his defence counsel of collaborating with gardai. Advertisement He said he had only entered a guilty plea because he was advised to. He became agitated and abusive to people in the courtroom, before attempting to leave the dock. At this point, he was stopped by prison officers and removed from court. Mooney and John Brown (38), of Barry Drive, Finglas appeared before Judge Martina Baxter in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday having pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with the intent to sell or supply on August 17th, 2016. Garda Garry Brennan told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that gardai had conducted a search of a property on Barry Drive, Finglas in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Gardai arrived at the property and searched the premises. At the back of the house, they found a shed containing drugs. Brown's fingerprints were found at various locations throughout the house, including on two bags of drugs in the shed. One bag contained 122.9g of heroin with a street value of 17,206 and another with a kilo of cannabis with a market value of 20,000. The shed also contained a Lidl shopping bag where Mooney's fingerprints could be found. The bag contained 27g of heroin with a value of 3,780. The two men were arrested and entered guilty pleas on a trial date. Advertisement The property where the drugs were found belonged to a third man who has already appeared before the courts. Garret Baker SC, defence counsel for Mooney, said the offence was seven-and-a-half years old and that his client has since made significant steps in the right direction. He said his client plays an active role in taking care of his children and is also the carer for his father, who is showing early signs of dementia. Mr Baker said Mooney is currently employed and has had no recent convictions for sale or supply of drugs. Advertisement Kathleen Leader SC, defending Brown, said her client was involved in local youth groups to help other young people use their energy into something other than illegal activities. Advertisement She said her client wishes to express his apologies to the court and is ashamed of the hurt he has caused his family. He feels he has let himself down, both himself and his family, she said, His apology and his shame at being before the court are significant indicators of remorse. Mooney has 34 previous convictions for misuse of drugs, assault causing harm, handling stolen property, road traffic, public order, failure to appear and possession of an article. Advertisement Brown has 13 previous convictions for public order, road traffic, burglary and misuse of drugs. In sentencing, Judge Baxter said: These are offences that are unacceptable and I have to have regard to the public good in regard to the nature of the offending. She said aggravating factors included the value of the drugs, the relevant previous convictions and the scourge of drug dealing and the fact that communities are devastated daily by these activities. Mitigating factors included that the men had made a valuable plea, but not the earliest, the judge noted. Judge Baxter also notedthat Brown was well-regarded in his community and that Mooney has work prospects. Mooney was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment, but Judge Baxter suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions. She sentenced Brown to four years' imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months. A man with 180 previous convictions has been jailed for a spate of robberies, which were described by a judge as a significant escalation in his offending. Stephen OReilly (44), of Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two garages in May 2021 and attempting to rob a Spar shop the following month. Advertisement He further admitted to a public order charge in relation to a dispute involving two other men at Churchtown Road on April 4th, 2020, and to driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion. Judge Orla Crowe on Tuesday imposed a global sentence of four years and eight months, with the final six months to be suspended on strict conditions. She said O'Reilly had engaged in lawless behaviour during the public order incident and involved himself in something he should not have by going to the scene and driving while disqualified. Advertisement While she noted his role was minor and he did not come off the better for his involvement, she added that his flouting of the law has to be marked. Advertisement Threats She said O'Reilly had weapons during the robberies and threatened to use violence. The judge noted no violence was used but said these represented a significant escalation in his offending. She said O'Reilly's previous convictions, the use of weapons in the robberies and the impact on the victims were among the aggravating features. The judge said his guilty pleas, personal circumstances, efforts to deal with his addiction and expressions of sincere remorse had been taken into consideration as mitigation. She back-dated the sentence to October 21st, 2022 and disqualified O'Reilly from driving for four years. Advertisement At an earlier sentence hearing, the court heard that OReilly was on 24-hour lock up at the Midlands Prison, where he has been in custody since June 2021. A prison governors report said OReilly is not leaving his cell and is currently taking a significant amount of medication, including 60ml of methadone daily. Psychological report According to a psychological report presented in court, OReilly suffers from major depressive and anxiety disorders and has had repeated hospitalisations since the age of 16 for issues including self-harming and overdosing. Advertisement The court heard that of OReillys previous convictions which date back to 1996, 99 were heard before the Circuit Court and were mostly for road traffic offences, including nine counts of dangerous driving. Advertisement OReilly was sentenced to nine years in prison in the UK for dangerous driving causing harm. He was disqualified from driving for 20 years. He was also sentenced to four years in prison in Ireland for sexual assault, although he disputes the verdict of the jury. OReillys other previous convictions include absconding from custody, failing to notify the Sex Offenders Register, possessing knives and possessing stolen goods. Giving evidence to Katherine McGillicuddy BL for the State, a prosecuting garda told the court that OReilly was a drug user who had spent a lot of his life in prison. Advertisement The court heard that on the day of the public order incident in April 2020, OReilly arrived at the scene of a dispute between two family members who were fighting with a steel bar and a hammer. OReilly attempted to calm down the parties but the fight continued and OReilly was struck with the hammer a number of times, suffering a large gash to the back of his head. Advertisement All three men were arrested for public order offences. Detective Garda Peter Wolf gave evidence of the two filling station robberies, describing how OReilly arrived at Texaco on Abbey Road, Dun Laoghaire on May 3rd, 2021. He stole 120 in cash and 80 in cigarettes before making his escape. Some weeks later, on May 21st, OReilly entered Circle K in Stillorgan carrying what staff believed to be a screwdriver. He shouted, Give me the cash and cigarettes, specifying that it was John Player Blue cigarettes he was looking for. OReilly stole cigarettes worth 620 and 240 in cash before he fled the scene. Wheelbrace On June 1st, 2021, OReilly went into Eurospar in Milltown wearing a facemask and carrying an object protruding from his sleeve. He shouted aggressively at staff, demanding money and cigarettes and claimed he was carrying a gun. He threatened to shoot staff and went behind the counter himself, but two male staff members managed to restrain him until gardai arrived. Gardai found a wheelbrace on his person. On arrest, OReilly told gardai he was very sorry and said he had been under the influence of cocaine and pills. Gardai agreed with Sarah Jane OCallaghan BL, defending, that when O'Reilly is not on drugs he presents as a quiet and vulnerable person. Ms O'Callaghan told the court that O'Reilly comes from a difficult background and had witnessed aggressive outbursts between older relatives as a child. Counsel said that O'Reilly denies his two previous convictions for sexual assault and has suffered cruel labelling from others because he is on the Sex Offenders' Register. O'Reilly has been addicted to a range of drugs, including crack cocaine, and has never completed residential treatment. He has four children and has limited responsibility to take ownership of his actions, the court heard, instead perceiving himself to be the victim. Letters were presented to the court from the Peter McVerry Trust and Merchants Quay Ireland along with a probation report. The court heard that O'Reilly wishes to engage with a residential drugs treatment programme upon his release. Rodent droppings and perishable food stored in a non-operating freezer were just some of the reasons that food business closures were issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month. The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE). Advertisement Two closure orders were served under the FSAI Act to F Herterichs Pork Butchers on Lombard Street, Galway, and the external food area room in O'Briens Gala in Ennis, Clare. One closure order was served under the EU regulations on Golden Place on Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9. One prohibition order was served on a retailer called Mercury based on Park Road, Waterford. Some of the reasons for the closures were raw fish stored in a non-food grade cardboard box; rodent droppings present throughout the premises and food-storage areas; a large amount of perishable food stored in a non-operating freezer; raw meat being prepared in a sink used to wash hands, food and equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Other examples include failure to wash hands before or after the handling of raw meat, absence of traceability records or information available for food products, a large build-up of grease under and at the sides of food preparation equipment, a refrigerator kept in an unclean and greasy condition; and non-operating and non-calibrated probes for checking food temperatures. Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of FSAI, stressed the importance of complying with food safety legal requirements. In January, there continued to be a number of food businesses who failed to ensure appropriate food safety management systems were in place and operating correctly. It is a legal requirement that all food businesses take responsibility in ensuring their premises are maintained to the standard required by Irish food law. "Food safety requirements are put in place to protect the health of consumers. Consumers have a right to safe food. By failing to keep reasonable food safety and hygiene standards in place, a business not only poses a risk to the health of their customers, but also to their own reputation as a trustworthy and safe food business, A Sinn Fein TD has claimed an amnesty could be introduced for people who have not paid for the TV licence in the same way an amnesty was given for people who failed to pay water charges. Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Thomas Gould pointed out that last year 13,000 people went through the courts for TV licence evasion. The lost revenue from those TV licence fees was just over 2 million, he said, which was the same amount RTE lost on Toy Show The Musical. Advertisement So what we have is ordinary people being dragged through the courts, facing a thousand euro fine, short term imprisonment and a charge against on them. While at the same time, executives at RTE are squandering millions with no accountability. Mr Gould denied that Sinn Fein was encouraging people not to pay their TV licence. I'm saying at this moment in time, the licence fee is a legal requirement. We're telling people to make sure to pay the licence fee, as long as it's a legal requirement. Advertisement The amnesty for those who have not paid their TV licence was just one of a number of issues the party was proposing, he added. In 2017, the Government gave an amnesty for people who didn't pay the water charges. So look, this has been done before. Advertisement Under a model proposed by Sinn Fein, RTE would be funded under a dual system with direct exchequer funding along with commercial funding through advertising. Our new model will ensure that public sector broadcasting going into the future will be on a much better, sustainable footing. What we are proposing in our Bill today is a triple lock, and that will ensure independence. And what we mean by that is we would have Coimisiun na Mean on that. They would outline and review the amount of funding that would be needed, that would be sustainable over a four-year period, so that it couldn't be interfered by ministers. And if a minister tried to interfere, they would have to come before the Dail to explain why. Mr Gould said the Taoiseach was being hypocritical about the TV licence because he had been prepared to abolish water charges and there had been an amnesty. So is he saying theres one rule for the water charges and then the other one, if we abolish the TV licence. Advertisement Advertisement However, Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae said Sinn Fein was a little behind the curve with their proposal for a change to the way in which RTE is funded. Mr Healy Rae told Newstalks Pat Kenny show that last June he had questioned the validity of having inspectors pursue people who had not paid their TV licence because there was an appetite around the country for a change to the whole structure of how the national broadcaster was financed. "Many believed there was a need for a national broadcaster, but there was a need to trim the fat. Because one thing that has come out during the Oireachtas committee meetings is that there is an awful lot of what I would call mismanagement. There's an awful lot of questions that need to be answered, and that we have proper responsibility and proper accounting. Advertisement People don't mind paying a bit of cash if they feel they are getting value, and if they feel that there's not wastage. But at present, nobody can say that about RTE and they do need to pull up their socks. I'm dubious of Sinn Fein at the moment because these are the people who are shouting about housing and at the same time they're objecting to a lot more houses. If every house that they object to had been built, we actually wouldn't have any homeless people in Ireland. So when I hear them coming up now before the local elections and saying this, I'm a small bit sceptical. But I do agree that we have to have an overhaul of the licensing system. We have to give confidence back to people that they will be happy in paying. Here are the biggest stories making headlines in Ireland on Tuesday. The Irish Times reports that the HSE will cut 250 million from spending on outside staffing agencies. Advertisement There is a genuine risk the State may soon be unable to accommodate women and children seeking asylum here due to repeated arson attacks, according to the Irish Examiner. The Irish Independent says sweeteners for groups of public servants that include extra pay hikes and allowances in a proposed new national pay deal will cost an estimated 47 million. Advertisement Leo Varadkar has told the Irish Daily Mail that Sinn Fein's plan to give an "amnesty" to people who haven't paid the TV licence is a "stunt". A vet tells the Irish Daily Mirror that Ireland should follow Britain's lead and ban XL Bully dogs. Advertisement Advertisement The Irish Daily Star reports that a man who stole a car, before killing its owner by throwing him from the bonnet as he was driving off, has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years. The Belfast Telegraph says Stormont and Westminster are on a collision course after Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill refused to bring in water charges in the North. Advertisement The UK Labour Party cutting ties with its by-election candidate makes the front pages of several of the British newspaper front pages. The i, Daily Mail and The Guardian lead with the action against Azhar Ali, who was caught on tape stating that Israel may have stoked conflict with Hamas rebels intentionally. Advertisement Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from:#TheGuardian Labour cuts ties with Rochdale candidate For a comprehensive collection of newspapers, explore: https://t.co/zvOl5CpDm7 Don't forget to support journalism #buyanewspaper or #buyapaper for the latest updates! pic.twitter.com/101Yyc6Pst #TomorrowsPapersToday - The Press Room (@channel_tsc) February 12, 2024 The Times front page also features the story, but leads on British prime minister Rishi Sunak pledging to build more homes in the right places. Advertisement Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from:#TheTimes Shoppers face tea shortages amid Houthi ship attacks For a comprehensive collection of newspapers, explore: https://t.co/zvOl5CpDm7 Don't forget to support journalism #buyanewspaper or #buyapaper for the latest updates! pic.twitter.com/Bmpyy3ltsq #TomorrowsPapersToday - The Press Room (@channel_tsc) February 12, 2024 The Financial Times features an image of rescuers pulling children from the rubble in Rafah as it leads on a surge in assets for private equity bosses. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 13 February https://t.co/DGT70hzo3o pic.twitter.com/SX81R445un Financial Times (@FT) February 12, 2024 The Daily Telegraph focuses on former British home secretary Suella Braverman, as she hits back at claims rural England is racist. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Braverman: Dont make people feel guilty for being white'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/ogFTNqRGcJ The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 12, 2024 The Daily Mirror splashes with a story on the stabbing of convicted paedophile Roy Whiting while in jail. Tuesday's Front Page Sarah Payne's killer Roy Whiting stabbed and left blood-soaked in frenzied jail attack Read more: https://t.co/zbanuVgoGj#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QM70LoNcn6 Advertisement The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 12, 2024 The Daily Express opted for a lead on a breakthrough in dementia research, with tests able to detect the degenerative illness more than a decade earlier than its pharmaceutical peers. Tuesday's front page: Dementia can be predicted 15 years before diagnosis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/yg6uzJkQ60 Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 12, 2024 The Metro splashes with the private contracting crisis in the British education sector as schools face escalating fees for maintenance contractors on playing fields. Tomorrow's Papers Today PLAYING FIELD IDIOCY Schools' contracts scandal exposed#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Tjrlp9R2mn Metro (@MetroUK) February 12, 2024 The Sun leads with the financial woes of Coronation Street star Bill Roache. On tomorrow's front page: Coronation Street legend Bill Roaches colossal six-figure tax bill revealed after fierce bankruptcy battlehttps://t.co/la9JorNRf4 pic.twitter.com/aUKSiTs5U2 The Sun (@TheSun) February 12, 2024 And the Daily Star reveals a potential tea shortage with supply routes severely impacted by conflict in the Middle East. A woman has described her rapist's apology letter as disingenuous and said he showed no remorse after he raped her in a secluded lane after she thought he was recording them having sex. Ivan Kelly (23), of Buttercup Avenue, Esker Hills, Portlaoise, Co Laois, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court last October. Advertisement He had pleaded not guilty to the rape in a town in Co Laois on December 27th, 2017. He was jailed for four years on Tuesday. In a letter presented to the court prior to sentencing and read out by prosecution counsel, the victim responded to an apology Kelly submitted to the court at an earlier sentencing date. I felt compelled to write a response letter to the apology letter, she said, before saying that Kelly's apology felt quite disingenuous due to the fact that he showed no remorse during the trial. Advertisement I never thought I'd get to see any justice knowing he was no longer in the country and had fled, she wrote, It would have been a comfort to know that he acknowledged what he had done before the conviction. Advertisement The woman said the apology letter felt that he had to do it rather than Kelly being truly remorseful. I don't think he truly feels much for my pain and suffering, she ended the letter, before saying she hoped Kelly gets the rehabilitation he needs to progress and be the father he wants to be. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said: It is clear to the court that the offending of Mr Kelly has had a very significant effect and has caused (the victim) great harm. She is, in my view, a young woman of great courage and fortitude, and it can only be hoped that the great and harmful impact of that night and the subsequent trial will lessen in time. Advertisement If he had been an adult, the sentence that would have been imposed by the court would have been significantly higher. Aggravating factors in the rape were listed as the use of force, the fact Kelly had to be extradited from the UK, which caused further harm and distress to the victim, Kelly's previous convictions, and the gravity of the offending. Advertisement Mr Justice MacGrath also noted that a probation officer had found Kelly at medium risk of re-offending. The most significant mitigating factor in sentencing was that at the time of the offending, Mr Kelly was 17 and therefore a child in the eyes of the law, the judge noted. Advertisement Other mitigating factors included Kelly's personal circumstances growing up and that he is the father of two young children. Mr Justice MacGrath sentenced Kelly to four years and nine months' imprisonment, but suspended the final nine months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to when Kelly entered custody on June 29th, 2022. If he had been an adult, the sentence that would have been imposed by the court would have been significantly higher, the judge said. He also ordered Kelly to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim for an indefinite period The hope is that things will improve for her, but one can never be sure that that will occur, Mr Justice MacGrath said, wishing the injured party well for the future. Advertisement Secluded lane At an earlier sentence hearing, Detective Garda Michael Esmond told Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that the woman initially contacted Kelly to buy drugs off him. They met in the town and walked to a secluded lane where they had what started as a consensual sexual encounter. Advertisement The woman saw a flash on Kelly's phone and thought he was videoing her. He became more and more forceful and removed her iPod from her pocket. The woman told him to stop and Kelly became violent, the court heard. He pushed her, causing her to bang her head, stood on her ankle, and raped her. When the assault ended, the women met her friends and immediately reported what had happened. She later told her parents, who called the gardai. The court heard that a medical examination found the woman had bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulder and vaginal area, consistent with the report of rape and assault. Kelly was arrested and questioned but said the sexual intercourse was consensual and had occurred somewhere else. He denied that he raped the woman. He was released, but left Ireland and went to England, from which he was later extradited. 'I felt like nothing' In a victim impact statement handed in to the court, the woman said: After the rape, I felt like nothing. I lost who I was. I lost the hopes and dreams that I once had. I felt empty every day. I felt nothing but sadness and loneliness, she said, I just wanted to be happy but nothing made me feel happy. Advertisement For a very long time I was very afraid as to what could happen if I let my guard down or trusted the wrong person, she added. The woman said the rape made her feel dirty and disgusting and that My Christmases were never the same. She said she began using drugs to deal with the emotions resulting from the rape. I still stand up with my head held high, she wrote. I was young and innocent and that innocence was taken for me. Damien Colgan SC, defending, said his client fully accepts the verdict and expresses remorse. He said Kelly was a juvenile at the time of the rape and answered all questions put to him during garda interview. Mr Colgan said his client was willing to engage with any services that the court deems necessary. Defence counsel read from a letter written by Kelly to the victim in which he apologised for what happened. I never wanted it to get out of hand the way it did. I was in a very dark place and I'm now prepared to accept whatever punishment the judge gives me. Kelly has 27 previous convictions for possession of knives, possession of drugs, theft, handling stolen property, criminal damage, failure to appear, assault, and road traffic offences. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has accused Israel of behaving like a "monster" and a "rogue state". Pressure is mounting on Israel over the ongoing conflict in Gaza amid appeals for a ceasefire. Advertisement China has joined growing international calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza following a raid in which two hostages were rescued and scores of Palestinians killed. Israel has signalled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town where the hostages were freed by the raid. US president Joe Biden said innocent people in Rafah need to be protected. Advertisement Palestinians inspect the damage after an Israeli raid on Rafah. Photo: AP Speaking before Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Dublin, Mr Coveney said Israel needed to start listening. "Where we are now is we are witnessing Israel behaving like a rogue state, quite frankly. They're ignoring the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," he said. Advertisement "They seem now to even be ignoring their closest allies in countries like the United States in the UK, who are clearly calling for restraint, looking for the basis of a ceasefire, or wanting to work with Israel to bring an end to this savagery that is continuing in Gaza." Last month, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, although it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by the plaintiff South Africa. Advertisement Mr Coveney said the international community needed to be stronger on the issue of Gaza and pushed Israel's allies to be more insistent that the attacks on civilians in Gaza must end. "The truth is that the European position has effectively moved towards the Irish position, you know, over the last number of weeks. There are very few countries now not calling for a ceasefire," he said. "There are very few countries now not wanting to put pressure on Israel to pull back and look for a peace agreement that can prevent soldiers moving into a city that has one and a half million people in it, and it's going to be impossible to avoid massive civilian casualties, yet again, in a small piece of land that's already seen 28,000 people dead over the last number of months. "So actually, the Irish position has been an effective one." Advertisement Mr Coveney said the Government led the way on international calls for a ceasefire and said Israel must not be allowed to continue its killing of civilians in response to the October 7th attack. "I've been to the Gaza Strip on five or six occasions. The suffering in that area before this round of conflict was significant. But what we've seen in the last number of months must be unacceptable for the international community. You know, it is not acceptable effectively to behave like a monster to defeat a monster, which is what Israel is now doing. "Ireland has been using its voice internationally to try to build consensus within the European Union to stop this madness, and we need to continue to do that forcefully." Russian president Vladimir Putin's suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. The failure of Putin's approach ushers in a third year of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two and illustrates just how far apart the world's two largest nuclear powers remain. Advertisement A US source denied there had been any official contact and said Washington would not engage in talks that did not involve Ukraine. Putin sent signals to Washington in 2023 in public and privately through intermediaries, including through Moscow's Arab partners in the Middle East and others, that he was ready to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Russian sources said. Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards a peace of some kind. Advertisement "The contacts with the Americans came to nothing," a senior Russian source with knowledge of the discussions in late 2023 and early 2024 told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Advertisement No talks without Ukraine A second Russian source with knowledge of the contacts told Reuters that the Americans told Moscow, via the intermediaries, they would not discuss a possible ceasefire without the participation of Ukraine and so the contacts ended in failure. A third source with knowledge of the discussions said: "Everything fell apart with the Americans." The source said that the Americans did not want to pressure Ukraine. The extent of the contacts - and their failure - has not previously been reported. It comes as US president Joe Biden has for months been pushing Congress to approve more aid for Ukraine, but has faced opposition from allies of Republican presidential nomination frontrunner Donald Trump. Advertisement The Kremlin, the White House, the US State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to comment. US says 'no back channel' Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on the one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other. Advertisement Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence and the West casts Putin's invasion as an imperial-style land grab that challenges the post-Cold War international order. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will never accept Russia's control over Ukrainian land. He has outlawed any contacts with Russia. Advertisement A US official, speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, said that the US has not engaged in any back channel discussions with Russia and that Washington had been consistent in not going behind the back of Ukraine. The US official said that there appeared to have been unofficial "Track II" conversations among Russians not in the government but that the United States was not engaged in them. The US official said Putin's proposal, based on what has been publicly reported, was unchanged from past demands that Russia hold on to Ukrainian territory. The official suggested that there appeared to be frustration in Moscow that Washington had repeatedly refused to accept it. Putin told US talk-show host Tucker Carlson last week that Russia was ready for "dialogue". Advertisement Contacts Intermediaries met in Turkey in late 2023, according to three Russian sources. A fourth diplomatic source said that there had been Russian-US unofficial contacts through intermediaries at Russia's initiative but that they appeared to have come to nothing. Advertisement The US official said he was unaware of unofficial contact through intermediaries. According to three Russian sources, Putin's signal was relayed to Washington, where top US officials including White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns and US secretary of state Antony Blinken met. The idea was that Mr Sullivan would speak to Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, and set out the next steps, one of the Russian sources said. But when the call came in January, Mr Sullivan told Ushakov that Washington was willing to talk about other aspects of the relationship but would not speak about a ceasefire without Ukraine, said one of the Russian sources. The US official refused to be drawn on any details of Mr Sullivan's purported calls, or whether such a conversation with Ushakov took place. Putin 'ready to fight on' One of the Russian sources expressed frustration with the United States over Washington's insistence that it would not nudge Ukraine towards talks given that the United States was helping to fund the war. "Putin said: 'I knew they wouldn't do anything'," another of the Russian sources said. "They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create." Another Russian source said that the United States did not appear to believe Putin was sincere. "The Americans didn't believe Putin was genuine about a ceasefire - but he was and is - he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally, Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes - and Russia can fight for as long as it takes," the Russian source said. The Kremlin sees little point in further contacts with the United States on the issue, the Russian sources said, so the war would continue. -Reuters Britain's King Charles has returned to London for what is widely expected to be further treatment following his cancer diagnosis. Charles and Queen Camilla flew by helicopter to Buckingham Palace from their private Sandringham home, and were driven the short distance to nearby Clarence House. Advertisement It was announced last week that the British head of state has a form of cancer and at the weekend he issued a statement praising all those organisations which support cancer patients. Advertisement Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. Camilla has been carrying out her royal diary of engagements and last week said her husband was doing extremely well under the circumstances. She said Charles, who underwent his first bout of cancer treatment last week, had been very touched by all the messages of support he has received from the public. Advertisement Advertisement The royal helicopter carrying Charles and Camilla arrives at Buckingham Palace (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Charles and Camilla arrived as downpours swept across London and Charles was photographed waving to well-wishers. Charles diagnosis followed three nights in a private London hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate. Advertisement Charles and Camilla arriving back at Clarence House in London after spending a week at Sandringham in Norfolk (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Britain's Prince William may step in to represent his father at events and it has been reported William and his family are spending half-term at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall, which is on Charles' Sandringham estate. The governments of Poland, France and Germany have vowed to make Europe a defence power with a greater ability to back Ukraine, as fears grow that former US President Donald Trump might return to the White House and allow Russia to expand its aggression on the continent. The foreign ministers of the three countries met in the Paris suburb of La Celle-Saint-Cloud on Monday to hold talks about Ukraine, amid other issues. Advertisement The ministers discussed reviving the so-called Weimar Triangle, a long dormant regional grouping that was designed to promote cooperation between France, Germany and Poland. German chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) The Weimar Triangle was created in 1991 as Poland was emerging from decades of communism as a platform for political cooperation among the three nations. Advertisement Advertisement Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners. There is no reason why we should be so clearly militarily weaker than Russia, and therefore increasing production and intensifying our cooperation are absolutely indisputable priorities, Mr Tusk said in arguing for the European Union to become a military power in its own right. The diplomatic push came after Mr Trump shocked many in Europe over the weekend by appearing to invite Russia to invade any Nato member not spending enough on its own defence. You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Mr Trump recounted telling an unidentified Nato member during his presidency. Advertisement No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP) The Republican front-runners words at a campaign rally were particularly shocking for front-line Nato countries like Poland, which experienced both German and Soviet occupation during the Second World War and later spent decades under Soviet control. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking alongside Mr Tusk in Berlin, Mr Scholz blasted Mr Trumps comments. Natos promise of protection is unrestricted all for one and one for all, Mr Scholz said without mentioning the former president by name. And let me say clearly for current reasons, any relativisation of Natos support guarantee is irresponsible and dangerous, and is in the interest of Russia alone, the chancellor added. No one can play, or deal, with Europes security. Advertisement Trumps remarks raised concerns that if re-elected, he could embolden Russia to attack other countries besides Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement on Sunday saying that Trumps remarks put American troops and their allies at greater risk. Nato does not require its 31 members to pay bills, but they are expected to invest a certain percentage of their own budgets ideally, 2% of their gross domestic product on defence. Some countries, like Poland, have long met the target. Other European nations ramped up their military spending after Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. Germany, with a post-Second World War political culture of military caution, was a frequent target of Trumps ire during his presidency for falling short of the 2% target, but Berlin announced plans to step up military spending after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and plans to hit the benchmark this year. Advertisement Frances military budget grew in recent years and reached the level of about 2% of GDP. Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski noted that he and his French and German counterparts meet at a dramatic, but also solemn moment. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war. We must fulfil our obligations toward Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said each minute counts to get Europeans prepared to absorb the shock of a scenario that has been well described by Donald Trump. Indian police used tear gas on farmers who clashed with officers and tried to break barricades blocking their way to New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices in a repeat of 2021 protests, when they camped on the outskirts of the capital for more than a year. Police dropped tear gas canisters on the protesting farmers from a drone at one of the border points in northern Haryana state that leads to New Delhi, where tens of thousands of farmers were headed in tractors and trucks. Advertisement Officers sealed multiple entry points into the capital with barriers of giant metal containers, barbed wire, spikes and cement blocks. The government banned large gatherings in the capital and suspended internet service in some districts of Haryana state to prevent communication among the protesters. Farmers marching to New Delhi gather near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, India (Rajesh Sachar/AP) Advertisement The demonstration comes more than two years after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi withdrew controversial agriculture laws that had triggered the earlier protests, in which tens of thousands of farmers camped outside the capital throughout a harsh winter and a devastating Covid-19 surge. Advertisement The farmers, who began their march in northern Haryana and Punjab states, are asking for legislation that will guarantee a minimum support price for all farm produce. The government protects agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices by announcing a minimum purchase price for certain essential crops at the beginning of the sowing season, taking into account the cost of production. Farmers are also pressing the government to keep its promise to double their income and waive their loans. They say they will protest in New Delhi until their demands are met. Advertisement The withdrawal of the agricultural laws in November 2021 was seen as a major retreat by the Modi government, which was shocked in January that year when tens of thousands of farmers stormed the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. Farmers run for cover as police fire tear gas to disperse protesters (Rajesh Sachar/AP) After withdrawing the laws, the government said it would set up a panel of farmers and government officials to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. Multiple meetings since then have made no progress. Advertisement Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of one of the farmers groups, told reporters on Tuesday: We do not want to break any barricades. We want a resolution of our issues through dialogue. But if they (the government) do nothing, then what will we do? It is our compulsion. Advertisement He said talks between farm leaders and government ministers on Monday had failed to produce any consensus on their key demands and the government refused to make a decision. The current demonstration, called Delhi Chalo or March to Delhi, comes just months before a national election in which Mr Modi is widely expected to win a third term. The protests could pose a significant challenge for Mr Modi and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party as farmers form the most influential voting bloc in India and politicians have long considered it unwise to alienate them. Advertisement Farmers on tractors head for New Delhi to demand guaranteed prices for produce (Rajesh Sachar/AP) The stakes are high in Haryana and Punjab, where farmers form a sizeable population, as the two states send 23 politicians to Indias lower house of Parliament. Indias opposition Congress party said it will address the farmers demand for a law ensuring a minimum support price if it is voted into power in the forthcoming national election. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice, party leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Some farmer and trade unions have also announced a countrywide rural strike on Friday. The US Senate has passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the US abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the US should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. Advertisement But 22 Republicans voted with nearly all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian president Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe. Advertisement With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waiver, will not falter, will not fail, said Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation. Advertisement The bills passage through the Senate with a flourish of GOP support was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical shortages on the battlefield. Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hard-line Republicans aligned with former US president Donald Trump the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to US president Joe Bidens desk, if at all. Advertisement Mr Biden urgently called for House Republicans to get behind legislation, warning that opposing it would play into Putins hands. He said: Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin. Opposing it is playing into Putins hands. History is watching. The US Capitol in Washington is illuminated as the Senate settled in for a rare weekend session to work on a package of wartime funding for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Advertisement Mr Biden also lashed out at Mr Trump, who on Saturday said during a campaign appearance that he once warned he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to Nato member nations that are delinquent in devoting 2 per cent of their gross domestic product to defence. Mr Biden added: When America gives its word it means something. Donald Trump looks at this as if its a burden. Advertisement Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase US-made defence equipment, including munitions and air defence systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters Ukraine. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. Advertisement For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on social media. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war. Senator John Fetterman, speaks to reporters as the Senate prepared the procedural vote on the emergency spending package (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israels war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel, and senator Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, as well as two Democrats, senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, voted against it. I cannot in good conscience support sending billions of additional taxpayer dollars for [Israeli] Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahus military campaign in Gaza, Mr Welch said. Its a campaign that has killed and wounded a shocking number of civilians. Its created a massive humanitarian crisis. The bills passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Airfares may be falling, but the number of delayed and cancelled flights in Australia remains well above the long-term average, the consumer watchdog has found. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday issued its first report on domestic airline competition since its quarterly monitoring was reinstated at the end of last year. It found the airlines average revenue per passenger a key indicator of ticket prices was 13 per cent lower in December 2023 than in December 2022 when adjusted for inflation. But with the cost of airfares over the month just 1 per cent lower than prices before the pandemic, the service provided by the airlines was well below average. The ACCC says airfares have fallen, but airline service remains below standard. Credit: Oscar Colman ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said it was difficult to judge whether the poor reliability among airlines was likely to continue over the coming months, given the ongoing supply chain and resourcing challenges facing the sector. 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 Dinner had been served in the ballroom of the hotel on Londons Park Lane, but Boris Eldagsen had little interest in his meal. He was too nervous. The German photographer had been invited to the Sony World Photography Awards as the winner of the creative open category, but he was about to give an unscheduled speech explaining why he couldnt accept the prize. I was frightened of course, says the 53-year-old, recalling the moment in April 2023 he walked to the stage in his rented tuxedo, picked up the microphone and began to speak. The whole thing was like a crash course in psychotherapy. Eldagsen told his audience he had entered the competition simply to stimulate debate. His winning picture, The Electrician, was not a photograph; it had been created using an artificial intelligence image generator called DALL-E 2. The two women in the atmospheric black-and-white composition were figments of his imagination, an idea he communicated to DALL-E 2 using a series of text prompts which were interpreted and rendered by the softwares machine learning algorithms. The photographer walked back to his table and braced for a reaction. He expected to be admonished by the events organisers and other photographers but no one approached him. He flew back to Berlin happy to have spoken his truth, but frustrated by the lack of debate. Images from Boris Eldagsens Pseudomnesia series (clockwise from main) Love, Note To Myself and The Memory. Credit: Courtesy of the artist In fact, the fuse had been lit, it just took a few days to burn. With media interest in AI running high, the story of a photographer winning a high-profile competition with a fake picture began to make headlines around the world. Creo Arts, the company that organises the Sony awards, insists it had been looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic, but Eldagsens decision to decline his award forced it to suspend our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes, remove him from the competition. Eldagsen hotly disputes this. I realised they had no interest in it, he says. They want business as normal. They couldnt be bothered with the crazy German. Advertisement As an early adopter of AI image generators he became a DALL-E 2 beta tester in the summer of 2022 Eldagsen has had plenty of time to think about the technology and its implications. When his partner was diagnosed with cancer later that year [she is now in remission], he went full-on into AI to distract himself during long waits in hospitals and doctors surgeries. He likes the term promptography to describe images created entirely by AI generators such as DALL-E 2 and Midjourney. I can give you good reasons why this isnt photography, he says. Its not only because photography is creating an image with light, its also how you work. Most photographers go out into the world, theyre on location with other people. They have an experience and they react to whats happening. I got a beautiful email from an Italian poet who said his mum has Alzheimers and he sees that in the picture. Boris Eldagsen When I work with AI I can sit on my own in my cellar using just Wi-Fi and electricity I have no material constraints. AI generators allow you to express an inner journey, so you need to be aware of yourself, your influences and what you want to create. Even though I dont need to leave my house to work with AI, its important to have done so in the past. He smiles. Its actually an advantage to be a bit older to have life experience when you work with AI. Boris Eldagsens The Breath (detail) and The Finger (detail). Credit: Courtesy of the artist As the man who lifted the lid on Pandoras box, Eldagsen finds himself in demand. Hell be in Melbourne next month as one of the key artists at the PHOTO 2024 festival. The Electrician will be part of an outdoor exhibition, and hell give a talk at the festivals Ideas Summit called Outsourcing the muse? AI Creativity vs. Human Creativity. Advertisement Hes no stranger to Melbourne, having spent several years living and teaching in the city in the late 1990s after falling in love with an Australian artist. Australia has been good to me, he says. Loading Its important to note that The Electrician isnt the first AI-generated image to win a photographic competition, and its unlikely to be the last. The software is evolving at a dizzying speed and traditional forms of content creation are feeling the heat. Stock and advertising photography are obvious targets why book a studio, a model and a photographer when you can generate a tailor-made image on your phone? but it seems few forms of photography will be impervious to machine learning. Eldagsen is often asked if AI is the death knell for photography. His answer: it depends on what kind of images youre talking about. As an artist I only see advantages because I work purely with my imagination, he says. For me, its a tool where Im the director and the algorithms are my many assistants. It is vital to understand the strengths and weaknesses of AI image generators, he says. If you dont, the software will take control and make all the decisions. When Eldagsen creates an AI image, he does so using his knowledge of art history, photography and the interplay of light. Its not like I write a quick text prompt and its done. I have a complex workflow and each stage needs to be evaluated. Sometimes a prompt doesnt work and Ill have to wait a few weeks for a new [software] feature to become available and then it will work. (Clockwise from top left) Muse, Balance and Psychoanalysis Gone Wrong. Credit: Courtesy of the artist The Electrician was the result of more than 20 prompts, he says. It also used inpainting, a feature which allows the software to fill in missing information part of a face, for example by taking cues from the surrounding image. He also used DALL-E 2s outpainting option, the ability to automatically extend an image beyond the boundaries of the prompt. Its the reason The Electrician has a rather peculiar format. Advertisement Up to 50 schools and early learning centres could remain closed on Thursday after reports of power outages and access issues across the state. Melbourne schools were among those unlikely to open, including Monash Technical School in Clayton, St Thomas Mores School in Belgrave and St Peters School in Clayton. The Education Department said the long list of schools and early childhood services currently set to be closed would be updated on its website as their power and access was restored. A spokesperson has advised parents to call their childrens schools if they had not received an update on Thursday morning. Education Minister Ben Carroll told 774 there had been 100 reported outages and 40 reports of storm damage since Tuesday. Carroll said it was expected most school would reopen by the end of the week, including those around the Grampians. Possibly, it is a miracle that we didnt lose any schools in the Pomonal fires - a combination of sheer luck and the land being quite clear around the school has been helpful in this occasion, he said. School bus services in Halls Gap, Pomonal, Stawell, Roses Gap, Dadswells Bridge, Nintinbool, Ross Creek, Berringa, and Ballarat were also expected to be affected on Thursday. Carroll said it was likely the bushfires had affected families in Pomonal with school children. Were going to work with them and do everything we can to ensure that we have the least disruptive education as possible, he said. The founder of one of Perths best known and most successful butcher shops may count world-famous chefs as friends, but his life has been anything but smooth sailing. Mondo Butchers Vince Garreffa has raised millions of dollars for charity and was nominated for West Australian Senior of the Year in 2023, but revealed he has always struggled with his mental health. Vince Garreffa, founder of Perths Mondo Butcher. His line of work also made him a controversial figure for some, particularly animal rights activists as his business expanded, which led to him receiving occasional death threats. Garreffa has become one of the first people in WA to record his life story in his own voice with A Lasting Tale a podcast service documenting older Australians life stories and hoped to remind his four children and three grandchildren of their roots in the future. The boy wizard has been barred entry to the wild woods of Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula and told to move his magical sound and light show to a nearby off-leash dog park. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors voted nine to zero in a hastily scheduled meeting on Tuesday, to relocate Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest Experience out of the Briars Wildlife Sanctuary and into a neighbouring part of the public reserve that is home to far fewer native species. A promotional still from Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest Experience. The Warner Bros. event is expected to draw tens of thousands of tourists to the peninsula over its six-week season this autumn but has provoked a fierce backlash from locals, several environmental groups and even a prominent Harry Potter fan club. Councillors voted in favour of a motion on Tuesday afternoon to relocate the event from the fenced Briars sanctuary to the Briars community forest which doubles as a dog-walking park and some adjacent parking paddocks. London: Russia has sought criminal charges for the first time against a foreign leader after her governments push to destroy Soviet-era war memorials following Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kaja Kallas, Estonias centre-right prime minister, was listed as a wanted person on the Russian Interior Ministrys database of suspects on Tuesday, independent news site Mediazona reported. Moscow has placed senior Ukrainian officials and generals on its wanted list since the start of the war, but Kallas is the first head of government to be publicly sought by the Kremlin. Russia has put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on a wanted list, an official register showed. Credit: AP Dubbed Europes Iron Lady, Kallas who has put herself forward as a candidate to become the next head of NATO is a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She was named alongside other Baltic politicians critical of the Kremlin and its war, including Lithuanias Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, and dozens of MPs in Latvia. AIAs vision is to champion Australia to be the healthiest and best protected nation in the world we cant do that on our own, but by forming trusted partnerships we can create a movement together that helps improve the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of Australians one step at a time, Sciarrone said. HOPE is a demonstrated and workable solution to the housing affordability crisis facing essential workers and potentially other middle-income workers who are being forgotten by existing government and private schemes allowing essential workers to buy a home of their choosing while also protecting and growing the interests of investors. Ethical Challenges and Personal Affairs Threaten DA Fani Willis' Legal Campaign (Photo: Harrison Keely/Wikimedia COmmons/CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)) Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has announced an upcoming evidentiary hearing to delve into allegations of misconduct by District Attorney Fani Willis. The controversy stems from accusations that Willis engaged in an "improper" affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the prosecution team. The allegations, brought forth by Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, have ignited a legal and ethical debate surrounding Willis' decision to appoint Wade to the prosecutorial team. Roman contends that the personal relationship between Willis and Wade not only compromised the fairness of the legal proceedings but also resulted in financial benefits for Willis, thereby warranting her disqualification from the case, as reported by Fox News. Judge McAfee, in addressing the gravity of the allegations, stated, "In studying the law that's been filed up to this point, I think it's clear that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one." This statement underscores the potential for Willis' alleged conduct to have serious ramifications on the case, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of the facts. The heart of the matter lies in the extent of the alleged relationship between Willis and Wade, and whether it led to any undue financial advantage. "The state has admitted a relationship existed. And so, what remains to be proven is the existence and extent of any financial benefit," McAfee elaborated, highlighting the critical aspects of the upcoming hearing. If Willis Compromised Secret Grand Jury Materials? Every Case Will Be Tossed. Fani Willis is in hot water and the temperature is rising! The tape that was leaked wasn't enough of a scandal... Nope! They had An Explosive New Book Creates More Scandal For Prosecutor Fani WillisIf Willis Compromised Secret Grand Jury Materials? Every Case Will Be Tossed.Fani Willis is in hot water and the temperature is rising! The tape that was leaked wasn't enough of a scandal... Nope! They had pic.twitter.com/uDyGwi3PYT Brian Cates - Political Columnist & Pundit (@drawandstrike) February 13, 2024 Willis, for her part, has acknowledged a personal relationship with Wade but fervently denies any allegations of impropriety or conflict of interest. Her defense hinges on the assertion that the relationship did not influence any prosecutorial decisions or result in financial gains that would compromise her role as District Attorney. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15, is poised to be a pivotal moment in the case, potentially impacting the prosecutorial team's composition and the trial's trajectory. Judge McAfee's decision to proceed with the hearing reflects the seriousness with which the court views the allegations, as well as the commitment to ensuring the integrity and fairness of the legal process. As the legal community and the public await the outcome of the hearing, the controversy serves as a stark reminder of the ethical standards and professional conduct expected of those in the legal profession. The allegations against Willis not only threaten to overshadow the case against Trump but also raise broader questions about accountability and transparency within the judiciary. This case, already steeped in political and public interest, now finds itself at the intersection of legal ethics and the pursuit of justice. The upcoming hearing promises not only to clarify the nature of Willis and Wade's relationship but also to set a precedent for how allegations of misconduct are addressed in high-stakes legal battles. Public health delegation from Uzbekistan visits UB Representatives from the School of Public Health and Health Professions, including Dean Jean Wactawski-Wende (far left) pose with members of the delegation from Uzbekistan. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki Uzbekistan, a landlocked central Asian country with a population of close to 36 million, has public health in its sights. That much was clear when four Uzbek scientists and doctors arrived for an information-gathering session at the School of Public Health and Health Professions on Feb. 1. The group, in the middle of a whirlwind tour of key organizations in the United States, is picking the brains of the countrys top public health professionals in advance of developing Uzbekistans national public health capabilities. After stops in Washington, D.C., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the group made its way to Buffalo happily in the middle of a winter heat wave to discuss possibilities for learning and collaboration with SPHHP experts. The visit was arranged through the International Institute of Buffalo and local health leaders. The first stop was UBs Clinical and Translational Science Institute, where CTSI director and SUNY Distinguished Professor Timothy F. Murphy, and Teresa Quattrin, UB Distinguished Professor, associate dean for research integration and CTSI recruitment and special populations core director, outlined the work of the CTSI and discussed public-private partnerships for improving health nationwide. Quattrin had a leading role in coordinating the UB visit. Stephen Turkovich, president and chief medical officer of John R. Oishei Childrens Hospital, also addressed the group. Next, the group headed to the School of Public Health and Health Professions. Speaking through an interpreter, Rafail Ibragimov, leading specialist of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee at the Uzbek Ministry of Health, explained that Uzbekistans government has been funding public health efforts for some time now. But the countrys Health 2030 strategic plan proposes to increase its level of support and ultimately develop a stand-alone school of public health and CDC-like organization. Jean Wactawski-Wende, dean of SPHHP, described how the school addresses regional and global health challenges. Topics included a range of community partnerships, SPHHPs public health educational training programs, and local and global research collaborations. Lina Mu, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health; director of UBs Office of Global Health Initiatives; and convenor of the meeting, emphasized that collaborations for training students and research projects were definitely an opportunity to explore. Like any networkers worth their salt, the Uzbek and SPHHP groups exchanged contact details to further the conversation, said Wactawski-Wende. India and four other developing countries -- Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, and Bangladesh -- have opposed efforts by developed economies to categorise dispute cases at the World Trade Organization (WTO) into standard, complex, and extraordinarily complex, as part of the ongoing informal discussions for reforming the dispute settlement mechanism. In a submission at the WTO, these countries have argued that the proposed new system would introduce unnecessary subjectivity into dispute processes. The authority given to the panelists to determine the nature of the case (standard, complex, and extraordinarily complex), and, to invite parties to limit their claims shifts the locus of control over the panel process away from the disputing parties to the panelists, the five countries argued. WTO members have engaged in informal delegate-level discussions since April 2022, initiated by the US, which is seeking consensus on reforms in the dispute settlement system in the 13th WTO ministerial conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi later this month. The two-tier dispute settlement system of the WTO, involving consultation and adjudication, has remained non-functional since December 2019 with the US refusing to agree to the appointment of fresh members to the seven-member appellate body, the highest adjudicating authority. The US claims that the present system has often overreached its mandate and has hinted at its preference for a single-tier system and more scope for bilaterally resolving disputes. While affirming our support to the common efforts in producing a positive outcome from the work of DS (dispute settlement) reform, we are concerned by the manner in which the ongoing discussions are proposing far-reaching changes that would fundamentally alter the nature of the dispute settlement system of the WTO, as envisaged by the Marrakesh Agreement. These changes undermine interests that we, as developing countries, including LDCs, have identified as essential in a reformed WTO dispute settlement system, a joint communication stated. The proposed draft text, not yet available to the public, proposes panel establishment at the first relevant DSB (dispute settlement body) meeting, mandatory Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), and a reduction in the reasonable period of time (RPT) for compliance after a verdict to 6 months in certain instances. The expedited timelines are particularly worrisome since, historically, the ask of developing countries, including LDCs, has been for a minimum RPT of 15 months. Any reform of compliance must ensure additional flexibility for developing countries, including LDCs, to enable them to enforce decisions of the adjudicative bodies against developed members, the five members said. They said their concerns and reservations in the course of the ongoing discussions have not been recorded. The consolidated draft text that is now taking shape presents a misleading view and suggests that there is convergence on the majority of the issues in the text, they further said. The five nations argued that the discussions have not addressed the central interest that motivated members to engage in this exercise, i.e., the restoration of the Appellate Body. Considering the support expressed by a large number of members to immediately start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body, we believe that the central focus of the reform efforts should be aimed at prioritising the restoration of the Appellate Body. The discussion on the intricacies of the review standards should be considered once there is consensus on the structure of the two-tier system, with the Appellate Body at the core, they added. In a major setback for the Congress party, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party's primary membership ahead of Lok Sabha polls, triggering spculations that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party bandwagon. But he allowed the rumours to rest for two days as he said that he would prefer to divulge details about his future political plans in 48 hours, emphasizing that he has not been in contact with any political party regarding his future plans. He expressed that he is not the type of person to discuss the party's internal matters publicly and has not influenced any Congress MLA with his decision. Chavan submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership. I have not decided to join any party. I will clear my stand on joining a party after two days," Chavan told reporters after resigning from Congress. When asked if he would be joining the BJP, the former Maharashtra CM said, "I will tell you in 48 hours". "Chavan also clarified that he has not been in contact with any political party regarding his future plans.He further said that he is not a person who would discuss the party's internal matters publicly. "I have not spoken to any Congress MLA about my decision. I have no such intention (of influencing them)," he added. Meanwhile, several Congress leaders condemned the move, calling it a 'dirty political' game. Party leader Prithviraj Chavhan said, "Our senior colleague Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party and also as the MLA. It's a sad decision. This had been talked about for a long time. We didn't think he would make this decision. He was made the state CM on two occasions. What went wrong, who was he upset about--only he will tell about this. This is very tragic. All members of the Congress Legislative Party are together. BJP leaders are spreading rumours that some people are in touch with them," Chavan said while addressing the media. "It is really surprising. This hasn't happened in Maharashtra before. It is totally a dirty political game by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," he added. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut wondered whether the former Mahrasthra Chief Minister would stake a claim on the grand old party and its 'hand' symbol. Drawing parallels with Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and his deputy Ajit Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party) who, after splitting from their respective parties, staked and won their claim to the Sena party symbol, Raut said that such a scenario was possible. "I can't believe it. Till yesterday they were together, discussing; today he left... Will Chavan, like Eknath Mindhe and Ajit Pawar, now claim Congress and take the 'hand' symbol? And will the Election Commission give them to him? Anything can happen in our country!," Raut said in a post on X. The Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Congress are allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared a snippet from the classic Hindi movie 'Sholay', in which Gabbar Singh, the character played by actor Amjad Khan is seen saying, "Jo dhar gaya, sanjo mar gaya" (Whoever is afraid is considered dead). "True", wrote the Congress leader tagging Chavan's August 2023 post in which the former state congress chief expressed gratitude for being chosen as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Congress leader Yashomati Thakur claimed that the central government is trying to scare the opposition leaders through 'White Paper'. "The question is why he left Congress. It is because the central government is trying to scare the opposition leaders through 'White Paper'. Today, the BJP has fewer of its own leaders and more outsiders. They are so insecure that they just want to remain in power," Thakur said. "We will remain in the INDIA bloc and will fight for the constitution and the protection of secularism till our last breath," she added. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also took a swipe at the BJP, stating that the 'washing machine' of the party is very powerful. "It is clear that the special washing machine functioning in our country is very powerful...The exit of some people doesn't mean Congress will break...There is some sadness but this won't affect the party," he said. In a similar reaction, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Clyde Crasto took a jibe at the BJP, claiming that if you go to the party, you get cleaned in their 'washing machine'. "It is a sad day that he (Ashok Chavan) left the Congress. The party gave everything to him. But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was putting pressure on him. If you go to the BJP, you get cleaned in their washing machine," Crasto said. "It is the BJP that said that Chavan is allegedly involved in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. They are trying to break the party. The BJP wanted to make a 'Congress-free India', but they themselves are turning into 'Congress-associated' BJP," he alleged. The NCP leader further added that the INDIA bloc will stay strong. "The INDIA bloc will stay strong. If Ashok Chavan has left, a new leader will join the party and assume his responsibilities," Clyde Crasto said. Meanwhile, amid speculations that Chavan could join the BJP, Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis gave a cryptic reply, saying, "Several tall leaders of other parties want to join BJP. Especially, several Congress leaders are in touch with us because of the behaviour of the senior leaders. They are feeling suffocated at their party. Who all is in our contact list? That will be revealed soon. Aage aage dekhiye hota hain kya." Ashok Chavan was the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. He served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP. Chavan comes from an influential political family. He is the son of Shankarrao Chavan, a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Home Minister. He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. The resignation came as a big blow to the Congress party ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. ALSO READ: Delhi traffic updates today: Advisory issued over farmers' protest. Details Farmers' protest updates: As hundreds of farmers embarked on the 'Delhi Chalo' march from the neighbouring states on Tuesday, the police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the agitators at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 February 13, 2024 About 200 farm union bodies, under the banner of Samyukut Kisan Morcha, are headed to the national capital to put forth their demands to the Centre on a range of issues. In view of the situation, the Delhi police has made elaborate arrangements to thwart the protest, for which no permission has been granted. Protesting farmers detained at Shambhu border Videos emerged from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, showing the agitating farmers making their way to Delhi. At the Shambhu border, several farmers were detained by the police as well. The Delhi-NCR is wrapped in tight security arrangements and heavy traffic regulations, with borders blocked and Section 144 imposed in the national capital as the police attempt to prevent the farmers from entering Delhi. The pre-planned march came a day after the Centre, represented by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda, held a second round of talks with the farm unions in Chandigarh but failed to reach common ground. Farmers demands include debt waivers, pension The farmers have put forth various demands, including a legal guarantee to MSP for crops - a focal point of the 2021 agitation. The demands also include debt waivers, guaranteed pensions for farmers, implementation of Swaminathan committee recommendations, withdrawal of cases against the farmers in the 2021 protest and compensation for the families of the farmers who died during that protest. Barbed wires, concrete blocks, nails and swarms of security personnel guard the Delhi borders in view of the situation. Massive traffic jams were reported in some parts of Delhi due to heightened traffic regulations due to the situation. Some gates at some of the Delhi Metro stations have also been closed for security reasons. Opposition extends support to farmers Meanwhile, the Opposition has trained guns on the Centre for "suppressing" the voice of the farmers by making arrangements to prevent their protest from reaching Delhi. Leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, among others, reiterated that the farmers' demands are valid and the Narendra Modi government is using "dictatorial" methods to silence them. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday decried the heavy barricading along the borders of Punjab and Haryana in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march, saying the state borders have been turned into "international borders". He also accused the Manohar Lal Khattar government of harassing farmers in Haryana. "It does not seem Punjab and Haryana are two states. It seems they have become the international border," Pandher told reporters in Fatehgarh Sahib district ahead of the farmers' march to Delhi. The farmers are demanding a legal guarantee for MSP, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Pandher said while the media has blamed the farmers for blocking roads, the government itself has blocked roads. "Even today we are not saying that we will block roads. The government itself has blocked roads for the past two-three days," Pandher, who is the general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said. Concrete walls have been erected at the Punjab and Haryana borders, he said. "We grow foodgrains and we feed the country and they have grown a crop of nails" for us," Pandher said while referring to the elaborate arrangements made by the Haryana authorities to prevent farmers from moving towards the national capital. He alleged that many farmers allowing allegiance to them have been detained in Madhya Pradesh. Lashing out at the Haryana government, Pandher said Haryana has been turned into "Kashmir valley." He alleged that the state government has sent policemen to every village to harass farmers and deployed water cannons. Referring to the meeting with the Union Ministers, Pandher said as the meeting remained inconclusive, they decided to head towards Delhi. He said farmers rejected the ministers' offers of formation of a committee over their demands, especially legal guarantee to the minimum support price. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with representatives of farmers on Monday. However, the meeting on the demands put forward by farmers remained inconclusive. Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha plan to head to Delhi from the Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali borders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Tuesday, introduced Unified Payments Services (UPI) RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi. ALSO READ: PM Modi's two-day bilateral visit to UAE, Qatar: 5 things on agenda A video emerged on social media, showing Al Nahyan tapping a plastic card embossed with his name to make the payment and mark the launch. VIDEO | PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan introduce UPI service in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/24JKrjD77I February 13, 2024 The development follows after an agreement between the two nations on the interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE), to facilitate cross-border transactions. The MoU on the same was signed in July last year during Modi's visit to the gulf nation. UPI, an instant payment system, was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016. ALSO READ: PM Modi to inaugurate Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple on February 14 "Over the last nine years, our cooperation with the UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connection is stronger than ever," Modi said in his departure statement ahead of the visit. PM Modi is on a two-nation bilateral visit to the UAE and Qatar, beginning Tuesday.The development follows after an agreement between the two nations on the interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE), to facilitate cross-border transactions. The MoU on the same was signed in July last year during Modi's visit to the gulf nation.UPI, an instant payment system, was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016."Over the last nine years, our cooperation with the UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connection is stronger than ever," Modi said in his departure statement ahead of the visit. World Government Summit in Dubai Earlier, the two leaders also held key talks to discuss bilateral ties and strengthen them further. During the visit, PM Modi will also address a gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Wednesday. He will hold bilateral talks with the Dubai ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, on the margins of the summit. Additionally, Modi will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi and also address the Indian diaspora from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Following his UAE trip, he will embark on a Qatar visit to boost the ties between the two countries. UPI services now acceptable in 7 countries Notably, a day before PM Modi launched UPI, RuPay card services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das were among the dignitaries present in the virtual ceremony. With the latest development, the UPI payments service is now acceptable in seven countries. These include France, UAE, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bhutan, and Nepal. Indian carriers are cancelling 30 flights per day till March 30 following the directive issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Mumbai airport to ease runway congestion. According to the government officials, overall, only about three per cent of the daily flights being handled at the Mumbai airport have been cut. "The airport handles 1000 movements a day and about 30 movements will be cut (including both arrivals and departures). Even with this cut, the airport will be operating at full capacity," an official added. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel Akasa Air on Tuesday announced it was cancelling 90 Mumbai flights till the end of next month. SpiceJet told Business Standard that it has complied with the governments directive, but did not specify the number of flights it was cancelling. A senior executive from a major Indian carrier told this newspaper that his airline was planning to cancel hundreds of flights, though the exact number was not finalised yet, since discussions are ongoing with the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). The AAI, operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has asked Adani Group-run MIAL to reduce flights due to runway congestion, which has resulted in a decline in airlines' on-time performance. The ministry, in a statement on Tuesday night, stated: "While Mumbai Airport is running at its full capacity, it was found that the persistent congestion was caused due to: excessive slot distribution with limited time margins on behalf of the airport operator; non-adherence of the slots on behalf of the airlines and; non-scheduled operations during peak hours." MIAL, being the slot provider as well as the manager of slots to the airlines, should have proactively taken steps to streamline and regulate the air traffic movements, to resolve this problem, the ministry noted. "However, since no such action was initiated by them, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has had to step in," it added. Akasa Air and SpiceJet operate about 54 flights and 34 flights per day, respectively, to and from the Mumbai airport, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium's data. The bigger airlines such as IndiGo and Air India operate around 370 flights and 163 flights per day, respectively, to and from the Mumbai airport. MIAL, Air India, AIX Connect, Vistara and IndiGo did not respond to the newspaper's requests for a statement on this matter. Akasa Air spokesperson said the airlines flight operations to and from Mumbai are expected to be impacted with guidelines being implemented to reduce runway congestion at the Mumbai airport. Considering this impact, we have to rationalise our network resulting in the cancellation of flights QP 1374 (Mumbai to Bengaluru) & QP 1362 (Bengaluru to Mumbai) between February 15 to March 30, 2024, the spokesperson added. The airline's two cancelled flights are daily services. Consequently, Akasa is cancelling 90 flights between February 15 and March 30. We are proactively communicating to impacted passengers giving them options to either rebook at no additional fee or process a full refund. Passengers can rebook on any date until April 15, 2024. Our Akasa Care Agents are proactively assisting passengers to minimise inconvenience and our airport services team is also geared to assist passengers on the ground as required, an Akasa Air spokesperson added. By Steven T. Dennis and John Harney Elon Musk told US Republican senators there is no way in hell that Russian President Vladimir Putin could lose the war on Ukraine, weighing in on a conflict that has been affected by Musks own Starlink satellite services. Elon Musk told US Republican senators there is no way in hell that Russian President Vladimir Putin could lose the war on Ukraine, weighing in on a conflict that has been affected by Musks own Starlink satellite services. Musk, the billionaire chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., made the comments in a forum Monday on X Spaces, part of his X social media platform. The discussions included opponents of a Senate bill that would provide further assistance for Ukraine to continue battling the full-scale Russian invasion that began two years ago. He was joined by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, JD Vance of Ohio and Mike Lee of Utah, as well as Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, and David Sacks, a co-founder of Craft Ventures LLC. Musks comments came as he agreed with Johnsons statement that Putin would not lose in Ukraine. Johnson said those who expect a Ukraine victory were living in a fantasy world. We gotta kill this thing, Vance said of the $95 billion measure, which includes $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine as well as funding for Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian aid for Gaza. Musk added he hoped Americans would contact their elected representatives about the Ukraine bill. This spending does not help Ukraine. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine. Musk has expressed similar sentiments before on X, doubting Ukraines ability to win the war and mocking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys requests for aid. The tech mogul has come under criticism from Ukraine and Democratic members of Congress. Musk said there was pressure on Putin to see the fight through. If he were to back off, he would be assassinated, Musk said. Read More: Waning McConnell Is Last GOP Bulwark Against Trump Isolationism Musk told the senators hes sometimes accused of being a Putin apologist, but said that accusation was absurd. He said his companies have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything. He cited SpaceX providing Starlink internet service to Ukraine, which has been critical to the nations communications after Russia invaded, as well as SpaceX taking business away from Russias space launch business. Read More: Ukraine Says Russia Uses Musks Starlink Terminals at Front His views contrast strongly with President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who argue that aiding Ukraines defense against the Kremlin is in Americas interests and will help deter other autocrats from starting wars of their own. The Senate continued work on the bill late Monday night, and it was expected to pass, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted border security measures must come first. Musk said his interest is in stopping the deaths of people on both sides of the war, adding he doubted the wisdom of seeking Putins ouster. For those who want regime change in Russia, they should think about who is the person that could take out Putin, and is that person likely to be a peacenik? Probably not. Musk said such a person would likely be even more hardcore than Putin. The US is ready to work with any government that comes to power in Pakistan, a State Department official said on Monday, amid rumours of horse-trading in the absence of a clear majority after general elections in the country and also the delay in declaring results on all National Assembly seats. Contrary to its earlier claim, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday blamed the suspension of Internet and mobile services on February 8 -- when countrywide polling took place -- and said it did "create hindrance" in declaring results promptly. It also claimed that the delay did not harm "any specific political party". In the US, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference, "I don't think there is a new Pakistani government yet. I believe there are still discussions going on about the formation of a government." "But one of the things that we have said leading up to the elections, and we'll continue to make clear, is that whoever the Pakistani people choose to represent them, we will work with that government," he added. The United Kingdom on Monday announced new sanctions on the four extremist Israeli settlers, who committed alleged human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, UK foreign secretary said in an official statement. According to the statement, the decision was taken after an unprecedented increase in violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank over the past year. "There have been unprecedented levels of violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank over the past year. Some residents of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts have used harassment, intimidation and violence to put pressure on Palestinian communities to leave their land," read the statement. "Two of the individuals designated today--Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy--have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities. One illegal outpost, set up by Zvi Bar Yosef, has been described by local Palestinian residents as a "source of systematic intimidation and violence," it added. The new measures include strict financial and travel restrictions. "These sanctions follow the announcement by the Foreign Secretary in December that the UK plans to ban those responsible for settler violence from entering the UK to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these unacceptable acts," the statement read. Foreign Secretary David Cameron alleged that these Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians and forcing them to leave their lands at gunpoint, adding that the violence is 'illegal' and 'unacceptable'. "Today's sanctions place restrictions on those involved in some of the most egregious abuses of human rights. We should be clear about what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs. This behaviour is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through," he said. "Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians," he added. NEC Corporation India, a leader in IT and network technologies and a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC, has announced the launch of enhanced technology solutions as part of the Global Smart City Suite that includes NEC Mi-Command (Integrated Command and Control Centre), NEC Mi-City (Citizen Engagement Portal), NEC Mi-Eye (Intelligent Video Analytics), and NEC Mi-WareSync (Warehouse Management System). These solutions aim to provide transparency and visibility for efficient management and decision-making, ensuring seamless operations among organizations and authorities, and offering enhanced experiences for citizens, businesses, and communities. NEC's technological solutions have been at the core of India's infrastructural development, positively impacting the lives of the people. As part of In India for India, From India for Global focus, the rich reservoir of engineering talent and diverse use cases from India are being replicated at a global scale to fuel the next wave of growth for NEC globally. Striving to address the needs of rapidly evolving communities, businesses and governments, these solutions focus on three key functions aligned with a vision of futuristic cities: strengthening the digital foundation, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making capabilities. Aalok Kumar, Corporate Officer & Senior VP - Head of Global Smart City Business, NEC Corporation & President & CEO, NEC Corporation India, said, NEC has played a pivotal role in shaping India's digital and social infrastructure, particularly in public safety, smart cities, logistics, transportation, and more. These differentiated intellectual properties will be a big step towards future proofing our societies through smarter governance and empowering citizens in this digital era. Our extensive experience in navigating the scale and complexity of a rapidly growing nation like India has helped us unearth numerous real-life technology deployment use cases which can be applied to various geographies globally. This underscores our dedication to transforming communities by enhancing safety and intelligence, thereby shaping the future of technology ranging from the outer reaches of space to the depths of the oceans. NEC is a 124-year-old organization that has always created solutions for society, keeping people at the center of innovation. As a world leader in biometrics and submarine cable systems, NEC holds a prominent position in advancing digital transformation and creating truly connected nations. NEC extends its influence by spearheading initiatives in smart cities, intelligent transportation, and smart logistics. NEC also has one of the most robust AI practices that cuts across various industry verticals globally. Industry-Leading Solutions NEC Mi-Command (Integrated Command and Control Centre) NEC Mi-Command is an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), offering a single, unified platform for efficient city operations and management. It empowers smart cities to tackle challenges related to urban infrastructure development, resource management, and incident response. It provides capabilities such as alert management, incident management, standard operating procedure (SOP) management, device management, geospatial tracking, live dashboards, live video feeds, analytics and insights. It is a key component of NEC's comprehensive solution for smart city and enterprise management, offering a highly customizable, data-agnostic, and security-focused approach to address a wide range of operational needs and requirements. Link: Link: Video Link: Website NEC Mi-City (Citizen Engagement Portal) NEC Mi-City is a comprehensive platform designed to strengthen the connection between citizens, governments, and agencies. This unified citizen services web portal simplifies access to government services, offering a user-friendly interface for tasks such as permits, licenses, and document retrieval, eliminating the need for long lines and complex processes. Beyond service access, NEC Mi-City empowers citizens with information on policies and reforms, while enabling agencies to communicate directly with the public, fostering transparency and collaboration. Link: Link: Link: Video Link: Website NEC Mi-Eye (Intelligent Video Analytics) NEC Mi-Eye is powered by AI and machine learning, delivers real-time insights on customer behavior, operational efficiency, and security. With features like personal protective equipment (PPE) detection, intrusion alerts, and vehicle recognition, it enhances security, and operational efficiency across sectors, facilitating data-driven decision-making. Link: Link: Link: Video Link: Website NEC Mi-WareSync (Warehouse Management System) NEC Mi-WareSync is a software platform acting as a catalyst for innovation in logistics & supply chains, playing a pivotal role in the evolution of smart logistics. This cloud-based warehouse management solution optimizes inventory, streamlines workflows, and enhances visibility with features like configurable workflows and multiple subscription models. It benefits various industries by improving resource utilization and reducing inventory costs. Link: Link: Video Link: Website Zextras, a leader in developing innovative email solutions, proudly announces the launch of Carbonio Community Edition (CE), a cutting-edge, fully open-source digital workplace platform designed to enable organizations to self-host their collaboration environment for heightened privacy and control. Carbonio CE offers unparalleled privacy for businesses looking for a robust alternative to Open-source solutions such as Zimbra OSE or SaaS solutions such as G Suite Microsoft 365 Online . As a FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) solution, Carbonio CE grants users complete control over their software infrastructure, enabling customization and integration that align with any company's specific requirements. Features This powerful platform integrates essential communication tools such as Email Calendars Contacts Tasks Chats Video chats Facilitating a cohesive environment where team members can easily connect and collaborate from any location whether viaweb clientormobile devices. Privacy and security are at the forefront of Carbonio CE's design, ensuring that sensitive data is kept confidential and safeguarded against unauthorized access. Enterprise-Grade Solution Zextras has harnessed the power of open-source technology, offering businesses of all sizes an enterprise-grade solution without the enterprise-level costs. Carbonio CE's scalable architecture ensures that it can effortlessly adapt to organizations' evolving needs, making it ideal for small to medium businesses (SMBs). In addition to the natively available features, Carbonio CE is bolstered by Zextras' celebrated expertise in email solutions and collaboration systems. This new offering is set to revolutionize how businesses communicate internally and is a testament to Zextras' dedication to delivering first-rate technological solutions. Availability Carbonio CE is now available for download, enabling businesses to take their first step toward a more secure, efficient, and collaborative digital workplace. For more information about Carbonio Community Edition and how it can transform your organization's communication infrastructure, please visit https://lp.zextras.com/carbonio-ce/?utm_source=business_wire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=carbonio_ce_launch About Zextras Zextras is an industry-leading software development company that specializes in creating advanced solutions designed to enhance digital communication and collaboration platforms. With a strong focus on user privacy and open-source technology, Zextras is committed to providing sophisticated yet intuitive tools that cater to the demands of an evolving digital landscape. For more information, please visit https://lp.zextras.com/carbonio-ce/?utm_source=business_wire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=carbonio_ce_launch View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205278531/en/ You could say that a lot is riding on the Lexus LBX. Not only is it Lexus first three-letter named model after the LFA supercar, but becaus... Saint-Gobain appoints new president of SGDB France 13 February 2024 Effective from 1 April 2024, Olivier Mercadal will become president of Saint-Gobain Distribution Batiment France (SGDB France), reporting to Thierry Fournier, CEO France and CEO Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa Region for Saint-Gobain. Mr Mercadal succeeds Patrice Richard who has decided to retire after 29 years, including the last 14 years as head of construction material trading activities in France. Mr Mercadal joined Saint-Gobain in 2001 and held the positions of executive general manager of POINT.P Occitanie, Dispano and, since 2016, CEO of the Sanitary Heating activity. Patrices strategic vision, his tactical sense, his in-depth knowledge of the world of construction and in particular of the trading of building materials, his personal involvement and commitment at all times to the service of craftsmen customers, as well as his closeness to the teams, have been decisive in building the success of Saint-Gobain's solutions in France and its leadership in sustainable construction, said Mr Fournier. Building on his rich career within the group, Olivier will focus in particular on continuing the efforts led by SGDB France to play a key role in supporting and training craftsmen on the subjects of energy renovation and new construction contributing to accelerate the transition to more sustainable construction and the reduction of the carbon impact of buildings, he added. Published under This service is a courtesy for our print subscribers to give them access to our online edition at no additional cost - if you haven't registered on the new site, you must do it now before you do anything else. FourBridges Capital Advisors announced Monday that Southeast Lineman Training Center completed a recapitalization transaction to bring in an additional growth-oriented partner to fuel additional opportunities. FourBridges led the transaction on behalf of SLTC owners, David Powell, PJ Nardy and private equity firm Sovereign's Capital. Based in Trenton, just 20 miles from Chattanooga across the Tennessee state line, SLTC is a school for electrical and communications lineworker training. Established in 1999, SLTC is one of the largest lineworker training schools in the United States, training more than 1,000 linemen annually. SLTC has experienced rapid growth with the surging demand for linemen, due to the national focus on upgrading the power grid and communications infrastructure, along with the widespread retirement of veteran linemen. In 2020, Mr. Powell and Mr. Nardy partnered with private equity firm Sovereigns Capital to help unlock the growth potential of the company in a manner consistent with the values of the company. The partnership has been a tremendous success, said Mr. Powell, and we have been able to deliver on our mission to provide training in a realistic and challenging environment, where individuals can establish the foundation necessary to succeed as lineworkers in the electrical utility and communications industries. Mr. Nardy underscored the importance of quality partnerships, noting, Outstanding companies are built on outstanding cultures, and those are built on trust. With Sovereigns Capital, we have had a partner we can trust. Having experienced significant growth, and because they were receiving a lot of unsolicited inquiries, the owners agreed to assess the market to determine their options and identify additional partners interested in investing in the future of SLTC. Their first call was to Ralph Montgomery, managing director at FourBridges Capital, because FourBridges had led a successful transaction on behalf of Sovereigns Capital in 2022 and Mr. Powell and Mr. Nardy were familiar with multiple members of the FourBridges team. Sovereign's had a great outcome working with FourBridges on a previous transaction, said Michael Tremain, managing partner of Sovereigns Equitys private equity practice. It only made sense to re-engage their team whom we knew could run an efficient process to maximize value on the best possible terms with the best possible partner. Their experience in the Industrial Services sector was extremely helpful on this transaction as well. According to Mr. Powell, We had received inquiries from several larger firms and felt we knew who the most likely investors would be. However, we were impressed by the large number of parties that FourBridges brought to the table, and their expertise in leading us through a very complex and time-consuming process, he said. We were delighted with the outcome After conducting a broad process and reviewing a number of attractive offers from qualified parties, the team was confident that they found the best fit based on the alignment around transaction terms, strategic vision and company culture. "We couldn't be more pleased to help SLTC achieve its objectives and protect the familys legacy by partnering with a strategic and financial partner that will help unleash the companys full growth potential, said Ralph Montgomery, FourBridges managing director. From cultural alignment to immediate synergies with its existing portfolio companies, an attractive operating partner approach, and aggressive growth orientation, it was the perfect fit." It was a pleasure working with David, PJ and the Sovereigns team added Andrew Allred, vice president at FourBridges. It was gratifying to see the amount of interest that was generated based on the companys performance and reputation in the marketplace. With additional investment, SLTC will continue to accelerate growth, and has plans to expand the existing campus to accommodate more students. As part of that growth strategy, SLTC will be actively pursuing add-on investment opportunities. Mr. Powell, Mr. Nardy and Sovereigns Capital will continue as owners, and Mr. Powell and Mr. Nardy will continue in their roles at the helm of the company. Legal advisors to SLTC and the ownership group were David Spiller and Merrill Nelson of Miller & Martin LLP and Tyler Hand of Holland & Knight LLP. The Planning Commission on Monday afternoon recommended rezoning for a $135 million Thrive Senior Living project on a former 81.5-acre dairy farm at Ooltewah. Some residents objected to more traffic on clogged Snow Hill Road at the site just north of Ooltewah High School. Planning Commission member Chris Anderson said the senior living use was the "least impactful" option for the site, which he said was going to be developed one way or the other. Mike Price of MAP Engineers said it would "set a new example for responsible growth." He said there would be limited trips by the senior residents and few school age children. Mr. Price said 15 acres would be left as community space and buffer. He said the developers would build a new left turn lane at the location. A traffic study is underway, he stated. The project will include 447 residential units, including 175 and 20 active adult units, 149 for senior living and 93 single-family homes. He estimated the site would generate 1,791 trips per day, which he said was far lower than if an apartment complex had gone in. He said there was an effort to put apartments on the former Brooks farm. Don McDowell said that vicinity is already "a traffic nightmare. I can't image what it will be with this development." He said, "It's a beautiful layout, but it's absolutely in the wrong place." Attorney John Konvalinka said he represents 40 residents who are opposed. Planning Commission member Darrin Ledford said, "People are moving into Hamilton County in record numbers." On narrow roads out in the county like Snow Hill Road, he said, "At some point there needs to be a conversation about providing infrastructure." Valleybrook residents said they have a number of concerns about a nearby project by Pratt and Associates, but the Planning Commission gave the development its blessing. The Pratt group was asking to change an earlier approved Planned Unit Development (PUD) at the site near where Cassandra Smith Road meets Hixson Pike at Publix. The request was to go from 7.3 acres with 44 units to 7.75 acres with 62 units. Ian Blackmore of Pratt said the firm had planned to build a product almost identical to the nearby two-story Nestledown units. However, he said older residents are now favoring single-story homes. He said six of the taller Nestledown homes are sitting vacant. The new one-story villa style homes will be "zero maintenance," he said. Greg Taylor, president of Friends of Hixson, said 254 residents with concerns about the project had signed a petition. He said the Pratt group had removed all the vegetation. "It's horrible to look at." Mr. Taylor said a large amount of fill was brought in so that its elevation is now within two feet of the top of privacy fences at adjacent homes. Rick Nelson said he has an eight-foot fence and he now can see "the belt buckles" of people walking on the Pratt side. There were also concerns about a planned dog park giving off noise and smells. Mr. Blackmore said it was placed near Hixson Pike as far away from homes as possible. There will also be a playground and pickleball area. Mr. Blackmore said it earlier appeared that a concrete basin with four walls would be required for the detention area. He said that will now be an earthen basin. Planning Commission members asked the Pratt group to continue working with the Valleybrook group prior to the case going to the City Council. The Planning Commission on Monday afternoon heard a rare request - a developer asking to go from an approved 57 lots down to just 12 lots. Rocky Chambers of Chattanooga Engineering Company said the developer on a project at 712 and 7620 Snow Hill Road had decided to concentrate on just the 12 homes. He said the new plan would help preserve a number of large trees on the property. Wayne Rich, a neighbor, told the commission, "I haven't heard from one person who is not elated about this." Kim Helton said she was also elated, but she said there was a concern about going from one curb cut on the project to 12. She said on the narrow, very congested Snow Hill Road that would bring issues with school buses, mail trucks, garbage trucks and the like having to stop at all the driveways and backing up traffic. Mr. Chambers said having a shared driveway "doesn't really work with this traditional neighborhood." The commission recommended approval on the project, leaving in the 12 curb cuts. The following article does not involve any illicit or promiscuous content between non Baptist or Methodists during the 20 inch snow blizzard in January 2024 that forced the closing of all institutions of learning for a week, shortages of milk and bread, and a monetary bonanza for two truck towing operators pulling speeding victims out of black ice ditches. In Won't You Come Home Billy Bob Bailey (1980 at Peachtree Publishers) Louis Grizzard, described what homebound Americans could do to entertain themselves and others because of the gasoline shortage of the era. An article in one of the nation's leading financial publications was cited by LG as to how an individual could entertain themselves, even if they had no swimming pool, no cable TV, no video machine, and last rode a bicycle at the age of 12. (No political reference to the 45th president of the USA during the political season.) Right in the comfort of your own home, no matter how modest it might be, you can have loads of fun and tell the Arab oil peddlers to go eat some sand. What follows is Grizzard's Treasure Chest of Homespun Fun. Planning a trip to Disney World? Who needs it? Stay home, America, and: 1. PLAY WITH THE KIDS: You remember your kids. Skeeter is eleven. Barney is eight. After you have played with your kids for a while, lock the little boogers in a closet and have a couple of belts. But remember to let them out in time for tomorrow's roof climb and picnic. 2. EAT: Fun for the entire family. Instead of three meals a day, eat twelve. If you take an hour for each meal, and an hour in between, that's an entire day and it's time to eat again. Soon, the opportunity will arise for other fun home games. Like trying to find Mom's original chin. Hide-and-go-seek in Dad's trousers. And pin the tail on the "Whale," baby sister's new nickname. 3 TAKE BATHS: Rub-a-dub-dub, just relaxing in the tub. Invite your neighbors. If things go well, you may never want to leave home again. 4. CLEAN OUT YOUR ATTIC OR BASEMENT: Who knows what you might find there? Remember your Uncle Fred, who's been missing since 1958? Dust him off and you've got another entry for the houseplant-swallowing tournament. 5. STOMPING ANTS: There are always a lot of ants around the house. How many ants can you stomp? 6. COUNTING STOMPED ANTS: Tedious as heck, but a great way to relax after stomping a few hundred thousand ants. 7. SETTING THE GARAGE ON FIRE: Wow! See the bright red fire engines! Hear the shrill of their sirens! See the brave firemen battle the blaze! See the friendly insurance man deliver the check! 8. MEMORIZE THE PHONE BOOK: "Aaron" to "Zzbowski," hours of good, clean fun. Unless, of course, you live in Yellville, Arkansas, where it will take you approximately nine minutes. 9. MONOPOLY: Four can play, but Monopoly may have changed a bit since you played it last. "Free Parking" is now a condominium complex, and when you pass "GO" you have to PAY $200. Also, you can't take a ride on the Reading (railroads) anymore. With the gasoline shortage, trains are booked solid. (Cant do in Choo Choo City now but you could travel to Summerville, GA and other destinations on one of Tennessee Valley Railroads, TVR, historic rail car and diner.) * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway will close for scheduled preventative maintenance on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and is tentatively scheduled to reopen on March 12.As the regional transportation authority and a trusted community partner, CARTA always prioritizes safety and the proper maintenance of our vehicles and facilities, said Charles D. Frazier, CARTAs chief executive officer. We are very thankful to the millions of customers who visit Chattanooga and utilize the railway, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and comfortable experience.Visit ridetheincline.com for more information about the Lookout Mountain Incline Railways reopening. Regions Bank on Tuesday announced its latest Chattanooga-area investment the companys newly built Hixson branch."A superior customer experience is the driving force behind the design of the location, its custom-tailored financial services and the dedication of its entire staff," officials said.The branch on Tennessee Highway 153 at Northpoint Boulevard is, in fact, one of the most modern Regions facilities in all of Tennessee. The large, modern facility replaces the banks older Hixson Pike, Highland and Northgate-Northpoint branch locations.With the opening of our more convenient, more modern Hixson location, were celebrating a new chapter in our banks history of service to Hamilton County and east Tennessee, said Jason Allen, Chattanooga market executive for Regions.When people walk into a Regions location, we want them to experience the best in personal service. This branch is built around the concept of bankers greeting you personally when you enter the door and delivering customized services to not only meet your needs today but also help you plan and achieve your financial goals for the future. From individual consumers to small-business owners, our customers can see the next chapter in Regions approach to personal service here at our newest location."This approach to personal service is powered by an experience called the Regions Greenprint plan that starts with talking to a banker. Through these Greenprint conversations, Regions bankers help individual and small-business customers create personalized plans with recommended next steps to achieve their financial goals," officials said.The Hixson branch also features three Regions DepositSmart ATMs. At one walk-up and two drive-through ATMs, customers can withdraw cash and also make deposits of cash or checks at any time around the clock. In addition to receiving deposits of cash and checks, the machines can actually cash checks for Regions customers, too.As convenient as our enhanced technology is, nothing replaces the personal relationships weve built with customers in Hixson for years, and the response to our new location has already been overwhelming, Hixson Branch Manager Makayla Fletcher said. We are here for more than just opening accounts, cashing checks or issuing loans. Were here to make banking simpler, more intuitive and more beneficial for our neighbors in this community.Our value proposition as a bank is really to help people build confidence in their financial skills, added Jamie Stogsdill, consumer banking manager for Regions. The technology and design of our Hixson branch helps us deliver a personalized path to build confidence from someone who cares. Additional Hixson branch technology advances include wi-fi for customers in the lobby, laptops for bankers that allow them to move with customers throughout the branch and meeting room space and technology for additional customer privacy and consultation.When people come into a bank to make a deposit and theyre not confident about their financial standing, they wont feel comfortable initiating a conversation about things like a low credit score or a lack of budgeting. So, we have designed this bank branch for easier, personal and private conversations on everything from budgeting money to increasing a credit score to building a financial plan. Its about helping customers build a personalized path to financial confidence.Growing and establishing new community connections is also at the top of the agenda for the Hixson branch, beginning with a grand opening set for March 12 at 9 a.m. Regions leaders will join the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting outside the branch. The bank will also make a grant presentation to community partners. Ms. Fletcher said her local team is proud to welcome neighbors to the new facility.The Hixson team is excited to be part of the new branch. We see the significant impact that we have in our community, and we want to continue to promote Regions as the place to bank, Ms. Fletcher said. Each local banker is committed to doing things the Regions way and investing in the lives of our neighbors. We are excited to see how lives will be changed in the Hixson community as a result.The Hixson branchs lobby hours are: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.Drive-through hours are: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Dont let the headline fool you. Christian music artist Anne Wilson has no plans on bending her signature faith message and lyrical content to enter another music universe and trade her Church Out of Me music for honky-tonk songs that currently dominate Country radio. Wilson has toured with Christian music powerhouses Crowder, Casting Crowns, Phil Wickham, to name a few, but could be the first successful artist to be in direct support for a major Country music tour. She is currently the opening act for the Cab in a Solo tour with Country artist Scotty McCreery, and is set to release a new album, REBEL, in April. The albums current release, God & Country, is a big and bold, right-down-the middle faith-based country song and its very, very good. The song was written alongside some of Country musics biggest songwriters. To drive that point home about Wilsons mindset, she has made it clear there isnt intentional writing going on behind the scenes for Christian or Country radio. She doesnt write for anyone else the 21-year-old just writes, and the lyrics and melodies her fans hear in a final product are a reflection of her upbringing in the state of Kentucky. Wilson shares that recording for the country format wasnt on her radar, but it was on the radar of the president of Universal Music Group in Nashville (parent company to Wilsons Christian Music label) who heard something special in her singing and artistry. He eventually called and asked her to sign an expanded recording contract that would open new doors and expose her talent to a new audience that hadn't heard her previous music. I got a call in January of last year, and the [Universal Music Group] president asked if we would be willing to partner with them in a joint-venture, and record an album with both labels behind it, so were set to release that record in April of this year, and I couldnt be more excited to share this new music, said Wilson. In 2021, Wilson built a massive fan-base in Christian music with the platinum selling song, My Jesus, the first single ever released by the artist. But Wilson faces some unknowns by introducing a new format. In the 1990s, Christian artist Amy Grant crossed over to pop music with an international best-selling song, Baby, Baby, from her 1991 Heart in Motion record which entered the Billboard top 200 and peaked at #10. Grant admitted years later that many of her fans questioned whether Christian music was intended to be a stepping-stone, and wondered if pop music was the format she was after from the very beginning. Other Christian music artists have attempted Christian Country altogether and failed almost instantly. However, music formats are dying hard and fast, and Wilson is up for the challenge of whichever arena her music falls into. My view of success is not the way the world views success, and when people ask me what my goals are, the only response I have is that I want to create music that people love and [music] that inspires them, said Wilson. Going REBEL: Even before the new record deal came to fruition, many working in Christian radio would tell Wilson that they loved her songs, but they were too Country and decided not to play her music despite the overt faith-based lyrical content being prevalent on every song released to Christian radio. Frustrated with that feedback, Wilson says she drilled down on the music she was making. I was getting this feedback, and it was fueling me to do my own thing and not apologize for it. This is who I am, and I had this song title, REBEL, for years, and I got together with some writers, and we wrote the song which ultimately will serve as the theme and name of the upcoming album set to release April 19, explained Wilson. Wilson wants to be clear she isnt ditching Christian music in any way, and anyone who listens to the first four songs on REBEL cant argue against what drives the artist Jesus and the Christian faith are a central theme to every song. Anne Wilsons REBEL-ness is found in her recording a song the way she wants it to sound, but still focused on positive things that make a difference for the listener. I thought I would get a lot of hate after signing this record deal, but I havent at all. Yes, there are artists who have ditched Christian music for bigger successes, and its happened before, but Im not here to prove myself right or wrong, and my music speaks for itself in that Im very clear about my faith, and have no plans to move on from Christian music because my faith is in me and Im writing about whats in me, said Wilson. With music format barriers dissolving with rapid pace, and recent announcements of hip-hop artists crossing over to Country music, Wilson has timing, team and songwriters set in the right direction to chart a course for things to go quite well for her in 2024. Anne Wilsons 16-song REBEL album comes out April 19 and is available for pre-order now everywhere streaming music is sold. Chattanooga Police Officers, Captain Daniel Francis, Sergeant Lee Salyers and Sergeant Jeremiah Cook will lead Rescue 82s seventh relief mission to Ukraine in March.The police officers will be joined by United States Air Force veteran and pastor of Kimball Baptist Church, Bruce Howland, as well as McCallie alumnus Evan Monsees.All team members from the Chattanooga-based non-profit are using their vacation time to travel to the war-torn country and serve alongside Ukrainian pastors and chaplains distributing food and supplies.Rescue 82 was inside Ukraine just 34 days after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.Rescue 82 founder, Jeremiah Cook, said, After two years of full-scale war, the suffering of the Ukrainian people continues. We hope to help as many people as possible on our upcoming mission.Rescue 82 consists of first responders, military veterans and like-minded individuals committed to using their skills and abilities to help those suffering in the middle of war, conflict and disaster. Anyone wishing to support their efforts can learn more at rescue82.org. Send inquiries to office@rescue82.org. The truth is that teaching is a challenging profession that requires a unique set of skills and abilities, and not everyone is cut out for it. The pandemic worsened the problem of recruiting and retaining public school teachers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 86 percent of US K-12 public schools face challenges in hiring teachers for the 2023-24 academic year. The same report also shows that 83 percent of schools struggle to recruit non-teaching staff, including classroom aides, transportation staff, and mental health professionals. Fewer students are choosing to enter the education field, while schools across America are seeing an increased need for new teachers. We need more qualified teachers in education. Improve training programs and offer incentives to attract and retain skilled educators. We must focus on retaining top-tier educators, leaving the field with better policies. The current teacher shortage, particularly in special education, math, and science, and in schools serving marginalized students, will undoubtedly worsen due to the predicted increase in the school-going population. Colleges of Education must provide high-quality teachers for CTE areas such as business, agriculture, health, automotive, and mechatronics. Improving the skills of paraprofessionals is equally essential. We must assess our situation honestly and provide accurate information to those considering teaching. Teaching is challenging but fulfilling. The positive is teaching allows educators to influence their students' lives positively. It offers a consistent schedule with extended breaks throughout the academic year. Working together with students, parents, and community members is not just important; it's crucial. This collaborative approach supports professionals and helps students reach their full potential and strive towards a brighter future for our students by working together. Good teachers are lifelong learners, building bonds with students and inspiring them to succeed. They're always in demand, and adaptable teachers should have no trouble finding a job. The negative is teachers have many responsibilities beyond classroom duties, such as grading assignments, planning lessons, and completing paperwork. The unpredictable nature of each student and lesson demands their utmost attention, creating a challenging classroom environment. Preparation time is often insufficient. Teachers work beyond school hours, including weekends and evenings, to meet these demands confidently. They also spend summers cleaning, organizing, and attending professional development. Despite the crucial role of teaching in society, it is still undervalued and pays poorly. Teachers face challenges managing classrooms, disciplining students, and navigating the education system. They often work extra jobs to make ends meet. Parental support is crucial, and society should recognize and support teachers. Education shifts constantly. Politicians force new demands on teachers, adding to their workload. High-stakes standardized tests are emphasized yearly, with teacher performance based on student scores. Passionate adults should pursue a career in education despite the negatives. Recruiting teachers is a challenge that cannot be ignored. Addressing this issue should be a top priority for all educational institutions. Only by recognizing the gravity of the situation and working together can we find ways to tackle this problem. Schools and districts may soon need to put up help wanted signs. Public education isn't broken. Public education policy is broken, and neighborhood public schools suffer the consequences. Many times, decades of societal issues are not addressed. These cultural issues get laid at the feet of public schools. Our teachers are on the front lines, and they are tired. The teacher shortage is not looming; the teacher shortage is here. JC Bowman Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee * * * The intrusion of adamant parents and organizations like Moms for Liberty have chased away the highly qualified teachers, pushing them away from teaching and into another profession. There is no way that I would either teach in the public school system or encourage people to teach. In addition to the parents and Moms for Liberty, the legislature is too involved. In one school system that I read about recently, 100 books were stripped from the shelves on one parents recommendation. Removing books is a rather stupid idea since a parent who recommends that books be removed is probably the parent of a child with a smart phone. You do not need a library to find out what the student is looking for, just Google it. If Momma tries to lock things like that out, the kid down the street knows how to unlock it. The same is true, of course, with a desktop computer. If a child is looking for information on homosexuality or trans sexuality, there is a reason for it. I have spent many an hour in the education departments of probably 500 universities and colleges in several states. I have called on far more public schools than I have colleges. I have never been impressed with education departments. My first grade teacher at St. Elmo Elementary never spent a day in college but she was the best teacher I had in my 12 years in schools in Chattanooga. Ninety-eight percent of the teachers in the system in the late 1940s through to 1960 were incredible. There are, on occasions, teachers who should sit on a skate board at the top of a hill and pushed. My 11th grade history teacher was one of those but even having a poor teacher in history, that was my major in college. I know of one school system that I called on long ago where the teachers were all inbred, they would not hire a teacher if they did not go through their school system. The only way that you are going to get good teachers is to get good parents who want their kids to learn and the schools not to be baby sitters. The board of education is not a group of people that meet regularly, it is the dining room table at home, with a bowl of ice cream and some Oreo cookies and good conversation with the child about what he or she did at school that day. Also, before he even is old enough to go to school, read to the children. Raleigh C. Perry A $144,049 grant has been awarded to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Special Collections by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) to process the papers of Dr. Tommie Brown, a former UTC professor, department head and state legislator.Brown, who donated her papers to Special Collections in March 2023, was a professor of social work at UTC from 1971 - 1998 and a Democratic legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1992 - 2012. She created the social work program at UTC and, in 1980, became the first Black woman to head an academic department at the University.According to Carolyn Runyon, assistant head of collection services for the UTC Library and director of Special Collections, this is the first large-scale federal grant the library has received since she came to UTC in 2013.Im excited the federal granting agency saw how important this collection is, Runyon said.Its nice to have that external recognition.She said to win the award, the papers needed to be approved by an anonymous peer review, the NHPRC and the Archivist of the United States.Browns papers, which are kept in individual boxes, stretch up to about 125 feet all of which need to be processed. The grant, Runyon said, will pay for a full - time professional archivist, a student assistant, acid-free boxes, folders to protect the materials and additional equipment.Runyon explained what acquiring Browns papers means to the UTC community and those who will one day be able to view the documents.Even though shes long retired from public service, when I think about her work here on campus and in the community, she has been an outstanding mentorespecially in the Black community in Chattanooga, Runyon said.Runyon also acknowledged the broader impact of the NHPRC award and how it will help the librarys mission to preserve history.It is recognition, not only of the significance of her papers, but that Special Collections can responsibly and ethically curate and steward these materials, she said. Country Music artist Drake White will be performing at The Signal on March 2. Review for Drake White: Drake Whites musical voyage continues with his latest EP The Bridge, following summer releases Spirit and Ladder To The Sky. His The Bridge tour will support musical his freshly released seven-song collection of inspiration, love and conviction. Drake White grew up singing in his churchs youth choir in Alabama before becoming one of country musics most spirited innovators, earning four Top 40 hits and traveling the country on multiple nationwide tours. His 2013 debut single Simple Life introduced his brand of Country Soul, which he cemented with 2016 debut album SPARK followed by the EPs Pieces and Stars. In August 2019, he collapsed on stage due to a hemorrhagic stroke, and doctors told him he might never perform again. After undergoing a series of operations to repair his Arteriovenous Malformation and months of physiotherapy, White has proved them wrong, returning to the road to spread his incredible positivity to his fans. In 2022 he embarked on his headline The Optimystic Tour, which spanned dates in the U.S. and the U.K., in support of his album The Optimystic, which is an inspiring glimpse into the journey he has taken over the past few years, and the extremely accomplished album (American Songwriter) delivers a powerful message (Nashville Lifestyles) via Whites smooth brand of country-soul (Billboard). With more music on the way, White released his EP The Bridge in early October to mark a brand-new era of self-discovery and purpose. White has received accolades including Rolling Stones 10 Country Artists You Need to Know, The Grammys Artist of Tomorrow and the British CMA Awards International Song of the Year and has shared the bill with Country music superstars like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band. East Ridge Residence welcomes Jordan Bloom as the new Community Relations director. Ms. Bloom has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mi. She has worked in the marketing field for the past six plus years and has a wide range of experience in marketing, communications and graphic design. She moved to Georgia roughly two years ago and is absolutely loving life in the south. She said she is very excited to bring her experience to East Ridge Residence. Joining the wonderful team of directors here will be an exciting new challenge to me, as this is my first time working in senior living," said Ms. Bloom. "With that being said, I would love to tour you and your loved ones around our community and help welcome you home to East Ridge Residence. While Jordan may be new to the senior industry, I have no doubt she will bring an experienced yet fresh outlook to all things senior living," said Amy Silvers, executive director." Her heart for service coupled with her drive and determination to succeed in finding seniors a way to live their best life at East Ridge Residence and give them an affordable option for housing at the same time, will make her very successful. To reach her to schedule an appointment, call 899-6370 or email jbloom@eastridgeresidence.com. The reality star shared the sad news on Instagram, revealing just how much of an influence this person had on her life as both a child and adult. Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star Nicole Polizzi is mourning the loss of her best friend and beloved grandmother Mary Jerminario. The reality television star shared the sad news on her Instagram page late in the afternoon of Feb. 12, 2024. Nicole Polizzi says her beloved Nanny was the best The Jersey Shore star posted a series of family photos and a sweet message on Instagram to share the news her grandmother, Mary Jerminario, had died. Polizzi called her Nanny the best. She wrote, Today I lost the best grandparent I could ever ask for. My best friend. Polizzi recalled good times with her grandmother in the caption of the series of five photographs. I will never ever forget you & your Sunday dinners, she wrote. You def spoiled me rotten. Id do anything to go back as a kid and experience it all over again. She concluded, You were a true angel on earth. I love you so much, Nanny. Nicole Polizzis Jersey Shore family shared their condolences Nicole Polizzis Jersey Shore family shared their condolences over their castmates significant loss. While it is unknown how many cast members contacted her privately, others posted their sentiments on Instagram. Im so sorry, Nicole love you. Stay strong; Nanny is at piece [sic] now. Just hold onto the memories. Beautiful memories with you and her. Love you so much. Sorry honey, wrote Uncle Nino, Vinny Guadagninos uncle. Guadagninos mother, Paula, also shared her condolences. So, so sorry, honey. Jenni Farley, Polizzis best friend, and godmother to her firstborn son, Lorenzo with Jionni LaValle, also shared a social media message. Im so sorry, Nicole. She was the best. Mike The Situation Sorrentinos wife, Lauren Sorrentino, also commented on the series of sentimental photographs. She penned, So sorry for your loss, sending love. Jenn Harley, Ronnie Ortiz-Magros ex and mother of his daughter Ariana, also shared her condolences, as did Polizzis Jersey Shore co-star Deena Cortese and her podcast co-host Joey Camasta. Nicole Polizzi was raised in a traditional Italian family Nicole Polizzi has always been very open about her adoption story. She shared details of her life in a 2019 YouTube video titled My Adoption Story. Her parents, Helen Jerminario and Andy Polizzi adopted Nicole from Chile when she was six months old. She said in the video that it was meant to be that she was part of their family. Polizzi was born in Chile but raised in an Italian-American family. Her memories from her youth include the traditional Sunday dinners made famous on Jersey Shore. She noted in her Instagram post regarding her grandmothers passing that she would miss her Sunday Dinners. These memories were part of the amazing life given to Polizzi by her adoptive parents. My adoptive parents gave me an amazing life, she said. I have a great family. Season 7 of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on MTV. Prince Harry's trip to the UK didn't last long, and one royal expert thinks it was Prince William's way of warning his brother. Will the feud ever end between these two? Prince Harry made his way over to London shortly after King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis. However, the trip turned out to be much quicker than anyone could have anticipated. Harry was in and out of the United Kingdom within about 24 hours, and it later surfaced that Harry and his father only sat down for about 45 minutes some think it was even less. Now, one expert says Harrys quick trip was symbolic of a clear message from Prince William considering the two brothers never met up during the visit. Prince William and Prince Harry | Jack Taylor/Getty Images Prince William subtly hinted that he isnt ready to forgive Prince Harry When Harry touched down in the UK, nobody knew how long he would stay. But hardly anyone was expecting him to be spotted back at the airport less than 24 hours later. Harry met up with Charles, and the two had a sit-down, though details on the conversation have not been revealed. Harry did not meet up with his brother William at any point during the visit, and Harry did not stop by to see Kate Middleton, who has been at home recovering after abdominal surgery. Its a clear message there: Youre certainly not forgiven and youve certainly done a lot of damage, royal expert Robert Jobson told The Sun (via Express) of Williams decision not to meet with his brother. The fact that his brother didnt even bother to acknowledge him; they were very close and he didnt even bat an eyelid. There was no way that that was going to happen. Of course, we dont know the absolute details of Harrys trip. Its possible that he and William both agreed they didnt need to meet up. Its also possible that hes been in contact with William through other means rather than an in-person meetup. And, of course, its possible the two brothers really just cant stand each other. Prince Harry and Prince William | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Its unclear when Prince Harry will return to the UK Not much is known about Charles diagnosis. The prognosis and treatment plan, as well as the cancers type and stage, have remained a mystery. Those factors likely indicate how much time Harry will spend across the pond and whether Meghan Markle and the kids will join him at any point. Harry left the UK in a rush, but that doesnt mean he wont be back soon. He might have just wanted to receive the details in person so that he could create a game plan for how he would approach visiting his family (and how often) in the future. For now, Harry is back home in the UK, but it wouldnt surprise us if hes been in contact with his father more often since the diagnosis. Regardless, it still appears that Harry and William arent planning a sit-down tea party any time soon. Did you grow up around people or parents who saw those who went to a community college instead of a state or Ivy League school less than? If so, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with people who are critical about higher education. One man recently fought with his daughter, who decided to go to a community college instead of a state school against his wishes. Hes 51 and has three kids with his ex-wife. All of his kids are teenagers, and his daughter, who is 18, recently started college. Ever since he and his wife split up, theyve had 50/50 custody of their kids. He has a college fund set up for all of his children, but he has a rule his kids must follow before he allows them to use it. I had an agreement with them that they would receive it after graduating high school as long as they attended a state university, not [a] community college, he explained. I wanted to set them up for success later on, and I knew future employers would take them more seriously if their degree was from a legitimate four-year college. Last spring, when his daughter was applying to schools, she asked for his tax return information so she could fill out financial aid forms. When he went to help her, he noticed she was applying to attend a community college. His daughter explained that her mom encouraged her to attend a community college because they waived tuition fees for first-time students. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. You may have heard that the United States is experiencing a nursing shortage crisis, with swarms of nurses leaving the field due to stress and burnout. We might mainly consider how hard the mass exodus hits hospitals, but the nationwide shortage greatly affects schools as well. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of School Nurses in 2021, over a third of schools across the country do not have a full-time registered nurse, forcing teachers and other staff members to step in. While other school staff may be up to the task, that is no replacement for a school nurse who is professionally trained to handle injuries and respond to medical emergencies. It also prevents teachers and administrators from doing their actual jobs. These days, school nurses are more essential than ever, what with the rising rates of chronic illnesses and mental health crises among students. For some students, school nurses are the only access they have to health care. High stress, underappreciation, and low pay all contribute to the ongoing school nurse shortages. School nurses are often stretched to their limits while on the job. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having at least one full-time nurse for every 750 students, but in most schools, they are falling below the requirement. In some cases, like in California, there is only one nurse for every 2,410 students. School nurses usually have to handle medical emergencies alone, without any other trained health staff to assist them. Furthermore, the work they do is often underappreciated. School nurses do more than just give out band-aids and ice packs. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. One October afternoon in 1973, my brother stood in front of a dozen secondary students in Bario, a remote village in Sarawak, Malaysia. In tears, 23-year-old Solomon Bulan announced his resignation as the advisor of the schools Inter-Christian Students Fellowship, confessing that he felt unworthy to lead the group. He saw himself as a hypocrite, lacking personal conviction and a relationship with God. He felt disgusted and ashamed of his lifestyle of drinking and partying, and he struggled to model what he was preaching to the students. At the close of the meeting, a normally timid student suddenly began to cry as he also asked for forgiveness from his friends for his wrongdoings and confessed and repented of his sins. Another student piped up, then more and more, until the whole room was filled with cries of repentance. Their cries were agonizing, pleading with God for mercy while others went around hugging their friends as they confessed their sins to each other, seeking forgiveness, all amidst unrestrained tears, Bulan later wrote in a book we published together in 2004. The massive outpouring went on for at least 45 minutes. The following week, the revival reached Bario Primary School, where I was a third-grade student. I remember older students pleading with their classmates, Please forgive me. Jesus is coming soon! Lets forgive one another and repent. From such humble beginnings came the 1973 Bario Revival, which spread through the various villages of our indigenous Kelabit tribe and into neighboring tribes and communities. Repentance, reconciliation, and restoration radically transformed the communitys perspective of God and church, resulting in an immediate cultural shift. It also set off four waves of revivals in the next 11 years. More than 50 years later, the fruits of the revival are still evident in Bario and other tribal communities. It has also contributed significantly to the growth of the Malaysian churchthe Borneo Evangelical Mission, locally known as Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), is one of the largest evangelical denominations in the country today. These events could only be supernatural and the works of our God, wrote Osart Jallong, one of the 12 students at the meeting, on the 40th anniversary of the revival. We were mere kampong (village) boys who knew very little about Gods works. I was timid and would not, in my natural self, carry myself to speak to a large crowd of people. But at that time, we feared nobody and would speak and pray for anyone. Only God could give us such courage and words to speak! Article continues below A changed Bario Bario is located in the remotest part of the Kelabit highlands in northern Sarawak on the island of Borneo, which is shared by three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Bario is home to the close-knit Kelabit people. Australian missionary Charles Hudson Southwell, founder of the Borneo Evangelical Mission, reported the first known conversion among this small tribe (then 5,000 people) in January 1940. In 1943, Aris Doemat of the China Missionary Alliance (CMA) in Surabaya, Indonesia, visited the highland villages, and the Kelabit in Bario converted en masse. Missionaries also built the first schools in the village. The introduction of formal education enhanced the Kelabits experience of liberation from oppressive rituals and control of evil spirits. Over time, as a new generation grew up, nominalism set in. Growing up, I learned to pray before eating, bathing, sleeping, and going to school. But when the revival came, the sense of the fear of God and his holiness became pervasive. I remember daily confessing my sins to God. I desired to be in his presence and sought miraculous signs of his presence all the time. My friends and I attended adult prayer meetings and services whenever we could and we even held our own prayer meetings. We often prayed to have visions of God. One night, I encountered God, who assured me that he would always be present to protect me like a mother hen. Image: Courtesy of Lillian Bulan-Dorai / Edits by CT Around me, villagers were overtaken by a deep consciousness of Gods holiness. They stopped drinking and smoking. They got baptized and repented of sins such as pride, lying, adultery, witchcraft, and sorcery. Some returned what they had stolen and gave to the church generously. One man confessed to murder. Yet because of the prevailing conviction to forgive every sin, offenders didnt face criminal proceedings. The spirit of reconciliation among the villagers was so strong that all pending cases at the court were resolved, and for a number of years, the courts had no work to do. Despite investing their time in preaching around the villages, the secondary students still managed to do well in their qualifying exams conducted at the end of October that year, earning the schools best results to date. Even the land healed. The peoples preoccupation with prayer meetings, services, and outreaches meant less time spent in their paddy fields. Yet throughout those few years, the fields yielded an extraordinary harvest. Article continues below Worship and prayer shaped the villagers new response to life. Church services became more vibrant and frequent. Worship was spontaneous, while young people preached boldly and evangelized the adults. In the village chapels, people gathered for daily morning devotion at 5 a.m. and attended services on Wednesday and Saturday nights, while also dedicating their Sundays to three adult services and Sunday school for children. These routines remain today in most churches. Doubts and a revivals spread The villages influential church leaders initially doubted the authenticity of the revival, with some claiming it was simply heightened emotionalism. But Joseph Balan Seling, a respected political leader and seminary-trained church elder, believed otherwise. He promptly returned from a conference in London to Bario upon hearing about the movement. Balan eagerly wrote to his missionary friends in England and Australia with his observations of the revival: The Holy Spirit has come down upon the Kelabit churches in the Bario highlands in a mighty force, somewhat similar to the story recorded in the Book of Acts, the Congo, and the Indonesian revivals. Because the church leaders in Bario deeply respected Balan, they listened as he explained that Bario was witnessing a great visitation of God, just as the apostles had experienced at Pentecost in Acts 2. Balan shared that what was happening in Bario had happened elsewhere in the world, and the leaders finally accepted that this was a revival. The people felt the revival needed to be shared. Young people walked for days through the dense jungle and hilly terrain to share the glorious message of repentance and forgiveness to their neighbors. Everywhere they went, people turned to God, repented, confessed their sins, received healings, and were baptized. In just two months, two other indigenous villagesBakelalan and Taginambur in Sabahalso experienced revival. While these remain the most well-known revivals of Malaysian Borneo, other indigenous communities and churches in the lowlands and towns also experienced their own waves of revival. Revivals waves Revivals ebb and flow. Like a wave, revival will crest at some point, wrote Tom Phillips, author and vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The culmination will be relatively short before the wave follows its natural course and recedes. Its impossible to live at the peak or on the crest forever. A revival will move us to new heights and revitalize us. Article continues below We experienced that in Bario too. After about a year and a half, Bario experienced a season of spiritual dryness. Church attendance dwindled as the meetings became routine. People seemed tired and complacent. Bario lacked the needed spiritual leadership. Looking back, I now see that this was due to the transient nature of Bario church leadership and members. Congregations depended on a handful of government servants, teachers, and church pastors to run weekly services and disciple congregants. Young people often had to leave the village to further their studies in towns and cities. Others left because the village lacked economic opportunities to sustain growing families. The void created by these absences caused Bario to lose the fervor that had started the revival. Nevertheless, a handful of faithful intercessors arose from the Bario Revival. They consistently prayed together, and God graciously sent three more outpourings in 1975, 1979, and 1984. Each wave came with a different thrust, but all carried the certainty of the Holy Spirits power to convict and transform lives and drove the villagers to evangelism. The second wave was ignited by visits from an Indonesian charismatic preacher, Yohanes Sakai, in 1975, refreshing the community after a period of stagnancy. This wave was marked by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with people breaking out in tongues, experiencing healing and deliverance, seeing visions, and receiving words of prophecy with immediate interpretations. New and prophetic songs emergedsometimes spontaneouslyinspired by the Holy Spirit. People experienced deliverance and healing simply through claiming Gods power with the lyrics of songs like BilurNya, BilurNya Sungguh Heran (His Stripes Are Miraculous) and In the Name of Jesus. For instance, one young woman with a serious eye impairment was healed, and she never wore her thick spectacles again. I remember the exuberance in the worship and prayer after each testimony of healing. Without fail, the great hymn How Great Thou Art, sung in our native language, would bring us down to our knees in thanksgiving, worship, and adoration. Mission teams went out from Bario to the villages and tribes scattered near and far. They returned with reports of miracles: healing of diseases as well as deliverance from the occult and demon possession. Article continues below The third revival wave in 1979 came as global influences, technological advancements, and socioeconomic changes brought materialism and self-obsession into our village. The church was deeply concerned about young professionals who had backslid or left the faith and about several prominent church leaders who had fallen into adulterous relationships. Once again, the same faithful intercessors began to mobilize. They received a specific word and vision to retreat to the mountains and devote themselves to pray for the people. As they did, more intercessors joined them, and the intensity of prayer grew. Prayer meetings often lasted into the cold nights and spilled over into the villages as the intercessors shared testimonies of healings and miracles. Prayer troupes initially climbed the mountains surrounding Bario. Eventually, they had a vision to pray on Mount Murud, the highest mountain in Sarawak. On their first visit, Christians from neighboring Ba Kelalan joined them. The Lun Bawang people continued prayers on Mount Murud and built Gedung Halleluyah (Mount Murud Prayer House), which remains to this day. Image: Courtesy of Lillian Bulan-Dorai / Edits by CT The fourth wave came in 1984 as people blessed by the earlier waves or who had heard of the Bario Revival in other parts of Malaysia came to Bario either to experience God or to minister to the now complacent villagers. Teams from the Pentecostal and charismatic movement that was sweeping through churches in Peninsular Malaysia came to Bario with charismatic teachings on spiritual gifts, and people were renewed in their experiences of power through baptism in the Holy Spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues. The gift of tongues then was not just a form of prayer but prophetic words with interpretations. A new generation In 1998, church leaders and intercessors in Bario organized the first commemoration of the Bario Revival, calling it Kebaktian Kebangunan Roh (KKR, Revival Meeting) so that people might not forget Gods work through the revival. Since then, meetings have been organized annually in Bario and in the growing SIB churches in the city of Miri in Sarawak. The focus is always to call people back to God in the hope that God would bring revival again. These KKR meetings brought to light the lack of spiritual interest among the younger generation of Borneos indigenous people. Many had not yet seen or experienced the mighty work of God among their ancestors and were falling away, even adopting other faiths. So church leaders created a fellowship group for the younger generation called Persatuan Kelabit Saban and Berawan (PKSB), which focused on three small, closely related ethnic groups: the Kelabit, the Saban, and the Berawan. Article continues below In 2018, the older leaders of PKSB handed over the leadership to a handful of keen young leaders. With direction from the Holy Spirit, the movement has transitioned from a focus on the Bario Revival to include all 60 indigenous people groups in Malaysia, in keeping with the vision of Revelation 12:9. It changed its name to Tribal Gatheringan intertribal, intergenerational, interdenominational, international prayer movement. Last year, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Bario Revival, intercessors from across the country focused prayer on the next move of the Holy Spirit in Malaysia. Pastors Sabrina Low and Rachel Bulan (my niece) of Cornerstone Community Church in Miri believed that revival in Borneo was imminent. Leading the monthly Tribal Gathering prayer meetings, they collaborated with pastor Lee Choo of Sidang Injil Borneo Kuala Lumpur (SIBKL), who had started a 24-hour nationwide prayer movement called Malaysia United Fire Wall. These prayer movements culminated in Tribal Gathering 2023, held in Miri last October and organized to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Bario Revival. More than 4,000 believers congregated in the citys indoor stadium. Young leaders from more than 100 churches led the gathering and called on God to awaken the nation. There was a high expectation that revival might break out during the three-day gathering. While that did not happen, it awakened the Malaysian church to an even greater need to pray to change the spiritual trajectory of Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Never before had the Malaysian church seen such unity and deep longing among the young generation for revival. While the Tribal Gathering 2023 movement is strongly supported and reinforced by prominent church elders from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, its heart is the young leaders seeking to tueeor wake uparise, and pick up the baton for the transformation and salvation of our land. A song sung at the gathering, composed by Rachel Bulan and her cousin Joshua Maran, provided a thunderous, powerful call for the church: Every tongue and tribe will know Your name / Every knee will bow and sing Your praise / Tuee sons and daughters. Come awake, army of God. Wake up! Lillian Bulan-Dorai is a registered licensed counselor and a pastor at Full Gospel Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. She heads Family Life, the churchs family and counseling ministry. Lillian is the author of Rushing Wind (2023) and The Bario Revival (2004), both of which she wrote with her brother, Solomon Bulan. Home News Preteens rejecting several biblical teachings, survey reveals A prominent Christian researcher is warning that we are on the precipice of Christian invisibility in this nation, as new research shows that preteens are rejecting beliefs associated with a biblical worldview. In a statement released last week, the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shared data about the worldviews held by children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. The Cultural Research Center contrasted the views of the preteens with those of parents of children younger than 13, pastors of Christian churches and teenagers. The findings of the research are based on responses from 400 preteens collected in December 2022, 600 parents of children younger than 13 gathered in January 2022, 600 pastors of Christian churches collected in February 2022, 400 teenagers gathered in November and December 2022, and a January 2023 survey of 2,000 adults. 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 When asked if they believed that Jesus Christ is the only way to experience eternal salvation, based on confessing your sins and relying only upon His forgiveness of your sins, just 36% of preteens answered in the affirmative. Thirty-four percent of parents and 54% of childrens pastors said the same. Twenty-five percent of preteens agreed that the Bible is the true word of God that should be a guide to knowing right from wrong, and living a good life. Significantly higher shares of parents (44%) and childrens pastors (62%) expressed agreement with the statement stressing the value of the Bible. Less than half of preteens (21%), parents (28%) and childrens pastors (36%) believed that there are absolute truths things that are right and things that are wrong, that do not depend on feelings, preferences, or circumstances those truths are unchanging and knowable. While similarly small percentages of preteens (27%) and parents (33%) agreed that the main reason to live is to know, love and serve God, with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, a majority of childrens pastors (56%) identified knowing, loving and serving God as the purpose of life. Only 17% of preteens defined real success in life as consistently obeying God, along with 19% of parents and 42% of childrens ministers. Additional findings about the views and spiritual lives of preteens included in the report state that 26% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 consistently consult the Bible when trying to determine right from wrong and that 21% of preteens surveyed believe turning to the Bible is the best way to distinguish right from wrong. In other cases, the views of preteens closely mirror those of adults. For example, 36% of preteens and 35% of adults believe that the means to eternal salvation is by confessing their sins and asking Jesus Christ to save them from the consequences of their sin. The research attributed the lack of a biblical worldview among preteens to the fact that adults shaping the opinions of the children also fail to embrace the biblical worldview. It measured the frequency of a biblical worldview among children between the ages of 8 and 12 at 2%. Among childrens pastors, that figure rises to just 12%. Reacting to the findings of the research, Arizona Christian University Cultural Research Center Director George Barna said that the worldview development of children is the existential challenge facing the American Church today. According to Barna, Because of the strong correlation between biblical worldview and genuine Christian discipleship, we are on the precipice of Christian invisibility in this nation unless we get serious about this crisis and invest heavily in fixing whats broken. The Cultural Research Center defines a biblical worldview as a means of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality in light of biblical perspectives. It measures biblical worldview based on responses to questions examining respondents beliefs about [the] Bible, Truth, and Morals, Faith Practices, Family and the Value of Life, God, Creation, and History, Human Character and Nature, Lifestyle Behavior, and Relationships, Purpose and Calling as well as Sin, Salvation, and God Relationship. If you follow the data, you learn that we have had a decreasing percentage of Americans embracing a biblical worldview since we started tracking this in the early 1990s. We have endured more than 30 years of consistent decline, with a very limited response by the Church, Barna added. The incidence of biblical worldview among adults has dropped to just 4%, and among parents of young children its just 2%. You cannot get much lower. Barna elaborated on the importance of focusing on worldview development at an early age: Children are intellectual and spiritual sponges in their preteen years. They are desperately trying to make sense of the world, their identity, their purpose, and how to live a meaningful and satisfying life. Parents, in particular, have a duty to focus on and invest in the development of their childs worldview, which is simply their decision-making filter for life. If parents do not fill that vacuum, other sources such as the media, the schools, and even the childs peers will influence that worldview construction, he warned. The childs worldview will inevitably develop. The critical questions are who will shape it and what four worldviews will be most forcefully and consistently proposed. Home News DC Medical Examiner halts destruction of late-term aborted babies amid pressure from lawmakers The D.C. Medical Examiner will not immediately destroy the bodies of five aborted babies a progressive pro-life group recovered from an abortion clinic following demands from multiple organizations and Republican lawmakers that the remains be preserved to determine the legality of their deaths. The D.C. Medical Examiner's office has possessed the remains for two years, which the pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising claims it obtained from the Washington Surgi-Clinic alongside 110 other human remains in 2022. PAAU believes that the facility aborted five of the babies in a manner that violated federal law. The group has repeatedly demanded an autopsy of the remains. 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 On Friday, PAAU Founder Terrisa Bukovinac announced on X that the D.C. Medical Examiner agreed to preserve the remains after days of "lobbying and protesting." The progressive pro-life activist disclosed that she plans to continue calling for further action. "Lauren [H]andy and I discovered and held the #DCFive in our own hands and have seen with our own eyes who they were and the likely federal crimes committed against them," Bukovinac wrote in a separate Friday X post. "It has been a devastating experience. We will never give up our quest for #JusticeForTheFive." Handy is PAAU's director of activism who is currently serving time in jail after a jury found her and several other pro-life activists guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The DOJ charged Handy and the other activists with violating the FACE Act after they obstructed access to the Washington Surgi-Clinic in 2020. Emails cited by The Daily Signal between the D.C. Medical Examiner's office and the American Center for Law and Justice show the former saying last week that it would not dispose of the bodies. While the medical examiner's office did not indicate when it may dispose of the remains, it noted that several pro-life groups and Republican politicians have requested the office hold onto them. Earlier this month, Martin Cannon, senior counsel at Thomas More Society, told The Daily Signal that the medical examiner's office informed him that the DOJ advised them not to continue holding onto the five babies' remains. The Department of Justice and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Multiple Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, promised that the DOJ and the D.C. Medical Examiner's office would be called to testify if the bodies were discarded. In a Thursday letter, the lawmaker stated that both entities would be called "as witnesses before the American public" during a hearing if the bodies of the babies were not preserved. Cruz contends that disposing of the bodies "before justice can be achieved" would be to "deny these five innocent victims justice and assume the cause and nature of these children's deaths without conducting any investigation, without performing any autopsies, and without even affording these children a proper, respectful burial." Last week, the ACLJ joined PAAU, Live Action and various pro-life groups in sending a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. The letter called on congressional leaders to demand the preservation of the five babies until an autopsy can be performed. "Additionally, we urge Members of Congress to offer their voice to speak out about the five innocent unborn children whose lives were brutally taken just three miles from the House chamber," the document stated. "The D.C. Five deserve justice and the Department of Justice must cease covering up potential evidence of infanticide and partial-birth abortion in our nation's capital." The ACLJ also requested last week that the D.C. Medical Examiner provide Rev. Patrick and Katie Mahoney with the bodies of the babies. CP received a copy of the letter last week, in which the ACLJ asked that the Mahoneys receive next of kin rights under D.C. Code 3-413. The couples wanted the right to determine what to do with the babies' remains and make a decision regarding their funeral arrangements. "Our hearts break as we consider this unspeakable betrayal of human rights and justice through late-term abortion violence against these five innocent children," Mahoney said in a statement provided to CP. "Our hope would first be these children are not destroyed, but remain as evidence in a potential federal crime of infanticide through partial-birth abortion." "However, if the Washington, DC Medical Examiner decides to discard these innocent children, we would ask under DC code and law that they would be given to us so we could ensure they receive a proper and dignified burial," the minister continued. "It is critical we honor their lives and embrace the simple truth that all human life has value, purpose, and meaning." Home News 'He Gets Us' Super Bowl ad sparks debate among Christians A Super Bowl ad from a faith-based organization is igniting a debate among Christian conservatives, who expressed concern that its intended message of unity could be misconstrued as a justification for engaging in certain sins and that it fails to communicate a biblically accurate account of Jesus. The "He Gets Us" campaign, which describes itself as an effort to remind people of "the example that Jesus set while inviting all to explore his teachings so we can all follow his example of confounding, unconditional love," aired a 60-second ad during Super Bowl LVIII Sunday. The ad, titled "Foot Washing," featured still photographs of people washing another person's feet in various situations. 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 image depicted in the ad showed an older woman washing a younger woman's feet outside a facility labeled as a "Family Planning Clinic." In the background were protesters on both sides of the abortion debate holding signs reflecting the differing positions on the hot-button issue. Additional images in the ad featured people washing the feet of people with clearly divergent ideologies and/or social statuses. Two of the pictures illustrated protests demonstrating against police brutality and in favor of environmentalism. It concluded with an on-screen message declaring, "Jesus didn't teach hate. He washed feet. He gets us. All of us." Andrew Walker, an ethics and public theology professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who also serves as a fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center, took to X Monday to raise concerns about the implications of the ad. "He Gets Us framed evangelism with a leftward tinge, communicating the respectability of certain sins over others in our culture (although I'm not sure the ad even communicated that the respectable sins were sins at all)," he wrote. "It is curious that Jesus never showed up washing feet at a [Make America Great Again] rally, a truck stop porn store in Alabama, to dilapidated and drugged-out factory workers in Ohio, or a white nationalist militia meeting in Michigan," Walker added. "If Jesus really is for all sinners, we should want right-wing racists converted as well, right? How would we respond to Jesus washing the feet of someone outside the Capitol on January 6?" Suggesting that the video displayed bias when selecting what situations to identify as opportunities for foot washing, Walker remarked that in the ad, "the socially high-status sins of the Left are the ones Christians are told to evangelize, not the low-status sins of the Deplorable Right because, it seems, they are the ones truly outside redemption's reach." He maintained that "the conditioning effect of these commercials in framing and reaffirming the social castes of American sin" is "really something." "The truth of the matter is that Jesus redeems sinners from both the Right and the Left, whether high-status or low-status. Everyone is equal in their need for Christ (Rom. 3:23). That could have been communicated, but wasn't," he concluded. Pro-life advocate Ryan Bomberger reacted to the ad in an X post Sunday. He addressed its premise that "Jesus Didn't Teach Hate" by proclaiming, "Yes. And No." Asserting that Jesus "taught us to love one another as He has loved us," Bomberger stressed that "His word also teaches us to 'love what is good & hate what is evil.'" The pro-life activist identified another important lesson that "disagreement & truth = hate." Allie Beth Stuckey, conservative commentator and host of the "Relatable" podcast, responded to the argument that Christians should "just be happy Jesus's name is getting to millions of people" in an X post Sunday. "If it's not the Biblical Jesus, then no. If you've got the money and opportunity to buy a Super Bowl ad slot, share the gospel," she wrote. "Don't waste it on some ambiguous mumbo jumbo that makes Jesus into our image rather than depicting Him as the King and Savior He is." Podcaster Michael Knowles took to X Sunday and wondered if he was "the only conservative who didn't totally hate the 'He Gets Us' ad." While acknowledging the concerns of critics that it "speaks 'woke-ese,'" "it's not for us; it's for secular libs" and poses "a risk it leads to heretical complacency," Knowles contended that "if it gets some lost lib to even consider Our Lord, I'm not totally opposed." "Your green-haired lesbian cousin who hates her dad is not going to read the Summa Theologiae set you didn't buy her," he predicted. "But if she begins to feel even a slight affection for Our Lord, she *might* turn on a podcast. Maybe that podcast could be Fr. Mike Schmitz's Bible in a Year. The ad wouldn't be my first choice for evangelism. But Our Lord has used much worse things for good." "He Gets Us" elaborated on the intended message of the ad in a statement posted to its website. "We recalled the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet and realized this was the perfect example of how we should treat one another, even those people with whom we don't see eye to eye," the statement reads. "Jesus had washed Peter's feet, a loyal friend who would publicly deny that he knew Jesus later that very night. And even more astoundingly, Jesus washed Judas Iscariot's feet, the one who would betray him for 30 pieces of silver." Noting that Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples during the Last Supper as a "symbol for all of his followers to see how they should treat one another," the "He Gets Us" campaign states that "foot washing required humility on the part of both parties: the one willing to wash another's feet and also the one willing to have their feet washed." The group characterized foot washing as "an act of mutual admiration" that enabled Jesus to eliminate "any notion of rank or caste among his disciples." "We began to imagine a world where ideological others were willing to set their differences aside and wash one another's feet. How would that look? How would our contentious world change if we washed one another's feet, not literally, but figuratively? Figurative foot washing can be as simple as giving a compliment to a co-worker or paying for a stranger's lunch. It can also be as difficult as not responding to someone who's criticizing you or reaching out to an estranged family member." Insisting that "acts of kindness done out of humility and respect for another person could be considered the equivalent of foot washing," the "He Gets Us" campaign expressed hope that "our latest commercials will stimulate both societal discussion and individual self-reflection about 'who is my neighbor?' and how each of us can love our neighbor even as we have differences and serve one another with more kindness and respect." Home News Jewish grandmother says Lakewood shooter worshiped at megachurch Blames CPS for shooting of 7-year-old grandson Walli Carranza, a Jewish rabbi and former mother-in-law of late suspected Lakewood Church shooter, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, said she worshiped at the megachurch, and when news first broke about Sundays shooting, she had a suspicion that her former daughter-in-law was involved. I suspected last night that this could be my daughter-in-law, Carranza, the lead rabbi at Chesed Communaute Juive de L'Occitanie in Auch, France, told KHOU11 Monday. The shootout between Moreno, 36, and two off-duty police officers left Carranzas former daughter-in-law dead while her 7-year-old grandson, Samuel Moreno-Carranza, who was shot in the head, is fighting to stay alive at Texas Children's Hospital. 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 Lakewood Church did not immediately respond to questions from The Christian Post about Morenos affiliation with the church, but Carranza stated that she worshiped at the Joel Osteen-led megachurch, and she wasnt sure why she chose to attack the church. Carranza speculated that her former daughter-in-laws mental health struggles coupled with a custody battle over her son contributed to what happened. She said on Sunday she got a call that her grandson was at the church and her former daughter-in-law had opened fire. She did not say from whom she got the call. The fact that she wasnt allowed to kill anyone else was a great blessing, Carranza said. She had a particular kind of schizophrenia that caused her to become violent. She threatened her husbands life. She threatened mine. She threatened to kill her own son and we still couldnt get intervention. In a recounting of the shooting at Lakewood Church, Houston Police Department's Commander of Homicide Christopher Hassig said at a press conference Monday that Moreno pulled up to the west side of the church building in a white vehicle at 1:53 p.m. on Sunday with her son in tow. "She gets out of her white vehicle. She opens the door, pulls the 7-year-old child out of the backseat as well as a bag that is with her," he said. Moreno then "confronts a security guard who lets her in along the west side of the building" at 1:55 p.m. Moreno "immediately starts firing" after entering a hallway of the church. The off-duty officers, who were working approved security jobs for the church, engaged Moreno in a gunfight. Moreno and the child are then brought down in a hail of bullets. Hassig said the child was shot once in the head but did not say who shot the child. "Multiple rounds are fired by her at which point Officer Moreno of the Houston Police Department working an approved extra job at the location as well as TABC agent Herrera returned fire and the exchange is all there on the west side of the building," Hassig said. "In the hallway, multiple shots are exchanged by all three. She eventually falls to the ground. The 7-year-old child falls to the ground as well from gunfire one gunshot wound to the head." Moreno was pronounced dead by Houston Fire Department personnel at 2:07 p.m. Hassig said, her son remains hospitalized in "critical condition." Two weapons were recovered from the scene, including a .22 caliber rifle, which was not used in the shooting, and an AR-15 with a "Palestine" sticker, which Moreno fired at the officers. In a statement on Facebook Monday, Carranza asked for prayers for her grandson and said even if the police officers are found responsible for shooting her grandson, she blames Morenos mental illness, Texas Child Protective Services, and the states laws that allowed her ex-daughter-in-law to have a gun for what happened to him. As we try to make sense of this completely preventable horror, we want to make three things absolutely clear. First, although my former daughter-in-law raged against Israel and Jews in a pro-Palestinian rant yesterday this has nothing to do with Judaism or Islam. Nothing! But this is what happens when reckless and irresponsible reporting let's people with severe mental illness have an excuse for violence, Carranza wrote. Second, no one may ever blame a police officer who carries out his or her rightful duty to save lives even if they are found responsible for shooting my grandson. The fault lies in a child protective services of Montgomery County and Harris County that refused to remove custody from a woman with known mental illness that was not being treated and with the state of Texas for not having strong red flag laws that would have prevented her from owning or possessing a gun, she continued. Let it be clear that the second amendment stops where the first amendment right to life begins and it's time to remove from the U.S. Constitution any protection for gun ownership. The Houston Police Department confirmed on Monday that Moreno struggled with mental illness and had at least six prior arrests since 2005, including unlawful carrying of a weapon, which Moreno pleaded guilty to; evading arrest; and assault on a public official. An ABC News review of documents and records connected to that history shows that she was previously married to Enrique Carranza III but divorced in 2022. Morenos ex-husband described their relationship as turbulent and accused her of being abusive. He said in an affidavit that they met in 2015 while working at Spaghetti Warehouse a "family-friendly American-Italian restaurant in downtown Houston, according to the restaurant's website. "As soon as we married, my wife became abusive," Carranza III said in his affidavit. She was "a diagnosed schizophrenic, so daily it was a new battle or fight in her realm" he said, noting that he let her put him "through hell to appease her delusional thought pattern." Morenos husband referred to her in the affidavit as "Jeffrey" and said she would "hit me with keys" and "cans of beans." He mentioned that she once "ripped a layer of my eye out once" because of impatience with the "interview process" for a job prospect and that she "also stalked me, getting me fired from jobs." He also accused her of filing a fraudulent birth certificate for her son. In her affidavit, Carranza stated that her son "has been reticent to file the criminal charges against his wife; now his former wife because, as she is not a U.S. citizen. The mother-in-law's affidavit said, "as she already has had criminal convictions, she would likely be deported if convicted of the 3rd degree felony that stems from filing a fraudulent birth certificate. He told [Houston Police] detectives this is not what he wants for the woman he loved and married and the mother of his child. He wants her to live, he told police, where she can get quality mental healthcare. He doesnt hate her; he hates her mental illness and her refusal to treat it." Moreno argued in her filings that it was her ex-husband who was abusive to her and in a December 2021 affidavit filed under the name "Jeffrey Moreno-Carranza," she alleged that her ex-husband was "a convicted sex offender" and had "multiple" DWI charges. She said during their marriage Carranza III physically assaulted me on numerous occasions that made me fear for my safety and the safety of my son." In March 2023, Carranza III was found guilty by a Florida jury of Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Requirements after having been previously convicted of Attempted Sexual Assault on a Child in Colorado. "I have always been the primary caregiver for my son," Moreno said in her 2021 affidavit. She argued that her ex-husband "has never cared" for their son "by himself and furthermore, he is not capable of caring for a child with special needs." Home News NRB asks Supreme Court to stop Biden admin. from censoring views on social media The world's largest association of Christian communicators has expressed opposition to allowing the Biden administration to collaborate with social media platforms to censor controversial views. The National Religious Broadcasters filed an amicus brief last week in the case of Vivek H. Murthy et al v. State of Missouri et al, which centers on whether federal officials can communicate with social media sites to censor ideas they consider misinformation. NRB asked the U.S. Supreme Court to conclude that the government "may never seek to suppress protected speech," adding that government officials cannot "legitimately construct a rule of orthodoxy on any matter of public concern." 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 "There is no effort by the government to contend that the speech that they sought to suppress was unprotected by the First Amendment. Nor could such a claim be taken seriously," continued the brief, written by attorney Michael Farris, the former head of the Alliance Defending Freedom and Home School Legal Defense Association. "Here the government seeks to accomplish a form of censorship by using third party intermediaries rather than by enacting laws with direct enforcement. It is obvious that if the government adopted laws censoring the same content, such measures would be found to be unconstitutional in the judicial equivalent of the speed it takes an email to travel from coast to coast." In a statement Monday, NRB President & CEO Troy A. Miller said it was not the government's job to suppress free speech. "The government may not seek to suppress the speech of any citizen full stop," said Miller. "This includes indirect suppression of speech, like telling social media outlets, or other publishers, that they should not allow an offending message to be delivered to the public." Last year, the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana sued the Biden administration over allegations the federal government unlawfully worked with major social media platforms like Facebook and X to censor posts promoting conservative viewpoints or news that portrayed the Biden family in a negative light. These censored posts included dissenting views on how to mitigate COVID-19, a theory that COVID-19 was leaked from a lab in Communist China and negative news about Hunter Biden, the president's son. "As a direct result of these actions, there has been an unprecedented rise of censorship and suppression of free speech including core political speech on social-media platforms," the lawsuit argued. "Not just fringe views, but perfectly legitimate, responsible viewpoints and speakers have been unlawfully and unconstitutionally silenced in the modern public square." Last year, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointee, blocked federal officials from "meeting with social-media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms." The restrictions exempted things like "informing social-media companies of postings involving criminal activity or criminal conspiracies," "contacting and/or notifying social-media companies of national security threats, extortion, or other threats posted on its platform" and "informing social-media companies of threats that threaten the public safety or security of the United States." Soon after, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order staying the Doughty injunction against the Biden administration "until further orders of the court." Last September, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit issued a per curiam opinion in which it partially upheld the injunction limiting contact between some federal officials and social media companies. "Plaintiffs have shown a substantial risk that the injuries they suffered in the past will reoccur," read the opinion. "And there is no evidence to suggest that the government's meddling has ceased. To the contrary, the officials' attorney conceded at oral argument that they continue to be in regular contact with social-media platforms concerning content-moderation issues today." "Because the Individual Plaintiffs have demonstrated ongoing harm from their past censorship as well as a substantial risk of future harm, they have established an injury-in-fact sufficient to support their request for injunctive relief." The nonpartisan Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression also submitted an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to prevent government officials from coercing or significantly encouraging private companies to censor disfavored views. FIRE was joined on the filing by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the First Amendment Lawyers Association. "This case arose from allegations that the Biden White House and various Executive Branch agencies had inserted themselves into the content moderation decisions of social media platforms and pressured them to censor speech and particular speakers they dislike," the brief states. "But it just as easily could have been brought against the Trump Administration, which was famous for bullying internet and media companies." "The point is, the First Amendment problems addressed in this case are significant regardless of who is attempting to pull the levers behind the scenes," the brief continues. Home News PCUSA mulls selling longtime headquarters amid decline, post-COVID work culture The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States is considering selling its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, which it has occupied since the 1980s. Presbyterian Church (USA), A Corporation Board, that serves as the corporate entity of the denominations General Assembly, is mulling the future of its headquarters in downtown Louisville. Known as The Presbyterian Center, the PCUSA moved into the building in August 1988, a few years after the 1983 merger of the southern-based Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the northern-based United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. that created the denomination. 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 PCUSA Communications Director Rick Jones told The Christian Post, A Corp board is beginning a conversation about the long-term future of the Presbyterian Center. The discussion began during its board meeting last week, said Jones, noting that no decision has been made about what the future might be for the Presbyterian Center. However, the changing workforce patterns after COVID have prompted church leaders to consider the best stewardship of the center and what the best strategy for the support of current and future ministries might be. As with many religious organizations in the United States, the PCUSA has been experiencing considerable decline over the past couple of decades, seeing sizable drops in membership. In May of last year, the PCUSA Office of the General Assembly released an annual statistics report, which found the denomination had approximately 1.140 million members in 2022. This represented a sharp decline from the approximately 2.5 million members that the denomination reported having in 2000, having dropped below 2 million in 2011. While the PCUSA discerns whether to sell its headquarters, other Protestant denominations in decline have already made plans to sell their main buildings. In September 2021, the United Church of Christ announced that it was going to sell its nine-story, 120,000-square-foot national office in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rev. John Dorhauer, then general minister and president of the UCC, said in the announcement that the move was part of an effort to "carefully steward our precious missional resources." "Making this move saves the National Setting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by leasing one floor rather than maintaining a nine-story building that once housed 330 employees," stated Dorhauer. Last year, the Christian Reformed Church in North America announced that the denomination was selling its Grand Rapids, Michigan-based headquarters after residing there for over six decades. CRCNA's ministry board voted to put the property up for sale, with Dan DeKam, director of U.S. ministry operations, giving thanks in a statement for the years that the denomination was able to use the property. "At the same time, we recognize that the building's infrastructure is aging, and its ongoing maintenance is becoming financially unsustainable," stated DeKam. "The pandemic forced staff into different ways of working and, although the future of office work isn't entirely clear, we do know it needs to be flexible for the health of employees and the good of the organization. It is time for a new shape." Home Books Pornstar-turned-pastor recounts pivotal moment that saved him from suicide: 'Jesus saved my life' Joshua Broome vividly remembers the day he decided to take his own life. It was 2013, and the North Carolina native was at the height of his porn career; hed appeared in over 1,000 adult films and had earned accolades and awards for his work including the coveted Performer of the Year award and was making more money than hed ever dreamed possible. But internally, Broome was a self-described mess, largely stemming from growing up in a fatherless home: I did all the things that I thought would satisfy my soul, yet when I obtained them, and they didn't work, it actually amplified my anxiety and deepened my depression, he recalled. 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 So, on that day in 2013, Broome walked into a bank, intent on cashing what he believed would be his final paycheck. I was going to deposit this last check," he said. "I typically would do the ATM because there was always a memo on the check that says what it's for, and I was embarrassed. But this time, I wrote something antagonistic and perverse in the memo space, and I thought when the bank teller saw that, she would verify the thing that I thought about myself, so that would justify me carrying out harming myself to a point where I was no longer alive. I walked in the bank and I slid the checker across the counter, and I'm trembling, shaking, sweating. But instead of responding with judgment, the bank teller looked at Broome and simply said, "Joshua, are you OK?" Those words, he said, instantly pierced through his facade and reminded him of his true identity. In the porn industry, you don't go by your real name, Broome said. Id isolated myself from family and anyone who truly knew me to the extent that I hadn't even heard my name in over a year. So when I heard my name, it essentially shattered the plausible reality that I'd created based on guilt and shame. In that pivotal moment, Broome decided to leave the adult film industry behind for good and reconnect with his mother, who had never stopped loving him. "My life changed forever," he said. His journey from that moment was neither easy nor straightforward. Leaving the industry behind, he struggled with his identity and purpose, wrestling with shame and the fear of judgment. He eventually moved from Los Angeles to be near his mother and began working as a personal trainer. I was enjoying freedom, but at the same time wrestling with this other identity that I have, he said. I deleted my social media, I shaved my head, covered up my tattoos, did everything I could to hide, but the thing that I hated most about myself was one Google search way. Yet, through these trials, Broome said he felt the Holy Spirit working on his heart and he found solace in communication and upliftment, eventually meeting a Christian woman named Hope, who is now his wife. Her acceptance and faith challenged Broome to reconsider his understanding of intimacy, identity and redemption, ultimately freeing him from shame. Now happily married with three children, Broome said his calling is clear: God has equipped me and elevated my voice and my influence so that I can share with people there is an answer to whatever you're struggling with, he said. There were so many people that I worked with in the industry that had HIV and died, he reflected. Somehow, I did not get HIV, and I should have. There were situations I was in where people overdosed and died. I was not harmed. There were so many times I shouldve been dead, but I'm not. I realized that God not only was with me in that moment, He's always been with me. Why? Because I have a father. Today, Broome travels the world sharing his message of hope with millions. He's the host of the "Counterfeit Culture" podcast and is the author of the new book, The 7 Lies That Will Ruin Your Life: What My Journey from Porn Star to Preacher Taught Me About the Truth That Sets Us Free. In it, the 41-year-old candidly discusses his personal experiences and pairs them with biblical truths to demonstrate the devastating nature of deception and the healing truth that only comes through a relationship with Jesus. One of the lies Broome tackles is the idea of imitation intimacy, something he describes as superficial connections that often masquerade as real relationships. The author revealed he recently conducted a poll asking 10,000 individuals aged 18 to 30 about their first association with the word "intimacy," and 91% responded with "sex." The truth is, intimacy is not exclusively tied to sex," he said. "Intimacy is actually defined by proximity to God. We are wired to want to be close to God, and when we try to mitigate that gap with counterfeits, they lead us into this cyclical sin cycle. They make us feel good for a moment; we feel shame and regret, and then we struggle with loneliness and go through it over and over again. Thats what the enemy wants; he wants to steal, kill and destroy. And especially for the believer, if I can't steal your salvation, I can steal the security that you have in your relationship with Jesus. if you believe you can find satisfaction in something that is external, you will never fix the internal problem, because our greatest problem is sin and the only solution is Jesus. Broome's book delves into the destructive nature of pornography, not just on a personal level but within the wider context of society and marriage. The Church, he said, needs to be bold in addressing the pornography epidemic, lamenting the lack of discussions about sex within a biblical context among families and churches. He emphasized the importance of addressing sexual matters, no matter how awkward, openly and according to biblical principles. Broome referenced Romans 12:2 to highlight the necessity of renewing one's mind through God's Word and distinguishing between what is beneficial and harmful according to God's will. The Bible says to submit yourself to God and then resist the devil and he will flee from you, he said. We like to forget that first part. But we have to submit ourselves to God because, in your own strength, you can't do anything. He urged parents to overcome their fears and engage in honest dialogues about sex, highlighting that it is a beautiful aspect of life intended by God to occur within the confines of marriage. At the end of the day, you're making that about you," he said. "Because you have fear, you're not communicating something as important as this. To love someone well is to share with them the truth. The truth is, sex is a beautiful thing that is designed to happen in marriage between one husband and wife for one lifetime. And because of sin, there are plenty of examples of that not being true, but that was God's intention. Broome said that over the years, hes heard from hundreds of people who've shared how his story of redemption has given them hope despite their troubled pasts. He advised those struggling to immerse themselves in Scripture and find a supportive Christian community to truly find hope and healing. Jesus saved my life, but the Bible transformed my life, and the way that I learned the Bible was reading it and studying, but something had to love me enough to walk through that process with me, he said. I would say, whatever you're struggling with, look at the world, it's a mess, but you're not alone. Whatever you're struggling with, there's someone who either went through what you have or knows someone who has. Don't confine yourself because we're so prone to be isolated when we feel shame, and that is antithetical to the solution. There's a God that already knows our worst mistakes and loves us despite them, he said. He desperately wants you to come to the face of the Father, because that's where healing, restoration and joy are found, and that is what I want for everyone. Evangelicals venture to Israel in show of solidarity Gerald McDermott, an American Anglican priest and retired professor of theology, had visited Israel 22 times before his most recent trip. The author of two books on Christian Zionism and the meaning of Israel to Christianity, he was invited to join a mission in late January to show solidarity with the Israeli people in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre. "I'd seen most of the Oct. 7 videos," McDermott said, referring to footage of the atrocities committed by Hamas at several kibbutzim and a dance party near Israel's border with Gaza on that warm autumn day. The attack left 1,200 people in Israel dead and 240 held hostage in Gaza. But nothing prepared McDermott, he said, for encountering the scene at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Hamas entered the home of the Bibas family and tortured them before kidnapping them. "You see all the blood on the walls, the bullet holes, the baby's toys," McDermott said the day after he and dozens of other pastors from around the world visited. "What we saw in living color was the hatred that Satan himself has for the Jewish people. Satan hates the Jews because he knows God loves them. Satan is living in and inspiring Hamas," McDermott asserted. The mission, organized by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, included a visit to Sderot, a Gaza border city that has sustained numerous rocket attacks by Hamas in the past two decades. The group also went to northern Israel, from where tens of thousands of Israeli residents have been displaced by missiles launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon. The participants, who hail from 18 countries, heard eyewitness testimony from massacre victims and some of the relatives of the 136 Israelis still being held captive. The number of visitors to Israel has decreased dramatically since its war with Hamas began. Airlines have reduced the number of fights, and the hotels have been packed with evacuees. But in December, groups of evangelical Christians began to arrive, according to those who have organized the trips. "In the past two months we've seen dozens, if not hundreds, of Christian groups coming to Israel," said Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, a not-for-profit organization that encourages support for Israel among politicians and faith leaders abroad. Since Oct. 7, evangelical Christians have donated tens of millions of dollars to Israel's first responders and nongovernmental organizations that assist war victims. "Christians, and not only in America, are supporting Israel like never before," Reinstein said, pointing to pro-Israel rallies sponsored by Christians in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In the U.S. especially, evangelical Christians actively lobby lawmakers to support Israel. Prominent American evangelicals made their voices heard loudly at November's March for Israel on the National Mall in Washington. Pastor Lisa Powell, the founder of Lisa Powell Ministries International in Corona, California, said she came to Israel in January on her 38th visit "to really see what I could do for the people here and pray about how we can be a blessing in a more tangible way." Because the group stayed in a Jerusalem hotel that is hosting dozens of evacuee families from Sderot, Powell had the opportunity to sit with them and learn about how they are coping with loss and displacement. "That really pulled on my heart," Powell said. "I'm a grandmother of 18 and also a great-grandmother. Entire families are staying in one hotel room. They are in a state of trauma, but they are strong, strengthened by being together as a community. Under any other circumstances they would be in a refugee camp, but the Israeli government is assisting them." Given the broad support for Gaza's Palestinians among many young people, Powell hopes to bring a delegation of Christian college students to Israel so they can experience the country for themselves. "They only know what they see in the media and on TikTok, which is targeting the younger generation to disillusion them and to turn them against Israel," the faith leader said. Nick Hansen, the co-pastor of a Pentecostal church in Denmark, was in Israel on Oct. 7 to celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles. While the shock of that day has subsided, he said, "there is now a somberness, a silence, a void without joy and without peace," in Israel. "Everyone seems to be on high alert, on guard for the next attack." Hansen said he felt compelled to come on the mission with the other pastors to see the carnage for himself. "Sitting in Europe and watching the news, we wonder whether Israel is going too far. Being here, you understand the sheer evil of Oct. 7. It was a celebration of death, a brutality that doesn't exist even in nature," he said. Pastor Ken Soltys, the founder of Ken Soltys Ministries in Hayesville, North Carolina, said he was deeply affected by the pastors' encounters with the families of Israeli hostages in a Jerusalem hotel. Shelly Shem-Tov described the kidnapping of her son Omer Shem-Tov, explaining that he has asthma and celiac disease. "Omer is our youngest. We call him our sunshine. He's a good boy who went to a festival to dance," the mother told the pastors. "I hope you will go home and tell your community our story. I hope this nightmare will end and I will hug my sunshine." Religion News Service Faith and humanitarian groups call for ceasefire in Rafah Christian development agencies and other organisations have written to the Prime Minister urging the UK to demand an immediate halt to Israel's offensive into Rafah. Christian Aid, Catholic aid agency CAFOD, Embrace the Middle East, and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) have added their names to the letter that expresses "urgent concern" about attacks this week. At least 67 people, mainly women and children were killed, but the letter warns that the number will continue to rise and "the beleaguered and strained humanitarian system will fully collapse as need will only rise and access decrease". The groups say that "red lines are being continuously crossed" and that the UK "appears utterly incapable of restraining Israel in its current attempts". The say that the UK must use its "full diplomatic pressure" to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Many people from northern and central Gaza fled to Rafah after evacuation orders were given by Israel ahead of its military offensive that was launched following the October 7 attack by Hamas. Around 1.3 million people are trapped in the city. "It is one of the very few places where extremely limited humanitarian aid is able to enter the Gaza Strip," the organisations write. They continue, "We ask you now to use the UK's full diplomatic pressure to demand Israel halt its military campaign, which has already resulted in the killing of 28,000 people. "Will the UK act now, as red lines are being continuously crossed despite warnings from the UK to Israel on the toll of casualties being 'too high'? "Or will the UK continue its current path, which each day further is enabling Israel's actions with impunity? Will the UK risk further moral complicity in the ongoing death from Israeli attacks?" Mark Wahlberg lends support to Lent prayer campaign Actor Mark Wahlberg appeared in a commercial during the Super Bowl to encourage people to pray this Lent. The Super Bowl 2024 was the most-watched telecast of all time, pulling in an audience of over 123 million. Wahlberg appeared in the commercial for Hallow, a Catholic prayer app, alongside The Chosen star, Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the hit show. The ad extends an invitation to people to pray during the Lent season, which gets underway on Wednesday. "God, we take this moment just to give You thanks," says Wahlberg in the ad. Roumie is one of the contributors to the Hallow app, which has been downloaded around 10 million times. Users can listen to "The Chosen's Jonathan Roumie's audio Bible" and be supported in their daily prayer life in other ways like sermons and Bible-in-a-year guides. Wahlberg, who is a committed Catholic, has also contributed a series of lessons on the topic of fasting to the app. He has often been seen at the start of Lent with an ash cross on his forehead and previously played the role of a Catholic priest alongside Mel Gibson in the faith-based movie, Father Stu. Appearing on the Today Show last year, he admitted it was challenging being a Catholic in Hollywood. "It's not popular in my industry, but you know, I cannot deny my faith," he said. "It's important for me to share that with people." He also said it was about striking a balance between sharing his faith and respecting others. "I have always talked about my faith," he said. "It's a balance. I don't wanna jam it down anybody's throat, but I do not deny my faith." My latest book has just been published, a guide to the huge region of dramatic mountains between Glen Carron and Little Loch Broom in the ... Emerging technologies catch IT leaders flat-footed, so it comes as no surprise that some are clenching their teeth over shadow AI, or the unsanctioned use of generative AI and associated services. CIOs recall when cloud computing disrupted the industry more than a decade ago. They remember business line leaders using corporate credit cards for cloud applications from startups. Yet once IT leaders realized how much employees valued these tools they came around. They secured enterprise licenses, integrated the technologies with their existing IT systems and trained employees. IT leaders augmented productivity while preserving security. With todays proliferation of genAI services democratizing AI, IT leaders are bracing for the growth of shadow AI. Yet IT leaders should embrace and extend rather than hinder employees genAI experiences. This would serve two desirable goals: help employees realize greater productivity and even augment the customer experience. GenAI can be the bridge between IT and the business GenAI could help buoy profits by as much as $4.4 trillion by boosting productivity across customer operations, sales and marketing, software engineering, and research and development, according to McKinsey Digital.1 With genAI gaining traction, IT should learn what employees prefer to use, educate them on how to use them responsibly and institute guardrails. This might help IT garner goodwill with the business, with which it may be at oddseven today. Consider that while more than half of IT decision makers want a stronger relationship with their business peers, 81% of business decision makers exclude their IT peers from strategic decision-making, according to new Dell research.2 Lack of trust is typically the key sticking point. Yet IT leaders can take lessons from their past experiences with shadow IT to build a bridge between employees and genAI that cultivates trust unleashes innovation. These tips can point the way. Establish your genAI posture Some IT leaders first instinct is to create or at least command every technology solution. Instead, IT leaders should learn and understand how employees consume genAI to assist their work. IT leaders must then work with the C-suite to build consensus around how to use genAI to accelerate the business but balance such efforts with risk mitigation, as McKinsey noted. Leadership will communicate this messaging to the rank-and-file early and often. Adopt a product management mindset When its time to engage with a vendor or build a solution, IT leaders can position themselves as innovators by executing with a product management mindset that aligns agile development practices with business goals. CIOs can use this approach to ensure that their technology solutions directly contribute to the organizations objectives, said CIO-turned-investor Yousuf Khan. Upskill then wash, rinse and repeat GenAI is new enough that most employees dont yet know how to use it and most companies arent helping. Only 6% of companies have trained more than 25% of their people on genAI tools, according to a Boston Consulting Group survey of C-suite executives.3 Organizations must tailor education, training and tools for employees in technical and nontechnical roles. Accenture plans to train 250,000 employees on how to use genAI services responsibly, said Accenture CEO Julie Sweet at the recent World Economic Forum. This is basic digital literacy to run a company and to be good, Sweet said. The stakes are high for such literacy. As much as 40% of current job roles will be redefined or eliminated across large enterprises due to genAI adoption, according to IDC research commissioned by Dell.4 Practice responsible AI and sound governance From a risk perspective, genAI is like Jurassic Parkchaotic. GenAI services are black boxes; no one knows how they arrive at their conclusions. They may hallucinate and spew false information. Comprised or inaccurate content can put businesses reputationor worseat risk. This makes risk mitigation critical. Most companies will track and assess AI for risk and apply mitigation strategies as needed over the next 12 to 24 months, Accentures Sweet predicted. That timeline feels long. Organizations adopting genAI should institute governance and security models today, ideally taking a Zero Trust approach, to keep the organization safe and secure. One more thing Falling back on the classic command-and-control stance is instinctive for IT leaders, but genAI is too easy to use and easily accessible for most employees. Instead, IT leaders should work with their business peers on responsible use, adopt and/or build safe and vetted technologies, and educate and communicate to the rank-and-file how to consume them. Trusted partners can help, providing the hardware, software and services to help organizations bring AI to their data in a way that respects IT governance while democratizing employee access to genAI services. Learn more at dell.com/ai. 1 The Economic Potential of Generative AI: The Next Productivity Frontier, McKinsey Digital, June 2023 2 Building Your Innovation Muscle, Dell Technologies, Feb. 2024. 3 From Potential to Profit with GenAI, BCG, Jan. 2024 4 Workforce Upskilling for the AI Era, IDC, Jan. 2024 Anunt concurs pentru post vacant Institutia Publica Centrul de Consiliere Agricola si Rurala (CCAR) este in cautare de un profesionist dinamic si dedicat, pentru pozitia de Sef/a de Sectie la sectia Inovare si transfer de cunostinte in cadrul institutie Shutterstock A chair and chief executive of a local charity have put in more than 40,000 of their own money after the organisations bank account was suspended. The Cumbria Deaf Associations account was shut by Barclays in October 2023 over a disagreement about paperwork for the banking mandate, the charity said. Chief executive Caroline Howsley said she lent 38,500, alongside 5,000 from the chair, to pay for essentials, such as staff salaries. The charity has now had its bank account reinstated by Barclays, which offered 400 in compensation, and Cumbria Deaf Association is in the process of applying for an account with the Co-operative Bank. She said they have not got all their money back yet, as not having an account meant they could not deliver some of their training courses and they were also unable to apply for two grants. Barclays Bank said: It is extremely important that the mandates are kept up to date, particularly when parties no longer involved in the business activities will still hold authority to instruct the bank and authorise transactions. We work hard to avoid the last resort of account closure. While there was no bank error, we offered to reopen the account to allow more time for the information requested to be provided. The account was re-opened on 15 December 2023. The mandate was recently received on 8 February which completes the process begun in December 2022, according to the bank. Howsley told Civil Society that the charity, which recorded an income of 150,000 last year, works hard for what we do and the banking issue had stopped a lot of its activity. She said it was a gamble on our part to speak with the press but that the staff and deaf community were right behind us which really helped though it was an emotional and psychological stress. Howsley said that every day she receives two or three messages from charities who have also had issues with banking closures. UK charity regulators recently called on banks to improve their substandard services for charities, some of which are having their accounts closed or suspended suddenly and are experiencing poor customer service and administrative delays. A Charity Commission spokesperson said: There are widespread problems in the way banks engage with their charity customers and we continue to hear from charities dealing with the fallout of these issues. Charities provide vital support to people across the country and urgently need to receive better service from their banks. This is why we continue to press this matter and continue to engage with the Financial Conduct Authority, high-street banks, UK Finance and the wider sector. 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, A local online newspaper has become the first of its kind to gain charitable status after demonstrating that it delivered public interest news. The Charity Commission awarded charitable status to the Guilford Dragon News on 9 February, more than six months after it had applied to register as a charity. The Surrey-based charity has three trustees and will not need to file annual accounts and other information until 10 months after its first financial period ends, according to the Commission. Martin Giles, editor of the Guildford Dragon News, said: Its really good news that we have been awarded charity status and I thank all those who have supported our application. It wasnt a simple task. Now, the fundraising work will need to begin to make the Guildford Dragon News sustainable so we can continue to serve our borough with a local news service. Hopefully, others will be able to follow our example. Lengthy process Tom Murdoch, a partner at Stone King who helped the Guildford Dragon News obtain charitable status, said that the application process took several months and involved a lot of correspondence with the Commission. Murdoch, who advises the Charitable Journalism Project (CJP) campaign, said that charitable news provision is yet to be established in the UK, and that this development should act as a signpost for other, similar public-interest news organisations. The aim of public interest journalism is to provide us, as citizens and members of our local communities, with the reliable, accurate and unbiased information that we need. CJP has played a central role in promoting charitable journalism. Its not for all some provide news for profit and other purposes but charitable status is now a practical possibility for suitable public interest news providers across the spectrum. The online newspapers registration follows the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) becoming the first news organisation promoting citizenship through journalism to join the charity register in 2020. Public interest journalism is not listed as a charitable purpose in its own right but the Commission said when awarding PINF charitable status that journalism may be capable of furthering charitable purposes like the advancement of education, citizenship or community development, the arts, culture, heritage or science or human rights. Many other local news outlets could become charities Commenting on Guildford Dragon News registration, Jonathan Heawood, executive director of PINF, said: Its great to have confirmation that local journalism can be charitable. At PINF, we believe that many other local news outlets could become charities, which would open up new revenue streams from foundations and individual donors. At a time when millions of people in the UK live in news deserts, without access to relevant and reliable information, the need for high-quality local news is greater than ever. Charitable journalism might not be the solution to all the challenges facing local news, but it is a crucial part of the mix, and we congratulate the Guildford Dragon, CJP and their legal team for making this possible. Meanwhile, Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana, chief executive of press regulator Impress, said: Im thrilled the Commission has recognised the public benefit of journalism to communities with this decision. For the public to regain trust journalism, accountability to high regulatory standards, is essential. We look forward to the Dragon continuing to produce high-quality ethical journalism as it embarks on this new journey as a charitable organisation. 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, Privacy risk is so 2014, right? Ten years ago, numerous retail and healthcare companies were hit with data breaches related to the exposure of credit card or healthcare data. Given many data breach claims, which included fines by state attorney generals and the payment card Industry, the cyber insurance market focused on privacy risk. This focus remained until 2017, when ransomware claims developed into more substantial matters, triggering large business interruption losses for carriers. Underwriters accordingly focused on ransomware exposure to minimize the potential for business interruption claims. However, in 2024, with new state privacy laws and renewed interest from the plaintiffs bar, carriers are once again seeing privacy claims, based on biometric, pixel, or chat technology. While ransomware has not gone away, attacks have evolved from network encryption to the theft and ransom of consumer or confidential corporate information. The cyber pendulum has swung back to privacy risk. While all 50 states have data breach notification laws, many states have passed comprehensive privacy bills following the model set by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and at the time of this writing, five states have active privacy laws, eight have passed laws that will go into effect within the next two years and 17 other states have active bills. With new state privacy laws, there is a greater ability for state regulators to fine companies who violate privacy provisions. Additionally, many state privacy laws allow for a private right of action for certain violations, which has the potential to increase overall claims costs. Over the past several years there has been increased activity from the plaintiffs bar around biometric, pixel, and chat technology. While Illinois Biometric Information Protection Act (BIPA) was enacted in 2008, there has been more litigation activity since 2018, with several key decisions made during 2023 that will impact future BIPA cases. BIPA includes a private right of action as well as a statutory-damages provision, keeping potential large damage awards firmly on plaintiffs firms radars. Within the last two years, use of website user-tracking technology such as pixel, chat, session replay, website software development kit, or pen-registers has spawned litigation by plaintiffs firms based on the Video Privacy Protection Act and the California Invasion of Privacy Act. Like BIPA, these acts allow for a private right of action as well as statutory damages, which have the potential to raise the claims price tag for carriers. This activity forms a backdrop to the continued frequency and severity of ransomware claims. Corvus Insurance reported in January, based on data collected from ransomware leak sites, that ransomware activity was up 69% in 2023, based on prior year totals. Carriers also report that severity remains an issue. According to Coalition, average ransomware demands in the first half of 2023 were up 47% over the previous six months, and 74% over the prior year. While ransomware was historically used to encrypt networks, threat actors have pivoted in recent years to theft of customer or confidential corporate information, and holding that data for ransom, with the threat of publishing it on the dark web. In many instances, there may be a double extortion by threat actors with ransoms both to regain access to the network as well as to stolen data. In this environment, carriers are refining their underwriting to address the potential for losses. In 2024, there is a greater focus on controls related to wrongful collection coverage the collection of data in a manner that could run afoul of privacy regulations whether it be on a state or federal level. Several carriers have introduced supplemental applications with questions that focus on consent regarding data collection practices and the use of website user-tracking technology. Underwriters remain concerned about security controls related to ransomware losses, and most carriers require a ransomware supplemental application as a part of the submission process. As the cyber pendulum has swung back to privacy risk, underwriting preference has swung accordingly with regards to industry. While in prior years carriers focused on ransomware losses and the associated business interruption, brick and mortar industries fell out of favor. However, in the current environment, these industries are again preferred by underwriters, while industries that are information holders such as healthcare, retail, and financial institutions cause underwriters greater concern due to the potential for privacy litigation. As a pendulum never stops moving, cyber risk will continue to swing, with the potential for new areas for claims such as spoofing attacks using Generative AI, attacks on critical infrastructure, or even cyber war. Snyder Frenier is senior vice president, business development leader with CAC Specialtys Professional & Cyber Solutions practice. She has more than 18 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on cyber insurance and technology errors and omissions. Prime Insurance Co. is not liable for $60 million in damages after two patients died following liposuction at a Georgia clinic, thanks in part to the clear wording of the insurance policy and timely action by the insurer, a federal appeals court decided last week. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta upheld a federal district courts decision that the insurance carriers payout was limited to $100,000 under the terms of the clinics professional liability policy and most of that had already been burned up by defense attorney fees. Primes duty to defend its insured ends when the applicable limits of liability of the policy are exhausted by payment of damages and/or claim expenses,' the court wrote in its Feb. 8 opinion, quoting from the policy. The judges also found that a four-year statute of limitations applied because part of the legal action claimed an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by Prime. The states six-year statute for breach of contract actions did not apply in this case, the court noted. The plaintiffs also cannot pursue a claim that Prime had violated Georgias surplus-lines statute by selling a surplus policy without fully disclosing it in documentation. Georgia law provides for no private cause of action on that, only punitive action by the state insurance commissioner, the court said. The ruling will likely be seen as a breath of fresh air for property-casualty insurers, many of which have been held responsible for damages well above policy limits through the years, in multiple courts. Some of those court rulings have turned on ambiguous policy wording or from insurers failing to respond quickly to claims, leading to bad-faith actions. In this case, the Kennesaw, Georgia, clinic known as Opulence Aesthetic Medicine had purchased a professional liability policy with a $50,000 limit per claim and a $100,000 aggregate limit. The premium was $3,992. In 2013, Dr. Nedra Dodds performed liposuction surgery on April Jenkins, the court explained. Jenkins died later that day. A few months later, Dodds performed a similar procedure on Erica Beaubrun, who died hours after the surgery. The incidents were widely publicized in Georgia news reports. Police investigated the clinic, which is owned by a company that has clinics around the world, but criminal charges against Dodds were later dropped. The doctor filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017. Jenkins and Beaubruns families sued the clinic and each won $60 million, one in a jury verdict and one in a consent judgment. After the Beaubrun judgment, the clinic assigned its policy benefits to the victims family. But the clinics insurance policy contained a diminishing-limits provision, which, the court said, clearly stated that the cost of defending the clinic and the doctor had diminished the $50,000 available for the Jenkins estate. It also meant that legal fees had eaten through most of the indemnity available to the Beaubrun family. Despite that, Prime at one point had offered a $50,000 settlement, but the Beaubrun family rejected that. The bottom line for this appeal is that under the terms of the policy, the defense of the Jenkins and the Beaubrun estates lawsuits exhausted the clinics insurance coverage, the appeals court judges wrote. In other words, defending the Beaubrun estate lawsuit diminished the amount of coverage available for that claim, and defending both the Beaubrun and the Jenkins estates lawsuits diminished the aggregate limit until there was no coverage left. Prime Insurance had communicated this to the plaintiffs and the trial court in a timely manner. Prime, a specialty insurer headquartered in Utah, early on also asked a federal court in that state to declare that it had no duty to defend the clinic beyond the policy limits. The court agreed and that ruling was incorporated as part of the Georgia lawsuit defense. The 11th Circuit, one stop below the U.S. Supreme Court, affirmed the lower court decision, granting a significant win for the insurer. State Farm Cant Yet Appeal $877,600 Premises Liability Direct-Action Award Also last week, the 11th Circuit denied an appeal from State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. in a direct-action case that stemmed from the shooting of an Alabama gas station attendant. The worker, Amanali Babwari, was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant while leaving work in 2016. Babwari sued his employer for premises liability and inadequate security and reached an $877,660 settlement. The man then filed suit against State Farm, under Alabamas direct-action statute. The lower court, the U.S. District Court for Northern Alabama, found in 2023 that State Farm has a duty to indemnify the store owners for the judgment, and the victim should be paid directly. Alabama is one of a handful of states that allow victims to sue insurance companies directly to recover damages against insureds. Georgia lawmakers this year are considering a bill that would end direct action suits against trucking firms. In the State Farm case, State Farm appealed. But the 11th Circuit decided that it had no jurisdiction because the lower courts order was not yet final. Questions of prejudgment interest and other matters had not been settled by the district court. Top photo: Adobe stock image of liposuction surgery. The Rhode Island Insurance Division issued a bulletin to inform property/casualty insurers about professional courtesies expected from licensed Insurance claims adjusters and licensed P/C insurance companies while interacting with claimants or their legal representatives during the claims process. The division, which falls under the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, expects the following four types of actions to be taken by all licensed insurers and adjusters: Insurers and adjusters must communicate a change in assigned claim adjuster within 10 business days to any claimant or their legal representative. Insurers and adjusters must ensure communications about a claim to a claimant provides a response channel that allows for email responses to the communication to be monitored by the insurer or adjuster. Adjusters must provide their supervisors contact information when requested by a claimant or their legal representative. When an insurer or adjuster is appropriately notified of legal representation for a particular claimant in a particular claim, the insurer or adjuster must both acknowledge receipt of that representation and provide all relevant contact information for any assigned adjuster or other relevant employee of the Insurer. The department warned that a consistent failure to adhere to these professional standards is a violation of Rhode Island insurance laws. WASHINGTON Donald Trumps claim that he once told a NATO ally that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to delinquent members of the group sent shockwaves through Europe over the weekend. But in Washington, most Republicans downplayed or defended remarks that seemed to invite Russian aggression. I was here when he was president. He didnt undermine or destroy NATO, said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a longtime defense hawk. I think Ill look at what his actions are rather than what his words are, said Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who has been a strong supporter of NATO and of sending additional aid to Ukraine as the country enters its third year of war after Russias invasion. As he moves closer to winning the Republican presidential nomination a third straight time, Trumps tightening grip on the GOP is reshaping the partys traditional defense of longstanding military alliances and rejection of Moscow, positions that date back to the days of the Soviet Union. Many who once would have responded with alarm to the NATO remarks have largely fallen in line with Trumps priorities or have chosen to retire as it has become clear his influence has not waned. Trump has a long history of denigrating NATO and former administration officials say he repeatedly threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance that has been central to U.S. policy for decades. One former adviser said he expects Trump to move forward with his threats if he wins a second term. But allies and supporters argue that, despite his denunciations, Trump did not ultimately abandon NATO while president and dismiss his claims as bluster or tough negotiating tactics. Just look what he did in four years, said retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served in Trumps administration and is now an outside adviser. Thats the beauty of right now. Look at the track record. Some, including Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., credited Trump with pressuring some countries to increase their defense spending. He kept us in NATO. He didnt leave NATO. He made them do what they needed to do, he said. Even outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, a longtime Trump critic, questioned whether Trumps comments were serious, while noting that people in other nations read it with concern and make their calculations accordingly. What Donald Trump says is often designed to elicit media and applause and outrage and he has no intent of actually doing anything about it, he said. But its clear that Trump and some around him want to change how the alliance works. In a policy video on his campaign website, Trump pledged to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally reevaluating NATOs purpose and NATOs mission. Asked during a Fox News town hall last month whether he would be committed to NATO in a possible second term, he responded, Depends if they treat us properly. Kellogg is a co-chair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, one of the groups helping to lay the groundwork for a possible second Trump term. He argued Trumps comments underscored his longstanding frustrations about countries like Germany that he believes are freeloading off the U.S. Kellogg has proposed refashioning NATO as a tiered alliance in which Article 5 the alliances provision for collective mutual defense would only apply to members who reach their defense spending obligations. He stressed that he was speaking for himself, not Trump or the campaign, and declined to say whether he had discussed the proposal with the former president. The only time Article 5 has been invoked was after the U.S. was attacked by al-Qaida on Sept. 11, 2001. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, now Trumps last major rival for the Republican nomination, told reporters Monday she was appalled by Trumps comment and questioned why he was siding against our allies who were with us after 9/11. She told CNN that Trump talked many times about getting out of NATO behind closed doors and publicly. So thats just a fact. And John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser and now a strident critic, said he believed Trump would almost certainly try to withdraw from NATO if he wins a second term. To those who say this is just the way he bargains with NATO, I can tell you I was there when he damn (near) well withdrew, he said. He often referred to getting out of NATO. ... He was looking for arguments to withdraw from NATO. Trump is often criticized for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggesting cuts to aid to Ukraine as it fights Russias offensive. But the former presidents allies note that Russia seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 during the administration of then-President Barack Obama and then launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with President Joe Biden in the White House. Democrat and media pearl-clutchers seem to have forgotten that we had four years of peace and prosperity under President Trump, but Europe saw death and destruction under Obama-Biden and now more death and destruction under Biden, Trump adviser Jason Miller said. Trumps comments came at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, where he told a familiar story aimed at demonstrating his negotiating prowess. He recounted how he had been asked by an unidentified NATO member about his threat not to defend members of the transatlantic alliance who fail to meet the groups defense spending targets of 2% of annual gross domestic product. Nineteen countries fall short of that baseline, which Trump has often distorted as a requirement to directly pay the alliance. I said, You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Trump recounted telling the person. He said: Yes. Lets say that happened. No I would not protect you, Trump said, adding: In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills. It remains unclear whether the conversation Trump recounted Saturday actually took place. The former president has a long history of fabrications and exaggerations. Aides declined to answer questions about the conversation. But at a forum last month in Brussels, French European Commissioner Thierry Breton recounted that Trump made similar comments in 2020, telling NATO European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that NATO is dead and that the U.S. would not protect the European Union if attacked. Donald Trump said to Ursula, You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you, Breton alleged Trump said at a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. By the way, NATO is dead, and we will leave, we will quit NATO, Trump also said, according to Breton. Regardless of whether it happened as Trump said, the statement sparked immediate panic across Europe, which continues to grapple with Russias invasion of Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg issued a rare critical statement Sunday, warning, Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk. And other countries threatened by Russia weighed in. Biden, meanwhile, said NATOs protection clause keeps American families safe and any individual who calls into question the durability of that vow is a danger to our security. But Rubio, the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he wasnt bothered. He did not talk about anything prospective. What he talked about is he told a story, an analogy, whatever we want to call it, about the way he approached it in the past, said the senator, who led efforts to include a provision that prohibits any president from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval or an act of Congress in the most recent defense policy bill. The truth of the matter is that NATO today is as strong as its ever been, and it wouldnt be that way if somehow Trump had undermined it as a leader, Rubio said. El titular de la PCM informo que se declarara en estado de emergencia la provincia de Trujillo. El control interno estara a cargo de la @PoliciaPeru con apoyo de las FF. AA. "Conjuntamente con las autoridades regionales y locales se hara frente a la ola delincuencial", senalo. pic.twitter.com/cCGIk6M6cC ??Empezo la sexta ronda de negociaciones para el Acuerdo Comercial entre ????Peru e India????! En #Lima, funcionarios de Mincetur y sus pares de la India iniciaron la nueva jornada para lograr un acuerdo comercial entre ambos paises. La viceministra de Comercio Exterior, Teresa pic.twitter.com/pPuftDeHtH "The Sound of Spring," an annual concert presented by musicians from U.S. and Chinese higher education institutions, has become part of celebrations of the Lunar New Year in the New York metropolitan area. Around 1,000 people attended "The Sound of Spring" concert for 2024 on Sunday afternoon at Rose Theater as many were still in a high holiday mood on the second day of the Year of the Dragon. "Yesterday, I actually had to work. I didn't realize it was Chinese New Year. So, I actually didn't take time off, but we celebrated today," said a spectator who gave her first name as Chalsea. "Usually we go out with friends and families and eat a big Chinese meal in celebrating Chinese New Year," said Chalsea, who works in New York City and lives in New Jersey. Chalsea said this was her first time attending "The Sound of Spring" concert, and she wanted her kids to see the performance. Richard Zhou, a resident from New Jersey, told Xinhua that he drove about one and a half hours to watch the concert with tickets booked one month ago to secure a good seat. Zhou said he was impressed by Guo Yazhi's performance of "The Magic Land," a suona concerto, although not familiar with the piece, which has its world premiere in 2023. Zhou added that the Lunar New Year has been very important for the Chinese and he would stay in the town for a while with his family members. It's learned that tickets for the concert were sold out and Rose Theater even had to make extra arrangements to accommodate more people. The two-hour performance won rounds of applause and praise from the audience. Presented by the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, in collaboration with China's Central Conservatory of Music, the concert for 2024 staged many new works by contemporary Chinese composers inspired by musical traditions and folk customs from different Chinese regions. More than half of the repertoire has never been performed in the United States. The performance featured erhu artist Zhang Haiyue and dizi (bamboo flute) artist Feng Tianshi from the Central Conservatory of Music, in addition to renowned wind player Guo Yazhi, according to the U.S.-China Music Institute. Cai Jindong, who conducted the performance, also spared minutes in introducing both the pieces and traditions of the Lunar New Year. The musicians also presented the first leg of the performance on Saturday at Bard College, which is about 90 miles north of New York City. Pre-concert family-friendly events including the demonstration of Chinese instruments, the making of handcrafts featuring the Lunar New Year as well as the creation of Chinese calligraphy works drew interest from spectators. Kendall Griffith, who studies pipa performance at Bard College Conservatory of Music and spent one semester at China's Central Conservatory of Music, demonstrated pipa performance in the lobby of the Rose Theater for visitors. Griffith told Xinhua that she improved a lot in both pipa performance and Chinese language thanks to the very strict training and daily communication with teachers and classmates in Beijing. "I've had a couple of recitals. I also had a performance in Beijing. That's the first time. So that was nice," said Griffith. Griffith noted she learned a lot about Chinese culture when she was in high school and middle school in Boston. It's hoped that audiences could feel the vigor of Chinese music, as well as friendliness and love to the world in the performance, said Yu Hongmei, erhu artist and a top decision maker at Central Conservatory of Music. Yu said she was involved in promoting cooperation with the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music five years ago and would make efforts to deepen the cooperation in the future. "We welcome more students from the United States and other places of the world to study Chinese music and culture in China and form different colors and styles after their return," said Yu. In partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music offers the first degree-granting program in Chinese instrument performance in a U.S. conservatory. Bison are members of the Bovidae family (hoofed animals including domestic cattle). There are two species in the Bison genus: American bison (Bison bison) and European bison (Bison bonasus). American Bison American bison (Bison bison) are native to North America and the national animal of the United States. They are sometimes divided into two subspecies: the plains bison (Bison bison bison) and the wood bison (Bison bison athabascae). Advertisement When Europeans first arrived in North America, it was inhabited by about 50 million plains bison "the largest aggregation of large animals known to recorded history," according to Britannica. Native Americans living in the Great Plains successfully managed the bison population while utilizing bison meat, hides, and sinew, but white settlers brought the bison near extinction as they colonized the West. "They're very smart animals," Lydia Austin, the interpretative programs manager at Custer State Park in South Dakota, told HowStuffWorks. "That's a problem that you run into with a lot of visitors at the park. They think they're, slow, docile, for lack of a better word 'dumb' animals." That couldn't be further from the truth. In Yellowstone National Park, bison tend to injure more visitors than any other animal. (The park is also home to bears and wolves.) The National Park Service recommends keeping at least 25 yards (23 meters) of distance between yourself and a bison. "They can turn on a dime," Austin says. "They use their front legs to turn and then swing their behind around, so they can turn a lot faster than your horses turn, or your truck. They usually go where they want to go." European Bison The European bison (Bison bonasus) is found in Eastern Europe, including Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1996, conservation efforts have saved wild populations of European bison from extinction. The European bison is now "vulnerable." YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Hungary are developing an agreement on healthcare cooperation, Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan has said. Avanesyan visited Hungary February 5-7 as part of President Vahagn Khachaturyans delegation. In Budapest, Avanesyan met with Minister of Interior Sandor Pinter to discuss partnership and prospects of signing a memorandum of cooperation. During the meeting with my counterpart we discussed all the issues of mutual interest. We agreed to work together on the text of a bilateral agreement. I hope we will sign it in the coming months after finalizing it. I am happy that we are restarting the highly important dialogue and work with Hungary in healthcare, Avanesyan said. The minister pointed out the enhancement of Armenian-Hungarian cooperation in pharmaceutics, education and health insurance sectors. Hungarian pharmaceutical production is very well known in Armenia, and we attach importance to the development of our relations in this sector. We agreed to work around an exchange program for medical university students and specialists in Hungary. Hungary also has a very important system in terms of providing scholarships to foreign students, thus I attach importance for Armenia to have access to this as well. In addition, in terms of introducing an insurance system, studying the experience of European countries is highly important and interesting for us. I have to say, we outlined quite similar directions which we plan to place at the foundation of our system. This works in Hungary. They have a stable and good health insurance system, Avanesyan said. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces on early morning Tuesday opened small arms fire at Armenian military positions in the Nerkin Hand section in Syunik Province, killing two Armenian servicemen and wounding others, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The Defense Ministry did not specify the number of wounded troops. As a result of the Azerbaijani armed forces firing towards Nerkin Hand, the Armenian side has, according to preliminary information, reported 2 killed in action and wounded. The Ministry of Defense will issue an additional statement, the Defense Ministry said. The Azeri forces started firing at Armenian positions near Nerkin Hand at 05:30, February 13. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani authorities are generating fake news targeting the Armenian military, the Ministry of Defense has warned. The Azeri Defense Ministry, in its latest statement, falsely accused the Armenian military of opening fire at Azeri posts. The statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, alleging that between 20:50 and 23:40 on February 12, the units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia fired in the direction of Azerbaijani positions situated in the northeastern part of the border, is untrue, the Ministry of Defense said. 34 Changpeng Zhao, founder and CEO of Binance, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2022. The criminal sentencing of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao on a money laundering rule charge has been postponed until April 30, according to a notice Monday in Seattle federal court. That docket entry did not explain what would be a two-month delay in sentencing Zhao, a Canadian national widely known as "CZ" who is free on a $175 million release bond in the United States. Zhao's lawyer, William Burck, declined to comment when asked about the postponement. CNBC has asked the Department of Justice about the delay. Federal sentencing guidelines suggest a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison for Zhao, but prosecutors reportedly have considered asking for a harsher sentence. Zhao pleaded guilty on Nov. 21 to a charge of failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. As part of that plea, he agreed to step down as Binance's chief executive officer and to pay a $50 million fine. Binance at the same time agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines and restitution as part of its guilty plea to conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money-transmitting business, conducting such a business and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. New York is still the go-to city for recent college grads, but according to a new report single young professionals are looking elsewhere. This month, Renthop released its ranking of the best U.S. cities for single young professionals. The top 100 most-populated cities in the country were ranked based on three factors: Career: Job opportunities based on most recent metro unemployment rates, median nonfamily household income Cost of Living: Median rent, cost of groceries, cost of dining out Dating opportunities: Percentage of population between 20 and 34 years, percentage of single population, interest in dating Major hubs like New York City and Los Angeles didn't even rank in the top 10. Los Angeles ranked No. 81, while New York City was named the worst city for single young professionals with a score of 34.73. The Renthop report states that since New York City is one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, it is a less-than-ideal place for young professionals. The average rent in New York City is $3,400, according to Zillow. Airfare fell 6.4% in January from a year earlier, the Labor Department said in its monthly consumer price index report on Tuesday. It might not last too long. January is typically a slower month for travel as customers take fewer trips following the New Year's holiday. Domestic travel usually picks up during school breaks and spring holidays. The drop comes even though carriers are facing capacity constraints this year, in part because of an engine recall from Pratt & Whitney , congested airspace and delayed aircraft deliveries. Meanwhile, airline executives have forecast robust demand this year, even in the domestic market, which has faced more competition from international destinations that opened up in the wake of the pandemic. Those trends could help lift fares. "The capacity decline is related to artificial constraints due to aircraft delivery delays and GTF engine issues," TD Cowen airline analyst Helane Becker said in a note Friday. "These are not going away any time soon. Since demand remains above year ago levels, and above 2019 levels, we expect improvement in pricing." Airlines including Southwest and Alaska have moderated their capacity growth forecasts for the year. In 2023, airlines had been forced to discount flights, particularly in off-peak periods, after the industry added capacity. Flight tracker Hopper said it expects "good deal" domestic fares which it defines as the bottom 10th percentile of available fares to average $276 in February. The company expects the average to rise to $302 in May, a more than 9% increase from its February forecast. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said aircraft repairs and the parts supply chain are the biggest areas of the business that haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels. "All the suppliers in our industry lost a tremendous amount of experience due to the pandemic, and it's taking time to get that back," Bastian said on a Jan. 12 earnings call. The grounding last month of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after a midflight blowout of a fuselage panel caused capacity constraints for Alaska and United , the only two U.S. operators of the aircraft, though the planes returned to service in late January. The Federal Aviation Administration has said it will stop Boeing from increasing Max production as it reviews the plane maker's manufacturing lines. Alaska said it expected capacity to grow from 3% to 5% this year when releasing its quarterly earnings last month but, "given the grounding, and the potential for future delivery delays, the Company expects capacity growth to be at or below the lower end of this range." United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on a Jan. 23 earnings call that he expects a challenging environment in 2024 as the industry deals with hiring constraints, maintenance catch-up and supply chain issues. "It turned out to be even more challenging than we thought. ...Those operating environment challenges led directly to industry capacity plans, including our own, coming down 3 points on average as carriers adapted to the new operating environment," Kirby said. Demand for air traffic has continued to rebound from its pandemic lows. Total global traffic reached 94% of its pre-pandemic level in 2023, according to the International Air Transport Association. Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO: Ian Freeman outside of the federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, in April 2023. A New Hampshire libertarian activist and radio show host convicted of using bitcoin to launder tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from romance scams and internet fraud was ordered to pay more than $3.5 million in restitution to 29 primarily elderly victims, prosecutors said Tuesday. The launderer, Ian Freeman, also was ordered by a judge to forfeit other assets as restitution for the scheme, which among other things used several churches to receive money from victims under the guise of being donations before it was swapped for cryptocurrency, prosecutors said. The assets included about 5.24 bitcoin currently valued at more than $258,000 and about $1.1 million in U.S. currency, the order in U.S. District Court in New Hampshire shows. Freeman, 43, who had long promoted bitcoin as an alternative to the U.S. dollar, was sentenced in October to eight years in federal prison for his role in the scam conspiracy as part of a group dubbed "Crypto Six." He also was fined $40,000. Prosecutors, who called his actions "the worst kind of crime," said that he laundered proceeds of scams by exchanging dollars for the popular cryptocurrency, charging "exorbitant fees" in the process. Freeman earned more than $1 million through his business, which he had not registered as legally required with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, prosecutors said. "Ian Freeman's money laundering business caused many vulnerable people unnecessary anguish," said U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire Jane Young in a statement on the order by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante. "Nothing will ever take away the pain he caused these victims, but I am grateful that the dedicated prosecution team on this case was able to make many of them financially whole." "Freeman and his co-conspirators opened and operated accounts at financial institutions in the names of various churches including the Shire Free Church, the Church of the Invisible Hand, the Crypto Church of New Hampshire, and the NH Peace Church," Young's office said in a statement. "Freeman instructed bitcoin customers, who were often victims of scams, to lie to the financial institutions and describe their deposits as church donations. From 2016 to 2019, he paid no taxes, and concealed his income from the Internal Revenue Service," the office said. Freeman's lawyer Mark Sisti told CNBC that his client was "very satisfied with the number" in the restitution order and that the assets forfeited by him would cover the $3.5 million he was ordered to pay with "no problem whatsoever." Sisti said that he and Freeman will now focus on the pending appeal of his conviction. The attorney disputed the prosecution's characterization of Freeman and the effect of his actions. "There was no finding that these so-called victims were, quote, vulnerable," Sisti said. "They pursued this activity on their own. They were very intelligent people." "This was no stealing granny's piggy bank, this was dealing with sophisticated individuals that were involved in moving money around, and cryptocurrency on their own," Sisti said. An aerial photo shows Boeing 737 Max airplanes parked on the tarmac at the Boeing Factory in Renton, Washington, on March 21, 2019. Boeing 's aircraft orders and deliveries fell in January as the company grappled with the fallout from a midflight blowout of a fuselage panel on one of its 737 Max 9s, an accident that overshadowed the manufacturer's strong finish in 2023. The company handed over 27 planes last month, its lowest tally since September, compared with 67 deliveries in December. It sold three Boeing 737 Max planes, but also logged three cancellations. The deliveries were roughly in line with what some analysts expected. The three gross orders come after a big December when Boeing sold 371 planes. Boeing rival Airbus handed over 30 planes in January. Boeing executives have been scrambling to persuade airline customers, investors and regulators that it will find more reliable footing after the Jan. 5 accident, when a door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight at 16,000 feet shortly after it left Portland, Oregon. No one was seriously injured on Flight 1282, but the violent detachment ripped off headrests and exposed travelers to a gaping hole in the 26th row. Bolts that hold the unused exit door panel in place appeared to be missing from the fuselage piece, which had been removed and put back at Boeing's 737 Max factory in Renton, Washington, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Feb. 6. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has vowed to review manufacturing processes at the company's facilities. The Federal Aviation Administration said it would halt Boeing's planned production increases until it is "satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved." "I'm sort of glad they called out a pause because that's a good excuse to just take our time, do it right," Calhoun said on an earnings call Jan. 31. Boeing earlier this month disclosed it would have to rework about 50 undelivered Max planes because of incorrectly drilled holes, a new production glitch that could slow deliveries. The FAA is auditing Boeing's production, and the agency's administrator, Mike Whitaker, told CNBC last month that it will keep "boots on the ground" at Boeing and perform direct inspections of work there. The audit includes about two-dozen inspectors, stationed at the Renton factory and in Wichita, Kansas, where Spirit Aerosystems makes the Max fuselages. Boeing now has to periodically pause its production line, and CFO Brian West said at a TD Cowen investor conference on Tuesday that the company expects to be at a steady rate of 38 Max planes a month in the second half of the year. "We are doing that so that we can get the benefit of our audit, we can get the benefit of our own inspection protocols, and that will just slow the line," West said. FAA Administrator Whitaker is traveling to the Renton plant this week. Boeing's January deliveries included three Max planes to Chinese customers, the first in about four years. CNBC's Jim Cramer said Tuesday he remains a believer in Cadence Design Systems , despite the company's first-guidance revenue guidance falling short of Wall Street expectations. Shares of the semiconductor design software maker a partner of leading artificial intelligence chip firm Nvidia fell more than 3% Tuesday, underperforming the S & P 500 in an overall down day. The stock entered the session up 12.6% year to date, outpacing the market. "Don't sweat the program. They're always conservative" when issuing guidance, Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "I like this stock, but let it come in." After the close Monday, Cadence said it expects first-quarter revenue between $990 and $1.01 billion. Analysts had been looking for sales of $1.09 billion in the three months ending March 31, according to estimates compiled by FactSet. California-based Cadence's business in China, the world's second-largest economy, appeared to be a significant factor in the lighter-than-expected revenue outlook, Cramer said. "I think the weakness came from China, which is going to be flat or down. China weakness has affected many different companies," he said. Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club , does not have a position in Cadence. Its two chip stocks are Nvidia and Broadcom . This pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik shows Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and China's President Xi Jinping heading to a group photo session during the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 18, 2023. The European Union is looking to sanction Chinese firms that it believes have helped Russia circumvent Western penalties, looking to slap measures against these mainland China businesses for the first time since the war began, three EU officials told CNBC. The 27-member bloc is working on a 13th package of sanctions in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which could be ready later this month to mark the second-year anniversary of the war. One of the EU officials, who did not want to be named due to the sensitive nature of the talks, said: "Chinese companies and entities from other third countries, which are involved in supporting Russia to circumvent sanctions" will feature in the next round of measures levied against Russia for its war in Ukraine. Another official said that the 27 EU ambassadors will discuss the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, adding that "work is ongoing." U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas holds a press conference at a U.S. Border Patrol station on January 08, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Republican-led House of Representatives on Tuesday impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, only the second time in U.S. history that a Cabinet member has been impeached. The House by the barest of margins, 214-213, approved two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, alleging that he intentionally violated federal immigration laws and blocked congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Mayorkas faces the prospect of a trial in the Senate, where he is all but certain to be acquitted by the chamber's Democratic majority. The Senate, which is on recess until Feb. 26, will either dismiss the impeachment articles outright or send the trial to a special committee to hear evidence. "History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games," President Joe Biden said in a statement after the vote. The White House has repeatedly condemned the impeachment effort over the past year, calling it a political distraction by Republicans, who refused $20 billion of border security funding in a bipartisan Senate deal last week. "While Secretary Mayorkas was helping a group of Republican and Democratic Senators develop bipartisan solutions to strengthen border security and get needed resources for enforcement, House Republicans have wasted months with this baseless, unconstitutional impeachment," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement after the vote. Two Democrats, Reps. Judy Chu of California and Lois Frankel of Florida, were absent from the Tuesday vote, allowing Republicans to clinch the majority. Chu was isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. She would have voted against the impeachment had she been on the House floor, she said in a post on X on Tuesday night. The GOP-led impeachment motion was a small redemption for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Republican hard-liners after the same effort failed last week. Johnson told NBC News that Republicans were "happy to get the job done" following the vote Tuesday night. This time around, Republicans were confident they would have the majority vote to impeach now that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has returned to Washington after cancer treatment, which prevented him from breaking last week's 215-215 tie. "There's always concerns, but no, it will pass," Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said Tuesday ahead of the vote. "All the Republicans will be back and it'll pass." That optimism still hinged on a razor-thin House Republican majority, which was threatened by a Northeast snowstorm that lawmakers feared would hamper travel to Capitol Hill. Even with all the GOP members present, Republicans could only afford to lose three members of their caucus voting against the impeachment. Democratic congressional candidate for New York's 3rd district, Tom Suozzi, delivers his victory speech during his election night party, following a special election to fill the vacancy created by Republican George Santos' ouster from Congress, in Woodbury, New York, U.S., February 13, 2024. Democrat Tom Suozzi has won the New York special election to replace expelled former Rep. George Santos, NBC News projects, flipping a red seat blue and further narrowing Republicans' slim House majority. The seat representing New York's 3rd Congressional District had been vacant since Santos was ousted from Congress late last year under a cloud of scandals and criminal charges. Suozzi, who previously represented the district, is projected to defeat Republican Mazi Pilip. Surveys conducted before Election Day showed a tight race between Suozzi and Pilip in the district, which covers parts of Long Island and Queens. But NBC and other outlets projected the outcome of the race less than 90 minutes after polls closed. "Let's send a message to our friends running the Congress these days: Stop running around for Trump, and start running the country," Suozzi said in a victory speech. As Suozzi took the stage, a pro-Palestinian protester confronted him and screamed, "You support genocide!" The protester was swiftly taken of the stage. The special election, conducted in spite of a major snowstorm that barreled through the northeast Tuesday morning, could have a major impact on the balance of power in Congress. Suozzi could be sworn into Congress within days, raising the number of House Democrats to 213 a relative hair's breadth from the chamber's 219-member GOP majority. That means that if the full House is voting, Republicans can only allow two defectors to break ranks and still pass legislation along party lines. Both parties poured millions of dollars into the contest, but Democrats have spent twice as much as Republicans on advertising $13 million in total over just 10 weeks, according to The New York Times. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Brussels met with Gert Jan Koopman, the Director-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission. Ahead of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council session, the sides discussed a broad range of bilateral agenda issues, particularly the effective application of the CEPA provisions and prospects of deepening partnership, the foreign ministry said in a readout. In this context, they commended the visit of the delegation of the European External Action Service and the European Commission to Armenia in December 2023, and discussed the steps aimed at increasing Armenias economic resilience. FM Mirzoyan and Director-General Gert Jan Koopman also discussed issues of Armenias participation in regional economic and transport projects, as well as looked into the opportunities for further advancing the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government. The security situation in the South Caucasus and challenges in the direction of ensuring lasting stability were also discussed. Efforts aimed at addressing the mid-term and long-term needs of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed. Robert Harvey holds a mixed flag of Ukraine and America outside the U.S. Capitol on February 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Senate continues debate on the Foreign Aid Package. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a $95 billion aid package to provide funds for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with the vote split 70-29. The contentious bill faces a greater hurdle ahead in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday said the bill had failed to include provisions on U.S. border security, an issue Republican lawmakers have said is crucial to winning their support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and all the senators who backed the bill. "For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war," he said. Veteran Wall Street executive Omeed Malik is planning to raise over $3 million and donate at least $100,000 in support of Donald Trump's campaign, the latest backer of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' failed bid to help the former president. Malik, who is the CEO of Farvahar Partners, said in an interview that after helping to raise money and give voice to the likes of DeSantis and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he now plans to turn to his extensive network to help finance Trump's campaign for president. "What I am committing to doing is putting the resources that I have and rolodex I have, both of which are material, behind the president on a go-forward basis," Malik said. Malik's bona fides are rare in Trump's orbit. Until recently, he was living in New York City and identifying as a Democrat. He was a regular donor to both Democrats and Republicans, sitting on the Council of Foreign Relations, and building a traditional Wall Street resume with stints at Bank of America and corporate law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. But Malik was disturbed by what he saw as government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed him to move to Florida and begin gravitating toward the right side of the aisle. And, like many Trump voters, he said it was what he deemed the "weaponization of regulatory and legal systems" that drew him to the former president. "It's starting to become primetime here between [President Joe] Biden and Trump, and this is when I can be much more effective," Malik said. The pandemic also inspired him to pursue alternative ventures. Malik's firm, 1789 Capital, is a financial backer behind Tucker Carlson's media company. The firm aims to help create a sort of parallel economy that appeals to more conservative consumers. He's also behind PublicSquare, a conservative shopping app meant to rival Amazon. Now his focus is turning to making a marked impact on the 2024 election. Malik plans to raise at least $3 million for Trump's campaign for president, an advisor to him told CNBC. That's the same amount he raised for DeSantis' 2022 gubernatorial campaign. The advisor was granted anonymity to describe private efforts to help Trump. A slump in foreign direct investments, deflation and a shake-up in the stock market has put pressure on the Chinese economy, causing several investors to turn cautious on the Asian powerhouse as it marks the start of the Year of the Dragon. Chinese stocks had an eventful week last week with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hitting a five-year low of about 2,650 points on Feb. 5, before edging up to end the week at 2,865.90. Meanwhile, the CSI300 Index capturing China's top 300 stocks by market capitalization capped its best week since 2022 with a 3.2% gain, while the CSI1000 Index for small-cap stocks advanced 9% its biggest weekly increase since 2020. A slide in Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares on Feb. 9, however, proved that investors may still have lingering concerns on the prospects of Chinese stocks in the new year. This year features the dragon in the Chinese zodiac which is viewed as one of the most auspicious signs incorporating wealth, strength and prosperity. As the festive season gets underway, Redmond Wong, market strategist at investment firm Saxo, sees several opportunities to play the market. "I'm still positive and optimistic on China right now. However, I think that the cyclical upturn has been much slower than I expected. I don't want to be binary and say China is collapsing because it is not. I believe the strength of the economy has been a little weaker, but it is still recovering and still growing," he told CNBC Pro in January. China's economy continues to grow, with gross domestic product for 2023 coming in at 5.3%. The International Monetary Fund expects growth in the Asian giant to slow to 4.6% this year , no thanks to the prolonged slump in its property market and subdued external demand. Still, several sectors and stocks make good investments right now, says Wong. "If you look at value stocks, you will still get multiples that are low enough when cash flows become steady that may be something investors can still buy if you're not hoping for a lot of growth," he explained. Value stocks are known as companies appearing to trade at lower prices compared to fundamentals. Elsewhere, Morningstar's analysts suggest that "China equities are relatively still cheap." "We expect Chinese consumption to remain subdued and there remains uncertainty around the impact of supportive policies in the absence of targeted measures to absorb excess real estate inventory to help revitalize property demand. We think it will be a slow recovery, so while we expect nibbling at attractively priced entities, we do not see a strong rebound across the broad market," analysts at the firm wrote in a Jan. 25 report. Technology and manufacturing picks With China's technology and advanced manufacturing sectors featuring prominently among investors in the past year, it is no surprise that Saxo's Wong and Morningstar's analysts are looking at them keenly. "Enhancing productivity and technology self-reliance will remain the two structural themes of China's long-term development strategy. These are unlikely to wither despite the cyclical swings of the economy. The technology and advanced manufacturing companies that produce tangible products tend to benefit from favorable industrial policies," Wong said, naming consumer electronics giant Xiaomi , manufacturing companies Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls and Luxshare Precision as well as industrial automation player Shenzhen Inovance as stocks on his watch. Agreeing, Morningstar's analysts believe the sectors could outperform, adding that they "see value in the semiconductor industry, with inventory levels coming down [while] factory automation should gain on signs that the capital spending cycle has bottomed." Their picks include tech giants NetEase , Baidu and China Unicom . Promise in consumption Beyond tech, Morningstar sees opportunities within the consumer cyclicals and defensive space, even as Chinese consumers have seemingly tightened their purse strings post the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Stocks they see promise in include fast food restaurant chain Yum China , integrated resort and casino operator Sands China and beer manufacturer Tsingtao Brewery. Morningstar gives stocks a rating of between one and five stars, with a top rating indicating that the shares are undervalued. Named as a five-star rated stock, the financial services firm likes Yum China given its "significant room for fast food penetration to go up, driven mainly by long-term secular trends such as: longer working hours for urban consumers; rapidly rising disposable income; and ever-smaller family sizes." Meanwhile, it has a three-star rating on Sands China. Opportunities facing the company include a recovery in the gaming and non-gaming sectors in Macao, the analysts explained. As for Tsingtao Brewery, the analysts like its pure focus on the beer industry and regional focus in Shandong and northern China, which make it "more defensive in a rather adverse operating environment." Boom in green transformation Beyond the traditional sectors, Saxo's Wong is watching an up-and-coming area in China: energy security and a green transformation. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that the Asian giant's clean-energy sectors contributed 11.4 trillion Chinese yuan ($1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, up 30% year-on-year. Companies on Wong's watch include oil players like CNOOC and PetroChina , mining player Zijin Mining , and lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium . Here are the top 11 news stories across business, global events, tech, and more Share Market Live NSE View All View All #LatestNews Farmers Protest Live Updates: Delhi on high alert as march towards Parliament to begin around 10 am "Delhi Chalo" Farmers Protest Live Updates: Farmers will march towards Delhi on Tuesday, February 13, after a meeting with two Union ministers over their demands, including a legal guarantee to MSP for crops, remained inconclusive. Authorities in Haryana have fortified the state's borders with Punjab at many places in Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra and Sirsa using concrete blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle the proposed march. Final series of Sovereign Gold Bond 2023-24 open now: A look at returns and ways to invest Investors keen on diversifying their portfolios with gold-backed securities must be flocking to subscribe to the fourth tranche (IVth) of the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme for the financial year 2023-24. The subscription window is open until February 16, offering the last chance for investors to participate in this financial year's SGB offering. The issue price for the bonds has been fixed at 6,263 per gram of gold. However, online subscribers get a discounted rate of 50 per gram, making their investment cost 6,213 per gram. World View | India's significant diplomatic win in Qatar here's how it worked On Monday, a large number of concerned Indians especially the families of the former imprisoned Navy officers heaved a sigh of relief as they returned home after a Qatari court allowed them to leave. The eight former naval officers, who were engaged by Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services, a company advising on a Qatari programme aimed at obtaining high-tech, Italian-made, submarines that could evade radar detection, were accused of spying and passing on some information to Israelis even as no concrete evidence in this regard was available. #TechTalks Smart street project bags 7 lakh prize at vivo's Ignite Awards 2024 vivo India has unveiled the national winners of its 'vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Awards' over the weekend in New Delhi in a function attended by Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chief Scientist and Head, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology. The initiative, conducted in collaboration with NCERT and iHub DivyaSampark, IIT Roorkee, attracted more than 19,000 registrations and received over 4,000 projects from Indian students in Grades 8 to 12. The competition, held in three stages from November 2023 to February 2024, aimed to encourage and showcase the innovative potential of young minds. Samsung opens pre-reservations for Galaxy Book4 laptops in India South Korean tech giant Samsung has officially opened pre-reservations for its highly anticipated Galaxy Book4 series of laptops. The pre-reservation period commenced on Monday, February 12, offering consumers an exclusive opportunity for early access and special incentives upon the purchase of the Galaxy Book4 series. Interested customers can secure their spot by paying a token amount of 1,999 through various channels, including Samsung.com , Samsung Exclusive Stores, prominent retail outlets, and select online portals. Those who pre-reserve will receive advantages valued at 5,000 when acquiring their Galaxy Book4 device, Samsung said in a press release. #DailyData #ExpertEdge India's significant diplomatic win in Qatar here's how it worked On Monday, a large number of concerned Indians especially the families of the former imprisoned Navy officers heaved a sigh of relief as they returned home after a Qatari court allowed them to leave. The eight former naval officers, who were engaged by Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services, a company advising on a Qatari programme aimed at obtaining high-tech, Italian-made, submarines that could evade radar detection, were accused of spying and passing on some information to Israelis even as no concrete evidence in this regard was available. Gig workers, Cyber nomads why India should follow Australia's 'Closing the Loopholes' Bill Gig workers are mushrooming across the globe. In the US, young and energetic men and women use their spare time to use their cars as taxis. Uber has been at the forefront of encouraging such productive use of spare time. So much so, that it has lauded the Australian initiative codified in the Closing the Loopholes Bill. India should take a leaf out of the Australian law once it is signed as such. Europe has blazed the trail already by recognizing the right to disconnect among others. #PersonalFinance Kotak MF launches technology fund should you invest in thematic NFOs? Kotak Technology Fund, a new fund offer (NFO) from Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, has opened for subscription on Monday, February 12, and will be available until February 26, 2024. This open-ended equity scheme falls under the thematic category. The NFO aims to invest predominantly in equity and equity-related securities of technology and technology-related sectors to generate long-term capital appreciation. However, it is important to note that there is no assurance that the scheme's objective will be achieved, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund said. UPI now available in Sri Lanka, Mauritius: Check steps to make payments abroad In a move towards enhancing cross-border digital transactions, the Ministry of External Affairs announced the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius on Monday, February 12. As part of this initiative, India has also introduced RuPay card services in Mauritius. #TravelWithCNBCTV18 These two islands on Lakshadweep are thriving with tourists: Check how beautiful they are Bangaram and the closely located Thinnakara Islands have become tourism hotspots in Lakshadweep. As tourists get onboard fishing boats and head out, one can see vibrant hues of multi-coloured coral reefs, which is an instant feel-good factor about such scenic and pristine destinations existing in India. Bangaram and neighbouring Thinnakara have emerged as tourism gems within Lakshadweep, so much so that tourists instantly fall in love with the natural beauty of these islands. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a holiday on these picturesque islands, tourists both domestic and international started to throng the islands located off the coast of Kerala. There is a government-operated five-star resort on Bangaram, nestled amid uninhabited expanses that epitomize the serenity of the islands, devoid of commercial clutter and external disruptions. Beyond #Newsroom Follow the CNBC-TV18 channel on WhatsApp Catch crispy news updates on the go!- CNBCTV18 Minis Watch all #videos under one segment- CNBCTV18 Binge We bring you real-time updates and analysis of the stock market- Real-time market updates We'll see you tomorrow with another engaging '11:11' India risks losing out to China and Vietnam as it seeks to become a major smartphone export hub and must "act fast" to lure global companies with lower tariffs, the deputy IT minister said in government documents seen by Reuters. Smartphone manufacturing is a key plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitions to boost the economy and create jobs by attracting companies such as Apple, Foxconn and Samsung to India, the world's second-largest mobile market, where production grew 16% year-on-year to $44 billion last year. That success, Modi's government says, is mostly due to financial incentives given to companies to produce more. But lawmakers and lobby groups for Apple and other firms argue India's high tariffs are a deterrent for companies de-risking their supply chains beyond China, and nations such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Mexico have raced ahead in phone exports by offering lower tariffs on components. A January 3 letter and a confidential presentation drafted by Indian Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and sent to the Finance Minister, show the extent of his ministry's concerns about losing out due to the uncompetitive tariffs. "India has high production cost due to highest tariffs amongst key manufacturing destinations," wrote Chandrasekhar in the documents, which were seen by Reuters. "The geopolitical realignment is forcing supply chains to shift out of China We must act now, or they will shift to Vietnam, Mexico and Thailand." Chandrasekhar and India's IT ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Lower tariffs on components is key to India's ambitions to attract smartphone manufacturers. "Made in India" phones use many parts made locally, but companies import many high-end parts from China and elsewhere due to supply chain limitations. These parts are then subject to the high tariffs the government has put in place to protect the local manufacturers, raising overall costs. U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti recently said foreign investments were not flowing into India at the pace they should be, and were going to countries like Vietnam instead, because of the tariffs. "If you tax inputs you're not protecting a market. What you are doing is limiting a market," he said. Chandrasekhar in his documents flagged how lower taxes in China and Vietnam helped boost their exports. Exports accounted for only 25% of India's smartphone production last year, compared with 63% of China's $270 billion worth of production and 95% of Vietnam's $40 billion worth, he said. "Match China, beat Vietnam" India is seeking to account for 25% of global electronics manufacturing by 2029, but the official documents showed its stake was currently at just 4%, even though Apple, Foxconn and Xiaomi had all boosted production recently. Chandrasekhar's documents were addressed to India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month to lobby for lower tariffs in the annual budget. The finance ministry did lower taxes on some components , including battery covers, to 10% from 15%, but did not agree to many other tariff cut requests. The finance ministry and Sitharaman's office did not respond to requests for comment. India still imposes a 20% tax on parts, including chargers, some circuit boards and fully assembled phones. The IT minister wanted those taxes to be reduced to 15% this year. Chandrasekhar also argued that Vietnam and China do not levy tariffs above 10% on components from their "most-favoured nation" trading partners or nations with whom they have free-trade agreements. India does not do that and imposes "high" tariffs on many components, he said. "We have to match China and beat Vietnam on tariffs to attract" global supply chains, Chandrasekhar wrote. "No country with high tariffs has or can attract" them. Local market saturating, exports focus Last week, Xiaomi privately asked New Delhi to lower tariffs on more components used in cameras and USB cables, saying it will help "aligning with the competitive manufacturing economies like China and Vietnam." While surging local demand has helped keep the local manufacturing industry profitable, Chandrasekhar said in his letter that this "domestic market of smartphones will shortly near saturation" and as users don't change phones that often. India's goal to take mobile phone production to over $100 billion a yearwith 50% of that exportedneeds a new strategy, the minister said. "Tariffs are becoming a hurdle," the minister said in his presentation. "We need to shift tariff policy to suit our new ambitions. Exports, not domestic." Ashwini Vaishnaw supported tariff cuts CNBC-TV18 had earlier reported that Telecom, IT and Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has openly supported the mobile manufacturing industrys demand for tariff cuts on imported components , calling it the next logical step. He confirmed that there was absolutely a case made for a cut in import duties on mobile components. He confirmed his support for the industry demand, in an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18, on the sidelines of the 2024 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. "This is a big gift the finance ministry has given us before the Budget. We will be passing on these duty cuts to our customers, we are a B2B company. Hopefully, this is going to give a significant flip to the demand side because let's see how the brands react to it. But undoubtedly, it's a major positive for us, he told CNBC-TV18. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), told CNBC-TV18 in a post-interim budget panel discussion with CNBC-TV18 said, "There was a need felt that on the mobile parts, we must rationalise the rates. Therefore, on certain parts, which are mechanics or diecast parts on which rates have now been lowered from 15% to 10% to rationalise it, and to take care of the disputes which have arisen in past." On future tariff revisions, the CBIC Chairman said, "It is an ongoing exercise. Maybe when the full budget will be presented, that time many more such steps may be taken." The U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Colorado College for the second consecutive year for being a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. Colleges and universities that receive this honor have the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which provides funding for international opportunities. Six applicants from CC were selected for Fulbright awards for academic year 2023-2024. Roy Jo Sartin, the Fulbright Program Adviser at CC, couldnt be more thrilled. "I hope this honor and the stories of these six winners Kayla Fratt '15 (research Kenya), Samson Heyer '23(English teaching Algeria), Jasmine Linder '23 (arts Brazil), Sophie Ramirez '17 (English teaching Jordan), Maddie Schink '23 (English teaching Colombia), and Mariel Zech '23 (English teaching Taiwan) will inspire more people to see themselves as potential Fulbrighters and to apply for the program." This is the third time CC has made the list of Fulbright Top Producing Institutions; in both 2019 and 2022, four student grantees from CC were selected. There are currently 12 CC students and alumni who are semi-finalists for the 2024 Fulbright. Those awardees will be announced later this spring. Here are more takeaways from this year's Fulbright release: CC's six winners puts us on par this year with Vassar, Wesleyan, and Bard College, and ahead of Grinnell and Bryn Mawr, among others. CC is the top baccalaureate-level producer in Colorado. The only other baccalaureate-level school in Colorado to win Fulbrights was the U.S. Air Force Academy, with four. CC's six winners tied with CU Boulder (as a PhD-granting institution) for the most numbers of Fulbrights in the state, ahead of these other PhD-level institutions: DU (5), CSU (4), and UCCS (1). I am so proud of our students and alumni, once again, for making Colorado College a Top Producing Fulbright Institution, said L. Song Richardson, President of Colorado College. At CC, we prepare students to challenge their own perspectives and engage in complex problem-solving around global issues. Every year, I am impressed by the projects our Fulbright grantees take on, knowing this is only the beginning of the impact they will make in the world. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. governments flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. CC students are often brave and unconventional in their unique learning goals and visions, and I think that adventurousness serves them well when they apply for the competitive national Fulbright Awards, added Heather Powell Browne, Assistant Director of Global Education at CC. Roy Jo Sartin is a massive asset to these students as she works with them to shape their big and bold ideas into often-winning Fulbright applications. It is also a consistent joy to get to serve on the Campus Fulbright Committee which interviews our applicants, to hear them talk about their ideas, their curiosities, and how they will represent Colorado College and the United States in another part of the world for their Fulbright year. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program. Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United State and the people of other countries. Colorado Colleges ability to provide access to remarkable international opportunities such as the Fulbright is invaluable, said Chelsea Walter, Director of the Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. Colorado College students understand that a Fulbright can be an invaluable opportunity to deeply explore the benefits of diversity and cultural exchange, and to see so many apply and secure fellowships is truly remarkable. Applicants to Fulbright at Colorado College are supported by campus adviser Roy Jo Sartin. For more information about the Fulbright resources offered at CC, click on the Scholarships and Grants page, which includes requirements and application deadlines. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has met with MEP Nathalie Loiseau, the Chair of the European Parliaments Subcommittee on Security and Defense. Armenia-EU Partnership agenda issues were discussed, where the EU legislative body has its unique role in advancing them. In this context, the prospects of deepening partnership and mutual efforts were discussed, the foreign ministry said in a readout. The sides comprehensively discussed regional issues in the South Caucasus. Armenias vision of overcoming the existing challenges, including with international support, was presented to MEP Loiseau. The importance of suppressing territorial aspirations against Armenia and the unconditional adherence to the territorial integrity and inviolability of borders was emphasized. The principled approach and documents adopted by the European Parliament, containing unambiguous assessments and messages, in difficult times for the people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, were touched upon. FM Mirzoyan thanked MEP Nathalie Loiseau for her significant contribution in advancing issues of key importance for Armenia and protection of humanitarian values and awarded her with the Medal of Gratitude of the Republic of Armenia. News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Womens Giving Circle member Hayley Drader, left, presents a $5,883 donation to Janet Hamada, Executive Director of The Next Door Inc (TNDI). Also pictured is the Festival of Trees Christmas tree decorated by Columbia Gorge Community College, purchased by Pray Electric, and donated to TNDIs Kelly Avenue School. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The United States believes that 'continued dialogue' is the best way to reach sustainable settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said. We do obviously support continued dialogue around that issue. We believe its the best way to reach a sustainable end to the conflict, and we will continue to pursue it, Miller said at a press briefing when asked on the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations process. Miller declined to comment when asked on the U.S. position on the sides trying to negotiate without mediators. Despite the ongoing peace efforts, Azerbaijan perpetrated yet another unprovoked attack against Armenia: Azeri forces on February 13 opened cross-border gunfire at an Armenian military position in Syunik province, killing 2 soldiers and wounding others. Otter.ai, the real-time notetaking service, is seeking to shake up the enterprise transcription market with its new Meeting GenAI feature, which can capture, access, and immediately provide information from meetings across an organization. Meeting GenAI will be able to recall notes from another video conference, phone call, or in-person meeting from weeks earlier, for someone who wasnt able to attend or who doesnt remember what happened. This capability will work for a person sitting at her desk or for a group of people in a teleconference or in-person meeting. So, for example, an enterprises product marketing team is on a video conference and wants to know the latest specs for a new feature discussed during an engineering team meeting two days earlier. The director of product marketing can ask Otter.ai to describe the new feature, as discussed in the previous meeting, or to summarize the engineering teams discussion. Another use case would be employees returning from a weeks vacation asking Otter.ai for a summary of all the meetings they missed. Meeting GenAI makes AI chat 10 times more powerful by allowing you to query your entire meeting database, said Sam Liang, co-founder and CEO of Otter.ai. As a founder and CEO of a startup, I have 20, 30, sometimes almost 40 meetings a week, he said. Oftentimes, Im double booked. But with GenAIs meeting sharing platform, Liang can search for meetings hes missed or have the tool summarize one of the many meetings he attended to jog his memory. A transcription and notetaking service that can save, archive, and recall all meetings, including in-person meetings, phone conversations, and video calls, is a huge step forward in a marketplace dominated by large companies with AI tools that can transcribe one meeting at a time, with no way to connect them, Liang said. With Meeting GenAI, Otter.ai aims to offer a more full-featured alternative to transcription tools from huge players in the space, including Microsoft, Google, and Zoom, Liang added. As a startup, your biggest weapon is actually to move fast and innovate fast, he said. We can be more innovative; we can take a risk. Platform agnostic Another advantage for Otter.ai over the big boys is that its platform agnostic, Liang added. Otter.ai works with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, he said. Beyond the ability to recall and summarize all meetings, the new Meeting GenAI also works in enterprise chat services such as Slack, giving chat participants the same ability to ask for meeting or chat summaries. Otter.ai has applied for a patent for collaborative AI chat capabilities. This new AI Chat in Channels feature unites meeting information with asynchronous communication by enabling team members to chat with each other and with Otter AI Chat and generate answers from earlier channel discussions related to topics of interest. These new features give Otter.ai an advantage over competitors, said Larry Dignan, editor in chief of Constellation Insights at Constellation Research. Being able to summarize and transcribe meetings across the enterprise and multiple platforms is a savvy move by Otter.ai because it leans into its biggest advantage: its vendor and platform agnostic, he said. Tech vendorsand many enterpriseswant collaboration on one stack but the reality is that workers use multiple platforms. Many employees already feel they have too many meetings, and cross-platform digital twin features can alleviate some of that meeting anxiety, he added. Its unknown, however, whether the new features will gain traction in the market, Dignan added. Enterprises are about to become tired of copilot add-ons, costs and overall sprawl, he said. However, the benefits of the new Otter.ai features are obvious to individual workersit makes me wonder if well all start bringing our own copilots to work. Breaking down silos Going forward, the Meeting GenAI chatbot will be able to volunteer information on a chat channel after observing a conversation and assessing that it has data to offer, Liang said. Meeting GenAI will enable enterprises to be more transparent across divisions and break down information silos, Liang said. Its actually beneficial to make the most of meetings open to your employees, so that your engineering team knows what the sales team is doing, he said. Information exchange and communication is super important for an enterprise to function efficiently. Were trying to solve that problem. Otter.ai offers all the new AI features across its plans, including the free Otter Basic plan and the $20 per month per user Otter Business plan. The Arctic region is experiencing climate change at a much faster rate than the rest of the world. Melting ice sheets, runoff from thawing permafrost and other factors are rapidly changing the composition of the Arctic Oceans water. And that change is being experienced all the way down to the microbial level. In a Concordia-led study published in the journal ISME Communications, researchers analyzed archival samples of bacteria and archaea populations taken from the Beaufort Sea, bordering northwest Canada and Alaska. The samples were collected between 2004 and 2012, a period that included two years 2007 and 2012 in which the sea ice coverage was historically low. The researchers looked at samples taken from three levels of water: the summer mixed layer, the upper Arctic water below it and the Pacific-origin water at the deepest level. The study examined the microbes genetic composition using bioinformatics and statistical analysis across the nine-year time span. Using this data, the researchers were able to see how changing environmental conditions were influencing the organisms structure and function. The researchers found subtle but statistically significant changes in the communities they studied. We observed a general overall loss in diversity of species across all the different water masses, says David Walsh, a professor in the Department of Biology and the papers corresponding author. We also saw changes in the composition of the microbial community, meaning there were different species after the 2007 sea ice minimum than before. However, the periods of population richness decline changed between the oceans layers of water. Sudden decline in the fresher summer mixed water level, between 39 meters deep, was observed in 20052007. The upper Arctic water, between 1678 metres, saw declines in 20102012, while the deeper Pacific water layer, between 49154 meters, experienced a two-step decline once between 20052007 and again between 20102012. A back brace corrector is a device that helps improve posture and reduce back pain by providing support and alignment to the spine. It is often recommended for individuals who have poor posture or are experiencing discomfort due to long hours of sitting or standing. Back braces like Fit Geno's work by gently pulling the shoulders back, aligning the spine, and relieving pressure on the lower back. With regular use, a back brace corrector can gradually train the muscles to maintain proper posture, leading to improved overall spinal health and a reduction in back pain. However, simply wearing a back brace corrector is not enough to achieve optimal results. Here are some tips on how to maximize the efficiency of using a back brace corrector. Choose a back brace corrector that fits your size, shape, and needs There are different types of back brace correctors, such as strapless, figure-8, full-back, and smart devices. Some are more suitable for wearing over or under clothes, while others are more comfortable or adjustable. You should look for a back brace corrector that is easy to put on and take off, does not restrict your movement or breathing, and does not cause irritation or discomfort to your skin. Follow the instructions on how to wear and adjust your back brace corrector properly Depending on the model, you may need to slip the straps over your shoulders, fasten the ends below your bustline, or attach the device to your upper back. You should also adjust the straps or the device's sensitivity to provide the right level of support and feedback for your posture. You can refer to the user manual, online tutorials, or your healthcare provider for guidance on how to wear your back brace corrector correctly. Wear your back brace corrector for short periods of time, multiple times a day Wearing a back brace corrector for too long can cause muscle weakness, dependency, or overcorrection. It can also interfere with your blood circulation, digestion, or breathing. Experts recommend wearing a back brace corrector for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, two to three times a day. You can gradually increase the duration and frequency as your posture improves, but you should not exceed two hours per day. Use your back brace along with exercises and daily routines A back brace corrector is not a magic solution for poor posture. It is a tool that helps train your muscles and spine to maintain proper alignment. To achieve lasting results, you should also strengthen your core, back, and shoulder muscles, stretch your tight or tense muscles, use a supportive chair, desk, and pillow, and avoid habits that contribute to poor posture, such as slouching, crossing your legs, or hunching over your phone or computer. Monitor your progress and adjust your goals accordingly A back brace corrector can help you improve your posture in a matter of weeks, but it may take longer for some people. You should track your posture improvement using a mirror, a camera, or a smart device. You should also pay attention to any changes in your back pain, mobility, appearance, or confidence. If you notice positive results, you can reduce your reliance on the back brace corrector and use it only as a reminder or a reinforcement. If you do not see any improvement or experience any adverse effects, you should consult your healthcare provider and consider changing your back brace corrector or your posture correction plan. A back brace corrector can be a beneficial device for improving your posture and reducing your back pain, but only if you use it properly and effectively. By following these tips, you can maximize the efficiency of using a back brace corrector and enjoy its benefits for your health and well-being. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador-at-large Edmon Marukyan has released a statement on Azerbaijans latest deadly border shooting targeting an Armenian military position in Syunik province. The Azeri gunfire killed 2 Armenian soldiers and wounded others. According to the statement of the State border guard service of Azerbaijan, tonight, they carried out the "Revenge" operation by attacking the border guard position located in the sovereign territory of Armenia, as a result of which two Armenian servicemen were killed and several others were injured. First, Azerbaijan declares that there was fire from the Armenian side, as if there was a wounded person, then the Armenian side declares that it will investigate the incident, and the Azerbaijani side attacks and kills and injures people without waiting for any investigation, thus showing that they were prepared for an attack and were just looking for a cause. Thus, it is obvious that Azerbaijan does not give up its "traditional" criminal, aggressive behavior and first spreads unchecked, one sided, fake news as if there was a shooting from the Armenian side, and then carries out a ready-made operation in the sovereign territory of Armenia, killing and distorting new lives. This chain of criminal acts carried out by Azerbaijan must be stopped. The international community must condemn this chain of vile unprovoked actions carried out by Azerbaijan and call Azerbaijan to withdraw its occupying forces from more than 215 square kilometers of sovereign territory of Armenia, which is an aggression by virtue and provocation against Armenia, Marukyan said on X. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric has expressed concern on what she described as exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border after Azeri forces shot and killed 4 Armenian troops in Syunik province. Concerned about reports of exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Call on both sides to abstain from the use of force. Dialogue is the only way to lasting peace, Marija Pejcinovic Buric said in a post on X. 4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded in the early morning of February 13 when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at a military position near Nerkin Hand, Syunik Province. You might recognize some of the faces that show up on Saturday Night Live without ever knowing the names that go with them. Take School Hypnotist, one of my favorite sketches from the Ayo Edebiri show sure, we recognize Edebiri, Heidi Gardner, Andrew Dismukes, and Chloe Fineman, but what about those other students filling out the classroom? Play u/folarin1 was curious about who the heck these people are, asking SNL fans on the r/LiveFromNewYork subreddit, How come nobody has ever talked about the extras? Who are they? Where do they get them from? Are they paid? How much? The most illuminating answer came from u/IndyMLVC, who appears to be an SNL extra themselves. (Im going to take u/IndyMLVC at their word they sure seem to know what theyre talking about.) Yes, we're paid. We're all SAG, says u/IndyMLVC about extras membership in the Screen Actors Guild, the union that negotiates rates for these kinds of jobs. But just because extras get paid doesnt mean theyre getting much. SNL is on a SAG variety show contract that is ancient and awful, writes u/IndyMLVC, noting that shows like Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon also fall into the variety show category. I was told by union reps that no one wants to challenge Lorne to update it. SAG background performers lose out on a lot of the perks that all other shows on the main contract afford us. There are some people who refuse to work it because of it. Advertisement Redditors on u/LiveFromNewYork were curious about the variety show contract, asking why no one wanted to challenge SNLs producer to update the agreement. Because hes Lorne, replied u/IndyMLVC. Hes extremely powerful. Advertisement u/elanaesther offered that Kevin Aeh works as an extra on SNL most weeks, with social media accounts that share the occasional behind-the-scenes photos. That indeed appears to be the case if anyone wants to snoop around backstage at Studio 8H. Back to the original questions, like where do extras come from? We get emails once a week asking if we're available, says u/IndyMLVC. Sometimes they ask for specific types. And those emails ask for a lot of time from potential stand-ins, offers u/FerdinandBowie, noting that the requests can arrive as late as Tuesday to ask for availability from Thursday to Saturday. Why such late notice for such an extensive time commitment? Im guessing the answer goes something like, Because hes Lorne. Hes extremely powerful. Since a recent highly-publicized, ill-conceived celebrity lawsuit earnestly made mention of the tragic destruction of Princess Leias peaceful home planet of Alderaan in court documents, its perhaps worth pointing out that the first attempt to weaponize Star Wars lore as a confounding legal strategy was made by Johnnie Cochran or, rather, the fake two-dimensional Johnnie Cochran who represented the record executives behind Alanis Morissettes hit song Stinky Britches. Yes, the Chef Aid episode of South Park first introduced the world to the Chewbacca Defense, which consists of showing the jury a large image of Han Solos buddy Chewbacca then ranting about how it does not make sense that this 8-foot tall native of the planet Kashyyyk would suddenly live on the forest moon of Endor with a bunch of 2-foot tall Ewoks. Advertisement Advertisement In the quarter century since the episode aired, the Chewbacca Defense has taken on a life of its own. Seemingly intended as a parody of Cochrans closing arguments in the O.J. Simpson trial in which he famously told the jury that if the glove doesnt fit than you must acquit the Chewbacca Defense has become an actual term used by actual non-animated lawyers. One criminal defense attorney describes the Chewbacca Defense as a controversial strategy that is essentially a form of distraction used by defense lawyers to confuse and mislead the jury. And the Chewbacca Defense has made its way into real courtrooms, too; in a 2009 Swedish trial, in which four men connected to the Pirate Bay torrenting site were charged with promoting copyright infringement, the quartets lawyer opted for a King Kong Defense, seemingly inspired by South Park, suggesting that the defendants couldnt have known users such as King Kong because they may very well be found in the jungles of Cambodia. Thankfully, he stopped himself from adding: That does not make sense. Advertisement Most notably, in a 2022 case involving a Florida tax preparer indicted on federal tax fraud charges, the prosecutor straight-up accused the defense of bringing up details that had nothing to do with this case. He went on to say: I dont want to seem flip, but some of you may have seen it. I think its a South Park episode. And theres a character on there who is plays kind of a shyster attorney and he puts up a picture of a Wookie from Star Wars. And he said: Thats a Wookie. What does that have to do with this case? Nothing. That doesnt make any sense. This case doesnt make any sense. The defense then objected, and the jury was instructed to disregard those last couple of statements about the South Park episode. Which is just an amazing sentence to have on an official court transcript. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Last night, a shockingly silver, ever vulpine Jon Stewart returned to the Daily Show desk nine years after he left it, pointed to the deep lines that time carved into his face, and said of our two potential presidents for 2025, Look at this. They wish. Just two and a half weeks ago, Comedy Central announced that, after an obnoxiously extended search for Trevor Noahs replacement, the most popular host in Daily Show history would return to his old job once per week throughout the 2024 election cycle. This Monday marked the beginning of this flexible schedule semi-return to work, and Stewart spent his first 20 minutes back in the saddle with an uninterrupted rant about the state of Americas only two options for commander in chief come November. What the fuck are we doing here, people? Stewart asked his audience after pointing out how the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden will feature the oldest combined age of the two leading candidates, beating the second-place mark set by Trump and Biden in 2020. This coming from the oldest host in Daily Show history whose runner-up is just 2015 Jon Stewart. Stewart opened with a subtle dig on his old bosses at Apple TV+, referring to the sudden and untimely demise of The Problem with Jon Stewart and the circumstances surrounding the split by suggesting at the top of last nights show, Maybe well talk about China, maybe well talk about A.I. He also lobbed some surface-level topical jokes that typical of his previous tenure, including a bit about how Sundays Super Bowl offered no champion to the cultural conservatives who had spent the last two weeks politicizing the event. Stewart sarcastically called the city of San Francisco, The Peoples Communist Republic of Gay Pelosi-Stan. But the biggest targets of Stewarts return to The Daily Show were, of course, the presidential candidates and their respective fittingness for the position. Stewart mocked the Biden campaigns confounding decision to use the fanfare of the Super Bowl to launch Bidens TikTok account with a cringey video in which he awkwardly answered softball questions about the teams involved. Joked Stewart, How do you go on TikTok and end up looking older? Advertisement Stewart didnt shy away from pressing on some of the biggest criticisms of Biden, especially the questions over whether Bidens advanced age and declining mental faculties should preclude him from a second term. Stewart said that Biden and Trump are both stretching the limits of being able to handle the toughest job in the world as he challenged both elderly mens memories and decision-making abilities. Stewart further attacked line-towers and media members on both sides of the aisle who would silence such discussions over mental fitness for men who are more than a decade past retirement age, saying, What is crazy is thinking that we are the ones, as voters, who must silence concerns and criticisms. It is the candidates job to assuage concerns, not the voters jobs not to mention them. However, The Daily Show didnt let Stewart off the hook for those same reasons after some light teasing from Dulce Sloan that suggested Stewart may be guilty of the same senior pride as the next president, Jordan Klepper came on the show to ask Stewart if his 90s brand of snark and both-siderism had saved democracy yet. History often views the Preparedness Movement as an instance where prominent former politicians like Teddy Roosevelt attempted to persuade Woodrow Wilsons administration directly and via demonstrative efforts like the training of volunteers for a future military venture that American involvement in war was a necessity. However, the movement was highly decentralized and was as much an effort to build a social consciousness of the realities of future conflict as it was a cohesive pro-war movement. In fact, the movement was ardently anti-war and simply promoted a pragmatism that railed against the idea that a purely reactive approach to national security would see American industry and society avoid the worst of war. The lessons of historical preparedness for todays cybersecurity industry lie in its emphasis on factors that are social, non-structural, and enabling in nature, instead of just the need for a posture that is continuously active and anticipatory. These latter ideas sit at the core of readiness planning across industry today and essentially amount to the conventional view of risk (with its intendant implications) outlined above. By contrast, the concept of preparedness espoused by the movement a century ago emphasized that: Social: Socialcapital, perceptions and culture function as major assets or barriers to response, increasing directly in line with the rising complexity of security conditions. Socialcapital, perceptions and culture function as major assets or barriers to response, increasing directly in line with the rising complexity of security conditions. Non-structural: Mitigation of such complex conditions will involve pre-engineered tools and systems but will likely require their deployment in ad hoc fashion. Mitigation of such complex conditions will involve pre-engineered tools and systems but will likely require their deployment in ad hoc fashion. Enabling: Effective security response comes from better planning for what comes after (i.e., resilience and recovery) and so must take the altruism and capacities of the public into account. These principles are analogous to precepts that underwrite cybersecurity practice already, including the need to design systems that are available in the face of potential disruption and the reality of thinking about vulnerability in network terms. Given conditions in the world in 2024, now might be a good time to begin the process of codifying these principles as strategic and community imperatives, as well as operational ones. Potential shape of better cyber preparedness A cybersecurity posture that is societally conscious equally requires adopting certain underlying assumptions and taking preparatory actions. Foremost among these is the recognition that neutrality and complacency are anathema to one another in the context of digital threats stemming from geopolitical tension. As I recently wrote, the inherent complexity and significance of norm politicking in international affairs leads to risk that impacts cybersecurity stakeholders in nonlinear fashion. Recent conflicts support the idea that civilian hacking around major geopolitical fault lines, for instance, operates on divergent logics of operations depending on the phase of conflict that is underway (e.g., crisis moment, grey zone conflict, or shaping operations). The result of such conditions should not be a reluctance to make statements or take actions that avoid geopolitical relevance. Rather, cybersecurity stakeholders should clearly and actively attempt to delineate the way geopolitical threats and developments reflect the security objectives of the organization and its constituent community. They should do so in a way that is visible to that community. Neutrality is a security posture to be attained via objective arbitration on appropriate behavior; it requires realism that eschews both idealism and buck-passing. So, if realistic neutrality for private cybersecurity teams and institutions is the goal, industry needs to embrace the notion that reasonable advocacy on expectations of digital security is the minimum requirement for building shared awareness and resilience. Cybersecurity firms and teams would also do well to double down on the normative framework of digital security as a core social responsibility in the 21st century. The resilience of any service, platform, or community to disruption is not just a function of technical capacity, workforce, or insurance. If an organization suffers as a direct result of geopolitically motivated hacking, its recovery and subsequent operation are enhanced substantially by the existence of a positive public perception of the firm as a community helper and as an actor whose liability cannot be mitigated entirely by conventional cybersecurity actions. At the level of operational planning, this should mean the construction of a social map of risk for relevant industry communities to leverage structured tools to create potential for non-structural solutions in the wake of a crisis. Finally, private cybersecurity actors would do well to recognize that preparedness along these lines i.e., a macro or geopolitically motivated preparedness posture is a robust hedge against crisis-based uncertainty and tumult. It is also prospectively an excellent bid for future patronage on the part of government, public opinion, and industry networking. The recent development of a US government strategy of cyber with the brakes on has made attempts to signal relevance to the national security enterprise beneficial for the average cybersecurity-concerned business. Less government oversight with similar levels of commitment to capacity building and incident response is married to a campaigning view of American cyber threat risk. This is not only a demonstration of greater government supportiveness of private-led cybersecurity solutions; it also implies a strong preference for private partners and beneficiaries whose thinking about cybersecurity sees preparedness not as a limited act of static anticipation, but as a dynamic process that is fundamentally social, non-structured, and communal in its appearance. Cloudflare: On February 1, Cloudflare announced it had detected a threat actor on its self-hosted Atlassian server on November 23. Although the primary point of compromise in this incident came through account credentials that Cloudflare failed to rotate after an Okta compromise, the company said the threat actor attempted to gain access to a non-production console server in its Sao Paulo, Brazil, data center due to a non-enforced access control list. The threat actor was denied access and could not access Cloudflares global network. First American Financial: On December 29, 2023, First American Financial reported to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it had identified unauthorized activity on certain information technology systems. While providing few details about this incident, First American said it believes the perpetrator of the activity accessed certain company systems, exfiltrated data, and encrypted data on certain non-production systems. LastPass: On March 21, 2023, LastPass announced the results of its investigation into two major cybersecurity incidents, reporting that an unknown threat actor exploited a vulnerability in third-party software, bypassed existing controls, and eventually accessed non-production development and backup storage environments. Real-world data can be found in non-production systems One primary risk of insecure production systems is that threat actors can gain access to sensitive data such as encryption and access keys, passwords, knowledge of security controls, or intellectual property that could prove to be a goldmine for further exploitation. I think on the CISO and BISO [business information security officer] side of things, there are some fundamental truths that we can acknowledge about these environments that maybe not everyone is willing to admit, which is that oftentimes, development environments include a ton of materially significant intellectual property, Andrew Krug, head of security advocacy at Datadog Security Labs, tells CSO. You could have the best development practices and hygiene in the world. Some of your actual real data is going to make it in there at some point. Cost savings and complexity often kick in However, many companies dont necessarily have the best security practices regarding test environments and other non-production systems, often due to cost-saving measures. With the advent of cloud computing, A lot of companies broke apart their infrastructure into at least development test production, and then they would have a security account, Krug says. Unfortunately, most of the cloud cost models they subscribed to for their vendor management or security platforms didnt really scale with that segmentation. So, they just opted out of different resources and different things from monitoring to save money. And I dont just mean security monitoring; I mean all kinds of monitoring, Krug says. This is almost like a company culture question more than a legal or regulatory question: How high a value does that company hold for security best practices? Staff shortages make securing non-production systems a challenge Even companies like Microsoft and Cloudflare, which arent likely to skimp on security spending, experience challenges in extending robust security measures to their non-production systems. Cloud environments are getting more and more complex, and it just becomes more and more challenging to have the right governance to observe across all of the components, Krug says. We could probably say as we onboard more services and more complexity, it just gets harder and harder to know even what the right things are to observe. The lack of available cybersecurity talent only makes analyzing the complexity harder. We could talk about the cyber skills shortage and that even if companies that are the size of Microsoft and CloudFlare and First American want to hire the right talent, they may not be available, according to Krug. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Today, the European Commission is allocating an additional 5.5 million in humanitarian aid to support the Armenians displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the EU Delegation to Armenia said in a press release. Many of the people who fled to Armenia during the last year's mass exodus took little to no belongings with them, leaving them dependent on emergency aid. 1.5 million of this funding is assigned for disaster preparedness to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities to potential crises. The remaining 4 million of humanitarian funding is mainly focusing on providing the displaced Karabakh Armenians with regular cash transfers and vouchers to help them cover their basic needs. Through its humanitarian partners, the EU aims to support people in need with access to food, shelter healthcare, mental health services, and protection. Underlining EU's humanitarian support to Karabakh Armenians, Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said: This is the first winter for thousands of Karabakh Armenians who fled to Armenia last Autumn. In these challenging times, it is our humanitarian duty to provide protection and assistance to the people most in need. With this new 5.5 million funding, we will aim to further strengthen the existing EU humanitarian response to the displaced people in Armenia, by providing them with access to basic services. This funding comes in addition to the 12.2 million already announced by the European Commission in response to the mass exodus of Karabakh Armenians in September 2023, reads the press release. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. Maye Musk (C-L), a model who closes the show, and Taoray Wang (C-R), the creative director of JUZUI, greet the audience at the end of a fashion show of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Taoray Wang, the creative director of JUZUI, also borrowed color which was popular in China's Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) in developing her designs. The presentation resonated loudly on the stage of the New York Fashion Week 2024 which runs from Feb. 9 to 14. It's exciting to combine peony with every design in the collection, said Wang. Wang added that China has a bounty of beautiful stuff that could move international audiences besides dragon and phoenix. People should be traveling backwards and forwards between the United States and China way more than they are at the moment, said Maye Musk, a model who closed the show. "I think Americans traveling to China will be very impressed," said Musk. "It's always better to be person-to-person. Otherwise, you don't get the right picture, unless you can meet the people and explore with them and become friends," Musk added. Founded in 2001, JUZUI focuses on women fashion designs by drawing inspiration from Eastern elements, particularly blossoming peony. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia on Tuesday hosted the parliamentary delegation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Armenia John Gallagher, Director of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Rick Nimmo, International Project Manager at British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union Joe Perry, IFES Country Director for Armenia Jerome Leyraud attended the meeting, Armenia's Central Electoral Commission said. Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan welcoming the guests, emphasized that the Armenian CEC has a rich experience of cooperation with the UK. He expressed his gratitude for the Supporting Safeguards of Democracy in Armenia (SSDA) project signed last year. The guests also highlighted the importance of cooperation with the Armenian Central Election Commission, stressing that they appreciate the holding of free and transparent elections, such as those conducted by the Armenian Central Election Commission. - Reviewed by Nick Cawley, July 21, 2022 Human error in the forex market is common and often leads to familiar trading mistakes. These trading mistakes crop up particularly with novice traders on a regular basis. Being aware of these errors, can help traders become more efficient in their forex trading. Although all traders make trading mistakes regardless of experience, understanding the logic behind these mistakes may limit the snowball effect of trading impediments. This article will outline the top ten trading mistakes and ways to overcome them. These mistakes are part of a constant learning process whereby traders need habitually familiarise themselves with them to avoid repeat wrongdoings. The video included highlights six trading mistakes, however there will be more covered in the article below. It is important to note that trading comes with the inevitability of loss, but these may be minimised with the exclusion of human error/mistakes. Prior to committing to forex trading, consider these 10 widespread trading mistakes you must evade as they contribute to a large proportion of unsuccessful trades. Recommended by Warren Venketas Traits of Successful Traders Get My Guide Mistake 1: No trading plan Traders without a trading plan tend to be haphazard in their approach because there is no consistency in strategy. Trading strategies have predefined guidelines and approaches to every trade. This prevents traders from making irrational decisions due to adverse movements. Devoting to a trading strategy is key because veering away may lead to traders plunging themselves into unchartered territory with regards to trading style. This eventually results in trading mistakes due to unfamiliarity. Trading strategies should be tested on a demo account . Once traders are comfortable and understand the strategy, this can be translated to a live account. Mistake 2: Over-leveraging Margin/leverage refers to the use of loaned money to open forex positions. While this feature requires less personal capital per trade, the possibility of enhanced loss is real. The use of leverage magnifies gains and losses, so managing the amount of leverage is key. Learn more on what is leverage in the forex market. Brokers play an important role in protecting their customers. Many brokers offer unnecessarily large leverage levels such as 1000:1 which puts novice and experienced traders at significant risk. Regulated brokers will cap leverage to appropriate levels guided by respected financial authorities. This should be taken into consideration when selecting a fitting broker. Mistake 3: Lack of time horizon Time investment works hand in hand with the trading strategy being implemented. Each trading approach aligns itself to varying time horizons, therefore understanding the strategy will lead to gauging the estimated time frame used per trade. For example, a scalper will target shorter time frames whilst positions traders favour the longer time frames. Explore the forex strategies for varying time horizons. Mistake 4: Minimal research Forex traders are required to invest in proper research to employ and execute a specific trading strategy. Studying the market as it should be, will bring light to market trends, timing of entry/exit points and fundamental influences as well. The more time dedicated to the market, the greater the understanding of the product itself. Within the forex market, there are subtle nuances between the different pairs and how they work. These differences need thorough examination to succeed in the market of choice. Reacting to media and baseless advice should be avoided without verification from the employed strategy and analysis. This is a common occurrence with traders. This does not mean these tips and media releases should not be considered, but rather investigated systematically prior to acting on the information. Mistake 5: Poor risk-to-reward ratios Positive risk-to-reward ratios are often overlooked by traders which can result in poor risk management. A positive risk-to-reward ratio such as 1:2 refers to potential profit being double the potential loss on the trade. The chart below shows a long EUR/USD trade with a 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio. The trade was opened at a level of 1.12698 with a stop at 1.12598 (10 pips) and a limit of 1.12898 (20 pips). An effective indicator to help identify stop and limit levels in forex is the Average True Range (ATR) which uses market volatility to base entry and exit points. Having a ratio in mind helps to manage expectations of traders, this is important because after much research by DailyFX, improper risk management has proven to be the number one mistake made by traders. EUR/USD 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio: Mistake 6: Emotion based trading Emotional trading often leads to irrational and unsuccessful trading. Traders frequently open additional positions after losing trades to compensate for the previous loss. These trades usually have no educational backing either technically or fundamentally. Trading plans are there to avoid this type of trading therefore, it is imperative that the plan is followed closely. Mistake 7: Inconsistent trading size Trading size is crucial to every trading strategy. Many traders trade unsuitable sizes in relation to their account size. Risk then increases and could potentially erase account balances. DailyFX recommends risking a maximum of 2% of the total account size. For example, if the account contains $10,000 then a maximum of $200 of risk is suggested per trade. If traders observe this general rule, the pressure of overexposing the account will be removed. The inherent risk of overexposing the account on a particular market is extremely dangerous. Mistake 8: Trading on numerous markets Trading on a few markets lets traders gain the necessary experience to become proficient at these markets without scratching the surface of a few markets. Many novice forex traders look to trade on multiple markets without success due to lack of understanding. This is something that should be done on a demo account if need be. Noise trading (irrational trading) often leads traders to place trades without the proper fundamental/technical justification on varying markets. For example, the Bitcoin craze of 2018 sucked in a lot of noise traders at the wrong time. Unfortunately, many traders entered at the FOMO or Euphoria stage of the market cycle which resulted in significant losses. Mistake 9: Not reviewing trades Frequent use of a trading journal will allow traders to identify possible strategic flaws along with successful facets. This will enhance the traders overall understanding of the market and strategy for future. Reviewing trades not only highlight errors, but beneficial aspects as well which must be reinforced on a constant basis. Mistake 10: Selecting an unsuitable broker There are numerous CFD brokers globally, so choosing the right one can be difficult. Financial stability and proper regulation are essential before opening an account with a broker. This information should be readily available on the brokers website. Many brokers are regulated in countries where guidelines are weak, to circumvent regulations in stricter jurisdictions such as the US (Commodity Exchange Act) and the UK (FCA). Safety is the primary focus; however, a comfortable platform and ease of execution is also central to choosing a broker. Becoming accustomed with the platform and costing should be given ample time prior to trading with live funds. Recommended by Warren Venketas Tackle trading mistakes with confidence Get My Guide Forex Trading Mistakes: A Summary Having the correct foundational base to trade forex is important before undertaking any form of live trading. Taking the time to understand the dos and donts of forex trading will benefit traders in future. All traders will eventually make mistakes but minimizing them as well as eliminating repeat offenses must be practiced and become expected behaviour. The primary focus of this article is to adhere to a trading plan with proper risk management, and a suitable reviewing system. Today, the European Commission is allocating an additional 5.5 million in humanitarian aid to support the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, the EU Delegation to Armenia said in a press release. February 13, 2024, 17:20 EU increases humanitarian aid to displaced Karabakh Armenians with 5.5 million FEBRUARY 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: Many of the people who fled to Armenia during the last year's mass exodus took little to no belongings with them, leaving them dependent on emergency aid. 1.5 million of this funding is assigned for disaster preparedness to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities to potential crises. The remaining 4 million of humanitarian funding is mainly focusing on providing the displaced Karabakh Armenians with regular cash transfers and vouchers to help them cover their basic needs. Through its humanitarian partners, the EU aims to support people in need with access to food, shelter healthcare, mental health services, and protection. Underlining EU's humanitarian support to Karabakh Armenians, Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said: This is the first winter for thousands of Karabakh Armenians who fled to Armenia last Autumn. In these challenging times, it is our humanitarian duty to provide protection and assistance to the people most in need. With this new 5.5 million funding, we will aim to further strengthen the existing EU humanitarian response to the displaced people in Armenia, by providing them with access to basic services. This funding comes in addition to the 12.2 million already announced by the European Commission in response to the mass exodus of Karabakh Armenians in September 2023, reads the press release. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close One confused Aussie could be facing a seriously expensive clean-up bill after somebody illegally dumped mountains of construction waste onto their property, which is thought to contain asbestos, and will potentially cost "thousands" to remove. A suburban Sydneysider posted photos of the mounds of waste in their yard to social media earlier this week asking for advice on how best to remove it. The piles are substantial in height, and a few metres in width at least, with different materials and scraps seen buried in the dirt. They said "someone has illegally dumped construction waste outside my home" adding that they had no idea "who did it", due to not owning cameras. "The neighbours dont know either," the person explained. Mountains of illegal construction waste was dumped on one Sydneysider's land. Source: Reddit Mountains of illegal construction waste dumped tn Sydney home Illegal dumping is a growing problem occurring not just in NSW, but all around the country, with people regularly caught ditching their unwanted belongings in places they shouldn't. Charity bins in particular continue to be inundated with discarded objects, often left overflowing and left for other members of the community to clean up. Aussies recently warned over dumping Australians have also recently been warned over the dumping of asbestos, which is toxic to handle and can cause serious illness. Last week, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the state government was looking at raising penalties to deter businesses from dumping the material. "I think the penalties issue is a really big one," she said on Friday. "It's actually something that the government is looking at more generally. We haven't actually raised a lot of penalties for many years." "And for some businesses, you don't want it just to become the cost of doing business their willingness to do the wrong thing." Story continues Earlier today it was reported that asbestos has contaminated a number of Sydney community parks. The waste likely contains hazardous or contaminated materials such as asbestos, a local rubbish removalist said. Source: Reddit Removalist flags expensive clean-up bill Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, an employee of East Eddys rubbish removalists said the Sydney resident who was left with the dumped waste could easily be looking at a $3,000 to $4,000 clean-up bill. "They wouldn't be dumping it unless it was contaminated," the staffer said. "They probably tried to get it into the tip and they couldn't, so they dumped it. "You've got to get a proper service in to remove that. That looks like a big job, that looks like it'll need a 10 tonne bogie [tipper truck]. That could cost anywhere between $3,000 or $4,000 it depends how contaminated it is". Dumping a serious offence in NSW In NSW, illegal dumping is a serious offence, especially when it comes to toxic or contaminated materials such as asbestos. According to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) "heavy penalties for potentially harming human health and the environment" are in place, which range from on-the-spot fines of $7,500 for individuals, all the way up to $120,000 in some circumstances. Corporations can even face fines of up to $5 million. A full breakdown of the penalties can be viewed here. Aussies weigh in on 'dodgy' act Online, people told the Sydneysider to immediately seek advice from their local council or the police. "Absolutely call council, they get into that stuff real quick. We had some illegal dumping of gyprock once on our front lawn. Council was super quick to come collect it," one person said. "Whatever you do, don't disturb it," said another. "There's a good chance that it was dumped because it's known to be contaminated with asbestos..." "Sadly this is an all too common a ruse in the trade charge the client the considerable disposal fee, but instead of taking to the appropriate waste management, where you're charged to dispose of it properly, it ends up in some isolated patch of bush with pure profits for the dodgy operators," wrote a third. "Notify council and local police, but Im sorry to say I dont think theres much they can do unless theres cameras they can pull footage from," another said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. The Sussexes have relaunched their brand so they can monetise their status as royals this time with a new website, Sussex.com, and a rather ludicrous coat of arms. You might feel the timing is odd. This latest controversy comes as King Charles embarks on treatment for an as-yet undisclosed form of cancer. Scarcely what the doctors ordered, but then what can you expect? The Sussex cupboard is starting to look a little bare. Without new sponsorships, without a fresh Hollywood deal, there are few obvious sources of the money required to maintain their luxurious lifestyle. Needs must. The Duke and Duchess have done good business with their various claims and revelations on their Netflix documentary and in Harrys ghosted memoir, Spare, but what more is there to say? The climate seems to be changing in the United States and the welcome the Sussexes enjoyed when they first arrived in California in 2021 is disappearing. Increasingly, Americans dont much care about Meghan and Harry. Its striking that the Sussexes were not among the many celebrities enjoying themselves at last weekends Super Bowl. Perhaps they had better things to do that night. The new homepage of Sussex.com features an image of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal crest features prominently on the new Sussex.com website and could cause tensions as a result If the naked opportunism seems obvious, Sussex.com is further evidence, to me at least, of how hardened Harry and Meghan have become in their opposition to the Monarchy. Those bleating that the kings illness has a wonderful moment for reconciliation between father and younger son fail to grasp the true state of the relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family. It is horrendous. In this light, Harrys dash to London after hearing of his fathers cancer is open to being interpreted as a cynical ploy. Did Harry really believe that a trans-Atlantic dash to see King Charles would endear himself to a public that once adored him? His stricken father seems to have known better. No doubt encouraged by Queen Camilla, the king gave his son just over 30 minutes before Harry departed to sleep in, not a royal palace, but a hotel. No doubt Meghan will have played a full part in their decisions. This, remember, is a woman who refuses to be reconciled with her sick father and has been accused of ghosting her (former) best friends. The Sussexes recent trip to Jamaica was notably inappropriate, perhaps even tantamount to treachery. In the aftermath of the Cambridges unhappy visit there in 2022, amid the islands bid for reparations and its talk of abandoning the British Monarch as head of state, Meghan must have known the Jamaican governments hospitality would embarrass Britain. I suspect she loved it, not to mention the private jet, the five-star hotels and the royal treatment dispensed by Jamaicas prime minister. Harry and Meghan will be carefully advised, yet Sussex.com flirts with danger a sign perhaps that the stakes are now so high. The move exposes them to accusations of breaking a solemn promise to Queen Elizabeth that they would not commercialise the relationship with the Royal Family. What else can we conclude? Surely the time has come for the King to cancel their titles and withdraw the titles from their children. Until now, Charles has been too tolerant about the Sussexes money-grabbing antics. The King failed to stamp down on the Sussexes after the Oprah Winfrey show. That would have been the wiser course of action. Instead, he gave their children titles as prince and princess and invited them to his Coronation. Only Harry came and then left for America in short order. Throughout this time, King Charles has been too lenient with a couple who have earned their living from damaging the royal family and Britain. Its time that changed. This latest breach of trust a clear attempt to make money from their royal status should be punished. Once the King recovers from cancer, he should make clear that Sussexes are no longer members of the Royal Family and not welcome in Britain. Tom Bower is the author of Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors published by Simon & Schuster The more desperately Labour tried to shore up its conspiracy theory-peddling Rochdale by-election candidate yesterday, the weaker and more pathetically hypocritical the party looked. So, it was no great shock when the dam burst. Buckling under the weight of overwhelming criticism, Sir Keir Starmer withdrew his support from Azhar Ali. But serious damage had already been done to the Labour leader's credibility. He promised to tear anti-Semitism out of the party 'by its roots'. So why did he even try to defend this man? Just consider what Mr Ali said. Israel, he claimed, could have prevented the October 7 massacre but deliberately allowed 1,200 of its citizens to be murdered so it would have 'the green light' to wage war on Gaza. Buckling under the weight of overwhelming criticism, Sir Keir Starmer withdrew his support from Azhar Ali Just consider what Mr Ali (pictured) said. Israel, he claimed, could have prevented the October 7 massacre but deliberately allowed 1,200 of its citizens to be murdered so it would have 'the green light' to wage war on Gaza The Israeli military were warned of the planned attack well in advance, so the twisted narrative goes, but chose not to stop it, cynically sacrificing innocent lives to justify their warmongering. Cooked up by rabid anti-Semites on the internet, this theory is preposterous and deeply offensive. Yet Mr Ali was confident enough to spout it at a Lancashire Labour Party meeting apparently without challenge. He was exposed only after The Mail on Sunday acquired a recording of the meeting. Further extracts in today's Mail sealed his fate. They show he also blamed 'Jewish' elements in the media for inciting criticism of a pro-Palestinian Labour MP, claimed Israel wanted to depopulate Gaza so it could grab the land and said he didn't see 'any difference at all' between Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak. But despite this, Labour tried hard to keep him. It's too late to register another candidate for the Rochdale poll, so they placed pragmatism before principle. The party line was that Mr Ali had 'genuinely' retracted the offending comments. But would he have done so had he not been caught out? Of course not. And what of all the other Rochdale Labour members who failed to challenge him? At best they are guilty of cowardice, at worst complicity. Perhaps they believed his disgraceful cock-and-bull theories. But despite this, Labour tried hard to keep him. It's too late to register another candidate for the Rochdale poll, so they placed pragmatism before principle The constituency has a large Muslim population, many of whom will be pro-Palestinian and angry with Sir Keir for not supporting an immediate Gaza ceasefire. The craven initial decision not to discipline Mr Ali may have been a bid to appease them and secure their votes. But the Labour leader can't have it both ways. Either he has zero tolerance of bigotry, or he doesn't. He may have cut off the visible stem of anti-Semitism in his party. Below ground, however, this sorry episode shows the roots continue to thrive. Posturing of the peers What most Lords have in common is that they had never had to bear the burden of government. Which is why they should take note of former Tory leader and barrister Lord Howard (pictured) Noble Lords were falling over one another yesterday to scold the Government over its plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be assessed. It was unlawful, they said, inhuman, positively un-British. A proposal to give the United Nations Refugee Agency a veto over removals to Rwanda (meaning none would ever go) was dropped but they are doubtless plotting further blocking measures. What most have in common is that they had never had to bear the burden of government. Which is why they should take note of former Tory leader and barrister Lord Howard. A veteran of several Cabinet posts, he reminded the House that in our constitution Parliament is sovereign and its power should not be usurped by the United Nations, European Court of Human Rights, or anyone else. The Commons passed this legislation in a bid to improve border control and stop migrants drowning. In trying to wreck it, unelected peers are flouting democracy and playing into the hands of the traffickers. Of all the ceremonies that bind Britons to their past, none is more emotive than Remembrance Sunday. Powerful and enduring, it pays tribute to the millions of ordinary people who made the ultimate sacrifice. Of course, some on the Left who fail to understand that our Armed Forces protect us all have long sought to do away with this time-honoured communion with the nations fallen and the poppies that symbolise our attachment to it, wrongly seeing the ceremony as a jingoistic sham. Thankfully, our men and women in uniform still enjoy widespread support, so any such move has always been impossible to implement. Soldiers have been ordered to avoid religious elements in Remembrance Day services under an army document titled Policy, Guidance and Instructions on Inclusive Behaviours On Monday it emerged that the Armed Forces spending on personnel devoted to diversity and inclusion has doubled to nearly 2million over the past five years Yet now there is a new attempt to undermine the central role of the military and, shockingly, it has come from within our Armed Forces. According to an Army document that came to light this month, Policy, Guidance and Instructions on Inclusive Behaviours, soldiers are now ordered to avoid religious elements in Remembrance Day services. Acts of Remembrance should be agnostic, this bizarre text declares. The good news is that Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, is said to be furious. He is not offended one bit by Christian remembrance services in fact, he believes its at the core of our nations history and who we are, it has been reported. Shapps, of course, is right to appreciate the central importance of Remembrance Day but it is by no means the only target the woke warriors have in their sights. The current fad for diversity and inclusion is one of the most effective weapons in the hands of those who would seek to undermine our military. On Monday it emerged that the Armed Forces spending on personnel devoted to these causes has doubled to nearly 2million over the past five years. The emphasis on these modern virtues which may have their own merits in certain settings is actively preventing the Armed Forces from recruiting the very people who have traditionally filled its ranks: white males. The phenomenon first came to light in 2022 when Sky News revealed the RAFs head of recruitment had quit in protest at what she deemed to be an unlawful order to put female and ethnic minority candidates onto training courses ahead of white men. The top brass evidently felt that it was more important to increase the percentage of Air Force personnel who were women or from non-white backgrounds than to select the candidates best suited to carry out their duties. The Army has been cut from 100,000 soldiers in 2010 to a planned complement of 73,000 today but it has been unable to find enough recruits to meet even this diminished total Meanwhile, white male servicemen are increasingly being made to feel deeply unwelcome by being drilled in unconscious bias courses, which convey the unspoken message that they are inherently racist, sexist and homophobic. Again, nobody wants senior personnel to be sexists, racists or bigots. But when our national security is at stake, pandering to the woke mob should not be the priority. Shapps has again bemoaned this practice seen in all three services as an attempted takeover by activists with a political agenda. On Sunday, he held crisis talks with military chiefs to address the extremist culture that promotes diversity and inclusion at the expense of our national security. And, perversely, there is already evidence that this approach is having a damaging and entirely counterproductive effect on recruitment. Despite the fact that the Army has been cut from 100,000 soldiers in 2010 to a planned complement of 73,000 today, it has been unable to find enough recruits to meet even this diminished total. Worse still, so many servicemen and women are not fit for duty because of injury or other issues, that the overall muster at any one time is little more than 50 per cent of the desired figure, which means in effect we no longer have an Army capable of protecting the nation. The same is true of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Shamefully, we are now sending 20m-long plastic patrol boats to a major Nato exercise while our flagship aircraft carrier, built at a cost of 3.5billion, is confined to port for repairs. The current fad for diversity and inclusion is one of the most effective weapons in the hands of those who would seek to undermine our military We are also decommissioning ships, even ones recently refurbished at great expense, because so many servicemen and women are leaving. It is scandalous. More than that, it is dangerous. If the primary role of the military is to provide an inclusive experience for people of different genders and religious persuasions, then it neglects its duty of care to the nation. If it devotes more energy to ensuring soldiers, sailors and air crew feel comfortable expressing their sexuality than defending our shores, it is simply not fit for purpose. And what will the MoDs 93 different diversity networks including seven concerned with LGBT issues, 14 with race issues, and ten with gender issues avail us in the event of a deadly attack? Not a jot. Tolerance is one of the great strengths of British society and, of course, I am proud that women, gay people and ethnic minorities serve their country in uniform. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and other despotisms are all utterly intolerant. But this great British value must not be used against us. In an effort to increase ethnic minority representation in its officer corps, the British Army last March issued a Race Action Plan. Yet while the ends may have been reasonable, the means were not. The document advocated reducing the level of vetting for officers from Commonwealth countries. Security-clearance vetting, it claimed, was the primary barrier to non-UK personnel gaining a commission in the Army. Military rigour is therefore forced to give way. I have first-hand experience of where that can lead. In March 2003, before the invasion of Iraq was announced, I was with my men in Camp Commando, Kuwait. A series of explosions shook the air, as an Islamist renegade soldier threw four hand grenades into tents where his comrades in the U.S. 101st Airborne Division were sleeping, and then opened fire with a rifle. Two men were killed and 14 others wounded. Traitors within the ranks who evade security checks are an ever-present danger. On Saturday in Mogadishu, Somalia, five soldiers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were killed murdered by the very recruits whom they were training to protect civilians from terrorist attacks. How had members of the Al-Shabaab terror group managed to infiltrate the camp? Because the level of security checks had been reduced exactly what is being suggested for our own Armed Forces. Inclusivity should never trump common sense. Overwhelmingly, the young people who are eager to sign up and serve in His Majestys forces are white and male. Some will be from backgrounds where a life in the Forces is a family tradition. Others have grown up in an education system that penalises them for being white, male and working class. They want the chance of adventure, comradeship and travel. Britain needs these young men. If we reject them because they fail to fit the militarys vision of inclusion and diversity, we will soon have no protection against our enemies. No amount of rainbow flags will save us then. The second half of 2022 was my Wedding Tour of America. Friends who had delayed their weddings because of COVID were like shoppers outside Target on Black Friday, ready to seize the earliest days for safe celebration as soon as the doors opened. Over six months, I attended six weddings and, as distinct as they were, a commonality surfaced: again and again, brides and grooms referred to their spouse-to-be as their 'best friend.' For the last stop on my wedding tour, I officiated the ceremony between two friends, and prepared by reading speeches from people in my social circle who had also officiated weddings. I was struck by a few lines in a speech from a woman who introduced herself as the best friend of the bride (her title was, so far, uncontested). After welcoming the guests, she announced: 'The most important moment in life is when you meet the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. The person who makes you see the world as a beautiful and magical place, who validates your every breath. For [the bride], that happened 23 years ago when she met me.' Cue laughter. Marriage after marriage, brides and grooms referred to their spouse-to-be as their 'best friend' (stock image) Only about half of adults in the US ages 25 to 54 are currently married, down from 67 percent a few decades ago Andrew and Toly met at high school in New Jersey 20 years ago, became roommates in grad school, traveled and formed a non-profit together I thought it was a brilliant joke. But then I started to ask where the comedy was coming from. How much of the humor rested on the assumption that friends don't decide to spend the rest of their lives together? Was it really that absurd? Andrew Bergman and Toly Rinberg met 20 years ago, when Toly was the new kid at their high school in suburban New Jersey. Andrew says there was no one moment when he and Toly determined that their friendship went beyond what people typically mean by best friends. 'Our commitment was almost more borne out by how we acted in moments where it could have fallen away,' he says, especially during the two years they spent on opposite coasts. They spoke often and went on to become roommates in graduate school, where they studied soft matter physics in the same lab, and again when they cofounded a government transparency nonprofit. From living together to working together, they made deliberate decisions to organize their lives around each other. Their closeness threw off some people who knew them. On a phone call when Andrew was about 30, his mom, Lisa, asked if he was gay. Though Andrew appreciated his mom's acceptance of a hypothetical same-sex romantic relationship, that's not what he and Toly had with each other. He thought he'd already made clear that he and Toly weren't romantically involved. Lisa says her confusion about the nature of Andrew and Toly's friendship 'gnawed at me,' but she retired her questions about it. She switched to asking Andrew if he was dating anyone. Andrew responded with a question of his own: Why was it so important to her that he was dating? She said she wanted him to have someone who could give him 'emotional wholeness,' someone he could go to if he had a problem or a hard decision to make. Andrew told her he already had all of that with Toly. Andrew's friendship defied two widely held beliefs: that a partnership is, by definition, a romantic relationship, and that without a long-term romantic relationship, life is incomplete. People who haven't experienced a friendship like Andrew's and Toly's firsthand may not even realize they've seen one before, although they've likely known others who've had one and can recognize it when it's pointed out. It was common for friends and acquaintances I told about this to recall an aunt or a grandmother who shared a house with a friend until the end of life. Doctors who worked with older patients told me that frequently the person at a dying patient's bedside is not a spouse or relative but a longtime, dear friend. As I talked to people who had devoted, life-defining friendships, I heard stories like Andrew and Toly's, about how their loved ones sometimes reacted with confusion or suspicion. Andrew and Toly on a hike in Montana in 2015. Their friendship defies two widely held beliefs: that a partnership is, by definition, romantic, and that without a long-term romantic relationship, life is incomplete Andrew, his partner Nevena, and Toly at Harvard in 2019 Andrew and Toly bonded at their high school ultimate frisbee team, Princeton High Ultimate Club in 2007. (Toly: back row, second from the left; Andrew: back row, 4th from the right) I began to see how these unusual relationships can also be a provocation unsettling the set of societal tenets that circumscribe our intimate lives: That the central and most important person in one's life should be a romantic partner, and friends are the supporting cast. That romantic love is the real thing, and if people claim they feel strong platonic love, it must not really be platonic. And in a society governed by compulsory coupledom the pressure to be in a romantic partnership to be seen as normal and successful those who aren't one half of a couple can feel excluded. Meg, an artist in her seventies, told me about the period when her friends married off and she was relegated to the 'lunch slot.' Dinner was reserved for their husbands. I've heard from single people a generation or more below Meg that they've felt others have demoted them, treated them like 'an extra' or as immature like a train that stalled before reaching the station of full adulthood. Compulsory coupledom ignores the large number of people who aren't in a romantic unit. For the last few decades, the age of first marriage has steadily ticked upward, as young people look to financially establish themselves and feel certain about their compatibility with a partner before signing up for devotion until death. While some people are heading down the aisle later, others aren't getting married at all. Only about half of adults in the US ages 25 to 54 are currently married, down from 67 percent a few decades ago. At the same time, the share of adults in this age group who have never married has increased to nearly one-third. And Americans are forgoing more than marriage; many don't come home to a romantic partner at the end of the day. According to 2019 data from Pew, 38 percent of American adults are neither married nor cohabiting with a partner, up from 29 percent in 1990. Doctors who worked with older patients frequently report that the person at a dying patient's bedside is not a spouse or relative but a longtime, dear friend The Golden Girls epitomize a group of friends who filled the roles for each other that are normally filled by a spouse Romantic partners came and went, but TV's Friends remained each others' significant others So the idealized romantic relationship rests on shaky ground. That instability comes, at least in part, from modern expectations of romantic partnerships. One man I interviewed observed that many people he knows have a 'one-stop shopping' approach to romantic relationships: get your sexual partner, confidant, co-parent, housemate, and more, all in the same person. Experts have recognized this pattern and are concerned about it. 'When we channel all our intimate needs into one person,' the psychotherapist Esther Perel writes, 'we actually stand to make the relationship more vulnerable.' Such totalizing expectations for romantic relationships can leave us with no shock absorber if a partner falls short in even one area. While we weaken friendships by expecting too little of them, we undermine romantic relationships by expecting too much of them. Asking so much of one person looks even riskier when we realize that, most likely, we can't rely on one romantic partner for the entirety of our adult lives. By and large, marriage or a marriage-like relationship is a temporary status of adulthood. Few Americans enter a romantic relationship at age 18 and stay in one continuously until death. They have stretches of singleness. They break up and divorce. They out-live partners; women are especially likely to survive their spouses: about one-third of American women over 65 are widowed. Meg, who had been consigned to the 'lunch slot,' married at 50 around the time that many of her friends were getting divorced and was widowed 20 years later. So far, she hasn't been married for more than two-thirds of her adult life. Like Meg, many of us are spending a large part of our lives outside of marriage. The average marriage spans fewer of the years that are considered the prime of life 18 to 55 than it did a few decades ago. In 1960, the average marriage encompassed 29 of those 37 years; in 2015, it was 18. Americans are experiencing a 'friendship recession' and loneliness is pervasive enough that the US surgeon general declared it an epidemic Americans have withdrawn from sources of social connection, as captured in trends ranging from falling church attendance to a drop in the number of friends Americans have It's uncontroversial to argue that many Americans need a thicker web of relationships. And yet, the cultural ideal continues to treat a single romantic relationship as the key to fulfillment (stock image) It can be confusing to live in the gulf between the life you have and the life you believe you're supposed to be living. Paula Archey told me about her friend who surpasses the closeness of a best friend. Each time Paula had to designate an emergency contact, she struggled to find a label for their friendship and jotted down terms like 'platonic life partner' and 'my person.' Paula divorced in her mid-30s and, since then, had been searching for a new romantic relationship. She said: 'Even though my person and I provide so many of the things for each other that are traditionally provided in a marriage-type relationship in our society, I've still felt the need to find a person to fill that marriage-type role.' Reading stories of other friendships like hers was a '(much needed) slap in the face,' she said. Because Paula had absorbed the idea that a romantic partner makes you whole, she hadn't previously considered that she might be happy as-is, that she already had a relationship that sustained her. Eventually, she realized there wasn't a hole in her life that needed to be filled. There's value in social practices like dating that help us bridge the chasm to other people's minds; by giving us a script to follow and shared expectations and priorities, they spare us the exhausting work of making every decision ourselves. But these practices, and society's messages about relationships, affect us in ways that we can overlook: they alter the possibilities we imagine for our lives. They can make it hard to understand what we want, or, like Paula, notice when we already have what we want. I've learned that many people either have or want a life that doesn't fit the one-stop-shop coupledom ideal and are eager to build a life with friends. They just don't know how many other people like them are out there. In The Other Significant Others, author Rhaina Cohen illustrates that, for a growing number of people, a romantic relationship is not their life's centerpiece By identifying our mistaken beliefs and the social rules that confine us, I hope we can forge deeper ties with others. This is no small matter at a time when Americans are experiencing a 'friendship recession' and loneliness is pervasive enough that the US surgeon general declared it an epidemic. In the decades since the political scientist Robert Putnam published his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, which chronicled the decline in Americans' engagement in community life, Americans have continued to withdraw from sources of social connection, as captured in trends ranging from falling church attendance to a drop in the number of friends Americans have. At the same time, depression and anxiety have grown among both adolescents and adults. It's uncontroversial to argue that many Americans need a thicker web of relationships. And yet, the cultural ideal continues to treat a single romantic relationship as the key to fulfillment. Society neglects the possibilities for profound platonic connection, but friendships can provide security and transform the people in them. They can contain the thrill and tenderness that most people only expect to find in relationships that involve sex. Deep friendships raise fundamental questions: Is sex essential to partnership? Must two people be (or have been) a couple to make suitable co-parents? Why do we recognize the loss of some types of relationships as devastating but not others? This is not a call to replace existing norms with a new imperative or a new hierarchy. I am not suggesting that everyone pawn their wedding rings, nor am I arguing that platonic partnerships are inherently superior to romantic relationships. Platonic partnerships aren't utopian, and romantic relationships can be tremendously fulfilling. But romantic coupledom isn't the setup that leads everyone to flourish, and for an increasing number of people single, divorced, widowed, and more a romantic relationship is not their life's centerpiece, whether by choice or circumstance. Like many people who have organized their lives around a romantic relationship and have encouraged others to do the same, Andrew's mom had good intentions. 'I want both of my children to be happy,' she told me. 'To me, that emotional happiness would come from having a relationship' a romantic relationship, she meant. Lisa was trying to nudge her son toward the form of happiness she knew well. But it's easy to mistake what is familiar for what is wise. Andrew and Toly found there are other relationships that could lead them to the same destination that Lisa wanted for her son, to a vista she hadn't known was there. Excerpt from The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center by Rhaina Cohen. Copyright 2024 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group Most people take well designed buildings for granted, from easy to find doors to level ceilings. So it's certainly alarming when buildings look terrifyingly badly built, such as these bizarre architecture fails from around the world collated by Bored Panda. They include a scary bathroom experience, where a builder put the toilet in an old elevator shaft and used glass flooring, offering zero privacy. Elsewhere, a housing complex, in Montreal, Canada, was built in 1967 to allow natural light into all four sides of the flat. However it looks more like Soviet architecture. Meanwhile a college house, in the US, was designed with an emergency exit slide instead of stairs. People from around the world share snaps of bizarre architecture fails and Bored Panda collated the best into an online gallery. Including the Newmarket Health Centre, in Ontario, which resembles a naked man from the air Another architect, in Amsterdam, created colourful wooden houses which look like something straight out of a cartoon. Shanghai's Metro decided to keep things interesting by completely disregarding public safety with its bizarre handrail. Here, FEMAIL shares some of the most inexplicable architecture fails from around the world, that will leave you wondering what they were thinking... One person had a terrifying bathroom experience, because someone put the loo in an old elevator shaft and used glass flooring Elsewhere a housing complex, in Montreal, Canada , was built in 1967 to allow natural light into all four sides of the flat, however it looks more like Soviet architecture Another architect, in Amsterdam, created colourful wooden houses which look like something straight out of a cartoon Meanwhile a college house, in the US, was designed with an emergency exit slide instead of stairs Shanghai's Metro decided to keep things interesting by completely disregarding public safety with its bizarre handrail Elsewhere the layout for this home was clearly calculated wrong as the doors needed to be designed with corners to fit While some people have their priorities all right when they build a stairs just for their pets It appears someone wanted to create a balcony to enjoy the view, however it doesn't look like it would hold the weight of a person Elsewhere this clothes store was designed to look like a crumbling construction site This house was designed with no access to the top windows so the family built a shelf for their cat to look out Advertisement For deep-pocketed property hunters looking for something a little whimsical, this wacky castle in Alabama might fit the bill. The Castle at Smith Lake, as it is known, is currently on the market for $4.9 million and it certainly makes for an impressive sight, with a large central turret combined with a mix of architectural styles. One side of the 4,974sqft home - which appears on a sloping angle - is made from glass so inhabitants can soak up the lakeside views, while the other side of the property features a more classical style, with rows of arched windows. The four-bedroom castle was built in 1980 and realtor Krisalyn Riley Crye told property site Mansion Global that the original owner wanted 'something extraordinary and beautiful,' while his wife wanted 'something different and magical, with views on the lake.' For deep pocketed property hunters looking for something a little whimsical, this wacky castle in Alabama might fit the bill The Castle at Smith Lake, as it is known, is currently on the market for $4.9 million and it certainly makes for an impressive sight, with a large central turret combined with a mix of architectural styles One side of the 4,974sqft home - which appears on a sloping angle - is made from glass so inhabitants can soak up the lakeside views, while the other side of the property features a more classical style, with rows of arched windows The four-bedroom castle was built in 1980 and realtor Krisalyn Riley Crye told property site Mansion Global that the original owner wanted 'something extraordinary and beautiful' The listing on Zillow states that the castle offers the 'ultimate family lakeside experience, with a boat dock, fish house, four boat slips with two lifts' Photos of the interior show how each room features unique architectural details, from a grand balustrade on the main staircase to a quirky brickwork fireplace in one of the living rooms. The main bathroom - which is one of three - makes for an especially grand space, with a sweeping tiled vanity area leading through to a whirlpool complete with a small set of stairs. Meanwhile, the primary suite serves up plenty of space, with a grand four-poster bed, lounge area and balcony seating. The large arched windows mean the home is flooded with natural light, while the white color scheme adds to the bright and airy feel. One room which breaks away from the neutral color scheme is the office, where wood paneling has been installed for a more decadent look. Moving outside, there is plenty of space for entertaining, with multiple decks, patios and balcony spaces. The listing on Zillow states that the castle offers the 'ultimate family lakeside experience, with a boat dock, fish house, four boat slips with two lifts.' Other highlights of the home include a basement 'cave' which could be used as a wine cellar, and an expansive 8,000sqft garage complete with a helicopter pad, room to store RVs, and space for four cars. Moving outside, there is plenty of space for entertaining, with multiple decks, patios and balcony spaces The main bathroom - which is one of three - makes for an especially grand space, with a sweeping tiled vanity area leading through to a whirlpool complete with a small set of stairs Large arched windows mean the home is flooded with natural light, while the white color scheme adds to the bright feel Photos of the interior show how each room features unique architectural details. Here, one of the bathrooms features marble cladding with a large walk-in shower and whirlpool In terms of the land offering, the castle sits on a six-acre plot behind a gated driveway and there is the option of acquiring additional waterfront and wooded acres The castle first appeared on the market in 2019 for $5.25 million but the listing was removed a year later following a price drop. It was relisted at its current price in July 2023 Realtor Krisalyn Riley Crye describes the property, which is located at 354 County Road 211, as 'an iconic landmark' In terms of the land offering, the castle sits on a six-acre plot behind a gated driveway and there is the option of acquiring additional waterfront and wooded acres. The castle first appeared on the market in 2019 for $5.25 million but the listing was removed a year later following a price drop. It was relisted at its current price in July 2023. Realtor Krisalyn Riley Crye describes the property, which is located at 354 County Road 211, as 'an iconic landmark.' She explained: 'If you look at a Smith Lake map, there's certain landmarks - different points, different marinas, and then there's the castle. 'Everyone sort of pinpoints their location based on the castle, like, "we're like 10 minutes north from the castle."' Whether it was spritzing yourself in white musk body spray before a date or picking out colourful bath pearls to give to your best friend at school for Christmas, the Body Shop was an intrinsic part of the teenage experience in the 1980s. Created in 1976, founder Dame Anita Roddick went from selling products in urine sample bottles to save money to becoming a multi-millionaire with a cosmetic empire in a matter of years. The brand, known for its humanitarian focus, was the high street go-to for beauty products long before celebrity perfume ranges and beauty websites took over. So it's no surprise that news that up to 250 Body Shop stores could close across the country - with thousands of jobs at risk as the chain's new owners call in the administrators - has sparked an outpouring of nostalgia. Mourning the potential end of an era on social media, shoppers have insisted that if the brand returned to its roots with products such as Japanese Washing Grains, perfume oil and fruit-shaped soap, nostalgic Millennials would spend enough money to save it from going under. Anita Roddick launched The Body Shop in 1976 to provide for her two children. In a matter of years, it quickly became one of the biggest names in skincare. She is pictured outside one of her first stores in October 1985 Taking to X, one fan wrote: 'If the Body Shop started selling Dewberry, Fuzzy Peach, Ananya and White Musk perfume oils again, then all the nostalgic women in their 40s/50s who would buy them could basically save the entire business.' Now, they feel the brand has strayed too far from its roots and hasn't got much to offer other than 'expensive body butters'. But where did it really all go wrong for the much-loved chain, which has changed hands several times since being sold by Dame Anita stepped down in 2002. Here, FEMAIL explores the rise and fall of The Body Shop. First store opens in 1976 In 1976, founder Anita Roddick opened the little green door to the first Body Shop nestled in the streets of her hometown, Brighton. The first store varied significantly from the ones you might expect to see today, with only 25 products on offer. But the focus was still much the same, with an emphasis on ethically sourced and natural ingredients. When Anita founded the beauty store at the age of 34, she did not predict global success. The mother-of-two simply longed to make a living for her two daughters while her husband was travelling, fulfilling a lifelong dream to go horse riding from Bueno Aries to New York, according to the BBC. Initially, Anita only sold 25 products from a store in her hometown of Brighton. She is pictured above in 1984 Anita initially launched the business to provide for her children while her husband, Gordon Roddick (right), travelled. He later became a director of the business The store grew into an eco-friendly, socially responsible, politically outspoken chain of 1,700 shops, operating in 49 markets around the world. Anita is pictured above in 1984, in a shoot celebrating 25 years of the opening of the first Body Shop in Brighton Anita initially invested 4,000 into her business venture and took a frugal approach where possible. She travelled to her local hospital to purchase urine sample bottles to sell her products in with handwritten labels. Anita quickly realised that she wouldn't have enough of them to last, which led to the Body Shop's trademark refillable bottles policy - long before it was fashionable. She did not explicitly advertise her shop, but relied on local press, according to Cengage. Success came quickly and Brighton resident were keen to get their hands on Anita's produce. She opened up a second store with financial help from a local garage owner, who got a share of the company in return. And when Anita' husband, Gordon Roddick, arrived back in the UK, he suggested that the business should adopt a franchise model. In 1984, the company was publicly listed in London, and its stock price sky rocket by nearly 11,000 per cent in the first eight years of its listing. Anita kept 27.6 per cent of the share and maintained her position to direct the company. The company later secured a full listing on the London Stock exchange, which led the share price to increase. The Body Shop successfully became a key part of the High Street, with adults and children alike keen to get their hands on animal shaped soaps and fruit-flavoured lip balms. By the end of 1984, there were 138 stores open. And by 1994, nine out of ten Body Shop locations were franchises. Ethical considerations The Body Shop was as well known for its ethical stances, teaming up with Greenpeace in 1986 to promote the environmental organisation's Save the Whales campaign. From then onwards, The Body Shop transitioned from a typical cosmetic store to one with a greater purpose, forming alliances with other charities, including Amnesty International. The brand's morals were reflected in store decor, with petition sheets and posters available for customers in all branches. Each franchised store was required to support a minimum of three campaigns each year that covered topics such as education and opposing animal testing. Protesting against animal testing was a key business objective for the brand, with Anita leading the resistance Anita merged business goals with humanitarian values, and was involved in a number of charities across the globe. Pictured: On a visit for the brand's Community Trade Programme In 1987, Roddick headed the Body Shop's Trade Not Aid programme, which demanded social responsibility when obtaining ingredients. In doing so, the company formed contracts with local businesses in impoverished communities to source ingredients from them and provide additional economic stability. The store also helped struggling communities in the UK and made financial contributions to London homeless charities. Promoting animal welfare was another key objective. To support the brand's stance against animal testing, all products sold by the Body Shop were certified cruelty-free by Cruelty Free International's Leaping Bunny. In June 2017, the company launched their biggest campaign to date in association with Cruelty Free International - Forever Against Animal Testing. The campaign sought to ban animal testing in all companies across the globe, and required eight million signatures to escalate their objectives, according to HuffPost. Redefining beauty standards was another key aim for The Body Shop, with the objective of making women feel comfortable in their own skin Instead of animal testing, the brand proposed three other options: testing on humans, computer modelling, testing on reconstituted human skin. Anita's motivations spanned further than environmental activism, and the director also fought against toxic beauty standards. In 1990s an ad campaign circulated on all the Body's Shops channels. It featured a plus size doll with the writing: 'There are three billion who don't look like supermodels and only eight who do.' The message is still circulated today, with the brand recently sharing it on Instagram last year. Anita's thoughts on redefining beauty were reflected in the Body Shop's offerings that strived to make women feel like the best versions of themselves, rather than altering the way they look. Celebrity support In 2012, the brand announced its first global ambassador - British model and actress, Lily Cole who Lily fronted the brand's Beauty with a Heart campaign and went on to endorse a line of cruelty free makeup with the brand. The actress also travelled to Ghana with the Body Shop to support humanitarian charities. 'The Body is Shop takes a responsible attitude to people and the environment, and it feels amazing to be supporting a brand that's a pioneer in the way of working,' she said to Vogue at the time. In 2012, British actress and model Lily Cole (pictured) became the brand's first global ambassador X-Factor winner Leona Lewis (pictured) followed suit and became a brand ambassador a year later in 2013 Vivienne Westwood supported the brand back in 2012 and attended the launch of Beauty with Hear by The Body Shop Made in Chelsea star and influencer Lucy Watson (pictured) partnered with the brand in 2018 in support of the #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting campaign Actress Maisie Williams (pictured) urged her social media followers to join the #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting campaign a year before in 2013 One year later, X Factor winner Leona Lewis joined forces with the Body Shop to be their new brand activist and raise awareness of cruelty free beauty with the launch of a limited edition make-up and fragrance collection. 'I'm passionate about beauty and I'm all about animal rights and Community Fair Trade. As a result, I'm really conscious of where the products that I use come from. The Body Shop sells cruelty-free, ethically-sourced products containing amazing Community Fair Trade ingredients,' she told FEMAIL at the time. She added: 'Everything it creates has real soul they call it 'Beauty With Heart' and I love being a part of that. The collaboration is a natural fit and I'm proud to be their Brand Activist!' And it didn't stop there, with figures including Jameela Jamil and Victoria Beckham publicly declaring their adoration for products from The Body Shop over the years. Bad press In the late 1990s, the Body Shop came under attack as critics claimed that the brand had overstated its ecofriendly practices. READ MORE - New owners of The Body Shop line up administrators just weeks after 250 stores were sold in 207m deal Advertisement A British television programme named The Body Search claimed that the company had tested products on animals, despite advertising otherwise. However, The Body Shop fought against the claims in a legal battle. Eventually, The Body Shop won 276,000 in a case against the show in damages. Anita and her husband stepped down from the company in 2002. Four years later, in 2006, The Body Shop was sold to L'Oreal for more than 650 million, a move that was considered controversial at the time given the French company's policy of animal testing. Consumers from across the globe reacted to the news by boycotting the brand. In 2017, the boycott ended when the L'Oreal sold the company to Brazilian cosmetics chain Natura & Co for approximately 850 million. In November last year, it emerged the high street beauty retailer agreed to sell its 250 stores after struggling with profitability. At the time, the private equity buyer, Aurelius, said that it would have an opportunity to 're-energise' the retailer. 'We are delighted to be undertaking this acquisition of an iconic British brand, which pioneered the cruelty-free and natural ingredient movement in the health and beauty market,' said Aurelius partner Tristan Nagler. 'We look forward to working with CEO Ian Bickley and his team to drive operational improvements and re-energise the business, and help to deliver the next chapter of success.' However, las week it was revealed that Aurelius handed over much of its Europe and Asia enterprises to an unnamed 'international family office' as part of its turnaround strategy for the long-troubled health retailer, which directly employs around 10,000 people across the world. Further scandal surfaced last week when it was revealed that The Body Shop's former owners Natura & Co wrote to Aurelius to find out why former employees haven't yet received bonuses worth 2million and 3 million that were promised as part of their severance. RetailWeek reported that 20 former Body Shop employees are collectively owed the sum of money that they have still not been paid. Anita Roddick: High Street pioneer who built 51m fortune then gave it all away before she died Founder Dame Anita Roddick pictured in 1984 Founded in 1976, The Body Shop was one of the first cosmetics companies to prohibit the use of ingredients tested on animals and to promote fair trade with developing countries. This was in large part to its founder, Dame Anita Roddick, who was a human rights activist and environmental campaigner. She was an avid campaigner for environmental and social issues, including involvement with Greenpeace and The Big Issue. In 1990, she founded a charity called Children on the Edge, which helped disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. She founded The Body shop to earn an income for her and her two daughters while her husband was away in South America. Upon her husband's return, he joined the business. By 2004, The Body Shop has 1980 stores, more than 77 million customers and was voted the second most-trusted brand in the UK - ad the 28th top brand in the world. But that same year, Roddick was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C. She didn't reveal this until 2007. She was an avid campaigner for environmental and social issues, including involvement with Greenpeace and The Big Issue She announced it by saying: 'I have hepatitis C. It's a bit of a bummer, but you groan and move on.' Subsequently she promoted the work of the Hepatitis C Trust and raised awareness for the disease. Roddick was said to believe she became infected with Hepatitis following a blood transfusion after the birth of her younger daughter. This was twenty years before the UK screened blood donors for the disease. She tragically died of an acute brain haemorrhage in September 2007. Earlier, she had sworn to leave her fortune to charities rather than her families and friends - a promise she remained true to. The businesswoman was always adamant she had no intention of 'dying rich' and her Will revealed she had given away her entire 15million fortune to charity before she died. When she died, the gross value of her estate was 665,747 which was swallowed up by inheritance tax, leaving her net worth at nil. She had previously described leaving money to your family as 'obscene' and cut her daughters Sam and Justine out of her will in 2005, which Sam called a 'relief'. Advertisement New owners call administrators Today, The Body Shop begun the process of filing for administration with jobs at risk across the brand's 200-plus UK stores expected in another blow to the British high street. The beloved chain currently employs 10,000 people across 3,000 stores it operates in more than 70 countries around the world - with a further 12,000 staff working in franchises. Popular products which helped establish the brand's name included bath bombs, White Musk fragrance and Hemp hand cream. However in recent years it has seen its popularity in the UK with shoppers diminish due to the rise of rivals Lush and Holland and Barret. Up to 250 Body Shop stores could close across the country with thousands of jobs at risk as the chain's new owners call in the administrators (file image) The chain, founded by the late Dame Anita Roddick who passed away in 2007, was sold by Brazilian cosmetics chain Natura & Co to Aurelius Group in November The chain was sold by Brazilian cosmetics chain Natura & Co to Aurelius Group in November last year. The 207 million deal saw the investment group take on the chain's 250 British stores. But they called in insolvency administrators just weeks after it bought the chain. It has since emerged that the business has insufficient working capital and suffered from a poor Christmas period of trading. It's been reported that restructuring expert FRP Advisory will be appointed in the coming days to significantly restructure the brand. Product changes Teenagers would stop off at the store at any chance possible in its golden years - filling their baskets with Dewberry perfume and body butter in fruit-inspired scents. However, some savvy consumers think they have the solution to bring about a resurgence - reintroducing retro items such as fruit-shaped soaps, innovative perfumes and body sprays, and Japanese washing grains. The Body Shop fans have been left 'heartbroken' following the news of the brand's potential insolvency and call for a reintroduction of their retro products, including perfume oil (pictured) In its true quirky style, the cosmetic store once offered miniature soaps that resembled different fruits (pictured) In the '90s, teenagers would race to get their hands on The Body Shop's exfoliating scrubs (pictured) in fruity flavours In the early 1990s, The Body shop offered Japanese Washing Grains (pictured). The item is no longer available to purchase, despite fans loving the product Today, The Body Shop continues to sell cosmetic products, but without the playful quirks. Prices have also spiralled, with customers expected to fork out 19 for a body butter that once cost a few pounds. Customers have taken to X, formerly Twitter to share their thoughts on the brand's demise and where they think it all went wrong. One said: 'Heartbroken at the demise of The Body Shop, for its body butters, make up range, ethical value system, solidarity with communities across the world who grow the ingredients. I have been shopping continuously at The Body Shop since the 1970s. I am bereft. Thank you, Anita Roddick, for your vision.' Fans of The Body Shop took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the news of the brand's demise A second added: 'The Body Shop appointing administrators is so sad. Difficult to convey how revolutionary it was in the '80s. The Body Shop on Elvet Bridge in Durham was one of my favourite places in the world. Things like fruit soap, lip balms & bath pearls were completely novel. I loved it.' 'Bring back those delicious looking bars of soap that were like giant boiled sweets,' said another. One remembered their favourite items: 'OMG! Fuzzy Peach!! Yes please The Body Shop discontinued my last favourite - Green Tea and Lemon, and now Pink Grapefruit appears to be out of stock too. So, bringing back the old favourites, the green labels and packaging (Japanese Grains e.g.) and we will be queuing!' Another added: 'The Body Shop just need to bring back their range of tiny animal soaps, magic cloths and bath pearls range for kids and they'll be absolutely fine. 'I will single-handedly save The Body Shop just in Dewberry sales alone,' said another. Another wrote: 'I'll miss the Body Shop if they do go under but honestly putting up the prices of body butter to 17 was never going to lead to increased sales was it.' Similarly, a different social media user added: 'Every year I tell them to bring back the soap animals and they don't listen. Millennials would single handedly buy them out and save them from collapse.' Another chimed into the conversation and said: 'I see the Body Shop is in trouble. I'll tell you what went wrong, when they changed the classics to sell literally body butter only. Dewberry bath pearls, cornflower face mask, chamomile shampoo, elderflower eye gel. Those were the classics. All gone. Why annoy your customers!' 'Very sad to hear of the Body Shop going into administration - in their time, they were innovative. Sadly, they have lost their way - the only thing I buy there is the body butter. Too many ever-changing ranges and fragrances, none of which quite suit me,' another wrote. A young family are barely making ends meet as they pay rent and a mortgage while their half-built dream home stands idle, with no signs of when it will be complete or their financial burden will lessen. Emma and Nathan Doecke purchased a house and land package near Newcastle for $525,000 and were excited to own a four bedroom, two bathroom property for their growing family. Emma and Nathan Doecke have been left with half a house after their building company went into liquidation in August 2022. Source: A Current Affair The home should have been completed by Christmas 2021, but delays prolonged the process before building company Oracle Platinum Homes went into liquidation in August 2022 completely halting plans. Now, the couple work five jobs between them to pay their rent and escalating loan repayments. "We're working so much and we don't get to see our kids," Emma tearfully told A Current Affair. "I'm still breastfeeding my 18-month, and there's days I don't even see them. My mum raises our kids, we don't." Family desperately want 'help' out of situation The couple contacted First Step Homes the company that facilitated their house and land package and secured finance for the deposit they needed but Emma and Nathan were turned away. "They said, 'Sorry, we've not ever experienced this before. We don't know what the next steps are. We can't help you'," Emma explained. The couple did receive an insurance payout after the builder went into liquidation but it only covered 20 per cent of the building costs. It is estimated a further $150,000 is required to complete the home. The family are paying a mortgage of $2,400 a month for a home near Newcastle, NSW which they cannot live in. Source: A Current Affair The couple are paying $560 a week on rent and $2,400 a month for the mortgage of a home which is unliveable. The couple said they simply want assistance to find some kind of solution, with their current situation crippling them both financially and emotionally. Story continues "We don't want things given to us, we're happy to work for it, but we just need an opportunity," Emma said. "It's costing us more than our dream now, it's almost cost us our family." Thieves broke into property and stole belongings With the property standing vacant for years, opportunistic thieves have stolen the family's lawn mower and water tank. Others have trespassed into the property and inflicted damage to the building, adding further costs for the couple. "There's no hope left it doesn't feel like a dream anymore...it's just caused us too much grief," Emma said. "We're just at breaking point." Westpac says it will help couple finance building completion Westpac had refused the couple a larger loan after the builder went bust. However, it has since confirmed to A Current Affair it will work with Emma and Nathan to finance the rest of the build and consolidate their debts. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The first foreign-born NASA astronaut has revealed how he was rejected for the space programme 11 times. Jose Hernandez, now 61, became the first migrant astronaut on the space program in 2004. Now, 61, Jose who was born in Mexico but lives in California, joined Ranvir Singh on Lorraine today to discuss the Amazon biographical film that details his life, A Million Miles Away. The heart-warming drama depicts his decades-long journey from a farm worker in a rural village in Michoacan, Mexico to becoming an engineer and eventually a crew member on Space Shuttle mission STS-128 which launched on August 28, 2009. Speaking on Lorraine he said: 'My parents always valued education, they always set the expectation saying, when you grow up you are going to become an engineer, they never said 'I hope you become an engineer', they said 'when you become one.' Jose Hernandez, who became the first migrant astronaut on the NASA space program after getting rejected 11 times, joined Ranvir Singh on Lorraine today STS-128 mission specialist Jose, on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2009 After years of working as an engineer and countless rejections from the space program Joses drive and determination stared to waver. He said: 'I got rejected 11 times, and on the sixth time when I was ready to give up, my wife asked, "what do they have that you don't have?" and I hadn't thought about it in that way. 'I had my college education, graduate school, working in a premium research facility but then when she asked me that question, I took a deep dive into every astronauts background. 'I found out that they were all pilots, scuba dive rated and spoke the language of the other space partners.' When he was in his early 30's Jose and his wife put their life savings into his training, he became a pilot, got his scuba certification and he learnt Russian. Jose's life story is being told in a new film, A Million Miles Away Discovery astronauts (L-R) John Olivas MS, Nicole Scott MS, Christer Fugelsang ESA, MS, Jose Hernandez MS, Patrick Forrester MS, pilot Kevin Ford, and Cmdr. Rick Sturckow in 2009 He said: 'I never gave up because my father gave me a simple fine ingredient recipe when I told him I wanted to be an astronaut when I was 10-years old. 'He only has a third-grade education, but he said "when you find your purpose in life, recognise how far you are from that goal, build yourself a roadmap so you know how to get there, prepare yourself according to the challenge and develop a work ethic second to none". 'I added the sixth ingredient which was perseverance, so I put all that to work and believed in myself.' On his 12th application Jose was finally accepted onto the program and became a crew member on Space Shuttle mission STS-128 which launched in 2009. On his 12th application Jose was finally accepted onto the program and became a crew member on Space Shuttle mission STS-128 which launched in 2009 There is an Amazon biographical film that details his life called A Million Miles Away which depicts his decades-long journey from a farm worker in a rural village in Michoacan, Mexico to becoming an engineer and eventually a crew member on Space Shuttle mission STS-128 which launched on August 28, 2009 Speaking about his first experience in space, he said: 'It only takes eight and a half minutes to get into space, you go from zero to 25,000 km an hour and then you are orbiting earth. 'The first time I unbuckled by seatbelt I went to the window, we were flying over North America, it was so beautiful, I could see Canada, the US and Mexico but the beautiful thing was you can't tell were one country ended and another begun. 'I said my gosh I had to come up here to realise that orders are human made concepts designed to separate us, how sad, because from up there we are one, the human race.' Jose said that after seeing the first draft of the film he told the production that his wife had to be a central character in the biopic because she was essential to his achievement. He said: 'You will see in the movie, she is the hero in the whole story, she is my hero. my parents, my teacher, and my kids, they were all the motivating factors, it was a journey, a community, a family and a couple.' Jose is now a motivational speaker at the Kennedy Space centre, and he owns his own vineyard. The royal, 51, visited FEDER, the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases Queen Letizia of Spain showcased her fashion flair during a visit to FEDER, the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases, in Madid, today. The royal, 51, made a stylish entrance in a striking chartreuse blazer from Hugo Boss, costing 354.99, teamed with wide-leg trousers and suede boots. Debuted in November 2023, Letizia's 'Jestena' jacket is crafted from textured wool with an asymmetric double-breasted front and classic notch lapels. Each year, she visits FEDER to learn about the challenges and opportunities the charity anticipates for the year ahead. The monarch, who is the Honorary President, was beaming as she arrived to chair a meeting at the organisation's headquarters in the Spanish capital. Queen Letizia of Spain showcased her fashion flair during a visit to FEDER in Madid Queen Letizia made a sartorial statement in a 354.99 wool jacket by Hugo Boss, featuring an asymmetric double-breasted front, classic notch lapels and buttoned cuffs. Allowing her jacket to take centre stage, she complemented it with wide-leg trousers, suede boots and a lengthy wool coat - all in a sleek black hue. The royal mother-of-two opted for her signature make-up look, incorporating a smoky eye, bronzed cheekbones and nude lip, while her brunette locks fell over her shoulders. Letizia completed her ensemble with minimal jewellery, choosing only diamond stud earrings and a gold ring. The former journalist is the Honorary President of the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER), which was established in 1999. The Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases aims to promote 'the need to work with everyone involved to promote the access to a diagnosis for those people suffering from rare diseases.' They help people who have contracted a disease that less than five people per 10,000 have. There are more than three million people that fit the bill in Spain alone. It comes after Queen Letizia of Spain attended an event for International Safe Internet Day last week. The royal made a stylish entrance in a striking chartreuse blazer from Hugo Boss She teamed her standout blazer with wide-leg trousers and suede boots, topping off the look with a wool coat The monarch showcased her signature make-up look, incorporating a smoky eye and nude lip The royal looked effortlessly stylish for her meeting with FEDER, sporting a Hugo Boss blazer which she debuted in 2023 Her ensemble was completed with minimal jewellery, choosing only diamond stud earrings and a gold ring Letizia appeared in high spirits as she arrived at the FEDER headquarters in Madrid The European monarch took to Los Jovens, Madrid, to promote the safe and responsible use of internet and technology among children and teenagers. To mark the occasion, Letizia met with several young people to discuss how adolescents can reduce harmful risks on the internet. The royal mother-of-two has long raised awareness for online issues, and often attends the yearly event. For the occasion, the fashion forward royal put on a chic display in suit separates, including a pair of black cigarette style trousers. The fashion forward royal paired the suit with a simple yet elegant off-white top, completing the look with a pair of black leather high-heel loafers. Presiding over the event, the royal shared her thoughts on the importance of internet security and took time to speak with the young people in attendance. With the slogan, 'together for a better internet', the yearly campaign occurs in February each year. The worldwide event sees committees and supporters from across the globe coming together to plan events that promote web safety. An Irishman who was stalked by his obsessed female ex-lover for a decade has opened up about how he was told to 'sort it out himself' before fleeing to the UK. Filmmaker Jarlath Rice told new Virgin Media One documentary Stalked that the depressing ordeal was 'very humiliating'. He previously said it left him on the brink of suicide. He revealed people told him to 'sort it out yourself' and claimed that after calling the Garda 'so many times', he was told by a guard that if he contacted them again, they 'would lock me up for the night problem solved'. Lina Tantash embarked on a 'sinister and sustained' campaign against Jarlath, bombarding him with messages and demanding that he see her after accusing him of breaking a 21-clause 'love contract'. They had a brief sexual relationship after first meeting one another in a Dublin cafe - and it was only after Jarlath fled to the UK that Tantash was sentenced for her crime in 2018. In Ireland, the offence of stalking only came into effect in November 2023. Filmmaker Jarlath Rice (pictured) told new Virgin Media One documentary Stalked that the depressing ordeal was 'very humiliating'. He previously said it left him on the brink of suicide Speaking in the documentary, which aired on Monday, Jarlath recalled how he was left a note from Tantash asking if she could join him when at the cafe, reported The Irish Sun. He said he thought this way of first meeting was 'kind of cute and a bit funny' and said he 'didn't get any crazy vibes' from Tantash, who gave him her number. But after weeks of seeing one another, he broke it off. When she continued to contact him he told her he no longer wanted a relationship with her and asked her to leave him alone. But she refused saying he owed her more than 50,000 euro and even drew up a 'love contract' which stipulated he should stop denying they were in a relationship. It also stated he should live with her three days a week, speak to her on the phone for at least 15 minutes every evening and be nice to her. The Irishman received constant calls, messages and emails from Tantash - and despite switching his number repeatedly, she always managed to get hold of it. She even hired a private detective to track him down and contacted his friends, family and work colleagues. Jarlath claimed she threatened suicide and he even filmed her kicking in his door in 2012. Yet when he called the Garda, he was apparently brushed off. Lina Tantash (pictured) embarked on a 'sinister and sustained' campaign against Jarlath, bombarding him with messages and demanding that he see her after accusing him of breaking a 21-clause 'love contract' 'I called the police so many times. The Guard said if I called again, he would lock me up for the night problem solved,' claimed Jarlath. In April 2014, Jarlath and his girlfriend at the time were leaving his home when Tantash 'physically attacked' him and 'screamed' at his girlfriend. 'She tore my shoulder socket out. I felt it pop and I was in agony. She tried to put me through a plate glass window. I did think she was going to kill me,' he said. Tantash was fined after she pled guilty to a Section 2 assault and threatening behaviour in a public place, reported the publication. Jarlath desperately fought to escape Tantash's attentions and eventually moved from Dublin to Brighton, East Sussex where he started work as a college tutor. But Tantash, then a 'highly-respected' project manager at prestigious Trinity College Dublin, followed him from Dublin, taking up a new role in London. Her campaign of harassment escalated after she suspected Jarlath had started a relationship with work colleague, Sarah Bolland. Miss Bolland, who was not romantically involved with Mr Rice, was devastated by the abusive calls. They had a brief sexual relationship after first meeting one another in a Dublin cafe - and it was only after Jarlath fled to the UK that Tantash was sentenced for her crime in 2018. In Ireland, the offence of stalking only came into effect in November 2023 But after reporting her behaviour to the police in England, where stalking has been a crime since 2012, Tantash was eventually arrested. She was charged with one count of stalking Mr Rice between July 2015 - February 2018 and one count of stalking Miss Bolland. She was convicted after a trial at Brighton Magistrates' Court. Tantash was sentenced to four years in prison after she was convicted of two counts of stalking in 2018. In a victim impact statement at the time of her sentencing, Jarlath said the campaign of stalking left him on the brink of suicide and had been in 'despair'. He said: 'For over 10 years I've had to live with verbal, mental and physical abuse. The aggressive and abusive dismantling of my life has left me vulnerable, frightened and exhausted.' He said: He had been 'pushed deep into depression' adding: 'At my worst I have gone through periods of despair with suicide ideation.' In her defence, Tantash said she came from a stable, upper middle class family but was suffering from a mental condition. She claimed to have paid Jarlath's sizeable debts and supported his career in return for a romantic commitment. Miss Bolland said: 'It's a strange and terrible experience when someone psychologically harasses you like this. It's an awful feeling. It's astonishing how much it can impact your life, your mood, your thoughts.' Teresa Mulrooney, defending, said: 'Miss Tantash deeply regrets her behaviour and has come to understand the impact it has had.' In 2018, police figures showed a third of stalking victims were male; 41 out of 46 police forces across the UK dealt with 1,800 stalking cases against men between 2014 and 2017. But it is believed that in reality the figure was much higher as around 85 per cent of stalking victims do not report the incident to the police. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, more than 1.2million people were stalked in the year ending March 2016, with 759,000 being women while the other 450,000 were men. Figures obtained by BBC 5 Live Investigates found almost half (47 per cent) of stalking crimes reported by male victims were committed by other men. The Freedom of Information request showed figures from 41 out of the 46 British police forces who were asked about stalking. For help and support contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org A TikTok star said he had the 'worst British Airways flight in history' after sitting next to a child in first class who he claims kicked his seat for 10 hours. Jack Remmington, 29, from Lincolnshire, boarded a flight from London to Orlando, Florida, earlier this year - after saving a 'fortune' in travel points. However, the social media star - who appeared in the 2017 series of The X Factor and boasts over 200k TikTok followers - says their experience was ruined by a young child who kept putting their feet on the plastic partition between their chairs. On top of this, Jack also claims that his private pod was 'filthy' and described the flight as 10 hours from 'hell'. Earlier this month, Jack shared his poor experience of the airline with his 82,000 X followers. Jack Remmington (pictured), 29, from Lincolnshire, boarded a flight from London to Orlando earlier this year He fumed: 'Worst flight in history of British Airways. 'Saved up a fortune in Avios and spent loads for this ticket and it was a NIGHTMARE.' The social media star claims a child sitting next to him kept kicking his seat throughout the journey. He then posted a photo of the child resting their feet on the clear plastic partition between their seats. Alongside this, he shared a video of rubbish lingering in some of the grooves around his private pod in first class, where tickets can cost thousands of pounds. Jack added: 'The seat was FILTHY. 'I'm not an online complainer but what the hell are we paying for British Airways?' Jack's post left his followers outraged - with multiple rallying around him in agreement that the conditions were unacceptable. Jack posted a photo of the child resting their feet on the clear plastic partition between their seats on X Alongside this, he shared a video of rubbish lingering in some of the grooves around his private pod in first class, where tickets can cost thousands of pounds One raged: 'What the actual f*** are they doing?! Gross!' 'I feel sick looking at this,' another added. 'Raging for you!!' Meanwhile, a third said: 'Why is this like a scene from a horror movie?' However, others said Jack's issue was with the child's parents and not British Airways. One critic said: 'How is that a BA issue? Does the child work for BA?' Another questioned: 'Did you not say something [to the parents] on the flight? When followers expressed their horror at the videos, Jack added: 'It was 10 hours of that hell. 'I just wanted to chill for 10 hours - I didn't realise that would be too much of an ask.' A British Airways spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for our customer's experience and we are in contact to resolve the matter.' A woman has revealed how she moved into a 'mommune' with three other single mothers after getting a divorce. Kristin Batykefer, from Florida, was a well-known 'van influencer' with her ex-husband Will Watson, but the pair split up after she accused her former partner of cheating on her with a woman they had been travelling with. After leaving her partner - who she had been in a relationship with for nine years - Kristin has developed a friendship with other single mothers and moved into a commune. Posting to her TikTok channel under the handle @beachykefer, she introduced a video with the caption: 'When it's your weekend without the kids but you live in a mommune so this is how you spend it,' followed by clips of her and other single mothers drinking and partying together. One video, which saw the women dancing together in a crowd, was captioned: ''Concerts with the best dates'. @beachykefer Being a mom is a superpower and living in a house with 3 moms is super freaking powerful! Happy early Mothers Day to all the moms, but especially to the moms in my mommune. You two make my world a better place. #mommune #fyp Love Story (Sped Up) - SNC She also said the group have 'movie nights' and 'home salon days' as well as 'occasionally [pushing outside] our comfort zones by doing karaoke.' 'Being a mom is a superpower and living in a house with three moms is super freaking powerful,' she wrote, as she encouraged other single mothers to try the experience for themselves. Reacting to her video, other TikTok users were intrigued by the concept of a 'mommune', with many appearing to keen to try it for themselves. One user wrote: 'Love this for you. I wish all of us single mommies had this much community'. A second posted: 'Oh my gosh. livin the damn dream. I'm jealous'. Another envious reply read: 'Like I need this so badly you have no idea'. Meanwhile, a fourth quipped: 'Sign me up for this! I just have to have the child first. Trying but its been a struggle but can I still be friends'. A divorced mother has revealed that she lives in a 'mommune' with other single mothers when she has a weekend without her children After leaving her partner - who she had been in a relationship with for nine years - Kristin has developed a friendship with other single mothers and moved into a commune Kristin marriage fell apart in 2022, and she lost her job - leaving her with no income and nowhere to go. Two friends took her, and her daughter who is now five, into their home near Jacksonville, Florida. Not long after Batykefer's best friend Tessa Gilder went through a divorce and she also moved in with her two kids - now ages five and one. Now 33-year-old Batykefer shares her 'mommune' life with her 50,000 followers - as the women pool resources to bring up their families. Kristin Batykefer (right) and Tessa Gilder (left) live in a mommune with their three children In 2022, there were 10.9 million one-parent families with a child under 18 years old in the US, per the US Census Bureau. Of these single-parent families, 80 per cent were headed by a mother. Batykefer told The New York Times: 'When I had to leave my husband, all I could think about was how I now had to figure out how to do everything on my own buy a house on my own, pay my bills on my own, and raise my child on my own. 'I never thought about finding another single mother to live with and do it together. We just fell into it. But now, its like, why isnt it more common for us to join forces?' Batykefer, whose divorce was finalized in February and now splits custody of her daughter with her ex-husband, is grateful that Gilder's daughter is the same age so the kids always have someone to play with. She uses her social media presence to document how the women split childcare responsibilities for the three children living in the house. In a TikTok post, Batykefer detailed how when she came down with an illness, the other three women in the house made her cookies from scratch and homemade vegetable soup, and took her kids to the park so she could rest and recuperate. 'This is your sign to move into a mommune,' she wrote. She also gives advice to others, and encourages them to start their own so-called mommune. In another video she said: 'If you're a single mom I would say find another single mom that you align with in values and then talk to her about it.' Batykefer also shows the perks of living with other women - which mean she is able to visit the beach and go to concerts without worrying about the childcare responsibilities that come with single parenthood. Batykefer and Gilder have also signed a deal with a television producer for a reality show. They are currently living still in the four-bedroom home near Jacksonville, but hope to use any funds from the show to buy and remodel a fixer-upper of their own in the coming year. Batykefer uses social media to document how the women split childcare responsibilities The women are not alone in their arrangement - and the set-up certainly isn't a novel idea. Mothers, particularly those in nonwhite communities, have been house-sharing for centuries. But as many people experienced a restructuring of their living situation during the pandemic, a new light has been shed on households with non-traditional living structures. Grace Bastidas, editor in chief of Parents.com, told The New York Times: 'In Latino cultures, theres this idea of a co-mother a person who supports you and helps you raise your children. 'At the height of the pandemic, we all started creating these pods of people, so this is just another iteration of that type of partnership.' She continued: 'We were told it takes a village, but its not always there, and single moms especially are juggling rising costs of living and reduced child care options. 'This is part of the larger trend of parents stretching traditional boundaries of what a family is, and taking matters into their own hands to find creative solutions.' Last year, Holly Harper, from Washington, D.C. detailed how she bought a four-unit apartment building with her friend Herrin Hopper after separating from her partner of 17 years in 2018 and selling their family home. She said the the arrangement is a 'kid paradise.' Batykefer, whose divorce was finalized in February and now splits custody of her daughter with her ex-husband Holly Harper detailed how she bought a home with her friend Herrin Hopper for their families In an essay published by Insider she explained that she knew it would be impossible to find a duplex or condo in the area on her 'self-employed, single-mom budget,' but she wanted to own something as an investment. 'To be able to do this, I found another single mom with the same needs as mine space, comfort, a home to live with,' she wrote. 'It's been a life changer for not only us but also our children.' Harper, who has one daughter, said she has always craved a familial community like the ones she's seen on her favorite television programs. After her divorce, she 'vowed to be open to unique opportunities' and, in this case, a unique living arrangement. In a twist of fate, one of her closest friends not only separated from her husband around the same that she got divorced, but she also shared her 'commune dream.' However, they didn't take the decision lightly. Harper explained that they approached the arrangement 'like choosing a platonic spouse.' Although divorced, and the mother of a teenager, Ku Fraser, 48, has never felt any sort of attraction or carnal desire towards anyone, man or woman. No twinge of longing when she sees someone she knows, objectively speaking, to be attractive. No spark of passion during a flirtatious encounter. Indeed, no sexual stirrings whatsoever during those moments when most of us would be thinking, 'What next...?' Yet it was only a year ago with the help of her daughter, versed, like most of her generation, in the myriad ways sexuality can present itself that she could put a name to what she has always instinctively known she is: asexual. Now, at last, Ku has been able to make sense of the young woman who only dated because of peer pressure, as well as assuage the guilt she felt while in a sexless marriage, a source of great frustration for her ex-husband. 'I had boyfriends when I was younger and, because I felt no sexual urges with them, I even kissed a few girls to see if that might cause any stirrings,' says Ku, from Cheltenham. 'It didn't, so although when I met my ex-husband, aged 25, I didn't feel any of the usual attraction people talk about, I thought it was time I did what all my friends were doing, what society expected and had a relationship. 'We had sex in those early days, but I found little pleasure in it. Still, when he asked me to marry him, I said yes and we went on to have a child together, again following the well-trodden path laid down by society.' Relieved: Ku Fraser is happier since learning of asexuality Since first learning about asexuality a year ago, Ku feels huge regret about the path she felt forced down. 'I wish I'd known that I was asexual and didn't have to do all of that,' she says. 'Obviously I love my daughter and it's thanks to her that I have this new understanding of myself. But I envy this generation who don't feel the pressure to fall in line with societal sexual "norms".' Asexuality is defined as neither being drawn to others sexually nor having any desire to act in a sexual way with others. According to The Asexual Network, set up to unite people like Ku around the world, 1 per cent of the population experiences no sexual attraction. To help increase understanding, Asexual Awareness Week is being held from October 24 to 30. Ku's own revelation came by chance after her daughter had watched something on TikTok about asexuality and explained it to her. 'My eyes filled with tears and I remember saying: "Oh my God, that's me. That's how I've always felt and I didn't know there was a name for it",' she recalls. 'I've read a lot about it since, accounts from other women who have never had any interest in sex. I'm sad for them it's not easy being in a world where most people seem obsessed with it but at least now I know I'm not the only one .' However, at a point in history where all sexual preferences and gender presentations, from homosexual to transgender, and bisexual to non-binary, are widely embraced, asexuality appears to be the final taboo. 'Anything goes in terms of sexuality these days, which I applaud,' says Ku. 'And yet society still tells you it's not OK not to want sex. Since first learning about asexuality a year ago, Ku feels huge regret about the path she felt forced down. 'I wish I'd known that I was asexual and didn't have to do all of that,' she says 'Over the years, when I confided how I felt in female friends, instead of accepting it they would give all kinds of advice about how to get in the mood with my ex-husband: 'Oh, just wear some nice underwear' and 'The more you do it, the more you'll want it'. They all felt bad for him 'going without' and no-one took my feelings about sex seriously. 'Others said: 'Maybe you're not right for each other and you'll feel differently with another man' but no-one ever said: 'Some people just don't want to have sex', a fact I now know to be true.' Unlike celibacy, which is a choice to abstain from sexual activity, asexuality is an intrinsic part of some people's make-up. Ku says she loved her husband dearly in the early stages she just didn't want to jump into bed with him. Her 19-year marriage finally hit the rocks two years ago, when her ex-husband met another woman. By then the couple hadn't shared a bed for eight years. For the first 11 years, Ku says she felt 'unbearable pressure' to have sex. The strain was only eased by her ex working abroad, in the oil industry, for months at a time. 'He resented me because he felt I'd conned him by getting married when I didn't want sex and I resented him for putting so much focus on sex. 'I'd say: "Surely you like other things about me you didn't just marry me for sex? Can't we be friends who do other things together, but not that?" For me a close friendship, raising our daughter together, worked fine,' she recalls. 'In the early years, we would try massages and date nights, but it didn't matter what we did, I just never felt any desire for or pleasure in sex.' Ku would explain it wasn't personal, that she had never wanted sex with men she dated before her husband, though she had gone along with it, to see if she could spark any internal desire, with three different men. Still, Ku says she didn't want a divorce and would have happily continued living under the same roof as her husband. Consequently, she went through a period of real mourning when the marriage ended. To satisfy friends who were adamant she would get fired up by a new man, Ku, a retail worker, went on a couple of dates but there was no frisson. She has no plans to ever attempt a relationship again. 'What's the point when I wouldn't want to have sex and, unless the other person was asexual, they wouldn't accept that? I can't live with that sort of pressure again.' At peace: (from left) Pam Hobbs, Sana Kardar and Jennifer Gauden Jennifer Gaudenz who, aged 32, is a virgin, can relate. She was in her early 20s when she realised she was asexual. She has had two relationships with men; one, which lasted three years, when she was 18, and a year-long one when she was 25. She loved them both, but not in a romantic way, describing it as like being with a close girlfriend she spent most of her free time with. Both men accepted she would not have sex with them 'If they tried to touch me in my intimate area I would literally scream it wasn't pleasant, it felt horrible,' she says but her unwillingness to consummate the relationships eventually contributed to break ups. 'Kissing is fine for me,' says Jennifer, a medical writer from North-West London. 'I just don't feel any pleasure being touched or touching men [sexually] but I was willing to do that because they had needs, so I would compromise. 'I can appreciate a good-looking man but I don't have any desire to have a sexual relationship and I'm happiest being single. 'Although I'd like a friendship with a man, I know most wouldn't be willing to settle for that and I don't want to give anybody false hope.' Jennifer Gaudenz who, aged 32, is a virgin, can relate. She was in her early 20s when she realised she was asexual Despite Jennifer having explained her asexual nature to her mother, she is still asked if she might produce grandchildren It was while reading online ten years ago, aged 22, about someone else's experience of being asexual that the truth dawned on Jennifer. Before then, she had never discussed her attitude to sex with female friends, so had assumed other women felt similarly. Those same friends now tell her she might feel differently if she met 'the one', but Jennifer insists there is no such person for her she simply does not have the same biological responses that sexual people have. Despite Jennifer having explained her asexual nature to her mother, she is still asked if she might produce grandchildren. 'The process of making a child is unthinkable to me,' says Jennifer. 'But I'm not averse to the idea of being a mum so I may adopt. 'Even as a child I said I never wanted to marry. I dated because that's what society expects of women and I was just following the path of least resistance. 'I suppose I felt attracted to the idea of being in a relationship, because that's what all my friends were doing, but I have never experienced desire for anyone.' For Sana Kardar, 29, a biomedical sciences student, the realisation that she had no desire for intimate relationships came when she was 16 and 'almost threw up' after kissing a boy during a game of truth or dare. 'I didn't like the sensation or the close contact and it's the only time I have ever kissed, let alone had sex with anyone,' says Sana. 'I knew I'd never felt an attraction to anyone but that sealed it.' For Sana Kardar, 29, a biomedical sciences student, the realisation that she had no desire for intimate relationships came when she was 16 and 'almost threw up' after kissing a boy during a game of truth or dare Sana was 22 when she first read about asexuality and realised she fit the description Like Jennifer, Sana describes herself not only as asexual but also 'touch repulsed'. She was 22 when she first read about asexuality and realised she fit the description. Her father died at around this time and, as a Muslim, her mother insisted Sana should find a man to marry and take care of her. 'I knew I couldn't possibly do that and, luckily, I'm not religious,' she says. 'By the age of 24, I'd told everyone in my life I was asexual.' Some men reacted as if Sana, from South-West London, had thrown down a gauntlet and worked hard at persuading her that they could turn her on to sex, something which still rankles. 'They would say things such as: 'But you are so good looking, you could have anyone you want',' says Sana. 'Others would insist that, given a bit of time, they could turn me on to the joys of sex. 'People don't understand asexuality and refuse to try. They think that to be happy and contented in life you need to be sexually active.' Sana's other bug-bear is female acquaintances who trivialise her sexual orientation. 'One friend, who considers herself very politically correct, posted on social media that she is 'asexual these days' and, knowing she has always been very sexual, I challenged her. 'She said she was 'in a dry period' and I explained that it was just as insulting to people like me to describe herself as temporarily asexual as it would be to claim to be bisexual, when she isn't.' Like Jennifer (right), Sana (left) describes herself not only as asexual but also 'touch repulsed' Others in Sana's life have suggested she just needs to experiment with different men and women. 'It makes me so cross I'll say: 'Would you tell a homosexual person that they need to sleep with someone of the opposite gender to check they are really gay?',' says Sana. Consultant clinical psychologist Janice Hiller agrees that society needs to embrace asexuality, just as it has other sexual orientations. 'Some people, an accepted minority, just don't experience arousal or sexual desire and, unlike those who lose their libido, asexuals are generally not distressed by this,' says Janice. 'Any distress usually comes from societal pressures which are wrong because they disregard the fact that this is a sexual identity. 'Anyone who identifies this way deserves acceptance.' Pam Hobbs, 51, was separated from her ex-husband, the father of her two children, when she finally acknowledged that even the thought of having sex, or kissing anyone, was deeply distasteful to her. But it was several more years before she heard the term asexual, which she now identifies as. Although Pam has experienced orgasm, she has no urge to do so, even alone. Pam Hobbs, 51, was separated from her ex-husband, the father of her two children, when she finally acknowledged that even the thought of having sex, or kissing anyone, was deeply distasteful to her After learning about asexuality from a social media post, Pam joined groups for asexuals on Facebook, even signing up for a 'dating' agency for 'asexuals looking for company and friendship, with no strings attached'. Pictured: (left to right) Sana Kardar, Pam Hobbs, Jennifer Graundenz 'I made a decision in 2010 [a year after her divorce] that I didn't want to share my body intimately with anybody ever again,' says Pam, from March, Cambridgeshire. 'I knew I'd never wanted to have sex with my husband but thought, without all the baggage of a failing marriage, it might be different with other men. I was wrong. It wasn't until three years ago that I realised there was a label for people like me.' After learning about asexuality from a social media post, Pam joined groups for asexuals on Facebook, even signing up for a 'dating' agency for 'asexuals looking for company and friendship, with no strings attached'. She is yet to meet anyone via the site but says that, although she has loved men, including her ex-husband in the past, that feeling was borne of affection not desire. Unfortunately, she has had some unpleasant encounters after telling men that she is not interested in romance. One man, who repeatedly tried to pursue a relationship with her, ignored her explanation that as an asexual she could offer nothing more than friendship and told her 'you are just a weirdo!'. Another man Pam met for drinks and dinner, having told him she was asexual, feigned interest at first saying 'Oh, that's different'. However, when she rejected his advances, he called her a 'derogatory name' adding: 'You're just weird!' 'In a world that's tolerant of everybody and everything, no-one seems to have empathy for asexuals,' says Pam. 'Admitting that, like me, you have no interest in any sort of sexual relationship really is the final taboo.' Pamella Roland finds design inspiration around the world. 'My inspiration was Belgium, I went there with my daughter and we just fell in love with the city - it's very romantic,' Pamella Roland told Daily Mail about her fall 24 collection. The American designer's wanderlust and love of travel often influences her eponymous brand, with last season's collection being a nod to Morocco. She goes on to say, 'There are so many interesting places, my daughter is my travel buddy and we love it.' Pamella Roland finds design inspiration around the world On theme, the first look to hit the runway was a cashmere cape embroidered with the Belgium skyline On theme, the first look to hit the runway was a cashmere cape embroidered with the Belgium skyline. Show notes read: 'The collection blends the countrys historical charm with modern elegance through a refined color palette, stunning silhouettes, and intricate embroideries. 'The color palette draws from Belgiums enchanting hues, featuring bronze tones, shades of red, wine, luxurious gold, and chocolate brown. Touches of sunset and soft pastels such as an ice blue, blush, ivory, and light nude tones are included as well. 'Silhouettes are a nod to Brussels' architectural marvels, with gowns boasting structured lines, and draping inspired by the city's intricate buildings.' 'My inspiration was Belgium, I went there with my daughter and we just fell in love with the city - it's very romantic,' Pamella Roland told Daily Mail about her fall 24 collection The American designer's wanderlust and love of travel often influences her eponymous brand, with last season's collection being a nod to Morocco She goes on to say, 'There are so many interesting places, my daughter is my travel buddy and we love it' While Pamella Rolands signature embroideries - pearl fringe, 3D flowers and feathers - reflect the citys intricate architecture and classic romance A red Mikado cutout mermaid gown with a 3D handmade poppy flower capelet was a standout A stunning pearl baroque embroidered wedding gown with pearl fringe and tulle closed the show The fall 24 collection fuses old-world sophistication and contemporary allure, like only Pamella could. Her signature embroideries - pearl fringe, 3D flowers and feathers - reflect the citys intricate architecture and classic romance. While velvet, sequins, and jacquard fabrics provide texture, reflecting the ambiance of Brussels' historic interiors. Fall 24 showstoppers include a red Mikado cutout mermaid gown with a 3D handmade poppy flower capelet and a pearl baroque embroidered wedding gown with pearl fringe and tulle that closed the show. A Los Angeles-based model has baffled TikTok users after making cereal from scratch. Nara Aziza Pellman Smith, 22, has garnered almost two million followers thanks to her cooking videos - and in a recent clip, the social media star surprised her fans when she whipped up a batch of fresh cereal for her toddlers. But this isn't the glam tradwife's first brush with viral fame. The influencer, who is married to former Tumblr sensation Lucky Blue Smith, 25, previously made major waves when she announced the baby names she's debating. Los Angeles-based model Nara Smith surprised her TikTok followers with her elaborate recipes to make two types of cereal per her toddler's request On January 26, Nara, who is South African and German, shared a video creating both tasty treats in a glamorous black dressing gown with faux fur cuffs and the internet went wild On January 26, Nara, who is South African and German, shared a video creating the tasty treats in a glamorous black dressing gown with faux fur cuffs - and the internet went wild. 'I asked my toddlers what they wanted for breakfast and they both said cereal, so cereal it was and we got started right away,' the Mormon housewife explained in the opening of her now-viral video. But instead of opening up her cabinet and grabbing a sugary cereal, Nara proceeded to make her own and walked her followers through the painstaking process while in full glam. The traditional wife started by making chocolate chip cookie cereal, mixing flour, peanut butter, maple syrup, milk and chocolate, forming it into a dough and rolling tiny balls to resemble cookies. She then put the dough in the oven for 10 to 13 minutes while starting to make cocoa puff cereal with similarly healthy ingredients. She formed the dough into a ball, cut it into small cocoa puff balls, and popped them on the baking sheet in the oven for about 10 minutes. Nara, who has also shared videos for from-scratch lasagna (mozzarella and pasta sheets included) and homemade fresh vanilla ice cream, then assembled the bowl of cereal with both options. The TikTok received more than 480,000 likes, although the reaction was mixed - some applauded her while others wondered why she'd go to so much trouble. Instead of opening up her cabinet and grabbing a sugary cereal, Nara proceeded to make her own and walked her followers through the painstaking process 'I didn't know making homemade cereal was so easy!' one follower rejoiced, but others joked about how intense the cooking session appeared The TikTok received more than 480,000 likes, although the reaction was mixed - some applauded her and others joked that it would be ready hours after breakfast 'I didn't know making homemade cereal was so easy!' one follower rejoiced, but others joked about how intense the cooking session appeared. One wrote, 'and after three hours, the kiddos finally ate,' as another called her two children 'the most patient kids EVER!' Others were in shock, saying, 'I get lazy by pouring the milk on a readymade cereal.' A commenter quipped it was the 'Final boss ingredient household,' referencing how many homes don't have snacks and only have ingredients for meals. Many people defended Nara, with one commenting, 'No one hating Martha Stewart for making things from scratch like it's a beautiful thing.' Nara also shared the video on Instagram, where followers were equally surprised. 'Ain't nobody waiting til lunch to eat some cereal,' one joked. 'Imagine being late for school because your mom had to bake your cereal,' another wrote. However, some of her followers were eagerly jumped to her defense. 'People come at her for "doing the most" but personally this is so admirable & respectable because it's so natural & healthy,' one raved. On Twitter, previously known as X, the response was much the same. 'Nara Smith is heavily pregnant with two kids and a husband and still makes cereal from scratch so what is my damn excuse,' a commenter pointed out. Another said she's 'taken stay-at-home mom lifestyle to a whole new level.' Nara previously divided the internet when she discussed potential baby names for her third child with Lucky Blue Lucky's own siblings have famously eccentric names - his three older sisters are Cheyenne Starlie Smith, Daisy Clementine Smith, and Pyper America Smith Nara and Lucky Blue are parents to a girl named Rumble Honey Smith and a boy named Slim Easy Smith The model and her hubby are considering the names Odie, Pepper, Pear, and Dawn, with Cherry as a middle name - although her husband isn't a fan Nara previously left the internet bitterly divided when she discussed potential baby names for her third child. Nara and Lucky Blue are already parents to a girl named Rumble Honey Smith and a boy named Slim Easy Smith. The model and her spouse are said to be considering the names Odie, Pepper, Pear, and Dawn, with Cherry as a middle name - although her husband isn't a fan. She also likes Bubble as a middle name. And if it's a boy, Nara is thinking about Frosty, Sunny, Silver, and Zen. Lucky's own siblings have famously eccentric names. His three older sisters are Cheyenne Starlie Smith, Daisy Clementine Smith, and Pyper America Smith. Lucky is also a father to daughter Gravity Blue, who he shares with former beauty queen Stormi Bree. In a celebrity twist, Stormi is currently dating Joe Jonas. 'After coming out of the LaQuan Smith show I feel like I can run the world,' Real Housewives of New York star Ubah Hassan told Daily Mail. The 5 11 Somali-Canadian model, businesswoman, and television personality felt so empowered by the electrifying catwalk presentation held at the magnificent Cipriani hall in lower Manhattan that she compared the collection to Tom Ford. 'It was sophisticated, beautiful, glam, sexy, kind - like kind but don't F around with me,' she said. The 5 11 Somali-Canadian model, businesswoman, and television personality felt so empowered by the catwalk presentation held at Cipriani that she compared the collection to that of iconic designer Tom Ford 'I don't know if Tom Ford is someone he studied under but it doesn't get any bigger than LaQuan Smith. Smith was actually taught pattern-making and sewing by his grandmother, and credits the late great Andre Leon Talley as his mentor. 'The show was so sexy,' said Ubah donning a two-piece tailored set that showed off her stunning figure. 'This is what power looks like. Every woman should aspire to dress, walk, talk, look, and feel like they're coming out of the LaQuan show. 'I am absolutely so happy for him and this collection, and I'm probably going to lose all my rent money buying everything in that collection. 'He's the black Tom Ford.' 'After coming out of the LaQuan Smith show I feel like I can run the world,' RHONY star Ubah Hassan told Daily Mail 'This is what power looks like. Every woman should aspire to dress, walk, talk, look, and feel like coming out of the LaQuan show. 'He's the black Tom Ford,' said Ubah 'I told the models take this energy into your career, take it into anything you do in life,' shared Ubah 'Every little piece, from how they walked to Baby Face, that's how you curate a show,' Ubah told Daily Mail Baby Face performed several songs during the show's finale 'This season my woman is busy and she is the center of attention. She is running from the office to her evening plans in satin mini dresses, metallic knit gowns, and cocktail attire in glazed cire,' said LaQuan Smith The show notes from LaQuan read: 'The Fall / Winter 2024 collection is an ode to my office sirens. I took inspiration from the unapologetic strength and glamour of female power brokers; from executives of 1980's Wall Street to the vixens of Studio 54. 'This season was an exploration into daywear done the LaQuan Smith way. Provocative power suiting in rich hues like navy, which is a symbol of financial stability, cotton poplin bodysuits that transition seamlessly from day to night, and sharply tailored overcoats in sumptuous wools. 'This season my woman is busy and she is the center of attention. She is running from the office to her evening plans in satin mini dresses, metallic knit gowns, and cocktail attire in glazed cire. 'She has places to go and will look damn good doing it all.' The Royal Life Guards at Amalienborg Palace Square paid tribute to their Queen Mary to celebrate her first birthday in her new role. During the changing of the guardon Mary's 52nd birthday, fans watched as the band played a version of the Bee Gees' 1977 hit How Deep Is Your Love?'. Royal experts speculated music conductor Michael Thomsen selected the 'classic love ballad' because of the Bee Gees' affinity with Australia and Mary's love for Robbie Williams whose former band Take That covered the song in the nineties. Hundreds flocked to the Palace in Copenhagen hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen to wish her Happy Birthday but they instead were treated to a performance by the Royal Life Guards. Thomsen chooses the music program for the changing of the guards each day and Danish tabloid BT's music reviewer Kristian Dam Nygaard has theories as to why he went with the classic love song for the Queen's birthday. Royal Life Guards paid tribute to Queen Mary's 52nd birthday last Monday by playing Bee Gees' hit song How Deep is Your Love during the changing of the guards procession Music conductor Michael Thomsen selected the song' because of the Bee Gees' affinity with Australia and Mary's love for Robbie Williams whose band Take That covered the number 'The Bee Gees lived for a period in Australia, so there is a reference to Queen Mary, just as it is known that she is a fan of Robbie Williams, who was in Take That,' he said. 'So in that way, there is a fun connection, but at the same time, it seems a bit strange with a bittersweet song where questions are asked about how much love is involved. It doesn't make much sense on a birthday.' Last Monday's changing of the guard ceremony was not out of the ordinary however the guards were dresses in red gala uniforms. The procession is usually around 50 minutes long and the brass band plays three songs for the crowd. Dam Nygaard thought the Bee Gees' number was an unusual choice for Queen Mary's birthday. 'I would probably have chosen to play a song that exclusively paid tribute to the birthday person, such as 'Isn't she lovely' or 'Can't Take My Eyes of You',' he said. A beachgoer stumbled upon a "beautiful" yet "creepy" sea creature on the sand during a walk on Sunday and Aussies have been swept up in the mystery of what it is with several experts struggling to identify it. The discovery was made by a resident in Broome who kept her distance but snapped an image of the purple and white scaled creature measuring 13 centimetres in diameter, with its tentacles tangled among one another. Aussies likened it to "Medusa's wig" and marvelled at how "majestic" yet menacing it looked, with many suggesting it was best the walker didn't get too close. "It's too pretty to be safe. Nature tends to make the worst things beautiful," one person remarked. Aussies marvelled at the 'creepy' beach find in Broome on Sunday. Source: Facebook Tentacles 'wave' in search of food After several marine biologists admitted they were stumped by the discovery the creature was finally identified as a striped or Cockburn Sound anemone. They are not known to frequent the waters of Western Australia but it's "not surprising" it was there given they inhabit waters around Japan and the Philippines as well as the Great Barrier Reef. "They occur in sandy and muddy seabeds. Ive seen them in waters up to around 20 metres deep but also in very shallow waters," Marine ecologist Mike Van Keulen told Yahoo News. "The tentacles are quite active and can wave around when searching for food, which can include small fish." Anemone can inflict 'nasty' sting on humans Van Keulen said Cockburn Sound anemone inflict painful stings "similar to a burn" which remain sore up to 36 hours after contact is made causing blisters within the first few hours and scars which last months. "Its a nasty one... secondary infection of course is a real problem with any marine sting and if not properly dealt with, [it] can lead to wounds that take a very long time to heal," he said. Story continues He explained that symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the sting and include "nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever and even shock". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The word love does a lot of heavy lifting. For an emotion that has inspired centuries of art, poetry and music, and that comes in so many different forms, youd think wed have hundreds of words for it. The love we feel for a partner is not the same as the one we feel for our parents, and the affection we hold towards friends is very different from that we reserve for our children. Yet we use love for all of them there is simply no synonym that expresses any of them adequately. It wasnt always this way. Distinctions between different kinds of love were once carefully drawn in Old English. Bearn-lufu was a mothers love for her child, sib-lufu was kin-love for ones relatives, and freond-lufu was friend-love. The ancient Greeks took it even further: their lexicon of love included eros (sexual love), xenia (the love you feel for your guests), and philautia (the love of oneself). But the fact that all of those now come down to a single word that will adorn almost every greetings card this Valentines Day doesnt mean that the annals of affection are sketchy. In fact, an hours happy riffling through a historical dictionary can offer up a host of words with which to express devotion or the lack of it. If we throw some words from other languages into the mix, the landscape is even richer. Countdown's Suzie Dent explores the language of love in her new book, Words From The Heart: An Emotional Dictionary The Victorians used the word 'firkytoodling' to describe 'provocative caresses' So, if youre a card-maker, the French offer a typically beautiful metaphor for love at first sight in coup de foudre, a lightning strike. Its what many of us hope for in life, even if some of us have to settle for sphallolalia: flirtation that goes absolutely nowhere (a word that goes rather nicely with fribbler, one who professes true love but somehow never commits). No matter how you got there, the word limerence is what you need for the intense infatuation you feel in the early stages of love. Occasionally this is set off by vernalagnia, the romantic feelings (or pure lust) inspired by springtime when nature is suddenly erumpent (bursting forth). Both emotions might induce some lovelight, a pretty term from the 19th century for the radiance in someones eyes when they look at a person they love. Such a look doesnt, of course, always yield instant results. The Yaghan people of South America have given us one of the most famous untranslatables in recent years in mamihlapinatapai (pronounced ma-mi-la-pee-na-ta-pay), which means looking at another person in the hope they will make the first move. It is even listed in the Guinness Book Of Records as the most succinct word in any language. Both emotions might induce some lovelight, a pretty term from the 19th century for the radiance in someones eyes when they look at a person they love Basorexia sounds far less pleasant, but it is in fact the sudden and overwhelming desire to kiss someone. Should your kisses multiply and you become elumbated (or weakened in the loins), you could do a lot worse than borrowing from the Victorians, for whom firkytoodling was once defined as those provocative caresses which constitute the normal preliminaries to sexual congress. If youre needing to express sex itself, you might enjoy such frisky euphemisms as playing at hot cockles (1500s), doing the service of Venus (1600s), and enjoying some fandango de pokum (1800s). Then there is the question as to what to call the focus of all this attention. There are, of course, many endearments to draw on for a loved one. Most of us stick with such tried and tested stalwarts as darling, sweetheart, babe, honey, etc., but there is much more variety to be had when it comes to linguistic loving up. Suzie Dent says the word love does a lot of heavy lifting, but there are plenty of fascinating alternatives in languages around the world Taste often seems a good place to start. Sweet nothings of the past include honeybuns, cinnamon, crumpets, lamb-chops, munchkins, and even tart (which went, as we know, mostly downhill). Others over the centuries such as cabbage, prawn and bagpudding might be best left in the dust. Animals have also acted as synonyms of affection: duckling, dove, ladybird and chuck have been sealed with a kiss for centuries. Pigsney is a much odder example. You might think this refers to a pigs knee, which is bad enough, but it is actually a version of pigs eye. Far better surely to go to Irish instead, which offers one of the most beautiful pet names in the word macushla, which translates literally as my pulse. Sadly, and as we have all discovered at some point, we must sometimes accept that love is over, or that we have simply misloved by choosing the wrong person. While we may long for redamancy, 17th-century speak for being adored in return, many of us experience instead tabanca, a word from Caribbean English that describes the pain of a relationship ending, and the longing for the person now lost. Mind you, if this tempts you to go back and try again in the belief that all previous problems will have magically disappeared, think again: the Italians know this as cavoli riscaldati, or reheated cabbage never a good idea. Of course, the best kind of love is often selfless. Pure, altruistic affection shines through such forgotten words as confelicity, which expresses joy in the happiness of others. Seventeenth-century English also offers antipelargy, which may not be exactly mellifluous but which expresses one of the most profound emotions of all: the love between child and parent. It springs from the Greek pelargos (stork) referring to the birds reputation in antiquity as one of the most affectionate and loyal of all creatures that carries its elderly parents on its wings in flight. So much of the joy of loving comes, of course, from family, but if youve ever been guilty of gleefully pinching the cheeks of a child in response, you should know about gigil, a term from the Filipino language of Tagalog that means the irresistible desire to squeeze something cute, however painful (let alone embarrassing) for the squeezee. Mutual cuddling is an altogether gentler affair, and the dictionary offers hundreds of synonyms for the act of nestling snugly. Local dialect, in particular, loves a snuggle: here you will come across croozling, croodling, cummudging, neezling, nuddling, nuzzling, snoozling and snuggening. One of the best is surely snoodging, from Yorkshire, which is defined as to nestle or lie closely together. Whoever is the object of your affection in the days ahead, it is good to know that love is one of the oldest words we have. We may rely on it for myriad situations and relationships, but that has never weakened its power. Instead, it remains one of the most meaningful descriptions of emotion. So, if Valentines Day is your thing, I wish you redamancy aplenty and, perhaps, some happy firkytoodling too. If it isnt, a bit of self-love, that Greek philautia, never goes amiss. I hear it goes quite well with chocolate. Words From The Heart: An Emotional Dictionary by Susie Dent is published by John Murray Press at 12.99 in paperback, ebook and audio. The WA town is famed for its jaw-dropping beaches Exmouth named in top 10 Aussie Town of the Year Awards for 2024 A small remote town with some of the country's most spectacular beaches has been named one of the top travel destinations in Australia for 2024. Exmouth sits in Western Australia's Gascoyne region more than 1,200km north of Perth and is famed in the state for its out-of-this-world beaches. The coastal heaven came in at number nine out of 10 in the 2024 Wotif Aussie Town of the Year Awards based on the travel app's data index looking at accommodation affordability, quality, and traveller satisfaction. Exmouth is the gateway into the world-heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, the world's largest fringing reef, and has kilometres of untouched and unbleached marine landscapes to explore. It's not just the beaches that bring in thousands of tourists each year: Cape Range National Park with its red rock gorges is an outdoor adventurer's dream while the township is home to a series of fun bars and restaurants. The stunning WA town of Exmouth has been named one of the top 10 travel destinations in Australia for 2024 Exmouth sits in Western Australia's Gascoyne region more than 1,200km north of Perth and is famed in the state for its out-of-this-world beaches Exmouth is the gateway into the world-heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, the world's largest fringing reef, and has kilometres of untouched and unbleached marine landscapes to explore Exmouth's aptly-named Turquoise Bay has raked in a number of travel and tourism accolades for its unbelievably aqua calm waters and white sandy shores. But the award-winning bay isn't the only beach worth visiting. The Ningaloo coast is peppered with jaw-dropping swimming spots within a short distance of the town. Sandy Bay is a seaside paradise without the crowds of Turqouise Bay, surfers will love the waves at Dunes Beach while you can drive your 4WD right up on the sand at Town Beach. You don't need to go far off shore to witness the colourful beauty of the Ningaloo Reef. Oyster Stacks is a popular spot for snorkellers where you can drift along with the current above the coral to see turtles and fish. Travellers flock to the dreamy gem in the balmy winter months where temperatures still can reach the low thirties, to swim with the whale shark that migrate through the reef from May to October. You don't need to go far off shore to witness the beauty of Ningaloo Reef. Oyster Stacks is a popular spot for snorkellers where you can drift above the coral to see turtles and fish In the township local emus are as common a sight as residents down the main drag where there is a vibrant food and drink scene Froth Craft Brewery is a favourite watering hole in the heart of town while Whalebone Brewing Co is the perfect place to try some craft beer and see live music from WA musicians Ningaloo Discovery Whale Shark Tours offer cruises of the reef and an opportunity to swim with the ocean's gentle giant all aboard a luxury Catamaran or powerboat. The adventure and scenery doesn't stop at the sand with Cape Range National Park featuring red limestone ranges, canyons and valleys lined with 50km of stunning beaches. In the township local emus are as common a sight as residents down the main drag where there is a vibrant food and drink scene. Froth Craft Brewery is a favourite watering hole in the heart of town while Whalebone Brewing Co is the perfect place to try some craft beer and see live music from WA musicians. Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp is a sprawling resort with luxury tents offering guests a unique glamping experience by the sea. Manta Rays Beach Resort sits on Sunrise Beach is one of Exmouth's most high-end stays with private hot tubs, a huge sparkling pool and a gourmet restaurant. Exmouth's aptly-named Turquoise Bay has raked in a number of travel and tourism accolades for its unbelievably aqua calm waters and white sandy shores Travellers flock to the dreamy gem in the balmy winter months where temperatures still reach the low thirties, to swim with whale sharks that migrate through the reef from May to October Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp is a sprawling resort with luxury tents offering guests a unique glamping experience by the sea Exmouth Shire President Matt Niikkula said to be acknowledged as the only WA Wotif Aussie Town of the Year is testament to the incredible offering the local tourism industry provides Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is up on a hill overlooking the township and where visitors go to watch the sun go down at the end of the day. Exmouth Shire President Matt Niikkula told FEMAIL to be acknowledged as the only WA Wotif Aussie Town of the Year is testament to the incredible offering the local tourism industry provides to visitors. He described his beloved town as a treasure trove of natural beauty and adventure. 'With its pristine beaches, renowned diving spots, and coastal islands, this hidden gem offers an unforgettable escape for travellers seeking fun and relaxation. But there's more to Exmouth than just the famous Ningaloo Reef!' he said. 'Our visitors are able to experience the true Reef to Range experience when venturing into the rugged natural landscapes and the iconic beauty of the country's arid terrain that make the North West Cape so special.' 'Whether you're seeking an educational family-friendly getaway or a secluded paradise, Exmouth captures the hearts of all who visit.' Flights to Exmouth from Perth take just under two hours while the drive will set you back just under 13 hours. Nine in ten also said it should be more straightforward to get a diagnostic test Three in five patients would be willing to pay for private testing to get a faster diagnosis amid NHS delays, a report reveals. More than 415,000 people had been waiting longer than the six week target for a key diagnostic check in December, according to NHS England data. Now a new survey by the Patients Association reveals people want better access to early and accurate tests and scans. Some 60 per cent said they would be willing to pay to get a test done if they faced a long wait or the test they needed was not available on the health service, even including those who would not consider themselves 'rich'. More than three in five (61 per cent) believe being able to test for some conditions at home would help speed up the process. Your browser does not support iframes. Some 60 per cent said they would be willing to pay to get a test done if they faced a long wait or the test they needed was not available on the health service, even including those who would not consider themselves 'rich'. Pictured, one of England's new community diagnostic centres (CDCs), Wood Green Community Diagnostic Centre in The Mall Shopping Centre The Patients Association, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, questioned 1,177 people from the UK who had received diagnostic support from the NHS in the preceding six months. It revealed 'several challenges' experienced by patients in gaining access to diagnostic tests and showed they also want a better understanding of why each check is necessary And nine in ten (90 per cent) said it should be more straightforward to get the diagnostic tests they need. The Patients Association, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, questioned 1,177 people from the UK who had received diagnostic support from the NHS in the preceding six months. It revealed 'several challenges' experienced by patients in gaining access to diagnostic tests and showed they also want a better understanding of why each check is necessary. One-third of respondents (33 per cent) said when they tried to get a test, there were no appointments available locally. Almost four in five patients (78 per cent) felt testing facilities should be provided closer to home to make access easier. What do the latest NHS figures show? The overall waiting list shrunk by 6,266 to 7.6million in December. There were 282 people waiting more than two years to start, up from 227 in November. The number of people waiting more than a year to start hospital treatment was 337,450, down slightly on the 355,412 in the previous month. Some 54,308 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England in January. The figure is up from 44,045 in December. A total of 158,721 people waited at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission in January, up from 148,282 in December. Just 70.3 per cent of patients were seen within four hours at A&Es last month. NHS standards set out that 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window. Advertisement And seven in ten (70 per cent) wanted a clearer understanding of how to access checks. Only one in ten people (11 per cent) said they never had any issues getting either a test or their results, or faced no consequences if they did. For those living with long-term conditions, delays and difficulties in accessing diagnosis have had significant consequences. Nearly one in five (17 per cent) said their long-term recovery was set back significantly. Many more reported consequences for their mental and physical health, and their wider work and family life. Respondents were also unhappy about a lack of access to, and clear explanation of, test results. Almost nine in ten (88 per cent) wanted a realistic timeline for their test results to come through and a similar number (87 per cent) called for a better explanation of what those results meant for them and their treatment. NHS figures show 416,889 patients, 26.8 per cent of the total, were waiting longer than six weeks for one of 15 standard tests, including an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy in December, the latest month available. The figure is up from 375,151 (23.3 per cent of the total) in November, but lower than the equivalent figure for December 2022, which was 481,924 (31.3 per cent). The NHS elective recovery plan sets the ambition that 95 per cent of patients needing a diagnostic test receive it within six weeks by March 2025. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: 'Patients value diagnostic services that's very clear from the survey. 'Frustrations about access to tests came over loud and clear. Those taking the survey clearly value being partners in their care. 'And to partner with the professionals sending them for tests, patients need and want clear communication on how to get tests, why they need a test, and when they'll get results. 'Healthcare professionals can improve patient-centred care when ordering diagnostic tests by explaining how, why and when.' Prenatal tests are used to screen for abnormalities and health risks to a fetus An increasing number of mothers-to-be are requesting early ultrasounds and genetic tests to help them make informed decisions regarding their pregnancies as more states enact strict abortion laws. Prenatal genetic screening and other diagnostic tests are frequently used to screen for abnormalities and health risks to a fetus and help doctors and patients plan for the safest pregnancy and delivery. They also provide information to women that may influence whether they wish to terminate a pregnancy. Many of these tests cannot be done until a woman is at least 10 weeks into her pregnancy. However, more than a dozen states have laws in place that completely prohibit abortions or restrict them to before six weeks, meaning by the time a person receives prenatal testing results, it is often too late to terminate a pregnancy. Prenatal genetic screening and other diagnostic tests are frequently used to screen for abnormalities and health risks to a fetus There are multiple prenatal tests a woman can undergo to get health information about her baby. Some screenings include an amniocentesis, done between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy to test fluid surrounding the fetus for certain health conditions, chorionic villis sampling, done between 10 and 13 weeks to test a piece of the placenta for genetic disorders, and noninvasive prenatal testing, a blood test performed at 10 weeks to analyze the fetal DNA present in a mother's blood. These tests screen for conditions including down syndrome and spina bifida, as well as more severe and fatal abnormalities like Edwards disease and Tay-Sachs disease. Some women may choose to terminate their pregnancies if prenatal testing reveals the fetus has a life-threatening birth defect that may result in death shortly after delivery or if the pregnancy is not viable. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommend that reproductive healthcare professionals offer prenatal screenings to every pregnant patient. Researchers in a 2023 study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology said: 'Although many factors influence a patients decision to have an abortion, fetal genetic abnormalities are a common reason, particularly for terminations after the first trimester.' Citing a systematic review in 2012, the researchers also said that when faced with a down syndrome diagnosis, up to 67 percent of patients in the United States chose to terminate their pregnancies. The study noted the data has remained consistent. Sabrina Fletcher, a doula who has counseled pregnant patients in these situations, told the Associated Press when women find out their fetus has a serious health problem, 'you're in crisis mode.' She added: 'Youre not thinking about legal repercussions and [state] cutoff dates, and yet were forced to.' Following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs. Wade in June 2022, 14 states have a ban on abortion at every stage of pregnancy - meaning diagnostic testing of a fetus cannot be done before gestational agebased cutoffs. Supreme Court is set to decide on availability of commonly used abortion pill The Supreme Court announced they will decide on a case challenging the use of a pill used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, its first abortion case since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Advertisement While there are no definitive statistics on how many women are asking for early tests, anecdotally, healthcare providers say theyve noticed an uptick. However, experts are worried women are rushing to make decisions about whether to continue or terminate their pregnancies based on whatever information they can get before a state abortion ban kicks in. But early tests aren't always 100 percent correct and may give only limited information. Ultrasounds early in a pregnancy reveal far less about a fetus than scans done at later weeks and genetic screenings may be inaccurate. Dr Clayton Alfonso, an OB-GYN at Duke University, told AP: 'More people are trying to find these things out earlier to try to fit within the confines of laws that in my mind dont have a place in medical practice.' The types of tests and ultrasounds a pregnant woman receives - and when she receives them - can vary based on an individual's health and risk factors, as well as equipment and tests available to a medical clinic. While some women may get an ultrasound in their first 12 weeks of pregnancy, to estimate a due or check for multiple fetuses, its not standard because it is too early to see limbs and organs in detail, ACOG said. It is also hard to find major birth defects before the 20-week midpoint of gestation. A common prenatal test at 20 weeks - after the abortion cut-off in more than a dozen states - is an ultrasound commonly referred to as an anatomy scan. This scan checks the fetal heart, brain, spine and limbs to look for congenital problems and can detect problems and abnormalities that may lead to more testing and a possible diagnosis. But since Roe vs Wade was overturned, OB-GYN Dr Cara Heuser from Utah - where abortion is allowed until 18 weeks - said more patients are having ultrasounds at 10 to 13 weeks in order to have time to get an abortion if needed. However, Missouri genetic counselor Chelsea Wagner said early scans don't provide a complete picture of a pregnancy and doctors cannot give a definitive diagnosis from scans or other screening tests that early in a pregnancy. She said: 'You can't give somebody an "everything looks good" or clean bill of health off of an ultrasound at 10 weeks.' Additionally, when it comes to genetic testing, the accuracy of the tests vary by disorder, but no test is considered definitively diagnostic and false positive are possible. And in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about certain screenings, reminding patients and doctors that results need further confirmation. He liquidated his business after struggling with memory loss and even walking A father given the cancer all-clear was heartbreakingly told his tumour had returned just days later. Darren Gooch, 45, who lives in Sutton, south London, began suffering from seizures, behaviour changes and memory loss in the summer of 2023. Tests revealed he had a rare type of lymphoma. However, he was declared free of the disease in January after undergoing months of chemotherapy. The plumbing and heating engineer, who ran his own business, was even told by his doctors to celebrate and open a bottle of champagne. But, just over a week later, he suffered seizures and was told he had a new tumour on his brain meaning the cancer had returned. Mr Gooch, who has been forced to dissolve his business due to his diagnosis, is now trying to do something he enjoys and laugh every day in the hopes of ridding himself of the disease again. Darren Gooch, 45, who lives in Sutton, London , with his wife, Kelly, 40, an assistant manager, and their three children Faith, 18, Daley, 14, and Teddy, two, (pictured) was diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma after experiencing several seizures After four rounds of chemotherapy Mr Gooch was told he was cancer free, but just days later doctors found a lesion on his brain On July 20, Mr Gooch had two seizures while asleep in bed. He was rushed to St Helier Hospital where he then stayed for three weeks as doctors conducted tests. Scan results showed swelling in his brain, which medics believed to be a cluster of tumours, while blood tests, an endoscopy and lumbar puncture all came back clear. He was discharged and had a biopsy scheduled for August 29. However, when he arrived home from hospital, his condition deteriorated. He suffered from behavioural changes, memory loss and night sweats. Mr Gooch said: 'I kept forgetting where I put things, I found working harder, I was sort of getting the shakes and feeling nervous just things like that that I'd never normally do. What is primary CNS lymphoma? This type of cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. The lymph system is composed of the tissues and organs that produce, store and carry white blood cells, and its main function is to fight infections. Lymphoma can form in the lymph nodes around the body but it can also form in the central nervous system (CNS) which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. A CNS lymphoma can grow as a mass inside the brain, the spinal cord, or press on these from nearby. Symptoms can include: Nausea or vomiting Cognitive difficulties, like slowing of thoughts Motion problems or weakness and numbness in one side of the body Difficulty speaking Vision problems, like blurred vision or blind spots Balance issues Personality changes, like a change in behaviour Headaches Seizures (fits) Source: The Brain Tumour Charity Advertisement 'I'd wake up in the morning and it was like I got someone to chuck a bucket of water over the bed. 'I got absolutely soaked and I had to have a shower and change all the quilts and everything. 'It made me a really, really, really horrible, nasty person I've never been like that in my life.' Just a few weeks later Mr Gooch suffered another five seizures and was put into a medically induced coma, which he woke from the next day. He felt unfit to work and decided to liquidate his business. Mr Gooch said: 'It got to the point where I couldn't even walk or think, so there was no point in me keeping the business running. 'I couldn't provide for the family like what I always did so that was quite devastating for the family as well, because they relied on me I get really emotional about that and cry every day.' Mr Gooch received his biopsy results on September 5, which revealed that he had primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. The cancer, which around 160 people in the UK are diagnosed with every year, typically starts in the brain, spinal cord or eyes. It can trigger personality changes, such as being more irritable, memory problems and seizures, as well as weakness in the arms and legs. He said: 'I went from walking around and thinking everything is fine, to a massive shock where everything changes your whole perception on life just changes. 'My family were mortified I think they thought "why us?". 'When you say the C-word, everyone just automatically thinks it's the worst thing in the world but they were just so, so upset.' After four months of gruelling chemotherapy, Mr Gooch was told he was cancer free. 'I was like, "OK, well that's amazing" at the time I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'They (the doctors) said to go home and celebrate and open up a bottle of champagne, but don't drink it to excess.' But the celebrations didn't last long. Just days later, while in hospital beginning treatment for a stem cell transplant, Mr Gooch had another two seizures and an MRI confirmed his cancer had returned. Mr Gooch liquidated his business after he experienced severe behavioural changes, memory loss and night sweats Mr Gooch is still trying to process the news but believes having a 'laugh about something' or doing 'something enjoyable' is what made him 'beat cancer the first time', so is determined to 'do it again'. He said: 'I still kind of haven't processed it so it's really worrying. 'I never believed I was cancer free, I was always sceptical, but my family were so happy for me and thought we could get our life back together. 'We are very lucky to have such a supportive family, they are helping us get through this day by day.' Mr Gooch has had his mortgage frozen until April and his wife Kelly, 40, works part-time as an assistant manager at a holiday company and looks after the couple's children, Faith (18), Daley (14) and Teddy (2). His sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise awareness of primary CNS lymphoma and to help him and his wife Kelly (pictured right) afford their mortgage His sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise awareness of primary CNS lymphoma and to help the family afford their mortgage. Mr Gooch said: 'My wife is an assistant manager for a holiday company and can only work part time because she's looking after the little one as well as running the family home that's without taking care of me and our eldest two children. 'With my job, you have to be on the ball all the time, and now I might never be on the ball again. 'I don't know what the future holds because I've still got to have some tests I've got to the point where I have to just do a day at a time and still just try to do something enjoyable and laugh about something. 'That's basically what's got me through because I feel like I beat cancer the first time by doing things like that, so I can do it again.' An elderly man has become the first ever recorded patient to die from Alaskapox smallpox's little-known cousin. Just seven cases of the infection have been reported since 2015, when it was first observed by scientists in Fairbanks, Alaska. The newly-recorded victim from Kenai Peninsula, to the south of the state, was undergoing treatment in hospital when he died in late January, officials confirmed. But what is Alaskapox? And can it spread between humans? Here, MailOnline details everything you need to know about the virus. Symptoms of Alaskapox include skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes and joint and muscle pain. The elderly man was one of only seven Alaskapox infections ever recorded. Many of those initially thought they had suffered a spider or insect bite Health officials recommend covering any skin lesions that develop and avoid touching the sore. The immunocompromised man first spotted a red bump in his armpit in September 2023 and was prescribed courses of antibiotics after he visited A&E Is Alaskapox similar to smallpox? Known as AKPV, Alaskapox belongs to the orthopoxvirus family. Other members include cowpox, monkeypox and smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases before it was eradicated. The virus is thought to spread from small rodents such as voles and shrews to humans. The Alaska Department of Health also warned that domestic pets such as cats and dogs 'may also play a role in spreading the virus'. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of Alaskapox include skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes and joint and muscle pain similar to the woes monkeypox causes. Many of seven known cases initially thought they had suffered a spider or insect bite. READ MORE: How your pet CAT is a major harborer of deadly diseases - after felines were blamed for first Alaskapox death and return of ancient plague Advertisement Health officials in Alaska recommend covering any skin lesions which develop and avoid touching the sore. The unidentified man who died first spotted a red bump in his armpit in September 2023 and was prescribed courses of antibiotics after he visited A&E. But as his symptoms worsened, experiencing fatigue and pain in his armpit and shoulder, he was hospitalised in November. Medics noted he had 'four smaller pox-like lesions' in different parts of his body. However he suffered further complications resulting in kidney failure and ultimately his death in late January. Does it spread between humans? Scientists are not yet certain on how the Alaskapox virus spreads but say evidence suggests it is zoonotica disease that jumps from animals into humans. No human-to-human transmission of AKVP has yet been documented. But other viruses of the same family, including smallpox and monkeypox, have been shown to pass through direct contact with infected people. The unidentified man lived alone in a remote part of Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and was thought to have been infected after being scratched by a stray cat, according to officials. 'It is likely that the virus is present more broadly in Alaska's small mammals and that more infections in humans have occurred but were not identified', they added. Sampling from small mammals in 2020 and 2021 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in Alaska where all six of the other virus cases occurred found traces of the Alaskapox virus in red-backed voles and shrews. How deadly is it? This is the first case of an Alaskapox infection resulting in hospitalization and death ever reported. However, officials noted the man was was immunocompromised and undergoing treatment for cancer, putting him at higher risk of severe illness. Medics suggested this might have contributed to the severity of his illness and eventual death. The other six patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks. The double-stranded DNA virus is thought to spread from small rodents such as voles and shrews to humans. The Alaska Department of Health also warned that domestic pets such as cats and dogs 'may also play a role in spreading the virus' Sampling from small mammals in 2020 and 2021 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in Alaska where all six of the other virus cases occurred found traces of the Alaskapox virus in red-backed voles and shrews What should patients do to stop it spreading? State health officials advised those who develop lesions to avoid touching them and keep them dry and covered with bandages. Practicing good hand hygiene and avoiding sharing cloth and linen with others, were among two other key recommendations. People in regular contact with wildlife may also need to take extra precautions, officials said. Is it confined to Alaska? No cases have ever been reported outside of Alaska, suggesting it is confined to the state. But this fatal case is the first to be reported in the Kenai Peninsula, to the south of the state, suggesting it has spread more widely within Alaska. Mammals, equally, do not abide by border restrictions, indicating they could be spreading in Canada. As the man lived alone in a forested area and reported no recent travel or close contacts with similar illness or travel, it also indicates the virus is more widely distributed in animals than previously thought, scientists added. 'More animal testing is occurring to better understand the distribution of the virus in animal populations throughout Alaska.' A failure to properly invest in general practice and social care is one of the biggest policy blunders of the past 30 years, a report claims today. The health and care system in England must be 'radically refocused' away from hospitals if it is to be 'effective and sustainable', it adds. The King's Fund, a health think tank which produced the report, argues officials should be putting primary and community services at the core. It highlights that the 'vast majority' of interactions with the NHS are with the likes of GPs, pharmacists and district nurses. But taxpayers' cash and staffing has been disproportionately directed to hospitals, leading to inefficiencies and delays. The figures, combined with the fact that an average of 46,201 staff per day were off work sick last week, means the NHS is under mounting pressure going into December, experts warned Your browser does not support iframes. The authors urge health chiefs to move more care 'closer to home' and stress that the 'answer to over-crowded hospitals is not more hospitals'. They warn that patients who struggle to get appointments with their GP are at risk of their condition deteriorating and having to seek urgent help from already over-stretched A&Es. There are now more than 876,164 GP appointments in the NHS every day, which is an increase of 34,219 since 2018/19. But despite this rise in demand - and repeated pledges to boost out-of-hospital care the proportion of Department of Health and Social Care spending on primary care has actually fallen from 8.9 per cent in 2015/16 to 8.1 per cent in 2021/22. This has fuelled the daily 8am scramble for an appointment with a family doctor and contributed to to patient satisfaction with general practice plummeting. In 2021/22 the largest proportion of spending, 83.1 billion, went to acute hospitals, while primary care received only 14.9 billion. The NHS has received additional money in recent years, but while acute hospital trusts have seen their funding grow by 27 per cent since 2016/17, community trusts have benefited from just half that level of growth, at 14 per cent. Trends in staffing reveal a similar pattern, with the number of NHS consultants growing by 18 per cent between 2016/17 and 2021/22, while the number of GPs has increased by just 4 per cent over the same period, the report says. There has also been a significant jump in social care staff vacancies rising, from 110,000 in 2020/21 to 152,000 in 2022/23. The researchers say progress has been hampered by 'urgent challenges' such as A&E waiting times and planned care backlogs, which are often the priority for politicians 'tempted by quick fixes instead of fundamental improvement'. Other factors include a lack of data about primary and community services, which lead to a 'cycle of invisibility', and funding flows that prioritise hospitals. The King's Fund cautions that bolstering primary and community care should not mean closing hospitals, noting that England already has fewer hospital beds per capita than other nations. Instead, its calls for future funding to be directed into a 'comprehensive plan to refocus the health and care system towards primary and community care'. They warn that a piecemeal approach of cherry-picking policies 'will not miraculously unlock change'. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King's Fund, said: 'Many people across the country will have personal experience of struggling to get a GP appointment, trying to contact other services, and when all avenues have been exhausted, reluctantly going to A&E. Cancelled operations targets missed One in four NHS patients is not being treated within 28 days of an operation being cancelled. The NHS constitution states those whose surgery is put off for non-clinical reasons should be offered a new date within four weeks. But NHS England statistics show there were 20,372 cancellations between October and December last year, of which 4,913 or 24.1 per cent were not treated in the target time-frame. This is up from the 21.6 per cent for the same period last year and is the second highest rate since 1994 when records began. It is beaten by the January to March figure from last year of 25.4 per cent. The Liberal Democrats, who analysed the figures, claimed the results show patients are being 'catastrophically let down' by a government that is allegedly allowing NHS targets to be missed on an 'industrial scale'. Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper added: 'To have an op-eration cancelled is bad enough but not to have it rescheduled on time adds insult to injury.' It comes amid widespread disruption to NHS services, caused by repeated strikes by junior doctors. NHS England were asked to comment. Advertisement 'It feels like all roads lead to the hospital, but our hospitals are already full. 'To achieve an effective and sustainable health and care system, politicians and national leaders need to embark on a radical and wholesale refocusing of the health and care system towards primary and community services. 'Doing so will free up hospitals to treat the patients they are best placed to treat, thanks to many more people being diagnosed and cared for in the community.' Beccy Baird, Senior Fellow at The King's Fund and lead author of the report, said: 'Like other countries, England needs to bend the curve on the predicted rise in demand for high-cost, reactive and hospital-based care. 'That means supporting people to take care of their health and wellbeing, intervening early and keeping people healthy at home for as long as possible, which can only be achieved by bolstering primary and community services. 'While these changes may not unlock the quick-fix savings many mistakenly expect, the alternative is to build more expensive hospitals to manage acute needs that could have been prevented or better managed in the community.' The report says officials should incentivise staff to work in primary and community services by offering them more pay and career progression; leaders should be held to account for overall patient care, rather than focusing on waiting list; and it calls for reform of the 'ailing' social care system. Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said care provided in the community 'is too often overlooked when headlines and political priorities focus on a narrow set of acute-focused targets'. She added: 'But prevention is better than cure and with the right funding and workforce then community, primary and social care can play an essential role.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This government wants to end short-term thinking and we are taking the long-term decisions that will mean everyone can access high-quality care that enables choice, control and independence. 'We commissioned the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to train, retain and reform the workforce, and put primary and community care on a sustainable footing. 'Backed by more than 2.4billion, the plan will increase the number of GP training places by 50 per cent by 2031. 'We have also delivered our commitment to provide 50 million more GP appointments per year, rolled out the Pharmacy First service to reduce pressure on GPs, and made up to 8.6 billion available over this financial year and next to support the adult social care workforce and help people leave hospital on time.' Rates of the most dangerous form of syphilis have tripled since 2016, health officials have warned. New CDC data shows 280.4 pregnant women per 100,000 births tested positive for the sexually transmitted disease in 2022 compared to 87.2 per 100,000 births in 2016. Particularly concerning is the risk of congenital syphilis - a preventable but serious condition occurring when a woman passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy. Roughly 40 percent of babies born to women with untreated syphilis are stillborn or die from the infection as a newborn. The risk of premature births and birth defects, including bone damage, serious anemia, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, nerve problems causing blindness or deafness, meningitis or skin rashes, is also higher. It comes amid a nationwide outbreak of syphilis and other STDs such as chlamydia, blamed on casual hookups and the 'explosion' in popularity of dating apps like Hinge and Bumble. At the same time, rates of premature births and birth defects have all been rising in recent years, baffling doctors. The rate of syphilis in pregnant women has increased 222 percent from 2016 to 2022, a CDC report has shown Syphilis rates rose by more than 400 percent in six states: New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, South Dakota, Montana, and Alaska More than 10,000 women who gave birth in 2022 had syphilis, a sharp increase from 3,400 in 2016, meaning there was one maternal syphilis case for every 357 births. Nationwide, there were 3,755 cases of congenital syphilis in 2022 - a 10-fold increase from a decade earlier and a 31 percent increase year-on-year. This caused 282 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2022. The CDC report also showed that the rate of syphilis for women of reproductive age and congenital syphilis - a preventable but serious condition occurring when a woman passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy - increased by more than 250 percent between 2016 and 2022. Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria that results in sores around the genitals and mouth. Syphilis rates rose by more than 400 percent in six states: New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, South Dakota, Montana, and Alaska. The state with the highest change in rate was South Dakota, where the rate increased by 763 percent between 2016 and 2022. Increases of less than 100 percent in syphilis rates were seen for seven states: Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Idaho, and Utah. There was no significant change for three states: Maine, Vermont, and Wyoming. A CDC report from November blamed the increase of congenital syphilis on a lack of 'adequate treatment during pregnancy.' Between 2017 and 2022, the rate of syphilis for women of reproductive age and congenital syphilis - a preventable but serious condition occurring when a pregnant woman passes the infection onto her baby during pregnancy - increased by more than 250 percent Dr Irene Stafford, a maternal-fetal medicine physician with UTHealth Houston, told CNN: 'The overwhelming majority of pregnant patients these days are just not getting tested. 'And even if they do get tested, theyre not necessarily getting treated in a timely fashion.' According to the CDC report, maternal syphilis rates are lowest among women who begin getting prenatal care in their first trimester. Rates are the highest - almost four times the average - among women who do not receive any prenatal care. Primary syphilis usually begins as a sore on the vagina and penis or around the mouth that, even if unmedicated, usually disappear after a few weeks. It can develop into a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet and can be cured in most cases with a single penicillin shot. Early stage syphilis can be treated with antibiotics. Secondary syphilis manifests as a rash, lesions and swollen lymph nodes. In serious cases and if left untreated, syphilis can lead to organ failure, blindness and even death. Years post-exposure, the infection can affect vital organs and the nervous system, according to the CDC, potentially causing blindness or dementia. Symptoms in pregnant women include sores around the vagina, rash on palms of the hands or soles of the feet, hair loss, muscle aches and fever. Once infected, anyone can pass on syphilis. It is spread person-to-person by direct contact with a sore, and during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Some experts have pointed to a drop in condom use among American men - almost 30 percent since 2011, according to some studies. Last August, we had a bump in our Volvo in southern France. We had driven down for a family holiday, and the accident happened the day before we were due to return home. Fortunately, no one was hurt but the car was undriveable, and two other cars got shunted in the incident. Although we had motor insurance with foreign use extension and Green Flag breakdown cover, both through Direct Line, we have had a hellish time getting the insurer to help get us and our car home and deal with the claim. Can you help? J. M., London. Sally Hamilton replies: A small bump turned into a massive headache, and resulting in a military-style exercise to get you and your family plus West Highland terrier Scout back to the UK. The first problem arose when Green Flag said you werent covered and needed to organise the cars recovery yourself. You couldnt believe it. This was August bank holiday and hire cars were in short supply, so you couldnt find a replacement in which to drive home. And since you had your dog with you, you could not take a plane. So you left the car behind in a French pound. A small bump on a car trip to southern France turned into a massive headache Then your partner crossed the Channel three times in 24 hours (once on Eurostar, twice by Eurotunnel) to collect her mothers car from Hertfordshire and bring the rest of you back home from Lille. The family embarked on a nine-step journey, which included a 70 cab ride, two train journeys and the one car hire you were able to arrange (from Dijon to Lille). By the time you contacted me, you had spent hours on the phone over several days being passed between Direct Line departments (often getting cut off and having to start from scratch). Three of those hours were spent in a car park in France in 41c heat. After five days, when you were finally back home, someone at the motor insurance side of Direct Line told you its foreign claims unit was now handling your case but nothing had yet been done to assess or repatriate the car. You were still not clear who might be footing the 1,000-plus bill if anyone for the familys repatriation. You said you felt particularly aggrieved as you have bought the foreign use extension of your motor policy at least once a year (and sometimes three times a year) for the past decade and this was the first time you had needed to use it. Its not the first time I have fielded complaints from holidaymakers following a motoring incident abroad. There is confusion about where the responsibility lies when things go wrong. If a car is immobilised due to an accident, the breakdown provider will, Im afraid, wash its hands of a customer an accident is not a breakdown, even if it feels like one. Even so, you thought you had all bases covered, with your motor insurance foreign extension in place. But a gap in your cover emerged when you were told the policy would pay to repatriate only the car and not its occupants. If the same incident had occurred in the UK, these costs would have been met. This was not made clear on the document you received at purchase which you sent me and which outlines the seven areas of cover. All seven apply fully in the UK, but not all of them apply in Europe, apparently. Direct Lines get-out clause is the use of the wording at the end of this list: Check your policy booklet for full details of what is covered and what isnt covered in each section. Scamwatch Web users are being targeted by emails that claim they have viewed illegal pornographic content from tricksters impersonating the National Crime Agency (NCA). Victims will be told to make contact by a specific deadline or a warrant will be issued for their arrest. The email is used to gain personal information that can be used for blackmail or to commit fraud, warns Action Fraud. Money is then demanded at a later stage. More than 180 reports of the fake emails have been made to Action Fraud and the Suspicious Email Reporting System since the beginning of December 2023. Forward any suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. I felt this wasnt fair, and neither did you, so I asked Direct Line to investigate. After several weeks of cajoling by both you and me and on combing through your complaint, Direct Line eventually agreed that the information in the document was confusing and that you had received poor service. It agreed to reimburse the repatriation costs for you and your family of 1,250 plus 400 for the residential parking permits you needed for your temporary hire car while your Volvo was repaired. It also paid 750 as an apology. This was on top of an estimated 10,000 cost of the claim, which was not in dispute, and included repatriating the Volvo and its repair, and dealing with the two other vehicles involved, as well as the domestic car hire costs. You were both delighted with this result and now have your car back spick and span. You said you had learnt serious lessons about insurance through this experience and will scrutinise cover more closely in future. In fact, you told me you have already taken out a more expensive version of your foreign usage cover (still with Direct Line) for future trips to France. Direct Lines customer service says it will provide feedback to its motor cover business to help it improve its confusing cover document. Meanwhile, you have discovered the existence of a pet taxi service (petmovesabroad.co.uk) that you could have used to take Scout across the Channel. Next time! I have just purchased my fifth Amazon Kindle e-reader for 179 after my previous one stopped working. I requested Amazon use a new email address for my account as my previous one was from my NHS job which is now inaccessible as I recently retired after 44 years. When my mother died in 2019, l lost interest in many things, including reading. I now feel like reading again, but cannot access my library of books on the Kindle because I no longer have the email address they were attached to. Amazon staff say there is nothing they can do. Do they expect me to spend a fortune purchasing those books all over again? A. F., Sheffield. Sally Hamilton replies: On my request, Amazon made a proper attempt to sort out the problem. A few days later it confirmed your defunct email had prevented it from recovering your old account. But it has now created a new account, with your personal email address, from which it says you can now access your 240 lost books, worth an estimated 1,000. It added a gift card worth 10 as an apology. An Amazon spokesperson says: Were sorry that the customer experience in this case did not meet the high standards we expect. We have apologised and transferred their previous Kindle books to their new account. There is still another chapter to come as currently you can access the books only via the Kindle app on your phone, which is not ideal. The tech bods are still working on getting you access via your new Kindle. May I suggest, dear readers, it is better to avoid the use of a work email address when signing up to any service, as who knows when a job might end and leave access to important services in limbo. Tui smashed first quarter expectations as it swung to a profit on the back of robust travel demand. Europe's largest travel operator reported an operating profit of 6million (5.1million), despite expectations of a 102million loss for the period, according to London Stock Exchange Group data. The Hanover-headquartered firm, which posted a loss of 153million for the first quarter of last year, also maintained its outlook for a 25 per cent growth in operating profit in 2024. Europe's largest travel operator reported an operating profit of 6million (5.1million) versus a loss of 153million (130million) in the year-ago period Tui also set a medium-term target for a compound annual growth rate of 7 per cent to 10 per cent. Airlines across Europe are enjoying more positive trading conditions after Covid-19 grounded performance over a turbulent few years. But travel demand is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels despite economic uncertainty, delays in plane deliveries from manufacturers, and rising jet fuel prices. Tui was boosted by higher prices and bookings which helped lift its earnings in the reported period, with the company seeing 3.5 million travellers, compared with 3.3 million travellers for the same quarter last year. Tui boss Sebastian Ebel said: 'People's willingness to travel is still high, despite a market environment that remains challenging. We are thus creating the basis for Tui's future profitable growth.' The first quarter is usually the weakest for airlines as bookings are lowest in the first three months of the year. Commenting on the results, Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'TUI has reported record sales as resilient consumers take to the air. 'A lot of the operational work TUI has done means it's in a better position to capture this demand. 'Efforts to expand higher-end offerings in its hotel portfolio is a shrewd move and could help it remain competitive if lower earners start to pull back on booking holidays. 'There are questions swirling about TUIs potential decision to drop its London listing. The added complexity and cost of maintaining dual listings since Brexit has seen others decide to go down a similar route. While it does little to change the business case, the optics for London are less than ideal.' On Sunday, it was reported that efforts to stop TUI defecting from the London stock market had been dealt a blow after two shareholder advisory groups backed its decision to leave. The travel company's executive and supervisory boards recommended that shareholders vote to remove the company from the London Stock Exchange at Tuesday's annual general meeting. The firm said having a single German listing could better reflect its ownership and trading patterns, in what would be a blow for the UK market. A grandmother and "local hero" who has been living in Australia for over 40 years, raised her family here and volunteers regularly with the Salvation Army, is facing deportation back to the UK despite no longer having any ties with the country. Northern NSW resident Mary Ellis, 74, is beloved by her local community. She has an Australian son and two Aussie granddaughters, she volunteers for charities and helps feed the homeless in Tweed Heads, raising money for the Salvos. Ellis, who has been in the country since the early 1980s, was even a nominee for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award in 2023. Yet, she's facing deportation for apparently never having been granted permanent residency despite claims her partner at the time told her she had been. Mary Ellis, 74, is facing deportation to the UK after 40 years in Australia. Source: ACA NSW grandmother faces deportation after decades Born in London, Ellis moved to Australia when she was just 31. She said her boyfriend back then advised her they'd both been given permanent visas and as such, she never left. Since then, Ellis said she's paid her taxes and never attracted so much as a speeding fine. "[I have a] Driver's Licence, ID card, Medicare Card, Pension card. Everything Australians have," Mary told A Current Affair. "I thought well, I'm a permanent resident. "You know, I carry on doing my daily what I do every day. Nobody said anything." Ellis first worked in hospitality when she arrived and then for the NSW government for decades. "This is my home and I love Australia... I want to stay here," Ellis said through tears. "Just let me get Australian citizenship, please let me...that's what I want." The grandmother's case has caught the attention of migration agent Stanley Schneider, who has offered his assistance pro bono. He said Home Affairs "suddenly" decided Ellis had to leave the country. "They contacted Mary and asked her to go into the Brisbane office," he said. "And she went, and they told her that she shouldn't be in Australia." Story continues Ellis, a former NSW Volunteer of the Year nominee, says Australia is her home and is where she has raised her family. Source: ACA "She's always paid her taxes.. she's never even had a speeding ticket," Schneider added, arguing that Ellis was an absorbed person under the Migration Act and should be allowed to stay. "She's never infringed anything. She's never offended anyone." The Act requires a person to have been in Australia since April 2, 1984, and to not have left. But the Department of Home Affairs told Ellis that, according to their records, she did leave the country three times under different aliases. Ellis disputes those allegations. "I love Australia. [I] didn't want to go anywhere else," she said. Mary Ellis has been in Australia for decades. Source: ACA Visa mix-up to blame for lack of permanent residency The department claims the identity of her then boyfriend, whom she knew as "Martin Ellis", was actually "Trevor Warren" and he is no longer alive. "I'd say it's wrong. I came with Martin Ellis, my partner at the time on a permanent visa," she said. "I wasn't really with him for all that long, you know, not very long. And then we went our separate ways." According to the Home Affairs department, Ellis was never granted permanent residency. Source: ACA Ellis claims she has documents to prove she was in Australia the entire time. These include a job reference from a Tasmanian restaurant that states she worked there from '83 to '86 and a Medicare enrolment letter signed by the then federal health minister. According to Schneider, the documents wouldn't have been sent to Ellis had she not been in the country. "Mary Ellis is a decent person. A person we should be absolutely thrilled to have in Australia," Schneider said. "And she's an Australian, Let's face it." While the Department of Home Affairs does not comment on individual cases, a spokesperson told A Current Affair "people who do not have the right to remain in Australia are expected to depart." "Non-citizens are expected to comply with requirements to advise the Department of incorrect information and give correct answers in response to questions that may arise in visa applications, passenger cards, or in responses to notices issued by the Department," the spokesperson said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. If you are elderly and not well off, pension credit tops up weekly income to a minimum of 201.05 for single people and 306.85 for couples. This guaranteed minimum income will rise 8.5 per cent in April, to 218.15 for single people and 332.95 a week for couples. Pension credit also opens the door to a lot of additional help with household bills. You can gain thousands of pounds on top including help with housing costs, heating, council tax, TV licences and other bills, and receiving pension credit also qualifies you for cost of living payments from the Treasury. Pension credit: A vital way to top up your income if you are elderly and struggling to pay bills Pension credit is set at a few pounds less a week than the full state pension, which is currently 203.85 a week for people retiring since the flat rate system was introduced in April 2016. Couples where both partners qualify for the full state pension get double that amount, as everyone's state pension is worked out individually. This means people who have paid National Insurance all their lives are rewarded with a higher income, but pension credit still provides a basic safety net in place for the poorest older people. Successive governments run by both main parties have committed to and maintained this system to ensure the elderly don't live out their final years and die in extreme poverty, lacking money for necessities like food, shelter and warmth. Yet despite their efforts to get everyone who is entitled to claim, many people still miss out on pension credit top-ups to their weekly income. Government released figures last year on pension credit take-up which revealed that some 880,000 or six out of 10 families who were entitled did not claim it in 2021/22. Up to 2.1billion went unclaimed, or around 2,200 a year for each family who were entitled to but did not claim pension credit. The pandemic might have skewed the figures, and the Government has been running an awareness campaign urging hard-up elderly people to claim pension credit. This tells them to disregard myths that might deter them from applying - including that having savings, a pension or owning a home are barriers. The Government has also launched a trial directly targeting people who might qualify for pension credit, and encouraging them to sign up. Older people living in households receiving housing benefit across 10 local authorities were sent 'invitation to claim' letters. However, pension experts have called on the Government to do more to directly target people who are likely to be eligible and ask them to apply. What are the advantages of claiming pension credit to top up your income? A successful claim for pension credit means a boost to your income if you are entitled, and you also automatically qualify for a lot of extra payments and benefits worth thousands of pounds in total. - Housing benefit towards your rent, mortgage and service charges, though the amount will vary based on housing costs in your area. Our pensions columnist Steve Webb explains how housing benefit is assessed here. - Help with council tax, depending on your personal circumstances and where you live. - Carer's allowance addition. - Severe disability addition. - Dental treatment and glasses vouchers. - Free TV licence if you are over 75. - Warm homes discount and cold weather payment. How much are you allowed to have in savings? The Government doesn't want to penalise people for having built up some savings during their life. A 10,000 rainy day fund is waived when you apply, though that sum was set in 2009 and is worth much less these days. The figure is not a hard limit, just the threshold beyond which the amount of pension credit top-up you get starts to be affected. Every 500 you have in savings over 10,000 is counted as 1 in income a week when your pension credit is calculated. > Find out more about the savings rules for pension credit What other rules do you need to know about? - You need to have reached state pension age, currently 66, but you can start your application up to four months beforehand. - Applications can be backdated for three months, provided you were eligible during that period. - You are only eligible if you and your partner - spouse, civil partner, or someone you live with in a couple - have both reached state pension age. There is an exception if one of you is receiving housing benefit for someone over state pension age. The rules on mixed age couples were introduced in mid-2019 and apply to people who have signed up since then. - You might be able to get a small extra top-up called 'savings credit' if you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016. This is currently 15.94 a week, or 17.84 if you have a partner. In April this will rise by 6.7 per cent to 17.01 or 19.04. - You can get a carer's premium which increases your entitlement to pension credit. If you are over state pension age, this is called a 'carer addition'. Steve Webb explains how the carer's premium works here and Carers UK has more information here. - If you defer a state pension or other type of pension, you will be assumed to be receiving that income. - You can still receive pension credit if you leave the country for up to four weeks, or longer for exceptions like bereavement or medical treatment. - Pension credit recipients are expected to tell the DWP if their circumstances change. Check this list of possible changes that affect pension credit, plus the contact details to use. How to apply and where to get help with claims Find out more about pension credit here and about the rules on who is eligible here. You can apply yourself by phone on 0800 99 1234, claim pension credit online or get a form to do it by post. A friend or family member can apply on behalf of an elderly person. Age UK staff will also help with applications. If you call its free helpline they will check you are getting all benefits you are entitled to, including pension credit. Any older person struggling with bills, or friends and family who are concerned about them, can call 0800 169 65 65. This line is open every day of the year between 8am and 7pm, or you can visit Age UK's help page here. Age UK also has a free, anonymous benefits calculator which can provide an estimate of what you could be entitled to if you want to find out this information privately. What if you are rejected for pension credit? Claims for pension credit have soared but so have rejections, as elderly people try to boost their income to meet rising household bills. Reasons for a pension credit claim being refused include having too much income, not being a UK resident, failure to provide all requested information, not claiming on time or not being the right age. You can ask for the decision to be reviewed if you think it is wrong, under a process called 'mandatory reconsideration'. This is free and doesn't require a solicitor or other legal help. A woman who was allegedly murdered in her home by her lodger last week was also landlord to a man jailed years earlier for a brutal murder he blamed on the 'witches of hell'. Donna Baraket, 63, was found dead inside her home at Tweed Heads, on the Queensland-NSW border, last Wednesday after neighbours called emergency services concerned for her welfare. Her tenant Connor Bulluss, 25, was found in a nearby pharmacy with blood and cuts on his hands and later charged with her murder. Bulluss had been living at the Lakes Drive home with Ms Baraket for two weeks before she evicted him. In an eerie coincidence, Ms Baraket was also landlord to Brendon Troy Griffiths, who murdered a homeless man a decade earlier. Griffiths, who is currently in prison, lived in Ms Baraket's home for seven years before the brutal crime in 2014. Donna Baraket, 63, (pictured) was found dead inside her home at Tweed Heads, on the Queensland-NSW border, last Wednesday after neighbours called emergency services concerned for her welfare. Her lodger Connor Bulluss, 25 has been charged with her murder In an eerie coincidence, Ms Baraket was also landlord to Brendon Troy Griffiths (pictured above, inside her home) who was convicted of a murder he later claimed the 'witches of hell' made him commit in 2014 Griffiths sprinted at Hoani Shaune Love (above) knocking him to the ground and causing a brain injury from which the 48-year-old died three days after the attack On the night of September 27, 2014, Griffiths returned home woke another of Ms Baraket's lodgers. Then aged 38 and suffering from psychotic episodes, he asked his female flatmate to lie about his whereabouts earlier that evening, saying: 'If the cops come around here asking for me, can you tell them that I was at home all day? Griffiths explained he had encountered a man who aggressively challenged him and he had retaliated, saying he 'grabbed the guy by the head... [and] smashed his head down' and then elbowed and punched the man who 'went to the ground'. The incident Griffiths described happened on the street outside the Centro Tweed Shopping Centre, where homeless grandfather Hoani Shaune Love, 48, had been drinking with friends around 6pm. Griffiths and another man were trying to get drugs from Mr Love and two people he was with at the time. A 'highly intoxicated' Mr Love stared at Griffiths and told him to 'go away in loud and vulgar language', the NSW Supreme Court would later find. Griffiths, who was already taking prescription opiates and benzodiazepine, 'became angry and walked behind Mr Love, grabbing his head, forcibly extending his neck and pushing his thumbs into Mr Love's eyes'. He stopped when Mr Love's companions yelled at him, and began to walk away but then turned back and took a running jump at the older man. Griffiths would later admit that 'a switch in my head just flicked and I turned and sprinted at him ... 10, 20 or 30 metres, enough to get a good sprint up and have good solid contact. 'I feel like the witches of hell just reached up and got into my decision-making capacity and just took control for a few seconds.' Griffiths' (pictured) guilty plea to manslaughter was rejected and he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 16 years in prison until 2026 Griffiths, now 48, was living at the Lakes Road home of Ms Baraket when he murdered Mr Love and was arrested there 10 days later Ms Baraket had owned the Lakes Road home where she was allegedly murdered for almost 18 years and rented out the spare rooms to tenants EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Gruesome details emerge about landlord's alleged murder at the hands of her tenant Donna Baraket was allegedly murdered inside her home (above) by a lodger she had evicted from the house Advertisement Mr Loves head struck the pavement as he fell from the bench. He died three days later in Gold Coast University Hospital from blunt force trauma and a brain injury. On the day Mr Love died, Griffiths again asked his flatmate to lie for him. Griffiths approached her in the kitchen of the Lakes Road house, saying: 'Have you spoken to the cops? What did you say?' After telling him that she told police what he had asked her to, he demanded to know specifically what she had told him. She answered: 'I said "You were here with me. I told them you were here all afternoon".' Griffiths replied: Thats good. I wasn't having a psychotic episode when it happened. I knew what I was doing.' He then said: Okay, I'll tell them I was here with you all afternoon. That's cool, it's sweet.' According to NSW Supreme Court documents, the flatmate instead told the police the truth in two separate statements. Police arrested Griffiths at Ms Baraket's Lakes Drive house on October 6, 2014, however he did not go to trial for several years. He tried to plead guilty to manslaughter on the basis his mental capacity was impaired by schizophrenia, his disordered personality traits and substance abuse disorder, but the plea was not accepted. While in jail, he had told a psychologist of his fears of the mafia, and conspiracy theories about the September 11 terror attacks, the Bali bombings and aliens. In September 2018, a judge convicted him of Mr Love's murder and sentenced him to 16 years prison. Police outside the Lakes Road house last week after Ms Baraket's body was found inside the home where she had lived for 18 years until her death Connor Bulluss was arrested by police and charged with the murder of his landlord Donna Baraket who had allegedly evicted him soon beforehand Mr Love's daughter Toni released a statement abut her father's death, saying her family 'couldn't understand why this happened'. 'My dad's life was cut short at such a young age and nobody deserves to lose someone in such a senseless and violent way,' she said. Griffiths will be first eligible for parole on October 12, 2026. Bulluss had been renting from Ms Baraket for about two weeks before she kicked him out a week ago, on February 4, and tossed his possessions onto the front lawn. On Wednesday the alleged killer ran into a pharmacy about 10 minutes from Ms Baraket's house. 'He came in with his hands all cut up and my husband thinks it could have been self-defence,' the pharmacist's wife Hannah said. Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia the Lakes Road property was a known drug house and Ms Baraket was a user who had been in and out of rehabilitation for years. EasyJet has been accused of 'recklessly swindling' customers with their 'misleading' offer of free airport parking if customers can find a cheaper deal. Computer science expert Professor Ross Anderson says he booked parking at Stansted Airport through the airline for 72. But he then found the same parking 5 cheaper, if booked direct with the airport. So he tried to claim the offer, but was later denied because he was unable to find out how to apply. Professor Anderson said the correct link to access the form to claim the offer was 'deliberately hidden' on their website. It does not appear when booking on a mobile, and on the desktop booking page it is accessed behind several clicks at the bottom of a long list of terms and conditions. Easyjet have been accused of swindling customers with a difficult to claim offer of free airport parking if you can find a cheaper deal Flyer Prof Ross Anderson (pictured) was denied a refund from Easyjet as he did not fill in a 'deliberately hidden' form in time EasyJet planes standing on the ground at Stansted Airport Professor Anderson told MailOnline: 'If a professor of computer science at Cambridge and Edinburgh can't find it what chance does the average citizen have?' 'They're claiming that they give you cheaper parking when it's more expensive - a price guarantee,' he added. 'As a practical matter I couldn't find the guarantee and I couldn't exercise my right to it as I couldn't find the link.' Prof Anderson booked parking for 72 at Stansted Airport from January 30 to February 1 with Easyjet and their partner Holiday Extras after the airline emailed the enticing offer to him when he booked a return flight to Edinburgh. The computer scientist from the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh booked the parking on January 25 and immediately found the same parking 5 cheaper direct with Stansted. He sent the screenshots that day to Easyjet customer support to claim the refund, who responded four days later on January 29 to tell him he needed to fill in a specific form so his claim could be assessed. Prof Anderson heard back later that day from Holiday Extras, who operate Easyjet's parking scheme, who said that his claim had been denied as refund requests must be submitted within 24 hours of booking. When approached by MailOnline, Holiday Extras accepted that it was not Prof Anderson's fault that he did not get the refund and said they would pay him back the 72 in full. A brief search suggests that booking parking through Easyjet can often be a few pounds more expensive than booking directly with Stansted Airport. Prof Anderson told MailOnline the refund form is 'deliberately hidden' in a tactic to ensure as few people as possible claim the deal even if they are entitled to it while paying slightly more for parking. OFFER: 'If you can find the same product cheaper within 24 hours of confirming your booking with Holiday Extras, it's yours for FREE' The link (the word 'form' right) to the claim form is hidden behind several clicks at the bottom of a long list of terms and conditions If accessed on the mobile site, the link to the form to claim the free parking does not appear The page which explains how you to claim free parking if you find a better deal than Easyjet's He said: 'I did file the complaint within 24 hours and they then waited four days before telling me go and complain at this other website. They told me you didn't complain within 24 hours - but I didn't see that form. 'It's clear that this was designed to ensure that nobody would be able to make a valid claim. Anybody who tried would be held up until Easyjet could say that a refund claim was out of time.' If booking parking on the mobile version of the website there is no link to the form, meaning that customers cannot find it when booking parking on a phone. To find the link on a desktop browser when booking parking, a user has to click on a box about the offer, then click a link in the box called 'more information'. A flyer must then scroll to the bottom of a long list of terms and conditions and click a one-word link - 'form' in the 'how to claim' section. This section is not immediately visible when viewing the terms and conditions and here it explains the claim must be made within 24 hours. The link to the form however can be accessed before starting the process for booking airport parking, if a customer clicks a 'more info' button on a box advertising the deal. A spokesperson from Holiday Extras told MailOnline: 'Having been made aware that the delay in Mr. Anderson's claim was through no fault of his own, we have accepted the claim and processed a full refund for his booking.' The shocking revelation last week from two Kentucky moms that they were drugged and raped while vacationing in the Bahamas is a stark reminder that sometimes the most beautiful places on Earth have more a sinister side. It's a lesson I learned from a young age coincidentally, on a family trip to the Bahamas. It was 1998, I was 11 years old and on holiday with my parents, a family friend and her two children. We found a quiet nook away from the tourist throngs on the nation's famous Paradise Beach: endless white sands and palms literal paradise. We soon befriended a local man who called himself 'Coconut Joe' because he prepared us fresh coconuts to drink each day, slicing them open with his giant machete. The adults ordered theirs with a splash of rum. In 1998, I was 11 years old and went on holiday with my parents, a family friend and her two children. We found a quiet nook away from the tourist throngs on the Bahamas' famous Paradise Beach: endless white sands and palms literal paradise. (Pictured: Author Sadie Whitelocks on a recent trip to the Caribbean). We soon befriended a local man who called himself 'Coconut Joe' because he prepared us fresh coconuts to drink each day, slicing them open with his giant machete. The adults ordered theirs with a splash of rum. (Pictured: Sadie, top middle, in 1998). (Pictured: A small beach on Shroud Cay island in the Bahamas.) On returning home however, we saw a worrying news headline: two British women had been found murdered on the exact same stretch of beach. I remember my parents joking nervously that Coconut Joe and his machete had been involved. Despite being young, I felt deeply unnerved by the incident: Had we naively put ourselves in harm's way? It is a memory that has stuck with me and as someone who has now visited over 75 countries and built a career as a travel journalist still serves as a reminder that foreign travel comes with its risks, especially for single women. My fear now is that as cheap air fares, 'all-inclusive' packages and social media make the world ever more accessible and smaller Western women are being given a false impression that the far-flung destinations they're visiting have also moved with the times. That because you can jet to the Caribbean from New York City in the less time that it takes to reach California, these sunny climes have the same values, laws and safety measures as your hometown. It's easy to see how it happens to overlook the ugly 'realities' of a place. Capture the dreamy sunsets for Instagram, not the slums. Pose in the five-star infinity pool, skip the litter-strewn beaches. Report back to friends on the best local cuisine, not the rise in rapes. The 'reality' of the Bahamas is dark. Over 10 percent of the population lives in poverty. The economy ranks 160th in the world below Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the Congo. Gang crime is a particular problem. In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has issued warnings for travelers to 'exercise increased caution' on the islands due to fast rising rates of homicide, armed robbery and sexual assault. There have been 18 murders in Nassau the capital since the start of this year alone. Dongayla Dobson and Amber Shearer, both 31-year-old mothers from Kentucky, say that they were drugged and raped by staff members at Pirate's Cove beach resort on Grand Island earlier this month. They claim uniformed men gave them spiked cocktails before attacking them. Two men have been arrested by Bahamian police. Dobson and Shearer say there were 'not aware' of any recent travel warnings and I can understand why. After all, who bothers checking government warnings for well-trodden destinations like the Bahamas, which is visited by 8 million tourists every year? Dongayla Dobson (left) and Amber Shearer (right), both 31-year-old mothers from Kentucky, say that they were drugged and raped by staff members at Pirate's Cove beach resort on Grand Island earlier this month. They claim uniformed men gave them spiked cocktails before attacking them. Two men have been arrested by Bahamian police. Sadly, theirs is not a rare fate. Last month, the government also upped the travel 'alert' rating for Jamaica to 'level 3' meaning Americans should now actively reconsider visiting 'due to crime and [unreliable] medical services'. One particularly concerning passage of advice published by the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica stated that 'sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,' adding that local police 'often do not respond effectively.' Over in Mexico's glitzy Tulum on Friday, a 44-year-old woman from Los Angeles was caught in the crossfire between two drug gangs and shot dead while she relaxed at sunset at the Mia Beach Club resort where the restaurant serves $150 Tomahawk steaks. Of course, remote and 'untouched' aka underdeveloped destinations have always come with their dangers. And petty criminals have long preyed on naive tourists. But, anecdotally at least, it seems that the number and severity of crimes in top holiday destinations are rising and my guess would be that it has more than a little to do with the increasingly lax attitude of Western travelers. Gone are the days of money belts hidden away inside your shorts or savvy travel agents who fastidiously plan your route ahead of time. The proliferation of Airbnb, Uber and 'no fee' international credit cards have put paid to the need to carry wads of cash, or only follow recommendations from friends and professionals when booking places to stay. Travel is a wonderful, world-expanding thing. But we may have all collectively let our guard down. Re-finding a sense of heightened precaution when abroad can only be a good thing. Sighting comes days after filings in the Argentinian-born pediatrician's divorce claimed he began dating Sophie before her split from Justin Trudeau was public Just six months after announcing her split from Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau appears to be relishing her return to life out of the political spotlight. The 48-year-old mother of three has moved and found love again after the couple confirmed the end of their 18-year marriage in early August. Last week, Sophie was said to have had 're-partnered' with an Ottawa pediatric surgeon months before her separation from Trudeau was announced, in a divorce claim made against the doctor. And now, DailyMail.com can reveal she has been living with Argentinian-born Dr. Marcos Bettolli in the loft-style condo he began renting after splitting from wife Ana Remonda in 2020. Justin Trudeau's estranged wife Sophie appears to be relishing her return to life out of the political spotlight six months after announcing her separation from the Canadian prime minister The 48-year-old mother of three was seen leaving a restaurant with her kids (pictured above with daughter Ella-Grace, 15) after having dinner with her new beau and two friends in Ottawa's Chinatown on Saturday night The photos suggest Sophie's three children are well acquainted with their mother's new partner, who was seen extending a protective hand for her son Hadrien as they crossed the street, while Sophie trails behind The two were spotted again Monday morning leaving Bettolli's place. The prime minister's former wife was seen dressed down as opposed to her usual glammed up public looks The home is located on a quiet street less than a mile from both the prime minister's official residence and the home Bettolli once shared with Remonda and their two daughters, now aged 12 and 14. The third-floor condo, which boasts a rooftop terrace, has become a second home for the children Sophie shares with Justin Xavier, 16, Ella-Grace, 15, and Hadrien, who turns 10 at the end of this month. The children were seen spending two nights with their mother at Bettolli's home this past weekend. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the couple treated her children and two of their friends to dinner on Saturday night at Yangtze restaurant in the heart of Ottawa's Chinatown. Exiting the restaurant with Sophie's youngest, Bettolli was seen protectively extending his arm as they started to cross the street. Bettolli is a 47-year-old pediatric surgeon at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa who is embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with Remonda, 46. A temporary order filed in November and obtained by DailyMail.com shows Bettolli is forking over a whopping CA$13,647 (US$10,154) a month in child support, private school fees, and spousal support to Remonda, who must pay Bettolli $1,333 ($991) a month in child support. The diminutive doctor's relationship with Sophie was revealed last October by political journalist Glen McGregor on his blog, A Few Tasteful Snaps. Bettolli is a 47-year-old pediatric surgeon at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa The children spent the weekend at Bettolli's condo, where Sophie is now living after her split from Justin Trudeau In a divorce petition filed on April 26, 2023, Bettolli's ex-wife Ana Remonda claimed that he had 're-partnered' with Sophie before her separation from the Canadian prime minister was announced to the world While it's not clear how long Sophie and Bettolli have been together, it appears the relationship started at least a few months before she and Justin publicly announced their separation last August. Remonda noted in her April 26, 2023 divorce petition in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Family Court that her husband 'has re-partnered with a high-profile individual who attracts significant media attention, and presents significant security considerations, to which the children are exposed while in their father's care.' She claimed to take 'no position with regard to his relationship and personal life', but feared Bettolli's relationship 'may expose the girls to potential media scrutiny and/or security concerns.' Remonda alleged that Bettolli has not respected an agreement they had 'that the girls would not interact with the new partner and it has caused the girls' discomfort and anxiety.' Bettolli countered in his June 1 response that Remonda's attitude towards his new relationship 'is not in the children's best interest' and claimed she had threatened to move back to Argentina if the relationship 'came to light'. According to his court filing, after discovering his new relationship, Remonda 'accessed his personal computer files and threatened to publish private intimate photos of Marcos.' In a joint statement last August, Sophie and Justin Trudeau said the decision to split came 'after many meaningful and difficult conversations' and they insisted 'we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build.' Earlier on Saturday, Sophie was potted going on a brisk walk with a female friend through the tony Rockcliffe Park neighborhood Since her separation, Sophie is now free from the security detail she has had since Justin was elected in 2015 and can now enjoy stepping out and about or driving around the city on her own The Canadian couple announced the separation in matching Instagram posts in early August, confirming they had reached a legal agreement and will remain amicable A statement from the prime minister's office said the couple 'signed a legal separation agreement [and] 'they have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward.' It added: 'They remain a close family, and Sophie and the prime minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. Both parents will be a constant presence in their children's lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together.' Indeed, Sophie vacationed with Justin and their children in Tofino, British Columbia, last summer and joined them for a Christmas holiday at the luxurious Prospect Estate and Villas in Jamaica. The RCMP, which is responsible for the security of the prime minister and his family, no longer provides Sophie with protection but plainclothes members of the force accompany the Trudeau children everywhere including to and from Bettolli's home. 'We see them sitting outside the building in SUVs and minivans,' a neighbor said. 'That's when we know the children are visiting.' Free from the security detail she has had since Justin was elected in 2015, Sophie now enjoys getting behind the wheel of her sporty vehicle and driving around the city on her own. On Saturday she drove to a friend's house nearby and the two were later spotted going on a brisk walk through the tony Rockcliffe Park neighborhood. Gregoire and Trudeau share three children together. Two sons, Xavier, 15, Hadrien, 9 and daughter Ella-Grace, 14 Trudeau with wife Sophie and their children Ella-Grace, Hadrien and Xavier in 2021 They vowed to 'remain a close family with deep love and respect for one another and for everything they had built' in their statement The following day, she drove to Le Germain Hotel and spent more than an hour visiting a friend from her native Montreal, Jacques-Alexandre Paquet, the hotel's general manager. They then went to Bettolli's condo before heading out for a walk to pick up some items at gourmet grocer Jacobsons. Sophie who describes herself on Instagram as a 'friend, ally for equality, mental health author [and] loving mom' is due to head to Abu Dhabi next month to join fellow Canadian Shania Twain as a speaker at the Forbes 30/50 Summit. In April, she is set to lead Closer Together - A Solar Eclipse Retreat at Bloom on Loughborough Lake in South Frontenac, Ontario. On the retreat's website, Sophie is described as 'a certified yoga instructor as well as an intrepid outdoor sportswoman'. Sophie's book Closer Together will be published on April 23. A description by publisher Penguin Random House Canada reads: 'Drawing on her own mindfulness and yoga practices Sophie inspires us to see that there are more things that bring us together than separate us, allowing us to stand in the light of our true potential'. While it appears life is sweet for Sophie since her split from Justin, her new beau is battling his ex in court. Bettolli and Remonda were teens when they started dating in October 1991 and tied the knot in December 1998 in Argentina. The couple moved to Ottawa in July 2004 so Remonda could start a nine-month pastry program at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute. 'Marcos initially intended to remain in Argentina, but discovered that he had better employment opportunities in Ottawa,' Remonda claimed in her petition. Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa in March 2020. It was reported he would remain there with the children amid the couple's split In his answer, though, Bettolli said he 'gave up a lucrative career opportunity in Argentina to accommodate her wish' and the move to Canada 'significantly set back Marcos's career path.' Remonda, who has a diploma in hotel management, is described in her own court filing as 'a stay-at-home mother with minimal passive income' who had 'a significant net worth' when they married in 1998 thanks to an inheritance of between CA$4million and CA$5million in 1991. Remonda claimed she supported Bettolli while he studied medicine and covered many of their family expenses, as well as the costs to build a new home. But, he claimed 'Ana did not support him financially prior to their marriage' and blamed the depletion of her net worth on 'mismanagement of her investments,' including the loss of 'a substantial amount of money in a Ponzi scheme'. Bettolli added: 'Ana is intentionally underemployed. At the age of 46 she is well capable of working and contributing to her own financial support and needs.' None of the allegations in the filings have been proven in court. Lawyers on both sides have declined to comment. New York voters are headed to the polls today in the critical special election to decide who gets to replace Republican fabulist George Santos after he was dramatically expelled from Congress. Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip are locked in a tight battle to fill the vacant seat that encompasses parts of Long Island and Queens. The winner of the special election is critical as Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the House and signals the mood of voters heading into the November elections. The district was a Democrat stronghold for years before Republicans were able to flip it red in 2022 as part of a series of victories in the suburbs of New York, which have trended red in recent years. However, Democrats believe they have a serious chance to reclaim the district after the fall of lying ex-congressman George Santos despite a tough political climate for Democrats with President Joe Biden in office. A Democrat victory would further narrow the already slim GOP majority in the House as Republicans have just 219 seats while Democrats hold 212 seats and could signal hope for Democrats aiming to retake the House majority come November. Polls in New York's Third District opened at 6am ET and will remain open until 9pm ET. Voters also had more than a week to cast their ballots in early voting. New York's special election on February 13 is taking place in the Third District which includes parts of Long Island and Queens Democrat Tom Suozzi speaking at a campaign event on Sunday Feb 11 as he seeks to fill the seat vacated by ex-congressman George Santos Republican Mazi Pilip casting her ballot during early voting on February 9 as she campaigns in the special election for New York's Third District seat Mazi Pilip campaigning with the president of the National Border Patrol Council outside a migrant center. Border security has been a heated topic of debate in the NY special election Democratic candidate Tom Suozzi, 61, is a former congressman who represented the district for three terms before a failed New York gubernatorial bid in 2022. He is a longtime Long Island politics staple, having previously served as Nassau County Executive and mayor of Glen Cove. Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, 44, is the mother of seven and an Israeli-American born in Ethiopia who served in the Israel Defense Forces before immigrating to the US. She was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, both candidates have gone on the attack as a series of recent polls have shown Suozzi and Pilip in a statistical dead-heat. Pilip has been working to tie Suozzi, who served in the House from 2017 to 2023, to President Joe Biden, claiming he voted with the president '100 percent of the time.' Suozzi has pushed back and avoided appearing with the president. Suozzi acknowledged on Monday that the president is underwater when it comes to his approval but noted so is Donald Trump. At the same time, Suozzi has accused Pilip of being 'Santos 2.0' claiming she is unvetted, unprepared and vague on her record. Santos became only the sixth House member ever expelled from Congress after serving just 11 months in office. He is facing multiple charges for fraud and theft and is accused of lying about nearly every aspect of his background. Pilip, who remains a registered Democrat, has responded that she is 'very much vetted' and proud of her record while blasting Suozzi as an extremist career politician trying to run away from his record. Suozzi previously served in Congress for three terms before launching a failed bid for governor. He is seen campaigning above in Glen Cove where he once served as mayor Ex-GOP Congressman George Santos is accused of lying about nearly every aspect of his background. He's facing multiple charges of fraud and theft with a trial set for later this year Santos has said he would not be voting in the NY special election to replace him after he was expelled from Congress last year George Santos tweeted after Republicans failed to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas highlighting that the vote failed. Republicans have vowed to try again, but it is unclear whether they will have the necessary votes with their slim majority No issue has perhaps been more confrontational on the campaign trail than border security, which has also been front and center in Washington. Suozzi has expressed support for a bipartisan Senate bill to address the border and slammed Republicans unwilling to compromise on a deal. Pilip does not support the bipartisan deal, one of the most conservative proposals in decades, claiming it would greenlight a migrant invasion. The candidates have also clashed over abortion rights, gun safety and taxes as the 2017 tax law which capped the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, hit Long Islanders particularly hard. Suozzi warns Pilip will help pass a national abortion ban, a potent line of attack Democrats have been making against Republicans since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Pilip, who describes herself as pro-life, refutes his claim, saying she believes women have the right to make their own decision. Pilip in turn accuses Suozzi of raising taxes. Suozzi has pushed back, pointing to his work to repeal the SALT cap during his time in Congress, an ongoing effort that has been unsuccessful for lawmakers so far. On area where the candidates have found some common ground is on aid to Israel as the U.S. ally conducts a war in Gaza following the terror attack on October 7. Suozzi has bucked Democrats in announcing he would support a standalone House Republican bill to provide aid to Israel. He said he would prefer a more comprehensive approach also addressing Ukraine and Taiwan, but he would support one just for Israel. Pilip told Fox News over the weekend she would support the $95 billion bill that provides aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan if elected on Tuesday. One of the most immediate partisan measures Pilip would have to vote on if elected would be the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after a Republican effort to impeach failed dramatically earlier this month. Last week, Republicans were short one vote but have vowed to try again with the help of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who was out for cancer treatment. Pilip has committed to voting for impeachment, but if Suozzi wins the special election, Republicans are unlikely to have the votes to impeach for the remainder of this Congress. After the first vote to impeach failed, Santos posted on X 'Miss me yet?' Several of his former Republican colleagues responded and retweeted to post, expressing concern over the GOP's slipping majority. In 2022, Santos won the district, which was redrawn after the 2020 census, with more than 53 percent of the vote to Democrat Robert Zimmerman's 46 percent. In December, the state's highest court ordered the independent redistricting commission redraw the state's congressional district boundaries for the November election. The commission has until February 28 to release the plan, but the ruling is expected to be more favorable for Democrats in the state. It has been speculated that William could cut his ties to the Church of England With Ash Wednesday marking the start of Lent tomorrow, the Kings thoughts will be doubtless be turning to an important moment in the year of a Monarch and an occasion he will not want to miss. An ancient Christian ceremony mixing leadership and service, next month's Maundy Thursday service sees the Monarch hand out specially minted Maundy coins while the feet of his subjects are ceremonially washed . It has deep roots. Stretching back to the Middle Ages, the Maundy Service commemorates the the Last Supper, when Christ washed the feet of his disciples but also remembers the commitment to serve made in the King's Coronation vows. King Charles's Coronation was a deeply religious ceremony. His promise to serve God and the nation will be echoed at the Maundy Service next month Prince William is passionate about helping others through action. He is pictured leaving the stage after delivering a speech during the London Air Ambulance Charity Gala. But little is known about his beliefs even though he is set to be the next Supreme Governor of the Church Christian faith was important to the late Queen, who is seen here handing out Maundy Money at St George's Chapel, Windsor in 2019 It is no accident that Handels Zadok the Priest - heard at every Coronation since that of George II - is sung each year. Yet with King Charles now receiving cancer treatment, there is every chance he will not be there this year (the venue is yet to be disclosed) leaving this duty to - most likely - his heir, Prince William. The task would certainly remind the prince of his destiny and of how very much that future is bound up with Christian faith. It would also raise some questions that nag a little more insistently with every passing year: just what does Prince William believe? And how committed is he to the Church of England he will one day lead. There can be no doubt about his father, King Charles, just as there was no doubt about his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth. Charless considerable faith is very real and has sustained him over the years. Amid the considerable coverage given over the years to the Kings interest in other faiths, especially Islam and Judaism, his own strong Christian beliefs have sometimes been overlooked. This is a mistake. Charles prays frequently. He uses overtly reverential language, referring to Our Lord Jesus Christ rather than just Jesus, for example. He had his own chapel built in the grounds of his home, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Some of the greatest influences on him are devout believers, including the former Bishop of London, Lord Chartres, the Bishop of Southwark, the late Mervyn Stockwood, the Jungian and Cambridge chaplain, the Rev Harry Williams and the poet, Kathleen Raine. Despite some early questions about how the King would style himself at his Coronation, he chose to be Defender of Faith. Speaking to the nation for the first time after his accession, he used these words: I solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me. Eight months later, he was greeted at his Coronation by a choir boy the youngest person there who stepped forward and said: Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings. And Charles replied: In his name and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve. The consolation of faith was something that his mother, Elizabeth II also knew. A keen a reader of Scripture, she knew the Anglican Book of Common Prayer intimately, and her most treasured possessions included a special book of prayers prepared to help her prepare for her 1953 Coronation by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher. When she was dying, a church minister read to her from the Bible. If Elizabeth IIs was a simple Anglican faith, sustained by Sunday church attendance throughout her life, her sons interest in religion seems to be more like that of his father, Prince Philip full of curiosity and a sense of adventurous exploration. His great friend, Lord Chartres, once told me that the King is enthralled by religion. That fascination does not seem to be shared with the Prince of Wales. There is little evidence of his own religious beliefs, although he was christened as a baby and later confirmed by Lord Chartres. By the time Charles was in his forties the age that William is at now he was regularly given lengthy speeches about religion and ethics. Speechmaking is not Williams forte, it is true. He prefers practical action. Where there is evidence of his interest in faith, it is in his strong connections to religious organisations that work at the grassroots, helping those who are homeless. About such things, he is passionate. His charitable commitment has not, however, been enough to prevent speculation that William might cut ties with the Church of England when his time comes. That he would not be Supreme Governor. According to biographer Robert Hardman's new book, Charles III - New King, New Court, William is not a regular church-goer and 'is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment.' Not that the prince could change the relationship unilaterally, for the British monarchy and the Established Church, the Church of England, are so bound up together that he could not become King without being in communion with the Church of England, according to the Act of Settlement, 1701. Constitutional experts Robert Hazell and Bob Morris wrote recently that: However right in principle, removing the restriction on the monarchs freedom of belief would in practice raise questions about the new changed constitutional status of the Church of England together with the roles of parliament and the monarchy towards religion at large. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby performs the Washing of The Feet ceremony during the Sung Eucharist, The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday service at Canterbury Cathedral last year Some of the Maundy money distributed by the Queen in 2003 King Charles distributes the Maundy money to 74 men and 74 women, mirroring the age of the monarch, in York Minster last year 2023 Prince William pays homage to his father in a moving moment captured at last year's Coronation. King Charles has a deep interest in matters of faith but that does not seem to be shared by his son Today and in the immediate future, the Kings siblings and children will be more concerned for his health than the constitutional niceties of church attendance. But whoever hands out Maundy money to the 75 chosen citizens 75 to mark Charless age on March 28, this much will be unavoidable: Christian faith, which at the heart of the Kings life and looked-for recovery, is at the very heart of Monarchy itself. At some point, answers will be needed. Senate Republicans are not shying away from Donald Trump's controversial claim that Russia could invade NATO countries that don't 'pay up.' Trump set off chaos after he suggested at a campaign event Saturday that Russia could 'do whatever the hell they want' to NATO members who do not pay their annual dues - which is two percent of GDP per country. Of the 31 countries in NATO, only 11 paid the required two percent GDP funding requirement in 2023. The former president was lamenting the fact that the United States spends billion more dollars annually on defense compared to its NATO allies. In 2023, the U.S. spent $860 billion on defense expenditures, contributing 3.49 percent of its GDP to military initiatives, well above the two percent threshold set by NATO. The White House called Trump's words 'appalling and unhinged' and argued they 'promoted dangerous chaos' and other critics said his rhetoric is 'music to Putin's ears.' But allies of the former president praised his threats, saying they should be taken seriously. Sen. J.D. Vance told DailyMail.com he hopes NATO members take Trump's threat at face value as many European allies neglect to uphold their funding responsibilities One GOP hardliner even said European allies of the U.S. should view Trump's incendiary comments as a 'real threat.' 'I hope they take it as a real threat,' Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, told DailyMail.com. 'NATO is, right now, little more than a welfare client of the United States of America.' 'If it's going to be a real alliance then the big countries within the block, especially Germany, need to step up,' he continued. Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri similarly told DailyMail.com: 'I do think there's frustration among Americans that our European allies just haven't stepped up. Most of them aren't at two percent of their GDP.' 'We've essentially subsidized their government liberal social welfare programs for a long time,' Schmitt continued. 'I think it's time for a European allies to step up.' Other Republicans, meanwhile, were more supportive of the alliance and another was quick to call Trump's comments satire. 'It's all sarcasm,' Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said before adding that Americans largely support telling NATO members to pay their share. 'The Senate, Congress and country is very supportive of NATO, and they've shown themselves to be a very strong force,' Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said. 'I would hope President Trump would agree with that,' she continued. Democrats were quick to blast the former president warned that his 'outrageous' comments could embolden U.S. adversaries. Countries missing 2% GDP defense spending target France (1.9 %) Montenegro (1.87 %) North Macedonia (1.87 %) Bulgaria (1.84 %) Croatia (1.79 %) Albania (1.76 %) Netherlands (1.7 %) Norway (1.67 %) Denmark (1.65 %) Germany (1.57 %) Czech Republic (1.5 %) Portugal (1.48 %) Italy (1.46 %) Canada (1.38 %) Slovenia (1.35 %) Turkey (1.31 %) Spain (1.26 %) Belgium (1.26 %) Advertisement Countries hitting 2% GDP defense spending target Poland (3.9 %) US (3.49 %) Greece (3.01 %) Estonia (2.73 %) Lithuania (2.54 %) Finland (2.45 %) Romania (2.44 %) Hungary (2.43 %) Latvia (2.27 %) United Kingdom (2.07 %) Slovakia (2.03 %) Iceland and Luxembourg do not hit the 2% GDP defense spending target, but these nations are not counted in this list. Luxembourg's size means it is not held to the same target, and Iceland does not maintain an armed forces. Advertisement Democrats, however, could not believe that the former president would deliver such a flippant remark. 'For Donald Trump to suggest under any conditions that the United States would support a Russian invasion of Europe is incredibly dangerous, and shows once again how that man is not fit to be president of the United States,' Sen. Elizabeth Warren told DailyMail.com. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also said the comments should disqualify Trump from office. 'Donald Trump is not really qualified to be President if he fails to understand the importance of NATO,' Blumenthal told DailyMail.com. Trump's NATO 'comments are outrageous, but sadly not surprising,' Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said. 'Rooting for Russia,' Warnock continued, 'it's shocking beyond expression.' Despite Democrats distaste for the former president's comments, the crowd Trump was addressing seemed to enjoy his suggestion. Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump attends a "Get Out the Vote" Rally in Conway, South Carolina, on February 10, 2024 US Army Abrams tanks fire during the military exercises in Latvia Jens Stoltenberg has served as the NATO Secretary General since 2014 'The president of a big country stood up and said 'if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' Trump told the crowd in South Carolina Saturday. 'I said you didn't pay, you're delinquent? He said, 'yes, let's say that happened.' 'No, I would not protect you, in fact I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want, you gotta pay! You gotta pay your bills,' Trump said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg responded to Trump's comments in a statement released Sunday. 'Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,' Stoltenberg said. 'NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response.' 'I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election the US will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.' A conservative candidate running for Senate in Montana is bizarrely touting support from Democrats as he faces an uphill bid for the Republican nomination. Rosendale jumped in the Senate race on Friday kicking off what could be a bruising GOP primary as he faces off with Trump and Republican establishment-backed candidate Tim Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL. Democrats currently have a one seat majority in the Senate and are facing an extremely tough challenge to maintain their grasp on power. They are squaring off in one the biggest battlegrounds on the 2024 Senate map - the fight over Democratic Senator Jon Tester's seat in Montana - where former President Trump won by more than 16 points in 2020. However, the long shot candidate doesn't seem to mind adversity, and he is even publicly praising Democrats who have funneled money into ads to boost him over Sheehy. Because Rosendale lost to Tester by 3.5 points in 2018, Democrats think they have a better shot at keeping their seat against him in a rematch. Rosendale said on the Voices of Montana radio program on Monday that he is stunned by the 'heartfelt' support he is getting from a 'number' of Democrats. 'I have been really stunned at the people that have called me and contacted me that are known Democrats across the state of Montana that say 'Matt, we're supporting you. We are supporting you,'' Rosendale said. Rep. Matt Rosendale speaking to reporters in Montana on February 9 after filing to run for US Senate Entrepreneur Tim Sheehy is the NRSC and Trump-backed candidate in the race to unseat Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester Mitch McConnell and the Uniparty have controlled the Senate for far too long and are the architects of a $34 trillion debt. Its time they understand that Montanans dont take orders from Washington, we send orders to Washington! pic.twitter.com/cUoK9P4aV5 Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana) February 9, 2024 His comments come as the Wall Street Journal editorial board called Rosendale's Senate bid a 'gift' to top Democrat Chuck Schumer. The board said Schumer's 'best hope' of keeping the Democratic majority is to 'divide and conquer the GOP, and Mr. Rosendale is enlisting to help.' They suggested that Democrats believe they have a better chance of winning against Rosendale in the fall than against Sheehy. At the same time, the New York Times reported that Montana Democrats have been 'quietly' running online ads to promote Rosendale by touting his conservative credentials - before he even jumped in the race. The ads by the group Treasure State Truths. It is a controversial move reminiscent to what was seen during the 2022 election cycle where Democrats boosted support for some farther right candidates in the primaries who their candidate would then go on to defeat in November. The Montana Senate race is expected to be one of if not the most expensive this year. Montana has already seen more than $83 million in ad spending and reservations, according to tracking by AdImpact. Included in that spending has been ads placed by the Last Best Place PAC, which has ties to Democrats. It registered with the Federal Election Commission last fall and has spent more than $5 million in ads attacking Sheehy and propping up Rosendale. After his comments on Democrat support on Monday, Rosendale's campaign doubled down, saying he is already looking at the big picture. Campaign Manager David Herbst argued that Montana is an independent state, and Rosendale will be the candidate to bring people over because he delivers results. Rosendale's entrance into the race already has some Republicans raising alarms about the damage a combative GOP primary could do as Republicans looks to flip the Senate from blue to red. Republican party leaders have already begun rallying behind Republican businessman and veteran Tim Sheehy. National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair and fellow Montanan Senator Steve Daines called Rosendale's entry into the Senate race 'unfortunate' and accused him of choosing to 'create a divisive primary.' President Trump was quick to endorse Sheehy the same day Rosendale jumped in the race despite Rosendale's close alliance with the former president. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote he had endorsed Rosendale in the past and would again if he ran for Congress, but the former president called Sheehy the 'best-positioned' candidate to defeat Tester and gave him his 'Complete and Total Endorsement!' In his launch video, Rosendale took aim only at President Joe Biden but also Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 'Washington insiders.' Democrat Senator Jon Tester is up for reelection in Montana in 2024. It's a state President Trump won in 2020 by 16 points. Tester, a Democrat and Montana farmer, has served in the Senate since 2007. In 2018 he was reelected beating then-Montana auditor Matt Rosendale by more than three points Rosendale's campaign also argued that conservative Republicans holding establishment Republicans accountable to their failures is not unpopular among Republicans but the opposite. Herbst argued having a primary is 'heathy for the party' and there needs to be a debate about what it means to be a Republican. But some Republicans have disagreed. They point to the last election cycle as proof. In 2022, Democrats saw victories in multiple battleground states after Republicans held a series of nasty and expensive primaries where establishment-backed candidates were pitted against Trump-backed opponents and self-proclaimed outsiders for the nominations. This is also not the first time Rosendale has run for the Senate in Montana. In 2018, he lost against Tester by more than three points in the general election. His campaign believes there is a very different landscape in Montana for Rosendale this go round, such as him being better established statewide, Trump being on the ballot and new voters in the state, than when he ran for Senate in 2018. A scorching heatwave will continue to bring sweltering conditions to large swathes of Australia while parts of the country are bracing for a possible cyclone. A tropical low set to form over the Northern Territory on Tuesday or Wednesday has a moderate chance of developing into a cyclone, to be named Lincoln. Meanwhile, a heatwave is causing temperatures around Australia to skyrocket, particularly in Victoria and Western Australia. The mercury is set to peak close to 40C in some parts of the country with an extreme fire warning in places for parts of Victoria. Authorities have warned the conditions are the worst they've seen since the 2019 Black Summer bushfires. A heatwave affecting large regions of Australia is set to bring temperatures in the 40Cs this week The heatwave could see temperatures in Melbourne crack 37C (pictured, map showing the temperatures forecast for Tuesday) Victoria A severe heatwave will continue to affect parts of Victoria early this week after temperatures in Melbourne peaked at 37C on Monday. 'This run of heat is causing severe heatwave conditions in parts of eastern Vic, with overnight minimums in the low 20's providing little relief,' Weatherzone's Ashleigh Lange said. 'This run of days above 30C will be the first Melbourne has seen since February 2023.' The heat on Tuesday is forecast to be accompanied by thunderstorms with northerly winds reaching up to 55km/h in the morning ahead of a cool change in the afternoon. The storms will be fuelled by a cold front sweeping the state. It is expected to arrive in Melbourne between 4.30pm and 6.40pm. The severe weather system could bring damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall to parts of central and eastern Victoria. Temperatures will drastically drop on Wednesday with a top of just 19C forecast for Melbourne. However, Ms Lange warned the high heat and increased wind activity ahead of the cold front could spell disaster. 'Ahead of the cold front, hot, dry gusty northwesterly winds will bring catastrophic to severe fire danger to northwestern Victoria on Tuesday,' she said. Extreme fire danger warnings are currently in place for the Mallee, Northern Country, and Central districts. 'I've been in this game for a number of years and these conditions are the worst I've seen since the 2019-2020 summer fire season,' Bureau of Meteorology's Kevin Parkin said. The communities most at risk are in the Wimmera region. 'Whilst those communities in the Wimmera need to be aware, any area from Melbourne to the west needs to be alert,' Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said. 'These fire move fast and they can jump roads with fast. Should a fire take hold, it'll move incredibly fast.' Grey skies are set to hang over Melbourne on Wednesday and Thursday before clearing for a sunny Friday. New South Wales A wet weather system forecast to sit over the NSW Central Coast is set to bring wet weather to Sydney through to next week. Possible showers over Sydney on Tuesday are most likely during the afternoon or early evening. A possible thunderstorm on Wednesday could see wind speeds in the city reach up to 40km/h. Showers are forecast over the city from Thursday. The wet weather will be accompanied by high temperatures with tops in the low 30Cs on Tuesday and Wednesday and in the high 20Cs from Thursday. Extreme fire danger warnings are currently in place for the Mallee, Northern Country, and Central districts A tropical low forming over Australia's Top End is fuelling heavy rainfall (pictured, rainfall total forecast) Northern Territory Darwin's wet weather is forecast to get worse as a tropical low develops over the Northern Territory on Tuesday. The Bureau warned Tropical Low 07U is expected to form over the state's Top End on Tuesday or Wednesday. The system is then forecast to move east towards the Gulf of Carpentaria and has a low risk of developing into a tropical cyclone on Wednesday. That risk increases to moderate on Thursday and the system could move southwest to make landfall on along the southern coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria later in the week. 'Once in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the system will start to strengthen further. With ocean temperatures averaging about 30C, well above the required 26.5C necessary for tropical cyclone development,' Weatherzone's Joel Pippard. 'Along with favourable atmospheric conditions, development will come down to whether this system has enough time over water to become a tropical cyclone before it makes landfall on the south side of the Gulf on Friday or Saturday. 'This system would most likely make landfall as a category one system if it develops.' The next tropical cyclone to be declared in Australian waters will be named Lincoln. Darwin saw its wettest day in seven years in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday with 164.6mm recorded. Storms are forecast to remain over the city on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before slightly easing on Friday. More storms will redevelop from Saturday. The tropical low (pictured on Thursday) has a moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone later this week Queensland Brisbane is set to see a drizzly start to the day with partially cloudy conditions and a chance of morning showers. The city's chance of wet weather drops on Wednesday with partially cloudy skies and a 'slight' chance of showers. Showers are forecast to redevelop over the city from Thursday and stay through to next week. Top temperatures are set to stay in the high 20Cs and low 30Cs but conditions may feel hotter due to high humidity. Several flood warnings remain current in Queensland following heavy rainfall. The Bureau issued major flood warnings for the Flinders River, Nicholson River and Eyre Creek. Moderate flood warnings are current for the Diamantina River and Moonie River. Minor flood warnings are in place for the Georgina River, Balonne River, Balonne River Minor, Barcoo River, Cooper Creek, Dawson River, lower Warrego River, Norman River and Paroo River. Canberra Conditions in Canberra on Tuesday are set to be mostly sunny with a high chance of showers during the night. There's a high chance showers will continue into Wednesday morning with a chance of a thunderstorm developing in the afternoon. Showers are forecast to stay over the city through to Sunday. South Australia High temperatures in Adelaide are set to stay through to next week with maximum temperatures gradually increasing from 27C on Tuesday to 33C on Sunday. The city should see a brief reprieve on Wednesday and Thursday due to partially cloudy conditions. A low-intensity to severe heatwave across Western Australia (above) has increased the state's fire danger rating A heatwave is causing temperatures around Australia to skyrocket, particularly in Victoria and Western Australia Western Australia A low-intensity heatwave affecting large parts of Western Australia, including Perth, will continue to cause high temperatures this week. Severe heatwave conditions are forecast over parts of the state's west coast and isolated areas of the western Kimberley. The heat has also increased the risk of fire danger rating to High in most of the state and Extreme in the southwest. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises residents to action their Bushfire Survival Plan now. 'Fresh southeasterly winds and warm and dry conditions will lead to elevated fire dangers,' it said of Swan Inland, Geographe, Capes, Brockman and Blackwood. Perth's hottest day this week is expected to fall on Thursday with a top of 42C. Tasmania Cloudy skies over Hobart are forecast to develop into showers on Tuesday afternoon with light winds picking up to 35km/h in the late evening. The rain is set to clear over the city from Wednesday with cloudy conditions expected through to the end of the week. The Home Office is planning to pay influencers to post content on TikTok warning migrants not to travel to Britain in small boats. The government has been using taxpayer money for social media adverts aimed at deterring potential asylum-seekers for the past three years, in France, Belgium and Albania but The Independent has previously reported how they had instead targeted tourists and business travellers. It is now understood that home secretary James Cleverly has agreed to expand the campaign into new source countries, with conversations already underway with the governments of Vietnam, Iraq and Egypt about what forms it could take there. James Cleverly is understood to have given the green light on the project (PA) Under this expansion, the government will also seek to pay influencers on sites such as TikTok to warn of the risks and repercussions of travelling to the UK by small boat, and has been drawing up lists of social media celebrities who could be suitable. According to draft plans seen by The Times, these include rappers, comedians and TV personalities, who could be paid up to 5,000 to warn would-be migrants of removal to Rwanda, with a total budget of 30,000. The Home Office told The Independent the document was outdated, and it did not recognise the figures. The previous success of such campaigns is unclear. Research shared with The Independent showed the Home Office paid Meta at least 35,000 for hundreds of Facebook and Instagram adverts shown to people in northern France and Belgium between January 2021 and September 2022. Some reached fewer than 1,000 people, and others over a million, but the goverment had no way of telling who it was reaching with its weird patchwork profiles of targeted languages, home cities and interests, and was instead just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks, said the University of Edinburghs Dr Ben Collier. A prior investigation by The Independent in 2022 also found the Home Office had paid 2.7m to Hong Kong-based firm Seefar since 2016, which conducts migration awareness-raising and behavioural change campaigns, including a controversial government website which saw ministers seek to deter asylum-seekers. Story continues Seefar is behind websites including the now-defunct On The Move website, which was used in a Home Office campaign to deter Channel crossings (On The Move) More than 100,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since 2018, when the treacherous and previously rare route into Britain first started to be attempted in large numbers. At least 64 people are thought to have drowned. While such arrivals fell by more than a third in 2023, nearly 30,000 people did enter Britain that way, making it the second highest year on record, despite the government criminalising such crossings and pressing on with its ailing plans to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda as a deterrent. A Home Office spokesperson said: People smugglers frequently use social media to peddle lies and promote their criminal activities, and it is vital that we utilise the same platforms to inform migrants about the truths about crossing the Channel and coming to the UK illegally. The relentless action we have taken reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year, which saw similar weather conditions to 2022. We make no apologies for using every means necessary to stop the boats and save lives. Individuals hoping to find aliens and UFOs in the US will likely have the best luck in spotting them out west. According to data submitted by the National UFO Reporting Center and the US Census Bureau, more than 100,000 alien sightings have been submitted to the Reporting Center between 2000 and 2023. Today, the national average of alien sightings between those years nationwide is 34.3 per 100,000 residents. But, one county that is known for being home to maybe the most famous alien landmark ranks on top of the list. Lincoln County, Nevada, home to Area 51, is the county with the most of the list. The county is home to a whopping 820.9 sightings per 100,000 residents. Other areas that have all had nearly 500-600 alien sightings between 2003 and 2023 are Alpine County, California, Petroleum County, Montana, and La Paz County, Arizona. According to data submitted by the National UFO Reporting Center and US Census Bureau, more than 100,000 alien sightings have been submitted to the Reporting Center between 2000 and 2023. Lincoln County, Nevada , home to Area 51, is the county with the most of the list. Area 51 is one of the most famous classified air force bases that has been full of urban legends regarding aliens and UFOs Area 51 is one of the most famous classified air force bases that has been full of urban legends regarding aliens and UFOs. Eric Taber has been a defense aerospace contractor for 13 years and has held a security clearance to work on military aircraft. In a recent interview with DailyMail.com, he revealed the story his late great uncle Sam Urquhart, an Area 51 contractor, told him about a UFO at the mysterious desert base. Taber testified in May to the Pentagon's UFO investigation unit, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), who are collecting accounts of alleged government possession of non-human craft. The claim though an unverified story from a now-deceased witness is part of a long history of rumors about potential extraterrestrial craft or futuristic spaceships stored at the Nevada desert airbase near Groom Lake, north of Las Vegas. Urquhart began his job at Area 51 working for defense contractor EG&G, which later partnered with Raytheon to become JT3 LLC and subsequently JT4 LLC. 'He was head of security for his engineering group, and a data configuration specialist. His group did radar cross-section testing. 'I kept asking him about UFOs. He said 'I know nothing'. Then one day we were on his back porch and he said 'Ok, I'll tell you about one craft that I knew of.' 'He said, 'When I first got there in 1997, I had a personal conversation with a senior EG&G engineer whose group was tasked with trying to reverse-engineer an object that was brought there by some CIA people in the 1980s.' 'It was supposedly just found in a remote desert location fully intact. 'The senior EG&G engineer described to my great uncle that it was egg-shaped, about the size of an SUV, smooth and seamless, metallic-looking, silverish gray in color, with no control surfaces, no flaps, no inlet, and no exhaust, and no writing or symbols on the outside. 'These are the best and brightest engineers you can think of. They tried to no avail to figure out what the power source was, how to activate it, and how it works. They tried to induce electricity to it. 'X-rays couldn't penetrate it; it showed up on X-ray as a solid object. They tried to open it and penetrate its hull; they couldn't. 'They said that they were able to take some very small samples of the material. And I'm not an expert in chemistry, but I guess from the isotope ratio or the mixture of elements, they concluded it was not made on Earth.' But, Area 51 and Nevada aren't the only places where UFO sightings are common. Arthur County, Nebraska, placed second on the list with 618.6 sightings. The tiny county is home to just 434 people. Third on the list was Alpine County, California, which is home to 1,204 people and the population votes entirely by mail. Petroleum County, Montana, was fourth on the list and was the last of the state's 56 countries to be organized. It is home to just 524 people and two rivers. Fifth on the list was La Paz County, Arizona, which is home to about 16,557 people. The county is located in rural western Arizona and home to several ghost towns. La Paz County in Arizona (pictured) also ranked high on UFO sightings. The county is home to about 16,557 people. According to veteran scientist and intelligence officer Sean Kirkpatrick, individuals who believe in aliens may hold a position in the US government. 'True believers are not just outside of government; many of them are inside government,' said Kirkpatrick. Nevada's late US Senator Harry Reid was one such believe of extra terrestrial life. 'Senator Harry Reid was a true believer and thought that 'Hey, the government is hiding this from congressional oversight,'' the scientist stated. More discussions have occurred over the years from individuals looking to get answers on the existence of aliens and UFOs. US representative Robert Garcia even voiced an opinion about unidentified aerial phenomena last year. 'UAPs, whatever they may be, may pose a serious threat to our military and our civilian aircraft, and that must be understood,' he stated. 'We should encourage more reporting, not less on UAPs. The more we understand, the safer we will be.' Mysterious footage shows a group of UFOs flying above Philadelphia - with two of the crafts even strangely merging together Late last year, President Joe Biden's December visit to Los Angeles for a campaign fundraiser caused such a hullaballoo even aliens may have wanted to see what all the fuss was about At about 4:14 PM on November 7, 2006, a ramp employee at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago spotted a metallic, saucer-shaped craft hovering in the sky. Pictured: An image of the UFO believed to be taken on an airport employee's phone There have been countless UFO sightings across America in recent years. Earlier this year, mysterious footage shows a group of UFOs flying above Philadelphia - with two of the crafts even strangely merging together. A witness uploaded the bizarre video of the sighting on Reddit and described the large cluster of lights as 'spinning and darting back and forth.' The user said the multicolored lights were flying 'very high' above Philadelphia. Late last year, President Joe Biden's December visit to Los Angeles for a campaign fundraiser caused such a hullaballoo even aliens may have wanted to see what all the fuss was about! Planespotters caught a UFO on camera hovering above Air Force 1 in Los Angeles during Biden's December 10 trip, DailyMail.com can reveal. The spherical white or silver object was filmed several times over LAX airport and spotted by multiple witnesses. In 2006, a ramp employee at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport spotted a metallic, saucer-shaped craft hovering in the sky. The sighting, which lasted for five minutes and was witnessed by at least 12 United Airlines staffers, made international headlines thanks to a tape of Federal Aviation Administration radio communications released via the Freedom of Information Act. Although the FAA attributed the incident to a 'hole-punch cloud' and astronomer Mark Hammergren, then with Chicago's Adler Planetarium, agreed, the case has remained unresolved and tantalizing to UFO researchers ever since. Minsters should launch a major recruitment drive to hire 19,000 officers to restore neighbourhood policing, an influential think tank has urged. In a report welcomed by the Home Secretary and endorsed by seven Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), Onward called for more visible policing to tackle anti-social behaviour. It found that despite the Government successfully recruiting 20,000 additional police officers, the number dedicated to neighbourhood policing is 10 per cent lower than in 2012. Police community support officer (PCSO) numbers have also nearly halved, Onward said, and special constables have fallen by two-thirds over the same period. Yet antisocial behaviour, theft and drug offences remain high - and the research suggests the public does not feel safer despite overall crime levels falling. In a report welcomed by the Home Secretary and endorsed by seven Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), influential think tank Onward called for more visible policing to tackle anti-social behaviour The 'Back to Basics' report urges the Government to launch a new Neighbourhood Policing Uplift Programme to tackle community crimes. It recommends hiring 3,000 neighbourhood police officers, 10,000 PCSOs and 6,000 special constables over the next five years - at a cost of around 600 million a year. Onward proposes that it could be paid for by using a ring-fenced one-off council tax increase. The think tank said it would cost taxpayers on average 45p a week in return for two new local support officers in their neighbourhood. The report also calls for 'pop up' police stations in disused high street premises, neighbourhood wardens in town centres to prevent low-level crime, and greater use of facial recognition technology. The report found that despite the Government successfully recruiting 20,000 additional police officers, the number dedicated to neighbourhood policing is 10 per cent lower than in 2012 (File image) Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'Under this Government violent crime and burglary are down by over a half since 2010, reoffending has fallen and the public are safer. 'But we need to do more to ensure people feel safer too - it is no consolation to a victim of crime to be told that crime is falling overall. 'Onward is spot on in recognising that visible, neighbourhood policing is key to this. Our Antisocial Behaviour Plan is helping drive down the crimes that blight our communities. 'We have secured an agreement from police to follow all reasonable lines of enquiry as the public would rightly expect, and I have been clear that officers should be focusing on core policing on the beat and visible in their areas. 'Onward have focused their report on an area of policing that deserves attention - and one that I am absolutely committed to. Whilst we may not support each and every one of their proposals, I welcome the thinking that Onward have provoked and would encourage policing to read it carefully.' Callum Newton, senior researcher at Onward, added: 'Crime is falling to record levels across the country, yet many people still feel unsafe in their communities. The decline of neighbourhood policing has created a vacuum for criminals in some of Britain's most disadvantaged areas. 'The Government cannot allow this to continue. Government and Chief Constables should work together to introduce a new Neighbourhood Policing Uplift Programme designed to combat crime, build trust and re-establish police presence on Britain's streets. A single mum is renovating an old barn to live in with her daughter after giving up on finding a rental amid Australia's housing crisis. The Perth mother was forced to get creative as rising rents and a housing supply shortage drive renters out of the market. With just one income, she was attending open homes knowing her chances of securing a place were slim. A Perth mum (pictured) is renovating an old barn after giving up on finding a rental 'I've been renting for 10 years and am a very good tenant on paper,' she told 7NEWS. 'But I have no chance of getting a rental in this market it's pointless.' In Perth, the median weekly rental price is now $630 after an annual increase of 13%, while rents have gone up 8% nationwide. Quickly running out of options and fearing she would be homeless, the mother took the opportunity to move into the barn. With the help of some friends, she is turning it into a safe and livable space, but there is still a long way to go. The barn has been cleaned out but still needs a kitchen and plumbing The mother is optimistic about moving into the property, where she will have horses to tend to. 'I'm really excited to have our own space. It's a massive relief and an incredible feeling.' A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by a friend to help her pay for trades and services. According to CoreLogic, the median weekly rent in Australia increased to $601 in January ranging from $745 per week in Sydney to $535 per week in Hobart. The only markets to see a decline in rent values through 2023 were Canberra and Hobart, at -1.9% and -3.5% respectively. A young family's dream home build was left in ruins after their builder went bust. Emma and Nathan Doecke and their two children planned to move into their new house by Christmas 2021 before their builder collapsed owing about $14million. The couple purchased a house and land package near Newcastle through First Step Homes, who then contracted Oracle Platinum Homes as the builder. There were months of frustrating delays before Oracle went into liquidation in August 2022. When Oracle folded the Doecke's house was still only half built and liquidators said there was no money left to give back to them, despite Oracle managing director Tom Orel living in a multi-million dollar waterfront Gold Coast mansion. After the company went into liquidation, Ms Doecke said they had to try and find a new builder, then cough up an extra $100,000 to pay them to finish their house. On top of racking up monthly mortgage bills for the property they are unable to move into, the couple are paying rent for another house and the construction delays cost them $10,000 in voided first homebuyer and first-home builder grants. Emma and Nathan Doecke required another $100,000 to finish their home after their builder went bust, despite having already paid for the house Oracle Platinum Homes, one of Queensland's largest building companies, went into liquidation in August 2022 'We tried to reach out to First Step Homes and they said ''Sorry, we've not ever experienced this before, we don't know what the next steps are. We can't help you'',' an emotional Ms Doecke told A Current Affair this week. 'We went to our local (bank) branch and then it was, ''Oh no, sorry, we can't help you'',' she said. Westpac originally told them the were already in too much debt to be able to borrow more money, which led the pair to take on extra jobs to makes ends meet. 'We're working too much, we don't get to see our kids... my mum raises our kids, we don't,' Ms Doecke said. Ms Doecke said she and her husband have had to take on extra jobs and have been unable spend time with their children because rent and loan bills were piling up To make matters worse, thieves recently stole a lawn mower and water tank at their building site and vandals have broken into the unsecured home causing damage to some walls. READ MORE: Why are so many builders collapsing? Oracle managing director Tom Orel Advertisement 'We don't want pity, we don't want sympathy and we don't want things given to us. We're happy to work for it but we just need an opportunity,' Ms Doecke said. But there has finally been some good news for the Doecke family. After Westpac was contacted by ACA, the bank agreed to fund the rest of the build through a loan and help consolidate the couple's debt. The financial restructure should see them complete the build save $800 a week in repayments. It also means the couple will no longer have to work extra jobs and be able to spend more time with their children. 'At Westpac we understand that many Australians have been doing it tough during the cost of living crisis,' a spokesperson for the bank said. 'Building a house is stressful at the best of times, but it's even harder when families are caught up in events outside of their control. 'We're delighted to be able to help Nathan and Emma finish their home and move in. 'The family has been through a lot and we hope this allows them to put the past few years behind them and settle in.' Australia's most populous city could soon become a 'city with no grandchildren' as young families and professionals leave in search of cheaper alternatives. A report from NSW Productivity Commissioner, Peter Achterstraat, found that twice as many people aged between 30-40 had left Sydney between 2016 and 2021 than had arrived. Mr Achterstraat said the driving force behind the exodus is the cost of housing, as most can only afford to buy in the outer suburbs and face a long commute to work. The Tucci family are among the many families who have fled Sydney, having left the inner-west suburb of Leichhardt for Cairns, in far north Queensland, in January. The family-of-four couldn't afford a multi-million dollar mortgage in Australia's biggest city but were able to snap up a block of three units on the beach for $1million in Cairns. A new report has found twice as many people aged 30-40 are leaving Sydney (pictured) than are arriving, prompting a warning that it could become a 'city with no grandchildren' The family's father, Adrian Tucci, said he couldn't make enough money to support a massive mortgage, two kids and his wife Nicole - a stay-at-home mother - despite running a successful painting business. Mr Tucci employed as many as nine people while working in Sydney and said he had watched many move away from the city in recent years. 'They're in the same boat they've gone to the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, places like that, just so that they can afford a house as well (and) raise their kids,' he told the ABC. Mr Tucci said his parents, who live in Sydney, understood and supported their departure but were disappointed they wouldn't be around their grandchildren. Mr Achterstraat warned there will be more grandparents living in the city without their children and grandchildren unless the state government intervenes. His report said the escape from Sydney highlighted the need to build more apartment complexes in the city's inner suburbs to drive down property prices. 'Sydney needs hundreds of thousands of new homes over the next two decades,' Mr Achterstraat said in the report. 'Building more in the places people want to live is a key piece to solving the housing jigsaw puzzle.' One young family, the Tuccis (pictured, Adrian and Nicole Tucci), left the inner-west Sydney suburb of Leichhardt for Cairns, far north Queensland, so they could comfortably buy a property The exodus has prompted the NSW Productivity Commissioner to call on the state government to act and promote housing projects 'in the places people want to live' (stock image) He said that 45,000 more dwellings could have been built between 2017-2022 without taking up more land if higher buildings were allowed in Sydney. 'This could have seen prices and rents five-and-a-half per cent lower - $35 a week for the median apartment or a saving of $1,800 a year for renters.' While the plan to 'build up' is backed by the NSW Government which is aiming develop six-storey apartment complexes within 400m of 30 of the city's train stations, locals aren't as supportive. Locals on Sydney's North Shore have criticised the government for not caring about the area's heritage or home values. The state's Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, hit back at the locals, saying a balance can be struck between protecting a neighbourhood's character and also allowing for people to break into the housing market. Mr Mookhey warning Sydney has five to 10 years to fix its housing sector and prevent it from being dominated by intergenerational wealth, likening it to San Francisco. Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California teeter precariously on the edge of a cliffside following a landslide over the weekend. The collapse occurred in Dana Point, Orange County, on Friday, and sent mud and debris sliding down the 150-feet chasm below. As of Sunday, no evacuations have been ordered, and engineering crews were assessing the structural integrity of the homes - the only three set on the cliffside. Residents of the affected properties have been advised to remain vigilant, and prepare for the looming possibility of relocation. The three affected homes are now largely left at the mercy of Mother Nature, though rains that recently inundated the region look to have past. They are priced around $12.8million, $13million, and $15.9million, and are at risk of falling into the Pacific. Scroll down for video: Three multimillion-dollar homes in Southern California teeter precariously on the edge of a cliffside following a landslide over the weekend The collapse occurred on Scenic Drive in Dana Point Friday, and sent mud and debris sliding down the 150-feet chasm below Still, on Friday, City Manager Mike Killebrew assured residents on the prestigious street and others nearby that the situation was under control. 'There are no structures jeopardized at this point, and it looks like no impact on the lateral beach access,' he said. Meanwhile, remnants of the large chunk of land that fell could be seen sitting at the base of the cliff. A portal to the Dana Point Caves sat unmarred a few hundred feet to the left of the collapse, along with the stretch of beach that Killebrew had referred to. The trio of homes above, a symbol of status in the affluent region, sat at its precarious place next to the Ocean Institute - another popular tourist attraction. Debris from the collapse site came falling down near the tidepools, explained Killebrew - a a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) that is accessible from the beach and surrounding trails. No one was down there when the debris fell Friday, after heavy rains saturated the region and led to countless landslides and mudslides. The landslide saw a a huge portion of cliff to fall the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show. He appears to operate his practice out of his home, and has more than 56 years of medical experience. . As of Sunday, no evacuations have been ordered, and engineers were assessing the structural integrity of the homes - the only three on the cliffside Residents of the affected properties have been advised to remain vigilant, and prepare for the looming possibility of relocation The three affected homes are now largely left at the mercy of Mother Nature, though rains that recently inundated the region look to have past They are priced around $12.8million, $13million, and $15.9million, and are now at risk of plummeting into the Pacific. The landslide saw a a huge portion of cliff to fall the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show The missing cliff face slipped off right next to another, $12.8million home immediately to the right (seen here) - set on a slightly lower perch of cliff that luckily stayed in place The home is owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, seen here reeling in a 427.9-pound yellowfin last April off of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico His construction business Yocum took of in the area in the late 70s, and has since burgeoned into an industry-leading empire, allowing him to purchase the property in 2021 A third home set further to the right, valued at $13million and belonging to a local producer, looked to be in better sorts than the rest, though at just a few feet away - and a few hundred feet above the sea - is still on unstable ground The home belongs to producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, who, like Dr. Bruggeman, has lived in the coastal cul de sac for decades The collapse is still being surveyed by city officials, and is only the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks The missing cliff face slipped off right next to another home, this one owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, immediately to the right - set on a slightly lower perch of cliff that luckily stayed in place. KABC's AIR7 HD was over the area to capture a startling image of the portion of collapsed cliff directly next to the $12.8million residence, which somehow stayed in place as tons of rock fell just feet away. His construction business Yocum took of in the area in the late 70s, and has since burgeoned into an industry-leading empire, raking in an estimated $40million in revenue a year. A third home set further to the right, valued at $13million and belonging to local producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, looked to be in better sorts, though at just a few feet away - and a few hundred feet above the sea - is still on unstable ground. The Dana Point collapse - which is still being surveyed by city officials - is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks. The same day, 13 miles south along the Pacific Coast, part of a cul-de-sac on Avenida Columbo dropped about five feet following a mudslide that sent mud and debris at least 150 feet below. The area had already been affected by unstable soil, with one home set on the site of an active landslide that has had ongoing movement for several decades, said Dave Rebensdorf, the city's director of Public Works. He went there Friday to check on it, though residents concerns have yet warrant any city intervention. Residents in both areas have been advised to keep a careful lookout, as they continue to grapple with the consequences of these natural disasters. Meanwhile, news landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente a few miles away prompted closures of the town's beach trails, mostly in the north end of town. Stairs leading down to the coastal path at Dije Court, El Portal and Lasuen Beach were added to the list of closed access points last week, due to continuing instability of the area. That said, an evacuation in Dana Point has yet to be ordered, as residents' resilience continues to be put to the test. Engineers on Sunday were still assessing the grounds, as some rain showers are forecast next week. Three pro-Palestine protesters accused of celebrating the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians by displaying images of a paraglider on a march argued that they were wearing symbols of 'liberation and peace' yesterday. Heba Alhayek, 29 and Pauline Ankunda, 26, had the small images taped to their backs, while Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, carried one attached to the handle of a placard, a court heard. They carried the images just seven days after Hamas militants used paragliders to enter Israel and slaughter families on October 7. 'The displaying of these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of the paragliders' tactic,' prosecutor Brett Weaver told Westminster magistrates. Three pro-Palestine protesters accused of celebrating the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians by displaying images of a paraglider on a march argued that they were wearing symbols of 'liberation and peace' yesterday. Pictured: Two of the protesters with images on their backs Heba Alhayek, 29 and Pauline Ankunda, 26, had the small images taped to their backs, while Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, carried one attached to the handle of a placard, a court heard. Pictured: Pauline Ankunda They carried the images just seven days after Hamas militants used paragliders to enter Israel and slaughter families on October 7. Pictured: Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo 'The displaying of these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of the paragliders' tactic,' prosecutor Brett Weaver told Westminster magistrates. Pictured: Heba Alhayek The trio, however, argued they were carrying the image of a standard 'parachute emoji', and that flying-related images were common in Palestinian art long before the Hamas attacks. Under cross-examination, the Met's acting Detective Sergeant Michael Beskine admitted his team had not done any research into possible alternative meanings for the images instead accepting the interpretation of a social media account called Harry's Place, which first posted photos of the women. The original Harry's Place post on X, formerly Twitter, said sarcastically: 'Hamas sent terrorists on paragliders to a rave in Israel where they massacred the civilians so it's important to tape images of paragliders to your clothes at a pro-Palestine demonstration.' Police gave the operation to find the women the unofficial moniker 'paraglider girls'. The court heard that the pro-Hamas interpretation was so 'obvious' it did not require further work. But, giving evidence in defence of the trio, veteran Guardian journalist and human rights campaigner Victoria Brittain claimed images of balloons, birds, kites and parachutes were popular in the context of a Palestinian desire to 'fly away' from perceived entrapment in Gaza. Pictured: Hamas fighters shown rehearsing their deadly paraglider attack Asked by Mark Summers KC, for Alhayek and Ankunda, about what 'an informed, politically aware observer' would have made of the image, she said: 'It would have been [interpreted as] another typical Palestinian symbol of flight and escaping prison.' Hamas is banned as a terror organisation in the UK and the trio's actions were widely condemned online. After the Met launched a social media appeal to find them, Alhayek and Ankunda handed themselves in. They initially claimed someone at the protest 'not known to them' had stuck the images to their backs, before admitting they had attached them. When arrested, Taiwo claimed to have been handed the placard and not paid full attention to the 'blurry image'. Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said he would hand down a ruling today. Taiwo, of South Norwood and Alyayek and Anjunda, of Upper Norwood, deny displaying an article to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of banned organisation Hamas. He has little hope for Mrs Murphy's chances of survival A tradie who fell down an abandoned mineshaft has shared his grim outlook on the chances of Samantha Murphy surviving if she became trapped in one. The mother-of-three left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat, west of Melbourne, to go jogging through Woowookarung Regional Park at about 7am on February 4 and has not been seen since. Amid speculation around what happened to Ms Murphy, a popular theory has emerged that she fell into one of the many abandoned mineshafts in the area. Sydney concrete pourer Brad Osborne, 56, revealed he had barely survived falling into a mineshaft four years ago and said Ms Murphy likely would not be alive if she had become trapped in one herself. He spoke to Daily Mail Australia after a local mineshaft explorer said he believes Ms Murphy could have been abducted by someone living in an abandoned tunnel in the area. Samantha Murphy (pictured) has not been since she left for a morning run in Woowookarung Regional Park on February 4 Brad Osborne (pictured in hospital) was left with devastating injuries after falling down a mineshaft in 2020 Mr Osborne fell down an old mineshaft in Sunny Corner State Forest, near Lithgow in NSW's Central Tablelands, in May 2020. He was left with devastating injuries and is still unable to work or walk properly. Mr Osborne told Daily Mail Australia he barely survived his horrific fall despite being rescued four hours later. He said the experience left him with little hope for Ms Murphy if she had indeed fallen into an abandoned shaft. 'It's case by case but the fall causes massive injuries,' he said. 'Also, it's cold, wet and dark down there, so you can imagine.' Mr Osborne recalled riding his motorbike around Sunny Bank with his friend when they came across an old mining tunnel. As they'd seen no warning signs in the area, the pair decided to explore the tunnel with Mr Osborne going first. However, disaster struck just moments later when he stepped into an unseen shaft. 'I didn't get far in and suddenly there was a hole and I was sliding down on a 45-degree angle,' he said. 'I tried to grab onto something but I couldn't stop falling. I was knocked out as I landed - when I woke up it was pitch black. 'All I could see was a tiny hole of light about 10m above my head.' Samantha Murphy (pictured on holidays) was last seen on Sunday February 4 Rescuing Mr Osborne was very difficult and he suffered several broken bones and a dislocated shoulder (pictured, police rescuing Mr Osborne) Mr Osborne landed on the floor of the pit feet-first and shattered all the bones in his feet and ankles on impact. READ MORE: Grim warning issued as volunteer search continues for Samantha Murphy Advertisement He broke several ribs, dislocated his shoulder, broke a bone in the socket and tore a muscle in his bicep. He also suffered severe bruising and cuts. 'The pain was indescribable, I could barely breathe,' he said. However, Mr Osborne said the thing that nearly killed him was the freezing temperature inside the mineshaft. 'I was hypothermic - shivering and shaking uncontrollably,' he said. 'It wouldn't have been much longer until I was dead when help arrived.' Mr Osborne's ordeal continued as rescuers tried to find a way to lift him out of the shaft - a notoriously difficult job. He said his son Brody, aged 26, watched on as he was half-lifted and half-climbed out of the hole, all while suffering the pain of his horrific injuries. Local mineshaft explorer Raymond Shaw, from Victorian Historical Mine Shaft Chasers, agreed Ms Murphy likely wouldn't have survived nine days if she'd fallen inside an old shaft. Ballarat, including Woowookarung Regional Park, has several abandoned mineshafts (one pictured above) Local mineshaft explorer Raymond Shaw (pictured) doesn't believe Ms Murphy could survive more than seven days inside a mineshaft 'I've been down over 200m in Ballarat before. I'm not a fan, there's not much down there,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'If you fall, you'll most likely land on your back. You could also break your neck on the way down. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Ballarat locals left horrified by ghoulish vandalism left near location Samantha Murphy disappeared Advertisement 'If that were the case, you'd likely survive maybe seven days or so.' He added the conditions inside the shafts would make it difficult to survive. 'There can be problems with water. There's also no phone reception and you can't hear anyone on the surface. 'There are snakes, but they're few and far between. Goannas can be an issue, they lay their eggs in there.' Mr Shaw said he and his wife travelled to Woowookarung Regional Park from Melbourne on Sunday to check 40 mineshafts in 15 locations for any sign of Ms Murphy. 'We checked all the mines and shallow alluvial workings on Sunday,' he said. 'We looked in some very secluded shafts. Nothing or anyone has been in them.' A large-scale search operation was unable to find any traces of Ms Murphy (pictured) after she disappeared nine days ago Mr Shaw warned mineshafts can get 'very hot' with an average of 27C (pictured, SES searching for Ms Murphy last week) Mr Shaw believes it's 'highly unlikely' Ms Murphy fell into a mineshaft. He also conducted an investigation into his own theory on the 51-year-old's disappearance. READ MORE: I was one of the last people to see Samantha Murphy Advertisement Mr Shaw said he's met several people living in abandoned 'adits' - or mining tunnels - in other locations in Victoria. Following reports of a man harassing female searchers, he questioned whether there could be someone living in the abandoned mine system. 'I went looking for him. I think he's living in the adit down by the creek,' he said. 'It's hidden in the bush. We didn't see anyone down there. There are a few adits down there, one has collapsed a bit.' He described other adit-dwellers he's previously met as 'weirdos who are nice, generally'. 'They will defend themselves, though,' he said. 'Most I've met have been inside the adits.' Ms Murphy left her home in Ballarat East to go for a 14km run early Sunday morning. Ms Murphy's eldest daughter, Jess (pictured), and husband, Mick, issued an emotional plea for their loved one to come home on the fifth day of her disappearance Mr Shaw (pictured in a mineshaft in Ballarat) searched over 40 mines in the area where Ms Murphy went missing but found no trace of her However, her family became concerned after she failed to show up for their 11am brunch plans. A major search operation combined resources from police, SES and volunteers to try and find her. Ms Murphy's eldest daughter, Jess, and husband, Mick, issued an emotional plea for their loved one to come home on the fifth day of her disappearance. 'Mum's a really strong woman, and she's far too determined to give up this fight,' Jess tearfully told reporters. 'Mum, we love you so much, and we miss you. We need you at home with us. Please come home soon. I can't wait to see you and to give you the biggest hug when I do. 'And to tell you off for giving us so much stress. I love you.' Mr Murphy added: 'People just don't vanish into thin air. Someone's got to know something.' 'Whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police and let them know. It'll give us a bit of peace of mind, some hope.' Police announced over the weekend it would 'scale back' its search for Ms Murphy. However, volunteers have continued to coordinate searches in the Woowookarung Regional Park in hopes of finding the missing mother-of-three. Volunteers were instructed to search in pairs and ensure they have adequate food and water with them. Suella Braverman has slapped down claims that the British countryside is 'racist and colonial', declaring: 'We need to stop making white people feel guilty for being white'. The former Home Secretary said it was dangerous to suggest that the countryside is not open to ethnic minorities because it is a 'predominantly white environment'. The former home secretary is the latest MP to wade into the row after a group of wildlife charities claimed the British countryside is a 'racist, colonial' white space in a report to MPs. The claim was made by Wildlife and Countryside Link, a group with 80 members including WWF, the RSPCA and National Trust. Its report is a response to a call for evidence on the links between racism and climate change. The charity umbrella group said in the report the view that rural areas are 'dominated by white people can prevent people from ethnic minority backgrounds from using [them]'. But in an article for The Telegraph, Ms Braverman wrote: 'This [view] is not just wrong but dangerous. We need to stop making white people feel guilty for being white.' She added: 'Critical race theory, white privilege and unconscious bias should be constantly debunked as Left-wing militancy. It's wholly disempowering for ethnic minorities to be judged by skin colour rather than by character.' Suella Braverman (pictured) has slapped down claims that the British countryside is 'racist and colonial' A group of wildlife charities claimed the British countryside is a 'racist, colonial' white space in a report to MPs Last week's report from Wildlife and Countryside Link said: 'Cultural barriers reflect that in the UK, it is white British cultural values that have been embedded into the design and management of green spaces and into society's expectations of how people should engage with them. 'Racist colonial legacies that frame nature as a 'white space' create further barriers, suggesting that people of colour are not legitimate users of green spaces.' Ms Braverman, whose parents are ethic Indian immigrants from Mauritius and Kenya, said that she had 'not once' experienced hostility during 30 years of holidays camping in the British countryside. She said on the rare occasion she had faced racism, it had taken place in an urban area. The report follows a number of other sectors which have sought to make changes to consider diversity issues. In particular, museums have in recent years relabelled collections to reflect links to slavery, while universities have tried to 'decolonise' their curriculums. Ms Braverman said the groups' claims were naive when actually rural communities can often be left deprives compared to urban areas. She said claims that the countryside was racist highlights a deeper problem in society as she hit out at the 'desperation' to create a 'culture of fear and self-censorship'. Ms Braverman's response comes after Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, 66, branded the report as 'dangerous nonsense'. Mr Emmanuel-Jones - who describes himself as Britain's only black farmer - hit out at the report as misleading and those behind it as patronising 'white liberals'. The 66-year-old, who has run a farm on the Devon-Cornwall border for 26 years and owns the Black Farmer food range, said that organisations behind the report should get their own house in order on the issue first. He told MailOnline: 'Racism is more prevalent in urban Britain than the countryside. I just think rural Britain gets a real hard deal based on old fashioned ideas. 'I get really, really concerned by groups that get together and slag off the countryside without knowing the truth. 'These organisations need to get their own houses in order instead of chasing headlines. If you surveyed what their diversity was like, it's unforgivable. Radio 5 presenter Nihal Arthanayake has insisted the countryside is for everyone - not just white people Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones - who describes himself as Britain's only black farmer - hit out at the report as misleading and those behind it as patronising 'white liberals' 'They are made up of white liberals who see blacks as victims and all it does is perpetuate the idea that if you're black there's a certain part of England you can't be a part of. 'I would say to these organisations 'what are you doing to bring about more diversity' because if you look into them they are less diverse than most industries. 'I would urge other black people to go and experience the countryside and they can judge for themselves.' The report suggested that to ensure ethnic minorities have better access to the countryside, it wants the Government to create a 'legally binding target for access to nature' such as ensuring that everyone has a green space within a 15-minute walk from their home. BBC Radio host Nihal Arthanayake also commented on the report, telling The Times: 'To brand the entirety of Britain as being racist and colonial does not help encourage people from ethnic minorities to go into the countryside.' Instead he argued we should be encouraging and highlighting the openness of the countryside. The 52-year-old, who comes from a Sri Lankan heritage, said the perception of the countryside as white and middle class was a barrier. He said: 'The nuance of this is more to do with access to the countryside. I have never been racially abused. Ive been into the Peak District many times with my family.' He went on to say he has encountered more racism in towns than in villages and his overwhelming experience of the countryside has been friendly. Labour remains overwhelmed by anti-Semitism, with more than 700 complaints handled since Sir Keir Starmer took over as leader. The partys latest Complaints and Disciplinary Report found more than a third of cases considered last year involved allegations of anti-Semitism. Some 46 cases involving anti-Semitism were dealt with by Labours ruling National Executive Committee last year taking the total to 740 since Sir Keir took over from Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2020, analysis by the Conservative Party found. Sir Keir has repeatedly claimed to have dealt with Labours anti-Semitism crisis, having vowed to take a zero-tolerance approach. But Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden told the Mail: This latest shocking revelation that Labour is failing to properly tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism from within is yet more proof that nothing has changed from the time when Starmer backed up Corbyn, and tried to make him prime minister twice. Some 46 cases involving anti-Semitism were dealt with by the NEC last year taking the total to 740 since Sir Keir took over from Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2020 In the past year alone, Sir Keir has been forced to suspend three Labour MPs over allegations of anti-Semitism. Diane Abbott lost the Labour whip in April 2023 after suggesting Jewish people do not face racism, but instead suffer prejudice similar to redheads. She wrote a letter to The Observer newspaper, in response to an article which had the headline: Racism in Britain is not black and white. Its far more complicated. She said that although white people with points of difference encounter prejudice, they have not been subjected to the same racism as black people. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. Sir Keir has repeatedly claimed to have dealt with Labours anti-Semitism crisis, having vowed to take a zero-tolerance approach Diane Abbott lost the Labour whip in April 2023 after suggesting Jewish people do not face racism, but instead suffer prejudice similar to redheads 'But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In October 2023, Andy McDonald was suspended for referencing the anti-Semitic chant from the river to the sea at an anti-Israel protest. He said: We wont rest until we have justice, until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea can live in peaceful liberty. Last month, Kate Osamor was suspended for accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. She said that Holocaust Memorial Day was an international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of other people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and now Gaza. Osamor was suspended from the party pending an investigation. A man's attempt to drive through croc-infested floodwaters should be a warning for others authorities say, as he risked being swept away, with residents and visitors to parts of northern Australia also being warned of a rise of crocodiles in the area. Police were called to rescue the driver early on Saturday morning after his car and U-Haul trailer became stuck while attempting to cross the Blyth River Crossing in the Top End a known hotspot for the predatory reptiles to roam which is currently flooded due to heavy rains. The driver had no choice but to climb onto the roof of his vehicle from where he urgently called for assistance. "The water level had risen to half the height of the vehicle's bonnet, highlighting the imminent danger posed by attempting to cross flooded rivers," police said. The man attempted to cross the Blyth River Crossing in the NT but became stuck in crocodile-infested waters. Source: NT Police Police members were deployed to assist the stranded man who was safely returned to the community, they said. Superintendent Jody Nobbs said the incident highlights how dangerous the simple act of driving through floodwaters is. Crocs increasing in both numbers and size Yahoo News Australia recently reported an increase in crocodile numbers across northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with the size of each animal also getting bigger and bigger. Constant reminders are issued to Aussies about the dangers of getting too close to crocs which can prove deadly. Saltwater crocodile numbers are on the rise across northern Australia. Source: Rodney Fischer Major flooding and heatwave warnings The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is watching flood activity in the Western Top End Rivers of the Northern Territory as torrential monsoonal rains have caused flooding in Darwin that has resulted in several roads made "impassable" to cars. Crocodiles are known to roam the Blyth River in the Top End. Source: Reddit The Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) said the public could expect a strong possibility of flash flooding until Wednesday, with up to 100mm of rain each day in parts of the city. The BoM said when driving on roads in dangerous weather conditions, "If its flooded, forget it". Story continues Meanwhile, flood activity is particularly high in Queensland, which has had 12 flood warnings issued across the state, ranging from minor to major. Flood warnings have been issued for parts of South Australia, NSW and the ACT. While in WA and Victoria, the bureau is forecasting a scorching next few days. with NCA Newswire Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Leonardo DiCaprio's new movie has sparked fury in Sacramento after a city square was cleared of homeless people and their tents after less than a day's notice. The Oscar winner has been pictured shooting his new role for director Paul Thomas Anderson, a film temporarily titled BC Project. Officials cleared half a dozen homeless tents from Cesar Chavez Plaza so they could shoot last Thursday. Filming was not scheduled to take place until Sunday. 'Attention to vacate' notices were posted on all of the tents in the park, located in the city's downtown with only 24 hours to move, though all the homeless were offered a spot at their newly opened shelter. Locals erupted in fury that the tents were moved with such short notice and during the state's chaotic atmospheric river storms. Leonardo DiCaprio 's new movie has sparked fury in Sacramento after a city square was cleared of homeless people and their tents after less than a day's notice Sacramento officials cleared half a dozen homeless tents from Cesar Chavez Plaza so they could shoot last Thursday. Filming was not scheduled to take place until Sunday 'Attention to vacate' notices were posted on all of the tents in the park, located in the city's downtown with only 24 hours to move, though all the homeless were offered a spot at their newly opened shelter The president of the Sacramento Homeless Union, Crystal Sanchez, slammed the city for the lack of prep time and doing this in the midst of a major storm. 'It is asinine in the midst of an atmospheric storm, against federal laws and protections unhoused people are being moved and placed in greater danger for Hollywood to roll footage in Sacramento,' she said. 'The city permit should have not been issued without appropriately placing individuals in shelter as the city is well aware of the homeless crisis in the area.' Anij Baker, 61, who lives in one of the park tents after becoming homeless around four years ago, said he and his partner had not been offered a space at the shelter, according to the Sacramento Bee. 'It's terrible. We have nowhere to go. All our clothes and shoes are wet. We have no food,' Baker said The city has a waiting list over 1,200 for their 1,300 shelter beds, which are currently full. 'We've gotta put everything in the cart,' added Baker. 'It's gonna be heavy.' Sacramento, like much of California's cities, is undergoing a homeless crisis Homelessness advocacy group Sacramento Steps Forward says that 9,278 homeless people live in Sacramento County A homeless encampment is shaded by a tree in Sacramento Anij Baker, 61, who lives in one of the park tents after becoming homeless around four years ago, said he and his partner had not been offered a space at the shelter The head of Sacramento Film, Jennifer West, said she was excited for Anderson and DiCaprio's film to work in their city. 'We are thrilled to have these creative projects come to life in Sacramento,' she wrote in a blog post. 'We appreciate your cooperation and support as we showcase the beauty and vitality of Sacramento through these cinematic endeavors.' Shooting is scheduled to go on in the area until Tuesday. In photos exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, DiCaprio, 49, looks unrecognizable in a disheveled costume consisting of a dirtied bathrobe and jeans, along with large sunglasses and a grey beanie. The actor - who was recently snubbed for an Oscar for Killers of the Flower Moon - was seen on the set with Anderson in the Northern California town of Eureka in late January. DiCaprio's character appears to have fallen on hard times himself as he makes a call on a pay phone and sinks to the floor, a defeated expression on his face. Cameras zeroed in on DiCaprio as he sat outside a grocery store, dramatically reaching his hand across the cement. The film's plot is currently being kept under wraps, but Deadline recently reported that the film also stars Sean Penn and Regina Hall. The movie is set in contemporary times and was written by Anderson. Anderson is also producing the movie with Sara Murphy and Adam Somner. In addition to the three leads, Deadline reported that the film will have a large ensemble cast. The film's budget is said to be close to $100 million, Variety reports. DiCaprio's character appears to have fallen on hard times himself as he makes a call on a pay phone and sinks to the floor, a defeated expression on his face Sacramento's Democratic District Attorney filed a lawsuit in September against the Democrat-led capital over failure to clean up homeless encampments The city has a waiting list over 1,200 for their 1,300 shelter beds, which are currently full A homeless tent on sidewalk in front of Sacramento Credit Union Office Shooting is scheduled to displace the homeless as it goes on in the area until Tuesday Sacramento, like much of California's cities, is undergoing a homeless crisis, with the District Attorney filing a lawsuit in September against the Democrat-led capital over failure to clean up homeless encampments. The Department of Housing and Urban Development found California accounts for half of all homeless people in the country. Homelessness advocacy group Sacramento Steps Forward says that 9,278 homeless people live in Sacramento County. Roughly three-quarters of the countys homeless population is unsheltered, and the majority of that group are living on Sacramento streets. In 2022, California's state capital city saw homeless population numbers grow higher than San Francisco. Crime data from from the California Department of Justice found that in 2022 there were 8,894 violent crimes in Sacramento County. Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather - a regular thorn in Anthony Albanese's side - took just a week to pick a fight with the PM upon returning to Parliament this year. Mr Chandler-Mather was able to get under the skin of the Prime Minister during Question Time on Monday with a crack about Mr Albanese's rental property portfolio, which reportedly makes him some $115,000 per year. 'Labor's refusal to phase out billions of dollars in property investor tax concessions to property investors - like yourself - is denying millions of renters the chance to buy a home,' the 31-year-old first term MP noted. He added that 75 per cent of Labor's parliamentary members own investment properties and questioned whether this influenced the government's decision to avoid making changes to Australia's negative gearing policies. Mr Albanese - who has had a spring in his step in Parliament after his Stage Three tax cuts broken promise was well received - was clearly frustrated by the question. He hit back in a way that Mr Chandler-Mather has become all too familiar with since he was elected to represent the Brisbane seat of Griffith in May 2022. Mr Albanese and Labor have accused Mr Chandler-Mather of whipping up outrage about housing in order to further his own political ambitions 'The idea that there will be a discussion with that juvenile approach that we have seen from those opposite will not occur,' the PM said snippily. READ MORE: Labor unveils most significant housing reform in a generation Advertisement 'This is not a students' council, this is a Parliament. 'It is a parliament that has a responsibility, that has a responsibility to look after the people who put us here, not to grandstand. 'There will be no negotiations on that basis.' Speaker Milton Dick noted Mr Chandler-Mather's question was 'pretty close to the wind' and warned members note to impugn the motives of other MPs with their questions. Labor is acutely aware that any economic concessions to the Greens could open them up to further criticism about broken promises, after backing away from the Stage Three tax cut commitment the PM made no less than 36 times. While the decision was clearly the politically savvy one - with polls showing the majority of Australians support keeping more money in their own pockets - MPs are not eager to be seen as breaking further promises with matters such as negative gearing. Mr Chandler-Mather appears to take pride in his ability to ruffle the PM's feathers. Some insiders say he is something of a ghost of Albanese's past and probably reminds the PM a little of his younger self. Both men came from Labor-loving families, and joined the party themselves as teenagers, eager to embrace the left-wing ideology of the party. Mr Chandler-Mather says he is unsurprised and not bothered by the frosty relationship he shares with the government Mr Albanese was considered a 'radical' even within the left of his party, labelled a 'firebrand' It wasn't enough for Mr Chandler-Mather, who left the party in 2013 in favour of the Greens. In 2022, he spoke out about the decision, claiming he could not remain in a party willing to maintain offshore detention facilities in Nauru under Kevin Rudd. 'I left the ALP in 2013 for the same reason many people stopped voting for them. They have abandoned their principles, won't fix the rigged system and have no vision for a better life for all Australians,' he said in promotional material for his new party. He was a member of the Labor Left faction during his time at the University of Queensland. Both of his parents were also members, and reportedly encouraged him to join. He worked for the trade union United Voice, before going on to become a union organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union after graduating. Meanwhile, Mr Albanese was considered a 'radical' even within the left of his party, labelled a 'firebrand'. Mr Chandler-Mather, who is the member for the inner Brisbane seat of Griffith, has been scathing of the Labor government over its housing policies - including rental assistance - on social media, raking in millions of views By 26, he was a senior member of the NSW Labor left, and was elected in Grayndler at 33. Over the decades, the PM's position on issues have softened. He's been far more balanced in his assessment of the crisis in Palestine and Israel than his former self, and has taken a step back from his loud commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in the face of defeat after the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. And he has made clear his distaste for Mr Chandler-Mather. Proposals to grant the United Nations refugee agency a veto over the removal of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda were dropped last night as Rishi Sunak came under fire from Tory grandees. Amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill tabled by Labour's Baroness Chakrabarti and backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby were withdrawn after a three-hour debate in the House of Lords. Baroness Chakrabarti said she was withdrawing 'for now' proposals that would hand the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a crucial role in deciding whether Rwanda is a safe country. During the debate, former Tory leader Lord [Michael] Howard described the amendments as an 'abdication of responsibility'. Amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill tabled by Labour 's Baroness Chakrabarti and backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby were withdrawn after a three-hour debate in the House of Lords Baroness Chakrabarti said she was withdrawing 'for now' proposals that would hand the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a crucial role in deciding whether Rwanda is a safe country. He said they would hand powers over Britain's borders to 'an unelected body with no accountability'. They would 'outsource' decisions on UK border security and immigration policy to the UN commissioner with no oversight, he said. Mr Welby supported the amendments to the Bill, including those to scupper the Government's proposals to ignore 'pyjama injunctions' issued by Strasbourg judges. The Bill in conjunction with a new treaty aims to declare Rwanda a safe country and assuage concerns of the Supreme Court which declared the scheme unlawful in November. Tory peer Lord Hailsham said the Bill should set up a 'monitoring body' to decide the safety of Rwanda. Crossbencher and former diplomat Lord Kerr said that rather than Parliament being asked to declare Rwanda's safety, an 'independent reviewer' could be established. Both options if pursued by the Upper House as it amends the Bill would postpone removals flights by months or even longer. Lord Tugendhat said: 'I've been a member of the Conservative Party for 66 years and... I find it quite extraordinary that the party of Margaret Thatcher should be introducing a Bill of this kind. Proposals to grant the United Nations refugee agency a veto over the removal of asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda were dropped last night as Rishi Sunak came under fire from Tory grandees 'What we are being asked to do really represents the sort of behaviour that the world associates with despots and autocracies, not with an established democracy, not with the Mother of Parliaments.' But crossbencher Lord Green, the founder of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tougher border controls, warned peers to remember that there is 'deep public anger' over illegal immigration. He said they should aim to 'give advice' to ministers on how to 'take that under control' rather than trying to scupper the Government's attempts. The scheme aims to send illegal migrants to the east African nation where they will be able to claim asylum there rather than in the UK. Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron warned peers they were 'wrong' to hamper the Bill. He said: 'All over the world you see problems of very visible illegal migration, that's what you have coming to our south coast with this terrible human trafficking of people, getting into very dangerous dinghies and crossing the Channel many lose their lives.' The House of Lords continues its scrutiny of the Bill today. Crowds were cheering off the HMS Prince of Wales as it finally departed for the largest Nato maritime exercise in 40 years after delays. The Royal Navy aircraft carrier's journey had been postponed at the last minute on Sunday as it was about to set sail to replace its sister ship which was forced to cancel its own deployment a week ago. The fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth had been expected to depart from Portsmouth Naval Base on January 4 to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, involving more than 40 vessels. But the sailing of the 3 billion warship was called off at the last moment after an 'issue' was found in final checks with the starboard propeller coupling. Since the cancellation was announced, the crew and base workers have been preparing HMS Prince of Wales to take over HMS Queen Elizabeth's role in Exercise Steadfast Defender off Norway. The Royal Navy aircraft carrier's (pictured) journey had been postponed at the last minute on Sunday as it was about to set sail to replace its sister ship which was forced to cancel its own deployment a week ago Since the cancellation of the HMS Queen Elizabeth was announced, the crew and base workers have been preparing HMS Prince of Wales to take over HMS Queen Elizabeth's role in Exercise Steadfast Defender off Norway Watching the HMS Prince of Wales leaving Portsmouth, family members and friends watched as their loved ones set sail Watching the HMS Prince of Wales leaving Portsmouth, parents Julie and Mark Benton were waving off their son Ethan on his first deployment. Mr Benton said: 'That's a really proud moment for us. This is his first deployment, he joined when he was 17 and this is what he wanted to do from school. And here he is 19 years old and he's living his dream and couldn't be better. 'It's a really big deal for him. A big deal for us as a family, and he's following in his grandfather's footsteps as well. We're really, really proud of him.' The family had travelled from Wrexham, north Wales, to see off their son who was 'disappointed' when the departure was delayed from Sunday. But Mr Benton added: 'All the crew have worked ever so hard to get the ship ready in such a short space of time, that's fantastic.' Also in Portsmouth on Monday was mum-of-two Monika Holton who, with her eight-week-old baby and toddler, was waving off her husband who is the second navigator of the warship. The 31-year-old said: 'I'm pretty excited, pretty anxious. Life is a little bit stressed and hectic, he's my lifeline and he's going away for some time. 'I'm also very excited. It's a big exercise for the ship, for the crew. I'm just excited for him.' She said the one week's notice before his deployment was 'quite a shock to the system' but added that the delay to the ship's departure meant the couple could enjoy an early Valentine's Day dinner. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said on Sunday that the sailing had been postponed but did not give a reason for the last-minute change. He said: 'The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is due to sail from Portsmouth soon, subject to suitable tide and weather conditions.' Earlier on Monday, security minister Tom Tugendhat said of the delay that it was 'not acceptable that Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is sitting in dock when it should be out 'defending our interests abroad'. HMS Prince of Wales finally left Portsmouth Habour on February 12 after many delays (pictured left here) Crowds cheered on the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as it set sail from Portsmouth Harbour to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, involving more than 40 vessels Hundreds came to watch the HMS Prince of Wales depart and cheered loudly as it set sail Asked what had happened to HMS Prince of Wales on Sunday, Mr Tugendhat told LBC: 'I'm afraid it's not something I can explain - that's a matter for the MoD (Ministry of Defence), and I'm going to have to ask some questions about it. 'But I'm sure the First Sea Lord is looking at this right now. Admiral (Sir Ben) Key has commanded an aircraft carrier in the past and will no doubt be all over the details of this and making sure they set sail as soon as possible. 'It isn't acceptable that we have such expensive and important items of kit sitting in dock when they should be out defending our interests abroad.' Defence secretary Grant Shapps said it had been a 'monumental effort' to get the ship immediately ready in just one week rather than with 30 days' notice. He said: 'The ability to deploy hundreds of crew to make ready one of the world's most complex aircraft carriers within a week is testament to the skill and ability of the Royal Navy. 'In an increasingly dangerous world, where it is more important than ever that we stand united with our allies, HMS Prince of Wales will send a powerful message of collective security and deterrence at the head of this multinational strike group.' The carrier's logistics officer, Lieutenant Commander Chris Barnett, said in less than a week the crew have brought on board approximately 70,000 sailor day rations, the equivalent of 400,000 of food, alongside 30,000 toilet rolls and spare parts, medical stores and more. The HMS Prince of Wales will be at the centre of Nato exercises involving more than 20,000 UK military personnel. The warship will lead a carrier strike group of eight ships, four of them British, supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels. Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said: 'The UK has an unwavering commitment to Nato and collective deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic region. 'There is no better demonstration of that than HMS Prince of Wales being at the heart of the upcoming Nato maritime exercises, the largest in over 40 years.' The mother found dead next to a bloody iron in a New York City hotel room was strangled and beaten to death, an autopsy has revealed. Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was discovered by staff at SoHo 54 Hotel around 10.30am Thursday. Her death has been provisionally ruled a homicide. A spokesman for the city medical examiner said Oleas-Arancibia died of compression to her neck and blunt head trauma. She was unconscious and unresponsive when authorities arrived on scene. She sustained significant head trauma and was pronounced dead by EMS. Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was found dead in a room at SoHo 45 Hotel on Thursday morning Her death has formally been ruled a homicide (pictured: interior of the room where Oleas-Arancibia was found) Oleas-Arancibia died of compression to her neck and blunt head trauma, according to a spokesperson for the city medical examiner A bloody iron was found near her body. However, there were no signs of forced entry, authorities said. ABC 7 reported that a pair of bloody pants with a receipt in them were also recovered from the hotel room. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing. The woman's son, 18-year-old Edwin Cevallos, spoke to his mother one day before her death. But he said he saw changes in her demeanor a week before the tragedy. 'She was so nervous and she was worried,' Cevallos told the Daily News. The teen said he was 'in shock,' adding: 'Everything here in New York reminds me of her. Everything.' Cevallos had been living with Oleas-Arancibia and her nephew in an apartment in Queens. The 38-year-old mother was unresponsive and unconscious when authorities arrived on scene. She was pronounced dead by EMS A bloody iron was found lying by her body. Police also recovered a pair of bloody pants with a receipt in them from the hotel room Oleas-Arancibia (pictured left) came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family including one of her sons Edwin Cevallos, 18, joined his mother in the country two years ago. He described her as 'a very good person' who 'never hurt anybody' The Ecuador native came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family including one of her other sons. 'My mom, she worked very hard,' said Cevallos, who joined her in the country two years ago. While the teen conceded that he didn't know his mother's occupation, he said she was 'always working for us to give us the best life in this country.' The 18-year-old was waiting to meet her Thursday morning and phoned the police when he still didn't see her at 1 pm. Cevallos described his mother as 'a very good person' who was 'always helping people' and 'never hurt anybody.' 'She was always paying for everything. She never owed money to anybody. She was always looking to help them move forward,' the teen said. He explained that his mother had worked tirelessly to achieve the American Dream and provide a better life for her children. 'She gave us the life that we always wanted,' Cevallos said. Cevallos admitted that he did not know what his mother did for work, but said she worked hard to give him the life he always wanted Detectives filed into the Manhattan hotel Thursday morning, startling guests who were staying there for New York Fashion Week SoHo 45, formerly known as the Hampton Inn, advertises rooms for around $110 a night on its website The last time he saw her was Wednesday morning, when she cooked him breakfast and paid a barber for his haircut. Oleas-Arancibia told her son that she loved him as he left for school that day. 'She was always happy and having fun,' Cevallos said. 'I can't believe this happened.' Detectives filed into the Manhattan hotel Thursday morning, startling guests who were staying there for New York Fashion Week. SoHo 45, formerly known as the Hampton Inn, advertises rooms for around $110 a night on its website. The hotel did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. READ MORE: Bali travel warning is issued to Australians ahead of election Aussies heading to Bali will now have to pay a new 'tourist tax' to enter the holiday hotspot, introduced in a bid to curb unruly tourists. From Wednesday this week, all international tourists will pay 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about A$15), to pass through Bali's Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar, or any of the island's sea ports. Tourists will have to pay the tax every time they enter the island, in addition to an existing $50 e-visa that has been in place since May 2022. Bali Governor's Wayan Koster urged holidaymakers to pay the levy online before leaving for the island to avoid waiting in long lines, however it can also be paid in cash at the airport. Mr Koster said the tax will help fund efforts to preserve Bali's rich 'culture and environment' and make the destination less attractive to 'cheap' tourists. International tourists will have to pay an extra A$15 tourist tax to enter Bali (pictured) from February 14 in a bid to preserve the island's rich 'culture and environment' Earlier the governor had said of the tax's introduction that he hoped it will keep away 'cheap tourists who tend to cause a lot of problems'. Bali officials have been struggling to keep unruly visitors from behaving disrespectfully toward locals and the environment after Covid-era lockdowns were lifted. In the year-and-a-half since, some tourists have been seen skirting the laws and traditions of the island, including incidents of people appearing naked in front of sacred monuments and urinating in public places. Officials also claims the influx of tourists has also left the picturesque island and its environment damaged and in need of government intervention to preserve it. 'Bali's nature has become a major national and world tourism destination and has indeed made a positive contribution to Bali itself and nationally, but on the other hand, it has also had a serious negative impact,' Mr Koster said last year. 'In order to protect the glory of Balinese culture and the quality of the natural environment, it is very necessary to make concrete efforts in mutual cooperation with all parties related to Bali tourism.' Bali Governor, Wayan Koster, urged tourists to pay the tax online before arriving on the island, however it can be bought with cash on arrival at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar (pictured) There are several exemptions to paying the tourist tax, including those for those who enter on diplomatic or official purposes, uniting with family and conveyance crew members working on ships. Those entering the country on temporary or permanent stay cards, or on golden and student visas will also be exempt. Mr Koster previously published a listed of 'dos and don'ts' to be handed out to tourists upon entry to remind them what is acceptable during their stay. Among the 'don'ts list', tourists will be told not to defile sacred places or pollute the island such as throwing rubbish into its waterways. Under the 'dos list', tourists are told to respect the island's customs, dress modestly and behave politely at sacred sites. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it could investigate an incident at London's Soho Theatre involving a comedian who demanded that a Jewish audience member leave his show because he refused to stand up and applaud a Palestine flag. 'Absurdist' comedian Paul Currie is accused of encouraging the crowd to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' at Israeli ticketholder Liahav Eitan at the central London theatre on Saturday night. Mr Eitan, who was out celebrating his 33rd birthday with a friend, has told MailOnline how he feared that Currie was going to 'punch' him and that he was left terrified by the 'mob mentality' of the crowd. The shocking incident took place in front of around 200 people at the end of Currie's one-hour show when he pulled out a Ukraine flag and then a Palestine flag before demanding the crowd give a standing ovation and applaud. Audience members were left feeling 'uneasy' when he then confronted Mr Eitan and his friend because they stayed sat down. He then told them to leave his show and led pro-Palestine chants as they fled the venue across the stage. Currie, who performed hours after attending a pro-Palestine rally in London, has doubled down on his act by sharing praise for his incendiary routine. He reposted an Instagram story from another comic last night which said: 'Thanks @paulcurriecomedian for an amazing show on Saturday and for unapologetically calling for a ceasefire now.' Liahav Eitan (pictured) was hounded out of London's Soho Theatre after comedian Paul Currie encouraged his audience to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' Paul Currie at a pro-Palestine march hours before performing at London's Soho Theatre on Saturday Currie, who performed hours after attending a pro-Palestine rally in London, has doubled down on his act by sharing praise for his incendiary routine Following the shocking scenes at the theatre, which is a former synagogue, a Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are aware of the incident that took place at the Soho Theatre on Saturday evening. 'We understand why it was upsetting for those involved and we note the venue has issued a statement confirming they are looking into what took place. A report was submitted to police on Monday and enquiries are ongoing.' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Monday, Mr Eitan, who moved from Israel to London five years ago, said: 'I don't think theatres should book this person [Currie]. He seemed violent and dangerous.' The software engineer, whose seats were behind Currie, added: 'The only way out was through the stage. We had to actually get on the stage quite close to him - and I was quite afraid that he'd throw a punch because he was still cursing and shouting. 'He got out his Palestine flag again and shouted "motherf***er you'll have to watch it again on your way out".' Mr Eitan and his friend fled from the Soho Theatre to Bloomsbury in a bid to move away from the venue, where the crowd were spilling out and some of them were giving them 'unfriendly glances'. He continued: 'From the audience, we were mostly scared. We wanted to get out of the of the situation. It seemed like a bit of a mob mentality that could go sour any second. 'So we were just afraid of violence. That's why we didn't linger right? We just wanted to get out of there.' Paul Currie is an 'absurdist' comedian who is from Belfast. He is alleged to have told an Israeli man and his friends to leave his show Mr Eitan added: '[We were] mostly scared about how that room might turn against us. From the comedian, I didn't feel any sort of way like I thought it really reflected on him rather than on us.' Recalling how the night unfolded, Mr Eitan explained how he and his friend had booked last-minute tickets to see Currie because they had time to kill before a birthday dinner at 9.30pm. Mr Eitan said that while the show was 'bizarre', everything was fine until Currie unfurled the flags and asked the audience to stand up. He said he didn't believe it was fair to compare the Palestine and Ukraine conflicts but he just stayed sat and didn't do anything. The incident comes amid heightened tensions as the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on. Mr Eitan continued: 'If I was closer to the door, maybe I would have left at that stage. But as it was, I just waited five minutes for the for the show to end. 'When it ended, a lot of the people got up and clapped. There was a bit of a standing ovation there and me and my friends just stayed sat down quietly and not clapping. 'I didn't mean to make any point of it right? I just didn't really enjoy that bit.' Currie, who often shares pro-Palestine content on social media, is then said to have shown his appreciation to the crowd for coming before sarcastically thanking Mr Eitan and his friend for not standing up and clapping. The Soho Theatre was where the shocking incident occurred. It also used to be a synagogue The Soho Theatre issued a full apology for the incident and said that they would be investigating Mr Eitan said that Currie 'lingered' on them for around five to ten seconds until he responded: 'Thank you for that Palestine flag'. Currie then seemed 'quite taken aback' and asked Mr Eitan if he was being sarcastic. 'Then he said something like, 'Okay, well, you're welcome. You're welcome for the Palestine flag. It was part of the show.' 'And then he came back to me again and said, "Did you enjoy the show?" I said, "Yes, up until that point". And he said, "Ah up until that point". 'Then he just turns back to me and starts screaming, 'I'm from Belfast. I know everything about ceasefires. Ceasefire now, get the f*** out of my theatre. Get out, get the f*** out of my show, motherf***ers.' Mr Eitan said he then asked his friend if they should grab their things and go before they calmly attempted to leave. 'Unfortunately, when the entire crowd was still inside, the only way out was through the stage,' he added. Coming close with the comedian on stage, Mr Eitan said Currie started a 'public chant of 'ceasefire now, and free Palestine' as he 'tried to incite the crowd'. He added: 'I didn't look at him on the way out. We just left.' Mr Eitan said Currie should 'certainly' be reprimanded for his 'unreasonable and unprofessional behaviour'. The Soho Theatre has apologised for the 'upset and hurt' caused by the incident to some of their customers and will be investigating what happened. They wrote: 'We are sorry and saddened by an incident that took place at our venue at the end of a performance of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday 10 of February which has caused upset and hurt to members of audience attending and others. 'We take this very seriously and are looking into the detail of what happened as thoroughly, as sensitively, and as quickly as we can. 'It is important to us that Soho Theatre is welcoming and inclusive place for all.' Campaign Against Antisemitism said they are assisting Jewish guests who were allegedly hounded out of the Soho Theatre in London. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'What the Jewish audience-members have recounted is atrocious, and we are working with them and our lawyers to ensure that those who instigated and enabled it are held to account. 'These allegations are of deeply disturbing discriminatory abuse against Jews. Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, but hounding Jews out of theatres is reminiscent of humanity's darkest days, and must have no place in central London in 2024.' The Israel-Hamas conflict was sparked by the Palestinian terror group's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. The Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry says Israel's offensive has killed at least 28,340 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. MailOnline has contacted Paul Currie for comment. QUESTION Was J. M. W. Turner asked to dull his paintings for fear of outshining other artists? Such was the brilliance of J. M.W. Turner's (1775-1851) colours that artists dreaded having their works hung near his at exhibitions. At the annual Royal Academy exhibition of 1826, the portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence was mortified to find that Turner's Cologne, The Arrival Of A Packet-Boat: Evening had been positioned between two of his portraits. The sky of Turner's masterpiece was so lustrous that it had a 'most injurious effect' on the colour of Lawrence's portraits and he 'complained vociferously'. Turner, who was never envious of another artist's wealth or success, altered his painting to soothe Lawrence's feelings. As biographer Walter Thornbury recounted in The Life Of J. M. W. Turner, Founded On Letters And Papers: 'On the morning of the opening, at the private view, a friend of Turner's who had seen 'Cologne' in all its splendour, led a group of expectant critics to the picture. He started back in consternation. The golden sky had been changed to a dun colour. He ran up to Turner: 'Turner! Turner! What have you done to your picture?' The sky of Turner's masterpiece was so lustrous that it had a 'most injurious effect' on the colour of Lawrence's portraits and he 'complained vociferously' ' 'Oh!' muttered Turner in a low voice, 'Poor Lawrence was so unhappy. It's lampblack. It'll wash off after the exhibition.' ' It was just one of many examples of Turner's generous spirit. When the watercolourist Thomas Girtin died young in 1802, Turner exclaimed: 'If Girtin had lived, I would have starved.' Sheila Wilson, Bedford. QUESTION Which was the first carbonated drink? Springs of mineral water, made bubbly through the natural infusion of carbon dioxide, have been known for centuries. In 1767, Yorkshire chemist Joseph Priestley found a way to artificially reproduce the effect. He dripped sulphuric acid onto chalk over the top of his vat and discovered that this infused the water with carbon dioxide. In 1772, he released a paper describing this process as 'impregnating water with fixed air'. Yorkshire chemist Joseph Priestley dripped sulphuric acid onto chalk over the top of his vat and discovered that this infused the water with carbon dioxide (Stock image) Based on Priestley's research, Swiss amateur scientist Johann Jacob Schweppe developed and honed the process to mass manufacture carbonated mineral water in Geneva. He founded the Schweppes Company in 1783 and his sparkling waters were immediately popular, even with King William IV of England. The earliest reference to a flavoured carbonated drink was a recipe for ginger beer found in A Practical Treatise On Brewing, published in 1809. In 1819, The Morning Chronicle advertised Pitt & Co's ginger beer and soda water. Carbonated lemonade was available from the 1830s. Robert and Mary White produced the first R. White's lemonade in Camberwell, South London, in 1845. For the Great Exhibition of 1851, Schweppes was designated the official drink supplier and sold more than a million bottles of lemonade, ginger beer, seltzer water and soda water. L. P. Graham, Walsall, West Midlands. QUESTION Why do we board an aircraft from the left-hand (port) side? This goes back into ancient history, as far as the Phoenicians or possibly earlier, and the design of boats. TOMORROW'S QUESTIONS... Q: What is the story of agricultural hiring fairs, where labourers, including children, were hired? H. Woods, Chilton, County Durham. Q: Was there a real-life inspiration for R. L. Stevenson's Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde? Kim Bramwell, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Q: What became of boxer Brian London, who once fought Muhammad Ali? Linda Mousley, St Albans, Herts. Advertisement When a steering oar or 'board' was used to steer a boat, it was positioned to the right-hand side of the stern post (the upper aft end of the keel) as the majority of people are right-handed. This meant that the steersman could stand in the centre of the ship which made it easier to maintain his balance. From this, we get 'steer board side' which migrated to become 'starboard side'. To make it easier to steer the boat away from the dock and prevent the steering board from becoming trapped against the dock wall, ships would always try to tie up with the left-hand side against the quayside. This is how 'left' on board ships became known as 'port' as it was the closest side to the dock when in port. Passengers, therefore, always boarded ships from the left. Cargo was also loaded and unloaded from the left. Even though changes in ship design over the centuries meant that ships' captains no longer had to conform to this practice, seafaring traditions die hard and most preferred to tie up with the port side of their ship against the dock. When air travel came along and a choice had to be made as to which side passengers should board, old habits prevailed and the port side was chosen. Aircraft are designed with doors on the starboard side as well as the port, in order to provide enough emergency exits. However, the starboard side doors are used for the loading of catering supplies directly into the galley areas and for wheelchair access. Robert Sutherland, Northampton. QUESTION What once popular school games are no longer played? Further to the earlier answer, one quite lethal game we played in the 1950s was called Horsey Horsey Ay!. We would split into two teams with ten kids in each. The leader would stand with their back to the school wall. The next of the team would bend over and put their head between the leader's legs with their arms wrapped around them. The next would go between that person's legs (rugby scrum-like) until there was a line of nine kids without heads showing. The other team would take a long run and vault over the end person trying to land as far down the line as possible. The person they landed on would have to bear the full weight of the flying projectile! Each member of the opposing team would take it in turns to crash down on the line. If someone collapsed under the onslaught, the opposing team would win; if they all held up, it was the other team's time to form the line. There were a lot of A&E candidates from this game and teachers tried to make it illegal, but it continued for many years. John Howes, Cardiff. A fraudster who conned an Army veteran and a company boss out of 200,000 is facing jail. Agnes Hewitt, 63, spun a web of lies which led to former soldier George Ross and businessman Michael Dooley handing over huge sums of cash. Hewitt posed as a legal expert who told Mr Ross she could handle an employment dispute with the Royal British Legion around 2011. She demanded payment for lawyers and sent fake paperwork before telling him the case had settled for 501,000. No money arrived and Mr Ross became seriously ill and died in June 2019. Hewitt had demanded 10,000 as he lay in hospital. His family alerted the police who found she had taken 52,684. Agnes Hewitt, 63, (pictured) spun a web of lies which led to former soldier George Ross and businessman Michael Dooley handing over huge sums of cash Investigators also found Hewitt had conned Mr Dooley and his wife Clare, from Dalkeith, Midlothian, out of almost 140,000 during a dispute with another director at their firm, Strathkelvin Instruments. Wheelchair-bound Hewitt, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, denied all wrongdoing but jurors convicted her of obtaining 192,649 by fraud between 2012 and 2018, following a four-day trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court. Mr Ross's widow Ann said: 'My husband was a veteran and for someone to do that, taking every penny, is disgraceful. 'My husband was crying his eyes out on the phone to her in the hospital and he said to her 'you have bled me dry and taken every penny'.' Hewitt posed as a legal expert who told Mr Ross she could handle an employment dispute with the Royal British Legion around 2011. Pictured: Hamilton Sheriff Court Mr Dooley, 55, of Bathgate, West Lothian, told depute fiscal Aga Mathieson that he had paid for legal costs. But years passed before he found no court case existed. He said: 'At the end of the day I was conned and I have to hold my hands up and say again that I was conned.' Sheriff Linda Nicolson deferred sentence for reports and continued bail. She warned Hewitt: 'You have been convicted of two serious charges and it might be the case that a custodial sentence cannot be avoided.' Female fraudster, 63, 'bled dry' an Army veteran as part of a 200,000 con - and now the pensioner faces jail A WWII-era ship has been discover at the bottom of Lake Superior nearly 84 years after it vanished during a ferocious storm. In a news release, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) announced the discovery of the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington. The ship was found north of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, buried beneath 650 feet of water. The historical society's interest was piqued when shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain detected an abnormality while combing through remote sensing data. In 2023, Fountain joined GLSHS Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel and the crew of the R/V David Boyd as they inspected the anomaly with sonar, finding that it was indeed a shipwreck. A WWII-era ship was discovered at the bottom of Lake Superior, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced in a news release The 244-foot bulk carrier, named the Arlington, went missing in May 1940 after it sank during a violent storm The ship was carrying wheat to Owen Sound, Ontario from Port Arthur Later dives positively identified the submerged craft as the Arlington. The discovery came nearly eight and a half decades after it sailed off from Port Arthur, Ontario, carrying wheat to Owen Sound. Commanding the Arlington was Frederick 'Tatey Bug' Burke, who had embarked on many prior voyages across Lake Superior. The crew was met with rolling fog and even encountered a larger freighter, the Collingwood, as they began to cross the water. But a storm began to build once night fell, pummeling both ships. Water began to accumulate inside the Arlington. Junis Macksey, the ship's first mate, ordered that they reroute to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would provide some defense against the furious wind and roaring waves. In a move that is still questioned by historians today, Burke ordered the ship back on course. At around 4:30 am on May 1st, 1940, Chief Engineer Fred Gilbert sounded the alarm: the ship was going under. When the captain failed to provide orders to abandon ship, the crew began to jump overboard on their own. After the ship's captain, Frederick 'Tatey Bug' Burke, bizarrely refused to reroute to avoid a storm, the Arlington went under Everyone survived and was brought aboard a nearby ship, with the exception of Burke. Researcher Dan Fountain hopes the discovery will bring 'closure' to his descendants Murky underwater footage shows the ship sitting partially upright The Arlington remained mostly intact, even eight and a half decades after its disappearance Everyone made it onboard the Collingwood, with the exception of Burke, whose erratic behavior remains a mystery. 'Why did he go down with his shipwhen he easily could have been saved like the rest of his crew?' GLSHS wrote in the release. 'The fact is no one will ever know the answer.' Reports indicate the captain waved at the Collingwood from near the pilothouse of his ship, moments before it was swallowed by the deep. There it sat for years, partially upright and largely intact, accumulating coral and marine life. Murky underwater footage released by GLSHS shows a diver skirting the Arlington's rusty hull, revealing that some features have been perfectly preserved. Teamwork was essential in the discovery, according to GLSHS Executive Director Bruce Lynn. 'This was absolutely demonstrated when Marquette resident Dan Fountain approached us with a potential target near the Copper Harbor area of Lake Superior,' Lynn said. 'We are lucky to have so many dedicated shipwreck historians and researchers as friends of GLSHS.' GLSHS operates the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum out of Whitefish Point Light Station in Michigan (pictured) The nonprofit's executive director says teamwork played a huge role in the discovery of the historical craft The organization was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers and educators looking to explore historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior The organization was founded in 1978 by a coalition of divers, teachers and educators looking to explore historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior. The nonprofit operates the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and U.S. Weather Bureau Building, both situated on historic properties. Fountain, whose instincts led to the discovery of the ship, said he was simply excited to solve the mystery. 'I hope this final chapter in her story can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke,' the Marquette man added. His work is far from over. Since the ship was confirmed to be the Arlington, Fountain has been trying to trace descendants of the crew in Ontario. 'These targets don't always amount to anything...but this time it absolutely was a shipwreck. A wreck with an interesting, and perhaps mysterious story,' Lynn said. 'Had Dan not reached out to us, we might never have located the Arlington...and we certainly wouldn't know as much about her story as we do today.' This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Shocking footage has emerged of two girls from prestigious schools throwing punches at each other in a violent brawl at a shopping centre in full view of horrified onlookers. The dramatic incident unfolded at Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre's food court in Melbourne's north-east on Friday afternoon. The two teens - one of whom reportedly attends Carey Baptist Grammar School and the other, Balwyn High School - were seen throwing punches at one another. In the footage, one girl wearing a bright orange T-shirt and track pants is seen grappling with another girl wearing a white T-shirt and gym shorts. During the fight, the girl in the orange T-shirt forced the other girl down onto the ground and began punch her head several times. Shocking footage has emerged of a violent brawl between two female students (pictured) who attend prestigious high schools in Melbourne The girl on the ground tried to cover up and protect herself from the blows. Two other teenagers standing nearby were seen fight the incident on their phones. The girl in the white T-shirt then managed to get up and continue the brawl before a man and woman intervened to separate the pair. The girls are understood to have been involved in a heated exchange over Snapchat before tensions boiled over, leading to the physical altercation. The latest incident is one of several recent fights to have occurred between school students in the food court of the shopping complex. Carey Grammar Principal Johnathan Walter said the elite college - which charges parents a massive $37,976 per annum in school fees for year 11 and 12 students - was looking into the incident. '[The school] is aware of an incident that took place outside of school, involving an altercation between two teenagers, one of whom is a new student at Carey,' Mr Walter told the Herald Sun. 'The school is currently conducting an investigation of the incident and is extending appropriate support, counselling and care to the student and her family. 'Carey takes all allegations of inappropriate student behaviour very seriously and we are in discussions with the student, parents, police and counsellors to fully understand the situation before taking any further action.' Horrified onlookers eventually managed to separate the pair (pictured) following the senseless brawl Daily Mail Australia has contacted Carey Grammar and Balwyn High School for further comment. A spokesperson from Victoria's Department of Education told Daily Mail in a statement that violence has no place in schools. 'Victorian government schools have zero tolerance for any violence, and incidents of physical altercations in schools are extremely rare,' the spokesperson said. 'If any student is alleged to be involved in any illegal activity outside the school environment, the school will always work proactively and closely with Victoria Police, who are responsible for investigating criminal conduct.' A spokesperson from Victoria Police said they had been made aware of the incident, however a formal report about the altercation has not been made at this stage. Videos circulating on social media recently have showed dozens of high school students involved in violent fights with one another. More than a hundred so called 'fight club' videos have been uploaded to social media sites over the past six months showing students - many of whom attend elite private schools in Melbourne - throwing other students on the ground before punching and kicking them in disturbing scenes. Anyone who witnessed the incident at the food court or or has further information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. King Charles is still hoping to visit Australia with Queen Camilla in October, despite his recent cancer diagnosis. His ongoing treatment had thrown his appearance to the country this autumn in doubt, but a Palace source says the King still hopes to complete the visit as part of a long-haul trip. The visit is scheduled around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa and was confirmed by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese in early January. The source told the Telegraph: 'We continue planning, but we're not at any stage to confirm timing or dates because it's the first week of the King's treatment. It certainly remains the case that he's hopeful it will go ahead.' The visit will be the first by a ruling monarch since Elizabeth II in October 2011 and Charles' first since his accession. On Sunday, the King was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with the Queen, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments The visit is scheduled around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa and was confirmed by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) in early January Mr Albanese revealed the monarchs intention to visit at the beginning of the year, with a Government spokesperson telling The Australian newspaper: 'The Prime Minister enjoys a warm relationship with the King, and looks forward to welcoming His Majesty to Australia later this year.' The King announced he was postponing all public duties last week while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer. His majesty is well enough to hold a limited number of face-to-face meetings, sources say, but will be spending most of his time recovering at Sandringham or Highgrove. Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. He is also expected to return to London more or less weekly in order to hold his audience with the Prime Minister and receive further treatment and medical advice. On Sunday, the King was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with the Queen, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments. The Kings's spring visit to Canada and trip to New Zealand around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting is still up in the air for the time being. The tours are considered critical in terms of shoring up support in a time of growing republicanism across the Commonwealth. In Australia, Mr Albanese confirmed last year that his desire for a referendum remained The King is said to have been keen to be in Samoa October 21 for the crucial meeting, but the trip now hinges on whether he will feel able to. Charles' first overseas tours as king were to France and Germany respectively, then to Kenya, a member of the Commonwealth but not a realm. Rishi Sunak has pledged to turbocharge the development of cities and build hundreds and thousands of new homes for young people. It comes after the Prime Minister admitted the Conservatives have 'much more to do' to help young people get on the housing ladder, as he acknowledged 'people's anger' over the housing crisis. New plans to be unveiled today will see shops, offices and commercial buildings converted into homes, while urban councils will be told they can only refuse planning permission on brownfield sites in exceptional circumstances. Rishi Sunak has said there is potential for up to a million homes to be built on these brownfield sites. Rishi Sunak has pledged to turbocharge the development of cities and build hundreds and thousands of new homes for young people In London, ministers suggest they could offer up 11,500 homes a year in areas where there is a high demand. In an article for The Times, Rishi Sunak said: 'I understand people's anger when that dream [of home ownership] feels too far away for too many, especially the younger generation. New plans to be unveiled today will see shops, offices and commercial buildings converted into homes 'We know there is much more to do. [But] to solve the housing challenge, we must ask not just 'how many', but 'where'.' Rishi Sunak argues that it is wrong to build new greenfield estates in the countryside where residents strongly oppose such developments and there isn't the infrastructure to support them i.e. GP surgeries, schools and roads. Sunak accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of missing the capital's housing target of 30,000 homes per year and said this was pushing developers further afield. Donald Trump called Monday night for a leadership change at the Republican National Committee in an attempt to install a new slate of loyalists - including his daughter-in-law Lara. The former president is hoping to revamp the GOP's political machine before he tries to secure the party's next presidential nomination. Current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel says she has no plans to leave the committee until at least after South Carolina's February 24 primary election. Still, Trump is calling for McDaniel to be replaced by Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman. The new co-chair, Trump said, should be his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, whom he called 'dedicated MAGA' in a statement. Donald Trump is calling for Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman, to become the new co-chair of the RNC The new co-chair, Trump said, should be his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, whom he called 'dedicated MAGA' in a statement He wrote in a statement released Monday: 'The RNC MUST be a good partner in the Presidential election. It must do the work we expect from the national Party and do it flawlessly.' 'That means helping to ensure fair and transparent elections across the country, getting out the vote everywhere even in parts of the country where it won't be easy and working with my campaign, as the Republican presumptive nominee for President, to win this election and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Trump added that Whatley is 'committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election so it cant be stolen.' He said Lara, his son Eric's wife, is 'an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for.' 'This group of three is highly talented, battle-tested, and smart. They have my complete and total endorsement to lead the Republican National Committee,' Trump said. 'Every penny will be used properly. New Day.' Trump's move to push out McDaniel - days after the two met at his Mar-a-Lago residence and agreed to delay a decision on her future - reflects his urgency to force Republicans to unite behind him in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden. While Trump has not come close to gathering sufficient delegates to secure the nomination, he is eying a potential knockout blow against Nikki Haley, his last major primary rival, in her home state of South Carolina next week. Central to Trump's demands are his false theories of voter fraud. Trump said Lara, his son Eric's wife, is 'an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for' Donald Trump called Monday night for a leadership change at the Republican National Committee in an attempt to install a new slate of loyalists - including his daughter-in-law Lara to replace Ronna McDaniel (pictured right) Trump is hoping Lara will be part of a revamp to the GOP 's political machine even before the former president formally secures the party's next presidential nomination Trump has long complained that the RNC is not focused enough on preventing voter fraud, which he continues to falsely insist cost him the 2020 election, even though his own election officials, Justice Department and numerous courts found no evidence to support his claims. Alex Floyd, rapid response director for the DNC, slammed the appointment as a harbinger of a second Trump term to come to DailyMail.com in a statement. 'If there were ever a doubt that Donald Trump would bend America's institutions to his will in a second term, look no further than how he treats his own party,' he said. 'With his endorsement of election denying conspiracy theorist Michael Whatley for chair of the RNC, Trump is making it clear that the GOP is the home for insurrectionists and extreme MAGA fanatics.' Trump appeared to suggest on his Truth Social account on Tuesday that he will be deciding the future of the RNC after the South Carolina primary February 24. 'Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I'll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth,' he buried in a post boasting of his wins in Iowa and New Hampshire and previewing his visit to Nevada amid the primary and caucuses this week. A number of MAGA-aligned Republicans, have called on McDaniel to call it quits over the last several months, including suggestions made by Trump in interviews and social media posts. Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk told DailyMail.com last Monday in Las Vegas that he wanted to see Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump or failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy take over the party. Trump, in his statement, added that Whatley is 'committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election so it cant be stolen.' Trump has long complained that the RNC is not focused enough on preventing voter fraud, which he continues to falsely insist cost him the 2020 election. He believes Whatley would be able to focus more on election integrity Trump once had a close relationship with Chairwoman McDaniel, but it soured after 2020 and the 2022 midterm elections as MAGA-aligned Republicans started to complain that she couldn't deliver wins 'I think Vivek would be great. Or Don Jr. or Lara Trump,' Kirk said. 'I mean if the Trump campaign and the RNC merge, which they do at the convention, why wouldn't you have the RNC chair be Don Jr.? He works his tail off, he raises a ton of money. He's super intuitive.' 'Do you think he would want to do that?' DailyMail.com asked Kirk. 'No, that's why he'd be great,' he insisted. 'But Lara Trump would be a good one too. She's really smart, great on TV. Vivek would do a good job.' 'So I think Vivek, Don Jr. or Lara Trump,' he repeated. 'I think you've got to go outside the committee. That's my personal opinion. You've got to go outside this whole country club. You've got to get different thinking, you've got to mix it up a bit.' Kirk said if McDaniel 'goes away, then great.' 'We tried to get a different chair last January we were unsuccessful,' Kirk said. 'And we were really displeased in the last couple of months with how the RNC has handled multiple things.' Kirk wants to see the 'country club' of the RNC break up and get new blood into leadership. And he thinks that should come from pro-Trump world since the campaign and RNC will merge at the time of the convention over the summer. At Kirk's Turning Point conference last week, Steve Bannon delivered remarks to a crowd that included some RNC committee members where he denounced the chairwoman. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel told former President Donald Trump she'll resign at the end of the month after facing multiple calls to step down Trump once had a close relationship with Chairwoman McDaniel, but it soured after 2020 and the 2022 midterm elections as MAGA-aligned Republicans started to complain that she couldn't deliver wins In a call and response, Bannon asked: 'Does Ronna McDaniel should she resign immediately?' The crowd replied with a resounding: 'Yes!' 'Are we going to support anything the RNC does until she is gone?' he followed-up, with the crowd replying with, 'No!.' Ramaswamy said during the third RNC-run presidential primary debate in Miami, Florida in early November that he wanted to see McDaniel's resign. He called the GOP a 'party of losers' and demanded the RNC chairwoman 'come on stage tonight' and step down from her position. A teenage girl has been rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water during a swimming carnival. Emergency services were called to Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills, Sydney, about 1:30pm on Tuesday where they treated the high school student. A passerby told Daily Mail Australia the pool was hosting Newtown High School of the Performing Arts' swimming carnival at the time. Paramedics could be seen transporting her on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance confirmed the teen had been pulled from the water after suffering a medical episode and was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital. More to come. An ex-homicide detective has explained why police scaling back the search for missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy may actually mean good news for the investigation. The 51-year-old vanished on the morning of February 4 while going for a run in the Woowookarung Regional Park, northwest of Melbourne, at about 7am. A major search was launched involving various police units but it was scaled back on Saturday with locals now taking it upon themselves to continue searching for Ms Murphy. Charlie Bezzina, who worked in the Victorian Police on a number of high profile criminal cases, said he didn't think the public should be disheartened by the update. Samantha Murphy, 51, (pictured) vanished without a trace on February 4 EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: More heartbreak for missing mum's family The family of missing mum Samantha Murphy have been dealt another cruel blow with the disappearance of her beloved dog Advertisement 'It indicates the detectives are following a certain line of inquiry. The fact they've scaled it back should give people confidence that they're following that,' Mr Bezzina told Daily Mail Australia. 'They appear to be comfortable enough to scale this search back. That tells you they're confident to some degree that she's not in that area.' He added that police would not jeopardise any possible line of inquiry by publicising it to the media. 'The only people they've got to be honest with are the family,' he said. Some residents have rallied together together to continue coordinating their own searches. The former detective said it was still worthwhile for locals to do, even for their own peace of mind. Mr Bezzina added it was important for Ms Murphy's case to remain in the public eye to help with the investigation, given police have heavily relied on residents coming forward with any information. 'Clearly the case has waned in the Greater Melbourne CBD area, with the most interest coming from within the country areas,' he said. 'It's important to keep the investigation alive in the media.' Charlie Bezzina, who worked within the Victorian Police force on a number of high profile criminal cases, said it was possible detectives may be further along in the investigation than it seems Police and Country Fire Association and State Emergency Service volunteers and hundreds of locals spent six days scouring bushland for Ms Murphy, but the official search came to a halt on Saturday. Small teams of locals scoured bushland for the missing mum on Sunday, while another group organised to meet at Buninyong Police Station the following morning, but with temperatures soaring to 36 degrees, no one showed up on Monday. On Monday, the administrator of the Facebook group 'Find Samantha Murphy' - which garnered thousands of members since she disappeared - suddenly announced she would delete the group. Cin Hobbs, who ran the group, said: 'This group has served its purpose and we have been given the go ahead to delete. 'This is a huge mission on its own as I have to remove every member... the best thing you can do for her is to help speed the process up by deleting yourself.' There were other Facebook groups dedicated to the search, but none were as big as Ms Hobbs' group. Local volunteers are continuing their own searches for Samantha Murphy Before it was removed, locals would post maps of the areas they covered during their independent searches and report their findings. One person on Saturday found a black bra that had been chopped in half and hung on a fence and reported it to police. Members were shocked and confused when they found out all their search maps and information about clues they found would be deleted, but no explanation beyond Ms Hobbs' original post was provided. The official police search for Ms Murphy has now been handed over to the Missing Persons Squad and a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges. Timeline of Samantha Murphy's disappearance Sunday February 4, 7am: Mum-of-three Samantha Murphy is last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East heading off on a run. 7.16am: She is captured on a neighbour's CCTV wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings. 11am: Ms Murphy fails to show up at a planned brunch with family. She is reported to police as a missing. Monday February 5: Victoria Police launch a public appeal to find Ms Murphy. A search area is established just outside the suburb of Buninyong, about 14km from where Ms Murphy was last seen, as well as near her home. Police revealed Ms Murphy's mobile phone had pinged in Buninyong Tuesday February 6: Ms Murphy's Mick husband tells media that he's 'not too bad under the circumstances. He was pictured speaking with police as the desperate search continued. The search extended to more than 100 specialised police officers, SES crews and teams from Forest Fire Management Australia and Parks Victoria. Wednesday February 8, 12.30pm: A search party found possible evidence near a walking trail in Woowookarung Regional Park 1.45pm: Mick Murphy turns up at the cordoned off scene in Woowookarung Regional Park and appeared visibly stunned as he was turned away by officers. Police said the items found in bushland were not related to her whereabouts. Police later released what they initially thought was CCTV of Ms Murphy leaving her property and heading off in a north-easterly direction toward Yankee Flat Road near the intersection of Warrenheip Road. Thursday afternoon February 8: A runner came forward to reveal they are the person seen in the CCTV footage, ruling out a key line of inquiry. Friday February 9: Victoria Police ramp up its efforts with the arrival of officers from the missing persons unit. Saturday February 10: Investigators scale back the search and say that a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges. Sunday February 11: As police down grade the search, locals continue their own search by scouring the area in small groups. Monday February 12: Cin Hobbs, administrator of 'Find Samantha Murphy' Facebook group- which garnered thousands of members within days announced she was removing the group as it 'has served its purpose.' Advertisement A dad was left shocked and angry after an abusive note was left on his car when he parked in a space reserved for parents. The father had parked his car at Mandurah Forum, south of Perth, when he discovered the letter on his vehicle. 'Don't park here again, you selfish p****!' it read. His wife took to social media to express her outrage at the 'egotistical Karen' who left the note, even though her husband had every right to park there. 'My husband was putting a baby gate in the boot while I was in the forum changing our 7 month old baby,' she wrote on Facebook. 'He came back into the forum looking for me.. when we returned someone had put this (note) on our windscreen?? A dad was left shocked and angry after an abusive note using foul language (pictured) was left on his car when he parked in a space reserved for parents 'How about next time you be sure before insulting an innocent husband and father you hero.' The note, which was scrawled onto a piece of cardboard, left her husband 'hurt and almost feeling guilty', she said. READ MORE: Aussies in wealthy suburbs are installing expensive 'No Parking' signs on either side of their driveways People are installing their own 'No Parking' signs on their driveways (pictured) Advertisement Her post sparked a heated debate, with some questioning why such assigned spaces are needed in the first place. 'As a mum of just a five-year-old, I personally don't see the need for parent spaces. They are not any bigger, just more convenient. Kids need exercise and prams have wheels, not hard to walk,' a woman said. 'I personally think (there) should be seniors bays instead, they are less mobile and struggle to walk long distances. Give them the spots.' Another commenter pointed out that 'it's not illegal to park in those bays whether you have a baby or not'. 'There is no law for who can park in parents with prams spaces they are just convenience but anyone can park there and use,' a similar comment said. 'Never had them in my generation and we coped, and there are so many of these parks now,' another said. Others said the person who left the abusive note should not have jumped to conclusions about the man using the spot. 'I have a disabled sticker, yet if you see me you'd think "why?" but I have multiple issues and can't walk very far before my spine locks up or both my knees seize up or all together,' they wrote. Some people suggested that others not judge whoever wrote the note too harshly. 'Hot weather sometimes brings out the worst in people. Don't let it ruin your day,' one wrote. Others said the parents parking bay made no difference to them. 'I park in the parent bays even if I don't have a kid. My time is valuable,' a commenter said. There were also some humorous comments, with the funniest being the person who wrote 'I'm all for making them Karen Bays so nobody else has to deal with the c*** and they will feel special enough to leave everyone alone.' A hospital has gone into lockdown after a man who was believed to be armed entered the premises having just evaded police. Emergency services were called to Robina Train Station, on the Gold Coast, about 11:20am on Tuesday to reports of an armed man but could not locate him. Nearby Robina Hospital was sent into lockdown and announced a 'Code Black' at about 12pm after a man who entered the emergency department appeared to be armed. Police rushed to the scene and arrested the man without incident at about 1pm. He was found to be in possession of a gel blaster, a toy gun often made to replicate real firearms but which fires small water beads known to 'have caused life changing injuries'. A man who appeared armed sent Robina Hospital (pictured) on the Gold Coast into lockdown for about an hour from midday on Tuesday before he was arrested A spokesperson for Gold Coast Health told Daily Mail Australia that the lockdown was lifted shortly after the incident was resolved. 'While ambulance arrivals were being diverted away from Robina Hospital, we are now returning to business as usual,' the spokesperson said. 'Patient and staff safety remains our priority.' No injuries have been reported during the incident. His lawyers filed an emergency appeal Monday asking for a 'stay' of the ruling Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause a lower court's ruling denying him immunity from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election. Trump's lawyers filed a 39-page emergency appeal on Monday asking SCOTUS to implement a 'stay' of the ruling issued by a three-judge panel in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The panel was comprised of Biden appointees Florence Pan and J. Michelle Childs as well as Karen LeCraft Henderson, who ascended to the bench under the Bush presidency in 1990. The judges unanimously rejected Trump's argument that he should be immune from the charges because the conduct alleged in the federal indictment occurred while he was in office. 'For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant,' the judges wrote in their opinion. Former President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause a lower court's ruling denying him total immunity from prosecution The filing asked the Supreme Court (pictured) to implement a 'stay' of the ruling issued by a three-judge panel in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Trump's attorneys argued that the stay is necessary to give them time to seek further review of the ruling, either before the full D.C. Circuit or the Supreme Court 'But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.' The panel said the ruling would go into effect on February 12 unless Trump asked the Supreme Court for emergency relief, or if the full appeals court agreed to hear the case after the deadline. Trump was hit with four counts last year stemming from an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He has pleaded not guilty. Monday's filing called the D.C. Circuit panel's decision 'a stunning breach of precedent and historical norms.' 'Without immunity from criminal prosecution, the Presidency as we know it will cease to exist,' Trump's attorneys wrote. Such an argument has yet to hold up in federal courts. Trump's attorneys argued that the stay is necessary to give them time to seek further review of the ruling, either before the full D.C. Circuit or the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's decision could determine whether Trump stands trial before the November election. Special counsel Jack Smith's team has pushed for the trial to take place this year, as Trump has repeatedly sought to delay it by all means possible If Trump were to win the presidency in 2024, he could order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases or seek a pardon for himself 'For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump,' the three-judge panel wrote in their opinion Special counsel Jack Smith's team has pushed for the trial to take place this year, as Trump has repeatedly sought to delay it by all means possible. If Trump were to come out victorious in the 2024 presidential election, he could order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases or seek a pardon for himself. If the Supreme Court were to reject the emergency appeal, this would enable U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to restart proceedings in Washington's federal court - initially scheduled to begin in March. But the justices could also extend the delay to hear arguments on the immunity issue. Smith's team has argued that the case be taken up as soon as possible. 'It is of imperative public importance that Respondents claim of immunity be resolved by this Court and that Respondents trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected,' prosecutors wrote in December. But Trump's camp argued that the demands for expedition were attempts to impede his ability to campaign in the upcoming presidential election. In Monday's appeal, Trump's lawyers indicated they would seek to extend the delay by asking the full federal appeals court in Washington to weigh in. Only afterwards would they file a formal appeal to the Supreme Court. That could tack on an indiscriminate amount of time ranging from weeks to months before trial preparations could restart. Trump is also charged in Georgia state court with plotting to subvert that state's 2020 election results (pictured: Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee) Moreover, Trump faces federal charges in Florida stemming from the unlawful retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate Trump's camp has argued that the special counsel's demands for expedition were attempts by to impede his ability to campaign in the upcoming presidential election. Three Supreme Court justices - Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh - were appointed during the Trump presidency and have repeatedly skewed the court to the right in major decisions like the overturning of abortion rights. The Supreme Court ruled in a 1982 decision involving Richard Nixon that presidents are immune from civil suits stemming from acts taken within their official duties. Trumps lawyers have for months argued that that protection should be extended to criminal prosecution as well. Trump faces other legal woes in addition to the election subversion case. These include federal charges in Florida stemming from the unlawful retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The indictment hinges on his refusal to return them to the government despite being asked on multiple occasions. Trump is also charged in Georgia state court with plotting to subvert that states 2020 election results and in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels. EXCLUSIVE The drug-addled son of Ita Buttrose's niece used stolen credit card details to pay for a luxury break - then fled in a waiting getaway plane when he was rumbled. Andrew Spira, 25, great-nephew of the ABC chair, was caught when the credit card's owner spotted the booking transaction at the Mala Retreat in NSW's Hunter Valley. But when hotel boss Adrian Roach confronted him and an alleged accomplice, they raced off in a taxi to nearby Cessnock Airport and flew off in a plane. They were later arrested in the Northern Territory on a series of similar charges when budding entrepreneur Spira tried to flee the country on a fake passport. Spira's mother is Ita Buttrose's niece, socialite and former Real Housewives of Sydney reality TV star Lizzie Buttrose, 54. Spira, who founded loans company Pineapple Funding, checked into the upmarket Louth Park bed and breakfast after booking online at a cost of $417.05 for a single night. A court was told Mr Roach had earlier taken a phone call on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from a man wanting to make a reservation 'for his daughter'. Andrew Spira (pictured) used stolen credit card details to pay for a luxury break - then fled in a waiting plane when he was was rumbled Spira is the great nephew of ABC chair and media giant Ita Buttrose The mystery caller was told to use the company's booking website and moments later a reservation was made in his alleged accomplice's name. At about 8pm Spira arrived at the 5-star accommodation in the heart of Hunter wine country and was caught on CCTV unpacking. That night, Spira's alleged accomplice arranged to extend their stay for a further night at a cost of $567.05 which was charged to the same credit card. 'Around 11am on the Friday, the victim [Mr Roach] noticed that the additional payment was declined,' police told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court. Mr Roach enquired about the issue and Spira's alleged accomplice 'apologised and informed the victim that she would fix the payment up,' the court was told. Later that day though, Mr Roach was called by Anita Fenton, the owner of the credit card, who told him it had been used fraudulently to make the booking. The resort boss called police immediately, but before they could turn up Spira and his alleged accomplice had fled the scene. 'Spira [and his alleged accomplice] left the location in a private taxi where they boarded a plane at Cessnock Airport,' police told the court. '[They] were later arrested in the Northern Territory in relation to similar matters. 'As a result of this arrest and subsequent investigations by NT Police officers, a mobile phone belonging to Spira was seized and downloaded. 'This phone download contained messages between Spira and another unknown entity where Spira was provided with the bank account details of Anita Fenton which were later used to pay for the accommodation.' NSW Police were unable to interview Spira about the B&B fraud after he was arrested in the NT and held in custody for travelling there using fraudulent credit card details and attempting to flee the country on a false passport. NSW Police were unable to interview Andrew Spira (pictured) about the B&B fraud after he was arrested in the NT and held in custody for travelling there using fraudulent credit card details and attempting to flee the country on a false passport Spira checked into the upmarket Louth Park bed and breakfast after booking online at a cost of $417.05 for a single night Andrew Spira's lawyer Samir Karnib (pictured with Spira outside court) said the Hunter Valley incident had happened while he was suffering 'drug-induced psychosis' at the time He was held in jail for three months before pleading guilty to a series of charges in Darwin including obtaining financial advantage by deception, dealing in identity information, possessing a false document and using a firearm while unlicensed. Defence lawyer Jon Tippett told the Darwin court Spira was hooked on the drug diazepam and was 'a genuinely sick person' who had made 'deranged' choices. He was given 18-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay almost $39,000 to private jet company AVCAIR. But last month he was also convicted in Sydney at Downing Centre Local Court over his $984.10 B&B fraud and was given a 12-month Community Correction Order. His lawyer Samir Karnib had previously said the Hunter Valley incident had happened while he was suffering 'drug-induced psychosis'. Spira is appealing the sentence at the District Court which will be heard next month, while he also faces further assault charges in May relating to a separate incident in Sydney which he denies. A business sign recently erected in an affluent suburb is turning heads and it's fair to say not everyone approves of the tactic being used to capture people's attention. However, the real estate agent behind the sign believes people must be "insane" to take it the wrong way. "Thousands" of motorists pass the 220 metre square corner plot in Neutral Bay, Sydney on the way to and from the city where real estate agent Abdul Moussalli from Prosel hung up a sign advertising the land for rent. The words 'rent by the day to promote your business' appears over the image of a man flashing open his overcoat, visible only from behind. The words 'expose yourself' are bolded and typed in red font. The X-rated sign turned heads along the busy road in Neutral Bay, Sydney. Source: Facebook Drivers mixed response to sign After spotting the sign a local resident reported it to North Sydney council, branding it inappropriate and claiming it breaches advertising guidelines. "It's not funny, I truly wish it was," she wrote online. "Flashing is an indicator for further and more serious sexual offences". However, others called the sign "hilarious" while pointing out that it had the desired effect to capture people's attention. "It probably helped him [the real estate agent] if anything," one said. Since the sign on the prominent Falcon St lot was spotted several weeks ago a handmade sign has been erected beside it reading, 'Home is where you take your pants off'. The resident who reported the real estate agent's sign called it "Banksy esk" and admitted she found the humour in it. North Sydney council confirmed to Yahoo News it has been contacted regarding the signs. "Council is aware of the signs and is in contact with relevant community members to assist with a resolution," a spokesperson said. Story continues Real estate agent 'doesn't see any harm' in the sign Moussalli confirmed to Yahoo News it isn't the first time he's used a similar sign for advertising purposes and was shocked locals in Neutral Bay have had an issue with it. "I don't see any harm in that sign whatsoever," he told Yahoo News. "It's in a great location... it's basically exposing your business there. If people take it the wrong way then I can't help that." He likened his approach to that of comedians, claiming they say "worse things" and have a much wider audience compared to the number of people seeing the sign. Therefore, he doesn't understand how there's an issue with "my little sign". "If it's taken that the wrong way that's their prerogative," he said, confirming many people have enquired about the land for rent. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Horrifying new footage shows the moment a plane crashed on to I-75 in Florida - killing two people. The video shows the private jet piloted by 50-year-old Edward Daniel Murphy and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, that crashed when its engines failed. The two pilots died on impact, but thanks to their ability to guide the Bombardier Challenger 60 on to the crowded highway, three others onboard survived. New video out of Florida shows Friday's plane crash in Naples - a harrowing vantage offered by an eagle-eyed motorist on I-75. The footage, currently circulating on social media, has been substantiated, and shows the moment the private jet crashed after its engines suddenly failed Video shows the plane striking a car as it came down, before bursting into flames as it collided with a highway median. Further footage showed the thee survivors fleeing, as flames whipped around them. A massive plume of smoke followed, after which feds were called to the scene to examine the wreck. They went on to reveal the jet had been mere minutes away from safety - in this case the runway at Naples Airport just a few miles away. The driver, identified by DailyMail.com as Miami trucker Alfonso Del Nodal, was one of several drivers to capture the improvised landing on the makeshift landing strip. 'Last moment,' he wrote in a caption to one of two clips showing the crash posted to his Facebook, two days after the crash occurred. Other footage - including video captured by passing motorist Kyle Cavaliere -showed the massive plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage moments after the plane went down. 'It landed on a car too,' Cavaliere exclaims as he approaches the scene, steering his car closer to the huge flames that can be seen as debris lays strewn across the road. The aircraft reportedly had been traveling from Columbus, Ohio, to the airport in Naples, with feds since identifying all of those who had been onboard. Crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, narrowly escaped with their lives, and were filmed fleeing the fiery inferno after it crashed on Friday. Officials on the ground further clarified that Murphy, a veteran pilot, was from Oakland Park, Florida, and that Hofmann hailed from Pompano Beach, Florida. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is handling the investigation. Other footage - including video captured by passing motorist Kyle Cavaliere -showed the massive plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage moments after the plane went down. 'It landed on a car too,' Cavaliere exclaims as he approaches the scene, steering his car closer to the huge flames that can be seen as debris lays strewn across the road Crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, narrowly escaped from the wreckage The Collier County Sheriff's Office has named Pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, (pictured) as victims of the crash Bosmans, seen here, was working as a flight attendant for Hop-a-Jet, the company that owns the plane Other footage showed the three survivors - two passengers and a crew member -- sprinting away from the burning jet. 'Is there anyone else inside there?' flight attendant Cavaliere asks as he runs over to help. 'Yes, yes our pilots!' one of the survivors shouts back. Caveliere then asks if they are alive and the woman responds she does not know. The frantic survivors then start asking to use his phone as the clip ends. Officials from the NTSB later said the pilots - both of whom has years of flight experience - reported dual engine failure right before the crash in a harrowing mayday call to air traffic control. Audio from that distress correspondence has since been released, capturing what is either panicked voices, or a malfunctioning aircraft - though it is hard to tell. Feds went on to add that the plane was just one minute away from making an emergency landing at Naples - while another moment of audio revealed Murphy knew they would not make it. FlightAware data at first showed how the plane had been traveling from Ohio State University Airport, spurring the college to issue a statement to state that the plane merely used its facilities and did not have a connection to the university itself. The plane, in reality, belonged to Hop-a-Jet, a Florida-based private chartering company, where Bosmans and the two pilots all worked. The private plane crashed into cars on a major highway, causing a massive explosion and killing two of the five people on board The flight was traveling to the Naples Airport from Ohio State, according to FlightAware data The incident occurred on I-75 in Collier County near Pine Ridge Rd he three survivors - two of whom were confirmed to be passengers from Columbus, Ohio - they were taken to an area hospital to be treated for their injuries, the Collier County Sheriff's Office said After the crash, the company said it 'received confirmed reports of an accident involving one of our leased aircraft near Naples' and vowed to send a team to the crash site. 'Our immediate concern is for the well-being of our passengers, crew members, and their families,' it said of that decision. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), meanwhile, was forced to close all southbound lanes on the highly trafficked roadway for a full 24 hours, as it investigated the crash. A preliminary report from the agency - which is tasked with overseeing air traffic for the entire country - will be penned within 30 days, it said. As for the three survivors - two of whom were confirmed to be passengers from Columbus, Ohio - they were taken to an area hospital to be treated for their injuries, the Collier County Sheriff's Office said. As of Tuesday, their condition remains unknown. DailyMail.com has reached out to the FAA for comment. Karine Jean-Pierre has said Joe Biden will not take a cognitive test as part of his annual physical this week, despite the DOJ report saying his memory was failing. Americans watched as Biden held a disastrous presser Thursday after the damning review found the president had failing memory and 'diminished faculties'. Donald Trump would routinely brag about how he'd 'aced' a cognitive exam as part of his physicals when he was in the White House. But Jean-Pierre, when asked about the test on Monday, claimed it wasn't necessary and quoted White House Physician Dr Kevin O'Connor. 'The president proves every day [in] how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people whether it's domestic or it's national security.' Americans watched as Biden held a disastrous press Thursday after a damning Justice Department report emerged claiming Biden's failing memory and 'diminished faculties' were reason not to charge him in the classified documents case 'That is how Dr. O'Connor sees it, and that is how I'm going to leave it,' she continued. She tried - as many Democrats have in the media since Thursday's presser - to insist that the Biden she sees is a sharper version of the one seen in his media appearances. 'When we have meetings with him and his staff he is constantly pushing us, trying to get more information, and so that has been my experience with this president,' she said. Jean-Pierre added that she has known Biden since 2009, considers him a mentor and says the president remains 'sharp' and 'on top of things.' It appears Jean-Pierre and her fellow Democrats have a lot of work to do to convince the rest of the country of her case. Last year, O'Connor proclaimed that Biden was a 'healthy' and 'vigorous' 80-year-old who is fit for office, his doctor said after his annual physical on Thursday at Walter Reed. White House physician Colonel Kevin O'Connor provided an update on his health amid concerns over his age as he prepares to announce a 2024 run for president. The results were largely unchanged from last time, aside from a lesion on his chest that has been sent for cancer screening, and there was no cognitive test despite calls from Republicans. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Joe Biden would not take a cognitive test as part of his annual physical this week, despite the DOJ report suggesting his memory was failing Jean-Pierre, when asked about a cognitive test in a press briefing Monday, claimed it wasn't necessary and quoted White House Physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor (pictured) in doing so Jean-Pierre tried - as many Democrats have in the media since Thursday's presser - to insist that the Biden she sees is a sharper version of the one seen in his media appearances O'Connor said Biden's gait 'remains stiff', but insisted it has not worsened since the last examination. There was also a detailed 'neurologic exam' that found nothing 'consistent with any cerebellar or central neurological disorder'. Back in 2020, Trump bragged about how he 'aced' a 'cognitive test' that was administered 'very recently' and that doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center were 'very surprised' that he passed. Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News at the time that Biden 'didn't take a cognitive test because he couldn't pass one.' The president added: 'I actually took one very recently when I was - when the radical left was saying, is he all there, is he all there? 'I prove I was all there because I aced it. I aced the test and he should take the same exact test.' It is unknown if Trump has previously been given such a test as part of previous medical check-ups. It is also unknown if any previous president has been given a cognitive test. Back in 2020, Trump bragged about how he 'aced' a 'cognitive test' that was administered 'very recently' and that doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center were 'very surprised' that he passed A vast majority of American voters 86 percent say President Joe Biden, 81, is too old for another term in office, according to a new poll. It comes after a damning Justice Department report emerged last week claiming Biden's failing memory and 'diminished faculties' as a reason not to charge him in the classified documents case. Meanwhile, 62 percent of respondents in the ABC News/Ipsos poll say that former President Donald Trump, 77, is also too old for another White House term. Fifty-nine percent of respondents say that both top 2024 competitors are too old while 27 percent think only the current president is elderly enough to be taken out of consideration. A separate poll from the Financial Times released this weekend shows Trump with an 11 point lead over Biden in those who trust them to handle the economy 42 percent to 31 percent. Concern over Trump and Biden's ages and fitness for office has increased since September, when an ABC News/Washington Post poll found 74 percent of Americans thought Biden was too old to serve and 49 percent felt the same about Trump. Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history. He broke Trump's record by eight years when entering office at the age of 78 in January 2021. If elected for a second term, Biden would be 82 at the time of inauguration. During a press conference on Thursday, Biden fumed at DOJ Special Counsel Robert Hur's accusation that he didn't know when his son Beau died and mixed up the dates he was vice president More than 8.5 in 10 American voters think President Joe Biden is too old for another term and only 62% feel the same about Trump When taking into consideration only their own party's preferences, 73 percent of Democrats think Biden is too old and only 35 percent of Republicans think that about Trump. Ninety-one percent of independents say Biden is too old and 71 percent of this voting block say the same about the former president. The latest negative polling for Biden's reelection bid comes following Thursday's release of the long-awaited DOJ report, which did not recommend charges against the former president. It was, however, still just as damaging for Biden as it heightens questions over his fitness for office. In interviews with investigators, Biden forgot the years he was vice president and could not remember the year his son Beau died. While it did not recommend charges, the report claimed Biden's lax attitude about classified documents posed a significant national security risk. A reason investigators decided not recommend pressing charges was because 'at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.' Biden held a press conference the same day the report was released to defend himself as Special Counsel Robert Hur's report will likely undermine the president's campaign's attempts to use the classified documents charges against Trump in the 2024 election. A former Liberal National Party candidate has been accused of allegedly lying about where he was living during the 2022 federal election campaign. Vivian Lobo, 47, has been summonsed to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court this Friday, charged with four counts of of knowingly providing false or misleading information. The charges relate to Lobo, who was drafted in as a last-minute candidate for the marginal northern Brisbane seat of Lilley when army veteran Ryan Shaw withdrew for personal reasons, stating his address was in the electorate's suburb of Everton Park. He was recently summoned to face court as the result of a 20 month investigation launched following a referral from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). 'The referral raised concerns the man allegedly provided false or misleading information to the AEC in relation to the residential address of himself and family members,' a Australian Federal Police statement read. The maximum penalty for the offence is 12 months imprisonment. Vivian Lobo, 47, has been charged with providing electoral authorities with the wrong residential address when he ran for the LNP at the last Queensland election The Australian discovered during the 2022 election that the nominated house in Everton Park was abandoned and dilapidated while Mr Lobo was photographed leaving an address in upmarket suburb of Windsor, which sits 23 minutes away in a neighbouring electorate. The house listed as Lobo's address was empty of furniture and other than the lawn being cut there was no other sign was it was being occupied during the May 2022 election. When approached about the apparent discrepancy at the time, Lobo claimed he had signed a lease for the Everton Park property and was intending to move in. 'However due to my campaign commitments and difficulty with getting tradespeople to the home, I was delayed moving in,' he said. Property records show Lobo bought the Windsor property in 2017 for $726,000 located in the neighbouring electorate LNP MP Trevor Evans At the time, the AEC said it had referred the matter to the AFP. 'There is concern as to whether the information provided by him regarding his residential address on these forms is false,' the commission said. Lobo said he would cooperate with the investigation. While living outside a nominated electorate you are standing for is not illegal, providing false information to the AEC can constitute as electoral fraud. Mr Lobo (pictured with his partner) said he had not yet moved into the address because of commitments to his election campaign If Lobo is found guilty of misleading the AEC he could face up to 12 months imprisonment. His attempt to unseat Labor's Anika Wells backfired as she went from from having a winning margin of just 0.6 per cent to making it a safe seat with a 10.5 per cent buffer. The seat of Lilley was previously held by formerly treasurer Wayne Swan from the 1990s until he retired in 2019. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lobo for comment. The comedian who demanded that a Jewish audience member leave his show over the weekend has a track record of verbally abusing people, it emerged today. Paul Currie is accused of encouraging the crowd to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' at Israeli ticketholder Liahav Eitan at the Soho Theatre in London on Saturday night because he refused to stand up and applaud a Palestine flag. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it could investigate, while Soho Theatre bosses have apologised and said they were looking into the incident. It was also revealed that Currie performed hours after attending a pro-Palestine rally in London. And it has emerged that audience members at a previous show in Australia claimed he verbally abused and evicted them after they refused to drink an unknown liquid. Currie is claimed to have tried to force people attending the Adelaide Fringe in 2016 to drink from a glass - which he said contained soy milk - before they declined. Paul Currie is an absurdist comedian from Belfast who has been performing since 2004 Paul Currie at a pro-Palestine march hours before performing at the Soho Theatre on Saturday Audience member Daniel Purvis claimed at the time that Currie 'tried to force the glass into my mouth, trying to get it through my hands' and 'poured what was left over my head because I refused'. Paul Currie: Absurdist comedian from Belfast who featured on BBC's Live At The Electric Belfast-born Currie began his career as a street performer and has become known for his absurdist comedy, having been doing stand-up gigs for the past 20 years. He featured in BBC Three comedy show Live At The Electric in 2013 and debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2009. Currie is also a so-called 'muppeteer', having performed and voiced puppets on children's shows such as Jim Henson's Pajanimals and Sesame Tree, the Northern Irish adaptation of Sesame Street. He is described as having 'carved himself a reputation since 2004 as an uncompromising alternative comedian in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Europe building up a loyal fan base with his unique style of genre breaking stand-up'. Currie has a degree from Belfast School of Art in visual communications and previously taught at Circusful - formerly known as Belfast Community Circus School. Advertisement Mr Purvis said Currie allegedly also tried to get his female friend to drink the liquid, but it left her distressed because she nearly died after contracting meningococcal disease just five months earlier. Mr Purvis told the Adelaide Advertiser at the time: 'That disease is easily communicable by sneezing, by coughing. There are certain strains of hepatitis that can be transmitted directly by saliva. 'Some people are allergic to soy milk. It shows no respect or forethought in how to treat the audience.' But following the incident at the Tuxedo Cat venue, its operator Cassandra Tombs said she has been given a different version of events - that Mr Purvis and his friend were disrupting the show. She said they 'turned their chairs upside-down and they were just killing the whole show, and Paul asked them to leave', adding that Currie was a 'pretty gentle giant really' and 'it would take a lot for him to behave like that'. Currie did not comment on the incident at the time, but MailOnline has contacted him again about it today. As for what happened at the Soho Theatre, Mr Eitan, who was out celebrating his 33rd birthday with a friend, has told MailOnline he feared that Currie was going to 'punch' him and that he was left terrified by the 'mob mentality' of the crowd. The shocking incident took place in front of around 200 people at the end of Currie's one-hour show when he pulled out a Ukraine flag and then a Palestine flag before demanding the crowd give a standing ovation and applaud. Audience members were left feeling 'uneasy' when he then confronted Mr Eitan and his friend because they stayed sat down. He then told them to leave his show and led pro-Palestine chants as they fled the venue across the stage. Liahav Eitan (pictured) was hounded out of London's Soho Theatre after comedian Paul Currie encouraged his audience to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' Currie has doubled down on his act by sharing praise for his incendiary routine. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE Met Police could launch investigation into Soho Theatre after Jewish audience member was 'hounded out' by comedian Paul Currie - as comic shares praise for his incendiary routine online Advertisement He reposted an Instagram story from another comic last night which said: 'Thanks @paulcurriecomedian for an amazing show on Saturday and for unapologetically calling for a ceasefire now.' Following the shocking scenes at the Soho Theatre, which is a former synagogue, a Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are aware of the incident that took place at the Soho Theatre on Saturday evening. 'We understand why it was upsetting for those involved and we note the venue has issued a statement confirming they are looking into what took place. A report was submitted to police on Monday and enquiries are ongoing.' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Monday, Mr Eitan, who moved from Israel to London five years ago, said: 'I don't think theatres should book this person [Currie]. He seemed violent and dangerous.' The software engineer, whose seats were behind Currie, added: 'The only way out was through the stage. We had to actually get on the stage quite close to him - and I was quite afraid that he'd throw a punch because he was still cursing and shouting. Currie has doubled down on his act by sharing praise for his incendiary routine 'He got out his Palestine flag again and shouted 'motherf***er you'll have to watch it again on your way out'.' Mr Eitan and his friend fled from the Soho Theatre to Bloomsbury in a bid to move away from the venue, where the crowd were spilling out and some of them were giving them 'unfriendly glances'. He continued: 'From the audience, we were mostly scared. We wanted to get out of the situation. It seemed like a bit of a mob mentality that could go sour any second. 'So we were just afraid of violence. That's why we didn't linger right? We just wanted to get out of there.' Mr Eitan added: '[We were] mostly scared about how that room might turn against us. From the comedian, I didn't feel any sort of way like I thought it really reflected on him rather than on us.' Recalling how the night unfolded, Mr Eitan explained how he and his friend had booked last-minute tickets to see Currie because they had time to kill before a birthday dinner at 9.30pm. Mr Eitan said that while the show was 'bizarre', everything was fine until Currie unfurled the flags and asked the audience to stand up. He said he didn't believe it was fair to compare the Palestine and Ukraine conflicts but he just stayed in his seat and didn't do anything. The Soho Theatre was where the shocking incident occurred. It also used to be a synagogue The incident comes amid heightened tensions as the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on. Mr Eitan continued: 'If I was closer to the door, maybe I would have left at that stage. But as it was, I just waited five minutes for the for the show to end. 'When it ended, a lot of the people got up and clapped. There was a bit of a standing ovation there and me and my friends just stayed sat down quietly and not clapping. 'I didn't mean to make any point of it right? I just didn't really enjoy that bit.' Currie, who often shares pro-Palestine content on social media, is then said to have shown his appreciation to the crowd for coming before sarcastically thanking Mr Eitan and his friend for not standing up and clapping. Mr Eitan said that Currie 'lingered' on them for around five to ten seconds until he responded: 'Thank you for that Palestine flag'. Currie then seemed 'quite taken aback' and asked Mr Eitan if he was being sarcastic. 'Then he said something like, 'Okay, well, you're welcome. You're welcome for the Palestine flag. It was part of the show.' The Soho Theatre issued an apology for the incident and said that it would be investigating 'And then he came back to me again and said, 'Did you enjoy the show?' I said, 'Yes, up until that point'. And he said, 'Ah up until that point'. 'Then he just turns back to me and starts screaming, 'I'm from Belfast. I know everything about ceasefires. Ceasefire now, get the f*** out of my theatre. Get out, get the f*** out of my show, motherf***ers.' Mr Eitan said he then asked his friend if they should grab their things and go before they calmly attempted to leave. 'Unfortunately, when the entire crowd was still inside, the only way out was through the stage,' he added. Coming close with the comedian on stage, Mr Eitan said Currie started a 'public chant of 'ceasefire now, and free Palestine' as he 'tried to incite the crowd'. He added: 'I didn't look at him on the way out. We just left.' Mr Eitan said Currie should 'certainly' be reprimanded for his 'unreasonable and unprofessional behaviour'. The Soho Theatre has apologised for the 'upset and hurt' caused by the incident to some of their customers and will be investigating what happened. They wrote: 'We are sorry and saddened by an incident that took place at our venue at the end of a performance of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday 10 of February which has caused upset and hurt to members of (the) audience attending and others. 'We take this very seriously and are looking into the detail of what happened as thoroughly, as sensitively, and as quickly as we can. 'It is important to us that Soho Theatre is welcoming and inclusive place for all.' The Campaign Against Antisemitism said they were assisting Jewish guests who were allegedly hounded out of the Soho Theatre. A spokesperson for the group said: 'What the Jewish audience-members have recounted is atrocious, and we are working with them and our lawyers to ensure that those who instigated and enabled it are held to account. 'These allegations are of deeply disturbing discriminatory abuse against Jews. Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, but hounding Jews out of theatres is reminiscent of humanity's darkest days, and must have no place in central London in 2024.' The Israel-Hamas conflict was sparked by the Palestinian terror group's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. The Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry says Israel's offensive has killed at least 28,340 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. MailOnline has contacted Currie for comment. A 'brilliant' headteacher has tragically passed away while on holiday in France, his school said, describing the Essex educator as a 'much-loved colleague' with a passion for teaching. Simon Gibbs, the Principal of New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Essex, reportedly died in an accident while on a holiday with friends across the Channel. A spokesperson for the FCDO confirmed his death and said British authorities are in contact with local officials to ascertain further details of his death and support his family. Regional education director for the Academies Enterprise Trust Johanna Thompson penned a heartfelt letter to staff and parents of the school, informing them of Mr Gibbs' passing. 'I am very sorry to be writing with the tragic news Simon Gibbs, our principal, died over the weekend,' the letter, which has been circulated on social media, read. 'From what we understand there was an accident on Saturday evening whilst Simon was away for the weekend with some friends in France. 'This is obviously devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Simon's family at this impossible time.' Simon Gibbs, the Principal of New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Essex, reportedly died in an accident while on a holiday with friends across the Channel New Rickstones academy in Essex 'Our staff have been informed today and we wanted to make sure you are aware so that you had the opportunity to speak to your child tonight. 'Devastating news like this will take time for everyone to process and come to terms with and our priority is to make sure that students and staff have the support available to help us all through this time. 'Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously,' her letter continued. 'He will be remembered for his integrity and passion for teaching, as well as his dedication to the community of New Rickstones. 'As we come through the next days and weeks, we will find the right way to remember him at New Rickstones and to celebrate his commitment to this community,' the letter concluded. Mr Gibbs graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters degree in financial economics in 2004, before making the transition to teaching with a PGCE qualification. He went on to become Head of Mathematics at Maltings Academy, another secondary school in Witham, before moving to New Rickstones in 2018. He had been working at New Rickstones Academy for more than six years before his untimely death, becoming principal of the school in September 2021. 'Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously,' a letter to staff and parents read Tributes for the late teacher poured in on social media in the wake of his passing. 'Mr Gibbs was a fantastic teacher at new Rickstones academy and always helped with all my children,' one user wrote on Facebook. 'He was the person to go to and always got back to you straight away to help. I was only just speaking to him last week about helping one of my daughters. 'He had such a lovely kind heart and would help anyone,' she said. 'My girls are gutted and so are we. He was an amazing teacher and Head Teacher,' another wrote. 'He cared so much about his pupils. Sending hugs to his family and colleagues at this hard time.' And another user said: 'Such devastating news. An amazing head teacher, always took time to reply to emails straight away. Excellent with the pupils, he will be greatly missed by them all, past and present. 'Thinking of his family and the staff at NRA. Rest easy Mr Gibbs.' A charity-loving British grandmother is facing deportation from Australia after officials told her she had been illegally living in the country for more than four decades. Mary Ellis, 74, says she was told by her now deceased partner Martin Ellis they had permanent visas when they left London in 1981 to start a new life in the picturesque Northern Rivers region in New South Wales. But the Home Affairs department claims she entered the country three times under a different name and the man she entered the country with was in fact called Trevor Warren. She has lived peacefully in Australia for more than 40 years where she has a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren and is seen as local hero for her charity and volunteering work for The Salvation Army. The grandmother said 'nobody said anything' about her visa with her status going unquestioned during her time working in hospitality and for the NSW Government for 30 years. Mary Ellis, 74, left London for Australia at the age of 31 in 1981 and has since created a life for herself in New South Wale's picturesque Northern Rivers region Australia's Home Affairs department claims Mary (pictured with her lawyer Stanley Shneider) did leave Australia under different aliases in February of 1983 and did not return until November of 1986 The Good Samaritan now may be forced to return to the UK despite having an Australian driver's licence, a Medicare card and a pension card. She was awarded the prestigious NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2023 for her work for Agape Outreach, which provides hot meals for the homeless. 'This is my home, I love Australia,' a teary Mary told A Current Affair on Monday. The pensioner was asked to visit the Brisbane office, where she was told she had been living in Australia illegally for more than four decades. 'She knows not a soul over there [in England], not a soul,' migration agent Stanley Shneider said. 'She's always paid her taxes, she hasn't even had a speeding ticket, she's never infringed anything, she's never offended anyone.' Mr Shneider, who is helping Mary pro bono, said the pensioner qualifies as an 'absorbed person' under the Migration Act 1958. To be recognised for an absorbed person visa, a non-citizen must have been in Australia from April 2, 1984, and have never left the country on or after that date. She was awarded the prestigious NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2023 for her work for Agape Outreach, who provide hot meals to those in need Mary says she has never left Australia, not even for a holiday, since 1981. However, Home Affairs claims Mary entered Australia three times under a different alias, and was out of the country between February 1983 and November 1986. The department said in a letter that they believe the real identity of the now-deceased man she was in a de facto relationship with at the time, Martin Ellis, was actually Trevor Warren. 'As you were not in Australia on 02/04/1984, you are not considered an absorbed person and do not hold an Absorbed Persons Visa,' the letter states. However, Mary insists this is 'wrong' and says she doesn't know why Home Affairs believes she has left and re-entered Australia under different aliases. She has documents she claims prove she was in Australia at those times, including a job reference from a restaurant in Tasmania. It states Mary worked there from 1983 to 1986 as a waitress and cashier. A successful Medicare enrolment letter signed by the then-Minister of Health, Neal Blewett, is also being used to argue Mary's case. Mr Shneider says she would not have been sent the letter if she had not been living in Australia at the time. 'Mary Ellis is a decent person, a person we should be absolutely thrilled to have in Australia, and she's an Australian, let's face it,' he said. A priest who said the Scottish Catholic Church was run by a 'powerful gay mafia' has claimed that he has been 'bullied' by the church. Father Matthew Despard was suspended from his duties in 2013 after making the claims in a self-published book. A ruling made by the Vatican in 2016 said he could return to work- but only if he makes a public apology for his claims. But Father Despard has refused, saying that he is not sorry for 'telling the truth'. After publishing his book Priesthood in Crisis, he was suspended from duties at his parish at St John Ogilvie's in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. Priest Father Matthew Despard (pictured) who said the Scottish Catholic Church was run by a 'powerful gay mafia' has claimed that he has been 'bullied' by the church Father Matthew Despard was suspended from his duties in 2013 after making the claims in a self-published book, Priesthood in Crisis (pictured) Father Despard remains in employment with the Church, but has been banned from performing certain religious duties, such as saying Mass, the BBC reports. He raised his case with the Roman Rota in Italy in 2016 - an internal court for the Catholic Church, where he was told to withdraw the book, which he has. But Joseph Toal, the Bishop of Motherwell, said that Father Despard must apologise for any 'hurt and offence' caused by his book. But the suspended priest has said his claims have been shown to be true after reports about the Scottish Catholic Church. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who was once the most senior Catholic cleric in Britain, resigned in 2013 after claims of sexual misconduct against priests as far back as the 1980s. 'I have privately asked Bishop Toal again and again to return to a parish but have been ignored,' Father Despard told the BBC. 'It's unjust, I'm still waiting here. I have no avenues left but to speak out publicly. I feel I have been systematically bullied and silenced by the church.' Cardinal Keith O'Brien (pictured), who was once the most senior Catholic cleric in Britain, resigned in 2013 after claims of sexual misconduct against priests as far back as the 1980s He said the last ten years have been 'incredibly hard' on him. He told the BBC that Bishop Toal now wants him to publicly apologise, adding: 'I don't see the reason to say sorry. I'm not sorry for telling the truth.' He said that he fears the Catholic Church are 'waiting for me to die to end the stalemate'. He said it was 'cruel' and shows the bullying they have done 'for years'. Father Despard is still supported by many in his former parish. A member of a support group which has over 350 members said that he was 'fantastic' for the local parish. Retired NHS clerical worker Helen Duddy told the BBC that if a petition was launched tomorrow that it would get 500 to 1,000 signatures in favour of Father Despard. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Motherwell told the BBC: 'Father Despard was asked to make a personal apology to those still living who were written about in his book and who remain hurt and offended by it. 'To date these apologies have not been made. 'Any consideration on suitability for public ministry remains a matter for the bishop.' A teenager was kidnapped and taken to an apartment in Germany's Black Forest where she was tied up and repeatedly raped by a man she had met on holiday, according to reports. The 18-year-old woman had been missing since last Tuesday and was found being held captive by the man, 22, who she first became acquainted with while abroad. The pair had reportedly met up again at the woman's apartment in Berlin, where he stayed with her for some time. Things took a dark turn when the man threatened the woman with a weapon and tied her up, before forcing her into his car and driving her almost 500 miles to Kinzigtal. There he took her to an apartment where she was raped over several days before eventually being discovered after her family raised the alarm. The 18-year-old woman had been missing since last Tuesday and was found being held captive by the man, 22, in Kinzigtal (file image) Friends and family had searched for the teenager for three days before reporting her as a missing person to police. The man, who is from Lahr in southwestern Germany, was arrested and is said to remain in police custody. Police searching the apartment said they found a blank gun. They added that the property was not the man's home but was 'accessible' to him, BILD reports. A police spokesman said: 'Interviews were carried out and in the course of the investigation there was a suspicion that there could be a sexual offence and that the offense of deprivation of liberty had been committed.' Farmers are burning hundreds of sheep fleeces after complaining about the prices offered by British Wool. British Wool, formerly British Wool Marketing Board, which has 35,000 farmer members - is the central marketplace for fleece wool. In the past, the 'wool cheque' - a fee paid to farmers in return for their produce - could cover the annual cost of a farm's rent. But now, farmers say the payments are so 'measly' that the hassle of collecting and transporting their wool is not worth it. Factors including the rise of synthetic wool material have been blamed for the fall in wool clothing, with Covid-19 also cited as a cause, the BBC reports. Hundreds of sheep fleeces are being burnt or buried by farmers unwilling to part with them for the prices on offer In the past, the 'wool cheque' - a fee paid to farmers in return for their produce - could sometimes cover the annual cost of a farm's rent. Factors including the rise of synthetic wool material have been blamed for the fall in wool clothing, with Covid-19 also cited as a cause (Pictured: a farmer shearing his sheep) Jade and Richard Bett of Yarburgh, Lincolnshire, are among the farmers who have taken to burning their fleeces. Mrs Bett, a pedigree breeder, said the price offered for the fleeces of their 260 sheep meant it 'was not viable' to send them. She said: 'It's a sad situation. I might get a cheque for 30 quid. 'I've got to take my time and transport it. It's not worth it.' Nicola Noble, from the National Sheep Association, warned that protest burnings pose an enormous risk to the industry. She said: 'If everyone has that attitude of 'it's costing me too much money to send it, I'm going to burn it and bury it', then British Wool is no more.' Wool is now often billed as a luxury and durable material, loved by brands for its sustainability as well as its warmth. But while it is marketed as a high-quality product, farmers have their returns dip year after year since the 1950s. When British Wool formed in 1950, fleeces were valued at a high of 14 per kilogram. That dropped to 75p in 2022 and of that, farmers saw a return of just 26p. In response to concerns, Graham Clark, from British Wool, said the price is getting better. He urged farmers thinking of burning their wool to engage with the organisation. Mr Clark said: 'I'm not going to sit here and say they [prices] are where they need to be. There is still a lot of work to be done,' he said. 'But they are tracking in the right trajectory at the moment,' he added. The price of wool is just one of a series of competing pressures on UK farmers. Last week, a farmer held a tractor protest that caused gridlock at the Port of Dover. Jeffrey Gibson, from Wingham, Kent, revealed the protest was against cheap imports as well as the Government's sustainable farming incentive (SFI) scheme. Tractor-driving farmers staged a go-slow protest last night, disrupting traffic in and out of the Kent coastal town. Now Mr Gibson has said more protests 'cannot be ruled out' and they could 'very easily escalate'. He railed against post-Brexit trade deals and said European agricultural protests had opened British farmers' eyes to what can be achieved with demonstrations. Tractor-driving farmers have been staging a go-slow protest about cheap imports, around the Port of Dover Traffic in and out of the Kent coastal town was disrupted on Friday by the demonstration, which has involved tractors driving in small groups, causing delays A huge queue has built up behind the protesting farmers Farmer Jeffrey Gibson, from Wingham, Kent, posted on Facebook that the protest was against cheap imports as well as the Government's sustainable farming incentive (SFI) scheme He told BBC Radio 4 Today's programme: 'It seems harder to export goods out of the UK but importing goods in does not seem to have changed.' On Friday, he added: 'Time has come enough is enough why are we as British farmers producing food to the highest standards in the world, only for the government to do trade deals with countries producing far cheaper food with little or no standards. 'As for the supermarkets selling British produce cheaper than the cost of production shame on you. 'The time has come to take a stance, if farming continues in this country as it is with the new SFI scheme actively encouraging us not to grow food and rely more on cheap imports none of us will exist once the government changes tack leaving us unequipped to grow anything.' Europe has to 'urgently' increased the 'mass production of arms' as we no longer 'live in times of peace', Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned, just days after Donald Trump encouraged Russia to attack NATO member states. Scholz became the latest leader on the continent to push for more defence spending, following comments made by the leaders of France and Poland that called for stronger defence ties among EU nations in light of the comments made by the presidential hopeful. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory run by German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall in Unterluess, Scholz, 65, warned that European nations must pool orders and financing to provide the defence industry with purchase guarantees for the next decades. 'This is urgently necessary because the painful reality is that we do not live in times of peace,' he said, pointing to Russia's war on Ukraine, adding: 'Those who want peace must be able to successfully deter aggressors.' Rheinmetall's boss, Armin Papperger, told the BBC that Europe will need at least 10 years before it is able to fully defend itself, as current ammunition stocks across the continent are 'empty' after many nations gave their supplies to Ukraine to help defend itself against Russia for the last two years. Olaf Scholz (pictured) became the latest leader on the continent to push for more defence spending A leading arms manufacturer said it would take 10 years for Europe to be properly armed European weapons supplies are at an all time low, after many EU nations donated them to Ukraine to help its fight against Vladimir Putin's (pictured) forces Donald Trump said he was happy to see Russia take NATO nations on if they did not cough up the money Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany spent decades pulling away from its defence obligations, weighed down by its heavily militaristic past, and the consequential role it played in the early 20th century. But the invasion changed Germany's post-WW2 policy of pacifism, and has since become the second biggest contributor of weapons to Ukraine. Germany, and other European nations, this week pledged to increase their defence spending and develop the military relationship between themselves. Yesterday the governments of Poland, France and Germany pledged to strengthen ties with each other. Donald Tusk, the current president of Poland and the former president of the EU, directly challenged Russia, telling reporters gathered in Paris: 'There is no reason why we should be so clearly militarily weaker than Russia, and therefore increasing production and intensifying our cooperation are absolutely indisputable priorities.' Tusk, 66, also referenced Alexander Dumas' classic, 'The Three Musketeers', when discussing the relationship between the European Union, a largely economic bloc, and NATO, primarily a defence pact between nations. He said the relationship was based on the principle of 'one for all, all for one.' Germany has become the second biggest contributor of weapons to Ukraine Germany, and other European nations, this week pledged to increase their defence spending and develop the military relationship between them One senior NATO diplomat, speaking like others on condition of anonymity, called the comment an 'attack on the soul of the alliance' The diplomatic push across the continent comes after Donald Trump, former US president who is currently leading the race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 election, said earlier this week that he did not believe European nations were paying enough money to NATO. At a campaign rally in the US state of South Carolina, the volatile former reality TV star said on Saturday he told the leader of a 'big' European power he wouldn't step in if Russia attacked an ally not meeting its financial obligations. 'No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,' Trump told his supporters. US President Joe Biden - who has pledged iron-cast backing for the alliance - slammed the comments from his likely opponent in November's presidential election as 'appalling and dangerous'. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg issued an unusually strong-worded rebuttal to Trump, saying 'any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US'. The outburst was the most extreme from the Republican frontrunner, casting doubt among diplomats on his commitment to NATO's collective defence umbrella that has safeguarded Europe since World War II. One senior NATO diplomat, speaking like others on condition of anonymity, called the comment an 'attack on the soul of the alliance' for casting doubt on its Article 5 vow to protect an ally if attacked. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and CEO of Rheinmetall Armin Papperger pose by Leopard 2 tanks A Ukrainian soldier leaves the driver's cab of a tank in the direction of Bakhmut Fire and burnt-out cars are seen after a missile strike in Kyiv on January 2,2024 NATO countries missing 2% GDP defence spending target France (1.9 %) Montenegro (1.87 %) North Macedonia (1.87 %) Bulgaria (1.84 %) Croatia (1.79 %) Albania (1.76 %) Netherlands (1.7 %) Norway (1.67 %) Denmark (1.65 %) Germany (1.57 %) Czech Republic (1.5 %) Portugal (1.48 %) Italy (1.46 %) Canada (1.38 %) Slovenia (1.35 %) Turkey (1.31 %) Spain (1.26 %) Belgium (1.26 %) Advertisement Officials have privately admitted that Trump's choice to sow doubt about the US' commitment to NATO benefits Putin, who may look to other European nations if Ukraine falls. Trump has previously been accused of cosying up to Putin and has cast doubt on sending more aid to Kyiv. But multiple diplomats said that, despite his bluster, the ex-US leader does have a point on spending and has actually helped strengthen NATO by getting others to spend more. 'Worrying statement - but at the same time many allies have not reached minimal two percent of GDP for defence,' said another NATO diplomat. 'The goal seems to be obvious in current geopolitical situation, but still not yet become a reality. Europe should do more in this regard.' Moscow's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 already pushed European nations to up defence budgets. The full-scale invasion in 2022 saw NATO turn the two percent into a floor not a ceiling. Trump's goading sped up the process, but still in 2023 only eleven of the 31 allies were predicted to hit the target and the US still accounts for the vast bulk of combined defence expenditure. 'Forget the rhetoric, follow the money,' said one NATO diplomat. Another pointed out that, while many had feared the worst during Trump's term, his moves then resulted in a strengthened NATO. A woman reacts as she stands in front of a house burning after being shelled in the city of Irpin, outside Kyiv This aerial picture shows burned Russian armoured vehicles in the outskirts of Kyiv A Ukrainian soldier in a tank in the direction of Bakhmut, where clashes between Russia and Ukraine continue to take place NATO countries hitting 2% GDP defence spending target Poland (3.9 %) US (3.49 %) Greece (3.01 %) Estonia (2.73 %) Lithuania (2.54 %) Finland (2.45 %) Romania (2.44 %) Hungary (2.43 %) Latvia (2.27 %) United Kingdom (2.07 %) Slovakia (2.03 %) Iceland and Luxembourg do not hit the 2% GDP defence spending target, but these nations are not counted in this list. Luxembourg's size means it is not held to the same target, and Iceland does not maintain an armed forces. Advertisement 'He invested more in the Eastern flank, basically made Europe invest more in defence, was quite calm at the summits, kept the forces in Europe,' the diplomat said. 'It seems it may be just a way to make us do more. But do we have a guarantee? No.' This isn't the first time Trump has flirted with the idea of pulling out of the bloc. During his term in office Trump reportedly mulled pulling Washington out of the alliance and rounded on members such as Germany for falling well below a target of spending two percent of GDP on defence. But since the commitment was pledged in 2014, just 11 out of the 31 member states currently meet that target. Of the three EU and NATO nations whose governments met in Paris yesterday, only Poland spends more than the two percent pledge on defence. The nation spends 3.9% of its annual GDP on defence, while France and Germany spend, respectively, 1.9% and 1.57%. German officials have been quick to point out they expect to meet the 2% target this year, partly thanks to a special 1-billion-euro fund established in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. But even though Germany is ramping up its defence spending, that leaves nearly two dozen countries lagging behind their commitments. Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump attends a "Get Out the Vote" Rally in Conway, South Carolina, on February 10, 2024 The lowest spenders as a share of national GDP were Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg, at just 1.26%, 1.26% and 0.72% respectively, according to the NATO figures. Given Luxembourg's miniscule size and resources compared to other NATO countries, it is not expected to meet the same requirements. Iceland meanwhile isn't included in the list, because it doesn't have its own military despite being a founding NATO member. NATO is expected to release updated figures in the coming days that will show more allies meeting the 2% target, according to people familiar with the data. The security bloc is also set to expand to 32 countries in the near future, with Sweden awaiting ratification of its application amid obstacles presented by Hungary's Viktor Orban. But according to the existing figures, there are seven member countries whose defence spending remains less than 1.5% of GDP, non-inclusive of Iceland and Luxembourg. The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. Artisans from Zhejiang Province of China took over the Great Stair Hall of the museum with a variety of demonstrations, including tea-whisking, sugar painting, rice sculptures, poetry couplets, and puppetry. Guests also got an opportunity to create their own woodblock prints, learn about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and received a lucky red envelope. It was estimated that at least 1,000 parents and their kids had joined the five-hour celebration on Sunday, according to Hiromi Kinoshita, curator of Chinese Art at the PMA. "I think having the craftsmen to come all the way from China and perform things that you don't usually get to see is very attractive. And the event was very popular," she said. Kinoshita, who's been working with the PMA for 12 years, believed the event could help facilitate better understanding between the American and Chinese peoples, especially at a time when information that people get usually comes from the internet or the news, which could lead to a restricted view. "I think people and arts are very important to transmit ideas, and I can't think of any better way than having craftsmen or artisans who can show their arts personally," said Kinoshita. "I think having this type of personal connection is important," she said. Kinoshita also expressed her appreciation for the help and support from the Chinese consulate general in New York for making the event a reality. "We should have this more often. We need to know other cultures. I would come back every year if you have it," said Coco Idani, a visitor who was excited to get the rice sculpture of her Zodiac sign of tiger made by a young Chinese craftsman. "Chinese culture is old and extremely rich," said Idani. "We should learn from such a culture that has survived many years." "I always think that through the arts and culture, we can make bridges. So I'm very happy to participate," said Paul, who works in information technology and is married to a Chinese lady from Zhengzhou, China. "The event is wonderful. We like to share Chinese culture. It's great that the artisans from China come here to show puppetry and their handicrafts," said Paul, holding in arms their two-year-old daughter Zina wearing a Chinese Spring Festival Zodiac head kit. Cathy and Joe Jacobsen were planning to go to Chinatown in Philadelphia to see the Lunar New Year parade, but they got lost and ended up in the PMA event. Yet they really loved the event as it was inclusive, joyful, and welcoming to everybody. "It's a good occasion to celebrate our reunion," said Joe, adding that they have known each other since the 1970s but only reunited after 40 years in 2016. PMA's event was the last leg of the Chinese artisans' 10-day visit to the United States to join the Lunar New Year celebrations in New York and neighboring areas. They had earlier performed at the Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center, and China Institute. "It's a great surprise for us that local people were so enthusiastic about Chinese culture. We often had to extend our scheduled performance hours to accommodate a much larger-than-expected crowd of visitors," Ruan Jing, leader of the delegation and director of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, told Xinhua. Aussie beachgoers hoping to take a dip on a hot day quickly changed their minds after spotting something else swimming in the shallows a shark. One local, who captured footage of the predator's dorsal fin cruising just metres from the shoreline at Coffs Harbours Corindi Beach on Tuesday, shared the scene in a local Facebook group with many residents reacting in shock. The beach, at the northern end of the Coffs Coast in NSW, is popular among swimmers, surfers and snorkellers. While its unclear exactly what type of shark it is, one stunned viewer shared that they were surfing in that very spot just minutes before the footage was taken. A shark was spotted in the shallows at Corindi Beach, popular among surfers, swimmers and snorkelers. Source: Facebook Sharks spotted in shallows While it appears that no one is swimming in the water, and the situation seems to be safe, experts have warned that sharks can often be spotted swimming in the shallows and still pose a risk to humans wading through the water. One Aussie recently captured the moment a tiger shark nearly beached itself while hunting a turtle, while swimmers at a popular Sydney beach were forced to flee the water when a shark was spotted cruising the shallows on Australia Day. Where am I more likely to be attacked by a shark? Gavin Naylor who curates the Florida Museum of Natural Historys internationally recognised database on shark bites previously told Yahoo he believes being further out isnt always the problem because a lot of shark bites happen relatively close to shore. Instead, being a distance away from other swimmers could increase your chances of being attacked. Temperature warning from ocean experts After young woman Lauren O'Neill was badly mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour last month, marine experts have warned Aussies about the dangers the animals pose as temperatures warm. Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck added it's not yet certain if more sharks are arriving annually in higher numbers than in previous years. Story continues "It remains to be seen if this will be a cyclical thing, or if its going to be happening year, after year, after year due to global warming," Mr Chlebeck said. "But those warm waters will definitely bring more bull sharks and tiger sharks to the area. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Confronting CCTV footage has emerged of the horrifying moment a car ploughed into Queensland Greens MP Amy MacMahon's hybrid vehicle at high speed in front of shocked bystanders, leaving her with serious head and spinal injuries. The crash occurred about 6.30pm on Monday when the South Brisbane MP's Toyota Prius was struck by a Hyundai i30 at the intersection of Baines Street and Main Street in Kangaroo Point, in inner-city Brisbane. Footage of the incident, obtained by The Courier Mail, showed Dr MacMahon pull away slowly from the lights when the Hyundai, which allegedly appeared to be travelling at speed straight across the junction. The Hyundai smashed into the front of the Toyota Prius, causing it to spin 180 degrees into a lamp post. Debris was seen instantly scattered across the road as the Hyundai, which had its front end completely crumpled, continued into oncoming traffic before it came to a stop out of shot. The collision occurred near the intersection of Main and Baines streets in Kangaroo Point Queensland Greens MP Amy MacMahon (pictured in 2020) is in critical condition in hospital after a two-car collision at a busy Brisbane intersection READ MORE: High-profile Greens MP suggests a radical change to Anthony Albanese's broken promise Stage Three tax cuts Max Chandler-Mather (pictured with his partner) asked voters last week ether they'd prefer having Medicare covering dental - or give high income earners a tax cut as Mr Albanese's government is offering Advertisement Although there is no audio in the footage, bystanders can be seen suddenly whipping around at the moment of impact, with one later describing the sound as being 'like a bomb going off'. Dr MacMahon was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she remains in a stable but serious condition. Dr MacMahon was travelling between two community engagements at the time, according to her office which provided an update on Tuesday afternoon. 'She had been serving food at the Greens' Raymond Park free community dinner and was on her way to another community event when the crash happened,' the post began. 'We can tell you that Amy is in a stable but serious condition. Her injuries are non-life-threatening and she's receiving excellent care in hospital. 'It will be a few days before we know the full picture but at this stage we know that Amy is responsive. She is being assessed by the specialists to monitor how she is going. 'We've been overwhelmed with the wonderful well-wishes and concerns for Amy, and we're so grateful for all the support from the community. 'Given how serious this accident was, we're really thankful that the outcome was not worse.' Dr MacMahon has been surrounded by family and friends as her road to recovery begins. 'Her office will stay open and continue to do the work needed by the community. The door is always open,' the post ended. It's unknown how long her recovery will take. Her Greens colleagues were left shaken after watching the confronting footage. The impact of the collision caused Dr MacMahon's car to crumple and spin 180 degrees into a lamp post. Debris can be seen scattered across the road as the Hyundai continues into oncoming traffic before coming to a stop out of shot (pictured) Queensland Premier Steven Miles was told that emergency services had taken 'great care' of Dr MacMahon (left) and he has wished her a speedy recovery 'It's quite harrowing to watch and it gives a clearer sense of how serious the incident was,' fellow Greens MP Michael Berkman said. 'We know she is getting great care (and) she's in the best possible place that she could be and while all the relevant specialists continue to address her condition, we'll just play it by ear,' he said. 'Anyone who knows Amy will know how keen she'll be to get back out there serving more free community dinners and fighting for her community as soon as possible,' Mr Berkman said. The occupants of the Hyundai - a woman in her 20s and a man in his 30s - were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in stable conditions. The Queensland Police forensic crash unit is investigating. The busy intersection near the popular Pineapple Hotel was cordoned off for several hours as emergency workers cleared the scene. Nearby residents recalled hearing the impact of the crash from two streets away. Queensland Premier Steven Miles said emergency services had taken 'great care' of Dr MacMahon and he has wished her a speedy recovery. 'On behalf of the government I want Amy and her family to know we are all thinking of her,' he said on Monday night. 'I know our police and ambos took great care of her and that the PA hospital is the best place in the world for her to be.' Several hours before the crash, Dr MacMahon (right) renewed calls to Premier Miles to scrap the demolition and rebuild of the Gabba for the 2032 Olympics Several hours before the crash the MP for South Brisbane had called on Premier Miles to scrap the demolition and rebuild of the Gabba for the 2032 Olympics. She's been an outspoken opponent of the project and hosted a community forum on Saturday. 'The message from our community was resoundingly clear: we're not stopping until the Premier say he's calling off the Gabba rebuild, and that East Brisbane State School and Raymond Park are protected,' the MP wrote on Monday. 'The community doesn't want it. The International Olympic Committee vice president says it doesn't stack up. The Australian Olympic Committee president says there's better solutions. Even an old Labor Premier has come out against it.' Dr MacMahon became the first female Greens MP to be elected in to Queensland parliament in 2020 when she unseated then-deputy Premier Jackie Trad. In November, she became the first MP in almost a decade to be suspended from parliament for a day for 'wilfully disobeying' an order. The Body Shop has begun the process of filing for administration with jobs at risk across the brand's 200-plus UK stores expected in another blow to the British high street. The beloved chain currently employs 10,000 people across 3,000 stores it operates in more than 70 countries around the world - with a further 12,000 staff working in franchises. Set up in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick, the company became famous for it's no-nonsense ethical trading ethos and refusal to test products on animals. Popular products which helped establish the brand's name included bath bombs, White Musk fragrance and Hemp hand cream. However in recent years it has seen its popularity in the UK with shoppers diminish due to the rise of rivals Lush and Holland and Barret. The Body Shop has begun the process of filing for administration with job losses a risk The Body Shop, the near 50-year-old cosmetics company renowned for its ethical hair and skin products, is struggling financially in the UK After being sold to L'Oreal for 675million by Dame Anita in 2006, the company has changed hands through multiple owners, before being bought by private equity firm Aurelius just weeks ago for 207million. After purchasing the brand, Aurelius said that 'despite the challenging retail market there is an opportunity to re-energise the business to enable it to take advantage of positive trends in the high-growth beauty market.' It has since emerged that the business has insufficient working capital and suffered from a poor Christmas period of trading. It's been reported that restructuring expert FRP Advisory will be appointed in the coming days to significantly restructure the brand. In January, the Body Shop claimed that most of its business stemmed from mainland Europe and Asia. It told Retail Week: 'This further prioritises the Body Shop's strategically important markets and global head franchise partner relationships, which it will look for opportunities to build. 'The Body Shop will also focus on more effectively reaching customers by strengthening digital platforms, developing new sales channels, and via differentiated retail experiences.' The Body Shop was sold to L'Oreal for 675million by founder Dame Anita in 2006 MailOnline has approached The Body Shop and Aurelius for comment. A spokesman for the Body Shop said: 'Today, the Directors of The Body Shop International Limited have appointed Tony Wright, Geoff Rowley, and Alastair Massey of business advisory firm FRP as Joint Administrators of the company, which operates The Body Shops UK business. 'Taking this approach provides the stability, flexibility and security to find the best means of securing the future of The Body Shop and revitalizing this iconic British brand. The Joint Administrators will now consider all options to find a way forward for the business and will update creditors and employees in due course. 'The Body Shop remains guided by its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term. Creating a more nimble and financially stable UK business, is an important step in achieving this. 'The Joint Administrators will continue to trade the business in administration, ensuring customers will be able to continue to shop in store and online for their favourite products. 'The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. Having taken swift action in the last month, including closing down The Body Shop At Home and selling its business across most of Europe and in parts of Asia, focusing on the UK business is the next important step in The Body Shops restructuring.' Mr Ali was ordered to pay 4,000 to Tesla Inc and owes 8,000 in solicitor's fees He registered a trademark in May 2020 - before the electric car firm stepped in A takeaway boss who was hit with a 12,000 bill after losing a trademark battle with Elon Musk's Tesla has been left 'hurting' by the battle - after claiming he had named his shop after the 19th century inventor Nikola Tesla. Amanj Ali, 41, registered the name Tesla Chicken and Pizza in May 2020 in homage to the Serbian engineer, whose Tesla coil invention in 1891 sought to revolutionise the transmission of high voltage electricity. But when bosses at the US-domiciled electric car company Tesla Inc - which also takes its name from the electrical pioneer, and has Musk as its CEO - caught wind of the trademark registration they took him to court. The battle raged over the fact that the car firm's trademark registration in the UK covers 'anticipatory' food and drink services - should it ever decide to enter the restaurant business. Even though Mr Ali registered his business before Tesla sought to protect its trademark in the UK - which it did by way of an application in November 2021 - the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) ruled in favour of the Model 3 makers. Amanj Ali holds up the logo for the Tesla Chicken & Pizza trademark he had registered with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) - before lawyers for the car firm stepped in His existing chicken shop, Colorado's, in Bury, Greater Manchester. He had hoped to open a second shop providing chicken and pizza Mr Ali (left) says he had been inspired from a young age by Nikola Tesla (right), who pioneered early forms of AC electricity transmission Elon Musk (pictured) is Tesla's CEO, having joined the company seven months after it was founded. A later lawsuit means he can legally name himself a co-founder Tesla argued that this 2018 tweet from Elon Musk signposted the company's intentions to operate food and drink businesses in the UK Mr Ali, whose other shop in Bury, Greater Manchester is called Colorado's, says he is disappointed to have been let with a 12,000 legal bill - and has vowed never to invite Tesla boss Mr Musk to eat at his premises. He said: 'I was so disappointed after all this. All I can say is it is just because a big company [took on] a small company - nothing else. 'When I lost it, I was kind of hurting, but I just tried to keep a secret and not tell it to anybody. 'It was 18 months that I had been fighting them. I couldn't sometimes sleep properly, and at that time, it was kind of hard for me.' He added about Musk: 'If you asked me, "Will you be inviting him", I would say "no".' The hard-working restaurateur said he had originally applied for his trademark as he hoped to open a new takeaway business in the Greater Manchester area. He already had a chicken shop called Colorado's, but felt his new branch would need a new name as it would have a different identity, selling pizza as well as chicken. Mr Ali claims he struck upon 'Tesla Chicken & Pizza' as the famed inventor had left a mark on him when he was a youngster. And he planned for his new restaurant to have a mural dedicated to the trailblazer, who pioneered modern alternating current supply systems in electricity. As it happens, Nikola Tesla's most famous inventor's lab, the Tesla Experimental Station, was based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Mr Ali said: 'In my young age, I read about him... I don't know whether it is true or not, but some people claim he invented a lot of things. 'For my Colorado's brand, we do chicken only but with Tesla Chicken & Pizza, I wanted to do pizza as well. 'And we were planning when we open the restaurant, we will have a wall that will have a Nikola Tesla picture.' His trademark was successfully registered in 'class 43' for food and drink services, but his plans for a new restaurant later stalled due to the pandemic. And in November 2021, he got emails from the IPO, saying another party had applied for the 'Tesla' trademark in the same section. Stunned, Mr Ali said he had no idea that electric car manufacturer Tesla was behind the application until he researched them on the internet. Mr Ali says he doesn't have time to resent Tesla over its legal action - but says Elon Musk will not be welcome at his chicken shop anytime soon The proposed sign for Tesla Chicken & Pizza (left) and Tesla Inc - can you spot the difference? Nikola Tesla demonstrates a 'magnifying transmitter', a form of Tesla coil, at his Colorado Springs laboratory in the USA in 1899. The photo was taken as a clever multiple exposure - giving the impression Tesla was sitting amongst live arcs of electricity Musk had tweeted that he might roll out 50s diner-style food service at Tesla Superchargers (pictured: a Supercharger station in Exeter) He said: 'When we Googled that address, it was the headquarters of Tesla Motors. 'I'm a micro businessman being faced [with] one of the richest man's companies, [so] I found a solicitor, and I called them.' Working with his lawyer, he said representatives from Tesla offered him 750 to sell the rights to his trademark to them in May 2022. But he was dismayed by this proposal and claims he then joked with his legal team that only '750,000' would be enough to let him give it up. Mr Ali said his lawyer then relayed this to Tesla's representatives as a matter of fact, and later they used this to successfully argue he had acted in 'bad faith'. He continued: 'At that time, they kind of made me laugh and I was angry, I just quickly replied to my solicitor, 'Tell them my client will accept your offer with a "k" next to it.' 'But my solicitor replied: "He won't accept the 750 but instead, he will accept 750,000." Tesla's solicitor used that against me.' Court documents also revealed how Tesla's lawyers argued that a tweet sent by Elon Musk in January 2018 made clear his ambitions to start up a restaurant franchise using the company's name. It read: 'Gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA.' They also suggested that Mr Ali was 'familiar with the trademark system' and was aware of Musk's huge $206bn fortune due to his posts on social media. But after the case, he said many people were aware of Musk's wealth and questioned whether the tweet was a legitimate business proposal as it hadn't yet materialised. He fumed: 'I said, "I haven't opened my restaurant yet, but you haven't either?"' As part of the IPO's ruling in late November last year, he was forced to pay Tesla 4,000 while also shelling out 8,000 in fees for his solicitor. But despite the crushing defeat, he doesn't bear a grudge toward the world's richest man. Mr Ali added: 'I'm the type of person that I don't have any hate against anyone. I am too busy to hate people.' Tesla was founded in July 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, before Musk joined in February 2004 after he provided $7.5million in funding after selling his shares in payment company Paypal. A lawsuit settled in 2009 between Eberhard, Tarpenning, Musk and two other early employees means all five can legally refer to themselves as co-founders of the firm. Tesla has been contacted for comment. Do you know the identities of the girls? email: newsUS@dailymail.com Advertisement A group of teenage girls have been shamed online after a Sephora worker called them out for appearing to use dark make-up to do 'black face'. The girls were filmed covered in darker make-up shades at one of the popular beauty chain's Boston locations. Video of the incident, which was shared on TikTok and has since gone viral, shows how a person confronted the group and criticized the girls' apparent chaperone over their 'incredibly offensive' behavior. Although it cannot be heard in the video, it was reported that the original poster of the video claimed the girls were also walking around the store 'making monkey noises'. Outraged viewers of the clip described shoppers as 'shameful' and 'disgusting' and have called for them to be banned from the store. The make-up store has said it is 'extremely disappointed' by the girls' actions and reiterated that 'under no circumstance is this type of behavior tolerated at Sephora.' Three teenage girls were caught painting their faces with darker make up shades at a Sephora location inside the Prudential Center in Boston An person confronted the group and criticized the girls' apparent chaperone over their 'incredibly offensive' behavior The footage was recorded last weekend at a Sephora location inside the Prudential Center in Boston. It shows a group of three white girls walking around the store after they seemingly used product samples to apply darker make-up to their faces. It is alleged the girls intended to photograph themselves. A person then confronts the adult accompanying the group, saying: 'I walked over here and you're about to take a picture of that. 'You want to document this? Go ahead. This is the stuff that ruins jobs ... let alone how incredibly offensive this is.' The adult chaperone, seemingly dismissing the staffer, then walks off. The people in the alleged incident has not spoken out about the incident and its unclear what products they were using and why. The video was shared by University of Southern California athlete Temi Ojora, who was visiting Boston for track meet when she witnessed the incident. Ojora said she was 'genuinely so disgusted and disturbed' in the now-deleted post. 'These group of teenage girls and their mothers come in and go to the make-up section to use the samples for blackface whilst giggling and making animal sounds,' she wrote in a caption seen by Boston.com. She also claims the chaperone confronted her following the incident over the recording. Sephora, in a statement to the Atlanta Black Star, the store stated it was 'disappointed' by the incident. A spokesperson said: 'Sephora's top priority is to create a welcoming and inclusive shopping experience for all. We are extremely disappointed by the behavior of these shoppers at our Prudential Center location, and as such, they were asked to leave our premises. Under no circumstance is this type of behavior tolerated at Sephora.' Sephora said it is 'extremely disappointed' by the girls' actions and reiterated that 'under no circumstance is this type of behavior tolerated' (File photo of a Sephora store) But many people online have detailed their outrage, claiming the girls should be banned from the store, and praised the worker for stepping in. 'They literally woke up and thought hmmm, Ill get up and dress in black face in public', one social media user wrote. 'Dont run, be BOLD in your vile, racist acts!' @len_Joy1 added on Instagram. 'You have an amazing employee who stepped in when a group of teenagers and their mothers walked in and used your samples to do blackface while recording themselves making animal noises,' X user @RyanShead wrote. 'She deserves a raise. The mothers and kids should be famous in a bad way,' said @shanerooks One person said: 'Let them act like the wild animals they are they want to be a monkey so bad so let them. User @DntBurnUrBRIDGE added: 'This is just nastyyyyyy smh.' 'The employee did the right thing,' echoed TikTok user @brandontgendron. 'Let's make sure Sephora knows they have a great employee with them.' Another user @mariaisabelabarca replied: 'They should be banned from Sephora tbh.' 'Ban from sephora for life girl The mother should definitely check how she's raising her kids because she's failing so badly,' added @jess__lb26. DailyMail.com has approached Sephora for comment. Tweens and teens are going wild in Sephora, as they test out expensive skincare products and make a major mess Drunk Elephant products aren't the only ones being destroyed by teens - the Inkey List, Fenty Beauty, and Glow Recipe are also popular options The incident comes as customers and employees at popular beauty chains, including Sephora, have called out young girls for causing chaos in their stores. Tweens and teenage girls are going wild in Sephora, as they test out expensive skincare products and make a major mess. Many of the teenagers are flocking to Drunk Elephant, a beauty brand beloved by stars like Alix Earle, Hailey Bieber, and Kourtney Kardashian. Staff and shoppers alike have called the young women 'feral' and begged their parents to supervise them at make up stores. TikTok content creator and aesthetician Cassandra Bankson, 31, investigated the rumor in Los Angeles and was shocked by her findings, telling her 437,000 followers the Drunk Elephant section was 'disgusting' before sharing footage of the destroyed department. The model found 'a lip balm with a literal hair in it' and that 'someone put the bronzing drops all over one of the moisturizers and couldn't even be bothered to put them back.' One Sephora employee from Tennessee also criticized the way the youths treat staff, branding then as 'mean girls'. 'It's not the fact that they're little girls in Sephora because makeup is subjective, there's no age limit to it,' Sequoia Cothra told Fox News, adding that her concerns were 'more about what these girls are reaching for' within the stores. 'It's also the way that they're treating the workers,' she added. 'You see these kind of mean girl antics from these 10-year-olds.' Labour activists are considering a desperate move to support Reform in the upcoming Rochdale by-election to stop George Galloway winning, after the party severed ties with its own candidate over anti-Semitic comments about Gaza war. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Azhar Ali. Sir Keir Starmer's party was last night forced to withdraw its support for a by-election candidate after the Daily Mail uncovered more of his anti-Semitic comments. Mr Ali, who claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre of its own people, was suspended from the party pending an investigation. Yet just hours earlier, Sir Keir Starmer's team had rallied behind the councillor claiming he had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. A strident critic of Israel and the West he has previously won in historically Labour areas with sizeable Muslim populations, including Bradford West and Bethnal Green and Bow in east London. Last night local Labour activists told the Guardian: 'Simon may be the best way of keeping [George Galloway] out. It's the devil and the deep blue sea.' Meanwhile, senior Labour frontbenchers today refused to face the media to answer questions about the saga. Azhar Ali, who claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas 's October 7 massacre of its own people, was suspended from the party pending an investigation. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Mr Ali's campaign Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. Housing minister Lee Rowley accused Labour of 'going to ground' after no shadow minister appeared on Tuesday's morning media round. Mr Rowley told Sky News: 'I mean, where is Labour? Where's Labour today? Talking to people like yourselves, they're not doing it. They're going to ground.' It was put to Mr Rowley that he was on 'dodgy ground' accusing another party of going to ground when the Government is 'not always around', to which he replied: 'That is a party which has not changed. It's a party which will say anything to win government, and I hope people are watching. 'They've got no plan and they're getting themselves into a real mess over things like this.' Late last night Labour confirmed it had withdrawn support for the Rochdale by-election candidate 'following new information'. The Mail had obtained a full audio tape of his comments during a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party shortly after the October 7 attacks. As well as having told the meeting that Israel allowed the massacre to happen so it could wage war on Gaza, Mr Ali apparently also: Blamed 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian Labour MP; Said Israel planned to 'get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza' and 'grab' some of the land; Boasted about preventing Israeli flags being flown from local public buildings after the October 7 attacks. The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party. Mr McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough, used the phrase 'between the river and the sea' last year. The slogan has been described as 'a staple of anti-Semitic discourse'. But in the recording, Mr Ali said Mr McDonald 'shouldn't have been suspended' before adding: 'The media and some of the people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about what he said.' The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism includes making 'stereotypical allegations about Jews' such as 'Jews controlling the media'. Mr Ali's comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza. He later admitted his comments were 'inexcusable' and apologised after being confronted by The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the story. At the meeting, he also said: 'Israel has that plan, which is to get rid of [the Palestinians] from Gaza, push them out... 'And then they've got Gaza to themselves, and you know, they'll say because the security risks to Israel and the Jewish state, you know, we can't come back. So we've actually said that, in our letter, (this) is about a land grab.' Mr Ali's (left) comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald (pictured) from the Labour Party Last night Rishi Sunak (pictured) accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do' Last night Rishi Sunak accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do'. He said Sir Keir's claims to have changed the Labour Party had proven 'simply not true', given that its candidate was caught 'spreading the vilest racist conspiracy theories about Jews'. The Prime Minister said on GB News: 'We've just seen over the last few days Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year telling everybody Labour's changed look what just happened in Rochdale. READ MORE: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Time for Labour to put principles before polls Advertisement 'A candidate saying the most vile, awful anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. And what happened? He stood by him, sent cabinet ministers to support him. 'Until, as apparently five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, he's decided to change his mind. 'That's not principled, that's not principled at all. It's a con.' The deadline to remove Mr Ali from the ballot paper has passed, leading to the highly unusual situation where Labour cannot replace him as the party's candidate. He will remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate, but if he wins, he would sit in the Commons as an independent MP without the whip. Labour said last night: 'Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.' Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden told the Mail: 'Sir Keir knew about his racist Labour candidate's views for days. Still, Sir Keir sent his people out to defend him. 'Who knows how long other people in Labour knew about this racist anti-Semitism and said nothing either because they think the same or dared not speak out. It's not out of principle but only due to pressure that Sir Keir has acted. Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden (pictured) told the Mail: 'Sir Keir knew about his racist Labour candidate's views for days. Still, Sir Keir sent his people out to defend him' Before the U-turn, Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds (pictured) said he believed Mr Ali had fallen for 'an online conspiracy theory' But Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured) said: 'I'm not sure 'our candidate believed and repeated a vile and clearly anti-Semitic smear that he saw on the internet' is quite the defence Labour think it is' Labour MP Rosie Duffield (pictured) said the party should have withdrawn its support for Mr Ali sooner. She told GB News: 'I think the dithering was quite embarrassing' 'Starmer is a moral vacuum. Sir Keir has failed to change his party, in fact he's been defending a racist hoping the outrage went away and only acted when he had no choice.' A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labour's withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour.' Before the U-turn, Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said he believed Mr Ali had fallen for 'an online conspiracy theory'. But Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'I'm not sure 'our candidate believed and repeated a vile and clearly anti-Semitic smear that he saw on the internet' is quite the defence Labour think it is.' Labour MP Rosie Duffield said the party should have withdrawn its support for Mr Ali sooner. She told GB News: 'I think the dithering was quite embarrassing.' Mr Ali said on Sunday: 'I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant and false.' Swimmers at a popular beach were shocked to spot a shark lurking in shallow waters metres from shore. The shark was filmed swimming along the shoreline at Corindi Beach near Coffs Harbour on NSW's mid north coast. Its unclear what type of shark it was but it's understood that no-one was in the water at the time. The footage was posted to a local Facebook group on Tuesday, sparking a shocked reaction from locals. One viewer claimed they had been surfing minutes at the same spot moments before the shark emerged. The dorsal fin of an unidentified shark was seen in the shallow water of a popular beach north of Coffs Harbour 'That's a bit close, you wouldn't want to be walking your dogs or kids along there,' one wrote. 'Awww nooo I swim there all the time and I already get the heeby jeebies,' another said. 'Be very careful guys,' one said. Corindi Beach is popular not just with swimmers but also surfers and snorkellers. Experts told Yahoo sharks are often seen cruising in the shallows and they can pose a risk for people who are wading in the water. An Aussie beachgoer filmed a tiger shark nearly beaching itself while it was hunting a turtle in Western Australia in late January. Also in late January, Sydney-sider Lauren O'Neill sustained a severe bite to her right leg and suffered a 'major blood loss' after being bitten by a bull shark close to shore in Sydney Harbour. While Sydney swimmers at a popular beach fled the water after a shark was spotted in the shallow water on Australia Day. Florida Museum of Natural History's curator Gavin Naylor previously told Yahoo he believes being further out in the water from the shallows is not always the problem. He said this is because a lot of shark bites occur fairly close to shore. Corindi Beach had an unwelcome visitor Tuesday when a shark was sighted. Experts warn many sharks swim in the shallow waters at beaches and advise beach-goers to not be isolated from other people when swimming He believes the distance away from other swimmers could increase a person's chance of being attacked. Marine experts have also warned Aussies to the dangers shark pose as water temperatures rise. Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said it's not known if there are more sharks arriving each year in higher numbers than in years gone by. 'It remains to be seen if this will be a cyclical thing, or if its going to be happening year, after year, after year due to global warming,' he said. 'But those warm waters will definitely bring more bull sharks and tiger sharks to the area.' A mother-of-four who was held at gunpoint by her stalker ex-boyfriend has said he 'will offend again' ahead of his release from prison this week. Rhianon Bragg says her former partner Gareth Wyn Jones is a risk to 'anyone around him' after the Parole Board approved his release from prison after four years behind bars. He was locked up after subjecting Rhianon to a campaign of harassment when she ended the abusive five-year relationship in 2019, something which culminated in her being held hostage at gunpoint for eight hours outside her home in North Wales in 2019. Rhianon, who says she has been left with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following an ordeal that left her suicidal, has said his impending freedom is 'absolute madness'. The domestic violence campaigner said she is 'extraordinarily anxious' about his release and she believes he 'is a risk to my family'. Rhianon Bragg from Rhosgadfan was coercively controlled and abused by her former partner Gareth Wyn Jones (pictured together) Rhianon Bragg (pictured on Good Morning Britain) has warned that she believes her stalker will 'offend again' ahead of his release from prison this week Jones was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in custody, followed by five years out on licence for stalking, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and possession of a firearm. Despite never admitting culpability for his crimes and a Parole Board panel finding he isn't safe to house in the community, he will be released automatically on Friday. Speaking on Good Morning Britain to hosts Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins today, Rhianon recalled the moment she found out he would be released. She said: 'It's a totally surreal moment because as you say, when someone has been assessed as such a risk, and I strongly feel that he is a risk to my family, and I also feel he will offend again. 'Within the parole letter that you mention it talks about him not taking culpability and if he doesnt think he has done anything wrong, then I strongly feel this is something that will go on to happen again. 'It's an extraordinarily anxious time. I have no idea what the future will be like. 'There are various security and protective measures which are put in place and being put in place but we really are relying on the criminal justice system. Not just me but anyone around him to make sure he doesn't offend again.' Jones will spend five years on licence when he is released from prison, meaning he will be managed by probation staff with the chance of being recalled to prison if he commits further crimes. Rhianon said she has asked for 'exclusion zones' and for him to wear a GPS tag as part of his release but 'my requests don't mean they will necessarily happen'. She said: 'For me it's not just the licence rules put upon him but how they will actually be managed. Gareth Wyn Jones stalked Rhianon Bragg for five months before taking her hostage at gunpoint for eight hours (pictured) The mother-of-four, who went to the same public school as the Princess of Wales, said Jones 'waged a campaign of terror, stalking and harassment' against her and her children 'If you are relying on someone who has very happily lied to authorities before, relying on someone who doesn't think they have done anything wrong and you tell them not to go somewhere. 'Unless they are being monitored by a GPS system or tag, no one is going to really know where they are and if they don't know where they are, as and when he does break licence conditions, how long will it take for someone to react?' Rhianon revealed she has't been able to 'recover from the trauma' of what Jones put her through because she is still 'focused on trying to programme the upcoming threat which is him on release'. 'It's still an on-going situation and I won't know until it happens,' she said. 'Will I go right back to feeling like I did when I was stalked? Not knowing where he is. 'Whilst he has been in custody, you know he is locked up, you know you are safe and you know the children are safe. But once he is released, it's that big question of "where is he?"' Jones had started harassing Rhianon and her four children when she ended their five-year relationship in 2019. She reported Jones to the police a number of times. He was arrested three times and had his legally held guns taken away, but no further action was taken and his firearms were returned. Prosecutors later admitted they could have charged Jones three months earlier with harassment and spared Rhianon her gunpoint ordeal. The horrifying incident has left Rhianon Bragg (pictured) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder Last year Rhianon said the justice system was 'broken' after learning of his release. It came nearly two years after finding out the Ministry of Justice divulged details of her psychological report to Jones while he was in prison in a 'horrendous' clerical error. Ms Bragg said: 'I cannot conceive how anything other than a completely blinkered, unjoined up, broken justice system, would release an offender that it had just classed as too high risk to release. It's mind-blowing, absolute madness - what will they say to his next victims? It's not like they're pretending he won't reoffend.' She continued: 'We're hoping for a workable, sustainably funded Victims Bill. I think there's no hope of that, when the system can't even contain known offenders. 'We are just guinea pigs.' A summary of the Parole Board panel's decision on Jones said that he had held 'traditional beliefs around gender roles in relationships and evidenced jealousy and a sense of entitlement', while struggling to manage conflict. It found that he saw asking for help as a sign of weakness, and noted that there were emotional and mental health difficulties in this case. A release plan where Jones would live in designated accommodation with strict limits on his contacts, movements and activities was not deemed robust enough. The panel concluded: 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.' Under-fire comic Paul Currie has doubled down after his incendiary pro-Palestine routine which saw a Jewish audience member 'hounded out' of Soho Theatre 'because he refused to applaud a Palestine flag'. Paul Currie is accused of encouraging the crowd to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' at Israeli ticketholder Liahav Eitan at the Soho Theatre in London on Saturday night. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it could investigate, while Soho Theatre bosses have apologised and said they are looking into the incident. The controversial comedian - who describes himself as a 'professional d***head on social media - has now appeared to double down on his alleged behaviour by posting a pro-Palestine poster to his Instagram story this morning. It read: 'I will not quietly nor politely sit and make house within the depravity of this killing machine'. A post shared to Paul Currie's Instagram story earlier this morning The under-fire comedian was at a pro-Palestine march hours before the show on Saturday Liahav Eitan (pictured) was 'hounded out' of London's Soho Theatre after comedian Paul Currie encouraged his audience to chant 'get the f*** out' and 'free Palestine' Were you at the comedy show? Contact: dan.grennan@mailonline.co.uk Currie also reposted praise from another comic last night which said: 'Thanks @paulcurriecomedian for an amazing show on Saturday and for unapologetically calling for a ceasefire now.' Paul Currie: Absurdist comedian from Belfast who featured on BBC's Live At The Electric Belfast-born Currie began his career as a street performer and has become known for his absurdist comedy, having been doing stand-up gigs for the past 20 years. He featured in BBC Three comedy show Live At The Electric in 2013 and debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2009. Currie is also a so-called 'muppeteer', having performed and voiced puppets on children's shows such as Jim Henson's Pajanimals and Sesame Tree, the Northern Irish adaptation of Sesame Street. He is described as having 'carved himself a reputation since 2004 as an uncompromising alternative comedian in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Europe building up a loyal fan base with his unique style of genre breaking stand-up'. Currie has a degree from Belfast School of Art in visual communications and previously taught at Circusful - formerly known as Belfast Community Circus School. Advertisement In another post to his story, he shared images of injured children on a stretcher with the caption, 'ceasefire now!' which is one of the phrases he is accused of shouting at Mr Eitan. It also has emerged that audience members at a previous show in Australia claimed he verbally abused and evicted them after they refused to drink an unknown liquid. Currie is claimed to have tried to force people attending the Adelaide Fringe in 2016 to drink from a glass - which he said contained soy milk - before they declined. Following the shocking scenes at the theatre, which is a former synagogue, a Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are aware of the incident that took place at the Soho Theatre on Saturday evening. 'We understand why it was upsetting for those involved and we note the venue has issued a statement confirming they are looking into what took place. A report was submitted to police on Monday and enquiries are ongoing.' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Monday, Mr Eitan, who moved from Israel to London five years ago, said: 'I don't think theatres should book this person [Currie]. He seemed violent and dangerous.' The software engineer, whose seats were behind Currie, added: 'The only way out was through the stage. We had to actually get on the stage quite close to him - and I was quite afraid that he'd throw a punch because he was still cursing and shouting. 'He got out his Palestine flag again and shouted "motherf***er you'll have to watch it again on your way out".' Mr Eitan and his friend fled from the Soho Theatre to Bloomsbury in a bid to move away from the venue, where the crowd were spilling out and some of them were giving them 'unfriendly glances'. He continued: 'From the audience, we were mostly scared. We wanted to get out of the of the situation. It seemed like a bit of a mob mentality that could go sour any second. 'So we were just afraid of violence. That's why we didn't linger right? We just wanted to get out of there.' Currie shared praise from another comedian who thanked him for 'unapologetically calling for a ceasefire now' In another post to his story, Currie shared a tweet by comedian Frankie Boyle on the Israel-Palestine conflict The Soho Theatre was where the shocking incident occurred. It also used to be a synagogue Mr Eitan added: '[We were] mostly scared about how that room might turn against us. From the comedian, I didn't feel any sort of way like I thought it really reflected on him rather than on us.' EXCLUSIVE READ MORE Met Police could launch investigation into Soho Theatre after Jewish audience member was 'hounded out' by comedian Paul Currie - as comic shares praise for his incendiary routine online Advertisement Recalling how the night unfolded, Mr Eitan explained how he and his friend had booked last-minute tickets to see Currie because they had time to kill before a birthday dinner at 9.30pm. Mr Eitan said that while the show was 'bizarre', everything was fine until Currie unfurled the flags and asked the audience to stand up. He said he didn't believe it was fair to compare the Palestine and Ukraine conflicts but he just stayed sat and didn't do anything. The incident comes amid heightened tensions as the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on. Mr Eitan continued: 'If I was closer to the door, maybe I would have left at that stage. But as it was, I just waited five minutes for the for the show to end. 'When it ended, a lot of the people got up and clapped. There was a bit of a standing ovation there and me and my friends just stayed sat down quietly and not clapping. 'I didn't mean to make any point of it right? I just didn't really enjoy that bit.' Currie, who often shares pro-Palestine content on social media, is then said to have shown his appreciation to the crowd for coming before sarcastically thanking Mr Eitan and his friend for not standing up and clapping. Paul Currie is an absurdist comedian from Belfast who has been performing since 2004 Mr Eitan said that Currie 'lingered' on them for around five to ten seconds until he responded: 'Thank you for that Palestine flag'. Currie then seemed 'quite taken aback' and asked Mr Eitan if he was being sarcastic. 'Then he said something like, "Okay, well, you're welcome. You're welcome for the Palestine flag. It was part of the show." 'And then he came back to me again and said, "Did you enjoy the show?" I said, "Yes, up until that point". And he said, "Ah up until that point". 'Then he just turns back to me and starts screaming, 'I'm from Belfast. I know everything about ceasefires. Ceasefire now, get the f*** out of my theatre. Get out, get the f*** out of my show, motherf***ers.' Mr Eitan said he then asked his friend if they should grab their things and go before they calmly attempted to leave. 'Unfortunately, when the entire crowd was still inside, the only way out was through the stage,' he added. Coming close with the comedian on stage, Mr Eitan said Currie started a 'public chant of 'ceasefire now, and free Palestine' as he 'tried to incite the crowd'. He added: 'I didn't look at him on the way out. We just left.' Mr Eitan said Currie should 'certainly' be reprimanded for his 'unreasonable and unprofessional behaviour'. The Soho Theatre issued an apology for the incident and said that it would be investigating The Soho Theatre has apologised for the 'upset and hurt' caused by the incident to some of their customers and will be investigating what happened. They wrote: 'We are sorry and saddened by an incident that took place at our venue at the end of a performance of Paul Currie: Shtoom on Saturday 10 of February which has caused upset and hurt to members of audience attending and others. 'We take this very seriously and are looking into the detail of what happened as thoroughly, as sensitively, and as quickly as we can. 'It is important to us that Soho Theatre is welcoming and inclusive place for all.' Campaign Against Antisemitism said they are assisting Jewish guests who were allegedly hounded out of the Soho Theatre in London. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'What the Jewish audience-members have recounted is atrocious, and we are working with them and our lawyers to ensure that those who instigated and enabled it are held to account. 'These allegations are of deeply disturbing discriminatory abuse against Jews. Comedians are rightly given broad latitude, but hounding Jews out of theatres is reminiscent of humanity's darkest days, and must have no place in central London in 2024.' The Israel-Hamas conflict was sparked by the Palestinian terror group's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. The Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry says Israel's offensive has killed at least 28,340 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. MailOnline has contacted Paul Currie for comment. Were you at the comedy show? Contact: dan.grennan@mailonline.co.uk A wounded buffalo turns the tables on a group of hunters in this footage of a near-deadly encounter, ploughing into a land manager and tossing him into the air. The dramatic footage shows the man running for his life as the furious animal hurtles towards him during the expedition in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Horrified hunters, who were hidden out of the animal's line of sight behind some bushes, watch helplessly as the man fails to get out of its way in time. The man then rolls over the top of the charging beast, which gores his leg, and is flung into the air before crashing to the ground. The animal, which became enraged after being struck by an arrow, is then shot dead by the hunting party. The land manager rolls over the top of the charging beast and is flung into the air before crashing to the ground The injured man, whose name was withheld, was assisting the group of hunters when he was attacked by the animal. The animal's horns appear to have caught the man's leg, with blood seen streaming out of his calf. But he otherwise appears to have escaped largely unscathed, even standing up and brushing himself off after the attack. The buffalo however met a grisly end as the hunter shot a barrage of bullets at it, going back to shoot it again to make sure it is dead. The incident happened when the buffalo ran away after being hit by an arrow. The group wanted to avoid leaving the animal suffering overnight so they called the land manager to bring a firearm. Action-packed footage of the incident was captured by videographer Martin Muller, 43, who was hired to film the hunting trip. The expedition was booked by an American client, also not named, who hired Martin and a professional hunter to assist him. Martin, who owns a production company in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, said: 'The client had taken a bow shot. 'It definitely hit the right spot - the lungs - but it must have deflected off a bone. 'It still hit the lung but it was very shallow and the buffalo ran off. 'It was just myself, the hunter and the client. We followed the blood for four kilometres before calling the land manager. 'We left a 100 metre buffer zone from the last spot of blood we saw in case the buffalo doubled back and waited for the car.' The animal's horns appear to have caught the man's leg, with blood seen streaming out of his calf The land manager arrived with the client's rifle. He also brought two dogs to assist in tracking the wounded buffalo. He separated from the group but stayed in the safe zone, trying to pick up on the animal's trail using dogs. Unexpectedly, the buffalo was less than 20m away and began chasing the lone man toward the rest of the group. The hunter couldn't shoot as the land manager was in his line of fire but as the animal flipped the landowner, the client took a shot and hit the buffalo. Martin said: 'It must have circled back and come closer than we thought. 'The guys were 20 meters away and they were still in the safe zone.' He continued: 'We spoke to the client and told him that was risky shot but he said he was on the buffalo the whole time. The hunter couldn't shoot as the land manager was in his line of fire but as the animal flipped the landowner, the client took a shot and hit the buffalo 'In hindsight, you can disapprove but if you look at the angle he was at that man wasn't even in his line of sight. 'It was still a split-second decision and it could have gone either way.' The land manager was treated in hospital with only minor injuries. Martin added: 'The pro hunters always have a first aid box. We cleaned the wound off and sent him to hospital. 'He was happy to be alive when he got back. It might have been a combo of realising how lucky he was and the drugs but he was happy.' The incident took place in 2021 but Martin only revealed the footage after it was released by the client this month. The family who left an arranged marriage bride in a vegetative state by 'dousing her with chemicals' and 'force-feeding her pills' will be sentenced today. Parents Khalid Sheikh, 55, and Shabnam, 53, and their son Asgar will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for the abuse of Ambreen Fatima Sheikh. Ambreen, now 38, was flown to Britain from Pakistan in 2014, after an arranged marriage to Asgar, now 31, in Pakistan in 2013. However she experienced persistent physical abuse throughout this time, which left her with 'irretrievable' brain damage, so she no longer has consciousness of the world around her. Shagufa, Shabnam and Asgar were also found guilty of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice. Only Sakalyne Sheikh (pictured second from right) was found not guilty of this offence A jury heard that Ambreen was left lying unconscious for up to three days before her new family called for an ambulance in July, 2015 - and she has never regained consciousness The Sheikh family had lived in the four-bedroom house in Huddersfield for decades, although neighbours describe how they rarely spoke to others. Shagufa, 29, and her brother Sakalayne, 24, are still living in the property on strict bail conditions. But their brother Asgar and parents have been remanded in custody after being declared a 'flight risk' by the judge. The details of the abuse she suffered remain uncertain, however a court previously heard that Ambreen may have been the victim of a possible 'torture' with a chemical substance, and there may have also been an attempt to kill her with a dangerous drug. The court heard the probable explanation for the 38-year-old's condition was that she had unwillingly swallowed tablets prescribed to her diabetic mother-in-law that resulted in a hypoglycaemic attack. Such tablets are extremely dangerous if taken by non-diabetics and have been dubbed 'one pill killers' to small children. The prosecution said that the tablets were not taken voluntarily and by then the socially isolated and vulnerable Ambreen had suffered a 'pattern of violence' behind the closed doors of the terraced house in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire that she shared with her husband, parents-in-law and brother and sister-in-law. Ambreen's father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, and mother-in-law Shabnam. The jury took 10 hours to find Asgar, Khalid, Shabnam, and Shagufa guilty of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm At 1am on August 1 2015 the family called for an ambulance, saying that Ambreen had suddenly become unresponsive. She never regained consciousness and medical evidence indicted that their account to paramedics was a lie. Experts believe in reality she collapsed unconscious up to 48 hours earlier and suffered a brain injury when her airway became blocked. She had been vomiting and incontinent but paramedics found her clean and in clean clothes after being moved to another bedroom. Her soiled clothing and bedding had been disposed of in a wheelie bin outside and under a tarpaulin downstairs an attempt claimed prosecutor Robert Smith, KC, to deflect any police investigation. Ambreen was not diabetic and several experts concluded her condition was the result of hypoglycaemia a low level of blood sugar that can cause brain damage. Police were alerted when hospital doctors feared Ambreen's injuries could be suspicious. Nurses were also concerned she was 'malnourished' and 'unkempt' in appearance. Ambreen was initially put on a life support machine and police believed they could soon be dealing with a murder inquiry. When the ventilator was switched off Ambreen was able to breathe but has remained in a vegetative state with no change in her condition since August 2015. A well-known Aussie nudist beach is facing closure, sending hundreds of naturalists and supporters into uproar. Byron Shire Council is set to revoke its 1998 decision to make Tyagarah Beach clothing-optional after a recent survey of the landscape by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) found the area sits within its authority rather than the council's. "NPWS have confirmed to Council that having a clothing-optional beach within Tyagarah Nature Reserve is not supported by NPWS as it is inconsistent with values of the reserve that it manages," the Byron Shire Council meeting agenda for next week states. Byron Shire Council will be looking to revoke its 1998 decision to make Tyagarah Beach a clothing-optional beach. Source: Queensland Naturist Association Inc/Getty After finding out about plans to close the beach on April 8 naturalist Bradley Benham started a petition on change.org, saying closing the beach on such short notice, "without public consultation" or without finding another location is "unfair". The petition currently has 624 signatures. "Legal outdoor spaces for the naturist community are rare in NSW and this beach is highly valued by both committed and casual naturists," he said. "Nude recreation is a legitimate way of life, and the local community, interstate and international visitors have the right to some public space where this freedom can be expressed." A NPWS spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia on Tuesday that while they do not support having a clothing-optional beach in this location, they will work with the community to look for other options. "The NPWS will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to identify alternative locations for the activity to take place," they said. Council has no jurisdiction over nudist beach area Just 20 minutes north of Byron Bay, Tyagarah Beach was designated as a clothes-optional beach under the Local Govt Act 1993 which is authorised with the consent of the person who owns or controls the beach. At the time, when the beach had not been formally surveyed before, there was a belief that the Tyagarah Nature Reserve, managed by NPWS, extended only to the edge of the vegetated area, and therefore the beach area between the mean high-water mark and the vegetated dunes was council-managed. Story continues After the recent survey stated otherwise that the NPWS is the managing authority for land above the watermark on Tyagarah Beach NPWS has told the Council that having a clothing-optional beach is not supported by it. With that support withdrawn, "Council has no jurisdiction to declare this part of the beach as clothes optional". Reports of anti-social behaviour Council states that after promoting the beach as clothes optional, the beach and surrounding areas became a "focal point for anti-social behaviour" with frequent complaints made to council and the police. "While Councils designation was not intended to promote or enable the anti-social activity, the designation created a honeypot attracting individuals seeking out sexual activity,' it states. "These activities permeated through the nature reserve into culturally and ecologically sensitive areas." In the agenda, the council says the NSW Police are "resource poor" and do not have the available staff to "proactively manage issues arising" at this beach. In 2017, Northern Star reported an alleged sexual assault at the Belongil end of Tyagarah, prompting other women to come forward on social media to share their experiences after being approached by "predatory males" on the sand and in the dunes of the coastline. In 2018 a petition containing 86 signatures was tabled at a council meeting asking it to "remove the clothes optional status of Tyagarah Beach due to the ongoing prevalence of sexual misconduct". Yahoo has reached out to NSW Police and Bradley Benham for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. An animal lover who was sold an 'American bulldog' puppy two years ago by a cowboy breeder burst into tears after she was ordered to have it destroyed when police revealed it to be a banned pit bull terrier. Sophie Vallance, 22, was arrested and charged for being in possession of a banned breed of dog after her pet dog Sharker was impounded for escaping from her home. Although Sharker, three, has no history of aggression and has not bitten or attacked anybody, a police animal expert concluded it was a 'danger to public safety' after the dog growled at him whilst he was examining it in kennels. At Sefton Magistrates' Court, Miss Vallance of Norris Green, Liverpool, pleaded with magistrates to spare Sharker and provided an expert report which emphasised the dog had not attempted to nip or bite - but she burst into tears when told the animal would be put to sleep. She was also fined 54, and ordered to pay 1,500 towards the Merseyside Police kennel costs plus 662 in prosecution costs Animal lover Sophie Vallance (left), 22, who was sold an 'American bulldog' puppy Sharker (right) two years ago by a cowboy breeder burst into tears after she was ordered to have it destroyed after police revealed it to be a banned pit bull terrier Shaker shortly after Miss Vallance acquired him around three years ago Sharker has been housed at police kennels since the incident nine months ago at a cost of 3,348. After the ruling Miss Vallance said she will appeal the destruction order and added: 'Sharker is not aggressive one bit. He is still a baby and only a puppy and is just playful. How would the magistrates feel if they had their dog seized off them and taken away to kennels away from his family. 'Then there is all these strangers going in to examine Sharker and back him into a corner. Of course, he's going to be scared. I'd be scared if it was me.' She added: 'On the day of the incident Sharker was literally outside the front door and just barking and wagging his tail. He was not doing nothing wrong. He was excited, he wanted to play. By the time the police came out to the address he was back inside. 'The first police that came out said he was great and they didn't feel the need to take the dog away and the dog could stay at his home. Then the dog police came out about an hour later and said he's got characteristics of a pit bull so they took him. 'Other professionals that were dealing with him were giving good reports about Sharker saying he wasn't showing any signs of aggression. In fact they said Sharker was depressed in the kennels and the best thing was for him to be home with his owners. 'Then in court it's been presented as a completely different story. I was not expecting it at all. I thought it was going to be the end of it all today and I was going to get my dog back and it was nothing like that. It's stupid and it's ridiculous.' Sophie Vallance (centre) looking tearful outside court with stepmother Lisa Quarton (left), and father Craig Vallance (right) Although Sharker (pictured), three, has no history of aggression and has not bitten or attacked anybody, a police animal expert concluded it was a 'danger to public safety' after the dog growled at him whilst he was examining it in kennels Earlier prosecutor Robert Earl, said: 'At 2.30pm on June 15, 2023, officers were called to attend to the area of Monksdown Primary School, Norris Green in response to a 999 report of a large dog running in the street. The caller said it was "off its head". What dogs are banned in the UK? Pit bull terrier Japanese Tosa Dogo Argentino Fila Braziliero The XL Bully became illegal to own from the February 1, 2024 without a certificate of exemption Advertisement 'Upon arrival the officer located the dog nearby at the property of the defendant's stepfather who had calmed it down and had taken it into the family home. The dog was in the front room and barking but was showing no aggression and was relatively friendly. 'The police officer identified the dog initially as an XL bully but it is in fact a Pit Bull. An assessment was later carried out by a specialist who identified the dog as having characteristics of a Pit Bull and therefore classed as a banned breed. 'In terms of the dog itself there is no suggestion that it attacked anybody or was aggressive to anybody. It was just running around. But it is a banned breed and the starting point is that it is destroyed.' Stuart Davidson, Merseyside Police Dog Legislation Officer, told the hearing: 'The dog was displaying nervous aggressive behaviour. It was nervy when I approached it and it backed off and growled. The dog has a fight or flight mode. If the dog is pushed into a corner it only has a couple of options open to it. It stays as it is or nips to get away.' He said he did not approach the dog any further to avoid a possible 'incident' and said he considered the dog as 'dangerous'. During a second assessment carried out with vet Mr Davidson added: 'The dog was transported to a neutral area for the assessment to take place mainly for security reasons but also to have a neutral environment so the dog should be displaying natural behaviours. 'The dog was slow to trust and stood well back within the transport, showing the dog was nervous. It took 10 to 15 minutes to accept the presence of the persons during the examination. It was basically stopped prior to any incident being caused.' After the ruling Miss Vallance said she will appeal the destruction order, saying: 'Sharker is not aggressive one bit. He is still a baby and only a puppy and is just playful' The vet's report said: 'The dog was slow to trust, standing well back in the transport van with its ears back. It accepted the lead with some reluctance but behaved well on the lead.' Miss Vallance's lawyer Keith Webster urged JPs to pass 'contingency destruction order' which would allow Sharker to be placed on a Government exemption list with strict conditions the dog is muzzled and kept on a lead in public. He said: 'She got the dog two years ago via a private sale and it was sold to her as an American bulldog. On the day in question the dog broke free of the house because the front door was open and the dog which normally resides at the back of the house broke free. 'It got out of the house but was at large for no longer than two minutes. It is right to say the address at the time was opposite the school but t occurred at a time when there was no pick up or drop-off of the children. 'The dog came to the attention of police because someone rang the police to say there was a dog running around barking but Miss Vallance's stepfather calmed the dog and it came in immediately. 'This is a dog with no record as indeed is Miss Vallance who is therefore a person who is deemed to be a fit and proper to look after a dog. The dog was chipped after being purchased, was lead trained and was beginning its program in muzzle training. 'It has not actually done anything to anybody. It has barked and shown aggression through reluctance but not attempted to nip anybody. I fear that you are about to destroy a dog that has not shown such an act.' But in ordering Sharker to be destroyed, JP Bernice Balmer said: 'We are going by the only expert we have heard who has done an assessment of the dog. It was categorically stated that the dog was considered a danger to public safety and therefore we make a destruction order on Sharkey.' The grieving fiancee of a music industry boss who was stabbed to death by a gang of robbers over a fake watch said her partner 'did not deserve to die like that' as she told of her anguish over his murder. Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, was killed while out celebrating his birthday at an event at Haz restaurant near St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London in the early hours of 2 May 2022. Four muggers who stabbed him to death for what they believed was an expensive Patek Philippe watch were jailed for a total of 74 years yesterday. In a poignant interview released today, Emmanuel's partner Rajbir Kaur spoke about how her children miss their father and 'didn't deserve a life without him.' Speaking to ITV, Rajbir recalled how she was told by a nurse 'I was one of the nurses who was taking care of Emmanuel' - and as she asked what was meant by the word 'was' she was told that he had died. 'Emmanuel was completely innocent and vulnerable and just undeserving of that whole incident,' Rajbir said, speaking through tears. 'He did not deserve to die like that and we do not deserve to go through what we're dealing with on a day to day basis.' The grieving fiancee of Emmanuel has spoken about how their children miss their father Chilling video shows the moment Emmanuel Odunlami was mugged and stabbed for his watch, which was later revealed to be a fake Emmanuel Odunlami,32, was stabbed and mugged for his watch after leaving his birthday party at Haz restaurant in London. The watch appeared to be a 125,000 Patek Philippe watch but was later revealed to be a fake Security guard Kavindu Hettiarachchi, 30, had spotted Mr Odunlami was wearing a 'Patek Philippe Nautilus' watch which are worth up to 300,000 and filmed him wearing it. He tipped off Jordell Menzies, 27, Quincy Ffrench and Louis Vandrose, both 28, to steal it outside the eatery. Mr Odunlami, who worked in the music industry managing artists, tried to run away but Menzies caught up and stabbed him in the heart with a flick knife. Shocking CCTV footage showed Hettiarachchi watching the attack he instigated unfold before he walked over to the fatally injured Mr Odunlami and simply turned around. Fellow security guard Antonis Kfoury did the same. Menzies admitted robbery and manslaughter and had described the victim as an 'easy' civilian target for a robbery. He admitted arming himself with the flick-knife but said he did not intend to use it. Menzies denied but was convicted of murder by an Old Bailey jury after a retrial last December. Ffrench and Vandrose had both admitted robbery. They denied and were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter at the first trial last year. Hettiarachchi had admitted theft. He denied but was convicted of manslaughter and robbery. Kfoury denied and was convicted of perverting the course of justice. The grieving fiancee of a music industry boss who was stabbed to death by a gang of robbers over a fake watch said her partner 'did not deserve to die like that' Jordell Menzies, 27 from Brent, Menzies was found guilty of murder and robbery at the Old Bailey on December 20. Menzies stabbed Mr Odunlami in the heart, He was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 31 years for murder with eight years concurrent for robbery In a heartfelt statement read out in court Emmanuel's mother Christiana told the court: 'I have lost a beautiful son. TOKS [Emmanuel] was my light, my hope and my future. 'He was extremely caring to my needs. He shared my pain and my joy. He inspired me in so many ways. He never discriminated against anyone. He was one in a trillion. 'I have lost a real gem, and he was too special for this ugly world.' She added that her son 'was like an angel. He had so much planned for his children and was too young young to die.' She said since Emmanuel's death, 'I feel that what has happened is still punishing our family and the pain is not going to stop. 'I'm still carrying the pain and I have lost my purpose of life. My heart beats for him and my heart aches for him every day.' Turning to her son's killers, she said: 'They have taken the joy out of my life and I'm always angry and I'm never like this. My heartbeat has changed, and I feel very angry with the world.' The heartbroken mother added: 'It's hard to believe he's dead. These people will come out of prison and live their lives, but two boys have lost their dad and they just walk away. I don't think that should happen Louis Vandrose (left) and Quincy Ffrench (right) were jailed for 15 years each Kavindu Hettiarachchi (left) and Antonios Kfoury (right) 'No-one should take a life, only God can do that. How can you take someone's life? It's so wrong.' Emmanuel's fiancee Rajbir Kaur also read a statement in which she described the effect the loss of Emmanuel has had on her and her children. She said: 'It wasn't just the watch that was robbed. You robbed us of a chance to grow into ourselves and overcome whatever season our relationship was in. You robbed Emmanuel of seeing his children grow up, you robbed our children of experiences such as learning to swim or riding a bike with their dad. 'You robbed Emmanuel's parents of getting to their golden years and knowing their son's safe and well. You robbed us all of a good friend and of really feeling joy. And you've robbed our own families and left a trial of broken homes.' She added: 'My happiness was seeing Emmanuel and our children together. I will never in this life experience this again.' She ended by saying: 'He would never have left us. He was taken and we will forever be mourning his physical loss for the rest of our lives.' Judge Patrick Field, KC said Menzies had brought the knife to the scene and had killed him 'in the course of the furtherance of a robbery.' He said Menzies had 15 previous convictions for 22 separate offences, saying: 'You were at the time an experienced criminal, having had 15 previous convictions for 22 separate offences, a signficant number of which are for robbery.' He sentenced him to 31 years for murder with eight years concurrent for robbery. Ffrench and Vandrose were jailed for 15 years each. Turning to Hettiarachchi, he said his role was 'prominent' as he had organised and commissioned the crime. He told the security guard: 'You picked Mr Odunlami out because you spotted his watch and you wanted it. It was you who contacted LV who you knew was a robber, to rob it for you.' Haz Restaurant on Foster Lane where Mr Odunlami was celebrating his birthday when he was spotted as a potential target by Hettiarachchi Hettiarachchi was jailed for a total of 13 years. Mr Odunlami's birthday event at Haz restaurant was organised by an events company called Playhxuse and tickets for a table for six cost 1,400. He left Haz on Foster Lane at 11.15pm, with the security guard watching him. He walked to his car in Gresham Street with friend David Manuel, when Ffrench, Menzies and Vandrose jumped from a Mercedes which had been circling the area. Prosecutor Joel Smith said: 'On 1st May 2022 a young man named Emmanuel Odunlami attended a smart party in a restaurant just around the corner from this building - the restaurant is called Haz, just 500 metres from here. 'It was a smart party, people had paid quite a lot of money to be there, and some of them were dressed accordingly. 'Mr Odunlami, for instance, was wearing a Patel Philippe Nautilus watch. 'I don't know if that means anything to you- but for those in the know, a Patek Philippe Nautilus is really quite something. 'If real it would cost about 125,000. And that night it cost Emmanuel Odunlami his life. 'Because whilst he was at that party he was spotted by one of the security staff working at Haz. 'That man took a photo of him wearing that watch, and sent it to his mates, whose job it was to rob the target of his watch. 'A team of robbers drove down to the restaurant in a white Mercedes. 'The defendant, Jordell Menzies, was one of that team of robbers. He had armed himself with a knife. 'He was the first of the robbers to reach Mr Odunlami, and when he reached him, he stabbed him in the chest. The knife penetrated his victim's heart. 'That stab wound had the desired effect. Mr Odunlami fell to the floor. Mr Menzies and his accomplices were able to snatch the watch off his wrist and make their escape - but not before Mr Menzies had given him a kick on the floor for good measure. 'Having got what they came for, they ran back to the car, and got away, leaving Mr Odunlami to die on the street. 'The grim irony of all of this is there is good reason to think that the Patek Philippe's watch wasn't even real. 'It seems that Mr Menzies killed a man for a fake watch.' The robbers could be heard on CCTV saying 'got it, got it', jurors heard. Mr Odunlami's friend Daniel Manuel, who knew him as 'Jay', told the court: 'I knew Jay had an expensive Patek Philippe watch, I don't know the value of the watch but he was wearing it all night. 'I went to Jay, He stood up, I saw blood all over his chest and frantically touched him to see where it was coming from. 'He said: "I'm gone" and collapsed. 'I put the puffer coat over the wound and called for an ambulance, two males in black came over to help. 'I now understand that they were police officers.' Mr Odunlami was gasping for air before he stopped breathing. CPR was undertaken by police officers, including an oxygen mask being placed on his face and chest compressions. London Ambulance Service arrived and Mr Odunlami was taken by ambulance to Royal London Hospital. He suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on 2 May. The flick knife used to kill Mr Odunlami was found near the scene of the attack and bore traces of Menzies' DNA. Ffrench, of Tottenham, Vandrose, of Islington, and Menzies, of High Wycombe, each admitted robbing Mr Odunlami of his wrist watch but denied his murder. Menzies admitted manslaughter and robbery but denied murder. Ffrench, Vandrose and Hettiarachchi denied and were convicted of manslaughter. Kfoury, of Ealing, west London, denied and was convicted of perverting the course of justice. He is yet to be sentenced. Brad Pitt launched a scathing attack on Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler as he attempts to fight the tycoon's purchase of Angelina Jolie's half of the couple's Chateau Miravel winery. Pitt, 60, is reportedly close to finalizing his divorce from Jolie, 48, despite the pair being separated for years. In 2021, Jolie sold her half of their French vineyard to Shefler for $64 million under the name Nouvel. Since then, the Fight Club star has been fighting the sale property and business which is located in southeastern France. The actor said that when he learned of the sale he was 'ultimately threatened' if he didn't co-operate in a partnership with Stoli vodka billionaire Shefler over the winery, reports The Sun. Pitt goes on on to allege that Shefler 'secretly' bought into the business and publicly announced a 'partnership' with the Oscar-winner. Chateau Miraval is a symbol of happier times in the couples relationship. They stayed at the sprawling 17th century estate when she gave birth to their twins in nearby Monaco in 2008, launched a successful wine venture from its rich vineyards, and married there in 2014. 'Shefler personally took action to foster his supposed partnership with Pitt after the transaction closed, writing Pitt repeatedly to bully him into going along,' The Sun reports citing documents. Despite being separated for eight years, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are said to be close to finalizing their divorce Pitt states that he was blindsided when Jolie sold her share of Chateau Miraval, a 35-room estate and celebrated vineyard in the south of France that Pitt and Jolie bought for $60 million in 2011. The 1,000-acre estate now valued at $164million is where the couple tied the knot in 2014 Russian businessman Yuri Shefler has been designated as an 'oligarch' by the treasury department 'Since acquiring Nouvel, Shefler has suggested a meeting between himself and Pitt to "discuss the way forward"... At times, Shefler expressed his fervent desire to work with Pitt.' 'At others, he threatened Pitt based on drummed-up charges of mismanagement at Miraval,' the documents, which were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in February, according to The Sun. Pitt says he had an agreement in place with Jolie which afforded him 'first refusal' if she chose to sell up. The couple had a 'mutual and binding commitment' to the $160 million Chateau Miraval business and agreed not to sell up without the other's permission. According to Vanity Fair, Jolie says that 'no such agreement ever existed.' Pitt discovered his ex-wife had 'secretly' sold her 50 percent stake when a 2021 press release announced that he had new business partners, according to the actor's lawyers. The buyer was part of a 'Russia-affiliated' vodka conglomerate headed by Shefler, who would use his new relationship with the A-lister to enhance and improve his reputation, court filings alleged. 'For Jolie, the sale was a business transaction she had every right to make. In an effort to preserve her own mental health and well-being, she looked for and found what she believed would be a good business partner for Pitt,' a source told Vanity Fair. While Pitt saw the sale as a 'betrayal.' Pitt alleges that Jolie's sale to a 'Russian oligarch' would potentially tarnish the reputation of its highly regarded rose 'It is not a coincidence that she sold her interest in Miraval to an adversarial party, and part of the family home to a stranger, right after a judge granted a huge win: 50-50 custody,' a source close to Pitt told Vanity Fair. The star's legal team allege that Shefler is merely trying to profit off of Pitt's fame. 'He apologized for "catching Pitt by surprise by entering his Miraval Empire," and asked Pitt to "trust me and rely upon me" as his new "partner." 'But, Shefler warned, if Pitt did not bend to his desires, Shefler would "be protecting his interest and would not hesitate to take that process until the very end.' 'And he has made good on that threat: since the transaction, Shefler has leveraged Nouvel the California LLC he now controls to sue Pitt and attempt a hostile takeover of Chateau Miraval,' the documents continue. In February, a court in Luxembourg where Chateau Miraval's holding company is based has stripped Nouvel of the portion of shares gifted by Pitt in 2013, handing control of them to a court-appointed receiver. Pitt had argued that they were given under the understanding that she would not sell them. Judge Carole Kerschen ruled it was necessary to end the 'blockage of decision' and save the business. A 'merits hearing' in around two years is likely to decide that Pitt regain full control of the gifted shares. By selling instead to Shefler, Jolie linked the Chateau Miraval to Russia and Vladimir Putin - hurting the brand perhaps irreparably, Pitt alleges. In a counterclaim Jolie accused Pitt of forcing her into selling to his company, Mondo Bongo, and spreading lies that Shefler's connections and dealings with the Kremlin. Pitt was further accused of hiding assets and using profits from the wine on a swimming pool and ornate staircase that was rebuilt multiple times. An aerial view taken on May 31, 2008 in Le Val, southeastern France, shows the Chateau Miraval 'The only thing that Jolie's Cross-Complaint gets right is that she and Pitt purchased Chateau Miraval as a 'loving home for their six children,' Pitt's lawyers protested in documents filed in 2022. 'As set forth in Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint, Pitt and Jolie had a mutual and binding commitment, reflected by their conduct and statements to one another over time, that they would hold Miraval together and, if the time came, that they would sell their interests separately only with the other's consent.' The filing said Pitt trusted Jolie and thus 'devoted his time and his resources to renovating the estate and building a highly successful wine business.' 'Jolie, though supportive of Pitt's efforts on behalf of the family, did none of the work necessary for Miraval's success,' the filing goes on. 'Instead, she allowed Pitt to pour money and sweat equity into the business in reliance on her promise to hold Miraval together, as well as the contractual rights her holding company Nouvel owed his. By the time of their separation, Pitt's investment exceeded Jolie's by nearly $50 million.' The legal battle apparently continues to this day, with French authorities investigating the business, reports VF. The Vanity Fair article ends by noting that since September 2016, nobody from either Pitt or Jolie families have returned to stay at the property. A disinherited daughter who is locked in a legal battle over her late father's 1million estate claims she was cut out of his will after he was lured into a 'predatory marriage' by his 54-year-old carer Wealthy pensioner Robert Harrington, who lived in Kings Lynn, Norfolk died in May 2020 aged 94, just 11 months after marrying his carer Guixiang Qin, 54. In March 2020, two months before his death, he made a new will, leaving everything to his new bride and completely cutting out his only child, Jill Langley, 70. Mrs Langley, whose mother Eileen died in January 2018, says her parents both 'idolised' her and shared a 'close and loving relationship' with before their deaths. She has accused Mrs Qin of exerting undue influence on her ailing father in order to pocket his fortune. But lawyers for Mrs Qin deny the allegations, and insist Mr Harrington left everything to Mrs Qin because he 'wanted to look after her'. Robert Harrington (left) died in May 2020 aged 94, just 11 months after marrying his carer Guixiang Qin, 54. Jill Langley, 70, (pictured outside court) was removed from her father's will before his death and claims Mrs Qin lured into a 'predatory marriage' to take his money But lawyers for Mrs Qin (pictured outside court) deny the allegations, and insist Mr Harrington left her everything because he 'wanted to look after her' On top of not even being able to pronounce his bride's name, Mr Harrington was in poor physical shape given his advanced years and 'unable to even stand for a photo on his wedding day,' his daughter says. Mrs Qin denies she was merely a carer and insists that Mr Harrington proposed after they embarked on 'a loving and sexual relationship,' leaving her everything because he 'wanted to look after her'. James McKean, for Mrs Langley, told Recorder Robert McAllister that she has come to court in a bid to overturn her father's last will, claiming he was too mentally frail to understand what was going on and that he was duped into a 'predatory marriage'. He told Central London County Court that Mr Harrington ended up in an 'ill-maintained grave' separate to the plot where he had wished to lie alongside his wife of 66 years. Giving evidence, Mrs Langley said she was 'idolised' by her father in the past, adding, 'there was never any doubt that I would be the sole recipient of my parents' inheritance'. Her father had already been displaying 'strange behaviour' when he moved into his home at North Farm, Gayton Road, Kings Lynn, in 2015, after 'fortifying' it with numerous CCTV cameras, her barrister continued. Medical evidence suggested he was 'most likely suffering from a paranoid delusional disorder' in his final years, he added. The last time Mrs Langley saw her father was at her mother Eileen's funeral in January 2018 when she recalled him looking 'very frail and vulnerable' and 'rambling'. The former home of Robert Harrington in Gayton Road, Kings Lynn, where the 94-year-old is said to have lived a secluded life since the death of his wife in 2018 Soon after the funeral, she received a bombshell letter, stating: 'This letter will be the last contact I ever attempt to make'. The first she knew of his new marriage was when she received a note from Mrs Qin in March 2020, reading: 'Just to let you know that Dad married again last year'. She now argues that her father's last will should be set aside on grounds of 'want of testamentary capacity, want of knowledge and approval, and undue influence'. That new will nullified the terms of a previous will made in 2012, which named his only child, Mrs Langley, as his ultimate heir, it is claimed. Mrs Langley's barrister argued that the 2020 will was a 'radical departure' from his previous will and that it 'failed to reflect his relationship with, and natural affection for, his daughter. He told the judge: 'The justification given for the will was incoherent, bizarre and in places simply untrue, including the suggestion that his daughter had not seen her father for seven to eight years.' Mr McKean accepted that he cannot point to any direct evidence of 'coercion', but claimed that 'the documentary evidence shows Ms Qin's incremental attempts to take control of (Mrs Langley's) father's assets: by marriage, by will and by attempted proprietary transfer'. Mrs Langley claims her stepmother in fact first met her father while working as his paid carer, although this is disputed by Mrs Qin. 'However they met, the deceased's wealth, isolation and vulnerability would have been obvious,' added the barrister. 'Alarmingly soon, Mrs Qin took advantage. On her own case, she first met the deceased in 2018, she moved in with him in February 2019, Mr Harrington proposed in April and they were married by June 2019. 'By early 2020, attempts were being made to transfer his house into her name and the will was made in March 2020. 'Mrs Qin says this was a loving and romantic relationship, this strains credulity.' In defence documents put forward for the trial for Mrs Qin, barrister Richard Buston said: 'The decision to remove his daughter from his last will was not out of the blue. 'Even before Mrs Harrington met the deceased, he had already in writing indicated that he was considering removing Mrs Langley completely from the will due to the poor relationship with the claimant and her husband.' The relationship between father and daughter was already 'non-existent' when he then married in what the barrister claims was a perfectly legitimate union. Central London County Court where Mr Harrington' s daughter Jill Langley, 70, has brought her claim against Mr Qin 'The documentary evidence, such as medical notes and what he has told solicitors, all points to a loving and sexual relationship,' he told the judge. 'It is clear the deceased was very fond of the defendant, and he made his views clear that he wanted to look after her. 'The evidence clearly points to a relationship between dad and daughter that was difficult and importantly one that had been on a downward trajectory, such to the extent that even before the defendant arrived on the scene there was a total breakdown in relations. 'The claimant did not speak with the deceased for a number of years before his death.' Mr Buston alleged that Mr Harrington did not like his daughter's husband, adding: 'When the claimant married her husband, this was the turning point in father/daughter relationship that effectively went downhill from there.' Mrs Langley's claim that the marriage was 'in secret' was also 'nonsense,' he added. 'By this stage, and before the deceased even met the defendant, there had been a total breakdown in the relationship...there was no communication between Mrs Langley and the deceased...Just because she did not know, does not mean that they married in secret.' He also told the judge that 'there is no evidence that the deceased was pressurised...to change his will'. James McKean, for Mrs Langley, said outside court that there is currently no confirmed value for Mr Harrington's estate, but estimated it at around 1m. The hearing continues. Kanye West exploded in rage over the violent crime occurring in his hometown after he was asked for his opinion on the Israel-Hamas war. The rapper, 46, who has been dropped by labels and criticized for his rampant anti-Semitism, was stopped by reporters and questioned about his 'thoughts on the Palestinians' as he and his wife Bianca Censori arrived at LAX airport in Los Angeles on Monday. Dismissing the conversation, the entertainer said he 'doesn't have enough information' about the war in Gaza and instead revealed his anger over the crime that is plaguing Chicago. 'It's love for everybody but don't pull me into that conversation,' he said of the war. 'I've got fourteen kids dying every week in my city. So talk to me about that!' The remark comes as Kanye revealed that he is not backing down from his flagrant racist rhetoric despite having been 'two months away' from declaring bankruptcy after losing $2billion in one day when Adidas terminated its partnership over his outbursts. 'It's love for everybody but don't pull me into that conversation,' Kanye said of the Israel-Hamas war when confronted by reporters on Monday. 'I've got fourteen kids dying every week in my city. So talk to me about that!' The rapper is pictured addressing the media at LAX airport Kanye was previously branded a 'disgusting human being' by some fans after he wore a KKK-style hood in Miami, Florida in December last year Fans were also outraged over his decision to promote White Lives Matter T-shirts at his Paris Fashion Week show in 2022 Journalists confronted Kanye, noting how the public has called him 'crazy' and 'misinformed', on Monday ahead of his travels with Bianca. It is unclear where the pair were headed, but had attended the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Sunday. One reporter asked him for 'your thoughts on the Palestinians?' 'I'm straight up with you. I'm from the south side of Chicago, born in Atlanta,' the musician and fashion designer replied. 'I don't have enough information on that.' He argued that youths are 'dying every week in my city' and said to 'talk to me about that' instead - before walking away from the press and heading towards the security check point. The rapper has been vocal for years about his concerns over crime in Chicago, which has skyrocketed over the last decade. The city in 2021 recorded its highest number of homicides since 1999, according to police department data. Last year, Chicago saw a double digit decline in homicides for the second year in row, recording a nearly 13 per cent decrease when compared to 2022. Non-fatal shootings also saw a 16 per cent decline from 2022 to 2023. The city has recorded an 18 per cent decline in overall crime this year, according to data through February 11, 2024. Murder, robbery and burglary in the city have declined by 30 per cent, 8 per cent, and 23 per cent, respectively, but aggravated battery has risen by 4 per cent. Kanye told reporters he was concerned with the crime in Chicago, where children are 'dying every week'. Chicago police are pictured on January 26, 2024 investigating the scene where two high school students were shot and killed just blocks from Millennium Park Crime in Chicago has skyrocketed over the last decade and the city in 2021 recorded its highest number of homicides since 1999, according to police department data. Police are pictured at in the 300 block of E. 79th Street on January 9, 2024 where a convenience store worker was shot dead during an attempted robbery The city has recorded an 18 per cent decline in overall crime this year, according to data through February 11, 2024. Pictured: Police investigate after an officer and a suspect were both shot following an attempted smash-and-grab burglary at a high-end store in the Gold Coast on January 8 this year The questions about Palestine appeared to be in direct response to Kanye's controversial remarks and vile displays of anti-Semitism and racism. Kanye lost his billionaire status in 2022 when a number of brands ended his lucrative contracts over his appalling racist outbursts and were outraged over his decision to promote White Lives Matter T-shirts at his Paris Fashion Week show. Speaking to TMZ on Sunday, he revealed that he was facing bankruptcy and decided to pour 'everything I had' into the $7million Super Bowl advertisement for his fashion brand and his new album, Vultures. 'I'm just be honest with y'all. I was two months from going bankrupt, and I put everything I had into it [the album and the Super Bowl advert],' he told the news outlet. Kanye said as his wealth began to plummet, he moved to Italy with his wife and that the pair 'survived through the cancellation' and are now 'back number one'. He then revealed that Yeezy had made $19.3million from the Super Bowl advert and Vultures was number one in 100 countries. When asked if he felt the controversy 'helped' him, Kanye replied: 'It wasn't about the controversy. It was about being able to say how you felt out loud. 'If I didn't have the various skill sets of music and clothing and the fanbase, they would have been able to destroy me. But because we had all those skill sets, somehow I'm here inside of this universe able to fight.' He was also asked if he regretted his anti-Semitic comments, to which he responded: 'hey got the right to their opinion - I got the right to my opinion.' The rapper, 46, lost his billionaire status in 2022 when a number of brands ended his lucrative contracts over his anti-Semitic outbursts (pictured with Adidas CEO Bjrn Gulden) Wests Yeezy deal with Adidas was the crowning jewel of his fortune, with sales climbing to $1.7billion in 2020 earning him $191 million in royalties But German sporting goods behemoth Adidas terminated its partnership with Kanye amid controversial behavior from the American rapper and designer in 2022 Kanye apologized in December his various anti-Semitic outbursts, which even saw him expressing support for Adolf Hitler, and resulted in him losing a string of lucrative endorsement deals and being dropped by his talent agency. He issued his apology in Hebrew on his newly-reactivated Instagram page in the early hours of December 26. 'I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,' the apology read in part. 'I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding More in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.' Last week, comedian Bill Maher claimed that he recorded an episode of his podcast interviewing Kanye but will never release it because he doesn't want to expose young people to his 'anti-Semitic' views. Kanye this month was also accused of going into yet another anti-Semitic tirade during an event in Las Vegas, on top of being accused of using similar language in his latest track, Vultures. He told a crowd in which he claimed 'all the rich f***s' in the room have their kids in 'Zionist schools' and that daughter North, 10, had destroyed couches in her house so she could join him on tour. The outlandish rapper was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over San Francisco 49ers to claim their third title in five years Kanye apologized in December for his various anti-Semitic outbursts, which even saw him expressing support for Adolf Hitler, and resulted in him losing a string of lucrative endorsement deals and being dropped by his talent agency. His apology, which was written in Hebrew and shared on his newly-reactivated Instagram page, is pictured above Just days before that unhinged rant, Kanye was branded a 'disgusting human being' by some fans after he wore a KKK-style hood in Miami. His new album Vultures also features the 'offensive' lyrics: 'How am I anti-Semitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****.' In 2022, West made anti-Semitic comments in interviews and social media, including an October Twitter post in which he said he would soon go 'death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,' an apparent reference to the U.S. defense readiness condition scale known as DEFCON. He had previously suggested that slavery was a choice and called the COVID-19 vaccine the 'mark of the beast,' among other comments. In 2020, his then-wife Kim Kardashian, 43, said that the rapper has bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. Gavin and Stacey is set to return to our screens for the first time in five years, it emerged today. A new episode of the beloved BBC sitcom will reportedly be filmed over the summer and screened at Christmas. James Corden, who stars as Gavin's best friend Smithy, is set to reunite with cast members including Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Julia Davis for the special. Fans have long hoped Corden's decision to move back to the UK following his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US will increase the chances of making another episode. And after Corden, 45, was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth Jones, 57, in London's Soho in November, speculation went into overdrive. The last time Gavin and Stacey aired was in 2019, when a Christmas special saw Nessa - played by Jones - get down on one knee and propose to Smithy. The episode left a huge cliffhanger, with viewers left to wonder what would happen to the pair and their unexpected relationship. James Corden, Joanna Page, Matthew Horne, Ruth Jones all starred in the classic sitcom James was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth Jones in London's Soho in November 2023 The last time Gavin and Stacey aired was in 2019, when a Christmas special saw Nessa - played by Jones - get down on one knee and propose to Cordon's Smithy Gavin and Stacey followed the love story of Joanna and Mathew Horne's characters as they navigated their family lives in Essex and Wales Deadline reports that most of the cast will return for the special, including Matthew Horne as Gavin and Joanna Page as Stacey. READ MORE: Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page reveals major update about the show's future after James Corden and Ruth Jones were spotted together in London Advertisement Other members of the ensemble cast will include Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Julia Davis. Previously, Corden told the RTS Cambridge Convention he felt 'compelled to come home' after leaving The Late Late Show after hosting 1,000. However, he has not stopped interviewing celebrities as his new venture, called This Life of Mine with James Corden, has already scored top guests such as Martin Scorsese, Kim Kardashian and David Beckham. He also confessed that he didn't know if he would do any more Gavin and Stacey but stressed he would 'love to make something together again' with Jones at the convention. Meanwhile, Gavin and Stacy fans went into meltdown earlier today when the news of a Christmas special emerged. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'GAVIN AND STACY AHHHHHHHHH'. Another said: 'Gavin & Stacey is back?!?! OMG I suddenly feel so much better!!!' A third said: 'OMG YES'. A fourth wrote: 'Gavin & Stacey back for a Christmas special! O M and G!!' Sheridan Smith addressed the possibility of a reboot of the smash hit sitcom in an interview late last year. Speaking to Jason King and Kelly Brook on Heart Breakfast, Smith said she didn't know if the show will return, but said she thinks 'so many shows overdo it'. The actress - who played Rudi, the sister of Corden's Smithy - suggested that the show would not be back, despite fans 'all wanting' the all-star cast to return. During her radio appearance, she said: 'I have not a clue if they're going to do any more or not, I really don't know.' 'I think what they've done is genius, they've left it on a high haven't they, so many shows overdo it, because we all want more, we all want more Gavin & Stacey.' Fans of the iconic British sitcom shared their delight at the show's return on social media Fans shared classic moments in gif format to express their happiness Her comments came after Page crushed fans' hopes of a comeback, claiming the legendary sitcom was unlikely to ever return. 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.' Yet she added: '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. 'And if there is a comeback, I'll find out at the same time as the public because I don't get told anything.' The BBC today declined to comment. Previously, actors Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman, who play Gavin's father Mick and mother Pam, revealed a huge show secret that will no doubt leave many fans in shock. Joanna Page previously crushed fans' hopes of a Gavin and Stacey comeback, saying the legendary sitcom is unlikely to ever return Gavin and Stacey actors Larry Lamb (L) and Alison Steadman (R) Joanna Page previously revealed when her Gavin and Stacey co-stars will 'reunite' for new a new show together In the three-part series Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry, Larry, 75, and Alison, 76, will take a trip down memory lane and include some special guests during their travels Larry told the Radio Times in August last year: 'Gavin & Stacey was all filmed in Wales, nobody offered us the opportunity to go to Essex. '[Producers] said, 'Billericay's where you're from', so we just got on with it, we just do what we're told.' Larry reveled the secret on a media tour promoting an upcoming travel show he hosted alongside his on-screen wife Alison where they traveled from Barry - Stacey's home in the sitcom - to Billericay where the Shipman's lived. The travel show also featured Page, who did the voiceovers for her on-screen in-laws, which the closest fans believed they would get to a full reunion until now. Alison, 77, previously revealed what the cast and crew did after they were finished filming for the 2019 Christmas special - which famously ended with Nessa getting down on one knee to propose to Smithy. Alison recalled how the everyone 'was so sad' the series was over that they would all 'put their heads down and cry' at the end of their last scene. She said: 'I have to say it is the only show I have ever worked on where when we finished each character's final scenes like, 'That's a wrap for Alison Steadman'. 'Everyone used to put their heads down and cry as we were so sad it was over. It was such a good experience for everyone. Alison Steadman revealed a huge secret from the final day of filming iconic BBC sit-com Gavin & Stacey The actress, 77, opened up about the emotional final day on set of the 2019 Christmas Day special Rob Brydon as Bryn, Melanie Walters as Gwen, Larry Lamb as Mick, and Alison as Pam in 2008 Stars of Gavin and Stacey Ruth Jones, James Corden, Joanna Page and Mathew Horne pictured with Christmas decorations 'I think the magic of the series was that everyone loved each other and the audience loves that.' Reminiscing on her first day on set last year, Alison recalled meeting stars of the show Joanna and Mathew Horne, who played Gavin. She said: 'Joanna came running over to me going, 'Hiya, my name is Jo and I am playing Stacey'. I looked at her and thought, 'You are perfect'. Then I saw Matt and the two of them together were perfect. It was brilliantly cast.' Joanna previously let fans in on a secret about one of the famous Gavin & Stacey scenes from the original festive episode in 2008. The Welsh actress said when her on-screen father-in-law Mick Shipman took to the keyboard to perform Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas but the moment was actually fake. Joanna explained that Larry Lamb, who played Mick, had piano lessons but it made no difference as he was still 'dreadful' on the instrument so editors made the decision to dub the scene. In the episode, Mick 'played' the festive classic while surrounded by the main cast, Gavin, Pam, Smithy and Nessa, in the Shipmans' living room after his wife gifted him the keyboard for Christmas. Are you the furious customer who messaged Upstairs by Tom Shepherd? A Michelin-starred chef claims he was branded a 'snowflake' by an irate customer after he told her she would have to join a waiting list for a table at his restaurant. Tom Shepherd says the furious woman warned him to be 'careful who he crosses' after being told about the length of time she would have to wait for a lunch sitting at his award-winning venue. The customer, named only as Viv, emailed his restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd to say he was cancelling 'free thought' when he informed her there was a queue for an upcoming lunch sitting in March. The TV chef, who appeared on BBC's Great British Menu in 2023, opened his Lichfield-based venue in 2021 and was awarded his first Michelin star just four months later. While his food, which uses British seasonal ingredients combined with a hint of Asian influence, has been earning plaudits, it seems Viv was unhappy with her interaction with the chef. Are you the furious customer who messaged Upstairs by Tom Shepherd? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd (pictured) said he was branded a 'snowflake' by an irate customer Sharing an email sent by the customer, Mr Shepherd said he had received it after explaining she would have to join a waiting list for a table The chef's restaurant, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (pictured), received its first Michelin star just four months after it opened In an email, which Mr Shepherd shared on his social media, she wrote: 'I knew it, you are a bloody snowflake. Cannot take criticism. Cannot see another point of view. Cancel out free thought. Cannot survive more than another few years. Be careful who you cross.' READ MORE HERE: How close is YOUR nearest Michelin starred restaurant? Interactive map shows location of the best eateries in Britain as 2024 edition of coveted guide is released Advertisement A screenshot of the email was posted to the chef's 32,000 followers on Instagram, with the caption: 'Everybody meet Viv. A lovely woman. I merely explained what a waitlist is.' While Mr Shepherd claimed the onslaught occurred simply because he explained what a waiting list was, he did not share the original email that had provoked the customer's ire. The restaurant, which offers a seven-course tasting menu for 100 and five-course short tasting menu for 65, said that Tom Shepherd did not wish to comment further on the spat. According to the restaurant's website, guests looking for a table for have join a waiting list, with no slots available until at least March 2025 at the Staffordshire-based venue. It is not the first time customers have clashed with some of Britain's top chefs. In December Masterchef winner Simon Wood was slammed for 'publicly shaming' a customer who made a special request ahead of her reservation at his restaurant. The 47-year-old, who owns WOOD restaurant in Manchester, received an email from a prospective customer asking if they could have a 'nice view'. After this, they then requested the restaurant give them a complimentary pudding as a 'surprise' for their partner. The full message read: 'As it's the first anniversary from me and my husband, would it be possible to give us a good table with a nice view and maybe a complimentary dessert? Simon Wood, 47, won Masterchef in 2015 as a single father of four The interior of Simon's Wood restaurant in Manchester, which he opened in 2017 Masterchef winner Simon Wood posted about his frustrations with this email on X 'As I want to surprise my partner. Thanks in advance for your answer.' The email left a bad taste in Simon's mouth - which prompted him to share a screenshot of the exchange with his 33,000 followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. The chef - who won the TV series in 2015 as a single father of four and opened Wood Manchester in September 2017 - fumed: 'Unbelievable... 'Free food for celebrations, that's why we're here after all...' The post has been seen by over 2.3m since it was shared last week - and sparked fierce debate in the replies. Arguing that Simon needed to undergo some 'customer service training', one replied: 'Publicly shaming a customer that asked for a complimentary dessert on their special day is so ghetto. 'She asked nicely and with courtesy. Could have used this to show empathy and score cheap points with it.' Another added: 'You seem to forget you're in the hospitality industry.' When another follower said there was 'no harm in asking', Simon argued: 'Pop into McDonald's and ask for a complementary cheeseburger and see what happens. 'People need to stop trying to scrounge off small businesses.' In January celebrity chef Tom Kerridge branded one person a 'd***' after they said his fish and chips looked like 'something from a frozen aisle'. The 50-year-old, who has previously been slammed for the eye-watering price of the 32 meal at Kerridge's Bar and Grill in London, received the insult after sharing the recipe for the dish on his Instagram page. Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has branded a customer a 'd***' after he said his fish and chips looked like 'something from a frozen aisle' Taking to Instagram earlier this week to share the recipe for the dish, Tom light-heartedly acknowledged the controversial pricing - but branded a customer a 'dick' after he said it looked 'frozen' The TV chef, 50, has previously been slammed for the eye-watering price of the 32 for the meal at Kerridge's Bar and Grill in central London Light-heartedly acknowledged the controversial pricing, he wrote: 'I know my fish and chips are always a hot topic. And in my opinion, you absolutely can't beat a good fish and chippy tea. 'The fish and chips at Kerridge's Bar and Grill is a real crowd pleaser.' He shared a snap of the dish alongside the recipe, but one fan was far from please. 'Looks like something you'd get in the frozen aisle. Poor,' Robbie McKye wrote. Hitting back, Tom wrote: 'Robbie, sad post mate. Cheer up buddy, say something nice, don't be a d***. 'It's not a good look.' But another customer Chris Kelly said to Tom: 'You lose any argument when you resort to insults. 'You don't like criticism do you?' Matt Brown added: 'I usually respect you but that's also a d*** reply. 'His opinion is valid whether you like it or not, it looks average and overpriced for fish and chips.' One said: 'Unfortunately Mr Kerridge has forgotten his routes and expects these prices to be for real people. 'Fame goes to the head.' Another added: 'He talks the talk, but a chippy tea doesn't cost 37. 'Anywhere decent in Yorkshire will get you a decent fresh fish and chips using top notch ingredients for just over a tenner.' King Charles has been seen returning to London today for more cancer treatment after his first public appearance at Sandringham. The 75-year-old monarch landed at Clarendon House in the royal helicopter after spending a week in Norfolk resting following the shock announcement. He was pictured with his wife Queen Camilla by his side as the royal couple were driven to nearby Clarence House. It is thought that the King will hold face-to-face meetings in London this week despite his ongoing cancer treatment. He will spend a day or so in the capital, as his trip is likely to overlap with his medical appointments. Charles was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with Camilla on Sunday, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments. On Saturday he broke his silence for the first time as he sent his heartfelt thanks for the messages of support and said he was 'heartened' to hear his experience is inspiring others up and down the country to get themselves checked. King Charles has been seen returning to London today for more cancer treatment after his first public appearance at Sandringham The 75-year-old monarch was pictured with Queen Camilla by his side after spending a week in Norfolk following the shock announcement Charles waves to the gathering crowds as the rain lashes down in London today His Majesty landed at Clarendon House in the royal helicopter The letter, signed by Charles R, read: 'I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days. 'As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement. 'It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world. 'My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.' Charles announced last week he was postponing all public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer, found by doctors while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate. But the King is well enough to hold a limited number of face-to-face meetings, sources say. The Queen has been carrying out her royal diary of engagements and last week said her husband was doing 'extremely well under the circumstances'. She said the King, who underwent his first bout of cancer treatment last week, had been 'very touched' by all the messages of support he has received from the public. On Thursday she made a five-hour car journey from her husband's side at Sandringham to Wiltshire to the charity musical evening at Salisbury Cathedral, after the local helipad flooded. Charles seemed in high sprits on Sunday morning as he attended a church service on the Sandringham estate almost a week after his shock cancer diagnosis The King and Queen Camilla were pictured at the Sandringham Estate Chapel before being greeted by rev Canon Paul Williams The King has been spending time at Sandringham since his public announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer Following the service, the King and Queen once again waved to the crowds of people gathered on the estate His Majesty offered 'heartfelt thanks' to the British public on Saturday evening in a letter from Sandringham House The King appeared to be in high spirits while attending a service at St Mary Magdalene Church. He smiled and waved at a crowd of more than 100 well-wishers as he visited the Sandringham Estate Chapel alongside his Camilla, 76, before being greeted by rev Canon Paul Williams. Wearing his signature long brown coat and using an umbrella as a walking stick, the King strolled at his usual brisk pace for the 11am service at the Norfolk estate. Crowds, who gathered to show the couple support following Charles' diagnosis watched on from behind locked gates, said he 'seemed like he was doing really well'. Andy Frost, 48, of Cromer, Norfolk, who was in the crowd, said: 'The King really didn't look too bad when you think of what he has been going through. 'We normally come here about two or three times a year to visit Sandringham House, but today we thought we would come and see how the King is. He was walking very well, and actually looked better than I thought he would. It was lovely to see him.' Mr Frost's wife Eileen added: 'He looked quite well. He waved at everyone and seemed like he was doing really well.' Laura Barron of Sunbury, Surrey, who was with her son Hugo, eight, and eight-month-old daughter Beth said: 'We are on holiday in the area, so we thought we would come to see the King. 'He was walking along normally, and he really looked better than I thought he would. We didn't get very close, but he certainly looks smart and able to walk confidently.' Buckingham Palace confirmed last week Charles, who only acceded to the throne 17 months ago, does not have prostate cancer, saying only that he has a 'form of cancer'. He was diagnosed after a 'separate issue of concern was noted' and was investigated while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate. The King, who wore a long brown coat, was accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla who wore a monochrome outfit Friends revealed last week that 'workaholic' Charles will most likely be spending his time indulging in two of his favourite hobbies - walking and water painting - while trying to take it easy. All public engagements have been cancelled but those close to the monarch joked that he will continue to work through his 'red boxes' of paperwork 'before he's had his boiled egg in the morning.' A friend told the Mail: 'Boredom will be one of the hardest things for him.' Another said the King will likely to spend some his time listening to his beloved records of the late Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, specifically the poetic song Take This Waltz, which he has described as 'very moving'. A Russian artist has vowed to use acid to destroy masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt and Andy Warhol if Julian Assange dies in prison. Andrei Molodkin claims to have collected 16 works of art which he estimates to be worth a total of $45 million, and is now threatening to destroy them if his demands are not met. The artworks, he claims, are being stored in a 29-tonne safe with an 'extremely corrosive' substance, and will only be returned to their owners if Assange is freed from prison. The WikiLeaks founder is awaiting the results of his final appeal against being extradited to the US, where he faces espionage charges and up to 175 years in jail. The controversial artist supporting his release claims his safe will be locked on Friday, and its contents will be completely dissolved if a 'Dead Man's Switch' timer is not reset daily. The 24-hour countdown timer will only be reset, he says, if 'someone close' to Assange confirms he is still alive every day, The artworks, he claims, are being stored in a 29-tonne safe with an 'extremely corrosive' substance Andrei Molodkin claims to have collected 16 works of art which he estimates to be worth $45m, and is now threatening to destroy them WikiLeaks founder Assange is awaiting the results of his final appeal against being extradited to the US, where he faces espionage charges and up to 175 years in jail It comes amid concerns from Assange's supporters that he is suffering from ill health, with his lawyer saying that his 'life is at risk' if he is extradited. 'In our catastrophic time - when we have so many wars - to destroy art is much more taboo than to destroy the life of a person,' Molodkin told Sky News. 'Since Julian Assange has been in prison... freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of information has started to be more and more repressed. I have this feeling very strongly now.' Molodkin has previously made headlines after dousing copies of Prince Harry's memoir Spare with 'blood' in protest against his revelation killed the fighters while serving in Afghanistan. The sculptor is a former Soviet Army soldier, anti-war campaigner and Russian dissident, and now lives in the south of France. He previously made a huge portrait of Vladimir Putin using blood donated by Ukrainian soldiers, and says he is unable to return to Russia as he fears he would be imprisoned by Putin's regime for his work. His latest stunt, he claims, was done with the help of artists and donors who gave him art in a show of support for Assange. Inside the lock-up, two white barrels have been pictured next to crates said to contain the artworks Assange's wife Stella is supporting the Dead Man's Switch project, which she called 'a work of art' (file image) He has refused to identify the exact works in the safe, but says it contains some of his own work as well as art by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jannis Kounellis, Robert Rauschenberg, Sarah Lucas, and others. A Milan gallery owner claims he provided a Picasso piece for the safe and has signed a non-disclosure agreement from revealing which one. Giampaolo Abbondio, who has known Molodkin for years, said he initially said there was 'no way' he would offer up the work, but was later convinced. 'It got me round to the idea that it's more relevant for the world to have one Assange than an extra Picasso, so I decided to accept,' he told Sky. Molodkin is said to be keeping the safe at his studio in southern France before moving it to a museum. The sculptor is a former Soviet Army soldier and Russian dissident, and now lives in the south of France Afghan and Iraqi people donated blood for an artwork by Molodkin entitled Royal blood. The sculpture was projected onto St Paul's Cathedral in protst against Prince Harry's role in the Afghan war Molodkin previously made a huge portrait of Vladimir Putin using blood donated by Ukrainian soldiers Inside the lock-up, two white barrels have been pictured next to crates said to contain the artworks. READ MORE: What did Julian Assange do? From founding WikiLeaks to facing extradition Advertisement One of the barrels, Molodkin claims, contains acid powder, while the other contains an accelerator which could trigger a chemical reaction that would completely decimate the works. Assange's wife Stella is supporting the Dead Man's Switch project, which she called 'a work of art'. 'Julian's political imprisonment is an act of real terrorism against democracy. 'The true targets here are not just Julian Assange but the public's right to know, and the future of being able to hold power accountable. 'If democracy wins, the art will be preserved - as will Julian's life.' The WikiLeaks founder has been held in HMP Belmarsh maximum security prison in southeast London since April 2019, after being forcibly removed from Ecuador's embassy when his seven-year diplomatic asylum was revoked. A public hearing is set to take place on 20 and 21 February, and is considered the final chance for Assange to prevent his extradition. A headteacher who died while on holiday in France has been described by parents as a man with 'a lovely kind heart and would help anyone.' Simon Gibbs, the Principal of New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Essex, tragically died in an 'accident' while on a holiday with friends across the Channel and was described as a 'much-loved colleague' with a passion for teaching by his school. Since his passing, a spokesperson for the FCDO has confirmed his death and said British authorities are in contact with local officials to ascertain further details of his death and support his family. Reacting to the tragic news, many parents have taken to social media to commemorate his memory. 'Mr Gibbs was a fantastic teacher at new Rickstones academy and always helped with all my children,' one user wrote on Facebook. Simon Gibbs, the Principal of New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Essex, reportedly died in an accident while on a holiday with friends across the Channel New Rickstones academy in Essex where Mr Gibbs was the headteacher 'He was the person to go to and always got back to you straight away to help. I was only just speaking to him last week about helping one of my daughters. 'He had such a lovely kind heart and would help anyone,' she said. 'My girls are gutted and so are we. He was an amazing teacher and Head Teacher,' another wrote. 'He cared so much about his pupils. Sending hugs to his family and colleagues at this hard time.' And another user said: 'Such devastating news. An amazing head teacher, always took time to reply to emails straight away. Excellent with the pupils, he will be greatly missed by them all, past and present.' Regional education director for the Academies Enterprise Trust Johanna Thompson penned a heartfelt letter to staff and parents of the school, informing them of Mr Gibbs' passing. 'I am very sorry to be writing with the tragic news Simon Gibbs, our principal, died over the weekend,' the letter, which has been circulated on social media, read. 'From what we understand there was an accident on Saturday evening whilst Simon was away for the weekend with some friends in France. 'This is obviously devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Simon's family at this impossible time.' 'Our staff have been informed today and we wanted to make sure you are aware so that you had the opportunity to speak to your child tonight. 'Devastating news like this will take time for everyone to process and come to terms with and our priority is to make sure that students and staff have the support available to help us all through this time. 'Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously,' her letter continued. 'He will be remembered for his integrity and passion for teaching, as well as his dedication to the community of New Rickstones. 'As we come through the next days and weeks, we will find the right way to remember him at New Rickstones and to celebrate his commitment to this community,' the letter concluded. Mr Gibbs graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters degree in financial economics in 2004, before making the transition to teaching with a PGCE qualification. He went on to become Head of Mathematics at Maltings Academy, another secondary school in Witham, before moving to New Rickstones in 2018. He had been working at New Rickstones Academy for more than six years before his untimely death, becoming principal of the school in September 2021. 'Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously,' a letter to staff and parents read Tributes for the late teacher poured in on social media in the wake of his passing. 'Mr Gibbs was a fantastic teacher at new Rickstones academy and always helped with all my children,' one user wrote on Facebook. 'He was the person to go to and always got back to you straight away to help. I was only just speaking to him last week about helping one of my daughters. 'He had such a lovely kind heart and would help anyone,' she said. 'My girls are gutted and so are we. He was an amazing teacher and Head Teacher,' another wrote. 'He cared so much about his pupils. Sending hugs to his family and colleagues at this hard time.' And another user said: 'Such devastating news. An amazing head teacher, always took time to reply to emails straight away. Excellent with the pupils, he will be greatly missed by them all, past and present. 'Thinking of his family and the staff at NRA. Rest easy Mr Gibbs.' Nicki Catalfano wishes the HealthySteps program was around when she was raising her kids. She is now employed as East Hill Medical Centers HealthySteps specialist, a child development expert who is integrated into the care team at Summit Pediatrics. As an award-winning certified HealthySteps practice of East Hill, Summit Pediatrics serves as a trusted and valuable partner to help families foster their childrens healthy development. HealthySteps is an evidence-based program of Zero to Three, the nations leading nonprofit working to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. The program transforms the promise of pediatric primary care through a unique team-based approach. At Summit Pediatrics, the entire practice works together to implement the HealthySteps model. Nicki is a touchpoint for every pediatric family. She is meeting with all of the new families that come in, said Katrina Garrigan, PA-C, director of East Hills award-winning behavioral health department Inner Wellness. Nicki typically meets with all pediatric patients between ages 0 and 3 and sometimes older at one of their annual well child visits. She works closely with providers at Summit Pediatrics to track developmental milestones and promote school readiness. Recognizing that babies brains grow faster in their first years of life than any other point, the HealthySteps model strengthens pediatric primary care as a trusted source of information for parents during these critical, formative years. Children and families receive a tiered model of services, from universal screening to risk-stratified supports. Nicki provides universal services (tier 1) for all patients ages 0 to 3-plus and their families, including child developmental and social-emotional/behavioral screening, family needs screening and access to a child development support line. Based on these universal screenings, as well as clinical judgment and/or identified parent concerns, Nicki works with Summit Pediatrics providers to identify children and families in need of additional services. HealthySteps offers tailored support for common and complex concerns, including behavior, sleep, feeding, attachment, parental depression, social determinants of health and adapting to life with a baby or toddler. Parents can voluntarily schedule up to six follow-up visits with Nicki for short-term support services (tier 2), including development and behavior consults; care coordination and systems navigation services; positive parenting guidance; and early learning resources. Children and families with the greatest needs may also receive comprehensive services (tier 3) in the form of ongoing, preventive, team-based well-child visits, during which both Nicki and the Summit Pediatrics provider meet with families. As East Hills HealthySteps specialist, helping parents learn healthy ways to manage typical child frustrations like pushing, arguing and backtalk is an important part of Nickis job. Im doing more building up than breaking down, she said. I dont ever want to tell a parent theyre doing something wrong. Instead, her goal is to provide education and resources to help families. Nicki spends a lot of time with tier 2 and tier 3 families, providing education and behavioral interventions for children with attention and impulse disorders. She has the ability to make direct referrals to East Hill Inner Wellness for further interventions as needed, which may include behavioral therapies or medication management. In addition to managing difficult behaviors, other common parental concerns include day care assistance, access to early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities, transportation, and help navigating and accessing community resources. Through the HealthySteps program, Nicki is able to offer families a range of supplies such as diapers, pullups, hygiene wipes, developmental toys, hats, gloves, socks and other basic needs support. She often provides families with books highlighting relevant developmental topics such as mindfulness, kindness and emotional regulation. Summit Pediatrics further promotes early childhood literacy through Reach Out and Read, an evidence-based national program that champions the positive effects of parents reading daily with their children. Reading together promotes healthy brain development, furthers language acquisition and helps families build meaningful bonds. At well child visits, Summit Pediatrics provides families with age-appropriate books, available in multiple languages, to make reading part of their daily routine. To make an appointment for your child at Summit Pediatrics, please call (315) 253-8477. In addition to HealthySteps and Reach Out and Read, Summit Pediatrics offers extended evening hours, same-day sick visits, after hours nurse on call, sliding fee discounts and in-house referrals for dental and behavioral health services, and accepts a wide range of insurances. Visit healthysteps.org or zerotothree.org to learn more about the HealthySteps program of Zero to Three. Vladimir Putin is working to raise the age limit for army officers to 70 in an attempt to increase Russia's military might, according to UK military intelligence. If approved, the draft legislation would be the latest push by the Russian president to grow his forces as Moscow's armies continue to take heavy losses in Ukraine. 'Russia is proposing a draft legislation to raise the age of military contract personnel, including those that were recruited before June 2023, to age 65 and age 70 for officers,' a statement released by Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today. 'This would substantially raise the current age limit of 51 for non officers and would likely extend the contract length.' Russia is believed to currently have around 1.3m military personnel, twice that of Ukraine's 780,000, although not all are currently fighting Putin's war. Despite it being unclear exactly how many more troops the age increase will have on the Russian army, the number could be significant - nearly one third of Russia's 146m population is aged 55 or above. Vladimir Putin is hoping increasing the maximum age limit will help boost mobilisation in his army. Pictured: An elderly soldier is seen during Russia's partial military mobilisation of 2022 The Russian life expectancy for males was 64.2 years old and that was before the war began The MoD says Putin's plan will be 'unlikely' to increase the country's military capability, however, as increasing an age limit by nature has a gradual, not an immediate effect. It would mean that as the war continues to rage, every day, more aging Russian troops who would have otherwise been retiring from the military will instead be expected to continue fighting, increasing the army's numbers continuously. The MOD's statement continued to say: 'the pre-war 2021 life expectancy for Russian males was 64.2 years old (according to the World Data Site). Therefore, this measure confers on these service personnel, in effect, a lifetime contact.' Many Russian soldiers throughout the war have fled, refusing to fight, decreasing military numbers on the Russian side, something the age increase will help mitigate. Ukraine is also using age-limit scrapping to increase military mobilization on its side. Currently, the country is trying to pass a bill to lower the minimum age civilians can be mobilized from 27 to 25 years. If the bill is passed it will make it harder for civilians to avoid being drafted. In October, Ukraine, which currently has an age limit of 60 for personnel and 65 for officers, wanted to do increase the maximum age limit. Their idea was to remove the age restriction entirely, freeing up a large number of elderly troops wanting to fight for their country. Ageing reservists drafted during the partial mobilisation are seen in 2022 attending a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, before heading to the front lines (file photo) The Ministry of Defence says that it is 'unlikely' to increase Russia's military power The potential increase is not the first time that Putin has used age-limit scrapping techniques to boost his military's size. Back in May 2022, only a few months after Russia's initial invasion, the age limit of 40-years-old for new recruits was got rid of in an effort to boost numbers. The MoD says that increasing the maximum age limit will 'alleviate the need for additional mobilization'. For Putin, it is a way to grow his army without having to enlist civilians. This way the troops will be trained and willing to fight. In the build up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Moscow massed between 170,000 to 190,000 troops on the border. However, after reaching the outskirts of Kyiv, Russia suffered a series of embarrassing defeats which saw Putin's armies pushed back away from the Ukrainian capital and into the east of the besieged country. Kyiv then launched two lightning counteroffensives, pushing Russian forces even further back in both the north and south of the country, roughly to where the frontlines are today. Russia suffered devastating losses of both soldiers and equipment in the opening months of the war, forcing Putin to mobilise reserves - something he had said at the outset of his invasion that he wouldn't do. It has been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of lives being lost In October 2022, Russia mobilized its 300,000 reserves to help in it's war efforts. Nine months later, in July 2023, Russia increased the maximum age limit for reservists to be called up to 55 in another push to bolster its numbers. Despite exact figures on military casualties being unclear, due to both Russia and Ukraine giving little away, back in August, the New York Times estimated that approximately 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the conflict and 120,000 Russian soldiers. Ukrainian estimates on Russian losses are far higher. An aristocrat has won a battle to install a lift to help her move around in one of Scotland's smallest castles - but has lost a bid to build a new courtyard. Kirstie Forbes-Sempill, 79, submitted plans to carry out renovations to Terpersie Castle, a 16th century tower house west of Aberdeen. Works include installing a lift that would allow her to move easily between a newly created living room and bedroom due to her age. Forbes-Sempill claimed the castle's narrow spiral staircase was posing increasing difficulties and that she requires assistance to allow her to continue living in the A-listed property. But her application for new features, including a courtyard and an air source heat pump, was rejected by Aberdeenshire Council after heritage bosses said the changes would have a 'significant detrimental impact'. Aristocrat Kirstie Forbes-Sempill, 79, has won a battle to install a lift to help her move around in one of Scotland's smallest castles - Terpersie Castle (pictured), a 16th century tower house west of Aberdeen Forbes-Sempill appealed the decision and has now been given the green light by the Scottish government for the bulk of works to be carried out. However permission to construct a new courtyard was refused. An application on her behalf said: 'As well as being limited in size, the internal accommodation presents a number of accessibility issues. 'There are uneven steps to and within every level, including a narrow spiral staircase with a loose rope handrail to the master bedroom on the top floor. 'Having lived in the castle for the past ten years, the applicant is coming to an age where the existing stone steps present an increasing challenge to everyday living.' It added: 'Without the proposed extension, it is uncertain how long Terpersie can function as an occupied property, the risk of the building being abandoned and left to disrepair and ruin is an all too real possibility sitting on the horizon.' A design statement added: 'Times have changed and these once integral aspects of a properties design are now just a feature of a more violent past. 'Now Terpersie Castle does not have to defend itself against attacks, but against an uncertain future. In its present state the castle is not practical as a family home and its future is being questioned.' Donside Community Council said: 'We believe that approving the works will ensure the future of Terpersie Castle and that the proposed alterations and extension will bring the property to a liveable, sustainable and accessible state and secure its continued use as a residential property for the 21st Century and beyond.' Government reporter Trevor Croft recommended the plans go ahead but said the courtyard should not be allowed. He said: 'The applicant has made it clear that the reason for the proposal is to enable the current relatively elderly occupier, to continue living in the castle without being faced with the difficulties of the present structure. 'Whilst I am in no doubt of the historical accuracy and quality of the work carried out it is a matter of fact that the rooms are relatively small by modern standards and access between floors is difficult via narrow and uneven stairways. 'This makes access potentially difficult for anyone suffering even minor infirmities.' He added: 'I attach significant weight to the need of the applicant to adapt the castle to provide modern living conditions that would enable less able people to continue living there. 'At the same time it would provide a more secure future for the property, thus safeguarding its interest as an A-listed structure.' Scottish Ministers confirmed the plans had been approved. Forbes-Sempill grew up in nearby Cragievar Castle which was then the seat of Clan Sempill and is now a popular tourist attraction owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The family of a suspected victim of the 'Frankenstein' serial killer have expressed horror that the 'monster' could be released in just days. Naval rating Simon Parkes, 18, vanished without a trace in the final leg of a worldwide deployment on Navy ship HMS Illustrious in 1986. His family have spent nearly four decades desperate for closure - and are convinced he was a victim of serial killer Allan Grimson, a former petty officer who was also serving aboard the ship at the time. Grimson, then 42, was jailed for 22 years in 2001 for the murder of naval rating Nicholas Wright, 18, from Leicester, and 20-year-old barman Sion Jenkins from Newbury, Berkshire. But the killer, dubbed 'Frankenstein', is now eligible for potential parole and is facing a panel on Thursday where he could be freed. David and Margaret Parkes, whose son Simon Parkes, 18, served with Grimson and is thought to have been killed by him in December 1986 Allan Grimson - dubbed the Frankenstein Killer - has been given a parole date after serving 22 years Simon was described as 'funny and sociable' with a talent for art by his mother. He had ambitions for a naval career as a boy, first joining the Sea Cadets and enlisting when he left school, aged 17 Speaking ahead of the hearing, Simon's family said although a recent dig for his remains in Gibraltar failed to turn up fresh evidence, Grimson must stay behind bars - and endure the same life sentence they have suffered. The monster - who described killing as 'better than sex' - has always denied involvement in the disappearance of Mr Parkes, but his family maintain they are '100 per cent certain' he was responsible. Speaking ahead of the parole hearing, mother Margaret Sparkes, 78, of Kingswood, near Bristol said: 'I think everything has to be done to prevent him getting parole and I am really hoping this will do it. 'He is a danger to society. He was a petty officer and someone people looked up to. 'But he only got 22 years for two horrific murders. His words - they were better than sex - those were his words. 'It doesn't sit well that he could be released. He is a psychopath. Do you ever change? I don't think so. 'Our life sentence goes on. All I can say is Grimson will be a danger to society if he comes out - a leopard never changes his spots as they say - that is it really. 'We just need to find Simon. I don't care about Grimson. He'll get what's coming to him one way or another, in this life or the next. 'We just need to know what happened as that's the only way we are ever going to get any closure.' Simon's family said a recent dig for his remains in Gibraltar failed to turn up fresh evidence Grimson and Simon were both serving on aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (pictured) when Simon vanished She continued: 'I know Allan Grimson is responsible - I have no doubts at all but at the moment it is all circumstantial. We have to prove it. 'But as years have gone on, more has come forward and there is more evidence and hopefully it becomes more likely we can get the CPS to authorise charges.' Margaret said at the beginning the assumption was that Simon had just gone awol and after an initial search effort proved fruitless they went more than a decade with barely any contact from the authorities. Grimson claimed to have 'felt good' after killing his victims It wasn't until Grimson was convicted of the other two murders that a link was made between him and Simon. Margaret added: 'The years before that were dreadful. I think we lived in a bubble. It was so shocking and unbelievable he was not coming home - on Christmas as well. We just didn't know what to do and had no one to turn to. 'We only knew about it via phone call - just that Simon hadn't returned and the ship had sailed two days after - all that time had gone by. We didn't realise in all those hours, all those days. 'We did not know anything really until the ship arrived back without him.' Margaret said the first years before Grimson emerged as a suspect were the hardest. 'We were just feeling so helpless,' she added. 'We are just ordinary people and we didn't know how to go through to the military and what to do. 'We made our own posters in those days - there was no mobile phones, no social media, no outlets for talking to people. 'There was a big search initially and there were 500 people out looking for him at one point. It was a case of where is he and what's he done.' 'At the time it was easier to accept he was awol than the alternative that he was dead - we couldn't process that.' Margaret said a lot of 'assumptions' were made in the early years but she always maintained he had no reason not to want to come home and was having the experience of a lifetime. She added: 'We were getting letters, phone calls from him saying, make sure you meet us at the docks and I want to do this and that when I get home. 'The search quickly went quiet and there were no leads for years. Then suddenly it was a phone call from Hampshire Police asking us to come and see them. 'That was awful but it was a relief to think we could hand this over to someone and they are dealing with it - at least we might get answers.' Paying tribute to Simon, Margaret who moved to her home in Kingswood with husband David a year after the disappearance, said: 'He was just a typical 18 year old. He loved having fun and was always the joker. He always got on with people of all ages. 'He was a bit naive and had never really left home before this trip. But everyone I spoke to said what a nice guy he was and they always remember him. 'We thought doing a trip like he did was such an adventure but that he would be in such a safe place. That was the feeling - he was with the navy and just doing his job. But of course he wasn't safe.' They have committed to workforce The new owners of Sara Lee have vowed to keep its 200 workers on the payroll - despite previously slashing jobs when they turned around failing chocolate firm Darrell Lea. Sara Lee went into administration in October last year with debts of $55million, shocking many Aussies who regularly indulge in the brand's supermarket aisle desserts. But the keys to the iconic Australian frozen dessert brand's factory on NSW's Central Coast were handed to new owners Klark and Brooke Quinn on Tuesday. The couple vowed to stick around for the 'long run' after meeting the staff whose jobs they saved. 'Sara Lee does not exist without its 200 workforce,' Mr Quinn told the ABC. The keys to the iconic Australian frozen dessert brand's factory on NSW's Central Coast were handed to new owners Klark and Brooke Quinn on Tuesday, with the pair praising the company's employees EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: You know me from the iconic Godfreys ads... here's why the vacuum business REALLY went under: Ex-CEO fires off extraordinary blast over company's downfall Mr Hardy (pictured) started performing in the company's commercials because they did not have a budget to pay a proper actor Advertisement 'A lot of these guys have been here for 40-plus years ... they've given their whole lives to Sara Lee.' Mr Quinn's father, Tony - who founded the VIP Petfoods business which sold for $410million in 2015 - bought failing chocolate maker Darrell Lea from receivership for $11 million in 2012. Mr and Mrs Quinn were credited with turning around the firm after a restructure saw more than 400 employees lose their jobs. The couple even moved into the Darrell Lea's Ingleburn factory to help nurse it back to financial health. 'We lived in the factory for three years, seven days a week and being across every facet of the business, that was a good degree in what to do,' Mr Quinn told A Current Affair. The Quinn family sold Darrell Lea in 2018 for $200million. But Mr Quinn, a former race care driver and three-time Australian GT champion, played down his business acumen over their recent acquisition and insisted they were in it for the 'long term'. 'It won't be us that save Sara Lee,' he said. 'It will be the staff and the communities, it'll be Australians.' The ABC revealed that almost $10 million Sara Lee owes to unsecured creditors will not be repaid. Mr Quinn said he had sympathy with those businesses but outlined that he and his partner had 'no say in what happened in the past'. Mr and Mrs Quinn (pictured) were credited with turning around the firm after a restructure saw more than 400 employees lose their jobs Sara Lee was established in Australia in 1971 in Lisarow on the NSW Central Coast. A desperate hunt was launched to find a new buyer for the company following its administration late last year. The company operates in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South East Asia. Aus Its most popular dessert is its French Vanilla Cheesecake. The wife of a former Drug Enforcement Administration special agent was shot dead when she was apparently caught in the crossfire of a drug cartel dispute in a luxury Mexican resort on Sunday. Prosecutors have stressed that the woman, named as Niko Honarbakhsh, 44, had no connection to the dispute, which also killed a known local drug dealer named Shawn Billary, 22, who was from Belize, but confirmed her husband, Karl Perman's, connection to the DEA. ABC News reports that Honarbaksh was living in Cancun in Mexico at the time of her death. Prosecutors denied reports in local media that the two may have been a couple, saying a photo of the Belizean man showed him with a completely different woman. Prosecutors said the dead man had cocaine and pills in his possession when he was killed at the Mia Beach club, which is part of the Selina Hotel. Niko Honarbakhsh, 44, the wife of a former Drug Enforcement Administration special agent was shot dead when she was apparently caught in the crossfire of a drug cartel dispute in a luxury Mexican resort on Sunday Prosecutors have stressed that the Honarbakhsh had no connection to the dispute Prosecutors said the dead man had cocaine and pills in his possession when he was killed at the Mia Beach club, which is part of the Selina Hotel The Central American country of Belize shares a border with Mexico on the Caribbean coast. Tulum is located south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, closer to Belize. El Universal reports that Billary was being chased by his killers and he sought refuge in the restaurant, where the fatal shots were fired. The newspaper says that two people are in custody in relation to the shooting. Officials have confirmed that Billary was a member of a drug gang. He was first named by Belize News Now who said in a report that he was a native of Belize City. According to posts on her Instagram page, Honarbaksh, who went by Honar, divided her time between southern California and the Cancun area. She regularly posted photos from luxurious settings, including beach clubs and restaurants. Her husband and dogs feature regularly in her postings. The couple were married in 2013. Online records show that she and her husband maintained a home in Beverly Hills. The couple also had ties to Chicago where Honar worked as a real estate agent for a time. In March 2023, Perman was appointed as chief security officer for GigNet, a real estate company that operates in Mexico and Caribbean. 'Prior to entering the private sector Mr. Perman served as a law enforcement professional at municipal and federal levels. He also served in roles in military intelligence and military police for the United States Army,' a press release said at the time. According to posts on her Instagram page, Honarbaksh, who went by Honar, divided her time between southern California and the Cancun area. She regularly posted photos from luxurious settings, including beach clubs and restaurants Online records show that she and her husband maintained a home in Beverly Hills. The couple also had ties to Chicago where Honar worked as a real estate agent for a time Influencer Niko Honarbakhsh, 44, of Beverly Hills, California, is seen in photos from her Facebook page In 2011, he was named to Security magazine's Most Influential People in Security. One witness wrote on TripAdvisor that he was in the restaurant when Billary ran in, followed by another man around 6:40 pm Sunday. 'Some tourist on vacation with her 2 dogs, mere feet away from us was hit by some of the stray bullets and was killed,' the man wrote. He added that Billary was shot once in the back, which slowed him, prompting the gunman to walk over to him and open fire several more times, killing him. The witness was scathing in his criticism of hotel staff. 'Security at the Mia had no clue what was going on nor did they check on the 2 people shot. It was other beach guests that did.' The people that worked there almost acted like it was no big deal, and gave none of us instructions like, get down, get off the beach.. none of them got on their radios calling for the police or backup,' he wrote. Another witness wrote that he thought it was fireworks when he heard the bangs, adding that the gunman ran right past him. Honarbaksh was living in Cancun in Mexico at the time of her death. Honar was preparing to pay her bill when she was hit The woman was shot dead during the ordeal - and prosecutors in Quintana Roo stressed she had no connection to the drug deal That witness said that Honar was preparing to pay her bill when she was hit. He also said that staff at the hotel waited for several minutes before checking on her. A third witness, also posting on TripAdvisor, said they were leaving when the commotion kicked off. The poster, with the username Giandrea84, wrote: 'Im so sad to hear this. I was there all day and was about to leave when the shooting started. 'I heard everything and saw some. I just run away the opposite side but there was so much confusion that no one knew what really happened. 'I remember the lady with two dogs. She looked so happy during the day and the dogs were chilling out on the sand. When I read about what happened to her I felt incredibly sad. My thoughts are with the family.' Honarbaksh's husband and dogs feature regularly in her postings. The couple was married in 2013 Foreign tourists have been killed in the past after getting caught in drug gang shootouts in the once-tranquil beach resort In 2011, Honarbaksh's husband was named to Security magazines Most Influential People in Security. Foreign tourists have been killed in the past after getting caught in drug gang shootouts in the once-tranquil beach resort. In 2021 in Tulum, two tourists one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German were killed while eating at a restaurant. They apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. Last year, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert warning travelers to 'exercise increased situational awareness' especially after dark, at Mexico's Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The Israel-Hamas war, ongoing fighting in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and Africa herald 'what is likely to be a more dangerous decade,' a British military think-tank warned Tuesday. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in its annual 'Military Balance' report that the world has entered 'a highly volatile security environment', which is set to endure. 'The current military-security situation heralds what is likely to be a more dangerous decade, characterised by the brazen application by some of military power to pursue claims,' the report said. It also noted 'the desire among like-minded democracies for stronger bilateral and multilateral defence ties in response'. The 'era of insecurity' is resetting the global defence-industrial landscape, with the US and Europe ramping up production of missiles and ammunition 'after decades of underinvestment,' the report added. A Ukrainian serviceman of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade prepares for combat Challenger 2 tank Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, sit atop a tank in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Taiwanese navy launches a US-made Standard missile from a frigate during the annual Han Kuang Drill As the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms, the London-based IISS reported that Moscow had lost around 3,000 battle tanks on the conflict, roughly the same number it had at the beginning of its operation. The IISS said that Russia had been forced to trade 'quality for quantity' in its efforts to replace tanks lost since it invaded its neighbour to the west in February 2022. 'Ukraine, so far, has been able to offset equipment losses through Western donations, upgrading quality in the process,' added the think-tank in its yearly assessment of the militaries and defence economics of over 170 countries. Driven in part by NATO member states response to Russia's invasion, global military spending grew by 9 percent in 2022 to reach a record $2.2 trillion, it noted. The report comes days after White House hopeful Donald Trump said he had previously told an unspecified NATO member's leader that he would 'encourage' Russia to 'to do whatever the hell they want' in that country if it had not met its NATO financial obligations. 'You got to pay. You got to pay your bills,' Trump recounted at a campaign rally in South Carolina Saturday. Only 10 members of the Western-led security alliance met the group's target of spending two percent of GDP on defence, although 19 of them increased spending last year, according to IISS figures. Jet fighters and ships are seen from the bridge of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during a three-day maritime exercise between the US and Japan in the Philippine Sea on January 31, 2024 Smoke rises following Israeli air strike during a military operation in Khan Younis town, southern Gaza Strip Smoke rises after tank firing in the direction of Bakhmut Ukrainian soldiers take off a camouflaged net over a military vehicle in their fighting position near Bakhmut 'Russia's actions have reinvigorated NATO, with Finland completing its rapid alliance accession process in April 2023,' the report noted. 'Russia's border with NATO members is now more than 1,300 kilometres longer.' Elsewhere, the annual report said that Iran's supply of missiles to Huthi rebels in Yemen and drones to Russia highlighted Tehran's growing influence in conflict zones. China had also demonstrated 'increased power-projection capacity', it added. 'The IISS Military Balance study is published at an important time when the rules-based order is being increasingly questioned,' said Bastian Giegerich, its chief executive. 'While Western defence spending is rising and plans to revamp equipment are ongoing, we reflect on the challenges including those set by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, China's military modernisation and events in the Middle East,' he added. Dorrit Moussaieff says her property has been repeatedly blighted by the 'floods' A wealthy homeowner has told how her London flat filled with Chanel shoes and designer clothes has been destroyed by flood water gushing down from Australian hedge fund whizz-kid Greg Coffey's apartment. Iceland's former First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff, 74, said her property inside one of London's grandest squares - where flats sell for just under 12million - has been repeatedly blighted by the floods in recent years. Among the most expensive items destroyed include two pairs of Chanel heels worth up to 10,000, a Chinese chest full of sentimental photographs and silk curtains. Shocking photographs and videos show the damage done by the floods, with designer clothes stained beyond repair and luxury fabrics in tatters. Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Moussaieff said she has even become allergic to the mould caused by the flooding and is unable to stay at the property. 'I never know when the next one is going to start,' she said. 'It has affected me horribly. 'Books, photographs, paperwork. And the whole dysfunction of not being able to live at my property - not being able to have my husband's children, my nephews there, and this repeated lack of any sort of human reaction.' A wealthy homeowner has told how her London flat has been destroyed Iceland's former First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff, 74, pictured last year Greg Coffey and Ania Coffey pictured in London in September 2016 Shocking photographs show the damage done by the floods to the flat Iceland's former First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff claims her flat has been destroyed by flood water gushing down from Australian hedge fund whizz-kid Greg Coffey's apartment Speaking of some books left ruined by the floods, Ms Moussaieff said: 'I became so allergic of them. 'I've got allergies from all the mould. We've tried to rescue some of them - all the valuable ones. 'There is also some of the paperwork now that we need to look at.' Ms Moussaieff also feels devastated about her clothes in a wardrobe which she said were her most special garments in the UK. 'Everything that was in there was destroyed,' she said. 'Everything in that closet was special - they were my most special clothes that were in the UK.' The flat is said to be filled with designer clothes - pictured are a pair of trousers that appear ruined Destroyed shoes pictured - the pair on the left are by Chanel Designer clothes have allegedly been stained beyond repair and luxury fabrics are in tatters Ms Moussaieff said she is 'distressed' by the ordeal - a photo appearing to show a damaged rug and flooring Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Moussaieff said she has even become allergic to the mould caused by the flooding and is unable to stay at the property The clothes were from a plethora of designer brands, from Oscar de la Renta to Prada and Dolce and Gabbana. One horrifying image shows a stunning white dress with a hand-embroidered collar from Bruce Oldfield - who used to dress Princess Diana - completely destroyed by the floods. Ms Moussaieff said she is 'distressed' by the ordeal and said she will be taking legal action against Coffey. The Senate passed a massive foreign aid bill to Ukraine and Israel without border security measures after Republican turmoil ultimately tanked a bipartisan deal last week. The sprawling $95 billion bill captured the necessary 60 senators needed to send the legislation to the House Tuesday morning after a rare all-night session ending in a 70-29 vote, but it faces an uncertain fate. In total, the package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to deter aggression by China. It also provides $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other conflict zones around the globe. Speaker Mike Johnson cast doubt on its passage in the House, calling it 'insufficient' without border security measures in a late night statement saying the Senate has 'failed to meet the moment.' 'Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,' Johnson continued. 'America deserves better than the Senate's status quo.' Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo., blamed Mitch McConnell for the dysfunction as other Republicans floated ousting the longtime leader. Last week, Republicans tanked a bipartisan $118 billion bipartisan deal to beef up border security while funding Ukraine and Israel. They accused it of not going far enough to secure the border and said it would cement Biden's 'open border' policies. It wasn't easy to get Senate Republicans onboard with the thinner $95 billion deal without immigration measures as tempers flied over the tanked border deal. But ultimately, over a dozen Republicans voted to pass the bill with Democrats because of the fear that Russian President Putin would be emboldened. The vote Tuesday morning had the support of 22 Republicans. However, two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, voted against it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cheered the passing saying it's been 'years, perhaps decades' that the body accomplished such a massive feat. 'It's been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy,' the top Democrat said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is 'grateful' to all the senators who voted for the bill containing $60 billion for his country. 'For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war,' he wrote on X. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that 'the eyes of the world' were on the Senate. 'Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength?' McConnell stated. He faced fierce opposition to the measure from among his GOP ranks, including his own leadership team. On Monday, Senator J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who is vehemently opposed to the bill, made a last-ditch attempt to get Republicans to vote 'no' in a memo to all GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate. I am grateful to @SenSchumer, @LeaderMcConnell, and every US Senator who has supported continued assistance to Ukraine as we fight for freedom, democracy, and the values we all hold dear. For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) February 13, 2024 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) lambasted Republicans for backing away from a border compromise that also included aid for Ukraine and Israel He warned about a 'hidden impeachment clause' buried the foreign aid package that he says could backfire on Donald Trump if he's elected. And last week, the GOP was largely divided on whether they would vote for the bill. Sen. John Thune, R-N.D., reportedly told his GOP colleagues they 'need to stop being p****** and just vote,' because the issue isn't going away and U.S. allies need help. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., blamed Mitch McConnell for the dysfunction as other Republicans including Ted Cruz and Mike Lee called for ousting the longtime leader. Ukraine's war with Russia has spanned over two years 'McConnell's problem is he doesn't talk to his members. He doesn't listen to his members. He doesn't talk to his members. He's so focused on Zelensky. He's got bigger problems than Zelensky.' Sen. Lindsey Graham said he would block the bill unless he got an agreement on inserting an amendment on border security. Democrats blamed former President Donald Trump, who inveighed against the borer deal, for pulling the strings and wrecking the chance of a compromise in an election year. President Joe Biden ripped congressional Republicans for lacking 'spine' after they helped doom the deal that would have included $20 billion in new border enforcement funds. 'When President Trump came along and said he didn't want to solve the border problem, that he wanted it as a campaign issue, [House] Speaker Johnson obediently changed his tune, fumed Schumer. He repeatedly connected the GOP's opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which is approaching its two-year anniversary. The bill will bring up 'emergency' supplemental appropriations to provide $60 billion to Ukraine, boost support for Israel, and provide additional funds for Taiwan along with reconstruction aid for Gaza. The U.S. has had to cut military aid to Ukraine after its budget authority ran dry. The two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion is approaching A view of houses at the Kibbutz Kfar Aza, after the deadly October 7 attack byIran-backed terrorist group Hamas Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he would support a move to a clean bill. He was hammered by conservative MAGA-aligned members of his conference over helping set up the border compromise 'If America fails to stand with our partners on the front lines in Europe and the Middle East, we will shred our credibility with friends in the Indo-Pacific,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell during floor remarks where he also blasted Biden for steering clear of Iran's 'red lines' in responding to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops. Among those Republicans willing to go along with the new approach is Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla). 'I'd like to have the border bill on it. But if we can't pass a border bill, then we still need to do something with Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan,' he said. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-Tillis) is also backing the 'clean' package without border provisions. 'Anyone that thinks there will not be a consequence, a negative consequence in history over this vote needs to really study up on history. Which is why I'm going to try to do my part to not be on that dark page of history,' he said, calling for aid to key U.S. allies. 'Schumer told members of his caucus and the White House last week that if the Republicans scuttled the bipartisan border and supplemental agreement, he had prepared a plan to use the motion to reconsider to force Republicans to vote on the supplemental without border [reforms],' a Senate Democratic aide told the Hill. McConnell said he would support a 'clean' package on Ukraine aide. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who was among those trashing the border package, said he would as well. Such a package would likely be doomed in the Republican-run House, which on Tuesday failed to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas and failed to pass a package considering only of aid for Israel. The Senate votes come after Senate conservatives unloaded on the compromise, with some even calling for a leadership change due to McConnell's role helping push it forward. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who opposed McConnell when he was re-elected to his post in 2022, said Tuesday it was time for him to go. 'I think a Republican leader should actually lead this conference and should advance the priorities of Republicans,' he said. McConnell has been a regular target of Trump's. The two men haven't spoken since Jan. 6th, even as Trump moves closer and closer to securing his party's nomination. Local councils in England's 20 largest towns and cities could be forced to use brownfield land to build more homes under Tory plans to turbocharge development. In a bid to woo younger voters struggling to get on the housing ladder ahead of the general election, ministers today announced a major shake-up of planning rules. The Government is hoping to boost housebuilding, while protecting the Green Belt, by telling every council in England to prioritise brownfield developments. Extra pressure will also be put on larger councils who are failing to hit their housebuilding targets. Planning bosses in England's 20 biggest cities and towns will be made to follow a 'brownfield presumption' rule, if housebuilding drops below certain levels. This will make then it easier to get planning permission to build on previously developed brownfield sites. Ministers claimed the rule change could see up to 11,500 extra homes built in London every year They lashed out Sadiq Khan, the capital's Labour mayor, for having 'consistently failed' to meet housing targets. But housing minister Lee Rowley this morning refused to say how many new homes he hopes will be built in total across England under the planning shake-up. Local councils in England's 20 largest towns and cities could be forced to use brownfield land to build more homes under Tory plans to turbocharge development In a bid to woo younger voters struggling to get on the housing ladder ahead of the general election, ministers today announced a major shake-up of planning rules Housing minister Lee Rowley refused to say how many new homes he hopes will be built in total across England under the planning shake-up Ministers claimed the rule change could see up to 11,500 extra homes built in London every year. They lashed out Sadiq Khan for having 'consistently failed' to meet housing targets The Government today launched a six-week consultation on the proposals with ministers under pressure from Tory MPs to implement the changes as soon as possible. Documents published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) revealed the 'brownfield presumption' rule could be applied in those 20 towns and cities subject to the 'urban uplift' and where their 'Housing Delivery Test' score falls to 95 per cent or below. The 'urban uplift' was introduced in 2020 as a change to the standard method for calculating housing need in local areas. It applies a 35 per cent uplift to the 20 most populous towns and cities in England, which were listed as: Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Coventry, Derby, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Plymouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Wolverhampton. The 'Housing Delivery Test' (HDT) is an annual measurement of housing delivery in local areas by planning bosses. Under the Government's proposed changes to England's planning rules, there would be a presumption in favour of sustainable development on brownfield land in the 20 largest cities and towns where an area's HDT scores below 95 per cent. This would be an increase from the current level of 75 per cent. New analysis published by DLUHC showed the new 'brownfield presumption' rule in London could result in 11,500 extra homes per year. An independent review of the mayor's London plan also recommended making it easier to get permission to build on brownfield sites. Mr Rowley attacked Mr Khan's housebuilding record during a round of TV and radio interviews this morning. 'You can see when you go around places like London, which has consistently failed to deliver on housing targets, where Sadiq Khan has consistently failed to do that,' the housing minister said. But a spokeswoman for the London mayor rejected the review as a 'stunt from the Government to distract from their abysmal record of failure' and accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of 'undermining devolution to distract from its record'. 'The facts are clear London under Sadiq Khan is outbuilding the rest of the country,' she said. 'Housing completions in the capital have hit the highest level since the 1930s, according to the Government's own data. 'London is also delivering twice the level of council homebuilding as the rest of the country combined, showing up ministers' dismal failure nationally.' Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove recently warned that young people shut out of the UK's housing market could turn to authoritarianism During his round of broadcast interviews, Mr Rowley was quizzed about the unmet Tory 2019 manifesto pledge to build 300,000 new homes a year. The Government last year dropped compulsory housing targets to ward off a potential backbench Tory rebellion, choosing instead to make the target to build 300,000 homes a year in England advisory, after construction repeatedly fell short. Mr Rowley also refused to say how many new homes the Government hopes will be built under the plans aimed at expanding the use of brownfield sites. He insisted he would not get into a 'numbers game' when asked what the target was for further developments under the proposals. 'The Government is focused on increasing housing in general and we have made good progress on doing that in the last 10 years but achieving that, building more homes, is all about small-scale policy interventions and then larger policy interventions like today,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. At the weekend, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove warned that young people shut out of the UK's housing market could turn to authoritarianism. He told the Sunday Times: 'If people think that markets are rigged and a democracy isn't listening to them, then you get and this is the worrying thing to me an increasing number of young people saying, "I don't believe in democracy, I don't believe in markets".' In an article for The Times today, Mr Sunak said he understood 'people's anger' about the fact that home ownership 'feels too far away for too many, especially the younger generation'. But he also sought to address concerns from some Tory voters, writing that the Government would not 'simply ignore peoples concerns or bulldoze through local opposition'. 'All that would build is resentment,' the PM said. Conservative former Cabinet minister Damian Green, the chair of the One Nation group of Tory moderates, said: 'Any moves that help young people get on the housing ladder, including unlocking the potential of brownfield sites while protecting our countryside and Green Belt, are very welcome. 'I urge the Government to act decisively to get these measures introduced as quickly as possible and create thousands of more homes.' Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Government's new proposals were a 'desperate and frankly laughable attempt to blame others for 14 years of Tory housing failure'. 'A threadbare announcement consisting of old, failed policies and minor tweaks to brownfield planning policy is not going to paper over Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove's reckless decision to capitulate to anti-housebuilding Tory backbenchers,' she said. Both men were reportedly detained upon arrival in Hawaii, with Southwest Airlines praising the calm response of staff and passengers Shocking footage captured the moment two men had an ugly mid-air fistfight on a Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii. Passengers could be heard pleading with the men to calm down, before one was manhandled away from the brawl by another flier. The flight, which departed from Oakland, California, was mid-air over the Pacific Ocean when the scuffle began, but completed its journey and avoided an emergency landing. Both men were reportedly detained after they landed in Hawaii. Shocking footage captured the moment two men descended into a mid-air fistfight on a Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii It is unclear what triggered the fight, with the footage beginning with one of the men lightly slapping the other across the face. The slap was quickly responded to with a frenzy of punches, several landing squarely on the other man's face. After delivering a flurry of blows to the first man's jawline, the infuriated passenger pauses for a moment as others grab his arms and urge him to stop. While the passengers are gradually separated, one assailant could be heard telling the other to 'get over here', before one concerned-looking passenger tells him 'it's not worth it.' 'Take it easy, take it easy,' another passenger could be heard saying from the back of the jet. The hostile situation was eventually calmed as a man in a blue hoodie held the man back and ordered him to 'just stop,' while moving him to the back of the plane. The men were seen initially trading slaps before one of the assailants launched a barrage of punches to the other man's jawline The hostile situation was eventually calmed as a man in a blue hoodie held the man back and ordered him to 'just stop,' while moving him to the back of the plane Despite mid-flight altercations often resulting in emergency landings, the pilot decided to continue on to land in Kauai - where both men were reportedly detained Witnesses told Hawaii News Now that the fight erupted around an hour after the flight departed California. 'I heard yelling, screaming and punches. I turned around and saw one man bleeding and then the other man being separated,' passenger Jim Wieder told the outlet. 'Frankly, I was a little nervous because were 35,000 feet and youve got two guys swinging at each other, which makes no sense whatsoever.' Despite mid-flight altercations often resulting in emergency landings, the pilot decided to continue on to land in Kauai. Both men were detained upon arrival, although it is unclear if any charges were brought. Southwest Airlines said in a statement: 'We commend our Crew and Customers for their professionalism in diffusing this situation. 'The flight landed safely at its scheduled destination, and local authorities met the flight upon arrival.' A recent trademark application lodged in Australia suggests that Hyundai's upcoming battery-electric pickup truck might be dubbed the Ioniq T10, expanding the brand's electric vehicle lineup. Filed on December 27, 2023, the trademark covers various automotive applications, including "automobiles," "electric cars," and "parts and accessories for automobiles." The incorporation of the 'Ioniq' name aligns with Hyundai's existing electric vehicle branding. Speculation surrounding the nomenclature indicates that the '10' in Ioniq T10 positions the pickup at the top of Hyundai's EV range, potentially surpassing the upcoming Ioniq 7, Hyundai's version of the Kia EV9 SUV. Also check these Cars Find more Cars Hyundai Kona Electric 39.2 kWh 39.2 kWh 452 km 452 km 23.79 - 23.98 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Hyundai Kona Electric 2024 64.8 kWh 64.8 kWh 418 Km 418 Km 25 Lakhs View Details Hyundai i20 1197 cc 1197 cc Petrol Petrol 6.99 - 11.16 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Hyundai Tucson 2024 1999 cc 1999 cc Petrol Petrol 30 Lakhs View Details Hyundai Exter 1197 cc 1197 cc Multiple Multiple 6 - 10.15 Lakhs Compare View Offers Hyundai Creta 1497 cc 1497 cc Multiple Multiple 11 - 20.15 Lakhs Compare View Offers Also Read : Here's how Hyundai & Kia will boost efficiency of electric vehicles While initially noticed by Drive.com.au, it's noted that Australia may not serve as the primary market for the vehicle. Anticipated availability in North America raises questions about its size, with possibilities ranging from full-size models like the Ford F-150 to smaller mid-size trucks like the Chevy Colorado. Details about the truck remain scarce, though assumptions suggest its design will be akin to Hyundai's existing striking EV models. It's expected to share mechanical components with other Hyundai EVs, including electric motors and battery packs. Speculated configurations include dual motors for all-wheel drive, with potential for a single-motor, rear-wheel drive version. In addition to the Ioniq T10, Hyundai has also filed a separate trademark application for the Ioniq T7, hinting at a potentially smaller electric pickup, possibly comparable in size to the Santa Cruz. Reports indicate that Hyundai could unveil the new model as early as 2025 or 2026, aligning with the company's ambitious EV plans. Hyundai has announced investments totaling $85 billion for EVs and aims to achieve global EV sales of 1.6 million units by 2030, underlining its commitment to electrification. With multiple new EVs set for launch in the coming years, Hyundai continues to advance its electric vehicle agenda in line with evolving market demands. First Published Date: This is the dramatic moment firefighters rescued a man dangling from a window in his East London flat while trying to escape an e-bike fire. The fire broke out on the third-floor of the apartment building in Whitechapel in the early hours of Wednesday, February 7, leaving its interior gutted by fire and smoke. Two people managed to escape from the flat. Two men who could not escape because their exit was blocked by fire were rescued by firefighters from windows using ladders. One woman was taken to hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation. Danny McLaughlin, 64, a neighbour who captured the rescue on his phone, said: 'I heard shouting that woke me up. I looked out of one of my windows and saw one of the men hanging from a third-floor window ledge in the neighbouring block. The man was spotted dangling from the window ledge of a third floor flat in Whitechapel in the early hours of Wednesday, February 7 Fire fighters managed to bring the man to safety, holding his legs to stop him falling 'His legs were being held, to stop him falling, by a neighbour in the window of the flat below the fire. 'There were lots of other residents watching what was going on including some who had left the block where the fire was. 'The fire brigade arrived quickly and a firefighter climbed a ladder which had been manoeuvred into position and the man was safely brought down. 'A lot of residents are now worried about the prospect of e-bike or e-scooter battery fires in these blocks and whether we will be trapped or hurt if another incident occurs.' The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have been caused by the failure of a lithium battery pack for a converted e-bike that was charging in the hallway of the flat. Borough Commander for Tower Hamlets, Richard Tapp, said: 'This is sadly yet another example in our borough of the dangers e-bikes and e-scooters can pose if the battery fails catastrophically and catches fire. 'This can be caused by reasons including counterfeit or unsafe products being sold online, the wrong charger being used, or if components are fitted or used incorrectly. 'My crews were on scene in four minutes and quickly and professionally set about rescuing two people as well as tackling the fire. 'A number of e-bikes were being stored in the hallway and this fire shows just how dangerous blocking your escape route can be. 'You should keep an e-bike or e-scooter outside or in a shed. If this is not possible, put it in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire. 'Although the smoke alarm sounded, this incident also highlights the risks of charging whilst people are sleeping as there is less time to react before the fire intensifies.' E-bikes and e-scooters have become London's fastest-growing fire trend with a fire once every two days in 2023 on average. There was a 78 per cent increase in e-bike fires in 2023 compared to 2022. The service states that fires often occur when the lithium batteries that power these vehicles fail and explode. Batteries can fail for a number of reasons; if they have been built poorly, are fake or counterfeit, are damaged, overcharged or the incorrect charger is used. The Brigade's Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: 'The lithium batteries that power these vehicles have failed catastrophically and caused devastating fires. We're asking people to check whether they have a UPP battery at home. If you do, stop using it right away, and contact the seller. 'Often, these batteries fail if they are used with the wrong charger, are faulty, counterfeit or become damaged.' Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled the fire in Whitechapel. The service was called at 4.44am and it took one hour and ten minutes to being the blaze under control. More than a dozen firefighters with specialist gear (pictured) from three fire engines rushed to battle the blaze at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday Bosses at London Fire Brigade (LFB) believe the fire was caused by a lithium battery Elsewhere, more than a dozen firefighters with specialist gear from three fire engines rushed to battle a blaze at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday. Bosses at London Fire Brigade (LFB) believe the fire was also caused by a lithium battery. The fire destroyed part of a ground floor storage room and caused chaos outside as it disrupted traffic in the Strand, London. In December last year, a man was killed in a blaze believed to have been caused by another lithium battery failure. Mohsin Janjua, 28, did not realise his brother had already escaped through the back window when he dashed back into a blazing terraced house in Bradford. Janjua had previously been pictured on the back of his black and red mountain bike - with fire service investigators later revealing that the terrifying blaze was started by its lithium battery. The electric bike had been left on charge in the living room, where the blaze broke out at 5am on Saturday, December 2, and destroyed the house, leaving the family homeless. Janjua's brother along with a woman and a child all managed to escape from the property. Mohsin Janjua, 28, (pictured) did not realise his brother had already escaped through the back window when he dashed back into the blazing terraced house in Bradford Emergency services at the scene of the home in Bradford where an e-bike battery fire broke out at 5am on Saturday They were taken to hospital for treatment where their injuries were not life-threatening. The property in Finch Street, Little Horton was cordoned off for a painstaking forensic investigation - which ruled out arson. West Yorkshire Fire Service said: 'The room of origin of the fire was the living room. The cause of the fire was a Lithium-Ion battery from an E-bike, which had been charging in the living room.' 'We were called at 05.17 on 02/12/23 to reports of a fire on Finch Street, Bradford. We sent two crews from Bradford, one from Odsal, Fairweather Green and Shipley. 'Crews used 6 breathing apparatus and 3 hose reels to extinguish the fire. One man was taken from the property by firefighters but sadly passed away. 'The cause of the fire, which started in the living room is believed to be a Lithium-Ion battery from an E-bike, which had been charging.' Janjua was trapped in the flames for nearly 20 minutes before being overcome by fire and smoke. His brother wanted to rush back into home to help but had injured his leg while jumping out the window. Pictures of female serial killers and a 'first date kit' depicting a gun, rope and duct found on a torture obsessed woman's phone have been revealed in court. Scarlet Blake, who is accused of murdering Jorge Carreno, had a collage of nine female killers including Casey Anthony, who was accused of murdering her three year old daughter in Florida, and Andrea Yates who drowned her five children. The picture had been downloaded to the 25-year-old's phone along with an image entitled 'First date with me' which showed pictures of duct tape, a knife, rope and a handgun. Police found the images and others of strangulation from one of two phones used by Blake when she was arrested in August 2023. She is alleged to have stalked and killed 30-year-old Mr Carreno in July 2021. Four months before his death, Blake live-streamed killing a cat and putting it in a blender having been inspired by the hit Netflix series 'Don't F*** with Cats', the trial heard. Scarlet Blake, who is accused of murdering Jorge Carreno, is pictured in the middle of two security guards Blake downloaded this collage of nine female killers including Casey Anthony, who was accused of murdering her three year old daughter in Florida, and Andrea Yates who drowned her five children An image entitled 'First date with me' which showed pictures of duct tape, a knife, rope and a handgun had also been downloaded to the 25-year-old's phone Other photos seized and displayed to the jury included a photo of a handmade garotte fashioned from two metal handles and piano wire. A picture showing a bed with the message 'bruise my esophegus' spelled out in flower petals and someone wearing a t-shirt reading 'you're cute, murder me' were also show to the court. The 25-year-old sat impassively in the dock as the collage of killers was shown to the jury at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday. A video of Blake strangling her former partner with a rope and extracts of graphic messages she exchanged with her ex were also read out. DNA from the defendant was found on the top of a vodka bottle found at the scene where Mr Carreno's body was found, Oxford Crown Court heard. A photo of the red screw top from a Smirnoff vodka bottle was shown to the jury. They were told that, as part of agreed evidence between the prosecution and defence counsel, the vodka top was found on the riverbank while the bottle was found in the water by the 30-year-old victim. Other photos seized and displayed to the jury included a photo of a handmade garotte fashioned from two metal handles and piano wire A picture showing a bed with the message 'bruise my esophegus' spelled out in flower petals which was shown to the court A picture of someone wearing a t-shirt reading 'you're cute, murder me' was also shown to jurors at Oxford Crown Court This picture of a post on Reddit, in which one user urges people not to trust 'people like me' was also shown in court An comic strip, which appears to show a person cleaining as they talk about getting of evidence, was show during Blake's trial The prosecution counsel said there was 'strong support that some of the DNA originated from the defendant'. They also heard Blake has admitted that she was with Mr Carreno for almost 30 minutes as they walked through the streets of Oxford in the early hours of the morning in July 2021. Also as part of the agreed evidence the court was told she had pleaded guilty to destroying a cat without legal permission. Details of the dissection and killing of a cat called Starlet were also read to the jury who were told Blake had admitted to the killing in November 2023. The dark brown cat belonged to a neighbour of Blake who lived on the same street in Oxford and had adopted it from a rescue shelter in 2007. A lengthy audio of the cat killing was played to the court with the song 'True Faith' heard in the background as Blake cuts up the animal with a scalpel knife. The song was featured in the Netflix series 'Don't F*** with Cats, a documentary about serial killer Luke Magnotta, one of Canada's most infamous murderers. He had filmed himself suffocating kittens and was tracked down by animal lovers so outraged by the killings he had posted on the internet. Magnotta is serving life for the murder of computer technician Lin Jun in 2012. Prosecution counsel at Oxford Crown Court said a vet determined the animal had suffered for three minutes or more as its heart was cut out while still alive. The animal was later put into a blender while Blake live-streamed the killing to a friend. Blake's voice can be heard on the audio as she dissects the animal. On one excerpt Blake can be heard saying: 'My hands are shaking...I f***** love it...look at that little b******, I'm pretty sure he's still alive.' The judge told the jury they would not have to watch the video. Prosecutors say Blake stalked and killed 30-year-old Jorge Martin Carreno (pictured) in July 2021 Four months before the killing Blake live-streamed killing a cat and putting it in a blender having been inspired by the hit Netflix series 'Don't F*** with Cats', it is claimed Chilling CCTV played to the court on the fourth day of the murder trial showed Blake leading her victim to his death in July 2021. The film showed Blake walking side by side with Mr Carreno as they head to an Oxford beauty spot known as Parsons Pleasure where his body was later found in the River Cherwell. Mr Carreno's body was found floating in the river the following day. His death was initially thought to be accidental or suicide and remained unsolved for two years. But following a complex investigation by Thames Valley Police Blake was charged with his murder. Four months before the killing Blake live-streamed killing a cat and putting it in a blender having been inspired by the hit Netflix series 'Don't F*** with Cats'. Detective Sergeant James Macro from Thames Valley Police was taken through extracts of messages Blake had exchanged with her former partner by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC. The messages included 'F*** I need blood, what if I'm bipolar' and 'B**** I kill people because my lover said it would be hot...Last time I found someone this drunk they died.' The court was told that Blake sent a coat she is alleged to have worn on the night of the killing to a woman in America. DS Macro told the jury the exact spot where the body was found was never made public but Blake sent a photo of near where the body was found to the friend in the US. Members of Mr Carreno's family wept in court as later a video of Blake strangling a former partner with a thin rope was played to the court. The woman, who is naked, passes out before she comes round and Blake kisses her. A leopard print bathrobe chord can be seen on the bed. Prosecutors said Blake took a selfie with a leopard print cord before going out to kill Mr Carreno, Proceedings on the fourth day of the trial were halted briefly after a juror expressed fears they could be 'influenced or intimidated' after spotting a leopard print bathrobe chord outside the court on Friday. The juror passed a note to the judge saying she hoped the item of clothing was not an attempt to influence or intimidate the jury. The judge Martin Chamberlain said it was likely a coincidence. Police found the images and others of strangulation from one of two phones used by Blake when she was arrested in August 2023, Oxford Crown Court heard Opening their case against Blake the prosecution have said she had an 'extreme interest in death and in harm. Alison Morgan KC said: 'It was an interest that went beyond mere fantasy. She described herself to others as being someone who derived sexual gratification from the thought of violence and the thought of death. 'Videos of her with one of her partners engaging in acts of strangulation, consensually, in a sexualised context. 'She spoke to others about what it would be like to kill someone. 'She looked at imagery and saved it on her devices that showed an interest in ligatures being applied around the neck.' 'There is a fascination with ligatures for sexual gratification. 'Whatever it is about the fascination with the dressing gown, it must have been in her head and led her to take a selfie just an hour or so with that dressing gown before she found Mr Carreno.' Blake denies murder and the trial continues. The ex-boyfriend of stalker-killer Shanna 'Liz' Golyar has shared that he 'dodged a bomb' and is 'lucky' to have escaped their relationship unscathed. Golyar is serving a life sentence for stabbing Cari Farver to death in 2012 and disposing of her remains in an undisclosed location near Omaha, Nebraska. She murdered Farver after learning that the pair were both casually dating auto repairman Dave Kroupa. Golyar then went on to stalk Kroupa for several years and torment Farver's family, all while impersonating the victim online. Farver's murder inspired the new Netflix documentary Lover, Stalker, Killer which lays bare the 'grisly story of a love triangle gone wrong' and premiered last week. Now, Golyar's former partner Raymond Strahan, with whom she shared a now-deceased son, is speaking out about the girl that was 'no good for me'. 'It could've been me, and that's what I told everyone when Shanna was first arrested,' he told The Sun. 'I didn't just dodge a bullet, I dodged a bomb.' The ex-boyfriend of stalker-killer Shanna 'Liz' Golyar (pictured) has shared that he 'dodged a bomb' and is 'lucky' to have escaped their relationship unscathed Golyar is serving a life sentence for stabbing Cari Farver (pictured) to death in 2012 and disposing of her remains in an undisclosed location near Omaha, Nebraska Golyar's former partner Raymond Strahan, (pictured) with whom she shared a son, is speaking out about the girl that was 'no good for me'. He shared how Golyar had 'ample opportunities' to attack him, saying she 'could've very well stabbed me while I was sleeping' Strahan told the newspaper that Golyar had 'ample opportunities' to attack him, saying she 'could've very well stabbed me while I was sleeping'. He said he 'got lucky' that he 'pulled my head out of my butt' and left the relationship before being physically harmed. 'I started seeing her manipulative behavior, and the cheating, and all this stuff on top of it,' he recalled. 'I didn't want to be with a person like that.' Strahan and Golyar began their 'flashbang romance' in 1997 after having been introduced by a mutual friend at a factory in Battle Creek, Michigan where they both worked. Golyar fell pregnant with their son Cody the following year, but the child died from shaken baby syndrome in 1999. She was a prime suspect in Cody's death, however her then-boyfriend Glenn Herr, with whom she was having an affair, was ultimately convicted in the case. Strahan claimed that after the boy's birth, Golyar didn't want to be involved with him, alleging she allowed him to see his son 'sparingly' and typically with her supervision. He recalled how she phoned him in January 1999 to tell him 'your son is in the hospital' and that he 'might want to get up here'. But the time he arrived at the hospital, Cody had died. Golyar at some points was 'bawling her eyes', he said, but at said she was also 'acting strange'. He said that Herr, 'the guy that was supposed to have killed our son', was also at the hospital and Golyar was 'all over him, hugging him and stuff'. Herr, who suffers from brain damage, admitted during police questioning that he would occasionally toss Cody in the air to make him laugh and eventually conceded he may have shaken him. Golyar also testified during the trial that Herr had told her 'I dropped the baby' and presented letters he allegedly wrote her from jail asking that she lie on the stand. Both Herr and Strahan's families have said they believe that Golyar played a role in Cody's death. Golyar murdered Farver after learning that the pair were both casually dating auto repairman Dave Kroupa (pictured with Golyar). She then went on to stalk Kroupa for several years and torment Farver's family, all while impersonating the victim online Golyar met Kroupa in 2012 through a dating app. Although they spoke to one another online, Kroupa claims he informed the mother-of-two that he was only interested in a casual relationship Golyar was charged with the first-degree murder of Farver in December 2016 and was found guilty of the crime in August 2017. She is believed to have killed Farver due to what was perceived as jealousy because the latter was dating Kroupa. READ MORE: Inside the chilling case of a deadly digital love triangle that saw a woman brutally stab her rival to death over a man they were BOTH dating Advertisement Golyar met Kroupa in 2012 through a dating app. Although they spoke to one another online, Kroupa claims he informed the mother-of-two that he was only interested in a casual relationship, which Golyar initially appeared to accept without a problem. Things took a turn for the worse after Kroupa met Farver at his auto repair shop in Macedonia, Iowa, and asked her if she would be in a casual relationship with him, to which he obliged. Golyar then met Farver in the hallway of Kroupa's apartment building when the former had arrived unannounced to pick up her belongings. Farver was last seen on November 13, 2012 by Kroupa when she left his apartment and went to work. A few hours later, he received a text message from Farver asking to move in together, despite the two wanting to remain casual. Having rejected Farver's request, he received another message, which read: 'Fine. I hate you. I'm dating someone else. I don't want to see you anymore. Go away.' No one saw Farver again, but Kroupa continued to receive texts from her years later, ranging from stalking to threats. In 2015, after no one had seen Farver for two and a half years, the case was taken up by Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office investigator Ryan Avis and Sergeant Jim Doty. The disturbing turn of events murder inspired the new Netflix documentary Lover, Stalker, Killer which lays bare the 'grisly story of a love triangle gone wrong' and premiered last week The investigation found that Golyar had not only murdered Farver but also kept her phone to impersonate her online. In doing so, she made an error that was key in helping the police track Golyar down, as she took a photo of what appeared to be a tied up, decomposing body on her tablet. Another photo, which helped to removed any further doubt, showed a foot with a tattoo of a Chinese symbol that matched the one Farver had on her body. It was subsequently determined that Golar stabbed Farver to death 24 hours before her disappearance. Digital forensics administrator Anthony Kava estimated that Golyar must have spent about 40 to 50 hours a week impersonating Farver. She is currently serving a life sentence at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. Labour factions were at war today over a belated decision to cut tied with the party's candidate for the Rochdale by-election over his anti-Semitic comments about Gaza war Sir Keir Starmer's top team finally withdrew backing from Azhar Ali more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. Sir Keir's team had rallied behind the councillor claiming he had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. Today a top lawyer who investigated anti-Semitism in the party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership branded its handling of the row as 'shambolic'. Martin Forde KC told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme MPs were were questioning why Mr Ali was given time when other more leftwing backbenchers accused of anti-Semitism were not. 'If you want a fair and transparent system then it has to deal with people consistently,' he said. 'I'm aware from discussions with some of the MPs within the party - who might be described as left-leaning - that they feel that when it comes to disciplinary action taken against them then things move rather slowly, but if you're in the right faction of the party, as it were, then things are dealt with either more leniently or more swiftly.' The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism 'all their lives' in a letter to the Observer last year. Meanwhile local Tory MPs have written to Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds demanding to know if any senior figures were at the October 31 meeting where the comments were made. Sir Keir Starmer's top team finally withdrew backing from Azhar Ali more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas 's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism 'all their lives' in a letter to the Observer last year. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Mr Ali's campaign Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. The group, which includes former ministers Ben Wallace and Jake Berry, wrote: 'Engaging in such conspiracy theories is clearly dangerous. Not only does it speak to Mr Alis unsuitability for public office, but it also reduces the scope for legitimate criticism of Israel based in fact. 'That these comments were made in private but not publicly raises the possibility that Labour candidates are not being honest with the public about their views, towing the party line for political patronage but saying the opposite when it suits them.' It came as Labour activists consider a desperate move to support Reform in the upcoming Rochdale by-election to stop George Galloway winning. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Mr Ali. Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. A strident critic of Israel and the West he has previously won in historically Labour areas with sizeable Muslim populations, including Bradford West and Bethnal Green and Bow in east London. Last night local Labour activists told the Guardian: 'Simon may be the best way of keeping [George Galloway] out. It's the devil and the deep blue sea.' Labour's former director of policy has said the party's handling of Azhar Ali's alleged anti-Semitic comments 'revealed a double standard'. Andrew Fisher's comments came after former MP Dame Louise Ellman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I was very shocked when I read about and heard Azhar Ali's comments, and I was very shocked because they were really at odds with my experience of him over a period of 20 years, where he consistently spoke out against extremism, against antisemitism. 'When I looked at his apology I could see that it was a proper apology, (he) apologised for what he said, not apologising for the words, or (like) some people say, for any offence caused.' Mr Fisher, former director of policy under Jeremy Corbyn, responded on Today: '(The treatment of Mr Ali) revealed a double standard. I think you've heard that from Louise Ellman just now, she very openly said I worked with him, he was an ally of mine, we gave him the benefit of the doubt. 'That doesn't apply to people who are on the left, ever, and that's the double standard. 'These disciplinary processes are used for factional reasons within the Labour Party and that results in people like Azhar Ali being given the benefit of the doubt, being backed up by shadow cabinet ministers on the radio. Shadow cabinet ministers still going out campaigning for him on Sunday.' Meanwhile, senior Labour frontbenchers today refused to face the media to answer questions about the saga. Housing minister Lee Rowley accused Labour of 'going to ground' after no shadow minister appeared on Tuesday's morning media round. Mr Rowley told Sky News: 'I mean, where is Labour? Where's Labour today? Talking to people like yourselves, they're not doing it. They're going to ground.' It was put to Mr Rowley that he was on 'dodgy ground' accusing another party of going to ground when the Government is 'not always around', to which he replied: 'That is a party which has not changed. It's a party which will say anything to win government, and I hope people are watching. 'They've got no plan and they're getting themselves into a real mess over things like this.' Late last night Labour confirmed it had withdrawn support for the Rochdale by-election candidate 'following new information'. The Mail had obtained a full audio tape of his comments during a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party shortly after the October 7 attacks. As well as having told the meeting that Israel allowed the massacre to happen so it could wage war on Gaza, Mr Ali apparently also: Blamed 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian Labour MP; Said Israel planned to 'get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza' and 'grab' some of the land; Boasted about preventing Israeli flags being flown from local public buildings after the October 7 attacks. The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party. Mr McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough, used the phrase 'between the river and the sea' last year. The slogan has been described as 'a staple of anti-Semitic discourse'. But in the recording, Mr Ali said Mr McDonald 'shouldn't have been suspended' before adding: 'The media and some of the people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about what he said.' The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism includes making 'stereotypical allegations about Jews' such as 'Jews controlling the media'. Mr Ali's comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza. He later admitted his comments were 'inexcusable' and apologised after being confronted by The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the story. At the meeting, he also said: 'Israel has that plan, which is to get rid of [the Palestinians] from Gaza, push them out... 'And then they've got Gaza to themselves, and you know, they'll say because the security risks to Israel and the Jewish state, you know, we can't come back. So we've actually said that, in our letter, (this) is about a land grab.' Mr Ali's (left) comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald (pictured) from the Labour Party Last night Rishi Sunak (pictured) accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do' Last night Rishi Sunak accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do'. He said Sir Keir's claims to have changed the Labour Party had proven 'simply not true', given that its candidate was caught 'spreading the vilest racist conspiracy theories about Jews'. The Prime Minister said on GB News: 'We've just seen over the last few days Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year telling everybody Labour's changed look what just happened in Rochdale. READ MORE: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Time for Labour to put principles before polls Advertisement 'A candidate saying the most vile, awful anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. And what happened? He stood by him, sent cabinet ministers to support him. 'Until, as apparently five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, he's decided to change his mind. 'That's not principled, that's not principled at all. It's a con.' The deadline to remove Mr Ali from the ballot paper has passed, leading to the highly unusual situation where Labour cannot replace him as the party's candidate. He will remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate, but if he wins, he would sit in the Commons as an independent MP without the whip. Labour said last night: 'Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.' Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden told the Mail: 'Sir Keir knew about his racist Labour candidate's views for days. Still, Sir Keir sent his people out to defend him. 'Who knows how long other people in Labour knew about this racist anti-Semitism and said nothing either because they think the same or dared not speak out. It's not out of principle but only due to pressure that Sir Keir has acted. Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden (pictured) told the Mail: 'Sir Keir knew about his racist Labour candidate's views for days. Still, Sir Keir sent his people out to defend him' Before the U-turn, Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds (pictured) said he believed Mr Ali had fallen for 'an online conspiracy theory' But Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured) said: 'I'm not sure 'our candidate believed and repeated a vile and clearly anti-Semitic smear that he saw on the internet' is quite the defence Labour think it is' Labour MP Rosie Duffield (pictured) said the party should have withdrawn its support for Mr Ali sooner. She told GB News: 'I think the dithering was quite embarrassing' 'Starmer is a moral vacuum. Sir Keir has failed to change his party, in fact he's been defending a racist hoping the outrage went away and only acted when he had no choice.' A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labour's withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour.' Before the U-turn, Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said he believed Mr Ali had fallen for 'an online conspiracy theory'. But Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'I'm not sure 'our candidate believed and repeated a vile and clearly anti-Semitic smear that he saw on the internet' is quite the defence Labour think it is.' Labour MP Rosie Duffield said the party should have withdrawn its support for Mr Ali sooner. She told GB News: 'I think the dithering was quite embarrassing.' Mr Ali said on Sunday: 'I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant and false.' The family of a young man killed alongside with his mate when their car plunged off a cliff during a camping trip have opened up about their grief and how the tragedy had rocked the entire community. Louis Eeles, 22, and Matthew Farr, also 22, were among six friends camping at Little Bay, near Horrocks Beach in Western Australia's Mid West, when the pair and another mate decided to go for a drive early February 4. Their Nissan 4WD plunged at least 20m down a cliff along White Cliffs Road, killing the pair from Geraldton and leaving their 21-year-old friend severely injured. Mr Farr's family penned a heartbreaking statement released by WA Police on Tuesday, revealing that there is 'no rulebook' to prepare them for the grief they are currently experiencing. The family also opened up about Matthew's close bond with Mr Eeles, along with the sole survivor, who remains in hospital. Louis Eeles, 22, (pictured left) and Matthew Farr, 22, both died when their vehicle plunged off a cliff during a camping trip 'Our loss is profound and one in which we doubt we will ever recover from,' the statement said. 'Together, Matthew and Louis shared a passion for outdoor adventures, specifically fishing, diving, camping and exploring. 'Both with similar depositions, kind, friendly, motivated, empathetic and just generally great young men. 'Our families will be forever entwined.' The statement also said the family were 'eternally grateful that someone did survive' expressed their hopes for his recovery. The man was flown to Royal Perth Hospital with neck and spinal injuries but it's understood he has since been discharged. 'His heroism in trying to raise the alarm given his own injuries is inspirational and we will be forever in his debt,' the statement said. 'Our thoughts are with him and his family.' The family also thanked the first responders 'which includes, but not limited to, DFES, volunteers, WAPOL, St John Ambulance, and all other emergency service personnel involved'. They also paid tribute The family also said they had been 'overwhelmed' by the message of support from the wider community in the city of Geraldton, which is 400km north from Perth. 'It's at times like these you become aware of just how great it is to live in the community that we do,' the statement said. Last Thursday, the grieving high school sweetheart of Mr Eeles, Kayla Stubbs, took to Facebook page to pay her tribute to the young apprentice tradesman. High school sweetheart Kayla Stubbs (pictured right with Mr Eeles) penned a heart-felt tribute to the cliff fall victim 'Louis touched the lives of many in unique and meaningful ways, but above all, he will be remembered as the embodiment of pure joy and zest for life,' Ms Stubbs wrote. 'With an immense heart and boundless generosity, Louis made time for everyone, exemplifying the true spirit of compassion and selflessness. He approached life with unwavering enthusiasm, worked diligently yet embracing every opportunity for adventure with open arms. 'His ability to find beauty in the simplest of moments was truly remarkable. Miraculously a 21-year-old man survived the horror fall and has been reported as discharged from hospital She added her partner lived for the ocean and adrenaline and was 'so loved by everyone'. 'He'd do anything for anyone. And his sense of humour it was contagious, his personality and love for life, it made everyone so happy,' Ms Stubbs told the West Australian. 'He was never the type to be sad.' Mr Eeles had just started his apprenticeship to become a refrigeration technician. The high school sweethearts were meant be go on the camping trip together but before Ms Stubbs pulled out at the last minute after her partner asked her to run an errand for him In a death notice, Mr Eeles' parents Adrian and Annette wrote their 'darling son' was 'taken too soon'. A policewoman was left to die after being shot dead in travel agency robbery 'mastermind' by a pensioner, a court has heard. Piran Ditta Khan, 75, wasn't personally involved in the raid that ended with PC Sharon Beshenivsky being shot dead at point blank range and her colleague PC Teresa Milburn seriously injured, Leeds Crown Court heard. But he was described by prosecutor Robert Smith, KC, as the man 'responsible for organising this robbery' that took place on November 18, 2005. In court today, jurors heard how Khan had planned the raid, making a scouting trip from his home in Ilford, North London, five days earlier on a quiet Sunday when the business was closed. Mr Smith told the jury both officers were shot at 'almost point blank range' by one of the three robbers who went inside the travel agency armed with a machine gun, pistol and knife. The prosecutor also told the court how Khan had 'evaded' justice for 15 years by fleeing to Pakistan, until he was arrested and detained by Pakistan authorities in January 2020. The murdered officer's husband Paul Beshenivsky listened to Mr Smith's opening remarks from the public gallery in court. Piran Ditta Khan (pictured), 75, was extradited from Pakistan over the killing of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in 2005. Prosecutors claim he organised the raid in Bradford which resulted in the officer being fatally shot PC Beshenivsky (pictured) was 38 when she was killed on November 18 2005 after she and a colleague responded to a report of a robbery at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire As they fled the scene the gunman fired 'indiscriminately' in the street. The men escaped with 5,400 cash after the raid on the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford on 18 November 2005. They left PC Beshenivsky to die on the pavement outside the premises, he said. PC Milburn was also shot and taken to hospital for emergency treatment and she survived. Police raced to the scene and were given a partial registration number of the robbers' car. PC Milburn was also able to give a 'brief description' of the gunman. By searching CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras police identified the Toyota Rav 4 car used by the three raiders and that had been hired three weeks earlier. The car was traced by police in London the following day but the occupiers were 'not the men who carried out the robbery,' the court heard. In due course the six other men were all arrested, tried and convicted of offences of murder, manslaughter, robbery and firearms offences. Until his arrest in Pakistan in 2020 Khan evaded capture. Mr Smith said: 'Piran Ditta Khan evaded arrest by leaving the country in January 2006 on a flight from London Heathrow to Islamabad where he remained at liberty until January 2020 when he was arrested and detained by Pakistan authorities. The British Government had by then made a request to the Government of Pakistan for the arrest of this man.' Today Khan sat in the dock, following the evidence with the help of an interpreter, as Mr Smith detailed his role in the shocking crime. Mr Smith told jurors: 'The defendant was not one of the men who physically carried out the robbery. He was not one of the group of three who had been personally responsible for shooting PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn.' While the raid was going on he was sat in the passenger seat of a Mercedes car which was in the area. He was the key 'organiser' and the one with knowledge of the Universal Express business and the interior of the premises. The business was used by local people to transfer funds to relatives in Pakistan by paying in cash. As a customer who had used it for this purpose, Khan was aware that 'substantial quantities' of cash were held there, the court heard. Court artist drawing of Piran Ditta Khan appearing at Leeds Crown Court today, charged with the 2005 murder of Police Constable Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford He knew about the security within the building and that firearms would be needed to threaten staff, said Mr Smith. Khan was also aware that customers could only enter inside through a lobby that was locked. Staff checked out people in the lobby before unlocking the door, the court heard. On the day of the raid two of them robbers were dressed in suits and the third in a white shirt and jacket. Their loaded guns were inside a computer bag along with a large knife and cable ties to tie up staff, the jury heard. They were dressed to look respectable so that they would be allowed inside. The group had a safehouse in Leeds where they gathered before the raid. It was at this safehouse that a witness heard Khan being asked about the amount of cash they could expect to get in the planned robbery. The court heard the defendant told the group a 'minimum of 50,000 and a maximum of 100,000.' The jury heard that Khan has already pleaded guilty to robbery of the Universal Express travel agency. The 'instruction' to go ahead with the robbery was allegedly made in a phone call from the mobile phone of Khan's driver Hassan Razzaq at 3.20pm as the Mercedes drove past the premises. The three robbers were allowed into the building and then carried out the robbery. Former West Yorkshire Police detective chief superintendent Andy Brennan arrives at Leeds Crown Court for Khan's trial Mr Smith said the trio 'threatened and assaulted' staff and 'treated them brutally' during the raid. A single round of the machine gun was fired inside before it 'jammed.' Then on leaving the travel agency after the robbery the men were 'confronted by two unarmed female police officers 'who posed no threat to them whatsoever.' One of the men had 'no hesitation' in shooting both officers with the pistol. Mr Smith said there was 'compelling evidence' Khan had 'orchestrated' the events of that day and was full agreement of the use of firearms. Recalling the murder in more detail. Mr Smith said the two officers were nearing the end of their shift when they responded to a radio message to go to the travel agency. A 'silent alarm' had been activated by a member of staff and police alerted. Two civilian street wardens were in the area and looked through the window and a man who was one of the robbers said 'we're on a break.' The wardens spoke briefly to the police officers when they arrived in their car. CCTV showed the two officers walking across the street to the building. Within seconds they had both been shot. PC Beshenivisky had been in the police for just nine months. She was shot through the heart and spinal column and died instantly. PC Milburn, who was 37 at the time and had been a constable for a year and eight months, later described the shooting. She saw an Asian man point his pistol at PC Beshenivsky and shoot her and then turn the gun towards her. Mr Smith said she heard a bang and felt 'immense pain.' Fortunately the bullet missed her major organs. Top officials from Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt met today to make plans for another ceasefire as international pressure mounts for a truce in war-torn Gaza amid the Israeli Defence Forces' operation against Hamas. CIA director William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Egyptian officials in Cairo, according to Al-Qahera News - which has links to Egyptian intelligence. A proposal thrashed out with Israeli negotiators in Paris late last month has gone back and forth, but is yet to come to fruition after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed his forces would achieve 'total victory' in Gaza. Hamas officials meanwhile told reporters that they 'are awaiting the outcome of the Cairo meetings, and Hamas is open to discussing any initiative that achieves an end to aggression and war'. The quest for a ceasefire comes after the United States and the United Nations warned Israel against carrying out a ground offensive into Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city where more than a million Palestinians are trapped. Health officials say more than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israeli forces began incessant bombing campaigns of the territory in response to Hamas' October 7 attacks, in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed. This combination of pictures shows (L to R) CIA Director William Burns, Israel's Mossad Director David Barnea and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 13, 2024 Israeli soldiers drive a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 Surviving family members collect their remaining belongings from the destroyed building of the Dervish family at the Nuseirat refugee camp as the Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City, Gaza on February 13, 2024 A Palestinian man looks at the site of an Israeli strike on a mosque, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 12, 2024. Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between the warring parties with US support, with representatives of all three nations coming together with Israeli intelligence officials to discuss the steps required to work toward another ceasefire. CIA director Burns is under pressure to hash out a deal after US President Joe Biden said civilians in Rafah 'need to be protected' after a meeting with the King of Jordan Abdullah II on Monday. 'Many people there have been displaced - displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they're packed into Rafah - exposed and vulnerable,' he said. King Abdullah pushed for a full ceasefire to end the four-month-old war. 'We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe,' he said. 'We need a lasting ceasefire now.' But Biden's caution comes as a mammoth aid package that earmarks $14billion to support Israel's war in Gaza was approved by the US Senate. Two-thirds of the $90billion package is destined for Ukraine to support President Zelensky's armed forces amid their ongoing war with Russia, and a further $10billion will be set aside for humanitarian aid to Gaza. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, controlled by the Republican party, which is expected to put up resistance after several prominent Republican lawmakers criticised the package. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks, at a press conference with Jordan's King Abdullah following their meeting, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2024 Surviving family members collect their remaining belongings from the destroyed building of the Dervish family at the Nuseirat refugee camp as the Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City, Gaza on February 13, 2024 A displaced Palestinian child who fled her house due to Israeli strikes holds a crying baby, as they take shelter in a tent camp amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 13 , 2024 Surviving family members collect their remaining belongings from the destroyed building of the Dervish family at the Nuseirat refugee camp as the Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City, Gaza on February 13, 2024 Israeli soldiers drive a tank inside Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 After rejecting Hamas's terms for a truce last week, Israel conducted a predawn raid in Rafah on Monday that freed two hostages and killed around 100 people. Netanyahu hailed the operation that freed Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Luis Har, 70, as 'perfect', while the Palestinian foreign ministry said the deaths of dozens of Gazans amounted to a 'massacre'. The rare rescue mission came hours after the Israel premier spoke with Biden, who reiterated his opposition to a major assault on Rafah. Netanyahu rebuffed Israel's key ally, insisting that 'complete victory' cannot be achieved without the elimination of the militants' last battalions in Rafah. The United States has angered some Middle East allies by repeatedly refusing to back a full ceasefire, with Washington saying it supports Israel's drive to eradicate Hamas and calling for shorter pauses with hostage-prisoner swaps instead. Biden said Monday his administration was trying to broker a six-week truce and, that while key elements were in place, 'gaps' remained. Once the warring parties agree to the ceasefire, 'something more enduring' could be broached, Biden said. Rafah has become a last refuge for over half of Gaza's population, who are pressed up against the Egypt border in makeshift camps where they face outbreaks of hepatitis and diarrhoea, and a scarcity of food and water. Netanyahu has said Israel will provide 'safe passage' to civilians trying to leave, but foreign governments and aid groups - as well as Gazans - questioned where they could go. 'As it is, there is no place that is currently safe in Gaza,' said United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. When asked about an evacuation mission, he said the UN would 'not be party to forced displacement of people'. Surviving family members collect their remaining belongings from the destroyed building of the Dervish family at the Nuseirat refugee camp as the Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City, Gaza on February 13, 2024 Israeli soldiers drive a tank inside Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 A Palestinian girl stands near a car damaged during Israeli bombardment in Rafah, on the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2024 Palestinians from the Ghannam family check the damages inside the family home after an Israeli air strike hit the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, 10 February 2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on Feb. 7, 2024 The UN's human rights chief Volker Turk warned that 'an extremely high number of civilians' would likely be killed or injured in a full Israeli incursion into Rafah, which could also spell the end of the 'meagre' humanitarian aid entering Gaza. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, more Gazans are being pushed to the brink of famine each day, with all 2.2 million people in the territory in the UN agency's three most severe categories of hunger. 'We're almost out of flour in the north,' said a man in north Gaza's Beit Lahia. 'We can't even find food and drinks for the children.' Israel's operation to free the two hostages left Rafah with bomb craters and piles of rubble. Footage of the overnight operation released by the Israeli military appeared to show just over a dozen soldiers entering a building on foot and extracting the hostages, who were described as being in 'good and healthy' condition. A spokesperson for Netanyahu's office said it had involved 'a prolonged battle', during which 'dozens of Hamas targets were attacked from the air'. International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan said he was 'deeply concerned by the reported bombardment'. The US State Department also called on Monday for Israel to investigate the 'heartbreaking' death of six-year-old Gazan Hind Rajab. Her body was recovered on Saturday along with two relatives and two Red Crescent workers who went to find her after her family's car came under fire while trying to flee an Israeli advance in Gaza City. At least 28,340 people, mostly women and children, have died in Israel's relentless bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military said Tuesday that three more of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in Gaza, taking its losses since ground operations began on October 27 to 232. The war began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7 that killed about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took around 250 people hostage, around 130 of whom are still in Gaza, according to Israeli figures. Israel says 29 of the remaining captives are presumed dead. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll shows 86% of Americans think Biden is too old to serve another term as president. 'If he makes a slip of the tongue here or there, what's the deal?' Former House Speaker called Biden 'always on the ball' and 'very sharp' Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended President Joe Biden's age on Monday, insisting he's 'very sharp' despite growing questions about his mental and physical competency. Pelosi, 83, who still serves in Congress as 'Speaker Emerita,' said she could not criticize 81-year-old Biden's age because he's younger than her and dismissed his recent memory lapses as just a person making mistakes. 'I mean, he's always on the ball,' she said in an interview with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. 'Anyone who would think that they're at some advantage because of his age thinks that at their peril because he's very sharp.' 'I say, it's all relative. He's younger than I am, so what do I have to say about his age?' Pelosi continued. 'But he is, again, knowledgeable, wise.' She boldly defended Biden even as some Democrats in Washington are sounding the alarm about his ability to serve another four-year term. And an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Monday revealed that 86% of Americans think Biden is too old to serve another term as president. US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi stand onstage Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, attends a news conference 'This is a very sharp president in terms of his public presentation,' she said. 'If he makes a slip of the tongue here or there, what's the deal?' Biden, 81, has long faced questions about his cognitive and physical ability, framed by embarrassing public moments on the global stage. In March 2021, Biden repeatedly stumbled and fell on the stairs as he struggled to board Air Force One. The president tipped over on his bicycle during a vacation in Delaware in June 2022. Democrats held their breath after they watched him trip over a sandbag on stage and fell down at a military commencement center in June 2023. But more recent events call into question his mental abilities as he has repeatedly mixed up the name of world leaders, including people who have since died. President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference US President Joe Biden speaks about the Special Counsel report in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Last Wednesday, Biden recalled a 2021 conversation with with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 2017. Last week, he also recalled a 2021 conversation with French President Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996. Concerns about Biden's memory only increased after Special Counsel Robert Hur described the president last week as an 'elderly man with a poor memory.' A visibly angered Biden emerged to defend himself at a press conference on Thursday evening, saying his memory is 'fine' and declaring 'I know what the hell I'm doing!' But he confused the president of Egypt for Mexico which prompted further questions about his age. A former Sainsbury's employee used her old uniform to go on a 200 shoplifting spree by pretending to fulfil an online order at the supermarket. Holly Trevillion donned her orange and maroon get up which meant other staff at the branch at Castlepoint did not raise an eyebrow when she went round the shop filling up a trolley with groceries. On one of five occasions the 35-year-old simply walked out of the store with up 200 worth of goods without being stopped by making it appear she was an employee fulfilling an online order. Trevillionwas eventually caught when a member of staff became suspicious of her activity and confronted her. It is not known how much she stole in total. A court heard Trevillion had worked for Sainsbury's for 10 years and had more recently been based at its store at Alder Hills, Poole, Dorset, but was sacked because she missed a number of shifts. Holly Trevillion (pictured here leaving court) used her old Sainsbury's uniform to go on a 200 shoplifting spree The Sainsbuy's branch at Alder Park in Poole, where Trevillion used to work as a Saunbury's employee before she was sacked She admitted to police that she targeted the Sainsbury's branch at Castlepoint, Bournemouth, because nobody knew her there. She said she wore her old uniform knowing it would mean she was less likely to be challenged. Tara Olney, prosecuting, told the magistrates in Poole that Trevillion had been viewed on CCTV on five separate occasions between September 18 and October 19 last year putting groceries in a trolley and then walking out without making any attempt to pay. It is not known how much she stole in total, but on one occasion she stole over 200-worth of food and household items. Miss Olney said: 'She was seen to leave Sainsbury's without making any attempt to pay. She chose to avoid the checkouts and followed that behaviour in each incident. 'When interviewed by police she started by saying she didn't accept it was fraud because it was her uniform and she did work at Sainsbury's. 'She said she lost her job because she missed too many shifts. She admitted she went there intending to steal general household shopping. 'She said it would be easier if she was in uniform to steal and the limelight would not be on her.' Trevillion, who was of previous good character, admitted five counts of fraud by false representation. The court heard she had lived in London with her husband and teenage son and worked for a Sainsbury's there but transferred to the store in Poole last year after her 18-year relationship ended. Trevillion (pictured here leaving court) was eventually caught when a member of staff became suspicious of her activity and confronted her She was supposed to work 25 hours a week but was 'absent for weeks at a time' after her marriage ended 'not of her choosing'. He said: 'She chose to move away from the family home and return back to the Bournemouth area. 'She arranged a transfer to a branch in Alder Hills. She was meant to be working 25 hours a week but was absent for weeks at a time while trying to come to terms with the emotional trauma. 'Her employers were initially supportive but their patience ran out and they dismissed her. 'She embarked on a new relationship. She was paying 700 a month rent and he was not contributing financially, she was finding it all very difficult. 'It was his suggestion when things were getting tight that she might want to take a particular action. 'She is a lady of some integrity, she takes full responsibility for her actions. She gave full admissions and says 'I did wear the uniform because I thought that would be a deflection.' 'This is out of character for this lady. She is trying to get her life back on track and is really ashamed about her actions.' Trevillion was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay 206.28 compensation to Sainsbury's and 111 costs and victim surcharge. An Iranian businessman who ran a rug company as a front to launder millions of pounds made from small boats crossings has been ordered to hand back more than 52,000 to the authorities. Asghar Gheshalghian, 48, acted as a banker for the gangsters trafficking tens of thousands of illegal immigrants across the English channel. Gheshalghian - known as Mr G by his associates in France transferred money using the so-called hawala system. Hawala is an informal channel for transferring funds from one location to another through providers - known as hawaladars - regardless of the nature of the transaction and the countries involved. Gheshalghian ran his money services firm from an office block in Wood Green, north London and acted as a trusted middleman, accepting payments from migrants or their families. Iranian businessman Asghar Gheshalghian (pictured), 48, who ran a rug company as a front to launder millions of pounds made from small boats crossings was forced to hand back more than 52,000 to the authorities Gheshalghian was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in February 2021 after a two-year investigation RNLI lifeboat, the City of London II, makes its way towards migrants travelling in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (file photo) He then released money to the criminal gangs after the migrants had arrived in the country and charged a hefty commission. READ MORE: Iranian businessman nicknamed Mr G who laundered money for illegal small boats gangs across the Channel from Wood Green office block is jailed for eight years Advertisement Gheshalghian was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in February 2021 after a two-year investigation. Phone evidence showed links with at least eight Iranian migrants who later arrived in the UK by boat or lorry and claimed asylum. NCA investigators obtained covert recordings of him talking to associates on the phone, admitting '70-80 percent of our business is illegal'. Gheshalghian also bragged that people smuggling gangs trusted him to deal with financial transactions on their behalf. He said: 'They approve me, they know I won't cheat on them, once the task is completed - money'. Following his arrest, the NCA searched his business premises, a storage lock-up and his home in east London, seizing around 50,000 in cash. Officers also recovered ledgers outlining transactions, while financial investigators were able to evidence around 1.6m in payments into his bank accounts. Evidence was also obtained from an ITV documentary where undercover reporters approached a people smuggler in northern France, who discussed sending money through a broker called 'Mr G' - Gheshalghian. The people smuggler was later convicted in France. Gheshalghian was jailed for eight years last month. Money seized by the National Crime Agency. Following his arrest, the NCA searched his business premises, a storage lock-up and his home in east London, seizing around 50,000 in cash Cash bundles found in a bag at a lockup. Gheshalghian, known as Mr G by his associates in France, transferred money using the so-called Hawala system Asghar Gheshalghian, 48, acted as a banker for the gangsters trafficking tens of thousands of illegal immigrants across the English Channel NCA officer Victoria Stockley told Westminster Magistrates' Court today (tues): 'Two sums of money were seized, one from an office premises, and one from a storage facility.' Magistrate Jeffrey Manton said: 'It is recoverable property as it was used in unlawful conduct.' He ordered the confiscation of 52,175 along with $2,000 and 60 Euros. Gheshalghian, of East Ham, denied but was convicted by a jury of five counts of money laundering and facilitating illegal immigration. Michael Oatley, Unit Head for the CPS, said: 'Asghar Gheshlaghian knowingly ran an unregulated money service business to help criminal gangs smuggle people into the UK illegally. 'People smugglers treat vulnerable migrants desperate for a better life as goods, often putting their safety and even lives at risk for profit. Through his money laundering service, Gheshlaghian helped fund and facilitate dangerous criminals who exploited migrants and undermined UK border security for his own financial benefit. 'This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, alongside law enforcement, will work tirelessly to help dismantle these criminal networks trying to facilitate illegal immigration.' Read the full article on Motorious This is a 2004 U.S. Marine Corps M1123 Heavy Variant Humvee vin # 210692 With on road title. 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For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The desperate search continues for a missing beloved father as his frantic daughter issued a harrowing plea. Trevor McGillvray, 65, hasn't been seen by his loved ones since leaving his Landsdale home in Perth's north on Monday. His Kia Sportage SUV was last seen in the Coogee area around 1.15pm before police launched a public appeal regarding his whereabouts hours later. His family and police hold grave concerns for Mr McGillvray, who left home without his phone, wallet and important medication. His daughter Katie has revealed that he was recently diagnosed with kidney and renal failure. Perth father Trevor McGillvray, 65, has been heard of since he left his home on Monday Police have shared CCTV of Trevor McGillvray's last known movements on Monday afternoon 'I want him to know he doesn't have to go home to Landsdale, he can make contact with me, his son Simon, his sister Barbie and his brother Dave,' Ms McGillivray told Perth Now. 'He needs to know my brother, aunty and uncle are here for him and he has choices.' Police launched an public appeal for information on Monday night after concerns about his welfare were raised. 'Dad we just want you to know you are not alone and we love you,' Ms McGillvray pleaded. We just want you to make contact with us so that we can make sure you are ok and get you back with us, your family.' Mr McGillivray is described as fair-skinned, a medium build and has grey hair. He's understood to be driving a blue Kia Sportage SUV, registration 1GHX 834. Anyone who spots Mr McGillvray or his vehicle is urged to call police on 131 444. His car was last seen driving in Coogee, Perth on Monday afternoon. Police are appealing for people to be on the look out for the blue KIA Sportage with the plates 1GHX 834 Katie McGillvray has pleaded for her dad (pictured) to come home A Royal Navy sailor who smacked a female colleague's bottom four times as he chased her at an airbase and grabbed another woman's breast has been locked up. Leading Hand Ben Lynch, 33, slapped the female sailor's rear end four times while running after her at an HMS Seahawk which is an airbase in Cornwall. LH Lynch also grabbed another female sailor's breasts at a Navy bar and 'smirked' after he molested his third female colleague. The sailor was convicted of sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration and one count of disgraceful conduct towards his three victims. LH Lynch was locked up for two years for his 'very serious' behaviour and was also dismissed from the Navy. Leading Hand Ben Lynch outside Bulford Military Court Centre LH Lynch was locked up for two years and dismissed from the Navy for his 'very serious' behaviour Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire heard the incidents happened at RNAS Culdrose, a Royal Navy airbase in Cornwall, which is also known as HMS Seahawk. LH Lynch was described as being 'loud' and 'inappropriate' when he has had a drink and described by one victim as a 'joker'. It was heard a female colleague reported LH Lynch after he sexually assaulted her while two other female sailors made complaints that he had acted inappropriately towards them as well. One of his female colleagues said she was sexually assaulted at a bar. She said: 'He came up behind me and grabbed me from behind on my breasts, both of them. It was sore.' In another incident, Prosecutor Colonel Jim Carmichael said LH Lynch chased a sailor up the stairs, smacking her bottom four times, and only stopping when she reached her room. LH Lynch penetrated a third colleague's vagina with his fingers. The colleague said he banged on her door late at night after they had been drinking at a bar and she initially told him to 'f*** off' but eventually let him in and chatted. In her police interview, the sailor had said she started talking about going to see a male that she was seeing in an attempt to encourage LH Lynch to leave. However, he became 'really sexual' and started asking questions about their sex life. 'I can't remember exactly how it happened but he put his fingers in my vagina and I quickly pushed him off me', she said. Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire heard the incidents happened at RNAS Culdrose, a Royal Navy airbase in Cornwall, which is also known as HMS Seahawk She added: 'I felt very vulnerable and very uncomfortable.' The sailor broke down in tears as she told the panel: 'I've tried to get rid of it [from my mind], to be honest.' In her victim personal statement, she said: 'I am still very emotional and depressed. 'Before the incident I was very independent and didn't need anyone around me like I do now. 'I cry most nights to myself and I always have to check the door is locked. I now have trouble sleeping. I am unsure whether I feel safe in the Royal Navy.' In mitigation, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Gorst said LH Lynch now accepted these were 'very serious' offences and had cut down his alcohol consumption to 'effectively zero' as a result. 'It is clear that he struggles to express himself appropriately in social environments,' he said. 'A coping mechanism of drinking too much alcohol at this time in his life. These offences were very serious, severe mistakes.' LH Lynch had also been accused of lifting up his colleague's top while she was on FaceTime with her aunt and then exclaiming 'oh, boobies', however he was cleared of disgraceful conduct in relation to the alleged incident. Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England sentenced LH Lynch to two years in military detention. He was also dismissed from the Royal Navy, ordered to pay 3,300 service compensation order and made subject of the sex offence register. A North Carolina school teacher, who allegedly dragged a special needs student down a hallway, screamed foul-mouthed abuse at journalists who showed up at her home. Lori Holland, 54, is accused of hitting and dragging the disabled child on January 30 at Carver Elementary School in Wendell. She screamed at reporters asking for her side of the story: 'I didn't do a f***ing thing!' An arrest warrant from the Wake County Sheriff's Office said the child was under the age of 16. Holland is charged with misdemeanor child abuse and assaulting an individual with a disability. She was arrested at her home on Friday - and she's currently out on bond. Holland is scheduled to be in court on March 18. Lori Holland, 54, is accused of hitting and dragging the disabled child on January 30 at Carver Elementary School in Wendell She screamed at journalists asking for her side of the story: 'I didn't do a f***ing thing!' The school's principal Wenitra Merritt said in a statement to parents: 'The charged conduct is related to an incident that occurred on our campus with one of our students. 'I want to assure you that we take the safety of our students and staff members very seriously. While privacy laws prevent me from providing much additional information about the situation, I can share that Ms. Holland is suspended.' The teacher has denied any wrongdoing - and has said that she was actually trying to help the child back up after he fell to the ground. She told WRAL: 'Even the teacher's assistant that was walking behind me said I didn't hurt him. I would never hit the child. Holland is charged with misdemeanor child abuse and assaulting an individual with a disability The teacher has denied any wrongdoing - and has said that she was actually trying to help the child back up after he fell to the ground. Pictured: Carver Elementary School 'That's why I became a special ed teacher to protect these children from teachers that actually abuse them.' Holland said the male student was walking slow, so took his hand and started walking down the hall with her before throwing himself on the floor - which he is 'known to do,' she said. She said she believes that a parent called the school and reported the incident. According to CBS 17 crews who went to interview her, Holland started screaming profanities to them after they went across the street. A stark difference in tone from her earlier interview with WRAL explaining her side of the incident. Standing on her porch, she screamed at the journalists: 'I didn't do a f***ing thing!' When they ask if she would like to talk to them, she bellows: 'No!' Holland was hired by the school district in 2012 and is currently suspended with pay. In North Carolina, it is the school board who can fire a teacher. A south Florida woman has vanished in Spain after a man in a helmet was seen blacking out the security cameras where she was staying with spray paint, according to her brother. Ana Knezevich, 40, had been going through a 'tough' divorce when she went missing in Madrid on February 5, when she failed to meet a friend in Barcelona as planned, her brother Felipe Henao told NewsNation's CUOMO. Her family became concerned after they started receiving text messages in Spanish from Ana's phone that did not sound like they were written by the Colombia native. 'That message in Spanish, it is like its translated from Google. It's not her. She doesn't say those things. Like nobody in Spanish will say it like that,' Henao said. The messages sent from Ana's phone claimed she met someone who has a house two hours from Madrid and she was going there with him for a few days. Ana Knezevich had been going through a 'tough' divorce when she went missing in Madrid on February 5 Her family says they found that a man in a helmet had spray painted over the surveillance cameras the night before Ana went missing The security camera seen after it was reportedly spray painted The texts added that there was no phone service where she was going and that she'd let her family know when she was back. Ana had reportedly starting traveling to Spain often during her divorce, and flew to Spain from Fort Lauderdale in December. When her family sent someone to check the place where she had been staying, they found that a man in a helmet had spray painted over the surveillance cameras the night before she went missing. Ana's husband David is believed to be in Serbia, where he is originally from, according to her family. NewsNation's Brian Entin reported that neighbors of Ana and her husband in Fort Lauderdale said David spent a lot of time paying attention to the security cameras in their home. The messages sent from Ana's phone claimed she met someone who has a house two hours from Madrid and she was going there with him for a few days. Her brother said they read like they were written by Google translate Ana had reportedly starting traveling to Spain often during her divorce, and flew to Spain from Fort Lauderdale in December Ana's husband David is believed to be in Serbia, where he is originally from Henao said he is also concerned that authorities in Madrid are not equipped to deal with Ana's case. 'I've heard from the police in Spain. I know they're working really hard. I just don't know if they have all the tools they need,' the concerned brother told Chis Cuomo. 'I found out they haven't even have a detective that speaks in English and that that makes it really tough. And I find that ridiculous. 'I wish there was more collaboration between the US and the Spanish law enforcement. This is an American citizen that is missing abroad. And I just want my sister back.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the State Department for comment on this story. Tributes have poured in for a beloved high school teacher and military veteran who suffered a sudden fatal 'medical emergency' at his school. Ryan Mott, 48, was remembered as a devoted educator who spent decades after his military career helping his students at Hinsdale High School in Illinois. It is unclear what caused Mott's unexpected death, with school officials saying his medical emergency came at the start of the day at 7:40am Monday. In a statement from the school, he was described as a 'quiet soul' who was 'a powerhouse in the classroom.' Ryan Mott, 48, was remembered as a devoted educator who spent decades after his military career helping his students at Hinsdale High School in Illinois Kimberley Peirce, the mother of one of Mott's students, recalled how the teacher became a role model for her son, and he was 'always there for us' Mott (seen in his school picture) suffered a sudden 'medical emergency' at 7:40am Monday. His cause of death has not been released 'He will be sorely missed by his current students, former students, and his colleagues,' the statement read. Following his medical emergency early in the morning, he was rushed to Hinsdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials are yet to establish a cause of death. Mott taught in the Science and Special Education Department for over 20 years, with the mother of one of his students telling Fox32 his selflessness shone through as he was a role model for her son. 'We had a very difficult year last year. And Mr. Mott was always there for us,' said mother Kimberley Peirce. 'He helped Zach through the summer with his schoolwork. He came to our house, helped him because he was struggling, you know, in a few subjects. 'He had a fun sense of humor. He didn't let Zach slide or, you know, get away with anything. He was good at keeping you in check.' Following the news of Mott's sudden death, students were dismissed early and offered counseling to process the sad news. A Super Bowl ad by vacation rental company VRBO has ruffled the feathers of some rural Canadians, who saw the spot as condescending and making a mockery of their country life. The 30-second ad, which was released in late January, but gained significantly more traction when it played during Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII, shows a group of non-VRBO users arriving at a rental property on what appears to be a farm. The group sees dogs, pigs, roosters and goats occupying the property, as well as their living quarters. As they realize the extent of the issue, the iconic Newfoundland folk song 'I'se the b'y' plays. The ad then cuts to a group of people at a VRBO rental and the narrator says, 'Meanwhile, at a VRBO. When other vacation rentals aren't what they're cracked up to be, try one where you'll know what you get.' Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Steve Crocker, asked the company in a statement on Monday to remove the ad from their online platforms and yank it from the airwaves. The 30-second ad, which was released in late January, but gained significantly more traction when it played during Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII, shows a group of non-VRBO users arriving at a rental property on what appears to be a farm The group finds their rural living accommodations are filled with farm animals 'I'se the B'y is synonymous with our province and culture,' said Crocker. 'As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we take strong exception to Vrbo using the song in this derogatory manner.' Crocker said his department has received a significant number of complaints about the commercial, and that the figure has shot up considerably since Sunday's game. A spokesperson for VRBO defended the commercial, saying that it 'pokes fun at our competition, not anyone in Newfoundland.' The company did not further elaborate on its folksy choice. The song, according to CTV News, is older than records in Newfoundland. Its precise origin is unclear, but has been recorded by several popular artists and is something children in the province are taught during grade school. Newfoundland Senator David Wells posted on X that he concurred with the sentiment that VRBO mocked the province's traditional song. In a statement to the National Post he said, 'I was surprised a Newfoundland and Labrador folk song that has cultural significance about hardworking people in the fishing industry was used in a condescending context. 'Am I outraged? No, but VRBO should know better.' Newfoundland enthusiast Ryan Barrett took a similar stance, posting on X: 'Do you think the creative geniuses behind the vrbo commercial even know where Newfoundland is?' A spokesperson for VRBO defended the commercial , saying that it 'pokes fun at our competition, not anyone in Newfoundland' A large pig lies in the bed of a vacation renter who walked into a far different situation than he was promised in the commercial Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Steve Crocker, asked the company in a statement on Monday to remove the ad from their online platforms and yank it from the airwaves. I just watched a derogatory @vrbo commercial mock a traditional NL song. I'se the B'y should not be used to represent deceptive marketing. I have stayed at my last VRBO!! Mark Dobbin (@MarkDobbin) February 12, 2024 But some Newfoundlanders took a harsher stance, pledging to boycott VRBO moving forward. 'I have stayed at my last VRBO!!' wrote Mark Dobbin on X. 'Theyve taken what isnt theirs and terribly misused it,' wrote Mark Howlett. Kristina Ennis, who spoke with CTV News, felt passionately that the use of the song was meant as an insult to rural life. 'People live in rural settings all over the world, and there is an immense amount of value in living that type of lifestyle. I think the commercial really demeans that,' she said. 'Im really passionate about where Im from. The stereotype thats perpetuated about Newfoundland and Labrador a lot of the time, I dont like it, Im going to speak up about it.' Sources say police have identified a male suspect and expect to make an arrest in the coming days Detectives believe Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was a sex worker who was seen on Roosevelt Ave in Queens days before her death, sources tell DailyMail.com The mother who was found strangled and beaten to death next to a bloody iron in a New York City hotel room was believed to be prostitute and had been seen days earlier in a neighborhood known for sex work, DailyMail.com can reveal. The lifeless body of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was discovered by staff in a room on the 11th floor of the SoHo 54 Hotel around 10:30am last Thursday. A spokesman for the city medical examiner on Monday confirmed she died of compression to her neck and blunt head trauma and her death has been ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing, however, DailyMail.com can reveal detectives believe Oleas-Arancibia was a sex worker and a male suspect has been identified in the case. According to sources, Oleas-Arancibia was seen days before her death on the streets of Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, a known area for prostitution that is even being referred to as New York City's new 'red light district'. Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was found dead in a room at SoHo 45 Hotel on Thursday morning DailyMail.com can reveal that detectives believe Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was a sex worker who had been seen on Roosevelt Ave in Queens days before her death Her death has formally been ruled a homicide (pictured: interior of the room where Oleas-Arancibia was found) Oleas-Arancibia died of compression to her neck and blunt head trauma, according to a spokesperson for the city medical examiner The busy street located in the Corona neighborhood has become overrun with Venezuelan migrants offering sex services in the open-air, so-called 'Market of Sweethearts,' amid the ongoing migrant crisis, city officials confirmed last year. Previously, the Bronx was home to the Big Apple's highest concentration of sex workers for hire. Sources tell DailyMail.com police have identified a male suspect and that an arrest in expected in coming days. A spokeswoman for the city medical examine on Monday released details of the autopsy and said Oleas-Arancibia was unconscious and unresponsive when authorities arrived on scene. She sustained significant head trauma and was pronounced dead by EMS. A bloody iron was found near her body. However, there were no signs of forced entry, authorities said. ABC 7 reported that a pair of bloody pants with a receipt in them were also recovered from the hotel room. The woman's son, 18-year-old Edwin Cevallos, spoke to his mother one day before her death. Roosevelt Avenue, located in the Corona neighborhood of Queens has become New York City's new 'red light district', due to the prostitutions being fueled by the migrant crisis, mayor Eric Adams said last year. Pictured: General views of women on Roosevelt Ave Sex workers have been seen walking the streets during the day, with many aggressively soliciting even as children get out of school or during their lunch hour Oleas-Arancibia (pictured left) came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family including one of her sons Cevallos had been living with Oleas-Arancibia and her nephew in an apartment in Queens. But he said he saw changes in her demeanor a week before the tragedy. 'She was so nervous and she was worried,' Cevallos told the Daily News. The teen said he was 'in shock,' adding: 'Everything here in New York reminds me of her. Everything.' The Ecuadorian native came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family including one of her other sons. 'My mom, she worked very hard,' said Cevallos, who joined her in the country two years ago. While the teen conceded that he didn't know his mother's occupation, he said she was 'always working for us to give us the best life in this country.' The 18-year-old was waiting to meet her Thursday morning and phoned the police when he still didn't see her at 1 pm. Cevallos described his mother as 'a very good person' who was 'always helping people' and 'never hurt anybody.' 'She was always paying for everything. She never owed money to anybody. She was always looking to help them move forward,' the teen said. The 38-year-old mother was unresponsive and unconscious when authorities arrived on scene. She was pronounced dead by EMS A bloody iron was found lying by her body. Police also recovered a pair of bloody pants with a receipt in them from the hotel room SoHo 45, formerly known as the Hampton Inn, advertises rooms for around $110 a night on its website He explained that his mother had worked tirelessly to achieve the American Dream and provide a better life for her children. 'She gave us the life that we always wanted,' Cevallos said. The last time he saw her was Wednesday morning, when she cooked him breakfast and paid a barber for his haircut. Oleas-Arancibia told her son that she loved him as he left for school that day. 'She was always happy and having fun,' Cevallos said. 'I can't believe this happened.' Detectives filed into the Manhattan hotel Thursday morning, startling guests who were staying there for New York Fashion Week. SoHo 45, formerly known as the Hampton Inn, advertises rooms for around $110 a night on its website. The hotel did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. A driverless Waymo Jaguar taxi was torched with fireworks by a mob of Chinese New Year revelers in San Francisco. The car became 'confused' as the fireworks stopped it dead in the road while the group of celebrators rallied around and destroyed the vehicle on Saturday around 9pm. Police said the car was set ablaze by a mob and nobody was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident on Jackson Street in Chinatown. Edwin Carungay, who came to town for the festivities, told ABC7: 'They were putting out some rage for really no reason at all. They just wanted to vandalize something, and they did.' There were dozens of people involved in the mayhem and multiple videos captured the bizarre moment. The San Francisco Police Department have not made any arrests yet and is still investigating, according to ABC7. The Waymo taxi is seen stopped in the middle of Jackson Street as a mob of people vandalized the vehicle and set it on fire with a firework in San Francisco's Chinatown on Saturday night A herd of people are seen gathered around the bizarre scene as they celebrated the Chinese New Year as they recorded the moment on their phones As the car drove through the busy crowd, Anirudh Koul, a witness at the scene, told KRON4 that the Waymo taxi 'got stuck immediately in front.' Waymo, which was formally known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, started in 2009 and operates in Phoenix and San Francisco, with plans to expand to Los Angeles and Texas. Waymo taxis are all-electric Jaguar-IPACE's that are operated by their fifth-generation Waymo driver, or a programmed driver that is located in the hardware and software of each vehicle. Similar to rideshares, the autonomous car can be ordered on their app, but in the Metro Phoenix area, rides come right away, while in San Francisco, a rider is notified when a vehicle is available. The white car was seen stuck in the middle of the road as a mob of people crowded around it. One video clip showed a rebellious person who hopped on the hood of the car as he jumped up, smashed the windshield, and landed back on the ground. After that, another participant took his skateboard, slammed it into the car and added more cracks in the windshield. Graffiti was also drawn on the vehicle by people in the crowd. A man repeatedly took his skateboard to the front windshield (left) after another man hopped on the hood of the car and jumped on the glass Firefighters are seen putting out the massive blaze that consumed the driverless car. There were no passengers inside the vehicle at the time of the incident It was then set on fire as another witness, Nathan Vandersteen, said that one person 'threw a firework inside the car.' 'Eventually people backed away. It was dangerous. The car could have exploded,' Vandersteen said. He added the rowdy crowd had a 'mob mentality' and that 'young teenagers' were 'responsible for damage and vandalism.' Firefighters soon responded to the car fire and managed to put out the flames. Aaron Peskin, a San Francisco Supervisor, told ABC7: 'It's totally unacceptable, particularly horrific they did it during Chinatown's most important day of the year, totally disrespectful.' The driverless car company confirmed in a statement that there were no passengers inside at the time of the incident and that they are 'working closely with local safety officials to respond to the situation.' The car is seen with dripping black graffiti on its trunk and large, orange flames breaking through the windows. Police are investigating but no arrests have been made yet The car was set on fire by a firework that somebody threw inside after it was vandalized. Fireworks are seen in the sky on Jackson Street in Chinatown- where the incident happened Peskin revealed that police are working on collecting video footage from the scene to use as evidence. 'They've got good leads. I'm hopeful, if not confident, that arrests will be made,' Peskin said. The police have urged anyone with information about the event or knowledge of those involved to contact them. In a press release, London Breed, the Mayor of the Bay Area said the incident was 'a dangerous and destructive act of vandalism.' 'Chinatown is one of the densest neighborhoods in San Francisco, and any fire could explode and spread among tightly-packed buildings to endanger lives, home and businesses,' Breed said. 'It was an unacceptable act that has no place in our city, and we will work to hold those who committed it accountable.' Denver's hospitals are at risk of collapsing due to out-of-control immigration, with one healthcare system providing $17 million in free care in just three months. It comes as the Colorado city's Mayor Mike Johnston warns he's had to cut DMV and Parks & Rec funding 'in the face of the migrant crisis'. Struggling UCHealth was given $17 million from other hospitals, including $10 million from University Colorado Hospital, to help care for 5,800 undocumented patients between November and January, according to the Denver Post. Medics believe these patients are mostly - if not entirely - migrants, because the data covers people who don't have a Social Security number or health insurance and were seeking healthcare in the US for the first time. And this figure is only the tip of the iceberg. It excludes migrants who had sought care from the system before or those who qualified for emergency Medicaid, which covers undocumented patients in labor or with some life-threatening conditions. Denver's hospitals are at risk of collapsing due to out-of-control immigration, with one healthcare system providing $17 million in free care in just three months. (Pictured: Migrants rest at a makeshift shelter in Denver, Jan. 6, 2023) A migrant looks through donated clothes at a makeshift shelter in Denver, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 Donated shoes are organized at a makeshift shelter in Denver, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 UCHealth's chief innovation officer Dr Richard Zane told the Post that health workers want to help, but 'it's not sustainable' to keep handing out free care. 'It's a societal responsibility; it's not just a hospital responsibility,' he said. Migrants often come to the US suffering with chronic conditions which they were unable to treat on their journey to North America, and trauma from being trafficked or abused in their home countries, Dr Zane said. Many are also in need of the basic care they never had access to at home, such as routine vaccinations or medicine for young children and new mothers. On top of this, thousands of migrants end up homeless and suffer with the ailments that come along with this like malnutrition and illness exacerbated by a lack of access to hygiene products. Dr Zane said UCHealth has responded by bringing in additional social workers and emergency medics, but getting people housed and insured is a responsibility for the local and federal governments. The city's main public hospital, Denver Health, has already plunged deep into the red after patients received $136 million in treatment they couldn't pay for, bosses warned. Denver Health lost $2 million in 2022 - but that was substantially-reduced by a $20 million cash injection from the state. In 2022, the hospital system lost $35 million, with bosses warning of 'dire consequences' for the hospital if 2024 is as bad as the previous two. Mayor Johnston admitted his administration has also been forced to cut back on public services earlier this month. 'I'm proud of what our city has done in the face of the migrant crisis, but without federal aid, we're facing tough choicesstarting with cuts to DMV and Parks & Rec,' Johnston wrote Friday on X. 'More conversations ahead as we navigate this challenge, but we'll push through. Denver is bigger than this moment.' It comes as the Colorado city's Mayor Mike Johnston warns he's had to cut DMV and Parks & Rec funding 'in the face of the migrant crisis'. (Pictured: Johnston with Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) holding a conference about the crisis on Jan 18) Mayor Johnston admitted his administration has also been forced to cut back on public services earlier this month The rise in costs has coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants who crossed America's border and arrived in Denver Johnston announced the introduction of a 'micro homes' community as a temporary solution to the crisis in October Struggling UCHealth was given $17 million from other hospitals to help care for migrants from Nov to Jan. The city's main public hospital, Denver Health (pictured) has already plunged deep into the red after patients received $136 million in treatment they couldn't pay for The rise in costs has coincided with the unprecedented number of immigrants who crossed America's border and arrived in Denver. Around 36,000 have arrived so far - many of them bused from Texas - with 18,000 deciding to stay. Most are Venezuelans fleeing a humanitarian crisis, according to the city of Denver. As of January, 4,400 migrants were in Denver-run shelters across the city. Johnston announced the introduction of a 'micro homes' community as a temporary solution to the crisis in October. The residences - comprised of the increasingly popular pallet shelters now being used as 'tiny homes' - cost between $13,900 and $18,900 to construct, with each being assembled in under an hour, Johnson said. Attempts to take control of the situation by the federal government have so far been unsuccessful, as the long-awaited bipartisan security deal aimed at regaining control of the Southern Border collapsed. The deal caved in after all but four Republicans voted against it. Critics such as Donald Trump had said the legislation was not aggressive enough to curb illegal immigration, and Democrats in turn accused conservatives of killing it for political purposes. Meanwhile, the crisis at the US southern border shows no sign of abating. More than 302,000 migrants crossed the U.S. southern border in December - a record total for any single month and the first time the number has topped 300,000. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, federal agents encountered roughly 2.5 million migrants at the southern border overall in 2023. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer broke cover to defend his handling of the row over the party's candidate for the Rochdale by-election making anti-Semitic comments about Gaza war. Sir Keir this afternoon faced the cameras for the first time since Azhar Ali was revealed to have claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. Party factions were at war today over the belated decision to cut ties with Mr Ali, with left-wingers claiming he was given preferential treatment. Sir Keir Starmer's top team finally withdrew backing from Azhar Ali last night, more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. Sir Keir's team had rallied behind the councillor claiming he had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Wellingborough on Tuesday, the Labour leader denied that factionalism played a role, saying it makes 'no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party'. 'Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action,' he said. 'It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. 'It's a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.' Meanwhile bookie William Hill has now made George Galloway the favourite to win what was a safe Labour seat in the vote on February 29. Sir Keir this afternoon faced the cameras for the first time since Azhar Ali was revealed to have claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas 's October 7 massacre. Sir Keir Starmer's top team finally withdrew backing from Azhar Ali more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas 's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism 'all their lives' in a letter to the Observer last year. The deadline to remove Mr Ali from the ballot paper has passed, leading to the highly unusual situation where Labour cannot replace him as the party's candidate. He will remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate, but if he wins, he would sit in the Commons as an independent MP without the whip. Today a top lawyer who investigated anti-Semitism in the party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership said its handling of the row was 'shambolic'. Martin Forde KC told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme MPs were were questioning why Mr Ali was given time when other more leftwing backbenchers accused of anti-Semitism were not. 'If you want a fair and transparent system then it has to deal with people consistently,' he said. 'I'm aware from discussions with some of the MPs within the party - who might be described as left-leaning - that they feel that when it comes to disciplinary action taken against them then things move rather slowly, but if you're in the right faction of the party, as it were, then things are dealt with either more leniently or more swiftly.' The party recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day, for which she later apologised. Veteran MP Diane Abbott also had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism 'all their lives' in a letter to the Observer last year. Meanwhile local Tory MPs have written to Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds demanding to know if any senior figures were at the October 31 meeting where the comments were made. Local Tory MPs have written to Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds demanding to know if any senior figures were at the October 31 meeting where the comments were made. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Mr Ali's campaign Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. The group, which includes former ministers Ben Wallace and Jake Berry, wrote: 'Engaging in such conspiracy theories is clearly dangerous. Not only does it speak to Mr Ali's unsuitability for public office, but it also reduces the scope for legitimate criticism of Israel based in fact. 'That these comments were made in private but not publicly raises the possibility that Labour candidates are not being honest with the public about their views, towing the party line for political patronage but saying the opposite when it suits them.' It came as Labour activists consider a desperate move to support Reform in the upcoming Rochdale by-election to stop George Galloway winning. Members have discussed backing Reform's Simon Danczuk, who was previously a Labour MP in the town, after being ordered to stop supporting Mr Ali. Mr Galloway, who is also a former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, is making his latest attempt to win a Westminster seat at a by-election. A strident critic of Israel and the West he has previously won in historically Labour areas with sizeable Muslim populations, including Bradford West and Bethnal Green and Bow in east London. Last night local Labour activists told the Guardian: 'Simon may be the best way of keeping [George Galloway] out. It's the devil and the deep blue sea.' Labour's former director of policy has said the party's handling of Azhar Ali's alleged anti-Semitic comments 'revealed a double standard'. Andrew Fisher's comments came after former MP Dame Louise Ellman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I was very shocked when I read about and heard Azhar Ali's comments, and I was very shocked because they were really at odds with my experience of him over a period of 20 years, where he consistently spoke out against extremism, against antisemitism. 'When I looked at his apology I could see that it was a proper apology, (he) apologised for what he said, not apologising for the words, or (like) some people say, for any offence caused.' Mr Fisher, former director of policy under Jeremy Corbyn, responded on Today: '(The treatment of Mr Ali) revealed a double standard. I think you've heard that from Louise Ellman just now, she very openly said I worked with him, he was an ally of mine, we gave him the benefit of the doubt. 'That doesn't apply to people who are on the left, ever, and that's the double standard. 'These disciplinary processes are used for factional reasons within the Labour Party and that results in people like Azhar Ali being given the benefit of the doubt, being backed up by shadow cabinet ministers on the radio. Shadow cabinet ministers still going out campaigning for him on Sunday.' Meanwhile, senior Labour frontbenchers today refused to face the media to answer questions about the saga. Housing minister Lee Rowley accused Labour of 'going to ground' after no shadow minister appeared on Tuesday's morning media round. Mr Rowley told Sky News: 'I mean, where is Labour? Where's Labour today? Talking to people like yourselves, they're not doing it. They're going to ground.' It was put to Mr Rowley that he was on 'dodgy ground' accusing another party of going to ground when the Government is 'not always around', to which he replied: 'That is a party which has not changed. It's a party which will say anything to win government, and I hope people are watching. 'They've got no plan and they're getting themselves into a real mess over things like this.' Late last night Labour confirmed it had withdrawn support for the Rochdale by-election candidate 'following new information'. The Mail had obtained a full audio tape of his comments during a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party shortly after the October 7 attacks. As well as having told the meeting that Israel allowed the massacre to happen so it could wage war on Gaza, Mr Ali apparently also: Blamed 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian Labour MP; Said Israel planned to 'get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza' and 'grab' some of the land; Boasted about preventing Israeli flags being flown from local public buildings after the October 7 attacks. The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party. Mr McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough, used the phrase 'between the river and the sea' last year. The slogan has been described as 'a staple of anti-Semitic discourse'. But in the recording, Mr Ali said Mr McDonald 'shouldn't have been suspended' before adding: 'The media and some of the people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about what he said.' The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism includes making 'stereotypical allegations about Jews' such as 'Jews controlling the media'. Mr Ali's comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza. He later admitted his comments were 'inexcusable' and apologised after being confronted by The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the story. At the meeting, he also said: 'Israel has that plan, which is to get rid of [the Palestinians] from Gaza, push them out... 'And then they've got Gaza to themselves, and you know, they'll say because the security risks to Israel and the Jewish state, you know, we can't come back. So we've actually said that, in our letter, (this) is about a land grab.' Mr Ali's (left) comments were made at the same meeting in which he said Israel effectively sanctioned the Hamas atrocity against its own people to get the 'green light' to invade Gaza The new disclosures ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to disown the wannabe MP. In the recording, Mr Ali appeared to blame the media for the suspension of Andy McDonald (pictured) from the Labour Party Last night Rishi Sunak (pictured) accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do' READ MORE: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Time for Labour to put principles before polls Advertisement Last night Rishi Sunak accused Labour of having only dropped Mr Ali 'under media pressure, not because it was the right thing to do'. He said Sir Keir's claims to have changed the Labour Party had proven 'simply not true', given that its candidate was caught 'spreading the vilest racist conspiracy theories about Jews'. The Prime Minister said on GB News: 'We've just seen over the last few days Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year telling everybody Labour's changed look what just happened in Rochdale. 'A candidate saying the most vile, awful anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. And what happened? He stood by him, sent cabinet ministers to support him. 'Until, as apparently five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, he's decided to change his mind. 'That's not principled, that's not principled at all. It's a con.' WASHINGTONA federal district court on Friday sentenced adult performer Sergeant Miles to two years in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building. In addition to the two years in federal prison, he faces a year of supervised release and must pay $2,000 in restitution. AVN reported that Miles participated in the riot as a member of the far-right Proud Boys. LGBTQ Nation reports that Miles, 40, is a military veteran who consistently shared conspiracy theories that the 2020 election, which went in favor of current President Joe Biden, was stolen in a "deep state" strategy to remove former President Donald Trump. Miles pleaded guilty in October 2023 to assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officersall felonies, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. Miles has more than 370 credits in scenes across the straight, bi, trans and gay adult sectors. AVN reported in April 2022 about Miles arrest and indictment. He was caught on camera during the Capitol breach, which led to his being arrested in Florida and arraigned in Washington. This is the heartbreaking moment a sobbing nine-year-old boy handed cops a massive bag of methamphetamine he found under his mom's nightstand. The youngster locked himself in the bathroom inside the family's $430,000 Las Vegas home, in the Nevada community of Inspirada, less than 20 miles away from the Las Vegas strip, and Facetimed his father who then called the police. When officers from the Henderson police department arrived the child tells them, 'I just saw a couple of bags, pulled it out, and then thats when I knew what it was.' Police confirmed that there was more than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of meth in the bag. The incident took place in July 2022, but the police bodycam footage was released for the first time this week. Kendra Long, the child's mom, was arrested on charges of drug trafficking and child abuse. She told the cops that she was not aware of the drugs that were located in her home, and posted $25,000 bail later that day, as per court records, local 8News Now reported. Bodycam footage shows officers from the Henderson Police Department banging on the door of the home. The boy's mother Kendra Long - dressed in a white t-shirt and red shorts - is seen opening the door. The officer tells Long, 'we are here to check on your son' Seconds later the boy wearing a backpack is seen on the video stepping towards the officers and handing them a ziplock bag filled with white powder' Pictured: Kendra Long was taken into custody on charges of drug trafficking and child abuse Long's mugshot after she was arrested by the Henderson police in July 2022 Footage shows officers from the Henderson Police Department banging on the door of the home. Long - dressed in a white t-shirt and red shorts - is seen opening the door. The officer tells Long, 'we are here to check on your son.' Seconds later the boy wearing a backpack is seen on the video stepping towards the officers and handing them a plastic bag filled with white powder. The boy dressed in short and a t-shirt with no shoes on is seen clutching his iPad and appears shaken. The second officer asks, 'Hey, what's going on. I'm Officer Hansen. Are you scared? What's going on man? Do you want to take a seat on the bench?' His mother tells the officer, 'He's had my phone in the bathroom for like an hour.' The boy's mother then tells officers, 'I have no idea what that is.' The officer responds, 'He just handed it to me.' She is then heard saying, 'Ok. I don't know. I don't know.' The officer asks, 'Is this your child?' She responds, 'Yes, he is my baby. He's been in the bathroom for an hour, literally an hour.' The officer holds up the bag and says to Long, 'He was showing Tony this stuff he found in the house.' She responded, 'I don't even know what that is.' The officer said, 'Well, I don't either.' Picutured: Police confirmed that there was more than 100 grams of meth in the bag Long repeated several times that she didn't know what the white powder in the ziplock bag was. Officer Engle told her, 'to me it probably look like methamphetamine, you know' The other officer is seen outside the home trying to console the boy who is sitting on the bench crying. Officer Hansen asked: 'What do you find inside the house that made you scared? The boy said, 'Drugs.' The officer then asked, 'Do you know what drugs look like?' The boy told the officer, 'Yeah,' as he sobbed. The officer told the child to 'take some deep breaths.' He proceeded to the tell the cop: 'I just saw a couple of bags. I was curious. I just pulled it out and that is when I knew what it was.' The officer asked, 'You thought it was drugs like on TV and stuff.' The boy said, 'Yeah.' In the video, officers appear surprised by the amount of meth that was found and after collecting the drugs. Once they re-entered the home, Long was seated on the staircase as they read her rights before. She tried and to dispute what the officers were telling her. 'I can't even understand or fathom the fact this is drugs that is in my house.' At one point, she told the cops she didn't even know what meth was. The officers didn't seem to believe her. Footage shows Long getting cuffed by police. The boy's father is seen on the video picking up his son as the officers tell the youngster that they were proud of him and that he did the right thing. According to Long's Linkedin profile, she specializes in property management and is the owner of a real estate brokerage firm. Prosecutors said Long violated a family court order and broke other rules. Her case was heard in multiple courts including, Henderson Justice Court, Las Vegas Justice Court, and Clark County District Court. She was sentenced to probation which prosecutors said she violated. She was also sent to an in-patient drug treatment program. During the legal proceedings, prosecutors showed text messages that revealed that Long was dealing drugs from her home while her son was present. One of the texts prosecutors showed says, 'Sure I'm home. You want a $100 bag or half.' The boy's parents are divorced and the child is under his father's care. Long's lawyer declined to provide a statement, as per the news outlet. The Palestinian owner of a Somalian mall in Minneapolis has banned the city's Jewish mayor Jacob Frey from the shopping complex for vetoing a ceasefire resolution in Israel. Basim Sabri, the prominent and controversial business owner, informed Mayor Frey over email that he's no longer welcome at Sabri's Karmel Mall, a Minneapolis complex of Somali shops. The email stated the decision was made after the mayor vetoed the resolution which called for a cease-fire and an end to US military aid to Israel. 'I thought you were just a Jew but it appears that you lean toward the other extreme,' Sabri wrote, in an email obtained by the Star Tribune. Despite Sabri mentioning Frey's Jewish identity in the email, he claimed that the ban is a result of the mayor's stance on the resolution rather than his religious affiliation. Basim Sabri (pictured) the Palestinian owner of a Somalian mall in Minneapolis has banned the city's only Jewish elected official, Mayor Jacob Frey from the shopping mall Mayor Jacob Frey (pictured) has expressed support for a ceasefire, but raised concerns over the council's one-sided language Despite Sabri mentioning Frey's Jewish identity in the email, he claimed that the ban is a result of the mayor's stance on the resolution rather than his religious affiliation (Pictured: Sabri's Karmel Mall, a shopping complex with Somali shops and restaurants) 'This letter is to let you know that I am breaking ties with you and that I no longer have any trust or faith in you since many of your actions are contradictory to humanity and to the Somali and immigrant communities,' Sabri wrote. 'Therefore, please consider this a formal notice of trespass from the Karmel malls located at 2910 Pillsbury Ave. S. and 200 W. Lake St.' Sabri laughed when he heard that Frey felt that the banning was an act of anti-Semitism, in an interview with the Star Tribune on Monday. 'I don't have an issue with Jews, but when I say 'the other extreme,' I mean Zionism,' Sabri said to the Star Tribune. 'You know the difference?' When asked whether banning someone for their political views or cultural identity would be appropriate, Sabri told the Star Tribune: 'I'm not a lawyer, but I believe I could tell you that you're not welcome in my house. That's my right.' According to Minneapolis law, Businesses or corporations cannot discriminate against someone because of their race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Sabri, a Palestinian who was raised in the West Bank, has a controversial history and has spent time in federal prison for bribing a city leader in the past. This isn't his first time attempting to ban an election official either. In 2012, Sabri banned then-Council Member Robert Lilligren and an aide during a feud between Sabri and city inspectors. Sabri told the Star Tribune then that he'd rather speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than Lilligren. Frey, the sole Jewish person holding an elected office position in the city, has expressed support for a cease-fire while raising concern over the council's one-sided language. Frey expressed his support for a Palestinian state and condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his veto letter but has called out antisemitism. Sabri, who went to prison for bribery and has banned officials in the past, said the decision was made after the mayor vetoed a ceasefire resolution The council overrode Frey's veto last week. In response, Frey called their decision an example of antisemitism he and other Jews have experienced in recent months since the war broke out Sabri laughed when he heard that Frey felt that the banning was an act of antisemitism, in an interview with the Star Tribune on Monday (Pictured: Karmel malls located at 2910 Pillsbury Ave. S. and 200 W. Lake St.) 'Council Members have given public statements in front of signs reading 'U.S.A. is occupied by Zionists more than Palestine' which is based on a centuries-old trope,' Frey wrote. Many Jews have called out the majority's stance for failing to balance of both Jewish and Palestinian right to seek refuge and live in peace. Sabri disagreed with adding language to respect Israel's heritage, according to the Star Tribune. The council overrode Frey's veto last week. In response, Frey called their decision an example of antisemitism he and other Jews have experienced in recent months since the war broke out. 'Whether that's some form of terror inflicted on my temple, or stickers placed on Jewish goods in the grocery store, or even in an email we received yesterday banning me from a store, are we really at that point right now, where people are getting banned from a store for little more than who they are or a position they hold?' Frey said, in the email obtained by the Star Tribune. 'We've seen this before in America. It's horrid, and it should have no place in our city.' This is the 39-year-old man who has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of the new offence of cyberflashing, MailOnline can reveal. Nicholas Hawkes admitted sending unsolicited, explicit photos to a 15-year-old girl and a woman after appearing in court yesterday. He was already a convicted sex offender after admitting to stripping off in a doctors' surgery and covering his genitals with hand sanitizer last summer. Cyberflashing - sending sexual images via text messages, social media, datings apps or data sharing services such as Bluetooth and Airdrop - became an offence in England and Wales on January 31, having been illegal in Scotland since 2010. Hawkes, from Basildon in Essex, sent unsolicited photos of his private parts to a 15-year-old girl and a woman on 9 February, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. This is Nicholas Hawkes, the 39-year-old man who has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of the new offence of cyberflashing The woman took screenshots of the image - which had been send on WhatsApp - and reported Hawkes to Essex Police later that day. He admitted two counts of sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation, at Southend Magistrates' Court. Arsenal fan Hawkes was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on 11 March. He was already the subject of a three-year community order after two incidents of him stripping naked in public last year. On May 12 Hawkes went to Long Riding Surgery in Basildon and took his shirt off as he entered the building before stripping off completely. He then rubbed hand sanitizer on his genitals and walked around the foyer for five minutes. He left, crossed the road and approached a resident before police were called. Then on July 23, he approached a group of young people in Mopsies Park, Basildon while only wearing his trainers and engaged in a 'sexual conversation' with the victims and 'kissed one girl and hugged another.' Hawkes admitted sending unsolicited, explicit photos to a 15-year-old girl and a woman after appearing in court yesterday The woman took screenshots of the image on WhatsApp and reported Hawkes to Essex Police the same day Hawkes was spared jail for those incidents, blaming the incidents on his PTSD and heavy cocaine use, denying a sexual attraction to children. Huda Musa, mitigating, said: 'Mr Hawkes was the victim of a serious crime that took place in 2017. The incident was a home invasion gone wrong as two individuals gained access to Hawkes home, not expecting him to be there. 'He was kidnapped, bundled in a vehicle, held hostage and at ransom, tortured, stabbed and Tasered for several hours. Mr Hawkes was diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health issues, he has used cocaine to cope and has self harmed.' Following the incidents last year, Hawkes pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of indecent exposure. Judge Ian Graham handed Hawkes a three-year community order with 60 days of rehabilitation activity, 40 sessions of an accredited programme and a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months. Connecticut's Chief Public Defender has been placed on administrative leave following reports she allegedly ordered a subordinate to hack the privileged email accounts from people critical of her. TaShun Bowden-Lewis was placed on paid leave last week after months of disputes with Connecticut's Public Defender Services Commission. Last year the Commission formally reprimanded Bowden-Lewis, accusing her of making unfounded allegations of racial discrimination against her colleagues and of ignoring directives from her superiors, the Connecticut Mirror reported. The union representing public defenders also issued a vote of no confidence in Bowden-Lewis' leadership on Friday. Bowden-Lewis, the first black woman to hold her position, will remain suspended pending an investigation into the allegations. TaShun Bowden-Lewis was placed on paid leave last week after months of disputes with Connecticut's Public Defender Services Commission The union representing public defenders also issued a vote of no confidence in Bowden-Lewis' leadership on Friday 'The commission will complete the investigation as soon as reasonably possible, and, upon the conclusion of the investigation, which may involve allegations in addition to those identified in this letter, the chief public defender will have an opportunity to address the allegations investigated by the commission,' Richard Palmer, chairperson of the commission said in a statement. According to documents seen by the Connecticut Mirror the Commission is acting on allegations that Bowden-Lewis accessed the state email accounts of two senior division attorneys 'without a legitimate basis for doing so and in retaliation against those two attorneys for criticizing you, disagreeing with you, and/or cooperating with the commission.' The two attorneys were Deborah Del Prete Sullivan, the agency's legal counsel, and Joseph Lopez, the division's director of complex litigation. It was also alleged that Bowden-Lewis placed a division employee on paid administrative leave for 'no valid reason' and issued a letter of reprimand to another employee for 'no valid reason and in retaliation against that employee for disagreeing with you and cooperating with the Commission.' Prior to the initial letter of reprimand last year most members of the commission that appointed Bowden-Lewis had resigned. Employees within her division allegedly blamed Bowden-Lewis for a toxic work environment and inadequate responses to the needs of those in the courtroom. At public meetings, other lawyers questioned both her credibility and integrity. 'While we have made concerted efforts over the past year to work with the Chief, the perpetual state of controversy and dysfunction at the highest levels has been an unwelcome distraction in serving the interests of our clients,' the public defenders union said on Friday. 'It has harmed the public's trust in the Division and contributed to low morale among employees. 'We approve the Commission's decision tonight of placing Attorney Bowden-Lewis on administrative leave,' the statement said. Adding: 'We urge the Commission to provide Attorney Bowden-Lewis with the appropriate due process protections that all public defenders champion every day and, if there is just cause, remove her from her position as Chief so that the Division can refocus its efforts on our mission to provide the best possible legal defense to the people of Connecticut.' Deputy chief public defender John Day will assume the role of chief pending the investigation. A masked knifeman who battered a recovering drug addict as his horrified mother watched on has been jailed. Michael Higgins, 34, stormed into the home of Jordan Laird, 26, on October 18, 2023 in a robbery attempt that left Mr Laird with 'significant' swelling and bruising to the left cheek and a three inch long cut on his face. Stirling Sheriff Court heard that because of concerns for Mr Laird, his mother Margo, 65, had installed the camera, which she could access via her phone, in his flat at The Brae, Bannockburn. Prosecutor James Moncrieff said Mrs Laird was in Dundee when she heard on the app that her son's door was being kicked before watching Higgins beat her son as he screamed in pain. Higgins, of Stirling, appeared by video link from Low Moss Prison and pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault to injury, and using threatening and abusive behaviour to police. He was jailed for 28 months. Michael Higgins (pictured), 34, battered recovering drug addict Jordan Laird, 26, as his horrified mother watched on Higgins, of Stirling, appeared by video link at Stirling Sheriff Court (pictured) where he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault to injury, and using threatening and abusive behaviour to police and was jailed During the horrific ordeal Mrs Laird heard her son's door being kicked before he later shouted 'stop, I'll open the door'. She then saw Higgins, whom she recognised when he later spoke, walk into the hallway with his hood up, wearing a black balaclava, and carrying a 'large' kitchen knife. Mr Moncrieff said: 'Over the next few minutes she heard sounds of her son being hit and him screaming in pain. She heard the accused shouting at Jordan Laird, telling him to give him everything he had.' Mr Moncrieff, the depute fiscal, said Mrs Laird was aware that her son - a recovering drug addict with a 'chaotic' lifestyle - only had 20 to last him until his next pay day. She continued to hear her son screaming in pain, causing her 'a great deal of distress', the court heard. She shouted to Higgins over the Ring app telling him to get away, and that the police were coming. She then saw Higgins hit Mr Laird twice more to the face while still holding the knife, before fleeing. Mr Moncrieff said: 'Jordan Laird was screaming he couldn't move his legs.' As Mrs Laird watched, he then stood up, and she saw his face was bloody and swollen. When police arrived he was found to have 'significant' swelling and bruising to the left cheek, and a three inch long scratch on his face. He did not have any fractures. HMP Low Moss near Bishopbriggs where Higgins was being held when he appeared at the trial via video link Higgins was traced two days later after police received information that he was in a common close at The Firs, Bannockburn. Firearms-trained officers were sent to the scene, and Higgins threw a television at them from the top of the stairs, 'narrowly missing them by inches'. He had to be Tasered twice before he was able to be handcuffed and arrested. Higgins, of Stirling, who appeared by video link from Low Moss Prison, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault to injury, and using threatening and abusive behaviour to police. Solicitor Ken Dalling said the incidents came at the end of 'two weeks of madness on magic mushrooms'. Sheriff Keith O'Mahony jailed Higgins for 28 months. He said: 'There is no alternative to a custodial sentence.' The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled in favour of a British woman who took Greek police and prosecutors to court for failing to properly investigate her rape claims. The victim, known only as Ms. X, was allegedly raped by a bartender while she was on holiday with her mum in the seaside town of Parga, on the west of Greece's mainland, in September 2019. The woman, who was 18 at the time and is from West Yorkshire, reported the attack to police, but was not told anything about the investigation. She saw her alleged attacker in hospital when she was examined by a male doctor who examined her, took blood samples from her and noted bruising to her legs, thighs and genitals. The ECHR, which ruled on the matter today, found that police had made no effort to keep the accused man away from her. The victim, known only as Ms. X, was allegedly raped by a bartender while she was on holiday with her mum in the seaside town of Parga (FILE IMAGE) The ECHR, which ruled on the matter today, found that police had made no effort to keep the accused man away from her (FILE IMAGE) She also ID'd him at a lineup at a police station, and was made to sign documents in Greek despite not being given an official translation. Ms. X was found to have consented to 'the act of intercourse' by the prosecutor in September 2020, a year after the incident, despite evidence that she herself was not allowed to access. The bartender was later acquitted due to 'insufficient evidence.' The woman emailed the prosecutor's office herself in January 2021, nine months before a Greek court ruled on the case, to request all police and hospital records. But she was told that since she 'was not a civil party to the case as she had not declared that to be the case in her statement to the police and had not paid the relevant fee,' in her own rape case. On top of this, she was told that she had not appeared to testify before the investigating judge the day after the alleged attack, and hadn't appointed a lawyer to represent her. ECHR judges said: 'Ms X. was provided with no information throughout.' The court highlighted several attempts, through official channels including the British embassy in Athens, to get information from authorities in Greece. The court also said: 'From the outset, she had not been notified of her right to receive information about the progression of the investigation and her role therein, and had been given no information in a language she could understand on the procedure and legal measures available to her, even though, in her statement to the police, she had explicitly stated that she wanted the accused to be prosecuted and punished.' It added that investigating authorities 'had not taken measures to prevent her from being traumatised further and had not taken her needs sufficiently into account. 'They had not informed her of her rights as a victim, such as her right to legal assistance, her right to receive information and to object to the interpretation. 'Furthermore, they had not taken adequate measures to mitigate what was clearly a distressing experience for her, such as her interactions with the police, the medical examination, and being brought face-to-face with the accused at the hospital and during the identification procedure.' The court also highlighted a systemic problem in Greece about low conviction rates, which it said 'suggested either that investigation procedures were ineffective or that an unreasonably high threshold required to reach a conviction was applied.' It also found that while Greece's laws provided significant rights for victims of 'gender-based crimes', 'most of the provisions were not fully implemented in practice, and the experience of the criminal justice system was still highly traumatic for many women and girl victims.' A smuggled migrant was kept in an unheated garage without a roof after being brought to the UK by a Czech smuggling gang, a court heard. Zdenek Drevenak, 47, his partner Monika Daducova, 43, and associates Jiri Cernohous, 48 and Martin Slovjak, 46, allegedly stole the wages of 12 victims and kept them in 'invisible handcuffs.' The migrants, 11 Czechs and one Slovakian, were promised a better quality of life in the UK, Southwark Crown Court has heard. But the money they earned in bakeries and car washes was paid into the accounts of the three male traffickers - Drevenak, Cernohous and Slovjak. The traffickers selected unemployed, homeless or financially deprived individuals who were 'desperate' to come to the UK, it is said. Zdenek Drevenak, 47, and his associates allegedly stole the wages of 12 victims and kept them in 'invisible handcuffs Most of the 12 men and women were made to work at Arnaouti Pitta Bread Bakery in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire Most of the 12 men and women were made to work at Arnaouti Pitta Bread Bakery in Hoddesdon, Herts. The alleged victims would often cycle 12 miles to get to the bakery from the property in Enfield, sometimes leaving as early as 4am and not returning until the evening. Speaking through a Czech interpreter over a video-link, one of the alleged victims told the court Drevenak arranged for him to come to the UK to work for two years and said he would be earning 50 a week. He said he was kept in a garage that did not have a roof for the first month before he was given a piece of canvas tarpaulin to shelter under. 'It was raining inside. It was leaking through the roof in various places..' The victim said there had been a gas heater in the garage for the first week, but this was taken away by Drevenak, after which there was no heating inside the building. He said he was first put to work in a carwash - but was not paid anything. He said: 'I went to work in a car wash with Jiri [Cernohous] until they arranged for my working number.' He was then moved to work at a bakery, where he lost part of a finger on his left hand while cleaning a machine. The man said: 'I was cleaning out the machine and was taking out the bread that was stuck in there and the machine took my finger.' He denied suggestions from the defence that his hand injury was down to his alcohol consumption. The witness said Monika Dadukova and then Drevenak took him to hospital for treatment, but he was back at work in the bakery in 'less than a month.' He also explained how he was denied wages: 'If I earnt 300, I would get 15 plus tobacco. If I earned 400 or more, I would get 20 and tobacco.' The man said he also faced physical abuse at the hands of the traffickers. 'If I took his beer, I would get beaten for that,' he said. Jurors have heard smuggled migrants had their passports and identity documents taken away and locked in a safe when they arrived at the property in Durants Road, Enfield. The victims would often cycle 12 miles to get to the bakery from the property in Enfield, sometimes leaving as early as 4am and not returning until the evening They were also forced to undertake household chores when they returned home from working. One of the victims was forced to work as a prostitute, it was said. Drevenak, Daducova, Slovjak, and Cernohous, all of Durants Road, Enfield, deny two counts of conspiracy to hold a person in servitude, and 12 of trafficking persons for exploitation. Drevenak, Daducova, and Cernohous, deny three counts of trafficking persons for exploitation. Drevenak denies four further counts of trafficking persons for exploitation. Cernohous denies one further count of trafficking persons for exploitation. The charges date between January 2014 and October 2019. The trial continues. A weightlifter accidentally suffocated himself after dropping a 60kg metal bar on his neck, an inquest has heard. Carl Hughes, 61, was found dead at his home in the seaside town of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales on September 9 2023. He was discovered by his neighbour, Gill Embleton who grew concerned after newspapers began to pile up outside of his door, which he was known to collect daily. The inquest heard that the retired catering assistant, was found in his bedroom lying on a workout bench, with a bar weighing approximately 60kg on his neck. One side of the barbell was in the air, and the other compressed against Mr Hughes's neck, he was unresponsive and cold to the touch. The emergency services attended, but Mr Hughes was pronounced dead at 3.09pm. Carl Hughes, 61, was found dead at his home in the seaside town of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales on September 9 2023 Coroner's court in Ruthin, where it was recorded that the death was accidental Dr Zain Mehdi, who undertook a post-mortem examination, gave a cause of death of asphyxia, secondary to compression of the neck by a bar. Blood samples taken for the purpose of toxicology showed that Mr Hughes had 223micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood - the legal driving limit being 80. However, Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said Mr Hughes was known to drink heavily, and would likely have built up alcohol tolerance. She continued that the level of alcohol in his system 'has to be treated with caution' when assessing the cause of the incident. She recorded a conclusion of accidental death, describing the matter as a 'terribly tragic set of circumstances'. John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, heard he was lying on a bench when he died. Neighbour at Carl's block of flats in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, were shocked at the tragedy. Albert Kirk said: 'I had been away on holiday when it happened. I heard he was found at home. 'I only knew him to say hello to when I would see him going out of his flat or coming back in. He kept himself to himself.' The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death. An Arizona school district for 55,000 children used a 'parental concealment cheat sheet' to track the names and pronouns of 17 trans students and keep 'unsupportive' parents in the dark, court papers show. Emily Wulff, a counselor at Kino Junior High, in Mesa, created the spreadsheet to record whether parents knew about a child's decision to change gender at school, and to keep it a secret from them, it is claimed. The revelations come from public records requests as part of a lawsuit against Mesa Unified Schools, which accuses educators of violating protected parental rights by secretly helping kids transition. It's the latest in a series of lawsuits aimed at the teachers, schools, and therapists who help and in some cases encourage kids who identify as anything other than their biological sex. A redacted version of the 'parental concealment cheat sheet'was obtained from a records request Emily Wulff, a counselor at Kino Junior High, in Mesa, created the spreadsheet, papers show 'Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Andi Fourlis has consistently denied that school district employees are helping to gender-transition students without their parents' knowledge,' said James Rogers, the lawyer who leads the case. 'The evidence strongly suggests otherwise.' Poll Should kids be able to transition at school without their parents knowing? Yes No Not sure Should kids be able to transition at school without their parents knowing? Yes 115 votes No 7005 votes Not sure 78 votes Now share your opinion School district spokeswoman Jennifer Snyder told DailyMail.com she 'cannot comment on current litigation.' The 79-page lawsuit, backed by the conservative America First Legal (AFL) group, includes emails from Wulff and a redacted copy of the spreadsheet, titled 'Pronoun Preference,' for 17 students aged between 12 and 15. It lists their names, preferred names, and such pronouns as 'they/them' and 'fluid.' It lists whether parents and family members were 'aware' of the transition, and if they were 'supportive' of it. When dealing with parents who were skeptical or unaware, teachers were directed to keep silent about the kids' new names and pronouns, the papers show. AFL, a legal group founded by ex-Trump administration officials, filed the case at Maricopa County Superior Court last year, but amended it this week with documents and emails obtained in public records requests. The case was filed on behalf of Rachel Walden, a member of MPS' governing board, and against the school district and Superintendent Fourlis for secret trans policies at schools across the Phoenix suburbs. Kino Junior High is part of the 55,000-student Mesa Unified Schools district, in the Phoenix suburbs The district's online records system is set up to record alternate names without alerting parents Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Andi Fourlis is accused of deceiving parents with the district-wide policy Under MPS policy, which dates back to 2015, teachers can discuss gender and identity with students and which bathrooms and locker rooms to use without declaring any changes to their families. The updated case describes the mom of a girl at an MPS school who was in late 2022 experiencing confusion about her gender they're referred to as Jane and Megan Doe in papers to protect their identities. In mid-October, Jane learned from a friend that Megan was going by 'Michael' in class. The alarmed mom checked through school orchestra programs and found that her daughter was indeed transitioning in secret. Teachers and the school principal refused to answer Jane's questions about the child's gender-swap, citing MPS policy, it is claimed. Still, after the revelation, Jane and Meghan started discussing her issues and went to counselling. Within weeks, she had dropped the 'Michael' pseudonym and her issues were 'completely resolved,' the papers say. 'If MPS employees had immediately contacted Jane as required by law she could have had those important discussions with her mother and her mental health counselor sooner,' the papers state. Parents are clashing with teachers across the US over whether transgender teenagers can transition in classrooms without their knowledge - and most cases are not always solved in the principals' office, and often end up in court That would have 'avoided many months of needless suffering,' they add. The lawsuit does not seek damages, but for MPS to change its policies and 'ensure that parents' rights are respected and students are protected.' 'No parent should have to go through what Jane and Megan Doe did,' said lawyer Rogers. 'AFL is helping to shine a spotlight on transgender policies that MPS has worked hard to hide from the public.' Whether or not children are mature enough to make decisions about gender transitions is a hot button issue in America's culture wars. Transgender activists say young people are best placed to say whether they feel male, female, or non-binary. Parents, teachers, and medical experts have a duty to affirm them, by using preferred pronouns, changing how they dress, and even by getting access to cross-sex-hormones and surgery, they say. But critics warn of growing numbers of young people getting radicalized by peers and online trans influencers into making medical decisions they could later regret. At least half of French government ministers are millionaires and a quarter of them are among the country's super-rich 1 per cent, according to new figures. Those responsible for justice, foreign trade, and the upcoming Paris Olympic games have personal assets worth the equivalent of well over 5million. Details of their fortunes have emerged as Left-wing politicians evoke an increasingly bitter class struggle caused by problems including the cost-of-living crisis. Head of state Emmanuel Macron - a former merchant banker - is continually portrayed as the 'President of the Rich,' while his prime minister, Gabriel Attal, is a 34-year-old who became an instant millionaire in his 20s thanks to a family inheritance. The findings on the wealth of the political class is likely to stoke anger among French workers, hundreds of thousands of whom staged huge protests last year in response to Macron passing a law that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. Head of state Emmanuel Macron - a former merchant banker - is continually portrayed as the 'President of the Rich' Prime minister Gabriel Attal, 34, became an instant millionaire in his 20s thanks to a family inheritance Franck Riester, the 50-year-old foreign trade minister whose 10m (8.5m) was partly amassed through his inheritance of a portfolio of car dealerships and garages 'Enquiry into the Millionaires who govern us,' reads the latest edition of L'Humanite newspaper. It lists 17 confirmed millionaires out of 34 ministers, while suggesting there could be even more. Using declarations to France's High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP), and other publicly available data, researchers also found that two-thirds of ministers have assets worth more than 716,000 (610,000) This puts them in the top 10 per cent of the country in terms of wealth, while nine of them are in the top 1 per cent because of assets worth more than 2.2million (1.87m) Top of the ministerial rich list is Franck Riester, the 50-year-old foreign trade minister whose 10m (8.5m) was partly amassed through his inheritance of a portfolio of car dealerships and garages. Amelie Oudea-Castera, the 45-year-old who has the Sports, Youth and Olympics portfolio is worth some 7m (6m) thanks to accumulating shares in major companies including insurance giant Axa, and Carrefour, the supermarket multinational. Those with assets of around 5m (4.2m) include 62-year-old Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti. President Macron was last summer accused of 'Americanising' France after a survey revealed that France has more millionaires than any nation except the United States and China. Amelie Oudea-Castera, the 45-year-old who has the Sports, Youth and Olympics portfolio is worth some 7m (6m) thanks to accumulating shares in major companies Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, 62, has assets of around 5m (4.2m) Research released in August by Swiss bank UBS underlined an economic success story for the superrich. Its annual global wealth report found that the French are richer on average than the British but that inequalities are also greater. The number of millionaires in France was 2.82 million - 4.7 per cent of the global total - compared to 2.56 in the UK. Mr Macron came to power in 2017 promising that his liberalsing of the French economy would benefit all. Thomas Portes, of the left-wing France Unbowed party (La France Insoumise) said: 'Meanwhile, there are 300,000 people homeless and one in two people is forced to miss a meal.' And Sandrine Rousseau, an MP with Europe Ecology-Greens, denounced the 'Americanisation of France' that had been 'imposed by Emmanual Macron.' LONDONJapanese pleasure brand Tenga has announced the debut of its new unisex product, the Tengi Uni. Tengas first unisex pleasure product is the result of over two years of research and development. The Tenga Uni, marketed as gender-neutral, is reversible and can be enjoyed for solo or partnered play for both penile and clitoral stimulation. The shapes and colors of the Tenga Uni are inspired by jewelry with each design reflecting the look and shape of gemstones. However, the products are crafted with neutral colors. The large, complex ridges of the design provide a sensation that is similar to oral sex and can be used to enhance manual stimulation when using it on the fingers, or it can be flipped inside-out to use as a stretchable sleeve, for a truly unisex product. Additionally, since the Uni does not use batteries or vibrate, it can be used discreetly. Eddie Marklew, global marketing manager at Tenga, said, Normalizing pleasure and sexuality is something Tenga has stood up for from the very beginning, and with the Tenga Uni, we want to provide an item for all people, of all experience ranges, thats simple to use and accessible to everyone. The Tenga Uni will be a positive alternative to the current options for pleasure toys. Most toys are historically male or female-gendered, but the Uni is truly unisex which can also be used for solo or partnered sex. By breaking down these barriers, we have created a new category for unisex and universal pleasure items for everyone to enjoy. The development of the Tenga Uni also lowers the barrier to entry for those who might not be experienced in using pleasure products, or who might feel a sense of discomfort with the traditional gender views in the category. "There is a clear gap in the market for a pleasure toy that can be used for self-pleasure as well as partnered play but is also gender neutral. Furthermore, the Uni is a unique product in its ability to be used by any gender pairing partnership. Pleasure designed for everyone!" The Tenga Uni is available in four different detail variations: Emerald, Diamond, Topaz and Amethyst. The product will be available on Feb. 14 at eustore.tenga.co. For more information, contact Ikenna Lewis-Miller at [email protected]. This is the explosive moment a police officer's car filled with 1.5m worth of cocaine blew up at a petrol station in Argentina. According to Argentinian news outlets, the sergeant, Sofia Esther Chaparro's car was stuffed with 20 kilos of the drug and she was with her three children at the time of the blast. The explosion, which saw clouds of cocaine blasted around into the air, happened in Oran in the province of the provincial capital of Salta last Wednesday. The Buenos Aires City police officer and her three children were not in the car at the time as she had pulled over and they had got out by the petrol pump. After the blast, passers-by said that the ground surrounding it was covered in white powder. Even more drug packages wrapped in yellow paper are said to have also gone up in smoke. Security camera footage captured the scene beforethe blast which saw 20 kilos of cocaine spewed out across the petrol station Passersby said the ground surrounding the blast was covered in the white powder following the explosion Images show the aftermath of the blast which saw 20 kilos of cocaine spewed out across the petrol station Orans auxiliary prosecutor, Maria del Carmen Nunez, told Telam news agency 'She claimed to have taken the car out of a workshop hours before and that she had gone to fill the gas tank to continue the trip back to Buenos Aires.' Chaparro, who has been put under house arrest, refused to testify in court. She has since been charged with transporting narcotics. According to the Beunos Aires Herald, sources from the police force's internal affairs division said that the sergeant was removed from her duties while investigators try to establish whether she acted alone or if she was part of an organization. At the time of the incident, Chaparro was on medical leave. The prosecutor said that Chaparro owned the car with her ex-husband. Two of Chaparro's three children are said to be disabled, which is what prompted the prosecutor to allow her house arrest - so she can continue to look after them. Argentina's provincial police forces are considered to be highly susceptible to corruption. An article on Insight Crime explains that despite Argentina being considered one of the safer regions in Latin America, there is a 'serious problem' with corruption. Partly due to failed past reform efforts, the country's provincial police forces are vulnerable to organised crime. South America accounts for 30 per cent of the world's cocaine production - but most of this is not in Argentina. Columbia is thought to have over half-a-million acres of land used for the production of the coca crop and produces over 1,000 tons of the drug every year, worth over 100b in UK street value. South America produces nearly a third of the world's cocaine with Columbia making over a thousand tons every year Three women were today found guilty of a terror offence for displaying images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine march a week after Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 people in Israel. Heba Alhayek, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, attached stock images of paragliders to their backs with tape, while Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, stuck one to the handle of a placard. The trio displayed the images on October 14, 2023, just seven days after militants from Hamas used paragliders to enter Israel from Gaza on October 7 before randomly murdering civilians. They were charged under the Terrorism Act with carrying or displaying an article to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of banned organisation Hamas, which they denied but were found guilty of this afternoon after a two-day trial. Reacting to the verdicts, the Crown Prosecution Service said displaying the images amounted to the 'glorification of the actions' of Hamas. But the judge said he had 'decided not to punish' the women and gave them a 12-month conditional discharge instead on the basis that he did not believe they were true Hamas supporters and 'emotions' had 'run very high' at the time of their offence. Alhayek is a Palestinian author who grew up in Gaza and was granted asylum in the UK because her family were critical of Hamas, Westminster Magistrates Court heard during the trial. Heba Alhayek, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, had images of paragliders taped to their backs Alhayek is a Palestinian author who was given asylum in Britain because her family were critical of Hamas Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, had an image of a terrorist paraglider attached to the handle of a placard Prosecutors successfully argued it was 'no coincidence' the defendants were displaying the images so soon after the attack. Pictured is Ankund Giving his verdict, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said: 'Seven days before the protest, Hamas went into Israel with what was described by the media as paragliders. A reasonable person would have seen and read that. 'I do not find a reasonable person would interpret the image merely as a symbol of freedom. I want to be clear, there's no evidence that any of these defendants are supporters of Hamas, or were seeking to show support for them.' Handing the trio a 12-month conditional discharge, Mr Ikram said he had 'decided not to punish' the defendants. 'Each of you stands convicted of a terrorist offence,' he continued. 'There is nothing to suggest the police of their own volition were going to take any action. 'You've not hidden the fact you were carrying these images. You crossed the line, but it would have been fair to say that emotions ran very high on this issue. 'Your lesson has been well learnt. I do not find you were seeking to show any support for Hamas.' Alhayek and Ankunda were each ordered to pay 400 in costs. Taiwo won't have to pay any costs as she is not entitled to benefits due to her immigration status. An online profile describes Alhayek as a 'London-based, Gaza-raised Palestinian author, creative and facilitator'. The biography says she studied for an MA in Social Anthropology at SOAS University of London and has a creative writing qualification. The biography says her thinking is 'rooted in anti-nation-state, decolonial, queer, Afrikan feminist thought' and 'navigates topics such as disposability, Global South solidarity movements, land justice, Palestinian drill music, and more.' In court, she and the other two defendants had argued they were carrying the image of a standard 'parachute emoji', and that such flying-related images were common in Palestinian art as symbols of 'liberation and peace' long before the bloody Hamas attacks. Under cross-examination, the Met's acting Detective Sergeant Michael Beskine admitted his team had not done any research into possible alternative meanings, instead accepting the interpretation of a 'rightwing' social media account called 'Harry's Place', which first posted photos of the trio. The original 'Harry's Place' post on X had claimed sarcastically: 'Hamas sent terrorists on paragliders to a rave in Israel where they massacred the civilians so it's important to tape images of paragliders to your clothes at a pro Palestine demonstration.' Alhayek is visible on the left of this image - one of several CCTV grabs circulated by the Met She is pictured yesterday outside Westminster Magistrates Court This is the image of a paraglider or parachutist used by the women Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft Police then gave the operation the unofficial moniker 'paraglider girls' as they hunted for the trio, the court heard, with the officer giving evidence that the pro-Hamas interpretation was so 'obvious' it did not require further work. Giving evidence in defence of the trio, veteran Guardian journalist and human rights campaigner Victoria Brittain said images of balloons, birds, kites and parachutes were popular images in the context of a Palestinian desire to 'fly away' from entrapment in Gaza. She also said she had seen children in Gaza playing with parachute-like domes of fabric, and pointed to a world record set in 2011 in the territory in which 3,520 children fluttered 176 parachutes. The correspondent also pointed to possible thematic links with the Banksy artwork Flying Balloon Girl, which was painted on a West Bank wall and shows a girl being lifted away by a bunch of balloons, as well as a popular Palestinian cartoon character called Handala. Asked by Mark Summers KC, for Alhayek and Ankunda, about what 'an informed, politically aware observer' on the march would have made of the image, she responded: 'It would have been [interpreted as] another typical Palestinian symbol of flight and escaping prison.' The lawyer said the idea that the image was a paraglider started with 'an internet group with an agenda'. He also argued that flying-related images were a common symbol of peace in the region. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, a former EU envoy to the Palestinians also gave evidence about a controversial flight he undertook off the coast of Gaza City in July of last year. He told the court that the flight was intended to urge freedom and equal rights for Palestinians, although at the time the 'stunt' was condemned as a 'propaganda tool' by Israel. After the Metropolitan Police launched a social media appeal to find them over the outcry, Alhayek and Ankunda handed themselves in to Croydon Police Station, the court heard earlier. Brutal shootouts were seen taking place as Hamas terrorists descended on Israel via land, sea and air Hamas is banned as a terror organisation in the UK and the trio's actions were widely condemned online amid concern over the tenor of pro-Palestine protests occurring in the UK. In a police interview, the pair initially claimed someone at the demonstration 'who was not known to them' had stuck the images to their backs, before admitting they had attached them themselves. When she was arrested later, Taiwo claimed to have been handed the placard and not paid proper attention to the 'blurry image'. 'She had not paid attention to what was fixed to the placard as it was a blurry image. She said she believed it to be a symbol of liberation and peace', prosecutor Brett Weaver said. Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'All three women knowingly displayed the images of paragliders in central London and therefore showed their support for Hamas - a proscribed terrorist organisation. 'The fact that these images were being displayed in the context of a protest opposing the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks demonstrates a glorification of the actions taken by the group. 'Displaying these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of paragliders as a tactic to breach the Gaza/Israel border, and creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas. 'When people break the law - whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order - we prosecute swiftly and independently. 'We have already prosecuted a string of offences linked to events in the Middle East and we are working closely with the police and community leaders to make sure our approach commands public confidence.' more than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began incessant bombing raids. The terrorist assault on October 7 sparked a massive response, with Hamas officials sayingTop officials from Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt met today to make plans for another ceasefire as international pressure mounts for a truce in the territory. CIA director William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Egyptian officials in Cairo, according to Al-Qahera News - which has links to Egyptian intelligence. A proposal thrashed out with Israeli negotiators in Paris late last month has gone back and forth, but is yet to come to fruition after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed his forces would achieve 'total victory' in Gaza. Hamas officials meanwhile told reporters that they 'are awaiting the outcome of the Cairo meetings, and Hamas is open to discussing any initiative that achieves an end to aggression and war'. The quest for a ceasefire comes after the United States and the United Nations warned Israel against carrying out a ground offensive into Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city where more than a million Palestinians are trapped. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer broke cover today to defend his handling of a new Labour party anti-Semitism row sparked by comments made by the party's candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Sir Keir this afternoon faced the cameras for the first time since Azhar Ali was revealed to have claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. Party factions were at war today over the belated decision to cut ties with Mr Ali, with left-wingers claiming he was given preferential treatment. Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. This picture was taken from Israel today Sir Keir's top team finally withdrew backing from Ali last night, more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. Sir Keir's team had rallied behind the councillor claiming he had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Wellingborough today, the Labour leader denied that factionalism played a role, saying it makes 'no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party'. 'Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action,' he said. 'It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. 'It's a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.' Meanwhile bookie William Hill has now made George Galloway the favourite to win what was a safe Labour seat in the vote on February 29. A senior Tory MP had to call in police protection last night after a pro-Palestinian mob surrounded his family home to brand him a 'war criminal' over his backing for Israel. The home of former Middle east minister Tobias Ellwood was targeted by a 100-strong group in his Bournemouth East constituency home, after the address was shared on Facebook. Dozens of people from the Palestine Solidarity Movement waved Palestinian flags and bellowed chants of 'ceasefire' and 'free Palestine' using a megaphone. One of the main protagonists was Corrie Drew, a left-winger who stood against Mr Ellwood at the 2019 General Election for the Labour Party. On a video posted on social media they could be heard shouting: 'Tobias Ellwood you can't hide, you signed up for genocide.' One sinister looking placard had Mr Ellwood's face on it, while another said 'occupation, apartheid, genocide'. One protester later posted on Twitter that the Bournemouth East MP was a 'complicit in war crimes' as they demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Mr Ellwood and his family - he is married with two sons - are not believed to have been home at the time. One of the main protagonists was Corrie Drew a left-winger who stood against Mr Ellwood at the 2019 General Election for the Labour Party . Dozens of people from the Palestine Solidarity Movement waved Palestinian flags and bellowed chants of 'ceasefire' and 'free Palestine' using a megaphone. Mr Ellwood and his family - he is married with two sons - are not believed to have been home at the time. A Dorset Police spokesperson said: 'Officers attended the scene and liaised with the organisers to ensure people could exercise their right to protest legally and safely without causing significant or ongoing serious public disorder, serious damage or serious disruption to the community.' Ms Drew, 41, later posted on social media: 'Tonight, outside Tobias Ellwood's house 100 of us gathered for an emergency protest after the Israeli attacks on Rafah.' She then posted the demands the demonstrators made on the British government over Israel. Sarah Ward later posted on X: 'We're here outside the house of war criminal @Tobias-Ellwood calling for a ceasefire and accusing him of complicity in war crimes! #FreePalestine.' On its Facebook page the the Palestine Solidarity Movement BCP branch stated: 'EMERGENCY DEMO NOW. Today, Tobias Ellwood (the former under-secretary of State for the Middle East) went on TV to say that Netanyahu was out of control, has no strategic-plan and is causing chaos. 'While we welcome his sudden change of stance, he ignored us for MONTHS and is complicit in the genocide in Gaza. Protest starts NOW.' Ms Drew, 41, later posted on social media: 'Tonight, outside Tobias Ellwood's house 100 of us gathered for an emergency protest after the Israeli attacks on Rafah.' One sinister looking placard had Mr Ellwood's face on it, while another said 'occupation, apartheid, genocide'. The author then added: 'Bring placards, noise makers and snacks. 'YOU WILL NEED A CAR or some form of transport, to get to this location. Please speak with the community in our WhatsApp group to arrange lifts & pickups. 'We need a BIG turnout for this to have the impact we need. 'We are a community, and we will be heard. 'Save Rafah, Save Gaza!' A Dorset Police spokesperson said: 'Officers attended the scene and liaised with the organisers to ensure people could exercise their right to protest legally and safely without causing significant or ongoing serious public disorder, serious damage or serious disruption to the community. 'We respect people's right to lawful protest. However, we have a duty to ensure those involved act within the law and ensure the local community can go about their lawful activities. 'The group left the area by around 8.50pm and no arrests were made.' London mayor Sadiq Khan is demanding action from leading car manufacturers over a spike in vehicle thefts in the capital. In a letter to car company bosses, Mr Khan is urging them to fix design flaws that make it 'too easy' for criminals to exploit security gaps in modern cars. The mayor warned it was 'now arguably easier to steal a car than a few years ago' due to keyless technology and criminals' use of ever-more sophisticated theft devices. London mayor Sadiq Khan is demanding action from leading car manufacturers over a spike in vehicle thefts in the capital He also bemoaned how this was having a knock-on effect on car insurance premiums for Londoners, with higher costs now 'unaffordable for many'. Mr Khan has written to the UK bosses of Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. He has also urged Home Secretary James Cleverly to look at a range of fresh Government action on tackling car theft. This includes possible new laws to boost security standards in car manufacturing, and the creation of new offences for criminals using electronic devices to steal vehicles. Mr Khan also called for greater border checks to monitor the illegal export of stolen luxury cars from Britain, and tougher sentences for offenders. Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed there was an 8 per cent increase in vehicle theft in the year ending September 2023, compared to the previous 12 months. Range Rovers, produced by Jaguar Land Rover, are among the most-stolen cars in Britain - and especially London - due to their high resale value and keyless technology The Range Rover Velar was among the top stolen cars in Britain last year Mr Khan has also urged Home Secretary James Cleverly to look at a range of fresh Government action on tackling car theft EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Britain's most stolen cars revealed... see if YOUR vehicle is on the list Advertisement In his letter to car manufacturers, Mr Khan said this 'concerning national trend is manifesting in London' where there has been 7.7 per cent increase in vehicle theft over the same period. He also pointed to Metropolitan Police figures that showed, of the approximately 33,000 cars stolen over the last year, 60 to 65 per cent were keyless car thefts. 'It is clear we all have a role to play in tackling this problem and we know from previous examples - such as the positive work to tackle catalytic converter theft - that a collaborative approach can achieve significant success,' the mayor wrote. 'As you know, your customers are increasingly becoming victims of vehicle theft due to the security vulnerabilities in modern vehicles that are being exploited by criminals.' He added: 'Your customers are suffering twofold: firstly, they are increasingly likely to become victims of theft, and secondly, they are subject to higher insurance premium costs, which in London are becoming unaffordable for many. 'Car insurance premiums in London have increased by 60 per cent in the last 12 months, with young Londoners being affected the most. 'It is clear to me that this is not a matter the police can tackle alone.' To use our interactive graphic below, hover your mouse or tap on a model of car to see how likely it is that it was stolen in 2023: Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Khan praised a recent announcement from Jaguar Land Rover that it will invest 10million in boosting vehicle security, including retrofitting older models with its latest technology in a bid to reduce keyless car thefts. Range Rovers are among the most-stolen cars in Britain - and especially London - due to their high resale value and keyless technology that criminals exploit. This has seen Jaguar Land Rover launch its own insurance product for customers struggling to get cover amid soaring premiums. But, despite some efforts aimed at tackling theft, Mr Khan added he was 'not yet confident that the industry as a whole is doing enough to address the security risks faced by vehicle owners'. He wrote: 'I am seeking your assurance around what your companies have done and are doing - to close the security risk to keyless cars and wider technological vulnerabilities, to design out vehicle theft for both new vehicles and older models.' Mr Khan is urging the Government to do more to restrict the ability of criminals to purchase high-tech equipment that allows them to circumvent vehicle security He also wants more action on preventing the illegal export of stolen vehicles from Britain and on disrupting and dismantling organised crime gangs who are often behind large scale and coordinated vehicle thefts. Mr Khan said: 'It beggars belief that in 2024, cars can be stolen within seconds. 'Worryingly, changes in technology mean it's now arguably easier to steal a car than a few years ago. 'The Met are going after the worst offenders and targeting crime hotspots but figures show keyless car thefts account for the majority of thousands of car thefts in the capital 65 per cent of more than 30,000 cars. 'This is clearly a design issue. It's simply too easy for criminals to exploit security gaps in modern cars and this has had a knock-on effect on insurance premiums for many Londoners. 'With cars being stolen from streets and driveways in moments by organised gangs, it's clear that this is not a matter the police can tackle alone. 'That's why I'm calling on the Government to take decisive action to tackle this issue and drive up improvement in vehicle security using its powers. 'I'm also asking leading car manufacturers to help design out this growing menace so that we can build a safer city for everyone.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We expect police to take vehicle crime seriously and investigate thoroughly to ensure perpetrators are charged and brought to justice, which is why we welcomed the commitment made by police in August last year to follow up on all reasonable lines of enquiry. 'We have made great progress in tackling vehicle crime, which is down 39 per cent since 2010. 'We have also recently introduced provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill to ban electronic devices used in vehicle theft, and continue working closely with manufacturers and police specialist vehicle examiners.' House Republicans are formalizing their demands for transcripts and voice recordings of President Biden's interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur and are already using words from his fiery press conference last week against him. The effort, revealed in a new letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, would put Hur's own observations about Biden's 'hazy' memory to the test and give the White House the opportunity to back up its claim that the information was a 'gratuitous' inclusion in the report on Biden's handling of classified information. The push could have Hur sitting down before Congress by the end of the month while keeping issues related to the president's age and memory percolating throughout the presidential campaign. The testimony would be guaranteed to generate fireworks. And even a spat over document production will generate will generate public attention as the GOP tries to keep the focus on Biden's memory and on his retention of classified materials. The chairmen are demanding 'all documents and communications, including audio and video recordings, related to the Special Counsels interview of President Biden,' according to the letter from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith.' President Joe Biden fumed at Special Counsel Robert Hur's accusation that the Scranton-native didn't know when his son Beau died and said his memory was 'fine.' House Republicans are demanding access to a transcript of his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur House Republicans have reached out to Hur about appearing, CNN reported, with a goal of bringing him in this month. He has retained a personal attorney. At the White House Tuesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre underlined to $3.5 million cost of Hur's probe, and said investigators 'wasted their time,' even while refusing to rule out cooperating with the GOP's request. 'I will add that this was a 15-month investigation that interviewed 150 witnesses, examined 7 million records and cost $3.5 million of the taxpayer taxpayer money $3.5 million taxpayer dollars,' she said when asked if the administration would comply with the request. 'They explored every theory and found that there was no case to be made. So, House Republicans wasted their time or wasting continue to waste their time. She once again called the inclusion of information about Biden's memory 'gratuitous' and 'inappropriate,' flubbing a phrase at one point she said that was the conclusion of 'illegal experts.' 'Gratuitous': White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre underlined to $3.5 million cost of Hur's probe As for whether the White House would comply anyway, she said: 'They're looking at it. There's a process that's involved,' without being definitive. Republicans have an eye both on public hearings and subpoenas in search of documents and audio recordings, if necessary. They cite national security issues related to retention of classified documents as well application of 'evenhanded justice' referencing a passage in the report which contrasts Biden's retention of classified information and cooperation with investigators to Trump's resistance even as a trove of information was uncovered in an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. But the House GOP is telegraphing its intention to pick up on Hur's stunning statements about Biden's memory recall. 'Although Mr. Hur reasoned that President Biden's presentation "as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" who "did not remember when he was vice president" or "when his son Beau died" posed challenges to proving the President's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the report concluded that the Department's principles of prosecution weighed against prosecution because the Department has not prosecuted "a former president or vice president for mishandling classified documents form his own administration,"' they write. The box circled in the foreground contained documents about Afghanistan. The picture was taken in December 2022 in Biden's garage, with other household items House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Donald Trump ally, would likely oversee any hearing with Special Counsel Robert Hur House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer is demanding transcripts of President Joe Biden's interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigators in their classified documents probe 'The one "exception" to the Department's principles of prosecution, as Mr. Hur noted, "is former President Trump." This speaks volumes about the Department's commitment to evenhanded justice.' The GOP chairman are seeking to make use of Biden's angry press conference, where he said his memory was 'fine' shortly before botching the country of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. They quote and his Feb. 8 presser saying: 'Ive seen the headlines since the report was released about my willful retention of documents. These assertions are not only misleading, theyre just plain wrong.' 'In response to a question regarding sharing classified information with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzera fact documented in Mr. Hurs reportthe President claimed, I did not share classified information, I did not share it. This assertion appears to be false. Thus, mere hours after the release of Mr. Hurs report, the President appears to have inaccurately contradicted key facts about its contents,' according to the letter. Panel investigators want to get their hands on a transcript of an Oct. 8 and 9 interview with Biden, which as the president noted came shortly after the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Throughout Mr. Hurs report, there is reference to a transcript of an interview conducted with President Biden on October 8 and October 9, 2023.12 The Committees require this transcript and any other records of this interview, including, but not limited to, any recordings, notes, or summaries of the interview. The three committee chairs leading the BIden impeachment inquiry threatened to subpoena the material if the DOJ does not turn it over within a week after Hur's bombshell report dropped last week. They are also in talks with Hur and his team about having him in for testimony later this month, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to DailyMail.com. The White House has not yet issued a clear statement on whether it would comply with demands for documents or testimony. Garland, in an October '60 Minutes' interview focused on the Hunter Biden probe, noted that special counsels are permitted to explain their decisions to prosecute or not prosecute someone. 'Usually, the special counsels have testified at the end of their reports, and I expect that that will be the case here,' he said. The report, summarizing his probe of Biden's mishandling of classified documents, contains a multitude of examples of Biden's 'hazy' memory, including one point where Biden appeared to forget when his son Beau died. 'Given the seriousness of these matters, the Committees are prepared to compel the production of this material if necessary.' Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, together with Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for the transcript and any recording of an interview with Biden that took place over October 8 and October 9, 2023. Their committees have probed whether Biden's handling of classified documents related to his alleged involvement in his family's business dealings. They wrote that the DOJ had rebuffed their requests for documents to 'protect the integrity of Special Counsel Hur's ongoing investigation,' but that investigation has now wrapped. The Republicans now want to know if Biden 'retained sensitive documents related to specific countries involving his family's foreign business dealings.' They added: 'We seek to understand whether the White House or President Biden's personal attorneys placed any limitations or scoping restrictions during the interview that would have precluded a line of inquiry regarding evidence.' Comer, Jordan and Smith have now asked for transcripts, audio and video recordings and any other documents related to Biden's special counsel interview. Hur concluded last week that 'no criminal charges are warranted in this matter' of Biden's document handling, and Republicans say they now need to see the interview to probe whether the DOJ is using a double standard with Biden's and Trump's mishandling of secret documents. Hur's inclusion of language in his report referring to the president as a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory' proved politically explosive, and precipitated an angry press conference by the president Thursday night. Hur insisted that Biden had 'diminished faculties' and at points 'did not remember when he was vice president.' Republicans jumped on the material, saying it proves Biden isn't fit to run the country. Rubert Hur's report references Biden's 'fuzzy' memory The House Oversight Committee wants access to Biden's interview transcripts in the interest of 'transparency' The investigative push indicates Biden is continued to face lingering political challenges in the aftermath of Hur's probe, even as it announced that he would not be charged with any crimes related to his 'willful' retention of classified documents. Hur gave Biden's rival Donald Trump and Republicans plenty to work with even with out additional paper or transcripts. It said if Biden were to be charged, a jury might be sympathetic since he comes off as a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.' One particularly damaging passage that Hur included said: 'In his interview with our office, Mr. Biden's memory was worse. He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended ('if it was 2013 - when did I stop being Vice President?'), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began ('in 2009, am I still Vice President?'),' according to the report. 'He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died. And his memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate that was once so important to him.' Biden erupted at that passage in a defiant press conference where he said his memory is 'fine.' 'There's even reference that I don't remember when my son died. How in the hell dare he raise that? I don't need anyone, I don't need anyone, to remind me of when he passed away,' the president told reporters. 'Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, wasn't any of their damned business.' Asked about the 'elderly man' language, Biden said: 'I'm well meaning and I'm an elderly man, and I know what the hell I'm doing. I'm the president and I put this country back on its feet. I don't need his recommendation it's totally out of [order].' Biden's official response from his lawyers, included in the back of the Hur report, blasts the inclusion of 'highly prejudicial' language about his memory, and asks why other witnesses got a pass for 'fuzzy' memory lapses. It says it relies on 'highly prejudicial language' to describe memory lapses that are a 'common occurrence.' If faults Hur for even bringing up how Biden might defend himself before a jury since his report concluded he shouldn't be charged. A woman has been left with burns on her back and head after a 'substance attack' inside a pub - as police launch manhunt. The horrific incident took place in the Golden Lion pub in Jay's Close, Basingstoke between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday. The woman was left 'extremely distressed' by what happened to her and she suffered reddening to her skin, blisters, and had to have most of her hair cut off due to the matting. The mystery substance was thrown on the woman's back and head as she made her way through the busy pub. It comes amid a spate of recent 'acid attacks' - four in the last fortnight - as charities say female victims feel the police don't take them seriously. The horrific incident took place in the Golden Lion pub in Jay's Close, Basingstoke between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday A map of where the pub is where the horrifying attack took place A map of four 'acid attacks' which all took place in the last fortnight Were you in the pub? Email: Dan.Grennan@mailonline.com Police are trying to establish what the substance used in the attack was but they have suggested it was 'not acid'. Two men, aged 48 and 53, both from Basingstoke, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. They have both been released on bail until May 10. A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: 'Officers are appealing for information after a woman sustained injuries when a substance was thrown at her in Basingstoke. 'As the woman walked through the pub she had a substance thrown in her hair and on her back. The substance caused a burning sensation to her skin and for her hair to matt. Work is ongoing to establish what the substance is but it is not thought to be acid. 'There was a band playing in the pub at the time of the incident and it was very crowded. 'The woman was wearing a leopard print top. Did you see her, or did you witness the incident? 'Did you take any photos or video footage while you were there? You may have caught the incident on your camera. 'The woman has been left extremely distressed by what happened to her. She has suffered reddening to her skin, blisters and had to have most of her hair cut off due to the matting.' The terrifying attack comes amid a sharp rise in acid attacks, with the number of attacks increasing by 45 per cent last year in London and a staggering 69 per cent across England and Wales, according to the Acid Survivors Trust International (Asti) charity. Abdul Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on January 31 A police boat is seen on the Thames on Saturday as officers search for the body of Ezedi And charities say female acid attack victims are not being taken seriously by police and do not feel safe going out at night amid a rise in chemical attacks by abusive boyfriends in Britain. An 'acid attack' in Clapman, London on a mother, 31, and her two daughters, aged eight and three, recently drew huge media attention. The mother remains sedated in hospital and she may lose her right eye as a result of the January 31 attack. Police have been searching for Abdul Ezedi in connection to the case but police now fear he may be dead. CCTV footage suggests he may have jumped in to the Thames on the night of the attack as police have been searching for his body in the river. In another terrifying incident in London, a man threatened a bus driver and passengers with a corrosive substance on Sunday. The incident began when a man, reported to be in his late 30s, boarded a 109 bus in Brixton and subsequently started smoking. Passengers confronted the man before he took out a bottle of what was believed to be a corrosive substance. A three-hour stand-off took ensued between police and the 'acid-armed man' before he was arrested after police stormed the vehicle and stripped him in the street. Nobody was injured in the incident. Emergency services, including officers in specialised blue chemical suits, were called to the scene in Croydon The man could be seen being dressed in an orange jumpsuit, before being strapped to a gurney and taken to hospital for medical evaluations On the same day as the standoff in Croydon, a man was attacked with a 'noxious substance' in a graveyard in Kent. The victim was assaulted while going to the St Laurence Graveyard in Ramsgate on Sunday night at around 8.20pm. He was rushed to hospital for burns to the back of his head. His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening. Kent Police have asked anyone with information to come forward after they launched a manhunt. Were you in the pub? Email: Dan.Grennan@mailonline.com Sunflowers are a more environmentally-friendly and equally beautiful option to give your romantic partner on February 14 Environmentalists are urging Americans to ditch the roses on Valentine's Day and opt for a more carbon-friendly option like sunflowers. Roses are the most popular cut flower in the world and are the classic floral pick when it comes to romantic occasions - like weddings, engagements and of course Valentine's Day. However, the bouquets have a huge carbon footprint as they are usually imported from Colombia and Ecuador on planes, usually shortly after being picked to stop them wilting. Leading up to Valentine's Day, 30 cargo jets fly from Colombia to Miami daily and a similar amount fly in from Ecuador. This amounts to almost 15,000 tons of flowers being delivered in less than a month, which has a massive environmental effect. Environmentalists are urging Americans to ditch the roses on Valentine's Day and opt for a more carbon-friendly option like sunflowers The bouquets have a huge carbon footprint as they are usually imported from Colombia and Ecuador via air travel Roses are the most popular cut flower in the world and are the classic floral pic when it comes to romantic occasions - like weddings, engagements and of course Valentine's Day Leading up to Valentine's Day, 30 cargo jets fly from Colombia to Miami daily and a similar amount fly in from Ecuador. This amounts to almost 15,000 tons of flowers being delivered in less than a month, which has a massive environmental effect Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. with 28 percent of the country's emissions coming from that category alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Last year it was estimated that flower delivery flights in the three week run-up to Valentine's Day burn around 114 million liters of fuel - which emits approximately 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A few decades ago there was a shift from home-grown roses to South American buds as the U.S. tried to squash the cocaine trade by giving Colombia access to the U.S. market through roses instead of coca leaves, the raw ingredient for making cocaine. Colombia alone shipped more than four billion flowers to the U.S. last year, according to The Washington Post. It is estimated that the United States alone will spend a whopping $2.6 billion on flowers this Valentine's Day, and in 2023 - 250 million of the flowers bought for the occasion were cut roses. Prices range from $8 per dozen in August to $23 around Valentine's Day - and the romantic holiday makes up more than one-fifth of Colombia's rose growers' annual revenue. While the rose-industry has shifted to foreign soil, American farmers concentrate on different flower crops. U.S. farmers mostly cultivate specialty flowers such as sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias and snapdragons which are more delicate and won't travel well. Last year it was estimated that flower delivery flights in the three week run-up to Valentine's Day burn around 114 million liters of fuel - which emits approximately 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere While the rose-industry has shifted to foreign soil, American farmers concentrate on different flower crops. U.S. farmers mostly cultivate specialty flowers such as sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias and snapdragons which are more delicate and won't travel well Sunflowers are a great option for a romantic gesture, but have been previously frowned upon as a gift because they are easy to grow and don't require the same amount of care as roses Environmentalists are urging romantics to buy those flowers instead of roses because it's far less likely that they travelled via air. Sunflowers are a great option for a romantic gesture, but have been previously frowned upon as a gift because they are easy to grow and don't require the same amount of care as roses. The beautiful and bright blooms are not 'precious' or 'gentle' and haven't earned the same reputation as a present for romantic partners, but they are far more environmentally friendly because they are grown on American soil. Americans are also encouraged to check labels when buying supermarket flowers to see if the bouquets are 'Certified American Grown'. Although, the best way to buy flowers is to ditch grocery stores altogether and support local florists and farmers markets which are more likely to sell blooms grown nearby. The Democrat hoping to win former congressman and fabulist liar George Santos' seat says Biden's old age raises questions of whether he'll last through his re-election bid. Tom Suozzi, 61, is a former Democrat congressman who represented the 3rd Congressional District of New York from 2017 to 2023. He is working to regain the seat he once held during tonight's special election after Santos was expelled from the House last year, but is neck-and-neck with Republican candidate Mazi Pilip. Following an ethics report revealing he improperly diverted campaign contributions to pay for Botox treatments, Hermes bags, OnlyFans and cash withdrawals at a casino, Santos was voted out of Congress after serving just 11 months in office. In a surprisingly harsh critique of a fellow Democrat and the leader of his party, Suozzi took a shot at President Biden's age on the eve of the special election. 'The bottom line is he's old,' Suozzi told a local news anchor. 'I know 81-year-old people that are in good shape and I know 81-year-olds that are not in great shape. He's old and there's no question about it.' There's a 'debate as to whether [Biden's] going to stick it out or not,' he added. Suozzi's comments come as renewed scrutiny over Biden's age and abilities have taken center stage in Washington after an explosive Department of Justice report claimed Biden has a 'poor memory' and displays 'diminished faculties.' Tom Suozzi said Biden is 'old and there's no question about it' when speaking on Good Day New York Monday morning the day before the special election George Santos was only the sixth House member expelled from the chamber in history Later, Suozzi was noncommittal when asked whether he would support President Biden in the 2024 election, saying he would 'likely' support the president but he would wait to 'see what happens.' The special election is being held tonight and polls close at 9pm ET. Long Island is currently being hit with snow by a Nor'easter storm that could impact voter turnout this evening. A recent poll similarly found that 86 percent of Americans also think Biden is 'too old' to run for a second term. Biden, for his part, has batted down claims that he is too old and has poked fun at speculations about his memory. 'I know it doesn't look like it but I've been around a while,' the president said during a speech to the National Association of Counties Monday. 'I do remember that,' Biden, 81, added. Democrats on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, have eagerly backed the president's 2024 bid and dismissed concerns about his age and abilities. 'The president is doing an incredible job, and I look forward to making sure he gets re-elected in 2024,' Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., told DailyMail.com Monday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut agreed, saying Biden 'is as sharp as ever.' President Joe Biden has faced scrutiny about his age following the release of the DOJ report Mazi Pilip's is an Israeli-American born in Ethiopia who served in the Israel Defense Forces A Democrat victory in Tuesday's special election would further narrow the already slim GOP majority in the House where Republicans have just 219 seats while Democrats hold 212 seats. Suozzi's opponent, Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, 44, is the mother of seven and an Israeli-American born in Ethiopia who served in the Israel Defense Forces before immigrating to the US. She was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, both candidates have gone on the attack as a series of recent polls have shown Suozzi and Pilip in a statistical dead-heat. Pilip has been working to tie Suozzi, who served in the House from 2017 to 2023, to President Joe Biden, claiming he voted with the president '100 percent of the time.' Suozzi warns Pilip will help pass a national abortion ban, a potent line of attack Democrats have been making against Republicans since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Pilip, who describes herself as pro-life, refutes his claim, saying she believes women have the right to make their own decision. Polls in New York's Third District opened at 6am ET and will remain open until 9pm ET. Voters also had more than a week to cast their ballots in early voting. A British woman drowned in front of her horrified son after she was dragged into the sea near a famed temple in India. The 84-year-old woman was visiting the town of Mamallapuram, in southeast India, with her son on Monday. The pair went to a temple that sits on the shore of the town, and visited a beach next to it, both of them deciding to go into the Bay of Bengal sea. Authorities said that a strong tide is believed to have pulled the woman away from the beach. Her son was unsuccessful in his attempts to rescue her, and an hour later her body washed ashore. The 84-year-old woman was visiting the town of Mamallapuram, in southeast India, with her son on Monday (FILE IMAGE) After police were notified of the incident, they sent her body to the Government Hospital, in Chengalpattu, roughly 18 miles away. Local media reported that police are preparing to have her body flown back to the UK. MailOnline has contacted the FCDO for comment. It comes just a month after another British woman was found dead in the grounds of a church on a beach in India. Emma Leaning, 46, was found lying in a church compound which extends onto Agonda beach in southern Goa. There were no external injuries found on her body, police said. Officers have registered the case and the remains have been sent for a post-mortem examination at the district hospital in the town of Margao. Leaning's body was discovered by a group of locals as they walked along Agonda beach, north of the town of Canacona, according to local media. Locals have speculated that Leaning was attempting to climb a wall when she fell and broke a collarbone. The mystery has also fuelled suspicions over whether there was foul play. But police inspector Chandrakant Gawas said: 'She was found with no injuries, her clothes and possessions including mobile phone and identity documents were intact. 'We do not suspect foul play. We can comment on the cause of death only after the postmortem.' A black couple at an IHOP in Texas were told they would not be served by a certain waitress because of their race. Keisha Mitchell and her boyfriend Elvis Polley were at an IHOP in Mesquite, Texas on the day after Christmas when they were informed by their server that they should close out their tab because the next server on duty would not serve them. In an interview following the racist incident, Mitchell called the interaction a 'very traumatic experience.' 'When we got to the restaurant, we were told that we were not going to be serviced because of our color. It is a shock, and your brain is not processing what you're hearing,' she said. Couple Elvis Polley (left) and Keisha Mitchell (right), were told a waitress at a local IHOP would not serve them because of their race Mitchell recounted that another employee, one of the managers of the restaurant told the pair that the next waitress would object to serving them because they are black - and explained that the longtime waitress is 'picky.' 'That's not being picky if you're selecting only a certain group of people you want to serve,' said Mitchell. She recorded the conversation and posted it to her TikTok, where it has garnered tens of thousands of views. When the manager, who is identified as a woman named Harmony, is questioned about why someone who is clearly racist is working at the establishment, she says that the server has worked there for 25 years. She later said that she 'can't control what my manger does,' referring to the general manager of the franchise, who had not at that point fired the racist server. The couple eventually ask for the names of everyone involved in the incident and IHOP's corporate number. IHOP franchise management company Anthraper Restaurants said in a statement to CBS Texas, which first reported the story: 'Since our founding, we have strived to create warm and hospitable dining experiences for all guests, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, or actions that allude to any form of discrimination. 'We have fully investigated this matter and taken appropriate actions, including termination of the employees involved. This isolated incident is not reflective of our ongoing commitment to our guests and Team Members. 'We will be providing additional anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training to ensuring that all remaining Team Members understand the company's unwavering intolerance of any prohibited form of discrimination.' A partial image of one of the franchise's (former) managers told the black couple that the waitress who would refuse to serve them was simply 'picky' The franchise owners of the Mesquite, Texas IHOP said they would be introducing a mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for the remaining employees Polley and Mitchell said that they discovered via social media that not only was the racist waitress terminated, but so was the manager, as well as another server. The pair say the firings were the right move by the franchise, but that the incident has left its mark. Polley said that even in the aftermath of the incident, he 'can't get' the incident out of his head. 'I'm having sleepless nights. It is draining,' he said. Mitchell added: 'It opened the door that I never wanted to walk through. Have we, have we come as far as we think? Or is it just being hidden more?' A mechanic named Jerry saved the life of a tabby cat on February 12 after he found the animal trapped inside a car muffler. Jerry first spotted the cat while he was working on the vehicle at LM Cars in Burr Ridge, Illinois, yesterday afternoon. A customer had brought the car to the shop earlier that day to receive brake services. LM Cars posted a video of the cat yesterday during its rescue, which shows Jerry safely removing the cat from the muffler. The cat, who began to meow loudly after the rescue, appeared to be unharmed. Jerry, a mechanic at LM Cars, saved the life of a cat that was stuck underneath a car muffler on February 12 The vehicle was brought in by a customer earlier that day to receive break services. It is unclear if the cat was stuck inside the muffler while the customer was driving Jerry managed to successfully get the grateful tabby cat out from under the muffler. The cat will be receiving an examination, but it appeared to be alright after its rescue The video was taken by LM Cars general manager Willy Li, who called the animal 'a cute cat.' 'He's fine. He's perfectly fine. He's responding to lights,' Li stated. According to Li, the employees first believed that the tabby cat was not alive. 'We thought it was dead but then we saw it moved,' he stated. 'So we made a landing pad with a blanket and oil drainer stand. Removed quite a few parts on that car and wriggled the muffler, the cat safely dropped into the landing pad.' Li said that it took Jerry about 15 minutes to get the cat out of the muffler at around 4:30. The mechanics made a landing pad for the cat with a blanket and an oil drained stand, which is where the feline ended up after being removed from the muffler The cat was picked up yesterday at around 6:00 by Dupage County Animal Services. They will examine the cat to ensure it is in good health before putting it up for adoption or searching for its current owner. 'Dupage animal services Lady said he/she was a domesticated cat, we hope the owner of the cat could see the news and take him home from Dupage animal services,' said Li. According to Li, no one at LM Cars has ever seen this happen before. 'We had cats running around our yard before but seeing a car stuck in a car's undercarriage was scary and first time thing,' he stated. 'This was a domesticated cat, very cute. Hopefully someone bring him home.' According to Li, this kind of rescue has never happened before. However, he and other employees have spotted cats running around their yard Following this incident, Li hopes that individuals will watch out for animals that may be hidden in their vehicles. 'In the winter, make some noise or bang on your car a few times before you start driving away your car to scare off animals hiding in your car,' he said. 'Animals do hide underneath cars.' Heartbroken fans of The Body Shop have said a final farewell to the beloved beauty chain following the news it is entering administration. Customers mourned the end of an era on social media, saying they have lost a 'quintessential part of their teenage years'. The Body Shop currently employs 10,000 people across 3,000 stores it operates in more than 70 countries around the world - with a further 12,000 staff working in franchises. FRP Advisory has been brought in to handle the insolvency process just weeks after a new owner took control having vowed to 're-energise the business'. The administration currently only affects UK staff and stores. In a statement, it said 'administrators will now consider all options to find a way forward for the business and will update creditors and employees in due course'. The business will continue to trade both in-store and online while plans are made for the future of the beloved high street brand. Heartbroken fans of The Body Shop have said they have lost a 'quintessential part of their teenage years' The troubled chain has announced plans to take itself into administration in the UK Set up in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick, the company became famous for it's no-nonsense ethical trading ethos and refusal to test products on animals The troubled chain - which has faced stiff competition from the likes of millennial and Gen Z-friendly bath bomb purveyors Lush and luxury brand Rituals - had also just shut down its Avon-style home business division, The Body Shop At Home. FRP said: 'The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. 'Having taken swift action in the last month, including closing down The Body Shop At Home and selling its business across most of Europe and in parts of Asia, focusing on the UK business is the next important step in The Body Shop's restructuring.' The administrators added: 'The Body Shop remains guided by its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term. 'Creating a more nimble and financially stable UK business is an important step in achieving this.' Reacting to the tragic news on social media, some fans were left bereft by the fate of one of their childhood memories Reacting to the tragic news on social media, some fans were left bereft by the fate of one of their childhood memories. One said: 'The Body Shop was such a quintessential part of my teens I remember the soaps, the Henna hair die and the bath pearls, a place were perhaps people didnt have to conform to conventional gender based beauty norms? 'Having said that I hadnt bought anything for years.' 'NOOO NOT THE BODY SHOP!', screamed another. 'Other than bloody good genetics (which Im aware I have), I do credit The Body Shop for teen years that were mostly zit and blemish free', another remarked graciously. There was room for humour too as one woman joked: 'If The Body Shop started selling Dewberry, Fuzzy Peach, Ananya and White Musk perfume oils again, then all the nostalgic women in their 40s/50s who would buy them could basically save the entire business.' Bridgeton actress Adjoa Andoh was also sad at the news. She posted: 'Heartbroken at the demise of The Body Shop, for its body butters, make up range, ethical value system, solidarity with communities across the world who grow the ingredients. 'I have been shopping continuously at The Body Shop since the 1970s. I am bereft.' One former worker recalled on X, formerly Twitter: 'Sad news about The Body Shop. Still one of my fave jobs ever when I was a student, worked weekends Oxford St & Kings Rd in late 90s. 'Met some amazing people (cool celebs too) & fell in love with skincare & makeup.' One Londoner wrote: 'If the body shop in centre court (Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon) goes I will actually cry.' The store grew into an eco-friendly, socially responsible, politically outspoken chain of 1,700 shops, operating in 49 markets around the world. Dame Anita is pictured above in 1984 Protesting against animal testing was a key business objective for the brand, with Anita leading the resistance Redefining beauty standards was another key aim for The Body Shop, with the objective of making women feel comfortable in their own skin In 2012, British actress and model Lily Cole (pictured) became the brand's first global ambassador Set up in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick, the company became famous for it's no-nonsense ethical trading ethos and refusal to test products on animals. Popular products which helped establish the brand's name included bath bombs, White Musk fragrance and hemp hand cream. However in recent years it has seen its popularity in the UK with shoppers diminish due to the rise of rivals Lush and Holland and Barrett, and a growing online market of cheaper alternatives. The firm also fell out of favour with some buyers after being sold to L'Oreal for 675million by Dame Anita in 2006 - a move that stunned many who saw the sale to a large corporation as running counter to the company's values. The Body Shop changed hands again in 2017 when the French cosmetics giant sold it to Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura&Co for 1billion. It was then bought by private equity firm Aurelius just weeks ago for 207million. After purchasing the brand, Aurelius said that 'despite the challenging retail market there is an opportunity to re-energise the business to enable it to take advantage of positive trends in the high-growth beauty market.' But the move to keep up with the likes of Lush and Rituals has also seen the firm seemingly move away from its do-gooder origins. X-Factor winner Leona Lewis (pictured) followed suit and became a brand ambassador a year later in 2013 Vivienne Westwood supported the brand back in 2012 and attended the launch of Beauty with Hear by The Body Shop Made in Chelsea star and influencer Lucy Watson (pictured) partnered with the brand in 2018 in support of the #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting campaign Actress Maisie Williams (pictured) urged her social media followers to join the #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting campaign a year before in 2013 Mark Constantine, co-founder and chief executive of Lush, told the Sunday Times the Body Shop had moved manufacturing to the Philippines under L'Oreal's ownership, pushing up profits. Mr Constantine, who was a major supplier to the Body Shop in a previous role, said: 'You can't cheapen everything, remove the values and take more profit without the customers noticing and going elsewhere. 'They lost that feeling one got when buying a Body Shop product - that you were helping to change the world.' The Body Shop fans have been left 'heartbroken' following the news of the brand's potential insolvency and call for a reintroduction of their retro products, including perfume oil (pictured) In the early 1990s, The Body shop offered Japanese Washing Grains (pictured). The item is no longer available to purchase, despite fans loving the product In its true quirky style, the cosmetic store once offered miniature soaps that resembled different fruits (pictured) It has since emerged that the business has insufficient working capital and suffered from a poor Christmas period of trading. Aurelius only took control of the firm on January 1. That month, The Body Shop claimed that most of its business stemmed from mainland Europe and Asia - and has since sold those businesses to an unnamed investor. It told Retail Week in January that the move 'further prioritises the Body Shop's strategically important markets and global head franchise partner relationships, which it will look for opportunities to build. 'The Body Shop will also focus on more effectively reaching customers by strengthening digital platforms, developing new sales channels, and via differentiated retail experiences.' A spokesman for the Body Shop said: 'Today, the Directors of The Body Shop International Limited have appointed Tony Wright, Geoff Rowley, and Alastair Massey of business advisory firm FRP as Joint Administrators of the company, which operates The Body Shops UK business. 'Taking this approach provides the stability, flexibility and security to find the best means of securing the future of The Body Shop and revitalizing this iconic British brand. The Joint Administrators will now consider all options to find a way forward for the business and will update creditors and employees in due course. 'The Body Shop remains guided by its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term. Creating a more nimble and financially stable UK business, is an important step in achieving this. 'The Joint Administrators will continue to trade the business in administration, ensuring customers will be able to continue to shop in store and online for their favourite products. 'The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. Having taken swift action in the last month, including closing down The Body Shop At Home and selling its business across most of Europe and in parts of Asia, focusing on the UK business is the next important step in The Body Shops restructuring.' Hunter Biden's ex-business partner who has since turned on him, Tony Bobulinski, says Joe Biden was the 'enabler' of his family's lucrative foreign business deals. He plans to tell Republicans leading impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden today that the president 'enabled' deals with China and other foreign adversaries, according to his opening statement obtained by DailyMail.com. 'I want to be crystal clear: from my direct personal experience and what I have subsequently come to learn, it is clear to me that Joe Biden was 'the Brand' being sold by the Biden family,' he says in opening remarks. He continues to say Joe was 'more than a participant' in his family's business, but rather 'an enabler, despite being buffered by a complex scheme to maintain plausible deniability.' Bobulinski is appearing today before impeachment investigators on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees in a deposition that is expected to take up most of the day. 'The Biden family business was Joe Biden, period,' DailyMail.com has learned he will say. In addition, he plans to detail how Chinese energy company CEFC 'successfully sought to infiltrate and compromise' the Obama-Biden White House. Bobulinski, a Navy veteran, worked with Hunter Biden and his uncle Jim - Joe's brother - in 2017 to create the joint venture SinoHawk Holdings with CEFC. Republicans are set to interrogate Hunter Biden 's business partner who has since turned on him, Tony Bobulinski, on Tuesday Joe Biden, seen with his son Hunter in June, has always insisted he was not involved in Hunter's business dealings In 2020, Bobulinski publicized a May 2017 email detailing a proposed equity split for a Chinese investment. The cryptic message said 20 percent of profits would be divided, with 10 percent to 'Jim' - likely Hunter's uncle, Jim Biden, and '10 held by H for the big guy.' Bobulinski claimed that 'the big guy' was Joe Biden , who was vice president until January 2017. He also will tell impeachment investigators that 'it is also not a coincidence' that CEFC used the Biden family's 'weakest link' Hunter to funnel in tens of millions of dollars. In addition, he says he has 'never' been contacted by any Biden administration agencies including the Justice Department, FBI, IRS or any law enforcement about his allegations. Democrats are hitting back at Bobulinski's claims, saying he's just another Republican witness with allegations that have been 'disproven.' 'This seems like a scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest here with Mr. Bobulinski. The first and most important point is simply that he offers absolutely no testimony that indicates any criminal activity by President Biden,' said top Oversight Democrat Jamie Raskin, 'or evidence that President Biden was involved in Hunter Biden's businesses.' Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., added '[Bobulinski] said that he had two conversations with President Biden ever, and neither one of them had anything to do [with], or any relation [to], or any discussion of any of his business dealings.' The White House is maintaining that Joe Biden was never involved in his family businesses in any capacity. Bobulinski previously claimed that the FBI ignored evidence about the Biden family's alleged crimes and 'altered history' by suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 election. In a bombshell interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in 2022, Bobulinski brought up a voicemail he says proves that Joe was well aware of Hunter's deal with CEFC. Joe Biden called Hunter in December 2018 saying he wanted to talk to him after reading a New York Times story about Hunter's dealings with Chinese oil giant CEFC. Files on Hunter's abandoned laptop previously disclosed by DailyMail.com show that he struck a deal with the Chinese company worth millions of dollars. The Times' 2018 story pointed out CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming had been arrested in China and his lieutenant Patrick Ho had been convicted of bribery. After seeing the story online, Joe called Hunter and left a voicemail saying he was 'in the clear.' 'I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear,' Joe said in the voicemail. The message flies in the face of the president's repeated denials that Joe ever discussed or was involved in Hunter's overseas business dealings. Hunter's lawyer Abbe Lowell has claimed that Bobulinski lied to the FBI. Late last year, Hunter asked the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Matthew Greaves to investigate his former associate, saying Bobulinski had deliberately mischaracterized his ties to the Biden family. He is accused of acting to malign 'the character and reputation of [Hunter] Biden and his family, and to boost his own sense of self-worth.' Bobulinski, a Navy veteran, worked with Hunter Biden and his uncle Jim - Joe's brother - in 2017 to create the joint-venture SinoHawk Holdings with CEFC Hunter Biden 's business partner who has since turned on him, Tony Bobulinski, says Joe Biden was the 'enabler' of his family's lucrative foreign business deals IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who have testified that the federal probe into Hunter was tainted by political influence, also claimed Joe Biden was 'the big guy.' Next week Republicans will hear from President Joe Biden's brother James on February 21 and Hunter himself on February 28. Republicans subpoenaed the pair for testimony and threatened them with contempt charges before they agreed to come in for closed door testimony. Former President Donald Trump is attracting 60 percent of Republican voters who previously backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which is how he's maintained an advantage in the GOP primaries over rival Nikki Haley. YouGov polling released Monday shows where Republican primary voters went after DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the 2024 primary race. Haley soaked up 64 percent of Christie's supporters, after the ex-governor and top Trump critic dropped out ahead of the Iowa caucuses in January. She didn't receive a bigger boost because Christie supporters only accounted for 2 percent of GOP primary voters. Like DeSantis' fans, Ramaswamy's supporters also headed toward Trump, with 57 percent now supporting the ex-president. Former President Donald Trump absorbed a majority of voters who were first supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, which is how he continues to dominate in the GOP primaries over chief rival Nikki Haley YouGov polling found that 60 percent of DeSantis' supporters and 57 percent of Ramaswamy's supporters are now backing Trump, while Haley received 64 percent of Christie fan, which represented a much smaller percentage of the GOP electorate DeSantis and Ramaswamy's supporters combined made up 15 percent of the vote. Ramaswamy and DeSantis publicly endorsed Trump as they exited the 2024 race, while Christie refused to tell his supporters who they should go for. Overall, YouGov polling found that 51 percent of likely GOP primary voters were backing Trump and only 23 percent were supporting Haley, with another 26 percent saying they were undecided. These voters were interviewed in late January. An initial survey was conducted between December 11, 2023 and January 16, with the first Republican votes cast in the January 15 Iowa caucuses. Christie dropped out ahead of Iowa, while Ramaswamy dropped out on caucus night. DeSantis stayed in the race for several more days, but bowed out before he could be embarrassed by both Trump and Haley in New Hampshire. Overall, Nikki Haley (pictured) has the backing of 23 percent of Republican primary voters nationally, while Trump gets 51 percent. She's photographed campaigning in South Carolina where the next GOP primary will be hold on February 24 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) is photographed campaigning in South Carolina a day before he dropped out of the race last month, while Christie (right) is seen telling voters in New Hampshire in mid-January that he was bowing out of the race Vivek Ramaswamy informs supporters the night of the Iowa caucuses that he was dropping out of the race due to poor performance. He immediately endorsed Trump and has since appeared with the ex-president on the campaign trail Since that initial survey was taken, some of Haley's supporters have strayed, with 10 percent of her initial backers now supporting Trump and another 21 percent saying they're undecided or no longer plan to vote in the Republican primaries. Trump's voting bloc is sticking together, with 90 percent of his supporters supporting him as of late January. The ex-president beats Haley in nearly every demographic - including with women. YouGov's polling found that 57 percent of women are supporting Trump - compared to 47 percent of men - with just 20 percent of women supporting Haley. Haley comes close to beating Trump with 'weak Republicans,' a term used for more moderate voters. Among that group, 42 percent are backing Trump while 40 percent are supporting Haley. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus .5 percent to 2.3 percent among the group of recontacted Republican primary voters. Calls have been growing for the wealthy Boston suburb of Wellesley to house migrants as Massachusetts, and the nation, struggles with a surge of asylum seekers. The state is facing backlash over claims it is putting the brunt of the migrant crisis on lower-income communities, with tensions reaching a boiling point earlier this month after the state converted a state-run community center in Roxbury into a temporary shelter for migrants. A sign in a protest against the shelter earlier this month read: Why Roxbury? Try Wellesley!' And Wellesley residents are open to the idea, according to the Boston Globe, which cited a local who referred to other town expenses including DEI commitments. 'We have money to spend on lots of things that are so irrelevant,' said the local, who did not want to give their name. 'We just hired a consultant from Arlington to tell us how to talk to each other.' Calls have been growing for the wealthy Boston suburb of Wellesley to house migrants as Massachusetts, and the nation, struggles with a surge of asylum seekers Tensions reached a boiling point earlier this month after the state converted a state-run community center in Roxbury into a temporary shelter for migrants A sign in a protest against the shelter earlier this month read: Why Roxbury? Try Wellesley!' Wellesley is perhaps best known as the home of Wellesley College, a prestigious private women's liberal arts college that counts Hillary Clinton as an alum Wellesley is perhaps best known as the home of Wellesley College, a prestigious private women's liberal arts college that counts Hillary Clinton as an alum. Regina LaRocque, a member of Wellesleys Town Meeting and a professor at Harvard Medical School, also told the Globe she would welcome the migrants. 'We are dealing with a humanitarian crisis here in Massachusetts and all of our communities should be stepping up to meet the needs of people arriving as migrants,' she said. Democratic Boston councilwoman Julia Mejia also called for Wellesley to house migrants, telling NBC that 'cities and towns that have so much more resources' than Boston should share the burden. 'I think everybody needs to start opening their doors because this is a shared responsibility,' Mejia added. Meanwhile Boston Globe columnist and Editorial Board member Marcela Garcia also supported housing migrants in Wellesley. Regina LaRocque, a member of Wellesleys Town Meeting and a professor at Harvard Medical School, also told the Globe she would welcome the migrants Democratic Boston councilwoman Julia Mejia also called for Wellesley to house migrants, saying 'cities and towns that have so much more resources' should share the burden 'Why should Roxbury, a predominantly Black, low-income community that has historically lacked enough investment, step up if wealthier communities havent?' Garcia wrote in an op-ed. Democratic Governor Maura Healey has said the state government has no choice but to continue opening temporary shelters to deal with the surge of migrant families. 'Were here today because we really dont have a choice,' she said. 'Families continue to come into this country, continue to come to Massachusetts, and we have over the last several months opened up locations throughout the state.' There are currently three larger state-operated overflow family shelter sites. The location in Roxbury, one of the citys traditionally Black neighborhoods, is the fourth. There are also smaller emergency shelter sites in about 90 communities. Those using the overflow sites are among 656 families currently on a wait list hoping to get into the states emergency family shelter program. Healey last year capped the number of people in the shelter program at 7,500 and created the wait list. Healey and Boston Democratic mayor Wendy Wu have called on the Biden administration for more help in dealing with the influx of migrants. Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas has been added to Russia's wanted list for allegedly destroying 'monuments to Soviet soldiers.' Kallas, 46, has become the first head of state to handed a criminal charge by Russian authorities and joins the International Criminal Court's British chief prosecutor, US senator Lindsay Graham - as well as 93 British nationals that Russia claims are fighting on the side of Ukraine in Vladimir Putin's continuing war. She, and several other European officials from Baltic states, were added to the list on Tuesday over their alleged involvement in the destruction of Soviet-era war memorials. The monuments, some of which commemorate the Red Army, had long been controversial in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and seen by many as symbols of their time under Soviet occupation. The three Baltic states began removing and demolishing some of them in response to Russia's full-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022, prompting outrage in Moscow. Kaja Kallas, 46, has become the first head of state to handed a criminal charge by Russian authorities US senator Lindsey Graham was sanctioned last year The ICC's chief prosecutor, Briton Karim Khan, was sanctioned last year Kallas appeared on the Russian interior ministry's wanted list early on Tuesday, along with Estonian state secretary Taimar Peterkop and a number of other officials. They were listed in connection with the 'destruction of monuments to Soviet soldiers', Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. 'Crimes against the memory of the liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must be punished. And this is just the beginning,' she added. Russia has laws criminalizing the 'rehabilitation of Nazis' that include clauses punishing the desecration of war memorials, and Russia's Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency, has a dedicated department to deal with alleged 'falsification of history' and 'rehabilitation of Nazism,' which has ramped up its action since the start of the war, according to Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet that analysed the wanted list on Tuesday. Kallas, a staunch critic of Russia and its Ukraine offensive, said the move was unsurprising. 'Their scare tactics won't change our actions,' she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council A woman reacts as she stands in front of a house burning after being shelled in the city of Irpin, outside Kyiv Fire and burnt-out cars are seen after a missile strike in Kyiv on January 2,2024 Kallas joins the ranks of international figures who have been sanctioned by the Russian state since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The ICC's British chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, was put on the list in May 2023, and is wanted for 'felony charges.' He and three ICC judges had cases brought against them in Russia for committing 'signs of crimes' under Russian law. In Khan's case, he was accused of accusing an innocent person of a crime. He was the prosecutor who successfully brought charges against Vladimir Putin at the ICC in April 2022, for the mass abduction of Ukrainian children and the targeting of civilian infrastructure in the country. US senator Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, was charged under Russian law for comments he made while meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, without specifying what the crimes were. During his visit to Kyiv, he told Zelensky that Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion reminded him of 'our better selves in America.' 'There was a time in America that we were this way, fighting to the last person, we were going to be free or die.' A Ukrainian soldier in a tank in the direction of Bakhmut Ukrainian servicemen fire with a tank as they check it after a maintenance not far from Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on February 5, 2024 A view military vehichle in a fighting position near Bakhmut as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues Zelensky said in response: 'Now you are free'. Graham replied: 'And the Russians are dying.' After the sanction, Graham took to X and said: 'To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of [President Vladimir] Putin's regime brings me immense joy.' 'Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!' Along with major figures, 93 British have been charged for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Russia's defence ministry claimed last year 635 foreigners from 47 countries across the world were helping Ukraine's war effort. A playboy fraudster has been jailed after the Mail exposed him selling fake negative coronavirus certificates. Danyal Sajid, 25 and from Bradford, paid no regard to the potential disease and death he may have caused by selling the counterfeit documents which were required for Britons to travel abroad during the pandemic, a judge said. The Mail revealed his criminal operation after he sold one of the bogus certificates - which he openly advertised on social media - to an undercover reporter for 75. The reporter later met him on holiday in Dubai where he agreed to sell another 11 documents for 825 - and boasted how he had been blowing his illicit profits on luxury cars and a prostitute. Sajid was arrested on 10 December 2020, five days after our story ran, and after a lengthy legal process to establish English law had jurisdiction over the cross borders crime, eventually pleaded guilty to intentionally encouraging or assisting fraud. Danyal Sajid, 25, has been jailed after the Mail exposed him selling fake negative coronavirus certificates Sajid (facing the camera) meeting the Daily Mail investigator where he agreed to sell 11 selling fake negative coronavirus certificates for 825 Jailing Sajid for eight months at Bradford Crown Court this week, Recorder Ian Mullarky said Sajid was prepared to sell a large number of fake certificates for profit. He said the travel restrictions had been put in place to protect peoples health. You actively undermined that system, entirely, said the judge. What you did was quite deliberate. You sold certificates without any regard of the potential harm they could do - the spread of disease and possible death. The defence barrister had told the court that Sajid, who is now married and works as a taxi driver, had been suffering financial difficulties at the time and saw this as an easy way out. But the judge told him that his claim was difficult to reconcile with you being on holiday in Dubai at the time. Sajid had told the undercover reporter that in just a few days in Dubai he had hired a Range Rover, Mercedes G-Wagon, Mercedes GTC, Mercedes GTS and Mercedes S63, and was hoping to rent a Lamborghini before he returned home. Other online footage showed him posing at a rooftop nightclub in the glamorous Five Palm Jumeirah hotel. He bragged about spending 500 in a night at the venue and also described picking up a Spanish prostitute, who he said looked like an Instagram model and who he paid 300 for the night. Mr Sajid leaving the meeting with the investigator after agreeing to produce a fake document for a traveller he was told had already tested positive The scammer said the loophole was easy to exploit because it is almost impossible for airlines and border staff to check if documents are genuine. En route to Dubai he posted a picture of himself on his plane with the fake certificate, writing: For those who didnt believe it worked. Adiosssssss.. Sajid is the third criminal to be jailed in the last seven months following exposes by the Mail Investigations Unit. Albanian drug lord Selamet Mehmetaj was locked up for four-and-a-half years in August 2023 for running cannabis factories staffed by illegal immigrants that distributed drugs worth millions of pounds a year. And in November people smuggler Muhamed Alievski was jailed following an undercover expose of gangs helping foreign fugitives flee the UK. A senior executive has won almost 100,000 after she complained that the female CEO of a women-friendly dating app had reduced staff to tears with her bullying behaviour. Rhonda Alexander was the boss of Fluttr, a British app that when it launched boasted it would beat 'Tinder Swindler'-style romance fraud and create a 'safe space' for single women. The Cambridge University educated New Yorker declares herself a 'fierce champion for female leaders and entrepreneurs' who believes that 'female acknowledgement is a fundamental building block to enabling all women to be seen, heard, and respected'. However, an employment tribunal heard that behind the scenes at the company her 'downright rude' and 'damaging' behaviour to staff had led to a series of complaints. One victim was Laura Cameron Peck, the CEO of a sister start-up to Fluttr who reported Ms Alexander to bosses, accusing her of being 'passive aggressive', 'manipulative' and of eroding the confidence of colleagues by 'throwing eggs' at their suggestions. Rhonda Alexander was the boss of Fluttr, a British app that when it launched boasted it would beat ' Tinder Swindler'-style romance fraud and create a 'safe space' for single women But the tribunal heard that rather than address her concerns, senior executives turned on Ms Cameron Peck, forcing her out of her 120,000 a year job just three months after she started. Now she has been awarded 97,361 in compensation for the way she was treated after blowing the whistle. The hearing in Manchester was told that Ms Cameron Peck - who had a successful career for over 35 years in the IT and digital services industry - was appointed to be CEO of digital company Wndr Social Ltd in August 2021. Wndr was a subsidiary of newly formed firm the Ethical Social Group (ESG) which had another subsidiary, Fluttr, headed by Ms Alexander. Now based in London, the American businesswoman describes herself on Linkedin as a 'Fierce Female and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion'. The ESG's founder and CEO, Graham Pullan, told Ms Cameron Peck that he believed Ms Alexander to be 'quite wealthy with access to contacts with funds'. The tribunal heard that the companies were on 'a mission to rebuild social platforms for good'. Executives said this would be achieved by delivering 'a suite of next-generation social applications that place member privacy, security, fun and well-being at the heart of everything'. 'Fluttr, for example, was intended to be a new dating app, using technology to boost security,' the tribunal heard. When it launched on Valentine's Day 2022, the app boasted that by using digital ID verification and AI, the risk of users being defrauded would be eliminated. 'We want to rid the world of Tinder Swindlers and create a safe space free from the fake profiles used to defraud, catfish and abuse online daters,' said Rhonda Alexander, at the time. 'We're reclaiming the fun of online dating...to create an environment that is secure enough for people to do everything from connecting with real people to falling in love.' An employment tribunal heard that behind the scenes at the app Ms Alexander's 'downright rude' and 'damaging' behaviour to staff had led to a series of complaints However, the tribunal heard that just six months previously her behaviour at the company had led to a series of complaints to Ms Cameron Peck which she flagged to Mr Pullan in a Whatsapp message. 'She wrote about people contacting her in tears, talking about the bullying and rudeness they experienced and the way they had been treated, having eggs thrown at their efforts or suggestions and becoming silenced, deep professional experience being talked down by louder inexperienced and rude voices, confidence being eroded,' the hearing was told. 'She wrote that poor choices were being made and people being damaged.' She later rang and emailed Mr Pullan to expand on the bullying and harassment being experienced by her and others. 'She wrote that she experienced much of Rhonda's behaviour as passive aggressive and manipulative and at other times downright rude,' the tribunal heard. READ MORE - Deloitte consultant who accused her boss of flirting with her by comparing her to Pocahontas loses race discrimination case after colleague claimed he had been discussing his wife's 'ancestors' Advertisement '(Incidents) included calling out and trying to embarrass/humiliate colleagues in open settings, such as online meetings and adopting inappropriate and purposefully aggressive facial expressions and gestures on team/group video calls when someone she chose to be in confrontation with spoke, making it uncomfortable for others and for her target.' One colleague had been reduced to tears and resigned as a result of their treatment, the hearing was told. However, Ms Cameron Peck's messages were ignored, the tribunal was told. Rather than try to tackle Ms Alexander's behaviour, Mr Pullan took the decision to remove Ms Cameron Peck from meetings where she would encounter Ms Alexander. '[She] felt isolated and vulnerable,' the hearing was told. 'She felt compromised in her ability to fulfil her roles and responsibilities. [She] had always looked forward to going to work, but started to feel scared of going to work.' In addition, the tribunal heard Mr Pullan began 'belittling' her in public, reducing her to tears, while speaking in a 'condescending and derogatory manner' along with Ms Alexander. In October 2021, Ms Cameron Peck - who had also raised a number of concerns with Mr Pullan about the company's business practices - was suspended and nine days later, resigned. In her resignation letter she accused Mr Pullan of 'degrading and detrimental treatment'. She wrote: 'I feel that you have not dealt adequately with misconduct occurring over several months which has resulted in damage. 'I am one of those who has suffered, has been treated with inequity, and has been the shoulder of hope that others have chosen to cry on.' Ms Cameron Peck sued ESG, Mr Pullan and two other company directors for detrimental treatment on the grounds of making protected disclosures, constructive unfair dismissal and breach of contract. 13 of her claims were upheld. Employment Judge Hilary Slater concluded that Mr Pullan had targeted her after she became an 'irritant in his side' as the matters she was raising were 'threatening his way of carrying on business'. '[Her] complaints about Rhonda Alexander, if they had been properly pursued, could have threatened what [he] regarded as a good source of investment.' At the tribunal, where she represented herself, Ms Cameron Peck said wanted 'to leave a record so that no one else would be taken in by this duplicitous set of people'. The tribunal heard ESG ceased trading in late 2022. A Texas father of two was sentenced to 21 years in prison in Moscow on Tuesday after a court found him guilty of abusing his two sons while in the US. David Barnes, 66, was first arrested in January 2022 shortly after he arrived in Russia to visit his children and their mother, his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva. At the time, Barnes was applying for visitation rights. Koptyaeva was accused of taking the children from their home in the US unlawfully, prompting an Interpol alert for the two boys. The couple had an acrimonious divorce in which she accused him of sexually abusing their childrne. His trial started in the fall of 2022 but was not held consecutively. It finally concluded this week. During proceedings, Barnes testified on his own behalf, reports ABC News. In response, his lawyer, Gleb Glinka, told the network that she was 'horrified' by the sentence. 'There was almost no evidence that the court could base that verdict on.' Following the verdict, Koptyaeva rejected claims that she kidnapped her children. 'I didn't steal anyone. I was just protecting my kids,' she said. David Barnes was arrested in Moscow in January 2022 shortly after he arrived in the Russian capital During divorce proceedings, Svetlana Koptyaeva accused her husband of sexually abusing their children Barnes learned his fate Tuesday, he will spend 21 years in a Russian prison on child abuse charges The children were born in 2010 and 2014, according to Russian media reports. The couple divorced in 2017. A warrant for interfering with child custody proceedings is still active for Kopytaeva in Texas. As a result, in the US, Barnes is the children's legal guardian. She was supposed to give the boys' passports to her lawyer to hold during custody proceedings. The FBI believes that Koptyaeva flew with the children from Houston to Istanbul. Barnes was investigated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in 2018 over the abuse allegations but it was quickly squashed. In 2023, officials said that Barnes had not committed any crimes in the region that require him to be held behind bars. At trial, Koptyaeva testified that she told police about the allegations against Barnes shortly after she arrived in Moscow. Speaking to ABC News, Koptyaeva said that Barnes caused her children 'suffering and pain' and that her actions were motivated by a desire to protect her children. 'He is a man that loves his children more than anything. I dont even have any joy in life, because just knowing what hes living in and the conditions and what might come down the pike after the trial scares the hell out of me,' his sister, Carol, told NBC Houston in September 2022. Carol said that when her brother arrived in Russia, he found an apartment in the same building as his ex-wife and intended to pursue a custody arrangement. When his ex-wife saw him there, she notified the police. 'Its just something that you think about every day, and youre devastated for him. Its just, its heartbreaking,' his other sister Margaret Aaron told the station. A crowdfunding page for Barnes' legal costs has been set up. His friend, Chris Schiller, backed up Barnes' sister's opinion of him. 'He was the type of dad that you would never see the kids just sitting in front of a computer or a tablet. His kids were his world,' Schiller told ABC Houston in 2022. Unlike the cases of other high profile Americans in Russia, such as Paul Whelan, Gershkovich and Brittney Griner, Barnes' hearings were kept private to the extent that a representative from the US Embassy was not even in attendance. In the wake of his conviction, Barnes' relatives told ABC News that they hope he is part of a prisoner exchange, something that Vladimir Putin alluded to during his softball interview with Tucker Carlson last week. For his pre trial detention, Barnes was held in Moscow's Detention Center 5, the same place were fellow American Trevor Reed was held. Reed was released in April 2022 in exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling This is the terrifying moment a huge cyanide-laced landslide buried one of the world's largest gold mines, trapping nine workers inside. The disaster happened yesterday at 2:30pm local time at Copler Mine in the Turkish town of Llic in the country's mountainous Erzincan province. According to local officials, up to twelve people are missing and 400 search and rescue personnel are at the scene, desperately trying to uncover the missing from under the ground. Experts and local officials said the search was complicated by the presence of cyanide - a highly toxic chemical compound used to extract gold from ore - in the ground. "Cyanide soil collapsed" at the site, Independent Mining Labor Union representative Basaran Aksu told Turkish media. In shocking footage, the landslide can be seen falling down the hillside repeatedly throughout the entire two-minute clip, covering everything in its path. It was filmed by a bulldozer driver from the top of a nearby hill, who watching on in horror as the tsunami of earth floods through a valley below. The apocalyptic landslide as it rolls down the mountainous terrain burying everything in its path In shocking footage (pictured), the landslide can be seen falling down the hillside repeatedly throughout the entire two-minute clip, covering everything in its path The video was filmed by a bulldozer driver from the top of a nearby hill, who watching on in horror as the tsunami of earth floods through a valley below The cause of the slide was not immediately clear. Anagold Mining, which owns the mine and employs 667 staff, released a statement saying: '(The) most important priority in this difficult process is the health and safety of our employees and contractors. 'This is a painful situation. 'Immediately after the incident, we immediately contacted our employees in the region, put our emergency plan into action and informed the relevant public institutions and organizations.' An investigation into the disaster has already been launched with the Turkish Justice Minister, Yilmaz Tunc, saying: 'I wish our citizens from Erzincan recover soon and hope that our miner brothers who are trapped under the rubble will be rescued safely.' Regional governor Hamza Aydogdu said: 'There are people buried underground, the number is not clear. Our search and rescue efforts have started.' Copler Mine is one of the largest gold mines in the world and employs over 600 staff The mine is based at a low point between the steep mountainous terrain with no escape from the falling landslide It isn't only the imitate concern of the trapped miners however, there are warnings of an environmental threat due to dangerous substances in the mine that may have been carried away by the fast-moving landslide. Geologist Suleyman Pampal told Turkish TV channel Haberturk the soil that formed the landslide had been processed for gold and may contain dangerous substances such as cyanide which are used in the process. The mine is close by to the Euphrates river and the worry is it could become contaminated. Pampal said: 'Mixing with the Euphrates means the end of all life. 'It must be prevented urgently from reaching the Euphrates.' Landslides are said to be one of the most destructive and deadly natural disasters. Mudslides are one type of landslide when the terrain is soft and can move at speeds of up to 50mph. Florida is currently experiencing its gloomiest winter on record with gray clouds covering the state's skies up to 30 percent more than normal. While it may be called the Sunshine State, Florida has been experiencing clouds and storms nonstop this season - and the trend is set to continue into spring. Central Florida normally witnesses 50 percent of cloud coverage in December and January - but this year, it has been up to 80 percent. Even in November, 40 percent of afternoons were cloudy - doubling the average in that month. According to climatologist Brian Brettschneider, Florida is facing its cloudiest winter in 84 years - when records started. Experts are blaming the active subtropical jet stream induced by El Nino for the unseasonable weather in the Sunshine State. The weather phenomena is blasting in from the Pacific Ocean and over the Gulf of Mexico. While it may be called the Sunshine State, Florida has been experiencing clouds and storms nonstop this season - and the trend is set to continue into spring Central Florida normally witnesses 50 percent of cloud coverage in December and January - but this year, it has been up to 80 percent. Even in November, 40 percent of afternoons were cloudy - doubling the average for that month That means that moisture and weather disturbances are flowing through Florida - impacting weather systems and bringing the state a poor December forecast. Holiday events across the state were canceled, such as the Christmas boat parade in Indian Rocks Beach along the Gulf Coast. At least five boat parades were canceled or postponed in South Florida, including the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale. Several outdoor holiday events were canceled, from South Florida up into the rest of the peninsula. That included Saturday's Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade and at least four other similar events across the region, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. According to climatologist Brian Brettschneider, Florida is facing its cloudiest winter in 84 years - when records started Coconut trees are battered by heavy winds along the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami in December 2023 The Juno Beach Pier is slammed by big waves in Juno Beach, Florida Miami's palm trees look a little bent out of shape in the strong winds. Bob Givehchi, left, and his son Daniel, 8, are seen visiting Miami for the first time, walking past debris and palm trees at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables, Florida Florida is currently experiencing its gloomiest winter on record with gray clouds covering off up to 30 percent more than normal 'The safety and well-being of our participants and spectators are of utmost importance to us,' Winterfest organizers said on their website. 'The inclement weather conditions, beyond our control, make it impossible to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.' Winds of 20 to 30 mph were expected across much of the coastline, with gusts up to 45 mph. Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the new Florida State Guard, a civilian volunteer organization created last year, to assist with any storm impacts from such things as flooding and high winds. 'The Florida State Guard plays an essential role in Florida's preparation for and swift response to severe weather,' the Republican governor explained. In January, states as far south as Texas and Florida were gripped by deadly arctic weather. Everywhere from New Jersey to Indiana to Alabama, people were still shoveling out snow. This photo provided by Bay County Sheriff's Office shows storm damage around around Panama City Beach, Florida on January 9 A woman walks in a flooded street at a trailer park community in Hialeah on November 16 Flooded streets in a trailer park community in Davie, Florida, November 16, 2023 Florida was hit with heavy rain, snow and strong winds at the beginning of 2024 as well. According to NASA, white cloud tops forming a line over Florida arose from 'the intense updrafts associated with thunderstorms in the area. The features are more common in storms that create the most severe weather.' Meanwhile, more than 50 million people across the US remain under winter weather today alerts as New York City gets six inches of snow. If the Big Apple gets at least six inches of powder - currently a mid-range estimate - it will register as the largest snowstorm in over two years. The National Weather Service anticipates anywhere between four and 12 inches will touch down in the city. The fast-moving weather system is set to wallop New York early Tuesday before advancing north later in the day and crossing into Massachusetts. An Airbnb 'superhost' has brushed off a $250,000 fine for building a massive concrete bulkhead that has killed salmon and threatens whales living in one of America's most spectacular Ice Age fjords. Philip Bayley charges up to $1,500 a night at his string of rental properties on the shore of Hood Canal west of Seattle. A judge has ruled he will be allowed to keep the 570 square foot defense barrier at the back of one because removing it would cause even more damage to the wildlife. The case has dismayed environmentalists who have warned that fines are treated as the cost of doing business in a part of the water where a third of the shoreline is already walled off. 'We need to stop the bleeding,' said Dave Herrera of the Puget Sound Partnership, 'What I see is a lot of entitlement.' The 6,200 cubic feet of concrete were poured onto the shore of Hood Canal in Washington The Ice Age fjord west of Seattle is a popular spot for rich vacationers and teeming with wildlife, attracting premium prices for rental apartments Joseph Pavel, director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Skokomish Indian Tribe, slammed the development as an example of 'ongoing micro-colonialism' Bayley began pouring concrete in 2017 after receiving a land-use permit from Mason County. Within days he had received a stop-work order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warning he had breached the Clean Water Act. He ignored that and a series of further orders, and carried on building until the agency took him to court in 2020. 'It was not something that we allowed him to do; he did it despite the fact we told him not to,' EPA attorney Patrick Johnson told the Seattle Times. 'He seemed not really to care about our requests, or the number of communications articulating that he was in violation.' Construction involved the discharge of dirt, dredge spoil, rock and concrete along the shoreline and into the water, according to court records. And it ended up as 6,200 cubic feet of concrete butting into the water and adding 570 square feet of living space to the new luxury home behind it. Concrete bulkheads change the flow of sediment along the shoreline but their effects stretch deep under the water, reducing beachside spawning areas for the smallest fish by stripping away sand and gravel near the shore. Feeding grounds are eroded and nutrients from the land are prevented from reaching the water, causing knock-on effects up the food chain from the smallest organisms to the orcas that inhabit the bay. Bayley's legal team admitted in court that construction killed Chinook salmon, further depleting the water's already struggling eco-system. Tons of dirt, dredge spoil, rock and concrete spilled into the bay after construction began The bay is a hunting ground for threatened orcas but their food supply is already impacted The scale of the project horrified EPA inspectors when they saw it taking shape in 2018 The nine foot tall wall has increased acidity in the water that crashes onto it Owner Philip Bayley began with an empty plot (center) in 2017 but also owns the two Airbnb rentals on the right - 'Wall of Glass' and 'Luxury Look-out' The view from the neighboring apartment, also owned by Philip Bayley, as seen on Airbnb 'It's death by a thousand cuts,' said Joseph Pavel, director of the Department of Natural Resources for the Skokomish Indian Tribe. 'So much of this has gone on for so long, it makes it very difficult to deal with these issues. 'But we are trying to put the brakes on the damage that is being done to our resources and the resources of all the people.' Bayley's lawyers argued that the bulkhead is above the high tide mark, and so the EPA has no jurisdiction. 'You can't have a Clean Water Act violation if there is no water,' claimed defense attorney Christopher Constantine. But the EPA told the court that the concrete is encrusted with barnacles, algae and water marks, and that the water reaching it had become dangerously acidic. Bayley and his company, Big D's Beach Cabin LLC, have fought a dogged rearguard action in the courts, appealing against an interim judgement in April with objections the judge denounced as 'utterly unsubstantiated and unworthy of consideration'. But the EPA claimed victory in January after Bayley was fined $250,000 and ordered to pay $33,492 to the Hood Canal Coordinating Council for mitigation work by the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. Dave Herrera of the Puget Sound Partnership says the bay is bleeding to death 'This underscores our collective efforts to restore Chinook, orca pods that depend on them; this is an all-hands-on-deck moment,' said EPA Administrator Casey Sixkiller. 'This is not just an investment in resource recovery but also ensuring we are enforcing the law and prohibiting illegal projects like this.' The fjord was at the center of the north-west heatwave in July 2021 when temperatures reached 121 degrees and thousands of clams were found 'cooked in their shells' on the shoreline. And Herrera said local environmental battles play into the bigger challenge of climate change. 'I'm not sure how the landowners are going to deal with things like rising sea levels,' he mused. 'Do people think they are just going to add to their bulkheads?' Bayley has lodged an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and said he is in no hurry to pay the fines. 'I haven't even thought about that yet,' he told the Seattle Times. 'I'm just patiently waiting.' Pavel dismissed the fine and described the case as an example of 'ongoing micro-colonialism of developing and trying to own the landscape'. 'He'll make that back in five years,' he added. 'That's not allowed and that's not right and that's not OK.' A Republican lawmaker read a Dr. Seuss book aloud on the Senate floor in a move to stall the $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, read one of Dr. Suess' most famous works, 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' dedicating it to his son Vivek on his fourth birthday. The Republican briefly paused from his arguments against the foreign aid package to send his son a birthday wish. 'Now, I want to move on to another argument,' Vance said Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. 'But before I do, I am mindful of something that's very close to my heart, personally. I have three beautiful children.' 'And I'm sorry, Vivek, that I can't be with you for your birthday dinner, but I want you to know that Daddy loves you very much,' he continued. 'And I'm going to read this into the record because maybe you can watch it at home.' The father of three then read the entirety of the book while on the floor before sending a message to his son: 'I love you.' Sen. J.D. Vance read the entirety of Dr. Suess' 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' on the Senate floor Monday as a birthday treat for his son Vivek's fourth birthday The foreign aid package provides $14 billion for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza The deal also provides an additional $61 billion for Ukraine as the war with Russia rages on After sending his son a birthday wish, Vance quickly got back to business. 'Returning to the matter at hand ... how much time remains?' Vance's stunt is reminiscent of another Dr. Suess inspired speech on the Senate floor over a decade ago. In 2013, Sen. Ted Cruz infamously read 'Green Eggs and Ham' on the floor during an attempt to stifle Obamacare. 'When Americans tried it, they discovered they did not like green eggs and ham and they did not like Obamacare either,' Cruz said at the time. 'They did not like Obamacare in a box, with a fox, in a house or with a mouse. It is not working.' Vance made multiple attempts to stymie the passage of the deal including sending a memo bashing the deal to all of his Republican colleagues Monday morning. He also hosted a Twitter Space that evening to bash the foreign aid package with fellow Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Elon Musk, venture capitalist David Sacks and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were also involved in the conversation railing against the $95 billion deal. Despite Vance's efforts, the massive package eventually passed. The bill secured the necessary 60 senators needed to send the legislation to the House Tuesday morning after a rare all-night session ending in a 70-29 vote. Proponents of the foreign aid package said it was necessary to securing U.S. allies' prosperity Vance claimed in a memo to colleagues that the bill could pose a threat to a future Trump presidency if the former president is elected In total, the package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to deter aggression by China. Last week, Republicans tanked a bipartisan $118 billion bipartisan deal to beef up border security while funding Ukraine and Israel. They accused it of not going far enough to secure the border and said it would cement Biden's 'open border' policies. It wasn't easy to get Senate Republicans onboard with the thinner $95 billion deal without immigration measures as tempers flared over the tanked border deal. But ultimately, over a dozen Republicans voted to pass the bill with Democrats because of the fear that Russian President Putin would be emboldened. The vote Tuesday morning had the support of 22 Republicans. However, two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, voted against it. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., meanwhile, has signaled the senate package has an uncertain future. 'Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,' Johnson said late Monday. 'America deserves better than the Senate's status quo.' One of three women convicted of a terror offence for displaying images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine march is a Palestinian author and drill rap fan who was granted asylum in the UK because her family were critical of Hamas. Heba Alhayek, 29, and her fellow protestor Pauline Ankunda, 26, attached stock images of paragliders to their backs on October 14 - just seven days after Hamas terrorists used paragliders to enter Israel before randomly slaughtering 1,200 people. Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, stuck one to the handle of a placard. Alhayek, who grew up in Gaza before being granted asylum in the UK, is described in an online profile as an 'author, creative and facilitator' who studied an MA in Social Anthropology at SOAS and has a creative writing qualification. The biography says her thinking is 'rooted in anti-nation-state, decolonial, queer, Afrikan feminist thought' and 'navigates topics such as disposability, Global South solidarity movements, land justice, Palestinian drill music, and more.' She, Ankunda and Taiwo were charged under the Terrorism Act with carrying or displaying an article to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of banned organisation Hamas, After they were found guilty today following a two-day trial, the Crown Prosecution Service said displaying the images amounted to the 'glorification of the actions' of Hamas - despite a veteran Guardian journalist appearing to give evidence in their defence. But the judge said he had 'decided not to punish' the women and gave them a 12-month conditional discharge instead on the basis that he did not believe they were true Hamas supporters and 'emotions' had 'run very high' at the time of their offence. Heba Alhayek, 29, one of three protesters seen with images of paragliders at a pro-Palestinian march, is a Palestinian author who was given asylum in Britain because her family were critical of Hamas Alhayek and Pauline Ankunda, 26, had images of paragliders taped to their backs Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, had an image of a terrorist paraglider attached to the handle of a placard Prosecutors successfully argued it was 'no coincidence' the defendants were displaying the images so soon after the attack. Pictured is Ankund Giving his verdict, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said: 'Seven days before the protest, Hamas went into Israel with what was described by the media as paragliders. A reasonable person would have seen and read that. 'I do not find a reasonable person would interpret the image merely as a symbol of freedom. I want to be clear, there's no evidence that any of these defendants are supporters of Hamas, or were seeking to show support for them.' Handing the trio a 12-month conditional discharge, Mr Ikram said he had 'decided not to punish' the defendants. 'Each of you stands convicted of a terrorist offence,' he continued. 'There is nothing to suggest the police of their own volition were going to take any action. 'You've not hidden the fact you were carrying these images. You crossed the line, but it would have been fair to say that emotions ran very high on this issue. 'Your lesson has been well learnt. I do not find you were seeking to show any support for Hamas.' Alhayek and Ankunda were each ordered to pay 400 in costs. Taiwo won't have to pay any costs as she is not entitled to benefits due to her immigration status. In court, she and the other two defendants had argued they were carrying the image of a standard 'parachute emoji', and that such flying-related images were common in Palestinian art as symbols of 'liberation and peace' long before the bloody Hamas attacks. Giving evidence in defence of the trio, veteran Guardian journalist and human rights campaigner Victoria Brittain said images of balloons, birds, kites and parachutes were popular images in the context of a Palestinian desire to 'fly away' from entrapment in Gaza. She also said she had seen children in Gaza playing with parachute-like domes of fabric, and pointed to a world record set in 2011 in the territory in which 3,520 children fluttered 176 parachutes. The correspondent also pointed to possible thematic links with the Banksy artwork Flying Balloon Girl, which was painted on a West Bank wall and shows a girl being lifted away by a bunch of balloons, as well as a popular Palestinian cartoon character called Handala. Under cross-examination, the Met's acting Detective Sergeant Michael Beskine admitted his team had not done any research into possible alternative meanings, instead accepting the interpretation of a 'rightwing' social media account called 'Harry's Place', which first posted photos of the trio. The original 'Harry's Place' post on X had claimed sarcastically: 'Hamas sent terrorists on paragliders to a rave in Israel where they massacred the civilians so it's important to tape images of paragliders to your clothes at a pro Palestine demonstration.' Alhayek is visible on the left of this image - one of several CCTV grabs circulated by the Met She is pictured yesterday outside Westminster Magistrates Court This is the image of a paraglider or parachutist used by the women Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft Police then gave the operation the unofficial moniker 'paraglider girls' as they hunted for the trio, the court heard, with the officer giving evidence that the pro-Hamas interpretation was so 'obvious' it did not require further work. Asked by Mark Summers KC, for Alhayek and Ankunda, about what 'an informed, politically aware observer' on the march would have made of the image, she responded: 'It would have been [interpreted as] another typical Palestinian symbol of flight and escaping prison.' The lawyer said the idea that the image was a paraglider started with 'an internet group with an agenda'. He also argued that flying-related images were a common symbol of peace in the region. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, a former EU envoy to the Palestinians also gave evidence about a controversial flight he undertook off the coast of Gaza City in July of last year. He told the court that the flight was intended to urge freedom and equal rights for Palestinians, although at the time the 'stunt' was condemned as a 'propaganda tool' by Israel. After the Metropolitan Police launched a social media appeal to find them over the outcry, Alhayek and Ankunda handed themselves in to Croydon Police Station, the court heard earlier. Brutal shootouts were seen taking place as Hamas terrorists descended on Israel via land, sea and air Hamas is banned as a terror organisation in the UK and the trio's actions were widely condemned online amid concern over the tenor of pro-Palestine protests occurring in the UK. In a police interview, the pair initially claimed someone at the demonstration 'who was not known to them' had stuck the images to their backs, before admitting they had attached them themselves. When she was arrested later, Taiwo claimed to have been handed the placard and not paid proper attention to the 'blurry image'. 'She had not paid attention to what was fixed to the placard as it was a blurry image. She said she believed it to be a symbol of liberation and peace', prosecutor Brett Weaver said. Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'All three women knowingly displayed the images of paragliders in central London and therefore showed their support for Hamas - a proscribed terrorist organisation. 'The fact that these images were being displayed in the context of a protest opposing the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks demonstrates a glorification of the actions taken by the group. 'Displaying these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of paragliders as a tactic to breach the Gaza/Israel border, and creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas. 'When people break the law - whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order - we prosecute swiftly and independently. 'We have already prosecuted a string of offences linked to events in the Middle East and we are working closely with the police and community leaders to make sure our approach commands public confidence.' more than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began incessant bombing raids. The terrorist assault on October 7 sparked a massive response, with Hamas officials sayingTop officials from Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt met today to make plans for another ceasefire as international pressure mounts for a truce in the territory. CIA director William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Egyptian officials in Cairo, according to Al-Qahera News - which has links to Egyptian intelligence. A proposal thrashed out with Israeli negotiators in Paris late last month has gone back and forth, but is yet to come to fruition after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed his forces would achieve 'total victory' in Gaza. Hamas officials meanwhile told reporters that they 'are awaiting the outcome of the Cairo meetings, and Hamas is open to discussing any initiative that achieves an end to aggression and war'. The quest for a ceasefire comes after the United States and the United Nations warned Israel against carrying out a ground offensive into Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city where more than a million Palestinians are trapped. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer broke cover today to defend his handling of a new Labour party anti-Semitism row sparked by comments made by the party's candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Sir Keir this afternoon faced the cameras for the first time since Azhar Ali was revealed to have claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. Party factions were at war today over the belated decision to cut ties with Mr Ali, with left-wingers claiming he was given preferential treatment. Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. This picture was taken from Israel today Sir Keir's top team finally withdrew backing from Ali last night, more than 24 hours after it was revealed he claimed Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's October 7 massacre. But they only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting his apology on Sunday night was enough. Sir Keir's team had rallied behind the councillor claiming he had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Wellingborough today, the Labour leader denied that factionalism played a role, saying it makes 'no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party'. 'Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action,' he said. 'It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. 'It's a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.' Meanwhile bookie William Hill has now made George Galloway the favourite to win what was a safe Labour seat in the vote on February 29. Mark Duggan's drill rapper son appeared in court today charged with possession of a semi-automatic pistol and 23 rounds of ammunition. Kemani Duggan, 22, was just 10 when his 29-year-old father was shot dead by police in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011, sparking riots in cities across the country. Duggan, who performs as Bandokay, was arrested at Gatwick Airport on January 13. Wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, Duggan spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court via a video link from HMP Thameside. Mark Duggan's drill rapper son appeared in court today charged with possession of a semi-automatic pistol and 23 rounds of ammunition He was not asked to enter pleas to four charges relating to possession of a Zastava M57 semi-automatic pistol and 23 rounds of ammunition in Hackney between February 19 and March 21 last year. His dad was in a minicab when officers tried to arrest him on suspicion of possession of a handgun on 4 August 2011. Mark was shot twice by officer V53 - one of the bullets which hit him in the chest was fatal. Kemani Duggan, 22, was just 10 when his 29-year-old father Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011, sparking riots in cities across the country He died of a gunshot wound to the chest but three years later an inquest jury concluded Mark had been lawfully killed. Duggan, of Riversdale Road, Islington, will return to Wood Green Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 28 February, ahead of a five day trial on 1 July 2024. A hair trapped in a murdered sex worker's ring which identified her alleged killer nearly 30 years later could have been left behind when he was one of her clients, a court heard. Marina Koppel, 39, was found dead by her husband in her flat in Chiltern Street, Marylebone, on 8 August 1994. The mother of two, who worked as a masseuse and sex worker, was still in her lacy underwear and had been stabbed 140 times. The crime went unsolved until a cold case review in 2022 when the hair was matched to Sandip Patel, who was 21 years old at the time of the murder. Marina Koppel, 39, was found dead by her husband in her flat in Chiltern Street, Marylebone, on 8 August 1994. She worked as a masseuse and sex worker, was still in her lacy underwear and had been stabbed 140 times Patel, now 51, was then matched to a bloody bare footprint on the skirting board in the room where Ms Koppel was murdered. He worked at his father's convenience store 'Sherlock Holmes News' near to the murder scene at York Mansions near Baker Street in central London. In his closing speech to the jury, Patel's barrister David Sheridan suggested Patel was one of many clients who saw Ms Koppel in the two weeks before her killing but the jury could not be sure he was the murderer. Patel has chosen not to give evidence. The crime went unsolved until a cold case review in 2022 when the hair was matched to Sandip Patel, who was 21 years old at the time of the murder Mr Sheridan said: 'This is a horrific murder. It doesn't really get anymore serious or in some ways more revolting than what we've seen. 'Even the injury mapping, designed not to be too gruesome, is gruesome. 'We all have a natural inclination in those circumstances, when faced with such a ghastly crime, we want someone to pay. 'But you don't decide this case because of feelings of revulsion or emotion - you decide it on the events.' He said both experts had agreed the key evidence, a blood stained footprint, may not have been blood and may simply have had the appearance of blood. Mr Sheridan said the two hairs in the ring and fingerprints left on a bag only show that Patel was in the flat at some point, not that he was the killer. He said the hair found was in two different colours and one of them could be a pubic hair. 'All they do is establish presence in the flat at some point - but not at the time of the murder. 'Marina Koppel we know was a sex worker and so the nature of her work was she interacted with many different men- her husband estimated approximately 100 regular clients.' He said 84 individual's DNA had been identified in the flat. 'That flat is full of evidence of the attendance of unknown males whether that is marks, finger prints, DNA, semen, condoms.' He said it was a 'sustained' 'frenzied' attack and Patel would have no reason to have such 'rage, hatred and anger' for Ms Koppel. Her said her clients included doctors, bank managers and a priest. In his closing speech, prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said: 'You do not have to decide why he did this. 'It is human nature to wonder why anyone would behave in this dreadful way. 'You don't know why he did it, and it is not for you to resolve. 'Sometimes a case really is straightforward because the evidence really is one way, and sometimes a guilty defendant simply doesn't want to face up to what they have done and plead guilty whatever the strength of the evidence against them. 'So a defendant pleads not guilty, stays silent at the back and takes their chances with the jury.' He suggested Patel would not have been able to afford being a night with Ms Koppel. 'How would be able to afford a sex worker like Marina Koppel? He was living with his father, only 21. 'Her husband told us she charged 80, and some of you may remember how much 80 was. 'It doesn't sound like he would have fit the profile of her target demographic who seem to have been well-to-do, well-off older men able to afford her services. 'This is a formidably strong case against him anyway - and you are permitted to add to that strength by saying he hasn't given evidence and that is because he doesn't have an answer to the case, or not a good one anyway..' Patel, of Finchley Road, St John's Wood, northwest London, denies murder and the trial continues. Mark Farrell, a venture capitalist who previously served San Francisco as interim mayor, is running to lead the troubled city once more. Farrell, 49, is determined to turn San Francisco around amid its post-Covid 'doom loop' as the city struggles to grapple with rising crime, overdose deaths and deserted shopping malls. Recent polling shows the bay city's residents have lost confidence in their current mayor, London Breed, a fact Farrell hopes to exploit in November's election. Farrell has laid out his agenda of 'massively' increasing police ranks, clearing all homeless encampments within six months of taking office and detaining drug overdose victims. The financier also said he would fire the police chief, Bill Scott, and protect the department from budget cuts. Mark Farrell, 49, is determined to turn San Francisco around amid its post-Covid 'doom loop' Farrell formally launched his 'common sense' platform on Tuesday Farrell said he would seize the tents and possessions of homeless people if they refuse to move into shelters Farrell formally launched his 'common sense' platform, including seizing the tents and possessions of homeless people if they refuse to move into shelters, on Tuesday. 'I've watched San Francisco crumble over the last five years,' Mr. Farrell told the New York Times. 'Public safety has never been a bigger concern. The conditions of our streets have never been worse. 'Our local economy has collapsed. And we've become the butt of jokes across the country. 'This mayor has completely failed us' he added. Breed and Farrell have been rivals since 2017 when incumbent Mayor Eric Lee died. Breed became acting mayor by virtue of being the president of the Board of Supervisors. However, a majority of her colleagues, wanting to ensure that she would lack the status of the incumbent in the race to fill Lee's seat six months later, voted for Farrell to fill the void instead. Recent polling shows the bay city's residents have lost confidence in their current mayor A homeless encampment is seen along Leavenworth Street in the Tenderloin district, only a few blocks from Powell Headlines featuring the phrases 'garbage city, 'ruined city' and 'fallen city' capture how crippling drug issues and widespread homeless problems continue to remain an issue for residents. The famous Walk of Fame runs for more than mile along the city's embattled Downtown, where open-air drug use is rife Farrell told the Times he decided to run for office again after his dining room window in Jordan Park was smashed in. An intruder burgled his family home in the wealthy neighborhood in the northern part of the city, while he, his wife, Liz Farrell, and their three children slept. 'You start to think that's how life goes, that that's how you should live, and it's not,' Liz Farell told the Times. San Francisco has become an international by-word for urban squalor with the proliferation of open-air drug markets and an exodus of businesses, retailers and now residents. Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed that San Francisco has entered its deadliest year on record for drug overdoses with 752 accidental overdose deaths as of December 6. It tops the highest year on record - 2020 - when 726 people died. And the city stands to lose $200 million a year in lost tax revenue through its business exodus. San Francisco's also has a dismally high office vacancy rate, which was 35.9 percent in December. That situation is compounded by the departure of several large companies, including accounting giant KPMG, which announced earlier this month that it will quit its $400 million namesake building in the downtown area. Rogers said the student went on attack after she was upset that her personal items were being taken to the principal's office A veteran teacher from Missouri brutally attacked by a female student who punched her in the face and dragged her down a hallway as students cheered says she is going back into retirement. 'I'm afraid to go back in there. I am afraid to go back in there,' a tearful Sheryl Rogers, 65, repeated as she broke down on camera. 'I can't trust the children. I can't trust the system.' Normandy Collaborative High School in St. Louis would not disclose any details about the January 10 attack and said that an internal investigation is being done. The St Louis Police Department said criminal charges will be sought against the student through the county's juvenile courts. Rogers, a teacher of 20 years, told KMOV News that she is still suffering emotional and physical pain from the heinous assault. Pictured: Sheryl Rogers, 65, longtime teacher from Missouri was brutally attacked by a female student on January 10 at Normandy Collaborative High School. Rogers was punched in the face and dragged down a hallway as students cheered. The distraught teacher says she is now going back into retirement 'I'm afraid to go back in there. I am afraid to go back in there,' a tearful Sheryl Rogers, 65, repeated as she broke down on camera. 'I can't trust the children. I can't trust the system.' When DailyMail.com contacted Normandy Collaborative High School they were unavailable for comment, but in a statement the district said they were addressing the incident. 'The administration is taking this matter seriously and is fully cooperating with local law enforcement. 'Additionally, we have launched an internal investigation to gather all the necessary facts surrounding the incident, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of these investigations. 'The safety and well-being of our students and staff are of the utmost importance to Normandy Schools Collaborative, and our primary focus is to provide a safe and nurturing space for students to learn and for teachers to educate.' Students claimed the teacher became 'unfairly suspicious' when the teen was retrieving her anti-seizure medication from a bag in her locker. When Rogers challenged the student in the corridor that is when the violent attack took place - placing the longtime educator in the hospital and the teen, who was reportedly having a seizure, in handcuffs on the floor, in front of her terrified peers. The school did not divulge whether the student too had been sent to hospital. The teacher's partner, Greg Stanton, said the student pushed the teacher, tried to snatch back her bag, and then attacked her after being told to wait. 'Where were the police? Where were the paraprofessionals?' he demanded on KSDK. Rogers grew emotional when she said that none of the students stepped into help her when she was getting beat up. 'I could see the legs and feet of children around me but nobody helped me... nobody helped me,' she wept. She added: 'l have bruises on both of my legs, I still have throbbing in the back of my head and sometimes, I just cry uncontrollably.' New York voters are heading to the polls Tuesday for the special election to decide who will replace ex-Congressman George Santos, but a blast of winter weather could have an impact on the tight swing district race. A Nor'easter storm is slowly moving across the region dumping as much as a foot of snow in some areas. New York's Third District, which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, is expected to get six to nine inches of snow and a winter storm warning remains in effect until 6PM ET Tuesday. Polls for the special election opened at 6am ET and will remain open until 9pm ET. They were largely empty in the morning as snow pummeled the region, but thousands have already voted early in the closely-watched race. The contest is seen as a bellwether for the 2024 general election, with Republicans running on the migration crisis that has swept New York and Democrats focusing on abortion rights. Officials warned people to stay off the roads due to low visibility and icy conditions and thousands of students remained at home as schools opted for remote learning or canceled classes. But the so-called 'snowmageddon' is not stopping Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip from encouraging voters to get to the polls. The two candidates are locked in a heated race to replace Santos. Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the House, so the results of New York's special election could chart the course for the chamber for the rest of the year. It would also serve bellwether as Democrats look to flip the House in November. The northeast is bracing for 'Snowmageddon' as an incoming storm is set to dump six to nine inches of snow across parts of New York City and Long Island A man pushes a bike through the snow in New York. Winter weather warnings have been issued across the region. The blast of winter weather has canceled flights, closed schools and forced millions of people to stay indoors. 'There's too much at stake in this election to stay home,' Pilip posted on X this morning. 'No snow day for Team Suozzi!' the Democrat posted. Both campaigns are offering voters free rides to the polls as the district is hit with the wintery weather. On Tuesday evening, Suozzi acknowledged in a video post on X that 'turnout is low because of the snow.' Snowmageddon could signal a greater problem for Mazi. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, polls have shown Suozzi and Pilip in a statistical dead-heat. But according to a poll conducted by JLPartners on the eve of the special election, Suozzi was ahead 21 points among those who already voted while Mazi was ahead 15 points among those who had not yet voted before Election Day. Voters had from February 3 through February 11 to cast their ballots in person in early voting. The Congressional Leadership Fund, the Super PAC dedicated to electing Republicans to the House, hired multiple snow plows on Tuesday to help get voters safely to the polls. 'Some days youre dealing with media buys and tv creative, other days youre talking to snow plow operators for hours,' a staffer posted on X. Suozzi arrives at a campaign event as the district faces winter weather warnings on Feb 13 Suozzi and Pilip are in a tight race to fill seat the left vacant by ex-Congressman George Santos Pilip speaking at a rally on the eve of the special election surrounded by New York Republicans including House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (far right) Suozzi gives a thumbs up surrounded by supporters during a campaign stop on Election Day Democratic candidate Tom Suozzi, 61, is a former congressman who represented the district for three terms before a failed New York gubernatorial bid in 2022. He is a longtime Long Island politics staple, having previously served as Nassau County Executive and mayor of Glen Cove. Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, 44, is the mother of seven and an Israeli-American born in Ethiopia who served in the Israel Defense Forces before immigrating to the US. She was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. With the race in a dead-heat, both candidates have gone on the attack in the final weeks, clashing over border security, taxes, gun safety and abortion. Whoever is elected will fill the the seat vacated by fabulist ex-congressman George Santos, who served barely 11 months. He became only the sixth member of the House to be expelled from Congress in December. He is awaiting trial on fraud and theft charges later this year. A Democrat victory would further narrow the already slim GOP majority in the House as Republicans have just 219 seats while Democrats hold 212 seats. Sir Keir Starmer was tonight forced to suspend another Labour parliamentary candidate after they were revealed to have ranted about 'f****** Israel'. Ex-MP Graham Jones, who is standing for re-election to his old Hyndburn seat at the general election, has been administratively suspended from Labour pending an investigation. He is also understood to have been hauled in to see party bosses for an interview this evening, amid calls for him to be junked as Labour's candidate in the Lancashire constituency. A recording published by the Guido Fawkes website revealed how Mr Jones referred to 'f****** Israel' during a local Labour meeting. He was also heard claiming that Britons who travelled to the Middle East to fight with the Israel Defence Forces 'should be locked up'. It was reported the recording came from the same meeting in Lancashire where Azhar Ali - who was previously Labour's candidate for this month's Rochdale by-election - suggested Israel 'deliberately allowed' Hamas's terror attacks on October 7 as a pretext to invade Gaza. Mr Jones's suspension is a further blow to Sir Keir's efforts to move Labour on from the frequent anti-Semitism rows that dogged Labour under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. Ex-MP Graham Jones, who is standing for re-election to his old Hyndburn seat at the general election, has been administratively suspended from Labour pending an investigation Sir Keir Starmer has already been forced to withdraw Labour's support for Azhar Ali at this month's by-election in Rochdale The Jewish Labour Movement had demanded Mr Jones be stood down as Labour's parliamentary candidate in Hyndburn following the publication of his recorded remarks Mr Ali last night saw Labour's backing for his candidacy in the Rochdale contest withdrawn by Sir Keir and he has also been suspended by the party pending an investigation. The Labour leader's team only acted after being informed of further allegations by the Daily Mail, with Sir Keir having previously tried to weather the storm by insisting an apology by Mr Ali on Sunday night was enough. Top Labour figures had initially rallied behind the local councillor claiming Mr Ali had simply fallen for an 'online conspiracy theory' and that it was 'out of character' for him to be anti-Semitic. But it was confirmed on Monday evening that Mr Ali would have Labour's backing withdrawn. Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Wellingborough today, Sir Keir pointed to how 'further information came to light' on Monday before action was taken against Mr Ali. The Labour leader said: 'Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate. There was a fulsome apology. 'Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action. 'It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. 'It's a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.' Sir Keir denied that factionalism played a role in Labour's initial attempt to stand by Mr Ali as their by-election candidate in Rochdale, saying it makes 'no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party'. The deadline to remove Mr Ali from the ballot paper in Rochdale has passed, leading to the highly unusual situation where Labour cannot replace him as the party's by-election candidate. He will remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate, but if he wins, he would sit in the House of Commons as an independent MP without the party's whip. Mr Jones was first elected MP for Hyndburn at the 2010 general election, but lost his seat to the Tories in 2019 as Labour saw vast swathes of its 'Red Wall' turn blue. In March last year, the 57-year-old was selected to be Labour's candidate in the Lancashire constituency again at the upcoming general election. In Mr Jones's recorded remarks, he was heard to say: 'F****** Israel again.' Quizzed about British nationals travelling to fight with the IDF, he added: 'Unless there is a military alliance between us and that particular country, NATO or whatever... you should not be fighting. 'No British person should be fighting for any other country at all, full stop. It's against the law and they should be locked up.' Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell recently confirmed that British nationals are allowed to volunteer in the IDF. In an answer to a written parliamentary question in December, he told MPs: 'The UK recognises the right of British nationals with additional nationalities to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of the country of their other nationalities. 'The Israel Defence Force is a recognised armed force and British nationals are both able to volunteer into the Israel Defence Force and eligible for national service. 'For Israel, one does not have to be Israeli to serve in the Israel Defence Force.' The Jewish Labour Movement demanded Mr Jones be stood down as Labour's parliamentary candidate in Hyndburn following the publication of his recorded remarks. They said in a statement: 'Graham Jones's comments about British-Israeli Jews are appalling and unacceptable within the Labour Party. 'We are dismayed that Jones was not only a bystanded at the meeting where Azhar Ali made his anti-Semitic comments, but sought to inflame tensions further. 'Over the past two days, the importance of a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism in Labour has become clearer than ever. 'Labour must stand Graham Jones down as a parliamentary candidate and conduct a disciplinary investigation.' Sara Britcliffe, the Conservative MP for Hyndburn who defeated Mr Jones at the 2019 general election, told MailOnline: 'At a time of increasing community tensions, it is the responsibility of all of us in politics to be careful with the language we use. 'Mr Jones has clearly failed in that regard and also needs to clarify any other offensive comments he made and whether he stood up to Azhar Ali's conspiratorial comments. 'Given it now seems this meeting took place in my Hyndburn constituency, voters have a right to know if any other Hyndburn Labour representatives were present. 'Comments like this do nothing for community cohesion. 'Sir Keir is keen to tell voters he has changed the Labour Party, but it seems in Lancashire that is simply a veneer. Let's see if he stands by his word.' President Joe Biden delivered a blistering attack on his predecessor Donald Trump Tuesday for encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies, as he urged Republicans to back a spending bill that would send $60 billion to Ukraine. He accused opponents of playing into 'Putin's hands' as he used the backdrop of the State Dining Room to bring the election campaign into the White House. 'Are you gonna stand with Ukraine or are you going to stand with Putin,' he said in an impassioned speech. 'Or are you going to stand with America ... or Trump?' His address came hours after the Senate passed a long-sought $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It is certain to face stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House. Biden used the issue to slam Trump for undermining the core principle of NATO, when the former president said he would he not want to protect allies from a future attack by Russia if they had not met their defense spending commitments. Joe Biden brought the election campaign to the White House Tuesday, slamming former President Donald Trump as 'dumb' while he made the case for more aid for Ukraine At a rally at the weekend, Trump told the story of how he apparently told a fellow world leader that he would encourage Russia to 'do whatever the hell they want' to countries not meeting their targets. In fact, he told a rally crowd the story of how he apparently said to a fellow world leader that he would encourage Russia to 'do whatever the hell they want' to countries not meeting their targets. The result was unease from NATO members and fury from Biden. 'No other president in history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator,' he said. 'Let me say this as clearly as I can. I never will. For God's sake. It's dumb. It's shameful, it's dangerous.' Trump is the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee in this year's election. And Biden told his audience that the nation was at an 'inflection' point. 'I can't imagine any other president walking away,' he said. For as long as I'm president, if Putin attacks a NATO ally, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory.' He said Trump's comments were 'unAmerican.' And he pointed out that the only time NATO has invoked Article 5 of its self-defense clause an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members was in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. Biden also used the speech to tell the American public that the security bill would create jobs at home. 'Places like Arizona where the Patriot missiles are built, and Alabama where the Javelin missiles, and Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas for artillery shells are made,' he said. Republicans, under the influence of Trump, have opposed foreign military aid packages which do not include money to secure the border with Mexico. Yet, Senate Republicans torpedoed a bill that did that last week. In the meantime, the White House has ramped up its messaging efforts. In a memo released Tuesday, an official tied the security bill to efforts to rein in Iran and its territorial ambitions. Biden said Republicans needed to decide whose side they were on: Ukraine or Vladimir Putin's (pictured), America or Trump's The U.S. has had to cut military aid to Ukraine after its budget authority ran dry. The two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion is approaching 'A House vote against American national security is a vote to appease and empower the Iranian regime. Period,' wrote spokesman Andrew Bates. 'Iran is integral to Putins war effort in Ukraine, providing him with weapons and financial support. Right now, Russians are killing Ukrainian civilians with Iranian drones. 'Iran is even considering supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles. Iran and Russia are also integrating their economies closer and closer together.' Republicans who block the bill, he writes, would simply strengthen Iran's hand. Earlier Biden urged the House to pass the bill and send it to his desk as quickly as possible. 'We cannot afford to wait any longer. The costs of inaction are rising every day, especially in Ukraine,' he said. 'Already, we are seeing reports of Ukrainian troops running out of ammunition on the front lines as Russian forces continue to attack and Putin continues to dream of subjugating the Ukrainian people.' Ukrainian officials have warned repeatedly that they cannot hold back Russian attacks without more help. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated passage of the bill. #'American assistance brings just peace in Ukraine closer and restores global stability, resulting in increased security and prosperity for all Americans and all the free world,' he posted on the social media platform X. San Diego Border Patrol agents have faced an untenable flood of Chinese migrants sneaking over the border each day, raising fears over the growing influence of the hostile state in the US. Border sources claim that 269 Chinese migrants were apprehended by CBP officials in a single day this week, according to Fox News' Bill Melugin - with the number not including those who manage to cross undetected. Chinese nationals now make up the largest growing demographic of migrants crossing the porous US-Mexico border. And 2024 is already well on-track to easily exceed the staggering 37,000 Chinese migrants who were apprehended by the CBP in the 2023 fiscal year. So far in the 2024 fiscal year, which began in October, over 20,000 Chinese migrants have been apprehended. In 2021, this number stood at just 342. It comes after a US Border Patrol chief warned that his agents are being overwhelmed by the flood of Chinese migrants, fearing poor verification measures mean they could be missing Communist spies, DailyMail.com revealed last week. Chinese nationals now make up the fastest-growing faction of illegal border crossers into the US, with over 20,000 apprehended since October and reports of upwards of 250 more every single day The high success rate of Chinese asylum claims is a long-standing trend, but it has come under the spotlight following a spike in illegal crossings by Chinese migrants last year A large amount of the illegal crossings in San Diego sector happen in Jacumba where there is a small gap in the wall that illegal immigrants pour through every day. (We shot this a couple weeks ago). Inexplicably, the Biden admin has made no effort to fill or fix this small gap. pic.twitter.com/wqQRI917VU Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 13, 2024 Fears over the soaring rate of Chinese nationals crossing into the US comes as the nation continues to grow its real estate holdings in the US, raising questions over whether regulations should be put in place to halt the CCP's potential influence in the US. In San Diego, where a large percentage of Chinese migrants opt to try and get into America, the ease at which people avoid detection was captured in stunning footage shared by Melugin. In footage shared to X, a small gap in the border fence has become a popular spot for migrants to slip into the US. Despite reports bringing attention to the blatant flaw, the Biden administration has seemingly done nothing to fix it for several weeks. According to the latest CBP statistics, the San Diego sector where the gap is found has seen over 95,000 migrant encounters since October - compared to just over 53,000 in the same timeframe in 2023. In total, the CBP has tracked over one million migrant encounters since October, the earliest the mark has ever been reached in a fiscal year - with mounting scrutiny falling on the number that are hailing from China. Among those seeking asylum, some have been found to have links with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated People's Liberation Army (PLA), but border chiefs are concerned more could be slipping through their grasp. Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Good, of the Border Patrols El Paso Sector, told the Homeland Security Committee during a private hearing in September last year that his agents were 'trying their best to figure out why [individuals from other continents are] coming' but that 'information can be hidden' and 'their agendas, their ideologies, the reason for them coming could be missed'. More successful asylum claims in the US are made by Chinese migrants than any other nationality, according to government data Chinese nationals also have the third highest success rate when it comes to US asylum claims Gloria Chavez, chief patrol agent for the Border Patrols Rio Grande Valley Sector, also told the Committee in June that the massive surge in Chinese migrants had forced her agents to enlist a translation service, with each Chinese national taking up to seven hours to interview. The interviews were shared with DailyMail.com by the committee. Its chair, Mark Green, said the surge in Chinese migrants was a 'massive' national security concern. He said agents were being 'overwhelmed', with many Chinese nationals being 'released into the interior with little consideration for their country of origin'. Green blamed Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas for making it 'clear to the entire world that our borders are open'. He added: 'While it is true that some individuals may be seeking relief from authoritarian regimes, there is no way for our brave men and women on the frontlines of this crisis to adequately vet all of them before being effectively forced to release themparticularly when countries like China wont allow us access to their various law enforcement databases. 'My Committee has been informed that some of these Chinese nationals have even been found to be affiliated with the Peoples Liberation Army and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)and those are just the ones weve been able to vet. 'As the CCP works to undermine and infiltrate our institutions and even military installations, Secretary Mayorkas has made it clear to the entire world that our borders are open. 'This is simply unsustainable, and the national security risks are massive.' An asylum seeking migrant from China holds up his passport and paperwork as he is photographed by a U.S. Border Patrol in December 2023 A five-year-old migrant boy from China chases his brother down a trail after he and his family crossed the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023 CBP sources said the number of total migrant crossings since October has soared past one million, compared to the same time frame last year at 923,446 The surprise explosion in crossings by Chinese migrants has sparked fevered speculation over why so many are suddenly making the arduous journey from East Asia, with some commentators suggesting Beijing may be smuggling in some as spies. But immigration experts have said they thought it unlikely that the CCP would send in agents in this manner, suggesting Xi Jinping would prefer a more direct route using work visas - as has been the case in the past. Links to the CCP and PLA are common among Chinese citizens and does not necessarily mean they are operating as spies. Meanwhile, startling US government data has revealed that more illegal Chinese migrants were granted asylum in the over the past three years than any other nationality, raising concerns that more will be encouraged to follow. In 2022, Chinese nationals accounted for 14 per cent of all successful 'defensive' asylum claims. These claims are so-called because they are made by those defending themselves from deportation proceedings, so would include migrants who have crossed the border illegally. China also tops the table for all types of successful asylum claims, with 13 per cent of all approved applications. That is despite the Chinese being responsible for just 1 per cent of all border encounters that year. Around two thirds of Chinese asylum claims were successful between 2001 to 2021, the third highest success rate of any country, according to analysis of Immigration Court records by Syracuse University. Last year, the figure was 55 per cent. Compounding matters is Beijing's refusal to repatriate its citizens when their asylum claims are rejected. A former assistant secretary of state told DailyMail.com that Beijing would often deny that the migrants were indeed Chinese. The US is powerless in these situations. Experts are warning that the high success rate of Chinese migrants claiming asylum - coupled with Beijing's refusal to take back them back if they fail - is acting as a 'green light' to many considering taking their chances on the border. Rebecca Grant, Ph.D., a national security analyst at IRIS Independent Research, said the 'historically high rate of accepting claims from China' coupled with Beijing's record of blocking repatriation acted as a 'huge green light' for migrants. Chinese migrants arriving at the southern border between the United States and Mexico appeared near California in December. (Migrants pictured are not accused of having links to CCP) The migrants, reported to be mostly Chinese nationals, were lined up neatly dressed and with proper luggage as they were processed following their illegal crossing. (Migrants pictured are not accused of having links to CCP) Grant also raised questions over its implications for national security. 'I want to know who these people are and why they're here,' she told DailyMail.com. 'The prevailing narrative is that China has got economic problems; these are economic migrants. 'Let's say 90 per cent of them are. They should still come in legally, so I'm not in favor in any case. 'But the really worrying part is our adversaries see this gaping hole on the southern border because of the huge loopholes that the Biden administration allows. 'Of course, China may take advantage of that.' Beijing has a track record of using citizens working in the US to steal trade secrets from American companies, plundering everything from technology that can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons to genetically-modified seeds. Grant suggested that the CCP may try to exploit America's porous border by smuggling in a handful of spies among the hundred plus daily crossings. But Michele Thoren Bond, a former assistant secretary of state, said this was unlikely. 'It would be a pretty random way to place your agents,' she said, adding that Beijing would likely favor a more direct method of infiltration. Economic espionage has previously been carried out by Chinese citizens with US visas. Bond did, however, hit out at the Chinese government for its obstruction of repatriation efforts. She said that when she acted as Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs in the Obama administration, China was unwilling to take back its citizens. 'They said: "Well we don't know if they're Chinese". 'If somebody has been issued a US passport, we have a photo recognition program that enables us to take a photo of that person and run it through our system and see if we get a hit. 'Now, the Chinese do a lot more with ID in their population than we do. 'So, it is simply not credible for them to say, "gosh, we have no way of knowing if these people are Chinese".' A group of people, including many from China, walk along the wall after crossing the border with Mexico to seek asylum, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, near Jacumba, California. (Migrants pictured are not accused of having links to CCP) Former immigration judge Paul Schmidt told DailyMail.com that the reasons for the high success rate of Chinese asylum claims were threefold. Historically, it is a hangover from congressional legislation that granted asylum to families fleeing China's One Child policy. Chinese migrants are also rarely unrepresented, with most arriving 'lawyered up', Schmidt added, while Xi Jinping's repressive rule also gave strong grounds for asylum claims to be accepted. He agreed with Bond's assertion that the border was an unlikely route into the US for Chinese spies, but added that it was not without concern. 'There's a lot of reason to be suspicious of some of the things the Chinese government does,' he said. 'The Chinese government is out for the Chinese government.' Most Chinese migrants seeking a new life in the US usually first fly into Ecuador, where they do not need a visa. Then they pay smugglers to take them through the dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama to the US, just like hundreds of thousands of other migrants from Central and South America. It is thought the sudden spike in Chinese nationals heading to the US is part of an exodus from the country sparked by draconian Covid restrictions and the repressive regime of Xi Jinping. A Pennsylvania man accused of committing homicide has died after he jumped through a window after being taken into police custody. Bernard Geisel, 42, was allegedly trespassing in a vacant building in Connellsville on December 29. After building residents called the police about a squatter, Connellsville Police Department officers arrived to find Geisel on the fourth floor and arrested him. Disturbing footage shows the man walking down the stairs in handcuffs with no cops in front of him. As he approaches a window, Geisel is seen jumping head first through the window, flipping twice in the air and falling onto the sidewalk, right next to a police car. State Police later said he suffered life-threatening injuries and died at a hospital. Bernard Geisel, 42, was allegedly trespassing in a vacant building in Connellsville on December 29 After building residents called the police about a squatter, Connellsville Police Department officers arrived to find Geisel on the fourth floor and arrested him. Disturbing footage shows the man walking down the stairs in handcuffs with no cops in front of him As he approaches a window, Geisel is seen jumping head first through the window, flipping twice in the air and falling onto the sidewalk, right next to a police car Trooper Kalee Barnhart told CBS: 'Upon searching the building, Connellsville officers located the actor on the fourth floor of that building. This actor was positively identified as Bernard Geisel. 'He was taken to Highlands Hospital and later transported to Frick Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.' Neighbor Bonnie Ray later described the video as 'upsetting'. 'Watching that video, it was so upsetting. I don't know what he was thinking, what was going on, why he would plunge himself through that window. 'It's very sad. I feel bad for his parents, if he had kids, brothers, sisters,' she said. Geisel had previously been charged with homicide after he hit a man multiple times with a crowbar and ran him over. State Police later said he suffered life-threatening injuries and died at a hospital Geisel had previously been charged with homicide after he hit a man multiple times with a crowbar and ran him over In December 2023, police were called to a Sheetz store in Redstone Township after receiving reports of a vehicle crashing into a pedestrian. According to officials, Geisel and the victim had dated the same woman in the past and knew each other. The victim told officials that he was approached by crowbar-wielding Geisel as he walked out of the convivence store. When he asked what Geisel was doing, the accused murderer charged and began to attack him. During the attack, Sheetz staff began to call the police. According to a witness, Geisel got back into his car and drove fast into the victim. The victims head hit the hood and his leg hit the bumper before he fell to the ground. Geisel then got out of his car with the crowbar, walked towards the victim, who got up and got into his truck before fleeing the parking lot, according to the complaint. Police are still investigating the case. A male Reddit user flushed his 'excellent job opportunity' down the drain after clogging a toilet in the office's unisex bathroom. The original poster (OP) shared the story of how he lost his job before it began in a Reddit post on February 12. I had pretty much gotten the job at a previous interview and I was just in to fill out onboarding paperwork, he wrote. I was so stoked because the onboarding questions were about accommodations I'd like at this job. Unfortunately, things began to go downhill after the almost employee drank some of the office's coffee. A male Reddit user who almost secured an 'excellent' job was not asked to return after he clogged up the office toilet The issue began after someone at the office offered him coffee. He drank it 'really fast' and it made him need to quickly use the restroom 'All was going well but I was offered coffee earlier and of course accepted it because I love free stuff,' he wrote. 'This coffee was so so good and I drank it down really fast. So of course coffee did what coffee does and before I knew it I had to use their bathroom.' The man admitted that he was able to 'let it all out' and that there was 'a lot of excess' in his system that morning. 'It took a lot of toilet paper for me to get my a** clean too,' he wrote. After he washed his hands and admired the 'really nice bathroom,' he returned to his desk to finish the paperwork. The forgetful man sadly did not remember to flush the toilet, and that's when things appeared to have gone wrong. The man admitted that he was able to 'let it all out' and that there was 'a lot of excess' in his system that morning After going to the bathroom, he admired the bathroom and washed his hands. However, he forgot to flush the toilet after he was done A female employee walked into the bathroom and found the OP's excrement in the toilet. 'I looked at the door as I heard the sound of a flush from the toilet as she tried to get rid of it so that she could go.. but I didn't hear the bowl clear, I only heard the bowl fill up with water,' he wrote. The woman was 'not happy' and told her boss what she discovered in the bathroom. 'I was the only new person in the building so of course everyone knew it was me,' the OP wrote. 'I tried to just pretend like I was on my computer the whole time and they didn't yell me or anything they just delt with it.' The employees managed to find a plunger, but according to the OP, 'a lot of toilet water got on the bathroom floor.' A female employee complained to her boss and the employees were forced to search for a plunger. A lot of toilet water did end up on the bathroom floor After the man finished his paperwork, he gave it to the boss, who was not very friendly toward him. 'I finished my paperwork but I never heard back from them even after I tried to follow up,' the almost new-hire wrote. He has since blamed 'the coffee' and being distracted by the nice bathroom with 'a sliding oak door.' Other Reddit users have seemingly dissed him, and one person asked if he was 'an animal' since he pooped at a job interview. Several Reddit users have dissed the man for pooping at a job interview and have found the story hilarious, some even believing that the incident did not really happen 'Who forgets to flush a s***? ESPECIALLY when trying to get hired at that place of employment, lol,' a Reddit user commented. 'I wouldn't hire you either- if you can't remember to flush your feces I can't even imagine how forgetful on the job you'd be.' Other commenters have written that they wouldn't hire him and have called him 'an idiot' for forgetting. A few users believe that his 's***** story' is not true, but the OP has repeatedly written that it is. Another user said that this incident is not the OP's fault and that the employer was in the wrong for 'not having a plunger.' A treasure trove of visual memories from the height of The Beatles' fame is coming to New York in the form of a personal photo collection shot by Paul McCartney 60 years ago. McCartney, who was an amateur photographer before his ascent to unbelievable fame, shot the photographs that will be on display between December of 1963 and February of 1964, when The Beatles took America by storm. The 81-year-old rocker told the New York Times that for years he thought 'the photos were lost.' 'In the 60s it was pretty easy. Often doors were left open. Wed invite fans in.' he said, recounting a moment when he came across a stolen lyric sheet for 'Yesterday' on display at the British Library. The exhibition, set to run at the Brooklyn Museum from May 3-August 18 of this year, is being called 'Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm.' Self-portrait. London, 1963. Pigmented inkjet print. 1963 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP John and George. Paris, January 1964. Pigmented inkjet print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP The photos take viewers through a whirlwind tour the band embarked upon that spanned six cities, beginning in Liverpool and England, and culminating in Miami. According to the Times, the pictures from the British leg of the tour are being displayed in small 'walnut frames, to indicate Britain was still in throes of a postwar recession.' Once The Beatles and Paul's camera reach America, the images become more playful and even colorful when they hit the beaches of Miami. McCartney describes his photographs as 'having a certain innocence to them.' 'I think it was a lot more fun than it was. We worked probably 360 days out of the year,' he said. The Brooklyn Museum describes the collection as one which takes the viewer 'inside the frenzy of Beatlemania in 196364, when the bands first U.S. tour skyrocketed them to superstardom.' The collection features more than 250 of McCartney's personal photos, which were recently rediscovered after being lost for more than half-a-century. The exhibit, which is currently on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, will also include 'video clips and archival material, the photographs not only showcase McCartneys artistic versatility but also serve as a personal and historical record.' 'The images also evoke an affectionate family album, picturing McCartney and bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr at a time when their lives were changing irrevocably,' writes the museum. Ringo Starr. London, January 1964. Pigmented inkjet print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP George Harrison. Miami Beach, February 1964. Chromogenic print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP John Lennon. Paris, January 1964. Pigmented inkjet print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP Photographers in Central Park. New York, February 1964. Pigmented inkjet print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP West 58th Street, crossing 6th Avenue. New York, February 1964. Pigmented inkjet print. 1964 Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archive LLP Some of the photographs will go on sale after the exhibition ends, reports the Times. McCartney is currently organizing that gallery sale, which he says is 'a process I like.' 'Ive done it a few times with Lindas work,' referring to his first wife, photographer Linda Eastman. The exhibition will feature personal thoughts from McCartney about some of the shots he took at the peak of Beatlemania - before the global sensation became so untenably chaotic that the band ceased touring. Did YOU have a gastric illness while staying at the Mitsis Family Village Beach resort in Kos? A British mother has revealed that her hair started falling out due to stress after she was struck down with a gastric illness at a Greek resort the day after her partner proposed - as a group of UK tourists have taken legal action. Jessica Brecknock, 35, from Nottingham, and her partner Sam travelled to the four-star Mitsis Family Village Beach hotel in Kos for a week-long holiday - their first without their children - in May last year. Sam asked Jessica to marry him - but their celebrations were cut short when she fell ill with severe sickness and diarrhoea the next day, confining her to the hotel room for the rest of the holiday. Upon returning to the UK, the mother-of-four attended A&E after she also started feeling tired and breathless. There she was diagnosed with salmonella and put in isolation for nine days. 'Even after being discharged life hasn't been the same. I'm far from recovered and I still can't eat properly and started with hair loss,' she said. Jessica Brecknock (pictured), 35, from Nottingham, and her partner Sam travelled to the four-star Mitsis Family Village Beach hotel in Kos for a week-long holiday - their first without their children - in May last year. Sam asked Jessica to marry him Their celebrations were cut short when she fell ill with severe sickness and diarrhoea. Back in the UK she was admitted to hospital (pictured above during her hospital stay) and diagnosed with salmonella The couple stayed at the Mitsis Family Village Beach Hotel (pictured above) from May 10 to Mary 17 The 35-year-old added: 'This was meant be a really special occasion to celebrate our engagement but the holiday quickly turned into anyone's worst nightmare.' She said when she first fell ill on holiday, she thought she had a heatstroke - until her symptoms got worse. Jessica said: 'I decided to hold out until I got home and expected things to improve. I was wrong. 'When I got home I spent all day in bed and the next day, I was so ill, I knew I needed a hospital. I never thought I would need to be admitted and kept in isolation. 'It was a scary time and all sorts of thoughts were running through my mind at that point. They said it was salmonella but I never realised you could be so ill as a result and they had to monitor my kidney function.' After she was discharged from hospital, Jessica still felt sick, so she had to take six weeks off work to get better. Even today, she said she still has trouble eating and suffers from hair loss. Jessica added: 'I've been to Kos several times in the past and loved it, but I'll never go back now,' following the holiday at the Mitsis hotel from May 10 to May 17. Jessica (her arm pictured while she was in hospital) said: 'I never thought I would need to be admitted and kept in isolation. It was a scary time [...]. They said it was salmonella but I never realised you could be so ill as a result and they had to monitor my kidney function' Jessica is among a growing group of Briton who have contacted specialist international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate after they were all struck down with gastric illness while staying at the Mitsis resort (pictured) in Kos 'As a first holiday without the children, Sam decided to pick this moment to propose. It was all meant to be so wonderful and romantic and was completely ruined. 'I'm now scared to book a honeymoon because of the experience. Luckily I'm pretty fit and well but I dread to think what could happen if someone older or vulnerable fell as ill as I did. 'We need answers to find out what went wrong so this doesn't happen to anyone else.' Jessica is among a growing group of Briton who have contacted specialist international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate after they were all struck down with gastric illness while staying at the Mitsis resort in Kos. Lewis and Charlotte Maskew, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, were holidaying at the hotel in the same month as Jessica and Sam. The Maskew family stayed at the resort from May 10 to May 24. The married couple, both aged 31, travelled with their four-year-old daughter, Imogen, and one-year-old twin girls, Ada and Esme. Four days after they arrived, the family ate in the beach bar restaurant, where the parents and oldest Imogen all had pork wraps. All started to feel ill the next day, with diarrhoea, vomiting, high temperatures and fever. They struggled to keep fluids down and contacted the hotel for a doctor on May 16 - but it took the doctor three days to come and examine the family. The family were required to pay the doctor 100 euros (85), who said they just had a stomach bug that should pass in 24 hours and provided rehydration tablets. But Lewis, Charlotte and Imogen continued to be unwell for the five remaining days of the holiday. After returning to the UK on May 24, Lewis began to suffer from severe haemorrhoids and Imogen's bowel movements were not the same for a month after their return. Lewis and Charlotte Maskew, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, were holidaying at the hotel in the same month as Jessica and Sam. The Maskew family (pictured) stayed at the resort from May 10 to May 24 Lewis said: 'We even pushed the boat out this time and went four star all-inclusive. Our first impressions of the hotel weren't great' (view from the hotel's rooms with pool access pictured) Lewis, a maintenance technician, said: 'We'd not been able to go abroad for a while following the birth of the twins, so this holiday was a treat for the family and for a belated celebration for our 30th birthdays. 'We even pushed the boat out this time and went four star all-inclusive. Our first impressions of the hotel weren't great. The room wasn't ready when we arrived and it was impossible to ignore the flies that surrounded the main restaurant dining area. 'After eating on May 14, Charlotte, Imogen and myself began to fall ill one after the other. READ MORE: Hundreds of tourists hit with food poisoning at Turkish resorts as the health watchdog issues a warning for holidaymakers amid wave of salmonella cases Advertisement 'I have never felt so ill and it was hard to do anything to support your children when you're sick yourself. Despite requesting a doctor, it was days before we were seen and medication had little effect. 'The holiday was ruined and the only consolation is that the twins were thankfully unaffected. The three of us were still ill afterwards. 'I'm still far from well and Charlotte's hair started to fall out, we think, due to the stress of it all. Imogen still wasn't right after a month. 'This holiday was supposed to be the highlight of our year that turned into an absolute nightmare. 'We know other guests were ill as we were and feel the least we deserve are answers and an explanation. You don't expect to pay for a four-star hotel and have this happen to you.' James Blower, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the group, said he was now investigating how his clients like Jessica Brecknock and the Maskew family fell ill to 'secure them the answers they deserve'. He said: 'All our clients were very much looking forward to their holidays. However, they were ruined when they were struck down by serious gastric illness, including Salmonella. 'The effects of such serious illnesses should never be downplayed as they can have serious long-term health implication for those affected.' Mitsis Family Village Beach is a four-star hotel in Kardamena in Kos. Pictured above is one of the rooms with sea view at the resort Another room is pictured above, with a pool and palm trees visible outside the balcony doors He said if any issues are identified during the investigation, these will be 'vital lessons [...] to ensure other holidaymakers don't suffer a similar experience'. 'From conversations with both groups, it appears other hotel guests may also have fallen ill at the same time and we would be keen to hear from anyone else who stayed at the hotel in question as our investigations continue,' he added. A further group of six people also reported falling ill at the same resort, with varying levels of gastric illness. They have also asked Irwin Mitchell to investigate. Mitsis Family Village Beach is a four-star hotel in Kardamena in Kos. The resort has a main restaurant that offers buffet-style food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a snack and pizza bar on the beach as well as a creperie and gelateria. MailOnline has contacted the Mitsis Family Village Beach hotel for comment. A 15-year-old daredevil became the second teenager to be killed in a span of just two weeks while 'surfing' atop a BART train in San Francisco. The high school freshman, who once bragged about 'acting like he had nine lives,' had posted clips of himself on top of a moving train on his Instagram before he was killed doing just that on Sunday. The boy's remains were found after police used a drone to capture an aerial view of the body, which was on an elevated trackway, as reported by The San Francisco Standard. While his identity has not been made public by his family, his mother has confirmed he was behind the @explodingcans1 Instagram account, where he often posted clips of his dangerous stunts. He only shared photos of himself from behind, with no photos of his face uploaded. Friends who paid tribute called him 'Alex,' but DailyMail.com has not been able to verify the teenager's identity. The account shows the boy atop various bridges, cranes and skyscrapers, as well as going into subway tunnels and 'surfing' the city's trains throughout 2023. On January 15 he posted a video atop a BART train and wrote: '2nd person to ever surf BART.' A 15-year-old became the second teenager to be killed in a span of just two weeks while 'surfing' atop a BART train in San Francisco. He had previously shared clips from atop the train While his identity has not been made public, his mother has confirmed he was behind the @explodingcans1 Instagram account, where he often posted clips of his dangerous stunts The 15-year-old's death comes just weeks after Daniel Baran, 19, was killed on January 29 after reportedly climbing out of the train and falling onto the tracks His mother told The San Francisco Standard she believes that social media comments could have encouraged him to continue the life-risking behavior - particularly those left on that video, which was shared by the popular account @bartactivities. One comment reportedly called the boy 'the next Tom Cruise.' 'What 15-year-old wouldnt want attention like that?' the boy's mom told The Standard. The 15-year-old's death comes just weeks after Daniel Baran, 19, was killed on January 29 after reportedly climbing out of the train and falling onto the tracks near the Balboa Park Station. Hauntingly, a person had left a link to Baran's obituary in a comment on the 15-year-old's January 15 Bart surfing video. The person wrote: 'Here's one of the surfers end result.' The college student's heartbroken mother Marina Baran told The San Francisco Standard that he was last seen on surveillance cameras climbing out of a train, where the carriages meet, and squeezing before two rubber spacers. The 15-year-old's Instagram account shows the boy atop various bridges, cranes and skyscrapers His mother told The San Francisco Standard she believes that social media comments could have encouraged him to continue the life-risking behavior Daniel's body was later found on the tracks. His mother believes that he could have been inspired by others posting similar stunts on social media. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said: 'As videos and photos of so-called "surfing" are spread by traditional and social media, too many kids are paying with their lives. We strongly discourage these reckless acts and urge media platforms to stop amplifying the content fueling them.' The 'surfing' stunt has been an issue in train systems all over the country. Last year New York City mayor Eric Adams and state governor Kathy Hochul launched a campaign called, 'Subway Surfing Kills Ride Inside, Stay Alive Public Information Campaign.' As part of the campaign, social media companies wiped out thousands of surfing videos posted online. Last year, at least five people were killed 'surfing' MTA trains in the city. Fresh warnings have been issued to Britons over a rise of 'copycat' acid attacks, as four incidents have been reported in just two weeks. Experts spoke to MailOnline today about the worrying number of chemical attacks reported in recent weeks and called for 'further tightening' around the regulations for corrosive substances. Professor Aisha K. Gill, Professor of Criminology, Centre for Gender and Violence Research, at University of Bristol, referred to acid attacks as a 'gendered form of violence', one where the attempt is to maim and disfigure, but not necessarily to kill. She said long-term disability, social isolation and a loss of social or economic status are 'deliberately sought by the perpetrators of these attacks'. It comes just weeks after suspected acid attacker Abdul Shokoor Ezedi doused a mother and her two daughters with a corrosive alkaline substance in Clapham, on Wednesday, 31 January. Police believe the 35-year-old man was previously in a relationship with the woman. A CCTV image of Clapham acid attack suspect Abdul Ezedi (pictured) who is believed to have gone into the River Thames A map illustrating the four reported chemical assaults in the last two weeks The Afghan asylum seeker injured 12 people before going on the run and sparking a nationwide manhunt. Metropolitan Police now believe Ezedi entered the River Thames after he was seen near Chelsea Bridge after leaving Battersea Park. Earlier this week, police officers were involved in a three-hour stand-off with an alleged 'acid attacker' who seized a London bus and threatened the driver and passengers with an unknown substance in Croydon. Police on the scene in Croydon after a man seized a London bus and threatened the driver and passengers with a substance which was later found to be not harmful Police detained a 44-year-old man who was arrested for affray. It was later confirmed that the substance was found not to be harmful and no one was injured. Meanwhile, a 52-year-old woman was left with burns on her back and head after an attack in Jay's Close, Basingstoke on February 10. The day after, a manhunt was launched after a man was attacked with a 'noxious substance' in St Laurence Graveyard in Ramsgate, Kent. The attacker fled the scene and the victim was rushed to hospital for treatment to burns at the back of his head. Prof. Gill said: 'In this context, men often believe that they have power and control over womens sexuality, and these perceptions can have devastating consequences. 'For example, when women make their own marriage choices or exit violent relationships to protect their own and/or their childrens safety, men interpret these actions through a patriarchal lens and respond with coercion or physical violence. 'This kind of violence is legitimised by the marginalisation of womens rights in the face of dominant patriarchal narratives structured around the preservation of male honour. Figures from charity Acid Survivors Trust International (Asti) revealed how attacks in London rose by 45 percent last year and a staggering 69 percent across England and Wales. There were 710 acid attacks recorded in 2022, compared with 421 in 2021. The Metropolitan Police recorded 107 attacks in 2022, up from 74 in 2021. Women were targeted in 339 cases and men in 317 and in the rest the gender of the victim was unknown. The 710 figure is the highest number of recorded attacks in the world with the majority of victims being women. Heartbreaking images show scaly wounds and life-changing injuries to the left side of the victim's face and across both arms after the East Ham attack Prof. Gill added: 'With these attacks on the rise, the criminal justice system must ensure that its response is informed by the perspectives of survivors who have lived experience of its current responses; further, it must be able to influence national police guidance and training and to scrutinise them to more clearly understand the underlying motivations of perpetrators. 'However, protecting acid victims and working to prevent this form of gender-based violence is not merely an issue of legal, police policies and practice; acid attacks can only be eradicated by social change.' So far, ministers have made changes to the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 making it harder for young people aged under 18 to buy corrosive substances. The changes, introduced in 2022, also make it an offence to possess a corrosive substance in a public place. Lucy Hadley, head of policy at Women's Aid, told MailOnline: 'We know from our work with survivors that many don't report the crimes against them for fear of not being believed. 'These fears are further exacerbated by the fact that there is currently a chasm between the number of women reporting domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women and the number of perpetrators convicted. Katie Piper, 40, was attacked with acid by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch and his accomplice Stefan Sylvestre in 2008, causing serious injuries and blindness in one eye Belgian Patricia Lefranc, victim and survivor of an acid attack in 2009, poses for Reuters with a fashion look book "Tear Couture" Lefranc was attacked by her former partner and spent 12 weeks in a coma before undergoing more than 100 surgeries 'It is concerning to see that the number of recorded acid attacks is rising. We know perpetrators of domestic abuse will use any and every means to abuse, control and threaten women and the police and criminal justice agencies must be alert to the use of acid attacks as a form of physical violence. 'We need consistent data collection on the sex of victim and perpetrator, and their relationship, so we can understand and tackle how it is impacting cases of domestic abuse. 'All reports on violence against women and girls, both on and offline, must be taken seriously with women effectively supported and perpetrators held accountable for these devastating crimes.' Milad Rouf, 25, from Cardiff, was jailed after throwing sulphuric acid over his ex-girlfriend when she answered her door in 2021 Meanwhile, an earlier Asti study estimates each acid attack in the UK costs the taxpayer 63,000 and the predicted overall cost between 2015 and 2020 is likely to be around 345 million. Among horrific cases in recent years include Dr Rym Alaoui who suffered life changing injuries when a former colleague and boyfriend threw acid in her face in a horrific, premeditated and planned attack on her doorstep in Brighton. Milad Rouf, 25, disguised himself as a large, black woman before throwing sulphuric acid over his ex-girlfriend when she answered her door in May 2021. Dr Alaoui suffered life changing injuries to her face, neck and chest, Lewes Crown Court heard. She was unable to close her eyes or move her neck and has lost the sight in her right eye. Rouf was jailed for 15 years the following October with judge Christine Laing QC telling Rouf she had no doubt he was a danger to women before sending him to prison. Patricia Lefranc, who was attacked with sulphuric acid by her former partner in 2009, spent 12 weeks in a coma before undergoing more than 100 surgeries, including skin grafts. Asti recently produced a book with the British fashion photographer Rankin featuring images of Lefranc to raise awareness of the crime. Staff members started to notice that the owners were randomly sell store furniture and machines online before they were 'forced to resign' The former workers said that were fired without warning from Girl Tribe Co. due to money problems in late January A clothing boutique based in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area has been scrutinized by their former employees A clothing brand has faced backlash after former employees alleged the company asked its staff to work for free and the owners started to sell furniture from their headquarters. The former workers also said they were fired from Girl Tribe Co., a boutique based in North Carolina, due to money problems the $15million company has faced. The anonymous employees added at least half a dozen workers from the company's corporate office were 'forced to resign' in the span of three days in late January. 'The wording was "youre either on the bus or youre off the bus",' an employee said. 'Essentially, we felt like we wont have jobs if we dont do this.' Suspicions started to rise when employees noticed that the store's owners, Sarah Baucom and Carrie Baker, began selling equipment and store furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Former employees have accused their old bosses Carrie Baker (left) and Sarah Baucom (right) of asking them to work without pay and 'forcing them to resign' from Girl Tribe Co., a clothing boutique based in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area Former employees say they started to notice that the owners were selling store furniture online. A dryer that belonged to the store was posted to Facebook Marketplace by the owners (right) The store started in 2014 when Baucom and Baker began selling T-shirts on Etsy in November 2014. Pictured: the Girl Tribe Co. store located in Huntsville, North Carolina Baucom told Queen City News that the claims are 'false information' before she said a PR manager would get back to the outlet with a follow-up statement. The company told DailyMail.com that 'the financial health of Girl Tribe Co. is well intact, and that there are no financial problems.' Megan Miller, a spokeswoman for Girl Tribe Co. added that 'only one employee was let go' and that the others 'chose to leave the company' after its 'new restructuring.' 'Overall, this seems like a disgruntled employee trying to slander the name of a successful female-owned business,' Miller added. Others started to notice that something was off after the owners asked employees to work on a Saturday at a warehouse sale without being paid. After a recent sale, the former employees were paid, but after they were officially fired from their jobs, they claim. 'At this kind of event, we get a lot of women and girls coming up to us being like, "We love everything that you guys stand for; we love this girl supporting girls" and were all standing there, like so fragile, about to cry at any point,' an ex-employee said. One of the workers was fired in the middle of the event while others were let go in the days following as they said that Baucom and Baker called each of them in for 'difficult conversations.' Girl Tribe started selling T-shirts on Etsy in November 2014 after Baucom and Baker, two friends from high school, invested $200. Baucom told Queen City News that the claims are 'false information' before she said that a PR manager would get back to the outlet with a follow up statement that was never given Some of the employees also claimed they were promised to receive either severance pay or would get help filling for unemployment, but have not heard from either owner on assistance with those tasks Others started to notice something was off after the owners asked employees to work on a Saturday at a warehouse sale without being paid. Pictured: One of the Girl Tribe Co. stores in Charlotte The brand grew to three separate retail stores- two in Charlotte and one in Huntersville. They also promote their brand in pop-up shops and own a facility that manufactures all of their clothing. 'That was the dream, the pie in the sky,' Baucom told WCNC in April. 'We're going to have a facility filled with women and if graphic T-shirts are where we're going to make our money, we're going to figure out how to do that from the ground up.' Some of the employees also claimed they were promised to receive either severance pay or would get help filling for unemployment, but have not heard from either owner on assistance with those tasks. The employees have also not received documentation proof of their termination, something they said they have asked about for weeks. 'We sort of felt like we were forced to resign because we were told like day to day, youre not promised a job,' a former employee said. 'We all knew the clock was ticking for all of us,' another said. China has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with 29 countries and regions as of the end of January this year. According to government data, the trade value between China and these partners accounts for about a third of the nation's total foreign trade value. The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said China made new breakthroughs in both FTA negotiations and signings last year. In 2023, the country signed FTAs with Ecuador, Nicaragua and Serbia, as well as it signed a protocol to further upgrade the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and made substantial progress in early FTA negotiations with Honduras. According to the MOC, the China-Nicaragua FTA was China's first FTA to permit cross-border service trade and investment through a negative list. Meanwhile, in the protocol to further improve the China-Singapore FTA, both parties made commitments to open services and investments through the negative list model, which would provide bigger market opportunities for investors and service providers on both sides while also facilitating cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy. The ministry said it would continue to advance the nation's high-standard free trade networks and expand zero-tariff policy coverage for goods exchanged this year. It will strive to promote the opening up of service trade and investment using the negative list model, and expand the opening up of sectors such as telecommunications and medical care. The ministry added that it will also incorporate high-standard economic and trade rules governing digital economy, green economy, standards and certification, as well as government procurement, into its new FTA negotiations. New details on items discovered by sniffer dogs New details have emerged about the items found by technology detector dogs at the home of murder accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson. Patterson, 49, was arrested at her home in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder on November 2. Australian Federal Police specialist sniffer dogs arrived at the home just six hours later to aid a search warrant being conducted by Victoria Police. One of the dogs, Georgia, found a USB, a micro secure digital card and a SIM card, a Senate estimates hearing was told on Tuesday night. 'Technology Detector Dog Alma found a mobile phone, five iPads, a trail camera, and secure digital card and a smart watch,' AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said. 'These were not found during initial searches undertaken by officers.' A police officer and a technology detector dog is seen at Patterson's home on November 2 The dogs were seen exploring various locations at the home, including a rear deck The accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson (pictured) was arrested on November 2 and remains behind bars The canines are considered to be the most elite of all sniffer dogs due to their ability to sense the microns-thin coating that protects computer circuit boards. The AFP said their noses are so sensitive they can even find tiny SIM or memory cards buried in walls or hidden in fruit. Patterson remains behind bars as police build their brief of evidence, which will include analysis of a computer seized during the search. It is expected to be presented on March 25, following a six-week adjournment. The three murder charges and two of the attempted murder charges relate to a beef wellington lunch allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms that was served by Patterson at her Leongatha home on July 29. The three other attempted murder charges relate to her husband Simon, 48, after he became sick following meals on three occasions between 2021 and 2022. Court documents revealed Patterson is accused of attempting to kill Simon on four occasions - between 16 and 17 November 2021, between 25 and 27 May 2022, on 6 September 2022 and at the mushroom lunch in July 2023. Simon is understood to have pulled out of the July 29 lunch at the last minute. Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only one to survive the deadly lunch, which claimed the life of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66. He spent almost two months in hospital Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, also perished following the lunch Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only one to survive the deadly lunch, which claimed the life of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66. He spent seven weeks in hospital, including time in the intensive care unit. Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, also perished. Patterson is currently behind bars in Victoria's largest women's prison, the notorious Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's western industrial suburbs. A former homicide detective believes missing mum Samantha Murphy could still be alive, and police could find her despite suspending their foot search. Ms Murphy, a 51-year-old mother-of-three, left home on February 4 to go jogging in the Woowookarung Regional Park, near Ballarat, Victoria, and has not been seen since. A major search was launched involving various police units but it was scaled back on Saturday with locals now taking it upon themselves to continue searching for Ms Murphy. Charlie Bezzina, a Victoria Police investigator who worked on a number of high profile cases, said cops could be reexamining an attack on a jogger who was battered unconscious by an unknown man in the nearby Lal Lal State Forest on February 11 last year. Sissy Austin was running along the motorbike track through woodland, just 20km from where Ms Murphy was jogging, when she was suddenly confronted by the stranger. Samantha Murphy left her Ballarat home at 7am on Sunday to go for a run in the nearby Woowookarung Regional Park and did not return home, nor has she been seen since A former homicide detective believes that missing mum Samantha Murphy might still be alive - and there's a chance they might find her. Ms Austin posted photos of herself before and after the attack at the hands of a man with a rock tied to a stick almost a year before Samantha Murphy vanished nearby on Sunday She just caught a glimpse of him before he lashed out and struck her on the head with a rock tied to the end of a stick. The blow knocked her out cold and left her face bruised and bloodied, before she woke up minutes later, dazed but alone. Ms Austin, who stood for election to the Senate for the Greens, then ran 4km to raise the alarm and called for help from the emergency services. 'That would be one avenue of inquiry,' Mr Bezzina told the ABC's 7:30. 'I'd be looking very closely about the whole investigation, did they have suspects, whether you need to go back and talk to her. 'I'd be looking at the investigation file. Let's start re-interviewing those suspects, let's get them alibied.' 'Until such time as you actually physically see her either alive or dead you work with the hope that she is alive somewhere and then you continue on the investigation full steam ahead.' Writing on social media on Tuesday, Ms Austin said: 'Just heard detectives on the morning news saying they're revisiting my case with regards to missing person Samantha Murphy, yet I haven't heard a single word from detectives or police in 12 months. 'And do you know what makes me furious is one of the last things the cops said to me after my attack was? 'The only way we will find the person that attacked you is if they hand themselves in or if they attack again.' 'And here we are...' Dozens of volunteers continue looking for Ms Murphy despite police suspending their foot search. The Lal Lal state forest is just 20km from where missing mum Samantha Murphy went for a run on Sunday in nearby Woowookarung Regional Park Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said it had been heartwarming to learn that people had made the trip from Melbourne, but also concerning because newcomers did not know the area. 'What we don't want, and what emergency services don't want, is to then need to mount another search for other people,' Cr Hudson told Sky News. He said police had an information board at the local police station that newcomers could get some safety tips before starting their own search. 'Ideally people would be (travelling) in twos at least so they can work as a team, but people do need to be careful,' he said. 'Ballarat is a town that was built on gold, lots of gold mines are out there - and people have to be mindful of that when they are searching.' Police have turned to CCTV footage to try and piece together Ms Murphy's final documented movements, saying a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges. Investigators are keen to review footage from the three suburbs even if it does not show Ms Murphy. Police on Saturday said there were no sinister factors about Ms Murphy's disappearance, but there were significant concerns for her wellbeing. Police said they remain in regular contact with the Murphy family about the investigation. Dozens of volunteers continue looking for Ms Murphy despite police suspending their foot search Ms Murphy regularly jogged between 15km through nearby remote areas. She left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East at 7am the day she disappeared. CCTV footage from the family home shows her about to depart. Police have been working with telecommunications experts to try to identify her route, given she carried a smart watch and phone. Ms Murphy has been described as physically and mentally strong. She and her husband Michael run a car repair business called Inland Motor Body Works at Delacombe, a few suburbs from their home. Anyone with information about Ms Murphy's disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Morin's mother and investigators are begging the public to take a close look at a police sketch of the suspect, who has been linked to a home invasion in LA Police in Maryland have released a sketch of Rachel Morin's suspected killer six months after she was brutally murdered, as her mother pleads the public for help. Morin had gone for a walk on the Ma and Pa hiking trail in Bel Air, some 45 miles north of Baltimore, on August 5 around 6pm but failed to return home that evening. The following day, the body of the 37-year-old mom-of-five was discovered on the popular trail naked and beaten in a tunnel along the route. Six months down the line, Harford Police have released a sketch of a her suspected killer and encouraging the public to take a closer look. In an emotional interview, Morin's mother has pleaded with locals to think back to August to help finally solve the mystery of her daughter's death. Maryland cops have released a sketch of Rachel Morin's (pictured) suspected killer six months after the murder The Harford County Sheriff's Office released the sketch on Monday and is encouraging the public to take a close look and provide any relevant information In an emotional interview, Morin's mother pleaded with locals to think back to August to help finally solve the mystery of her daughter's death Speaking to 11 News, Patty Morin said: 'I can't live with pain for the rest of my life, like, I can't do that. There has to be something to help us to move forward,' 'We just really need to find this guy. Like, I'm so tired of crying. I'm so tired of feeling sad, and I'm so tired. 'We need we need to find this person. We need to be able to have some kind of resolution so we can have just some kind of process for healing. 'He's just going to continue to do it because he thinks he can get away with it, and someone else is going to feel this pain that we're feeling and it shouldn't be that way.' 'Catching this person is not going to make my sorrow go away. It's not going to make my grief go away. I've lost the daughter. I can't bring her back. 'Nobody can bring her back. But it will prevent him from hurting somebody else.' Detectives believe that Morin's killer may have been in the area in the days before her murder and witnesses reported seeing a man near the trail where she was jogging. Harford County sheriff's Capt. Andrew Lane said: 'I would say (he was seen during the) last two weeks in July, leading into August, in and around that area.' Lane added: 'That makes us believe that he was here for at least some time beforehand, and that may help the public identify this person. 'Most people who use that trail frequently don't even know that they're there, they're well hidden, so obviously, he knew that the culvert was there and he knew most likely that it was hidden from the trail.' A source close the family told DailyMail.com in mid-August that the young mother had suffered serious head trauma Morin had gone for a walk on the Ma and Pa hiking trail in Bel Air, some 45 miles north of Baltimore on August 5 around 6pm but failed to return home that evening The suspect in Morin's murder has been linked by DNA to a home invasion and assault in LA back in March this year The investigation has led cops to seven different states and has involved 10 federal, state and local agencies. DNA from the crime scene linked Rachel's killer to a suspect in an assault and home invasion in Los Angeles on March 26. The door camera footage shows the man leaving the California property following the crime. Still images from the footage have now been made into posters by Morin's loved ones and disseminated to the LA schools. 'He could have been in high school as early as two years ago,' Morin Family Attorney Randolph Rice told CBS News. 'So, if there's a teacher there who taught him and saw him every single day during the school year, hopefully that teacher would recognize who he is.' Earlier this month they also sent out 10,000 flyers to homes near the crime scene in LA to help bring in possible identity tips to the police. 'Remember, the story really has not been covered in Los Angeles as well as it has been covered here in Baltimore and in Maryland,' Rice said. The man can be seen walking away from the house in Los Angeles. His DNA was linked to the LA home invasion and the body of Morin Still images from the footage have now been made into posters by Morin's loved ones and disseminated to the LA schools The body of the 37-year-old mom-of-five was discovered on the popular trail naked and beaten in a tunnel along the route Detectives believe that Morin's killer may have been in the area in the days before her murder and witnesses reported seeing a man near the trail where she was jogging 'So, we're hopeful that because maybe someone out there hasn't seen these images yet, that we're going to reach somebody.' In August, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler warned that the suspect could be a serial killer who could be preparing to strike again. Gahler said: 'Serial killers all start somewhere. What he did in Los Angeles was certainly, I believe, in that direction. 'I believe it was his intention to inflict more serious physical harm. We don't know who he is yet. 'He could still be laying his head here in our county, or he could have fled anywhere in the country or even the world.' Morin had originally been reported missing by her boyfriend Richard Tobin who also found her car at the trailhead. Rachel Morin and Richard Tobin started dating a 'few weeks ago.' She was found murdered on a hiking trail on Sunday. The pair are shown during a previous hike together Tobin pled his innocence on Facebook, saying he would not to anything to harm Rachel The pair had made their relationship official on social media four days before she was murdered. Tobin had to take to social media to insist he had nothing to do with her disappearance after speculation emerged online. He posted: 'I love Rachel. I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve. 'Yes, I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please.' Tobin has been arrested 14 times since 2014 on a variety of charges including drug dealing, assault, disorderly conduct and refusing arrest. A source close the family told DailyMail.com in mid-August that the young mother had suffered serious head trauma. There is a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, with the public encouraged to contact Harford County Sheriff's Office. Descendants of slaves who built St Louis University have demanded $74 billion in reparations for their ancestors' years of unpaid labor. The Missouri university itself only has an endowment of $1.5billion, meaning that the dozens of descendants are demanding over 70 times more than the school has in its assets. According to economist Julianne Malveaux, the descendants of slaves deserve $365 million based on her calculations that the 70 enslaved people labored for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, between 1823 and 1865. This $365million, with interest over time, amounts to $74billion, she claims. The push for the monetary reparations was made by the Descendants of St. Louis University Enslaved - a group mobilized by great-grandchildren of slaves. Descendants of slaves in Missouri who built St Louis University have demanded $74 billion in reparations for their ancestors' years of unpaid labor. Pictured: the early university in 1841 According to economist Julianne Malveaux, the descendants of slaves deserve the $74 billion based on her calculations that the 70 enslaved people labored for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, between 1823 and 1865 The group were joined by economists and civil rights attorneys to unveil their demands on Tuesday outside the Jesuit university, which was founded in 1818. Areva Martin, a civil rights attorney, wrote to St. Louis University President Fred Pestello, saying that the institution needs to do better. She said that the university owned, sold and trafficked slaves - and that those people were 'robbed of wages, and treated with cruelty and disregarded for their humanity.' The slaves were moved from Maryland to St Louis explicitly to build the college, she said. Areva Martin, a civil rights attorney, wrote to St. Louis University President Fred Pestello, saying that the institution needs to do better Martin, who represents over 200 descendants of Henrietta Mills and Charles Chauvin, said: 'I look forward to working with university leadership to come up with a plan to compensate the descendants for what they are rightfully owed.' One great-granddaughter of Mills, Robin Proudie, said on Tuesday: 'We're not asking for a handout. We're asking for their debt to be paid. 'We decided as a family that we would stand up not only for us, but for all of the enslaved descendants of those who built this country.' Economist Malveaux said: 'The calculations that we came up with and the method that we used are time-honored methods. The university, quite frankly, is overdue, negligent and wrong.' Proudie founded DSLUE after finding out that her ancestors were slaves in St Louis. A statement from SLU said: 'SLU's participation in the institution of slavery was a grave sin. 'We acknowledge that progress on our efforts to reconcile with this shameful history has been slow, and we regret the hurt and frustration this has caused. 'Continuing this work is a priority for SLU and the Society of Jesus. As we move forward, we hope to re-establish and build deeper relationships with all descendant families, to explore together how best to honor the memory of those who were enslaved by the Jesuits.' An old rendering of St Louis University The reparations group were joined by economists and civil rights attorneys to unveil their demands on Tuesday outside the college, which was founded in 1818 Pictured: St Louis University, where some 13,546 students attend In December 2022, St. Louis announced it was creating a commission to consider paying reparations to descendants of the victims of racist policies - raising interesting challenges in a struggling city of 300,000 where 45 percent of residents are black. Democrat mayor of St. Louis Tishaura Jones signed an executive order to create a nine-member volunteer commission to explore and recommend reparations - following a lead set by cities in Illinois, California and Rhode Island. 'The people closest to the problems are closest to the solution,' said Jones. 'I look forward to reviewing this commission's work to chart a course that restores the vitality of black communities in our city after decades of disinvestment. We cannot succeed as a city if one half is allowed to fail.' Those joining the committee must live in St. Louis, and each member must represent a different background, with at least one clergy member, attorney, public health professional, civil rights advocate, one youth and one person in academics. The executive order describes the committee's work as: 'Establishing a community-driven commission to assess the history of slavery, segregation and other race-based harms in the City of St. Louis; explore the present-day manifestations of that history; and, ultimately, recommend a proposal to begin repairing the harms that have been inflicted.' St. Louis has long been among the nation's most segregated cities. Nearly half of its 300,000 residents are black and many of them live in north St. Louis, where rates of crime and poverty are high. The median household income for white St. Louisans is $55,000, nearly twice the median income for black households, $28,000. Racial justice advocates blame decades of racism for the inequality. Nimrod Chapel Jr., president of the Missouri NAACP, said segregation and racism have 'without a doubt' harmed blacks in St. Louis and elsewhere in the state. 'Reparations would be one way to begin, and it's important to consider all the options,' Chapel said. Donald Trump's most recent threat to NATO is irrational and endangers U.S. troops and allies, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said Tuesday. The former president ignited a firestorm after he suggested at a campaign event Saturday that Russia could 'do whatever the hell they want' to NATO members who do not pay their annual dues - which is two percent of GDP per country. Trump was railing against the 20 NATO member countries that failed to meet the two percent threshold required by the alliance. Only 11 countries paid the required two percent GDP funding requirement in 2023. 'Encouraging the Kremlin to attack NATO territory or a NATO ally puts U.S. soldiers and also allied soldiers at greater risk,' Julianne Smith said in an interview with Bloomberg today. 'Statements like that are irrational, irresponsible and outright dangerous,' she continued. Julianne Smith, US Ambassador to NATO, says the comments made by former president Donald Trump over the weekend are "outright dangerous." She speaks to Bloomberg's @annmarie from Brussels https://t.co/jYK3V1rtON pic.twitter.com/p04XnH1S4q Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) February 13, 2024 U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith called Trump's remarks about the alliance 'dangerous' and that his comments endanger U.S. and allied soldiers Former President Donald Trump suggested to a crowd in South Carolina that Russia 'could do whatever the hell they want' to NATO countries that do not spend enough on defense Trump told the crowd Saturday that a NATO country's president came to him when he was in office wondering of the U.S. would still protect the country if they did not pay the two percent threshold. 'No, I would not protect you, in fact I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want, you gotta pay! You gotta pay your bills,' Trump said while receiving applause from the crowd. The U.S., meanwhile, spent $860 billion on defense expenditures in 2023, contributing 3.49 percent of its GDP to military initiatives. Outside of the rally, Trump was slammed for his remarks. The White House quickly condemned the former president's comments, calling them 'appalling and unhinged' and argued they 'promoted dangerous chaos.' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the comments should disqualify Trump from office. 'Donald Trump is not really qualified to be president if he fails to understand the importance of NATO,' Blumenthal told DailyMail.com. Trump's NATO 'comments are outrageous, but sadly not surprising,' Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said. 'Rooting for Russia,' Warnock continued, 'it's shocking beyond expression.' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also hit back in a statement released Sunday. 'Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,' he said. 'NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response.' 'I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election the US will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.' Contrary to the former president's claims, however, Smith said that no NATO country has outstanding dues. 'No one here inside the NATO alliance is delinquent. There aren't any past dues of any shape or form.' 'I'm absolutely confident we will continue to see strong U.S. support for this alliance going forward,' she continued. A Bay Area father is believed to have shot his wife dead in their bathtub before killing their four-year-old twin sons and himself. The couple were found with gunshot wounds beside a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine in their bathroom on Monday morning, San Mateo Police Department told DailyMail.com. Police said the bodies of their two sons were uncovered in a bedroom, and the infants' cause of death is under investigation. Cops came across the horrific scene during a welfare check at the home on the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas in Sugarloaf, California at around 9.13am. A Bay Area father is believed to have shot his wife dead in their bathtub before killing their four-year-old twin sons and himself. Cops came across the horrific scene during a welfare check at the home on the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas (pictured) Monday morning The couple were found with gunshot wounds beside a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine in their bathroom on Monday morning, San Mateo Police Department told DailyMail.com. (Pictured: an officer at the scene on the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas) Officers knocked on the door but no-one responded, so they entered via an unlocked window. 'Based on the information we have at this time, this appears to be an isolated incident with no danger to the public as we are confident the person responsible was located within the home,' San Mateo PD said. 'This investigation continues as detectives work to gather evidence, speak to witnesses and family members, and determine a possible motive.' The San Mateo County Coroner's office is working to identify each person and notify their families. Police are expected to provide updates at 3pm Tuesday PST. Unnamed sources told KTVU that the father fatally shot his wife in a bathtub before turning the gun on himself. A care worker is facing jail for poisoning a child with industrial amounts of laxative and putting him through needless operations. Tracy Menhinick was yesterday convicted of wilfully harming the boy over a three-year period when he was aged between three and six. Witnesses said the boys suffering pointed to Munchausens Syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a person seeks medical attention for another for symptoms that are falsified, exaggerated or deliberately induced. The boy, who cannot be named, was said to have been left looking like someone from Auschwitz following his ordeal. A jury yesterday took less than an hour to find former NHS worker Menhinick guilty following a 19-day trial at the High Court in Aberdeen. Care worker Tracy Menhinick is facing jail for poisoning a child with 'industrial amounts' of laxative The trial was presented with 5,500 pages of evidence and medical records. Menhinick, 52, from Aberdeen, was found to have given the boy industrial amounts of lactulose which resulted in his growth being stunted. The boy underwent needless operations which left him with permanent disfigurements and impairments and endangered his life. One expert witness said the child weighed just under 10kg (1st 8lb) at the age of five. Wheelchair user Menhinick broke down as the verdict was read out. Lady Drummond deferred sentencing so health care steps could be put in place for her to be jailed, but said the crime warrants significant custody. Fiscal depute Paul Fearney urged the jury to convict Menhinick after speaking of the transformational change in the boy after her care was stopped. Emeritus professor in paediatric gastroenterology at Oxford University Peter Sullivan earlier told the trial the boy must have had massive doses of lactulose. The boy had been admitted to Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital in October 2016 amid concerns for his weight loss. Menhinick was being observed by child protection officers but no evidence was then found of her poisoning the child. Asked by Mr Kearney what conclusions he had drawn, Dr Sullivan said: He had been administered significant quantities of lactulose. If an industrial dose is given... he would become extremely unwell. Menhinick was removed from caring for the boy after a test result from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London confirmed lactulose was present. Dr Sullivan said the boys condition then dramatically improved and he concluded Munchausens Syndrome by proxy was the reason. The court also heard a bottle of lactulose had been found following a search of Menhinicks house. Great Ormond Street Hospitals Dr Keith Findley said the child looked like someone from Auschwitz because he was so thin. The court heard he would become floppy and would often need to be resuscitated. Jurors found Menhinick guilty of ill-treating the boy and administering non-prescribed medicines between April 1, 2014, and July 21, 2017. She must appear at the High Court in Glasgow on March 19 for sentencing. A retired High Court advocate caught with a haul of child abuse images on his computer has been jailed for 12 months. John Mayer, 72, downloaded more than 500 pictures, with victims as young as a year old. The former lawyer who wrote crime novels after his retirement had used computer cleaning software in an attempt to hide his depravity. He was found guilty following a three-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December. The court heard that of 511 indecent images on the computer, 117 were rated as the worst category A. Former High Court advocate John Mayer was jailed for a year for having child abuse images on his computer Mayer, who has moved from Edinburgh to Exeter, in Devon, returned to the dock for sentencing yesterday. Sheriff Iain Nicol said he had to impose a sentence that would be a deterrent to those who are or are thinking about getting involved in this abhorrent practice. He added: The custody threshold has undoubtedly been met and I can see no reason to depart from the guidelines. Mayer was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. Pat Campbell, defending, said his client continues to assert he is not guilty of the offence but accepts the verdict of the jury. He said Mayer had suffered personal and professional harm due to his conviction and readily recognises offences of this type are serious. He had been forced to reject an offer from film producers who were keen to dramatise one of his novels. Mayer told the jury he had previously acted in High Court trials, worked with the International Criminal Court at the Hague and specialised in fighting international child abuse and abduction. He claimed he had never seen the laptop images. The jury had found him guilty by majority of two charges of possessing indecent images of children between August 9, 2019 and January 28, 2021. A Massachusetts judge dismissed a case brought by families whose loved ones' body parts were stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue against the school. Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger said the lawsuits from the families failed to show Harvard was responsible for the conduct of its morgue manager, who is accused of the alleged thefts. An attorney for the families, Kathryn Barnett, said they aren't done with their legal battle, announcing intent to appeal the ruling. 'We are profoundly disappointed with this decision, but it is not the final word on our efforts to prevent Harvard from shirking its responsibility,' she said. Nearly 50 relatives of people who donated their bodies to science brought a dozen separate lawsuits that were consolidated into one. Harvard Medical School was sued by the families of deceased individuals whose body parts were stolen after being donated to the institution for scientific research Cedric Lodge (pictured) - the school's morgue manager - is accuse of stealing the remains from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education Barnett criticized the judge for too readily buying the Ivy League institution's argument that they acted in good faith and therefore should not be held responsible for the alleged actions of the morgue manager. Cedric Lodge, 65 - the manager - allegedly stole heads, brains, skin and other body parts from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education and sold them to buyers across the country. One of Lodge's alleged buyers, Jeremy Pauley, 41, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is facing up to 15 years behind bars. He admitted to knowingly buying stolen human remains from several people, and then selling many of the stolen remains to other individuals who also knew they had been stolen. Pauley and six others were charged with trafficking in stolen human remains including skulls, hearts, skin and stillborn babies in June, from the morgue manager at Harvard Medical School. Trials are still pending for the other defendants, including Lodge of Goffstown, New Hampshire, who is accused of stealing dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the medical school between 2018 to 2023. Lodge's wife, Denise, 63, also faces charges in connection with the case. Lodge reportedly took the body parts home, including heads, brains, skin and bones, and mailed some body parts to buyers. He also allegedly allowed buyers to come to the morgue to pick what remains they wanted to buy. He was fired on May 6 of last year, according to Harvard. The body parts were taken without the schools knowledge or permission, according to police. One of Lodge's alleged buyers, Jeremy Pauley (pictured), 41, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property He admitted to knowingly buying stolen human remains from several people, and then selling many of the stolen remains to others, including some who also knew they had been stolen The families' attorney said they will be appealing the case, arguing HMS should shoulder more responsibility than the judge is allowing for the safe keeping of donated bodies Barnett said on Tuesday that more of the responsibility for the protection of donated bodies should fall on the institution to which they were donated. 'If youre an institution and want to accept bodies for science, you could just hire someone, give him the keys to the morgue, send him to a dark corner of the campus and never check up on him,' she said. 'That can't be the law.' Salinger pointed in his decision to Harvard's qualified immunity under Massachusetts' version of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. 'The factual allegations in the complaints do not plausibly suggest that these Harvard Defendants failed to act in good faith in receiving and handling the donated bodies,' Salinger wrote. A spokesperson for Harvard said the school would not comment on the judges decision. The City of Sydney and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras today announced that the highly anticipated Fair Day event will be cancelled. Bonded asbestos was detected in the venue for the event, Victoria Park near Sydney's Broadway, on Monday after the NSW Environment Protection Authority prompted the City of Sydney Council to test possibly contaminated mulch found in numerous other parks around Sydney. In the days since, City of Sydney and Mardi Gras staff tried desperately to clean affected areas while assembling a concert stage and market stalls for Sunday's Fair Day. A more detailed investigation into the asbestos levels halted all plans as it revealed that an event on the scale of Fair Day, with over 70,000 people expected to attend, was unsafe to go ahead. The two organisations will continue to work together to deliver other events over the 17 days of the festival. One of the most anticipated events during Sydney's Mardi Gras, Fair Day (pictured) has been cancelled after bonded asbestos was found in mulch in Victoria Park READ MORE: How a driver's simple blunder while parking DESTROYED a home and sparked an asbestos scare Advertisement Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO described the decision to cancel the event was 'incredibly disappointing'. 'Fair Day is a pivotal part of the Mardi Gras calendar. But we have to put the safety of our community first,' Ms Moore said. 'We will continue to work with Mardi Gras once the asbestos issue is resolved. Today's decision underscores how serious this is. 'The NSW Government and the EPA must make sure this never happens again.' Fair Day is one of the 'most loved events' during Mardi Gras festivities, according to Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith. 'It breaks our heart to see this Sunday not go ahead, but given the safety concerns we must put our community's wellbeing first,' Ms Beckwith said. 'This cancellation is a setback, however it presents us with an opportunity to unite and support one another more strongly.' Ms Beckwith said the remaining Mardi Gras events will go ahead as planned for those 'ready to welcome and celebrate with our community'. 'Oxtravaganza on 24 February is a free community event that shines a spotlight on our local Gaybourhood businesses, many of which were set to participate in Fair Day; and festival highlights, including Bondi Beach Party, Parade and Mardi Gras Party, remain unaffected,' she said. Inner-West Council Mayor, Darcy Byrne, has offered to make a parkland 'available at short notice to ensure the event can proceed this Sunday'. However the event appears to be cancelled after Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said they won't be able to organise a replacement on such short notice. 'We appreciate all the offers weve received to host Fair Day in other parks and venues,' Ms Beckwith told Daily Mail Australia. 'However, putting on an event the size of Fair Day takes many months of planning, logistics and coordinating of stakeholders something that is just not possible to arrange during the next few days.' Fair Day attracts about 70,000 people every year and features numerous market stalls and musical performances during the day (pictured, Fair Day 2023) Victoria Park (pictured) is one of a number of Sydney parks to have asbestos detected in contaminated mulch Parks throughout Sydney have undergone testing for the carcinogenic chemical after it was first detected at Rozelle Park, in Sydney's inner-west. The City of Sydney Council fears 32 parks could also have been contaminated, all of which will undergo testing for asbestos in a process expected to take several weeks. 'The City of Sydney shares the communitys concerns this contaminated product has been supplied to us,' a statement from the council reads. 'Our focus right now is on safety and identifying the sites where there may be contaminated mulch product.' Bonded asbestos has been identified at Belmore Park in Haymarket while a more harmful form, friable asbestos, was found in Harmony Park in Surry Hills. Breathing in the chemical can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The risk of contracting any of the deadly diseases increases with the number of fibres inhaled. Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not be putting the Senate's national security aid bill on the House floor, hours after the Senate spent all night pushing the bill through its chamber. 'I certainly don't [plan on it],' he told reporters Tuesday. 'Right now, we're dealing with the appropriations process, we have immediate deadlines upon us and that's where the attention is in the House in this moment.' The $95 billion aid package included funding for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Taiwan. The immigration provisions were stripped out entirely after conservatives insisted they did not go far enough to secure the southern border. Without Johnson's approval, there is now talk of forcing the deal to the floor by the arcane discharge petition. That would require 218 members to sign on to a demand to force legislation to the floor. 'All options on the table, we're gonna use every available legislative tool,' Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters. 'There are more than 300 bipartisan votes' to pass the foreign aid bill, he claimed. Johnson said he will not be putting the Senate 's national security aid bill on the House floor, hours after the Senate spent all night pushing the bill through its chamber Without Johnson's approval, there is now talk of forcing the deal to the floor by the arcane discharge petition. 'All options on the table, we're gonna use every available legislative tool,' Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters It passed the Senate Tuesday morning after a rare all-night session ending in a 70-29 vote. In total, the package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to deter aggression by China. It also provides $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other conflict zones around the globe. President Biden on Tuesday implored the House to pass the deal. 'History is watching,' he said. 'Failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten.' Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., urged Johnson to allow the bill to come to the House floor. 'We've heard all kinds of rumors about whether the House supports Ukraine or doesn't. It seems to me that the easy way to solve that would be to vote,' McConnell told Politico. After House Speaker Mike Johnson objected to the immigration provisions in the deal, senators focused on passing it without them. But Johnson then insisted he had wanted border measures - just not the immigration reform they'd offered. He called the deal 'insufficient' without border security measures in a late night statement saying the Senate has 'failed to meet the moment.' 'Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,' Johnson continued. 'America deserves better than the Senate's status quo.' But Johnson has not scheduled another standalone Israel aid bill that failed last week. 'We knew this would happen,' Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., chair of the right wing Freedom Caucus told reporters. 'We knew the Senate would send it back without the pretend border security.' 'We shouldn't borrow $100 billion from our kids or grandkids to send it overseas. It's got Hamas support in it essentially, with money going to Gaza ... Israel support which has near unanimous support among Republicans shouldn't be held hostage to these other concerns.' Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo., blamed Mitch McConnell for the dysfunction as other Republicans floated ousting the longtime leader. The U.S. has had to cut military aid to Ukraine after its budget authority ran dry. The two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion is approaching Ukraine's war with Russia has spanned over two years He then called on Johnson to pass Israel aid with offsets. But Johnson already did this months ago, paid for by taking money away from the IRS - and the Senate roundly rejected it. Last week, Republicans tanked a bipartisan $118 billion bipartisan deal to beef up border security while funding Ukraine and Israel. They accused it of not going far enough to secure the border and said it would cement Biden's 'open border' policies. It wasn't easy to get Senate Republicans onboard with the thinner $95 billion deal without immigration measures as tempers flied over the tanked border deal. But ultimately, over a dozen Republicans voted to pass the bill with Democrats because of the fear that Russian President Putin would be emboldened. The vote Tuesday morning had the support of 22 Republicans. However, two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, voted against it. Boris Johnson is urged to come to the electoral rescue of Rishi Sunak but the PM will have to ask him personally, we are told. How childish (if true). But wouldn't appearing to rely on Bojo to help him win the general election finish off poor Rishi altogether? Boris Johnson is urged to come to the electoral rescue of Rishi Sunak but the PM will have to ask him personally, we are told When she first burst on to the London scene, the Tokyo-born model Marie Helvin, the daughter of a GI and a Japanese translator, seemed a truly exotic and mysterious presence, even after marrying the brilliant, priapic Cockney photographer David Bailey. Now 71, she risks losing her mystique by confiding in an interview that she can't remember when she last had casual sex the only kind available now, evidently without a condom. Marie Helvin risks losing her mystique by confiding in an interview that she can't remember when she last had casual sex the only kind available now, evidently without a condom Is Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron welcome these days at formal dinners in his Oxford college, Brasenose? Its principal, John Bowers, in his book Downward Spiral: Collapsing Public Standards And How To Restore Them, rips into the ex-Tory PM. He appears 32 times in the index, with the Greensill scandal as Bowers' final example of Cameron's political cronyism. Bowers calls Cameron's texts to Rishi Sunak in favour of his tycoon friend Lex Greensill 'jaw dropping' and critiques the 'relentless lobbying by a former PM'. Actor Ralph Fiennes produces helpful headlines calling for 'trigger warnings' to be scrapped for theatregoers. He insists that audiences should be 'shocked and disturbed'. Certainly some of his fans were shocked and disturbed to read that in 2007 he'd romped with a Qantas air stewardess in an aircraft lavatory at 35,000ft. His publicist Sara Keene later announced: 'She [the air stewardess] initiated the encounter... She was the sexual aggressor.' Ms Keene didn't help matters by clarifying: 'Of course he could have said no.' Actor Ralph Fiennes produces helpful headlines calling for 'trigger warnings' to be scrapped for theatregoers Top chef Marco Pierre White startles a Cambridge Union audience with a personal admission about his son Marco Junior, 28: 'I have got a son who is a heroin addict. Why? I can't possibly answer that question.' He adds: 'You know, a good b********g did not do anybody any harm. It gave me a spine.' But is Marco Jr beyond b********g now? Brideshead Revisited actress Diana Quick recalls falling foul of the late Queen when she met her as head of the Oxford University Dramatic Society and explained in detail why students were rioting in Paris. 'Queen Elizabeth's equerry tapped me on the shoulder and I was told off for 'leading' the Queen in conversation,' she says. 'I felt quite sorry for her. I thought, she's never going to have a proper exchange with people.' Might Diana's 'explaining in detail' have riled the monarch? President Joe Biden delivered a blistering address on Tuesday, demanding that Republicans choose America and democracy rather than Russia and dictatorship when it came to voting on a bill providing $60 billion to Ukraine. But first he had to make something clear. 'Before I begin, I'm gonna make this statement ... I'm going to let it stand on its own,' he told about 30 reporters standing behind the cameras in the White House state Dining Room. 'I'm not going to take any questions but I'll be taking questions tomorrow and the next day. 'I don't want anything to get in the way of this statement ... to be very blunt about it.' Joe Biden brought the election campaign to the White House Tuesday, slamming former President Donald Trump as 'dumb' while he made the case for more aid for Ukraine With his scripted speech finished, Biden closed his folder and turned to his left, exiting the State Dining room without responding to any questions shouted by reporters It was a signal of the importance Biden attached to the speech, essentially setting out how the nation was at an 'inflection point' as it approaches a general election likely pitting Biden against his predecessor Donald Trump. But it was also a reminder of how the president had come unstuck five days earlier. Back then he delivered a powerful defense of himself and his mental fitness, slamming a report by Special Counsel Robert Hur that suggested his memory was failing. Biden channeled all his rage at the reporters in front of him, setting out his fury at the idea, reported by Hur, that he could not remember the date of his beloved son Beau's death. It was a forceful and impressive performance right up until the point when it wasn't. After apparently finishing the question-and-answer portion of the appearance, he made for the door before being tempted back to answer one more inquiry about Israel. All the headlines focused on what came next, the moment when he referred to 'the president of Mexico El-Sisi.' In fact, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the president of Egypt. A hastily-arranged press conference to hit back at what he said was a 'gratuitous' report had backfired. On Tuesday, he made sure that did not happen by ending his scripted remarks, closing his folder and heading straight for the door. Biden delivered a blistering attack on his predecessor Donald Trump for encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies, as he urged Republicans to back a spending bill to help Ukraine It meant there could be do doubting the headline as he slammed his predecessor Trump as 'dumb,' and 'shameful' for encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies. And he urged Republicans to back a spending bill that would send $60 billion to Ukraine, saying opponents were playing into 'Putin's hands.' 'Are you gonna stand with Ukraine or are you going to stand with Putin,' he said in an impassioned speech. 'Or are you going to stand with America ... or Trump?' His address came hours after the Senate passed a long-sought $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It is certain to face stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House. Biden used the issue to slam Trump for undermining the core principle of NATO, when the former president said he would he not want to protect allies from a future attack by Russia if they had not met their defense spending commitments. In fact, he told a rally crowd the story of how he apparently said to a fellow world leader that he would encourage Russia to 'do whatever the hell they want' to countries not meeting their targets. Biden said Republicans needed to decide whose side they were on: Ukraine or Vladimir Putin's (pictured), America or Trump's Special Counsel Robert Hur spent a year investigating files found at President Joe Biden's home and former office. He said Biden's status as president meant he could not be prosecuted The result was unease from NATO members and fury from Biden. 'No other president in history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator,' he said. 'Let me say this as clearly as I can. I never will. For God's sake. It's dumb. It's shameful, it's dangerous.' Trump is the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee in this year's election. And Biden told his audience that the nation was at an 'inflection' point. 'I can't imagine any other president walking away,' he said. For as long as I'm president, if Putin attacks a NATO ally, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory.' He said Trump's comments were 'unAmerican.' And he pointed out that the only time NATO has invoked Article 5 of its self-defense clause an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members was in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. Biden also used the speech to tell the American public that the security bill would create jobs at home. Advertisement British soldiers are braving the Arctic temperatures to take part in a brutal survival training camp in Norway. Pilots and aircrew from the Joint Helicopter Command are being put through their paces in the icy terrain as part of Operation Clockwork. Before taking to the skies over the Arctic Circle, the aviators from this command must complete the cold weather warfare course - a tradition which has been taking place for 52 years. Personnel are currently undergoing a series of intensive trials in the Bardufoss camp at the Royal Norwegian Air Force base, including being plunged into freezing cold water. Pilots and aircrew from the Joint Helicopter Command are being put through their paces in the icy terrain as part of Operation Clockwork Before taking to the skies over the Arctic Circle, the aviators from this command must complete the cold weather warfare course - a tradition which has been taking place for 52 years Personnel are currently undergoing a series of intensive trials at the Bardufoss camp at the Royal Norwegian Air Force base, including being plunged into freezing water Following two days of classroom work, the recruits spend five nights/six days out in the Bardufoss landscape, which has a varied mix of terrain and weather conditions Following two days of classroom work, the recruits spend five nights/six days out in the Bardufoss landscape, which has a varied mix of terrain and weather conditions. The exercises gives them vital insight into surviving and fighting in one of the planet's most inhospitable environments, where the sun barely rises and temperatures can plummet to around -22F. The group of military personnel are also challenged to move on skis and snowshoes on long distance marches. The raw and insightful series of pictures reveal the tough conditions they face during the course in blistering cold and snowy conditions. Overcoming some of the harshest weather conditions, the commandos battle with only a few hours of daylight and freezing temperatures as they train to survive in dangerous conditions. The exercises gives the troops vital insight into surviving and fighting in one of the planet's most inhospitable environments, where the sun barely rises and temperatures can plummet to around -22F The group of military personnel are also challenged to move on skis and snowshoes on long distance marches The raw and insightful series of pictures reveal the tough conditions they face during the course in blistering cold and snowy conditions Overcoming some of the harshest weather conditions, the commandos battle with only a few hours of daylight and freezing temperatures as they train to survive in dangerous conditions The classroom lessons covers everything from clothing layer systems, kit and pulk packing, ration and cooking systems, tent building, helper sled building and navigation. On the first two days of practical work, the troops will take on a 4 Km uphill walk with fully laden bergens. They will then set up their 10-man tents, remaining tactically aware using the snow to their advantage and keeping aware of potential enemy threats. For the next 24 hours, the students are trained in Avalanche survival and recovery, using a helper sled race between tent groups and navigation exercises in small groups. The students back up and return to Clockwork camp on day three, before entering the tactical phase of training. On the first two days of practical work, the troops will take on a 4 Km uphill walk with fully laden bergens Following the hike on the first day, the students will then set up their 10-man tents, remaining tactically aware using the snow to their advantage and keeping aware of potential enemy threats The students back up and return to Clockwork camp on day three, before entering the tactical phase of training On night five, the students are left to create their shelters make their fires and survive the night using the lessons before to feed themselves Here they are issued weapons, receive tactical lessons, and prepare their kit to deploy back out into the field that evening. The next day, a full day of tactical instruction and practicals take place, including the use of trip flares and patrolling. They will remain out in the field overnight again in four-man tents. On day five, the soldiers will be taught how to build snow and brushwood shelters, make and maintain fires and how to eat without rations. The students are left to create their shelters make their fires and survive the night using the lessons before to feed themselves. The famous ice breaking drills take place on the final day. Soldiers must be able to control themselves and their breathing after falling through ice into a lake or river, before lifting their bergen out and get out of the water unaided. Helicopters from Joint Helicopter Command fly to Norway every year to carry out Exercise Clockwork, which is now in its 52nd year Training and flying in such extreme conditions is vital in ensuring that Joint Helicopter Command aircraft and people are ready to operate anywhere in the world at any time Thousands of marines, sailors and airmen have undertaken the arduous training regime at Bardufoss since it was first held in 1969 Once completed, the fliers are ready to take to the skies and carry out their own specialist training in Arctic flying, engineering and refuelling and providing aerial support to Royal Marines on the ground Once completed, the fliers are ready to take to the skies and carry out their own specialist training in Arctic flying, engineering and refuelling and providing aerial support to Royal Marines on the ground and hunting and destroying enemy targets over the mountainous terrain. Helicopters from Joint Helicopter Command fly to Norway every year to carry out Exercise Clockwork, which is now in its 52nd year. Bardufoss air station is 200 miles (322km) within the Arctic Circle Training and flying in such extreme conditions is vital in ensuring that Joint Helicopter Command aircraft and people are ready to operate anywhere in the world at any time. The annual winter training deployment of Commando Helicopter Force, the wings of the Royal Marines, ensures naval aviators and attached ranks from Joint Helicopter Command are ready to support the marines on their operations all around the world. Thousands of marines, sailors and airmen have undertaken the arduous training regime at Bardufoss since it was first held in 1969, where recruits are taught to fight, survive and operate in temperatures reaching as low as minus 30C (minus 22F). The exercise involves the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), which is made up of personnel taken mainly from the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, as well as some RAF and Army servicemen, who are brought over to Bardufoss. Engineers undergo exercises on the flightline to keep aircraft functioning in the difficult conditions, while aircrew carry out night-time snow landings, mountain landings, and troop drills. All personnel who head to Norway also complete a cold weather survival course. It was 1969 when the first Westland Wessex helicopters (now CHF's 845 Naval Air Squadron) arrived in Scandinavia, living out of rudimentary shelters. They conducted trials to show the UK's commitment to defend NATO's northern flank and see if they could support 3 Commando Brigade in the unforgiving environment. The current training sessions are taking place as the Desert Rats troops head to Germany for drills to simulate holding off a Russian invasion in World War Three. Almost 600 armoured vehicles and light artillery guns were packed on to ferries at Marchwood military docks near Southamtpon to take part in a massive war game with 90,000 Nato personnel. The five-month Nato exercise is the largest drill in Europe since the end of the Cold War and designed to prepare for war with Russia. Democratic Sen. Chris van Hollen tore into Israel for 'textbook war crime' on Monday evening after a visit to the region - but still voted to fund its war on Hamas. The Maryland senator said any U.S. aid should be conditioned to adhering to international law. He referenced an analysis from the World Food Program and the United Nations Children's Fund detailing starvation in Gaza due to Israel's siege against Hamas in the territory. 'I want that to sink in. Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food,' he said on the Senate floor Monday during deliberations on a $95 billion foreign aid bill. 'In addition to the horror of that news, one other thing is true. That is a war crime. It is a textbook war crime. And that makes those who orchestrate it, war criminals.' The White House, which backed the aid package, has said there are no indications that there have been 'deliberate' efforts to commit war crimes by the Israeli Defense Forces. And hours later, Van Hollen discarded his concerns and proceeded to vote for the $95 billion package that offers $61 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. It also provides $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other conflict zones around the globe. Democratic Sen. Chris van Hollen tore into Israel for 'textbook war crime ' on Monday evening after a visit to the region - but still voted to fund its war on Hamas The deal passed 70-29, but Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted it won't come up for a vote in the House without border security provisions. Van Hollen said he had spoken with Cindy McCain, head of the World Food Program and wife of late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., about the report. 'I sent her a note, a text message asking about reports that some children have now crossed the awful threshold from being on the verge of starvation or dying of starvation. She wrote back, and I quote, 'This is true. We are unable to get in enough food to keep people from the brink. Famine is imminent. I wish I had better news.' End quote.' Last week conservatives rejected a similar deal with immigration provisions attached which they said do not go far enough to secure the southern border. Speaking on the Senate floor Monday, the Maryland senator said aid should be conditioned to adhering to international law Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Hasouna family house, which was struck by an Israeli airstrike during an operation to rescue two hostages in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 Destroyed houses during an Israeli military operation in Al Bureije refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, 13 February 2024 Van Hollen said Biden 'must demand' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government 'immediately allow more food and water and other life-saving supplies into Gaza.' He has also urged President Biden to 'speak out more clearly' on the piling civilian casualties in Gaza. 'I don't know if it's hurting the president with fellow Democrats. I do think it's important that the president speak out more clearly on this issue,' Van Hollen said in an interview on CBS News's 'Face the Nation' in November. The family of missing mum Samantha Murphy have been dealt another cruel blow with the disappearance of her beloved dog Ruby. The three-year-old Vizsla breed is believed to have escaped from the family home - just off Eureka Street in East Ballarat, north-west of Melbourne - sometime on Thursday. It is the same property Ms Murphy vanished from on February 4 after a planned a run in Woowookarung Regional Park. A friend of the family, who asked not to be named, told Daily Mail Australia that Ruby had managed to escape the family home with the family's other dog, which later returned to the property. 'It's just heartbreaking. Samantha loved that dog. It was her baby,' the source said. 'She would be out-of-her-mind if she knew Ruby was out there lost and alone in the bush.' The family of missing mum Samantha Murphy have been dealt another cruel blow with the disappearance of her beloved dog Ruby (pictured) A friend of Samantha Murphy's (pictured) family told Daily Mail Australia that Ruby had managed to escape the family home with the family's other dog, which later returned to the property Ms Murphy had taken to social media in 2021 calling for assistance to find Ruby after the then 10-week old puppy escaped the family's previous home in nearby Navigators. The photo showed the cheeky puppy nestled on Ms Murphy's bed. Ms Murphy made no secret of her affection for the big-eared pup, providing constant updates on the search at the time. 'Thank you everyone. Nothing yet but crossing everything,' she wrote at the time. Ms Murphy could hardly contain her joy when Ruby was found safe and well. 'And Ruby has just returned. Filthy and frozen and in need of lots of cuddles!' she posted to Facebook at the time. 'Very happy family. One tired little dog with her belly now full having a big sleep.' In an ironic twist, the last image of Ms Murphy shared with the public by Victoria Police appears to show her disposing of Ruby's droppings. 'She loved that dog like family,' the source said. 'We reckon Ruby is probably out there searching for her.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Murphy's husband Mick Murphy for comment on Tuesday, but did not receive a response. Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia Ruby had not been with Ms Murphy when she herself went missing. Ms Murphy had taken to social media in 2021 calling for assistance to find Ruby after the then 10-week old puppy escaped her family's previous home in nearby Navigators In an ironic twist, the last image of Ms Murphy shared with the public by Victoria Police appears to show her disposing of Ruby's droppings On Friday, Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt told reporters detectives would now look into Ms Murphy's movements and interactions with others in the days before she vanished. 'Absolutely, that will be a huge part of our investigation. Digging into the background, working out Samantha's movements in the days leading up to her disappearance and also double-so the people who know her,' he said. Part of the investigation - now dubbed Operation Primus - will see detectives trawl through Ms Murphy's computers and devices in the hope of finding clues. Superintendent Hatt said police were still working to ascertain who may have been in the area where Ms Murphy's phone lost communication with mobile phone towers. Her mobile phone had pinged in the nearby suburb of Buninyong before going dark. Detectives still remain puzzled about where Ms Murphy went upon leaving her home. CCTV footage showing Ms Murphy outside her home was the last confirmed sighting of her alive. A smiling Mick Murphy is pictured with police last Friday - the day after his wife Samantha's dog Ruby went missing Ruby is believed to have escaped the Murphy home (pictured) sometime on Thursday night or Friday morning It is understood the cameras caught Ms Murphy walking down the driveway on her run before she vanished without trace. Family remembers reported her missing after she failed to arrive for a brunch scheduled for that morning. Ms Murphy's eldest daughter Jessica and her father issued a desperate plea for their loved one to return home that same day. Through tears, Jessica urged the public to continue searching for her mum. 'Mum, we love you so much and we miss you and we need you at home with us, please come home soon, I can't wait to see you,' Jessica told reporters. 'Mum's a really strong woman, and she's far too determined to give up this fight.' Jessica's father thanked the community for their support as he appealed for answers. 'People just don't vanish into thin air,' Mr Murphy said. 'Someone has got to know something ... whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police, let them know. 'It'll give us a bit of peace of mind if we get some hope.' Anyone with information on Ms Murphy's disappearance should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Ok, I take it all back. Following the Kings cancer diagnosis last week, I had naively hoped that such a serious health crisis might bring or at least start to bring Prince Harry to his senses. I thought it might make him understand the importance of family; maybe see the pressures the King has been under over the past few years; perhaps feel a pang of sympathy for the old man. But after the Duke and Duchesss latest move rebranding their Archewell website as Sussex.com, complete with coat of arms I give up. They are, Im afraid, beyond redemption. No wonder Prince William is believed to have refused to see his brother on his flying visit to the UK last week; no wonder he only had about half an hour with King Charles. SARAH VINE: After the Duke and Duchesss latest move rebranding their Archewell website as Sussex.com I give up. They are, Im afraid, beyond redemption They must have known this was in the pipeline. They must have known this was Harrys next step in his quest to have his cake and eat it. Because it seems to me that this is not only a shameless name-grab and an attempt to commercialise the title conferred upon them by the late Queen after Meghan married into the Royal Family, it also goes against her explicit wishes. When the Duke and Duchess made the sad decision to turn their backs on royal life in 2020, they agreed they would not use their titles for financial or personal gain. Indeed, they had to mothball their website, sussexroyal.com, for that very reason. And yet here they are, very obviously signalling their association with the institution of monarchy to promote themselves and their organisation on the global stage. An institution, let us not forget, that they have both thoroughly trashed, traduced and dragged through the mud; an institution they appear to despise (witness their hob-nobbing with prominent Republicans in Jamaica last month), one they claim to want nothing to do with and yet cant seem exploit enough. I mean, Harry has always been an entitled little brat, but this really takes the biscuit. Once again, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt when he dashed to the UK to see his poor Pa. But now I cant help agreeing with those who said it appeared to be just a publicity stunt, a handy way of reminding the world in advance of this new rebranding that hes a member of the British Royal Family. Quite honestly, can the boy sink any lower? The homepage of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's website uses their coat of arms and title SARAH VINE: Sussex is emphatically not their family surname. That is Mountbatten-Windsor, as evidenced on Archies birth certificate His people, naturally, have hit back. A source close to the couple says: Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name. Which is, like so much that emerges from their camp, palpable nonsense. Sussex is emphatically not their family surname. That is Mountbatten-Windsor, as evidenced on Archies birth certificate. And in any case, Sussex is not a name: its a royal title, conferred upon them by the late Queen. (Inter alia, Archie himself has a courtesy title Dumbarton which his parents have apparently decided not to use in case he gets called dumb at school.) I mean, Harry has always been an entitled little brat, but this really takes the biscuit If they really wanted to be shot of their miserable lives as royals, if they really wanted to put all their so-called trauma behind them and start afresh, they would simply style themselves Mr and Mrs Windsor-Mountbatten and be done with it. But, of course, they wont because that would affect their currency as royals. Hence the name of the new website. The only way this source could be correct in claiming that Sussex is their family name is if they had decided to change their surname by deed poll from Windsor-Mountbatten to Sussex. Which, I suppose, would theoretically be possible. But also incredibly, astonishingly, almost unbelievably crass, even by their standards. It could also land them in hot water: there is an argument that the abuse of Sussex, as a royal title, could potentially be in breach of the Companies Act. Its interesting also that the coat of arms the couple have chosen for the website is not Harrys, but Meghans, granted to her by the late Queen. Since she was part of the Royal Family for all of about five minutes, and claims to have been so thoroughly miserable, one cant help wondering why she would want to cling to such an obvious reminder of her hardships. In any case, its out of date: it still shows the coronet of the Sovereigns grandchild, rather than son, since Charles is now King. But I dont suppose any questions of heraldic authenticity matter much to Harry and Meghan. They dont seem to care that the British Royal Family is a much-loved institution, a key part of our national culture; to them its just a cash cow. And the truth is, they need that brand for the simple reason that they have nothing else. Sure, Prince Harrys book, Spare, may have been, as the website claims, a bestseller but that was only because it dished the dirt on the royals. Anything the pair try to do independently of their royal status falls flat, as evidenced by the lukewarm reception to the Duchesss podcasts, her dreary childrens book and the fact that Spotify dropped them from their 18million deal. What was it that a Spotify executive called them? Grifters. Those corporate guys dont normally break cover like that unless things are really bad. The awful truth the Duke and Duchess now face is that their principal currency their glittering royal status is an ever-diminishing asset. And they have ill-advisedly squandered it via their persistent and vicious attacks on the very institution that confers any sort of cachet upon them. Without it, lets be honest, Prince Harry is just a balding, not terribly bright ex-soldier with Daddy issues; Meghan is just a moderately pretty, distinctly mediocre ex-actress, also with Daddy issues. No wonder theyre so desperate to maintain that association. READ MORE: TOM BOWER: The Sussexes' new website is a sign that the stakes are so high for Meghan and Harry. The cupboard is bare and Americans don't much care about them any more Advertisement After all, its not like theyve made the greatest splash across the pond, despite all those celebrities at their wedding and that interview with Queen Oprah early on. Their Hollywood contacts seem to have melted away like ice cream in the California sunshine. They didnt even make it to Sunday nights Super Bowl, where every power-player in that world was on show. The reality is, this latest move smacks of absolute desperation. Harry and Meghan had every opportunity to build a genuine identity for themselves away from the royal sphere. But that would have required hard work, dedication and earning, rather than demanding, the respect of others. Instead, they chose the easy route, not caring who they hurt or what damage they did along the way. In so doing they made the final years of the Queens life a misery, and have since inflicted untold psychological suffering on everyone else in their family. All the while, of course, claiming to be staunch and compassionate advocates for mental well-being. Im certain that if the late Queen Elizabeth II had realised they were going to pull a stunt like this she would have taken away their Sussex titles, as well as divesting them of the right to call themselves HRH. Much as it would have pained her, she was never shy of doing the right thing. And if there was one thing she took very seriously, it was the reputation of the institution she dedicated her whole life to safeguarding. This is the last thing the King needs as he faces treatment for cancer. But divesting Harry and Meghan of their titles is the only way to put a stop to their nonsense. And, in any case, what has he got to lose? A toxic son who seems to care so little about him that he appeared to voice little public objections to him being branded a racist? Come on no one needs that in their life. This is the seven-year-old son of Lakewood Church shooter Genesse Moreno who remains in the hospital clinging to life after his mother brought him along for her rampage, putting him in the line of fire of the off-duty cops who killed her. Genesse Moreno, 36, went to Joel Osteen's mega church in Houston Sunday armed with two rifles and dressed in a trench coat. With her young son Samuel standing next to her, she opened fire inside the house of worship. Immediately, two off-duty police officers who were working as security at Lakewood Church fired at her, killing her. It remains unclear who exactly shot the boy - if it was his mother, or the two men who stepped in to take her down. He remains in the hospital with a grim prognosis. His paternal grandmother, who lives in Mexico, has flown to be by his bedside. Here, Sam is shown grinning in a photograph with his father, Enrique Carranza. Pictured in September 2022, Enrique Carranza and his son Sam smile in a photo shared by Carranza's mother The shooter has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, who previously used the name Jeffrey and has a lengthy criminal record going back to 2005. She is seen in 2022 Through a family spokesperson, she told DailyMail.com today how she and her son have spent the last four years trying to get custody of Sam. 'He wanted custody because he didn't believe that she was capable of raising him,' said longtime friend Connie Eicher described. Sam's grandmother, Walli Carranza is a rabbi and was not surprised about anti-semitic rants police found in Moreno's car after the shooting 'First of, she was mentally ill. They never knew when she would be good and when she wouldn't be good.' Moreno had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and Munchausen by proxy. Eicher said Moreno used Sam as a 'bargaining chip' and would disappear anytime her ex-husband, Enrique Alberto Carranza, tried to see him. It remains unclear how she was able to legally purchase the AR-15 she used in the killing, or why she was allowed to retain custody of the boy. Child Protective Services in Texas have yet to answer DailyMail.com's questions on the case. On Facebook, Sam's grandmother - Walli Carranza - said she blames the state of Texas for him being injured. Moreno was previously arrested for assault, weapons, marijuana possession and forgery charges Moreno seen in 2000 'No one may ever blame a police officer who carries out his or her rightful duty to save lives even if they are found responsible for shooting my grandson. 'The fault lies in a child protective services of Montgomery County and Harris County that refused to remove custody from a woman with known mental illness that was not being treated and with the state of Texas for not having strong red flag laws that would have prevented her from owning or possessing a gun.' Friends say Moreno used the boy as a 'bargaining chip' in her divorce from his father. Sam's dad was living in Florida and had an extensive criminal history, including being a sex offfender. He was recently jailed for failing to register as a sex offender. 'At one point, she had called and told him that if he kept pursing the child, that she was going to take him out of the country, which is one of the reasons why she had so many aliases.' Moreno used several name, including Jeffery Escalante. That name was given to police during her previous run-ins with the cops. Moreno was born in the Middle East and 'ranted' against Jews. 'Although my former daughter-in-law raged against Israel and Jews in a pro Palestinian rant yesterday this has nothing to do with Judaism or Islam,' her mother-in-law said. Osteen said the shooting could have been much worse if it had happened during the larger 11am service At some point, her family moved to El Salvador before relocating to the Houston area. Moreno's mother, who was her only support system, left town sometime before the shooting. Eicher believes Moreno may have felt hopeless, leading her to go to the church where her mother was a member: Lakewood. 'She could have shot up the entire congregation if they had not stopped her,' Eicher added. Investigators also found anti-semitic writings in Moreno's car after the shoot-out. One of the guns she had had a sticker that read 'Palestine' on it. 'I wasn't surprised when I heard that there had been anti-semitic rants because they were trying to get the baby from her,' the rabbi's friend stated. 'I think she was using him as a shield. I think she thought that as long as she had him she was protected.' Whether it's American-style fluffy pancakes or thin and crispy French crepes, people around the world will be cooking up a stack to celebrate Pancake Day today. But a key question remains - which toppings are best? While many budding chefs enjoy the classic flavours of lemon and sugar, others prefer more unusual combinations such as blue cheese and parma ham. To help you with your shopping list, we turned to AI chatbot, ChatGPT, which came up with a list of the 10 best toppings. So, do you agree with its choices? While many budding chefs enjoy the classic flavours of lemon and sugar, others prefer more unusual combinations such as blue cheese and parma ham. To help you with your shopping list, we turned to AI chatbot, ChatGPT , which came up with a list of the 10 best toppings Whether it's American-style fluffy pancakes or thin and crispy French crepes, people around the world will be cooking up a stack to celebrate Pancake Day today. But a key question remains - which toppings are best? The best pancake toppings, according to AI Maple syrup Fresh berries Whipped cream Chocolate chips Nutella Peanut butter Honey Jam Nuts Greek yoghurt Advertisement Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the feast day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. 'Before Lent could begin, all of the foods people couldn't eat while fasting needed to be removed from the house so that they wouldn't be tempted to break the rules,' English Heritage explained. 'And the best way to do that was to eat these foods during Shrovetide. 'Meats like bacon would be eaten up on "Collop Monday" (a collop is a thin slice of meat), two days before the start of Lent. 'On Shrove Tuesday, eggs, butter and fat were used up and one of the easiest ways to do this was to make pancakes or fritters.' To celebrate the occassion, we asked ChatGPT for the best pancake toppings. Within seconds, the AI bot produced a list of 10 toppings, with the caveat that 'the best pancake toppings often depend on personal preference'. Topping the list is maple syrup, which ChatGPT describes as a 'classic choice that adds sweetness and richness to pancakes.' This is followed by fresh fruits and whipped cream. Surprisingly, the AI bot does not recommend one of the most popular combinations - lemon and sugar - or any savoury options, such as bacon To celebrate the occassion, we asked ChatGPT for the best pancake toppings. Within seconds, the AI bot produced a list of 10 toppings, with the caveat that 'the best pancake toppings often depend on personal preference' READ MORE: The best items on a Full English Breakfast, according to ChatGPT Advertisement 'Sliced strawberries, blueberries, bananas, raspberries, or any other fruit can add freshness and flavor,' the AI bot said. Those of you with a particularly sweet tooth will be happy to hear that ChatGTP recommends two chocolatey toppings - chocolate chips and Nutella. Meanwhile, one of the more unusual suggestions is peanut butter. 'Creamy or crunchy peanut butter adds a savory note and protein to pancakes,' ChatGPT said. Honey, jam or fruit preserves are next on the list, followed by nuts. 'Chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, or pistachios add crunch and texture,' the AI bot added. Finally, rounding out the list is greek yoghurt, which ChatGPT describes as a 'healthier option that adds creaminess and a tangy flavor. Surprisingly, the AI bot does not recommend one of the most popular combinations - lemon and sugar - or any savoury options, such as bacon. However, it added: 'Feel free to mix and match these toppings to create your perfect pancake combination!' The pancake topping ratings come shortly after ChatGPT attempted to rank the items on a Full English Breakfast. Coming out in the top spot was crispy bacon, which ChatGPT called a 'key element' in the English breakfast. This was followed by eggs, with ChatGPT suggesting fried or scrambled would suffice. 'Fried or scrambled eggs are a crucial part of the meal and add protein,' the bot explained. The third most important element is pork sausages, which 'contribute to the heartiness of the breakfast and are a substantial element,' according to ChatGPT. Meanwhile, good old-fashioned toast came in fourth place. As legend goes, an Icelandic murderer by the name of Erik The Red was exiled to the world's biggest island in the 10th century. Even though the island was covered with white snow as far as the eye could see, he called it 'Greenland' in the hopes the name would attract settlers. More than a thousand years later, the name may finally have some truth to it. Scientists say Greenland is turning green, because its vast ice sheet is melting and exposing the vegetation underneath. In the past three decades, about 1.6 per cent of Greenland's total ice and glacier cover has melted an area larger than Wales. An estimated 11,000 sq miles of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted over the last three decades, according to a major analysis of historic satellite records. Pictured, exposed land from above Sydgletscher looking to Bowdoin Fjord, at Qaanaaq, north-west Greenland Over three decades, Greenland has become greener as as vegetation coverage has expanded, especially in the south-west and north-east READ MORE: Photos show how much the Greenland Ice Sheet melted during baking summer temperatures Greenland's Ice Sheet (pictured) covers around 656,000 square miles - roughly 80 per cent of the surface of Greenland Advertisement The new study was led by Dr Jonathan Carrivick, an Earth scientist based in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds. By analysing high resolution satellite images, Carrivick and colleagues estimated that 11,000 sq miles (28,707 sq km) of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted over the last three decades. 'We had to use a collection of images spanning the early 1980s and the early 2010s,' he told MailOnline. 'Images from single years often have cloud cover or ephemeral snow cover so on a pixel by pixel basis we made a mosaic free of these conditions in order to identify landcover.' The total area of ice loss 11,000 sq miles is roughly equivalent to the size of Albania or a little smaller than the area of Belgium and a bit larger than Wales. Dr Carrivick said this loss is solely to the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is often referred to as inland ice and is not the whole island. Roughly, the whole country of Greenland is about 836,000 sq miles and the ice sheet covered 679,000 sq miles about 81 per cent in the 1980s. Now, a loss of 11,000 sq miles brings the total ice cover down to 79 per cent, which is not much difference percentage-wise, but in terms of size 'it is enormous', Dr Carrivick said. The total area of ice loss 11,000 sq miles is roughly equivalent to the size of Albania or a little smaller than the area of Belgium and a bit larger than Wales. Pictured, exposed shrubland at Russell Glacier and proglacial area, near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland Proglacial area of Fan Glacier, Qaanaaq, NorthWest Greenland showing braided proglacial stream READ MORE: Greenland Ice Sheet has lost 1,965 square miles of ice since 1985, study says Greenland Ice Sheet has been disappearing at an accelerating rate since the 1990s Advertisement Where there was once ice and snow, there is now barren rock, wetlands (areas saturated by water) and shrubs. Over the three decades, the amount of land with vegetation growing on it increased by 33,774 sq miles (87,475 sq km), more than doubling over the study period. Greenland has become greener as as vegetation coverage has expanded, especially in the south-west and north-east. There's also been high-levels of ice loss in localised areas in the west, mid-north-west and south-east. Experts also found a quadrupling of wetlands coverage, increased meltwater and increased coverage of fine, loosely arranged sediment. It's well known that melting ice is a cause of rising sea levels, which could flood towns and cities this century. But Greenland turning from shining white to a duller green also reduces its 'albedo' its ability to reflect sunlight. Instead of the highly reflective white ice, the exposed plant and rock has a lower albedo, meaning it absorbs more energy from the sun rather than reflects. This only increases the risk of the Earth getting warmer, exacerbating climate change. Besides the vastly decreased ice cover, experts find a doubling in total areal coverage of vegetation, a quadrupling in wetlands coverage, increased meltwater, decreased bare bedrock and increased coverage of fine unconsolidated sediment Researchers found that loss of Greenland ice 'is strongly associated' with the number of days with an average temperature over 0F/0C between the 1980s and the present day. Since the 1970s, the region has been warming at double the global mean rate., according to the team. On Greenland, average annual air temperatures between 2007 and 2012 were 5.4F 3C warmer, compared with the 1979 to 2000 average. And the researchers warn that more extreme temperatures are likely in the future, resulting in 'profound consequences'. 'Land cover responses to climate change must be quantified for understanding Arctic climate, managing Arctic water resources, maintaining the health and livelihoods of Arctic societies and for sustainable economic development,' they say in their paper, published in Scientific Reports. From the batter to the cooking these tips should make Pancake Day a success Making a pancake feels like it should be the simplest thing in the world. But, as anyone who's ever botched their batter or cremated a crepe will tell you, getting through Pancake Day is not always that easy. Luckily for anyone braving the kitchen this Shrove Tuesday, professional help is now at hand. MailOnline has asked the experts what science says about the recipe for the perfect pancake. And, from the precise diameter of the perfect pancake to understanding your 'baker's ratio', these nifty tips are sure to make Pancake Day a flipping success. MailOnline asked experts what science says about the perfect pancake. By getting the batter the right consistency and using the right pan technique, you should ensure that you get beautiful pancakes every time The perfect pancake, according to science The batter 100 grams of flour 200 millilitres of mill One or two eggs A pinch of salt Mix vigorously with a fork and allow to rest for thin pancakes Cooking Add vegetable oil to a hot pan Pour in the batter while tilting the pan steeply Keep the pan tilted while circling the batter around the circumference Slowly reduce the tilt while circling until the pan is evenly coated Aim for a 15-20 cm diameter Cook until browned on one side and then flip Advertisement The batter Every good pancake starts with a great batter. The basic ingredients are simple: flour, milk, eggs, and anything else you want to use as a flavouring agent. But it is the ratio and method you use to combine these ingredients that decides whether your pancakes flop. Professor Ian Eames is a fluid mechanics expert from UCL and has put more time than most into thinking about the physics of pancake batter. Professor Eames explained: 'The characteristics of your pancake are determined by the baker's ratio, which is an indication of how much liquid is in your mixture, and the thickness of your pancake.' To work out the baker's ratio of your batter, divide the amount of milk in millilitres by the weight of flour in grams and multiply by 100. A lower baker's ratio will lead to a thicker batter, while a higher ratio will give a thinner, more crepe-like batter. Professor Eames measured the baker's ratio and thickness of pancakes from all across the world to determine the exact relationship between batter and pancake. According to Professor Eames, the ideal baker's ratio for a UK-style thin pancake is 100. He explained: 'Use 200ml of milk, 100g of flour, one or two eggs, and a pinch of salt. 'The salt is a good contrast with the sweetness if you are going traditional with lemon and sugar.' If you want a more American-style pancake, Professor Eames suggests 200ml of milk, 200g of flour, and two eggs. This chart shows the relationship between baker's ratio, which is determined by the amount of milk, and the thickness and size of the pancake. The ideal UK-style thin pancake (yellow star) has a bakers ratio of about 200 while American-style pancakes (red star) come in a little over 100 Professor Eames' research has found that the consistency of the batter determines how the pancake will cook. For the ideal UK pancake (yellow star) you are aiming to get the top showing islands and a ring of browning while the bottom is smooth with dark spots READ MORE: American scientist reveals her secret to the perfect cup of tea... but adding hot milk and SALT risks leaving Brits at boiling point Advertisement Mixing You might have heard that a lumpy batter leads to a more tender pancake. And while it might sound like an excuse for laziness, there is some scientific truth to this. When flour is mixed with wet ingredients, two proteins called glutenin and gliadin combine to form long chains of gluten proteins. But getting the right texture requires a trade-off: too much gluten and the pancake will be tough, while not enough and it won't have any structure. Just like kneading dough, over-mixing to try and remove all the lumps can create too much gluten and lead to a tough, rubbery pancake. 'I would always advise on whisking up the batter with a fork so that you bind in as much air as you can,' Professer Eames said. This allows you to beat out any lumps in the batter and develop gluten which can bind trapped air to keep the pancake light and tender without losing its structure. If you want an even more thin crepe-like pancake, let your batter rest for 10 to 15 minutes after whisking. This will let the gluten strands relax as the protein chains untangle and the flour fully hydrates, leading to a thin delicate pancake. For tender, light pancakes, whisk your batter smooth with a fork and let it rest. This will enable air to be worked into the gluten from the flower but allow the proteins time to relax (stock image) Cooking Of course, making the batter is only half the battle. Professor Eames said: 'The science tells you the relationship between the milk content of your pancake and its typical size. The higher the milk content, the thinner you should make your pancake.' For a British-style thin pancake, Professor Eames recommends a diameter of about 15-20cm to ensure even cooking. For a thicker American pancake, he recommends looking for a diameter of around 10cm. Meanwhile, to get that perfectly thin, crisp pancake, he suggests ditching the butter for vegetable oil. Vegetable oil has a lower smoke point than butter so can get hotter without burning and spreads around the pan easier, meaning better heat transfer to the pancake for more even cooking. We have all felt the struggle of trying to get a pancake to be perfectly round. Experts say the issue is that the batter is poured into the centre of a flat pan and then spread from there To get the perfect pancake every time pour the batter into an steeply tilted pan and then circle the pan to allow the batter to run around the circumference. Slowly reduce the tilt and keep the circles going until the pan is evenly coated (stock image) That might be easier said than done as pancake batter seems to seize up the moment it hits the pan rather than spreading into a neat circle. But, once again, science has the answer. Professor Mathieu Sellier, head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury, has developed the optimal way of tilting the pan to ensure the batter is evenly spread. He said: 'Often, the problem is that if the batter is delivered in the centre of the pan and the pan is left flat (horizontal), the batter cooks quickly and solidifies before reaching the rim of the pan. 'Therefore, most people tend to tilt the pan and rotate it in order to speed up the spreading because of the steeper slope offered by a tilted pan speeds up the flow.' The issue is that as the hot pan transfers heat to the batter it goes from behaving more like a liquid to more like a solid. So, trying to spread the batter around from the centre leads to uneven thickness and holes. To get around this issue, Professor Sellier and his co-authors created an algorithm to predict the optimal way of tilting the pan to get a perfect pancake every time. The solution is to tilt the pan sharply in one direction as you pour in the batter, letting it run quickly to the edge of the pan. Once all the batter has reached one edge, keep the pan tilted and rotate the pan in a circular motion, letting the batter run around the full circumference. Then, slowly decrease the tilt while keeping the circular motion going until you bring the pan back to flat. Now, all that is left to do is let it cook until browned on one side and just starting to cook through before flipping. Unfortunately, your flipping technique is still something you will have to work out yourself. Joe Biden's bizarre move to join TikTok just months after banning his staff from the social media app could allow China to spy on his presidential campaign. A cybersecurity expert told DailyMail.com that state-sponsored cyber attackers could potentially steal data from the president's campaign through backdoor channels set up by its parent company. Biden's campaign has not provided any details about how it plans to prevent TikTok's parent company from exposing voter information to the Chinese government. As of June 2023, Biden banned nearly 4 million federal government employees from installing the app on government-owned devices. Citing data security concerns, politicians on both sides of the political aisle have supported banning the app altogether. Joe Biden's campaign joined TikTok less than a year after his administration banned federal employees from downloading the app on government devices, over concerns that the Chinese government could access sensitive data through backdoors 'If the device used for content creation is connected to the campaign's network, state-sponsored attackers could use the app to spy on other network traffic including private emails, online meetings, and other sensitive communications,' John Wilson, senior threat research fellow at cybersecurity firm Fortra, told DailyMail.com. 'The app could be recording audio, video, GPS locations, and a slew of other valuable intel,' Wilson added. In Joe Biden's first TikTok, he answered a series of this-or-that questions, including 'Trump or Biden?' He replied, 'Are you kidding?' TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, and Chinese law requires companies in the country to share user data with the government. US politicians have voiced fears that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to divulge loads of data that it has collected from US users. This was one of the main reasons the Biden administration banned the app in federal agencies, with some exceptions for law enforcement and national security purposes. It's also the point that his political opponents are skewering him on following the Sunday announcement. In 2020 and 2022, the app was used to spread misinformation, a major concern in a presidential election year. The FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that a huge range of app users' data are vulnerable - biometric information, location data, and browsing history. In 2022 the company admitted it had been spying on reporters through location data. The app can also use invasive tracking measures, including harvesting users' phone contacts; this feature seems to remain partly active even if the app is denied permission to access your contacts, as it continues to recommend users whose phone numbers are in your phone. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a barrage of questions about tech companies' failure to protect young social media users during a January hearing of the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis And if the President of the United States of America were giving up his mobile phone data to a foreign government, that would raise national security concerns. Crucially, Joe Biden himself is not on TikTok, and the Secret Service has extremely strict rules about how the US president is allowed to use a mobile phone. Rather, the account belongs to the official rapid response department for the Biden-Harris campaign. Last year, sources inside the campaign had said that the campaign would not join TikTok, due to security concerns. [[Clearly that has changed. ]] duh! bit obvious. can we add insight instead? like... how many millions of amerians under the age of 25 are on tiktok? how many use tiktok for their main source of news etc. shows the impetus to get on the app 'We are taking advanced safety precautions around our devices and incorporating a sophisticated security protocol to ensure security,' Biden campaign advisers said in a statement. But the campaign has not elaborated on this strategy or clarified which devices will be logged into the account. Nor did the campaign clarify whether it is campaign data or voter data that they will aim to protect. Beyond the federal ban, TikTok has been under investigation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for several years. 'The campaign's presence is independent and apart from the ongoing CFIUS review,' campaign representatives said. Experts have predicted that this election season will see unprecedented levels of sophisticated digital fraud undermining the campaign, including deepfake videos and AI-driven personalized disinformation. Amid these concerns, the Biden campaign's move is drawing fire from all sides. ByteDance has already gotten in hot water for improper data use, including a $368 million fine from the European Union in September for failing to protect children who use the app. NO SPYING LAWSUITS? And almost 60 percent of Americans see TikTok as a major or minor threat to national security in the US, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Officials in the federal government have made it clear that even though Biden's campaign is on the app, that does not mean it is considered secure. 'Nothing's changed about the national security concerns, from the NSC's perspective, about the use of TikTok on government devices,' said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby in a press conference. 'That policy is still in place.' Kirby would not clarify whether the White House and campaign had been in communication about the decision to launch the social media account, and he referred questions to the campaign. 'I don't want to get into too much of the national security, technical reasons behind that, but it does have to do with concerns about the preservation of data and the potential misuse of that data and privacy information by foreign actors,' he said. All of this said, cybersecurity experts have long been skeptical about whether TikTok's cybersecurity issues are any worse than those of US-based companies like Meta, which also employs invasive tracking methods and has been used to spread election misinformation. There are some simple steps that can be taken to ensure that the Biden campaign's TikTok account doesn't expose sensitive data, said Wilson. 'I would strongly recommend the campaign use a dedicated device for content creation,' he said. 'That device should be powered down when not in use, and never used for any other purpose. ' Scientists reveal what would happen in the UK if the Gulf Stream collapsed It's been 20 years since The Day After Tomorrow hit cinemas - and now scientists have warned that its terrifying plot could soon become a reality. The film portrays an enormous 'superstorm' triggered by the collapse of the Gulf Stream, which sets off catastrophic natural disasters and ushers a new Ice Age on Earth. In the blockbuster, characters are frozen under layers of snow, drowned in massive tsunamis and dramatically crushed under vehicles thrown by tornados. But what would actually happen here in the UK if the Gulf Stream collapsed? Speaking to MailOnline, experts revealed how Britain would be plunged into a deep freeze - with winter conditions up to 15C colder than usual. In the Hollywood blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow (pictured), ocean currents around the world stop as a result of global warming, triggering a new ice age on Earth In the blockbuster, characters are frozen under layers of snow, drowned in massive tsunamis and dramatically crushed under vehicles thrown by tornados READ MORE: The Gulf Stream could COLLAPSE as early as 2025, study warns Advertisement The Gulf Stream is part of a much wider system of currents, officially called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which scientists say could collapse as early as 2025. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', the AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere. Here in the UK, its collapse would cause temperatures to plummet, according to Professor David Thornalley, a climate scientist at University College London. 'Unfortunately people would die due to stronger winter storms and flooding, and many old and young would be vulnerable to the very cold winter temperatures,' he told MailOnline. Jonathan Bamber, a professor of Earth observation at the University of Bristol, agreed that if the AMOC were to collapse, the climate of northwest Europe would be 'unrecognisable compared to what it is today'. 'It would be several degrees cooler so that winters would be more typical of Arctic Canada,' he told MailOnline. Rene van Westen, a climate scientist and oceanographer at Utrecht University, predicts that in the summer, UK temperatures will be about 5.4F to 9F (3C to 5C) lower than they are now. AMOC collapse: It would change weather worldwide because it means a shutdown of one of key the climate and ocean forces of the planet. It would plunge northwestern European temperatures by 9 to 27 degrees (5 to 15 degrees Celsius) over the decades Formally known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), it powers the Gulf Stream that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the northeastern US coast Why could the AMOC collapse? Scientists think melting glaciers could cause the collapse of the AMOC, the system of ocean currents. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', the AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere. Prior studies have already shown that due to climate change, the AMOC is slowing down. The engine of this conveyor belt is off the coast of Greenland, where, as more ice melts from climate change , more freshwater flows into the North Atlantic and slows everything down. Advertisement Meanwhile, winter temperatures could be 18F to 27F (10C to 15C) lower on average, although certain parts of Britain would bear the brunt of it. For example, if the yearly average surface temperature over London fell by 12.6F (7C), the temperature change would larger (down to -21.6F/-12C) further northward, such as in Scotland, van Westen said. However the effects in the UK would be minor compared to other regions, according to Professor Thornalley. Elsewhere around the world, a collapse of the AMOC would cause a shift in the tropical rainfall belt an area of rainfall that is positioned around the tropics. '[This] would massively disrupt agriculture and water supplies across huge swathes of the globe,' said Professor Thornalley. 'Many millions would be affected and suffer from drought, famine and flooding, in countries that are already struggling to deal with these issues. 'There would be huge numbers of climate refugees and geopolitical tensions would rise.' According to the new study, the AMOC has recently shown signs of trending toward a crucial 'tipping point', at which a collapse would soon follow. When exactly this tipping point may occur is uncertain, although it could be a matter of decades, rather than centuries as previously assumed. 'At the moment we can not say anything about the distance to an abrupt AMOC collapse (i.e., The Day After Tomorrow scenario),' van Westen told MailOnline. 'Our analysis only suggests that we are moving towards the tipping point.' If the AMOC collapses, in the UK people would die due to stronger winter storms and flooding, and many old and young would be vulnerable to the very cold winter temperatures. Pictured: a flooded street in Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire this month A collapse of the AMOC would cause a shift in the tropical rainfall belt - an area of rainfall that is positioned around the tropics In 'The Day After Tomorrow', a collapse in the AMOC takes place over a matter of days and the fictional weather immediately switches to extreme cold so the characters are completely unprepared. Thankfully, such a rapid transition will not happen in real life, said Penny Holliday, head of marine physics and ocean circulation at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. 'If the AMOC does reach a tipping point it will happen over several decades at least,' she told MailOnline. 'However a slowdown of the AMOC, whether it is fast-acting or takes place over many decades, will lead to the generation of more extreme and violent weather systems that have the potential to cause deaths and major damage.' The idea that we are constantly chatting about tea and the weather might be one of the oldest stereotypes about Britons. But now scientists have confirmed that this caricature is actually based on reality. Linguists from Lancaster University analysed 100 million words to reveal what Britain is really talking about. Unsurprisingly, words such as 'the', 'and', 'to', 'of' and 'a' topped the list. However, the team also discovered that some of the most frequently used words in the English language refer to time and punctuality, food and drink, the weather, emotions, and our bodies. Scientists have revealed that Britain's favourite topics of conversation are time and punctuality, food and drink, emotions, the weather, and our bodies The most commonly used words in British English The - 52,595 per million - 52,595 per million And - 26,604 per million - 26,604 per million To - 25,512 per million - 25,512 per million Of - 25,090 per million - 25,090 per million A - 22,110 per million - 22,110 per million In - 17,651 per million - 17,651 per million I - 14,148 per million - 14,148 per million It - 12,851 per million - 12,851 per million That - 11.880 per million Source: Lanclex, BNC2014 Advertisement To understand how words are being used, Professor Vaclav Brezina and his colleagues analysed every word in the British National Corpus 2014. This is a vast sample of current language containing informal speech, fiction, newspapers, magazines, academic writing, and other sources. Writing in a blog for The Conversation, Professor Brezina said: 'The way someone talks, and the words they use, tell us quite a bit about where someone is from, their social background and even their age. 'Language both reflects and shapes society as a linguist, its my job to find out how.' From their analysis of hundreds of thousands of unique words, the researchers have identified five key themes in British speech and the words that define them. Time and punctuality One of the most commonly discussed topics in the UK is time and being late. This topic is so important to Britons that 'year' and 'time' are the two most frequently used nouns in British English. One of the most commonly discussed topics in the UK is time and being late. This topic is so important to Britons that 'year' and 'time' are the two most frequently used nouns in British English 'Year' occurs 1,963 times per million words, while 'time' occurs 1,983 times per million. This does not even include the expressions 'on time' or 'in time' which occur with a combined frequency of 47 times per million words. An analysis of individual time words also reveals the UK's preferences for certain topics. For example, 'summer' is much more popular than 'winter', occurring 144 times per million compared with only 63. Sunday and Saturday are the most popular days of the week to speak about, at 114 and 104 words per million respectively. December, meanwhile, is the most popular month at 149 times per million, followed by March and May at 145 times and 142 times per million respectively. The weather There is nothing Brits love to talk about more than the weather. One study suggested that the average Briton will spend four months of their life complaining about the weather. This comes as no surprise since it is estimated that we spend eight hours a week thinking about the weather each week. Professor Brezina's analysis found that the word 'weather' occurred with a frequency of 60 times per million words Professor Brezina's analysis found that the word 'weather' occurred with a frequency of 60 times per million words. And, in an indication of how the weather rules our plans, he found that it most commonly occurs alongside the words 'pub' and 'restaurant'. When it comes to our favourite weather topics, it may be no surprise that sun and rain are the two biggest concerns. The word 'sun' occurred with a frequency of 91 times per million while rain occurred 51 times per million as a noun and 15 times per million as a verb. Storms, clouds, and snow also dominate our conversations occurring at frequencies of 32, 39, and 37 times per million words respectively. Professor Brezina also found that the use of words related to the climate such as 'climate change' and 'emissions' increased 21 per cent between 2010-2015 and 2016-2020. It seems that Britons prefer to talk about nice weather as 'sun' was used more frequently than 'rain', 'storms', 'clouds', or 'snow' Food and drink When it comes to our food and drink, the humble cup of tea reigns supreme. According to the data released by Professor Brezina and his colleagues, the word 'cuppa' occurs 231 times per million and 'tea' occurs 92 times per million. Coffee, meanwhile only occurs 73 times per million while 'champagne' occurs six times less often than tea. Other frequently mentioned beverages include wine, beer, milk, and juice. And, when it comes to food the analysis reveals some interesting trends about Britain's dining habits. Dinner seems to be the UK's most popular meal, occurring 68 times per million words. This puts it ahead of lunch at 51 times per million and breakfast at only 43. Professor Brezina also revealed that Britons have a bit of a sweet tooth, as cake is spoken about three times more frequently than salad. Tea was one of the beverages most frequently referenced by Britons, occurring six times as often as 'champagne' (stock image) Professor Brezina created this chart to show how words are used with the verb 'eat'. The closer a word is to 'eat' at the centre the stronger the association between the two, while the bigger the circle the more frequently those words appear together Emotions Britain might be home of the 'stiff upper lip' but the researchers have revealed that we do actually talk about our emotions quite often. And, despite a reputation for being gloomy, analysis revealed that 'happy' is actually the emotional word most frequently spoken by Britons, being used 208 times per million words. However, Professor Brezina does point out that it is often used to express contentment in phrases such as 'I'm quite happy to stay at home'. When it comes to words expressing negative emotions Britain once again stays true to its stereotypes, as 'sorry' is the most frequently used word. Often used to apologise or politely refuse something, this word is used at a frequency of 204 times per million. Our bodies According to the researchers, Britons also spend a fair bit of time talking about their bodies. In particular, we seem especially keen on using the words 'hand', 'head', 'eye', 'foot', and 'heart'. The researchers suggest that the popularity of these phrases might also be due to how frequently they appear in metaphors or other common phrases. For example 'hand', which has a frequency of 530 times per million words, could appear in phrases like 'lend a hand' or 'helping hand'. Meanwhile 'head', which appears 435 times per million words, can be used as a job title like 'head of sales'. Professor Brezina added: 'Expressions such as on the one hand, in the public eye, "put ones foot down and break somebodys heart are all examples of how our bodily experience of the world is present in ordinary language as we use it every day.' The number of Americans over the age of 100 is expected to quadruple over the coming decades - and scientists are only now starting to understand what allows these super-agers to outlive most of us. There are an estimated 101,000 centenarians in the U.S. as of January 2024 and predictions from the Pew Research Center indicate that figure will more than quadruple to 422,000 in 30 years. And it's not just as simple as a growing population with centenarians currently making up just 0.03 percent of the overall U.S. population, and they are expected to reach 0.1 percent in 2054. This small proportion of the population highlights that being a centenarian is still rare, and scientists have been fascinated by centenarians for decades as they strive to understand how humans can live longer and can maintain better health. A recent study looked at 12 blood-based biomarkers related to inflammation, metabolism, liver and kidney function, and potential anemia and malnutrition to understand what contributes to a longer life. A team of researchers looked at 12 biomarkers that showed high cholesterol and low glucose and uric acid were indicative of a longer lifespan A new report revealed the number of centenarians will increase by 70 percent in the next 30 years. Scientists at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm looked at data from 44,000 Swedish participants who underwent regular health assessments from the age of 64 through 99 years were tracked for up to 35 years to determine the secret to a long life. Those who lived to be a centenarian had lower glucose (sugar) in their bloodstream, as well as creatinine which is linked to how well the kidneys function, and uric acid (UA), which is a waste product caused by digesting certain foods. Researchers found that participants with the lowest UA levels were four percent more likely to reach 100 years old while those with the highest UA levels only had a 1.5 percent chance. The study said: While chance likely plays a role for reaching age 100, the differences in biomarker values more than one decade prior death suggest that genetic and/or lifestyle factors, reflected in these biomarker levels may also play a role for exceptional longevity. The number of centenarians in the U.S. isn't slowing, according to a Statista report that said the population of those over 100 will increase by 70 percent, jumping from 82,000 reported in 2016 to 589,000 in 2060. Within the next three decades, the Pew Research Center report projects that the global centenarian population will increase to roughly four million. China is expected to account for the largest portion of centenarians at 767,000, followed by the U.S., India, Japan and Thailand. The study, published in GeroScience reported that 1,224 people (2.8 percent) lived to be at least 100 years old, and the majority (85 percent) were female. Researchers did not explain why females were more likely to reach their 100th year than males. Researchers initially looked at individuals who had clinical lab tests at the Central Automation Laboratories between 1985 and 1996 and followed up with the participants through the end of 2020. The study used the National Patient Register to track disease diagnoses, the Cause of Death Registry to identify the exact date a participant died, and the Total Population Registry to confirm the participant was still alive and living in Sweden. The researchers used blood-based biomarkers to determine what leads to longevity by first identifying the values of biomarkers present in both centenarians and non-centenarians. They then looked at the association of which biomarkers are linked to people who live to be centenarian by separating the biomarkers into five groups: very low, low-medium, medium, high-medium, and very high. Data from the medium group was chosen as the reference model using 12 biomarkers including uric acid, total cholesterol, and glucose biomarkers. Contrary to clinical guidelines, the researchers found that centenarians had higher total cholesterol levels but reported that this aligns with previous studies that show elderly people who have high cholesterol can live to an older age. Several studies have found that high cholesterol in people over the age of 60 might protect against cancer, infection, and atherosclerosis plaque build-up in the artery walls and is therefore associated with lower death rates. Researchers also looked at Alanine Aminotransferase (ALAT) which helps the liver convert food into energy and Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT), an enzyme found in the liver, heart, pancreas, and muscles. If the ASAT is too high, it could indicate damage or inflammation to the liver, but researchers found that low ASAT levels reduce the chance of liver damage or fatty liver disease, thus contributing to the person's longer lifespan. Low levels of albumin were found to extend mortality by moving hormones, medicines, and vitamins throughout the body, low Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) levels help the liver break down drugs and toxins, and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an indicator of how well the liver is functioning. Will YOU live until you're 100? Answer may lie in your blood, scientists claim as they discover 'secrets' of longevity in centenarians Scientists might have finally discovered the secret to a long life and it lies in our blood. Advertisement High ALP could be caused by increased alcohol consumption, and researchers found that those with normal levels had a longer life. Normal ALP levels range from 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L), according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Centenarians had lower levels of creatinine which determines if their kidneys are adequately filtering waste from their blood and had a lower Iron and Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC) which circulates iron throughout the body, preventing anemia. Finally, researchers looked at how albumin affected centenarians' and non-centenarians' nutrition levels and found higher levels of nutrients in the body affect the persons physical state, extending long life. The only biomarker that was the same for both centenarians and non-centenarians was Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD) which turns glucose into energy. LD markers were outside the normal range for both groups, but researchers said it was likely due to aging and age-related health conditions. Researchers suggested that as people age they should keep track of how their liver and kidneys are functioning, keep tabs on their glucose and uric acid levels, control their nutrition, and reduce their alcohol intake. The researchers clarified that they cant conclude about which lifestyle or genetic traits are responsible for the biomarker results. That said, chance probably plays a role at some point in reaching an exceptional age, the researchers said, adding: But the fact that differences in biomarkers could be observed a long time before death suggests that genes and lifestyle may also play a role. Damage to Columbia during launch meant it wasn't fit to attempt a safe reentry It's been just over 21 years since one of the darkest days in NASA's history. On the morning of February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana. The seven astronauts aboard David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and Ilan Ramon all lost their lives. The tragic event is being retold for a BBC Two documentary series airing from this week on BBC Two, 'The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth'. MailOnline has revealed a step-by-step graphic showing exactly what went wrong on that fateful morning, which changed NASA forever. Damage to Columbia sustained during the shuttle's launch in January 2003 had meant it wasn't fit to attempt a safe reentry (L-R) David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and Ilan Ramon lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Colombia disaster in 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster: Mission facts Mission: Microgravity research mission/SPACEHAB Space shuttle: Columbia Launch location: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A Launch time: January 16, 2003, 10:39am EST Crew: Commander Rick Husband; pilot William McCool; mission specialists Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, and Laurel Clark; and payload specialist Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut Advertisement Space Shuttle Colombia had completed a 16-day mission, officially designated as 'STS-107' by NASA. As a research mission, the crew was kept busy 24 hours a day in space performing various chores involved with science experiments. Largely things had gone smoothly, according to NASA. 'The astronauts exceeded scientists expectations in terms of the science obtained during their 16 days in space,' it said in a later statement. However, one issue during launch on January 16 would later prove fatal. At 82 seconds after blast-off, a piece of foam insulation, about the size of a briefcase, broke off from the external tank and struck the port wing of the orbiter. Some NASA ground control staff had been aware of the foam and were concerned about the damage it could do upon reentry. On January 23, the missions eighth day, J. Steve Stich from mission control notified two of the crew Rick Husband and William McCool of the foam strike in an email, including a video clip of the impact. However, Stich assured them that because the phenomenon had occurred on previous missions, it caused no concern for damage to the vehicle or for reentry. Footage shows the foam falling and the damage to the wing during launch: The Space Shuttle Columbia, on mission STS-107, launches January 16, 2003 at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida A chilling video, shared on Reddit in 2022, depicts the final harrowing moments of the crew in the cockpit before Colombia began to fall apart READ MORE Eerie remnants of Columbia disaster including astronaut's helmet found by Texas farmer A recent post on X, formerly Twitter, has unveiled a possible discovery of one of the crew's helmets, found in Texas Advertisement Engineers on the ground continued to assess the impact of the foam strike, requesting high-resolution imaging of the affected area to complete a more thorough analysis but ultimately managers turned down the request. It later emerged that some members of staff had been aware of the extent of the damage but said there was 'nothing we can do'. There was no way to repair any suspected damage, as the crew were far from the International Space Station and had no robotic arm for repairs. Still unaware of the imminent danger to their lives, on January 28 the Columbia crew paid tribute to their fellow astronauts lost in the Challenger accident 17 years earlier and in the Apollo 1 launch pad fire in 1967. By the day of the crew's scheduled return on February 1, NASA staff faced the terrible decision over whether to let the astronauts know that they may die on re-entry or face orbiting in space until the oxygen ran out. Those on the ground decided that it would be better if the crew were spared knowledge of the risks. As Colombia prepared to re-enter the atmosphere, the damage caused by the foam allowed hot atmospheric gases to penetrate and destroy the internal wing structure. When the vehicle began reentry this damaged section of the wing was subjected to extreme entry heating over a long period of time. Tragically, this caused the spacecraft to become unstable and break apart, about 40 miles (60km) over the surface of Earth. The resulting debris was found scattered across Texas in the following years, including helmets, heat shield tiles and, sadly, the remains of the astronauts themselves. It's thought the crew knew of their situation for perhaps only a minute or so before vehicle breakup and likely blacked out as soon as their crew module lost pressure. Mac Powell stands next to what he believes to be the suspected damaged left wing from the fallen space shuttle Columbia, on his property in Nacogdoches County, Texas in 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle debris lies floor of the RLV Hangar May 15, 2003 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida When Mission Control had it confirmed that the shuttle had broken up over Texas, Flight Director Leroy Cain ordered the room on lock-down and all computer data saved for later investigation. In August 2003, Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) released its findings into the cause of the disaster and made a series of recommendations. The CAIB report criticized NASAs organisational and safety culture, finding similar faults that led to the 1986 Challenger accident. After the deadly incident, president George W. Bush's administration decided to put an end to the Columbia shuttle program. What's more, the remaining three shuttles, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour, were grounded until NASA and its contractors could develop means to prevent similar accidents, which included kits for repairs in orbit. Today, the Orion spacecraft, built for manned missions to the moon as part of NASA's upcoming Artemis programme, has a safety system that allows the manned part to be separated from the launch vehicle in case of a launch problem. Shockingly, the Columbia shuttle did not have this option. NASA also reached a $27million settlement in 2007 with the Columbia families. The disaster will be retold for a BBC Two documentary series that airs this week on BBC Two, 'The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth'. It covers the unfolding disaster and fallout shared by the astronaut's families, as well as NASA staff who were involved in the mission. Alfred Wainwright once compared Coniston in the southern Lake District with Zermatt way up in the Swiss Alps saying each seemed to have a particularly strong affinity with their nearest mountains. OK, the Old Man Of Coniston may rise to a mere 2,635ft, while the Matterhorn by Zermatt soars to a loftier 14,692ft, yet there is an element of truth to the great hiking scribe's fanciful comparison. The village of Coniston, population 928, somehow feels as though it belongs to its mountain. This close connection has a long history, with industry providing the glue. For many years, copper and slate have been mined on the eastern slopes of the Old Man, dating from the days of Elizabeth I, when the first copper mines were established, with German miners shipped in. Benevolent giant: Tom Chesshyre travels to the village of Coniston in the Lake District. Above, the Old Man of Coniston and Coniston Water Tom stayed in a 'mountain cottage' (pictured) in Coppermines Valley, which sits above Coniston village These Germans turned out to be more than just dab hands at working the copper seams. They are also believed to have introduced the recipes for local sausages that were eventually to become known as Cumberlands. Whatever the truth of this, copper mining began in the 1560s and continued till the 1950s. Slate is still quarried and its possible to buy lovely silvery-green slabs at Coniston Stonecraft, a workshop on the path up to the Old Man behind the Sun Hotel. This tucked-away business is in old railway depot buildings for copper ore and slate; tracks used to wind up from Broughton-in-Furness. Meanwhile, the Sun Hotel was where Donald Campbell is understood to have stayed the night before his fatal crash at nearly 300mph in Bluebird K7 during his attempt to break the world water speed record on Coniston Water in 1967. Alfred Wainwright once compared Coniston (pictured) with Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, reveals Tom The Old Man of Coniston has seen copper and slate mining activity since the days of Elizabeth I. Above, an abandoned slate mine on the mountain LEFT: A 'mountain cottage' hot tub. RIGHT: Tom felt 'safe and sound' in his rental in Coppermines Valley You can learn all about this at the Ruskin Museum, just off the high street, close to the gurgling water of Church Beck and a busy clutch of hostelries that mark the village centre at a crossroads by a bridge. Theres a mangled piece of the ill-fated vessel at the back in a special Donald Campbell section. The museums name comes from another historical ghost: John Ruskin, the social reformer and essayist (1819-1900), who had so loved the local scenery that he bought a mansion on the far bank of Coniston Water. This building, called Brantwood (about a 45-minute walk along the lake from the village), is open to the public and offers an intriguing insight into Ruskins somewhat peculiar life. Tom said the holiday cottage and its roaring fire 'felt a long way from anywhere in Britains "Swiss Alps"'. Pictured: The living room in one of the cottages During his trip, Tom visits the Ruskin Museum - a 'rich source of local history' Tom is the author of Lost In The Lakes: Notes From A 379-Mile Hike Around The Lake District The Ruskin Museum is a rich source of local history. The root of the name Coniston goes way back to the Old Norse Konigs Tun (kings settlement), referring to a Viking king named Thorstein. Displays also capture the early days of mountaineering and the Fell & Rock Climbing Club, founded in 1906 and based in Coniston. It would be churlish, if fit and the weathers good, not to climb the Old Man. This I did, enjoying sweeping views across sparkling tarns to the Irish Sea and south to Morecambe Bay. Then I descended to the village and went for a pint of Bluebird ale at the quaint Black Bull pub. I was in good historical company. The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge recorded that he had dined on oatcake and cheese, with a pint of ale, and two glasses of rum and water sweetened with preserved gooseberries at the nearby Blacksmiths Arms, Broughton Mills, on his own hiking jaunt round the Lakes in 1802. Back at my holiday cottage in Coppermines Valley, the fire roaring, it felt a long way from anywhere in Britains Swiss Alps, safe and sound with the benevolent giant (Wainwrights words) of the Old Man looming above. A couple from Canada have revealed how they have ditched their brick and mortar house for a 20ft yurt - claiming it has changed their lives 'for the better.' Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives and offered viewers a tour of their circular home which they share with their two cats Peeko and Lily. In the documentary short, they reveal how they have been living in their new abode for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional house at just $18,000. Leah told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is not having running water or indoor plumbing, so they have to be 'very mindful' of their water consumption. Another downside, is that their toilet is located outside, and going out in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures 'can be a challenge.' A couple from Canada have revealed how they have ditched their brick and mortar house for a 20ft yurt - claiming it has changed their lives 'for the better' Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives and during the segment they offer viewers a tour of their circular home In the documentary short, they reveal how they have been living in their new abode for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional house at just $18,000 In the winter, the pipes in their outdoor shower also freeze, so they have joined a local gym so they can wash in comfort. However, Leah says these things are mild inconveniences and there are more upsides to yurt life than downsides. She explained: 'On the flip side of the coin, some of the things we love the most about living in our yurt is how close to nature you are. 'We have curious critters stopping by to check out what we are doing quite frequently. 'The rain is probably my favorite part, the sound of it dancing off the canvas is so calming. 'It is a small space which can be cleaned up in such a small amount of time but staying organized is really important.' Joe and Leah moved out of their brick and mortar home in June 2023, after landing new jobs in the area that they now live. Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nation Reserve where their yurt is located. Leah told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is not having running water or indoor plumbing so they have to use an outhouse and outdoor shower Joe and Leah moved out of their brick and mortar home in June 2023, after landing new jobs in the area that they now live Before moving into the round structure, they were living in a school bus conversion. However, Leah said the renovated vehicle 'was a bit cramped so we started looking for alternatives.' Explaining how they settled on a yurt, Leah said: 'After deciding to ditch the school bus, I started researching for something that would fit the bill of our priorities, minimalist and eco-friendly options. 'Yurts popped up. I think I took it and ran with at this point. Joe was in agreement and we connected with a company called Groovy Yurts to tour their facility. 'While on the tour we fell in love with the natural wood 20ft "Super Ger" they had on display. We ordered our yurt that day and picked it up a couple weeks later. 'The yurt has been super comfortable for us because we love camping so much. 'The yurt is like a very grand tent made of natural material and was imported from Mongolia.' Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nation Reserve where their yurt is located Leah points out that living in something round is 'definitely different' and it can be difficult finding furniture that fits In terms of heating the yurt, the couple rely on a wood burner but if they go away overnight they use an oil filled radiator to keep their cats warm In the Exploring Alternatives YouTube, Joe and Leah showcase some of the spaces in the open plan home, with these including a kitchen, dining area, open closet, central wood burner and their bed. Leah points out that living in something round is 'definitely different' and it can be difficult finding furniture that fits. Joe built their kitchen from scratch so it would work in the space and he installed his 'luxury item,' in the form of an espresso machine. Moving outside, there is a BBQ area where the couple do most of their cooking to prevent the yurt from smelling, while other features include a log store, the outhouse and shower. In terms of heating the yurt, the couple rely on a wood burner but if they go away overnight they use an oil filled radiator to keep their cats warm. In the Exploring Alternatives YouTube, Joe and Leah showcase some of the spaces in the open plan home, with these including kitchen, dining area, open closet and their bed The couple said their goal for the future was to build a log cabin but since being in the yurt, they 'really don't have a plan for when we will move out of our yurt, if ever' Touching on their living expenses, Leah says they no longer pay a mortgage and their only outgoings are for hydro electricity, food supplies, insurance, cell phones, gym membership and fuel for their cars. For others considering yurt life, she concludes: 'Yurt life isn't for everyone and I think you really have to be open minded and in tune with your own capabilities and limitations. 'We gave away most of our belongings and kept only the things that we need to get by, for some they would say this is not a luxurious life but you realize pretty quickly how little you need to actually make you happy. 'We found that disconnecting from attachment to personal possessions has unveiled a life of less stress because you aren't worrying about losing things, breaking things or having them taken away. 'We are trying to be kinder to our planet with steps that are feasible for us as a couple. 'Our goal for the future was to build a log cabin but since being in the yurt, we really don't have a plan for when we will move out of our yurt, if ever.' Advertisement Ryanair has yet again accused online travel agent 'pirates' of overcharging customers and using 'fake fees'. The budget airline is embroiled in a long-running dispute with online travel agents (OTAs), not only complaining that they charge customers too much for Ryanair flights but that they have been selling its flights without permission. In its latest broadside, Ryanair has claimed that On The Beach is 'the number one pirate, overcharging customers by a rapacious 117 per cent (125) for a flight change fee that costs just 45 on Ryanair.com'. Opodo was also highlighted in the report for 'charging a 60-euro [51] service fee' for what was described as 'a non-existent service'. While eSky charges a 33-euro (28) cancellation fee 'for flights that cannot be cancelled', the low-cost carrier added. In its study, Ryanair repeated calls for the UK and Irish governments and EU consumer agencies to 'take action to stop OTA piracy and consumer rip-offs' as part of its campaign for holidaymakers 'to be protected from overcharging and mis-selling'. Ryanair has yet again accused online travel agent 'pirates' of overcharging customers and using 'fake fees' OVERCHARGES Product OTA Price Ryanair Price Overcharge eSky Priority Boarding 29 23 +26 per cent On The Beach 20kg bag 34.99 20.49 +71 per cent 'INVENTED CHARGES' ACCORDING TO RYANAIR Product OTA Price Ryanair Price Overcharge On The Beach Change Fee 125 45 +117 per cent Opodo Service Fee 60 - - eSky Cancellation Fee 33 - - Source: Ryanair Ryanair's Dara Brady said: 'Our February survey continues to expose the scams and overcharging of OTA Pirates, with On The Beach highlighted as February's No.1 Pirate for its egregious 117 per cent overcharge of 125 for a 45 flight change fee on Ryanair.com. 'While Opodo is charging a 60-euro "service" fee for a non-existent service and eSky are charging a 33-euro "cancellation" fee for flights that cannot be cancelled. 'These are just the latest examples of hundreds where OTA Pirates are unlawfully scraping Ryanair.com to overcharge, dupe and scam unsuspecting consumers for Ryanair products and services. 'It is unacceptable that the UK and Irish governments and EU consumer agencies continue to ignore this rampant digital piracy and anti-consumer mis-selling. 'Ryanair will continue to campaign against these OTA Pirates, exposing their digital piracy and overcharging scams and will continue to call for these OTA Pirates to be outlawed and their scams ended.' Ryanair analysis highlighted the price of adding a 20kg bag to a Ryanair flight when booking with On The Beach (34.99) Ryanair isn't alone in issuing cautions about OTA fees. Last year, travellers were warned by Which? to take seemingly 'bargain' flight fares offered by some OTAs 'with a pinch of salt', with research by the consumer champion revealing that their deals can be more than 100 more expensive than booking directly with airlines due to 'eyewatering' rates for extras such as luggage and seat selection. In January, meanwhile, Ryanair cautioned over a hit from the move by a raft of OTAs to remove the Irish airline from their websites. The carrier said that, since early December, many of the larger sites such as Booking.com, Kiwi and Kayak have taken Ryanair off their sites. It said the sudden removal from what it claimed were OTA 'pirates' was 'welcome', but added that it would impact its so-called load facto - a key measure of how well airlines fill their planes - by one per cent or two per cent throughout December and January. Ryanair claims online travel agents (OTAs) are charging 'fake fees'. The airline highlighted this in red pen in Opodo's terms and conditions, which stipulate 'a service fee of up to 60 euros' However, the Irish carrier doesn't dislike all OTAs - it recently signed a deal with loveholidays to offer its flights as part of package trips. In response to the latest Ryanair analysis, an Opodo spokesperson said: 'The accusation of "invented fees" is entirely unfounded. In reality, travellers pay less for their holidays with us - Ryanair simply opposes this because we help travellers access their competition. 'This baseless claim is hypocritical of Ryanair, considering they are notorious as the King of Fees, imposing up to 28 different service charges on consumers, charging for anything conceivable. We compare and combine flights from 700 airlines to offer travellers cheaper and more convenient routes than Ryanair's limited options.' In its analysis, Ryanair circled what it referred to as 'fake fees' charged by eSky, including a 33-euro cancellation fee - 'for flights that cannot be cancelled' Deniz Rymkiewicz, spokesperson for eSky Group, said: 'Once again, Ryanair, which is in conflict with OTAs, is attempting to portray OTAs as the "bad guys" of the industry. We believe the report released on February 9 shouldn't be treated as such due to basic inaccuracies in the methodology. 'Foremost, comparing luggage prices without providing a broader context is misleading. It is standard practice for airlines, including Ryanair, to adjust both flight and luggage prices dynamically based on various factors such as destination and booking window. 'Regarding the cancellation fee, I would like to point out that it is taken out of context and applies to any airline, not just Ryanair. This fee covers the services provided in processing flight cancellations, including communication with the airline to verify cancellation terms and potential refund options. Ryanair highlighted that eSky (price circled left) charges more than Ryanair.com (price circled right) for Priority Boarding 'Ryanair's flights are non-refundable, so this fee applies to airlines that allow cancellation with a partial or full refund, depending on their policies.' A spokesperson for On The Beach said Ryanair 'is comparing amendments to flight-only bookings with ATOL-protected package holidays' which is 'like comparing a single apple with a whole basket of fruit'. They added: 'Our holidays include flights, accommodation, transfers and any activities or excursions, plus flexible payment plans to best suit our customers' needs something that cannot be offered when booking flights alone. 'The flight is only one part of a holiday and so to compare amendments to a package holiday and all of its components is simply not a fair or true comparison.' David Tennant has started to feel a little 'nervous' ahead of the 2024 BAFTA Awards as he prepares to host the star-studded ceremony on Sunday. The Doctor Who star, 52, will take over the coveted spot from last year's hosts Alison Hammond and Richard E Grant and front the British Academy Film Awards. David revealed he was in complete shock when he received an email asking if he wanted to host the annual awards, which is being held at London's Royal Festival Hall. Speaking to the Radio Times, he said: 'Right now, a month out, it feels like a bit of a thrill and a lark. 'An extraordinary opportunity to do something very unusual and exciting. People keep asking me how nervous I am, how Im preparing for it and so on, and thats beginning to make me nervous. David Tennant, 52, has started to feel a little 'nervous' ahead of the 2024 BAFTA Awards as he prepares to host the star-studded ceremony on Sunday (pictured in 2023) The Doctor Who star will take over the coveted spot from last year's hosts Alison Hammond and Richard E Grant and front the British Academy Film Awards (pictured on the cover of Radio Times) 'Who knows why theyve asked me! I just thought Id say yes before they realised theyve sent the email to the wrong person.' While David is no stranger to the ceremony, having previously presented an award at the BAFTA Television Awards in May 2023, this will be his hosting debut. It comes after David reprised his beloved role as the titular Time Lord in Doctor Who for the show's 60th Anniversary last year, earning praise from fans. Speaking about his hosting stint, the Good Omens star said: 'I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE BAFTA Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this year's films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.' BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip added that the academy was 'over the moon' that David would be hosting the Film Awards. She said: 'He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences, alike. 'His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.' The longlists for the EE BAFTA Film Awards, including Best Film, Director, Actor and Actress, will be published on Friday, with the nominations announced by Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir, set to be unveiled on Thursday January 18. David revealed he was in complete shock after receiving the email to host the annual awards, which is being held at London's Royal Festival Hall (pictured in January) Speaking to the Radio Times, he said: 'An extraordinary opportunity to do something very unusual and exciting. People keep asking me how nervous I am, how Im preparing for it and so on, and thats beginning to make me nervous' He also quipped: 'Who knows why theyve asked me! I just thought Id say yes before they realised theyve sent the email to the wrong person' (pictured in 2023) Alison Hammond and Richard E Grant (pictured) hosted the BAFTA Awards last year It comes after David reprised his beloved role as the titular Time Lord in Doctor Who for the show's 60th Anniversary last year, earning praise from fans Last year, acting veteran Richard graced the stage as the BAFTAs host, and during his opening monologue referenced the notorious 2022 Academy Awards moment when movie star Will Smith, 54, slapped presenter Chris Rock across the face after he jested about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Richard told the star-studded crowd: 'Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight except on the back.' In 2022, Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson made risque jokes about the royal family, Vladimir Putin, the gender pay gap, her flop film Cats and her recent weight loss. Richard added: 'So I was surprised...and I thought because I was so unashamedly enthusiastic during the awards circuit four years ago, when I was nominated for (a BAFTA). '(BAFTA organisers) must know that I'm going to be a celebratory person rather than somebody who's there to roast other actors so hopefully, that's (going to) work out, I don't know yet.' In November last year, David reprised his titular role in a trio of Doctor Who specials to mark the show's 60th Anniversary. The episodes, which also saw Catherine Tate return as Donna Noble, were lauded by fans, and set the stage of Ncuti Gatwa to take over as The Doctor ahead of a new series later this year. Kanye West and Bianca Censori had a huge fight after she warned him not to make anti-Semitic slurs at a listening event for his new album, according to insiders, who claim the blow out was the reason behind his wife's no show at his New York event and after-party last week. The controversial rapper, 46, was reportedly left fuming on Thursday night after the livestream from Chicago's United Center cut out when he spewed the lyrics: 'And I'm still crazy, bipolar, anti-Semite / And I'm still the king.' Bianca, 29, is said to have warned him about singing the problematic lyrics from his new album Vultures, and as a result refused to attend the scheduled events in New York the following night. It comes as those close to the Australian designer, who recently made headlines for wearing a clear raincoat with nothing underneath, fear she is being 'used' by Kanye to promote the divisive new record a joint venture with Ty Dolla $ign. Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori got into a massive fight over his refusal to not sing anti-Semitic lyrics from his new album, Vultures, according to reports Kanye took to the stage on Friday in NYC at the UBS arena - but Bianca was not there to support her husband at the event As a result of their spat, Kanye arrived to his album release after-party at The Harbor NYC (pictured) without Bianca. He reportedly left within 10 minutes without thanking organizers 'Their argument Friday was because Kanye lost it when they cut off his song at the listening event the night before, due to his unacceptable lyrics,' a source close to Bianca told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'Bianca was trying to say that he should not include another anti-Jewish lyric especially after the backlash he got in Dubai when the album's first anti-Semitic lyric surfaced.' They continued: 'Kanye has been taking out all of his frustrations over this on Bianca because he, literally, has no one else that wants to listen to his crap. 'He is using her for free promotion, putting her on the cover of his album, using her as a model for the clothing and she is allowing him to have this control. 'She has literally become a prop, like a remote-control doll, that he can get to do anything he wants.' When the rapper appeared in New York City on Friday for an official listening event at UBS Arena, Bianca was not by his side, and she failed to show up for the $300-a-ticket after-party at Harbor NYC Rooftop nightclub. The domestic appeared to rile Kanye who reportedly arrived in a 'nasty mood' wearing a full face mask and left after 10 minutes, much to the frustration of organizers. 'Kanye really screwed over the people who threw him the after-party and he did not seem to care,' a separate source told DailyMail.com. Back in 2021, ahead of the release of his 10th studio album Donda, he previously hosted multiple listening parties for fans in Chicago and Atlanta (pictured in January 2024) Kanye's album cover for Vultures featured his wife, Bianca, showing off her backside. A source close to Bianca told DailyMail.com that Kanye was 'using her for free promotion' 'He showed up several hours late and he did not have Bianca with him. He was in a nasty mood, and was wearing a mask the whole time. 'Kanye stayed for 10 minutes and then left without thanking anyone who helped to organize the event. The place was packed with fans that where there to see him and they were playing his new album.' The venue is owned by George Karavias, the founder of Dream Hospitality Group, who has hosted bashes for everyone from Rhianna to A$AP Rocky. The source added: 'Organizers put so much into this to make it a phenomenal after-party for Kanye and his crew, only for him to completely s**t on them.' Kanye announced his NYC event for Vultures earlier this month sharing a post that read 'Vultures UBS Arena New York 02 09 24.' The announcement came two months after he debuted the first single, Vulture, off the record, at a listening party in Dubai. Video footage showed him singing the 'offensive' lyrics: 'How am I anti-Semitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****.' The lyrics prompted a furious backlash and was even condemned by the American Jewish Committee, among others. In December, Bianca reportedly pushed her husband to apologize to the Jewish community - as she was 'tired' of having to 'babysit' him and feared his behavior was putting them in danger. 'She told him that his recent behavior was unacceptable and that he needs to apologize because he was putting them in danger and setting a horrible example for his children, a source told DailyMail.com at the time. 'Bianca is really sick of his attention seeking and she knows that this is not who he truly is, but it is making her look like she is anti-Semitic which is so far from the truth. 'She has many Jewish friends who she loves dearly and he knows this.' Kanye apologized in Hebrew on Instagram for any offence cause, claiming he 'deeply regrets' his words Kanye acknowledged his behavior on Instagram, telling his 19 million followers in Hebrew: 'I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.' His apology came after a string of unhinged and offensive outbursts, which included his anti-Semitic lyrics in Dubai and praising Hitler at a listening party in Sin City in December. Bianca was noticeably absent. During his rant, he stated that 'all the rich f*****s' in the room have their kids in 'Zionist schools.' The source added: 'It is very upsetting to Bianca and he does it anyway. He just waits until she is gone. By the time that she finds out what he's done and said, it is too late. 'And now it's at the point where she is starting to fear for her safety - not because of Kanye hurting her or anything like that. It is more like she fears that a Jewish extremist could potentially do something to hurt both of them.' During Thursday's listening event in Chicago, Veeps streaming service cut off the livestream when the lyric 'I am anti-Semitic' played Kanye's anti-Semitic behavior started in October 2022 when the ex-husband of Kim Kardashian shared a tweet that stated he planned to go 'death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.' Shortly after the tweet, the Praise God rapper told Piers Morgan he only meant to take aim at certain specific Jews, who he felt exploited him. When the talk show host contended the comments were 'as racist as anything you've been through,' the Gold Digger rapper retorted, 'That's why I said it. I fought fire with fire.' In an interview with right-wing talk show host Alex Jones in early December, Kanye praised Hitler for his 'redeeming qualities.' True Detective: Night Country Rating: To Catch A Copper Rating: Silence Of The Lambs star Jodie Foster says she agreed to star as Alaskan police chief Liz Danvers, in the creepy crime serial True Detective: Night Country (Sky Atlantic), on one condition. She insisted her character had to be an unremitting pain in the neck. And she got her wish. Danvers has all the charm of a polar bear with an icicle stuck in an awkward place. Whether she's jailing her own foster daughter for getting beaten up at a protest march, forcing her team to work overtime on Christmas Eve or bullying colleagues into having one-night stands, she is shockingly unlikeable. And somehow, we admire her for it. She might be a monster, but she's an honest, dogged, fearless monster who will keep the town safe. Silence Of The Lambs star Jodie Foster (pictured) says she agreed to star as Alaskan police chief Liz Danvers, in the creepy crime serial True Detective: Night Country (Sky Atlantic), on one condition There were few surprises, just a succession of depressingly inevitable outcomes, in To Catch A Copper (Ch4). Pictured: Geoff and Amber in To Catch A Copper That uncompromising streak of cussedness is a good sign in a sleuth. Think of Morse, or Vera, or Ted Hastings. Nothing is ever good enough for them. If they say, 'Well done,' you know they will find fault a minute later. A Freudian psychologist might say this trait comforts us, because it's what we learned to expect from our parents when we were children. That's who the true detective is a substitute for mum or dad, putting the world to rights by ensuring justice is done. Mind you, Sigmund Freud never caught any murderers, so that theory is probably nonsense. This is the fourth series of True Detective, apparently detached from the others though there's one tenuous link, too convoluted to explain here. (Oh, go on then: British actress Fiona Shaw, who was the emotionless spy chief in Killing Eve, plays lonely widow Rose. Her closest friend is a ghost called Travis Cohle the father of Rust Cohle, played by Matthew McConaughey when True Detective began in 2014. Aren't you glad you asked?) Royal flush of the night: A bizarre tradition on the day of a Nasa rocket launch was revealed on The Space Shuttle That Fell To Earth (BBC2). Since the era of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the astronauts play a hand of poker, minutes before lift-off. Advertisement We now know what 'Night Country' refers to an otherworldly network of caves beneath the ice, where demons lurk. This penultimate episode ended on a cliffhanger, with Danvers and her sidekick Evangeline Navarro (former world champion boxer Kali Reis) driving through a snowstorm to hack their way into the ice tunnels. When the story began, it teetered on the brink of unintentional comedy. A team of scientists were found, naked and frozen solid, in a blizzard. As they defrosted, one turned out not to be dead, though no one noticed till his arm snapped off. Once the pace slowed, the combination of horror, police politics, family feuds and the bone-chilling atmosphere of Alaska's endless night began to exert a bewitching spell like the eerie theme tune by Billie Eilish. It has proved full of surprises... not least that John Hawkes, who plays bitter veteran policeman Hank Prior, sings like Johnny Cash. There were few surprises, just a succession of depressingly inevitable outcomes, in To Catch A Copper (Ch4). Two experienced officers with Avon and Somerset Police were accused of sexually predatory behaviour. Both men were preying on junior recruits, the youngest just 17 years old. Both men were well-known for this behaviour. Neither was prosecuted because, we were informed, there was 'insufficient evidence'. Since one of them was posting photos of his victims on the internet, this was hard to comprehend. Both lost their jobs, but whether they also lost their pensions, we don't know, because this documentary asked no difficult questions and offered no criticisms. The force's counter corruption unit, a real-life AC12, would doubtless deny it, but we were left with a sense that the men's real mistake was to target police cadets, not members of the public. That's a grim thought. He was only 41 when, having amassed an estimated 450 million, he suddenly announced his retirement. Since then, the 'Wizard of Oz', as Australian hedge fund whizz-kid Greg Coffey was dubbed, has snapped up an 83 million American estate in the Hamptons and the 12,000-acre Ardfin Estate on the Scottish island of Jura. But now Coffey is at loggerheads with the jeweller who lives in the flat beneath his in one of London's grandest squares, where another flat sold for just under 12 million eight months ago. So distressed has Dorrit Moussaieff, 74, become by being repeatedly flooded by water which, she alleges, sloshes down from Coffey's flat, that she's posted a photograph on social media showing where panels in her ceiling have crashed to the floor. 'It has affected me horribly,' Moussaieff tells me. 'There has been repeated flooding. The building is now not insured for water damage.' The 'Wizard of Oz', as Australian hedge fund whizz-kid Greg Coffey (left, pictured with wife Ania Coffey) was dubbed, has snapped up an 83 million American estate in the Hamptons and the 12,000-acre Ardfin Estate on the Scottish island of Jura So distressed has Dorrit Moussaieff (left, pictured with husband and former president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson), 74, become by being repeatedly flooded by water which, she alleges, sloshes down from Coffey's flat, that she's posted a photograph on social media showing where panels in her ceiling have crashed to the floor She adds that her walls, clothes, handbags and carpets are 'saturated' with mould. Married to former Icelandic President Olafur Grimsson, Moussaieff alleges that neither Coffey, 52, nor his wife, Ania, have 'even so much as apologised. They are just ignoring everything. He sub-let the property to different people.' Instead, it's been left to the couple's plumber to explain each successive cascade. 'He said it was either the dishwasher or the washing machine, and the time before that it was the shower,' Moussaieff explains. She holds out little hope of rapprochement. 'I think they want me out. Greg said to me: "How much do you want for your flat?" When I told him it wasn't for sale, he replied: "Everything has a price."' A spokesman for Coffey, who now heads Kirkoswald Capital and has seen his fortune swell to just under 900 million, tells me: 'He has no interest in buying Ms Moussaieff's flat, and has never expressed any such interest.' A job for Prince Harry, recently crowned a 'Legend of Aviation' at a Hollywood ceremony? The Royal Household is advertising for a landing site officer to make sure each helicopter flight for members of The Firm goes smoothly. Prince Harry flew Apaches with the Army Air Corps. 'You'll play a crucial role in ensuring safe helicopter operations at a variety of non-aviation locations,' says the advertisement for the 28,353-a-year job. Prince Harry flew Apaches with the Army Air Corps (pictured above in 2012) Mum has dementia, says designer Kelly The Princess of Wales's favourite interior designer Kelly Hoppen has revealed her mother, Stephanie, has dementia - and she blames the disease on the art dealer's retirement. 'My mother's got the onset of dementia and she was one of the most extraordinary businesswomen of all time,' says Kelly, 64. 'She sold her business, then Covid happened, and it was a disaster. 'That really made me think: "Never put your mind to bed."' 'Queen of taupe' Kelly claims her mother's retirement was '100 per cent' linked to her becoming ill. When Prince William met Kelly, he told her: 'My wife's a huge fan.' The Princess of Wales's favourite interior designer Kelly Hoppen (left) has revealed her mother, Stephanie (right), has dementia - and she blames the disease on the art dealer's retirement Love's on hand for Midwife star Devoted to her calling at Nonnatus House on screen, new Call The Midwife star Natalie Quarry's passions lie elsewhere when filming is over. The actress, 25, who made her debut as Rosalind Clifford in this series of the hit BBC drama, was seen hand in hand in North London ahead of Valentine's Day with Lewis Thorne, a Cambridge University graduate who works in technology. They are understood to have been a couple for five years. Quarry has described him as 'the most wonderful person in the world'. Devoted to her calling at Nonnatus House on screen, new Call The Midwife star Natalie Quarry's (second from right) passions lie elsewhere when filming is over The actress (left), 25, who made her debut as Rosalind Clifford in this series of the hit BBC drama, was seen hand in hand in North London ahead of Valentine's Day with Lewis Thorne (right), a Cambridge University graduate who works in technology Richard Osman has revealed how badly it went when his Pointless co-host Alexander Armstrong swore in front of Mary Berry. 'When we were recording in front of an audience, and if it's quite a quiet audience, we'd swear, just because they loved it. They'd go: "Oooh,"' he says. But when Armstrong did it in front of Berry, Osman recalls: 'She gave him such a stare... you could tell he'd realised he'd upset Mary Berry and he was mortified.' Richard Osman (pictured) has revealed how badly it went when his Pointless co-host Alexander Armstrong swore in front of Mary Berry Dame Maureen Lipman, who defended Israel after the October 7 terror attacks, has spoken out against Ireland. Last year, Irish leader Leo Varadkar suggested Israel's bombardment of Gaza was 'collective punishment'. 'You have the Irish preaching about genocide - we know what that means,' the actress tells me at JW3, where she opened the Lovelock Hostage Bridge. 'Ireland has a terrible anti-Semitism problem. Clean up your own f***ing backyard.' Dame Maureen Lipman (pictured), who defended Israel after the October 7 terror attacks, has spoken out against Ireland Cherie makes 1m Cherie Blair has topped up her family's bulging coffers after making 1 million last year at her law firm, Omnia Strategy. Its net current assets increased to 8.2 million in the 12 months to April last year. Cherie co-founded the law firm in 2011, owning more than 50 per cent of the voting rights, according to records at Companies House. No turnover is disclosed in the new accounts. Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling is enjoying a well-deserved holiday as she recovers from treatment for colon cancer. The 50-year-old, who is one of the panel of experts on the hit dating show, underwent surgery just before Christmas. The reality TV host stunned in a low-cut leopard print dress as she enjoyed the warm weather in the Canary Islands. The relationship expert shared photos of herself posing up a storm on a rooftop of her accommodation in Tenerife - the largest island in the archipelago. In another photo, she is seen cuddling up to her eight-year-old daughter Maddie as they lap up the sun together. Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling is enjoying a well-deserved holiday in the Canary Islands as she recovers from treatment for colon cancer Mel also shared a group selfie with her husband Gareth and friends, showing she is enjoying her new lease on life since her cancer treatment. The reality TV host revealed her shock health battle in December and underwent colon surgery just before the end of the year. She explained that her tumour - which she has named 'Terry' - was removed by UK doctors. The relationship expert shared photos of herself posing up a storm on a rooftop of her accommodation in Tenerife - the largest island in the archipelago 'So yesterday lunchtime I had keyhole surgery to remove my tumour (AKA Terry) and in the words of my amazing surgeon it couldn't have gone any better!' Mel said at the time. The post accompanied a photo of the TV star in a hospital bed, giving a thumbs up with a tube in her nose. She added, 'Crucially the cancer hadn't spread to my abdominal cavity, which was our greatest fear but was entirely localised in my colon.' Mel also shared a group selfie with her husband Gareth and friends, showing she is enjoying her new lease on life since her cancer treatment 'Over the coming days I will discuss my treatment plan going forwards but suffice to say that Terry is toast!' Mel then revealed her treatment had taken place in London and went on to praise the UK's National Health Service (NHS). 'I also wanted to say that everyone in the UK should be incredibly proud of the people of the NHS,' she added. Mel revealed her shock health battle in December, and underwent surgery and treatment for colon cancer just before Christmas 'The NHS is a unique, precious institution we need to make sure it's here to serve our children and our children's children. 'Now, its time to focus on getting my ass out of here in time for Christmas.' Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she had colon cancer in an Instagram post on December 19. She posted a photo of herself hugging her husband Gareth , 51, and their daughter alongside the caption: '"You have cancer". Three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear. Symptoms of colon cancer Symptoms of colon cancer can include: A change in bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool. Ongoing discomfort in the belly area, such as cramps, gas or pain A feeling that the bowel doesn't empty all the way during a bowel movement Weakness or tiredness Losing weight without trying Many people with colon cancer don't have symptoms at first. When symptoms appear, they'll likely depend on the cancer's size and where it is in the large intestine. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement 'Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words.' She said she was diagnosed just one month after she began to feel pain in her stomach while filming MAFS Australia's upcoming eleventh season. 'About a month ago, when I was filming in Australia, I developed severe stomach cramps on set. I put it down to all the travel I'd been doing and the upset it caused to my system,' she explained. 'I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me on my way.' Despite her doctor's initial assessment, Mel said she knew her condition was more serious and booked herself a scan when she travelled to the UK. 'On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed,' she wrote. In addition to the UK version, Mel has recently returned to screens alongside fellow experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla for the eleventh season of the Aussie version of the hit dating show. In addition to the UK version, Mel has recently returned to screens alongside fellow experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla for the eleventh season of the Aussie version of the hit dating show. All pictured This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Natalie Barr weighed in on the controversial fairy bread debate on Tuesday morning after school canteens began banning the Aussie classic over the weekend. The Sunrise anchor, 55, shares sons Lachlan, 20, and Hunter, 17, with husband Andrew Thompson, with the youngest of the two finishing school just last year. Now the television presenter has said on her Seven breakfast show that banning the sweet treats from school canteens just makes youngsters 'want' them more. Fellow journalists Suzanne Mostyn and Joe Hildebrand were expressing their opinion on the controversial matter during a Hot Topics segment with Nat. 'Scarcity breeds demand and I just think those little hundreds and thousands bring hundreds and thousands of joy to people,' Suzanne said. Natalie Barr weighed in on the controversial fairy bread debate on Tuesday morning after school canteens began banning the Aussie classic over the weekend 'And how many calories? Not hundreds and thousands. Everything in moderation. Happy kids, happy life,' she added. Nat agreed, saying: 'You're right. Once you ban something, you want it.' 'Those hundreds and thousands have become dozens and dozens,' Joe chimed in over the top of Nat. The Sunrise anchor, 55, said on her Seven breakfast show that banning the sweet treatsjust makes youngsters 'want' them more. Barr is pictured with journalists Suzanne Mostyn and Joe Hildebrand It was at this point the media personality doubled down and said: 'Yeah, exactly. Don't you want it when it's bad?' Ham and cheese toasties and fairy bread have both been threatened with extinction at school canteens recently. The South Australia Education Department this week said sprinkles should not be provided or supplied at the state's public schools, under their Right Bite healthy food and drinks guidelines. Nat shares sons Lachlan, 20, and Hunter, 17, with husband Andrew Thompson (right), with the youngest of the two finishing school just last year However, the South Australia government has said the guidelines are just that and do not constitute a ban. The state government added that the guidelines don't apply to what parents pack in their kids' school lunchboxes. Just days earlier, Western Australia banned ham and cheese toasted sandwiches from public schools in a bid to cut down on processed meats which can lead to a higher risk factor of developing bowel cancer. Irina Shayk dazzled on the runway during New York Fashion Week Monday. The model, 38, who doubles as a supermodel and super-mom to daughter Lea, six, floated down the runway in a floral pink gown for the Carolina Herrera show. The Russian-born beauty looked otherworldly in the pale pink gown with printed with pink and yellow peonies. The strapless ballgown had a bridal feel to it with with layers of the ethereal material cascading down the back. The frock featured an empire waist and practical pockets. Irina Shayk, 38, dazzled on the runway during New York Fashion Week Monday Irina was styled with her long, dark hair in a sleek bun. She wore natural looking makeup with a bold red lip. The look was accessorized with gorgeous earrings shaped like flowers made from gold, white gold and pink gold. Irina and the other models in the Fall/Winter show confidently walked by Anna Wintour, 74, and other celebrities. The Vogue editor-in-chief was wearing her customary dark sunglasses and remained expressionless as she sat with Demi Moore, Diane Kruger and Becky G. Demi, 61, was dressed in a red, black and white plaid cape and matching sheath. Her long, dark hair was styled straight and, she too, wore dark sunglasses. The Feud star shared video and photos from behind the scenes on social media writing, 'Today at @carolinaherrera with the brilliant @wesgordon!' The model floated down the runway in a floral pink gown for the Carolina Herrera show The Russian-born beauty looked otherworldly in the pale pink gown with printed with pink and yellow peonies. The strapless ballgown had a bridal feel to it with with layers of the ethereal material cascading down the back The frock featured an empire waist and practical pockets Diane, 47, was styled in a black and white polka dot bra top with matching high waist palazzo pants. A floral back was paired with the feminine look. Her long, blonde hair was styled in a low ponytail, and she accessorized with gold hoop earrings. She was spotted shooting pictures and video of the show. Becky G looked elegant in a lavender long sleeve mini-dress with buttons on the bodice and skirt. Her long, dark hair was styled in loose waves. The show was live streamed for those unable to make it to New York. After watching the show the Elle editor-in-chief Nina Garcia said she was 'Up in the clouds,' and congratulated creative director Wes Gordon for 'always delivering on elegance.' The luxury line seemed to be working on being more inclusive and featured a couple of plus-size models on the runway. 'This season, more than ever, I wanted to push forward and just really focus on craft and fit, the make and the flourishes,' the creative director told Fashionista. Irina was styled with her long, dark hair in a sleek bun. She wore natural looking makeup with a bold red lip The look was accessorized with gorgeous earrings shaped like flowers made from gold, white gold and pink gold 'This season... I wanted to push forward and just really focus on craft and fit, the make and the flourishes,' creative director Wes Gordon told Fashionista. 'When there were these dramatic moments, they were done in a way that was not frivolous, not superfluous, he said Irina and the other models in the Fall/Winter show confidently walked by Anna Wintour, 74, and other celebrities. The Vogue editor-in-chief was wearing her customary dark sunglasses and remained expressionless as she sat with Demi Moore, Diane Kruger and Becky G 'When there were these dramatic moments, they were done in a way that was not frivolous, not superfluous. It was very precise, letting the color speak and the print speak,' he said. Wes said he prefers ' a dress that looks like a dress,' explaining that 'its energy and its exclamation point comes from the incredible embroidery or the texture of the jacquard. That, to me, is modern.' He described the designs as being 'about boldness and power and cut and craft.' 'The idea of dressing powerfully and making this a collection that can take our woman everywhere she needs to go...from more casual to office, to cocktail to gala. That's really important .' Last week Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins made the dramatic announcement that they will be launching a new breakfast show on Nova's 100 FM. The high-rating team will be replacing the morning show hosted by Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson. And now, Media Week has revealed that the popular trio only learned they were losing their jobs 'shortly before' Lauren and Jase posed for a 'secret' photo shoot in the Nova studio. The industry blog reports that, in an unusual move, Ben, Liam and Belle will remain hosting the breakfast slot until Jase and Lauren have a start date. Once the duo take over breakfast, Ben, Liam & Belle, will move on to a new national show, Late Drive, airing weekdays from 6pm to 8pm. Last week Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins (pictured) made the dramatic announcement that they will be launching a new breakfast show on Nova's 100 FM. The high-rating team will be replacing the morning show hosted by Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson Jase and Lauren were replaced by KIIS FM stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson amid their historic $200million 10-year radio expansion into Melbourne. Their move to Nova now means they will be going head-to-head in a ratings clash with with their former KISS FM colleagues. 'I'm beyond excited to be joining the Nova family,' Lauren, 41, said in a statement. 'I've been a longtime fan of the station and to be joining Nova 100 really is a dream come true.' And now Media Week has revealed that the popular trio only learned they were losing their jobs just as Lauren and Jase were posing for a 'secret' photo shot in the Nova studio. Pictured: Jase and Lauren with Ben (L), Liam second-from right and Belle She added: 'I've made the most of having a few months off, but my plans of becoming a professional dog walker are now on hold, and I'm so ready to get back to work with Jase here in Melbourne.' Meanwhile, Jase, 42, said: 'I'm wrapped to have a job again. I'm even more over the moon that we get to join Nova.' 'My whole career, I have always wanted to be a part of this network, it's the perfect fit for Loz and I. So, I'm sorry Nova, we're never leaving,' he added. The industry blog reports that, in an unusual move, Ben, Liam and Belle will remain hosting breakfast until Jase and Lauren have a start date. Pictured: Jase and Lauren's 'secret' Nova shoot 'Melbourne, we're back! So join us and come over to Nova.' In November, Sydney-based radio duo Kyle and Jackie 'O' signed a record-breaking $200million, 10-year deal live on-air - keeping them on the airwaves until 2034. A spokesperson for ARN confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the deal for the Sydney duo meant their work pals Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips were out of a job and their Melbourne breakfast show finished up in December. Lauren broke down in tears while announcing the news to her listeners, sobbing that she didn't want to 'say goodbye to Melbourne'. In November, Sydney-based radio duo Kyle and Jackie 'O' signed a record-breaking $200million, 10-year deal live on-air - keeping them on the airwaves until 2034 (pictured) Jase and Lauren's show was successful for KIIS FM, bringing in new listeners for the station and sitting third in the Melbourne market behind Fox FM's Fifi Fev & Nick and GOLD104.3's Christian O'Connell. In a statement to celebrate the historic contract renewal, Sandilands said: 'Fans of the show will be stoked to hear that this 10-year deal is the longest radio deal in Australian history. 'Love us or loathe us, Jackie and I will be continuing with our politically incorrect nonsense for a long, long time.' Travis Barker wasn't going to let Melbourne's soaring temperatures ruin his style on Monday when he stepped out to enjoy some sightseeing. The blink-182 drummer, 48, dressed head-to-toe in heavy black clothing despite the sweltering heat. With the city reaching a top of 36C that day, Travis wore a black hooded jumper with the spiked hood over his head and long black denim overalls. He completed his look with a pair of black framed sunglasses and carried a plastic water bottle in one hand. Dedicated vegan Travis was leaving popular vegetarian restaurant Vegie Bar, located in Fitzroy, before heading to a MMA fight store in the CBD. Travis Barker wasn't going to let Melbourne 's soaring temperatures ruin his style on Monday when he stepped out to enjoy some sightseeing The outing comes after his band mates Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus slammed one Aussie city during their tour Down Under. The pair took aim at their Perth fans while performing in Adelaide, complaining to the audience about the 'disappointing crowd' in Western Australia. The moment was shared to TikTok in a 20-second video. 'We had to go to f***ing Perth before coming here!' bassist and vocalist Mark said. 'Get f***ed, mate!' Guitarist and vocalist Tom chimed: 'They don't caress women there! They don't do s**t! They don't have emotional bonds...' The blink-182 drummer, 48, dressed head-to-toe in heavy black clothing despite the sweltering heat With the city reaching a top of 36C that day, Travis wore a black hooded jumper with the spiked hood over his head and long black denim overalls 'They're just thinking about the band Creed, that's all they're doing.' blink-182 hit out at the 'unenthusiastic' Perth crowd on their first night in the city. 'Mark was roasting the crowd all night saying no one knew the songs,' one TikTok user wrote alongside a video. 'Im so embarrassed people didnt know the songs,' a fan then commented. The outing comes after his band mates Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus slammed one Aussie city during their tour Down Under 'The crowd was so disappointing I felt so bad for blink travelling so far for such an unenthusiastic crowd,' added another. blink-182 continue their Australia tour in Melbourne on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena, after Mark, Tom and drummer Travis touched down in the city on Monday. They perform another show on Wednesday before jetting to Sydney for two back-to-back shows on Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17. After that, the trio head to Brisbane for three sold out gigs, before coming back to Sydney and Melbourne for newly-added shows at the end of the month. Blink-182 hit out at the 'unenthusiastic' Perth crowd on their first night in the city for not knowing the songs blink-182, who last toured in Australia in 2013, will then jet to New Zealand for their shows in Auckland and Christchurch before continuing the rest of their World Tour. During their last visit Down Under, drummer Travis did not join the band due to his fear of flying, which stemmed from being a passenger in a fatal plane crash in 2008. Brooks Wackerman, of Bad Religion and Avenged Sevenfold, filled in on the sticks. At the time, the band said they attempted all measures to help Travis get over his fear of flying, but ultimately had to make the trip without him. The British Academy Film Awards have confirmed their A-list attendees in behind-the-scenes snaps of the star-studded seating plan ahead of Sunday's ceremony. This year's BAFTA awards will see Doctor Who star David Tennant, 52, will take over hosting duties last year's Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond. And in the snaps from London's Royal Festival Hall staff can be seen setting out place holders marking where the stars will sit on the big night. Best Actor nominee Cillian Murphy will be attending it's been confirmed as well as Best Actress hopeful Emma Stone. Robert Downey. Jr also has his chair picked out, sitting in prime position alongside Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett and Margot Robbie. The British Academy Film Awards have confirmed their A-list attendees in behind-the-scenes snaps of the star-studded seating plan ahead of Sunday's ceremony This year's BAFTA awards will see Doctor Who star David Tennant, 52, will take over hosting duties last year's hosts Alison Hammond and Richard E. Grant Emily Blunt, Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike and Claire Foy are leading the British stars who were nominated for this year's BAFTA Film Awards. The nominations for the 2024 ceremony on February 18 were announced in January with other British stars including Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Glazer and Vivian Oparah receiving nods. Carey is nominated in the Leading Actress category for her role as actress Felicia Montealegre Bernstein in Maestro opposite Bradley. Joining her is Vivian Oparah who is up for her role in romantic comedy Rye Lane. They will be vying for the award alongside Fantasia Barrino for The Color Purple, Margot Robbie for Barbie and Emma Stone for Poor Things. In the Supporting Actress category, Emily is nominated for Oppenheimer, Rosamund for Saltburn and Claire for All Of Us Strangers. Host David said he has started to feel a little 'nervous' ahead of the star-studded ceremony. The actor, 52, revealed he was in complete shock when he received an email asking if he wanted to host the annual awards. And in the snaps from London's Royal Festival Hall staff can be seen setting out place holders marking where the stars will sit on the big night Best Actor nominee Cillian Murphy will be attending it's been confirmed as well as Best Actress hopeful Emma Stone Robert Downey. Jr also has his chair picked out, sitting in prime position alongside Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett and Margot Robbie Emily Blunt , Carey Mulligan , Rosamund Pike and Claire Foy are leading the British stars who were nominated for this year's BAFTA Film Awards The nominations for the 2024 ceremony on February 18 were announced in January with other British stars including Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Glazer and Vivian Oparah receiving nods Speaking to the Radio Times, he said: 'Right now, a month out, it feels like a bit of a thrill and a lark. 'An extraordinary opportunity to do something very unusual and exciting. People keep asking me how nervous I am, how Im preparing for it and so on, and thats beginning to make me nervous. 'Who knows why theyve asked me! I just thought Id say yes before they realised theyve sent the email to the wrong person.' While David is no stranger to the ceremony, having previously presented an award at the BAFTA Television Awards in May 2023, this will be his hosting debut. Host David said he has started to feel a little 'nervous' ahead of the star-studded ceremony . The actor, 52, revealed he was in complete shock when he received an email asking if he wanted to host the annual awards Speaking about his hosting stint, the Good Omens star said: 'I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE BAFTA Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this year's films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.' BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip added that the academy was 'over the moon' that David would be hosting the Film Awards. She said: 'He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences, alike. 'His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.' The 77th British Academy Film Awards airs on BBC1 on Sunday at 7pm Barbara Jane Adam February 1, 1949 January 31, 2024 Barbara Jane Adam celebrated her 75th Birthday in Heaven! She joined family and friends who awaited her arrival in Heaven on January 31, 2024 in Kansas City, MO. Barbara was a devoted teacher and world traveler. Her zest and zeal for life will be missed by all. Barb was born Barbara Jane Bone on February 1, 1949 to A. Virginia Rummel Bone and Wyland (Bud) Bone in Monticello IA. Barbara grew up on her parents' Dairy Farm in rural Iowa. After graduating from Monticello High School in 1967, Barb attended The University of Northern Iowa where she received both a Bachelors and master's degree in French Education. Upon graduation, Barbara earned a Fulbright scholarship taking her to Rennes France where she soon acquired a teaching position. After teaching English for two years in France, Barb returned to the United States. Shortly after her return, she began her US career teaching French at Beatrice, Nebraska Senior High School. In 1985, Barb received the prestigious honor to teach at The Malcolm Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls, IA. (Iowa's only educational clinical teacher education and research-oriented K-12 school). Barb married the love of her life, Lawrence Adam on June 21, 1986 in Beatrice, NE. The newlyweds purchased a home in Omaha, NE. Barb immediately took her French teaching skills to The Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha. She continued teaching at Duchesne until her husband's job took them to Kansas City, MO in 1991. Upon arrival in Missouri, Barb started teaching French at the Liberty, Missouri Junior High School where she remained until her retirement in 2011. Over the years, Barb received many awards for her teaching ability. Barbara was a world traveler, visiting numerous countries around the world. Her love for France and her many European friends continued to draw her back to France and/or Germany almost yearly. Brittany in the North of France was always her favorite destination. Family and friends treasured Barb's ability to compose odes for special occasions! Her wit and humor delighted and entertained many as she composed odes to fit special birthdays, anniversaries, retirements etc. Barb is survived by her spouse, Lawrence of the home, stepdaughters, Keri Adam, Nebraska, Kristi (JP) Stephens of Ohio and grandsons, Brock and Pierce Stephens, Ohio. She is survived by siblings Susan (Jim) Robertson, Colorado, Jim (Vickie) Bone, Denise Bone and Mark Bone, all of Iowa, brother-in-law Alan (Sheryl) Adam and Sister-in-law Donna Adam (Jim) Wendland, both of Nebraska. Survivors also include many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Wyland and Virginia Bone and in-laws, Albert and Rosetta Adam. A celebration of Barb's life will be held on February 19, 2024 at the Hidden Valley Funeral Home in Liberty, MO. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a short service following at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established and donations should be made to the family's choice. (Arr. Hidden Valley Funeral Home of Liberty, 816-407-8888) Kanye West sparked some concerns with fans on Monday after he appeared to have a growth on the center of his upper lip, which comes about a month after he had titanium teeth installed. Dailymail.com previously broke the news that West, 46, spent around $850,000 for the experimental dental surgery, but now he has sparked concern with a visible lump on his top lip. Speculation about the growth came in response to an Instagram post Monday in which West kept the camera focused on himself while he walked through an airport with his wife Bianca Censori, 29. 'Whats wrong with ur top lip? Something is going on?? Hmmmm??' one fan said, while a separate Twitter user asked, 'What the hell is that lump in the middle of his top lip?' The initial reaction to the titanium teeth from fans last month was that West - who who compared himself to James Bond villain Jaws in an Instagram post after the procedure - was seeking social media clout and attention with the nearly-million dollar investment. Kanye West, 46, sparked concerns with fans on Monday after he appeared to have a growth on the center of his upper lip, which comes about a month after he had titanium teeth installed The experimental dental surgery on West was done by Beverly Hills, California-based Dr. Thomas Connelly alongside master dental technician Naoki Hayashi. Connelly previously told DailyMail.com that West 'was a pleasure to work with every step of the process,' as 'his vision for designing unique art transcends the dental progression. Connelly said that 'the marriage of his vision with dental science has created a new look that is epic!' DailyMail.com has reached out to Dr. Connelly's office for further comment on the procedure, and whether it could be linked to the growth fans noticed on the social media post on Monday. In the clip posted Monday, West walked alongside Censori through a terminal, holding hands at one point. The Grammy-winning musical artist addressed a backlash from commenters who said he was giving the Australian model too much space on his social media page. 'Don't ever say nothing negative - if you don't like my page, and don't like what I'm posting, go f*** yourself, seriously,' West said. 'Leave me - leave the king the f*** alone - I don't care bro, I'm gonna post my wife as much as I want - go post your wife on your f***ing Instagram.' West echoed a similar sentiment in the caption of the clip, as he declared, 'Ima post my wife as much as I want bro It makes me happy.' Dailymail.com previously broke the news that West spent around $850,000 for the experimental dental surgery, but now he has sparked concern with a visible lump on his top lip West showed off his updated look on his Instagram page last month, as his upper lip did not have any abnormalities at the time One fan said, 'Whats wrong with ur top lip? Something is going on?? Hmmmm??' while a separate Twitter user asked, 'What the hell is that lump in the middle of his top lip?' West's updated smile was fitted by Beverly Hills, California-based Dr. Thomas Connelly alongside master dental technician Naoki Hayashi West compared himself to James Bond villain Jaws in an Instagram post West walked through an airport with his wife Bianca Censori , 29, in the social media post The Grammy-winning musical artist addressed a backlash from commenters who said he was giving the Australian model too much space on his social media page. Other social media commented on West's new look and the bizarre nature of the clip He added: 'Some people dont want you to be happy They want you to make them happy I decided to make myself happy and Im happy with that.' The post garnered a variety of responses, with one person commenting, 'Imagine just seeing Kanye in an airport,' while another said, 'This isnt Kanye west, this is someone else impersonating him.' Another person made reference to West's titanium teeth saying it looked like 'when you put gum wrappers on your teeth as a kid to pretend you have a grill.' West lost a number of lucrative partnerships after a series of media appearances in late 2022 in which he made antisemitic statements and praised Adolf Hitler. Bill Maher revealed last week that he scuttled a two-hour interview he did with West for his Club Random podcast, saying he didn't want to further platform the racist views espoused by West, who he described as a 'charming antisemite'. Maher, 68, told TMZ, 'And by the way, he's not the only one in America who feels that way - it's not like the Jews are universally loved except for Kanye West.' Julia Fox was making the most of this year's New York Fashion Week when she was spotted on the move on Monday. The 34-year-old actress and model paired modern comfort with a classic trench coat as she made her way to a fitting for another fashion show. She has been staying busy in recent days, and she was most recently seen heading to the costume ball on Sunday night, when she debuted striking new silver-dyed hair. Her wavy locks, which reached down to her bust, appeared to have some extra pink tinge to them for a playful addition. Julia's contrasting ensemble featured a relaxed white leotard that hugged her curves and showcased her legs. Julia Fox was making the most of this year's New York Fashion Week when she was spotted on the move on Monday. The 34-year-old actress and model paired modern comfort with a classic trench coat as she made her way to a fitting for another fashion show The Uncut Gems star contrasted the modern, ultracasual item with a classic tan trench coat. The coat was belted around her midriff but left unbuttoned to show off plenty of her bodysuit, and it featured storm flaps over her shoulders for an extra rugged touch. Julia's mishmash ensemble threw another curveball with a set of light brown leather stiletto boots. The elegant shoes contrasted with a thick layer of brown-and-white fur that ran up to mid-knee and likely helped keep her warm on the chilly day. She also added a set of dark brown driving gloves for style and additional warmth. The fashion show regular looked as if she had stepped out of the 1950s thanks to her translucent white head scarf, which covered her silver-and-pink tresses, and she channeled Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis with her large bug-eye sunglasses. Julia completed her look with a touch of luxury via a tasteful gray Hermes Birkin bag. The mid-century ensemble was a stark contrast from her fairytale-ready corset dress and uncovered silver hair from Sunday night, when she was spotted heading to the Elena Velez costume ball. Julia's contrasting ensemble featured a relaxed white leotard that hugged her curves and showcased her legs. The Uncut Gems star contrasted the modern, ultracasual item with a classic tan trench coat The coat was belted around her midriff but left unbuttoned to show off plenty of her bodysuit, and it featured storm flaps over her shoulders for an extra rugged touch Julia's mishmash ensemble threw another curveball with a set of light brown leather stiletto boots and knee-covering fur. She accessorized with brown driving gloves, a translucent headscarf and a gray Birkin bag She was dressed in a Eunoia Shakespearean dress, which runs for $2,836 from its website. Julia has lately been focusing on her modeling and making high-profile fashion show appearances, but her Hollywood career marches on. Last year, she reunited with her No Sudden Move director Steven Soderbergh for the psychological thriller Presence, which was shot in just three weeks after getting a waiver to film amid the writers and actors strikes. The film premiered last month at Sundance and has been acquired for distribution by the independent studio Neon. The studio previously distributed the Korean hit thriller Parasite, which was a surprise winner of Best Picture and multiple other Academy Awards. Emily Ratajkowski bundled up in a bright red puffer jacket on Monday during a coffee run in New York City. The 32-year-old model wore a yellow top underneath her The North Face cherry red puffer jacket that featured black trim. Emily also wore loose black pants and completed her casual look with black sneakers. She had her long, dark brown hair parted down the middle and down around her shoulders and accessorized with Miu Miu sunglasses and hoop earrings. The Blurred Lines music video star let her natural beauty shine without makeup and carried a cup of coffee while looking at her phone. Emily Ratajkowski bundled up in a bright red puffer jacket on Monday during a coffee run in New York City. Emily has two-year-old son Sylvester with her ex Sebastian Bear-McClard, 36. 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. Emily revealed her pregnancy to the public in October of 2020 and welcomed Sylvester in March 2021. Sebastian and Emily remained together until July 2022, when they separated after the producer was accused of various forms of misconduct. It was recently revealed that Emily has returned to acting after making the transition from modeling. She quit acting after an unsuccessful audition for the 2022 black comedy film Triangle Of Sadness, but has signed on to star in Lena Dunham's new Netflix series Too Much. Netflix announced the project back in December, with Dunham creating the romantic comedy series with her husband Luis Felber. Megan Stalter (Hacks) and Will Sharpe (The White Lotus) were announced as the leads in the December announcement. The 32-year-old model wore a yellow top underneath her The North Face cherry red puffer jacket that featured black trim and accessorized with Miu Miu sunglasses It was recently revealed that Emily, shown on Thursday in New York City, has returned to acting after making the transition from modeling Emily has two-year-old son Sylvester, shown together on Instagram earlier this month in Mexico City The series follows Megan as Jessica, a single workaholic recovering from her last relationship, who decides to start over and takes a new job in London, where she meets Felix (Will), as they try to determine if Americans and Brits 'speak the same language.' Emily, who like Sharpe was born in London, will play Felix's ex Polly, via Variety, who is said to be the exact opposite of Jessica. Will's Felix is described as, 'less Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and more Hugh Grant's drunken roommate,' and while he's not who Jessica expected to be attracted to, she still, 'finds that their unusual connection is impossible to ignore, even as it creates more problems than it solves.' Emily's previous acting credits include the films Gone Girl, We Are Your Friends, Cruise, I Feel Pretty, In Darkness, Welcome Home and Lying And Stealing. Nicky Hilton turned heads in a luxe blue ombre coat dress at the Pamella Roland New York Fashion Week show on Monday. The 40-year-old socialite who attended the Alice + Olivia show alongside Katie Holmes on Saturday looked elegant in the look, which featured a peplum skirt. For the occasion, the mother-of-three pulled her long, blonde locks into a low ponytail set at the nape of her neck with a black bow. The glossy tresses were arranged in a side part with light volume at the top. The snazzy dress accentuated Hilton's trim waistline as it was cinched at the center and secured with a stone-covered flower-like button. Nicky Hilton turned heads in a luxe blue ombre coat dress at the Pamella Roland New York Fashion Week show on Monday The 40-year-old socialite looked elegant in the look, which featured a peplum skirt For the occasion, the mother-of-three pulled her long, blonde locks into a low ponytail set at the nape of her neck with a black bow The snazzy dress accentuated Hilton's trim waistline as it was cinched at the center and secured with a stone-covered flower-like button Hilton's look blended seamlessly from light blue to navy and she carried a matching sparkly blue purse with a large flower accoutrement. The ensemble was rounded out with a pair of two-toned blue pointed-toe high heels. She wore glinting diamond earrings and looked typically striking in a full face of flattering makeup. The fashion scene fixture, whose older sister is Paris Hilton, lined her blue eyes with sleek black liner. Her cheeks were dusted in a pink hue that matched her glossy lipstick. While at the event, she posed with designer Pamella Roland, who looked great in a plum-hued pantsuit. Nicky enjoyed the runway show in a front row seat with ballet icon Misty Copeland seated next to her. Also seated in their row was actress Kelly Rutherford, 55, who wore a black dress with a bright blue floral pattern. While at the event, Nicky posed with designer Pamella Roland, who looked great in a plum-hued pantsuit Nicky Hilton posed next to Kelly Rutherford, who wore a black dress with a bright blue floral pattern Ubah Hassan of Real Housewives of New York City fame was also present for the fashion event The 40-year-old model and hot sauce founder dazzled in a purple pantsuit that included a plunging blazer Kelly accessorized the look with a black pocketbook and coordinating pointy-toe black heels. Ubah Hassan of Real Housewives of New York City fame was also present for the fashion event. The 40-year-old model and hot sauce founder dazzled in a purple pantsuit that included a plunging blazer. The jacket was fastened with two vertical buttons and boasted split sleeves with purple stone-covered adornments at the elbows. The reality television personality rounded out the outfit with a pair of metallic silver pointed heels. Hassan, who hails from Somalia, wore her long dark hair in a center part with loosely curled ends. She beamed in a full face of expertly applied matte makeup. L-R Ubah Hassan, Kelly Rutherford, Misty Copeland, and Nicky Hilton Seatmates Ubah and Kelly posed for a snapshot ahead of the presentation Misty, 41, turned heads in a bright red pantsuit with a floral embellishment affixed to one side of her collar Vanessa Williams wowed in a black pantsuit with silver fringe accents falling over the blazer. The 60-year-old former Miss America teased a lacy black camisole underneath the layer. It was styled with matching black trousers and she added inches to her height with a pair of open-toe platform shoes. The Save the Best for Last songstress pulled her blonde hair back and showed off a pair of shimmery black hoop earrings. She looked gorgeous in a full face of glamorous cosmetics, including black eyeliner and mascara that highlighted her blue eyes. Williams showed off a glossy, nude-toned manicure and at one point posed alongside her daughter Jillian Hervey, 34. Vanessa Williams wowed in a black pantsuit with silver fringe accents falling over the blazer The 60-year-old former Miss America teased a lacy black camisole underneath her blazer Williams posed alongside her 34-year-old daughter Jillian Hervey Also joining Vanessa and Jillian was her older daughter, Melanie Hervey, 36 Also making a splash at the star-studded gathering was model Lexi Wood The beauty commanded attention in a slinky look that bared her toned abdomen and long legs Former Bachelor contestant Chelsea Vaughn but on a busty display in a plunging striped blazer Katya Tolstova and Chelsea Vaughn flashed stony expressions as they posed for a snap Also making a splash at the star-studded gathering was model Lexi Wood. The beauty commanded attention in a slinky look that bared her toned abdomen and long legs. She donned a black bandeau underneath a black blazer with stone-embellished tassels along the sleeves. The slightly oversized piece was long enough to cover her backside as she added skimpy black micro shorts to the outfit. The stunner finished the look with open-toe, backless heels with a perspex strap. Nearly four months after launching a global casting search for the new Karate Kid, Sony Pictures have found their man, with Ben Wang landing the lead role. Sony announced in late November that original Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan from the studio's 2010 remake will both star in the new project. The studio also announced that they were embarking on a global casting search to find the new title character, with over 10,000 submissions on the first day alone. Now that search as come to an end, with the studio landing on 24-year-old Wang, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Insiders claimed that Wang delivered a 'standout audition' that showcased his 'deep connection to the charcter.' Nearly four months after launching a global casting search for the new Karate Kid , Sony Pictures have found their man, with Ben Wang landing the lead role Sony announced in late November that original Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan from the studio's 2010 remake will both star in the new project It was also a big plus that he's fluent in Mandarin and highly skilled in several martial arts disciplines such as karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo and taekwondo. The new project will be set on the East Coast and focus on a teenager from China, 'who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or maybe even two).' Sony Pictures has already set a December 13, 2024 release date, which puts it up against Warner Bros. animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. With the release just over 10 months away, it remains to be seen when production may begin, or how many other key roles need to be cast. Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay With This) is directing from a script by Rob Lieber (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day) Karen Rosenfelt is producing for Sony Pictures, which has produced all of the films in the franchise, which have taken in over $618 milllion worldwide. The franchise kicked off with 1984's The Karate Kid, which earned over $90 million domestic (5th highest of the year) and $130 million worldwide. The film starred Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, who both returned for 1986's The Karate Kid Part II and 1989's The Karate Kid Part III. It was also a big plus that he's fluent in Mandarin and highly skilled in several martial arts disciplines such as karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo and taekwondo The new project will be set on the East Coast and focus on a teenager from China, 'who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or maybe even two)' The franchise kicked off with 1984's The Karate Kid, which earned over $90 million domestic (5th highest of the year) and $130 million worldwide The film starred Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, who both returned for 1986's The Karate Kid Part II and 1989's The Karate Kid Part III Sony also produced The Karate Kid reboot starring Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson Ben Wang is best known for playing Jin Wang in Disney Plus' American Born Chinese and he can currently be seen as Jacob Zheng in the Mean Girls musical All three films were directed by John G. Alvidsen (Rocky) and written by Robert Mark Kamen (Taken) and produced by Jerry Weintraub, though they weren't involved in 1994's The Next Karate Kid, starring Hilary Swank in her first leading role. Sony also produced The Karate Kid reboot starring Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson. The franchise also spawned the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai, which recently started production on its sixth and final season. Ben Wang is best known for playing Jin Wang in Disney Plus' American Born Chinese and he can currently be seen as Jacob Zheng in the Mean Girls musical. She's known for her showcasing her jaw-dropping figure on social media. And Carol Vorderman sent temperatures soaring as she slipped into skin-tight leather trousers to channel one of Miley Cyrus' gorgeous Grammy looks on Monday. The Countdown star, 63, looked sensational in the all black ensemble which also boasted a figure-hugging sweater. She accentuated her tiny waist with a chunky belt as she posed confidently for the mirrored selfie. Carol captioned the post: 'Tried to go all @mileycyrus Grammys paying homage to her godmother @dollyparton..for filming' Carol Vorderman looked sensational as she slipped into skin-tight leather trousers for a sizzling social media snap on Monday She revealed she was channeling one of Miley Cyrus ' gorgeous Grammy looks (R) Carol captioned the post: 'Tried to go all @mileycyrus Grammys paying homage to her godmother @dollyparton..for filming' Before adding: Not sure it worked...BUT I TRIED'. Carol joined LBC radio to present a new Sunday programme which started last month. The TV presenter was axed from her BBC Radio Wales show in November 2023 after she breached the broadcaster's social media guidelines. The former Countdown Star has claimed she will continue 'to hold the corrupt to account', after previously wowing to keep 'calling out the disgusting Tories' - after she was axed. Carol has admitted that 'she will carry on using her voice to cause a commotion' in her upcoming weekend programme which airs January 14th from 4pm until 7pm. She said: 'I'm delighted to be joining LBC and the phenomenal stable of powerful voices on the station. More than ever, live radio is an incredibly important platform for news, so I'm looking forward to returning to a medium that I love. 'And what a year 2024 is going to be for news and politics! On Sunday afternoon, I'll be using my voice as you might expect to cause a commotion. 'I won't be shy to say things that others won't and I'll hold the corrupt to account without fear or favour. She was also inspired by Queen of country music Dolly Parton Carol joined LBC radio to present a new Sunday programme which started last month (pictured on Sunday) The TV presenter was axed from her BBC Radio Wales show in November 2023 after she breached the broadcaster's social media guidelines 'And obviously I cant wait to hear from the listeners all of it, without apology or embarrassment; their worries, their joys, their ideas. 'To quote Bob Dylan, 'the times they are a-changin and I cant wait to get started bring it on!' Carol has previously appeared as a guest presenter on LBC alongside Nick Ferrari, James OBrien, Shelagh Fogarty, Andrew Marr, Tom Swarbrick, Iain Dale and Matt Frei. LBCs Managing Editor, Tom Cheal said: 'Now more than ever, listeners want candid, intelligent debate where people are free to air their views openly. 'LBCs callers provide a unique insight into what people right across the country are thinking and feeling, and Im delighted Carol will be debating the big issues with them each week. 'Carols straight-talking and incisive opinion make her the perfect fit alongside what is already the UKs best team of speech broadcasters, and I know she will help ensure LBC continues to lead the way as the home of the UKs best opinion-led broadcasting.' Carol had been accused of 'flagrantly breaching' the BBC's impartiality rules with her online outbursts, which have included calling ministers 'a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks'. Andrew Keegan is opening up about speculation that he was really a cult leader in Venice Beach roughly a decade ago. The 45-year-old actor - perhaps best known for playing Joey Donner in the 1999 high school romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You - was the founder of Full Circle, which operated out of an old Hare Krishna temple in Venice from 2014 to 2017. Shortly after it opened a 2014 Vice profile claimed Keegan was starting a new religion and hinted at cult-like vibe. Now Keegan is opening up on the Pod Meets World podcast, where Boy Meets World stars Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle gave him the chance to open up about the rumors. One of Keegan's early roles was guest starring as Ronnie 'Lips' Waterman in a 1996 episode of Boy Meets World, with his co-stars asking him about the rumor. Andrew Keegan is opening up about speculation that he was really a cult leader in Venice Beach roughly a decade ago The 45-year-old actor - perhaps best known for playing Joey Donner in the 1999 high school romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You - was the founder of Full Circle, which operated out of an old Hare Krishna temple in Venice from 2014 to 2017 Shortly after it opened a 2014 Vice profile claimed Keegan was starting a new religion and hinted at cult-like vibe 'You mean when I woke up one day and I was anointed a cult leader?' Keegan said with a laugh on the podcast. He also opened up about the beginnings of Full Circle, adding he was living in Venice Beach at the time and he became, 'immersed in the culture and the community.' 'There was this interesting group of hippie types, if you will, in Venice. I'm sure if you went on the west side, there's definitely a lot of spirituality,' Keegan added. 'I was connected with some folks and we had this opportunity. This old Hare Krishna Temple, it was sitting there empty and we were like, "Why don't we get some people together and let's open this place up?"' Keegan explained. 'Looking back, it was insane. I was putting down 10s of thousands of dollars, but we opened it up and spent three years and really did build an amazing friend group," Keegan said. He added, 'We went through something really significant from 2014 to 2017,' before discussing the much-publicized Vice article. The profile called Full Circle a, 'temple and spiritual movement,' though members insisted that it wasn't a cult. Keegan insisted, 'I probably should have had a little bit more media training at the time. They just really created a very interesting, colorful story and put it together ... we really just got together and did a Sunday thing.' 'You mean when I woke up one day and I was anointed a cult leader?' Keegan said with a laugh on the podcast He also opened up about the beginnings of Full Circle, adding he was living in Venice Beach at the time and he became, 'immersed in the culture and the community' 'Looking back, it was insane. I was putting down 10s of thousands of dollars, but we opened it up and spent three years and really did build an amazing friend group," Keegan said Less than a year after the August 2014 profile, the Full Circle temple was raided by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Controls, for its distribution of kombucha without a proper license He added, 'We did almost 1,000 events in three years and it was actually really hard. It was really beneficial to a lot of people, I still hear about it now, where people are like, "That was such a great time."' Less than a year after the August 2014 profile, the Full Circle temple was raided by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Controls, for its distribution of kombucha without a proper license. A spokesperson for the organization said they were unaware that they needed a license to sell kombucha. Keegan most recently starred in The Activated Man with Tony Todd, Kane Hodder and Sean Young. Married At First Sight couple Ellie Dix and Ben Walters were on rocky grounds during Intimacy Week. The registered nurse, 32, was left disappointed after her groom mocked her as they enjoyed a romantic dinner together on Tuesday night. After returning to their room, Ellie revealed in a video diary that Ben had mocked her after she told him she believed he was on the show for the right reasons. 'Ben and I decided to go out for dinner and we were chatting about our expectations after the show,' she began. 'Then he asked me if I think he is here for the right reasons or if he is here trying to promote a podcast. And I said "yeah I think you are here for the right reasons" and he actually mocked me and it was really high pitch.' Ellie Dix was left disappointed after her 'husband' Ben mocked her as they enjoyed a romantic dinner together on Tuesday night Ellie admitted the incident made her feel 'really awful' as Ben was 'belittling her'. 'Honestly it struck a nerve and made me feel really really stupid. I thought he was just belittling me,' she continued. 'Why would you start that conversation and then make me feel so stupid. I feel really annoyed. The way he treated me was really awful and I don't want to stand for that.' 'Now I'm questioning if he is here for the right reasons because I don't want to waste my time. I'm not here for the air time. Now I do have a little bit of doubt,' she said. It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed MAFS is is set to be rocked by a scandal involving Ellie and Jonathan McCullough, who is matched with Lauren Dunn. Ellie and Jonathan will announce their relationship during the show's reunion. After returning to their room, Ellie revealed in a video diary that Ben had mocked her after she told him she believed he was on the show for the right reasons Their clandestine affair allegedly began with secret text messages exchanged during the filming of the show after Ellie ended things with partner Ben. An insider told Daily Mail Australia it will all unfold at a future commitment ceremony. 'Lauren had no idea that Jono kept in contact with Ellie and found out during filming, and boy was she not happy,' they said. 'She was completely gobsmacked and felt humiliated by the end - but everyone else is happy for them.' The source added: 'Jono and Ellie maintained contact after she left the show, but the romance only escalated once Jono ended things with Lauren at the Final Vows. Their real-life meeting a few days later revealed an undeniable chemistry.' Ellie admitted the incident made her feel 'really awful' as Ben was 'belittling her' Jono and Ellie will blindside their co-stars by walking into the reunion as a couple, hand-in-hand. Ben Walters, Ellie's on-show husband, was reportedly just as taken aback by the development, sources close to the show disclosed. 'Ben had a gut feeling that something was up. He wasn't surprised, more hurt because he genuinely had feelings for her.' Joey sat down with both of them and told Sydney that she was not going to get a rose Joey Graziadei took Maria Georgas and Sydney Gordon on a tense two-on-one date and at the end sent one of them packing on Monday's episode of The Bachelor. 'I need answers,' Joey, 28, said during the two-hour episode on ABC. Maria, 29, an executive assistant from Ontario, Canada, and Sydney, 28, a vintage store owner from Newport, Rhode Island, both packed their bags and left them by the front door. 'Spending the whole day with Maria is like spending the whole day with the devil,' Sydney said in a confessional after previously accusing Maria of bullying behavior. Joey said to the camera that he didn't know who was telling the truth. He then told them that he had a fun day planned for them and they all got a smaller boat to explore Malta's Blue Grotto. Joey Graziadei gave Maria Georgas a rose after she survived a tense two-on-one date with Sydney Gordon on Monday's episode of The Bachelor on ABC 'To be honest this is really torture, but I'm doing it,' Sydney said. 'I'm showing up for Joey. ' Joey pulled Sydney aside to chat. 'Joey's trying to find his wife and I know that I'm the one for Joey and it is 110 percent not Maria,' Sydney said in a confessional. 'It sucks that I have to occupy my time talking about Maria but the truth needs to be said.' Sydney told Joey that Maria attacked her in front of the group and that Maria has repeatedly been disrespectful. 'The person that Maria has been towards me and others is not someone that you would want your wife to be,' Sydney said. Joey said he doesn't want to be with someone who makes people feel uncomfortable. Joey then pulled Maria aside to talk. He said he heard that she told someone to 'shut the f*** up.' Maria told him that Sydney was lying. 'She's a liar and I'm just over it,' Maria said in a confessional. Maria later told Sydney 'you know we are on camera the entire time, right?' and called her a trouble maker. Maria and Joey kissed after she accepted his rose Sydney, Joey and Maria sat down together with one rose on the table At night, Joey met them for dinner and hoped he would get some clarity. Maria and Sydney sat at the table and didn't speak to each other. Joey asked Sydney first if she thought there could be a potential future with him. Sydney said she believed they had a legitimate connection. Joey then asked Maria the same question. 'I need some clarity but I'm hoping that you feel what I feel and that's my truth,' Maria said. Joey then picked up the rose and said he was trusting his gut. 'Sydney I'm sorry but I cannot give you this rose,' Joey said. Joey then walked her out. 'I am a little shocked because I don't think he knows the real her,' Sydney said in a confessional. Joey then picked up the rose and gave it to Maria. 'I'm in shock but I'm so happy,' Maria said. 'This rose means everything.' 'Sydney I'm sorry but I cannot give you this rose,' Joey said before he walked her out Joey hugged Maria after she accepted his rose 'Tonight I feel something real with Maria.' Joey said. 'I can see a future with Maria.' A producer went into the ladies hotel suite and removed Sydney's bag in front of the other women who gasped over her exit. When the show opened, host Jesse Palmer, 44, told the ladies to pack their bags because Joey was going to meet them in Malta. Everyone started screaming and then ran to their rooms to pack. Later, they checked into the Intercontinental hotel and there was a date card waiting for them that read 'Lexi, let's explore Malta together.' Joey took Lexi Young, 30, a digital strategist from Atlanta, around to show her some of the sights of Malta. Back in the room, Sydney talked about how she was still upset that Maria was still on the show. 'Right now, like, my brain is, you know, completely occupied by Maria, and it's, like, affecting my health,' Sydney said in a confessional. 'I'm just exhausted. I'm lethargic. I'm breaking out. So I'm going to make sure that Joey knows that she is the problem.' A group date card was delivered back at the hotel and it was for 12 of the ladies and they realized that Sydney and Maria's names were not on the card meaning they would be going on a two-on-one date instead. 'For me this is a real attack on my character,' Maria said. 'I have never disrespected you. All I said is, yes, you are verbally abusing me, because that's what you were doing,' Sydney said. 'You were attacking me and that's it.' Joey and Lexi changed and went out to dinner for their evening date. Lexi opened up and told him about how she was diagnosed with stage 5 endometriosis. Joey took Lexi Young, 30, a digital strategist from Atlanta, around to show her some of the sights of Malta during a one-on-one date 'It is a reproductive condition where tissue that's supposed to grow inside of your uterus grows on other organs,' Lexi said. Lexi said the doctor later told her that she might not be able to have her own kids and that her last boyfriend ended their relationship because of it. 'It doesn't scare me in any sense,' Joey said. 'I appreciate you so much,' Lexi said. Joey then picked up the rose and gave it to Lexi. 'I can absolutely see myself falling in love with Joey,' Lexi said in a confessional. The next day, Joey met the women for the group date at Fort Manoel, where part of the HBO show Game of Thrones was filmed. Three knights trained the women to fight and had them try to catch sausages that were hanging from a spinning wheel in their mouths. 'I literally got hit in the face probably 500 times,' Daisy Kent, 25, an account executive from Becker, Minnesota, said. 'I almost threw up because I was gagging so bad.' The next day, Joey met the women for the group date at Fort Manoel, where part of the HBO show Game of Thrones was filmed Three knights trained the women to fight and had them try to catch sausages that were hanging from a spinning wheel in their mouths Later, Joey pulled aside the women individually to talk. Joey said that his heart started to flutter when he talked to Kelsey Toussant, 31, an actress from Inglewood, California. 'I get so excited when I talk to her,' Joey said. 'It feels so natural and seamless, and I get lost in it.' At the end of the night, Joey offered the group date rose to Kelsey T. and she gladly accepted. At the evening cocktail party, Joey told them he he did not feel strongly about Sydney, which was why she was no longer there. 'No one cares that Sydney went home,' Lea said in a confessional. 'They are all being nice to Maria.' Lea Cayanan, 23, an account manager from Waipahu, Hawaii, didn't like how Madina Alam, 31, a mental health therapist from Charlotte, North Carolina, was being nice to Maria. 'Maria knows Sydney and I are close,' Madina said. 'I don't have to be mean to Maria because Sydney was my friend.' Madina said she didn't appreciate Lea critiquing her behavior that she was just trying to navigate through the situation the best that she could. Autumn enjoyed some alone time with Joey during the gorup date 'We just have different approaches and perspectives on life and relationships,' Lea said. 'I hold myself, my friends, my close circle to a really high standard. I have a different set of morals and values,' she added. 'I guess we'll just agree to disagree,' Madina said. Maria went and checked on Madina who told her that everyone was mad that she was being nice to her. 'Why am I so hated here?' Maria asked. 'They are getting mad that you were just nice to me, that is not okay. That hurts my feelings.' Maria survived the two-on-one date with Sydney, but found herself still in the middle of drama 'I just can't win with these women,' Maria said in a confessional. Maria started to cry and said she was just 'over this' and told a producer that she was 'out.' 'They win,' Maria said. 'I just want to go home. I hate this. I don't care. Give someone else my rose. I really don't care. I'll tell Joey right now. I'm leaving. I just want to go.' The Bachelor will return Tuesday on ABC. Gisele Bundchen set temperatures soaring in otherwise chilly New York City when she stepped out in a sizzling black leather trench coat on Monday evening. The 43-year-old supermodel put on a leggy display in the edgy look, which she wore to a celebration put on by the Los Angelesbased denim brand Frame. Gisele was hosting a party at the popular FrenchVietnamese restaurant Indochine for the jeans maker after she was named as Frame's brand ambassador for its Spring 2024 collection. Although the label is best known for its flagship denim items, Gisele was dressed in Frame's leather trench, which costs an eye-popping $2,798 on its website. The double-breasted coat was made of soft lamb Nappa leather and reached down to just above the Brazilian beauty's ankle. Gisele Bundchen set temperatures soaring in otherwise chilly New York City when she stepped out in a sizzling black leather trench coat on Monday evening The 43-year-old supermodel put on a leggy display for a celebration put on by the LA-based denim brand Frame. Gisele was hosting a party at the FrenchVietnamese restaurant Indochine after she was named as Frame's brand ambassador for its Spring 2024 collection Although the label is best known for its flagship denim items, Gisele was dressed in Frame's leather trench, which costs an eye-popping $2,798 on its website She eschewed the buttons and simply tied the belt around her midriff, and she rolled the sleeves up for playful look. Gisele appeared to be wearing a black mini dress under the coat, but it was minuscule enough to barely peak out from under it. The 5ft11in runway star elevated her towering stature with a set of knee-high black leather boots. She accessorized with a wide black patent leather clutch that shimmered in the light. The ex-wife of Tom Brady added some extra sparkle to her ensemble with several modest gold earrings and ear cuffs, which complemented her multiple thick gold bracelets on both wrists. She wore her blond locks in a casual look hairdo with a middle part and a fanned-out ponytail, while dangling strands framed her impeccably made-up face. Gisele previously modeled for Frame for the brand's Fall/Winter 2023 campaign, which she celebrated in September of last year at a celebration thrown by Frame. She had all eyes on her thanks to her oversize denim jacket, which she wore like a dress with seemingly little else on. The double-breasted coat was made of soft lamb Nappa leather and reached down to just above the Brazilian beauty's ankle She eschewed the buttons and simply tied the belt around her midriff, and she rolled the sleeves up for playful look. Gisele appeared to be wearing a black mini dress under the coat, but it was minuscule enough to barely peak out from under it The 5ft11in runway star elevated her towering stature with a set of knee-high black leather boots She accessorized with a wide black patent leather clutch that shimmered in the light. Gisele added extra sparkle with modest gold earrings and ear cuffs, which complemented her thick gold bracelets on both wrists She wore her blond locks in a casual look hairdo with a middle part and a fanned-out ponytail, while dangling strands framed her impeccably made-up face Gisele previously modeled for Frame for the brand's Fall/Winter 2023 campaign, which she celebrated in September of last year at a celebration thrown by Frame Gisele's new Spring 2024 campaign marks her second collaboration with the fashion brand Gisele's new Spring 2024 campaign marks her second collaboration with the fashion brand. She was joined by a bevy of models and fashion insiders at the swanky restaurant. Ashley Graham displayed a casual-cool look to suit the brand with a set of flared relaxed-fit high-waist jeans. She contrasted the light blue design with a sheer black top and a cool black leather bomber jacket with a fleece collar. The model completed the look with black open-toe heels and wore her dark brunette locks in parted down the middle and cascading down her shoulders in thick waves. Glee star Diana Agron looked smart in a double-breasted black suit jacket and flowing black slacks. Poppy Delevingne looked cozy in a quilted black down coat that reached down to near her ankles. She paired it with baggy black pants and a thick gray sweater for extra warmth. Ashley Graham displayed a casual-cool look to suit the brand with a set of flared relaxed-fit high-waist jeans. She contrasted the light blue design with a sheer black top and a cool black leather bomber jacket with a fleece collar The model completed the look with black open-toe heels and wore her dark brunette locks in parted down the middle and cascading down her shoulders in thick waves Sisters Delilah Belle (left) and Amelia Grey Hamlin were also seen at the event They looked stylish in their street stykle Amelia sported a furry purple coat over white crop top, black jeans, and platform leather loafers Delilah was on the prowl in a leopard patterned duster over black top and matching patent leather trousers Glee star Diana Agron looked smart in a double-breasted black suit jacket and flowing black slacks Poppy Delevingne looked cozy in a quilted black down coat that reached down to near her ankles. She paired it with baggy black pants and a thick gray sweater for extra warmth Rachel Zoe stood out with a brown, beige and black animal-print dress, along with a more casual puffy brown jacket The model Taylor Hill was unmissable in a thick furry brown coat, though it wasn't clear if it was real or faux fur She contrasted it with a slinky loose-fitting black dress and accessorized with a small black handbag decorated with a silver bow, and she wore a sleek brown bob Rachel Zoe stood out with a brown, beige and black animal-print dress, along with a more casual puffy brown jacket. The model Taylor Hill was unmissable in a thick furry brown coat, though it wasn't clear if it was real or faux fur. She contrasted it with a slinky loose-fitting black dress and accessorized with a small black handbag decorated with a silver bow. She completed the stylish look with a sleek brown bob. Lewiston Consolidated Schools hosted the district FFA poultry contest on Monday. Nine schools with approximately 42 students participated. Lewiston FFA advisor Kurt Wissenburg said the poultry industry in Nebraska was still relevant. This is the first time that Lewiston has hosted the event, he said. We want the participating youth to know that the poultry industry is still here in Nebraska and there are still jobs. This is the foundation for getting these kids exposed to the industry with some of the skills that relate to a career in that industry. He noted that in Nebraska we often talk about corn and cattle relating to agriculture, but the contests in FFA give youth exposure to many different areas in agriculture. Students participating in the competition had approximately 10 minutes in nine different stations. There were six different areas of poultry judging, oral reasons and a written test. Retired ag instructor Joe Baldassare said one of the stations was the quality of the egg. They are looking for the quality of the egg, he said. The white area of the egg breaks down chemically with shelf life and eventually theres no difference in the thin and thick. Theres a breakdown of protein and loss of water correlating with the quality of the egg. The students also identified parts of the chicken, judged quality of chicken carcasses, identified grade of the carcass, quality of shells of eggs and live birds. The live bird was the only class the youth judged that allowed them to touch the subject. Retired ag instructors Dave Barnard and Ken Malone also helped with the competition. Current ag instructors from attending schools also assisted. Participating schools included Palmyra, Beatrice, Syracuse, Johnson Brock, Lewiston, Freeman, Auburn, Southern, and Norris. Palmyra students finished first as a team with Beatrice finishing in second place. Syracuse was third and Johnson Brock in fourth place. Palmyra and Beatrice will advance to the state competition. Emma Roberts exuded old Hollywood glamour as she attended the star-studded Madame Web premiere in Los Angeles on Monday. The Scream Queens actress, 33 - who recently gushed about her American Horror Story co-star Kim Kardashian - joined other celebrities at the screening which was held at the Regency Village Theatre. The star turned heads wearing a red, off-the shoulder gown that contained sleeves that draped down towards her elbows. The top portion was made of a fitted bodice, while the skirt fell down to brush the ground and contained a slit on the left side. Roberts also donned a pair of closed-toed, black heels for a bit of color contrast to the look. Emma Roberts, 33, exuded old Hollywood glamour as she attended the star-studded Madame Web premiere in Los Angeles on Monday The star turned heads wearing a red, off-the shoulder gown that contained sleeves that draped down towards her elbows Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and pulled back into a low braid, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face. Emma added a pair of mini, rhinestone earrings but chose to not add any other pieces of flashy jewelry to the look. The star's makeup was glammed up for the big night, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light, shimmering shadow around her eyes. A warm blush and contour was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a nude-colored glossy tint was worn on her lips. The beauty was seen striking a few poses to flaunt her eye-catching ensemble as she arrived to the venue. At one point, Emma crossed paths with her fellow castmate, Dakota Johnson, who wowed in a sparkling, spider-themed dress. The pair flashed small smiles as they took a memorable snap together at the event. Roberts took on the role of Mary Parker in the Marvel film, and joined other stars in the project aside from Johnson - such as Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O'Connor and Adam Scott. While talking to Collider earlier last year, the mother-of-one discussed being offered the opportunity to step into the Marvel Universe. Roberts also donned a pair of closed-toed, black heels for a bit of color contrast to the look Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and pulled back into a low braid, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face Emma added a pair of mini, rhinestone earrings but chose to not add any other pieces of flashy jewelry to the look At one point, Emma crossed paths with her fellow castmate, Dakota Johnson, who wowed in a sparkling, spider-themed dress 'I thought it was very unexpected. It's so funny, one day you're just walking around your house, and then you get a phone call that they want to meet you for a Marvel movie,' Emma expressed to the publication. 'It was so weird because I remember being like, "What's the audition process? What do I have to do?"' The star added, 'And then I talked to the director, and I was in Boston a couple [of] weeks later filming, and we had a lot of fun on it.' 'It's obviously such an amazing cast, and it's such a unique take on a Marvel movie. So I'm really excited for people to see it because I think it's going to be very unexpected, how they tell the story.' The premise follows Dakota Johnson's character Cassandra Webb who 'develops the power to see the future,' per IMDB. 'Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women bound for powerful destinies, if they can all survive a deadly present.' The anticipated project is set to hit theaters later this week on February 14 just in time for Valentine's Day. Emma has bee filtering through a busy schedule, and is also set to appear in the second part of American Horror Story: Delicate - which will premiere later this year on April 3. While talking to Collider earlier last year, the mother-of-one discussed being offered the opportunity to step into the Marvel Universe When she is not busy on sets, Emma puts her main focus into her three-year-old son, Rhodes - whom she shares with ex Garrett Hedlund Last week, she starred in a creepy teaser alongside some of her co-stars: Cara Delevingne, Kim Kardashian as well as Michaela Jaw Rodriguez. Roberts recently gushed about working with the SKIMS founder in the hit FX series while talking to Extra last month in January. 'She's amazing, she's a pro,' the actress told the outlet. 'She's one of the most prepared people I've ever worked with and she's just chill. I love her so much!' When she is not busy on sets, Emma puts her main focus into her three-year-old son, Rhodes - whom she shares with ex Garrett Hedlund. Margot Robbie looked sensational on Monday as she attended an event in West Hollywood. The 32-year-old Australian actress who attended an Oscars luncheon earlier in the day bared her toned legs in a black micro mini skirt with white trim and accents. The blonde beauty also teased a slither of her taut tummy as she modeled a matching cropped cardigan. The fashionista rounded out the sleek and stylish outfit with a pair of peep-toe black heels. She was joined at the A-list soiree by Barbie co-star and fellow Oscar nominee America Ferrera, 39. Margot Robbie looked sensational on Monday as she attended an event in West Hollywood Robbie was joined at the A-list soiree by Barbie co-star and fellow Oscar nominee America Ferrera, 39 Robbie flashed her megawatt smile as she exited the affair. Her bright, golden locks were parted in the middle and arranged in loose waves that fell down her chest. The Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood star carried a black leather purse with a long chain strap she wore over her shoulder. She looked youthful and bright in a soft face of glamorous makeup that included soft pink blush and coordinating lipstick. She attended the event along with her husband Tom Ackerley and the couple, who wed in 2016, posed together inside. America, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Greta Gerwig-directed flick, also wore a polished black outfit. The Ugly Better alum modeled a black leather coat and matching high-waisted skirt, adding slouchy black leather boots. Her outer layer was worn on top of a collared V-neck shirt that was tucked into her bottoms. Robbie flashed her megawatt smile as she exited the affair She attended the event along with her husband Tom Ackerley and the couple, who wed in 2016, posed together inside She was also joined by Chairperson of Warner Bros Mike De Luca (far left) and Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros, Pam Abdy (second from the right) Robbie and her partner cut stylish figures as they left Delilah restaurant after attending LuckyChap's private party in West Hollywood The Barbie star flashed a smile and appeared to be in high spirits when stepping out of the star-studded event The blonde beauty exuded glamour as she showcased her long legs in a very short mini skirt Her wispy, dark-colored bob was parted on the side with one portion slicked behind her ear. She looked radiant in a face of natural-looking makeup that flattered her features. The beauty, who starred alongside Blake Lively in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, wore hoop earrings and beamed as she carried a small black handbag. Last month Ferrera told Variety she was 'snuggled up in bed alone and watching on her phone' when her Oscar nod was announced. 'There was a moment where I wasnt sure if I had made it up,' she explained to the outlet Variety. 'And then my phone started blowing up so I figured that I must have heard it right.' She earned the Academy Award nomination for her role as Gloria, who provided the human perspective in the film about the classic doll. 'I still havent really been able to get in my feelings because Im still on like the top layer of "I cant even believe that this is real,"' the actress described. Also seen leaving the glitzy event were Zooey Deschanel and her fiance Jonathan Scott Zooey looked sensational as she sported a cherry-red trench coat and a 50s-inspired polka dot poodle skirt and tri-colored loafers America Ferrera, 39, also attended LuckyChap's private event as she donned a matrix-inspired leather ensemble The Ugly Betty star sent pulses racing in a long leather skirt, leather boots and a form-fitting leather jacket She accessorised her bold look with a simple black purse with a gold strap The Superstore actress looked incredible as she sported a pair of gold hoop earrings Maria Bakalova, 27, turned heads as she stepped out in a bandeau The Guardians of the Galaxy star kept it classy with a black blazer, black trousers and a pair of Christian Louboutin boots Rose Byrne, 44, was also spotted at the exclusive gathering as looked stunning in an all-black winter outfit The Bad Neighbours star paired her outfit with a small white clutch and a black and white floral blouse Earlier in the day, Robbie and Ferrera attended the Oscars nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills Earlier in the day, Robbie and Ferrera attended the Oscars nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills. Margot bared her legs for that event as well, stepping out in an ornately beaded pink and white Chanel four-piece co-ord. The look included a bra, shrunken jacket, mini skirt, and matching purse with the fashion house's CC logo accented in gold. The ensemble was punctuated with cream-hued slingback heels with black accents at the toe. Amelia Gray and Delilah Belle Hamlin stepped out in attention-grabbing ensembles as they attended Frame Denim's Fashion Week dinner at Indochine in New York on Monday night. Amelia, 22, flashed her toned midriff in a white crop top and black jeans, while rocking an eye-catching plum fur-look coat with black chunky shoes. Delilah, 25, flaunted her enviable figure in low-rise baggy black PVC trousers and matching cropped top. She flashed a glimpse of her flat abs, while rocking a chic leopard print coat. The TV personality completed her look with a pair of towering transparent stiletto heels. Delilah Belle (L) and Amelia Gray Hamlin (R) stepped out in attention-grabbing ensembles as they attended Frame Denim's Fashion Week dinner at Indochine in New York on Monday night Amelia, 22, flashed her toned midriff in a white crop top and black jeans, while rocking an eye-catching plum fur-look coat with black chunky shoes The pair - who are the daughters of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin - exuded confidence while stepping out for a dinner hosted by runway icon Gisele. Earlier this month, Amelia joined fellow top models in France for Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. The brunette beauty walked the runway for Chanel in a frilly pink blouse and shared footage of her stunning catwalk strut to Instagram. 'Merci beaucoup my beautiful Chanel family I am always beyond honored to walk your incredible shows thank you for having me back again ,' captioned the RHOBH alum. Amelia also walked for Alaia Couture, which she said she was 'so beyond honored' to do. Amelia shared behind-the-scenes photos from the show with her fans as well as a brief clip of herself walking stoically in an elegant sleeveless dress. One photo showed her smiling while surrounded by a glam squad who was hard at work on her hair and makeup. The pair - who are the daughters of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin - exuded confidence while stepping out for a dinner hosted by Gisele Tom Holland's fans went into meltdown as more than 50,000 scrambled to get tickets for his West End return in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Pre-sale started at 8am on Tuesday morning with thousands joining a virtual queue to see if they could be in with a chance at seeing the actor, 27, as romantic lead Romeo Montague at the Duke Of York Theatre. Fans compared the stress of trying to get their hands on tickets as on par with Taylor Swift's Eras tour, which has brought in $1.04billion with 4.35m tickets sold across 60 tour dates. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Tom's followers voiced their fears they may not be able to see him on stage as they waited in a virtual queue behind thousands of others for the priority access tickets. One wrote: 'now why are there 25,000 people in front of me in the queue to get these Tom Holland Romeo and Juliet tickets this isnt the eras tour'. Tom Holland's fans went into meltdown as more than 50,000 scrambled to get tickets for his West End return in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet Pre-sale started on Tuesday morning with thousands waiting the lengthy queue to see if they could be in with a chance at seeing the actor, 27, at the Duke Of York Theatre Others said: '28,664 people in front of me. There's no way I'm getting tickets am I... i just wanna see my man (Tom Holland)', and: 'l I thought I was being proactive with my priority access to Tom Holland Romeo and Juliet theatre tickets at 8am. Turns out 41,000 other people are doing the same.' 'getting tickets to Tom Hollands Romeo & Juliet is starting to feel like eras tour trauma'. Other fans celebrated after managing to get through the queue and get tickets for the show. They wrote: 'Survived the war for Tom Holland Romeo and Juliet tickets. Tickets started at 80 and went up to 145 from what I saw, but may have been higher for the very front rows (all gone of course)'. 'I DID IT! I just scored a ticket to see Tom Holland in Romeo & Juliet on stage in London!!!! On closing night! Not to mention, it's an aisle seat 3rd row from the stage! I must be dreaming.' If fans miss out on the pre sale, they can be in with another chance when the general sale goes live at 12pm. Tom, who is best known for playing Peter Parker in the latest Spider-Man movies, will star in the Jamie Lloyd Company's version of the romantic tragedy alongside Harry Potter star Alfred Enoch, Sir Ian McKellen, Game Of Thrones' Sean Bean and Richard Madden. Tickets were released at 8am on Tuesday and by 8.30am more than 50,000 had logged on to try to see Tom on stage Fans compared the stress of trying to get their hands of tickets as on par with Taylor Swift 's Eras tour, which has brought in $1.04billion with 4.35m tickets sold across 60 tour dates Taking to X, Tom's followers voiced their fears they may not be able to see him on stage as they waited in a virtual queue behind thousands of others for the priority access tickets Director Jamie, 43, said: 'Tom Holland is one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world. 'It is an honour to welcome him back to the West End.' Tom made his stage debut as a child when he starred in Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London in 2008. Romeo And Juliet will mark his first West End role as an adult. Tom's loyal legion of fans went wild when the news was posted on X last week. 'I actually cannot explain how excited I am for Tom Holland to be in Romeo and Juliet like this is HUGE?!??!!!' tweeted one. Another posted: 'TOM HOLLAND GOING BACK TO THEATER. EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.' 'Okay I've signed up for Romeo and Juliet presale because I WILL be seeing Tom Holland in person and I WILL be waiting at stage door after to meet him' declared another, while another gushed 'MY ROMEO'. Romeo And Juliet is a story that has been staged hundreds of times on the West End and The Crown actor Josh O'Connor and Irish star Jessie Buckley appeared in a version of the play, filmed for TV inside the National Theatre in 2021. Other actors to have played Romeo on stage include Harry Potter star Alfred Enoch, The Lord Of The Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen, Game Of Thrones' Sean Bean and Bodyguard actor Richard Madden. Romeo And Juliet will run at the Duke Of York's Theatre from May 11 to August 3. Further casting is yet to be announced. Timothee Chalamet and Austin Butler got a fit of the giggles on Monday night as they attended a screening of their film, Dune: Part Two, in Paris. The two actors shared a sweet moment on the red carpet, as they joked around together while posing for the cameras. Timothee, 28, cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a red and gold sequinned turtleneck underneath for an added touch of flair. While Austin, 32, looked typically handsome in a white collared shirt under an asymmetrical black jacket and coordinating wide legged trousers. The two men posed with their arms around each other, and continued to crack jokes and break into giggles. Timothee Chalamet and Austin Butler got a fit of the giggles on Monday night as they attended a screening of their film, Dune: Part Two, in Paris The two actors shared a sweet moment on the red carpet, as they joked around together while posing for the cameras At one point Timothee fell into Austin as he collapsed with laughter, as his smirking co-star steadied him. Timothee led the cast of the first Dune film as messianic figure Paul Atreides, and returns to the role in Dune: Part Two. While Austin joined the upcoming science-fiction epic for the sequel, to play Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a trained assassin who is Paul's rival to taking control of Arrakis. Despite their onscreen rivalry, the pair of Oscar-nominated actors formed a close bond during filming, with both gushing over each other's talents. Speaking to Access Hollywood last week, Timothee gushed: 'You meet someone by destiny, by the destiny of the script that you know you will have to work with intimately. You go, "Okay, so he's not only a great talent, but a great guy, which is hard to find".' He added that Austin's character is his favourite in the film, saying: 'I mean, it's easy to now, but it's exactly what that role needed, and demands in some way.' In return, Austin said: 'I respect [Timothee] so much. He knocked it out of the park. It's so cool to see the transition from that first film and to see the maturity and the gravitas come out, and you get to just knock the roof off of it. It's incredible.' Timothee also revealed that Austin had helped him get into character as Bob Dylan for the upcoming biopic, A Complete Unknown. Timothee, 28, cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a red and gold sequinned turtleneck underneath for an added touch of flair While Austin, 32, looked typically handsome in a white collared shirt under an asymmetrical black jacket and coordinating wide legged trousers The two men posed with their arms around each other, and continued to crack jokes and break into giggles Timothee led the cast of the first Dune film as messianic figure Paul Atreides, and returns to the role in Dune: Part Two (pictured) While Austin joined the upcoming science-fiction epic for the sequel, to play Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a trained assassin who is Paul's rival to taking control of Arrakis (pictured) Austin was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for his performance playing fellow legend Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film, right before filming for Dune. Timothee admitted that he has been 'picking his brain nonstop' on getting advice for playing a real life musical icon. Austin confessed: 'I loved those conversations. 'I loved it. We had so much fun.' While Timothee echoed: 'Honestly, I love it, too. It's rare, I mean, I got so lucky. He just delivered this incredible performance, and then I got to work with him right after and pick his brain nonstop. I mean, he has the chemistry tools in front of him, and can I tinker with them?' The new Dune sequel takes place immediately after the first film ended, when Paul and his mother joined forces with Chani and the rest of the desert-dwelling Fremen to get revenge against the evil House Harkonnen, whose members have killed most of his family and friends. The film was originally scheduled for a late October 2023 release, before being pushed back to November and finally shuffled all the way back to March of this year following the dual writers and actors strikes. Despite their onscreen rivalry, the pair of Oscar-nominated actors formed a close bond during filming, with both gushing over each other's talents (pictured in film) Amy Dowden has celebrated Valentines Day early because she has a hospital appointment on February 14. The Welsh born Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, managed to go on a romantic day break with her husband Ben to a spa, where she was pampered like a Queen. Amy and Ben enjoyed the spa at the award winning Hoar Cross Hall hotel in Staffordshire which boasts one of the biggest state of the art spas in Europe. Amy told her online followers: 'After feeling really rough the last few days (nasty cough) thank you for a lovely spa day today Ben.' She also shared pictures from their relaxing day including one of them smiling together in their fluffy bathrobes and another of herself sitting in a large ball shaped rattan chair. Amy Dowden has celebrated Valentines Day early because she has a hospital appointment on February 14 The Welsh born Strictly Come Dancing professional managed to go on a romantic day break with her husband Ben to a spa, where she was pampered like a Queen She added: 'An early valentines treat as Wednesday is a hospital day for me.' As she showed off the blue mood lit pool she wrote: 'It was the perfect day, thank you Ben.' Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year, and underwent a mastectomy in July, taking 2023 off from the BBC ballroom dance contest while she underwent treatment. Her friend, Dragon's Den star Sara Davies, who competed on Strictly in 2021, recently revealed that she had to convince Amy to go ahead with her treatment when it was offered because Amy was scared shed miss out on her Strictly career. Businesswoman Sara said Amy had been 'hardwired' to dance from a young age and the thought of taking time off to concentrate on her health scared her. Sara said on the Invite Only podcast: 'I spent a lot of time with her at the start of the cancer diagnosis when she wasn't feeling positive. She'd been dealt a bad hand and she was struggling with it. 'I knew then I needed to be the friend that was filling her tank, but also if you just want someone to give you a hug and tell you it's gonna be okay, I'm not the one to go to. 'I was the one who was like, "What's the plan, Amy?" and pushing her to make difficult decisions. She wasn't sure if she was going to have chemo so we talked about that.' Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year, and underwent a mastectomy in July The Welsh dancer recently admitted she was so scared of taking time off from Strictly Come Dancing that she almost decided against having chemotherapy She added: 'What I've realised with the dancers is that from being little, they are hardwired to dance. And the biggest blow for her was, "If I don't go down that route, I won't be able to do Strictly this year". 'I had to look her in the eye and say, "Amy, you've got cancer. They've literally just cut your boob off. They are telling you you need to have this chemo to get better. Don't worry about dance and Strictly". 'Her response was, "But they might not want me back next year". So I said, "Amy, you're amazing at what you do, of course they will want you back. You're so well-loved. Please, it's really important. Get well". 'And then she went on the show without her wig as well. What a phenomenal moment. When I saw her, I cried.' Netflix drama Scoop dropped its first trailer on Monday, giving fans a first look glimpse at the recreation of the car crash Prince Andrew Newsnight interview. And following the release of the clip, viewers have gone wild for the casts transformations as interviewer Emily Maitlis and The Duke Of York. One person branded Gillian Anderson the 'female Michael Sheen' after seeing her in action as Maitlis, claiming 'she could literally transform into anyone'. Meanwhile, others said Rufus Sewell's casting as Prince Andrew was 'spot on', as they marvelled over how he was made up to look like the disgraced royal. The trailer the highly-awaited film, which dramatises the infamous interview between Prince Andrew and Emily Maitlis was released on This Morning. Netflix drama Scoop dropped its first trailer on Monday, giving fans a first look glimpse at the recreation of the car crash Prince Andrew Newsnight interview And following the release of the clip, viewers have gone wild for the casts transformations as interviewer Emily Maitlis and The Duke Of York (pictured right) One person branded Gillian Anderson the 'female Michael Sheen ' after seeing her in action as Maitlis, claiming 'she could literally transform into anyone' Netflix's drama details the story behind the interview with the Duke of York, portrayed by Sewell, 56, and also features an almost unrecognisable Billie Piper in blonde wig and high heels. The actress stars as Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who secured Prince Andrews notorious 2019 interview with Maitlis. Viewers hear just two words from Emily at the end of the trailer, when she addresses Prince Andrew as 'Your Highness'. After the trailer was released online, many excited fans shared their thoughts on the upcoming film, taking to X to post their opinions. They said: 'This is f***ing wild. Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis? She's like a female Michael Sheen, could literally transform into anyone. 'F***ing hell she's got Emily Maitlis down to a T!!' 'At first, I thought casting Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew was weird, but in the Scoop teaser, he's spot on. And Gillian Anderson too.' 'Poor Rufus. He's so bloody handsome underneath all that. Bravo to him and make-up.' The trailer the highly-awaited film, which dramatises the infamous interview between Prince Andrew and Emily Maitlis was released on This Morning After the trailer was released online, many excited fans shared their thoughts on the upcoming film, taking to X to post their opinions 'Gillian Anderson playing Emily Maitlis is just genius!' Many others shared their excitement for the dramatisation, writing: 'Well that's a great set of actors, always a good start. 'I'll be watching!' and 'you had me at Gillian Anderson, I can't wait!' 'Looking forward to it. My two favourite actresses, Gillian Anderson and Keeley Hawes. Put date in diary, not to be missed.' 'This looks intriguing!! Excellent trailer! Can't wait to see Gillian Anderson in another fantastic role!' 'Well if that doesn't look like perfection I don't know what does. (sidenote - love they are using the same interiors for Buck Pal as The Crown).' 'Gillian Anderson is back to the Palace as Emily Maitlis. I need some air and coffee and patience until the premiere date.' One said: 'Gillian Anderson is back to the Palace as Emily Maitlis. I need some air and coffee and patience until the premiere date' Based on the book Scoops, by Sam McAlister, the film (according to the trailer) shows captures the tension behind booking the royal for the interview, as well as the tension among the cast during the interview. The film is due to hit Netflix screens in the Spring and explores a behind-the-scenes look at how the interview was secured and how events surrounding it unfolded framed as a tribute to the work of the four women responsible. It is based on Scoops by Sam McAlister who is also known as the 'Booker extraordinaire' on Newsnight having successfully negotiated and secured the interview which quizzed the Duke about his friendship with the late-convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. Ms Maitlis discussed Virginia Giuffre's claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 under the orders of Epstein. The prince strongly denied the claims throughout the interview. The real life interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew which has been described as a 'car crash' Keeley Hawes (second right) is also among the star-studded cast list The discussion, in which Andrew made a series of claims - including insisting he couldn't have been with Ms Giuffre at the time of the alleged encounter because he was dining at a Pizza Express in Woking and that a medical condition left him unable to sweat - has since gained notoriety and is widely acknowledged to have embarrassed the royals. The interview was described as a 'car crash' and on November 20, 2019, a statement from Buckingham Palace said Prince Andrew was suspended from public duties 'for the foreseeable future'. In May 2020, it was announced that the prince was permanently stepping down from his public roles. In January 2022, Ms Giuffre was given the go-ahead to sue Andrew for unspecified damages in a New York civil court. Despite vowing to fight the claims and repeatedly protesting his innocence, the prince agreed to pay a huge sum to settle the case before it ever reached a jury. interview, then the film. Sam McAllister appeared on This Morning today as Netflix screened its trailer for the first time, to discuss her experience working on both the interview and the film. She described how tough it was securing the interview, saying: 'I was a complete underdog on booking content because who in their right mind, let's be frank, would want to go on unless you're a minister, or you're selling a book or a movie. 'Why would you go and take that risk, right? 'So my job was persuading people to go on against their interest basically. So I spent my time trying to get them to do something they probably shouldn't have done.' Discussing how she felt when securing the interview, she revealed: 'I'd been dealing with a palace for a year. And I think the thing that I love about this movie...is I'm an ordinary woman who ended up in an extraordinary situation. And of course, everyone's seen that interview. But this is the 95 per cent before that.' She continued: 'So it all started a year prior, and it was only on the Monday so we're now 13 months in the Monday when I met Prince Andrew face to face with Emily and Stuart with with his daughter sitting next to him in Buckingham Palace...It was only then on the one day I thought this could actually happen. 'And on Tuesday morning, they said yes. And I honestly I dropped my phone. I could not believe that they had said yes.' Describing the biggest curveball of the day, Sam told This Morning it was when Prince Andrew was accompanied into the interview with his daughter Princess Beatrice. 'Can you imagine you've gone to talk to a Prince and you're in Buckingham Palace...and you're talking about difficult subjects and then he brings his daughter?' she said? 'I mean, it was the curveball of curveballs. I'm not easily disconcerted, but I have to admit, even I was impressed by that as a curveball,' she added. Netflilx describes the production as portraying: 'The inside track of the women that broke through the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the scoop of the decade that led to the catastrophic fall from grace of The Queen's 'Favourite son'. 'From navigating Palace vetoes, to breaking through to Prince Andrew's inner circle, the high stakes negotiations and intensity of rehearsal - to the jaw dropping interview itself. Sam McAlister booked the Prince for the interview, and authored Scoops, the book the interview is based on 'SCOOP is the insider account of the inner workings of the Palace and the BBC, twin bastions of the British Establishment, spotlighting the journalists whose tenacity and guts broke through the highest of ceilings - and into the inner sanctum and calculations of a man with everything to lose.' Sam McAlister says 'it is beyond my wildest dreams, especially as a first time writer, to end up working with this extraordinary cast, Netflix, and the amazing teams at The Lighthouse and Voltage. Watching Billie Piper, one of my favourite actresses, play 'me' will be a pinch myself moment and I'm truly thrilled to be involved in this film.' Describing the film, director Philip Martin revealed: 'I'm thrilled to be directing this film for Netflix and - together with an extraordinary cast - to be bringing Sam McAlister's revelatory insider's account to the screen. 'Uptempo, immersive and cinematic, I want to put the audience inside the breath-taking sequence of events that led to the interview with Prince Andrew - to tell a story about a search for answers, in a world of speculation and varying recollections. 'It's a film about power, privilege and differing perspectives and how - whether in glittering palaces or hi-tech newsrooms - we judge what's true.' Mark Ronson and Grace Gummer enjoyed a glitzy night out on Monday as they made a rare appearance together. The DJ, 48, and his wife, 37, left Delilah's restaurant in West Hollywood after attending a private event, with the likes of Barbie stars Margot Robbie and America Ferrera in attendance. Margot, 33, organised the glitzy A-list celebrity party through her production company, LuckyChap, to celebrate their newly formed partnership with Warner Bros. Mark looked suave in a white pin-striped shirt, which he kept casual by keeping the top two buttons undone. In keeping with his business-casual attire, the musician paired his loose-fitted shirt with a pair of black baggy suit trousers. Mark Ronson and Grace Gummer (pictured) enjoyed a glitzy night out on Monday as they made a rare appearance together The DJ, 48, and his wife, 37, left Delilah's restaurant in West Hollywood after attending a private event, with the likes of Barbie stars Margot Robbie and America Ferrera in attendance Adding a hint of glamour, Mark finished off his dapper look with a pair of black leather Gucci loafers, worth $830. Grace - the daughter of Hollywood legend Meryl Streep - looked effortlessly chic in a black turtle-neck jumper and a pair of distressed flared jeans. Keeping in tune with her husband's smart look, the Arcadia star paired her casual look with a tailored black trench which trailed along her calves. She finished off her outfit with a pair of black leather boots and gold hoop earrings. The glitzy event comes after Mark and Grace welcomed their baby daughter in March 2023. They began their relationship in 2020, becoming engaged the following May in 2021. The producer was previously married to Josephine de La Baume from 2011 until 2018, and he was also formerly engaged to actress and comedian Rashida Jones. Grace s previously tied the knot with Tay Strathairn in 2019, although they filed for divorce just over a month after their wedding ceremony. Grace - the daughter of Hollywood legend Meryl Streep - looked effortlessly chic in a black turtle-neck jumper and a pair of distressed flared jeans The glitzy event comes after Mark and Grace welcomed their daughter in March 2023 (pictured at the Grammys earlier this month) The couple eventually moved on with each other, and they tied the knot in August 2021. The producer gushed about his marriage in a post that was shared on his Instagram account last year, and he wrote a heartfelt message to commemorate his first wedding anniversary. He wrote: 'When people used to tell me their spouse was their best friend, I thought they were spouting hallmark nonsense or that they were some freak anomaly of love.' He concluded by writing that he 'just married the most incredible human being around.' Mark's sister, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, confirmed that the actress had given birth to a baby girl in March 2023. Kanye West has claimed he was 'two months away' from declaring bankruptcy after losing $2billion in one day when Adidas terminated its partnership with Yeezy. The rapper, 46, lost his billionaire status in 2022 when a number of brands ended his lucrative contracts over his anti-Semitic outbursts and were outraged over his decision to promote White Lives Matter T-shirts at his Paris Fashion Week show. Kanye said he poured 'everything I had' into Sunday's $7million Super Bowl advert for his fashion brand and his new album, Vultures. 'I'm just be honest with y'all. I was two months from going bankrupt, and I put everything I had into it [the album and the Super Bowl advert],' he told TMZ. Kanye said as his wealth began to plummet, he moved to Italy with his wife Bianca Censori. Kanye West has claimed he was 'two months away' from declaring bankruptcy after losing $2billion in one day when Adidas terminated its partnership with Yeezy 'We moved to Italy. We moved to the factories, and we survived. We survived through the cancellation. We're back number one,' he said. On Monday, Kanye shared Yeezy had made $19.3million from the Super Bowl advert and Vultures was number one in 100 countries. When asked if he felt the controversy 'helped' him, Kanye replied: 'It wasn't about the controversy. It was about being able to say how you felt out loud. 'If I didn't have the various skill sets of music and clothing and the fanbase, they would have been able to destroy me. But because we had all those skill sets, somehow I'm here inside of this universe able to fight.' Kanye was asked if he regretted his anti-Semitic comments, to which he responded: 'hey got the right to their opinion - I got the right to my opinion.' The rapper returned to the spotlight on Sunday night with his bizarre commercial for his fashion brand during the Super Bowl. During the promo, filmed in the back of a car, Kanye joked his team had splashed so much cash on the Super Bowl 2024 spot - which are said to run to $7 million for 30-seconds - they didn't have any budget left to produce a commercial. He said: 'Hey y'all, this is Ye and this is my commercial (my team) spent all the money on the commercial spot (so we) actually didn't spend any money on the actual commercial. 'But the idea is I want you to go to Yeezy.com. Imma write it at the bottom of the screen and I got some shoes, and ummmm that's it.' The rapper, 46, lost his billionaire status in 2022 when a number of brands ended his lucrative contracts over his anti-Semitic outbursts (pictured with Adidas CEO Bjrn Gulden) On Monday, Kanye shared Yeezy had made $19.3million from the Superbowl advert and Vultures was number one in 100 countries Sunday's commercial prompted fans to visit his website, where merchandise for his new album Vultures 1 was available to buy While West's bizarre homemade addition to the TV schedule was at odds with the glossy, big-budget commercials that aired on Sunday, fans claimed it was a stroke of marketing genius How much was Kanye - who claimed to be the 'richest black man in the world' - really worth? Forbes estimated Kanye was worth around $2billion before he was dropped from lucrative contracts ADIDAS - $1.5billion Wests deal with Adidas was the crowning jewel of his fortune, with sales climbing to $1.7billion in 2020 earning him $191 million in royalties. Forbes estimates that the Yeezy business with Adidas is worth $1.5billion, and the company confirmed that they were likely to lose up to $250million of their net income in 2022 as a result of the split. GAP X BALENCIAGA - $970million His GAP collection was estimated at around $970million when the deal was announced in 2021, but he has since terminated his work with the retailer. Initial products sold out in 2021, after being announced in June 2020, in a partnership which was expected to last for ten years but was cut short by West. GAP were also part of a deal between Yeezy and Balenciaga, with estimates claiming they would bring in $1billion in projected sales. SKIMS - $160million West, who divorced Kim Kardashian in 2020, remains a partner in Skims but it is unclear how much he earns from that. He previously ranted about owning 5 percent of the business, which is estimated at a $3.2billion net worth. If that is the case then he would have a $160million stake in the company. MUSIC - $90million He has sold over 140 million albums worldwide, and documents seen by Forbes show that his own recorded music and publishing rights is worth at least $90million. Between mortgages, advances and other liabilities, Forbes say West owes about $100 million. Advertisement The outlandish rapper was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over San Francisco 49ers to claim their third title in five years. Brands including Dunkin' Donuts, Mountain Dew, Uber Eats and Oreo spent an average $7million apiece to secure an advertising spot during Sunday evening's Super Bowl - watched by 114million across the globe. But while West's bizarre homemade addition to the TV schedule was at odds with the glossy, big-budget commercials that aired on Sunday, some fans claimed it was a stroke of marketing genius. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one impressed viewer wrote: 'The genius that is Kanye West. Put a commercial on the Super Bowl that will trend beyond the Super Bowl.' A second added: 'Greatest Super Bowl commercial there is.' While a third admitted: 'I didn't watch the Superbowl but I have seen this ad 3 times. Pretty genius of you actually.' Elsewhere a fourth wrote: 'Ye's #Superbowl commercial is the mosy Ye commercial ever.' The ad appeared to be a clever marketing ploy after West - who has rebranded himself as the abbreviated Ye - withdrew his latest album, Vultures 1, from streaming platforms and modified its cover art. German sporting goods behemoth Adidas has terminated its partnership with Kanye amid controversial behavior from the American rapper and designer in 2022 Wests Yeezy deal with Adidas was the crowning jewel of his fortune, with sales climbing to $1.7billion in 2020 earning him $191 million in royalties The outlandish rapper was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over San Francisco 49ers to claim their third title in five years Sunday's commercial prompted fans to visit his website, where new album related merchandise is available to buy. The album returned to streaming platforms on Monday morning. West stepped into enemy territory as he arrived to the Super Bowl on Sunday - where his rival Taylor Swift and ex-wife Kim Kardashian were both in attendance. The rapper was completely in disguise as he headed to the big game hand-in-hand with his wife Bianca Censori. He wore a crucifix mask by Alexander McQueen, black leather jacket, and glossy leather trousers while Bianca sported a jacket and glossy hooded accessory. The designer mask was placed snugly over his head covering and was perhaps worn in tribute to the late designer, who died on February 11, 2010. Kanye's marriage to Kim officially ended in 2021, and she has since begun dating Odell Beckham Jr. Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler headed out for a romantic dinner date in Paris on Monday night after the Dune: Part Two premiere in the French capital. The model, 22, looked effortlessly chic in wide-leg jeans, teamed with an elegant black wool coat and leather boots. Dune star Austin, 32, looked dapper in a suit and tie as he and Kaia, who have been together since 2021, made time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Earlier in the evening, the actor attended a screening of his upcoming film Dune: Part Two alongside leading stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. Austin and Timothee shared a sweet moment on the red carpet, as they joked around together while posing for the cameras. Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler headed out for a romantic dinner date in Paris on Monday night after the Dune: Part Two premiere in the French capital Dune star Austin, 32, looked dapper in a suit and tie as he and Kaia, 22, who have been together since 2021, made time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans The Elvis sensation looked typically handsome in a white collared shirt under an asymmetrical black jacket and coordinating wide legged trousers. Timothee, 28, cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a red and gold sequinned turtleneck underneath for an added touch of flair. The two men posed with their arms around each other, and continued to crack jokes and break into giggles. At one point Timothee fell into Austin as he collapsed with laughter, as his smirking co-star steadied him. Timothee led the cast of the first Dune film as messianic figure Paul Atreides, and returns to the role in Dune: Part Two. While Austin joined the upcoming science-fiction epic for the sequel, to play Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a trained assassin who is Paul's rival to taking control of Arrakis. Despite their onscreen rivalry, the pair of Oscar-nominated actors formed a close bond during filming, with both gushing over each other's talents. Speaking to Access Hollywood last week, Timothee gushed: 'You meet someone by destiny, by the destiny of the script that you know you will have to work with intimately. You go, "Okay, so he's not only a great talent, but a great guy, which is hard to find".' Earlier in the evening, the actor attended a screening of his upcoming film Dune: Part Two alongside leading star Timothee Chalamet The two actors shared a sweet moment on the red carpet, as they joked around together while posing for the cameras Timothee, 28, cut a dapper figure in a black suit with a red and gold sequinned turtleneck underneath for an added touch of flair The Elvis star looked typically handsome in a white collared shirt under an asymmetrical black jacket and coordinating wide legged trousers Timothee led the cast of the first Dune film as messianic figure Paul Atreides, and returns to the role in Dune: Part Two (pictured) While Austin joined the upcoming science-fiction epic for the sequel, to play Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a trained assassin who is Paul's rival to taking control of Arrakis (pictured) Despite their onscreen rivalry, the pair of Oscar-nominated actors formed a close bond during filming, with both gushing over each other's talents (pictured in film) He added that Austin's character is his favourite in the film, saying: 'I mean, it's easy to now, but it's exactly what that role needed, and demands in some way.' In return, Austin said: 'I respect [Timothee] so much. He knocked it out of the park. It's so cool to see the transition from that first film and to see the maturity and the gravitas come out, and you get to just knock the roof off of it. It's incredible.' Timothee also revealed that Austin had helped him get into character as Bob Dylan for the upcoming biopic, A Complete Unknown. Austin was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for his performance playing fellow legend Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film, right before filming for Dune. Timothee admitted that he has been 'picking his brain nonstop' on getting advice for playing a real life musical icon. Austin confessed: 'I loved those conversations. 'I loved it. We had so much fun.' While Timothee echoed: 'Honestly, I love it, too. It's rare, I mean, I got so lucky. He just delivered this incredible performance, and then I got to work with him right after and pick his brain nonstop. I mean, he has the chemistry tools in front of him, and can I tinker with them?' The new Dune sequel takes place immediately after the first film ended, when Paul and his mother joined forces with Chani and the rest of the desert-dwelling Fremen to get revenge against the evil House Harkonnen, whose members have killed most of his family and friends. The film was originally scheduled for a late October 2023 release, before being pushed back to November and finally shuffled all the way back to March of this year following the dual writers and actors strikes. A $1.9 million state grant will lead to the construction of 13 houses in Bellevue to replace some of those that were lost in the 2019 floods. In a press conference at Bellevue City Hall on Friday, Gov. Jim Pillen, along with Nebraska Economic Development Director K.C. Belitz, announced the grant will finance the construction of the single-family homes. The grant was awarded to the Housing Foundation for Sarpy County, which is working with Omaha metro area homebuilder Sudbeck Homes to construct the homes. The houses will be located in the 51st Street and Lookingglass Drive area, which is in the southern part of Nebraskas third largest city. Its really, really important that the state of Nebraska plays a great role in helping our communities, Pillen said. Melvin Sudbeck of Sudbeck Homes told reporters that the company expects to break ground in about four months. The first houses are expected to be completed next year. The new homes will make up only a small fraction of the 399 homes Bellevue lost in the spring 2019 floods. Most of the houses lost were in lower-income neighborhoods, said Carolyn Pospisil, executive director of the countys housing foundation. City and housing leaders placed an emphasis on bringing back people who were displaced by the floods. She said the foundation will reach out to people who expressed interest in returning during a survey conducted in the floods aftermath. Well be able to reach out first to those families. And then after that, well be able to open them up to the market, Pospisil said. Most of the upcoming houses are expected to be sold in the low $200,000 range. The average house will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This isnt going to just be 13 homes that look all the same in the same area, Pospisil said. Pospisil told reporters the new homes will open Sarpy County up to people who dont necessarily have high incomes. Basically, families that are making $80,000 per year or less dont really have an option right now for homeownership in Sarpy County, she said. This will allow us to build things (with) higher quality building products with a little bit less of a (price) tag. With the state grant and plan to build those homes, Pospisil said those two things could provide a blueprint toward getting more middle-class families to move to Sarpy County. This has given us a chance to rethink what homeownership looks like for families that are in middle incomes and middle-class families, she said. Ellie Leach and Bobby Brazier addressed their rumoured romance on Monday night, after weeks of speculation that they are dating. The two Strictly Come Dancing stars both appeared at the TV Choice Awards in London, but arrived separately. Bobby, 20, was asked about his feelings towards the actress, 22, and praised her as 'beautiful and amazing', while avoiding denying the romance rumours. Speaking to The Sun, the EastEnders star gushed: 'Ellie is a sweetheart, look at hershes beautiful, shes amazing, shes good at what she does. Shes a good dancer. She is a lovely lovely friend of mine.' When grilled on whether he could see them becoming more than just friends, he teased: 'I dont knowyoull have to see what she says.' Ellie Leach (left) and Bobby Brazier (right) addressed their rumoured romance on Monday night, after weeks of speculation that they are dating Bobby, 20, was asked about his feelings towards the actress, 22, and praised her as 'beautiful and amazing', while avoiding denying the romance rumours Bobby also refused to confirm if he intended on starting a relationship, quickly changing the topic to his career. He said: 'UmmmIve got some things to do. Ive got career things to do, Ive got personal things to do, Ive got Godly things to do. Im going back to EastEnders. Ive missed them so much.' Meanwhile, Ellie also avoided explicitly confirming or denying a relationship with Bobby, telling the publication: 'Were all on tour together, its been really nice to actually spend time with each other. 'During the show, youre with your partner all the time really and you dont really get to see any of the other pros or the celebrities. 'So on tour we have really bonded and it does feel like a big family. Its been so much fun.' Speculation about Ellie and Bobby began in early January when insiders reported they had become close performing Strictly Come Dancing Live! The pair are said to be in a secret romance and have enjoyed a 'string of dates' while touring the country. They have been pictured enjoying time together away from their Strictly co-stars, cosying up on a low-key date at Nando's last month and arriving at the hotels together. Bobby also refused to confirm if he intended on starting a relationship, quickly changing the topic to his career (pictured September at National Television Awards) Meanwhile, Ellie also avoided explicitly confirming or denying a relationship with Bobby, but admitted they 'really bonded' on the tour Bobby has also gotten very close to Ellie's family, with the pair being spotted with her parents heading to their hotel in London together on Sunday. The soap star Bobby seemed to be making quite the impression as he was spotted holding hands with her mum Karen, 50. Later that day, Bobby shared a sweet snap of Ellie on Instagram from behind the scenes of the Strictly show at The O2 Arena. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face as Bobby took a snap off-guard, captioning the post 'yogi Ellie', as she sat with her legs crossed. While last month, Bobby was reportedly seen knocking on Ellie's hotel room door in just his pants, while staying at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham. To celebrate the tour kicking off, a party was thrown in the hotel bar when the soap star was spotted in his underwear on the sixth floor. A hotel guest told The Sun: 'Bobby was in our corridor knocking on Ellie's door after their late-night bash at the hotel. 'Bobby was clearly not shy about nearly being in the buff as we were making our way down to breakfast.' Speculation about Ellie and Bobby began in early January when insiders reported they had become close performing Strictly Come Dancing Live! (pictured with Robbie Kmetoni and Kai Widdrington) Later that day, Bobby shared a sweet snap of Ellie on Instagram from behind the scenes of the Strictly show at The O2 Arena, captioning the post 'yogi Ellie', as she sat with her legs crossed Ellie and Bobby's comments on their relationship come after Ellie's professional dance partner Vito Coppola declared his love for her after the Strictly tour ended this weekend. The pro dancer, 31, won the latest series of the competition with the Coronation Street star in December and they sparked their own romance rumours during their time on the dance floor. Filming backstage before their final performance together at the O2, Vito kissed Ellie on the cheek as they both struggled to choke back tears. He told her: 'Baby, are we about to perform our last show together? I love you so much.' As an emotional Ellie replied: 'I love you' before going on to say how lucky she felt for her experience on the show alongside Vito. In the caption, Vito wrote: 'It has been just perfect right? Love you baby and always remember our promise: always there for each other'. No more words needed! Good night baby.' Addressing their fans, he added: 'Good night beautiful people. You have been with us in every single moment since the beginning of our journey'. Ellie shared the video to her Instagram Stories, and added the caption: 'This man is one of a kind and I love him very very much'. Ellie and Bobby's comments on their relationship come after Ellie's professional dance partner Vito Coppola declared his love for her after the Strictly tour ended this weekend The pro dancer, 31, won the latest series of the competition with the Coronation Street star in December and they sparked their own romance rumours during their time on the dance floor Filming backstage before their final dance together at London's O2 Vitto kissed Ellie on the cheek as they both struggled to choke back tears The full line-up for Celebrity Ex On The Beach has been revealed - including TOWIE, Love Island and MAFs stars. The nine singletons will jet off to Gran Canaria on the lookout for love, while awaiting the fate of their exes' arrivals, in the explosive new series on MTV and Paramount+ next month. TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou, 29, will reunite with her ex of four years James Lock, 37, for the first time on screen. And it could prove awkward for Lockie as his brief love interest and Yaz's former best friend Chloe Brockett, 23, also makes an appearance. Love Island winners Paige Turley, 26, and Finn Tapp, 24, are also set to face a frosty encounter after ending their three-year relationship just months before filming. The full line-up for Celebrity Ex On The Beach: (L-R Yazmin Oukhellou, Jarren Evans, Ashley Resch, James Pendergrass, Chloe Veitch, Finn Tapp, Ivorian Doll, Joe Garratt and Tamara Joy TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou (right) , 29, will reunite with her ex of four years James Lock , 37, for the first time on screen - but Chloe Brockett (right) has also had a fling with Lockie Joe Garratt, 27, who has just appeared in Love Island All Stars, will also take part. He appeared on the fifth series of the show and formed a romance with Lucie Donlan, who is now engaged to series six star Luke Mabbott. Joe went on to have a short stint on TOWIE where he dated Frankie Simms. Married At First Sight Australia's Tamara Joy, Jessika Power and Callum Izzard, of Ibiza Weekender fame, will also take part. Completing the line-up is rapper Ivorian Doll, Too Hot To Handle's Chloe Veitch and James Pendergrass, and F Boy Island's Jarred Evans. The new series will begin on Tuesday 19th March, with episodes airing weekly. Yaz reportedly quit her gig on Ex On The Beach just days into filming because she thrown off guard by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend James. A source told The Sun: 'Yaz knew filming Celeb Ex On The Beach would be challenging as the whole purpose of the show is to create drama. The nine singletons will jet off to Gran Canaria on the lookout for love, while awaiting the fate of their exes, (pictured Paige Turley, Finley Tapp and Chloe Veitch) Yaz reportedly quit her gig on Ex On The Beach just days into filming after James arrived to the island Yazmin was reportedly thrown off guard by the arrival of her ex (pictured during their relationship) Chloe B, who's 14 years his junior began her fling with James after lockdown lifted, and the pair connected romantically during nights out - but Yaz was furious about the betrayal MAFs' Jessika Power, 31, in on the lookout for love, but will she run into an ex? Married At First Sight Australia's Tamara Joy (left) and Too Hot To Handle's Chloe Veitch (right) will also star in the new series Love Island winners Paige Turley, 26, and Finn Tapp , 24, are also set to face a frosty encounter after ending their three year relationship just months before filming The exes won the 2020 series of Winter Love Island (pictured) Joe Garratt , 27, who has just appeared in Love Island All Stars, will also take part Playboy model Ashley Resch (left) and rapper Ivorian Doll (right) also form the line-up 'But within days of James arriving, she realised she couldn't cope with being in the villa with him and decided to leave. 'She was prepared to give up her time on the show for her own mental health. Having been through everything she has been through in the last year, Yaz has realised life is too short to be in situations where she is unhappy or feels uncomfortable.' James and Yazmin first split in 2021 but they briefly reunited in 2022 after James was spotted leaving her house after spending the night together. The series kicks off with celebrities enjoying First Night First Dates before the first ex crashes the party. With exes coming in thick and fast, will any of the newly formed couples survive the arrivals? The new series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach starts on Paramount+ and MTV UK on Tuesday 19th March. Jarred Evans reached the final of the first series of Fboy Island. As a self-proclaimed 'nice guy' he described himself as outgoing, charismatic and a gentleman' Big Brother Australia star Katie Williams is engaged to her girlfriend of two years, Georgia Hull. The former reality star, 29, shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday showing her hand sporting an eye-popping engagement ring while holding a glass of Champagne. Williams enjoyed a romantic candlelight dinner in the clip, which also featured several loved-up Polaroid snapshots of herself and Georgia resting on the table. Meanwhile, Georgia shared two loved-up photos capturing her and Katie passionately kissing and embracing each other against a scenic coastal background. The lovebirds look caught up in the throes of passion as they tenderly embraced at what looks to be a celebratory event. Big Brother Australia star Katie Williams (left) is engaged to her girlfriend of two years, Georgia Hull (right) Katie did not caption her post, leaving fans to speculate if she was sneakily announcing her engagement. The blonde bombshell debuted her relationship with Georgia, her first same-sex pairing, back in August 2021. The athlete later spoke candidly about her romance in an interview with Daily Mail Australia. The former reality star, 29, shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday showing her hand sporting an eye-popping engagement ring while holding a glass of Champagne Katie said she 'couldn't be more in love if she tried'. 'She's my best friend, my number one supporter and my partner in crime,' Katie said. 'We really do match each other's energy. We've had many personal ups and downs in lockdown and we've helped each other through it all. We've laughed, we cried, we've danced and embraced it all.' The lovebirds look caught up in the throes of passion as they tenderly embrace each other at what looks to be a celebratory event Speaking about makeup artist Georgia being her first ever girlfriend, Katie said they had developed 'an emotional bond like no other'. 'She is actually my first girlfriend. Before Georgia I had dated guys! It's so different; it's an emotional bond like no other,' she said. 'I'm really proud of how we've handled our relationship. I was trolled and questioned after Big Brother about my sexuality, and I stand strong in who I am, and who I love.' Katie, who is a world champion beach sprinter, had just signed up for Evian's 'bottle made from bottles' initiative, which helps promote environmental sustainability. Olivia Colman was struggling to afford her bus fare and 'sleeping on people's sofas' prior to finding fame as an Oscar-winning actress. The A-list star, 50, said she struggled with moving from Norwich to London in search of her big break, going to 100 auditions in her first year out of drama school and not securing a single role. Olivia's first big role came in Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show as Sophie Chapman, the co-worker and on-off love interest of main character Mark Corrigan (David Mitchell). She has since found stratospheric fame through television roles in Broadchurch (2013 - 2017) and The Crown (2019 - 2023) and a whole host of award-winning movie parts. She told the Radio Times Podcast: 'London is a lot easier once youve been paid a bit! The first years were really hard. I was going round sleeping on people's sofas, trying to find money for the bus to go and get a job. Olivia Colman was struggling to afford her bus fare and 'sleeping on people's sofas' prior to finding fame as an Oscar-winning actress (pictured this month) The actress, 50, got her big break as Sophie Chapman in Channel 4's award-winning sitcom Peep Show (2003 - 2015) alongside co-star David Mitchell in 2004 Olivia cemented her A-list status when she scooped the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite in 2018 Olivia said the hard times were worth it in the end, adding: 'But you find your tribe and then it's a magical place. I don't regret the saddest parts of my life because you learn from them. 'My first year out of drama school, I went for 100 auditions and didnt get one. I thought my agent was going to dump me. 'After one audition I didnt get, I went to see my mum and she said, "Oh well, never mind." And I went, "I just want a bit of sympathy and a cuddle then Ill move on!" 'And you do! It's like when you watch X Factor and the contestant goes, "This is my big chance!" 'It's not! It's one audition. If you've chosen this career, youll do them throughout your life, and you'll lose most of them.' Olivia starred in all nine series of Peep Show from 2003 to 2015, after meeting Mitchell and Robert Webb (Jeremy Usbourne) at Cambridge University's drama club, having made her professional acting debut aged 26 three years before. The comedy, about a pair of best friends enduring 'the stubborn persistence of human suffering' - as put by writer Sam Bain on Twitter in 2015 - went on to win acclaim at the British Comedy Awards and BAFTAs. Over two decades on from her breakthrough, Olivia was joined by her Wicked Little Letters co-star Jessie Buckley, who also spoke of similar financial struggles in the early days of her career, having moved to London from Killarney, Ireland. Speaking on the Radio Times Podcast, Olivia was joined by her Wicked Little Letters co-star Jessie Buckley (left), who spoke of similar financial hardship at the start of her career 'I moved when I was 17,' the I'm Thinking Of Ending Things star, now 34, recalled. 'I got paid for my first job and I thought I was rich. I was doing a show in London Bridge; by the end of the first week I'd run out of money. 'I was too embarrassed to tell any of the cast so I'd walk from Hammersmith, where I was staying, to London Bridge every night.' The pair's new movie is a comedic retelling of a real 1920s story of a poison pen scandal that shocked 1920s England. Following the spree of profanity-laden letters, rowdy Irish migrant Rose (Jessie) is charged with the crime, but suspecting that something is amiss, the women of Littlehampton investigate for themselves. She never fails to turn heads on an outing. And Sarah-Jane Crawford ensured all eyes would be on her as she threw a launch party for her new haircare range Clean Curls at Menagerie in Manchester on Monday. The 40-year-old presenter looked sensational in a plunging white midi dress as she celebrated with her friends and loved ones. Cinching in at her slender waist, the strapless garment highlighted her hourglass curves and flared out into a full skirt that skimmed over a pair of nude heels. She wore her glossy locks in curls that framed her pretty features after being inspired to embrace her natural hair in lockdown. Sarah-Jane Crawford ensured all eyes would be on her as she threw a launch party for her new haircare range Clean Curls at Menagerie in Manchester on Monday The 40-year-old presenter looked sensational in a plunging white midi dress as she celebrated with her friends and loved ones Sarah-Jane - who is launching Clean Curls with Superdrug - was in good company at the event as she partied alongside the likes of Chelsee Healy Sarah-Jane - who is launching Clean Curls with Superdrug - was in good company at the event as she partied alongside the likes of Vas J Morgan and Chelsee Healy. Chelsee showed off her natural beauty at the event as she went makeup-free. The mother-of-two looked effortlessly stylish in a cream co-ord layered beneath a longline coat. She no doubt had plenty to catch up with Sarah-Jane about after recently welcoming her second child. Chelsee announced on Christmas Eve that she'd given birth to a baby girl, sharing a picture of her baby girl and revealing she'd named her Cookie. The Hollyoaks star is also mother to daughter Coco, six, who she shares with her ex Jack Malloy. The couple split shortly after the birth. She has not revealed the identity of her new partner but recently gave fans a subtle glimpse at her secret boyfriend as she shared a throwback snap on Instagram. The star revealed she was pregnant with her second child in July, but has chosen to keep the identity of the father a secret. Alongside a stunning shoot, she wrote: 'Baby Number 2. I am Not Sure me Or the world Is Ready For Another Coco ! But WE are more than Ready... 'For as Long as coco could talk she has asked for a Baby sister or Brother... Feel beyond blessed to be giving her her wish and being a mummy of 2 and i cant wait to have another baba to Love unconditionally... We cannot wait to meet you Our Baby Love'. Sarah-Jane wore her glossy locks in curls that framed her pretty features after being inspired to embrace her natural hair in lockdown (pictured with Vas J Morgan) Sarah-Jane posed up a storm with Vas and Chelsee as they partied the night away Molly Smith has been left questioning her connections in the Love Island villa after it emerged she and ex Callum Jones raised each other's pulses the most in the heartrate challenge. Monday's episode finished on an awkward note as the results also showed that Molly and her current partner Tom Clare had raised each other's pulses the least in the group. Tom had his heart raised by former flame Georgia Steel, while Callum manage to raise his partner Jess Gale's heart. Reflecting on the shock results, Molly admitted she needed to talk things through with her ex and her current partner. In scenes that will air on Tuesday's episode, Molly told Sophie Piper: 'I think there are reasons as to why it was Cal and I, and it was Tom and Georgia S maybe he's not shutting it down like he needs to be? I do think I'm gonna speak to him' Molly Smith has been left questioning her connections in the Love Island villa after it emerged she and ex Callum Jones raised each other's pulses the most in the heartrate challenge Reflecting on the shock results, Molly admitted she needed to talk things through with her ex and her current partner (Callum Jones pictured) Monday's episode finished on an awkward note as the results also showed that Molly and her current partner Tom Clare had raised each other's pulses the least in the group Later in bed, Molly confronted Tom about the results, which prompted him to insist: 'It's just me and you.' With an unconvinced Molly laughing in response, Tom questioned: 'What? Babe if you can't trust me, we've got no chance.' The entire villa will no doubt have been reeling after taking part in the show's sexiest, and at times, most awkward challenge. The heart rate game sees the Islanders dress up and perform a series of sexy dances to the group of the opposite sex who gather around the fire pit. After the boys and girls stripped down to risque outfits for the steamy challenge, the results revealed Callum and Molly, who split just last year, might still have a spark for one another. Coming out triumphs in the challenge, Sophie Piper and Joshua Ritchie were the only couple to collectively raise each other's hearts the most. Minutes after Georgia Harrison revealed the results tension quickly rose between Molly, Callum and Tom, leaving the group too stunned for words. Hopeful fans rooting for Callum and Molly to get back together flooded X, formerly known as Twitter, praying it will be the start of the duo reconciling their relationship. Before the challenge aired, viewers even went to the extreme of begging producers to 'rig' the challenge so that the former couple will have their hearts raised by each other. When Callum and Molly surprisingly got each other's pulses raised, Tom was left fuming at the results The heart rate game sees the Islanders dress up and perform a series of sexy dances to the group of the opposite sex who gather around the fire pit Tom had his heart raised by former flame Georgia Steel (pictured) while Callum manage to raise his partner Jess' heart Callum and Molly are civil and friendly around the villa despite an awkward start in South Africa - where they both walked in as bombshells. The duo were coupled up together for over a week and tried to rekindle a spark, but they decided to go separate ways again. The former couple met when Molly was a Casa Amor bombshell on the 2020 season and they went on to have a three-year relationship, even moving in together in Manchester. Callum was revealed to be the first bombshell of the series shaking things up in the villa directly after host Maya Jama coupled-up the main line-up of former show legends during the opening episode. In an unexpected twist, Molly walked in directly after him as a second bombshell, leaving Callum completely stunned. Gemma Collins is engaged to Rami Hawash for the third time after the businessman proposed during their idyllic Maldives getaway. The former TOWIE star, 43, had been enjoying a five star stay on the tropical island when Rami decided to pop the question on the beach after a romantic meal. Rami had set up an outdoor seating area and flown out hundreds of roses so petals could cover the sands where they were sitting, with the ring in a shell. 'Rami popped the question again in the Maldives, and Gemma had no idea it was coming, she was so shocked,' a source told The Sun. 'She is absolutely thrilled and she cant believe it is finally happening. She didn't know what was happening until a huge platter of cakes came out and as Gemma started eating her mango dessert, Rami surprised her and said, "look at that". Gemma Collins is engaged to Rami Hawash for the second time after the businessman proposed during their idyllic Maldives getaway The stunning diamond teardrop shaped ring was set on a gold band 'He had lit up, "Will You Marry Me?" on the sand.' Gemma has known Rami for over ten years. She met the businessman in 2011. Rami had originally proposed by placing the ring in a Christmas pudding in 2013 when they first start dating. Four weeks later however, Gemma had called off the engagement. But the pair then reunited during lockdown, seven years after breaking off their original engagement. Gemma revealed in November she has begun a fertility journey in the hopes of having her first child with Rami, who has a son, six, from a previous relationship. The former TOWIE star has suffered three heartbreaking miscarriages and has been open about her struggles to fall pregnant in recent years. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about her family plans, she revealed she was pleased to hear that Tana Ramsay had welcomed her sixth child at the age of 49, because it gave her hope that she, too, could conceive in her 40s. She said: 'The Tana Ramsay news was the greatest thing to wake up to. Incredible. Rami had set up an outdoor seating area and flown out hundreds of roses so petals could cover the sands where they were sitting, with the ring in a shell The former TOWIE star, 43, had been enjoying a five star stay on the tropical island when Rami decided to pop the question on the beach Rami has son Tristan, six, from a previous relationship and Gemma has spoken openly of her hopes to have her own child Rami had originally proposed by placing the ring in a Christmas pudding in 2013 when they first start dating Gemma has known Rami for over ten years. She met the businessman in 2011 (pictured in 2013) 'It really made me think positively about my future and kind of took the pressure off. I don't think anyone knew she was pregnant, so it was a lovely surprise, but I got butterflies in my stomach when I saw it. 'This is amazing news for me. I'm starting my fertility journey within the next couple of weeks. I'm going to a clinic so watch these cards and get ready for me, honey.' Also in the interview, Gemma said she was in 'no rush' to tie the knot after previously jetting abroad to look at various wedding venues. When asked about her wedding plans, she said: 'For me, there's just no rush! I love J-Lo, her and Ben tied the knot at 50, they were ready to settle down and put their comfy slippers on, so I'm not probably going to do anything like that until I'm a bit older really. 'There's no rush! You're a long time married, you're a b****y long time married, and I kind of feel like marriage is sadly - and it is sad - it's a bit old hack now. 'When you see people going through divorces and all that comes with it, you're like hell no! I do not want that, I can't bear admin anyway, I couldn't be bothered to do the paperwork. So I'm just postponing it as long as possible.' Gemma went on to say that marriage was not a 'priority' for her right now. Admitting she has not yet picked a wedding venue, she continued: 'It could be Claridge's, it could be Italy, who knows! 'It could be in the middle of the forest, who knows! I'm just cool and happy as we are at the minute... It's just not a priority for me at the minute.' Cillian Murphy switched up his look for a new photoshoot with GQ - seemingly taking inspiration from his friend and fellow Irishman Barry Keoghan. The Oppenheimer actor, 47, and the Saltburn star, 31, have been going head-to-head for gongs throughout this year's awards season. However it has been Cillian who took home the Best Actor award at the Golden Globes and bagged the Oscar nomination, leaving Barry in the dust. Despite coming out on top, it seems that Cillian has still been inspired by his friend, who has taken to the awards red carpets in spectacular style. Stepping away from his typically safe but stylish wardrobe, Cillian modelled a series of bold looks, including a bright blue satin shirt on the magazine' cover. Cillian Murphy switched up his look for a new photoshoot with GQ - seemingly taking inspiration from his friend and fellow Irishman Barry Keoghan The Oppenheimer actor, 47, and the Saltburn star, 31, have been going head-to-head for gongs throughout this year's awards season Baring his hairy chest in a low-cut black top, Cillian's outfit wa styled with black jeans and a statement belt, along with an array of beaded and gold jewellery. Cillian posed on plush red and pink soft furnishings while holding onto a blue tie-dye cushion in the decidedly quirky shoot for GQ's March issue. In another photo, Cillian wore a waistcoat - which have proved to be a favourite of Barry's - with a pair of matching trousers and a plethora of bracelets and necklaces. During his chat with the men's monthly magazine, Cillian told how he tries to do one film year and is happy to be 'unemployed' while he waits for the right new film. He said: 'I have a couple of friends who are actors but a majority of them are not. The majority of my buddies are not in the business. 'I also love not working. And I think for me a lot of research as an actor is just f***ing living, and, you know, having a normal life doing regular things and just being able to observe, and be, in that sort of lovely flow of humanity. 'If you can't do that because you're going from film festival to movie set to promotionsI mean that's The Bubble. I'm not saying that makes you any better or less as an actor, but it's just a world that I couldn't exist in. I find it would be very limiting on what you can experience as a human being, you know?' Despite coming out on top, it seems that Cillian has still been inspired by his friend, who has taken to the awards red carpets in spectacular style (pictured at the Golden Globes in Jan) Stepping away from his typically safe but stylish wardrobe (pictured at the Oscar nominees lunch), Cillian modelled a series of bold looks Elsewhere during the interview, Cillian discussed his heightened fame following the success of Peaky Blinders and the Christopher Nolan epic, Oppenheimer. He said: 'To me, it always seems to go in waves. When Peaky was at its kind of apex, you'd feel a different energy around, walking around, a little bit like I do nowbut then it settles down again. It kind of comes in waves. 'And then you don't have something in the cinema for ages, and people forget about it. So. It seems to be like that, and you sort of ride that, and then things go back to normal.' While Cillian said he will happily chat to fans, he insists on a no photo policy. He said: 'Once I started doing that. It changed my life. I just think it's better to say hello, and have a little conversation. 'I tell that to a lot of people, you know, actor friends of mine, and they're just like: I feel so bad. But you don't need a photo record of everywhere you've been in a day.' Cillian is currently tipped as the front runner to receive the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards next month. Elsewhere during the interview, Cillian discussed his heightened fame following the success of Peaky Blinders and the Christopher Nolan epic, Oppenheimer (pictured) Discussing how he got involved in Nolan's project, Cillian revealed how the director flew to Ireland with a script for his top secret new film, printed on red paper. He explained: 'Which is supposedly photocopy-proof'. Every previous Nolan script had been dropped off by Nolan or one of his family members, he tells GQ. 'So, like, it's been his mum who's delivered the script to me before. Or his brother, he'll go away and come back in three hours. 'Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. They've always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me.' Revealing what it's like to work on a Nolan set, he said: 'When I'm on a Chris set, it does feel a little bit like a private, intimate laboratory. Even though he works at a tremendous pace, there's always room for curiosity and finding things out, and that's what making art should be about, you know? 'There's no phonesbut also no announcement: everybody just knows. And there's no chairs. Because he doesn't sit down. 'Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. Everyone's got their chairs and their snacks and everyone's texting and showing each other fking, you know, emojis or whatever, memes, which I do know' he says, referring obliquely to a meme of Cillian Murphy not knowing what a meme is. 'But why?' The March issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on February 27th. Gavin and Stacey have implored writers James Corden and Ruth Jones to resolve the agonising cliffhangers which were left unresolved during the last episode. Following the news that the iconic drama is set to return for the first time in five years this Christmas, viewers urged the writers to tie up certain loose ends. It was claimed on Tuesday that a new episode of the beloved BBC sitcom will reportedly be filmed over the summer and screened at Christmas. Viewers couldn't contain their excitement following the announcement and begged for there to be 'no more cliffhangers' and for all of the old ones to be resolved. Previously, the series returned for a Christmas Special back in 2019, but ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger when Nessa - played by Ruth - got down on one knee and proposed to her on/off flame Smithy - played by James. Gavin and Stacey have implored writers James Corden and Ruth Jones to resolve the agonising cliffhangers which were left unresolved during the last episode Following the news that the iconic drama is set to return for the first time in five years this Christmas, viewers urged the writers to tie up certain loose ends Elsewhere during the special fans were left more desperate than ever to find out what really happened on THAT infamous fishing trip. After years of not knowing what occurred it appeared Uncle Bryn was ready to reveal what led to him and Jason falling out on the trip during the festive family gathering. The pair were gifted with a photo of themselves together which, unbeknownst to Gwen (Melanie Walters) who gave them the present, was taken on the fishing trip. Bryn (Rob Brydon) and Jason (Robert Wilfort) both immediately fell silent as the mysterious events of the trip came back to them. The fishing trip has been a running gag throughout the series and was the cause of Bryn and Jason's long-standing troubled relationship in the early episodes. Fans thought they were finally going to get an answer to what really happened on the trip when Bryn stood up to get it off his chest, but he was interrupted by Gavin and Stacey's children running into the room. The fishing trip has never properly been spoken off causing fans to brand the cliffhanger as the 'best unsolved mystery of all time'. But now BBC viewers are wanting more of the story and taking to X to beg for it to be written into the new script. One penned: 'Fishing trip and proposal resolutions please'. Another fan wrote: 'If that new Gavin & Stacey episode ends on another cliffhanger Im pinging James Corden.' Previously, the series returned for a Christmas Special back in 2019, but ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger when Nessa - played by Ruth - got down on one knee and proposed to her on/off flame Smithy - played by James Elsewhere during the special fans were left more desperate than ever to find out what really happened on the infamous fishing trip After years of not knowing what occurred it appeared Uncle Bryn was ready to reveal what led to him and Jason falling out on the trip during the festive family gathering And on Tuesday viewers couldn't contain their excitement following the announcement and begged for there to be 'no more cliffhangers' and for old ones to be resolved The fishing trip has been a running gag throughout the series and was the cause of Bryn and Jason's long standing troubled relationship in the early episodes A third requested: 'I would like to know what happened on that fishing trip between Bryn and Jason'. 'Two words: Fishing trip. #gavinandstacey', wrote another. A fifth fan agreed: 'Already can't wait for Christmas we need answers did smithy say yes, what really happened on the fishing trip!!!!!' 'Outcome of the proposal please and of course the fishing trip', said another. 'I hope it's titled "The Fishing Trip Explanation"', added another viewers. An eighth added: 'They better not be playing with mewe need to know what happened on the fishing trip' 'What happened on the fishing trip is the best unsolved mystery of all time', said another. 'No cliffhanger and fishing trip reveal please,' begged someone else. James, who stars as Gavin's best friend Smithy, is set to reunite with cast members including Ruth, Matthew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Julia Davis for the special. Fans have long hoped James' decision to move back to the UK following his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US will increase the chances of making another episode. And after James was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth in London's Soho in November 2023, speculation went into overdrive. Deadline reports that most of the cast will return for the special, including Matthew as Gavin and Joanna as Stacey. James, who stars as Gavin's best friend Smithy, is set to reunite with cast members including Ruth, Matthew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Julia Davis for the special Previously Joanna crushed fans' hopes of a Gavin and Stacey comeback, saying the legendary sitcom is unlikely to ever return Previously, James told the RTS Cambridge Convention he felt 'compelled to come home' after leaving The Late Late Show after hosting 1,000. However, he has not stopped interviewing celebrities as his new venture, called This Life of Mine with James Corden, has already scored top guests such as Martin Scorsese, Kim Kardashian and David Beckham. READ MORE: Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page reveals major update about the show's future after James Corden and Ruth Jones were spotted together in London Advertisement He also confessed that he didn't know if he would do any more Gavin and Stacey but stressed he would 'love to make something together again' with Jones at the convention. Meanwhile, Gavin and Stacy fans went into meltdown earlier today when the news of a Christmas special emerged. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'GAVIN AND STACY AHHHHHHHHH'. Another said: 'Gavin & Stacey is back?!?! OMG I suddenly feel so much better!!!' A third said: 'OMG YES'. A fourth wrote: 'Gavin & Stacey back for a Christmas special! O M and G!!' Sheridan Smith addressed the possibility of a reboot of the smash hit sitcom in an interview late last year. Speaking to Jason King and Kelly Brook on Heart Breakfast, Sheridan said she didn't know if the show will return, but said she thinks 'so many shows overdo it'. The actress - who played Rudi, the sister of Corden's Smithy - suggested that the show would not be back, despite fans 'all wanting' the all-star cast to return. During her radio appearance, she said: 'I have not a clue if they're going to do any more or not, I really don't know.' 'I think what they've done is genius, they've left it on a high haven't they, so many shows overdo it, because we all want more, we all want more Gavin & Stacey.' Her comments came after Joanna crushed fans' hopes of a comeback, claiming the legendary sitcom was unlikely to ever return. 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.' Yet she added: '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. 'And if there is a comeback, I'll find out at the same time as the public because I don't get told anything.' The BBC declined to comment. Joanna previously let fans in on a secret about one of the famous Gavin & Stacey scenes from the original festive episode in 2008. The Welsh actress said when her on-screen father-in-law Mick Shipman took to the keyboard to perform Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas but the moment was actually fake. Joanna explained that Larry Lamb, who played Mick, had piano lessons but it made no difference as he was still 'dreadful' on the instrument so editors made the decision to dub the scene. In the episode, Mick 'played' the festive classic while surrounded by the main cast, Gavin, Pam, Smithy and Nessa, in the Shipmans' living room after his wife gifted him the keyboard for Christmas. Coronation Street star Bhavna Limbachia has exchanged vows with her husband for the second time - seven years after their first wedding ceremony. The actress, best known for her role as Rana Habeeb on the ITV soap opera, flew to Mauritius with husband Darren Kuppan for a traditional Tamil blessing in February. Taking to Instagram, Preston born Limbachia, 39, shared photos from the ceremony with her 104,000 followers on Monday. Posting a video and photos of herself in an Indian saree, the actress credited a local Mauritian salon for helping transform her into a Tamil bride ahead of her blessing. Captioning another image - taken following the ceremony - she wrote: '9.02.24 Finally had our Tamil wedding blessing in Mauritius.' Coronation Street star Bhavna Limbachia has exchanged vows with husband Darren Kuppan for the second time - seven years after their first wedding ceremony The actress flew to the island of Mauritius with her husband for the traditional Tamil blessing The actress originally exchanged vows with Kuppan at an intimate Cheshire service attended by her Coronation Street castmates in July 2018. At the time Limbachia's soap character was involved in a secret lesbian affair with Kate Connor, played by Faye Brookes, despite being married to Zeedan Nazir. Eventually Zeedan discovered the pair in a romantic tryst and immediately told Rana's conservative family, who condemned her same-sex romance. Limbachia later revealed she was approached with the storyline twenty months ago and was left surprised as her character was a 'man-eater.' The actress also admitted that she wanted to do the storyline justice after sourcing inspiration from a boy she knew who committed suicide after struggling to be accepted because of his sexuality. Coming from an Indian background, Limbachia also admitted that by taking on the role, she wasn't sure how her mother was going to react. 'I sat her down and told her I was kissing a girl on screen. She didnt quite understand, so I told her in Gujarati and she said if youre going to help people, then youve got my full support.' Rana was eventually killed off in 2019 after being trapped beneath rubble following the Underworld factory collapse. Limbachia is best known for her role as Rana Habeeb on Coronation Street (pictured) Taking to Instagram, Preston born Limbachia shared photos taken before and after the ceremony with her 104,000 followers The actress originally exchanged vows with Kuppan at an intimate Cheshire service attended by her Coronation Street castmates in July 2018 (pictured during their second service Limbachia posted a video and photos of herself in an Indian saree after preparing for the Tamil blessing Limbachia's soap character was involved in a secret lesbian affair with Kate Connor, played by Faye Brookes, despite being married to Zeedan Nazir At the time, Limbachia described Rana's death as a 'fitting end', saying she wouldn't want her character to 'just hop in a cab and leave. The actress also revealed how she filmed amid the rubble for a whole week as she shot her character's final moments. Speaking on This Morning shortly after her exit, Limbachia told the show's former hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how they shot her scenes. They were quite insane and difficult. I filmed under rubble for about a week,' she explained. 'I was put on a board on wheels and they wheeled me in and out. We had goggles and masks to protect us through the rubble.' The actress also addressed the ITV soap's backlash for killing off a lesbian character. She added: 'My decision to be killed off was never meant to offend the community. It was purely about two people being in love.' County officials identified a Billings man who died after driving his vehicle off the Rims earlier this month. Kyle J. Maxwell, a 30-year-old father of four, died of multiple blunt force injuries, Yellowstone County Deputy Coroner Valerie Juhl said Tuesday. Coroners have ruled the manner of his death a suicide. In the early hours of Feb. 4, according to a statement from Billings Police Lt. Matt Lennick, Maxwell was identified as a suspect in a domestic disturbance at a home on the West End. Officers followed Maxwell, who was driving a white pickup truck north on Zimmerman Trail. When Maxwell reached to the top of Zimmerman Trail and turned east onto Highway 3, Lennick said police tried to pull him over. Maxwell apparently did not yield to officers, and starting to accelerate prompting police to break off the pursuit. The department has policies in place that determine the circumstances to break off a pursuit, Lennick told the Gazette. Those circumstance can include excessive speeds, but the decision usually takes into account any dangers to the public, a suspect or the police officer, he said. "Any officer has the authority to decide to break off a pursuit," he said. About a half-mile west of the Highway 3 and North 27th Street roundabout, Maxwells truck went south, crashing through a length of wooden railing and going off the edge of the Rims. The trucked stopped on an outcropping of rocks several yards above a neighborhood off Rimrock Road. Emergency crews pronounced Maxwell dead at the scene. The Billings Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office assisted in responding to the crash and subsequent investigation. Maxwell, born and raised in Billings, also served for seven years in the Army National Guard, according to an obituary published in the days after his death. Emily Ratajkowski commanded attention in a sheer dress as she walked the Tory Burch Fall-Winter 2024 runway at New York Fashion Week. The British-born American model, 32, sent pulses racing as she strutted the catwalk in a chiffon and leather outfit during Monday's event, held at the stately New York Public Library, Tory, 57, described the new collection as an example of 'everyday sublime,' according to Vogue, and many of the latest looks appeared to marry flapper-style embellishments with styles from the mid-1960s, along with edgier elements. Emily showcased her petite frame in what appeared to be a leather leotard fashioned to resemble crocodile skin. The bodysuit, which highlighted her ample cleavage, featured an intricate flower-embellished strap. Emily Ratajkowski put on a very leggy display in a sheer dress as she walked the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2024 runway show as part of New York Fashion Week on Monday The American model, 32, sent pulses racing as she strutted down the catwalk, held at the stately New York Public Library, in a chiffon and leather garment The brunette beauty's outfit was paired with a chiffon sheer skirt with a wave of cream and sequins that faded up from the bottom hemline. In keeping with the 60s theme, Emily wore a pair of denier 20 tights and a pair of shiny black court heels finished with a large melted silver stud. To accessorise, the star donned bold grape-inspired earrings that trailed up her lobes. Showing the unique style, Emily slicked her thick tresses back in a long, thick braid which trailed down her back. She opted for a cool and natural makeup look which featured a pouty glossy lip and a hint of lilac eyeshadow. The personality was spotted backstage scrolling through her phone as a hairstylist and makeup artist quickly tried to work their magic. Emily's captivating walk was seen by some of fashion's biggest celebrities as Kathryn Newton, Uma Thurman and Awkwafina were spotted at the star-studded event. Kathryn, 27, fit the theme well with a white sack dress covered in tiny red dots with a matching jacket that wouldn't have been out of place during the Summer of Love. Emily showcased her petite frame in what appeared to be a leather leotard fashioned to resemble crocodile skin The bodysuit, which highlighted her ample cleavage, featured an intricate flower-embellished strap In keeping with the 60s theme, Emily wore a pair of denier 20 tights and a pair of shiny black court heels finished with a large melted silver stud Showing the unique style, Emily slicked her thick tresses back in a long, thick braid which trailed down her back She even had the bangs to complement it, and she let her long blond hair frame her delicately made-up face and cascade down her chest. Uma contrasted her look with a black top and slightly cropped black slacks. She spiced up the low-key look with a shimmering metallic gold coat that she left unbuttoned. The 53-year-old Pulp Fiction star stood tall in simple black heels and accessorized with a green, black and mustard yellow handbag. Awkwafina, 35, flashed some more flesh in a plunging black midi dress. The look featured a plunging neckline with a thin but rounded divot, and it featured sleeve-like flaps that draped over her arms. Her dress put the spotlight on her toned legs, and she wore a set of square-toed black shoes with gold designs. She opted for a cool and natural makeup look which featured a pouty glossy lip and a hint of lilac eyeshadow The personality was spotted backstage scrolling through her phone as a hairstylist and makeup artist quickly tried to work their magic The new trailer for Damsel sees Millie Bobby Brown in a fight for her life, while trapped in a cave with a dragon. The Netflix film stars the Stranger Things actress, 19, as Elodie, a dutiful damsel who agrees to an arranged marriage with a handsome prince. However, she soon learns that the royal family have recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. The trailer sees Elodie being fitted for a new gown as Lord Bayford, played by Ray Winstone, tells her: 'I have made a match. The prince. We need this, your people need you.' Elodie is then courted by Prince Henry (Nick Robinson) and soon meets his parents, King Roderick (Milo Twomey) and the regal Queen Isabelle, who is played by Robin Wright. The new trailer for Damsel sees Millie Bobby Brown in a fight for her life, while trapped in a cave with a dragon The Netflix film stars the Stranger Things actress, 19, as Elodie, a dutiful damsel who agrees to an arranged marriage with a handsome prince However, she soon learns that the royal family have recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt Elodie and Prince Henry walk down to a cave entrance, with watching guests, all eerily wearing gold masks to obscure their faces. As the music turns foreboding, Angela Bassett's Lady Bayford warns Elodie: 'I need you to listen to me now. I don't trust them. They may be royalty but that doesn't make them good people.' In a ritualistic ceremony, Queen Isabelle asks for Elodie's hand and proceeds to slice open her palm. Prince Henry is then seen carrying a smiling Elodie in his arms across a bridge, telling her: 'Close your eyes, I've got you'. However, the music pounds as he stops and proceeds to dramatically fling her off the bridge and into the cave below. A terrified Elodie screams for help in the dark cavern and sees fiery sparks engulf a flock of birds, before holding one dying bird and brokenly asking: 'What happened to you?' We hear Queen Isabelle's voice saying: 'Elodie, you join a long line of women who have helped to build this kingdom. It is this sacrifice we commemorate every generation. A tradition going back centuries. A legacy of honour and duty you now inherit.' Flashes of other trapped women in fear are seen as Elodie finds a wall with the names of the other sacrifices carved into the stone. The trailer sees Elodie being fitted for a new gown as Lord Bayford, played by Ray Winstone, tells her: ' I have made a match. The prince. We need this, your people need you' Elodie is then courted by Prince Henry ( Nick Robinson ) and soon meets his parents, King Roderick (Milo Twomey) and the regal Queen Isabelle, who is played by Robin Wright Elodie and Prince Henry walk down to a cave entrance, with watching guests, all eerily wearing gold masks to obscure their faces As the music turns foreboding, Angela Bassett's Lady Bayford warns Elodie: 'I need you to listen to me now. I don't trust them. They may be royalty but that doesn't make them good people' Prince Henry is then seen carrying a smiling Elodie in his arms across a bridge, telling her: 'Close your eyes, I've got you' However, the music pounds as he stops and proceeds to dramatically fling her off the bridge and into the cave below A terrified Elodie screams for help in the dark cavern and sees fiery sparks engulf a flock of birds, before holding one dying bird and brokenly asking: 'What happened to you?' We then finally see Elodie come face to face with the horrifying dragon and running in her ballgown as it breathes fire at her. She vows: 'I will escape, for every innocent woman whose life was stolen' as she is seen using her strength and wits to climb the cave walls to escape the dragon's clutches. Elodie fashions weapons and climbing ropes, before picking up a sword to prepare for battle as she dodges the dragon's talons. Clips of the royal kingdom burning and a worried Lady Bayford are shown as Queen Isabelle sneers: 'You know nothing of our story'. A defiant Elodie is seen preparing to face off against the dragon before walking angrily through the castle, covered in blood and soot with her ballgown in tatters, as she fiercely declares: 'This is the end of your story'. Speaking about her role as Elodie, Millie said: 'Shes a damsel who doesnt need to be saved. She saves herself in many ways. 'It subverts what you expect: Youre expecting the prince to turn around and save her, and no. Dont wait for the prince.' Damsel is set to land on Netflix on March 8, after its release date was pushed back from October 2023 due to delays in production from the actors and writers strikes. We then finally see Elodie come face to face with the horrifying dragon and running in her ballgown as it breathes fire at her Elodie fashions weapons and climbing ropes, before picking up a sword to prepare for battle as she dodges the dragon's talons Clips of the royal kingdom burning and a worried Lady Bayford are shown as Queen Isabelle sneers: 'You know nothing of our story' A defiant Elodie is seen walking angrily through the castle, covered in blood and soot with her ballgown in tatters, as she fiercely declares: 'This is the end of your story' Speaking about her role as Elodie, Millie said: 'Shes a damsel who doesnt need to be saved. She saves herself in many ways' Kelly Osbourne and her family enjoyed a day of retail therapy on Monday. The star, 39, held her son Sidney while shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills with her mother Sharon Osbourne, 71. Kelly - who recently attended the Grammys with her partner Sid Wilson- was looking cool and casual for her day of shopping, with a black beanie containing her violet locks and a pair of edgy sunglasses shielding her eyes. She donned a white long-sleeve top, jeans, and carried a woven leather purse. Her feet were slipped into cosy white socks and trendy loafers. Her mother Sharon was looking oh-so chic in a cream turtleneck, black trousers, and gold chain purse slung over her shoulder. Kelly Osbourne went shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue with her mother Sharon and son Sidney in Beverly Hills on Monday She wore sunglasses, gold earrings, and carried a shopping bag from designer Celine. Kelly shares her son with her partner, Slipknot musician Sid Wilson. Osbourne and Sid initially met in 1999 when Slipknot played during the Ozzfest festival, which was founded by her parents. The pair eventually reconnected years later, and a source confirmed that they were officially dating in January of 2022. A source spoke to People at the time and told the media outlet that the media personality and the musician were 'very happy together.' Osbourne went on to confirm that she was pregnant that May, and she gave birth to a boy named Sidney, two, later that year. Last year, during an appearance on Scheana Shay's podcast, Kelly admitted she 'went a little too far' losing her baby weight. She told Shay who is also a mother-of-one that she went 'on a mission' to shed the pregnancy pounds but lost more than she'd needed to. Kelly carried her one-year-old son against her waist as she returned the car with his stroller by her side '[I was] on a mission after having the baby to lose all [my] baby weight,' she said. 'Then I was like, "Well, I lost all the baby weight. Let's see how far I can go with it." And then went a little too far.' Kelly has had lifelong battle with weight which previously drove her to seek surgical intervention. In 2020, the television personality revealed that she had quietly undergone gastric sleeve surgery two years before, leading to a jaw-dropping 85lb weight loss. Kelly was looking cool and casual for her day of shopping, with a black beanie containing her violet locks and a pair of edgy sunglasses shielding her eyes She also previously admitted to having injections to change the shape of her face, and make her jaw look 'skinnier,' after suffering with TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction). Kelly isn't the only member of her family who went through a body transformation this year. Her mom Sharon recently lost 42 pounds with the help of the weight loss and diabetes drug Ozempic. The drug is also known as Wegovy the brand name for semaglutide, which works in the brain to make users feel full. Kelly shares her son with her partner, Slipknot musician Sid Wilson; pictured at the 66th Grammys In an interview with DailyMail.com, the former X Factor judge weighed in on the effect her weight loss has had on her health. She said: 'I'm too gaunt, and I can't put any weight on. I want to because I feel I'm too skinny. I'm under 100 lbs, and I don't want to be.' The star added the warning, 'Be careful what you wish for.' In an interview with Piers Morgan in September, Sharon spoke about how the drug affected her: '[There were] about two three weeks where I felt nauseous the whole time. You get very thirsty and you don't eat.' She also discussed the subject as she appeared on Good Morning Britain. Sharon told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'It does what it says on the packet, it absolutely does. But my only fear is that it is put in the right hands. I don't think it's for teenagers at all.' Shanina Shaik graced the runway in a black low-cut and skintight dress by fashion designer LaQuan Smith on Monday. The floor length sleeveless dress looked like latex as it clung to her skin and was unbuttoned to her midsection that showed off her chest. Its design emphasized Shanina's hourglass figure as it framed her hips and shoulders. The 33-year-old Australian model wore a bold red lip and paired it with a slicked back bun. Designer LaQuan Smith wanted a 'raw, futuristic, sci-fi glamour' look for his 2024 pieces, according to People. Shanina Shaik wore a low-cut dress when she walked the runway for LaQuan Smith show in NYC on Monday The floor length sleeveless dress looked like latex as it clung to her skin This comes as she turned heads Thursday in a racy cut-out midi dress while she stepped out in New York City. The mother-of-one has been booked and busy as she bounced around pre-Grammy parties last week in Los Angeles and prepped for fashion week in New York. The former Victoria's Secret welcomed her first child with then boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan back in September of 2022. Months after giving birth, she bounced back and returned to the runway since. The pair first publicized their romance on Valentine's Day in 2021. They have been dating since 2020. The Australian beauty was linked to DJ Ruckus back in 2015, and less than a year later, the two were engaged. In April 2018, the pair got married in the Bahamas in a destination wedding. Its design emphasized Shanina's hourglass figure as it framed her hips and shoulders Citing irreconcilable differences in July 2019, Shanina opted for a divorce. Shanina is most recognized for her work as a supermodel for Victoria's Secret but has also appeared on the covers of Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. The model has appeared on Project Runway, walked the runway for Chanel, and famously opened for Jason Wu. 2024 will be my year, Shanina Shaik said on an Instagram post. Shaik was pictured in low-cut dress attending David Carballido's 2024 Pre-GRAMMY Awards Party on February 2 in West Hollywood Cillian Murphy has revealed Chrostopher Nolan personally delivers all of his film scripts on special paper that can't be photocopied. The actor, 47, took on the lead role in Christopher's blockbuster Oppenheimer which has earned him a Best Actor nomination at this year's Academy Awards. It was the fifth time Cillian and Christopher have worked together with the film star revealing the director's personal approach to giving out his screenplays. He flew to Ireland to hand the actor the script personally, with Cillian reading all 197 pages immediately. Speaking to GQ Magazine, he said: 'So, like, it's been his mum who's delivered the script to me before. Or his brother; he'll go away and come back in three hours. Cillian Murphy has revealed Chrostopher Nolan personally delivers all of his film scripts on special paper that can't be photocopied The actor, 47, took on the lead role in Christopher's blockbuster Oppenheimer which has earned him a Best Actor nomination at this year's Academy Awards (Christopher and Cillian pictured in February 2024) 'Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. 'They've always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me.' Cillian also told how Christopher had already called him about playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in the film and he'd said yes before reading the script. The actor also described what it's like working with the acclaimed director, describing his sets as like an 'intimate laboratory'. He said: 'Even though he works at a tremendous pace, there's always room for curiosity and finding things out, and that's what making art should be about, you know? There's no phonesbut also no announcement: everybody just knows. 'And there's no chairs. Because he doesn't sit down. Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. 'Everyone's got their chairs and their snacks and everyone's texting and showing each other f*****g, you know, emojis or whatever, memes which I do know, but why?' Elsewhere during the interview, Cillian told how he tries to do just one film a year and doesn't mind being 'unemployed' while waiting for the right project to come along. Christopher flew to Ireland to hand the actor the script personally, with Cillian reading all 197 pages immediately (Cillian pictured in Oppenheimer) The March issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on February 27th He said: 'I have a couple of friends who are actors but a majority of them are not. The majority of my buddies are not in the business. I also love not working. 'And I think for me a lot of research as an actor is just f*****g living, and, you know, having a normal life doing regular things and just being able to observe, and be, in that sort of lovely flow of humanity. 'If you can't do that because you're going from film festival to movie set to promotionsI mean that's The Bubble. 'I'm not saying that makes you any better or less as an actor, but it's just a world that I couldn't exist in. I find it would be very limiting on what you can experience as a human being, you know?' The March issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on February 27th. Paul Mescal cut a casual figure in a trendy black jacket and trousers as he headed out on a brisk walk in New York City on Monday. The Normal People actor, 28, kept a low profile with dark-rimmed sunglasses and a black beanie hat. He stepped out solo for a morning walk in the big apple, while listening to music through his wired headphones. The actor looked trendy in his oversized bottoms and wore stylish Adidas trainers, with Nike white socks. Paul looked happy and relaxed on his fun trip in NYC while he popped out for a cigarette. Paul Mescal, 28, cut a casual figure in a trendy black jacket and trousers as he headed out on a brisk walk in New York City on Monday The Normal People actor kept a low profile with dark-rimmed sunglasses and a black beanie hat It comes after Paul revealed the one thing 'we all do' that really gives him the 'ick' during a YouTube game with Andrew Scott last month. He admitted that people who act 'chill' when turning off the lights to go to bed and run 'up the stairs because they're scared' is his biggest ick. Paul said he likes to 'try to impress' someone by 'smoothly' heading back up stairs and acting cool rather than panicking. Speaking with LADbible, he said: 'Do you know what gives me more of an ick, because I think we all do it, is if you were like, "Oh, I'm just gonna go down and turn off the lights". 'And they're being all chill and then you hear them accelerate up the stairs because they're scared. The Aftersun star went on to reveal that people who 'slide down [the stairs] on their bum' give him even more of an ick. He added: 'That gives me more of the ick, cause it's not as funny. That would give me the ick. It's just a bit weird. 'Yeah, and what you have to sort of laugh along? It's less of a big gesture. You'd be, like, that was your bum. I've broken my coccyx.' He stepped out solo for a morning walk in the big apple, while listening to music through his wired headphones Paul (right) revealed the one thing 'we all do' that really gives him the 'ick' during a YouTube game with Andrew Scott (left) last month He admitted that people who act 'chill' when turning off the lights to go to bed and run 'up the stairs because they're scared' is his biggest ick 'Because I think we'd all do it. But I think if I was trying to impress someone I'd, like, smoothly walk up the stairs, than be dealing with the... yeah'. He said he likes to 'try to impress' someone by 'smoothly' heading back up stairs and acting cool rather than panicking The Aftersun star went on to reveal that people who 'slide down [the stairs] on their bum' give him even more of an ick It comes after Paul and Andrew admitted they weren't too keen on their family members watching their new film All Of Us Strangers. The movie stars Andrew, 47, as a screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home who enters into a relationship with a mysterious neighbour, played by Paul. The film features several intimate scenes between the actors which the pair discussed during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show earlier this month. Asked if their families had seen the flick yet, Paul said: 'With the Irish premiere, trying to allocate tickets to all the aunties and uncles is a tricky business. They have seen my bum before but there is a little more going on in this movie I would say!' Andrew added: 'I don't want to be there when my parents watch it!' All Of Us Strangers dominated the competition at the British Independent Film Awards, earning a staggering seven gongs in total. Among the awards was the top prize for Best Film, beating Femme, How To Have Sex, Rye Lane and Scrapper. Kourtney Kardashian is living the life of a rock and roll wife. The reality TV star, 44, is in Australia to support her husband Travis Barker, 48, on the Australian leg of his Blink-182 tour, sharing a slew off photos to document the idyllic trip. Also with the couple are her kids Penelope Disick, 11, and son Reign, nine, were seen in her images from Down Under. The mother-of-four has not shared any photos of her eldest son Mason Disick, 14, nor of her youngest, Rocky Barker, three months, however. On Tuesday, Kourtney posted four snaps of the beachside landscape at Gordons Bay and Bronte Beach in Sydney's ritzy Eastern Suburbs. Kourtney Kardashian, 44, is living the life of a rock and roll wife as she and her kids Penelope Disick, 11, and son Reign, nine, joined her husband Down Under. She shared this photo of the family exploring Gordons Bay in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs on Tuesday One of the photos shows Penelope and Reign who The Kardashians star shares with her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, 40 descending stairs flanked on both sides by shrubbery. She also shared a photo of a sign at an amateur fishing and sea rescue club in Gordons Bay as well as locals relaxing on a jetty at the picturesque Bronte beach. Kourtney and Travis made surprise appearances at a series of local haunts around Australia since arriving in the country earlier this month. The Poosh founder and two of her four kids are with Travis Barker, 48, on the Australian leg of his band, Blink-182's tour. (Pictured last year) On Tuesday, Kourtney posted snaps of the beachside landscape at Gordons Bay and Bronte Beach in Sydney 's ritzy Eastern Suburbs Shortly after jetting into Sydney from the US, Kourtney and Travis decided to take a tour of the famous beachside suburb Bondi and try some local takeaway food, visiting popular eatery Bonditony's Burger Joint. Posing for a polaroid snap at the eatery, Kourtney looked stylish in a cream coat with black stitching as she pouted and flashed the peace sign for the camera. Elsewhere on their visit down Bondi Beach, the couple also stopped to pose for photographs with eager fans as they dropped in on vegan cafe, Funky Pies. She also shared a photo of a sign at an amateur fishing and sea rescue club in Gordons Bay (left) as well as locals relaxing on a jetty at the picturesque Bronte beach (right) They appeared to be in good spirits as they posed with a fan, while Reign also sweetly photobombed the snap during the family day out. Travis then jetted off to Perth to kick off his tour, while Kourtney stayed in Sydney with the kids. On Thursday, Kourtney was seen treating Penelope and Reign, who she shares with ex Scott Disick, to some ice-cream at popular hot spot Gelato Messina in Bondi. Shortly after jetting into Sydney from the US, Kourtney and Travis decided to take a tour of the famous beachside suburb Bondi and try some local takeaway food, visiting popular eatery Bonditony's Burger Joint Kourtney was seen trying several flavors before she ultimately decided her final pick. Elsewhere in the day, Kourtney was seen paying a visit to op shop UTURN with her kids to take a look at their vintage second-hand clothing options. Later that week, Kourtney took her son Reign, eight, to Bondi restaurant hotspot Bills for a meal. The socialite shared several pictures of her visit to the Sydney institution, revealing an incredible spread of pancakes, pasta, burgers and chips. Travis and his bandmates Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge are set to play four shows in Melbourne, three in Brisbane and four in Sydney before hopping over to New Zealand for one show in Aukland. The family enjoyed some family time before Travis' first show of the Australia and New Zealand tour on February 14 in Melbourne. Elsewhere on their visit down Bondi Beach, the couple also stopped to pose for photographs with eager fans as they dropped in on vegan cafe, Funky Pies. They appeared to be in good spirits as they posed with a fan, while Reign also sweetly photobombed the snap during the family day out The Lemme founder also appeared in a TikTok video with Penelope who wore a Blink-182 T-shirt and Reign. The Kardashians star stood between her kids as the three swayed along and lip-synced to Jhene Aiko's song Stay Ready (What a Life). The drummer has had a fear of flying since he was a teenager. In 2001, when artwork was being designed for his band's album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Barker objected to an airplane being part of the design. 'Please don't give me the plane I have a really f*cked-up fear of flying,' he said at the time. Seven years later the What's My Age Again nearly lost his life and suffered severe burns in a private plane crash in 2008. Before his trip to Australia he wrote about taking the 15 1/2 hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. 'Feels like I'm going back in time,' the musician wrote on X, (formerly known as Twitter) earlier this month. Later that week, Kourtney took her son Reign, eight, to Bondi restaurant hotspot Bills for a meal 'I haven't been to Australia in 19 years because of my fear of flying after my accident. I'm back,' he wrote. When the plane skidded off the runway in Columbia, South Carolina in 2008, it smashed into an embankment and exploded. Travis and 'DJ AM' Adam Goldstein escaped the plane after Barker tried to get his security guard Che Still and assistant Chris Baker out of the plane. Barker and Goldstein ran in circles on the highway the plane crashed on while both of them were on fire. Travis and his bandmates Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge are set to play four shows in Melbourne, three in Brisbane and four in Sydney before hopping over to New Zealand for one show in Aukland The Lemme founder also appeared in a TikTok video with Penelope who wore a Blink-182 t-shirt and Reign The Kardashians star stood between her kids as the three swayed along and lip-synced to Jhene Aiko's song Stay Ready (What a Life) Kourtney and two of her kids looked like they were having a blast hamming it up for the camera People yelled at the duo to 'Stop, drop and roll' and Goldstein extinguished the fire on Travis' body. Barker and Goldstein were the only survivors and Travis spent 11 weeks in the hospital and had more than 16 surgeries, many skin grafts and nearly had to have his foot amputated. 'There were times when they were talking about amputating my foot because I didn't have enough skin on my body for my grafts,' he said. When Kourtney and Travis started dating she helped calm him as he boarded his first flight in 13 years. Zoe Kravitz flashed the engagement ring her fiance Channing Tatum proposed to her with last October while running errands in New York City on Monday. The 35-year-old bride-to-be's 7-carat 'rare elongated cushion-cut diamond' is estimated to have cost the 43-year-old groom-to-be between $475K and $550K - according to Page Six. Zoe - who relies on stylist Andrew Mukamal - donned a chic brown trench coat over a blue sweater, dark-brown wide-leg pants, and $205 Birkenstock 'Boston Soft Footbed' clogs. Kravitz originally met Channing in January 2021 when she cast him as tech billionaire Slater King in her feature directorial debut Blink Twice, which Amazon MGM Studios will release August 23 in US theaters. Before meeting Tatum, the SAG Award nominee was married to Reptile actor Karl Glusman for 18 months before their divorce was finalized in August 2021. Zoe Kravitz flashed the engagement ring her fiance Channing Tatum proposed to her with last October while running errands in New York City on Monday The 35-year-old bride-to-be's 7-carat 'rare elongated cushion-cut diamond' is estimated to have cost the 43-year-old groom-to-be between $475K and $550K Zoe was said to have previously romanced Chris Pine, Noah Gabriel Becker, Penn Badgley, Ezra Miller, Michael Fassbender, Ben Foster, and Twin Shadow. The Magic Mike's Last Dance producer-star is father to 10-year-old daughter Everly 'Evie' Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum from his eight-year marriage to Step Up love interest Jenna Dewan, which ended in 2019. Last month, Kravitz changed the title of her Mexican-set suspense horror drama after vowing she'd never rename P***y Island since it's 'the seed of the story.' 'The title came from that world. The title is the seed of the story,' the YSL Beauty brand ambassador explained to the Wall Street Journal in 2022. 'It represents this time where it would be acceptable for a group of men to call a place that and the illusion that we're out of that time now.' Naomi Ackie, Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan, Alia Shawkat, Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Levon Thurman-Hawke, and Adria Arjona will also star in Blink Twice. On January 26, Channing proudly shared a behind-the-scenes video of Zoe at the helm captioned: 'Miss director lady herself in action! Absolutely crushing it! Can't wait for y'all to see.' 'It's like going to school,' Kravitz - who dropped out of SUNY Purchase after one year - told WWD back in 2022. Zoe - who relies on stylist Andrew Mukamal - donned a chic brown trench coat over a blue sweater, dark-brown wide-leg pants, and $205 Birkenstock 'Boston Soft Footbed' clogs Kravitz originally met Channing in January 2021 when she cast him as tech billionaire Slater King in her feature directorial debut Blink Twice, which Amazon MGM Studios will release August 23 in US theaters Last month, the SAG Award nominee changed the title of her Mexican-set suspense horror drama after vowing she'd never rename P***y Island since it's 'the seed of the story' Zoe explained to the Wall Street Journal in 2022: 'The title came from that world. The title is the seed of the story. It represents this time where it would be acceptable for a group of men to call a place that and the illusion that we're out of that time now' Naomi Ackie (L), Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan, Alia Shawkat, Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Levon Thurman-Hawke, and Adria Arjona will also star in Blink Twice On January 26, Tatum proudly shared a behind-the-scenes video of Kravitz at the helm captioned: 'Miss director lady herself in action! Absolutely crushing it! Can't wait for y'all to see' The YSL Beauty brand ambassador would be nowhere without being the privileged nepo-baby of four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz (R, pictured March 10) and The Cosby Show alum Lisa Bonet, who ended their six-year marriage in 1993 Last Saturday, the 59-year-old Fly Away rocker landed on the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction nominee list and gushed: 'Woke up to this! Grateful to be nominated for this prestigious honor' 'You learn a lot about what it takes to make a film. It's pretty wild. I will never be the same on a movie set again.' The LA-born beauty will eventually reprise her role as Bonnie Carlson in the third season of Max's Big Little Lies according to producer-star Nicole Kidman who confirmed on November 17: 'We will be bringing you a third one just FYI.' But it's unclear if Zoe will still portray grieving painter Katherine in Mona Fastvold's big-screen adaptation of Rachel Lyon's 2018 novel Self-Portrait as there's been no updates since last May. Kravitz would be nowhere without being the privileged nepo-baby of four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz and The Cosby Show alum Lisa Bonet, who ended their six-year marriage in 1993. The 59-year-old Fly Away rocker just landed on the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction nominee list alongside Cher, Mariah Carey, Sade, Mary J. Blige, Jane's Addiction, Sinead O'Connor, and Ozzy Osbourne. 'Woke up to this! Grateful to be nominated for this prestigious honor, @rockhall,' Lenny gushed on Instagram last Saturday. 'Cast your vote daily starting today through April 26th @ vote.rockhall.com.' Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley looked incredible as they arrived at the Wicked Little Letters premiere in Leicester Square on Tuesday. The actresses, who both star in the comedy, posed arm-in-arm as they met on the red carpet of the European premiere. Olivia, 50, wowed in a glitzy black and green caped top which was covered in silver-studded embellishments. She teamed her dazzling look with satin black trousers, patent black court heels and silver dangling earrings. Jessie, 34, oozed glamour in a strapless peach dress and wore opaque black tights and high-heels. Olivia Colman, 50, and Jessie Buckley, 34, looked incredible as they arrived at the Wicked Little Letters premiere in Leicester Square on Tuesday The actresses, who both star in the comedy, posed arm-in-arm as they met on the red carpet of the European premiere Olivia was joined by her beloved actor husband Ed Sinclair - who co-produced the movie. The Film 4 release, which is set around a 1920s English seaside Sussex town, will hit screens on February 23, 2024. Olivia takes a starring role as Edith Swan - a deeply conservative woman who is quick to point the finger in her community's mystery. Jessie plays Rose Gooding - the fiery younger woman wrongly accused of drafting a spate of hateful letters to various members of the community. The two-and-a-half-minute teaser trailer, which released in October 2023, gives fans a hint at the show's outrageous language and playful humour. It shows Edith and Jessie suited and booted in classic 1920s dress as members of the community run around the town setting traps and conspiring about who the menace of the village really is. It follows two neighbours: conservative local Edith and rowdy Irish migrant Rose. When Edith and her fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The Film 4 release, which is set around a 1920s English seaside Sussex town, will hit screens on February 23, 2024 Jessie oozed glamour in a strapless peach dress and wore opaque black tights and high-heels Olivia and Jessie shared an adorable moment on the red carpet Olivia wowed in a glitzy black and green caped top which was covered in silver-studded embellishments She teamed her dazzling look with satin black trousers, patent black court heels and silver dangling earrings The two-and-a-half-minute teaser trailer, which released in October 2023, gives fans a hint at the show's outrageous language and playful humour. Olivia takes a starring role as Edith Swan - a deeply conservative woman who is quick to point the finger in her community's mystery Jessie plays Rose Gooding - the fiery younger woman wrongly accused of drafting a spate of hateful letters to various members of the community The movie follows two neighbours: conservative local Edith and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Olivia was joined by her beloved actor husband Ed Sinclair - who co-produced the movie Olivia and Ed looked smitten at the premiere The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town's women - led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) - begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit. While the film is expected to be a smash hit, the shocking real-life story behind the highly-anticipated film and the trials continue to mystify true crime fans today. Filming of Wicked Little Letters took place around Arundel and Worthing, which doubles for Littlehampton, where the bizarre incident occurred almost a century ago. Those familiar with the notorious case will know that Edith, a respected member of the community, was eventually exposed as the poison pen author, charged with criminal libel and ultimately tried at Lewes magistrates court in 2021. The new film is understood to be a lighthearted take on the case, with neighbours joining forces to solve the mystery after the finger of blame is incorrectly pointed at the Gooding. On two occasions, she would be sent to prison for crimes of which she was totally innocent, and the case would involve four trials in all each reported unsparingly by the national press and enthralling the nation. Edith was eventually deemed to be responsible for drafting the obscene letters, but the judge who presided over her case refused to accept the evidence, convinced that Eshe was the kind of Englishwoman incapable of swearing, and found her innocent of the crimes. In the years since there has been speculation that she was suffering from some kind of mental illness. If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357 Bobbie Jean Carter died from a fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose aged just 41 in December 2023. First responders had found Bobbie Jean unresponsive in the bathroom of her Tampa, Florida home on the morning of December 23 and rushed her to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead. Bobbie Jean - who was a mother of one daughter, Bella, eight - was on probation for cocaine possession when she died according to law enforcement - but her roommates had told them that she had not used any narcotics since her prison release. Bobbie Jean's official cause of death is intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner in Florida, per TMZ. Her death has been ruled accidental. Bobbie Jean Carter died from a fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose aged just 41 in December 2023 (pictured 2006) Bobbie Jean, like her brother Aaron and sister Leslie struggled with substance abuse. Leslie died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2012. Leslie, (center) died of an drug overdose in 2012 at 25. Aaron passed away from an accidental drowning to his drug use in November 2022 (Pictured in 2006) The Medical Examiner's report states Bobbie's roommate last had contact with her at 6:30 AM on December 23 but around 7 AM, the roommate found Bobbie unresponsive on the bathroom floor and called 911. First responders tried life-saving measures on Bobbie before she was transported to a Tampa hospital, where, at 8:02 AM, she was pronounced dead. Bobbie Jean or BJ, as she was known to her family is the third Carter sibling to meet an early death. Aaron Carter passed away on November 5, 2022, at the age of 34, while a decade earlier, in 2012, Leslie Carter died at the age of 25. Both deaths were caused by overdoses. It takes just a small dose of fentanyl to cause an overdose. Just two milligrams - the equivalent of five grains of salt - is enough to cause death. Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. The ultra-strong opioid being cut with virtually every street drug in the country killed a record 75,000 Americans in 2021, the equivalent of 1,500 lives lost every week. Because it is cut into other popular drugs, many people who die of overdoses do not know they are taking fentanyl. Fentanyl has been partially blamed for America's sharp fall in life-expectancy over the past three years. Bobbie Jean - who was a mother of one daughter - was on probation for cocaine possession when she died according to law enforcement - but her roommates had told them that she had not used any narcotics since her prison release Aaron's death was attributed to drowning after inhaling compressed difluoroethane, also known as huffing, and ingesting alprazolam, which is sold under the brand name Xanax Leslie (left) died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2012 - she is pictured in 2006 - the same year the Carter siblings starred in reality show, House of Carters The Carter family has been rocked by the premature deaths of the three siblings in just 11 years (BJ, Leslie and Aaron are pictured 2006) Bobbie Jean was laid to rest in a city outside of Tampa during a 'small, private ceremony' attended by family and friends last month. Nick broke his silence over the death of Bobbie Jean - writing that he is 'completely heartbroken' in emotional tribute on Instagram. 'It may take a lifetime to fully process the loss my family has endured over the years most recently, with the sudden passing of our sister Bobbie Jean,' the Backstreet Boys star wrote on Thursday. He also shared a vintage throwback picture of himself and with Bobbie Jean playing as children. Nick's post followed the report that Bobbie Jean's daughter Bella, eight, is in the custody of her grandmother, Schneck, 64. In a statement to TMZ the grieving mother spoke about her devastating loss. In June, Bobbie Jean was arrested on a shoplifting charge for an incident at Hobby Lobby and was put on a suicide watch after threatening to kill herself. Investigators discovered she was in possession of fentanyl at the time 'I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time,' she began. 'When I am able to think clearly, Ill release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private.' She added: 'However deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater.' 'So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious eight year old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother.' Fans may know Bobbie Jean from her appearance in the reality show House of Carters, which aired in 2006. She, like her late brother Aaron and late sister Leslie, struggled with substance abuse. Aaron died from an accidental drowning at his home in Lancaster, California, caused after his inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam, the generic form of brand-name Xanax. He was 34. Leslie died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2012. In June, Bobbie Jean was arrested on a shoplifting charge for an incident at Hobby Lobby and was put on a suicide watch after threatening to kill herself. Investigators discovered she was in possession of fentanyl at the time. What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. The ultra-strong opioid being cut with virtually every street drug in the country killed a record 75,000 Americans in 2021, the equivalent of 1,500 lives lost every week. It is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In the US, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has some medical use but it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement BJ's sister Angel made a lengthy statement on Instagram in December, promising to prevent the trauma that haunted her siblings from hurting the next generation Nick, 43, has not spoken publicly about this latest family tragedy, but his sister Angel, 35 made a lengthy statement on Instagram Sunday, promising to prevent the trauma that haunted her siblings from hurting the next generation. 'This starts with our children, and creating healthy conversation within the home. The generational dysfunction stops now.' she wrote Sunday. Please visit @onoursleevesofficial to learn more about how you can get involved, and how to be there for your loved ones. I love you BJ, you're free now.' If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health issues, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357. When Winnifred Schafer heard someone named TJ had died on the Fort Peck Reservation, she thought there was no way it could be her TJ. Schafers 25-year-old grandson, Anthony TJ Friskey, had been in the Fort Peck Tribes Adult Correctional Facility for a few days in January, and while she knew jail wasnt an ideal place for her grandson, shed assumed he was safe there. But when an officer arrived at her door, Schafer knew he was gone. I was hysterical, she said. Its hard for someone to go like this. The way he left, the pain he went through in jail. Its not right. Because Friskey died while in custody, the FBI is investigating his death, the causes of which remain unknown. Located in the northeast corner of Montana and home to about 10,100 people, the Fort Peck Reservation stretches 110 miles long and 40 miles wide. Friskeys death has sparked outrage in the tribal community, leading dozens of people to condemn the jail and its warden. A council member and jail employee confirmed that Warden Richard Cantrell resigned amid the controversy, though documentation of his resignation has not been made publicly available. Wes Headdress, a former police officer, was in the tribal jail for three days in January. He said guards pepper-sprayed a detainee who had been swearing at them from his cell. And when one inmate yelled for water, Headdress said an officer accused him of making threats and tased the inmate. I was a cop for five years, Headdress said. I know about escalation of force. When I was an officer, you had to let people be, let them cool down. Youre not supposed to take things personally. It felt like to me, and to others, that the guards were taking things personally. Prior to going to jail, Headdress had heard complaints about the conditions. I had wanted to side with the jailers, he said. I didnt think it was true, but it really actually is that bad. This is really going on. Lee Montana spoke with 12 people who were recently incarcerated in the Fort Peck Adult Corrections Facility, six family members of those who have been incarcerated and one former corrections employee. Several people contacted Lee Montana about the jail, unsolicited; most requested their names not be used for fear of retaliation. Community members allege instances of unwarranted use of force, medical neglect and poor hygiene conditions at the jail. A former employee confirmed these allegations. Several people, including the former employee, claimed some corrections officers did not receive required federal certification. Due to a contractual loophole, experts say people who have been mistreated in the jail have little legal recourse. Whats going on at the Fort Peck tribal jail? Located in Poplar on the southeast end of the Fort Peck Reservation, the tribal jail acts as a jail and prison, meaning some people are awaiting trial while others are serving sentences. For decades, the jail has operated under whats called a 638 contract, which means that the tribes run the jail and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) oversees and funds it. In 2023, the BIA allocated $3.9 million to the Fort Peck Correctional Program. While the tribes run the jail, employees must operate within BIA guidelines, and correctional officers are supposed to receive training and certification at the Indian Police Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. When asked about allegations of unwarranted use of force, medical neglect, poor conditions and uncertified officers, a spokesperson for the BIA cited the 638 contract, saying questions regarding jail management and staffing should be directed to the tribes. Members of the Tribal Executive Board directed questions to Chairman Justin Gray Hawk, who did not respond to requests for comment. The Fort Peck Tribes have recently seen several changes in leadership. Gray Hawk in October ousted former Chairman Floyd Azure amid a scandal regarding federal funds. And Tribal Police Captain Jim Summers was demoted after a woman sued, alleging officers violated her rights. Experts say the 638 contract allows federal and tribal entities to blame each other for failures, skirting accountability. Tim Bechtold is a Missoula-based lawyer who has represented several Fort Peck tribal members in suits against the United States for mistreatment at the jail. He said per the 638 contract, the federal government is not liable for the actions of guards if those guards are not certified by the BIA and the BIA deliberately does not certify guards. Instead, Bechtold said the only course of action for tribal members alleging mistreatment in the jail is to sue individual corrections employees in tribal court, leaving both corrections employees and victims unsure of whether the tribes will hold its employees accountable. Its antithetical to the American way, Bechtold explained. The idea of America is that we have constitutional protections for every American, but if youre Native American, then bad luck. Native Americans have no real recourse to assert their constitutional rights against bad actors funded by the federal government. After an NPR series exposed mistreatment at tribal jails nationwide, the BIA announced in 2022 more than two dozen reforms to improve policy, training standards and coordination. Recent turmoil at the Fort Peck jail, however, has further eroded community trust in the federal agency. I felt helpless: Unwarranted use of force Three former inmates and one former corrections employee spoke to Lee Montana about unwarranted use of force at the jail. They said officers inappropriately pepper-sprayed inmates, shot them with beanbag rounds and tased them. According to the BIA Corrections Handbook, corrections staff are authorized to use force in some cases, but must first attempt to gain voluntary cooperation. Three men who were in jail this fall contacted Lee Montana separately to recount a particular incident. When guards collected spoons and trays from dinner one night, some spoons either fell on the floor or were left on the floor. The guards got mad, one of the men said. They came in with gas masks on and maced us all and shot us with (non-lethal) guns. It was the first time thats ever happened to me. I felt helpless. One woman said when she arrived at the jail, other women told her to tell the guards she was pregnant. That way they wont pepper-spray you, she recalled. Instances like these have been documented, too. In November, correctional officer Devin Gray Hawk admitted to a civil rights violation for assaulting an inmate. Documents allege that while an inmate was shackled and not resisting, Gray Hawk tased him and kicked him in the head. And, in 2022, the United States and the Montana Association of Counties paid $55,000 and $25,000, respectively, to resolve a lawsuit alleging Fort Peck Tribal jail employees deprived civil rights of a detainee. Court documents allege a Roosevelt County officer watched as a tribal corrections officer forcibly undressed a woman who was held in tribal jail, leaving her naked in her cell. A former corrections employee said they witnessed unwarranted use of force on several occasions. When one inmate did not respond in a head count, the employee said a corrections officer tased the inmate without warning. I was in shock, the former employee recalled. Id never witnessed that before in my years of service. The former employee also alleged that several staff members, including former warden Cantrell, did not receive requisite training at the Indian Police Academy in New Mexico. If you had training, youd understand there are steps you have to go through before using non-lethal force, she explained. (Inmates) rights are being violated, and they dont know theyre being violated. The staff doesnt know the handbook. Before using non-lethal force, the former employee said officers are first supposed to communicate with an inmate. We call it verbal judo, she said. If this fails, you give verbal commands at least three and then you are to use force to detain an inmate by putting their arm behind their back or cuffing them. And if that doesnt work, then you can use spray or a taser. I know for a fact they do not do that. They do not follow these guidelines. Gary Cornelius served for 27 years at an adult detention center in Virginia, hes taught corrections courses at George Mason University and trains current corrections employees. He said it is vital for corrections employees to receive consistent, quality and up-to-date training. Training, Cornelius said, can include suicide prevention, stress management, inmates rights, and when and how to use force, among other topics. The bottom line is inmates are people, and they are people in your care, Cornelius said. They have to be kept safe. They are to get medical care, mental health care and they cannot be intentionally injured. I tell my classes, when youre dealing with inmates, the inmates in your care are people. If you cannot deal with that, then you better find another job. Cornelius said quality training is paramount to the safety of staff, inmates and the public. If you have stressed-out officers, officers who are angry, officers who are untrained, their idea of use of force might have tragic results, he explained. Im still suffering: Medical neglect While the BIA Corrections Handbook states that inmates should have access to emergency and routine health care, several people accused tribal jail employees of medical neglect. The former corrections employee said medical intake forms, which list health conditions and medications, were often not completed. One man said he had a toothache while in jail this fall and begged to be seen by a dentist. They wouldnt take me, he said. (When I got out), I had a root canal done. Everybody knows it my own probation officer told me that if you have a medical problem, the jail is the worst place you can be. One woman said she begged for days for medical attention. When corrections staff finally took her to the hospital, she was transported to a Billings hospital where she was treated for a collapsed lung and heart failure. Im still suffering to this day, she said. They refused me help until I almost died. Instances of medical negligence have also been documented. In 2021, the U.S. paid $50,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging Fort Peck tribal jail employees failed to provide care to a detainee. According to court documents, Tyler Headdress (Wes Headdress cousin) was kicked in the head by another inmate and put his hands around his face to protect himself. In the days that followed, Headdress requested and was denied medical care. He was taken to the hospital nine days after the injury, and X-rays revealed several broken bones in his hands. Should be illegal: Poor hygiene conditions Six people told Lee Montana that when they were in the Fort Peck tribal jail, they did not have access to a sink or shower, though the BIA Corrections Handbook states inmates should have access to showers and hygiene items and are encouraged to shower daily. One woman said she got a rash from not being able to clean herself. When I got out, I told my family, Dont hug me, dont smell me, she said. When Frances Weeks son was in jail, she said guards took away his soap, toilet paper and fork, forcing him to eat with his hands. The former corrections employee confirmed it was not uncommon for guards to take items from inmates to teach them a lesson. Weeks, who served as a tribal police officer for decades before retiring, told the Tribal Executive Board in January that lack of hygiene at the facility posed health risks to inmates. Her son suffered internal bleeding in custody, and Weeks thinks his condition was directly related to poor treatment. Weeks said the jail should be shut down. This should be illegal, she said. Its sadistic. People are scared for their families to go there. Its a torture center. While Weeks said council members seemed sympathetic, shes not hopeful any real changes will be made. Shes filed several complaints with the BIA, and so far, she said nothing has come from it. Ive heard it so many times, she said. The BIA says, Well start a file on this. Well contact you with updates. We received your complaint. Its like, were reporting stuff thats going on to the people who are supposed to know whats going on in the first place. So how will this be fixed? Andrew Garfield became a household name after taking on the role of Peter Parker, from Tobey Maguire, opposite Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy, in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012. Despite getting cast to play the teenage web-slinging hero over a decade ago, social media users were taken aback to discover that the English actor was nearly two decades older than they assumed. After learning of his real age, many fans expressed shock that the Golden Globe winner, known for his boyish looks, was no longer in his early twenties. Upon learning the performer recently celebrated his 40th birthday, one fan bluntly tweeted: 'WHAT I THOUGHT he is 19-20?' Andrew Garfield became a household name after taking on the role of Peter Parker, from Tobey Maguire, opposite Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy, in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 'How the hell is Andrew Garfield 40 years old?????' another fan asked as dozens of others demanded to know the same thing. The beloved star was famously cast as 17-year-old Peter Parker when he was 26, making him the oldest Spider-Man actor to take on the iconic role. In the Amazing Spider-Man 2, the 2014 hit sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, his character graduated from high school, which would've made Garfield 31, still passing as a teenager, in the film. In 2022, he admitted getting cast as Spider-Man so early in his life was 'an interesting experience, for sure.' 'I feel that about myself as a 26-year-old. I'm like, 'Fuck, that was a lot to take on. It's a shit-ton to take on,'' Garfield told GQ UK. 'And I wanted to take it on. I was ready. I was so up for it. It didn't feel heavy. But I think there were elements that felt very I sensed danger for myself, in terms of fame and exposure.' Considering he portrayed a high school senior at 31, it is no surprise fans were sent into a frenzy over his recent remarks about entering his 40s. With age, he says has developed a stronger sense of self and confidence in his work. When asked, last year at the Red Sea Film Festival, if he gets upsets if someone tells him they prefer other Spider-Mans better than his, Garfield went viral for his cheeky answer. Upon learning the performer recently celebrated his 40th birthday, one fan bluntly tweeted: 'WHAT I THOUGHT he is 19-20?' 'I'm 40 years old. If you love me, fine, and if you don't love me, it's your loss,' he said with a smirk. A year prior, however, he opened up about the 'societal' pressure he felt to have children before turning 40. 'It's more about accepting a different path than what was kind of expected of me from birth. Like by this time you will have done this, and you will have at least one child - that kind of thing,' he said. The actor told GQ: ''I think I have some guilt around that. And obviously it's easier for me as a man...' During the interview, he described his pain at knowing his late mother would not have a chance to meet his children. 'Life seems to be a perpetual practice of letting s**t go. Letting go of an idea of how a thing should look, or be, or feel,' he told the publication. Considering he portrayed a high school senior at 31, for the sequel, it is no surprise fans were sent into a frenzy over his recent remarks about entering his 40s; pictured in 2012 With age, he says has developed a stronger sense of self and confidence in his work (pictured in January during Paris Fashion Week) 'And that one's a big one [to let go of], because of course I would've loved my mum to have met my kids, if I'm going to have kids. And she will. In spirit. She'll be there for it. I know she's there, for all the big ones. 'But, yeah. Life, life, life. Life is in charge. We'll see. We'll see what happens. I'm curious.' Andrew's mother died shortly after his theatre stint in Angels in America and before he began filming for his Oscar-nominated role in Tick, Tick Boom! Revealing the impact his roles had on his grief, he explained: 'That play, I think, really starts to just pull me apart. And then my mum gets sick. And it's like, 'Oh, right.' I was preparing for something. 'The person that brought me into existence not being in existence anymore. I felt like it was all connected.' His mother Lynn died from pancreatic cancer in 2019. James Lock left his fans baffled on Tuesday as he announced his appearance on the upcoming series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach. The Only Way Is Essex star, 37, took to his Instagram page to share his promotional picture for the show, writing: 'Watch the brand-new series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach on 19th March, only on @ParamountplusUK and @MTVUK #celebex.' However, the picture drew questioning comments from his followers as they insisted he looked totally different from his usual appearance. One person wrote: 'Didn't recognise you, face has changed. You had a face lift or something?' While someone else asked: 'Why does James look so different? That could be someone else! Completely didn't recognise him.' James Lock left his fans baffled on Tuesday as he announced his appearance on the upcoming series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach The Only Way Is Essex star, 37, took to his Instagram page to share his promotional picture for the show However, the picture drew questioning comments from his followers as they insisted he looked totally different from his usual appearance Another person wrote: 'My man @jameslock__ defying ageing.' Someone else shared: 'Who's this guy and why does he look so different?' The full line-up for Celebrity Ex On The Beach was revealed on Tuesday - including TOWIE, Love Island and MAFs stars. The nine singletons will jet off to Gran Canaria on the lookout for love, while awaiting the fate of their exes' arrivals, in the explosive new series on MTV and Paramount+ next month. TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou, 29, will reunite with her ex of four years James Lock, 37, for the first time on screen. And it could prove awkward for Lockie as his brief love interest and Yaz's former best friend Chloe Brockett, 23, also makes an appearance. Love Island winners Paige Turley, 26, and Finn Tapp, 24, are also set to face a frosty encounter after ending their three-year relationship just months before filming. Joe Garratt, 27, who has just appeared in Love Island All Stars, will also take part. The full line-up for Celebrity Ex On The Beach: (L-R Yazmin Oukhellou, Jarren Evans, Ashley Resch, James Pendergrass, Chloe Veitch, Finn Tapp, Ivorian Doll, Joe Garratt and Tamara Joy TOWIE star Yazmin Oukhellou (right) , 29, will reunite with her ex of four years James Lock , 37, for the first time on screen - but Chloe Brockett (right) has also had a fling with Lockie He appeared on the fifth series of the show and formed a romance with Lucie Donlan, who is now engaged to series six star Luke Mabbott. Joe went on to have a short stint on TOWIE where he dated Frankie Simms. Married At First Sight Australia's Tamara Joy, Jessika Power and Callum Izzard, of Ibiza Weekender fame, will also take part. Completing the line-up is rapper Ivorian Doll, Too Hot To Handle's Chloe Veitch and James Pendergrass, and F Boy Island's Jarred Evans. The new series will begin on Tuesday 19th March, with episodes airing weekly. Yaz reportedly quit her gig on Ex On The Beach just days into filming because she thrown off guard by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend James. A source told The Sun: 'Yaz knew filming Celeb Ex On The Beach would be challenging as the whole purpose of the show is to create drama. 'But within days of James arriving, she realised she couldn't cope with being in the villa with him and decided to leave. 'She was prepared to give up her time on the show for her own mental health. Having been through everything she has been through in the last year, Yaz has realised life is too short to be in situations where she is unhappy or feels uncomfortable.' The nine singletons will jet off to Gran Canaria on the lookout for love, while awaiting the fate of their exes, (pictured Paige Turley, Finley Tapp and Chloe Veitch) Yaz reportedly quit her gig on Ex On The Beach just days into filming after James arrived to the island Yazmin was reportedly thrown off guard by the arrival of her ex (pictured during their relationship) Chloe B, who's 14 years his junior began her fling with James after lockdown lifted, and the pair connected romantically during nights out - but Yaz was furious about the betrayal MAFs' Jessika Power, 31, in on the lookout for love, but will she run into an ex? Married At First Sight Australia's Tamara Joy (left) and Too Hot To Handle's Chloe Veitch (right) will also star in the new series Love Island winners Paige Turley, 26, and Finn Tapp , 24, are also set to face a frosty encounter after ending their three year relationship just months before filming The exes won the 2020 series of Winter Love Island (pictured) Joe Garratt , 27, who has just appeared in Love Island All Stars, will also take part Playboy model Ashley Resch (left) and rapper Ivorian Doll (right) also form the line-up Jarred Evans reached the final of the first series of Fboy Island. As a self-proclaimed 'nice guy' he described himself as outgoing, charismatic and a gentleman' James and Yazmin first split in 2021 but they briefly reunited in 2022 after James was spotted leaving her house after spending the night together. The series kicks off with celebrities enjoying First Night First Dates before the first ex crashes the party. With exes coming in thick and fast, will any of the newly formed couples survive the arrivals? The new series of Celebrity Ex On The Beach starts on Paramount+ and MTV UK on Tuesday 19th March. Leah Remini is opening about navigating permienopause while struggling with depression and anxiety on a near-daily basis since leaving the Church of Scientology. In a new post, uploaded to on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, the 53-year-old The King of Queens star gave a candid account of her mental and physical health challenges. She shared that she is going through perimenopause, which is the transitional period before menopause. 'On top of my struggles with depression, my body has seemed to change overnight, something women my age (53) go through naturally, but I know it still comes as a shock to so many of us,' the star added. Symptoms include trouble sleeping, night sweats, headaches, trouble concentrating, mood changes hot flashes and more, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. 'I wrote this because I often feel very alone in experiencing it, and in writing about this and sharing it publicly, I hope to feel less isolated and hope that I can make some of you feel the same,' she concluded. She also revealed she has had an ongoing battle with depression since leaving Scientology in 2013. She became a fierce critic of the organization after she left and published a bestselling memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, in 2015. She also appeared in a documentary called Scientology and the Aftermath. In her post on Tuesday, she describing herself as a 'tough broad from Brooklyn,' but admitted that it's been 'a constant struggle to push' herself to 'experience' life without fear. Leah Remini is opening about navigating fear, depression and anxiety on a near-daily basis since leaving the Church of Scientology in 2013 (seen in 2019) 'I have to fight this in myself every day. The process starts all over again from the moment I wake up; I want to get out; I want to experience so many things, including the mundane, and most days, I don't,' the mother-of-one explained. She went on to detail her battle with depression and getting 'consumed by fear' when leaving the house. What is Perimenopause? Perimenopause, or menopause transition, begins several years before menopause. It's the time when the ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen. It usually starts in women's 40s, but can start in their 30s or even earlier. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last 1 to 2 years of perimenopause, this drop in estrogen speeds up. At this stage, many women have menopause symptoms. The average length of perimenopause is 4 years, but for some women this stage may last only a few months or continue for 10 years. Perimenopause ends when women have gone 12 months without having their period. SOURCE: WebMD Advertisement On Monday, however, the Kevin Can Wait star said she's being pushing herself to do 'something unfamiliar and uncomfortable lately.' For her this means 'saying yes instead of no to opportunities that involve leaving' her gated community and go back to 'venturing into the world.' 'This is a big deal for me because, in recent years, I have said 'no' to a lot, from invitations to go out with friends to attending events and traveling,' she wrote. Remini reminded readers that she 'escaped from Scientology in 2013' and has been allegedly 'followed constantly by Scientology operatives and agents.' 'These people hide in the shadows to monitor my movements and who I am meeting with so they can report back to Scientology's intelligence agency, the Office of Special Affairs, which reports directly to David Miscavige,' she claimed. Remini went on to accuse members of the Church of Scientology of intentionally taking 'unflattering pictures' of her to 'body shame' her. The Emmy winner stated that 'their posts include salacious headlines similar to 'Leah with no job, abandoned by Hollywood because she is a bigot...' and 'Leah sitting alone because she has no friends.' She told her followers that she knows they 'hope' it 'will have an impact on' her 'psychologically' and influence people to stay away from her. 'Scientology has gone from those tactics, which are bad enough, to hiring vulnerable people living with severe mental illness to harass and intimidate me,' her statement read. 'These people, who are being exploited by a tax-exempt organization with religious status, do not know who they are working for and why they're doing it.' Remini accused the group of relentlessly putting her, her loved ones and colleagues 'in danger.' In legal proceedings last year, she also accused them of breaking into her gated community. In a new post, uploaded to on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, the 53-year-old The King of Queens star claimed the organization's alleged attempts to 'undermine and destabilize' her mental and physical health 'have had a 'significant impact' on her life Lately, she said her wins include visiting friends or her mother. 'I often post photos and videos of doing mundane things to my friends because I quietly celebrate going through with it. It's huge! Given my depression and very warranted fears of being hunted, as well as my concerns for my friends' safety, it's a big thing to overcome,' she said. As for why she decided to share her struggles, Remini said she 'wanted to share what I've been going through' to ensure others battling 'depression, anxiety, or any other reason' that she understands the pain. Remini also noted that 'out of nowhere' she began breaking out into hives due to an unknown allergic reaction that she has to carry an EpiPen everywhere she goes for, in case it flares back up. Only Murders in the Building will be leaving New York City for season four. The show will be set in sunny and glamorous Los Angeles in the upcoming season, according to Deadline. The outlet spoke to Craig Erwich, the Disney Television Group President, about the production updated on a number of projects, with Only Murders in the Building as one of them. Cast members Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short will start season four in sunny Los Angeles before heading back to The Arconia apartment building in New York City. Only Murders in the Building will be leaving New York City for season four. The show will be set in sunny and glamorous Los Angeles in the upcoming season, according to Deadline; Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short pictured on the show Cast members Selena Gomez , Steve Martin and Martin Short will start season four in sunny Los Angeles before heading back to The Arconia apartment building in New York City 'Well, I'm very excited to see Steve, Martin and Selena take a little break from the apartment building and come to Los Angeles,' Craig told Deadline. 'So in the same way that John Hoffman used the canvas of Broadway to tell what I think was one of the most unique seasons you've ever seen, the same unique Only Murders take will be applied to Los Angeles, which I'm really excited about,' he added. Only Murders in the Building is a comedy mystery series that airs on Hulu. The series debuted in 2021, going on to receive critical acclaim. It centers around friends that all live in the same Upper West Side apartment building with a shared passion for true crime podcasts. The show has already had three seasons with 10 episodes per season. It was renewed for a fourth season back in October 2023. Selena plays the characters Mabel Mora, who lives alone in her aunt's unit and is an artist. Steve plays Charles-Haden Savage, who is a former actor of a popular crime drama Brazzos. 'Well, I'm very excited to see Steve, Martin and Selena take a little break from the apartment building and come to Los Angeles,' Craig told Deadline The outlet spoke to Craig Erwich, the Disney Television Group President, about the production updated on a number of projects, with Only Murders in the Building as one of them Meryl Streep appeared in season three of the show, starring as Loretta Durkin The series debuted in 2021, going on to receive critical acclaim; it airs on Hulu. The show was added to Disney+ in the US in 2023 Selena plays the characters Mabel Mora, who lives alone in her aunt's unit and is an artist Martin Short stars as Oliver Putnam , who is a Broadway director that created the podcast and became the director. Meryl Streep appeared in season three of the show, starring as Loretta Durkin. Her character Loretta is the love interest of Oliver - Martin's character. Craig was asked if Meryl will appear in season four of the show, which he said: 'I don't have anything to share but I thought she gave one of the best television performances of the year last year. I've listened to that song she has sung probably a dozen times. I can never get tired of it,' he added. Succession star Sarah Snook has revealed co-star Brian Cox would sometimes go into a 'diabetic rage' on set. The actress, 36, is best known for her starring role as Shiv Roy in the HBO drama which follows the Roy family's high-stakes battle for control of a global business empire. Speaking to Times Radio, Sarah said actor Brian, 77, who played Logan Roy, had 'a habit' of going into a 'diabetic rage'. She explained: 'He has a habit of sometimes going into a false - or could it be real who knows? - diabetic rage where he'll go, all of a sudden and, I think part of it's a little, a little trying to just jolt the energy of the set and from, like, you know, rustle a few feathers, get it going, get it going, moving faster. 'Yeah. For the quality of his voice can be very terrifying sometimes. Sure. Thunderous.' Succession star Sarah Snook has revealed co-star Brian Cox would sometimes go into a 'diabetic rage' on set The actress, is best known for her starring role as Shiv Roy in the HBO drama which follows the Roy family's high-stakes battle for control of a global business empire Speaking on the impact of the HBO series, she said 'there is a fear' of being 'constrained' by the role of Shiv Roy. She said: 'When you are known for a particular role - more internationally - there is a fear, I suppose, as an actor, that you might get constrained to roles like that and the things that had come in during the time that I was shooting Joe tended to be of Shiv nature. 'And for me personally, that's just so far from who I am as a person, and not that I wanted to play myself. And I certainly don't get the opportunity to do that so much in Dorian Gray - 26 versions of myself. But, but I wanted to be able to stretch my wings a bit and kind of say, there's a little more round here.' It follows a hugely successful awards season for Snook, whose role in Succession saw her triumph at the Critics Choice, Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. However, in an interview with The Sunday Times , Snook revealed that her path to superstardom and landing the role of Shiv Roy was anything but glamorous. She described herself as 'enormously depressed' as a teenager growing up in Sydney, putting herself through drama school because her parents were broke. Snook attended Sydney's prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art and recalled how people would make fun of her falling asleep in lectures because she had no energy from not being able to afford to eat nutritous meals. She told how she was living off white rice, explaining: 'I was making $120 a week, rent was $90 and $12 went on my phone. It was certainly character-building.' 'No wonder I was falling asleep in the history of theatre lessons,' she recalled. 'I was always falling asleep in the back row. 'I was spiking my blood sugar and not eating any protein, I couldn't afford it. People would take bets on whether I would fall asleep.' Speaking to Times Radio, Sarah said actor Brian, 77, who played Logan Roy, had 'a habit' of going into a 'diabetic rage' Snook has proved to be the toast of awards season bagging Best Actress in a TV Drama Series at both the Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards Snook detailed feeling 'lost' after graduating in 2008 and began working in a cafe to make ends meet. The actress said she was down to her last A$10 before acting work began to roll in. She bagged several small roles in Australian films which won her awards and she slowly made her way to becoming an established actress by 2015. Snook played Apple entrepreneur Andrea Cunningham in the Hollywood biopic and made her West End debut alongside Ralph Fiennes. When she was offered the role of Shiv, the actress admitted she didn't understand the appeal of a family of brats who were only interested in increasing their bank balance. She said her friends questioned the character and she assured them: 'That was my reaction too!' However, as the series went on, Snook confessed she couldn't help but root for Shiv, hoping that she would be the one who made CEO. Now the screen star has more wealth than she could ever have imagined. It was reported that she earned 300,000 per episode during series three. But she insists she is fully aware that it could all disappear tomorrow and she has made peace with the face that one day she could be penniless again. She took home the Best Actress in TV Series, Drama statuette at the Golden Globes for her portrayal of political strategist and media heir Siobhan 'Shiv' Roy. She beat Emma Stone (The Curse), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Helen Mirren (1923), Kerri Russell (The Diplomat) and Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us). The actress receiving her gong for Best Actress in a Drama Series at 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on January 15 'This show, it's changed my life,' Snook said in her acceptance speech, before thanking her fellow cast and crew. 'This was a team effort, it was always that was what made the show amazing.' At the Emmys, Snook took home the Outstanding Lead Actress award. She again faced heavy-competition including: Sharon Horgan Bad Sisters, Melanie Lynskey Yellowjackets, Elisabeth Moss The Handmaid's Tale, Bella Ramsey The Last of Us, and Keri Russell The Diplomat. During her emotional acceptance speech she said: 'Wow. Thanks to everyone who voted and for loving the show as much as we did as a cast making it and as a crew making it. 'We put our all into it and the bar was set so high. I think that's what spurred us on from every department we all gave it our best, led by Jesse and mark and my cast who I love so much and I'm going to miss.' Speakers at a national conference on Friday said that nurses were at the forefront of healthcare delivery, while stressing on the importance of knowledge transfer in the profession. SRM College of Nursing, SRMIST, hosted the 8th National Nursing Conference on Friday. More than 570 participants including faculty of nursing institutions, staff nurses, Ph.D scholars apart from graduate and post graduate students of nursing from 34 institutions all over India took part in the day-long conference. While delivering the Chief Guest address, Professor T Samuel Ravikumar, Trauma & Disaster Management Consultant, and former Trauma Centre Coordinator and Head, Emergency Nursing, CMC, Vellore, said nurses were at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Crisis-hit SpiceJet plans to hand out pink slips to at least 1,000 employees in the coming days as the airline works to significantly reduce costs and streamline operations of its depleted aircraft fleet, officials said on Monday. Faced with financial woes, legal battles and other headwinds, the no-frills carrier might ask more staff to leave as there is excess manpower now compared to the number of planes in service. A final decision on the quantum of layoffs is expected this week, one of the officials in the know said. When contacted, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the airline has initiated several measures, including manpower rationalisation, for achieving profitable growth but did not provide any numbers. The airline has around 9,000 employees and is now looking at reducing the strength by 10-15 per cent, the official said, adding that layoffs are necessary to reduce the overall costs and annual savings could be up to Rs 100 crore. A reduction of 15 per cent would mean around 1,350 people will lose their jobs. The second official in the know said that layoffs are expected across departments and the final list is being prepared. People from the management and consultancy are working on chalking out the contours of letting staff leave, and all the departments have been asked to give their inputs, the official added. There was no official comment from SpiceJet on the proposed job cuts. The second official explained that the airline has stopped operations on certain RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) routes and at those stations, there is excess manpower, especially staff with lower salaries. Relocating such people will be a challenge, the official noted. Currently, SpiceJet has a fleet of little over 30 aircraft apart from 10 planes that are on wet lease. As part of our turnaround and cost-cutting strategy, following the recent fund infusion, SpiceJet has initiated several measures, including manpower rationalisation, aimed at achieving profitable growth and positioning ourselves to capitalise on the opportunities in the Indian aviation industry. Through this initiative alone, we anticipate an annual saving of up to Rs 100 crore, the airline spokesperson said in a statement. During a meeting with the airlines senior officials last month, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh emphasised the importance of judicious spending and that he will personally oversee all major expenditures. The carrier will prioritise fleet upgrades, enhance on-time performance and cost-cutting measures will be implemented to streamline operations, according to an internal note last month. SpiceJet, which has undergone multiple ownership changes since inception and is currently helmed by Ajay Singh, is in the process of raising funds from various investors. On January 26, the carrier announced that it has received Rs 744 crore as the first tranche of the total Rs 2,250 crore proposed to be raised through the issuance of securities on a preferential basis. There were reports that there has been a delay in raising the requisite funds. The airline has also availed funds worth around Rs 1,000 crore under the governments Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and Singh has committed to infuse Rs 500 crore. In recent times, SpiceJet also witnessed lessors taking legal recourse to take back their leased aircraft due to non-payment of dues. India is one of the worlds fastest growing civil aviation markets and the domestic air traffic is on an upward trajectory. However, SpiceJet has been struggling for sometime now. In 2023, the carrier flew 83.90 lakh passengers and had a domestic market share of 5.5 per cent. Tata Motors on Monday said it has tied up with the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), a global alliance launched by governments of Sweden and India at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019. As a member of LeadIT, the auto major will be able to harness the power of global best practices, influence policy-making, and together with other members strengthen climate action plans, thereby accelerating transition towards net-zero emissions. Our pledge to attain net-zero emissions across our Passenger Vehicles (PV) business by 2040, and our Commercial Vehicles (CV) business by 2045, is a testament to our commitment to a greener future, Tata Motors Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer SJR Kutty said in a statement. Joining forces with LeadIT propels the automaker closer to these ambitious goals, facilitating a journey towards sustainable transformation, he added. Swedens Minister for Climate and the Environment and Co-Chair of LeadIT, Romina Pourmokhtari said the membership signals an important commitment to net-zero from a leading global manufacturer in the supply chain. Demand signals are crucial for the transformation of our industry. Fostering dialogues and strengthening partnerships in areas where transition challenges need to be addressed is core to achieving reduced climate emissions, she added. Cooler temperatures coming out of Canada have prompted warnings for snow, icy roads and avalanches in Montana. The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories Tuesday for a stretch of Montana encompassing most of the western part of the state. The Montana Department of Transportation has also issue notices of slush, snow and ice along all of the states major highways and interstates. One of the bigger concerns, said NWS Meteorologist Logan Torgerson, will be the snow falling on warm roads, melting and freezing overnight. The winter weather advisories will remain in place for some areas of Montana through Friday. To the west, Mission Valley, Flathead Valley, Flathead Lake and Polson could see snow accumulations of up to 3 inches through the week. Higher elevations, such as Lolo Pass in the Bitterroot Range could get as much as a foot of snow. The areas in and around Helena and Great Falls could similarly see several inches of snow by the end of the week. The Beartooth Foothills and Red Lodge Foothills, including Red Lodge and Livingston, are under a winter weather watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday night. Snow accumulations in those areas could range from 4 to 8 inches, according to NWS. The Absaroka, Beartooth and Crazy Mountains could see more than a foot of snow by the end of Thursday. In and around Billings, Torgerson said residents can expect two rounds of snow: one Tuesday night and into Wednesday, and another late Wednesday and throughout Thursday. The first round could bring around an inch of snow to Billings, he said, while NWS is expecting the second round of snow to be heavier, with up to 3 to 4 inches. Although temperatures should rise by the weekend, Torgerson warned that breezier conditions will follow the snowfall, with the windiest conditions on Saturday morning. That wind, he said, could cause snow to drift onto roadways in the area. Already on Tuesday, MDT had issue warnings of wet and icy conditions along Interstates 15, 90 and 94. Since Monday, Montana Highway Patrol has responded to more than 200 calls. Fifteen of those calls involved vehicles sliding off the road and 26 were crashes with injuries. One of those calls, a wreck outside of Helena, was a fatality. NWS also posted backcountry avalanche warning with Gallatin National Forest. The danger of avalanches ranged from considerable to high for areas near Cooke City, West Yellowstone, Island Park, Big Sky and the Bridger Range, according to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. For the Bridger Range in particular, the threat of avalanches is high for all slopes, according to the center. Throughout this winter, four people have died in avalanches in the West, the Gazette previously reported. Quiet quitting is a new phenomenon in the professional realm Today, many of us often stress the importance of leisure but that isnt to downplay the value of earned success and being fully present in the professional world. The workplace is changing due to employees' demands for more freedom and responsibility and a better work-life balance. As a result, many of us have witnessed a surge in concepts like Bare Minimum Mondays, Quiet Quitting, Lazy Girl Jobs, and The Great Resignation. Nonetheless, these developments have sparked extensive discussion about the ethical implications for the workplace. Several factors such as lack of trust, lack of consistency, lack of feeling valued, lack of feeling neglected and not being communicated create a sense of disconnection and frustration among employees resulting in a sense of numbness and discontentment in career and eventually seep into personal lives, just as burnout. The term Quiet Quitting or intense dissatisfaction has taken the world by storm, due to the impact of the pandemic, with many workers beginning to reconsider their priorities and boundaries in the workplace. In the early 2020s, driven largely by social media, the term quiet quitting emerged as a much-publicized trend in the United States and elsewhere. The term refers to a situation where employees disengage from their jobs or the organization without openly expressing their dissatisfaction or resignation. Instead, they become emotionally detached and disinterested, which leads to reduced productivity, decreased morale and ultimately a decision to leave the company quietly. It is not always a coordinated or planned move conducted by a group of workers to express their displeasure with the organizations policy rather a subtle form of withdrawal, often overlooked but with significant implications for organizations and individuals alike. There are multifaceted root causes of quitting. Some feel a lack of recognition and reward is the cause, while some blame poor management. Nowadays, the occurrence has amassed a sizable following on social media and is now seen as a movement. Studies and research have shown that around 59% of workers worldwide are quite quitting estimated to be costing the global economy $8.8 trillion. Employers must build relationships with their employees so that they can be treated fairly. Being valued at work can prevent employees from experiencing burnout and various health issues arising from being unhappy at their jobs. Employees need to see a clear path to advancement, they may lose motivation and engagement. Remember every worker, every employee working in the organization has a different circumstance within their workplace. Quiet quitting can lead a few to decreased productivity and creativity and at the same time can also impact mental health, causing stress and dissatisfaction. Addressing these factors requires fostering a workplace culture built on trust, consistency, appreciation, a sense of belonging and effective communication. Only when these psychological needs are met, employees will be more likely to engage with their work, thereby reducing the risk of quitting and turnover. When an employee feels motivated, happy, challenged and optimistic, will they be much more likely to expend additional efforts, work a little harder, stay a little longer and above all carry a positive attitude. People do matter. Dont let them quit. (The writer is an educator, views are personal) Thalapathy Vijay, a prominent actor, has ventured into politics with the formation of a party. Can he make a difference in Tamil politics? Thalapathy Vijay, a prominent Tamil actor, has ventured into politics with the formation of his party, Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam. Can he make a difference in Tamil politics? Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay launched his political party, Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, last week. He declared that his party will only contest the 2026 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, not the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The question is whether he will succeed. After the launch of his party, Vijay said, "I have one more film I have signed, and I will finish it and ultimately involve myself in politics. I have been preparing myself for my political journey for a long time. I will devote myself to the people of Tamil Nadu. This is the only way I can give back to my people." This is a typical argument that many politicians use to present themselves as genuine do-gooders. Successful actor-turned-politicians in Tamil Nadu included M.G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa, M. Karunanidhi, C.N. Annadurai, and Captain Vijayakanth. Shivaji Ganesan, Sarathkumar, Napoleon, and S.S. Rajendran was unsuccessful. MGR had a strong base in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and got the party votes till he launched AIADMK in 1972. Jayalalithaa, on the other hand, was known for her anti-DMK stance and gained popularity on that platform. Kamal Haasan founded his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, in 2018. Unfortunately, his party won no seats in the 2019 and 2021 elections. On the other hand, Vijaykant showed promise at the start of his political career in 2005 but could not sustain it. He passed away recently. Thalapathi (General) Vijay is a well-known actor from the Udayar community and a Christian. He is rumoured to earn around 150 crores per film and faces little competition from famous actors like Ajith. Rajnikant has declined his political entry after three decades of speculation. Kamal Hassan's party has not picked up. Vijay plans to run for the position of chief minister in the 2026 Assembly elections. He has sufficient time to gain the public's trust as an alternative to the ruling DMK and AIADMK. His primary opponent in the generational shift is Udayanidhi, a minister and the son of the current chief minister, M.K. Stalin. Vijay's political party plans to adopt a political philosophy incorporating the ideas of three significant figures. While B.R. Ambedkar advocated for Dalits' rights, Periyar was a well-known social reformer. Kamaraj was an advocate for the backward class. Notably, Vijay has decided not to use the term "Dravida" in his party's name. Vijay aims to win voters' support from different political parties, including the ruling DMK and the primary opposition AIADMK. The others in the race are Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), PMK, Makkal Needhi Maiam, and VCK. He must lure voters from all these parties to win the election. In the past, Vijay's political support included the India Against Corruption movement in 2011. He also backed the pro-jallikattu protests in 2017. He met with the families of the victims of the Thoothukudi incident in 2018. On the other hand, despite public expectations for decades, Rajinikanth is now out of the picture. Vijay has an advantage in Tamil Nadu, a state obsessed with films. He is young, a crowd-puller, and his timing is right. Additionally, his Tamil identity gives him an edge over Rajinikanth, whose Marathi roots and BJP/RSS ties have sparked controversy in the Dravidian-dominated state. Vijay's success hinges on his communication skills and how he defines his party's ideology. He must effectively contrast it with the Dravidian doctrine of DMK and AIADMK parties and adopt an aggressive posture. Vijay must declare which political party he is contesting against. Is it the DMK, AIADMK, or is it the? As a newcomer, his best bet is to oppose the ruling government, the DMK. This strategy worked for J. Jayalalithaa, who positioned herself against the DMK and its leader, Karunanidhi. This ultimately led to her success as a politician. Can Vijay win over rival parties and overcome DMK's anti-incumbency sentiment? DMK and AIADMK have a 50-year history of alternating power with a strong 30% vote base. DMK prioritizes infrastructure, while AIADMK focuses on populist schemes. Vijay's party will impact other players regardless of the election result." To ensure his success in the 2026 election, Vijay needs to focus on setting up booth committees. Since DMK and AIADMK already have a solid voter base, he needs to motivate his rural supporters to become actual voters. There's a rumour that his party is getting support from the BJP in exchange for help in 2026. He needs to address it. It's premature to predict what the future holds for Vijay. His success will depend on whether he can build a solid fan base like MGR or N.T. Rama Rao, who both had good political advisers - something Vijay currently lacks. He is yet to build his party. Although the road ahead will be challenging, Vijay can overcome obstacles through hard work and dedication. (The writer is a popular columnist; views are personal) Oscar winner Kate Winslet says she chose to do smaller projects after the global success of "Titanic" as life became "quite unpleasant" with fame. The 48-year-old star reflected on the media pressure and body image scrutiny she was subjected to after the release of James Cameron's 1997 romance-tragedy epic. "I felt like I had to look a certain way, or be a certain thing, and because media intrusion was so significant at that time, my life was quite unpleasant. "Journalists would always say, 'After 'Titanic', you could have done anything and yet you chose to do these small things' and I was like, 'Yeah, you bet your life I did! Because, guess what, being famous was horrible'," Winslet told Porter magazine. Despite the unpleasant aspects, "It's not a burden, any of it," she said. "('Titanic') continues to bring people huge amounts of joy. The only time I am like, 'Oh God, hide,' is if we are on a boat somewhere," the actor quipped. This is not the first time Winslet has talked about her popularity following "Titanic", which also starred Leonardo DiCaprio. In 2021, she recalled going "into self-protective mode right away" after the film because she felt "bullied" by the UK media. Amid an emerging prospect of an upset for the Congress in the Raj Sabha polls in the State, Maharashtras former chief minister Ashok Chavan joined the ruling BJP on Tuesday, a day after he quit the grand old party that he had been associated with right from his younger days. In a development that unfolded on expected lines, Chavan, son of former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader SB Chavan, was accorded a warm welcome into the BJP by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State party president Chandrashekar Bawankule, at a function held at the State party headquarters in south Mumbai. Though it is more or less certain that the BJP would field Chavan as one of its candidates for the February 27 biennial RS polls, the ruling party did not make any formal announcement. Chavan played down queries about his future role in the BJP. I have not asked for anything. I will do whatever work is assigned to me, he said. However, Fadnavis threw adequate hints about rewarding Chavan whom he described as a leader of national stature and said that the latter would be given a befitting role in his party. Amid speculation that many Congress NLAs and leaders might follow suit and switch sides to the BJP, Chavan joined the BJP along with close aide and former MLC Amarnath Rajurkar. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, president Jagat Prakash Nadda and the BJP team in the State for welcoming him into the BJP, Chavan said, In the state, as per traditions of Maharashtra, we all have worked together for public cause. I am joining the BJP today to work under the leadership of Modi ji and be part of the development of India and Maharashtra. I have always had development-outlook and worked with a positive approach, Chavan said. I will strengthen the BJP and we all will work together to get more seats.... I have left the (Congress) party. Some supported me, some criticised meI am not going to indulge in mudslinging. From today itself, I will work for BJP with the Prime Ministers goal of sabka saath, sabka vikas, Chavan said. On his part, Fadnavis said: Chavan ji had conveyed to me that he wanted to be in the mainstream and work under the leadership of Narendra Modi. In the coming days, many of the leaders and workers close to him would join us. Fadnavis said that Chavans entry would give a major boost to the Maha Yuti (NDA) in Marathwada and Maharashtra. Chavan said that the decision to quit the Congress was a personal one. It is true that the Congress has given me a lotbut at the same time, I too have contributed a lot to the Congress. As far as I am concerned, the Congress is a closed chapter, he said. In a related development, the State Congress is apprehending that the entry of Chavan, who holds influence over a dozen MLAs out of the total 44 MLAs in the State Assembly, into the BJP may have negative fallout on its prospects in the RS polls in which the party would have won one seat in the normal course. Speculation has it that the Congress MLAs close to him may either quit the Congress and join the BJP or cross-vote against the partys official candidate in the RS polls and in favour of the BJP which is planning to field one additional candidate in addition to the three seats that it is sure to win out of six seats for which the polls are being held. The Chaos erupted at the Punjab-Haryana (Shambhu) and Jind borders on Tuesday as protesting farmers began removing barricades. In response, the Haryana Police fired rounds of tear gas and water cannons. Tear gas shells, some dropped from drones, were lobbed by police in the face-off that lasted several hours at the Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana. The Haryana Police also used tear gas canisters and water cannons against protesters at the Jind district border. The farmers, in their attempts to breach the barricades near the Punjab-Haryana border, were pushed back by the police, who used drones to drop tear gas shells to prevent any escalation. Upon the police firing tear gas shells, protesters swiftly covered them with wet jute bags to mitigate the smoke. Meanwhile the only takeaway from the inconclusive Centre-farmers organisations meetings is that the Union Government has agreed to withdraw the cases against the farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation. After a five-hour-long meeting in Chandigarh late on Monday, chaired by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda, farmer organisations key demands for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and pensions for farmers could not make progress, ultimately prompting the striking farmers to march with their Delhi Chalo call. The sources also stated that farmer leaders remained adamant about a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops and pensions for farmers, which are among their key demands. Additionally, Union ministers are believed to have agreed to provide compensation to any families of farmers who were left out and suffered losses during the previous agitation. However, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who, along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, attended the second round of talks with the farmer leaders, said that a consensus was reached on most issues, and a formula was proposed for resolving some others through the formation of a committee. Munda said enacting a law guaranteeing MSP on crops cannot be rushed without consulting all stakeholders. He urged the protesting farmer groups to engage in structured discussions with the government. We are still hopeful that farmer bodies will engage in talks... We will endeavour to resolve issues in the coming days, said Union Agriculture Minister. In the two rounds of discussions, we agreed to many of their demands. However, there was no agreement on certain issues. The talks are ongoing, Munda explained. He mentioned that the Centre has agreed to address many of their demands that can be fulfilled at the administrative level. However, a policy guaranteeing an MSP requires a holistic approach, taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders, including State Governments, the minister said. We need to examine how to formulate a law on MSP and what are the benefits and drawbacks of such a law, Munda said. The meeting began at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 around 6:30 pm on Monday and concluded just before midnight. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the government proposed the formation of a committee to address issues related to legal guarantees for MSP, debt waiver, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations. We will inform our farmers about what happened in the meeting, he said. It is our obligation to proceed towards Delhi, he added when asked about the Delhi Chalo march call. In addition to a legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act - 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation, among other demands. Central Delhi has been placed under heavy security cover due to the farmers protest, with personnel in anti-riot gear deployed strategically and metal and concrete barricades regulating access to several key roads, causing hardship to commuters. Some entry and exit gates of select Metro stations near important installations in the area have been shut, as prohibitory orders remain in force. The historic Red Fort complex has been temporarily closed to visitors due to security reasons. After violence erupted at the Shambu border, the Delhi Police sealed the Tikri border on Tuesday. The border was closed by blocking movement on both carriageways with five-foot-long cement blocks along with multiple layers of barricades. The Delhi Police also closed all entry and exit points of nearby streets and villages connecting the highway near Tikri Metro Station. However, metro services on the green line are still operational for commuting purposes. Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Madhup Tiwari, visited the Tikri border to inspect the arrangements. We have allowed traffic movement at the Tikri border until 3 pm. Now we have allowed emergency services like ambulances and those walking towards Delhi to take the metro. We have foolproof security arrangements, the Special CP said. On Tuesday, the Haryana police used drones to fire tear gas shells and monitor the protesting farmers. They prevented the mob from reaching near the barricades, pushing them back and deploying tear gas shells using drones to prevent any buildup near the barricades. The protesting farmers made repeated attempts on Tuesday to reach the barricades near the Punjab-Haryana border set up by the police. Whenever a tear gas shell fired by the police hits the ground, the protestors quickly cover it with wet jute bags to mitigate the smoke. In Delhi, the police stated that the security arrangements are part of Plan B to handle any situation in case the protesting farmers, marching towards the national capital from neighboring states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, entered the city and attempted to reach Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support and his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of a Hindu temple here, saying it reflects his affinity for India. Modi will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. Modi arrived here earlier in the day and was received at the airport by President Sheikh Mohamed. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks soon after Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE. In his opening remarks, Modi said the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi is an example of the Presidents affinity towards India and his vision for the UAEs bright future. The BAPS Hindu Mandir, located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, has come up on around 27 acres of land in Abu Dhabi and the work for the structure has been going on since 2019. The land for the temple was donated by the UAE government. The construction of the BAPS temple would not have been possible without your support, he said. Modi recalled that in his first meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed, he just mentioned the land for the temple and how he immediately responded to the request. Such trust and love itself represent the strength of our unique relationship, Modi said. International tourists are being advised to postpone their plans to visit the newly constructed Ram Mandir as hundreds of thousands of devotees from within the country throng the temple daily in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya. The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the national body of the tourism industry, said there has been a significant increase in queries from NRIs and culture-oriented foreigners regarding visiting the much-revered iconic site since the praan pratishthaa on January 22, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ram Mandir has generated significant interest among overseas Indians, primarily Hindus, Rajiv Mehra, president of IATO and owner of Uday Tours and Travels, told The Pioneer. Though the number of international tourists is currently fragmented, with individuals arriving independently, interest from tourist groups has been observed from countries such as the US, UK, Fiji, Malaysia, Suriname, and the West Caribbean, where third and fourth generations of Indians reside. According to government data, there are more than 30 million NRIs across the globe. Players in the hospitality sector believe that if strategically tapped, this demographic could boost foreign exchange reserves and generate employment within the country. They emphasised that unlike domestic tourists, the holiday plans of tourists from abroad typically span months. Senior vice president Rajnish Kaistha of the Association agreed, saying that the Ayodhya sector is emerging strongly worldwide as a religious and cultural hub. With its profound cultural and religious significance, the newly constructed Ram Mandir has become a focal point for Hindus worldwide. NRIs are drawn to experience the spiritual ambiance, participate in rituals, and pay homage at this iconic site. As interest grows, NRIs are considering travel arrangements in Ayodhya and its surroundings, Kaistha, who heads Paradise Holidays (I) Pvt Ltd, echoed Mehras sentiments. In fact, in 2022, we promoted Ayodhya as a religious tourism hotspot and took tour operators on familiarisation trips in the region so that they have knowledge about the product before it is ready, he shared. Kaistha added, On our part, we are also facilitating familiarisation trips for tour operators in the region, ensuring they are well-versed with the destination even before its completion. Presently, we are pausing queries as the initial excitement surrounding Ayodhyas development continues. With the local administration primarily focused on domestic demand management, we are closely monitoring this evolving landscape, he said. Additionally, we are actively enhancing our product knowledge by planning familiarisation tours on the Ramayana circuit comprising destinations such as Chitrakoot. NRIs are seeking guidance on travel arrangements, accommodations, and immersive experiences to make their visit to the Ram Mandir and Ayodhya memorable and spiritually fulfilling, added Reetu Jain, Director of Coterie Tours Pvt Ltd. The Ayodhya airport, now called the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister last December, will ensure international standard quality for visitors from abroad. The airport aims to cater to around 10 lakh passengers annually. Jain said not only Ayodhya but also the much-sought-after Ram Mandir has put the country on the global map. This surge of interest reflects a deep connection that Indians living abroad have to their roots and a desire to partake in the sacred atmosphere of this iconic religious site. However, a section of tour operators dealing with inbound tourism feels that despite being a significant source of foreign revenue and job creation, the Overseas Promotion and Publicity scheme aimed at encouraging inbound tourists is being neglected. They mentioned that the budget for overseas promotion has been consistently declining over the past two years - from Rs 300 crore to Rs 100 crore, and now to Rs 3 crore in the interim budget, while eight foreign offices have been shut down, as highlighted by a recent Parliamentary panel report. The 15 destinations in the Ramayana circuit are Ayodhya, Shringverpur, and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi, Buxar, and Darbhanga in Bihar, Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nandigram in West Bengal, Mahendragiri in Odisha, Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Hampi in Karnataka, and Nashik and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Several kilometre-long traffic jams were observed on Tuesday morning on highways connecting Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Police implemented measures such as barricades, iron nails, container walls, and concrete slabs to prevent protesting farmers from entering the national capital. Major border points between Delhi and its satellite towns experienced congestion and diversions in anticipation of a large farmers march. As barricades were erected at Singhu, Tikri, Noida, and Ghazipur borders, many individuals had to cross the Singhu border between Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Ghaziabad on foot at the Alipur and Tikri borders. Bumper-to-bumper traffic was witnessed at Ghazipur, Noida, Ghaziabad, Singhu, Gurugram, and Tikri borders starting from 7 am. Vehicles on the Delhi-Meerut expressway moved at a sluggish pace due to barricades blocking the roads for two to three kilometres. Service lanes were obstructed using concrete barricades, barbed wire, and trucks, disrupting usual traffic flow in the area. About 100 to 150 police personnel were stationed at the Ghazipur border service road. Some entry and exit gates of select Metro stations near important installations, including Parliament, have been closed as prohibitory orders remain in force. The stations affected are: Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, Barakhamba Road, Lok Kalyan Marg, and Khan Market. In Noida, many people use the Ghazipur border road to travel to Delhi. The affected roads in the region connect the city to Bareilly, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Muradabad, and Nainital. Commuters like Kritika Sharma reported being stuck in traffic jams despite leaving for the office as early as 6 am. Hence, it is advisable to avoid these roads. Additionally, there was a traffic jam on the DND flyover. A traffic police officer noted that over two lakh people travel between Delhi and Gurugram each day during working hours and recommended commuters to use Metro train services. Two hundred and fifty Bharatiya Janata Party representatives from Uttarakhand will attend the partys national council meeting to be held in Delhi. The central leadership of the BJP will discuss the preparations of the party for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Interacting with media persons here on Tuesday, the BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt said that the central leadership of the party will talk about the strategy of the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections in the meeting of the partys national council to be held on February 17-18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Home minister Amit Shah and other senior party leaders will provide guidance to the party leaders in the meeting. Bhatt said that all the State units of the party will work to implement the strategy finalised in the national council meeting down to the booth level. The party office bearers and workers from the State to the Panna level will share detailed information with the public. The first day of the two-day national council meeting will have the meeting of the national office bearers of the party. All the members of the national council will hold a meeting on the second day of the deliberations, Bhatt said. The BJP State president said that the Central and State governments are doing excellent work. Considering this, there is substantial excitement in the party regarding the meeting. Referring to the recent political developments in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, Bhatt said that the opposition is disappearing from the nation. The collapse of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh and the former chief minister of Maharashtra joining the BJP point towards this, he said. Regarding the Gairsain Assembly session, Bhatt said that the session is for the supplementary budget and the BJP will accept whatever decision the Vidhan Sabha speaker and the government take. Some MLAs may have their personal opinions regarding the Vidhan Sabha session but it is the speaker and the CM who have to decide where the session will be held. The BJP is prepared for wherever the Vidhan Sabha session is held, the partys State president added. s the state gears up for the much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for February 19, the abundant land bank readily available for industries has solidified Uttar Pradeshs position as a prime destination for investors. A government spokesman emphasised the pivotal role of readily available land in attracting private investment, stating, As we are readily providing land to the investors, the private players are ready to invest in UP. A vast industrial land bank totaling 7,96,764.74 square metres across various authorities, including the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority, New Okhla Industrial Development Authority and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, has been highlighted as a key factor in Uttar Pradeshs attractiveness for investors. Notably, the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) alone boasts of 17,05,365.33 square metres of vacant land, while the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor possesses 80,47,200 square metres of land for allocation, the spokesman added. In addition to the substantial land reserves, various industrial development authorities have actively allocated plots and made land available for prospective investors. The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority has allocated 2,568 plots to industries, with an additional 2,07,924 square metres of land available for allotment. Similarly, the Noida Industrial Development Authority has allotted 11,162 industrial plots, leaving 1,734.74 square metres of land available for allocation. Meanwhile, the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority has allotted 981 plots to industrial units, with 5,87,106 square metres available for allotment. Additionally, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has allotted 261 plots to industries during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years. In a bid to enhance transparency and accessibility for investors, all industrial development authorities have been diligently uploading comprehensive data on vacant plots on the Nivesh Sarathi portal. This initiative ensures that potential investors have seamless access to crucial information, facilitating informed decision-making, the spokesman elaborated. Highlighting a significant policy move, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a policy to provide subsidised land to Fortune Global 500 and Fortune India 500 companies. Under the newly unveiled UP FDI, Fortune Global 500 & Fortune India 500 Companies Investment Promotion Policy 2023, eligible projects with a capital investment exceeding Rs 100 crore can benefit from incentives, including subsidised land allotment. Industrial development authorities are offering a 25 per cent subsidy in Pashchimanchal and Madhyanchal, and 20 per cent in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, along with 100 per cent exemption or reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees. The convergence of abundant land availability and investor-friendly policies underscores Uttar Pradeshs proactive approach towards industrial development and augurs well for the economic future of the state, the official said. Gold had once lost its popularity in China as mainstream consumers turned to diamonds and other gems due to changing consumption perceptions. Customers view gold jewelry at a gold shop in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, Jan 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] However, the precious metal has regained its lost glitter as a new gold rush is on, with China's younger population leading the way. According to China Gold Association, in 2023, the national gold consumption reached nearly 1,090 tonnes, an increase of 8.78 percent year on year. Of the total, the gold jewelry consumption hit 706.48 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 7.97 percent, and the gold bars and coins saw 299.6 tonnes, up 15.7 percent year on year. The young population aged between 25 and 34 became the main force of gold consumption, with their proportion up from 16 percent to 59 percent in 2023. In the future, consumers under the age of 25 will become new major gold buyers, said the association. There are various factors at play behind the growing demand for gold among Chinese youth. On the one hand, as the China Chic phenomenon resurfaces, jewelers go out of their way to create more fashionable gold jewelry infused with traditional Chinese aesthetics and cultural elements, attracting more and more young consumers. Young Chinese, on the other hand, see gold as an investment commodity thanks to the relatively bullish performance of gold in the capital market in recent years. GOLD RUSH Ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, gold shops in the country have seen a large flow of consumers, many of whom are young people. Wang Yinghao and Zhao Wenxiu, a couple in their 20s, spent more than 7,000 yuan (around 1,000 U.S. dollars) buying their parents a gold necklace and bracelet from a gold shop in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province. "Today's gold jewelry have delicate design styles. Our parents were very happy when I showed them the pictures," said Zhao. According to Xia Liuxia, head of the gold shop, pure gold necklaces, bracelets, rings and other items worth between 2,000 yuan and 3,000 yuan are most popular among young consumers. The stylish and innovative designs is one of the major reasons that has caught their attention. Besides the fashion identity, young Chinese consumers choose gold jewelry also for investment reasons. Tang Gang, a 28-year-old young man from southwest China's Guizhou Province, got married to his girlfriend in May 2023. Prior to their wedding ceremony, he followed the traditional Chinese custom and bought his girlfriend a "gold trio set" consisting of a gold ring, bracelet, and necklace, instead of buying a diamond ring. "In recent years, the price of gold continues to grow. A 'gold trio set' generally costs more than 30,000 yuan, but the relatively high price has not hindered consumers' enthusiasm as gold can maintain value over the long term compared to diamonds," said Xia. CHINA CHIC China Chic features fancy designs mixed with elements from the traditional culture. In recent years, the China Chic phenomenon has been warmly embraced by the younger generation. As a result, a growing number of Chinese gold jewelers are joining the trend and designing jewelry products bearing traditional Chinese cultural elements to satisfy young consumers' aesthetics needs. At the gold shop in Jinan, a lock-shaped gold pendant engraved with koi fish and lotus, two auspicious patterns in China, is one of the bestsellers and most popular gold jewelry items on Xiaohongshu, China's leading lifestyle social platform, said Xia. "The lock has an exquisite design and adopts an ancient engraving craftsmanship," said Xia. "But the price is not high. Many young consumers come to look for it." The upgrading of ancient Chinese gold craftsmanship such as "gufa gold" and "hard gold" in recent years provides more possibilities for novel designs. "We are actively engaged in exchanges and cooperation with universities, inheritors of intangible cultural heritages, and cultural and art institutions, to better explore the integration of traditional culture with innovation in gold jewelry designs and techniques, bringing vitality to the gold industry," Ding Xiaokang, head of retail business of Shandong Gold Group. In the not-too-distant past, gold symbolized the pass taste of older generations, but now it is a statement of Generation Z identity that represents both personal style and cultural loyalty, said Wang Zhongwu, professor of School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University. SAFE HAVEN Chinese people, particularly the younger generation, are embracing gold, with fewer fluctuations and lower risks, as a safe-haven investment. Data from the Shanghai Gold Exchange show that the price for gold that is 99.99 percent pure or above closed at 479.59 yuan per gram at the end of December 2023, up 16.69 percent from the opening price at the beginning of 2023. At an Agricultural Bank of China branch in Guizhou, a staff member was introducing the bank's gold products to a female customer born in the 1990s. According to Xiong Xiong, a wealth consultant of the bank, since 2021, the sales volume of gold products in the Guizhou branch has increased significantly, with sales of about 27.5 million yuan in 2022 and about 62.9 million yuan in 2023, more than doubling. In order to cater to the gold consumption trend of young people, at the end of 2023, the bank launched small-gram-weighted gold products, making them accessible even to those with limited budgets. "Judging from the current market performance, the price of gold is relatively stable and may continue to rise. Buying gold now is a better investment channel," said Liu Lianghui, a customer at the gold shop in Jinan. Although he is only 23 years old and has just worked for more than a year, he already has a strong sense of financial management. "There has been a structural shift in the consumption motivation for gold jewelry in recent years," Ding said, adding that the younger generation has a strong concept of investment and financial management and they turn to gold for its value preserving and low risk attributes, which boosts gold's popularity. Eighteen horses that were recently rescued by the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office will soon be sold at auction. The rescue also involved 26 dogs, and a decision by the Twin Falls County commissioners to euthanize most of them has been put on hold as there will be more evaluation performed to see which ones are adoptable. The animals were seized in early December in northwestern Twin Falls County from Wade Gridley, as they were determined to be neglected, and Gridleys health problems prevented him from caring for them. At a Jan. 30 court hearing, Gridley, who is facing 20 misdemeanor counts of allowing an animal to go without care, was given 72 hours to pay an $18,000 bond for the county to care for them for the next six months. Gridley didnt meet that deadline, and the horses will be sold at noon Feb. 17 at the Twin Falls Livestock Commission, 630 Commercial Ave. Some of these horses were in pretty rough shape when they got here, Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter said. I would love to see them get a second chance and go to good homes. To be auctioned are five mid- to older-age mares, three 2- to 3-year-old fillies, five yearling or younger fillies, two yearling colts, one approximately 2-year-old stud and two studs 4 to 6 years old. As the horses were all kept together, there is a good chance several of the mares could be in foal, said a news release from the Sheriffs Office. Euthanasia still looks to be in the future of many of the dogs. They were on the verge of having a court order signed by a judge to be destroyed, but have been given a temporary reprieve. In addition to eight puppies, a female and adult male were taken to the countys animal shelter for possible adoption, but new information came to county commissioners, indicating that a portion of the rest might be able to be rescued after all and saved from a sad fate. Honestly, it is OK to pull back and reassess situations, said Don Hall, commission chairman. The commissioners initial decision to euthanize the animals wasnt easy, Hall said. We are animal lovers, he said. The canines, which are mostly border collies and Australian shepherds, are being kept on county property and the situation isnt ideal, said Debbie Blackwood, animal shelter director. Dogs have been maimed, and even killed, by some of the others, Blackwood said. She said her staff has been spending time caring for the dogs, and continue to evaluate which dogs might be adoptable. No final decision has been made. There are liability questions in making the decision. Dogs that are adopted cannot be at high risk for attacking people or other animals. They have two strikes against them, Blackwood said, as the dogs are inbred, which can increase aggression, as well as possibly having behavioral problems due to them being underfed for a long period of time. Court records said the dogs were so hungry they were eating the remains of Gridleys dead horses. The real tragedy is this getting out of control, Blackwood said. The initial order calling for euthanizing of the dogs, which was later withdrawn, called for Gridley to be held liable for $1,432 to care for the dogs up to Feb. 5, along with $3,900 to euthanize them. At the Jan. 30 court hearing, it was determined that proceeds from the horse sale would be put in a trust. And although the animal shelter is already very crowded, Blackwood said a border collie rescue group might be able to take some of the dogs. Under the Bharatiya Janata Partys Gaon Chalo Abhiyan initiative, a chaupal (village meeting) was organised in the Isauli assembly constituency in Sultanpur district where leaders highlighted the achievements of the both state and the Central governments. Addressing people on this occasion, BJPs former Lok Sabha candidate Dr Veena Pandey highlighted various schemes being implemented for public welfare by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath government in the state. She emphasised that to lead the country on the path of progress, numerous schemes aimed at public welfare, under the motto of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, have been implemented, resulting in the well-being of the poor. She said: The government schemes have started reaching the common people and they should avail their benefits. At the chaupal, attendees expressed satisfaction with the BJPs governance, citing benefits such as fair prices for farmers produce, availability of electricity for irrigation, distribution of food grains to the poor, construction of well-connected roads with adequate lighting, enhanced security for the general public, crackdown on mafia elements, and a peaceful life for ordinary citizens. They emphasised the necessity of keeping BJP in power both now and in the future to advance the nation. Notable figures present at the event included former vice-chancellor of Manipur Central University, Prof Adya Prasad Pandey, BJP leader Brij Bhushan Mishra, booth president Tej Bahadur Tiwari, Ved Prakash Mishra, village head Atul Pandey, Manoj Kasaudhan, Mahima Tiwari, along with several other local residents. An Advanced Wireless Cardiac Life System (ACLS) has been installed to provide practical knowledge to the medical students studying at Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC) and for the better treatment of patients. Here, through an advanced mannequin (mannequin/dummy), students will be taught how to examine a serious patient admitted in a critical condition in the hospital or what method should be adopted for the treatment. On Monday, Dr Manisha Shrivastava, Director In-charge, BMHRC, inaugurated this Advanced Life Support System. It has been installed in the Anesthesiology Department of the hospital. Dr. Manisha Shrivastava informed that this mannequin is different from the ordinary dummy. Pulse, heartbeat, airway etc. can be examined in this mannequin too like any normal patients. This mannequin is connected to a monitor, in which pulse, heartbeat etc. are visible. Its control is in the hands of a senior doctor, who teaches the students the methods of examination and treatment according to different circumstances. How to incubate a patient can also be taught through this mannequin. She said that as BMHRC develops as an institute of Medical Education, an advanced wireless ACLS System has been added as a new learning resource in the Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, BMHRC, Bhopal. Dr. Anurag Yadav, Incharge Medical Superintendent and HOD, Department of Anesthesiology, BMHRC , Bhopal said that the department will conduct regular training sessions in BLS and ACLS as broad specialty and super specialty PG courses are already ongoing in BMHRC. This training will not only be useful for the medical fraternity but shall cover other staff in the institute also. Basic life support on the system will be imparted to general staff as well. AIIMS Bhopal achieved a milestone on Tuesday with the successful completion of its first-ever drone test under the visionary leadership of Professor (Dr.) Ajai Singh, the institute's Executive Director. This landmark achievement marks a significant advancement in medical logistics, promising to revolutionize the delivery of healthcare services to remote and underserved regions. In the inaugural trial, AIIMS Bhopal orchestrated the seamless delivery of life-saving medications from its facilities to the Gauharganj Primary Health Center (PHC) in a mere 20 minutes via drone. Furthermore, the drone efficiently transported a patient's blood sample back to the institute from the remote location, showcasing the technology's potential to facilitate urgent medical interventions. Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh emphasized the initiative's importance in extending timely medical assistance to tribal populations residing in distant areas. The primary objective of deploying drones for medical logistics is to ensure swift and accessible healthcare services to as many individuals as possible, particularly in geographically isolated regions. The drone embarked on its historic journey from AIIMS Bhopal at approximately 12:30 pm and returned from the Gauharganj PHC at around 1:45 pm, under the vigilant monitoring of Professor (Dr.) Ajai Singh. Throughout the mission, the team meticulously tracked the drone's trajectory via GPS technology, ensuring its safe navigation and efficient operation. Operating at speeds of up to 120 km/hr and covering distances of 100 km per trip, the medical drone holds immense potential in augmenting the existing healthcare infrastructure. AIIMS Bhopal has designated specialized personnel, including drone operators and pilots, to facilitate the loading and unloading of medical supplies, thereby streamlining the delivery process. The successful implementation of medical drone delivery positions AIIMS Bhopal as a trailblazer in leveraging cutting-edge technology to address healthcare challenges. The institute remains steadfast in its commitment to introducing innovative solutions and initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and delivery across the state and beyond. In a notable shift from bureaucracy to politics, a distinguished former IAS officer and former chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, renowned for his illustrious 38-year career, Alok Ranjan, has embarked on a new chapter in public service. Graduating from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, his decision to contest the Rajya Sabha election under the Samajwadi Party banner marks a significant milestone in his journey. Amidst anticipation, the retired bureaucrat officially filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat on Tuesday, outlining his vision for national policy reforms and inclusive development. Prior to his political debut, he held pivotal roles, including chief adviser to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and chairman of the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC), showcasing his governance and administrative prowess. Reflecting on his extensive experience, he expressed his aspirations for his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member. I aim to utilise my 38 years of service, spanning various administrative posts including chief secretary, to contribute to policy enhancement and development across diverse sectors, Ranjan said. Emphasising national interests, he stressed the importance of comprehensive policy formulation to drive socio-economic progress. When queried about his agenda, he reaffirmed his commitment to championing policies prioritising citizen welfare, particularly for the underprivileged. Education, healthcare and agriculture will be my primary focus, ensuring equitable opportunities for all, Ranjan said. Furthermore, he pledged to address pressing social issues, signaling a conscientious approach to navigating the political landscape. With his political foray, the former bureaucrat envisions a seamless transition from administrative governance to legislative advocacy, poised to effect meaningful change at the national level. His candidacy represents a fusion of experience, intellect and unwavering commitment to public service, promising a positive trajectory in Indian politics. As the electoral process unfolds, all eyes remain fixed on the outcome, anticipating the potential impact of his stewardship in the esteemed halls of the Rajya Sabha. As part of the resolve to provide government jobs to the youth of the country, appointment letters were distributed to more than 1 lakh candidates selected in government jobs by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 12, 2024. Keeping pace with the visionary policy of the Prime Minister, the recruitment process was expedited under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal. Under this, today in Bhopal also a Rozgar Mela was organized at Chirayu Medical College where the Honorable Prime Minister virtually connected with the selected candidates. On behalf of AIIMS Bhopal, Assistant Administrative Officer Ramendra Singh Sisodia distributed appointment letters to 21 candidates selected for MTS post. The BJP Legislature Party in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday expressed displeasure that the Question and Answer Hour has been arbitrarily removed in the Budget session starting from February 15 and said the party will meet the President to demand the dissolution of the Assembly. Making this assertion here, Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said even in previous assembly sessions, members were consistently deprived of their constitutional right to ask questions. The Kejriwal government is running the assembly in a dictatorial and undemocratic manner, he said. In view of this situation, we will meet the President and demand the dissolution of the Assembly because the rationale of the Assembly has ended, and its existence is in danger, Bidhuri said. Before the assembly session, a meeting of the BJP legislature party was held under the chairmanship of Bidhuri in which a resolution was passed that in view of the unconstitutional and undemocratic attitude of the Kejriwal government, nothing is expected from this government. This government is neither accountable to the Assembly, nor to the opposition, nor to the public. The government has taken away the constitutional right to ask questions from the members of the opposition as well as the ruling party in the Assembly. Members in the Assembly cannot raise any questions on the policies or actions of the government nor can they raise the voice of the people of their area. Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Jitu Patwari, while talking to media persons here at the State Congress Headquarters on Monday, said that at the behest of the BJP government at the Centre, the Income Tax Department has recently issued summons to hundreds of leaders and workers of the Congress Party in the country and the state. This action being taken by the Income Tax Department against Congress leaders is being taken by the Income Tax Department at the behest of the Central Government only to exert pressure and is motivated by political objectives. Whenever elections come, the way the BJP in power commits this is not commendable. Patwari said that earlier also in 2019, just before the Lok Sabha elections, similar action was taken against Congress leaders by the Income Tax Department under pressure from the Central Government to achieve political objectives. Raids were conducted illegally, this action was taken This was also challenged in the court which is still pending. The Income Tax Department could not even present the documents before the court in this court process. Similarly, now Lok Sabha elections are to be held in the near future in 2024, then the Income Tax Department has started repeating the same action at the behest of the Central Government. Leaders and workers associated with Congress are being harassed, sometimes by giving summons and sometimes by giving notices. In the notice and summons issued by the Income Tax Department, no documents were asked from any taxpayer, only orders for their presence have been issued. Not only this, when the summons were issued, their legal replies were also presented, in which the legal reasons for issuing the summons were also sought. Only one line order has been given by the Income Tax Department in which there is no document, but former Congress ministers, present and former MLAs have been asked to appear in the Income Tax Department office in Delhi. Patwari also said that not a single summon or notice has been issued by the Income Tax Department to any of our former colleagues who have joined BJP today, who are ministers and MLAs in the current government. It is clear from such partisan politics that the Income Tax Department itself works like a political party with the sole aim of creating sensation and defaming political rivals before every election. Replying to a question asked by journalists, Patwari said that I am not involved in the race for Rajya Sabha member. I stand by the dignity of one person and one post and will remain so. On the deception being done by the state government to the farmers and women, he said that the farmers will be given Rs 2700 and Rs 3100. Government should give support prices on paddy and wheat. Whereas women will get Rs 3000 and Rs 450. Whatever the state government said in its manifesto about providing cylinders, the government should also implement it. He said that if the BJP government spends even half the effort in listening to the demands and problems of the farmers than the efforts it is making in making the movement unsuccessful, then the reality will be understood to a great extent. BJP is pressurizing Congress people to join BJP by putting pressure on them through ED and Income Tax. At the same time, some selfish types of leaders are themselves joining BJP to save their business due to the fear of ED Income Tax. Himachal Budget session to start from Feb 14 Shimla: The 16-day Budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly will start on February 14 with the address of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said on Monday. There will be 13 sittings, including two private members days on February 22 and 28, he said. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who holds the finance portfolio, would present the budget on February 17. This will be his second budget, Pathania said. It would be passed on the last day of the session, February 29. The last two days of the session have been earmarked for the discussion on the governors address, four days for general discussion on budget and three days for debate on demands, the speaker said. So far, 793 questions, including 582 starred, and eight notices under Rule 130 have been received, he said. Pathania added that the number of questions could increase. Haryana CM approves improvement of 13 ODR Roads in Bhiwani worth Rs 9.39 crore Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday granted administrative sanction for the special repair and improvement of 13 ODR roads in Bhiwani District. This project will cost over Rs. 9.39 crore. The roads serving rural areas of production and providing them with outlet to market centres, tehsil headquarters, block development headquarters, railway stations etc. are known as Other District Roads (ODRs), a statement said. 24-hour electricity in 5805 villages of Haryana: Kaushal Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Monday stated that in accordance with the Prime Minister's directives, two villages in the state will be completely reliant on solar energy as pilot projects. This is aimed at maximising the use of solar energy. Presiding over a meeting with the officers of the power utilities to reduce line losses in power utilities and to ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers, he said that electricity supply is provided round the clock in 5805 villages of Haryana by Power utilities of Haryana. To ensure uninterrupted 24-hour power supply to consumers, Uttar and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam are being upgraded to 2245 feeders. He emphasised continuous monitoring of feeder operations at the micro level. Apart from this, Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon (MGJG) Scheme should also be reviewed regularly. Mustard, gram, sunflower to be procured at MSP in Rabi season: Hry CS Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Monday said that the state government will procure mustard, gram, sunflower and summer moong from farmers at the determined MSP (Minimum Support Price) during the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25. Beside this, the government will supply sunflower oil through fair price shops in 5 districts starting from March. Chairing a meeting of officers to discuss the procurement process to be undertaken during the Rabi season, Kaushal said that the government will commence the procurement of mustard at the rate of Rs. 5,650 per quintal by the last week of March. Similarly, gram will be procured from farmers at the rate of Rs. 5,440 per quintal. He informed that the procurement of summer moong will be done at the price of Rs. 8,558 per quintal from May 15 onwards. Likewise, procurement of Sunflower will take place from June 1 to June 30 at the rate of Rs. 6,760 per quintal. MCC focuses on capacity building and training of safaimitras: Commissioner Mitra Chandigarh: To improve the capacity and enhance awareness of safaimitras, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anindita Mitra on Monday said that the Corporation organized a comprehensive training workshop at the MC Building. With Swachh Survekshan 2024 in the horizon, MC Chandigarh's Training and Capacity experts delivered informative sessions covering six major subject areas: Solid Waste Management, Domestic Hazardous Waste Management, Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, Disaster Management & Epidemic Response, Government Scheme Linkages, and Mental Health and Well-being. Mitra said that MC Chandigarh remains dedicated to the professional growth and development of its employees. The organization has dedicated the entire month of February to conducting the Capacity Building and Training Workshop, ensuring comprehensive coverage of essential topics. She added that, by organizing this capacity building and training workshop, the organization strives to equip its workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality services to the citizens of Chandigarh. The Jharkhand Cabinet on Monday approved the proposal to provide scholarship to girl students to pursue technical education. Under the 'Manki Munda' Scholarship scheme, a girl student will get Rs 15,000 scholarship per annum for pursuing diploma courses, while Rs 30,000 annually for engineering courses. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Champai Soren. Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel said the scholarship scheme was introduced to encourage girl students for technical education in the state, as boys and girls ratio in state technical institution is 6:1. "Around 3,000 girl students pursuing diploma courses will benefit from the scheme in the first year. Similarly, 1,200 students will get the benefit for the first year in engineering courses", she said. To avail the benefit in the next academic session, the student will have to pass the examination with 50 per cent marks in aggregate without any back paper, she said. The Champai Soren government has also decided to provide interest-free loans to Jharkhand farmers, provided they return the loan within the stipulated period. The cabinet approved the proposal of interest subvention of 4 per cent from the existing 3 per cent, Dadel said. Currently, farmers are charged 7 per cent on loan in the country. Centre and state each offer a 3 per cent interest subvention, bringing down the loan interest to farmers at 1 per cent. "Now, Jharkhand has decided to increase the interest subvention to 4 per cent, which means farmers will get interest free loan in Jharkhand", state agriculture secretary Aboobacker Siddique said. As many as 25 agendas were cleared by the cabinet including approval to the revised amount of Rs 114.47 crore for houses being built for 11 cabinet ministers in Ranchi Smart City. Earlier, the administrative approval for the project was Rs 69.90 crore. The cabinet also gave the go-ahead to the proposal of hiring non-government organizations (NGOs) for operation of the 593 SC, ST and OBC hostels in the state. "The NGOs will have to arrange cook, night guard and librarian for the hostel. They will also be liable for housekeeping of the hostels", Dadel said. The cabinet also decided that in the appointment of assistant professors in the universities of Jharkhand state, including constituent and affiliated colleges (including deficit-funded minority colleges) and Ph.D. Approval was given for the formation of JET Examination Conduct Rules for conducting Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET) for admission in Jharkhand. After the Governor relaxed the educational qualification at the time of appointment of SC/ST teachers of the colleges adopted in the fourth phase, the service adjustment and salary determination of 22 SC/ST teachers will be done from the date of absorption against the available created posts. Apart from this, approval was also given for the formation of Jharkhand Technical Education Service Rules, 2023 for recruitment and service conditions for appointment to teachers and other posts in the Directorate of Education, Government Engineering Colleges and Government Polytechnic Institutes. Revised administrative approval was given on the revised estimate of total amount of Rs. 114,47,21,100/- (Rupees One Hundred Fourteen Crore Forty Seven Lakh Twenty One Thousand One Hundred) for the residence of 11 Cabinet Ministers of Jharkhand Government under construction under Ranchi Smart City area. Went. Approval was given to adopt and establish the law faculty running in Jamshedpur Co-operative College under Kolhan University, Chaibasa as Jamshedpur Co-operative Law College. The approval of the Council of Ministers was given on the point of introducing the Jharkhand Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the upcoming budget session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly to enact the Jharkhand Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023. A plan of only Rs. 15722.45 lakh (Rs. one hundred fifty seven crore twenty two lakh forty five thousand) was made for the implementation of Solid Waste Management Scheme under Bishrampur Municipal Council on the basis of Public Private Partnership Mode. Administrative approval was given. Approval was given to create 01 (one) post of 'Senior Appointed Secretary to the Governor' in the establishment of Governor's Secretariat, Jharkhand, Ranchi, in the pay scale PB-IV, 37400- 67000/-, GP-8700/-. To complete the remaining works under Jharkhand Complete Electricity Covering Scheme, approval was given to extend the period of the scheme till March 2024. Post-facto approval was given to extend the tenure of Jharkhand State Law Commission from 14.11.2023 to 13.11.2025 with retrospective effect. Approval was given for the formation of the Fifth State Finance Commission under Article 243-1 read with Article 243-Y of the Constitution of India and Section 114 (1) of the Jharkhand Panchayat Raj Act 2001. Widening, strengthening and rehabilitation of Union Bank Gandey Mod to Union Bank Pratappur road (total length 10.465 km) under Giridih by transferring it from Rural Works Department to Road Construction Department. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reached Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to attend the meeting of cluster in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party. During his one-day stay, Dr. Yadav attended 3 cluster category meetings of 5 Lok Sabha constituencies including Azamgarh-Lalganj-Ghosi-Ballia and Salempur falling under Azamgarh cluster and discussed the party's strategy and important issues of the workers in view of the Lok Sabha elections. Brainstormed on topics like roles, taking the schemes of Modi government to the masses and the party's target of crossing 400 in the Lok Sabha elections. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh Government Surya Pratap Shahi, Cabinet Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shri Girish Chandra Yadav, State General Secretary of Party Shri Govind Narayan Shukla, Former Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, Regional President Sahajanand Rai. , District President, District In-charge, Lok Sabha Convener, Lok Sabha In-charge, Assembly Convener, Assembly In-charge and members of the Assembly Management Committee were present. After the meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav also spoke to the media persons. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes us proud. We find the impact of Modi every day, in every type of incidents, we find his influence. We all are seeing that Uttar Pradesh is leading the entire country. The kind of environment that is visible after Ayodhya, under the leadership of the illustrious Prime Minister, his work has not only won the hearts of the people but Modi ji's face has come in front of everyone as an example of the possibilities of development. By realizing the dream of a grand temple at the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, the day of 22 January was immortalized in history. It is the glory of Modi ji that even in a Muslim country like Arabia, he is going there to inaugurate the temple. Referring to the recent release of Indian Navy officers from Qatar, he said that Modi has increased India's fame at every step. Narendra Modi has done the work of glorifying the biggest post of democracy in India. He said that whether it is Mamata's party or AAP's party, everyone has taken their own path. Congress could only make imaginary pulao. Congress had hatched a conspiracy to come to power by making all its efforts. I was already confident and now the public has also seen that their conspiracy did not succeed. KILLDEER, N.D. An advertisement from the cattle company Agridime included the phrase: We know it sounds too good to be true. Despite that, the company was still able to entice investors with the promise of returns of 15% to 20% even as high as 32% -- in the cattle market without having to do any of the work. The federal Securities and Exchange Commission took over the assets in December, and a complaint against the company said Agridime diverted tens of millions of dollars in investor funds to make Ponzi scheme payments to prior investors. The complaint says Agridime owes $191 million to investors in 15 states. About $40 million, or more than 20%, is owed to North Dakota investors, the North Dakota Securities Department said. So if it sounded too good to be true, how did so many investors get hooked? In North Dakota, it can be attributed in part to Agridime using a trusted cattle broker as a sales agent, the North Dakota Monitor reported. Taylor Bang, of Killdeer, had worked with ranchers in North Dakota for years before getting involved with Agridime. One hundred percent up and up, Killdeer beef producer Tom Murphy said of his 20 years of doing business with Bang. Bang has said hes always approached his business honestly and was simply taking direction from Agridime. Agridime was incorporated in Texas in 2017. Murphy said he was skeptical of Agridime at first, but neighbors who had invested said Agridime was holding up its end of the deal. Here was the deal: Invest $2,000 with Agridime, and in 12 months, get a 15% to 20% return. With a $100,000 investment, a 20% profit was guaranteed. Murphy got pulled in, and after his first contract paid off as promised, he reinvested. But his third contract is due to pay off in May. That one isnt looking so good, he said. Murphy said he has benefited from North Dakotas revitalized oil industry, giving him money to invest that would not have available before. He said other western North Dakota landowners are in the same situation. Murphy and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring both noted that cattle markets have been on the upswing, making the idea of larger-than-usual profit margins seem attainable. But Murphy acknowledges that the Agridime profit margins seemed high. Theres never been 30% profit margin in the history of the cattle market, ever, he said. And then there was the Agridime business model. Agridime worked with feedlots in several states to bring cattle up to market weight but said it had its own meatpacking plants in Kansas, Texas and Arizona. It also had its own distribution system and was marketing its meat as a premium product. By eliminating some of the steps in getting beef to market cutting out the middleman the company told Murphy it could achieve those profits. They said they had their own packing facilities and were marketing directly over the internet, Murphy said. And they said thats how come there was such a profit margin. Farmers do feel like the middleman is getting too much, and quite frankly, I get where that mentality comes from, said Goehring, who is also a beef producer. So its easy to get lulled into the Im getting screwed, way of thinking, Goehring said. Consolidation in the industry has left just four large meatpacking companies. Producers complain that the lack of competition hurts producers and benefits the packers. The packers make as much money on that calf in 14 days as we do in a year, Murphy said. Murphy said he still believes the Agridime model could have succeeded. I dont think it started off as a Ponzi scheme, Murphy said. I think it started off as a business they probably could have pulled off. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that International Day of Women and Girls in Scoience Science is an occasion to encourage participation of women in science. Addressing a programme on the occasion at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center, he said that women hold profound respect in India's cultural traditions. It may be noted that International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated by UNESCO in partnership with civil society. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the first citizen of our country is President Smt. Draupadi Murmu holding the highest post. This is the beauty of democracy, which has further enriched with the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged women to make every possible effort to move forward and advance society. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that today sisters of 12 tribal districts, ITIs, Polytechnics, Engineering colleges have been honoured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to bring about positive changes in the lives of the poorest of the poor. The nation will undergo a positive change with the women advancing in science, technology and engineering. Every possible effort will be made to provide world class training through ITIs, Polytechnics, Engineering Colleges. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav digitally inaugurated courses and training sessions in various institutions. Industrial safety training was started in all the government ITIs of the state under Indo German Initiative for Technical Education (IGnITE). Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Thing course was started in Jabalpur Engineering College and Blockchain Builder Technology course was started in Ujjain Engineering College for training in online mode in collaboration with IIT Delhi. Similarly, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality courses were also launched in SV Polytechnic Bhopal. Procurement Essential for Student Advancement (PESA) course launched at Mahila Polytechnic College, Bhopal in collaboration with IIT Indore. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav distributed stipends worth Rs 6 crore 60 lakh to eight thousand selected trainees under the Seekho Kamao Yojana through. He honoured women skilled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) field and gave away offer letters to female candidates selected in Job Fairs including Mehak Shukravare, Ruby Singh Yadav, Aishwarya Tiwari, Ragini Rawat, Shraddha Kushwaha, Aarti Kudape etc. Additional Chief Secretary Technical Education and Skill Development Manu Srivastava said that girls education is among the top priorities of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. Every possible effort is being made to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education (STEM) in the state. Additional Chief Secretary Manu Srivastava welcomed Chief Minister Dr. Yadav with mementoes made by students. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was presented a handmade angavastram by the students of Mahila Polytechnic, Bhopal, which had a drawing of the Ram temple drawn by the students. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was welcomed by the Skill Development Department with a huge image of Lord Shri Ram. Minister of State for Skill Development and Employment (Independent Charge) Gautam Tetwal, Chairman Skill and Employment Generation Board Shailendra Sharma, Country Head UN Women Suzanne Ferguson, Senior Professor IIT Devashish Mitra and women who have made significant contributions in the field of science and technology besides students from engineering and technical education institutes were present in a large number in the programme. To chalk out strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha poll the first meeting of the newly formed Jharkhand State Congress Election Committee was held at Congress Headquarters Ranchi under the chairmanship of the State Congress President Rajesh Thakur in which State Congress In-Charge, Ghulam Ahmed Mir was present as the chief guest. In the meeting, all the 14 Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand were discussed in detail and various aspects of each seat were minutely analyzed in which concrete conclusions were drawn keeping in mind the geographical, social, economic, political, caste data situation of the area. An attempt was made to reach. In this sequence, names of three potential candidates for each Lok Sabha have been selected and presented before the high command for the final decision. In this sequence, Mir said that Congress in Jharkhand is fully prepared to contest elections in all the Lok Sabha constituencies. The workers are in full enthusiasm. With the success of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a new enthusiasm has arisen among the workers in Jharkhand which will turn into a passion against the anti-people government of the Center till the Lok Sabha elections and this enthusiasm of the workers is against the nefarious government of the Centre, he added. We will oust from power. He said that we are keeping a close watch on every activity of the Central Government and the public is also clearly seeing with open eyes the anti-social activities being done by the Modi Government in the Country. A period of change is about to come in the country and its For this, we will have to participate in the elections with full force, our hard work and the support of the people will take the Country into a new era of change, said Mir. On this occasion, Thakur said that all the members of the Election Committee have expressed their opinion on each seat and with the collective opinion of all the members of the Election Committee, the decision to contest the Lok Sabha seats and the alliance and selection of candidates is given to the high command. It has been authorized that the decision of the high command will be the final decision. He said that any party prepares for all the seats to contest the elections, but the matter of alliance is also on the table. After the decision on alliance is taken in time, the final decision regarding seats and candidates will be taken by the high command, he added. In the meeting, Legislative Party leader Alamgir Alam, Dr Rameshwar Oraon, Subodh Kant Sahay, Pradeep Balmuchhu, Sukhdev Bhagat, Geeta Koda, Bandhu Tirkey, Jaleshwar Mahato, Shahzada Anwar, Furkan Ansari, Banna Gupta, Badal Patralekh, Pradeep Yadav, Deepika Pandey Singh, Kali Charan Munda, Brijendra Singh, Rama Khalko, Ashok Choudhary, Bhim Kumar, Sultan Ahmed, Bimla Kumari, Mani Shankar, Niranjan Paswan, Amulya Neeraj Khalko, Satish Rajak Pradesh Youth Congress Chairman Abhijeet Raj, Gunjan Singh, Aamir Hashmi and Nelly Nathan were present. BJP MLA from Baghmara, Dhullu Mahato, was acquitted in the case in which he was accused of rape by a BJP leader. On Tuesday, Special Judge of Dhanbad MP and MLA Court Akhilesh Kumar gave his verdict in this case. In this case, the victim and her husband have already denied their allegations during the testimony. The MLA's clarification statement was recorded in the court on Monday. In fact, the former woman leader of the district BJP had complained against MLA Dhullu Mahato, accusing him of sexual harassment. On the orders of the High Court, the police had registered an FIR against on October 4, 2019. On February 15, 2020, the victim's statement was recorded in the court under Section 164, in which she said that in November 2015, Dhullu Mahato called her at the Tundu guesthouse of Hindustan Zinc and forcibly tried to do wrong with her. There was a lot of agitation regarding this matter. The victim woman was also provided a security guard. Mahato appeared in the court. His clarification statement was recorded in the court. Answering the question of MP-MLA special judge Akhilesh Kumar, Dhullu Mahato said that he is innocent. All the allegations leveled against him are baseless and baseless. The woman had complained against the MLA accusing him of sexual harassment. On the orders of the High Court, the police had registered an FIR against the MLA on October 4, 2019. The statement of the victim was recorded on 15 February 2020 under Section 164. The victim had earlier told in the statement given under Section 164 that in November 2015, Dhulu Mahato had called her to the Tundu Guest House of Hindustan Zinc. Touched her body and forcibly did wrong things with her. The MLA had said, you look 18 years old. How do you maintain it? After this the MLA did wrong things. In the statement, the victim had earlier said that when she had gone to the guest house, Anand Sharma was there. Anand Sharma and Ayodhya Thakur had told her many times that Dhullu liked her and would make her rich if she obeyed him. However, in the statement given in the court, the leader retracted her statement. In a stark reminder of the year-long farmers agitation of 2020-21 against the Centres contentious farm laws, tensions flared once again on Tuesday as farmers from Punjab attempting to march towards the national capital were met with excessive force by the Haryana Police at the Shambhu border. What started as a peaceful march swiftly escalated into a violent clash, leaving around 60 protesting farmers severely injured. The farmers, embarking on their journey from Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to stage a peaceful protest in Delhi, were abruptly halted at the Shambhu barrier along the Haryana border. As they attempted to breach the barricades erected by the police, chaos ensued. Tear gas shells, some deployed even by drones, were fired indiscriminately at the protesters, engulfing the area in thick smoke and confusion. Distressing visuals captured the harrowing scenes as protesters, including women and elderly farmers, scrambled for cover amidst the chaos. The sound of tear gas shells and rubber bullets reverberated through the air as security personnel attempted to disperse the crowd, which was undeterred by the repeated warnings by the Haryana police to stay away from the barricades. The clash, marked by the exchange of tear gas shells and stones, unfolded near the Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana. The stand-off persisted for hours, with neither side willing to back down. However, some protesters were detained by the Haryana Police. Despite the farmers' commitment to a peaceful protest, the response from law enforcement was disproportionately aggressive. The use of tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and water cannons against unarmed protesters raises serious concerns about the authorities respect for democratic rights and civil liberties. The toll of the violence was evident as around 60 protesters sustained injuries, with some requiring urgent medical attention. Additionally, some of the journalists, present at the scene to cover the protest, were also caught in the crossfire, further highlighting the gravity of the situation. It was alleged that media persons and the OB vans stationed at the site, were purposely targeted. The confrontation began at noon as farmers initiated their planned protest. The visual narrative depicted the farmers facing tear gas shells, stones thrown by protesters, and a rapid response from the police. The Shambhu border, over 200 km from Delhi, became a battleground, symbolizing the struggle between the farmers and the authorities. Protesting farmers vandalise flyover safety barriers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. While some succeeded in forcibly removing the cement barricade with their tractors, several others managed to take out the nails cemented in the road. We have managed to take out somerest we will remove tomorrow, said a protestor showing the nail he removed. The clash at Shambhu was not an isolated incident. Similar confrontations occurred at the border between Haryana and Punjab in Jind district, where tear gas was used against the protesters. The escalation of violence has sparked concerns about the potential reprise of the 2020/21 protests, prompting a meeting among leaders of farmer unions. Farmers Declare Temporary Ceasefire, To Resume March Today Amidst the chaos, farmer leaders declared a temporary ceasefire for the evening, postponing further discussions until the following morning. Expressing concern for the well-being of their members, they condemned the Governments tactics of provocation and called for restraint on both sides. A meeting was held at Shambhu border in the evening among the farmer union leaders, following which the decision of ceasefire was taken. The clash at Shambhu border has reignited the debate over the farmers' right to peaceful protest and the government's responsibility to address their concerns. Farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal said that the Central Government has not conceded to a single demand. He emphasized, The agitation will continue until the issues are resolved. We are halting the protest for the evening, and will resume the march towards Delhi tomorrow, he said. Farmers leader Sarvan Singh Pandher revealed that nearly 60 farmers were injured in the police's attack, yet the farmers continued their protest with patience. The Government is attempting to provoke our movement, he said. We dont want any confrontation with the government but when they are not paying heed to the demands of farmers, we have no choice but to protest and make ourselves heard. However, peaceful protest is our message to all the members. At Fatehgarh Sahib, tractor-trollies have come from Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar. Those from Tarn Taran will be on the other border. Said Pandher, before the convoy, he was leading from Fatehgarh Sahib, had reached Shambhu border. Turning down the Centres proposal to hold talks to resolve the issue, BKU leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said: First the Government should make the environment comfortable on the border, then the path of talks will open. The 'Delhi Chalo' march commenced a day after the second round of talks between the Centre and farmers failed during a five-hour long meeting held till late night on Monday. Resolute farmers from Punjab, packed in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles, left Fatehgarh Sahib for the national capital on Tuesday morning with the slogan Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad.The determination of the protesters was evident, with many prepared for a long-term demonstration, carrying essential supplies and tools. The clash at the Shambhu border served as a stark reminder of the unresolved grievances of the farming community and the urgent need for meaningful dialogue and redressal of their demands. The Delhi Chalo call echoed the previous years protests, where farmers demonstrated for months, resulting in dozens of casualties and the capital city being blockaded. The farmers call for the implementation of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) law and other agricultural reforms need to be addressed with sincerity and urgency to prevent further escalation of tensions. As the dust settles at the Shambhu border, questions linger about the governments commitment to upholding the rights of its citizens and the sanctity of peaceful protests. A PMLA court in Ranchi has granted a three-day extension to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand for former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in connection with an alleged money laundering case. Earlier, the Jharkhand High Court postponed the hearing on a petition filed by the arrested Hemant Soren against the ED until February 27. The court instructed the central agency to submit a consolidated affidavit. Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan mentioned that they contested the arrest of the former chief minister, and the high court permitted the submission of their amended application. The ED was asking for a four-day remand. They have no ground left for any further remand. They (ED) just want to buy time. They didn't have any new ground. They just want the case to be alive and stretch the remand period," Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan, Soren's counsel, told reporters. Earlier on February 7, Soren was remanded to five days of ED custody by the special PMLA (the Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court. On February 2, the court had granted five days of ED remand to Soren. Soren was arrested on the night of January 31 after a seven-hour grilling by the ED in the money laundering case. Earlier, the ED claimed it had recovered cash in excess of Rs 36 lakh from the possession of the JMM chief, along with documents linked to the ongoing investigation into the alleged acquisition of land by 'fraudulent means'. The agency added that land parcels spanning 8.5 acres were part of the criminal proceeds that the former CM allegedly acquired. ED stated that in a raid conducted on April 13, 2023, they unearthed several property-related records and registers that were in the possession of Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad. It informed further that the probe further revealed that Bhanu Pratap Prasad and others are part of a "very large syndicate involved in corrupt practices of acquiring properties forcefully as well as on the basis of false deeds. The probe pertains to proceeds of crime generated by allegedly forging official records by showing 'fake sellers' and purchasers in the guise of forged or bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having value in crores. The ED told the court that Soren was requested to produce his mobile in which he had conversations and chats with Binod Singh. However, he has submitted frivolous reasons for not producing his mobile to conceal information associated with the properties acquired and possessed by him, which are nothing but proceeds of crime, the ED said in its remand paper. On February 7, the ED brought a litany of charges into the public domain. These charges involved misusing his position not only to acquire the proceeds of crime but also to destroy the evidence to conceal the proceeds of crime. Accusing former Chief Minister Hemant Soren of acute non-cooperation and reluctance to divulge true facts regarding the properties he acquired and other persons connected to him, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today produced 201 pages of WhatsApp chats with his friend and architect Binod Singh. It added that these chats contain information regarding proposed structures over 8.5 acres of land in Bariatu near DAV School, which Soren was trying to acquire illegally. With the recent completion and consecration of the grand temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya, the focus now shifts to the construction of the Mohammed bin Abdullah Masjid, marking a significant milestone in the regions religious landscape. The mosque, boasting five minarets and adhering to Islamic principles, is poised to become a prominent feature in Ayodhya. The cornerstone, a sacred brick immersed in the holy waters of Zamzam and infused with fragrances from Mecca Sharif and Medina Sharif, has arrived in Mumbai and is expected to reach Ayodhya in April. Adorned with verses from the Holy Quran and the name of the Prophet of Islam in gold, this brick signifies the inception of the mosques foundation. Following the Supreme Courts verdict on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, the Muslim community was allocated five acres of land in Dhannipur, located 25 kilometres from Ayodhya, for the construction of the Alishan Mosque. While the mosque is set to cover an area of approximately 40,000 square feet, construction has been delayed pending approval of architectural plans. Athar Hussain, secretary of the Mosque Trust, cited design delays as the primary reason for the postponement of the construction. However, with the mosques design slated for finalisation by March and subsequent submission for approval, the construction is anticipated to commence in May. A pivotal meeting of the Mosque Trust is scheduled for February 29 in Mumbai, where officials will strategise donation collection methods and release bank account details and QR codes for contributions. This gathering marks a crucial juncture in the journey towards the realisation of the Alishan Mosque, signifying both religious harmony and architectural advancement in Ayodhya. While the Supreme Courts decision in 2019 resolved the Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Masjid dispute and allocation of land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board for the mosque, the progress has been slow. Challenges related to funds and the approval of the mosques design have hindered its construction. Dhannipur village, strategically positioned on the Ayodhya-Lucknow National Highway, is home to around 2,000 residents, with approximately 60 per cent identifying as Muslims. Despite the designated 5-acre plot near Shahgada Shah Mazar in the heart of the village, concerns persist among the local populace regarding the vacant land. The responsibility for constructing the mosque in Dhannipur lies with the Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust (IICF). Trusts secretary Athar Hussain cited lack of funds and pending approval of the mosques design as primary reasons for the delay. The Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 38 national highway projects for Uttarakhand worth Rs 6,972 crore in two separate programmes held in Tanakpur and Haridwar on Tuesday. In Tanakpur, the minister laid foundation stones for eight national highway projects worth Rs 2,217 crore in. Speaking on the occasion, he said that widening of Kathgodam to Nainital road with two-lane paved shoulders will improve connectivity to Nainital Manaskhand temples. The four-lane widening of Kashipur to Ramnagar road will make it easier for tourists to reach Corbett national park and Manaskhand temples. The two-lane widening of Kangarchina to Almora road will not only increase the number of tourists going to Bageshwar but will also save their time. The two-lane widening and rehabilitation of Kanda Marg from Udiyari Bend on national highway 309A will facilitate access to Bagnath and Baijnath temples in Bageshwar. Also, the difficult journey from Bageshwar to Pithoragarh will be better, safer and time saving. Gadkari said with the aim of creating excellent infrastructure in Uttarakhand, the focus is not only on roads and highways works but also on the safety of the travellers. He said repair work of two bridges on Saryu and Gomati rivers in Bageshwar district is also being done at a cost of Rs five crore. These projects will not only benefit the tourists but will also make commuting easier for the locals. In Haridwar, Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 30 national highway projects worth Rs 4,755 crore. The projects inaugurated include widening of two-lane paved shoulder from Lameri to Karnprayag in Rudraprayag and Chamoli and Dudhdhari elevated flyover in Haridwar. These projects will not only ease transportation but will also provide better connectivity from Rishikesh to the India-China border region. The flyover will provide relief from traffic jams in pilgrimage city Haridwar and make it easier to reach other religious sites.The Union minister said that Uttarakhand will achieve a faster pace of development with the construction of 28 projects whose foundation stones were laid on Tuesday. The journey of devotees on Char Dham routes will be eased and connectivity of Uttarakhand with other States will increase, accelerating economic and social development, he said. Accompanying Gadkari in both the events, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked the Union minister and stressed that strengthening the connectivity in Uttarakhand is a priority of the State government. Stating that roads facilitate development, he said that these projects will help Uttarakhand achieve its vision of becoming a model State. The manner in which roads are being constructed in Uttarakhand under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gadkaris leadership is unprecedented. The CM said that recently he had reviewed the status of all under construction and proposed works in the State. The status of all development works in the State is satisfactory and it is expected that all the projects will be completed on time, Dhami said. The central Delhi has been put under a heavy security cover in view of the farmers' protest, with personnel in anti-riot gears deployed strategically and metal and concrete barricades regulating access to several key roads, causing hardship to commuters. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited the Tikri border on Tuesday to inspect the security arrangements put in place in view of the farmers' march to the national capital. Arora was accompanied by Special Commissioner, Law and Order, Madhup Tiwari and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram. According to officials, more than 5,000 personnel of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur border areas to maintain law and order. As the Delhi Police prepares to stop protesting farmers from entering the national capital, a senior officer directed personnel on ground that they "need not be defensive" if the agitators show aggression. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav, who visited the fortified Singhu border this evening, told police personnel and paramilitary jawans deployed there that if the farmers manage to enter Delhi "our whole operation will fail". He told the forces they need to act "logically" and by keeping their safety in mind. "If they are coming aggressively, we have to show more aggression. Then only we can stop them. If they are aggressive, we need not be defensive," he told them using a microphone and loudspeaker. "We have to fire tear gas shells, use lathis (baton) and save ourselves," the senior officer said. "This process may keep running for a day." The main objective of the police is to stop the farmers from entering Delhi, Yadav said, adding they cannot be allowed to disturb law and order or indulge in violence. According to Delhi police, the security arrangements are part of "Plan B" to deal with any situation in case the protesting farmers, who are marching towards the national capital from the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, entered the city and tried to reach Parliament. All Parliament gates have been barricaded and extra security personnel including from the paramilitary forces deployed around the building. The barricades installed near Parliament have been fitted with barred wire on top. Elaborate security arrangements have also been made at the Lok Kalyan Marg, where prime minister's residence is located, and the residences of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda. Apart from sealing three borders of Delhi -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- the Delhi Police has put up multiple layers of barricading at various roads leading to the Parliament and the central part of Delhi. Arrangements have been made at the Vikas Marg -- that connects east Delhi to the central part of the national capital -- to place cement barricades and sand-loaded dumpers at the centre of the road. National Highway-9, heading towards Akshardham from Ghazipur, has been barricaded with cranes and heavy earthmovers. The police intensified the checking of vehicles to identify protestors trying to enter Delhi in commercial or private vehicles. The outer ring road heading to the Red Fort has also been barricaded as police did not want to any take chances. During their last protest, a group of agitating farmers had barged into the central part of Delhi on January 26, 2021, creating a ruckus on the Republic Day. The Delhi Police on Monday imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the entire city and completely secured its borders. Surveillance equipment such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor the border areas. A police officer said section 144 has already been imposed all around the Delhi barring large gatherings and protests in the city."If anyone tries to gather or hold any kind of demonstration in the central part of Delhi, they will be dealt with strictly," a police officer said. As precautionary measures, some entry and exit gates of select Metro stations near important installations in central Delhi have been shut. The gate number 1,2 and 5 of central secretariat were among them.The other stations are Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, Barakhamba Road and Khan Market. Ahead of the Dilli Chalo call given by farmers' bodies, Haryana police on Monday said that they have deployed 114 companies equipped with riot control vehicles on the Haryana-Punjab border and other sensitive locations to maintain law and order in the State. Police forces include 64 companies of paramilitary forces and 50 of Haryana police. Besides this, the state police force is also closely monitoring all the CCTV cameras and other surveillance equipment including drones being used to identify unscrupulous elements at sensitive locations, said police official spokesperson. Big issues can be resolved through dialogue and this issue will also be resolved, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said while replying to questions by reporters on the march by farmers' to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. He said farmers are andattas and they feed the 140 crore people of the country. The Narendra Modi government focuses on the poor, the youth, women and farmers, Vij said. To another question on the barricading at different points on the Haryana-Punjab border, Vij said, We will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of our state's people and maintain peace. Manisha Chaudhary, AIG, (Administration) and Spokesperson of the Haryana Police said that they have implemented extensive measures to maintain law and order in the state and ensure the safety of the general public. Tractor-trolleys in large numbers have set out from different parts of Punjab to join the march, while authorities have fortified the state's border at many places using concrete blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle it. She emphasized the commitment to public safety, stating that Haryana Police is fully capable of addressing any disturbances or untoward incidents. People are urged to disregard misleading content on social media platforms, as the police are actively monitoring such elements and will take strict legal action against those spreading rumors. The spokesperson also appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities to the Haryana Police helpline number, dial-112, to facilitate appropriate legal action. Cooperation with Haryana Police in maintaining peace is encouraged, and citizens are advised not to engage in any actions that may disrupt law and order. Section 144 has been imposed in many districts, and individuals are reminded to comply with the law. Additionally, it is advised to stay updated through Haryana Police's social media channels for traffic and other important updates, she added. Traffic advisory for Chandigarh-Delhi commuters issued Haryana Police said that in light of the call issued by farmer organizations for a march to Delhi on Tuesday, passengers traveling from Chandigarh to Delhi should consider the route via Panchkula, Barwala, Saha, Shahbad, Kurukshetra or via Panchkula, Barwala, Yamunanagar (NH-344), Ladwa, Indri to reach Delhi via Karnal. Similarly, for those traveling from Delhi to Chandigarh, the route via Karnal, Indri, Ladwa, Yamunanagar (NH-344), Panchkula or via Kurukshetra, Shahbad, Saha, Barwala, Panchkula could be taken. Haryana Police also appealed to the people to consider using the rail route as a precautionary measure to travel to Punjab. The Chandigarh Police on Monday also issued a traffic advisory in the wake of farmers' proposed march to Delhi, advising the people to avoid some roads for travelling, particularly yh borders of the Union Territory with that of Mohali. Ichagarh former MLA Arvind Kumar Singh alias Malkhan Singh along with hundreds of his supporters joined the BJP in presence of BJP president Babulal Marandi BJP president Babulal Marandi said former Chief Minister Hemant Soren was playing his Adivasi identity card to cover corruption. If Hemant Soren is in jail today, it is because of his loot and corruption, he maintained. On this occasion, state spokesperson Kunal Shadangi, District President Uday Singhdev, District Incharge Subodh Singh Guddu and others were present. Addressing the meeting, State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said that BJP is the only party dedicated and determined for the development of the state. He said that Malkhan Singh has returned home. With his re-activation in the party, the party's support base will increase not only in Kolhan but in the entire state. He said that the fight for a separate Jharkhand state was going on since before independence, but the Congress Party, which ruled the country for 65 years, never understood the sentiments of the people of Jharkhand. Congress kept considering the tribal people here as vote bank. Took votes and bought the movement by giving notes. He said that the central government formed under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee fulfilled the dream of a separate state by respecting the public sentiments as per its promise. Formed the state on the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda. Made a tribal the first Chief Minister of the state. He said that today the support of being tribal is used to cover up corruption. But the people of the state have known that the Jharkhand government formed under the leadership of JMM has nothing to do with the welfare of the people of the state. He said that the leaders of JMM and Congress, who came to power by talking about water, forest and land, have looted and got the state's mines, minerals, coal, iron, stone and sand looted. Today the middlemen are ruling the state. If the former Chief Minister is in jail today, it is because of his loot and corruption. Due to changing the name and looting the land. He said that Hemant Soren looted the state by becoming Hemant Kumar Soren, Shibu Soren was made Shiv Soren. Basant Soren was also made Basant Kumar Soren and Durga Soren was made Durga Prasad Soren. He said that today when ED action is being taken, JMM is in panic. But ultimately he will have to suffer the punishment for his actions. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a pledge of *neither eating, nor allowing* food. Today, action is being taken against corruption and corrupt people across the country. He said that today the country is moving forward rapidly on the path of progress. Villages, poor farmers, laborers, women, tribals, Dalits and backward people are all joining the mainstream of development. He said that that India's economy is getting stronger. Leaving behind the developed countries of the world, India has become the 5th economy. He said that India will become the world's third economy for the third time under the Modi government. He said that in the coming years, India will become a developed India, a self-reliant India. Where no one will be hungry, and no one will be homeless. Everyone will have health facilities. Everyone will have employment. He said that to fulfill the resolve of developed India, the world's most popular leader and successful Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has set the target of 2024. Modi government for the third time, let us all join hands in completing the target of crossing 400. A Nigerian citizen is accused of defrauding a Mercer County law firm in what federal authorities call a "sophisticated scheme" that involved another suspect in Washington state whose case has since been resolved. Christopher Agbaje was arrested in London last week and extradited to the U.S. over the weekend. He pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Bismarck to charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. U.S. Magistrate Judge Clare Hochhalter ordered him detained pending trial, which is scheduled for April 9. Moorhead, Minnesota, attorney Dane DeKrey said he was contacted by the international law firm Reed Smith to represent Agbaje in North Dakota. "We pleaded not guilty today, and the next step is hopefully to work on getting him released from custody while he fights the case," DeKrey told the Tribune. Authorities allege Agbaje assumed the identity of another man and a Florida-based business and portrayed himself to the Mercer County law firm as being in a dispute with a Bismarck company and needing legal representation. Court documents do not state which law firm. Agbaje allegedly obtained the firm's services and in late 2020 used the firm to launder a counterfeit check through a bank account set up by a Kent, Washington, man, Ome Etue. The law firm ended up losing $198,336, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. Court documents show that Etue in June 2022 reached a pretrial diversion agreement with prosecutors, and charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering were dismissed a year later when he fulfilled the terms of the deal. The terms aren't public. DeKrey said he had just gotten the case and was not familiar with the terms of Etue's agreement, but he expects Etue to testify against his client. "He will have his day in court," DeKrey said of Agbaje. School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh has said that CM Rise School is a great initiative taken by the state government. Ensure continuous efforts to improve the quality of education in these schools. He instructed to the departmental officers to ensure arrangements for running the school within the time limit set in the plan. Principal Secretary School Education Rashmi Arun Shami and Commissioner School Education Smt. Anubha Srivastava were also present in the meeting. It was told in the meeting that 275 CM Rise school buildings are being constructed in the state worth Rs. 9 thousand 641 crore by six agencies. PIU of Public Works Department is constructing 129 buildings at a cost of about Rs 4 thousand 409 crore. Minister Singh instructed the technical wing of the School Education Department to continuously monitor the construction of the building. Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Jagdish Devda, presented the interim budget (vote-on-account) for FY 2024-25 for approximately Rs 1.45 lakh crore in the assembly in Bhopal on Monday here. He said the governments focus is on Modi's guarantee and to transform Madhya Pradesh to a developed state. The first interim budget of CM Mohan Yadav is only for four months (April 01 to July 31) to meet/ manage its expenditure in various schemes. The amount allotted in the interim budget will be merged with the full budget likely to be tabled in July 2024. The fiscal budget (full budget) of the state for FY 2024-25 is estimated to be approx. 3 lakh 48 thousand nine hundred and eighty-six crore. Devda said the interim budget for four-months is to take care of expenditure alone and there are no new items or fresh proposals in the budget. The Finance Minister said that the state government is committed to deliver on the promises made by Prime Minister narendra Modi and Guarantees. Meanwhile, the opposition party Congress expressed disappointment abut the budget, including Modis guarantees, echoed by the treasury benches. The Assembly's Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said, "we do not believe in Modi ki guarantee sloganeering. Why the gas cylinder prices are skyrocketing and have not been brought down to Rs 450/ per cylinder as promised by them, why the MSP on food grain remained static and not been increased. Unless the promises are not delivered on ground, the Modi ki guarantee has no relevance to us and is just a catchy phrase." The issue of income tax notices allegedly being selectively served to Congress leaders also did the rounds among opposition members today. Umang Singhar alleged that that the BJP government was partisan and trying to blackmail Congress leaders. Another Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria, son of Kantilal Bhuria, said, "we believe in Gandhi's principle and not Godse's ideology who tendered apology. We will appear and answer before any agency." Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has approved engagement of 376 retired officials on contract basis against the vacant sanctioned posts in regular courts for a period of one year or till the posts are filled up, a Raj Niwas official said on Tuesday. Saxena had earlier approved the filling up of 1,251 regular posts in the courts through DSSSB and the process for filling them up is underway. These 376 contractual workers comprise 30 per cent of the total vacant posts of 1,251, the official said. A total of 112 of them will be recruited as Personal Assistants, 254 Junior Judicial Assistant, and 10 as Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon. The Law Department of the Delhi government submitted that it had received a letter, dated December 7, last year from the Office of Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters), through which it was informed that direct recruitment process for the vacant posts is underway through Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB). The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has written a letter to the governor and demanded that the Vanbhulpura violence should be investigated by a sitting judge of the High Court and that the minister Ganesh Joshi should be removed from the State cabinet. The vice president (Organisation) of State Congress Mathura Dutt Joshi said that the PCC president in his letter has condemned the Vanbhulpura incident. Mahara also informed the governor that after the incident cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi tried to give an unfortunate twist to the incident by blaming the Congress party while speaking on a TV channel. He said that Joshi has tried to defile the secular image of the Congress party. The PCC president said that the sentiments of the Congress party workers have been hurt by the comments made by the minister. He said that Joshi's comments have not only undermined the reputation associated with the position of a cabinet minister but have also tried to disturb the communal harmony in the State. Mahara said that Joshi has no moral right to continue in the office and he should immediately be dismissed from his position. The PCC president said that the incident clearly shows the failure of the local administration and State government. In the letter Mahara requested the governor that being the constitutional guardian of the State he should order the investigation of the incident by a sitting judge of the HC. Cross firing took place atleast two to three hours between the police and Naxalites in Chatrochatti police station area of Gomia block of the district here on Tuesday. SP Priyadarshi Alok has confirmed the incident. He told that A gun-battle took place between the police and banned Naxal outfit, Maoists of India in Gomia block of Bokaro district. Adequate number of police forces have been sent to the spot to help the police.No injuries were reported in the gunfight that happened near Chaiyatad and Dandara of Gindhauniya forest of Chutte Panchayat located in Gomia block,added SP. There is a squad of Area Commander Kunwar Manjhi and Zonal Commander Birsen alias Kana alias Chanchal Da, with whom the encounter is taking place. There is an encounter with the district police and CRPF 26th battalion. A search operation was being conducted by the police on the basis of information about the presence of Naxalites. Meanwhile, cross firing started between the two early in the morning. There is panic among the nearby villagers due to the firing incident. Police have alerted the villagers to avoid going to the firing areas. The incident of encounter between Naxalite and police has happened in this area after a long time. The encounter has been going on for more than an hour. Sources said that Naxalite activities had increased in both these and surrounding areas and the police had an encounter with the Naxalites during long range patrolling. Union Minister of Power R.K. Singh on Tuesday said that the National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) has emerged as the one of the best and largest PSUs in India. The NTPC's reputation for efficiency and reliability has been well established, he said this virtually at the opening of the Indian Power Stations O&M Conference hosted by the NTPC here. I envision the company doubling its capacity from current 73 GW to 150 GW and to become a global, multinational entity operating its power plants worldwide, an official statement quoted him as saying. The flagship event commemorates the commissioning of the first unit of NTPC at Singrauli in 1982, marking a pivotal moment in the power sectors trajectory, leading to decades of innovation and excellence. The Minister also stressed on the importance of timely completion of under-construction projects and reduction of forced outage to meet the rising demand of electricity, highlighting NTPCs pivotal role in driving India's economic growth. While referring to energy transition, he said it should not be worrying as both thermal and renewable shall coexist. The world is not against coal-based power. But for the sake of the current and upcoming coal-based plants, it was the need of the hour to develop mechanisms to ensure increasing efficiency while reducing emission. Singh said a country as big as India needed more nuclear capacity. The JV of NTPC and NPCIL must strive to add nuclear capacity as fast as possible. The Minister released the IPS 2024 E-Compendium, Steam Turbine E-Learning Module, Boilerpedia and inaugurated Vikalp, a unique ash-brick made from industrial byproducts. Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary (Power), and Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson (CEA), also attended the meeting. The programme was also attended by Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC, along with the Board of Directors and other senior officials from the Ministry of Power and NTPC. The meeting serves as a platform for industry leaders to engage in collaborative discussions to explore innovative strategies to enhance safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness in power generation. The occasion also witnessed presentation of accolades such as the Swarn Shakti Awards (2022-2023) and Business Excellence Awards (2023-2024), recognising the outstanding contributions of NTPC power stations. NTPC Talcher Kaniha claimed the coveted title of Overall Champion (Winner) of the Swarn Shakti Award, while NTPC Vindhyachal secured the position of Overall Champion (Runner-Up). In the Business Excellence Awards category, NTPC Vindhyachal was honoured with the Champion and Overall Excellence Award. Poised to soar new heights in 2024, Kerala Tourism on Tuesday unveiled a raft of groundbreaking products including Heli-Tourism, connecting the state's top destinations, as part of its aggressive campaign to increase the domestic tourist footfalls Branded as 'Sky Escapes', the heli-tourism project has been planned as a game-changer in the manner houseboats did for the state, three decades ago, and thus continue to lure visitors from both India and abroad, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas said. Kerala has become the first state in the country to come out with a comprehensive heli-tourism policy. A micro-site has been created giving details of travel packages offered by the helicopter service providers. This initiative will be of enormous help to tourists planning to visit various destinations in a single trip, making the state an inter-connected tourism hotspot," Riyas pointed out.In the new year, we have drawn up an aggressive marketing strategy to bolster the presence of domestic tourists in the state, the Minister said, adding, Kerala Tourism's campaign - Make up for lost time, pack up for Kerala-- received the prestigious PATA Gold Award in a rousing endorsement of its innovative promotional initiative.With an aim to put Kerala on the global adventure tourism map, the government has decided to host four international adventure sporting events this year, said Tourism Minister, Riyaz. Adventure tourism was expected to grow 20% by 2032 Worldwide. It also played a huge role in growth of domestic tourism. Big ticket adventure tourism events are also on the cards since the State's geography features a challenging mix of mountains, rivers, beaches and canals, offering immense potential for this segment, the Minister pointed out.International Paragliding Festival at Vagamoh in Idukki from March 14 to 17, International Surfing Festival at Varkala from March 29 to 31, mega mountain biking event, MTB Kerala 2024, will be held at Priyadarshini tea plantation in Mananthavady, Wayanad, from April 26 to 28 and The Malabar River Festival 2024 will be held at Kodencherry in Kozhikode from July 25 to 28. Kerala Tourism is also making concerted efforts to promote the state as an ideal wedding destination by leveraging its astonishing natural beauty, picturesque destinations, excellent accommodation & banquet facilities, and connectivity. The recent trend shows that considerable number of destination weddings are now happening across the state.Kerala's serene backwaters fringed by swaying palm trees, pristine beaches, the mystic hill stations with sprawling tea & spice plantations - all makes the state an enchanting place for couples tying the knot as well as for honeymooners. The government is committed to creating a conducive environment for destination weddings, attracting couples from around the world and boosting tourism and local economies, said Tourism Secretary K Biju lAS. K Biju IAS said, Kerala registered a record number of 159.69 lakh visitors from within the country during January-September 2023, clocking an impressive growth of 19.34 per cent. It is a testament to our innovative tourism initiatives that make the state not only a safe and hospitable destination but also an all-weather holiday paradise, he added. We are also making efforts to promote adventure tourism in the state to attract young vacationers seeking thrill and experiential activities. Eco-adventure tour packages focused around Keralas natural treasures art being designed as part of a wider strategy to make the stay of new-age travellers a thrilling experience, said the Tourism Secretary.Tourism Director PB Nooh IAS pointed out the revamped strategy of Kerala Tourism hinges on introducing new destinations, creating innovative tourist circuits, investing in infrastructure development and capacity building projects, he added. Amidst a sea of tractor-trolleys, farmers from Punjab are once again on their way to Delhi, bracing themselves for a long and determined protest. Equipped with supplies to last several months, including ration, fuel, and even tools for stone-breaking, these farmers are adamant that they will not retreat until their demands are met. A farmer from Tarn Taran emphasized the preparedness of the protesters. "From a needle to hammer, we have everything we need, including tools to break stones. We left our village with a six months ration with us. We have enough diesel, even for our brothers from Haryana," he said, while expressing disappointment over unmet promises from the government. Reports indicate that approximately 2,500 tractor-trolleys, with most of them towing two trolleys each, have amassed near the Shambhu border. These farmers have meticulously planned for this demonstration for over two months, ensuring they have essential provisions to sustain a prolonged protest. Each trolley is stocked with wood for cooking, with enough ration to last for six months. Some trolleys even carry provisions for bedding, indicating the farmers' resolve to stay put for an extended period. Additionally, water tankers, drums of diesel, and cooking utensils are being transported to cater to the needs of the protesters. Furthermore, the involvement of women in the protest is noteworthy, with many taking charge of organizing langars (community kitchens) to feed the demonstrators. Another farmer leader from Ludhiana emphasized the collective effort, stating that every village has contributed to the protest, ensuring that no one goes hungry. With the looming summer heat in mind, farmers have also arranged for comfortable amenities, including air conditioners and coolers. Their determination remains unwavering, with preparations extending to ensuring comfortable sleeping arrangements with mattresses and blankets. As the farmers march towards Delhi, their conviction to continue the fight until their demands are met remains unshaken. With memories of the prolonged protests of 2020-21 still fresh when their year-long protest forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke controversial farm bills, these farmers are prepared for the long haul, carrying not just their supplies but also the collective resolve of their community. Over a week after submitting his resignation, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit continued to be active in his role, with his resignation yet to be accepted. On Monday, Purohit announced his plans for his sixth border visit, scheduled from February 20 to 23, in his two-and-a-half years tenure. Purohit, who holds dual positions as the Governor of Punjab and the Administrator of UT Chandigarh, had cited personal reasons for his decision to step down, submitting his resignation to the president Draupadi Murmu on Saturday last (February 3). Despite this, there has been no official decision regarding the acceptance of his resignation, leaving uncertainty lingering over his future tenure. Thus, he continued with his role as Punjab Governor and UT Administrator. Recently, Purohit held a meeting with officials in UT, Chandigarh, where he addressed ongoing issues and sought accountability for shortcomings. Following the prolonged delay in the acceptance of his resignation, Purohit has resumed his active engagement, signaling his commitment to his duties. Now, during his visit to Punjabs border districts, Purohit is set to tour Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka. The agenda for his tour encompasses reviewing the progress made since his previous visits and addressing any emerging challenges. Purohit will convene meetings with the central agencies and also the State Government officials to foster better coordination and tackle issues such as border security, infrastructure development, and curbing drug trafficking. Notably, Purohits border visits have often sparked controversy, particularly due to his candid discussions on sensitive topics like law and order, drug abuse, and illegal activities. In addition to governmental meetings, Purohit plans to interact with Village Defence Committees (VDCs), vital in combating social evils in border regions. These engagements aim to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of ground-level challenges and inform policymaking processes. Key stakeholders, including Punjabs Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, and representatives from security forces like the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army, are expected to participate in the visit. Going into background, the Chandigarh Air Force Show marked the beginning of a heated dispute between Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Their initial clash occurred during the Air Force Day celebrations in October 2022, where President Murmu was also in attendance. Purohit expressed his displeasure at Mann's absence from the event, citing it as his constitutional duty to attend. This incident fueled tensions between the two, setting the stage for further discord. The dispute escalated during a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly convened on June 19-20, 2023. The State Government had sent four bills for the Governors approval, including amendments to Sikh Gurudwara laws, police reforms, university regulations, and affiliated college services. However, Purohit deemed the session and the bills unconstitutional based on expert advice, triggering a legal battle between the state government and the Governor. Subsequently, the Punjab Government approached the Supreme Court seeking validation for the special session. After hearing arguments from both sides, the Apex Court ruled in favor of the State Government, upholding the legality of the session and the bills passed therein. Despite this legal setback, tensions between Purohit and Mann continued to simmer, exacerbated by their divergent views on governance and constitutional authority. Purohits scrutiny extended beyond legislative matters to pressing social issues plaguing Punjab's border districts. During his visits to these areas, Purohit raised concerns about drug trafficking and questioned the efficacy of the government's policies in combating the menace. His comments drew attention to the pervasive nature of the problem, even in border villages where drug peddling was rampant. Moreover, Purohits refusal to use the State Government's helicopter for his official travels further strained his relationship with Mann. Amidst mounting tensions, Purohit issued a stern warning to Mann, reminding him of his constitutional obligations and the repercussions of disregarding the Governor's communications. Purohit's letter, dated August 15, 2023, served as a stark reminder of the institutional boundaries and the need for mutual respect in governance. Rakesh Gupta, a senior officer of the Indian Police Service, has assumed the charge of Police Commissioner in Indore on Monday. He took over this post from Makrand Deuskar. On this occasion, Makrand Deuskar and other senior police officers welcomed Rakesh Gupta by giving him a bouquet. It is noteworthy that former Police Commissioner Makrand Deuskar is going to Border Security Force on deputation. North Dakota voters will consider a maximum of one out of three possible citizen-proposed ballot measures during the state's June primary election, with the deadline for signature submission passing on Monday. To qualify a constitutional initiative for the ballot, supporters must submit at least 31,164 verified signatures to the Secretary of State's Office. In recent months, petitioners have been circulating three measures: One that would impose an age limit on the state's congressional delegation, one that would eliminate property taxes and one that would overhaul the state's electoral processes. Organizers of the age limits measure on Friday submitted their petitions for verification. The deadline for the Secretary of State's Office to complete the review is March 15. If there is enough valid signatures, that measure will be on the June ballot. Organizers of the other two measures are still circulating petitions. Ballot measures that don't qualify for the June ballot can still make it on the November general election ballot, with the same signature threshold required. To make it on that ballot, organizers must submit signatures by July 8. Age limit measure Supporters of a ballot measure that would prohibit candidates from running to represent North Dakota in Congress if they "could attain 81 years of age by December 31st of the year immediately preceding the end of the term" submitted nearly 42,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office. It's a measure that comes amid ongoing discussions about aging politicians, with high-profile cases such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who died in office last September, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who has frozen multiple times in front of reporters, adding fuel to the fire. It also comes after a 2022 North Dakota ballot measure implementing term limits for state legislators and the governor received voters' approval. Initiative chair Jared Hendrix, who also chaired the 2022 term limits measure, has described the proposed measure as "pretty common sense." But legal experts have indicated that the measure could face pushback due to it being a state-imposed restriction on a federal office. U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton, a Supreme Court case surrounding a constitutional amendment that sought to apply term limits to Arkansas' congressional delegation, is an example of a state-imposed restriction getting shot down. Property tax measure A ballot measure that would "prohibit political subdivisions from levying any tax on real or personal property except for the payment of bonded indebtedness," with state government filling the financial void, will not be on the June primary ballot. Initiative chair Rick Becker, a former Bismarck Republican state representative and current candidate for North Dakota's U.S. House seat, told the Tribune that supporters of the measure "prefer to be on the November ballot." Rising property taxes have been an issue in North Dakota for years, with Becker previously leading unsuccessful attempts to do away with the taxes. A similar ballot measure was defeated in 2012 by voters, with more than 76% rejecting it. Some state officials, including Gov. Doug Burgum, believe property tax reform can only happen at the local level. The property tax ballot measure was approved for circulation on June 29, 2023. Under state law, ballot measures can only be circulated for a year, meaning supporters of the measure must submit their signatures by June 29, a week and a half before the overall cutoff for the November general election. Election overhaul measure Supporters of a ballot measure that looks to restrict the voting process in North Dakota will be "pushing on for the November ballot," according to initiative chair Lydia Gessele. The proposed amendment includes restrictions on early voting and voting by mail, with unsupervised public ballot boxes and the majority of mail-in voting being outlawed. It would also explicitly outlaw the use of electronic voting machines, and increase the threshold of support required for the Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on any statewide ballot to a two-thirds supermajority in each chamber. Supporters of the measure say it's an effort to ensure election integrity and security, with some citing the elimination of voting machines as a top priority. The State Auditors Office ahead of the 2022 election released a review of the states election system in which auditors determined its exceptionally unlikely that North Dakota election results could be fraudulently influenced. The election overhaul initiative was approved for circulation in late September of last year, meaning it won't face the same one-year deadline as the property tax measure. Instead, it will be required to meet the July 8 deadline. As agitating farmers head to the national capital, villagers residing along the border with Haryana are facing inconvenience, with tight security arrangements and traffic diversions making daily commuting difficult. Many are also worried about possible face-off between protesters and police on the heavily barricaded entry roads. "Farmers are coming from Haryana and Punjab and no locals are involved, but due to such protests we face difficulties doing our business as police do not allow us to open our shops," said Devendra Singh, who runs an eatery near Tikri border Metro station. People are also facing hardships due to traffic chaos caused by diversions from different routes from Mundka of Delhi towards Haryana. "There are many schools in villages. Children are facing a lot of difficulty in reaching home. If police have diverted traffic, they must deploy someone to manage it as well," said Surender Kumar, a resident of Tikri Kalan village. Farmers started heading towards the national capital from different villages of Punjab and Haryana on their tractor-trolleys, loaded with dry rations, water-proof sheets and mattresses. The multi-layer security arrangements to prevent the entry of protesters in Delhi have restricted the movement of locals. "We have nothing to do with any protest, but to reach home after work we are asked to show our ID cards at more than three different places," said Raja Ram, who works as a labourer and is a resident of Tikri Kalan. The Delhi Police has been preparing to stop the farmers from entering the national capital aa a meeting between the agitating groups and Union government in Chandigarh yielded no results. According to officials, more than 5,000 police personnel, including paramilitary forces, have been deployed in border areas -- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur - to maintain law and order. The Delhi Police on Monday enforced section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the entire city and completely secured the city's borders. As agitating farmers head to the national Capital, villagers residing along the border with Haryana are facing inconvenience, with tight security arrangements and traffic diversions making daily commuting difficult. Many are also worried about possible face-off between protesters and police on the heavily barricaded entry roads. "Farmers are coming from Haryana and Punjab and no locals are involved, but due to such protests we face difficulties doing our business as police do not allow us to open our shops," said Devendra Singh, who runs an eatery near Tikri border Metro station. People are also facing hardships due to traffic chaos caused by diversions from different routes from Mundka of Delhi towards Haryana. "There are many schools in villages. Children are facing a lot of difficulty in reaching home. If police have diverted traffic, they must deploy someone to manage it as well," said Surender Kumar, a resident of Tikri Kalan village. Farmers started heading towards the national capital from different villages of Punjab and Haryana on their tractor-trolleys, loaded with dry rations, water-proof sheets and mattresses. The multi-layer security arrangements to prevent the entry of protesters in Delhi have restricted the movement of locals. "We have nothing to do with any protest, but to reach home after work we are asked to show our ID cards at more than three different places," said Raja Ram, who works as a labourer and is a resident of Tikri Kalan. The Delhi Police has been preparing to stop the farmers from entering the national capital aa a meeting between the agitating groups and Union government in Chandigarh yielded no results. According to officials, more than 5,000 police personnel, including paramilitary forces, have been deployed in border areas -- Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur - to maintain law and order. The Delhi Police on Monday enforced section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the entire city and completely secured the city's borders. "We are fully prepared to deal with any kind of law and order situation. Multi-layered arrangements are there to stop farmers from entering Delhi," a senior police officer said. Surveillance technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor the border areas. Several farmers associations, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, had called for a protest on February 13 to demand a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has condemned the firing of tear gas shells by the Haryana Police on the farmers of Punjab heading towards national capital Delhi, on Tuesday. Using tear gas and placing nails and barricades at the Punjab-Haryana borders, everything is being done to prevent the farmers march. The Central government wants to suppress farmers voices. These are the same people from (Centre) who promised to double the income of farmers, crop rate, and MSP implementation, said Akhilesh Yadav in a post on X. Questioning the attempts of the Bharatiya Janata Party to reach out to the farmers by conferring Bharat Ratna on former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and eminent agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, the SP president said, What kind of respect is shown to the farmers where iron nails are being laid on the highway to prevent the farmers from Punjab reaching national capital Delhi. In fact the BJP is hiding its failures; the whole world is watching the repression let loose by the BJP government against the farmers. The BJP, by putting the barricades on the highway, has in fact dug the road to democracy and the iron nail laid on the highway has maligned the profile of India at global level, the SP chief said. Akhilesh Yadav said the repression by the government had fired the imagination of 140 crore people of the country and instead of 400 Paar the BJP would face defeat by 400 seats. Farmers organisations have 3-4 main demands. Their biggest demand is that the Swaminathan formula be implemented. MSP is not Modi Selling Price. MSP is Minimum Support Price, SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said. The farmers march is the latest in a series of similar protests which began more than two years ago and comes months ahead of national general elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a rare third term, with farmers forming an influential voting bloc. Dilli Chalo As tensions escalate over the farmers planned march to Delhi on February 13 (Tuesday), the situation near the Haryana-Punjab border continues to remain tense. With the Haryana Government sealing all borders adjoining Punjab, farmers in Punjab are determined to push forward, echoing the sentiments of the past protests. And in this fight, the Punjab Government is backing the farmers. In a show of solidarity, the Punjab Government has stood firmly with the farmers, recognizing their demands and concerns. In fact, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government is going a step further to facilitate a dialogue between the farmers and the Centre to find a viable solution. The Governments alignment with the farmers can be attributed to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as well as the looming panchayat elections in the state. With political stakes high, the Government is keen on resolving the issue through dialogue rather than allowing the situation to escalate into protests, which could adversely affect Punjabs industries and economy. Additionally, the opposition parties in the state, such as the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have also thrown their weight behind the farmers, further strengthening their cause. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have given a Dilli Chalo call for February 13 seeking minimum support price (MSP) on all crops, punishment for the culprits in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, quashing of all FIRs lodged during the farmers stir and Rs 10,000 per month pension for farmers aged over 60, among other things. Despite the border sealing by the BJP-led Haryana Government, farmers in Punjab are steadily making their way towards the national capital as per their plans. On the other hand, the Punjab Government is actively working to facilitate a meeting between the farmers representatives and the Central Ministers in Chandigarh the aim is to address the farmers grievances through peaceful dialogue, avoiding any potential confrontations or disruptions. After a successful meeting between the two sides on February 8 in Chandigarh, which was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, another round of meeting is underway at the same venue on Monday evening. Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, at the time of filing this report, were holding a crucial meeting with farmer representatives in Chandigarh. Amidst escalating tensions, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for resolution with reliable sources indicating that the Centre is prepared to offer a solution to the ongoing issue. It has been learnt that the Centre is considering the formation of a committee on farmers main demand, Minimum Support Price (MSP), comprising representatives from farmer organizations and experts from the field aimed at addressing the farmers demands and pave way for constructive dialogue. During the previous meeting held on February 8, three Central Ministers reportedly informed farmer leaders about their readiness to propose a solution. However, they expressed disappointment as the farmer organizations failed to nominate any leaders for the proposed committee. Mann has reiterated his commitment to support the farmers and ensure their voices are heard at the national level. Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with the farmers in their fight for justice and fair treatment. We are working tirelessly to facilitate meaningful discussions between the farmers and the central government, Mann had stated. Farmers Gathering at Borders In a significant development, hundreds of tractor-trolleys, coordinated by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), have started gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib district since morning, while many more are expected to join in by the late evening. Farmers from various villages across Punjab have converged here, demonstrating their unity and resolve to press forward with their demands. The extensive line of tractors is strategically parked near Hansali Gurudwara Sahib, about 50 km from the Shambhu Barrier. The atmosphere at the gathering is one of camaraderie and determination. Farmers have set up langar (community kitchen) facilities to ensure that everyone is well-fed and cared for during their journey. Villagers from nearby areas have also extended their support by providing food, water, and other essentials to the protesting farmers. Apart from Shambhu border at Fatehgarh Sahib, farmers are gathering at Khanauri border in Sangrur, Dabwali border in Bathinda, and Ratia border in Budhlada. As they await the outcome of a crucial meeting in Chandigarh, scheduled before their planned march to Delhi, farmers are actively engaged in preparing langar to serve all those currently stationed at Fatehgarh Sahib and those en route. Women from nearby villages are lending a hand in preparing rotis and cutting vegetables, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among the protesters. Challenges at Haryana Border On the other side of the border, the Haryana Government has implemented stringent security measures to prevent the entry of farmers into Delhi. The area near the Shambhu Barrier is heavily fortified, with multiple layers of barricades, including stone boulders, concrete slabs, large containers, nails strips, barbed wire, along with tear gas shells and water cannons. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar defended the border sealing, citing concerns over law and order and potential disruptions to public life. Our priority is to maintain peace and stability in the region. We have taken necessary measures to secure our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens, Khattar stated. Over the past five days, the Haryana Government has been diligently preparing for potential unrest, setting up barriers and implementing stringent security measures to thwart the entry of farmers into the state. Police officials have described the elaborate arrangements as a 12-layer barricading system, consisting of various obstacles such as stone boulders, concrete slabs, containers, iron nails embedded in concrete, and barbed wires. Additionally, heavy vehicles are strategically parked on the Haryana side, along with the deployment of tear gas, water cannons, and hundreds of personnel. Notably, trenches have been dug up in the kuchha portion near a bridge over the Ghaggar river, while iron bricks have been scattered to impede access. Haryana Police are closely monitoring the situation, with preparations for any eventuality. Police authorities have emphasized their readiness for any potential confrontation, with all officers donning full-body protective gear. The deployment includes a significant presence of the Haryana Police force and paramilitary troops at the barrier, underscoring the state's commitment to maintaining law and order amidst the escalating tensions. Surveillance cameras have been installed, and police personnel are equipped with tear gas protection and helmets. The police force is also reviewing footage from the past protests to anticipate potential scenarios and prevent any breaches of the barricades. We are fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. Our priority is to uphold the law and protect the interests of the state, remarked a senior police officer stationed at the Shambhu Barrier. As the standoff continues, tensions remain high, with uncertainty looming over the outcome of the planned march. While some hope for a resolution through dialogue, others fear the situation could escalate if talks fail. Amidst all this, speculations abound regarding the fate of the farmers' protest and its impact on the region. Farmers leaders have expressed determination to press forward with their march, vowing to continue their fight until their demands are met. Challenges and Resilience Despite the formidable barricades and obstacles erected by the Haryana government, farmers remain resolute and confident in their ability to overcome them, drawing inspiration from their past successes. Recalling the events of November 26, 2020, when farmers defiantly broke through barriers during protests against contentious agricultural laws, they remain undeterred in their determination to march towards Delhi's borders once again. This unwavering resolve underscored the farmers commitment to their cause and their readiness to face any challenges posed by the authorities in their journey to Delhi, determined to make their voices heard and demand justice for themselves and their fellow farmers. A farmer from Sangrur, expressing his determination, said: We have faced hardships before, and we are prepared to face them again. Our fight for our rights will not be deterred by barricades or security forces. We will continue our march until our demands are met. Farmers Demands 1. Guarantee MSP for all crops, aligning with Dr Swaminathan Commission's recommendations 2. Implement a comprehensive debt waiver for farmers and labourers 3. Reinstate the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 nationwide, mandating farmer consent and fair compensation 4. Ensure justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, holding perpetrators accountable 5. Exit the World Trade Organization and halt free trade agreements to protect local agriculture 6. Introduce pension schemes for farmers and agricultural labourers 7. Compensate families of deceased farmers from the Delhi agitation and offer employment to one family member 8. Revoke the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 9. Guarantee 200 days of employment per year with a minimum daily wage of Rs 700 under MGNREGA, integrating it with farming 10. Enforce strict penalties on companies producing counterfeit agricultural inputs and enhance seed quality 11. Establish a national commission for spices to support chili, turmeric, and other spice farmers 12. Safeguard indigenous people's rights over water, forests, and land, preventing exploitation by corporations Tensions rise as farmers march faces barricades: Punjab stands firm, Haryana seals borders SLUG: Dilli Chalo Monika Malik/Chandigarh As tensions escalate over the farmers planned march to Delhi on February 13 (Tuesday), the situation near the Haryana-Punjab border continues to remain tense. With the Haryana Government sealing all borders adjoining Punjab, farmers in Punjab are determined to push forward, echoing the sentiments of the past protests. And in this fight, the Punjab Government is backing the farmers. In a show of solidarity, the Punjab Government has stood firmly with the farmers, recognizing their demands and concerns. In fact, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government is going a step further to facilitate a dialogue between the farmers and the Centre to find a viable solution. The Governments alignment with the farmers can be attributed to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as well as the looming panchayat elections in the state. With political stakes high, the Government is keen on resolving the issue through dialogue rather than allowing the situation to escalate into protests, which could adversely affect Punjabs industries and economy. Additionally, the opposition parties in the state, such as the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have also thrown their weight behind the farmers, further strengthening their cause. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have given a Dilli Chalo call for February 13 seeking minimum support price (MSP) on all crops, punishment for the culprits in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, quashing of all FIRs lodged during the farmers stir and Rs 10,000 per month pension for farmers aged over 60, among other things. Despite the border sealing by the BJP-led Haryana Government, farmers in Punjab are steadily making their way towards the national capital as per their plans. On the other hand, the Punjab Government is actively working to facilitate a meeting between the farmers representatives and the Central Ministers in Chandigarh the aim is to address the farmers grievances through peaceful dialogue, avoiding any potential confrontations or disruptions. After a successful meeting between the two sides on February 8 in Chandigarh, which was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, another round of meeting is underway at the same venue on Monday evening. Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, at the time of filing this report, were holding a crucial meeting with farmer representatives in Chandigarh. Amidst escalating tensions, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for resolution with reliable sources indicating that the Centre is prepared to offer a solution to the ongoing issue. It has been learnt that the Centre is considering the formation of a committee on farmers main demand, Minimum Support Price (MSP), comprising representatives from farmer organizations and experts from the field aimed at addressing the farmers demands and pave way for constructive dialogue. During the previous meeting held on February 8, three Central Ministers reportedly informed farmer leaders about their readiness to propose a solution. However, they expressed disappointment as the farmer organizations failed to nominate any leaders for the proposed committee. Mann has reiterated his commitment to support the farmers and ensure their voices are heard at the national level. Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with the farmers in their fight for justice and fair treatment. We are working tirelessly to facilitate meaningful discussions between the farmers and the central government, Mann had stated. Farmers Gathering at Borders In a significant development, hundreds of tractor-trolleys, coordinated by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), have started gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib district since morning, while many more are expected to join in by the late evening. Farmers from various villages across Punjab have converged here, demonstrating their unity and resolve to press forward with their demands. The extensive line of tractors is strategically parked near Hansali Gurudwara Sahib, about 50 km from the Shambhu Barrier. The atmosphere at the gathering is one of camaraderie and determination. Farmers have set up langar (community kitchen) facilities to ensure that everyone is well-fed and cared for during their journey. Villagers from nearby areas have also extended their support by providing food, water, and other essentials to the protesting farmers. Apart from Shambhu border at Fatehgarh Sahib, farmers are gathering at Khanauri border in Sangrur, Dabwali border in Bathinda, and Ratia border in Budhlada. As they await the outcome of a crucial meeting in Chandigarh, scheduled before their planned march to Delhi, farmers are actively engaged in preparing langar to serve all those currently stationed at Fatehgarh Sahib and those en route. Women from nearby villages are lending a hand in preparing rotis and cutting vegetables, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among the protesters. Challenges at Haryana Border On the other side of the border, the Haryana Government has implemented stringent security measures to prevent the entry of farmers into Delhi. The area near the Shambhu Barrier is heavily fortified, with multiple layers of barricades, including stone boulders, concrete slabs, large containers, nails strips, barbed wire, along with tear gas shells and water cannons. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar defended the border sealing, citing concerns over law and order and potential disruptions to public life. Our priority is to maintain peace and stability in the region. We have taken necessary measures to secure our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens, Khattar stated. Over the past five days, the Haryana Government has been diligently preparing for potential unrest, setting up barriers and implementing stringent security measures to thwart the entry of farmers into the state. Police officials have described the elaborate arrangements as a 12-layer barricading system, consisting of various obstacles such as stone boulders, concrete slabs, containers, iron nails embedded in concrete, and barbed wires. Additionally, heavy vehicles are strategically parked on the Haryana side, along with the deployment of tear gas, water cannons, and hundreds of personnel. Notably, trenches have been dug up in the kuchha portion near a bridge over the Ghaggar river, while iron bricks have been scattered to impede access. Haryana Police are closely monitoring the situation, with preparations for any eventuality. Police authorities have emphasized their readiness for any potential confrontation, with all officers donning full-body protective gear. The deployment includes a significant presence of the Haryana Police force and paramilitary troops at the barrier, underscoring the state's commitment to maintaining law and order amidst the escalating tensions. Surveillance cameras have been installed, and police personnel are equipped with tear gas protection and helmets. The police force is also reviewing footage from the past protests to anticipate potential scenarios and prevent any breaches of the barricades. We are fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. Our priority is to uphold the law and protect the interests of the state, remarked a senior police officer stationed at the Shambhu Barrier. As the standoff continues, tensions remain high, with uncertainty looming over the outcome of the planned march. While some hope for a resolution through dialogue, others fear the situation could escalate if talks fail. Amidst all this, speculations abound regarding the fate of the farmers' protest and its impact on the region. Farmers leaders have expressed determination to press forward with their march, vowing to continue their fight until their demands are met. Challenges and Resilience Despite the formidable barricades and obstacles erected by the Haryana government, farmers remain resolute and confident in their ability to overcome them, drawing inspiration from their past successes. Recalling the events of November 26, 2020, when farmers defiantly broke through barriers during protests against contentious agricultural laws, they remain undeterred in their determination to march towards Delhi's borders once again. This unwavering resolve underscored the farmers commitment to their cause and their readiness to face any challenges posed by the authorities in their journey to Delhi, determined to make their voices heard and demand justice for themselves and their fellow farmers. A farmer from Sangrur, expressing his determination, said: We have faced hardships before, and we are prepared to face them again. Our fight for our rights will not be deterred by barricades or security forces. We will continue our march until our demands are met. Farmers Demands 1. Guarantee MSP for all crops, aligning with Dr Swaminathan Commission's recommendations 2. Implement a comprehensive debt waiver for farmers and labourers 3. Reinstate the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 nationwide, mandating farmer consent and fair compensation 4. Ensure justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, holding perpetrators accountable 5. Exit the World Trade Organization and halt free trade agreements to protect local agriculture 6. Introduce pension schemes for farmers and agricultural labourers 7. Compensate families of deceased farmers from the Delhi agitation and offer employment to one family member 8. Revoke the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 9. Guarantee 200 days of employment per year with a minimum daily wage of Rs 700 under MGNREGA, integrating it with farming 10. Enforce strict penalties on companies producing counterfeit agricultural inputs and enhance seed quality 11. Establish a national commission for spices to support chili, turmeric, and other spice farmers 12. Safeguard indigenous people's rights over water, forests, and land, preventing exploitation by corporations In a sensational incident, the minor son of a businessman in Raipura area of Chitrakoot was kidnapped and murdered. The kidnappers had demanded Rs 50 lakh for the release of the boy. After not getting the money, they killed the businessmans son. Police recovered the body of the kidnapped child and launched a hunt for the killers. Reports said that Rajdhar Kotarya, living in Kasba Colony under Raipura police station, brings gutkha from Kanpur and supplies it in Chitrakoot district. The businessman claimed that his 16-year-old son, Sudhanshu, went to attend classes in his school in the village last Saturday and went missing. Kotarya claimed to have registered the report of the disappearance of his son with the local police. On Monday morning, Kotarya received a call from an unknown number asking him to arrange Rs 50 lakh if he wanted his sons safety. The caller claimed that Sudhanshu was in their custody. At first Kotarya did not believe it, but when the kidnappers made him talk to his son, he realised that his son had been kidnapped. The kidnappers again called Kotarya in the afternoon and asked him to deliver the money at Bedi Pulia within half an hour. The businessman informed his wife, Manju, about the kidnapping of their son and she informed the police about the kidnapping of their son. The police immediately swung into action and after tracing the location of the mobile number from which the ransom call was made, they launched a hunt but were shocked to recover the body of Sudhanshu in the forest adjacent to Gadhiwa in Devangana valley in Karvi Kotwali area on Monday night. The kidnapper had killed the victim and fled. Superintendent of Police Arun Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police Chakrapani Tripathi, Circle Officer Rajapur Nishtha Upadhyay, Circle Officer (City) Harsh Pandey reached the spot. The SP said that many suspects had been detained and were being interrogated and the culprits would be arrested soon. The body of the victim was sent for autopsy. Meanwhile, three minor sisters were killed after their mother, in a bid to commit mass suicide, jumped into the river Yamuna, allegedly over family discord in Jamunapaar area of Mathura district, police said on Tuesday. According to reports, Poonam along with her daughters Anshika (8), Vanshika (6) and Charu (3) jumped into the river Yamuna near Hansganj Ghat late on Monday evening after a rift with her husband. The local residents pulled Poonam and her daughters out from the river and took them to the district hospital, where the doctors pronounced Anshika, Vanshika and Charu dead. The woman is being treated at the district hospital, police said. Superintendent of Police (City) Arvind Kumar said that Poonams parents and husband Hariom had been called. If needed, legal action will be taken. No police complaint has been registered so far, he said. The Youth Congress has demanded that the union government should immediately take back the Agnipath scheme. The president of Uttarakhand Youth Congress Sumittar Bhullar told the media persons at Congress Bhawan here on Monday that the scheme has shattered the dreams of 1.5 lakh youngsters who had joined as Agniveers in the armed forces of the country between 2019 to 2022. He said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has started a Jai Jawan Yatra on January 31 from Bihar. The Yatra will expose the Modi government on the injustice done to the youngsters. Bhullar said that the government should immediately roll back the Agnipath scheme and give permanent recruitment to the 1.5 lakh youngsters under the old system of recruitment. He said that Agniveers get a paltry salary of Rs 21,000 per month while regular Jawans get a salary of Rs 45,000 and they do not get the status of martyr. The in-charge of State youth Congress Shivi Chauhan said that the Jai Jawan campaign of Rahul Gandhi is against injustice to youth. He said Gandhi is meeting youngsters waiting for recruitment in the army. Chauhan said that during the first phase of the Yatra (February 1 to 28), the party workers will distribute an injustice letter to the youngsters aspiring to serve in the armed forces of the country. The Congress workers will request support of the youngsters and record the information provided in the form in digital format. In the second phase (March 5 to 10) the party workers will reach out to a maximum number of youngsters and include them in the campaign. In the third phase (March 17 to 20), foot marches) will be taken out in all the districts during which the party workers will travel 50 km on foot. Youth Congress activists on Tuesday tried to climb the barricades while protesting outside the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha over issues like unemployment, Harda firecrackers factory blast and atrocities against women, forcing the police to use water cannons to disperse them. The police detained 40 to 50 protesters, an official said. The budget session of the state assembly is currently underway. A massive blast and subsequent blaze at the firecrackers unit in Harda town on February 6 claimed 12 lives and left more than 200 people injured. Massive demonstration was organised by Youth Congress workers gathered to surround the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. After assembling at the State Congress Office (PCC), when they moved towards the Assembly, the police stopped them by placing barricades. There was also a minor clash between the workers and the police at Shivaji Nagar intersection (in front of Red Cross Hospital). PCC Chief Jitu Patwari, Youth Congress National President Srinivas, Youth Congress State President Vikrant Bhuria climbed the barricade. When they tried to go towards the assembly, the police stopped them. The activists were dispersed using water cannons and tear gas shells. During this, a shell hit the face of Youth Congress State Vice President Prashant Parashar. After some time, the police called vehicles and the workers started protesting by lying on the ground. Later many workers including Jitu Patwari, Srinivas were arrested. Youth Congress demonstrated against the increasing unemployment in the state, Harda firecracker factory blast, crime, women insecurity and the government failure to keep assurances of people benefit. Before the demonstration, Youth Congress workers gathered at the State Congress office. During this, State President Jitu Patwari said - This time, tickets on half the seats in the Lok Sabha elections will be given to Youth Congress workers or leaders whose age is less than 50 years. During the demonstration, National President of Youth Congress Srinivas BV said that the Madhya Pradesh government has betrayed the youth, they should be ashamed. Mohan Yadav is a remote control man, who has nothing in his hands. State Youth Congress President Vikrant Bhuria said that every day a youth is committing suicide. The government is not providing them employment. When 5 lakh employees retired, their age limit was increased. Our statement is clear provide employment or arrest. The police barricaded the road leading to the Vidhan Sabha to prevent the protesters from moving ahead. When Patwari and others tried to cross the barricades by climbing over them, the police used water cannons to disperse them, a police official said. Additional Commissioner of Police Awdhesh Goswami said 40-50 Youth Congress workers were taken into custody. The police used only water cannons to disperse the protesters, he added. The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the defamation complaint against RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his alleged "only Gujaratis can be thugs" remark after he agreed to withdraw the statement. A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to the former Bihar deputy chief minister on his plea seeking to transfer the defamation trial to a court outside Gujarat. "We have quashed the case in view of petitioner withdrawing his statement on record. Accordingly disposed of," the bench said. The top court on February 5 had reserved its order on a plea filed by Yadav seeking transfer of the criminal defamation complaint pending against him in a Ahmedabad court over his alleged "only Gujaratis can be thugs" remark to a place outside the state, preferably Delhi. The apex court on January 29 had directed Yadav to file a "proper statement" withdrawing his alleged remark that "only Gujaratis can be thugs". Yadav on January 19 filed an affidavit in the apex court withdrawing his alleged "Gujarati thugs" remark. The top court, while hearing the RJD leader's plea, had earlier stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint and issued notice to the Gujarat resident who had filed it. The complaint against Yadav was filed for alleged criminal defamation. The Gujarat court had in August conducted a preliminary inquiry against Yadav under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and found sufficient grounds to summon him on the complaint filed by Haresh Mehta, a local businessman and activist. According to the complaint, Yadav, while talking to the media in Patna in March 2023, had said, "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven." "Who will be responsible if they run away with the money belonging to the LIC or banks?" the then Bihar deputy chief minister had allegedly said. Mehta claimed Yadav's comments defamed all Gujaratis. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Tuesday, a day after quitting the Congress. Chavan (65) was inducted into the BJP at the party office in Mumbai in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mumbai party unit head Ashish Shelar and cabinet minister Girish Mahajan. "Today is the beginning of my new political career," Chavan told reporters earlier in the day. Asked if he had received any calls from senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Chavan evaded a reply. Former Congress MLC Amarnath Rajurkar and several supporters of Chavan from his home district Nanded in Marathwada came to Mumbai and gathered at the BJP office in south Mumbai. Ashok Chavan, the son of former CM S B Chavan, on Monday underscored that his choice to depart from the Congress was independent and refrained from attributing specific reasons for his exit. His exit from the Congress came days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the party. Ashok Chavan stepped down as the chief minister in 2010 for his alleged involvement in Adarsh housing scam in Mumbai. He is an accused in the Adarsh housing society scam wherein a 31-storey posh building in south Mumbai was constructed allegedly on land owned by the Defence Ministry without getting the requisite permissions and clearances. The backdrop of the Adarsh Building scam mentioned in a white paper tabled in Parliament last week has drawn attention as a potential factor in Chavan's departure, a claim though denied by him. Chavan was the state Congress chief during 2014-19. He represented Bhokar assembly seat and is also a former MP from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. The Delhi government has rejected the Centre's proposal to convert Bawana stadium into a makeshift jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital on Tuesday, officials said. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar denying permission and expressed solidarity with the farmers' march, they added. "The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers" Gahlot's letter to Kumar read. "The Central Government, infact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers of the country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central government," Gahlot added. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha begun marching towards Delhi on Tuesday morning to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The original name of the film is "Der Untergang" in German, which translates to "The Downfall" in English. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzSMFWKCHhg Downfall Free with ads R 28KShareTraudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII. YouTube Movies & TV 179M subscribersVideosAbout Release date 2005 Running time 2:35:02 Audio German Subtitle (auto) English Actors Bruno GanzAlexandra Maria LaraUlrich MatthesJuliane KohlerCorinna HarfouchHeino FerchChristian BerkelMatthias HabichThomas KretschmannMichael Mendl Director Oliver Hirschbiegel Genres DramaWarShow less Provider Shout Factory Rating 4,069 Comments Sort by[Calvin Li]Add a comment...[@theprofessional155]@theprofessional1558 months ago (edited)Right when the movie starts November 1942 is the beginning of the end of Hitler's regime. At that same time the 6th army was starting to freeze in Stalingrad when the winter kicked in and by late December they had no chance of breaking out. Hitler also refused to allow them to break out and promoted Paulus the commander to field marshal. Paulus was not promoted for his command of the 6th army but because no German field marshal in history has ever surrendered. It was pressure to have Paulus kill himself or fight to the end but he did not expect Paulus to surrender. This movie is very important for understanding evil. During World War 1 the Kaiser did not want to abdicate but did and in the end Germany surrendered when the Allies broke through their lines in November of 1918. Kaiser Wilhelm was not a good man but he wasn't evil. He did not want to see his country completely obliterated. Germany was punished severely after World War 1 but if they kept fighting it would have been worse. Their whole country would have been destroyed. After the Kaiser saw Hitler's reign he said for the first time in his life he was ashamed to be German. He didn't live to see Germany's destruction. Hitler refused to ever retreat even it was tactically advantageous. In his eyes even one step back from the battle was considered cowardice. He would sacrifice every last German for his own ego. The scene with him discussing the Nero decree with Speer was very accurate. This was a decree to destroy all German infrastructure including hospitals, farms, factories. Speer was horrified and told Hitler Germany needed them after the war. Hitler told him that the true Germans have died and all that remain are weak and should be destroyed. This is what Hitler thought of Germany in his last days. He never took responsibility and never admitted he was wrong. To him the German people failed him not the other way around. Hitler was one of the most evil men in history but also the biggest narcissist in human history. Not even Stalin was as narcissistic as him. Stalin made a giant mistake purging many good Soviet generals in the 1930s. During World War 2 he largely backed off and let his generals plan where Hitler acted like a military genius and would force his generals to make stupid moves. Speer disobeyed the order and told Hitler himself as in the movie. Hitler for some reason did not have him killed. This was the only reason Speer was spared from the death penalty at Nuremberg. He was one of the few top nazis that was not executed. However even though he wasn't evil he wasn't a good man either. Speer knew about concentration camp prisoners being forced to build projects he was working on. Speer used slave labor. The Himmler scenes are also very historically accurate. Himmler attempted to contact the Allies accepting the war was lost weeks before Hitler did. It shows you how narcissistic and delusional Himmler was that he somehow thought that Eisenhower would negotiate with him. This man was the architect of the Holocaust and killed millions of people. You have to be a really delusional man to think the Allies would negotiate with you. He killed himself after he realized the Allies wouldn't negotiate with him. Lastly that scene at 59:18 is very historically accurate. Hitler was obsessed with Frederick the Great which he considered one of Germany's greatest heroes. Frederick the Great fought a war against Russia and Austria during the Seven Years War and it was a disaster. Russia was invading Prussia and about to take Berlin. At the last moment Elizabeth the Tsar of Russia died and her nephew Peter III took power. He wished to end the war with Prussia and did not invade Berlin saving Frederick. Hitler so delusional thought this history was repeating after FDR died and thought for some reason Truman would negotiate with him. This movie is a perfect example of what happens when you don't surrender when you have lost a war. Your entire country is destroyed but Hitler would rather see Germany burned to the ground and every German dead then accept defeat.Show less1.5KReply123 replies[@kellijones6481] @kellijones6481 7 months ago Bruno Ganz shouldve won an Oscar and every accolade in the world for his portrayal of Hitler. You almost forget youre watching a movie at times. One of the best performances in any movie ever. Authorities here intensified security arrangements on Tuesday to stop a farmers' march from entering Delhi as the Singhu and Tikri borders were shut while the Red Fort complex was closed temporarily after peasants on their way to the national capital clashed with police at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab. Multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers have been placed at the Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders, with the deployment of a large number of security personnel in anti-riot gear. With massive security arrangements at the three border points, commuters had a harrowing time as they spent hours stuck in jam-packed traffic. Metal and concrete barricades were put up at many places in central Delhi as part of the security arrangements. Multiple gates of nine metro stations near important installations, including Parliament, were shut. The gates were opened later. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav, while visiting the Singhu border in the evening, made an announcement, asking the personnel to respond "aggressively" if the protesting farmers try to enter Delhi and "show aggression". The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the "Delhi Chalo" agitation to put pressure on the BJP-led Centre for their demands, including a law on a minimum support price for crops and loan waivers. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited the Tikri and Singhu borders to review the security arrangements. Meanwhile, the Delhi government rejected the Centre's proposal to convert the Bawana stadium into a makeshift jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar denying permission for the same and expressed solidarity with the farmers. Earlier in the day, farmers from Punjab faced tear gas shells -- some dropped by a drone -- at two border points of Haryana-Punjab as protesters tried to break past barricades that were installed to stop them from heading to Delhi. Police hurled tear gas shells and the protesters hurled stones at the Shambhu border near Haryana's Ambala. Tear gas was also used against protesters at the border between the two states in Haryana's Jind district. Hours after the clashes between the farmers and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border, the Delhi Police closed the Tikri and Singhu borders for the movement of vehicles, forcing people to cross these points on foot. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace at many places in the Delhi-National Capital Region. Arun Singh from Uttarakhand, who was on his way to visit his ailing father at a Delhi hospital, felt helpless after being stuck in traffic at the Ghazipur border for hours. "I have travelled from Uttarakhand to meet my 78-year-old father who is admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. My family and I have been stuck here since 11 am. It is an extremely frustrating situation for us and we feel angry and helpless," Singh told PTI. People had to cross the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on foot. Satya Prakash from Himachal Pradesh had no idea that the border was sealed for traffic movement. "We came all the way from Himachal Pradesh on some work. We have to go to Delhi. The bus driver stopped the vehicle at the border from where we are walking towards the city," he said. Meanwhile, the Red Fort complex was temporarily closed for visitors due to security reasons. Asked when the 17th-century monument will reopen, an official said "it will be the call of security agencies". The Delhi Police has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for a month -- banning an assembly of five or more people, processions or rallies and the entry of tractor-trolleys ferrying people. The Delhi Metro regulated passenger entry and exit at nine stations by shutting some gates. The commuters were allowed to enter or exit these stations through other gates. The stations where one or more gates were closed were Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, Barakhamba Road, Lok Kalyan Marg and Khan Market, a senior official said. One gate was closed at the Khan Market station, the official added. During their protest in 2020, farmers from different states, mainly Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had staged a sit-in at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders. They sat there from August 2020 to December 2021. Police had to rush logistics in 2020 to check the entry of the farmers moving in a procession of tractors. A senior Delhi Police officer said learning from past experience, tight security arrangements were made this time. Police have also sealed rural roads bordering Haryana to stop the protesters from moving ahead to enter Delhi. India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations and the multi-faceted ties between the two countries have continued to deepen in recent years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday ahead of his visit to Doha. Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, "under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation". The prime minister said this in a departure statement ahead of his two-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. Modi is scheduled to travel to Doha on Wednesday afternoon after concluding his two-day visit to the UAE. The announcement on Modi's visit to the Qatari capital came on Monday hours after seven out of eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel returned home, nearly three-and-half months after a Qatari court handed them a death sentence that was subsequently commuted to jail terms ranging from three to 25 years. Qatar has released all the eight Indians. The former Indian Navy personnel apparently faced charges of espionage, but neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against them public. Modi's visit to Qatar on February 14-15 will be his second trip to that country as the prime minister. "India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations," Modi said. "In recent years, our multi-faceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres, including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education," he said. The prime minister said the presence of over 800,000 strong Indian community in Doha is a "testament to our strong people-to-people ties." Besides holding talks with the Amir, Modi is scheduled to meet other high dignitaries in Qatar as well. In his statement, Modi said he is looking forward to further advancing India's comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE. "Over the last nine years, our cooperation with UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever," he said. "I look forward to meeting Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Modi said. Boosting cooperation in areas of energy, ports, fintech, digital infrastructure, railways and investment flows are set to be the focus of talks between the two leaders on Tuesday. The two sides are likely to ink a number of agreements to shore up cooperation in several key areas. In Abu Dhabi, Modi will also inaugurate the first Hindu temple in the city. "I will also inaugurate the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the prime minister said. "I will address the members of the Indian community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi," he said. Modi is also set to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president, prime minister and defence minister of the UAE. "I will be addressing the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 14," Modi said. My discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of the summit will focus on strengthening our multi-faceted ties with Dubai, he added. India, Qatar enjoy historically close relations: PM on Doha visit New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations and the multi-faceted ties between the two countries have continued to deepen in recent years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday ahead of his visit to Doha. Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, "under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation". The prime minister said this in a departure statement ahead of his two-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. Modi is scheduled to travel to Doha on Wednesday afternoon after concluding his two-day visit to the UAE. The announcement on Modi's visit to the Qatari capital came on Monday hours after seven out of eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel returned home, nearly three-and-half months after a Qatari court handed them a death sentence that was subsequently commuted to jail terms ranging from three to 25 years. Qatar has released all the eight Indians. The former Indian Navy personnel apparently faced charges of espionage, but neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against them public. Modi's visit to Qatar on February 14-15 will be his second trip to that country as the prime minister. "India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations," Modi said. "In recent years, our multi-faceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres, including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education," he said. The prime minister said the presence of over 800,000 strong Indian community in Doha is a "testament to our strong people-to-people ties." Besides holding talks with the Amir, Modi is scheduled to meet other high dignitaries in Qatar as well. In his statement, Modi said he is looking forward to further advancing India's comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE. "Over the last nine years, our cooperation with UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever," he said. "I look forward to meeting Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Modi said. Boosting cooperation in areas of energy, ports, fintech, digital infrastructure, railways and investment flows are set to be the focus of talks between the two leaders on Tuesday. The two sides are likely to ink a number of agreements to shore up cooperation in several key areas. In Abu Dhabi, Modi will also inaugurate the first Hindu temple in the city. "I will also inaugurate the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the prime minister said. "I will address the members of the Indian community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi," he said. Modi is also set to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president, prime minister and defence minister of the UAE. "I will be addressing the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 14," Modi said. My discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of the summit will focus on strengthening our multi-faceted ties with Dubai, he added. After remaining as a minister without portfolio for months following his arrest by the ED, V Senthil Balaji has quit the MK Stalin-led state Cabinet. A Raj Bhavan release said Governor RN Ravi, who had earlier opposed the continuance of Balaji in the Cabinet, has accepted Stalin's recommendation in this connection. Based on a letter from the CM dated February 12, recommending acceptance of the resignation of the jailed DMK leader, the "Governor has approved the recommendation and accepted the resignation of Thiru V Senthil Balaji, Minister, from the Council of Ministers," the release said. Balaji, a DMK strongman from Karur, was arrested on June 14, 2023, by the Enforcement Directorate here in a cash-for-jobs scam when he was Transport Minister in an earlier AIADMK regime. He is currently lodged in the Puzhal prison. His multiple bail petitions have been dismissed by the courts so far. Two days after his arrest last year, the portfolios held by Balaji then--Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development and Prohibition and Excise, Molasses were re-allocated to others in the Stalin-led Cabinet. Governor Ravi had then objected to Balaji being minister without a portfolio, saying he was facing criminal proceedings. Balaji represents the Karur segment in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning as police placed multiple layers of barricades on Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders in view of the farmers' march to the national capital. Commuters had a harrowing time as they battled traffic jams, with Delhi being turned into a fortress to thwart the entry of farmers. In view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march, the police have intensified security at the city's border points with multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha hav e announced that more than 200 farmer unions would head to Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Bumper to bumper traffic was seen on Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders since 7 am. "I knew about the farmers' march scheduled today and left for office an hour early from my house in Gurugram's Sector 29. Seeing the traffic situation, it seems I will reach my office in central Delhi a couple of hours late, despite starting early," said Julie Lawrance, who was stuck in the jam for at least an hour. A traffic police officer, while noting that over two lakh people travel between Delhi and Gurgaon each day during working hours, advised people to use the Metro services. At the Ghazipur border, only two vehicles were able to pass at a time with barricades lined up on half of the key stretch connecting Noida and Delhi. Near the Ghazipur border, the police had blocked the link roads and vehicles moved in a single queue. Another commuter, Kritika Sharma, said she had started for office at 6 am but even by 9 am, was still stuck in a jam. Both at Singhu and Tikri borders, there were long queues of vehicles due to heavy barricading and police checking. Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday urged the protesting farmers to rejoin talks with the government on their demands and asserted that violence and vandalism were not the answer to their problems. Speaking to reporters here, Thakur said the government had accepted some demands of the farmers' organisations, who were marching towards the national capital in huge numbers. But issues such as India walking out of the World Trade Organisation and cancellation of free trade agreements would require wider consultations, he said. "If you demand that India walk out of WTO, cancellation of FTA, rejection of smart meters and exemption of farmers from the Electricity Act, should the Centre not talk with other stakeholders and the state governments?" Thakur asked. He said the government had proposed setting up of the committee during the talks with farmers' organisations on Monday. "We will have to talk with others, only then will we be able to make any decisions," Thakur said. The senior BJP leader said if the Modi government can bring Navy veterans languishing in Qatar, then even the issues of farmers can be resolved at the discussion table. Thakur said the Modi government has always been pro-farmers and have spent more on ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for farmers than what was spent during the UPA years. The minister slammed the Congress' announcement of granting a statutory cover for minimum support price. "Rahul Gandhi is speaking lies once again and misleading the people. There was a Congress government for 60 years. Who had stopped them from enacting laws for all these years?" Thakur said. Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. The now 74-year-old leader first took power in 1990 but was forced out three years later by corruption allegations -- a theme that has dogged his career. He came to power for the second time in 1997 and held the prime minister's post till 1999 when he was deposed in a military coup after plotting to sideline army chief of staff Pervez Musharraf. More than a decade later he was back in power in 2013, but fresh graft allegations emerged when his children were named in the 2016 Panama Papers leak for holding offshore companies. He was later convicted over separate corruption allegations and disqualified from office for life -- the third time that he failed to complete a full term. A delegation of the IMF may visit cash-strapped Pakistan once a new federal government is formed, negotiations for which are ongoing between major political parties after the general elections threw a hung Parliament, a media report said on Monday. The International Monetary Funds review mission might visit Islamabad by the end of this month or early next month, provided the government formation at federal and provincial levels was complete, according to the Ministry of Finances assessment, Geo News reported. The visit assumes significance as it is crucial for the completion of the USD 3 billion Standby Arrangement (SBA), which is going to expire on April 12. The mission will finalise the salient features of the anticipated medium-term bailout package to avert a default on repayment of foreign debts, the report said. In its recent staff report, the IMF talked about rephasing access for the second review, to March 15, 2024, to provide sufficient time to complete the programmes structural agenda. However, in the wake of controversy over the poll results, the missions possible delay for the completion of the second review and release of the last tranche worth USD 1.2 billion under SBA could lead to fears of default, the report said. Pakistans foreign exchange reserves hovered around USD 8.04 billion during the week ending February 2, after witnessing a decline in reserves by USD 173 million due to external debt repayments. A Finance Division official said the IMF would only come to begin the second review talks once a new government was sworn in at the national level, according to the report. The official added the last and third tranche of USD 1.2 billion was conditional upon the newly elected government assuming office. The new agreement will also be finalised with the new government, he said. Earlier, the IMFs review mission was scheduled to visit the country in the first week of February, but the delegation refused to visit on the eve of the general elections. After the general elections threw a fractured mandate, doubts have been raised about the fairness of the whole process, with the US, the European Union, and other countries demanding an investigation into the irregularities and fraud allegations. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the results of 264 out of 265 contested seats, with independents, a majority of them backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, securing 101 seats in the National Assembly. They were followed by three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party of ex-foreign minister Bilawal Zardari-Bhutto got 54 seats, and the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) got 17 seats. Other smaller parties won the rest of the 12 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the National Assembly. The Iraqi government met again with the US government on Sunday on how to draw down American troops who have been deployed there for years combating the Islamic State. The two governments had held their first, long-awaited meeting January 27, but those meetings had been put on pause after Iran-backed militants struck a base in Jordan the very next day with a drone that killed three US service members. In the weeks since, the US has launched multiple retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria including a strike last week that killed a high-ranking commander of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah militia who the US said is responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on American troops in the region. Both Iraq and the US had agreed last August to enter into talks to transition US forces from their long-standing role in assisting Iraq in combating IS. There are approximately 2,500 troops in the country, and their departure will take into account the security situation on the ground, and the capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces, the Iraq government said in a statement on Sunday posted to X, formerly Twitter. The resumed meetings will continue to chart a path to a new bilateral relationship as long as nothing disturbs the peace of the talks, Iraq said in its statement. Iraq has long struggled to balance its ties with the US and Iran, both allies of the Iraqi government but regional archenemies. Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in the wake of Hamas October 7 attacks, Iran-aligned groups have struck at US facilities in Iraq, Syria and Jordan 170 times, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by the US, which blames Kataib Hezbollah for a string of those attacks. The Iraqi government has angrily condemned US airstrikes against Kataib Hezbollah, which is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces. The Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, are state-sanctioned, mainly Shiite militias, which have grown into a powerful political faction estimated to have the most seats in the Iraqi parliament. But the deaths of three US service members at Tower 22 in Jordan was a red line for the US and in the days following the deadly strike, Iran disavowed any knowledge or connection to the attack, and Kataib Hezbollah said it would cease launching attacks in order to not embarrass the Iraqi government. Notably, there have been no additional strikes against US bases in Iraq since February 4. The top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party have discussed a new power-sharing formula for dividing the five-year tenure between them, as efforts to form a coalition government gathered pace on Monday following a split verdict in the elections. Despite independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party winning the most seats in Parliament, questions loom over what the next government of Pakistan will look like. None of the three major parties, the PML-N, the PPP, or the PTI have won the necessary seats to secure a majority in the 266-member National Assembly and, therefore, will be unable to form government on their own, leaving it unclear who will be picked as the cash-strapped countrys next prime minister. The leaders of PML-N and the PPP discussed the idea of appointing a prime minister for half the term during their first meeting held on Sunday following the February 8 elections as part of their efforts to form a coalition government in the Centre and provinces, according to a source privy to the development. It has been proposed that a PML-N candidate will serve as prime minister for three years and PPPs leader for two years, the source said, adding that it was not yet decided who will get the first term. The meeting was attended by PPP-Parliamentarian President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari, and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif from the PML-N. The same power-sharing formula was chalked out by PML-N and National Party (NP) in Balochistan in 2013 when two chief ministers from the two parties held office for half of the five-year term. PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is still in the race for the prime ministerial slot despite his party not securing a simple majority in the Feb 8 general elections in Pakistan, some PML-N leaders said on Monday. We are having discussion with the PPP over power-sharing formula in the upcoming coalition government in the Centre and Nawaz Sharif cannot be ruled out as the prime ministerial candidate, PML-N Senator Irfan Saddique told a private news channel. He said Nawaz Sharif, 74, is the candidate for the prime minister slot from the PML-N. In the Sunday meeting at the Bilawal House in Lahore, the two sides agreed in principle to cooperate for the countrys political stability following the general election, the sources said. They confirmed that so far several open and behind-the-doors meetings have been held between the leaders of PML-N and PPP and other parties since the powerful Pakistan Army has also indicated that they will back a unity government to pull the country out of the challenges it faced. The main hurdle is who will lead the government as both parties are pushing forward their candidates but after a lot of discussion, some sort of middle ground may emerge, according to a leader of the PML-N. A PPP leader said the party was not withdrawing from its demand that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should be the prime minister because he was endorsed for the post by the PPPs Central Executive Committee (CEC) even before the elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, a majority of them supported by the PTI secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) getting 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) bagging 17 seats. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one constituency was withheld. Though the PTI initially claimed to form the government but its chances looked grim from the beginning as at least 169 seats, in the house of 336, were needed to form the government. A total of 266 seats are directly contested while 60 women-reserved seats and 10 minority seats are allocated based on proportional representation to the winning parties. As PTI was not allowed to contest as a single party with a common symbol, it was not qualified to get the reserved seats. The PTI hence decided to sit on the opposition benches, leaving the field open for PML-N and PPP as well as others to form a coalition, party leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said, adding that the PTI would form a strong opposition. We dont feel comfortable with both (PML-N and PPP) of them. There will be no talks with anyone to make a government or to make a government together with them. It is better to sit in the opposition than to make a government [with them], but we think we have the majority, Gohar Khan told Dawn News on Sunday. Meanwhile, talks began between the two major parties for a coalition government soon after the results became available. Sources said that so far several open and behind-the-doors meetings have been held between the leaders of PML-N and PPP and other parties. The main hurdle is who will lead the government as both parties are pushing forward their candidates but after a lot of discussion, some sort of middle ground may emerge, according to a leader of the PML-N. A PPP leader said the party was not withdrawing from its demand that Bilawal should be the prime minister because he was endorsed for the post by the PPPs Central Executive Committee (CEC) even before the elections. In a related development, the PML-N is also considering proposing Shehbaz Sharif as a candidate for the post of prime minister instead of Nawaz Sharif who was poised to become the premier for the record fourth time but had to change his mind because he was not interested in leading a coalition government. The political wheeling and dealing has entered into an interesting phase and it is expected the shape of the new set-up would be decided within the next couple of days. In La Guerre Est Finie, Yves Montand stars as an operative in the Spanish Communist underground who is stuck between the past and future. The film is set just before May Day in 1965, more than two decades after dictator Francisco Franco took control of Spain and declared the Spanish Civil War was "over." This quote is what the film's title is referencing, and the statement reverberates ironically across the events of the three days that La Guerre Est Finie covers. Montand's character -- who is known by multiple aliases in different scenes, but whose real name is probably Diego -- fought in the Civil War and has been working with the underground since. He is constantly thinking and worrying about what needs to be done for the present and the future, though many of his comrades seem stuck reflecting on the war. For some, the war is over; for others, it continues every day. After directing a trio of films about characters haunted by memory -- Hiroshima Mon Amour, Last Year at Marienbad, and Muriel -- Alain Resnais seems stubbornly determined to highlight a character whose mind is always on what's to come. The opening thirty minutes of the film follow Diego as he makes a potentially dicey border crossing from Spain to France in the aftermath of targeted arrests of some of his comrades. He has encounters with checkpoint police (including one officer played by the great Michel Piccoli) and with other collaborators, but they are punctuated by flashes of other events. Initially, the viewer is left to wonder if these are flashbacks, but soon it becomes obvious that these are Diego's projections of what might happen next to him and his friends. Diego is anxious that one of his comrades, Juan, might fall into a trap in Madrid and be arrested with the others. The higher-ups in the Party are more focused on prepping a May Day general strike and seemingly are willing to let Juan be sacrificed. Diego is dubious that the general strike will be effective, so this amplifies his anxiety and alienation. The film is a fascinating mix of New Wave spy thriller (complete with modernist editing) and existential character study. After its tense and terse opening thirty minutes, the film gets ruminative as Diego settles into an evening in Paris. He has two sexual interludes, one with a young student whose father is instrumental in the Communist cause, Nadine (a baby-faced Genevieve Bujold), and another with his long-time lover Marianne (Ingmar Bergman regular Ingrid Thulin), a single mother who wants to make a family with Diego. Diego's lifestyle isn't compatible with long-term commitments, but life with Marianne is at least tempting. For the rest of the film, Diego's values are tested and he tries not to get arrested. He discovers that Nadine is part of a pro-Communist student cell that are planning to start a bombing campaign. They try to enlist Diego to join them but he is enough of a pro to see that these young people are a liability and not a help. Resnais is as at home with the scenes of romantic strife and longing as he is with the tense spy scenes. In both cases, the film is a masterclass in acting subtext, as the real interactions are going on in the words that are not being said. Montand conveys strength and weariness with every breath. Thulin conveys weariness too, but countered by a passion that her character and Montand's can truly lead a better life together. Bujold is enigmatic, mischievous, and totally magnetic. Ultimately, the film ends on an ellipsis, with many of its story threads left dangling. Resnais's storytelling strategies might leave some viewers thinking they've been given a puzzle without all the pieces, but this approach effectively underlines the film's portrait of Diego as a lifer in the underground. The work is never done, the war is never over. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray La Guerre Est Finie comes in a standard-sized keepcase. Unsurprisingly, since The Film Desk started in books, the disc is accompanied by a generous booklet featuring writing by Jorge Semprun and Marguerite Duras (newly translated by Nicholas Elliott), Michael Caen, and Andrew Sarris, plus a 1966 interview with Alain Resnais by Robert Benayoun (newly translated by Craig Keller). A limited edition slipcover is still currently available on the Vinegar Syndrome website. The disc loads to a Film Desk logo then transitions to a full-motion menu. In a decade that gave us poisonous spiders, Graboids, and multiple multi-tentacled aquatic terrors, the 1990s was a heck of a year for Creature Features. As Hollywood started shifting away from practical physical effects for more digital creations, the mid to late 1990s was almost like a last hurrah for the biggest and best beasts in creature effects. You had movies like The Relic, Bats, Starship Troopers, Virus, Lake Placid, and Deep Blue Sea on top of numerous direct-to-video horror flicks all dropping within just a few years. Among this glut of content was 1997s Anaconda. Directed by Luis Llosa, the flick stars a young on the rise Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, and Kari Wuhrer, with Jon Voight and Eric Stoltz lending the star power. A daffy but entertaining film, it straddles that line between excellent practical effects and weightless laughably ineffective CGI. One moment were enjoying a prop creature stalking its prey, the next we have a silver-shiny digital creation gobbling up its target. But, since our story weighs more on the unbelievably ridiculous side of things, the disparate visual effects add to the flavor. In case you somehow missed this one, our film opens with crack documentary director Terri Flores (Jennifer Lopez) and her ace cameraman Danny (Ice Cube) getting ready to ship out on the Amazon with anthropologist Dr. Steven Cale (Eric Stoltz) in search of the last remaining lost tribes of jungle. Don't worry this doesn't turn into Cannibal Holocaust. With the acclaimed Warren Westridge (Jonathan Hyde) as the on-screen talent and production assistants Gary (Own Wilson) and Denise (Kari Wuhrer), theyre off on a grand adventure and surefire Natural Geographic Channel glory! But when they pick up the mysterious snake hunter Serone (Jon Voight) tragedy soon strikes the expedition as a gigantic murderous anaconda (the smooth soulful voice of Frank Welker) starts picking off the crew one by one. In the grand scheme of things, no one is going to accuse Anaconda of being a great film, but its a damned entertaining one. Made on a $45 million budget, director Luis Llosas creature feature overcame poor reviews and proved to be a modest global hit. A big enough hit to spawn a slew of imitators and indirect spinoffs and sequels. Effectively Jaws on the Amazon, the film lumbers from one daffy setpiece to the next with the thinnest of plots tying the show together. As the suspense increases so too does the over-use of weightless CGI. The snakes first big kill is a pretty exciting practical effect blended with a little CGI to really sell the scaly critters ability to kill a grown man. By the end though, the thing is zipping through the set at whip-crack speeds devouring our cast left and right only stopping long enough to vomit up Jon Voight before moving onto its next meal. And speaking of our cast; talk about a fun bunch of personalities. We have Jennifer Lopez before she really hit big in films and as a recording artist. Ice Cube when he was steadily moving into more movies after the success of Friday. Owen Wilson was just a rising character actor and Kari Wuhrer was just starting to edge her way out of late-night Skinimax flicks and into mainstream movies. For some comedic personality, Jonathan Hyde stayed true to the obnoxious know-it-all role he perfected with The Mummy. Eric Stoltz is fine as the arrogant know-it-all leader but he's quickly sidelined and naps his way through 3/4 of the film. The real star is Jon Voight and his accent. Alongside Heat and U-Turn, Anaconda was part of this weird trilogy of Voight appearances when he was as gnarly, unattractive, and unappealing as possible and he really leans into the role. If you havent seen this movie, lets just say Voight made choices with his performance and he delivered the 110% effort. Upon learning Frank Welker did the voice of the anaconda, I cant help but hear an asthmatic Megatron anytime that snake makes a sound. Far from terrible but yards away from amazing, Anaconda is just one of a long line of entertaining turn-your-brain-off creature features from the 90s. Maybe if the production had taken the less is more route and minimized the CGI or greatly obscured it, the film might have been better off. As it is, its a crowd howler. Entertaining from start to finish, theres never a dull moment. If youre watching with a group of friends, take a shot every time Voight makes a creepy squinty sneer. If youve been around the block with this one a few times, snag the Rifftrax! Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Anaconda sheds its skin for another Blu-ray release from Mill Creek. A single-disc release, the film is pressed on a BD-25 disc and comes housed in a new stylish SteelBook. The front cover of the SteelBook is pretty slick evoking the original teaser poster, but the back art replicating Mill Creeks previous Blu-ray art looks like a weird 12-year-old girl coming-of-age film with a listless Jennifer Lopez holding the front while Ice Cube and Jon Voight look like they're watching from Creature Feature Heaven - the only thing missing is a horse leaping in silhouette against a setting sun. The disc loads to a static image main menu with standard navigation options. A group of 39 community organizations appealed to the City of Buffalo to inspect far more rental properties for toxic lead paint, as required by its own Proactive Rental Inspections local law. Since at least the early 1990s, Buffalo has ranked among the nations worst cities for childhood lead poisoning a function of its aging housing stock and other factors. The Erie County Health Department designated nine ZIP codes in the city as communities of concern because of elevated childhood lead poisoning. In our city, children who live in predominantly neighborhoods of color are 12 times more likely to experience lead poisoning than children in predominantly white neighborhoods, Andrea O Suilleabhain, executive director of think tank Partnership for the Public Good, said during a news conference Tuesday in Niagara Square in front of City Hall. Unless the city takes these prevention measures required by PRI legislation seriously, the rates of childhood lead poisoning will not decrease from their current levels, O Suilleabhain said. Since 2021 when the Proactive Rental Inspections program was implemented, Buffalo has completed 4,765 inspections out of 36,000 units covered under the legislation, and 415 certificates of compliance have been issued, said Catherine Amdur, the citys commissioner of permit and inspection services. This year, city inspectors have completed 140 PRI inspections and issued 46 certificates. Its a big undertaking. Were doing what we can to achieve the goal, Amdur said. It takes time to roll out a new program and see what does and doesnt work. The community organizations delivered a letter Tuesday to Mayor Byron W. Brown and Amdur, demanding documentation within 30 days to show the city is fully complying with the rental inspections required by the PRI legislation. Breana Hargrave, a program coordinator at LEAD 716, was exposed to lead in 1998 and now works with families that battle the same difficulties her family battled 26 years ago. Compliance with the PRI law is very important, she said. Some of the challenges these children face are social, emotional issues, lower IQ scores, speech and hearing difficulties, ADHD and behavioral problems, Hargrave said. Unfortunately, the number of kids affected by lead continues to rise. Living on the Edge: A Buffalo family struggled to make ends meet and then things got worse Chris and Bethany Mount and their four children lived precarious lives. But when lead was found in their rental house, things got much worse. This is the first installment of an occasional series. Lead exposure in adolescents creates disastrous irreversible effects on growth and development. This includes damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral disabilities and delays, hearing and speech problems, memory loss and hyperactivity, said the Rev. George F. Nicholas, chief executive officer of Buffalo Center for Health Equity. City officials say they are doing the best they can. Its something were continuing to actively work on and continuing to work every day at this, Amdur said. Approximately 60% of Buffalo residents live in rental housing. Every year, more than 200 children are lead poisoned in Buffalo, the vast majority of whom live in rental units covered under PRI, the groups letter said, citing state Department of Health data. Lead paint can cause serious and irreparable damage to developing children, specifically when it begins to deteriorate through chipping and peeling, creating dust and chips that children may inhale or eat. Unless effective primary prevention measures in rental housing are taken by the City of Buffalo, as contemplated by the Proactive Rental Inspections law, rates of childhood lead-poisoning will not substantially decrease from the present unacceptable levels, the letter said. O Suilleabhain pointed to similar legislation in Rochester that has been in effect for more than a decade and has significantly reduced lead poisoning in Rochester. We know that legislation like PRI works. Thats a similar city, similar rates of poverty, similar housing stock. This is a proven tool, O Suilleabhain said. City officials said the Covid-19 pandemic and costs associated with the rental inspection program have hindered Buffalos progress. Programs offer help with repairs for homeowners in distressed Buffalo neighborhoods Grants for homeowners to fix up residences in distressed Buffalo neighborhoods are now available through the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency's 50/50 and Target/Focus Area programs. The Buffalo Common Council created the Proactive Rental Inspection program in November 2020. One of the stated purposes of the local law is the complete remediation of lead-based paint hazards, according to the letter from the group. The legislation sends inspectors into all non-owner-occupied one- and two-family rental units. Properties that pose the greatest chance of causing lead poisoning in children are prioritized. Once the residences are approved, they issue a Certificate of Rental Compliance, which must be renewed every three years. Inspectors check for lead paint, infestation, safe exits, smoke detectors, carbon dioxide detectors, leaking pipes and more. Months after the program was established, inspections were suspended due to Covid-19. Still, about a half dozen inspectors and a couple of supervisors did outreach in the community during the pandemic, knocking on doors, talking to residents about the dangers related to lead and leaving them with cleaning supplies and informational brochures, Amdur said. The PRI program would cost the city almost $2 million a year to meet the defined goal, Amdur said. No prison time for Buffalo landlord whose rental homes poisoned children with lead U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo sentenced Angel Dalfin to five years of probation, eight months of home detention, 600 hours of community service and restitution of $115,000. The citys PRI program is now funded with federal American Rescue Plan money, about $1 million total over three years, she told The Buffalo News. The PRI inspections are performed at no cost to the owner. In May 2021, Buffalo was granted $331 million in ARP funding. The city has used $30 million of its ARP money for revenue replacement to offset budget shortfalls and costs incurred by the city in the current 2023-24 fiscal year. Another $20 million will be used in fiscal year 2024-25 for that purpose. In February 2023, the Council created the Affordable Housing Task Force. The group unveiled a report in November with recommendations that include higher penalties for violating Buffalos Fair Housing Law, requiring more transparency about limited liability companies that own rental properties, conducting a vacancy study next year and fully funding a proactive rental inspections program. For that, Council members should work with the citys commissioner of permits and inspections to determine how many additional building inspectors would be needed to complete 6,000 PRI inspections per year, the report said. Council members then should prioritize the funding in the 2024-2025 city budget and beyond. Buffalo is only one piece of the puzzle. Erie County is the funded agency tasked with addressing lead hazards, Amdur said. Erie Countys Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program, which receives about $2 million in federal and New York State funds, is responsible for the case management of lead poisoned children in Erie County. The purpose of the program is to identify children under 6 years old with elevated blood lead levels, ensure medical follow-up and eliminate the source of lead exposure. The program also identifies and addresses lead hazards in high-risk ZIP codes in Erie County to prevent at-risk children from becoming poisoned by lead. Its important to note that the Erie County Department of Health has the mandate from New York State to address lead hazards, not the City of Buffalo, Admur said. New York State Department of Health gives Erie County millions of dollars, including $1.4 million this year, to inspect housing for lead paint hazards and cite owners. The city does not receive any of this funding. The federal government also provided about $212,580 to Erie Countys childhood lead poisoning prevention program. One way we can help is to inspect housing for community organizations, before they place vulnerable individuals into unsafe housing, Amdur said. Were also fortunate to have so many caring advocates in our city and they can help guide mission-based organizations to take advantage of all the wonderful programs that build new affordable housing in the city. We see many of our faith-based organizations already doing it. Thats what it would look like to work together and find real solutions. Cornerstone Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 20.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,300 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 6,700 shares during the quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $6,057,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Briaud Financial Planning Inc acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Quarry LP lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works In other news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.83, for a total transaction of $12,741,500.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 221,015 shares in the company, valued at $56,321,252.45. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.7 % ITW stock opened at $254.69 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $256.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $244.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.33. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $217.06 and a fifty-two week high of $267.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.33, a PEG ratio of 4.39 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.41 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 96.60%. The firms revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.34 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $1.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.20%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 57.49%. Analysts Set New Price Targets ITW has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $277.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $239.33. Read Our Latest Analysis on ITW Illinois Tool Works Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United states and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its position in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report) by 1.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 63,041 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 942 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $5,392,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. IHT Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Consolidated Edison by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,941 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $757,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 43,881 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,198,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC grew its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC now owns 4,916 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Group LLC grew its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 74.8% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 271 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brinker Capital Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 9,592 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $908,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the companys stock. Get Consolidated Edison alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Consolidated Edison from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $96.00 to $94.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. KeyCorp raised shares of Consolidated Edison from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Consolidated Edison has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $88.46. Consolidated Edison Stock Performance Shares of Consolidated Edison stock opened at $89.47 on Tuesday. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $80.46 and a fifty-two week high of $100.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.25, a P/E/G ratio of 8.42 and a beta of 0.37. The companys 50 day moving average price is $90.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $89.88. Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Consolidated Edisons payout ratio is 48.00%. Consolidated Edison Profile (Free Report) Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.6 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ED? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Consolidated Edison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consolidated Edison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Fuel Gas Co. is expressing major concerns in court records about the authenticity of some of the parts it purchased in recent years from the suppliers it is suing as part of a fraud case against two former employees and several vendors. Company attorneys explain in court documents how one electrical part called a PanelView malfunctioned at one point, which led a natural gas compressor station to temporarily shut down. In the aftermath, the part manufacturer denied warranty service and determined that the PanelView and 14 other PanelViews that National Fuel purchased from Grand Island-based Ribet Supply for more than $95,000 were counterfeit, according to court records. A Dec. 14 letter from manufacturer Rockwell Automation to National Fuel determined that the parts were either old, used, modified or completely fabricated, a finding that could pose safety, security and reliability risks to your operations. In a statement, National Fuel spokesperson Karen Merkel said the compressor station referenced in court records was located in Western New York in a rural part of the Southern Tier. The incident occurred after National Fuel engineers discovered that a new piece of equipment being installed at a compressor station the PanelView, which is a graphic interface failed to calibrate during a routine equipment update, she said. That led the engineers to contact the equipment manufacturer, which is when they learned the panel was counterfeit. Panels from the same purchase had been installed on other compressor units, although with no performance issues, Merkel said. Engineers promptly replaced the panels, which required the unscheduled maintenance shutdowns referenced in the pleadings. Merkel said the shutdowns would not have occurred had the panels been authentic. However, because our systems are built with multiple redundancies and other measures to assure reliability, there were no interruptions in service and no customers were affected, she said. In court records, National Fuel said it continues in its efforts to verify the origin and authenticity of products that Evan Crahen, the companys former senior manager in the purchasing department who was fired in November, bought on its behalf from Ribet Supply and another defendant, JPKM Supply Solutions. Given the nature of National Fuels work as a natural gas supplier and distribution utility, even a remote chance that its operations could be negatively affected by counterfeit parts presents an obvious safety risk, William Snyder, the companys assistant vice president, said in an affidavit filed Feb. 6. Failed to tell the complete story National Fuels scramble to trace the source and authenticity of some of the goods are among the details that continue to trickle out in a lawsuit the company filed late last year against Crahen, his wife, another former company employee and multiple former vendors and their proprietors. The suit claims Crahen was manipulating the purchasing process, reportedly leading a scheme that defrauded the company of as much as $1 million by funneling purchases to suppliers that charged inflated prices including to JPKM, which his wife owned and operated, and to Ribet Supply. National Fuel alleges ex-employee led purchasing scheme that defrauded company of at least $1 million National Fuel claims a former employee defrauded it of as much as $1 million by funneling purchases to suppliers that charged inflated prices. Attorney Aaron Knights, who represents Ribet Supply/Ribet Products and the companys proprietor Hanna Burkhart and her son, Robin Szyprowski, said National Fuel is not telling the whole story about the PanelView issue. Knights said National Fuel submitted a purchase order to Ribet Supply for the PanelViews in April 2023. Ribet Supply then procured the PanelViews from Industrial Automation Co., a domestic supplier of the products that provides a two-year warranty on its sales. Ribet Supply delivered the PanelView order to National Fuel in May 2023, Knights said. In response to an inquiry from National Fuel in November a month before the lawsuit was filed Knights said that Szyprowski told a National Fuel employee that Industrial Automation Co. had supplied the PanelViews. Szyprowski then directed the National Fuel employee to Industrial Automations website for further information, including as it pertained to the warranty, Knights said. National Fuel was aware of the source of these goods prior to the commencement of this lawsuit, and Ribet Supply did not hear anything further about this issue until National Fuel filed additional court papers earlier this week that failed to tell the complete story, Knights said Friday. My clients have nothing to hide and are eager to put this baseless and unnecessary lawsuit behind them. A glance at internal emails Beyond the reported financial hit to National Fuel, recent records indicate that the company appears to also be focused on combing through records and Evan Crahens company emails to map out where the goods came from. According to Snyders affidavit, National Fuel still cant verify the source or origin of the goods that JPKM sold to the company. For instance, the company claims, some of JPKMs sales to National Fuel were goods it purchased from sellers on eBay including electrical components that National Fuel uses in its operations. The company further claims in records that JPKM charged National Fuel inflated prices for its and the Crahens personal financial gain, under the cover of furthering a purported diverse supplier. Attorney Barry N. Covert, who represents Crahen, Crahens wife, Bethany Crahen, and JPKM, said in a statement that his clients categorically deny the claims and mischaracterizations set forth in the complaint and look forward to vigorously defending themselves in court. In recent filings, National Fuel included a Dec. 30, 2022, email thread in which other company employees question why JPKM seemed to be invoicing National Fuel long before items were due to ship. In that thread, Crahen informs four other employees that JPKM is a small business (diversity and inclusion) supplier just starting out, which is why we allowed net 10 payment terms for them as a supplier. Further, Crahen wrote, JPKM has been blowing away their due dates and are one of the few suppliers shopping product ahead of schedule. Minutes later, in a follow-up email, Crahen doubles-down: The one good thing about them, compared to other D&I, is they take receipt of the material before shipping to us, from their Albany warehouse. Cuts down on making sure right quantity, product arrives, compared to other D&I suppliers! But nowhere, National Fuel claims, did Crahen mention that his wife owned JPKM. His reported failure to inform the company that his wife owns JPKM is a violation of the National Fuel code of business conduct and ethics, the company claims. Crahens job with National Fuel was terminated Nov. 7 due to what the company called dishonesty during an internal audit. It later discovered the reported purchasing scheme led by Crahen, an accusation that Crahens attorneys denied in court records. Earlier in 2023, Crahen received a $14,626 bonus from National Fuel, along with a $3,000 award. He is also listed online as a Buyer of the Year nominee in the 2023 ACE Awards, which were held Oct. 3 and presented by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. Piesa cu peste 80 de milioane de vizualizari, la Te cunosc de undeva: "E ca imnul Romaniei - toata lumea il stie, dar, cand trebuie sa il canti, iti dai seama ca nu stii" The deterioration of underground utility vaults at the AM&As building in downtown Buffalo caused the closure of sidewalks on two different streets. But thats not the only example of a faulty vault in Western New York. A utility vault in the City of Tonawanda on the north side of Niagara Street is also causing concerns, with an outside engineering firm recommending to the city that it restrict the sidewalk in front of 6 Main St. to pedestrian or bicycle use until the vault ceiling can be shored up. The firm, DiDonato Associates, also recommended in its report last June that the city fill in the vault because its not being used and the cost of keeping it would be higher. Filling it and sealing all the entrances and exits would cost $352,000, less than half the $790,000 cost to repair it and the sidewalk, the report said. In the meantime, the vault structure should be continually monitored for additional deterioration and signs of structural failure every three years, DiDonato structural engineer Julianne Josa concluded in her report. The only reason it hasnt failed yet is because the deteriorated beams underneath can still handle much more load than they were designed for, she wrote. You can see some deterioration, said City Engineer Jason LaMonaco, but its still adequate for its current use. However, he said, officials plan to reinspect the vault in 2026, in accordance with DiDonatos recommendation. This isnt just a leave-and-forget-it type of issue, he said. City officials hired DiDonato to inspect what it calls the Young Street vault along Main and Niagara streets in response to concerns. The vault is part of a building owned by Timothy Weibels Two Main Tonawanda, which acquired it in 2021 from Canal Side Development, and then raised the issue about the vault with the city. The building houses Weibels TPW Websites business. According to the report, the corner vault is only partially below ground at the street sides, acting as an access to a stairwell that leads to the top of a seawall along the Tonawanda Creek. Its constructed of a combination of reinforced concrete and mixed masonry walls including old stone with an elevated reinforced roof slab and a concrete floor slab-on-grade. However, most of the vault floor is dirt. Its roof is supported with concrete and steel beams, and runs under the existing sidewalk along Main and Niagara, ending at the creek. Pipes and conduit hang from the roof throughout the vault, which also has mechanical units. When DiDonato engineer Daniel S. Schneider visited the site last April, he found that several of the beams throughout are experiencing structural deterioration and the structural slab, as viewed from below, has various levels of water infiltration from above, the report said. The sidewalk slab above the vault roof does not appear to show any significant signs of failures, aside from minor patches, but the sidewalk does show cracking, gaps and previous repairs that easily allow water to infiltrate, and there was some standing water at the time. Inside, the vault floor was wet throughout, and the engineer could see the water infiltration through the roof slab cracks. In the northernmost compartment of the vault along Main, the engineer saw extensive spalling and cracks of the slab and beams, as well as salt deposits on walls, beams and the roof. In the middle section, where wooden posts are providing support for the slab and beams, the concrete encasing the beams was cracked and partially missing, while the beams were severely corroded with very little remaining of the steel channels. Other corrosion was also evident, and the rusted reinforcement was exposed through the concrete roof slab. And along Niagara, severely corroded steel beams were present throughout, along with the same problems with exposed rusted reinforcement and missing concrete around the steel beams. The current roof structure of the vault has varying levels of deterioration in the form of concrete spalling, corrosion of reinforcing steel and steel roof beams, the report said. The concrete roof is in relatively good condition ... while the structural beams supporting the roof show signs of significant deterioration. It is reasonable to assume that the existing waterproof membrane has failed and is in need of a complete replacement. However, as with the AM&As building, theres also a disagreement over who bears responsibility for fixing it, which has held up any response. Weibel says its not his responsibility because its under the citys property the sidewalk and right of way. But LaMonaco noted that the vault houses the buildings HVAC equipment, and the only access is through the building. You have to go through the building to get to the vault, LaMonaco said. Theyre using it. Theres no city infrastructure in there. Theres no reason for the city to have built it. Thats where the gray area is. Attorneys for both sides are working to resolve the issue. Then well have direction on which way to go, LaMonaco said. Ultimately, it has to get fixed. Until then, its necessary to keep an eye on it. The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program, initially hailed as a revolutionary leap for the Armys helicopter fleet, has faced a tumultuous journey that led to the fleets unexpected cancellation. Originally envisioned as a symbol of aerial superiority, FVL promised remarkable speed, agility, and lethality. However, much like a prototype crippled by persistent engine issues, the programs trajectory took a nosedive, ultimately culminating in its demise. Get alerts: Farewell, future: Why the Army pulled the plug The Armys fateful decision to terminate the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program was officially attributed to many factors, including escalating cost overruns, persistent technical challenges, and a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The program, a multi-billion dollar endeavor, had failed to live up to its initial promises and became a glaring example of intricate complexity and a significant financial burden. At the core of its downfall was the insurmountable challenge of reconciling the seemingly contradictory demands of combining jet-like flying capabilities with tank-like combat prowess. These conflicting requirements ultimately proved an insurmountable hurdle, leading to the programs eventual demise. The FVL program was initially envisioned as a revolutionary leap forward, aiming to replace the Armys aging fleet of helicopters and provide a quantum leap in capabilities. It sought to create a new generation of aircraft that could fly at jet-like speeds while retaining the maneuverability and firepower necessary for intense combat operations. However, as the program progressed, the inherent complexity of merging these requirements became increasingly evident. Technical challenges mounted, driving up costs and pushing the timeline further into the future. Divided skies: Analysts lock blades Furthermore, the evolving threat landscape presented additional complications. The rise of anti-access / area-denial (A2/AD) systems and the proliferation of advanced surface-to-air missiles meant that the future battlefield would be far more challenging for traditional aircraft. The FVL program, designed for a different era, struggled to adapt to this changing reality, further eroding its viability. However, not everyone agrees with the Armys decision. Analysts are divided, with some arguing that abandoning the FVL squanders valuable technological advancements and exposes the Army to potential vulnerabilities against adversaries with advanced helicopter capabilities. On the other hand, proponents of the cancellation emphasize the need for pragmatism, advocating for prioritizing achievable solutions over chasing ambitious but unrealistic dreams. The resulting debate leaves the public caught in the crossfire of conflicting opinions. Capitol Hill scrutiny: Is the decision under fire? The cancellation of the FVL program has not gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill. Congressional committees are poised to scrutinize the decision, demanding justifications and exploring potential ramifications. Questions loom large regarding the impact on jobs, industry partnerships, and the broader modernization efforts within the military. The decision underscores the importance of accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Beyond the horizon: Whats next for rotorcraft? While the demise of the FVL program marks the end of a chapter, it does not signify the conclusion of helicopter development for the Army. The need for agile and effective airpower persists, prompting speculation about the future direction of rotorcraft technology. Possibilities range from a shift towards smaller, specialized helicopters to a renewed emphasis on upgrading existing platforms. Canceling the FVL program has undoubtedly altered the trajectory of military rotorcraft development, but the quest for innovation and advancement continues unabated. As for whether the Army made the right call, only time will provide a definitive answer. What is certain, however, is that the decision to cancel the FVL program is complex and controversial, with far-reaching implications for the future of military aviation. Johnson & Johnson is a US-based multinational pharmaceutical company that started in the early 1870s. Robert Wood Johnson began training as a pharmacist at 16 and founded his 1st company in 1873. That company would be disbanded by 1886 when Johnson joined his brothers to form today's entity. The companys first line of products was sterile surgical dressings which were soon followed up by household products and medical guides. Today, Johnson & Johnson is one of the worlds largest companies. It is ranked 36th on the 2021 Fortune 500 list and is a Dow Jones Industrial Average member. The company operates via 250 subsidiaries with operations in 60 countries and product sales in 175. As of 2021, annual sales were in the range of $95 billion and growing. The company is also a leader in equality and the advancement of womens rights. Johnson & Johnsons workforce was nearly 50% female by 1910, and many held significant positions of responsibility. Among the companys many advances in health care is the advancement of sterile conditions to prevent postoperative and secondary infections. Products include sterile gauze, cotton and dressings, and the development of the industrial sterilization process. However, the product that launched the company to success was the combination of a sterile dressing with tape. The company called the new products Band-Aids, which is now synonymous with small, prepackaged bandages. Another major win for the company was Johnson & Johnson Baby Soap. Today, Johnson & Johnson operates in 3 segments: Pharmaceutical, Consumer Health and MedTech. The Consumer Health segment alone covers brands like Aveeno, Listerine, Tylenol, Zyrtec, Band-Aid and Neosporin, which are among the worlds most recognizable brands. The companys purpose is to blend science and ingenuity to change the trajectory of health for humanity profoundly. The Pharmaceutical segment offers products in all segments of the healthcare spectrum and has partnerships to develop new drugs with at least 10 other major healthcare providers and dozens of smaller research facilities. Products are offered wholesale to retailers and through healthcare systems. The MedTech segment develops and manufactures various healthcare devices and diagnostic tools. Among the many recognizable products from this segment are ACUVUE contact lenses. Johnson & Johnson went public in 1944 and began paying dividends soon after. The company began increasing its dividend payment in 1962 and has increased it yearly. The company is a member of the Dividend Aristocrat Index and qualifies as a Dividend King with more than 50 years of consecutive annual increases. The company employs more than 142,000 individuals and serves more than 1 billion daily. Regarding the companys health, its track record of dividend payments is backed up by a AAA credit rating. Johnson & Johnson is one of only 2 US corporations with such a rating and is more trusted than the US government. The company announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies in 2021. The move is expected to be complete in late 2023 and will result in a Consumer Health company and a Pharmaceutical company. Ad Advantage Gold URGENT: Is the IRS Spying On Your Money? A digital dollar is picking up momentum in Washington DC, even with the dangers it could present to everyday Americans. Its great for them but what about us? What about for your savings? Your portfolio? A digital dollar would be a MASSIVE financial shift, and anyone who doesnt take steps to prepare for a digital dollar could fall victim to it instead. 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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 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems; syringe and cartridge components, including custom solutions for the needs of injectable drug applications, as well as administration systems that enhance the safe delivery of drugs through advanced reconstitution, mixing, and transfer technologies; and films, coatings, washing, and vision inspection and sterilization processes and services to enhance the quality of packaging components. This segment also provides drug containment solutions, including Crystal Zenith, a cyclic olefin polymer in the form of vials, syringes, and cartridges; and self-injection devices; and a range of integrated solutions, including analytical lab services, pre-approval primary packaging support and engineering development, regulatory expertise, and after-sales technical support. This segment serves biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug companies. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment is involved in the design, manufacture, and automated assembly of devices used in surgical, diagnostic, ophthalmic, injectable, and other drug delivery systems, as well as consumer products. The company serves pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device companies. It sells and distributes its products through its sales force and distribution network, contract sales agents, and regional distributors. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania. 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. It's been reported that sometime between 10am last Wednesday (7th February) and 10.30am on Thursday (8th February), 13 Suffolk/Texel-cross ewes expecting lambs were taken from a field at the junction of Kilcreen road and Altinure Road. The ewes all had red markings on their left side. Sergeant Johnston of Sperrin Neighbourhood Policing Team in Strabane said: "The removal of these ewes would have required planning and the use of a vehicle, for example a trailer, to transport the animals away from the area. I'm appealing to anyone who recalls seeing any unfamiliar vehicles in the area, between last Wednesday morning and 10:30am the next day, to call us. "The theft of these ewes will be of a significant loss to the farmer. Not only is there the value of the ewes and the lambs, but there is also the cost involved in rearing and farming the animals. We're urging anyone with information about the animals' whereabouts, or who took them, to get in touch. It may be a detail that you think is insignificant, but it could make a difference." The number to call with information is 101, quoting reference 1564 of 09/02/24, or make a report online via www.psni.police.uk/report Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Sergeant Johnston continued: "Last month we received a report of 50 Texel and Suffolk-bred ewe lambs, with orange markings, taken from a field on Teenaght Road in Claudy sometime between 7pm on Thursday, 25th January and 7am on Friday 26th January. Enquiries are ongoing in relation to this, including to establish if this is linked with the theft on Kilcreen Road. "In the meantime, to work to prevent these type of thefts, there are a number of steps farmers can take to reduce the risk including padlock field gates, ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date, check stock regularly, vary times of feeding/check-ups and ask neighbours to report any sightings of unusual vehicles loading sheep. "The tighter your farm security, the more difficult it will be for thieves to steal your livestock, or equipment." Flash Traditionally, Chinese people stay at home with their families for the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, the most important festival of the Chinese calendar. An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 11, 2024 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Huimin County of Binzhou City, east China's Shandong Province. People across China are enjoying the ongoing Spring Festival holiday in various ways. (Photo by Chu Baorui/Xinhua) But many families are now opting to travel during the holiday, attracted by cultural activities such as lantern shows, flower markets and temple fairs on offer around the country, or traveling overseas to discover more of the world. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES At Beihai Park in Beijing, calligraphers can be seen writing the Chinese character "Fu" on red, square paper and handing the decorations out to tourists. The red posters are stuck onto doors or windows to celebrate the Spring Festival, as the character symbolizes a blessing or happiness. "I felt very lucky to receive a 'Fu' poster as a gift, and I will take home the blessing it carries," said a tourist surnamed Xu from south China's Guangdong Province. Public parks in Beijing received over 250,000 tourists on Feb. 10, the first day of the Year of the Dragon, surging 153.78 percent from the Spring Festival last year and 56.41 percent from 2019, according to local authorities. Shanghai has launched more than 200 cultural activities during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday starting from Feb. 10, including art exhibitions, plays and food fairs, creating a festive atmosphere in the city for both locals and tourists. About 1.73 million tourists visited Shanghai on Chinese New Year's Day, up 4.58 percent year on year, data released by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism showed. According to tourism platform statistics, domestic travel orders soared 102 percent year on year on the eve and first day of the holiday, significantly exceeding the level seen over the same two days in 2019. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Kunming and Harbin are among the most popular destinations this year. To welcome the Year of the Dragon, 20 lantern shows featuring elements of the Chinese dragon are being staged at the ancient city walls in Shaanxi's Xi'an, the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in the country. "Although it's quite crowded and cold at night, it's worth coming!" said a visitor surnamed Zhou from Beijing. He said that his 12-year-old daughter has recently become a big fan of traditional Chinese clothing and had been looking forward to her trip to the ancient capital. SEEING THE WORLD "Happy Chinese New Year from abroad! I had a great time roaming around Singapore!" a tourist from Chongqing surnamed Zhang posted on her social media on Chinese New Year's Eve. In her photos, she and her daughter are in summer clothing and her parents can be seen taking pictures in front of greenery. Although the trip was an impulsive decision, it was only made possible by a recent visa-free travel policy and the fact that a direct flight from Chongqing to Singapore takes just five hours. More Chinese people like Zhang chose to ring in this new lunar year in a foreign country. China's National Immigration Administration has estimated that the Chinese mainland will see a daily average of 1.8 million inbound and outbound passenger trips during the Spring Festival holiday this year, approximately 3.3 times larger than last year's figure. Cheng Chaogong, chief researcher at the Tongcheng Research Institute, which is affiliated with a major online travel agency, said that countries such as Singapore and Thailand are becoming travel hot spots after their implementation of visa-free travel policies for Chinese tourists. These overseas trips are expected to give a strong impetus to tourism spending, Cheng said. If he can be believed, Jariel Cobb delivered the only redeeming moment amid the carnage of a deadly cocaine robbery between drug dealers in 2019 saving a 3-year-old boy named Noelvin. Cobb testified in a 2022 murder trial that he intervened against another drug dealer who wanted to kill the little boy. 'Evil person' who killed three and burned bodies in front of toddler sentenced to life A jury convicted Deandre Wilson of murdering Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon, Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud and Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred, all of whom traveled to Buffalo from Orlando, Fla., to sell cocaine. He wanted to kill him, Cobb told jurors at the trial of Deandre Wilson, the Buffalo man convicted of murdering Noelvins parents in front of the child. I told him if we do that, its over. On Tuesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford sentenced Cobb, 52, to 20 years in prison. His testimony against Wilson prevented a longer prison sentence. Cobb previously pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy, setting a fire to destroy evidence, conspiracy to obstruct justice and use of fire to commit a felony. He testified against Wilson in the triple-murder trial. There can be no question that the defendants conduct pales in comparison to Deandre Wilson, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler in a court filing. Indeed, there is no more serious violation of law than those which Wilson violated. The testimony at trial even established that the defendant took actions to mitigate the worst of what Wilson might have done. Nonetheless, the defendants conduct warrants a severe sentence and a just punishment. The defendant acknowledged his role in the obstruction of justice, by dismembering one of the victims with an ax and other tools, Adler said. He admitted having moved the body parts in garbage bags. And he assisted in the destruction of the minivan and the burning of the other victims bodies. Wolford, who presided at Wilsons trial, called Wilson a madman so far off the scales of reasonableness. After deadly cocaine robbery, one drug dealer wanted to kill the toddler. Another one intervened The toddler's parents were shot in a driveway in a minivan, their skeletal remains later found in a remote industrial site in Black Rock. Compared to him, you dont look so bad, Wolford said. But what you did here, Mr. Cobb, is horrible. Cobbs lawyers say he panicked when Wilson killed the three Florida residents. He had no idea what Deandre Wilson was going to do that afternoon, said defense lawyer James W. Grable Jr. I just wish I could take it all back, but I cant, Cobb said. Wilson was sentenced to serve three consecutive life sentences plus 30 years for killing Florida residents Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon and Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred, who were Cobbs source of cocaine and were going to deliver a kilogram in September 2019. When the contingent from Orlando, Fla., arrived at 4 Roebling Ave. in the citys Schiller Park neighborhood, Roman-Audiffred entered the home and Wilson fatally struck him with a gun in the kitchen. Valentin-Colon was waiting in a minivan with his wife, Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud, and their son, Noelvin, when Wilson stepped outside and fatally shot the two parents. Wilson then got in the van and drove off. Cobb testified that he got into a car and caught up to Wilson, and he asked for the child. I was telling him let me get the kid out of the van, Cobb told jurors. He didnt want to give me the kid. Wilson drove off with the child. Cobb returned to the Roebling home, where he and his brother, James Reed, dealt with Roman-Audiffreds body, Reed said. There, Cobb used an ax to dismember Roman-Audiffreds body before putting the remains in several garbage bags and, with Reeds assistance, loaded the bags into Cobbs trunk. After hosing down the basement, Cobb and Reed took the remains to 225 Box Ave., where they threw them onto a burn pit in the backyard. At Wilsons trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi said Wilson left the van in a secluded spot with the child still inside. The child remained in the van with his dead parents for about eight hours until Wilson returned with Cobb in the early morning hours. Wilson and Cobb returned to the intersection of Scajaquada and Kilhoffer streets to retrieve the minivan, which had been left behind a building on Scajaquada. Wilson drove the minivan into the rear yard area of 111 Tonawanda St., with Cobb following behind in his car. In the rear yard, Wilson and Cobb removed the child from the minivan and doused the minivan and the bodies of Valentin-Colon and Merced-Plaud with gasoline. Then they lit the vehicle and bodies on fire, according to court papers. Surveillance video at 111 Tonawanda St. shows the two drug dealers at approximately 3 a.m., along with the child, heading back from the fire and toward Tonawanda Street. Cobb wanted the child to live, but Wilson said, No, the kids seen his face, Cobb testified. Cobb said if Wilson harmed the child, its over. On the way back to the fire pit on Box Avenue, about 3:15 a.m., Cobb took off the childs clothes except for a diaper and left him on a strangers porch on Potomac Avenue. Wolford acknowledged that others credit Cobb for saving the child. You left Noelvin in his diapers alone, the judge said, noting Cobbs conduct lasted many hours. Wolford said she could not understand what Cobb did, no matter how panicked he was. I dont know if you understand it, she said. You have to be haunted by what happened that day. Sinn Fein taking the First Ministers job at Stormont is another stepping stone towards Irish unity, retiring MP Francie Molloy has said. Mr Molloy, 73, announced on Tuesday that he would not be seeking re-election in the Mid Ulster constituency in the next UK general election. The veteran republican has also served as a councillor, MLA and as the deputy speaker of the Assembly in a near-40-year career in elected politics. He also acted as a mentor for Michelle ONeill in her early years in politics, with the current First Minister having previously worked as a PA in Mr Molloys constituency office. Reflecting on the growth of his party across his time in politics, the outgoing MP highlighted the importance of securing the title of First Minister at Stormont. He said the next goal for his party was becoming the largest party in the Republic of Ireland. Now we actually have the opportunity to have the First Ministers job and so it is a major achievement at this point in time, and I think its another stepping stone in the world where we are going to relation to Irish unity, and that has to be the main target that we continue on from where we are at the present time, he told reporters at Parliament Buildings. And the next step is to Taoiseach. Explaining his decision to retire, Mr Molloy said it was time for new blood and renewal. He said he was looking forward to having time to relax and also to say whatever I want to say. Paying tribute, Ms ONeill said Mr Molloy had made a huge contribution to politics and the peace process. He was heavily involved in the early Civil Rights movement, including the protest outside the Caledon Squat (in Co Tyrone) in 1968 which is often considered as the spark for people in their demand for better housing, better jobs, and civil rights, she said. Francie has been involved in political activism his entire adult life, and has been elected many times as a Councillor, MLA, and MP and served as a member of the partys Ard Chomhairle (ruling council) during some of the most era-defining stages of the peace process. I want to thank Francie for his lifelong contribution to ensuring peoples rights are respected, his republican politics and his personal friendship. I have worked closely with Francie for many years and Im confident that though he is retiring, he will continue to make a contribution in promoting equality for all in the time ahead. The teachers unions have been asked by Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan to suspend industrial action. Teachers have taken part in strikes over an outstanding pay award, as well as long-running action short of strike over conditions. Mr Givan met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers Council, including NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI), on Tuesday. He described a positive engagement, and said they discussed their shared objective of a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute. Mr Givan also spoke of his concern at the impact of industrial action on pupils, and said he asked the unions to suspend it. Teachers fully deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I will work to deliver that. It is rightly of the highest priority, he said. I am greatly concerned about the detrimental impact continued action is having on the education of pupils, including our most vulnerable children and young people. In view of this, and in the context of the opportunity before us to resolve outstanding issues, I asked the unions to suspend industrial action, including action short of strike, to allow negotiations to take place in a more positive atmosphere. Mr Givan said he is committed to working with Executive colleagues to address public sector pay issues. I want to create the environment whereby meaningful pay negotiations through the Teachers Negotiating Committee (TNC) can commence, he added. Teachers unions said they have put planned strike dates on hold pending fresh talks. Members have taken part in strikes over an outstanding pay award, as well as long-running action short of strike over conditions. The leaders of the five unions that make up the Northern Ireland Teachers Council (NITC) made the announcement on Tuesday following a meeting with the new Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan in Lisburn. The action short of strike in schools is set to continue. Talks between the unions and the Teachers Negotiating Committee are set to start next week. NITC secretary Mark McTaggart said they want to find a resolution to the pay dispute as quickly as possible. We would like to thank the minister for the positive engagement this morning and look forward to further meetings with a view to finding a resolution to the pay dispute as quickly as possible, he said. Earlier Mr Givan described a positive engagement, and said they discussed their shared objective of a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute. He also spoke of his concern at the impact of industrial action on pupils, and said he asked the unions to suspend it. The minister later welcomed the unions announcement that they have put further strike dates agreed for the coming weeks on hold. Our meeting was constructive, we talked about the issues and our shared objectives such as making sure the teaching profession are properly paid for the excellent work they carry out, and that we deliver a world-class education for our children and young people, he told the PA news agency. During the course of that meeting I did ask the unions to suspend their planned days of strike action so that we wouldnt have schools closing and I am pleased that they have responded positively to that, and that they have now put that on hold. I also asked the unions to suspend their action short of strike, which is currently taking place, and that is something that I hope the unions will look at again as we seek to enter into formal negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues. Mr Givan said he is waiting for Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald to provide details of the available financial resources. Once I have that, then formal negotiations will commence, he said. Again, its an objective I share with the unions, that we want to have this resolved as quickly as possible so that we can then get on with the job of teaching our children and young people, an excellent education within the school environment. A Stormont minister is set to propose Northern Irelands first environmental improvement plan. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir made the announcement during a debate on a motion in the Assembly calling for a new management structure to protect Lough Neagh. Alarm was sparked last summer when the huge freshwater lake in the centre of Northern Ireland was beset by noxious blooms of blue green algae. It is the biggest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, and supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Noxious blooms covered large parts of the lough across the summer, and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields is believed to be a major contributory factor. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Climate change is another factor cited, with the highest ever water temperature at Lough Neagh recorded last June. A cross departmental water quality steering group is currently drafting recommendations to tackle blue green algae in Lough Neagh. Three Sinn Fein MLAs brought a motion to the recently restored Stormont Assembly calling for action to protect the lough. It called on the Executive to put in place a new management structure and plan for the management, protection and promotion of the lough. The Assembly also heard calls for Lough Neagh to be taken into public ownership. Mr Muir and Infrastructure Minister John ODowd were both present in the chamber for the debate as the motion. Responding Mr Muir revealed he is set to meet with the owner of the lough bed Lord Shaftesbury, and said it would be in a frank and open manner. The minister said he was encouraged to see agreement across the chamber as well as society on the need for collective action. He said he visited Lough Neagh with his first few days in office, and has made a commitment to go back regularly. This is just the beginning of my engagement with stakeholders and I intend to regularly seek views and work together to take forward evidence based solutions to tackle blue green algae and secure long term water quality improvements, he told MLAs. While we all recognise that it will take significant time, investment, commitment and working in partnership to make the improvements needed, we all wish to see those improvements affected. The scale of the problem should not prevent us from taking action now, and we need to move from debating these motions to taking action. As minister I am willing and ready to lead, to drive action, to co-ordinate but may I say, the responsibility is upon us all in this chamber and in the Executive to turn the situation around. Mr Muir also described the blue green algae as a wider issue than simply in Lough Neagh. In the next few weeks I will bring to the Executive a new environment strategy which I will propose is adopted as Northern Irelands first environmental improvement plan, he said. This will take a strategic approach to all the issues facing our environment. Proposing the motion in the Assembly chamber earlier Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan described an ecological catastrophe. We need to see decisive action. The public want to see decisive action, he told MLAs. The issue of resources are quite rightly a key focus for the new Executive. What were asking for is that the Executive must ensure that a rescue package and plan for Lough Neagh is properly resourced, both in terms of a financial recovery package but also in terms of necessary personnel within departments to take agreed actions forward. Mr McGuigan also stated that it is not contained with his partys motion, they also want to see the lough brought into public ownership as soon as possible adding: We can no longer be expected to own the problems of the lough but not the lough itself. HIGHLIGHTS Microsoft will host a special edition Xbox podcast on February 15th at 12PM PT. If we convert this time to Indian Standard Time (IST), then the podcast is scheduled for February 16th at 1:30AM. During podcast, the company will share its vision for the future of Xbox. For quite some time now, we have been hearing a lot that Microsoft is planning to bring Xbox exclusive games to PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Nintendo Switch consoles. Now, Microsoft is preparing to present its vision for the future of Xbox later this week. Last week, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the company is planning a business update event to share its vision for the future of Xbox. Also read: Microsoft Xbox event scheduled for next week: Will Xbox exclusive games expand to PS5? Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx Xbox (@Xbox) February 12, 2024 Now, the company has announced that it will host a special edition Xbox podcast on February 15th at 12PM PT/ 3PM ET/ 8PM GMT. If we convert this time to Indian Standard Time (IST), then the podcast is scheduled for February 16th at 1:30AM. Also read: Xbox now allows game streaming to Discord, VRR update and more cool features The company revealed that Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond, and head of Xbox studios Matt Booty will all share updates on the Xbox business during the podcast. Also, the announcement poster reveals that you will be able to listen to the podcast on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts. There is speculation that Microsoft will disclose its intentions to extend the availability of Hi-Fi Rush and various other Xbox exclusive titles to PS5 and Nintendo Switch consoles during the podcast. According to reports, Microsoft had initially planned this business update for later this month. However, with these speculations swirling, the tech giant might find itself compelled to directly confront the rumours and elaborate on its new Xbox strategy, particularly in light of its recent $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As anticipation builds for Microsofts upcoming Xbox podcast, fans eagerly await confirmation on whether Xbox exclusives will indeed expand to rival platforms like the PS5. Stay tuned for updates from the podcast. HIGHLIGHTS Recently, Google introduced Gemini Advanced, an AI assistant, integrated with Google One. Google has experienced a sudden surge in Google One subscribers, reaching 100 million followers Gemini Advanced provides basic generative AI assistance and handles complex tasks. Google made a strategic move a few years ago. Initially, it wasnt very successful, but it seems to be paying off now. Im referring to Googles decision to discontinue free unlimited storage for Photos in 2021. Following that, Google began charging users for additional cloud storage. However, not many users showed interest in this until recently. Google introduced Gemini Advanced, an AI assistant powered by Gemini Ultra 1.0 LLM, integrated with Google One. It is now available for purchase in India at a monthly price of 1,950. Since the announcement of Gemini Advanced, Google has experienced a sudden surge in Google One subscribers, reaching 100 million followers Also read: Google Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: Which AI chatbot is better at planning your next vacation? We just crossed 100M Google One subscribers! Looking forward to building on that momentum with our new AI Premium Plan (launched yesterday) offering AI features like Gemini Advanced, plus Gemini in Gmail, Docs + more coming soon. https://t.co/m7zAVop7P6 pic.twitter.com/sMdwJeq0iU Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 9, 2024 Googles CEO, Sundar Pichai, celebrated this achievement by announcing the milestone on X (formerly Twitter). When Google discontinued free unlimited cloud storage, Google One initially offered users only one primary incentive additional storage. However, Google made another strategic move to transition its user base to Google One. How did Googles cloud service achieve 100 million subscribers? The tech giant introduced Gemini Advanced, bundled with Google Ones premium subscription, the Google One AI Premium plan. This plan includes 2TB of storage, the Gemini Advanced AI assistant, and more. Thus, it not only offers more storage but also a variety of AI features. This highlights that users are more interested in AI than just storage. Apart from that, there is one more good news for users. Sundar Pichai has promised more AI integration in other Google One services such as Gmail, Docs, and more very soon. Also read: Google renames Bard to Gemini, launches paid version of AI chatbot: Know more What is Google Gemini Advanced capable of? Gemini Advanced operates on Googles most robust AI model, Gemini Ultra 1.0 LLM. It performs standard chatbot functions and even more. Gemini Advanced provides basic generative AI assistance and handles complex tasks such as reasoning, following instructions, coding, and collaboration. Because it is also paired with Google Assistant, you can use Gemini to make a call, send texts, set alarms, and much more. Additionally, Gemini Advanced can also analyze images, offering users extensive information, akin to circle to search but more advanced and informative. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Silver Creek Capital Seattle-based Silver Creek Capital Management, an alternative investment boutique focused on developing investment solutions for investors globally, announced that David Matter has joined the firm as co-chief investment officer. Matter was most recently a managing director and co-chief investment officer of BlackRock Alternative Advisors, BlackRock's Hedge Fund Solutions business. In this role, Matter will partner with Eric Dillon, Silver Creek's chief executive officer and co-chief investment officer, to lead the firm's investment activities. At BlackRock, Matter also chaired the BAA Investment Committee and was a member of the BAA Management Committee and the Co-Investment Portfolio Management Group. He joined BlackRock in 2007 upon its acquisition of the core asset management business of Seattle-based Quellos Group, where he was a principal and a member of the Investment Committee. Matter began his career at Capital Group and later moved to Bankers Trust. He holds an MBA and MAIS from the University of Washington and a BS from the University of Pennsylvania. A shooting inside an apartment complex on Elmwood Avenue Tuesday morning sent a 28-year-old man to Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge reported. The victim was taken into surgery with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries, according to the report. DeGeorge said Central District Officers responded to a call about the shooting in the 500 block of Elmwood Avenue just after 9:30 a.m. DeGeorge said the shooting involved two men who knew each other, and that one shot the other inside the apartment complex. A person has been taken into custody, he added. Additional information on the arrest was not immediately available. Dale Anderson Subscriber content preview SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify as part of the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into his $44 billion purchase of Twitter, now called X, in 2022. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued an order Saturday giving Musk, his team and the SEC a week to agree on a date and location for Musk's testimony. . . . Subscriber content preview BERLIN (AP) The leaders of Germany and Denmark joined in a ground-breaking ceremony for a new ammunition factory on Monday, underlining Europe's efforts to ramp up its weapons production as Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on. The plant being built by defense company Rheinmetall at its existing site in Unterluess in northern Germany is expected eventually to produce around 200,000 artillery shells per year along with explosives and possibly other components, including warheads. Rheinmetall is shouldering the cost of about 300 million euros ($324 million). . . . Our community of entrepreneurs here in Louth is truly amazing; so creative, innovative and successful. We have so much to celebrate and were looking forward to gathering on Friday, 8th March for the Louth Enterprise Awards, declares Pamela Kerr, of Local Enterprise Office Louth Taking place at The Monasterboice Inn, Drogheda, business owners and managers from right across Louth, are invited to come along and enjoy this lunchtime celebration of excellence in enterprise. Hosted by Local Enterprise Office Louth and Louth County Council, the ceremony will feature 3 category awards; Innovation Award, Best Start-Up and Best Established Business Awards. An overall winner will also be announced and that company will go forward to represent Louth at the National Enterprise Awards in Dublin in May. Sarah Mallon, Local Enterprise Week Coordinator continues: Our special guest speaker for this years event is Edel Treanor of Mullan Lighting. Now celebrating 15 years in business, this Monaghan company employs nearly 100 staff and exports to over 50 countries globally. Edel will be in conversation with journalist and broadcaster Alison Comyn, who is hosting this years event. The audience will hear Edel talk about how theyve built the company, broken into new markets, dealt with challenges and downturns, cultivating an innovation mindset and the support theyve accessed along the way. This awards lunch is a great opportunity for networking and connecting with other business people. Attendance is free of charge, but places are strictly limited and early booking is recommended. Visit LocalEnterprise.ie/Louth to book and to discover all the other Local Enterprise Week events. Pamela concludes: Book your place now and we look forward to seeing you at The Monasterboice Inn on Friday 8th March to celebrate business excellence in Louth. Dont miss out on this wonderful opportunity to network, learn, and be inspired by others in business. Cllr Maeve Yore has said that she believes there is a bias against Dundalk by some in the national media when covering positive news events, and criticised Virgin Media for what she believes is its lack of coverage of Brigid 1500 in Dundalk, along with Failte Ireland. Cllr Yore raised the matter at the Dundalk Municipal District February meeting where she first highlighted the success of Brigid 1500 festival. Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat following the meeting, Cllr Yore said that Brigid 1500 was a phenomenal success in Louth and huge thanks and appreciation has to go to all the stakeholders, all the people involved Louth County Council, Dundalk BIDS, Daithi and Adele in DkIT they were phenomenal with the concert, Moya Hodgers, the Arts Officer. Cllr Yore also mentioned Eunan Smith, a tour guide who brought a group of ladies from New Jersey to Dundalk. According to Cllr Yore, the ladies, who were on a tour of Ireland changed their plans and Mr Smith brought them to Dundalk to see the lights, to Faughart, to the museum, and he brought them to see Brigid's relic. They were blown away by the Dundalk welcome they got from people on the street as well, Cllr Yore added. The Dundalk South councillor further added that going forward they need to invite US and UK tour operators, as well as local and national tour operators in and advise them of what is happening. It's vitally important and has huge tourism potential. Cllr Yore went on to say however, that she was disappointed with Failte Ireland and the national media coverage of the event, and that she believes there appears to be a bias against Dundalk in relation to covering positive news events. Cllr Yore told the Dundalk Democrat that RTE North East correspondent Laura Hogan has done great work highlighting all the great things happening in Dundalk and the region, but was critical of Virgin Media and Failte Ireland , saying they don't give us the coverage that we deserve. M&S has announced today that it is to close the M&S Drogheda store, resulting in the loss of 57 full time and part time jobs. The Drogheda store will remain trading for customers until Friday 8 March. Staff at the Drogheda store, comprising 38 full time staff and 19 part time staff, have been informed of the news this morning. In a statement this morning, Eddie Murphy, Country Director Ireland & Northern Ireland, said: M&S is committed to Ireland and we have ambitious plans for growth including doubling the number of Irish-based suppliers we work with. "Our recent Christmas trading figures show were heading in the right direction. However, we also need to modernise our business to safeguard what we have achieved. Shopping habits are changing, and we are shaping our store estate to focus our investment on the right stores in the right places. We have made the tough decision to close our Drogheda store because the shopping centre has low occupancy - requiring significant investment - and its sales performance is behind the rest of our store estate. Weve shared this news with affected colleagues today and our priority now is to support them through these changes. We understand there will be some disappointment with our announcement, but we believe that this decision is the right one for the future of M&S in Ireland - allowing us to invest in our store estate, expand our Irish supply base and continue to build our partnership with Applegreen, whilst offering our customers exceptional value, quality, service and innovation. Childrens Health Ireland star patient Freddie Munnelly, Irish Chef and TV presenter Donal Skehan, and Childrens Health Foundation are inviting supporters of all ages to celebrate the Great Irish Bakes Sweet Sixteen by taking part on or around Friday 22nd March 2024 and raise vital funds to support sick children and their families in Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. You can host a delightful afternoon tea party, a competitive cupcake decorating contest, or a bustling bake sale to raise funds and spread joy at your Great Irish Bake fundraiser. With Donals help and the support of kind bakers across the nation, the 2023 Great Irish Bake for Sick Children raised over 200,000 helping to provide therapies and family supports, fund new and emerging technologies and life-saving equipment to those who need it the most in Children's Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres. So, preheat your oven and send out your invitesby taking part in this years Great Irish Bake you will be doing something sweet for sick children when they need it most. Whether you bake Freddies favourite recipe, Carrot Cake, or whip up some delicious savoury scones, every single event held this March will make a real difference to families going through the most challenging of times. When you register at www.childrenshealth.ie/ GreatIrishBake , Childrens Health Foundation will send you their famous Great Irish Bake pack with everything you need to make your event a sweet success. Commenting on this years Great Irish Bake for Sick Children Donal Skehan said: "One of my favourite things growing up was a bake sale and gathering over treats and tea with friends, knowing your tasty bakes support sick children when they need it most, is what makes the Great Irish Bake such a brilliant event. "It's easy to join in, arrange a bake sale, a coffee morning or donate and the best part is knowing you're making a huge difference in the lives of kids all across Ireland. I've seen first hand the incredible work Children's Health Ireland does and it's such an important cause." Bobby Mulligan, Managing Director of Gem commented: "Gem is delighted to return as the sponsor of the Great Irish Bake for Sick Children for 2024 and are thrilled to support Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Connolly and Tallaght. "Having been involved in this event for a number of years now, we know the difference this campaign makes to the 300,000 sick children that pass through the doors of Childrens Health Irelands hospitals each year by funding life-saving equipment and so much more with the generous donations from participants. "Lets try and make this years event the most successful to date! Lets host bake sales in our communities and collect donations for this amazing cause! Childrens Health Foundation is encouraging people taking part in the Great Irish Bake to share photos on Instagram or Facebook and use the hashtag #GreatIrishBake. By registering for the campaign and sharing a picture of your decadent baking creations, you could be in with a chance of winning a 1,000 cash prize kindly provided by Gem. All funds raised will be put to work where they are needed most across Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly purchasing vital life-saving equipment and therapies for thousands of sick children. Lets bake it happen for sick children! A small private plane made an emergency landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport early Monday evening after its rear door fell off over Losson Road in Cheektowaga, a spokesperson for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority reported. According to the report, there were two passengers aboard the plane, which landed safely, and there was no immediate report of injuries. The incident occurred about 5:45 p.m., the NFTA spokesperson said. Cheektowaga police reported that officers searched an area around Stiglmeier Park on Losson Road, but were not immediately able to locate the door. NFTA police are assisting. Residents of the area are asked to call Cheektowaga police dispatch at 716-686-3500 if they know where the door may have fallen. Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said that Israel has become blinded by rage and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States anymore. The Taoiseach was answering questions in the Dail about the number of Palestinians that have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation. Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said people had been killed or brutally displaced, and that there was nowhere left for Palestinian citizens to go. Were witnessing Armageddon, she told parliamentarians. She said that as long as Ireland delays taking meaningful steps, then our complicity in what is happening there is being prolonged. Its not good enough to say wait a little longer, she said, adding that they need to move to end trade with occupied territories. Mr Varadkar said he shared her distress and said there was a serious risk of a massacre occurring in Rafah if there was a ground assault, which he said would be a gross violation of international law on top of all the other violations of international law which Israel is responsible for. He said that both Hamas and Israel should accept the three-month ceasefire proposal that has been brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. We do all need to be realistic Its very very clear to me though, that Israel is not listening to any country in the world, I dont even think theyre listening to the Americans anymore. They have become blinded by rage. They are going to make the situation I believe much worse for their own security in the long-term by going down the path that theyre going. While he said Ireland would continue to take action in response to Israels campaign in Gaza, he said there was a need to be honest about the situation that we see unfolding. Mr Varadkar added: We will take action, we have taken action, well even take more action, but its very clear to me that Israel doesnt listen to us, doesnt listen to the world, probably doesnt even listen to the Americans anymore. And thats what makes the situation all the more dangerous and all the more worrying. I am concerned that there are people who shout at us and abuse us in the streets, maybe they dont do it to you, but they do it to me and my colleagues here, who believe that there is some action that we can take that will change Benjamin Netanyahus mind. I think thats incorrect, and I dont think people should spread that idea. I think its actually irresponsible. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin has said the country will again be increasing its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UK and other western countries froze funding to the UN aid agency, after a dozen of its employees were accused by Israel of taking part in the Hamas attack on October 7. Mr Varadkar said other states had incorrectly suspended funding to UNRWA. Ireland provided 18 million euros (15 million) to the agency last year, up from a regular contribution of six million euros. Mr Martin said Ireland would again provide an increased contribution from the base six million euros in 2024. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, he said: UNRWA is the only effective organisation on the ground in Gaza that can distribute aid and humanitarian supplies at scale. On the domestic front, Irelands government has faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society for its stance on the conflict. There have been calls for the government to voice stronger support for South Africas case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Opposition parties have also called for government to expel the Israeli ambassador and for the State to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. However, Mr Martin said some of the calls from the opposition are without substance. He said: Theres been an unhealthy desire on some in the opposition to try and create a wedge as to whos more virtuous in Ireland on this question than I think is merited on any objective analysis of the facts. Mr Martin said EU leaders, Israel and the Palestinian people recognise that Ireland is the strongest supporter of Palestine in the European Union. He said Ireland was a leader in calling for an immediate ceasefire when the majority of the EU initially had a more restrained position. In addition, he told reporters that the Government was working with other EU states to examine recognition of Palestine as well as imposing a travel ban for Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The Irish Attorney General will be travelling to The Hague on February 22 to make Irelands intervention in relation to an ongoing case at the International Criminal Court relating to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. is warning that the Nation will bar two motor fuel providers this week from supplying gasoline and other fuel to stations on its territory for not paying fees and acquiring required licenses. Armstrong has sent letters to the companies telling them to pay undisclosed fees and secure mandatory Nation licenses. Until they do, the companies will be barred from conducting business on Seneca Nation territory starting Friday. One company was suspended immediately. The motor fuel trade is a linchpin of the Seneca Nation economy. We will not condone any operation or provision of services that evades or seeks to evade our Nations laws and requirements for doing business on our territory, Armstrong said in a statement Tuesday. Doing business with the Seneca Nation is a privilege, not a right, he said. If providers are willing to engage fairly with us and comply with Seneca Nation laws and requirements, we are happy to continue working with them so the Seneca Nations economy can remain strong. The gas stations are big business for the Senecas. Because gas sold on their territory does not include the state and federal taxes imposed on fuel purchases outside the reservation, Native stations can have a big price advantage, depending on how much of the tax savings they share with customers. The stations on the Seneca reservation in Irving tend to be among the more generous in passing along the tax savings. On Tuesday, stations on Seneca territory in Irving were selling regular gas for around $2.78 per gallon, roughly 50 cents less than the average price across the Buffalo Niagara region, according to gasoline price tracker GasBuddy.com Crossett of Warren, Pa., supplies fuel to gas stations in the Nations territories. If it does not meet the fee and licensing requirements, it will have its Seneca Nation business licenses suspended as of Friday, the Seneca Nation said. If that happens, it will no longer be able to do business on Seneca Nation territory until all Nation requirements are met. Melzers Fuel Service in Painesville, Ohio, outside Cleveland, was suspended from doing business on Nation territory immediately until the proper license has been obtained and all requirements met, according to the release. That company does not have a valid Seneca Nation business license, the Nation said. The laws that govern the business partnerships that the Nation and our various enterprises maintain with outside providers are vital to our economy and our ability to serve the Seneca people, Armstrong said. The Nation will always be open to partnerships with those who respect our laws and who value our partnership. Pro Oil of Silver Creek and Shorts Oil of Wellsville were initially listed among the delinquent providers, but a Seneca spokesperson has since said that was a mistake. Gov. Kathy Hochuls budget calls for a sweep of $100 million dollars from the IOLA fund to the general fund, thwarting the legislative intent of the fund and potentially creating a funding disaster for legal services organizations statewide. IOLA was created 40 years ago as a dedicated fiduciary fund derived solely from the interest on attorney escrow accounts with no taxpayer monies and earmarked specifically to support the civil legal needs of vulnerable New Yorkers. Local organizations like ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, The Center for Elder Law and Justice, WNY Law Center, Legal Aid Bureau and Neighborhood Legal Services depend on these funds to serve Western New Yorkers in need. We assist individuals with important legal problems including housing, property tax foreclosure, federal income tax controversies, matrimonial, family law, bankruptcy, consumer debt, bankruptcy, torts,end of life planning,name changes, unemployment benefits, Federal court matters, and other general legal services. We provide quality free civil legal services to as many Western New Yorkers as possible. This sweep would be devastating for the future of legal services here and across the state. IOLA funding not only supports essential services that help low-income New Yorkers obtain help with civil legal problems affecting their most basic needs, such as food, shelter, jobs and access to health care, it is a critical source of infrastructure dollars for the civil legal services community. IOLA funding supports 81 nonprofit legal organizations, throughout every region of New York State. In FY2023, these IOLA Grantees cumulatively represented over 639 thousand New Yorkers. Many legal services organizations in New York depend on IOLA grantsto keep their doors open. Even during the most extreme financial crises in the past,IOLA funds have never been swept or used for any purpose other than civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers. Now is not the time to divert or undermine the purpose of this critical resource. The civil legal services community faces a complex crisis.The value of and need for civil legal services has never been more front of mind in our state. Recognition that there is no right to an attorney for folks facing bankruptcy, loss of home, healthcare the essentials of life has grown. The Access to Justice Gap, the space between the civil legal needs of low-income New Yorkers and the resources available to meet those needs has now been documented and assessed at a $1 billion over what is currently in the system. IOLA funds must be maintained for their intended purpose: free civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers. Gretchen Gonzalez is CEO/Executive Director, Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. NETWORK Ireland West Cork hosted a dynamic and empowering event at Atkins Hall in Dunmanway with Virginia Foley from Up She Rises. The event was attended by more than 70 solopreneurs and business people working throughout West Cork and Cork city. Speaking about the successful event, Network Ireland West Cork President, Sandra Maybury said: For our first event of 2024, I couldnt think of a better way to start the year off. Virginia was amazing, she spoke honestly and openly, which was inspiring and motivating. I hope all those ladies who attended now have the confidence and self-belief to find their own gold. It was a fabulous event and we were delighted to see so many women from all across Cork County making valuable connections. Speaking about the event, Virginia Foley from Up She Rises said: Whether youre seeking to enhance your performance within a corporate setting or looking to elevate your entrepreneurial ventures, I was delighted to host this talk with Network Ireland West Cork. More than 70 inspiring people joined us and the room was full of inspiring stories. It was wonderful to be in a room full of women who were so tuned in and receptive. There is such a lovely warmth and energy within the West Cork community that I certainly felt last night. For more information on upcoming events hosted by Network Ireland West Cork Branch, please visit www.networkireland.ie/events. The next Network Ireland West Cork Branch event will focus on Expert Networking, featuring Helen Wycherley, Susan Collins Duggan, and Patricia Maybury. This event will take place on Thursday, February 29, at Fusion Home Design Centre in Skibbereen, eircode: P81 EA49 A PROPOSED new water treatment facility aimed at addressing ongoing boil water notices in East Cork has been green lit by An Bord Pleanala. Planning permission was initially approved for the new facility in Whitegate by Cork County Council in May 2023, however following the statutory planning process, appeals were subsequently lodged. Uisce Eireann has now been informed that An Bord Pleanala has upheld this decision. The water utility company said it is now working to finalise the required contractual agreements and budgetary approvals, with a view to commencing construction on the project in the second half of this year. The construction phase of the project is expected to take approximately 22 months. We are delighted to be progressing with the long-term plans for Whitegate, infrastructure delivery programme manager for Uisce Eireann, Hugh Kennedy, said. Along with our colleagues in Cork County Council, we wish to again thank everyone in Whitegate for their patience and co-operation. The issues with the water quality in the area are well known, but I want to assure the people of Whitegate that we are committed to delivering this new treatment plant in the shortest possible timeframe. The proposed water treatment plant will address the frequent boil water notices that the people of East Cork have experienced over the last number of years, Uisce Eireann said. This involves a major upgrade of the water treatment plant that will ensure a safe, reliable drinking water supply to customers. The proposed works will include the decommissioning of the old water treatment plant and the construction of a new plant that will be able to treat approximate six million litres of water per day. Social Democrats councillor for East Cork, Liam Quaide, said the proposed development is very welcome and gives real prospect to East Cork residents of a way out of recurring boiled water notices, and all the stress and inconvenience those bring. Glanua have been appointed to deliver the design, planning, construction and commissioning works on behalf of Uisce Eireann. Uisce Eireann has reminded customers supplied by the Whitegate Public Water Supply that the boil water notice issued on October 18 last remains in place. A MEMBER of Cork City Council has called on Uisce Eireann to begin widespread testing of water quality in peoples homes in the city, following months of complaints about discolouration. The call by Green Party councillor Oliver Moran comes as several areas in Cork city suffer recurring problems with discoloured water, some for months. Discoloured water in the drinking supply has become a persistent issue since the summer of 2022, when the then Irish Water opened its 40m Lee Road water-treatment plant. Chemicals In October 2022, the water utility company said that an adjustment of the chemicals it used in water preparation had caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of several of the citys cast-iron water mains, causing discoloured water in the supply across the city. In the two years since the Lee Road plant opened, the water-utility company has received 95 reports from people complaining of illnesses suspected of having been caused by water consumption, compared to just one such complaint in 2020 and two in 2021. Uisce Eireann has said drinking water in Cork City is safe, but it has advised householders not to drink discoloured water. Inspections Mr Moran said that Uisce Eireann needed to significantly increase the number of inspections of water in private homes. Testing of discoloured water has to take place in peoples homes to put figures on whats actually coming out of peoples taps, said Mr Moran. Its intermittent, and that adds to frustration, but what people are seeing and the photographs being shared online are too serious to brush aside. Monitoring A spokesperson for Uisce Eireann said that testing and analysis of the water supply were ongoing, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the citys network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking regulations and is safe once it runs clear. Mr Moran lodged a formal complaint with the Commissioner for Regulation of Utilities about water quality in the city, while the Environmental Protection Agency, the States environment watchdog, has said it is also investigating the quality of the citys water supply. A CORK GP has spoken about the efforts to ensure that a global shortage in his profession wont create medical deserts, where people have to travel more than an hour to see a doctor. Dr Diarmuid Quinlan is a Glanmire GP and the medical director with the Irish College of General Practitioners (Irelands recognised body for general practice training) in training more GPs to cater for Irelands growing population and the retirement of 600 GPs over the next three years. In an interview with The Echo, Dr Quinlan referred to telling examples in East and West Cork that illustrate the challenge facing Irelands health sector. Currently, we have approximately 4,200 GPs in the country. Of those, 14% are aged 65 or over. Thats about 600 aged 65 and over: Most of those will have retired within three years, thus creating a huge gap in our workforce, said Dr Quinlan. We have rapidly and substantially expanded the number of our GP training places. In 2015, we were training 155 GPs, in 2023 we took in 280, and next year we will take in 350. It was meant to be two more years before we got to 350 : The HSE and the department asked would we accelerate it, so we have accelerated it. The growth in Irelands population and its increasing age profile are adding to the challenge. Before the pandemic, the Medical Council and the HSE issued a report, saying we need about 50% more GPs they were estimating we need just north of 6,000-6,500. Since then, our population has gone up to 5.1m. OLDEST POPULATION We now have among the oldest population in the EU, said Dr Quinlan. In 2019, we had 701,000 people aged 65 or over and, in 2023, weve 806,000 aged 65 and over: Its up 15%. Old people accumulate diseases and they need substantially more care than younger people, and GP care in particular. The impact of the pandemic on the health system is still being felt and is likely to be a factor for some considerable time. Covid-19 has put a huge additional workload on our general practice, so we are still doing covid vaccines, we are still seeing people with acute covid, and we are still managing people with long-covid. Along with hospitals whose workload is impacted by covid, covid will for ever impact the increased GP workload. The expansion of the medical-card scheme to allow children to have free consultations has added to the pressure, even though its only bringing consultations for children up to the levels in the UK and Europe. Finally, the Government increased the general medical expansion, so the consultation rate for people with medical with children goes up by about 30% thats not at all to blame the parents of children, because what happens is they go from being below the European average rate for children of that age to the norm; essentially, their consultation rates become similar to those in the UK and Europe. The GP workforce is relatively static for the last four years; in contrast, the hospital-doctor workforce has gone up by 23%. While we welcome that, it shows the hospital workforce growing and the number of GPs is static. As well as the expansion of the GP training programme, a new initiative to attract international medical graduates to rural Ireland has paid dividends in Cork. So we are supporting international medical graduates, people whose primary medical degree is not Irish, experienced GPs in their home country, to come and live and work in rural Ireland, said Dr Quinlan, adding that there were 100 doctors on the programme in 2023 and that funding had been secured to continue the programme for 2024. For example, Midleton, its population has grown very substantially in recent years, but the GP workforce has been relatively static, Dr Quinlan said. Weve put two international medical graduates into Midleton and one in Killeagh, so those three additional GPs have made a very substantial difference to the patients in that particular area, he said, adding that the West coast of Ireland was also badly affected by the GP shortage. SUPPORTS We are working with the HSE to try and identify particularly difficult areas from a patient perspective, where either there is no doctor or where the GP is overworked: We are supporting that doctor with an international-medical-graduate, highly experienced GP, who comes and works with them. Dr Quinlan referred to Castletownbere, at the tip of the Beara Peninsula, where Dr Fiona Kelly has a practice, and said that the scheme was benefitting her and her patients. The International Medical Graduate Rural GP Scheme is a really good solution; it also supports the GP out of hours. For example, in East Cork theres now three additional GPs working with SouthDoc. Its better for patients and its also better for the existing GPs. We are working hard with the HSE, the Department of Health, and the minister to try and address areas where there is a major shortage. Dr Quinlan said that the shortage of GPs was not just an Irish issue, but a concern across the world. In France, there are areas which are medical deserts, where people have to travel for over an hour to see a doctor, and I would not like to think we are heading that way, but the shortage of GPs is a global phenomenon and we are working with the HSE to address the areas of particular need. He named several places in Connacht, and along the west coast, as being at risk of becoming medical deserts. East Cork was a major concern; Youghal was, but, thankfully, we managed to get one person in there. Its a big challenge for patients, its a big challenge for existing GPs, its a challenge for the health services, but we are working together to address this problem. A CAMPAIGNER from Youghal has launched a petition calling on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to re-open the train line that connected the town with Cork City 60 years ago. Jacob Sosinsky, from Poland but living in Youghal since 2022, has started a petition, urging the Government to restore the line, which he says would ease traffic congestion. Mr Sosinskys petition had 320 signatures in less than 24 hours, signalling strong local support for the return of the railway line. Locals were given renewed hope when Irish Rail project manager, AJ Cronin, refused to rule out reopening the line at a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council. Of his petition, Mr Sosinsky said, The people of Youghal urgently need reliable public transport. Right now, our only options are bus or private car, which means there are problems with traffic congestion in the town. Reopening the train line, after all these years, would make our town less reliant on cars and buses and would help commuters and students get to, and from, the city more easily. We are pleading with Eamon Ryan to make this a priority and give the people of Youghal their train line back. Siobhan ODonoghue, executive director at Uplift, applauded Jacob for starting this petition, saying, Our members tell, us time and time again, that they need liveable, well-connected communities, and reliable public transport is one of the best ways to achieve this. We would urge the people of Cork to sign Jacobs petition and help get this train line back on the agenda. Weve proven, time and time again, that people power works: If enough of us sign, we can make sure that Eamon Ryan has no choice but to listen to the public and to make restoring the train line to Youghal a priority. The petition can be found here. DOZENS of adult learners from Cork came together in Ballincollig at the start of February for a regional meeting of the National Further Education and Training (FET) learner forum. 79 people shared their experiences of further education and training, and suggested improvements. The FET forum is a collaboration between AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation, SOLAS, the further education and training authority, and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The meeting was one of a series that will take place across the country this year. Last year, thousands of learners shared their experiences. During the meeting, adult learners expressed an increase in confidence and empowerment to voice their concerns locally. Migrant learners praised their tutors and how they had been welcomed. Some of the concerns raised by Cork learners included a high demand for certain courses, the rising costs of food and beverages at centres, and a lack of tutors to run disability-friendly courses. However, many shared suggestions on how to address those issues, including more online course options, greater awareness of the learner council, and circulation of financial information to participants earlier in the process. Those attending the meeting seemed very positive about the learner forum, saying it was an excellent opportunity for problem solving through peer support. John Fitzgibbons, FET director from Cork ETB, said the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that learner voices were heard right across the FET sector. It is vital to hear what the issues are for learners and to give you a platform to voice those issues, he said. THE victim of the crash where a minor drove a stolen car in the wrong direction down the Cork-Dublin motorway, has opened up about the impact the incident had on her life. Roisin Stakelum said that she is still haunted by the memories of the impact. Sometimes during the day, even a loud noise can trigger it and then I'll remember what happened and it's almost like I'm back in the car at that moment, said Ms Stakelum. Yesterday at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court, the 17-year-old was sentenced to four years of detention for the incident on the M8 motorway at Ballybeg near Mitchelstown, in which 16-year-old front seat passenger Johnny Foley lost his life. Speaking on The Neil Prendeville show on RedFM, Ms Stakelum gave an update on her recovery, saying: I'm better than what I was, but I'm still in the very early stages of the recovery process, so there's still a long way to go. Plans Ms Skakelum had been in the process of moving to Australia when her car was hit, and explained that her plans are over now, saying: I can't see myself going to Australia now - it's just too far and I don't have the confidence now to do that, not with the experience over the last few months, so that dream is gone. She explained that on the night of the accident, she had left her house just after midnight to travel to Dublin airport, where she was meeting a friend. Obviously, I didn't make it past Mitchelstown, she said, adding that while she has some memories of the crash itself, they are quite hazy and not very nice memories. Her next memory is a garda coming to her window, and lots of flashing emergency lights. She said her friend had rang garda stations and toll booths to figure out why Ms Stakelum hadnt arrived to the airport, and then alerted her family. Surgery She was taken to CUH for emergency surgery, and months later, medical and surgical intervention are still ongoing. Ms Stakelum shared the thought that while the whole experience was very, very negative and awful, there were some positives, thanking people who supported her, such as the gardai, specifically Aoife McCarthy who was the liaison officer. She supported me through every step of the way, and she was absolutely fantastic, I can't stress enough how amazing she was - I had no idea how to navigate a court system or how to write a victim impact statement, and she just supported me every single step of the way. In her moving victim impact statement, Ms Stakelum said: Being involved in a car crash where a 16-year-old boy tragically lost his life was a devastating outcome, which has deeply affected me, and she added on the radio show, my heart is broken that he died in the crash - it's a devastating outcome. She also thanked the CUH staff, specifically the team of the 4B ward that she was in directly after the surgery. They looked after me like I was one of their own, it was like my family were looking after me. Scars Discussing seeing her face in the mirror for the first time and initially thinking it was someone else, Ms Stakelum said: I never thought that I was going to look the same way ever again. I still have scars on my face and my teeth aren't fixed yet, so, there's still a good way to go before I feel anywhere normal again. But hopefully I'll get there. Speaking of the case, which involved a minor driving a stolen car the wrong way at high speed, Ms Stakelum continued: I must be quite naive because I just didn't think that kind of stuff happened. I just think that if me telling my story can stop even just one person from doing something like that, that would be a win. As well as physical rehab, Ms Stakelum shared that she is also attending counselling, but that she is still not working or driving, which she considers major components in her life. She said these two things are her main goals at the moment. Ms Stakelum concluded by saying: I think having a near death experience and the fact that, like, it's a miracle that I didn't die in that car has given me a new appreciation for, for being alive. What happened was awful, but you have to see the positives in it, and it's certainly a positive that I didn't die and that I'm still here. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. CILLIAN Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded ceremony on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Murphy, from Cork, plays J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolans epic biopic, while Keoghan plays a student at Oxford who becomes enthralled by a wealthier classmate and pays a visit to his sprawling estate in Emerald Fennells viral black comedy. The Crown star Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize for her performance in All Of Us Strangers, Andrew Haighs searing drama about grief and loneliness. Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan will also attend the ceremony, which will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, but details of what have not been shared. Also in attendance will be Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for his role in Rustin, as the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March on Washington. Mulligans best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, who is nominated for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, who is nominated for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, who is nominated for The Colour Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Robbies Barbie director Greta Gerwig, who was snubbed in the directing category, will also attend alongside her husband and co-writer Noah Baumbach, and co-star Ryan Gosling, who is nominated for best supporting actor. Gerwig and Baumbach are nominated for their screenplay for the film, which was the highest-grossing of 2023. Foys All Of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott was a notable absence from the best actor contenders but will be in attendance at the ceremony as a presenter, alongside co-star Paul Mescal, who is nominated for the supporting actor prize. FAMOUS FACES Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, will be presented to actress Samantha Morton. Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: It is a privilege to welcome so many nominees to the EE Bafta film awards this Sunday, representing some of the best on-screen and behind-the-screen creative talent working in film today who have provided audiences worldwide with an incredible year of film. It is a joy to bring these 38 remarkable films and the teams that made them to public attention. With host David Tennant bringing his charm and charisma to the ceremony, and performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham, it promises to be an entertaining show for all our nominees and guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home around the world. The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall on February 18. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Update: A man in his 30s has been taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) following a serious incident on the M8 earlier today. Shortly after 12 noon, Gardai and emergency services responded to a single-vehicle road traffic incident involving a car on the motorway between Watergrasshill and the toll. The driver of the car, a man is his 30s, was conveyed to CUH following the incident. His injuries are understood to be serious. A Garda spokesperson said: Today, on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, shortly after 12 noon, Gardai and emergency services responded to a single-vehicle road traffic incident involving a car on the M8 near Junction 17. The driver, a male in his 30s who was the sole occupant of the car, was transported by ambulance to CUH. His injuries are reported to be serious. As a result of the incident, the M8 northbound is currently closed, with local diversions in effect. Investigations into the matter are underway. Earlier: A 'serious' incident on the M8 between Watergrasshill and the toll has led to the closure of a section of road. Crews from Ballyvolane and Anglesea Street, as well as Gardai and the National Ambulance Services are currently dealing with a road traffic collision on the M8 Northbound. A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: "Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a single vehicle road traffic incident involving a car, which occurred on the M8 near Junction 17, today, Tuesday 13th February 2024 at approximately 12noon." The M8 northbound is currently closed and local diversions are in place. Investigations are ongoing. Crews from Ballyvolane, Anglesea Street, @gardainfo and @AmbulanceNAS are currently dealing with a Road Traffic Collision on the M8 Northbound at junction 17. Diversions are in place. Caution on approach, expect delays in the area. pic.twitter.com/ImwoXtkosK Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) February 13, 2024 Egis Lagan Services, who carries out maintenance on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) networks posted on X: "There is a serious incident on the M8 NB between J17 Watergrasshill and the toll. Traffic delays in the area, avoid if possible and divert at J18 Glanmire. The road is due to be closed soon, so all traffic will be diverted off at J18 NB" ELS incident response: There is a serious incident on the M8 NB between J17 Watergrasshill and the toll. Traffic delays in the area, avoid if possible and divert at J18 Glanmire. The road is due to be closed soon, so all traffic will be diverted off at J18 NB. @CorkSafetyAlert Egis Lagan Services (@ELSTrafficalert) February 13, 2024 TII have said the section of road has now closed and diversions are in place. A CORK solicitor who was struck off by the Law Society over 10 years ago was given a three-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, relating to the theft of 63,000 from a client back in 2008. Judge Colin Daly sentenced 60-year-old Alex Gibbons to the suspended prison term. The court heard that the 63,000 was repaid in full three years after it was taken by the defendant. He was in a position of enormous trust and professional responsibility, Judge Daly said. This was a most egregious breach. Simply put, he took 63,000 from the companys client account and transferred it to his personal account. The significant aggravating factor is the breach of professional duties to the client ... and breach of trust. Guilty plea The judge said the plea of guilty was of great value in such a case, as the prosecution would have been relying on extensive documentary evidence. Judge Daly acknowledged the significance of the defendants loss of professional standing as a result of his actions. He qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and was struck off in 2012 as a direct result of his actions which are also the subject matter of this criminal prosecution. He had operated his practice from Kent St, Clonakilty, Cork. You come before the court with previous good character and, in the exceptional circumstances of the case, I am satisfied to suspend the three years in full, Judge Daly said. Stamp duty Det Garda Daniel Lordan said that a construction company represented by Alex Gibbons for many years was purchasing land for 630,000, and sent a cheque to the solicitor at one stage for 63,000 stamp duty. This sum of money was to be lodged in his client account and then used to pay stamp duty. When it emerged that the stamp duty had not been paid, it was established that the 63,000 had been transferred from the client account to the solicitors personal account. By March 2011, this money was returned to the client account and the stamp duty was paid three years after it should have been paid. Det Garda Lordan told the senior counsel for the prosecution, John OKelly, that the defendant had no previous conviction. The senior counsel for the defence, Tom Creed, suggested there would have been huge issues related to the admissibility of prosecution documents if the case had been contested, and that the plea of guilty should be seen in that context. This obviously has been stressful for him also, Mr Creed said. He has effectively paid back the money, but that does not mean it was not an offence. He had some financial difficulties and caused his own downfall. Mr Gibbons has paid a huge penalty by losing his profession and being struck off, not just suffering the indignity of it but also losing his profession that is a significant penalty in itself for Mr Gibbons. Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has accused Israel of behaving like a "monster" and a "rogue state". Pressure is mounting on Israel over the ongoing conflict in Gaza amid appeals for a ceasefire. China has joined growing international calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza following a raid in which two hostages were rescued and scores of Palestinians killed. Israel has signalled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town where the hostages were freed by the raid. US president Joe Biden said innocent people in Rafah need to be protected. Palestinians inspect the damage after an Israeli raid on Rafah. Photo: AP Speaking before Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Dublin, Mr Coveney said Israel needed to start listening. "Where we are now is we are witnessing Israel behaving like a rogue state, quite frankly. They're ignoring the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," he said. "They seem now to even be ignoring their closest allies in countries like the United States in the UK, who are clearly calling for restraint, looking for the basis of a ceasefire, or wanting to work with Israel to bring an end to this savagery that is continuing in Gaza." Last month, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, although it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by the plaintiff South Africa. Mr Coveney said the international community needed to be stronger on the issue of Gaza and pushed Israel's allies to be more insistent that the attacks on civilians in Gaza must end. "The truth is that the European position has effectively moved towards the Irish position, you know, over the last number of weeks. There are very few countries now not calling for a ceasefire," he said. "There are very few countries now not wanting to put pressure on Israel to pull back and look for a peace agreement that can prevent soldiers moving into a city that has one and a half million people in it, and it's going to be impossible to avoid massive civilian casualties, yet again, in a small piece of land that's already seen 28,000 people dead over the last number of months. "So actually, the Irish position has been an effective one." Mr Coveney said the Government led the way on international calls for a ceasefire and said Israel must not be allowed to continue its killing of civilians in response to the October 7th attack. "I've been to the Gaza Strip on five or six occasions. The suffering in that area before this round of conflict was significant. But what we've seen in the last number of months must be unacceptable for the international community. You know, it is not acceptable effectively to behave like a monster to defeat a monster, which is what Israel is now doing. "Ireland has been using its voice internationally to try to build consensus within the European Union to stop this madness, and we need to continue to do that forcefully." 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 jogger runs along Lake Michigan as temperature climbed to near 60F, more than 20 degrees above normal in Chicago, Illinois on Feb. 8, 2024. Scott Olson / Getty Images In an average year, the Great Lakes get about 40% ice cover. Now, after the warmest year on record and the first time the world has passed the 1.5C target for a full year, the most recent Great Lakes ice cover analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Weather Service shows that average ice cover is currently at about 5.9%. By February 12, the Great Lakes reached a record-low ice cover of just 2.69%, CBS News reported. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario have tied their records for lowest ice cover, with records dating back to 1973, while Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are at historic lows. The 5.9% average is lower than the usual 40% average ice coverage this time of year, ABC News reported. Further, some parts of the Great Lakes have experienced winters without any ice cover. In direct response to warming air temperatures, we are observing rapid ice loss and warming summer water temperatures, Sapna Sharma, professor at York University in Toronto, told The Guardian. If the planet continues to warm, 215,000 lakes may no longer freeze every winter and almost 5,700 lakes may permanently lose ice cover by the end of the century. Analyzing the Great Lakes ice cover is important, as ice melt can reveal global warming impacts that affect the lakes. On its Great Lakes Research Lab website, NOAA noted that the decreasing ice cover can affect hydropower generation, commercial shipping and fishing, in addition to the environmental impacts, such as plankton blooms. While the amount of ice naturally varies each year, there has been a sharp decline in recent years compared to the amount of ice coverage in the 1970s when these records began. There is a trend: a 5% decline in average ice cover per decade, which may not sound huge but it is a substantial decrease, James Kessler, a physical scientist at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, told The Guardian. Open [unfrozen] lakes bring more rain rather than snow, which has knock-on environmental, cultural and societal impacts. The Great Lakes hold 21% of the worlds freshwater supply, according to NOAA. Over 30 million people depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water, and the Great Lakes are linked to $3.1 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP). Both rising and falling water and ice levels can have detrimental impacts on the lakes, including flooding and erosion. 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. Legal petitions have been filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by environmental groups and oil and gas interests challenging the Biden administrations plan to offer additional Gulf of Mexico drilling leases. The congressionally mandated five-year plan includes three sales the least number being offered since 1980, reported Reuters. Fossil fuel development is untenable if we want a livable future, said Brettny Hardy, attorney for Earthjustice, in a press release from Earthjustice. The oil and gas industry is already sitting on nine million acres of undeveloped leases. They certainly are not entitled to more. Although we acknowledge the governments focus on climate impacts with the release of this five-year offshore leasing plan, we are taking legal action today because we are concerned about how it will jeopardize the health of overburdened communities. The petition filed by Earthjustice on behalf of eight environmental organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Friends of the Earth, Oceana and the Surfrider Foundation said the U.S. Department of the Interior did not adequately consider the public health impacts on frontline communities of the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Politico reported. Meanwhile, trade group the American Petroleum Institute (API) explained its petition as a challenge to the lease sale as an extension of the administrations policy of limiting access to fossil fuels. Demand for affordable, reliable energy is only growing, yet this administration has used every tool at its disposal to restrict access to vast energy resources in federal waters, said Ryan Meyers, APIs general counsel, in a statement, as reported by Reuters. The distinct petitions both request that the court of appeals review the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements oil and gas leasing plan. We are not surprised by this industry challenge, given its track record of suing every time the Biden Administration makes any attempt to break free from fossil fuels, said Friends of the Earth Legal Director Hallie Templeton, in the press release. While the Five-Year Program does offer a record-low number of sales and greater focus on climate change, unfortunately it continues to unlawfully overlook many significant harms of the offshore drilling industry. Our lawsuit is another stand for the Gulf ecosystem, its nearby communities and all wildlife that continue to suffer at the hands of Big Oil. Earthjustice said that, although the oil and gas leasing program did consider the effect on the climate of continuing to offer oil and and gas leases, the Department of the Interior did not look at the environmental justice impacts of continuing to develop offshore fossil fuel extraction. The nonprofit environmental law organization explained that residents of the Gulf Coast are suffering disproportionate health issues as a direct result of the toxic industrial pollution that comes from the federal government offering these leases, and that the burdens will continue with future leasing approvals. Central and western Gulf communities are on the frontlines of offshore drilling disasters, extraction-related pollution, and the climate change fossil fuels are driving, said Athan Manuel, program director of the Lands Protection Program at Sierra Club, in the press release. Earthjustice added that the government did not properly examine the leases impacts on endangered species. In particular, they did not consider how the new leases would continue to jeopardize the Rices whale a critically endangered species that is one of the most threatened marine animals on Earth. Gulf waters have never been hotter. Rising seas are swamping the Gulf coast. Its time to break, not deepen, our dependence on the very fossil fuels that are driving the climate and biodiversity crises, said Brad Sewell, oceans program director at NRDC. Its time to make federal ocean policy part of the climate fix, not the problem. Reducing offshore drilling that exposes oceans, marine life and coastal communities to catastrophic risk and ongoing harm is the answer. According to estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey, drilling in federal waters and on public lands is responsible for nearly one-quarter of the countrys greenhouse gas emissions. There are currently 9,000 unused oil and gas leases across eight million acres of federal waters; increased fossil fuel industry expansion will only make the climate crisis worse, said Joanie Steinhaus, Turtle Island Restoration Networks ocean program director. The new 5-year offshore drilling plan was informed by nearly a million public comments against oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters. The industrys unwarranted lawsuit belies the fact that new offshore drilling is broadly unpopular and is not needed to meet our nations energy needs, said Pete Stauffer, Surfrider Foundations ocean protection manager, in the press release. Moreover, new offshore drilling will increase carbon pollution and undermine U.S. and global efforts to address climate change. NVIDIA just released a free demo version of a chatbot that runs locally on your PC. This is pretty neat, as it gives the chatbot access to your files and documents. You can feed Chat with RTX a selection of personal data and have it create summaries based on that information. You can also ask it questions, just like any chatbot, and dives into your data for answers. The company says it allows users to quickly, easily connect local files on a PC as a dataset to an open-source large language model like Mistral or Llama 2. NVIDIA gives an example of a user asking the chatbot about a restaurant their partner recommended while in Las Vegas. The software scans local files to find the answer. It supports a whole bunch of file formats, including .txt, .pdf, .doc/.docx and .xml. The company says it will load relevant files into its dataset in seconds. Chat with RTX also integrates YouTube videos and playlists. You can add a video URL into the dataset and it will integrate the knowledge contained in the clip for contextual queries. NVIDIA says this will be useful when asking for travel recommendations based on content from favorite influencer videos or when looking for tutorials and summaries derived from educational resources. The Verge had some hands-on time with the chatbot and came away impressed, writing that they could see it as a valuable part of data research for journalists or anyone who needs to analyze a collection of documents. This sounds like a big step toward something resembling an actual digital assistant that works within the contextual framework of your personal data. With most chatbots, the data is sent off to the cloud, but Chat with RTX lets users process sensitive data on a local PC without the need to share it with a third party or have an internet connection. So its safer and more contextually aware. There are some limitations. This is a demo product so you should expect plenty of bugs, though NVIDIA should start squashing them once users begin issuing error reports and the like. There are also some strict hardware limitations here. Chat with RTX only works on Windows PCs with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs or higher and at least 8GB of VRAM. NVIDIA has really been showing off its AI prowess lately, as the company just launched its next-generation of artificial intelligence supercomputer chips. Its absolutely swimming in profits, due primarily to the companys AI and data center segments. This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Electric vehicles from Stellantis brands, including Dodge and Chrysler, will start using the NACS connector in select models next year. The automaker will also offer an adaptor for existing vehicles, so drivers can use NACS or Combined Charging System (CCS) ports. Tesla open-sourced its EV charging connector back in 2022. Back then, it rebranded it as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), pitching it as better than rival chargers with no moving parts, is half the size, and twice as powerful. The pitch worked, and automakers Volkswagen, GM, Volvo, Polestar, Mercedes, Honda, BMW, Lucid gradually sided with NACS. Stellantis says its still committed, with other car manufacturers, to building a network of more than 30,000 fast charging points on highways and in urban areas in North America by 2030. These stations will support NACS and CCS. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed The best projectors for 2024 Apple Cash will offer virtual card numbers for online shopping Dell gaming laptops are up to $560 off right now Meta is testing a trending topics feature on Threads You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! It could make history with its Nova-C lander. Houston-based space company Intuitive Machines is gearing up for an actual moonshot. Itll try to land a spacecraft named Odysseus on the lunar surface ideally without it breaking. The mission follows Astrobotics unsuccessful attempt in January; that companys lander, Peregrine, never made it to the moon. Odysseus is the first of three Nova-C landers Intuitive Machines plans to send to the Moon this year, all of which will have commercial payloads and NASA instruments on board. Its mission, if it nails a soft landing, will be a short but potentially valuable one for informing future excursions. Orbiting probes have found evidence of water ice at the lunar south pole, which could be used for astronaut subsistence and even fuel. Continue reading. A new update, available Monday, lets you reset the headset at home. Engadget There are always early issues. If you were one of the Vision Pro owners that lost their passcodes in the first week of ownership, you had to visit an Apple Store (or ship the device to AppleCare) to reset it and be able to use your $3,500 device again. Fortunately, visionOS 1.0.3 will let you do the password reset at home. But seriously, if you forgot your password in the first week youve got problems. Continue reading. Will Microsoft go cross-platform? The internet has been buzzing the last couple of weeks with rumors that Microsoft will begin publishing Xbox first-party games on competing consoles. The company promised it would soon share more details about its vision for the future of Xbox, and that looks to be coming on February 15. Phil Spencer will appear on the Official Xbox Podcast to share updates on the Xbox business. Its an unusual move, with Sarah Bond, president of Xbox, and Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios, joining Spencer on the podcast. There have been all kinds of rumors flooding the web, from Hi-Fi Rush coming to the Nintendo Switch to Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle showing up on the PS5. All may become clear later this week. Continue reading. (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) The COP Presidencies Troika, a key achievement of the COP28 Presidency mandated by the UAE Consensus, unites COP28 with the next two COP Presidencies Azerbaijan and Brazil to drive ambitious collective climate action. The three will work on the 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C'. Presidency mandated by the UAE Consensus, unites with the next Presidencies and to drive ambitious collective climate action. The three will work on the 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C'. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "The Troika represents critical and unprecedented collaboration to maintain momentum, lock in continuity and anchor implementation." President Dr. said: "The Troika represents critical and unprecedented collaboration to maintain momentum, lock in continuity and anchor implementation." It will provide a platform for the three Presidencies to collaborate on various activities until COP30 , to raise ambition across all pillars of the Paris Agreement to course correct in line with the UAE Consensus agreed in Dubai . , to raise ambition across all pillars of the Paris Agreement to course correct in line with the UAE Consensus agreed in . The collaboration between the three COP Presidencies, or Troika, was mandated in the UAE Consensus to "significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5C within reach." Presidencies, or Troika, was mandated in the UAE Consensus to "significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5C within reach." Representatives of the three COP Presidencies met at Expo City Dubai, to launch the COP Presidencies Troika. Presidencies met at Expo City Dubai, to launch the COP Presidencies Troika. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "At COP28 , Parties mobilized behind historic climate action through both the negotiations and their commitments to the Presidential Action Agenda. We cannot afford to lose momentum; we must do everything we can to keep 1.5C within reach." President Dr. said: "At , Parties mobilized behind historic climate action through both the negotiations and their commitments to the Presidential Action Agenda. We cannot afford to lose momentum; we must do everything we can to keep 1.5C within reach." The Troika's laser focus on the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will ensure that countries' individual commitments deliver enhanced climate action, are guided by climate urgency. Its work to mobilize political momentum and channel resources towards NDCs will help to ensure ambition by all countries, while supporting developing countries in accelerating a just transition. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said: "The unity of this Troika will help deliver on the ambition needed to tackle climate change, through collaboration, cooperation and coordination.'" DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 today launched a partnership with Azerbaijan and Brazil, who will host COP29 and COP30 respectively, to improve cooperation and continuity between current and future COP Presidencies, leading to increased climate action in support of 'Mission 1.5C'. The partnership, known as The COP Presidencies Troika, marks the first time that a current COP Presidency has been formally mandated to unite with two future presidencies to foster international cooperation to stimulate ambition. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, "The Troika represents critical and unprecedented collaboration to maintain momentum, lock in continuity and anchor implementation." The Troika, which means group of three, will help to ensure the delivery of the Presidencies' collective responsibilities and support of global priorities, which in turn will transform agreement into action by government and non-government stakeholders. Speaking at the launch of the Troika, held in Expo City Dubai, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "COP28 delivered a different, groundbreaking COP, that culminated in The UAE Consensus. At COP28, Parties mobilized behind historic climate action through both the negotiations and their commitments to the Presidential Action Agenda. The Troika helps ensure we have the collaboration and continuity required to keep the North Star of 1.5C in sightfrom Baku to Belem and beyond. The breakthroughs we all achieved at COP28 must carry forward to COP29 and 30in ambitious nationally determined contributions, climate finance follow through, and accelerated implementation." An agreement for the three Presidencies to work together on a 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C' was mandated by the UAE Consensus. Supported by all 198 Parties, this agreement must now be actioned under the COP Presidencies Troika. The agreement states that the partnership will "significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5C within reach." Dr. Al Jaber said: "The UAE Consensus included a clear mandate for the three Presidenciesthe UAE, Azerbaijan and Brazilto cooperate on the 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C'. We will be working together through the COP Presidencies Troika, with our friends in Baku and Brazil, to ensure that promises made in Dubai are fulfilled through closer, focused partnerships and credible support to enable delivery. Together we ensure that new agreements forged at the next COP set us on the path we need to achieve our mission." COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, is expected to agree on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to respond to the needs and priorities of developing countries. The adoption of the NCQG will constitute the most significant climate finance milestone since the 2009 commitment by developed countries to a goal of mobilizing jointly USD $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. Building on both the UAE Consensus and the outcomes of Baku, at COP30 in Brazil, the Troika's laser focus on the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) round will ensure that countries' individual commitments deliver ambitious climate action. This will accelerate the global collective ability to meet the Paris goals in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources, joined Dr. Al Jaber, and highlighted: "We are committed to leveraging our strength as a bridge builder between the developed and developing world as host of COP29, to accelerate efforts to keep 1.5 in reach. Key to that will be establishing a new climate finance goal that reflects the scale and urgency of the climate challenge. And equally important, unlocking those funds and getting them to the nations that need them most." Minister Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, said: "As I said in Dubai, we need to make the most of the opportunity that this Troika of COP Presidencies presents: to ensure that in these coming two years we will be able to do what science tells us we have to, in the last window of opportunity to achieve the 1.5C ambition." Following the launch of the Troika, Simon Stiell, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, said: "The unity of this Troika will help deliver on the ambition needed to tackle climate change, through collaboration, cooperation and coordination. This is an opportunity to cement what was agreed at COP28, ensure that it is enabled by COP29 and the subsequent actions taken at COP30 with new ambitious NDCs - shifting finance from trickles to torrents and delivering 1.5C aligned NDCs." Notes to Editors COP28 UAE: At the historic COP28 , countries came together to deliver The UAE Consensus - the most ambitious and comprehensive set of negotiated outcomes to come out of the UNFCCC process since COP21 . , countries came together to deliver The UAE Consensus - the most ambitious and comprehensive set of negotiated outcomes to come out of the UNFCCC process since . The UAE Consensus includes an unprecedented reference to transitioning away from all fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner in this critical decade to enable the world to reach net zero emissions by 2050, in keeping with the science. An important opportunity lies in working multilaterally on commitments to deliver high-ambition decisions at COP28 , including through the UAE Consensus. This can lead to real economy action for 2030 and help with setting of interim targets that strengthen the NDCs in 2025 in the lead-up to COP30 . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop28-launches-the-cop-presidencies-troika-in-partnership-with-the-cop29-and-cop30-presidenciesa-groundbreaking-initiative-to-support-mission-1-5c-by-maintaining-momentum-locking-in-continuity-and-anchoring-implementation-302060267.html His Excellency The President of Liberia His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr (centre) with the Founder, Chairman and CEO of I-Pulse Inc Mr Robert Friedland, Ms Bronwyn Barnes, President and CEO of HPX, Mr Robert Gumede Chairman and Founder Guma Africa Gr - HPX/PR NEWSWIRE (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) An estimated investment of $3 billion to $5 billion will enable sustainable mineral development and downstream value addition to regional economies HPX and Guma Africa Group will enter into negotiations with the Government of Liberia to agree the framework granting exclusive rights to develop, finance and grant operating rights to the Liberty Corridor MONROVIA, Liberia, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bronwyn Barnes, President and CEO of US Company High Power Exploration Inc ("HPX") announced today the signing of a letter of intent with the government of Liberia and the Guma Africa Group Ltd. to enter into negotiations to own, design, finance, develop and operate The Liberty Corridor a brand new multi-user infrastructure corridor connecting Guinea and Liberia. The Liberty Corridor will comprise a brand-new world-class rail system connecting Guinea to a new deep-water port at Didia, Liberia, an extension of the existing hydropower network from Cote d'Ivoire into the Nimba districts of Liberia and Guinea, an upgrade of existing road networks and the implementation of fibre optic telecommunication cable connecting Liberia to the Nimba district and potentially beyond. The Liberty Corridor would be a joint development between the Government of Liberia, HPX and the Guma Africa Group. GUMA AFRICA GROUP is a Pan African diversified investment and operations group involved in Mining, Infrastructure, Tourism & Hospitality, ICT, Healthcare, Human Capital Development, Renewable Energy, Rail Manufacturing, etc. Guma operates in 28 African countries. HPX is an American exploration and development company focused on advancing its high-grade long-life iron ore mine in the Lola region of the Southeastern region of the Republic of Guinea. HPX's major shareholder and technology provider is I-Pulse Inc, a US Company founded and Chaired by Mr Robert Friedland and has a number of high profile American institutional and private investors as shareholders. I-Pulse Inc. is a private American company with a multibillion-dollar valuation founded by Robert Friedland and Laurent Frescaline and backed by a global network of shareholders. Visit www.ipulse-group.com to learn more. Further information or Media contact:Bronwyn Barnes, President and CEO HPXBronwyn.Barnes@hpxmines.com+44 7810 227 672 Joe MacDonald, Head of Strategy and Business DevelopmentJoe.Macdonald@hpxmines.com+ 44 7525 341 493 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338630... (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) PARIS, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valiantys proudly announces the acquisition of GLiNTECH, an Atlassian Platinum Partner in Australia. GLiNTECH offers value-added services that complement Valiantys' service offerings, including Cloud migrations, Agile and ITSM transformation services, managed services, licenses, training, and more. The acquisition of GLiNTECH opens up tremendous market potential, enabling Valiantys to extend its market leadership into the Asia-Pacific region. With a combined global entity, the company will be better equipped to provide Atlassian-specific capabilities, leading practices, and specialized skills to customers in previously untapped regions, such as New Zealand, Singapore, and beyond. With GLiNTECH, Valiantys reinforces its leading position as a specialized global leader for Atlassian solutions. GLiNTECH transacts with hundreds of local clients, building a stellar reputation for excellent customer outcomes. The acquisition completes the international footprint Valiantys needed to truly serve enterprise customers anywhere in the world with valuable follow-the-sun capability. Together, we can now offer our world-class customers: "Valiantys and GLINTECH coming together as one marks an exciting chapter in Atlassian's partner ecosystem. By combining their strengths, they are poised to deliver even greater value to customers globally," said Kevin Egan, Atlassian's Chief Sales Officer. "We look forward to witnessing their continued success in driving innovation and unleashing the potential of more teams around the globe." "We are thrilled to unite with GLiNTECH, propelling our presence into untapped, emerging markets like Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia and beyond. This strategic expansion aims to replicate our proven success by introducing established skills, processes, and capabilities to these new regions, ultimately delivering compelling customer experiences on a global scale," said Emmanuel Benoit, Global Chief Executive Officer at Valiantys. "Both Valiantys and GLiNTECH are extremely successful Atlassian Platinum partners in our respective markets. Coming together means we are going to deliver even greater outcomes to our combined customer base and beyond. Together we are the clear global leader," concluded Dimitri Spyridopoulos, Chief Executive Officer at GLiNTECH. This acquisition will be made possible by the investment and operational support of: Keensight Capital, one of the leading private equity funds dedicated to pan-European Growth Buyout [1] investments, and Valiantys' majority shareholder; investments, and Valiantys' majority shareholder; Tercera, a growth equity firm specializing in cloud professional services. About Valiantys Valiantys is a leading global consulting and services firm dedicated to Atlassian. The company accelerates business transformation by digitizing processes and modernizing teamwork, using the best agile methods and tools. Its Atlassian technical expertise is unparalleled and Valiantys supports its customers across the entire spectrum of projects on those platforms. As a recognized Agile at Scale, ITSM, and Cloud Specialized Partner, Valiantys help organizations accelerate time to value with Agile at scale, cloud, and ITSM implementations. Because teamwork requires more than just tools, the firm bridges the gap between applications and strategic practices such as SAFe and ITIL. Over the last 15 years, Valiantys has helped more than 5,000 customers achieve their desired business outcomes at a reduced time to value, through improved team collaboration. More information about Valiantys can be found at https://www.valiantys.com. About GLiNTECH GLiNTECH is a renowned Atlassian Platinum Partner headquartered in Australia and is the preferred choice for over 300 leading brands. The company has amassed more than 20 years of experience servicing enterprise clients across the Asia Pacific region, earning Atlassian Partner of the Year four times, including most recently for Professional Services. GLiNTECH is recognized as a Specialized Atlassian Cloud and ITSM partner, and offers deep expertise in Licensing, Training, Support, Managed Services, Consulting, and Agile methodologies and has a proven record in providing reliable solutions while driving success within the Atlassian ecosystem. More information about GLiNTECH can be found here: https://www.glintech.com. 1. Growth Buyout: investment in profitable, private companies experiencing strong growth, in minority or majority positions, with or without leverage, using a flexible approach tailored to the needs of individual entrepreneurs, in order to finance organic growth projects, acquisition strategies or provide historic shareholders with liquidity. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338109...Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1980997... View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/valiantys-expands-global-presence-with-acquisition-of-glintech-focusing-on-asia-pacific-growth-302059419.html Tuesday, February 13, 2024 January, 1943. French Resistance agent Denise Bloch, 26 years old, hikes through the Pyrenees on her way to Spain. Wearing a skirt and half-length coat, she makes the trek on foot, in sub-freezing cold, at high altitude. She is lucky; already she has narrowly evaded capture by the Gestapo, not to mention liquidation by fellow Resistance agents, who considered her a nuisance. Encountering deep snow and enemy patrols, she is forced to turn back. Bloch spent the next 4 months working as a courier with the agents who had at first considered getting rid of her. They are impressed with her bravery. On one of her trips to meet a fellow agent in Toulouse, she was stopped by a Gestapo agent. She engaged him in conversation and amused him by pretending to speak poor German. She asked him to hold her suitcase while she went to buy a newspaper. The case contained her radio. Bloch finally made the trek across the Pyrenees successfully in April, and after being detained by Spanish authorities, made her way to London. She trained for 10 months with the SOE as a wireless operator, parachutist and industrial saboteur. Respected by her trainers, she was described as an experienced woman with knowledge of the world. She has courage and determination and complete self-assurance and is capable of handling most situations. Bloch returned to France in early March, 1944, with agent Robert Benoist. Her orders were to act as courier, encoder and wireless operator, and to assist in the attack on high pylons over the River Loire and to cut railway and telephone lines converging on Nantes before D Day, to disrupt German communications. Bloch spent the next 3 months passing information to London and carrying out sabotage operations. But in June the Gestapo finally caught up with her. She was arrested and sent to Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, along with agents Violet Szabo and Lillian Rolfe. All three were executed a few months later. Monday, February 12, 2024 Introduction High Military Spending is the measuring stick of Empire for my research purposes. I use the terms interchangeably. Mainstream economists do not recognize that the different uses of the major resources of capital and research make a profound difference in opportunity cost. Putting those key assets into the military takes them out of the main engine of economic growth, the productivity of the manufacturing sector. Historical records clearly show economic growth suffers in direct proportion to the size of the military economy. Military spending in bulk can have deficit spending stimulus effects like other government spending but lacks the special boost from productive assets found in private sector manufacturing. Military spending mimics manufacturing, without the productivity normally associated with increased economic growth. Domestic Chaos of Empire The stagnant economy of military spending leads to many social and domestic problems. I characterize this as the social decay of empire. Homicides are one of the clearest signs of empire in that they represent the clearest domestic example, with elements of violent training, economics, and demonization contributing to a very strong correlation. Economic social mobility is lower in an empire society and income inequality grows in an empire society. The political process is captured and dominated by those connected to the power center of the military budget. Authoritarian tendencies are enhanced by empire and democracy is weakened over time. Rome started out a republic and ended up a dictatorship. In America we have a rising imperial presidency. Rigidities grow and freedoms shrink. When legitimate options shrink, chaos and lotteries are there for desperate people. Empire is hard on a peoples' health, with high rates of infant mortality, teen births, diabetes, drug use, and mental health. Summary One atmospheric issue from last month is the great shift from Southern Hemisphere led global warming to a Northern Hemisphere led global warming. Each of these periods has a 54-year cycle that peaks in the middle of the cycle period. Last time the North temperature peaked in 1944, halfway between 1921-1968, and the South peaked in 1998, halfway between 1969-2028. Note that the North (land based) period is 48 years and the South (ocean based) period is 60 years. Note also that the peak temperature years are a perfect 54 years apart. Note that the last land period ended in 1968 with a peak in world tensions in 1968 with riots in France and Chicago and the Tet offensive in Vietnam. 2021 wealth peaks, war tension peaks 2024, with lower relative temperature in 2025. The empire tensions meet the climate tensions right now. Ukraine, Israel, and Covid are all signs of the times. Wide Variety of Social Effects of Empire: https://www.academia.edu/11421799/MILITARISM_CONTROL_Empire_Social_Decay_WWW_97_6p Homicides: https://www.academia.edu/4862977/CRIME_and_the_Military_1989_1999_3p_1999 One Page Summary Economic Correlations: https://www.academia.edu/4044456/SUMMARY_Military_DisEconomics_Accuracy13_1p_13 Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2024, February 12), "Domestic Chaos from Empire" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Domestic-Chaos-from-Empire,2024302365.aspx Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2016-2024 with growing interest from the deciding Norwegians. A consistently growing pattern shows intense interest in my work on my expertclick.com website; daily "hard looks" per year went from 2 to 3 to 48 to 128 to 200 to 322 to 346 to 349 by the October 6th, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize announcement time. Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com Info: www.realeconomy.com Tuesday, February 13, 2024 The New Testament contains several stories that Jesus used to answer some of the questions his followers asked him. Referred to as parables in the Bible, the stories served as delivery vehicles for Jesuss moral teachings to the Christian population at large. Given the universality of their lessons, one actually doesnt need to be a Christian to recognize the power of the parables. A couple of decades ago, I had a personal experience that has since deepened my understanding of why storytelling is one of the best teaching tools, and why Christians consider Jesus to be the best teacher of all time. I have always been a curious person, which means that I have wondered about all manner of things throughout my life. Quite unfortunately, I am also shy by nature, and in my youth, that bashfulness often stopped me from asking the questions that came to mind. I particularly regret the numerous opportunities I missed to gain enlightenment from some of the excellent teachers I had during that period. The cure for my malady came from a story I heard in a classroom. At the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where I obtained my MBA, the professors seemed to spend a good deal of every class session cajoling students to ask questions. I often wondered why they bothered. The business school was filled with supremely self-confident students who were some of the most brilliant people on the planet. They didnt look to me like individuals who would be shy about asking any questions they had on their minds. I was quite wrong. It turns out that in the midst of fellow brainiacs, academic superstars are sometimes equally afraid to ask questions, for fear of looking unintelligent. Our professors knew this fully well, hence their constant efforts to elicit questions during classes. In a finance class one day, our professor recounted a story from an academic conference he attended a few years earlier. According to him, during a presentation by a professor from another school, one elderly man in the audience kept interrupting with questions. He said that some of the mans questions were so basic that after a while, a majority of the audience started showing visible signs of irritation. Having noticed but being unbothered by the reaction, the man kept his questions flying. At the next recess, our professor joined a small group in a hallway for some casual conversations. One person inquired about the identity of the man who had been making such a nuisance of himself in the room. Another attendee who happened to know him gave the answer. The elderly man was none other than Franco Modigliani, the Nobel laureate in economics and a longtime professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Every jaw dropped as soon as the name was mentioned. Later at lunch, another attendee, who also knew Professor Modigliani, told our professor and others at the table that the elderly professor likely knew the answers to the questions he was asking, but posed them anyway. According to this attendee, he had heard stories elsewhere about Professor Modiglianis habit of interrupting presentations at conferences. Over the course of his long teaching career, Professor Modigliani had learned that no matter how straightforward a question looked, there was always someone for whom the answer was not readily obvious. His tendency therefore was to ask questions in such group settings on behalf of others who, for fear of embarrassment, might be reluctant to do so. The story made a huge and instant impression on me. I realized that the affliction that caused me to miss so many learning opportunities in my youth was a more common problem than I thought. It was the catalyst I needed to overcome my fear. With my newfound courage, I began to ask questions in all sorts of venues, and for the remainder of my time at Tuck, I spoke up in class a lot more than I would have in my prior incarnation. It does seem as if the pendulum has swung completely in the opposite direction for me nowadays, to the point where I cant stop asking questions. Whenever my family and I are in an unfamiliar city or place, I find myself constantly asking for directions. Someone would give us a set of directions to follow, only for me to ask for the same information from another person just a couple of minutes later. My wife and daughter always wonder aloud why I dont exercise a bit more patience and try to follow the earlier instructions, at least for a while. They know my Tuck story so whenever they ask, I tell them its the Modigliani effect at work. My questions may seem unnecessary to them, but to me it is better to ask than risk walking or driving several minutes in the wrong direction before realizing and reversing course. That wastes time and energy. We have had a few instances where that has actually occurred, after we followed directions from people who seemed trustworthy. Over time, my family has come to understand that theres a method to my madness. I have no doubt that I would be a lot smarter than I am today if I had learned to ask questions sooner. With age, I have become even more aware of the complexity of the world and life, and so the questions keep coming thick and fast. Weirdly, many of them seem to pop up deep in the night when Im trying to sleep, and I end up tossing and turning. Some questions bug me for days. It appears that the only way I can free myself from their clutches is to explore them through writing. It is a shame that I no longer have access to the academic environments filled with brilliant educators that I could pose some of these questions to. I sincerely hope that any young person who reads this story will take some inspiration from it. Knowing what I know now, I also think that each and every one of us should make it a habit of sharing our stories. That one simple story I heard in a classroom has had an enormously positive impact on me. Farm management software Herdwatch has announced the acquisition of Lilac Technology, renowned for their TB Master software, and ComTag, a vet software company in Ireland, in a deal worth seven figures. Herdwatch, which was established in the UK in 2016, says it expects the acquisition to accelerate its plans to provide software solutions in the veterinary space. This latest acquisition will see over 1,000 British and Irish veterinary professionals join the Herdwatch platform. The deal will see Lilac and ComTag employees join Herdwatchs team of more than 80 people. The firm says the deal also further strengthens its position as the number one livestock management software platform in the UK. Lilac Technology was founded in the UK over 20 years ago by Andrew Cobner and Ian Lorraine, offering its TB and blood testing software, TB Master, to customers mainly in England and Wales. Ireland-based ComTag supplies TB and blood testing software solutions for veterinary practices across the island of Ireland. With this latest acquisition, Herdwatch continues its rapid expansion less than a year after the company completed its acquisition of Farmplans livestock software. The company says they are planning further announcements in the coming months. Mel Griffith, UK growth manager at Herdwatch said: Lilac were pioneers in the AgTech field with their TB Master software, and the leadership of its founders resulted in some of the earliest tech solutions for vets. "The vet-farmer relationship is critical in food production, therefore it makes sense for Herdwatch to join the dots and bring farmers and vets together in the same digital ecosystem. Herdwatch was founded in 2012 and provides software solutions to over 20,000 farms, including dairy, beef and suckler farmers as well as sheep and goat farmers. The company has won awards for its software platform, including the prestigious Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Prince Philip Award in 2016. Welsh farmers have protested outside the office of the Rural Affairs Minister as anger brews over the future direction of the industry. Dozens of tractors and other farm vehicles drove up to the constituency office of Lesley Griffiths in Wrexham, North Wales on Monday (12 February). The protest was against the Welsh government's Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), which rolls out next year, replacing direct farm payments. As part of the new environmentally-focused scheme, farmers must ensure 10% of their land is planted with trees. But industry groups argue the changes will be unworkable for many, and are calling for a long-term stability payment to be included as an integral element of it. Eilir Jonesm who farms near Ruthin, told the BBC: "We face losing 20% of land, losing over 5,000 jobs. Losing land to trees to offset carbon for large companies. Farmers are feeling frustrated pic.twitter.com/OpDTR4Qo0S Gareth Wyn Jones (@1GarethWynJones) February 12, 2024 "They're the ones polluting, not us. We're the ones suffering. Why should we lose 20% of our productive land? "Which other sectors are facing losing 20% of their production to reduce carbon?" The protest follows a meeting of over 3,000 farmers at Carmarthen market where the proposals were discussed, with many believing their industry will be hit hard. In response to growing discontent, NFU Cymru has urged the Labour-led government to commit to 'a major overhaul' of the post-Brexit support system following a series of its own roadshow events. More than 2,000 farmers attended the nine events, where the union said 'concern and worry' were raised at SFS proposals. NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones said: Almost all of the comments fed back to us during these events gave a truly worrying picture of what farmers see the future of their farms looking like. The proposals as they stand will have far reaching impacts on Welsh farming, rural businesses and communities and it is vital that Welsh government listen to these concerns. "Whilst the title of the consultation suggests Welsh government want to keep farmers farming this will not happen if we are not profitable." Brewing anger has also led the Countryside Alliance to warn the two candidates standing for the leadership of Welsh Labour that there is a 'growing disconnect' between the government and rural areas. Jeremy Miles and Vaughan Gething are the only candidates fighting for the role of First Minister of Wales following the resignation of Mark Drakeford as leader of Welsh Labour. His replacement - likely to be named First Minister after a Senedd vote - will take up the role in March following a ballot of party members. Farmers are being encouraged to respond to the Welsh government's consultation on the SFS, which closes for responses on 7 March. Rural campaigners have welcomed a decision by carnival organisers to go ahead with a lamb race after they initially cancelled the show fearing backlash from activists. The "Lamb National" will once again form part of the Barton Carnival - which takes place in Lincolnshire - in June, the organising committee has now confirmed. Its chairman, Ben Troop, said the previous decision to cancel had been "rash", adding the committee had "satisfied concerns". Previously, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), argued the lambs "do not consent" to racing. But Mr Troop said: "We've been in touch with the relevant authorities and satisfied all of our concerns about it going ahead. "The committee is unanimous that cancelling was rash and we feel comfortable moving forward regardless of any abuse that comes through." The Countryside Alliance, which campaigns for rural issues, hit back at the online abuse targeted at the event and its organisers. In a public statement, the group argued that activists have little to no understanding of animal welfare. The lambs' owner said the breed, Herdwicks, have a natural ability to jump and their welfare is'paramount. A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said this was "a victory for common sense and the countryside". They said: "Theres no doubt that online abuse from animal rights activists can be extremely unpleasant, but we must never bow down to bullying, harassment, or intimidation. "We wish this fun and friendly event every good wish and would encourage anyone facing online threats to notify the police. Flash Turkiye's tourist hotspots attract many Chinese tourists during the week-long Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on Feb. 10 this year. Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul travel agency Ligarba, said that the Spring Festival is one of the biggest opportunities for millions of Chinese to travel abroad and a good opportunity for the Turkish tourism sector to welcome them in the best possible way. Istanbul, the country's largest city as well as its cultural and financial center, is the number one place attracts Chinese tourists, he said. The city tours organized for Chinese guests particularly cover the historic Sultanahmet peninsula, home to numerous palaces and buildings from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, and ferry trips along the Bosphorus Strait to see the historical mansions on its banks, he said. Nalan Yesilyurt, the owner of Demco, a tourism and travel company, said that Cappadocia in central Anatolia, known for its fairy chimneys and unique landscape, is another place of interest for Chinese people. "Pamukkale, known as the Cotton Castle in the southwestern province of Denizli, the archaeological site of Ephesus in western Izmir, are also usually filled with Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival," Yesilyurt told Xinhua. According to Yesilyurt, a new generation of Chinese travelers is becoming increasingly visible in the luxury travel market, favoring boutique excursions into local communities, culinary tours, and more comfort factors such as high standards of accommodation. "They are not satisfied with just sightseeing these places but want to experience the special features of these regions," she said, noting that the trend has led Turkish tourism companies to act in line with their changing travel habits. Hamit Kuk, chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, said the Turkish tourism authorities have been working hard to attract more Chinese tourists, who are among the industry's top welcomed patrons. "We expect at least one million tourists from China in the next few years, and we hold regular meetings with Chinese officials, introducing them the places and special tours that might be of interest to Chinese tourists and conducting promotional activities accordingly," Kuk said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Kuk added that Turkey hosted approximately 248,000 Chinese tourists in 2023 and expects exponential growth in the coming years. Revenue from tourism in Turkiye increased by 17 percent year-on-year to 54.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, and the number of visitors rose by 10 percent to 56.7 million. Roman Catholics in the Chippewa Valley have expressed confusion and frustration about a decision to permanently close HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls and all Prevea Health locations in the region. Hospital Sisters Health System, a Catholic faith-based health system with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, recently announced it would enact a complete exit from the western Wisconsin region. One of the reasons why this is reverberating so strongly in the Eau Claire and Chippewa community is that when you get people talking about it, just about everybody was born at either Sacred Heart or St. Joe's. And just from the family history standpoint, it hits so hard, said Rev. James Kurzynski. This is a big loss. A big change. And it hurts. Key developments in Chippewa Valley closures of HSHS and Prevea facilities HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls announced Jan. 22 they will permanently close along Kurzynski oversees St. Olaf Parish in Eau Claire and is the dean of the Eau Claire Catholic Deanery. He said the announcement the hospitals will close has him concerned. No advance notice No matter what happens to the facilities in the future, the association between the hospitals and the Roman Catholic Church is likely done. Thats been difficult, he said. But the Catholic Church doesnt have any say over the matter, he said. I'm hearing a lot of people presume that the diocese ran these hospitals, and we didnt. HSHS is a group out of Springfield, Illinois, and they are a Catholic group, he said. The way that those things work is that when there was a need to have an outside group come in for the hospitals that were here at the pleasure of the bishop so they have to get permission from the bishop to come and run the hospital. But the bishop in the diocese isn't a part of the daily administrative decision, which comes out of Springfield. Kurzynski said there was a collaborative relationship between the two Catholic hospital institutions in the region. But because the hospitals were run by Catholics from Illinois, theres not much they can do to influence the situation. That's one of the things for us locally that was hard. We found out about it the same day everybody else did, he said. It would have been nice to have that conversation before it hit the news. HSHS met earlier this month with the clergy of both the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls Catholic deaneries, Kurzynski said. It gave me peace of mind that good faith efforts were very much made by HSHS that sadly fell through. Our frustrations well, I wish they would have been more transparent about that with us, Kurzynski said. But they acknowledged to us that looking back they could have done things differently, in a better manner. Lasting impact Chippewa Falls Catholic Sheryl Miller used to volunteer at HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She said she appreciated the sisters who began and influenced the hospital. They were something special. They were just wonderful. Very dedicated group," she said. "Those women were in this work as a calling, and therefore many of us felt compelled to do the hard tasks of helping and healing." I was born at St. Joes. I dont go there often, but it is a loss," said Rob Miller, Cheryl's son. "I just feel terrible about all those folks losing jobs, and also where do we go now? What should I do? Its pretty crazy. How does the Catholic Church allow this to happen? Arent we better than this? According to A Tradition of Caring, Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis St. Josephs Hospital, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, which covers the history of the HSHS facilities in the region, the sisters group was headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, but quickly set out to serve residents across the upper Midwest. They were given a house on East Hill but soon moved to the West Hill in Chippewa Falls. In the 1970s, a new St. Josephs hospital was built in Chippewa Falls by the hospital sisters. They were separate from the nuns of the convent in Chippewa Falls associated with Lady of the Pines now Notre Dame Parish. Different orders of nuns had different missions. Some focused on education, others health care. So while all needed to serve the bishop and the dioceses, they didnt necessarily work together, Kurzynski said. When the sisters left, it was hard. It has definitively changed health care in our region. Our community will be less without Catholic health care, rooted in the Gospel, that serves the whole person, body and soul, Kurzynski said. Loss of addiction treatment center Kurzynski said he is especially concerned about the closure of L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center, which permanently closed last week. The things that worry me as a priest for this area in regard to the L.E. Phillips center is that when I was in Menomonie and at St. Joes I realized how the meth is just getting out of control. And to be quite frank, even law enforcement would share with us that addiction help was really getting undervalued because the opioid crisis is kind of white collar or blue collar problem, whereas meth is more of a poverty issue because of how cheap it is to get, Kurzynski said. Kurzynski said the drug issues that are happening both in regional cities and smaller towns are not going away. We have to figure that out. This community and not having a place like L.E. Phillips is going to really put us behind the 8-ball. It's so necessary for us to have a place where we can have treatment, he said. General health care Kurzynski said people also need cancer care, they need to deliver babies and they need help if they get cut or have an accident. We know that this is needed, we must, must have a hospital in Chippewa and Eau Claire, and we are doing everything we can to possibly help. I just hope that there is a solution, he said. But regardless this is a loss, a huge loss for Catholics because this is our history in the region. This is our everything. And now it wont be anymore. It is over. Kurzynski said the HSHS closures are truly a death in the family for our local Catholic community. While we understand HSHS worked for a different outcome than a complete exit, this solution is extremely painful and difficult for many. From Herald files: 10-page section celebrates 1975 opening of St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and several other trade associations from across the globe have called for wider cooperation among governments to keep shipping lanes open and safe. The more than 100 signatories in their open letter representing a range of critical industries, including agricultural products, retail, energy, clothing and footwear, urged governments to join, support or align with the mission to support safe and secure maritime commerce in the Red Sea and across the globe. The American Apparel & Footwear Association, the International Apparel Federation and several other trade associations from across the globe have called for wider cooperation among governments to keep shipping lanes open and safe. An open letter by their members representing several industries urged governments to join, support or align with the mission. The letter was released by the IAF and AAFA recently. IAF is the global federation for apparel manufacturers, brands owned by small and medium enterprises, their associations, and the supporting industry. "It is imperative that governments unite behind a zero-tolerance approach to deter attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers in the Red Sea, and anywhere in the world. The prosperity of millions of people who are employed in our industries and in the global maritime industry depends on safe and secure freedom of navigation," AAFA president and chief executive officer Steve Lamar said in a release. "These attacks have already caused upwards of $80 billion in cargo to be diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.This alternative route becomes even more challenging during the Southern Hemisphere winter months ... cooperation among nations is essential to signal the importance of free passage in international waters," said IAF secretary general Matthijs Crietee. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The ministry of finance has issued a new notification amending three key issues, including the identification of new markets, adjustment of cash incentives for five products in the readymade garment (RMG) sector, and a change in the effective date. This revision comes two weeks after the initial issuance of the circular on cash incentives withdrawal. Finance ministry issues new notification; alters markets, RMG incentives, and effective date. Revised notification restores Australia, India, Japan as 3 per cent incentive markets. The revised circular now includes cash incentives for previously excluded apparel items. Data shows 65 per cent of cash incentives mainly benefit garment and textile sector. The updated notification, released recently, reinstates Australia, India, and Japan as new markets eligible for a 3 per cent cash incentive. In the previous circular dated January 30, these markets were categorised under the traditional market, offering only a 0.5 per cent cash incentive. Additionally, the effective date of the incentives has been revised to February 1, contrasting with the previous period from January 1 to June 30, 2024, as specified in the circular issued on January 30. The amended circular also extends cash incentives to certain apparel items that were previously excluded, which include mens/boys knitted or crochet shirts, knitted or crochet briefs, T-shirts, singlets, vests, jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, as well as mens or boys suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, trousers, and related articles. Data from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) indicates products falling under five harmonised system (HS) codes contributed significantly to exports, amounting to $25.95 billion in the last fiscal (FY23). These products accounted for 46.71 per cent of the total export figure and 55.22 per cent of total apparel exports. The governments earlier circular on January 30 outlined a comprehensive plan to gradually reduce export subsidies for all goods, aligning with the nations impending graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026. Meanwhile, official government data revealed a substantial portion, approximately 65 per cent of these cash incentives, totalling nearly Taka 5,000 crore, primarily benefitting the garments and textiles industry. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR) Negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament recently reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed reform of the European Unions (EU) economic governance framework. The primary objective of the reform is to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all member states through reforms and investment. The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed reform of the EU economic governance framework. The aim is to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in member states through reforms and investment in strategic areas like digital and green. The new rules will significantly improve the existing framework and ensure effective and applicable rules for all EU countries. They will safeguard balanced and sustainable public finances, strengthen the focus on structural reforms, and foster investments, growth and job creation throughout the EU, said Belgian finance minister and Council negotiator Vincent Van Peteghem in an official release. The Council and Parliament agreed to maintain the reforms overall objective of reducing debt ratios and deficits in a gradual, realistic, sustained and growth-friendly manner, while protecting reforms and investment in strategic areas like digital, green, social and defence. At the same time, the new framework will provide appropriate room for counter-cyclical policies and address macroeconomic imbalances. The agreement also maintains the obligation for member states to submit national medium-term fiscal structural plans. The Commission will submit a reference trajectory to member states where government debt exceeds the 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) or where the government deficit exceeds the 3 per cent of GDP. The reference trajectory indicates how member states can ensure that by the end of a fiscal adjustment period of four years, government debt is on a plausibly downward trajectory or stays at prudent levels over the medium-term. The new rules will further encourage structural reforms and public investments for sustainability and growth. Member states will be allowed to ask for an extension of the four-year fiscal adjustment period to maximum seven years, if they carry out certain reforms and investments that improve resilience and growth potential and support fiscal sustainability and address common priorities of the EU. These include achieving a fair, green and digital transition, ensuring energy security, strengthening social and economic resilience and, where necessary, the build-up of defence capabilities. The provisional political agreement on the preventive arm of the economic governance framework is subject to approval by the Council in the committee of permanent representatives and by the Parliament economic affairs committee before going through a formal vote in both the Council and the Parliament. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Yoo Si Jin and Kang Mo-Yeon - Descendants Of The Sun Do Bong-Soon and Ahn Min-Hyuk - Strong Girl Bong-soon Kim Bok-Joo & Jung Joon-Hyung - Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo Ri Jeong-hook & Yoon Se Ri - Crash Landing On You Kang Tae Mu and Shin Ha Ri - Business Proposal Kook Yeon-soo and Choi Woong - Our Beloved Summer Kim Min-Kyu & Cho Ji-Ah - I'm Not A Robot Noh Ji-Wook and Eun Bong-Hee in Suspicious Partner Ahn Jeong Won & Jang Gyeo Ul In Hospital Playlist Seo Dal Mi and Nam Do San Start-Up Get ready to swoon and fall in love all over again as we delve into the enchanting world of Korean dramas. From heart-fluttering moments to unforgettable love stories, join us on a journey through the 10 most romantic K-drama couples that have captured the hearts of viewers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned K-drama aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, prepare to be swept off your feet by these iconic pairs who have set the standard for romance on the small screen. So grab your tissues and get ready to experience the magic of love Korean style!Here are some of the most romantic Korean Drama couples.Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyoYoo Si Jin and Kang Mo-Yeon from Descendants of the Sun are another iconic couple in the Kdrama world. Their love story unfolds amidst the backdrop of danger and duty, as Yoo Si Jin, a special forces captain, and Kang Mo-Yeon, a talented surgeon, find themselves drawn to each other despite their contrasting professions. Their relationship is filled with intense moments of sacrifice, understanding, and unwavering support as they navigate the challenges of their respective careers and the dangers of conflict zones. Their love transcends boundaries, demonstrating the power of love in overcoming adversity. Their chemistry and heartfelt moments captured the hearts of viewers worldwide, solidifying their place as one of the most beloved couples in Kdrama history.Park Bo-young and Park Hyung-SikAhn Min Hyuk and Do Bong Soon from Strong Girl Bong-soon are often considered one of the best couples in the Kdrama world for several reasons. Their relationship blossoms from a unique dynamic where Bong-soon, with her superhuman strength, protects Min-hyuk, the CEO of a gaming company, leading to hilarious and heartwarming moments. Beyond their comedic interactions, their love story is built on mutual respect, trust, and understanding, with both characters supporting and empowering each other to grow. Their chemistry is palpable, creating unforgettable moments that showcase their unwavering love and devotion. As they navigate through challenges together, viewers are drawn to their genuine connection and find themselves rooting for their happiness, making them a beloved and iconic couple in Kdrama history.Lee Sung-Kyung and Nam Joo-HyukKim Bok-Joo and Jung Joon-Hyung from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo are adored for their heartwarming and relatable love story. The couple stands out for its authenticity and portrayal of a supportive and genuine relationship. As Bok-Joo pursues weightlifting and Joon-Hyung, a swimmer, discovers the beauty of being true to oneself, their connection deepens. Their journey is marked by laughter, understanding, and encouragement, creating a narrative that resonates with viewers. The chemistry between Lee Sung-Kyung and Nam Joo-Hyuk brings the characters to life, making Kim Bok-Joo and Jung Joon-Hyung a cherished and memorable couple in the realm of Kdramas.Hyun Bin and Son Ye JinRi Jeong-hyeok and Yoon Se-ri from Crash Landing On You captivate audiences with their cross-border love story. Their romance unfolds against the backdrop of political tension and cultural differences, making it both poignant and compelling. Jeong-hyeok, a North Korean military officer, and Se-ri, a South Korean heiress, navigate the complexities of their contrasting worlds, defying societal norms for the sake of love. Their chemistry is palpable, and the sacrifices they make for each other tug at the heartstrings. The couple's journey is filled with suspense, humor, and genuine emotion, leaving a lasting impression on viewers and solidifying them as one of the most beloved Kdrama couples. Off-screen, the magic continued as Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, the actors behind the characters, tied the knot, further enchanting fans with their real-life romance that mirrored the fairytale love story of their characters.Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Se-jeongBusiness Proposal revolves around Shin Ha-ri, a food researcher, who helps her wealthy best friend, Jin Young-seo, by impersonating her to go on a blind date. Unexpectedly, her blind date turns out to be her CEO Kang Tae Moo, who then proposes to her. The webcomic of the same name was created by Hae Hwa with illustrations by Narak.Kim Da-mi and Choi Woo-shikChoi Ung and Kook Yeon-soo of Our Beloved Summer are former lovers who made a pact to never cross paths again. However, fate intervenes when a documentary they made in high school becomes a viral sensation, leading their friend and producer, Kim Ji-ung, to reunite them in front of the cameras. The series delves into their complex emotions and personal development, portraying the journey of falling in love. It tells a tale of attraction, reminiscence, and aspiration, with the romance depicted through subtle and often overlooked gestures.Yoo Seung-ho and Chae Soo-binKim Min-Kyu and Jo Ji-Ah from I'm Not A Robot embark on a unique and heartwarming journey that defies expectations. Min-Kyu, a wealthy CEO with a severe allergy to human contact, finds solace in Ji-Ah, who is hired to pose as a humanoid robot named Aji3. Their relationship blossoms as Ji-Ah struggles to maintain the facade while developing genuine feelings for Min-Kyu. Despite the initial deception, their love story is characterized by honesty, understanding, and acceptance. Min-Kyu learns to overcome his fears, while Ji-Ah discovers the true meaning of love and empathy.Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji-HyunNoh Ji-wook and Eun Bong-hee in "Suspicious Partner" form a captivating and endearing couple whose love story unfolds amidst intrigue and mystery. Ji-wook, a skilled prosecutor with a troubled past, crosses paths with Bong-hee, a spirited and determined aspiring lawyer who finds herself entangled in a murder case. Their initial encounters are marked by misunderstandings and conflicts, but as they work together to uncover the truth, they develop a deep bond and mutual respect.What sets Noh Ji-wook and Eun Bong-hee apart is the palpable chemistry and emotional depth portrayed in their relationship. Despite facing numerous obstacles and betrayals, their love for each other perseveres, proving that trust and loyalty can conquer even the darkest of circumstances. Their journey is filled with moments of laughter, tears, and heartwarming romance, captivating audiences with its sincerity and authenticityYoo Yeon Seok and Shin Hyun BeenAhn Jeong-won and Jang Gyeo-ul in Hospital Playlist form a heartwarming couple that captivates K-drama enthusiasts. Their journey begins as colleagues at the hospital, evolving from friendship to love with sincerity and authenticity. Jeong-won, a compassionate paediatric surgeon, finds balance in Gyeo-ul, a cheerful and determined general surgery resident. Their romance unfolds through subtle gestures and shared moments, highlighting their mutual understanding and support. What sets them apart is the natural portrayal of their relationship, grounded in respect, shared values, and emotional connection. K-drama lovers are drawn to their sweet interactions as they navigate the challenges of their demanding careers while exploring their feelings for each other. Ahn Jeong-won and Jang Gyeo-ul's love story resonates with authenticity and leaves a lasting impression on fans of the genre.Bae Suzy and Nam Joo HyukSeo Dal-mi and Nam Do-san in Start-Up are a dynamic duo whose love story captures the hearts of K-drama aficionados. Dal-mi, a determined and ambitious entrepreneur, and Do-san, a brilliant yet socially awkward tech genius, form an unlikely bond as they chase their dreams in the competitive world of start-ups. Their relationship blossoms amidst challenges and setbacks, with Dal-mi providing unwavering support to Do-san as he grapples with his insecurities. Their chemistry is palpable, and viewers are swept away by their heartfelt moments and genuine connection.What makes Seo Dal-mi and Nam Do-san's relationship special is the authenticity and depth portrayed in their journey. From their initial meeting to the growth of their love, their story resonates with K-drama lovers who appreciate the complexities of modern romance. As they navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and personal growth, their bond strengthens, proving that love can thrive even in the most challenging of circumstances. ~ Standing Next to You ~ Ahn Hyo Seop Asia Tour Once more #AhnHyoSeop pic.twitter.com/PHBTlAw30H Applewho1987 (@applewho1987) February 12, 2024 Ahn Hyo-seop, the actor known for his exceptional acting skills, has begun an exciting adventure with his tour across Asia, The Present Show - Here and Now. The tour has received high praise and successfully filled stadiums at each location.In a whirlwind of achievements, his recent performance in Tokyo has become a centre of excitement for fans and enthusiasts. Among a diverse setlist that included well-known songs like Wasted Nights by ONE OK ROCK and I Love You by Yutaka Ozaki, it was Ahn Hyo-seop's moving interpretation of BTS member Jungkook's popular song Standing Next to You from his first solo album GOLDEN that deeply resonated with both the audience and online users, igniting passionate conversations and appreciation on different platforms.Check it out here:Ahn Hyo-seop, also known as Paul Ahn, is a Canadian actor born in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of seven, he moved to Toronto, Canada with his family, and later returned to South Korea at 17 while his family stayed in Canada. He has a degree in International Business from Kookmin University and is proficient in playing the piano and violin.Ahn Hyo-seop is best known for his roles in Korean dramas Dr. Romantic 2, Business Proposal, Still 17, Lovers of the Red Sky, A Time Called You and more. The trailer begins with a glimpse of our three protagonists against the backdrop of the phrase "Want to escape." We witness a tense exchange between Han Tae-oh and his father, who ominously threatens him from prison, accusing Tae-oh of his actions and vowing revenge. Concerned, Tae-oh urgently seeks help to evade the impending danger. In the new trailer for the highly anticipated drama The Impossible Heir is out now. The show unveils an intense competition for power within Korea's largest conglomerate. Lee Jae-wook plays the cold-hearted yet honourable Han Tae-oh, Lee Jun-young portrays the complex character Kang In-ha, and Hong Su-zu takes on the role of Na Hye-won.Check it out here:The focus then shifts to Kang In-ha, the illegitimate son of a powerful family, yearning for recognition from his father. We also meet Na Hye-won, burdened by her mother's gambling debts. Despite their hardships, the trio is determined to climb the ladder of success.Tae-oh boldly claims to possess something stronger than power itself, "Desperation." This sets the stage for the intense power struggle ahead as they pursue their ambitions. Tae-oh pledges support to In-ha, promising to ensure his success. Thus begins a tumultuous journey intertwined with ambition and adversity as they strive for power.Lee Jae-wook embodies Han Tae-oh, a figure defined by his sharp intellect and cool-headed logic. Despite being the son of a criminal, Han Tae-oh seeks redemption by partnering with Kang In-ha, the unrecognised heir of Korea's esteemed Kang Oh Group. Together, they plot to dismantle the conglomerate's leadership. Han Tae-oh, with his strategic acumen and calculated demeanour, takes charge, hiding his emotions behind a stoic facade.Meanwhile, Lee Jun-young portrays Kang In-ha, a character masking deep desires beneath a carefree facade. As the overlooked illegitimate son of the Kang Oh Group, Kang In-ha teams up with Han Tae-oh, fueled by a longing for acknowledgement. Initially operating discreetly, Kang In Ha becomes entangled in his relentless pursuit to rise within the Kang Oh Group's ranks.The Impossible Heir premieres on February 28, 2024. Priyanka Nalkari's Relationship Revelation Shocks Fans: Actress Priyanka Nalkari, renowned for her portrayal in the hit serial "Roja," which aired on Sun TV, has set tongues wagging with her recent revelation of being single. The announcement has left fans in a state of shock and curiosity about the reason behind her relationship status update. "Roja" stands as one of Sun TV's most popular serials, catapulting Priyanka Nalkari to fame with her stellar performance as the lead heroine. Garnering a massive fan following through the show, Priyanka's role in "Roja" became popular. Despite the serial concluding its run in 2022, Priyanka continued to charm audiences with her stint in the Zee Tamil serial "Seetha Raman." However, her abrupt departure from the serial midway raised eyebrows as news of her marriage surfaced. In a clandestine ceremony held in March last year at a temple in Malaysia, Priyanka tied the knot with her beau, Rahul Verma, a businessman. The unexpected revelation of her wedding, shared through candid Instagram posts, caught many by surprise. Speculation was rife about familial objections and her subsequent settlement in Malaysia, hinting at her retirement from acting. Rumours and Speculation: The Mystery Behind Priyanka's Relationship Status Contrary to expectations, Priyanka staged a comeback with the Tamil serial "Nala Damayanthi" aired on Zee Tamil. Yet, recent activity on her social media has piqued interest, with fans noticing cryptic posts hinting at inner turmoil. Deleting all traces of her husband, including photos and videos, Priyanka's actions have fueled rumours of marital discord. During an interactive session with fans on social media, Priyanka addressed queries about her relationship status, confirming her single status. Reports suggesting a separation from her husband Rahul have stirred the gossip mill, leaving fans bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Despite widespread speculation, neither Priyanka nor Rahul have officially commented on their alleged split, leaving fans clamouring for answers. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2024 / Adam Shaul, the forward-thinking CEO of SunTrust Remodeling, is unveiling his inspiring vision for the future of the construction and remodeling industry, backed by tangible examples. With a strong commitment to building a large construction company, delivering exceptional customer service, offering competitive pricing, and contributing to solving homeowners' needs, Adam Shaul's leadership is poised to shape the trajectory of the industry. Under Adam Shaul's guidance, SunTrust Remodeling has consistently been a pioneer in embracing innovations, industry trends, and cutting-edge technologies to meet the evolving demands of customers. Shaul's vision for the future encompasses specific examples: Building a Substantial Construction Company: Adam Shaul envisions SunTrust Remodeling growing into a major player in the construction and remodeling sector. The company's track record includes over 400 successfully completed projects and a team of more than 30 dedicated construction professionals. This demonstrated capability positions SunTrust Remodeling to become a recognized leader in the industry. Strong Pricing and Affordability: In a rapidly changing world, affordability is a priority. Adam Shaul is committed to offering competitive pricing to make top-tier construction and remodeling services accessible to a wide range of homeowners. SunTrust Remodeling recently launched a cost-effective home exterior renovation package, which has already enabled several families to enhance their homes without breaking the bank. Helping Solve Homeowners' Needs: SunTrust Remodeling is dedicated to addressing the unique needs of homeowners. Adam Shaul envisions the company as a partner in solving real issues faced by homeowners. An example of this commitment is SunTrust Remodeling's recent adoption of eco-friendly, energy-efficient coatings like TexCote CoolWall. This innovative solution not only beautifies homes but also reduces energy costs and contributes to sustainability. In his statement, Adam Shaul expressed his passion for this vision, saying, "I am deeply committed to the future of SunTrust Remodeling. Our goal is not only to build a large construction company but to be a leader in delivering excellent customer service, offering affordability through strong pricing, and actively contributing to solving homeowners' needs. We will continue to set new standards in the industry, providing outstanding services and products to our clients." Adam Shaul's vision for SunTrust Remodeling aligns with the evolving demands of the construction and remodeling industry and is substantiated by real-world examples. With a commitment to growth, customer satisfaction, affordability, and innovation, SunTrust Remodeling is poised to shape the future of the industry. Dedication to Sustainability: Moreover, Adam Shaul's commitment to sustainability is evident in his endeavors to incorporate drought-resistant landscaping into home construction projects. Living in a region prone to water scarcity, Adam recognizes the significance of implementing eco-conscious practices to mitigate environmental impact while creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces for homeowners to enjoy. By prioritizing drought-resistant landscaping solutions, SunTrust Remodeling not only conserves precious resources but also enhances the resilience and aesthetic appeal of properties in drought-prone areas like Los Angeles. Employees First> At the heart of SunTrust Remodeling's success lies a steadfast commitment to its employees. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of each team member, Adam Shaul places a strong emphasis on cultivating a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and motivated to excel. By prioritizing the well-being and professional development of its workforce, SunTrust Remodeling fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence, ultimately driving the company's success and reputation for unparalleled service and quality craftsmanship. For more information about SunTrust Remodeling and their vision for the future, please visit their website at www.suntrustremodeling.com . About SunTrust Remodeling We are building Southern California's largest exterior services and home improvement company. We utilize the latest techniques and materials in roofing, exterior painting, solar integration, window replacement, and drought-resistant landscaping services to deliver exceptional results for our customers. Since 2022, we have completed over 400 projects, booked millions in revenue, and have grown our organization to over 30 dedicated construction and sales professionals. By joining us, you will receive above-market compensation, comprehensive training, and the opportunity to be part of a company that prioritizes the success of their employees above all else. Contact: Phone Number: (949) 490-3074 Email: hello@suntrustremodeling.com SOURCE: SunTrust Remodeling View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2024) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTC Pink: AAIRD) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a company focused on scientifically-proven EMF modulation technology, announces that, due to higher than anticipated investor demand, the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") is being increased to up to 26,666,666 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000. 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 (the "Accelerated Expiry"). 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 such number of non-transferrable finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") equal to 7% of the number of Units that are sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by such parties. Each Finder's Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Unit at a price of $0.15 per Unit for a period for 24 months from the Closing, subject to the Accelerated Expiry. The Offering is subject to the approval of the CSE. The securities issued in connection with the Offering 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 15, 2024, or such earlier or later date as the Company may designate. For additional information, please see the Company's press release dated February 5, 2024. About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. Aires has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi, 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/197686 SOURCE: American Aires Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2024) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company), a B.C. based company engaged in the exploration for organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate in Nevada, is pleased to announce it has entered into a consultant agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") with an independent consultant Integrity Media Inc. (the "Consultant") with respect to the Consultant agreeing to serve as the Company's Manager of Government Relations for a term of (1) one-year, led by its president, Kurt Divich. In consideration for the appointment and services over the term of the Consulting Agreement, the Company has agreed issue 800,000 common shares (each, a "Share") to the Consultant at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share. The Company also announces it has entered into a consultant agreement (the "Agreement") with an independent consultant (the "Independent Consultant") pursuant to which the Independent Consultant has agreed to provide the Company general corporate development and business marketing services for a (3) three-month term. As consideration for services over the term of the Agreement the Company has agreed issue 260,000 common shares (each, a "Share") to the Independent Consultant at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share. Accordingly, all the Shares are to be issued pursuant to the prospectus exemption provided under Section 2.24 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and are subject to a hold period of four months and one day. Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. NOP is a junior exploration company with a sedimentary rock phosphate property (the "Murdock Property") hosting a nearly flat lying sedimentary bed of known phosphate mineralization in NE Nevada. The increasing interest in organic and sustainable agriculture practices has contributed to the demand for organic fertilizers, including those derived from rock phosphate. Organic rock phosphate is often marketed as a fertilizer that not only provides phosphorus but also contributes to overall soil health. The Issuer aims to be one of the only certified organic rock phosphate producers with large scale potential in North America. The Murdock Property is situated adjacent to a main highway and the rail head to California. For More Information Robin Dow, CEO T: 604.355.9986 E: robin@dowgroup.ca Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. Forward- looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197696 SOURCE: Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. EAU CLAIRE Matt Thoms, 20, of Wilson has always been smart about finances. While in high school, he picked up a job at an auto repair shop. After he graduated, he worked his way up at the shop to become a structural technician and then an autobody technician. He squirreled his money away to save up for the electrical power distribution program at Chippewa Valley Technical College. He worked seven days a week for years to make sure he could pay cash for school. When he began the program in June of this year, he wasnt resting on his financial laurels. He knew scholarships were available, so he threw his hat in the ring. Then he learned he qualified for and received Xcel Energys Power of Us scholarship a full-program scholarship that includes the cost of tuition, materials and fees associated with the nine to 12-month electrical power distribution and gas utility programs, up to $10,000. When he received the full-ride scholarship, Thoms was in disbelief. It was unbelievable, he said. My jaw hit the floor. I couldnt believe it. I thought, This has got to be a mess up. But it was not a mess up. The goal of the scholarship is to increase the number of multicultural students in the electric and natural gas industry. Thoms is part Filipino. His grandmother came to the United States from the Philippines. Brian Elwood, Xcel Energys regional vice president of customer and community service in Wisconsin and Michigan, said this is the first time the energy company has offered this scholarship. We strongly believe that this scholarship opens new opportunities for students who may have not considered a career in the electric or natural gas industry, he said. Elwood added that the company wants to lead by example to foster new avenues for recruitment, hiring, advancement and development to reach a broader candidate pool for careers in the company. Karen Kohler, CVTC vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the CVTC Foundation, said the college and Xcel Energy have a long-standing relationship. Xcel Energy is a longtime partner on our advisory committees, provides sponsorships opportunities for many of our events and is a known leader in our community and region, she said. They show that it is vital to have a diverse workforce that reflects the communities and customers the company serves. BJ Rauckman, now retired from Xcel Energy, oversaw the companys electric distribution operations and is a member of the CVTC Foundation board. He said the company is known for helping foster growth within the energy industry to attract new students and workers. As an Xcel Energy employee and retiree, I feel proud and grateful that the company is able to offer an opportunity like this to a prospective energy industry student, he said. Xcel Energy has been forward looking in its support for technical colleges and specifically CVTC by being an active member of their Foundation board and serving with members on both their electric power distribution and gas advisory committees. The college is grateful for the tight-knit collaboration with Xcel Energy. Kohler said partnerships like these benefit students and the community. As CVTC works with local high schools and district-wide organizations that provide career exploration and training, we hope to expose students to these opportunities and encourage students to apply for all scholarships at CVTC, including the Xcel Energy Power of Us scholarship, Kohler said. Rauckman said Xcel Energy relies on CVTC for much of its skilled workforce. In addition, Xcel Energy takes advantage of safety training and other electrical power distribution workforce resources at the college. Thoms is learning more about Xcel Energy now that he was awarded the scholarship, which will pay for all of his technical diploma. Getting this scholarship from Xcel Energy hasnt set in, Thoms said. Its an amazing opportunity to have with an employer that is dedicated to bringing people into their industry. It is one of the places I hope to get into as a new lineman. To have this opportunity Im going to take it and run with it. The COP Presidencies Troika, a key achievement of the COP28 Presidency mandated by the UAE Consensus, unites COP28 with the next two COP Presidencies - Azerbaijan and Brazil - to drive ambitious collective climate action. The three will work on the 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C'. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "The Troika represents critical and unprecedented collaboration to maintain momentum, lock in continuity and anchor implementation." It will provide a platform for the three Presidencies to collaborate on various activities until COP30, to raise ambition across all pillars of the Paris Agreement to course correct in line with the UAE Consensus agreed in Dubai. The collaboration between the three COP Presidencies, or Troika, was mandated in the UAE Consensus to "significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5C within reach." Representatives of the three COP Presidencies met at Expo City Dubai, to launch the COP Presidencies Troika. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "At COP28, Parties mobilized behind historic climate action through both the negotiations and their commitments to the Presidential Action Agenda. We cannot afford to lose momentum; we must do everything we can to keep 1.5C within reach." The Troika's laser focus on the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will ensure that countries' individual commitments deliver enhanced climate action, are guided by climate urgency. Its work to mobilize political momentum and channel resources towards NDCs will help to ensure ambition by all countries, while supporting developing countries in accelerating a just transition. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said: "The unity of this Troika will help deliver on the ambition needed to tackle climate change, through collaboration, cooperation and coordination.'" DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- COP28 today launched a partnership with Azerbaijan and Brazil, who will host COP29 and COP30 respectively, to improve cooperation and continuity between current and future COP Presidencies, leading to increased climate action in support of 'Mission 1.5C'. The partnership, known as The COP Presidencies Troika, marks the first time that a current COP Presidency has been formally mandated to unite with two future presidencies to foster international cooperation to stimulate ambition. COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, "The Troika represents critical and unprecedented collaboration to maintain momentum, lock in continuity and anchor implementation." The Troika, which means group of three, will help to ensure the delivery of the Presidencies' collective responsibilities and support of global priorities, which in turn will transform agreement into action by government and non-government stakeholders. Speaking at the launch of the Troika, held in Expo City Dubai, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "COP28 delivered a different, groundbreaking COP, that culminated in The UAE Consensus. At COP28, Parties mobilized behind historic climate action through both the negotiations and their commitments to the Presidential Action Agenda. The Troika helps ensure we have the collaboration and continuity required to keep the North Star of 1.5C in sight-from Baku to Belem and beyond. The breakthroughs we all achieved at COP28 must carry forward to COP29 and 30-in ambitious nationally determined contributions, climate finance follow through, and accelerated implementation." An agreement for the three Presidencies to work together on a 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C' was mandated by the UAE Consensus. Supported by all 198 Parties, this agreement must now be actioned under the COP Presidencies Troika. The agreement states that the partnership will "significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with a view to enhancing action and implementation over this critical decade and keeping 1.5C within reach." Dr. Al Jaber said: "The UAE Consensus included a clear mandate for the three Presidencies-the UAE, Azerbaijan and Brazil-to cooperate on the 'Roadmap to Mission 1.5C'. We will be working together through the COP Presidencies Troika, with our friends in Baku and Brazil, to ensure that promises made in Dubai are fulfilled through closer, focused partnerships and credible support to enable delivery. Together we ensure that new agreements forged at the next COP set us on the path we need to achieve our mission." COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, is expected to agree on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to respond to the needs and priorities of developing countries. The adoption of the NCQG will constitute the most significant climate finance milestone since the 2009 commitment by developed countries to a goal of mobilizing jointly USD $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. Building on both the UAE Consensus and the outcomes of Baku, at COP30 in Brazil, the Troika's laser focus on the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) round will ensure that countries' individual commitments deliver ambitious climate action. This will accelerate the global collective ability to meet the Paris goals in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources, joined Dr. Al Jaber, and highlighted: "We are committed to leveraging our strength as a bridge builder between the developed and developing world as host of COP29, to accelerate efforts to keep 1.5 in reach. Key to that will be establishing a new climate finance goal that reflects the scale and urgency of the climate challenge. And equally important, unlocking those funds and getting them to the nations that need them most." Minister Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, said: "As I said in Dubai, we need to make the most of the opportunity that this Troika of COP Presidencies presents: to ensure that in these coming two years we will be able to do what science tells us we have to, in the last window of opportunity to achieve the 1.5C ambition." Following the launch of the Troika, Simon Stiell, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, said: "The unity of this Troika will help deliver on the ambition needed to tackle climate change, through collaboration, cooperation and coordination. This is an opportunity to cement what was agreed at COP28, ensure that it is enabled by COP29 and the subsequent actions taken at COP30 with new ambitious NDCs - shifting finance from trickles to torrents and delivering 1.5C aligned NDCs." Notes to Editors COP28 UAE: At the historic COP28, countries came together to deliver The UAE Consensus - the most ambitious and comprehensive set of negotiated outcomes to come out of the UNFCCC process since COP21. The UAE Consensus includes an unprecedented reference to transitioning away from all fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner in this critical decade to enable the world to reach net zero emissions by 2050, in keeping with the science. An important opportunity lies in working multilaterally on commitments to deliver high-ambition decisions at COP28, including through the UAE Consensus. This can lead to real economy action for 2030 and help with setting of interim targets that strengthen the NDCs in 2025 in the lead-up to COP30. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop28-launches-the-cop-presidencies-troika-in-partnership-with-the-cop29-and-cop30-presidenciesa-groundbreaking-initiative-to-support-mission-1-5c-by-maintaining-momentum-locking-in-continuity-and-anchoring-implementation-302060267.html CPX provides outstanding solutions and services to protect organizations through consulting, integration, managed security services, and advanced cybersecurity capabilities. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently researched the United Arab Emirates (UAE) physical security services industry and, based on its findings, recognizes CPX with the 2023 Company of the Year Award. CPX is a prominent provider of physical security services in the UAE, with a comprehensive service and solution portfolio that includes a security operations center, network operations center, managed security services, cloud security, security consulting, systems integration, and digital forensics capabilities. CPX is a key participant in mitigating sophisticated cyber threats in the UAE's digital economy, specifically tailoring its wide range of products and services to meet the unique needs of its client base. The company integrates physical security and cybersecurity to create a robust, multi-layered defense system, serving a variety of sectors, including government, banking, healthcare, and energy and utilities. CPX's profound expertise in the physical security services industry guarantees enhanced protection for its clients' systems, especially during cloud transitions. Exceptional support in cloud migration emphasizes CPX's commitment to delivering comprehensive, top-notch security solutions that are effective and easy to implement. This support showcases CPX's ability to capitalize on new growth opportunities and adaptability in a rapidly evolving digital economy. "CPX takes a comprehensive approach to addressing organizations' day-to-day cyber-physical security challenges, offering a service suite that integrates physical and cyber security to provide convergent security and protection that is reliable and effective. Its portfolio encompasses cyber-physical solutions and delivery, integrated physical security, C4i, cyber resilience services, red team services, and cloud security services, covering all security aspects, from planning and development to operating and optimizing," said Saurabh Verma, Senior Director, ICT at Frost & Sullivan. The company demonstrates a remarkable focus on VIP security, offering personalized solutions to a diverse client base that includes high-profile individuals and paramilitary forces. CPX's approach is deeply client-centric, prioritizing the understanding of each client's unique needs and objectives. This strategy includes conducting in-depth assessments, offering tailored solutions, and providing extensive training and support in multiple languages, ensuring its clients are well-equipped to manage their security systems. Moreover, collaboration with various stakeholders and partners enhances CPX's ability to create a robust cybersecurity ecosystem. As a result, this strategy of forming purposeful partnerships and delivering customized solutions contributes to securing the networks of local businesses and positioning CPX as one of the top cybersecurity companies in the UAE. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year Award to the organization that demonstrates excellence, in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership, in terms of customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion . Contact: Tarini Singh P: +91- 9953764546 E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com About CPX Holding CPX, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, is a leading provider of digital-first cybersecurity solutions and services. Established in 2022, CPX protects public and private sector organizations with customized solutions that reduce the risk of sophisticated cyberattacks. We provide clients and partners with end-to-end cybersecurity capabilities to ensure compliance with stringent cybersecurity standards and accelerate their cyber maturity. Learn more at www.cpx.net Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338337/CPX_Award.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cpx-earns-frost--sullivans-2023-united-arab-emirates-company-of-the-year-award-for-delivering-superior-cybersecurity-solutions-with-a-strong-leadership-focus-that-incorporates-client-centric-strategies-302059020.html On this healthy lovers' menu: caprese salad, spaghetti with broccoli, ricotta and pecorino and heart-shaped lemon biscuits. OSLO, Norway, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valentine's Day dinner made with fruit and vegetables seasoned with passion. The "I Love Fruit & Veg from Europe" campaign proposes seasonal produce for a romantic vegetarian meal, because light and digestible can be a delicious alternative. The campaign, supported by the Italian producers' organizations, Agritalia, A.O.A., La Deliziosa, Meridia and Terra Orti, and co-funded by the European Commission, aims to promote the conscious purchase and consumption of quality European produce. Start with a caprese salad. Cut the mozzarella into a heart shapes, place on slices of tomato and season with basil, olive oil and salt. Tomatoes contain lycopene that raises testosterone levels and improves libido. Broccoli improves circulation and stimulates the female libido. Lemons, with their high vitamin C content, boost the male libido. Spaghetti with broccoli, ricotta and pecorino Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 10 minutes Ingredients for 2 250g broccoli onion 1 chilli salt extra-virgin olive oil 450g ricotta 20g of pecorino 250g spaghetti Separate the broccoli florets and boil in salted water for five minutes. Drain but keep the water. Finely chop the onion and saute in a little oil until soft. Add the broccoli, cook for a few minutes over high heat, then add a little cooking water, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring. Add the chilli. Mash the ricotta. Cook the spaghetti in the broccoli water, drain and add to the sauce. Add the ricotta, a little water and stir. Serve with a sprinkling of pecorino. Heart-shaped lemon cookies Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 10 minutes Ingredients for 20 biscuits 2 eggs 150g granulated sugar (100g for the dough and 50g for sprinkling) grated zest of 1 lemon 220g vegetable oil 300g flour 8g baking powder Beat the eggs with the sugar until creamy and beat in the zest and oil. Add the flour and baking powder and mix until smooth. Chill the dough for 30 minutes. Roll out the dough and cut biscuits using a heart-shaped cutter. Dip in sugar and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Bake at 180 for 10 minutes. Remove, cool and serve in a red box. Discover more: www.ilovefruitandvegfromeurope.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186810/I_Love_Fruit_Veg_Europe_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186811/3_Member_EU_Footer_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/i-love-fruit--veg-from-europe-healthy-eating-and-passion-with-a-vegetarian-valentines-day-302059614.html NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH OFFERS OR SALES OF SECURITIES WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW Solidium has today, 13 February 2024, placed 7,782,765 shares in Kemira Oyj, representing approximately 5.0 per cent of all the shares in Kemira Oyj, in an accelerated bookbuilt offering to Finnish and international institutional investors (the "Equity Offering"), at a price of EUR 16.0 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately EUR 125 million. Following the Equity Offering, Solidium no longer owns shares in Kemira. "This share sale is a continuation of the sales in recent years, where Solidium has reduced its holding in Kemira. Already for a long time, Oras Invest has been serving as a Finnish anchor owner in Kemira, and it is natural that through the sale Solidium releases capital for other future needs. Thus, the State's ownership of over 100 years in Kemira comes to an end," says Solidium's CEO Reima Rytsola. Carnegie Investment Bank AB, Finland Branch and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) Helsinki Branch acted as Joint Bookrunners for the Equity Offering. Solidium is a limited company wholly owned by the State of Finland. Its mission is to strengthen and stabilise Finnish ownership in nationally important companies and increase the value of its holdings in the long term. The basis and core objective of Solidium's strategy is proper, value-enhancing asset management of its current holdings. Through its stakes, Solidium is a minority owner in twelve listed companies: Anora, Elisa, Konecranes, Mandatum, Metso, Nokia, Nokian Tyres, Outokumpu, Sampo, Stora Enso, Tietoevry and Valmet. The market value of Solidium's investments is approximately EUR 7.2 billion. Further information: www.solidium.fi/en. Further information: CEO Reima Rytsola, Solidium Oy, +358 50 048 2691 Important notice THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO BUY, SELL, ISSUE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SELL, ISSUE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR ANY SECURITIES, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED TO AND IS DIRECTED AT "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, (A) HAVING PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"); (B) WHO ARE HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 49(2) (A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER; OR (C) OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM THEY MAY LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO AND WILL ONLY BE ENGAGED IN WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A RELEVANT PERSON SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR 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). THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY INVESTMENT DECISION TO BUY SECURITIES IN THE EQUITY OFFERING MUST BE MADE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS OR THE SELLER. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR ANY COPY OF IT MAY BE TAKEN, TRANSMITTED OR DISTRIBUTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH OFFERS OR SALES WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIAN, CANADIAN, JAPANESE OR OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE OFFERING OR SALE OF THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED BY LAW. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR ANY OTHER PERSON THAT WOULD PERMIT AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OTHER OFFERING OR PUBLICITY MATERIAL RELATING TO THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS. THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS ARE ACTING EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE SELLER AND NO ONE ELSE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EQUITY OFFERING. THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS WILL NOT REGARD ANY OTHER PERSON (WHETHER OR NOT A RECIPIENT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT) AS THEIR CLIENT IN RELATION TO THE EQUITY OFFERING AND THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE SELLER FOR PROVIDING THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEIR CLIENTS NOR FOR GIVING ADVICE IN RELATION TO THE EQUITY OFFERING OR ANY TRANSACTION, ARRANGEMENT OR OTHER MATTER REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE EQUITY OFFERING ON A PROPRIETARY BASIS. The Airwell Group (Euronext Growth, ALAIR), creator of smart energy ecosystems, today announced its alliance with Synerpod, a French company that seeks to implement large-scale energy renovation for collective and individual housing, and the CETIH group, which specialises in the housing and energy renovation sectors to tackle fuel poverty in buildings. In this context, the Airwell Group announces that it has acquired a minority shareholding in Synerpod. Founded in 2021, Synerpod is an innovative start-up aiming to implement large-scale energy renovation for collective and individual housing affected by fuel poverty. On 9 February, Synerpod opened its plant in Montaigu (Saint-Hilaire-de-Loulay, western France) which focuses on producing the "Enerpod", a prefabricated outdoor unit (off-site) designed for social landlords to deliver energy renovation in individual housing that can be quickly installed. This unit is fitted with a silent dual-service heat pump supplied by Airwell, a hot water tank, dual flow controlled mechanical ventilation and an electronic circuit board. It provides multiple benefits: time saved and cost savings, quality assurance and increased safety, enhanced durability, easier maintenance and reduced on-site pollution. With this innovative concept, Synerpod aims to implement large-scale energy renovation for collective and social housing impacted by fuel poverty. Considering that 4.8 million buildings are poorly insulated in France, the task of combating fuel poverty is huge. To address this major challenge, the Airwell Group has acquired an equity interest in Synerpod, alongside the CETIH (Compagnie des Equipements Techniques et Industriels pour l'Habitat) group - 13% and 6% respectively - as part of an overall capital increase of 500k. Building on this alliance, the Airwell Group, Synerpod, and CETIH plan to develop a range of complementary products. The three players have also responded to a call for tenders from ADEME (French ecological transition agency) to "develop off-site construction and renovation". By responding through a consortium of companies, the three partners are taking an innovative, fully integrated and more efficient approach. A pan-European project - The first major order to renovate 400 homes for social landlords Synerpod's innovation is part of the European EnergieSprong movement, which aims to massively scale up comprehensive energy renovation for housing, with a focus on new methods of industrialising renovation, and on specifications based on requirements for results rather than means. In France's Pays de la Loire region, this movement has given rise to the MASH (Shared purchasing for housing services) initiative led by the USH (France's non-profit organisation for social housing) and an association of 14 social landlords. The project aims to introduce a grouped order for EnergieSprong renovations in around 2,000 housing units. Against this backdrop, since 1 January 2024, Synerpod has helped social landlords implement energy renovation in 400 homes thanks to its Enerpods. A second project is scheduled to renovate 32 houses in Roanne (Loire department, central France) for the property manager, Opheor, serving as a demo for landlords in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region (southeast-central France). Next release: Full-year 2023 results, 23 April 2024, before the market opens About Airwell Founded in 1947 in France, Airwell is France's leading designer of heat pumps in the field of climatic and thermal engineering. A major operator, the French pioneer in heat pumps and then the leading European manufacturer in the 1970s, Airwell became Groupe Airwell in 2021. In a market driven by the energy transition, the company aims to become a reference in Europe, and a key player in climate and thermal solutions based on needs and uses on a global level, with a presence in 80 countries. The French developer of climatic and thermal solutions continued to develop in an effort to optimise the energy consumption of its products, protect natural resources and capture solar energy, thereby significantly reducing its customers' environmental footprints. Based in Montigny-le-Bretonneux (78), Groupe Airwell has more than 100 employees. In March 2023, Groupe Airwell became a member of the Communaute du Coq Vert run by Bpi France and ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition). Compartment: Euronext Growth Paris; Ticker: ALAIR www.groupe-airwell.com Contacts Laurent ROEGEL CEO investisseurs@airwell.com Rodolphe OSSOLA Listing Sponsor rodolphe.ossola@atoutcapital.com +33 (0)1 56 69 61 86 ACTUS FINANCE ET COMMUNICATION Financial communication Anne-Pauline PETUREAUX apetureaux@actus.fr +33 (0)1 53 67 36 72 Media Relations Manon Clairet mclairet@actus.fr +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yZttZcpvk22XnGtplMptl2Fol25plpKWmZaemGmeZJaam55imGxkbsnHZnFll2Vm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-84200-airwell_pr_synerpod_final.pdf NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Tolu Minerals Limited (ASX: TOK; OTCQX: TOLUF), a mineral exploration and development company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Tolu Minerals Limited begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "TOLUF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Iain Macpherson, MD & CEO of Tolu Minerals Ltd. said: "We are pleased to announce our qualification to trade on the OTCQX Market. Trading on OTCQX, which will provide additional visibility and market exposure, better access to the US investment community and improved convenience of trading in Tolu ordinary shares and is part of our ongoing strategy to introduce Tolu to a broader international audience. Tolu's focus is on exploration and development of our wholly owned, highly prospective portfolio of gold/copper/silver targets in Papua New Guinea, leveraging the refurbishment of the existing Tolukuma Gold Mine. We are now better placed to attract the interest of U.S. investors seeking exposure to Tolu and the gold/copper/silver markets." B. Riley Securities acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor. About Tolu Minerals Limited Tolu's growth strategy involves the exploration and appraisal of its highly prospective pipeline of gold, copper and silver assets leveraging the infrastructure of Tolukuma Gold Mine (Tolukuma), returning Tolukuma to high grade gold silver production and aspires to become a leading gold, copper and silver producer in Papua New Guinea (PNG) whilst adopting leading environmental standards and enhancing the lives of employees, local communities and PNG nationals. Tolu is focussed on the exploration and development of gold, copper and silver resources in the prolific PNG epithermal gold/copper producing district. Tolu has acquired a large and very prospective portfolio leveraging the refurbishment of the existing high grade and fully permitted Tolukuma, approximately 100 km North of the PNG capital Port Moresby, that has a history of producing a gold/silver dore having already produced approximately 1 Moz gold at an average recovered grade of 15 g/t gold with a further 50 g/t silver. Tolukuma currently has a Mineral Resource Estimate, prepared in accordance with the JORC Code (2012), of 1.6 M tonnes at 10 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag containing 503 Koz gold and 1.9 Moz silver. (AMC 18 August 2022, AMC Independent Geologists Report October 2022, available on www.toluminerals.com). In December 2023 Tolu announced an Exploration Target of 2 to 3 Moz gold grading 8 to 11 g/t gold on and adjacent to Tolukuma Gold Mine, (ASX announcement dated 11 December 2023, www.toluminerals.com). Tolu has successfully completed the 100% acquisition of Tolukuma along with its associated assets and mine infrastructure and seven exploration permits surrounding Tolukuma, with a further application underway. Tolu has a clear strategy to restart Tolukuma and subsequently to leverage the wider Tolukuma area resource and infrastructure into a large, world-class gold mining project. Tolu has also secured 100% exploration rights over the Mt. Penck (EL 2662) on the Island of New Britain PNG (Mt Penck). Tolu has therefore secured 100% ownership of a prospective pipeline of gold, silver, copper projects totalling some 1,700 km2. Tolu has assembled a strong team with both international and PNG experience with a track record of exploration, project development and operations, with a particular focus on restart projects and capital raising in the mining and other sectors and is well qualified to develop and maximise the potential of Tolukuma and Mt Penck. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX Best Market, OTCQB Venture Market and Pink Open Market. Our OTC Link Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets. OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com Citryll, a clinical-stage biotech company developing first-in-class therapeutics to treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Maarten Kraan, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Kraan is a rheumatologist who brings more than 25 years of biopharmaceutical development experience. Dr. Kraan joins Citryll after his CMO role at AM-Pharma. Prior to that, he held various senior medical and R&D positions at Pierre Fabre S.A., AstraZeneca, Roche and Bristol Myers-Squibb. During this time, he was involved in the launch of Nulojix (belatacept) for delayed graft function in renal transplant, as well as the development of Orencia (abatacept), Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab) and fostamatinib for rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Kraan will replace Dr. Patrick Round, who will continue to support the company during the transition period. Dr. Kraan's appointment as CMO comes at an important moment for Citryll, given its recent start of a first-in-human study in rheumatoid arthritis patients with CIT-013, its lead Neutrophil Extracellular Trap-targeting antibody. Importantly, the Company also anticipates the initiation of Phase 2a proof-of-concept trials later this year in rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa patients. "Citryll's leadership in therapeutically addressing the Neutrophil Extracellular Trap pathway, a new field of biology, is a unique opportunity to improve current treatment paradigms for rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa patients," said Maarten Kraan, M.D., Ph.D., CMO at Citryll. "CIT-013 has great therapeutic potential across autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, and I am eager to contribute with my experience to this journey." "It is a pleasure to welcome Maarten to the team. He brings outstanding industry experience and a demonstrated track record in the clinical development of therapeutics in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases," said Eduardo Bravo, CEO at Citryll. "Attracting someone of Maarten's standing to join Citryll is a testimony to the innovation and potential of our therapeutic approach. His arrival comes at the right time as we move towards our proof-of-concept clinical trials." Editor's Note Maarten Kraan Bio Maarten Kraan is a rheumatologist and holds an M.D. and Ph.D. in Immunology from Leiden University. Dr. Kraan has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience. Most recently, he was CMO at AM-Pharma. At Pierre Fabre S.A., he acted as the head of Research Development and was responsible for their R&D strategy. Previously, Maarten was head of R&D at Stallergenes Greer Ltd. and CMO at Therachon, which was later acquired by Pfizer. Dr. Kraan also held the positions of Senior Vice President and Head of Innovative Medicines Respiratory and Inflammation at AstraZeneca, as well as the Vice President and Head of Clinical Research and Experimental Development Inflammation at Hoffmann-La Roche. Before this, Dr. Kraan was the Vice President of Immunosciences at Bristol Myers-Squibb and was the Senior Global Director at Schering-Plough, which is now part of MSD (trademark of Merck Co., Inc., USA). Notably, Dr. Kraan was also involved in the development of Orencia (abatacept), Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab) and fostamatinib for rheumatoid arthritis. About Citryll Citryll has translated a deep understanding of the neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) pathway to therapeutically address its central role in a broad range of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. With a unique dual mode of action, the company's lead antibody, CIT-013, has reached the clinic by demonstrating a precise and powerful ability to control NETs and NETosis. Citryll is initially developing CIT-013 as a novel drug for rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa, which may serve as enabling indications for a wide spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The initial clinical trials with CIT-013 are expected to provide the foundation for a new treatment paradigm for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213289543/en/ Contacts: Citryll Sjoerd van Gorp, COO Email: info@citryll.com Citryll Media Contacts Trophic Communications Gretchen Schweitzer or Priscillia Perrin Email: citryll@trophic.eu Phone: +49 151 21941277 IFCO Sustainability Certificates recognize the commitment of growers, producers and retailers to make the global fresh grocery supply chain sustainable. IFCO Sustainability Certificates acknowledge each customer's specific environmental savings achieved together with IFCO in 2023. Third-party, peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies are the basis for scientifically calculating the environmental impact and benefits. The LCA studies show that by using IFCO RPCs instead of single-use packaging customers save up to 60% CO2e, 64% energy and 80% water, as well as reduce solid waste by 86%. MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following another record year in environmental savings, IFCO, the world's leading provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) for fresh products, has awarded customers with the IFCO Sustainability Certificate for the seventh consecutive year. The individual customer certificates recognize the commitment of growers, producers and retailers to improve the environmental performance of their supply chains. Importantly, each certificate highlights the specific environmental savings achieved together with IFCO in terms of carbon emissions, energy use and water consumption, as well as in solid waste and food waste. Record environmental savings achieved in 2023 In total, by using the IFCO SmartCycle circular business model, customers have generated the following environmental savings in 2023. 658,279 metric tons CO2e emissions - equivalent to circling the planet 138,505 times by car 363,070 metric tons of solid waste - equivalent to the yearly solid waste production of 698,175 people 12,677 megaliters of water - equivalent to 5,071 Olympic size pools 45,196 terajoules of energy - equivalent to the yearly energy consumption of 3,069,180 households 59,035 tones of product waste - equivalent to 94 million meals The role of Life Cycle Assessments and the IFCO Sustainability Certificate Backed by the results of third-party, peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment studies, IFCO reliably calculates the environmental benefits of using IFCO RPCs and awards trustworthy Sustainability Certificates to its customers each year. The LCA studies,1 which were carried out by LCA experts Franklin Associates in the US and the Fraunhofer Institute in the EU, scientifically quantify the environmental performance of IFCO RPCs compared to single-use packaging. The studies were performed in accordance with ISO 14040/44, the leading international standard for life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies. By analyzing carbon emissions, energy use, water consumption, solid waste and food waste, these studies provide comprehensive data on the cradle-to-grave environmental savings achieved through switching from single-use packaging to IFCO RPCs. The LCA studies show that, compared to using single-use packaging, customers generate up to 60% less CO2e, use 64% less energy, consume 80% less water, and reduce solid waste by 86% and A separate study by the Fraunhofer Institute and University of Bonn found that the IFCO RPCs also reduce food waste by 96%.2 Essentially, the environmental benefits are achieved as IFCO RPCs are reused up to 120 times, repaired when damaged and, when no longer repairable, granulated to be closed-loop recycled into new IFCO RPCs at the end of their long service life. This unique circular model has recently received the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver recertification for the European Lift Lock RPCs. In addition, the unique IFCO SmartCycle pooling system is professionally managed through high-tech, resource-efficient Service Centers, which supports producers, suppliers, distributors and retailers in achieving their ambitious sustainability goals and reducing the overall environmental footprint of their supply chains. Going beyond the circular IFCO SmartCycle While the LCA studies confirm that the IFCO circular business model is inherently sustainable, the company is committed to achieving even more. Guided by the IFCO ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) 2025 strategy, Thriving in the Circular Economy, IFCO has set ambitious goals to make the fresh grocery supply chains sustainable and ensure a meaningful positive impact on our planet and society. The IFCO ESG 2023 report confirms that the company is on track to achieve the 2025 ESG goals, including securing 100% certified green electricity for all IFCO-operated Service Centers and attaining carbon neutrality in operations. Moreover, IFCO has officially committed to setting carbon reduction targets in line with science. By 2040, IFCO intends to fully decarbonize their supply chain and become a Net Zero business. The key decarbonization levers and milestones are outlined in detail in the IFCO Roadmap to Net Zero. What's more, the Science Based Targets initiative, an independent body, validated IFCO's near-term science-based targets (SBTs) for 2031, confirming that the company's goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions align with a 1.5-degree scenario, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The environment benefits of IFCO RPCs are measurable and impactful Since 1992, when IFCO pioneered reusable packaging solutions, the company has continued to invest in its circular business model to support its goal of making the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable. In response to demand from its customers, IFCO first introduced the Sustainability Certificates in 2018 so that each customer could highlight the positive environmental impacts of their decision to switch to IFCO RPCs. Being awarded the certificate is also a clear endorsement of a company's sustainability values. Michael Pooley, IFCO CEO, explains: "Thanks to our investments in high-tech facilities and digital solutions, we are making the IFCO SmartCycle pooling system even more efficient, which ultimately benefits our customers, our society and our planet. For the seventh year in a row, we're delighted to award our customers with the IFCO Sustainability Certificates in recognition of their commitment and progress toward accelerating the shift to sustainable supply chains." Inigo Canalejo, Vice President, ESG and Strategic Marketing, says: "We make sure the impact of our circular business model is measurable. As the independent LCA studies have consistently shown, we support our customers in their transition to the circular economy and a reduced environmental footprint. Our transparent approach allows our customers to make informed decisions about the environmental impact of their choices around reusable packaging. Increasingly, IFCO customers underline the positive impact of using IFCO RPCs in their supply chains by including these environmental savings in their ESG reports and sharing it with their employees, customers and other stakeholders. And that makes us proud." Download the IFCO ESG 2023 Report: https://www.ifco.com/about-ifco/sustainability/esg-report-2023/ About IFCO IFCO is the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, serving customers in 50+ countries. IFCO operates a pool of over 380 million Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) globally, which are used for over 2 billion shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, bread, and other items from suppliers to grocery retailers every year. IFCO RPCs ensure a better fresh food supply chain by protecting freshness and quality and lowering costs, food waste and environmental impact compared to single-use packaging. More: www.ifco.com | Follow us on LinkedIn @IFCO SYSTEMS About Cradle to Cradle Certified Cradle to Cradle Certified is the world's most advanced science-based, multi-attribute certification program for designing, making and verifying materials and products that are safe, circular and responsibly made. For more information, see https://c2ccertified.org/ 1 "Carbon Footprint of Food Packaging" by Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) - The Foundation for Reusable Systems and conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in accordance with the international standards on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ISO 14040/44, - Critical review by DEKRA. February 2018. "Comparative life cycle assessment of reusable packaging containers and display- and non-display-ready corrugated containers used for fresh produce applications" LCA commissioned by IFCO and conducted by Franklin Associates, Peer reviewed by panel members (BAMAC, Ltd., and University of Michigan, Center for Sustainable Systems) in accordance with the international standards on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ISO14040/14044, February 2017, Conversion factors are sourced from various well recognized organizations such as the EPA. 2 "Determination of spoilage levels of fresh fruit and vegetables according to the type of packaging" by Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) - The Foundation for Reusable Systems and conducted by Fraunhofer Institute for Logistics and Material flow. May 2013. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338941/ifco_sustainability_certificate_PR_website_banner_EN.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ifco-delivers-record-environmental-savings-during-2023-and-awards-its-customers-with-annual-sustainability-certificates-302060375.html DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , one of the world's top three crypto exchanges by volume, is proud to announce upcoming events as part of its partnership with DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), which has been a driving force in shaping the future of the crypto and Web3 landscape, after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June 2023. A Look Ahead Bybit and DMCC are set to host a special side event in April, during the Token 2049 in Dubai, marking Dubai's ascent as a hub for digital assets. DMCC will also play a key role in Bybit's fifth "Let Web3 Happen in Dubai" series on Feb. 19, delving into legal compliance, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), and Real World Assets (RWA). The partnership between Bybit and DMCC aims to elevate Dubai's status as a global leader in blockchain and Web3 innovation, providing support and resources to industry pioneers. Crypto Academy: Elevating Blockchain Education In 2023, we set a new benchmark in blockchain education with the launch of the DMCC x Bybit Masterclass, offering unparalleled entrepreneurial guidance. This year, we're taking a giant leap forward with the introduction of the Bybit Web3 Academy. We're excited to extend an invitation to DMCC to collaborate once more on this pioneering educational initiative. MENA's Largest Hackathon Over the course of the partnership, Bybit has been DMCC's strategic partner, directing a plethora of projects over the past year. One remarkable occasion was the "Web3 Unleashed: Crypto Innovation Challenge" hackathon in November - the largest of its kind in the MENA region and featured a $100,000 prize pool. From over 100 applicants, 10 teams showcased their innovations, covering GameFi, decentralized finance (DeFi), Web3 infrastructure, Web3 Education, and sustainable blockchain solutions during the hackathon's final stage. Showcasing Web3 In October 2023, at the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai, Bybit and DMCC's booth was more than just a display; it was a window into the concept of The Crypto Ark, where anyone who wants to be part of Web3 can find a home. Their shared space was a tangible representation of two titans in the crypto realm. Supporting Innovation Financial support was another cornerstone of this partnership, with Bybit committing AED 500,000 to aid 15 emerging crypto businesses. Four companies have already been connected through DMCC, with collaboration and support processes well underway. The "Web3 Unleashed: Crypto Innovation Challenge" epitomized the partnership's impact, drawing in over 100 applicants, shortlisting 10 for the final demo day, and selecting three winners to share a prize pool sponsored by Bybit and other partners. Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, reflected on the partnership's success, stating, "Our joint efforts with DMCC have laid the groundwork for future crypto innovators. We've seen firsthand the impact of fostering a supportive ecosystem where emerging talents can thrive. Bybit is committed to continually setting the stage for the next generation of crypto projects." Bybit / TheCryptoArk / BybitDMCC About DMCC Headquartered in Dubai, DMCC is the world's most interconnected Free Zone, and the leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities. Whether developing vibrant neighborhoods with world-class property like Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai, or delivering high performance business services, DMCC provides everything its dynamic community needs to live, work and thrive. Made for Trade, DMCC is proud to sustain and grow Dubai's position as the place to be for global trade today and long into the future. www.dmcc.ae About Bybit Bybit is one of the world's top three crypto exchanges 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: media@bybit.com 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 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339399/image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267288/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-and-dmcc-continue-to-trailblaze-the-future-of-crypto-and-web3-302060401.html BENGALURU, India, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced its strategic collaboration with Pacific International Lines (PIL), a leading Singapore-based shipping company with strong networks in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. This collaboration aims to accelerate PIL's digital transformation initiative and create a positive impact for their key stakeholders across the shipping and logistics ecosystem. Infosys will help revamp PIL's existing customer portal and deploy a scalable and modern technology platform for them. This will enable PIL to further their 'Driving Connectivity' mission, which is aimed at connecting their businesses across the markets that they serve. In addition, PIL's web and mobile applications will undergo a comprehensive overhaul to simplify user experience and enhance customer engagement. Infosys, with its extensive logistics expertise, will provide a strong technical backbone for the performance and scalability of the revamped portal. The multi-year, multi-phased collaboration seeks to address critical business challenges such as modernizing web and mobile applications, enhancing scalability, and providing advisory services on the latest technology and business trends. Lionel Patrice Chatelet, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacific International Lines (PIL), said, "We are looking for a partner who can not only bring technology but also play an advisory role in the journey of transformation. Infosys brings together a strong combination of right capabilities as well as highly collaborative ways of working. We are delighted to collaborate with Infosys." Karmesh Vaswani, EVP & Global Head Retail, Consumer Goods & Logistics, Infosys, said, "With our strong domain expertise in multimodal logistics, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that not only address our client's current needs but also set the stage for embracing the latest industry trends. As a trusted advisor, we aim to transform PIL's customer portals to become simple, intuitive, and more experiential, leveraging scalable technology through the AI-powered Infosys Topaz suite of offerings." About Pacific International Lines (PIL) Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is ranked 12th among the world's top container shipping lines and is also the largest home-grown carrier in Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, PIL is a global carrier with a focus on Asia, China, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Oceania and the Pacific Islands. Together with its affiliated companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of 100 container and multi-purpose vessels. Apart from the core liner shipping business, PIL also has several other business units such as container manufacturing, depot and logistics services. PIL strives to meet the needs of its customers by providing value-adding services such as intermodal, breakbulk and reefer services delivered on innovative technological platforms. With its focus on 'Driving Connectivity' and commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050, PIL aims to be an efficient, sustainable and future ready shipping line. For more information, visit www.pilship.com About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infosys-collaborates-with-pacific-international-lines-to-drive-digital-transformation-in-logistics-industry-302060514.html Farmers and ranchers in Boone, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte and Polk counties will be receiving an estimated $9.7 million in cash-back dividends returned by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) as part of the financial cooperatives patronage program. Eligible customer-owners were issued cash-back dividend checks the last week of January. This years cash-back dividend is equal to 100 basis points or a return of 1% of a customers eligible average daily loan balance with FCSAmerica. The 2024 payout equates to the following county-level distributions (amounts are rounded) $3.8 million in Boone County. $907,000 in Hamilton County. $434,000 in Merrick County. $276,000 in Nance County. $3.2 million in Platte County. $1.1 million in Polk County. Payout data for every county in Nebraska is available on the interactive 2024 Cash-Back Dividends Distribution Map. The Board of Directors for FCSAmerica has also approved a cash-back dividend to be paid from the cooperatives 2024 net earnings, the amount of which will be determined in December. Since 2004, FCSAmerica has offered a patronage program and shared its success in the form of cash-back dividends. The cooperative has now returned more than $1 billion to farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses in Nebraska. TOKYO, Feb 13, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has received an order for one system of core equipment for a high-efficiency power generation facility, including a state-of-the-art M701JAC (J-series Air-Cooled) gas turbine, for the third facility planned to be built at the Navoi Power Plant (Navoi 3) by JSC Thermal Power Plants, the state electric power corporation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The planned system will comprise a gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) to generate 600 megawatts (MW) of electric power and 200 Gcal/h of heat. Commercial operation is scheduled to start in 2026. This is the third order received by Mitsubishi Power for GTCC equipment for the Navoi Power Plant.The Navoi Power Plant is located approximately 360 km southwest of the capital of Tashkent. Mitsubishi Power had previously supplied GTCC power generation equipment for the nearby power plants Navoi 1 and Navoi 2, which started operations in 2013 and 2019, respectively. Navoi 3 will also utilize gas-fired GTCC power generation to supply electricity to the surrounding area, as well as industrial steam and district heating to the Navoi Free Economic Zone (Navoi FEZ).In addition to supplying the gas and steam turbines, Mitsubishi Power will handle the design, procurement, manufacture, and commissioning of the core components of the power generation facilities and major auxiliary equipment, such as air-cooled condensers and gas compressors. The generator will be manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.Mitsubishi Power has received many orders for large-scale gas turbines in Uzbekistan, including state-of-the-art JAC and F series. This latest project is the 13th such order and the fifth for a JAC series gas turbine, giving Mitsubishi Power a market share of about 90% large-scale gas turbines in the country. In addition, the company supports the country's diverse power and heating needs. This has included fulfilling a series of orders for H-25 small- and medium-sized gas turbines for a city-based distributed natural gas-fired cogeneration facility being constructed in Tashkent. Through its projects, Mitsubishi Power has contributed to the stable supply of electricity in Uzbekistan by maintaining high reliability through efficient maintenance services.Going forward, Mitsubishi Power will continue to support the stable and efficient operation of the electric power business for the realization of energy transition in Uzbekistan. The company will make a concerted effort as a corporate group to further focus its resources into promoting the adoption of high-efficiency, environmentally friendly GTCC power generation equipment, and contributing to the stable supply of electric power indispensable to economic development worldwide, and helping to achieve a sustainable, decarbonized world.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Industrial Gases Market by Type (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Acetylene, Inert Gases), End-use Industry (Chemicals, Electronics, Food & Beverages, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Metallurgy, and Refining), and Region - Global Forecast to 2028", Industrial Gases Market is projected to grow from USD 105.6 billion in 2023 to USD 137.9 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.5%. The growing healthcare industry is serving as a major catalyst for the robust growth of the industrial gases market. Industrial gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, play indispensable roles in various medical applications, including respiratory therapies, medical imaging, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. As the healthcare sector continues to expand globally, driven by an aging population, technological advancements, and increased emphasis on healthcare infrastructure, the demand for industrial gases in critical medical processes is witnessing a significant surge, solidifying their pivotal role in supporting and advancing healthcare services. Browse in-depth TOC on "Industrial Gases Market". 158 - Tables 49 - Figures 212- Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=143368202 "By Type, Hydrogen is expected to be third fastest growing gas after Oxygen and Nitrogen during the forecast period." Hydrogen stands as the third fastest-growing industrial gas, following oxygen and nitrogen, owing to its versatile applications across diverse industries. Widely recognized for its role in petroleum refining and chemical synthesis, hydrogen is gaining prominence in the emerging field of green energy. It serves as a clean fuel for fuel cells, a promising technology for electric vehicles and stationary power generation. Additionally, hydrogen is integral to industries such as electronics, where it is used in the production of semiconductors, showcasing its pivotal position in advancing both traditional and cutting-edge industrial applications. "By End-use Industry, food and beverages industry to be the fastest growing end-use industry." The food and beverages industry has emerged as the fastest-growing end-use sector in the industrial gases market, driven by an increasing focus on food preservation, quality enhancement, and innovative processing methods. Industrial gases, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide, play pivotal roles in various applications within this sector. In food preservation, the controlled atmosphere provided by nitrogen helps extend the shelf life of perishable goods, preventing oxidation and microbial growth. Additionally, carbon dioxide is widely used in the carbonation of beverages, contributing to the effervescence in sodas and sparkling drinks. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=143368202 "Europe is the third largest market after Asia Pacific and North America during the forecast period." As the semiconductor industry experiences growth and innovation under the European Chips Act, there is a corresponding opportunity for the industrial gases market in Europe. The increased emphasis on electronic components' design, manufacturing, and integration into systems, as well as the support for research and innovation in next-generation microprocessors, is likely to spur demand for industrial gases in manufacturing processes, particularly in semiconductor fabrication. This aligns with the broader goal of supporting the digital transformation of the economy and society, fostering advancements in technology, and contributing to the objectives outlined in the European Green Deal, ultimately propelling the growth of the industrial gases market in Europe. The leading players in the industrial gases market are Air Liquide (France), Linde plc (England), Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (US), Messer SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), and Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp. (Japan). Browse Adjacent Market: Mining, Minerals and Metals Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Industrial Nitrogen Market - Global Forecast to 2022 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/industrial-gases-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/industrial-gases.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/industrial-gases-market-worth-137-9-billion-by-2028--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302060428.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Condor Resources Inc. - ("Condor" or the "Company") (TSXV:CN) is pleased to announce encouraging assay results from the maiden diamond drill program that concluded in December at the Pucamayo East project in Peru. A total of 2,353m was drilled in nine diamond drillholes, testing a 600m by 900m (0.54 sq km) area of the four square kilometer advanced argillic alteration zone exposed on the Pucamayo property. (Figure 1) Highlights of mineralized intercepts include: 0.83 g/t AuEq over 72.5m including a sub-interval of 18.96 g/t AuEq over 2.0m in hole PUC-E005, 1.11 g/t AuEq over 11.8m and a second interval of 0.53 g/t AuEq over 52.2m in hole PUC-E-001, 0.63 g/t AuEq over 10.3m in hole PUC-E-004, 1.42 g/t AuEq over 2.0m and a second interval of 8.26 g/t AuEq over 2.0m in hole PUC-E-006, 1.62 g/t AuEq over 3.8m in hole PUC-E-007, 1.06 g/t AuEq over 20m in hole PUC-E-008, and 0.44 g/t AuEq over 32.8m in hole PUC-E-009. A table detailing significant results is presented below. SUMMARY OF DIAMOND DRILL RESULTS FROM PUCAMAYO EAST Drillhole AZ DIP DEPTH *Interval length Au Ag Cu Pb Zn **AuEq from to m g/t g/t % % % g/t PUC-E-001 20 75 393.0m 4.5 45.3 110.5 16.3 97.5 118.5 11.8 52.2 8.0 0.22 0.20 0.26 33.0 19.8 9.0 0.19 - - 0.32 0.19 0.12 0.47 0.15 - 1.11 .53 .30 PUC-E-002 70 70 288.0m no significant results PUC-E-003 60 75 119.0m no significant results PUC-E-004 150 60 442.0m 106.0 304.5 109.1 314.8 3.1 10.3 0.10 0.19 23.5 17.2 - 0.12 - 0.13 1.28 0.15 0.85 0.63 PUC-E-005 Includes Includes 140 55 488.0m 172.0 190.0 228.5 238.5 322.5398.5 178.0 262.5 240.5 240.5 336.5 404.5 6.0 72.5 12.0 2.0 14.0 6.0 0.18 0.45 2.05 11.43 0.20 0.10 - 30.0 152.0 687.0 - 36.0 - - 0.24 - - 0.45 0.24 - - 0.11 - - 0.30 0.14 0.13 0.21 - 0.47 0.37 0.83 4.05 18.96 0.20 1.25 PUC-E-006 210 60 226.0m 35.6 143.5 37.6 145.5 2.0 2.0 0.45 7.97 90.0 20.9 - - - - - 0.16 1.42 8.26 PUC-E-007 70 55 150.0m 2.0 45.0 7.0 48.8 5.0 3.8 0.18 0.20 17.8 43.4 - - 0.21 2.12 - 0.68 0.44 1.62 PUC-E-008 270 55 110.8m 26.9 46.9 20.0 0.27 33.7 0.26 0.26 - 1.06 PUC-E-009 225 60 136.5m 58.7 91.5 32.8 0.19 9.4 - 0.17 0.25 0.44 * True widths are unknown. **AuEq assumes US $2,040/oz gold, US $22.00/oz silver, US $3.85/lb copper, US $0.98/lb lead, US $1.12/lb zinc. No metallurgical testing has been conducted, so 100% metal recoveries are assumed in the AuEq calculation. The AuEq formula is Au (g/t) + Ag (g/t)x(Ag price/Au price) + Cu (g/t) x (Cu price per troy ounce/Au price) + Pb (g/t )x( Pb price per troy ounce/Au price) + Zn (g/t) x( Zn price per troy ounce/Au price). Prices in pounds converted to prices per troy ounce. One pound = 453.6 grams; one troy ounce = 31.10 grams. "We are pleased with the results of this first drill program at the Pucamayo East project" stated Ever Marquez, Condor's VP Exploration. "Our maiden drill program has identified a substantial mineralized and altered area with locally elevated precious and base metals with some of the best values coming near surface. Intercepts include both long intervals of low grade precious and base metal mineralization as well as local high-grade structures, notably 18.96 g/t AuEq over 2.0m. We have tested only a small part of Pucamayo and are excited by the potential that remains in what appears to be a much larger mineralized system." Six of the nine drillholes tested the extent of high sulphidation type epithermal gold and silver bearing outcropping ledges of breccia and four of these (PUC-E-001, 007, 008 and 009) intersected near surface gold-silver-poly metallic intervals ranging from 3.8m to 52.2m, and grades from 0.1 to 1.1 g/t AuEq. Two holes (PUC-E-002 and 003) drilled to the east and collared higher in elevation encountered barren steam heated host rocks interpreted to lie above the mineralized zones intersected in PUC-E-001, 007, 008 & 009. A detailed drill hole location map is available on the Company website. (https://condorresources.com/site/assets/files/3982/pucamayo_east_drillhole_map_and_details.jpg) Three deeper holes (PUC-E-004, 005, and 006) tested an outcropping area of multi phase stockwork and alteration associated with anomalous gold and copper with associated IP chargeability and resistivity anomalies interpreted to be an intrusive related system. The best of these, PUC-E-005 intersected a 72.5 interval from 190-262.5m grading 0.45 g/t Au, 30 g/t Ag (0.83 g/t AuEq) including a 2 m high grade interval of 11.43 g/t Au, 687 g/t Ag (18.96 g/t AuEq). PUC-E-006 intersected a 2m interval grading 7.97 g/t Au, 20.9 g/t Ag (8.26 g/t AuEq). All three of these holes encountered extensive amounts of pyrite and discontinuous zinc, copper, and lead mineralization associated with argillic/phyllic altered andesitic/dioritic host rocks. Condor recognizes that the inaugural drill program has tested a relatively small portion of the 4 sq km area of argillic/silicic alteration zone present on the property. This large alteration zone is interpreted to represent a halo or high level-lithocap lying above a potentially mineralized porphyry system at depth to the southeast of the drilled area. (Please refer to Figure 1) This area lies within the Company's concessions, but requires an expansion of the permitted (DIA) work area. Mineralogical (Terraspec) studies to evaluate alteration zoning are currently underway on material collected from the recent drilling program to assist in vectoring towards future potential target areas. FIGURE 1: Area of argillic/silicic alteration interpreted to represent a halo or high level lithocap southeast of 2023 drilled area Condor is an active explorer focused exclusively on Peru, supplemented by a project generator and royalty model designed to generate exploration capital whilst minimizing shareholder dilution. The Company's objective in advancing our portfolio of projects is the discovery of a major new precious metals or base metals deposit in Peru. Project acquisition and exploration activities are managed by the Company's Lima based exploration team. Qualified Person/QA/QC David W. Moore, P. Geo. (BC) who serves on the Advisory Board of Condor is a non-independent qualified person as defined by NI-43-101. Mr. Moore has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Condor employs industry standard QA/QC and data verification protocols. Drilling was performed by Energold Drilling Peru SAC. 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. 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 including standards, blanks and duplicates 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 Condor to the laboratory upon delivery. Samples were shipped to and assayed by SGS del Peru S.A.C. in Lima, Peru, a laboratory whose quality control system complies with International Standards OHSAS 18001, ISO14001 and ISO 9001. Samples were analyzed using a customary four-acid digestion system with 50 element ICP-MS analysis was conducted on all samples, with silver, copper, lead and zinc being re-analyzed with atomic absorption spectrometry method when analyzing over the ICP limits. Gold is assayed using a fire assay with an atomic absorption spectrometry finish. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lyle Davis, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information please contactthe Company at 1-866-642-5707, or by email at info@condorresources.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are 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 the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Condor Resources Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Atacama Copper Corporation (TSXV: ACOP) ("Atacama Copper" or the "Company" or the "Resulting Issuer"), is pleased to announce completion of its previously announced business combination involving TCP1 Corporation ("TCP1") and 1000723052 Ontario Corporation ("Subco"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Business Combination"). Pursuant to the Business Combination, the Resulting Issuer has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of TCP1 ("TCP1 Shares") in exchange for common shares of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Shares"), resulting in the reverse takeover of the Resulting Issuer by TCP1. Subject to receiving final acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), the Resulting Issuer Shares are expected to resume trading on the TSXV on or about February 15, 2024, as a tier 1 mining issuer under Atacama's current symbol "ACOP". Highlights of the Transaction: Creates a diversified exploration and development company with assets near established operations in geologically prospective regions of Mexico and Chile. Builds a leadership team with a proven history and track record of discovery, exploration success, mine building, operations, and community engagement and relations. Closing of the concurrent financing establishes a well-capitalized company supported by a strong group of stakeholders, including Pierre Lassonde, Trinity Capital Partners, senior executives of Ross Beaty's Lumina Group, and a major strategic investor. Provides multiple avenues of shareholder value creation as the combined asset base is advanced through focused and generative exploration programs that will support expansion of the mineralized footprint, in addition to early engineering and test work that will support future project optimization. Establishes a platform for future acquisition and consolidation opportunities in the Americas. A 10,000-metre diamond drilling program will commence at the Company's Cristina precious metals project within the next two weeks. The program is aimed at better delineating and expanding the high-grade zones within the main Guadalupe Vein, as well as other high-grade veins in the area to both increase the size and the grade of the resource at Cristina. The current mineral resource estimate comprises: Indicated resources of 17.5 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 33.8 g/t silver, 0.47% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.04% copper (1.33 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 752,000 gold-equivalent ounces. Inferred resources of 19.0 Mt at 0.51 g/t gold, 27.5 g/t silver, 0.50% zinc, 0.19% lead and 0.05% copper (1.27 g/t AuEq grade), for a contained 777,000 gold-equivalent ounces. Details of the Cristina mineral resource estimate can be found in the Company's press release of October 30, 2023, and in the National Instrument 43-101 compliant report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource for the Cristina Project" prepared for TCP1 and Atacama Copper by Jacob W. Richey, PE, with an effective date of January 1, 2023 and issue date of December 1, 2023. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Highlights from previous drilling campaigns at Cristina include: Hole From (m) To (m) True Width (m) AuEq (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Cu (%) Guadalupe Vein ACD17-78 104.5 112.7 4.5 10.31 2.95 442.7 0.42 1.76 0.06 CRD10-11 71.5 80.0 6.0 8.86 1.59 429.3 0.65 1.75 0.06 ACD20-163 272.7 280.6 3.9 8.47 0.99 119.7 2.77 8.22 0.26 ACD17-80 133.15 139.35 4.0 7.63 2.29 233.1 0.99 2.96 0.06 Mexico Libre Vein ACD19-121 58.85 62.1 1.5 16.90 14.7 55.6 0.83 1.91 0.06 ACD19-103 110.65 115.6 3.6 15.12 10.04 141.9 1.39 4.07 0.27 Los Ingleses Vein ACD17-70 37.0 37.3 0.2 608.35 601 444 0.69 1.74 0.40 CRD15-53 165.5 169.5 3.1 14.32 7.84 117.7 1.07 6.73 0.41 Note: Intercepts are reported as estimated true widths. Metal Prices used in AuEq calculation are: $1700/oz Au, $23.61/oz Ag, $1.32/lb Zn, $0.94/lb Pb and $3.78/lb Cu Gold equivalent formula: AuEq = Au + 0.014*Ag + 0.532*Zn + 0.379*Pb + 1.525*Cu (recoveries were assumed to be 100%.) At Yecora, a 3,000-metre diamond drill program is planned to test the depth extension of the multiple breccias currently delineated on the property. We see an exciting opportunity to materially increase the size and scope of the current resource base in the near term. The current mineral resource estimate at Yecora comprises: Indicated resources of 25.3 Mt at 0.30% copper, 28.5 g/t silver, and 749 ppm molybdenum (0.79% CuEq grade), for a contained 444 Mlb of Cu-equivalent. Inferred resources of 11.2 Mt at 0.30% copper, 24.2 g/t silver, and 831 ppm molybdenum (0.78% CuEq grade), for a contained 193 Mlb of Cu-equivalent. Details of the Yecora mineral resource estimate can be found in the Company's press release of October 30, 2023. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Activities in Chile will be focused on completing negotiations for surface easements to conduct planned geophysical surveys across the main alteration zones, as well as a follow-on drilling campaign tentatively planned for 2025. Tim Warman, CEO and Director of Atacama Copper, commented: "With the transaction complete, the Company is well-financed to immediately begin aggressive exploration campaigns at our Cristina precious metals project in Chihuahua, Mexico and later in the year at our Yecora copper-silver project in Sonora, Mexico. With Charlie Ronkos, an incredibly experienced explorationist and the former SVP Exploration of Goldcorp, we will be advancing our projects not only in Mexico but in Chile as well. In addition to Charlie's long involvement with the Mexico assets, he has extensive experience in Chile, particularly working on the El Morro/La Fortuna deposit that lies adjacent to our Placeton and Caballo Muerto projects. We appreciate the continued support from the stakeholders of both TCP1 and Atacama and look forward to an exciting 2024." Charlie Ronkos, EVP Exploration and Director of Atacama Copper commented: "This transaction brings together TCP1's Cristina and Yecora projects with two exciting projects in an area of Chile where I have significant past experience. I look forward to collaborating with Tim as we commence our exploration programs over what will be a very active 2024." John Graham, President of TCP1 Corporation commented: "We are very excited to be partnering with established mining entrepreneurs at Atacama. We believe this transaction provides shareholders of both companies the ability to benefit from value accretion as the company advances projects in Mexico and Chile. We look forward to ongoing exploration success in the upcoming drill program at Cristina. On behalf of the team at TCP1, we would also like to thank Charlie for his commitment to this endeavor as well as the shareholders of TCP1, for their continued support." Summary of the Business Combination Pursuant to the terms of the business combination agreement dated December 15, 2023, among the Resulting Issuer, TCP1 and Subco (the "Business Combination Agreement"), Subco and TCP1 completed a three-cornered amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) to form "Amalco", a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer. Prior to completion of the Business Combination, the Resulting Issuer competed a share consolidation of its issued and outstanding capital on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation Resulting Issuer Share for each six (6) pre-consolidation Resulting Issuer Shares (the "Consolidation"). Following completion of the Consolidation and pursuant to the Business Combination (with each Resulting Issuer Share being issued on a post-Consolidated basis): the holders of the issued and outstanding TCP1 Shares received 64.815 Resulting Issuer Shares for each one TCP1 Share held; all of the in-the-money options to purchase TCP1 Shares ("TCP1 Options") were exercised on a cashless basis; and all of the out-of-the-money TCP1 Options were replaced with options to purchase 64.815 Resulting Issuer Share for each TCP1 Share issuable on exercise of the TCP1 Options. Upon completion of the Business Combination, there were 61,300,981 Resulting Issuer Shares issued and outstanding. An aggregate 7,219,935 Resulting Issuer Shares, and 20,000 Resulting Issuer restricted share units, were placed in escrow pursuant to a surplus security escrow agreement pursuant to the policies of the Exchange and will be released in accordance with the terms thereof. Concurrent Financings Prior to completion of the Business Combination, the Resulting Issuer completed a private placement of 71,004,956 pre-Consolidation subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.18, in multiple tranches, for aggregate net proceeds of $12,800,000 (the "Concurrent Financing"), pursuant to the terms of an agency agreement among the Company, TCP1, Cormark Securities Inc. and Stifel Canada, as co-lead agents (the "Agents"). In addition, the Resulting Issuer completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Bridge Financing") of 555,556 pre-Consolidation common shares of the Company a price of $0.18 for gross proceeds of $100,000. Together with the proceeds from the Concurrent Financing, the total gross proceeds raised in connection with the Business Combination was $12,900,000. Immediately prior to closing of the Business Combination, each Subscription Receipt was automatically converted into one pre-Consolidation Resulting Issuer Share in accordance with the terms of the subscription receipt agreement entered into among the Resulting Issuer, the Agents and TSX Trust Company, as escrow agent. In connection with the Concurrent Financing, the Agents received cash commissions and 2,459,970 compensation warrants, being equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of subscription receipts sold under the Concurrent Financing (3.0% of the aggregate number of subscription receipts sold to purchasers on the President's List). Each Agents' compensation warrant will entitle the holder to acquire a Resulting Issuer Share at a price of $0.18 (prior to giving effect to the Consolidation) for a period of 24 months following the completion of the Business Combination. The net proceeds of the Concurrent Financing (including the Bridge Financing) will be used to advance exploration programs across the Resulting Issuer's combined portfolio, with particular focus on 2024 drilling at Cristina and Yecora, and for general corporate purposes. None of the securities issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing or the Business Combination have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and any securities issued pursuant thereto will be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. New Directors and Senior Management Concurrently with completion of the Business Combination, Martyn Buttenshaw, Richard Reinhart and Gino Zandonai resigned as directors of the Resulting Issuer. The Resulting Issuer board of directors is now comprised of Tim Warman, Charles J. Ronkos, Scott Hicks, Shannon McCrae, and Colinda Parent. Executive management of the Resulting Issuer is comprised of Tim Warman as Chief Executive Officer, Charles J. Ronkos as Executive Vice President, Exploration, Martin Rip as Chief Financial Officer, and Gino Zandonai as VP Corporate Development and Chile Country Manager. Tim Warman, Chief Executive Officer and Director Mr. Warman is a professional geologist and accomplished executive with over thirty years' experience in all aspects of the resource industry, from grassroots exploration through feasibility, from development to operations. Mr. Warman is currently the CEO of Atacama Copper, a Latin-America focused copper explorer. Previously, Mr. Warman served as the President & CEO of Fiore Gold Ltd. ("Fiore") managing Fiore through the successful start-up of the company's Pan Gold Mine and development of the Gold Rock Project, both located in Nevada, USA. Fiore was acquired by Calibre Mining Corp. in a premium transaction for US$151 million in late 2021. Mr. Warman has served as a director of Continental Gold Inc. (2010 to 2018), President of Dalradian Resources Inc. (2012 to 2015), CEO of Malbex Resources Inc. (2009 to 2012), and VP, Corporate Development of Aurelian Resources Inc. (from 2006 until the company's acquisition by Kinross Gold Corp. for $1.2 billion in 2008). Prior to Aurelian, Mr. Warman held senior positions with several mining and exploration companies in North America, Africa, and Europe. Mr. Warman is a graduate of the University of Manitoba (M.Sc.) and McMaster University (B.Sc.) and a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Charles J. Ronkos, EVP Exploration and Director Mr. Ronkos has 45 years of exploration experience mainly in the United States, Canada and Latin America. For more than 25 years, he held executive positions including nine years with Goldcorp Inc. ultimately as Senior Vice President Exploration and seven years with Glamis Gold Ltd. ultimately as Vice President Exploration prior to Glamis' acquisition by Goldcorp. Mr. Ronkos also held the position of Chief Operating Officer for TCP1 Corporation for five years and Executive Vice President with Premier Gold Mines Ltd. In his executive positions, he was associated with the discovery of over 40 million ounces of gold and 1.3 billion ounces of silver. Prior to the executive positions Mr. Ronkos held positions as Country Manager in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico mostly with Rayrock Resources Inc. prior to its acquisition by Glamis Gold Ltd. Mr. Ronkos is a graduate of Mackay School of Mines University of Nevada, Reno (MSc) and Wittenberg University (BA) and is a QP member of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. Scott Hicks, Independent Director Mr. Hicks is a former investment banker working with RBC Capital Markets and BMO Capital Markets on their respective mining teams. He also served as VP Corporate Development and Communications of Anfield Gold Corp., which was acquired to create Equinox Gold Corp and Luminex Resources Corp., which was acquired by Adventus Mining Corp. He currently serves as the EVP Corporate Development and Director of Strategic Resources Inc. and as VP Corporate Development and Communications of Lumina Gold Corp. Over the last decade he has worked on a variety of equity, debt and advisory assignments while working in Canada and Australia. Mr. Hicks holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of British Columbia. Shannon McCrae, Independent Director Ms. McCrae is a professional geologist and executive who brings over 25 years of experience in the resource industry. Her experience ranges from early-stage exploration to mine sites across multiple commodities, driving economic discoveries and delivering innovation. Ms. McCrae is the Managing Director of Athena Geoscience, a mining and exploration consultancy, and is a Director of Boart Longyear Group Ltd. She was previously Director of Exploration and Growth for Barrick Gold, a global role operating as a member of the senior management team. Her experience also includes senior roles with De Beers Canada and as Vice President of Business Development with Novamera.She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Geology (BSc) from Western University and is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Ontario. Colinda Parent, Independent Director Ms. Parent is an investment banking specialist focused on the mining sector with extensive experience valuing and selling mining royalties and raising capital for junior mining companies through flow-through shares, common shares and strategic partnerships with other mining companies. Transactions include advising Newmont on the sale of 54 royalties to Maverix Metals, advising Maverix Metals on a purchase of royalties from Gold Fields, advising B2Gold on the sale of a Lynn Lake royalty and advising Elliott Management on the creation of a royalty company. In 2019, Ms. Parent founded Mine Equities Ltd., an EMD focused on raising money for the junior mining sector. Since inception, Mine Equities Ltd. has participated in over 75 junior mining financings that raised over $120M. Martin Rip, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Rip is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with over 25 years' experience in industry and public practice providing business advice to a variety of clients, primarily in the mining sector. Currently, Mr. Rip is CFO of Miedzi Copper Corp. and Lumina Gold Corp. He is the former CFO of Anfield Gold Corp, Lumina Copper Corp., Lumina Royalty Corp. and Luminex Resources Corp. In public practice, Mr. Rip worked at Grant Thornton LLP where he served as a Senior Manager in the Assurance and Business Advisory practice. He holds a law degree from the University of Birmingham and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Mr. Rip has extensive experience in financial reporting and internal controls compliance for public companies. Gino Zandonai, VP Corporate Development and Chile Country Manager Mr. Zandonai has more than thirty years of experience in international mining consulting in over 40 countries and was the South American Managing director of Behre Dolbear Inc., a mineral consulting firm. Mr. Zandonai was a director and Vice President of Atacama Copper. Mr. Zandonai is a Competent Person and has been the main geostatistician for NGEx Resources Inc (Lundin Mining) activities in Chile among other listed companies. He is fluent in Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese and holds a MSc degree in Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and a minor in Mineral Economics. Quality Assurance/Quality Control QA/QC protocols currently include the insertion of blanks and standards at regular intervals in each sample batch. Prior to 2022, blanks and duplicate assays were used but standards were not, and this was addressed by a check assay program in late 2021. Core intervals to be sampled are sawn in half with a diamond saw and half the core is placed in a plastic sample bag labeled with the sample number. Sample bags of half core are stored at the core cutting shed until they are picked up and transferred in a pickup truck to Culiacan by Company staff. In Culiacan, they are placed on a shipping pallet and are shipped to the ALS laboratory in Hermosillo. All reported core samples are analyzed for Au by fire assay (30g) with either an AA or gravimetric finish. Samples are also subject to a multielement analysis by four-acid digestion with ICP-AES or ICP-MS finish. All mineralized intervals are reported as core lengths and estimated true thickness. Qualified Person The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Cristina deposit was prepared for TCP1 by Independent Mining Consultants Inc. (IMC), with an effective date of January 1, 2023. Mr. Jacob W. Richey, P.E. of IMC is the Qualified Person ("QP") responsible for the MRE. The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Yecora deposit was prepared for TCP1 by Sepor Services LLC ("Sepor"), with an effective date of August 4, 2023. The Qualified Person for the statement of Mineral Resources is Jaime Andres Beluzan of Sepor. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves. Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. Numbers may not add due to rounding. All other scientific and technical information contained in this news release was approved by Charlie Ronkos, MMSA, Atacama's EVP Exploration, and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101. Securities Based Compensation Following completion of the Business Combination, the Resulting Issuer issued: (i) an aggregate of 1,425,000 stock options of the Resulting Issuer to purchase Resulting Issuer Shares ("Options"); and (ii) an aggregate of 700,000 restricted share units in the capital of the Company ("RSUs") consisting of a right to receive a Common Share, cash payment or a combination thereof upon settlement of such RSU, to certain directors, officers and employees of the Resulting Issuer in accordance with its Long Term Incentive Plan. The Options are exercisable at a price of $1.26 per Resulting Issuer Share for a period of five years following the date of grant. Additional details regarding the grant of the Options and RSUs can be found in the filing statement dated February 7, 2024, filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Escrow Release The TSXV has granted a waiver from escrow for three principals who hold in the aggregate less than 1% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company. About Atacama Copper Corporation Atacama Copper is a well-funded resource company adding value through the acquisition, exploration and development of copper and precious metals projects in the Americas. The company is carrying out an aggressive drilling campaign at its Cristina precious metals project in Chihuahua Mexico, with the goal of significantly expanding the existing mineral resource estimate. Drilling is also planned for the Yecora copper project in Sonora Mexico. In Chile, the Placeton/Caballo Muerto project hosts several untested porphyry copper targets situated between the large-scale Relincho and El Morro/La Fortuna copper-gold deposits of the Nueva Union joint venture between Teck and Newmont Mining. Atacama's corporate presentation can be found at: https://atacamacopper.ca/investors/presentations/. Additional Information - Please Contact Further information regarding the Business Combination and the Concurrent Financing can be found in the filing statement dated February 7, 2024, filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). For more information, please contact: Tim Warman Chief Executive Officer and Director Atacama Copper Corporation Email: info@atacamacopper.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the to: (a) timing and listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV and (b) details with respect to the business of the Resulting Issuer, including its drilling program, exploration and development activities and resource estimates. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the synergies expected from the Transaction not being realized; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to Chilean Peso exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. 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. Resulting Issuer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197688 SOURCE: Atacama Copper Corporation Expert language translation services that capture instructional methods and cultural nuance improve parental engagement and inclusivity for Limited English Proficiency students in grades K-12. DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / When parents are involved in their children's education, children get better grades, score higher on tests, attend classes more regularly, and avoid risky behavior. ASTA-USA Translation Services Inc.'s clients in the education sector report that the company's language translation services drive increased parental engagement with students, improving academic success and fostering inclusivity in the classroom. ASTA-USA is a leading provider of language and document translation services for corporations, educational organizations, and government agencies. ASTA-USA Translation Services Inc. provides professional translation in more than 70 languages via its 700 primary translators and network of more than 12,700 translators and linguists worldwide. ASTA-USA works with e-learning and other educational programs to translate a wealth of material, including onboarding information, forms, booklets, online courses, textbooks, slides and presentations, lecture and test materials, lesson plans, grading rubrics, and many others. Clients say ASTA-USA's language translations significantly enhance parental and student engagement and comprehension for K-12 students and families with limited English proficiency (LEP). Serving both traditional public school institutions and cyber schools, expert translators work with educators to translate materials that enable parents to understand grade-level benchmarks, along with their children's unique needs and progress. The most significant improvements for ASTA-USA's clients have been noted for those utilizing translated IEPs (Individual Education Plans). Because comprehension of the detailed plans increases when presented to parents in their native language, they are aware of specific elements that require strengthening. In turn, they are empowered to work with their children at home, which directly correlates to greater levels of engagement and better performances in the classroom. "Parental engagement is directly linked to the academic success of K-12 students and is an element that school districts continually focus on improving," said Alain J. Roy, founder and CEO of ASTA-USA Translation Services. "By offering culturally sensitive translations, we empower educators to better communicate with their LEP students and parents to improve comprehension and overall performance in the classroom." Parental engagement leads to student success. A 2019 report from the American Psychological Association reviewed 448 studies involving nearly half a million families, finding that parents' involvement improves children's achievement, engagement, motivation and emotional adjustment. In addition, a research review by the National Literacy Trust found that parental involvement in reading activities improves language comprehension, expressive language skills, and reading achievement. Translation services help create English instructional materials in other languages, a critical and potentially legally mandated resource in providing equal opportunity to LEP students and families. Translation services make textbooks and workbooks usable for LEP students: They can do the same assignments and participate equally in classes. They can better understand a new culture, making a more inclusive learning environment where global diversity is more accepted. LEP parents can be more involved in their children's education to understand the material taught and better communicate with teachers about the course. However, for educational materials to be effective with parents and children, it is essential that the content be both meticulously prepared and curated. Educators craft course materials for clarity and comprehension to ensure students grasp and master the subject. They also develop lessons in the context of students' culture because that can be essential to understanding. "Online AI-powered applications cannot produce educational translations with sufficient precision to retain the educator's instructional approach, nor can they accurately capture the nuance of local and regional cultures. That makes it essential for education organizations to utilize translators with specific subject matter and cultural expertise," Roy said. In an e-learning preschool lesson, a teacher might ask children to count five eggs. That would translate seamlessly from English to Spanish as "cinco huevos," with no need for adaptation. But a reading lesson that uses a Halloween story might require the cultural references to be translated to local equivalents because children in Mexico, France, or other countries may be unfamiliar with traditions like trick-or-treating or pumpkin carving. "It is difficult to identify the need for localization without deep, intricate knowledge of the languages and cultures involved," Roy said. "Localization is an element that is not always present with translators who provide word-for-word conversions but has proved to be the linchpin in ASTA-USA's success." To learn more about how ASTA-USA Translation Services can assist education and e-learning organizations, visit https://asta-usa.com/elearning-translation-services About ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc. Every day, corporations and governments of all sizes rely on the expertise of ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc. to translate their important written materials and to provide real-time, live, human interpreting services by phone or video conference. Since 1987, ASTA-USA has provided specialized industry translation services in more than 70 languages to world-class organizations of all sizes. With a global operations division located in Houston, Texas, ASTA-USA's client relations specialists, translation project managers, and specialized translation teams are strategically located around the globe to meet the demands of clients, guarantee responsiveness, and provide absolute translation accuracy. ASTA-USA's certified language translators are native speakers with industry-specific knowledge and a minimum of 10 years of translation experience. To learn more about ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., visit www.asta-usa.com. Contact Information Alain J. Roy ajroy@asta-usa.com SOURCE: ASTA-USA Translation Services Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. HUNTSVILLE, AL / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Flibe Energy, Inc. (FEI) an advanced nuclear reactor development company, is pleased to announce the selection of David Hanson as the company's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hanson joined FEI in 2019 as a director, and became the COO to Founder Kirk Sorensen in 2022. David Hanson portrait New Flibe Energy CEO David Hanson Dr. Joe Bonometti issued the following statement on behalf of the Board of Directors: "This transition for David is an exciting time for us here at FEI. We have wanted to find the right leader to pair with Kirk for a while now and David has earned our trust while demonstrating the skills and experience we need to execute our business plan." Previously, Mr. Hanson was a datacenter and infrastructure engineer at Amazon.com for over a decade. Mr. Hanson left Amazon to join the executive team at Smartsheet.com as Head of Operations, and later, Chief Information Security Officer. Following a successful IPO for Smartsheet in 2018, Mr. Hanson joined FEI after deciding to focus his efforts on a solution for climate and energy issues. "I am honored by the trust both Kirk and the board have placed in me," Hanson stated. "I am convinced that liquid-fueled nuclear reactors, like LFTR, are the key to a sustainable, independent, energy future. I look forward to working with our team and our partners to complete the first of many reactors to come." A native of Seattle, David grew up contributing to the family business as a press operator. He and Maris, his wife of 19 years, currently reside in Madison, AL with their two teenage sons. FEI expects David's business, finance, and management expertise will be a critical asset as they embark on this next phase of reactor development. Contact Information Kurt Harris Policy Coordinator kurt.harris@flibe.com 435.535.1414 SOURCE: Flibe Energy, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / SRQ Resources Inc. (TSX-V:SRQ) ("SRQ" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has further characterised the nickel and copper mineralisation of Lac Brule's recently discovered Ultramafic Magmatic ("UM") intrusive complex using petrological and mineralogical studies of samples. Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, SRQ's President & CEO, will present the findings and the 2024 projected exploration program during a live virtual non-deal roadshow hosted by Renmark Financial on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 12:00 P.M. EST. Investors and interested parties are invited to register here using the latest version of Google Chrome. Access to a replay of the event will be available on the SRQ website or on Renmark Financial's website at www.renmarkfinancial.com/vndrs. Highlights of Mineralisation Characteristics at Lac Brule's UM Complex: UM complex is composed of meta-pyroxenite and meta-peridotite, both of which intrude the highly metamorphic host rock sequence: The meta-pyroxenite includes locally porphyritic assemblages of diopside, magnesio-hornblende and olivine (Fo80-84) with a lesser proportion of enstatite, intercalated with mineralized horizons containing up to 30% sulphides Sulphides present are mainly pyrrhotite (iron + minor nickel ("Ni")), chalcopyrite (copper ("Cu")); cobalt-rich pentlandite (Ni and cobalt ("Co")) Lower than expected nickel was observed in the olivines in the meta-peridotite, suggesting their transfer to the sulphide's liquids during immiscibility Petrological and Mineralogical Studies Identify Presence of Mineralised Pyroxenite at Lac Brule SRQ's discoveries are being made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50 kilometres ("km") north-west of the former Renzy nickel-copper mine in the Upper Laurentian region of Quebec and a five-hour drive from Montreal. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972. UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement. A total of 50 samples were carefully collected during the 2023 Phase 1 & 2 drilling programs at the Lac Brule UM complex (Figures 1 & 2) for detailed petrological and mineralogical studies using an optical microscope and a scanning electronic microscope ("SEM"). These studies were carried out at the ISTerre of the University of Grenoble Alpes by Professor Christian Picard, university professor (retired) of earth sciences (with special authorisation from Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (OGQ)). The discovered UM complex is composed of meta-pyroxenite and meta-peridotite, both intruding the highly metamorphic host rock sequence. The meta-pyroxenite includes locally porphyritic assemblages of diopside, magnesio-hornblende and olivine (Fo80-84) with a lesser proportion of enstatite, intercalated with specific mineralized horizons containing up to 30% sulphides mostly as net texture within the silicate gangue. Within the intrusive meta-peridotite, low nickel contents were measured in the olivine crystals (800 to 1,600 parts per million ("ppm")) versus an expected nickel range in olivine of 3,000 to 4,000 ppm. This could reflect a strong transfer of nickel from the olivines to the sulphide liquids produced during immiscibility mechanisms. Distribution and Composition of Sulphides Sulphides present in the pyroxenite sequences (Table 1) are pyrrhotite (Ni: 0.17 to 0.66 wt%). chalcopyrite (Cu: 34.56 to 36.27%) and cobalt-rich pentlandite (Ni: 34.56 to 36.73 wt%; Co: 4.15 to 7.33 wt%) present as isolated phases and /or as exsolutions in pyrrhotite (Figures 3 & 4). A few rare pyrite crystals are present. Hole LB-23-12 returned the sulphide assemblages below (pyrrhotite ("Po"), chalcopyrite ("Cp") and pentlandite ("Pn")) 106.15 to 107.8 m (Ni: 0.63 to 0.79%; Cu: 0.36%) 30 to 37% sulphides including 27 to 33% Po / 1% Cp / 2 to 2.5% Pn 110.65 to 111.5 m (Ni: 0.6%; Cu: 0.47%) 30% sulphides including 27% Po / 1% Cp / 2% Pn 112 to 113 m (Ni: 0.54%; Cu: 0.37%) 26% sulphides including 23% Po / 1% Cp / 1.7% Pn 114.8 to 115.1 m (Ni: 0.53%; Cu: 0.36%) 27% sulphides including 24% Po / 1% Cp / 1.7% Pn 119 to 120.95 m (Ni: 0.52 %; Cu: 0.27 to 0.59%) 25 to 28% sulphides including 24% Po / 1% Cp / 1.7% Pn 122.45 to 124.7 m (Ni: 0.51 to 0.53%; Cu: 0.19 to 0.49%) 26 to 27% sulphides including 23-24% Po / 0.8 to 1.7% Cp / 1.7% Pn 128.15 to130.85 m (Ni: 0.49 to 0.66%; Cu: 0.35 to 0.44%) 25 to 32% sulphides including 23-24% Po / 1 to 1.4% Cp / 1.7% Pn 133.3 to -134.8 m (Ni: 0.53 to 0.58%; Cu: 0.37 to 0.64%) 26 to 30% sulphides including 22-28% Po / 1 to 1.3% Cp / 1.6 to 2.1% Pn Microcrystals of silver tellurium (hessite - Ag2Te), as well as silver and palladium tellurium, were observed in hole LB-23-10 at 207.3m. Figure 5 shows massive sulphide composed of chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrhotite as late remobilisation of massive sulphides filling fractures. Table 1: Chemical composition for sulphide species Figure 1: Compilation map of 2021 EM conductive zones and 2023 drillholes. The large North Zone EM target has not been drill tested. Figure 2: SW-NE longitudinal cross-section showing the UM intrusive and the Ni-Cu mineralised horizon. Figure 3: LB-23-12 - 107.3 m: Pyroxenite: Hb: magnesio-hornblende; Ol: olivine, Cpx: pyroxene (diopside), Po: pyrrhotite, Pn: cobalt-rich pentlandite, Cp: chalcopyrite, Mt: magnetite, Il: ilmenomagnetite Figure 4: LB-23-12 - 123.60 m: Wehrlite with magnesio-hornblende and phlogopite. Amp: magnesio-hornblende; Ol: olivine, Cpx: pyroxene (diopside), Po: pyrrhotite, Pn: cobalt-rich pentlandite, Cp: chalcopyrite, Py: Pyrite, Mt: magnetite, Il: ilmenomagnetite Figure 5: LB-23-18 - Vein of sulphide-rich material, mostly massive chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite, intersecting the early-stage phmineralisation and returning up to 6.49% Cu. Quality Control Core logging and sampling are performed at SRQ's field facilities by SRQ's staff. Sample preparation and whole rock analysis are carried out by Activation Laboratories Ltd (Actlab), Ancaster and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. All samples were assayed for Ni, Cu, Co, Fe, S, Pt, Pd and Au using sodium peroxide fusion ICP for the first five elements and by Fire Assay ICPOES for the last three. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a 'Qualified Person,' as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About SRQ Resources Inc. SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel, copper and platinum in the province of Quebec. A near-surface Ni-Cu project, Lac Brule is located on a 288 km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal. For more information about SRQ. please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com/. About Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Founded in 1999, Renmark is a privately held full-service investor relations firm. located in Atlanta. New York. Toronto and Montreal. For the past 25 years. Renmark has provided services in investor relations. media relations and web development representing small, medium and large cap public companies listed on all major North American exchanges. On a daily basis, Renmark team of professionals enhance client's visibility within the retail market space as corporate communicators. With the largest roadshow footprint in North America. and a state-of-the-art media studio, Renmark hosts a multitude of live streaming Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows across North America and Europe. Contact Information: Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO ceo@srqexploration.com Tel: (514) 726-4158 Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Bettina Filippone bfilippone@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com/ Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information: Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made by or expressed on behalf of the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: SRQ Resources View the original press release on accesswire.com Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Blue Thunder Mining Inc. (TSXV: BLUE) ("Blue Thunder" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has identified the Lac Bernard area as a high priority target as it continues planning for its upcoming exploration program on the Muus Project near Chibougamau, Quebec. The Company's CEO, Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, commented, "Our ongoing review of existing geological, geochemical, and geophysical data has identified the area around Lac Bernard, in the western part of the project, as a high priority target. Gold in glacial till anomalies in the Lac Bernard area are among the highest ever recorded in Quebec and hydrothermal alteration observed in drill core from 2022 drilling confirms the possibility of Nelligan-style gold mineralization in that area. IAMGOLD's multi-million-ounce Nelligan gold deposit is adjacent to our Muus Project and on the same geologic trend. I am excited to be working in collaboration with IAMGOLD and renewing our exploration in this highly prospective area." Blue Thunder Retains Market Making Services The Company has, subject to regulatory approval, retained Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc. ("ITG") to provide market-making service and to provide assistance in maintaining an orderly trading market for the common shares of the Company with effect from November 23, 2023. The market-making service will be undertaken by ITG a registered broker in compliance with the applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable laws. For its services, Blue Thunder initially agreed to pay ITG $7,000 per month (the "Initial Term") with the agreement renewing each subsequent month (the "Additional Term") unless each party provides at least thirty (30) days written notice prior to the end of the Initial Term or Additional Term, as applicable. The monthly fee has since been reduced to $5,000 per month. Blue Thunder and ITG act at arm's length, and ITG has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in Blue Thunder or its securities. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement between ITG and the Company and ITG will not receive any shares or options from the Company as compensation for services it will render. About Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc. Independent Trading Group specializes in market maintenance services and has been providing its market maintenance services to companies ranging from TSX Venture Exchange listed companies to certain of Canada's largest publicly traded companies for over 20 years. Independent Trading Group is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), and is a member of all Canadian Stock Exchanges and Alternative Trading Systems. For further information on ITG, please contact +1 (416) 583-5987 or info@itg84.com. About Blue Thunder Blue Thunder is an exploration and growth company that owns 100% of a large land position near Chibougamau, Quebec. The Muus Gold project covers approximately 25,250 hectares of prospective ground in the eastern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Muus Project is prospective for gold mineralization and is adjacent to and on strike with IAMGOLD's 5-million-ounce Nelligan gold project. Blue Thunder has announced that exploration of the Muus project will advance in technical collaboration with IAMGOLD, which owns approximately 12.5% of the Company. Field work completed during 2022 established that the northern portion of the Muus Project is also prospective for copper-gold volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization, as well as confirming that it is prospective for high-grade gold mineralization similar to IAMGOLD's nearby Monster Lake gold deposit. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, CEO & Director For more information, please visit our website www.bluethundermining.com, or contact Mr. Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, dusty@bluethundermining.com +1 (604) 828-5886. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, anticipated exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, the ability to complete the required permitting, the ability to complete the exploration program and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This news release contains information with respect to adjacent or similar mineral properties in the Chibougamau District in respect of which the Company has no interest or rights to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in any such properties, and that mineral deposits, and the results of any mining thereof, on adjacent or similar properties, are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploitation thereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197684 SOURCE: Blue Thunder Mining Inc. SaliCrop's seed innovation is bearing fruits of success in tomato cultivation: More yield and flavorful tomatoes KFAR VITKIN, Israel, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Extreme weather events-heatwaves, droughts, extreme cold snaps-pose significant threats to agriculture, contributing to the phenomenon of desertification. Globally, fertile lands are increasingly being degraded, losing the ability to sustain life and grow food. AgriTech start-up SaliCrop, Ltd., has pioneered a breakthrough seed treatment to transform arid terrain into flourishing landscapes to growing food. Leveraging its expertise in desert technology, the company developed a novel, non-GMO approach to bolster seeds' resilience to abiotic stresses brought on by extreme climate challenges. SaliCrop's solution can help boost crop cultivation in arid regions, raising yields and elevating the value to marginal lands, turning them into arable stretches more fit for growing food. The result is greater food security for the future. SaliCrop's benefits already are taking root in Spain's tomato industry. Saline soil and heat stress are considered the worst abiotic stressors. Dry soil with excessive salt content hinders the germination and growth potential of numerous crops. Soil salinity is largely attributed to rising sea levels which leads to seawater intrusion in coastal areas and the weathering of rock. This is exacerbated by irrigation with brackish water which for many farmers is unavoidable. Heat stress will threaten nearly three-quarters of the world's food production over the next 20 years, according to a late 2022 report by research group Verisk Maplecroft. "The greatest concerns occupying farmers today is how to maintain yields in the face of volatile and harsh climate conditions which lead to poor soil quality," explains Sharon Devir, Ph.D., co-founder and Active Chairperson of SaliCrop. "More than 830 million hectares of agricultural land is now salty. Abiotic stresses are responsible for 30-50% loss of agricultural productivity worldwide. This amounts to a colossal USD170 billion in revenue losses yearly. Our solution centered on countering this by helping farmers who grow crops in vast open fields." Sowing the seeds of abundance SaliCrop's proprietary seed enhancement technology is the brainchild of ?ca Godbole, Ph.D., co-founder and CSO of SaliCrop. Godbole is a plant biologist who hails from a dynasty of agronomists. She dedicated time assisting smallholder farmers in coastal regions of Mumbai contending with substantial soil salinity setbacks in efforts to grow crops such as rice and beetroot. Godbole and Devir, a mechanical agronomist who established the first Arab-Israeli life science technology greenhouse in Nazareth, Israel, began conducting trials in Israel growing wheat and vegetables using saltwater irrigation in a closed facility. SaliCrop's has developed hundreds of seed enhancement protocols designed to improve plant resilience to the impacts of climate change by intentionally exposing the seeds to controlled abiotic stressors. This process harnesses the innate stress-response mechanisms helping them thrive even during periods of intense heat, prolonged dry spells, and low water. "Plants have certain environmental stress inducible genes that act as internal alarms," explains Godbole. "When there is too much salt, or too much heat, these alarms go off and the plant enters defense mode. But often, by the time the plant reacts, it's too late." Without changing the plant's DNA, SaliCrop's green solution acts as a gentle nudge to preemptively stimulate the stress responses even before the plant finds itself in salty or hot conditions. "Under SaliCrop's treatment, plants not only thrive in poor quality, highly saline soil through enhanced nutrient absorption and improved root structures, but they also exhibit increased vigor and superior germination rates," affirms Carmit Oron, CEO of SaliCrop. "This innovation turns marginal lands, previously considered barren, into fertile grounds capable of abundant food production. As climate change intensifies, farmers globally are in urgent need of sustainable solutions to adapt and succeed. SaliCrop is at the forefront, with leading agricultural players already integrating our technology," Oron adds. The tomato success story The SaliCrop solution is bearing fruit in tomato cultivation in multiple locations, including Spain, which has been experiencing seasonal temperature highs reaching 45C. Two years ago, the start-up entered collaboration with farmers in Extremadura in projects to boost the yields and quality of tomatoes grown in 30-hectare sized fields. Spain is increasingly experiencing droughts, raising concerns about water scarcity. In fact, Spain could be experiencing its worst drought conditions in the last 160 years of records. Reservoir capacity has plummeted to 30% of its total; its lowest in 27 years according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition. "This results in a loss of soil moisture causing tomato crops to shrivel and is compounded by losses in yields," explains Godbole. "The water loss leads to salt accumulation around the roots, hindering water absorption." "Our climate-smart seed enhancement technology has empowered tomatoes to better withstand extreme climate events," adds Devir. "Through extensive field trials, with the leading commercial seed varieties, we've observed promising outcomes, including substantial enhancements in plant growth with an impressive 10-17% increase in yield. Additionally, post-harvest Brix levels have improved. This translates to an added income of approximately 1,300-1,800EUR per hectare for the farmers." Going commercial While the company is progressing with field trials across Europe, Africa, and India, focusing on a open field variety of crops including onions, broccoli, chili rice, and more. SaliCrop is already at commercial stages in Israel, actively selling treated tomato seeds across 700 hectares. As SaliCrop enters commercial stages, its treated seeds are making a difference across over 1,000 hectares in Israel and beyond. The company is advancing its field trials across Europe, Africa, and India, targeting a variety of crops and demonstrating the universal applicability of its solution. Company Contact Carmit Oron CEO SaliCrop Ltd Email: contact@salicrop.com Web: www.salicrop.com Press Contact NutriPR Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-9742893 E-mail: liat@nutripr.com Web: www.nutripr.com Twitter: @NutriPR_ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339423/Salicrop_tomato_cultivation.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/salicrops-novel-seed-enhancement-tech-makes-deserts-bloom-302060424.html DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - AT&T Inc. (T), a telecom company, on Tuesday with its partner the First Responder Network Authority or FirstNet Authority has announced plans to invest up to $8 billion for a period of 10 years to further expand FirstNet, America's public safety network. Out of which, $6.3 billion will be invested through First Responder's network contract with AT&T to provide full 5G capabilities on FirstNet, expanded mission-critical services, and enhanced coverage. First Responder expects an additional $2 billion for ongoing investments in coverage enhancements for public safety, which is currently under discussion by the parties. 'Starting in March, FirstNet will be the first and only wireless network to provide America's first responders with always-on priority and preemption across 5G, expanding to include all AT&T 5G commercial spectrum,' the company said. AT&T noted that it is deploying a new standalone FirstNet 5G network with dedicated public safety functionality and features. 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. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the government couldnt take a persons property for owing back taxes without compensating them for it, it looked as if a Lincoln woman and Scottsbluff man might finally get the compensation they had been seeking in separate legal battles. One had owed $3,800 on property taxes, the other $5,300. Investment companies bought the tax liens, then got Lancaster and Scotts Bluff counties to give them the deeds to their houses worth around $60,000, leaving Sandra Niveen and Kevin Fair with nothing. It was a process allowed by state law. Then came the decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County last May, where all nine justices agreed that Minnesotas tax sale process violated the Fifth Amendments takings clause, barring the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation. But in Nebraska nine months later, its still not so clear who owes Niveen and Fair compensation for the homes they lost. Unable to dispute that its a taking, they instead argue about who is liable for the taking, attorney Christina Martin told the Nebraska Supreme Court this week during back-to-back arguments in the cases. The investor says the county is liable. The county says the state is liable. And the state says the investor is liable. Martin, of the Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest legal organization that fights for property rights, said Niveen and Fair will accept just compensation from any of them. She said fairness and justice require both the county and investors Tax 106 in Niveens case and Continental Resources in Fairs case be held liable. Tax 106 received the whole windfall from the taking, Martin said in Niveens case. And it couldnt have done it without Lancaster County deeding her entire property to the company over a $3,800 debt. Justice Jonathan Papik asked if the county had any choice under state law but to do that and if that mattered. Martin said it didnt matter if the county was just following requirements of state law. What mattered was whether the government took private property without just compensation. Unlike the Minnesota case where Hennepin County sold 94-year-old Geraldine Tylers home for $40,000 and kept all of the money after she failed to pay $15,000 in property taxes, interest and fees in the Nebraska cases neither of the counties got anything more than the back taxes, interest and fees. The private companies that bought the tax liens did. Attorney Chris Blunk, who represented Tax 106 and Vintage Management LLC, denied there was a taking at all in Niveens case. To which Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman asked somewhat incredulously: Not a taking by anybody? Blunk said its apples and oranges. Minnesotas law was the clear definition of taking. The government took the property and kept the money above what was owed. Thats law school 101, he said. Our statutory scheme is different than Minnesota. Justice John Freudenberg asked Blunk, if the justices were to find that it was a taking, who owes the money? Well, certainly not my client. My client made a bargain with the county and for the purchase price of the taxes that were delinquent and all the subsequent taxes that they paid for the next three years. Their bargain was, from the county, they were to get a tax deed, he said. Blunk said nothing in the statute said they had to sell the property or give excess to anyone. Attorney Greg Scaglione, who represented Continental Resources in Fairs case, said the company was an innocent purchaser promised interest and the potential for equity. Now the county wants to renege on the deal as it is obligated to by the Legislature. And thats not right, he said. Scaglione said the county needs to make it right with the owner if there is a surplus. Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Dan Zieg, who represented both counties, said their position, very simply, is they followed the law. Counties dont get to pick and choose which laws to follow. It keeps coming back to what did the county actually do wrong in all of this? Other than follow the law. We did nothing wrong, Zieg said. From the time the taxes became delinquent to the time the deed was issued, every step the county took was required by law, ordered by the Legislature, he said. Its still a taking. Its just that we did not do the taking. It was the state of Nebraska that did the taking by enacting those laws, Zieg said. But, Zieg argued also that the state was right, the investor was responsible, too. The investor came to a fork in the road and couldve foreclosed on its lien. Then, the property owner would get any excess funds that are made through the auction. Instead, they chose to go to the path of the tax deed and try and opt for that obscene windfall from all of this, he said. Solicitor General Eric Hamilton took issue with Blunks argument that by having to pay any excess profit on the property now would be to deny them the bargain they reached with the county. Under this statutory scheme, investment companies receive 14% interest when property owners pay the liens. Or if they could choose to take the judicial foreclosure route theyre entitled to that interest and fees as well. So there is still plenty for Tax 106, and similarly situated firms, even if they are denied this jackpot opportunity where they receive a tax deed on a property that has surplus equity, Hamilton said. The court is expected to rule later in the cases. Top Journal Star photos for February 2024 Investment to fuel increasing enterprise contracts, global partnerships expansion and additional talent resources LOUISVILLE, KY / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Future Labs Capital, a private equity venture capital firm that invests in best-in-class quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, has invested an undisclosed amount into qBraid, an industry leader and rapidly growing one-stop quantum computing software platform based in Chicago, IL. The infusion of capital from Future Labs Capital will be used by qBraid to increase its enterprise contracts for the quantum platform and propel its expansion into lucrative markets such as Canada, EU, the UK, and Japan. Armed with enhanced financial resources, qBraid is poised to amplify its global presence and solidify its position as the foremost leader in enabling quantum computing hardware and software. This funding not only fuels geographic expansion but also facilitates additional talent resources and team growth, empowering qBraid to forge additional and larger strategic partnerships, all while accelerating product development initiatives to build out their quantum marketplace product that allows new quantum company partners to launch their own products on the qBraid platform. The team growth provides the ability to go after many more contracts, including federal government contacts (the federal government is the largest spender in the field of quantum computing), such as the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hub Grant, which is providing over $500 million in funding opportunities to designated tech hubs across the country. Established in Louisville, Ky., in 2022, Future Labs Capital focuses primarily on quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) startups and has formed a strategic partnership with MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL), connecting outside ventures with best-in-class MIT technologies. qBraid, which came from MIT's Sandbox and DeltaV accelerators, is one of the 12 portfolio companies as a part of Future Labs Capital's $65M Fund 1, which is estimated to have already provided a 5X value increase based on the current growth of each Fund 1 portfolio company and their strong revenue increases in 2023. "We are proud to lead the latest investment round for qBraid. Our commitment to fueling innovation and supporting visionary entrepreneurs is reflected in this strategic partnership," said Mack Shwab, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Future Labs Capital. "By providing these resources and funds, it allows qBraid to not only thrive but also to redefine industry standards in the marketplace. Together, we embark on a journey of growth, resilience, and success, shaping the future of quantum computing." qBraid stands as the definitive one-stop destination for quantum computing solutions. As a deep-tech software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup, qBraid offers seamless access to 30+ quantum software environments, quantum computers and NVIDIA GPUs through its innovative development and deployment platform. Boasting a user-friendly coding interface with 10,000 users, qBraid automates the intricate setup of challenging quantum software packages, seamlessly integrating with cutting-edge quantum hardware from industry leaders like AWS. It is the only platform to offer the Intel Quantum SDK in the C++ programming language as well as the software package, Bloqade from the premiere neutral atom quantum computing startup, QuEra. This latest investment milestone builds upon qBraid's remarkable trajectory, which includes its prestigious selection in 2023 as one of only 12 elite teams worldwide to receive up to $4 million contract from the Wellcome Leap Quantum for Bio (Q4Bio) supported challenge program. This pioneering initiative is dedicated to advancing the integration of quantum computing in human health through the development of a quantum algorithm pipeline to better understand the underlying impacts of the proteins, amyloid- and a-synuclein on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and underscores qBraid's pivotal role in shaping the future of biotechnology. As the project leader, qBraid is executing in collaboration with esteemed partners, including MIT, the University of Chicago, QuEra, the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and North Carolina AT&T. Upon successful completion, the algorithms could then be deployed as an application on the qBraid platform providing computational details to aid clinicians and drug discovery scientists at pharmaceutical companies in their drug development pipeline. Upon completion of the project, qBraid will be eligible for $2-5 million in additional funds through the Wellcome Leap organization to be used for the commercialization of the tech. "This is a pivotal moment for our qBraid team. This significant investment accelerates our growth trajectory, enabling us to expand our impact exponentially," said Kanav Setia, Co-Founder and CEO of qBraid. "At the forefront of quantum computing, we recognize a critical gap: the shortage of quantum software engineers ready to harness its potential. Our mission extends beyond innovation; it's about education and empowerment. We're committed to bridging this gap by equipping developers at leading companies with the skills and knowledge they need to integrate quantum computing into their workflows. From quantum machine learning to quantum chemistry and optimization, we're here to guide them every step of the way, ushering in a new era of technological advancement and collaboration." About Future Labs Capital Future Labs Capital, LLC is a private equity venture capital firm that is active in the pursuit of solutions to the world's most important problems while enabling and guiding early-stage company development. Focused primarily on quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) startups, Future Labs Capital has formed a strategic partnership with MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) connecting outside ventures with best-in-class MIT technologies. For more on Future Labs Capital, visit https://futurelabscapital.com/. About qBraid qBraid is the definitive one-stop platform for quantum computing. As a deep-tech SAAS startup based in Chicago, qBraid provides seamless access to quantum software, quantum computers and NVIDIA GPUs through their development and deployment platform. The qBraid coding platform allows for automatic setup of difficult quantum software packages with integrations to quantum hardware provided by AWS, IBM, QuEra, Intel, Microsoft, and others to provide their users the best experience doing all things quantum. The open-sourced qBraid SDK allows for turn-key access to quantum hardware where users can code in 6 different quantum frameworks such as Qiskit, Cirq, or Amazon Braket. qBraid is on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and Github. For more information on qBraid, visit https://www.qbraid.com. Media Contact Tamara Davis Director of PR (270) 202-8516 tdavis@priceweber.com SOURCE: FUTURE LABS CAPITAL, LLC View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Aero Energy Limited (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: 13L0) (formerly Angold Resources Ltd.) ("Aero Energy" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement of (i) non-flow-through units (the "NFT Units") to be sold at a price of $0.15 per NFT Unit; (ii) flow-through units (the "FT Units") to be sold at a price of $0.175 per FT Unit; and (iii) flow-through charity units (the "Charity Units") to be sold at a price of $0.2275 per Charity Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,000,000 (the "Offering"). Each NFT Unit will be comprised of one non-flow-through common share (a "Share") and one-half of one share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit and Charity Unit will be comprised of one flow-through common share and one-half of one Warrant. The Warrants will have the same terms, with each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Share for a period of two years at a price of $0.25. The exact number of NFT Units, FT Units and Charity Units sold will be determined at closing of the Offering. The gross proceeds received from the sale of the FT Units and the Charity Units will be used for work programs on the Company's Murmac, Strike and Sun Dog Properties, all located along the northwestern margin of the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. The net proceeds received from the sale of the NFT Units will be used for general working capital. Eventus Capital Corp. will act as a finder in connection with the Offering. All securities issued and sold under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from their date of issuance. Completion of the Offering and the payment of any finders' fees remain subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. About Aero Energy Limited Aero Energy is a mineral exploration and development company advancing a district-scale 250,000-acre land package in the historic Uranium City district within Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is focused on uncovering high-grade uranium deposits across its flagship optioned properties - Sun Dog, Strike, and Murmac - in addition to its fully owned properties. With the application of modern exploration techniques, the Company has identified over 50 shallow drill-ready targets and 125 kilometres of target horizon on the frontier north rim of the Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is tapping into the Athabasca Basin's emerging potential for high-grade, unconformity-style mineralization. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Galen McNamara" Galen McNamara, Interim Chief Executive Officer Further information on the Company can be found on the Company's website at aeroenergy.ca and at www.sedarplus.ca, or by contacting the Company by email at info@aeroenergy.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include expectations regarding the Offering. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197695 SOURCE: Aero Energy Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on drill target development work on the underexplored Coloradito-Noria portion of the La Joya silver (Cu-Au) property (the "Property") located in the state of Durango, Mexico. Figure 1: Coloradito-Noria geology and MAG targets. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/Coloradito-Noria_Geology-MAG-Targets.jpg Target development work has primarily consisted of geological mapping with limited drill testing to follow up on data from the ground magnetic (MAG) survey conducted in 2022. As previously reported (See news release of December 15, 2022), the MAG survey identified three notable anomalies (Figure 1: S-1, S-2 and S-3): S-1 is a parallel zone to S-2 located 400 metres (m) to the east in a generally blind area mostly covered with caliche (hardpan) with limited outcrops of limestone and hornfels. Samples assayed from this area have not returned any significant results to date despite the magnetic reactions exhibited by some of the samples. S-2, located approximately 400 m east of S-3, is now known as the Central Dyke Zone where mineralization is found in association with a dyke that runs north-south to north-northwest through the central part of Cerro Coloradito. This is the priority area for drill target development with exploration results described in detail below. S-3 is coincident with the Brazo Zone where drill testing in hole NOR-23-030 encountered intense and extensive alteration but did not intersect Brazo style mineralization. A sharp change in angle of the intrusive contact underscores the importance of the structural mapping that has been taking place to better refine targeting for future drilling. Central Dyke Zone: Mapping and sampling to date has included the collection of 156 channel samples along with 14 rock samples taken from outcrop and dumps that have delineated the Central Dyke Zone over a strike length of 770 m. Analytical results for all samples have been received with 134 of the 170 samples collected returning assays greater than 100 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq). Notably, sample #161 taken from a historical underground working called Hueco Grande returned the highest grade with an assay of 4,311 g/t (or 152.07 ounces per tonne) AgEq (Photos 1 and 2). Photos 1 and 2: Sample 161 and where it was taken within the Hueco Grande historical working. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/HG-Sample-161-w-location.jpg The breakdown of the Central Dyke Zone sample assays greater than (>)100 g/t AgEq includes: 67 samples >100ppm AgEq, 39 samples >200ppm AgEq, 20 samples > 400ppm AqEq, and 8 samples >700ppm AgEq. Note: The rock samples results and the photograph above are selective by nature and may not be representative of the true grade or style of mineralization across the Property. The AgEq results disclosed herein assume US$1,750 gold and US$22 silver per/oz, and US$4.30 copper, US$1.25 lead, and US$1.50 zinc per/lb, and 100% metallurgical recovery. Ongoing work includes additional trenching to further expose, sample, and interpret the Central Dyke mineralization with the aim of refining and defining potential drill targets. Photos 3 and 4: Trenching in the Central Dyke Zone. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/CDZ-Trenching-Sampling.jpg "We are very pleased with the La Joya target development work and particularly the stellar sampling results that have now delineated the Central Dyke Zone over a strike length of 770 metres," said Michael Romanik, president of Silver Dollar. "Notably, sample 161 from the Hueco Grande working returned our highest grade to date on the Property at 152.07 ounces per tonne silver equivalent." Procedure, quality assurance/quality control and data verification: All rock samples were taken, described, photographed, and bagged, on site. They were delivered by Silver Dollar staff to ActLabs in Zacatecas, Mexico, ActLabs is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Gold is analyzed by a 30g Fire Assay with AA (atomic absorption spectroscopy) finish, then gravimetric finish if greater than 10ppm Gold. Silver and 34 other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission spectroscopy) finish. Silver, lead, zinc, and copper over limits were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance and quality control protocol. About the La Joya Silver Property: La Joya is an advanced exploration stage property consisting of 15 mineral concessions totaling 4,646 hectares and hosts the Main Mineralized Trend (MMT), Santo Nino, and Coloradito deposits. The previous operator, Silvercrest Mines, released a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) NI 43-101 Technical Report on the La Joya Property in December 2013. The PEA included a mineral resource estimate on the MMT and Santo Nino deposits (See Table) that was based on 89 holes totaling 30,085 m of Silvercrest's drilling between 2010 and 2012 (See Resource area model). The mineral resource estimate was reported to conform to CIM definitions for resource estimation; however, a qualified person of Silver Dollar has not done sufficient work to classify the historical resource, and the Company is not treating it as a current mineral resource. Independent data verification and an assessment of the mineral resource estimation methods are required to verify the historical mineral resource. Figure 2: Planview of the MMT, Santo Nino and Coloradito deposits, and Brazo and Central Dyke zones. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://silverdollarresources.com/images/LaJoya/LaJoya-5c.jpg The Property is situated approximately 75 kilometres southeast of the Durango state capital city of Durango in a high-grade silver region with past-producing and operating mines, including Silver Storm's La Parrilla Mine, Industrias Penoles' Sabinas Mine, Grupo Mexico's San Martin Mine, Sabinas Mine, First Majestic's Del Toro Mine, and Pan American Silver's La Colorada Mine (See location map). Access and infrastructure near the Property are excellent. Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person (QP) as defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company. About Silver Dollar Resources Inc. Silver Dollar is a mineral exploration company that is fully funded to execute its near-term exploration plans having closed its last financing with lead orders from billionaire mining investor Eric Sprott and NYSE-listed First Majestic Silver. The Company's primary projects lie within Mexico's prolific Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt and include the flagship La Joya silver (Cu-Au) property and the Nora silver-gold property. Management has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. For additional information, you can download our latest presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter by clicking here. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Michael Romanik" Michael Romanik, President, CEO & Director Silver Dollar Resources Inc. Direct line: (204) 724-0613 Email: mike@silverdollarresources.com 179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416 Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, 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 statements. Any forward-looking statement 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 statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197674 SOURCE: Silver Dollar Resources Inc. Phase 2 Drill Program to Focus on High Priority Targets with Large Gravity Anomalies Mineralization Encountered in Drillhole GKI002 will be Followed Up Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to announce mobilization of the drill crews and equipment as part of the 2024 drill program on the Geikie uranium project (the "Project") near the Athabasca Basin margin (Figure 1). The 2024 Geikie drill program will focus on direct follow up targets associated with gravity lows adjacent to the alteration, uranium mineralization, and pathfinder anomalism identified during the 2023 drill campaign and regional exploration targets from the integration of high-resolution airborne geophysical data. The Geikie project is currently being sole-funded by Basin Energy Limited (ASX: BSN). CanAlaska currently holds a 40% ownership in the project. Figure 1 - Geikie Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/197679_e8eaf03d74139bd1_002full.jpg 2024 Geikie Exploration Program The planned 2,500 metre program will be split between direct follow up targets associated with gravity lows adjacent to the alteration, uranium mineralization, and pathfinder anomalism identified during the 2023 drill campaign and regional exploration targets from the integration of high-resolution airborne geophysical data (Figure 2). In September of 2023, the Company announced results from the maiden drilling program on the Geikie project which were highlighted by 0.5 metres @ 0.27% U3O8 in drillhole GKI002 (see news release dated September 27, 2023). The 2023 drilling program also successfully intersected graphitic host rocks with evidence of multiple episodes of post-Athabasca structural reactivation events along north-south and northwest trending faults. Results confirmed the presence of hydrothermal alteration systems hosted within a complex structural framework, which are leading indicators in the formation of basement-hosted high-grade uranium deposits such as Eagle Point or Arrow. In addition, the Company completed an Airborne Gravity Gradiometer ('AGG') survey that has provided a series of high priority targets that warrant next phase drill testing. The AGG survey successfully identified multiple gravity low targets within the Project, interpreted to be related to alteration zones caused by fluids that are potentially related to mineralizing events. The planned program will focus on direct follow up targets in the Preston Creek and Aero Lake target areas. During the 2023 program, drilling in the Preston Creek target area, identified anomalous uranium enrichment in a zone of structural disruption, where north to northwest trending faults intersect the graphitic conductor trend. This target area is characterized by large, reactivated basement faults of up to 30 metres in width, consisting of clay gouge and breccias within variably graphitic pelitic host rocks. Hydrothermal alteration enveloping the major fault zones consists of hematite, chlorite, clay, and structurally-enhanced graphitic clays. Gravity low anomalies were highlighted by the Airborne Gravity Gradiometer (AGG) survey at the intersection of major north to northwest trending faults, and a graphitic conductor. In the Aero Lake target area, direct follow up will focus on high-priority gravity anomalies adjacent to GKI002 where the highest uranium value of the 2023 drill program was intersected. In addition, regional first-pass exploration drill testing is planned for the 2024 program in the Hunter North and Johnson Lake prospects which were developed from the integration of high-resolution airborne radiometric, magnetic, electromagnetic and gravity data with geochemical sampling, structural mapping and critical observations from the phase one drilling. The 2024 program is intended to identify fertile fault structures in the key target areas on the Geikie project. These fault zones can provide an ideal location for uranium mineralizing fluids to focus and precipitate. This is evidenced by the nearby GMZ-ACKIO mineralized zone, owned by 92 Energy and Baselode Energy, which is approximately 10 kilometres east of the Geikie project in a similar structural target scenario. Figure 2 - Geikie 2024 Drill Target Areas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/197679_e8eaf03d74139bd1_004full.jpg The Geikie project is currently being sole-funded by Basin Energy Limited (ASX: BSN) under an option earn-in agreement with the Company. CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "I am very pleased the Geikie project will be advanced with phase 2 drilling in early 2024. The intersection of basement-hosted uranium mineralization in the second drill hole completed on the project in 2023 highlights the potential of this project to deliver a significant uranium discovery. CanAlaska shareholders can expect continued news flow from this drilling program in the coming months." About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) holds interests in approximately 500,000 hectares (1,235,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration for CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., who has reviewed and approved its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Cory Belyk, CEO and President Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138 Email: cbelyk@canalaska.com General Enquiry Tel: +1.604.688.3211 Email: info@canalaska.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. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197679 SOURCE: CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS MONTREAL, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This notice is directed to all persons and entities who purchased securities of The Toronto-Dominion Bank on or after December 3, 2015 and held all or some of those securities until March 9, 2017 (collectively, the "Class" or "Class Members"). In a judgment dated January 30, 2024, the Honourable Donald Bisson of the Superior Court approved the settlement among all the parties to the class action entitled Majestic Asset Management and Turn8 Partners Inc. v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, bearing Court File No. 500-06-000914-180 (the "Settlement"). SUMMARY OF THE SETTLEMENT TERMS The Toronto-Dominion Bank will pay CAD $22 million (the "Settlement Amount") in full and final settlement of all claims against it in the class action (the "Class Action"), without any admission of liability on the part of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. The Settlement Amount, less the lawyers' fees and disbursements, administration expenses, and taxes (the "Compensation Fund"), will be distributed to the Class in accordance with the Court-approved plan of allocation. Legal fees have been approved in the amount of one-third (33.33 percent) of the Settlement Amount, plus disbursements, plus taxes. The Agreement and the Plan of Allocation may be viewed at https://www.faguyco.com/class-actions/toronto-dominion. A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION MUST BE MADE BYMAY 13, 2024, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT. Each Class Member is required to complete the claim form and upload the supporting documentation to the Website of the Administrator RicePoint Administration Inc. The claim form can be accessed or downloaded on the Administrator's website: https://www.tdbankcanadianshareholdersettlement.com or obtained by contacting the Administrator by telephone at 1-888-352-1387 or by email at tdbankcanadianshareholder@ricepoint.com. If you do not submit a duly completed claim form by May 13, 2024, you may not receive any part of the Compensation Fund. The Superior Court has appointed RicePoint Administration Inc. as the Administrator of the Settlement to among other things: (i) receive and process claim forms; (ii) decide eligibility for compensation; and (iii) distribute the Compensation Fund to eligible Class Members. You may submit a paper claim form only if you do not have Internet access. The paper claim form may be sent by mail or courier to: TD Bank Canadian Shareholder Settlement c/o RicePoint Administration Inc. P.O. Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3 Email: tdbankcanadianshareholder@ricepoint.com Claims Administration Portal Registration: https://www.tdbankcanadianshareholdersettlement.com (English) https://fr.tdbankcanadianshareholdersettlement.com (French) This notice was approved by the Superior Court of Quebec. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2335803/Faguy___Co__Barristers_and_Solicitors_Inc__ATTENTION_TORONTO_DOM.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/attention-toronto-dominion-bank-shareholders-notice-of-settlement-of-the-class-action-against-the-toronto-dominion-bank-302058862.html Definitive Project Success is Result of Five Years of Strong Collaboration and Investment by the OpenTitan Coalition to Bring First Trustworthy, Transparent, Secure Silicon Platform to Market CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Feb. 13, 2024, the open silicon ecosystem organization, and the OpenTitan coalition today announced a historic milestone as the first open-source silicon project to reach commercial availability, with validated chips in hand. The capstone moment is the result of an unprecedented amount of support and investment by the nine coalition members, including Google, Winbond, Nuvoton, zeroRISC, Rivos, Western Digital, Seagate, ETH Zurich and Giesecke+Devrient, hosted by the non-profit lowRISC CIC. OpenTitan - The World's First Commercial-Grade Open-Source Silicon is Here! "I am incredibly proud of the OpenTitan partnership for succeeding where every other project has failed - producing the first commercial quality open-source chip in the world," said Dr. Gavin Ferris, CEO of lowRISC, OpenTitan's host organization. "This is the culmination of the monumentally hard work of a vibrant and engaged community of contributors focused on a singular goal to achieve what's never been done before - make open-source silicon work the same way as open-source software. I am grateful for this support and can't wait for what's to come." Google launched the OpenTitan project together with lowRISC and its partners in 2018 with the goal to make a completely transparent and trustworthy secure silicon platform. It is the world's first open-source secure chip to include commercial-grade design verification, top-level testing and continuous integration. Capable of serving as the hardware root of trust, OpenTitan ensures that the hardware infrastructure and the software that runs on it remain in their intended, trustworthy state by verifying that the critical system components boot securely using only authorized and verifiable code. With Google's support, the project took off from its first year , setting it on a trajectory to make it the most active and successful open-source silicon project in history. Throughout its lifetime, the OpenTitan coalition thrived as an open silicon ecosystem, consistently following a well-defined roadmap from discrete to integrated secure silicon designs. The project partners are deeply engaged in this process, ensuring that the final designs are adaptable to many applications. OpenTitan also has a large and growing community of contributors beyond its formal partners. As a whole, the community resolves hundreds of pull requests and issues monthly. "OpenTitan in silicon is the realization of many years of dedication and hard work from our team. It is a significant moment for us and all contributors to the project," emphasized Miguel Osorio, OpenTitan Lead at Google. This major milestone follows a series of significant successes for the OpenTitan project in 2023. Most critically, the project also accomplished the first discrete silicon tapeout in June 2023. In November 2023, the project coalition announced the first SoC secure execution environment , including RoT functionality, which has enabled coalition partners to embed OpenTitan in their SoC and chiplet designs. Supporting Quotes from OpenTitan Members "We've been privileged to work closely with our OpenTitan coalition partners from early on and are even prouder now to bring the first 'EarlGrey' OpenTitan chip design to market, demonstrating our leadership in open, secure ICs," said Erez Naory, VP of Client and Security Products at Nuvoton. "Open-source secure silicon is now proven as a radical leap forward in solving the market's need for a truly trustworthy foundation." "Our mission is to advance the incredible work of the OpenTitan project by delivering an end-to-end supply chain security solution built on an open secure silicon foundation," said Dom Rizzo, zeroRISC CEO. "That we're able to deliver commercial products so soon after tapeout clearly illustrates the coalition's momentum. With this first, crucial step for open silicon implementations, we look forward to a world where a transparent and trustworthy supply chain is the default." "The rigor at the heart of the OpenTitan project's roadmap has ensured the success of this first-of-its-kind, silicon-proven integrated design," said Tung-Yi Chan, Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO at Winbond. "By proving the viability of securely integrating certified IPs, OpenTitan opens up new possibilities for SoC vendors. Winbond supports the OpenTitan initiative with its certified Secure Flash solutions." "We've benefited tremendously from the collaborative relationships within the OpenTitan partnership," said Mark Hayter, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Rivos Inc. "It's made it easy for us to share our SoC experience to help the coalition provide silicon-proven IP that enables us to integrate RoT into our chiplets." "Seagate is a proud consortium member and contributor of the OpenTitan project," according to Ed Gage, VP of Seagate Research. "Both the open-source IP and the OpenTitan chip will set a new baseline for hardware-based security. Seagate considers this high-quality security IP a key enabler of both enhanced storage device integrity and data protection." "It has been a privilege for Giesecke+Devrient to contribute to the success of OpenTitan so far, as we believe that a secure IP block based on OpenTitan will enable smooth, fast and cost-effective integration into larger SoCs, unlocking a host of new use cases, especially in the IoT ecosystem," says Bernd Muller, Head of Connectivity and IoT Portfolio Strategy at Giesecke+Devrient. "With G+D's trusted embedded operating systems pre-integrated on OpenTitan coupled with our broad portfolio of IoT and connectivity solutions, we are excited for the opportunity this provides us to support customers and projects in this emerging ecosystem." The OpenTitan coalition continues to work in unison to accelerate the project's momentum. Upcoming key milestones include the full production release of the " Darjeeling " integrated OpenTitan secure extension environment" chip design, with additional coverage and development. About lowRISC Founded in 2014 at the University of Cambridge Department of Computer Science and Technology, lowRISC is a not-for-profit company/CIC that provides a neutral home for collaborative engineering to develop and maintain open-source silicon designs and tools for the long term. The lowRISC not-for-profit structure combined with full-stack engineering capabilities in-house enables the hosting and management of high-quality projects like OpenTitan via the Silicon Commons approach. Media Contacts: lowRISC@w2comm.com OpenTitan@famapr.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/373e01c6-2e74-46d6-991d-0adf4ef5d82b Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) ("Teledyne") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Adimec Holding B.V. and its subsidiaries ("Adimec"). Adimec, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, develops customized high-performance industrial and scientific cameras for applications where image quality is of paramount importance. "Adimec possesses uniquely complementary technology, products and customers in the shared strategic focus areas of healthcare, global defense, and semiconductor and electronics inspection," said Edwin Roks, Chief Executive Officer of Teledyne. "For decades and from our own X-ray imaging business headquartered in Eindhoven, I have watched Adimec grow to become a leader in niche applications requiring truly accurate images for precise decision making in time-critical processes." Joost van Kuijk, Adimec's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce publicly that Adimec will become part of Teledyne. Adimec's success has always been built on ensuring imaging excellence in demanding applications through an unwavering focus on individual customer requirements by our expert engineers and designers." Adimec co- Chief Executive Officer, Alex de Boer added, "As a leader in advanced imaging technologies for industrial and scientific markets, Teledyne is the perfect company to build further on the strong foundation the founders and management have established over the past three decades. The entire Adimec team is looking forward to contributing to an exciting future with Teledyne while extending technical boundaries to support our customers with cameras perfectly optimized to their application needs." About Teledyne Teledyne is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at www.teledyne.com. Forward-Looking Statements Cautionary Notice This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to a pending acquisition of a company subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many factors, as well as market and economic conditions beyond either company's control, could change anticipated results. There are additional risks associated with operating businesses internationally, including those arising from United States and foreign government policy and regulatory changes or actions and exchange rate fluctuations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213688883/en/ Contacts: Jason VanWees (805) 373-4542 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Chemours, a global company committed to making its chemistry as responsible as it is essential, and the Georgia 4-H Foundation, a unit of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service and the premier youth leadership organization in the state of Georgia, have announced a partnership to provide environmental education and leadership learning to youth. Through Chemours' Vibrant Communities initiative, the company will provide $225,000 over three years to support Georgia 4-H in its environmental science programming. In addition to monetary support, Chemours employees will volunteer their time and expertise to support the programs. More than 170,000 youth participate in 4-H activities annually, and environmental science is a major part of the curriculum offered in schools, county Extension offices, and six 4-H centers across Georgia. Youth explore the intersection of ecology, humankind, and the environment as they learn about conservation of resources and the impact of environmental stressors. Through numerous judging teams, camps, classes, and personal project work, youth are exposed to hands-on learning and real-world experiences. Forestry, wildlife, and land conservation are important elements of the 4-H environmental science curriculum. The research-based programming used by Georgia 4-H correlates to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. "Chemours is proud to support the wonderful initiatives and opportunities the Georgia 4-H provides to youth in Georgia," said C.J. Hilton, Vice President, Mineral Operations at Chemours. "We believe in investing in our communities, and we are committed to environmental leadership. This partnership allows us to collaborate with an organization that is teaching and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, and we are excited to play a role in their development. We will work together to make our communities stronger and expand access to sustainable environmental programs." "As the private fundraising arm for Georgia's premier youth development organization, the Georgia 4-H Foundation is committed to building relationships with relevant partners to enhance leadership and workforce development opportunities for youth in all 159 Georgia counties," said Adam Hammond, Executive Director of the Georgia 4-H Foundation. "This partnership with Chemours will provide unique and effective opportunities for collaboration and education, and we are grateful for their deep support." On Wednesday, Feb. 14, representatives from Chemours mineral operations in Georgia will join the Foundation to celebrate Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol in Atlanta. Nearly 600 4-H'ers will be on hand to engage with their lawmakers. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: The Chemours Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: The Chemours Company View the original press release on accesswire.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / The nationally recognized law firm of Kelley | Uustal is pleased to welcome attorney Amanda Suarez to its trial team. Amanda Suarez, Esq. Trial attorney Amanda Suarez joins Kelley | Uustal. Before joining Kelley | Uustal, Suarez contributed significantly to court victories at a national law firm based in Miami. In June 2023, she played a major role in winning a remarkable $63.5 million federal jury award - including $47.6 million in punitive damages - on behalf of two businessmen who claimed a Miami City Commissioner used their office to harass them after they supported the commissioner's political opponent. The First Amendment retaliation case attracted considerable national media attention and led to calls for the commissioner's resignation. "We are really looking forward to having Amanda on our team," said founding partner John Uustal. "Her passion for succeeding for her clients is impressive." Suarez, for her part, called her new position "an amazing opportunity." "I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this winning team," she said. Suarez earned her juris doctor magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. While there, she served as the symposium chair for the University of Miami Race and Social Justice Law Review, and as a fellow on the Human Rights Clinic's gender-based violence project team. She also earned a bachelor's degree from UM in psychology and political science. Before entering private practice, Suarez sharpened her skills as an assistant public defender in the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office. Kelley | Uustal (www.kelleyuustal.com), a national law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, is focused on catastrophic injury, wrongful death cases, and complex commercial litigation. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601. Contact Information David Bloom Media Relations Manager dave.bloom@ournewsroom.com 954-334-5822 SOURCE: Kelley | Uustal View the original press release on newswire.com. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / GGL Resources Corp. (TSXV:GGL) ("GGL" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") to consist of the sale of up to 6,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.05 per share, to raise gross proceeds of up to $300,000. Insiders may participate in the private placement and finders' fees or brokers' commissions may be paid in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange policies. All securities issued as part of the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada of four months plus one day from closing. The proceeds from the Offering, which is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, will be used for exploration and development activities at the Company's Gold Point Project in the Walker Lane Trend of western Nevada and for general working capital purposes. Exploration update GGL is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization (IP) Survey over the Le Champ copper-molybdenum porphyry target at its road-accessible Gold Point Project in the Walker Lane Trend of Western Nevada. The IP survey will be centered over abundant stockwork veining and silica alteration identified by recent mapping at Le Champ. This alteration is believed to mark the upper levels of a buried porphyry system. The strongly elevated molybdenum values and more subdued, but still noteworthy, copper results are consistent with a leached system, and suggest that stronger mineralization could be found at depth. It is anticipated that the IP survey could delineate this sulphide mineralization. Geological mapping at Le Champ identified six separate intrusive phases within the Sylvania Plutonic Complex hosting extensive stockwork and sheeted vein zones. The strongest molybdenum-in-soil anomalies are associated with the stockwork zones. Copper-in-soil geochemistry is moderately anomalous throughout the target area with the strongest values near shallowly south-dipping fault structures and stockwork zones. Large magmatic breccias containing limonite altered cubes and clots, often up to 2 cm across, were identified on the north side of the target area near historical workings containing copper mineralization. A float sample comprising limonite clots collected from the breccia returned 6.29% copper and 203 g/t silver. The exact timing of the brecciation is not yet known, but is thought to be a late event as it includes clasts of mafic dykes which are seen elsewhere on surface cutting the other intrusive phases. Surface Sampling Field crews will also complete systematic surveying and sampling of veins on newly acquired claims, located about 700 m along strike to the west of the main underground workings on the Orleans Vein (see news release date January 16, 2024). There are numerous historical surface and underground workings on the new claims. These workings have not yet been mapped or sampled by the Company, but mineralization closely resembles that found in high-grade veins system elsewhere on the Gold Point property. Setting of Le Champ Le Champ is located about 3.5 km west of the gold-rich veins that have been the focus of historical exploration at Gold Point. The porphyry lies within the Late to Middle-Jurassic Sylvania Granitic Complex, a multi-phase intrusive suite that covers an area greater than 400 km2 along the Nevada-California border stretching between Fish Lake Valley to the north and Death Valley to the south. It typically ranges in composition from granite to quartz monzonite, but locally contains more mafic phases. This pluton is similar in age to intrusions that host large porphyry systems in the Yerington district of Walker Lane, 249 km to the northwest. The Walker Lane hosts four significant known porphyry deposits (Yerington, Ann Mason, Bear, and MacArthur), all of which are located near Yerington. The Yerington Mine was operated by the Anaconda Company from 1952 until 1979 and produced approximately 1.744 billion pounds of copper at an average grade 0.54% copper. This deposit, along with the Bear and MacArthur deposit are currently held by Lion Copper and Gold. The Ann Mason deposit is owned by Hudbay Minerals Inc. and contains 2.2 billion tonnes of measured and indicated resources grading 0.29% copper and 67 ppm molybdenum. About Gold Point The Gold Point Project is accessed by Highway 774 and comprises 375 lode claims and 7 patented claims covering a total area of approximately 7,443 acres (30.1 km2). It is situated within the Walker Lane, a major mineral belt that has seen significant historical production from gold, silver, and copper mines. Many companies are actively exploring in the belt including several majors. The Gold Point Project covers several past-producing underground mines that explored along parts of four prominent vein structures. These main structures are paralleled by several other lightly explored structures. The mines operated intermittently from the 1880s to the early 1960s, producing gold and silver from mesothermal veins. The mineralization is strongly oxidized to the bottom of the workings, which reached a maximum depth of 1,020 ft (311 m) downdip. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Matthew R. Dumala, P.Eng., a geological engineer with Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. About GGL Resources Corp. GGL is a seasoned, Canadian-based junior exploration company, focused on the exploration and advancement of under evaluated mineral assets in politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions. The Company has optioned and wholly owned claims in the Gold Point district of the prolific Walker Lane Trend, Nevada. The Gold Point claims cover several gold-silver veins, four of which host past producing high-grade mines, and an exciting new porphyry discovery. The Company also owns the McConnell Project, which hosts epithermal gold veins and an under explored porphyry copper-gold prospect in the Kemess District of north-central British Colombia. GGL also holds diamond royalties on mineral leases adjacent to the Gahcho Kue diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "W. Douglas Eaton" Doug Eaton CEO and Director For further information concerning GGL Resources Corp. or its various exploration projects please visit our website at www.gglresourcescorp.com or contact: Investor Inquiries Richard Drechsler Corporate Communications Tel: (604) 687-2522 NA Toll-Free: (888) 688-2522 rdrechsler@strategicmetalsltd.com Corporate Information Linda Knight Corporate Secretary Tel: (604) 688-0546 info@gglresourcescorp.com The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Information contained in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "evaluate", "potential", "likely", "possible", "cut-off grades" "noteworthy", "consistent", "suggest", "delineate", "closely resembles" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "may", "could" or "will" occur. GGL cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the control of GGL. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development and the results thereof, including the results of the recently completed drill program, the impact on future mineral resource estimates, the potential for new discoveries, and the results of future metallurgical programs, as well as the ability of GGL to obtain additional financing, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, fluctuations in the prices of commodities, operating hazards and risks, competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GGL's financial statements available under the GGL profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GGL undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE: GGL Resources Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Japan Metaverse: City of Kochi Unveils Tourism Boost Plans Kochi, Japan, will move into the metaverse space, with city officials sealing a web3 deal with the Philippines-based Start Lands. Per Kochi News and CoinPost, the city government signed its deal with the firm behind the Start Land metaverse project on February 7. The parties said a virtual Kochi would likely be open for online visitors by the summer of 2024. Japan Metaverse Moves: Virtual City Will Attract Tourists Start Lands is the brainchild of a Japanese developer who goes by the moniker of KOUSEI. The latter launched the company in May 2022. In Start Land, internet users can reportedly use free avatars to enjoy shopping in a virtual space. Kochi officials said they had signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement that would see them promote regional revitalization using digital technology. Kochi City x START LANDS Inc. Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony, was a success! Thank you all for your support. We will have a screening later on discord and X live. We will have a screening at #STARTLAND pic.twitter.com/j9HrZrmdRF START LAND official (@STARTJPN1) February 7, 2024 And Kochi spokespeople said they believe the project will help them expand sales channels for local specialties. They added that the move would help the city attract tourists, and encourage people to relocate to [Kochi]. The city said it was also considering use of the metaverse in the fields of education and welfare. Kochi Eyes Expansion: Can Metaverse Help? The firm said the February 7 ceremony was also held simultaneously in the metaverse space, featuring the avatars of Ryugo Kuwana, Mayor of Kochi, and KOUSEI. Start Land claims to have approximately 20,000 users in Japan and overseas locations. The firm also issues NFTs. Kochi is the biggest city and the capital of Kochi Prefecture, on Japans Shikoku Island. The prefecture is mainly rural, and is well-known for its mountains, rivers, and beaches. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has given his backing to the countrys web3 and metaverse sectors. Kishida identified the industries as growth engines for the economy in a speech to UK investors in 2022. In 2021, the South Korean capital, Seoul, unveiled plans to launch comprehensive metaverse platform services. Jupiter, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Healing Realty Trust ("HRT" or the "Company"), formerly known as Healing Commercial Real Estate Inc., a data-driven, self-managed real estate investment company focused on acquiring healthcare-related assets, announced that it has further bolstered its Board of Directors (the "Board") with the appointment of Shant Banosian, the leading mortgage loan officer in the country and the first in the business to surpass one billion dollars in home loan sales. Shant's noteworthy expertise in mortgage lending complements the Board's existing backing of leaders across the real estate, finance, capital markets, and healthcare industries. Throughout his career spanning two decades, Shant Banosian has closed over 40,000 units and $9 billion in funded mortgage loans. His record-breaking successes and industry expertise have led to his recognition as the number one Loan Officer in the nation for over five years by esteemed publications such as Scotsman Guide and Mortgage Executive Magazine, and he has been featured on the Mortgage Professional America's Mortgage Global 100 List for more than four years. Shant is currently the Executive Vice President of Sales at Guaranteed Rate, a mortgage lending and digital financial services firm, where he has solidified his position as the company's number one Loan Officer for eight years running. After establishing a strong presence in Massachusetts, Shant significantly expanded his reach in 2021 to provide exceptional client service for which he has been strongly recognized across all 50 states. "Shant is a powerhouse in the mortgage lending space and has proven his expertise to be a covetable resource in the real estate industry," said Joe Caltabiano, Chief Executive Officer of HRT. "The breadth of Shant's achievements is a strong testament to his unparalleled dedication to serving both his clients and communities. The knowledge he provides will be incredibly valuable as we strengthen our corporate governance structure in anticipation of several growth opportunities that will shape the future of HRT." Shant Banosian added, "The HRT team continues to make waves with their unconventional approach to the traditionally run REIT space. I am thrilled to be along for the ride with such a respected group of individuals while helping to shape the future of this meaningful and emerging sector." Earlier this month, the Company also appointed former CEO of Brookfield Properties retail real estate vertical, Jared Chupaila, to the Board, bringing the total number of members to seven, following the departure of Nathan Cali. Joe Caltabiano concluded, "On behalf of myself and the team, I would like to thank Nathan for his valued contributions and strong dedication to HRT's vision since its inception." HRT is a data-driven company that intends to acquire NNN-leased healthcare-related real estate assets, managing both property acquisition and interior buildout to optimize the properties for each tenant or practitioner. With escalating healthcare costs driving patients to explore novel treatments and an overall growing prioritization of wellness across the U.S., the behavioral health market is projected to be valued at $132.4 billion by 2027. About Healing Realty Trust Healing Realty Trust (HRT), formerly known as Healing Commercial Real Estate Inc., is a data-driven, self-managed real estate investment company specializing in the ownership of income-generating properties primarily linked to the healthcare industry. Media Contact MATTIO Communications healingreit@mattio.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197681 SOURCE: Healing Realty Trust First Fully Automated Loan Management Software ('LMS') in North America Continued Growth with Alternative Lenders choosing Inverite One of Canada's largest Alternative Lenders Real Estate Lender Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Inverite Insights Inc. (CSE: INVR) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0) ("Inverite"), is a leading AI-driven software provider utilizing real-time financial data to empower businesses to transact more effectively with consumers is pleased to provide an update to the investment community regarding the significant progress of its proprietary 'Consumer Directed Banking Platform' (Open Banking) during the first two months of 2024. The alternative credit economy catering to the "off-bureau" and underbanked consumers remains one of the fastest-growing sectors within the North American credit landscape, propelling increasing interest in Inverite's Open Banking Platform across multiple sectors. With our industry-leading products, we provide the credit industry with unique data insights, enabling better adjudication of consumers credit requests by providing lenders a comprehensive overview that overcomes the limitations of traditional credit bureaus, which often omits data, due to non-reporting lenders or financial institutions. Karim Nanji, CEO of Inverite, emphasized, "Our product offerings, tailored to lenders in the credit economy continue to gain momentum as the industry recognizes the financial advantages of leveraging our data to extend credit to consumers at an unprecedented pace. Traditional credit scores are no longer sufficient as the primary benchmark for lending decisions. Inverite empowers lenders with customized solutions utilizing alternative customer financial data, enabling more informed adjudication and transaction processes." Inverite is invigorated by its ongoing expansion and strong presence within the alternative lending sector and the broader fintech ecosystem. The company has expanded its reach in the fintech and alternative lending space by partnering with an Automated Loan Management software provider, enhancing its capabilities in streamlining lending processes and improving efficiency for both lenders and consumers. Inverite has also formed a strategic partnership with a niche real estate lender, providing unique offerings for homeowners and real estate agents alike, further solidifying its position as a key player in the evolving landscape of financial technology. Inverite remains committed to driving innovation within the credit industry and looks forward to further advancements in facilitating seamless transactions between businesses and consumers through its Open Banking Platform. About Inverite Insights Inc. Inverite Insights Inc. (CSE: INVR) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0) ("Inverite") is a Vancouver-based, AI-driven software provider specializing in real-time financial data. With a vast database of over seven billion financial data points from more than four million unique Canadian consumers transactions, Inverite empowers businesses to transact more effectively with consumers through innovative solutions for data enrichment, identity, risk management and compliance. For further information about Inverite, please visit: inverite.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Mike Marrandino, Executive Chairman T: (855) 661-2390 ext. 104 Email: ir@inverite.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider/Market Maker (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, nor has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction nor approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the CSE. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197728 SOURCE: Inverite Insights Inc. 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. Insightful employee monitoring software received top awards as Most Implementable, Best Results and a Leader in the American market NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Insightful, a leading workforce analytics and employee productivity monitoring software, has been recognized with 52 top honors in G2's prestigious Winter 2024 report. This achievement cements the company's position as a leader in the employee monitoring, time tracking and remote work software sector. Key Details Insightful has been ranked as a top software solution in 52 categories by G2. Awards include Most Implementable, Best Results and Leader in the American market. G2's reports are based on insights captured from users of software products around the world. More Major Gains in the US Market Insightful reaffirmed its position as the easiest-to-use productivity software by being crowned Most Implementable. Proving this ease of use doesn't come at the cost of performance, the company was also again voted no.1 for results. Insightful has consistently ranked atop each of these categories for the past two years. Insightful was again ranked as a Leader in the American market. This notable achievement is in part attributable to the company's recent expansion in the United States, marked by the opening of a new enterprise office in New York City. This strategic move significantly bolsters Insightful's presence and influence in the American market, the world's most significant economic region. Setting Industry Standards Insightful was crowned as a leader in the time tracking and employee monitoring software categories, demonstrating the versatility of its technology. Much of Insightful's ongoing adoption and success is on the back of its reputation as a leading remote team management software for remote and hybrid teams. As well as being the easiest-to-use software, Insightful continues to set new industry benchmarks as the most complete workforce analytics solution. As well as time tracking and employee monitoring, Insightful also offers time and attendance, remote working software, productivity management, and more. No.1 In The Eyes of Users Ivan Petrovic, CEO and Founder of Insightful, said: "Once again we're incredibly grateful for our users rating us so highly. This is testament to our values of always being customer focused and building a product based on what they tell us they need most. "Being acknowledged as a leader in the American market is particularly gratifying, as it aligns with our recent expansion efforts in the region with our New York City office. It shows our vision and strategy in the region is already proving successful. "We are committed to fostering strong customer relationships and enhancing team productivity and efficiency, and it's heartening to see this commitment resonating with our users." G2's Methodology G2 selects the recipients of its awards based on genuine user reviews and comprehensive data analysis, highlighting the real-world effectiveness and user satisfaction of software products. About Insightful Insightful software is trusted by 3,100+ global brands and used by 180,000+ people daily. Insightful's work tracking software helps manage and boost productivity, improve workflows, and support employee wellbeing. Features include an employee tracking app, automatic time tracking, remote computer monitoring software, and so much more. Contact Information Seb KIpman Head of Communications media@insightful.io SOURCE: Insightful View the original press release on newswire.com. BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 13, 2024. This groundbreaking product, created initially for a major sporting franchise, utilizes the cutting-edge AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology of their flagship LEXI product. LEXI Recorded will address the ever-increasing demand for high volume, fast turnaround and easy captioning of recorded content, while ensuring high accuracy and cost-effectiveness. It is also capable of seamlessly integrating with a customer's media management system, to become an end-to-end media production workflow, and delivering a more efficient and hands off recorded captioning process. AI-Media's Chief Product Officer, Bill McLaughlin says: "LEXI Recorded represents a significant leap forward in the world of automated captioning for recorded media, providing unparalleled speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency. With LEXI Recorded, we are not just meeting but exceeding the demands for high-volume, quick, and precise captioning of recorded content. With accuracy comparable to human captioning, the ability to seamlessly integrate into diverse production workflows and priced from $0.20USD per minute, this is a gamechanger for high volume broadcasters of content. We are proud to continue our legacy of innovation and leadership in the captioning space. LEXI Recorded is a testament to our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower organizations to enhance accessibility with efficiency in media production." Key Features of LEXI Recorded include: Speed and Efficiency: LEXI Recorded ensures the rapid turnaround of captioned files, enabling organizations to meet tight deadlines and deliver content promptly to their audiences. Files can be turned around, in a variety of formats, in as little as the length of the video. LEXI Recorded ensures the rapid turnaround of captioned files, enabling organizations to meet tight deadlines and deliver content promptly to their audiences. Files can be turned around, in a variety of formats, in as little as the length of the video. High Accuracy: Powered by advanced AI technology, LEXI Recorded offers excellent accuracy at 98% NER, and even higher with the use of custom dictionaries or topic models. Powered by advanced AI technology, LEXI Recorded offers excellent accuracy at 98% NER, and even higher with the use of custom dictionaries or topic models. Cost Efficiency: The automated nature of LEXI Recorded significantly reduces operational costs, providing a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes. From as little as $0.20USD per minute, LEXI Recorded has the potential to provide our customers with substantive cost savings over traditional human captioning of recorded content. The automated nature of LEXI Recorded significantly reduces operational costs, providing a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes. From as little as $0.20USD per minute, LEXI Recorded has the potential to provide our customers with substantive cost savings over traditional human captioning of recorded content. Flexible Integration Patterns for Diverse Workflows: Recognizing the diversity of production workflows, AI-Media offers flexible integration patterns, allowing organizations to tailor their integration with LEXI Recorded according to their unique needs. Options include API-based integration, shared folder-based integration, and custom integration, catering to organizations with varying software development capabilities. Recognizing the diversity of production workflows, AI-Media offers flexible integration patterns, allowing organizations to tailor their integration with LEXI Recorded according to their unique needs. Options include API-based integration, shared folder-based integration, and custom integration, catering to organizations with varying software development capabilities. API Integration for Seamless Workflows: At the core of LEXI Recorded's integration capabilities is AI-Media's Orders API. This developer-friendly API adheres to industry standards, including REST, JSON, API key, HTTPS, and TLS, making it easy to navigate and work with. The API also supports both AI-fulfilled LEXI Recorded and captioner-fulfilled Premium Recorded order types, ensuring a smooth transition between AI and human-based captioning without disruption. At the core of LEXI Recorded's integration capabilities is AI-Media's Orders API. This developer-friendly API adheres to industry standards, including REST, JSON, API key, HTTPS, and TLS, making it easy to navigate and work with. The API also supports both AI-fulfilled LEXI Recorded and captioner-fulfilled Premium Recorded order types, ensuring a smooth transition between AI and human-based captioning without disruption. Instant Language Translation: Submit orders with source audio in over 30 languages and receive either same-language captions or AI translated subtitles. Submit orders with source audio in over 30 languages and receive either same-language captions or AI translated subtitles. Flexible interface options: Choose between ad hoc use of the LEXI Recorded online portal or for high volume users; a bespoke, integration set-up to manage super-fast, low touch turnaround of content. Choose between ad hoc use of the LEXI Recorded online portal or for high volume users; a bespoke, integration set-up to manage super-fast, low touch turnaround of content. AI-Media also offers 24/7 global support backed by best-in-class engineering excellence. LEXI Recorded is yet another solution in AI-Media's LEXI Tool Kit now cementing the company as the global leader in captioning technology and solutions. The AI-Media team will be showcasing the LEXI Recorded solution from 14-17 April at the NAB Show 2024 in Las Vegas; the world's largest broadcast and media trade convention. To book a 1:1 session at NAB Show to learn more about LEXI Recorded or our other solutions click HERE. For more information about LEXI Recorded visit the LEXI Recorded pageon the AI-Mediasite. About AI-Media Founded in Australia in 2003, technology company AI-Media is a global leader in the provision of high-quality live and recorded captioning, transcription and translation solutions. The company helps the world's leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies ensure high accuracy, secure and cost-effective captioning via its AI-powered LEXI automatic captioning solution and end-to-end range of captioning hardware. Globally, AI-Media technology delivers well over 10 million minutes of live and recorded media content, and online events and web streams every month. AI-Media. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b438393-8d1a-4c20-ac87-8bb81fc5a450 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Migratory species globally are facing critical challenges, with nearly half in decline and more than 20 per cent threatened with extinction, a landmark UN report points out. Of most concern is the threat to migratory fish, with 97 per cent of the species on the brink of extinction. The two greatest threats to all migratory species are over-exploitation and habitat loss due to human activity, according to the first-ever State of the World's Migratory Species report released on Monday. Amy Fraenkel, head of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) secretariat, highlighted the importance of specific habitats. 'They regularly travel, sometimes thousands of miles, to reach these places. They face enormous challenges and threats along the way, as well at their destinations where they breed or feed,' she said. A first of its kind study was prepared by conservation scientists at the UN Environment Program (UNEP) for the CMS, as its State parties gathered for a major conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are expected to rise considerably in the coming decades, the report noted, explaining that changing temperatures can cause migratory species to arrive too early, too late, or not at all. While highlighting the concerning situation of many species, the report also shows that population and species-wide recoveries are possible, provided there is strong coordinated action at all levels. Success stories include a bounce back for bird populations in Cyprus thanks to concerted local action to outlaw illegal bird netting, and integrated conservation and restoration work in Kazakhstan, which brought the Saiga Antelope back from the verge of extinction. The report highlighted a clear call to action, providing a set of priority recommendations. This will be discussed at the 14th Conference of the States Parties to the CMS, which commenced on Monday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The week-long event will see governments, along with wildlife organizations and scientists joining forces to advance implementation of the Convention. 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 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX (RTX), was awarded an F100 engine performance-based logistics (PBL) sustainment contract by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The contract, with a base value of $355 million, is the third consecutive PBL contract Pratt & Whitney and DAPA have signed since 2012, offering on-going maintenance support for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons. 'For just over a decade, we have worked with DAPA on these performance-based logistics contracts to establish a more strategic sustainment solution for the ROKAF fighter fleet,' said Chris Johnson, vice president of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney. 'These contracts are a win-win for both customers and industry because they offer more efficient affordability and availability.' Sustainment work began in December of 2023 and will run through the second half of 2027. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Portable power fuels industrial market (electronics, military, automotive). Green & efficient DMFCs offer a competitive edge, says FMI Report. Explore more: deep dive into market trends, players, and opportunities NEWARK, Del., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The direct methanol fuel cell market size is poised to cross US$ 3.4 billion in 2024 and is likely to attain a valuation of US$ 12.2 billion by 2034. The direct methanol fuel cell market is projected to thrive at a staggering CAGR of 13.8% from 2024 to 2034. Request Exclusive Sample Report: Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18998 The need for portable electronics is growing since we live in a society where people move around constantly. Consumers want simplicity and mobility in everything from smartphones to wearable technology. Direct methanol fuel cells provide a portable, light power source that meets the demand for dependable mobile energy solutions. Companies can tap into profitable markets by incorporating direct methanol fuel cells into their product offerings and capitalizing on the trend of extended battery life, which meets customer demand while improving user experience. A tactical route for direct methanol fuel cell industry expansion is the military and defense industry. By using the mobility and quick refueling of DMFCs, businesses can secure contracts to supply power to vital military hardware, unmanned systems, and field operations. This application diversity offers a stable income stream, bolsters the company's position as an important force in military technology innovation, and aligns with national security imperatives. Direct methanol fuel cell integration in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) presents a strategic potential when working with automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Businesses can use DMFCs as backup power sources or range extenders to assist in the development of environmentally friendly and effective transportation options. By positioning the firm as a significant facilitator of automotive electrification, this strategic alliance corresponds with the worldwide move towards emission-free automobiles. It opens up opportunities for collaborations with important players in the automotive sector. The direct methanol fuel cell market features a dynamic environment where success depends heavily on strategic agility. Customer-centric innovation, regulatory alignment, and cooperative partnerships are the main forces behind this. Regulatory compliance, technology innovation, and customer-focused strategies are essential for businesses to navigate this quickly changing industry. Says Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.). Key Takeaways from the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market Report The global direct methanol fuel cell market size expanded at a 16.2% CAGR through 2034. The bipolar plates segment is projected to rise at a 13.6% CAGR through 2034. The portable application segment is expected to develop at a 13.4% CAGR through 2034. The market size in the United States is projected to rise at a 14.2% CAGR through 2034. The market size in Japan is anticipated to develop at a 15.1% CAGR through 2034. The market size in the United Kingdom is estimated to surge at a 15.4% CAGR through 2034. The market size in South Korea is expected to thrive at a 16.0% CAGR through 2034. Competitive Landscape The direct methanol fuel cell market is characterized by intense competition, with well-established players like Ballard Power Systems and SFC Energy AG, coexisting with innovative startups like Oorja Protonics. Market dynamics heavily depend on strategic alliances and collaborations, particularly with large corporations. Businesses that comply with the criteria benefit from the regulatory policies that significantly impact the adoption of renewable energy. Businesses extensively spend in R&D to improve the efficiency and design of DMFCs, making technological innovation a crucial arena of rivalry. Market leaders must prioritize customer-centric initiatives, mergers, and acquisitions to maintain their positions in this quickly changing industry. Key Players in the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market SFC Energy AG Oorja Protonics Antig Technology Co., Ltd. Serenergy A/S Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Meoh Power Viaspace Green Energy Inc. Fujikura Ltd. MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. Ballard Power Systems Inc. Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. Toshiba Corporation Hitachi Zosen Corporation Johnson Matthey Plc Neah Power Systems Inc. Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis. Recent Developments In July 2023, SFC Energy AG, a leading producer of hydrogen and methanol fuel cells for stationary and mobile hybrid power systems, started producing hydrogen and methanol fuel cells at its New Delhi/Gurgaon facility in India in the presence of Federal Minister Dr. Robert Habeck. In February 2023, Danish fuel cell developer and producer Blue World Technologies announced the CellPack Stationary, a methanol-based power generator. The CellPack Stationary's intended market is the telecommunications industry, which annually installs hundreds of thousands of smaller generator sets to keep people linked worldwide. Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market Segmentation By Component: Bipolar plates Current Collectors Catalysts Membranes By Application: Portable Stationary Transportation By Region: North America Latin America Western Europe Eastern Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Middle East & Africa (MEA) Japan Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here! 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 Chemicals Domain: Renewable Methanol Market by Biomass, Municipal Waste, Industrial Waste, and Others, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Biomass, Municipal Waste, Industrial Waste, and Others, 2023-2033. - Petroleum-Fuel Dyes and Markers Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Aviation Fuel Additives Market by Additive Type, Fuel Type, Application, and Region, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting service provider, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the UK, the U.S., and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry 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/direct-methanol-fuel-cell-market-to-see-strong-growth-reaching-13-8-cagr-by-2034--fueled-by-portable-power-demand-302060543.html MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Ilmor is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mary Jo Reinhart as ION Brand Manager. Coming from Torqeedo, Reinhart brings 13 years of experience working directly in the electric propulsion space. In her new role, Reinhart will be assisting with the rollout and brand of the highly anticipated ION 6, Ilmor's first electric outboard. "It's an exciting opportunity to join Ilmor and bring the ION brand to fruition," said Mary Jo Reinhart. "Introducing such an exciting new product represents a thrilling challenge. I look forward to working closely with the talented team at Ilmor to bring the ION 6 to market and expand ION's product line in the near future." "We are delighted to welcome Mary Jo Reinhart to the Ilmor family," said Mike Lindberg, Vice President of Marine at Ilmor. "Her passion for innovation and her proven track record in brand management make her the perfect fit for this pivotal role. With the addition of Mary Jo to our team, we are confident that the ION brand will continue to thrive and that the ION 6 will set a new standard for excellence in electric outboard technology." With the ION 6 heading into production, Reinhart's experience will be instrumental in maximizing the impact of this groundbreaking product. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence will ensure that the ION 6 meets and exceeds customer expectations, establishing Ilmor's position as a leader in electric marine propulsion. The entire team at Ilmor is excited to welcome Reinhart aboard and looks forward to achieving new heights together in the electric outboard world. Contact Information Nicholas Matthews Ilmor Creative Marketing Specialist matthewsn@ilmor.com SOURCE: Ilmor View the original press release on newswire.com. Singapores Web3 Firms Call for Budget Support to Boost Talent and Security With the 2024 Budget announcement on the horizon, Singapores web3 community is voicing a critical need for government support. According to a recent report by The Straits Times, the Singaporean firms are specifically looking for help in two key areas: developing a skilled talent pool equipped with blockchain technology expertise and strengthening defenses against cyber threats. Web3 firms in Spore hope for Budget help to grow talent pool, build cyber crime defences https://t.co/340TCaCRke ST Business Desk (@stbusinessdesk) February 12, 2024 Singapores Demand for More Web3 Contributors The lack of skilled professionals in the blockchain domain is a significant barrier to growth for Singapores web3 sector. Danny Lim, a core contributor at the decentralized exchange MarginX, emphasized that demand for experienced developers would be pressing issue. To cement Singapores position as a hub for innovative blockchain projects, Lim said that supporting web2 developers in their transition to web3 with the Budget, especially those facing job displacement, is particularly important. Elaine Zhu of Parity Asia pointed out the urgent need for blockchain education, expressing concern over the declining number of new developers. Citing a recent Electric Capital report that quantifies developer activity across Web3, she said the number of experienced developers here remains healthy, said Zhu. But the number of newly qualified developers fell by 52 per cent in 2023. Strengthening Cyber Defenses Furthermore, the industry called for strengthened cyber defenses to protect against the increasing threat to digital assets. The emphasis on security highlighted the broader challenge of ensuring the safe expansion of web3 technologies and digital currencies within Singapores tech landscape. Ong Chengyi, from Chainalysis, viewed web3 as pivotal for long-term growth and advocates for sustained government backing to enhance the sectors capability to manage risks with advanced technological solutions. We hope to see more public-private collaboration to build Singapores defences against crypto crime, and cyber threats more generally, through the use of data and technology, said Ong. The advocation for strengthening cyber defenses was echoed by Angela Ang of TRM Labs, who highlighted the need for increased regulatory support to foster the growth of digital assets. To deliver clarity to businesses at scale, whether its through licensing decisions or implementation guidance, the Government must invest in both human capital and technology throughout the regulatory process, said Ang. The Straits Times reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will present the Singapore 2024 Budget Statement on Feb. 16. Companies are struggling with volume, quality, and complexity of product data as they try to digitally transform their sales organizations Zoovu, the leading platform for AI-powered product discovery and ecommerce experiences, announced the results of a B2B ecommerce study with over 400 executives from companies across North America and Europe. The 2024 commissioned research, conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Zoovu, highlights the challenges faced by B2B organizations trying to digitally transform their sales organizations to improve online product discovery, deliver a better customer experience for buyers, and increase operational efficiency. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213209734/en/ 2024 research reveals top ecommerce challenges among US and European B2B companies. (Graphic: Business Wire) The study finds that B2B buyers now expect B2B experiences to align with the consumer experiences of their personal lives: quick, convenient, and personalized. Sellers know this, but they have, in large part, yet to digitally transform their selling motions, their ecommerce operations are stuck without a meaningful way forward in a status quo that is hurting business. Among the findings that drive this reality home is that an alarming 65% of surveyed decision-makers report that B2B ecommerce is "broken at their organization." They cite a lack of an effective product data strategy for making products available and discoverable online as the primary factor behind this sentiment. Specifically: 83% of respondents said their product data was incomplete, inconsistent, inaccurate, unstructured, or outdated. 81% said that an insufficient ecommerce platform amplified the problem of poor-quality data, with the most common shortcomings being a lack of tools, an inability to handle product complexity, scale, and/or collect customer data from online buyers. The research also shows that because of these challenges, B2B companies are forced to limit the amount of product discovery their buyers can engage with online, with only 44% of respondents saying that their buyers have access to some form of self-discovery to evaluate products online. The survey also revealed a significant opportunity to accelerate digital transformation within direct and indirect sales environments. Respondents indicated that 83% of their corporate revenue required some degree of human interaction, whether it was traditional customer service/sales, assisted ecommerce where buyers turn to the sales team towards the end of their process, or digitally enabled selling which uses digital tools to enhance traditional analog sales channels. B2B sales require understanding and working with highly complex products. Given the complexity of many offerings, manufacturers often face a glass ceiling with current product discovery solutions and fail to meet customers where they are. The survey showed that 82% of respondents indicated their organization needs a product discovery solution that works with highly configurable, complex products. Aside from an inability to easily add more products into their ecommerce environments, B2B executives ranked additional challenges with their existing platforms as customer frustration (35%), lower conversion rates (29%), increased cost of sales (28%), lost revenue (27%), and increased customer churn (25%). While B2B companies struggle with these ecommerce challenges, buyer demands are rapidly growing. The survey reported that 73% of B2B buyers expect the same convenient online experience they get from buying consumer products. To address these shortcomings, B2B businesses ranked their ecommerce priorities for 2024. The top initiatives include providing more automated and personalized guidance to online buyers (80%), improving demand generation (75%), and improving the ability to collect and use zero-party data (73%). Another strategic theme was the use of AI to unblock the challenges of B2B ecommerce. Nearly two-thirds of all respondents expect investing in an AI-driven, automated product discovery platform will drive large or transformational benefits, including: 79% of respondents saying they're looking to AI to improve the customer experience 74% of those surveyed saying they're counting on AI to reduce the cost of sales and services 71% of executives say they're expecting AI to increase revenue "This research shows how essential it is for B2B businesses to invest in structuring and enriching product data to make their solutions more discoverable, wherever their buyers are," says James Novak, Zoovu CEO. "Many B2B operations rely heavily on well-trained sales teams to be experts on huge catalogs of complex products, configurations, and bundles. It's clear that businesses are hungry to find and maximize efficiencies in this process. This requires the consumerization of the B2B sales process, which prioritizes exceptional customer experiences through product discovery at scale. Those that make this a core focus of their business will undoubtedly gain a competitive advantage in the years to come." B2B companies that have already started to digitally transform their sales operations have seen the value of giving buyers multiple avenues for engaging with products and sales channels. "Today's B2B buyers want to engage directly with vendors, on their own time," says Ryan Satre, senior manager of global ecommerce strategy at 3M Healthcare. "At 3M, we see this as an opportunity to expand our DTC engagement and provide digital experiences that make it easy to discover and purchase the right products for our buyer's needs." Despite the challenges faced by the industry, B2B ecommerce will continue to grow. In the US market alone, B2B ecommerce sales will grow at an average rate of 10.7% per year and will reach $3 trillion by 2027, according to Forrester Research. At the same time, the share of offline sales growth in total B2B sales will decline from 63% in 2022 to 55% in 2027. The share of electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions will increase slightly from 20% in 2022 to 21% in 2027, while the share of ecommerce sales will rise from 17% in 2022 to 24% in 2027. The Zoovu-commissioned study is of 400+ B2B executives at North American and European-based companies with a minimum of $200M in B2B ecommerce revenue. A copy of the complete survey can be found here. About Zoovu Ecommerce is broken and Zoovu is fixing it. As the #1 AI-powered product discovery platform, we help B2C, B2B, and retail companies unlock their product and customer data to build exceptional ecommerce experiences and drive breakthrough results. The world's largest ecommerce businesses, like Microsoft, 3M, LEGO, and Einhell, use Zoovu customer behavior insights to grow faster, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce marketing and operational costs. Headquartered in Boston, Zoovu is a global company that delivers over 20 million online engagements for brands each year, with conversions up to 10X higher than industry averages. Learn more at zoovu.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213209734/en/ Contacts: Media: Kathy Keating Point B Partners kathy@pointbpartners.com Pharma packaging goes green: eco-friendly solutions like photodegradable & subscription models drive market boom (FMI). Review and request to accwss the our report for insights & stakeholder opportunities NEWARK, Del., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market size is poised to cross US$ 96 billion in 2024 and is likely to attain a valuation of US$ 410 billion by 2034. The sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market is projected to thrive at an astronomical CAGR of 15.6% from 2024 to 2034. Request Exclusive Sample Report: Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18975 When exposed to light, photodegradable packaging materials break down, providing a more eco-friendly option to conventional plastics. This trend minimizes the influence on the environment, promotes sustainable behaviors, and resolves concerns surrounding plastic pollution. Pharmaceutical firms can prove their commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship by investing in photodegradable pharmaceutical packaging solutions. Additionally, photodegradable packaging complies with industry best practices for sustainable packaging, customer preferences, and legal requirements. By using photodegradable materials, businesses can reduce environmental hazards, improve brand recognition, and help create a more sustainable and greener future. Businesses have a unique opportunity to verify and promote the sustainability credentials of their packaging solutions by offering certification and eco-labeling services. Acquiring certifications like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), or Cradle to Cradle allows businesses to demonstrate their dedication to environmental responsibility. Businesses enable customers to make knowledgeable purchase decisions and exhibit transparency in their sustainability initiatives by providing eco-labeling services. The introduction of Packaging as a Service (PaaS) models marks a deliberate move toward subscription-based packaging solutions. Pharmaceutical companies can now take advantage of this special chance to acquire cutting-edge, environmentally friendly packaging solutions without making significant upfront expenditures. Businesses can develop enduring relationships, save capital investment for customers, and establish themselves as flexible suppliers of creative and affordable packaging solutions by providing PaaS. In a market where adapting to changing demands is critical, this subscription-based approach emphasizes flexibility, scalability, and sustainability in line with modern business trends. "In the rapidly shifting environment of the sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market, competent navigation of changing customer demands, innovation, and regulatory compliance is critical to industrial success. Collaborative alliances and a persistent commitment to sustainability are critical for improving market positioning and increasing competitiveness. As the market evolves, flexibility and agility become essential attributes for industry participants looking to prosper in the face of shifting circumstances." Says Ismail Sutaria (Lead Consultant, Packaging and Materials). Key Takeaways from the Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Report The global sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market size expanded at an 18.8% CAGR through 2034. The plastic and polymer segment is projected to rise at a 15.3% CAGR through 2034. The primary product segment is expected to develop at an 18.5% CAGR through 2034. The market size in the United States is projected to rise at a 15.7% CAGR through 2034. The market size in Japan is anticipated to develop at a 17.0% CAGR through 2034. The market size in the United Kingdom is estimated to surge at a 16.3% CAGR through 2034. The market size in South Korea is expected to thrive at an 18.2% CAGR through 2034. Competitive Landscape The sustainable pharmaceutical packaging market is characterized by strong competitors who leverage their worldwide presence and R&D skills, which include Amcor plc and AptarGroup. Pioneering startups challenge conventions and frequently seek partnerships. Key variables include strategic alliances, adherence to intricate legal requirements, and clear communication of sustainability initiatives. Consumer preferences influence purchase decisions; thus, articulating sustainability is essential. Key Players in the Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Amcor plc AptarGroup, Inc. Gerresheimer AG Berry Global, Inc. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Schott AG Uflex Ltd. Winpak Ltd. Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH Klockner Pentaplast Group Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis. Recent Developments In November 2023, Blue Lake Packaging, located in the United States, released an eco-friendly fiber-based tape and dispenser, replacing regular plastic tape. The "Ecolife" tape sets and dispensers are a new range of offerings made from cotton fibers and wood. In October 2023, Stoelzle Pharma, a prominent maker of high-quality primary packaging glass, introduced the new PharmaCos Line. This packaging line was particularly designed for wellness and healthcare products. Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Segmentation By Material: Plastic and Polymer Paper and Paper Board Glass Aluminium Foil Others By Product: Primary Secondary Tertiary By End Use: Pharma Manufacturing Contract Packaging Retail Pharmacy Institutional Pharmacy By Region: North America Latin America Western Europe Eastern Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Middle East & Africa (MEA) Japan Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here! About the Author: Ismail Sutaria (Lead Consultant, Packaging and Materials) has over 8 years of experience in market research and consulting in the packaging & materials industry. Ismail's strength lies in identifying key challenges faced by the client and offering logical and actionable insights to equip the clients with strategic decision-making power. Ismail has been an instrumental part of several transformational consulting assignments. His key skills include competitive benchmarking, opportunity assessment, macroeconomic analysis, and business transformation advisory. Ismail is an MBA holder in Marketing and has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Ismail is a regular at industry conferences and expos and has been widely covered in electronic and print media. He is a Speaker at our upcoming Talk show - Rise of the Intelligent Packaging. Ismail has been quoted in leading publications, including the European Pharmaceutical Review and the European Adhesive Tape Association. Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Packaging Domain: Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Analysis by Bottles, Blisters, Sachet, Trays and Other Product Types from 2024 to 2034. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Analysis by Bottles, Blisters, Sachet, Trays and Other Product Types from 2024 to 2034. - Biopharmaceuticals Packaging Market by Material Type, Product Type, Application & Region | Forecast 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Material Type, Product Type, Application & Region | Forecast 2023 to 2033. - Pharmaceutical Secondary Packaging Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Packaging Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Pharmaceutical Unit Dose Packaging Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Temperature Controlled Pharmaceutical Containers Market by Control Type, Form Type, Application, Content Type & Region - Forecast 2022 - 2032. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Control Type, Form Type, Application, Content Type & Region - Forecast 2022 - 2032. - Temperature Controlled Pharma Packaging Solutions Market By Product, Application & Region | Forecast 2020 to 2032. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting service provider, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the UK, the U.S., and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry 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/photodegradable-packaging-drives-sustainable-pharma-market-to-410-billion-by-2034-302060550.html BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 13 BH Macro Limited (the "Company") (a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235) Transaction in Own Shares 13 February 2024 BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc: Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Sterling Date of purchase: 13 February 2024 13 February 2024 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 150,000 109,341 Lowest price per share 352 352 Highest price per share 353 354 Trading venue JPSI LSE Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 150,000 109,341 Weighted average price per day per trading venue: 352.3333 353.1566 The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury. Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows: Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 365,718,753 Sterling Shares 7,886,107 Sterling Shares 29,762,912 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares From 13 February 2024, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 560,609,957. Enquiries: Company website: www.bhmacro.com William Simmonds JPMorgan Cazenove Tel: 020 7588 2828 The Company Secretary Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Tel: 01481 745001 DZ Bank AG - Pre-Stabilisation Notice PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 13 Pre- Stabilisation Notice KfW 02/2031 DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation RNS Number: residue number system Frankfurt am Main, 13. Februar 2024 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Pre-Stabilisation Notice Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: KfW Guarantor (if any): Federal Republic of Germany Aggregate nominal amount: Size: 4bn Description: 2.75%, due 20.02.2031 Offer price: 99.881% Other offer terms: Fixed, Annual, Act/Act, DE000A382400 Stabilisation: DZ BANK Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: DZ BANK CA-CIB Toronto Dominion JP Morgan Stabilisation period expected to start on: 13th of February 2024 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Frankfurt Stock Exchange In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 13 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION 13 February 2024 REDDE NORTHGATE PLC ("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company") Transaction in Own Shares Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 13 February 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury: Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 337.5 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 340.5 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 334.5 pence per share Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 18,765,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 227,326,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme. Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (as at 13 February 2024) Number of shares purchased Transaction price (GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 340.50 334.50 09:18:06 15:24:28 00068857499TRLO0 00068867572TRLO0 Notes This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6. For further information contact: Buchanan David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000 Notes to Editors: Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales. The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden. Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals. Further information please visit the Company's website: Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 13 For immediate release 13 February 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 204,620 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 842.38 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 31,870,596; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 193,120,707. The figure of 193,120,707 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 Christopher Haight promoted to General Manager of Orange County office NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman) is pleased to announce the promotion of Christopher Haight, PE, SE, to General Manager of the Orange County office in Newport Beach. Christopher Haight, PE, SE Christopher Haight promoted to General Manager of Coffman Engineers' Orange County office. Christopher joined Coffman in 2017 when Hope-Amundson, Inc. joined the company. Since that time, as the Operations Manager of the Orange County office, Christopher has grown the office from a staff of four structural engineers to 17 multidiscipline engineering professionals and support staff. A structural engineer by trade, Christopher has over 27 years of experience designing and managing various projects throughout California. As the Managing Principal, he will continue to grow the office, adding staff to the existing structural, mechanical, and fire protection engineering groups while expanding into additional disciplines. The leadership transition coincides with Coffman's recent growth in Southern California and Coffman's strategy to develop leaders to support the expansion of office locations. Christopher will continue to manage daily operations, maintain responsive services, and implement a broader business strategy for the Orange County area. "Christopher has exemplified what it takes to lead an office within Coffman, and we're excited to recognize his contributions and support the continued growth of the Orange County office," said Scott Twele, PE, Southwest Regional Manager. "I'm proud of the team we have in Orange County and the client relationships we've developed," said Haight. "Growing together has been part of our focus here and the effort is evident. I'm excited to see what the future will bring." Coffman's Orange County office offers multidiscipline engineering services, including structural, mechanical, commissioning, and fire protection. Notable projects include the UC Riverside Plant Growth Environments Facility, Cuesta College Campus Center, Timmons Subaru Car Dealership, Norris Elementary School, and Silvergate Rancho Bernardo Senior Living Facility. About Coffman Engineers Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that offers clients local, personalized services by integrating many disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. Coffman has 780 employees in 21 offices across the U.S. committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. This year, Coffman is celebrating 45 years in business. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media. ### For more information about this topic, please call Jillian Walke at 818.285.2650 or email jillian.walke@coffman.com. Contact Information Beth Shimogawa Corporate Communications beth.shimogawa@coffman.com 808-687-8884 Jillian Walke Marketing Specialist jillian.walke@coffman.com 818.285.2650 Related Files Coffman Engineers_Chris Haight Promoted to GM.pdf SOURCE: Coffman Engineers, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. World's largest cruise company finalizes agreement with Meyer Werft for new world-class cruise ship scheduled for delivery in 2027 MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced it has signed an agreement with leading German shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build a fourth Excel-class cruise ship for its namesake Carnival Cruise Line brand. The ship, the 10th Excel-class ship in the corporation's fleet across four of its world-class brands, is expected to enter service in Spring 2027. Joining current Carnival Cruise Line Excel-class ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, the new 180,000-ton ship will carry over 6,400 guests and be powered on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. This new ship is the first newbuild order placed by Carnival Corporation in five years. "Our Excel-class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "As the world's most popular cruise line, this new ship enables us to continue the growth of our incredible fleet as we welcome our loyal guests back to cruise more frequently and attract new-to-cruise guests to experience all that a Carnival cruise has to offer." "Building on our strong performance and growing momentum around the world, we are excited to resume our newbuild program and further enhance our global fleet with yet another state-of-the-art ship that will wow Carnival Cruise Line's guests," said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. "With one newbuild scheduled for delivery in 2025, none for 2026, and this order being our only expected newbuild in 2027, our responsible capital approach will support utilizing our substantial free cash flow over the next several years to strategically improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our leverage levels and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders. "We are following through on our measured capacity growth strategy with the addition of one to two ships per year beginning in 2027, which will be allocated to our cruise lines that most need the capacity to satisfy outsized demand, delivering an attractive payback period. We also remain focused on driving revenue growth throughout our portfolio of world-class cruise lines by continuing to improve execution across all aspects of our operation, yielding higher return on invested capital," said Weinstein. "We are very pleased that the partnership between the MEYER Group and Carnival Corporation will continue with this new order," said Bernd Eikens, CEO MEYER Group. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines - AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com , www.aida.de , www.carnival.com , www.costacruise.com , www.cunard.com , www.hollandamerica.com , www.pocruises.com.au , www.pocruises.com , www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com . For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339718/Carnival_CCL_Excel_Ships.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/carnival-corporation-orders-fourth-excel-class-ship-for-carnival-cruise-line-10th-excel-class-ship-across-global-fleet-302060965.html According to Arizton's latest research report, the global electric outboard motors market is growing at a CAGR of 8.58% during the forecast period. CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boating activities are experiencing high demand and adoption for reasons such as increased urbanization and rising living standards. This demand, both existing and anticipated, can be broadly classified into power, application, and boat length segments. The well-established markets of Europe and North America are expected to experience high demand for electric outboard motors during the forecast period due to the increased commercial adoption of boats in these regions. This presents numerous opportunities for vendors in the forecast period. In addition, changing market dynamics, such as a higher number of recreational boat users, contribute to the demand for marine infrastructure. To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/4068 Browse In-depth TOC on the Electric Outboard Motors Market 255 - Pages?????????? 82 - Tables?????????? 74 - Figures????? Electric Outboard Motors Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size (2029) USD 196.62 Million Market Size (2023) USD 120 Million CAGR (2023-2029) 8.58 % Historic Year 2020-2022 Base Year 2023 Forecast Year 2023-2029 Market Segmentation Power, Application, Boat Length, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Market Dynamics Rising Participation in Leisure Boating Activities in Europe Growing Demand for Outboard Power Boats Sustainable Development in Electric Outboard Motors The electric outboard motors market faces intense competition driven by pricing and quality considerations, with emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, and China prioritizing lower-priced segments. Regulations, such as CE branding requirements in Europe, play a crucial role, while markets like Germany, the UK, and France witness growth in recreational boating. In the Middle East, infrastructure development and government support offer significant opportunities. Turkish manufacturers aim to compete globally, with a focus on pleasure vessels. Vendors strive for cost efficiency amidst fluctuating raw material prices, with some relocating manufacturing to China and Taiwan. Developed markets like Europe and North America host established vendors like Torqeedo and Brunswick. Marine Tourism Boom Fuels Electric Outboard Motors Market Growth The growing marine tourism industry has significantly contributed to the growth of the electric outboard motors market in recent years. States like California, Florida, and New York, which are major tourist attractions, have witnessed substantial growth in the US. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a decline in tourism, the industry has seen a revival in recent years. These factors contribute to the upward trajectory of the marine tourism industry, consequently driving the electric outboard motors market. According to the OECD, marine and coastal tourism is anticipated to become the predominant sector within the global ocean-based economy by 2030, projecting a total revenue of $777 billion and employing 8.6 million individuals worldwide. Marine and coastal tourism play a crucial role in the economic sustainability of numerous island nations and coastal regions. For many of these areas, revenue generated from overseas tourists, particularly during peak vacation periods, serves as a primary source of income. Therefore, fostering the development of marine and coastal tourism is considered a significant national objective, as evidenced by initiatives like Ireland's integrated marine plan, "Harnessing our Ocean Wealth," and Scotland's National Marine Plan. At an international level, the EU Blue Growth strategy recognizes marine and coastal tourism as one of the five key sectors with substantial economic growth potential. Collectively, these factors provide significant opportunities for electric outboard motor manufacturers. Recent Developments in the Global Electric Outboard Motors Market During the CES 2023 event held in Las Vegas, Mercury introduced its latest innovation, the Avator 7.5e electric outboard. By Mercury, it's the first electric outboard model and the first in a series to be unveiled officially in 2023. In 2021, Yamaha showcased its innovative engineering and design approach, known as CommandBlue, with the introduction of Yamaha Marine's HARMO electric outboard design in the US. This innovative design combines a 48-volt power supply with a high-efficiency, low-drag 3.7-kilowatt motor. HARMO's rim drive and a specially encased impeller deliver an impressive 225 pounds of static thrust, equivalent to that of a traditional 9.9-horsepower gas-powered motor. In June 2022, Limestone Boat Company declared the successful completion of sea trials for its Aquasports 2100CC, featuring Vision Marine's electric outboard propulsion. Following closely in July, Groupe Beneteau revealed a collaboration with Vision Marine, outlining plans to incorporate these high-power electric outboards into various models within its extensive portfolio. Suzuki, the Japanese engine manufacturer, has announced the release of its first electric marine engine in 2024. By 2030, it plans to launch five models. The 5 kW-50 kW Electric Outboard Motors Market to Lead, While Above 50 kW Segment Poised for Rapid Growth The global 5 kW-50 kW electric outboard motors market to reach $96.83 million by 2029. Electric outboard motors ranging from 5 kW to 50 kW offer versatility across marine applications, catering to diverse boat sizes and types. They provide ample power for cruising and water sports, making them ideal for mid-sized boats and recreational pursuits. In commercial watercraft they offer sustainability and efficiency, with reduced noise levels for a pleasant experience. Low maintenance and zero emissions drive adoption, aligning with eco-friendly practices. Advanced battery technology extends the range, making them practical for diverse boating enthusiasts and commercial operators as charging infrastructure improves. The global above 50 kW electric outboard motors market is growing at a CAGR of 9.15%. Electric outboard motors with power ratings exceeding 50 kW offer high-performance solutions tailored for larger vessels and commercial watercraft. They provide substantial thrust and speed, making them ideal for applications requiring extended range and higher speeds. These motors find optimal use in larger boats, ferries, yachts, and various commercial vessels, offering efficiency and reliability. Their adaptability and advanced technology ensure precise control and navigation through different water conditions. Integration with advanced battery technology enhances performance, enabling extended journeys, while ongoing developments in charging infrastructure reinforce their practicality for larger vessels. About the Report The global electric outboard motors market is provided for the forecast years 2024 to 2029 and the base year 2023. The market is segmented by power, application, boat length, and geography. The report provides a holistic approach to the global electric outboard motors market, enabling customers to analyze the market thoroughly. The Electric Outboard Motors Market Report Encompasses Crucial Data, Including:? CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) during the forecast period: This metric provides insights into the annual growth rate of the electric outboard motors market over the specified time frame.???? Detailed information on growth drivers: The report offers in-depth information on the factors that will propel the electric outboard motors market growth from 2024 to 2029. This includes an analysis of various market influences.???? Precise estimation of market size: Accurate assessments of the electric outboard motors market size and its contribution and focusing on key market segments.???? Predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior: The report offers insights into anticipated trends and shifts in consumer behavior that are likely to impact the electric outboard motors market, helping businesses prepare for future market dynamics.???? Geographical market growth: The report covers the development of the electric outboard motors market across different regions, including North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the market's global landscape.???? Competitive landscape analysis: A thorough examination of the market's competitive landscape is presented, including detailed information about companies operating in the electric outboard motors market. This includes an overview of key players, their market share, strategies, and key developments.???? Analysis of growth challenges: The report includes a comprehensive analysis of factors that may pose challenges to the growth of companies in the electric outboard motors market, providing a well-rounded view of the market dynamics.?? Buy this Research @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/electric-outboard-motors-market Post-Purchase Benefit???????????????????? 1hr of free analyst discussion??????????????????? 10% off on customization? Key Company Profiles Torqeedo ePropulsion Evoy Pure Watercraft Yamaha Motor Brunswick Corporation Aquamot Aquawatt Elco Motor Yachts ELECTRINE Electro-Mobile E-TECH Flux Marine Golden Motor KARVIN Krautler RAD Propulsion Rim Drive Technology Stealth Electric Outboards Stream Propulsion E'dyn TEMO Vision Marine Technologies Wolong Electric Group Molabo Market Segmentation Power 5 KW - 50 KW Up to 5 KW Above 50 KW Application Recreational Commercial Military Boat Length Less than 30 ft 30 ft - 50 ft More than 50 ft Geography North America The US Canada Europe The UK Netherlands Germany France Italy Spain Norway Poland APAC Japan China South Korea Australia India New Zealand Malaysia Middle East & Africa South Africa The UAE Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Key Questions Answered in the Report: How big is the electric outboard motors market? What is the growth rate of the global electric outboard motors market? Which region dominates the global electric outboard motors market share? What are the significant trends in the electric outboard motors market? Who are the key players in the global electric outboard motors market? Get the Detailed TOC @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/electric-outboard-motors-market?details=tableOfContents Check Out Some of the Top Selling Research Reports:??? Boat Monitoring Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2022-2027 Energy Efficient Motor Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027 Industrial Motors Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028 U.S. Recreational Boat Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028 Why Arizton?????????????? 100%?Customer Satisfaction????????????? 24x7?availability - we are always there when you need us????????????? 200+?Fortune 500 Companies trust Arizton's report????????????? 80%?of our reports are exclusive and first in the industry????????????? 100%?more data and analysis????????????? 1500+?reports published till date?????????????? About Us:?????????????????????????????????????????????????? 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We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Contact Us??????????????????????????????????????????????? Call: +1-312-235-2040?????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????? +1 302 469 0707????????????????????????????????????????????? Mail:?enquiry@arizton.com??????????????????????????????????????????????? Contact Us:?https://www.arizton.com/contact-us??????????????????????????????????????????????? Blog:?https://www.arizton.com/blog??????????????????????????????????????????????? Website:?https://www.arizton.com/??????? Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339439/Arizton_Advisory_Intelligence.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-electric-outboard-motors-market-is-set-to-reach-196-62-million-by-2029--increasing-adoption-of-marine-tourism-reshaping-the-market-growth---arizton-302060809.html CRISPR market thrives on booming research funding across health, agriculture, and industry. This revolutionary technology promises solutions to global challenges, offering stakeholders a chance to gain sustainable and competitive advantages. Explore more stakeholder opportunities in our FMI report. NEWARK, Del., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The CRISPR market was valued at US$ 3.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a market size of US$ 17.8 billion by 2034. The market is poised to expand at a CAGR of 16.1% between 2024 and 2034. By 2024, the market for CRISPR is likely to reach a valuation of US$ 4.4 billion. Request Exclusive Sample Report: CRISPR Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18982 The increasing funding and assistance from governments, individual investors, and venture capital companies is an essential component propelling the CRISPR market. This funding supports research and development as well as commercialization initiatives, which quickens innovation and broadens the use of CRISPR technology into a variety of industries, including biotechnology, agriculture, and healthcare. Stakeholders from a variety of sectors have a great chance to profit from developments in gene editing technology owing to the CRISPR market. With the ability to transform industrial, agricultural, and healthcare processes, CRISPR presents opportunities for the development of novel treatments, improved crop resilience, and expedited biomanufacturing. Investing in CRISPR research, development, and commercialization can result in transformational breakthroughs with far-reaching societal and economic consequences. CRISPR Market Research Report Scope Report Attribute Details Growth Rate CAGR of 16.1% from 2024 to 2034 Market Value in 2024 US$ 4 billion Market Value in 2034 US$ 17.8 billion Base Year for Estimation 2023 Historical Data 2019 to 2023 Forecast Period 2024 to 2034 Quantitative Units US$ billion for value Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis Segments Covered Key Segments Profiled in the CRISPR Market By Products and Services: Products CRISPR kits & Enzymes CRISPR Libraries Other Products Services gRNA Design & Vector Construction Cell Line Engineering Screening Services Other Services By Application: Drug discovery & development Agriculture Other By End User: Pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies Academic & research institutes Others By Region: North America Latin America Western Europe Eastern Europe South Asia and Pacific East Asia Middle East & Africa Countries Profiled The United States Canada Brazil Mexico Germany The United Kingdom France Spain Italy Poland Russia Czech Republic Romania India Bangladesh Australia New Zealand China Japan South Korea GCC Countries South Africa Israel Key Takeaways from the Market Analysis The global demand for CRISPR reached US$ 1.7 billion in 2019. The CRISPR kits & enzymes segment is anticipated to develop at a 15.8% CAGR during the projection period. It is expected that the drug discovery & development segment would attain a 15.7% global market share by 2024. It is projected that CRISPR in the United States will advance at a CAGR of 16.3% by 2034. The market in the United Kingdom is anticipated to rise through 2034 at a 16.9% CAGR. It is projected that China's CRISPR ecosystem will evolve at a 16.5% CAGR between 2024 and 2034. "Rising need for precision medicine is one factor propelling the global CRISPR market. Since CRISPR can specifically target genetic abnormalities, it presents a viable route for customized medicines. This will allow for more individualized treatment plans for people with genetic disorders and progress the field toward better and more effective healthcare options," says Sabyasachi Ghosh (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.). Competitive Landscape Leading companies in the global CRISPR market are pushing the boundaries of innovation by developing gene editing methods that can more effectively and precisely target a wider variety of hereditary illnesses. They are investigating new delivery strategies to increase treatment efficacy and reduce side effects. These businesses are also investing in CRISPR-based diagnostics for customized treatment and early illness detection. The goal of ongoing research is to advance the field of genetic medicine by better understanding CRISPR biology along with its therapeutic applications. Startups within the CRISPR business are pioneering specialized applications such as crop enhancement through gene editing and industrial bioengineering. They are developing innovative CRISPR-based services and tools to meet a range of research requirements and increase the application of gene editing technology in many industries. Key Companies Profiled in the Report: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Merck KGaA Agilent Technologies Inc. Genscript Biotech Corporation CRISPR Therapeutics AG Editas Medicine Intellia Therapeutics Inc. Beam Therapeutics Inc. Caribou Biosciences Inc. Lonza Group Ltd. Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis. Key Developments In 2024, Merck announced the establishment of the Merck Digital Hub in Singapore, marking the first digital hub of the company outside of the US and Europe. With backing from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Digital Hub seeks to improve semiconductor and healthcare technologies. Particularly in important fields like artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, and digital health, Singapore is known around the world for spearheading innovation and digital excellence. More Valuable Insights Available Future Market Insights offers an unbiased analysis of the global CRISPR market, providing historical data for 2018 to 2022 and forecast statistics from 2023 to 2033. To understand opportunities in the global CRISPR market, the market is segmented on the basis of products and services (products (CRISPR kits & enzymes, CRISPR libraries, other products), services (gRNA design & vector construction, cell line engineering, screening services, other services)), application (drug discovery & development, agriculture, other), end user (pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, others) and region (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, The Middle East & Africa). About the Healthcare Domain at Future Market Insights The healthcare domain at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time efficient research, and strategic recommendations with the objective to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With a repertoire of over 100+ reports and 1 billion+ data points, the team has been analyzing the market lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides a brief analysis on key trends including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts About the Author: Sabyasachi Ghosh (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) holds over 12 years of experience in the Healthcare, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceutical industries. His curious and analytical nature helped him shape his career as a researcher. Identifying key challenges faced by clients and devising robust, hypothesis-based solutions to empower them with strategic decision-making capabilities come naturally to him. His primary expertise lies in areas such as Market Entry and Expansion Strategy, Feasibility Studies, Competitive Intelligence, and Strategic Transformation. Holding a degree in Microbiology, Sabyasachi has authored numerous publications and has been cited in journals, including The Journal of mHealth, ITN Online, and Spinal Surgery News. Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Healthcare Domain: Gene Therapy in CNS Disorder Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - CRISPR and Cas Gene Market by Product Type, Service Type, Application, End Use & Region | Forecast 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Product Type, Service Type, Application, End Use & Region | Forecast 2023 to 2033. - Gene Editing Tools Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2022-2029. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2022-2029. - Gene Synthesis Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Ultrasound Market Forecast by Colored and Black and White Display for 2024 to 2034. - 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/crispr-market-to-explode-3-4-billion-today-17-8-billion-by-2034--fueled-by-investment-surge--future-market-insights-inc-302060622.html PPL reported that as of noon Tuesday, there were 90,000 customers still without power following a heavy, wet snowstorm in the region. The utility said it had restored power to about 53,600 customers by noon, since the start of the storm, and those who remained without power cross the company's service area. In Cumberland County, Carlisle Borough had the largest outages, with more than 2,000 customers still without power. Given the scope of the outages, PPL said it has secured hundreds of additional line and forestry workers to supplement its personnel that is responding to the storm. "The expected combination of heavy, wet snow had a significant impact in our service territory, resulting in customer outages," said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. "We have all-hands on deck as we respond to this storm and have brought in additional crews from other regions to assist. In some significantly impacted regions, travel is still difficult. However, PPL Electric will continue to work around the clock until every customer has been restored." PPL does list estimated restore times for customers, but it noted in its news release Tuesday afternoon that full restoration could take as long as Thursday for some customers because of how many outages there are. Posted earlier on Cumberlink: Carlisle Borough Police posted on Facebook early Tuesday morning that residents should avoid traveling Tuesday and expect possible power outages once the winds pick up in the afternoon. With heavy snow outpacing local forecasts Tuesday morning, police warned that road travel is not recommended. They reported that just in Carlisle by a little before 7 a.m., the borough had six spun-out vehicles and two crashes in a span of five miles. With heavy snow already covering power lines, police warned residents that high winds Tuesday afternoon could lead to power outages. Police recommend that residents charge their phones and flashlights as needed Tuesday morning. For those who do lose power, police said residents should call their power supplier, not 911 unless it's an emergency. PennDOT has also reduced the speed limits on area highways Tuesday morning because of difficult travel conditions. Despite that, its 511pa.com website reports a number of crashes and disabled vehicles on state highways and roads, including, as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Interstate 81 near the York Road ramp, Route 15 at Cumberland Parkway and Route 581 at the Route 15 interchange. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Following disappointing sales over the Christmas shopping season, private equity firm Aurelius, which acquired The Body Shop for 207 million, decided to place the UK arm of The Body Shop into administration. The brand now faces potential mass store closures and thousands of job losses. FRP Advisory has been appointed to oversee a restructuring process and manage the administration, a UK procedure where financial experts are brought in to rescue parts of a company. The directors of The Body Shop International Limited have named Tony Wright, Geoff Rowley, and Alastair Massey of FRP as joint administrators of the company responsible for operating The Body Shop's UK business. In a joint statement, The Body Shop and FRP confirmed that they will continue to operate The Body Shop's U.K. operations while exploring all options to move the business forward. Further updates will be provided to creditors and employees. The administrators are expected to make significant cost reductions, especially in terms of property and rent, which could lead to job cuts. FRP highlighted that The Body Shop had been facing financial challenges for an extended period under previous ownership. This move into administration is seen as offering the stability, flexibility, and security required to determine the best approach to secure the future of The Body Shop and revitalize this iconic British brand. A statement from The Body Shop assured that the business will remain operational during administration, enabling customers to keep shopping in-store and online. Since the sale by founder Dame Anita in 2006, The Body Shop has changed ownership three times. It was acquired by the L'Oreal Group in 2006, then by the Brazilian company Natura & Co. in 2017, and most recently by Aurelius Group in November 2023. 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 Meuse Gallery Aspen is thrilled to announce the opening of a unique exhibition featuring reclaimed and restored works by the elusive street artist Banksy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213242090/en/ A crew from London's Fine Art Restoration Company recovers Banksy's Yellow Lines Flower Painter from a street in East London, following a request from the building owner. The restored wall is now on display at "Banksy Restored Reclaimed" at Meuse Gallery, 601 E Hyman Avenue, CO 81611, through March 31st. (Photo: Business Wire) 'Banksy Restored and Reclaimed' highlights the journey of many of Banksy's most notorious creations from their initial disruptive appearance on the street, their subsequent descent into disrepair, and their ironic reclamation into museum-worthy masterpieces. 'Banksy Restored and Reclaimed' is the first show dedicated to addressing the controversial and intriguing plight of Banksy's art from the street to the Auction House and beyond. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to witness several actual Banksy walls and gain insight into the stories behind each piece, as well as the unexplored world of saving contemporary street art from destruction for future generations. Featured walls include Yellow Lines Flower Painter, Peace is Tough Choppers, If Graffiti Changed Anything, Have a Nice Day, Hula Girl, and Extinction Rebellion. Also on show will be the famed Girl with Balloon Exhibition Details Title: Banksy Restored and Reclaimed Opening: Saturday, March 2nd 31st, 2024 Location: Meuse Gallery Aspen, 601 E Hyman Avenue #201, Aspen, CO 81611 After its debut, Banksy Restored and Reclaimed will go on tour to Meuse Gallery's other locations in Saint Helena, CA and Carmel, CA. "We are honored to present 'Banksy Restored and Reclaimed' at Meuse Gallery Aspen, a world-first for us, that brings the formal discipline of the art conservators from London's The Fine Art Restoration Company, face to face with the grit of the street artist. Transforming ephemeral spray can moments into enduring works that will be preserved for future generations," said Simon Bull, artist and owner of Meuse Gallery Aspen. For more information about the exhibition, please visit our website at meusegallery.com or contact Sales Administrator, Laura Levin, Meuse Gallery, (310) 408-2773, laura@meusegallery.com About Meuse Gallery Aspen Meuse Gallery specializes in post-war contemporary art by gallery artists including Simon Bull, Kurz, and Bekah Bull. With three US locations in California and Colorado, Meuse Gallery also offers art advisory services to private clients. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213242090/en/ Contacts: Laura Levin Sales Administrator laura@meusegallery.com (310) 408-2773 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) (NYSE: IAG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company"), announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary IAMGOLD France S.A.S. ("IAMGOLD France") has notified the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") in France of its intention to implement a squeeze-out under French law (the "Squeeze-Out") for the remaining 5,291,832 common shares ("EURO Shares") of EURO Ressources S.A. ("EURO") that IAMGOLD France does not already own for cash consideration of 3.50 per EURO Share net of all applicable costs (the "Squeeze-Out Consideration") in accordance with the terms of IAMGOLD France's buy-out offer under French law to acquire all of the outstanding EURO Shares (the "Offer") that was approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, as previously announced by the Company on November 14, 2023 and January 24, 2024. Pursuant to the notice issued by the AMF on February 12, 2024 (the "Notice"), the Squeeze-Out will be implemented on February 27, 2024 and the remaining 5,291,832 EURO Shares not already owned by IAMGOLD France will be transferred to IAMGOLD France in exchange for the Squeeze-Out Consideration. The Notice is available on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org). On February 13, 2024, the Euronext Paris stock exchange published a timetable for implementation of the Squeeze-Out and delisting of the EURO Shares on February 27, 2024, which is available on its website (https://www.euronext.com/fr/markets/paris). An offer document and information on the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of IAMGOLD France supplementing the offer document, prepared in accordance with French law and approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, disclosing, among other things, the terms of, and proposed timetable for, the Offer as well as certain legal, financial and accounting information concerning IAMGOLD France are available on the websites of IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org), and under EURO's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The IAMGOLD website does not constitute a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, the offer document or any of the other mentioned documents. A reply document prepared by EURO, and approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, and information on the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of EURO are available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org) and EURO's website (www.goldroyalties.com). IAMGOLD has appointed Natixis as its Financial Advisor, Presenting and Guaranteeing Bank for the Offer. In connection with the Offer, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP is acting as French counsel to IAMGOLD and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as Canadian legal counsel to IAMGOLD. Important Notice This news release does not constitute and should not be construed as a public offer to buy, or the solicitation of an offer to sell, EURO's securities. The Offer, which was approved by the AMF, is made solely on the basis of the offer document approved by the AMF which is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). In accordance with French law, the documentation relating to the Offer which has been filed with the AMF includes the terms and conditions of the Offer. The offer document has not been filed with, or approved or disapproved by, the authorities of any jurisdiction other than France. EURO shareholders are urged to read the offer document because it contains important information about the Offer, EURO and IAMGOLD. EURO shareholders are advised to seek independent advice where appropriate in order to reach a reasoned judgment in respect of the Offer and the content of the offer document. In addition, EURO shareholders may wish to consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of tendering their EURO securities under the Offer. The Offer referred to herein will not be made or directed to, nor will deposits of EURO shares be accepted from or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of such offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. Persons obtaining the offer document are required to take due note of, and to observe, all such restrictions and obtain any necessary authorizations, approvals or consents (to the extent applicable). Persons in any doubt as to their eligibility to participate in the Offer should consult their professional advisers immediately. Outside of France, no actions have been taken (nor will actions be taken) to make the Offer possible in any jurisdiction where such actions would be required. Any person (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) who forwards or intends to forward the offer document or any related document to any jurisdiction outside France should carefully read the offer document before taking any action. The release, publication or distribution of the offer document and any documentation regarding the Offer or the making of the Offer in jurisdictions other than France may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession the offer document comes should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. The Offer will be made in Canada and the United States pursuant to applicable exemptions and in accordance with the applicable requirements in France. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including but not limited to offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those in Canada and the United States applicable to tender offers for securities of a reporting issuer. About Euro Ressources Euro Ressources is a French mining royalty and streaming company listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange under the symbol EUR. EURO's main assets are a 10% royalty from IAMGOLD on the Rosebel Gold Mine production (excluding Saramacca) in Suriname (the "Rosebel Royalty"), a silver stream from a subsidiary of Orezone Gold Corporation, a royalty on the Paul Isnard concessions in French Guiana and marketable securities. IAMGOLD makes quarterly royalty payments to EURO under the Rosebel Royalty and receives a 90% share of the annual dividend from EURO, net of income taxes in France and withholding taxes. EURO's head office is located at 23, Rue du Roule, 75001 Paris, France. About IAMGOLD IAMGOLD is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa. IAMGOLD is building the large-scale, long life Cote Gold project in Canada in partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., which is expected to commence production in the first quarter of 2024. In addition, IAMGOLD has an established portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects within high potential mining districts in Canada. IAMGOLD employs approximately 3,600 people and is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance practices, including its commitment to Zero Harm, in every aspect of its business. IAMGOLD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IAG) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IMG) and is one of the companies on the Jantzi Social Index, a socially screened market capitalization-weighted consisting of companies which pass a set of broadly based environmental, social and governance rating criteria. IAMGOLD's head office is located at 401 Bay Street, Suite 3200, P.O. Box 153, Toronto, ON, CA, M5H 2Y4. IAMGOLD Contact Information Graeme Jennings, Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: 416 360 4743 | Mobile: 416 388 6883 Toll-free: 1 888 464 9999 info@iamgold.com All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov. Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197745 SOURCE: IAMGOLD Corporation LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Athos Therapeutics, Inc. ("Athos"), a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of artificial intelligence-based precision small molecule therapeutics for patients with immune-mediated diseases and cancer, announced today that Laurence Stein, has been named to the Company's Board of Directors and will serve as Head of its Business Strategy Committee. "Athos is harnessing the power of AI and machine learning to drive every step of the drug development process, from medicinal chemistry to patient selection," said Mr. Stein. "The Athos technology platform and drug pipeline have the potential to be transformative, and I am delighted and look forward to working closely with the Board and management team to drive value for shareholders and stakeholders alike by helping them to meet their strategic milestones." "We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Stein as a member of our Board of Directors," said Dimitrios Iliopoulos, PhD, MBA, President & CEO. "Laurence will contribute immensely to Athos with his vast experience in management, business development and finance. Laurence's addition adds to the strength and depth of our Board, and we look forward to benefiting from his insights." "We are excited to welcome Laurence Stein as a Member of our Board of Directors," said Allan Pantuck, MD, MS, FACS, Chairman, Founder & CMO. "He brings a wealth of unparalleled expertise and leadership in key areas such as capital markets and strategic implementation of global business strategy. I am confident that he will provide valuable guidance as we continue to execute our strategy of developing safe, personalized drug therapies for cancer and autoimmune disorders." About Laurence Stein Laurence Stein retired from Goldman Sachs at the end of 2023 after 27 years of service at the firm. Laurence was the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Goldman's Asset & Wealth Management business from January 2022 to December 2023. He was also a member of the Management Committee. Prior to that, he was the firm's Chief Administrative Officer from 2018 to 2022. Before that, he was Global Head of the Operations Division. From 2009 to 2015, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Securities Division. From 2005 to 2009, he was Chief Financial Officer for the Investment Banking Division and before that, served as Chief Financial Officer of the Securities Division. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1996 in the Finance Division, and was named Managing Director in 2003 and Partner in 2006. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he worked in the Financial Services Group at Ernst & Young in New York and Deloitte & Touche in South Africa. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce and postgraduate degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. About Athos At Athos, we untangle the complexity of autoimmune and cancer biology by evaluating diseases at the molecular level. The Athos drug development platform begins with the interrogation of tens of thousands of high-quality patient samples and data sourced from premier global hospital systems. We then develop precision, first-in-class, therapeutics by implementing a systems biology approach and stratifying patients into specific molecular subtypes. Athos identifies novel drug targets (hubs) by integrating clinical and molecular datasets into the biological network of a disease (the disease interactome) and matches them to its small molecule computational and medicinal chemistry platforms. Our fully autonomous AI analytical platform includes the Athos data lake, singular well-established omics workflows, and an integrative deep machine learning engine. The co-founders of Athos include one of the founders of Kite Pharma (acquired for $12B), the medicinal chemist behind two multi-billion-dollar FDA-approved drugs (Xtandi & Erleada), and the discoverer of the miR-124 drug target, currently in a Phase III IBD trial. Along with ATH-063, the Company's lead drug compound for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the Athos pipeline includes small molecule approaches for various autoimmune disease and cancer. Additional information about Athos Therapeutics can be found at https://athostx.com/ Contact: Athos Therapeutics, Inc. Keith Hoffman, PhD, Chief Business Officer khoffman@athostx.com SOURCE: Athos Therapeutics, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Bringing together the best end-to-end streaming solutions for media companies looking to scale distribution and enhance the consumer experience DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) today announced its strategic acquisition of Laminar Global Limited (Laminar), a UK-based, premier Platform as a Service (PaaS) technology provider. After successfully working together to deliver expanded opportunities in international markets, this acquisition captures the shared ambition of both teams to enhance turnkey service provision and scaling capacities in support of content distribution and monetization for premier, modern media companies. "Joining forces with APMC is the natural progression of our successful union. Together, we've got our sights set on revolutionizing IP-based content distribution and monetization." - Narendra Nag, CEO, Laminar Global Limited Laminar's deployable, end-to-end platform is a turnkey, no-code platform that provides media companies with an out-of-the-box solution to stream everything - live, linear and video-on-demand content - 'everywhere' - with 30+ web, mobile and TV app environments available for immediate content population, along with the ability to bundle and monetize through various models, from subscription-based to advertising-supported to hybrid models. With over a decade of experience, APMC powers and monetizes streaming services that reach hundreds of millions of homes across the globe, including through its award-winning Kidoodle.TV streaming service for children and the recently launched Dude Perfect Streaming Service. Delivering an end-to-end Safe Streaming solution is at the core of APMC's offering to brands of all sizes. Whether through FAST channels or on-demand streaming, APMC specializes in over-the-top (OTT) content delivery and monetization across major connected TV and mobile platforms. "APMC's Safe Exchange ad solutions are quickly becoming the industry benchmark for connected TVs - providing publishers a brand-safe ad experience with premium monetization of CTV supply. Coupled with the power of Laminar's services and technology, we will be able to realize on our potential for scale and service as we further expand globally in support of premium brands. This acquisition is the next step in our mission to lead the digital media industry." - Neil Gruninger, President and CEO, A Parent Media Co. Inc. The acquisition sees a strategic future for the two global entities now forming APMC's Group of Companies and greater opportunity for content providers to expand and monetize in new ways. "Having spent time with the APMC leadership, it was immediately clear that we had a shared vision of the future of the media. We share the same culture, ambition, and energy with complementary technologies and services. My co-founders and I are excited about the obvious potential of this relationship." - Narendra Nag, CEO, Laminar Global Limited ABOUT APMC A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) is a media and technology company focused on providing innovative solutions to consumers and brands. APMC is a leader in Safe Streaming delivering an end-to-end solution to brands and platforms with an emphasis on unlocking incremental revenue. Utilizing proprietary streaming and monetization technologies, APMC reaches millions of homes globally through its products including Kidoodle.TV, Dude Perfect Streaming Service, Glitch+, and Safe Exchange. Whether through FAST channels or VOD streaming, APMC specializes in OTT content delivery and monetization across major connected TV and mobile platforms. Facebook: facebook.com/KidoodleTV X: twitter.com/kidoodleTV Instagram: instagram.com/kidoodletv LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kidoodletv Media Contact: Contact | media@aparentmedia.com ABOUT LAMINAR Laminar Global Limited is a next-gen media-tech company offering a cloud-based, fully-managed Platform as a Service (PaaS) that enables media companies and content owners to launch a full-featured, scalable, and monetizable platform streaming service. Laminar has customers around the world and is proud to be serving an incredible experience to millions of end users every month where the tech just gets out of the way and the content from customers takes centre stage. Laminar is headquartered out of London and has offices in Wroclaw, Dubai, and Barcelona. For more information, please visit https://lamin.ar X: twitter.com/LaminarGlobal Instagram: instagram.com/LaminarGlobal LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/laminarglobal Media Contact: Raheel Khursheed | raheel.khursheed@lamin.ar Contact Information Madeleine Moench madeleine@newswire.com Lindsay Dobson media@kidoodle.tv SOURCE: A Parent Media Co. Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. HiBob, a London, UK-based, a HR innovation company, acquired Pento, a London, UK-based payroll automation platform. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens HiBobs human capital management offering, delivering an enhanced experience with a payroll to customers with UK operations. Led by Jonas Bgh Larsen, CEO, Pento provides a payroll solution that streamlines processes for people, finance, and payroll teams. By automating tasks, eliminating deadlines, and providing guidance, it helps companies achieve fast, compliant, and error-free payroll. With a customer base of over 400 in the UK, including some of the largest and biggest household brands such as Starling Bank, Pento has become a trusted partner for modern companies across diverse industries like tech, finance, media, manufacturing, hospitality, and many more. Led by Ronni Zehavi, HiBob is a HR innovation company working on how organizations operate in the modern world of work with its HCM Bob. Its modular approach caters to the needs of multinational companies seeking agile technology and robust analytics to support operations across distributed workforces in the ever-evolving economic and workplace landscape. Companies using it are able to accelerate hiring, retain talent, upskill staff, and improve employee experience. FinsMEs 13/02/2024 Marqo, a San Francisco, CA- and Melbourne, Australia-based vector search company, raised $12.5M in Series A funding. The round, which brought the total amount to $17.8M, was led by Lightspeed with participation from Blackbird VC, January Capital, and Chronosphere founder and CTO Rob Skillington. The company intends to use the funds to advance the adoption of its search platform. Led by CEO Tom Hamer, Marqo is a vector search platform that includes the machine learning capabilities and infrastructure needed to deploy the next generation of AI-powered search. Handling the entire process from vector generation to storage and retrieval, it enables implementation of multimodal, multilingual search through a single API. Fundamental to its approach is a proprietary inference engine which converts unstructured data into highly performant vectors that return hyper-relevant search results in real time. Marqo counts Redbubble and Temple & Webster as current customers with several developers adopting the platform for end-user search, retrieval-augmented generation, and more. Commenting on the news, Tom Hamer said: We saw a need to invent a platform that not only generated superior vector embeddings but also empowered customers to build advanced search experiences within minutes, not months. This funding is validation of our approach and will help us scale up to meet the tremendous demand were seeing. FinSMEs 13/02/2024 Meter, a San Francisco, CA-based internet infrastructure company for businesses, raised $35M in funding. The round was led by Sam Altman and Lachy Groom, with support from existing investors including Sequoia, Meraki co-founders John Bicket and Sanjit Biswas, and VMware founder Diane Greene. The company intends to use the funds to further accelerate growth and development efforts. Led by CEO Anil Varanasi, Meter offers a Network as a Service (NaaS) solution that provides networking teams with an enhanced experience for network deployment and management. Its simplified automation solution provides visibility, configurability, and interoperability, and takes care of the details in network design, deployment, and management. Through its cloud-managed dashboard, acting as a digital twin for routing, switching, wireless, security, DNS security, VPN, and SD-WAN, customers can schedule maintenance, fine-tune configurations, and obtain a holistic view of their network. Meters services allow customers to quickly scale their network operations with reduced overhead costs through a vertically integrated approach. Meter develops proprietary hardware, firmware, and software, streamlines end-to-end operations including ISP procurement and management, site surveys, network design, deployment, and hardware upgrades, as well as providing ongoing management and maintenance. Customers include Brex, Higher Ground Education, Stord, Veho, and Tishman Speyer. FinSMEs 13/02/2024 Trading Technologies (TT), a Chicago, IL-based global capital markets technology platform provider, acquired Ateo, a Paris, France-based provider of post-trade solutions for listed derivatives. Terms of the transaction, expected to close on 29/02/2024, were not disclosed. The two firms entered into a strategic partnership in late 2022 to deliver a fully integrated, comprehensive post-trade allocation service for sell-side banks, brokers and futures commission merchants (FCMs). The acquisition brings Ateos full line of middle-office solutions into the TT infrastructure. ATEO will operate as a global managed service hosted in TTs data centers. Its post-trade allocation engine is already fully integrated into the TT order management system (OMS), providing TT OMS clients with seamless access to the functionality. Led by Laurent Courbin, Founder and CEO, and David Romeo, Managing Director, Ateo delivers post-trade solutions for the financial industry, including a global blotter, clearing and matching system, and extensive market connectivity. Products include: TEO Derivatives, a global order management system dedicated to pure brokerage environments and used by many of the worlds leading inter-dealer and executing brokers, including the vast majority of brokers in London; the LISA Clearing Engine, a trade matching and clearing solution enabling firms to process business across all clearing houses globally and offer tailored services to their customers; and UGO, a set of gateways and standardized clearing application programming interfaces (APIs) providing firms with the ability to develop or feed in-house solutions through scalable trade feed standardization and high throughput for all clearing activities. Banks, trading houses and professional traders have been using its technology since its creation in 2000. Led by CEO Keith Todd, Trading Technologies is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology platform provider to the global capital markets industry. Its TT platform connects to international exchanges and liquidity venues in listed derivatives alongside a growing number of asset classes, including fixed income and cryptocurrencies. The platform delivers advanced tools for trade execution and order management, market data solutions, analytics, trade surveillance, risk management and infrastructure services to the worlds leading sell-side institutions, buy-side firms and exchanges. The companys blue-chip client base includes the Tier 1 banks as well as brokers, money managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), commercial hedgers and risk managers. These firms use the TT ecosystem to manage their end-to-end trading operations. In addition, exchanges utilize its technology to deliver innovative solutions to their market participants. FinSMEs 12/02/2024 The former Member of Rajya Sabha tweeted how it was only after the Jawan star intervened in the matter that the Indian sailors were freed from jail. Recently, SRKs picture with Qatar PM Mohammed Al Thani from Doha went viral After months of negotiations by the Indian government, seven out of eight Indian sailors were freed from Qatar jail and came back to India. Amid this, a tweet by former Member of Rajya Sabha Subramanian Swamy has gone viral that claims it was actor Shah Rukh Khans intervention that led to the sailors being freed. Advertisement This is what he tweeted: Modi should take Cinema star Sharuk Khan to Qatar with him since after MEA and NSA had failed to persuade the Shiekhs of Qatar, Modi pleaded with Khan to intervene , and thus got an expensive settlement from the Qatar Shiekhs to free our Naval officers. Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) February 13, 2024 And amid this, Khans manager Pooja Dadlani clarified that the news was untrue; have a look at her Instagram post: Advertisement The statement read- Regarding the reports concerning Shah Rukh Khans purported role in the release of Indias naval officers from Qatar, the office of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan says that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded, emphasizing the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials and unequivocally denies Mr.Khans participation in this matter. Advertisement It added, Additionally, all matters involving diplomacy and statecraft are best executed by our very able leaders. Mr. Khan, like many other Indians, is happy that the naval officers are back home safe and wishes them all the best. Advertisement Shah Rukh Khans work front Khan returned to the big screen after a gap of over four years with Siddharth Anands Pathaan in January last year. It collected more than Rs 500 crore at the box-office and gave Khan a much-needed blockbuster. He followed it up with a bigger juggernaut called Jawan that went on to enter the Rs 600 crore at the ticket windows. Advertisement His last release of the year Dunki , which was directed by Rajkumar Hirani, may not have been a blazing success but is on its way to becoming a hit. It should enter the Rs 200 crore club in the coming weeks due to lack of major competition. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki features actors Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, and Boman Irani among others in prominent roles. The film revolves around the story of a group of friends, who use a backdoor to go to a foreign country, however, end up struggling to return. HARRISBURG Pennsylvanias 2024 primary election may lack drama in the races for president and U.S. Senate, but the fields for lower-ballot contests filled up for the states attorney generals office and a handful of its 17 seats in the U.S. House. The deadline was 5 p.m. Tuesday for Republicans and Democrats to submit voter signatures to get on the April 23 primary ballot. The states primary election is relatively late. By then, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden may have locked up the delegates they need to become their parties nominees in the November general election for president. Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey appears unlikely to face a primary opponent while Republican challenger David McCormick may face just token opposition. Control of the U.S. Senate is on the line in 2024, and Caseys bid for a fourth term is expected to be one of the nations most expensive races. Primary voters will have choices in other races. The state allows one week to file court challenges to a candidates paperwork, and courts have one more week after that until Feb. 27 to render a decision. April 8 is the last day to register to vote before the primary, and April 16 is the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. Independents and minor party candidates file paperwork on a different timeline, with a deadline of Aug. 1. A look at who has filed in each race, according to information from state election officials: President Biden and Trump filed to run for president, as did their remaining nationally known primary opponents, Trumps former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on the Republican ballot and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota on the Democratic ballot. U.S. Senate McCormick and Casey filed, as did perennial candidate Joe Vodvarka, a retired spring manufacturer from the Pittsburgh area who is making at least his fifth bid and second as a Republican. Congress All 17 incumbents nine Democrats and eight Republicans are running for reelection in Pennsylvanias 17 congressional seats. Only a handful of the seats are expected to be competitive in the November general election. For the primary, 47 candidates filed to run, including 16 Democratic challengers and 13 Republican challengers. Most notable are challengers in two districts. In the 7th District in eastern Pennsylvania, there are three Republicans vying for the nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild of Allentown. They are state Rep. Ryan MacKenzie, IT firm owner Kevin Dellicker and lawyer Maria Montero. In south-central Pennsylvanias 10th District, six Democrats seek the nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry of York County. They are former public radio executive Blake Lynch, business consultant John Broadhurst, former TV news personality Janelle Stelson, Harrisburg City Council member Shamaine Daniels, retired Marine Corps pilot Michael OBrien and Rick Coplen, a teacher and retired Army officer. The district includes Carlisle. Every incumbent has a general election challenger, except for Democratic U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia. In the primary, just four have a challenger: Evans, Pittsburgh-area Democratic U.S. Rep. Summer Lee and Republican U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly of Butler and Bryan Fitzpatrick of Bucks County. Attorney general Five Democrats filed for the partys primary. They are state Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former federal prosecutor Joe Kahn and Keir Bradford-Grey, the former head of Philadelphias and Montgomery Countys public defense lawyers. On the Republican side, York Countys district attorney, Dave Sunday, and state Rep. Craig Williams of Delaware County filed to run. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican incumbent, filed to run for a second four-year term. On the Democratic side, two filed to run: state Rep. Ryan Bizarro of Erie and Erin McClelland, a two-time congressional candidate in suburban Pittsburgh who has helped run various human services organizations. Auditor general The Republican incumbent, Tim DeFoor, filed to run for a second four-year term. On the Democratic side, two filed to run: state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley. It is quite unexpected, but it is something that I really love, and something I am extremely passionate about, Samantha said in the clip Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu is returning to work after a seven-month hiatus and this time with a health podcast. After completing the shooting of the Indian chapter of Prime Video series Citadel last July, the actor had announced a break from work to focus on her health. In 2022, she had revealed her diagnosis of myositis, an autoimmune condition, ahead of the release of her film Yashoda. Advertisement On Saturday, the 36-year-old actor shared a video on her Instagram Story announcing her comeback. I am going back to work, finally. But apart from that, in the meantime, I was completely jobless. But, I am doing something fun with a friend. Its a health podcast. It is quite unexpected, but it is something that I really love, and something I am extremely passionate about, Samantha said in the clip. Advertisement The actor, whose last release was 2023s Kushi, said the health podcast would release next week. I hope some of you find it extremely useful. I have enjoyed making this, she added. Samantha Ruth Prabhu has revealed that she has been diagnosed with myositis , an auto-immune condition. Taking to her official Instagram account, Samantha revealed that the condition had been detected some months back. While the actor has stated that she will soon make a full recovery, her fans are understandably worried about her health. Samantha wrote in her post, I have had good days and bad days. physically and emotionally. and even when it feels like I cant handle one more day of this, somehow that moment passes. I guess it can only mean that I am one more day closer to recovery. Advertisement With added inputs from agencies Hundreds of farmers from Punjab are marching towards Delhi after talks with Union ministers failed. Their key demand is a law that guarantees minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. While the Narendra Modi-led government has asked for time, farmer leaders say no more The farmers have taken to the streets again. The Delhi Chalo march is gathering momentum, as they are heading to the capital. The second round of talks with three Union ministers in Chandigarh on Monday evening did not yield any results. Delhi and the National Capital Region have turned into the fortress to stop the farmers from Punjab and Haryana from entering. The security officials want to avoid a repeat of the yearlong agitation of 2020-21, which forced the Centre to roll back agricultural reforms . Advertisement So why has the farmers stir started again ? And who is leading the agitation? We explain. What are the farmers demanding now? The protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana are marching to Delhi to pressure the Centre to meet their demands. The farmers have a 12-point agenda and their main demand is a law that guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. This, they believe, is a crucial lifeline to protect them from market uncertainties. The government sets the MSP on nearly two dozen commodities twice a year after recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Most of the crop procurement under MSP is from Punjab and Haryana and of mainly wheat and rice produce which supports the governments public distribution system. Farmers want a law that guarantees MSP on every crop, according to a report in The Economic Times (ET). Advertisement Also read: Delhi Chalo: Why farmers are protesting again The farmers also want crop prices to be determined as per Dr MS Swaminathan Commissions report. The father of the Green Revolution recommended to the committee to increase MSP to at least 50 per cent above the weighted average cost of production. The other demands include full debt waiver for farmers and labourers, punishment for perpetrators of the October 2021 killings in Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri, pensions for farmers and farmer labourers, compensation for farmers who died during the earlier Delhi protest, including a job for one family member. Advertisement The farmers also want the Electricity Amendment 2020 to be scrapped and that India should withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and freeze all free trade agreements. The other demands include the implementation of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, with provisions for written consent from farmers before acquisition, and compensation at four times the collector rate; 200 (instead of 100) days employment under MGNREGA per year, a daily wage of Rs 700, and a scheme should be linked with farming; strict penalties and fines on companies producing fake seeds, pesticides, fertilisers; improvements in seed quality, a national commission for spices like chilli and turmeric; and ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples over water, forests, and land. Advertisement Also read: Why a legal guarantee of MSP is fraught with challenges Who is leading the protests? The earlier agitation saw more than 40 farmer organisations in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh come under the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). However, the current protests are being spearheaded by a breakaway faction, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political). Advertisement Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of the Punjab-based Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhupur farm union, leads SKM (non-political). The group also includes Kisan Mazdoor Morcha led by Sarvan Singh Pandher. The most prominent faces of SKM (non-political) are Dallewal and Pandher. There are more than 250 farmers unions under the banner of the KMM, which claims to have the allegiance of about 100 unions, and the SKM (non-political) comprises another 150 unions, reports The Indian Express. Advertisement The big farmer leaders have not joined the protests yet but Rakesh Tikait has backed the call for Bharat Bandh on 16 February. So far, 25,000 farmers and 5,000 tractors are reportedly joining the Delhi Chalo march. However, more farmer organisations and farmers could join the protest as it gathers pace. Also read: Drones, barriers & more: How Delhi-NCR has turned into a fortress to stop farmers march Advertisement Farmer leaders have held two rounds of talks with the government but have decided to go ahead with the protest. Pander said, The central government has not been able to make a strong decision on anything. The government is asking for time from us to pause the agitation. But they asked us for time two years ago too, when the farmers agitation ended. Advertisement We thought that giving time is not suitable now. If there is a strong proposal then we can think of giving time but they dont have anything, he added. What is the government saying? The two farmer unions, SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha sent a list of demands to the Centre on 6 February. The first round of talks was held on 8 February in Chandigarh between the farmer leaders and Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai. The meeting was coordinated by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann but not much came out of it. Advertisement The second round of talks was held on Monday. The five-hour-plus meeting between the three ministers and 26 farmer leaders in Chandigarh went on until midnight and they reached a consensus on some issues. Mann was not involved. The Centre agreed to withdraw cases against the farmers from the 2020-21 agitation and the two sides also reached an understanding on compensation to families of farmers who died in the protest. Advertisement However, a consensus on the key issue of MSP was not reached. The government has also proposed to form a committee to deliberate on the legal guarantee for MSP, debt waivers and implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, reports News18. Agriculture Minister Munda, who led to talks, told news agency ANI, We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue. This issue also concerns the state governments. We need time to understand this issue and find a method to solve this Advertisement #WATCH | On farmers' march, Union Minister Arjun Munda says "We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a pic.twitter.com/8Dh2ajhDhk ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 What has the government done on MSP so far? The Centre has spent nearly Rs 2.28 lakh crore in 2022-23 to procure food grains at MSP, up nearly 115 per cent from 2014-15 when it had spent Rs 1.06 lakh crore on buying crops at MSP, reports News18. The MSP-based procurement of food grains has also increased from 761.40 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 1062.69 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23. The MSP for paddy, wheat, jowar, ragi and cotton has increased year on year. However, the farmers believe not enough is being done. They are marching towards Delhi and they are prepared for a long haul. With general elections approaching soon, the Narendra Modi government has reasons to worry. With inputs from agencies As farmers prepare for their Delhi Chalo march to press the Centre for their demands, security at the Delhi-NCR borders has been stepped up. Nails have been laid out on roads, concrete barriers and barricades have been set up, and traffic diversions are in effect. Section 144 has also been imposed A look at roads leading to the Capital and it gives you a sense of deja vu from 2020. The year when farmers thronged Delhi to protest against the now-repealed farm laws. This time, the farmers are gearing up to march to Delhi as part of their Delhi Chalo campaign. And keeping the farmers march in mind, scheduled for today (13 February), authorities have deployed police, paramilitary personnel in large numbers and also carried out multi-layered barricading at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur in order to prevent the protesting farmers from entering Delhi. Advertisement We take a closer look at the various security measures undertaken as well as the traffic restrictions imposed as thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh gear up for the Delhi Chalo march. All roads lead to Delhi Over 200 farmers unions , including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, will take part in the march today after talks with Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda were inconclusive. The ministers had met with the farmers on Monday (12 February) for over five hours but their talks yielded no positive results. As a result, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday early morning said: The central government has not been able to make a strong decision on anything. The government is asking for time from us to pause the agitation. But they asked us for time two years ago too, when the farmers agitation ended. We thought that giving time is not suitable now. If there is a strong proposal, then we can think of giving time, but they dont have anything. Advertisement #WATCH | Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab: Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "The meeting with the ministers went on for around 5 hours yesterday. We presented an agenda in front of them. The central government has not been able to make pic.twitter.com/B7SZTLTN6R ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement He further announced that the farmers will begin their march towards Delhi at 10 am. The protesting farmers have three main demands enactment of a law to guarantee a Minimum Support Price for all crops, farmer loan waiver and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. Advertisement Securitys up, barriers at Delhi borders In preparation for the Delhi Chalo march, authorities have intensified security in the Capital with multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers at border points to stop the throng of farmers atop tractors and trolleys from entering the city. Moreover, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in massive numbers at three points Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. According to an official, makeshift jails have also been set up at specific locations in view of the march. Advertisement The police are also using drones to keep a tight vigil at border points, an official said, adding that they are fully prepared to deal with any law and order situation. In addition to this, the Delhi Police has also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC for a month until 12 March. The order essentially bans the collection of people for processions and rallies. Furthermore, it bans the entry of tractors into the city as well as bars people from collecting or carrying any form or explosives, boulders, acid, petrol, soda water bottles or any item that can be used to cause danger to anyone. Advertisement The Delhi Police has also started carrying out detailed security checks at the borders, said an official. The prohibitory orders have also been imposed by the Haryana authorities for 15 of its districts. Furthermore, the Haryana government has suspended mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa from 11 to 13 February. Advertisement In and around Delhi, traffic restrictions have also been imposed, which could cause inconvenience to commuters. Interstate buses intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal etc via NH-44 will take ISBT to Majnu Ka Tilla to Signature Bridge to Khajuri Chowk to Loni Border to KMP via Khekra. Traffic from Delhi going to Ghaziabad through Ghazipur border will have to take Pushta Road in front of Akshardham temple or, Patparganj Road/Mother Dairy road or, Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg ISBT Anand Vihar and exit from Maharajpur or Apsara border in UP Ghaziabad. Advertisement Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) issues traffic advisory in view of the proposed farmers' protest at various borders of Delhi from tomorrow (February 13). pic.twitter.com/d6v3ZRXZ3V Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 12, 2024 Advertisement Farmers prepare for the long haul And despite the massive preparations, farmers seem intent on their Delhi Chalo campaign. Farmers have packed essential items, including dry ration, mattresses and utensils, among others on to their tractors, as they head out towards the Capital. Advertisement An excavator is also among the convoy of tractor trolleys, with a farmer in Amritsar saying it would be used to break barricades. Earlier, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha also slammed the Centres handling of the protest alleging that an atmosphere of terror is being created to frighten people. The administration is imposing Section 144 in and around Delhi and Haryana and diverting the traffic without any prior advisory to the public. It is creating an atmosphere of terror to frighten off the people. The Modi government is treating the protesters as if they are enemies of the country, they said. Advertisement Meanwhile, other Opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Centre for its handling of the issue. Thackeray was quoted as saying, If the Central government is working for farmers then why did it put thorns and nails in their path and dug trenches, besides deploying thousands of policemen. With inputs from agencies About 10,000 children are still fighting alongside armed groups in the Central African Republic more than a decade after a civil war broke out. Heres what is known about their recruitment and exploitation Even after reaching a peace deal in 2019, around 10,000 children are still fighting alongside armed groups in Central African Republic. According to a recent statement by Marthe Kirima, the Minister for Family and Gender, children are still being recruited as fighters, spies, messengers, cooks and even used as sex slaves. While 15,000 children have escaped from rebel forces, she said, many are traumatised and find it difficult to return to normal life. Advertisement What is known about their recruitment and exploitation as well as calls for an accelerated peace process. Fighting continues Recruitment of children into armed groups remains a significant concern in the CAR, with children often forced to engage in violent conflicts, putting their lives and well-being at risk. Along with this, they are also subjected to physical and psychological abuse, witness traumatic events, and be deprived of education and other essential opportunities for growth and development. The mineral-rich but impoverished nation has had conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced then-President Francois Bozize from office. Mostly Christian militias fought back, also targeting civilians. The United Nations, which has a peacekeeping mission in the country, estimates the fighting has killed thousands and displaced over a million people, or one-fifth of the population. In 2019, a peace deal was reached between the government and 14 armed groups, but fighting continues. Advertisement Peace keeping efforts Taking responsibility to address the issue, the United Nations (UN) has established a peace keeping mission in the CAR. The United Nations is making an effort to keep kids out of the military and to help those who have been released back into society. Several training programmes have been implemented to provide former child soldiers with vocational skills such as mechanics, masons, carpenters, and other professions, allowing them to earn a living and positively impact their communities. Advertisement Childrens personal accounts Some former child soldiers told The Associated Press that their harrowing experiences had pushed them to become peace ambassadors. I took up arms because Seleka killed by mother and father, said Arsene, who insisted on only his first name due to the sensitivity of the situation. He said a Christian rebel group recruited him when he was 14. After three years of fighting, he now tells young people not to join rebel groups. Advertisement Ousmane, another former child soldier, said that joining the rebels ruined his life and that of those around him. What we did is indescribable, he said. The Dany Ngarasso Foundation, a local civil society group, called on the government to accelerate the peace process to protect child soldiers. They may have fought yesterday, but they can still campaign for peace today, foundation head Ngarasso said. Advertisement Urgency for peace Local civil society organisations, including the Dany Ngarasso Foundation, have urged the government to expedite the peace process in order to protect the well-being of child soldiers, as reported by One India. Ngarasso, the foundations director, emphasised the potential for former child soldiers to become peace advocates, despite their previous involvement in conflicts. The Central African Republic can work towards a more peaceful and stable future by accelerating the peace process and providing comprehensive support for the reintegration of former child soldiers. Advertisement The continued involvement of children in armed conflicts in the Central African Republic is a pressing humanitarian issue. Despite the 2019 peace agreement, significant efforts are needed to address child recruitment and exploitation. The CAR can work towards a future in which children are safe from violence and can thrive in a peaceful environment by implementing effective prevention strategies, providing reintegration assistance, and accelerating the peace process. Advertisement With inputs from AP Britains famous beauty brand The Body Shop is on the brink of administration a UK process whereby experts are drafted in to try and save it. How did the nearly 50-year-old company that made sustainability and cruelty-free products cool reach here? Lovers of Satsuma soaps, body butter buffs and white musk fanatics might want to sit down and mourn for this one. The Body Shop, an icon of the British high street, is near bankruptcy in the United Kingdom. The nearly 50-year-old cosmetics company, which drew people in with its collection of scented body creams, hemp oils, fruity lip balms and much more, is lining up administration a UK process whereby financial experts are drafted in to try and save parts of a business with store closures and job losses likely. Advertisement We take a closer look at the dramatic rise and fall of this beloved beauty brand and what the future holds for the brand that made cruelty-free products a cool proposition. Birth of The Body Shop In 1976, Dame Anita Roddick, who was a human rights activist and environmental campaigner involved with Greenpeace and The Big Issue, opened the first ever The Body Shop store in Brighton. It was in stark contrast to the existing beauty market, with products that were not only natural but also ethically sourced. Its USP at the time was to provide quality skincare products in refilled bottles, with the belief that the business could be a force for good. Moreover, it was fundamentally against animal testing, a standard practice among cosmetic companies at the time. Her belief in building The Body Shop was that beauty was a persons source of joy, comfort and self-esteem. Hence, her beauty products focused on daily ritual of self-love instead of the false promising of slimming and anti-ageing that the industry pedalled. She didnt want to create products to make women look a certain way but to help them be the best versions of themselves. Advertisement As The Forbes writes, At a period when the terms sustainability and ethical sourcing were not the buzzwords they are today, The Body Shop educated consumers on the importance of knowing where and how products were made. This not only distinguished the brand in the marketplace but also set a standard which many companies strive to meet today. Advertisement Just seven years later, the business had grown to 138 stores which operated on a franchising model. Business changing hands And soon it expanded to across the globe, becoming an international brand with around 3,000 stores in all parts of the world. In fact, in 2004, it was also judged as the 28th top brand in the world. Advertisement In 2006, the company was sold to cosmetics giant LOreal for a whopping 652 million (Rs 6,853 crore), a move that sparked debate among critics. For many, the sale was seen as a betrayal to the brands core values, considering the stance of LOreal when it came to animal testing. It was a year later that Roddick, 64, died owing to a brain haemorrhage. Ten years later, LOreal sold Body Shop to the Brazilian group Natura & Co for 880 million (Rs 9,250 crore). David Boynton, the retailers then chief executive, had then said that the brand had run out of steam under LOreal. Advertisement However, this ownership didnt last long either and in November 2023, European private equity business Aurelius scooped it up for what the media said was a bargain price. Things get ugly for The Body Shop It then makes you wonder why The Body Shop is struggling and on the verge of bankruptcy. There are multiple reasons for this. Advertisement Firstly, the beauty market has become highly competitive and is growing at a pace that The Body Shop cant keep up with. Moreover, theres a seismic shift in consumer behaviour. A customer today is not informed but also demands that brands be committed to sustainability and ethical practices. Hence, with companies adopting practices that The Body Shop had championed and made cool has become the new normal. This has diluted the brands USP and it is no longer a differentiator. Advertisement Catherine Shuttleworth, a retail analyst and the founder of the marketing agency GetSavvy, told The Telegraph: What happened is that over time [as> the business got sold, it didnt still have that founders mentality. It lost its way and suffered from moving from owner to owner. Its been death by a thousand cuts. A little bit of its heart has been taken out each time. Advertisement Moreover, in the UK it has been suffering from flagging sales. As experts believe the brand hasnt been able to move online as its competitors. Also, their stores are being outdone by their rivals. Jonathan De Mello, the founder and chief executive of JDM Retail, was quoted as telling The Telegraph: They havent really invested in their stores. Theyve let competition come to the fore, such as Lush and [cosmetics firm> Rituals, which have expanded a lot and compete directly on price Theyve stood still while the competition has gone past them. Most brands want stores [that offer> more of an experience when the customer walks in. Advertisement This has led to the brand losing its worth in bath salts with its customers and not being able to draw in the new, hippy crowd. As Investment analyst Dan Coatsworth, explained to City AM, Previously known for its ethical stance, that halo is no long shining so brightly for the business. This is partly because so many companies have been pushing their ethical values which has meant The Body Shop has been lost in the crowd. Advertisement The brand feels dated and consumers have plenty of choice where they can buy cosmetics, skin care and perfume. It might still appeal to the older generations who remember the brand values, but younger people do not talk about The Body Shop as being a place they actively want to shop. Advertisement An uncertain future awaits Its disappointing sales has prompted the owners to appoint administrators, a move that could likely lead to job losses and store closures in the UK although its not yet clear whether stores around the world would be affected. However, Sky News, the first to report on the appointment of administrators, this would not impact the brands global franchise partners. An insider was further quoted as saying that The Body Shop would focus on more effectively reaching customers by strengthening digital platforms, developing new sales channels, and via differentiated retail experiences. But for UK customers, the news has come as a blow with some even taking to X to mourn its demise. Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh wrote: Heartbroken at the demise of The Body Shop, for its body butters, make up range, ethical value system, solidarity with communities across the world who grow the ingredients. I have been shopping continuously at The Body Shop since the 1970s. I am bereft. British columnist Zoe Williams also wrote in The Guardian on Monday that she would mourn The Body Shop, which she describes as a gateway to politics for animal-obsessed teenagers like me. With inputs from agencies The price of cocoa increased to a record high ahead of Valentines Day last week, triggering concerns among chocolate makers. But why is cocoa cost on the rise and does this mean you need to pay more for the confectionery? Cocoa prices have surged days before Valentines Day (14 February). The cost of the main ingredient in chocolate has been rising for over two years, more than doubling in 2023. The cocoa cost reached an all-time high this month, raising alarm bells among chocolate manufacturers. World cocoa rates saw a new record hike for the ninth consecutive day last Friday, triggering concerns that supply shortages could be prolonged, Reuters reported. Cocoa futures have soared, doubling last year and skyrocketing 40 per cent since January. Advertisement Why are cocoa prices rising? The extreme weather in West Africa, which houses over 60 per cent of global cocoa production, is being blamed for damaging crop yields. This is creating a cocoa supply deficit and driving the crop prices up. There were massive rains, and then there was a massive dry spell coupled with wind. It led to some pretty harsh growing conditions for cocoa, including pests and disease, CoBank senior analyst Billy Roberts told NPR. Climate change is a major risk for the crop. As per data from Silicon Valley startup ClimateAi, shift in climate patterns could lead to a loss of about $529 million in the cocoa bean value chain in Africa, CNN reported. Cote dIvoire and Ghana in West Africa account for over 60 percent of the worlds cocoa supply. Advertisement This past year, drought in West Africa has led to a compression in the volume of cocoa output, and that has significantly increased prices, Will Kletter, vice president of operations and strategy at ClimateAi, told CNN. Cocoa harvests have fallen for the third year in a row. The International Cocoa Organizations December 2023 market report attributed the damage to the supply of cocoa crops to black pod disease and swollen shoot virus. The organisation estimates that the global cocoa supply was down by 99,000 metric tonnes in the 2022-23 marketing year, according to I_nvestopedia._ Advertisement The warm weather brought by the El Nino phenomenon ushered unusual dry weather to the region and is likely to further affect crop produce, reported The Hill. ALSO READ: Single this Valentines Day? 10 exciting ways to enjoy being on your own Will chocolate prices be affected on Valentines? Not much. People buying chocolates for Valentines Day would not have to shell out higher prices. As per NPR, this is because costs have already shot up steadily for months. Advertisement Major candy manufacturers, including Nestle and Cadbury, have been increasing prices. The move comes amid soaring cocoa prices and a rise in sugar and labour costs. Roberts told NPR that with the new cocoa crop not coming for months, chocolate prices could be especially high during Easter and Halloween. Last week, chocolate giant Hershey said that the cocoa price surge will limit its 2024 profit growth. The company also said it will be cutting 5 per cent of its workforce. Advertisement Cocoa is expected to limit earnings growth this year, Hersheys CEO Michele Buck said on a call with analysts Thursday (8 February), as per CNN. She did not rule out raising chocolate prices in the future. Given where cocoa prices are, we will be using every tool in our toolbox, including pricing, as a way to manage the business, Buck added. Advertisement Chocolate retailers in the United States have also increased the prices of the sweet. Quite honestly, all of our chocolates have increased in price, Ginger Park, who runs a chocolate shop in Washington, DC, told NPR. We try not to raise the prices on our customers. But, you know, there are times when we have to we have no choice. Advertisement Roberts, CoBanks senior food and beverage economist, said in a report earlier in February that retail chocolate prices have seen a 17 per cent uptick over two years and will further rise. Cocoa prices are hitting chocolate candy manufacturers really hard, Roberts told CNN. And it looks like its not necessarily going to subside anytime soon. Advertisement As per NPR, surveys show consumers have started to switch to cheaper chocolates or limit their purchases. However, retailers still predict that each shopper on average will spend more this Valentines Day than the past five years. Honestly, we have not felt the effects on our customers. And I dont know if its because they know everything has gone up and they understand or theyre just chocoholics like us, Park told NPR. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris PPP are in talks to form a government in Pakistan. However, they are unable to decide on the post of prime minister. Amid this delay, now the two parties are deliberating if the top job should be held on a rotational basis Its been almost a week since Pakistan held its elections and threw up the biggest of surprises when Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates bagged the most number of seats, trouncing Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party. However, as none of the parties have secured a simple majority in the 266-seat National Assembly there is no clear winner Pakistanis, along with many others around the world, are wondering which party will form the next government or who will be the next prime minister. Advertisement As the wheeling-dealing between parties gathers pace, we break down whats going on after the hotly-contested elections, which saw violence as well as allegations of rigging . Whats brewing between PML-N and PPP? After the final ballot was cast, and counting began, it emerged that Nawaz Sharifs party, which reportedly had the backing of the powerful military, received 75 votes while Bhutto-led PPP secured 54 votes. This is way behind the tally of the PTI-backed Independents, who won 101 seats. Shortly after the results were declared, both parties realised that the only way to thwart Imran Khan and his partys return to power was to join hands and since then have been in talks to hammer out some sort of power-sharing formula. However, it is easier said than done as both parties are unable to reach a consensus on the issue of prime minister. Interestingly, even within Nawaz Sharifs PML-N, there are varying opinions with some suggesting that Shehbaz, and not Nawaz, be made the premier. In fact, party stalwart Khawaja Asif had told Samaa TV earlier that Shehbaz was the PML-Ns prime ministerial candidate. However, Maryam Nawaz later clarified saying this was the veterans personal opinion and not that of the party. Advertisement The PPP, on the other hand, is yet to take a final decision on the alliance, with the Dawn reporting that the Central Executive Committee of the PPP will meet today (13 February) to deliberate on the post-poll scenario and proposals regarding the coalition government. It seems that the PPP isnt fully amenable to an alliance with the PML-N. There is a faction of members within the Bhutto-led party who believe that the results were questionable and even advocated for staying in opposition at the federal level. Advertisement However, there are others who argue that the PPP should join hands with the PML-N on the condition that 35-year-old Bilawal Bhutto Zardari , the son of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, be made prime minister. Their reason being that he is a fresh face in a country where more than 60 per cent of the population are under 30. Advertisement Prime minister on rotational basis? Theres also talks of a possibility of having a rotational premiership. Pakistans GeoTV has reported that the PML-N and the PPP are deliberating the possibility of appointing prime ministers from their parties for a three- and two-year term under a power-sharing formula. What this means is that one party will govern for three years and the other will take charge for the remaining two years. Advertisement The idea of such a power-sharing method came about on 11 February when leaders of both parties sat down for talks to form a coalition government in the Centre. This formula, interestingly, was used by the PML-N and the National Party (NP) in Balochistan in 2013 when two chief ministers from the two parties held office for half of the five-year term. Advertisement What about the PTI and the independents? And amid talks of a possible PML-N and PPP alliance, theres also a third possible route. That of the PTI-backed independents joining hands with the PPP and other smaller parties. In fact, this idea has gathered some steam after senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman said that the partys doors are open to all political forces. Advertisement However, it seems very unlikely that the PTI will form an alliance with the PPP. Syed Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior PTI member and an advisor to Imran Khan, said the party is content to take up the position of kingmaker due to its number of seats and will do whatever we want to. Advertisement We will not be aligning with any major party to set up a hodgepodge government in the centre. We have learned from our previous tenure that having a compromised government with allies means being blackmailed daily, Al Jazeera quoted him as saying. He further added that he does not believe a government formed via an alliance of other parties would last long. We intend to merge with a party for the sake of putting all our candidates under one banner, and we will be the strongest opposition this country has ever seen, Bukhari said. Advertisement Please also read: Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari & more: The winners and losers of Pakistan polls How the military is still man of the match despite Imran Khans victory What comes next? As per Pakistans laws, now that the election results are out, Pakistans president has to convene the inaugural session of the new National Assembly within 21 days of the election 29 February. Following this, a new Speaker is elected and he/she will call for the election of the leader of the House, the prime minister. Advertisement Once the PM is elected, the person takes an oath and the announces his Cabinet. The caretaker PM, who oversees the elections, then hands over power to the new government. Experts believe that any delay in forming the government will only add to the countrys economic concerns. As Bloomberg reported, a nine-month bailout program with the International Monetary Fund, Pakistans 23rd since independence in 1947, expires in March, suggesting any new leader will have to negotiate a new deal. Advertisement With inputs from agencies As India pioneers in transformative changes in cancer care, the future holds promise for a more optimistic outlook shaped by innovative technologies Cancer care in India is undergoing a profound transformation, marked by a shift towards more effective and personalized treatment strategies. The nation is actively addressing the challenges posed by cancer through heightened awareness, advanced technologies, and innovative approaches. This article delves into four pivotal areas, elucidating the significant strides that have emerged as pillars in the ongoing battle against cancer in India. Advertisement Bridging the awareness gap In a country where approximately one in nine individuals may encounter cancer in their lifetime, a proactive approach is underway to bridge the awareness gap in cancer care. Anticipating a 12.8% rise in cancer cases by 2025 [1> , knowledge stands as our primary defence. As the burden grows, robust awareness campaigns are actively instilling early detection practices. Under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre scheme & Other similar social welfare schemes, preventive measures integrate seamlessly into primary healthcare. Initiatives, including wellness promotions and targeted community-level communications, empower individuals. The comprehensive effort extends to advocating healthy eating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, while the Fit India movement promote holistic well-being. Together, these collective efforts heighten awareness, enabling individuals to promptly identify warning signs and dispel prevalent myths. Advertisement Adoption of innovative technologies Innovations in cancer care represent a significant leap forward. For instance, in colorectal cancer, Fluorescence Angiography, utilizing a safe and affordable indocyanine green (ICG) dye to visualize blood vessels, has gained acceptance among surgeons. Also known as fluorescence imaging technology, it enables real-time visualization of blood flow in micro-vessels, tissue perfusion, and anatomical structures during laparoscopy procedures. This technological advancement not only facilitates better postoperative outcomes but also aligns to provide effective and efficient patient care. Advertisement Moreover, technologies facilitating minimally invasive surgeries in colorectal cancer are being utilized to reduce patient stress, with smaller incisions leading to quicker recovery. Moving Towards personalised care Personalized cancer care takes centre stage in India, tailoring therapies to the unique characteristics of each patients cancer. In breast cancer, Fluorescence Imaging (FI) plays a crucial role in real-time identification of affected tissues, providing surgeons with precise information. Traditionally, a lack of critical details led to the removal of all lymph nodes, causing collateral damage. However, FI revolutionizes this by offering real-time insights, minimizing the impact on healthy tissues. FIs non-invasive nature enables continuous monitoring during disease progression and therapy, facilitating adaptive treatment plans. This dynamic approach to cancer care ensures improved outcomes and individualized treatments for cancer patients in India. Advertisement Better patient outcomes owing to tech advancements Technological advancements are propelling significant improvements in cancer care outcomes in India. Tools like FI, MRI, and CT scans offer precise treatment details, while telemedicine and electronic health records enhance communication among healthcare professionals. These advances represent progress in the fight against cancer, providing hope for better outcomes and an improved quality of life for patients nationwide. Advertisement As India pioneers in transformative changes in cancer care, the future holds promise for a more optimistic outlook shaped by innovative technologies. The evolving landscape of cancer care in India is not just a response to current challenges; its a visionary step towards a future where personalized, technologically advanced, and patient-centric care becomes the new norm. Advertisement The author is Clinical & Research Lead, Breast Service, Dept. of Surgery, IPGMER, Kolkata. 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 . On Tuesday, the national capital came to a standstill after farmers from nearby states began their Delhi Chalo campaign to push their demands to the central government Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Arjun Munda on Tuesday reiterated the central governments stance on having a dialogue with the protesting farmers in New Delhi adding that authorities will do everything possible to find a solution to their concerns. On Tuesday, the national capital came to a standstill after farmers from nearby states began their Delhi Chalo campaign to push their demands to the central government. Advertisement We care about the interests of the farmers. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue. This issue also concerns the state governments. We need time to understand this issue and find a method to solve this, Munda said. #WATCH | On farmers' march, Union Minister Arjun Munda says "We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a pic.twitter.com/8Dh2ajhDhk ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Why are farmers protesting? In a second round of protests since 2021, farmer members from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are heading to New Delhi to press their demands on the BJP-led central government. The key demands put forward by the farmers are: Farmers groups have demanded the enactment of a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops They also want the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations and pension for farmers Farmers are also calling for justice for the victims of Lakhimpur Kheli Farm groups want the central government to repeal the Electricity Act of 2020 Tried our best Meanwhile, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday said that farmers groups were forced to take to the streets after all efforts to address their concerns over meetings with the government failed. Advertisement We want to present our views before India that we tried our best in yesterdays meeting to take some kind of decision so that we can avoid confrontation with the government and we get something that we had hoped for. We can only hope and trust. After doing this, we sat in the meeting for 5 hours, Pandher said earlier today. Advertisement #WATCH: Fatehgarh Sahib: Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher says "We tried to find a solution so that we do not have to stand against the Govt. We were expecting that we would be given something. In the 5-hour-long meeting yesterday, pic.twitter.com/ssD512gdrc ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement He added that farmers are not only targeting the BJP but also have held the Congress equally responsible. Advertisement Congress party does not support us, we consider Congress equally responsible as much as the BJP. These laws were brought by Congress itselfWe are not in favour of anyone, we raise the voice of farmers Pandher said. A police official said that officials have been asked to chart out a Plan B in case things go south and protesting farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan enter the city and try to reach the Parliament As farmers protests intensify in the national capital, the Delhi police have put forth a slew of security measures to avoid any untoward incident, especially in central Delhi. Earlier today, security officials deployed tear gas bombs in the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border as farmers marched towards the national capital under the slogan of Delhi Chalo. Advertisement #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Meanwhile, farmers in Haryana were seen forcibly removing cement barricades installed to restrict their movement and openly violating Section 144. Advertisement #WATCH | Protesting farmers vandalise flyover safety barriers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/vPJZrFE0T0 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Plan B A police official said that officials have been asked to chart out a Plan B in case things go south and protesting farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan enter the city and try to reach the Parliament. Advertisement Several security personnel in anti-riot gear have been deployed strategically while metal and concrete barricades regulating access to several key roads have also been put into place. All Parliament gates have been barricaded and extra security personnel including from the paramilitary forces have been positioned around the building. The barricades installed near Parliament have been fitted with barred wire on top. Advertisement Security has also been heightened in the residences of the prime minister, Union Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda. Borders sealed The three borders of Delhi Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur have been sealed and the police have installed multiple layers of barricading at roads leading to the Parliament and Central Delhi. Advertisement #WATCH | Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel deployed at Kurukshetra in Haryana as Punjab farmers are on their way to Delhi pic.twitter.com/1UnfmH99t5 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Arrangements have been made at the Vikas Marg which connects east Delhi to the central part of the national capital to place cement barricades and sand-loaded dumpers at the centre of the road. Advertisement National Highway-9, heading towards Akshardham from Ghazipur, has been barricaded with cranes and heavy earthmovers. The police intensified the checking of vehicles to identify protestors trying to enter Delhi in commercial or private vehicles. Metro gates to be closed The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Tuesday issued an advisory stating that while operations will continue, some gates at a few stations will be closed in view of the farmers protest. Advertisement Service Update A few gates may be closed in following stations as per security instructions. However, stations are operational. 1. Central Secretariat 2. Rajiv Chowk 3. Udyog Bhawan 4. Patel Chowk 5. Mandi House 6. Barakhamba Road 7. Janpath 8. Khan Market 9. Lok Kalyan Marg Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) February 13, 2024 Advertisement These stations are: 1. Central Secretariat 2. Rajiv Chowk 3. Udyog Bhawan 4. Patel Chowk 5. Mandi House 6. Barakhamba Road 7. Janpath 8. Khan Market 9. Lok Kalyan Marg. With inputs from agencies More than a year after police raided his yard and found dozens of stolen bicycles, Joe Abel Arevalo submitted his first guilty plea Thursday, a deal that would have spared him all jail time. It was, however, rejected by a judge. The court will not accept his plea agreement, said Charlottesville Circuit Judge Claude Worrell. Worrell did not explain his reasoning. But that was far from the most unusual moment in court that day. The hearing included several unusual moments, including prosecution confusion and unanswered questions about how much stolen property was actually found. Arevalo, a self-employed electrician whose court file suggests that he has used an alias, at one point told the court he had forgotten his own age. How old are you? asked Worrell. 40, Arevalo replied. Is this right? said Worrell. You should be 41. Almost 41, said Arevalo. According to this, said Worrell, examining the mans date of birth, you should already be 41. I thought I was a year younger, said Arevalo. I apologize. That dialogue came moments after the prosecutor revealed that she thought she was prosecuting a theft that occurred Aug. 10, 2022. Alas, that case involved stolen electrical conduits and was dismissed in November. Thursdays guilty plea revolved around a Yeti SB100 bicycle rolled away from a medical students garage 11 days after the conduit theft. The aspiring doctor told The Daily Progress that a thief shot a middle finger at his security camera before walking away with the $5,000 vehicle. The medical student ultimately tracked down his missing ride using an Apple AirTag. The rejected plea deal would have given Arevalo a five-year sentence with all time suspended plus a year of probation and a five-year demand for good behavior. Nina-Alice Antony, Charlottesvilles senior assistant commonwealths attorney, said the sentence fell within the guidelines for someone who accepts responsibility, and she noted that Arevalo had helpfully waived his right to a preliminary hearing. She also told the court that it was her understanding that Arevalo was likely to get active jail time upon a plan to plead guilty to a similar charge in Albemarle County. I understand hes receiving a 90-day active jail sentence, she told the judge. Additionally, Antony said that the Charlottesville prosecutors office prefers alternatives to jail for nonviolent offenders, which she said Arevalo was. However, Arevalo was convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery in March for spraying his daughter with a pressure washer. Additionally, Charlottesville General District Court records show that in November Arevalo was convicted of trespassing for going uninvited into a womans apartment. When Arevalo first made headlines last year, it was after police reported they had to rent a storage container in order to hold all of the stolen equipment they had found at Arevalos Reservoir Road residence. The haul included electric bicycles, kids bicycles and multiple bicycles valued at several thousand dollars each. One local bicycle shop manager estimated that Arevalo had amassed at least $60,000 worth of equipment. Those were returned as best as could be, Antony told the court. The judge Thursday seemed curious about the level of loot. What were the number of things, Worrell asked, that were in his possession that were returned to other people? Antony answered that she didnt know. While the search warrant inventory counted 327 items, Antony didnt dispute the defense attorneys assertion that some of the seized goods belonged to Arevalo. However, many did not. Worrell kept pressing for answers about the troves magnitude. How many potential victims were identified? asked Worrell. Im trying to get a sense of scale. There were a lot of things found on the property, answered defense attorney Jessica Phillips. It was a lot of items. It was at that moment that Worrell rejected the plea agreement. Arevalos Charlottesville case will now be heard by a different judge, but no date for another hearing has yet been set. Arevalo was next slated to head to Albemarle Circuit Court. There he faces a single charge of receiving stolen property, a Ditch Witch trenching machine atop a Hudson Trailer. While a conviction can carry a term up to 20 years, this is the charge reportedly slated for a 90-day jail sentence, and any sentence will ultimately depend on what an Albemarle judge decides. Arevalo remains free on a $5,000 secured bail. PM Modis visit highlights the nations longstanding economic and historic ties, from spice selling and gold smuggling in the UAEs formative years to tens of billions of dollars worth of annual bilateral trade today. Hailing India and UAE as partners in progress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the country is proud of every Indian living in the UAE. Our partnership is getting stronger in all areas and reaching newer heights. Its Indias wish that our partnership keeps getting strong every passing day, he said.India and UAE are partners in progress. Our relationship is of talent, innovation and culture, Modi said while addressing the Indian community here at the Ahlan Modi event. Advertisement You have created a new history in Abu Dhabi. You have come from all corners of UAE, and different states of India, but the hearts of everyone are connected, he said. VIDEO | "You have created a new history in Abu Dhabi. You have come from all corners of UAE, and different states of India, but hearts of everyone are connected," says PM Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora at 'Ahlan Modi' event in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/pBwFKUneQi Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024 I have brought the message from your 140 Cr brothers and sisters; and the message is that India is proud of you, you are the pride of our country, Bharat is proud of you, he added. Advertisement VIDEO | "I have brought the message from your 140 brothers and sisters; and the message is that India is proud of you, you are the pride of our country, Bharat is proud of you," says PM Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora at the 'Ahlan Modi' event at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in pic.twitter.com/ALWNi7Iojs Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024 Advertisement It is my pleasure that UAE honoured me with the Order of Zayed, its highest civilian award. This honour is not just mine, but crores of Indians. Whenever I meet Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, he praises you all Indians. He appreciates your role in the development of UAE, says PM Modi while addressing the Indian diaspora at the Ahlan Modi event in Abu Dhabi. VIDEO | "It is my pleasure that UAE honoured me with 'Order of Zayed', its highest civilian award. This honour is not just mine, but crores of Indians. Whenever I meet Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, he praises you all Indians. He appreciates your role in the development of UAE," says pic.twitter.com/BOyq7IxiOc Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Brother Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed came to receive me at the airport even today. His warmth and affection were the same. This makes him special. I am happy that we had the opportunity to welcome him for time in India, he said. PM Modi arrived here earlier in the day and was received at the airport by President Sheikh Mohamed. He thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support and his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of a Hindu temple here, saying it reflects his affinity for India. Advertisement Modi will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks soon after Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE. In his opening remarks, Modi said the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi is an example of the Advertisement Presidents affinity towards India and his vision for the UAEs bright future. The BAPS Hindu Mandir, located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, has come up on around 27 acres of land in Abu Dhabi and the work for the structure has been going on since 2019. Advertisement The land for the temple was donated by the UAE government. The construction of the BAPS temple would not have been possible without your support, he said. Modi recalled that in his first meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed, he just mentioned the land for the temple and how he immediately responded to the request. Advertisement Such trust and love itself represent the strength of our unique relationship, Modi said. The inauguration of the BAPS temple will take place three weeks after the new Ram Lalla idol was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on January 22 an event led by Prime Minister Modi. The UAE has three other Hindu temples that are located in Dubai. The BAPS temple spread over a large area with stone architecture, will be the largest of all in the Gulf region. Advertisement Of the over 9 million people living in the UAE, India estimates more than 3.5 million are Indian expatriates, making them the largest national group of people in the country, outnumbering even Emirati citizens. Modis visit highlights the nations longstanding economic and historic ties, from spice selling and gold smuggling in the UAEs formative years to tens of billions of dollars worth of annual bilateral trade today. The countries signed a free trade deal in 2022 aimed at doubling their bilateral trade to $100 billion. India remains a key buyer of Emirati oil, while the UAE hopes to boost its local industries. The countries have agreed to allow India to settle some payments in rupees as opposed to dollars, lowering transaction costs. The relationship also underscores the Emirates realpolitik foreign policy. The UAE has embraced Modi as Muslims in India increasingly come under attack by Hindu nationalist groups. Modi received the Emirates top civilian honor in 2019 even as he stripped statehood from the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. Modis original visit to the Emirates in 2015 was the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years. Modi also will address the World Governments Summit in Dubai and inaugurate a new stone-carved Hindu temple near Abu Dhabi on Wednesday while in the UAE. Hell then travel on to Qatar. Talking to reporters on Tuesday Ashok Chavan said he has not contacted any Congress worker or his supporters to join him during his induction into the BJP Day after quitting from Congress, former chief minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan joined the BJP on Tuesday. Welcoming Chavan into BJP, Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Our strength in the state has increased. #WATCH | Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan joins the BJP at the party's office in Mumbai. He recently quit Congress. Former Congress MLC Amar Rajurkar also joined the BJP. pic.twitter.com/2833wY76am ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement It is a matter of happiness that a senior Maharashtra leader - who has been elected to the Maharashtra Assembly and the Lok Sabha and has worked as twice as CM - has joined the BJP, Fadnavis said. VIDEO | Here's what Maharashtra Deputy CM @Dev_Fadnavis said at a press conference after ex-Congress leader Ashok Chavan joined the BJP. "It is a matter of happiness that a senior Maharashtra leader - who has been elected to the Maharashtra Assembly and the Lok Sabha and has pic.twitter.com/D2OgxqHzQU Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024 Advertisement Talking to reporters earlier in the day, Chavan said he is going to start a new journey in his political career as he announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Advertisement I am joining the BJP today at its office in Mumbai. Today is the beginning of my new political career, Chavan said on Monday morning. Chavan had quit the grand old party on Monday and even resigned as MLA. There were speculations yesterday that he would join the BJP, but the politician said he had not taken any decision yet. Advertisement Son of former chief minister SB Chavan, Ashok Chavan (65), Monday said his choice to leave the Congress was independent and refrained from attributing specific reasons for his exit. His quitting from the Maharashtra Congress is the third big exit in less than a month after senior Maharashtra Congress leader Baba Siddique, last week, joined NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and former Union Minister Milind Deora quit the party in January to join Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Advertisement Reporters asked Chavan if he received any calls from senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, but he evaded a reply. Chavan, however, said he has not contacted any Congress worker or his supporters to join him during his induction into the BJP. Congress calls for urgent meeting The defection of leaders has forced Congress to convene a meeting. AICC in-charge for Maharashtra Congress, Ramesh Chennithala, has called an urgent discussion with all senior party leaders in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement As per reports, Congress fears that a few more MLAs will join Chavan. Why Ashok Chavan quit Congress to join BJP? Reacting to the move, senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam claimed that Chavan was upset with the working style of a party leader from Maharashtra and ultimately had resigned from the party. Ashok Chavan was definitely an asset for the party. Some are calling him a liability, some are holding ED responsible, all this is a hasty reaction. He was basically very upset with the working style of a leader from Maharashtra," Nirupam had said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Advertisement Nirupam also lamented the loss of Chavan, describing him as a resourceful and skilled organiser with a strong grassroots connection, whose absence would be irreplaceable for the party. A report by The Indian Express cited sources in Congress saying Chavan wanted to become the state unit president and had expressed this to the party leadership. However, the party leadership wanted to stick with an OBC face ahead of general elections, said a senior party leader. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Ashok Chavan said he has joined the BJP with the wish to contribute to the development work of the central government led by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi Ashok Chavan, who joined BJP on Tuesday, revealed the reason for quitting from Congress. Talking to the media, the former Maharashtra chief minister said, There is a future in BJP and he felt that a new start should be made for the party. As per reports, Chavan may be offered a Rajya Sabha seat. After resigning on Monday, he told the media that he would decide on his next step in a couple of days, but in less than 24 hours he made up his mind and now he is a member of the BJP. Advertisement Chavan joining BJP is such a short span and the last date to file Rajya Sabha polls nominations nearing indicating that he may have been offered a seat in the Upper House of the parliament. The last date to file nominations for the election for 56 Rajya Sabha seats across 15 states is 15 February. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday said when he spoke to Chavan earlier, the former Congress leader told him that he did not want any big post because he had served in several big posts and he wanted to join Narendra Modis work of development for the people. Joining BJP, a personal decision Advertisement This is my personal decision. I felt that a new start should be made from here. There is a future here, Chavan told reporters soon after joining the BJP. #WATCH | Maharashtra: After joining BJP, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan says, "This is my personal decision. I felt that a new start should be made from here. There is a future here..." pic.twitter.com/j85PjcKNW7 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement I have joined the BJP with the wish to contribute to the development work of the central government led by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. Its an unconditional move without asking for any post. Its a new innings for me after serving in politics for a long 38 years, Chavan said soon after joining the BJP. Advertisement Ashok Chavans faux pas after joining BJP Addressing the media soon after being part of the BJP, Chavan made a faux pas by mistakenly referring to Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar as Mumbai Congress President. VIDEO | Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan mistakenly addressed #Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar as Mumbai Congress chief triggering a laughter from Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and others. The incident happened as Chavan addressed the media after joining the BJP earlier today in pic.twitter.com/Em0VWSRsgy Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024 Advertisement His statement, clearly a slip of the tongue, left Chavan a bit embarrassed and drew a round of laughter from BJP supporters who had congregated to welcome him into the party. Fadnavis was seen correcting him before laughing out loud. Advertisement In no time, Chavan apologised for the error and said: I have just joined (the BJP). Hence, the mistake. I am starting a new journey by joining the BJP after 38 years in the Congress. Baba Siddique on Chavan quitting Congress Another former Congress leader Baba Siddique, who quit the party earlier this month and joined NCP, said the grand old party should treat Chavans exit as a wake-up call. Advertisement Siddique said Chavan had called and told him that their paths would cross each other in the near future. Also Read: WATCH: Ashok Chavan begins new journey of political career, joins BJP a day after quitting Congress He even alleged that people are feeling suffocated in Congress. Ashok Chavan called me and I told him that we are going to meet soon on the way ahead. More people are going to leave because when a person feels suffocated, he tries to find a way. It is a wake-up call for Congress but I dont think they are going to wake up, he said. Advertisement With inputs from agencies PM Modi said the BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share The United Arab Emirates and Qatar wait for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit that begins on Tuesday. PM Modi will be travelling to the UAE on an Official Visit from 13-14 February and to Qatar from 14-15 February. Ahead of leaving New Delhi, PM Modi in his departure statement said this will be his seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since 2014. Advertisement Wheels up! PM @narendramodi embarks on a two-country visit to the UAE & Qatar. The first leg of the visit in the UAE entails engagements with UAE leadership & community members, inauguration of @AbuDhabiMandir, and participation as the Guest of Honour at @WorldGovSummit in pic.twitter.com/tgcObWZgSx Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 13, 2024 Over the last nine years, our cooperation with UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever, the Prime Minister said. Advertisement Look forward to meet UAE President Prime Minister Modi said he is looking forward to meeting the President of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Over the next two days, I will be visiting UAE and Qatar to attend various programmes, which will deepen India's bilateral relations with these nations. My visit to UAE will be my seventh since assuming office, indicating the priority we attach to strong India-UAE friendship. I Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024 Advertisement I had the privilege of hosting His Highness recently in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, PM Modi said. Advertisement PM Modi to attend World Government Summit The Prime Minister further said at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, PM and Defence Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, he would be addressing the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on 14 February. Advertisement Also Read: PM Modi says he looks forward to being among UAEs Indian diaspora during Ahlan Modi event My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai, PM Modi said. The Indian Prime Minister will be participating in the World Government Summit as the Guest of Honour. Advertisement PM Modi to inaugurate first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi Prime Minister Modi said during his visit, he will be inaugurating the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share, he said. Advertisement I will address the members of the Indian Community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi said. PM Modi on Qatar PM Modi said he is looking forward to meeting Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir in Qatar, under whose leadership the country continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation. Advertisement I am also looking forward to meeting other high dignitaries in Qatar, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister concluded his departure statement by saying India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations. In recent years, our multifaceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education. The presence of over 800,000 strong Indian community in Doha is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties, PM Modi added. Having first flown on 2 February, 1974, the F-16 Fighting Falcon just turned 50. Inducted in the US Air Force (USAF) in August 1978, it has seen 45-plus years of operational life. With over 4,600 built, the aircraft was operated by 28 nations from Norway to Chile, Morocco to Singapore and numbers are still growing. The aircraft continues to be produced and ordered and has significant years of life ahead. Over 2,000 are still in active service across the globe and nearly 800 are flying with the USAF itself. The company advertises a combat success record of 75 versus one loss in aerial engagements. F-16s have struck an Iraqi nuclear plant, the Syrian Air Force, targets in Yugoslavia and Libya, the Iraqi military and most recently Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps. Advertisement Once, designed by General Dynamics as a small, single-engine, lightweight, agile, less-expensive, air-superiority fighter, over the years, it did become bigger and heavier on its way to becoming a multi-role fighter. Further improvements were made mainly for export. The company was later taken over by Lockheed Corporation, which is currently a part of Lockheed Martin. The upgraded variants are destined to well fly past 1950. In early January, Slovakia became the latest country to take delivery of the first of 14 F-16 (Block-70) ordered. Ukraine will be the next recipient, and its first Western fighter jet is expected to face off with Russian fighters beginning in the summer of 2024. In addition to Slovakia, Croatia, and Ukraine, the Bulgarian Air Force expects delivery of the first eight new F-16 Block 70s by 2025 and the second batch of eight F-16 Block 70s in 2027. Advertisement The USAF replaces the jet with nearly three times costlier F-35 Lightening II. It will be 2056 before the F-35 will hit 50 years since it first flew, and is a good chance that the F-16 would still be flying with some air force. The F-16 variant, F-21 is still vying for the Make-in-India 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) order, Request for Proposal (RfP) for which has still to be sent out. It is interesting to chart its journey and the still unfolding future. Advertisement The platform Based on lessons from the Vietnam War, it was designed with a high thrust/weight ratio to conform to the energymanoeuvrability theory that entailed the least loss of energy during manoeuvres. Finally, it won the USAF F-XX programme competition defeating the twin-engine McDonnell Douglas competitor which later evolved as the F/A-18 Hornet, and was chosen by the US Navy (USN). That company has now been taken over by Boeing and aircraft upgraded to Super Hornet. The F-16 replaced the F-105 Thunderchief and F-4 Phantom II fighters in the USAF. The aircraft could operate at 9 g compared to 7 g limit of the F-4. The F-16s airframe life is designed for 8,000 hours. The aircraft would supplement the F-14 and F-15s of the USAF. Four NATO allies Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, and Norway were part of the Multinational Fighter Program Group (MFPG) and were also on board for the USAFs Air Combat Fighter (ACF) competition. The four European partners initially ordered 348 aircraft. 116 for Belgium, 58 for Denmark, 102 for the Netherlands, and 72 for Norway. Advertisement The aircraft introduced many new features like a frameless bubble canopy for better external visibility, a side-mounted control stick, and a 30-degree inclined ejection for better g-forces tolerance, and a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system for improved aircraft agility. The aircraft is also used by the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the USN in its Top Gun combat school. Some compare its production run to MiG 21 of which, much larger, 11,500 were produced in just 26 years. Nearly 675 F-16s have been lost in various accidents to date, but that number is not very large considering the number of years and extensive exploitation. Advertisement Aircraft production The production plant in the USA was in Fort Worth, Texas. To make more room for assembly of its newer F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, the F-16 production was moved to Greenville, South Carolina. The last F-16 from Fort Worth was delivered to the Iraqi Air Force on 14 November 2017, ending 40 years of the F-16 production line. The first F-16 rolled off the Greenville line in 2023 and went to Bahrain. Advertisement Production lines were also set up in the Netherlands and Belgium, which finally produced 184 and 164 units respectively. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) produced 232 Block 30/40/50 F-16s on a production line in Ankara under license for the Turkish Air Force. TAI also produced 46 Block 40s for Egypt in the mid-1990s and 30 Block 50s from 2010 onwards. Korean Aerospace Industries opened a production line for the KF-16 program, producing 140 Block 52s from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. In 2024, Argentina bought 24 F-16 AM from Denmark, beating a bid to acquire JF-17s from China. Advertisement On 14 August 2020, 66 new F-16s were contracted for Taiwan. If India had selected the F-16IN for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft procurement, a sixth F-16 production line would have been built in India. Weapon carriage capability The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 external store points with a capacity of up to 7,700 kg of stores. Early F-16s could carry up to six AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking short-range air-to-air missiles (AAM), as well as radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range AAMs in a weapons mix. Later versions support the AIM-120 AMRAAM. The aircraft can carry various other AAMs, a wide variety of air-to-ground missiles, rockets or bombs; electronic countermeasures (ECM), navigation, targeting or weapons pods; and fuel tanks. Advertisement Upgrades While many F-16s were produced according to block designs, there have been many other variants with significant changes, usually because of modification for role-specialization or technology upgrades and saw many airframe, avionics and weapon system upgrades. As early as 1981, Block 15 involved increasing the area of each horizontal stabilizer by 25 per cent to increase longitudinal stability. The analogue flight controls were replaced by a digital computer system beginning with the F-16C/D Block 40. The Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) was available from Block 40 onwards. Initially, the F-16A/B had monochrome cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays; which were replaced by colour liquid-crystal displays on Block 50/52. The Mid-Life Update (MLU) introduced compatibility with night-vision goggles (NVG). In 2012, a key upgrade was an auto-GCAS (Ground collision avoidance system) to reduce instances of controlled flight into terrain. Advertisement The original Westinghouse AN/APG-66 fire-control radar was replaced with the AN/APG-68 in the F-16C/D Block 25. The Block 40 onwards got continuously improving APG-68(V) variants. In February 2020, USAF ordered APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) that could be extended to 2048. The aircraft has come a long way since its initial aircraft engine was the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 with 106.0 kN thrust. The United Arab Emirates Block 60 aircraft have General Electric F110-GE-132 (145 kN), the highest thrust engine developed for the F-16. Advertisement The Turkish F-16 modernisation programme added new avionics and Turkish air-to-air missiles. A few older USAF F-16s are being converted into QF-16 drone targets. Originally planned to be phased out from the USAF in 2025, in 2022, it was announced the USAF would continue to operate the F-16 for another two decades. Advertisement Major combat achievements In 1981, the Israeli government became convinced that Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins nuclear power plant at Osirak was part of a covert nuclear weapons program. On June 7, 1981, Operation Opera saw eight Israeli Air Force F-16s, armed with two 2,000-pound Mk 84 unguided bombs, escorted by F-15 Eagle air superiority fighters, made a hole in the dome of the reactor with one bomb, and then put the remaining bombs through that hole, destroying it on the inside. Israeli Air Force F-16A Netz 107 with 6.5 kill marks of other aircraft is a record for an F-16. The same aircraft also has a kill mark of the Iraqi nuclear reactor. A year later, in 1982, the Israeli military invaded Lebanon to destroy Palestine-supported terror groups. This triggered a war between Israel and Syria. In a few days, Israeli fighter jets shot down a total of 85 Syrian aircraft, with no air-to-air losses of their own. Israeli F-16s accounted for 44 of those during this Bekaa Valley conflict. In January 1991, the USAF deployed 249 F-16s to participate in Operation Desert Storm. F-16s also patrolled the no-fly zones in Iraq. There were no aerial engagements, but the fleet flew 13,500 combat hours in Kuwait and Iraq, attacking ground targets using Maverick air-to-ground missiles, M61 Vulcan cannon, and delivering 21,000 tons of bombs. Three F-16s were lost to surface fire, but none in air combat. F-16s flew operational missions during the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq from 2001 and 2003 respectively. In 2011, USAF F-16s took part in the intervention in Libya. On 11 September 2001, two unarmed F-16s were launched in an attempt to ram and down United Airlines Flight 93 before it reached Washington D.C. during the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, but Flight 93 was brought down by the passengers first, so the F-16s were re-tasked to patrol the local airspace and later escorted Air Force One back to Washington. Turkish F-16s have participated in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo since 1993 in support of United Nations resolutions. Turkey also used its F-16s extensively in its conflict with Kurdish insurgents in south-eastern parts of Turkey and Iraq. They shot down a Syrian Mil Mi-17 helicopter, a Syrian MiG-23 and also some UAVs. They also shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 and two Syrian Sukhoi Su-24s. During the SovietAfghan War, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16As shot down between 20 and 30 Soviet and Afghan warplanes, though due to political reasons only nine kills which were made inside Pakistani airspace were recognised. The PAF F-16 claim of an IAF aircraft and a similar claim of IAF during air engagement on 27 February 2019 continue to be controversial. A Yugoslavian MiG-29 was shot down by a Dutch F-16 AM during the Kosovo War in 1999. In Libya, Norwegian F-16s dropped almost 550 bombs and flew 596 missions, some 17 per cent of the total strike missions including the bombing of Muammar Gaddafis headquarters. On 16 February 2015, Egyptian F-16s struck weapons caches and training camps of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya in retaliation for the murder of 21 Egyptian construction workers. The air strikes killed 64 ISIS fighters. And in October 2023 a US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone flying over a US base in northeast Syria. On 27 October, two USAF F-16s struck two locations hosting Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps troops and their militias. The F-16 has four decades of combat record, perhaps the longest in the history of any fighter jet. Could the war in Ukraine get the fleet more operational laurels? A contender for India? Undoubtedly the F-16 remains a formidable aircraft with the highest numbers of any fighter still flying. They are still getting orders from medium and smaller air forces. The production lines are still open. Further airframe upgrades may not be possible, but avionics and weapon upgrades will carry on. In 2017, as India prepared for its 114 MRFA acquisition, Lockheed Martin agreed to manufacture F-16 Block 70 fighters in India with the Indian defence firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The new production line could be used to build F-16s for India and exports. In any case, they began manufacturing aircraft wings in India at the Hyderabad facility. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin re-designated the F-16V Block 70 as the F-21 in its offering for Indias fighter requirement. This was perhaps done to manage the Indian public opinion that F-16 was intrinsically associated with Pakistan. There also was the issue of a MiG-21 Bison flown by Wg Cdr Abhinanndan that had shot down an F-16. Currently, Pakistan has a fleet of around 75 F16s that include Block 15, Block 15 ADF and Block 52+. While Indias Atmanirbharta drive is pushing the LCA Mk2 variant which may come somewhat closer to the F-21 in capability, it is still 8-10 years before it can be operationalised to that level. The ground reality is that the LCA Mk1A will start inducting only this year, and the order book will take a decade to complete. The LCA Mk2 will make its first flight in 2025-26. On the other side, the process of starting the 114 MRFA acquisition has still to begin. Even if begun today, it will mean around six years to induct. The F-21 will have to compete with Rafale which has already been inducted by the IAF, and the Rafale-M has been shortlisted by Indian Navy. Having invested in one-time India-specific modifications, many analysts feel it may be better to acquire more Rafale in a G2G deal. Tough competition for IAF MRFA. May the best one win? Notwithstanding, the F-16 is still far from its sunset. The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Many individuals and organisations consider the prospect of a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist NDA to be a threat to their worldview The I.N.D.I.A opposition is in tatters with entire parties and prominent individual leaders deserting it frequently. Rahul Gandhis East-West Bharat Nyaya Yatra is a damp squib. Other efforts from the DMK in Chennai and the Congress in Karnataka, both seeking to promote poisonous and divisive agendas, have also failed to gain any traction. Advertisement Meanwhile, the ruling combine has been notching up one success over another and is poised to win the 2024 elections with a larger majority than in 2019. But here comes a significant and emotive disruptor. In utter violation of democratic norms of measured negotiation, Supreme Court directives against demonstrators blocking highways, imposition of Section 144, the Punjab farmer bosses are about to lay siege to Delhi once again. This is flying in the face of three Union ministers, Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, camped in Chandigarh, engaged in negotiations with the farmer unions. They have already agreed to the MSP demands but have not got around to the rest. The agitators seem keen on a confrontation rather than negotiated settlements. Advertisement Predictably, so far, all attempts have failed to avert the march on Delhi, further Bharat bandhs and threats of violence. Meanwhile, hordes of people from Punjab have arrived at the barricaded Shambhu border already, and the police are busy dispersing them with tear gas. Ostensibly, this time, the government is determined to end this agitation at the earliest. It has readied a stadium to act as a temporary detention centre for any protestors that do get in to Delhi. Advertisement The agitation named Delhi Chalo is a march composed of people of dubious provenance that claim to represent Indias farmers. They are apparently Punjabi Sikhs in turbans laying a bogus claim to represent all. Some, from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, held a televised press conference on the 13 February and exhorted other farmers and other groups/unions affiliated with the BJP to join their agitation. This clearly indicates they are supported by anti-government forces. Advertisement They are converging on Delhi with over 1,000 tractors and trolleys, some reports say 2,500, with enough provisions and rations to settle in for six months. The financing for such substantial mobilisation and elaborate bandobast, has come in, most likely from the anti-Modi government forces, both in the country and from abroad. It is absolutely deja vu. Advertisement Will the Central government end up conceding the points raised by the protestors once again? Yes, if the infamous rollback of the Farm Laws is anything to go by. That controversial, politically calculated capitulation of two years ago, may have emboldened this mobilisation in February 2024. The timing is shortly before the Model Code of Conduct imposed by the Election Commission (EC), goes into force. This could happen by March. After that, no major initiatives will be permitted. But still, these agitators plan to dig in for six months. Advertisement The Delhi Police has sealed all the main routes into Delhi with barricades and other elaborate fortifications. But this will disrupt other legitimate traffic, trade and supplies causing heavy losses, like the last time. Some protestors can get in by the lesser routes too. The assembling of apparently over 100 farmer unions, some reports speak of 200 unions, from Punjab, supported, allegedly by an equal number of labour unions, have suddenly sprung up. Each of these unions however must necessarily be quite small. This prompted the government ministers to question their representativeness, before going on to discuss their demands. Advertisement This is not an all-India stir by any means and is principally centred in Punjab. No people are purporting to be farmers from other states at all, except some opposition-led elements from Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh who may turn up like last time, as this goes on. This is trying to grow into a replica agitation of the one to protest the three Farm Laws two years ago. The laws were rolled back by the central government under immense pressure. Advertisement Ostensibly, this agitation is to demand guaranteed Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for a large number of crops, farmer and farm labour pensions, debt waivers, compensation for those killed in the clashes of the last farmer agitation at Lakhimpur Kheri, possibly a ban on privatisation of farming if it is being contemplated, other lesser demands. The fiscal impact of conceding all these demands could be considerable and impact the GDP growth projections. Advertisement The entire crowd so far seems to consist of Punjabi Sikhs. Punjab is ruled by the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is supporting the agitation. Is this then merely a political stir encouraged by the AAP? The AAP is embroiled in a liquor Scam and multiple other corruption? Several of their ministers are in jail including the Delhi deputy chief minister. Chief Minister Kejriwal has been dodging summonses from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Advertisement The Congress Party, in competition with the AAP in Punjab for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, is also offering a degree of support to the Delhi Chalo agitation, motivated perhaps by the pressure that is being applied on the central government. The BJP, and even the Akali Dal that may be thinking on rejoining the NDA, have little electoral possibilities in Punjab. Advertisement In Haryana and Uttar Pradesh however, BJP is in a strong position. So, the central government has no great reason to cave in to these gun-to-the-head tactics. Of course, the public relations fallout of a renewed and prolonged farmer agitation is a relevant political factor. Given the prominence of the Punjab Sikhs in this stir, most probably financed and supported by a bouquet of anti-NDA forces, the question arises, are they the only farmers in India? Why are they routinely pampered ever since the Green Revolution engineered by MS Swaminathan, even though many other states have become major agricultural contributors since? There may be multiple anti-India forces that could be behind this stir. Many of these people or organisations think the prospect of a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist NDA is a threat to their worldview, particularly with Indias current buoyant economic prospects. Strategically, a weaker central government in India would make it more biddable for the Western forces and China alike. These apparently agricultural agitators at Delhis borders are regarded as convenient cats paws by such forces. The author is a Delhi-based writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . China will use cyberattacks in a war with India. It calls for developing a robust counteroffensive cyber strategy to protect civilian and military infrastructures The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. Sun Tzu, The Art of War In one of the biggest hackings of the United States (US) military, Chinese hackers infiltrated the computer networks in the closest American territory to mainland China in May 2023. Advertisement Located around 4,700 km from China, Guam is an island in the Western Pacific housing 20,000 US military personnel at the Naval Base and the Andersen Air Force Base. Earlier, American long-range bombersB-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancers and B-2 Spiritwere stationed there for 16 years till 2020 to deter adversaries like China and North Korea. Since 2023, both China and the US have been increasingly focussing on Guam, which is expected to play a critical role in countering China in a war against Taiwan or in the Indo-Pacific. In January 2023, the United States Marine Corps officially set up Camp Blaz, its first new base on Guam in 70 years, to host 5,000 personnel. Advertisement Within four months, Chinese government-sponsored hacking group Volt Typhoon used stealthy malware to attack unnamed critical infrastructure, including communications, maritime, manufacturing, utility, transportation and construction, on the Guam bases, Microsoft reported. Applying Suns doctrine of All warfare is based on deception , China broke into American servers undetected to hibernate and strike on its command, control, communications and computers (C4) to disrupt communications infrastructure between the US and Asia during future crises like a war with Taiwan. Advertisement With the primary aim of sabotaging American military communications and stealing classified information, especially in the Indo-Pacific, China is increasingly adopting C4 and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) network technologies. Though the US Department of Defence (DoD) and the FBI disabled the Chinese network , the hacking exposed the American militarys vulnerability in cyberspace to China. Advertisement Red flags for India in FBI warning Considering the sprawling Guam cyberattack, America was alarmed. FBI director Christopher Wray warned the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on January 31 that hackers are preparing to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to America. There has been far too little public focus on the fact that PRC [Peoples Republic of China> hackers are targeting our critical infrastructure, our water treatment plants, our electrical grid, our oil and natural gas pipelines and our transportation systems, he said. Advertisement Committee chairman Mike Gallagher, the GOP representative from Wisconsin, warned, This is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities and power plants The sole purpose is to be ready to destroy American infrastructure, which would inevitably result in chaos, confusion and potentially mass casualties. According to a survey by the American bipartisan think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies, 46 per cent of the 224 reports of Chinese spying directed at the US from 2000 to March 2023 involved cyber espionage by State-affiliated actors. Advertisement Chinese hacking is not restricted to critical US infrastructure. Hackers have targeted US defence contractors and the DoD and stolen designs of several aircraft, including those using stealth technology. In 2007, the Pentagons Joint Strike Fighter project was breached and F-35 data stolen. Besides, the Pentagon computer network serving the secretary of defence was shut down for more than a week after getting hacked. In 2013, hackers stole the designs of PAC-3, THAAD, Aegis, F/A-18, V-22 Osprey and Back Hawk. Advertisement If the US cant protect its computer networks, especially serving its military, from China, its a big warning sign for India. India should realise four things. First, China is Indias biggest threat and is far stronger and dangerous than Pakistan, which is in disarray economically and politically. Second, regular Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control, particularly in eastern Ladakh in 2020-21, and increasing belligerence in Arunachal Pradesh could trigger a full-blown military confrontation. Advertisement Third, the PLA is permanently combat-ready to counter security threats. Chinas 2013 Defence White Paper defines combat readiness as preparations and alert activities of the armed forces for undertaking operational tasks and MOOTW (military operations other than war). Fourth and most important, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is not battle-hardened like India and fought its last war in 1979. Therefore, in a conventional war, the PLA will initially use non-conventional tactics not based on the World War II doctrine of land, sea and air attacks in the first phase of war. China will use asymmetrical tactics even before the war starts and during its course. Advertisement A few days after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, China launched 40,300 cyberattacks on Indias information technology infrastructure and banking sector. Four months later, on October 13, a Chinese malware paralysed the Padgha (Thane, Maharashtra)-based state load dispatch centre (SLDC), triggering a power outage in Mumbai from 10 am till noon that hit trains, the Bombay Stock Exchange, offices, hospitals and commercial establishments, according to US-based Internet-tracking company Recorded Future. Advertisement The report detailed a campaign conducted by a China-linked threat activity group, RedEcho, targeting the Indian power sector. Ten distinct Indian power sector organisations, including four of the five regional load despatch centres (RLDCs) have been identified as targets in a concerted campaign against Indias critical infrastructure. Other targets identified included two Indian seaports, the report read. Advertisement The New York Times, which also reported the attacks, said that the incident showed how secret malware in the enemys electric grid or other critical infrastructure is the newest type of aggression and deterrence. The hacking of power grids continued in the next 18 months with Recorded Future reporting in April 2022 that China-backed group TAG-38 targeted SLDCs and RLDCs close to the Ladakh border. This targeting is likely a long-term strategic priority for select Chinese state-sponsored threat actors active within India, which continues to be a major target of Chinese cyber espionage activity as detailed in historical Recorded Future reporting on RedDelta, RedEcho, RedFoxtrot, TAG-28 and additional client-facing research. The identified victimology within this latest campaign is confined to Indian targets, specifically, at least, seven SLDCs, the Indian subsidiary of a multinational logistics company, and a national emergency response system, the report read. The National Highways Authority of India was hacked in 2020, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech in 2021 and five servers of Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in 2022. Ways warning is also an alarm bell for India. Several China-based hacking groups are actively involved in cyberwarfare against adversariesfor example, Circle Typhoon (DEV-0322), Volt Typhoon (DEV-0391) and Mulberry Typhoon (MANGANESE). A September 2023 Microsoft report titled Sophistication, scope, and scale: Digital threats from East Asia increase in breadth and effectiveness mentions that Circle Typhoon and Mulberry Typhoon target the US defence industrial, particularly defence contractors. Volt Typhoon, which breached the Guam computer networks, also targeted American ports, rail, energy and water treatment plants, and medical and telecommunications infrastructure. Volt Typhoon has been the primary group in targeting US critical infrastructure across multiple sectors since 2021. Other prominent Chinese hacking groups are STORM-0558, BackdoorDiplomacy, RedEcho, APT 41, APT 27, APT 15, Unit 61398, Unit 61726 and Unit 61786. APT 41, which usually targets the health sector, had hacked the AIIMS servers and allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 200 crore in cryptocurrency. Between 2020 and 2022, the group stole American COVID-19 relief benefits worth tens of millions of dollars. An August 2023 report by the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Centre of the US Department of Health and Human Services, APT41 conducts state-sponsored espionage and digital extortion. APT41 has directly targeted organisations in over a dozen countries dating back to its earliest-known operations in 2007, the report reads. Government and private organisations based in 12 countries, including India, the US and Taiwan, were hacked. India faces increasing risk from APT 41, which also targets telecommunications, software, high-tech sector, media/news, logistics, finance and digital currencies. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team reported 19 ransomware attacks on several government organisations in 2022, 7 in 2021 and 9 in 2020. The number of cyberattacks on Indian companies increased from 111 in 2021 to 198 in 2022. How China will fight first phase of war Acquiring new rifles, submarines, copters and multirole fighter jets undoubtedly bolsters the Indian militarys capabilities and firepower. However, the character of future wars has changed with information warfare outpacing the massive development in conventional military weapons. India must realise that information was enunciated as the fifth dimension of warfarebesides land, sea, air and spaceway back in 1995. Gradually, cyberattacks became the most essential part of information warfare, with the US, Israel, and China incorporating it into their military doctrines. The Chinese doctrine of using cyberwar against rivals has evolved over several years. Around four decades ago, Deng Xiaoping predicted that local wars would be more common than major conflicts. Jiang Zemin called for the PLAs transformation to win such wars under modern technology. Jiangs successor, Hu Jintao, invented the doctrine of winning local wars under informationised conditions using information deterrence, blockade, deception, disruption and malware and hacking. In the 2015 Defence White Paper , President Xi Jinping changed the doctrine to winning informationised local wars in an information-based systems-of-systems war. China views outer space and cyberspace as the most essential forms of warfare, accelerating its evolution to informationisation. World major powers are actively adjusting their national security strategies and defence policies, and speeding up their military transformation and force restructuring, the 2015 paper read. As cyberspace weighs more in military security, China will expedite the development of a cyber force. It is believed that China has around 50,000 hackers to ensure national network and information security, and maintain national security and social stability. China uses grey zone tactics against adversaries both in peacetime and wartime as it is always ready for combat. According to a March 2022 RAND Corporation report titled A New Framework for Understanding and Countering Chinas Gray Zone Tactics, cyber and information operations (IO) are one of the most significant aspects of such methods, which also include coercive Chinese government geopolitical, economic and military activities. Such coercive actions dont amount to an armed conflict but are beyond normal diplomatic, economic and other activities. China is increasingly using such methods to advance its domestic, economic, foreign policy and security objectives, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. In the last decade, China employed around 80 grey zone tactics against Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India and the Philippines. The PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF), established by Xi as part of his 2015 sweeping military reforms, will lead in future wars. The PLASSF is the PLAs fifth branch dealing in space, cyber, political and electronic warfare. One of its main objectives is electronic and cyberwarfare to help China gain the upper hand in informationised conflicts. In the first and most crucial phase, Chinas asymmetrical warfare will include cyberattackshacking and phishingand its advancement in artificial intelligence and machine learning against the enemys civilian and military infrastructures to dominate the information domain. The increasing number of Chinese cyberattacks against Indian civilian infrastructure is the gravest warning of how an India-China war will unfold. Targeting military infrastructure will ensure controlling operational targets before and during the war. No country can afford chaos and confusion in its cities during a warand thats what China intends to do. In that scenario, Chinas adversary will fight a two-front war: one to restore order in its chaos-ravaged cities and the other to counter Beijing in the battlefield. For example, a missile launched by China and its interception by the enemy will depend on the latters command and control systems, which will gather and transmit data from satellites, ground and sea sensors, radars and combat systems. The enemy will use the data to monitor, detect and track the missile. The process of intercepting a missile is a combined operation. If China hacks its enemys command and control systems by inserting a Trojan Horse, the process will be disrupted and the missile will neither be detected nor intercepted. The malware will lie buried in the command and control systems and get activated when required. The goal is to breach the enemys defences and incapacitate its information and decision-making control before it can strike. China will follow it with supersonic and hypersonic missile strikes. The RAND report mentions the same danger Chinas enemy will face in the first phasenon-kinetic warfare. Combining multiple geopolitical, economic, military and cyber/IO activities means that China no longer has to rely on significant escalation in any single domain and, if needed, can sequence actions to apply pressure in nonmilitary domains before resorting to use of military activity. Former Army officer Pravin Sawhney, the editor of FORCE magazine and a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, United Kingdom, explains the Chinese threat and tactics in his book The Last War: How AI Will Shape Indias Final Showdown with China. In an India-China war, the PLA will move suddenly across the war and combat zones, much like the 2020 Ladakh stand-off, and hit India with typhonic ferocity. The PLAs cyberwar will grind civilian life to a halt; delay, disrupt, and disorient the IAF and Indian Armys mobilisation; activate malware viruses and worms in military supply chains and weapons kill chains; and snap communications of various headquarters, leading to limited communication between field formations and political and military authorities in New Delhi. Sawhney, who had written the book Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power, further writes: Depending on the criticality and importance of the targets, the PLA will have collected enough data for cyberwar by cyber reconnaissance and battle damage assessments over time. China will fight a multi-dimensional and multi-domain campaign where it will control the speed and tempo of war with round-the-clock situation awareness. According to him, the PLA will use autonomous robots, LAWs [Lethal Autonomous Weapons>, and IoMT [Internet of Military Things> mission sets without worrying about adversarial learning. Since the PLA will be conversant with all aspects of the enemys war, it will have no need to write algorithms on the move for autonomous systems. The IoMT mission sets for various mission and roles will be prepared, war-gamed, exercised, and kept ready for combat. The PLAs winning strategy will be to control information in and out of the battlespace by domination of the EMS [electromagnetic spectrum>, he writes. Therefore, it is high time India realises this threat, understands Chinese cyberwar capabilities and its own vulnerabilities and develops a counteroffensive strategy. The danger has increased with the increasing digitisation of public services and the use of Chinese phones. 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 . These seven achievements stand out because each of them were inconceivable. They would sound like unrealistic bombast in the past August 30, 2022. Eight Indian Navy personnel are arrested by Qatars intelligence agency on charges of spying for Israel. October 26, 2023. All eight are sentenced to death. On 1 December, 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of COP28. December 28, 2024. The death sentence is commuted to life in jail. Advertisement February 12, 2024. All eight Indian Navy officials are set free. Within 18 months of their arrest for alleged espionage and barely two months since they got the death sentence in an Islamic country, Bharat brought its Navy men back to the homeland. Modis opponents did not waste even this very short time to relentlessly mock him, almost celebratory about the incarceration of fellow Indians. Only to eat an unpalatable member of the aves species in the end and have its eggs smeared all over their face. Let us look at seven such unthinkable feats that the Modi government has pulled off in the last 10 years. Not the most impactful or high-profile that would run into several dozens but the ones we would not perceive to be possible before 2014. These are the ones that have inspired the slogan: Modi hai toh mumkin hai (if Modi is around, anything is possible). Advertisement Qatar and other rescues The Qatar rescue turns on its head several accepted myths about Modi and international diplomacy. While his enemies have stubbornly called him anti-Muslim, his influence in the Islamic world keeps stupefying them into silence. No other PM has had this kind of influence. The way his government has rescued stranded Indians from ISIS-held Syria or Covid-wrecked Iran or war-torn Yemen, or Bharats troops fighting from South Sudan to Djibouti, is lore now. Advertisement Pakistan had to return captured Indian fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman within days in fear of a full-scale invasion. Articles 370 and 35A August 5, 2019, has gone down in world history as an example of how the dark, violent destiny of an entire region can be changed with the single slice of the pen by striking down legislations that enabled the darkness. Indians at most expected tinkering. They got a new Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Advertisement Ayodhya and other mandirs Mandir whine banayenge, lekin date nahin batayenge, was the opponents jibe against the BJP. In the party manifesto for decades, nobody thought a temple would actually be built at the disputed Ayodhya site. After winning in the Supreme Court, the Modi government facilitated the construction in less than five years. Advertisement The Gyanvapi mosque, built after destroying a part of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, has been taken up. The Shahi Idgah at the Mathuras Krishna Janmabhoomi is being fought in court. Amit Shah inaugurated Ma Sharda Devi temple near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district. And on 14 February, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Abu Dhabis first Hindu temple, the BAPS mandir. All this was beyond the reach of popular imagination till now. Advertisement Demonetisation and digital payments DeMo in itself was politically unthinkable. But Modi took the risk which no politician in his or her right mind would. Then came the narrative that it will wreck the poor. In reality, it became the inflection point for the poor and the underdog to start trusting the BJP, which till then was known as the party of Brahmins and Baniyas. Advertisement Then the Opposition dismissively said how would the rural or urban poor use digital payments. But they did. In volumes that India today leads in digital payments, beating US and China combined. Surgical strikes, staring down the Dragon Nearly half a century after 1971, Indian fighter jets flew deep into Pakistan to bomb terror camps. Before that, Bharats commandos stormed across the borders in Pakistan and Myanmar to eliminate terrorists. Advertisement And most importantly, India stood nose-to-nose against China at Doklam, Galwan and Pangong Tso, greatly irking the Dragon. Vaccinating Bharat and the world in Covid When the Covid pandemic broke out, Indias health sector was a carefully preserved relic with creaking infrastructure and pitiable capacity. From there to developing its own vaccine and administering doses to more than 2.2 billion Indians (almost vaccinating the entire population twice over), Bharat transformed into a benign and fantastic beast. To top it, the Modi government sent vaccines and anti-Covid gear to more than 100 nations, leading the world in Covid diplomacy. Advertisement Indian economy closing in on third spot When Narendra Modi took over from Manmohan Singh 10 years ago, India was the 10th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $1.9 trillion at current market prices. Today, it is at $4.1 trillion at the fifth place. It is galloping towards being the third largest economy behind the US and China by 2027. Advertisement These seven achievements stand out because each of them were inconceivable. They would sound like unrealistic bombast in the past. Turning them into reality is why Narendra Modi has already booked a shining place in history. What is staggering is that there may be many more on the way. The author is contributing editor, Firstpost. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Advertisement Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . The Generals are not going anywhere; their grip on the country may have slipped a bit, but they have reminded the world of Pakistans eternal truth: Never bet against the army Elections are over; it is now coalition time in Pakistan. Last week, the armys script nearly went wrong. So it is writing a new one, and this script has just one objective: To keep Imran Khan out of power. There are a lot of negotiations happening. First, Nawaz Sharif hosted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Its a political party based in Karachi, and then came the big meeting. Advertisement Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Bhuttos. He was welcomed in Lahore by Bilawal Bhutto Zaradi. They hugged, exchanged pleasantries, and then got down to business. It looks like a coalition is being worked outthe Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML(N)) together. Both sides agreed to cooperate. They also resolved to save Pakistan from political instabilitythat might mean a coalition. But will the numbers work out? In the final results, candidates backed by Imran Khan led the way. They won 101 seats, Nawaz Sharifs PML(N) got 75 seats, and Bhuttos PPP got 54 seats. At number four, we have the MQM-P with 17 seats. Now, Pakistans National Assembly has 266 members, so the majority mark is 134. PML(N) and PPP have 129 seats togetherjust five seats short of the majority. Advertisement Where will those seats come from? There are many options right now. Maybe the MQM can join in, or maybe some independents can be poached. Six independents have already joined Sharifs party. Many more could be on the way. So it looks like Pakistans new government will be a coalition, including the PPP and PML(N)the Sharifs and the Bhutto-Zardaris. Advertisement In the same equation as before, both parties together toppled Imran Khan in 2022. Now, they could be back together. Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reacted to this with anger. On Thursday night, they were winning the election, but three days later, they could be in opposition. So Imran Khans supporters are angry. They held protests across major Pakistani cities. Even key highways were blocked. Advertisement However, more coalition talks continued; even if an alliance is struck, the final details will have to be worked out, like the key cabinet posts, prime ministership, policy direction, and comfortable conversation. Bilawal Bhutto had rejected the idea before the elections; he said he wouldnt be a foreign minister under Sharif. But now, hes got leverage. Reports say Asif Ali Zardari wants to be president again. Advertisement Bilawal himself has prime ministerial ambitions, so the coalition talks will be interesting, but they wont be the only challenge. Two problems will follow: Number one, a looming judicial standoff: Pakistani courts are flooded with election cases, and many PTI candidates have filed complaints. They say they are the rightful winners. I have gotten around 54,000 votes, and my nearest rival got only 17,000 votes. We will continue this protest and also go to court. We have faith in the judiciary. We hope that they will declare those candidates victorious, as they have been voted for by the people. This is our demand, said Dawa Khan, a PTI candidate. Advertisement It will take time to settle this; a lot will depend on Imran Khan. Will he keep the street protests going? Or will he hit pause? That decision will determine Pakistans near future. Number two, the economic path ahead: Pakistans current crisis needs a strong government, possibly a single-party regime, that would have made bailout talks a lot easier. Advertisement Also, radical policies often require a clear majority, but thats out of the window. We are now looking at bits and pieces of governmenta lot of bickering, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of indecision. Even Pakistans stock market has realised that. On Friday, it lost 1,200 points. On Monday, again, it plunged by 1,800 points. Advertisement So the markets have understood the big picture. It is going to be a troubled period for Pakistan. The first priority will be cobbling up a government; then comes the economic recovery. Think again: 50 years later, how will we look at this election? The vote itself was a blow to the army. It showed how unpopular the Generals were, but dont expect their role to change. Advertisement If anything, they could meddle more. Both the Sharifs and Bhuttos have been rejected by the people. Nawaz Sharif actually lost one of his two seats. So chances are, the new government will be deeply unpopular. It will struggle for legitimacy, and such unstable Pakistani regimes often depend on the army for stability, direction, and control. Advertisement So the Generals are not going anywhere; their grip on the country may have slipped a bit, but they have reminded the world of Pakistans eternal truth: Never bet against the army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Advertisement Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . The rule of law may be an alien concept for China, but for India, it is non-negotiable Globally, investors are pulling back from Chinas market. These investors are apprehensive. Chinese stocks are rapidly losing their value, and this sentiment applies to Chinese investments in India as well. They are increasingly being viewed with suspicion. The broad sentiment is negative, and it is getting worse by the day. Two leading names are in trouble: Xiaomi and Paytm. Both are market leaders. Advertisement Xiaomi is among the leading smartphone sellers in India, while Paytm is synonymous with digital payments, but both companies are under the spotlight because of their Chinese connections. Xiaomi officials have written a letter to the Government of India about smartphone component suppliers. Xiaomi claims: The suppliers are wary of setting up shop in India. There are apprehensions among component suppliers regarding establishing operations in India, stemming from the challenges faced by companies in India, particularly those of Chinese origin, said the letter signed by Xiaomi Indias president. However, what are the apprehensions? The company did not spell them out. But towards the end, the statement gives it away. It says, Challenges faced by companies in India, particularly of Chinese origin. Thats what Xiaomi is worried about: Indias scrutiny of Chinese companies. Its rise in India was rapid, but in recent years, Xiamoi has had some run-ins with the law. Advertisement In 2022, Indian officials froze its assets worth over 600 million dollars. It is because Xiaomi is said to have violated Indian laws by remitting some money illegally, so company assets were frozen. Last year, Xiaomi filed a lawsuit against the decision. But a judge rejected the appeal. Then you have Vivo, another Chinese smartphone maker that has faced scrutiny. Advertisement Just like Xiaomi, Vivo too is accused of remitting money illegally. It was also pulled up for visa violations for visiting the sensitive Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. Reports say as many as 30 Chinese executives of Vivo came to India. They were given business visas. But when they applied, these executives hid the fact that they worked for Vivo. Plus, some of these employees ended up travelling to Jammu and Kashmir. Advertisement This was a breach of their business visa provisions. India bars foreigners from entering or staying in the areas of Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir it has designated as protected unless they have a permit from the authoritiesa document that is separate from a visa. Jammu and Kashmir is a sensitive region. Foreigners cannot just travel there. They need permission for it. In addition to a visa, they need a special permit to visit regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Advertisement Vivo employees violated these rules. So India had valid reasons to investigate. But China doesnt see it this way. Beijing says Chinese companies are facing discrimination. China hopes that India can fully understand the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral economic and trade cooperation and provide a fair, just, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises investment and operation there, said Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. Advertisement If that were indeed the case, India wouldnt have cleared 80 Chinese FDI projects in 2022. India doesnt have a problem with Chinese investment. It has an issue with shady and murky transactions. Thats the reason why Paytm, too, is facing scrutiny. The Indian fintech giant is facing regulatory trouble. Paytm has been put on notice by Indias central bank. It has run afoul of compliance, but for many years, Paytm has ignored warnings from authorities. Now, it faces a potential ban from the payments space. Advertisement Multiple payment services on the app could shut down in March. Paytm is facing scrutiny for its Chinese links. The company has a Chinese investor. Ant Financial reduced its stake in OCL to less than 10 percent in July 2023. Jack Ma-led Ant Group invested in Paytm. But last year, Ant reduced its stake. Now it owns less than 10 percent of the shares. Advertisement Reports say the Government of India has set up a panel that will look into Chinese investments in Paytm, among other things. The moral of the story is that the rule of law may be an alien concept for China, but for India, it is non-negotiable. If Chinese companies or investors want to do business in India, they all have to follow the rulebook. Advertisement 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 . The University of Virginia graduate student recently arrested on sexual assault charges faces similar charges 340 miles away in his hometown of New York City. Derek Rodriguez-Contreras may have to miss his next hearing on those New York charges, however, as his attorney in Virginia was not ready to urge bail on Monday. Not today, judge, attorney Anthony Martin told the Albemarle County Circuit Court. Im still in the very early informational-gathering stage. Martin will get another chance to urge his clients pretrial release on Feb. 23. However, that date is two days after a planned hearing in New York, where Rodriguez-Contreras stands accused of sexual abuse, harassment and aggravated harassment. The 22-year-old defendant has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Having completed an undergraduate degree in media studies last spring at UVa, Rodriguez-Contreras was studying for a masters at UVas McIntire School of Commerce until his Feb. 7 arrest on the local charges, which include rape, malicious wounding and sexual battery. Whether Rodriguez-Contreras remains a student is unclear. Within hours of his arrest, his student ambassador profile on the McIntire Schools website was taken down. UVa spokesman Brian Coy said the university is aware of the case, but said the school would not comment on student records. We take claims of this nature seriously and act quickly to investigate them and to support individuals who come forward, Coy told The Daily Progress in an email. Albemarle County police announced that their investigation into Rodriguez-Contreras began in late November, two months after a UVa undergraduate student was reportedly raped at an apartment in Albemarle County. Asked about the two-month delay, a police spokeswoman declined to comment but noted in a message sent to The Daily Progress that sexual assault investigations are handled with extreme care and consideration for the victim. After the initial report is made to law enforcement, the reporting party can decide whether or not they would like to move forward with an investigation at that time or a later date still within the statute of limitations provided by Virginia law, spokeswoman Logan Bogert said. According to court records, the alleged New York assault occurred on Dec. 30, after the reported Albemarle assault. Those records also show Rodriguez-Contreras was arrested that same day and at an arraignment hearing declared himself not guilty. The New York court file indicates that the charges there emanate from the Lower East Side of Manhattan. And all three charges are listed as misdemeanors, with the most severe bearing a one-year maximum penalty. Theres no evidence in his Albemarle court file that Rodriguez-Contreras was incarcerated at the time of his Albemarle arrest. The maximum penalty for rape in Virginia is life in prison. During Mondays hearing, the chained and bound defendant was wearing the gray and white horizontal stripes of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. While sitting upright beside his court-appointed attorney, he made frequent eye contact with a group of four friends watching silently from the gallery. Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins said that the Feb. 23 hearing might include both pretrial motions and a bail request. With China as an exception, most countries have a good rapport with India. It is not a fluke, though; it is the result of consistent diplomacy. Look at what happened in Qatar. Eight Indian sailors had been jailed by Doha. All of them were former Indian Navy personnel. The charges were quite serious; some reports said they were of espionage. Advertisement At first, Qatar sentenced them to death, but India did not give up. New Delhi used quiet diplomacy behind the scenes, and on Monday we saw the results: Seven of the eight sailors are back in India. #WATCH | Delhi: One of the Navy veterans who returned from Qatar says, "We waited almost for 18 months to be back in India. We are extremely grateful to the PM. It wouldn't have been possible without his personal intervention and his equation with Qatar. We are grateful to the pic.twitter.com/5DiBC0yZPd ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024 So diplomacy has worked; the sailors think that Prime Minister Modi personally intervened. Even the government has hinted at this. The External Affairs Ministry has thanked the ruler of Qatar. It also said PM Modi was personally overseeing the issue. Even the eighth has been released, but his return to India is still being worked out. So the job is almost done. Lets take a step back now and look at a few important questions: Why were the sailors jailed? Why was the case dropped? What is the political impact of this diplomatic win? Advertisement The sailors were arrested in 2022. All of them worked for the same companyDahra Globalin Doha. Qatar did not reveal the charges against them, nor did India, but media reports said it was espionage. Apparently, they were spying for Israel. In the months that followed, India got consular access to them, and New Delhi tried to get them released. But no luck; in October 2023, the sailors were sentenced to death. Advertisement India decided to appeal that verdict, and then in early December, a key meeting happened. PM Modi and Qatars Emir were in Dubai; both were attending the COP28 Summit. They held a brief discussion on the sidelines. Chances are this issue was discussed. But did it work? Well, later that month, the death sentence was reversed. Advertisement Around 50 days later, the sailors are back, so I guess the Dubai conversation did work. But we dont know how the sailors were released. Was it a court decision to free them? Or was it a pardon by the Emir? The foreign secretary refused to answer that question. But chances are, it was a pardon. Qatars Emir issues pardons twice a year. Most of the freed prisoners are foreigners. Indias statement vaguely hints at this: We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals. Advertisement Either way, it was a political callQatari courts dont randomly release alleged spiesnot unless the Emir tells them to, but this success goes beyond just one short interaction in Dubai. It is the result of a sustained policy of genuine outreach to the Muslim world. Now is the perfect time to talk about it. On Tuesday, the prime minister embarked on a foreign tour to the UAE and Qatar. In the UAE, he will inaugurate a massive Hindu temple. In Qatar, he will meet the emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Think of it as a gratitude tour, and thats been a feature of Indias outreach. It has come at the highest level of government. Advertisement Prime Minister Modi has visited the UAE six times. Two of those visits came in the last eight months. He has visited Saudi Arabia twice and Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Qatar once. This will be his second trip to Qatar. These relationships have been mutually beneficial. India is the third-largest oil consumer in the world. So it is a key market for Gulf nations. Then you have the around nine million diaspora who live and work in the Gulf. They are holding up local economies, and trade and investments are also important. Advertisement The India-UAE trade is around 85 billion dollars. The India-Qatar trade is worth 20 billion dollars, and a big chunk of that is liquefied natural gas. Around 48 percent of Indias LNG imports are from Qatar. Last week, both sides renewed a deal: India will keep importing LNG from Qatar until 2048. Its a massive energy deal worth $78 billion. So there is a strong foundation for diplomatic ties. Yes, personal outreach has helped, but the underlying foundation is sizeable trade, solid investments, and a large diaspora. Its what we call a win-win relationship. Advertisement The Gulf gets a reliable customer. India gets a foothold in a geopolitically significant region. Plus, its a political statement; Western media has questioned the safety of Muslims in India, but the same Indian government is celebrated in the Gulf. PM Modi has received civilian honours from multiple nations there, like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Palestine. That investment has clearly paid off because Qatar takes espionage very seriously, and spying for Israel is a one-way ticket to the gallows. So this release is a big diplomatic win for Indiaa victory for quiet and mature diplomacy. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . As Indonesia braces for the historic election day, the eyes of the world remain fixed on this dynamic nation As the world turns its gaze towards Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia emerges as a focal point of global attention. With the largest Muslim population worldwide and ranking as the fourth most populous nation after India, China and the United States, Indonesia stands at a pivotal moment in its history. Advertisement Largest single-day election ever On Wednesday, 14 February, Indonesia will witness the culmination of an electoral process of monumental proportions. With over 205 million eligible voters, it marks the largest single-day election ever conducted, underscoring the significance of this event on the global stage. At the heart of this electoral spectacle lies the future trajectory of Indonesia, with its youthful demographic poised to shape the nations destiny. This election holds sway over every level of governance, from the presidency to regional and city legislatures, symbolising a critical juncture in Indonesias democratic journey. Incumbent President Joko Widodo, fondly known as Jokowi, has steered the nation through a period of economic growth, enjoying widespread popularity throughout his tenure. However, with his two-term limit reached, the stage is set for a new leader to emerge and guide the nation forward. Advertisement A threesome contest Among the contenders vying for the presidency is Anees Baas Wedan, a former education minister and governor of Jakarta. Running as an independent candidate, Wedan champions the cause of safeguarding Indonesias democracy, resonating particularly with the countrys young electorate. His unorthodox campaign, featuring videos of his four cats, has endeared him to many, symbolising the evolving landscape of political communication. Advertisement We do not want a country thats arrogant towards its own people. We dont want a country thats greedy to its own people. We dont want a country thats inhumane towards its people. We want a country that loves and protects and helps its people, said Anees. In contrast, Ganjar Pra-nowo, the ruling party candidate and successor to Jokowi, brings a wealth of experience as the former governor of Central Java. His candidacy signifies continuity with the policies and economic momentum of the current administration, appealing to voters seeking stability and progress. Advertisement We apologize for anyone hurt by our words. We hope peace can be brought by our campaigns. We hope nobody takes anything to heart, and that we will closely pay attention to what the people of our nation have said. We have empathy and integrity to improve Indonesia to be as great as what our founders wanted, said Ganjar. Advertisement However, the frontrunner in this electoral race is Prabowo Subianto, a 72-year-old former general whose third bid for the presidency has garnered significant momentum. Embracing a softer image and leveraging a formidable social media campaign, Prabowo has emerged as a formidable contender, captivating the Indonesian youth and challenging conventional political dynamics. Advertisement Notably, Prabowos alliance with Jokowis son, Gibran Raka Buming Raka, adds a familial dimension to the electoral landscape, with implications for the future trajectory of Indonesian politics. While the outcome remains uncertain, recent opinion polls indicate Prabowos coalition leading the race, with the potential to secure victory outright or face a runoff in June. Advertisement Prabowo-Gibran and the Indonesia Maju coalition are fighting to eliminate poverty in the Republic of Indonesia. To bring prosperity to all Indonesians, we will continue what the previous presidents have built, said Prabowo. As Indonesia braces for the historic election day, the eyes of the world remain fixed on this dynamic nation. The outcome of this electoral saga will not only shape Indonesias future but also reverberate across the region, underscoring the enduring significance of democracy in the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this monumental event shaping the course of Indonesian history. Advertisement 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 . In India, over 66% of people surveyed fell victim to online dating scams. 43% of Indians fell victim to AI modulated voices, and of those, over 83% actually lost money to scammers. Over 69% of Indians struggle to differentiate between AI generated and genuine human voices As Valentines Day approaches, cybersecurity experts issue a chilling warning: romance scams are on the rise in India, with a staggering 66 per cent of individuals falling victim to deceptive online dating schemes. In a shocking revelation, it has been disclosed that in 2023 alone, 43 per cent of Indians became prey to AI voice scams, resulting in a financial loss for 83 per cent of those targeted. Advertisement A recent report by Tenable, the exposure management company, highlights the evolution of romance scams, blending traditional tactics with cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and deepfakes. The findings underscore a disconcerting reality: AI-generated deepfakes have reached a level of sophistication where more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Indians struggle to differentiate between artificial and genuine human voices. Exploiting these advancements, scammers craft convincing personas for romance scams, with celebrity impersonations, particularly targeting older demographics, becoming alarmingly prevalent. Platforms like Facebook unwittingly serve as breeding grounds for these fraudulent activities, creating a false sense of security for victims before orchestrating deceitful schemes. Chris Boyd, a staff research engineer at Tenable, issues a stern warning against moving conversations to private platforms where security is compromised. Regardless of AI involvement, caution is key, Boyd advises. Advertisement Of particular concern are vulnerable individuals, especially older widows or those with memory loss, systematically targeted by these criminals. The report emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing requests for money from new connections and carefully examining photographs and videos for signs of manipulation. Increasing awareness and remaining vigilant are our strongest defences against these heartless manipulations, safeguarding love seekers from the treacherous web of AI-enhanced deception, concludes Boyd. Tunisia has replaced Libya as North Africas main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict elsewhere in Africa and across the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. Underscoring the escalating migrant crisis in the North African nation, a staggering 1,313 migrants were to have died or went missing off the Tunisian coast last year, a rights group said on Tuesday. According to Ramadan Ben Amor, an official at the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, this figure accounted for approximately 75% of the total deaths or disappearances recorded off the coasts of Italy, Libya, and Malta. Advertisement Tunisia has now supplanted Libya as the primary departure point in North Africa for individuals fleeing poverty and conflict across Africa and the Middle East, seeking refuge and opportunities for a better life in Europe. And with improving weather since January, the influx of African migrants, including Tunisians, in boats heading for Italy has increased. About 100 migrants have died or gone missing off the Tunisian coast since mid-January. With inputs from Reuters. Speaking at the Ahlan Modi event in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister also mentioned the strengthening bilateral relations between India and the United Arab Emirates, stating that the UAE is Indias third-largest trading partner and seventh-largest investor Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for bestowing upon him the highest civilian award, The Order of Zayed, in 2019 during his seventh visit to the country in the past ten years. He added that the honor was not just for him but for the millions of Indians living in the Gulf nation. Advertisement Speaking at the Ahlan Modi event in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister also mentioned the strengthening bilateral relations between India and the United Arab Emirates, stating that the UAE is Indias third-largest trading partner and seventh-largest investor. The audience was captivated by the cultural acts, which included Kathak, Garba, Rajasthani folk dances, Haryanvi dance, and the traditional presentation of Vande Mataram. Later, the audience swayed to the patriotic chartbusters. Those who had dressed creatively to attend the event were among the audience. The audience was captivated by the cultural acts, which included Kathak, Garba, Rajasthani folk dances, Haryanvi dance, and the traditional presentation of Vande Mataram. Later, the audience swayed to the patriotic chartbusters. Those who had dressed creatively to attend the event were among the audience. Advertisement But the loudest response was when PM Modi spoke a few sentences in Arabic to highlight the linkages between words spoken in India with that language. Retired couple Padmanabha Hegde and Asha Hegde, who made Abu Dhabi their home 32 years ago, said it is a moment they wouldnt have missed. We are Hindus and live peacefully in a Muslim country, how many people know about how safe and welcoming it is. The event is symbolic of Hindu-Muslim unity and of course watching PM Modi from close is a delight, Asha Hegde, said. Advertisement Indian school students, who came to attend the event after attending their school, said they were there for motivational lessons that the PM always has for children. He is a big motivator and it is a delight to listen to him like a Ted Talk, said Harshit Pradhan, a class 11 student from DPS Dubai. Advertisement At the end of his address, the Prime Minister took a round of the stadium in a batter-powered vehicle waving at the crowd as an excited audience clicked selfies and shouted Modi-Modi. Following the inclement weather conditions on Monday after heavy rains and flashes of lightning across the UAE overnight, causing traffic snarls and waterlogging, the prestigious event was scaled down. However, Tuesday was a sunny day and the weather did not prove to be a hindrance to the boisterous celebrations. Advertisement PM Modi is on a two-day visit, his seventh to the country, and third within the last eight months. He will inaugurate the largest Hindu temple here on Wednesday. (With agency inputs) Meanwhile, as part of a plan to form a new alliance to run the federal government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have deliberated on the possibility of appointing prime ministers from either party for three and two-year terms at the helm Samaa TV reported on Tuesday that almost a dozen Independent candidates who emerged victorious in the February 8 general elections in Pakistan had became members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Shamsher Ali Mazari, who was elected as an Independent from Rajanpurs NA-189, reportedly declared his intention to join the party led by Nawaz Sharif. Advertisement In a video message, Mazari made his choice known and stated that he first conferred with his allies before opting to back the PML-N. For the welfare of the state, I have decided to join the PML-N, Mazari is purportedly heard saying in a video doing the rounds of social media. In the video, he is seen speaking while travelling in a car. The Pakistan-based media outlet reported that Mazari clinched 38,875 votes against PML-Ns Sardar Riazs 32,000. Similarly, Muhammad Sohail, an Independent candidate elected from the Punjab Assemblys PP-240 constituency, along with Khurram Virk from PP-48 and Rana Muhammad Fayyaz from PP-49 also joined the PML-N. Earlier, on Sunday, Taimoor Lali, an Independent candidate from PP-94, also joined the PML-N. MPA-elect from Rajanpurs PP-297, Sardar Khizar Khan Mazari, a PTI-backed independent candidate, also announced support to the PML-N. Mazari won with 39,206 votes against PML-Ns Sardar Mir Dost Mazari, who secured 30,933 votes. Advertisement Fayyaz said he expressed complete confidence in the PML-N leadership and will hold meetings with them. From Chiniot, Sardar Zulfiqar, a successful candidate from PP-96, joined the PML-N. He said he took the decision for the welfare and development of the region,, Samaa TV reported. Zulfiqar Ali Shah was elected MPA after defeating Syed Hasan Murtaza of the PPP. Advertisement On Saturday, Independent candidate Raja Khurram Nawaz was elected as MNA from NA-48 while Mian Muhammad Khan Bugti from NA-253 also announced that he had joined the PML-N. Meanwhile, as part of a plan to form a new alliance to run the federal government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have deliberated on the possibility of appointing prime ministers from either party for three and two-year terms at the helm, Geo News reported on Monday. Advertisement According to the report, the party leaders, in their first meeting on Sunday, discussed the possibility of appointing a prime minister for half the term. The same power-sharing formula was chalked out by the PML-N and the National Party (NP) in Balochistan in 2013, when the chief ministerial candidates from the two parties held office for half of the five-year term. Both leaders also talked about deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with the UAEs President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to take forward the bilateral strategic partnership. Both leaders held one-on-one and delegation-level talks, reviewed the bilateral partnership and discussed new areas of cooperation. They also talked about deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people ties, the MEA said in a statement. Advertisement Bilateral Investment Treaty: This agreement will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries. India has signed both a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE. MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade: This opens new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade. An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement between India and UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor: This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity. MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects: This will create a framework for wide-ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise. Advertisement Cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries: This protocol will shape extensive bilateral cooperation in this field including restoration and preservation of archival material. MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums: This would foster engagement between the two countries aimed at supporting the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat. Advertisement Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE): This will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This follows the MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems signed in July last year during Honble PMs visit to Abu Dhabi. Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE): An important step in building financial sector cooperation, this will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE. Advertisement Prime Minister congratulated President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the launch of UAEs domestic card JAYWAN, which is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack. The leaders witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card. PM Modi also thanked President Mohamed bin Zayed for his support and for his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi. Both sides noted that the BAPS Temple is a celebration of UAE-India friendship, deep-rooted cultural bonds and an embodiment of the UAEs global commitment to harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, it said. Advertisement Modi was received at the airport by Mohamed bin Zayed where they hugged each other. He was later given a guard of honour.Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport, Modi posted on X. I thank you for this grand welcome of me and my team. As you said, I feel that whenever I have come here, I have always felt that I have come to my home and family, Prime Minister Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with the UAE President. Advertisement We have met five times in the last seven months. Today, there is a mutual partnership between India and UAE in every sector, he said. Modi, who will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday, said: The BAPS temple in the UAE is an example of your affinity for India.He said the construction of the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi would not be possible without the support from the UAEs leadership. Advertisement India and the UAE are going to sign a bilateral investment treaty, the Prime Minister said. According to a recent media report, in certain instances, the authenticity of the documentation used to prove the relationship between the donor and the recipientsuch as identity documents and proof of residencymay not always be reliable In order to avoid potential business transactions during organ donation and transplant procedures carried out by foreign nationals, the Union Health Ministry has written to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting the appointment of a nodal officer. Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra pointed out that a large number of foreign nationals are traveling to India for various organ transplant procedures in a letter to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Advertisement According to him, they might be a potential organ donor or recipient who is in the country on a medical or accompanying visa. According to a recent media report, in certain instances, the authenticity of the documentation used to prove the relationship between the donor and the recipientsuch as identity documents and proof of residencymay not always be reliable. cannot be established confidently and the same may not be genuine," Chandra said in the letter dated January 30. He mentioned the provisions specifically for foreigners under the Transplantation of Human Organ and Tissue Act (THOTA) 1994 and the Rules. Under section 9(1A), no human organ or tissue or both removed from the body of a donor before his death shall be transplanted into a recipient unless the donor is a near relative of the recipient. Advertisement Where the donor or the recipient being near relative is a foreign national, prior approval of the authorisation committee shall be required before removing or transplanting human organ or tissue or both: Provided that the authorisation committee shall not approve such removal or transplantation if the recipient is a foreign national and the donor is an Indian national unless they are near relatives, he stated in the letter. Advertisement Chandra also highlighted Rule 20 according to which when the proposed donor or the recipient are foreigners, a senior embassy official of the country of origin has to certify the relationship between the donor and the recipient as per form 21 and in case a country does not have an Embassy in India, the certificate of relationship, in the same format, shall be issued by the government of that country. Advertisement The authorisation committee shall also examine the cases of all Indian donors consenting to donate organs to a foreign national (who is a near relative), including a foreign national of Indian origin, with greater caution and such cases should be considered rarely on case-to-case basis. Section 19 of the THOTA 1994 has provisions of punishment for commercial dealings in organs and no payment in money or moneys worth can be made or promised or offered for donation of organs. Advertisement He urged that information should be disseminated to all embassies/missions of foreign countries located in India and also to the government concerned in case the embassy/mission is not existing in India. It is also requested that a nodal officer may be identified by the Ministry of External Affairs for coordinating the organ donation and transplantation of foreigners and his details may be shared with the Dr Anil Kumar, Director NOTTO. Advertisement I seek your cooperation and support in establishing systems for monitoring of transplantation of foreigners with the objective to prevent any possible commercial dealing(s) in organ or tissue transplantation, Chandra added. (with inputs from PTI) Beijing urged Israel to to stop its military operation as soon as possible, (and) make every effort to avoid innocent civilian casualties, in order to prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area' China urged Israel on Tuesday to end its military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah as soon as possible, warning of a serious humanitarian disaster if the violence did not stop. China follows closely the developments in the Rafah area, opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians and violate international law, a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. Advertisement Beijing urged Israel to to stop its military operation as soon as possible, (and) make every effort to avoid innocent civilian casualties, in order to prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area. As it gets ready to launch an invasion into Rafah, the southern Gaza border city where over a million displaced Palestinians are holed up, Israel is coming under increasing pressure from the international community to agree to a truce with Hamas. After rejecting Hamass proposals for a truce last week, Israel carried out a predawn operation in Rafah on Monday that resulted in the release of two hostages and the deaths of around 100 Palestinians. While the Palestinian Foreign Ministry declared that the killings of several dozen Gazans constituted to a massacre, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the midnight operation as perfect. Advertisement Hours after Netanyahu met with US President Joe Biden, who reaffirmed his opposition to a big attack on Rafah, the unusual rescue operation under heavy air strikes took place. The United Nations has also warned Israel against carrying out a ground offensive into Rafah without a plan to protect civilians, who say they have nowhere left to go. On Monday, the European Union took the very step of setting aside windfall profits made on frozen Russian central bank assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine In a stern warning to the West, Russia on Tuesday said that Moscow would be very tough if the US and EU try to seize hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Russian assets. On Monday, the European Union took the very step of setting aside windfall profits made on frozen Russian central bank assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. Advertisement Since 2022, the time when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out offensive against Ukraine, the US backed by its allies prohibited transactions with Russias central bank and finance ministry, blocking around $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in the West. This is theft Commenting on the law passed by the EU, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik radio, This is theft: Its the appropriation of something that doesnt belong to you. She said that Russias response would be very tough as the country believes its dealing with thieves. Considering that our country has qualified this as theft, the attitude will be towards thieves, Zakharova said. Not as political manipulators, not as overplayed technologists, but as thieves. Moreover, Moscow has said that it will seize American and European assets in response to the seizure of its property. Advertisement EUs new law on Russian assets The European Union, along with the Group of Seven Nations (G7), froze about 300 billion euros worth of Russian central bank assets following Moscows invasion of Ukraine following which both the groups have been thinking of ways to utilise these funds. Two-thirds of these funds are in the EU with the majority of that held by Belgiums clearing house Euroclear. So far, only taxes on the assets in Belgium have been earmarked to a dedicated fund for Ukraine handled by the Belgian government. Advertisement The law passed on Monday means central securities depositaries (CSDs), such as Euroclear, will be prohibited from using net profits and must keep revenues from the Russian assets separate. Todays decision, in line with the G7 position, clarifies the legal status of the revenues generated by the CSDs in connection with holding of Russian immobilised assets and sets clear rules for the entities holding them, said the Council of the EU, a legislative body that groups member states. Advertisement With inputs from Reuters Flash A top Iranian military commander said the country's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had successfully fired a long-range ballistic missile from one of its cruisers, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday. IRGC's Chief Commander Hossein Salami made the remarks in a televised interview while commenting on the new achievements of the force's navy, the report said. He said the ballistic missile was launched as part of the joint cooperation between the IRGC's Aerospace Division and Navy. "The new achievement has increased the range of our naval influence and power to any given desired point. Our ocean cruisers can be present in any part of the oceans and naturally, when we can fire missiles from them, there remains no safe spot for any power that would seek to cause us insecurity," said Salami. The chief commander said with the arrival of a large number of drones, cruise missiles and even ballistic missiles with pinpoint accuracy and capable of targeting warships at sea, the IRGC's naval defense and offensive power featured a "very complex and interconnected combination of up-to-date, advanced and modern capabilities." He warned that the IRGC and Iranian armed forces would give "fitting and heavy" responses to any conspiracy and hostile action. Theres nothing quite like opening the paper and seeing an Op-ed by Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, saying he knows whats best for Virginias small businesses. As a small business owner myself, skill games helped me provide for my family including three young kids, keep four employees working and even avoid filing for bankruptcy. I wonder, in his prolific career as a lobbyist, how many small businesses has Mr. Miller opened? How many small businesses has he kept alive in a challenging economy? How many nights has he lost sleep over making payroll? Big-time casino industry associations like the AGA dont like skill games because they see them as competition. They are not concerned about crime, or minors playing or tax rates. They are concerned about one thing and one thing only: protecting their profits. Mr. Miller represents a $329 billion U.S. casino industry (according to his bio on the AGA website). Even as casinos have reported their highest revenues ever in Virginia, they will stop at nothing if it means stomping out any perceived competition. The irony of Mr. Millers Op-ed is that while he complains that skill games are unregulated, unlicensed, untaxed, small business owners have been fighting for years to do just that. While he gets paid to walk the halls of Richmond, small business owners have taken time away from our businesses and staff to travel to the capital to fight for skill game regulation, licensing and taxation. The only thing standing in the way of that are big casino giants and their lobbyists. Mr. Miller, how about we let small business owners decide whats best for them? These remarks were made during a significant event attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the foundation-laying ceremony for a new arms manufacturing plant in Lower Saxony Armin Papperger, the head of Germanys largest defence company, Rheinmetall, disclosed to the BBC that Europe would need approximately 10 years to attain complete readiness in defense. Papperger highlighted the current depletion of ammunition stocks, emphasising the necessity for substantial preparation against potential threats. These remarks were made during a significant event attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the foundation-laying ceremony for a new arms manufacturing plant in Lower Saxony. Advertisement Rheinmetall plans to invest over $300 million in this facility, anticipated to produce 200,000 artillery shells annually. Papperger stressed the urgency of bolstering Europes defense capabilities, noting the challenges posed by potential aggressors and the need to replenish ammunition stocks. He indicated that while Europe must support Ukraine in its conflict, it must also prioritise its own defense preparedness, requiring at least five to ten years to adequately stockpile ammunition. Chancellor Scholz refrained initially from expressing concern over recent comments by US presidential candidate Donald Trump regarding NATOs defense commitments. However, he later condemned Trumps remarks as irresponsible and dangerous, affirming the significance of NATO for the security of the US, Canada, and European nations. Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen echoed the sentiment of European readiness, emphasising the escalating threat posed by Russia and the imperative for Europe to enhance its defense capabilities independently. Advertisement Since Chancellor Scholz declared a turning point in Germanys foreign and defense policy following Russias invasion of Ukraine, there has been a growing recognition of the need for Europe, particularly Germany, to take a more assertive role in security matters. However, despite increased investment in defense since the invasion, experts acknowledge that Europe still relies heavily on US support in conventional conflicts. Advertisement Papperger underscored the importance of the Zeitenwende (turning point), indicating improved trust between government and defense contractors. Nonetheless, the historical context of rearmament and its consequences looms over the debate, emphasizing the need for cautious and strategic decision-making in European defense policy. While uncertainties persist regarding the outcome of the US election, Trumps recent comments serve as a wake-up call for Europe, reaffirming the urgency of bolstering its defense capabilities to ensure collective security in the face of evolving global threats. Israel has requested that the court dismiss the case completely, arguing that it observes international law and has the right to self-defense. Israel has refuted all claims of genocide related to its battle against Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization that rules Gaza On Tuesday, South Africa announced that it has requested the World Court to examine if more emergency measures were necessary to safeguard the rights of Palestinians in light of Israels proposal to expand its offensive in Gaza into the city of Rafah. In a lawsuit brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to take all reasonable steps to stop its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Advertisement Israel has requested that the court dismiss the case completely, arguing that it observes international law and has the right to self-defense. Israel has refuted all claims of genocide related to its battle against Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization that rules Gaza. Over a million Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah from the offensive that has devastated most of the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7. Israel has stated that it intends to continue its infantry assault into Rafah. In a request submitted to the court yesterday (Feb. 12), the South African government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of Israel, has already led to and will result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction, a statement issued by South Africas presidency said. Advertisement In the past, when the situation changed on the ground, the ICJ occasionally approved extra emergency measures. The central question in South Africas casewhether or whether there has been genocide in Gazahas not yet been decided by the court. However, it acknowledged that Gazas Palestinian population has a right to be shielded from acts of genocide. Indian-American Sonali Korde was on Monday sworn in as assistant to USAID Administrator Samantha Power for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). As the US governments lead for international disaster response, the BHA monitors, mitigates, and responds to global hazards and humanitarian needs Indian-American Sonali Korde on Monday took the oath of office as the assistant to USAID Administrator Samantha Power for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). The BHA serves as the primary arm of the US government for addressing international disaster response, overseeing the monitoring, mitigation, and management of global hazards and humanitarian requirements. Advertisement Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, Power said, I view Sonali, and I think this packed house speaks to this for so many here, but Sonali is really a gift to us all. And because we get to see a lot of her, in time, and a lot of her many qualities, which I will dwell on. She said Kordes parents, who migrated from India, gave her an incredible upbringing that endowed her with a deep appreciation for a world outside of their Cranford, New Jersey, home. They took frequent trips back to India where Sonali saw a tale of two countries, such incredible dynamism and burgeoning intellect, culture but also such extreme poverty that persists in many parts of the country - even with all of the success lifting so many hundreds of millions of people out of poverty - but seeing people with and people without, I think for Sonali just contributed to what her parents had instilled in her, which is a strong sense of justice and a desire to address inequity and unfairness, Power said. Advertisement Before being sworn in as assistant to the administrator of USAIDs Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Korde served as deputy assistant to the administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. During her time as deputy assistant to the administrator, Korde served as deputy to the US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues charged with leading the countrys diplomacy efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Advertisement Korde previously served on the National Security Council staff as director for Global Health and Development. In this role, she supported all aspects of the US governments global health portfolio and linkages into broader development, security and bilateral diplomacy and cooperation goals. From 2005 to 2013, Korde served as a senior technical advisor for the Presidents Malaria Initiative in USAIDs Bureau for Global Health. Advertisement She was responsible for managing integrated malaria and public health programmes in Africa and Asia, in coordination with multilateral and bilateral donor partners, the World Health Organization and other United Nations organisations, NGOs and government counterparts. Korde has an MA in international relations from Yale University and a BS in economics from New York University. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Speaker Mike Johnsons fragile GOP majority is unlikely to be able to withstand many absentees or defectors in the face of ardent Democratic resistance to impeaching Mayorkas, the first Cabinet secretary to face charges in almost 150 years, hence the evening vote is predicted to be close House Republicans are resolved to try again Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after failing to do so last week. However, it is highly unlikely that the second attempt would result in a better result. Speaker Mike Johnsons fragile GOP majority is unlikely to be able to withstand many absentees or defectors in the face of ardent Democratic resistance to impeaching Mayorkas, the first Cabinet secretary to face charges in almost 150 years, hence the evening vote is predicted to be close. Advertisement Majority Leader Steve Scalise is likely to return, boosting the GOP numbers after being out from Washington for medical treatment. However, even one more absentee or weather-delayed legislator may jeopardise Mayorkas impeachment. If the vote pushes later into the week, the outcome of Tuesdays special election in New York to replace ousted Rep. George Santos could tip the balance further. Johnson posted a fists-clenched photo with Scalise, announcing his remission from cancer, saying, looking forward to having him back in the trenches this week! The GOP effort to impeach Mayorkas over border security has taken on an air of political desperation as Republicans try to make good on their priorities after last weeks mishap and after Republicans rejected a bipartisan Senate border security package. Advertisement Border security has shot to the top of campaign issues, with Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for the presidential nomination, insisting he will launch the largest domestic deportation operation in American history on day one if he retakes the White House. In stark language over the weekend, Trump debased immigrant arrivals. even going so far as to suggest without evidence they bring disease into the US Trump reiterated his plans of a second-term roundup to remove potentially millions of newcomers from the US, a spectacle practically unseen in modern times. Advertisement We have no choice, Trump said at a rally in South Carolina. The House, which launched an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden over his sons business dealings, has instead turned its attention to Mayorkas after Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia pushed the debate forward. If the House succeeds in impeaching Mayorkas, the charges against him would go to the Senate for a trial, but neither Democratic nor Republican senators have shown interest in the matter and it may be indefinitely shelved to a committee. Advertisement After a months-long investigation, the House Homeland Security Committee filed two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas arguing that he willfully and systematically refused to enforce existing immigration laws and that he breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure. Never before has a sitting Cabinet secretary been impeached, and it was nearly 150 years ago that the House voted to impeach President Ulysses S. Grants secretary of war, William Belknap, over a kickback scheme in government contracts. He resigned moments before the vote. Advertisement Mayorkas, who did not appear to testify before the impeachment proceedings, put the border crisis squarely on Congress for failing to update immigration laws during a time of global migration. There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border, Mayorkas said over the weekend on NBC. And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it. Advertisement Johnson and the Republicans have pushed back, arguing that the Biden administration could take executive actions, as Trump did, to stop the number of crossings though the courts have questioned and turned back some of those efforts. We always explore what options are available to us that are permissible under the law, Mayorkas said in the interview. Advertisement Last weeks failed vote to impeach Mayorkas a surprise outcome rarely seen on such a high-profile issue was a stunning display in the chamber that has been churning through months of GOP chaos since the ouster of the previous House speaker. As the clock ticked down, three Republicans opposed impeaching Mayorkas, leaving the tally at razors edge. With a 219-212 majority and Scalise absent, Johnson had just a few votes to spare. Advertisement One Democrat, Rep, Al Green of Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it leaving the vote tied. One of the Republican holdouts, Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, who had served as a Marine and is now a committee chairman, was quickly encircled by colleagues, including the impeachments chief sponsor, Georgias Greene. He refused to change his vote. Advertisement Gallagher announced over the weekend he would not be seeking reelection in the fall. Once a rising star as a next generation of the GOP, he now joins a growing list of serious-minded Republican lawmakers heading for the exits. Republicans are hopeful the New York special election will boost their ranks further, but the outcome of that race is uncertain. Advertisement Democrat Green of Texas is now out of the hospital and recuperating from surgery, and was amazed at how critics suggested he was sneaked into the Capitol to vote. He described the painstaking effort to get from his hospital bed to the House floor. Obviously, you feel good when you can make a difference, said Green. All I did was what I was elected to do, and that was to cast my vote on the issues of our time, using the best judgment available to me. Advertisement He plans to be there again this week to vote against Mayorkas impeachment. As per information provided by the US Central Command, the two missiles hit MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil In yet another attack on the Red Sea, the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists launched two missiles from Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb. This is the latest in the string of attacks launched by the Yemeni rebel group since Israel launched a war against Gaza in October last year. As per information provided by the US Central Command, the two missiles hit MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil. Advertisement The ship reports being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew. Of note, the MV Star Iriss destination is Bandar Iman Khomeini, Iran, the US Central Command said in a statement. Houthi Attack in Bab al-Mandeb On Feb. 12 from 3:30 to 3:45 a.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb. Both missiles were launched toward MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall pic.twitter.com/vfihRaw0rr U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 13, 2024 The Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Moreover, it connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, by extension, the Indian Ocean. The Star Iris, like every Iran-bound bulker, had not diverted away from the Red Sea, perhaps unafraid of attacks from Iran-backed Houthis who could be considered friendly given the vessels destination, said Ishan Bhanu, lead agricultural commodities analyst at Kpler. Advertisement At a projected 4.5 million tonnes for this year, flows from Brazil make for the majority of Irans corn imports. Last week, the Houthis attacked two ships, one of them bound for India, in the Red Sea. The attacks have prompted several companies to halt Red Sea journeys and opt for a longer and more expensive route around Africa, and US and British warplanes have carried out retaliatory strikes across Yemen. With inputs from Reuters The corridor, announced last September on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, aims to extend from India across the Arabian Sea to the United Arab Emirates and through Saudi Arabia before connecting through Jordan and Israel to Europe. India and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday signed an agreement on a trade corridor that aims to connect Europe with India through parts of the Middle East by sea and rail, an ambitious plan backed by the US and the European Union. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with the UAEs President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to take forward the bilateral strategic partnership. Advertisement Both leaders held one-on-one and delegation-level talks, reviewed the bilateral partnership and discussed new areas of cooperation. They also talked about deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people ties, the MEA said in a statement. The announcement of the framework agreement, reached during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Gulf state, was released in a statement by the Indian foreign ministry, although few details on what the sides had agreed on were made public. This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity, the ministry statement said. The corridor, announced last September on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, aims to extend from India across the Arabian Sea to the United Arab Emirates and through Saudi Arabia before connecting through Jordan and Israel to Europe. Advertisement The ministrys statement, however, made no mention of any country apart from India and the UAE, a regional Gulf Arab power, whose ties are built on over a century of trade links. The agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor comes amid the more than four-month war in Gaza that has derailed U.S.-backed plans to further integrate Israel with its Arab neighbours. Saudi Arabia has halted normalisation plans. Advertisement The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on details of the agreement. Modi met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, who the Indian leader often refers to as his brother. Today, our region is going through a difficult time but because of our relationship with you, we are building a lot of hope and looking forward to a future with India that is on par with our ambitions, Sheikh Mohamed said at a meeting with Modi on Tuesday, according to a video shared on Modis YouTube channel. Advertisement The UAE forged diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under a U.S.-backed initiative known as the Abraham Accords that led to other Arab states including Bahrain establishing ties. The UAE has maintained those relations with Israel throughout the war, though has also repeatedly criticised Israels bombing of Gaza and called for a ceasefire. Advertisement The framework agreement between India and the UAE appears to signal that both states are pushing forward with the plan to establish the corridor, which may also undermine Chinas global trade infrastructure belt and road connectivity strategy. It has also been signed as Yemens Houthi movement has launched attacks on shipping vessels sailing the Red Sea, which the Iran-backed group has said is in protest of Israels bombing of Gaza. The attacks have endangered trade via the sea route. Advertisement The UAE and India also signed a bilateral investment treaty and exchanged cooperation agreements covering electrical interconnection, trade, and digital infrastructure. Modi is due to later address tens of thousands of the Indian diaspora at an Abu Dhabi stadium. He will also speak at a summit in Dubai on Wednesday before opening the first-ever stone-built Hindu temple in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. Advertisement This is Modis seventh visit to the Gulf state since becoming prime minister nearly a decade ago, strengthening ties with one of Indias top trading partners. With inputs from Reuters. The list also includes firms in Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Serbia and Turkey, some of which are also being targeted for the first time, according to a report The European Union has proposed new trade restrictions on about two dozen firms, including one in India and three based in China, for supporting Russias war efforts in Ukraine, according to a report. According to a Bloomberg report, If adopted, it would be the first time the EU has imposed restrictions on companies in mainland China since Russia invaded Ukraine. Advertisement The list also includes firms in Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Serbia and Turkey, some of which are also being targeted for the first time. The proposed measures aim to prevent European companies from conducting trade with the specified entities, in line with the EUs efforts to limit Russias access to sanctioned goods via third-party channels. Previous attempts to designate Chinese firms were abandoned due to resistance from certain member states and assurances from Beijing. This matter holds significant importance for the EU, especially concerning its ties with China, a crucial trading partner. Germany, notably dependent on China as the primary market for car manufacturers like Volkswagen AG, is closely monitoring developments, added the report. Its worth noting that EU sanctions necessitate unanimous approval from all member states and may undergo alterations before being enacted. Advertisement The EU Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the proposal, while there was no immediate response from Chinas embassy in Brussels, the report mentioned. During a visit to Beijing in April, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned Chinese President Xi Jinping against involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She stressed the importance of refraining from supplying military equipment to Russia, citing violations of international law and potential strains on the EU-China relationship. Advertisement The proposed list includes three Chinese firms, as well as one each from India, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Turkey, and Hong Kong. The document specifies that inclusion does not imply responsibility for actions on the part of the respective jurisdictions. Previously, the EU has listed over 620 companies, primarily from Russia, accused of importing prohibited technologies and electronics and subsequently re-exporting them to Russia. Advertisement Alongside trade restrictions, the EU has proposed sanctions on over 110 individuals and entities as part of a broader package commemorating two years since Russias invasion of Ukraine. With inputs from agencies Jordan has conducted 11 airdrop operations since the war broke out on October 7 between Israel and Hamas militants in the besieged Gaza Strip. Amman has delivered a total of almost 720 tonnes of humanitarian aid from 49 aircraft, 11 of them via airdrops. Jordanian King Abdullah II participated in a humanitarian aid drop into war-torn Gaza, according to state TV footage showing him aboard an Air Force C-130 transport plane. The footage, aired on Jordans Al Mamlaka channel on Monday, captured the king in military uniform on board the flight. The king assisted soldiers in dropping a crate containing humanitarian and medical aid, which was destined for the Jordanian field hospital in northern Gaza. This operation was conducted jointly with the Netherlands. Advertisement In mid-December, King Abdullahs daughter, Princess Salma, a first lieutenant and pilot in the Royal Jordanian Air Force, also took part in an airdrop of medical supplies to the field hospital. On November 20, Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein arrived in Egypts El-Arish airport near Gaza to supervise the delivery of the second Jordanian field hospital to the besieged Palestinian territory. The king, who has been vocal in calling for an end to Israels campaign, on Thursday left on a tour of major Western capitals and is due to meet U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Monday to lobby for an immediate ceasefire. Abdullah will prod Washington to pressure Israel to lift hurdles on delivering more aid to Palestinians, saying the obstacles were worsening the plight of over 2 million inhabitants of the enclave facing growing risk of famine, officials said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken during a visit to Amman last month commended Jordans role and leadership in providing life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Advertisement Jordan succeeded in getting Israel to allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to send deliveries to Gaza through another land route that begins from Jordan, helping ease pressure on the main Rafah border crossing that is limited in capacity. Jordan has conducted 11 airdrop operations since the war broke out on October 7 between Israel and Hamas militants in the besieged Gaza Strip. Amman has delivered a total of almost 720 tonnes of humanitarian aid from 49 aircraft, 11 of them via airdrops, according to the Jordanian Royal Charity Commission. Advertisement 325 Jordanian trucks also delivered a total of 4,376 tonnes of aid by land, according to the Commission. Jordan, which shares a border with the West Bank, fears that the Gaza conflict could spread, with wider violence by armed settlers encouraged by the army triggering a large-scale Palestinian exodus to the other side of the Jordan River. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Elon Musks SpaceX company owns Starlink, a network of satellites in low Earth orbit that can deliver internet service to isolated areas or places where regular communications equipment has been turned off On Monday, the Kremlin dismissed allegations from Ukraine that Russian soldiers engaged in front-line combat were utilising Starlink internet terminals. Russian forces were allegedly using the terminals systematic and smuggling them into Ukraine, according to information released by Kyivs GUR military intelligence agency. Elon Musks SpaceX company owns Starlink, a network of satellites in low Earth orbit that can deliver internet service to isolated areas or places where regular communications equipment has been turned off. Advertisement My companies have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything, Musk said during a streamed session on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticising US funding to Ukraine. Musk maintained that SpaceX had taken away two thirds of Russian space launch business and that Starlink has overwhelmingly helped Ukraine. It cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied here, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. Accordingly, it cannot be officially used here in any way, he added. The system is not active in Russia, meaning even a device inside Russia could not connect. But Kyiv has accused Russian troops of using the device across the frontlines in Ukraine. Starlink is freely available in Russia. Compared to last year, now the use of Starlink in the Russian army on the front line has become more systematic, GUR spokesman Andriy Yusov said Monday on state television. Advertisement He said it would not reveal all the details of its claims. Ukraine itself has widely used Starlink to ensure communications and connectivity for its troops during the two-year war. Musk called reports SpaceX had sold Starlink terminals to Russia categorically false in a post on his X social media platform. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia, he added. Advertisement Ukraines Yusov said Kyiv accepted that Starlink was not officially being sold to the Russians. He said Russia bought them through parallel imports, which is essentially smuggling. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine and was hit with Western sanctions, it has set up a network of traders and intermediaries in third countries to get hold of banned goods and other products no longer available inside Russia. Advertisement It is not the first time Kyiv and Musk have clashed over Starlink. Last year the Tesla and SpaceX tycoon rejected a request to activate the network in the Crimean city of Sevastopol to support a Ukrainian attack on Russias naval fleet. He said SpaceX would have been explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation if he had agreed. Advertisement Also last year he said his company could not indefinitely fund the service in Ukraine, before agreeing to maintain the connections. On Monday, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Pravind launched the virtual UPI as well as a Rupay and I take it as another milestone in the existing strong bilateral relations, said High Commissioner of Mauritius in India Haymandoyal Dillum A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth launched the virtual launch of the RuPay and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) link between Mauritius and India, High Commissioner of Mauritius in India Haymandoyal Dillum. ANI on Tuesday called the launch of UPI services in his country a milestone in the existing strong bilateral relationship. Advertisement Speaking to ANI, Haymandoyal Dillum said, On Monday, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Pravind launched the virtual UPI as well as a Rupay and I take it as another milestone in the existing strong bilateral relations. Dillum said that both Prime Ministers had discussed the UPI interface during the G20 meeting in New Delhi last year. The high commissioner expressed delight that within a short period discussions between RBI and Bank of Mauritius took place. It is Prime Minister Modis policy on neighbourhood and SAGAR, we are glad that it has materialised today. We all know there are strong cultural relations between two countries but now it has given a new dimension to our relationship with digital connectivity. I hope that both nationals Mauritius, as well as India, will benefit greatly from this interface and will facilitate payment, he added. Advertisement The Mauritius High Commissioner mentioned that his country is a tourist destination and has put a target that around 100,000 Indians should visit Mauritius. Highlighting further Dillium said, With the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram temple there is a big rush for Mauritian nationals to proceed to India. Sri Lanka has also joined this interface, so I think cooperation with these countries of the Indian Ocean will benefit a lot from this interface. Advertisement Mauritius Prime Minister Jugnauth said during the video conference,The Rupay card co-branded with our national payment switch, the MoCAS, will be designated as the domestic card in Mauritius. The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on the RuPay mechanism in Mauritius and facilitate usage of RuPay Card for settlements both in India and Mauritius. Advertisement India, which has emerged as a leader in fintech innovation and Digital Public Infrastructure placed a strong emphasis on sharing its development experiences and innovation with partner countries. UPI is Indias mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly, using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer. UPI payment system has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India, and its adoption is increasing at a rapid pace. Advertisement A key emphasis of the Indian government has been on ensuring that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India only, but other countries, too, benefit from it. So far, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, France, UAE, and Singapore have partnered with India on emerging fintech and payment solutions. With inputs from agencies Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. India and UAE exchanged Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of PM Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in UAEs Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for his two-day visit to the nation. Upon reaching, PM Modi and President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan shared a hug while the former was accorded Guard of Honour. #WATCH | Abu Dhabi, UAE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, share a hug. PM Modi was also accorded Guard of Honour upon his arrival. pic.twitter.com/MSLhuTEv8d ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement This is the seventh visit by PM Modi since he took office. I thank you for the warm welcome. Whenever I come here to meet you, I always feel I have come to meet my family. Weve met 5 times in the last 7 months, its very rare and reflects our close relationship, Modi said after he arrived in Abu Dhabi. #WATCH | Abu Dhabi: During his meeting with UAE President, PM Narendra Modi says, "I thank you for the warm welcome. Whenever I come here to meet you, I always feel I have come to meet my family. We've met 5 times in the last 7 months, it's very rare and reflects our close pic.twitter.com/CKHo99vVNt ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement After touching down in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi wrote on X, I am very grateful to my brother, His Highness Mohamed Bin Zayed, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi Airport." @MohamedBinZayed . . pic.twitter.com/VltQVXgdxG Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024 Advertisement I look forward to a fruitful visit that will strengthen the friendship between India and the UAE, he added. India-UAE exchange MoUs India and UAE exchanged Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of PM Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The MoU from the Indian side was handed over by the Foreign Secretary of India Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Advertisement #WATCH | Abu Dhabi: Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) being exchanged between India and UAE in the presence of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/RAOO2PxC4i ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Advertisement PM Modis two-day visit to UAE During his official visit to UAE from 13-14 February, PM Modi will oversee the signing of several agreements to shore up cooperation in key areas. Advertisement In Abu Dhabi, Modi will also inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the prime minister will attend an event called Ahlam Modi in Abu Dhabi where he will meet and address the Indian diaspora. Modi is also set to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president, prime minister and defence minister of the UAE. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation and the Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with Nato within the next decade or so, head of Estonias foreign intelligence agency Kaupo Rosin said during the release of Estonias national security threats report Estonias Foreign Intelligence Service has issued a warning that Russia is gearing up for a potential military confrontation with the West within next decade, suggesting that a counter build-up of armed forces could serve as a deterrent against such actions. According to The Guardian report, the head of the intelligence service highlighted that this assessment stems from Russian intentions to increase twofold the number of forces positioned along its border with NATO members, including Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Advertisement Various Western officials have also raised concerns about Russias military threat to nations along NATOs eastern flank and have advocate for Europe to bolster its defences by rearming, according to Reuters. Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation and the Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with Nato within the next decade or so, The Guardian quoted Kaupo Rosin as telling reporters during the release of Estonias national security threats report. A military attack by Russia is highly unlikely in the short term, he said, partly because Russia has to keep troops in Ukraine, and would remain unlikely if Russian buildup of forces was matched in Europe. If we are not prepared, the likelihood [of a military Russian attack> would be much higher than without any preparation, Rosin added. Advertisement Estonia and the other Baltic States have increased their military spending to over 2% of the value of their economies after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and Nato allies have raised their presence in those countries. Six individuals were shot at a Bronx tube station on Monday, according to New York City police, leaving one person dead and five others injured. At least 10 shots were fired at the Mount Eden Avenue station after a fight between two groups of teenagers broke out inside a train on Monday evening (local time). Police and witnesses said the shooting created total pandemonium inside the police station. Advertisement No motive was given for the shooting. Broadcasters showed a major emergency response at the elevated Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the northern borough of the Bronx, nine miles (14 kilometres) north of Manhattans Times Square. Police detectives and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene conducting a fingerprint search following the shootings. We are on scene at an ongoing investigation at the Mount Eden Avenue Station on the (subway) in the Bronx. Please avoid the area Use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area, Kaz Daughtry, New York police deputy commissioner for operations, said on social media. By phone, a New York Police Department official stated that no one had been arrested in connection with the shooting and that it was unclear how the five injured individuals were doing. Five people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to local media that cited anonymous police sources. Advertisement According to the most recent data, there are just 570 recorded felony assaults on the New York subway system in 2023, out of an average of 3.8 million journeys made on weekdays, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Shootings are especially uncommon: in 2022, when a man with a handgun injured 10 people on a train passing through Brooklyn, it was the first mass shooting attack on the subway system since 1984. Advertisement A few weeks later, in May 2022, a man shot dead 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez on a Q train in what police said was an unprovoked attack. Fears of how dangerous the subway really is among passengers jumped early in the pandemic, when the subway crime rate spiked in early 2020, but fell back to normal levels in 2021. Riders perceptions of the dangers remain high, even in the face of falling crime rates. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and a former city police captain, has sought to reassure unnerved commuters by increasing the number of police officers in subway stations. The decision of Bilawal came hours after Pakistans former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday withdrew from the race for the prime minister, saying that his party would support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawazs candidate for the premiers slot without being part of the government. This decision by Bilawal came shortly after Pakistans former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif would become prime minister for a record fourth time. Advertisement Bilawal told media after the meeting of Pakistan Peoples Partys (PPP) high-powered Central Executive Committee (CEC), held under his leadership that his party failed to get a mandate to form a government in the federation. Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan, he said, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government. Revealing the reason behind backing the rival partys candidate for the coveted post, Bilawal said that the PPP decided to support the PML-Ns candidate for the premiership to ensure political instability in the country, according to a report by The News International website. Bilawal said that the PPP decided to form a committee to engage with other political parties for the formation of government and political stability. Advertisement The PPP has decided that we are unable or not in a position to join the federal government ourselves, nor are we interested in taking ministries in such a setup. We also dont want to see political chaos in the country. We dont want to perpetuate the crisis in the country, he said. Advertisement PPP has decided that we ran this election on a manifesto based on issues of public importance [> we want to restore political stability and want to end this environment of political toxicity. He said that the PPP would help to form a stable government without being part of it. To that end, the PPP will be willing to support the case of important votes - a candidate of the PM of Pakistan - and issue to issue basis to ensure that the government is formed and political stability is restored, Bilawal said. Advertisement Replying to a question, he said that his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari would be the candidate to become president as he was capable of getting the country out of the current problems. To another question, he said that his experience with the PML-N in the previous government was not good and his party leaders in the meeting raised concerns that their issues were not addressed by the PML-N during the tenure of the coalition government. Advertisement Ruling out fresh elections due to the split mandate, he also declared that the parliament would be formed after the current elections and we will not let the people down. Pakistani voters gave a fractured mandate in the results of the February 8 polls. Independent candidates, mostly backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khans PTI party, won 101 seats in the 266-member National Assembly, followed by former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats. Advertisement With inputs from PTI. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is devising a plan to establish its government in the Central, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions after independent candidates supported by the party secured 101 out of 266 National Assembly seats in the recently concluded elections Jailed former prime minister Imran Khans party has set up special committees to strategise the formation of governments in the Central, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to a report. As reported by Dawn News on Monday, during a core committee meeting, participants agreed to expedite the nomination process for key government and parliamentary positions based on the recommendations and strategies put forth by these committees. Advertisement The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is devising a plan to establish its government in the Central, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions after independent candidates supported by the party secured 101 out of 266 National Assembly seats in the recently concluded 8 February elections, which were tainted by allegations of electoral fraud. PTI-supported candidates contested as independents due to the partys loss of its election symbol, the bat, amid controversies surrounding its intra-party elections. The statement issued after the partys core committee said specialised committees entrusted with the responsibility of devising strategies for government formation in these pivotal regions had been constituted. These committees are focused on accelerating the nomination process for crucial governmental and parliamentary roles, guided by their proposed recommendations and strategies, the report added. Advertisement The PTI in the statement affirmed its commitment to prevent any unethical endeavours to hand over the cash-strapped countrys leadership to individuals with criminal backgrounds. The party maintained that the people bestowed upon the partys founding chairman Imran Khan an unparalleled certificate of patriotism, giving a heavy mandate to his party. Separately, PTI leaders held a meeting with President Dr Arif Alvi to brief him on the alleged irregularities during the elections. Advertisement According to a statement issued by the presidents office, President Alvi during his meeting with PTI leaders Raoof Hassan and Umer Niazi was apprised of the partys stance and reiterated that Form-45, issued in various constituencies, reflected the facts of the electoral outcomes. They emphasised that despite attempts to pressurise the party, snatching of electoral symbols, and numerous arrests, PTI emerged victorious against all odds. Advertisement According to the party, the PTI was cruising with a lead of 170 National Assembly seats before the alleged rigging swung the pendulum in favour of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Around 60 million, or approximately 47 per cent, of nearly 129 million voters cast their ballots last Thursday to elect a new government to bring cash-strapped Pakistan out of financial crunch. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannuns aide Inderjit Singh Gosals Canada home allegedly came under gunfire, police said on Monday, following recent allegations by Ottawa and Washington that Indian dissidents living abroad in both countries have been targeted for assassination Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannuns aide Inderjit Singh Gosals Canada home allegedly came under gunfire, police said on Monday, following recent allegations by Ottawa and Washington that Indian dissidents living abroad in both countries have been targeted for assassination. According to AFP, Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said Peel Regional Police were alerted by construction crews about what appeared to be a bullet hole in a window of the home of Gosal in the province of Ontario, and are investigating. Advertisement Pannun, an American Sikh activist in New York whom US authorities say was the target of a thwarted assassination plot in the US last year, wrote on social media that the incident was a drive-by shooting. According to reports, there were no injuries in the shooting as the Brampton, Ontario, home is under construction and currently unoccupied. We understand who this person is and his affiliations, but its just too early for us to speculate that theres any connection to other violence and threats, AFP quoted Bell-Morena as saying. We are obviously investigating it with all avenues in mind, he added. In September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directly implicated New Delhi in the killing of another Sikh separatist, Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Advertisement Following Trudeaus public accusations, India vehemently denied the allegations, leading to a brief restriction on Canadian visas and the recall of Canadian diplomats. Canada also halted negotiations for a free-trade agreement with India in response. Washington took a more cautious approach regarding New Delhis potential involvement in the Pannun case, stating only that an Indian government official was allegedly implicated in the planning. Advertisement Recently, unidentified individuals fired shots at the British Columbia residence of Simranjeet Singh, an associate of Nijjar. Canadian media reported that two Canadian teenagers have been arrested for discharging a firearm, though police have not yet determined a motive. Both incidents involve radical Sikh separatists residing abroad and advocating for an independent state called Khalistan in Punjab, the northern Indian state where New Delhi suppressed an insurgency three decades ago. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Papua New Guineas opposition party on Tuesday initiated a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape as the nations parliament reconvened, marking the first session since violent riots took place in January amid a police strike Papua New Guineas opposition party on Tuesday initiated a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape as the nations parliament reconvened, marking the first session since violent riots took place in January amid a police strike. According to parliamentary regulations, a vote on the motion cannot occur until next week. Marape has expressed confidence in his ability to secure enough support to defeat the motion. Advertisement Papua New Guinea, the largest Pacific Island nation situated between Asia and the South Pacific, has recently established a defence cooperation agreement with the United States. Additionally, it is being courted by China for security partnerships. Addressing parliament for the first time regarding the riots, Marape criticised the police for striking over a salary discrepancy. He announced the appointment of a judge to oversee a commission of inquiry into the actions of the police force on 10 January. During the 10 hours police were not on duty in the capital Port Moresby, allowing rioters to cause mayhem, citizens had defended their suburbs and businesses, Reuters quoted Marape a saying. Sixteen people were killed in the rioting. We will not allow ill-discipline in our police force, he said. The defence force was not involved in the riot, Marape said, revealing that a military commander had asked to assist when Marapes office came under attack from rioters. Advertisement I said you will not bring your soldiers in, he told parliament. On a visit to Australia last week, Marape sought progress on a security and policing agreement struck in December that will see Canberra provide A$200 million to boost police training and recruitment. With inputs from agencies Kamala Harris (59) has faced growing scrutiny about her own abilities as the first in line to the presidency should Democrat Joe Biden (81) be incapacitated or stand down I am ready to serve as as leader said US Vice President Kamala Harris, as concerns among voters mount about President Joe Bidens age in an election year. The US Presidential polls are scheduled for 5 November, 2024. The 59-year-old Harris has faced growing scrutiny about her own abilities as the first in line to the presidency should Democrat Biden, 81, be incapacitated or stand down. Advertisement I am ready to serve. Theres no question about that, Harris told Wall Street Journal in an interview. She was asked whether voters concerns about Bidens age meant she must convince them of her credentials. Everyone who sees her on the job walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead, said Harris, the first Black, South Asian and female vice president in US history. The interview was published two days before a stinging special counsel report portrayed Biden as elderly and forgetful. Special counsel Robert Hurs probe into Bidens handling of classified documents said the president should not face charges but damningly said he would come across to a jury as a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Advertisement The White House has hit back hard at the report, noting that Hur interviewed Biden when he was under intense pressure the day after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Harris also sprang to Bidens defense, branding the special counsels report as politically motivated. Harris has taken on a growing role in Bidens reelection campaign, focusing on subjects including abortion, ahead of Novembers vote in which he is expected to face a rematch with former president Donald Trump. Advertisement Republicans have frequently targeted Harris and polls show the former California senator suffers from low approval ratings, like Biden himself. With inputs from AFP Russian police have put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Estonian State Secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys on a wanted list, according to a report, citing Russian Interior Ministrys database Russian police have put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Estonian State Secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys on a wanted list, according to a report, citing Russian Interior Ministrys database. The Russian Interior Ministry has put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on the wanted list The "Mediazona" publication leaked the full wanted database of the Russian Interior Ministry. This is the first time that Russia has opened a criminal case against a current head of pic.twitter.com/SWChv21LwI NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 13, 2024 Advertisement The database did not say what offence or offences they were wanted for. However, Russian news agency TASS quoted a source saying they were accused of destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers. This is the first time that Russia has opened a criminal case against a current head of a foreign state. According to Nexta report, the revelation came to light after a publication named Mediazona leaked the full wanted database of the Russian Interior Ministry, exposing the names of several high-profile Baltic and Polish officials targeted by Russian authorities. Advertisement Alongside Prime Minister Kallas, Peterkop and Kairys, members of the Latvian Saeima are also being sought. Additionally, two Polish officials and the director of the Institute of National Memory of Poland have been included in the Russian Interior Ministrys wanted list, added the report. Estonias Prime Minister Kallas had recently delivered a strong message, warning that the conflict in Ukraine will endure until Russia recognises the futility of its pursuit for victory. Advertisement Kallas urged Western allies of Ukraine to maintain steadfast support, both in terms of military assistance and financial aid. Highlighting Russias preparedness for a prolonged struggle, Kallas advised against falling into the snares set by the Kremlin. In an interview with the Austrian news outlet Der Standard, Kallas stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and resolute amid the complexities of the ongoing crisis. Advertisement It is a mistake to believe that the war can be won quickly, she added. Kallas reiterated that entering peace negotiations with Moscow does not guarantee tranquility, warning that acquiescing to Russias territorial ambitions would only fulfill its desires without securing enduring peace. The prime minister emphasised that yielding to the fear of Russia would only embolden the Kremlin further. Weakness provokes Russia, not strength," she said. Advertisement Amid mounting apprehensions over the enduring conflict in Ukraine, the certainty of Western assistance to the nation is in question. As Ukraine enters its third year of war, doubts linger about the sustained backing from Western allies. The United States, notably, has been a crucial supporter, offering significant aid to Ukraine. However, concerns have arisen as military assistance was halted on December 6, following the US Senates failure to pass the bill for funding aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Advertisement Recently, a delegation from Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, and Lithuania visited the US Congress to underscore their ongoing support for Ukraine. Despite their efforts, no consensus was reached, and the aid remains stalled. In response, Kallas urged Western nations to persist in their support for Ukraine as it confronts Russian aggression. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The votes postponement dismayed many in Senegal, one of West Africas more stable democracies, in a region where military takeovers and constitutional manoeuvring have forced democracy into retreat in many countries in recent years. Ahead of a scheduled silent march organised by activist groups, Senegals communications ministry instructed mobile operators to suspend internet access on Tuesday. This march, which had been banned by authorities was intended to protest the sudden postponement of a presidential election. The announcement of the postponement, just weeks before the planned February 25 vote, led to violent clashes last week, resulting in the deaths of three young individuals and multiple arrests. Advertisement In response to the delay, Parliament has voted to reschedule the election for December 15th. However, this decision has raised concerns among opposition members, as it extends President Macky Salls mandate in a departure from Senegals democratic norms. It was unclear whether the march would take place after authorities on Monday banned it, citing logistical concerns. The civil society and religious groups that called the demonstration will hold a press conference later on Tuesday to announce next steps, spokesman Amadou Samb told Reuters. The votes postponement dismayed many in Senegal, one of West Africas more stable democracies, in a region where military takeovers and constitutional manoeuvring have forced democracy into retreat in many countries in recent years. In a statement, the ministry blamed hateful online messages for the deaths and material damage incurred during the recent demonstrations. Advertisement In the capital Dakar, police in riot gear on Friday fired tear gas, stun grenades and what appeared to be rubber bullets at protesters who were burning tyres and throwing stones, a Reuters reporter said. Amnesty International and the U.N. human rights office called on the Senegalese government to investigate the killings and police brutality against protesters. Advertisement At least 266 people have been arrested across the country, including journalists, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell said. West Africas regional bloc ECOWAS on Monday sent a parliamentary diplomatic mission to Senegal to discuss the political situation in the country. With inputs from Reuters. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed plans to lethally remove 470,000 barred owls in our West Coast forests to try to help the spotted owl species survive. If the spotted owl sounds familiar, it's probably because this problem was Supposed to have been solved already back in the 1990s. The spotted owl was the catalyst of environmental activists crippling our logging industry. They leveraged the plight of the spotted owl to result in drastic reductions of our ability to log and proactively manage our forests all in the name of preserving owl habitat, and thus saving the species. But decades later, those devastating measures that have decimated the economies of logging and mill towns throughout the Pacific Northwest and lead to our current reality of mega-fires scorching our landscape and threatening our communities every summer, have in fact done nothing to save the spotted owl. Hence the latest drastic measure being proposed by USFWS. This trend of drastic measures guided solely by a unilateral prioritization of one species at the complete dismissal of any other consequences is one we see far too often as our court system continues to side with extreme activists, and fails to adequately consider a comprehensive balance of priorities for our communities. The recent deep drawdowns of Green Peter Dam and Lookout Point Dam are no exception. Chinook salmon were leveraged under the Endangered Species Act to result in an injunction forcing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct drawdowns throughout the Willamette River Basin dams. Despite the USACEs grave concerns about the devastating impact on human health and safety, to communities economies and clean water supply, and even the survival of numerous other species, the state of Oregon joined those plaintiffs and offered support of the remedies demanded by activists. As a result, our rivers have turned to mud, thousands of kokanee salmon are dead, the survival of other fish and aquatic species living in our rivers remain threatened, and communities downstream from our dams are enduring tens of millions in unexpected costs to try to maintain their water supplies. And the long-term damages of flushing decades of sediment down our waterways and drastically decreasing our stored water to bolster summer flows are yet to be seen. Yet Gov. Kotek is trying to blame this mess on the failure of the USACE to predict such problems, while ignoring her own agencies critical role in dismissing such concerns and helping make the mess in the first place. The state vowed that these drawdowns would actually result in cleaner water, and promised the potential for conflicts has been considered and addressed. But no mitigation plan for the numerous negative consequences cautioned by the USACE was ever included in the orders. It is easy to wonder what benefit we can expect from the devastatingly high costs our communities are enduring, and if these drawdowns are anything like the policies weve seen before, the answer is likely: nothing. These extreme measures always demand an equally extreme price from our communities, but their promises of immense benefits to a single species never seem to materialize. We need to stop living in the land of good intentions, and start realizing that this broken record of unilateral prioritization of any single species will always result in failure. Oregonians deserve balanced solutions that consider all the priorities necessary for our communities to thrive. The only way to achieve that is to take these decisions out of the hands of a select few far-removed individuals, and finally allow our communities to have a seat at the decision-making table. King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced the controversial billionaires eight-year sentence to just one year in August after he was found guilty of graft and abuse of power. The billionaire was twice elected premier and overthrown in a military coup in 2006 Only six months after his return from a 15-year self-imposed exile, the government of Thailand announced on Tuesday that Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, would be released from prison this weekend. King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced the controversial billionaires eight-year sentence to just one year in August after he was found guilty of graft and abuse of power. The billionaire was twice elected premier and overthrown in a military coup in 2006. Advertisement On Tuesday, Tawee Sodsong, the minister of justice, announced that 930 prisoners would be granted early release, including the 74-year-old former owner of Manchester City. He belongs to the group of people who are either over 70 or in a critical condition. After six months, he will be automatically released, Tawee Sodsong informed the press. Thaksin was jailed on August 22 last year, and Thai media reported that his release could come any day from Saturday. His homecoming coincided with his Pheu Thai party returning to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that an agreement had been struck to cut his jail time. Advertisement The rumours grew stronger when he was transferred to a police hospital within hours of being sentenced because of his poor health, and it is not clear that he has spent any time in a prison cell. Local media reported Thaksin had been suffering from chest tightness and high blood pressure when he was admitted to hospital, and in the following months, his family said he had undergone two operations. Advertisement Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, of the Pheu Thai party, confirmed Thaksin would be freed and insisted the move was in line with the law, saying he already served his jail time. Thaksin was our prime minister for many years, Srettha told reporters, saying Thaksin was still adored by many people. I am sure that he can give us some great tips. I would like to reiterate that everything was done according to the law of the Department of Corrections. Advertisement The exact details of Thaksins release are not clear, but he may be subject to monitoring possibly with an ankle tag and restrictions on his right to travel. - Divisive figure - Former telecoms tycoon Thaksin is one of the most influential but divisive figures in modern Thai history. Loved by millions of rural Thais for his populist policies in the early 2000s, Thaksin is reviled by the countrys royalist and pro-military establishment. Advertisement Much of Thai politics over the past two decades has been coloured by the tussle for power between the establishment and Thaksin and his allies. When he landed home in Bangkok, his supporters gave him a heros welcome, and his first public act was to prostrate himself in homage before a portrait of the king at the airport. Advertisement Last week, police laid lese-majeste charges against him over comments he made in South Korea almost a decade ago, though it is not clear whether prosecutors will take the case to court. Thaksin denies the charge and has written to the attorney general asking for fair treatment. (with inputs from AFP) Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards peace of some kind. Russian President Vladimir Putins proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine to halt the ongoing conflict was rebuffed by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, news agency Reuters quoted three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions as saying. The rejection of Putins suggestion marks the beginning of a third year of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II and underscores the considerable divide between the worlds two largest nuclear powers. A source from the US denied any official contact and stated that Washington would not participate in discussions that excluded Ukraine. Advertisement Putin conveyed his willingness to contemplate a ceasefire in Ukraine to Washington in 2023, both publicly and through intermediaries, including Moscows Arab allies in the Middle East and other channels, Reuters reported citing the Russian sources. Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards peace of some kind. The contacts with the Americans came to nothing, a senior Russian source with knowledge of the discussions in late 2023 and early 2024 told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. A second Russian source with knowledge of the contacts told Reuters that the Americans told Moscow, via the intermediaries, they would not discuss a possible ceasefire without the participation of Ukraine and so the contacts failed. A third source with knowledge of the discussions said: Everything fell apart with the Americans. Advertisement The source said that the Americans did not want to pressure Ukraine. The extent of the contacts - and their failure - has not previously been reported. It comes as US President Joe Biden has for months been pushing Congress to approve more aid for Ukraine, but has faced opposition from allies of Republican presidential nomination frontrunner Donald Trump. Advertisement The Kremlin, the White House, the US State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to comment. The US says no back channelPutin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on the one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other. Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence and the West casts Putins invasion as an imperial-style land grab that challenges the post-Cold War international order. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will never accept Russias control over Ukrainian land. He has outlawed any contact with Russia. A US official, speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, said that the US has not engaged in any back-channel discussions with Russia and that Washington had been consistent in not going behind the back of Ukraine. Advertisement The US official said that there appeared to have been unofficial Track II conversations among Russians not in the government but that the United States was not engaged in them. The US official said Putins proposal, based on what has been publicly reported, was unchanged from past demands that Russia hold on to Ukrainian territory. The official suggested that there appeared to be frustration in Moscow that Washington had repeatedly refused to accept it. Advertisement Putin told US talk show host Tucker Carlson last week that Russia was ready for dialogue.ContactsIntermediaries met in Turkey in late 2023, according to three Russian sources. A fourth diplomatic source said that there had been Russian-US unofficial contacts through intermediaries at Russias initiative but that they appeared to have come to nothing. Advertisement The US official said he was unaware of unofficial contact through intermediaries. According to three Russian sources, Putins signal was relayed to Washington, where top US officials including White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met. The idea was that Sullivan would speak to Putins foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, and set out the next steps, one of the Russian sources said. But when the call came in January, Sullivan told Ushakov that Washington was willing to talk about other aspects of the relationship but would not speak about a ceasefire without Ukraine, said one of the Russian sources. The US official refused to be drawn on any details of Sullivans purported calls, or whether such a conversation with Ushakov took place. Advertisement Putin said: I knew they wouldnt do anything," another of the Russian sources said. They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create.Another Russian source said that the United States did not appear to believe Putin was sincere. The Americans didnt believe Putin was genuine about a ceasefire - but he was and is - he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally, Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes - and Russia can fight for as long as it takes, the Russian source said. Advertisement The Kremlin sees little point in further contact with the United States on the issue, the Russian sources said, so the war would continue. With inputs from Reuters. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have asserted that the hefty monthly maintenance cost of $600,000 for the Amadea justifies its prompt auction, especially as negotiations with Khudainatov to cover these expenses have faltered The US government has disclosed that it spends over $7 million annually to maintain a superyacht seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch and is urging a judge to authorise its auction despite an ongoing ownership dispute. The 348-foot, $300 million yacht named Amadea was confiscated by Fijian authorities in May 2022, acting upon a US warrant alleging ownership by Suleiman Kerimov, a Russian billionaire previously sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for involvement in Syria and Ukraine affairs. Advertisement Eduard Khudainatov, former head of Russian state oil and gas giant Rosneft, contests ownership of the vessel, arguing that it cannot be forfeited as he himself hasnt been subjected to sanctions. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have asserted that the hefty monthly maintenance cost of $600,000 for the Amadea justifies its prompt auction, especially as negotiations with Khudainatov to cover these expenses have faltered. They claim Khudainatov is merely a front for Kerimov and that maintaining the yacht is crucial to preserving its value. Khudainatov has until February 23 to respond to prosecutors request. His legal team has deemed the motion premature and urged the judge to withhold approval until the constitutionality of the seizure is determined. Advertisement The yachts confiscation aligns with heightened US sanctions enforcement targeting individuals associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid Moscows military actions in Ukraine. Proceeds from the yachts auction, if successful, would likely be directed towards Ukraine. Prosecutors allege that Kerimov violated US sanctions by funneling over $1 million in maintenance payments through the US financial system, rendering the vessel, currently harbored in San Diego, eligible for forfeiture. Advertisement Kerimov, whose net worth is estimated at $10.7 billion according to Forbes, amassed his wealth primarily through his involvement with Russian gold miner Polyus, though he no longer holds shares in the company. The Republican logjam over the bill comes amid both disunity within the party and an apparent desire among some to keep the border an open issue leading into the election Speaker of the US House Mike Johnson stated on Monday that, despite a package certain to pass the Senate with bipartisan support and costing billions of dollars in additional aid for Ukraine and other countries, the Republican-led house would not consider taking it up. The majority of the $95 billion package, or $60 billion, would go towards helping pro-Western Ukraine replenish its weapons stockpile and other vital supplies as it moves into its third year of conflict. The remaining portion would go towards supporting Taiwan, a vital strategic partner, and Israel in its struggle against Hamas terrorists. Advertisement There are no changes to US immigration policy in the plan, which may be put to a final Senate vote early on Tuesday morning. A previous Senate text that encompassed both the border and foreign aid was killed by members of Johnsons own party in the upper chamber, after he similarly vowed to kill it in the House over concerns it did not sufficiently address illegal border crossings. House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border, Johnson said in a statement. Johnson had previously stated that the Senates first bill which included some of the harshest immigration curbs in decades but which he said still did not go far enough would be dead on arrival in his chamber. Advertisement His rhetoric matched that of former president Donald Trump, who forcefully called for the bill to be rejected as he runs for office again and seeks to exploit Joe Bidens perceived weakness on immigration. Despite months of bipartisan negotiations over the bill, Senate Republicans ultimately voted to block it from proceeding. Another bill excluding the immigration provisions however gained enough support from Republicans to move forward in the Democratic-controlled Senate, making it almost certain it will pass a final simple-majority vote around midweek. Advertisement America First The Senate did the right thing last week by rejecting the Ukraine-Taiwan-Gaza-Israel-Immigration legislation due to its insufficient border provisions, and it should have gone back to the drawing board to amend the current bill to include real border security provisions, Johnson said. Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, he added. Advertisement The Republican logjam over the bill comes amid both disunity within the party and an apparent desire among some to keep the border an open issue leading into the election. Johnsons opposition to the Ukraine funding bill also places him out of step with the top Republican in the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Advertisement Before voting Sunday to move forward with the $95 billion package, McConnell urged his colleagues to reject the isolationist approach of Trump without naming him and his right-wing allies in the House, and to think about the message it would send if the United States failed to support Ukraine and other democracies. Advertisement Our allies and partners are hoping that the indispensable nation the leader of the free world has the resolve to continue. And our adversaries are hoping for something quite different, he said. Trump sparked consternation among NATO allies over the weekend with a campaign speech in which he said he would encourage Russia to invade countries who do not meet defense spending goals. Advertisement He renewed those complaints on Monday, claiming on his Truth Social network that we are helping Ukraine for more than 100 Billion Dollars more than NATO, apparently referring to other allies besides the United States. NATO HAS TO EQUALIZE, AND NOW IF NOT AMERICA FIRST! he posted. According to the White House, the Presidential Records Transition Task Force will examine previous transitions to identify best practices for protecting sensitive data from an exiting administration Days after it was revealed in a harshly critical report by the Justice Department special counsel that he had indeed mishandled sensitive material during presidential transitions, President Joe Biden on Monday established a task group to address this systemic issue. According to the White House, the Presidential Records Transition Task Force will examine previous transitions to identify best practices for protecting sensitive data from an exiting administration. Additionally, it will determine if current rules and processes need to be modified in order to avoid the removal of confidential data that is legally required to be maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration. Advertisement In his report, Special Counsel Robert Hur mentioned several private records that were discovered at both Bidens former Washington office and his Wilmington, Delaware residence. The papers were marked as classified or later assessed to contain classified information. The majority of the documents, Hurs report stated, appeared to have been mistakenly removed from government offices, though he also detailed some items that Biden appeared to knowingly retain. He concluded that criminal charges were not warranted in the matter. I take responsibility for not having seen exactly what my staff was doing, Biden said last week after Hurs report was released. He added that things that appeared in my garage, things that came out of my home, things that were moved were moved not by me but my staff. Biden aides first discovered some of the documents as they cleared out the offices of the Penn-Biden Center in Washington in 2022, and more were discovered during subsequent searches by Bidens lawyers and the FBI. Advertisement Biden promptly reported the discoveries to federal authorities, which prompted the special counsel probe. Thats unlike former President Donald Trump, who is accused of resisting efforts to return classified government records that he moved to his Florida residence before leaving office in 2021 and of obstructing the investigation into them in a separate special counsel investigation. Advertisement In even the best of circumstances, presidential transitions can be chaotic as records of the outgoing administration are transferred to the National Archives and thousands of political appointees leave their jobs to make way for the incoming administration. Officials of multiple administrations have said there is a systemic problem with mishandling of classified information by senior government officials, particularly around transitions, magnified by rampant over-classification across the government. Advertisement Former Vice President Mike Pence turned over some classified documents discovered at his home last year. And former officials from all levels of government discover they are in possession of classified material and turn them over to the authorities at least several times a year. Previous presidential transitions, across administrations stretching back decades, have fallen short in ensuring that classified presidential records are properly archived at NARA, the White House said. In light of the many instances that have come to light in recent years revealing the extent of this systemic issue, President Biden is taking action to strengthen how administrations safeguard classified documents during presidential transitions and to help address this longstanding problem going forward. Advertisement Hurs report said many of the documents recovered at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, in parts of Bidens Delaware home and in his Senate papers at the University of Delaware were retained by mistake. Biden could not have been prosecuted as a sitting president, but Hurs report states that he would not recommend charges against Biden regardless. Investigators did find evidence of willful retention of a subset of records found in Bidens Wilmington, Delaware house, including in a garage, office and basement den, but not enough to suggest charges. The files pertain to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration that Biden had vigorously opposed. He kept records that documented his position, including a classified letter to Obama during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday. Advertisement Biden also retained his personal notebooks after leaving the vice presidency, some of which investigators found contained classified information, though other officials have kept similar documents as their personal property. President Biden takes classified information seriously he returned the documents that were found, he fully cooperated with the investigation, and it concluded that there was no case, said Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office. Now he is taking action to help strengthen future transitions to better prevent classified documents from being accidentally packed up and removed from the government, like we have seen with officials from every administration for decades. Advertisement The task force will be headed by Katy Kale, deputy administrator of the General Services Administration, who was assistant to the president for management and administration during the Obama administration, the post that oversees the human resources and document retention functions at the White House. The panel will include representatives from the White House, General Services Administration, NARA, the National Security Council and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Advertisement The task force is to produce its recommendations ahead of the next presidential transition. It is set to operate independently from the White House Transition Coordinating Council, which is chaired by the White House chief of staff and required by law to be stood up six months before any presidential election. According to insiders, if the president is elected a week sooner, a new president would administer the oath to the incoming prime minister rather than incumbent Alvi. Pakistans President Arif Alvi may not administer the oath to the next prime minister since his replacement would be elected before the next federal government is established, according to a media report on Tuesday. According to News International, the newly-elected National Assembly members oaths might be administered on February 26, three days before the deadline for calling the House for its maiden session, with a similar process taking place the next day. Advertisement If the members elected to both chambers take an oath in the national legislature, they will no longer be members of the provincial parliament. According to reliable legislative sources who spoke to the newspaper, elections for the Senates 53 members, the chairman and deputy chairman, and ultimately the nations president must take place by March 8. There will be a cap on the amount of time available to hold presidential votes. According to insiders, if the president is elected a week sooner, a new president would administer the oath to the incoming prime minister rather than incumbent Alvi. The sources said that voting for Senate members would be possible for members of the national and provincial assemblies after they had taken the oath of office. Advertisement The sources have given the schedule for the whole process and told the paper that the members of the assemblies will have to submit their expense details by February 18 and notification of the elected members will be made by February 22. The session in the case of the National Assembly could be held on February 26, while the provincial assemblies could be summoned on the same or the following day. Once the oath is administered, they would become regular members of their respective houses. The process of Senate election will be initiated and that will take four days. Advertisement As soon as the Senate oath will culminate, the schedule for the presidents election will be started. On the other hand, a five-day schedule for the election of speakers, deputy speakers, and prime minister in case of the National Assembly and chief ministers in the provincial assemblies will commence, the sources said. Advertisement President Arif Alvi had declined to administer the oath to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 14, 2022, and the Chairman Senate had to perform the function after the National Assembly passed a no-confidence motion against then prime minister Imran Khan. Alvi, who avoided it under the pretext of his health, was present in the presidency during the oath-taking and he watched it through a CCTV system of the tall building. Advertisement Alvi, 74, was a senior member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party before former prime minister Khan made him the countrys President in 2018. The sources reminded that the caretaker prime minister and cabinet members will stay in their respective offices till the moment a new prime minister takes oath, according to the paper. Samsung Galaxy S24 series users have encountered various display issues, with complaints flooding in regarding a grainy texture problem. Many owners have also noted washed-out colors on their displays. Samsung is reportedly developing a vividness slider to address this issue. However, these problems arent limited to color inconsistencies. Reports suggest that the S24 lineups super-bright displays suffer from several defects. The grainy texture on the display is particularly noticeable on dark or gray backgrounds. Reddit users have extensively discussed this issue, with a poll indicating that a majority of S24 and S24+ owners have experienced it. Some users have even examined their devices under microscopes, revealing uneven subpixel intensity at low brightness levels. While Samsung has replaced units for some customers, others have faced challenges in obtaining replacements. In addition to the grainy texture, some S24 users have reported seeing three horizontal bars on their displays at low brightness. There are also complaints about excessive banding when viewing gradient images. One Reddit user, general_clausewitz, has extensively documented the prevalence of the grainy texture across multiple devices, including personal devices, demo units, and phones belonging to others. He asserts that the issue seems widespread across devices manufactured until January 31st. Despite attempts to replace their device multiple times, they have encountered the same problem persistently. Ice Universe, a notable source for Samsung leaks and updates, has shared information about an upcoming update for the Galaxy S24 series, addressing the vividness of the screen. On his post on X (formerly Twitter), he said that this update is expected to include a Vividness option, allowing users to adjust color vividness to their preference. Its unclear whether these issues stem from hardware or software problems, although speculation on Reddit leans toward software-related concerns. As more reports surface, users await updates from Samsung to address these display concerns, alongside previously reported camera issues. Source 1, 2 | Via Corvallis schools face a projected $10.4 million shortfall next year, with staffing cuts likely as the district begins crafting a new budget this spring. A projected increase in expenses next year, a continued decline in student enrollment and insufficient funding from the state are to blame, according to the district's finance director, Lauren Wolfe. A Place to Sleep, episode 3: Corvallis Do unhoused people know where to go in Corvallis? Well, the city has outlined where they shouldn't be: near creeks, rivers, wetlands, sidewalks or within 20 feet of trees. Knowing that we need an adopted budget by June, Im out of ideas of where we would pull additional revenue to make some miracle happen for next year, Wolfe told the school board on Thursday, Feb. 8. The number of potential lost positions remains unclear. The district is currently operating on a $190.4 million budget, which, when it passed, represented a 24% decrease from 2022-23. The total includes less spending in construction as the district is wrapping up a number of bond-funded projects, according to a memo attached to the budget. The general fund is the district's operating budget. It's currently expected to expend $89.8 million this year, 2.8% more than the school year before. Superintendent Ryan Noss cautioned this year's budget process would take time. It's possible changes to next years staffing could represent more of a reshuffling of personnel, rather than straight cuts, he said. "It feels unknown and scary, and at the same time our HR director has been through this multiple times in her career and recognizes that, in most cases, we find places for people in our district," Noss told the board. However, school board Chair Luhui Whitebear, acknowledged that along with staffing shifts some employees may no longer have a job at the district by the end of the process. Its just really tough," Whitebear said. Challenges In her sobering presentation to the school board last week, Wolfe briefly reviewed the districts key funding sources. More than 84% comes from the state school fund, which is approved by the state Legislature every two years. Around 12% comes from the local option levy, while remaining funds come from various sources like grants. The problem for Corvallis is how the state calculates its funding for districts. That calculation is based on the number of students a district enrolls, with certain students, such as English language learners, weighted for extra money. But the district's enrollment numbers have been declining for years. According to data presented at last weeks school board meeting, total non-charter school enrollment is projected to decline by 1.2%, or roughly 75 students next year. Two of the districts elementary schools Kathryn Jones Harrison and Mountain View are projected to dip below 300 students for the first time in years, according to Wolfe. The long-term view isn't rosy either, according to the finance director. Currently, the district has just over 6,000 students, but that number is expected to be closer to 5,000 by the 2027-28 school year. So, while the state approved a historic $10.2 billion in K-12 school funding for the 2023-25 budget biennium, Corvallis schools continue to see their student numbers decrease, meaning its share of those state dollars also will shrink. At the same time, the district's expenditures for the next school year are projected to jump by 9%, according to Wolfe. As for why enrollment is declining, the precise factors are unclear, Wolfe said. While COVID-19 certainly hasnt helped, Wolfe noted declining enrollments pre-date the pandemic, with the downward trend beginning during the 2017-18 school year. School board member Sami Al-Abdrabbuh and Wolfe agreed affordable housing availability in Corvallis was a key culprit. Another reason for the budget crunch, according to Wolfe, is the loss of one-time pandemic relief money, which the district used to shore up support staff, like education assistants and behavioral specialists. The district cut over 40 positions last year, many of them support staff, citing the expiration of that one-time relief funds. Altogether, the $10.4 million shortfall will force $8.2 million in corrections. That's what's needed to maintain the districts required amount of reserve funding, Wolfe said. Reserves serve as savings accounts and are sometimes referred to as rainy-day funds. Uncertain impact Wolfe outlined three measures for steering the districts budgetary ship back on course. One is adjusting the districts class sizes and reducing staffing to meet the larger student-to-teacher ratios, which she said could save $2.8 million. Then there are department reductions, which include cutting full-time employee positions and other nonpayroll expenditures, which could save $4.6 million, Wolfe said. Finally, further reductions in school support positions, like educational assistants, could save $800,000, she said. When asked by Crescent Valley High School student Zoe DeAmicis, a student representative on the school board, about which programs could face cuts, Wolfe said district officials were still discussing that. Both Wolfe and Noss said officials were working to make these budgetary decisions in ways that impacts students the least. Were only in February, and we have some time to complete this process, Wolfe said. But knowing that it is a tough process, (were) starting that work earlier, so that we can get the input from the groups we need to get input from. The districts budget committee will begin meeting in April and throughout the spring, before hosting a public hearing on a finalized budget for the next school year at a June 13 school board meeting. What about the reserves? The district is required to keep a total of 12.5% of its funding from the state and from local property taxes in various reserve pools. The district's contingency reserve, for example, is used for unplanned expenses, like replacing a boiler, while the districts rainy-day fund is tapped during serious such financial crises as recessions. But school board members and the districts finance director were quick to pour cold water on tapping those funds to help cover next years shortfall. For one, if the district dips into reserve funding, its required to replenish that one-time money within three years, which can be a challenging prospect, considering uncertain funding levels from Salem in the next biennium a point school board member Sarah Finger McDonald highlighted. So, if you talk about spending (reserves) down to fix the problem this year, it means we may have a bigger hole next year, she said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today. But board Chair Whitebear, along with Wolfe, said the reserves wouldnt even put a dent into the deficit the districts facing next year. Looking forward, Whitebear encouraged community members to engage in the budget process at not only a school board level, but also a state level, reaching out to state legislators about their concerns around funding. She also said everybody at the district plays a specific role in helping the district function best for students. We understand that its hard, Whitebear said. We dont like it either. Related stories: Unofficial election results: Corvallis schools local-option levy passes In unofficial election results, voters in Linn and Benton counties appeared to have renewed Even with increased funding, Corvallis schools cut support staff The Corvallis School District used one-time relief funds to invest in support staff. Teachers, who are negotiating a new contract, would love to have them back. And raises. With state funds in doubt, Corvallis schools could face a $5M hole The superintendent says he's not anticipating a reduction of 50 staff members at this time. But he has to be prepared. These mid-Willamette Valley schools are getting a makeover this summer Everything from a new playground to a new high school workshop is underway. Urbn today announced that Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has joined as its brand ambassador. This step reflects Urbns aim to offer top-notch charging solutions that are both practical and stylish, appealing to users in various markets. This collaboration goes beyond mere partnership; it represents Urbns dedication to innovation, resonating particularly with the younger demographic. Urbn, known for its tech-savvy approach, recently introduced the Urbn MagTag Wireless power banks, catering to the fast-paced lifestyles of todays youth. Kartik Aaryan, chosen for his vibrant personality and relatable charm, embodies Urbns ethos of accessibility and creativity. As the brand ambassador, he will be a key figure in Urbns upcoming campaigns and product launches, showcasing the brands commitment to providing innovative solutions for everyone. Urbns range of reliable charging solutions is readily available online and offline, including at over 200 Croma stores nationwide, all proudly made in India at their own manufacturing facility. Commenting on the collaboration, Kartik Aaryan, Bollywood Actor & Brand Ambassador, Urbn said: As someone whos constantly on the move, from one set to another, the need for reliable on-the-go charging is undeniable. While I focus on delivering my best in films, Urbn stands out in catering to Indias charging needs, ensuring folks like me never face the inconvenience of a dead phone. Im thrilled to team up with Urbn and excited to contribute to their journey of expansion. Speaking about the collaboration, Sagar Gwallani, Founder & CEO, Urbn said: Nothing has confirmed the launch of Nothing Phone (2a), the companys next smartphone, on March 5th. The companys CEO Carl Pei in a video hinted that the Phone (2a) will be cheaper than the Phone (1). Design Lead Industrial Designer Chris Weightman revealed the phones design sketches that match the live images that surfaced recently showing the camera in the middle. He also confirmed that the phone will still have a transparent design and will have the glyph interface, but the company has reworked on the placement of the glyph, he added. The sketches also coincide with the images that surfaced a few weeks back. Earlier rumours revealed a 6.7 120Hz AMOLED screen, powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, feature a 50MP 1/1.5 Samsung S5KGN9 sensor along with a 50MP Samsung S5KJN1 ultra-wide camera in the rear and a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor for the front. Rs. 2,000 discount As usual, the phone will be sold on Flipkart in India, and you can sign up on the Nothing website to get a Rs. 2000 discount during the sale on Flipkart. If others sign-up with your code, you can stand a chance to attend the launch event in Delhi, and one lucky winner will receive a Phone (2a), said the company. Regarding the phone, Carl Pei said: At Nothing, we just want to create the best products, irrespective of which product. With Phone (2a), whats important is great performance and a great camera. Thats what the team has been really focused on, whilst not forgetting about what makes us unique: our design innovation and our software. Networks in Sudan were reportedly switched off by government troops, engulfing the nation in a communicaitons blackout, as the country continues to suffer under a civil war started 10 months ago. Reuters reported the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began shutting down networks on February 5 and completing the black out on February 7. State-owned operator Sudani stated on February 12 it had begun restoring its network, subscribers reported signal was back online in Port Sudan and surrounding locations. The RSF controls swathes of capital city Khartoum including the headquarters of Sudatel Group, Sudanis parent company. The blackout interrupted aid deliveries and prevented almost 50 million people from making payments or contacting the outside world. Sources speaking to Reuters said the RSF had threatened blackouts unless engineers restored services in the western Darfur region, where RSF soldiers had endured a blackout for months. A telecom official blamed the blackout on lack of fuel and dangerous working conditions. The Sudanese government had ordered its population to cease using Starlink terminals to tap into the internet. Citizens have bemoaned the lack of connectivity has prevented access to e-wallets in which Sudanese citizens have grown reliant on for commerce and communication. Only days after Movistars request to suspend the process was turned down by the Court for the Defence of Free Competition (TDLC), Chilean telecommunications services regulator Subtel has again adjusted the calendar for the next 5G spectrum auction, which will award frequencies in the 3.5GHz band. It was revealed a few days ago that the start of applications had been moved from 12 February to 26 February. The process will end on 4 March. Subtel will announce the winners of the spectrum on 5 March. The original terms remain unchanged. Subtel has said that one to five concessions of no less than 10 megahertz each will be granted for the installation and operation of high-speed mobile networks. The licenses will have a duration of 30 years. Entel, Telefonica del Sur, Claro, VTR, WOM and Telefonica (as Movistar) are authorised to participate in the process. Claro participates as ClaroVTR, something that upset Movistar, which had been suggesting that there were anti-competitive elements to this 5G spectrum auction that would favour ClaroVTR. As before, this auction will not necessarily involve competitive bidding. Applicants will be evaluated and given scores. However, a tie will be resolved through a bidding mechanism. This has happened before. In January the start of applications was moved to 12 February from 24 January. At the time Subtel moved the announcement of the winners of the spectrum to 20 February. Saturday Night Partly cloudy skies early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later at night. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. The Kremlin's Efforts to Spread Deadly Disinformation in Africa US Department of State Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson February 12, 2024 Today, the U.S. Department of State's Global Engagement Center is exposing Russia's intelligence services for providing material support and guidance to "African Initiative," a new information agency focused on Africa-Russia relations that has spread disinformation regarding the United States and European countries. The Kremlin's disinformation campaign in Africa: In addition to its own staff, African Initiative recruits African journalists, bloggers, and members of local publics to support and amplify the organization's work of bolstering Russia's image and denigrating that of other countries. One of African Initiative's first major campaigns is to target U.S. and Western health initiatives in Africa with dangerous health-related disinformation. The campaign seeks to undermine U.S.-funded public health projects across Africa beginning with disinformation regarding an outbreak of a mosquito-borne viral disease. From there, conspiracies will be spread about Western pharmaceutical corporations, health-focused philanthropic efforts, and the spread of disease in West and East Africa. The actors involved: The Chief Editor of the African Initiative is Artem Sergeyevich Kureyev, who is also the General Director of Initsiativa-23, publicly registered to an office in Moscow. Some members of the African Initiative were recruited from the disintegrating enterprises of the late Yevgeniy Prigozhin. The organization already has local offices in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Bamako, Mali and is hosting events on the ground. Laundering the Kremlin's disinformation to appear organic: African Initiative primarily spreads its disinformation and propaganda via numerous branded and unbranded social media accounts. Two of its main accounts are "African Initiative" and "African Kalashnikov". The organization is highly active on its website, afrinz.ru, and VKontakte, and uses these platforms and others amplified by additional pro-Russian accounts. The popular Telegram channel "Smile and Wave" is a frequent amplifier of African Initiative content. Foreign information manipulation remains a critical threat around the world, as authoritarian actors like the Russian government use it to exacerbate social divisions, skew national discourse, and fundamentally disrupt people's ability to make informed decisions for themselves and their communities. By supporting this disinformation network, the Russian government is actively harming the countries it targets and the African continent as a whole. Recently, the U.S. State Department's Global Engagement Center exposed the Kremlin's attempts to undermine global support for Ukraine by covertly spreading disinformation in Latin America. The core tactic in that campaign involved laundering Moscow-produced content through local individuals and groups to make pro-Kremlin disinformation and propaganda seem organic to the communities in which it was spread. Following the disruption of that operation, the Russian government is now trying the same tactic in Africa with a new set of actors and entities. Foreign information manipulation is a dangerous and destabilizing tactic, but it is especially damaging when targeting health information. This Kremlin disinformation campaign must come to an immediate end before it poses an even greater risk to health security in Africa. For media inquiries, please contact the Global Engagement Center at GECMediaContacts@State.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ciena announced on Monday that Telia Lithuania is using its coherent optics gear to launch the first 800G wavelength service between major cities in the country as part of a nationwide upgrade of its fibre-optic network. Telia Lithuania is using Cienas WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) solution, sas well as its network management solutions, to upgrade its countrywide network to support 400G and higher services. Ciena says the solution enables the telcos fibre-optic network to deliver more flexible, higher-capacity, and cost-effective, power efficient transport services. Virginie Hollebecque, VP of EMEA at Ciena, said in a statement that the solution will make Telia Lithuanias network more resilient, with faster wavelength restoration, quicker issue resolution and improved timing distribution for applications requiring highly reliable synchronization. Network resiliency is of great importance for all networks in the Baltic region, considering the regions heavy reliance on digital technologies, she said. Telia Lithuania has a resilient network foundation that can instantly bounce back from any disruptions, minimizing downtime, ensuring service continuity, and safeguarding its communication infrastructure. Andrius Semeskevicius, head of technology at Telia Lithuania, said the network upgrade is essential to support 5G, IoT and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Semeskevicius said Cienas solution allows us to reliably and efficiently meet our customers varied transport requirements whether for access, metro, long haul, or enterprise data centre interconnect. 24h Operational Activity: Armed Terrorists Cells Thwarted and Weapons Located IDF Press Release February 7, 2024 07.02.24 IDF , Media Center IDF troops from the Paratroopers Brigade neutralized dozens of terrorists in Khan Yunis over the past 24 hours. In one incident, the troops encountered an armed terrorist cell and thwarted it. The soldiers also located large quantities of weapons including AK-47 rifles, grenades, and explosive devices. During another activity in Khan Yunis, IDF troops identified a terrorist in the area. Coordinating with the IAF, the troops targeted and eliminated the terrorist in an aircraft strike. Subsequently, three additional terror operatives were identified in the vicinity and were neutralized in a strike. In addition, IDF troops eliminated a number of terrorists and located weapons and documents belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: Operations in Western Khan Yunis and Northern Gaza Continue IDF Press Release February 8, 2024 08.02.24 IDF , Media Center IDF troops are continuing intensive operations in terrorist hubs in western Khan Yunis. Over the past day, IDF troops have apprehended dozens of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activity, including two terrorists who participated in the October 7th Massacre and an additional Nukhba terrorist. IDF troops killed two terrorists in close-quarters combat. Simultaneously, IDF troops identified and killed a terrorist positioned on the roof of a school using precise fire. During a targeted raid on terror infrastructure located in the residence of a terrorist, IDF troops located a RPG launcher, scuba suit and ammunition. Furthermore in Khan Yunis, IDF troops identified and killed over 20 terrorists during offensives on terror targets. In the northern Gaza Strip, IDF troops killed ten terrorists in various encounters during the day, terrorists carried out anti-tank missile fire toward a tank. The troops identified the terrorists who fired at them and directed an IDF fighter jet which struck and killed the terrorist cell. In the central Gaza Strip, IDF troops killed a number of terrorists over the past day. In one of the activities, the troops struck Hamas military infrastructure and killed four terrorists belonging to the organization. During intelligence gathering activity in the northern Gaza Strip, IDF troops identified a terrorist cell that attempted to transfer technological systems to the Hamas terrorist organization. The troops activated a drone that killed the terrorist cell. Attached is a video of IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/42wOGAe Attached is a video of IDF strikes: https://bit.ly/3UA0a4g NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: Troops Eliminated a Terrorist Cell That Planted Explosive Devices Near Soldiers IDF Press Release February 9, 2024 09.02.24 IDF , Media Center Over the last day, IDF naval, air, and ground troops continued to conduct joint operational activity in the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist cells and destroying terrorist infrastructure. In addition to the combat conducted in the area of Khan Yunis, the troops eliminated several terrorists in northern and central Gaza. IDF ground troops are continuing to conduct targeted raids in western Khan Yunis. IDF special forces raided a compound in the area used by Hamas terrorists to carry out attacks on IDF troops. Additionally, IDF troops identified a terrorist cell that planted explosive devices near the troops operating in the area. Following their identification, IDF troops directed an aircraft to strike and eliminate the terrorist cell. As part of the combat in Khan Yunis, IDF troops identified two terrorists carrying weapons emerging from terror infrastructure in the area. Through coordination between IDF ground and air troops, the terrorists were successfully struck and eliminated. During operational activity in western Khan Yunis, the troops eliminated 15 terrorists. Additionally, the troops conducted targeted raids on terrorist infrastructure, during which several weapons, including AK-47s, ammunition magazines, and grenades were identified. During additional operational activity in the area, IDF ground troops directed an aircraft to strike several buildings rigged with explosive devices located near the troops. Furthermore, during targeted raids on terror targets in the area, the troops located weapons, military equipment, and technological equipment. In the area of Beit Lahia, IDF troops identified an armed terrorist cell operating in an area adjacent to a Hamas military post. In response, an aircraft was directed to the terrorist cell's location before they were able to carry the attack they had planned, and two additional armed terrorists who were operating adjacent to the terrorist cell were identified. Following this, aircraft struck and eliminated the cell, as well as the two terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Bataan, 26th MEU(SOC) Port in Larnaca, Cyprus US Navy 11 February 2024 From Chief Mass Communication Specialist Barry Riley, USS Bataan Public Affairs Officer LARNACA, Cyprus -- The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) arrived in Larnaca, Republic of Cyprus, for a scheduled port visit, Feb. 11. While in port, the ship and 26th MEU(SOC) team will conduct a routine liberty port, as well as host a reception for a group of distinguished visitors, to include Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee. "Our Sailors and Marines onboard the ship have been working hard over the past few months, and I can't be more proud of them," said Bataan Commanding Officer Capt. Paul Burkhart. "I am excited to visit Cyprus, and glad that we will get some well-earned off-time in such a great area." The ship's visit to the Republic of Cyprus marks the third port visit for the Sailors and Marines of Bataan and 26th MEU(SOC) in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of responsibility. Amphibious Ready Groups provide an inherently flexible maneuver force ready to meet emerging missions or contingencies, respond to humanitarian crises, reassure allies and Partners, and promote the free flow of maritime commerce and regional stability. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 26th MEU(SOC), is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied and partner interests. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. U.S. 6th Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet visits USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) US Navy 11 February 2024 From Ensign Karolyn Batista, USS Paul Ignatius Public Affairs NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain - Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) at Naval Station Rota to meet with the crew and recognize their accomplishments, Feb. 9, 2024. Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) at Naval Station Rota to meet with the crew and recognize their accomplishments, Feb. 9, 2024. Since arriving to Rota to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces Europe (FDNF-E) force in June 2022, Paul Ignatius' crew has completed two patrols in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, working alongside Allies and partners to ensure security and stability throughout European and African waters. "The sailors of the USS Paul Ignatius have shown exceptional skill and determination in carrying out their duties since joining the FDNF-E force less than two years ago," said Ishee. "Their hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on naval operations, and I am proud to have this incredibly capable warship and crew in our region." Paul Ignatius successfully completed a series of missions and operations during an extended regional patrol throughout much of 2023, including joint exercises with Allies and partners from the Baltic Sea to the coast of Morocco and other maritime security operations throughout the Sixth Fleet area of operations. "Your warfighting spirit is evident in each crew member and the way I see your team operate together," said Ishee. "Our nation, the NATO Alliance, and our regional Allies and partners continue to rely on the capability and resolve that Paul Ignatius brings to maintain freedom of navigation in international waters, deter aggression and support our partners in Europe and Africa." Paul Ignatius returned to its homeport in Rota, Spain at the end of the November 2023, and has spent their inport period maintaining proficiency, keeping the ship and crew fit to fight, and preparing for future exercises and operations throughout the Sixth Fleet region. Paul Ignatius is one of four Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) destroyers assigned to Commander Task Force 65 as part of the U.S. Navy's support to NATO's Integrated Air Missile Defense (IAMD) architecture. These FDNF-E ships demonstrate the U.S. Navy's flexibility to operate throughout Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, supporting security and stability in the maritime domain. For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statements by the President of the Republic and the President of Germany Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus 12-02-2024 The President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of Germany, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier made statements to the media today, following their tete-a-tete meeting and the extended talks between their delegations, at the Presidential Palace. In his statements to the media, welcoming Mr Steinmeier on his first official visit to Cyprus as President of Germany, President Christodoulides noted, inter alia, his satisfaction regarding the close cooperation between the two countries in "areas in which we have the strategic objective of further expanding our cooperation," such as education, culture, immigration, defence and safety, health, and tourism. As regards to their European agenda, the two presidents discussed the pressing issue of immigration as well as the developments in Ukraine. "The position of the Republic of Cyprus is that we should work together to further integrate the European Union (EU), to come even closer and to offer much more to our citizens," stated President Christodoulides. He also referred to the regional developments in Gaza and Israel, underlying "the need for an end to the hostilities." Furthermore, he mentioned Cyprus' efforts to establish a maritime humanitarian aid corridor as Cyprus, the closest EU member state to the region, "we have a duty as member states to play a more prominent role in the developments." Concluding, President Christodoulides stated that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation. "My vision and sole ambition is to end this unacceptable state of affairs - half a century of occupation - to reunite our country on the basis of the agreed framework, the United Nations (UN) resolutions and the EU principles and values," said President Christodoulides. He added that the EU must contribute significantly in order to reinforce the UN effort as it has the means which can aid in reaching "a mutually beneficial state of affairs for all Cypriot people, for the EU, for Turkey, for Euro-Turkish relations." On his part, President Steinmeier said, inter alia, "For us and for all of Europe, Cyprus is truly a safe heaven in the region and I mean that literally, especially after the Hamas terrorist attack. We had to prepare for a possible evacuation of German nationals and that is why we sent German soldiers to Cyprus. I would like to thank Cyprus for the support it has given us, which has been swift, multi-faceted and vital." Referring to the Cyprus problem, President Steinmeier stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem must be reached, expressing Germany's support for "a bizonal, bicommunal solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN parametres." Moreover, he welcomed the appointment of the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy, Ms Cuellar, stressing its importance in order to "give new momentum to the solution of the Cyprus problem and break the stalemate." Concluding, President Steinmeier noted that Germany will send German police officers to Cyprus for the first time, who will assume their duties in the coming months. (GS/AP) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address February 12, 2024 Release Readout of Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jennifer Zakriski's Participation in the U.S.-Tunisia Military Commission Working Groups Department of Defense Spokesman Maj. Pete Nguyen provided the following readout: Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Ms. Jennifer Zakriski, traveled to Tunisia Feb. 8-9 to meet with Tunisian Minister of Defense Imed Memmich. While in Tunis, Acting DASD Zakriski co-chaired the Military Commission Working Groups (MCWG) with Tunisian Air Force Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hajem, in advance of the 36th annual Joint Military Commission to be held later this year. The MCWG reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding partnership between the United States and Tunisia and the Department of Defense's support for expanding Tunisia Armed Forces' role as a regional security leader. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3673327/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address February 12, 2024 Transcript Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right, good afternoon, everyone. Just a couple things at the top, then we'll get right to your questions. First up, Secretary Austin currently remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is in good condition. Per the statements we released yesterday, Secretary Austin was transported by a security detail at approximately 2:20 pm Eastern Time yesterday to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. At approximately 4:55 pm the same day, the Secretary transferred the functions and duties of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Deputy Secretary Hicks continues to retain the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense at this time. According to Secretary Austin's doctors, after a series of tests and evaluations, he was admitted yesterday evening into the critical care unit at Walter Reed for supportive care and close monitoring. Now, shortly before today's briefing, we released an update from the Secretary's doctors at Walter Reed regarding his status. And to ensure everyone here today and those watching have the same information, I will read that full statement. This is a statement from Dr. John Maddox, Trauma Medical Director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, Center for Prostate Disease Research of the Murtha Center, Director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Beginning the statement, quote, "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue. We anticipate a successful recovery and we'll closely monitor him overnight. A prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. We anticipate the Secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. Current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent," end quote. Moving forward, we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available regarding Secretary Austin's status, and we'll certainly -- we all certainly wish him a speedy recovery. In the meantime, Secretary Austin will no longer travel to Brussels this week as originally scheduled. However, Wednesday's Ukraine Defense Contact Group will continue it -- albeit virtually. While Secretary Austin currently intends to participate in the virtual UDCG, he will remain flexible depending on his healthcare status. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander, who will be in Brussels this week, is prepared to represent the Secretary as required. And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown Jr. will also be participating in the UDCG virtually from Washington, D.C. Ministers of defense and senior military officials from nearly 50 nations will convene virtually to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the continued support from the international community to provide the Ukrainian people with the means necessary to defend their sovereign territory. Separately, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Julie Smith will represent Secretary Austin at the NATO Defense Ministerial scheduled for Thursday. We will be sure to keep you updated on outcomes from both of these important meetings. Switching gears, this month marks the two year anniversary since the White House released its Indo-Pacific Strategy. In the last two years, the Department of Defense has done more than ever to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. We've made historic advancements in alliances and partnerships with the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, Philippines, India, and others across the region, and even as we confront challenges elsewhere, the United States will continue to prioritize our efforts in this critical region, in support of international security, stability, and prosperity. For more information, please see our fact sheet on the DOD website. And finally, our prayers are with the people of the Philippines as our longstanding ally faces severe flooding and landslides from a series of storms. U.S. Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force have assisted with two C-130s to help the Philippine government and USAID in delivering 15,000 food packs to affected families. For more information, please contact Marine Corps Public Affairs. And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. We'll go to Associated Press, Tara. Q: Thanks, General Ryder. I want to get a sense of how serious this is. This is Secretary Austin's second trip to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed since his surgery. He's canceled his trip. Can you give us a sense of where he's at in his recovery? And is this latest hospitalization part of ongoing cancer treatments? What can you give us as a status on his prostate cancer? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Tara. I'd point you back to the -- the statement there that I just read. You know, in -- in terms of the -- the Secretary's condition, as highlighted, he's in good condition, according to his doctors. He will remain in the ICU ward for the duration of his stay in order to provide appropriate privacy and will continue to receive critical care support in order to closely monitor his progress for now. And as I highlighted in the statement from his doctors, his current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery from cancer, and his prognosis for cancer remains excellent. Q: Is the bladder issue a complication from his surgery to treat prostate cancer or is it part -- you know, is it related to his prostate cancer? GEN. RYDER: Tara, I don't have anything to provide at this point beyond what I've shared with you, but certainly, again, as we have more information, we'll be sure to pass it along. Q: And then just last -- you know, since his hospitalization, in an effort to be more transparent, can you give us a sense of what stage his prostate cancer was? How early was this detected? Is this something that, you know, hospital -- you're expecting future hospitalizations because of this ongoing fight? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I think, as -- as you've heard us say before, his cancer was detected very early. And so as his doctors have previously highlighted, he is expected to make a full recovery from his cancer diagnosis. There is no further treatment associated with his cancer expected, other than the physical therapy that he's been undergoing to deal with some lingering leg pains, which, again, he highlighted during his press briefing. So as -- as you highlight, we will continue to keep you updated with as much information as possible regarding the Secretary and his health status, and be as transparent as we can. Oren? Q: Has Secretary Austin spoken to the President since his most recent hospitalization? Since yesterday afternoon, has he expressed any reservations about his -- his own ability to serve to the President or to anyone else in the administration? And then when he's released, is he expected to work from home or will he be straight back into the Pentagon? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Oren. He has not spoken to the President, to my knowledge. Again, he went into the hospital yesterday to get checked out. And again, I'd refer you back to our statements and what I just read out. I can assure you the Secretary continues to be eager to perform his duties, and -- and I have no doubt of that, but in terms of what's next regarding his healthcare, again, we'll keep you updated. Jennifer? Q: European allies have expressed a great deal of consternation in recent days due to the ongoing debate in Congress about whether the U.S. will continue to fund Ukraine, recent comments by former president Trump over the weekend about what he would do to NATO and -- and messaging to Putin and Russia what he would allow them to do to NATO. Why isn't Deputy Defense Secretary Kath Hicks or somebody of a senior stature going to Brussels and participating in these meetings? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, again, first of all, our support for Ukraine continues to be ironclad. As you heard, you know, me highlight, you're going to have nearly 50 countries come together, as they have on almost a monthly basis, to talk about how we support Ukraine. And -- and as I also highlighted, it is the Secretary's intent to participate in the virtual UDCG. Again, we'll keep you updated on that front. And Dr. Wallander, as you know, has been at the -- at the center of working for the Department of Defense to represent the United States and our support for the UDCG. So she is well experienced, well equipped to represent the Secretary, should she need to do that, and she, as I mentioned, will also be in Brussels to support their -- both virtually but also support the Ambassador as she represents the Secretary at the NATO Defense Ministerial. Idrees? Q: Just a follow up on that, obviously, Celeste and Julianne Smith are well qualified, but Deputy Secretary Hicks would be a representation of how seriously the administration takes Ukraine and its needs. So, does the secretary not have confidence in his deputy to send her while she's performing his duties? GEN. RYDER: Yes, I reject that notion. The secretary, of course, has full confidence in the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He has transferred his functions and duties to her as evidence of that. And again, anyone who questions our commitment to Ukraine just needs to look at the facts in terms of the amount of support and the amount of assistance we have provided and continue to provide Ukraine and will continue to provide going forward. Q: Just a follow up. How long was the secretary unconscious or under general anesthesia or since yesterday? Is it throughout? Is it a couple of hours here and there? Do you have a sense of that? GEN. RYDER: Idrees, at this time I don't have anything provide beyond what I've relayed to you. But again, we'll continue to keep you updated as new information comes in. David? Q: But wouldn't that sequence from 2:20 being taken to the hospital - 4:55 turning over his responsibilities. Did he inform the White House? GEN. RYDER: The White House was informed that he was being taken to the hospital. So, that happened before he actually departed to go to the hospital. And in addition, in that period congressional notifications were made as well. Q: So, the statement says we'll be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. But you just told us that he's canceled a planned trip. How do you square those two? GEN. RYDER: David, again, we'll keep you updated on his status. This is a statement from his doctors, explaining that they expect that he'll be able to resume his normal duties. Again, we'll keep you updated on whether that includes from the hospital or if that is from home. But again, all indications, based on the -- on the doctors' statements is that, you know, he's going to recover well. He's in good condition and we'll keep you updated. Yes? Q: Has the secretary received any radiation treatment? And what caused him -- what symptoms did he have before going into the hospital? Was he in a lot of pain? Was he bleeding? And then, can you say exactly the procedure that was done when he got there? GEN. RYDER: And again, I'd point you back to the statement from his doctors. As we get more information, we'll certainly share that with you. Again, as I understand it, this was related to an emergent bladder issue. It was not related to his cancer treatment. Again, and as the statement that I just read out to you highlights, his prognosis for that is good. And the bladder issue should not affect his recovery from that. Q: And you can't say whether or not he's gotten radiation therapy? GEN. RYDER: To my knowledge, he has not. Again, I'd point you back to the statement, in terms of the treatment that he's received. Q: Pat, not related to his cancer treatment, but this is a complication of the surgery, correct? GEN. RYDER: Again, I'm not a doctor. I'm not going to try to speak medical speak. I would just point you back to the statement. And as we get more information to provide we certainly will. Q: (Inaudible) have they told you this is a -- or anybody on his staff that this is a complication? GEN. RYDER: He was admitted to -- he went to the hospital yesterday for an emergent bladder issue. His doctors have said previously that he is expected to make a full recovery from his cancer diagnosis, which is what I just highlighted in the top of this statement. So again, as we have more information to provide, we'll certainly do that. Courtney? Q: That's my question too. So, just to be clear, you're leaving open the possibility this is a totally separate issue from his complication from his prostate cancer surgery in December? GEN. RYDER: What I'm saying is what is in the statement, that the current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery, his cancer prognosis remains excellent. So again, as we get more information from his doctors to provide, we'll be sure to share that. Q: Is it possible to get the question of -- I mean, I think there's an assumption that this is -- that this emergent bladder issue is related to the complications that he had on New Year's Day. So, if that's not the case, and this is something completely separate - GEN. RYDER: I'll take the question. Thank you. Fadi? Q: So, I have two questions on Rafah. Yesterday the Israelis attempted like a rescue mission it seems. And up until now information still being updated, but it seems like maybe up to 100 Palestinians were killed in that alteration. The U.S. have assets in terms of UAV doing some work to help the Israelis recover some of the captives. Was the U.S. involved in that operation? And do you have any comments about the civilian death toll from that -- the aftermath of it? GEN. RYDER: So, Fadi, when it -- when it comes to Israeli operations, I'll refer you to them in terms of talking about that. And when it comes to civilian casualties, as you've heard me say many times, we do not want to see civilian casualties or innocent civilians killed, whether they be Palestinian or Israeli. And that will continue to be our view going forward. Q: And but did the U.S. play any role in that operation? GEN. RYDER: Fadi, I'm not aware of any role of the United States. Yes. QUUESTION: And as you probably have heard from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, seems like he's planning to invade -- a ground invasion of Rafah, where more than one million people are taking refuge. Amnesty International is warning of an imminent risk of genocide. Does the Pentagon support an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah (inaudible)? GEN. RYDER: Again, you know, I'm going to refer you to the Israelis to talk about their operations. I think Mr. Kirby has addressed this in his press briefings. You know, we certainly do not want to see anymore suffering, human suffering among those in Gaza, which is why, again, we continue to communicate actively with our Israeli partners on the importance of taking civilians into account in planning and conducting their operations. So, let me go over to - Q: Who is communicating that? Who -- you said we are communicating with them. Who -- who -- can you give us a sense? I know there was a point where General Glen was there and we kind of got a little bit of fidelity on that. GEN. RYDER: Well, yes, I mean, I think -- I think all echelons, Courtney, I mean, you've had the president speak to his counterpart, you've had Secretary Austin speak to his counterpart. You've got U.S. Central Command speaking to their counterparts, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs speaks to his counterparts. So, there's ongoing discussions as it relates to Israel's defense of its nation as well as the support we're providing and the importance of ensuring the humanitarian assistance gets through. Q: To Fadi's question about Rafah, though. I mean, is there -- is there a level of -- are there -- are there people on the military right now or Defense Department or CENTCOM or wherever it is who are providing like technical - GEN. RYDER: I'm not aware -- I'm not aware of usunderstanding their plan again what he's talking about is public comments by the prime minister saying what they're going to do. And again, that's something that they need to talk about. And let me -- okay, and then let me move over to the other side of the room. Q: Did the Israelis share any planning with the Pentagon about this ground invasion? GEN. RYDER: Again, Fadi, I'm not going to have anything to provide beyond what I've talked about already. And I'd refer you back to Mr. Kirby's comments. Joseph? Q: Can I just ask, do you have any updates to provide on yesterday's HMC, you know, with the Iraqis? GEN. RYDER: What I would tell you is that, you know, yesterday's meeting marks another important step along the path of transition as military technical talks, as you highlight, were held in Baghdad. As I understand it, they discussed three areas of assessment, the threat of ISIS, the operating environment and Iraqi security forces capabilities. And so, you know, we'll continue to keep you updated as appropriate, but these talks are important, again, as we look to discuss the transition of the coalition military mission to the longer-term U.S.-Iraq bilateral security relationship. Q: ... do you have any updates on the Tower 22 investigation? GEN. RYDER: I do not. I'd refer you to CENTCOM for any updates on that. Missy? Q: Hi Pat! A follow-up on Joseph's question. The Iraqi military spokesman said that -- giving a readout of that -- of those talks yesterday, said that based on the discussion yesterday, the time table will be set for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors and an end of the coalition mission. Is that correct, that there was -- that that outcome was an agreement that there would be a timeline set for that? And then separately, could you give us an update on the review -- the internal review about Austin's hospitalization? Did he get a chance to review that yet? And could you update us on the publication of that? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, on your first question, Missy, I don't have any information on that, so I'll take that question. As far as the review, no changes from what I provided on Thursday. The Secretary does have that review. He will continue to take a look at it. Again, our commitment is to try to provide as much information about the review to you when we can. So certainly we'll continue to endeavor to do that. Lara? Q: First of all, is Kath Hicks acting SecDef now? And at what point does she become acting SecDef? Can you just clear up what her role title is right now? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, she has assumed the duties and functions of the Secretary of Defense. So in that sense, she is acting as the Secretary of Defense. Q: And I still don't understand why they couldn't have had the Ukraine contact meeting without Secretary Austin. I mean, what was -- what was the reason for making it virtual? GEN. RYDER: I'm not sure I understand your question. Q: So why -- I -- I guess what was the reason for making the Contact Group meeting virtual? Was it solely because the Secretary couldn't attend? Cause there's many other people that attend the meeting, right? GEN. RYDER: You know, Lara, I think -- as I highlighted, the Secretary intends to participate. And again, given the -- the importance, as we've already discussed about, we want to ensure that this continues. And, you know, as we've done in the past, we're going to be flexible in terms of the format. And so yeah, I'll just leave it at that. Q: [unintelligible] virtually? GEN. RYDER: I'm not going to get into hypotheticals, Lara. Yeah, I'm not going to get into -- well, I've read you what we're doing and there you go. All right, let's go to the phone here. Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose? Q: Thank you. On what day did Secretary Austin undergo this procedure on -- when he was under general anesthesia? And Secretary Austin is sixth in presidential line of succession. Does that mean that Secretary Hicks is temporarily, until the -- the Secretary resumes duties, that she is now sixth in line in succession? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Jeff. On latter question there, I'll take that and we'll come back to you. In terms of -- my understanding is that that procedure would have been today. So I'll just leave it there. OK. Ryo? Q: Thank you. A follow-up question about the Secretary's health. So I wonder if it is difficult for the Secretary to travel to the Indo-Pacific for a while? Because in general, the -- traveling to the region takes longer than any other region. GEN. RYDER: You're -- are you asking me why he hasn't traveled to ... Q: ... because of the Secretary's, you know, health problem, I wonder if it is difficult for the Secretary to travel to the region -- to the Indo-Pacific region for a while? GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Ryo. So at -- at this point, you know, clearly the Secretary's focused on getting better. As I highlighted, he's not traveling to Brussels. But I certainly expect that he will travel to the Asia Pacific region in the future when he is able to. We don't have any travel to announce. And so again, he continues to, I'm sure, remain eager to perform his duties, to include travel, when he's able to do that. So thank you. Time for one more. Yes, sir? Q: Thank you, Pat. Regarding HMC conduct, like, discussions, if you know how long the discussions will continue? And just -- Iraqi Prime Minister has said that "we are ahead of ending the mission of alliance forces," like -- then the United States forces in Iraq. GEN. RYDER: So I don't have a timeline. To my knowledge, that hasn't necessarily been bounded. Of course, that will be a decision between the -- you know, within the HMC, to include in consultation with the government of Iraq. And then as far as U.S. presence in Iraq, again, I'd -- I'd point you back to what I said earlier the HMC will discuss the transition from a military coalition mission to what the U.S. presence will look like as it relates to a bilateral U.S.-Iraq relationship. Our forces continue to be there at the invitation of the government of Iraq. I'm not aware of any specific official request at this point in time for U.S. forces to leave. And we'll continue to keep you updated. So -- all right, thanks very much, everybody. Appreciate it. Q: Can you take a request to hear from the Deputy Defense Secretary now -- acting Defense Secretary Kath Hicks? We've never had a chance to question her at the podium or hear from her. GEN. RYDER: OK. Thank you, Jennifer. Appreciate it. Q: Would it be possible to talk to Secretary Austin's doctors to get an update on his status. GEN. RYDER: I will take that request. Thank you very much, everybody. Q: Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3674605/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Development): Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference European External Action Service (EEAS) 12.02.2024 Brussels EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! We have been talking about other things before discussing the situation in Gaza, and hosting Mr [Philippe] Lazzarini [Commissioner-General of UNRWA]. Welcome. We have been reviewing the mid-term of the financial perspective from the point of view of development assistance. It has been a long discussion about how to better use our tools in a multipolar and multi-crises world, and in particular our support to Ukraine. We celebrated the 50 billion approved by the European Council which will cover the immediate budgetary needs of Ukraine - which apart from winning the war and fighting the war, has to win the peace. And to win the peace, they have to continue paying salaries, paying pensions, provide public services, do reforms in a very complex and challenging environment as I, myself, could witness on my trip to Ukraine last week. Then, we went into the situation in the Middle East, [from] where alarming news are coming about the foreseen attack of the Israeli army against the South part of Gaza, where a lot of people - the concrete figures, Mr Lazzarini knows better than I, but we talk about hundreds of thousands of people - are being pushed against the Egyptian border. We had an exchange with the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, and we agreed - I think that we agreed - on the absolute need to contribute to the work of UNRWA on protecting civilians. Protecting civilians has been the work of UNRWA for many years, since 1949, when it was created to support the Palestinian refugees. Unhappily, many years later UNRWA has still to take care of millions of Palestinian refugees. Not only in Gaza, but in many other countries: in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, in the West Bank itself. Currently, I can say - correct me Philippe, if I am wrong - more than 2 million people [in Gaza] depend on your support. [They] depend critically on your support. Only in Gaza. In Gaza only, 700 [706] schools serve half a million of young people, half a million of children. There are 140 health facilities that provide health assistance to 7 million people [patients' visits] a year. These figures are impressive [and] this is only in Gaza. But let us go to Lebanon and you will see how many Palestinian refugees that cannot work [and] depend critically on the support provided by UNRWA. The Ministers have welcomed the swift and decisive measures taken by [the] Commissioner-General and by the United Nations Secretary-General [Antonio Guterres] to the allegations. I am saying "allegations", and allegations have to be proven. But immediately, you took decisions about some members - 12 out of 30,000 - [of] staff allegedly being involved in the 7th of October terrorist attacks. A thorough investigation and a comprehensive review [as well as] an independent audit [will be] launched. It will be implemented in full transparency and cooperation with donors, and in particular with us which are the most important donors - the EU Member States and the European Commission. Today, the Commissioner-General has once again given us the assurances that the United Nations is giving the issue all the importance it deserves, and it will ensure individual accountability. I am saying individual accountability, not collective punishment. To discontinue the support to UNRWA would mean the interruption of vital services to millions of people in need, and a greater humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has to be avoided. Not only because it is a humanitarian imperative, but also because it would have dangerous repercussions on regional stability, and [it] would affect the Europeans too. Let's just act by [for humanitarian reasons]. Do not forget that UNRWA provides assistance [to]: in Jordan, 2 million [people]; in Syria, half a million [people]; in Lebanon, another half a million [people]; and in the West Bank, under great pressure, almost another million, 900,000 [people]. If this agency disappears, this will have a devastating effect on 5.6 million people. They are stateless, because there is no Palestinian state. And we could agree that the existence of UNRWA, 75 years after it was created, is something deplorable, but it is the responsibility of the international community, not the UNRWA workers. There is only one way in which this agency can be dissolved. The agency should be dissolved when there is no more Palestinian refugee problem. If you cancel UNRWA, the refugee problem will still be there, but still worse. So, let's work for a solution which makes [it] possible [for] UNRWA [not to] continue working for the refugees from Palestine, because the problem has been solved through the creation of two states, not by cancelling UNRWA and making the problem bigger. I think it is in everybody's interest, including the Europeans' and including Israel's people, to preserve the role of UNRWA. Certainly, there are different approaches. Some Member States have decided - very few - to suspend the support to UNRWA. But others, on the contrary, not only they have not decided to suspend it, but they have decided to increase it. You know, it is a divisive issue among the European Union, but I think that everybody agrees that the work or UNRWA is something that cannot be interrupted. Thank you. Q&A Just a clarification, Commissioner-General [Lazzarini]: Do you expect the investigation, rather than the review, to be concluded in time for the European Union to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with that next payment? In any other words, do you expect it by the end of the month, or the beginning of next month, so that that the European Union can make an informed decision on whether to proceed? As you know, I am Vice-President of the [European] Commission, maybe you remember it. The [European] Commission has never asked for the investigation to finish but to be launched. Read the statement of the Commission. We asked for the investigation, in particular the one on the audit and the screening to be launched, because we are clever enough to understand that this cannot be finished in 20 days. So, to be launched means to be launched. To be finished means to be finished. And the statement of the Commission says clearly "to be launched". And certainly, it is something that Member States will follow closely, because it is an important issue for our foreign policy. What you said about the investigations being launched. You asked for pillar assessments. There was one done a year ago when, you remember in October as well, when Commissioner [for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver] Varhelyi asked that there was an inspection of all the Palestinian funds. UNRWA was looked at. Again, it seems really political, and I was wondering: we know there are divisions among Member States. It seems there are divisions within the Commission. Perhaps, Minister, you could tell us who are the countries that are making the biggest objection to moving forward on these funds that, we all agree, are quite desperately needed. You said this morning, when talking about the US President Biden being worried about that Rafah operation, that maybe more than words are needed, and you talked about weapons. Could you maybe clarify? It is very timely because the Dutch government made a decision this morning about F-35 exports. Regarding the weapons that you were suggesting during the doorstep, that maybe the United States should revise the selling of weapons to Israel, do you have any specific comments from Washington on that? Look, my job is to try to unite Member States. My job is not to 'blame and shame' and say: "Ah, someone said, others agree. Who is on the right side and who is on the wrong side." My job - a difficult one by the way - is to try to put all Member States together in a common position, and I will not contribute to show the divisions amongst us, which are quite clear. [They are] quite clear because when the moment comes to vote in the United Nations about the ceasefire, I think 17 voted in favour, two voted against, others abstained. It is clear that there are different approaches, and about the funding of UNRWA, also there are different approaches - radically different. Some Member States - I will not name them - said, "I will increase my support." And others say, "I cancel my support." And others say, "I will not cancel it, but I will not launch new [support] until the investigation is done." So, I have to manage these polycentric approaches among Member States. But if I have to take the common ground, if I have to look at the majority feeling, I think that the majority is clearly understanding the fact that there is no alternative to support the Palestinian people than what we have in place - and that has been in place for 70 years or more, with Hamas and without Hamas. I cannot imagine a magic wand to say that tomorrow someone will come and provide schools to half a million young people or provide food to 7 million people. On the other hand, it is true that the Israeli government does not hide its will of cancelling the work of UNRWA - it is not a secret. It is not a secret. What I am saying is that allegations are allegations. In the first year of the law school, you are being taught that if someone is making an accusation, it is up to him to prove it - not the accused but the accuser. And for the time being, I have not received any proof of these allegations. Maybe it is true, maybe not. But the fact that since there is an allegation, people have to blindly believe the allegation, is against the elementary basis of law. And we are preaching all the time the rule of law. Well, I think I am not going to be accused of antisemitism for doing that but that is evident. And in spite of that, UNRWA has taken tough measures. But if Palestinian lives matter - and it certainly matters -, then we have to provide assistance. They have to provide assistance. Look, I do not pretend to be in charge of the foreign policy of the United States, I have enough with the foreign policy of the European Union. But let's be logical: how many times have you heard the most prominent leaders and the foreign ministers around the world saying, "Too many people are being killed"? President [of the United States, Joe] Biden said [that] this is too much on the top, it is not proportional. Well, if you believe that too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide less arms in order to prevent so many people [from] being killed. Isn't it logical? In 2006, during the war against Lebanon, the United States already took this decision. They already took the decision to pause the supply of arms to Israel, because Israel did not want to stop the war. Exactly the same thing that happens today. Everyone goes to Tel-Aviv, begging: "Please, do not do that, protect civilians, do not kill so many." How many is too many? What is the standard? But [Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin] Netanyahu does not listen to anyone. "They are going to evacuate." Where? To the moon? Where are they going to evacuate these people? So, if the international community believes that this is a slaughter, that too many people are being killed, maybe they have to think about the provision of arms. And by the way, today a Court in the Netherlands has ordered the government [of the Netherlands] to stop exporting the spare parts of the F-35 fighter [jets] to Israel in order to be sure that the International Court of Justice's rule is being implemented. So, I do not know. Every Member States is an owner of its foreign policy. But it is a little bit contradictory to continue saying that there are too many people being killed: "Too many people being killed. Please take care of people. Please do not kill so many". Stop saying "please" and do something. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-252841 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Development): Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival European External Action Service (EEAS) 12.02.2024 EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! We are going to take stock with the [EU] Cooperation and Development Ministers of our policy of cooperation with emerging countries. We are in the middle of the financial perspective. It has to be reviewed what we have done and what still has to be done. We have to review the financial allocations in order to continue doing in the framework of these two wars, because certainly, everything that we do is being affected by these two wars [and] the perceptions of these wars around the world. I have been in Ukraine. I will debrief the ministers on my visit to Ukraine - where certainly Russia continues indiscriminate attacks, I could witness them - and to continue encouraging Member States to support Ukraine as much as it takes, in order to reject the invasion. Obviously, we will discuss also about the situation in Gaza. [I am] happy to know that two hostages have been liberated, but also very much worried by the situation in the border with Egypt, where new military operations seem to be taken by the Israeli Defence Forces. [Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin] Netanyahu has been asking for the evacuation of a 1.7 million people without saying where this people could be evacuated [to]. The situation with Egypt is very tense and we are extraordinarily concerned about what is happening there. Many ministers of the European Union have been issuing messages yesterday - me too - asking Israel not to prevent the humanitarian support to come into Gaza. If they launch a military operation at the border with Egypt, Egypt has already said that in this case, the humanitarian support will not be able to go into Gaza. The situation with Egypt is very difficult - [it is] understandable - so, let's see what is happening in the following hours. All Foreign Affairs Ministers are following the situation, but we have to do maybe something more than just express concern. Q&A Q. The UN High Commissioner yesterday said that Israel actions are no longer proportionate. Do you share this assessment? Many people say that. Even the President of the United States [Joe Biden] said yesterday that the operations are no longer proportional, that they are excessive, that the toll of people being killed is unbearable. I think this assessment more and more comes from many people around the world. Even the United States who are the strongest support of Israel, considered - by the President Biden himself - that these actions are disproportionate, that the toll of people being killed - civilians being killed - is unbearable and warning Israel not to continue this way. But my question is: apart from words, what else do you think has to be done? If you believe that the toll of death is too high, do you have any possibility to make it lower? Q. What is your answer to that, High Representative? What can the European Union do beyond words? Do you have a proposal for what the European Union should do beyond words? Well, the European Union is not providing arms to Israel. Others do. Q. Others should stop if they wanted? If you believe the death toll is too high, maybe you can do something to make it lower. Q. On the other side, you have the people in Gaza. There are discussions right now going on about the funding to Gaza, what is your opinion? Well, the discussions continue. My colleague and friend, [Secretary of State of the United States, Antony] Blinken, has been travelling to Israel many times, begging the Israelis to stop killing [civilians]. My colleague, the German Minister [for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock] yesterday also issued a message exactly on the same terms, [expressing] extraordinary concern for the situation at the border between Gaza and Egypt. So, we have to continue to putting pressure on Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. But, if they launch an offensive against a highly populated area, with more than 1.7 million people crashed against a wall that cannot escape. You know, when there is a war, people escape. People in Gaza cannot escape. They are in closed doors. They are being bombed without being able to escape. So, this is the situation and I hope that the whole world will take stock of it. Q. High Representative, you said that defunding UNRWA would be dangerous. There have been new allegations over the weekend about [inaudible]. Has that changed your response to the situation? We will talk about it this afternoon. We have invited [Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe] Lazzarini. One thing is sure for me: UNRWA today [does] an [irreplaceable] work. Nobody else can do what UNRWA is doing. Second, allegations have to be verified. The presumption of innocence is valid for everyone, at any time, even for UNRWA. It is not a secret that the Israeli government wants to get rid of UNRWA. Not [just] now, for many years before, [they have] wanted to get rid of UNRWA because they believed that if they get rid of UNRWA, they get rid of the problem of the Palestinian refugees. No, it will make it still worse. You know, hundreds of thousands of people are being fed, eat, everyday thanks to the work of UNRWA. And not only in Gaza, [also] in Lebanon, in Syria, in Jordan. So, allegations? Okay. Happy to know that UNRWA has already launched a complete and comprehensive investigation about what is happening [and] if there is any problem. Let's wait for this investigation to take place. Let's wait for this investigation to take place. The Secretary-General of the United Nations [Antonio Guterres] - I suppose people trust the Secretary-General of the United Nations - him, personally has decided to launch a complete investigation. So, let's see. Q. The investigation might take months. The investigation will take as [long] as needed and in the meantime, people have to continue eating. They have to continue going to the doctor. 30,000 medical consultations per day. Q. We did not see it on the agenda, but do you have any comment on former President [Donald] Trump's remarks over the weekend suggesting that, if countries do not pay enough on defence, he would encourage Russia to attack? Let me be sarcastic. During this campaign, we will see and listen to many things. Let's be serious. NATO cannot be an "a la carte" military alliance. NATO cannot be an alliance that works depending on the "humeur" of the President of the United States in those days. It is not "Now yes. Tomorrow, no. It depends, who are you?". No, come on, let's be serious. NATO cannot be an alliance "a la carte". It exists, or it does not exist. But I am not going to spend my time commenting on any silly idea that comes during this electoral campaign in the United States. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-252859 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IHS Cameroon launched the Tower Kiosk initiative in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon, a move to provide connectivity and digital services to communities in rural areas. The unveiling of the initiative was made in the presence of Cameroons Prime Minister Dr Joseph Dion Ngute and dignitaries from the two regions that will benefit from the scheme. The first three kiosks were opened in the rural communities of Idenau, Santa and Tombel. A total of 10 kiosks, five in each region, will be constructed by 2025. IHS will also partner with NGOs to enhance the Tower Kiosk initiative, with the goal of providing new economic opportunities and contribute towards the long term stability of communities that have been experiencing security challenges. The kiosks are powered by adjacent tower hybrid solutions, contain four charging points and will provide free access to local communities. IHS said with these services the kiosks will help support local businesses, entrepreneurs, and provide the digital infrastructure to facilitate e-commerce, e-education, e-health, and e-governance activities. They will also serve as collection points for health-related community data. IHS Cameroon CEO Olufemi Arosanyin said: Through this initiative and the power of connectivity, we want to help bring new opportunities to communities in the Northwest and Southwest regions. We hope the Tower Kiosk by IHS Cameroon initiative will provide the infrastructure for people to access online resources and better engage in public life. With the support of local and international NGOs, who will oversee the day-to-day running of each kiosk, we aim to increase community confidence and participation. Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, February 12th , 2024 IDF Press Release February 12, 2024 12.02.24 IDF Last night, we brought Louis and Fernando home. In a joint rescue operation by the IDF, the Israel Security Agency, and the Yamam - the special forces unit of the Israel Police, we rescued Louis Har and Fernando Marman, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7th from Nir Yitzhak. This was a complex rescue operation under fire in the heart of Rafah, based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate and the Israel Security Agency. The operational unit of the ISA, the Yamam Unit of the Police, the Southern Command along with forces from the 98th Division, Shayetet 13, and the soldiers of the 7th Armored Brigade, acted in a professional and precise manner. There was aerial coverage and a wave of strikes by the Israeli Air Force together with the Southern Command. We have prepared for this operation for some time, with the necessary preparations made and waiting for conditions that would allow its implementation. In the early morning, at 01:49, the special forces breached into a building in the heart of Rafah. On the second floor, Louis and Fernando were held by armed Hamas terrorists, who were present in the building along with terrorists who were in the adjacent buildings. From the moment of the breach and entry into the apartment, Yamam forces shielded Louis and Fernando with their bodies, initiating a daring battle and heavy exchanges of fire at several locations simultaneously, with many terrorists. By 01:50, aerial fire was activated by the Israeli Air Force and Southern Command, to enable the force's disengagement and to strike Hamas terrorists in the area. At this stage, the forces extracted Louis and Fernando from the apartment and evacuated them under fire, accompanied by IDF forces who provided them protection in the Rafah area until they reached a safe zone. There, they underwent initial medical examination by the forces in the field and were airlifted by a helicopter with soldiers of the Unit 669 for further medical treatment at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer, where - with great emotion - they met with their families. The Chief of the General Staff was together with the Head of the ISA and the Police Commissioner at the ISA's command center, along with additional commanders. From there, they made decisions, monitored, and commanded the forces in the operation. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense also arrived at the command center during the night and accompanied the operation. It was a very tense and emotional night. Such an operation was made possible thanks to the great sacrifice of the mandatory and reserve soldiers throughout the war, especially those who fell and were injured in battles. Without their effort, we would not have reached this moment. Alongside the excitement, even this morning after the successful rescue operation, we do not forget for a moment that in Gaza, 134 hostages are still being held. I want to address you this morning: if you are listening to me, know that we are determined to bring you back home. We will not give up any opportunity to bring you back home. Yesterday, I visited the family of Yaakov from Nir Oz, whose father, Yair, is still held hostage. His daughter, Shir, told me that since October 7th, their lives have turned into one long day filled with endless sunsets and sunrises. Her words are etched into me. For 134 families, the sun has yet to rise. This morning, there are two families for whom the sun has risen anew. We will continue to make every possible effort to bring all the hostages home. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's Hezbollah hits Israeli regime spy base IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah Resistance Movement has carried out a rocket attack against an Israeli regime's spy base in the northern parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. Al-Radar base was accurately hit by a guided missile, Lebanese media reported on Monday, citing the resistance movement. Hezbollah also said that it had targeted a Zionist barrack with a Falaq-1 missile. The resistance movement meanwhile announced the martyrdom of one of its fighters during battles with the Israeli regime in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah attacks against Zionist targets began more than four months ago in the wake of a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip where over 28,300 people have been killed so far. The attacks by Hezbollah aim to reduce the pressure of Zionist strikes on Gaza where Palestinian resistance fighters are also engaged in ground fighting with the regime's forces. 9341**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Red Crescent urges int'l community to uphold humanitarian rights in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Red Crescent Society has called on the heads of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to pave the way for safeguarding humanitarian rights in the Gaza Strip. President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Pir-Hossein Kolivand has written separate letters to President of the IFRC Kate Forbes and President of the ICRC Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, noting that as a result of constant widespread attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip, we are witnessing sad humanitarian incidents, which end up in death, injury and displacement of numerous people, in particular women and children. Unfortunately, very distressing and unbelievable reports about attacks by Israeli occupying forces on hospitals, Red Crescent centers, ambulances, and healthcare workers have been circulated on several occasions, he mentioned. According to the Iranian official, the IRCS calls for finding immediate solutions for the end of the crisis and siege in Gaza and providing healthcare workers with access to needy people and injured ones. The ICRC is expected to carry out immediate efforts to safeguard international humanitarian rights regarding support for civilians and healthcare workers. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic Jihad warns of repercussions of Israeli regime attack on Rafah IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement has emphasized that the Israeli regime's attack on Rafah in Gaza is a threat to the security of the Arab world and the Islamic ummah. According to a Monday report by the Shahab News Agency, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said in a statement that the Zionist regime's insistence on its crimes, especially its overnight attacks on Rafah, shows the regime is focused on committing genocide against the Palestinian nation. This insistence proves that the Zionist cabinet has violated all international treaties and laws, especially those of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations and the international community, it added. These crimes undoubtedly emphasize the fact that the Nazi cabinet and the criminal Zionist regime do not care about the world's public opinion, the statement said. It also warned the whole world, especially the Arab countries, that the attack on Rafah had been carried out to displace the Palestinian people from their land and to destroy the Palestinian cause. This is a threat to the security of the Arab world and the Islamic ummah, the Palestinian movement reiterated. 9376**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nearly 3k Israeli military forces injured in Gaza war: Figures IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime has admitted that some 2,855 of its military forces have been injured in the clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters in more than four months of war on Gaza. The Israeli media said in reports on Monday that some 1,326 troops have been injured since the beginning of the Israelis' ground operation in Gaza on October 17. Reports showed that some 343 Israeli military forces are still hospitalized with 27 out of them in critical condition. Sources affiliated to the regime said early on Monday that two Israeli soldiers had been killed in clashes in southern Gaza. The Israeli regime's Channel 12 also said in a report that the two service members had been killed in an attack by Palestinian fighters that involved the use of armor-piercing bullets. The regime's army announced that three soldiers had also been been injured in clashes in southern Gaza, saying they are in critical condition. The Israeli regime's army has acknowledged that some 566 of its officers and soldiers have been killed since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023. That comes as independent sources believe that over 3,000 Israeli military forces have been killed in the clashes with Palestinians. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: US vessel hit with missiles in Red Sea IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni army says it has targeted an American vessel with missiles in response to the ongoing US-led aggression against the country as well as the Israeli regime's war on Gaza. Army Spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement on Monday that the Yemeni armed forces "directly and accurately" hit US vessel Star Iris with missiles in the Red Sea. He said that the attack was a response to the ongoing US-UK airstrikes on Yemen as well as the Gaza war. The spokesman said that Yemen will continue its military operations in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea until the regime stops its war on Gaza, and the ongoing aggression against Yemen comes to an end. Yemen began those operations in mid-November, more than a month after the Zionist regime unleashed its brutal attacks in Gaza. Yemen says its operations only target Israeli vessels or those heading for ports in the occupied territories and aim to support the Palestinians in Gaza. On January 11, the US and the UK launched airstrikes on Yemen in response to what they called threats to international shipping. Yemen has rejected their claim, saying vessels, which have no link to the Israeli regime, are freely navigate in the Red Sea. 4194**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah leader meets Palestinian Islamic Jihad official Al-Nakhalah IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah has held a meeting with Jihad Secretary General Ziyad al-Nakhalah. Palestine Today TV reported on Monday that the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, held talks with a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figure. During the meeting, the Resistance leaders discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. No further details have been released. 6125**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bulk carrier targeted by missiles in Red Sea: British firm IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier has been targeted by missiles while transitioning through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, British maritime security firm Ambrey said Monday. Ambrey said the carrier was targeted in two incidents within two minutes and suffered damage to its starboard side, Reuters reported. The maritime security firm said earlier that the incident occurred 40 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Mokha. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said the crew were unharmed, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call. The government in Sana'a , which is run by the Ansarullah resistance movement, declared its support for Palestine since the Israeli regime launched the deadly war on Gaza on October 7. Yemen has vowed to continue its retaliatory measures in the Red Sea until the Israeli regime ends ground and aerial offensives against Gaza that have killed nearly 28,000 people in the besieged territory. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas holds US, Israel accountable for Rafah crimes IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has emphasized that the US administration and President Joe Biden personally are complicit in Monday's crimes in Rafah by giving the green light to the Zionist prime minister and supporting him financially and militarily. In a statement published by the Palestinian Sama news agency, Hamas said that considering the deplorable situation in Rafah, which houses nearly 1,400,000 Palestinians and whose streets have been turned into refugee camps, the Zionist army's attack on this city is a multifaceted crime and an insistence on genocide, forced migration and expansion of crime against the Palestinian nation. The Zionist regime and army violated the decisions of the International Court of Justice to take urgent measures to stop the genocide, he said. He also urged the Arab countries, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the UN Security Council to take rapid and serious measures to stop the Zionists' aggression. Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa TV quoted one of the leaders of Hamas and emphasized that the Zionist army's attack on Rafah would lead to the failure of negotiations for the exchange of prisoners. The Israeli warplanes targeted residential areas near the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent in the center of Rafah early on Monday, in which more than a hundred Palestinians have been martyred and over 230 people have been injured. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu to the Counter Terrorism Unit Fighters who Rescued the Two Hostages: "This was one of the most successful rescue operations in the history of the State of Israel." Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 12.02.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, together with the Inspector General of the Israel Police and the Commander of the Border Police, today , visited the Israel National Counter Terrorism Unit and met with the fighters and unit commander, who - in a rescue operation last night - returned hostages Fernando Marman and Louis Har from Rafah in Gaza. The Prime Minister gave an update on how he approved the complex operation several days ago and how he closely monitored the rescue operation from the ISA special operations control center. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Ben-Gvir heard from the commanders and fighters about the dramatic moments of the rescue and the complexity of the operation, and the cooperation and integration among the various forces. Prime Minister Netanyahu : "This is a day of joy mixed with sadness: Joy over the release of our hostages and sadness over our fallen soldiers. However, I would like to tell you that the freeing of Louis and Fernando was one of the most successful rescue operations in the history of the State of Israel. Several days ago, the operation was brought to me for approval and I approved it. Afterward, several hours later, I thought about three things: One, I thought about the sacred nature of the mission. Two, I thought about the risks in relation to the chances, and there were risks. Three, I thought about you, the fighters. I thought about what would happen at the decisive moment, because from experience, I know that at the breakthrough moment, the gap between victory and tragedy is a millimeter. At 01:40 this morning, I saw you placing the charge and seconds later I heard 'We have the hostages.' You eliminated the abductors, the terrorists, and made your way back without injury - a successful operation, a perfect operation. I would like to tell you: I am so proud of you. I am proud of you, the ISA and the IDF. You worked like a well-oiled machine. You are simply the best fighters there are. I came here to tell you this and to salute you on behalf of all citizens of Israel. You are the best in the world. Well done!" The Prime Minister was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Tzachi Braverman, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel Police Inspector General Koby Shabtai, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, and Border Police Commander Yitzhak Barik. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hard on the heels of similar recent agreements in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Synspective, a Japanese synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics solution provider, has announced a deal to aid disaster prevention in Vietnam. Synspective has signed an MoU with the National Remote Sensing Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam and Fujitsu Vietnam. This collaboration aims to advance the application of satellite remote sensing technology in monitoring natural resources and the environment, preventing natural disasters, and fostering economic development in Vietnam, one of the most disaster-prone nations in the Asia-Pacific region. It leverages SAR data and analysis solutions from Synspectives SAR satellite constellation along with the comprehensive IT solutions offered by Fujitsu Vietnam. Specific activities under this MoU include ground deformation analysis and monitoring using Synspectives land displacement monitoring (LDM) solution, developing applications and defining requirements for using SAR satellite data in various regions, and conducting research and data collection on the causes and impacts of natural resource issues. Additionally, the project will assess Vietnams monitoring capabilities using the SAR satellite constellation. SAR satellite data allows consistent and thorough monitoring, detecting ground deformation that signals impending natural disasters. This detection process enables the timely consideration and implementation of appropriate countermeasures to mitigate their societal impact. Synspective says its LDM will be crucial in assessing these efforts usability, efficiency, and effectiveness in addressing societal challenges. In late January we reported that Synspective had entered into similar MoUs with both Uzbekistans Centre for Space Monitoring and Geoinformation Technologies and Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS), the national space agency of Kazakhstan. Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 12.02.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning: "Fernando and Louis, welcome home. I salute our brave fighters for the daring action that led to their release. Only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages. We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Condemns Israel's Military Aggression against Rafah City in Gaza Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12 Feb 2024 Pakistan strongly condemns Israel's military aggression against Rafah city in Gaza and the resulting destruction and massacre of the Palestinian people. Israel's offensive in Rafah violates the provisional measures indicated by the International Court of Justice to protect the people of Gaza from genocide. It will further aggravate the humanitarian disaster witnessed in Gaza over the last 4 months and jeopardize the ongoing efforts for a potential ceasefire. We urge the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take urgent measures to bring an immediate end to Israeli aggression and its incessant crimes against humanity. 40/2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. military confirms airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:57, February 12, 2024 SANAA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military confirmed Sunday it struck Houthi targets near the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah a day earlier, claiming to have hit the group's two unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and three anti-ship cruise missiles. In an online statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces successfully conducted self-defense strikes against these targets north of Hodeidah "that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea" on Saturday afternoon. "CENTCOM identified these USVs and missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," it said. On Saturday evening, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that U.S. and British aircraft carried out a fresh round of airstrikes on Houthi targets, hitting the Al-Salif port northwest of Hodeidah city, without providing more details. Houthi group has launched dozens of missile attacks against Israel-linked merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November last year, in what the group said were done out of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Washington has warned Houthis to re-list them as a "global terrorist organization" if the group doesn't stop attacking shipping. Houthi group has been controlling the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah since the 2018 UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement, which was backed by the United States and Britain, forcing the Yemeni internationally recognized government out. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu, Biden talk over hostages, aid to Gaza People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:56, February 12, 2024 JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday discussed over the phone the ongoing efforts to free hostages held in Gaza and to facilitate more aid into the Palestinian enclave. An Israeli government official told Xinhua that the conversation focused on the hostages, approximately 100 of them are still in Gaza after being kidnapped during Hamas's attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Additionally, the two leaders discussed Israel's declared plan to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, as well as the facilitation of more aid into Gaza. According to a readout released by the White House, Biden told Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with a military campaign in Rafah without a plan that ensures the safety of the about one million people sheltering there. Biden reaffirmed the "shared goal to see Hamas defeated," according to the statement. He also called for urgent steps to increase the humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The talk was the first time the two leaders have talked since Biden criticized Israel's military campaign last week, describing it as "over the top." The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,176 since Oct. 7, 2023, with 67,784 others being injured, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 52 killed, dozens wounded in Israel's heavy strikes on Gaza's Rafah -- media People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:57, February 12, 2024 GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 52 were killed and dozens wounded in the Israeli army's heavy strikes on the southern city of Rafah and surrounding areas of the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported Monday. The Israeli army said it conducted "a series of strikes" on southern Gaza on Monday, but did not provide other details. The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,176 since Oct. 7, 2023, with 67,784 others being injured, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, about half of the residents there have fled to Rafah, adjacent to Egypt, in search of safety. The border city, which receives food and medicine aid from foreign countries and UN agencies through the Rafah crossing, is crowded with tents on empty agricultural lands, in schools and along roadsides. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mideast countries warn Israel of humanitarian disaster if Gaza's Rafah city invaded People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:13, February 12, 2024 CAIRO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel is facing mounting regional and international pressure over its planned ground offensive against Rafah, a southernmost city in the war-torn Gaza Strip. Over the past few days, regional countries have warned Israel against a humanitarian meltdown in Rafah if Israeli forces insist on carrying out the ground assault on Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians living, including 1.3 million people fled from the northern regions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday he has directed the military to prepare to evacuate civilians from overcrowded Rafah ahead of an expanded offensive against Hamas. The remarks sparked great alarm among regional countries that the plan would further worsen the humanitarian situation already deteriorated since the Israel-Hamas conflict started on Oct. 7 last year in the besieged enclave. Qatar, which was engaging in diplomatic efforts along with the United States and Egypt to push for a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, "condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli threats to storm the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip." It "warns of a humanitarian catastrophe in the city that has become a last refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people," said its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Saturday. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, both signed peace treaties with Israel in 2020, also expressed deep concern. Saudi Arabia warned of "very serious repercussions" of storming and targeting the city of Rafah, "the last resort" for hundreds of thousands of civilians who had fled from intensive Israeli strikes on northern Gaza. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed the country's rejection of forced displacement of Palestinians, warning against what he called Israel's "systematic policy" to force Palestinians out of their land. Jordan voiced its categorical rejection of the displacement of Palestinians inside or outside their land, stressing the need to end the war and protect civilians. Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned that Israel's intentions to impose the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are "serious threats to regional stability." On Sunday, in an apparent move to ease external concerns, Netanyahu said in a televised interview with ABC News that a "detailed plan" was being worked out on "providing safe passage for the civilian population, so they can leave" the Rafah city. But Hamas warned against any Israeli ground operation in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah, saying that it would "blow up" the hostage exchange negotiations, the Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV quoted an unnamed senior Hamas leader as saying. On the same day, Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed over the phone the ongoing efforts to free hostages held in Gaza and to facilitate more aid into the Palestinian enclave. An Israeli government official told Xinhua that the conversation focused on the hostages, approximately 100 of them are still in Gaza after being kidnapped during Hamas's attack on Oct. 7, 2023. According to a readout released by the White House, Biden told Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with a military campaign in Rafah without a plan that ensures the safety of the about one million people sheltering there. Biden reaffirmed the "shared goal to see Hamas defeated," according to the statement. He also called for urgent steps to increase the humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,176 since Oct. 7, 2023, with 67,784 others being injured, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN special rapporteur banned from entering Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories after supporting Hamas' al-Aqsa Storm Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 7:06 PM A United Nations special rapporteur has been banned from entering the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories after voicing support for last October's Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest retaliatory attack by Palestinian resistance groups against Israel in decades. Francesca Albanese was officially denied visa to Israel following a post on her X social media account, in which she backed the Hamas-led surprise attack on October 7, 2023 and wrote, "The victims of 7/10 were not killed because of their Judaism, but in response to Israel's oppression." Albanese, who has been the UN's point person for the occupied Palestinian territories since 2022, made the post after French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the Hamas-led attack was the "greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century." The UN special rapporteur went on to stress, "I reject all racism, including anti-Semitism which is a global threat. But explaining these crimes as anti-Semitism obscures their true cause." The Israeli regime's foreign and interior ministries confirmed the ban on Albanese on Monday, saying she would not be allowed into the occupied territories and that the ban was attributed to her "outrageous statement." In a post on X later in the day, Albanese said the ban must not become a "distraction from Israel's atrocities in Gaza," and that UN special rapporteurs are no stranger to such moves by the occupying regime. Albanese has been an outspoken critic of Israel and has previously described the regime's treatment of Palestinians as tantamount to apartheid. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups waged the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups fired some 4,000 rockets at the occupied territories and killed around 1,200 Israeli forces and settlers. Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 28,176 individuals, the majority of whom are innocent civilians, and injured more than 68,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under "complete siege" by Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah's precision attack targets Israeli espionage base in occupied Palestinian territories Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 4:54 PM The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has launched a fresh round of attacks on Israeli-controlled targets in occupied Palestinian territories, hitting the regime's sensitive espionage facilities. Hezbollah said in a statement on Monday that it had used guided rockets for a precision attack on the Israeli regime's espionage facilities in the al-Radar military base. The group said it had also targeted the Israeli military's Branit barracks using Falaq-1 missiles earlier in the day. Hezbolah said in an earlier statement that its forces had targeted sensitive spying facilities of the Israeli regime in al-Ebad site. The attacks came just a day after Hezbollah targeted similar espionage installations controlled by Israel in Kfarchouba and in the occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel on an almost daily basis since the regime started its aggression on Palestinians in Gaza on October 7. The Lebanese say attacks on Israel seek to keep the regime busy at its northern front and to force it to end an invasion on Gaza that has killed more than 28,000 people. Estimates by the Israeli military and media reports suggest attacks by Hezbollah have inflicted huge losses on the regime while forcing it to evacuate tens of thousands of people from settlements located in north of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. Hezbollah has also lost dozens of its fighters in the confrontation with the Israeli regime in recent months. It said on Monday that one of its fighters, identified as Mohammad Bagher Hassan Bassam, had been martyred in an Israeli attack on the village of Aainata in southern Lebanon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's attack on Rafah bespeaks regime's 'systematic war of extermination' against Palestinians: Islamic Jihad Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 4:30 PM The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement has condemned Israel's attack on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, saying the regime, having received unwavering support from the United States, violated the entire "international norms and conventions" and showed its "systematic war of extermination" against Palestinians. The popular Gaza-based resistance movement said in a statement on Monday that the Israeli occupation's insistence on perpetrating crimes, especially committing a horrific massacre in the city of Rafah last night, bespeaks the regime's continuation of the "systematic war of extermination" against Palestinians. "This insistence proves that the usurping entity is flouting all international norms and conventions, especially the decisions of the International Court of Justice, the resolutions of the United Nations, and the ... international community," the statement said. "These crimes confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Nazi and criminal entity does not value international public opinion or its allies," it added. Islamic Jihad also warned the international community and the Arab world, saying, "The Zionist attack on Rafah aims to displace our people from their land and liquidate the Palestinian cause, which threatens Arab and Islamic national security." The resistance movement also said the administration of US President Joe Biden must be held accountable for the continuation of the Israeli was against Palestinians, and for providing the regime with military and financial support, political cover, and impunity from accountability and punishment. In the early hours of Monday, the Israeli regime launched an all-out offensive in Rafah by conducting extensive air raids and artillery strikes on the densely-populated city. At least 100 civilians, mostly women and children, have since been killed and nearly 230 others wounded in Israel's aggression on Rafah, with dozens of people being trapped under the rubble. Defying international warnings, the onslaught came at a time that more than one million people, above five times Rafah's usual population, have fled to the city amid Israel's months-long bombardment campaign on the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel launched the US-backed war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 28,176 individuals, the majority of whom are innocent civilians, and injured more than 68,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under "complete siege" by Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah carried out over 1,000 attacks against Israel since Oct. 8: Report Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 11:21 AM Lebanese Hezbollah resistance fighters have carried out more than a thousand strikes against Israeli military positions in the occupied territories in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the bloody Israeli onslaught, according to a report. Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network reported that the group had struck Israeli outposts at least 1,013 times between October 8 last year and February 11. Hezbollah said in a statement on Sunday that its fighters had hit espionage devices at the Israeli Ruwaisat al-Alam site in the Kfarchouba Hills as well as the occupied Shebaa Farms with appropriate weapons, destroying the designated targets. The resistance forces also targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the al-Tayhat Triangle region with a salvo of missiles. Later in the day, Hezbollah fighters fired missiles at spying devices stationed at the al-Abbad site and destroyed them. The resistance group also launched a fresh rocket attack against the Ruwaisat al-Alam site, causing damage to the Israeli military outpost there. Moreover, the Lebanese resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli forces at Jabal Nather with a number of rockets, leaving several troops injured. The Israeli regime launched its devastating hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. The Israeli military has also been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed at least 28,176 people, most of them women and children. Another 67,784 individuals have also been wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vodafone Romania said on Monday it has signed a six-year partnership agreement with Ericsson to upgrade its RANs to standalone 5G and develop 5G services for consumers and enterprises. Vodafone Romania said the partnership is part of its multi-year investment plan to upgrade and develop its infrastructure to enable the countrys digital society. As part of the deal, Vodafone Romania will deploy Ericssons 5G RAN products and solutions, including Massive MIMO technology to leverage mid-band 5G spectrum and Ericsson's RAN Compute radios and basebands to optimise power consumption. In support of a digital society, building a future-ready, secure, energy-efficient network is crucial, said Vodafone Romanias chief network officer Nicolae Vilceanu in a statement. Vilceanu added that the partnership is also helping us upgrade existing RAN infrastructure in order to provide fast, reliable services in the transition to standalone 5G and harness our potential as a services innovator for the digital, green society we envision. Vodafone Romania first launched non-standalone 5G in 2019, along with rival telcos Orange Romania and RCS&RDS (Digi), albeit with very limited coverage. In November 2022, all three telcos acquired new spectrum licences for 5G via an auction by Romanias National Authority for Management & Regulation in Communications (ANCOM). At the time, less than 20% of phones in Romania were 5G-compatible, according to Statista. That figure is projected to reach almost 79% this year. In July 2023, Opensignal reported that 5G availability in Romania (measured by time, not geography) was still low. Orange ranked highest with 5G signals available 13.2% of the time. Vodafone was a close second at 10.6%, while Digi was a distant third at 2.9%. Telekom Romania who stayed out of the 5G spectrum auction launched 5G services in April 2023 using its existing spectrum. Hezbollah leader, Islamic Jihad chief urge steadfastness to achieve 'promised victory' Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 10:33 AM The top resistance leaders of Lebanon and Palestine assert that it is necessary to remain steadfast and work tirelessly to achieve the promised victory. Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Secretary General of Palestine's Islamic Jihad movement Ziad al-Nakhaleh held a meeting on Monday. During the meeting, the two resistance leaders discussed the latest developments in the war-torn Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, encompassing both political and on-ground situations, amid incessant Israel's brutal attacks against the people of Palestine. Nasrallah and Nakhaleh also exchanged views about the condition of other fronts opened by the Axis of Resistance in support of the Palestinian people and resistance in the face of Israel. The discussions also touched upon existing possibilities and expected developments, whether on the field or in political communications. Israel launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. The Israeli military has also been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip. The movement has vowed to keep up its reprisal operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza. The aggression against Gaza has so far claimed the lives of over 28,340 Palestinians, mostly women and children, leaving more than 67,980 others wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll rises in Senegal as crisis deepens over delayed presidential election Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 9:46 AM A teenager has died following clashes in southern Senegal, bringing to three the number of people killed in unrest that has engulfed the African country since President Macky Sall postponed the presidential election. Landing Camara, who was also known as Diedhiou, was injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in Casamance's town of Ziguinchor and later succumbed to his injuries. He "took a projectile to the head and died of his injuries in intensive care" on Saturday evening, a hospital source in Ziguinchor, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Sunday. According to his identity papers, Diedhiou was 16. "There were several seriously wounded people during the protests and one died. He was hit in the head by a bullet," Abdou Sane, coordinator of the opposition party Pastef in Ziguinchor, said. Senegal, a country long seen as a haven of stability and democracy in West Africa, has been plunged into one of its worst crises in decades after Sall decided to delay the February 25 presidential vote. Senegal's parliament backed the move last Monday and voted to keep Sall in office until his successor takes over, which is unlikely to be before early 2025. Sall, whose second term had been due to end on April 2, said he postponed the vote due to a row between parliament and the Constitutional Council over potential candidates prevented from running. Opposition leaders have decried the move as a "constitutional coup" and slammed the crackdown on protesters. Two other youths have died following protests in the capital Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis since Friday. More protests are planned on Tuesday in response to a call from campaigners from the Aar Sunu Election group (Protect our Election). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen warns Israel of more strikes if regime presses on with Rafah ground offensive Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 9:44 AM A top-ranking Yemeni official says the country's military will stage more strikes against Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea in case the Tel Aviv regime decides to push ahead with a ground offensive against the southernmost city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, said on Saturday that the Yemeni Armed Forces will continue their attacks to pressure Israel to completely halt its aggression on Palestinians in Gaza, lift its blockade there, and allow the unrestricted entry of food, medicine, and basic commodities into the coastal territory. He cautioned Israeli officials against any ground offensive on Rafah, stating that any escalatory measure against the Palestinian population in Gaza would prompt the Yemeni army to up the ante and carry out more operations against the occupying regime's interests. Houthi noted that the Yemeni Armed Forces' retaliatory strikes entail lofty humanitarian, religious and fraternal goals, and are meant to stop the Israeli genocidal war against ordinary people, particularly women, children and the elderly, in Gaza. "Our operations will continue at times and places of our choosing," the senior Yemeni official declared. Houthi also stressed that all US and British assets became legitimate targets in the aftermath of their joint military strikes in Yemen. He roundly dismissed as flat-out lies Washington and London's claims about the insecurity of the Red Sea for international shipping and mariners. The top Yemeni official stated that the leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has ensured all countries that their respective commercial vessels can easily pass through the Red Sea as long as they are not linked to Israel. The Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement has warned that a ground offensive on Rafah city will scupper any possibility of captive exchange negotiations. Speaking to the al-Aqsa television channel, a senior Hamas leader said an Israeli military invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip would "blow up" the talks. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has said that civilians in Rafah must be protected as they have nowhere to go. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won't stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza, which have killed at least 28,176 people and wounded another 67,784 individuals, come to an end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen says fired missiles at US bulk carrier in Red Sea in support of Palestine Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 9:40 AM The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the country's naval units have launched several missiles that struck a US merchant vessel in the Red Sea just off the coast of the Arab nation. Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Monday that the Yemeni military had carried out an operation against Star Iris bulk carrier with a number of "appropriate" naval missiles, and that the strikes were accurate and direct. He added that the missile attack came as part of the Yemeni forces' religious, ethical and humanitarian duties, reiterating that the Arab nation's naval units will continue their attacks in the Red Sea and the Arab Sea against Israeli-affiliated ships until the Tel Aviv regime halts its aggression on Gaza and lifts its tight siege against Palestinians in the territory. Saree further noted that the Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to carry out more operations in response to the relentless Israeli onslaught against the oppressed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and in response to joint American-British aggression against the Republic of Yemen. 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. The 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 26,751 people and wounded 65,636 others, 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 US blurs Israel's full-blown collapse; regime in Hamas talks as Gaza goals 'unattainable': Iran Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 9:39 AM Iran's foreign minister says if it were not for the United States' all-out support, Israel would have faced "total collapse" following a historic operation by the Palestinian resistance more than four months ago. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a meeting with about 15 officials from different Palestinian groups in the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday. "The Israeli regime totally collapsed after Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, and if it were not for the US's all-out meddling in the field in support of the Zionist regime and its efforts to resurrect and save it, this collapse would have been completely visible," he said. Amir-Abdollahian said many believe that "the Israeli regime and the US government achieved none of their declared goals since the beginning of the war on Gaza and that they are now forced to hold political talks with Hamas, whom Tel Aviv and Washington called for its demise." The top Iranian diplomat also noted that the struggle and resilience of the resistance groups, as well as the sacrifices of people in Gaza and the West Bank, and the practical unity of the Axis of the Resistance in solidarity with Palestine helped the nation defeat the occupying regime. He further appreciated the support provided for the Palestinians by the resistance factions in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, along with independent and brave governments and nations. "Today, the Palestinian issue has become the foremost issue of the world. The October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Storm showed that Palestine is alive and that it will not surrender to the will of the Zionist regime and oppressive powers, including the US government," he added. Israel waged the genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 28,176 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 67,784 others. Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that Iran believes that the Palestinian leaders should reach a consensus based on their interests and those of their nation, and that the world should support the Palestinians' decision. The Iranian foreign minister also underlined the need for unity among Palestinians, saying, "If you are united, the world will submit to your will." "What helped Palestine defeat the Israeli regime until this moment is the trust in God and the Gazans' resilience and sacrifice, as well as the support of the Axis of Resistance." The Palestinian officials, for their part, said that Palestine and the Axis of Resistance scored "a great victory" against Israel despite the martyrdom of tens of thousands of people and the extensive destruction in Gaza. They stressed that the Gaza war is not between Hamas and Israel but an unfair battle between the oppressed Palestinian nation and the Zionist regime and its supporters. They further hailed Iran's support for the Palestinian issue as "outstanding and distinct and practical and real." The current war is one of a series of battles that the Palestinian nation has had against the occupiers, the officials said, vowing to continue their heroic struggle until the "complete liberation" of Palestine. Over four months into the Gaza war, Israel has achieved no success, while the Palestinian nation has won the battle with faith in divine assistance, they added. There is nothing left of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime as it has found itself in a midst of battle of life and death. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas says Israel's Rafah massacre 'genocidal' as regime uses 'banned weapons' Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 7:45 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the deadly Israeli attack on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, saying the offensive was a "deepening of genocide" against the people of Palestine. "The attack by the terrorist enemy army on the city of Rafah is a compounded crime, a deepening of genocide and forced displacement attempts waged against our Palestinian people," Hamas said in a statement on Monday. At least 100 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed and nearly 230 others wounded in Israel's extensive air raids and artillery strikes on Rafah on Monday. Dozens of people are also trapped under the rubble. In the statement, Hamas said the "terrorist Netanyahu government and his Nazi army" blatantly disregard the decisions of the International Court of Justice issued two weeks ago, which prescribed urgent measures including stopping any steps that could be considered acts of genocide. The movement held the US administration of President Joe Biden along with the Tel Aviv regime fully responsible for the massacre in Rafah, saying Washington gave Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu the green light for the strike. The US provides Israel with money, weapons, and political cover to continue the war of genocide and massacres against the Palestinians, it emphasized. "We call on the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the United Nations Security Council to take immediate and serious action to stop the Zionist aggression and the ongoing genocide crimes against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip," the statement read. Meanwhile, the director of Kuwait Hospital in Rafah, Suhaib al-Hams, said the Israeli army used internationally prohibited incendiary missiles in its raids on Rafah, resulting in injuries from amputations, brain injuries, and burns. "We disbelieve in the world's democracy, its false freedoms, and its false justice. Its duplicity has been revealed, and its disgrace has been exposed," he added. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society also said the number of martyrs of the Rafah massacre is likely to rise given the presence of missing persons under the rubble. It emphasized that there were no sufficient ambulances to rescue the wounded after the bloody night in Rafah. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World leaders enraged by Trump, say his NATO remarks put civilian lives at risk Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 6:45 AM Western leaders have censured former US president Donald Trump for saying the US might not protect NATO allies who are not spending enough on the military alliance. Trump, who is likely to be the Republican nominee in this year's US presidential election, claimed at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday that at a meeting with NATO leaders, "a big country" asked him, "Well sir if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia - will you protect us?" "I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?' Trump said: 'Yes, let's say that happened.' No I would not protect you. In fact I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay." After this dialog between them, Trump claimed that the money "came flowing in" from NATO member states. Trump told the campaign rally that he would "encourage" Russia to attack any of the US's NATO allies that he felt were not paying their fair share. His comments drew a swift rebuke from US allies, NATO and US leaders. Germany's foreign ministry posted the message 'One for all and all for one' with the hashtag #StrongerTogether on its English language X account following Trump's comments. EU Council President Charles Michel said "Reckless statements on NATO's security and Art 5 solidarity serve only (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's interest." Article 5 of the NATO treaty says that an armed attack against an alliance member will be considered an attack against them all, triggering collective self-defense. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also weighed in. "NATO's motto 'one for all, all for one' is a concrete commitment. Undermining the credibility of allied countries means weakening the entire NATO," he wrote on social media platform X. "No election campaign is an excuse for playing with the security of the Alliance." The White House described Trump's remarks as "appalling and unhinged" US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Sunday that should Trump gain power again, he would "clearly" abandon US' NATO allies. "America's leadership on the world stage and support for our allies is critical to keeping the American people safe here at home," said Biden. "If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies if Russia attacks and allow Russia to 'do whatever the hell they want' with them." 'Trump undermines security' NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg in a written statement in reaction to Trump's remarks said such suggestions would undermine the alliance's security. "Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk," Stoltenberg said. NATO's 31 members have agreed on a target of spending at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense, but NATO estimates have shown that only 11 are spending that much. "President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer," said Jason Miller, Trump's senior campaign advisor. "When you don't pay your defense spending, you can't be surprised that you get more war." Trump had said he remained skeptical of organizations such as NATO, whose eastward expansion in Europe near Russia's border led to Moscow's repeated warnings ahead of the war with Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's strikes on Gaza's Rafah kill nearly 100, injure hundreds more Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 2:02 AM The Israeli regime has conducted extensive air raids and artillery strikes on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians, mostly women and children. According to Palestinian media, the regime's brutal attacks on people's homes and mosques in Rafah have so far killed nearly 100 civilians while leaving at least 230 others wounded. Dozens of people are also trapped under the rubble. A Palestinian Health Ministry official said Gaza's hospitals cannot handle the large number of casualties caused as a result of the Israeli attacks. The new strikes came after Palestinian media reported that at least 11 Israeli soldiers had been killed in an ambush by Palestinian resistance fighters near the city of Khan Yunis, also in the southern part of Gaza. The strikes also occurred at a time that more than one million people, above five times Rafah's usual population, have fled to the city amid Israel's brutal onslaught on the coastal territory. The regime's aggression against Gaza has so far claimed the lives of over 28,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, leaving more than 67,700 others wounded. Israel's genocidal war started after Gaza's resistance movements carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wider Europe Briefing: NATO's 'Biggest Exercise Since The Cold War,' And More (But Weak) EU Sanctions On Russia By Rikard Jozwiak February 12, 2024 Brief #1: NATO's 'Biggest Exercise Since The Cold War' What You Need To Know: In late January, NATO began what it has called its "largest military exercise since the Cold War." Steadfast Defender 24 involves 90,000 troops from all 31 alliance members as well as NATO invitee Sweden for four months of maneuvers by land, sea, and air. You have to go all the way back to 1988 for the last NATO exercise that involved more troops: Reforger with 125,000. In between, the Trident Juncture exercise in 2018 included 50,000 personnel. While official NATO documents don't say outright that they're training against a potential Russian offensive on allied territory, it's clear that's what is on their minds. The alliance says it is testing responses "during a simulated emerging conflict scenario with a near-peer adversary." Exercise maps will show an adversary with a fictitious name, but privately my NATO sources acknowledge without hesitation that "of course this means Russia." Deep Background: Take a look at the geography and what the alliance will practice, and it becomes even more evident. Roughly speaking, Steadfast Defender 24 includes two phases. The first, which kicked off slowly at the end of January, involves the transatlantic reinforcement of forces. This is in fact the key to see if the United States can effectively deploy a large number of troops and equipment to continental Europe to mount a defense. Don't underestimate the symbolism, as the United States nears a presidential election that culminates on November 5. The image of U.S. troops training alongside other nations in mock amphibious assaults in the Atlantic in the next two months, involving more than 50 naval vessels including aircraft carriers, frigates, and destroyers, could help assuage European fears of a less committed United States down the road. The second phase of the exercise is equally crucial and is likely to show whether NATO is capable of defending its vulnerable eastern flank -- "every inch of allied territory," as NATO officials like to put it. Starting in mid-February and running till the end of May, many of the elements will take place on land and in the sky, involving up to 80 air platforms including F-35 fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, as well as more than 1,000 combat vehicles, including 166 tanks. The epicenter is Poland, where a major river crossing will be attempted in March, but also in the Baltic states, with Germany acting as a major hub for reinforcement and coordination. There will also be exercises throughout the Nordic region, as well as Czechia, Hungary, North Macedonia, and Romania. Drilling Down This will also represent the first proper chance for NATO to test aspects of its new defense plans agreed at the Vilnius NATO summit in July, a 4,000-page document in which every ally should know exactly which part of alliance territory it should defend if NATO is attacked. Another big test is seeing how well the alliance's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which was created as a direct response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, functions. It will be one of the bloc's key components to defend any potential attack, with some 6,000 troops that should be deployable within days to any corner of the alliance. One of the aims of Steadfast Defender is ensuring this reaction force can be deployed together with various national forces once each year, starting from 2025. So this year is very much a test run. While the exercise has been planned for years, it comes at a pivotal time. Two years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it should act as assurance that the alliance is ready in case the war creeps closer or even spreads across NATO members' borders. While no Ukrainian troops are participating, the specter of the war in that country looms large in planners' minds. Speaking to media in early February, NATO Brigadier General Gunnar Bruegner said "there is this unified sense that we need to go bigger, we need to train harder" when asked about the impact of the war on the alliance. The real question, however, is whether it will truly allay fears in Europe. Firstly, weapons deliveries to Ukraine have dropped alarmingly in recent months. The chairman of NATO's military committee, Rob Bauer, said last fall that Western arms industries need to ramp up, as "the bottom of the barrel is now visible." Then there have been plenty of recent official warnings that European allies must step up and prepare for the war potentially escaping containment to spread beyond Ukraine. And it's not just Ukraine's neighbors. The Belgian Army chief Michel Hofman suggested that Putin opening a second front in Moldova or the Baltics is not out of the question. And Hofman's Swedish counterpart, Micael Byden, warned in late January that his countrymen "mentally must prepare for war," triggering a slight panic as the public rushed out to buy extra fuel and survival kits. Brief #2: The Puny New EU Sanctions Package Targeting Russia What You Need To Know: The EU is aiming to adopt another sanctions package to deal a blow to Russia coincident with the second anniversary of the launch of the Ukrainian invasion on February 24, 2022. The package would be the 13th imposed on Moscow since then. But early indications from EU diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity are that this round will be the weakest of the lot. It will mostly entail listings, meaning names of individuals and companies whose assets will be frozen inside the bloc and who will be slapped with visa bans -- not sector-wide sanctions targeting the Russian economy. Nearly 2,000 people and companies have been blacklisted by the club so far, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and many in his inner circle. However, the sectoral sanctions tend to be more hard-hitting. They have so far targeted Russian coal, steel, wood, and oil exports into the union or the flow of EU goods to Russia including, for example, semiconductors and luxury goods. Deep Background: The listings consist of up to 250 individuals or companies being presented by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, to EU member states in two batches. One came last week and includes 118 names; the other is expected this week. The reason for the division is that the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic corps, still needs time to go through the evidence packages with an eye to why the proposed targets should be listed. These evidence packages are frequently prepared by individual EU member states' foreign ministries, often with help from their embassies in Moscow and/or Kyiv. For this round, as I understand it, eight or so member states sent listing proposals to Brussels. In the first batch, seen by RFE/RL, most of the names come from the military sector, including companies that are producing ammunition and drones for Russia's army; there are also individuals active in politics on behalf of Moscow in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia. The second batch will reportedly include Belarusian officials, judges, and media personalities whom Brussels deems to be "propagandists" supporting Russia's war efforts. There is still another type of sanction that the European Commission might propose: adding companies to "Annex Four." This is a list of over 600 companies, mainly Russian, with whom EU firms are banned from trading with because Brussels suspects them of contributing to Russia's war machine, largely via so-called dual-use items that might otherwise be found among standard household appliances -- let's say computer chips for washing machines -- but are instead acquired for use in military equipment like drones. The proposal is for the inclusion of around 25 new companies, the majority from Russia. But as I understand it, some might be from China, India, Turkey, Serbia, and Kazakhstan. The question is whether they all remain on the list once ambassadors from the 27 member states debate the package. Beijing has previously lobbied successfully to remove proposed listings under Annex Four, and it is likely to try again. Turkey and Serbia, who enjoy close political and economic ties with many EU member states, may also attempt to get companies from their national jurisdiction delisted. Drilling Down The point for broader discussion, though, is why the European Commission opted mainly for listings. I understand from diplomats familiar with the file that the commission wanted something that could be agreed quickly in time for the February anniversary. The truth is that agreement on the EU sanctions packages has become more complicated, particularly in the last few rounds as member states have spent weeks or even months hashing out details such as economic sanctions. To adopt only listings of individuals makes sense, then, as it should only take EU member states a few meetings to sign off on them ahead of February 24. commission officials I've spoken with off the record have also pointed out that the package was coordinated with the Group of Seven leading industrial nations and that there was agreement that listings are easier to green-light. Still, I understand that some EU member states are unhappy and underwhelmed with the package. The critics point out that something hard-hitting against Moscow would be more apt in marking such a significant date, especially as Russia continues its missile barrages against Ukrainian cities. Some member states -- notably Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland -- sent a discussion paper seen by RFE/RL to the commission in January with proposed items to sanction including in the Russian nuclear sector, liquefied natural gas (LNG), aluminum in addition to a prohibition on EU companies providing any IT or cloud services to Russia. None of the proposals appears to have been taken on board. Neither has a Czech idea to ban the movement inside the bloc of Russian diplomats still posted to EU countries. Prague's proposal was deemed impractical by EU officials, as travel inside the passport-free Schengen zone is difficult to control. In a letter seen by RFE/RL and addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and signed by the foreign ministers of the Baltic states plus Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, there is a request for the commission "to present a proposal of sectoral sanctions as soon as possible." The signatories add that "our focus should be on further cutting Russian revenues to finance the war, cutting its access to sensitive goods and technology empowering its military machine." My understanding is that the commission has promised member states to return to the issue of sectoral sanctions directly after passage of the 13th package is ensured. There is, however, a risk that new measures will be harder to accept as June's European Parliament elections grow nearer and that efforts will instead focus on the autumn. Looking Ahead NATO defense ministers convene in Brussels for their first official meeting of the year on February 15. They will examine issues including a review of the alliance's air- and missile-defense posture on its eastern flank, defense spending among the 31 members, and how to encourage more joint procurement of ammunition and arms. Keep an eye out for the Munich Security Conference on February 16-18. It's widely regarded as the most important annual security forum, bringing together decision-makers from around the globe. Expect plenty of debate on the war in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy among this year's scheduled speakers. Read my takeaways from Bavaria in the next edition of this newsletter. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jizwiak- ato-exercises-russia-eu-sanctions/32815161.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 NATO Can't Be 'A La Carte,' Borrell Says As Allies Blast Trump's Comments By RFE/RL February 12, 2024 EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and other European defense and foreign ministers on February 12 joined a torrent of criticism over former U.S. President Donald Trump's comment downplaying the U.S. commitment to NATO's security umbrella in Europe. "Let's be serious. NATO cannot be an a la carte military alliance, it cannot be a military alliance that works depending on the humor of the president of the U.S." day to day, Borrell said after Trump suggested that under his administration the United States might not defend NATO allies that failed to spend enough on defense. Borrell added that he would not keep commenting on "any silly idea" emerging from the U.S. presidential election campaign. Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 race, sent a chill through European allies when he said at a campaign rally on February 10 he would "encourage" Russia to attack any NATO country that does not meet financial obligations. U.S. President Joe Biden called Trump's comments "appalling and dangerous" in a statement on February 11, joining several European defense and foreign ministers responding over the weekend. The reactions continued on February 12, with Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren saying Trump's comment was "exactly what Putin loves to hear." Ollongren called the comment "worrying" and said it was not the first time that Trump has made a comment along these lines. While in office, Trump -- who was defeated by Biden in the 2020 election -- often expressed doubts about the need for NATO and repeatedly threatened to pull out of the alliance if members did not pay what he considered their fair share for their defense. Ollongren rebuffed Trump, stressing that NATO's strength is in its unity. "If we're not united, it makes us weaker. And we know that that is what Putin is looking for," he told Reuters on February 12. The principle of collective defense -- the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all and would trigger collective self-defense action -- is enshrined in Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty. It is considered the hallmark of the NATO alliance. Ollongren also noted that most NATO allies were close to or had reached the target budget spending on defense of 2 percent of gross domestic product by 2024. NATO allies agreed to the goal in 2014. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner also reacted to Trump's comment. Speaking in London on February 12, Lindner said the transatlantic partnership will continue. "Regardless of who is in the White House, we have an overriding interest in continuing to cooperate across the Atlantic, economically, politically, and also in matters of security," he said. Lindner said Britain and Germany shared similar challenges when it came to strengthening free-trade capabilities. The dialogue "is of particular importance" after Trump's statements, Lindner said before going into a meeting with British counterpart Jeremy Hunt. "We are facing major challenges as European members of NATO," Lindner said, adding that Europe's peace and free-trade order had been put at risk by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier echoed other EU leaders, saying the statements "are irresponsible and even play into Russia's hands." With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-blast- rump-comments/32816731.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 Japarov Accuses U.S. Of Interfering In Kyrgyzstan's Internal Affairs By Eleonora Beishenbek-kyzy February 12, 2024 BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan has published the text of a letter by President Sadyr Japarov to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in which the Central Asian nation's leader accused the United States of interfering in his country's internal affairs. On February 9, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said minister Jeenbek Kulubaev met with the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Lesslie Viguerie and handed over Japarov's response to a letter by Blinken that reportedly expressed concern over ongoing discussions by Kyrgyz lawmakers of a controversial bill that would allow authorities to register organizations as "foreign representatives," legislation that critics say mirrors repressive Russian laws on "foreign agents." "I have to note with regret that the content of your letter has signs of interference in the internal affairs of our state," Japarov's letter -- published by his spokesman Askat Alagozov -- said. "Today, there are tens of thousands of nongovernmental/nonprofit organizations that are successfully working throughout Kyrgyzstan," the letter continued, adding that there is "a problem directly related to the protection of the legitimate interests of the Kyrgyz state." Japarov also wrote that the bill in question "is close to the current Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) adopted in the U.S.A. in 1938." FARA is only triggered when an entity or an individual engages in political activity in the United States. According to Japarov, some groups in his country that receive funds from abroad "often disseminate false and unreliable information." In his letter, Japarov closes by saying his country is "ready to work" with the United States, adding: "My only request -- not to interfere in the internal affairs of our country." Last month, the Kyrgyz parliament's committee for constitutional laws approved the bill in question in the first reading. Further discussion of the controversial draft law is pending. According to the draft, noncommercial organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding and are engaged in broadly defined "political" activities will be obliged to report about their activities to the authorities. The legislation will also introduce wide oversight powers by the authorities and potential criminal sanctions for undefined criminal offences. Dozens of nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan and international rights watchdogs have called on Kyrgyz lawmakers to reject the bill, insisting that it could be used by the authorities to discredit those labeled as "foreign representatives" and to stifle dissent. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-japarov-accuses- us-interfering-internal-affairs-blinken/32815575.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 What The Fall Of Hungary's President Says About Orban's Grip On The Country By Andy Heil and RFE/RL's Hungarian Service February 12, 2024 Hungarian President Katalin Novak and former Justice Minister Judit Varga recently resigned amid mounting public outrage over Novak's pardon of a man convicted of being an accessory to child sex abuse. The scandal has shaken Hungary and its ruling elite and hints at looming challenges for Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party, who have dominated national politics for a decade and a half. Here are a few of the things that the fallout tells us about Orban and his party's grip on the country. Hungary's Hamstrung Media Punch Above Their Weight Novak's was not postcommunist Hungary's -- or even Fidesz's -- first presidential resignation. Former Olympic fencer Pal Schmitt stepped down as head of state over a plagiarized dissertation in 2012, less than two years after a Fidesz majority put him in office. Schmitt's transgression was initially unearthed by the weekly Heti Vilaggazdasag (Weekly World Economy) magazine, now known as HVG. HVG provided impetus for Novak's resignation too when, in January, it shone a light on her extensive use of clemency to "break 30-year records in pardons" with 40 last year alone. But the greater public impact came after the publication of an article by the independent 444.hu website on February 2 homed in on the Endre K. pardon based on the evaluation of a pardon application issued by Novak's office in April. It cited a subsequent court ruling from September upholding Endre K.'s guilt, saying that "one of our readersdrew our attention to it." Novak's office issued a statement attempting to contain the damage, saying that "no one convicted of pedophilia has ever received a presidential pardon and they never will." A little over a week later, with protests looming, Novak resigned in a televised address with a message of apology and acknowledging "a mistake" but adding that she would never knowingly pardon "anyone who I thought abused children physically or psychologically." The dramatic impact of the events suggests that even with the barest of institutional support, Hungarian journalism is punching above its weight. Orban has used chummy ownership structures, preferential ad placement by state and other institutions, and government and NGO restructuring in Hungary to clamp down on independent media, leaving many major media outlets in the hands of Fidesz allies. Recently passed "sovereignty defense" legislation created what the European Union and other critics say could be a further tool against persistent Orban critics in the media. But a small, dedicated corps of independent journalists has used digital platforms including YouTube, e-mail, and local websites to counter what they regard as top-down efforts to quash criticism of Fidesz and its state and local officials. Fidesz Is Feeling The 'Shock' Whether railing against immigration or defending anti-LGBT legislation, Viktor Orban has portrayed himself as a bulwark against an erosion of traditional family values. The nature of this scandal -- state institutions granting clemency to a conspirator helping cover up the long-running sexual abuse of children -- could publicly undermine that message. It could also threaten perceptions of Fidesz discipline as the current parliamentary term nears its midpoint. A Fidesz source inside the government, who requested anonymity because they were not free to discuss the internal situation publicly, acknowledged to RFE/RL's Hungarian Service that "This is now very unpleasant for everyone." "There is silence and shock in the party," another source said. Veteran Hungarian constitutional lawyer Tibor Sepsi hinted at the cost of apparent shortcuts in the doling out of presidential pardons in this case, even if some officials were unaware of underlying details of the case. He said decades of pardons since the fall of communism suggest that there's no need for constitutional amendment but rather that "properly functioning democracies" rely on proper investigations by the authorities in such cases. "Until now, the common sense of the justice minister and the president of the republic prevented something like this from happening," Sepsi told RFE/RL's Hungarian Service. "The constitution allows an amazing amount of things, but we don't do them [all]." Orban Quickly Got Involved In Damage Control As the extent of the public outrage became clear and alarm mounted in Fidesz's own ranks, Orban vowed the day before Novak's resignation to propose a constitutional amendment to narrow the pardon powers of the presidency. Orban headlined his effort on social media "Pedophiles get no mercy!" As part of the cleanup, he said, "In the case of crimes committed against children, perpetrators will not be granted pardons!" He appeared to be circling the wagons in anticipation of Novak's political demise. But there has already been a prominent defection. Varga's ex-husband, Peter Magyar, a longtime lawyer and a fixture of the nexus between Fidesz and the public and private sectors, broke publicly with Orban's regime in an explosive interview after Novak's and Varga's resignations. In an extended interview for independent YouTube channel Partizan on February 11, Magyar avoided blaming Orban directly but suggested the prime minister "is responsible for who he surrounds himself with." He complained of excessive influence in the hands of longtime government messaging chief Antal Rogan and other Fidesz luminaries. He said Rogan was not the problem, per se, but rather "he embodies what the problem is." He described himself as a key player in Fidesz circles whose aim is not to "threaten anyone, but I want change and I want this country to move in the right direction." Two Rare Female Voices Are Gone A perceived lack of women in senior government posts is a problem that dogged Hungarian governments before Orban's. But with Fidesz supermajorities in every parliament since 2010, women have seemingly remained an afterthought. "There are some talented women who might be able to [endure harsh political attacks], but I'm not surprised they don't apply for the job," Orban said famously in 2015, rattling off a short list that included Novak. Now, the pardon scandal has dealt major blows to Novak and another of the ruling party's most influential female politicians. Fidesz elevated Novak to its vice presidency two years after Orban's "talented women" comment, and Orban named her to a newly created post as minister for family policy in 2020. A mother of three, she became Hungary's first female president with an overwhelming parliamentary majority in 2022. Once in office in what is a largely ceremonial post in Hungary's parliamentary system, she played a key role in reminding Hungarians of traditional social values as they were espoused by Fidesz and with rare exceptions generally steered clear of publicly challenging Orban's domestic and foreign policies. The second early casualty of the pardon scandal is a former justice minister who was another expected to lead the party's list of candidates for the European Parliament in June. Judit Varga's countersignature was required on any pardon that was issued during her tenure as minister before she stepped down in June 2023. Following a week of silence after the 444.hu report broke, on February 10 Varga announced the resignation of her parliamentary seat and her European candidacy, as well as her retirement from public life. The Timing Is Awkward For Orban The fall of his hand-picked president comes at a challenging time for Orban well beyond the cost-of-living crisis he and Fidesz are feeling domestically. He is still battling the European Union over the bloc's support for Ukraine against Russia's nearly two-year-old full-scale invasion and Western criticism of Budapest's ongoing cozy ties with Moscow. And Hungary assumes the EU Presidency in July for a term that Orban's Western critics fear will only sharpen differences and highlight that he is out of step with much of the bloc well beyond foreign policy but also on issues of democracy and rule of law. Then there is Varga's exit from the top of Fidesz's candidates list for the European Parliamentary elections in June. Fidesz members have already spent nearly three years adrift since quitting the largest center-right grouping, the European People's Party (EPP), before the EPP could suspend it. And a majority of members have already built on "12 areas of concern" by decrying "deliberate and systematic efforts of the Hungarian government" to undermine European values. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-novak-resignation- orban-grip/32816814.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 Palestine Red Crescent Says Israel Launched Strikes on Gaza's Rafah - Reports Sputnik News 20240212 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Monday that Israel was carrying out "violent" strikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Reuters reported, citing the organization. At the same time, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had carried out strikes on targets in the Shaboura area of the city of Rafah. "The IDF conducted a series of strikes on terror targets in the area of Shaboura in the southern Gaza Strip. The strikes have concluded," the IDF said on Telegram. The number of people killed as a result of Israeli strikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip has risen to 100, Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported on Monday, citing medical sources. Previously, Al Jazeera broadcaster reported that strikes claimed the lives of 63 people. Israel has been pounding Rafah for several days in preparation for a ground offensive that aims to root out Hamas. The city is the last refuge for over a million Palestinians who were told to relocate south during the past four months of the Israeli military operation in the enclave. The United States, Canada, Germany and other Western allies of Israel have criticized the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for ordering a ground operation in the packed city, warning of an imminent humanitarian disaster. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No: 28, 12 February 2024, Regarding the Israeli Attacks on Rafah City in Gaza Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs We are extremely concerned by Israel's escalating attacks on the southern city of Rafah following the destruction and massacres it has already inflicted on the Gaza Strip. We consider this operation as part of a plan to expel the people of Gaza from their own land. Ongoing attacks will exacerbate the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and undermine the efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire in the region. We call on the international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to take the necessary steps to stop Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 12 February 2024 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory All right, good afternoon, thank you for your patience. Just turning to Gaza, obviously will start off there. Our humanitarian colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report that strikes in Rafah have heightened concerns of an escalation in Gaza's southernmost city, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge. Of the 1.7 million people displaced in Gaza, the majority are situated in Rafah governorate, where humanitarian operations are now based. The growing insecurity in Rafah has greatly impacted our ability to respond to the humanitarian needs of the population there. Ground military operations and heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups continue to be reported, obviously in Rafah, but also in Khan Younis. In Khan Younis, intense fighting especially near the Nasser and Al Amal hospitals continues to jeopardize the safety not only of medical staff, but also of course of the patients, the wounded and the sick those doctors and nurses are trying to take care of. Across Gaza, people displaced by the hostilities are facing acute shortages of clean water, of shelter, of food and of medicine. Despite the worsening situation, we, along with our partners, are doing all we can to deliver life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in need. Our humanitarian partners are reaching about 450,000 people weekly with a variety of health services. Each week, partners carry out nearly 300,000 primary health-care consultations, on average. They are also planning to open stabilization centres for acute malnutrition cases with medical complications. More than two dozen humanitarian partners are providing shelter assistance, some 28,000 tents and other equipment are currently in the pipeline to be delivered. However, the cost of these supplies is rising, and there is an urgent need to restore the role of the private sector in providing basic commodities. At this point, as we have been saying, there is clearly not enough aid that we're able to bring in to meet the humanitarian needs of the population. ** Syria Turning to Syria, where I have some good news on cross-border operations: On 10 February, the Government of Syria informed the UN of its consent to allow the UN to continue to deliver humanitarian assistance through both Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra'i crossings for an additional three months, until 13 May 2024. As a reminder, the extension follows the renewal of consent on that was given to us 11 January for the UN and our partners to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for an additional six months, and Bab Al-Hawa is cleared for us to use until 13 July of this year. These extensions are crucial, as the UN's cross-border operations remain a vital support system for people in need in north-west Syria. Every month, we and our partners deliver critical assistance and protection services to an average of 2.5 million men, women and children. Since February of last year, approximately 5,000 trucks carrying UN aid have crossed from Turkiye to north-west Syria through the Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra'i crossings. Moreover, UN personnel have completed more than 350 cross-border missions during that timeframe. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan, our colleague, Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, urge all those involved to immediately restore network access across the country, and warn that outages are preventing people from accessing essential services and transferring funds, as well as, of course, hindering the humanitarian response, which operates in a challenging enough environment as it is. The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], echoed those concerns and said that the disruptions are impeding health operations, as well as access to health services. This comes at a time when humanitarian needs in Sudan are at a record high. Nearly 25 million people that's every other person in Sudan need humanitarian assistance this year. Just last week, we and our partners launched our 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to reach some 14.7 million people inside Sudan with life-saving aid and protection services and we urge donors to give and to give generously. ** Abyei Heading south to Abyei where our peacekeeping colleagues from the mission (UNISFA) report that they have been maintaining enhanced levels of patrolling to protect civilians, particularly in southern Abyei where most of the violence has taken place and we, of course, remain committed to continuing those patrols and that protection. The Mission is also providing refuge to civilians displaced in the clashes, many of them children, and working with our humanitarian partners to meet their needs. At the same time, the Mission is engaging with stakeholders at the national and community levels to calm tensions and coordinate to provide longer-term security and voluntary return options to those displaced. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo Our peacekeeping colleagues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo tell us the situation in Kinshasa remains tense today, as demonstrations continued in the capital for a third day. Over the weekend, civilians protesting the rising insecurity in the eastern part of their country targeted UN staff and assets in Kinshasa; they set fire to several UN vehicles and burning tires in front of diplomatic installations, including our own premises. Fortunately, no UN personnel was injured. In a statement on Saturday, Bintou Keita, the Head of Mission, condemned the attacks on UN staff and called on the Congolese judicial authorities to launch investigations with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators. She stressed that threats and attacks against UN staff and their families are unacceptable, noting that these assaults have a negative impact on the implementation of the respective mandates of UN agencies, funds, and programmes of the entire UN system, including the peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO. As we have been reporting, the Mission is doing its utmost to protect civilians in the east, including through support of the Congolese armed forces, and that is the "Operation Springbok", and is being conducted jointly with the Congolese army, and is currently ongoing, with the additional deployment of a Quick Reaction Force to Sake in North Kivu last week. Peacekeepers are also continuing to protect the main routes leading towards Goma and Sake to prevent the M23 from advancing towards both of those cities, which harbour a large number of displaced civilians. ** Yemen Moving to Yemen: Our Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, held several meetings over the weekend with officials and representatives of Yemeni society. On Saturday he was in Aden, where he met with the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi. He explored ways to de-escalate tensions, prevent a relapse into violence in Yemen, and continue progress towards a nationwide ceasefire, economic measures, and the resumption of a political process under the auspices of these United Nations. In Mukha (which is on the Red Sea), Mr. Grundberg met yesterday with a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Tareq Saleh, and emphasized the importance of maintaining calm along the frontlines. Also, over the weekend in Aden, Mr. Grundberg met with 30 youth and civil society activists. He underlined that they have a critical role in supporting the peace process, and in representing the Yemeni people. ** Security Council Back here, the Security Council held a meeting on threats to international peace and security. Briefing Council members was the Assistant Secretary-General [for Central Asia, Europe, and Americas] at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Miroslav Jenca, He noted that the approaching anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not only an occasion to recount the horrors of the past two years. He pointed it that it is also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine did not begin on 24 February 2022, but has been ongoing in the country's east since 2014. Mr. Jenca emphasized that the UN has been, and will remain, fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. ** Ukraine And just news from the field from Ukraine; our humanitarian colleagues in Kyiv are telling that hostilities continued over the weekend and today. Our humanitarian colleagues note that on 10 February, evening strikes in Kharkiv in the city's east led to a massive fire at an oil depot that led to injuries of civilians and the destruction of property and also impacted the electricity supply in the area. Humanitarian partners are mobilized and are distributing hot meals and materials for urgent repairs. They are also providing mental health and psychosocial support at the site of the attack. Damage to energy facilities has also been reported by the state energy provider in the Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. In total, 386 towns and villages across Ukraine remain without any electricity due to the impact of the hostilities. And that's in the midst of a harsh winter, and that's information has been provided to us by the Ukrainian energy company. ** Afghanistan Turning to Afghanistan, the UN mission (UNAMA) in is deeply concerned over recent arbitrary arrests and detentions of women and girls by Afghanistan's de facto authorities because of alleged non-compliance with the Islamic dress code. The UN Mission is looking into allegations of ill-treatment and incommunicado detention, and that religious and ethnic minority communities appear to be disproportionately impacted by this crackdown by the de facto authorities. The UN Mission fears the current crackdown is pushing women into even greater isolation due to fear of arbitrary arrest and creating a permissive environment for men to enforce repressive measures at home. UNAMA has discussed these issues with the de facto authorities, including with the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and calls for the immediate release of all those who have been detained. ** Trinidad and Tobago And over the weekend, as you may have seen, there was an oil spill in Trinidad and Tobago from an unidentified vessel that overturned off the coast of Tobago. In response, under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana, the UN team there is reallocating existing resources to support the authorities with the immediate clean-up efforts. An emergency meeting is under way with the Tobago Emergency Management Agency to discuss the current needs. Our team there is actively collaborating with the Government and international partners, conducting assessments to facilitate a coordinated aid response. While the Government-led containment of the vessel leak is nearly under control, we are boosting support for the community-level clean-up. We are also gearing up towards addressing the long-term environmental and economic impacts, ensuring a comprehensive response to safeguard local livelihoods and Tobago's vital tourist sector. ** World's Migratory Species Report Couple of more notes, I will ask for your patience. The first-ever State of the World's Migratory Species report was launched today by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), which is a UN biodiversity treaty. The report shows that while some migratory species listed under the treaty are improving, 44 per cent are showing population declines. According to the report, more than one-in-five of the listed species under the treaty are threatened with extinction. Nearly all 97 per cent of the listed fish are threatened with extinction. The report adds that the extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally, including those not listed under the treaty. ** Prevention Of Violent Extremism Today is also the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism. In his message, Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General for Counter Terrorism, says that this Day is an opportunity to highlight the essential and ongoing commitment from Member States, the UN system and all relevant global partners to unite in the common efforts against violent extremism. ** Financial Contribution Four Member States. Not on the Honour Roll, but we do honour their contributions in full. May make you a little bit well, it's for those of you who like to be on the water, let me put it this way. In alphabetical order, this first is surrounded by the Pacific, and Southern and Indian Oceans, as well as the Timor, Tasman and Coral Seas. [] Australia. Okay. Australia, it's a big country and we thank them bigly for their payment in full. The second country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Has borders both on the Caribbean and the Pacific. [] No. It is Colombia and we say thank you to our friends in Bogota. Next, this Member State has the longest coastline in Europe and is well known for thousands of islands. [] Yes! This is why Michael Ignatiou is here; yes, it's Greece. Exactly. Thank you, Michael. And finally, this country has borders both on the Northern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. [] No. Morocco. So, we thank our friends in Canberra, Bogota, Athens and Rabat. Fifty-five countries [have paid in full.] ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Edith Lederer? Question : Thank you, Steph. I think we all need to go back and do a geography course. [laughter] Spokesman : Yes. Exactly. Yes. Question : Two questions. First, is the United Nations involved at all with Israel in talks on the relocation of some 1.5 million Palestinians from Rafah? Spokesman : Not that I'm aware of. Question : And can you tell us what Sigrid Kaag is doing? Spokesman : Yeah. Sigrid was traveling between the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Qatar today in continuing her regional consultations. Question : And on a completely different subject, does the Secretary-General have any reaction to the outcome of the Pakistani election? Spokesman : On the elections in Pakistan, I can tell you that he is indeed following the situation very closely and continuing to monitor the situation following the general elections. He calls for the resolving of all issues and disputes through the established legal frameworks and for human rights and the rule of law to be fully respected in the interest of the people of Pakistan. The Secretary-General urges the authorities, political leaders to maintain a calm atmosphere and to reject and refrain from all forms of violence and avoid any actions that could increase or enflame tensions. Benno, then Dezhi. Question : Thank you, Steph. I want to follow up to Edie's question about Rafah. About the evacuations, the Israeli Government said that they want the UN to help with the evacuations. Is there any will on your side to help with this? Spokesman : Look, what we want is to ensure that anything that happens is done in full respect of international law, in the full respect of the protection of civilians. We will not be party to forced displacement of people. As it is, there is no place that is currently safe in Gaza. There's a great challenge. I mean, the vast majority of people are in the south. In the north and in central Gaza, where there may be less, let's say, kinetic activity, to put it diplomatically, there still remains a huge challenge of unexploded ordnance. You can't send people back to areas that is littered with unexploded ordnance, not to mention a lack of shelter. The situation for us in Gaza on the humanitarian end remains extremely challenging. The supplies that we currently have, the humanitarian supplies may last us just days. We're not getting enough goods in. I mean, we've seen, there were demonstrations at the Kerem Shalom crossing. There were demonstrations in Nitzana, which has hampered our ability to get all the humanitarian aid we want to see in. And frankly, the deconfliction process that we have in place with the Israeli authorities is also not working, which means that we're not able to go north of Rafah in a way that we want to go in. And also, I think we have to be honest. We're also seeing inside Gaza, and we flagged this before, a breakdown of civil order, which makes our work that much more complicated. Question : And then I would have another question about the former US President Donald Trump, who said on the weekend that he would encourage Russia to do whatever they want to NATO members if they don't pay their dues. Is there any comment from your side? Spokesman : I think you may understand my instinct of self-preservation when not trying to drag in the UN and the Secretary-General into the presidential campaign in these United States, our wonderful host country. Correspondent : I understand. Spokesman : Dezhi? Question : Yeah. A follow-up first on the situation in Rafah. We heard the response from OCHA and some of the words you just said on this situation. What is the position of the Secretary-General on this offensive? Did he feel disappointed, worried, concerned, condemned? Spokesman : Look, we saw again Palestinians being killed yesterday. What we need is a humanitarian ceasefire. The Secretary-General feels it's extremely important to have this humanitarian ceasefire. We also saw yesterday the release of two Israeli hostages, which we very much welcome the fact that these two have regained their freedom. And it's important to see the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages. Question : So, in exchange of more than 100 deaths of Palestinians? That's what happened yesterday. Spokesman : I understand what you're asking. What I'm saying to you is that we want to see a stop to the civilian deaths, right? We've condemned over and over again the deaths of civilians. We also want to see all the hostages released. Question : So, another thing I want to ask is about UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency). Obviously, Mr. [Philippe] Lazzarini posted this on Twitter, that he said that Israeli authorities have not informed UNRWA officially on the alleged tunnel which is under the headquarter of UNRWA in Gaza City. Has he now received any evidence from? Spokesman : Not that we've been told here, and we've not received much information. Correspondent : Ambassador [Gilad] Erdan urged him to resign, like what he did with the Secretary-General. Spokesman : Look, the Commissioner General is appointed by the Secretary-General in consultation with the General Assembly. And Mr. Lazzarini continues to have the full backing of the Secretary-General. Question : So, he still has the confidence, right? Spokesman : Yes, he does. Question : Okay. Spokesman : Okay. Pamela, and then Michael. Question : Thank you, Steph. On a totally separate topic, tomorrow, there's a Security Council meeting on climate, foods insecurity. Is there someone who will be briefing from the [cross talk] Spokesman : I have no doubt. I was struggling to get enough information in my head to brief you on what's going on today. Hopefully, my colleagues who are listening will let me know before the end of this briefing. [He later said that the Secretary-General, among other senior officials, would speak at that meeting.] Question : And if you can put out any statement on the importance of this or Spokesman : Well, let's see who's briefing. Correspondent : Yeah, once you get it. Spokesman : Obviously, the issue of climate is a critical issue to peace and security, right? Droughts, weather disasters often can be responsible for conflict, whether it's internal or external. Correspondent : And on food insecurity, any progress on There was some talk about either a new or renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Spokesman : Nothing to share with you at this very moment. Correspondent : Thank you. Spokesman : Mr. Ignatiou? Question : Yeah. Stephane, two things. One, do you have anything to tell us about the meeting of the Foreign Minister of Greece and the Secretary-General? And also, as I understand, Mrs. [Maria Angela] Holguin Cuellar returned from her tour to Cyprus, Greece and Turkiye. So, do you have anything to tell us about the results of this mission? I mean, will she return to the island or she's disappointed she decided not to go back? Spokesman : On your second question, the Secretary-General's envoy is an extremely seasoned and experienced diplomat. I have no doubt that she will continue on her mandate enthusiastically. I don't know if she's back here in New York or when she's had a chance to brief the Secretary-General. On the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Secretary-General, first of all, it was nice that it happened on the day that we processed Greece's full payment of its dues. They did discuss, as it would not surprise you, the bilateral relations between Greece and the United Nations. Will not also surprise you that they did discuss the situation in Cyprus, as well as developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the broader region. Yes, Augusta, please. Question : A couple of questions. Thank you, Steph. So, on Rafah, has the Secretary-General spoken to the Egyptians about what's going on, and if so, what kind of conversations are they having? And then switching topics, Venezuela and Guyana. There have been some reports that Venezuela has been sending troops to the border with Guyana. Is the Secretary-General monitoring the situation? And if so, is he talking to the involved parties? Spokesman : On Rafah, we're very well aware of what the situation is in Rafah. We have people there, so we're following the situation day to day. The Secretary-General is indeed concerned about the recent developments along the border between Guyana and Venezuela, which could escalate the bilateral tensions between the two countries. His call, which he's reiterating today, is for both Guyana and Venezuela to settle their differences through peaceful means in accordance with international law, and, frankly, to refrain from any action that would aggravate their dispute or extend their dispute. There were commitments made in the meeting in the Argyle Declaration in December of last year to pursue good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence, and it's very important that those commitments be implemented. Gabriel, and then madam. Question : Thanks, Steph. Has the Secretary-General spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu? Spokesman : Trust me, you will be the second or third person to know when that phone call happens. Question : Presumably that's still trying to happen, correct? Spokesman : They received the message that the Secretary-General wanted to speak to him, but we remain in contact at various levels with the Israeli authorities. Question : And you said that Israeli airstrikes in Rafah are greatly impacting our ability to respond. You briefly touched on that. That was about that, correct? Spokesman : Yeah. I mean, the fact that there's an ongoing conflict in Gaza is impacting our ability to respond. The fact that there were the bombings and the airstrikes that we saw yesterday make things even more difficult because clearly, we can't operate while those things are going on. Madame de Lavarene? Question : Stephane, has the Secretary-General made a call to the President of Senegal to talk about what is going on right now? And if so, what did they say? Spokesman : The contacts have been had through Mr. [Leonardo Santos] Simao, our envoy for West Africa. Sylviane, and then Serife. Question : Merci, Stephane. Thank you, Stephane. Mrs. Wronecka, is she still in Lebanon? Joanna? Spokesman : Yes. I've not heard anything to the contrary. Question : [inaudible] Spokesman : Okay. I will check. I've not heard that she's not. Yeah. Question : [inaudible] Spokesman : Okay. Your microphone. Yeah. Question : We don't have any statement from her since a long time. On another subject, how confident are you the war in Gaza will not expand on a large scale in Lebanon? Spokesman : The situation in the region is extremely volatile, right? The situation along the Blue Line continues to be very dangerous. We've seen exchange of fires. We've seen continuing military activity across the line. Our message to the parties along the Blue Line is to engage with the UN peacekeeping force, with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), and to do whatever they can to ensure that what you asked me about does not happen. Serife? Question : Thank you, Stephane. I'm not fully satisfied with your response to Dezhi regarding the Secretary-General's reaction to the situation in Rafah. So, his warning was quite strong on Thursday when he pointed to the possible destruction that may occur if Israel does go on with the attack. You've mentioned that it's the most southern part, and physically there is nowhere else to go. And people were pushed there with promises of safety. And it's also one of the main points of the entry of humanitarian aid, as you've also mentioned. So, how does the Secretary-General feel that his warnings and his calls are actually falling on deaf ears? Spokesman : Well, let's be honest, right? I think the Secretary-General's calls in that line are not I mean, let me rephrase it. The Secretary-General is not the only leader to make these calls, right? We're seeing these calls come from a lot of different corners. And the Secretary-General will continue to speak out. Ephrem, then Yu. Question : Thank you, Steph. Do you have any comment on the Dutch court ruling that the Netherlands should stop selling parts of the F-35 planes to Israel because Israel has? [cross talk] Spokesman : No. We've seen that report. I have no comment on the ongoing judicial case. Question : Any comment on the banning by Israeli authorities of Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur, from entering the country again? Spokesman : It would have surprised me if she would have ever been allowed to go into Israel. Yeah, you please. Question : Thank you, Steph. So, I have follow-up question about UNRWA. So, do you have any update about UNRWA investigation, including timeline? Spokesman : On which part? The one on staff, on OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services), is ongoing. The other one, the independent review, is also ongoing. And those expected timelines are what we've said in the past. Question : In this investigation to staff, to UNRWA staff. So [cross talk] Spokesman : No, they operate independently. When they're ready to share information, they will. Pam, let me go to the screen then I Correspondent : Yeah, just a follow-up on that. [inaudible] Spokesman : Your screen. Your microphone, please. Question : The independent review [inaudible] Spokesman : Your microphone, please. Hold on because the transcribers can't hear you if the microphone's not Question : The independent review launches Wednesday, correct? Spokesman : That's correct. Yeah. Okay, let's go to Jordan. Question : Has the SG communicated the order by the ICJ (International Court of Justice) to Security Council? And if yes, please, can you give us a copy of the communication? Spokesman : That's going to be a public document. So, I'll check if it's been done. But it's a procedural move that the Secretary-General is required to do. But it'll be a public document. Stefano? Question : Thank you, Stephane. It's a follow-up on the question on Francesca Albanese, that was asked before, okay? Well, actually, she wrote that a mass attack in southern Israel on 7 October is not the result of antisemitism, but of Israeli oppression on the Palestinians. So, these are the words that were condemned by the Israeli Government, but not only by the Israeli Government, there is also France and Germany that asked for a resignation and an Italian senator, Giulio Terzi, that he's actually the former Ambassador of Italy to the UN, said that [Antonio] Guterres should fire her. So, what is your reaction to that? Spokesman : Well, first of all, let's talk procedure first, right? As you very well know, Stefano, but we rely on you as a journalist to let others know that the Special Rapporteurs are independent. They are named by the Human Rights Council in which Member States are elected and sit. The Secretary-General has neither the authority to hire them nor does he have the authority to fire them. So, while they do have a UN logo and UN title in their name, they work fully independently of the Secretary-General. He has no idea what they're going to do, where they are or what they say. On the substance, I think you've seen the Secretary-General's repeated statements about the situation, about what happened in Israel on 7 October, what's happened in Gaza since then. And I can tell you the Secretary-General does not agree with Ms. Albanese. Question : Just a quick follow-up. So, the statement that Albanese wrote, you're saying that it's not similar to the one that Guterres said when he was in the Security Council at the beginning of the crisis? Because it is also the case Israel asked for his resignation? Spokesman : Stefano, I will let you do the compare and contrast, the analysis of text and all of that. Mr. Ali, you've been very patient. I can see your real hand and your yellow hand. So, your little electronic hand. Please, go ahead, Iftikhar. Question : Thank you very much, Steph. My question has actually been asked by Edie. But the UNAMA statement that you read today sounds very much like the one you issued a few days ago. Is today's statement in response to some new incidents [cross talk] Spokesman : Yeah, I think it's in response to new information the mission is getting. I think it's also very important for all of us to ensure that the plight of Afghan women and girls is not forgotten and that we help amplify their voices and frankly, the horrendous situation that they're in, given the restrictions and the trampling of their most basic human rights and human decency. Correspondent : I understand, Steph, but no specific incident has been cited in today's statement. Spokesman : I would encourage you to read the full statement. If you have any more questions, ask Daniela in my office, who is my Afghanistan specialist. Correspondent : Okay, thank you. Spokesman : Okay. Yes, Pamela, your microphone, please. Question : Just a quick. The King of Jordan is not passing by, as far as you know, New York after Washington? Spokesman : I don't know. Question : I mean, there's no meeting planned with the SG? Spokesman : Not that I've seen. But again, I'm struggling for today. We'll look for the rest of the week. There is no Monica [Grayley] today. I will be back tomorrow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: UN rights chief warns against potential 'carnage' in Rafah 12 February 2024 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Monday appealed for restraint in the face of an Israeli military incursion in Rafah, warning of the risk of further atrocity crimes in the Gaza war. Nearly 1.5 million people are now crammed into the southern city on the border with Egypt, and with nowhere further to flee. 'Terrifying' situation A potential full-fledged incursion in Rafah "is terrifying, given the prospect that an extremely high number of civilians, again mostly children and women, will likely be killed and injured," Mr. Turk warned. "Today, sadly, given the carnage wrought so far in Gaza it is wholly imaginable what would lie ahead in Rafah," he added. Aid delivery at risk The incursion may also mean the end of the "meager" humanitarian aid entering Gaza, with huge implications, including for hundreds of thousands of people in the north who of the enclave who are at grave risk of starvation and famine. "My Office has repeatedly warned against actions that violate the laws of war. The prospect of such an operation into Rafah, as circumstances stand, risks further atrocity crimes," Mr. Turk said. The UN rights chief urged Israel to comply with the legally binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and with the full span of international humanitarian law. 'Accountability must follow' Following a case brought forward by South Africa, the ICJ - the UN's top court - declared last month that Palestinians had a right to be protected from acts of genocide, and called on Israel to "take all measures within its power" to prevent such actions and allow aid to enter Gaza. "Those who defy international law have been put on notice. Accountability must follow," said Mr. Turk. "The world must not allow this to happen. Those with influence must restrain rather than enable. There must be an immediate ceasefire. All remaining hostages must be released. And there must be renewed collective resolve to reach a political solution." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA Situation Report #76 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information from 8-10 February 2024, is valid as of 10 February 2024 at 22:30 (local time)) UNRWA 12 Feb 2024 Days 125-127 of Hostilities Key points The Gaza Strip Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened fears which would further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations. Nearly 1.5 million people are in Rafah, six times the population in comparison with before 7 October. Intense fighting in/around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last three weeks is causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC). This is forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee further south towards Rafah, which is severely overcrowded, with reports of Israeli Forces' strikes in Rafah on 7 February. The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza expressed concern at the prospect of an Israel military offensive in Rafah which could result in hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the fighting and warned that the Agency "will not be able to effectively or safely run operations from a city under assault from the Israeli army." Accessing isolated populations north of Wadi Gaza remains a challenge. Between 1 January and 5 February only 10 UNRWA/UNRWA inclusive missions reached north Wadi Gazi out of 35 planned. During the reporting period (8 - 10 February), Kerem Shalom remains closed since 7 February due to Israeli protestors. Critical supplies to meet food insecurity continue to be blocked due to lack of Israeli Authorities' approvals to move flour from the Israeli port of Ashdod into the Gaza Strip. As of 10 February, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is now **156, an increase of two since sitrep 75. ** As of 10 February, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population) ** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south. *This includes one million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of October 12, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in north Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli Forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times. **UNRWA has reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs are either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered. *** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Military and Kuwait Armed Forces Collaborate in Exercise Eager Defender 24 US Navy 12 February 2024 From Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Public Affairs KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait -- The Kuwait Naval Force, Kuwait Coast Guard, U.S Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command joined forces in Eager Defender 24 (ED 24), a bilateral maritime drill aimed at strengthening mutual interoperability and capabilities. The exercise, led by Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5), took place in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf from Jan. 28 to Feb. 7, and showcases the commitment of both nations to regional security and readiness. During ED 24, U.S. Marines, Sailors and Soldiers participated alongside Kuwaiti counterparts in joint training. The exercise focused on enhancing maritime security through various training scenarios including: visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), harbor security, unmanned system operations, maritime infantry tactics and joint command and control operations. The culminating scenario was a combined multinational amphibious assault training event. Through collaborative training, participating forces worked to acquire necessary skills to effectively address regional security threats and increase interoperability between their militaries. ED 24 served as a testament to the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Kuwait. It demonstrated the commitment of both nations in reinforcing partnerships in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. This exercise is one of several annual joint exercises where the U.S. military collaborates with partner nations, ensuring high levels of readiness for crisis and contingency. "Exercise Eager Defender 24 highlights our shared commitment to regional security and the preservation of peace," said Brig. Gen. Matthew Reid, commanding general of TF 51/5. "By working together, the Kuwait Armed Forces and U.S. military are strengthening our capabilities and preparedness. This exercise is a testament to the enduring partnership between our nations." ED 24 reaffirmed the strong bond between the Kuwait Armed Forces and the U.S. military. By fostering cooperation and mutual understanding, this exercise further enhanced the ability of both nations to respond effectively to security challenges in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate Set for Final Foreign Aid Bill Vote By Ken Bredemeier, Katherine Gypson February 12, 2024 The U.S. Senate will vote Monday night to advance a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, setting up a potential final vote for expected passage later this week. "These are the enormously high stakes of the supplemental package: our security, our values, our democracy. It is a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of American values," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Monday. "The entire world is going to remember what the Senate does in the next few days. Nothing nothing would make [Russian President Vladimir] Putin happier right now than to see Congress waver in its support for Ukraine. Nothing would help him more on the battlefield," Schumer said. The bill includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, nearly $5 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, and other assistance. Republicans have generally supported more aid for Israel's war against Hamas militants, although many U.S. lawmakers, especially progressive Democrats, have vocally condemned Israel for the extent of its counteroffensive that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 28,000 people in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack in October killed 1,200 in Israel. But some right-wing Republican lawmakers, many of them aligned with former President Donald Trump, have voiced increasing opposition to sending more aid to Ukraine for its two-year fight against the Russian invasion, imperiling approval of the assistance even though most Democratic lawmakers are in favor, as is Democratic President Joe Biden. Those Republicans argue additional aid should not be sent to Ukraine unless the U.S. Congress approves more funding for domestic border security. "We have already given Ukraine more than $120 billion. This is more than enough money to secure every border in our country, unfortunately, but predictably, the $120 billion we've sent Ukraine has resulted in a yearslong stalemate that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, both Ukrainian and Russian," Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said on the Senate floor Monday. But 18 Senate Republicans joined with Democrats Sunday for a key procedural vote advancing the foreign aid package. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a leading supporter of aid to Ukraine, said Sunday, "American leadership matters, and it is in question." Before the vote, Trump criticized sending additional aid to Ukraine, writing on social media, "The United States of America should be 'stupid' no longer!" Senate Republicans last week blocked advancing a measure that included the foreign assistance along with provisions to tighten restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border to try to curb the flow of thousands of migrants from crossing into the United States each day. Trump opposed the border measure as not tough enough and Republican lawmakers followed his lead on the issue. The Republican senators could still try to include some tough migration controls in the aid package although it is not certain whether they can reach agreement with Democratic lawmakers. If the Senate approves the legislation, its fate is uncertain in the House of Representatives, where Republican opposition to further Ukraine assistance appears even more pronounced. "The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, not to support Ukraine, is close to criminal neglect," Biden said last week. "It is outrageous." The Pentagon sent the last approved round of aid to Ukraine on Dec. 27, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some Republican Lawmakers Not Concerned With Trump's NATO Comments By Rob Garver February 12, 2024 A Republican Party that years ago would push back when Donald Trump denigrated NATO has been more ambivalent in the days since the former president said he would encourage Russia to attack alliance members who he felt were not contributing enough to the common defense. While some in the party distanced themselves from Trump's comments, others criticized reporters for focusing on them and said they had no concerns about how the former president would treat the alliance if he was elected to a second term in November. The shift marks a major change in the party's center of gravity. In the years since Trump became the GOP's leading voice, he has pulled the party into a more isolationist stance, in which relationships with other countries are seen as more transactional in nature, and the importance given to maintaining the status of the U.S. as a guarantor of the safety of other Western democracies has been diminished. The former president was addressing a crowd in South Carolina on Saturday when he interrupted prepared remarks with an extended riff on the topic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was formed in 1949 as a bulwark against an aggressively expansionist Soviet Union, now Russia. The organization has played a key role coordinating support for Ukraine in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of that country. Ukraine is not a NATO member, though it borders four countries that are: Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Trump has regularly made the inaccurate claim that many NATO members are "delinquent" in payments to the organization. In fact, NATO does not collect membership dues or other such fees from its members. Countries party to the treaty do agree to spend at least 2% of GDP on their defense capabilities, though as of early 2023 the alliance estimated that only 10 of the 30 member states were at or near compliance. However, that does not mean they owe other members money, either individually or collectively. Trump told the crowd that during a meeting of NATO leaders, he had been confronted by one of his counterparts about whether he would come to other member countries' defense as the treaty requires if they were attacked by Russia. Trump replied that if the country being attacked were "delinquent," he would not, and would actually encourage Russian aggression. "No, I would not protect you," Trump said he told the other NATO leader. "In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You've got to pay. You got to pay your bills." Angry reaction Trump's comments sparked angry reactions from Democrats in Washington and America's NATO allies. "America's leadership on the world stage and support for our allies is critical to keeping the American people safe here at home," President Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House. "If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies." "Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. 'Zero concern' Prominent voices in the Republican foreign policy establishment appeared more willing to brush off Trump's inflammatory statements. "I have zero concern, because he's been president before," Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with CNN. "I know exactly what he has done and will do with the NATO alliance." "[F]rankly, look, Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations," Rubio said. "He doesn't talk like a traditional politician. And we have already been through this now. You would think people had figured it out by now." "Give me a break I mean, it's Trump," Senator Lindsey Graham told The New York Times. "All I can say is, while Trump was president, nobody invaded anybody. I think the point here is to, in his way, to get people to pay." Senator Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the Times that in his view, Trump was "simply ringing the warning bell" about NATO members not meeting their 2% spending obligation. Some Republicans critical But some Republicans took mild exception to the former president's remarks. On the Senate floor on Sunday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "I know it's become quite fashionable in some circles to disregard the global interests we have as a global power." Referring to NATO, McConnell added, "To lament the commitment that has underpinned the longest drought of great power conflict in human history - this is idle work for idle minds, and it has no place in the United States Senate." Senator Thom Tillis told Politico he blamed Trump's team for not making it clear to the former president that the U.S. is obligated by treaty to defend NATO members if they come under attack. Shifting policy Despite some Republicans' insistence that Trump does not pose a serious threat to the health of NATO, members of Congress have taken some proactive steps to protect the 75-year-old alliance. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed with large bipartisan majorities, included a section making it illegal for the president to withdraw the U.S. from NATO without the approval of two-thirds of the members of the Senate or other authorizing legislation passed by both houses of Congress. During his term as president, according to former members of the Trump administration quoted in an upcoming book by CNN's Jim Sciutto, Trump at one point issued orders to withdraw the U.S. from NATO before changing his mind. Experts told VOA that leaders in Europe have been forced to seriously consider the possibility that the U.S., under another Trump presidency would either leave the alliance or undermine it from within. "American policy is to some degree already shifting, because there's a candidate Trump, and because Trump is the leader of the Republican Party," said Michael Kimmage, a professor of history at the Catholic University of America. "I think that these comments are in a way the icing on the cake," Kimmage added. "And you know, they suggest that, depending on how the election goes, Europe could in some ways be alone with Russia, and Europe could be significantly more alone with the war in Ukraine." VOA Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Sanctions Israeli West Bank Settlers, Citing Human Rights Abuses By VOA News February 12, 2024 Britain imposed sanctions Monday against four Israeli nationals, accused of violently attacking Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called the four individuals "extremist Israeli settlers" and imposed strict financial and travel restrictions on them because of what was described as their "egregious abuses of human rights." "Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs," he said. The British Foreign Office said over the past year there have been unprecedented levels of violence by residents who have illegally settled in West Bank outposts. "This behavior is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through," Cameron said. "Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians," Cameron added. The United States also imposed sanctions earlier this month on four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank. The European Union is also mulling over imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank but so far, there has not been unanimity among the member states on such measures. Four diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal EU deliberations said that Hungary and the Czech Republic, two strong allies of Israel, made clear in an EU committee meeting Thursday that they were not ready to approve a proposal on sanctions. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Wednesday now was "definitely not the time" to sanction Israeli settlers, state news agency MTI reported. Budapest says the EU's focus should be on helping Israel to defeat Hamas and free hostages taken by the militants during the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said his country was not "substantively" blocking sanctions on settlers inciting violence. Lipavsky, however, expressed reluctance to adopting such measures alongside sanctions against Hamas, which the EU has listed as a terrorist organization over the October attacks. "An act of terrorism is not on the same level as acts by settlers," he said. "These things cannot be connected." France, which has been pushing for settler sanctions, is expected to introduce national travel bans on two or three individuals imminently. Reports say France is hoping that once its measures are in place, European partners will be more willing to press ahead. "Once we have our measures, we shall see how the others react," said a French diplomatic source. The European Union has not spelled out what the sanctions would entail but officials have said they would include bans on travel to the EU. Some information in this report came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysts See Limits to China, Iran, Russia Collaboration With Taliban By Roshan Noorzai, Zheela Noori February 12, 2024 Since the Taliban seized control in August 2021, China, Iran and Russia have been steadily courting Afghanistan's de facto government for influence. The three countries have kept their embassies open in Kabul and were among the first to hand over Afghan embassies to the Taliban at home. Last month, Moscow, Beijing and Tehran were the most high-profile participants at the Taliban's first conference on regional cooperation in Kabul. But what are the real prospects of China, Russia, Iran and the Taliban cooperating in the region? Analysts tell VOA that while Beijing, Moscow and Tehran may be united in a common goal to oppose the U.S. in the region, that is perhaps the only area where their interests align, analysts say. "Anti-Americanism is the one idea" that brings China, Iran and Russia together, said Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. He told VOA that Tehran, Moscow and Beijing "want to push the United States out of Eurasia and Central Asia ... [but] how much can they on the operational level cooperate? That's a big question." He added that "anti-Americanism" alone cannot keep the partnership together as there "is nothing ideological to bring them together." According to a newly released U.S. State Department's strategy document, China, Iran and Russia seek "strategic and economic advantage, or at a minimum, to put the U.S. at a disadvantage." "China, Iran and Russia have cultivated very close ties with the Taliban," said Nilofar Sakhi, a lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, adding that they are trying to "have political and economic influence in the region." Despite close ties, none of the three countries has formally recognized the Taliban's government and their interests in the region all differ. Pragmatic approach Late last month, China was the first country to formally accept the credentials of the Taliban's ambassador. Some former diplomats and analysts say the move was akin to formal recognition. Sun Yun, the director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington does not agree. China still has to "formally extended political recognition to the Taliban's government," Sun told VOA. Even so, compared to Western countries, China has established "very close" relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan. "China adopts a pragmatic approach in Afghanistan," said Sun, adding that early on Beijing realized that the U.S.-backed former Afghan government did not have "the popular support to continue" governing Afghanistan. Beijing had been cultivating ties with the Taliban for years before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul. Sun said that "what has happened in the past two and a half years substantiated that assessment that the Taliban regime is not going anywhere." She added that security, economic and political factors are "all part of a broader consideration that comes to the foundation of China's policy toward Afghanistan." For China, one key concern is about any breach of militancy from Afghanistan into its western region of Xinjiang. Beijing also has economic interests in Afghanistan, including extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative, to Afghanistan and investing in minerals in Afghanistan. China has also been vocal in criticizing the U.S. and NATO for freezing Afghanistan's assets and "leaving the Afghan people in a serious humanitarian crisis" in the country. Complicated past Though Iran has not formally recognized the Taliban, it handed over the Afghan embassy in Tehran to the Taliban in February 2023. The Middle East Institute's Vatanka said that the Iranian regime has not recognized the Taliban because of some bilateral issues, including border security and water distribution. Last year, tensions between Iran and the Taliban over the Helmand River's flow of water escalated to a deadly clash, which killed two Iranian security guards and one Taliban border guard. Iran and the Taliban have had complicated relations in the past. During the civil war in Afghanistan in the 1990s, Iran was supporting the forces fighting against the Taliban, particularly after the Taliban killed nine Iranian diplomats in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif in 1998. "It is still too early for the Iranians to forget what the Taliban was" when it was in power in the 1990s, said Vatanka. Full of contradiction Like Iran, Russia was another country that supported forces fighting the Taliban during the civil war in the 1990s. Ghaus Janbaz, a former Afghan diplomat to Moscow, told VOA that Moscow's policy toward Afghanistan has been "full of contradictions" in recent years. Janbaz added that Russia is politically supporting the Taliban, but at the same time, its "military and security officials criticize the Taliban and cite an uptick in terrorist activities in Afghanistan." He said that before the Taliban's takeover, Moscow had diplomatic relations with the former Afghan government, but it also supported "the Taliban at all the levels." "It is similar now. Russia has ties with the Taliban, but an anti-Taliban leader was invited to Moscow," Janbaz said. "They say it was not an invitation by the government, but nothing happens without the approval of the government in Russia." An Afghan anti-Taliban leader, Ahmad Masoud, participated in a conference on Afghanistan in Russia in November 2023. Janbaz says that despite Moscow's close ties with the Taliban, "I do not think that in the near future, Moscow will extend recognition to the Taliban's regime." He said that similar to China and Iran, Russia's policy toward the Taliban is driven by regional geopolitics. "Tactically they might have an alliance against the West, but there are strategic differences" between these countries, Janbaz said. This story originated in VOA's Afghan Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Biden's Meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan February 12, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the White House. Both leaders acknowledged the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Jordan and the enduring partnership and friendship between our two countries. The President and King Abdullah II discussed the latest developments in Gaza and affirmed their commitment to work together to produce an enduring end to the crisis. Both remain committed to achieving a durable, lasting peace to include a two-state solution for the Palestinian people with Israel's security guaranteed. Both President Biden and King Abdullah II reiterated their shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. President Biden thanked His Majesty for Jordan's critical leadership and partnership in this effort. The President and King Abdullah II also discussed the importance of stability in the West Bank and in the region more broadly. The President underscored the importance of upholding the status quo at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, recognizing Jordan's crucial role as the custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together to realize a more stable and prosperous future for the Middle East and its people, and President Biden confirmed unwavering U.S. support for Jordan and the Jordanian people. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 129 - 12 February 2024 Israeli special forces liberated two hostages - Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70) - in an operation that took place in the city of Rafah, located on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt, and densely populated with people fleeing the war, where the possibility of carrying out broader operations there raises concerns in Cairo and Washington. The team consists of fighters from the Shin Bet's operational unit and the IMM, fighters who work in all sectors together and who are remembered from the operation at the hospital in Jenin that took place not long ago. This comes at a time when Israeli forces continue their fighting in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, and are preparing for a possible ground operation in Rafaa on the border with Egypt, a step that has raised widespread international warnings, as more than a million people have fled to the border city, fleeing the fighting in the rest of the country. The besieged Palestinian sector. News 12 commentators on the implications that Operation "Yad Zahav" brings to the continuation of the fighting - and the release of the hostages. The fact that the "Golden Hand" operation to rescue the abductees from Lev Rafih ended without casualties is amazing, and it is certainly not obvious. We saw how fragile everything is and can change in seconds, like a hair's breadth, between success and failure. Nir Debori noted In such an operation, very accurate intelligence that will allow planning the entry of the forces without being revealed is a critical thing. The Shavora refugee camp in Rafah is so crowded and so complex, there is no way that someone enters and the environment does not understand that he is an exception and a foreigner. To arrive in a secret and precise way, you do it on foot and not on horseback from a very long distance. Starting at the point of breaking through by blowing up the locked door with a charge, the power is actually exposed, and from that moment a lot of things can go wrong. The force has a few seconds to reach the abductees before the abductors shoot them - this is the Hamas commissioner, the captors are instructed to kill the abductees as soon as they think someone is coming to rescue them. In such an operation, there is no improvisation. During the planning and training for it, all scenarios and reactions are taken into account, and then at the moment of truth it takes seconds to run up the staircase, kill the three armed guards in the foyer, turn right and enter the room where the kidnapped are and report "they are safe and sound, they are in our hands". The extraction point is critical as well, and requires split second decisions. As soon as the fighters left the building with the abductees, the street woke up and started accurate shooting at the troops. They decided to bring the abductees back into the building and shot from there. Additional forces entered, this time already with APCs with Marine Commando fighters and backed up by tanks to open another rescue corridor. In order not to endanger the abductees, the fighters rescued the abductees using abseiling ropes from the second floor to the bottom, and from there they were transferred to the NMRs. They put helmets and protective gear on them, but also protect them with their bodies. They had to bring them home alive, even at the cost of getting hurt themselves. Yair Sharky said in our mind - we are once again feeling capable. It's amazing to see what it does to the uplifting of the Israeli spirit, to the IDF, to the public and also to the families of the abductees. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "will not waste any opportunity to free more hostages" in Gaza, and described continued military pressure until "complete victory" over Hamas is achieved as "necessary to fully recover the hostages." Netanyahu wrote on the X platform, saying: I salute our brave warriors for the bold action that led to their liberation, referring to the Israeli army. The IDF's successful operation embarrassed Hamas so much that it led them to state in one of their statements that the freed hostages were not held by Hamas, but by Gazan citizens. In other words, the failure is not of the military arm of Hamas. Leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), Osama Hamdan, said that field press accounts confirm that the two Israeli prisoners whom the occupation claimed to have liberated in the Shaboura camp in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip , were not in the possession of the movement, but rather in the possession of a civilian family, stressing the necessity of waiting for the resistances account of the incident. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing of 3 of the eight Israeli detainees who were announced yesterday to have been seriously injured in the Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip. It added in a statement: We will postpone announcing the names and photos of the dead for the coming days until the fate of the rest of the wounded becomes clear. Yesterday, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing of two Israeli prisoners and the serious wounding of eight others by Israeli occupation fire, and said that the continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip during the last 96 hours; It caused the death and injury of prisoners . The Brigades added through their account on the Telegram application that the conditions of the prisoners are becoming more dangerous in light of the inability to provide them with appropriate treatment. It also held the Israeli entity fully responsible for the lives of those injured in light of the continued bombing and aggression. War Termination Former Israeli intelligence official and regional analyst Avi Melamed said a deal between Israel and Hamas that sees a pause in hostilities and the release of hostages is within reach, and likely to be renegotiated and signed in the near term. A deal between Israel and Hamas that sees a pause in hostilities and the release of hostages is within reach, and likely to be renegotiated and signed in the near term. Both parties are likely more amenable to renewed negotiations, Hamas living under the threat of Israels advancement on its final stronghold in Rafah and having been given a two-week ultimatum by Egypt over the weekend. Israel, despite the success of last nights hostage rescue operation, has come under fire for the collateral damage reportedly wrought during the daring escape which saw two hostages returned to Israel. "Last week we saw traded unsingable drafts. Because of Israels impending advance on Rafah, the border area with Egypt and Hamass last stronghold in the Gaza Strip, Egypt has set an ultimatum to Hamas of two weeks to negotiate and implement a deal. Egypt does not want Gazans to violate its sovereignty in their fleeing Israels advancement and has reinforced its border to avoid it being overrun as it has been historically when Gazans are fleeing danger, including those posed by Hamas itself. For Hamas, last nights Israeli mission also sends the message that Israel is prepared to secure the release of the hostages, either through what Israel feels is a reasonable trade, or through kinetic military operations. "Egypt remains the most potentially powerful advocate with Hamass Gaza-based leadership because it serves as the gateway to Gaza, controlling the flow of aid and evacuees going into and coming out of Gaza and can potentially limit the flow of people out of Gaza on Hajj during Ramadan. "For Israel, despite the success of last nights operation, the international outcry over the Hamas-reported collateral damage is presenting Israel with added pressure to negotiate a deal, while Hamas is likely reshuffling where they are detaining their hostages rendering previously acquired intelligence inoperable, while the military likely weighs the chances for success in future hostage rescues against a hostage negotiation agreement which guarantees the safety of the hostages being released (whereas rescue missions present inherent risks to the hostages during the operation). Melamed concluded "All in, its likely the pressure weighing on both sides, is leading towards renewed negotiations and an agreement that sees a pause in fighting and the release of hostages just over the horizon. Israeli media reported, citing estimates from three senior officials, that an Israeli delegation may head to Cairo tomorrow, Tuesday, with the aim of pushing forward negotiations for the release of the hostages. Three senior Israeli officials estimated that "an Israeli delegation may depart for Egypt tomorrow, Tuesday, to hold a meeting with the head of the CIA, the head of Egyptian intelligence, and the head of the Qatari government, with the aim of pushing forward negotiations for the release of kidnapped persons." The "Wala" website stated, "If the delegation heads to Cairo, the one who will head it is the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, who is responsible for the file of communications with Egyptian intelligence, and he will be joined by Mossad chief David Barnea and General Nitzan Alon." While the Prime Minister's Office stated that "no decision has been made yet whether a delegation will be sent to Cairo." Two days ago, officials in Israel indicated that "the delegation's departure is linked to the ability of Egypt and Qatar to make Hamas retract the demands it presented." Axios reported earlier that Israel rejected Hamas' demands regarding the hostage deal, but said it was ready to begin negotiations on the basis of the original proposal. The White House is urging Israel to pursue a temporary halt in Gaza to secure the release of additional Israeli captives and to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. According to John Kirby, the White House National Security Spokesperson, there has been some progress in discussions regarding a humanitarian pause, but further efforts are needed. "We continue to support an extended humanitarian pause," Kirby said. Kirby's remarks came one day after US President Joe Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "a military operation in Rafah should not proceed" without a plan to protect civilians. In the same context, the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated that Washington doesn't perceive the Israeli airstrikes in Rafah as the initiation of a comprehensive offensive in the region. "Israeli strikes on Rafah should not have an impact on the hostage negotiations," he said. He further emphasized that the US would not endorse a "full-scale military operation" in Rafah unless "Israel" presented a credible and executable plan. Miller added that he doesn't believe that cutting US aid to "Israel" would be a more impactful measure than the actions already taken by Washington. Operational Update The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing of 10 Israeli soldiers from zero distance, and the Al-Quds Brigades said that they ambushed an Israeli force, leaving its members dead and wounded. The IDF confirms that 9 soldiers were injured in battles in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of its war, Israel has been pushing the ghosts of a second catastrophe onto the scene of Gaza, after the matter did not succeed in the northern and central Gaza Strip, as it pushed people towards the far south, to the Rafah border, while the equation appeared: Sinai is in front of you... and death is behind you. Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi saw Bidens talk about Rafah as a green light for Netanyahu to move forward, but it is an implicit approval conditional on taking precautionary measures. Al-Duwairi added that Biden and Netanyahu are both lying to each other, and both are lying to the world, so it is not possible to carry out a military operation in Rafah without committing bloody massacres. He pointed out that there are 27,000 Palestinians per square kilometer in Rafah, confirming that any military operation will be remembered in history because of the massacres that will occur in the region because it is crowded with people (1.4 million people). Regarding his expectations of the expected form of the Israeli invasion of Rafah, Al-Duwairi stated that the nature of the military approach will begin from the eastern and northern sides to push human masses to flee, noting that the old Rafah camps constitute defensive nodes for the resistance. He warned that there were preludes to the battle that had begun, as the occupation army intensified its aerial bombardments on Rafah in an attempt to pressure the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) to agree to the Paris Framework Agreement on a possible deal. He stressed that the Egyptian and American positions are important to curb the right-wing Israeli government. Cairo has borders with the Gaza Strip and what is happening affects Egyptian dignity and sovereignty, while Washington has been responsible for providing Tel Aviv with a military bridge since the beginning of the war. As for the Battle of Khan Yunis, the military expert says that months have passed since the beginning of the Israeli incursion, and the battle is still blurry and the lines of contact have changed in favor of the resistance, not the occupation. He pointed out that the occupation army's combat plan appeared to be confusing, such as reducing the number of combat brigades in Khan Yunis from 8 to 5 brigades, citing statements by Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who said that the battle in the city was long-term, in contradiction to previous statements. He pointed out that the army did not have a clear vision, and we witnessed successive failures after there was a double attack from the east and a encirclement from the west, but it faltered, forcing it to adjust its operations in place, time, and direction. Regarding the nature of the goals achieved by the occupation, Al-Duwairi stressed that they are limited achievements and their size is exaggerated, as the extent of the damage to the resistance factions did not exceed 15%, while the American administration said that the damage did not exceed a third. The most significant achievements of the IDF so far are the elimination of about 25% of Hamas terrorists (about 10,000 terrorists), the injury and disarmament of another 25%, gaining control of the northern Gaza Strip and the elimination of the bulk of the force in Khan Yunis. In addition, the IDF succeeded in reducing rocket fire from the Strip by about 90% and destroy strategic tunnels, Tomer Almagor reported. Another significant achievement of the IDF is the return of Hamas from behind - from an army-like organization to a guerrilla organization. 18 and a half of the 24 Hamas battalions in the Gaza Strip have been disbanded, and now the fighters mainly face small squads of terrorists, rather than organized attacks by a company or battalion. The IDF conducts two types of combat within the Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis, intense divisional combat is underway under the leadership of the 98th Division, which includes the commando forces and the paratrooper brigade, and in the north of the Gaza Strip, the IDF conducts targeted raids to eliminate and destroy quality targets, such as command and control targets, tunnels and compounds Dispatch. The focus of the IDF's fighting is in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. The city is under siege and intense divisional fighting is taking place above and below the ground between IDF forces and terrorists. So far, about 2,800 terrorists have been eliminated in Khan Yunis - a third of the total strength of Hamas in the city, and two of the four enemy battalions in the area have been dismantled. The IDF estimates that Hamas's command and control in the city has been dismantled, and most of the operatives are on the run, and make it clear that the fighting is indeed intense, but the resistance the fighters encounter is far from what it was at the beginning of the fighting in the city, in view of the weakening of Hamas. The bulk of the heavy fighting is carried out by the 98th Division, which includes the commando units and the paratrooper brigade. In the last two months, significant reserve forces were released, and some of the regular forces were also converted to other missions outside the Strip. The fighting in Khan Yunis comes after the IDF forces defeated the main Hamas force in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip in the first phase of the maneuver. The IDF fighters inflicted significant damage on the Hamas battalions in all areas in the northern Gaza Strip, captured the area and destroyed tunnels and infrastructure. About 7,000 terrorists were killed in the battles in the northern Gaza Strip, including two brigade commanders and 20 generals. After the Hamas forces in the north of the Gaza Strip were defeated, the IDF left the area and settled in the Netzer Corridor, which borders the north of the Gaza Strip, and in the security area near the northern border of the Gaza Strip. From there, the fighters go on raids to destroy quality targets and eliminate the terrorist pockets that still remain in Gaza City. The main part of the fighting in this area Focuses on the Shatti refugee camp. The IDF's control of the area is not expressed in the presence on the ground, but rather in the ability to operate relatively freely and reach anywhere in the area. In the two months that have passed since the north of the Gaza Strip was conquered, and after the IDF's focus shifted to Khan Yunis, the security establishment recognizes attempts by Hamas to return to civilian rule in the Gaza City area. The political echelon has not come up with a plan to control the territory and "pass the baton", and dozens of operatives of the terrorist organization are trying to take control of the humanitarian aid that came in and to control the 200 thousand Palestinians who remained in the area. Almagor concluded that about 20,000 Hamas terrorists remain alive and capable, so the organization's military power has not yet been decided. In addition, the senior members of the organization, including Muhammad Daf and Yahya Sinaver, are still alive, and according to a report in the "Wall Street Journal", about 80% of the Hamas tunnels have not yet been destroyed. These data indicate that the IDF still has a lot of work to do before Hamas is defeated. Retired Israeli General Yitzhak Brik (75 years old) is called the "Prophet of Anger" in Israel, because he predicted an attack launched by thousands of Palestinian militants on the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip, similar to the " Al-Aqsa Flood " operation. Brik said that Egypt has been building highways leading to Sinai for years, and Israel is the target, in an interview with the FM 103 program about the progress of the fighting in the Gaza Strip and the weakening of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ). The Jerusalem Post newspaper reported part of what was discussed in the program, where the program presenter, Ariel Segal, said, after mentioning that the head of the Mossad is formulating the Israeli response to the mediators proposals, that the Israeli armys ability to pursue Hamas is diminishing, the level of operational errors is increasing, and the pressure on the government by The detainees' families did not succeed. In response, Yitzhak Brik said that Hamas still feels very strong, and it does not want to reach an agreement on the hostages, and it has time, because we are not close to weakening its capabilities, Hamas will continue to exist. Regarding the fighting in the Philadelphia and Rafah corridor, Brik said that everyone knows that there is a crossing from Sinai under the corridor, and that the Israeli army did not want to remain along this corridor, and it had the ability to do so, but it would cause many casualties, so Israel hoped For the Egyptians to do that. But today there is a very big problem with Egypt - as the former general says - they are not ready to do that, and they do not agree that we do it from this side of the aisle, and they threaten that if we start doing different things that will lead to large numbers crossing... To Sinai, they will stop peace. Isaac Brik concluded by saying that Egypt, although it is a poor country, has the strongest army in the Middle East today with about 4,000 tanks... and hundreds of the most advanced aircraft, and a navy of the best that exists. They have also been building highways leading to Sinai for years. We The goal: They are not building an army for any other party. This means that by making a decision to cancel peace, they become a hostile state, and we do not even have a brigade to stand against them, he said. Amnesty International reported that there is new evidence of illegal Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip that caused mass killing of civilians. The organization said in a statement that at least 95 civilians, half of them children, were killed in 4 raids in Rafah, adding that the attacks that led to the killing of civilians in Rafah occurred in the southern governorate, which is supposed to be safe. Amnesty pointed out that "clashes took place with militants before the forces were able to liberate the two hostages, and that the Air Force launched an intense wave of raids targeting dozens of targets belonging to the Hamas-affiliated Shaboura Brigade to enable the force to move to the special airstrip that was established to return the liberated people into Israel." Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in response to the news about the killing of dozens of Palestinians in the operation to rescue the two prisoners from Rafah : We attacked Hamas targets. Many terrorists were killed in the operation. On the other hand, Palestinian media reported that more than 100 people were killed as a result of the Israeli bombing targeting the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. It pointed out that the Israeli raids destroyed 11 homes and two mosques in different parts of the city of Rafah. Hamza Al-Bashtawi - writer and political researcher - said: We are now facing the necessity of war and the peak of negotiations, and what is happening now is an expression of Netanyahus statement that not entering Rafah means losing the war completely, and there is no way to end the war before controlling the Philadelphia axis and taking complete control of the border with Egypt, and now this war has begun on Rafah, which has an area of ??32 square kilometers and where more than 1.5 million Palestinians now live. He added: This war is a continuation of a basic goal of the war government, and it belongs to the project of the Zionist movement, which does not want to eliminate the resistance, but rather wants to eliminate the resistance and the Palestinian people. He considered that the timing of the talk about liberating two prisoners in the Gaza Strip came to justify the military operation in Rafah and the continuation of the massacres and genocide. He stressed that what is happening now is a war between the axis of resistance and the axis of genocide, as the axis of resistance is moving on the support fronts in light of the steadfastness and heroism of the Palestinian resistance in all the territories of the Gaza Strip and its teaching of lessons to the occupation, and the ambush that left more than 10 soldiers of the occupation dead in Khan Yunis . For his part, Saad Nimr - researcher on Israeli affairs - said about the liberation of the two Israeli prisoners : The two prisoners were with a civilian family and were not in the hands of Hamas , and it can no longer bear the burden of their stay, especially since everyone is in a bad situation. Therefore, we cannot say that this is a victory for the Israelis because there are still 134 prisoners held by the resistance, including generals. In the Israeli army. He added: This issue has no real significance, but it was used by Netanyahu to portray it and consider it a victory, and that it is a delicate and complex process, and this is all nonsense. He added that Netanyahu still insists on the issue of storming Rafah from two points of view, namely that he believes that if he controls the Salah al-Din axis, he will control all the borders between Egypt and Rafah, especially in light of his claim that there are tunnels and he wants to eliminate them. He warned that he might begin to open loopholes in this wall and push the Palestinians towards Sinai , and this is a dream that still haunts the Netanyahu government, specifically Smotrich, Ben Gvir and Netanyahu, especially since there are no longer safe areas in the Strip and there is no other way. He stressed that Netanyahu is looking for any kind of victory, and this could constitute a victory for him. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank warned that the war in Gaza and the associated regional escalation, which affects shipping movement in the Red Sea leading to the Suez Canal, pose a threat to the global economy. IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva explained that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas since October 7 has already harmed the economy of the Middle East and North Africa region, expressing her fear that its indirect effects will be reflected in the global economy if the fighting lasts for a long time. I fear more than ever that the conflict will be prolonged, because if it continues, the risk of its expansion will increase, Georgieva said during the World Government Summit, an annual gathering of state and business leaders in Dubai. She added: We are now witnessing in the Suez Canal the danger of its expansion, referring to the attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, which affect navigation traffic in the strategic region through which 12% of global trade passes. Since November 19, the Iranian-backed Houthis have been carrying out attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea that they suspect are linked to Israel or heading to its ports. They say that this comes in support of the Gaza Strip, which has been witnessing a war between Hamas and Israel since October 7. To try to deter them, American and British forces launched waves of strikes on their sites in Yemen since January 12. The US Army alone carries out strikes from time to time on missiles that it says are prepared for launch. Following Western strikes, the Houthis began targeting American and British ships in the region, considering that the interests of both countries had become "legitimate targets." Late last month, the United Nations Trade and Development Organization (UNCTAD) announced that the volume of trade through the Suez Canal decreased by 42% in January and December. Georgieva warned that if there are (other) consequences regarding where the fighting takes place, it could be more problematic for the world as a whole. The Lebanese "Hezbollah" announced that it had targeted sensitive sites, soldiers, and spy equipment of the Israeli army, confirming that direct hits were achieved with missile salvoes. Hezbollah issued four statements in which it confirmed that it had targeted the spy equipment at the radar site, the Pranit barracks, the Zarit barracks, and a building where soldiers are stationed. Hezbollah explained in a statement: At 2:40 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the spy equipment at the radar site with a guided missile and hit it directly. It added: "At 3:15 pm on Monday, February 12, 2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Pranit Barracks with a missile (Falaq 1) and hit it directly." It confirmed in another statement: At 3:25 pm on Monday, February 12, 2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Zarit Barracks with missile launches from (Falaq 1) and achieved direct hits. He stated in his fourth statement: In response to the Israeli attacks on villages and civilian homes, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 3:25 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024, a building in the Arroun colony where enemy soldiers were stationed, with appropriate weapons. "They hit him directly." The spokesman for the Yemen Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree , said in a brief military statement that the Navy targeted the American ship Star Iris with a number of appropriate naval missiles, confirming that it was hit directly. Stressing that this operation comes as a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and within the response to the American-British aggression against Yemen. Brigadier General Saree stressed that the Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to carry out further operations in response to the Zionist crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, a member of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, confirmed that Yemens operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege on Gaza continues, and the occupation warned that any escalation in Rafah or Gaza means that the course of operations of the armed forces will escalate, and if the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza worsens and continues Injustice and mass killing of the people there, operations will expand according to field data and the directives of the leader, Mr. Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi. This is while the Yemeni House of Representatives denounced the shameful Arab and Islamic failure regarding the operations of the occupying entity in Gaza and the intention of the Zionist enemy forces to launch a military operation in the city of Rafah . The House of Representatives called on the Arab, regional and international parliaments and the free people of the world to move quickly and apply pressure by all available means to enforce international law and deter the Zionist occupation entity from committing more horrific brutal massacres against the Palestinian people and avoid a new humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah that will be added to the Zionist entitys criminal record. Houthi rebels announced that they attacked the supply ship The Star Iris, but it was on its way to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, in the north of the Persian Gulf. The Star Iris sailed with the flag of the Marshall Islands and under Greek ownership. However, a simple check on any maritime navigation website would have indicated for them that the ship that left Brazil on January 12 was on its way to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, in the northern Persian Gulf. A major reason for the difficulties of the Houthis in monitoring sailing in the Red Sea stems from a significant Iranian withdrawal, when the ship "Bashad" left the sea in favor of docking at a Chinese base in Djibouti. Bashad is an intelligence ship of the Revolutionary Guards, which has been subject to American sanctions since 2018 - and assisted the Houthis in the collection activity in the Red Sea. Maps All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Bystanders Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, said on Monday that the organization will not participate in the forced displacement of Palestinians in Rafah, and that there is no safe haven in the Gaza Strip to transfer them to. In response to a question about the possibility of the United Nations participating in this evacuation operation, Dujarric stressed the necessity of full respect for international law and the protection of civilians. He added, "We will not participate in the forced displacement of residents in the current situation. There is no safe place in Gaza." He stressed that "citizens cannot be returned to areas filled with unexploded ordnance, not to mention the lack of shelter to seek refuge in," referring to the northern and central areas of the Gaza Strip, which witnessed massive destruction. Dujarric denounced the scarcity of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, pointing out that the current stock may only be sufficient for a few days. Last week, Dujarric stressed the need to "protect" hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who took refuge in Rafah, stressing that the United Nations "will in no way support forced displacement that contravenes international law." This came after Israeli government spokesman Elon Levy asked United Nations agencies to cooperate regarding a plan that the army is developing to evacuate civilians from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. He added that decisions taken by the United Nations and international representatives can now protect civilians. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that his country is continuing the peace agreement with Israel in light of the Hebrew states threat to launch a ground military operation in Rafah. The Associated Press had quoted sources that Cairo threatened to suspend the peace treaty, also known as the Camp David Accords, if Israeli forces were sent to Rafah in light of the Hebrew states threat to launch a ground military operation in the border city, south of the Gaza Strip. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported, in two reports on Saturday, that Egyptian officials warned Israel of the possibility of suspending the peace treaty between the two countries if Israeli forces launched an attack on Rafah. But Shoukry, in a press conference with his Slovenian counterpart, reported by Cairo News, said: I do not have many comments regarding those sources who speak in the media about this matter. Over the past forty years, there have been normal relations, and we will continue to do more. "As a way to address the current situation." He added: "There is a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, which has been in effect for the past forty years. We deal with confidence and effectiveness, and we will continue to do so in this era. Any comments made by some individuals regarding this matter may have been distorted." He stressed that his country "is working closely and diligently to reach an agreement between Hamas and Israel for the release of prisoners and the entry of humanitarian aid. We will continue these efforts and urge both parties to stress the importance of a ceasefire for the sake of civilians in Gaza." Press reports indicated that Egypt threatened to suspend its obligations under the peace treaty with Israel, which raised questions about whether Cairo was able to take that step in light of an expected Israeli operation in the city of Rafah, in the far south of the Strip, on the Gaza border with Egypt. He added: "Palestinian civilians should not deal with all this tragedy of lack of food and nutrition," noting that "there are 200,000 Palestinians still in the northern Gaza Strip." He stressed that "the Rafah area is extremely crowded with Palestinian civilians, and there must be some solutions to confront this difficult humanitarian situation." He stressed the need for there to be a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, "This is not the first conflict that has occurred, and this war has continued for a long time, and there must be a permanent solution to this matter." He added: "There must be some actions in order to provide safety not only for the Israeli side, but also for the Palestinian side, which must enjoy its legitimate rights and this must be implemented on the ground. The two-state solution must be declared and the independent Palestinian state must be declared on the 1967 borders." In order for the two sides to live in security and peace. A Dutch appeals court ordered the government to ban all exports of F-35 fighter spare parts to Israel within 7 days. The court said, according to Reuters: It cannot be denied that there is a clear possibility that exported F-35 spare parts will be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law. Regarding the same judicial decision, Agence France-Presse indicated that the lawsuit heard by the court was submitted by human rights organizations. The organizations pointed out that "providing these parts to Israel contributes to the supposed violations of international law committed by (Israel) in its war against Hamas." Also, the court considered that maintaining good relations with the United States and Israel involved in this case, according to the Dutch state, does not constitute a good justification for continuing the export of spare parts. The case concerns spare parts owned by the United States and stored in the Netherlands, from where they are sent to partner countries, including Israel, under export agreements. Thus, the court annulled a ruling issued by the court of first instance in this case. The court ruled in December that the decision to hand over these pieces was primarily political and that the judiciary should not interfere in it. Axis of Resistance The foreign minister of Iran praised the Syrian leader and nation for playing a vital role in supporting Palestine, saying Syria is indeed at the forefront of the resistance axis. In a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian conveyed the greetings of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Syria and handed Assad an invitation from the Iranian president to visit Tehran. Referring to the close relations between the two presidents, Amirabdollahian considered it a very good opportunity for enhancing the bilateral relations. He regarded Assad's upcoming visit to Iran as a foundation for closer relations. The top Iranian diplomat deemed the Gaza issue as the most crucial matter at both regional and international levels, saying, Fortunately, the two countries share a common position and a practical approach in supporting the Palestinian cause. During the past four months, consultations between the two countries have been underway. Referring to the extensive diplomatic efforts of Iran in the past four months to support the Palestinian nation and halt the war against Gaza, Amirabdollahian said, "We have consistently declared our firm position regarding Palestine and the current crisis in Gaza. In response to messages and positions from the US and in the course of negotiations with the British foreign secretary, we have emphasized that the war in Gaza is not the solution, and the genocide of Palestinians must cease immediately." "If the US is sincere in its claims that it does not seek to expand the scope of the war in the region, it should cease supporting the Zionist regime. If America stops supporting the Zionist regime, this regime will not be able to continue the war against Gaza even for a single day," he added, the Foreign Ministrys website reported. Amirabdollahian noted that by supporting the Zionist regime in the war against Gaza, the US and certain countries are seeking political plans for post-war Gaza. "We believe that the leaders of the Palestinian groups and the Palestinian nation can decide how to manage Gaza and the post-war West Bank." The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that the resistance in Palestine is strong, and added, Those who initially sought to destroy Hamas have now included Hamas as a reality in their political strategies and as a negotiating party in the ceasefire talks. Amirabdollahian considered the Palestinian resistance strong in the field and having constructive initiatives in the political field as well. "Our assessment is that the Palestinian nation and resistance groups will not succumb to the pressures and excessive demands of the Israeli regime or any other parties. The Palestinians have ideas for the post-war Gaza and West Bank, and are able to determine their own future, Amirabdollahian stated. The top Iranian diplomat hailed Syria for being at the forefront of the axis of resistance, lauded the prominent role of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the region and the Arab world, and appreciated Syria's historical support for Palestine and the resistance. The Iranian Foreign Minister indicated during a meeting with Palestinian faction officials in Damascus that the Zionist entity and America did not achieve any of their goals, and said: Now they are forced to negotiate politically with Hamas, which they wanted to eliminate. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian met with about 15 officials from various Palestinian factions residing in Damascus, and discussed with them the latest developments in the situation in Palestine and how to end the war on Gaza and stop the genocide of Palestinians by the Zionist entity. The officials of the Palestinian factions participating in this meeting congratulated the leader of the revolution, the government and the people of Iran on the anniversary of the victory of the revolution and the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They expressed their satisfaction with the meeting with the Foreign Minister coinciding with the anniversary of the victory of the revolution and described the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in comprehensive support for the Palestinian cause as fundamental and central. The attendees praised the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the people and the Palestinian cause, and described the victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution as a victory for the Palestinian people, and added that Irans support for the Palestinian cause has always been distinguished, practical and real. From the point of view of the Palestinians participating in this meeting, the current battle in Gaza is one of a series of battles that the Palestinian people have been waging against the occupiers since the beginning of the occupation of this land, and it will not be the last battle either. This heroic struggle will continue until Palestine is completely liberated from occupation. The attendees pointed out that the Zionist entity claimed that it would dominate and defeat the resistance in Gaza within a few days. Today, more than 4 months have passed since the beginning of the war on Gaza, and despite the comprehensive American support for the Israeli entity, it has only succeeded in brutally killing Palestinian citizens, children and women. They stressed that this is not a battle between Hamas and the Zionist entity, but rather an unequal battle between the oppressed Palestinian people as a whole and the Israeli entity and its supporters. The Palestinian people have won this battle with faith in divine help, and nothing remains of the Netanyahu government, and the Zionist entity sees itself in a battle of life or death. The attendees stressed that despite the martyrdom of tens of thousands of Palestinian people, the painful martyrdom of thousands of Palestinian children, women and elderly, and the widespread devastation and devastation that Gaza witnessed during more than 4 months of Zionist crimes against the Palestinian people, what was achieved was a great victory for Palestine and the axis. The resistance and the killing and destruction carried out by the Zionist entity so far cannot affect this great victory. For his part, Amir Abdullahian expressed his satisfaction at meeting again with the leaders of the various Palestinian resistance factions in Damascus. He said, despite the difficult days that Palestine is going through, I congratulate you for several reasons. The Israeli entity collapsed completely after the Al-Aqsa flood, and had it not been for Americas full entry into the field in support of the Zionist entity and its attempts to revive and save it, this collapse would have been completely visible. He added; What has helped the Palestinian people defeat the Israeli entity until this moment is the struggle of the resistance factions, as well as the patient resistance and sacrifices of the people of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and that the resistance axis has demonstrated its practical unity in supporting Palestine and standing against the Israeli entity. Amir Abdullahian praised the support of the resistance of Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria for the Palestinian people, as well as the widespread support of the peoples of the world and some independent and courageous governments for the Palestinian people. He added that the issue of Palestine today has become the worlds first issue, and October 7 and the Al-Aqsa flood showed that Palestine is alive and will not surrender to the will of the entity. Zionist and arrogant powers, including the American government. Amir Abdullahian pointed out that Imam Khamenei said out loud in the first days of the war on Gaza that the end of this war is undoubtedly the victory of the Palestinian people, and he added; In our diplomatic conversations with various countries of the world, as well as our findings from our conversations with elites around the world, we clearly hear this opinion and assessment that the Israeli entity and the American government have not achieved any of their stated goals since the beginning of the war on Gaza, and are now forced to negotiate politically . With Hamas, which they were raising the slogan of eliminating, and they expressed their satisfaction with Hamas response to their proposals and political plan. The Foreign Minister stressed that, thanks to God and the blood of the martyrs, none of their evil goals have been achieved and will not be achieved. He said, during our conversations with a good number of Western countries, all of them recognized the victory of the resistance, and believe that war is not the solution and that a political solution must be found, and now their main question in the last two or three months is who will manage Gaza after the war? He added; Now they put forward different political ideas for Palestine, Gaza, and the West Bank after the war, and they ask us about our opinion directly or indirectly, and our answer was and still is that the Palestinian leaders must sit down and agree on the basis of their interests and the interests of the Palestinian people, and the world must support the Palestinians plan and decision. He pointed out that Netanyahu today is beating the drums of war more than ever before. He said, if the Israeli entity succeeds, it will certainly continue and expand the war, but Israel has never been hated to this extent in the world before. The Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed; Today, there is a need for Palestinian unity more than ever before, and today the Palestine arena needs a unified and collective voice for the Palestinians and all Palestinian factions, and what has helped Palestine in defeating the Israeli entity until this moment is trust in God, the steadfastness of the people of Gaza and the West Bank, their sacrifices, and support for the axis of resistance, and if you unite The world will submit to your will. The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, received the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, Ziad Nakhalah. During the meeting, the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were reviewed on the field, popularly, and politically, and the conditions of the support and support fronts provided by the resistance axis in various arenas, and discussions took place about existing possibilities and expected developments, whether at the field level or political communications. The two parties stressed the need to remain steadfast and continue working forcefully to achieve the promised victory, God willing. The leader of the Hamas movement, Osama Hamdan, considered that the Israeli entity, through its response to Pariss proposals, confirms that it is not serious, through the prisoner exchange equations it presented. Hamdan said during a press conference held in Beirut regarding the developments of the Al-Aqsa flood battle and the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip: We are making every effort and endeavor, engaging in difficult talks on multiple tracks, and dealing with all responsibility with all initiatives that meet the aspirations of our people. He added: We deal with all initiatives that meet the aspirations of our people in order to stop the aggression, rebuild and liberate prisoners, and Netanyahu is determined to continue with the Holocaust that he is creating in Gaza through a war of extermination that focuses on targeting civilians and destroying infrastructure. Hamdan continued: The complex crime against the two children, Hind and Layan, and the paramedics is a disgrace that time will not erase. The world followed the story of the child Hind, who called for help from the ambulance crews and was eventually martyred. He said: The occupation army continues its siege of the Nasser Medical Complex and targets its staff. We condemn what the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salamiya, is being subjected to, and we call on the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting the Nasser Medical Complex. The Nazi occupation continues its violations against prisoners and detainees in prisons. Regarding the proposals to stop the fighting and exchange prisoners, Hamdan said: During the meeting with the movements delegation in Cairo, our response to the Paris proposals was discussed, and the equations presented by the occupation for the exchange of prisoners confirm that it is not serious, and its response is a retreat from the Paris proposal and creates obstacles that do not help in concluding an agreement. Regarding the occupations claims of freeing two prisoners in the Shaboura camp in Rafah, Hamdan said that press accounts confirm that the two prisoners were in the possession of a civilian family, not the resistance, and that the occupations celebration of the arrival of two prisoners, according to his account, is an attempt to raise morale. The leader of the Hamas movement, Osama Hamdan, held the US administration and its President Biden fully responsible for the continuation of the genocide and the repercussions of the escalation in the region, which will not know stability unless the aggression against Gaza is stopped. Hamdan appreciated all the Arab, Islamic and international positions denouncing the occupations plans to displace the Palestinian people, and said: We praise the efforts of the resistance fighters in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq who share with our people the epic of the Al-Aqsa flood, and we call on the peoples of our nation and the free people of the world to escalate their mass movement in solidarity with our people and to put pressure on governments until the aggression stops. Hamdan also called on the International Court of Justice to document the crimes of the occupation in the Gaza Strip. He pointed out that Netanyahu's behavior and positions confirm his continued evasion for personal reasons, and that the occupation does not respond to the demand for the return of the displaced and other basic issues, stressing that the Palestinian people need an end to the aggression and not refugee camps. Hamdan considered that any Israeli attack in Rafah constitutes a continuation of the genocidal war and an expansion of attempts at forced displacement. Allied for Democracy Prominent Israeli officials worked around the clock on Sunday to allay Egyptian fears regarding an imminent Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, following reports about Cairos threat to suspend implementation of the Camp David peace agreement between the two countries. A report by the Hebrew Channel 12, details of which were reported by the Times of Israel newspaper , revealed that prominent Israeli officials from the intelligence service (Mossad), the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Ministry of Defense communicated on Sunday evening with their Egyptian counterparts to calm their fears, after the Prime Ministers statements. Benjamin Netanyahu, that sending forces to Rafah - the border with Egypt - is necessary to win the war against Hamas. The report added that Israeli security officials informed their counterparts in Egypt that Israel will not take unilateral measures, and that it will work in coordination with Cairo. Media reports said that Egypt "threatened to suspend its obligations" under the peace treaty with Israel. The American newspapers, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, reported in two reports on Saturday that Egyptian officials warned Israel of the possibility of suspending the peace treaty between the two countries if Israeli forces launched an attack on Rafah. Egypt warned on Sunday of "serious consequences" of a possible Israeli military attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, near its border. Two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat also told the Associated Press on Sunday that Egypt threatened to suspend the peace treaty if Israeli forces were sent to Rafah. Earlier this week, Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Halevy, informed Netanyahu that the Israeli army is ready to work (in Rafah), but it needs the government to first decide what it wants to do with the displaced people from Gaza who have been displaced there. In a related context, the channel also quoted the Israeli Army Chief of Staff as saying, The army also needs to know the governments plans for the Philadelphia Corridor, which is the 14-kilometre security road along the Gaza border with Egypt. The Philadelphia Axis, also called the Salah al-Din Axis, is located along the border between Gaza and Egypt, within a buffer zone under the Camp David peace agreement between Egypt and Israel in 1979. This agreement allows Israel and Egypt to deploy forces that are limited in number and equipment, and are limited to the numbers and types of weapons and mechanisms that are deployed on that axis. For its part, Egypt sent about 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers to northeastern Sinai during the past two weeks, as part of its moves to enhance security on its border with the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters. Press reports indicated that Egypt threatened to suspend its obligations under the peace treaty with Israel, which raised questions about whether Cairo was able to take that step in light of an expected Israeli operation in the city of Rafah, in the far south of the Strip, on the Gaza border with Egypt. More than 1.3 million Palestinians, or more than half of the population of the besieged Gaza Strip, are gathered in Rafah near the border with Egypt, the majority of whom fled violence in the north and center of the Gaza Strip following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7. Egypt fears a mass influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who may never be allowed to return, while relief groups have warned that the Israeli attack will exacerbate the already disastrous humanitarian situation. Agence France-Presse quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying that any attack in Rafah would blow up the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar regarding the exchange of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners. Israel and Egypt fought wars before signing the Camp David Accords, a historic peace treaty brokered by the United States, during the era of President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. In recent weeks, Israel has tried to push Egypt to accept launching a military operation to secure control of the Egyptian border with Gaza, after it accused Cairo of failing to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza, The New York Times. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the Cabinet for Political and Security Affairs that the Rafah operation must be completed before the start of Ramadan, Israeli media reported. Egypt refuted this accusation, and said through the head of the State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, that it must be strictly emphasized that any Israeli move in this direction will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday implicitly called on the United States to reconsider its military aid to Israel due to the large number of civilian casualties in the war in Gaza. Borrell pointed out that US President Joe Biden said last week that Israel's response to the attack by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7 "went beyond the limit." American officials have repeatedly confirmed that the number of civilians killed in Gaza is very large. "Well, if you think that too many people are being killed, then perhaps you should reduce arms supplies to prevent that too many people being killed," Borrell told reporters after a meeting of EU development aid ministers in Brussels. He added, "If the international community believes that this is a massacre, and that a huge number of people are being killed, then perhaps we should rethink providing weapons." Borrell also spoke about a Dutch court that ordered the government to ban all exports of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel for fear of using them in the Gaza war in violation of international law. Borrell said that it is contradictory for countries to announce many times that Israel is excessively killing civilians in Gaza without doing anything to prevent the killing. Israel insists that it is taking broad measures to protect civilians, but it is forced to carry out military operations in civilian areas where the Hamas movement involved in the October 7 attack is active. The United States is the most important foreign supplier of weapons to Israel, and provides it with military aid worth $3.8 billion annually. This aid extends from combat aircraft to powerful bombs. Washington has not yet responded to any appeals to reduce aid. In his statements in Brussels, Borrell also strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that he does not listen to appeals demanding that he make more efforts to protect civilians. "Everyone goes to Tel Aviv, begging 'Please don't do this, protect civilians, don't kill so many,'" Borrell said, apparently angry and agitated. "How much is considered excessive? What is the standard?" "Netanyahu does not listen to anyone," Borrell added. He said that Netanyahu calls for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from the Rafah area in Gaza, which is the last thing remaining for the residents of the Strip to seek refuge in, and the veteran Spanish politician wondered how this could be implemented. He said, "They will evacuate? Where? To the moon? Where will they evacuate these people?" NBC, citing informed sources, said that US President Joe Biden recently expressed, in private conversations, his anger at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of the latters policy in Gaza, but in public he takes a different position. NBC reported that Biden expressed his frustrations to people, some of whom were his campaign funders, about his inability to persuade Israel to change its policy in Gaza, considering Netanyahu the main obstacle to reaching a ceasefire agreement there, according to five people with direct knowledge of the matter. The sources said that Biden spoke about Netanyahu in recent weeks with a frankness that surprised some of those he spoke with. A source said Biden feels that enough is enough... This has to stop. In response to a question about Biden's statements, a spokesman for the National Security Council said in a statement to the network that the president "was clear about his disagreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but this is a relationship that has been going on for decades and is respected in public and in private." The White House said that the US President warned Netanyahu during a phone call that Israel should not conduct a military operation in Rafah without a credible and implementable plan to protect civilians. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that there is a state of panic and despair in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip at a time when Israel is threatening a ground military operation. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was also frank last week, according to NBC, after his meeting with Netanyahu in Israel, when he said that he informed him that the number of Palestinian civilians who die every day due to Israeli military operations is still very high. However, people familiar with Biden's private comments said he told them he thought it would be counterproductive to be too tough on Netanyahu publicly. Biden is facing severe criticism from some wings of his party for his support of Israel's response to the Hamas attack on October 7. NBC said in its report that Biden is secretly criticizing Netanyahu, but he has not significantly changed US policy towards the Gaza war, and the president continues to believe that unequivocally supporting Israel is the right policy. The American network "NBC" added that Biden described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the main obstacle to the ceasefire , explaining that he - that is, the American president - is trying to persuade Israel to agree to the ceasefire, but Netanyahu objects to that, and explained that it has become impossible to deal with him. The sources explained that in recent weeks, Biden spoke specifically about Netanyahu, and his dealings with the Israeli Prime Minister were full of signs of contempt for Netanyahu, and in at least three recent cases, Biden described Netanyahu as a fool. Asked about Biden's own comments about Netanyahu, a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement that the two have a respectful relationship. The spokesman said: (Biden) has been clear about his disagreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but this has been a relationship that has been going on for decades and is respected in public and in private. The American network reported that the bluntness of Biden's private, unfiltered musings about Netanyahu, as well as Netanyahu's failure to change tactics in the Gaza Strip, indicate that the dynamic between the two could be approaching an inflection point. The bulk of their 45-minute conversation focused on the long-discussed but repeatedly postponed agreement between Israel and Hamas to release prisoners in exchange for a halt to military operations and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to the White House. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Israel , a foreign ministry spokesperson said. The stated goal of the trip is to urge for a ceasefire as Israel prepares to advance on the Hamas stronghold of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. "The distress in Rafah is already beyond belief. 1.3 million people are seeking protection from the fighting in the most limited of space. An offensive by the Israeli army on Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe," Baerbock wrote in a post on X on Saturday. Baerbock's visit next week will be her fifth since the outbreak of the war on October 7, when thousands of Hamas terrorists broke into Israel and perpetrated the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. "Israel must defend itself against Hamas terror but at the same time alleviate the suffering of civilians as much as possible. That is why another pause in fighting is needed - also in order for hostages can finally be released. I will discuss ways towards that in Israel again next week," she added in a second post. Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs The Al-Qassam Brigades announced on 11 February 2024 that the continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip during the past 96 hours led to the death of 2 prisoners and the serious injury of 8 others. Al-Qassam pointed out in a statement that the conditions of the wounded prisoners are becoming more dangerous in light of the inability to provide them with appropriate treatment, holding the enemy fully responsible for the lives of these wounded in light of the continued bombing and aggression. On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea. The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant considered 05 February 2024 that half the number of Hamas militants were killed or seriously injured by Israeli army forces. The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 28,340 martyrs, "including 12,300 dead children, 8,400 women, 340 medical personnel, 46 civil defense, and 124 journalists." He pointed out that "7,000 people are missing, 70% of whom are children and women, The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The number wounded was 67,984. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures. The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 380 Palestinians, the injury of about 3,950, and the arrest of 5,780, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club. More than 130 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel. Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700. The total announced number of Israeli officers and soldiers killed had risen to 566 since the start of the war on October 7, including 236 killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza. Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found. According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line. It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,815 since the beginning of the war, including 1,296 who had been wounded since the start of the ground attack on October 27, 2023. The Israeli army reported that 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious. The number of injured among the Israeli army since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27 included 602 minor cases, 430 moderate cases, and 264 critical cases. The Israeli army published new data about those wounded in the military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army announces that 540 soldiers were injured in the Gaza StripThe Gaza government announces that the Israeli army committed a horrific massacre in an area it claimed was safe According to army data, 540 soldiers, including 27 seriously injured, were injured in operational incidents since the start of the bombing of the Gaza Strip. There were also 21 accidental shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip, 54 bilateral shooting incidents and 31 traffic accidents. In addition, 388 incidents occurred, including ramming anti-tank rifles, anti-aircraft guns, weapons and machine guns. At least 14,070 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far. An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7. The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received psychological assistance since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat. The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles." Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself. In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive. He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation." He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear." Hostages Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza. Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children. Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023: Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead 117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females 126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older. There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack Hamas had released 110 hostages so far 86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals. Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on 07 February 2024 that 31 hostages detained in Gaza had died. He added in a press conference, "We informed 31 families that their detained relatives had died, and thus we announce their deaths." According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals. Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the Israelis in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 6,870. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons exceeds 9,000 Palestinians. Palestinian prisoner institutions said 661 were classified as unlawful combatants from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said that there has been a significant increase in the number of Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons since October 7, with 3,484 detainees recorded, including children and women. The club added in a statement that "this number was not actually recorded even during the years of the 1987 uprising." Israel said on 14 January 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, over 2,960 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are affiliated with Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas. The institutions added in the statement that the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children, pointing out that the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained. It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention." The announced numbers of detainees do not include those who were detained from Gaza since the start of the operation in the Gaza Strip, as there is no accurate census of these numbers. Israel has rejected international legal adaptations since 1967, and has treated the Palestinians as criminals, and tried them before military courts and not as prisoners of war. Because the POW is not tried, but is released when the war stops, or as a result of a political agreement. But international humanitarian law sets clear conditions relating to the Palestinians, whether as prisoners of war or organized groups with one leadership and carrying a unified slogan, and these conditions apply to Palestinian resistance fighters, specifically armed groups. International law, through the Third Geneva Conventions, which relate to prisoners of war and armed conflicts, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which relates to civilians under occupation; Provide full protection to Palestinian prisoners and groups, including resistance factions. The obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities became very different after the seventh of last October. They decided to cancel all trials in order to double the sentences issued against detainees, and now The scope of arguments before lawyers is very limited, due to military orders, and not according to legal data. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address READOUT: Treasury Officials Visit Mexico to Further Collaboration on Illicit Finance U.S. Department of the Treasury February 12, 2024 MEXICO CITY -- U.S. Department of the Treasury officials from two key offices involved in the fight against fentanyl and its financing traveled to Mexico last week to meet with counterparts in the Government of Mexico and representatives of the U.S. and Mexican financial sector. The visit follows Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to Mexico in December 2023, where she committed the Treasury Department to "use every tool at its disposal to disrupt the ability of drug traffickers to peddle this poison in our country." On February 8, officials from Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) co-led an illicit finance roundtable with the Government of Mexico's Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), the Mexican financial intelligence unit, and Unidad de Banca, Valores y Ahorro (UBVA), the Mexican banking and securities regulator. Building upon FinCEN's previous roundtable in Mexico City on August 2, 2023, this public-private dialogue included discussions on cross-border financial crimes, such as those involving the laundering of the proceeds related to fentanyl precursors trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and corruption, carried out by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The dialogue also focused on the role of professional money laundering organizations play in obscuring profits derived from these illicit activities. The roundtable brought together financial institutions, financial intelligence units, regulators, and law enforcement agencies from both the United States and Mexico. This public-private dialogue centered on useful red flags, typologies, and indicators, which help financial institutions identify cross-border financial activity that may be associated with these various financial crimes. On February 9, Treasury's Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, in close collaboration with the Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, convened the 19th Bilateral Public Private Banking Working Group, to bring together financial institutions and policymakers, regulators, and supervisory authorities from both countries to advance bilateral strategic priorities on countering illicit finance. In this meeting, Treasury called on U.S. financial institutions to voluntarily increase cross-border information sharing with Mexican banks to enable more collaborative discovery and prevention of financial crime. The financial institutions and authorities also discussed potential ways for authorities to share more operational information with financial institutions in both jurisdictions to tackle common threats, such as illicit finance related to fentanyl precursors and human trafficking. Treasury also provided important regulatory updates, including on the January 1, 2024 launch of the United States' Beneficial Ownership Information Registry, the latest step taken to fully implement the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). It also highlighted the publication of the 2024 National Risk Assessments on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing. The Treasury Department has long recognized the threat from money laundering linked to drug trafficking. The Department is a key implementer of the President's National Drug Control Strategy, which identifies counter illicit finance as a critical pillar to degrade and disrupt TCOs that traffic these drugs. Since President Biden signed the Executive Order on Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade in December 2021, Treasury has imposed nearly 250 sanctions on people and entities involved in the trafficking of illicit drugs, with a particular focus on the illicit fentanyl supply chain. Treasury has also marshaled its resources and expertise in a coordinated and streamlined operation to combat the trafficking of illicit fentanyl by bringing together personnel, expertise, intelligence, and resources across key Treasury offices through the December 2023 launch of a Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address After Years of Captivity, Two Ex-Guantanamo Inmates Return Home By Ayaz Gul February 12, 2024 Taliban authorities in Afghanistan said Monday that two of its nationals who were detained and rendered to the United States-run prison in Guantanamo Bay more than 20 years ago had returned home. An Interior Ministry spokesman said on his X social media account that Abdul Karim and Abdul Zahir landed in Kabul early morning from Oman, where they had been transferred in 2017 and held under house arrest until now. Abdul Mateen Qani said that senior Taliban officials were among those "who greeted and welcomed" the two men at the international airport in the Afghan capital. "They both spent more than 20 years in trouble, and the Islamic Emirate facilitated their return," Qani added. Both Zahir and Karim had been under surveillance without the right to travel for seven years in the Gulf kingdom, he said. Zahir, a resident of the Afghan province of Logar, was arrested by American forces just outside Kabul in May of 2002 before being transferred to Guantanamo. Karim, a resident of the southeastern Afghan province of Khost, was moved to the prison in 2003 after having been arrested in neighboring Pakistan by local authorities before being handed over to U.S. custody. President George Bush's administration opened the controversial Guantanamo detention center just months after the U.S.-led coalition forces invaded then-Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to punish them for sheltering al-Qaida planners of the September 2001 terrorist strikes on America. The detention center located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was originally designed to detain and interrogate individuals who were suspected of having links to al-Qaida operatives and their Taliban hosts and who were captured by U.S. forces during their two-decade-long "war on terror" operations in Afghanistan. However, the prison received many suspects from several other countries over time. Human rights groups have, from the outset, criticized the U.S. military prison and demanded its closure, citing reported abuses, torture, and prolonged detentions of inmates, many without charges or trial. Guantanamo Bay has been the subject of extensive litigation. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court found that detainees were entitled to minimal protections under the Geneva Conventions, despite the assertions of the George W. Bush administration. The United Nations has demanded the closure of Guantanamo Bay, as has Amnesty International, which found in 2005 that the facility "has become the gulag of our times, entrenching the notion that people can be detained without any recourse to the law." Most of the inmates, including senior Taliban leaders, have been released over the years. One Afghan prisoner, Muhammad Rahim, remains in detention at Guantanamo. The Taliban reclaimed power in Kabul in August 2021 when all U.S.-led coalition forces withdrew from the country after battling Taliban insurgents in the years that followed the invasion of Afghanistan. The Islamist rulers have reimposed their harsh interpretation of Islamic law, barring women and girls from work and receiving an education beyond the sixth grade, deterring the global community from recognizing the de facto government in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Release of eight Indian Nationals detained in Qatar India - Ministry of External Affairs February 12, 2024 The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals. New Delhi February 12, 2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on Visit of Prime Minister to UAE (February 12, 2024) India - Ministry of External Affairs February 12, 2024 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this Press engagement, ahead of Prime Minister's visit. We have with us, Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra. We are also joined on the dais by Mr. Aseem Mahajan, who is the Joint Secretary looking after the Gulf region. With that, I invite Foreign Secretary to make his opening remarks. Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Good afternoon to the friends from the media. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on 13th, 14th February, starting tomorrow morning. This will be the Prime Minister's seventh visit to the UAE. On 13th, soon after his arrival, the Prime Minister's engagement would include a meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. Following the ceremonial welcome and reception at the Presidential Palace, the two leaders will sit down for bilateral meeting, there after there would be exchange of agreements and understandings after the discussions between the two leaders. This will be the fifth meeting of the two leaders in the last eight months. It gives you a sense of intensity of high-level political exchanges between India and the UAE. Their most recent meeting was in January this year on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit. On the 13th itself, the Prime Minister will be addressing a community event, Ahlan Modi in Abu Dhabi, to further strengthen our deep connection with our diaspora family in the UAE. As you know, there is roughly 3.5 million strong Indian community in the UAE. On 14th, on the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Prime Minister will be participating in the World Government Summit 2024 as a Guest of Honor and deliver a special keynote address on the closing day of the Summit. You would recall that previously the Prime Minister had participated in the World Government Summit in 2018. A key highlight of the Prime Minister's visit to the UAE would be the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on 14th February. You would also recall that the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the temple in 2018 during his visit to the UAE. In terms of substance, as we all know, India and UAE enjoy warm, close, and multifaceted relations underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic linkages, and of course driven by the vision and personal guidance of the leadership of the two countries. Following the landmark visit of the Prime Minister to UAE in 2015, the bilateral relations between India and the UAE have undergone complete transformation. The relationship was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership level in 2017. If I could just highlight a few of the key important elements of the substantive transformation in our exchanges; last year, as you know, was a highly successful year in our exchanges. Intense high-level political exchanges, I've already referred to them earlier. The Prime Minister visited UAE twice in 2023, in July, and in December, first to participate in the COP, World Climate Action Summit. Two transformative agreements like trade settlements in local currencies, MoUs in several areas, including renewables, healthcare, logistics, and food parks. We've also opened up new areas of partnership between the two countries in the field of food security, education, fintech, defence, and security. We have also consolidated the India-UAE trade relationship following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE. UAE has now become India's second largest export destination and the third largest trading partner. Our bilateral trade currently stands at roughly $85 billion. UAE has also become the fourth largest FDI investor in India last year. The visit of the Honorable Prime Minister to the UAE this time and the substantive agreements and understandings that are under discussions and negotiations between the two sides would allow the two leaders to inject further momentum across the whole range of areas that we cooperate in. The visit will also afford the opportunity to engage with the other global leaders who might be present on the sidelines of the World Government Summit. From the UAE, after completing his visit on 14 February there, the Honorable Prime Minister will travel to Doha, Qatar on 14 February afternoon. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and other high dignitaries in Qatar. You would recall that the Prime Minister had last visited Qatar in June 2016. As such, this will be the Prime Minister's second visit to Qatar. There have been several high-level exchanges between India and Qatar in recent years. You would recall the visit of the Honorable Vice-President to Doha in November 2022, as also the visit of the then Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu ji in June 2022. The External Affairs Minister has also undertaken multiple visits to Qatar in the last 3-4 years. The bilateral relationship between India and Qatar, that has been steadily growing, includes a comprehensive span, including political ties, trade and investment linkages, our strong energy partnership, and ties in the field of culture, education and security. You would be aware, following the recently concluded India Energy Week, Qatar Energy and Petronet LNG Limited had signed an agreement for the supply of 7.5 mm TPA LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years, starting 2028. Strong bilateral trade between India and Qatar currently stands at roughly $20 billion, and Qatar is also a significant investor in India across the whole range of economies. Strong diaspora is equally an important connect between India and Qatar. Roughly, 840,000 strong, vibrant Indian community resides in Qatar. The Prime Minister's visit to Qatar will provide an opportunity for the top leadership of the two countries to discuss ways to further deepen and strengthen our multifaceted partnership, as well as exchange views on different regional and international issues of mutual importance. The Honorable Prime Minister will return from his two-nation visit to Delhi back on 15 February. I would stop here and take questions that might be there. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Can we start from here, Yeshi? Yeshi: This is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Sir, the PM is going to Qatar, as you just mentioned. One of the eight navy veterans is still in Qatar. Is he likely to come back soon? And what led to their sudden return to India, if you could put light on that? Sridhar: Sir, Sridhar from the Asian age. Sir, I wanted to know, the PM is of course going to Qatar. You issued a statement that the Emir had ordered the release, but is it equal to a royal pardon that the Emir gave? And also, could you speak about this personal intervention by PM Modi? Because when the two leaders spoke in Dubai, you did not reveal much details of what transpired in that conversation. So if we could get some, because we had Union Ministers thanking the PM for his intervention; and also, the sequence of events for the UAE visit. So is it going to be the bilateral talks first and then the temple inauguration followed by the Conference? Can you just clarify the sequence of the UAE visit, 13th and 14th. So first, it will be the bilateral talks. So what is the sequence of these? Thanks. Smita: Smita Sharma, I work independently. Regarding the UAE visit, keeping in mind the ongoing Israel- Palestine conflict and the different positions, what does India see as the future for the current status for I2U2? Where is that headed to? And IMEC as well. Megha: Hi, Megha from NewsX. My first question is, the Prime Minister visiting Qatar and meeting the Emir, is the release of the eight veterans the reason the Prime Minister is visiting there? Second of all, is there a likelihood of any informal talks or bilateral talks between the Prime Minister and Emir during the World Government Summit that takes place in Dubai? Huma: Sir, I'm Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. You mentioned some agreements expected to be signed. So would you be able to share which areas these sectors could be from? Umashankar: Umashankar, NDTV se. Jitne bhi saat bhartiya aaye hain un sabo ne kaha hain ki PM ke personal intervention ke bina ye sambhav nahi tha. Mera saval yahi hai kis tarah se ye personal intervention kiya gaya aur uske details aap bata sake please. [Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar, from NDTV. All the seven Indians who have come together have said that this would not have been possible without the personal intervention of the Prime Minister. My question is, in what way was this personal intervention done and could you please provide details about it? Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Let me take Huma's question first with regard to the agreements, MoUs that are likely to be exchanged, signed during the visit. Currently, the two sides are busy discussing, as I said, various understandings and agreements that the two sides could finalize, sign, and exchange during the visit. While at this stage, I'm not in a position to share with you specifically the list of those documents, but broadly speaking, in terms of the areas of importance and continuing to build on what the two sides have signed in the past few years, these would include understandings in the field of energy, both relating to energy security and energy trade. There would be some understanding and documents in the larger sector of the ports, maritime, and logistics. Since digital cooperation between our two economies is an important element of our partnership, we are also looking to see if we can arrive at an understanding on investments in the field of digital infrastructure, arrangements for the protection and promotion of capital flows between our two economies has become a very significant feature of our relationship in the last 10 years. This is something which also is under discussion and is a part of focus. Maritime heritage, how the two sides can cooperate in that field, is a very important area of ongoing discussions. And also the fintech connectivity, both relating to how the two sides can cooperate on fintech platforms, but also on fintech products, which is different from platforms per se. Railways and related infrastructure, areas of cooperation, and port infrastructure that I've already touched upon. These are some of the areas in which the two delegations are currently engaged in discussions to see what kind of specific understandings could be finalized and agreed upon. We'll keep you briefed as we progress into the visit and the specific documents that get signed. Sridhar, in terms of the sequence of the thing, currently, the way the program is structured, and of course these evolve as you go along, that the bilateral meetings and visits will be on the 13th, whereas the temple inauguration is on the next day, essentially. On the set of questions relating to the release of Indian nationals in case of Al-Dahra case, whatever we wanted to say, we have said it in the morning. We are grateful for their return. We are gratified on their return. We deeply appreciate the decision of the Qatari government and the Emir to release them. We are happy to have seven of those Indian nationals back. 8th Indian national has also been released, and we continue to work with the Qatar government to see how quickly his return to India would be possible. As we have said already in our statement in the morning, and people have articulated also, Honorable Prime Minister has himself personally constantly supervised all the developments in this case and has never shied away from any initiatives that would ensure the return of Indian nationals back to home. We can talk of different frames and terminology, like Sridhar, you mentioned, whether it's a release or a pardon, etc. But I think we should see the facts for what they are. Seven of the eight Indian nationals of Al Dahra case are back, back in India, back to their homes. As I said, we are extremely gratified about it and appreciate deeply the gesture of the Emir of Qatar for the release and continue to work on the return of the 8th Indian national. Smita, to your question with regard to impact of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict on the I2U2 and IMEC, no doubt the developments relating to the conflict in Gaza are always an important part of conversations whenever the leaders meet. But irrespective of that, the institutional engagement and the specific projects that the two countries and the... in case of IMEC, set of other countries involved and, in case of I2U2, the other partners, the agenda of partnership, agenda of cooperation that has been outlined in these two mechanisms is proceeding well. The different sides involved in this are continuing to hold regular discussions to make progress. And we are expecting, I mentioned the general category of ports, maritimes, and logistics as one of the areas of cooperation. A lot of this, you would appreciate, also deals with the infrastructure segments which fall under the IMEC corridor. With regard to, I think, from the NewsX, the question was on the informal talks between the Emir and the leadership. Look, we have already mentioned about Honorable Prime Minister's visit to Qatar after the conclusion of his visit to UAE. The sideline visits, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, we will keep you briefed as and when they continue to come up on radar and specific meetings are held. Umashankar ji aapke prashna ka uttar jo maine pahle tippani ki usme nihit hai ki Pradhanmantri Modi ji vyaktigat roop se is vishay ko lekar supervision karte rahe hain, aur unke sashakt netrutva ka praman hi hain ye ek prakar se, aur sambandhon ki sajagta ko bhi darshata hai ki aath bhartiya nagriko mai se, Al-Dahra case ke, saat nagrik is samay apni bharat bhumi par hain. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar ji, the response to your question, as I mentioned earlier, is that Prime Minister Modi personally supervises this matter, and this is an evidence of his strong leadership in a way, and it also shows the strength of relationships that seven out of the eight Indian citizens involved in the Al-Dahra case are currently on Indian soil. Speaker: [Inaudible] Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Look, the visits of the Prime Minister, any visits, not just this visit, but all visits are planned and scheduled and the discussions on that scheduling starts months in advance. And we announce those visits and as and when those schedulings get completed. Kallol: Sir, this is Kallol from The Hindu. My question is regarding the fate of the Indian prisoners, especially in United Arab Emirates and Qatar, because the UAE, where the Prime Minister is headed, currently holds at least 2,100 Indian prisoners in its jails. And Qatar alone holds around 752 Indian prisoners, apart from the eight who have been released. So I want to ask, is the Government going to raise the issue of these prisoners at some point during these visits? And also, you know, most of these prisoners are from very underprivileged background, they're labourers and people accused of petty crimes, who don't get enough legal assistance. So would the Government also consider supporting them in some way so that they could also come back home? Amiti: Hi, sir, I'm Amiti Sen from Hindu Business Line. Sir, this $2 billion of investments promised by UAE in the food parks under the I2U2, sir, will that also be a topic of discussion and what is the status of that? Sudhi: Sir Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg here. On the Qatar case, if you could give us an understanding, who, I mean we understand that this would have been a pardon from the Emir, who then moved the, you know, mercy petitions. Was it Government of India or the veterans themselves? Sahil: Sir, I'm Sahil from ANI. Regarding this big diplomatic retreat, how did India manage it and how did they process it? Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Listen, in so far as all the questions relating to Qatar and the return of seven of the eight Indian nationals who are back in India are concerned, I think we have already answered, issued a statement, whatever is to be said on that has been said and I would not have anything further to add. Kallol to your question with regard to the number of Indian prisoners in the UAE and in Qatar and indeed in other countries, not just these two countries. The Government of India has extensive mechanisms in place of consular dialogues and discussions involving the Indian system and the systems in those countries, whose one of the the principal task is to keep working towards the early release of all the Indian prisoners, irrespective of which country they are. There are also very established mechanisms and systems in place which ensure that whatever assistance, wherever possible, is to be made available to these prisoners is made available through the government mechanisms. These are the systems which have been strengthened enormously, whose remit has been expanded extensively, where strong support by the government is embedded in them. These have been put in place particularly over the last 10 years under the Prime Ministership of Honorable Prime Minister Modi. This applies very much, as I said, to the current two countries also where Honorable Prime Minister is visiting and there are established dialogue mechanisms which take up that. I don't want to pre-judge the discussions that would take place at the leadership level, but I want to mention to you that this is something which is very regularly and extensively taken up on the system-wide basis by the Government of India. To the question from the Hindu Business Line on the $2 billion investments on the food park, as I mentioned to you in response to one of the earlier questions, all projects that have been identified under I2U2 and food park project predates even the I2U2, those discussions are continuing between the relevant stakeholders on the UAE side as also on the Indian side, because some of these parties on the Indian side and the UAE side are private sector parties. So the project and the discussions under those projects continue to be held between the two sides. Madhurendra: Sir, Madhurendra, main News Nation se hoon. Jaisa ki Pradhanmantri Abu Dhabi me BAPS mandir ke udghatan ke liye ja rahe hain, main janna chahunga ki is pure hi karyakram ka praroop kya hoga, khas taur pe Pradhanmantri wahan par jab udghatan karenge toh jo pujapath ki shrinkhala hogi woh kya hogi aur sath ki kya mandir se Pradhanmanri sambhodhit bhi karenge? [Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, Madhurendra here from News Nation. As Prime Minister is going to Abu Dhabi for the inauguration of the BAPS temple, I would like to know what the format of this entire event will be? Especially regarding the inauguration by Prime Minister there, what will be the series of the worship rituals, and will the Prime Minister also address the audience from the temple? Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiya BAPS mandir ka jo inauguration ka program hai, woh Pradhan Mantri ji ke UAE yatra ka ek pramukh ang hai, uski vistrit jaankari jo inauguration se pehle hai uski kya rooprekha hogi wahan pe kitne log upasthit honge, abhi tak ki jaankari ye hai ki lagbhag do hazaar se paanch hazaar shradhaluon ki upasthiti ki apeksha hai wahan par. Program kafi vistrit hai uski jo pratyaksh roop se rooprekha hai us rooprekha ki samay sarni kya rahegi, uske kya bhaag rahenge, woh hum aapko inauguration se yatha purvak aur yathochit samay pe, suchit avyashya karenge. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] See, the inauguration program of the BAPS temple is a key aspect of Prime Minister's UAE visit. The detailed information available before the inauguration about what the format will be there, how many people will be present; as of now the information is that approximately two to five thousand devotees are expected to be present there. The program is quite extensive, and the schedule, including the sequence of events, will be communicated to you, at the appropriate time. Madhurendra: [inaudible]. Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiye maine aapse kaha ki us program ka jo swaroop hai, uski jo rooprekha hai uske baare mai hum aapko puri tarah se suchit karenge. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Look, I told you that we will inform you completely about the format of the program. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Well, thank you. There are no more questions. We close this session. Thank you very much for your participation and look forward to our engagement. I am sure some of you are travelling or your teams are travelling to UAE. We will keep in touch. Thank you. Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Iranian-Owned Boeing Aircraft Successfully Returned to the United States Monday, February 12, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The Department of Justice today completed enforcement of a final order for forfeiture of a U.S.-manufactured Boeing 747 cargo plane, previously owned by Mahan Air, a sanctioned Iranian airline affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). On Feb. 11, the government of Argentina transferred physical custody of the aircraft to the United States pursuant to the final order of forfeiture, which was issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 3, 2023, which rests all right, title, and interest in the aircraft in the United States of America. The Boeing 747 cargo plane arrived in the Southern District of Florida where it will be prepared for disposition. "The seized American-built aircraft was transferred by a sanctioned Iranian airline in a transaction that violated U.S. export control laws and directly benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is a designated terrorist organization," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security." "Mahan Air - known to ferry weapons and fighters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hizballah - violated our export restrictions by selling this airplane to a Venezuelan cargo airline. Now, it's property of the United States government," said Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement's Matthew S. Axelrod. "This seized airplane's arrival in the United States is a powerful example of our unceasing efforts to prevent Iran and its proxies from leveraging and profiting from U.S. technology." "The United States' forfeiture of the Boeing 747 cargo plane culminates over 18 months of planning, coordination, and execution by the United States government and our Argentine counterparts," said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. "Bad actors - both near and far - are on alert that the United States will use all its tools to hold those who violate our laws to account. The successful seizure of the Boeing 747 underscores our commitment to prevent the illegal exportation of U.S. technologies and enforce U.S. export control laws." "Using a whole-of-government approach, we have worked with our international partners to forfeit a plane transferred by Iranian entities in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws," said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. "Foreign adversaries - seeking to illegally use American-made products to further their endeavors - need to know that the United States government will work with the international community to hold them accountable for their illegal conduct. The United States appreciates the collaboration with our Argentinian law enforcement and judicial partners." "The transfer of this plane to U.S. custody is the final step in the long process to bring this case to its rightful conclusion," said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch "The FBI, along with our federal government and international partners, used every tool under our authorities to hold the Iranian government and their affiliates accountable for violating U.S. laws." The plane was previously detained by Argentine law enforcement. On July 19, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a seizure warrant for the aircraft, which Argentine authorities promptly enforced. On Oct. 20, 2022, in support of its ongoing criminal investigation, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the aircraft's transfer from Mahan Air to Empresa de Transporte AAreocargo del Sur, S.A. (EMTRASUR), a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias AeronAuticas y Servicios AAreos, S.A (CONVIASA), a Venezuelan state-owned company, violated U.S. export control laws. As alleged, Mahan Air was subject to a Department of Commerce Temporary Denial Order, which prohibited, among other things, Mahan Air from engaging in any transactions involving any commodity exported from the United States that is subject to the Export Administration Regulations. The complaint further alleged that the unauthorized transfer of this aircraft directly benefited the IRGC-QF. According to court documents, the registered captain of the aircraft was an ex-commander for the IRGC and a shareholder and member of the board of a second sanctioned Iranian airline, Qeshm Fars Air, affiliated with the IRGC-QF. Argentinian law enforcement also recovered a Mahan Air flight log documenting the aircraft's flights after the unlawful transfer to EMTRASUR and confirmed additional violations of U.S. export control laws between February and May 2022 when EMTRASUR reexported the aircraft between Caracas, Venezuela; Tehran, Iran; and Moscow, Russia, without U.S. Government authorization. This matter is being investigated by the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security's Miami Field Office and the FBI Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajbir Datta for the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy R. Camacho for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the seizure and investigation, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Senior Trial Attorney John Beasley and Trial Attorney Jesse Ormsby of the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs; Special Agent Adam Mastriani and Task Force Officer Robert Cunniff of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Ricardo Hernandez of the FBI's Legal AttachA in Buenos Aires provided significant assistance in working with the Argentine authorities, led by Argentine Federal Judge Federico Villena and the U.S. Marshals Service to manage the difficult logistics and coordination of the physical transfer of the Boeing aircraft from Argentina to the United States. Topic: Export Control Components: Criminal - Office of International Affairs Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - District of Columbia USAO - Florida, Southern Press Release Number: 24-168 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC test-fires long-range ballistic missile from warship: Commander IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 12, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has for a first time fired a long-range ballistic missile from a warship, the commander of the force says, amid Iran's growing efforts to expand its missile program for defense and deterrence purposes. "A long-range ballistic missile was successfully fired from a warship in a joint work by the IRGC Aerospace Force and the IRGC Navy," said Major General Hossein Salami on Monday. Salami said the test-firing was a significant boost to IRGC's combat capacities as it enables the elite force to hit any target around the world because its ocean-cruising warships can sail to any location in international waters. Iran has expanded its missile program in recent years in a bid to improve its deterrence power against threats it is facing in the region and around the world. The IRGC fired long-range ballistic missiles at targets in Iraq and Syria last month to hit Israeli spying agents as well as terrorists blamed for explosions that killed more than 90 people in explosions in Iran's Kerman in early January. 4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC launches long-range ballistic missile from warship: Commander Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 5:48 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully launched a long-range ballistic missile from one of its warships, the elite force's commander says. Major General Hossein Salami said on Monday that the achievement means that the IRGC will have the capacity to hit any target because its ocean-cruising warships can sail to any location around the world. "One long-range ballistic missile was successfully fired from a military vessel of the IRGC Navy in joint cooperation between the IRGC Aerospace Force and the IRGC Navy," Salami was quoted as saying by semi-official Tasnim news agency. The development comes amid Iran's growing success in expansion of its defensive missile program. The country has used the missiles in attacks in recent years on terrorist targets located as far as the Mediterranean. However, Iran has repeatedly declared that its missile capabilities are solely used for deterrence and defense. It has warned the United States and Israel that any action against Iran will be met with missile attacks on their military positions and interests in the region. Last month, Iranian long-range missiles were fired at a base controlled by the Israeli spying agents in Iraq's Kurdistan region, as well as on gatherings of terrorists in Syria who were involved for explosions that killed more than 90 people in early January in the city of Kerman. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq, U.S. resume dialogue on ending U.S.-led coalition's mission People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:54, February 12, 2024 BAGHDAD, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraq and the United States resumed Sunday a new round of dialogue to discuss ending the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq, the Iraqi government said. Iraqi military spokesman Yahya Rasoul said in a statement that the Higher Military Commission (HMC) resumed meetings with the international coalition side to assess the military situation, the level of threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) group, in addition to the capabilities of the Iraqi forces. Rasoul said that based on these meetings, a timetable will be set for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors in Iraq, leading to an end of the coalition mission of fighting IS and the transition to Iraq's bilateral relations with coalition countries. The meetings with the international coalition will be held periodically to complete the commission work as quickly as possible, as long as nothing disturbs the meetings, Rasoul added. On Jan. 25, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iraq agreed with the United States to form the HMC to end the international coalition mission in Iraq and move their relationship to comprehensive bilateral relations with the coalition countries at the political, economic, cultural, security, and military levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq resumes talks with United States on ending US-led coalition's presence in country Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 2:12 AM Iraq says it has resumed talks with the United State on terminating the mission of the so-called US-led coalition, which has been present in the Arab country under the pretext of fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. "The supreme Iraqi military commission resumed on Sunday its meetings with international coalition forces in Baghdad," General Yehia Rasool, the military spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister, said in a statement. The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 based on false claims about Baghdad possessing weapons of mass destruction, leaving a trail of destruction, death, and chaos in the Arab country. The US and its allies re-launched a military campaign in 2014 to supposedly fight off Daesh. The group had emerged in Iraq and neighboring Syria earlier as Washington was running out of excuses to extend its meddling in the West Asia region or enlarge it in scale. The US military claimed to be ending its combat mission in Iraq in 2021, but said it would retain some 2,500 troops in the country as alleged advisors, although, Baghdad and its allies had decisively defeated terrorists in late 2017. Elsewhere in his remarks, Rasool said the resumed meetings are aimed at setting up a "timeline" for a "progressive pullout" of coalition forces from Iraq. "As long as nothing disrupts the serenity of these talks, the meetings will take place on a regular basis in order to achieve the commission's works as soon as possible," the military official. The first round of talks opened on January 27, but was suspended after a drone strike killed three US forces at a base in Jordan. Washington has been using the incident as an excuse to stage a raft of deadly attacks across Iraq and Syria. On Saturday, a former Iraqi prime minister urged Baghdad to act more decisively towards ending the United States' so-called mission. Speaking to Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam television network, Adel Abdul-Mahdi said, "The Iraqi government should adopt a clear and simple position and announce to America the end of its mission on a certain date." "American forces came to Iraq in line with a decision made by the Iraqi government, and now they should leave as per the Iraqi government's notification," he noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Meets with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 12.02.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and updated him on the progress in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not leave intact the terrorist battalions in Rafah and added that the war is expected to continue until total victory over Hamas. Also participating in the meeting were: For the Israeli side - The Strategic Affairs Minister, the Prime Minister's Chief-of-Staff, the Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Office Director General, the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Adviser and the Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands. For the Dutch side - the National Security Adviser, the Special Envoy for Humanitarian affairs and the Dutch Ambassador to Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State lodges appeal in cassation against judgment on distribution of F-35 parts to Israel Government of the Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs News item | 12-02-2024 | 14:30 The State is lodging an appeal in cassation to the Dutch Supreme Court against the judgment of The Hague Court of Appeal on the distribution of American F-35 parts to Israel. This was decided by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Geoffrey van Leeuwen. The court ruled this morning that the Netherlands must cease distributing F-35 parts to Israel no later than seven days from today. Of course the government respects the Court of Appeal's judgment and will implement it. In the government's view, the distribution of American F-35 parts is not unlawful. The government believes it is up to the State to its determine foreign policy. The government is lodging an appeal in cassation because it believes the Court of Appeal did not take sufficient account of this. In the meantime, the government will consult with international partners within the F-35 programme very soon in order to secure the Netherlands role' within the programme. The government will do everything it can to convince allies and partners that the Netherlands remains a reliable partner in the F-35 project and in European and international defence cooperation. That cooperation is important for the Netherlands' own national security. But it's also essential for Israel, because the F-35 aircraft is crucial for Israel's security, in particular with regard to threats emanating from the region, for instance from Iran, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. The State's decision to lodge an appeal in cassation against this judgment is separate from the situation in Gaza. The Netherlands continues to call for an immediate temporary humanitarian ceasefire, and for as much humanitarian aid as possible to be allowed to reach the suffering people of Gaza. The situation is extremely serious. It is clear that international humanitarian law applies in full and Israel, too, must abide by it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netherlands ordered to halt shipping F-35 parts to Israel within one week Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 3:41 PM The Appeals Court in The Hague has ordered the government of the Netherlands to halt within one week further export of parts for F-35 warplanes Israel uses in the bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The ruling on Monday holds that there is a "clear risk" the parts the Netherlands is providing for the regime are being used in "serious violations of international humanitarian law" in the besieged Palestinian territory. The ruling followed an appeal by Amnesty International and Oxfam against a lower court decision in December that rejected their argument that shipping the F-35 parts were helping Israel carry out "violations of humanitarian law" in Gaza. They also said the deliveries implicate the Dutch government in the crimes of Israel. "The court therefore orders the State to put an end to the further export of F-35 parts to Israel within 7 days." said the Monday ruling. "There is a clear risk that serious violations of humanitarian law of war are committed in the Gaza Strip with Israel's F-35 fighter planes." In December, the District Court in The Hague ruled that supplying the parts was primarily a political decision that judges should not interfere with. But the appeals court overturned that order, ruling that the Netherlands "must prohibit the export of military goods if there is a clear risk of serious violations of the humanitarian law of war." It said, "Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian population when conducting its attacks." The regime's war on Gaza "has caused a disproportionate number of civilian casualties, including thousands of children." The F-35 parts, owned by the United States, are stored in a warehouse at Woensdrecht Air Base in the Netherlands. Export licenses were granted to the European country in 2016 for an unlimited time. But the court said, "The fact that the licenses are concluded for an unlimited time does not mean that the State can close its eyes to what happens afterwards." Dutch authorities, however, argue the deliveries are part of a US-run operation that supplies parts to all F-35 partners. They say they might not have the authority to intervene in the deliveries. When Israel ignited its bloody war machine in Gaza in early October, Washington - given its nonstop unqualified military assistance to Israel - wasted no time in swiftly providing the regime with new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter weapons capabilities and spare parts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dutch Court Orders Government to Stop F-35 Parts Exports to Israel By VOA News February 12, 2024 An appeals court in the Netherlands ordered the government Monday to stop exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, following a lawsuit filed by human rights groups raising concerns about Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. "It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," the court said. Israel has denied committing war crimes in Gaza, where it launched a military operation against the Hamas militant group following an October Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli response has killed more than 28,300 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The Dutch court said the government must comply with the ruling within seven days. The decision can be appealed. The Netherlands is host to a warehouse of U.S.-owned F-35 parts that are exported to several countries. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan election: Sharif's PML-N mulls 'coalition' with PPP as Khan's PTI protests 'rigging' Iran Press TV Monday, 12 February 2024 10:12 AM Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has suggested forming a "coalition" with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), while supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest the alleged rigging of the election. No single political party has secured a majority in the 266-member National Assembly in the February 8 election, while independent members, mostly backed by Khan's PTI party, have secured 101 seats. Reports said on Monday that Sharif's PML-N floating the idea of forming a "participatory coalition government" with PPP led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. PML-N gained 75 seats in the National Assembly followed by PPP, which secured 54 seats. Sharif said the PML-N had started consultations with its former allies to form a unity government in the Centre. "There's only the possibility of forming the (federal) government with the backing of the PML-N. It will be a participatory coalition government," Sharif was quoted as saying by the Dawn. He added that it was in "the largest interest of the country that all should join hands" to form the federal government. PML-N sources were quoted as saying that the initial formula stipulates that if the coalition parties agree to give the post of Prime Minister to the PML-N, then the post of President and Speaker will be given to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Similarly, the post of Deputy Speaker can be given to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) or any of the independent members joining the coalition. Besides, the PML-N may keep the Finance Ministry and other Ministries will be distributed among allies with mutual consultation. Meanwhile, protests by Khan's supporters continued across Pakistan amid election vote-rigging allegations. PTI and other smaller parties claim seats they won were given to Sharif who is seen as the military's favored candidate, and the PPP, which also is reported to have a close relationship with the military establishment. Khan is barred from standing in the elections as he is already serving a three-year jail term for corruption. Earlier in January, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in jail for "corruption", the second sentence handed to him in two days just a week before national elections. The former Pakistani leader has said the numerous cases against him are "politically motivated." Khan's party on Sunday organized protests outside election commission offices in constituencies across the country where alleged rigging took place. Riot police flocked to Lahore, the PTI stronghold, to clamp down on the protesters and in some cases charged at groups protesting and detained them. In Rawalpindi city, south of Islamabad, clashes were reported and police fired teargas to disperse dozens of PTI supporters. Several people were detained in Karachi, in the country's south, when they refused to clear the area, local media reported. Pakistan's police had warned earlier they would crack down on gatherings that it deemed as illegal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Protests In Pakistan Over Election Results As Talks On Future Government Continue By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal February 12, 2024 Thousands of people have protested, including blocking roads, in the southwestern Balochistan region of Pakistan against the results of recent inconclusive parliamentary elections as Pakistan's two largest political parties continued talks over who could lead a future government. Several parties have rejected the results of the February 8 nationwide poll, with many claiming vote rigging. Independent candidates -- most linked to jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party -- took the most seats in the polls. That spoiled the chances of the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to win a ruling majority. However, independents cannot form a government and the country faces weeks of uncertainty as rival parties negotiate coalitions. PTI leaders have claimed they would have won even more seats if not for vote-rigging. It will be up to the new parliament to pick Pakistan's next prime minister. On February 12, thousands of supporters of Khan took to the streets in Balochistan, where Jan Achakzai, a government spokesman, urged protesters to "show grace" by accepting defeat and moving away from the highways. Khan could not run in the election because of criminal convictions against him that he says are politically motivated. But candidates aligned with him secured 101 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament. The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party led by three-time prime minister and ex-felon Nawaz Sharif secured 75. Sharif is currently in talks with allies to form a coalition government. The Pakistan People's Party, or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, came in third with 54 seats. One result has been withheld and another vote was postponed because of a candidate's death. The campaign to kick Khan out of office in 2022 was led by the PML-N and the PPP. In a statement late on February 11, the PML-N and the PPP said they were committed to "putting the nation's interest and well-being above everything" and "to steering Pakistan away from political instability and towards a path of prosperity and resilience." Officials from both the PML-N and the PPP, however, said talks were stuck over whose leader would take the top job. "Both sides are interested to form a coalition, but there is no breakthrough so far. Both parties want the office of prime minister," a top PML-N leader close to Sharif told Reuters. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-election- esults-protests-talks-future-government/32815654.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 Pakistan Reports Killing of Two Top Islamic State Leaders By Ayaz Gul February 12, 2024 Pakistan confirmed Monday that separate counterterrorism raids near the Afghan border within the past week had killed two senior leaders of a regional Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). Military officials identified the slain militant commanders as Surat Gul and Abdul Shakoor, also known as Abu Hamza. Both were targeted in intelligence-driven security operations in northwestern Khyber and southwestern Qila Saifullah districts. Interim Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar told reporters in Islamabad that Abu Hamza had plotted two back-to-back bomb attacks against campaign gatherings in Qila Saifullah and the nearby Pishin border districts on the eve of national elections held last Thursday. "On the second day of the elections, February 9, an operation was conducted, and a prominent leader of Daesh was neutralized and eliminated in the same Qila Saifullah district," Kakar said, referring to the killing of Abu Hamza. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for IS-K, which the United States and the United Nations say is operating out of bases in Afghanistan. The bombings in Pishin and Qila Saifullah collectively killed nearly 30 people. Both districts are part of the southwestern Baluchistan province, which shares nearly half of the country's 2,600-kilometer-long (1616 miles) border with Afghanistan. Gul was killed Sunday in a shootout with Pakistani security forces during a raid against his hideout in the northwestern Khyber border district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a military statement. The statement said the "terrorist ringleader" was involved in "numerous terrorist activities including [the] target killing of innocent civilians" and "was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies." IS-K has confirmed the death of Gul in a gunfight with Pakistani security forces, but it has not commented on the fate of Abu Hamza. The United Nations said in a report last month that while a "high concentration of terrorist groups in Afghanistan" was a cause of concern for member states, the "greatest threat within Afghanistan still comes from ISIL-K, with its ability to project into the region and beyond." ISIL-K is another acronym for IS-K. The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan claim their security forces have eliminated IS-K bases nationwide and degraded the group's ability to threaten national security and that of the region. "Member States assessed that, despite the recent loss of territory, casualties, and high attrition among senior and mid-tier leadership figures, ISIL-K continued to pose a major threat in Afghanistan and the region," the U.N. report noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova answer to a media question about the European Parliament's latest anti-Russia resolution 12 February 2024 15:44 250-12-02-2024 Question: On February 8, the European Parliament approved yet another anti-Russia resolution that contains a number of charges against Russia, including a claim that it is meddling in the "democratic processes in the EU." What is your comment? Maria Zakharova: The Foreign Ministry of Russia usually refrains from commenting on resolutions adopted by the European Parliament (EP). Nevertheless, we find it difficult to ignore the document you mentioned, since it is the latest example of unprecedented hypocrisy and double standards to permeate this European institution. Bogged down in corruption scandals, the EP has invented a true "manifesto of neo-liberal dictatorship." It includes "sentences in absentia" with calls to vet all those disagreeing with the self-destructive course pursued by Brussels, endless far-fetched speculations about Russia's influence, spy hysteria, and other Russophobic paranoid trash. Any dissent is automatically interpreted as a sign of "pro-Kremlin sentiment." Looks like the Ministry of Truth, doesn't it? At the same time, it is quite clear that the resolution is mostly intended to impose the terms of what is in fact a "cartel agreement" among representatives of the liberal pro-American political mainstream, designed to prevent nationally oriented parties and movements from gaining a stronger foothold in the EP in the future. This is the prime matter of concern for the authors of this text. Their fears have some merit. The socioeconomic situation in the EU at the end of the current legislative period is clearly unsatisfactory. The roots of the difficult economic situation in the EU right now are in Brussels' thoughtless moves to intensify the sanctions confrontation with Russia and its erroneous decisions in key spheres. This is the reason alternative political forces are gaining strength, as is evident from numerous European opinion polls. Thus, they are using the alleged "Russian threat" as a pretext to mop up the political landscape and cleanse it of unnerving and increasingly dangerous rivals. As for their accusations that Russia is meddling in "democratic processes," they are absurd by definition, if only because the EU lacks the democratic norms and ideals the founders of the European project wanted to institute. Today's European Union has trampled over the rights of ordinary people, the rule of law, and pleas to fight corruption. They pander to neo-Nazism and the glorification of Nazi criminals that were sentenced by the Nuremberg Tribunal. They close their eyes to the humiliating plight of ethnic minorities in certain EU states and countries aspiring to join the EU. And it is the European Parliament as the stronghold of EU plutocracy that bears the lion's share of responsibility for this unseemly state of affairs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Feb. 12, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/02/12 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 0900hr (UTC+8), Feb. 12, 2024 1.Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Sunday to Monday, Feb. 11-12. 2.PLA activitiesis 2 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Departure of UK's HMS Prince of Wales to Participate in NATO Drills Postponed - Reports Sputnik News 20240212 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The departure of UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to participate in major NATO exercises was postponed at the last minute for unknown reasons, The Telegraph newspaper reported on Sunday. Earlier in February, the UK Royal Navy said that UK aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, commissioned in 2017, would not take part in NATO's Steadfast Defender exercise due to a technical issue. The navy added that HMS Prince of Wales would set sail for the exercises instead of HMS Queen Elizabeth "as soon as possible." The aircraft carrier was supposed to depart from Portsmouth on Sunday to lead an eight-ship carrier strike group, the newspaper reported. 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Faces Another Wave Of Russian Drones And Missiles By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 12, 2024 Russia's military launched another drone attack on Ukraine overnight, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting on February 12 that air defense systems had destroyed 14 out of 17 drones as well as one Kh-59 cruise missile. The air force also said Russia's military had fired S-300 long-range surface-to-air missiles, but did not say how many or whether they hit any targets. The governor of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, Oleh Synehubov, said late on February 11 that it had been attacked by Moscow with missiles launched from Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. According to preliminary reports, Synehubov said, there were no casualties but some nonresidential buildings had suffered damage. Serhiy Lisak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said late on February 11 that Russia attacked the city of Pavlohrad with drones. There were no casualties, but some parts of the city lost electricity. The latest Russian drone attack comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy continued the reshuffle of his war cabinet as the war nears entering its third year. Among other appointments, Kyiv announced on February 11 that Oleksandr Pavlyuk -- released from his first deputy defense minister post a day earlier -- was named the new commander of Ukraine's ground forces. The post was previously held by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, who was appointed on February 8 as commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, replacing General Valeriy Zaluzhniy. In Washington, in a rare weekend session on February 11, the Senate voted 67-27 to move forward on a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other countries. Amid shortages on the battlefield, the package would provide $60 billion for Ukraine, mostly to purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say it desperately needs as Russia batters the country. It includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. Even if the Senate does pass the package, its future is deeply uncertain in the House of Representatives. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drones- missiles-pavlohrad-kharkiv/32815431.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 Poland Investigates Allegedly Deliberate Spillage Of Ukrainian Grain At Border Crossing By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 12, 2024 Polish police have opened an investigation into an incident over the weekend in which Polish farmers were accused of stopping three trucks carrying Ukrainian grain at a crossing and dumping the cargo onto the road. The incident occurred on February 11 near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border checkpoint as part of a broader protest by Polish farmers against European Union agriculture policies, including those that allow Ukrainian grain to cross into Poland, which the farmers say has lowered prices for their products. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on February 12 called the incident "unacceptable" and said those did it should be held to account. "The spoiling of Ukrainian grain on the Polish border is unacceptable. Any farmer should know how much hard work it takes to produce grain, especially during wartime," Kuleba wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "For the sake of friendly Ukrainian-Polish relations, the perpetrators of this provocation must be held to account." Ukrainian trade representative Taras Kachka said on Facebook the spoiled grain was being transported to Lithuania and that the incident raised concern that violence could break out at the border. Polish farmers last week announced plans to start a nationwide strike beginning with the blockade of all checkpoints at the border between Poland and Ukraine. The Ukrainian Customs Service last week acknowledged the Polish farmers planned to block or force a slowdown of trucks at three border checkpoints. Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski apologized in a statement quoted by Reuters for the grain-dumping action at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint and ask for understanding for the Polish farmers' "exceptionally difficult situation." He described the situation as "tense" and called for dialogue, but organizers of the blockade said last week the opportunity for negotiations with EU officials in Brussels had been exhausted. The main demands of the Polish farmers include a ban the import of agricultural products from Ukraine and broader changes in the position of the European Union's agricultural policy. Ukrainians are reacting harshly to the incident, recalling the Holodomor -- the 1932-33 starvation of millions in Ukraine under the policies of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin -- and noting that during the current Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainian farmers have been forced to till fields strewn with landmines. Warsaw has backed Ukraine during Russia's invasion, but relations have soured inside Poland over the surge in grain and food imports from Ukraine, and experts say this will not help end the blockade at the border. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-poland-grain- protests-border/32816831.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 Ukraine Loses Up to 290 Soldiers Near Krasny Liman in Past Day - MoD Sputnik News 20240212 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine has lost up to 290 soldiers near Krasny Liman over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Monday. Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops south of Donetsk, three attacks in the Kupyansk area, and two attacks near Krasny Liman. "Enemy losses amounted to 290 military personnel, four armored combat vehicles and nine military vehicles [in Krasny Liman]," the MoD said in a statement. Ukraine has also lost up to 240 soldiers in the Donetsk region and more than 165 soldiers south of Donetsk in past 24 hours, the ministry added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK will continue to stand with Ukraine, defend the Charter and call out Russian disinformation: UK Statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. 12 February 2024 Thank you President, and I thank ASG Jenca for his briefing. Colleagues, Russia has called this meeting in an attempt to distort history. Once again, the Russian delegation seeks to use this Council in a desperate effort to justify Russia's unprovoked, unnecessary and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Permanent Representative claimed that Putin's war was necessary to prevent conflict and alleviate suffering in the Donbas. That it was Ukraine and its partners who were responsible for undermining the Minsk agreements. Members of this Council know better. It was Russia's aggression that killed the Minsk process. It was Putin who declared that the Minsk agreements no longer existed. And it was Russia that systematically failed to implement its obligations, freely signed up to, under the Minsk agreements, which the Council endorsed unanimously in resolution 2202. Two years ago, we urged Russia in this chamber to act in the interests of peace and to give the Minsk agreements a chance. The United Kingdom consistently called on all parties to implement their commitments under the Minsk agreements in full, right up until Putin signed a decree recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as so-called independent entities. Three days later, he invaded Ukraine. Since then, millions of people across Luhansk, Donetsk and other temporarily Russian-controlled territories have suffered terribly because of Russia's invasion. Russia's actions have deprived them of humanitarian assistance, despite consistent calls by the General Assembly, that Russia allow humanitarians safe access to these areas. President, the Russian Permanent Representative made various claims about the ICJ today. The courts found that Russia had violated international law in three ways. It discriminated against Ukrainians. It failed to investigate allegations of terrorist financing. It failed to comply with the court order not to aggravate the dispute with Ukraine. And of course, Russia has failed to comply with the provisional measures of March 2022 ordering Russia to leave Ukraine. President, the truth is this war is entirely of Russia's choosing. Putin's decision to launch his illegal and barbaric invasion in February 2022 shows us clearly that he was never interested in peace. We urge Russia once again to end its illegal invasion, withdraw from Ukraine and respect the principles of the UN Charter. Until then, the UK will continue to stand with Ukraine, to defend the Charter and to call out Russian disinformation. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address To add more protection, we are providing greater capabilities to our mobile firing groups - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 12 February 2024 - 19:53 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! Today, I held the first meeting of the Staff with the participation of the new military commanders. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Anatoliy Barhylevych, along with the commanders of the sectors. They reported on the situation at the front. Kupyansk direction, Lyman, Bakhmut. Of course, Avdiivka. Maryinka direction, Zaporizhzhia direction. A separate report concerned our actions in the south, particularly in Kherson region. There was a detailed report on the protection of critical infrastructure - energy, heating and water supply facilities. Everything that is a constant target for Russian missiles and drones. To add more protection, we are providing greater force and capabilities to our mobile firing groups. We will increase the number of such groups. They are one of the pillars of our defense against Russian terror, and I am grateful to all those who serve in the mobile firing groups, train them and provide assistance. As always, one of today's reports at the Staff meeting focused on the provision of all our units: ammunition, drones, electronic warfare. Everyone in Ukraine who can produce effective electronic warfare systems deserves full state support at all levels: at the central level - from the government - and in every region with such potential. I am grateful to all representatives of local authorities and to every Ukrainian entrepreneur, to all Ukrainian developers of electronic warfare systems. Today I spoke with President Ramaphosa, the head of the Republic of South Africa. First of all, we discussed our global efforts to restore a real, just peace in Ukraine. The kind of peace that every nation deserves and for the sake of which Ukraine has proposed the Peace Formula. Ten points encompassing all aspects of Russian aggression against our country. I thanked President Ramaphosa for the participation of the representative of the Republic of South Africa in the meetings of the advisors on the Peace Formula. I told him about our agreement and joint work with Switzerland on the organization of the Global Peace Summit. And we agreed to further maintain a sufficient level of engagement to bring a just peace closer and make global efforts productive. Africa must be represented in all global processes. And one more thing. Today I held a lengthy meeting on our international activities in February. In particular, we are preparing for the Munich Security Conference, an important platform not only for Europe, but also for the world. Ukraine will present its vision of this year. A decisive year in many ways - the vision of prospects that all of us, all free nations, have, and which should not be lost. Cooperation matters. And I am grateful to everyone in the world who realizes this, to everyone who helps, to every leader, every state that seeks a fair peace as much as Ukrainians do. Glory to all those who have defended and keep defending Ukraine! Glory to everyone who is fighting for our country and people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address root causes of Ukraine war, UN official urges, as anniversary of Russian invasion approaches 12 February 2024 - As the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, a senior UN official on Monday voiced deep concern over the escalatory trajectory of the war with intensifying attacks on civilians. Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), warned that the fighting risked "further diminishing the prospects for a just and lasting solution". "The approaching anniversary of the invasion is not only an occasion to recount the horrors of the past two years, but also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine did not begin on 24 February 2022, but has been ongoing in the country's east since 2014," he said, briefing ambassadors in the Security Council. "The United Nations has been, and will remain, fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he added. Mr. Jenca noted that though the UN was not formally part of any mechanism related to the peace process in Ukraine, over the years it had expressed "full support" to all diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions. Address root causes He also underscored the need for peace processes to address the root causes of the conflict. "What we know is that peace agreements alone will not end violence. Peace processes must address the root causes of the conflict and come with full and equal participation of women and youth, and inclusion of civil society voices," he said. "What we need for Ukraine, for the region and the world, is a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law, and the resolutions of the General Assembly," he added. Humanitarian situation Meanwhile, in Ukraine, hostilities continued through the weekend and into Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. On 10 February, evening strikes in Kharkiv city in the east led to a massive fire at an oil depot. The fire spread to homes nearby and local authorities reported more than 50 casualties. The fire also impacted the electricity supply in the area. "Humanitarian partners are mobilized and distributing hot meals and materials for urgent repairs. They are also providing mental health and psychosocial support at the site of the attack," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told correspondents at the regular briefing at UN Headquarters in New York. Damage to energy facilities has also been reported by the state energy provider in the Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, he added, noting that, according to Ukraine's main energy company, 386 towns and villages across the country remain without electricity due to the impact of hostilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Military Says Air Defenses Destroyed 14 Russian Drones By VOA News February 12, 2024 Ukraine's military said Monday that Russia attacked overnight using 17 drones and an unspecified number of guided missiles. Ukraine's air defenses shot down 14 of the Iran-made Shahed drones, as well as one missile, the military said. The intercepts took place in several Ukrainian regions, including Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. The regional governor in Dnipropetrovsk reported a fire at an energy facility linked to the Russian drone attack. There were no reports of casualties. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's digital minister, told Reuters that Ukraine is planning to produce thousands of its own long-range drones this year that will be capable of conducting attacks deep within Russia. "The category of long-range kamikaze drones is growing, with a range of 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 kilometers. Two years ago, this category did not exist ... at all," Fedorov told Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that Ukraine is working to improve its air defenses and electronic warfare systems, identifying them as key priorities for this year. Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their air attacks in recent months, targeting each other's critical energy, military and transport infrastructure. Russia Starlink worries Russia on Monday denied that its troops were using the Starlink satellite communications system in parts of Ukraine it controls. "This is not a certified system with us; accordingly, it cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied. Accordingly, it cannot be used officially in any way," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The denial came a day after Ukraine's military intelligence said it confirmed earlier reports that Russian troops were using Starlink for their communications on the battlefield. The satellite terminals had been sent to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. Since then, some of these territories in eastern Ukraine have been occupied by Russian forces. "Cases of the Russian occupiers' use of the given devices have been registered. It is beginning to take on a systemic nature," the Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) quoted spokesman Andriy Yusov as saying. The GUR said it had intercepted an exchange between two Russian soldiers discussing setting up the terminals. It posted what it said was an audio clip of the exchange on Telegram. Starlink said on Feb. 8 that its terminals were not active in Russia and that SpaceX had never sold or marketed the service in Russia or shipped equipment to locations in Russia. In a statement posted on X, Starlink did not say anything about their possible use in occupied areas of Ukraine. "If SpaceX obtains knowledge that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we investigate the claim and take actions to deactivate the terminal if confirmed," it said. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's opening remarks at press conference on 2024 Priorities United Nations Secretary-General 08 February 2024 Dear members of the Media. Yesterday, I addressed the General Assembly focusing on priorities for this year and beyond. It is a long and detailed agenda - but the varied challenges are connected by a common thread. Peace. The need for peace in all its dimensions because peace is the tie that binds. But, too often, we face instead a gordian knot. On issues of peace and security - we face rising conflict and geopolitical divisions. On issues of peace within communities - we see rising polarization. On issues of peace with justice - we have rising inequalities. On issues of peace with nature, we have rising global emissions and global temperatures. We are at a moment of truth - but we have a breakdown of trust. Trust in institutions. Trust in leaders. And also trust in governments and multilateral institutions. The way to restore trust is by making a real and positive difference in people's lives. By solving people's problems. Yesterday, I presented a clear-eyed, sober assessment of the world. This is no time for pulling punches. We have a number of existential challenges: The age-old nuclear threat. The climate emergency and the dangers posed by unchecked artificial intelligence. But we are not sufficiently united and organized to respond effectively to any of them. On top of that, we face a multiplication of conflicts and geopolitical divides. Much can be done across the board. To end conflict, to effectively address threats posed by Artificial Intelligence, to take climate action, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. But it will require a serious conversation between developed and developing countries; between rich and emerging economies; between north and south, east and west. It will require reforming institutions that were built by a bygone world, for a bygone age. Starting with reform of the Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions. We are no longer in a world of two superpowers or in a unipolar world. Multipolarity creates opportunities for justice and balance in global relations. But when multipolarity is not accompanied by effective, renewed and inclusive mechanisms of multilateral governance - the risks multiply. So, this is a year for focusing on the future - and we have our Summit of the Future in September and this is a year for focusing on people's challenges also today. We have institutions that need to be aligned with our times. And we have principles to guide us, that we must preserve in all situations. Respect for the United Nations Charter. Respect for international law and international humanitarian law. Peace with justice that addresses inequalities. Following those principles will lead us to the pathways to solutions that I laid out yesterday. The New Agenda for Peace. The SDG Stimulus. The Global Digital Compact. The work of the Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. The Climate Solidarity Pact. And much more. And on the peace and security front, I believe it is especially critical to find solutions to two burning conflicts that are having profound global consequences: Ukraine and Gaza. This month marks the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is essential that we work for a just and sustainable peace, but a peace in line with the UN Charter and international law. And in Gaza, the situation just keeps getting worse. In addition to the death and destruction from military operations -- starvation and disease are bearing down on Palestinians in Gaza. Despite some limited steps, our humanitarian operations continue to face denials of access, delays, impediments, and multiple dangers- including live fire. One of our convoys was damaged by Israeli naval artillery earlier this week. Just 10 out of 61 planned aid convoys to the north reached their destination in January. Let's be clear: Denial of humanitarian access means denial of humanitarian relief for civilians. Food and water are needed for a desperate population. Medicine and fuel are needed for the desperation in hospitals. And other life-saving supplies for a population in a terrible situation. I am particularly worried by reports that the Israeli military intends to focus next on Rafah. Half of Gaza's population is now crammed into Rafah. They have nowhere to go. They have no homes - and they have no hope. They are living in over-crowded make-shift shelters, in unsanitary conditions without running water, electricity and adequate food supplies. All of this underscores the need for full respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and ensuring their essential needs are met. We are clear in condemning the horrific attacks of Hamas. We are also clear in condemning the violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We need also the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. And we need real, visible, concrete steps towards a two-State solution - based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements. Repeated bloody hostilities, and decades of tensions and occupation, have failed to provide a State for the Palestinians, or security for Israelis. In the Middle East and around the world, we need peace in every sense. Our world cannot afford to wait. I thank you for your attention. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forty-five Members of Congress, 16 states, state legislators, former government officials, journalists, attorneys, media personalities, academics, activist groups and research organizations have filed 27 amici curiae briefs supporting the New Civil Liberties Alliances position in Murthy v. Missouri against government-directed censorship. NCLA is asking the Supreme Court to uphold a preliminary injunction granted by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that bars White House, CDC, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Surgeon Generals office officials from significantly encouraging social media platforms to censor lawful speech. The Circuit court upheld key components of a preliminary injunction order issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who described the Administrations scheme as arguably the most massive attack against free speech in United States history and akin to an Orwellian Ministry of Truth. Representing individual respondents Drs. Jayanta Bhattacharya, Martin Kulldorff, and Aaron Kheriaty, and Ms. Jill Hines, NCLA looks forward to presenting oral argument to the Supreme Court in Murthy v. Missouri on March 18, alongside the co-respondent States of Missouri and Louisiana. NCLA thanks amici for speaking out in defense of Americans First Amendment rights. The amici who filed in support of NCLAs position include the International Center for Law & Economics; Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, National Coalition Against Censorship, and First Amendment Lawyers Association; Claremont Institutes Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence; Americas Frontline Doctors and Dr. Simone Gold, M.D., J.D.; The Buckeye Institute; Charlie Kirk, David Harris, Jr., and Robby Starbuck; National Institute of Family and Life Advocates; Informed Consent Action Network; Rep. Jim Jordan and 44 Other Members of Congress; National Religious Broadcasters; American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce; Twitter Files Journalists: Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, Lee Fang, David Zweig, Leighton Woodhouse, and Alex Gutentag; Justin Hart and the Liberty Justice Center; Center for American Liberty; Americans for Prosperity Foundation; Manhattan Institute, REACT19, and three vaccine-injured individuals; Association of American Physicians and Surgeons; Institute for Free Speech; Atlantic Legal Foundation; Louder with Crowder, LLC; Kennedy Plaintiffs; National Center for Public Policy Research, et al.; The Rutherford Institute; Americas Future, Free Speech Coalition, Free Speech Def. and Ed. Fund, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Fdn., Gun Owners of Cal., Tennessee Firearms Assn., Public Advocate, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Def. Fund, Leadership Institute, DownsizeDC.org, Downsize DC Fdn., The Western Journal, and Conservative Legal Def. and Ed. Fund; Angela Reading; State of Montana, 15 Other States, and the Arizona Legislature; Amicus Populi and Freedom X. The 27 amici briefs bolster NCLAs arguments and address concerns including threats to the democratic process, to free public discourse, and the problem with federal agencies straying from their proper missions. Excerpts follow: The House Judiciary Committee and the Weaponization Subcommittee have been conducting an ongoing investigation into how and to what extent the executive branch has coerced or colluded with social media companies to censor speech. Very recent evidence, obtained in said investigation in the weeks after the district courts preliminary injunction ruling further corroborates the district courts findings. Rep. Jim Jordan and 44 Other Members of Congress Without that open and robust exchange of ideas, deliberative democracy and all its attendant benefits withers and dies. The extensive federal censorship campaign outlined in the district courts and Fifth Circuits thorough opinions, distortedand still distortsthe nature of that public exchange of ideas and undermines deliberative democracy. State of Montana, 15 Other States, and the Arizona Legislature The cases facts demonstrate the myriad, subtle ways the administrative state can abridg[e] the freedom of speech, or of the press. Without the constitutional restraints of Congressional oversight and judicial review that the Founders envisioned, administrative agencies have vast freedom to abridge Americans free speech. For instance, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has re-defined its mission from protecting Americans from foreign computer hacking to silencing American citizens and journalists who criticize government policy. With their bottomless stores of inducements and incentives, federal agencies can abridge speech directly or use third-party cut-outs. Twitter Files Journalists: Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, Lee Fang, David Zweig, Leighton Woodhouse, and Alex Gutentag [T]he First Amendment problems addressed in this case are significant regardless of who is attempting to pull the levers behind the scenes. Although much attention has focused on the power of Big Tech, it is a bad idea for government officials to huddle in back rooms with corporate honchos to decide which social media posts are truthful or good while insisting, Wizard of Oz-style, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. No matter how concerning it may be when private decisionmakers employ opaque or unwise moderation policies, allowing government actors to surreptitiously exercise control is far worse. Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, National Coalition Against Censorship, and First Amendment Lawyers Association What makes this example of jawboning the most dangerous ever to reach the court is social media platforms social function. Preserving individuals ability to communicat[e] thoughts and discuss[] public questions, as well as the integrity of public discourse, depends on the preservation of public forums. But while the traditional public forums are the streets and parks held in trust for the use of the public, id., new technologies have made digital spheres the primary realms for most discussions. Manhattan Institute, REACT19, and three vaccine-injured individuals Just as Henry II was constrained in his ability to deal with Becket directly, American presidents are constrained by both the First Amendment and the political backlash that would attend any direct government action that could be viewed as an attempt to silence critics. After all, [the King] did not actually order Beckets murder. He simply vented his royal frustration over an actor who was spreading disinformation and encouraging behavior that the King deemed unhealthy for the body politic. The Buckeye Institute Perhaps it will seem like litigation hyperbole, but the fate of the freedom of speech in America may actually depend on this case. Kennedy Plaintiffs NCLA released the following statements: The support from amici in this case is greatly appreciated and demonstrates that Americans support the Constitution and do not want the Government censoring them on social media. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA Amici in this case span the political spectrum, demonstrating that this is not a partisan issue. All Americans, regardless of their political leanings, should oppose the governments flagrant disregard for free speech and the First Amendment. Jenin Younes, Litigation Counsel, NCLA For more information visit the case page here or watch the case video here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. ### Dallas, TX, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sammons Industrial is proud to announce the appointment of Mark Piccirillo, Amanda Coley, and Heather Meiner to the executive leadership team. Mark Piccirillo will serve as Chief Financial Officer. A proven strategic leader, with more than 25 years of experience, Mark has held roles with responsibilities in the US and abroad that included mergers & acquisitions, P&L ownership, growth initiatives, and profitability improvements. Mark has a proven record in leading complex finance organizations across multiple industries and driving change. He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for Briggs Industrial Solutions. Amanda Coley will serve as Vice President, Human Resources. A passionate leader, with more than 15 years of experience, Amanda thrives on creating best in class work environments and aligning Human Resources strategies with overall business goals. Amanda joined Sammons in 2014, serving in different roles in Human Resources at Briggs Industrial Solutions until ultimately taking on the role of VP of Human Resources and Training. Heather Meiner will serve as Vice President, Marketing & Technology. Heather joined Sammons in 2018, most recently serving as the Vice President of Marketing & Technology for the Briggs Industrial Solutions business. With more than 25 years of B-to-C and B-to-B experience, Heathers extensive work spans small and large organizations both in the U.S. and across international locations. She thrives on implementing creative solutions to help support business goals. I am excited to have Mark, Amanda and Heather join me at Sammons Industrial as we continue to drive a strategic vision to best support our growing industrial sector. Their leadership in the Briggs business provides unmatched experience in supporting our customers, businesses, and team members, while maintaining a solid company culture. said Sammons Industrial CEO Dan Lister. -- About Sammons Industrial: Sammons Industrial, a Sammons Enterprises-owned company, is the parent company of the Enterprises industrial investments and operating companies. This includes a group of global materials handling companies under the trade names Briggs Industrial Solutions in the US, and Briggs Equipment in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Republic of Ireland. In addition, Sammons Industrial owns SitePro Rentals, a general equipment rental business in the US, Sammons Warehouse Solutions, a warehouse automation, installation, and design company, and has investments in other industrial ventures in the hydrogen fuels. For more information, please visit www.SammonsIndustrial.com. Attachment Squamish, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Squamish Hospital Foundation announces that Woodfibre LNG has committed $900,000 toward the purchase of a new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at Squamish General Hospital. This generous donation completes the Foundations fundraising contribution towards the new CT scanner and supports the purchase and installation of this essential diagnostic tool to be implemented as quickly as possible. This follows an announcement from the Government of British Columbia, approving Squamish General Hospital for a CT scanner. A CT scanner allows doctors to see inside the body by using a combination of X-rays and a computer to create pictures of organs, bones and other tissues. Having a CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital will provide improved access to important diagnostic health services for residents of Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Currently, Squamish residents need to travel to North Vancouver or to Whistler to receive a CT scan. This is wonderful news! said Karen Vanzella, President of the Squamish Hospital Foundation, With Woodfibre LNGs generous donation towards our long-awaited CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital, this much needed medical service is finally a reality for Squamish. She added More than 20 years ago, our beloved Dr. Laverne Kindree saw the need for a CT Scanner at Squamish General Hospital. Since then, we have all worked tirelessly towards making this a reality. We are grateful to donors like Woodfibre LNG, Vancouver Coastal Health and so many others in Squamish for helping to make this important medical service commence soon. Beyond the immediate benefits for residents requiring a CT scan, the addition will also help free up local ambulances and improve response times in Squamish as there will be no need to transfer emergency patients who require an urgent scan. It will also help reduce wait times significantly for the region as a whole with additional capacity available for British Columbians. A CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital is a critical diagnostic apparatus the medical staff have long advocated for, said Dr. Annie Gornall, Squamish Medical Staff Association President. The Squamish medical staff are sincerely grateful to the Squamish Hospital Foundation, Vancouver Coastal Health and all our community members who have advocated with us for a local CT scanner. The generous donation by Woodfibre LNG will ensure that this project moves forward without delay. We sincerely thank everyone. The Squamish Hospital Foundation has been fundraising for a CT scanner and have raised $200,000 towards its purchase. With major funding from Vancouver Coastal Health now in place, the added $900,000 donation from Woodfibre LNG will complete funding requirements. Woodfibre LNG is tremendously pleased to complete the funding required to purchase a CT scanner for the Squamish Hospital. We recognize that Squamishs health care needs are growing along with its population so its important for the community to have local access to state-of-the-art medical imaging, said Christine Kennedy, President, Woodfibre LNG Limited. On behalf of Squamish Nation members living in the Squamish Valley, I am delighted that a CT scanner will be available in our community said Nation elder and matriarch Gwen Harry. Squamish General Hospital opened in 1954 and has been supported over the years through the kind generosity of many. I am so pleased that Woodfibre LNG will be making this significant donation to complete the Squamish Hospital Foundations fundraising requirements for the CT Scanner. In thanking Woodfibre LNG for their significant gift, the Squamish Hospital Foundation also wishes to acknowledge the kind generosity of all those that contributed to the fundraising effort to date. In the last five years, the Foundation has raised more than $1.35 million toward improving health care facilities and services in Squamish and the region. The Foundation also wishes to acknowledge the tireless dedication and hard work of the doctors, nurses, other caregivers, and volunteers at the Squamish Hospital for their ongoing commitment to ensuring Squamish residents have access to the best health care services and facilities. Todays announcement caps many years of persistent effort by many to secure this CT scanner for the hospital. It is expected that the Squamish Hospitals CT scanner will be operational sometime in 2025, following facility modifications to properly house the equipment, and delivery and installation of the scanner. -30- About Squamish Hospital Foundation The Squamish Hospital Foundation is a volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds towards the purchase of identified needed equipment, and special project needs in Squamish and the STS corridor. Working with Vancouver Coastal Health, our medical staff, and many others, we collaboratively set priorities and raise the necessary funds for the betterment of patient care. Ensuring the Sea to Sky Region has access to high-quality comprehensive healthcare is our core mission. About Woodfibre LNG The Woodfibre LNG Project is owned by Woodfibre LNG Limited Partnership, owned 70 per cent by Pacific Energy Corporation (Canada) Limited and 30 per cent by Enbridge Inc. The Woodfibre LNG facility is being built on the site of the former Woodfibre pulp mill site, which is located about seven kilometres southwest of Squamish, B.C. Woodfibre LNG is the first industrial project in Canada to recognize a non-treaty Indigenous government, Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation), as a full environmental regulator. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued on Friday, February 9th by Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA:6UF0), please note that the headline should have stated the interim offer was for Nelson Lake, rather than Crestfield Copper as originally announced. The corrected release follows: Lancaster Resources Announces Receipt of Interim Order for Nelson Lake Spin-Off Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA:6UF0) (Lancaster or the Company) is pleased to announce that on February 2, 2024, the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted an interim order (the Interim Order) in connection with the proposed spin-off of Nelson Lake Copper Corp. (Nelson Lake) by Lancaster by way of Plan of Arrangement (the Arrangement). For further information on the Arrangement and the arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement"), please refer to Lancasters news release dated January 30, 2024. The Interim Order, among other things, directs Lancaster to call and hold a special meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders of Lancaster common shares (the "Shareholders") in accordance with the Business Corporations Act, BC, to pass a special resolution to approve the Arrangement. In accordance with the Interim Order, the Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time), March 15, 2024, at the offices of the Company. The record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice and to vote at the Meeting was the close of business on February 5, 2024, as was described in the Companys press release dated January 30, 2024. In connection with the Meeting, the Company will mail an information circular (the Circular), together with related proxy materials (collectively, the "Meeting Materials") to Shareholders in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Meeting Materials will also be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Lancasters profile. To be effective, the Arrangement must be approved by a special resolution passed at the Meeting by at least two-thirds (66 %) of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy by the Shareholders. If all necessary approvals are obtained, the Company expects that the Arrangement will close in March 2024. About Lancaster Resources Inc. Lancaster Resources (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA:6UF0) is engaged in exploring critical minerals. Its Alkali Flat Lithium Project, in Lordsburg, New Mexico, USA, involves the exploration of a below-surface lithium brine target. Lancasters goal at Alkali Flat is to produce Net-Zero Lithium through the use of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology and solar power. Lancaster is also collaborating to deploy advanced satellite hyperspectral acquisition, geospatial data aggregation, and AI-driven predictive modelling services for the exploration of lithium, uranium, rare earth elements (REE), and other critical minerals Lancasters project portfolio includes rights to acquire the Trans-Taiga Lithium Property located within the James Bay lithium district of Quebec and the Nelson Lake Copper Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, held through its subsidiary Nelson Lake Copper Corp. Lancaster is in the process of divesting a majority of its ownership in Nelson Lake through a spin-off transaction. Guiding Lancaster's journey is a skilled management and technical team with collective involvement in over 15 commercial mineral discoveries and endowed with extensive experience in the creation of lithium brine targets and the exploration and development of exploration projects across Canada, the American West, Mexico, and South America. Penny White, President & Chief Executive Officer Lancaster Resources Inc. Email: penny@lancasterlithium.com Tel: 604 923 6100 Website: www.lancaster-resources.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Lancasters future performance. The use of any of the words could, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated, and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancasters current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to enter into an Arrangement Agreement and meet the other conditions precedent of the Spin-Off Agreement, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, obtain exploration and drilling permits, raise capital, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties, and integrate sustainable energy sources and innovative technologies for climate-positive resource production constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: XPOF) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. Class Period: July 26, 2021 Dec. 7, 2023 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 9, 2024 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/xpof Contact An Attorney Now: XPOF@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Xponential Fitness, Inc. (XPOF) Securities Fraud Class Action: The litigation focuses on XPOFs repeated touting of same-store sales (SSS) and average unit volume (AUV) metrics as measures of the health of its franchise system. The complaint alleges, in part, that XPOF made misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) it had permanently closed at least 30 stores; (2) it misstated its SSS and AUV metrics by excluding underperforming stores; (3) 80% of its brands were losing money each month; (4) over 100 of its franchises were for sale at a price well below their initial cost; and (5) it misled franchisees by misrepresenting the financial profile, profitability, and the expected rate of return for new studio openings. Investors began to learn the truth on June 26, 2023, when Fuzzy Panda Research published a scathing report based in part on interviews with former XPOF business partners, franchisees, and on the examination of roughly 16,000 pages of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the FTC. Among other matters, Fuzzy Panda alleged that: (1) CEO Anthony Geisler has a long history of misleading investors; (2) XPOF falsely claimed to have never closed a store; (3) over 50% of XPOFs average studios are losing money; (4) 80% of its brands have unprofitable business models; (5) over 100 of the companys franchises were for sale at 75% below their initial cost; and (6) the SSS and AUV metrics reported to investors misleadingly exclude underperforming stores. Then, on Dec. 7, 2023, Bloomberg published an article, based on interviews with dozens of XPOF former business partners, employees, and franchisees, which largely corroborated Fuzzy Panda's report. These events drove the price of XPOF shares sharply lower. After the Class Period, on Dec. 11, 2023, XPOF announced (without explaining) that the SEC contacted the company and formally requested certain documents. "Were investigating whether XPOF may have intentionally misled investors by misrepresenting its business model and key financial metrics, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firms investigation. If you invested in Xponential Fitness and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Xponential Fitness investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Xponential Fitness should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email XPOF@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Denver, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denver, Colorado - Split Simple, a divorce mediator service based in Denver, Colorado, is focused on helping its clients navigate the tumult that follows filing for divorce with its comprehensive divorce mediation services. Divorce is always a difficult time in an individuals life, even if it is uncontested. When a couple breaks up after years of being together, old memories, secrets, and arguments take center stage in a dispute that can quickly turn hostile and vitriolic. Divorce mediation assures that both parties find a compromise without getting swept away in their emotions, the latter of which can end up prolonging the process and even hurting their dependents. Split Simple has a proven track record of helping clients save both time and money with its divorce mediation process. The firms process begins with a free phone consultation with a mediator and each spouse to determine a fixed pricing plan that is right for their divorce. The first mediation appointment is then set up at a location and time that is convenient for both parties. Before the first session, Split Simple will provide both clients with its Critical Mediation Checklist that outlines mediation topics as well as relevant documents. Clients will also complete a Financial Questionnaire which the mediator will then use to prepare a preliminary analysis of the estate and reduce mediation time by up to one hour. Clients are then asked to attend mediation sessions professionally facilitated by the attorney-mediator who will guide them through the intelligent allocation of assets and debts utilizing the most current technology for estate allocation and cash flow analysis. Where applicable, clients will also discuss parenting plan options as well as relevant research to determine the best parenting plan for their children. The mediator will also provide an estimated post-divorce after-tax cash flow reflecting the impact of the new tax filing status and support plan. Following each session, both parties will receive a copy of the proposed asset and debt allocation as well as a summary of the topics discussed, and tentative agreements reached during mediation. The mediator will remain available to answer each clients questions between sessions and provide ongoing support for all court interactions until the divorce is finalized. Next, during the review process, the mediator will prepare a comprehensive, yet understandable, Separation Agreement and Parenting Plan as well as all relevant court documents so that the clients understand what they are signing before they sign it. After the final document review session, you will have all the documents necessary to finalize your divorce, says the spokesperson for Split Simple. As our firms name suggests, it really is that simple. Though divorce tends to bring out the worst in us, with our firm by your side, you can rest assured that you have a partner looking out for your best interests. We have helped hundreds of clients in Denver and Chicago work through thorny and complicated issues. The firm even gives back to the community with our Social Work Scholarship program which provides relief from some financial concerns for talented students desiring to further their education. Find out more about us by visiting our website and give us a call today to get the ball rolling. Split Simple is highly regarded by its clients for helping them close out their divorce proceedings with their former spouses in the most amicable terms possible given the situation. The firm even boasts an impressive overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 on its Google Business Profile from over 15 reviews. Clients thank Split Simple for their calm and encouraging guidance, their compassionate and attentive staff, and responsive customer service. One review says, Divorce is SUCH a draining process, and I am so thankful that we had Chris to walk us through highly emotional decisions regarding our kids, money, and both of our futures. Chris' demeanor was helpful for both of us as he walked us through the (potential) gauntlet in an informed and intelligent way. I am so glad we found Chris to lead us through this. Another client writes, Chris was extremely professional and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. My ex-spouse and I still get along and have much gratitude for this process vs. lawyers in court. We avoided extra costs that instead went to our children's college education. I will recommend Chris and Split Simple to everyone I know who is ending their marriage. Lastly, I really felt he cared about our children and looked out for everyone's best interest. Readers can contact SplitSimple's Denver divorce mediators at (855) 665-9920 to get all their questions answered and to schedule an initial consultation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVFBgjhfss8 Recent News: Divorce Mediation Firm SplitSimple Declares Otis Smith Winner for 2023 Social Work Scholarship ### For more information about SplitSimple, contact the company here: SplitSimple Chris Griffith (855)665-9920 Chris@SplitSimple.com 1624 Market St #202 Denver, CO 80202 NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of Class A common stock of Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: XPOF) between July 26, 2021 and December 7, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 9, 2024. SO WHAT: If you purchased Xponential securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Xponential class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17334 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 9, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Xponential had permanently closed at least 30 stores; (2) Xponentials reported same-store sales and average unit volume metrics had been misstated by excluding underperforming stores; (3) 8 out of 10 Xponential brands were losing money monthly; (4) over 50% of Xponential studios did not make a positive financial return; (5) over 60% of Xponentials revenue was one-time and non-recurring; (6) more than 100 of Xponentials franchises were for sale at a price that is at least 75% less than their initial cost; (7) Xponential had misled many of its franchisees into opening franchises by misrepresenting the financial profile and profitability of its studios, as well as the expected rate of return for new studio openings; (8) many Xponential franchisees were substantially in debt, suffering high attrition rates and running non-viable studios that had no realistic path to profitability; and (9) based on the foregoing, defendants lacked a reasonable factual basis for their positive statements about Xponentials then-current business operations and future financial prospects. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Xponential class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17334 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Increased Cresemba and Zevtera -related revenue of CHF 150.3 million (+22.9% year-on-year) at upper end of guidance Operating profit of CHF 19.2 million and net profit of CHF 10.5 million, significantly above guidance Addition of three new anti-infective assets to clinical portfolio, including phase-3-ready antifungal fosmanogepix Strong cash and restricted cash position of CHF 64.3 million, after fully absorbing investments into portfolio expansion and accelerated debt reduction FY 2024 guidance: 20% increase in Cresemba and Zevtera-related revenue and more than doubling of net profit Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Allschwil, Switzerland, February 13, 2024 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced today its results for the financial year ended December 31, 2023. David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, stated: With three clinical and one preclinical stage compounds added to our portfolio in 2023 and a further preclinical program early in 2024, we have laid the foundation for future growth and are establishing Basilea as the leading anti-infectives company. In addition, we are looking forward to the regulatory decision for our antibiotic ceftobiprole, for which the US FDA has set April 3 as the PDUFA target date, and we aim to enter into a commercial partnership for the US before this date. With our global network of commercial partners, combined with our proven capabilities in developing compounds, we have built a successful and profitable business model for the development and commercialization of anti-infectives. Adesh Kaul, Chief Financial Officer, said: We reported strong financial results for 2023 driven by more than CHF 150 million of Cresemba and Zevtera-related revenue, which is a 23% growth year-on-year and at the upper end of our financial guidance. The strong top line performance has enabled us to fully absorb the approximately CHF 36 million investment for the expansion of our portfolio and to report better than expected operating and net profit of CHF 19.2 million and CHF 10.5 million, respectively. The continued positive cash flow generation from our operating activities has also allowed us to reduce our debt level through the acceleration of the repayment of the senior secured loan. Our strong financial prospects are reflected in our guidance for 2024, which assumes continued significant top line and bottom line growth. Our financial strength enables us to continue the implementation of our strategy: progressing our current assets and selectively expanding our pipeline, as exemplified by the recently closed acquisition of novel preclinical antibiotics from Spexis. Financial summary For the full year (FY) 2023, Basilea recognized total revenue of CHF 157.6 million (FY 2022: CHF 147.8 million). This included CHF 150.3 million (FY 2022: CHF 122.3 million) revenue contributions from its two commercialized products, Cresemba and Zevtera, thereof royalty income of CHF 78.9 million (FY 2022: CHF 65.0 million), which is an increase of 21.4% year-on-year, and milestone payments of CHF 32.2 million (FY 2022: CHF 23.5 million). Other revenue amounted to CHF 7.4 million (FY 2022: CHF 25.4 million, including CHF 15.0 million proceeds from oncology divestments). This included CHF 4.2 million BARDA reimbursements (FY 2022: CHF 8.4 million), which have been offsetting a substantial portion of the ceftobiprole phase 3 development expenses and are now significantly lower than in the previous year as the program is almost completed.1 In 2023, Basilea invested CHF 77.9 million (FY 2022: CHF 73.8 million) in research and development, driven by the upfront and milestone payments and initial development activities for the newly acquired and licensed clinical compounds (fosmanogepix, BAL2062 and tonabacase), the phase 3 ceftobiprole program, including regulatory activities, the pediatric development programs for ceftobiprole and isavuconazole, as well as for activities for compounds in the Companys research portfolio. Compared to FY 2022, the upfront and milestone payments for the three new compounds were largely offset by lower remaining oncology costs and decreased costs for the phase 3 ceftobiprole program in 2023. Selling, general and administrative expenses, including costs for the commercialization of Cresemba and Zevtera, amounted to CHF 33.8 million (FY 2022: CHF 30.8 million) and cost of products sold increased to CHF 26.8 million (FY 2022: CHF 24.6 million). Basilea recorded an operating profit of CHF 19.2 million (FY 2022: CHF 18.5 million), which is 28% above guidance. In addition, a net profit of CHF 10.5 million (FY 2022: CHF 12.1 million) was recorded, which is 75% above guidance, resulting in a basic and diluted earnings per share of CHF 0.87 and CHF 0.86, respectively (FY 2022: basic and diluted earnings per share CHF1.02). In 2023, a positive net cash flow of CHF 14.2 million was provided by operating activities, twice as much as in the previous year (FY 2022: CHF 7.1 million). Cash used in 2023 was primarily related to the repayment of CHF 59.4 million of a CHF 75.0 million senior secured loan entered into for the partial refinancing of the 2022 convertible bonds, paid in December 2022, as well as to the acquisition of rights for the new compounds. As a result, net financial debt decreased to CHF 46.6 million (December 31, 2022: CHF 60.3 million) and cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash to CHF 64.3 million (December 31, 2022: CHF 108.6 million) as of December 31, 2023. Key financial figures (In CHF million, except per share data) FY 2023 FY 2022 Product revenue 37.9 32.7 Contract revenue 112.4 89.6 Other revenue 7.4 25.4 Total revenue 157.6 147.8 Cost of products sold (26.8) (24.6) Research & development expenses, net (77.9) (73.8) Selling, general & administrative expenses (33.8) (30.8) Total cost and operating expenses (138.4) (129.2) Operating profit 19.2 18.5 Net profit 10.5 12.1 Net cash provided by operating activities 14.2 7.1 Basic earnings per share, in CHF 0.87 1.02 Diluted earnings per share, in CHF 0.86 1.02 (in CHF million) Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 64.3 108.6 Note: Consolidated figures in conformity with US GAAP; rounding was applied consistently. The consolidated financial statements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil for the financial year 2023 can be found on the companys website at https://www.basilea.com/financial-reports. 2024 financial guidance Basilea expects to remain profitable based on further increasing revenue from Cresemba and Zevtera and provides the following guidance for FY 2024: Cresemba and Zevtera-related revenue is expected to grow by ~20% to CHF ~180 million (FY 2023: CHF 150.3 million), reflecting the continued commercial success of Basileas commercialized products. Operating profit is expected to increase by ~55% to CHF ~30 million (FY 2023: CHF 19.2 million) and net profit is expected to increase by ~140% to CHF ~25 million (FY 2023: CHF 10.5 million). Debt level is expected to be further reduced through the full repayment of the senior secured loan by the end of Q1 2024. (in CHF million) FY 2024e FY 2023 Cresemba and Zevtera-related revenue ~180 150.3 of which royalty income ~89 78.9 Total revenue ~183 157.6 Cost of products sold ~33 26.8 Operating expenses ~120 111.7 Operating profit ~30 19.2 Net profit ~25 10.5 Conference call and webcast Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil will host a conference call and webcast today, Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. (CET), to discuss the companys financial and operating results and to provide an outlook. Via audio webcast with presentation The live audio webcast of the results presentation can be followed here: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=IaJRSqrT. Please note that there is no function to ask questions via webcast. For questions, please additionally dial-in via phone (see below). Via phone To listen by phone and ask questions, please use the dial-in details below. To ensure prompt access, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. +41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Switzerland, Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA) +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (UK) Replay The webcast, along with the presentation will be available online (same link as live audio webcast above) shortly after the event and accessible for three months. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This ad hoc announcement can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References Basileas ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part with federal funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201600002C. Basilea has been awarded approximately USD 112 million, or approximately 75 percent of the costs related to the Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) phase 3 studies, regulatory activities and non-clinical work. Attachment HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urban Grid, a leading independent power producer (IPP), has named Eivind Osterhus as Chief Financial Officer and Erica Engle as Chief Commercial Officer. The two senior executives have noteworthy career achievements and round out Urban Grids senior management team. Eivind Osterhus previously spent more than twenty years at energy technology company Baker Hughes, where he held leadership roles in Finance and Operations across the world. It is incredibly exciting to be named CFO of Urban Grid at this dynamic time, as our first solar plant is generating power and ushering in the next chapter for the company, said Osterhus. My passion lies in leading a team to improve business and financial performance within a company that values sustainability and collaboration. I have found that in Urban Grids culture and very much look forward to making an impact here. Erica Engle joins Urban Grid with over 20 years of energy experience in energy trading and origination. She recently served as Head of Structured Origination at AES Clean Energy, playing an instrumental role in establishing them as a leading developer in corporate PPAs for the past two years. This is an exciting time to join Urban Grid as they expand their presence as an owner-operator of renewable assets, Engle remarked. I look forward to working with the team to commercialize the solar and storage portfolio, closely partnering with our customers to continue accelerating towards a carbon-free future. Urban Grid remains committed to driving economic growth and sustainability across the local communities served by our portfolio, said Pete Candelaria, CEO. Eivind and Erica exemplify the leadership, passion, and shared values necessary to continue delivering on this commitment. It is my great pleasure to welcome them both to Urban Grid. Eivind and Erica are based out of Urban Grids headquarters in Houston, Texas. Urban Grid Urban Grid, a leading independent power producer, facilitates a rapid and sustainable energy transition by developing high-quality renewable energy projects, fostering community partnerships and serving as a good land steward. Our company is positioned to own and operate its facilities while cultivating a land management system that benefits farmers, communities and the natural world through agrivoltaics. Urban Grid maintains a delivery-focused approach with the goal of being a good neighbor, corporate citizen and trusted energy solutions partner. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with teams situated strategically throughout the United States, Urban Grid has a long history of contributing to the clean energy economy. In addition to 940 megawatts currently contracted and under construction, we are actively developing a growing portfolio of more than 12,000 megawatts of solar PV and 7,000 megawatts of co-located and stand-alone energy storage. Urban Grid is a portfolio company of Brookfield, one of the worlds largest owners and operators of renewable power and climate transition assets. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c295e81-ba51-4936-9788-b8aba1ad4726 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e3acd1f-f66f-46ad-bacb-1a40dd4d9146 Small businesses are increasingly recognizing the potential benefits of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Yet, the prospect of diving into the complex realm of AI can seem overwhelming, particularly for smaller organizations with limited resources and expertise. However, amidst the challenges lie numerous opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation. With the right strategies and guidance, small businesses can harness the power of AI to streamline operations, enhance decision-making processes, and gain a competitive edge in their respective industries. Throughout this discussion, well explore practical approaches and actionable tactics that small businesses can adopt to navigate the AI landscape effectively. From identifying suitable AI applications to overcoming implementation hurdles, well provide insights and best practices to help businesses embark on a successful AI journey. In this weeks edition of Lets Talk, our experts delve into the essential approaches and tactics that small businesses can utilise to seamlessly integrate AI into their operations. Lets Talk. Discover more Lets Talk Business episodes Contribute to Dynamic Business Brad Pulford, Managing Director ANZ at HP Brad Pulford, Managing Director ANZ at HP Small businesses have an opportunity to dive into the AI landscape with clear, practical, and tailored advice. Avoid overcomplicating new applications of AI. To harness its power for small businesses, focusing on personalisation is key. Instead of solely considering it as a means to improve productivity, acknowledge its potential in enhancing individual experiences. By tailoring services and products to meet specific needs and preferences of customers, businesses can create a deeper connection with their target audience. Personalisation not only improves customer satisfaction but then in turn will increase productivity and foster innovative practices. We believe that the best innovation is personal and impactful, and AI allows us to be more personal than ever before. Laura Burgess, Analyst at Capterra Laura Burgess, Analyst at Capterra Whilst there are various steps to AI implementation that smaller businesses must consider, employee training stands out as a crucial part of its adoption. AI-powered software can be used across many business areas and when used correctly, can enhance efficiency and productivity. However, without proper AI training, employees may struggle to interpret AI-generated insights, perhaps leading to business decisions based on misunderstood information. Educating workers about AI concepts, tools, and applications is a must from a business perspective but can also contribute to employees professional growth and development. Capterras 2023 Digital Natives Survey found that 64% of employees had received training or support on digital tools from their company. However, just over one in five said they havent had any digital training but would like to. Of these respondents who have had training or would like to, 83% said their company should make more efforts to train staff on such tools. When training employees on AI-enhanced tools, consider different learning preferences and offer workshops, seminars or online courses to cover fundamental and advanced AI topics. Inviting external AI experts and industry professionals to give talks or guest lectures can also expose employees to the latest trends in AI. Nikita Atkins, AI Lead at NCS Nikita Atkins, AI Lead at NCS To make AI implementation smoother for small businesses, strategies should focus on identifying high-return projects where AI can significantly impact operations. Leveraging pre-trained AI models and enriching them with proprietary data can offer a competitive edge. Businesses should invest in developing prompt engineering skills and augmenting AI models with custom developments for specific tasks. Additionally, considering the deployment of Generative AI in areas that align with business goals and have a feasible implementation pathway is crucial. Addressing potential resistance to change and ensuring data quality and availability are also key to successful AI projects. Small businesses can differentiate their AI applications by focusing on these strategic areas, ensuring they leverage AI effectively while managing the risks and challenges associated with its adoption. Dan Bognar, Vice President & Managing Director JAPAC at HubSpot Dan Bognar, Vice President & Managing Director JAPAC at HubSpot While the efficiency and productivity benefits of AI are increasingly becoming recognised, education around relevant use cases and knowing how to best leverage AI, is proving a significant hurdle for Australian SMBs. SMBs are falling behind when it comes to AI adoption, with HubSpot research revealing that only 54% are investing in AI tools today, compared with 66% of larger organisations. The key lies in upskilling employees and businesses that dont, risk falling behind. Now is the time for creativity and innovation. AI has the potential to level the playing field between SMBs and larger organisations by applying enterprise grade capabilities to smaller organisations. This will help businesses make sense of growing volumes of data for faster and better decision-making, as well as to automate highly manual tasks. With a potential productivity gain of nearly two days per week, businesses that successfully educate their teams and implement AI will experience benefits beyond time-saving. SMBs can also expect to benefit from generating more personalised customer facing content, improving conversion rates and enhancing data analysis. This will ultimately lead to deeper, more scalable connections with customers. Claire Tran, VP of Engineering at Sendle Claire Tran, VP of Engineering at Sendle Smaller businesses dont have the same resources as enterprises, and AI is well recognised for the role it plays in levelling the playing field. However, our latest research has revealed that 17% of SMBs are planning to invest in new technologies in 2024. Implementing AI as one of those technologies could help unlock and achieve new levels of growth. Our CEO is a firm believer in finding one thing a day to try with AI. Theres no doubt that AI will shape the future of prompt engineering, so curiously learning every day about employing AI will not only upskill the workforce, but itll also reveal where operational efficiencies can be made across the business. The key to successful AI implementation for SMBs is testing and learning, to determine which strategies make sense and will deliver the best ROI for your business. Focus on starting small rather than overhauling your entire tech stack. For example, in the logistics industry, AI can be used for routing optimisation, enabling the collection and analysis of data to help SMBs improve the customer experience and boost delivery efficiency. Understanding how AI can be trained to recognise patterns with customer support enquiries can help streamline and improve the customer experience, which is especially important for small teams or sole traders who wear many operational hats. Bede Hackney, Head of ANZ at Zoom Bede Hackney, Head of ANZ at Zoom There is a disparity between AI optimism among leaders and employees as they fear potential job losses. For small businesses, fostering an inclusive AI culture is paramount. Through prioritising transparent communication, education, and resource provision, small businesses can help demystify AI misconceptions and bridge the gap in familiarity. The majority (93%) of Australian leaders are favourable towards AI adoption. By involving employees in AI decision-making and providing accessible training, small businesses can help democratise AI tools and ensure trust. Its imperative to showcase AIs role in enhancing collaboration and productivity, driving momentum for adoption. Small businesses can also tackle cost-cutting challenges and elevate employee and customer experience when leveraging AI. AI-powered chatbots on your websites or social media can help handle routine customer inquiries efficiently, freeing up employees to focus on more complex and personalised customer interactions. This can enhance overall customer satisfaction and allows small businesses to provide 24/7 support without straining resources. Considering these steps, small businesses can embrace AIs transformative potential and confidently navigate the evolving workplace landscape through empowering employees. When leveraging AI for collaborative gains and time-saving measures by emphasising employee involvement, small businesses can support a harmonious integration of AI into their workforce. Mollie Eckersley, Head of Operations ANZ at BrightHR Mollie Eckersley, Head of Operations ANZ at BrightHR Theres a huge gap between the number of employees using generative AI at work and the number of workplaces that have policies and training in place guiding their employees AI usage. Bridging this gap is vital, especially for small businesses looking to embrace AI in their operations. It starts with having robust policies in place and sharing this information with your staff. So, theyre aware of how they can use AI, who can use it, your stance on data privacy, and any other pressing topics. Next, its important to keep your employees up to date with tech and how to make the bestand most responsibleuse of these tools through regular training. The training you provide should be as comprehensive and accessible as possible; covering everything from specific tools to cybersecurity awareness that keeps your employees and your business protected. It sounds simple but setting this foundation helps any small business grow sustainably while staying ahead of the competitive market. Adam Beavis, Vice President and Country Manager ANZ at Databricks Adam Beavis, Vice President and Country Manager ANZ at Databricks In many ways, 2023 was year one for the generative AI (Gen AI) boom, with organisations across industries excited to use the technology. While boring AI has been around for many years (think about your Netflix recommendations or online chatbots for customer services) ChatGPT brought on an AI awareness revolution in the past year and has become a C-level priority for most businesses. Moving ahead, we will not only see an even higher uptake in Gen AI, but can expect a greater emphasis on effective implementation of the technology as well. The first step for businesses is to consolidate disparate data from various sources into a central hub, such as a data intelligence platform, which not only centralises data but also enables users to interact with it using natural language, democratising data and AI across the organisation. With greater data visibility, access, and a unified approach to data governance, teams can understand what is available to train large-language models (LLMs) and make the most out of the capabilities of Gen AI. Another key element in effective AI implementation is to identify the best use cases for AI within your particular business. Ideate a list of potential use cases by pulling in different minds from across the organisation. Next, prioritise the use cases by calculating the expected return on investment (ROI) for each one of them. Not only is this necessary to efficiently use your resources, but this process also provides an opportunity for members across the business to align their efforts and get on board with the process of implementing AI. Caitlin Zotti, Co-CEO at Pin Payments To ensure a smooth AI implementation, small businesses need to start with a strategic approach. Begin by focusing on well-defined projects where AI can provide clear solutions and try to prioritise easier to use AI tools that dont demand extensive technical knowledge. As cost is likely to be a consideration, try to find cloud-based AI platforms or pre-trained models. Likewise, training your staff on how to ethically use AI is crucial if you intend to implement it into everyday business. You may also want to consider consulting AI experts who can provide guidance through the implementation period and show you how to best utilise new tools. With technology constantly evolving, its a good idea to consider educating yourself on the benefits and potential risks associated with the use of AI that could impact your business. Deepak Ajmani, Vice President of APAC Digital Natives & Emerging Markets at Confluent Deepak Ajmani, Vice President of APAC Digital Natives & Emerging Markets at Confluent Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great potential for businesses of all sizes, but the saying data is the new oil is particularly salient for AI solutions. Extracting value from data for AI use requires having clean, trustworthy, up-to-date data, but many businesses still rely on batch-processed data where data is at rest and quickly outdated. This is why data streaming, where data is continuously fed in real-time, has become indispensable to critical business systems and AI solutions. Accordingly, the most effective first step for small businesses leveraging AI is to address data accessibility. Building a real-time data mesh can liberate data across the organisation and enable AI to tap into them. When context is applied, this data can become information that can be reoriented for insight and innovation. For example, a generative AI-based system coupled with data streaming bringing information from different data sources in the moment can provide live conversation intelligence in contact centres to deliver predictive support and hyper-personalised recommendations based on the questions raised. Luke Kelly, Director of Fuse Fleet By integrating artificial intelligence (AI), businesses can thrive in the digital market. As technology advances, embracing AI becomes a strategic advantage as well as a necessity. Here are a few strategies you can implement: Define your goals and objectives : This process involves a detailed analysis of the specific problems or challenges the business intends to address using AI solutions. It requires a deep understanding of where AI can bring significant improvements to ensure the AIs tools match the business strategy and meet the needs of the business. : This process involves a detailed analysis of the specific problems or challenges the business intends to address using AI solutions. It requires a deep understanding of where AI can bring significant improvements to ensure the AIs tools match the business strategy and meet the needs of the business. Integrate your team : Introducing AI to may face resistance, fear, or misunderstanding. Managing this transition involves preparing the workforce with training, communication, and involvement in the AI integration process. This mitigates the perception of AI as a potential threat. : Introducing AI to may face resistance, fear, or misunderstanding. Managing this transition involves preparing the workforce with training, communication, and involvement in the AI integration process. This mitigates the perception of AI as a potential threat. Learning from successful AI integration stories: Learning from businesses who have experienced a successful integration and addressing the potential challenges of AI will be key for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital world. The experiences of businesses that have successfully integrated AI into their operations offer invaluable lessons. As AI reshapes the business landscape, entrepreneurs must advance their companies to adapt to our interconnected society. Brad Drysdale, Field CTO at SnapLogic Brad Drysdale, Field CTO at SnapLogic To facilitate smooth AI implementation for small businesses, leveraging business psychology principles can be instrumental. Communication is paramount a well-structured AI action plan coupled with consistent and frequent communication builds awareness, desire, knowledge, ability and reinforcement (ADKAR model) among employees. Creating a prime time for exposure to AI concepts is crucial. Regular, small stimuli, such as emails, meetings and mission statements, enhance trust and familiarity, making the adoption of new practices more likely. Ensuring your IT team is aligned with organisational goals and well-versed in AI benefits is essential, as they serve as influential advocates for change. Addressing natural tendencies like anchoring effects and confirmation biases requires leadership to navigate cultural mitigation effectively. Engaging executives and team leaders through workshops can showcase the potential and benefits of AI, fostering understanding and positivity. Hands-on training for employees, coupled with patience and support, aids in overcoming skill-related apprehensions. Finally, celebrating milestones and communicating technological advancements collectively reinforces the positive impact of AI on the company. Employing these strategies, small businesses can navigate AI implementation successfully, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptation. Renee Chaplin, VP Asia Pacific at Constant Contact SMBs, from your corner store and market stall operator to the fledgling tech start-up with rapid growth aspirations, are often hamstrung by two essential ingredients required for any AI implementation: time and capital. For many, the best option is to source ready-to-go third party applications which take implementations from a capex investment to an opex spend, while taking the burden of further innovation off their shoulders and leaving it with the third-party provider. It also saves them significant time in testing, training and business disruption. So its a matter of assessing what you really need. Successful SMBs take some time to sit down and assess their business goals and where inefficiencies are in their operations that may be better undertaken by AI solutions. Take marketing: some tools can generate campaigns and subsequent email and SMS communications using a Generative AI engine and just a few prompts, acting as a virtual CMO of sorts. There are hundreds of tools already available today and that number is growing on a daily basis; research from Microsoft and the Tech Council of Australia revealed that Generative AI technologies could augment or automate nearly 44 per cent of tasks carried out by workers across the country. Its time for SMBs to get serious about AI and take a look around, as theres a good chance that what they need from AI is already available, if not just over the horizon. Terry Maiolo, Vice President-General Manager, Asia Pacific at OVHcloud Terry Maiolo, Vice President-General Manager, Asia Pacific at OVHcloud Generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to take the world by storm, and with it, questions on how to best make the most of this new disruptive wave. So how can Australian businesses set their operations up for success and take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity? With the wide variety of solutions available, Australian businesses should take up accessible, new and affordable AI solutions that can help them to participate in this new digital revolution. To ensure a smooth AI transformation, businesses should look for solutions that can assist them with: Processing workloads to provide efficient computing resources for graphics, simulation and data analytics Organising data pipeline and analytics to enable employees to start new projects with a few clicks Building contextualised generative assistants that can host private datasets in a secured cloud environment At OVHcloud, we leverage over 20 years of expertise in cloud infrastructure to make AI accessible and easy to use for Australian businesses. Our solutions with efficient yet powerful compute resources act as a complete set of tools for our customers to use, design with, train AI models and put them into production. Adopting solutions that meet these criteria will enable Australian businesses to succeed in their AI transformation and implementation and unleash AIs full benefits and opportunities. AI is here to stay, and with it, a new digital frontier for Australias small business community. Pete Murray, Managing Director ANZ at Veritas Technologies Pete Murray, Managing Director ANZ at Veritas Technologies Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay but the technology can raise questions around security, trust and business operations. We know that in many cases, AI can streamline tedious manual processes and allow employees to focus their energy on more impactful, valuable and innovative work which is a huge boon for productivity. However, while AI can support productivity at work, it can also trigger concerns about data protection and compliance risk. Aussie businesses can make the best of AI by adopting three habits to ensure smooth AI implementation and unlock the full potential of these new technologies, whilst bolstering their cyber resiliency: Educate : Routinely educate staff on AI best practices to protect data and help reduce accidental policy breaches. Doing so will reduce the risk of exposing classified and sensitive information to the likes of malicious AI chatbots. : Routinely educate staff on AI best practices to protect data and help reduce accidental policy breaches. Doing so will reduce the risk of exposing classified and sensitive information to the likes of malicious AI chatbots. Fortify : AI is no longer a nice-to-have for data protection. By using advanced machine learning algorithms, businesses can better keep up to speed with the challenges of todays increasingly complex IT ecosystem. : AI is no longer a nice-to-have for data protection. By using advanced machine learning algorithms, businesses can better keep up to speed with the challenges of todays increasingly complex IT ecosystem. Identify: Consider using AI-powered data classifications to ensure business data is not only protected from malicious actors, but also stored and handled in a compliant manner. Gareth Rydon, Co-Founder of Friyay.ai Generative AI represents a fundamental technological shift; think electricity, railways, and the internet. In this new landscape, strategies for AI implementation arent the traditional ones.small businesses have to understand Generative AI represents infinite expertise. With access to infinite expertise, you need to frame growth as 10x growth, not 5-10% and do things differently. Firstly, there needs to be a sense of urgency about it. Secondly, Generative AI is all about prompts. In a world where getting answers has become far easier, the questions you ask become a lot more important. AI will not reply, That is not what you should ask. You really should be asking. Thirdly, if you have access to infinite expertise, dont ask incremental questions. Ask the questions to 10x your growth. Summary: This mindset is what to take into when you are thinking about the strategies to make implementation smoother. You have access to infinite expertise. Getting answers is far easier. The questions you ask have become far more important. What questions will you ask of AI to make implementation smoother? Jamie Hoey, Australian General Manager at Wunderkind Jamie Hoey, Australian General Manager at Wunderkind Before you look towards implementation of AI, you must spend time understanding the problem youre looking towards AI to solve or the functions you need streamlined and then looking towards what type of AI will be best suited. However, regardless of what AI tools youre looking to implement, there are three takeaways for a smoother transition. Explore the gaps in your current skill set. In an era where data protection is a significant concern, implementing new AI tools into your business effectively also necessitates exploring how our own skill sets need to adapt in order to manage AI from an ethical, strategic and capability perspective. Start with a trial run or a small-scale AI project to test the waters before diving head first into the unknown. That way, you can see how AI fits into your business and make any necessary tweaks. This allows you to evaluate the impact of AI on a smaller scale before committing to a full-scale deployment. And critically, do your due diligence on potential technology partners to ensure they have vast amounts of historical data and a proven track record of turning this data into revenue and results. Stefan Steenveld, Account Director APAC at Litera Stefan Steenveld, Account Director APAC at Litera Research tells us that most change efforts fail, with McKinsey reporting 70% of change programs dont achieve their goals, largely attributed to employee resistance and lack of management support, and 20% of a transformations value is lost after execution. As law firms and legal departments embrace AI to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and provide more effective client services, how do they mitigate the post-implementation value loss and ensure the change is meaningful and durable for both the individuals experiencing and implementing it? Here are the best practices law firms need to consider when navigating the complexities of integrating AI into their operations: Understand the technology landscape Establish clear objectives and expectations Cultivate a culture of adaptability Collaborate across departments Prioritise data security and compliance Provide comprehensive training programs Monitor and evaluate performance Successfully integrating AI into legal technology requires a strategic and thoughtful approach to change management. By understanding the technology, setting clear objectives, cultivating adaptability, fostering collaboration, prioritising security, providing comprehensive training, and monitoring performance, legal professionals can navigate the challenges associated with AI implementation and unlock the full potential of these transformative technologies in the legal field. Aiden Heke, CEO at Decision Inc. Recent research highlights that 91% of Australian businesses are small, with less than 20 employees, contributing to one of the lowest productivity improvements in developing countries. Despite criticisms of the Australian economy being lazy, its argued that Australians excel in balancing work, consumption, and lifestyle. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly accessible, it presents an opportunity to enhance productivity. AI, including Generative AI, can create content like text, images, or videos, aiding or replacing human decision-making. For businesses considering AI integration, its crucial to assess ambition, technological savvy, and the specific needs and risks of the business. Knowledge-centric and manufacturing businesses will have different AI applications. Identifying a tech-savvy leader within the organisation can spearhead AI initiatives, supported by external expertise from networks or AI-using suppliers. Evaluating current technology infrastructure and identifying processes for efficiency gains are key steps. Starting with low-risk experiments, such as using AI for email or proposal writing, can build momentum. Persistence is vital, as incremental advancements in AI utilisation can significantly impact business productivity and allow for more leisure time, countering international criticisms with tangible success. Tim Sharp, Founder & Principal at GEN8 Tim Sharp, Founder & Principal at GEN8 Generative AI in particular brings world-class models into any business, regardless of size. But with the lightning pace of change, success depends on managing both opportunity and uncertainty. Develop Fluency: Dont be afraid to stop and ask what is AI?, what is Generative AI?, what is it not?. Really getting up to speed with key concepts allows you to think strategically about use cases, rather than force-fit (or feel like youre playing catch-up). Run Experiments: Test away from the pressure-cooker of a live project. Assess how LLMs could help with routine tasks. Or what you marketing might (not must) look like with image or other generative tools. Or what shape your own data is in. Evolve Governance: We now live in a world where a voice or likeness can be convincingly cloned in seconds, for the cost of a meal. Sadly, preparing for the good, the bad and the ugly of AI is no longer a nice-to-have. Allocate Budgets: They neednt break the bank. ChatGPT for Teams starts from $30USD. Those using it already work 40% better, 25% faster, getting 12% more done. The key with any type of AI is to do so strategically, effectively and responsibly. Discover Lets Talk Business Topics Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. HIGHLIGHTS More than 10,500 m of combined aircore ( AC ) and reverse circulation ( RC ) drilling completed by De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG) at the Becher Project in Q4 2023, as part of the Egina earn-in/JV ) and reverse circulation ( ) drilling completed by De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG) at the Becher Project in Q4 2023, as part of the Egina earn-in/JV RC drilling at Lowe confirmed gold mineralisation associated with a deformed intrusive sill, with a best intercept of 8 m at 4.74 g/t Au from 96 m, including 3 m @ 11.88 g/t Au from 100 m (MSRC0031) confirmed gold mineralisation associated with a deformed intrusive sill, with a best intercept of (MSRC0031) Follow-up RC drilling into a base metal-gold corridor previously defined by Novo at Heckmair , intersected a significant zone of base metal-gold mineralisation from the two RC holes targeting the corridor. Results include: 10 m @ 0.12 g/t Au, 29.7 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 1.5% Pb and 1.8% Zn from 40 m (MSRC0016) including 3 m @ 0.20 g/t Au, 59.8 g/t Ag, 0.9% Cu, 2.4% Pb and 2.2% Zn from 47 m 24 m @ 0.2 g/t Au, 13.2 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 1.0% Pb and 0.1% Zn in hole MSRC0017 from 105 m (MSRC0017) including 6 m @ 0.48 g/t Au, 20.8 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 1.4% Pb and 2.8% Zn from 105 m , intersected a significant zone of base metal-gold mineralisation from the two RC holes targeting the corridor. Results include: The base metal corridor trends WNW through the Heckmair intrusion, with broad intervals of anomalous base metals and low-level gold mineralisation mapping a fault to over 1.5 km in strike Resampling of anomalous gold zones from Novos 2023 AC program completed by De Grey, has verified broad zones of gold anomalism associated within granitic intrusions De Grey plans to target the Becher area with follow up AC and RC drilling to be completed at priority targets Heckmair and Lowe in 2024 Novo Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO Mike Spreadborough said, This set of results from the recent drilling is very exciting. De Grey has a total of 39,000 m of drilling planned under this program. This ground is going to get some focused exploration attention with De Grey required to spend up to A$25 million at Becher and adjacent tenements within 4 years, to earn a 50% direct interest in the Egina JV. In this programme, a minimum $7 million will be spent within 18 months, so we expect a good flow of results going forward. What excites us the most at Novo is that the Egina JV tenements are considered highly prospective for significant intrusion related gold deposits, with similar attributes to the 12.7 Moz Au (JORC 2012) Hemi Gold Project. De Grey understand the enormous potential of this ground, and this is just the start of an exciting exploration partnership. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO) (TSX: NVO & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an update on drilling results at the Becher Project, which is part of the Egina earn-in and joint venture (Egina JV) with De Grey Mining (ASX:DEG). De Grey commenced AC and RC drilling at the Becher Project in Q4 2023, testing the Heckmair and Lowe intrusions, and the Irvine and Bonatti shear corridors, with over 10,500 m completed to date. Figure 1: Location of Novo tenements, the Egina JV area and priority projects in the Pilbara EGINA GOLD CAMP The Egina Gold Camp is Novos highly prospective gold belt in the Pilbara and includes the priority Becher and Nunyerry projects (Figure 1). This belt comprises a series of structurally complex, gold-fertile corridors, hosted by rocks of the Mallina Basin in the north and mafic / ultramafic sequences further south. These corridors trend towards De Greys 12.7 Moz Au (JORC 2012) Hemi Gold Project1 to the north and northeast. Novos tenure forms a contiguous package of approx. 80 km strike length directly along this trend and has been one of the main focus areas for Novos exploration programs over the last eighteen months, culminating in the Egina JV with De Grey and delineation of the Nunyerry North gold prospect. ____________ 1 Refer to De Greys public disclosure record for further details including news release Hemi Gold Project Resource Update, 21 November 2023, relating to De Greys Hemi. Withnell and Wingina mining centres. No assurance can be given that a similar (or any) commercially viable mineral deposit will be determined at Novos Becher Project. EGINA JV AND BECHER PROJECT Novos early-stage reconnaissance work at Egina successfully identified the Becher Project as highly prospective and a high priority. The Company commenced AC drilling in late 2022 continuing into 2023, generating excellent results and indicators of potential discovery success. In June 2023, De Grey recognised the potential of Becher as a key growth asset and entered into the Egina JV under which De Grey will fund an exploration program over a four-year period for a spend of up to A$25 million, earning a 50% interest in the project. Since commencing field work on the Egina JV ground in August 2023, De Grey has completed 7,536 m of AC drilling (271 collars) across several greenfields targets (Appendix 2). In addition, ongoing interpretation of Novos previous AC program yielded three priority targets based on gold and base metal anomalism, warranting a follow up program of 4,154 m of RC drilling (29 collars) (Appendix 2), which was completed at the Lowe, Heckmair and Irvine targets. No significant results (>0.1 g/t Au) were returned from AC drilling at Irvine or Bonatti, although RC hole MSRC0030 at Irvine returned 1 m @ 6.3 g/t Au (Appendix 1 Table 1). Lowe Lowe is located ~20 km WSW of Hemi. The prospect includes an interpreted 5.2 km long, synclinal layered sill, fractionated from pyroxenite at the base up to gabbro and diorite. It is substantially thicker on the northern side of the syncline and likely truncated by a fault and juxtaposed with altered metasediment to the south. A small RC drilling program of 10 holes (1,786 m) was completed by De Grey in late 2023. This drilling intercepted mineralisation in two holes in what is interpreted to be the same structure (Figure 2). 8 m at 4.7 g/t Au from 97 m was intersected in hole MSRC0031, and 4 m at 0.6 g/t Au from 144 m was intersected in MSRC0032 (Appendix 1 Tables 1 and 3). Mineralisation is hosted within strongly foliated and sheared pyroxenite and gabbro with prominent sericite alteration, quartz veining and pyrite. Planning of follow up drilling in 2024 is underway. Figure 2: Cross section at Lowe showing interpreted geology with recent intercepts Heckmair After commencing the earn-in with Novo, De Grey undertook a comprehensive program of field reconnaissance and re-splitting 4 m composite samples of historic drilling where anomalous gold or base metals had been intercepted. Interpretation of geophysics, geochemistry and geological data highlighted elevated gold and Pb-Zn-Ag values in AC drilling within the Heckmair intrusive body, associated with a 1.5 km long, WNW-trending fault zone which De Grey interpreted from aeromagnetic data (Figure 3). Figure 3: Heckmair Prospect aeromagnetic/gravity images with bottom of hole lead anomalism in AC drilling A follow-up RC program comprising 19 holes (2,368 m) returned strong base metal results (Appendix 1 Tables 2 and 3) including: 10 m @ 0.12 g/t Au, 29.7 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 1.5% Pb and 1.8% Zn from 40 m (MSRC0016) including 3 m @ 0.20 g/t Au, 59.8 g/t Ag, 0.9% Cu, 2.4% Pb and 2.2% Zn from 47 m including 24 m @ 0.2 g/t Au, 13.2 g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 1.0% Pb and 0.1% Zn in hole MSRC0017 from 105 m (MSRC0017) including 6 m @ 0.48 g/t Au, 20.8 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 1.4% Pb and 2.8% Zn from 105 m The best gold intercept from the RC drilling was 2 m at 2.8 g/t Au in hole MSRC0013. De Grey note other deposits and prospects within the Mallina Basin show that base metal anomalism can be associated with gold mineralisation. The Heckmair Fault shows evidence for broad-scale fluid flow within a fault conduit with favourable scale, and De Grey considers it to be a priority target, with follow up RC drilling planned for 2024. Figure 4: Heckmair cross section (619120E) ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY AC DRILLING AC drilling is utilised as a first pass technique testing for gold mineralisation and anomalous pathfinder geochemistry in basement rocks under cover. The drilling methodology is rapid and low cost, with a low impact footprint, enabling large systematic programs to be completed in a cost effective and timely manner. One metre AC drill samples are collected from the drill rig through a cyclone and placed on the ground in piles for geological quantitative and qualitative logging. These piles are then speared as four-meter composites. All AC chip samples were sent to ALS in Perth, Western Australia and each sample was dried, split, crushed and pulverised to 85% passing 75m. 11 elements assayed with aqua regia mass spectrometry (ALS Lab Code ME-MS43) with an additional 29 elements assayed with aqua regia ICP-AES finish (ALS Lab Code ME-ICP43), and trace-level gold by 25 g aqua regia (ICP-MS). All aircore holes end with a 1 m bottom of hole sample using the ME-MS61 method with Au by 30 g fire assay (Au-ICP21). Anomalous aircore composites, greater than 0.1 ppm gold over 4 m, are re-split to 1 m samples and were assayed using 30 g Au fire assay with ICP finish (ALS Lab Code, Au-ICP21) and high-grade results >10 ppm Au were assayed by fire assay and gravimetric finish (ALS Lab Code Au-GRA21). Multielement analysis was conducted using four acid digest followed by ICP-MS finish for 61 elements (ALS Lab Code ME-MS61). QAQC procedures for the program include insertion of certified coarse blanks (minimum rate 2%), certified standards (CRMs minimum rate 2%), and routine duplicate sampling. ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY RC DRILLING RC drilling allows for deeper testing of anomalies delineated by aircore drilling, and other geological direct targeting methods such as surface mapping and sampling, where bedrock is exposed at surface. RC sampling utilized a cone splitter on the rig cyclone and drill cuttings were sampled on 1m intervals. All RC chip samples were sent to ALS in Perth, Western Australia and each sample was dried, split, crushed and pulverised to 85% passing 75m. All RC drilling samples were assayed using 30 g Au fire assay with ICP finish (ALS Lab Code, Au-ICP21) and high-grade results >10 ppm Au were assayed by fire assay and gravimetric finish (ALS Lab Code Au-GRA21). Multielement analysis was conducted using four acid digest followed by ICP-MS finish for 61 elements (ALS Lab Code ME-MS61). QAQC procedures for the program include insertion of certified coarse blanks (minimum rate 2%), certified standards (CRMs minimum rate 2%), and routine duplicate sampling. There were no limitations to the verification process and all relevant data was verified by a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) by reviewing analytical procedures undertaken by ALS. ABOUT NOVO Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 7,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. CONTACT Investors: Mike Spreadborough +61 8 6400 6100 info@novoresources.com North American Queries: Leo Karabelas +1 416 543 3120 leo@novoresources.com Media: Cameron Gilenko +61 466 984 953 cgilenko@citadelmagnus.com Authorised for release by Board of Directors. _________________________ QP STATEMENTS Mrs Karen (Kas) De Luca (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Mrs De Luca is Novos General Manger Exploration. DISCLAIMER All data, information, figures and analysis relating to the Becher Project drill results that is cited in this announcement was provided by De Grey and appears in De Greys ASX announcement titled Greater Hemi and Regional Exploration Update, released on 13 February 2024. A copy of the announcement can be found on De Greys website here and on ASX Online here. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and Australian securities laws and regulations These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Companys prospectus dated 2 August 2023 which is available at www.asx.com.au. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. APPENDIX 1 Table 1: Significant new RC results (>2 gram x m Au) - Intercepts - 0.5 g/t Au lower cut, 4 m maximum internal waste Hole ID Prospect Depth From (m) Depth To (m) Downhole Width (m) Au (g/t) Intercept MSRC0013 Heckmair 26 29 3 0.8 3 m @ 0.8 g/t Au MSRC0013 Heckmair 108 110 2 2.82 2 m @ 2.82 g/t Au MSRC0030 Irvine 109 110 1 6.25 1 m @ 6.25 g/t Au MSRC0031 Lowe 97 105 8 4.74 8 m @ 4.74 g/t Au Incl. Lowe 100 103 3 11.88 3 m @ 11.88 g/t Au MSRC0032 Lowe 144 148 4 0.64 4 m @ 0.64 g/t Au Table 2: Significant RC gold and base metal results - Intercepts - 0.5% Pb lower cut, 4m maximum internal waste Hole ID Prospect Depth From (m) Depth To (m) Downhole Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu % Pb % Zn % MSRC0016 Heckmair 40 50 10 0.12 29.7 0.3 1.5 1.8 Incl. Heckmair 47 50 3 0.2 59.8 0.9 2.4 2.2 MSRC0017 Heckmair 105 129 24 0.2 13.2 0.1 1.0 0.1 Incl. Heckmair 105 111 6 0.48 20.8 0.2 1.4 2.8 Table 3: Location of significant new RC results Hole ID Collar East (GDA94) Collar North (GDA94) Collar RL (GDA94) Dip (degrees) Azimuth (GDA94) Hole Depth (m) Hole Type MSRC0013 619121 7684326 35 -56 181 148 RC MSRC0013 619121 7684279 -31 -56 181 148 RC MSRC0016 619123 7684905 58 -55 178 82 RC MSRC0017 619124 7684946 58 -55 179 160 RC MSRC0030 620602 7685064 -35 -61 149 220 RC MSRC0031 629766 7686251 -18 -55 150 148 RC MSRC0032 629761 7686258 -52 -56 146 220 RC APPENDIX 2 Table 1: Egina JV RC and AC drill hole locations 2023 program Hole ID Collar East (GDA94) Collar North (GDA94) Collar RL (GDA94) Dip (degrees) Azimuth (GDA94) Hole Depth (m) Hole Type MSAC0283 623321.15 7680921.9 69.546 -60 147 46 AC MSAC0284 623277.34 7680988.8 69.485 -60 147 49 AC MSAC0285 623233.54 7681055.7 69.471 -60 147 47 AC MSAC0286 623189.73 7681122.7 69.396 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0287 623145.93 7681189.6 69.458 -60 147 66 AC MSAC0288 623097.19 7680679.7 69.83 -60 147 17 AC MSAC0289 623053.38 7680746.6 69.837 -60 147 14 AC MSAC0290 623009.58 7680813.6 69.807 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0291 622965.77 7680880.5 69.919 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0292 622921.97 7680947.5 70.085 -60 147 20 AC MSAC0293 622878.16 7681014.4 70.418 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0294 622834.36 7681081.3 70.444 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0295 622790.55 7681148.3 70.408 -60 147 43 AC MSAC0296 622746.75 7681215.2 69.404 -60 147 55 AC MSAC0297 622702.94 7681282.2 68.398 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0298 622873.23 7680437.5 70.22 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0299 622829.42 7680504.5 70.132 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0300 622785.62 7680571.4 70.471 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0301 622741.81 7680638.4 70.546 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0302 622698.01 7680705.3 70.63 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0303 622654.2 7680772.2 70.393 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0304 622610.4 7680839.2 70.594 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0305 622566.59 7680906.1 71.224 -60 147 38 AC MSAC0306 622522.79 7680973.1 70.593 -60 147 70 AC MSAC0307 622478.98 7681040 69.81 -60 147 42 AC MSAC0308 622435.18 7681106.9 69.49 -60 147 22 AC MSAC0309 622391.37 7681173.9 68.43 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0310 622347.57 7681240.8 68.189 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0311 622303.76 7681307.8 67.997 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0312 622649.27 7680195.4 70.606 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0313 622605.46 7680262.3 70.427 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0314 622561.66 7680329.2 70.672 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0315 622517.85 7680396.2 70.427 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0316 622474.05 7680463.1 70.304 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0317 622430.24 7680530.1 70.238 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0318 622386.44 7680597 70.123 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0319 622342.63 7680664 69.938 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0320 622298.83 7680730.9 69.645 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0321 622255.02 7680797.8 69.395 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0322 622211.22 7680864.8 68.937 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0323 622167.41 7680931.7 68.771 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0324 622123.61 7680998.7 68.394 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0325 622079.8 7681065.6 68.165 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0326 622036 7681132.5 67.913 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0327 621992.19 7681199.5 67.934 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0328 621948.39 7681266.4 67.916 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0329 621904.58 7681333.4 67.979 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0330 621860.78 7681400.3 68.028 -60 147 14 AC MSAC0331 622425.31 7679953.2 73.467 -60 147 93 AC MSAC0332 622381.5 7680020.1 73.468 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0333 622337.7 7680087.1 72.849 -60 147 24 AC MSAC0334 622293.89 7680154 72.633 -60 147 24 AC MSAC0335 622250.09 7680221 72.727 -60 147 31 AC MSAC0336 622206.28 7680287.9 73.041 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0337 622162.48 7680354.9 73.158 -60 147 81 AC MSAC0338 622118.67 7680421.8 72.459 -60 147 48 AC MSAC0339 622074.87 7680488.7 71.76 -60 147 38 AC MSAC0340 622031.06 7680555.7 71.79 -60 147 75 AC MSAC0341 621987.26 7680622.6 70.246 -60 147 40 AC MSAC0342 621943.45 7680689.6 70.11 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0343 621899.65 7680756.5 72.062 -60 147 57 AC MSAC0344 621855.84 7680823.4 70.175 -60 147 36 AC MSAC0345 621812.04 7680890.4 69.113 -60 147 23 AC MSAC0346 622157.54 7679778 75.841 -60 147 89 AC MSAC0347 622113.74 7679844.9 74.275 -60 147 103 AC MSAC0348 622069.93 7679911.9 73.404 -60 147 49 AC MSAC0349 622026.13 7679978.8 73.006 -60 147 25 AC MSAC0350 621982.32 7680045.7 72.449 -60 147 63 AC MSAC0351 621938.52 7680112.7 71.8 -60 147 67 AC MSAC0352 621894.71 7680179.6 71.79 -60 147 33 AC MSAC0353 621850.91 7680246.6 73.059 -60 147 79 AC MSAC0354 621807.1 7680313.5 73.151 -60 147 34 AC MSAC0355 621763.3 7680380.5 70.944 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0356 621719.49 7680447.4 70.598 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0357 622065 7679335 73.176 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0358 622021.2 7679401.9 73.245 -60 147 17 AC MSAC0359 621977.39 7679468.9 74.032 -60 147 38 AC MSAC0360 621933.59 7679535.8 75.01 -60 147 48 AC MSAC0361 621889.78 7679602.8 77.031 -60 147 71 AC MSAC0362 621845.98 7679669.7 73.686 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0363 621802.17 7679736.6 73.34 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0364 621758.37 7679803.6 73.169 -60 147 55 AC MSAC0365 621722.24 7679860 71.989 -60 147 54 AC MSAC0366 621296.21 7679338.8 73.357 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0367 621261.04 7679393.5 73.285 -60 147 36 AC MSAC0368 621217.19 7679460.4 73.218 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0369 621173.35 7679527.3 73.053 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0370 620979.27 7678655.8 76.905 -60 147 99 AC MSAC0371 620935.42 7678722.8 76.153 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0372 620891.57 7678789.7 75.737 -60 147 33 AC MSAC0373 620847.72 7678856.6 75.363 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0374 620803.87 7678923.5 75.487 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0375 620775 7678967 75.435 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0376 620731 7679035 76.038 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0377 620686.04 7679103.3 76.827 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0378 620642.19 7679170.2 76.44 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0379 620598.35 7679237.1 75.343 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0380 620554.5 7679304.1 75.048 -60 147 81 AC MSAC0381 620510.65 7679371 73.708 -60 147 24 AC MSAC0382 620460 7678280 76.748 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0383 620416.15 7678346.9 77.035 -60 147 66 AC MSAC0384 620372.3 7678413.8 77.717 -60 147 63 AC MSAC0385 620328.45 7678480.7 78.562 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0386 620329.09 7678480 78.554 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0387 620284.6 7678547.6 77.788 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0388 620240.75 7678614.5 77.104 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0389 620196.9 7678681.4 76.576 -60 147 57 AC MSAC0390 620153.05 7678748.3 76.943 -60 147 41 AC MSAC0391 620109.2 7678815.2 76.274 -60 147 81 AC MSAC0392 620065.35 7678882.1 74.91 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0393 620021.5 7678949 74.624 -60 147 37 AC MSAC0394 619977.65 7679015.9 74.536 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0395 619933.8 7679082.8 74.178 -60 147 22 AC MSAC0396 619889.95 7679149.7 73.971 -60 147 20 AC MSAC0397 619846.1 7679216.6 73.696 -60 147 43 AC MSAC0398 619802.25 7679283.5 73.123 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0399 619758.4 7679350.4 72.803 -60 147 18 AC MSAC0400 619714.55 7679417.3 72.688 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0401 624493.96 7684385.2 65.077 -60 147 24 AC MSAC0402 624459 7684432 64.874 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0403 624416 7684501 64.836 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0404 624373.34 7684569.3 64.889 -60 147 17 AC MSAC0405 624329.49 7684636.2 64.793 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0406 624285.65 7684703.1 64.784 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0407 624241.8 7684770 64.753 -60 147 18 AC MSAC0408 624197.95 7684837 64.625 -60 147 26 AC MSAC0409 624154.1 7684903.9 64.608 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0410 624110.26 7684970.8 64.621 -60 147 14 AC MSAC0411 623592 7685755 63.694 -60 147 63 AC MSAC0412 623549 7685824 63.736 -60 147 86 AC MSAC0413 623506.01 7685892.9 63.597 -60 147 96 AC MSAC0414 623462.16 7685959.8 63.794 -60 147 95 AC MSAC0415 623418.32 7686026.7 63.617 -60 147 48 AC MSAC0416 623374.47 7686093.6 64.236 -60 147 45 AC MSAC0417 623330.62 7686160.5 64.553 -60 147 56 AC MSAC0418 623286.77 7686227.4 64.79 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0419 623242.92 7686294.4 64.685 -60 147 102 AC MSAC0420 624195.14 7684255.6 66.305 -60 147 27 AC MSAC0421 624151.21 7684322.4 66.476 -60 147 45 AC MSAC0422 624107.28 7684389.3 67.197 -60 147 39 AC MSAC0423 624063.35 7684456.1 67.038 -60 147 42 AC MSAC0424 624019.42 7684523 67.148 -60 147 48 AC MSAC0425 623975.5 7684589.9 65.861 -60 147 56 AC MSAC0426 623931.57 7684656.7 66.296 -60 147 70 AC MSAC0427 623666 7684481.1 65.225 -60 147 26 AC MSAC0428 623622.15 7684548 65.206 -60 147 42 AC MSAC0429 623578.3 7684614.9 65.507 -60 147 65 AC MSAC0430 623534.46 7684681.8 65.312 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0431 623490.61 7684748.7 64.627 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0432 623446.76 7684815.6 63.726 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0433 623402.92 7684882.6 63.562 -60 147 37 AC MSAC0434 623359.07 7684949.5 63.475 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0435 623315.22 7685016.4 63.452 -60 147 16 AC MSAC0436 623262 7685094 63.391 -60 147 27 AC MSAC0437 623218.27 7685164.3 63.313 -60 147 27 AC MSAC0438 623174.42 7685231.2 63.457 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0439 623130.57 7685298.1 63.181 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0440 623086.73 7685365.1 63.229 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0441 623042.88 7685432 63.318 -60 147 36 AC MSAC0442 622991 7685509 63.965 -60 147 14 AC MSAC0443 622947.48 7685577.6 64.969 -60 147 34 AC MSAC0444 622903.63 7685644.5 67.138 -60 147 54 AC MSAC0445 622859.78 7685711.4 65.339 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0446 622815.93 7685778.3 64.858 -60 147 98 AC MSAC0447 622772.09 7685845.2 63.856 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0448 622728.24 7685912.1 64.901 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0449 622684.39 7685979 65.481 -60 147 59 AC MSAC0450 622640.54 7686045.9 65.686 -60 147 40 AC MSAC0451 622596.7 7686112.9 63.142 -60 147 96 AC MSAC0452 623341.8 7683808.1 65.685 -60 147 22 AC MSAC0453 623297.95 7683875 65.555 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0454 623254.11 7683941.9 65.705 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0455 623210.26 7684008.9 65.963 -60 147 60 AC MSAC0456 623166.41 7684075.8 65.367 -60 147 54 AC MSAC0457 623122.56 7684142.7 65.565 -60 147 51 AC MSAC0458 623070 7684216 64.979 -60 147 48 AC MSAC0459 623027 7684284 64.725 -60 147 47 AC MSAC0460 622985.27 7684352.2 64.438 -60 147 58 AC MSAC0461 622941.42 7684419.1 64.362 -60 147 32 AC MSAC0462 622897.57 7684486 64.783 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0463 622853.72 7684552.9 63.735 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0464 622809.88 7684619.9 63.343 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0465 622766.03 7684686.8 63.49 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0466 622722.18 7684753.7 63.582 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0467 622678.33 7684820.6 63.509 -60 147 26 AC MSAC0468 622634.49 7684887.5 63.471 -60 147 18 AC MSAC0469 622590.64 7684954.4 63.396 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0470 623045.45 7683676.5 66.006 -60 147 36 AC MSAC0471 623001.6 7683743.4 65.905 -60 147 22 AC MSAC0472 622957.75 7683810.4 65.709 -60 147 46 AC MSAC0473 622913.9 7683877.3 65.642 -60 147 35 AC MSAC0474 622870.05 7683944.2 65.412 -60 147 38 AC MSAC0475 622826.21 7684011.1 65.633 -60 147 39 AC MSAC0476 622782.36 7684078 65.536 -60 147 36 AC MSAC0477 622738.51 7684144.9 64.403 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0478 622694.66 7684211.8 64.316 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0479 622650.82 7684278.7 63.928 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0480 622232 7684333 63.94 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0481 622189.79 7684398.5 64.042 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0482 622145.94 7684465.4 64.558 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0483 622102.09 7684532.3 63.752 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0484 622058.25 7684599.2 63.635 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0485 622670.7 7683080.5 69.874 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0486 622626.9 7683147.4 70.623 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0487 622583.1 7683214.3 71.123 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0488 622539.3 7683281.2 71.618 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0489 622248 7683142 81.751 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0490 622204.2 7683208.9 76.858 -60 147 18 AC MSAC0491 622160.4 7683275.8 73.986 -60 147 19 AC MSAC0492 622116.6 7683342.7 71.658 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0493 622072.8 7683409.6 71.79 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0494 622029 7683476.5 72.27 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0495 622495.5 7683348.1 71.187 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0496 622451.66 7683415 70.718 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0497 622407.81 7683481.9 69.707 -60 147 3 AC MSAC0498 622363.96 7683548.8 68.572 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0499 622320.11 7683615.7 68.352 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0500 622276.26 7683682.7 68.216 -60 147 2 AC MSAC0501 622232.41 7683749.6 67.878 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0502 622188.57 7683816.5 67.487 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0503 622144.72 7683883.4 67.083 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0504 622100.87 7683950.3 66.656 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0505 622057.02 7684017.2 66.645 -60 147 45 AC MSAC0506 622013.17 7684084.1 66.094 -60 147 37 AC MSAC0507 621969.33 7684151.1 65.903 -60 147 49 AC MSAC0508 621925.48 7684218 65.487 -60 147 42 AC MSAC0509 623119 7680646 69.909 -60 147 31 AC MSAC0510 623075 7680713 69.888 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0511 623032 7680780 69.882 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0512 622988 7680847 69.771 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0513 622944 7680914 70.221 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0514 622900 7680981 70.36 -60 147 33 AC MSAC0515 622852 7680471 70.118 -60 147 5 AC MSAC0516 622808 7680538 70.142 -60 147 6 AC MSAC0517 622764 7680605 70.835 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0518 622720 7680672 70.444 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0519 622676 7680739 70.364 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0520 622632 7680806 70.579 -60 147 17 AC MSAC0521 622457 7681074 69.397 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0522 622413 7681140 68.936 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0523 622370 7681207 68.211 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0524 622326 7681274 68.152 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0525 622584 7680296 70.424 -60 147 4 AC MSAC0526 622540 7680363 70.493 -60 147 22 AC MSAC0527 622497 7680430 70.392 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0528 622453 7680497 70.286 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0529 622409 7680564 70.141 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0530 622365 7680631 70.054 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0531 622321 7680698 69.868 -60 147 10 AC MSAC0532 622277 7680765 69.46 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0533 622233.5 7680832 69.218 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0534 622189.6 7680898 68.816 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0535 622145.8 7680965 68.57 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0536 622101.9 7681032 68.29 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0537 622058.1 7681099 67.973 -60 147 9 AC MSAC0538 622014.2 7681166 67.928 -60 147 7 AC MSAC0539 621970.4 7681233 67.901 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0540 621926.5 7681300 68.035 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0541 621882.7 7681367 68.082 -60 147 11 AC MSAC0542 621239.1 7679427 73.209 -60 147 33 AC MSAC0543 621195.3 7679494 73.095 -60 147 13 AC MSAC0544 619780.3 7679317 72.913 -60 147 24 AC MSAC0545 619736.5 7679384 72.73 -60 147 8 AC MSAC0546 620957.3 7678689 75.81 -60 147 12 AC MSAC0547 620913.5 7678756 76.85 -60 147 30 AC MSAC0548 620869.6 7678823 75.29 -60 147 39 AC MSAC0549 620825.8 7678890 75.22 -60 147 28 AC MSAC0550 620752.9 7679002 75.55 -60 147 21 AC MSAC0551 620708 7679070 77.51 -60 147 26 AC MSAC0552 620664.1 7679137 76.51 -60 147 15 AC MSAC0553 620620.3 7679204 76.25 -60 147 54 AC MSRC0012 619120 7684305 63.49 -56.03 179.489 64 RC MSRC0013 619120 7684345 63.427 -55.83 180.899 148 RC MSRC0014 619120 7684825 62.941 -55.78 178.989 82 RC MSRC0015 619120 7684865 63.047 -56.15 178.969 82 RC MSRC0016 619120 7684905 63.081 -54.8 177.959 82 RC MSRC0017 619120 7684945 63.197 -55.39 179.159 160 RC MSRC0018 619440 7684475 64.002 -55.83 178.531 142 RC MSRC0019 619440 7684515 63.885 -55.34 182.541 220 RC MSRC0020 619440 7684905 63.129 -55.52 179.98 82 RC MSRC0021 619440 7684945 63.151 -55.81 180.42 82 RC MSRC0022 619440 7684985 62.852 -55.69 180.03 82 RC MSRC0023 619440 7685025 62.731 -55.73 181.43 94 RC MSRC0024 619440 7685065 62.625 -55.14 181.69 166 RC MSRC0025 619760 7684360 62.739 -56.44 185.352 82 RC MSRC0026 619760 7684400 62.757 -56.22 182.982 160 RC MSRC0027 619760 7684520 63 -55.33 182.472 100 RC MSRC0028 619760 7684560 63 -55.95 183.472 184 RC MSRC0029 620375 7684835 64 -60.22 148.084 136 RC MSRC0030 620576 7685112 63 -60.66 148.874 220 RC MSRC0031 629739 7686305 68 -54.98 150.476 148 RC MSRC0032 629716 7686336 69 -55.58 145.925 220 RC MSRC0033 629695 7686372 69 -54.9 326.625 202 RC MSRC0034 629720 7686338 69 -55 327 268 RC MSRC0035 629006 7686259 68 -54.86 327.213 178 RC MSRC0036 629050 7686192 68 -53.88 328.423 178 RC MSRC0037 629093 7686124 67.402 -55.49 327.503 178 RC MSRC0038 629136 7686058 67 -55.42 326.873 184 RC MSRC0039 629207 7685950 67 -56.26 147.494 130 RC MSRC0040 629187 7685980 67 -56.99 147.444 100 RC Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46c536cb-f7b8-4b4c-b2da-2bf2fcea273d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85e68570-c303-4879-ba97-fe0f270135cb https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91954da7-ea81-4c62-8282-3f119b08a2ca https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df8099dd-b04a-4447-bae9-d905d146a451 Ramsey, NJ, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) a leader in industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions, is pleased to announce the installation of its JETvarnish 3D Evolution Press at Seidls Bindery Inc. (Seidls). Located in Houston, Texas, Seidls is an award-winning trade bindery shop that provides truly integrated, creative solutions for high-end embellished print. With a rich history of innovation, embracing specialty inks, finishes and enhancements, the company continually looks to lead the way with embellished print. Seidls purchased Konica Minoltas JETvarnish 3D 52L embellishment press in 2018, and after five years deemed it a natural step to upgrade to the JETvarnish 3D Evolution. With a much more robust platform, 29 X 47 sheet size and 800 GSM stock compatibility, the new press will have a transformational impact on Seidls business, empowering it to competitively deliver short-run, high quality, embellished print. The upgrade will position the company to be the top bindery shop for digital embellishment in United States. Adding the JETvarnish 3D Evolution will increase the value we provide our customers and provide new opportunities to expand our business, said Matt Seidl, Vice President, Seidls Bindery. The press is one of the worlds most productive B2 digital embellishment solutions, complementing our existing line-up of digital presses and supporting our mission to provide customers with beautiful print and packaging. A true influencer in digital embellishment, with access to all kinds of technology, Seidls continues to rely on Konica Minolta for its decorative print needs. The company has been recognized multiple times as a FSEA Gold Leaf award winner, always with some of the top work produced in North America on Konica Minolta equipment. Our industrial print group is committed to offering the best technology with our digital embellishment solutions. Our customers look to our solutions and services in order to produce the best overall design and quality, said Bill Troxil, President, Industrial Print and Production Print Business, Konica Minolta. We work with clients to keep them on an upgrade path to continually develop their businesses, and as a result they are seeing enhanced growth and competitive capability opportunities. Konica Minolta Digital Embellishment Solutions help customers See the Potential in Print. The companys unique product lineup features digital spot UV coating, 3D embossing and hot foil stamping, creating sensory dimensional effects that cannot be replicated by traditional print processes. Konica Minoltas solutions help take businesses to the next dimension and gain new customers while increasing profits with visually stunning and tactile printed pieces. Learn more online. About Konica Minolta Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.'s (Konica Minolta) journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. The company innovates for the good of society and the world. The same purpose that kept it moving then, keeps it moving now. Konica Minolta aims to partner with clients to Give Shape to Ideas by supporting their digital transformation through its expansive Intelligent Connected Workplace portfolio. Its business technology offerings include IT Services, intelligent information management, video security solutions and managed print services, as well as office technology and industrial and commercial print solutions. Through its ongoing work, the company is fortunate to be continuously recognized for its products and services. This includes, but is not limited to being included on CRNs MSP 500 list numerous times; named a finalist in the IT Software Category by The World Technology Awards; recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys and presented with Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Awards for its bizhub i-Series. For more information, please visit Konica Minolta online and follow its accounts on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. About Seidls Bindery Inc. Founded in 1975, Seidls Bindery Inc. has been providing mechanical binding, perfect binding and other post-press solutions to Houston area businesses for over 40 years. We are committed to delivering the highest quality at the fastest production speeds for a complete range of binding and finishing services including mechanical binding, perfect binding, die cutting, embossing/debossing, folding, laminating, collating, tabbing and many more post-press services. # # # # # Attachment BALTIMORE, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Urological Association (AUA) is pleased to select six research teams as recipients of the 2024 AUA Data Research Program. The AUA Data Research Program (formerly AUA Data Grants), launched in May 2023, supports two clinical and four workforce research projects annually using data from AUA Data Repositories to address key knowledge gaps and emerging research questions related to urological care, workforce development, and health policy. Awardees will use real-world clinical data from the AUA Quality (AQUA) Registry and population representative AUA Annual Census data to conduct clinical and workforce studies. The AUA will provide complimentary data access, full analytical support from AUA statisticians, assistance with developing methodology for abstracts and publications, and a $2,000 stipend to cover costs for knowledge dissemination. In conceptualizing the AUA Data Research Program, we realize that there are many AUA members with outstanding research ideas but who may lack the resources to pursue these critical questions, said Dr. Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, Chair of the AUA Data Research Program. Our hope is that the AUA Data Research Program can expand research opportunities for the community at large. Congratulations to the 2024 awardees: AQUA Projects Principal Investigator Michelle Van Kuiken, MD, will receive this award for an AQUA data project titled Understanding Practice Patterns and Utilization of 3rd-Line Therapies for Overactive Bladder and Storage LUTS: Trends from the AUA AQUA Registry. Principal Investigator Kevin Michael Wymer, MD, and co-investigators Mitchell Humphreys, MD, Kevin Koo, MD, MPH., MPhil, and Aaron Potretzke, MD, will receive this award for an AQUA data project titled Management Patterns for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Analysis of Patient and Provider Factors that Drive Treatment Selection in the United States. Census Projects Principal Investigator Emily Huang, MD, and co-investigator Kathleen Kobashi, MD, MBA, FACS, will receive this award for a Census data project titled Generation Gaps in the Urology Workforce: An Analysis of Intergenerational Differences in Demographics, Practice Characteristics, Integration of Technology, and Wellness. Principal Investigator Kevin Koo, MD, MPH, MPhil, and co-investigators Candace Granberg, MD, and Gina Badalato, MD, will receive this award for a Census data project titled Longitudinal Assessment of Planned and Unplanned Workforce Attrition among Urologists and Urology Trainees. Principal Investigator Parth Modi, MD, MS, and co-investigator Susanne Quallich, PhD, ANP-BC, NP-C, CUNP, FAANP, will receive this award for a Census data project titled Advanced Practice Providers and Procedural Care in Urology. Principal Investigator Michael Rezaee, MD, MPH, and co-investigator Christian Pavlovich, MD, will receive this award for a Census data project titled Examining Regional Variation in Prostate Biopsy Practices in the United States. To learn more about the AUA Data Research Program, visit https://www.auanet.org/dataresearchprogram. About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 25,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. Attachment Dublin, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dry Ramming Mass Market by Type (Alumina Ramming Mass, Silica Ramming Mass, Magnesia Based Ramming Mass), Application (Foundries, Steel, Electric Arc Furnace, Blast Furnace, Non-Steel), Function, and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Dry ramming mass Market is projected to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 6.8% from USD 2.3 billion in 2023 This report segments the market for the dry ramming mass market on the basis of type, application, function and region. It provides estimations for the overall value of the market across various regions. A detailed analysis of key industry players has been conducted to provide insights into their business overviews, products & services, key strategies, new product launches, expansions, and mergers & acquisitions associated with the market for the thermoplastic polyolefin material market. The global dry ramming mass market is experiencing rapid growth due to several key factors. One of the main drivers of growth is the increasing demand for refractory materials in various industrial applications. Refractory materials are essential for lining furnaces, ladles, and other industrial vessels that operate at high temperatures. Dry ramming mass is a pre-mixed refractory material that is gaining popularity due to its ease of application, reduced curing time, and improved performance compared to traditional refractory lining methods. Another factor driving the growth of the dry ramming mass market is the growing demand for energy-efficient refractory materials. As industries strive to reduce their energy consumption and associated costs, they are increasingly turning to dry ramming mass, which offers superior thermal conductivity and insulation properties. Additionally, the emerging applications of dry ramming mass in non-traditional industries, such as cement, petrochemical, and glass manufacturing, are further expanding the market's scope. The key players in this market are Saint-Gobain (France), Dense Refractories Co., Ltd. (China), Imperial World Trade Private Limited (India), Vishva Vishal Refractory Limited (India), Refcast Corporation (India), Henan Xinmi Changxing Refractory Material Co., Ltd. (China), Casco Specialty Products, Inc.(US), Gita Refractories Private Limited (India), Shenghe Refractories (China), RHI Magnesita N.V. (Austria) etc. Research Coverage Repairing, by function, accounts for the second-largest market share in 2022. Repairing and maintenance of furnaces, ladles, and other industrial vessels is the second-largest function for the dry ramming mass market globally due to its versatility, durability, and ability to prevent costly downtime. Dry ramming mass's ease of application and reduced curing time make it a cost-effective and efficient solution for repairing refractory linings, further contributing to its popularity in this market. Magnesia based ramming mass is expected to be the fastest growing at CAGR 6.9% for the dry ramming mass market during the forecast period, in terms of value. Magnesia-based ramming mass is the fastest-growing segment of the dry ramming mass market globally due to its superior properties and performance compared to traditional ramming mass materials. Magnesia-based ramming mass is characterized by its high refractoriness, excellent chemical resistance, and resistance to slag penetration. These properties make it well-suited for use in high-temperature applications and in environments where chemical attack is a concern. In addition, magnesia-based ramming mass is relatively easy to apply and has a shorter curing time compared to traditional ramming mass materials. Based on region, North America was the second-largest market for the dry ramming mass market in 2022. North America is the second-largest market for dry ramming mass materials after Asia-Pacific due to its rapid industrial growth, particularly in the steel industry. The region's strong presence of global and regional players, coupled with its growing adoption of energy-efficient refractory materials and aging industrial infrastructure, is further driving the demand for dry ramming mass. As North American industries continue to embrace sustainability and environmental consciousness, dry ramming mass is poised to play an increasingly important role in the region's industrial landscape. The report provides insights on the following pointers: Analysis of key drivers: Global expansion of the steel industry, enhanced cost and operational efficiency along with continuous technological advancements. Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the dry ramming mass market offered by top players in the global dry ramming mass market. Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the dry ramming mass market. Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative emerging markets - the report analyzes the markets for the dry ramming mass market across regions. Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped regions, and recent developments in the global dry ramming mass market. Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the dry ramming mass market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 214 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $2.3 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $3.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.8% Regions Covered Global Company Profiles Ask Chemicals Casco Specialty Products, Inc. Dalmia Bharat Refractories Limited Dense Refractories Co. Ltd. Foseco Gita Refractories Private Limited Harbison Walker International Henan Xinmi Changxing Refractory Material Co. Ltd. Ibiden Co. Ltd. Imerys Imperial World Trade Pvt Ltd. Morgan Advanced Materials Nihon Refractories Co. Ltd. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation Nisso Seisakusho Co. Ltd. Norican Global Refcast Corporation Rhi Magnesita N.V. Saint Gobain Shenghe Refractories Showa Denko K.K. Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. Tama Refractory Vesuvius Vishva Vishal Refractory Limited For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v3vnzm 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 Charleston, SC, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entering the complex and confusing debate on abortion is Colonel James Cavanaughs five-year work of heart: To Protect Those Unable To Protect Themselves. Written as a kindhearted analysis of societys standards, the debut nonfiction release from Colonel Cavanaugh offers a groundbreaking and transformative exploration of the abortion debate, transcending divisive rhetoric to focus on compassion, understanding, and actionable solutions. The books many sections hyperfocus on deeply analyzing and sympathetically discussing: The complex moral and legal dimensions of abortion. Types of abortion and contraception. An examination of abortion's history, legal landscape, and societal intricacy. Mens role in the dialogue. A roadmap for change. In the end, Colonel Cavanaugh suggests a pathway to assuage a womans discomfort with her pregnancy, assure her understanding of the life-impactful results of her decision to abort, and enable her awareness of the alternative life arrangements available for the newly born. To Protect Those Unable To Protect Themselves: Saving The Unborn is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. About the Author: James M Cavanaugh, a retired Air Force Colonel and former mayor, channels thirty years of service into his passion for protecting the defenseless. Settled in Arizona, he blended his military background with civic leadership and entrepreneurship. Over five dedicated years in Arkansas, he honed his lifelong aspiration to safeguard the unborn, culminating in To Protect Those Unable To Protect Themselves: Saving The Unborn. An advocate for women's health and pro-life values, Cavanaugh offers a compelling guide rooted in love, understanding, and a call to reshape societal perspectives for a brighter future. Attachment Dublin, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. An extensive new study on the global pharmaceutical excipients market projects impressive growth between 2018 and 2028, with the market value reaching an estimated USD 8.52 Billion in 2022 and forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 5.25%. The market is experiencing a significant upswing due to technological innovations, increased R&D investments, and a growing emphasis on patient-friendly pharmaceutical formulations. Rising Demand for Innovative Drug Formulations Drives Market Growth The pharmaceutical industry's diligent pursuit of advanced and more effective drug solutions underscores the expanding excipients market. The need for excipients has amplified with the rising trend towards novel drug delivery systems designed to improve medication bioavailability, ensure patient compliance, and enhance therapeutic outcomes. This trend is notably observable in the oral formulations segment, which is anticipated to experience rapid growth over the forecast period due to its convenience and the favorable patient acceptance it garners. Technological Advancements Reshape Pharmaceutical Landscape Technological breakthroughs are propelling the pharmaceutical excipients industry into a new era of innovation. Advanced techniques such as nanotechnology and 3D printing are revolutionizing drug delivery systems and personalized medicine, with a positive impact on the global market for pharmaceutical excipients. Regional Market Insights Highlight North America's Dominance The North American region is leading the global pharmaceutical excipients market, attributed to its advanced infrastructure, aggressive R&D activities, and investment in state-of-the-art excipients that meet the sophisticated demands of today's pharmaceutical industry. The comprehensive research report offers a granular analysis of the market segmented by product type, functionality, and formulation, with a geographic breakdown that includes regions like Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. Product Insights: Organic chemicals hold the largest share in the market, credited to their compatibility and multiple functions in drug formulations. Organic chemicals hold the largest share in the market, credited to their compatibility and multiple functions in drug formulations. Functionality Insights: The market is segmented into fillers, diluents, suspending agents, viscosity agents, and more, each playing a distinct role in the development of pharmaceutical products. The market is segmented into fillers, diluents, suspending agents, viscosity agents, and more, each playing a distinct role in the development of pharmaceutical products. Formulations Insights: Oral formulations are anticipated to see pronounced growth due to the ease of administration and higher patient compliance. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 185 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $8.52 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $11.57 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.2% Regions Covered Global Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Pharmaceutical Excipients Market. BASF SE Origin Instruments Corporation Ashland Global Holdings DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Roquette Feres Evonik Industries AG Associated British Foods Archer Daniels Midland Company Lubrizol Corporation Croda International Kerry Group Report Scope: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, By Product: Organic Chemicals Oleochemicals Carbohydrates Petrochemicals Proteins Calcium Phosphate Metal Oxides Halites Calcium Carbonate Calcium Sulphate Others Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, By Functionality: Fillers & Diluents Suspending & Viscosity Agents Coating Agents Binders Flavouring Agents & Sweeteners Disintegrants Colorants Lubricants & Glidants Preservatives Emulsifying Agents Others Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, By Formulations: Oral Formulations Tablets Capsules Liquid Formulations Topical Formulations Parenteral Formulations Other Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, By Region: North America United States Canada Mexico Europe France United Kingdom Italy Germany Spain Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6qqc9g 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 NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) between February 8, 2019 and August 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important March 25, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased GrafTech common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 25, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) GrafTechs manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter; (2) GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing itself to improving the environmental performance of its Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor these commitments; (3) GrafTech had been repeatedly warned over an approximately 30-year period regarding its wanton disregard for the environment and health and well-being of people near its operations in Monterrey, Mexico; (4) GrafTechs operations in Monterrey, Mexico were not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; (5) GrafTech had failed to adequately remediate the environmental problems caused by the Monterrey facility following the 2019 administrative proceeding conducted by the Department of Sustainable Development of the State of Nuevo Leon; (6) the government of Apodaca had sought intervention from the State of Nuevo Leon authorities to curtail and prevent the adverse environmental impacts and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations caused by the Monterrey facility; (7) GrafTechs purported cost leadership was achieved in substantial part by failing to implement appropriate and effective environmental safeguards at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico; (8) GrafTechs capital expenditures and/or related operational projects were woefully insufficient to adequately address the harm that GrafTechs operations in Monterrey, Mexico had inflicted on the environment and people within the neighboring communities; (9) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that GrafTechs manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement; and (10) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that its supplies of pin stock and graphite electrodes would be withdrawn and/or materially diminished, thereby materially harming GrafTechs business, operations, reputation, and financial results. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) therapeutics market was valued at US$ 1.1 billion in 2022. By the end of 2031, it is expected to reach US$ 3.8 billion, growing at a CAGR of 14.6% between 2023 and 2031. Precision and personalized treatment may become the focus of RSV therapy in the future. As researchers continue to understand genetic variations and immunological responses, it may be possible to tailor RSV treatments to specific patient profiles. As a result, patients may experience fewer side effects and better outcomes. For instance, in June 2023, nirsevimab-alip was approved by the FDA for newborns and infants infected with the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and children up to 24 months after their second infection. Click Here to Get a PDF Sample Copy of this Report! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=42701 The market for treatments has been driven mostly by increased diagnostic capabilities and a greater understanding of the consequences of RSV infections. Early RSV symptom recognition is becoming increasingly common among carers and healthcare professionals, enabling prompt diagnosis and treatment. The scope for RSV therapeutics has surged as awareness campaigns emphasize the importance of RSV prevention and treatment. As a result of this increased knowledge, research projects are encouraged to develop effective and targeted treatments, leading to an increase in the market for RSV therapies. Key Findings of the Market Report The injectable dosage form is expected to drive demand for RSV therapeutics in the market. Pharmacies and drug stores accounted for the largest share of the market in 2022 Health infrastructures in Australia and Japan drive the respiratory syncytial virus therapeutics market. By 2022, North America was the largest market for respiratory syncytial virus therapeutics. Global Respiratory Syncytial Virus Therapeutics Market: Growth Drivers Lower respiratory tract infections in newborns and early children are generally caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, which predominantly affects the respiratory system. Since this group is more likely to contract severe RSV infections, effective treatments are required. Medical expenses and hospital stays are major factors causing a high demand for novel and effective medicines. Research and development activities around RSV treatments have increased as pharmaceutical companies strive to meet this unmet medical need. The development of antiviral medications has significantly contributed to the growth of the RSV therapeutics market. Academics and pharmaceutical businesses are investing in finding new antiviral drugs specifically targeting the RSV virus. Technology advancements, such as the application of genomics and molecular biology methods, have enabled a deeper understanding of how viruses work, resulting in more efficient and targeted treatments. To advance the antiviral market, the pharmaceutical sector cooperates and invests in finding antiviral medications with enhanced safety profiles and fewer adverse effects. Global Respiratory Syncytial Virus Therapeutics Market: Regional Landscape North America is expected to remain the world's dominant market during the forecast period. The prevalence of RSV infections is high in North America, particularly among newborns and young children. Effective therapies are essential as pediatric healthcare focuses on RSV infections, and their severity may vary. There is a rising need for RSV therapies that are kid-friendly, effective, and safe as healthcare practitioners in North America work to meet the unique demands of the pediatric population. In North America, this focus on demographics significantly influences research and development and market expansion. The development and commercialization of breakthrough therapies are facilitated by the region's strong research infrastructure and high healthcare spending. North American pharmaceutical corporations possess the financial means to allocate a substantial amount of resources toward RSV research and development, which could result in the development of novel treatment alternatives. Research efforts are further stimulated by government funding, private investments, and collaborations between academic institutions and industry participants, encouraging the expansion of the RSV treatments market. The market is advanced by the conducive economic climate, which facilitates the conversion of research findings into commercially viable goods. Do you have any queries or need more insights on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Therapeutics Market, Talk to Our Analyst@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=42701 Global Respiratory Syncytial Virus Therapeutics Market: Key Players Companies interested in the global respiratory syncytial virus therapeutics market are studying RSV therapeutics. Leading players are expanding their product portfolios and engaging in mergers and acquisitions. Transparency Market Research has profiled the following players in the respiratory syncytial virus therapeutics market report: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. AstraZeneca plc Merck & Co. Inc. AbbVie Inc. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. GlaxoSmithKline plc ReViral Ltd. Gilead Sciences Inc. Medivir AB Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Key Developments In May 2023, GlaxoSmithKline plc announced that Arexvy, its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (adjuvanted), had received US FDA approval to reduce lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV infection in people over 60. In October 2023, with the approval of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), AstraZeneca Pharma India is now able to import and market 'Palivizumab' injections (r-DNA origin) in single-dose vials (50mg/0.5mL & 100mg/mL presentations) in India. Global Respiratory Syncytial Virus Therapeutics Market: Segmentation By Drug Type Palivizumab Ribavirin Others By Dosage Form Oral Injectable Others By Distribution Channel Drug Stores and Retail Pharmacies Hospital Pharmacies Others By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Order a Copy of this Report at: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=42701https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32 022L2464 and https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_4043 [3] Guix, M., Bonilla-Priego, M. J., & Font, X. (2018). The process of sustainability reporting in international hotel groups: An analysis of stakeholder inclusiveness, materiality and responsiveness. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(7), 1063-1084. [4] https://www.ukhospitality.org.uk/worker-shortage-fix-needed-if-hospitalitys-world-cup-boost-to-continue/#:~:text=Leading%20hospitality%20trade%20bodies%20have,and%20days%20as%20a%20result. [5] Ladkin, A., Mooney, S., Solnet, D., Baum, T., Robinson, R., & Yan, H. (2023). A review of research into tourism work and employment: Launching the annals of tourism research curated collection on tourism work and employment. Annals of Tourism Research, 100, 103554. [6]Winchenbach, A., Hanna, P., & Miller, G. (2019). Rethinking decent work: The value of dignity in tourism employment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(7), 1026-1043. Marc Lores Panades Vice President of F&B Aethos Hotels & Clubs When it comes to incorporating the social aspect in ESG reporting, prioritising the well-being and investment of staff members is paramount. Companies should focus on revaluing their workforce by allocating resources towards training, retention strategies, and ensuring fair compensation. However, several barriers hinder the effective assessment of social sustainability. One major obstacle is the reluctance of companies to disclose information, particularly regarding their transparent treatment of employees. Staff development and welfare investments are often deprioritised in favour of short-term financial gains or infrastructure projects. Additionally, there is a tendency to view staff members solely as expendable resources, leading to their neglect during times of crisis. To overcome these barriers, companies must shift their mindset towards viewing their employees as invaluable assets and invest in their future. This entails promoting fair wages, providing opportunities for skill development, and fostering a supportive work culture. Furthermore, enhancing transparency and accountability in reporting practices is essential for stakeholders to assess a company's social sustainability performance accurately. By addressing the barriers and investing in human resources, companies can create a more resilient and socially responsible business model that aligns with ESG principles. Companies should be measuring the holistic well-being of all stakeholders. This typically includes assessing and monitoring employees, local communities, customers, and suppliers. Holistic well-being can be measured through six domains, as recommended by the comprehensive "Well-Being Assessment" (WBA), namely: Emotional Health, Physical Health, Meaning and Purpose, Character Strengths, Social Connectedness and Financial Security. The World Health Organisation's definition of health goes beyond mental and physical health to include the wholeness of a person. Social metrics in the EU are being standardized through the EU Social Taxonomy, a new social reporting tool that will potentially allow organisations to report against decent work, adequate living standards and inclusive and sustainable communities and societies. Companies can also report Social Sustainability against universally recognized protocol such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights or UNSDGs, or well-being indices such as the Happy Planet Index, the World Happiness Report, Global Happiness and Well-Being Policy Report or the OECD's Well-being framework. For an organization to effectively measure social sustainability and social impact, stakeholders must be engaged and incentivized to provide regular, credible input. Related article by Chalana Perera Brooke Hansen Dr., Associate Professor of Instruction in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Florida With many ESG platforms and no one set of standards, the field is messy. The already accepted standards for hospitality included in the GSTC Criteria for Hotels and Accommodations are always a good place to start ensuring that the criteria covered in sections B (social benefits to communities) and C (cultural heritage) are included and that the UN SDGs are aligned. The IFRS and its International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) have merged with SASB providing a set of metrics for hotels, but the S is scanty and not as robust as some other platforms that follow ESG such as B Corps. Top priorities for Social standards that are seen across platforms (including GRI) should always include diversity, accessibility, employee engagement, social contributions, local support, gender pay gaps, living wages, and human rights. These can be measured and reported and have been for some time now. Hindering these efforts are policies being implemented in some states causing a diversion away from ESG, especially the S. We forge on and continue to educate about ESG reporting and how to harmonize the platforms and metrics and make this a seamless part of running any hospitality business by training the future generation. Adam Maclennan Managing Director at PKF hospitality group, Head of UK & Ireland and Sustainability Solutions Measuring the impact of social sustainability initiatives is less straightforward than environmental ones, but starting with internal HR policies and outcomes such as diversity, inclusivity, gender pay gaps, staff turnover, living wages will provide datapoints which can be measured, audited and reported on. Staff satisfaction surveys can provide additional datapoints (albeit more subjective) which help to evaluate business performance. External social initiatives, such as charitable and community engagement can also be measured, either in terms of paid staff hours used for volunteer work, money donated, or in-kind donations to community organisations (meals, room nights, use of facilities, sponsorship of local organisations, etc.). The social value of these initiatives is more subjective, but having policies in place to promote social and community engagement is good for team building and allows hospitality businesses to strengthen links to the communities in which they operate. The main barrier in assessing social sustainability is getting the commitment of business owners to invest the time, money and people required to establish policies, evaluate opportunities and record and review outcomes. Resources like Weeva give owners tools to manage the process. Certifications such as B-Corp also provide frameworks for social sustainability. Trevor Girard Director of Standards, Hotel Resilient There are numerous social aspects of tourism businesses that can be measured, including: Percentage of local staff Percentage of locally produced/purchased goods or services Availability of spaces and services that are adapted to people with disabilities (impaired, blind, using wheelchairs etc.) Establishment of employee, labour and human rights policies, including child protection policies Having a hiring policy in place that supports recruitment of those from disadvantaged backgrounds Availability of staff benefits, such as healthcare, insurance, maternity benefits, over-time compensation, education and training Quality of living standards for staff that live on site Contribution to local projects supporting disadvantaged people, education, cultural heritage etc. Encouraging guests/clients to support local projects/initiatives The above socially responsible criteria are taken from the Hotel Resilient Advanced Sustainable Audit. We've found that more and more tour operators are demanding transparency on these issues from the hotels they work with. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will only increase this demand. Technical solutions to aid tourism businesses to measure social impact are available, but a challenge will be to overcome cultural and organizational resistance to change in reporting (or lack thereof) practices. Henri Kuokkanen Associate Professor at Institut Paul Bocuse Employees are a core part of the social aspect of ESG, but the aspect goes far beyond them. Social impact of a business on local communities, suppliers, NGOs, and regions must also be evaluated. For example, in cases where hotels partner with NGOs that focus on environmental or social causes, the social influence of the hotel can extend itself into invigorating the work of such entities. I believe that a lack of clear and transparent metrics is an important limitation for the social side of ESG. Environmental aspects have measures that are easy to report, understand, and compare, even if their underlying definitions can cause confusion (e.g., net zero and its different scopes). In essence, they make for great reporting material that people can relate to. Traditional employee satisfaction measures can also be easily reported (e.g., rotation, satisfaction), but they are a measure of whether employees are managed well rather than signify the true responsibility of an employer. Effective social impact measurement is complicated, and companies tend to report what they like, leading to a smorgasbord of indicators. Thorough research into when social (non-environmental) initiatives are impactful and measurable must be conducted to develop meaningful measures for industry to use. Sarah Habsburg-Lothringen Responsible Hospitality | Marketing & Training | sarahhabsburg.com The main barrier to assessing the social aspect of ESG reporting is to first bring its importance in line with environmental sustainability. A recent study asked hotel guests to rate a list of circular economy practices based on a) their willingness to pay, b) their importance, and c) their intention to reserve a stay. The results are extremely valuable for business owners when deciding how to combine environmental sustainability investments with enhanced guest satisfaction. It would be an interesting experiment to apply this survey to examples of social sustainability practices. Given that the top result from the study is linked to guest comfort, a further question arises: Could we create guest experience KPIs from social sustainability practices? Meanwhile, two immediate metrics to assist in reporting on social sustainability are employee turnover rate, and satisfaction/mood surveys. With 86% of employees quoting that having "meaning" in their work is more important than ever before, these metrics can open dialogue not only around enhanced labour practices that embrace diversity and inclusion, but also around co-defining social purpose by co-electing the right community initiatives that will have the most positive impact and increase employee "feel-good factor". https://hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu/best-circular-economy-practices-hotels https://sustainablebrands.com/read/organizational-change/study-employees-demanding-more-meaning-from-their-work-than-pre-pandemic Sandi Lesueur Founder and CEO, VIRTU Resorts & Residences LTD. There are several factors and variables to consider in reporting about social sustainability. For example, VIRTU Resorts is currently focusing on measuring culture and well-being, extending to include Indigenous knowledge. VIRTU's enriched business practices are rooted in the holistic connections between communities and the environment paired with the latest in technology. We are exploring ways to measure effective hiring practices with Indigenous human resources managers: fair remuneration, unique skill development, job satisfaction, health and wellness, housing support systems, mentorship between youth and elders, and work/life balance. VIRTU's assessment involves tracking turnover rates, wage structures, learning initiatives, managerial effectiveness, and feedback mechanisms that can be easily shared. When engaging with Indigenous groups, upholding cultural protocols goes beyond formality. "Social" sustainability evaluation often encounters hurdles if you are not prepared for diverse stakeholder expectations, data complexities, and unique cultural aspects that vary per region. Overcoming these challenges calls for a strategic approach, emphasizing transparent and consistent communication, collaboration with stakeholders, efficient reporting, and ongoing refinement. Navigating options ensures alignment with the right company to work with for a unique hospitality model. Diligent adherence enables organizations to forge meaningful partnerships, fostering a collaborative and mutually beneficial approach to social sustainability initiatives. Glenn Mandziuk CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Coming from the the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the Net Positive Hospitality approach, it's crucial that companies measure and report on a variety of social aspects. These include, but are not limited to, employee health and wellbeing, fair and equitable wages, diversity and inclusion, and human rights adherence. To ensure consistency and comparability, reports should utilize internationally recognized standards and frameworks. The main barriers assessing social sustainability are often linked to intangibility and subjectivity of social impacts, lack of standardized metrics, and the complexity of compiling data across different departments and locations. Overcoming these hurdles requires a comprehensive approach. Businesses should implement robust data collection and monitoring systems and foster a culture of transparency and accountability. Education and training programs can ensure that all stakeholders understand the importance of social sustainability and their role in it. With Net Positive Hospitality, businesses should aim to create a positive social impact, not just minimize negative ones. They should engage with local communities, invest in their employees' development and wellbeing, and promote a more inclusive and equitable hospitality industry. By doing so, companies will not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance their reputation, attract and retain talent, and ultimately drive long-term value. Related article by Glenn Mandziuk Marco Bevolo Founder of Marco Bevolo Consulting At the moment, there seems to be a high degree of demand from mission-critical entities (banks, investment funds, venture capitalists) putting pressure on those entities in need of funding (startups, scaleups, shareholding based corporations), hence the opportunity will be there, to translate such funding and banking demands into a truly intellectually sustainable platform, possibly enabling a deeper transition towards preferable futures. Learning from practice and transferring such learnings into standards by means of valorization, publication and dissemination will be key. Related article by Marco Bevolo Andreas Koch Managing Director at blueContec GmbH Indeed, the social indicators and metrics are often the most challenging ones, but they are very decisive in the way forward. For me the social aspects even determine the environmental and economical performances. Especially in the tourism we have a strong focus on the guest experience and less focus on the employee satisfaction and well-being. But how can an unsatisfied and stressed employee ensure a professional service? I strongly believe, that we need to turn the focus towards our relationship quality with the stakeholders that are most responsible for a successful touristic product: the employees, the suppliers and the residents. Therefore, employee satisfaction and well-being, co-creation activities with local suppliers to design authentic experiences as well as including residents needs in a touristic product are key indicators to develop and follow up on. What is even harder to evaluate, but might be the best way forward, is to measure attitudes and values. As any outer activity depend on our inner will and awareness, measuring capacity building and educational activities to support this transformation, are crucial as well. Johanna Wagner Co-Founder of La Belle EDuC, Founder of Upside Up Hotel Asset and Guest Lecture at ESSEC MSc in Hospitality Management (IMHI) When we start reporting about social aspects, we're telling the world that we've not been good until now in how we've handled these aspects. A truth which is sometimes tough (and risky) to admit publicly. And yet, gaining trust and being able to attract and retain talents again, requires to go through this incomfortable phase in order to collectively reach a new hospitality era. Social metrics which could (should?) be developed include: Regarding staff: ratio of physical vs intellectual work, number and type of employee litigations, mental and physical health index, corporate democracy index, GM/CEO-to-worker pay ratio, guest-value-creation ratio... Regarding external stakeholders: social value created and significance of litigations with local communities, type and quality of partnerships with local non-profits, mental health of staff relatives... The main barriers to overcome to be able to assess social sustainability are related to the complexity of measuring these aspects - a barrier that new technologies can help us overcome a fear of facing what these ratios will tell about some of our worst habits - a barrier that we need to overcome collectively by supporting each other in the industry, and beyond. Maribel Esparcia Perez Managing Partner of the European Sustainable Hospitality Club There is a misconception that we can separate ESG issues. In reality, every environmental action carries social implications, and vice versa. And we should be able to measure and monitor this intersectionality and the performance of the hotel's impact in that regard. Social aspects that hotels should measure and report on range from conducting Human Rights due diligence to assessing supplier labor conditions. The extensive range of topics covered in frameworks such as the GRI or European regulations- the CSRD regulation introduces over a thousand KPIs for companies to report on - ensures that the scope extends beyond merely discussing D&I programs. Regarding metrics, the UNSDPIs provide a robust tool for measuring progress. However, several barriers hinder the assessment of social sustainability. These include challenges such as data availability, quantity, and quality, subjectivity among executives when conducting materiality assessments and incorporating stakeholder perspectives, resource constraintsparticularly in SMEs, which constitute the majority of the industryand resistance to change in hierarchical structures. These issues can be overcome through diligent data collection, leveraging technology for transparency and collaboration with local entities, alongside educational initiatives and a firm commitment to continuous improvement. Willy Legrand Professor at IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany The promise of business is to increase the general well-being of humankind through service, creative invention and ethical philosophy Paul Hawken in The Ecology of Commerce I will use this quote which serves as a good basis to understand the social element of doing business (and eventually derive metrics that matters): The first part is about general well-being and this is about quality of life, with factors such as health, education, social security, equality and social cohesion and poverty reduction and using businesses as way to improve those aspects (and not deteriorate them) The second part is through service which indicates the role of businesses in enhancing quality of life and extending this into offering fair job opportunities, ensuring safe and just working conditions and investing in local communities. The third part refers to creative invention which, in a socially responsible contex, encompasses products or services that are accessible, affordable, reduce environmental harm, address health issues, improve education or positively transform the users. And then, at last, the ethical philosophy which implies a set of moral values that would incorporate respect for human rights, equality and diversity, honesty and transparency, and a commitment to fair practices for example. One could also translate this into obvious large categories which includes labour practices (within my four walls), human rights (beyond my four walls, upstream and downstream), society at large (my community and current/future generation) as well as product responsibility (my consumers). It is worth to review the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) sets of disclosure requirements (and metrics) for the large players including the 4 cross-cutting, agnostic Social Standards on ESRS S1 Own Workforce; ESRS S2 Workers in the Value chain; ESRS S3 Affected communities and; ESRS S4 Consumers and end users scroll down the page for the PDFs: https://www.efrag.org/lab6. Sven Wiltink Global Senior Director Sustainability at Radisson Hotel Group Bob W Co-Founders Sebastian Emberger (left) and Niko Karstikko (right) Finnish hospitality operator Bob W announced today its Series B funding of EUR 40 million. This round, led by Evli Growth Partners and joined by growth capital investors and prominent European entrepreneurs, including Taavet+Sten, the investment firm of Wises founder Taavet Hinrikus and Sten Tamkivi, Flashpoint, and Supercells co-founder Mikko Kodisoja along with existing investors, marks a new era of growth for Bob W in its mission to give every guest a local, five-star hospitality experience at scale. Introducing an entirely new category of true tech-enabled hospitality, Bob W provides a smarter and more sustainable alternative to hotels and short-term rentals. The company operates design-led, sustainability-focused, full-service aparthotels in 10 countries and 17 cities across Europe today. Each Bob W apartment incorporates its own bespoke local design and technology that give guests the Best of Both Worlds: the consistency and quality of a lifestyle hotel, coupled with the local authenticity and amenities of an actual home. Niko Karstikko, Co-founder and CEO, emphasizes, There is a surging demand for locally rooted, seamless travel experiences that technology enables. Yet, the short-term rental sector has had a shortage of standards and professional operators who can offer local authenticity, hotel-grade quality, and tech to elevate the experience. At Bob W, we are leading this category. Our growth and market-leading customer satisfaction prove that we are heading in the right direction. With support from our investors, we're eager and well-prepared to enter into a new phase of our company's growth and expand the Bob W travel experience across Europe. Bob Ws proprietary tech and apps provide a seamless digital front desk experience that is backed by robust digital customer service and other fail safes, so guests always feel looked after. Super-early check-ins or late check-outs can be instantly and automatically guaranteed based on live availability. The mainly chat-based perfect host Bob W has been designed to make guests feel like theyre receiving the best customer service with a human touch, despite minimal staff on site. On top of a smooth online experience, Bob Ws marketplace connects guests to local breakfast spots, gyms, facilities, and a host of digital products to ensure a truly local experience. Chicago, IL (60637) Today More clouds than sun. A few flurries are possible. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have hit more than 14,000 enemy targets over the past six months, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. "The state has made a real revolution in regulating the creation of drones. We have adopted 20 laws and by-laws, and thanks to this, we have scaled production by 100 times. Bureaucracy has been removed, there is real competition for about two hundred private companies in the field of UAVs. UAH 40 billion is provided in the current state budget for the purchase of drones. And this is not the limit," he said at a government meeting on Tuesday. The Prime Minister stressed that the latest developments are already changing the course of the war. In particular, marine drones "paralyzed the enemy fleet on the Black Sea and ensured the safety of the water logistics corridor." "In just six months, attack drones have hit more than 14,000 targets - Russian equipment, air defense, electronic warfare and reinforcement," he added. As Shmyhal emphasized, the creation of Forces of unmanned systems as a separate branch of the armed forces will maximize the potential of drones. Hudson, NY (12534) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Published: 13 Feb 2024 Share: A fracking well in British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Aaron Cahill Hundreds of thousands of fracking wells across North America will eventually be decommissioned. They changed the global energy landscape but also caused widespread concern about methane leaking from them into the surrounding environment. Dr Aaron Cahill from the Lyell Centre, an earth and marine sciences centre based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, has conducted the first-ever study of decommissioned fracking wells. Dr Aaron Cahill said: The number of these wells is increasing, and we need to understand their legacy and environmental impact. He examined 10 wells in the Montney region of British Columbia, Canada. His results show that while half of the wells did leak methane, the volume was small. He also found that the soil surrounding the well consumed the methane, further limiting its impact. He says his findings should prompt more comprehensive monitoring of decommissioned wells, and deter kneejerk repair operations that might generate a much larger carbon footprint. The research is reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Fewer emissions than a single dairy cow Cahill and colleagues examined 10 decommissioned wells in the Montney; nine of which had been fracked. Cahill said: These wells are usually cut, capped and buried around two metres below the surface. Soil or earth is then placed on top, and you cant tell by looking that there was once a well there. We took measurements at the soil interface to detect and measure any gases coming out of the ground, which indicate the old well structure is leaking. We found that five of the 10 wells did have signs of leakage. The next thing we wanted to determine was whether it mattered. The average emission was only 500 kg. To put that in context, thats less than the carbon footprint of one dairy cow, which emits around 5000 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. So the leakage we observed was relatively small and perhaps nothing to worry about compared to other sources. Soil cleans up methane Cahill and colleagues also found that the methane released by the wells was being broken down in the soils surrounding the wells, limiting how bad leakage was from a climate standpoint. Cahill said: We saw that methane was being converted to carbon dioxide by microbes in the soils after leaking from the wells. This has a massive mitigation effect on the overall impacts of leakage because methane is 80 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas over 20 years if it reaches the atmosphere. So for every molecule of leaked methane the microbes in the soils eat we get a massive reduction in the overall climate impacts. In fact, this is a process we could harness to combat climate change from leakage moving forwards A better understanding of methane consumption in soils could help regulators, developers and operators minimize the impacts of leaking oil and gas wells. More monitoring required Cahill points out that the 10 wells they investigated might not represent all decommissioned wells in British Columbia or elsewhere, and says this highlights the need for more monitoring. There are thousands upon thousands of these wells all over North America and around the world. We need to understand their long-term integrity - theyll be in the ground forever, and in many places will be used on an ongoing basis. This has been an unusual study because, on the one hand, it will confirm the fears of many people - that decommissioned wells do leak methane more often than we acknowledge. But it also shows that, in the grander scheme of things, it likely doesnt matter too much. The amounts are small, and the soil could deal with most potential impacts. Cahill also hopes that the study will contribute towards a change in remediation policies. At the moment, the kneejerk response to discovering a well is leaking is to send the developer back with vehicles, diggers and drill rigs to dig up the well to repair or seal it by adding more cement. All that activity will emit far more carbon than the leak itself over hundreds of years. Soil methane consumption could potentially happen at all well sites that are leaking and should be explored further for potential use to limit climate impacts. Regulators and developers could use this natural tool to manage wells with low levels of leakage where it doesn't make sense to dig everything up. Cahill worked with colleagues from the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt on the project, which was funded by the British Columbia Oil and Gas Research and Innovation Society and facilitated by a student in receipt of a James Watt scholarship funded by Heriot-Watt University. 'Emancipation' Opens at WCMA WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.In conjunction with the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) will present newly commissioned and recent works by Sadie Barnette, Alfred Conteh, Maya Freelon, Hugh Hayden, Letitia Huckaby, Jeffrey Meris, and Sable Elyse Smith in a new exhibition visualizing Black freedom, agency, and the legacy of the Civil War today and beyond. The seven installations featured in "Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation"spanning sculpture, photography, and paper and textile fabricationswill react to the legacy of John Quincy Adams Ward's bronze sculpture "The Freedman" (1863) from the Amon Carter Museum of American Art's collection and will highlight the diversity of materials and forms in sculpture, installation, and mixed media today. Co-organized by WCMA and the Carter, the exhibition demonstrates how historical art collections can serve as a resource and inspiration for contemporary artistic practices. "Emancipation" will be on view at WCMA from February 16 through July 14, 2024, before traveling to its last destination at the Telfair Museums in Georgia. The exhibition opened at the Carter in the spring of 2023 and traveled to the Newcomb Art Museum at Tulane University this past fall. WCMA will host an opening celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23. A complete press kit including images can be found here. A special tour for members of the media with the curators will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23; please RSVP here. According to a press release: Seeking a deeper understanding of what freedom looks like for Black Americans after 160 years, "Emancipation" interrogates the role of sculpture in American life by bringing the perspectives of contemporary Black artists into dialogue with the multi-faceted form and content of Ward's The Freedman. Initially envisioned and sculpted by Ward before the end of the Civil War, the figure is depicted on the cusp of liberation, with bonds ruptured but not removed. The work is one of the first American depictions of a Black figure cast in bronze, and the Carter's cast from 1863dedicated to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, an all-Black infantry unitis the only copy of its kind with a key that releases a shackle from the figure's wrist. While considered aspirational in its time, over a century and a half later, The Freedman's reflection of uncertainty and endurance seem to manifest the long reach of American slavery. In the WCMA venue of the exhibition, curators Destinee Filmore and Kevin Murphy aim to provide museum visitors with a deeper understanding of the nuanced histories of enslavement, abolition, and emancipation in Massachusetts through objects from the museum's collection and others borrowed from local partners. "Collaboration has been at the heart of this exhibition since its inception, so our decision to engage our local partners in telling the story of emancipation in the Berkshire region was a natural call to make," said Filmore, a former WCMA Mellon Curatorial Fellow who is now Assistant Curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "This exhibition encourages each venue or visitor to form their own understanding of enslavement and freedom by following the example of the contemporary artists as they respond to the show's theme and historical materials." CBRSD Eyes Nearly 2M Increase in FY25 Operating Budget DALTON, Mass. The Central Berkshire Regional School District is now anticipating a nearly $2 million increase to its operating budget for fiscal 2025. This year's budget is $33,561,243, and next year is forecast at $35,391,797, a difference of $1,839,554 or 5.45 percent. District Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis told the School Committee that administrators are trying to design a fiscally responsible budget for the seven member towns while "supporting high-quality instruction" that aligns with "district resources" including "time, funding sources, human resources, and property." "We feel it is important to balance, being fiscally responsible to our community, taking into consideration resources, time, human resources, resources that provide educational opportunities for students," Blake-Davis said. "While at the same time, this is our balance, this is our challenge, ensuring that all students have high quality opportunities. They're equitable, and that sounds, I'm sure you've heard me say this before, but it is a lofty goal, and it's one that we take very seriously." Increases the district is expecting in FY25 are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, and Berkshire County Retirement Contribution. The active health insurance is projected to increase to $408,500 and the retiree health will rise to $138,000. "As for premium increases, we did since we met last as the full School Committee, we do have actual premium increases for health insurance for active premiums. There is a 7 percent increase year over year," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said. The district was anticipating an 8 percent increase, which it budgeted for in the previous tentative budget, so the projection went down a little. "We were hoping" it would go down a little further but the Berkshire Health Group voted a 7 percent increase, Boino said. The salary line item is expected to increase by $680,000 which includes contractual increases and the addition of a full time equivalent teacher at Craneville Elementary School. A kindergarten teacher was added to the budget to ensure the school has four kindergarten classrooms instead of three, Blake-Davis said. The transportation budget has a contractual increase of $50,000. The temporary principal and interest payment for the high school is expected to increase by $121,500, but the district hopes that this is the last year seeing this line item as it will go out for bonding once the final figures are set. The Berkshire County Retirement contribution increased by 8 percent or $63,000. This is set by the retirement board, Boino said. "We will hopefully go out to bond for the remaining up to 20 percent for the [Wahconah Regional High School] project; it would become part of the capital budget," he said. The special education out-of-district tuition line item is expected to increase by $765,200 but rural aid will offset this by $380,400. Last year, there were a few students who transferred to out-of-district placements after the final budget in March, so those tuitions were not included in last year's budget but need to be included in this year's, he said during a previous meeting. The assessment from the state for the charter school tuition has a large decrease of 155,000 and the charter school reimbursement also decreased by $15,000, bringing it from $40,000 in FY24 to $25,000 in FY25. The district plans to discontinue a number of positions that were funded using federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that end this year. Becket Washington Elementary and Kittredge Elementary have two Title 1 tutors. One from each school will be discontinued as they are ESSER funded. Craneville Elementary has three Title 1 tutors, but two will not be budgeted for in FY24 as they were also funded through ESSER. In addition to that, two of the registered behavior technicians will discontinued at Becket Washington Elementary and Kittredge Elementary. "What we are doing though, is we're reallocating some of our school adjustment counselor resources to those most small schools. So, actually they will have more licensed support instead of [registered behavior technicians,]" Blake-Davis said. "So, they're actually not necessarily losing services but they are losing those two positions. As I mentioned, there's a balance, there's always a balance." Nessacus Regional Middle School will be losing two positions funded through ESSER one Title 1 tutor and a half-time science, technology, engineering, and mathematics interventionist. Wahconah Regional High School will also be losing a half-time STEM interventionist who was ESSER funded. The preliminary operating revenue projections for FY25 is $31,227,719, a $926,253 or 3.06 percent increase. The district received more in Chapter 70 than originally projected. The district will receive $9,833,858 in Chapter 70 funds, $333,858 more than FY24. As the largest of the seven communities in the district, Dalton's net assessment is projected at $9,354,110, up about $289,439 or 3.19 percent. Other projected town assessments are Becket at 2,677,450, up $83,647 or 3.22 percent; Cummington at $658,169, an increase of $9,511 or 1.47 percent; Hinsdale at $2,808,367, up $130,117 or 4.86 percent; Peru at $959,081, an increase of $55,162 or 6.10 percent, Washington at $754,233, up $8,140 or 1.09 percent, and Windsor at $880,749, an increase of $10,522 or 1.21 percent. Superintendent Jason McCandless, seen at the field groundbreaking last fall, has set some goals to improve Mount Greylock for students and staff before he retires. Mount Greylock Superintendent to Work on Culture Shift Over Next 3 Years WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Mount Greylock Regional School Superintendent has goals for the next three years that he characterized as simple yet profound. "I think somebody could look at this and say, 'OK, Dr. McCandless, you are the Mayor of Simpleton,'" Jason McCandless said last week, referencing a single from the English rock group XTC. "'You want kids to be nice to one another, and you want them to show up at school. Big deal.' "It is a big deal." McCandless made that comment toward the end of a presentation on his goals to the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee at its Feb. 8 meeting. McCandless told the committee that he expects to stay on the job another three or four years but recognized that after 30 years in public education he is nearing the end of that career. "My intention is to be here for most of my current contract, because it's a pleasure and an honor to be here," he said. "The goals that you see tonight may appear simple. And, in fact, in some ways they are. As I start thinking through and being able to see retiring and stepping away in front of me, I'm thinking about what are some of the most important things I can do in this place. "I feel like we've done some important things together, particularly in relationship building in this district, particularly in trust building I've been thinking about: If I have 900 days or 1,000 days left to serve these wonderful communities, what are some deeply valuable things I can do?" McCandless, who has occupied the corner office on the Cold Spring Road campus since 2020, identified three main goals for himself in the years ahead: ensuring that every student has a trusted adult in school to whom they can turn, addressing the harmful impacts of widespread access to social media and addressing "chronic absenteeism" in the PreK-12 district. On the first goal, McCandless said he wants to institute advisory periods at the middle-high school and engage in professional development programs throughout the district that address, "the dire need for students to have positive, powerful, trusting relationships" with adults in school. "I want to work to ensure that every child has an answer to the question, 'Who can I go to in this school if I need help?' " McCandless said. "I think we are going to do some polling that asks that exact question. I think we need to find ways to build stronger, deeper relationships between students and adults when they're in our school buildings." On social media, McCandless reminded the School Committee of his past statements on not favoring a total ban on access to cell phones. But he is very aware of the distractions those devices can create and the harm that adolescent use of social media can create. "We'll continue working on digital wellness because we know none of this is going to go away," he said. "But we also know that students have 6 1/2 hours or 7 hours of 'sacred time' per day that our entire society has built the ages of 5 to 18 around to be a student, to go to school and learn. The constant access to social media is a distraction, no question." McCandless said he will look at best practices from districts around the country and bring forward proposed rules for the district. But he also said he will engage students in the conversation to create the changes that he will propose this spring to start with the 2024-25 academic year. On absenteeism, McCandless wants to increase the district's messaging to students and families about the importance of attendance and create "attendance response teams" in each of the district's three buildings to work individual students and families on the root causes of absenteeism. Two of the five School Committee members in attendance at the meeting praised McCandless for the goals he identified and the changes he wants to achieve. "What you're talking about is culture," Julia Bowen said. "You're trying to shift the culture. And your connection to academic outcomes, when I think about the MCAS performance presentation we had and the gaps we're seeing if people aren't showing up, it doesn't matter what academic strategies you put in place. "There's a phrase you may all already know: Culture eats strategy for lunch. And if you don't fix the culture, it doesn't matter what your strategy is." That echoed one of McCandless' themes throughout his presentation: Improving the culture in the district's schools will lead to safer, engaged students who want to be in school and will be there, ready to learn. "The longer I do this work, the more I understand that all of those buildings built above the surface have to be built on the foundation of super decent human beings being in super strong, positive, caring relationship with one another," McCandless said. "That is the answer, I think, to our bias-based issues. It's the answer to the misogyny that sometimes our students are guilty of on one hand or face on the other hand. It's the core issue of bullying. It's the core issue of why kids start creating illnesses so they don't have to come to school. It's a lack of kindness, it's a lack of compassion and, from my position of superintendent, it's sometimes a lack of courage of having the willingness and the courage to say these things out loud: That it's a lack of these very basic things. "And I do not want to leave this place without having given my best effort to establish this, re-establish this, build this as the vast base that undergirds all of our work be it academic work, be it anti-racist work, be it arts work, be it whatever. It has to sit on this foundation." Ukraine welcomes inspections of Ukrainian agricultural products that are exported or transit through Poland by Polish veterinary and phytosanitary inspectorates, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky said on the national telethon. "Let our colleagues check. We are not afraid of inspections," he said, commenting on the statement of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland Micha Koodziejczak, who on Monday announced upcoming inspections of all Ukrainian agricultural products, since the Polish authorities suspect that after transiting through the territory of Poland, Ukrainian goods are returned from Germany and other countries again to Poland, but under the guise of products manufactured in the European Union. According to Solsky, the Ukrainian side is not aware of such precedents. "It is, at a minimum, economically unprofitable to transport [agricultural products] to Hamburg, and then back to Warsaw. It doesn't work that way. Just like transporting them to Vilnius, and then back," the minister said. He also said that during negotiations with his Lithuanian colleague on Tuesday, he asked whether he knew of such cases of re-export of Ukrainian agricultural products and received the answer that there is no such information in Lithuania yet, but the issue will be studied. Solsky said that a very small amount of grain passes through Poland, since 90% of Ukrainian farmers for the third month in a row have preferred exporting agricultural products through the Ukrainian ports of Big Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny. "The situation [with exports across the Black Sea] has returned to the pre-war one. Even if we cancel all the bans now [unilateral bans on the import of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflowers to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary], then everything "equally, on the border with Poland, the price for transporting the majority of grain from most of the territory of Ukraine would be uncompetitive," the minister said, adding that in Ukraine they are calm about inspections and are not afraid of them. Asked about the prospects for publishing new lists of grain importing companies in Poland in 2023, Solsky said that Ukraine would also familiarize itself with them with interest. He also recalled an old prosecutor's joke, according to which in any investigation the most important thing is not to expose yourself. "We look forward to these results and look forward to the conclusions of our Polish colleagues," the Minister of Agricultural Policy of Ukraine said. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Steeple City Liquors, also known as V&V, closed abruptly Monday night two weeks after the plaza it's in was sold. The store, which was promoting its products over the weekend for Super Bowl Sunday, made the announcement on Facebook on Tuesday morning and a sign on the door stated that it was "closed for good." "The staff would like to thank each and every patron for the ever lasting memories that were created," read the post. The new owner of the shopping center says the decision to close the business was made by First Hartford Realty, the former owner of the former Kmart plaza, which had been operating the liquor store since its opening in 2014. Daniel Hannoush, managing partner of DDM Property Group of West Springfield, said he did not anticipate any immediate changes with the other tenants. "We want tenants, we want to build the center up and bring some life back there," he said on Tuesday. "We have some great tenants that are there right now." He's hoping to expand and attract new tenants to the property and said he's had some interest. There are several empty spots in the building including the 17,000-square-foot space where Peebles had been. "We're in talks with a couple national tenants in regards to the larger vacancy there," he said. "We really need someone for the movie theater space ... maybe performing arts ... Something that the community can enjoy and use." Hannoush said DDM Property Group operates a number of retail centers and single-tenant buildings in Western Mass, Connecticut and New Hampshire but this is its first holding in North Berkshire. North Adams Realty LLC closed on the property on Feb. 1 for $1.75 million. In 2023 the Steeple City Plaza, which formerly housed Kmart, was sold to NRT Realty LLC of Avon, Conn. for $2 million. The more than 7-acre site on Main Street includes the L-shaped mall along Main and American Legion Drive and the former 93,000-square-foot Kmart building, which currently houses V&V liquors, a Rent a Center and a Planet Fitness. The entire property is assessed at $5.6 million; the former Super Kmart was built in 1993 (replacing a smaller one) and the L-shaped mall in 1981. The construction came after the south side of Main Street was torn down for urban renewal in the 1960s and '70s. First Hartford Realty of Manchester, Conn., bought the plaza in 2005 for $10.58 million, three years after Kmart had closed its operations there. It brought in a number of stores to fill the vacant department store, including Peebles, Olympic Sports, the cinema that had been on Curran Highway, a small Sears store and Staples. The company's owner Neil Ellis, who has since retired, owned the liquor store and had pledged to keep the cinemas open when several previous operators failed. The cinema closed in January 2023. V&V's opening in what had been the Staples had sparked a liquor license kerfuffle a decade ago in the city when Ellis had sought a home-rule petition to grant an extra retail liquor license. The issue was settled somewhat when liquor store was able to transfer an existing license. V&V paid for its annual retail liquor license in January and the License Board has not received any information about its closure or the status of the license, said Rosemari Dickinson, board secretary. There was a question about gift certificates, and Steeple City Liquors noted that it would have an answer to this in the near future. Compete write-thru and repost at 2:11 p.m. Der Siegeszug der kunstlichen Intelligenz wird auch die Art verandern, wie Digitalagenturen ihre Dienstleistungen verkaufen und abrechnen. Unser kostenloses Webinar fur iBusiness-Premium-Mitglieder zeigt, wie die Preisfindung in Agenturen in Zukunft auch ohne Stundensatze funktioniert. Zum Exklusiv-Webinar anmelden The role of drones in the war is increasing daily due to the increase in their use on both sides, said commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky. This war significantly increases the importance of technological progress in the Armed Forces and in the very process of the armed struggle. We are already seeing, and this is not news to us, the use of ground-based robotic platforms. The use of modules that are controlled remotely, which makes it possible to save the lives of our servicemen. That is, the war is moving into a new stage, Syrsky said in an interview with ZDF on the eve of his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He noted that now, in almost all levels of military administration, every commander sees a picture of the battlefield. If earlier he could see some limited part from a dugout or observation post, now he sees the whole picture of the fighting, operations, and much more, added Syrsky. Answering the question about when the war will end and the prospect of its speedy completion, he replied: It all depends on the level of support and the effectiveness of our actions. We have enough fortitude. We do not have enough support: as I have already told, ammunition and equipment, said Syrsky. Saudi Arabia's U-turn on its oil capacity expansion plans was because of the energy transition, its energy minister said on Monday, adding that the kingdom has plenty of spare capacity to cushion the oil market. The Saudi government on Jan. 30 ordered state oil company Aramco to halt its oil expansion plan and target maximum sustained production capacity of 12 million barrels per day (bpd), 1 million bpd below a target announced in 2020 and set to be reached in 2027. "I think we postponed this investment simply because ... we're transitioning," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the IPTC petroleum technology conference in Dharan, adding that Aramco has other investments to make in areas including oil, gas, petrochemicals and renewables. Saudi Arabia has said it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2060, with Aramco targeting net zero emissions from its own operations by 2050. Prince Abdulaziz said that the kingdom had a "huge cushion" of spare oil capacity in case of major disruptions to global supplies caused by conflict or natural disasters. Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser told reporters on the sidelines of the same conference that the state oil giant remained ready to raise capacity should it be needed. We have adequate spare capacity of about 3 million barrels," Nasser said. "And as a company - because this is a decision for the government - we remain ready whenever they want to increase MSC (maximum sustained capacity); we are always ready to expand. Under cuts agreed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, together known as OPEC+, Saudi oil production is about 3 million bpd below its 12 million bpd maximum sustainable capacity, making it the world's biggest holder of spare capacity. "We are ready to tweak upward, downward, whatever the market necessity dictates," Prince Abdulaziz said. He criticised a decision coordinated by the International Energy Agency in 2022 to release oil from emergency reserves to cool global prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Why should we be the last country to hold energy capacity, or emergency capacity, when it is unappreciated and when it is not recognised?" Nasser said he expected oil demand to increase to 104 million bpd this year and to 105 million bpd in 2025, downplaying suggestions that it will peak soon. OPEC figures show oil demand reached a record of more than 102 million bpd last year. When asked about a further offering of Aramco shares this year, Nasser said it would be a "shareholder decision". The Saudi state remains overwhelmingly Aramco's biggest shareholder and heavily relies on its dividend payouts. The government directly holds 90.19%, the kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) 4% and PIF subsidiary Sanabil 4%, LSEG data shows. (Reuters, February 12, 2024) Nearly six decades into her often vexed relationship with the British public, Yoko Ono remains a baffling figure. Lets not even start on the question of whether the Japanese avant-garde artist who married John Lennon did, in fact, break up The Beatles. Many if not most of the potentially large audience for Tate Moderns new retrospective will still be unclear as to whether Ono is a genuinely significant artist or a pretentious charlatan. Is she a wide-eyed utopian as she presents herself, or a slightly sinister, manipulative figure? This thought-provoking show goes a lot further towards answering these questions than I expected. The opening exhibit seems to confirm the popular expectation that Onos art will be as hard-going as her much-mocked howling/singing. Lighting Piece (1962) is an endlessly repeated film of a match being struck and going out in slow motion, relating to a four-hour performance in which Ono attempted to stretch the imagination of the audience. If it feels at this point that its the attention span rather than imagination that will be stretched, dont give up quite yet. A bankers daughter born in Tokyo in 1933, Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York City in 1952 to join her family, where she fell effortlessly on her feet in the middle of one of the most fertile artistic scenes of the 20th century. Evocative photographs from the time show mega-figures such as composer John Cage and artist Robert Rauschenberg roped into her eccentric performances. 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 }} In September 2022, when Steve Wright signed off from his final afternoon show on Radio 2, he did it with good humour and characteristic charm. Last show, he said as it opened. Bit of pressure. Got to make it a good one, everybody. It was hard to imagine that Wright, who has died at the age of 69, was really feeling the pressure. After all, he had spent 40 years on daytime national radio, redefining the medium on BBC Radio 1 before moving to Radio 2 for another 23 years as the nations constant and beloved companion, a wild, joyful friend you only had to switch on your radio to summon. Tony Blackburn pays tribute to Steve Wright after presenter's death aged 69 At the time, there was a rumbling ageism controversy around Wrights departure from the station and Radio 2 boss Helen Thomass decision to replace him so that they could do something different in the afternoons. At least Wrights many millions of loyal fans could console themselves with the fact that he would still be heard on his Sunday Love Songs show and via podcasts. Now, we must face the simple, shocking fact that we will never again tune in to hear Wrights warm, familiar tones speaking to us across the ether. He is an irreplaceable loss. Born in Greenwich, south London in 1954, Wright got his first taste of broadcasting from a stock cupboard at Eastwood High School for Boys, near Southend-on-Sea in Essex. He would DJ over the schools speaker system, but when he left with just three O-Levels to his name he initially found work in marine insurance. After a few years, finding himself bored out of his mind, he left to pursue a new life as a local journalist. His first job at the BBC was as a returns clerk in the Gramophone Library before he left in the early 1970s to start his broadcasting career with pirate station Radio Atlantis and then Radio 210 in Reading. It was at another pirate station, Radio Luxembourg, that Wright got his big break, presenting a nightly show that brought him back to the attention of the BBC. In 1980, he was hired to present the coveted Saturday night slot on Radio 1. After just six months in Luxembourg, Wright whooped with glee when he got the call. Steve Wright with George Michael of Wham! (PA Wire) Having proved his chops on Saturday night, Wright moved to daytime radio in 1981 and launched the show that would come to define him: Steve Wright in the Afternoon. The show revolutionised British radio of the era by introducing the zoo format from the United States, featuring a posse of recognisable co-presenters, a raft of regular features and formats and, most importantly, the sharp-witted repartee needed to hold the whole thing together. For a time, the mild-mannered Wright was considered as provocative as any American shock jock. Even fellow provocateurs like Morrissey and Johnny Marr of The Smiths were astounded by what they heard. They wrote their 1986 hit Panic! (which features the memorable refrain Hang the DJ) after hearing Wright follow a news report about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with Wham!s Im Your Man. It was no coincidence that Wright sought to push things forward. He was the sort of radio devotee who would travel the world purely to listen to how local DJs were experimenting with the form. A friend recalled once bumping into him at Heathrow on his way to New York. Wrightie was literally going to sit in a hotel room for a few days to listen to local stations, they told The Mirror. He is obsessed by the medium, which is why hes stayed at the top for so long. BBC radio DJs (fromleft) Simon Bates, Gary Davies and Steve Wright (Getty Images) That dedication and single-mindedness helped Wright win a stack of awards throughout the Nineties, including Best DJ of the Year and TRIC Personality of the Year. In April 1996, he moved to Radio 2 to present two shows for the network: Steve Wrights Saturday Show in the morning and Steve Wrights Sunday Love Songs. In 1999 he relaunched his afternoon show, where he would remain for 23 years until that final show in 2022. Steve Wright In The Afternoon was once again essential listening, regularly drawing audiences of eight million to hear big-name celebrity interviews and recurring features such as Factoids, The Big Quiz and Non-Stop Oldies. In the wake of Wrights death, tributes have poured in from his longtime BBC Radio colleagues Ken Bruce, Tony Blackburn and also those who arrived on air in his wake having been inspired by listening to him: Sara Cox, Scott Mills, Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball. At the same time, a vast swathe of remembrances have been posted to social media from those who were just listening in. Its touching to think of such disparate personalities as Richard Branson, Matt Lucas and Professor Alice Roberts all being tickled by the same factoid, or shouting out answers to The Big Quiz. Back in 2022, at the end of his final Steve Wright in the Afternoon, the DJ signed off by playing Queens Radio Gaga fun, slightly anarchic and openly and repeatedly proclaiming its love for radio, it was a perfect choice for Wrights final song. My only friend through teenage nights, sang Freddie Mercury. And everything I had to know / I heard it on my radio. Thats the gospel of Steve Wright right there. 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 }} Police officials rained tear gas from drones and erected iron nails on Delhis borders to stop protesting farmers from approaching the Indian capital on Tuesday to seek talks with Narendra Modis government on guaranteed minimum prices for crops. Indian police fortified the capitals entry points on Monday evening with barbed wires, heavy concrete slabs, iron nails, and barricades and deployed paramilitary forces in the northern part of the city to stop tens of thousands of farmers seeking entry on tractors and trucks. The farmers from the northern states of Punjab and Haryana launched a peaceful Delhi Chalo (Go to Delhi) campaign and said they were ready to camp in the city and even outside on the border entry points in order to get the federal administration to address their demands of fair pricing for their produce in the Indian agricultural markets. In an eerie repeat of 2020 protests over hastily cleared agricultural laws which brought the Modi government to a halt and were later revoked, the farmers said they were ready for a longstanding confrontation with the administration till their demands were met. The march began in Haryana and Punjab this month as the farmers sought a Minimum Support Price (MSP) from the central government covering all farm produce, a standard practice in India for offering blanket legal protection and compensating the farmers for essential crops at the beginning of the sowing season against the cost of production. The farmers are also demanding the Indian government fulfill its promise of doubling their income. Large gatherings, including weddings and funerals without permission, have been prohibited in the capital for a month and internet services have also been suspended in some parts of Haryana, where a large number of farmers are waiting, to hamper their communication. Several metro stations in central Delhi leading to parliament and ministries have been shut down. Farmers say they are trying to cross Haryana and enter Delhi where they can peacefully protest. Major roads inside Delhi have been choked by traffic as police officials checked vehicles. ..Around 10,000 people are here at the Shambhu border. The farmers are maintaining a peaceful situation here and tear gas is being used against us through drones. (Protest) will continue until the government agrees to our demands, Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, a farmers group, said. We want a resolution of our issues through dialogue. But if they (the government) do nothing, then what will we do? It is our compulsion, he said. The protests come three months before India is set to hold its federal assembly elections to elect a new parliament. A discussion around MSP is likely to sway the manifestos released by political parties ahead of the elections. In November 2021 when the Modi administration withdrew its contentious agricultural laws, marking a major step back from its bullish stance against protests, it assured a panel will be set up for farmers and government to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. However, no common agreement has been made to offer a MSP to farmers. Farmers from Haryana and Punjab, known as Indias bread basket, form a sizeable chunk of population and send 23 lawmakers to Indias lower house of Parliament. The federal administration has not issued a comment on the continuing protests on the borders of New Delhi. 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 }} Pakistans elections last week left no clear winner and a hung parliament. Five days on, the political outfit of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and its allies announced that they will jointly form a coalition government, ending the uncertainty. The latest development came hours after the parties rival to imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan met in Islamabad. The meeting was also attended by former president Asif Ali Zardari from the Pakistan Peoples Party. We have decided that we will form the government jointly, Mr Zardari said at a news conference attended by other politicians including Shebaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said that the elder Sharif a three-time prime minister had nominated his younger brother for the prime minister role. Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan sprung a shock outcome with independent candidates backed by imprisoned ex-prime minister Imran Khan winning the most seats 93 out of 266. It was unexpected, given the political environment of the country. Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party could hold no campaign rallies, had no polling agents on election day and faced internet restrictions, while there were serious allegations of vote manipulation as counting dragged on for three days an unusually long delay in a country where preliminary indications of who has won normally emerge within a few hours of the close of polling booths. After the first few results were announced it was neck-and-neck between the pre-election favourites, Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, and a group of independents backed by former prime minister Imran Khan, with political dynasty scion Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) trailing in third. However, despite winning most seats 93 Khan-backed independent candidates were jostling for allies to form a government, as they refused to hold talks with the rivals. Mr Sharifs PML-N with 75 seats, the single largest party and Mr Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats were working to negotiate with smaller parties to cross the majority mark. By law, the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, must be called by the president three weeks after the national election. It means the parties have until 29 February to form a coalition. Lawmakers are sworn in during that session. They submit nomination papers for a number of key roles, including the speaker and leader of the house. After these positions are filled, a new prime minister is elected through a parliamentary vote, a task that requires a simple majority of 134 seats. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, center speaks as his party aids Ishaq Dar, left, and Khawaja Saad Rafiq watch during a press conference regarding parliamentary elections, in Lahore, Pakistan (AP) However, Khan is out of the race as he is in prison and is barred from holding public office. And while PTI-backed independents could have formed a government in alliance with other players, there are several challenges to it, including maintaining the stability of a government. Analyst Azim Chaudhry said the other parties have "grievances and grudges" against Khan from his time in office and that theyre not ready to shake hands with him because hes made it clear he doesnt want to talk to them. The PML-N and PPP started coalition talks once it became clear that Khan loyalists had taken the lead. They claim to have pacts with smaller parties and newly minted parliamentarians, including defectors from Khans side. Supporters of Pakistan's Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party 'Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf' chant slogans (AP) But knowing who could become prime minister from this ragtag crowd is trickier. Party insiders say Mr Sharif isnt suited to a coalition because of his temperament. His younger brother, Shehbaz, led a coalition after Khan was ousted from power and is regarded as more accommodating. And then theres Mr Bhutto-Zardari, a former foreign minister. Its not clear if hell want the top job in a government that came to power through such a tainted election. But he and his party are key to any coalition because they have the third-largest share of seats. Not for nothing is his father, Asif Ali Zardari, regarded as a kingmaker. He wont do something that jeopardises his sons political future, like joining hands with Khan, according to Chaudhry. Theres a chance of an outside candidate becoming prime minister to keep all sides happy, but its hard to see the two families relinquishing their claim to power. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Authorities in Indonesia were preparing to host the world's biggest single-day election spanned across 17,000 islands on Wednesday, where more than 200 million people will exercise their democratic right to elect a new president. More than 25,000 police have been deployed to ensure security in the tightly-contested election seen as a test of democracy for the Southeast Asian country, more than 25 years after the end of an authoritarian rule. The polls in the worlds third-largest democracy, closely watched by the US and China, would also elect future executives and legislative representatives at administration levels. Opinion polls have projected that in a three-way contest, Prabowo Subianto 72-year-old incumbent defence minister and former military general could secure more than 50 per cent of the votes. His rivals Anies Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta and Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java were seen at least 27 and 31 points behind him respectively. If none of the candidates manage to secure more than 50 per cent of the national votes and at least 20 per cent in each province in the first round, a runoff between the top two is scheduled for 26 June. Presidential candidates, from left, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo (AP) Outgoing president Joko Widodo, who has presided over the steady growth of the mineral-rich Group of 20 economy for the past decade, has been criticised for his political meddling in the 14 February elections. He has been accused of promoting Mr Prabowo by making highly publicised appearances with the controversial military commander. Mr Prabowo is running in a joint ticket with Mr Joko's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the vice presidential candidate. Mr Joko's office, however, denies the president explicitly endorsing Mr Prabowo and flouting election rules. Sitting presidents in Indonesia can campaign for candidates provided they do not use state resources and must take official leave to do so. Workers prepare ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of elections (AP) Critics accuse Mr Joko of using his government resources to boost Mr Prabowo to retain influence even after leaving office after his second and final term. The president has also distanced himself from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, under whose banner he ran in 2014 and 2019, since the party nominated Ganjar Pranowo and Mohammad Mahfud, as presidential and vice presidential candidates. Hundreds of students on Monday held street protests against alleged democratic backsliding under Mr Joko. Amid the protests, election officials delivered ballot boxes and papers to far-flung regions across three time zones, in some cases travelling hours by boat, helicopter or ox-drawn carts. Men prepare a polling station in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (AP) Apart from the three main contenders for the president's office, tens of thousands of candidates across the nation are battling for some 20,000 national, provincial and district parliamentary positions. About 10,000 candidates from 18 political parties are contesting for spots in the 580-seat national parliament alone. Political parties are required to have a woman in at least every third position in their party list, and parties need at least 4 per cent of votes across the country to qualify for representation in the parliament. Nearly 205 million voters aged above the age of 17 will cast their ballots on Wednesday at over 820,000 polling stations. Indonesians living overseas have been casting votes since 5 February at 3,000 polling stations in many countries or by mail. The Muslim-majority nation has been a key battleground near the South China Sea where the US, China along with regional players are vying for political dominance. The outgoing president's foreign policy avoids criticism of Beijing and Washington but also rejects alignment with either power. The delicate balancing act has won considerable Chinese trade and investment for Indonesia, including a $7.3bn high-speed railway that was largely funded by China, while Jakarta has also boosted defense ties and intensified military exercises with the US. "None of the major structural features of defense and foreign policy, I think, will change," said Evan Laksmana, a Southeast Asia security expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, told the Associated Press. The official vote-counting process is expected to take up to 35 days to be completed, the maximum time regulated by the Elections Law. The early results, widely known as a "quick count," are considered a reliable indicator of what the official count will show when all votes are tallied in about a month. The new president will be inaugurated on 20 October and will have to appoint a cabinet within two weeks. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Heavy snow from this weeks winter storm is wreaking havoc on the northeasts major airports. LaGuardia Airport is leading the pack with nearly 400 cancelled flights and more than 100 delays as of Tuesday morning, according to FlightAware. Meanwhile, Newark Liberty International, Boston Logan International and John F Kennedy International are all seeing similar rates of cancellations as snow piles up across the region. In total, some 1,100 flights into, out of or within the US have been cancelled as of early Tuesday, while another 1,500 have been delayed. That number will likely rise throughout the day as snow continues to accumulate. John F Kennedy International Airport, pictured above, has already cancelled 184 flights as of Tuesday morning (AP) Road travel isnt looking much better, either. Throughout the northeast, local officials are warning against travel unless necessary. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay home as the snowfall intensifies throughout Tuesday, while the National Weather Service (NWS) for Philadelphia asked residents to delay travel if possible. To keep people off the roads, public schools in New York City and Boston were closed on Tuesday. Non-essential state employees across Massachusetts were also asked to stay home. A last-minute shift in the storm on Monday night caused much of the early snow to miss the Boston area, hitting southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island instead, according to forecasts from the NWS. This noreaster is already a record-setter, with meteorologists expecting it to bring the highest snowfall totals in more than two years in New York. Several inches of snow have already hit New York state, pictured above (AFP via Getty Images) Up to eight inches of snow is expected to be dumped on the Big Apple, while parts of New Jersey and Connecticut could see up to fifteen inches. High winds are also possible throughout much of the region, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour forecasted off the Massachusetts coast. Given these conditions, power outages are also likely to affect much of the northeast today. As of Tuesday morning, more than 100,000 homes were already without power in Pennsylvania, according to PowerOutage.us. In New Jersey, outages surpassed 10,000 and could rise before the day is over. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has said she views the fact that Russia has placed her on a wanted list as an intimidation tactic. "Nothing in the actions of the Russian Federation comes as a surprise; this is their normal tactic of intimidation. We will continue the previous steps - providing support to Ukraine, strengthening European defense, [and] combating Russian propaganda," Kallas said in a comment for the media on Tuesday. Russia expects that "the fictitious arrest warrant will help silence Estonia," she said. "I am not going to keep silent, I will continue to resolutely support Ukraine and advocate the reinforcement of European defense," she said. Throughout its history, Russia has concealed its reprisals, she went on to say. "In the history of my family, the KGB issued an arrest warrant before," Kallas said, adding that "our actions cannot be intimidated by that." As reported previously, the Russian Interior Ministry opened a criminal case against Kallas and Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Tuesday that these two figures are responsible for certain decisions that he described as an outrage against historical memory and "taking actions hostile towards historical memory and our country." 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 }} February 14 is a holiday heavyweight this year due to a calendar collision. Its Valentines Day, the fixed annual celebration of love and friendship but it also happens to be Ash Wednesday, the solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Christianitys most penitent season. Shrove Tuesday, also commonly referred to as Pancake Day, is a celebration thats observed the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the Christian observance of Lent, a 40-day period of abstinence that precedes Easter (which is a moveable feast). As such, Ash Wednesday is the last day on which those who observe Lent can enjoy richer foods before abstaining for them, should they choose to. Why is Ash Wednesday on Valentines Day? Ash Wednesday is not a fixed date. Its timing is tied to Easter Sunday, and for most Christians, Easter will fall on March 31 this year. Easter also moves annually, swinging between March 22 and April 25 based on a calendar calculation involving the moon. FILE - Valentines Day balloons are displayed at a grocery store in Buffalo Grove, Ill (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The US Conference of Catholic Bishops lays it out: Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring either on or after the spring equinox (March 21). ... To find the date for Ash Wednesday, we go back six weeks which leads to the First Sunday of Lent and four days before that is Ash Wednesday.This year, that happens to be February 14. What happens on Ash Wednesday? Not all Christians observe Ash Wednesday. For those who do, they typically attend an Ash Wednesday church service, where a priest or other minister draws a cross or at least what is intended to look like one of ashes on their forehead. The distribution of ashes underscores human mortality, among other themes. FILE - Dorsey Prince, right, and Shannon Carter pray during an Ash Wednesday Mass at St. John Neumann Catholic Church (Austin American-Statesman) Its an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. The abstinence restrictions are continued on Fridays during Lent, which is the period of repentance and penance leading up to Holy Week observances most significantly their belief in the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. Where do the Ashes come from? Typically, the ashes are from the palms used on Palm Sunday, which falls a week before Easter, according to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Ashes can be purchased, but some churches make their own by burning the palms from prior years. For example, several parishes and schools in the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese plan to hold palm burning ceremonies this year. Can Catholics celebrate Valentines Day on Ash Wednesday? In addition to the candy heart and chocolate-fueled secular celebrations, February 14 is also the Feast of St. Valentine. But Ash Wednesday with its fasting and abstinence requirements is far more significant and should be prioritized, said Catholic Bishop Richard Henning of Providence, Rhode Island, in the dioceses official newspaper. His predecessor shared a similar message in 2018. Ash Wednesday is the much higher value and deserves the full measure of our devotion, he said. I ask with all respect that we maintain the unique importance of Ash Wednesday. If you would like to wine and dine your Valentine, please do so on the Tuesday before. February 13 is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, a perfect day to feast and celebrate! Who was St Valentine? The history of Valentines Day and St. Valentine is a bit murky, but the holiday began as a liturgical feast day for a third-century Christian martyr, according to Lisa Bitel, a history and religion professor at the University of Southern California. In the Conversation, her article titled, The real St. Valentine was no patron of love, explains there may have been more than one St. Valentine executed for their faith in the same time period, but none of them appear to have been romantics. The emphasis on love appears to have come later. 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 }} I still remember the first time I caught a whiff of White Musk on the breeze in the school playground. So floral; so clean; so musky. It was different to the other body sprays wed doused ourselves in as tweens the sickly-sweet clouds of Charlie Red and Impulse. This complex aroma promised sophistication, grown-up parties with boys, and first kisses. It spoke directly to my nasal passages, promising that we werent in Kansas anymore, Toto: things were about to get technicolour. What would the Nineties and indeed the Noughties have been without The Body Shops signature scent? As the olfactory backdrop to every noteworthy scene of our shared adolescence, its hard to imagine a childhood without it so interwoven are my teenage memories with that unmistakable fragrance. As it turns out, though, nostalgia doesnt pay the bills. Following weak sales over Christmas and January, the chain is bringing in administrators, with some of its more than 200 shops almost certainly on the chopping block. Its sad news for a generation that grew up giving and receiving the companys iconic products as emergency presents for every occasion. Whether Christmas, birthday or other, nothing quite fit the bill like a mango body butter or rose perfume. Whether shopping for your last-minute Secret Santa or your great-aunt Edna, whose tastes and desires remained frustratingly opaque to a 13-year-old with limited pocket money, The Body Shop beckoned irresistibly. Simply step inside the cathedral of smellies, and the world of catch-all, generic gifts was your oyster. The toughest part was choosing which to go for: kiwi lip balm; a handful of jaunty, fruit-shaped soaps; gift packs in flavours like Dewberry and Peach Fuzz; iridescent bath pearls that would leave weird globules of floating goop around the tub as they melted... Decisions, decisions! Of course, the brand has evolved a lot since its inception in 1976 by environmental campaigner, human rights activist and entrepreneur Anita Roddick. At the time, it was a revolutionary idea: producing beauty products and toiletries made from ethically sourced, natural ingredients that werent tested on animals in simple, reusable packaging. The business grew steadily from a shop in Brighton to an international brand over the next three decades under Roddicks watchful eye three decades in which we collectively fell under the spell of White Musk. But in 2006 the company was sold to LOreal for a nine-figure sum, in a move that drew criticism from quarters arguing that The Body Shop was compromising its founding principles. A year after the sale, Roddick died from a brain haemorrhage, aged 64. In some ways, the buyout was the beginning of the end for the chains ubiquitous popularity. Roddick had been such a strident, impressive figure that the brand became synonymous with her justice-questing personality. Social and environmental dimensions are woven into the fabric of the company itself, she once said. They are neither first nor last among our objectives, but an ongoing part of everything we do. With her out of the picture, what was The Body Shop? Just another high-street beauty brand making profits for faceless shareholders? White Musk: the scent of nostalgia (The Body Shop) As Lush CEO Mark Constantine wrote in The Times, LOreal moved manufacturing to the Philippines, where the margins were better, and marketeers discounted to create sales and for a decade, that was the only message customers got. But you cant cheapen everything, remove the values, and take more profit without the customers noticing and going elsewhere. They lost that feeling one got when buying a Body Shop product that you were helping to change the world. You cant cheapen everything, remove the values, and take more profit without the customers noticing and going elsewhere Mark Constantine, Lush CEO The whole aura of the formerly purpose-driven brand changed over the next 10 years, until LOreal wisely ducked out and sold it to Natura in 2017. This, too, went south, and the business was sold once again, this time in November 2023 to European private equity business Aurelius. The firm got it for a bargain, according to reports at the time, but even a good deal wasnt enough to reverse The Body Shops ailing fortunes. Perhaps its not surprising. In the time between Roddicks tenure and now, other brands that prioritise people and planet have stepped in to fill the gap. Lush, for example, has become the new go-to chain for those looking to buy natural, cruelty-free cosmetics. Since it was established in Poole, Dorset circa 1995, the company has expanded into a portfolio of almost 1,000 shops in countries across the world. Its hard to know what hope is left for The Body Shop but perhaps nostalgia is the key. In writing this piece, I stumbled across a Mumsnet thread called 90s Body Shop products they should bring back! in which enthused users shared their most ardently missed products, from Ice Blue shampoo to banana conditioner. As for me, maybe Ill do my bit and pick up a final bottle of White Musk just for old times sake. 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 }} Chinese New Year is upon us, with celebrations starting on Saturday, February 10 to welcome in the year of the dragon. The two-week festival marks the beginning of a new Lunar year and a new animal in the Chinese zodiac to represent the next 12 months. Billions of people in China and around the world will celebrate, often wearing red clothes, decorating their homes with red lanterns and taking part in traditional dragon dances. Chinese astrologist and Feng Shui consultant Janine Lowe says this will be a year of change and while that might mean a rollercoaster 12 months, the change can also bring new opportunities. What does this mean for people born in the dragon year? If youre born in the year of the dragon, which is 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012, youre in luck this year is looking like a good year for you. Lowe says that often when people are born in the same year as the current animal, it can sometimes be conflictual, but this year the dragons have this amazing power to be entrepreneurial and creative. They may become a sage for their friends, and Lowe adds that theres also a good chance for them to gain wealth or see their wealth expand this year. But, she warns: As long as they focus now on exactly what they want out of the year, theres no point in dilly-dallying around it, they need to know what they want out of the year. And while its not marked as a year of love for the dragon, there may be a chance for people born in the year of the dragon to spark a new romance come September. So what about people not born in the year of the dragon? Those born under the other zodiac animals also have a big year ahead of them. For people born in the year of the dog (1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018) it is likely to be a big and conflicting year. Lowe says: Everything is about change, literally in every part of their lives. Its a huge change. But dont be too worried she says that amongst the upheaval, positive changes are on the horizon for dog people too. Other zodiac animals will have an easier time rats will experience growth and energy and will have the opportunity to grow in their careers, while tigers will be able to indulge in their love of adventures. There will be new love interests for snakes this year, and there is a lot of good health, happiness and new connections around for monkeys. Rabbits like an easy, steady-paced life, so this year they will need to learn to adapt to change, and oxen folk will also face challenges and will need to reach out to the people around them, instead of relying on themselves. Goats will be faced with decisions this year, while horses should take up new opportunities that come their way. Lowe adds: Roosters are the secret friend of the dragon and, because its going to be a bit of a rollercoaster year for everybody, my advice is to hang onto the dragons tails and go with the year. She says it will be a very busy year for pigs, because they will end up being the supporters of the year both at home and at work. Will it be a good year for everyone? Generally, 2024 is about revolution and change. While that can daunting, it can also spark creativity and innovation. Lowe advises that creativity and original ideas will help this be the year its meant to be. The dragon, who Lowe explains comes with a lot of power and magic, will help you focus on getting what you truly want. She says: The dragon has a lot of really positive stuff behind it, because it is the top Chinese animal. But its not something where you sit at home and do your knitting, and watch Netflix you need to get out of your chair and go make what you need or what you want to happen. And theres every opportunity for that to happen this year. 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 }} Coca-Cola has added its name to the latest brands trying to get in on the trend for spicy snacks and beverages. From Flamin Hot Cheetos to Sweet Heat Starburst, snacks are getting spicier. Now, the fizzy drinks giants have stepped in. On Wednesday, the Atlanta beverage giant introduced Coca-Cola Spiced, the first new permanent offering to its North American portfolio in three years. Coke is getting spicier (Getty Images) Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar will go on sale in the US and Canada on February 19. Coke has been exploring ways to get younger drinkers excited about its signature cola. In 2022, it launched Coca-Cola Creations, a series of eight limited-edition Coke flavors in colorful cans and bottles. Coke experimented with adding hints of coconut, strawberry, watermelon and other flavors to the drinks. The latest example, Coca-Cola Happy Tears, contains salt and mineral flavors. It will be sold only through TikTok on February 17 in the US and UK. What does Coca-Cola Spiced taste like? Coca-Cola Spiced doesnt have a lot of heat. The main flavor drinkers will notice is a hint of raspberry. Coke wont name the spices it added it guards its recipes closely but they taste like amped-up versions of the spices in regular Coke. If you go to the aisles, youll see the amount of spiciness has gone up because consumers taste palettes have evolved. We realized that could be an opportunity for us, Coca-Colas North American marketing chief Shakir Moin told The Associated Press in a recent interview. Can we dial up something which is already part of our formula and bring in a taste profile that is interesting, unique, and brings in the next generation of consumers? Selman Careaga, president of Coca-Colas Global Category, reaches for Coca-Cola Spiced (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Moin said customer research for Coca-Cola Creations fed into the development of Coca-Cola Spiced. It usually takes Coca-Cola at least a year to develop a new beverage, he said, but Coca-Cola Spiced took just seven weeks. Moin said the company hopes to replicate that speed with future new products. Coca-Colas New Flavor (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Consumers are moving faster. The market is moving forward faster. Weve got to be faster than the speed of the market, he said. The new flavour joins a list of experiments by the company that have included Coca-Cola ginger, cinnamon, mango, apple and raspberry. 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 }} Loved by some, loathed by others, Valentines Day is widely regarded as the ultimate day of cheesy, unapologetic romance. While some may be vaguely aware that the occasion takes its name from a priest called Saint Valentine, they may not be acquainted with the full history of Valentines Day, which is decidely less romantic than one may expect. Valentine of Terni was a Third-Century-priest who ministered to Christians in ancient Rome. Various accounts exist detailing the events that led to him becoming a martyr and subsequently being named a saint by the Catholic Church. One of the most widely-believed accounts suggests that Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II of Rome. The Emperor had outlawed young men getting married, as he thought them to be of more use on the battlefield than at home. Some accounts detail Valentines stark defiance of this law, seeing him marry young couples in clandestine ceremonies. This was regarded as a serious offence in the eyes of the Emperor, and the priest was beheaded on 14 February as a consequence. Despite the emperors wrath, the Catholic Church commended Valentine for uniting couples who observed the Christian faith. Thus, Valentine was formally recognised by the church as a saint after his death. Saint Valentine has since become associated with courtly love and the romantic traditions of Valentines Day. Along with this account, some believe that the history of Valentines Day may also be rooted in a pre-ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia. The festival, which was celebrated every year by Romans on 15 February, celebrated fertility. Those who took part worked to purify the city of evil spirits in order to maximise fertility and bring prosperity to their villages. Luperci from J. Grasset Saint Sauveur Antique Rome, Bergamo 1825 (Rex Features) The pagan festival was also known as dies februatus, meaning day of purification, which is how the month of February acquired its name. Part of the proceedings saw the priests of the god Lupercus the Luperci sacrifice goats and a dog and then daub their foreheads with the animals blood. These men would then run around the Palatine Hill naked, striking any women who came near them with the hides of the animals that theyd sacrificed. The priests believed that hitting women with the animal hides would ensure that theyd remain fertile. While the concept of Lupercalia may differ greatly from our modern understanding of Valentines Day, the two observances are closely connected. The celebrations of Lupercalia came to an end around the 5th Century, following objections made about the festival by Pope Gelasius I. The pope condemned the practises of the pagan festival, describing those who participated in it as vile and common, abject and of the lowest order. The holiday of St. Valentines Day on 14 February was officially declared by the pope in 496 AD, leading some to believe that he had effectively replaced Lupercalia with the holiday honouring Saint Valentine. The first evidence of Valentines Day having romantic connotations came in the 14th Century, through the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. For this was on St. Valentines Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate, the English poet wrote to honour the engagement of King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. William Shakespeare also referenced Valentines Day in his work, having Ophelia speak of the day in his 17th Century play Hamlet. Valentines Day as we know it today started to take form in the 19th Century and early 20th Century, thanks in part to the boom of the industrial revolution. In 1913, Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, began mass-producing Valentines Day cards, sparking the beginning of the commercial holiday the 14 February has become. A decade later, chocolatier Russell Stover had the innovative idea of selling chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, encased in satin and black lace. In 2018, money saving website Finder reported that 22 million Brits were preparing to spend money on their significant others on Valentines Day. The average spend for an individual taking part in the love-filled celebrations was 28.45, while 16 per cent of the population stated that they planned on celebrating the day without spending a penny. 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 }} Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have relaunched their website using their regal titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The couples new site, sussex.com, replaces their former website, archewell.com, and will bring more personal updates about the Duke and Duchesss activities. As you enter the website, a large photo of the pair smiling and clapping at last years Invictus Games appears, overlayed with their royal coat of arms and the title The office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. At the foot of the page, links to the Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions and their Sussex Royal website appear. At the foot of the website, links to the Archewell Foundation, Archewell production and their Sussex Royal website appear (sussex.com) The move to rebrand to Sussex comes after they moved away from the title in 2020 when their Sussex Royal tag became a topic of debate at Buckingham Palace. Their departure from the royal family meant that the couple could use their Duke and Duchess titles but not HRH. Archewell was introduced after they stepped back from their royal duties, with a name inspired by their son Archie combining arche, the Greek word meaning source of action, and well, a plentiful source or supply; a place we go to dig deep. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have launched their new rebranded website using their royal titles (Getty Images) If the link to their Sussex Royal website is followed, a note appears reading: This site was established in 2020 and sets out the work streams of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex prior to their move to the United States. To learn more about the Royal couple and their philanthropic endeavours, click here. Users are then led back to sussex.com. In the About channel, the website states: The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy. This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organisations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together. Also featured on the website are separate profiles detailing their achievements, but neither mention their royal family roots. Harry is summarised as a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner (sussex.com) Harry is described as a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner, while Meghan is described as a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity who has been named one of the most influential women in the world in a series of tables. Harrys profile primarily promotes his military work and also mentions his memoir, Spare, stating: The Duke is the New York Times Bestselling author of Spare, a memoir of his life told with compassion, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty. Spare was the publishing industrys fastest selling non-fiction book, selling more than 1.4 million copies on its first day of publication. Meghans profile mentions the book she published to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. It also details her childhood in California and her leading role in TV series, Suits, currently streaming on Netflix. In 2018, Meghan married Prince Harry, becoming The Duchess of Sussex, her profile reads. In 2022, Meghan launched Archetypes, a record-breaking podcast exploring the labels that hold women back. Archetypes debuted at Number 1 in The US, UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, and topped the charts as the Number 1 podcast in 47 countries. Meghans profile details the book she published to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire (Sussex.com) The News channel says that the couples recent events are focused more on personal outings in contrast to the work posted on their Archewell site. It includes Harrys recent trip to Las Vegas to present the NFLs Man of the Year honour to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. His appearance came hours after he flew back from the UK in a fleeting visit to see his father, King Charles, following his cancer diagnosis. He made the visit without Meghan and their children less than 24 hours after the announcement about the Kings health was released to media. There was no meeting with his brother, the Prince of Wales, however, and Harry spent around 45 minutes at Clarence House seeing their father. The Kings slimmed-down monarchy is under pressure in a way not seen before during his reign: he has postponed all public-facing duties due to the diagnosis and the Princess of Wales is out of action for the immediate future following abdominal surgery. 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 }} The King is being treated for cancer, the sovereigns ill health has raised questions about whether there could be the need for a regency in the future. If Charles was incapacitated, the Prince of Wales could be appointed Prince Regent through the Regency Act 1937, taking over the Kings duties. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the Kings cancer has been caught early, suggesting any prospect of a regency is unlikely at this stage. If needed, it would be the first time in more than 200 years that the British monarchy has required a regency, with the last Prince Regent being the future George IV. King Charles has been diagnoses with cancer (Getty Images For Clarence House) Here is an explanation of what a regency means, and how and why it would take place: What is a regency? A period of regency allows the King to transfer his powers as monarch to the Prince of Wales without having to abdicate. Does this mean William would be king? No. The King would still be the monarch and head of state. But William would be able to perform royal functions in the name of and on behalf of Charles. What would prompt a regency? The Regency Act 1937 states that the monarchs duties will be performed by a regent if the monarch is declared to be by reason of infirmity of mind or body incapable of performing royal functions, or if there is evidence that the Sovereign is for some definite cause not available for the performance of those functions. This must be declared in writing by three or more out of the following: the sovereigns wife the Queen, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lady Chief Justice and the Master of the Rolls. Charles has no say and does not need to agree with their decision. Why wouldnt the King abdicate instead? The abdication of the late Queens uncle Edward VIII in 1936 sparked a major constitutional crisis and the royal family has never forgotten its devastating impact. The King made a promise of lifelong service in his first address to the nation when he became the monarch. King Charles and Kate Middleton were in the same London hospital (Getty) Why couldnt the King just step aside? The British monarchy is also a sacerdotal monarchy as part of his coronation, the King went through a consecration ritual which is similar to the consecration ritual a priest goes through. You can retire from being an active priest but you are still a priest until you die. Edward VIII abdicated before he was crowned. Why couldnt William just act as a Counsellor of State? A regency is a longer term solution than temporary Counsellors of State. But Counsellors of State cannot perform certain core constitutional functions, such as Commonwealth matters, the dissolving of parliament, except on the Kings instruction, creating peers and appointing a prime minister. Charles and William jointly performed the state opening of parliament in place of the late Queen as Counsellors of State in 2022. William and his father Charles (John Stillwell/PA) (PA Archive) Is a regency a permanent arrangement? No. It is reversible. If a monarchs health recovers or they become available to carry out their royal functions, the sovereign can resume their duties. Who was the last Prince Regent? The last regent was the future George IV who became Prince Regent through an ad hoc Regency Act in 1811 when his father George III was declared mentally unfit to be king. The vain Prince Regent, famously characterised by Hugh Laurie in the sitcom Blackadder III, was known for his heady extravagance, which was a constant source of gossip. He was an important artistic patron, acquiring an impressive collection of art and patronising architects and designers, and later commissioned the Royal Pavilion in Brighton to be built as his seaside pleasure palace. He was regent for nine years before becoming king when his father died in 1820. Are there laws already in place for a modern regency? Yes. Permanent provisions were put in place through the Regency Act passed in 1937 in case a monarch became incapacitated or a sovereign was under the age of 18. Princess Elizabeth was heir to the throne and only 11 years old in 1937. Further Regency Acts were also passed in 1943, and later in 1953 to allow the Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, to be regent if one was required and the Queens children were under the age of 18. But future amendments to the legislation may be required because second in line to the throne Prince George is under the age of 18. Options could include adding the Princess of Wales to the Regency Act as a potential regent in case anything happened to Charles and William before George became an adult. How is a regency put in place? A declaration has to be made to the Privy Council and communicated to the Government. William would have to take an oath before the Privy Council in which he pledged to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the King, faithfully execute the office of Regent and govern according to law, and preserve the Church of Scotland. Are there any limits to what William could do as a Prince Regent? Yes. He would not be allowed to give assent to any Bill which changes the order of the succession to the throne. He would also not be allowed to repeal or alter an Act made in Scotland entitled An Act for Securing the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Government. The 1707 Act ensured in pre-Union Parliament of Scotland that the status of the Church of Scotland is not be affected by the Union with England. Would the prince be Prince Regent of the 14 other nations where the King is head of state? No. Constitutional expert Professor Vernon Bognador has said previously it would be up to these countries to make their own arrangements. 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 }} In a shock announcement, King Charles shared he had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for a benign enlarged prostate. The Royal Family has not yet specified the form of cancer but he will start regular treatment and will postpone public duties. However, he will continue to work on State business and official paperwork. The monarch was diagnosed with the disease whilst undergoing separate treatment for an enlarged prostate in January at the London Clinic. Expressing his gratitude to the medical team for their quick intervention, the King is feeling positive about his treatment and hopes to return to his royal duties, says the Royal Family. In a statement issued yesterday, the family said: 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 discovery comes after he was hospitalised at the same time as Kate Middleton was recovering in the London Clinic after abdomen surgery. Here is a look back at the history of health issues in the Royal Family. Kate Middleton In January, the Princess of Wales entered the London Clinic to have abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition. 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. Kate Middleton has been both praised and criticised for reportedly working from her hospital bed following abdominal surgery (Getty Images) Sarah Ferguson Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer in January 2024, just months after she received treatment for breast cancer. In July 2023, the 64-year-old had an eight-hour mastectomy but unfortunately last month, during the follow-up surgery, dermatologists, when removing several moles, found one to be malignant melanoma. The Duchess is now undergoing further tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of her body but is said to be in good spirits. Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with skin cancer after treatment for breast cancer (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP) Queen Elizabeth II The much-loved Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 after a record-long reign of over 70 years, aged 96. The Queen was hospitalised in October 2021 shortly after the death of her husband Prince Philip. The monarch then did not attend several public appearances due to dwindling health, as she reportedly suffered from low energy and weakness. In February 2022, she tested positive for Covid after suffering from mild cold-like symptoms, the Palace reported at the time. She was pronounced dead at 3.10pm on 8 September 2022 by Dr Douglas James Allan Glass. Her cause of death was deemed to be old age. Concerns were raised for Queen Elizabeth II when she was seen with a walking stick in a rare appearance before her death (PA) Prince Philip The Queens beloved husband died at the age of 99 in April 2021, his cause of death was officially recorded as old age. Leading up to his passing, the King had been discharged from the hospital following treatment for a pre-existing heart condition. In 2012, he missed the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations due to a bladder infection and in 2011 he was helicoptered from Sandringham to hospital due to chest pains - he was then treated for a blocked coronary artery. The royal was involved in a car crash two years earlier when a vehicle hit his car, however he was not injured but sought medical advice out of precaution. Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth I, the Queen Mother, died aged 101 in 2002 after suffering from ulcers on her left leg and persistent hip problems which led to mobility issues in her old age. In 1995, she had a right hip replacement and three years later, her left hip was replaced. Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen Elizabeth II), Princess Margaret and King George VI after his coronation, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London (PA) King George VI On February 6 1952, King George VI died in the middle of the night. He had survived a major operation to remove his left lung in September 1951, but succumbed to a blood clot just a few months later. It caused a coronary thrombosis, the blockage of the coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a sudden collapse and fatal heart failure. His death came as a shock to the public and the royal family, as even the King was not informed of the full extent of his illness. It later came to light he had been suffering from lung cancer after smoking heavily all his life. The Queen with her father, King George VI, and Prince Philip watching a young King Charles sitting on a statue at Balmoral in 1951 (PA) (PA Media) Edward VIII King George VIs brother was the reigning monarch until he abdicated the throne in January 1936. Like his brother, he was a frequent smoker and died in 1972 after battling throat cancer. 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 }} The royal family has rallied around the King after it was revealed that he has been diagnosed with an unknown form of cancer. Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday that the monarch is receiving regular treatments for the condition, which was discovered after the 75-year-old underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate. Officials have said that although Charles is stepping back from public-facing events, although he will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual. A Palace source told The Telegraph that Charles is a little frustrated by the impact the diagnosis has had on royal plans but is otherwise he is in his usual good form. Charles called both Prince Harry and Prince William, as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh, to personally give them the news before it was publicly announced. Follow the latest news on King Charles with our live blog by clicking here Since the diagnosis went public, here are the different ways members of the royal family have shown up to support Charles: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Prince Harry cleared his diary and rushed back to the UK from his home in America on Tuesday to spend time with his father despite the rift between them. Prince Harry cleared his diary rushed back to the UK from his home in LA on Tuesday to spend time with his father despite the rift between them (Getty) The Duke of Sussex was seen arriving at a private terminal at Los Angeles in the morning before touching down at Londons Heathrow Airport at 12:20pm. He was pictured back in the UK on Tuesday afternoon. It is understood that Meghan has remained at the couples home with their children Archie and Lilibet. Queen Camilla Queen Camilla will continue with a full programme of public duties while her husband is treated, the Palace said. She was seen walking side by side with the King at his last public appearance on Sunday, where the King waved to onlookers as he walked to church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Camilla has been a great support to Charles throughout his recent health battles. She visited the London Clinic several times over his stay in the private hospital when he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate. Camilla was seen walking side by side with the King at his last public appearance on Sunday (PA) Princess Royal Princess Anne attended the first royal engagement since the revelation on Tuesday. Known for her commitment to royal duties, Princess Anne went to an investiture ceremony on Tuesday morning. She was also scheduled to visit the Midlands on Tuesday on an official visit, but the event was cancelled. The Princess Royal carried out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday (PA) Recipients at the ceremony included conductor Ivor Bolton, tenor Nicky Spence, rugby union referee Sara Cox and wheelchair rugby league player James Simpson. When it was announced that Charles was due to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate several weeks ago, Anne proved once again she was a reliable member of the family, taking on investiture ceremonies and continuing her royal visits. Prince William and Princess Kate While he has yet to make an appearance or statement since his fathers diagnosis was made public, the Prince of Wales is expected to shoulder some of Charles responsibilities. He is set to return to official duties this week, in the aftermath of the Princess of Waless abdominal surgery which saw her recovering for 13 days in the same hospital her father-in-law was admitted to for his prostate procedure. The Prince of Wales is expected to shoulder some of his fathers responsibilities. (PA Archive) William 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, Kensington Palace said. Kate is not expected to return to royal duties until after Easter. Prince Edward Prince Edward will also be returning to royal duties this week to support his brother. Edwards last public engagement was an overseas trip that finished on 26 January. The Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie, both 59, are part of Charless slimmed-down working monarchy, introduced after his mother passed away last year. Edward has two engagements scheduled on the royal diary this Thursday; attending a talent showcase at The Savoy in London as patron of the Production Guild of Great Britain and a reception at the Institute of Physics. The Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie, both 59, are part of Charless slimmed-down working monarchy, introduced after his mother passed away last year (Getty Images) Princess Beatrice The Kings niece was also seen visiting him the morning after the diagnosis was made public. Princess Beatrice was seen driving a Ranger Rover into the back entrance of Clarence House in London on Tuesday morning. She and her husband Edoardo Mozzi live next door to the Kings official royal residence at St Jamess Palace. 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 }} New Orleans Carnival season is nearing its Fat Tuesday climax, with the last lavish Mardi Gras parades set to roll through historic neighborhoods while narrow streets of the old French Quarter host a raucous, continuous street party of revelers overflowing its bars and restaurants. Two of the citys favorite parades the processions of Rex, King of Carnival and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club were set to roll Tuesday morning on major thoroughfares. Monday night featured the parade of the Krewe of Orpheus, co-founded by home-grown musician and actor Harry Connick Jr. In addition to elaborate floats and marching bands, scheduled participants included Connick himself, actor Neil Patrick Harris and Harris husband, David Burtka. New Orleans has the nations largest and best known Carnival celebration. It's replete with cherished traditions beloved by locals. But it's also a vital boost to the citys tourist-driven economy always evident in the French Quarter. No strangers down here, visitor Renitta Haynes of Chattanooga, Tennessee, said as she watched costumed revelers on Bourbon Street over the weekend. Everybody is very friendly and approachable. I love that. She and her friend Tiffany Collins wore giant purple, green and gold bead necklaces as they sipped drinks. The annual pre-Lenten festivities aren't limited to New Orleans. Similar celebrations are held in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. Mobile, Alabama, where six parades were scheduled Tuesday, lays claim to the nation's oldest Mardi Gras celebration. And other lavish Carnival celebrations in Brazil and Europe are world renowned. Monday's activities in New Orleans also included an afternoon Lundi Gras," or Fat Monday celebration on the Mississippi Riverfront, including live music. Part of the event was the annual ceremonial meeting of the man tapped to be this years King of Carnival chosen by the Rex Organization, a predominantly white group with roots in the 19th century and the man elected king of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, founded by Black laborers in the early 1900s. The meeting is a custom that began in 1999 in what was seen as a symbol of slowly eroding social and racial barriers. We are honored to announce the launch of the "Created by Women - 2024" competition for Ukrainian women entrepreneurs from the French-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce CCI France Ukraine! This year's competition is being held for the sixth time and aims to support women who did not stop their entrepreneurial activities even during the active phase of the war, to refute the prejudices that exist in business, to empower women entrepreneurs, and most importantly, to inspire all women who are considering starting their own business! If you are a woman entrepreneur with an existing business in Ukraine, don't hesitate to apply yourself and recommend it to those who might be interested. Applications for the award are accepted on the website: https://womanccifu.com/. The competition was created in 2019 at the initiative of the Businesswomen Committee of the French-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFU) and has been held for 6 years in a row. The prize aims to support and develop women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine, promote gender equality, and contribute to sustainable economic growth. Are you a woman who started your own business in Ukraine and continue to do business despite the war? Apply for the Businesswoman 2024 competition. Apply by March 24, 23:59, 2024 and win UAH 150,000 for business development and a trip to Paris. You may be our future winner! 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 }} Three people have been found guilty of a terror offence after displaying images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine march in London, in the wake of Hamass cross-border attack in Israel. Heba Alhayek, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, taped images of paragliders to their backs, while Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo, 27, stuck one to the handle of a placard seven days after militants from Hamas used paragliders to enter Israel from Gaza on 7 October. Pauline Ankunda, 26, Heba Alhayek, 29, were seen in footage of a protest on 14 October (Metropolitan Police) They were charged under the Terrorism Act with carrying or displaying an article to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of the banned organisation Hamas, which they denied. A lawyer representing two of the defendants had said police were mistaken about what they saw that day, and that the images were in fact of cartoon parachutes, a well-known nationalist symbol of peace. Heba Alhayek, 29, (left) and Pauline Ankunda, 26, were found guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court (Jonathan Brady/PA) But following a two-day trial at Westminster Magistrates Court, the trio were found guilty on Tuesday after prosecutors argued it was no coincidence the defendants were displaying the images so soon after the attack. Giving his verdict, Judge Tan Ikram said: Seven days earlier, Hamas went into Israel with what was described by the media as paragliders. A reasonable person would have seen and read that. I do not find a reasonable person would interpret the image merely as a symbol of freedom. I want to be clear, theres no evidence that any of these defendants are supporters of Hamas, or were seeking to show support for them. Judge Ikram said he had decided not to punish the defendants, and handed the trio each a 12-month conditional discharge. Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo was also convicted over carrying a sign with an image of a paraglider affixed to it (Jonathan Brady/PA) You crossed the line, but it would have been fair to say that emotions ran very high on this issue, he added. Your lesson has been well learned. I do not find you were seeking to show any support for Hamas. After the Metropolitan Police launched a social media appeal to find them, Alhayek and Ankunda handed themselves in to Croydon Police Station, the court heard. While the pair initially claimed someone at the demonstration who was not known to them had stuck the images to their backs, they later admitted attaching the images themselves, the court was told. When arrested and interviewed under caution, Taiwo claimed to have been handed the placard and not paid proper attention to the blurry image it displayed, the court heard. Giving evidence on Monday, journalist Victoria Brittain, who is a patron of the group Palestine Solidarity, said a parachute was a typical Palestinian symbol of flight and escaping prison. Ms Brittain, who was present at Octobers demonstration, said balloons and kites had also been used with the same meaning. But when questioned by the prosecution, she said she had not seen any images of parachutes at the march. Following the verdict, Nick Price of the Crown Prosecution Service said: All three women knowingly displayed the images of paragliders in central London and therefore showed their support for Hamas a proscribed terrorist organisation. The fact that these images were being displayed in the context of a protest opposing the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks demonstrates a glorification of the actions taken by the group. Displaying these images could be viewed as celebrating the use of paragliders as a tactic to breach the Gaza-Israel border, and creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas. Additional reporting by PA 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 police watchdog is investigating Nottinghamshire Police over the forces contact with triple killer Valdo Calocane before his brutal stabbing rampage. The paranoid schizophrenic, 32, was last month sentenced to a hospital order at Nottingham Crown Court after he was convicted of stabbing to death students Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar, both aged 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in Nottingham in June last year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Monday that it has launched an investigation into complaints about Nottinghamshire Polices previous contact with Calocane and the forces handling of the subsequent murder investigation. The police watchdog is investigating Nottinghamshire Police over the forces contact with triple killer Valdo Calocane before his brutal stabbing rampage (PA Media) It comes after the watchdog announced last week that it is investigating the contact Leicestershire Police had with the 32-year-old murderer. The IOPC said its second investigation over the incident follows a voluntary referral by Nottinghamshire Police of complaints the force has received from the victims families. The complaints allege there were flaws in the handling of the murder investigation and missed opportunities by police to prevent the killings. The watchdog added allegations have also been made over the force not executing an outstanding warrant for Calocanes arrest before the fatal attacks, and concerns raised about Nottinghamshire Polices communication with the families. Students Barnaby Webber (centre) and Grace OMalley-Kumar (right), both aged 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65 (PA) Speaking on behalf of the families, Mr Webbers mother Emma Webber, from Taunton in Somerset, said: The failings and our concerns have been well documented, and we now welcome a thorough independent body to look into all points raised. We will also ensure that we request the opportunity to meet with the IOPC in person so that we can provide our statements and relevant evidence. The IOPC investigations come after a series of failures meant the killer was free to carry out his murderous attack, with Ms Webber, whose son was a student at the University of Nottingham alongside his friend Ms OMalley-Kumar, accusing police of having blood on your hands. Directing her anger towards Nottinghamshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin in an emotional speech outside court, the distraught mother said: If you had just done your job properly, theres a very good chance my beautiful boy would be alive today. James Coates, son of Ian Coates, Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O'Malley-Kumar speak to the media in London (PA) Mr Griffin admitted in a statement that the force should have done more to arrest Calocane before the fatal attacks. Sir Keir Starmer is among those who have called for a public inquiry, saying it is the least these families are owed. IOPC Director of Operations, Steve Noonan, said: Our sympathies are with the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace OMalley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and everyone else affected by the tragic events which took place on June 13 last year. We have now decided to investigate complaints made about Nottinghamshire Polices involvement with Valdo Calocane. Along with this, we are investigating the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, which we announced last week. The Attorney General has ordered an independent review into the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and its decision to accept Calocanes guilty pleas to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. A report examining the actions of the CPS will be published on 25 March. 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 }} Tributes have been paid to a brilliant headteacher who has died while on a holiday in France with friends. News of the sudden death of Simon Gibbs, principal of New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Essex, was shared with parents on Monday. The headteacher died in an accident on Saturday evening, wrote Johanna Thompson, the academys regional education director, who described him as a much-loved colleague. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was supporting Mr Gibbs family while working with local authorities. In her letter to parents, Ms Thompson wrote: I am very sorry to be writing with the tragic news Simon Gibbs, our principal, died over the weekend. From what we understand there was an accident on Saturday evening whilst Simon was away for the weekend with some friends in France. This is obviously devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Simons family at this impossible time. She added: Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously. He will be remembered for his integrity and passion for teaching, as well as his dedication to the community of New Rickstones. The school is now planning a right way to remember Mr Gibbs and celebrate his commitment to the community. Mr Gibbs took over a principal at the school in September 2021 having worked as assistant head and deputy head after joining in 2018. He had previously been head of mathematics at Maltings Academy, also in Witham. He studied at Cardiff University, graduating with a masters degree in financial economics in 2004. On Facebook, people in the community paid tribute to the teacher. Jenna Jarvis wrote: He was the person to go too and always got back to you straight away to help. I was only just speaking to him last week about helping one of my daughters. He had such a lovely kind heart and would help anyone. Sarah Smith wrote: My girls are gutted and so are we. He was an amazing teacher and headteacher. He cared so much about his pupils. Sending hugs to his family and colleagues at this hard time. 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 }} British farmers say they have been forced to burn their sheeps wool rather than sell it because of the measly prices they sell for in the UK. As demand for mass-produced synthetic fibres increases, flock owners claim they are being offered too little for farmed goods. In the 1950s, a British farmer could fetch 14 per kilogram of fleece and the wool cheque would often cover a farms rent. But this value has plummeted to less than 72p in 2022 - with Covid and the rise in synthetic fibres worsening the situation. Lincolnshire farmers Jade Bett and her husband Richard are some of the farmers who no longer believe selling their wool is financially viable at such a measly cost. The pedigree sheep breeders, who tend to a flock of 260 in Yarburgh, say they are burning their wool out of protest as well as out of practicality. Many farmers sell their fleeces through British Wool, a public body that was established in 1950. A spokesman for British Wool told The Independent that prices are improving. The British Wool is a public body that was established in 1950 to promote the sale of British wool and provide services to sheep farmers in the UK (PA) Its a sad situation, Mrs Bett told the BBC. I might get a cheque for 30 quid. She added: Ive got to take my time and transport it. Its not worth it. Wool prices first began to decline in the 20th century as international markets started to offer mass-produced cheaper synthetic materials. With the rise of sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion, there has been a recent resurgance of interest in British wool. Some farmers, such as Karen Hames from North Lincolnshire, have embraced this trend and make blankets from the wool. Fashion designers need to come and look to see what fleeces farmers have to offer, Ms Hames told the BBC. That would be the icing on the cake for me. The National Sheep Association sympathised with farmers but also said burning fleece in protest could see the end of British wool altogether. If everyone has that attitude of its costing me too much money to send it, Im going to burn it and bury it, then British wool is no more, Nicola Noble said. British Wool told The Independent that the majority of the material comes to the organisation and is sold for use in a wide range of products across the world. They also added that prices are in fact rising for the wool by up to 25% at auction. Wool prices are increasing, and we have seen a 25% increase in our auction prices since September, a spokesperson said. They added: We work with many farmers who use their own wool to produce amazing products and would always encourage and support this kind of entrepreneurial spirit. We urge any farmers thinking of burning their wool to contact us. 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 }} An artist has threatened to destroy artworks by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol with acid if Julian Assange dies in prison. Russian artist Andrei Molodkin claims to have gathered 16 masterpieces worth more than 42m and says he will destroy with an extremely corrosive substance strong enough to turn the art into debris. Mr Molodkin says he will trigger the chemical reaction within a 29-tonne safe if the Wikileaks founder dies in prison where he is currently being held. The project is called Dead Mans Switch and comes ahead of the Wikileaks founders final appeal against being extradited to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act. Assange, 51, has been held in Londons high security Belmarsh Prison for almost five years while US authorities seek to extradite him to face trial on espionage charges linked to the publication of hundreds of thousands of documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. A giant billboard in Melbourne calls for the release of the WikiLeaks founder (AFP via Getty Images) The Wikileaks founder is wanted on 18 charges by the US government, which accuses him of conspiring to hack into military databases to acquire sensitive information. He denies any wrongdoing and will have his final appeal heard in the High Court on 20 and 21 February. He could face a substantial prison sentence if he is extradited and the campaign against it is supported by human rights and journalists organisations across the world. Speaking about the project, Mr Molodkin told Sky News: In our catastrophic time - when we have so many wars - to destroy art is much more taboo than to destroy the life of a person. Since Julian Assange has been in prison... freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of information has started to be more and more repressed. I have this feeling very strongly now. Artist Andrei Molodkin plans to destroy 16 pieces of art if Assange dies in prison ( ) He added that he would feel no emotion if the art was destroyed because freedom is much more important. Mr Molodkin said he would not be revealing which pieces of art were in the safe but claimed it included big names such as Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jannis Kounellis and himself. The safe is being kept at the artists studio in the south of France but may be moved to a museum. The switch has a 24-hour countdown timer that must be reset before it reaches zero to prevent a pneumatic pump connecting two white barrels - one with acid powder and the other with an accelerator - releasing a chemical reaction. The timer will be reset by someone close to Assange as they confirm he is still alive each day. If Assange is released alive, the art will be returned to their owners. The project has been backed by Assanges wife, Stella (WikiLeaks/PA) The project has been backed by Assanges wife, Stella, who told the broadcaster: Which is the greater taboo - destroying art or destroying human life? Dead Mans Switch is a work of art. Julians political imprisonment is an act of real terrorism against democracy. If democracy wins, the art will be preserved - as will Julians life. Art gallery owner Giampaolo Abbondio claims to have provided the Picasso artwork for the safe after he was convinced by Mr Molodkin. It got me round to the idea that its more relevant for the world to have one Assange than an extra Picasso, so I decided to accept, Mr Abbondio told Sky News. Picasso can vary from 10,000 to 100 million but I dont think its the number of zeros that makes it more relevant when were talking about a human life. 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 }} Following his diagnosis of an undisclosed form of cancer, King Charles has been forced to step away from some of his public-facing royal duties. The King, 75, was diagnosed with a form of the disease discovered during an unrelated operation for an enlarged prostate at the end of January, Buckingham palace said when they revealed the news last Monday. Follow live updates here Charles was last seen on Tuesday afternoon when he arrived back in London with the Queen for his second round of treatment. It is the third time he has been spotted since his diagnosis, the first being leaving Clarence House one week before and the second being when he was pictured smiling and waving as he attended a church service in Sandringham on Sunday. While officials and members of the royal family say that the King remains wholly positive about his treatment, he will still have to step back from public duties, with senior royals expected to stand in for him. So will Charles abdicate, and how will the cancer diagnosis affect his royal duties? The Independent has answered your questions below. King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and will be stepping back from his royal duties (PA) What has Charles been diagnosed with? King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. It is unclear what form of the disease he has, but it was discovered during unrelated treatment for an enlarged prostate. A statement from Buckingham 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. Will the King abdicate? The statement released by Buckingham Palace has given no indication that the King intends to step down. In fact, it suggests that he hopes to return to his duties in full in the future. The last British monarch to leave the throne was Edward VIII, but that was for personal reasons when he decided to marry American actor and divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936. Charles mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did not abdicate despite health struggles towards the end of her life. How will the diagnosis affect his royal duties? Charles will be stepping back from public duties during treatment for the disease on the advice of his doctors, according to Buckingham Palace. However, he will continue to oversee state business and official paperwork. He still carried out his weekly audience with the prime minister last Wednesday, albeit over the phone. The King returned to London on Tuesday to receive his second round of treatment after he spent a week at his estate in Sandringham. But the palace has made clear the King intends to return to his duties as soon as his health allows. In the statement, the Palace said: He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. Prince William and Kate are next in line to the throne if King Charles were to abdicate (REUTERS) Senior royals are expected to stand in for him, but a shortage of working royals could pose a potential problem in the coming months. The Prince of Wales returned to public duties last week, however the Princess of Wales is not expected to carry out any engagements until after Easter due to her own health issues. Both Prince Harry and Prince Andrew are no longer working royals, leaving only the Princess Royal and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie to hold the fort. The Princess Royal was the first to step up to take on official engagements after the diagnosis when she took on three separate events in one day last Tuesday. Prince William also returned to royal duties last week after taking a break to care for his family and wife following her abdominal surgery. How would an abdication work? If the King were to step down, his eldest son Prince William would automatically become the monarch, with his 10-year-old son Prince George becoming next in line to the throne. This would be followed by eight-year-old Princess Charlotte and five-year-old Prince Louis. In British history, only four monarchs have ever abdicated, the most recent being King Edward VIII who stepped down in 1936 to marry the twice-divorced socialite Wallis Simpson. Denmarks Queen Margrethe stepped aside for her son Crown Prince Frederik on New Years Eve (via REUTERS) This paved the way for the late Queen Elizabeth IIs father to become king. While such occurrences are rare, several European monarchs have abdicated their thrones in recent years in favour of their younger heirs. On New Years Eve, Margrethe II announced her abdication as Queen of Denmark, citing recent back surgery as her reason, with her son succeeding her as King Frederik X on 14 January. In 2014, Juan Carlos I of Spain left the throne in disgrace amid allegations of affairs, indiscretions and alleged financial wrongdoings. This followed the 2013 abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as well as King Albert II of Belgium, while Emperor Akihito left his thrown in Japan in 2019 due to his age and ill health. 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 was seen returning to London with the Queen on Tuesday as he prepares to undergo further treatment following his cancer diagnosis. The helicopter arrival of Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace came after the King made his first public appearance at Sandringham and thanked the public for the messages of support. The 75-year-old monarch arrived as downpours swept across London, and he was pictured waving to well-wishers as he and Camilla were driven to their residence at Clarence House. His return to the capital after his first bout of treatment last week came as it emerged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have relaunched their website using their regal titles. The couples website, called Sussex.com, is to issue updates on the Duke and Duchess activities. King Charles III arrives back at Clarence House in London after spending a week at Sandringham in Norfolk, following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis (PA) It was a week ago when Charles revealed he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer after treatment of an enlarged prostate at the private London hospital, The London Clinic. The shock diagnosis appeared to bring the family together with Harry flying from his home in Los Angeles last Tuesday - however, his stay lasted just over a day with the Duke of Sussex returning on Wednesday. Last Wednesday, at a charity gala for the London Air Ambulance Charity, Prince William thanked the public for its support for his father and also the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from abdominal surgery. On the same day, the King returned to Sandringham before, on Saturday night, issuing a statement in which he gave his heartfelt thanks for the support he had received while praising organisations which support cancer patients. King Charles made his first public outing since his cancer diagnosis at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) At St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Sunday, he made his first public outing, with around 100 people gathering to watch the monarch as he walked into church alongside the Rev Canon Dr Williams. Last week, the Camilla said the King was doing extremely well under the circumstances. Following his diagnosis, the head of state has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. Last week, he issued a statement congratulating Grenada on its 50th year of independent. He apologised for being unable to visit the Caribbean island, adding hed missed the chance to enjoy the Caribbean islands national dish, a stew known as Oil Down. There has also been an indication that the King will resume weekly meetings in person with Rishi Sunak this month. The statement issued on behalf of King Charles on Saturday night (Buckingham Palace/PA Wire) In the meantime, senior royals are expected to stand in for him, with William appearing to take a leading role. The Prince of Wales could step in for his father during the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, and represent the king at a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece at the end of the month. He is also due to appear at the Baftas on 18 February, however his attendance is said to be dependent on how his wifes recovery continues over the coming week. 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. 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 }} The King has become one of hundreds of thousands of Britons diagnosed with cancer every year. A statement released on Monday afternoon 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. Here are some questions answered about what is known so far about Charles condition. What type of cancer has the King been diagnosed with? The King has been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. Buckingham Palace said that during Charles recent procedure for a benign prostate enlargement a separate issue of concern was noted. Further diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer, the Palace said. A Palace spokesperson confirmed that it is not prostate cancer. King Charles (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) What kind of diagnostic tests were performed? Details of the type of test have not been divulged but diagnostic tests for cancer can involve blood tests, scans and biopsies. A biopsy is a medical procedure that involves taking a small sample so it can be examined under a microscope to identify whether there are abnormal cells present. What is being done? The Palace has confirmed that Charles started a schedule of regular treatments. This could involve chemotherapy a medicine is used to kill cancer cells; radiotherapy a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells; or targeted cancer drugs that find and attack cancer cells. He will be treated as an outpatient which means that he will not have to stay in hospital while having treatment. The King started his treatment on Monday and remains at home in London this evening, a spokesperson confirmed. How is the King feeling? The Palace announced that under medical advisement, Charles will be stepping back from public-facing duties. But he is still able to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual, officials said. They added that the King remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. Will his diagnosis raise awareness? When the King shared his diagnosis of an enlarged prostate there was a significant increase in searches for the condition on the NHS website. On the day after the announcement there were 16,410 visits to the NHS websites prostate enlargement page compared with 1,414 visits the previous day. Buckingham Palace said that the King chose to share his cancer diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. How many people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK? According to Macmillan Cancer Support around 393,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. When the King was Prince of Wales he was patron of a number of cancer-related charities. He often spoke in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and health professionals. 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 }} Sir Keir Starmer is under fire after pulling his support for Labours Rochdale by-election candidate over a series of remarks he made about Israel. The Labour leader backed Azhar Ali to contest the by-election despite him having been recorded suggesting that Israel had allowed the 7 October Hamas attack to take place in order to invade Gaza. But, in a dramatic climbdown on Monday night, the party said its support for Mr Ali had been withdrawn following new information about further comments. He has also been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation. The latest comments were revealed by the Daily Mail and came at the same Lancashire Labour Party meeting Mr Ali made his earlier remarks about Israel. He is alleged to have said people in the media from certain Jewish quarters were giving crap about MP Andy McDonald, who was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase between the river and the sea in a speech during a rally. He is also reported to have claimed Israel planned to get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza and grab some of the land. Labours candidate for Rochdale Azhar Ali lost the partys support on Monday (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire) Labour had come under serious pressure to disown Mr Ali after his initial comments emerged, with party figures and opposition MPs siezing on the remarks. But the party publicly stood by their candidate, with shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds insisting it would be unfair to conclude there is a problem with Labour in Rochdale, adding that Mr Ali had simply fallen for an online conspiracy theory. John Mann, the governments independent adviser on antisemitism, said Sir Keir should sack the advisers who handled Mr Alis case. The former Labour MP said: Those people have failed to get their act together, theyve created a mess. And Lord Mann told LBC the scandal has left the poor people of Rochdale with an invidious choice in the contest. The candidates remaining include ex-Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who was suspended from the party for exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a teenager, and divisive former Labour MP George Galloway. He also claimed there had been a transformation in the Labour Partys handling of antisemitism under Sir Keir. Sir Keir has sought to move his party on from the Corbyn era, during which the party was dogged by complaints over its handling of antisemitism in the party. The leadership is now being pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labour recently suspended the MP Kate Osamor after she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. Labours national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden told broadcasters the party acted because new information and more comments have come to light which meant that we had to look at this situation again. But the author of a report into Labour under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, which found the left and right of the party weaponised antisemitism, said there was a disparity in how disciplinary cases are treated. Martin Forde KC said: This was a very inflammatory thing (for Mr Ali) to say. That there is some complicity to justify retaliatory attacks was clearly antisemitic. And Mr Forde said Labour MPs Ms Osamor and Diane Abbott both apologised immediately after they were accused of antisemitism, but "things seemed to drag on in terms of disciplining certain elements of the party, and be dealt with swiftly in others". Now thats the perception, I cant quantify it, but I do think its something that leadership should be concerned to, in a away, dilute, or if it is in fact the case, they need to give reassurance to members of the voting public and to their members that people will be treated fairly, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. A Labour spokesperson said: Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate. The decision to withdraw backing for the candidate will come as a blow to the party, which had hoped to retain the seat following the death last month of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd. Mr Ali, who is also a Lancashire County Councillor, apologised to the Jewish community and retracted his original remarks, which he described as deeply offensive, ignorant and false. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer initially backed Mr Ali, but withdrew the partys support for him on Monday night (PA Wire) The decision to withdraw support for the candidate came the same day that shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Mr Ali had fallen for an online conspiracy theory and insisted Labour would continue this campaign in Rochdale. Frontbenchers Lisa Nandy and Anneliese Dodds had been out campaigning for Mr Ali in the constituency at the weekend, though Ms Dodds had campaigned for Mr Ali on Saturday morning, before the comments came to light. Rishi Sunak, speaking to GB News viewers on Monday at an event in County Durham, said it was a con to suggest Labour has been reformed. He said: Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year trying to tell everybody Okay, Labour Partys changed. Well, look what just happened in Rochdale. He accused Sir Keir of having stood by and sent cabinet ministers to support him, until literally five minutes before I walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, has decided to change his mind on principle. No principles at all, he added. Labours decision will add considerable uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election when voters go to the polls at the end of the month. Mr Danczuk is standing as the candidate for Nigel Farages Reform Party and Mr Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain, is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. About 20 per cent of the electorate and 30 per cent of the population of the town are Asian, with polls nationally suggesting Labours vote could be hit by Asian people unhappy with the party over Palestine and its perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: Sir Keir Starmer has blotted an otherwise fairly admirable copybook and given the public reason to doubt the earnestness of his promise to tear antisemitism out by its roots in Labour. People will have to judge for themselves whether the additional reported comments by Azhar Ali are really any worse than the comments that had already been reported. Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labours withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour. 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 }} Britain is facing a tornado of anti-Jewish racism working its way through the country, the governments antisemitism tsar has warned. John Mann, the governments independent adviser on antisemitism, has called on political leaders from all parties to get their collective acts together to sort this out. The ex-Labour MPs dramatic intervention comes amid the latest antisemitism scandal engulfing Labour, after Sir Keir Starmer dropped the partys Rochdale by-election candidate over comments he made about Israel. Lord Mann told LBC that it was hardly a surprise Labour had been forced to pull its support for Azhar Ali, who was recorded saying Israel had allowed the October 7 Hamas attack to take place in order to invade Gaza. And, asked whether the Labour Party is still struggling with antisemitism, Lord Mann said: There is antisemitism manifesting all over the country. Lord Mann is the governments independent adviser on antisemitism (PA) There is clearly some in the Labour Party, but we should not ignore what is happening in the universities - Birmingham University, Leeds University. Birmingham students reportedly chanted death to Zionists during a protest on the universitys campus, leading Jewish students fearing for their safety. Meanwhile a Jewish chaplain at Leeds University was forced into hiding after being targeted with death threats and anti-Semitic protests, according to reports. Lord Mann, who has been the adviser on antisemitism since 2019, said he has seen the worst things in many years in terms of the brutality of antisemitism going on. Labour candidate Azhar Ali, who has sparked controversy while standing as a candidate in the Rochdale byelection (Getty Images) I am dealing with this literally every waking hour, firefighting, assisting Jewish people who have been targeted in industry, culture, sports all over this is happening. We have a tornado of antisemitism working through the country and the political leaders need to get their collective acts together to sort this out. The Metropolitan Police has reported a massive increase in antisemitic hate crimes since Israel invaded Gaza, in response to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. In the period between 30 September and 13 October, the force recorded 105 incidents of antisemitism and 75 offences up from just 14 incidents and 12 offences during the same period in 2022. And Sir Keir has also warned of a rise in anti-Jewish racism as he vowed never to let antisemitism take hold in the Labour Party again. The Labour leader said antisemitism had taken a new shape in the wake of Hamass October 7 terror attacks on Israel, with those who hate Jews hiding behind pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Addressing the Jewish Labour Movements (JLM) conference last month, Sir Keir said: Let me assure you, we will never let antisemitism sneak back into the Labour Party under cover. I see no greater cause in my leadership than this. This is my role. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court Plenum has held a meeting to approve the protocol of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan and the results of the recent presidential election, Trend reports. Reporting judges Sona Salmanova and Kamran Shafiyev delivered speeches at Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court's plenary meeting following the recent extraordinary presidential election. Salmanova said that the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan summarized the information received from all polling stations about the election results and submitted it to the Constitutional Court along with the relevant documents for approval of the election protocol. Shafiyev noted that the election was held in accordance with the law, and, according to the protocol on the election results, Ilham Aliyev won with a majority of votes. Speaking about the electoral process at the meeting, CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov mentioned that the presidential election was held in 125 electoral districts. Panahov discussed the favorable conditions provided for candidates, emphasizing the allocation of free airtime and newspaper space. "The CEC registered an ample number of local and foreign observers and installed webcams in 20 percent of polling stations to guarantee the freedom, democracy, and transparency of the election," the CEC chairman said. He also mentioned that seven candidates were registered for the presidential election, and equal conditions were provided for all candidates throughout the electoral process. "The election saw active voter participation. On voting day, the processes were extensively covered, both through information disseminated by the CEC and via webcams," Panahov added. Farkhad Abdullaev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, announced the results at the session, and the Constitutional Court's Plenum approved the presidential election results. Abdullaev stated that, according to the legislation, Ilham Aliyev is regarded as Azerbaijan's elected president for the next seven years. The ruling is final, and no appeals are entertained. In announcing the judgment, Abdullaev added that the Constitutional Court's Plenum, with the participation of interested parties, summarized and validated the information included in the protocol, which is part of Azerbaijan's constitution. The Central Election Commission's protocol on the results of the presidential elections accords with the Electoral Code. Ilham Aliyev was declared President. On February 7, Azerbaijan held its presidential election. Seven candidates ran in the race. According to the most recent data from Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilham Aliyev won with 92.12 percent (4,567,458) of the vote. According to the CEC, Zahid Oruj received 2.17 percent of the votes (107,632 votes), Fazil Mustafa received 1.99 percent (98,421 votes), Gudrat Hasanguliyev received 1.72 percent (85,411 votes), Razi Nurullayev received 0.80 percent (39,643 votes), Elshad Musayev received 0.66 percent (32,885 votes), and Fuad Aliyev received 0.54 percent (26,517 votes). Voter turnout in the election was 76.43 percent. Article 103 of the Constitution requires the elected president to take the oath within three days following the Constitutional Court's official pronouncement of the presidential election results. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The director of an influential Labour think-tank has apologised after suggesting the government should put people-smugglers on a barge and ship it to the north of Scotland. Fuelling tensions just days ahead of Scottish Labours annual conference, Josh Simons apologised for his poorly judged comment made in jest which was denounced as stupid and cringe by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Speaking to LBC on Monday, Mr Simons whose group Labour Together has close links to Sir Keir Starmers top team said his main concern with Rishi Sunaks ailing policy of sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda is not actually the human rights implications of it. My main concern is this is a complete waste of money and it wont work, it wont stop the boats, said Mr Simons, who harbours hopes of becoming a Labour MP, according to a source. Thats the thing Rishi Sunak said: judge me by stopping the boats. Hes failed and he keeps failing, and meanwhile he is spending 8m a day, so far 400m. My problem with Rwanda is it wont work, so the question is what are you going to do instead? I think while the Conservatives say they are being tough on the borders and beefing up policing and so on, Ive seen no real evidence thats in fact what they are doing with the commitment and clarity they need to. Why dont you send the smuggler gangs and put them on the barge that has been set aside for the asylum seekers, and then ship the barge up to the north of Scotland for all I you know, who cares? The comments have provoked outrage among Scottish politicians, with Angus Robertson among top SNP figures seizing on the remarks as a timely reminder that Labour always took Scotland for granted. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the comments made by Josh Simons were stupid (Peter Byrne/PA) They were also condemned at the top of the Scottish Labour Party. Speaking to the Daily Record, Mr Sarwar said: Every party has elements on the fringes that give them moments of cringe. The party leader added: He doesnt represent the Labour Party and its actually quite a serious issue he trivialised. I think people that are making stupid, flippant comments like that are best ignored. And Monica Lennon, a senior Labour MSP, said: There should be no place in the Labour Party for these disgraceful comments. Not caring about the human rights of people seeking asylum and disrespecting the people of Scotland all in one breath is quite something. Formed in 2015 by Labour frontbenchers such as Rachel Reeves, Wes Streeting, and Lisa Nandy, Labour Together claims to have united the party behind Keir Starmers leadership, while developing bold new ideas for the next Labour government. Mr Simons became the groups director in 2022, having also worked as a Harvard research fellow, a visiting research scientist in AI at Facebook, and a policy adviser to the Labour Party. Josh Simons suggested people-smugglers should be shipped on a barge to northern Scotland, adding: Who cares? (LBC screengrab) He previously told Politico he was proud to take over an organisation that played such a vital role in ridding our party of antisemitism, making Labour electable again, and uniting the party around Keir Starmer, and claimed Labour Together would build networks that will help Labour win and deliver its agenda. Responding to the backlash over his remarks to LBC, he wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday: Following my comments on LBC last night, I apologise for any negative insinuation about Scotland. Im half Scottish, I love the country and it is where much of my family comes from. It was a poorly judged comment made in jest and doesnt reflect my views, or the views of the Labour Party. I was seeking to draw attention to the immorality of housing asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution on a barge while smuggler gangs get off free under the Conservatives. His comments come after controversial Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson suggested on GB News that asylum-seekers who arrive on small boats should be sent to Orkney instead of Rwanda, which the prime minister is seeking to do despite it being ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. 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 }} Sir Keir Starmer is at the centre of a second antisemitism storm after Labour was forced to suspend a would-be MP just 24 hours after it ditched its candidate in the Rochdale by-election. The party acted after Graham Jones, the prospective Labour MP for Hyndburn, appeared to say that Britons who volunteer to fight for the Israel Defense Forces should be locked up. His taped comments, in which he also referred to f***ing Israel, were reportedly made in a rant to Labours former candidate in Rochdale, Azhar Ali, at a now infamous meeting at which Mr Ali claimed that Israel had allowed last Octobers Hamas terror attacks to take place so that it could use them as a pretext to attack Gaza. The latest row erupted just hours after Sir Keir insisted he had taken decisive action following accusations that the two-day delay in withdrawing support for Mr Ali was shambolic. Labour initially backed Mr Ali, saying he had fallen for an online conspiracy theory. But the party dramatically dropped him on Monday night after it emerged that he had also blamed people in the media from certain Jewish quarters for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP. The Conservatives said the furore showed that claims Labour had changed under Sir Keir were hollow. Just hours later, Mr Joness comments were reported by the Guido Fawkes website. A former MP, in 2018 he was questioned by police after branding the Israeli ambassador a tosser at his partys annual conference. Leaked audio reveals former Labour MP saying 'F****** Israel' Martin Forde KC, the author of a report about the culture in the Labour Party, said he considered Mr Joness comments antisemitic. He told LBC: I cant reach any other objective conclusion Im afraid. In the audio, Mr Jones also wrongly says it is against the law for Britons to fight for another country unless Britain has a military alliance with it. The Jewish Labour Movement, one of the oldest societies affiliated with the party, called for Mr Jones to be dropped. The Independent understands that he has been administratively suspended pending an investigation. While there is a process to formally remove a candidate, Mr Jones has been called in for an interview with the party on Tuesday night. A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism called on Labour to reveal whether other MPs, candidates or councillors had been present at the meeting at which Mr Jones is reported to have made his remarks, and why they said nothing about the remarks that were made, and indeed if more such remarks were made. In his first public comment since the row erupted on Sunday, Sir Keir pledged to investigate allegations against any Labour councillors or others present when Mr Ali made his widely condemned remarks. He has met both Mr Ali and Mr Jones, who have also met shadow frontbenchers such as Lisa Nandy. He also denied suggestions that he would have dumped the candidate for Rochdale sooner had Mr Ali been on the left of his party. Suspended candidate Graham Jones (right), and Azhar Ali (left), who has been ditched as Labours candidate in the Rochdale by-election, with shadow cabinet minister Lisa Nandy in 2022 (Supplied) Earlier, Mr Forde described Labours reaction in the two days since Mr Alis comments first emerged as pretty shambolic. He condemned the remarks as clearly antisemitic and inflammatory, and said that Labour should have withdrawn its support at the weekend: That to me would be the sensible thing to do. One does have to question how such individuals are selected in the first place, he said, adding that left-leaning Labour MPs feel there has been a disparity in treatment when it comes to allegations of antisemitism. Mr Fordes 2022 inquiry, commissioned by Sir Keir, found that both the left and right wings of the party had used antisemitism as a factional weapon under former leader Jeremy Corbyn. Appearing on the campaign trail in Wellingborough, Sir Keir defended the delay. He said: Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate. There was a fulsome apology. Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action. It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. Its a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it. He also denied he had stuck by Mr Ali because of factionalism, saying it makes no difference to me where somebody stands in the Labour Party. The governments antisemitism tsar, John Mann a former Labour MP said it was hardly a surprise that Labour had been forced to withdraw its support. Lord Mann called on political leaders from all parties to get their collective acts together to sort this out as he warned of a tornado of anti-Jewish racism working its way through the country. Labour MP Steve McCabe described the affair as embarrassing for his party, although he defended the decision to back Mr Ali initially to give him the benefit of the doubt that he said his apology in good faith. Keir Starmer insists that he means it when he says the Labour Party has changed under his leadership (Getty) A group of Tory MPs, including former defence secretary Ben Wallace, have also written to Labour to ask if any other Labour MPs or councillors were at the meeting and whether they spoke up to oppose the comments. Mr Ali initially apologised after he was recorded suggesting at a Labour Party meeting that Israel had used the 7 October assault by Hamas as an excuse to invade Gaza. On Monday night a party spokesperson said Labours backing for Mr Ali as the candidate for Rochdale had been withdrawn following new information about the aspiring MP, who is understood to have been suspended pending an investigation. Labour recently suspended an MP, Kate Osamor, after she appeared to suggest that the war in Gaza should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. She later apologised for her comments. Veteran MP Diane Abbott has also had the whip withdrawn after she suggested in a letter to The Observer last year that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism all their lives. She apologised and suggested that errors arose when the letter was being drafted. Mr Forde highlighted both cases, saying that things seemed to drag on in terms of disciplining certain elements of the party, and be dealt with swiftly in others. Sir Keir has boasted of turning his party around after controversies over alleged antisemitism dogged Mr Corbyns time as leader. Polls suggest that voters could turn away from Labour over its perceived support for Israel (PA) Labours U-turn has created uncertainty over who will win the Rochdale vote at the end of this month. Also standing are former Labour MP Simon Danczuk, now the Reform Party candidate, and ex-Labour MP George Galloway, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, who is campaigning against Labours stance on Gaza. Polls suggest Labours vote share could be hit by unhappiness over the partys perceived support for Israel. If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said Sir Keir had blotted an otherwise fairly admirable copybook and given the public reason to doubt the earnestness of his promise to tear antisemitism out by its roots. They added: People will have to judge for themselves whether the additional reported comments by Azhar Ali are really any worse than the comments that had already been reported. 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 has defended his under-fire Rwanda policy as the UK public grilled the prime minister live on TV. Mr Sunak faced questions from an audience of undecided and swing voters in County Durham on Monday night, including over his flagship deportation scheme. He argued illegal migration is profoundly unfair and is putting a strain on the countrys public services, while he cited compassion for vulnerable migrants who are being exploited by criminal gangs as another reason for implementing his plan. Speaking on GB News, Mr Sunak said: In order to fully solve this problem, we need a deterrent... Thats what Rwanda is all about. That is why I am absolutely committed to getting this bill through parliament and getting this scheme up and running. It comes as the Safety of Rwanda Bill came under scrutiny in the House of Lords earlier on Monday, facing opposition from both Labour and Conservative peers, who warned of their belief that the legislation would set a dangerous precedent for Britain. The PMs bill, which aims to overcome a Supreme Court ruling blocking the government from deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, is currently making its way through the upper chamber, with Mr Sunak on Monday night blaming the Labour Party for its slow progress. Mr Sunak faced questions from an audience of undecided and swing voters in County Durham on Monday night, including over his flagship deportation scheme (GB News) Describing the legislation as the toughest anyone has seen, he vowed: I will keep going. The Tory leader is facing one of the most challenging weeks of his premiership, as the opposition to his Rwanda Bill comes ahead of the release on Thursday of official figures revealing whether the country has slipped into a recession and two tricky by-elections. The PM used his platform on Monday night to take a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer who has become embroiled in a storm over remarks made about Israel by his partys Rochdaleby-election candidate Azhar Ali. Just minutes before Mr Sunak went on air, Labour withdrew its support for Mr Ali after he claimed Israel deliberately relaxed security to allow Hamas to carry out their 7 October attack, to provide grounds to invade Gaza, in a recording obtained by the Mail on Sunday. The PM accused the Labour leader of standing by the politician and having no principles at all. Sir Keir Starmer has claimed the Labour party has changed since the antisemitism crisis that engulfed Jeremy Corbyns leadership (PA Wire) Mr Ali has apologised for his deeply offensive remarks yet the controversy has prompted questions about Labour leader Sir Keirs claim the party has changed since the antisemitism crisis that engulfed Jeremy Corbyns leadership. Mr Sunak himself faced a backlash earlier this week after he accused the Labour leader in the Commons of being incapable of defining a woman while Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, was visiting Parliament. A member of Monday nights audience asked the prime minister why LGBT+ people should vote Conservative, pressing him on the trans community in particular. Azhar Ali has apologised for his deeply offensive remarks (PA Wire) The Tory leader replied: For people that are going through that, particularly children, we have to be sensitive, tolerant and understanding... But I also think in that issue that, particularly when it comes to questions over womens safety, that biological sex is important. He added: I really dont think that anything I just said is controversial. An issue that has blighted the entirety of Mr Sunaks premiership is worsening NHS waiting lists. The PM used his platform on Monday night to take a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer (GB News) In response to a question posed on the matter, Mr Sunak cited investments in the health service that might only reap benefits in years to come but that he is still making because they are the right thing to do. However, Mr Sunak admitted: We havent made enough of a dent in the waiting list. Although he went on to blame Covid and now ongoing strikes over pay, insisting: I know that we can get them down if we can get the strikes behind us. Acknowledging the tough times the country has faced in recent years, Mr Sunak encouraged the voters to stick with the plan of the Conservative party, insisting, The plans working. Conversely, he said: The alternative is going back to square one with the Labour Party. 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 }} Suella Braverman has said white people should not be made to feel guilty for being white, amid claims the countryside is racist. The former home secretary said it is wrong and dangerous to suggest the countryside is not welcoming to ethnic minorities because it is predominantly white. And she said it is wholly disempowering for non-white people to be judged by their skin colour rather than by character. Suella Braverman has said white people should not be made to feel guilty for being white (PA Wire) Ms Braverman, who was sacked as home secretary in November, was responding to a report by charity Wildlife and Countryside Link which said a perception that green spaces were dominated by white people can prevent people from ethnic minority backgrounds from using [them]. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Ms Braverman said: This [view] is not just wrong but dangerous. We need to stop making white people feel guilty for being white. She added: Its wholly disempowering for ethnic minorities to be judged by skin colour rather than by character. Why cast me as a victim and rob me of my agency? Why foster resentment? The truth is that so many people are terrified to challenge this groupthink which is taking over our country. Ms Braverman claimed people are frightened of losing their jobs if they challenge the groupthink of white privilege and unconscious bias awareness. Best just keep your head down, they think, she added. And she warned that if Labour wins the next election Britain would be overrun by self-censured identikit automatons who parrot the same Orwellian newspeak. It is the former home secretarys latest foray into the so-called culture wars, having been sacked for accusing Metropolitan Police chiefs of bias in their handling of pro-Palestine protests. She has railed against migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats and previously included on a list of people she dislikes the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati. In her Telegraph article, Ms Braverman said it is essential to relentlessly challenge Left-wing identity politics. Its a symptom of a deeper problem within our society the urge to constantly view everything through the lens of race or gender, plead victimhood and point the finger at an oppressor, she 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 }} The US government has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane from a Venezuelan firm and will now try to figure out how it got there. Officials think the plane was previously sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a state-owned Venezuelan firm in violation of American export control laws. The Justice Department said Monday that the American-built plane had arrived in Florida and would be disposed of. The plane had earlier been transferred from Iranian airline Mahan Air which officials have alleged provides support for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force to Emtrasur, a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of a state-owned firm that had previously been sanctioned by the United State. Officials said the sale, done without US government authorization, violated export control laws and also improperly benefited Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Mahan Air has for years been subject to US government restrictions on its business. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the department's national security division, said in a statement. The plane was detained in June 2022 by Argentine law enforcement, and US officials moved several weeks later to take possession of it. Argentina officially transferred custody of the plane to the US on Sunday, officials said. A Venezuelan-owned Boeing 747, operated by Venezuelas state-owned Emtrasur cargo line (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Justice Department said the plane would now be "prepared for disposition," though it did not elaborate. The Justice Department has identified the registered captain of the plane as an ex-commander for the Revolutionary Guard. Officials also cited a flight log they say was recovered that shows additional flights after the transfer to Emtrasur to locations including Moscow, Caracas and Tehran all without U.S. government approval. Mahan Air has denied any ties to the aircraft, and Venezuela has demanded that Argentine authorities release the plane. On Sunday, members of a Venezuelan-led, left-leaning alliance condemned Argentina for its role in the plane being seized by the US, characterizing the actions as theft. The Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America Peoples Trade Treaty argued that the actions violate international law. This aggression is another consequence of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the government of the United States that threaten the sovereignty of Venezuela and violate the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law, the group, commonly known as the Alba Alliance, said in a statement. The alliance was created in 2004 by Venezuela and Cuba in a bid to counter U.S. influence in the region. Nicaragua, Bolivia and some Caribbean nations are among its current members. 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 }} Genesse Ivonne Morenos name hit headlines this week after she entered Joel Osteens Lakewood Church and opened fire, in an attack that left her dead and her own seven-year-old son fighting for his life in hospital. But she has been known by many other names. Houston police revealed that the 36-year-old went by several aliases over the years. Criminal records, seen by The Independent, show multiple arrests under a string of different names, including the male name Jeffrey Escalante. In fact, Moreno had a lengthy criminal record stretching back almost 20 years. She also had a history of mental health issues. And she appears to have once donated to Osteens megachurch. So who really was Moreno and what was her motive for opening fire at a Houston place of worship? Lakewood Church shooter identified The shooting At around 1.53pm on Sunday 11 February, Moreno drove to the church in Houston along with her seven-year-old son. Carrying a bag and wearing a trench coat, Moreno and the boy entered the building from the west side. Police said that, once inside, Moreno opened fire with an AR-15 which had a sticker with the word Palestine on the butt of the firearm. Two off-duty police officers confronted her and returned fire, killing her. A 57-year-old man was shot in the leg and has since been released from hospital. However, Morenos seven-year-old boy also suffered a gunshot wound to the head and is fighting for his life in Texas Childrens Hospital. Police said that the shooter had been armed with two weapons an AR-15 that she used during the shooting and a .22 calibre rifle. The motive Police are unclear as to what motivated Moreno to carry out the shootings and why she targeted the church although she appears to have once donated money to the megachurch. A social media post from March 2020, seen by CNN, showed a screenshot of a letter from Lakewood Church thanking Moreno for a donation. The Independent has not been able to verify this and Morenos social media accounts have now been taken down. Home in Conroe tied to Moreno where police carried out search (AP) Christopher Hassig, with the Houston Police Departments homicide unit, said at a press conference that Moreno had the word Palestine on her AR-15 and that they had also recovered some antisemitic writings. At the time of the shooting, Moreno was in the middle of a familial dispute with her ex-husband and his family, who are Jewish, Mr Hassig said. We think this is where this stems from, Mr Hassig said. Despite this, officials are urging against speculating at this time, as the investigation is still in its early stages. Its way too early to determine a motive for the shooters actions, and were not in the business of speculating, said Doug Williams, FBIs special agent in charge of the Houston field office. Moreno has been described as a lone wolf, and the investigation so far believes she acted alone. Shooters criminal history Moreno has a long criminal record filled with previous arrests for assault, marijuana possession, forgery, theft, evading and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to criminal history records obtained by Fox26. She was first arrested in 2005 on a misdemeanour charge. Her latest arrest before the shooting occurred in 2022, according to the records, for unlawfully carrying a weapon and received two days in jail. Moreno used several aliases, using both male and female names. However, police said that: All the investigation to this point, she has been identified the entire time as female. One of her aliases was the name Jeffrey Escalante and several of her arrests are under this name. Genesse Moreno died at the scene after two off-duty police officers shot and killed her after she opened fired in the megachurch (Supplied) Mental health concerns There are questions circulating about how Moreno was able to legally purchase a firearm, especially as recently as December, due to her history of mental health concerns. Police said on Monday that Moreno was placed under an emergency detention order by officers in 2016 and has a mental health history documented by Houston police. Divorce records from Montgomery County obtained by local outlets also painted a picture of an alleged history of mental health issues. The records state that Child Protective Services investigated the family a number of times and found that Moreno was diagnosed as schizophrenic and had a history of erratic paranoid, stalking behaviour and was diagnosed as exhibiting Munchausen by proxy. No one else was killed in the shooting, although a seven-year-old boy is in critical condition (AP) She once stored a loaded gun in her then-three-year-old sons diaper bag, the records state. The records also state that Morenos ex-husband is a registered sex offender and that her son has special needs. On her social media accounts, the shooter described herself as the founder of a real estate and financial services firm, according to ABC13 and CNN. Close Lakewood church shooter used rifle with Palestine sticker, police say 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 spotlight is on Texas gun laws after a woman with a history of mental illness and a criminal record was able to legally purchase a gun and walk into Joel Osteens megachurch in Houston. Genesse Moreno, 36, opened fire at the church sparking a gunfight with two off-duty cops that left her son fighting for his life in hospital. He remains in critical condition. In the days since, information has emerged about Morenos mental health and criminal history raising questions around whether something could have been done to have prevented the shooting. Police said she had legally purchased the AR-15 rifle in December 2023 despite the fact that court records show that in 2022, she was arrested for a weapons misdemeanour charge. Now all eyes are turning to Texas lax gun laws particularly the states absence of red flag laws. Red flag laws which allow for police to intervene if someone shows signs that they are a danger to themselves or others. A court can take away their guns or prevent them from buying one. The issue is, in Texas, there is no red flag law. 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 }} Lakewood Church shooterGenesse Moreno reportedly donated money to the Texas megachurch years before she took her seven-year-old son to the religious institution and opened fire inside. On Sunday, the 36-year-old walked into Joel Osteens megachurch around 1.50pm with her seven-year-old son and armed with an AR-15 rifle. Inside, she began shooting in the hallway of the building, sending worshippers running for cover. Two off-duty police officers returned fire, fatally shooting Moreno. Her seven-year-old son was also shot in the head amid the chaos. Her son was rushed to hospital where he remains in critical condition. Another victim a 57-year-old man was also shot in the leg; he has since been released from the hospital. Years before the shooting, however, Morenos social media posts have revealed that she once sent money to the megachurch where she then chose to carry out her attack, CNN reported. Genesse Moreno in mug shot (Supplied) In March 2020, she posted a screenshot of a letter from Lakewood Church thanking her for her donation. Morenos social media accounts have since been taken down. The Independent has reached out to the Houston Police Department for more information but has not been able to independently verify the post or the donation. The motive of the shooting remains unclear, but Houston Police Department Commander Christopher Hassig said that Moreno penned antisemitic writings prior to the shooting and was in the middle of a familial dispute with her ex-husband, whose family is Jewish. We think this is where this stems from, he said. The AR-15 used in the attack also had a sticker reading Palestine on it, police said. Police said that Moreno had a documented mental health history something that has been echoed by her ex-husbands family and divorce records. A woman who identified herself on Facebook as Morenos former mother-in-law said that Moreno was taking medication for schizophrenia. Divorce records from Montgomery County, obtained by Fox26, state that Moreno was diagnosed as schizophrenic and had a history of erratic paranoid, stalking behaviour and was diagnosed as exhibiting Munchausen by proxy. She once stored a loaded gun in her then-three-year-old sons diaper bag, the records state. Police also said that Moreno went by several aliases including some male names. Criminal records also identify her as Jeffery Escalante with the middle name Genesse. Despite the male name, authorities said, through all the investigation to this point, she has been identified the entire time as female. Thr criminal records, seen by The Independent, show Moreno had an expansive criminal history spanning from 2005 to 2022, including arrests including for assault, marijuana possession, forgery, theft, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. With the exception of the arrest pertaining to her alleged unlawful carrying of a weapon in 2022, all of the arrests are under the name Jeffery Escalante. 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 former mother-in-law of the Lakewood Church shooter has slammed Texasgun laws and the states child protective services for failing her seven-year-old grandson, as he lies fighting for his life in hospital. Genesse Moreno, 36, drove with her young son to Joel Osteens megachurch in Houston on Sunday 11 February, where she then opened fire with an AR-15 rifle. Moreno was fatally shot by two off-duty police officers who returned fire. Her seven-year-old son was also caught in the crosshairs, and suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Walli Carranza, Morenos former mother-in-law, has since taken to Facebook to speak about the completely preventable horror the family is now facing. In the lengthy post, she claimed that Morenos mental health struggles combined with the states lax gun laws had led to the shooting and not antisemitism as has been suggested. Houston Police officials said at a press conference on Monday that Moreno had a documented mental health history and had been placed under an emergency detention order by police in 2016. Ms Carranza wrote that when Moreno had been taking medication for schizophrenia, she was a very sweet and loving woman. Genesse Moreno in mug shot (Supplied) The grandmother also refused to blame the two police officers who may have struck her grandson when they returned fire. No one may ever blame a police officer who carries out his or her rightful duty to save lives even if they are found responsible for shooting my grandson, she wrote. The fault lies in a Child Protective Services of Montgomery County and Harris County which refused to remove custody from a woman with known mental illness who was not being treated and with the State of Texas for not having strong red flag laws that would have prevented (Moreno) from owning or possessing a gun. Police uncovered two weapons from the scene: the AR-15 that was used in the shooting as well as a .22 calibre rifle. Moreno didnt fire the .22 rifle it was recovered from her bag, police said. Despite being arrested for a misdemeanour of unlawfully carrying a weapon in 2022, in December 2023 Moreno legally purchased the AR-15 rifle. Ms Carranza also addressed another point raised by police. Authorities said they had uncovered antisemitic writings penned by Moreno. On top of this, police noted that there appeared to be a familial dispute between Moreno and her ex-husbands family some of whom are Jewish. Police also said at Mondays press conference that a sticker reading Palestine was stuck on the weapon used in the shooting. Ms Carranza dismissed that this played a part. Although my former daughter-in-law raged against Israel and Jews in a pro-Palestinian rant yesterday, this has nothing to do with Judaism or Islam. Nothing! Ms Carranza wrote. But this is what happens when reckless and irresponsible reporting lets people with severe mental illness have an excuse for violence. The grandmother signed off the Facebook post as Rabbi Willi Carranza. Ms Carranza expanded on her claims when talking to KHOU. She had a particular kind of schizophrenia that caused her to become violent, she told the outlet. She threatened her husband, my own son, and we still couldnt get intervention. We asked for help from CPS... We asked for help from police and received it many times but she was still allowed to own guns, Ms Carranza continued. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokesperson Melissa Lanford told The Indpendent in a statement: Child Protective Services is investigating the shooting at Lakewood Church alongside law enforcement. At this time, DFPS cannot provide additional information because specific details of investigations are confidential according to law. The motive for the shooting has not yet been determined by police. In addition to a reported mental health history, Moreno also had a criminal history dating from 2005 through 2022 and she used several aliases including both male and female names, police said. However, all the investigation to this point, she has been identified the entire time as female, police said. Interestingly, most of her arrests are listed under the name Jeffery Escalante with the middle name Genesse. The 2022 misdemeanour weapons charges, however, listed her as Genesse Moreno. Her drivers license also used this name, police said. Other outlets revealed that in March 2020, Moreno posted a screenshot of a letter from the megachurch thanking her for her donation. The Independent has not independently verified the post, as her social media accounts have been taken down, but has contacted the Houston Police Department. The investigation is still ongoing. Police stressed that Moreno acted as a lone wolf. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court Plenum has held a meeting on the early presidential election, Trend reports. Farkhad Abdullaev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, announced the results at the session, and the Constitutional Court's Plenum approved the presidential election results. Abdullaev stated that, according to the legislation, Ilham Aliyev is regarded as Azerbaijan's elected president for the next seven years. The ruling is final, and no appeals are entertained. In announcing the judgment, Abdullaev added that the Constitutional Court's Plenum, with the participation of interested parties, summarized and validated the information included in the protocol, which is part of Azerbaijan's constitution. The Central Election Commission's protocol on the results of the presidential elections accords with the Electoral Code. Ilham Aliyev was declared President. Seven candidates competed in the presidential election. The final results of the presidential election held in Azerbaijan on February 7 were announced at a meeting of the Central Election Commission on February 11. Ilham Aliyev won with 92.12 percent (4,567,458) of the vote. Zahid Oruj received 2.17 percent of the votes (107,632 votes), Fazil Mustafa received 1.99 percent (98,421 votes), Gudrat Hasanguliyev received 1.72 percent (85,411 votes), Razi Nurullayev received 0.80 percent (39,643 votes), Elshad Musayev received 0.66 percent (32,885 votes), and Fuad Aliyev received 0.54 percent (26,517 votes). Voter turnout in the election was 76.43 percent. Article 103 of the Constitution requires the elected president to take the oath within three days following the Constitutional Court's official pronouncement of the presidential election results. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 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 Buddhist monk at a temple in Brooklyn managed to fend off two armed robbers with a shelf bracket on Sunday, it was reported. The monk, Bun Sim was sleeping in his third-floor bedroom at the Watt Samakki Buddhist Temple in Brooklyn, New York, when the robbers, armed with a gun and a knife, entered attempting to steal valuables. Despite their efforts, the thieves only managed to take a small amount of cash from the donation jar and personal belongings from the monks and a retired handyman present at the time at the temple at Rugby Road in Flatbush. At least one assailant had a gun, according to the police. Mr Sim told Daily News that one of the robbers pointed a gun at his bedroom door as another tried to shove it open. Mr Sim resisted by pushing against the door and for self-defence, he quickly seized a nearby shelf bracket intended for wall mounting. The robbers backed off. I tried to make them afraid, Mr Sim told the outlet. I didnt want to hit them. If we are scared, they will destroy us. We have to scare them and protect the temple. I want to protect myself, he added. I dont want to destroy other people. Local media noted that the robbery has left the temple community shaken, fearing the impact on future donations and the safety of the monks, who are seen as vulnerable targets due to their non-violent beliefs and practices. The robbers reportedly couldnt get much about $50 from the donation jar at the feet of the temples first-floor Buddha idols and another $60 taken from monk Cannoeun Poun, 43, who was on the second floor when one robber approached him with a knife. I saw one knife and two people, Mr Poun recounted. He said, Wheres the money? The robbers took two cell phones from Mr Poun. I was scared. It was a first time for me. I see knife, Im scared. Kay Sok, a 67-year-old retired handyman who previously worked and still resides at the temple, was in the basement bathroom when an intruder surprised him by pressing something against his back. Without seeing what it was, Mr Sok attempted to calm the masked thief by saying Tranquilo, tranquilo, trying to prevent any hasty actions from the robber. The temple, a place of prayer and meditation for the Cambodian community in New York since 1987, relies on donations for its upkeep. 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 NYPD has shared photos of two men it believes to be suspects in a deadly Bronx subway shooting. An image shared on social media shows two men, both dressed in dark-coloured hoodies, who were allegedly at the Mount Eden Avenue station when the shooting occurred on Monday. Police confirmed to The Independent that the men are considered suspects. Three gunmen reportedly fired approximately 19 shots inside a subway train. The shooting is believed to have resulted from a chance encounter between two groups of people on the train. One man was killed identified by police as Obed Beltran-Sanchez, 35 and five others, including a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, were injured in the attack. Police believe five of the six victims were unintentionally shot, but have said the 15-year-old may have been an intentional target. Mr Beltran-Sanchez was reportedly shot multiple times in the chest, according to police. The NYPD is seeking information on two men considered suspects in a fatal subway shooting at Mount Eden Avenue Station in the Bronx (NYPD) A third suspect is also reportedly being sought, but police have not released an image of that individual. The suspects are considered the NYPDs most wanted, according to the police department. Officials said when the doors to the train opened, one man showed he was armed, which sparked the shootout. This is unacceptable, NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said in a press statement. And when detectives make an arrest, there must be swift, immediate, strong consequences. This is not indicative to what goes on in the subway system, he said. Witnesses described the scene as sounding like a battlefield, according to the New York Times. Others said they witnessed blood-covered individuals fleeing the subway station while others scrambled for safety as gunfire continued at the stop. Heriberto Paredes, who owns a nearby muffler shop, said he could see the fear and despair on the faces of those fleeing the violence. I could see the despair on peoples faces, wondering how something like this could happen in a city thats supposedly safe, Mr Paredes said. Janno Lieber, the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, praised Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams for working to limit the number of guns on the citys streets, but admitted her despair over the shooting. New Yorks heart breaks when people who are headed home and kids are coming home from school to do their homework and theyre subjected to random acts of violence like what occurred here late this afternoon, she said on Monday. Police are still searching for more information on the shooting, the suspects, and a possible motive on Tuesday. 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 }} Anyone whos taken a passing look at the news lately knows about the short, ill-fated political career of George Santos. Charged with crimes ranging from false statements to fraud, the former golden boy of the Republican Party was ousted by his own colleagues in December. How did it all go so wrong? When the 34-year-old representative from New Yorks 3rd congressional district flipped the seat in the November 2022 midterm elections, it was celebrated by Republicans as a rare and significant victory. This was a once-safe Democratic seat, where people voted for Joe Biden by a double-digit margin in 2020. How did Santos do it? The answer seems to be: By fictionalizing himself into the perfect candidate. Aside from the financial and legal crimes hes been charged with, Santos also stands accused of lying about the entire contents of his resume, including where he went to college, and even where he went to high school; whether he is married to a man or a woman (he spoke of a husband in his campaign bio, but records only appear to show a marriage and divorce to a woman); how his mother died (not in 9/11, it turns out); whether his grandmother was in the Holocaust and indeed whether any of his family is actually Jewish (it appears they are all actually Brazilian Catholics.) An indictment suggests he allegedly lied about being unemployed in order to collect fraudulent benefits, and spent thousands of dollars [in campaign funds solicited from the public] on personal expenses, including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments. He even seems to have claimed he was running an imaginary animal charity. These alleged lies range from the very serious to the comically absurd, from the personal to the professional, and from the clearly self-serving to the head-scratchingly strange. There is a feeling of compulsion to them. Republicans began stepping away from the Santos bandwagon at the beginning of 2022. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told CNN in January of that year that he always had questions about the congressmans resume. Representative Nick LaLota a fellow New York Republican and six others then called for Santoss campaign funds to be frozen by the Department of Justice and by the Federal Elections Commission. Former GOP representative Adam Kinzinger started a petition to boot Santos out of office. Unsurprisingly, Democratic reactions to Santos behavior were even more fiery: Ritchie Torres, the Democratic representative for New Yorks 15th congressional district who works just down the road from Santos, wrote an NBC op-ed near the beginning of the year titled My new co-worker George Santos is a distraction and a danger to democracy that called Santos a liar, cheat and fraud and deceitful to the core within the first two sentences. Despite all this, Santos was awarded two seats on committees in the newly Republican-controlled house. The man who appears to have lied about his entire professional background was invited in to the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. According to CNN Politics, however, Santoss original ambitions had been much more wide-ranging: Santos had privately lobbied GOP leaders to serve on two more high-profile committees, one overseeing the financial sector and another on foreign policy, but top Republicans rejected that pitch as some chairmen balked at adding him to their panels. Some members of the GOP today must be breathing a very large sigh of relief that the man charged with fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds wasnt also helped by his Republican candidates into a position of power on a high-profile committee centered round finance. Political analysts might have a lot to say about the Santos case but what do psychologists say about people who lie as much as this particular congressman appears to have done? Drew Curtis has dedicated his professional life to understanding why people lie. The licensed psychologist oversees the Curtis Deception Lab at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, and specifically investigates pathological lying, deception within psychotherapy and health care professions and psychopathy. Along with his research partner Christian Hart, he published the book Pathological Lying: Theory, Research and Practice last year. Drew is careful to say that he would never diagnose someone from afar or without their consent, because that would be an abdication of his professional duties as a psychologist. But when I ask him about the Santos case, he says its important to consider that there is a difference between pathological liars and prolific liars. Pathological liars cant help themselves they have a compulsion to lie and they feel deep remorse afterwards, even if theyre unable to stop the behavior. Prolific liars are people who lie to get ahead, sometimes outrageously, and who never feel remorse. These people usually have traits of psychopathy or personality disorders: Its part of seeing the other people [around them] as objects in the world and navigating them for their own gain and their own interests. Former Santos roommate says he was delusional Politicians are in an interesting position when it comes to lying, says Curtis, because recent research shows that politicians who are honest are less likely to get re-elected. Yet polls during the last presidential election also showed that the number one thing that most Americans look for during the presidential debates and elections is honesty beyond competence, beyond anything else, its honesty. Time and time again, he says, they find that liar is the most damaging label that can be flung at a politician, the lowest-ranked trait out of over 400 possible traits presented to the public. And time and time again, those same members of the public re-elect politicians who lie the most. People travel from states away to see Drew Curtis at his lab in Texas, seeking help for their lying behavior, saying things like my marriage is about to end or my relationship with my mom is strained and Im doing this for her. But of course, the people he treats are only the people who experience some sort of comeuppance: If the lies are serving them a benefit, I doubt it even crosses the radar of I need help for this until those lies start impairing their job or their family life or relationships. We all lie sometimes Curtis brings up the idea of putting your best foot forward during a first date as a fairly harmless lying game weve probably all engaged in but only some of us will encounter prolific or pathological liars. And when were on the receiving end of those peoples lies, it can be very seductive. Humans have a propensity to enjoy stories, he says. And I think this is our fault on the other side, engaging with pathological liars. So if you think of the most exaggerated story you could think of, even if you knew it was false if I told you right now there are 15 alligators outside of my office and Im about to go slay them with an ax, cut their heads off and use them to help me dissect frogs, and then Im gonna take the frog intestines and make a hat, or something like that, that was just so obviously false to you I think you would have a hard time not keeping interest in that. I would get your attention. So, the novelty of such exaggerations often gets our attention, which helps reinforce those lies, even if we know theyre false. And I think thats part of the problem. We give people attention, we reinforce their lies, and then we resist disbelieving them. I think of the Republicans who saw George Santos as the perfect candidate to win a Democratic district in New York. When an opportunity like that drops out of the sky, who wants to challenge it? George Santos waits for the start of a session in the House (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Curtis recently met with Christopher Massimine, a disgraced former theater producer who stood down after an investigation found he had embellished his resume and embarked on a series of compulsive lies. What struck Curtis when he met Massimine was how Massimines wife had unwittingly entered into a dynamic that enabled his lying: "His relationship was being impaired. And his wife wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, and she kept catching him in his lies, too. And so thats the nuance how people reinforce it and it becomes a problem. After Massimine was found out, he contributed to a candid article in the New York Times about his many falsehoods. He then wrote a blog on Medium titled Im a liar, and it will follow me forever alongside a picture of himself holding his baby son. I created elaborate tales of success and adventure, while the world passed me by or rather I let it. See for me, lying has been a coping mechanism. My self-worth was completely attached to the stories I never felt that I was enough without them. Maybe I am, maybe Im not. This is where I am in my current perspective, Massimine wrote in his Medium post, at the end of November 2022. No longer able to hold my head high in public, I spend my days in my home, writing each time I have the urge to fabricate. Its been a helpful substitute, but Im not sure its exactly healthy either When Im not writing, Im working with people and organizations that dont want my name associated with them. I get it. This is my life now, and it may never get better. There are people who will damn me once a liar, always a liar. One thing I am convinced of, in being publicly open about my illness, is my past will follow me forever. Massimine details how he has been diagnosed with depression, PTSD and a cluster-B personality disorder, and how he lives with constant anxiety: I am terrified that my wife, who I love with all my heart, will leave me; that my son will grow up and think his fathers a bad person; that the few friends I do have left will fade from my life. These are all reasons for me to keep working on change. But, are these reasons stronger than my compulsion? Thats the real question: will I be able to lead a fully authentic life? In January, he wrote another post titled To remain an outcast, where he seems confused about his own motivations: I could easily withdraw from the public eye, pick up a 95 at some mom-and-pop store, start over, and have a very fulfilled life. So why do I keep dredging up the past and putting myself through hell? In an email exchange with me about why he continues to write publicly about his own lies and the subsequent effects on his mental health, Massimine says: I very well know I could keep low and move on, but Im choosing to move forward embracing this part of me/my life. Thats something not too many people do. Its not a smiled-on path, and each time I re-enter the public eye any harassment thats died down starts back up again... [but] the motive is mental health advocacy and education. For Curtis, Massimine is a classic example of a pathological liar. Like Stephen Glass the journalist who was famously found to have fabricated most of his exclusive stories for the New Republic in the 1990s and who subsequently laid low for ten years, then reappeared as a paralegal in California Massimine expressed genuine remorse for what he did. (I approached Glass for an interview and he politely declined, saying that he was too busy taking care of his ailing parents but that he found the subject of the article interesting for obvious reasons.) And Massimines own behavior became unfathomable to him after the act. Curtis says that research on adolescents who compulsively lie has thrown up another possibility for the reasons why people might behave this way: Pathological lying emerges in adolescence. And theres this idea that for most of us, we dont lie often because we can predict the future that if I start telling lies, my reputation will not hold up, itll have these negative consequences in my job or family or social life. So the [idea] is, maybe people who tell these lies arent thinking that much into the future or making those predictions, but are very much focused on the moment. In other words, an inability to accurately look into the future could explain why prolific liars lie the amount that they do. If we go back to Santos, Curtis says, then maybe if you say youre Jewish in the moment, maybe that wins someones favor in the moment, and youre not worried about, will someone actually check that out later? Curtis works on the lying frontline: as a psychologist and a researcher, he encounters liars every day in practical settings. But there are others who bring a very different perspective on lying behavior. Dorje Brody is a mathematics professor at Surrey University in the UK who builds statistical models attempting to explain why people lie. From his book-lined office in the south of England, he explains on a video call with the help of a whiteboard and hand-drawn graphs how it all works. Brody began his career as an academic in the physics department, then moved briefly into financial mathematics. The most obvious and popular use of financial mathematics is found in predicting the future of stock prices, but Brody found that the same models he used for these kinds of predictions could be applied to human psychology, too: In a trading context, people want to know the future return of an investment, and of course, no one knows what thats gonna be. But theres a lot of information around a lot of speculation, noise, everything. So investors get noisy information and then try to come up with the best estimate of what the future might be. And thats precisely what the mathematics of [psychological] signal-processing does. Brody writes Info = Signal + Noise on the whiteboard and underlines it. The signal is the result youre trying to extract; for instance, you want to know the most likely candidate whos going to win in the next election. The noise is anything that makes it more difficult to find that result out: perhaps you have a small sample size of people youve interviewed about the candidates, perhaps both candidates have been beset with scandals, perhaps mail-in voting has been particularly high or low this year so the exit polls are less reliable. As a statistician, you try to filter out as much noise as you can, like tuning a radio station, in order to get a clear signal for the right information. Once youve corrected for the sample size, for those mail-in ballots, for the scandals that might push voters either way, then hopefully the information becomes a lot clearer. So far, so good. Doing a statistical analysis of an election outcome follows certain rules. And there was a time indeed, a very recent time when psychologists believed that human decisions were also made using those kinds of rules. Imagine three stars on a board (Brody explains this by drawing his own for me.) You are contemplating the question: Do I believe that Donald Trump was responsible for the January 6th insurrection? (Brody uses an example in British politics, which Im Americanizing for the benefit of US readers.) The stars represent three answers to this question. The blue one says Trump knew a violent riot was probably going to break out that day and he planned everything out so it would happen. The red one says Trump had no idea people were going to break into the Capitol that day and he cant be held responsible. And then perhaps theres a yellow one which says Trump knew a riot was a possibility but he believed it was the only way to stop the election being stolen. Imagine a passionate Trump supporter contemplating the question about whether the former president was responsible for the insurrection. Everyone comes to a decision with their own biases, and their own estimations of how likely something is. Our passionate Trump supporter might give the blue star Trump knew a violent riot was probably going to break out that day and he planned everything out so it would happen an estimated truth percentage of 1%. He might give the red star Trump had no idea people were going to break into the Capitol that day and he cant be held responsible an estimated truth percentage of 80%. And he might give the yellow star Trump knew a riot was a possibility but he believed it was the only way to stop the election being stolen an estimated truth percentage of 19%. He starts off on our graph much closer to the red star. As more information comes in that challenges that view of events, he might move a little bit further away from the red star so then hell be attracted to the yellow star, which he considers to be more likely than the blue. The percentages we estimate for the stars are all different according to who we are, but we all operate on the same graph. Imagine that during the time our passionate Trump supporter is considering these things, it comes to light that Trump absolutely did plan January 6th. Perhaps a damning memo or piece of footage is released; perhaps he stands up and says it himself. The passionate Trump supporter incorporates this new information into the graph of possibilities. At first, he stays around the yellow star. But then more and more information is released. Trump confirms that he had solid plans for a riot that day. Slowly but surely, our passionate Trump supporter will move into other, more ambiguous parts of the graph, suspended in space rather than stuck to a star. Then eventually, when the evidence becomes overwhelming, he should settle on the blue star even if he at first believed it had a 1% chance of being true, and even if his shift in opinion takes 50 or 60 years. In other words, if were all exposed to the truth enough times and we are rational people in our right minds then we should all eventually come to accept the truth. For a long time, this was the accepted model of psychological decision-making. But then studies started showing something interesting. When people believed there was a 0% chance of something being true as opposed to even 0.1% it turned out that they never reached the truth; they never traveled to the blue star. Instead, they stick very closely to their initial position for a very, very long time. They orbit the red star for much longer than expected. Then, all of a sudden, when contradictory information became too great, they extremely rapidly jump onto the next possibility they consider most likely the yellow star. And they assert that the yellow star is true just as passionately as they used to stick to the red star. For them, the truth is anything except the blue star. They are so utterly blind to it that they instead become zealots for the next-possible outcome and they dont move on to the truth, ever. How does this relate to compulsive liars? People who compulsively lie build a reality where they deliberately blind themselves to the truth. They assign the truth a 0% blue star in their minds. But the universe offers up a multitude of stars, a huge diversity of possibilities apart from the truth. They stick solidly to one star for a long time, and when the evidence that they are lying becomes too public and too overwhelming, they make a very sudden jump to the next star. That next star then becomes their new, unassailable truth. Thus, George Santos started off saying in public that he was a proud American Jew, a Latino Jew, and sometimes half Jewish on his mothers side, with grandparents who had escaped the Holocaust. Questions had been asked about this heritage before, and Santos stuck solidly to his guns. But after a New York Times investigation found no evidence that he had any ties to Judaism at all, he told the Post: I never claimed to be Jewish. I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was Jew-ish. George Santos, once a proud American Jew with a Jewish mother and Holocaust survivor grandparents, is now only Jew-ish due to some apparent, unclear connection to Judaism in his maternal lineage. And he has a strong and passionate belief that this is true strong enough to assert in a newspaper that he never claimed to be Jewish at all, despite existent evidence to the contrary. You sound convincing, says Brody, because youre convinced by yourself that that is the truth. Where we might be able to statistically model another persons movement toward truth a slow consideration of various factors, and a gradual nudge toward the star that represents reality its basically impossible to work out what a compulsive liar will do next. If you shut out the truth from whatever youre going to say, then you behave in a rather erratic way, says Brody. And the point is, statistically you cant replicate that behavior. Compulsive liars just dont behave in any way the same as people who are experiencing a genuine misunderstanding or a lack of knowledge, he adds. Theres no way to know which story a compulsive liar is going to alight on next; the only thing we can know is that there will be one, and that he will deliver it confidently and forcefully, as if thats been the truth he was sure of all his life. The point is if theres a way out, you immediately jump to that way out, and youll be quite assertive, says Brody. Thats the characteristic of this behavior. Theres no way to know what George Santos will do next. Brody says that hell be interested to watch the extended fallout, as he watched former British prime minister Boris Johnson behave in the aftermath of the Covid lockdown party controversy that became known as Partygate. When accusations broke, in 2023, that Santos had defrauded a veteran out of $3,000 with a false story about a sick dog, the Republican chair of the House small business committee, Roger Williams, said: I dont condone what he said, what hes done. I dont think anybody does. But [considering whether he should resign] is not my role. He was elected. Senator Mitt Romney spoke for a few other of his colleagues when, during an infamous exchange at the State of the Union, he turned to Santos and said: You ought to be embarrassed. Democratic representative Dan Goldman was a little less sanguine than Williams. He described the Santos problem as evidence of an issue that goes right to the top of the Republican Party: The public has no choice but to believe that [House speaker] McCarthy was complicit in concealing Mr. Santoss lies in order to flip a seat in a win-at-all-costs effort to gain power. We are yet to hear any reaction on Santos being charged from high-level Republicans, though we know that his GOP colleagues in New York have been dissatisfied with him for a while. He built a wunderkind mythology and lived within it for a few short months. What that says about the modern-day Republican Party is something that we should ponder as the 2024 general election looms closer. 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 house of a Sikh separatist in Brampton, Ontario, was hit by gunfire on Monday, in a second such incident this month. Inderjit Singh Gosal is a proponent of the Khalistan movement which seeks to carve out an independent Sikh homeland in India. The shooting occurred after Mr Gosal announced a rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto, raising concerns about a transnational campaign of violence against Sikh separatists. No injuries were reported, and police have not yet linked the shooting directly to Mr Gosals activism. According to Sikhs for Justice, a US-based organisation, a construction crew discovered a bullet hole in the window of an unfinished house in Brampton, Ontario, on Monday. The house belongs to Mr Gosal. No amount of threats and violence can stop me from advocating for the liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation. I have been heading Khalistan freedom rallies in front of the Indian consulate and I have been targeted for the same very reason that Nijjar was assassinated by Indian agents, ie our campaigning for the Khalistan referendum, Mr Gosal said in a statement, the Guardian reported. This firing [sic] has absolutely been orchestrated by the Indian spy network operating from diplomatic missions in Canada headed by the Indian High Commissioner [Sanjay] Verma. This incident comes after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver, an act Canada attributed to the Indian government. India has vehemently denied the claim. Mr Gosal reportedly works closely with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who was recently the focus of a thwarted assassination plot in the US. Residing in Washington, Mr Pannun holds the position of chief legal counsel for the organisation Sikhs for Justice. Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said Peel Regional Police were alerted by construction crews about what appeared to be a bullet hole in a window of the home of Mr Gosal in the province of Ontario, according to AFP. The police have launched an investigation. The incident on Monday marks the second occurrence of a Sikh activists residence coming under attack. On 1 February, the home of Simranjeet Singh in Surrey, British Columbia, was targeted by at least two gunmen. The British Columbia Gurdwaras Council noted that Mr Singh was closely associated with Nijjar. The attacks have heightened tensions between Canada and India. 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 }} More than a dozen people were hospitalized after two boats crashed at a dock in Miami. More than 30 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the incident Sunday afternoon, along with emergency responders from the US Coast Guard, City of Miami Fire Rescue, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. At least 13 people were transported to hospital, officials said. One had to be airlifted, Telemundo 51 Miami reported. It is not yet known how many people were on each vessel, one of which is a tourist boat. There have not been any fatalities reported as of Monday evening. As many as 29 people may have been injured, officials told WSVN 7News. We got a report that 20-somewhat patients were affected, Division Chief Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Horacio Rodriguez told the outlet. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and authorities have launched an investigation. Rabbi Yossi Harlig of the Chabad Center of Kendall told NBC Miami his sister and brother-in-law, who had been on one of the boats with their four children, were among the injured. "My sister broke some bones, her husband broke some ribs, they feel on one end a lot of pain for what happened and [are] concerned about the kids," Rabbi Harlig said. "But they feel also thankful to God they were on the left side of the boat, thats where the boat came in, the children were on the right side of the boat, they feel thankful that the kids werent on their side of the boat." Rabbi Harlig said the family had been celebrating one of the boys bar mitzvahs. "My sister said she turned around [at] the last second and saw the boat crashing right into her, what happened, theyre not even sure themselves," he said. "It was very traumatic for them, no kid should watch such an accident, seeing their parents on the floor, seeing other people bleeding, it was very traumatic for them." 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 aquarium in North Carolina has announced they are looking into the mysterious pregnancy of its female stingray. Last week, the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team Ecco, located in Hendersonville, made a Facebook post revealing that its stingray Charlotte is pregnant. The pregnancy has been deemed a once-in-a-lifetime science mystery, by the aquarium, as they revealed at the time the female was impregnated there were no male stingrays in the tank with her. Round Stingray Surprise Pregnancy The post, alongside two photos of Charlotte and the babies, said: Our stingray, Charlotte, is expecting! We have held this close to our hearts for over 3 months. We have ultrasound images confirmed by two supporters: Dr. Robert Jones, the Aquarium Zvet out of Australia, and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State Univ. The really amazing thing is we have no male ray! We do have a couple of possible reasons For this event. In a statement to ABC 13 News, the aquarium said there are two ways in which Charlotte could have become pregnant. One is a rare process called parthenogenesis, in which the eggs develop on their own without fertilisation and create a clone of the mother. The second possible explanation for the pregnancy is Charlotte could have mated with one of the young sharks, according to Brenda Ramer, executive director of Team Ecco. Ms Ramer told the outlet: In mid-July 2023, we moved two one-year-old white spot bamboo males (sharks) into that tank. There was nothing we could find definitively about their maturation rate, so we did not think there would be an issue. Charlotte the stingray is pregnant and expecting four pups (AP) We started to notice bite marks on Charlotte, but saw other fish nipping at her, so we moved fish, but the biting continued. Speaking about the stingray and her future babies, Ms Ramer added: Were either going to have partho babies or were going to have some kind of a potential mixed breed, and were waiting for Jeff Goldblum to show up because we are Jurassic Park right now! Charlottes pregnancy was discovered in September (ABC 13 News) Charlottes pregnancy was discovered in September after first noticing swelling in the animal that they initially thought was cancer. The aquariums vet, Dr Robert Jones, later confirmed that the stingray was growing three to four eggs. Ms Ramer said the female stingray is carrying up to four pups and could deliver at any time soon now. DNA testing will be done once Charlotte gives birth. The Independent has reached out to Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team Ecco for comment and further details on the pregnancy. 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 }} Nearly two years ago, an elected official from New Mexico was convicted on charges for his role in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, then removed from office under a constitutional clause banning anyone who engaged in insurrection from holding office. The case of Couy Griffin, a now-former Otero County commissioner, is in front of the US Supreme Court, just days after Donald Trump challenged a Colorado courts decision that disqualified him from 2024 ballots under the same rule. Justices are scheduled to consider Griffins case in a private conference on Friday. How the justices ultimately decide whether that case moves forward, if at all, could signal their decision in the challenge facing Mr Trump. Griffin, the founder of the pro-Trump group Cowboys for Trump, was convicted on misdemeanour charges for his role in the Capitol riots on 6 January 2021, when he was captured in video footage calling on then-Vice President Mike Pence to do the right thing and reject the 2020 election results that reflected the votes of millions of Americans. He climbed a toppled fence and another barrier to reach the steps of the Capitol, where he called on the mob to pray. On 6 September 2022, after a lawsuit and a bench trial in state court, a judge removed him from office, marking the first time in more than 100 years that a court disqualified a public official and the first time an elected official was removed from office for their role on January 6. New Mexico Judge Francis Mathew noted the irony of Griffins attempts to defend his actions and urge the court against applying the law despite participating in an insurrection with a mob whose goal, by his own admission, was to set aside the results of a free, fair and lawful election. Judge Mathew wrote that Griffins attempts to sanitize his actions are without merit and amounted to nothing more than attempting to put lipstick on a pig. Griffin and his group spent months normalizing the violence that may be necessary to keep President Trump in office and urged supporters to travel to Washington DC to join what he compared to a war to keep the defeated president in office, the judge wrote. Cowboys For Trump founder Couy Griffin. (AP) The 14th Amendment was among a suite of civil rights amendments enacted in the volatile aftermath of the US Civil War. It was intended to grant equal protection under the law to all citizens, including formerly enslaved people, with a broadly written clause aimed at preventing Confederates from returning to a government they were in rebellion against. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment holds that no person can hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same. Judge Mathew ruled that a potential officeholder needs only to have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, as Griffin did when he was elected as a county commissioner, and then broken it by engaging in an insurrection. The authors of the amendment did not understand an insurrection to require actual violence; intimidation by numbers sufficed, he wrote. The mob that arrived at the Capitol on January 6 was an assemblage of persons who engaged in violence, force, and intimidation by numbers. In his latest brief to the Supreme Court, an attorney for Griffin argued that he was exercising his Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly on January 6, and his removal from office violates the First Amendment. If the decision is to stand, at least in New Mexico, it is now the crime of insurrection to gather people to pray together for the United States of America on the unmarked restricted grounds of the Capitol building, according to the filing. This Court cannot let this stand. He also argued that the bar for engaging in an insurrection is not trespassing on government property. If it were, any sit-in inside or outside of the Capitol could be considered an insurrection, according to the filing. The arguments mirror those supporting the former president, who was rendered ineligible to appear on 2024 ballots by Colorados Supreme Court last year. But a majority of the justices on the nations highest court appeared to doubt the authority of individual states to disqualify federal candidates without permission from Congress. Chief Justice John Roberts said granting states control over candidates for federal election would be at war with the Constitution and warned that a decision to disqualify Mr Trump could open up attempts to disqualify candidates on the other side. In very quick order I would expect that a goodly number of states will say whoever the Democratic candidate is, youre off the ballot, he said. And it will come down to a handful of states that will determine the presidential election. The justices will issue their decision in Trump v Anderson at a later date. At this point about everything happening with Trump legally at the top is happening to me here at the bottom. Many things are in tandem. And most greatly compliment each other, Griffin wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Griffin, however, was not a federal officer. In last weeks hearing, Supreme Court justices frequently turned the discussion to states enforcing federal offices under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which holds that no person can hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same. But justices didnt appear to have similar concerns about states enforcing that measure against state officials. Can states enforce the insurrection clause against their own officeholders, or can they enforce it against federal officials, or can they enforce it against the president? Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked last week. Those are all three different questions in my mind. Griffin, meanwhile, has been relying on a crowdfunding website for his legal costs. I just figured that Trump, his people at the top, would look down to me and help me through it, he told The Daily Beast last month. But I didnt get any of that help when I went through my removal deal. 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 }} Elon Musk has called on the US to cut its weapons supply to Ukraine claiming there is no way in hell Vladimir Putin is going to lose the war. The Tesla and SpaceX boss made the remarks during a conversation with Republican senator Ron Johnson on social media platform Twitter/X overnight during discussions with senators JD Vance, Mike Lee, and failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over the Ukraine funding bill. Their scrutiny of the US support to Ukraine comes as the Democratic-led Senate on Monday set the stage for the final passage of a $95.34bn aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, amid growing doubts about the fate of the legislation in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The Senate voted 66-33, exceeding a 60-vote margin, to sweep aside the last procedural hurdle and limit debate on the measure to a final 30 hours before a vote on passage that could come on Wednesday. President Joe Biden has been urging Congress to hurry new aid to Ukraine with Kyiv officials warning of weapons shortages at a time when Russia is pressing ahead with renewed attacks. Opposing the additional funding for Ukraine, senator Johnson said: We all have to understand that Vladimir Putin will not lose this war. Losing to Vladimir Putin is existential to Vladimir Putin. He added that Ukraine does not have enough manpower. The average age of a Ukrainian soldier right now is 43 years oldSome of Zelenskys top aides say that even if the US and its allies deliver all the weapons they have pledged, we dont have the men to use them, he said as he quoted a Times report from November last year. The only way this war ends is in a settlement, and every day that the war goes on, more Ukrainians and more Russian conscripts die, more civilians die, and more of Ukraine gets destroyed than is allowed to get built, said the senator. Claiming that additional weapon supply to Ukraine only adds to the stalemate, Mr Johnson said as evil of a war criminal as Putin is, hes not going to lose this war, and our colleagues here just arent willing to accept that reality. Thats exactly right, Mr Musk said as he agreed to the suggestion made by Mr Johnson. Whenever I raise this point, people accuse me of being some sort of Putin apologist when my companies have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything. With an extended war, more Ukrainians die every day, he said, adding that it makes sense to support the country with more ammunition only if they are making more territorial gains. If you are going to spend lives, it must be for a purpose. Not just a mile here and mile there. Claiming that there is no way in hell Putin is going to lose, he said that if the Russian president backs off, he would be assassinated. Mr Musk warned that the person to take out Putin is likely to be more hardcore than Putin. This is not the first time that Mr Musk has seemingly suggested that Ukraine should forfeit. Earlier in October 2022, the billionaire sparked international outrage when he tweeted his proposal to bring peace to Ukraine. The proposal suggested, among other measures, the concession of land to Russia, a red line for most Ukrainians. Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people, Mr Musk said. Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchevs mistake). Water supply to Crimea assured. Ukraine remains neutral. This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end just a question of how many die before then. Also worth noting that a possible, albeit unlikely, outcome from this conflict is nuclear war. The thread was accompanied by a poll inviting Mr Musks followers to indicate whether or not they approved of his ideas: 40.9 per cent of respondents were in favour but 59.1 per cent were opposed. President Volodymyr Zelensky hit back with a Twitter poll of his own, asking his followers which version of Elon Musk they preferred: the one who supports Ukraine or the one who supports Russia. The pro-Ukraine incarnation of Mr Musk drew 78.8 per cent of the vote. Mr Musk responded: I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world. The comments from Tesla boss also come as he faces criticism over his decision to restrict the availability of his Starlink satellite high-speed broadband service to Ukraine. Ukraines military spy agency said on Tuesday Russian forces were buying Starlink satellite internet terminals in Arab countries for use on the battlefield. The defence ministrys Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) released what it said was an audio intercept of two Russian soldiers discussing buying units from Arab providers for around 200,000 roubles ($2,200) each. Starlink has said it does not do business with Russia or operate on Russian territory. The Kremlin said the terminals were neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used. When Russia first invaded its western neighbour on 24 February 2022, Mr Musk responded to an appeal for help from Ukraines vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov by generously dispatching 20,000 SpaceX Starlink terminals to the country. Since then, Mr Putins forces have relentlessly targeted Ukraines telecommunications infrastructure with missile strikes. This has caused Kyiv to rely on SpaceXs technology as a source of uninterrupted, independent and secure internet access, enabling lines of communication to remain open with its troops on the frontline of the conflict in the south and east. 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 }} Facing a mountain of scandals and lies, George Santos was finally kicked out of Congress on 1 December 2023. Over 100 Republicans joined Democrats to vote overwhelmingly in favour of expelling the serial fabulist and accused fraudster from the House. The move came in the wake of a damning report by the House Ethics Committee, which found that the embattled New York Republican engaged in uncharged and unlawful conduct. Mr Santos has been charged, too. In May, he was arrested and charged with 13 federal criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. A superseding indictment was later handed down in October, increasing the federal charges against Mr Santos to 23. In addition to the myriad of legal troubles, Mr Santos has also been accused of lying about his personal history. He has claimed that he was a star volleyball player at Baruch College, worked at Goldman Sachs, has ancestors who fled the Holocaust and that his mother died during 9/11 none of these claims have been substantiated. Dogged by surely one of the oddest string of scandals to hit American politics in the last few years, Mr Santos faced calls for his expulsion and resignation even before he was seated as representative for New Yorks 3rd Congressional District. Lets take a look back at how Mr Santos scandal-plagued political career evolved from the beginning to its abrupt end: 6 September 2022: The North Shore Leader begins probing Santoss finances Just two months before he would go on to be elected as a member of Congress, George Santos was the subject of a story in a small Long Island-area newspaper called The North Shore Leader. With no suggestion of how it occurred, the Leader pointed out that Mr Santoss financial disclosure forms had indicated an unbelievable surge of wealth in just two years. Controversial US congressional candidate George Santos has finally filed his Personal Financial Disclosure Report on 6 September 20 months late and he is claiming an inexplicable rise in his alleged net worth to $11m, reporter Maureen Daly wrote at the time. George Santos: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground Two years ago, in 2020, Santos personal financial disclosures claimed that he had no assets over $5,000 no bank accounts, no stock accounts, no real property. A net worth barely above zero, she added. It was an important story but drew little notice either from other journalists or local officials from either party. 8 November 2022: George Santos wins his second bid for Congress Following a defeat in 2020, George Santos finally saw success in his bid to join the House of Representatives in 2022, after more than a year of campaigning. New reports indicate that he was fundraising at Mar-a-Lago and in other GOP circles as early as mid-2021 with the help of operatives for Rep Elise Stefanik, chair of the House GOP conference. He was swept to victory easily, with Democrats in the state spending little to oppose him. 19 December 2022: The New York Times jumps on the story In an expansive investigation, The New York Times summarises its findings in a headline: George Santoss background is largely fiction. The first revelation of Mr Santoss lies came in the form of an avalanche. In this one story, he was accused of lying about working for two different companies, attending a college, and even potentially about managing a family firm and controlling millions in assets. Mr Santos couldnt (or wouldnt) answer for most of the revealed falsehoods, which led other reporters at competing outlets to smell blood in the water. 21 December 2022: The Forward dives in Just two days after The Times published its investigation, the Jewish-American news agency The Forward went public with its own findings. At the top of the list was a lie that Mr Santos had apparently told just a month earlier: That he was Jewish. That ended up being a lie he had told on multiple occasions, in multiple forms. It even expanded, in some instances, to claiming that his maternal grandparents had fled from the Holocaust. George Santos once claimed his maternal grandparents had fled from the Holocaust (EPA) Such things are easily verifiable, and a review of several genealogy websites by The Forward revealed that Mr Santoss maternal grandparents were born in Brazil. While far from the only fiction he told to get elected, this may prove to be the most damaging (if not surely the most offensive) of the congressmans fictions. It has already led to his blacklisting from future Republican Jewish Coalition events, as well as condemnations from across the political spectrum. 22 December 2022: The New York Attorney Generals office announces a probe Letitia Jamess office joined the fray just one day after The Forwards investigation was published, with prosecutors clearly feeling the pressure to examine whether any of Mr Santoss actions had risen from the level of mere dishonesty to criminal fraud or worse. 26 December 2022: Santos spills the beans After days of crying foul and denouncing reporters as political hatchet-men through his attorney, George Santos finally came clean. It turned out that those journalists werent lying or launching attacks Mr Santos really did lie about working at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, he really did lie about being Jewish, and he really did lie about attending college. But those lies, he said, were mere attempts to embellish his resume a practice he faulted Americans of all political shades for supposedly engaging in. And he remained adamant about serving two years in Congress, despite the criticism. 26 December 2022: Rep Ritchie Torres calls for Santos to be investigated Congressman Ritchie Torres, a fellow New Yorker of the opposite party to Mr Santos, became the first member of Congress to speak about the issue in late December. On the 26th, he called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate the surge in wealth that Mr Santos self-reported. It was a report from the House Ethics panel that would finally lead to the expulsion of Mr Santos. 26 December 2022 (evening): Santos is eviscerated by Tulsi Gabbard Apparently unsatisfied with the grilling he received in local New York media hours earlier, Mr Santos appeared on Fox News for the first time. Clearly expecting a friendly interview, the congressman-elect was instead subjected to a reprimand from former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who was sitting in for Tucker Carlson. Do you have no shame? she questioned him at one point during the excruciating confrontation. George Santos in the House chamber (AP) 27 December 2022: Rep Ritchie Torres calls for Santos to step down A day later, Mr Torres ups his criticism of Mr Santos as more and more of the DC journalism world is consumed by coverage of the New York Republican. Reposting a clip of Mr Santoss beatdown from Ms Gabbards broadcast the previous evening, Mr Torres told his new colleague: George, you can be an ally of the Jewish community w/o pretending to be Jewish and w/o pretending to have family members who died in the Holocaust. Stop embarrassing yourself and RESIGN, he added. 28 December 2022: Nassau Countys district attorney launches a probe Nassau Countys district attorney delivered a sharp statement just before the new year, insisting that no one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it. Again, it wasnt clear what specific crime Mr Santos would supposedly be investigated for allegedly committing. But the district attorney of Nassau County is a Republican, and therefore her statement served as the first crack to appear in a dam protecting Mr Santos from the wrath of his own party. "The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning. The residents of Nassau County and other parts of the third district must have an honest and accountable representative in Congress," Anne T Donnelly said. 2 January 2023: Brazilian authorities come back to haunt George Santos Happy New Year! While most Americans ring in 2023 with champagne and late-night celebrations, George Santos wakes up the day after New Years Day to learn that he is now the only sitting member of Congress to face a serious international criminal investigation. The New York Times, citing a spokesperson for prosecutors in Rio de Janeiro, reports that authorities intend to prosecute him for allegedly stealing a chequebook from an acquaintance of his mother and using it to make several purchases. The congressman has denied this. Ritchie Torres called for Santos to step down (AP) 10 January 2023: Rep Ritchie Torres and colleague formally request ethics probe Not keen to let his new feud against George Santos go, Mr Torres and his New York ally Dan Goldman filed a request for the House Ethics Committee to probe Mr Santoss improper filing of financial disclosure forms. 11 January 2023: The GOP dam breaks This marked the day that George Santos finally said goodbye to any immunity he had from attacks originating within his own party. The Nassau County Republican Party held a press conference formally denouncing him as a member of Congress; it was attended by one of Mr Santoss fellow GOP members, Anthony DEsposito, who became the first sitting Republican to call for his ouster. 17 January 2023: Santos receives committee assignments After days of reporters pressing House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about Mr Santos and whether he will be allowed to remain in Congress for two years, GOP leadership revealed that the extent of their punishment for Mr Santoss countless lies would be assignments to smaller House committees with less desirable areas of expertise. Mr Santos walked away with roles on two panels: the House Committee on Small Business, and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. 17 January 2023: Rep Ritchie Torres holds press conference with Concerned Citizens of NY03 Still working to keep the pressure on his in-state rival, Mr Torres brought a number of Mr Santoss constituents to a press conference and touted his SANTOS Act legislation that would force congressional candidates to supply basic information about their backgrounds to the federal government under penalty for perjury. George Santos finally lost the immunity from GOP attacks in January 2023 (AP) 18 January 2023: Eula Rochard blows the lid off of Kitara Ravache Just when everyone thought this story couldnt get any weirder, a Brazilian drag performer by the name of Eula Rochard contacted a freelance reporter, Marisa Kabas, and supplied a picture of Mr Santos in drag. The congressman, she said, performed in drag under the moniker Kitara Ravache when he lived in Brazil as a teenager. Mr Santos would go on to deny this, but subsequent photos and videos emerged prompting another admission by the congressman, as well as this defeated quip: Sue me. Its later discovered that a Wikipedia user who went by Mr Santoss alias Anthony Devolder bragged about performing at a number of shows. 23 January 2023: Poll shows majority of New Yorkers want Santos gone Perhaps indicating Mr Santoss final fate, voters in his district and elsewhere around the state signalled in a poll that they favour the congressman resigning rather than spending two years in office. Even a plurality of Republicans, 49 per cent, said so. Wherever Mr Santos goes from here, its hard to see a path for the 34-year-old freshman to win a second term as he faces unprecedented condemnation from his colleagues in every corner of Washington and hungry rivals back home. 20 February 2023: The Piers Morgan interview George Santos stares down Piers Morgan refusing to explain lies In yet another attempt to move past the litany of scandals, the New York congressman appeared for an interview with British broadcaster and notorious interviewer Piers Morgan. Prompted by Morgan to distinguish the difference between mere embellishments of his resume and outright dishonesty, Mr Santos tells the journalist: Ive been a terrible liar. 2 March 2023: Ethics investigation On 2 March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was investigating Mr Santos. In a statement, the panel said that an Investigative Subcommittee will determine whether he may have engaged in unlawful activity with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office. 17 April 2023: Re-election bid Despite his escalating scandals, Mr Santos launched his re-election bid. In his campaign announcement, he made no mention of the investigations or his ballooning falsehoods. We need a fighter who knows the district and can serve the people fearlessly, he said. 9 May 2023: Criminal charges Things took a major turn on 9 May, when Mr Santos was hit with 13 federal charges from the Justice Department. The embattled congressman was charged with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. George Santos arrested on 13 federal charges 10 May 2023: Arrest The day after the indictment was filed, Mr Santos was arrested after surrendering to authorities at a federal court on Long Island. The indictment was unsealed, revealing that federal prosecutors accuse Mr Santos of lying on financial disclosure forms he filed to the House when he became a candidate. 10 October 2023: Superseding Indictment The Justice Department handed down a 23-count superseding indictment months later, adding the charges of conspiracy to commit offences against the United States, wire fraud, aking materially false statements to the FEC, falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, aggravated identity theft, and access device fraud. The new charges revealed that Mr Santos allegedly stole his donors credit cards. In the case of one donor alone, Mr Santos is accused of trying to charge at least $44,800 to this contributors credit card without authorisation. 16 November 2023: Drops re-election bid The House Ethics Committee released a report on the New York congressman, saying it had uncovered substantial evidence that Mr Santos broke federal laws. The committee found that Mr Santos knowingly caused his campaign to file false FEC reports, and used campaign funds for personal purposes, including OnlyFans, among other findings. After the reports release, Mr Santos announced he would not seek re-election in 2024. In a lengthy X post, he called the report a disgusting politicised smear. 1 December 2023: Expulsion from Congress On 1 December, the House voted to expel Mr Santos from Congress making him only the sixth lawmaker ever to lose an expulsion vote in the lower chamber. After the resolution was filed the previous week, lawmakers cast their ballots, choosing to oust him in a vote of 311 to 114. George Santos expelled from US House of Representatives in landslide vote Though the entire GOP leadership opposed his removal, 105 Republicans joined with Democrats in pushing him out. Hours before the vote as it became increasingly likely he wouldnt survive Mr Santos claimed he was at peace with his expulsion. But, he had a sharp change of heart after the votes were tallied, leaving the Capitol fuming: To hell with this place. 7 March 2024: Announces re-election bid in a new district After watching President Bidens State of the Union address on 7 March, Mr Santos posted on X that he will be returning to the arena of politics. He added that he will be challenging his once-GOP colleague Nick LaLota in New York congressional district 1. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country, he wrote. Mr Santos former House seat flipped blue in a February special election, when Democrat Tom Suozzi handily won. In his tweet, Mr Santos also noted that he arbitrarily left Congress, seemingly forgetting the headline-making expulsion that he had endured just three months prior. 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 }} Fred Forgione doesnt bring up politics with family and friends anymore. He doesnt engage with political posts on Facebook, and certainly doesnt mention his progressive abortion views to fellow members of the Knights of Columbus Catholic fraternal order. Most of my family and friends are staunch Republicans, I dont get it. I used to have arguments all the time to the point where I just shut up. I dont talk anymore, the 67-year-old retired banker told The Independent in a strip mall car park in New Hyde Park, Long Island, on Monday. Tuesdays by-election in New Yorks 3rd Congressional to replace the scandal-plagued, federally indicted former Congressman George Santos has largely turned into a national referendum on immigration, abortion, Donald Trump and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Democratic veteran Tom Suozzi, 61, and the GOPs Mazi Pilip have spent around $20m on negative adverts that have bombarded local news channels and sportscasts, and even ran during Sundays Super Bowl. Mr Suozzi has tried to paint Ms Pilip, a 44-year-old Ethiopian-born, Israeli-American Nassau County legislator, as an extremist, Santos 2.0. Tom Suozzi vs Mazi Pilip He claims she is unvetted and untested in Washington DC, and that she has refused to give a straight answer on whether she would support a national bill to protect womens reproductive rights. Republican ad spots have tied Mr Suozzi to Democratic failures to rein in illegal immigration, the dominant issue on voters minds in the district, according to an Emerson poll in January. What used to be a Democratic stronghold has in recent years turned into a Republican-leaning bellwether for how suburban districts across the country could vote in Novembers general election. Recent polling suggests the race is a statistical dead heat. The sharp tribal divisions that have convulsed national politics were evident among voters in the NY03 district as they did their grocery shopping and ran errands on Monday. Motorists sped past the candidates duelling lawn signs on busy intersections, an indication of the energetic campaigns both have run. Mr Forgione said he plans to turn out to vote Democrat regardless of dire weather forecasts that suggest up to five inches of snow could fall on Long Island on Tuesday morning. A special election to replace the serial liar and alleged conman George Santos is being held in New Yorks 3rd Congressional district on Tuesday (Associated Press) Ill make it, snow storm or whatever. Mr Forgione says he cant abide Republican policies on abortion and immigration, and sees Ms Pilip as an extension of the divisiveness being sown by Donald Trump. I think shes another liar, shes a Trump supporter. I have taken grief from relatives about what a loser (Trump) is. And I think he and his people have become the radical right. I dont agree with her abortion stance. Im in favour of women having a voice and if the Democrats gain control of Congress, they will protect those rights. Regardless of who ends up winning, he says, anyone would be better than Santos. Mr Forgione lives near the shuttered Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where New York City last year opened a tent shelter to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers. Duelling yard signs in New Yorks 3rd district for Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip (Bevan Hurley / The Independent) He says that the citys migrant crisis is upsetting, and he agrees border security needs to be tightened. But he believes Mr Trumps demonisation of migrants is poisoning the discourse around how to solve the problem, especially after Republicans backed out of a bipartisan Senate deal last week. Perhaps due to the entrenched partisan divide, Republican voters spoken to by The Independent said that Mr Santoss fall from grace had done nothing to dissuade them from voting for the party again. Mr Santos became only the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House of Congress after the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report late last year. He was indicted in October on fraud and dishonesty offences that included stealing campaign donors credit card numbers and using their credit cards to ring up tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. He has denied any wrongdoing. Frank Williams told The Independent he felt the scandal had been blown out of proportion. Tom Suozzi speaking in Plainview, New York (AP) Compared to half the people in Congress, hes a saint, he said. A lot of people like to brag about things. Its a shame because we lost the seat, and its going to be difficult to get back. He said he and many of his friends preferred Mr Suozzi, who is a more known quantity after serving three terms in Congress. The Democrat has held elected office in the district for much of the past three decades, first as mayor of Glen Cove, and later as Nassau County executive. Mr Williams, a registered Republican, said he would be voting for Ms Pilip because of her tough stance on immigration. Suozzi is aligning with the mayor of New York City Eric Adams, who I cannot stand. Dorothy Di Lazzaro, a fellow Republican, told The Independent that Ms Pilips extraordinary backstory was proof she had what it takes to represent the district. Ms Pilip left Ethiopia at the age of 12, when she was among the 14,500 Jewish people airlifted out of the country during Operation Solomon. After serving in a gunsmith unit in the IDF, she earned a bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Haifa and a masters in diplomacy and security from Tel Aviv University. She speaks to me, Ms Di Lazzaro said. Suozzi is rinse and repeat. Hes been in Congress, and hes done nothing except raise our taxes. Some new blood is needed here in Nassau County. She claimed that Mr Santos had become a convenient punching bag for Democrats, who attacked him just like they denigrate Trump. Trump hasnt been in office for three years and they still blame him for everything. Santoss problem was that he just couldnt shut up. Ms Di Lazzaro doubted the predicted blizzard would deter voters from coming out. If they dont shame, on them. Not everyone has been overtaken by the partisan fervour. Bill Fink, a retiree from Nassau County, told The Independent that neither candidate had done enough to get his vote. Forget it, he said in brief remarks while heading to the supermarket. If I had to pick the lesser of the evils, it would be Suozzi. Pilips too conservative. Especially her stance on abortion. You gotta have some heart, and she doesnt. George Santos: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground In a race this tight, the weather could yet have the final say. Early voting in the race has heavily favoured the Democrats, with results so far suggesting Mr Suozzi will take a sizeable lead heading into election day. Republicans tend to prefer same-day voting, which will require a strong turnout potentially in up to half a foot of snow and 40 mph gusts of wind. NYC Emergency Management issued a travel advisory on Monday afternoon saying the hazardous travel conditions could make roads and public transport routes dangerous. It recommended avoiding any unnecessary travel. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The Western Azerbaijan Community has strongly condemned the recent military provocation by Armenia on the conditional border with Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the community's statement. The statement emphasized that the military provocation is a result of Armenia's arming by certain states led by France and points to its evasion of signing a peace treaty. "Why don't we hear from Josep Borrell, the State Department, congressmen, racist French politicians, Dutch, Canadian, Lithuanian, European Parliament, 'Don Quixotes' like Frank Schwabe, Natalie Loiseau, Marina Kaljurand, and Jean-Christophe Buisson? It is clear that Armenia, as in the summer of 2023, continues to believe in some form of international assistance and takes dangerous actions against Azerbaijan. The statement stated that Armenia should not follow foreign capitals' orders, act as a proxy state, or repeat the mistakes of the 'first republic'. On February 12, in the vicinity of Azerbaijan's Zangilan district along the Azerbaijan-Armenia conventional border, gunfire erupted from the positions held by the Armenian Armed Forces located in the Nerkin-And residential settlement of the Gafan district, targeting the positions of the Border Guards of the State Border Service in Kollugishlaq village of the Zangilan district. As a consequence of the incident, soldier Parviz Khalilzade, a serviceman of the State Border Service, was injured. The military serviceman was evacuated to a specialized medical facility via helicopter. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A high-stakes special election in disgraced ex-Congressman George Santos former district is being held on Tuesday 13 February, in a race that will likely have major implications for national politics. The special election in New Yorks 3rd Congressional district pits Republican newcomer Mazi Pilip up against Tom Suozzi, a former three-term congressman, who vacated the seat in 2021 to launch an unsuccessful run for governor. Ms Pilip is an Ethiopian-born, former Israeli Defense Force paratrooper whose compelling backstory has Republicans touting her as a future star of the party. The by-election has taken on added significance due to Republicans slim majority in the House, and is shaping up as a bellwether for how well both parties are faring ahead of the 2024 general election. The campaign has been dominated by national issues such as border security, abortion, the economy and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both parties will be watching the results closely for any signs that the candidates messaging on contentious issues resonates with voters. Mazi Pilip, centre, arrives to vote early at a polling station in Massapequa, New York, on Friday with former GOP congressman Peter King and Oyster Bay town supervisor Joseph Saladino (AP) Recent polling has shown Mr Suozzi with a four point lead in a district that traditionally leans slightly Republican, but the race is essentially a toss-up. Early voting is underway, and the results will be announced on Tuesday night. Heres what to know about the election. The key issues New York Citys migrant crisis has clearly been top of voters minds, and both candidates have sought to stake out hardline approaches to border security. At the final candidate debate on Thursday hosted by News 12, emotions ran high as Ms Pilip accused her rival of opening the border, raised his past criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and noted his support for sanctuary cities. Mr Suozzi responded that his opposition to ICE officers in 2022 was due to the agency not cooperating with local police, and said he was one of only 18 Democrats who backed continuing funding for the agency when he was in Congress. He also pointed out Ms Pilips opposition to a bipartisan Senate bill that would have tightened border security and provided aid to Israel and Ukraine. Republican support for the bill vanished after Donald Trump came out in opposition to it. Tom Suozzi is an experienced political campaigner (AP) The Democrat has also sought to distance himself from the Biden administration over its handling of the border. I support strong border security... and anything else you hear is garbage, he says in a recent campaign advert. He also pointedly noted that he didnt think it would be helpful for President Joe Biden to campaign in the district with him in a recent CNN interview. An estimated 161,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York since April 2022, and the cost of housing them has blown a multi-billion dollar hole in the citys finances. At Thursdays News 12 debate, the pair also clashed over the issue of abortion rights. Ms Pilip, who has seven children, reiterated her position that she would not support a national aboriton ban, before calling on Mr Suozzi to apologise for lying about her stance. Rather than apologise, Mr Suozzi repeatedly questioned whether she was pro-choice and pressed her to state whether she would vote to codify abortion protections. Contrasting candidates Ms Pilip left Ethiopia at the age of 12, when she was among the 14,500 Jewish people airlifted out of the country during Operation Solomon. After serving in a gunsmith unit in the IDF, she earned a bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Haifa and a masters in diplomacy and security from Tel Aviv University. Ms Pilip married a Ukrainian-American doctor before moving to the US. She was first elected to the Nassau County legislature in 2021 and won re-election late last year. Though running as a Republican, Ms Pilip remains a registered Democrat. Her campaign team has said she opted to wait until after the election to formally change her party affiliation to avoid legal complications that could potentially knock her off the ballot. While the candidates have pushed their credentials as pragmatic moderates, their parties have invested huge amounts of money in trying to portray each other as on the fringes. Democrats have spent $8m on political adverts painting Ms Pilip as a Maga extremist. Mr Suozzi, a polished public speaker and debater, has targeted his opponents lack of experience, and questioned her qualifications and ability to be an effective operator in Washington. He is well known to voters in the district, having held elected office in the district for much of the past three decades. In 1993, he was elected mayor of Glen Cove, on Long Islands North Shore. Republicans for their part have invested more than $3m trying to paint Mr Suozzi as on the extreme left. During Thursdays debate, he poked fun at GOP efforts to cast him as aligned with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (For) you to suggest that Im a member of the Squad is about as believable as you being a member of George Santos volleyball team, he said. Ms Pilip has won endorsements from the Jewish Press, and the influential local paper, the North Shore Leader. Mr Suozzi has the backing of the New York Daily News, and Newsday. A wealthy, multicultural district New Yorks 3rd Congressional district straddles the New York borough of Queens and Nassau County in Long Island and was the nations fourth wealthiest by median household income in 2022. An estimated 11 per cent of the voting population are Jewish. The Israel-Hamas conflict stirred high emotions in the district, and both candidates have pledged unwavering support for the US ally. George who? One thing is clear: New Yorks 3rd Congressional district is ready to move on from the embarrassment of the scandal-plagued, federally-indicted George Santos. In December, Mr Santos became only the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House of Congress after the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report. Two months earlier, he was charged with a host of fraud and dishonesty offences including embezzling money from his campaign and lying to Congress about his wealth. A few quips aside, Mr Santos has been largely anonymous in debates and campaign speeches by the two candidates. The key question is whether voters are ready to elect another unknown quantity in Ms Pilip. Associated Press contributed to this report 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 is going all in on what she sees as the safest line of attack against Donald Trump questions about his mental fitness and temperament in a year where the incumbent Democratic president is facing similar concerns. The former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador sat down with NBCs Craig Melvin for an interview with the Today show on Tuesday as she prepares for a showdown with Mr Trump in her home state that is a litte more than a week away. The primary election in South Carolina could be a jolt in the arm of her campaign as she continues to steeply trail the frontrunner or, it could be the death knell of her presidential bid. It could also be neither of those things, as she plods along towards Super Tuesday in March. Ms Haley made some of her most forceful criticism of Mr Trumps mental state yet during the interview. The problem now is, he is not the same person he was in 2016. He is unhinged; he is more diminished than he was, just like Joe Bidens more diminished than what he was, Ms Haley told NBC. We have to see this for what it is, she went on. This is a fact: he is now saying things that don't make sense. She contrasted Mr Trumps mood and temperament now with what she experienced during his administration, when the former UN diplomat said that Mr Trump was responsive when his deputy came to him with concerns. Two of those concerns she named directly: his response to a white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as his pattern of rhetoric about women. If something was wrong ... I had a conversation with him about Charlottesville, I had a conversation about something that he would say about women, I had a conversation with him about multiple things, said Ms Haley. Ms Haley has made her opponents age an issue the same way Trump-aligned Republicans have sought to cast doubts about Mr Bidens focus and mental clarity. Some of the ex-presidents more rabid supporters have even taken things a step further and openly suggested that the incumbent president has dementia. Concerns about Mr Bidens memory were energised by the release last week of a report authored by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding the investiation into the presidents handling of classified documents. During interviews, Mr Hur described the president as severely forgetful and unable to recall details about major events from his life, including the death of his son Beau. Mr Biden would go on to angrily rebut that criticism at a press conference. "You've got Joe Biden, where the special counsel said he was diminished, and he's not the Joe Biden he was two years ago," Ms Haley told NBC on Tuesday. "You've got a Donald Trump who's unhinged, and he's more unhinged than he ever was. [W]hy are we settling for that when the country is in disarray and the world is on fire?" she aked. We don't want these two old men running. We want someone who's going to go and fight for us and work for us, with no drama, no vendettas." The no vendettas line was a clear reference to Mr Trump frequent vows of revenge against his political enemies; he has told supporters that he will direct the Justice Department to prosecute Joe Bidens family if he is elected for a second term, and a group of conservative organisations is purportedly working on plans to seriously diminish the independence of the Justice Department to allow him to do so. Ms Haley continues to trail Mr Trump according to all available polling, both in South Carolina and nationwide. Her campaign has begun looking ahead to primary states voting in March even as she hopes for a shock performance in her home state similar to the stronger-than-expected showing she had in New Hampshire. 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 }} Watch as Joe Biden and King Abdullah of Jordan spoke at a press conference following a meeting at the White House on Monday, 12 February. The president held a meeting with the monarch in Washington, in which they were expected to discuss the ongoing effort to free hostages held in Gaza. It comes after Rafah, in Gaza's south, was pounded by Israeli airstrikes overnight. Two Israeli hostages were rescued from Rafah overnight following a raid on a heavily guarded apartment which killed at least 67 people, according to a spokesman for the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled his intention to carry out a ground offensive on the city, now home to 1.4 million Palestinian refugees who have fled fighting elsewhere. Rafah, on the border with Egypt, is one of few Palestinian regions not yet targeted by an Israeli ground offensive. and is providing refuge to more than half of Gazas 2.3 million population. 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 }} Secretary of defense Lloyd Austin has cancelled a trip to Brussels for Nato and Ukraine meetings as he remains in hospital for treatment for a bladder issue. Mr Austin, a retired four-star general and the first Black secretary of defense, was put under general anaesthesia on Monday for a non-surgical procedure to treat the emergent bladder issue, his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said in a new statement. They added that he was set to get back to work on Tuesday and that a prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. But Mr Austin had to cancel a planned trip to Brussels this week, where he was set to attend a monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which includes the more than 50 countries that are sending military aid to Ukraine to help them push back the Russian invasion. Mr Austin was also scheduled to take part in a separate meeting of Nato defence secretaries in the Belgian capital. Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said that the meeting would now be virtual, ABC News noted. This weekends hospital visit was Mr Austins third hospitalisation following his prostate cancer diagnosis in December. Maj Gen Ryder was unable to state on Monday if the bladder issue was a complication following his 22 December surgery for prostate cancer. Maj Gen Ryder added that Mr Austin is no longer receiving treatment for his cancer diagnosis apart from physical therapy to deal with leg pain. Dr John Maddox and Dr Gregory Chesnut at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland just outside Washington DC, said in a statement on Monday: We anticipate the secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent. Mr Austin previously transferred duties to his deputy after he was moved to a critical care unit for treatment this weekend. The news came following widespread criticism of the lack of communication in connection to Mr Austins previous hospitalisation for prostate cancer. It was reported that President Joe Biden was unaware of his top defence official being out of action for several days before Mr Austins condition was communicated. Maj Gen Patrick Ryder said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Austin, 70, was taken to hospital by his security detail at about 2.20pm. He added that Mr Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. The deputy secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and congressional notifications have occurred. Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on 7 February (Getty) Initially, Mr Austin retained the duties of his office, but in a follow-up statement, the press secretary said that at approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the secretary of defense to deputy secretary of defense Kathleen Hicks. The deputy secretary of defense has assumed the functions and duties. Doctors at the hospital said in yet another statement later on Sunday that after a series of tests and evaluations, the secretary was admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring. At this time, it is not clear how long secretary Austin will remain hospitalised. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery. His cancer prognosis remains excellent, they added. The initial statement regarding Mr Austins hospitalisation came within three hours of his arrival at Walter Reed, a clear reaction to avoid mistakes of the past. Mr Austin previously said that there had been failures in the lack of communication about his medical status both towards the public and the rest of the Biden administration. Mr Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties, the Pentagon press secretary said before the defense secretary handed over his duties to Ms Hicks. 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 Senate overwhelmingly passed a legislative package to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Indo-Pacific but it faces additional hurdles as House speaker Mike Johnson announced he would not put the bill to the floor. Only 29 senators 26 Republicans plus three Democrats voted against the bill, with 70 senators, including 22 from the GOP, voting in favour. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky led the charge against the $95.34bn (75.69bn) package as a host of Republican senators spoke on the floor late into the night on Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. The legislation came after Senate Republicans rejected a larger package that would have included additional provisions to restrict immigration and increase security at the US-Mexico border. Democratic senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut; independent senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Republican senator James Lankford of Oklahoma negotiated the agreement that the House and many Republicans opposed as insufficient. The package includes $60.6bn in aid to Ukraine; $14.1bn in aid to Israel to assist with its war against Hamas after the 7 October attack; $2.44bn for US Central Command to address combat expenditures for conflict in the Red Sea; $9.15bn in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza; and $4.83bn to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific to push back against the Peoples Republic of China. President Joe Biden hailed the Senate action in a statement on Tuesday, calling the legislation critical to advancing Americas national security interests. I applaud the bipartisan coalition of senators who came together to advance this agreement, and I urge the House to move on this with urgency. We cannot afford to wait any longer, he said, adding that the costs of inaction in places such as Ukraine are rising every day, with Ukrainian forces reportedly running out of ammunition in the face of renewed Russian attacks. If we do not stand against tyrants who seek to conquer or carve up their neighbours territory, the consequences for Americas national security will be significant, he said. At a press conference held just hours after the early-morning vote, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer called the legislation one of the most historic and consequential bills to have passed the upper chamber, and said it greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of Western democracy as we know it. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer praised the passing of the bill in a press conference yesterday morning (Getty) Mr Schumer said the strong bipartisan vote in the Senate indicates that the legislation would easily garner a similarly bipartisan measure of support in the House, should House Speaker Johnson allow it to receive an up-or-down vote on the floor of his chamber. But Mr Johnson, following the lead of former president Donald Trump who himself has called for the US to end aid to Ukraine released a statement announcing that he would not bring the bill to the floor even as the Senate debated the legislation. Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, he said. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. The remarks come after Senate Republicans have drawn out the process for passing the aid package throughout the weekend. Mr Paul, a vocal opponent of Ukraine aid and a close ally of Mr Trump, praised the House speaker for holding the line against helping Kyiv defend against Russias invading force. I think thats very supportive, he told The Independent. And I think our filibuster helped to slow things down. During his speech on the floor, Mr Paul spoke about alleged corruption in Ukraine as a reason to halt aid to the US ally. But earlier in the night, senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina who initially took part in the negotiations with the bipartisan immigration-foreign aid bill before he voted against it criticised the Kentucky senator and others whove stood in the way of more defence assistance passing the Congress. A lot of people, when they hear a senator speak, they believe that its the truth, he told The Independent. Theyve heard somebody say that if we pass this bill that were all gonna go right to Kyiv with buckets full of money, and let oligarchs buy yachts. I wonder how the spouses of the estimated 25,000 soldiers in Ukraine who have died feel about that? Senator John Cornyn of Texas said that he hoped that the House will take up their own bill and work its will and thats the way the system is supposed to. Other senators took alternative routes. At one point, senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, one of the most ardent opponents of aid to Ukraine, joined an X/Twitter space with the sites owner Elon Musk, who has criticised US support for Ukraine. Its important that the American public has a different perspective than whats being shovelled out by people in support of this package and the mainstream media, Mr Johnson said. Mr Johnson added that he did not think Ukraine could win the war against Russian president Vladimir Putin. Ive been making the point that Putin will not lose his war because its existential to Putin, Mr Johnson said. Senator JD Vance of Ohio also praised Mr Musks outspokenness. I think its just one more sign to the American people and hes obviously an important American, they think this bill is a bad deal for the country, Mr Vance said. But Mr Tillis rebuked Republicans and said that American efforts helped degrade Russia. Putin is losing this war folks, Mr Tillis said on the floor. This is not a stalemate. This guy is on life support. The push comes as Mr Trump vocally opposed the original bipartisan immigration-foreign aid agreement, effectively killing it. During the weekend, Mr Trump spoke at a rally in South Carolina where he recalled that he spoke to a Nato member state leader about the fact it had not lived up to its obligations and would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. But some Republicans excoriated their colleagues for opposing aid to Ukraine. I know that the shock jocks and online instigators have riled up many in the far reaches of my party, senator Mitt Romney of Utah said in a floor speech. But if your position is being cheered by Vladimir Putin, its time to reconsider your position. Mr Murphy, the Democratic senator who negotiated the initial bipartisan agreement, criticised Republicans for drawing out the process, but he said the agreement would finally go to a vote. Im sad it took this long to get it done, dont really understand what the houses posture is right now, he said. But its good that this is gonna get a big bipartisan vote and we'll cross our fingers that the House comes to its senses. Ms Sinema for her part was more direct when asked what she thought about Mr Johnson saying he would oppose the legislation unless it included border security when he opposed the initial bill. Build a time machine, she told The Independent as she walked toward Senate minority leader Mitch McConnells office. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A sprawling election interference case against Donald Trump is set to veer into the private and professional life of the woman leading the prosecution against him during a hearing in an Atlanta courtroom this week. The Georgia judge overseeing the case against the former president and more than a dozen others will preside over a misconduct hearing on Thursday scrutinising allegations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Ms Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade could be called to testify after one of the former presidents co-defendants alleged that the attorneys financially benefited from the vast RICO case through their personal, romantic relationship with each other. If stood up in court, accusations levelled against Ms Willis and the chief prosecutor she hired to lead the case could result in her disqualification. Ms Willis and Mr Wade have already admitted to their relationship but have firmly rejected the meritless and salacious allegations as bad-faith attempts to see her struck off the case that Mr Trump has baselessly labelled a conspiracy against him. In court on Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said that a hearing on the matter must occur. Judge McAfee said the relationship is no longer a matter of complete speculation, but what remains to be proven is the existence and extent of any financial benefit, if there even was one. Because I think its possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification, I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations, he said. Now, a hearing beginning on 15 February and expected to last two days will investigate the allegations outlined by one of Mr Trumps co-defendants. Judge McAfee has declined to immediately rule on whether to quash subpoenas for testimony from Ms Willis and others. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee hears from attorneys in a sprawling election interference case on 12 February. (Getty Images) He appears prepared to hear testimony from at least some of the many witnesses requested by Mr Trumps co-defendants but will wait to decide whether Ms Willis could be called to the stand. I dont see how I can make that determination on the front end without live testimony subject to cross-examination, he said. With each one of these witnesses, I would defer the ruling until we get further into the hearing itself. If Mr Trump does appear at the hearing, it will be his first time attending any proceedings surrounding his Georgia criminal case since he turned himself in for arrest and had his mug shot taken for an image he now uses to sell campaign fundraising merchandise. Since that day, he has repeatedly lashed out at Ms Willis and trumpeted allegations against her and Mr Wade on his Truth Social platform. On Thursday, Mr Trumps attorneys will also be appearing in Manhattan criminal court for a pretrial hearing on separate criminal charges involving hush-money payments to an adult film star during his 2016 campaign among the mountain of criminal and civil litigation facing Mr Trump as he campaigns for the presidency once again. Ms Willis has come under heightened scrutiny in recent weeks after one of Mr Trumps co-defendants a GOP operative who worked on his 2020 campaign alleged in a sensational court filing without direct evidence that she hired a prosecutor with whom she was romantically involved and that the pair were profiting significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers. The motion from Mike Roman who is criminally charged alongside the former president, Rudy Giuliani and others with running a criminal enterprise to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election results in a state Mr Trump lost to Joe Biden was later joined by the former president himself. Attorneys for Mr Trump also accused Ms Willis of defying her ethics obligations and injecting racial animus in the case after she spoke out against racist attacks she has endured since taking on the case. In her filing responding to the allegations, Ms Willis argued that the court should question whether Mr Romans supposition and innuendo-loaded arguments are intended to disqualify the prosecutor who has taken on all of the abuse to pursue justice in this case at great personal cost, only to be substituted with someone less committed to do so. Mr Wades signed affidavit in the case states that he and Ms Willis developed a personal relationship in addition to our professional association and friendship in 2022, a year after he was hired on the case. He stated he has no financial interest in the case, that no funds from his hiring have been shared with Ms Willis, and that they have never shared any financial accounts, expenses or housing. Defence attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who alleged improper relationship between Fani Willis and a special prosecutor hired to lead the case against Donald Trump and others in Georgia, speaks in court in Atlanta on 12 February. (REUTERS) High-profile criminal defence lawyer Ashleigh Merchant, who is representing Mr Roman, has called for testimony from Terrence Bradley, Mr Wades former law partner. That testimony would be used to dispute those claims, she told the court on Monday. I will be shocked if Ms Merchant is able to support that statement, said Anna Cross, a lawyer for the district attorney. The evidence would be that the timeline thats being represented is either mistaken or simply fabricated. The spectacle of calling a witness who would say I heard otherwise has little evidentiary value, according to Ms Cross. Ms Willis previously argued in court filings that the defences attempts to subpoena her, Mr Wade and other employees amounts to harassment and disruption in an attempt to bolster reckless accusations in an attempt to undermine the case altogether. The defence is not bringing you facts, Ms Cross said on Monday. The defence is not bringing you law. The defence is bringing you gossip, and the state cannot and the court should not condone that practice. What is the case against Trump in Georgia? Mr Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants are criminally charged under Georgias anti-racketeering statute as part of a criminal enterprise to overturn the states election results in 2020. Through this criminal enterprise, the defendants allegedly pushed state officials and lawmakers to unlawfully reverse Mr Trumps loss while directing attacks on election equipment and pressuring election workers. They have pleaded not guilty. Four others including three Trump-allied attorneys who pushed spurious election challenges in the state and elsewhere reached plea agreements with prosecutors in the case last year. The case is separate but parallel to the federal charges facing Mr Trump for his efforts to overturn 2020 results, culminating in his failure as president to stop a mob of his supporters from breaking into the US Capitol to do it by force. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecor Nathan Wade appear in Atlanta in August 2023. (AP) Mr Roman, who worked for the Trump campaign in Georgia in 2020 and is now among those charged alongside him, is accused of coordinating a fake elector scheme to fraudulently certify Mr Trumps victory in the state. Mr Roman, like Mr Trump and the other co-defendants, is charged under the states RICO Act. He also faces one count of conspiracy to impersonate a public officer; two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery; two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; and conspiracy to commit filing false documents. What are the allegations against Fani Willis? Mr Roman alleged in a last-minute court filing in January that the prosecutors leading the case against him engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship and violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office. The filing did not provide any concrete evidence to support the claims but cited sources with knowledge. Mr Romans attorney Ms Merchant, who also claims to have relied on documents from Mr Wades divorce proceedings, alleges that Mr Wade and Ms Willis were romantically involved before his appointment as a special prosecutor in the case in late 2021. She alleges that Ms Willis and Mr Wade traveled to Californias Napa Valley and Florida and took cruises on Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines paid with earnings they received for the work they performed on the case. Wade is being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to prosecute this case on her behalf, according to the filing. In turn, Wade is taking Willis on, and paying for vacations across the world with money he is being paid by the Fulton County taxpayers and authorized solely by Willis. The motion filed on the deadline for pretrial motions to the court asked Judge McAfee to dismiss the indictment against Mr Roman, and disqualify Willis, Wade and their respective offices and firms from participating in this matter any further. Filings from Mr Wades divorce proceedings show that he purchased plane tickets for himself and Ms Willis for a trip to Aruba in October 2022 and another to San Francisco in April 2023. They had roughly split those travel expenses, according to Mr Wade. The court filings include receipts for airline tickets. No funds paid to me in compensation for my role as Special Prosecutor have been shared with or provided to District Attorney Willis, Mr Wade said in a signed affidavit. The District Attorney received no funds or personal financial gain from my position as Special Prosecutor. Donald Trump speaks to supporters in South Carolina on 11 February. (Getty Images) In a speech to a congregation at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta last month, Ms Willis suggested that the attacks against her since taking the case were motivated by racism. She defended her hiring of three special prosecutors in the case, as is her right to do, and noted that she paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attack one, she said. I hired one white woman, a good personal friend and a great lawyer, a superstar, I tell you. I hired one white man brilliant my friend and a great lawyer. And I hired one Black man, another superstar. Both Ms Willis and Mr Wade are Black. According to Mr Trumps lawyers, her remarks on 14 January constitute a glaring, flagrant, and calculated effort to foment racial bias into this case by publicly denouncing the defendants for somehow daring to question her decision to hire a Black man (without also mentioning that she is alleged to have had a workplace affair with the same man) to be a special prosecutor. In her formal response to the allegations, a 176-page court filing from Ms Willis argued that the private lives of the attorney participants in this trial was not a topic of discussion. A conflicted prosecutor presents a risk that he or she will disregard public interest for personal benefit, according to the filing. No circumstances alleged by any of these Defendants even approach that threshold, let alone cross it. And the accusations brought to this Court by these Defendants on the flimsiest of factual support may cause a reasonable person to wonder [if] the Defendants motivation is more tactical than legal. This story was published on 12 February and has been updated with developments 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 }} Two judges in separate courtrooms just minutes down the street from one another could deal serious blows to Donald Trump, his business and his campaign schedule this week. On Thursday, a judge in Manhattan criminal court will preside over a hearing that could set a course for the former presidents trial on charges stemming from hush-money payments to an adult film star during his 2016 campaign. The judge overseeing a separate civil fraud trial that could imperil his family business and brand-building empire is also imminently expected to issue a final judgment in that case, with potentially tens of millions of dollars in sanctions and the end of his real estate career in New York at stake. A court official told The Independent that a decision in that case would be due by mid-February. People familiar with the matter suggested to The New York Times that a decision would come one day after Mr Trumps criminal court date. The former president, meanwhile, was reportedly planning to visit Atlanta to watch a hearing on misconduct allegations against the prosecutor leading a sprawling criminal case against him in Georgia accusations that Mr Trump and his allies amplified in an effort to undermine the cases against him. His lawyers, however, said he will be in court in Manhattan. Mr Trump has relied on the growing stack of cases and court dates on his calendar colliding with a primary election season as he seeks the Republican Partys presidential nomination to cast himself as a victim of election interference and political persecution, while his lawyers deny wrongdoing or attempt to claim immunity for anything he did as president. Its unlikely that a federal election conspiracy case against him will resume on 4 March, as initially penciled in, while his repeatedly-rejected immunity defence heads to the US Supreme Court. If the New York criminal court date sticks, he is almost certain to stand trial for the first time as a criminal defendant in his hometown. Judge Juan Merchan tentatively scheduled that trial to begin on 25 March. Donald Trump appears at his civil fraud trial in New York City on 11 January (REUTERS) Mr Trump has already faced two massive civil trials in Manhattan this year. A federal jury determined he owes E Jean Carroll more than $83m for repeatedly defaming her after denying that he sexually abused her in the 1990s. The civil fraud case targeting Mr Trump, his two adult sons and their chief business associates also came to a close last month after 11 weeks of witness testimony. State Attorney General Letitia James, whose blockbuster lawsuit sparked the trial in New York County Superior Court on Centre Street, is seeking $370m in so-called ill-gotten gains and an order that would block the former president from the states real estate industry for life. Mr Trump started his week in Florida, where he attended closed-door hearings on Monday to review sensitive materials in a federal case stemming from his alleged criminal mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago. The criminal case in Manhattan has largely remained quiet compared to months of court filings and hearings in the three other criminal cases against him, and a mountain of litigation threatening his business and potential disqualification from 2024 ballots a challenge that is now at the US Supreme Court. The New York case marked the first set of criminal charges against him in a year full of them. In April, a grand jury under Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg charged the former president with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with repayments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, who arranged a hush-money scheme to prevent the release of potentially damaging stories about Mr Trump and his affairs. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty. Mr Trump, Mr Cohen and David Pecker, the former owner of the National Enquirer, allegedly worked in concert to identify, purchase, and bury negative information about then-candidate Trump to boost his electoral prospects, according to prosecutors. The alleged payments were used to cover up sex scandals involving adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, according to prosecutors. On Thursday, Judge Merchan is expected to rule on Mr Trumps motion to dismiss the case altogether, after which he is likely to arrange a trial date. The court has reportedly relied on movements from the federal election conspiracy case arguably the most serious against the former president before firming up a timetable, and Mr Bragg has suggested he would not stand in the way of that trial moving forward first. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to reporters on 8 February (Getty Images) Hours after that hearing, Mr Trump is expected to face a damning final decision in the fraud case, which his attorneys are likely to immediately appeal. Judge Engorons pretrial ruling found Mr Trump and his co-defendants liable for fraud, leaving a trial to determine what, if any, sanctions they should face. The judge initially planned to issue his final decision by the end of January, but a series of late-breaking developments in the case surrounding one of the defendants potential perjury during his testimony appears to have thrown that schedule off track. Last month, a court-appointed monitor who was tapped to oversee his businesses reported financial disclosures that are either incomplete, present results inconsistently, or contain errors. One of those findings, according to her report, appears to suggest that the former president evaded taxes on millions of dollars in income by hiding money in fake loan transactions. Over the last two weeks, Judge Engoron has asked the parties for anything they can tell him about an alleged plea deal being arranged between New York City prosecutors and former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg on perjury charges connected to his testimony in the fraud trial. If Weisselberg is now admitting he lied under oath in my courtroom at this trial, the judge wants to know about it, he wrote to attorneys this month. I do not want to ignore anything in a case of this magnitude. This story was published on 12 February and has been updated with developments 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 }} Perhaps nothing symbolises the shift from the old-school Reaganite Republican Party to the Maga-fied manifestation that dominates politics today than the shift from Mitt Romney to Donald Trumps foreign policy. In 2012, Romney, then the Republican presidential nominee, famously called Russia without question, our number one geopolitical foe. Democrats dismissed him as daft in a world with al-Qaeda and China on the rise. Barack Obama chided him and said the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back, because the Cold Wars been over for 20 years. Russias annexation of Crimea, its meddling in the 2016 presidential election and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 vindicated Romney and showed the threat of President Vladimir Putin. But by that point, the GOP had moved on from the Reagan-Bush-Romney worldview and embraced another businessman-turned-politician in Donald Trump. This weekend, when he held a rally in South Carolina, Trump all but goaded Putin into invading European countries when he recalled that he told a head of state of a Nato country talking about Russia during his presidency that if the country did not pay its obligations I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. The remarks directly contradict Article 5 of the Nato charter, which says that all Nato members will respond to an attack on one member nation. Nato famously mobilised to the aid of the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Not surprisingly, Romney denounced the remarks. He says outrageous things to get people riled up, Romney told The Independent. It works at the rallies. Unfortunately, it also has an impact around the world where our friends wonder whether they can rely on America. But another senator, Roger Marshall of Kansas, a pro-Trump Republican, defended the former president using an old aphorism that many threw around during Trumps time in the White House. What I know is hell secure the border, hes going to make this country safer, hes going to hold Nato accountable, he told me on Sunday in Kansas City Chiefs regalia ahead of the Super Bowl. And I think that people need to realize that like, you should take everything that he says seriously, but not literally. Some Republicans did indeed take Trumps words seriously. Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, called Trumps words horrible while her colleague from Iowa Chuck Grassley told me: No American should do anything to appease Russia. Even Senator Rand Paul, the libertarian Republican from Kentucky, told me that Trumps words were a stupid thing to say even though he agreed that Nato countries do not pay enough of their share. Meanwhile, Senator Josh Hawley, who led the charge to object to the 2020 presidential election, initially laughed when he said that the Nato countries definitely need to pay before adding If they invaded a Nato country, wed have to defend them, so we dont want that. Republicans like Hawley and Paul are part of a younger breed of Republican who oppose the United States taking on a robust role on the international stage. Indeed, Trumps words come as Paul has sought to delay and oppose a package in the Senate that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and allies in the Indo-Pacific to push back against China. This came after months of protracted negotiations between a bipartisan group of senators when Republicans had demanded additional measures to restrict immigration in exchange for military aid, a sign of how much Trump has moved the Overton Window when it comes to politics. Of course, Republicans outright rejected it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Pauls senior senate counterpart from Kentucky, even voted against the package despite his support for Ukraine. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the pro-Maga conspiracy-mongering congresswoman from Georgia, has threatened she would file a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson if he passed aid to Ukraine. Opposition to Ukraine, or at least supporting Ukraine without preconditions, as well as America having a large role on the international stage, has become a defining point of Republican ideology. For the time being, white evangelical support for Israel which is mostly rooted in a belief in end-times theology keeps support for Israel secure. But even then, Republicans like Greene opposed a standalone piece of legislation last week. But if Republicans take Trumps words seriously, the international community took them seriously. Natos Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said that Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Trumps remarks irresponsible and dangerous. The divergent reactions ultimately reveal as much about international leaders and Republicans political situations. For Republicans, crossing Trump or coming out against him too strongly signals political death. Indeed, Romney is leaving the Senate after one term. Other Republicans like Hawley hope to become the future of the GOP once Trump exits the stage. As members of Congress, they also have the express luxury of being able to rein him in or put in place statutes to prevent him from acting on his worse impulses, something the Senate relishes as the adults in Congress compared to the House. But international leaders have no other option but to take Trumps words literally and seriously. And given Trumps intimations that he has made out loud and his previous deference to Putin, they might be more prescient than Republicans at home. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Today, the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan ratified the results of the extraordinary presidential election held on February 7, 2024, Trend reports. According to the official protocol from the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Constitutional Court declared Ilham Aliyev as the winner of the presidential election, securing 92.12 percent of the votes. As per Article 103 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the newly elected president is required to take an oath within three days following the official announcement of the presidential election results by the Constitutional Court. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 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 New Zealand pilot taken hostage in remote jungle has sent a heartbreaking message to his wife and son a year after he was captured by guerrillas. Philip Mark Mehrtens, a 38-year-old former Jetstar pilot, appeared gaunt and scruffy in the hostage video released by the West Papua Liberation Army who kidnapped him in February 2023. Mr Mehrtens was captured after he landed his small plane at the Paro airport in the remote highlands of the Nduga regency in Papua a region at the heart of a decades-long war led by separatists against Indonesia. In the footage, a nervous Mr Mehrtens said: Im OK, they are treating me well. Im trying to stay positive and I hope that you and Jacob are healthy and doing OK and getting support. I love you both lots and miss you both lots and hope to be able to talk with you soon, he added. Philip Mark Mehrtens, 38, sits inbetween two West Papua Liberation Army soldiers after he was captured last year (Supplied) The video was taken on 22 December 2023, with the rebels waiting weeks before sharing it today. Mr Mehrtens explained he had met with the komandant, likely a reference to commander Egianus Kogoya, who is fighting against the Indonesian annexation of the territory. The pilot also said he would talk to the commander about making a phone call to his family. It was not clear if this phone call was ever made. It comes just weeks after the rebel group said it had asked commander Kogoya to release Mr Mehrtens. Using the pilot as a guarantee for an independent Papua at a fixed price is absolutely impossible to happen, TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom said. Mr Sambom said there was no precedent for such an exchange, urging Kogoya to retract his previous statements and let the pilot go. The former pilot stands next to a West Papua Liberation Army rebel (Supplied) There is no history in this world that any country has ever been independence in exchange with a hostage, he said. Papua, the worlds third-largest island country and a resource-rich region, was formerly a Dutch colony before it was controversially brought under Indonesian control in a widely criticised vote overseen by the United Nations in 1969. Its easternmost provinces have been battered with a low-level battle for independence, but the conflict escalated significantly since 2018, with pro-independence fighters conducting deadlier attacks. At least 10 traders and an indigenous Papuan were killed by separatist gunmen in July 2022. In March, rebels killed eight technicians repairing a remote telecommunications tower. 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 British woman who claimed she was raped by a bartender while on holiday has won a complaint against the Greek authorities at the European Court of Human Rights. According to court documents, the woman, who is referred to as Ms X, was aged 18 at the time of the alleged incident in 2019. The bartender, who she met in the seaside town of Parga on the west coast of Greece, claimed the woman consented to having sex. Judges in Strasbourg highlighted significant shortcomings as they found Greek authorities breached articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights because there had not been an effective investigation into the allegations and the criminal proceedings had fallen short of the required standards. The womans lawyer, Michael Polak, said she was delighted with the judgment, which he described as monumental, adding that she hopes her ordeal and her fighting this case will stop other women from having to go through what she did. Mr Polak, director of Justice Abroad, which offers legal representation and advice for British people navigating foreign justice systems, told the PA news agency the woman was brought face to face with the alleged perpetrator in the police station, subjected to medical procedures which were not properly explained to her and kept totally in the dark about progress in the investigation which police later dropped. Branding it a systemic failure rather than an isolated case, Mr Polak said: We hope that this decision will spur the Greek authorities to change how they treat victims of sexual offences because Greece is obviously a place where lots of young women travel to and we hope they dont suffer the same treatment. The judgment said: The court, without expressing an opinion on the guilt of the accused, finds that the failure of the investigative and judicial authorities to adequately respond to the allegations of rape shows that they did not submit the case to the careful scrutiny required for them to properly discharge their positive obligations under the convention The court thus concludes that the failure of the investigative and judicial authorities to adequately respond to the allegations of rape in the present case amount to a violation of the positive obligations of the state under articles 3 and 8 of the convention. The intimate nature of the complaint, the womans young age and the fact that she claimed to have been raped while on holiday in a foreign country were all factors which called for a correspondingly sensitive approach on the part of the authorities, according to the court. Following the submission of the applicants complaint, the investigating authorities did not take measures to prevent her further traumatisation and did not take sufficient account of her needs. They did not take any measures to inform her of her rights as a victim, such as the right to legal assistance or counselling and psychological support, the right to receive information and the right to object to the interpretation. Furthermore, the investigating authorities did not take adequate measures to mitigate what was clearly a distressing experience for the applicant, such as the interview, the direct confrontation with the accused, the identification procedure and the medical examination, which should have been subject to more careful assessment In addition, neither the prosecution nor the court analysed the circumstances of the case from the perspective of gender-based violence. They failed to explore the available possibilities for establishing all the surrounding circumstances and to take account of the particular psychological factors involved in rape cases such as the present one, and to make a context-sensitive assessment of the credibility of the various statements. There was no serious attempt to clarify the discrepancies or to assess the applicants state of mind and personal circumstances. Those elements, in addition to the manner in which they assessed the forensic report, which did not actually contradict the applicants version of events, were not isolated errors but significant shortcomings, the judgment added. The claimant was not awarded compensation or legal costs because her claim was lodged too late, the court said. The Greek government and police have been contacted for comment. 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 host on Polish state television has appologised on air for homophobic propaganda aired by state media. LGBTQ+ rights activist Bart Staszewski said he believes its a new beginning in Poland after the host said sorry for content in recent years. During the eight years of rule by the national conservative Law and Justice party, state media promoted the partys line that LGBTQ+ people were threats to Polish families. At one point President Andrzej Duda an ally of the former government said he agreed with the idea that LGBT was an ideology and not people. The approach has changed under a new centrist government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who moved quickly to eject the Law and Justice supporters from positions of power over state media. It took me by surprise, said Staszewski, one of two activists invited on air Sunday evening when the state TVP host apologized to them for the rhetoric directed at their community for years. Staszewski, who had been personally targeted by the previous government, added: I didnt realize how much I needed to hear the apology. Polish President Andrzej Duda addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in 2023 (AP) Wojciech Szelag, the TV host, began his discussion with the two activists by saying: For many years in Poland shameful words have been directed at numerous individuals simply because they chose to decide for themselves who they are and whom they love. LGBT+ people are not an ideology, but people, with specific names, faces, relatives and friends. All these people should hear the words I am sorry exactly from this place, Szelag said. I am sorry. Staszewski said the apology was refreshing and he feels like its a new beginning.But he also said the new government still has work to do given that same-sex unions are still not permitted under Polish law. The LGBTQ+ community is also pushing for the new authorities to pass a hate speech law. 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 }} More than a dozen people have been injured after a tree fell on a rollercoaster ride at a popular theme park in Spain. Two of the 14 casualties are said to be in a critical condition and were airlifted from PortAventura World and rushed to Bellvitge Hospital in Barcelona and Joan XXIII Hospital in Tarragona. The incident occurred on a wooden roller coaster called Tomahawk, with children reportedly among those injured. At least 14 people have been injured at PortAventura (PortAventura) A spokeswoman for the local emergency services confirmed that two people with critical injuries had been transferred to hospital, while three others had been taken to hospital with less serious injuries. The theme park confirmed in a statement on social media: This morning, due to high winds, an accident has occurred in which a tree came down on the Tomahawk rollercoaster. Some of the branches hit customers who were on the attraction. Our emergency protocols were activated immediately. PortAventuras website describes the ride as a childrens roller coaster with frenetic climbs and descents that will test the bravery of all those who dare to challenge it. 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 }} Russia has lost as many tanks in the Ukraine war as the total number it had in active service across its armed forces before Vladimir Putin launched his invasion, according to a leading think tank. More than 3,000 tanks have been damaged or destroyed in two years of fighting after Moscow failed in its initial blitzkrieg aimed at capturing the capital, Kyiv. To make up for the shortfall the Russian millitary has been resupplying the frontline from its strategic reserves of armour while urgently boosting defence spending and putting its economy on a war footing, says the analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Ukraine, on the other hand, has had to rely heavily on Western weapons to offset its own losses with its citizens army having to learn battle skills rapidly while engaged in combat. Using arms from the US and Europe, as well as those being developed at home, the Ukrainians have struck back deep behind enemy lines into Russia and also damaged the capabilities of Moscows Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea. A rush by Nato member states to boost their military budgets to help Ukraine, as well as prepare their defences to face prospective future Russian aggression, has led to a significant increase in arms spending. The Gaza War and armed confrontation in the Middle-East, Chinas sabre-rattling in the Indo-Pacific, strife in central Asia including conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and military coups in west Africa provided added impetus to weapons sales. A Ukrainian serviceman of the 47th Mechanized Brigade prepares for combat a Bradley fighting vehicle, not far away from Avdiivka, Donetsk region (AFP via Getty Images) Global arms spending has grown by nine per cent to a record $ 2.2 trillion with non Nato states increasing their budgets by an average of 32 per cent, says IISS in its annual Millitary Balance report. China and Russia have ramped up their millitary budgets by 30 percent and Irans burgeoning arms industry has been much in evidence with drones supplied by the country being used by Russia in Ukraine, and anti-ship missiles by the Houthis in the Red Sea. Defence budgets have come into focus this week after Donald Trumps declaration that he would encourage Russia to attack any Nato member states which did not spend enough on its forces as part of the Alliance. Speaking at an election rally, Mr Trump claimed that he had told an European leader that he would tell Moscow to do whatever the hell they want, to countries which did not pay their bill. A Ukrainian soldier fires a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher at Russian positions near the frontline (General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ) The White House condemned the comments as appalling and unhinged. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, putting soldiers from the Alliance countries at risk. The aspiration of a world free of nuclear arsenals is fading with China adding missile silos and the US modernising warheads and delivery systems, says the report. There has been heightened interest in a wide range of weaponry such as such as artillery and air defence, alongside a drive for new technology including hypersonic glide and cruise missiles. The IISS said the Military Balance 2024 highlights the extent to which the world has entered a more dangerous period in the last twelve months, how increased tensions and conflict have reshaped the global defence-industrial landscape.Our new data shows how countries are reshaping their equipment and spending plans and how their regional ties are changing in accordance with geopolitical reality. 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 }} Russia allegedly targeted Ukraine with the powerful hypersonic Zircon missile, believed to be for the first time in the nearly two-year-long war, the head of a Kyiv research institute said on Monday. Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, confirmed the use of the missiles after his institute completed a preliminary analysis of the weapon fragments from the Russian attack on 7 February. Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles on Ukrainian cities last week, killing five and injuring 50 others. The Zircon missile is a thermonuclear-capable projectile with a range of 1,000km (625 miles) and travels at nine times the speed of sound, details from its developer state Russia show. Dubbed as a promising hypersonic anti-ship missile, its speed adds to the missiles capability to hit large, deep and hardened targets and greatly reduces reaction time for air defences, military analysts said. Mr Ravin showed a video of the wreckage recovered from the alleged Russian missile attack, with specific markings. In this case, we see elements that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanisms have specific markings, he said. The Russian defence ministry has not issued any comment on the findings by the institute. While it is not immediately clear whether Russian forces fired the weapon from land or from the sea, the markings seen on the parts recovered from the wreckage suggested that the weapon had been assembled recently, Mr Ruvin said. The Zircon hypersonic weapon has likely entered the Russian air force in recent years as officials in Russia said they had completed testing of the weapon in June 2022. Russian officials had boasted about Zircons capability, saying that its impossible to intercept with existing anti-missile systems. Vladimir Putin, who had said the weapon carries Mach 8 speed and a range of 1,000km, had described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivalled arms systems. The Zircon was initially designed as a sea-launched weapon and a ground-launched version was developed later. If its use in Ukraine is confirmed, the Zircon hypersonic missile could pose an additional challenge for the already besieged countrys air defences, amid uncertainty over future Western military aid. In the span of nearly 24 months of invasion, Russia has fired regular air strikes on civilian areas and the war frontline using a range of long-range missiles and drones. 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 }} Ukraines newly-appointed top military general has said that he will be switching from a strategy of defence, rather than attack, in an attempt to exhaust Russian advances. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the situation was difficult but hoped the conflict would soon come to an end. Speaking to German TV channel ZDF, Gen Syrskyi said: At this time, the situation can be assessed as difficult. The enemy is now advancing along almost the entire front line, and we have moved from offensive operations to conducting a defensive operation. The objective of our defense operation is to exhaust the enemys forces, inflict maximum losses on him, using our fortifications, our advantages in terms of technology, in terms of using unmanned aircraft, means of electronic warfare, and maintaining prepared defense lines. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the situation was difficult but hoped the conflict would soon come to an end (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER) Gen Syrskyis remarks come shortly after his appointment to the post by Volodymyr Zelensky, and appear to be in line with the Ukrainian presidents desire for alternate approaches to ending the war. On 9 February, the day after his predecessor Valerii Zaluzhnyi was dismissed as the chief commander, he laid out his priorities in managing the war. Among them, he named "a clear and detailed planning," taking into account the needs of front-line units in new weaponry sent by allies, and new technical solutions. It comes as the US Senate approved a $60bn (48bn) package of aid for the war-torn country. Mr Zelensky praised the decision, saying: For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war. The dismissal of Gen Zaluzhnyi and appointment of Gen Syrskyi reportedly caused some concern for western leaders amid the ongoing conflict. It followed reports of ongoing tension between Gen Zaluzhnyi and the Ukrainian president, which had apparently lasted for months. The senior military commander had also reportedly refused to step down, though these claims were denied by Mr Zelensky. The Ukrainian militarys much-heralded counter-attack last year was widely seen as failing to live up to expectations. Gen Zaluzhny had been Ukraines commander-in-chief since July 2021 and continues to be a popular figure in the country, enjoying strong support among both rank-and-file Ukrainian soldiers and the public. Gen Syrskyi said the war with Russia must end with Ukraine securing its borders and all other options wont be considered. Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi present a united front at a meeting in Kyiv last week despite reports of tensions between the two men (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER) When asked why he hopes that Ukraine can soon end the conflict, he told ZDF: This is based on the fact that we must end it reaching our borders. This is the first thing. Because other options are not considered. Because we simply have no other way out. And this means that everyone, the whole society must rally around the common cause victory. 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 }} Israel has vowed to press on with a ground invasion into Rafah, Gaza, amid warnings the country would face serious repercussions for the offensive. Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to evacuate civilians from the city, which is home to 1.5million Palestinians, ahead of the invasion. It comes as the area was hit by airstrikes overnight, with up to 67 Palestinians killed and at two Israeli hostages rescued, according to the Gazan health ministry. Follow live updates here Saudi Arabia called for an immediate ceasefire and warned Israel would face serious consequences for the storming and targeting of the city. But where is Rafah, and why is Israel targeting the city now? The Independent has put together answers and a map below. View more Where is Rafah? Rafah is a city in the south of Gaza near the border of Egypt. When Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, now part of Egypt, it was split into a Gazan and Egyptian part. It was initially a safe haven for people fleeing northern Gaza in the early stages of the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, when Palestinians were ordered to evacuate ahead of heavy Israeli bombardment. But the city is now home to around 1.3million people - more than half of Gazas population - and Mr Netanyahu has ordered a ground invasion of the area, where he believes Hamas operatives are hiding. Most residents of Rafah are living in temporary structures such as tents and aid organisations have warned of a dire humanitarian situation. A child looks at rubble after Israeli airstrikes targeted Rafah, Gaza, overnight (EPA) Why is Israel targeting Rafah now? The Israeli military believes Rafah is the last outpost of Hamas operatives in the entire Gaza strip, with four Hamas battalions hiding there. Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said in response to criticism: The United Nations and international actors now face a fateful choice. Do they want to save Hamas or save Palestinian civilians? added Levy. They cannot stop Israel from dismantling the last four Hamas battalions in the Gaza Strip and securing the release of 134 remaining hostages. Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said the operation in Rafah was very complex, adding: We have been working a long time on this operation. We were waiting for the right conditions. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, another IDF spokesperson, called it a complex rescue operation under fire in the heart of Rafah, based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate and the Israel Security Agency. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has described the border confrontations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as "alarming news," Trend reports. "We will monitor the situation closely," Peskov said, adding that such incidents hinder the progress of the negotiation process and the prospect of signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Peskov expressed hope that the negotiation process for signing a peace treaty will continue. On February 12, at 20:50 and at 23:40, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of the Chinarli settlement of the Tovuzgala region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement of the Tovuz region. On February 13, the units of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS) carried out the "Revenge" operation in response to yesterday's provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces. According to the SBS, the operation resulted in the complete destruction of the Armenian Armed Forces' combat post near the Nerkin-And settlement of Gafan district, from where the Azerbaijani army positions were fired yesterday. "There have been reports of substantial personnel losses at the damaged combat position. Any provocations by the Armenian side aimed at escalating tensions along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border will now be met with even more serious and decisive reactions. The military-political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for these developments," said SBS statement. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Close Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters rally outside Downing Street 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 four patients in intensive care died because their oxygen supply was cut off when Israeli troops stormed Gazas main hospital, according to the doctors. Israeli special forces have stormed the last major hospital in southern Gaza, with the military saying it is a limited operation to seeking the remains of hostages taken by Hamas. The raid came a day after the army sought to evacuate thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The southern city has been the main target of Israel's offensive against Hamas in recent weeks. The military said it had "credible intelligence" that Hamas had held hostages at the hospital and that the remains of hostages might still be inside. This comes after the UN warned that an Israeli ground invasion into Rafah could lead to slaughter as more tha one million Palestinians shelter there. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said Benjamin Netanyahus planned offensive could leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at deaths door. 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 }} In al-Najjar hospital in Gazas border city of Rafah, the shredded remains of body parts arrived in bags with numbers scribbled on the top. Written by the first responders who had just pulled the limbs out of the rubble, the numbers signified the estimated number of people that they thought might be inside each bag. The mangled pieces of human flesh are so damaged it was impossible to properly identify them, said Amjed*, a resident of the city who visited the hospital on Monday. He shuttled from hospital to hospital, from bomb site to bomb site, trying to sort the missing from the dead in the wake of Israels ferocious overnight assault on the city. The first bodies to arrive at the hospitals were all children and women. There were so many bodies lining the ground, he told The Independent. The scene was catastrophic. I saw torn parts of children. Other children were ferried to the hospitals in civilian cars without their family members, covered in blood and dust. I tried to ask one boy what his name was to find his family, he couldnt speak and he was shaking so much. The devastation caused by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Monday (EPA) Overnight on Monday, Israel launched a ground and air assault on Rafah as they freed two Israeli-Argentine hostages being held there by Hamas militants. The two men identified as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Hare, 70 are among over 250 people Hamas seized during their bloody attack on southern Israel on 7 October which triggered Israels war on Gaza. The Israeli military said they raided a second-floor flat using explosives, engaged in gun battles with those keeping the hostages captive, and then launched airstrikes to allow its forces to be extracted. Only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages, said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu early on Monday. We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home. Palestinian healthy ministry officials said that the bombardment killed at least 67 Palestinians, including women and children. Residents of the city said they heard dozens of explosions across the town, and that three mosques and over a dozen homes had been hit. Now, many in Rafah fear that this is just the start of a wider assault. Youssef, 35, who was forced to flee his home in north Gaza and is now living in a tent in a primary school yard. He said families are worried Israel will use extracting the hostages as a reason to justify invading Rafah, a plan which Israel has been adamant it will go ahead with, despite global uproar. Everyone here is saying where can we go? Where can we hide? Youssef, 35, displaced in Rafah Everyone here is saying where can we go? Where can we hide? We have no choice. Rafah is the final station left, he added. Rafah, which lies along the border with Egypt, is the last refuge in Gaza as it is one of the few places in the 42km-long strip that has not been targeted by Israeli ground troops. An estimated 1.5 million people are thought to be sheltering there now, the majority sleeping rough on the streets, in schools and hospital yards. Israel has repeatedly promised to press into the city saying it would be its final stand in eliminating Hamas, but has faced growing criticism from even its closest allies who are deeply concerned. The US has flatly said it does not support such an operation because of the likely devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of civilians sheltering there. President Joe Biden has even admitted he thinks Israels military response to 7 October is over the top. The UKs foreign secretary David Cameron said on Monday that Israel should stop and think seriously before taking further action into Rafah, pointing out there is nowhere for [civilians] to go. We want Israel to stop and think seriously before it takes any further action David Cameron, foreign secretary European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell went as far as to hint that the US cut billions of dollars of annual military aid to Israel because of the high death toll of the ongoing operations. In an impassioned speech he said: Netanyahu doesnt listen to anyone. They are going to evacuate [civilians]? Where? To the moon? Israel is facing the start of what could be a squeeze on its military. A Dutch appeals court said it had blocked the export of F-35 fighter jets parts to Israel over a clear risk of violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The government said it would appeal. There are also concerns about regional security if a ground operation into Rafah starts. Egypt has repeatedly warned that the deployment of Israeli forces along its border, and any displacement of people onto its territory, may violate the decades-old peace treaty between the two countries. Two freed Israeli hostages are brought to a medical centre near Tel Aviv on Monday (Getty) Meanwhile, diplomats from the Middle East involved in ceasefire negotiations have told The Independent it could trigger a regional war. Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have vowed to continue attacking US positions in the region and global shipping routes in the Red Sea unless there is a ceasefire. They fear a slaughter in Rafah would be a devastating spark in an already volatile tinderbox. Back in Rafah, Amjed said prices were so inflated because demand was so high, that most of the displaced people cannot even afford the cost of a tent, which has soared to $1,000. And so some sleep in the mosques during the day and then stay in the streets at night, they literally have nothing to protect them, not even a tent. With nowhere to go any assault into Rafah will be death to us all. * Names have been changed 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 }} South Africa has asked the UNs court to consider whether Israels plan to extend its offensive in Gaza into the city of Rafah needs additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians rights in an urgent request. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month told Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa. The court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire, and is yet to rule on the core of the case: whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. Israel has denied all allegations of genocide in its war with Gazas ruling Palestinian Islamist group. The country asked the ICJ to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself. But on Tuesday, a statement issued by South Africas presidency said: In a request submitted to the court yesterday, the South African government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the state of Israel, has already led to and will result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction. Palestinians sit by the destruction from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah (AP) This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Courts Order of January 26. It comes after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his army to prepare a dual plan to evacuate and attack Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the offensive that has laid waste to much of the Gaza Strip since Hamass assault on 7 October. Earlier on Tuesday, officials said Israel and Hamas were making progress towards a deal that aims to bring about a ceasefire and free hostages held in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip as key meetings continue between the sides in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. US president Joe Biden has been calling on Mr Netanyahu to hold off the invasion until a plan is in place that would prevent massive civilian casualties. The pair spoke on Sunday morning, days after Mr Biden said Israels military response in the Gaza Strip had been over the top. Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his army to prepare plans to evacuate and attack Rafah on Friday (Getty) Mr Netanyahus office has said that it has ordered the military to develop a plan to evacuate Rafah and destroy four Hamas battalions it says are deployed there. But on Saturday morning, air strikes in Rafah killed at least 44 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and left a trail of destruction. And on Monday morning, an attack targeting a district in Rafah killed 67 people, according to local officials. It also saw an Israeli hostage rescue mission free two captives held in the town, which sits on the Egyptian border. The Palestinian foreign ministry in the West Bank has condemned Israels continued attacks on Rafah. On Twitter/X, it said: Israel is officially continuing to target civilians and transfer the war to Rafah to push the population to get displaced under bombardment. The recent massacres of the occupation are evidence of the validity of international warnings and fears of catastrophic results of the expansion of the war to Rafah. World Health Organisation head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern at the attack on Rafah and reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. And in the UK, leading bishops in the Church of England have said Israel must stop its relentless bombardment of Gaza, adding that the manner in which the war is taking place cannot be morally justified. It came after foreign secretary David Cameron said it is impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people; there is nowhere for them to go. 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 }} Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he made about Israel. Mr Ali had apologised after he was recorded suggesting in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel allowed the October 7 Hamas assault and used it as a pretext to invade Gaza. The Rochdale candidate had come under fire after a recording of him in a meeting came to light (PA Wire) A party spokesperson said: Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate. Rochdales by-election is due to take place this month, with Ali locked in as the Labour candidate (PA) It comes after the Labour leader faced a backlash on two different fronts, from the left wing of his party and some Conservatives, after standing by Mr Ali. The row intensified as Sir Keir was urged to re-admit other MPs suspended in antisemitism rows, with some questioning the alleged difference in his approach to left-wing MPs and those seen as Starmer loyalists. Labour peer Prem Sikka told The Independent that Sir Keirs backing for Mr Ali shows that there is one set of rules for anybody on the left, and another for favourites of the Labour leader. Tory MPs also rounded on Sir Keir, saying his backing for Mr Ali showed Labour has not changed since Jeremy Corbyns leadership, when the party was dogged by its handling of antisemitism complaints. Labour, meanwhile, publicly stood by their candidate, with shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds insisting it would be unfair to conclude there is a problem with Labour in Rochdale, adding that Mr Ali had simply fallen for an online conspiracy theory. Starmer initially stood by the candidate, but has now rescinded his and his partys support (PA) One shadow minister told The Independent Sir Keir needed to be clear that Mr Ali, if elected, will not be a Labour MP and that we will replace him with an appropriate candidate for the general election. It is a mess and a completely avoidable one, they said. Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland told The Independent: Once again, Labour is showing that they have not changed, and are not to be trusted and are nowhere near ready for government. Kate Osamor was suspended last month over a Holocaust Memorial Day post suggesting the Israeli action in Gaza is genocide. Diane Abbott was suspended after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: Sir Keir Starmer has blotted an otherwise fairly admirable copybook and given the public reason to doubt the earnestness of his promise to tear antisemitism out by its roots in Labour. People will have to judge for themselves whether the additional reported comments by Azhar Ali are really any worse than the comments that had already been reported. Rather than appearing as a principled decision, Labours withdrawal of support for its candidate at this late stage just looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. It is the worst of all worlds for Labour. 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 }} More than 100 passengers were left in limbo after a pilot refused to fly - due to a smelly plane. Passengers on the Easyjet flight from Birmingham to Geneva last Wednesday evening were told to get off the aircraft after boarding because the pilot had detected an unidentified funny smell near the rear of the cabin. The flight, which was due to take off only minutes later, was unofficially cancelled by the pilot on Birmingham Airports tarmac. Passengers, some with young children and babies, were left for up to five hours before being told they were heading to a hotel. The unidentified smell, which according to the pilot was chemical in nature, was initially investigated by ground crew. It is understood that the pilot was the only member of crew known to be able to smell the curious odour, but decided to cancel the flight as a safety precaution A total of 106 passengers were then asked to go back into the terminal at 7:40pm, and await further instructions on the flight, with the pilot saying over the tannoy that the bad news is I do not think well be flying tonight. Passengers said Easyjet representatives and crew went home once the flight was grounded, leaving a third party company, airport ground handling firm Swissport, to organise passengers welfare. Children exhausted by the wait for an update on the cancelled EasyJet flight sleep at a breakfast restaurant (Tim Clark / SWNS) One passenger said: I asked if I should get my children some food, and the representative simply said, Go out and wait for twenty minutes until there is an update. That was at 8pm. They said: We waited an hour but heard nothing, then the flight simply disappeared from the departure information screen at Birmingham airport. I only knew that the flight had officially been cancelled when I asked another passenger who was leaving the seating area what was happening, and he told me it was cancelled. Problems got worse for passengers after some had difficulty proving they were even on the flight as the Easyjet app deleted their boarding passes once the flight was cancelled, and they were initially stopped from collecting their own baggage. Other passengers didnt know they had been rebooked on the flight the following morning. The passenger continued: My kids are going to have four, maybe five hours of sleep at the start of a holiday because no-one has been around to help them. Commenting on the situation one member of airport staff said: I would be fuming if this was me. Kristin Beattie, 57, from Loughborough, had to book her husband a last-minute hotel in Geneva after he had driven 110 miles from the French ski resort to collect her, only to find that she wouldnt be arriving. She said: I was getting picked up in Geneva by someone whos driven from Orelle, so Ive had to book him a hotel in Geneva. I was only staying until Sunday so a whole day of our holiday has gone. It was past 9pm and the information board still said We will update you at 8 30pm. Sitting on the plane they were very quick at telling you whats going on and how we were not going anywhere, and at quarter past ten we were still stuck at the check-in desks at departures. Weve been sitting here like mugs. I wanted to just book a hotel, which I could have done hours ago, but they may never pay you back. Another group travelling to the ski resort of La Clusaz said their airport transfer had charged them as a no show for not being able to travel. And that they had to look at alternative transport. Anxious passengers queue at Birmingham airport at 11pm (Tim Clark / SWNS) They said: The taxi firm in France told us it would be an expensive night [for passengers] because of all the cancellations. Others had been charged for accommodation in Geneva they couldnt check into because they were not there. According to the Civil Aviation Authority airlines have a legal responsibility to provide food, water and accommodation to passengers if their flight is delayed. Passengers whose flight is cancelled can claim compensation of up to 220 per passenger for short-haul, and 520 per person for long haul if their flight arrives more than two hours after its initial arrival time. A representative from Swissport, who didnt wish to be identified, said they were aware that the flight had been cancelled at around 7:30pm, but couldnt do anything for almost four hours as they had to wait for emails before being able to book hotel rooms. I have had the same information as passengers from the Easyjet app, they admitted. Easyjet are not here in the airport, we dont have Easyjet representatives. Easyjet deal with everything [passenger related] themselves, it will be an Easyjet issue. Easyjet has been contacted for comment. 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 63-year-old man has died after coughing up litres of blood on a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok to Munich. Flight LH773 was scheduled to depart Bangkok for the Bavarian capital at 11.40pm on Thursday 8 February. After 90 minutes in the air, however, the plane was forced to turn around after a German national was pronounced dead onboard. The Lufthansa Airbus A380 returned to Bangkok after just 90 minutes in the air (Getty Images) According to a fellow passenger, the man lost litres of blood through his mouth and nose. It was absolute horror, everyone was screaming, said Karin Missfelder, who was situated in the row diagonally behind the passenger. Ms Missfelder, a nursing specialist at University Hospital in Zurich immediately noticed her fellow passengers poor health upon boarding. He had cold sweats, was breathing much too quickly, and was already apathetic, she told Swiss news outlet Blick. The mans Filipina wife explained that the pair had run to the plane very quickly, which is why he wasnt feeling well. At this stage, the nurse intervened and said that the passenger needed medical attention, prompting the captain to call for a doctor over the loudspeaker. The interior of a Lufthansa Airbus A380 plane (Getty Images) A young, around 30-year-old man from Poland with poor English looked at the German, she said, but only felt his pulse and asked how he was feeling. They then gave him a little chamomile tea, but he [had] already spit blood into the bag that his wife held out to him, she said. Despite the escalating situation, the decision was made by airport officials to depart. As the plane became airborne, the mans condition worsened dramatically and blood began gushing out of his mouth and nose. The man lost litres of blood, she said. Flight stewards immediately began resuscitation, to no avail, and the man was carried into the galley and a decision was made to return to Bangkok. The captain announced over the loudspeaker that the passenger had sadly died. Despite the ordeal that passengers had witnessed, Ms Missfelders husband, Martin, described the situation back at Bangkok Airport as chaotic. Nobody looked after us, we waited two hours. There was no care team there, nobody, he said. He said the worst thing was that the wife of the deceased passenger then had to proceed through customs alone. She stood there all alone and apathetic and had to endure all the formalities. The fact that Lufthansa has no measures in his case, that no one cares about around 30 traumatised passengers around, is unacceptable. In a statement to The Independent, a Lufthansa representative confirmed that a medical emergency had occurred on the flight. Although immediate and comprehensive first aid measures were taken by the crew and a doctor on board, the passenger died during the flight. After 1.5 hours of flight time, the crew decided to turn back to Bangkok, where the aircraft landed normally and safely. There, the instructions of the medical emergency services and the Thai authorities were followed. The passengers on the cancelled flight have since been rebooked on other flights. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased passenger. We also regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers of this flight. Lufthansa did not respond when pressed on the decision to depart Bangkok in spite of the mans failing health. The news comes as service has resumed after the German flag carrier cancelled hundreds of flights from the countrys major airports following a 27-hour strike by ground staff. Members of the Ver.di union walked out at five major German airports on Wednesday 7 February in a dispute over pay. 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 cruise ship has found itself at the epicentre of an Antarctic storm after last minute changes to the itinerary left some passengers fuming. Never book a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, the account @ruinedvacation said in their 9 February TikTok video. Our ship is not going to Antarctica. They secretly changed the name of this cruise yesterday on the app. They are not going anywhere near mainland Antarctica, which is what we paid for, she continued, noting how she and other passengers were feeling scammed and cheated by the change. Another passenger, Eric Huang toldABC News,: Its been largely a disappointment, in terms of not knowing where were going. I dont feel like I experienced Antarctica on this cruise. I think I would have to come again to be able to do that, he continued. Passengers on the cruise were told they would be travelling to South America and Antarctica. They believed the ship was going to stop in the stunning Paradise Bay, in Antarctica. But instead it stopped only at Admiralty Bay, an island 200 miles to the north, before continuing back to the Falkland Islands and South America. A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said: While we try to maintain original itineraries as much as possible, at times modifications are made to optimise the itinerary or to accommodate certain circumstances, they continued. To enhance the guest experience, the ships current itinerary was revised to allow more time for guests to explore Stanley, Falkland Islands. As such, the cruise by Paradise Bay, Antarctica was replaced with a cruise by Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. They added: In addition, due to a recent regulatory requirement in the area, the ship is operating at a reduced speed, also impacting its original itinerary. But not all passengers were up in arms about the change. One, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Independent: Ultimately this is a ship sailing to Antarctica in some of the most treacherous seas in the world, not a train running to schedule; we have to be open minded, sometimes things will change, and I went in with this expectation. We have had a great visit to Antarctica, being very lucky with good weather, and the captain and navigational team did an amazing job. This article was amended on February 16, 2024, to make it clear that the ship had been to Antarctica, although not to the original planned destination. 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 Sri Lanka-bound commercial aircraft had to make an emergency landing at the Melbourne airport after smoke was spotted inside the cabin. The Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL605 landed at the Melbourne airport less than an hour after departing from Tullamarine on Monday evening. Passengers on board the Airbus A330-30 reportedly saw and smelled smoke in the cabin and more coming from the cockpit, which prompted the captain to declare an emergency within half an hour of take off. The aircraft circled in the air for almost an hour before returning to the Melbourne airport around 7.20pm after the emergency squawk code of 7700 was sounded. The code indicates that the aircraft needs priority handling from air traffic control to land due to an emergency. "In line with Melbourne Airport procedures, a local standby was declared, with emergency services responding as a precaution, the airport said in a statement. The aircraft landed safely and without incident and the passengers disembarked normally, it added. Sri Lankan Airlines has pointed to a "technical issue" for the incident, which was being "currently assessed" by a team of technicians. Dennis Bunnik, a YouTuber who happened to be on the flight, said he was filming a review when "I could feel about 30 minutes out of Melbourne that we were starting to descend". "He said the captain then made the announcement: 'prepare for landing'. The air side of everything worked well, the emergency vehicles, all of that part worked really well," he told 9News. "It's taken a good couple of hours to sort of work out what's happening, whether we could fly through on to Sri Lanka tonight or whether we needed to go to hotels," he said. "Bit of confusion, but eventually it was decided we're staying in Melbourne. In a post on X, he praised the crew for handling it very well, adding that the captain advised that there was an issue with air conditioning. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. General Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) Mehmet Sureyya Er has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential elections, Trend reports. Will be updated Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel David Cameron has said that Israel should stop and think very seriously before taking further action in the city of Rafah The British Foreign Secretary was speaking to reporters in East Kilbride, Scotland on Monday (11 February). The comments came after airstrikes in southern Gaza killed over 100 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The city is the last refuge of around one million displaced civilians. We are very concerned about the situation and we want Israel to stop and think very seriously before it takes any further action. But above all, what we want is an immediate pause in the fighting and we want that pause to lead to a ceasefire, Lord Cameron said. Jordans King Abdullah has called for a lasting ceasefire, now as he warned the country cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. The king spoke at a news conference on Monday evening (12 February) as Rafah was hit by Israeli airstrikes overnight. King Abdullah said: We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah, it is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe. The situation is already unbearable for over a million people who have been pushed into Rafa since the war started. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire, now. This war must end. Meanwhile, President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against conducting a ground operation in Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians. Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza gathered outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, 12 February, after Rafah was hit by airstrikes overnight. Two Israeli hostages were rescued from the town on the border with Egypt overnight following a raid on a heavily guarded apartment which killed at least 67 people, according to a spokesperson for the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled his intention to carry out a ground offensive on the city, now home to 1.4 million Palestinian refugees who have fled fighting elsewhere. King Charles will reveal the type of cancer he has been diagnosed with after his treatment, a royal insider has said. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said she is certain Charles will share more details about his diagnosis, during an interview on Loose Women on Tuesday (13 February). Ms Seward described the King as a private person but said he will want to raise awareness of his type of cancer. The King was today pictured smiling with the Queen by his side as he returned to London to continue his cancer treatment. The King and Queen Camilla flew by helicopter to Buckingham Palace from their private Sandringham home, and were driven the short distance to nearby Clarence House. The shooter who opened fire inside the Lakewood church on Sunday (11 February) used a rifle with a "Palestine" sticker on it, police said in an update on Monday. Genesse Moreno, 36, was identified as the suspect who allegedly carried out the shooting at Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch using an assault-style rifle. Authorities said Moreno went into the church dressed in a trench coat and backpack and had her 7-year-old son with her. She began shooting and two off-duty officers returned fire before she was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said. Police did not confirm the motive behind the shooting but said some antisemitic writings were found in Moreno's possession. A New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage by West Papua rebels has sent a heartbreaking video message to his wife and daughter. The video of Phillip Mark Mehrtens, 38, was taken on 22 December 2023 but only released in February 2024, a year after he was taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB). Looking gaunt and dishevelled, the former Jetstar pilot says: Hello, its me, and nervously chuckles. Im OK, they are treating me well. Im trying to stay positive and I hope that you and Jacob are healthy and doing OK and getting support, he says. The pilot was abducted for the group to use as a bargaining chip in their independence movement. Mr Mehrtens was working for Indonesian company Susi Air when he was abducted after landing on a remote airstrip in the Nduga province, in Indonesias western half of New Guinea. A host on Polish state television has apologised on air for homophobic propaganda aired by state media. During the eight years of rule by the national conservative Law and Justice party, state media promoted the partys line that LGBTQ+ people were threats to Polish families. The approach has changed under a new centrist government led by Donald Tusk, who moved quickly to eject the Law and Justice supporters from positions of power over state media. Two LGBTQ+ activists were invited on air on Sunday evening (11 February) when the state TVP host Wojciech Szelag apologised to them for the rhetoric directed at their community. Bart Staszewski, one of the two activists invited on, later shared the apology on social media. Rishi Sunak insisted his views on issues facing transgender people are "not controversial" after facing criticism for a jibe during Prime Minister's Questions last week. The prime minister faced backlash after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of not being able to "define a woman" while Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, was visiting Parliament. Speaking to the public during a GB News forum on Monday, Mr Sunak said: "When it comes to questions over womens safety... biological sex is important "I really dont think that anything I just said is controversial. A mother claims her four-year-old son collapsed and almost died after drinking a slush drink. Beth Green has revealed how her son Albie was rushed to hospital after downing a strawberry-flavored slush when out bowling with a friend. He started hallucinating, scratching himself, biting himself, Ms Green said during an interview with Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (13 February). Albie became unresponsive and was rushed to Birmingham Childrens hospital, following the incident in October. Ms Green claims doctors told her the episode was likely caused by glycerol intolerance after drinking the slush. Things have come to a pretty pass when the most authoritative government response to new figures testifying to the negative economic impact of Brexit is to insist that everything could have been so very much worse. Thus Kemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, cited doom-laden forecasts of inevitable decline, which, she said, have been proved false. And, yes, thank goodness, the economic meltdown predicted by some did not happen quite, with a very near miss, and a political crisis, in relation to Northern Ireland. But the lack of a complete meltdown, either in the weeks immediately after the UKs departure from the EU took effect, or in the four years since, can be only limited consolation in the light of the latest assessment. The report, compiled by John Springford, an associate of the Centre for European Reform, concludes that Brexit has opened a hole of almost 100bn in annual UK exports, which is making the country worse off than if it had remained in the European Union. The estimates show that missed growth in goods and services exports means that trade is running at 30 per cent below what it could have been without Brexit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The claims made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia that the measures taken by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in response to the provocation by the Armenian side are a pretext for escalation are entirely baseless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports. "The Azerbaijani side has eliminated the threat emanating from the Armenian military outpost following the military provocation that injured an Azerbaijani serviceman. This measure was purely a retaliatory one. Azerbaijan is committed to the peace process, and calls on the Armenian side to refrain from military escalations that would jeopardize the efforts to that end," the statement reads. Meanwhile, on February 12, at 20:50 and at 23:40, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of Chinarli settlement of the Tovuzgala region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement of the Tovuz region. An Bord Pleanala says proposed development will differ materially from that which was initially planned Ryanair has said its proposed new hangar at Dublin Airport is in line with the Fingal Development Plan. Photo: PA Aer Lingus has been granted leave to appeal plans by Ryanair for a 40m aircraft hangar at Dublin Airport. Fingal County Council approved the development last December. The airline, part of the IAG group that also owns British Airways, Vueling and Iberia, hadnt originally submitted an observation to the council within the time required to do so after Ryanair submitted its planning application in May last year. That meant it had to seek permission to appeal the planning decision. The new hangar is expected to provide maintenance for hundreds of Ryanair aircraft every year and will employ about 200 engineers and mechanics. The airline has previously said the new hangar would be state-of-the-art and one of the most environmentally-friendly in Europe. The planned hangar will be able to accommodate four Boeing 737 aircraft at any one time. Ryanair will use the facility to undertake so-called A-checks such as changing filters, lubricating systems and inspecting emergency equipment as well as landing gear changes and component replacements. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 The new hangar is expected to provide predicted, planned maintenance for about 400 jets a year, unplanned maintenance for about 60 aircraft and unplanned maintenance lasting more than nine hours for about 100 aircraft. Ryanair has previously told the council that the planned new maintenance facility on a near two-hectare site that will be provided by Dublin Airport Authority is consistent with the Fingal Development Plan. After the council approved revised plans for the hangar in December, Aer Lingus applied for leave to appeal the decision. An Bord Pleanala said it is granting the leave because the proposed development will differ materially from that which was initially planned. It noted that one of the planning conditions will also materially affect Aer Lingus enjoyment of the land adjoining the site where the hangar will be built, or reduce the value of the land. Aer Lingus director of corporate affairs Niall Timlin had told An Bord Pleanala that if Ryanair proceeded with its plan, Aer Lingus would be restricted in terms of aircraft leaving and entering its own hangar 6 and in terms of aircraft leaving and entering hangar 6 and parking jets on the adjacent apron. Ryanair has previously claimed that Aer Lingus effort to appeal the hangar development is an attempt to limit competition and job creation at Dublin Airport. People walk past a Body Shop store in Canterbury. The Body Shop has hired administrators, putting thousands of jobs at the cosmetics chain at risk. The retailer, which runs more than 200 shops across the UK, has appointed insolvency experts from FRP Advisory to oversee the process. Picture date: Tuesday February 13, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story CITY BodyShop. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire The Body Shop, the British beauty and cosmetics retail chain, said on Tuesday that it has appointed insolvency administrators after years of financial struggles. The Body Shop stores in Ireland are understood to be unaffected by the move in the UK. The announcement came just weeks after the chains new owners Aurelius, a European private equity firm specialising in buying and turning around troubled firms, took control of the business. Last month, the retailers new owners sold the majority of its European shops, as well as parts of its Asian business, to an unnamed international family office, which included its Irish operations. The Body Shop has six stores here, including four in Dublin. There are also stores in Galway and Cork. The retailer, which grew from a single shop in 1976 to become one of the most recognisable retailers on the British high street with hundreds of stores in the United Kingdom and beyond, is known as an early champion of ethical practices in business. FRP, the administrators hired by The Body Shop, said it will now consider all options to find a way forward for the business. The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector, FRP said. The retailer of soaps, creams and make up was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband as one of the first companies to promote so-called ethical consumerism, highlighting its fair trading practices and cosmetics and skincare products that were not tested on animals. The brand became hugely popular in the 1980s, when it listed on the London Stock Exchange, and has stores in some 80 countries, including many operated through franchises. Ms Roddick and her husband sold The Body Shop to beauty giant LOreal in 2006. The brand was passed on to Natura, the Brazilian cosmetics business, in 2017, which sold it on to Aurelius late last year in a deal valued at 207m. The company employed about 7,000 people worldwide at the time of the takeover. Aurelius expressed optimism that it could re-energise the iconic British brand despite the challenging retail market. The chain will continue to trade through stores and online during the administration process, but the news that it has gone into administration will likely put hundreds of jobs at risk. Denis OBrien hits 250m jackpot with sale of Beacon private hospital Billionaire secured control of the facility in 2014 for 35m and will sell to Australian firm The Beacon Hospital in Dublin. Denis O'Brien and associates bought the hospital in 2014 John Mulligan Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 19:06 Businessman Denis OBrien has agreed to sell the private Beacon Hospital in south Dublin in a deal that will deliver a huge return a decade after one of the landmark purchases of the financial crisis. Members of the Cosgrave building family involved in a High Court dispute over shareholdings in the well-known property development group will seek to resolve their differences via out-of-court mediation. The proceedings were brought by the widow of Dublin builder Joe Cosgrave alleging his brothers, Michael and William, and two firms in the Cosgrave group opportunistically used his death to take control of the Cosgrave group. Pearl Jam will play a gig at Marlay Park in Dublin this summer as part of their upcoming world tour. The band will be joined by Richard Ashcroft for their Dublin date on June 22. Fans must register their interest in buying tickets with Ticketmaster before the general sale by this Sunday. High demand is expected, with eager concert-goers warned that registration does not guarantee access to sale. Introducing The Dark Matter World Tour, kicking off May 2024. The Ten Club Ticket Presale Request is now open and registration for General Onsale starts today. For all presale and onsale registration info, head to https://t.co/uDIWRrKT1y. #DarkMatter pic.twitter.com/rmdic5DsGP Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) February 13, 2024 Fans will be randomly selected to access the sale based on ticket availability and those not selected will be waitlisted. Waitlisted fans will receive an email if tickets become available for the Irish date on the Dark Matter tour. A number of tickets will be made available to fans registered though the Ten Club Members-Only presale, powered by Ticketmaster Request. Memberships for the programme purchased now are not eligible for the current 10C ticket pre-sale. Ticketmaster has said the band continues to try to protect fans access to fairly priced tickets by providing the majority of tickets to its Ten Club members where possible and selling approximately 10pc of tickets through PJ Premium at the market rate to offset increased costs. Special guests on the tour include Deep Sea Diver for the first leg of dates in America, while Glen Hansard will support for the second. The Murder Capital will support for many UK and EU dates, through Richard Ashcroft will take on the gigs in Dublin and London. Don't miss your chance to see @PearlJam when they hit the road this year! This is sure to be a legendary run, learn more at: https://t.co/tS2VHRO2t3 pic.twitter.com/Zgq1eXhseh Ticketmaster Ireland (@TicketmasterIre) February 13, 2024 Pixies will serve as support for the Australia and New Zealand dates. The tour kicks off this May, with all presale and registration information available online. The level of planting depends on the number of applications from eligible farmers and landowners. The Department of Agriculture has said in response to EPA's suggestion that between 25,000 and 35,000ha per year may need to be planted for Ireland to reach its net-zero targets. It comes as the forestry industry hit out at the lackluster start to the new forestry programe claiming that planting rates are only running at half what would be required to meet the Government's current target of 8,000 ha per year. However, the EPA, in its recent Climate Change Assessment Report research, suggests that the key means to get to net zero is through unprecedented rates of afforestation. It said for forests to contribute to net zero, afforestation may require between 25,000 and 35,000 additional hectares of planting every year. Responding to this, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the government target of 8,000 ha of forestry planting each year to 2030 is part of a suite of measures in the land use sector that will collectively contribute towards meeting our ambitious climate targets. "The new Forestry Programme has a budget of 1.3 billion to provide a range of incentives to increase farmer participation in afforestation. These include increases in premium rates by up to 66% in some cases, as well as extending the duration of annual premiums for farmers from 15 to 20 years. "Ultimately, the level of planting depends on the number of applications from eligible farmers and landowners and the Government has now put in place a range of measures to support target delivery, and we continue to encourage landowners to avail of the attractive grants and premiums on offer," he spokesperson said. However, forestry industry body SEEFA said January saw just 38 licences approved for 351ha of afforestation. "This rate of planting is under half the amount required to reach the national afforestation target for 2024. Additionally, it is important to note that even after significant reassurances that this would not be the case, the issuance of afforestation licences is still not keeping up with applications received, meaning that the backlog will continue to grow. "Furthermore, SEEFA asks Minister McConalogue how many of the 67 Native Tree Area licences have been planted and paid, and whether they have any plans to improve the attractiveness of the scheme by allowing black soil/shallow peat to qualify," it said. Meanwhile, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, last week welcomed the introduction of significant new new restrictions on exports of spruce timber from Scotland. She said the decision by Scottish Forestry followed extensive engagement with her department, in relation to the certification of coniferous roundwood (spruce) from the Pest Free Area (PFA) in Scotland to Ireland. These measures are intended to provide additional protection for Irish forests from the potential importation of pests. My Department has worked closely over a number of months with the Scottish authorities to arrive at an outcome that will protect Irish forests, so these new restrictions on the movement of spruce logs from some of the west of Scotlands Pest Free Area are a positive step in maintaining Irelands protected zone status for certain forestry pests," she said. Last year, the European Commission announced its latest proposal on the transportation of animals, including a recommendation that calves must be at least five weeks old before transportation and restrictions on journey lengths. MEPs want a full ban on patents on new so-called supercrops derived from the emerging science of gene editing. It comes as the European Parliament adopted its position for negotiations with member states on the Commission proposal on new genomic techniques (NGTs), which alter the genetic material of an organism. EU policy makers hope the new regulations will make the food system more sustainable and resilient by developing improved plant varieties that are climate resilient, pest resistant and give higher yields, or require less fertiliser and pesticide. Among the most controversial areas in the new regulations is the issue of patents, where there are fears large multi-national companies could increase their dominance in the agriculture sector. MEPs want a full ban on patents for all NGT plants, plant material, parts thereof, genetic information and process features they contain to avoid legal uncertainties, increased costs and new dependencies for farmers and breeders. They also request a report by June 2025 on the impact of patents on breeders and farmers access to varied plant reproductive material, as well as a legislative proposal to update EU rules on intellectual property rights accordingly. Major plant breeders such as Bayer and Corteva say their investors will baulk at the billions needed to develop the species if they cannot protect their innovations with patents. Farm Europe, a think tank on EU agriculture, said the Parliament voted for a position that differs in many respects from that of the European Commission, making it much more cautious towards NGTs. It said that while the Commission basically equated many NGT plants with conventional varieties, the European Parliament demands that they must meet sustainability criteria and pass an environmental assessment in order to be placed on the market. In addition, Farm Europe regretted that MEPs called for imposing labelling not only on reproductive plant material but also on final products containing NGTs. IFA grain chair Kieran McEvoy said last weeks vote in the EU Parliament was a positive development, for farmers and for the sustainability and resilience of the wider EU food system. New challenges such as pests, disease resistance and perhaps most significantly, climate change continue to pose a threat to crop yields and quality. he said. It is vital farmers have access to crop varieties produced by the latest plant breeding technologies to try and overcome these challenges. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Kol Nikollaj, President of the Confederation of the Trade Unions of Albania, has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, We have carefully followed your re-election to the post of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and we are very happy that you will continue to lead the people of Azerbaijan towards strengthening and consolidating the independence and economic development of your country. On behalf of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, which has close fraternal ties with the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (AHIK), as well as on my own behalf, please accept our fraternal and sincere congratulations for your re-election to the post of President of Republic of Azerbaijan. On this occasion, we would like to wish you and the people of Azerbaijan success and prosperity in the coming years for the good of all your country, as an important stability factor at the global level. We are convinced that your re-election as the President of Azerbaijan will strengthen and raise to higher levels the bilateral cooperation between our countries, which together contribute to global geopolitical developments as political and economic stability factor," the letter reads. Upset depressed Senior man sitting at the table and calculating finances. Old man checking bills. Man counting coins on the table. Pension calculation concept AIB has said customers currently waiting on new chequebooks should expect to get them from this week. The bank confirmed to the Farming Independent it found a new print supplier for cheques after its previous supplier recently went into administration. Some customers may have experienced a temporary delay in the issuance of their chequebooks and we apologise for any inconvenience caused, it said. The delivery of AIB cheque books to our customers recommences from February 12. For orders up to February 1 customers should receive their books towards the end of that week, with normal service resuming. However, ICSA beef chair John Cleary said AIB customers could be waiting weeks before they receive a new chequebook. This situation is not only inconvenient, but poses a significant challenge for farmers across Ireland who heavily rely on cheques in their day-to-day business operations, he said. This was an easily foreseeable issue, and it is just not good enough that the bank has allowed the situation to deteriorate to this extent. Cheques play a crucial role in facilitating transactions within the farming sector where cash-flow management and timely payments are essential for the viability of farming operations. This is particularly the case for farm-to-farm transactions when buying livestock or feed, and for paying agricultural contractors for silage and slurry jobs. The inability to obtain replacement chequebooks not only disrupts these essential transactions, but also hampers farmers ability to conduct business efficiently. He also said it was simply not a solution to ask farmers to use alternative online methods. Even people who are very familiar with computerised payments find them far from user-friendly. he said. Then there is also the issue of broadband reliability in many rural parts to contend with. Helen O'Sullivan resigned just as her party was being approved for registration The Farmers Alliance lost one of its most high-profile members just days before it was announced it was to be added to the list of registered political parties. On January 12, the Registrar of Political Parties gave notice of its intention to approve an application by the Farmers Alliance party to become a registered political party eligible to stand candidates in Irelands Dail, local and European Parliament elections. Following a 21-day appeal period, it was added as a political party on the updated Register of Political Parties on February 8. However, Helen OSullivan announced she was resigning from the party on January 5, just days before news broke of its application approval. OSullivan is one of two officers authorised to sign authentication certificates of candidates, according to the Register of Political Parties. In a statement, she said she had left the group, which was formed last year, along with other core members. As spokesperson and co-founder of Farmers Alliance for the past one-and-a-half years, I am saddened to announce my departure from the movement that I tirelessly worked to create. However, she said that due to fundamental disagreements at management and organisational level, it is no longer practical for me to continue with Farmers Alliance. OSullivan said she will now run as an Independent candidate for West Cork. Party founder Liam McLaughlin, who is the other named officer authorised to sign authentication certificates of candidates, declined to comment when contacted. Its the 29th political party to be officially listed on the Register of Political Parties. The group decided to form a political party last August after much indecision, with the ambition to run candidates in the upcoming local and national elections. The group announced at the time it would form as a completely independent party with no connection to either the Rural Independent Group of TDs or to Michael Fitzmaurices proposed new rural political party. The leader of the Dutch FarmerCitizen Movement (BBB), Caroline van der Plas, urged the Farmers Alliance to form a political party and contest this year's elections when she addressed them at a meeting in Athlone in April. The Dutchwoman, whose mother hails from Waterford, said if they put aside their differences, the citizens will back you. Her party won 15 out of 75 seats in local elections last March, but only won seven out of 150 seats in the November national elections. Thousands of farmers in the ACRES scheme have been left with no clarity over when they will receive their full payment after Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue announced an interim payment late last week. The Minister told the Farming Independent yesterday that all farmers in ACRES will receive a payment by the end of February, but could not confirm how much they would receive. He also admitted making ACRES payments had been problematic for his Department and the move to issue an interim payment was a reflection of the massive challenges. And I understand what that means for farmers, he said. Thats why Ive taken the step, which has never been done before by a Minister to actually pay an interim payment to ensure farmers can get their payment because I very much value, appreciate and respect the importance of this payment to farmers. Obviously, payments to farmers are really important in relation to this and obviously, its been challenging in relation to the complexity of finalising the system to deliver it. But I had committed to farmers that we would seek to have paid it in February. Ive taken the decision to issue an interim payment to everyone so it means that everyone who participated in ACRES last year, everyone bar none will have received a payment by the end of February. The Minister had come under fire before Christmas when the Farming Independent revealed ACRES payments, which were due to be paid in November, were to be delayed. He said yesterday that an interim payment intervention was not possible back then, as the Department was still trying to put in place the system to issue payments. Just 17,000 farmers have been paid to date under the scheme, with 3,000 more payments expected to be paid this week, leaving 26,000 farmers without payments. The Farming Independent understands the Minister is considering an amount equating to a percentage of the national average payment, one which he said would be substantial. I want that to be a decent payment to farmers, he said. We havent given any indication as to what that will be yet, but we will this week once weve refined the details of that. No ACRES co-operative payments have been made to farmers, making it difficult for the Department to determine an average amount, but its expected the ACRES General and ACRES Co-op figures will be close to 5,000 and 6,000 respectively. The Minister said interim payments would allow his Department time to finalise building the payments system. [ACRES was] a big challenge for farmers in terms of getting up to speed on them, a big challenge for advisors in relation to delivering on them as well and adjusting to that, and also a big challenge for the Department in relation to building all of the systems that are needed in relation to that, he said. When you compare what weve done and where were at in Ireland, compared to others in the European Union, theres been a very strong delivery across payments. From an Irish perspective, were certainly one of the best performances European level. But I want that to be the case with all schemes and certainly the one scheme which has proven problematic here has been ACRES, and thats why Im intervening now to make sure that farmers will get their payment this month. He also said it was an option just to continue in relation to finalising the actual payments and the system, but it was not an approach he wanted to take, because I do want to ensure farmers have certainty and I know many farmers are waiting this payment, he said. There were dozens of CCTV cameras, but no clue where she is disappearance of Jean Tighe four years ago was plagued by confusion from the start Sex trafficker David Archer alleged to have emptied bank account after fleeing out back door while evading arrest David Archer (60) who moved to Ireland to work as a handyman had documents in another mans name when he was arrested, court hears David Archer Andrew Phelan Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 17:28 A convicted UK sex offender who came to Ireland to start over as a handyman has repeatedly evaded his obligations to notify the authorities of his whereabouts, it is alleged. Brothel boss David Archer arrested in Dublin after going on the run for a fortnight The sex trafficker turned handyman, on the run in Ireland Paul Williams Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 14:51 A notorious sex trafficker and former brothel boss has been arrested by gardai for a series of offences under the Sex Offenders Act, and for failing to appear in court. Oireachtas committee chairman and Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh said current system of exemptions is not suitable for purpose. File photo: Tom Burke An Oireachtas committee report seeking to end the Irish exemption system for secondary school students has been criticised by an advocacy organisation for people with dyslexia. The report says the Department of Education should replace the current model with a system of exemptions from studying second languages in general. The current system falsely convinces school students that learning Irish is difficult compared with other languages, according to the report by the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking community. However, the Dyslexia Association of Ireland said it is dismayed with the report, saying it demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about the needs of dyslexic students, and also a lack of awareness of the legal requirements to make reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. Figures published late last year showed a surge in exemptions from Irish between 2019 and 2022, with a 33pc increase among Junior Cert students and a 22pc increase among Leaving Cert students. Committee chairman and Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh said: It is clear to the joint committee that the current system of exemptions is not suitable for its purpose and, on top of that, it is harming school students and the education system in Ireland as a whole. Changes introduced in 2019 permit school principals to approve exemptions without having to have psychological assessments. However, revised criteria allowing for anxiety as a ground for exemption were criticised as difficult and ambiguous by one principal. The Oireachtas committee recommends shifting responsibility for exemptions back to psychologists with the National Educational Psychological Service (Neps). Rosie Bissett, chief executive of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, said this would be completely inconsistent with the positive recent trend of decisions around students with additional educational needs being devolved to school leadership teams. This new trend recognises that schools know the needs of their students better over time, as opposed to a psychologist meeting a student once. The organistation said in a statement: The recommendation also demonstrates a lack of understanding of Neps and its capacity to deliver on this recommendation. The needs of the 10pc of the Irish population who have dyslexia do not seem to meaningfully feature in the thinking of the committee and it seems that other ideological positions are prioritised ahead of the needs of those with recognised disabilities and neuro-divergent presentations and their right to reasonable accommodations. Ms Bisset said: The issue that comes up a lot is how those with an exemption from Irish can take up Spanish -but Spanish is a more transparent language to learn. How Irish is taught has long been an issue, and exemption from it relieves a neurodivergent student of a huge cognitive load if struggling to learn two languages. It allows students to develop more competence in their primary language, and they are then in a better position to take up another language. The report recommends that no exemption should be granted to students until they have completed their first year in post-primary school, and that an application should not be made until after the students have had the opportunity to start learning the language. How anti-immigrant agitators are doctoring news headlines to spread false claims buildings are earmarked for asylum-seekers This is effective as it exploits peoples trust in mainstream news sources, making the falsehood more believable to those who see it News articles being manipulated to spread disinformation Conor Feehan Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 03:40 Anti-immigrant groups are photoshopping news headlines to suggest certain buildings are earmarked for asylum-seekers, increasing their risk of being targeted in arson attacks. Three people have shared their experiences of being stalked and the measures they took to protect themselves in Ireland before it became a criminal offence last November for a new documentary. The documentary Stalked aired tonight on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Player, told the stories of three victims of stalking in Ireland. Una Ring from Youghal, Co Cork, told how she lived in fear when a colleague began to continuously contact her and leave messages detailing his plans. I was thinking of getting a tattoo on my hip and with my name and date of birth and just Youghal on it and basically, what it was that if my body was found I know it sounds awful semi-decomposed that instead of them having to wait for DNA, my name would be there, she said. She described running on adrenaline and focusing only on what she could do to keep herself safe, purchasing a security bracelet online that sent a pin drop to five contacts and a text message if she ever needed help. Her stalker was arrested outside her house after gardai sent an unmarked car, finding the man carrying a bag of items including gloves and rope. I believe he would have killed me, she said, describing how it felt like she was being hunted and her fears for when he is released from prison. Activist Eve McDowell told the programme that she still has nightmares about her stalker, who even entered her home one night where he hit her housemates hands with a hammer. She had moved from Sligo to Galway for college and encountered the man who she didnt share many one-on-one conversations with but had encountered at parties or from around the campus. I felt as though he was a bit awkward. I probably pitied him a bit and felt sorry for him because I dont like to see people left out of things very much. Ms McDowell recalled how he had followed her to the shop and back home, among other instances. Stalking is an offence in Ireland since last November, with Ms McDowell telling how gardai initially did little to address her concerns. If someone interrupts the way that you live your life, that should be enough for action to be taken. Jarlath Rice shared his story. Photo: Virgin Media. She said adequate stalking legislation would have totally changed how the case was handled, with Dubliner Jarlath Rice telling how Ireland did not have the legal framework to deal with stalking. He feared for his safety, requiring two phones as the woman had acquired access to his phone, messages and accounts to track his location and continuously arrived at his house. I called the police so many times that the guard had said to me that if I called again that he would arrest me and lock me up for the night, and so therefore, problem solved, he said. Mr Rice ultimately moved to Brighton, where his stalker was arrested after continuously pursuing him. If I hadnt come to the UK when I did, I dont think Id have made it. I dont think I would have survived, he said. Mr Rice said his life was curtailed and controlled by the experience, telling how something in him came back to life at the prospect of a conviction for his stalker who has since been released from prison. I cant live looking over my shoulder, theres no way. An Irish writer says he has been banned from X/Twitter after 14 years on the platform after he wrote an article critical of the platform owned by Elon Musk, one of the richest people in the world. Derry-born, London-based writer Seamas OReilly, who writes a column for the Irish Examiner, described it as very, very funny after his account with X was suspended just hours after publishing an article where he said the site was unusable due to bots. He said this was ironic given Musks stated support of free speech. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 The journalist and author of Did You Hear Mammy Died? A Memoir had his account, which had over 100,000 followers, suspended on Saturday. Mr OReilly has said the reason he was given for the ban on X was for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam. Using the handle @shockproofbeats, Mr OReilly is possibly best known on the platform for his viral thread recounting the time he met President Mary McAleese when he was on the drug ketamine. In his Saturday column in the Irish Examiner about online spam and manipulation, he said X could be considered complicit in the deluge of bots and scams looking to profit from users on the site. He also stressed that after five minutes of the original article being shared on X, 75pc of the responses he received were from bots trying to sell fake items to people on the platform. Following the ban, Mr OReilly, referring to Musk, wrote a follow-up in which he said he thought of it as a pretty hilarious bit of overreach from the guy who is a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist. Since buying the platform, under Musk, X has reinstated many accounts previously banned by the platform, including that of Donald Trump. The journalist said he had not heard back from X, despite starting an appeal through a button on X straight after receiving the notification that his account was suspended. In response to learning that the account was banned due to spam and manipulation Mr OReilly said: I dont even really know what they could say that involves, but it really couldnt involve anything that I was doing. The 2021 An Post Awards Irish Biographer of the Year winner said he does not consider the ban an important and sobering global news event. Personally, Im quite annoyed. Professionally, Im alarmed, he wrote. He described the platform as the place where he grew a career from scratch, made friendships, had gotten work and written entire books. He said he wouldnt have been able to achieve this if he was forced to rely on connections I've never had, or unpaid internships I could never afford. Mr OReilly and X have been contacted for comment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential elections, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. President, I extend my sincere congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and wish you success in fulfilling this honorable and responsible mission. I am confident that the longstanding friendship and fruitful cooperation between Poland and Azerbaijan will continue to develop dynamically, bringing tangible benefits to both our countries and peoples. I am also convinced that through the continuation of intensive political dialogue between our countries and the implementation of joint projects and commitments, especially in the economic field, bilateral relations will continue to grow steadily. I hope that Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union will deepen further within the framework of the new cooperation agreement, yielding tangible benefits in bilateral cooperation. Mr. President, I wish that during your next term in office, you will implement all the programs you have planned for the overall development of Azerbaijan and the enhancement of the country's authority in the international arena. Furthermore, I reaffirm my invitation for you to pay an official visit to Poland at a time convenient for you. Mr. President, I wish you robust health and great achievements in your endeavors for the strengthening of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the prosperity of all its citizens", the letter says. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Crona Clohisey, tax and public policy lead at Chartered Accountants Ireland said she relies on family support for minding her children Working parents of up to 80,000 children who use childminders could be 4,500 a year better off if the Government fast-tracks a plan to support them, it has been claimed. In a new report today, Chartered Accountants Ireland calls on the Government to enable these parents to avail of state subsidies already on offer to those with children in creches. The report said this would also significantly increase the attractiveness of returning to work. It says most childminders are not registered with Tusla, so parents who employ them do not benefit from National Childcare Scheme funding. Based on subsidy rates available under the scheme, it says a mother of two on 45,000 a year could save up to 4,500 a year. The accountancy body calculates that a mother of two on an average annual wage of 45,000 who pays 24,000 a year for childcare is left with just 235 a week after paying taxes and childcare fees. It said this makes returning to the workforce a difficult economic proposition. Chartered Accountants Ireland said expediting government plans to enable parents who use childminders that are not registered with Tusla to access the National Childcare Scheme would give parents of up to 80,000 children easier access to subsidised childcare. It notes that creche places are very difficult to get. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 Crona Clohisey, tax and public policy lead at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said she has had to rely on family help to provide childcare for her 18-month-old daughter and four-year-old son. Her husband works part-time. I feel lucky we havent had to go through the whole process of hiring childminders, she said. I have friends who have had childminders for a few months, and then theyve had to find someone else. I feel lucky that we can rely on family. I wouldnt rule out having to use childminders in the future as its not fair to rely on family forever, but I wouldnt even know where to start. If the subsidy was there for childminders, it would probably make it more financially viable for us to do that. A subsidy of 4,500 would make it easier for myself and my husband to work full time. The Chartered Accountants Supporting Working Parents report says the Republic of Ireland and the UK regularly feature among countries with the highest costs for full-time childcare across Europe. The report finds that childminder care is the second most widely used form of paid non-parental childcare in Ireland. It notes that unless the childminder is registered with the States child and family agency, Tusla, parents using childminders cannot avail of national childcare scheme subsidies. It is estimated that less than 1pc of childminders are registered with Tusla. While we recognise that the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 provides a pathway for opening the NCS to childminders, Chartered Accountants Ireland is calling on the Government to expediate this process and enable parents to avail of much-needed supports as soon as possible, the report said. A Department of Children spokesperson said the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements. In line with the Budget 2024 announcement, it is intended that from autumn 2024, families using childminders will be able benefit from the NCS, the spokesperson said. They said the restriction of public funding to Tusla-registered providers helps ensure that funding is only provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. Fine Gael has been forced to amend a statement calling on Independent MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace to clarify the nature of their relationship with a Latvian MEP being investigated over allegations she is a Russian spy. The statement was issued by senator and European elections hopeful Regina Doherty last month, distributed by the Fine Gael press office and published on the partys website. The Irish Independent revealed last Friday that solicitors for Ms Daly and Mr Wallace had sought retraction of the statement, its removal from the Fine Gael website and an apology to the two MEPs. The letter also suggested they might be entitled to damages. While the statement remains online, Fine Gael has published an addendum, which states: MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace confirm that they did not travel with MEP Tatjana Zdanoka to an event in Lithuania, which confirmation is accepted. It is understood that the addendum was added following further correspondence between the two parties in recent days. Ms Doherty, the former social protection minister who is seeking her partys nomination to run in Dublin for the European Parliament in June, said she stood over the thrust of the original statement. Notwithstanding the minor clarification to the press statement, the substantive point remains that Ms Daly and Mr Wallace should clarify the nature of their relationship with an MEP who is being investigated by the European Parliament over allegations she has been working with Russian intelligence, she told the Irish Independent. Fine Gael senator Regina Doherty The European Parliament has launched an investigation into Ms Zdanoka, who has been accused by a Russian independent news outlet, The Insider, of collaborating with Russias FSB security services since as far back as 2005. She denies the claims. Ms Daly and Mr Wallace have taken part in a number of events with Ms Zdanoka in recent years. They voted the same way as her on several European Parliament votes related to Russias invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 In 2021 and 2022, they travelled to Lithuania to demonstrate in support of Algirdas Paleckis, a former politician who was convicted of spying on behalf of Russia in return for payment. Ms Zdanoka has also travelled to Lithuania to show support. The two MEPs have dismissed stories linking them with Ms Zdanoka, but have not responded substantively to media queries. Ms Daly previously told the Irish Independent via text: We broke up years ago...she never did the washing up... Speaking on the I4C Trouble podcast with Clare Daly and Mick Wallace on February 5, Ms Daly referred to Ms Dohertys statement and said: I should say theres no allegations against us as being a Russian spy, except from some poor little craytur in Fine Gael who wants to run for the European election. We were linked with somebody against whom there are allegations of being a Russian spy. Now, if thats who were linked with, Id say a lot of the MEPs, including a load of the Irish ones, would want to get worried because were equally linked with them on a load of stuff in the same way as were linked with her. Were not linked with anybody except ourselves, were Independent, we love our independence. Israel blinded by rage and there is now a serious risk of a massacre in Rafah, says Taoiseach Mr Varadkar said: Its very clear to me that Israel doesnt listen to us, doesnt listen to the world, probably doesnt even listen to the Americans anymore Taoiseach Ireland Leo Varadkar (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Grainne Ni Aodha and Hugh O'Connell Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 18:36 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Israel has become blinded by rage and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States anymore. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said a TV licence fee amnesty would be a slap in the face for people who pay the annual charge. Mr Varadkars comments come after Sinn Fein called for the fee to be scrapped and an amnesty granted to those who did not pay it in the wake of the RTE pay scandal. It comes amid a debate within Government over whether the licence fee should be scrapped in favour of direct exchequer funding for RTE. A Sinn Fein Dail motion calling for the licence fee to be abolished immediately followed by the introduction of an amnesty for those who have not paid has been tabled for this week. Well be opposing an amnesty, Mr Varadkar said. It would be a slap in the face to law-abiding citizens who have paid their licence fee this year and for years. I think this policy will backfire on Sinn Fein. A source close to Media Minister Catherine Martin said she has always been very clear that direct exchequer funding must be seriously considered as an option for funding RTE and other public service media. However, Sinn Fein will be fully aware that Minister Martin has commissioned two root-and-branch reviews into how RTE operated in recent years, which are due to report in the coming weeks, the source said. It would clearly be premature to make such a significant decision on the future funding of public broadcasting in Ireland without considering the recommendations from these expert advisory groups, and integrating these into the essential reform that is needed in RTE. Sinn Fein call to abolish the TV licence with immediate effect Tanaiste Micheal Martin also believes the reports on RTE should be examined before a final decision on funding the broadcaster is taken. Sinn Fein has promised to abolish the TV licence with immediate effect should they come to power after the next general election. The party said it would grant an amnesty to all those who have not paid their licence. The partys finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, said full funding for RTE would in future come from the Exchequer. He said an amnesty had been brought in over prosecutions for non-payment when the battle was won over water charges. He denied that Sinn Fein was unveiling its TV licence abolition promise now because of recent slippage in the polls. Mr Doherty said Sinn Feins proposal which will be debated through a motion in the Dail today would simply give effect to the Commission on the Future of Media recommendations given to the Government as far that back as 2021. Mr Doherty said he estimated the cost of direct funding of RTE, with some funds for other media, at 240m in a full year. Elijah Brassil from Kildare at the local wind farm in Mount Lucas, Daingean, Offaly. Photo: Kenneth Smyth There has been an increase in the number of people in favour of wind farms in their area, with 60pc now backing local developments, according to new figures. The annual national survey by Wind Energy Ireland, the industrys lobby group, shows an increase in those supporting wind energy. The latest figures also revealed that four in five people support Irish wind energy development, which remains mostly in line with the 2022 poll. However, one in 25 people are opposed to wind energy development, which marks a drop from 2022. Regarding the top benefits of wind energy, 74pc of respondents listed cheaper electricity, 70pc said it reduced carbon emissions, while 69pc said it was good for the environment. Around 52pc of people said it supported energy independence, 46pc said it created employment, with 37pc saying it was good for local communities. However, 9pc of survey participants stated they didnt know of any benefits. Meanwhile, just 4pc said there was no benefit. Justin Moran, director of external affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, said the results of the annual poll confirmed the continuing support of Irish wind energy. Irish people want cheaper and cleaner power, he said. They know our wind farms are the cornerstone of Irish energy independence. Last year was a record-breaking year for Irelands wind farms, producing more electricity than ever before. While consumers continued to face high energy bills, wind was critical to protect consumers from the worst effects of the fossil-fuel energy crisis. In Ireland, we are fortunate that our natural resources give us a huge advantage in developing renewables and we should be doing everything we can to take advantage of this, Mr Moran added. The poll revealed that three in four people are in favour of the use of offshore wind. However, there was also a high level of uncertainty among 37pc of survey respondents as to whether there are enough national policies to support the development of the wind energy industry. Mr Moran said: A recent study showed that offshore wind energy has the potential to be worth 38bn to the Irish economy. Elijah Brassil from Kildare at the local wind farm in Mount Lucas, Daingean, Co Offaly. Photo: Kenneth Smyth To mark the continuing support, Wind Energy Ireland created several wind-themed Valentine's Day cards that are available to send to loved ones through its website. Concerns were raised with companies that Ireland has invested millions of euro in over the fact they are based in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. An investment firm acting for the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) met with eight companies who operate from the illegal settlements, to highlight concerns. It comes ahead of a proposed bill that would force ISIF to divest from such companies. But none of the companies that were met with have stopped operating in the illegally occupied territories. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 According to the most recent figures available from the ISIF, it has invested more than 4m in companies which are understood to be based in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill, which was introduced by Sinn Feins John Brady last year, was paused by the Government for nine months while ministers tried to figure out how to handle it. The bill is due to go to the next stage later this month. While the Government said that it accepted the principle of the bill, it wanted time to figure out if there was a way to achieve the aims of it outside of a new law. Last summer, Finance Minister Michael McGrath wrote to the Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs and defence to ask what it felt the most appropriate way to progress the broad intention of this legislation. According to a report by the Oireachtas committee, the ISIF was questioned by TDs and senators on human rights and how it influences its investments. The report said: ISIF replied that human rights are factored into ISIFs investment decisions. In response to a question on eight companies engaged in the illegal Israeli settlements, ISIF explained that its partner organisation have engaged with the companies in question, including by meeting the management teams to highlight concerns. The official acknowledged that none of the companies in question has ceased their operations in the illegal settlements as a result of these engagements. A spokesman for the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which manages and controls the ISIF, said that the meetings with the eight companies were held by EOS at Federated Hermes an asset management company representing ISIF, which helps with responsible investments. EOS engages with companies ISIF has invested in to discuss how the companies are managed. Any engagement by EOS with the eight companies referred to would have taken place in this context on behalf of EOSs clients, including ISIF. ISIF has not met these companies directly, the spokesman said. TDs and senators on the foreign affairs committee were split on how to handle the bill, and have recommended that it go to the committee on finance, public expenditure and reform instead. In response to a parliamentary question on January 25, Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said that Irelands overriding position on Israeli settlements is crystal-clear. They are illegal under international law and are damaging to the prospects for peace. Irelands position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory informs our engagement with the state of Israel across a range of bilateral issues, and will continue to do so, he said. According to one poll, only 32pc of Israelis would vote for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Sebastian Scheiner If asked to define an impossible choice, one might look no further than the plight of the 1.6 million Palestinians trapped in Rafah. Driven from their homes, facing death, deprivation and danger on all sides, the refugees are now being forced under fire to leave their last sanctuary, with nowhere to run or hide. A bombardment that has claimed 28,000 Palestinian lives could now taken many more as the guns turn on what is recognised as the worlds biggest refugee camp. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, noting that half of Gazas population is already crammed into Rafah, warned that the looming Israeli campaign would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare. Averting a humanitarian catastrophe on an as-yet unimaginable scale must now be a priority for world leaders. White House sources believe Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is focused on his own political survival to the exclusion of any other goal. In Washington many believe president Joe Bidens softly, softly stance with Tel Aviv despite the humiliating dismissal of secretary of state Antony Blinkens peace efforts can also be explained by his own electoral imperatives. But before it is too late, humanitarian rather than political prerogatives must prevail. World Health Organisation head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has appealed for a ceasefire. Wholesale carnage can be the only result should Israel carry through on its pledge to launch a Rafah offensive. With its health infrastructure crippled, water polluted, and food supplies so short that thousands are in imminent danger of starvation, any such move would be unconscionable. Further mass death since the initial massacre by Hamas must be prevented. As Tanaiste Micheal Martin stated: Continued bombardment on Rafah will constitute a war crime and gravely violate international humanitarian law. To bomb and to mount a military operation in such a confined area with so many people is absolutely inhumane, he added. Mr Netanyahu risks making a catastrophic misjudgment which could irrevocably destabilise the region. Energies ought to be concentrated on securing the release of the remaining hostages instead of escalating a war already jeopardising global stability. A historical strategic shift is urgently required involving compromise and accommodation to salvage some strained relationships with once-staunch friends while also reaching out to historically sworn foes. It is arguable that even if Washington did turn up the dial on its tepid criticism of Netanyahu, it wouldnt make much difference. Reducing the supply of arms, or making them conditional on a ceasefire, would be more effective. Few believe Netanyahus goal of wiping out Hamas is achievable. Waging a war against an ideal doesnt work. The indefensibly high civilian toll undermines Israels standing and also puts its security at greater risk. The killing is fuelling more violence. To quote Noam Chomsky: You never need an argument against the use of violence, you need an argument for it. The sex trafficker turned handyman, on the run in Ireland In March of last year, convicted UK sex trafficker David Archer arrived in Ireland to start a new life. The pimp moved across the Irish Sea after serving just six years of a 13-year prison sentence after he was convicted of operating a multimillion-euro vice ring in the UK in 2017. Archer, who is originally from Glasgow, was also previously convicted of sexually assaulting a number of women whom he trafficked into the UK and forced to work as prostitutes in five brothels across London. Investigators also suspected Archer drugged and sexually assaulted some of his victims. He is classified as posing a serious threat to women. At the time of his arrest in the UK, police estimated Archer was making over 2m a year and had amassed an 18m fortune over several years. Confronted by the Irish Independent on a busy Dublin street last summer, Archer went underground until now. Archer, who has a bench warrant out for breaches to the Sex Offenders Act, resurfaced with another new name as a handyman with access to unsuspecting peoples homes. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheehan is joined in studio by Paul Williams, Special Correspondent with The Irish Independent, to discuss where David Archer is now and the series of events that nearly led to his arrest this January. A Clare food store has been partially closed after the discovery of rodent droppings, resulting in a grave and immediate danger for public health. Nearby OBriens Gala on Cloughleigh Road, in Ennis, was ordered to closure its external food store room by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The order was given on January 12 after inspectors found rodent droppings throughout the room. The inspectors explained that rodent droppings were noticed on shelving and near food and beverages, which represent a grave and immediate danger to the public health. The notice reads: Rodent droppings were present throughout the external food store. Rodent droppings were noted on high and low level on shelving and adjacent to food contact materials and beverages. Due to the above evidence, there is likely to be a serious risk of contamination to foodstuffs and hence a grave and immediate danger to public health. The closure order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998, and was then lifted on January 24. In January, F Herterichs Pork Butchers, 1 Lombard Street, in Galway was also closed under the FSAI Act, 1998. While Golden Palace (restaurant/cafe), First Floor, 89 Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, was closed under the European Union Regulations, 2020. Also, One Prohibition Order was served under the European Union Regulations, 2020 on Mercury (retailer), Park Road, Waterford. Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, stressed the importance of complying with food safety legal requirements that have been set to ensure the protection of consumer health. In January, there continued to be a number of food businesses who failed to ensure appropriate food safety management systems were in place and operating correctly. It is a legal requirement that all food businesses take responsibility in ensuring their premises are maintained to the standard required by Irish food law. Food safety requirements are put in place to protect the health of consumers. Consumers have a right to safe food. By failing to keep reasonable food safety and hygiene standards in place, a business not only poses a risk to the health of their customers, but also to their own reputation as a trustworthy and safe food business, said Dr Byrne. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. President of Poland Andrzej Duda has invited President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to pay an official visit to the country, Trend reports. This was mentioned in the congratulatory letter of President Andrzej Duda addressed to President Ilham Aliyev on his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential election. Will be updated The CEO of 96FM/C103 Kieran McGeary said that the recent decision to halve the time slot for one of its most popular shows Oldies and Irish was not taken lightly. The Cork radio station attracted a lot of criticism after announcing the decision to halve the time slot for one of its most popular shows. Presented by Derry OCallaghan, Oldies and Irish is now broadcast from 12pm to 2pm every Sunday, whereas previously it ran for four hours from 10am. The two morning hours are now filled by a show presented by Ryan Tubridy. 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 Mr Tubridy joined Virgin UK after parting ways with RTE last year. As part of his new deal, he presents the two-hour Sunday morning show across the Wireless Ireland radio group of stations, which includes Corks 96FM. An array of councillors at a recent full council meeting expressed their opposition to the move and revealed they had been inundated with complaints from constituents about the decision. It was subsequently agreed that a letter would be sent to the management of Corks 96FM expressing the strong preference of the council for the reinstatement of the full four hours of Oldies and Irish. Fine Gael councillor John OSullivan also secured agreement for a letter to be sent to the Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan. At last Mondays full council meeting a reply from 96FM/C103 chief executive Kieran McGeary was presented to the councillors. In the letter Mr McGeary said audience numbers for Oldies and Irish had been in steady decline in recent years. No decision to make changes to a radio schedule is taken lightly and we considered deeply before making the changes to incorporate Ryan Tubridy into our Sunday morning schedule. Oldies and Irish hosted by the peerless Derry OCallaghan has been a mainstay of Corks 96FM for many years. It is much loved by its audience but in overall terms, the audience for the show has been in steady decline over the last few years, he said. It is my belief that the changes we have deployed to our Sunday schedule achieve two goals at the same time, said the CEO of 96FM/C103. We have created a new opportunity for listeners to hear from Ryan Tubridy one of the most popular broadcasters in Ireland. At the same time, we have been able to maintain a significant space in our schedule for Oldies and Irish, albeit shorter than in its previous format, maintaining our commitment to the loyal but diminishing audience for this show. Our analysis shows that the 12-2pm segment delivers the highest audience for Oldies and Irish. It is my hope that by scheduling Ryan Tubridy ahead of Derrys show we will introduce it to an even wider and potentially new audience. We are a local Cork business that employs more than 80 people and endeavours to make a significant contribution to the local community and local economy, he added. Fianna Fail councillor Ann Marie Ahern who initially proposed writing the letter to the management of 96FM/C103 said she was disappointed with the response. I do welcome the response and thank them for it. One point that they raised was that Ryan Tubridy is the most popular broadcaster in Ireland. He is actually no longer in Ireland. He is in the UK. I put forward Derry OCallaghan as probably one of the most popular broadcasters in Cork. He has ever present listeners all over the world. It is disappointing to see the response. Fianna Fail councillor Michael Looney agreed with his party colleague. I would like to concur with my fellow councillor. I think it was ill-judged and it wasnt the greatest move. Our heritage and our identity is very important to us. It is a step in the wrong direction. This was an outrageous decision, said Labour Party councillor James Kennedy. It shows the callousness of management in that station. Ryan Tubridy has left the country and the best of luck to him. It was a sad day when a long serving presenter was left down like that. It was disgraceful. His music was varied. His listenership was huge. It showed no loyalty to their audience and Derry. Fears that Cork communities would fall behind due to a delay in the allocation of funding through the Leader Programme were expressed by a plethora of councillors at last Mondays full council meeting The Leader Programme aims to support the local development of Irelands rural areas and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) is responsible for the implementation of the programme. The Leader Programme is administered at a local level by 29 local action groups, which contain local representatives from the community, public and private sector. Each group is responsible for selecting and awarding Leader funding to projects within their geographical area. The motion which was brought forward by the Northern Committee sought approval to write to the Minister for Rural and Community Development to prioritise the announcement of Leader Programme funding. Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea said it is hugely important the programme is up and running as soon as possible. We did bring a motion to full council previously and we did get a response from the minister. Minister Humphreys said her hope was to have it concluded by the end of December. Unfortunately that time frame has not materialised and we are still without any decision. The Leader Programme is a significant part of our development programme right across Cork County. It is hugely important that we get that programme up and running as soon as possible, he said. Cllr OShea suggested sending a letter to Minister Humphreys seeking an update on the current situation. I know the council is working very hard with the department to try and get a decision over the line. I think it would be worthwhile to write back to the minister asking her for a further update on where we are at and when the programme will be announced. Fianna Fail councillor Bernard Moynihan who is the chair of the Northern Committee recommended that a meeting should be sought with Minister Humphreys. We are writing letters constantly to government departments, I wonder should we seek a meeting with the minister to find out what the delay is with the funding. I am willing to go on that delegation because this funding is crucial for rural Ireland and for our communities. We should write a letter seeking a meeting with her, he said. Cllr Moynihan proceeded to highlight the various ways the Leader Programme funding helps communities across Cork County. Rural Ireland needs this funding. My area is a very remote area. It is an area that really benefits from Leader funding. This is a very crucial issue for Duhallow in particular because there are a huge amount of communities who need help with lighting, footpaths and different things in the community. We manage to fund projects that are vital for connectivity, public safety and having community centres working properly. My understanding is that this funding has been all cleared by Europe months ago. It is at the governments desk right now. It is beyond belief that it is taking so long to resolve it. This money is badly needed for the communities. Our job is to sort the communities. It is a disgrace that they are sitting on this money. It is very difficult to explain to communities that all this money is there, but they are still deciding in the department how to give it out, he added. I fully support the motion to write to the minister, said Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle. You can only go to every town and village within our areas to see the tremendous work that Leader funding has done down through the years in terms of community support. The understanding is that the money is there. In Cork County and other counties there is a competition for the Local Action Group (LAG) process and that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy expressed his fears that Cork would fall behind as a result of the delay in allocating the funds, while Fine Gael councillor Gerard Murphy said communities are suffering due to the delay. I totally support the sentiments expressed by the councillors. The only people suffering in this situation are the communities who are trying to develop projects at this stage. Lets get the funding moving and out to the communities. It was subsequently decided that Cork County Council would send a letter to Minister Humphreys seeking a meeting regarding the delay in the allocation of funding through the Leader Programme. Green Party councillor Alan OConnor welcomed the plan but warned his colleagues in the council chamber that tough decisions still lie ahead. I would like to welcome the plan and formally propose it. We need to steel ourselves perhaps for tough decisions that lie ahead. We can back the plan now, but it is a dead letter if we dont back it in action. With the plan in place, lets go about taking action in council, in our communities, in our decisions and have the courage to do so. In the end this will be to the betterment of our communities, he said. Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy who seconded the adoption of the Climate Action Plan welcomed the ambitious nature of the plan. What jumped out was the proposals for 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next five to six years from the councils operations in relation to heating, transport, electricity and energy efficiency. That is very ambitious and very welcome. That is something we can very tangibly do as a council. 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 There are many measures envisaged in this plan for both mitigation and adaptation. I am glad that implementation takes such a central role in this plan. I am looking forward to seeing the annual strategies that will be arising from this plan to implement this and achieve these lofty targets, he added. Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry praised the work by the Environment Directorate team and said it is the biggest challenge facing us as a generation. It is a very fine plan, said Independent councillor Marcia DAlton. The earth is dynamic and environment is dynamic. Science is dynamic. Let us always be open to well-informed contributions that may enhance our learning. Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath echoed the sentiments of his political colleagues. I want to lend my voice in support of the plan. It is a very solid and substantial plan. It is very welcome we are approving it. It is undeniable that climate change is happening before our eyes. It is extremely serious. We can see the evidence all around us in the world with the various happenings, fires, storms and floods etc. It is important that Cork County Council plays its part in reducing our carbon footprint and bringing down our impact, he added. Genesis and James currently live in Seattle, Washington. Photo: Wild and Green Photography Georgie and Nathan during the ceremony at Fintra Beach. Photo: Tyron Ross The adventurous couple finished up their special day with an after-dinner sunset plunge at Fintra Beach. Photo: Wild and Green Photography County Donegal is fast becoming an international destination for special, intimate and outdoor wedding ceremonies for people who want to put a unique stamp on their big day. People from all over the world have been flocking to County Donegal to celebrate their wedding ceremonies on the beaches, cliffs and along the coastal lines. Not only does it make for stunning Instagramable wedding photos, the county also allows couples to have a unique wedding day catered to their personality. Wedding celebrant Leantia (Lee) Gallagher is passionate about bringing people to Donegal to feel and experience the warmth of the people and the stunning scenery the county has in abundance. For more than 30 years she worked in the hospitality industry and eventually fell into her favourite role of all Celebrant, Officiant, Solemniser. Leantia Gallagher is a Celebrant, Officiant, Solemniser based in County Donegal. Leantia has performed ceremonies on Fintra Beach, Sliabh Liag and Rossnowlagh beach, while for 2024, she has seen a 200% increase in bookings for outdoor wedding ceremonies in County Donegal. Leantia said the shift from ceremonies in the Church to Wedding venues has been huge but now couples are wanting something different. In 2024, I have some sunset weddings on Roguey Cliff Walk, beach weddings on Rosbeg, Tullan Strand and Downings and Sliabh Liag weddings already booked in. This is an increase of 200% on the previous few years and I expect to take more bookings They will get married and go off and have an evening with friends. Sunsets across Donegal are spectacular and the scenery is mind-blowing. To boot we also have the most amazing, professional and friendly wedding vendors in this county who are as happy for you, on your big day, as your nearest and dearest would be. In conclusion its the people, the scenery and the hospitality and the genuine kindness that entice visitors in to get married. Very soon I hope some locals may take the initiative to have a wedding immersed in the beautiful outdoors of Donegal, said Leantia. The last few years following Covid-19 has led the way for the more intimate wedding in terms of numbers attending and therefore offers a space to be more creative, unique and different. Leantia explains that every couple wants to put their own stamp on their big day and currently this is proving to be very intimate and special. There are also couples who find the big white wedding idea instils so much anxiety and nerves that that this is a great way to avoid that dreaded attention and focus on them in a venue that is unfamiliar to them. This is more prevalent than people think probably because of the world we live in now. Lastly as we navigate the elevated cost of living this is definitely a more budget friendly way to have your special day, said Leantia. Genesis and James decided on Donegal after seeing the images of Sliabh Liag and instantly fell in love with the idea of having their wedding there. Photo: Wild and Green Photography One of Leantias couples, Genesis Natalie Reyes, and James Doherty Rogers travelled to Donegal for their wedding on May 14, 2023 on the one year anniversary of their engagement at Disney World. Genesis was born in El Paso, Texas and grew up in Hanscom, AFB, Massachusetts but is currently living in Seattle, Washington, USA. Her husband James was born in Melrose, MA and grew up in Bedford, Massachusetts. The couple both went to the same high school, Bedford High School, but did not know each other and did not become friends until college. They both share a love of travel and wanted to honour 10 years together by getting married in our their special way before celebrating with family and friends. They decided on Donegal after seeing the images of Sliabh Liag and instantly fell in love with the idea of having their wedding there. The ceremony was held on the stunning Sliabh Liag Cliffs on the Atlantic coast in South West Donegal, followed by the register signing in the Sliabh Liag Cliff Experience and Visitor Centre before heading to the Rusty Mackerel Pub for dinner. The adventurous couple finished up their special day with an after-dinner sunset plunge at Fintra Beach. The newlyweds outside The Rusty Mackerel. Photo: Wild and Green Photography Speaking about their day, the couple said it was spectacular - everything they dreamed of and more. We were joined by our two best friends who live down in Tramore, County Waterford, who served as our witnesses. We became close friends after meeting in Seoul, South Korea. The ceremony at the cliffs was chaotic in the best way! It was a beautiful sunny day though it had been raining the entire week leading up to the wedding, but it was very windy and cold so our friends had to try and hold my veil, and everyone's hair was blowing everywhere. We included traditional Irish handfasting in our ceremony and Lee let us choose the symbolic colours for each ribbon, we also had a beautiful whisky toast, and Lee read off some of the lyrics of Home to Donegal. After a beautiful ceremony at the cliffs, we were welcomed at the visitor's centre to do our signing. Genesis Natalie Reyes, and James Doherty Rogers travelled to Donegal for their wedding on May 14, 2023 on the one year anniversary of their engagement at Disney World. Photo: Wild and Green Photography Afterwards, we crossed the road to the Rusty Mackerel where we were surprised with musicians playing wedding music during their trad session. We got our photos printed onto pints of Guinness, and after dinner, we headed to Fintra beach for a sunset dip to close out the day. There was a bright rainbow when we got there. The very next morning, we had an appointment at Zombie Dollz Tattoo Parlour where the groom got a ring tattoo, and then we both got matching tattoos with the wedding date and words gra mo chroi, said the couple. The very next morning, the couple had an appointment at Zombie Dollz Tattoo Parlour. Photo: Wild and Green Photography Genesis and James were amazed by the kindness and generosity of people in Donegal. The night before the wedding they were driving up from Tramore, and were about 45 minutes away from the destination when they got a flat tire on a road that was in the middle of fields with nothing within walking distance. After calling around, they got connected to Shane from S.Duffy Tyres who was able to help out and gave them not only the gift of us being able to make it to our wedding, but also a box of chocolates. The couple's photo printed on a pint og Guinness at the Rusty Mackerel. Photo: Wild and Green Photography The pair continued, As we were talking to him, we realised his cousin, Siobhan Duffy Browne was our dedicated person at the civil registration office whom we had been talking with and filed our intent to marry with. We stayed in an Airbnb the night before on Slieve League Avenue in Carrick, and the host was sweet and decorated the space with wedding balloons, a congratulatory note, and some chocolates. After we got ready in the morning and as we were leaving to head to the ceremony, an older couple who lived in the neighbouring home were heading inside, and when they saw us in our wedding attire, stopped to chat with us, offered wedding advice since they had been together 50 plus years, and asked for a photo together. We would absolutely recommend Donegal not only for weddings but also as part of their general travel itinerary if they've never been, whether they are traveling solo, connecting to their heritage, exploring and learning about historic and quaint towns, and connecting with locals. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, said Genesis and James. Georgie and Nathan Fletcher, from Fairlight, East Sussex, UK travelled to Donegal to get married. Photo: Tyron Ross Another couple who made the trip to Donegal was Georgie and Nathan Fletcher, from Fairlight, East Sussex, UK. Their wedding was held on Georgies birthday, September 23, 2023 on Fintra Beach in Killybegs with the signing of the register also held in the Sliabh Liag Centre. The pair picked Donegal for their wedding location as they had always wanted to visit Ireland and explore the country so they hired a motorhome and toured the coast line anti-clock wise from Dublin. They stopped off in Killybegs to meet family and friends for the wedding and then continued down the coast to Connemara before returning home. Speaking about their big day, the pair said, Our wedding was on the Saturday, so our families came out on Thursday. Saturday morning came around very quickly. We woke up to a bit of an overcast day but we all got ready in our beautiful Air B&B we rented for us and headed down to Fintra Beach. As soon as we arrived the sun came out and stayed for most of our day. Georgie and Nathan Fletcher, from Fairlight, East Sussex, UK after their ceremony on Fintra Beach. Photo: Tyron Ross We had a beautiful ceremony on the beach with family and friends sharing some readings and some beautiful words from our celebrant Leantia. We also did our hand fasting with colourful ribbons and had a shot of the fabulous Sliabh Liag whiskey. We wanted the day to be about us and the people we love, really casual and nothing too formal, and this is what we got. We then headed up to Sliabh Liag visitors centre to sign our papers and do all the legal side. The staff were so friendly and helpful - They even gave us free teas and some gifts. Then it was up to the cliffs for some photos and the bus journey was one to remember with a very funny driver. The guests at Georgie and Nathan's wedding. Photo: Tyron Ross We then went to the Rusty Mackerel in the evening which was just great, they said, The pair said Ireland has completely stolen their hearts. It was just such a perfect day. Fab food, fab music. What a day! Ireland really stole our hearts. Throughout our two weeks, we met some amazing people. We even were given free Murphys ice cream in Dublin as a wedding present from them! We would 110% recommend getting married in Donegal to anyone. It was truly magical, said the couple. Dublin restaurants are in need of some relief, according to a councillor following the closure of dozens of venues throughout the city. Fine Gaels James Geoghegan is calling for the commercial rates of Dublin city restaurants to be waived as they need to be given a break". He says more is needed to support the restaurant sector and is calling on the Minister for Finance to separate the treatment of bedrooms in hotels from the sale of food in restaurants and cafes and reintroduce the 9pc VAT rate for the sector. The general election candidate for Dublin Bay South submitted an emergency motion to provide relief for the restaurant sector in Dublin City from their commercial rates bill. The motion is set to be discussed at DCCs monthly meeting next month. The bottom line is we need to keep our restaurant businesses open and there is no point designing a traffic plan to encourage more people to enjoy all our city has to offer if we dont have a thriving sector for residents and visitors to enjoy Over 40 restaurants from the research that I have done have shut their doors across Dublin in just a short number of months. This sector is hugely important, not just for local employment, but to the vitality of our city centre, urban villages, and broader tourism sector. Dublin City Council could rely upon the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 to provide for a waiver on commercial rates for the restaurant sector only, without affecting other ratepayers. The previous Minister for Local Government passed legislation that allows local authorities to grant waivers on commercial rates, specific to certain sectors of the economy. This is a decision which the elected members of the council can make. It may require Minister Darragh O'Brien to make regulations under the Act and if that is needed, he should do so as a matter of urgency. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 Councillor Geoghegans emergency motion also calls on the Minister for Finance to separate the treatment of bedrooms in hotels from the sale of food in restaurants and cafes and reintroduce the 9pc VAT rate for the sector, he said. The Restaurants Association of Ireland has highlighted that while closures last year tended to be Dublin-centric, since the New Year they have been hitting every town and village in the country. "The good news is that, in recent weeks, Ministers, TDs, MEPs and Councillors have all publicly recognised the crisis our industry currently faces and the need for action to be taken, Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said. As things stand, each and every day, several small, independent restaurants and cafes are closing their doors for good, including in the nations capital. The bad news is that, so far, despite positive signals from the Taoiseach and Enterprise Ministers, no action has been taken yet to stem the tide of closures and secure a viable future for our industry, above all by reintroducing the 9pc VAT rate for food-led businesses. Cllr Geoghegans motion, which supports the reinstatement of the 9pc VAT rate for food-led businesses and a commercial rates waiver for restaurants in Dublin, represents a very positive, practical step forward. I hope other political representatives, especially Government Ministers, follow his lead in the coming days. KERRY Airport has announced that French airline Chalair will fly to three destinations - Brest, Caen and Pau - this summer commencing on 29 th June. Pictured on the Kerry Airport runway were l-r: Basil Sheerin (CFO), Evelyn OConnor (Customer Service Agent) and John Mulhern (CEO). Photo by Domnick Walsh Eye Focus LTD. Kerry Airport today announced that Chalair will return to the Kingdom to service three routes to popular summer holiday destinations in France commencing from June 29 onwards. Passengers can look forward to 13 weekly flights between Kerry and Brest in Brittany and Caen in Normandy and 10 weekly flights to Pau near the Pyrenees until early and late September respectively. Such was the success of last summers weekly service to Brittany, Chalair have also decided to introduce flights to two more regions in France. It was important that flights returned in light of the positive feedback from passengers who travelled between Kerry and France last year and the potential that exists to develop the routes further. Were expecting lots of French visitors to come to Kerry to explore the Kingdom and realise that this is an extraordinary oasis here in the southwest of Ireland, said Kerry Airport CEO, John Mulhern. The introduction of weekly flights to Caen in Normandy coincides with the 80th Anniversary of the D-day landings that led to the beginning of the end of World War 2. 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 "Normandy is not only remembered for being the location for one of the most important events in modern history, it is an incredibly beautiful place to visit and I hope the people of that region will appreciate what there is to offer when they travel to Kerry," said John Mulhern. Chalairs CEO, Alain Battisti also expressed his enthusiasm on announcing his airlines return to Kerry: Chalair is proud to expand its flight links with Kerry this summer. We were overwhelmed by the positive feedback from our passengers who visited Kerry in 2023. This influenced our decision to resume the French connection and to increase the destination offerings to three in 2024. We see your destinations as a launching pad to visit the beautiful County Kerry and the wider southwest of Ireland. These areas remain popular destinations for French tourists from the West and South of France and we wish them safe travels and happy holidays in 2024. Flights to/from Brittany, Caen and Pau are available from June 29 and can be booked now at en.Chalair.fr. These new destinations from Kerry to Brest in Brittany, Caen in Normandy and Pau near the Pyrenees will bring to 10 the number of routes that will be available to passengers for the summer months. Michael Healy-Rae TD with his wife Eileen pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Ray O'Sullivan, Jackie and Michael Healy-Rae, Kathleen O'Sullivan, Jerry Doran and Christy Hussey pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Maura, Danny and Johnny Healy-Rae,Dan Joe and Angela O'Connor, Donal O'Shea, Betty Doyle, Noel O'Sullivan pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Irene Murphy, Eileen McDonell, Joan Glover from Ballymac pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Danny Healy-Rae TD pictured with his wife Eileen and children Maura and Johnny at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Teddy Doyle, Theresa Cremin, Pam O'Riordan and Ann Corrigan pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Michael and Magella Horan pictured with John and Bridget O'Keeffe at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Cllr. Jackie Healy-Rae with his girlfriend Maria Murnaghan pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Nezha Sharif and Geraldine Browne pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough. Photo by Tatyana McGough Danny Healy-Rae TD pictured with Aine and Margaret O'Donoghue at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Joe Bourke Joan McKenna enjoying the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Danny Healy-Rae TD, Fiona Carroll with her parents Finton and Connie Furlong with Jackie, Michael and Maura Healy-Rae pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough. Fiona Carroll with her parents Finton and Connie Furlong pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Matt and Margaret O'Doherty pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough Milchael Healy-Rae TD pictured with Pat and Eilish O'Shea at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Anthony Lynch, George Glover, Tom Lynch pictured at the '50 Years of Healy-Rae's in Politics' celebrations in the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday Night. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Michael Healy-Rae TD, Cllr. Jackie Healy-Rae, Cllr. Maura Healy-Rae, Cllr. Johnny Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae TD pictured at the Gleneagle Hotel on Friday. Photo by Tatyana McGough The Healy-Rae election campaign has well and truly kicked off with the political party of the year taking place at the Gleneagle on Friday night. With planned local elections this year and even, possibly, a general election the Healy-Raes are in for a busy year, and what better way to start their canvassing than bringing together more than 1,000 people from across Kerry and even further afield. Fridays Healy-Rae party marked 50 years in politics for the family, with Jackie Healy-Rae first elected to Kerry County Council in 1974. Since then, five members of the Healy-Rae family have followed into politics two TDs and three councillors and the family has one Councillor sitting in almost each of Kerrys Municipal Districts. 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 And all five were in attendance on Friday night and spoke at the event, with the late Jackies two sons, TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, outlining the familys political history. The family, too, launched their election campaign, with the focus now on securing the three council seats. With people from every corner of Kerry and even from Cork, the event brought supporters of the Healy-Rae clan together many of whom have canvassed with them over the years. In fact generations of those who have supported the Healy-Rae political machine were on hand to mark the history of the well-known Kerry family. Admission was free, and there was live music from local bands. Courtesy buses were laid out from their home village of Kilgarvan to bring the locals along to the event. Management has blamed low occupancy in Laurence Shopping Centre The closure of the Marks and Spencers store in Drogheda is a big blow to the town. The sudden announcement of the closure of the Marks & Spencer store in Drogheda will result in the loss of 57 jobs. The employees were informed first thing Tuesday morning and in a statement, management said that unfortunately, due to declining footfall and sales, M&S has had to make the difficult decision to close the M&S Drogheda store. The store will close on Friday, March 8 next. M&S is committed to Ireland and we have ambitious plans for growth including doubling the number of Irish-based suppliers we work with. Our recent Christmas trading figures show were heading in the right direction. However, we also need to modernise our business to safeguard what we have achieved, said Eddie Murphy, Country Director Ireland & Northern Ireland. This is Louth Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Louth newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Shopping habits are changing, and we are shaping our store estate to focus our investment on the right stores in the right places. We have made the tough decision to close our Drogheda store because the shopping centre has low occupancy - requiring significant investment - and its sales performance is behind the rest of our store estate. Weve shared this news with affected colleagues today and our priority now is to support them through these changes. We understand there will be some disappointment with our announcement, but we believe that this decision is the right one for the future of M&S in Ireland - allowing us to invest in our store estate, expand our Irish supply base and continue to build our partnership with Applegreen, whilst offering our customers exceptional value, quality, service and innovation. Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th February 2024 The departure of one of the main anchor tenants in the shopping centre, which occupies c.30,500sq.ft of the overall space, will also have an adverse effect on the footfall in the centre. The centre opened in 2005, and there were celebrations when it was announced that the British retail giant would invest in the centre, with the only flagship store in the North East. People in County Mayo can get a free crepe to celebrate Pancake Tuesday. Gino's Gelato is giving away a free crepe to those who visit their stores on Tuesday, February 13 to celebrate the occasion. The popular gelato chain will be offer traditional crepes with lemon, butter, or sugar at no cost from 9am to 12pm at their store in County Mayo. Follow Independent Mayo on Facebook In addition to this, if you donate 2 to Ginos chosen charity, Childrens Health Foundation (Temple Street, Crumlin, Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals), you can get complimentary Nutella on your crepe. Ginos Gelato in County Mayo is located in the Octagon, Cahernamart, Westport. Were thrilled to be able to help Childrens Health Ireland this Pancake Tuesday, with the 2 donation from each person that wants to add Nutella to their crepe for Pancake Tuesday morning going directly to them, said Ginos Gelato founder Jonathan Kirwan. The Pancake Tuesday offer is limited to one free crepe per person. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) students will travel to Uganda this July to deliver humanitarian aid. The group of students represent both General and Intellectual Disability Nursing and together with staff, will embark on a two-week experiential learning programme to Uganda this summer. In July 2023, ATU St Angelas launched a pilot programme to visit Uganda, and based on that success, another group of five is now preparing to return and continue efforts with established partners Bright Kids Uganda (BKU). This is Sligo Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Sligo newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details They will be carrying out health checks at Noah's Ark Disability School and BKU's School and Orphanage, delivering vision assessment clinics, providing donated eyeglasses in the community, and administering essential medication and supplies as needed. The team will also deliver nutrition, water sanitation and basic hygiene workshops. Uganda programme co-ordinator Sean Kelly describes the continuation of the programme: "Seeing our students shine last year, working alongside Ugandan colleagues, was both humbling and inspiring and it was clear that we as a university continue to build on these life-changing and sustainable efforts". ATU St Angela's students Eabha Heffron, Niamh Corcoran, Chloe McCormack, Tara Kelly and Joanne Cullen holding the Uganda flag. Fundraising donations last year went towards purchasing mattresses, bedsheets, and mosquito nets for the kids' dorms; medicines and medical supplies for various clinics; fruit trees; solar panels; and a water pump and refrigerator for a new clinic at BKU. In addition, enough funds were raised to employ two additional support workers for Noah's Ark Disability School and a full-time Nurse/Midwife based at BKU. It is hoped this year's donations will continue to support these positions. Dr Edel McSharry, Head of School of Nursing Health Science and Disability at ATU St Angelas, having travelled to Uganda last year, is committed to supporting student nurses and staff within the school to participate in this learning programme. She said: "This is a unique learning experience for our student nurses where, under the supervision of Dr Evelyn Mc Manus, Programme Director, ATU St Angelas, will learn the importance of community health and social advocacy and gain a real opportunity to make a difference." BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. In the course of the operation Revenge conducted by the Azerbaijani State Security Service units on February 13 in response to yesterday's provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces, a combat post near the Nerkin-And settlement of Gafan district was destroyed and this once again shows the determination of the state, the strength of the Azerbaijani army, and once again proves that Azerbaijan will not leave any provocation unanswered, the deputy chairman of the Organization of Veterans of War, Labor and Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Colonel Jalil Khalilov told Trend. According to him, the video footage shows that the Armenian provocation was planned. "The footage shows an Armenian sniper calmly leaving his position, accompanied by other Armenian servicemen, immediately after opening fire on our border guard. The fact that the incident was carried out with the involvement of several Armenian soldiers gives grounds to say that Yerevan's attempt to present this provocation as "self-rule" of some soldiers is absurd and far from the truth. This provocation was carried out on the direct orders and under the oversight of the military leadership of the Armenian army," the colonel said. Khalilov also emphasized that this demonstrates that the Armenian authorities are far from peace, purposefully trying to aggravate the situation in the region. "The fire opened on our border guard proves once again that Yerevan is not thinking about peace, but about war. This is the reason why it evades signing a peace treaty and also tries to maintain constant tension in the region by periodically committing such provocations. The aim is not to allow the achievement of reliable peace and stability in the region, but to create a fertile ground for igniting a new war at any moment," the colonel said. The deputy chairman noted that the provocation against an Azerbaijani border guard in Zangilan - near the border with Iran - indicates the plans of Armenia's masters to expand the military area. "The aim is not only to provoke a new war between Azerbaijan and Armenia but also to expand the scope and geography of this war, to include Iran and other states. This is the reason why the territory close to the third state was chosen for the provocation, which shows that Yerevan has become a tool in the hands of destructive forces," Khalilov said. He emphasized that the Armenian provocation proved how dangerous Europe's mission and binocular diplomacy in the region is. " As it is known, the European Union has been carrying out some kind of "mission" in Armenia, on the border with Azerbaijan for some time now, European diplomats and French generals have been seen observing the territory of Azerbaijan through binoculars. European diplomats stated that all this activity supposedly serves to establish peace and stability in the region and there is no need to worry about it. However, yesterday's provocation demonstrated that this Western "mission" is as dangerous as Armenia's tendency to arm itself and that certain actions, instead of contributing to peace in the region, increase the risk of conflict. Official Yerevan and the forces arming Armenia must know that Azerbaijan is capable of repelling any threat, and such provocations will be resolutely suppressed in the future, as they have been so far," Khalilov added. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A protest is due to take place in New Ross on Thursday at 4 p.m. against plans to change the business operating model at New Ross Post Office, which will most likely see the service move to a different location. A petition to retain the post office as it currently is, has been signed online by more than 1,120 people. Set up by Cllr Michael Sheehan, the response has led him to organise the public rally at Conduit Lane, beside the post office on Charles Street for 4 p.m. An Post have confirmed to me that they are going to sell the building so I am calling on them to absolutely reverse their decision to privatise the service and to sell the premises, said Cllr Sheehan. Speaking after An Post announced sweeping changes to the business model of its New Ross post office in January, when it announced it will become a contractor run facility, most likely later this year. Staff were informed in late January about the change which will see a new Postmaster take over running the business, providing the interest is there. In a statement, An Post said: An Post staff formerly employed there will take up a number of possible options, including taking up employment for the new Postmaster or being redeployed within the An Post network. It is likely that a new location for the post office will be sought by the new Postmaster. In this event the landmark red brick building on Charles Street will be sold as it is owned outright by An Post. In line with the ongoing transformation of the national post office network An Post has announced that its office in New Ross will become a contractor run post office. New Ross joins the mainstream of national post offices of which more than 95pc of the countrys 900 plus offices which are run by contractors. Fewer than 40 post offices nationally are run directly by An Post. The move which was decided upon before Christmas by An Post management represents a significant business opportunity for the newly appointed Postmaster, An Post Public Affairs Manager Angus Laverty said. The change in business model of our post office in New Ross will not in any way change the range or extent of the services offered by An Post. We remain committed to providing New Ross with the highest level of services for the future. Changing the business model of a post office, does not impact on the level or variety of services which are available to customers. Continuation of service is of key importance to An Post. All services available before the change remain available after the change. In addition, in many cases the premises and facilities available have been improved. We will continue to provide a top-class service. An Post, as a commercial semi state company, has an obligation to operate in a commercial manner, the statement continued. In the late 1990s we recognised the challenges that we faced in our retail business. This arose principally from greater choice being available to customers for many of our traditional services and the move to online and digital services. These included the direct transfer of funds for social welfare payments, the availability of direct debit and online channels for bill payments. The development of An Post banking and financial services for customers and SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) has been a feature of the transformation of the company in recent years. Our task has always been to build a sustainable national post office network which remained relevant to the people of Ireland, both now and for the future. Cllr Sheehan said: Putting the post service into the hands of a private supplier one who will be driven by profit rather than public service in years to come they could decide to close the entire service, if it isnt profitable because everything is moving online. He said the post office has been in New Ross since 1904, located in an iconic building. We dont need any more buildings for sale in the town centre, particularly one that is semi-state owned. Years ago when the town was smaller and had half the population it has now, we had two post offices, so the logic An Post are coming up with is wrong. I think they are disrespecting me by not allowing me to meet their CEO. Its not just a chat Im wanting, this is a real issue. He is calling on the people of New Ross to join him this Thursday at 4 p.m. for the protest. I am doing this to get the public on my side. I am asking everyone who can, to come out and peacefully protest. I am inviting users of the post office and union reps to enlist their support and I am sending the message out we need everyone to come out to send a message to An Post that nothing is going to go from New Ross without one hell of a fight. Cllr Sheehan said he has been assured that no discussions have been held to date between An Post and a potential new postmaster. This is not a fait accompli but I know Roscrea was announced along with New Ross and Supervalu are taking over the service there. Cllr Sheehan has sought a meeting with the select committee of communications in the Dail. They have oversight over An Post. The reality is this is a death blow for not just New Ross but other towns across the country. All of their talk about circular economics and sustainability and a town centre plan, this is not worth the paper its written on if they are willing to let a service with a great connection to New Ross get ripped out of the town. An Post will be watching to see how much support there is at this rally. We need to let them know we are going to fight this tooth and nail to the end. If a local business goes for the tender, it would not do them any favours to be seen to take a business like a post office from the centre of the town. They will get the backs of the people of New Ross up if they go for planning permission and could be subject to appeals to An Bord Pleanala, but no one has been chosen yet. One of the most controversial chapters in Wexfords history is to be brought to the stage as part of a collaboration between The National Opera House and The Irish College of Music Theatre. Irish Affair - A Love Story for All Time documents the infamous Fethard Boycott of the 1950s which began following the marriage of Sean Cloney, a Catholic, and Sheila Kelly, a Protestant. When the couples first child, Eileen, reached school-going age, the expectation was that she would attend the local Catholic school. However, Sheila decided she wanted Eileen, and her sister Mary, to go Fethards Protestant school, a decision which was not well-received by the local clergy. Thus began a saga which saw Sheila leave the family home, her two children in tow, and led to local Catholic priest Father William Stafford calling for a boycott of Protestant shops and businesses in the village. On his instructions Catholic workers also walked away from their Protestant employers, the Catholic teacher at the Protestant school in Fethard was forced to leave her job, and an elderly piano teacher, Ms Knipe, lost all her Catholic pupils. Such was the magnitude of the story, then taoiseach Eamon de Valera was moved to condemn the actions of Fr Stafford, and the Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin visited the seaside community to plead for an end to the hostilities. Eventually Sheila returned home to Sean and the family went on with their lives as the boycott came to an end thanks to further intervention from de Valera. The people of Fethard-on-Sea eventually received a formal apology from the Catholic Church some 40 years later. Irish Affair - A Love Story for All Time will be composed by West End composer Stuart Brayson with David Wray as the musical arranger and Goreys Deirdre Masterson as producer. Explaining that the concept for the show and the musical compositions have been brewing in the background for the last two years, Deirdre said there has been great interest in the lead roles from actors with big credentials. We currently have 200 hopefuls from the West End for the parts of Sean and Sheila, and theres a wonderful opportunity for local talent to be part of the ensemble cast. We very much want the local community to be a part of the show. The hope is that the show will eventually go to the West End but we need to allow it to develop, to grow, and then get interest from investors. "Itd be great to have it in the West End, to have the purple and gold flying proudly. This musical blends a legitimate musical theatre score with influences from rock, pop, and traditional Irish music. Auditions for the two principal roles are scheduled for February 24 at The National Opera House, and professional male and female performers aged 25 to 35 are encouraged to reach out to Elizabeth Drwal via email at education@nationaloperahouse.ie for audition materials and additional information. Those interested in auditioning locally for ensemble and minor role casting opportunities are invited to register for a workshop style audition with the creative team on February 24 also. In an effort to cast Wexford rural community life in the 1950's appropriately all age groups and voice types are welcome. The staged concert performance of Irish Affair will take place at The Jerome Hynes Theatre at The National Opera House from June 27-29. The Fianna Fail TD is set for a three-day trip to Vietnam to mark St Patrick's Day Having taken on a busy itinerary for St Patrick's Day last year, visiting Cyprus, Jordan and Lebanon, Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne will taking on a long-haul flight for this years festivities as he travels to Vietnam. Sixteen years ago, the Enniscorthy man arrived in Vietnam with a backpack slung over his shoulders to explore a magnificent country. However, he stresses hes unlikely to see as much when he returns in an official capacity, as he will spend just three days between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. "Having been there already, I know that Vietnam is a really amazing country full of very friendly people," he said. It will be really interesting to return there in an official capacity. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details "There is a good Irish diaspora in Vietnam. There are active GAA clubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh and strong agricultural links are also developing between Ireland and Vietnam in terms of exports. Then theres obviously significant interest in the tech sector as well. Minister Browne says he looks forward to meeting with high-ranking Vietnamese officials and promoting Ireland as a country to do business with. "Every year, St Patrick's Day is a wonderful opportunity to go out and promote Ireland, he said. Other countries would give their right arm to have the annual opportunity and to have the same doors opened to them as we have every year. "It's a great opportunity to promote Ireland and to develop financial, cultural and tourism links with other countries around the world. Speakers and protesters at the Band Stand in Arklow at the 'Arklow Says No' protest on Saturday. Photo: Michael Kelly Marchers pictured at the 'Arklow Says No' protest in Arklow on Saturday. Photo: Michael Kelly Hundreds of concerned Arklow residents took to the streets on Saturday afternoon to demand answers on plans for a disused property which is reported to have been earmarked as refugee centre for Ukrainians. Organised by the Arklow Says No group, the peaceful protest began outside the old Eir depot building at the Croghan Industrial Estate where an offer was recently confirmed by the government to house Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection before the march proceeded through the seaside town to the bandstand. There, speakers demanded more transparency, highlighting the lack of housing in Arklow and its surrounds, and the possibility of undocumented, single males being housed at the site echoing sentiments displayed on banners carried by protestors, which read House the Irish and No unvetted males near our schools or homes. Ahead of the protest, a post on the Arklow Says No social media page stated: Today is the day we stand for our right to information about our own land. 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 This land is of the people of Arklow, and with only peace and respect that we want to know what plans for our buildings are. We hope to see all who are concerned and all who actually dont know what to think and hope you get some peace. We encourage you to talk to one another and hear each other stories we all have struggles and concerns. No one has a problem with immigration we live with, go to schools with, drink with, shop with all foreign nationals but we are concerned for mass immigration into our small town of unvetted men, the post continued. We have no hate or anger in our hearts, only love and concern for our loved ones. Posting after the Saturday march, an Arklow Says No organiser praised those in attendance for their display of solidarity, writing: Great day, great turnout, very emotional hearing how everyone is struggling. Very proud to see so many people coming together. The march on Saturday marked a week of action by Arklow residents that has seen protestors stationed outside the old Eir building on a daily basis. A GoFundMe page has been established in support of protestors to purchase tea flasks, coffees and posters, which has raised 1,100 so far. Reacting to the Arklow protests, Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady expressed his frustration at the failure of the government to put in place a fair, efficient, and enforced emigration system, noting that the current approach is not working, failing both refugees and local communities. For decades, here in Wicklow and across the state, we have been forced to witness the erosion of the very fabric of our communities, as the government has overseen continual cutbacks to services within local communities as they have prioritised tax breaks for the property developer friends, Mr Brady said. I want to be clear; this state has both legal and moral obligations to provide to provide sanctuary for people fleeing war, fleeing murder, torture and rape, and grave repression. These obligations are laid out very clearly under international law. Yet, we have a government who have approached the whole situation in an ad-hoc, willy-nilly fashion. With the assumption that they foist their failures on local communities and that would be that. This has led to an ill-thought-out dispersal of refugees across the state, leading to many areas reaching a saturation point in terms of the numbers of people in a given community who are attempting to cope with run down and, in many instances, barely workable local services. Last weekend, hundreds of people marched in Arklow to protest at this government failure, he added. The vast majority of these people are not racists. They are simply in a state of fear and frustration at what they see as their abandonment by the government. I believe in our local communities. I believe that our people have proven their compassion and kind-heartedness in the manner in which they have reached out and attempted to integrate refugees across Wicklow. We see in areas like Carnew, where there is a whole new community integrated into the area by locals. But the government, having failed to conduct an audit of the needs of refugees or the local community, effectively abandoned both the community and the refugees. Because of the failure of government, there is a lot of genuine anxiety within local communities as to how these issues have been handled. Communities are asking that they are informed if something is happening in their community, that theyre given notice and also that they get commitments to the types of resources for basic things like seeing the doctor or having a place in a school. Addressing the situation in Arklow, Mr Brady said that Minister Joe OBrien had confirmed that responsibility in relation to the property in question had been given to Minister Darragh OBriens Department of Housing for determination as to whether it would be suitable for accommodation for Ukrainians. Some light was also shed on the potential plans for the disused property last week when Arklow Councillor Miriam Murphy enquired if she could see the details of a fire certificate application currently lodged in association with the building. In the correspondence later issued to local representatives, Arklow MD staff revealed that the application is for a change of use of existing telecommunications premises into residential (guest building) for living accommodation for Ukraine refugees and that further information has been requested by the Fire Service, with no response having been received as yet. The application describes the buildings as Building A: to provide accommodation for 99 persons in 40 bedrooms, two-storey existing building; Building B: kitchen/dining area, existing single-storey building; Building C: kitchen/dining area, existing single-storey building; Building D: kitchen/dining area, existing single storey building. Brian Gleeson, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Vibeke Delahunt, Tina O'Dwyer, Lorraine Gallagher, Fred Verdier (Back row), Sue Nichols, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Aoife Flynn Kennedy and Alison Keogh (Front row) at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Sean McArdle and Valarie O'Toole at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Evenr. Photo: Michael Kelly Harriet Andrews and Alison Keogh at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Miriam Leonard, Caroline Henry and Sue Nichols at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Gavin Murphy, Brian Gleeson and Phil Thompson at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Sarah Slazenger and Joanne Pollard at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Anthony Murphy, Ciara Murphy and David Drane at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale, Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Sandra Houlihan, Donal Hayden and Anita Wheeler at the Wicklow County Council Tourism Network & Workshop Event in Beyond the Trees Avondale Rathdrum. Photo: Michael Kelly Wicklow County Council, in partnership with Wicklow Tourism Alliance, recently hosted a networking and workshop event for contributors to Garden County tourism at Beyond the Trees, Avondale. The event was attended by more than 100 participants, including local tourism businesses and organisations representing various sectors of the tourism trade in Wicklow. The event included updates from Lorraine Gallagher, Director of Services at Wicklow County Council, Fred Verdier, Tourism Officer with Wicklow County Council, Sarah Fitzpatrick from Failte Ireland, Vibeke Delahunt, Wicklow Local Enterprise Office and Alison Keogh from County Wicklow Partnership. Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn-Kennedy, who gave the opening address, said: This event was a fantastic opportunity for the tourism trade in Wicklow to meet with one another, share ideas and experiences and plan for the 2024 season. It was also a great way for the trade to get updates on tourism projects in Wicklow and the East Coast, promotional activities, training, and funding opportunities. Emer OGorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, added: Wicklow County Council is delighted to have organised this event. Tourism is one of Wicklows main economic drivers, and the Council is dedicated to maximising the tourism potential for the county. The workshop delivered valuable feedback and ideas that will help the tourism team at Wicklow County Council plan for future activities. After the workshop, a complimentary visit to the Treetop Walk and the newly opened Avondale House was enjoyed by attendees. In just a couple of years, Avondale has become one of Irelands top attractions, with many local businesses benefiting from the increased visitor numbers to County Wicklow Declaring that "every innocent life lost in Gaza is a tragedy, President Joe Biden welcomed Jordans King Abdullah II to the White House on Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward. The meeting with Abdullah comes as Biden and his aides are working to broker another pause in Israel's war against Hamas in order to send humanitarian aid and supplies into the region and get hostages out. The White House faces growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration's continued support for Israel in the face of rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its Oct 7 attack on Israel. Israeli rescue operation to free two hostages in Rafah killed 74 Gazan civilians Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside international alarm over plans of assault on city sheltering over one million people Fernando Simon Marman (right) and Louis Hare with loved ones after being freed in a special forces operation in Rafah, Gaza. Photo: Reuters Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 03:30 Israel freed two Israeli-Argentine hostages held by Hamas in Rafah yesterday in a ferocious rescue operation which killed 74 Palestinians in the southern Gaza city where about one million civilians have sought refuge from months of bombardments. We are tired and cant bear any more of this torture panic grips Rafah in Gaza 67 killed in overnight attacks in Rafah and 164 killed in 24 hoursIsraeli army said attacks were cover for a mission to rescue two elderly hostagesHumanitarian nightmare as people sleep on the streets Israel frees two hostages in Rafah amid air strikes; health officials say 67 Palestinians killed Miriam Berger Washington Post Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 03:30 The Israeli strikes that lit up the night in Rafah sent pulses of fear through the 1.4 million Palestinians for whom that strip of land has become a shelter of last resort. One shot dead and five injured as teen gangs clash in New York Subway One killed, five injured in New York subway station shooting Jonathan Allen and Brad Brooks Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 07:05 An argument between two groups of teenagers riding the New York City subway exploded into deadly violence Monday when shooting started after the train's doors opened at a station, killing a man and wounding five others. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports. "Mr. President, Allow me, on behalf of the state and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and personally, to extend my sincere congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Vietnam closely observes and rejoices in the achievements of the Azerbaijani people under your leadership in the construction and development of the country. I am fully convinced that the traditional friendship, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen and develop, meeting the aspirations and interests of both peoples. Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish you, Mr. President, robust health, happiness, and many victories in your esteemed position", the letter says. Donald Trump supporters at the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida where the former president was appearing. Photo: Getty Seeking to turn legal problems into political gain, former US president Donald Trump arrived yesterday to a crowd of supporters at a federal courthouse in Florida for a closed hearing in the criminal case charging him with mishandling classified documents. Donald Trumps threats to let Russia attack Nato allies not responsible or sensible, says David Cameron UK foreign secretary said military alliance more essential than ever in wake of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine An effigy of Donald Trump holding a pair of scissors with a cut-up US flag in the shape of a swastika in Dusseldorf, Germany. Photo: Getty Nina Lloyd Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 03:30 Donald Trumps suggestion that the US would not protect Nato allies failing to spend enough on defence was not a sensible approach, the UKs foreign secretary has said. Photo courtesy: Tata Motors/ Bandhan Bank Kolkata: Private sector lender Bandhan Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors to offer convenient financing solutions to its commercial vehicle customers. Under this collaboration, Bandhan Bank will offer financing across the entire commercial vehicle portfolio and customers will benefit from the banks wide network and specially curated easy repayment plans. Speaking on this announcement, Head Consumer Lending & Mortgages, Bandhan Bank Santosh Nair said, Bandhan Bank is pleased to partner with Tata Motors to offer seamless vehicle financing solutions. This association reflects our dedication to serving the diverse financial needs of commercial vehicle customers. We are confident that this collaboration will enable us to extend our reach and provide tailored financing options to support the growth of businesses in the commercial vehicle segment. Commenting on this partnership, Tata Motors Vice-President & Business Head Trucks Rajesh Kaul said, We are delighted to announce our partnership with Bandhan Bank through this MoU, which represents a major milestone in our commitment to providing seamless financing solutions to our customers. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing accessible and efficient financial solutions, empowering our customers to achieve their business goals with ease. Together, we look forward to driving greater convenience and support for our valued commercial vehicle customers. Tata Motors offers sub-1-tonne to 55-tonne cargo vehicles and 10-seater to 51-seater mass mobility solutions, ranging in small commercial vehicles and pickups, trucks, and bus segments to address the evolving needs of logistics and mass mobility segments. The company offers services through a network of 2500+ touchpoints, manned by specialists and backed by Tata Genuine Parts. Photo courtesy: X/@PMOIndia New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday departed for a two-nation visit to the UAE and Qatar. Modi will visit UAE from February 13-14 and UAE on February 14-15. This is the Prime Minister's seventh visit to the UAE and second trip to Qatar. Leaving for the trip, Modi said, "Over the last nine years, our cooperation with the UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connection is stronger than ever." He added, "I look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "I had the privilege of hosting His Highness recently in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024." Modi will address the members of the Indian Community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi. India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations. In recent years, our multifaceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education. The presence of over 800,000 strong Indian communities in Doha is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties. Qatar releases Indian Navy veterans Modi's visit to Qatar takes place after eight Indian Navy veterans, who were in prison in Qatar over spying allegations and even at one point sentenced to death, have been released by the Arab country as confirmed by the Indian government on Monday. The release is seen as a big diplomatic victory of India and Prime Minister Modi who supposedly personally intervened to secure their freedom. Seven of them have already returned to India. Photo courtesy: UNI New Delhi/UNI: The Delhi government has denied permission to the Central government to convert Bawana Stadium into a temporary jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital on Tuesday. In a letter to the chief secretary, Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gehlot said, "The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore incorrect to arrest the farmers." "The central government, in fact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution to their genuine problems," he said. Referring to the farmers of the country as "annadata, he said, Treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds." We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central Government. The approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail," he further said. Photo courtesy: UNI Kolkata/UNI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday began raids afresh in at least six places in and around this city in relation to the alleged ration scam (Public Distribution System -PDS), official sources confirmed. The ED official in plain dress, aided by the Central Armed Forces, fanned out early this morning and began search operations in a flat at posh Salt Lake area under Bidhannagar Police station, Kaikhali and Baguiati in North 24 Parganas, and Park Street, Russell Street in south Kolkata, sources maintained. They said the state police arrived when the ED reached the Salt Lake area's IB block and enquired about the search warrant for the raid. The federal agency has been equipped to conduct such raids along with the combat force of the CRPF after being assaulted during such a raid at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on January 5 last. TMC leader Sahjahan Sheikh, who is still evading arrest, allegedly orchestrated attacks on the central agencies from his followers during the raid, which was abandoned as they ran for life after thousands of irate mobs began to attack them. The TMC leader was summoned several times after skipping the appearance each time. The ED has arrested nearly a dozen accused in the ration scam, including that of former West Bengal food minister and now forest minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, former Bangaon mayor and MLA Shankar Adhya and businessman Bakibur Rahman. Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video New Delhi/IBNS: Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd as thousands of farmers gathered at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border in the second leg of their protests against the central government, media reports said. Farmers tried to break the barricade at the Shambhu border, after which the Haryana police fired tear gas shells and a stampede broke out among the people. Countering the tear gas, youngsters with wet clothes tried to reach the border to remove cement barricades which were in place. Clashes between the farmers and police started after the peasants tried to break the barricade and cross the heavy security which was in place at Punjab-Haryana border. In the national capital, massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel, besides multi-layered barricading have been made to seal the city at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. "The talks did not lead to any result. We will start our march to Delhi at 10 am. We will, however, discuss the proposals given by the government in our forum. The government is clearly at fault here," a farmer leader told reporters after the meeting ended. #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 They discussed repealing the Electricity Act, 2020, and compensation for farmers who were killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. An agreement was reached between the government and the farmer groups to withdraw the cases filed against them during the year-long protest against the now-scrapped controversial farm laws. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police earlier in the day imposed Section 144 under CrPC across the national capital until March 12, effective from Monday, to maintain public order and tranquillity. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued an order prohibiting the gathering of five or more persons, blocking roads, conducting processions and rallies, restricting the entry of tractor trolleys, and imposing a ban on carrying corrosive substances or explosives, as well as the use of loudspeakers across the national capital. If any person violates the provisions of this order will be considered to have committed an offence under Section 188 of the IPC and shall be liable for criminal prosecution as per law, the police said. Vehicles such as tractor trolleys, trucks, or any other transporting individuals or materials are not allowed entry into Delhi. Particularly, vehicles carrying implements like sticks, swords, firearms, or any potentially violent tools are prohibited, the police said. The protest is being organised by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and several farmers' organisations have distanced themselves from it. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), which was part of the farmers' protest in 2020-21 that led to the Centre withdrawing three laws, said they won't join Tuesday's protest. Photo Courtesy: Narendra Modi X page Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached Abu Dhabi where he was welcomed by United Arab Emirates president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Images shared by Modi on his X page showed, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcoming him to the city with a warm hug. Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport. I look forward to a productive visit which will further strength the friendship between India and UAE. pic.twitter.com/OWQivfszI2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024 Welcoming his gesture, he posted on X: "Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed , for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport." "I look forward to a productive visit which will further strength the friendship between India and UAE," he said. Modi will visit UAE from February 13-14 and Qatar on February 14-15. My remarks during meeting with HH @MohamedBinZayed in Abu Dhabi.https://t.co/lfLaOZ2LGp Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024 This is the Prime Minister's seventh visit to the UAE and second trip to Qatar. What did Modi say before leaving for his two-day visit to UAE, Qatar? Leaving for the trip, Modi said, "Over the last nine years, our cooperation with the UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connection is stronger than ever." He added, "I look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "I had the privilege of hosting His Highness recently in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024." Modi will address the members of the Indian Community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi. Photo Courtesy: PIB Indian PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday held delegation-level talks when they reviewed the bilateral partnership and discussed new areas of cooperation. Earlier in the day, Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on the first leg of his two-nation tour. In a special and warm gesture, Modi was received at the airport by the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and thereafter, accorded a ceremonial welcome. During the meeting, the two leaders welcomed deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people to people ties. "Discussions also covered regional and global issues," read the statement issued by the Indian government. The two leaders witnessed the exchange of following Bilateral Investment Treaty: This agreement will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries. India has signed both a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE. MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade: This opens new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade. An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement between India and UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor : This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity. MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects: This will create a framework for a wide ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise. Cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries: This protocol will shape extensive bilateral cooperation in this field including restoration and preservation of archival material. MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums: This would foster engagement between the two countries aimed at supporting of the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat. Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE): This will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This follows the MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems signed in July last year during Honble PMs visit to Abu Dhabi. Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE): An important step in building financial sector cooperation, this will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE. Prime Minister congratulated President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the launch of UAEs domestic card JAYWAN, which is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack. The leaders witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card. The leaders also discussed the strengthening of energy partnership. They appreciated that in addition to the UAE being among the largest sources of crude and LPG, India is now entering into long term contracts for LNG. Ahead of the visit , RITES Limited signed agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company. These would help in building port infrastructure and further enhance connectivity between the two countries. Prime Minister thanked President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his personal support and for his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi. Both sides noted that the BAPS Temple is a celebration of UAE-India friendship, deep-rooted cultural bonds and an embodiment of the UAEs global commitment to harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. In image farmers marching to Delhi/ courtesy: Videograb New Delhi/IBNS: Protesting farmers called it a day after hours of clash with police as they marched to Delhi on Tuesday, declaring "ceasefire" and promising to "try again tomorrow". For Delhi and its neighbouring states, it was a flashback to 2020-21 as thousands of farmers tried to make their way toward the national capital, facing off with the police at practically every state border. The Haryana police left no stones unturned to stop them from entering the state, throwing all they had at the protesters including drones carrying tear gas canisters, water cannons, cement barriers, sandbags, and tyre deflators. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd as thousands of farmers gathered at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border in the second leg of their protests against the central government. Farmers tried to break the barricade at the Shambhu border, after which the Haryana police fired tear gas shells and a stampede broke out among the people. Countering the tear gas, youngsters with wet clothes tried to reach the border to remove cement barricades that were in place. Clashes between the farmers and police started after the peasants tried to break the barricade and cross the heavy security which was in place at Punjab-Haryana border. The farmers told the media that they are ready for a long haul and come armed with six months' worth of rations and diesel. "We didn't budge through the 13 months last time. We were promised our demands would be met, but the government didn't keep its promise. This time, we will leave only after all our demands are met," a farmer said. "It is ceasefire for today and we will try again tomorrow morning," said a farmer leader. In the national capital, massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel, besides multi-layered barricading have been made to seal the city at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. "The talks did not lead to any result. We will start our march to Delhi at 10 am. We will, however, discuss the proposals given by the government in our forum. The government is clearly at fault here," a farmer leader told reporters after the meeting ended. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police earlier in the day imposed Section 144 under CrPC across the national capital until March 12, effective from Monday, to maintain public order and tranquillity. The farmers are demanding a law that guarantees them a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, a farm loan waiver, and the implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations. The protest has been organised by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and several farmers' organisations have distanced themselves from it. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), which was part of the farmers' protest in 2020-21 that led to the Centre withdrawing three laws, said they won't join Tuesday's protest. Instead, they will participate in a protest on Friday. The BKU, however, warned that if farmers' part of Tuesday's protest are "manhandled," all unions will hit the streets. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Russia will host an international forum on combating neo-colonialism, Trend reports, referring to the Press and Public Relations Department of Azerbaijani Parliament. Azerbaijan will be represented at this event by the First Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy and State Building Ali Huseynli, and head of the working group on inter-parliamentary relations with Russia MP Nizami Safarov. MPs of the Azerbaijani Parliament will take part in this international forum organized by the United Russia party and will express the position of the Azerbaijani side in the discussions at the event. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo courtesy: Facebook/SRK Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has "unequivocally" denied claims that he played any role in securing the release of eight Indian Navy veterans in Qatar and said that it was done solely by the Indian government. After the eight veterans, who were jailed for 18 months on alleged espionage charges, were freed, BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy said in a post on X on Tuesday that PM Narendra Modi had secured a "settlement" for their release after asking the actor to intervene. Denying the claim, the actor's team posted on X, "Regarding the reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan's purported role in the release of India's naval officers from Qatar, the office of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan says that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded, emphasising the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials and unequivocally denies Mr Khan's participation in this matter." From the office of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan pic.twitter.com/s7Kwwhmd6j Pooja Dadlani (@pooja_dadlani) February 13, 2024 Stating that all matters related to diplomacy and statecraft are "best executed by our very able leaders", the post said, "Mr. Khan like many other Indians is happy that the naval officers are home safe and wishes them all the best." The misconception came to the fore as the Bollywood megastar was in Qatar's capital, Doha, recently to attend the AFC final as a special guest of honour. PM Modi, who is in the UAE, will travel to Qatar on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen the ties between the two nations. Eight Indian Navy veterans, who were in prison in Qatar over spying allegations and even at one point sentenced to death, have been released by the Arab country, the Indian government confirmed on Monday. The release is seen as a big diplomtic victory of India and Prime Minister Modi who supposedly personally intervened to secure their freedom. After being released, a Navy veteran - one of seven who are already back in India - thanked PM Modi and said they would not have been freed without his personal intervention. "We waited for almost 18 months to be back in India. We are extremely grateful to the PM. It wouldn't have been possible without his personal intervention and his equation with Qatar. We are grateful to the Government of India from the bottom of our hearts for every effort that has been made and this day won't have been possible without those efforts," he said on Monday. In a statement the same day, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals." But beneath the sensational headlines lies a complex reality far removed from this simplistic narrative. While a handful of opportunists continue to play the Khalistan card, exploiting historical grievances and misinformation, the overwhelming majority of Sikhs, both in India and the diaspora, reject this separatist ideology. While the roots of the Khalistan movement lie in Indias turbulent 1970s-80s, today it finds a mere audience and presence in North America, particularly Canada. Sikhs in India do not wish to be associated with Khalistan in any way, because to be honest Khalistan doesnt inspire hope. It just idolizes and showcases dreams of a theocratic state which no one wants in the 21st century. Sikhs in India, and also in the diaspora, are proud of their Indian heritage and want to be part of the India growth story. But why then, does the Khalistan discussion keep happening in North America, especially Canada? While the roots of the Khalistan movement lie in Punjabs turbulent 1970s-80s, its presence in North America, particularly Canada, grew due to a confluence of factors: 1. Immigration wave and community building: In the aftermath of the Punjab insurgency, a large wave of Sikh immigrants arrived in Canada. This created spaces for community building, but also presented challenges of acculturation and identity formation. Some, particularly younger generations, grappled with an identity crisis and discrimination by the natives, making them more susceptible to the appeals of the Khalistan movement. 2. Information channels and political landscape: The rise of satellite channels and dedicated media outlets in the 90s catering to the Punjabi diaspora fostered echo chambers where voices could be amplified and historical events reinterpreted through a separatist lens. Additionally, the complex political landscape in Canada, with its emphasis on multiculturalism and minority rights, offered space for fringe groups to find support and legitimacy. 3. Perceived alienation and lack of engagement: Some felt alienation within Canadian society despite its open doors. In this context, the Khalistan movement, though offering simplistic solutions, presented a sense of belonging and agency. Additionally, a perceived lack of engagement by governments in addressing grievances within the community could have also fueled resentment and sympathy for Khalistan. But the narrative of the pro-Khalistan diaspora is misleading. Pew Research Centers recent survey found a staggering 95% of Sikhs identify as very or somewhat proud to be associated with India. This is in stark contrast to the image that the Khalistan separatists try to portray to the youth of the community and the Western media outlets. It is vital to recognize that the vast majority of Sikhs, both in India and the diaspora, are proud citizens of their respective countries. They are doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, soldiers, and teachers who contribute to the richness and diversity of their nations. To paint them with the brush of a fringe ideology is not only inaccurate but also disrespectful to their diverse experiences and aspirations. The true story of the Sikhs is one of resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of peace and harmony. We must acknowledge the historical complexities while focusing on the present reality: the overwhelming majority of Sikhs, in India and beyond, embrace their heritage within the larger tapestry of their respective nations. Only by moving beyond the mirage of Khalistan can we truly appreciate the rich contributions of this vibrant community to the world. (Photo and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com) Photo Courtesy: Tom Cruise Instagram page Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and his new girlfriend Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova have made it official, media reports said. Tom Cruise is 'growing closer' to his glamorous Russian socialite girlfriend - and has been regularly spending nights at her swanky London apartment, friends told Daily Mail . According to reports, the 61-year-old Hollywood actor and Elsina Khayrova, 36, attended a glittering dinner in support of London's Air Ambulance Charity at the five-star Raffles Hotel recently. A source told Daily Mail that the pair are now official, explaining: "It's well known within Elsina's circle that she and Tom are now an item." "They've grown very close over the past few weeks but take a lot of care not to be photographed together because they want to maintain their privacy," the source said. The source continued: "Tom has been staying the night at Elsina's apartment, which as you can imagine, is a very beautiful place. They enjoy hanging out together and despite their wealth, do a lot of the things that normal couples do." They reportedly met for the first time last year in December during a party in Mayfair. Cruise and his previous marriages Cruise was married thrice earlier. He was earlier married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001 and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. Khayrova separated from her ex-husband Dimitry Tsvetkov, 43 last year. Reacting to the development, Dimitry Tsvetkov told Daily Mail: "Irrespective of whoever she's with, Tom Cruise or anybody else, they should be aware that she likes the finer things in life and has expensive and luxurious taste. Tom should keep his eyes and wallet wide open." Photo Courtesy: wikipedia.org London: US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns and the head of the Israeli Secret Intelligence Service (Mossad), David Barnea, may hold a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday to resume negotiations on an agreement between Israel and Hamas to cease hostilities and secure the release of hostages, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing sources. Egyptian and Qatari officials are also expected to take part in the negotiations, the report said. Moreover, they believe Barneas plan to visit Egypt was a sign that Israel was still ready to negotiate a possible agreement with Hamas, the report added. An unnamed diplomat briefed on the progress of the negotiations told the newspaper that previous discussions had been constructive and noted that there was a desire to reach a compromise. At the same time, the diplomat said that the main sticking points are still the issue of a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, the newspaper reported. On Oct 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip-controlling Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighbourhoods and military bases. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed, and some 240 others were abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 28,300 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. On Nov 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Image Credit: Representational image from Pixabay/Unsplash The Islamabad High Court has summoned caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on February 19 over failing to recover alleged missing students in Balochistan. The directive was issued as IHCs Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resumed hearing a petition regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, reported Dawn News. Established in 2011, the commission aimed to trace missing persons and fix responsibility on the individuals or organisations responsible for it. The IHC in November warned a case might be registered against the interim premier and others if they failed to reunite the missing students with their family members. During that hearing, the Attorney General for Pakistan had informed the court that out of 50 missing persons, 22 had been recovered, while the whereabouts of 28 others were still unknown, Dawn News reported. The development occurred at a time when Pakistan voted to elect a new government last week. However, no government has been formed so far since none of the parties managed to touch a majority. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Traffic movement was disrupted after protesters from different political outfits in Balochistan demonstrated against alleged rigging in the recently held general polls elections in Pakistan. The election results witnessed a tight contest with none of the political parties winning majority. An alliance of four parties representing Baloch, Pashtoon and Hazara nationalists gave a call for a shutter down strike in the province for Tuesday (today) and made it clear they would not abandon their protest until what they called changed results are not withdrawn, reported Dawn News. The alliance, which is comprised of Balochist, National Party-Mengal, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), PTI and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), has sought cooperation from other political outfits. Demonstrating against alleged rigging, people observed a shutter down in Turbat region on Monday on the call of National Party. All private banks and markets remained shut for the day. NP President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was quoted as saying by Dawn News: "People whom they have declared winners came to us and requested that we should not approach the courts." Similar protests were also reported from Quetta, Chaman, Zhob and northern parts of Balochistan. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay Rejecting a written objection from Chinas vice consul in New York, Belleville Township Mayor Michael Melham flew the Tibetan flag in on Feb 9. Tibetan people were celebrating Losar (Tibetan New Year) in the region. US State Department Antony Blinken wished Tibetans on the occasion and wrote in a statement, "I extend my warmest wishes to all those celebrating Losar, the Tibetan New Year. On this first day of the Year of the Wood Dragon, we celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Tibetan community around the globe. Here in the United States, tens of thousands of Tibetan-Americans are integral to the preservation of Tibetans distinct cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage." "I wish Tibetans celebrating all across the world peace and prosperity in the new year. Losar Tashi Delek and Happy New Year!" he said. Losar also known as Tibetan New Year, is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism. In image Doug Ford/ courtesy:X/@fordnation Toronto/IBNS: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has signed a $3.1-billion health-care deal with the federal government to increase access to primary care and reduce wait times. The $3.1 billion promised covers the first three years of this agreement, ministry officials have confirmed. Calling the deal historic, Ford said: This new funding will bolster the significant work we are doing in Ontario we know there is more work to do. Thats why todays agreement is so important to strengthening our health-care system. Announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later last week, it makes Ontario the fifth Canadian province to come to an agreement with Ottawa for its share of a $200-billion health accord. The other provinces that have made this agreement include British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. The announcement follows almost a year after the two governments reached a 10-year deal in principle to pay for health care in Ontario, with an additional $46 billion in funding to the Canada Health Transfer. The federal government has been urged by Premiers to increase their annual health transfers up from 22 percent amounting to about $28 billion a year, with an additional five percent annually after that, to cover 35 percent of their health budgets. For generations, universally accessible health care has been a core part of what it means to be Canadian, Trudeau reported telling reporters. Its built on a promise that, no matter where you live or what you earn, you will always be able to get the medical care you need. Under the agreement, Ontario has pledged to add hundreds of new family physicians and nurse practitioners, as well as thousands of nurses and personal support workers to fill staffing shortages. The funding will also be used to remove barriers for internationally trained doctors, add five new Youth Wellness Hubs, and address gaps in Indigenous healthcare services. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) PM jointly inaugurates UPI services with Mauritius PM & Sri Lankan President Indias policy is Neighborhood First. Our maritime vision is SAGAR i.e. Security And Growth for All in the Region By connecting with UPI both Sri Lanka and Mauritius will benefit and digital transformation will get a boost After Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore and UAE in the Gulf in Asia, now from Mauritius, RuPay card is being launched in Africa. Advertisements The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, on Monday, along with the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and also RuPay card services in Mauritius via video conferencing.Mauritius PM, Mr Pravind Jugnauth, informed that co-branded Rupay card will be designated as domestic card in Mauritius. This launch will greatly facilitate the citizens of both countries said the PM.With this UPI services connectivity, an Indian traveller to Mauritius will be able to pay a merchant in Mauritius using UPI. Similarly, a Mauritian traveller will be able to do the same in India using the Instant Payment System (IPS) app of Mauritius.Further, with the adoption of RuPay technology, the MauCAS card scheme of Mauritius will enable banks in Mauritius to issue RuPay cards domestically which can be used at ATMs and PoS terminals locally in Mauritius as well as in India. With this, Mauritius becomes the first country outside Asia to issue cards using RuPay technology. Indian RuPay cards would also be accepted at ATMs and PoS terminals in Mauritius.The digital payments connectivity with Sri Lanka will enable Indian travellers to make QR code-based payments at merchant locations in Sri Lanka using their UPI apps.These projects have been developed and executed by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) along with partner banks / non-banks from Mauritius and Sri Lanka, under the guidance and support of Reserve Bank of India. The Bank of Mauritius and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have also played an important role in making these possible. The above facilities have been made operational through select banks / non-banks / Third Party Application Providers in India, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Going forward, these facilities will be scaled up.The collaborations on India's digital payments connectivity with Mauritius and Sri Lanka through UPI and RuPay will deepen financial integration and strengthen the long historical, cultural, and economic relations of India with Mauritius and Sri Lanka. 1. Robbers Apologise For Filmmaker Manikandan's Stolen Honour, Returns National Award Medal But Not Gold As per media reports, although the National Award medal has been retrieved, the gold jewelry and other valuable items remain unaccounted for. Manikandan quickly lodged a complaint with the Usilampatti Police, who are diligently probing the burglary to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Presently, the filmmaker resides in Chennai with his family, while his friends are tending to his pet dog in Usilampatti. Robbers Apologise For Filmmaker Manikandan's Stolen Honour/Indiatimes 2. Did Shah Rukh Khan Have Any Role In Release Of Indian Navy Veterans? His Team Denies Involvement SRK's team has issued a clarification to dispel any confusion. The statement declares, "Concerning reports about Shah Rukh Khan's alleged role in the release of Indian naval officers from Qatar, Mr. Shah Rukh Khan's office categorically refutes any such claims, underscoring that the successful resolution of this matter is solely attributed to the efforts of Indian government officials. It firmly denies Mr. Khan's involvement in this affair. Moreover, the statement emphasizes that matters related to diplomacy and statecraft are best handled by competent leaders, expressing Mr. Khan's contentment, like many other Indians, for the safe return of the naval officers and conveying his best wishes to them." Did Shah Rukh Khan Have Any Role In Release Of Indian Navy Veterans?/Indiatimes 3. Rashami Desai Slams Ranveer Singh & Johnny Sins Viral Ad, Says Its Humiliating For TV Industry Ranveer Singh's advertisement for a sexual wellness brand, featuring adult star Johnny Sins, has been a constant topic of discussion on the internet since its release. The ad humorously parodied the melodramatic "saas-bahu" shows commonly seen on Hindi television. Despite this, Rashami Desai, a seasoned professional in the TV industry, does not express a particularly favorable opinion of the advertisement. Rashami Desai Slams Ranveer Singh & Johnny Sins Viral Ad/Indiatimes 4. Is Mahira Khan Pregnant? Actress Reacts After Viral Post Claims She Is Expecting Her Second Child Mahira Khan recently grabbed headlines after her second marriage to businessman Salim Karim in a private and lovely ceremony. Speculation about her pregnancy is currently widespread, with reports suggesting that she is anticipating her second child. Is Mahira Khan Pregnant?/Indiatimes 5. Shark Tank India Season 3: Do You Know Peyush Bansal Considers Ronnie Screwvala His 'Mentor'? Shark Tank India Season 3/Indiatimes In the most recent installment of Shark Tank India Season 3, film producer and entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala marked his debut on the show. Within a single episode, he has garnered the affection of viewers, being lauded as the embodiment of the term "Shark." Furthermore, fans of the show are expressing admiration for his camaraderie with fellow Shark Peyush Bansal, who is the co-founder and CEO of Lenskart. For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, I would like to convey my warmest and sincere congratulations to you on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This result is a testament to the trust and confidence that the people of Azerbaijan have placed in your leadership and your vision for the country. Under your guidance, Azerbaijan has continued to make significant strides in various sectors, including tourism, contributing to the country's growth and development. Your commitment to fostering economic development, promoting cultural diversity, and advancing sustainable tourism aligns seamlessly with the goals and values upheld by the UN Tourism. As its Secretary-General, I am confident that under your continued guidance, Azerbaijan will further contribute to the global tourism community. We look forward to further strengthening our collaboration with Azerbaijan and stand ready to support your actions in advancing the tourism sector and promoting sustainable and responsible tourism that will benefit both the local communities and the broader international tourism sector. Expressing my confidence that your leadership will continue to drive progress and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan, I would like to congratulate you once again on your re-election and wish you continued success and prosperity. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration", the letter says. In a heartwarming display of love and joy, a kindergarten teacher in the United States surprised her students and colleagues with a wedding ceremony at her school. Adorned with vibrant decorations and excitement, the teacher and her partner exchanged vows, transforming the school into a hub of celebration and happiness. The children, filled with wonder and delight, eagerly lined the hallways to welcome the newlyweds with beaming smiles and cheers. This unexpected union fostered closer bonds within the school community and served as a poignant reminder of the beauty inherent in sincere expressions of love. The charming surprise wedding is a testament to the enchanting magic that unfolds when love meets spontaneity, leaving an enduring impression on all who bore witness to it. What Did The Kindergarten Teacher Do In Her School? The surprise wedding of a kindergarten teacher in the US is too cute | Image: Instagram Catie Zwier, a kindergarten teacher hailing from Golden Valley, Minnesota, opted to commemorate her wedding in a location dear to her heart the very school where she imparts knowledge. Catie and her fiance, Kevin, exchanged their vows within the church of Good Shepherd School, encircled by their young students. The ceremony remained a closely guarded secret, shared only with a select few individuals, including the students who were assigned roles as scripture readers and flower girls. The rest of the school community was informed to anticipate a 'Fancy Surprise Day' as part of Catholic Schools Week. The revelation occurred within the church, orchestrated by Father Ben, who unveiled the true purpose of the gathering, eliciting astonishment from the students before they burst into exuberant cheers. The surprise wedding of a kindergarten teacher in the US is too cute | Image: Instagram For this special occasion, Catie donned her mother's cherished wedding gown, adding a deeply sentimental touch to the ceremony. Personalized elements abounded throughout, with Father Ben delivering a heartfelt homily and readings performed by children who held a special place in Catie's heart. Following the ceremony, the entire school community partook in a spirited reception held in the hallways, where pom-poms waved and jubilant celebrations ensued. Catie expressed in her caption, "Father Ben delivered the most heartfelt homily, with readings performed by children of fellow staff members as well as the Purdy kids. The entire school joyfully danced us through the halls in an unforgettable receiving line. And of course, the highlight of it all was Kevin and I officially becoming husband and wife!" Where Can You Watch The Adorable Pictures Of The Wedding? You can watch the video and pictures on Instagram posted by Catie Zwier. How Did The Internet React? The surprise wedding of a kindergarten teacher in the US is too cute | Image: Instagram The charming post has attracted numerous likes and heartfelt congratulations from well-wishers. One Instagram user expressed their affection, stating, "I love this so so much." Another individual remarked, "It was incredibly special, and core memories were undoubtedly created for those children." Internet reacts to the surprise wedding of a kindergarten teacher in the US is too cute | Image: Instagram Internet reacts to the surprise wedding of a kindergarten teacher in the US is too cute | Image: Instagram What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. In 2023, hiring activity experienced a 5% decline compared to the previous year, signaling a notable slowdown in the job market. Despite this overall trend, December of the same year witnessed a 2% increase in hiring activity, hinting at a potential turnaround in the employment landscape. These insights, provided by the talent management platform foundit (formerly Monster jobs), shed light on the dynamic shifts within the job market, indicating both challenges and potential opportunities for job seekers and employers alike. twitter Last year, specific sectors demonstrated notable resilience and growth amid challenging economic conditions. The Retail and Travel & Tourism sectors, both witnessed a 25 per cent uptick, reaping the benefits of the resurgence in consumer spending. The Advertising, Market Research, and Public Relations (PR) sector saw an 18 per cent increase, attributed to the rise of digital marketing and e-commerce, according to the report. Conversely, certain sectors faced significant challenges, registering negative growth. IT-Hardware and Software experienced an 18 per cent decline, reflecting challenges from saturated markets, skill gaps, and global competition. The Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences sectors (-12 per cent) and the Banking/Financial Services and Insurance sector (-9 per cent) also experienced a decline in hiring. Moreover, a notable shift in geographical hiring patterns emerged in 2023. Ahmedabad, experiencing a 6 per cent growth, emerged as the top hiring hub, enticing companies with its talent pool and cost competitiveness. On the other end of the spectrum, traditional employment giants like Bangalore and Pune witnessed declines of 16 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. 500 Most Valuable Private Companies in India' Burgundy Private, Axis Bank's Private Banking Business, and Hurun India collaborated to release the '2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500,' the third edition of the list ranking the 500 most valuable companies in India. The rankings are based on market capitalization for listed companies and valuations for non-listed ones, with a cut-off date of October 30, 2023. twitter To be included, companies must have a minimum value of INR 6,700 crore (approximately US$807 million). The average age of the listed companies is 38, and their total value remains flat at INR 231 lakh crore (US$2.8tn) compared to the 2021 edition. Despite a 7% and 9.5% YoY increase in BSE SENSEX and NIFTY 50, respectively, the overall value of the companies remained unchanged. The list encompasses solely India-based companies, excluding state-owned entities and foreign or Indian company subsidiaries. Indias Top 10 Largest Employers Of 2023 The companies listed in the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 collectively employed 7.0 million people, averaging approximately 15,211 employees per company. Among them, 138 companies had a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. Tata Consultancy Services took the lead with 6,15,721 employees, followed by Reliance Industries with 3,89,414 employees. These are the Top 10: 1. Tata Consultancy Services - 6,15,721 employees 2. Reliance Industries - 3,89,414 employees 3. Infosys - 3,68,125 employees 4. Larsen & Toubro - 3,30,955 employees 5. Wipro - 2,62,325 employees 6. HCL Technologies - 2,41,352 employees 7. Tata Steel - 2,34,108 employees 8. HDFC Bank - 1,73,255 employees 9. ICICI Bank - 1,29,020 employees 10. Tech Mahindra - 1,26,825 employees The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, effective from February 29, following concerns about persistent non-compliance and material supervisory issues. While the bank is now prohibited from accepting additional deposits, conducting credit transactions, or facilitating top-ups in customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, and other services, the merchants will be allowed to accept payments from their QR codes beyond Feb 29. dnaindia Payment devices such as Paytm Soundbox and card machines will also continue to remain operational as always, as per the fintech company. RBI Directive Raises Concerns Over Paytm's QR Code Impact On January 31, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a directive to Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL), instructing them to cease accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTTags, and other financial instruments after February 29. This development has raised concerns about the potential impact on Paytm's QR codes and their functionality. Paytm Assures Smooth Transition as Merchants' Settlement Accounts Shift to Preferred Banks Some merchants have their repayments processed through the PPBL bank account. We're moving their settlement account to another bank of their choice for continued seamless settlements and repayments. This process, similar to mobile number portability, will happen in the background and won't affect merchants and customers at the front-end, assures the company. The company is in talks with Indias leading banks and will partner with one of them to ensure that there is no disruption to merchants. Reuters Over the past two years, Paytm has collaborated with multiple banking partners for a host of services. For services like Paytm QR, where Paytm Payments Bank, acts as a back-end bank, these services will seamlessly transition to other partner bank/s. This means that there will be continued service available to its merchant partners, a company spokesperson said. Following an update by the RBI during the Monetary Policy Committee regarding Paytm Payments Bank, the Deputy Governor emphasized that the opportunity for partnership with Paytm Payments Bank will be a prerogative of banks, paving way for ongoing and possible collaboration between Paytm Payments Bank and other banking institutions. Such a partnership will aim to establish a strong framework for offering innovative financial solutions to customers. Paytm management assured that there would be no disruption to merchants and their payment services. From bustling metropolises to remote rural areas, businesses of all sizes are embracing Paytm's innovative solutions. Merchants from every corner of the country are actively endorsing the Paytm brand, contributing to its stronghold as a leading player in India's payments landscape. These widespread endorsements serve to solidify Paytm's reputation as a trusted partner for businesses nationwide, further cementing its position at the forefront of India's rapidly evolving payments industry. (With IANS inputs) For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Cotton is a product of strategic importance for the country, as it has been produced industrially and professionally since the end of the 19th century. Therefore, Greece has a very A vote of confidence in Greek cotton from major European brands - Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a meeting with the Greek farmers and these are his proposals."I want to emphasize from the outset that we are here to find solutions and that we are also having this meeting in a good mood ," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos The Federal Government, on Monday, declared that power Distribution Companies (DisCos) inefficient in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) are going to lose 50 per cent of their operating expenditures. The declaration was made through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at the 1st NESI Stakeholders Meeting of 2024 in Lagos. According to the government, individual performances of the DisCos shall be examined on a case by case basis going forward. Officially, Nigeria has 11 power Distribution Companies that supply electricity to over 12 million registered power users across the country. They were privatised in November 2013, alongside the power Generation Companies (GenCos) that produce the electricity supplied to the national grid. The Transmission Company of Nigeria transmits the power produced by the GenCos to the Discos for onward distribution to users nationwide. But the sector has been plagued by series of concerns, top among which is the issue of poor liquidity, and complains around the inability of DisCos to make adequate financial remittances to the industry to guarantee power production. READ ALSO: Power Minister, Adelabu Advocates For Electricity Subsidy Removal, To Clear Debt Owed GenCos However, via X on Monday, the power sector regulator stated that the Vice Chairman, NERC, Musiliu Useni, urged DisCos to improve their performance or suffer consequence. Useni was quoted as saying, NERC will look at performance on a case by case basis. Sanctions and actions will not be the same. Ensure that you (DisCos) improve your efficiency. If your efficiency is at the level expected, you will get your full OPEX (Operating Expenditure). If you dont perform, you will only get 50 per cent of your admin OPEX. NERC, as the regulator of the power sector, has the power to approve the operating expenditures of DisCos and other key operators in the industry, and it has been doing this over the years. Speaking on the operationalisation of Ministries Departments and Agencies centralised billing platform, Useni told his audience that this was being handled by the finance ministry. A payment system was put in place for critical MDAs, with an agreement for the central settlement of their electricity consumption by the Ministry of Finance, which would have access to their meter readings, he stated. He further noted that the sector must be run sustainably in terms of payment obligations by various operators. We need to ensure that sustainable payment going forward is in place. Market rules are clear, but they dont envisage there would be tariff shortfall or subsidy, Useni stated. Faith Ojo, a Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur based in the United States, has addressed rumours that controversial actress Lizzy Anjorins husband, Alhaji Lateef Lawal, snatched one of her landed properties in Lagos. The CEO of Fojo Media addressed the claims on her verified page on Instagram, revealing that the story about land grabbing involving Mr Lawal is genuine as the latter snatched her land in Lagos. According to Faith Ojo, the stolen land was bought four years ago with the intention of constructing an orphanage where she would be able to house and feed the underprivileged. She did, however, mention that the case is currently being heard in court, and she believes in Nigerias legal system. She wrote, Good day everyone. My attention has been drawn to the circulating news about Liz Anjorins husband, Alhaji Lateef Lawal, who is accused alongside others for land grabbing in Lagos. Yes I can confirm that the story is genuine and the land belongs to me. I purchased the said land four years ago and I planned to build an orphanage there to provide shelter and comfort to needy kinda under my foundation. I wont be able to say much for now as the matter is currently in court .I have strong belief in Nigerias judiciary and I am confident that the right thing will be done. This case will serve as a deterrent index to all others who seek to reap where they did not sow. Land grabbing and all other associated shady dealings are evil. God bless you all. Faith Ojo. SEE POST: For many years, the United States has been a choice country for immigrants from different countries in search of better education, employment opportunities, better living conditions, and splendid vacations. The promise of the American dream, enforcement of fundamental human rights, and the practice of democracy made it more appealing for people looking to migrate. About one in every eight U.S. residents (13.5 percent) was born in another country. The landscape of U.S. Visa expiration and deportation While the U.S. might be one of the most liberal nations in the world, immigrants are likely to face arrest and deportation over visa-related issues. There are over 40 million immigrants in the U.S., and between 10.5-12 million were reported to be in the country illegally, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. Eligibility for U.S. Visa Anybody can apply for a U.S. visa; however, the approval is decided by the consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Aside from this, a citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States will first need a passport issued by their country. To make the application process easier, you can also view the requirements for visa application using the official Visa Wizard. Visa criteria vary for citizens in different countries. For instance, most citizens of Spain can travel to the U.S . for tourism or a visit for 90 days or less without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. On the other hand, citizens of countries like Brazil will need to apply for a Tourism (B-2) visa before being allowed entry into the U.S. Meanwhile, Spanish and Brazilian students looking to study in the US need to apply for a student visa. Expiration of visa vs. expiration of status The U.S. visa always comes with an expiration date. It is vital to note that a visa does not guarantee the holders access to the country. It indicates that a consular officer has reviewed your application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and that the officer determined youre eligible to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry for a specific purpose. While a visa has an expiration date, it doesnt dictate how long someone can stay. Its important to remember that a visa is solely an entry document. Once inside the U.S., other factors determine the authorized length of stay. Non-citizens are required to abide by the immigration law during their stay. Violation of the law can negate visa eligibility and rights, which might be followed by arrests and deportation. In simple terms, your visa status might expire even before the expiration of the visa. For law-abiding immigrants, it is also possible to extend their stay in the US through legal means. For international visitors entering as F-1 or J-1 students, their permitted stay typically aligns with the duration of their academic programs. This can be extended with Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary temporary employment directly related to an F-1 students major study area. If lucky, during this time, you can land a job that will qualify you for a work visa. Overstaying the authorized duration for your visa can lead to serious consequences, including deportation and denial of re-entry into the US. U.S. deportation Individuals and families without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. are subject to removal pursuant to the Customs and Border Protection, CBPs longstanding Title 8 authorities. Over 355,000 individuals, including more than 54,000 individual family members residing in the U.S. illegally, were removed by the DHS between May and October 2023 alone. Non-citizen who violates the immigration law, including those with a green card, can be deported to their home country. Deportation casts a shadow of fear over a substantial segment of the migrant community. It can be devastating, especially for families, as it can tear them apart, forcing them to leave behind loved ones and cherished memories. The U.S. may detain and deport noncitizens who: Participate in criminal acts Are a threat to public safety Violate their visa While the government has the power to deport any non-citizen who violated the immigration law, the affected individuals have the right to appeal their deportation. Before an individual is deported, there is usually a preliminary hearing before a judge in immigration court during the deportation process. Most times, the person is detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before trial or deportation. The immigrant will need help paying bail (or ayuda para pagar fianza in Spanish) to be released from jail pending the appearance in court. If the judges verdict is that the deportation should progress, you can either leave the US on your own expense or wait for the government to sponsor your travel. Also, some deportation rulings can be appealed. There are, however, exceptions, and this applies to a person who; Comes to the U.S. without proper travel documents Uses forged travel documents Does not comply with their visa or other entry document requirements Immigrants in this category can be removed without a hearing in an immigration court. Understanding your immigration rights The U.S. Constitution protects every person irrespective of their immigration status. Rights when interacting with ICE or other law enforcement officers You have the right to remain silent. You may refuse to speak to immigration officers. To be allowed to enter your home, the officer must have a warrant signed by a judge. You have the right to ask ICE officers to show you the warrant via a window or slide it under your door. To be valid, the warrant must have your correct name and address. You have the right to a lawyer Rights to free speech The right to free speech is a fundamental principle enshrined in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It states: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. This means the government cannot restrict your ability to express yourself through words, writing, images, or other forms of communication. However, the right to free speech is not absolute. There are certain limitations and restrictions in place to protect other important interests. For instance, speech that incites violence or imminent lawless action can land you in legal trouble. Right to refuse consent to a search The US Constitution offers immigrants key protections, which include the prohibition against law enforcement conducting unreasonable searches and seizures, violating the constitutional guarantee of due process, or engaging in discrimination based on race or ethnicity. Educational rights of immigrant children Every child in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, has the fundamental right to attend school, as enshrined in the US Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court. Parents of the children also have the right to keep private from the school, their immigration status. High-level meeting to spotlight President Tinubus economic and social welfare transformation agenda Lagos, 13 February 2024 The Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) 2024 Conference, a high-level gathering of public, private, social, and international sector leaders, will hold on the 8th and 9th of May 2024 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, a statement by the organiser, Financial Nigeria International Limited, has revealed. Themed The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation, NDFF 2024 Conference aims to provide a strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the Nigerian economy. The conference will feature plenary sessions on Day 1, focusing attention on the three main areas the Federal Government aims to deliver impacts, viz., fiscal policy, monetary policy, and social welfare. Special briefings and industry-focused sessions will hold on Day 2. According to Jide Akintunde, CEO of Financial Nigeria and Convener of NDFF, Over the past months, the new government has embarked on market reforms, which many stakeholders have canvassed for in the last few years to catalyse long-term economic growth and stability. In the short term, however, the introduction of market reforms has resulted in economic difficulties for many Nigerians. Notwithstanding, Mr. Akintunde noted: This policy pivot can help put the economy on the path of long-term stability, sustainable growth, and transformation. But there is an urgent need for adequate clarity and complementary policies to bolster investor and market confidence, and provide much-needed comfort for the citizens. Akintunde also added: NDFF 2024 Conference will provide actionable insights on how to navigate this road to transformation. The conference is strategically timed to hold close to the first anniversary of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, providing a major platform for support of the government and a structured interface with industry leaders, civil society leaders, academics, and leaders of international institutions. The overarching aim of the conference is to provide clarity on how Nigeria and Nigerians will transition from the current acute economic, market, and social welfare stress to stability, growth, and progress. As indicated in the statement by Financial Nigeria, some of the topics for keynote presentations and panel discussions slated for Conference Day One include The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation; Macroeconomic and Financial Stability: Communicating the Outlook; Revitalising Industries and Markets; and Transforming Nigerias Population Health: Crowding in Policy, Market, and Social Actions. For Conference Day Two, the Planning Group for NDFF 2024 Conference is working with stakeholders and sponsors to host special sessions on the Green Economy and the Blue Economy, as well as showcase the reform agenda and investment opportunities in at least two states of the Federation. The line-up of keynote speakers and high-level panellists for the conference includes eminent Nigerians from the public, private, and social sectors. Also expected to speak at the event is a world-renowned economist from the United States, to be announced soon, to provide global perspectives to the discussions. The website for the conference is www.ndffconference.com, where information on confirmed speakers, partners, and sponsors will be updated. On the site is also information on registration and sponsorship for the event. Originally conceived to provide briefings to international investors, the global policy community, and Nigerians in diaspora on the Nigerian policy and investment climate and opportunities, the NDFF Conference is holding in Nigeria in 2024, and in the coming years, to address domestic policy issues and attract international participation in Nigeria. Past editions of the conference have successfully held in London, New York, and Washington DC. The Nigeria Labour Congress has condemned the Federal Government for distributing some bags of grains as a palliative for the food insecurity affecting the country. Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered the immediate release of 102,000 metric tonnes of rice, maize, and millet from government reserves to the Nigerian market. However, in an interview via Arise News, on Sunday, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said that it is an insult to Nigerians for Tinubus administration to release grains to address the level of hunger and poverty in the nation. He added that Nigerians do not need grain palliatives because they are not pigeons or birds. Ajaero said: I feel sad when we talk of the federal government giving people grains as if we are giving grains to pigeons and all these other birds. At this time and age in Nigeria, we are talking of the federal government providing how many tonnes of grains to Nigerians as a measure of stemming the level of hunger and poverty in the country. I beg to disagree that that is a serious insult to Nigerians I think that we should think of something else. READ MORE: We May Demand N1m As New Minimum Wage If Naira Continues To Depreciate NLCs Joe Ajaero If somebody is telling us that it is going to start work today and tomorrow, have they kept the promise? That is the question. Heck no. I think the issue of trust should be paramount in whatever we do as a government and as a people. If we look at the end of every Federal Executive Council meeting, we will discover that the Federal Executive Council meeting seems to have transformed into a procurement committee, not directly on policy issues. Even when they had agreements with organised labour, with Nigerians, such meetings dont come out with clear statements on how to implement them, and I am getting worried. So, when Nigerians are hungry, you give them some bags of grains as a solution, thats not what we need at this point in time. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The US is concerned by the reports of military clashes on Azerbaijani-Armenian border, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing on February 13, Trend reports. "We are concerned by the reports of deadly military-to-military clashes which resulted in several casualties. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and injured. The use of force undermines negotiations. The only way to a sustainable peace is at the negotiating table. Any ceasefire violations should be investigated and properly addressed. As the Secretary continually emphasizes, the United States is committed to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations," he said. On February 12, at 13:37 local time, in the vicinity of the Zangilan district along the Azerbaijan-Armenia conventional border, gunfire erupted from the positions held by the Armenian Armed Forces located in the Nerkin-And residential settlement of the Gafan district, targeting the positions of the Border Guards of the State Border Service in the Kollugishlaq village of the Zangilan district. According to the State Border Service, as a consequence of the incident, soldier Parviz Khalilzade, a servicemen of the State Border Service, was injured. The military serviceman was evacuated to a specialized medical facility via helicopter. On February 12, at 20:50 and at 23:40, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of the Chinarli settlement of the Tovuzgala region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement of the Tovuz region. On February 13, the units of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS) carried out the "Revenge" operation in response to the provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces. According to the SBS, the operation resulted in the complete destruction of the Armenian Armed Forces' combat post near the Nerkin-And settlement of Gafan district, from where the Azerbaijani army positions were fired. "There have been reports of substantial personnel losses at the damaged combat position. Any provocations by the Armenian side aimed at escalating tensions along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border will now be met with even more serious and decisive reactions. The military-political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for these developments," said SBS statement. The Presidency, on Monday, described Nigeria as a poverty stricken country. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who stated this in an interview on Arise Television, said the wealth of the country is overestimated. According to him, Nigeria is poor considering its low per capita income, compared to other African nations. Nigeria is a very very poor country, to be honest. I think our wealth is overestimated, Onanuga stated. Speaking on the economic state and the administrations efforts to ensure stability, he said, I think we have a poor estimation of the wealth of the country, we are a very poor country. READ ALSO: Hardship In Nigeria Not Tinubus Fault, I Wont Join Others To Criticise Him Sanusi He added that with the removal of subsidies on petrol and the unification of the exchange rate, the administration is hoping that the pressure on our finances will reduce. Meanwhile, Onanuga dismissed claims that the Tinubu-led government still owes emoluments to its federal workers. He said, The office of the AGF has said there is a challenge with the platform being used to disburse the salaries. According to a briefing I got this morning, yes, salaries were delayed, but all federal workers have been paid, Onanuga added. The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested two suspected ring leaders of cult groups, responsible for recent killings in the Ihiala area of the state. In a statement made available by the commands spokesperson, on Monday, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that one of the rifles was stolen when Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, was attacked by unknown gunmen in 2021. He added that the second rifle was missing from Area Command Headquarters, Ogidi, early last year when the formation was attacked by insurgents. The statement reads: One Chitana Oha, male, 25 years, alias Kill and Bury was arrested. Also nabbed was one Emmanuel Ifeanyi Okonkwo, male, 24 yrs Alias Good and Bad. READ MORE: 10 Persons Killed, 2 Pregnant Women Shot In Anambra Cult Attack Both suspects were arrested at their hideout at Okija within the same Local Government Area. Painstaking intelligence gathering by undercover operatives led to the uncovering of a location where the arms were hidden in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who commended the operatives for their diligence, urged them not to relent until perpetrators of the attacks which claimed police lives are brought to justice. He assured the team that every logistic support they require would be provided until the objectives are achieved. The leader of a syndicate engaged in one-chance robberies, Ndubisi George, aged 49, has been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command. It was gathered that the commands Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on his X handle on Monday. The statement reads: Operatives of @LagosPoliceNG have arrested one Ndubisi George m aged 49, leader of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating within Itire, Aguda, Cele and Surulere. READ MORE: Lagos Police Nab Suspects For Snatching AK 47 Rifle From Officer, Recover Ammunition One grey Toyota Camry was recovered from him while efforts are on to arrest other members of the syndicate. The suspect has been arraigned and remanded to prison till March 18, 2024, for continuation of hearing. This arrest is in line with the Lagos state governments plan to eradicate insecurity within Operatives of @LagosPoliceNG have arrested one Ndubisi George m aged 49, leader of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating within Itire, Aguda, Cele and Surulere. One grey Toyota Camry was recovered from him while efforts are on to arrest other members of the syndicate. The pic.twitter.com/FNkZAYeYhP SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) February 12, 2024 the state. The Borno State police command, arrested two friends, reportedly having sex inside the All Saints Protestant Church, Police College, Maiduguri. It was gathered that the suspects, identified as Kaka Ali Umar and Khadija Adam, were nabbed on Monday, at about 11:40 a.m, allegedly aided by the security man attached to the Church. However, the Reverend in charge, Danjuma Adamu, told the Police Investigation Team at the Metro Divisional Police Office that the arrested friends were having sex right inside his church. READ MORE: Police Inspector, Two Others Killed As Boko Haram Attack Borno Community The Reverend of the affected Church told Police that: After the act, Khadija said that Kaka Ali paid her N1,000 for a short round. According to Vanguard, a security source who was involved in the case, but is not authorized to address newsmen, disclosed that the two suspects were undergoing investigation at the Metro police station, after which it will refer the incident to appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution. The Imo State Police Command has confirmed an attack on a Correctional Service Farm Settlements, in Umualomoke community in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, leading to the release of seven inmates, and the death of a police inspector. It was gathered that earlier befor the attack, the assailants reportedly kidnapped the correctional service officer responsible for the settlement. Reacting to the incident, on Monday, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Danjuma Aboki, visited the scene and ordered the deployment of the Commands Special Tactical Squad to track down the criminal elements. In a statement issued by the Commands spokesperson, Henry Okoye, attributed the responsibility for the attacks on the Correctional Service Farm Settlements to IPOB/ESN. The statement partly reads: The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma has deployed the Commands Special Tactical Squad and equipped them with the available resources to go all out in synergy with the Military other sister security agencies and hunt down suspected IPOB/ESN disgruntled elements, allegedly responsible for the attacks on Correctional Service Farm Settlements, Umualomoke and the residence of Dist. Senator Patrick Ndubeze, both in Okigwe, in the early hours of 12/02/2024, which resulted in the release of seven (7) inmates, and abduction of the officer in charge of the farm settlement, and the death of a Police Inspector respectively. READ MORE: Imo Police Redeploy DPO For Aiding Notorious Rapists Escape The CP made this known during his visit to Okigwe for on-the-spot assessment of the ugly incidents wherein he mandated the special tactical squad operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring that the officer in charge of the farm settlement is rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. While calling on the general public who may have any useful information that will assist the operatives in arresting the hoodlums responsible for the attacks to kindly report at the nearest Police Station or via 08034773600. A Peoples Democratic Partys 2023 House of Representatives candidate from Anambra State, identified as Jude Oguejiofor, has been murdered by gunmen. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that Oguejiofor hailed from Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, but lived in Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area. It was gathered that in the 2023 general elections, the diseased contested for the Ihiala Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat under the platform of the PDP. According to Premium Times, the politician and his brother were abducted by gunmen in the Orsumoghu Community around 1 am some days ago while they were visiting their aged parents. READ MORE: One Killed As Troops Raid IPOB Camps In Anambra However, the gunmen later released his brother, who is a medical doctor residing overseas, unharmed. A source close to the family, disclosed that the gunmen accused Oguejiofor of writing petitions against them and their community activities. The source said: They said he had been writing petitions against them to the Anambra State Government. Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, Minister of Women Affairs, has announced a bounty of N2 million on Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor, an Anambra-based lawyer, who brutally abused her 10-year-old house help. In a viral video, the house help was seen with iron-stamp burns all over her body, allegedly inflicted by her boss. According to reports, the kid started living with the lawyer on January 5, in Onitsha North Local Government Area of the State. Cukelu-Okafor was said to have used a broken bottle, knife, and electric iron to inflict injuries on the child for allegedly touching her daughter. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Kennedy-Ohanenye said she has the right to intervene in any matter that concerns women and children in the country. I kept quiet because I thought by now it should have been solved. For the fact that up to date it has not been solved, Ive decided to wage in. Everything that concerns women and children across Nigeria, I have every right to get involved in it. See this one I kept quiet what has happened to date? Nothing! So Im not going to listen anymore. I am going to wage into any issue that concerns women and children across this country. So I am declaring Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor wanted. Please, Nigerians go out there and search for this woman, bring her out, call any police station, and hand her over. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is offering N2 million to anybody that will lay hand on this woman and hand her over to the police. READ ALSO: Social Media Is Now A Place Where People Are Free To Express Foolishness Ayo Makun Writes We need this woman urgently because this girl is in pain. This girl has been in the hospital. It could be your child tomorrow. It could be anybodys relation. So let us not fold our hands. This happened in Anambra state, N2 million will be given to anybody that will give us information on how this woman will be apprehended by the police because police have been looking for her and shes nowhere to be found, she said. The Minister added that! she would soon make a pronouncement to put a stop to the use of under-18 as house helps. Therell be a pronouncement on that within a week from now. And therell be an enforcement programme towards that action. And we will need whistleblowers who are Nigerians, Nigerians come out and fight for your country. Especially now that you have a president who listens to your problems, and who is eager to solve them. Are we going to fold our hands and allow this opportunity pass time? We should come out. Dont rely on anybody or dont fear anybody come out and give information about anything that you feel will help this country. If you dont know anywhere to go to, come to Federal Minister of Women Affairs, and you will see immediate action. The Four Green Cats cafe and Creek Mercantile at the Rancocas Woods Village of Shops in Mount Laurel. Read more The Rancocas Woods Village of Shops has survived the rise and fall of malls, the death and rebirth of downtowns, the online shopping revolution and Mount Laurels evolution from an agrarian to a suburban community. The eclectic dozen or so wood-frame commercial buildings in the trees along Creek Road in Burlington County became a regional destination for antiques, crafts, and furniture in the 1950s. The village since has withstood the death of its founder, a fire, the closing of a signature retailer, headlines about proliferating vacancies, and the pandemic. Fresh stores, including a popular ice cream stand and a coffee shop that sells Czech pastries, have helped create a comeback narrative so strong that Mount Laurel intends to improve and promote the area as the 22-square-mile townships Main Street. Keeping the flavor of the area has to be at the heart of any changes that are made, said Brandon Hartman, who has worked at Second Time Books for a dozen years, the last five as owner. Advertisement While shop owners like Hartman, as well as local residents, are generally positive about the proposed Rancocas Woods Redevelopment Plan, some worry the quirky charm, rustic ambience, and distinctive mix of businesses that have made the village so resilient and could be diminished, if not lost. Rancocas Woods has an aesthetic that appeals to people who are tired of corporate, Hartman said. Theres something refreshing about being able to step outside and breathe air the trees have processed. Im all for change, but not a 100% change, said Ed Grafenstine, manager of the Rancocas Woods Craft Co-op and Antique Attic, where about 80 vendors and their artisanal, collectible, or practical wares can be found on three floors. We want it to stay the way it is, but with new ideas, new sales ideas, and new ways to get people in, Grafenstine, 91, said. A vision for the future Bisected by the N.J. Turnpike and I-295, Mount Laurel is home to nearly 46,000 people up from 2,817 in 1950 and is largely defined by dense commercial development along Routes 38 and 73. The township designated the 20 acres of Rancocas Woods Village of Shops as an area in need of redevelopment in 2019. The proposed redevelopment plan made public last July says Rancocas Woods and Creek Road should become Mount Laurels primary Main Street and serve as a community gathering place and unique commercial destination. Rancocas Woods is not in the geographic center of Mount Laurel. The nearest NJ Transit bus stop is a mile away. But the area is handy to I-295, as well as walking trails and the Rancocas Creek. Prepared by CME Associates, the redevelopment plan envisions small-scale construction of new commercial buildings that will enhance and complement the existing character and business community. Also part of the plan: a pedestrian-friendly environment throughout the village; more and safer parking, and better lighting, landscaping, and streetscaping. Separately, the townships Municipal Utilities Authority is offering owners of existing buildings a discounted fee to connect to water and sewer service. The buildings there have a log cabin, woodsy feel that we dont want to lose, said Bill Giegerich, Mount Laurels director of economic and community development. The final plan has not been adopted yet, he said. We have tweaked the draft plan to address the publics concerns as best we can. We want the businesses there to thrive and to grow. The Main Street concept arises in part by the evolution of the village of shops itself. It has long held events such as craft fairs and antique shows, and in 2020 launched a weekly farmers market. The township also holds its Christmas tree lighting there, and officials said the area has successfully handled large crowds despite deteriorating and disconnected sidewalks, tricky parking, and lack of signage. I love the village, but there are things that need updating and beautification, said Janeen Hovnanian, 35, a trustee of the 15-member Rancocas Woods Business Association and an owner of the Thyme Travelers Conservatory. The business opened last May to sell plants and provide wellness activities and workshops focused on nature. Hovnanian, whose family is well-known in the residential construction business, also is the event coordinator for what the she calls the townships budding downtown. Lots of history, little visibility A lot of local folks dont even know were here, said Randi Gonnelli, 32, the manager of Creek Mercantile. Were a vintage co-op with 30 to 40 vendors on three floors where midcentury modern home furnishings are a centerpiece. We mix merchandise of our vendors into displays and create vignettes. Creek Mercantile occupies the building that originally housed William Spencers, a much-loved furniture and lighting store operated by the Philadelphia entrepreneur who bought the land for what is now the village in the 1940s. Spencer subdivided the property so that other businesses could locate there, encouraged construction of traditional-looking wooden buildings, and built his namesake store in a log-cabin style in 1955. He died in 1988. After the store was severely damaged by fire the next year, we rebuilt it from the same blueprints, said his daughter, Val Houser. She and her husband sold the property a decade ago. Kay Schutz, a retiree who lives within easy walking distance, calls the village my Amazon.com in the woods, she said. A former food company executive, Schutz created and distributed her own summary of the redevelopment plan. Id say 90% of the people around here are for it, she said, noting that the plan provides an opportunity for the township rather than a developer to determine the future of an important site. We want the trees replaced, she said. Theres a reason this community is called Rancocas Woods. Matt Semola and his business partner Joseph Ventresca own seven of the 13 buildings in the village. They support the redevelopment plan. Weve been in the business for a long time and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesnt work, Semola said. What the town has planned will be an enhancement and really make the village a destination. An oasis for start-ups Michael Tull and Rebecca Fairchild are newcomers to the neighborhood and opened The Woods Ice Cream Shop two years ago. Being able to walk to work is especially sweet, they said. The community was behind us the moment we opened the doors, said Tull, who also designs clothing and offers some of it for sale in their shop. We have kids who ride here on their bikes, Fairchild said. Its beautiful under the trees and it creates a different feeling than other places. At Four Green Cats, the coffee and pastry shop she opened in 2019, owner Nadia Vasa bakes Bohemian doughnuts and German bread pudding like her grandmother made back home in the Czech Republic. My wife was looking for a location, and she really liked the area and the woodsy feel, said Mila Vasa, who manages the cafe. Weve been to meetings about the redevelopment plan, he said. What they are proposing is basically what the shops and the owners and the township all agree with as a community. Asked why the village has endured, Houser recalled visiting the Burlington Center Mall with her father shortly after it opened in 1982. I said, Theyre going to put us out of business, and he said, No, they wont. We have something they dont have: We have the trees. The Burlington Center mall closed in 2018. It has since been demolished to make way for warehouses and other development. Matthew J. Wilson, dean of Temple University's Japan campus, announces the university's new site in Kyoto at a press conference in Kyoto on Friday. Read more While many American universities are struggling with enrollment loss, Temple Universitys more than 40-year-old campus in Tokyo is growing, and not just in enrollment. The university has announced that it will open a second site in Japan in January, this one in the ancient city of Kyoto, known for its landscapes and architecture and recently ranked the best big city in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. In an educational environment where the news typically has been universities closing shop, even mergers, it really is a shining moment to have us be able to open another location here in Japan to a lot of fanfare, a lot of excitement, Matthew J. Wilson, dean, CEO, and president of Temple University Japan, said in a Zoom interview from Kyoto on Friday. READ MORE: The pandemic hasnt stopped these Temple students from studying abroad Advertisement It was an improbable proposition when Temple launched TUJ in 1982. At the time, the university was largely a commuter school with no major offered in Japanese or even an Asian studies curriculum, according to A History of Temple University Japan. The school did, however, run an intensive English language program and often enrolled students from Japan. Looking to make its mark in international education, the university took the advice of a local businessman who suggested the school could provide much-needed intensive English-language instruction in the country. It went on to become the first U.S. university to offer academic degrees in Japan and remains the only U.S. university there that offers full undergraduate and graduate programs, according to the book by Richard Joslyn and Bruce Stronach, two former TUJ deans. Surviving and thriving The campus early journey was at times tumultuous including initial reluctance from the government and the loss of hundreds of thousands in funds from one of its early partners and many U.S. colleges that have tried campuses there have since left, finding Japans intricate policies difficult to navigate and losing financial support after the real estate and stock market struggles of the 1990s. It wasnt until 2005 that the Japanese government recognized branch campuses of foreign universities, allowing them to sponsor student visas, Wilson said. READ MORE: Applications are up at Temple and other local colleges. A big bump comes from international students. But Temples campus has held on, and in recent years experienced a growth spurt, going from 1,000 undergraduates in 2016 to 2,240 now, much of that increase coming over the last few years. (Thats in contrast to a 9.2% decline in Temples overall enrollment over the last year to 30,530 students. Enrollment has fallen 22% since 2019.) Temple Japan was one of the earliest universities to reopen during the pandemic, which did not hit Japan as hard as it did some other countries, including the United States. That greatly raised the campus visibility, Wilson said. During the pandemic, we were the champion of opening Japan for the purpose of bringing students in, Wilson said. I was being quoted around the world. In addition, the university has launched an emerging leaders program and other new undergraduate programming, formed more relationships with local governments, and improved marketing. The university has earned high marks from the Japanese government. I applaud Temple University for its dedication to promoting global understanding, cross-cultural exchange, and a world-class education in English, Noriyuki Shikata, cabinet secretary for public affairs in the prime ministers office of Japan and a longtime observer of the Temple campus, said in an email to The Inquirer. Its worlds of difference The Tokyo campus, which occupies two buildings and rents a growing number of smaller spaces nearby, educates students from 70 countries, with about 36% from Japan and 34% from the U.S. Among them are about 200 study abroad students, roughly half of them from Temple and the rest from other U.S. universities. International business, communications and art are among its most popular majors. In addition, it enrolls about 250 graduate students in business, law and education, and 1,800 more non-degree seeking students, including some students from Japanese universities there for English-language instruction, Wilson said. Operating on a $35 million budget, the university is fully tuition-funded and does not draw from Temples main budget, Wilson said. In fact, the campus contributes about $2 million in management fees each year, he said. Undergraduate tuition runs $12,500, cheaper than Philadelphias main campus, where in-state students pay base tuition and fees of $18,947. Thats definitely a perk, says Soren Dickson, 21, a junior from San Antonio, Texas, who is TUJs student body president. Its also relatively crime-free, unlike the North Philadelphia neighborhood surrounding Temples main campus, which has struggled with safety issues in recent years. Its worlds of difference, said Dickson, who is working toward his bachelors in international affairs with a certificate in Japanese and hopes to pursue a career that furthers the U.S.-Japan relationship. But what attracted him most to Temple Japan was the opportunity to study abroad in a culture he knew little about. He found out about Temple through his older sister, a violinist who was attracted to its well-known music program. His twin sister attends Temples Philadelphia campus now. TUJ was the first school he ever attended when he arrived in fall 2022, since he had been homeschooled. He found a tight-knit community, with its small classes all in one main building. Professors care deeply about their students, he said. It was for the first time coming to a place where it felt like my difference [being homeschooled] was celebrated, Dickson said. That was a huge turning point. It changed my life. It has been everything I hoped for and more. For Toshimasa Hatori, 23, a native of Japan, TUJ offered an opportunity to get an international education while remaining in the country. Ive always wanted to study abroad, but with safety and financial concerns in the U.S., it was best to find [an] alternative ..., he said in an email. He got his international business studies degree there in 2022 and now works for a New York-based financial institution in Japan. A standing ovation for a marketing lecture Sheri Lambert, an associate professor of marketing who has worked at Temple for seven years, arrived at the campus a month ago to teach for the semester. She was struck by the energy, engagement and commitment of the students, traveling in some cases hours to get to her 8:30 a.m. introduction course on marketing. She has seen that same enthusiasm among some of her higher-level classes on Temples main campus, but not typically in introductory courses. After she taught her first three-hour, graduate student night class a few weeks ago delivering a lecture on consumer buyer behavior while struggling with jet lag students stood and gave her a standing ovation. Im sure I looked dumbfounded, said Lambert, who previously worked for a large global market research firm. I started clapping, too. I said, This is for you guys. You made the class. It made me feel so good about what Im doing. The taxi drivers didnt even know Wilson first visited the country as a teen doing missionary work for his church and fell in love with the family-oriented and respectful culture, he said. He married a Japanese woman and they eventually returned to the United States, where he completed his bachelors degree. With aspirations to become an international lawyer, he enrolled at Temple law school and spent some time on the Japan campus in 1997, later becoming a law professor, general counsel, and associate dean there from 2003 to 2009. After stints at several U.S. universities as professor, dean and president of two universities, the University of Akron and Missouri Western State University, Wilson returned to TUJ as dean, CEO and president in September 2020. He has sought to strengthen ties with the main campus, this year sending 30 students a semester from TUJ to study there, up from only a few in previous years, he said. Wilson sees more opportunities at the new site in Kyoto, the eighth-largest city in Japan and home to Nintendo. He anticipates an enrollment of 125 students to start, but there is room to grow to 700 or 800, he said. It may not be the last addition. Wilson said both Kobe, Japans sister city to Philadelphia, and Nagasaki also have expressed interest, Wilson said. When I flash back to being a student here in 97 the taxi drivers didnt even know at the nearby station what Temple was or where it was, he said. We couldnt even get Japanese universities to talk to us, let alone local governments. Now governments and city mayors are knocking on our door. Temple Universitys campus in Tokyo got its start in 1982, and remains one of two foreign campuses that the North Philadelphia-based university maintains, the other being Rome. Heres a look at the campus history as drawn from The History of Temple University Japan, a 2023 book written by Richard Joslyn and Bruce Stronach, two of its former deans. Joslyn was dean from 1996 to 2001 and Stronach from 2008 to 2020. READ MORE: With its 40-year-old Tokyo campus growing, Temple will open a new site in Japan How did Temple wind up with a campus in Tokyo? Japanese businessman Hirayasu Yamamoto, who connected students with colleges in the United States, many of whom attended Temples intensive English-language program, suggested that the university start an English-language program in Japan. The idea was to help prepare those students to attend college. How did the relationship with Yamamoto work out? He was alleged to have absconded with $300,000 of Temple tuition money, according to a letter from Kazuko Asai, Temples lawyer in Japan at the time, as reported in the book. It wasnt the only problem the university encountered with its partners there. The university had three partnerships with Japanese businessmen and politicians, all which ended in conflict. When did Temple start offering bachelors degree programs in Japan? Soon after its intensive English-language program started in 1982. By 1986, 13 students had received a bachelors there. How many deans has the campus had? Nine. Some served as little as a year, while the longest tenure was 12 years. Matthew J. Wilson, the current dean, has been on the job since September 2020. READ MORE: The pandemic hasnt stopped these Temple students from studying abroad Has Temple been the only American university to start a branch campus in Japan? No, but it was the first. There eventually were dozens, and in 1990, 21 of them formed an association. Eventually all but TUJ closed. The money to fund foreign universities in Japan dried up rapidly after the real estate and stock market collapses, according to the book. What has helped TUJ survive? Temple in 1995 took direct control of the campus rather than relying on local partners, which may have been the single most important decision in the schools history, according to the book. Also in 2005, the Japanese government began recognizing branch campuses of foreign universities, allowing them to sponsor student visas. Stronach also knew the country well, having previously served as president of a Japanese university. Wilson continued with that knowledge when he became dean, having previously served as an administrator on the campus and having spent time there as a Temple law student. What were some of the significant external challenges the campus endured? The Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and subsequent nuclear reactor complex meltdowns and COVID-19. How many degrees has the campus conferred? As of last year, the campus had conferred more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees. How many faculty from Temples main campus have gone there to teach on a temporary stint? More than 100. How many locations has the campus occupied? Six. They range from a poorly air-conditioned, nondescript office building, according to the book, to its current main six-story building that it rents from Showa Womens University. Temple announced that it is opening a second site in Japan in the ancient city of Kyoto in January. How many students are enrolled at TUJ? 2,240 undergraduates, about 36% from Japan and 34% from the U.S. Among them are about 200 study abroad students, roughly half of them from Temple and the rest from other U.S. universities. It also has about 250 graduate students in business, law and education, and another 1,800 non-degree seeking students, including some students from Japanese universities there for English-language instruction. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports. "Dear Ilham Heydarovich. I sincerely congratulate you on your landslide victory in the early presidential election in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The results of the voting is a clear evidence of the recognition of your services to Azerbaijan, the unequivocal support for the course you pursue to increase the welfare of the population and enhance the international reputation of the country. Your personal contribution to the improvement of great cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan can hardly be overestimated. I am sure that the comprehensive expansion of allied interaction meets the interests of our peoples and help strengthen the security in the South Caucasus and Caspian region. Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you new successes, as well as prosperity and progress to the Azerbaijani people", the letter says. The main bar at 9 Prime restaurant, inside the former First National Bank building in West Chester. Read more West Chester Borough is the Chester County seat, home to West Chester University, and one of the western suburbs busiest dining districts, with two dozen bar-restaurants in a just few blocks. While the downtown has destination restaurants such as Andiaro and Pietros Prime, it lacked a splashy steakhouse until this weeks opening of 9 Prime, a takeover of the long-empty, century-old First National Bank building on North High Street, across from the courthouse. It has 370 seats over two levels, including bars and lounges. Among the dining spaces is the vault, housing a 16-seat table beneath a chandelier. Opening soon will be a members-only, speakeasy-style bar and lounge in the basement with a card-entry off the alley and private parking. Come summer, 9 Prime will have a dining terrace with a retractable glass roof. Locals have been buzzing about the looks and the investment, which owner John OConnell acknowledges is well north of $10 million, including $4.8 million for the historically certified building, purchased in 2021. The restaurant is the culmination of a dream for OConnell, a real estate mogul and banker with deep ties to the borough. What he saw in town was a need for a luxe steakhouse with seafood. Advertisement Because 9 Prime has a bar, the dining room, and the lounges, our selling point is one where you can go in there and each time, it will be a different experience, OConnell said. Theres nothing like that in West Chester. There are quite a few Italian restaurants, and a few of them are pretty good, but I wanted to have something that was going to be unique, OConnell said, adding that he does not want to take business from other restaurants, but to add to business in the borough. Its an impressive sight from the front door, where a three-tier chandelier dominates. A sweeping staircase leads to the mezzanine bar, which extends over the street-level bar and lounge. The 9 Prime opening menu includes wagyu, Angus, and prime steaks (wet- and dry-aged), seafood towers, scratch-made pasta dishes, a $23 burger, lobster mashed potatoes (gluten-free!) and lobster mac and cheese, and burrata smoked tableside. Most non-steak entrees are in the $30s and $40s standard for todays high-end restaurants. Were an elegant place, but we dont want to be too expensive, said Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani, whose company operates 9 Prime. Local managers, such as executive chef Ryan Lloyd and general manager Jerome Jones, run the day to day. The bar list is stocked with premium spirits; cocktails start at $16. Charlie Walsh, the restaurants director, said the average check is about $100 a person. Walsh, also OConnells associate in Con.Wal Development, said they initially had planned to bring in a restaurateur to conceive and operate it, a usual business practice. Walsh said that although many restaurateurs toured the space, we just couldnt craft the deal where it would be beneficial for both sides of the table, he said. Call it a moment of frustration and elation at the same time where we just decided to do it ourselves. Neither Walsh nor OConnell had operated a restaurant, though years ago, OConnell had three Dairy Queens that he sold to nephews. A broker led them to Viviani, the Italian-born chef-restaurateur who appeared on Seasons 5 and 8 of the Bravo series Top Chef. Viviani said he and his Chicago-based company own and manage about 60 restaurants nationwide. (Locally, Viviani has had a hand in the multi-location Chuck Lager American Tavern and Colbies Southern Kissed Fried Chicken.) Our company has influenced some of the directions of the restaurant, but I would say that it is a very tight collaboration between the two entities, Viviani said. Walsh said they are taking the opening slowly, booking 180 to 200 seats a night less than half of capacity just so we can ensure the quality of service is going to be there. Eventually, Walsh hopes to serve 500 people a night. He said lunch could begin in 45 to 60 days. Formal opening is this week. The restaurant began limited seating several weeks ago, but only some people on a 10,000-name VIP list could cinch a table. Prime-time tables are sold out for at least a few weeks. OConnell said he has been pleased with the initial reaction. I had a feeling that it will really take off, he said. Rohinton Morris is the new chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Tower Health. Read more The chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Jefferson Health will leave the system for a position at the smaller Tower Health, citing frustration that Jefferson grew too large. Rohinton Morris, a heart surgeon who trained and worked in multiple Philadelphia hospitals, will lead cardiothoracic surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Tower beginning April 15. The nonprofit health system consists of three acute-care hospitals in the counties outside Philadelphia in Reading, Phoenixville, Pottstown and St. Christophers Hospital for Children in North Philadelphia. Jefferson included three hospitals when Morris became chief of the health systems heart surgery in 2015. In the eight years since, Jefferson Health has grown to include 18 hospitals in Philadelphia, the surrounding Pennsylvania counties, and South Jersey. The system will grow even more, to include 30 hospitals as far as north as Scranton, if the acquisition of Lehigh Valley Health Network goes through. Advertisement READ MORE: A timeline of Jeffersons acquisitions since 2015 The systems growth has made Morris feel he can no longer be as impactful as a leader. Jefferson has become such a huge enterprise now, that to make any change is like trying to move an ocean liner, he said. As the system has gotten larger and larger, my influence has gone gotten lesser and lesser. Some might see a move to a smaller network as a disadvantage, but Morris sees it as an opportunity, even if it may not be as prestigious as a university job. He thinks he will have more flexibility to shape the way cardiac care is provided at a smaller, nimbler health system. Jefferson did not respond to a request for comment. Shiny objects and losses Tower, like many health systems in the Philadelphia region, reported losses and low cash reserves last year. Morris said he discussed the systems finances with Tower leadership and they were honest about the systems challenges. He isnt worried about the ability to recruit physicians or expand services. If I can increase the volume, then there are not going to be any obstacles, he said. Some cardiothoracic surgery departments have zeroed in on complex robotic surgeries, which can be lucrative. Morris said he wants to focus on expanding access to basic cardiac care, rather than growing highly specialized services that benefit a small percentage of patients. The shiny objects are the things that get you noticed, Morris said. But health care is not about shiny objects. READ MORE: A Lankenau surgeon is a leader in robotic heart surgery. Why arent more following? Morris said he wants Towers cardiac-care program to focus on helping aging patients in Philadelphias suburbs manage chronic heart problems, for instance by expanding clinic hours. His goal is that patients who live near Tower hospitals can go there for cardiac care, instead of driving into Philadelphia. Morris is currently completing an online masters program in public health at George Washington University. The success story is when nobody leaves the area because they dont feel like they can get high-end care, Morris said. Anthony Paparo leaves a Yeadon Borough Council meeting in February 2022 after a 4-3 vote to fire him as police chief. A federal judge last week ruled that Paparo's claim of racial discrimination will go before a jury. Read more On Jan. 2, 2022, three newly elected members of the Yeadon Borough Council met with two of their colleagues to discuss the future of the towns police department. During the meeting, the new council members said they wanted to replace Police Chief Anthony Chachi Paparo, who is white, with a Black officer to better reflect the demographics of the predominantly Black Delaware County borough, court documents show. Those three and another council member continued to push for a change in the days that followed, and one even approached a Black officer in the department to gauge his interest in the job, according to depositions from government officials cited in court documents in a federal lawsuit later filed over the matter. Another council member sent a text message to a colleague asking whether she knew whether a particular Black Philadelphia police officer might be interested in the boroughs top law enforcement job, court documents show. Advertisement Paparo, 60, was fired on Feb. 17, 2022, in a 4-3 vote. He sued the borough and the four council members who voted against him, saying they improperly terminated him because of his race and later defamed him by criticizing his tenure in mailings to borough residents. Borough officials dispute that, insisting that the chiefs firing was not motivated by race. His replacement, Henry Giammarco Jr., is white. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson denied the boroughs request to dismiss Paparos lawsuit, setting the stage for an April jury trial on the issue, which drew unwelcomed attention to the town of 12,000 bordering Southwest Philadelphia. The council members who voted Paparo out Borough Council President Sharon Council-Harris; Vice President Learin Johnson; and council members Tomeka Jones-Waters and Carlette Brooks said their decision had nothing to do with race. They said they had concerns about his leadership, citing $387,000 the borough had to pay to settle a grievance filed by the Fraternal Order of Police alleging that the chief had improperly hired part-time officers in violation of the union contract. (Johnson is the only one still on the council; the three others have since left office.) A lawyer for the borough, Joseph Santarone, conceded in recent court filings that although some of the council members may have been motivated by race in their individual votes to terminate him, other factors influenced their votes. He cited concerns about the FOP grievance, as well as a personal dispute between Paparo and one council member. Santarone did not return a request for comment. Robert DiDomenicis, the lawyer for the council members, said he had no comment on the judges ruling. READ MORE: Why did two people die by suicide in Yeadon police custody? Their families want answers. Paparos lawyer, Harold Goodman, said in a recent interview that he was delighted to be at a stage where we can let a jury hear all the evidence. Let them determine the merits of the case, Goodman said. I think the trial will show that a tragedy occurred, and while it affected a human being and destroyed his reputation and integrity, its something thats impacted all of us in a variety of ways, certainly all of the people who live and work in Yeadon. As Paparo learned of the efforts to replace him, he rallied supporters to speak out on his behalf, drafting a petition that garnered more than 1,000 signatures. In his lawsuit, Paparo said he had a stellar reputation and performance record in his five years as Yeadons police chief. He said that the council gave him the choice to retire with three months salary or be fired, and that a hearing held days before his termination vote was a sham that didnt allow him or his lawyer to present a proper defense. Then, the borough council released a Fast Facts flier that listed 10 reasons for his firing. The bulletin was mailed to all borough residents and posted on the boroughs website. Among the reasons cited was the chiefs decision to hire 21 part-time officers to supplement the force during the height of COVID-19 and civil unrest in 2020 while several officers were undergoing training and unavailable to work. That decision led the FOP to file the grievance that resulted in the $387,000 settlement. Paparos lawyers said the flier was defamatory and has prevented him from getting another job. Council members said the flier was an important counter to Paparos public assertion that he was fired because of his race. The decision is expected to be in the hands of a jury this spring. A 29-year-old police officer has been charged with sexual assault and related offenses involving a student at Abington High School, where the officer was assigned, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said Tuesday. Jordan Jones, a full-time officer with the Abington Township Police Department, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with institutional sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors. Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy said in a statement that his department was notified Monday by the Abington School District administration that a student had made an allegation against Jones, who was assigned as school resource officer. Molloy said his department immediately notified the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office and county detectives began investigating. Advertisement According to the police criminal complaint, the student, now in 12th grade, said she met Jones during the 2022-23 school year. Last fall, Jones, of Horsham, allegedly asked the student if she would be interested in walking his pet dog and she agreed. The sexual activity allegedly began in November, the student said. On Monday, the student agreed to a phone call with Jones that was monitored by a county detective and Jones allegedly acknowledged the sexual activity. I trust you. I know you wouldnt try to get me arrested or anything, Jones allegedly said during the call. Abington Chief Molloy said Jones was stripped of his badge and gun and placed on administrative leave with the intent to dismiss. As your Chief, I cannot find the words to accurately convey the pain that this betrayal of trust has caused so many, not the least of which is our victim in this case, Molloy said. These allegations and the subsequent arrest of Jordan Jones are profoundly disturbing. Joness behavior has brought immeasurable discredit to our organization and our profession, especially since he was in a position of authority and was entrusted to protect our students, Molloy said. The Department remains committed to the strong partnership that we have enjoyed for decades with the Abington School District, and we will do everything in our power to regain the trust of the school community, Molloy said. Jones was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge John D. Kessler, who set bail at $50,000 unsecured, with the conditions of no contact with the victim or her family, no unsupervised contact with minors, and he may not to return to the school, the district attorney said. It looks as if there will be a competitive Democratic primary in a Northeast Philadelphia state House district this spring and the incumbent might not have the support of the party. State Rep. Kevin Boyle, who has represented the 172nd House District since 2011, filed paperwork to run for reelection Tuesday, days after House leaders Friday said he was seeking help following an outburst at a Montgomery County bar. Boyles altercation led Democrats who hold a one-seat majority in the state House to scramble to find another candidate ahead of Tuesdays deadline to file petitions to get on the ballot. Sean Dougherty, from the politically powerful Dougherty family, emerged over the weekend as a potential alternative candidate to help Democrats maintain control of that district. Dougherty, 30, is former labor leader John Johnny Doc Doughertys nephew and State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Doughertys son. He worked as a lawyer for the Defender Association of Philadelphia until he resigned Monday to run for the House. Advertisement The House Democratic Campaign Committee hosted a petition-signing event for Dougherty over the weekend, and Dougherty filed his petitions to enter the race on Tuesday. He did not respond to a request for comment. Boyle, 44, appeared in Harrisburg on Tuesday to file more than 800 nominating signatures to appear on the April primary ballot. The Northeast Philly Democrat has been open about his mental health struggles in recent years, but his latest drunken tirade during which he allegedly threatened to hit female employees and end this bar at Gaul & Co. Malt House last week in Rockledge led Democratic leaders to seek out another candidate in Dougherty. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) called the video of the outburst very troubling Friday and said Boyle was seeking help. While House Democratic leaders have not indicated who theyll support in the primary, Bradford released another statement Sunday that said we continue to encourage our colleague and dear friend to seek help. Its unclear what help, if any, Boyle received and he could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In recent months, Boyle has been noticeably absent from public appearances. He hasnt tweeted from his official account since September. He also missed several session days at the end of 2023, including three of nine session days in October and all three session days in November, according to attendance documents obtained through an open records request for attendance from January through November 2023. The younger brother to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, Kevin Boyle famously flipped the seat from Republican control at age 30 by beating Republican State Rep. John Perzel, a former House speaker who was involved in a corruption scandal at the time. Dougherty, for his part, was mentioned several times during his uncles second federal trial last year, at which John Dougherty was convicted of more than 60 counts, including conspiracy, embezzlement, and more. According to prosecutors, Sean Dougherty was one of several of Johnny Docs nieces and nephews who benefited from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. Prosecutors said the young Dougherty received union pay for weeks he spent down the Shore while he was a student at Chestnut Hill College. Two Republican candidates Aizaz Gill and Patrick Gushue have also filed petitions to appear on the April 23 primary ballot, according to the Department of State. The Northeast Philly district is what GOP members consider one of Philadelphias few attainable House seats, with about 59% of the districts registered as Democrats, 28% registered as Republicans and 13% who are independent. Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article. A member of Philadelphias politically powerful Dougherty family is making a run for a state House seat, to replace incumbent Democratic State Rep. Kevin Boyle. Sean Dougherty, son of State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and nephew of former labor leader John Johnny Doc Dougherty, is collecting petitions to run in the Democratic primary for the 172nd House District, a party official said. Boyle, 44, is seeking help, House Democratic Leader Matt Bradford said, after a Feb. 8 outburst at a Montgomery County bar circulated on social media and police were called to the scene for threats that he would hit female employees. Hes represented his Northeast Philadelphia district since 2011, when he first flipped the Northeast Philadelphia seat from Republican control by beating Republican State Rep. John M. Perzel, a former House speaker who was later sentenced to prison on corruption charges. Dougherty, 30, began collecting signatures on Saturday, according to an event posting by the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee. He could not be reached for comment, but resigned from his job with the Defender Association of Philadelphia on Monday, a spokesperson for the public defenders office said. Boyles under-the-influence tirade came at a challenging time for House Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the states lower chamber. Any candidate hoping to appear on the April 23 primary ballot in Pennsylvania must file the necessary petitions with voter signatures of support by 5 p.m. Tuesday, leaving candidates seeking to jump in at the last minute to replace Boyle only a few days to collect the necessary 300 signatures. It was not clear Monday whether Boyle, who has been open about his mental health struggles in recent years, would file his own petitions to seek another term. He could not be reached for comment Monday. Advertisement Two Republicans Aizaz Gill and Patrick Gushue are vying for the Republican nomination, in what GOP members consider one of Philadelphias few attainable House seats. About 59% of the districts registered voters there are Democrats, while 28% are registered Republicans and 13% are independent. Dougherty family ties Dougherty graduated from Temple Universitys Beasley School of Law in 2019 and completed a law clerkship under now-State Supreme Court Justice Dan McCaffery, according to his LinkedIn. He began working in the Defender Association in November 2020. His name was mentioned several times during his uncles second federal trial last year, at which Johnny Doc was convicted of more than 60 charges, including conspiracy, embezzlement, and more. According to prosecutors, Sean Dougherty was one of several of Johnny Docs nieces and nephews who benefited from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. Prosecutors said the young Dougherty received union pay for weeks he spent down the Shore while he was a student at Chestnut Hill College. Between August 2013 and August 2015, Sean Dougherty was paid $9,600 in wages for weeks investigators said he wasnt actually working. In a series of July 2016 text messages shown to jurors, the nephew asked his uncle if he could take a few days off for a beach vacation. Dougherty told him to just take the rest of the summer off a point John Doughertys attorney, Greg Pagano, later said was clearly sarcastic. But Sean Dougherty said he couldnt do that. Too many non-unions trying to come to Philly, he texted back. Somebodys got to stop them. Boyles history Boyle has a history of seeking mental health treatment. In 2021, he was arrested and charged with harassment after showing up at his ex-wifes house, violating a protection-from-abuse order shed filed against him. The charges were dropped and expunged from his record, according to court records. Boyle told his constituents in a 2022 letter that he had been experiencing psychosis at the time, which he said he believed was caused by an adverse reaction to the Adderall he was taking for ADHD. (There is some research that shows a relationship between psychosis and Adderall usage, but it is relatively rare.) Family and friends could tell that I was starting to act differently, that my mental health was in decline. But I couldnt see it myself. I lost touch with reality and suffered from paranoid delusions, the letter said. Boyle said in the letter his life was saved after his arrest and subsequent treatment at a mental health facility. I am very, very lucky. I now understand, in a personal way, that a mental health problem can develop in any person. In the incident last week, police were called to Gaul & Co. Malt House in Rockledge after Boyle allegedly threatened to hit the female staff and said hed end this bar. Prior to his outburst, Boyle had been circulating petitions to run for reelection. Staff writers Jeremy Roebuck and Oona Goodin-Smith contributed to this article. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. In response to yesterday's provocation by the Armenian armed forces, the units of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS) have carried out the "Revenge" operation, Trend reports, referring to the service. According to the information, the operation resulted in the entire destruction of an Armenian Armed Forces combat post near the Nerkin-And settlement in Gafan. The day before, this post was in charge of shooting on Azerbaijani army positions. "There have been reports of substantial personnel losses at the damaged combat position. Any provocations by the Armenian side aimed at escalating tensions along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border will now be met with even more serious and decisive reactions. The military-political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for these developments," said SBS statement. Its an honour to welcome Rosalie and Peter to the JAVLN leadership team as we focus on growing our presence in Australia and beyond, said Smith. They bring a wealth of experience that will enable us to continue our mission of being a technology enabler for insurance brokers, helping them become more productive, ensure compliance and make informed decisions. We are excited to be working with SiriusPoint on this new program. We will benefit from the financial security and market expertise of SiriusPoints underwriters, which will support Ryan Specialty Nordics ambitions to expand our current product offering to include renewable energy in Sweden and in the rest of the Nordics, Ryan Specialty Nordics director Jan Hallberg said. Dave Matcham, chief executive of the IUA, has been appointed as the chair of the council. Matcham expressed optimism about the GACs potential, while Bill Pieroni, president & CEO of ACORD, also underscored the critical role of ongoing data standard adoption for efficient and effective digital processes within the interconnected insurance ecosystem. Nobody who has seen the volatility in the California homeowners market will be surprised to hear that homeowners was the one line of coverage that saw large increases in both premium (20%) and transactions (26%) in 2023, McKay said. This was to be expected, given the decisions by numerous admitted carriers to stop writing new homeowners business in California. A driver charged in separate crashes that killed two people during a pop-up car rally in southern New Jersey has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison. Gerald White, 38, of New Castle, Delaware, pleaded guilty in December to aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault charges in the September 2022 deaths of Timothy Ogden, 34, of Clayton, and pedestrian Lindsay Weakland, 18, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The plea agreement called for a 25-year sentence, but Whites attorney sought a 15-year term during Thursdays sentencing hearing. Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Gibson, however, cited Whites extensive criminal history in imposing the full term. White, earlier listed as living in Pittsburgh, was fleeing another crash in Wildwood when he struck a car and two pedestrians. Authorities said his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. Officials say he is subject to the No Early Release Act on all counts and will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole. I pray every day, White said during sentencing. I wasnt out there trying to hurt people. Police across multiple communities struggled to control the chaotic situation. According to news reports, videos on social media showed modified vehicles revving engines and speeding off to cheers from crowds, and people hanging out of cars as drivers spun in circles, as well as burnouts, drifting and crashes. Participants say such events give enthusiasts a chance to gather and check out cars, but officials in New Jersey reported writing hundreds of tickets and summonses. Storefronts were damaged and traffic meters were downed. Other areas such as Ocean City, Maryland, have also reported problems during such events. The tragic deaths of Lindsay Weakland and Timothy Ogden are heartbreaking losses for their friends, loved ones and family that can never be overcome, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a statement. He warned anyone considering engaging in an illegal, unsanctioned car rally that such behavior would not be tolerated. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Personal Auto Officials in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said the government refused to negotiate with the hackers claiming responsibility for the cyberattack on January 21 that shut down computer systems and the county never paid any ransom to restore the systems. Instead, the county said it has relied on its own information technology and emergency communications departments cyber maintenance and their backup practices to restore the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) emergency communication system that was temporarily inoperable. The county also brought in some forensic and legal experts. Officials have indicated that the ransomware group Akira is likely to have been responsible for the attack. The forensic investigations by the county and its consultants have found no evidence that any data was copied or otherwise extracted from the CAD system. The CAD took the county two years to build, and when a cyberattack took it offline our team put the system back together in just nine days, said Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. Weve still got more rebuilding to do, but were immensely proud of the work our staff has done so far, and were incredibly thankful for the assistance of our partner agencies and cybersecurity vendors. Emergency dispatchers use of the CAD system resumed January 30. Dispatchers in the interim relied on backup systems to document and dispatch calls for service. At no point during the outage were the countys 911 call-taking abilities interrupted, according to the county. The county has also restored its connectivity to state and federal databases containing criminal justice information. The county commissioners at their regular meeting on February 7 approved expenditures for cybersecurity and legal experts. The commissioners approved up to $375,000 for a contract for cybersecurity and forensic services from CRA International Inc. of Boston; $197,925 for cyber security software from with CDW Government of Illinois; and a $1,000 hourly rate for data breach related legal services from DLA Piper LLP of Philadelphia. At the same meeting, the board also approved more than $2.1 million in payments to broker Aon Risk Services Central for 11 insurance policies, one of which was for cyber liability. The January incident remains under county, state and federal investigation. It was the second recent cyber incident at the Bucks County emergency department. The county reported another incident a month earlier on December 21, 2023, when it said the 911 system began experiencing technical issues at 10 a.m. By 12:15 p.m. the same day, the department said all service had been restored. Topics Cyber A New York teacher who staged a mock slavery auction of Black students in her fourth-grade classroom will pay $75,000 to settle claims on behalf of a 10-year old boy whose mother said he was emotionally damaged by being forced to participate in the lesson. The boys mother sued the teacher and the Watertown School District for their alleged violations of her sons civil, due process and equal protection rights. The suit claims her son was subjected to racial discrimination, racial harassment and a racially hostile educational environment because of the 2020 classroom incident. The principal and the school said they were unaware of what the teacher did until the boys mother brought it to their attention. The teacher retired soon thereafter. In 2021, Judge Gary L. Sharpe in the U.S. District Court for Northern New York dismissed all claims against the school and several of the claims against the teacher. He found the district had not itself committed any intentional, conscience-shocking or oppressive acts against the student nor had it condoned or sanctioned the teachers conduct. He ruled that the allegations against the school were insufficient to support valid claims. Last week the judge signed off on an agreement whereby the teacher will pay $75,000 to settle the remaining claim against her that she violated the states equal protection guarantee against discrimination toward individuals based on their race. According to the original complaint, the teacher selected the plaintiffs son and another African-American child to stand in front of the class and be slaves, while two Caucasian students acted as masters. Classmates were encouraged to yell out numbers to indicate how much they would pay for the slaves. The plaintiffs son said he went along for fear of getting in trouble. After the event, the boy was emotionally distraught, according to the complaint, and he said he was ashamed of being Black and asked if he could change his skin color. The complaint calls the teachers conduct egregious and shocking, especially in light of the students young ages. It further charged that the teachers method of teaching about slavery was clearly extreme and disproportionate to any pedagogical purpose and reflects racial malice, callousness, and deliberate indifference to the rights of the boy. The teacher sued the school district and its insurers for indemnification and defense but those claims were also dismissed. In 2020, the state attorney general investigated a similar incident at a Bronxville private school. Topics Lawsuits The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a New Jersey contractor for again exposing workers to fall hazards, this time while working at a construction site in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. OSHA said it has inspected Adrian Construction five times since 2016, and in each instance the agency cited the company for failure to provide workers with fall protection. OSHA has added the company to the Severe Violators Enforcement Program due to the serious nature of the fall violations. OSHA said it initiated an inspection of Adrian Construction Group in July 2023 under a local emphasis program for falls in construction. The agency issued six willful violations for lack of fall protection and failure to ensure the use of eye protection and four serious violations for unsafe scaffolds and failure to provide hard hats for overhead hazards. The company faces a proposed penalty of $1,017,248 for these violations. OSHA Assistant Secretary Doug Parker said Adrian Construction continues to show a blatant disregard for the safety of their employees, Placing them on the list of severe violators will intensify our scrutiny of their operations, Parker said. Adrian Construction Group is a residential carpentry and framing contractor with 20 employees under the ownership of Adrian Perea. The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent review commission. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 1,069 construction workers died on the job in 2022, with 395 of those fatalities related to falls from elevations. Exposure to fall hazards makes residential framing and roofing work among the deadliest jobs in construction. Source: OSHA Topics Workers' Compensation New Jersey Contractors BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. On February 13, Azerbaijani State Border Service (SBS) units conducted "Revenge," an operation destroying a combat post near the Nerkin-And settlement in the Gafan district. This action was in response to the provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces the previous day, said the press center of SBS, Trend reports. "Significant personnel losses were reported at the destroyed combat post," SBS said. A Massachusetts Superior Court judge has dismissed negligence, infliction of emotional distress and other claims against Harvard and the operators of its medical schools anatomical gift program by relatives of people whose donated bodies were allegedly abused, marketed and sold by the former morgue manager. The judge found that Harvard and the programs operators are protected from suit under a Massachusetts statute granting qualified immunity to those receiving bodies under anatomical gift programs. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Kenneth W. Salinger said that the allegations in the complaints do not plausibly suggest that Harvard and the program operators failed to act in good faith in receiving and handling the donated bodies, or that they are legally responsible for the former morgue managers alleged misconduct, as would be required to overcome the qualified immunity granted by the Massachusetts version of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). The former manager of the morgue, Cedric Lodge, has been charged in federal court in Pennsylvania with crimes for allegedly running a years-long scheme in which he marketed, stole, and sold body parts from human remains that had been donated for use in education or research. Harvard contends that Lodge stole parts of bodies that had been sent back to the morgue after their educational use was complete, and before the body was sent out for cremation or other final disposition. As part of this scheme, Lodge allegedly repeatedly brought unauthorized people into the morgue to view donated bodies and select parts that they wished to purchase. Lodge would cut out and take away the selected body parts, so that he and his wife could sell and sometimes ship them to customers. Prosecutors claim Lodge engaged in this scheme from at least 2018 until early 2023. Consolidated Cases Forty-seven family members and relatives brought 12 lawsuits that were consolidated in the Massachusetts court. All plaintiffs sued Harvard for negligence, including negligent infliction of emotional distress or negligent supervision. The various complaints also include claims against Harvard for wrongful interference with a corpse, vicariously liability for Lodges misconduct, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. Actions that name the employees allege that they were negligent, liable for breach of fiduciary duty, and liable for interference with a corpse. A plaintiff must prove that the statutory immunity provision does not apply because the defendant did not act in good faith. The UAGA provides that anyone who acts in accordance with the statute, or who attempts in good faith to do so, shall be immune from suit or prosecution. The judge noted that the UAGA was intended to encourage the making of anatomical gifts by eliminating uncertainty as to the legal liability of those authorizing and receiving them. The broad language of the immunity provision was considered essential if the medical profession is to be able to accept anatomical gifts freely and without fear of legal proceedings. In a case like Harvards concerning the donation of entire human bodies for use in education or research, the storage and ultimate disposal of the body when it will no longer be used for those purposes are also integral parts of the donation and receipt process that the UAGA authorizes and covers. Good Faith Under such a statute, a plaintiff suing bears the burden of proving that the statutory immunity provision does not apply because the defendant did not act in good faith. The judge noted that the insertion of the good faith clause means there is immunity if the defendants make a good faith attempt to comply with the UAGA, whether the attempt is successful or not. For an attempt to be in good faith, it must reflect an honest belief, the absence of malice, or the absence of a design to defraud or to seek an unconscionable advantage over another. According to the Superior Courts opinion, nothing alleged by the plaintiffs suggests that the defendants failed at any time to act in good faith. The complaints do not allege that Harvard employees were allowed to remove, keep, or sell human body parts, that any of the Harvard defendants knew what Lodge was doing, or that any of the Harvard defendants gave Lodge permission to do so. Even a showing of negligence would not demonstrate an absence of good faith. The plaintiffs allegation that Harvard should have known about Lodges ongoing scheme is insufficient because, if true, it would show only that Harvard was negligent, not that it failed to act in good faith. Beside the Point A key thrust of the plaintiffs arguments was that the nauseating misconduct allegedly undertaken by Lodge could not possibly constitute a good faith attempt to comply with the UAGA requirement that bodies donated for use in medical education, when no longer needed for that purpose, must be properly and respectfully interred or disposed of by burial or cremation. Plaintiffs point out that the UAGA immunity section in no way immunizes medical institutions for illegally displaying, dismembering, and selling parts of donated bodies, as Lodge has been charged with doing. Those arguments are correct, but beside the point, the judge countered. They are not relevant to the claims against the Harvard defendants because the facts alleged in the complaints do not plausibly suggest they engaged in any such conduct, or that they can be held liable based on Lodges conduct. The morgue managers wrongdoing was not within the scope of his employment and therefore may not be imputed to Harvard. The only way that the plaintiffs could use Lodges criminal conduct to overcome Harvards qualified immunity would be to show that Lodge was acting within the scope of his employment at the HMS. The allegations make clear, however, that Lodges wrongdoing was not within the scope of his employment and therefore may not be imputed to Harvard. To the contrary, Lodges horrifying scheme was allegedly undertaken for purely personal gain, and could not possibly have been of any benefit to Harvard or furthered the interests of Harvard in any way. Plaintiffs therefore may not rely upon Lodges alleged misconduct to defeat Harvards qualified immunity, the judge declared. May Seem Unfair The judge acknowledged that it may not seem fair that Harvard can avoid responsibility and liability in this case even if, as plaintiffs allege, it was negligent and as a result Lodge got away with stealing body parts for years. But the court must follow the clear command of the UAGA immunity provision. Like all statutes, this immunity provision implements a legislative policy judgment that the court must enforce without questioning whether it is wise, effective, or sound policy, Salinger wrote. The judge promised to quickly enter the judgment to allow the plaintiffs to appeal without delay and without waiting for the claims against other defendants, including Cedric Lodge, to be resolved. An attorney for the families, Kathryn Barnett with Morgan & Morgan, said in a statement to the media that the families were disappointed and do plan to appeal. These families have had to relive the trauma of losing their loved ones many times over, and we strongly believe that they deserve a day in court, she wrote. In related litigation, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. is seeking a declaratory judgment that it is not obligated to defend or indemnify Lodge under a homeowners policy. Topics Legislation Fraud Claims Massachusetts SiriusPoint Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, and Stockholm-based managing general underwriter Ryan Specialty Nordics AB, have announced a new strategic trading partnership. SiriusPoint will support Ryan Specialty Nordics as it offers insurance coverage for onshore windfarms, primarily in Sweden, and a package for small to medium-sized enterprises, which includes commercial property and legal liability. SiriusPoint will provide paper and will be the sole risk carrier for these insurance products. A subsidiary of Ryan Specialty, Ryan Specialty Nordics is a specialty MGU that writes business on behalf of various Lloyds of London syndicates, through Lloyds Insurance Co. SA, as well as company markets. Ryan Specialty Nordics access to business in the Nordics and European Economic Area (EEA) region is supported by an established local presence in Stockholm, a specialist underwriting team of 14, and a strong broker network across all Nordic and EEA countries. Products include management liability, financial institutions, public offerings of securities, professional liability, cyber liability, life science risks, renewable energy, transactional risks, construction, municipalities and public entities. Ryan Specialty Nordics niche underwriting expertise and local knowledge will strengthen SiriusPoints presence in the region. We are pleased to support this new program at a time of increased focus from the Swedish Government on renewables and a drive towards greater windfarm utilization, commented Rob Gibbs, president & CEO, SiriusPoint International. The deal also demonstrates a continuing diversification of our portfolio in Stockholm and aligns with our strategy to develop MGA partnerships based on risk appetite alignment and synergy with the companys underwriting expertise, vision and values, Gibbs said. We are looking forward to onboarding another new trading partner through SiriusPoint Internationals MGA Centre of Excellence, Gibbs added. The centre is key to our distribution growth plans, raising our international profile, and expanding our global footprint. It enables operational efficiencies and access to expertise across the companys global platform, allowing trading partners to benefit from our One SiriusPoint ethos. We are excited to be working with SiriusPoint on this new program, according to Jan Hallberg, director, Ryan Specialty Nordics. We will benefit from the financial security and market expertise of SiriusPoints underwriters, which will support Ryan Specialty Nordics ambitions to expand our current product offering to include renewable energy in Sweden and in the rest of the Nordics. Source: SiriusPoint Topics New Markets Insurance Wholesale Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of London-based The Wright Agency Ltd., doing business as Simply-Communicate Ltd. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Simply is a workplace communication agency providing consulting services and digital solutions to enhance clients employee experience. Founder Marc Wright and his team will remain in their current location under the direction of Ben Reynolds, global managing director of Gallaghers Communication Consulting practice. Simplys expertise in digital transformation and digital experience complements our existing capabilities in the employee communication space, and their culture aligns with our own, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman and CEO. I am very pleased to welcome Marc and his associates to our growing, global team. Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. operates in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher London Paramount Healthcare Consultants, LLC, which operates nursing care facilities across Texas and Louisiana, will pay $50,000 to settle a sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. The EEOCs suit was filed against both Paramount and MPD Operators Nazareth Hall, LLC, who jointly managed the Nazareth Living Care Center in El Paso, Texas. According to the lawsuit, the administrator at the El Paso facility sexually harassed a female housekeeping aide by subjecting her to repeated, unwelcome sexual comments and forcible kissing. The housekeeping aide reported the unwelcome touching to her male supervisor, who then elevated the sexual harassment complaint to human resources at the facility. However, in response to his complaint, management was dismissive and took no action. According to the lawsuit, the defendant failed to conduct a credible investigation of the complaint and the facility administrator was never disciplined. Further, the administrator and human resources managers retaliated against both employees after the harassment. Ultimately, both employees were forced to quit, the EEOC said. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, and retaliation for complaining about it. The EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 3:23-cv-00359 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. Under the three-year consent decree settling the suit, in addition to monetary relief for the victims, Paramount will revise its anti-harassment policy to provide an improved complaint and response procedure in its Texas facilities. Paramount will also provide training to educate Texas-based human resources staff and facility administrators about sexual harassment and the rights and responsibilities of employees and management alike. To ensure that all employees regardless of their English-language proficiency understand their rights, Paramount must also post and distribute a notice in both English and Spanish to all Texas-based employees. Source: EEOC Topics Lawsuits Texas HOUSTON (AP) A woman in a trenchcoat opened fire with a long gun Sunday inside celebrity pastor Joel Osteens megachurch in Texas, sending worshippers rushing to find safety while two off-duty officers confronted and killed the shooter. Two other people were shot and injured, including a 5-year-old boy who was in critical condition. The violence erupted shortly before the Houston churchs 2 p.m. Spanish service was set to begin, just as the rest of the country was preparing for the Super Bowl. The woman entered the enormous Lakewood Church a building with a 16,000-person capacity that was previously an arena for the NBAs Houston Rockets with the boy who was later hurt in the shootout with police. A man in his 50s was also wounded. Details of the confrontation remain unclear in the hours after the tragedy, and police have not released the womans identity or a possible motive. Its also unknown what relationship, if any, the woman had to the boy, and who actually shot him and the man. I will say this, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters during a news conference outside the church. That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. Im going to put that blame on her. The boy was in critical condition at a childrens hospital, while the man was stable at a different hospital with a hip wound. The shooting happened between services at the megachurch that is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Osteen said the violence could have been much worse if it had happened during the earlier, larger 11 a.m. service. Witnesses told reporters that they heard multiple gunshots. Christina Rodriguez, who was inside the church, told Houston television station KTRK that she started screaming, Theres a shooter, theres a shooter, and then she and others ran to the backside of a library inside the building, then stood in a stairway before they were told it was safe to leave. Longtime church member Alan Guity, whose family is from Honduras, said he was resting inside the churchs sanctuary before the Spanish service as his mother was working as an usher when he heard gunshots. Boom, boom, boom, boom and I yelled, Mom, he told The Associated Press. The 35-year-old ran to his mother and they both laid flat on the floor and prayed as the gunfire continued. They remained there for about five minutes until someone told them it was safe to evacuate. Outside, Guity said, he and his mother tried to calm people down by worshiping and singing in Spanish, Move in me, move in me. Touch my mind and my heart. Move within me Holy Spirit. Despite the chaos, Finner said the tragedy could have been a lot worse if the two officers had not engaged the woman when she opened fire. They had been working security at the church on Sunday, and Finner praised them for their quick actions. The officers work for the Houston Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, respectively. Both have been placed on protocol-mandated administrative duty. After she was shot, the woman told police that she had a bomb, but authorities said no explosives were found when her vehicle and backpack were searched. First responders continued to search the megachurch for hours afterwards. Osteen said Sunday that his congregation is devastated. He added that he would pray for the victims and for the woman who did the shooting and their families. It was not clear where he was at the time of the shooting. Were going to stay strong and were going to continue to, to move forward, he said during the news conference with police. There are forces of evil, but the forces that are for us the forces of God are stronger than that. So were going to keep going strong and just, you know, doing what Gods called us to do: lift people up and give hope to the world. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement saying our hearts are with those impacted by todays tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred. The church has grown tremendously over the past 25 years since Joel Osteen took over after his fathers death in 1999 and introduced an upbeat style of Christian televangelism that has captured a following of millions. His televised sermons reach about 100 countries. The elder Osteen founded the church in a converted feed store in 1959. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) A companys plan to mine minerals near the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and its federally protected wildlife refuge neared final approval Friday as Georgia regulators released draft permits for the project, which opponents say could irreparably harm a natural treasure. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division said it will take public comments on the draft permits for 30 days before working up final versions to send to the agencys director for approval. Twin Pines Minerals of Birmingham, Alabama, has worked since 2019 to obtain government permits to mine titanium dioxide less than 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the southeastern boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the largest U.S. refuge east of the Mississippi River. Federal scientists have warned that mining near the Okefenokees bowl-like rim could damage the swamps ability to hold water. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2022 declared the proposed mine poses an unacceptable risk to the fragile ecosystem at the Georgia-Florida line. This is a dark day in Georgias history, said Josh Marks, an Atlanta environmental attorney and leader of the group Georgians for the Okefenokee. EPD may have signed a death warrant for the Okefenokee Swamp, our states greatest natural treasure. In documents released Friday, state regulators echoed past comments that their analysis shows the proposed 773-acre (312-hectare) mine wont significantly harm the Okefenokee or lower its water levels. EPDs models demonstrate that the mine should have a minimal impact on the Okefenokee refuge, the agency said, even during drought periods. Twin Pines President Steve Ingle applauded regulators decision to move forward after what he called a thorough evaluation of our application. Ingle has insisted for years that his company can mine without hurting the Okefenokee. We expect stringent government oversight of our mining-to-reclamation project, which will be fully protective of the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and the regions environment, Ingle said in a statement. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge covers nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) in southeast Georgia and is home to alligators, bald eagles and other protected species. The swamps wildlife, cypress forests and flooded prairies draw roughly 600,000 visitors each year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge. In February 2019, the Fish and Wildlife Service wrote that the proposed mine could pose substantial risks to the swamp, including its ability to hold water. Some impacts, it said, may not be able to be reversed, repaired, or mitigated for. C. Rhett Jackson, a hydrology professor at the University of Georgia, warned state regulators in a written analysis that the mining pits planned by Twin Pines would siphon off enough groundwater to triple the frequency and duration of severe droughts in the swamps southeast corner. Georgia regulators have an outsized role in deciding whether to approve the mine because the U.S. government, which normally considers environmental permits in tandem with state agencies, relinquished oversight of the Twin Pines project. The Army Corps of Engineers was reviewing a federal permit for Twin Pines when the agency declared in 2020 that it no longer had jurisdiction authority because of regulatory rollbacks under then-President Donald Trump. Despite efforts by President Joe Biden to restore federal oversight, the Army Corps entered a legal agreement with Twin Pines to maintain its hands-off position. The mining project is moving forward as the National Park Service seeks designation of the Okefenokee wildlife refuge as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Conservation groups say the rare distinction would boost the Okefenokees profile as one of the worlds last intact blackwater swamps and home to more than 400 animal species. The draft permits were released barely two weeks after Twin Pines agreed to pay a $20,000 fine ordered by Georgia regulators, who said the company violated state laws while collecting soil samples for its permit application. Twin Pines denied wrongdoing, but said it agreed to the fine to avoid further permitting delays. It is inconceivable to anyone who actually values Georgias environment to claim that this mine will not harm the critically important wetlands and wildlife of the Okefenokee ecosystem, Ben Prater, southeast director for the group Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement. He added: EPD has one job. It must deny the permits. Some House lawmakers In the Georgia legislature are again pushing a bill that would ban future mining outside the Okefenokee. The proposal got a hearing last year, but has stalled in a House committee. While the measure wouldnt stop Twin Pines from obtaining permits already pending, it would prohibit expansion of the companys mining operation if it became law. Photo: The remote Red Trail wilderness water trail of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, in 2022. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Georgia A man whose familys gender reveal photo shoot sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter in 2020 has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors said. The El Dorado Fire erupted on Sept. 5, 2020, when Refugio Jimenez Jr. and Angelina Jimenez and their young children staged a photo shoot for their baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, authorities said. Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. Charles Morton, the 39-year-old leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on Sept. 17, 2020, when flames overran a remote area where firefighters were cutting fire breaks. Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, mostly with the U.S. Forest Service. On Friday, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Refugio Jimenez Jr. had pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He will be taken into custody on Feb. 23 to serve a year in jail. His sentence also includes two years of felony probation and 200 hours of community service. Angelina Jimenez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to property of another. She was sentenced to a year of summary probation and 400 hours of community service. The couple was also ordered to pay $1,789,972 in restitution. Resolving the case was never going to be a win, District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a news release, offering his condolences to Mortons family. To the victims who lost so much, including their homes with valuables and memories, we understand those are intangibles can never be replaced. The U.S. Forest Service in September on the third anniversary of the ignition of the fire filed a lawsuit against the pyrotechnic devices manufacturers, distributors and sellers, as well as the couple. The lawsuit alleges that the Smoke Bombs used were illegal in California and known to be defective. Mike Scafiddi, the lawyer for Refugio Jimenez Jr., said the couple has wanted to speak publicly about the fire, its impact on the community and Mortons death but cannot because of the ongoing federal litigation. They have been praying for Mr. Morton and his family every night since his death, Scafiddi told The Associated Press on Sunday. It has touched them profoundly. The lawyer said his client had researched and tested the pyrotechnic device before setting it off that day, finding no problems online or during his test. It was unforeseeable in all minds, he said. Scafiddi said the couple had not, contrary to whats been said publicly for years, hosted a gender-reveal party. He said it was a photo shoot to discover the babys gender with the couple, a few relatives and their children. To infer that it was a gathering of multiple people with food and celebration is simply incorrect, he said. This was simply taking photographs in what was a beautiful backdrop. An attorney for Angelina Jimenez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. The blaze injured 13 other people and forced the evacuations of hundreds of residents in small communities in the San Bernardino National Forest area. It destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings. Flames blackened nearly 36 square miles of land in San Bernardino and Riverside counties before the blaze was contained on Nov. 16, 2020. The fire was one of thousands during a record-breaking wildfire season in California that charred more than 4% of the state while destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people. Extremely dry conditions and heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire A Nevada jury awarded about $130 million in damages in a lawsuit filed by five people who suffered liver damage after drinking bottled water marketed by a Las Vegas-based company before the product was recalled from store shelves in 2021. The Clark County District Court jury awarded more than $30 million in compensatory damages to the plaintiffs including Myles Hunwardsen, a Henderson man who underwent a liver transplant at age 29. The jury levied another $100 million in punitive damages. The verdict reached Tuesday was the second large-sum award in a negligence and product liability case involving AffinityLifestyles.com Inc. and its Real Water brand, which was sold in distinctive boxy blue bottles as premium treated alkalized drinking water with healthy detoxifying properties. In October, a state court jury awarded more than $228 million in damages to several plaintiffs including relatives of a 69-year-old woman who died and a 7-month-old boy who was hospitalized. Both were diagnosed with severe liver failure. We want to send a message to food and beverage manufacturers that they should be committed to quality assurance, Will Kemp, a lawyer who represented plaintiffs in both trials, said. Kemp said several more negligence and product liability cases are pending against the company, including one scheduled to begin in May stemming from liver damage diagnoses of six children who ranged in age from 7 months to 11 years old at the time. Affinitylifestyles.com was headed by Brent Jones, who served as a Republican state Assembly member from 2016 to 2018. Kemp said Jones has declared bankruptcy and moved out of the state. Other defendants in the case reached confidential settlements before trial, including Whole Foods Market and Costco Wholesale, which sold the water, and testing meter companies Hanna Instruments and Milwaukee Instruments. Terrible Herbst, a convenience store chain, reached a settlement during the trial. At trial, jurors were told that tests found Real Water contained hydrazine, a chemical used in rocket fuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling. Real Water attorney Joel Odou argued that the company was unintentionally negligent, not reckless, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. He said the company didnt know hydrazine was in the water and didnt know to test for it. The water the company used was from the Las Vegas-area public supply, which mainly comes from the Lake Mead reservoir behind Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The Southern Nevada Water Authority, the regions main public supplier, monitors and tests for 166 different possible contaminants, spokesman Bronson Mack said Thursday. Hydrazine is not among them. Mack noted that the water authority was not a defendant in the lawsuits and said the areas municipal water supply meets or surpasses all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Real Water was sold for at least eight years, primarily in Central and Southern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Utah. It was also promoted on social media and sold online. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Las Vegas-based Clark County Health District issued public warnings beginning in March 2021 not to drink or use the product, and ordered it pulled from store shelves. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Nevada WOODBRIDGE, N.J., February 13, 2024 NIP Group, the leading specialty insurance provider with over 35 years of experience, announces the launch of its latest industry-specific insurance program, AlarmPro. Designed to meet the specialized needs of residential and commercial security and fire alarm service providers, AlarmPro offers a comprehensive and innovative approach to business insurance within the industry. With decades of experiencing protecting safety-focused organizations, NIP Groups AlarmPro provides comprehensive coverage and risk management services tailored to established operators. This program addresses the individual needs of: Residential Security Alarm Contractors: Trusted by millions of single-family homes nationwide, these operators have many years of industry experience, advanced safety measures, and specialize in installing, maintaining, and monitoring alarm and surveillance equipment. Commercial Security and Fire Alarm Contractors: These experienced operators serving retail stores, offices, and manufacturing facilities have longstanding safety records and a commitment to rigorous safety management and training. This includes fire alarm service providers and those operators who have delegated their monitoring to a certified Central Station. AlarmPro will initially serve companies in select states, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York (outside of 5 boroughs), and Pennsylvania. A key differentiator for AlarmPro is its comprehensive package coverages, including: General Liability, Errors & Omissions, Auto, Workers Compensation, Umbrella / Excess, Property, Inland Marine, Equipment Breakdown, EPLI, and Cyber Security insurance. Eligible Class Codes include: 91127 Alarms and alarm systemsinstallation, servicing or repair 91130 Alarmssecurity systemsmonitoring 91551 Communication Equipment Installationindustrial or commercial (includes residential) 98111 Office Machines or Appliancesinstallation, inspection, adjustment or repair 99650 Television or Radio Receiving Set Installation or Repair We encourage insurance brokers and experienced service providers to explore how AlarmPro can enhance the safety and growth prospects of the security and fire alarm service industry. For additional details on the AlarmPro program, please visit NIPGroup.com/AlarmPro or reach out to AlarmPro Business Development lead, Shayne Malone, at shmalone@nipgroup.com. About NIP Group NIP Group is the leading specialty insurance provider, offering comprehensive package solutions and monoline insurance products for 25+ industries and 50+ classes. For more than 35 years, weve proudly partnered with best-in-class, A+ XV rated carriers and a trusted, national network of insurance brokers, working together to protect safety-focused organizations from coast to coast. Learn more at NIPGroup.com. VANCOUVER, BC - February 13, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) is pleased to provide an update on the metallurgical work programs, undertaken by SGS Canada Inc. (SGS) and the ongoing Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) work by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) and Hatch Limited (Hatch), for its wholly-owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project located in British Columbia, Canada. Highlights of Metallurgical Test Work and PFS-related Matters The metallurgical test work required for the PFS has been completed. Multiple bench-scale flotation and flotation pilot plant test work resulted in the production of a high-grade mineral concentrate containing 50% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) with an 80% recovery rate, which will be included in the PFS for the first 8 years of mine-life. Bench-scale and hydrometallurgical pilot plant test work shows that the planned acid bake process will deliver approximately 90% TREO extraction from the mineral concentrate to a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate product. The PFS plant flowsheets are completed, based on the metallurgical test work, and equipment specifications have been issued to vendors for cost quotations. The field-based geotechnical, geochemical and environmental test work required for the PFS has been completed and lab-based studies are in progress. Other PFS tasks, including open pit mine design and tailings storage trade-off studies, are well advanced. Economic evaluation and cashflow modelling are in progress. PFS report completion in the second quarter of 2024 is on schedule. Eleven mixed rare earth precipitate samples from the hydrometallurgical test work have been sent to potential partners, processors or end-users. Over the past 5 years, Defense Metals drilled 58 core holes totalling 12,073 metres (m; ~39,610 feet) to define the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit and provide samples for metallurgical test work. This work resulted in measured and indicated (M+I) resources of 34.2 million tonnes, averaging 2.02% TREO1, inclusive of 17.8 million tonnes of high-grade dolomite carbonatite averaging 2.92% TREO, in addition to inferred resources of 11.1 million tonnes, averaging 1.02% TREO. This represents a 260% increase over the Defense Metals initial 2019 mineral resource estimate, and a conversion to M+I of 101% of the prior 2021 mineral resource estimate. Total expenditures on the Wicheeda REE Project since 2019, including costs for mineral resource estimate definition, all metallurgical test work, earlier studies and the remaining PFS-related costs are in excess of CAD $17.5 million. Defense Metals has entered into a strategic Co-Design Agreement with the McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB), the First Nations community having the traditional territory on which the Wicheeda Project sits. ____________________________________ 1 TREO % is the sum of CeO 2 , La 2 O 3 , Nd 2 O 3 , Pr 6 O 11 , Sm 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , Tb 4 O 7 , Dy 2 O 3 and Ho 2 O 3 percentages. Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "Continuing positive results from our technical studies suggest that our wholly-owned Wicheeda REE Project has the potential to become the next producer of rare earth elements in North America accounting for a significant amount of the rare earths needed for the western world's future magnet metal production. We look forward to completing and filing the PFS for the Wicheeda REE Project in Q2-2024 and, subject to financing, moving directly into our feasibility study." Metallurgical Test Work Extensive comminution, beneficiation, hydrometallurgical, and environmental tests have been completed and the resulting data have been applied in the PFS. These tests have studied development and optimization of milling and hydrometallurgical processes and the response of twenty-one variability samples representing different REE grades, lithologies and locations within the deposit. From 2018 to date, about CAD$5 million has been spent on metallurgical test work and the development of the metallurgical flowsheets for the Wicheeda REE Project. Thirty-one samples of deposit material, flotation and hydrometallurgical products have been subjected to detailed mineralogical examination. Twenty-one samples have been subjected to Bond milling index and SMC comminution tests. 210 open circuit flotation tests and seven locked cycle flotation tests, of samples ranging from 1 to 12 kilograms ( kg ), and a 26-tonne pilot flotation operation have been completed. Sixty-three static acid bake tests, sixteen short-duration acid bake kiln runs with associated water leach tests were completed. Additionally, SGS completed a total of 15 days of continuous kiln operation (in one 5-day and one 10-day segment) as part of a fully integrated hydrometallurgical pilot plant operation that processed 560 kg of flotation concentrate. Approximately 40 bench-scale impurity removal tests were done as well as about 40 rare earth precipitation tests and results incorporated in the integrated hydrometallurgical pilot plant operation and the project process design criteria. Many other small-scale tests examined water recycle options and other aspects of the metallurgical flowsheets. The liquid-solid separation characteristics of the flotation plant products and those of the hydrometallurgical plant have been determined through appropriate thickening and filtration tests. Technical Report for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, British Columbia, Canada, dated October 27, 2023, with an effective date of August 28, 2023, and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. is filed under Defense Metals Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) and on the Company's website at www.defensemetals.com. PFS Plant Design Results from the metallurgical test work have been used to develop flowsheets for the planned comminution, beneficiation and hydrometallurgical plants. These flowsheets have been completed, reviewed and used to generate major equipment specifications for grinding mills, kilns, etc., which have been issued to equipment suppliers for quotes. The metallurgical process design, engineering and costing is on track to allow completion of the PFS in Q2 of 2024. Optimization of Open Pit Mining Geotechnical investigation work for the mine design and pit optimization was performed by SRK and completed in December 2023. This work included sixteen geotechnical drill holes totaling 225.5 m, and twenty excavated overburden geotechnical test pits. Within the Wicheeda REE deposit pit shell, six diamond drill holes totaling 1,182 m were completed, inclusive of 4 open pit geotechnical drill holes totaling 920 m, and in-pit exploration holes totaling 262 m. Pit design work is underway, incorporating the latest geotechnical information provided from the 2023 geotechnical drilling program. Community Engagement Defense Metals entered into a Co-Design Agreement with the McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB) (see news release dated January 17, 2024), thus solidifying a joint commitment to the successful advancement of the Wicheeda REE Project. The Co-Design Agreement emphasizes a joint planning approach, empowering MLIB to play an integral part in the design and decision-making process in the technical, social, engineering and environmental aspects of the Wicheeda REE Project. This agreement expands upon the Mineral Exploration Agreement Memorandum of Understanding previously entered into with MLIB. The McLeod Lake Indian Band purchased an equity stake in Defense Metals, signalling their long-term commitment to the success of the Wicheeda REE Project. Infrastructure and Tailings Management Studies Tradeoff studies are being performed on the various options being considered for tailings management and infrastructure locations are being determined. The Wicheeda REE Project has excellent infrastructure and logistics, which are expected to allow for lower operating and capital costs, including: The future mine site and beneficiation plant will be located: along a permitted Forest Service Road approximately 38 km east from the paved John Hart Provincial Highway at the community of Bear Lake. ~37 km from the Canadian National Railway mainline. ~36 km from the main natural gas distribution pipeline.. ~34 km from high-voltage powerlines that supply BC with abundant green hydroelectric power. ~ 110 km from an international airport in Prince George British Columbia has a long history of mining and its industry participants are recognized worldwide as expert in open pit mining and mineral processing. Prince George is a major industrial center supplying both the mining and wood products industries. Most of the equipment that will be required for the mining operation will be supplied by companies already established in the area. Multiple options exist for location of the hydrometallurgical plant site close to reagent supply. Easy access to the year-round port of Prince Rupert, the closest North American port to Asian markets. Environmental Test Work and Field Studies Environmental and geochemical test work has been performed on both flotation and hydrometallurgical plant products and mixtures thereof. Data have been used by SRK in the design of facilities. Surface water sampling and field investigations commenced in 2022 and will continue through 2024. The results of these and future environmental investigations will be used to inform siting, design, and mitigation planning as well as to prepare technical data reports to support Environmental Assessment and permitting processes. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information concerning metallurgy and processing contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Project has been reviewed and approved by J.R. Goode, P.Eng., a metallurgical consultant to the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. This news release has also been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), a technical consultant to the Company, a Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda REE Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada. The Wicheeda REE Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads and is close to infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia. Defense Metals Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DEFN", in the United States, trading symbol "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D" Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca . For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact: Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd. Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: (778) 994 8072 Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information or Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to completion of the PFS and the expected timelines, the completion of additional work and studies and the expected timelines, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, completing the PFS and progressing towards a feasibility study, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com). While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical, engineering and pricing assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, officers or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) is a featured mining stock on Investorideas.com More info on DEFN at Investorideas.com Visit: https://www.investorideas.com/CO/DEFN/ Get news alerts on this company! 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. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure this DEFN news is a paid featured annual mining stock on investorideas.com - learn more about costs and services https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp About Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/About/ Sign up for free stock news alerts at Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/Resources/Newsletter.asp BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The Chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs Rovshan Rzayev conducted another reception for citizens, a source in the committee told Trend. The citizens' appeals primarily focused on housing and household issues, employment, returning to the territories liberated from occupation, and other matters. Moreover, the citizens' appeals and the issues raised by them will be reviewed and resolved in accordance with the legislation. After the conclusion of the personal reception of citizens, the chairman of the committee met with a group of residents from Karkijahan settlement near Khankendi city. He provided detailed information to the meeting participants about the progress made in fulfilling the tasks set by the head of state regarding the restoration of liberated territories and the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands. It was noted that this year, the first group of DPs will be resettled in Karkijahan. Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands. Up to now, former IDPs have returned to Fuzuli and Lachin cities, the villages of Aghali (Zangilan district), Talish (Aghdara district), and Zabukh (Lachin district). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Britain is not building enough homes and the shortage is about to get even worse. That is based on calculations by Bloomberg News of government population data and homebuilding targets from the biggest political parties, which suggests a shortfall of almost 100,000 homes a year over the next parliament when including pent-up demand from years of missed targets. As it is in Ireland, housing is a key battleground for politicians as the country readies for Westminster elections expected later this year. A prelude of which comes with two by-elections on Thursday, where a lack of affordable housing has come into sharp relief. More than four years ago, the ruling Conservative Party pledged to build 300,000 new homes a year, a target they fell short of every year after, before making it advisory in 2022. The Labour Party, which is leading in the polls, effectively matched the objective by promising in October to build 1.5 million homes over five years, should it get into power. But Britain will need to build almost 400,000 dwellings annually over the next five years to factor in stronger population growth almost all of which will come from immigration as well as the homes that would have been built had targets since 2019 been met, according to calculations by Bloomberg News. The trouble is, the number of new homes being built is not even close to the targets. An average of about 200,000 were completed each year in the UK between 2018 and 2022, according to government-compiled data. Even more, the pipeline is being choked after a decade of budget cuts left local authorities without the resources to approve enough new homes in a timely fashion, Bloomberg News reported previously. About 1,500 new private residential projects went under construction in the UK last year, the lowest in at least a decade and about 50% lower than approvals in 2018, according to data compiled exclusively for Bloomberg by researcher Glenigan. During the first week of December, temperatures in the market town of Wellingborough, central England, dropped close to freezing. A man who was reportedly homeless died after sleeping rough in the towns park. Wellingboroughs only homeless shelter was shut down during the pandemic, meaning the closest facility is now a 30-minute bus journey away. The town was in shock at the death, but there was also a feeling of deja vu, said Mayor of Wellingborough Valerie Anslow, a Labour Party councillor, who ran the towns former homeless shelter. Weve got more and more people in temporary accommodation, which is consequence of a lack of affordable housing. A by-election for Wellingborough, where the Tories have a margin of more than 18,000 votes, should ordinarily be an easy hold for the party, but Labour has achieved a string of victories in other recent by-elections, partly driven by a series of pledges to stoke housebuilding. Ireland needs at least 35,000 new public and private homes and as many as 40,000 new units to be built over many years to make up for the shortage of houses that were not built for one reason or another over the last decade, many economists have forecast. In a major report last month, the Economic and Social Research Institute said new data on population growth showed more homes than previously projected by the Government would likely be required to 2030 to meet demand. Government officials have drawn up lists of shortages of construction trades for housebuilding that will need to be addressed if Ireland is to meet any new revised targets. Business groups have identified housing and the high costs of rents as a major competitiveness issue for Irish business. Bloomberg. Additional reporting Irish Examiner Waterford Chamber has called on local companies to "go green" for St Patrick's Day, urging business owners to support this year's festival in any way they can. The Chamber said Waterford was specifically chosen as "one of the most viable locations" for a St. Patrick's Day Festival given its historical links between the county and the holiday. Festival organisers have thus called upon Waterford's commercial, retail and hospitality sectors to get behind the celebrations. Businesses have been asked to consider several ways to get involved in the festivities, including decorating shop fronts and going green for the occasion. Local companies have also been asked to programme events for the festival, along with calls to team up with community groups for parade float entries. Enterprises can also undertake promotions through individual business channels, with businesses being urged to "make every effort" to advertise St Patrick's Festival Waterford. "As we say goodbye to another successful Winterval we begin to look forward to our next major festival which, after 7th March tricolour events, is the Waterford St Patricks Day Festival 2024," said organiser, Johnny Codd. "The festival organisers have sought feedback from both general public and visitors alike and we would also like to engage with the commercial, retail and hospitality sector." "We recognise the many challenges that businesses face in the current climate and whilst many of those issues lie beyond the control of the festival organisers we still feel that by way of collaboration, there will be benefits to all parties." Mr Codd also called on local businesses to come forward with any ideas for the four-day long event. The Waterford St Patrick's Day Festival will return for four days from March 15th-18th. Coming up for public auction on Thursday, March 21, is a 32-acre land parcel near the village of Croom in County Limerick. With its quality and location, it should attract plenty of strong interest. The sale will be conducted both online (through lslauctions.com) and in the Limerick City offices of the selling agents GVM Auctioneers. Croom is a thriving village within commuting distance of Limerick City and which has been bypassed for some years. The proximity of these lands to Croom give it an added dimension of potential for building a home on it. According to the selling agent Tom Crosse, this holding is renowned as prime fattening land, laid out in easily managed units and well fenced. This is top class agricultural land, says Tom. Its within a kilometre or so of Croom, so its very convenient. It has good road frontage at its northern end and theres also a separate passageway access point into it. The motorway is also close by, giving direct access to Limerick (a 20-minute drive away) and Dublin. Theres been a very good response so far, says Tom. And given the strong location, there should be interest from people looking to build a house on it too. In advance of the auction, the agents are quoting a guide of 450,000. At 14,000/acre, it seems to err on the side of caution. Whatever the outcome, it will make for fascinating viewing to see how this property fares at public auction next month. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation board should be disbanded because of the changes it has made to the star ratings for beef breeds, a Kerry TD told the Dail. Independent Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, who made the call, said the star rating of suckler cow beef breeds had been rearranged. Four-and-five-star Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, and Belgian Blue breeds, which Irish farmers have bred to perfection over the past 40 years, had been downgraded, while Dexter and other dairy breeds were promoted to four and five stars. The same cow and bull that have a four or a five-star rated calf last year will only have a two or a three-star rated calf next year. That is the silly change that has been made. The bulls being elevated to the top of the replacement index will have a major negative impact on both the carcass weight and the weaning weight that farmers can produce. This, in turn, affects farm viability and the quality aesthetics of Irish beef farmers. These changes are a failure resulting from non-communication and a failure of governance, he said. Deputy Healy-Rae asked: Who recommended the changes? Who was consulted on the changes? Who verified the efficacy of the changes? Who approved the changes? Was the board aware of the severity of the changes before it made them?" He also urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to intervene because of the serious impact it would have on suckler beef farmers going forward. Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue said the work of the ICBF is massively important and is something he strongly supports through the Suckler Calf Scheme and the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). The investment made last year will see the national herd become the first in the world to be fully genotyped. All that data will be held by the ICBF on behalf of farmers, he said, explaining that the board is made up of stakeholders, including farm representatives. The star rating is based on emerging data that continues to be collected with the objective of making sure that farming is as profitable as it can be and that the animals that are being bred create the maximum income for farm families. Alongside that, I support them through the SCEP and the suckler calf schemes, which combined, deliver 200 per cow. That was a commitment I made before the last election. I am also adjusting that SCEP to ensure animals that might see a reduction in their star rating keep it for the duration of the programme so that there is no penalty on farmers in terms of being able to meet the star thresholds throughout the duration of the programme, he said. Minister McConalogue said he was aware of the issue raised, and we are working collectively to make sure farmers are supported in the process. IFA president Francie Gorman has meanwhile urged the ICBF stakeholder forum to address the genuine concerns that suckler farmers and pedigree breeders have with the recently published indices. We need to look at how the weightings and calculations are applied, and their impact on suckler breeding policy and SCEP, and changes will have to be made to ensure farmers have confidence in the indices, he said. Mr Gorman stressed that farmers participating in SCEP must not experience any negative impact from the changes. He said the Minister for Agriculture had stated there will be flexibilities and this is important to allow for a thorough examination of the indices in the stakeholder forum. Mr Gorman added that Mr McConalogue must keep all issues that arise for SCEP participants under review. IFA Livestock chair Declan Hanrahan said the star rating system is not working for suckler farmers on the ground and must be discontinued, with the emphasis being put on the Euro Value for the animals in the index. This would remove the cliff edge of dropping between star categories without, in some cases, any change to the animals euro value. In relation to suckler farmers who sell their weanlings, he said the current system is failing to reflect this production system. He said the indices must be developed to reflect the full value of the output from these farms. Weanling production is a different production system than integrated beef finishing systems, and there should be an index to reflect this. Turning to the new indices, Mr Hanrahan said the forum must scrutinise the purpose of the inclusion of all the current measures, their weighting within the index and the data source used for the economic modelling. He said genuine concerns have been raised around various areas. All of these will have to be assessed for the relevance and purpose for inclusion in an economic index for suckler cows and the accuracy of the data available. It is also important that Teagasc are fully engaged in this process given much of the changes in the indices are based on changes to economic values arising from Teagasc modelling. Mr Hanrahan said it is important this addresses the genuine concerns raised in a timely manner. Scottish Forestry has increased restrictions on moving spruce logs with bark to the island of Ireland from some of the west of Scotlands pest-free area. The restrictions are designed to reduce the risks posed by the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans. The island of Ireland has pest-free status for this very damaging beetle. Found in England and Wales since 1982 and in Scotland since 2011, it is now found in the south of and some central areas of Scotland, and is slowly spreading north. The beetle tunnels into the bark of living trees to lay its eggs. The larvae then feed and develop, forming galleries that weaken or kill parts of the tree. If it is not managed, the tree only has a 20% chance of survival. Frosts stop the beetle's reproduction cycle, but global warming is thought to have allowed multiple reproduction cycles, resulting in rapid European spread. It, therefore, poses a threat to the spruce trees which predominate in Irish forests. Growers fear this threat to nearly 200,000 ha of forestry, if D. micans becomes established here. They say it would reduce the commercial value of infected trees, and bring increased management and replanting costs. Irish forestry growers, represented by the IFA, have called for a temporary suspension of timber imports from Scotland, pending a full review of spruce bark beetle biosecurity measures. They say timber could also be de-barked and kiln-dried before import, to kill pests. It is not possible to eradicate the great spruce bark beetle, but effective biological control can be achieved by releasing the predatory beetle Rhizophagus grandis into areas of forest where the pest has been found. The West of Scotland also has D. micans pest-free status, and Scottish Forestry says its new restrictions will help to maintain that status, thus allowing trade to continue, including exports to Ireland. However, James Nott, Head of Tree Health at Scottish Forestry, said: "If the beetles continue to spread, the longer-term prospect is for the area of the west of Scotland pest-free area to reduce and ultimately close. That could end the trade of conifer roundwood with bark to Ireland. According to the Central Statistics Office, about 300,000 cubic metres of coniferous roundwood is imported annually into Ireland, predominantly from Scotland. In the meantime, spruce timber with bark moving under a phytosanitary certificate will only be allowed to travel within 35 km of great spruce bark beetle-infected areas between October 1 and March 31, which is outside of the flying season for D. micans. Nor can the timber be stored in the 35km buffer zone. According to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials, importers are prohibited from importing roundwood from areas known to be affected by quarantine bark beetle species. Roundwood logs from the pest-free area in Scotland must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate (which identifies the specific forest location where they were sourced). In Ireland, they are subject to an inspection of documentation, identity and plant health physical checks at the port. Inspectors use international standard sampling of log consignments. Any beetles found are identified; to date only beetles already present in Ireland, and not of quarantine significance, were found. In December, DAFM officials announced the first findings in Ireland of Pseudips mexicanus, known as the Monterey pine engraver, at Cratloe in Co Clare. However, this beetle is not thought to be a pest of economic significance for Ireland. Three ports are designated border control posts for roundwood log inspection, namely at Rushbrooke and Passage West in Co Cork, and Wicklow. This has been the case since Brexit. Previously, when Scotland was in the EU, logs could move freely from the pest-free area into Ireland, if accompanied by a plant passport. But now Scotland is treated as a third-country exporter and must show they comply with European plant health regulation requirements. Ireland imports and exports roundwood. Growers say import volumes could be reduced if a national certification scheme is set up. Sawmills need at least 70% certified timber, but only a small area is certified of the privately owned Irish forestry, from which an increasing volume of timber now comes. This forces sawmills to import certified timber at certain times of the year. In Ireland, the forests of Coillte and other corporate owners are certified. Irish timber growers have already been devastated by the ash dieback disease. IFA president Francie Gorman has now warned: "If the bark beetle gets in, nobody is going to plant trees". Planting trees is one of the most effective methods of tackling climate change, but only about a quarter of the annual target of 8,000ha of planting is currently being achieved IT WAS one of the most surreal moments of Georgina Elliss life when the Dublin mum held an exact replica of her son Brodys heart in her hands. Nobody ever expects to be able to hold their own childs heart in their hands. Its so unusual, amazing, and quite special, she says. Im sure Im one of the few parents in the world who got to do this. What Georgina was holding was a 3D-printed model of Brodys heart, created ahead of the eight-year-old having keyhole heart surgery last November. For Georgina, Brodys dad Wayne Ellis, and of course for the boy himself, it had been a long road up to this point. While pregnant, they had been told at the 20-week scan that their baby had a congenital heart defect. There had been no issues with Georginas pregnancy, she was perfectly fit and healthy, and neither she nor Wayne had any family history of heart disease. But they could see this anomaly in his heart. The cardiologist told us the left ventricle hadnt formed properly and that, without intervention in the first five days of his life, he wouldnt survive. It was awful, devastating and so scary. Recalling how from that moment she couldnt enjoy her pregnancy, Georgina nevertheless wanted to be pregnant forever because I knew what was going to happen when he was born. The couple had been warned that their baby could be quite blue and mightnt cry when he arrived, but in fact Brody was screaming like any other baby. That he was very pink and very loud, Georgina adds, a lovely moment. But the reality of his condition meant such moments were short-lived. I got enough time to hold him for a photo before he was taken to NICU (neonatal ICU). He was transferred to Crumlin when he was three hours old. Brody Ellis with 3D image of his heart in 2023. At three days old, in a six-hour procedure, he underwent open heart surgery. We were very worried and scared, Georgina recalls, adding that the operation was a success. But we knew hed need another two surgeries further on. Arriving home six weeks post-surgery, Brody was mostly well though with some feeding issues. He had his second heart surgery when he was six months old. He was OK for a week afterwards, but then he went downhill. He ended up with massive heart failure. They told us hed more than likely need a heart transplant. We went through all the stages of [preparedness] to be on the transplant list, but [medics] wanted to see how he would do with his own heart. He was in hospital for three months, but gradually improved. At five years old, Brody was quite well at this stage. However, he was becoming breathless and had further open heart surgery. In the months leading up to this procedure, medics realised he would also need subsequent keyhole surgery. We were told this keyhole procedure was a new one only a dozen had been done worldwide, Georgina adds. Months after the latest, Brody is thriving. Hes like a brand new child pink, running, he has loads of energy. Twenty-four hours after the keyhole surgery, he was pretty much the best he ever was. After the other surgeries, hed have been heavily sedated. To see him awake after this one, talking, eating and drinking minutes after the surgery was magical. Huge progression Seeing and holding the 3D-print model of her childs heart ahead of the keyhole procedure helped Georgina understand what Brody would go through. It gave me relief to know exactly what paths through his heart they would take, and that they were able to plan the surgery. They explained everything very well. Consultant paediatric cardiologist Colin McMahon, at Crumlin (CHI), is professor of paediatric cardiology at UCD. He says 3D-printed models of hearts represent a huge progression in how doctors take care of children with congenital heart disease. We were one of the first centres in Europe to start 3D printing in 2015/16, he says, confirming that close to 100 3D models have now been printed. We print 15-20 3D models a year for heart surgery and five to 10 for cardiac catheterisation. 3D-printed models of a childs heart are created only for complex cases that present a challenge when it comes to medical decision-making, Prof McMahon explains. We use them in complex congenital cardiac lesions, such as double outlet right ventricle. We also use them for multiple holes in the heart, or in patients who have only one ventricle instead of two. Prof McMahon confirms that in 30-40% of complex cases, 3D-printed hearts give additional information that helps with decision-making. Nowadays, if the cardiac surgery involves a complex cardiac defect the surgical team will often request a 3D-printed model to help with planning the operation. It helps the surgeon ensure the surgical strategy is the best one. It helps with assessing the anatomy, prior to the heart being opened, so that surgery can be planned ahead. And our surgical colleagues are able to rehearse the surgery and even decide the size of patch that will be required to close some holes. Pointing out that it is understandably very difficult for parents to visualise what will happen in a childs heart operation, Prof McMahon says 3D-printed models are helpful for parents. It helps them understand and give consent for the operation. Parents, he says, can be quite blown away at seeing a replica of their childs heart. They are often quite overwhelmed to see a perfect replica of their childs heart, especially after dealing with the childs condition for a long time. They find it very educational. It provides them with clarity and gives them confidence and reassurance. The process of creating a 3D-printed heart model starts with a CT scan of the heart, which generates data that in turn generates an STL (stereolithography a popular 3D-printing technology) file. From that, the model can be printed in flexible silicone, Prof McMahon says, adding CHI is partnered with centres in Belfast and Belgium, which assist us in generating the models. It takes approximately three to five days to get the models back to Dublin. And thats OK because most cases are elective ... [but] were hoping we will have access to our own 3D printer in the new childrens hospital, which would make the technology more widely available for more cases to be done. Wed hope then that turnover would be as short as 24-36 hours. Prof Colin McMahon, consultant paediatric cardiologist at Crumlin (CHI). Holy grail of printing Prof McMahon points to advances in materials science that are benefitting 3D-model printing. The material replicates cardiac tissue. In consistency, it feels very much like human tissue, which is really important for the surgeon. In the future, well be using 3D to print patient-specific tissue, using cells derived from the blood or potential stem cells thats the holy grail of 3D printing. 3D printing complements other high-quality diagnostic imaging tools like CT scan, echocardiogram, and MRI with the cost of a standard 3D- model being 500 to 700, rising to 1,500 for the most modern materials. Its a very small cost if it makes such a big difference in a childs life, he says, adding that these costs are part of the cardiology budget. Meanwhile, Brody Ellis got to hold the 3D model of his own heart and be photographed with it. He was amazed, he said it was so cool, Georgina says. Now in second class at school, Brody is getting on with life. He likes video games, he likes to draw. Hes very funny and friendly, very witty, Georgina adds. He got maths student of the week last week because he has come on so well in maths this year. Hes a very happy child and very kind to others. Irish Examiner columnist and author Seamas OReilly has been banned from social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, but claims he does not know why. The popular commentator said that he suspects the ban is linked with his column which he said made reference to the fact that Twitter/X may be considered complicit in the deluge of bots and scams on their platform given that it materially benefits from their activities". His almost 100,000 followers have been unable to read his tweets since the weekend. My account is still suspended, with no explanation as to what caused it in the first place, he said. For the avoidance of all doubt, I do not consider the loss of my account an important and sobering global news event. Personally, Im quite annoyed. Professionally, Im alarmed. He has successfully used the account for 14 years, having first come to public attention with a story thread on an unusual meeting with then-president Mary McAleese. He said the suspension came within hours of his latest column going on the platform. Seamas O'Reilly. Picture: Orfhlaith Whelan Was it something I said? The notification claimed Id been suspended for 'violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam', he said. Id shared a promotion for The Fence, a satirical magazine that I co-edit in London. Id posted a prank letter Id sent to the FAI 16 years ago, putting myself forward for the Irish managers job." He added that shortly before that, he had shared his column, saying this "coincidentally concerned online spam and platform manipulation". Mr OReilly has made efforts to contact Twitter, using a link provided in the notification. I have heard nothing back and nor, at time of writing, have any of the news organisations currently asking whether an Irish-headquartered tech behemoth has really suspended an Irish journalist for critiquing their operation in an Irish newspaper, he said. The Irish Examiner contacted Twitters media office, but received only an automated email advising: Busy now, please check back later." Ireland is not doing enough to protect children from the dangers of artificial intelligence, despite having the potential and the obligation to be world-leading in this space, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Irelands special rapporteur on child protection, said children had often been an afterthought when it comes to developing policies around AI internationally. Waiting for Europe means youre behind the curve, she told members of the Oireachtas childrens committee. Theres an enforcement gap here. Among those addressing the committee were members of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and representatives from Cybersafe Ireland. UCC's Professor Barry OSullivan noted how AI takes on many forms and represents both great opportunities and enormous risks. Were in a very interesting year, he said. Were now in the Super Bowl of democracy. In the next year, three billion people are going to the ballot box. Theres going to be an insane amount of AI technology generating deepfakes on an hour, if not by-the-minute basis. Were all going to be extremely concerned, and were going to be having a different conversation on this in six months time. Cybersafe Irelands Clare Daly, meanwhile, said children were being treated like guinea pigs in the digital world. Nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes are alarmingly easy to access and create, she said. Deepfake software can take a persons photos and face-swap them onto pornographic videos, making it appear as if the subject is partaking in sexual acts. "Research in this area points that whilst much of the abuse is image-based, it can also be used in grooming and sexual extortion text, which poses significant risks to children. Green Party TD Patrick Costello asked the attendees if there was a liability on publishers such as the social media giants for the harm that theyve caused and if not, why not. Prof OSullivan said people who create content that is harmful should be accountable, while organisations that disseminate this content should also. All in attendance agreed enforcement should be considerably stepped up. Irish Council for Civil Liberties senior fellow Dr Johnny Ryan said there was a big deficit in this regard but Ireland had legislation available to take action, through mechanisms such as the GDPR. The powers are very broad, he said. Weve got the Data Protection Commissioner and Coimisiun na Mean. Weve the tools to solve these problems. If we had a a real culture of enforcement, dedicated investigation, [and] people actually willing to do the work of taking the scalp, we would be best practice because we have the law. In terms of the development of AI, Ms Gallagher said children had been left out and child-centred design was required to protect young people online. The UN secretary general remarks on AI to the UN Security Council last July made zero mention on the rights of the child, she said. Thats quite a stark example of children being left out of the AI conversation. A pilot decarbonising zone (DZ) which has been designated in Cork City's first climate action plan (CAP) could help fast-track the delivery of the citys proposed light rail system. The news emerged following the adoption of the CAP at Februarys meeting of Cork City Council. While the whole city has been classed as a DZ in the EU Mission Cities project to be climate neutral by 2030, the 5km2 DZ designated in the CAP will be used as a test-bed for advanced and experimental carbon-reducing projects to help accelerate actions in the overall plan, including the light rail system. The DZ covers about 3% of the citys area, stretching from the Tyndall Institute westwards to include the Munster Technological Universitys Bishopstown campus. It has a population of almost 14,000 about 11% of the citys population, and includes three higher education institutions, a business and technology park, a hospital and mixed residential buildings. The CAP sets out how the council will be responsible for enhancing climate resilience, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its own assets, services and infrastructure, while also influencing, co-ordinating and facilitating and advocating for other sectors to meet their own climate targets and ambitions. SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. Among its actions are: a 1.9bn investment in housing which will see the provision of high-quality homes with a minimum BER rating of A2; a 190m investment in the Cork docklands project to create a new liveable and walkable urban centre; a 134m investment in walking and cycling facilities including the Marina Promenade upgrade and phase two of Marina Park; the establishment of a community leadership programme to help community groups initiate local climate action; a 5.5m allocation to start designing and planning the proposed northwest regional park. Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said the overall plan sets out an enormous number of actions that will have to be decided by this and future councils if they are to live up the citys ambitions and address its local, national and global responsibilities. Party colleague Dan Boyle said when this council began in 2019, the one political agreement the party sought was the declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency, and to follow that through to a climate action plan. He praised everyone who helped draft the plan. The changes that will be made will be difficult changes but were talking about a jigsaw, he said. We have to put different pieces in place and join them up as were going along. And in making these changes, its being done not out of a sense of spite but because its something that needs to be done because not to do otherwise means we will make things worse. The city emits nearly one million tonnes of CO2 eq. annually with the highest share, 34%, coming from residential properties that use fossil fuels for heating, with road transport contributing 29%, the second highest share. Lord Mayor, Kieran McCarthy, said Cork is demonstrating its ambition by actively participating in the EU 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission to accelerate the journey to climate neutrality. "This is not the work of the council alone. To succeed we must all work together. Business as usual is no longer enough. Radical collaboration is needed. The total cost of the National Childrens Hospital is set to increase by 500m, Cabinet has been told. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly informed his Cabinet colleagues that the overall cost of constructing the hospital had risen, bringing the total to over 2.24bn. In December, Cabinet approved a further 40m to go towards the project. At that stage, the bill for the NCH stood at 1.433bn. In 2017, the hospital was estimated to cost 450m. The Government said that the approved increase in the capital budget "will address areas identified in the 2019 report, the New Childrens Hospital Independent Review of Escalation in Costs, carried out by PwC". The report said that the New Children's Hospital "was unique in scope, scale and complexity in comparison to any other health infrastructure project in Ireland's history and was explicit in stating that the project's complexity should not be understated". "However, it identified a series of weaknesses in terms of set-up, planning, budget, execution, and governance that have since been addressed. "The report considered the alternative option of re-tendering the works. It concluded that this was an unrealistic fall-back option and would have increased costs further and would have likely resulted in no hospital being built." Speaking following the Government decision, Mr Donnelly said: We all want to see this hospital open as soon as possible. Todays approval by Cabinet to increase the capital and current budget sanctions for the New Childrens Hospital project will assist in achieving the opening of what will be a world-class hospital. We already have two satellite centres open and delivering the new model of care. The construction of the main hospital is also well advanced at over 90% completion. I acknowledge that a significant amount of money is being spent on this project, but it must not be forgotten that this is a hospital built to serve children and their families for the next 100 years. The new hospital building is unprecedented in scale and technological advancement. The hospital itself is expected to be handed over to the State by developer BAM before the end of 2024, with a six-month fit-out process then due to take place. It is expected that the official opening of the new hospital will be in May 2025 nearly 10 years on from the project first being approved. The Government has been wary in recent times as to the final completion date of the project, citing the ongoing tensions between the developer BAM and the (National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB). Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dail that 2.2bn is the maximum allocation for the completion of the National Children's Hospital, adding that the Government "will not be allocating anymore". Mr Varadkar said that construction on the hospital will be completed "later this year" with an aim that it will be finished in October. He said the hospital will be open and treating children next year and stated it will be "comparable if not superior" to hospitals across the EU. He was responding to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald who described the projected cost of 2.2bn as "staggering", and added she had "no confidence" this will be the final cost. Mr Varadkar said that of the 2.2bn total, 1.4bn had already been drawn down, adding that it was important to remember that the costs included satellite offices in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, as well as decommissioning Crumlin and Temple Street Hospitals, and financial consequences associated with the examination of building the hospital at the Mater site in central Dublin. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe echoed the Taoiseach's comments, saying that the extra funding allocated to the hospital will be the last significant settlement made until the project is completed. I expect that the settlement that we have made here is the last significant settlement in relation to the overall cost, Mr Donohoe said. We are involved in a legal dispute in relation to outstanding bills on this hospital at the moment and the State, through the board of the National Children's Hospital, is vigorously contesting all of them. Asked if smaller payments will be provided to the NPHDB over the course of the next year, Mr Donohoe said that the extra 500m would deal with the imminent costs. In an interview with the Irish Examiner late last year, Mr Donnelly said that it would be inevitable that further money would be sought by the board to complete the project. Mr Donohoe said that the State has learned much along the way in delivering the NCH, acknowledging the much higher cost than originally set out in 2014. He added that the main priority for the Government is ensuring that the NCH is completed as quickly and as affordably as possible. The Public Expenditure Minister added that calls to re-tender the project early in its development were wrong, and that doing so would have left the State with a higher bill and the hospital further delayed. With this project now, what we are trying to do is minimize the cost now in relation to it, get to the point that it can be open as soon as possible. When that happens, we will then see the amount of care that will be made available to very, very sick children. I believe if the project had been re-tendered then, we would be further away from doing that with no guarantee at all that itd be cheaper. In a splendid evening of cultural fusion, the Embassy of India, with support from the International Mugham Centre, hosted a vibrant celebration at the Mugham Centre in Baku on February 10, to showcase the cultural richness and tourism potential of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana - three of India's southern states. Ambassador Sridharan Madhusudhanan, in his opening remarks, expressed gratitude to the International Mugham Centre for their significant support in organizing the event. He emphasized the deep-rooted cultural connections between India and Azerbaijan, particularly highlighting the diverse cultural landscapes of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. He also recalled the Embassy's events focusing on the states of Rajasthan and Kerala, held last year in Baku. Mr. Sahib Pashazade, the Director of the International Mugham Centre, spoke about the shared musical and cultural traditions between India and Azerbaijan, expressing delight over the collaboration with the Indian Embassy. He noted that such events play a crucial role in strengthening the cultural ties between the two nations. The evening commenced with enchanting performances of Azerbaijani Mugham music by local artists, including Mr. Rashad Ibrahimov, Ms. Chinara Malikova, Mr. Tabriz Yusubov, Mr. Rafael Eskerov, Mr. Amil Mustafayev, Mr. Vasif Yusifli, and Ms. Vafa Vazirova, setting a melodious tone for the event. A highlight was Mr. Nail Kakhramanov's dance performance to the Oscar-winning "Natu Natu" tune, which captivated the audience. Mr. Babu Sahib presented Tamil Nadu's heart through his song from the film "Channi Thampi". Ms. Aparna Dinesh, a Medical student at Azerbaijan Medical University, enthralled the audience with her dance on the song "RA- RA". Ms. Saida Aliyeva performed a beautiful classical dance to "Aigiri Nandini". The audience enjoyed very much a dance by Azerbaijani artists Ms. Zeyneb, Ms. Aylin, Ms. Nesrin, and Ms. Meryem. In a bid to promote tourism, presentations on the tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana were made by Mr. Mahadevan and Dr. Rajani Chandra. They covered essential travel details, showcasing the states' unique offerings to potential travelers. After cultural and tourism performances, Ambassador Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Mr. Sahib Pashazade, Director of the International Mugham Centre, and Mr. Dadash Mammadov, Director of the Art Council of Azerbaijan, inaugurated a painting exhibition at the foyer, featuring works by 10 Azerbaijani artists inspired by Indian themes. The event attracted a large number of attendees, including friends of India in Azerbaijan, prominent tour operators, media representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora. The evening concluded with an authentic Indian feast, offering a taste of the culinary delights from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, leaving guests with a lasting impression of India's rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. Western liberal democracies are apparently inhabited by vast and increasing numbers of disaffected, dissatisfied citizens who could conceivably put populists in power on both sides of the Atlantic over the coming year. Donald Trumps White House comeback bid should be the stuff of dystopian fantasy, not a news story. But as Naomi Klein describes brilliantly in her new book, Doppelganger, our collective trajectory away from reality seems to be in freefall. Why are populist narratives gaining so much traction even in mainstream political discourse? Perhaps the truth is too boring or complex for our shortened attention spans: after all, who has the time to make sense of reality when we can entertain ourselves with fantasy? Vanishingly few politicians keep their promises, which fuels a sense that we may as well just listen to the best storyteller, or the best shit-poster, whoever gets us riled up most effectively. Ireland has so far been spared a far-right or anti-immigrant political party. But the Dublin riots last November, and a more recent spate of blockades and arson attacks on buildings meant for the accommodation of asylum seekers, or rumoured to be such, suggest a mood change. It is not far-fetched to imagine a Trump presidency radicalising this mood to produce a more menacing populist landscape. The one we have is already being contaminated by imported far-right tropes and conspiracy theories. Russell Brand and Steve Bannon were quick to chime in after the riots, interpreting and distorting the significance of events in Ireland for international consumption. According to their alt-right narrative, the violence had nothing to do with racism against refugees despite unambiguous messages of incitement such as kill foreigners, kill migrants circulating online at the time. Rather, Brand told his millions of devoted YouTube subscribers, the events were an outpouring of the entirely reasonable concerns of honest, ordinary working-class people, people who need to protect themselves and their children, because the remote elites that govern them have no intention of doing so. That Ireland would rebel against what Brand calls globalism with recourse to its own ethno-nationalism was not only reasonable but honourable, he added, because of past centuries of oppression and the fact that Irish nationalism was forged fighting British colonialism. After November's riots in Dublin, it is not far-fetched to imagine a Trump presidency radicalising the mood to produce a more menacing populist landscape. File photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie It will hardly trouble fans of his conspiracy theories, but Brands invocation of an Irish nationalist exceptionalism reveals serious gaps in his knowledge. Contrary to Brands claims, including his attempt to position Ireland as somehow existing outside of global events (weird flex, bro), the revolutionary vision espoused by James Connolly, for example, or previous generations of rebels such as the United Irishmen of 1798, was characterised by a rejection of ethnicity or blood as the basis for self-determination. Brand is right that Ireland is a unique case among majority white, English-speaking nations in that it was not itself a coloniser. In many respects, Ireland has more in common with other colonised countries than it does with imperialist ones. Nonetheless, while Ireland was subjugated, Irish people also came to be racialised as white. Their inclusion within the hierarchy of race as white means Irish people can be manipulated emotively to believe that Irishness and whiteness are the same thing. The constant refrain I heard growing up, despite being born and raised in Dublin, and my mother and maternal ancestry being Irish, was that I couldnt really be Irish because my father was Nigerian. I was not white, and therefore not Irish. The same argument was not made to friends who, like me, had one non-Irish parent when that parent was white. In the space of just two decades, Ireland has transformed from the almost entirely homogeneous country it was when I was a child into one that is far more diverse. According to the last census, 20% of Irelands population were born elsewhere. A discussion about where or how asylum seekers are accommodated and helped to integrate is entirely justified, but that requires clear progressive leadership. A vacant house in Co Kildare, which was wrongly rumoured to be planned accommodation for asylum seekers, which burned down earlier this month. The recent spate of blockades and arson attacks on buildings meant for the accommodation of asylum seekers, or rumoured to be such, suggest a mood change. In its absence, populists are able to misdirect legitimate public anger away from the government to powerless migrants and refugees. Ireland has one of Europes worst housing crises, while its public services, education, hospitals and mental health services are all chronically underfunded. Combined with an asylum system near breaking point, this means that an Ireland is full rallying cry can easily whip up resentment. The relatively new diversity provides an age-old scapegoat. Ideas promoted online by ideologues, demagogues, right-wing grifters and bad-faith actors seeking to cultivate a power base many of them UK- and US-based are spreading a nativist ideology. Take a dehumanising and racist trope about asylum seekers that refers to single, unvetted, military-age men. These men are supposedly arriving in frightening numbers, posing a grave threat to sovereignty, security and the purity of the Irish people, leaving women supposedly afraid to venture out at night. No mention, of course, of black Irish women such as Alanna Quinn, who lost her eye in an unprovoked attack by a group of white Irish men, or Mia ONeill, who took her own life after years of racist bullying by white Irish neighbours in Tipperary. I suppose in the eyes of those who spuriously claim to want to protect Irish women and children, theyre not really Irish. There are good reasons why younger men fleeing war often have no choice but to make their way to the West alone. But the single, male, unvetted idea resides in an old prejudice that is seductively powerful for racists and xenophobes. Alanna Quinn lost her eye in an unprovoked attack by a group of white Irish men. Photo: Collins Court The French post-colonial theorist Frantz Fanon wrote in 1959 of how the deep cultural fear of the black figured in the psychic trembling of Western sexuality. Certainly, a lot of the racism I have experienced growing up and online as an adult has been organised around an imagined depravity borne of being the product of a defiled white woman and an N-word, a lovely thing to be told about yourself. I have observed this same vitriol directed at other Irish women who have white mothers and black fathers. White nationalism in Irelands recent anti-immigrant discourse is expressed too in the word plantation. Researchers on disinformation at Dublin City University (DCU) who have tracked its use by far-right activists online say it is intended to invoke the 16th- and 17th-century colonial plantations of Ireland, when English settlers were given confiscated Irish land. This could be, they suggest, a localised variant of the great replacement conspiracy theory, whose supporters claim that white Europeans and Americans are deliberately being replaced by non-white and Muslim migrants. Like plantation, the colonisation hashtag has moved from the far-right online fringes to the mainstream. Such language, intended to turn the rage of disadvantaged people on other marginalised groups is a perversion of Irelands history. We still rightly memorialise our past oppression as colonised people in poetry and songs about the Famine, about starving people imprisoned for stealing Trevelyans corn, but atrocities committed against the Irish people were deeply connected to the struggles of colonised people in other parts of the world. Our histories remain intimately interwoven: many of todays refugees are fleeing the kind of dispossession and injustice Irish people fled in their millions in previous centuries. The legacy of Irish republicanism, an internationalist, secular, socialist ideology, should give us a unique basis for framing contemporary Irishness in an inclusive and progressive way. We are not immune to the predatory machinations of false prophets and those who want to re-interpret our nationalist history. But confronting their lies and insisting on the truth of our common ground with other formerly colonised peoples is a potent first step in resistance to the far-right. A total of 161 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs and almost 3,000 drivers were detected speeding over the February Bank Holiday weekend. A large number of arrests for intoxicated driving (15%) occurred between 6am and 2pm. Two road deaths occurred over the weekend and 11 serious crashes with 12 people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries. Data released by Gardai cover the period from 7am on Thursday, February 1 to 7am on Tuesday, February 6. These figures coincide with an open letter from more than 65 health, social, and community organisations, academics, and advocates all voicing strong opposition to proposed measures in the Sale of Alcohol bill that will dramatically increase the number of venues serving alcohol, as well as significantly extending the opening hours of pubs, bars, and nightclubs. The open letter to the three government party leaders Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin, and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is an urgent call for this government to fully assess the implications of increased alcohol availability. Dr Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland. CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, Dr Sheila Gilheany said that the letter demonstrates deep disquiet in the health and social community and urges that an immediate health impact assessment (HIA) of this legislation be carried out. Justice Minister Helen McEntee has committed to engaging with "various public and voluntary bodies" and "considering their views". This might be useful but does not equate with quantitative data on resource implications of the Bill; in terms of Gardai, medical, social, and transport services that will be needed to pick up the pieces after the legislation has been passed. Road deaths Last year was a year of appalling tragedies on Irish roads with the loss of 184 lives. In addition, there were 1,250 serious injuries by the middle of December. While there are proposals to address this with new speed limits, this will have little impact on intoxicated drivers. A Norwegian report published in Health Economics (2022), adds to mounting evidence that when opening hours are extended in areas where there is limited public transport, more drink driving incidents will occur. Specifically, a one-hour extension in trading hours was associated with up to 30% more collisions in rural areas. The governments Sale of Alcohol Bill proposes to increase trading hours of all bars and restaurants from 11.30pm to 12.30am and facilitate late-night opening of bars to 2.30am. The facts speak for themselves. The latest figures augment data released by the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau early in January reporting that one person every hour was on average, arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or both, on the run up to and during the Christmas period with 75% of cases featuring alcohol. Over a third (37%) of driver fatalities in Ireland have a positive toxicology for alcohol and almost three quarters (72%) of these fatalities occur on rural roads. There is cross government concern about the increase in road deaths in Ireland in the past year. The Taoiseach recently convened a meeting of the Ministerial Road Safety Committee. It was attended by key ministers, CEO of the Road Safety Authority, Liz ODonnell; Assistant Commissioner of Garda Roads Policing, Paula Hilman; key civil servants and Susan Gray; founder of the PARC road safety group. Alcohol Action Ireland claims that entirely absent from the discussion was the consideration of the likely impact of the Sale of Alcohol Bill on road safety. Data compiled by the PARC road safety group indicates Garda roads policing numbers continued to fall during 2023, with 47 fewer officers than at the beginning of the year. All of this points to a perfect storm that will lead to more road deaths particularly on rural roads with an absence of both public transport and a dearth of policing. Added to this, proposals to increase the availability of alcohol through longer licensing hours and more venues for the sale of alcohol have the potential to negate all the really positive progress made by the Department of Health in recent years towards altering the culture around alcohol in Ireland. Cost-benefit analysis In a cost-benefit analysis of the Sale of Alcohol Bill published in 2022, international alcohol expert Prof Tom Babor warned that the Bill will increase risks of alcohol-related disease, injuries, crime, public disorder and domestic violence. Professor Frank Murray, Chair of Alcohol Action Ireland. Chair of Alcohol Action Ireland, Professor Frank Murray, agrees. "We should bear in mind the fact that other jurisdictions are rowing back on the liberalisation of night-time economies. For example, Amsterdam is placing further restrictions on alcohol consumption and earlier closure for bars. "Some districts in Amsterdam had found a 34% increase in ambulance attendances for alcohol-related injury where there had been a one-hour increase in opening hours of alcohol outlets, compared with other areas in the city." Alcohol causes 1,500 deaths a year in Ireland. About 15% of the population have an alcohol use disorder (AUD) a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences in social, occupational and health terms. It is hard to fathom government strategy. Amid increased warnings about violence and lawlessness on city streets, and alarming increases in road deaths; the Government plans to increase opportunities for alcohol use with the Sale of Alcohol Bill this year. The Sale of Alcohol Bill is a mistake. It is an effort to appease the alcohol industry and wave the magic wand of further economic growth. A health impact assessment is needed and the industry should pay for the inevitable increased costs of societal and health harms. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork Donald Trump arrived at a federal courthouse in Florida for a closed hearing in his criminal case charging the former US President with mishandling classified documents. The hearing on Monday morning was scheduled as a procedural hearing, closed to the public, to discuss the procedures for handling classified evidence in the trial currently set for May 20. US district judge Aileen Cannon set arguments in the morning from defence lawyers and in the afternoon from prosecutors, each outside of the others presence. Supporters with signs and flags assembled outside a courthouse barricade as a Trump campaign message to allies with the subject line of Im in court. Again! warned that unspecified opponents want me arrested and erased from the ballot. The message reinforced his teams strategy of politicising his four criminal prosecutions, including in Florida, where he faces dozens of felony counts accusing him of hoarding highly classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate as well as obstructing FBI efforts to get them back. Defence counsel shall be prepared to discuss their defence theories of the case, in detail, and how any classified information might be relevant or helpful to the defence, Cannon wrote in scheduling the hearing. It comes as prosecutors have also revealed that a prospective government witness has received threats over social media that are now the subject of federal investigation. Mr Trumps motorcade arrived at the courthouse in Fort Pierce shortly after 9am. He left the building in his motorcade after 2pm while supporters shouted his name. The hearing is one of several voluntary court dates that Mr Trump has attended in recent weeks, including appeals court arguments last month in Washington, as he looks to demonstrate to supporters that he intends to fight his criminal prosecutions while also seeking to reclaim the White House in November. In addition to the Florida case, Mr Trump faces charges in Atlanta and Washington related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Hes also charged in state court in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing. The governments of Poland, France and Germany have vowed to make Europe a defence power with a greater ability to back Ukraine, as fears grow that former US President Donald Trump might return to the White House and allow Russia to expand its aggression on the continent. The foreign ministers of the three countries met in the Paris suburb of La Celle-Saint-Cloud on Monday to hold talks about Ukraine, amid other issues. The ministers discussed reviving the so-called Weimar Triangle, a long dormant regional grouping that was designed to promote cooperation between France, Germany and Poland. German chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) The Weimar Triangle was created in 1991 as Poland was emerging from decades of communism as a platform for political cooperation among the three nations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners. There is no reason why we should be so clearly militarily weaker than Russia, and therefore increasing production and intensifying our cooperation are absolutely indisputable priorities, Mr Tusk said in arguing for the European Union to become a military power in its own right. The diplomatic push came after Mr Trump shocked many in Europe over the weekend by appearing to invite Russia to invade any Nato member not spending enough on its own defence. You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Mr Trump recounted telling an unidentified Nato member during his presidency. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP) The Republican front-runners words at a campaign rally were particularly shocking for front-line Nato countries like Poland, which experienced both German and Soviet occupation during the Second World War and later spent decades under Soviet control. Speaking alongside Mr Tusk in Berlin, Mr Scholz blasted Mr Trumps comments. Natos promise of protection is unrestricted all for one and one for all, Mr Scholz said without mentioning the former president by name. And let me say clearly for current reasons, any relativisation of Natos support guarantee is irresponsible and dangerous, and is in the interest of Russia alone, the chancellor added. No one can play, or deal, with Europes security. Trumps remarks raised concerns that if re-elected, he could embolden Russia to attack other countries besides Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he wanted to revitalise his nations relations with its key European partners (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement on Sunday saying that Trumps remarks put American troops and their allies at greater risk. Nato does not require its 31 members to pay bills, but they are expected to invest a certain percentage of their own budgets ideally, 2% of their gross domestic product on defence. Some countries, like Poland, have long met the target. Other European nations ramped up their military spending after Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. Germany, with a post-Second World War political culture of military caution, was a frequent target of Trumps ire during his presidency for falling short of the 2% target, but Berlin announced plans to step up military spending after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and plans to hit the benchmark this year. Frances military budget grew in recent years and reached the level of about 2% of GDP. Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski noted that he and his French and German counterparts meet at a dramatic, but also solemn moment. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war. We must fulfil our obligations toward Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said each minute counts to get Europeans prepared to absorb the shock of a scenario that has been well described by Donald Trump. US, Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials were expected to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to seek a truce in Gaza as more than a million civilians crammed into a southern corner of the Palestinian enclave, waiting in fear for an Israeli assault. Amid growing international concern over the plight of civilians, Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah city overnight, residents said, although the anticipated ground offensive did not appear to have started. The Israeli military said its forces killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in clashes in the southern and central Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours, including 30 in Khan Younis, a city close to Rafah on the coastal enclave's border with Egypt. Gaza health officials said an Israeli strike on a house in Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed 16 Palestinians overnight. In Khan Younis, Israeli tanks advanced further from the west and the east as bombing continued, residents said. Israeli forces ordered displaced people in some shelters to head to Rafah. But the boom of tank shelling east of Rafah caused waves of panic inside the makeshift tent camps housing the displaced. In Cairo, senior officials from the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar were scheduled to meet to work on a three-phase framework that would see the release of hostages and achieve an extended pause, sources familiar with the matter said. No further details were immediately available. With the Israel-Hamas war now in its fifth month, attention is focused on the situation in Rafah. Around half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are now living there in desperate conditions, including many who fled other areas under fire. Israel says it intends to wipe out Hamas fighters operating in Rafah and evacuate civilians. Aid officials and foreign governments say there is nowhere for them to go, and Egypt has made clear it will not allow a refugee exodus over its border. Much of the densely populated enclave is in ruins, with 28,473 Palestinians killed and 68,146 wounded since October 7, according to Gaza health officials who announced 133 new Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours. Jordan's King Abdullah II listens as President Joe Biden speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Many other people are believed to be buried under rubble. Supplies of food, water and other essentials are running out and diseases are spreading. "Since Israel said they are invading Rafah soon...we read our last prayers every night. Every night we say farewell to one another and to relatives outside Rafah," said 30-year-old Aya, who is living in a tent with her mother, grandmother and five siblings. "Unless the world show some mercy and stop Israel from raiding Rafah, we think we are not going to survive. The sounds of shelling and explosions get closer and closer," she told Reuters via a chat app. US PRESSURE FOR A CEASEFIRE In Geneva, Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for theUN's Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it had not been informed of any Israeli evacuation plan and was not part of it. "Where are you going to evacuate people to as no place is safe across the Gaza Strip, the north is shattered, riddled with unexploded weapons, it's pretty much unlivable," she said. "Enough is enough. Any further escalation would be absolutely apocalyptic." UNRWA, which fired some staff after Israel alleged that 12 of its 13,000 employees in Gaza took part in the October 7 assault, is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees in the Middle east. In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who will visit Israel on Wednesday, voiced concern about the looming Israeli offensive. She said Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorism, but this did not mean the expulsion of the population. Israel says it takes steps to avoid harming civilians and accuses Hamas fighters of hiding among them, even in shelters - something the Palestinian militant group denies. Palestinians mourn relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Rafah, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) On Monday, US President Joe Biden kept up pressure for a ceasefire, saying Washington was working on a hostage that would "bring an immediate and sustained period of calm into Gaza for at least six weeks." The hostages were seized in the October 7 raid on southern Israel by Hamas militants which killed 1,200 people and triggered Israel's military offensive. Securing their return is a priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as it aims also to eradicate Hamas, which rules Gaza. Biden has shown increasing exasperation with Netanyahu for not heeding his appeals to do more to minimize casualties and protect civilians in Gaza. He has urged Israel not to undertake a ground offensive in Rafah without a plan to protect the Palestinian civilians who are massed there. The US is Israel's closest ally and biggest foreign arms provider, giving $3.8 billion in military aid annually, and there was no indication that Washington would hold up such aid. The U.S. State Department said cutting aid would not be "more impactful than the steps Washington has already taken". Netanyahu last week ordered Israel's military to create a plan to evacuate civilians during any ground offensive. Asked about those plans, an Israeli military spokesperson on Monday said he still did not know how it would be done. The United Nations on Monday intensified calls for a ceasefire and opposed the idea of moving civilians in Rafah, saying nowhere "is currently safe in Gaza." China has joined growing international calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza following a raid in which two hostages were rescued and scores of Palestinians killed. The foreign ministry in Beijing added in a brief statement on Tuesday that Israel should do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah. Israel has signalled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town where the hostages were freed by the raid. Palestinians inspect the damage to residential buildings in Rafah where two hostages were reportedly held before being rescued by Israeli security forces (Fatima Shbair/AP) China has consistently opposed the Israeli offensive, calling from the start for a ceasefire and talks to find a permanent solution to the crisis. Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the bodies of 133 people killed in Israeli strikes have been taken to hospitals in the war-ravaged territory over the past day. Hospitals also received 162 wounded patients, the ministry said. Also on Tuesday, the death toll from the Israeli hostage rescue operation in the town of Rafah rose to 74, according to Dr Marawan al-Hams, director of the local Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital. Israeli forces carrying out the operation were backed by heavy air strikes on the town, to where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled. The fresh fatalities took the death toll in Gaza to 28,473 since the war began on October 7, according to the health ministry (Fatima Shbair/AP) The fresh fatalities took the death toll in Gaza to 28,473 since the war began on October 7, according to the ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says more than 70% of the dead are women and children. Israel says its forces have killed 10,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the death toll, saying it embeds in civilians areas, putting non-combatants at risk. More than 68,000 people have been wounded in the war, of whom 11,000 who need urgent evacuation from Gaza for treatment, the ministry said. The ministry said many of the dead remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings and on roadsides, with first responders unable to reach many areas and collect the bodies. Firefighters in Sweden were battling for a second day on Tuesday to put out a blaze at a water park that is under construction at one of the countrys biggest amusement centres. One park employee is missing and 16 other people, mainly workers, were slightly injured. Authorities could not say what had caused the fire at the Oceana water park in the popular Liseberg amusement complex in Goteborg, Swedens second-largest city. One Liseberg amusement park employee is missing after the blaze (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency/AP) The fire broke out on Monday and spread over several water slides and the pool area. Svante Carlsson, from the citys fire department, said his firefighters have brought the flames under control. There was extensive damage and some parts of the structure have collapsed, he said, adding that he expects his crews to be on the scene for some time. A nearby hotel and office facilities were evacuated. Police earlier said they were investigating the blaze as a workplace accident and a case of gross public negligence. The Liseberg amusement parks new water world, Oceana, was due to open this summer (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency/AP) Tackling the blaze had been made difficult because of the risk of collapse, firefighters said, adding there still were pockets of fire burning. Oceana, which had been scheduled to open this summer, is to include an indoor swimming area of almost 6,000 square metres and a 4,000 square metre outdoor swimming facility. The water park has said that up to 1,750 guests will be able to visit at any one time. Liseberg, which opened in 1923, is a popular tourist destination with some three million visitors a year. Israel is planning to expand its ground assault into the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the Israel offensive that has laid waste to much of the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7. Israeli air strikes have in recent days started hitting Rafah, which is in the south of the Gaza Strip and abuts the Egyptian border. Why is Israel planning a ground offensive in Rafah? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Rafah as the "last bastion" of Hamas, with four battalions of gunmen, and that Israel cannot achieve its goal of eliminating the group while they remain there. Israel has sought to wipe out Hamas since it led the October 7 attack which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in another 253 being abducted into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military has already swept through most of Gaza, in a campaign that has killed more than 28,000 people, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. How many people are in Rafah and how are conditions there? UNRWA, a UN agency which provides Palestinians with aid and essential services, says there are nearly 1.5 million people in Rafah, six times the population compared to before October 7. Many of them are camped on the streets, in empty lots, on the beach and on the sandy strip of territory next to the border wall with Egypt. Others are jammed into filthy, overcrowded shelters. Doctors and aid workers are struggling to supply even basic aid and stop the spread of disease. The Norwegian Refugee Council has called it a "gigantic refugee camp". A doctor who recently left Gaza described Rafah as a "closed jail" with faecal matter running through streets so crowded that there is barely space for medics' vehicles to pass. Where would displaced people go? Israel ordered civilians to flee south before previous assaults on cities in the Gaza Strip, with many of them heading to Rafah. Netanyahu's office has said it has ordered the army to develop a plan to evacuate Rafah. But aid officials and foreign governments say there is nowhere for them to go. Egypt has said it will not allow an exodus of Palestinian refugees to cross into its territory. How have other countries responded to the plans? US President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with an operation in Rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of people sheltering there. Other allies of Israel, including Britain and Germany, have expressed concern about the prospect of an offensive in Rafah. Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot has said it was "hard to see how large-scale operations in such a densely populated area would not lead to many civilian casualties and a bigger humanitarian catastrophe", calling it "unjustifiable". Egypt has warned of "dire consequences". Israel says it takes extensive measures to protect civilians but is forced to conduct military operations in civilian areas because Hamas operates there. - Reuters A group of rebels bombed a displacement camp in eastern Congos North Kivu province, killing three civilians and injuring eight others, a local civil society group has said. It happened as violence in the conflict-hit region sparked protests and a humanitarian group warned that thousands are facing limited access to aid. A rebel group with alleged links to neighbouring Rwanda bombed the Zaina camp, which is 16 miles from the city of Goma, on Monday, civil society leader Wete Mwami Yenga said. An elderly woman who was wounded in ongoing fighting between M23 rebel forces and Congolese forces in the Sake region of Congo sits on her hospital bed (Moses Sawasawa/AP) The bombing followed days of attacks not far away from the city. The M23 rebels did not claim responsibility for the attack but appeared to confirm that they were heading to the town of Sake, which is near Goma, on Tuesday. Congos government and United Nations experts have said the M23 group receives military support from Rwanda, although the country denies it. The M23 is coming to liberate them and protect them from those heavy artillery, the groups spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement, referring to their ongoing fighting with Congolese security forces. Thousands have fled their homes into Goma in recent days as the fighting intensifies and hospitals in the city are filled with injured civilians, many of them with limited medical care. That Im lying on this hospital bed does me a disservice, said Ushindi Soleil, an injured father-of-ten receiving treatment in one of the hospitals. 6.9 million people have already fled their homes in one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises (Moses Sawasawa/AP) I have ten kids, they are suffering. More than one million people have been displaced by the conflict since November, the Mercy Corps aid group said Tuesday. That adds to the 6.9 million who already fled their homes in one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises. The group warned that major routes around Goma have also been cut off by gunfire and the sounds of artillery. Aid agencies are now grappling with daily decisions on where and when it is safe to provide assistance amid reports of aid workers getting caught in the crossfire, said Emilie Vonck, Mercy Corps country director in Congo. Angered by the conflict, hundreds of people held protests in Congos capital, Kinshasa, on Monday, targeting foreign embassies who they accuse of not supporting the country to end the violence. The UNs top official in Congo, Bintou Keita, condemned the protests as unacceptable. The UN peacekeepers which the Congolese government has deemed ineffective in the country, meanwhile, continue to leave the country ahead of a December deadline. On her hospital bed in Goma, Feza Bongongwa, a pregnant woman wounded last week in one of the attacks, pleaded for an end to the conflict. The most important thing is to help us end this war, said Ms Bongongwa. M23 is making us suffer. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Last year, the Forest Development Service under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan carried out reforestation activities on 6,850 hectares of the forest fund, Trend reports, referring to the State Statistics Committee. Meanwhile, this is 19.6 percent less than a year earlier. According to the information, forest planting works were carried out on an area of 622.1 hectares, and sowing works were carried out on an area of 415.9 hectares. Forest plantation was established on an area of 4 hectares, industrial plantations consisting of fast-growing tree species on an area of 8 hectares, and natural regeneration works were carried out on an area of 5,800 hectares. To note, the total area of forest plantations, crops, and afforestation serviced amounted to 18,296.5 hectares. The report notes that in 2023, seeds were sown to grow plant seedlings in an area of 16.2 hectares, and 31,200 cuttings were buried in an area of 0.4 hectares to root cuttings. A total of 100 tons (14.2 percent more than a year earlier) of seeds of fruit, forest, and shrub species were supplied from forest fund plots last year. Of these, 97.7 tons were seeds of forest tree and shrub species, and 2.3 tons were seeds of fruit trees. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Tuesday, Feb 13th, 2024 (1:54 pm) - Score 5,960 The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has written a new letter that singles out big ISPs, including BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk and Virgin Media (VMO2), for being too slow to implement their One Touch Switch (OTS) system, which aims to make it quicker and easier for consumers to switch providers on different networks. The OTS system essentially expands the existing Gaining Provider Led (GPL) migration path (i.e. you contact your new provider and the switch is handled automatically) to work across lots of other networks (the old one was mainly focused on Openreach based ISPs) and to action switches within just 1 day where technically possible. The regulator originally set a deadline for OTS to be implemented by 3rd April 2023. Sadly, that deadline came and went (here), which is something weve covered extensively before (here, here and here). The delays were, in our opinion, a collective mix of both industry and regulator failings. Ofcom may like to place the bulk of blame for all this at the industrys feet, although in our view there was also a lack of regulatory leadership (i.e. expecting cats to herd themselves). But were not going to repeat all of that again today. The industry-led One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCo), which was only established during mid-2022 and is responsible for implementing Ofcoms already heavily delayed One Touch Switch (OTS) system, then revised their plans and set a revised launch date for 14th March 2024 (here). But at the end of 2023 TOTSCo acknowledged that the new date was no longer achievable (here) and, despite two months having passed, theyve yet to set a revised one. Needless to say, this is making Ofcom very unhappy and theyve just written an angry letter to ISPs. Copy of Ofcoms New Letter One Touch Switch implementation I am writing to update you on Ofcoms recent actions in view of the continued delay regarding the industry launch date for One Touch Switch (OTS). You will be aware of TOTSCos announcement on 13 December 2023 abandoning the planned go-live date of 14 March 2024. This has serious implications for consumers, for competition and for the orderly implementation of the OTS process. It is our understanding that TOTSCo took its decision in December following communication from BT, Sky, TalkTalk and VMO2. Since TOTSCos announcement, there is still no clarity from industry on the OTS go live date, despite OTS being a regulatory requirement since April 2023. Ofcom is very concerned about the repeated delays and the length of time now being taken to finalise an agreed go-live date, which is preventing consumers from realising the benefits of easier and simpler switching. Lindsey Fussell, Ofcoms Group Director of Networks & Communications, has written to each of the four providers to set out our concerns, and to require them with utmost urgency to finalise a launch date that is the earliest possible implementation date for OTS. We are cognisant that the lack of clarity about the go live date is also creating uncertainty for industry. Notwithstanding, I expect all communications providers in scope of the One Touch Switch rules to continue to make all necessary preparations so they can meet the revised OTS go live date. This includes going through the necessary onboarding processes with TOTSCo to obtain an RCPID and carrying out appropriate testing. Such preparations must not be left until the last minute as otherwise providers will risk undermining an orderly implementation, and possible enforcement action. Ofcom will continue to monitor the implementation of OTS. Yours sincerely, Cristina Luna-Esteban (Ofcoms Director of Telecoms Consumer Protection Networks & Communications) The regulator said last year that they would not hesitate to use the full force of our enforcement powers on behalf of customers who have been waiting far too long for a simpler way of switching, although that effort to concentrate minds appears to have had little impact. But its not only Ofcom having a moan. A Spokesperson for Vodafone told ISPreview: One touch switching is clearly in consumers interests and, as a company that was ready to meet the March 14 2024 deadline, were massively disappointed to see a continued delay, especially since there hasnt been a new target date agreed. This is simply an opportunity for Big 4 to continue to lock customers into expensive broadband contracts when they could be getting the same service for less from companies like ourselves. Were calling on BT, TalkTalk, Sky and VM02 to stop delaying and agree a new date and we expect Ofcom to hold them all to account. The difficult for the biggest broadband providers is that it can take many months of testing before theyre confident enough to proceed to implementation, but full-scale testing only recently became possible via TOTSCos switching platform. On a major network, even small mistakes in a new system can result in a big, costly problem, which may even lead to regulatory fines. Suffice to say, they want to get things right first time. On the other hand, its clear that Ofcoms patience and flexibility is running out, which could also lead to punitive actions if a more concrete date isnt put on the table soon. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Azerbaijan exported 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe in January 2024, the countrys Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports. He said that gas exports increased by 4.5 percent in the reporting month. Meanwhile, 800 million cubic meters were exported to Turkiye, and 400 million cubic meters to Georgia. During this period, the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) supplied Turkiye with 400 million cubic meters of gas, added the minister. Southern Gas Corridor started transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe on December 31, 2020. It transports of gas from the Caspian Sea region to European countries through Georgia and Turkiye. This large-scale project is aimed at the diversification of energy supply routes and sources, thereby contributing to strengthening Europes energy security. The projects cost totaled $33 billion, as compared to the forecast $45 billion. Capital expenditures on the SGC project are expected to be fully reimbursed within 8-10 years. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel By Sally Howell, University of Michigan-Dearborn; and Amny Shuraydi, University of Michigan-Dearborn | (The Conversation) Dearborn, Michigan, is a center of Arab American cultural, economic, and political life. Its home to several of the countrys oldest and most influential mosques, the Arab American National Museum, dozens of now-iconic Arab bakeries and restaurants, and a vibrant and essential mix of Arab American service and cultural organizations. The city became the first Arab-majority city in the U.S. in 2023, with roughly 55% of the citys 110,000 residents claiming Middle Eastern or North African ancestry on the 2023 census. One of us is an author and historian who specializes in the Arab and Muslim communities of Detroit, and the other is a criminologist born and raised in Dearborn who conducts research on the experiences and perceptions of Arab Americans. We have paid close attention to the citys demographic shifts. To understand Dearborn today, we must start with the citys past. Ford and Dearborn are in many ways synonymous Dearborn owes much of its growth to automotive pioneer Henry Ford, who began building his famous River Rouge Complex in 1917. Migrants from the American South alongside immigrants from European and Arab countries settled Dearborns Southend neighborhood to work in the auto plant. While most early 20th-century Arab immigrants to the United States were Christians, those who moved to Dearborn in the 1920s were mainly Muslims from southern Lebanon. Only In Dearborn | Square Video Life downwind of the worlds largest industrial complex proved challenging. But the real threat this diverse population faced in the 1950s through the 1970s was from a city-led rezoning campaign designed to turn the Southend over to heavy industry. Most of the white ethnic groups in the neighborhood had churches and business districts scattered around Detroit, which facilitated their departure from the Southend. But for Arab American Muslims, this community, with its mosques and markets, was indispensable as they began to welcome distant kin from the Middle East after U.S. immigration laws relaxed in the 1960s. Fleeing civil war in Yemen and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967, these new Arab immigrants breathed new life into Dearborn. In 1973, they filed a class-action lawsuit against the city that eventually saved their neighborhood. When the Lebanese civil war broke out in 1975, the Southend again welcomed a new generation of refugees and migrants. By the 1980s, this mix of first- and second-generation Arab Americans had begun to spill into other neighborhoods in East Dearborn. New mosques began opening in the 1980s, and Arab entrepreneurs began investing in neglected commercial corridors. But Arab Americans frequently faced discrimination in the housing market and in the public schools, which struggled to address the needs of a large cohort of English language learners. Overcoming discrimination Tensions came to a head in 1985, when Michael Guido won a mayoral race in which the Arab problem, as his described it, pitched the interests of the white working class against new Arab migrants. Arab American activists responded by pushing for more city services in East Dearborn and running for office. Republican Suzanne Sareini was the first Arab American elected to the City Council in 1990. But with at-large elections, those with more Arab-sounding names were at a disadvantage. It took another 20 years, when Arabs became the plurality of the population, before other Arab Americans joined Sareini on the council. Following the al-Qaeda attacks of 9/11, Dearborn became a target for anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia, government surveillance, and harassment. The city became a fixation of national media seeking to make sense of its growing Muslim American minority. Anti-Muslim activists regularly staged Quran-burnings, paraded around ethnic festivals with the heads of pigs on spikes, and threatened to bomb local mosques. Nevertheless, the Arab American community continued to grow and diversify. Iraqi and Syrian refugee populations began to arrive in the 1990s and 2010s, respectively, following wars in their homelands. They settled in Dearborn and on its periphery in Detroit and neighboring suburbs. Together, this new cohort of Arab Americans joined the established community in fighting back against president Donald Trumps Muslim travel ban and other policies that discriminated against refugees, migrants and Muslims by building alliances with Democrats and engaging the broadening civil rights coalition, represented by groups such as Black Lives Matter and the Womens March. Rep. Rashida Tlaibs landmark election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 as the first Palestinian American woman and one of the first two Muslim American women reflects this growing progressive political base for Arab Americans. Her district includes Dearborn and parts of Detroit and other suburbs. New leadership Reflecting the increasing demographic and political clout of the Arab population in Dearborn, Abdullah Hammoud became the citys first Arab American elected mayor in 2021. Hammouds priorities have included creating the citys first Department of Public Health, introducing Narcan vending machines to address the opioid crisis, fighting for clean air in the Southend, and hosting Ramadan festivities and an Eid al-Fitr breakfast. Hes also shown outspoken support for the LGBTQ+ community. Hammoud objected publicly to the congressional censure of Tlaib in 2023 following her remarks about the violence in the Gaza Strip. He also called for an unequivocal cease-fire in Gaza at a time when other Democratic leaders were silent. Dearborn often becomes a topic of global media interest during election years or at times of conflict in the Middle East. That has certainly been true during the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Wall Street Journal recently published an editorial labeling the city as Americas jihad capital, which led to public threats against the city that forced Hammoud to increase police patrols. Public officials, from local leaders to President Joe Biden, have rallied around the city and asked the paper to rescind the editorial and to apologize. So far, it has not. The more interesting story about Dearborn, however, is what happens when the national spotlight is turned off. Then, as we have witnessed decade after decade, the citys residents, Arab and non-Arab, new and old, work to make their home a better, safer, healthier place to raise their families and their voices. Sally Howell, Professor of History, University of Michigan-Dearborn and Amny Shuraydi, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Michigan-Dearborn This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By Tom Athanasiou | This essay was originally published in Foreign Policy in Focus Just before the recent climate summit in Dubai, COP28 president Sultan Al-Jaber, with some exasperation, came out with the following rather amazing statement: Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves. Al-Jabar was posturing when he made this quip about caves, but he can almost be forgiven. We badly need a roadmap for a phase out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development. By noting the lack of one, he underscored its absence. This is true even if he spoke as a flack of the fossil fuel cartel. Speaking of COP28, it helped settle the question of the COPs, which still troubles the climate left. The COPs are easily dismissed as blah blah blah. But they are, in a word, necessary. We would be in far greater trouble without them, and this is true even though the COPs are condemned to make decisions by consensus, even though they engender endless greenwashing, even though, with next years COP29 slated for Azerbaijan, two in a row will be hosted by straight-up petrostates. The climate negotiations are finally circling core issues. COP26 saw a decision to phase down coal, and COP28 opened with the Loss and Damage fund finally lurching into existence. Then came COP28s key decision text, which called for Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science. Only a month laterwith President Bidens move to pause the approval of new liquified natural gas terminals, a decision the White House explicitly linked to COP28 the COP decision demonstrated real world benefits. It could have many more in the future, including outside the United States. Meanwhile, COP29 is set to see the next big battle begin in earnest, as climate finance takes center stage. This battle could (if all goes well) culminate in 2025, where COP30 will be hosted by Lula da Silas Brazil, and deliver a meaningful decision on that crucial front. This is not the time to performatively insist that COP stands for conference of polluters. Having said all this, I must immediately add that the climate negotiations have thus far failed, as decisively witnessed by the steadily rising atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration. COP skeptics are quite right about this. But in their failure the international negotiations are hardly alone. Domestic climate action has had many victories, but it has hardly put us on a path to deep and rapid decarbonization. Nor has the green technology revolution brought planetary emissions into a peak-and-decline pathway. Norand this is not easy to sayhave the worlds direct action and climate justice movements filled the gaps. Politically, they may be everything, but they too have failed to stop the warming. One key point: the COP28 text does not simply call for transitioning away from fossil fuels but rather stipulates that this transition must be just, orderly, and equitable, a much more challenging prospect. This led Sivan Kartha, a climate equity specialist at the Stockholm Environment Institute, to add that the deepest fissure in Dubai was between those who simply want a rapid fossil phase out and those who insist that, to have any hope of success, such a phase out must be fair. Many of us agreebut what does such fairness imply? Embracing Climate Emergency It has become fashionable, yet again, to argue that terms like climate emergency are dangerously demoralizing. Perhaps they are. Unfortunately, they are also accurate. We really do have to aim for net-zero emission by 2050, and that means facing political-economic challenges that are difficult to exaggerate. As are those posed by the closely related 1.5C temperature goal. A graphic is appropriate here. I chose this one: So far, the temperature spike we saw in 2023 is just temporary. For details, see here. There are lots of voices telling us that 1.5C is no longer achievable, but this is not quite true. Rather, 1.5C remains achievable, but only via overshoot and decline pathways in which, sometime after the warming grinds past 1.5C, we manage to claw it back down. What must we do to improve our chances? This is the real question. Were going to go into 1.5C overshoot soon. As we do, even if we assume well be able to draw the temperature back down, we cant know how extreme the overshoot will be, or how long it will last. We cant know because it depends on what happens in the future! Some people, Marxist climate hawk Andreas Malm among them, do not think well be able to pull off the necessary drawdown (Im not an optimist about the human project), though he agrees that it is technically possible. If we seriously intend to keep 1.5C alive (as a long-term goalthink 2100), we must in the short term do everything to keep the temperature peak well below 2C (the weak end of the Paris target), which is widely judged, by top scientists, to still be achievable. But theres a hitch. Even this weaker goal demands, per the IPCC, rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. Its not going to happen in the world as we have it today. If, in 2050, we are approaching true net-zero planetary emissions, well have a good chance of avoiding a world in which the cascading consequences of the warming become unmanageable. Very rapidly building low- and ultra-low emissions energy systems around the world is a necessary step towards that goaland because such systems are emerging, and rapidly dropping in cost, its possible to be honestly optimistic. But such systems are not going to be enough. Net-zero 2050 means going beyond the deployment of new, ultra-low emissions infrastructure to also eliminate existing fossil fuel infrastructure. This means that virtually all countries, be they rich or poor, developed or developing, should immediately stop investing in fossil fuel infrastructure, not least because that infrastructure will have to be decommissionedshut down, mothballed, strandedlong before its worn out. All countries must also very rapidly decommission the fossil fuel infrastructure (e.g. existing oil wells, old coal plants) they already have in placeeven if its profitable and even if people depend on it for their livelihoods. Such a decommissioning process is going to be both expensive and disruptive, in both political and economic terms, and in ways that are particularly hard on poor and insecure populations. In a world geared for rapid transition, these would be tractable challenges, but that would be a world in which we were speaking honestly about the depth and profundity of the necessary transformation, a world in which we were, as per Australian author and analyst David Spratt, in emergency mode. This, obviously, is not our world, which still tends towards greenwashing, soft-pedaling, and small-bore gradualism, if not actual denialism and climate brightsiding. League of Conservation Voters Video: A New England Case Study: Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition Through Offshore Wind The encouraging possibilities are real, dont get me wrong. The green technology revolution really does make it possible for us to save ourselves, and to build new futures. But were still facing almost impossible strategic challenges, and justice is at the heart of many of them. Brave choices are going to be necessary, and a political movement that tries to avoid them will not do well when push comes to shove. As it will, within the lifetimes of our children. A global extraction phase out It will be very difficult to engineer a sufficiently rapid phase out of fossil fuel consumption. But the difficulties are even greater when it comes to fossil fuel extraction and production. Think mining, and drilling, and fracking. There are rich countries like the United States and Norway, which are heavily invested in oil and gas extraction. High-poverty developing countries, like South Africa and India, are heavily invested in coal, while the Democratic Republic of Congo is highly dependent on oil revenue to provide public services. Gulf oil exporters like the United Arab Emirates, the COP28 host, was a developing country before it struck oil. Today, though the UAE may not be developed in the same way as, say, the United States or Germany, it is nonetheless a wealthy, high-capacity country with the money and resources to buffer the turbulence that will come with any rapid abandonment of oil. Which countries deserve more time before they have to stop extracting and selling fossil fuels? The question haunts the climate negotiations, but it is not, in an important sense, the right question at all. The greater truth is that we must do everything to stop the fossil energy pipeline, globally and as soon as possible, and the right question is which countries need supportfinancial, political, and technological supportbefore they can hope to rapidly break their dependency on fossil fuel extraction. All extracting countries plead their cases. The most legitimate pleas come from poor developing countries that are highly dependent on fossil-related revenues and livelihoods. But before this can become obvious, a point of potential confusion must be clearly acknowledged lots of countries call themselves developing, but some of them are a lot richer than others. The good news is that this confusion is dissipating, for reasons that were easy to appreciate in Dubai, the global city of the United Arab Emirate. The UAE, like Saudi Arabia, is an extremely wealthy Gulf oil exporter that, while still officially a member of the Group of 77 developing countries, is not a developing country at all. Why must we say this? Because we must transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, and because as the challenge of a fossil fuel extraction phase out makes particularly clear such a transition is going to be extremely difficult. It is also going to be expensive, which immediately raises the who pays? question. Those who wish to evade this questionthere are many, and they tend to be richseek delay by any available means, and it is important to stress that in the next 10 years aggressively rosy predictions about carbon-dioxide removalwhich would, if real, make a perfect case for delayseem certain to play a leading role in their strategies. In this situation, with uncertainty layered upon complexity upon emergency, optimism is as much a danger as pessimism. For one thing, it is not at all obvious that we will manage to rapidly draw temperatures back down after they overshoot 1.5CMalms pessimism may, in the end, be well placed. For another, all efforts to honestly face the severity of our situation will be endlessly harried by soft-pedaling, false solutions, dangerous distractions, and lies. Politicians everywhere will want all the wiggle room they can get, and meanwhile the fossil cartel will move at every opportunity to deflect all efforts to mandate, or even discuss, the strategic demands of an actual planetary fossil-fuel phase out. Al-Jaber was right: we need that roadmap. On the ground, with war in the air The climate negotiations are marked by endless skirmishing between global North and global South, which will not abate anytime soon. How could it, when our world and its crises are still strongly structured by the uneven and combined development of the colonial past, and the countries of the global North still host the majority of the worlds wealth? Despite this skirmishing, which has for decades kept fossil fuels off the negotiating agenda, COP28 saw the fossil phaseout challenge finally take center stage. Activists and diplomats alike saw this challenge as a litmus test that would show if the climate negotiations were fit for purpose. Will the negotiations take up the challenge, or can they be forever derailed and distracted, while the fossil cartel just continues its relentless expansion? Perhaps well know in a few years, but just now, after Dubai, a bit of guarded optimism may actually be in order. Not everyone in Dubai connected the brutal logic of the climate reckoning to the larger geopolitical crisis, but this crisis hung palpably in the air. COP28 took place in the Arab world, and Gaza did not seem so very far away. The atrocity of the Israeli bombing continued day by excruciating day, and it did not seem that it could be entirely separated from the discussions in the conference halls. The pain was acute within civil society circles. Demonstrations took place, and though they were marginalized by the COPs security regime, they were noticed. Importantly, the ethos of the protests was an expansive one. The bombing, in particular, was not an isolated consequence of local hatreds. There were larger forces at work. The Palestinians had been given to champion the global South. The United Statesthe same United States that refused all talk of climate liabilitywas more than implicated. The term settler colonialism was heard again and again. The war, and war in general, was not a distant abstraction. COPs are not mere climate meetings. The talk is not confined to carbon budgets and energy-system transformation. International debt relief, for example, is now front and center, as is the need for a radically new planetary finance architecture. The global military budgetnow over $2 trillion a yearis a common point of comparison, and a reminder that we routinely subsidize violence on a vast scale. The problem of climate is the problem of history, and history is suddenly a very big problem. As the Financial Times noted, The anecdotal evidence that war is surging round the world is confirmed by the numbers. A recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies documented 183 ongoing conflicts around the world, the highest number in more than three decades. And that figure was arrived at before the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The fraying of the world order is, obviously, a threat to climate cooperation. Beyond this, and beyond the fading illusion that the climate challenge will yield to simple interventions, were still only beginning to come to terms with its implacable sprawl. There is little chance of climate stabilization without a political-economic shift that makes robust cooperation possible, but such a shift isnt going to come cheaply and easily, and simple stories will not help trigger it. How could they when the riddle of climate stabilization is as well the riddle of development, and the riddle of peace? The Gaza bombing is now on the agenda of the International Court of Justice, where it has joined a crowded docket that includes climate change lawsuits and all manner of other infamies. Nor can these all be laid entirely at the feet of the global North. The two million people of Gaza are currently, and justly, in the spotlight, but spare a thought for another two million people, the Rohingya of Myanmar, who have been murdered and expelled by a huge and terrifying wave of anti-Muslim violence. Southern elites are not innocent. And dont forget Russias war in Ukraine, which, in addition to its immediate murderous consequences, is a milestone in the global rights campaign against collective action, including climate action. It has certainly been an enormous setback to the Russian activist campaign for carbon neutrality. Spinning the outcome During COP28s second week, the negotiations were roiled by the leak of a letter that Haitham al-Ghais, the OPEC secretary general, had sent to the 13 members of OPEC. The letter warned that pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, and argued that OPEC members must proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions. This was not an isolated move. There was also, by accounts, a great deal of arm twisting, and even a Saudi walkout. Jennifer Morgan, a long-time civil society climate strategist who is now Special Envoy at the German Foreign Ministry, went so far as to speculate that OPEC might be in a bit of panic. If so, the panic quickly passed. Once COP28 was over, the Saudis argued that the Dubai agreement to transition away from fossil fuels was entirely optional, just one of several choices on an a la carte menu. There are two essential points here. The first is that the OPEC cartel, and the fossil cartel more generally, wants to prevent the transitioning away or phasing out or phasing down frames from taking hold, and argues that emissions (which can, it is said, be captured) are the real problem. This is the core of the greenwashing strategy, and its partisans will use all available arguments in its service, including repeated references to energy justice. Al-Ghais, for example, explains that Our goal must be to reduce emissions, which is the core objective of the Paris Agreement, while ensuring energy security and universal access to affordable energy. OPEC has no intention of scaling back fossil fuel extraction. This could change (one must hope) but there is absolutely no chance that it will do so unless the great powers of the global North have already taken the lead and begun their own fossil fuel extraction phase out. Which is why the Biden administrations decision to scrutinize and hopefully reject a wave of new LNG export terminals, if it survives the counterattacks, could mark a decisive turning point. Talk, after all, is cheap, and just because a countrys delegation supported phase down/out at COP28 (as did the U.S. delegation) this doesnt mean its actual decision makers are ready and able to follow through. At the COP, many of them clearly werent, as is crisply shown in this December 2023 graphic from Carbon Brief: Some countries, or rather the fossil powers within those countries, are planning even greater production increases than the United States is. Some of these (India and Nigeria) are clearly developing countries, while some (Canada, Russia, and Saudi Arabia) are not. Most all fossil-rich countries, whether their history lay with the global North or the global South, are still planning on exploiting their coal, oil, and gas resources for as long as they possibly can, though do note that China is at the encouraging bottom of the chart. All told, despite its complexities, the picture is grim. At the same time, the climate reckoning is arriving, and it finds us everywhere divided between rich and poor. In consequence, the countries of the global South can continue to make compelling appeals to basic levels of developmental justice, and these appeals cannot be easily dismissed, even when they bleed into PR cover for continued fossil investment. The energy poverty of the global South is deadly real, as is its pressing needand its rightto a viable development path, as are the obstacles that todays world system strews in its path. (Note that this chart is somewhat out of date Azerbaijan, which holds the COP29 presidency, has since COP28 announced that it is planning on raising its gas production by a third.) Moving forward To succeed, the fossil fuel phaseout roadmap must be reasonably detailed and properly funded. At the same time, it must sharply increase the development and build-out of low-carbon energy systems. In practice, this roadmap has to include nationally differentiated coal, oil, and gas extraction phaseout timeframes detailed enough to be useful to both government planners and political organizers, and financing strategies that can support them. Given the emergency, these phaseout timeframes will be extremely challenging, as befits the goal of net-zero emissions by or around 2050. We have to be realistic about this, but its not a traditional realism that were after. Traditional realism tells us that the necessary timeframes are unachievable, in large part because countries always hew to their national interests, which can be only slowly changed. Climate realism, on the other hand, tells us that its the pace of the necessary decarbonization, not the politics of the day, that is immutable, and that climate stabilization must come as a solution to a global collective action problem, in which national interests rapidly change. Collective action problemscommons problemshave a special relationship to justice. So, while I have no idea what the orderly part of just, orderly, and equitable is going to wind up meaning, Im confident that justice and equity are going to be key to any successful climate transition. But what kind of justice? And what shape must it take? These questions bring us back to Al-Jabers roadmap, the one for a phase out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development. Its a bear of a problem, but lots of people are working on it. For starters, look at the work of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative. Or Phaseout Pathways for Fossil Fuel Production within Paris-Compliant Carbon Budgets, the Tyndell Centre report that Dan Calverley and Kevin Anderson published in 2022. Or Economic Diversification from Oil Dependency, a report Vincent Yu, a key G77 negotiator, wrote for the Third World Network. Or the many reports of the Civil Society Equity Review, an international collaborative that, full disclosure, I work closely with. The conversation is still in its early days, but there are lots of good ideas floating around. Meanwhile, if were going to use terms like economic diversification and developing countries, lets use them carefully. The challenges here involve differentiation between different kinds of countries and different kinds of circumstances, and they are anything but easy. The obvious example is the Gulf oil exporters like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They may in some sense be developing countries, but they have the money to diversify their economies as they phase out fossil fuel extraction, in ways that other developing countries like Kenya or even India absolutely do not. Harder cases come when you consider China, a hybrid that is both developed and developing, or when you take inequality within countries into proper account. For example, Saudi Arabia is traditionally considered to be a developing country, while the United States is the richest country in the world, but both are brutally divided between rich and poor. Somehow, this has to matter. At the end of the day, the biggest differentiation problem remains the one between the global North and the global South. The challenges here are now widely if not routinely recognized. In Dubai, soon after the COP28 decision was gaveled through, Avinash Persaud, now Barbados special climate envoy, noted that Some activists were disappointed we didnt commit to an immediate fossil fuel phase out. Still, without the trade, investment, and finance to achieve it, it would either have hit developing countries hardest or been meaningless. These points will have to be addressed as the finance challengethe need for a global financial architecture that can support rapid climate transitiontakes center stage. Which brings me to a new report An Equitable Phase Out of Fossil Fuel Extraction: Towards a reference framework for a fast and fair rapid global phase out of coal, oil and gasthe preliminary version of which was released at COP28 by the Extraction Equity Working Group of the Civil Society Equity Review. I cant summarize this report herethough it does sport a fine executive summarybut I do want to explain why its subtitle includes the words towards a reference framework. The explanation, basically, is that a detailed climate transition roadmap is not yet possible. An Equitable Phase Out of Fossil Fuel Extraction thus proposes a framework by which to judge the steps that can be taken in the next few years, to at least indicate if they are fair and ambitious enough to have a real chance. To this end, it concentrates on calculating coal, oil, and gas phaseout dates for all major fossil fuel producing countriesheres a scatterplot with the oil dates; scroll right or left for coal and gasand on estimating the minimum level of annual international public finance that will be needed to support these phase outs. This minimum is denominated in hundreds of billions of dollars a year. An Equitable Phase Out of Fossil Fuel Extraction argues that, if we would limit warming to 1.5C, all countries must immediately cease to build new fossil fuel extraction infrastructure. Further, wealthy fossil fuel producers whose overall economies are less dependent on fossil extractionsuch as the United States, UK, Australia, Norway, Germany, and Canadamust phase out all fossil fuel extraction by 2031, while also providing significant financial support to poorer countries that are economically dependent on fossil fuel revenues and employment. Such poorer countries are given until 2050, though they too must be wrapping things up much earlier. One key point, in all this, should never be forgotten. The unrealistic nature of these dates is not the result of any equity-side logicin which we try to model a fair phase outbut rather derives from the implacable constraints imposed by the Earths nearly-depleted 1.5C emissions budget. To push these deadlines out, say to 2060 or 2070, we must either weaken our temperature goal or we must assumeas the geoengineers will incessantly encourage us to dothat gigatons upon gigatons of carbon-dioxide can very soon, and affordably, and safely, be collected and concentrated and sequestered away. Back to the ground After Dubai, much of the lefts commentary focused on criticizing the late-game negotiations in which phase out was replaced by transitioning away, as if such diplomatic wordsmithing was only a watering down, as if it revealed the compromised truth at the core of a meaningless negotiation. For the activists embedded in the negotiations, the sense was different. They generally agreed that Dubai had sent the necessary signaldespite everything, the worlds governments have decided the fossil economy has to go. Bill McKibben, to my mind, had the right take on this disagreement when he argued that the transitioning away phrase will hang over every discussion from now onespecially the discussions about any further expansion of fossil fuel energy. In a nutshell, he argued that the diplomats forged a tool and its up to us all to wield it. The Dubai decision is of course limited. But its real weakness has more to do with loopholes and omissions than with any fine point of diplomatic wording. And the greatest of its omissions is financial: there is no agreement on how the phaseout will be funded. Harjeet Singh, now the Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, put the overall picture succinctly and well, A long-overdue direction to move away from coal, oil, and gas has been set. Yet, the resolution is marred by loopholes that offer the fossil fuel industry numerous escape routes, relying on unproven, unsafe technologies. The hypocrisy of wealthy nations, particularly the USA, as they continue to expand fossil fuel operations massively while merely paying lip service to the green transition, stands exposed. Developing countries, still dependent on fossil fuels for energy, income, and jobs, are left without robust guarantees for adequate financial support in their urgent and equitable transition to renewables. COP28 recognised the immense financial shortfall in tackling climate impacts, but the final outcomes fall disappointingly short of compelling wealthy nations to fulfil their financial responsibilitiesobligations amounting to hundreds of billions, which remain unfulfilled. Harjeet is being diplomatic when he refers to hundreds of billions, a figure that echoes the one used in the Equitable Phase Out of Fossil Fuel Extraction report. It seems to be the formulation of choice these days, at least when civil society researchers and activists want to assert financial markers large enough to move the window, but small enough to be taken as realistic. Its important to understand that figures of this scale refer to public moniesgrants and grant equivalentsand that theyve lately been sharing the stage with references to trillions, which are typically private monies framed as investments. As in Dubais high-level Leaders Declaration, which spoke of the opportunities that lay in investing $5-7tn annually in greening the global economy by 2030. The elites, left to their own devices, are far more likely to deliver on ambitious private finance pledges than on ambitious public ones. Investment is something they know how to do. But a future defined by investment and insurance and loans and aid is unlikely be a future that takes proper account of even deep decarbonization, let alone the challenges of development in a climate-constrained world, let alone people-centered adaptation and an ethically defensible loss and damage response and recovery system. Which is to say that, unless we win a comprehensive climate finance breakthrough, all hope for a fair, orderly, and equitable transition will be abandoned in favor of a short-term neoliberal expediency that is unlikely to deliver the global just transition we actually need. The challenge here encompasses everything from the historical responsibility of the global North to the debt crisis now wracking the global South to the inequality crisis raging in both North and South. Not to mention the crisis of democracy and the endless techno-economic complexities of the great rebuilding thats now on the horizon. Bracket all this for now, but know that the next international battle will be fought over finance. Its about time. Tom Athanasiou This essay was originally published in Foreign Policy in Focus Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Dutch News reports that an appeals court in The Hague, Netherlands, has ruled that the Dutch government must cease sending spare parts for the F-35 fighter-jet to Israel. The spare parts are technically owned by the U.S., but are kept in storage at Woensdrecht Air Base. The news site quotes Judge Bas Boele as saying, It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law. NL Times adds that the court said, Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences of its attacks for the civilian population. Israels attacks on Gaza have resulted in a disproportionate number of civilian casualties, including thousands of children. The court noted that the Netherlands is signatory to treaties and instruments that make it unlawful under Dutch law to pursue such exports if a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law exists. An Oxfam spokesman expressed his hope to Aljazeera that the ruling would have an impact on other European exporters of military weaponry to Israel. Oxfam is providing aid in Gaza and its workers report that the situation there is dire. F-35s need three hours of maintenance for every one hour of flying, and constantly need spare parts to keep flying. They are used both for surveillance and for bombing runs. Although these stories do not say so, it seems clear that the ruling of the International Court of Justice on January 26 that it is plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, in which it issued a preliminary injunction against Tel Aviv, played a central role in shaping the views of the judges in The Hague. The ICJ had written, The Court considers that the civilian population in the Gaza Strip remains extremely vulnerable. It recalls that the military operation conducted by Israel after 7 October 2023 has resulted, inter alia, in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries and the destruction of homes, schools, medical facilities and other vital infrastructure, as well as displacement on a massive scale . . . The Court notes that the operation is ongoing and that the Prime Minister of Israel announced on 18 January 2024 that the war will take many more long months. At present, many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have no access to the most basic foodstuffs, potable water, electricity, essential medicines or heating. Even President Joe Biden has referred to Israeli bombing as indiscriminate, which is a war crime. Biden, however, has not lifted a finger to stop that bombing, which makes him complicit in the war crime. Israel could not continue to thumb its nose at the International Court of Justice unless the US resupplied it with weapons and ammunition on a daily, real-time basis. A lower court had rejected the case just last month, and this reversal points to the impact of the ICJ decision. Aljazeera English Video: Dutch government to appeal court order to halt export of F-35 jet parts to Israel According to Dutch News, Liesbeth Zegveld, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said, We are extremely relieved, at a news conference held after the ruling. The case was brought by Oxfam Novib, Pax Nederland and The Rights Forum. The government had said last fall that it knew there were potential human rights issues with the export to Israel of the military spare parts, but did not actually do anything about it. It says it will appeal. The court, however, says that the exports must cease during the appeal process. NL Times reports that outgoing center-right Prime Minister Mark Ruttes Ministry of General Affairs asked the Legal Affairs Directorate at Foreign Affairs: What can we say so that it appears as if Israel is not committing war crimes? Rutte played down the report on the grounds that asking questions is normal. 3rd Party Processing Adds over 40,000 ounces AgEq* VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Vancouver, British Columbia - Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR) (OTCQX:GSVRF) is pleased to provide a production update for the month of January 2024. Production results are generated from the Company's wholly owned El Cubo Mines Complex ("El Cubo"), Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC"), and San Ignacio Mine ("San Ignacio") in Guanajuato, Mexico, the Topia Mine ("Topia") in Durango, Mexico, and the El Horcon Mine ("Horcon") located in Jalisco, Mexico. January 2024 Operations Highlights Production during the month of 329,934 silver-equivalent ounces (" AgEq* ") is the 2 ND highest level of production in the Company's history, and is derived from 141,854 ounces of silver; 1,843 ounces of gold; 279,726 pounds of lead; and 269,276 pounds of zinc. Guanajuato Silver is primarily a precious metals producer; over 90% of silver-equivalent production for the month was derived from silver and gold. (" ") is the 2 highest level of production in the Company's history, and is derived from 141,854 ounces of silver; 1,843 ounces of gold; 279,726 pounds of lead; and 269,276 pounds of zinc. Guanajuato Silver is primarily a precious metals producer; over 90% of silver-equivalent production for the month was derived from silver and gold. First month of recently announced 3 rd party processing agreement adds 40,862 AgEq* ounces, this represented 12% of total consolidated production for the month. (See Guanajuato Silver news release dated January 17 th - "Guanajuato Silver Commences Processing 3 rd Party Gold and Silver at El Cubo"). this represented 12% of total consolidated production for the month. (See Guanajuato Silver news release dated January 17 - "Guanajuato Silver Commences Processing 3 Party Gold and Silver at El Cubo"). Total tonnes mined in January over December increased by 32% to total 56,691 tonnes. Guanajuato Silver processes mineralized material at three production facilities: El Cubo, Cata (VMC), and Topia. to total 56,691 tonnes. Guanajuato Silver processes mineralized material at three production facilities: El Cubo, Cata (VMC), and Topia. Horcon generated 10,183 AgEq* ounces for the month; to date, the El Horcon mine has produced over 37,000 AgEq* ounces since processing of stockpiled material commenced in late 2023, (See GSilver news release dated November 7, 2023 - "Guanajuato Silver Initiates Processing of Mineralized Material from El Horcon Mine"). Additional stockpiles exist in the immediate El Horcon area; moreover, the processing of mineralized material from El Horcon is providing valuable information for understanding the potential for underground mining operations. ounces for the month; to date, the El Horcon mine has produced over 37,000 AgEq* ounces since processing of stockpiled material commenced in late 2023, (See GSilver news release dated November 7, 2023 - "Guanajuato Silver Initiates Processing of Mineralized Material from El Horcon Mine"). Additional stockpiles exist in the immediate El Horcon area; moreover, the processing of mineralized material from El Horcon is providing valuable information for understanding the potential for underground mining operations. Dewatering of the Villalpando area of El Cubo is opening up new zones of deeper, higher-grade material; mining teams are already working in new areas of the mine that have recently become accessible. By April, dewatering of additional sections of Villalpando is projected to open-up mining blocks that have demonstrated historical grades of over 350g/t AgEq**. mining teams are already working in new areas of the mine that have recently become accessible. By April, dewatering of additional sections of Villalpando is projected to open-up mining blocks that have demonstrated historical grades of over 350g/t AgEq**. At Topia, changes to the business model are proving successful; the adding of additional mine contractors is currently underway and is expected to increase current production volumes by up to 20%. For the month of January, Topia produced 85,083 AgEq* ounces. James Anderson, Chairman and CEO, said, "The processing of 3rd party mineralized material is already having a substantial impact on total production output; furthermore, El Horcon is generating consistent results and was responsible for over 3% of total AgEq production for the month. These two sources of mineralized material represent a significant component of total production and have contributed to generate our highest volume of silver-equivalent production since May 2023. January's results are further confirmation that the adjustments and efficiency upgrades implemented at our mines during the later-half of 2023 have us on-track in terms of quarter-over-quarter increases in precious metals production. In addition to maintaining a steady ramp-up at our three production facilities, we will continue to make the securing of additional 3rd party processing agreements a focus for 2024." January, 2024 Mined Tonnes 56,691 Milled Tonnes 56,950 Gold Recovery 88.7% Silver Recovery 88.2% Lead Recovery 89.9% Zinc Recovery 81.4% Gold Ounces Produced 1,843 Silver Ounces Produced 141,854 Lead Pounds Produced 279,726 Zinc Pounds Produced 269,276 Total AgEq* Ounces 329,934 *Silver equivalents (AgEq) are calculated using an 89.51:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio. ** Historical silver equivalents calculated using 80:1 (Ag/Au). Technical Information Hernan Dorado Smith, a director and officer of GSilver and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Smith has verified the data that supports the technical information disclosed in this press release by reviewing production reports from each of the Company's mining operations. About Guanajuato Silver GSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The Company produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, and the San Ignacio mine; all three mines are located within the state of Guanajuato, which has an established 480-year mining history. Additionally, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango. With four operating mines and three processing facilities, Guanajuato Silver is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "James Anderson" Chairman and CEO For further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact: JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gsilver.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 news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the dewatering of additional sections of Villalpando being projected to open-up mining blocks that have demonstrated historically grades of over 350g/t AgEq*; the addition of additional mine contractors at Topia and its expected to increase current production volumes by up to 20%; expected quarter-over-quarter increases in precious metals production; the steady ramp-up at the Company's three production facilities; securing of additional 3rd party processing agreements being a focus for 2024; and the Company's status as one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and expectations and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: our estimates of mineralized material at El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio and Topia and the assumptions upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; available tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; resource grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to production estimates; the ability of the Company to ramp up processing of mineralized material at Cata at the projected rates and source sufficient high grade mineralized material to fill such processing capacity; prices for silver, gold and other metals remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and to satisfy current liabilities and obligations including debt repayments; capital cost estimates; decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation) and inflation rates remaining as estimated; no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements and information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of GSilver to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, currency rate fluctuations, rising inflation and interest rates, actual results of production, exploration and development activities, actual resource grades and recoveries of silver, gold and other metals, availability of third party mineralized material for processing, unanticipated geological or structural formations and characteristics, geopolitical conflicts including wars, environmental risks, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, equipment or personnel delays, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, inadequate insurance, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that GSilver will be able to successfully discover and mine sufficient quantities of high grade mineralized material at El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio and Topia for processing at its existing mills to increase production, tonnage milled and recoveries rates of gold, silver, and other metals in the amounts, grades, recoveries, costs and timetable anticipated. In addition, GSilver's decision to process mineralized material from El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio, Topia and its other mines is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and therefore is subject to increased uncertainty and risk of failure, both economically and technically. Mineral resources and mineralized material that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them, and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. There are no assurances that the Company's projected production of silver, gold and other metals will be realized. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its production forecasts or generate the anticipated cash flows from operations to satisfy its scheduled debt payments or other liabilities when due or meet financial covenants to which the Company is subject or to fund its exploration programs and corporate initiatives as planned. There is also uncertainty about the continued spread and severity of COVID-19, the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com including the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law. VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. (Defense Metals or the Company) (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to provide an update on the metallurgical work programs, undertaken by SGS Canada Inc. (SGS) and the ongoing Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) work by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) and Hatch Limited (Hatch), for its wholly-owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project located in British Columbia, Canada. Highlights of Metallurgical Test Work and PFS-related Matters The metallurgical test work required for the PFS has been completed. Multiple bench-scale flotation and flotation pilot plant test work resulted in the production of a high-grade mineral concentrate containing 50% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) with an 80% recovery rate, which will be included in the PFS for the first 8 years of mine-life. Bench-scale and hydrometallurgical pilot plant test work shows that the planned acid bake process will deliver approximately 90% TREO extraction from the mineral concentrate to a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate product. The PFS plant flowsheets are completed, based on the metallurgical test work, and equipment specifications have been issued to vendors for cost quotations. The field-based geotechnical, geochemical and environmental test work required for the PFS has been completed and lab-based studies are in progress. Other PFS tasks, including open pit mine design and tailings storage trade-off studies, are well advanced. Economic evaluation and cashflow modelling are in progress. PFS report completion in the second quarter of 2024 is on schedule. Eleven mixed rare earth precipitate samples from the hydrometallurgical test work have been sent to potential partners, processors or end-users. Over the past 5 years, Defense Metals drilled 58 core holes totalling 12,073 metres (m; ~39,610 feet) to define the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit and provide samples for metallurgical test work. This work resulted in measured and indicated (M+I) resources of 34.2 million tonnes, averaging 2.02% TREO1, inclusive of 17.8 million tonnes of high-grade dolomite carbonatite averaging 2.92% TREO, in addition to inferred resources of 11.1 million tonnes, averaging 1.02% TREO. This represents a 260% increase over the Defense Metals initial 2019 mineral resource estimate, and a conversion to M+I of 101% of the prior 2021 mineral resource estimate. Total expenditures on the Wicheeda REE Project since 2019, including costs for mineral resource estimate definition, all metallurgical test work, earlier studies and the remaining PFS-related costs are in excess of CAD $17.5 million . Defense Metals has entered into a strategic Co-Design Agreement with the McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB), the First Nations community having the traditional territory on which the Wicheeda Project sits. ____________________________________ 1 TREO % is the sum of CeO 2 , La 2 O 3 , Nd 2 O 3 , Pr 6 O 11 , Sm 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , Tb 4 O 7 , Dy 2 O 3 and Ho 2 O 3 percentages. Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "Continuing positive results from our technical studies suggest that our wholly-owned Wicheeda REE Project has the potential to become the next producer of rare earth elements in North America accounting for a significant amount of the rare earths needed for the western world's future magnet metal production. We look forward to completing and filing the PFS for the Wicheeda REE Project in Q2-2024 and, subject to financing, moving directly into our feasibility study." Metallurgical Test Work Extensive comminution, beneficiation, hydrometallurgical, and environmental tests have been completed and the resulting data have been applied in the PFS. These tests have studied development and optimization of milling and hydrometallurgical processes and the response of twenty-one variability samples representing different REE grades, lithologies and locations within the deposit. From 2018 to date, about CAD$5 million has been spent on metallurgical test work and the development of the metallurgical flowsheets for the Wicheeda REE Project. has been spent on metallurgical test work and the development of the metallurgical flowsheets for the Wicheeda REE Project. Thirty-one samples of deposit material, flotation and hydrometallurgical products have been subjected to detailed mineralogical examination. Twenty-one samples have been subjected to Bond milling index and SMC comminution tests. 210 open circuit flotation tests and seven locked cycle flotation tests, of samples ranging from 1 to 12 kilograms ( kg ), and a 26-tonne pilot flotation operation have been completed. ), and a 26-tonne pilot flotation operation have been completed. Sixty-three static acid bake tests, sixteen short-duration acid bake kiln runs with associated water leach tests were completed. Additionally, SGS completed a total of 15 days of continuous kiln operation (in one 5-day and one 10-day segment) as part of a fully integrated hydrometallurgical pilot plant operation that processed 560 kg of flotation concentrate. Approximately 40 bench-scale impurity removal tests were done as well as about 40 rare earth precipitation tests and results incorporated in the integrated hydrometallurgical pilot plant operation and the project process design criteria. Many other small-scale tests examined water recycle options and other aspects of the metallurgical flowsheets. The liquid-solid separation characteristics of the flotation plant products and those of the hydrometallurgical plant have been determined through appropriate thickening and filtration tests. ____________________________ Technical Report for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, British Columbia, Canada, dated October 27, 2023, with an effective date of August 28, 2023, and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. is filed under Defense Metals Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) and on the Company's website at www.defensemetals.com. PFS Plant Design Results from the metallurgical test work have been used to develop flowsheets for the planned comminution, beneficiation and hydrometallurgical plants. These flowsheets have been completed, reviewed and used to generate major equipment specifications for grinding mills, kilns, etc., which have been issued to equipment suppliers for quotes. The metallurgical process design, engineering and costing is on track to allow completion of the PFS in Q2 of 2024. Optimization of Open Pit Mining Geotechnical investigation work for the mine design and pit optimization was performed by SRK and completed in December 2023. This work included sixteen geotechnical drill holes totaling 225.5 m, and twenty excavated overburden geotechnical test pits. Within the Wicheeda REE deposit pit shell, six diamond drill holes totaling 1,182 m were completed, inclusive of 4 open pit geotechnical drill holes totaling 920 m, and in-pit exploration holes totaling 262 m. Pit design work is underway, incorporating the latest geotechnical information provided from the 2023 geotechnical drilling program. Community Engagement Defense Metals entered into a Co-Design Agreement with the McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB) (see news release dated January 17, 2024), thus solidifying a joint commitment to the successful advancement of the Wicheeda REE Project. The Co-Design Agreement emphasizes a joint planning approach, empowering MLIB to play an integral part in the design and decision-making process in the technical, social, engineering and environmental aspects of the Wicheeda REE Project. This agreement expands upon the Mineral Exploration Agreement Memorandum of Understanding previously entered into with MLIB. The McLeod Lake Indian Band purchased an equity stake in Defense Metals, signalling their long-term commitment to the success of the Wicheeda REE Project. Infrastructure and Tailings Management Studies Tradeoff studies are being performed on the various options being considered for tailings management and infrastructure locations are being determined. The Wicheeda REE Project has excellent infrastructure and logistics, which are expected to allow for lower operating and capital costs, including: The future mine site and beneficiation plant will be located: along a permitted Forest Service Road approximately 38 km east from the paved John Hart Provincial Highway at the community of Bear Lake . ~37 km from the Canadian National Railway mainline. ~36 km from the main natural gas distribution pipeline.. ~34 km from high-voltage powerlines that supply BC with abundant green hydroelectric power. ~ 110 km from an international airport in Prince George British Columbia has a long history of mining and its industry participants are recognized worldwide as expert in open pit mining and mineral processing. has a long history of mining and its industry participants are recognized worldwide as expert in open pit mining and mineral processing. Prince George is a major industrial center supplying both the mining and wood products industries. Most of the equipment that will be required for the mining operation will be supplied by companies already established in the area. is a major industrial center supplying both the mining and wood products industries. Most of the equipment that will be required for the mining operation will be supplied by companies already established in the area. Multiple options exist for location of the hydrometallurgical plant site close to reagent supply. Easy access to the year-round port of Prince Rupert , the closest North American port to Asian markets. Environmental Test Work and Field Studies Environmental and geochemical test work has been performed on both flotation and hydrometallurgical plant products and mixtures thereof. Data have been used by SRK in the design of facilities. Surface water sampling and field investigations commenced in 2022 and will continue through 2024. The results of these and future environmental investigations will be used to inform siting, design, and mitigation planning as well as to prepare technical data reports to support Environmental Assessment and permitting processes. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information concerning metallurgy and processing contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Project has been reviewed and approved by J.R. Goode, P.Eng., a metallurgical consultant to the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. This news release has also been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), a technical consultant to the Company, a Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda REE Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada. The Wicheeda REE Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads and is close to infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia. Defense Metals Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DEFN", in the United States, trading symbol "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D" Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca . For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact: Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd. Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: (778) 994 8072 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information or Statements This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to completion of the PFS and the expected timelines, the completion of additional work and studies and the expected timelines, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, completing the PFS and progressing towards a feasibility study, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com). While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical, engineering and pricing assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, officers or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV) (the "Company" or "Highlander Silver") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Federico G. Velasquez to its Board of Directors. Mr. Velasquez has over 20 years of experience in project and operational roles in the natural resources sector leading strategic, regulatory, environmental, government, indigenous, sustainability, community, and crisis management duties in Africa, North and Latin America, and Australia. As President, Latin America, Mr. Velasquez has been leading Solaris Resources Warintza Project in Ecuador for the past five years, successfully implementing an unprecedented participatory mining model with Shaur communities. David Fincham, Highlander's President and CEO commented, "Federico joins the Board after a transformational year for the Company. During 2023, Highlander acquired the La Estrella silver-gold project, and executed a share purchase agreement with SSR Mining Inc for the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project, both in Peru. With dual Peruvian and Canadian nationality, Federico will provide special insight to support our community and government engagement plans, and his local knowledge is complemented by extensive international experience and expertise in the government, regulatory, environmental and public relations areas. His track record of building long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with a wide range of stakeholders will be extremely valuable as we work to add value to our project portfolio.On behalf of the Board, I welcome Federico to the team." Federico Velasquez commented, "I'm honoured to join Highlander Silver's Board. David, Fabian, and Graeme have accomplished the creation of an active, innovative, and growth-focused exploration company. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to Highlander's growth and discovery potential". About Highlander Silver Highlander Silver Corp., backed by the Augusta Group and the Lundin Family, is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of exceptional silver-gold projects in the Central Andes, leveraging the team's significant technical and operational experience in Peru and South America more widely. Currently the Company is developing the La Estrella project in central Peru. Highlander Silver announced entering into a share purchase agreement for the San Luis project from SSR on November 30th 2023. Closing of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Closing is currently expected to occur in Q1 2024. The Company is listed on the CSE under the ticker symbol HSLV and additional information about Highlander Silver and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.highlandersilver.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. For further information, please contact: David Fincham Chief Executive Officer Highlander Silver Corp. (604) 283 7630 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, information or statements with respect to the future exploration plans of the Company and the acquisition of the San Luis gold-silver project, which has not yet closed.Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, the actual results of current exploration activities, , changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, accident, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing. Although the Company 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 could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. 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 statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cosa Resources Corp. (TSX-V: COSA) (OTCQB: COSAF) (FSE: SSKU) (Cosa or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc., on behalf of itself and a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the Underwriters) who have agreed to purchase, or arrange for substitute purchasers, on a bought deal private placement basis, 2,128,000 hard dollar units of the Company (the Hard Dollar Units) at a price of C$0.47 per Hard Dollar Unit (the Hard Dollar Issue Price), and 5,603,000 charity flow-through units of the Company (the Charity FT Units, and together with the Hard Dollar Units, the Units) at a price of C$0.714 per Charity FT Unit (the Charity FT Issue Price), for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$5,000,702 (collectively, the Offering). Each Hard Dollar Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a Share) plus one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole such warrant, a Warrant). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one Share of the Company that qualifies as a flow-through share within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as an eligible flow-through share as defined in The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan) plus one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of C$0.67 for 24 months following the completion of the Offering. The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration provision whereby, if for any ten consecutive trading days, the closing price of the Shares exceeds $1.20 per Share on the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company may announce by way of press release that the expiry date of the Warrants will be accelerated to 30 days thereafter. In addition, the Company has agreed to grant the Underwriters an option (the Over-Allotment Option), exercisable in whole or in part by Haywood, at any time up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an additional number of Units, in any combination of Hard Dollar Units and/or Charity FT Units, equal to 15% of the total Units issuable pursuant to the Offering at the respective issue prices above. The Company understands that purchasers of the Charity FT Units may immediately resell or donate some or all of the Charity FT Units to registered charities, who may sell such units (the Resale Units) concurrent with closing of the Offering to purchasers arranged by the Underwriters at a price per Resale Unit equal to the Hard Dollar Issue Price. The gross proceeds from the sale of Charity FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), and to incur eligible flow-through mining expenditures pursuant to The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan) (collectively, the Qualifying Expenditures) related to the Companys uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2025. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Charity FT Units effective December 31, 2024. The net proceeds from the sale of Hard Dollar Units will be used to fund exploration and for additional working capital purposes. The Units will be offered to purchasers pursuant to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions in all of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and/or in other jurisdictions as agreed to between the Company and the Underwriters. The Units will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offering is expected to close on or about March 5, 2024 (the Closing Date). The Company will pay to the Underwriters a cash commission of 5.0% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering, other than in respect of Units issued to certain purchasers on a presidents list to be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters (the Presidents List), in which case the commission in respect of such issuance shall be equal to 3.0%. In addition, the Company will issue to the Underwriters compensation options, exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of Shares which is equal to 6.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to the Hard Dollar Issue Price, other than in respect of Units issued to purchasers on the Presidents List, in which case the Company will not issue any compensation options. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Cosa Resources Corp. Cosa Resources is a Canadian uranium exploration company operating in northern Saskatchewan. The portfolio comprises roughly 200,000 ha across multiple projects in the Athabasca Basin region, all of which are underexplored, and the majority reside within or adjacent to established uranium corridors. Cosas award-winning management team has a long track record of success in Saskatchewan. In 2022, members of the Cosa team were awarded the AME Colin Spence Award for their previous involvement in discovering IsoEnergys Hurricane deposit. Prior to Hurricane, Cosa personnel led teams or had integral roles in the discovery of Denison Mines Gryphon deposit and 92 Energy's Gemini Zone and held key roles in the founding of both NexGen and IsoEnergy. Cosas primary focus through 2024 is initial drilling at their Ursa Project, which captures over 60-kilometres of strike length of the Cable Bay Shear Zone, a regional structural corridor with known mineralization and limited historical drilling. It potentially represents the last remaining eastern Athabasca corridor to not yet yield a major discovery. Modern geophysics completed by Cosa in 2023 identified multiple high-priority target areas characterized by conductive basement stratigraphy beneath or adjacent to broad zones of inferred sandstone alteration a setting that is typical of most eastern Athabasca uranium deposits. Contact Keith Bodnarchuk, President & CEO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1 888-899-2672 (COSA) 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 Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that Cosa expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the closing date of the Offering, proposed use of proceeds of the Offering and the tax treatment of the Charity FT Units. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on managements reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on managements experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Companys ability to operate in a safe and effective manner. These statements reflect the Companys respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the future tax treatment of the Charity FT Units, competitive risks and the availability of financing; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified in the Companys public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Big Gold Inc. (CSE: BG) (FSE: H7L) (the "Company" or "Big Gold") is pleased to announce positive assay results from its previously announced infill sampling program ("Infill Sampling") at the Tabor Property ("Tabor" or the "Project"), located in the heart of the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Infill Sampling was designed to analyze previously sampled and unsampled intervals of historical drill core with the objective of adding new gold mineralization at the Project (See Figure 1 and Figure 2). Drill hole RS-83-01 returned significant mineralization, intersecting 1.5 metres ("m") of 10.9 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au"), 34.1 g/t silver ("Ag"), 0.5 % copper ("Cu"), and 1.8 % zinc ("Zn"), including 0.8 m of 20.8 g/t Au, 56.9 g/t Ag, 0.7% Cu, and 3.3% Zn in previously sampled core (Notable intersections outlined in Table 1). Drillhole ID Previously Sampled From (m) To (m) Width (m) Sample Number Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Zn (%) RS-83-01 Yes 28.72 28.94 0.22 F370094 0.29 4.30 0.13 0.03 Yes 28.94 29.24 0.30 F370095 20.10 37.30 0.55 2.43 Yes 29.24 29.70 0.46 F370096 21.30 69.70 0.86 3.93 Yes 29.70 30.18 0.48 F370097 0.13 11.60 0.23 0.11 No 39.54 40.54 1.00 F370025 0.21 0.25 0.01 0.02 RS-83-02 Yes 28.65 29.20 0.55 F370101 1.84 17.00 0.05 0.43 RS-83-07 No 39.30 40.30 1.00 F370058 0.15 0.25 0.01 0.02 No 48.50 49.50 1.00 F370062 0.02 0.60 0.02 0.18 Yes 169.70 170.27 0.57 F370084 0.22 0.70 0.01 0.02 RS-83-14 No 6.56 8.00 1.44 F370026 0.11 0.25 0.03 0.02 Yes 61.84 62.60 0.76 F370088 0.61 1.30 0.01 0.14 Yes 62.60 63.80 1.20 F370089 2.09 1.50 0.01 0.02 Yes 63.80 64.46 0.66 F370091 3.93 2.70 0.04 0.05 Table 1 - Highlights of Infill Sampling at the Tabor Property "Utilizing the Infill Sampling results with the 2023 desktop compilation and surface sampling results will help us better define our first drilling campaign targets in the East Divide zone. We are aiming to kickstart this drilling in mid-2024, after completion of a ground IP survey," remarked Scott Walters, CEO of Big Gold. He added, "The assay results from the Infill Sampling have improved our geological understanding of the zone and suggest that there is a high likelihood that Goldshore's gold trend continues onto our property, something we hope the drilling will attest to in 2024." Infill Sampling and Exploration Plan Summary The Infill Sampling program gave Big Gold access to historic core samples drilled in the East Divide area of the Project in 1983 from the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines ("MNDM") Thunder Bay Core Library, which is home to an extensive collection of approximately 100,000 m of historic core from the Thunder Bay Mining District. Figure 1 - Drill Hole Locations Sampled at the Tabor Property In previously unsampled core, three of the four drill holes intersected low-grade gold mineralization within 10 m of the hole end, indicating further potential at depth. Drill hole RS-83-01 intersected 0.2 g/t Au over 1.0 m at the bottom of hole. Additionally, hole RS-83-07 intersected 0.2 g/t Au over 0.6 m; hole RS-83-14 intersected near-surface gold mineralization grading 0.1 g/t Au over 1.4 m. These results confirm the extension of the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt onto the Tabor Property. The presence of gold and base metal mineralization within quartz veining associated with shear zones, often at the junctions of mafic and intermediate volcanics, is reminiscent of Goldshore Resources Inc.'s ("Goldshore") Moss Lake deposit ("Moss Lake"). Figure 2 - Cross Section of Infill Sampled Drill Hole Highlights The Infill Sampling yielded valuable insights at a minimal cost, including: Verification of historic core to confirm lithology, mineralization, alteration, veining, and structures previously logged Acquisition of historic core photographs for archival and future reference 69 in-fill samples (half-core) from previously unsampled core segments 26 new samples of previously sampled core sections for zone confirmation Phase 2 Plan for Priority Targets Surface Exploration : Additional field visits may take place to define targets for further detailed mapping and sampling of outcrops. Re-logging and Sampling of Historic Core : Four historic drill holes on the Property have been sampled, results are in progress. IP Survey : Plans are in place to conduct IP surveys, aiming to provide new exploration targets and improved targeting for the 2024 drilling. Drill Program: Utilizing all of the data collected in 20323 and 2024, the Company will design its initial drill campaign to discover new gold mineralization. About the Tabor Project Tabor is adjacent to the east, along trend of the Goldshore's Moss Lake gold deposit that hosts a current resource of 6.73 million ounces gold, including an Indicated Resource of 1.535 million ounces gold grading 1.23 g/t and an Inferred Resource of 5.198 million ounces gold at a grade of 1.11 g/t* and is located approximately 20 km to the west of the Delta Resources Delta-1 Project ("Delta-1")*. Gold mineralization on the Project is believed to be associated with quartz veins, shearing and sulphides. Geological and mineralization characteristics at Tabor are similar to those found on some of the Company's neighbouring properties, including Moss Lake where 2.17 g/t Au over 50.35 m was reported during their recent drilling and at the Delta-1, where they recently reported a drill intercept of 1.29 g/t Au over 97 m. Qualified Person Bruce Durham, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person, as that term is defined by Canadian regulatory guidelines under NI 43-101, and has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. *The Project is at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties, and proximity to projects containing gold resources offers no assurance that the rock types or gold resources reported by Goldshore and others extend onto the Projects and such proximity is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization reported by third parties with projects in the district. About Big Gold Inc. Big Gold Inc. is a junior mining exploration company. Its initial focus is to conduct Exploration Programs on the Martin Kenty and Tabor projects located in Ontario. Big Gold will also continue to consider other opportunities as they arise, with the objective of acquiring and exploring early-stage base and precious metal projects. Learn more about the Company on its website: https://biggold.ca/. For more information, please contact investor relations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Scott Walters President and CEO Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has held a meeting with President of COP29, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev in Dubai, Trend reports, referring to Georgieva's post on X. "It was great to meet Azerbaijan's COP29 President-Designate, Mukhtar Babayev, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit. We had a fantastic conversation on goals for COP29 and how the IMF might support the global effort to address the implications of climate change," she said. The COP28, COP29, and COP30 leaders' meetings and a number of topical panels were held in Dubai. Mukhtar Babayev spoke at the panel discussion "Combating Climate Change through the Promotion of Sustainable Finance.". The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in November 2024 in Baku. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Power Metals Corp. ("Power Metals" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: PWM) (FRANKFURT: OAA1) (OTCQB: PWRMF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Haydn Daxter as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Daxter has over 20 years of experience in exploration and mining across Australia, Africa, and Canada. He is a geologist with a vast background in remote and challenging projects within the gold, lithium, and iron ore sectors. He recently held the role of Exploration Manager with Ardiden Limited (ASX: ADV) for over 4 years and has held various senior roles in Operations, Project Management, Logistics, and has an impressive track record in delivering results whilst adding shareholder value. Mr. Daxter holds a Bachelor of Geoscience in Mineral Deposits and is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Power Metals' current CEO, Mr. Gerry Brockelsby, will remain with the Company as a strategic advisor. The Company thanks Mr. Brockelsby for his time served as Chief Executive Officer and looks forward to his continued commitment to the Company. Johnathan More, Power Metals' Chairman & Founder commented, "We are very pleased to have Mr. Haydn Daxter take the helm as CEO. He will play a very large role in overseeing our upcoming drill program that will be commencing shortly. Additionally, Power Metals will benefit tremendously from his connections in Australia which will give us exposure and visibility to their large lithium and cesium marketplace. I also want to thank Gerry Brockelsby for making room for Haydn's appointment as he transitions to a strategic advisor." About Power Metals Corp. Power Metals Corp. is a diversified Canadian mining company with a mandate to explore, develop and acquire high quality mining projects. We are committed to building an arsenal of projects in both lithium and high-growth specialty metals and minerals. We see an unprecedented opportunity to supply the tremendous growth of the lithium battery and clean-technology industries. Learn more at www.powermetalscorp.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Johnathan More, Chairman Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations, including the use of funds raised under the Offering. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, Power Metals assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to several factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The TSXV has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release. SASKATOON, SK, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Star Diamond Corporation (TSX: DIAM) ("Star Diamond" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Nelson Karun has joined the technical team as a Diamond Specialist. Mr. Karun will be responsible for providing the Company with detailed diamond sorting and valuation information. Since 2021, Mr. Karun has provided diamond sorting services to the Company as a consultant. Mr. Karun has extensive diamond industry experience, having commenced with Dominion Diamond Corporation in 2002, and over a period of 18 years rose to the position of Director, Diamond Sorting and Valuation. In the latter part of his time at Dominion Diamond, he was responsible for controlling annual production of some ten million carats of exclusive diamonds, worth some US$1 billion, through sorting and grading. In addition to in-house sorting and valuation responsibilities, he participated in the appraisal of various exploration diamond parcels for feasibility assessments for future production. More recently, in 2021 he provided diamond sorting and valuation services to the Saskatchewan Research Council and in 2022 and 2023 he worked for Stornoway diamonds on the Renard Diamond Mine in Quebec. "We are very pleased to welcome Nelson aboard as our new Diamond Specialist", comments Ewan Mason, interim CEO and Chair of the board. "His extensive experience in the diamond industry makes him a huge asset to our technical team. We look forward to working with him." Star Diamond SVP Corporate Development George Read said: "We are very pleased to welcome Nelson to our technical team and his depth of experience in diamond sorting and valuation adds a new dimension to our in-house skills. Since 2021 Nelson has participated in detailed diamond breakage and sorting exercises of diamonds from the Star and Orion South Kimberlites. Consequently, he has already developed an intimate knowledge of the true character of our Star and Orion South diamond evaluation parcels. His first task is to complete a detailed valuation exercise on the Star and Orion South diamond parcels, as this will be an integral part of our planned revised Mineral Resource estimate for these kimberlites." About Star Diamond Corporation Star Diamond is a Canadian-based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of Star Diamond trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "DIAM". Star Diamond's most significant asset is its interest in the Fort a la Corne property in central Saskatchewan. These kimberlites are located in close proximity to established infrastructure, including paved highways and the electrical power grid, which provide significant advantages for future mine development. For further information, please contact: Phone: (306) 664-2202 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website www.stardiamondcorp.com Stay Connected with Us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarDiamondCorp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/star-diamond-corp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Star-Diamond-Corp/100058096376664/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stardiamondcorp/ Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and/or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "aim", "target", "contemplate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "propose", "might", "may", "will", "shall", "project", "should", "could", "would", "believe", "predict", "forecast", "pursue", "potential", "possible", "capable" and similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the timing for transfer of the Permit to Operate and completion of the transactions that are the subject of the Agreement. These forward-looking statements are based on Star Diamond's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Risks exist that forward-looking statements will not be achieved due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, the MoE's approval processes and the impact of changes in the laws and regulations regulating mining exploration, development, closure, judicial or regulatory judgments and legal proceedings and the additional risks described in Star Diamond's most recently filed Annual Information Form, annual and interim MD&A. Although management of Star Diamond considers the assumptions contained in forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to Star Diamond, those assumptions may prove to be incorrect. When making decisions with respect to Star Diamond, investors and others should not place undue reliance on these statements and should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Star Diamond does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors' own risk. Phase 2 Drill Program to Focus on High Priority Targets with Large Gravity Anomalies Mineralization Encountered in Drillhole GKI002 will be Followed Up Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to announce mobilization of the drill crews and equipment as part of the 2024 drill program on the Geikie uranium project (the "Project") near the Athabasca Basin margin (Figure 1). The 2024 Geikie drill program will focus on direct follow up targets associated with gravity lows adjacent to the alteration, uranium mineralization, and pathfinder anomalism identified during the 2023 drill campaign and regional exploration targets from the integration of high-resolution airborne geophysical data. The Geikie project is currently being sole-funded by Basin Energy Limited (ASX: BSN). CanAlaska currently holds a 40% ownership in the project. Figure 1 Geikie Project Location Map 2024 Geikie Exploration Program The planned 2,500 metre program will be split between direct follow up targets associated with gravity lows adjacent to the alteration, uranium mineralization, and pathfinder anomalism identified during the 2023 drill campaign and regional exploration targets from the integration of high-resolution airborne geophysical data (Figure 2). In September of 2023, the Company announced results from the maiden drilling program on the Geikie project which were highlighted by 0.5 metres @ 0.27% U 3 O 8 in drillhole GKI002 (see news release dated September 27, 2023). The 2023 drilling program also successfully intersected graphitic host rocks with evidence of multiple episodes of post-Athabasca structural reactivation events along north-south and northwest trending faults. Results confirmed the presence of hydrothermal alteration systems hosted within a complex structural framework, which are leading indicators in the formation of basement-hosted high-grade uranium deposits such as Eagle Point or Arrow. In addition, the Company completed an Airborne Gravity Gradiometer ('AGG') survey that has provided a series of high priority targets that warrant next phase drill testing. The AGG survey successfully identified multiple gravity low targets within the Project, interpreted to be related to alteration zones caused by fluids that are potentially related to mineralizing events. The planned program will focus on direct follow up targets in the Preston Creek and Aero Lake target areas. During the 2023 program, drilling in the Preston Creek target area, identified anomalous uranium enrichment in a zone of structural disruption, where north to northwest trending faults intersect the graphitic conductor trend. This target area is characterized by large, reactivated basement faults of up to 30 metres in width, consisting of clay gouge and breccias within variably graphitic pelitic host rocks. Hydrothermal alteration enveloping the major fault zones consists of hematite, chlorite, clay, and structurally-enhanced graphitic clays. Gravity low anomalies were highlighted by the Airborne Gravity Gradiometer (AGG) survey at the intersection of major north to northwest trending faults, and a graphitic conductor. In the Aero Lake target area, direct follow up will focus on high-priority gravity anomalies adjacent to GKI002 where the highest uranium value of the 2023 drill program was intersected. In addition, regional first-pass exploration drill testing is planned for the 2024 program in the Hunter North and Johnson Lake prospects which were developed from the integration of high-resolution airborne radiometric, magnetic, electromagnetic and gravity data with geochemical sampling, structural mapping and critical observations from the phase one drilling. The 2024 program is intended to identify fertile fault structures in the key target areas on the Geikie project. These fault zones can provide an ideal location for uranium mineralizing fluids to focus and precipitate. This is evidenced by the nearby GMZ-ACKIO mineralized zone, owned by 92 Energy and Baselode Energy, which is approximately 10 kilometres east of the Geikie project in a similar structural target scenario. Figure 2 Geikie 2024 Drill Target Areas The Geikie project is currently being sole-funded by Basin Energy Limited (ASX: BSN) under an option earn-in agreement with the Company. CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "I am very pleased the Geikie project will be advanced with phase 2 drilling in early 2024. The intersection of basement-hosted uranium mineralization in the second drill hole completed on the project in 2023 highlights the potential of this project to deliver a significant uranium discovery. CanAlaska shareholders can expect continued news flow from this drilling program in the coming months." About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) holds interests in approximately 500,000 hectares (1,235,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration for CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., who has reviewed and approved its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Cory Belyk, CEO and President Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. General Enquiry Tel: +1.604.688.3211 Email: 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 adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Nearly 190 children as young as nine and mainly from Indigenous communities, were forcibly recruited by armed groups in Colombia last year, the country's rights ombudsman said Monday, denouncing a "war crime." A total of 110 boys and 74 girls were wrested from their families, it said in a statement -- most of them aged 14 to 17, but some mere primary schoolers. "Girls, boys and adolescents should no longer carry uniforms and weapons to fight a senseless war that has been going on for more than 60 years in the country," ombudsman Carlos Camargo said. "The recruitment of girls, boys and adolescents is a war crime that must stop immediately," added the statement. Most of the kids were taken by die-hard dissidents of the disbanded FARC Marxist guerrilla group; the rest by fighters of the ELN rebel group and the paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), said the ombudsman's report. The real numbers were likely higher, it added. According to the state missing persons unit, requests to find 3,198 children had been filed in six decades of armed conflict between leftist guerrillas, rightwing paramilitaries, drug gangs and government forces. President Gustavo Petro, the conflict-riddled South American country's first leftist president, has made it his mission to achieve "total peace," and is negotiating with the majority of armed groups still active in the territory. Ceasefires are in place with the ELN and the EMC -- one of the main FARC dissident factions. A number of European courts have talked about it, only the Netherlands did it. Before the Hague District Court, journalists and members of the Syrian community followed the two hearing days and the judgement in person, with headsets and live interpretation from Dutch to Arabic and vice versa. For those living abroad or fearing for their safety, a personalized web-link to the live-stream and interpretation was created. This makes the case of Syrian man Mustafa A. unique in Europe. A lot of these Universal Jurisdiction cases are not very visible says Hope Rikkelman, Director of The Nuhanovic Foundation, which supported Syrian victims in the Dutch case. She thinks that this first Dutch trial can build a trustworthy relationship between the Syrian community in exile and the Dutch Public Prosecutors. Accessibility and visibility are essential to that, says Rikkelman. The 35-year old Mustafa A. was sentenced to 12 years in prison for crimes against humanity, war crimes, as a former member of the Liwa al Quds', a pro-Syrian government Palestinian brigade that operates in Syria. Judges ruled on 22 January, 2024 that he was involved in the arrest of a man in 2012 in Syria, later handed over to Syrian Air Force intelligence officials who ran a prison where he was tortured. In the last couple of years, European jurisdictions have carried out an increasing number of investigations and trials under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This principle allows countries to try perpetrators regardless of their nationality and where the crimes were committed. Crimes include war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. But courts have also been facing criticism, as many see a gap between the proceedings and the affected population. One barrier is language, as trials are often carried out in the national language and interpretation is offered only to plaintiffs and defendants but not the public. There is the need to understand that the whole concept of access to justice is not just about getting justice itself but it is about making sure that victims and communities were able to witness justice being delivered, says Rikkelman. That includes doing outreach to the communities and providing them with a way to access the trials, she adds. A very good trend The Hague court was very accommodating, says Rikkelman. As civil parties to the case, the Nuhanovic Foundation and the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) asked the court to provide interpretation and online access and they later helped with safe in-person and online registrations, that is a very good trend that we're seeing. Joris van Egmond, press officer at The Hague District Court, explains that there is no set policy for doing this, it really depends on the individual case. In the trial for Mustafa A., they did it because there were people in the audience and among the victims who did not speak the Dutch language well. Rikkelman says that from their side, they counted around 40 online registrations for the online simultaneous interpretation and many Syrians also reported what was happening in court to their Facebook groups of their communities. Syrian and international news outlets could also report on the trial. The Nuhanovic Foundation, she says, received a lot of enthusiastic remarks from Syrians living in exile. They were happy that first of all this trial was done and secondly that they were able to participate. Impact on plaintiffs, accused and journalists There are numerous counter-examples. Around the same time as the Dutch verdict, the hearings in the case of former Gambian Interior minister Ousman Sonko took place in Switzerland. But with a very different setting. The proceedings were in German, with a court interpreter only translating for the accused and the plaintiffs when the issues were deemed relevant to them by the judges. Mariam Sankanu is a Gambian investigative journalist with Malagen and a correspondent for Justice Info. Together with a small group of local journalists, she could travel to Switzerland and attend the hearings. As a Gambian, this was the most fulfilling thing that I have done in my career. But while she could follow the testimonies, to make sense of what was discussed between the lawyers and the judges she had to ask her German colleagues. There was a lot of support, not from the court itself but from other people there. In Bellinzona, civil society organizations had sent a request to the court asking for interpretation and translation into English. One of them is TRIAL International, a Swiss NGO fighting impunity for international crimes. The court declined the request saying that the procedural language foreseen in the law is German, explains Vony Rambolamanana, senior legal advisor at TRIAL. The court said it would only translate what was essentially important for the parties to understand. This did not include preliminary questions and procedural issues, explains Rambolamanana. Although according to her, these issues and the closing arguments, that she also expects will be in German, are very important to the plaintiffs and the accused. On another recent Swiss trial, the accused, the Belarusian man Yury Garavsky only received translation when he testified, the plaintiffs were not called to the bench and no translation was provided to them, Rambolamanana says. Then the acquittal verdict was made accessible in Belarusian but not its motivation. This had an impact on the decision of the plaintiffs whether to appeal or not, she says. Closing arguments are so important to the parties, adds Rambolamanana, the victims have been travelling from far away. The lawyer is your voice. If you don't understand your voice it is hard to find some closure. The impact of language barriers extends to the accused and to the possibilities of the journalists to report for the local communities abroad. Whose justice is it? In Germany, the trials for Al-Kathib in Koblenz raised widespread criticism. It was the first criminal trial worldwide for torture in Syria and the court denied simultaneous interpretation for observers. The Syrians who attended in the public gallery were unable to follow the proceedings, unless they spoke German. Civil society organizations filed a motion to ask for translation, says Hannah El-Hitami, Egyptian-German journalist who covered the Syrian trials in Germany for Justice Info and other publications. The court responded that the German Code of Criminal Procedure established German as the main language. People were just very frustrated, El-Hitami says. When a higher court ruled that accredited journalists would be entitled to interpretation, the accreditation period was long closed and all the accreditation papers and press releases had been published only in German, making it hard for Middle-East journalists to access the system. Translation into the relevant languages is absolutely key, it should be a given, says El-Hitami. These cases concern the international community as a whole and not just the people from the country where the crimes happened. How can courts claim that and yet make the trial completely inaccessible to people who do not speak German? It is such a contradiction. The right to accessible information for victims is entrenched in international soft law instruments and it is included in the 2012 European Union Directive on Establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. As part of this right to information, the Directive states that victims have the right to free of charge interpretation and translation. There is however no mention of translation for the public. A recent reform to the German system has been drafted in response to the criticism. In order to increase the reach of international trials, three measures are being discussed: allowing media representatives to use translations during the trial, producing audio-visual recordings for scientific and historical purposes, and publishing judgement translations. But these changes, if adopted, would still apply on a case by case situation. To the request made during the Al-Khatib trial, the court had replied that public could follow via media reports. Courts in Europe have an ambition to hold international perpetrators accountable, says Rambolamanana. But they need to have the means and outreach is not a detail. In order to respond to concerns of transparency and impartiality, courts need to make sure that the affected population can understand the proceedings. A Swiss jurisdiction judging on people from the Global South raises concerns. If you do not offer transparency to the population that is also a way to open yourself up to criticism, says Rambolamanana. Then, if they do not reach out to the communities, I think there is no deterrent effect, she also believes. The fact that the Netherlands has done it shows that it is possible, she adds. Lee Dong Wook is gaining an even bigger and global popularity, which means he's raking in millions. With this, his fans are curious about his net worth. Lee Dong Wook Net Worth 2024: Actor Unlocks New Level of Success As he continues flourish, Lee Dong Wook net worth is expected to skyrocket further. Thanks to his successful works "Goblin," "Tale of the Nine Tailed," "Bad and Crazy," and more, Lee Dong Wook was able to accomplish another level of success in his career. Following his yet another successful work "A Shop for Killers," people are curious about how much he earns now. READ ALSO: Lee Dong Wook Sets Internet on Fire With Latest K-Drama 'A Shop for Killers' According to the source, Lee Dong Wook net worth ranges from $5 million to $10 million. This range is the fruit of his labor for over almost two decades of his brilliance and further burgeoning his career. Lee Dong Wook debuted in 1999, and just like most of the massively popular celebrities today, he started out doing supporting roles. In 2005, he had his breakthrough as he landed his first lead role as Seol Gong Chan in the rom-com series "My Girl." This was the start of his road to bigger stardom. Lee Dong Wook To Work With Lee Sung Kyung in New K-Drama Considered as an icon, who never fails to surprise the viewers with his projects and impeccable acting skills, it's safe to say that Lee Dong Woo will have a busy year ahead. The 40-year-old actor welcomed 2024 with a thriller-action series, "A Shop for Killers." Right after it was released, the drama immediately received a positive response from the viewers for its well-written narrative and the actors noteworthy performances. Meanwhile, following its success, Lee Dong Wook is set to produce new work sometime this year as he is already confirmed to headline the gangster drama "The Good Man." He will team up for the first time with model-actress Lee Sung Kyung. The series deals with the turbulent events that Seok Cheol, the eldest son of a third-generation gangster family, goes through to protect his family, work, and love. READ ALSO: Lee Dong Wook Reveals Secret to Maintaining Good Image in Showbiz: 'You just have to not...' Once the cast members are finalized, the production will immediately proceed with filming the drama, with the goal of airing it sometime in 2024. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The hosts of the UN climate conferences in 2023-2025 - the UAE (COP 28), Azerbaijan (COP 29), and Brazil (COP 30) - announced in Dubai the formation of functional 'Trio' to help achieve the goals of the climate agenda, Trend reports. "Representatives of the parties met in Dubai to join forces to implement joint actions to combat climate change. The parties will work on a roadmap to achieve the goal of keeping the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees," the report noted. COP28 Chairman Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber described the initiative as important, saying that "we must do our best to achieve this target." "We will work together with our friends in Baku and Brazil to ensure that the promises made at the end of 2023 in Dubai are fulfilled. Jointly, we will ensure that the new agreements concluded at the next Conference of the Parties will set us on the path necessary to achieve our mission," he said. A new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance for developing countries is set to be agreed in Baku, where COP29 will be held in 2024. COP29 Chairman, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev said at the meeting in Dubai that as host Azerbaijan is committed to taking all possible steps to accelerate efforts to keep the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to him, the key to this will be to set "climate finance targets that reflect the scale and urgency of the climate challenge". The meetings in Dubai included a teleconference with the heads of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and OPEC, who agreed to coordinate action ahead of COP29 in Baku. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The upcoming movie "Mission: Cross," which stars Jeon Hye Jin, gets the seal of approval for its much-awaited release. Keep on reading for more details. 'Mission: Cross' Release Date To Premiere This 2024 According to a report by a news outlet, "Mission Cross" is scheduled to be released this year. The film, headlined by Hwang Jung Min and Yum Jung Ah, will premiere in the second week of September 2024. The new schedule aligns with the Chuseok holiday, a tradition celebrated by families in South Korea. It can be recalled that the release of "Mission: Cross" was temporarily halted to mourn the untimely passing of Jeon Hye Jin's husband, Lee Sun Kyun. Originally, the action-comedy movie was slated to hit theaters in February, during the Lunar New Year holiday, but had to be pushed back following the devastating news. READ ALSO: K-Netz Express Support for Jeon Hye Jin's Comeback Following Husband Lee Sun Kyun's Passing Helmed by Lee Myung Hoon, it depicts the story of a former agent named Kang Moo (Hwang Jung Min) who wants to conceal his past from his wife. Now that he is the man of the house, his wife, Mi Sun (Yum Jung Ah), an ace detective, misreads the signs and thinks that Kang Moo is hiding something from her. Due to this, she is eager to find her husband's dirty little secret. Joining "Mission: Cross" is Jeon Hye Jin, who plays a significant role as Hee Joo. Other than the trio, the upcoming movie will also feature a roster of talented stars, including Kim Joo Heon, Jung Man Sik, and more. Interestingly, viewers are also looking forward to Hwang Jung Min and Yeon Jung Ah's on-screen chemistry as they play as a couple. [TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide, Drugs] Lee Sun Kyun's Passing Meanwhile, this also raises curiosity about Jeon Hye Jin's return to films and series after her husband's passing. Lee Sun Kyun, who was questioned on suspicion over drug use, claimed that he mistakenly consumed drugs, thinking they were sleeping pills. As the police intensified the investigation, Lee Sun Kyun was found dead on December 27 inside his car, parked at nearby Waryong Park in central Seoul. Meanwhile, months after his passing, widowed Jeon Hye Jin is slated to return to the big screen with an upcoming movie, "Mission: Cross." She will also potentially return with a family drama, as she is in talks to headline "I'm Home," a series about people who become family despite not being related by blood. Joining her are Yoo Seung Ho, Na Moon Hee, and Lee Sung Min. "I'm Home" will be directed by Ra Ha Na of "Green Mothers' Club." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jeon Hye Jin Dramas: Hit Series Featuring the 'Not Others' Star For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Park Seo Joon has his own unique way to support Wooga Squad members Choi Woo Shik and Park Hyung Sik for their new K-dramas. The South Korean hearthrob showed his closeness to fellow actors by promoting their new projects. Park Seo Joon Supports Fellow Wooga Squad Choi Woo Shik, Park Hyung Sik The 35-year-old actor took to social media to post photos relating to Choi Woo Shik's K-drama comeback "A Killer Paradox" and Park Hyung Sik's medical series "Doctor Slump." Like a proud friend to fellow stars, Park Seo Joon encouraged his 25.9 million Instagram followers to watch the Netflix series. In his Instagram story, the actor uploaded a screenshot showing that he has just finished watching "A Killer Paradox." Written in Korean, Park Seo Joon's Instagram captionreads,s "Just finished watching the whole series. Great as expected. Bravo, Choi Woo Shik!" READ MORE: Park Seo Joon Talks About Being Fan of THIS Choi Woo Shik K-drama In the drama, Choi Woo Shik plays the character of an ordinary college student named Lee Tang. He splits his time between studying and working part-time in a convenience store. However, he unexpectedly encountered an incident where he accidentally killed a customer who happens to be a serial killer. Realizing that he could identify the bad people from the good ones, Lee Tang used this to become a dark hero. Unfortunately, ace detective Jang Nam Gan, played by Son Seok Koo, is after him. Interestingly, it seemed like the South Korean star was using his downtime to support his friends by watching their new shows. On his second Instagram story, the actor shared a photo of Park Hyung Sik in the K-drama "Doctor Slump," where he played the role of plastic surgeon Yeo Jeong Woo. "Now I'm spending time with 'Yeo Jeong Woo,'" Park Seo Joon wrote on his post. "Doctor Slump" is Park Hyung Sik's follow-up project after the 2023 historical K-drama "Our Blooming Youth." Viewers are thrilled to see the South Korean hearthtrob reunite with "The Heirs" co-star Park Shin Hye. Meanwhile, Park Seo Joon is also set to star in his first K-drama in 2024. Park Seo Joon Returns in 'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 2 Following his back-to-back K-dramas in 2023, not to mention Park Seo Joon's Hollywood debut for MCU's "The Marvels," the South Korean star will reprise his role in Netflix's "Gyeongseong Creature" season 2. Together with Han So Hee, the duo will continue their journey in the upcoming sequel. Extending the story from the chaotic spring of 1945, Jang Tae Sang (Park Seo Joon) and Yoon Chae Ok (Han So Hee) will find themselves in the middle of a tumultuous era. Helmed by "Hot Stove League" and "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" director Jung Dong Yoon, "Gyeongseong Creature" season 2 joins a slew of K-dramas coming on Netflix in 2024. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Park Seo Joon, Han So Hee 'Tortured' on First Day of Filming 'Gyeongseong Creature' - What Happened? For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Kennesaw State University to offer Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 13, 2024 The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia today approved a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) degree program at Kennesaw State University, beginning in the Fall 2024 semester. Only the second school in Georgia with a masters degree in AI, Kennesaw State will help meet the increasing demand for professionals with expertise in artificial intelligence. The interdisciplinary MSAI will be housed in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, expanding on the existing Artificial Intelligence Concentration in KSUs Department of Computer Science. The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence reaffirms our Universitys commitment to providing cutting-edge education to our students while serving the evolving needs of the state of Georgia and beyond, said Kennesaw State President Kathy Schwaig. The MSAI will offer students a dynamic learning environment that fosters collaboration and creativity as we develop a new generation of AI leaders. The MSAI will incorporate existing curriculum and research strength in computer science, data science, information technology and software engineering. The interdisciplinary program will prepare students for jobs such as an AI application developer, ethics researcher, product manager, research scientist, solutions architect or algorithm developer. At a time when technological advancements are transforming business and industry at an unprecedented pace, we recognize the significance of artificial intelligence in shaping workforce readiness, said Ivan Pulinkala, KSUs provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. The MSAI degree will not only equip our students with the necessary skills and expertise to thrive in diverse career fields, but also empower them to be at the forefront of innovation and problem-solving. MSAI graduates will enter the artificial intelligence field that is expected to contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Artificial Intelligence Study. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of computer and information research scientists, including AI professionals, will grow 21 percent between 2021 and 2031 a much faster rate than the 5 percent average for all occupations. Our masters program will emphasize hands-on learning and practical experience, ensuring that our graduates are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges in AI, said Sumanth Yenduri, dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering. By embracing the limitless potential of artificial intelligence, we are preparing our students to meet the industry needs of tomorrow while catalyzing positive change across various sectors. Along with their coursework and research opportunities, the masters degree students will gain AI knowledge through internships, collaborative assignments, and capstone courses and projects. The 30-credit hour MSAI program typically will take full-time students a year and a half to complete, but it will be possible to complete in one year (three semesters). Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 13. Kazakhstan continues to implement initiatives to diversify the economy away from a commodity-based orientation and toward industries with higher added value, Trend reports. According to Kazakhstan's government, 170 projects worth 928 billion tenge (about $2 billion) were completed in the manufacturing industry last year. 179 long-term partnerships and offtake contracts were signed with domestic producers. The manufacturing industry now accounts for the same share of the GDP as the mining industry. In 2024, 180 industrial projects costing 1.2 trillion tenge (about $2.62 billion) will be implemented. At the same time, as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Mechanical Engineering until 2028, the total added value of this industry is expected to increase by 4.5 times. In general, today in Kazakhstan, the implementation of a nationwide pool of about 1,000 investment projects worth 32 trillion tenge (about $70.1 billion) continues. This applies to all sectors of the economy. Thus, in 2023, 298 projects worth 1.8 trillion tenge (about $3.9 billion) were launched. In 2024, 326 projects will be implemented for a total of 3.8 trillion tenge (about $8.3 billion). Tuesday, February 13, 2024 One man was killed and five other people injured after gunfire erupted at a Bronx train station Monday afternoon, February 12. The New York City Police Department launched an investigation after shots were fired on the uptown 4 train platform at the Mount Eden Avenue station around 4:30 pm. The violence broke out after a fight began on a train and spilt onto the platform, police said. Authorities believe the dispute started between two groups of teenagers on a northbound subway train. A NYPD spokesman said a 35-year-old male was shot and killed. The man was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Of the survivors, three were male and two were female, the spokesperson said. All of the victims were in stable condition as of Monday evening. A 15-year-old boy was shot in the thigh and in the ear and taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital. A 28-year-old man was shot in the right arm and taken to St. Barnabas, while a 71-year-old man was taken to Bronx Care Hospital. Also taken to Presbyterian was a 14-year-old girl who had been shot in the foot. A 29-year-old woman was shot in both the face and neck and was taken to St. Barnabas. Officers were seen crowding at the subway entrance while others walked alongside the halted train cars. Police tape was strung along the scene. At a press conference, NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said that detectives do not believe this was a case of one person 'firing indiscriminately' into a crowd. Rather, the argument escalated until at least one person pulled a gun. Some of the victims are thought to have been part of the dispute. 'This is unacceptable, and when detectives make an arrest and Im very confident they will there must be swift, immediate, strong consequences,' Kemper said. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - Four Kenya Police officers appeared before a Kirinyaga court on Tuesday, where they were accused of stealing and selling illicit brew that killed 17 people in Kangai Village. The four officers, who were attached to Kiamaciri police station, are said to have sold the illicit liquor to a local trader at Sh 20,000. Senior Principal Magistrate Stephen Nyaga allowed police to detain them at Kerugoya police station for 15 days. Among those arraigned was the immediate former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Kiamaciri police station, Kennedy Mugambi, who is currently an SOP in Kabete. Mugambi, along with officers Allan Kiamazi, Brian Kariuki, and Francis Muteithia, allegedly broke into a store at Kiamaciri police station in Mwea West Sub-county and stole the exhibit. After stealing the exhibit, they sold it to a local trader for Sh 20,000, which was later sold to customers at a California bar in Kangai village. The four police officers have already been sacked from the National Police Service. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - A parent is mourning the sudden demise of her son, who died three weeks after joining Riokindo Boys in Kisii County. The deceased student identified as Brian Gari fell in on February 7th after suffering from severe diarrhea. Brians mother claims she was not informed by the schools management after her son fell ill. She was called when he was already dead. She rushed to Riokindo dispensary where he was taken for treatment, only to be handed over his lifeless body. No explanation or emotional support was given by the schools management during the grieving period. The management is trying to cover up the death that was caused by recklessness by claiming that the deceased student had an underlying medical condition. Read the parents emotional post. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyokas 2027 presidential bid has received huge backing from a man known to be a confidant of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. This is after Azimio Spokesman, Prof. Makau Mutua, pledged to support Kalonzos bid, saying he is the only man who can topple President William Ruto from power. In a statement, Prof Makau Mutua said Kalonzo is the best man for the job and the rest should just forget. "Wakwitu Kalonzo Musyoka stands the best chance. Wengine sahau!" Makau, who is Azimio wrote on X. Azimio is working on crafting a formidable team that will face off with Ruto in the 2027 election. This comes even as the former Prime Minister has continued to send confounding signals about his ties with the bigwigs with whom he formed Azimio. Over the weekend, Raila said he has no problem endorsing Kalonzo for the presidency in 2027. Speaking at a burial service in Kitui, Raila called for patience, saying that he is still in the active political arena. "What is the problem if Kalonzo is the candidate? "I did not say Kalonzo cannot be a candidate. "I just said we came from far away with Kalonzo, he supported me and I can also support him. "I did not say I have quit politics. When I quit, I will come out and say it," Raila said. The Azimio boss said they will come out and support one candidate when the right time comes to choose the flagbearer. However, several leaders, especially from Raila's party, the Orange Democratic Movement, believe he is the best man for the job. They insist that Raila still has the energy and is the man to beat Ruto in 2027. Others eyeing to fly the Azimio flag include DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, former CS Peter Munya (PNU), and Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), among others. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 It appears the late businesswoman Monica Kimani may never rest in peace until all those involved in her cold-blooded murder are brought to book. Last week, the High Court found Joseph Irungu alias Jowie guilty in the murder of Monica Kimani but surprisingly set his accomplice Jacque Maribe free. However, the Office of the Directorate Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has moved to challenge the ruling, saying Maribe was as guilty as Jowie. The ODPP filed a notice of appeal against the High Court judgment that acquitted Jacque Maribe in the murder of Monica Kimani. ODPP stated in the notice that it was dissatisfied with the High Courts decision to free the former Citizen TV news anchor. Take notice that the Republic, the intended Appellant herein, being dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Hon. G. Nzioka), delivered in Nairobi on February 9, 2024, appeals to the Court of Appeal against the part of the judgment acquitting the 2nd Accused Person, the notice read in part. In the ruling, Judge Grace Nzioka declared that the DPP did not provide enough evidence to implicate Maribe in Monica's murder. She added that ODPP preferred the wrong charges against her as the court accused her of perjury rather than murder. Judge Nzioka faulted the ODPP for failing to bring any evidence linking Jacque Maribe to the events of September 19, 2018. Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi faulted former Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti for bungling the murder investigations. He alleged that Kinoti had gone after Maribe despite a lack of concrete evidence as a means of creating media hype around the case. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has warned President William Ruto in no uncertain terms to leave the security organs alone or else he will have him to contend with. This is after it emerged that Ruto was plotting to legally entrench the position of National Security Advisor outside the constitution. In a statement, Raila claimed that the National Government Administration Laws Amendment Bill 2023, fronted by Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung'wah in November last year, was the President's way of usurping the constitution to shake up the national security architecture and appoint one of his allies to the position. Former Defence and Energy Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma is the current National Security Advisor. However, the 2010 Constitution does not allow her to sit in National Security Council (NSC) meetings. Only the President, the Deputy President, the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Chief of Defence Forces, the Attorney General, and the Cabinet Secretaries responsible for Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Defence are allowed to sit in the meetings. As such, the former Prime Minister emphasized that the Bill goes against the Constitution which outlines the principles and members of the NSC. In Raila's view, any new position being created by the Bill would be redundant and against the country's best interests. "We can also foresee the occupant acting as a gatekeeper between the President and the other heads of the national security organs." "The occupant of this office is just a personal aide to the President with no statutory defined roles, no reporting structure, and no alignment to the bureaucracy," Raila stated. According to Raila, the Bill seeks to ensure that National Security Advisors become the Council's Secretary, which goes against the norm, where the Secretary is appointed by Council members. Raila, therefore, expressed his vehement opposition, holding that the roles envisioned by the Bill were not even outlined. He explained that the introduction of the position would interfere with the defense forces, intelligence community, and the National Police Service (NPS) capacity to operate independently. "Kenya Kwanza must drop this interference with the constitutional architecture concerning our national security. Azimio will fight these latest maneuvers to take total control of the national security machinery," he reiterated. The Kenyan DAILY POST ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 13. The volume of transportation of Kazakh oil from the port of Aktau for export amounted to 287,000 tons in January 2024, which is 76,000 tons more compared to the same period last year, KazTransOil JSC told Trend. In particular, the volume of oil transportation towards the port of Baku from the port of Aktau increased by 60,000 tons and amounted to 116,000 tons. In addition, 171,000 tons of Kazakh oil were shipped towards the port of Makhachkala from the port of Aktau, which is 17,000 tons more compared to the same figure for January 2023. Meanwhile, the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau amounted to 3.376 million tons from January through 2023, which is 1.108 million tons more than the same period in 2022. Thus, the increase in the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau is due to an increase in the volume of raw materials shipped in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, from 250,000 tons to 1.392 million tons, which is 5.5 times more compared to the same period in 2022. In particular, 1.057 million tons of oil were shipped from the Tengiz field. Furthermore, in 2022, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered an increase in the volume of oil transportation along the Trans-Caspian corridor. In accordance with this instruction, JSC NC KazMunayGas and the state oil company of the Republic of Azerbaijan SOCAR entered into an agreement providing for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil per year from the Tengiz field in the direction of the oil pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan. Monday, February 12, 2024 The woman who was killed after she opened fire at Joel Osteens packed Houston-area mega-church on Sunday, Feb. 11, has been named as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, as authorities revealed Free Palestine was written on the weapon used in the attack. Moreno entered Lakewood Church just before a Spanish language service was due to begin at 2 p.m. with a boy, believed to be about 4 or 5 years old, and opened fire as hundreds of people were taking their pews. Two off-duty officers working security at the church a Houston cop and an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission returned fire and fatally shot Moreno, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Sunday. The boy was also shot and has been hospitalized in critical condition. When asked whether the child was shot by an officer, Finner declined to speculate, but said, That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. Im going to put that blame on her. His relationship to Moreno was not immediately known. Chilling video captured the start of a Spanish-language service suddenly being interrupted by a barrage of gunfire. Detectives said Moreno may have fired as many as 12 shots into the church before she was taken down. Before Moreno died from her injuries, she poured an unknown substance on the floor and told officers that there was a bomb, but search of the area found no explosives. Moreno has a criminal history dating back to 2005 and was previously arrested under the name Jeffery Escalante, according to local station KHOU, raising questions over whether the shooter was transitioning either before or at the time of the attack. A 2022 photo taken when Moreno was booked into jail at Fort Bend County in Texas listed her sex as female, according to the website Mugshots Zone. One 57-year-old civilian bystander was also shot in the leg, authorities said, adding that the man was hospitalized and in stable condition. While law enforcement told ABC about Morenos guns being daubed with Free Palestine, a motive in the shooting remains unclear, and police are still investigating. Investigators are also reviewing Morenos history of arrests, as they believe she has a record, law enforcement said. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - It is now emerging that murder suspect Kevin Kangethes daring escape from Muthaiga Police Station was masterminded by his brother. According to a detective privy to the ongoing investigations, Kangethe linked up with his brother after he escaped from the police station. It is believed that they are currently together and their phones have been switched off to avoid being tracked. The two linked up moments after the suspect escaped and they have since switched off their mobile phones. "It is highly believed that they are currently together, said the DCI officer. Several detectives have been tasked with hunting down the murder suspect who evaded authorities in the US where he murdered his girlfriend and boarded a plane to Kenya. Phone signals revealed that Kangethe has visited Machakos, Nairobi, and Machakos counties since his escape. On Friday, detectives arrested Beatrice Kangethe, a city lawyer and Kangethes cousin. DCI sleuths picked her up from her house in Kiambu County on Friday morning as she prepared breakfast. She became a person of interest after phone records revealed that she was in communication with the fugitive days before he strolled out of Muthaiga Police Station. She was taken to Pangani Police Station where she was interrogated for three days before being released. Her close friends and relatives confirmed that she had indeed communicated with the murder suspect but all he wanted was legal advice on how to handle the case before being deported to the US where a warrant of arrest had been issued against him. Police said the lawyer had visited Kangethe at Muthaiga Police Station, a day before he vanished. They talked for some time, said a police officer. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is under siege from his past. This is after Emurua Dikkir MP Johanna Ngeno confronted him right in front of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his past when he worked as Rift Valley Regional Commissioner before venturing into politics. Speaking during a church service in the Western Kenya County, Ngeno expressed his frustrations, accusing Natembeya of being harsh back in the day. He was among the lawmakers accompanying Gachagua to St Andrew Kaggwa Catholic Church in Kwanza, Trans Nzoia County. Ngeno recalled having run-ins with the law, with Natembeya sanctioning the tribulations. "I cannot go without mentioning about the governor. "I expected to meet him in a place not like this because he put me through so much trouble. "He arrested me almost nine times in Narok. "He would put me in a dilapidated Land Cruiser while arresting me. "Therefore, he should know his day is coming," he said. Ngeno was a guest of the state on several occasions over his supposed hate speech. Natembeya gave up his RC post in early 2022 to vie for the Trans Nzoia governorship. He garnered 158,919 votes, routing his close competitor Chris Wamalwa of Ford Kenya, who secured 79,020 votes. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 The head of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has vowed that none of the three Sahel countries would rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Gen. Tchiani disclosed this in an interview he granted to the RTN news channel in the capital Niamey Monday, Feb. 12. Recall that on Jan. 28, the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc, ECOWAS. The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement, saying it was a sovereign decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States without delay. He said, Just because we are members of the bloc, food and medicine supply was cut off. Power was also cut off and our own funds have been frozen. So, we consulted our friends in the Sahel on exiting the bloc to better the lives of our citizens. That we should withdraw from the bloc that is answerable to the foreign countries. So, we have withdrawn our membership from the bloc and will never return to the union. Responding to the consequences of its withdrawal on security, trade and socio-economic activities, he said, Now the world is a global village and is the world within ECOWAS? So, God will feed every human He created." Tchiani also said that they will not release Mohamed Bazoum, the former Niger president who was overthrown by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has been detained with his family since then. We would never release Bazoum. Setting Bazoum free is akin to stabbing ourselves in the stomach which would do harm to Nigeriens, he added. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - Siaya County Senator, Dr. Oburu Odinga, has stated that his brother, Raila Odinga, will vie for the presidency in 2027. Speaking in Homa Bay County during the funeral service of Mzee George Awino, the elder brother of the director of finance of the ODM party, Joshua Kawino, Oburu told the mourners that Raila is still young and he has the energy to contest for the presidency for the sixth time in 2027. Oburu further urged those who have been urging Raila Odinga to endorse someone else to stop, stating that Raila Odinga will rescue Kenyans from dictatorship in 2027. "Raila is not expired. Raila is still strong. If Oburu, his brother, is this strong, then what about Raila, who is just a child who was just born yesterday?" Oburu posed. Oburu's comments come two days after several Wiper leaders pushed Raila to endorse the former vice president to go head-to-head with President William Ruto in 2027. "The time for Raila to declare Kalonzo is now, and there is no argument about it," said Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - President William Ruto has once again lied to the world that US firm Apple has employed 23,000 Kenyans in its Nairobi office. Speaking on Tuesday during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE, Ruto said he had an audience with Apple CEO last year, who told him the tech giant has employed 23,000 Kenyans in its Nairobi office. Ruto said this while drumming up support for the digital economy, which he termed a source of remote opportunities for young people who do not need to leave their homes. The digital economy is delivering attractive opportunities for young people to work for employers scattered across the world without having to leave their homes in Kenya, Ruto noted. When I visited Silicon Valley last year, Apples Tim Cook informed me that his company now employs about 23,000 Kenyans, all working from Nairobi, Ruto added. This is an outright lie from the President since Apple has less than 100 employees in its Nairobi office. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 President William Ruto may soon become as powerful as his Ugandan and Tanzanian counterparts, Yoweri Museveni and Samia Suluhu, respectively, if the proposal by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mercy Wanjau, sees the light of day. While appearing before a joint National Assembly committee yesterday, Wanjau proposed that the responsibilities of the custodian of the Public Seal be moved from the office of the Attorney General to the Office of the President. Wanjau opined that the President ought to be the custodian of the national symbol currently under Attorney General Justin Muturi. According to Wanjau, who was making her submission towards the National Government Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, noted that Kenya had moved to a purely presidential system, hence the need for the custodian duties to be taken up by the President. On the other hand, she detailed that in many countries in the region, respective presidents were the custodians of the national symbols used on official government documents. "She told the Committee that practice in other jurisdictions has it that the President is the sole custodian of the Public Seal. "She cited the example of Uganda, Tanzania, and Seychelles, where the head of state is the custodian, but can appoint a person holding service, to act as the custodian, while giving directions as to the manner it will be kept and used," read the report of Parliament in part. However, she noted that the President could have the power to assign the custodian duties to someone else. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13,2024 - Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai, has urged President William Ruto to fire his advisors after he sensationally claimed that American telecommunication giant Apple has employed 23,000 Kenyans in its Nairobi office. Ruto, who embossed himself on Tuesday during a world summit in Dubai, stated that he had a conversation with the Apple CEO who told him that his company has employed 23,000 Kenyans. Ruto said this while drumming up support for the digital economy, which he termed a source of remote opportunities for young people who do not need to leave their homes. The digital economy is delivering attractive opportunities for young people to work for employers scattered across the world without having to leave their homes in Kenya, Ruto noted. When I visited Silicon Valley last year, Apples Tim Cook informed me that his company now employs about 23,000 Kenyans, all working from Nairobi, Ruto added. Following his remarks, Alai told the President to fire his advisors since Apple has not employed 23,000 Kenyans in Nairobi, Your advisors will embarrass you. Please wacha! , Alai told Ruto on X The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, February 13, 2024 President William Ruto has been forced to borrow extensively to cover up former President Uhuru Kenyattas mess. This disclosure was made by Ruto himself during an interview with Japans Nikkei publication, on February 9, with the Head of State justifying why Kenya had now to borrow to offset its loans. Uhuru borrowed a whopping Ksh 6.7 trillion but failed to spread the payment, a move that has seen Ruto struggle to pay over Ksh1.3 trillion in the 2023/2024 financial year. Speaking during the interview, Ruto emphasised that Kenya would broaden its development financing avenues to prevent similar miscalculations from occurring in the future. This would be beneficial in that repayments would not fall simultaneously and would not solely be made in dollars leading to the weakening of the shilling. President Ruto kickstarted this process on December 7, when he pushed for India to extend a Ksh38 billion loan to Kenya in Indian Rupees rather than in dollars. While in Japan, the President also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) for the issuance of a Samurai Bond worth Ksh80 billion, which is Yen-dominated, In December 2023, Rutos government repaid Ksh10.8 billion as interest on the USD2 billion Eurobond loan secured in 2014. Less than two months later, Kenya formally started buying back the Eurobond issued in 2014 during Uhurus tenure. On January 19, the National Treasury admitted that Kenya had paid over Ksh72 billion to China concerning Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and other infrastructure loans. Noteworthy, Kenya has yet to default on any international loan under Rutos tenure with the President assuring investors that he will honour all its debt obligations. Kenya has borrowed over Ksh2.4 trillion since September 2022, with the majority of the advanced sum used to repay loans maturing in the 2023/2024 financial year. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 12, 2024 A snake catcher named Tennille Banks has issued a warning to people as the hot season sees a rise in sightings of serpents in homes. Tennille said snakes have a "natural instinct to go into holes. Toilets offer a place to cool down or catch a snack, usually frogs, she said. She gave the warning after she was called to lure out a snake from a public toilet. The venomous snake was found on Jan. 5, 2024, inside a public toilet in Australia. Banks lured the snake until it emerged from the cistern from which it was taken into a black bag and freed into the wilderness. The snake which was found is also known as the blue-bellied black snake. The incident occurred in the rural town of Goondiwindi in Queensland. The species is known to defend itself aggressively only if it feels threatened. In case of biting, the snake hangs on and chews resulting in a good dose of highly toxic venom. Watch the video below. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 13. Value-added tax (VAT) won't increase in Kazakhstan by order of the head of state, said the country's Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov at the first meeting of the renewed government, Trend reports. "We must look into different ways to replenish the revenue side of the budget. The Ministries of National Economy and Finance should ensure that the republican budget's expenditures and revenues are well planned. It is critical to implement effective measures to improve tax and customs administration, especially through digitization," noted Bektenov. According to the prime minister, it's crucial to strengthen financial discipline, eliminate unproductive expenses, and enhance the efficiency of overall government budget expenditures. "I want to emphasize once again that we should exert maximum efforts to ensure a high pace of economic growth. Each minister and regional governor bear personal responsibility for achieving the set goals," he added. Bektenov was appointed prime minister of Kazakhstan in accordance with a relevant decree signed by the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on February 6. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Monday, February 12, 2024 Tom Cruise reportedly has a new girlfriend. The actor, 61, has been growing closer to Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova, 36, over the past couple of months and is now officially dating her, the Daily Mail reports. Its well known within Elsinas circle that she and Tom are now an item, an insider told the outlet. Theyve grown very close over the past few weeks but take a lot of care not to be photographed together because they want to maintain their privacy, the source continued. Tom has been staying the night at Elsinas apartment, which as you can imagine, is a very beautiful place. They enjoy hanging out together and despite their wealth, do a lot of the things that normal couples do. The pair both attended a gala dinner in support of Londons Air Ambulance Charity, where Prince William was the guest of honor. Though Cruise and Khayrova arrived separately, friends told the outlet that its not a surprise, as theyve been spending most of their time behind closed doors at her multimillion-dollar apartment in Knightsbridge, London. However, the pair have stepped out incognito for strolls through Hyde Park, sources claimed. The two have also reportedly dined privately at several exclusive London restaurants. They were first romantically linked after reportedly canoodling at a party in Londons ritzy Mayfair neighborhood in December. They were inseparable, clearly a couple. He seemed to be besotted with her, an eyewitness told the Daily Mail at the time. The Jack Reacher actor has previously been married three times. He was married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001 and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. Khayrova, for her part, split from ex-husband Dmitry Tsetkov in 2022. The Russian oligarch, 43, spoke to the tabloid in December about their bitter three-year divorce battle, which he claims cost him more than $150 million. Irrespective of whoever shes with, Tom Cruise or anybody else, they should be aware that she likes the finer things in life and has expensive and luxurious taste. Tom should keep his eyes and wallet wide open, he said. He added, Im happy for her, I wish her all the best. Monday, February 12, 2024 Tucker Carlson has claimed that Vladimir Putin is willing to compromise on Ukraine after holding an 'off the record' chat with the Russian president in Moscow. The American talk show held a blockbuster interview last week with the Russian leader who made a series of extraordinary claims. Carlson told the World Government Summit in Dubai in a speech on Monday that based on the pair's discussion, he believes Putin is now prepared to come to a compromise with Ukraine - two years after he launched his brutal invasion. 'Of course, the very work of the leaders of any country on this planet, except perhaps the United States during a unipolar world, forces them to find a compromise. This is what is called diplomacy,' Carlson said, according to TASS. 'And he [Putin] is among them (leaders who are ready to seek a compromise).' Carlson is reported to have also told the summit that he had an 'off the record' discussion with the Russian despot, but did not specify its content. The interview, held on Tuesday in Moscow and broadcast on Thursday, was the first interview with a Western media figure since the February 2022 invasion. During the interview, Putin pushed his narrative on the war in Ukraine, urging Washington to recognize Moscow's interests and press Kyiv to sit down for talks. Putin also repeated his claim the full-scale invasion - which Kyiv and its allies describe as an unprovoked act of aggression - was to protect Russian interests and prevent Ukraine from posing a threat to Russia by joining NATO. Ukraine has repeatedly said it would not come to a compromise with Russia that involved giving up its land and has said it is determined to liberate all its land occupied by Moscow's forces - including the Donbas region and Crimea. Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged residents of Trans Nzoia to intermarry and have as many children as possible. Speaking at St Andrew Kaggwa Catholic in Trans Nzoia County, Gachagua urged the visibly able-bodied men to put their tools to work, intermarry, and ensure they sire many children. According to the DP, intermarrying and over-reproduction among couples would help cure the tribalism problem Kenya has been grappling with for years. "You should continue co-existing. Let's intermarry and give birth to many children and continue staying together. "Let us continue mingling. God will provide what we will feed our children with," he stated amid cheers. In light of the council, Gachagua assured the Trans Nzoia residents that the national government would provide services as well as enhance security for the growing populace. The deputy president took the opportunity to rally the residents behind President William Ruto and his administration. Having made it his clarion call, Gachagua stated that the government would accommodate all who would wish to ditch the opposition to support the regime. The Kenyan DAILY POST 2 Shares Share Man is a dupeable animal. Quacks in medicine, quacks in religion, and quacks in politics know this, and act upon that knowledge. There is scarcely anyone who may not, like a trout, be taken by ticklingthere is scarcely a disease for which a charm has not been given. Thomas J. Pettigrew As a surgeon, when I routinely went to the OR, I had a ritual. I would wake up at the same time every day, pack two hard-boiled eggs and a thermos of coffee in my small leather bag, walk to work via the same route, and swipe into the pre-op area, waving hi to the front desk on my way past. Id talk to the patient, sign the consent with the same ballpoint pen, go upstairs to my office, change into my scrubs, wear the same scrub cap and the same Danskos, then turn on my computer and take a sip of coffee before heading down to the OR. Id always remove my badge and place it near the nurses workstation, then put on the patients SCDs myself. I held the oxygen mask while telling the patient, See you later, never It will be OK or Have a good sleep. Then I reluctantly relinquished the antiseptic prep to someone else (most of the time). This was all to deter bad things from happening. To the patients, that is. For the most part, it worked. It started when I was in training, and one of my attendings said he did everything the same way every time. He was a good surgeon and someone I admired, though we were never close enough for him to be a mentor. But he had good, reproducible results, so I emulated this tactic and did everything the same for every surgery. Legs in lithotomy, Foley, clip hair, tuck both arms, pad and tape the chest, Bair hugger, then Betadine for the bottom. Enter the abdomen via the belly button and extract the specimen through a Pfannenstiel. Before every colorectal anastomosis, wed say a little prayer, Time to make the donuts. While we could adapt to different patients, there was no room for improvisation. Missing one of these steps led to anxiety on my part. Also, this pre-op, pre-game ritual ensured that everyone in the operating room knew their role and comfortably played their part. After the surgery, I always went downstairs to check on the patient, talk to the family, and thank the residents after changing out of my dirty scrubs. At the end of the case, never before, Id take a patient sticker always torn off the sheet, straight edges, no adhesive exposed and put it in my white coat pocket for my logbook. I did this happily, of course, and pretended I was chill when things tried to go off-book, but I was firm about it all. Superstition is the irrational belief that an object or behavior has the power to influence an outcome, when theres no logical connection between them. Most of us arent superstitious but most of us are a littlestitious.' Gretchen Rubin Theres evidence for enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in colorectal surgery. Clipping hair, placing a Foley catheter, and using a warming blanket work in terms of reducing surgical site infections. Theres no evidence that tearing a little name-label sticker the same way every time does anything to prevent patient complications. Ive taken a break from surgery in pursuit of motherhood. I thought Id been freed, my anxiety and neuroticism left behind. But I find myself in my kitchen, ensuring that I drain the babys bathtub and place it on the floor next to the sink to let it dry out every night. I stand outside the bedroom door and make my wife mutter, May the odds be ever in your favor, before we enter, hoping that this night will be the night that the baby sleeps through the night which is why I am thinking about superstitions in life and surgery. Broadly, researchers have looked at whether certain superstitions are valid, such as not doing things on Friday the 13th (they are not). One study also concluded that most of our surgical beliefs, including the choice of wound dressing, were not scientifically grounded. Most readers who believe themselves of the scientific sort may now divest themselves of superstitious, ritualistic behaviors since all of it is hogwash anyway, right? Yet, surgeons at the University of Washington reported their OR rituals, such as rubbing a patients belly after an embryo transfer. Lester Gottesman, whom I have had the pleasure of corresponding with, wrote last year about examining his hemorrhoid suture lines in the order he sewed them. Psychosocial research has long shown that ritual has a benefit, even if the performer knows it is a ritual. We do the same thing each time, hoping to get the same results. Ideally, good results. Research shows that rituals are used more often in high-uncertainty tasks, and according to Dr. Juliana Schroeder at the University of California, Berkeley, engaging in ritual gives people more perceived control over their environment and reduces their anxiety. In one study, even activating a superstition boosts participants confidence in mastering upcoming tasks, which in turn improves performance. Surgery and medicine are based on superstition. People used to drill holes in skulls, believing that this lets out bad humours. The same rationale was used in blood-letting, where letting a bleeding patient bleed more was thought to reduce inflammation. Pearl Katz, an anthropologist at Johns Hopkins, wrote in 1981 that in modern operating rooms rituals occur as integral parts of surgical procedures. Does superstition change a measurable patient outcome, such as decreased anastomotic leak rate, surgical site infection, or mortality? Hard to say. But does it improve the surgeons confidence, thereby improving their performance? Likely so. Science is not the opposite of superstition; it is the result of superstition, the result of humans trying to make sense of the world and prove each other wrong. We keep doing the things we do to maintain some semblance of control. In further defense of superstition, ritualistic behaviors ensure that the necessary boxes are checked and that we pay attention to the details. In surgery, details matter. So, until there is evidence to the contrary, I will keep tearing off the little patient labels and keeping their names with me in hopes that they do well after surgery. Carmen Fong is a colorectal surgeon. The U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Uganda Country Director, Ms Mary Borgman has revealed that a total of 1.4 million Ugandans living with HIV/Aids are being supported under the US-funded PEPFAR programmes. Speaking to journalists in Kampala, Borgman said thousands more receive prevention treatment. She added that the American government has invested heavily in making sure that services are accessible across the Country. The US Mission in Uganda has revealed that over 600,000 deaths have been avoided through PEPFAR programmes being implemented in different health facilities across the country in a period of over 20 years. The same programme has also prevented over 500,000 transmissions of HIV/Aids and over 250,000 children borne HIV/Aids free. This was disclosed by the US Ambassador to Uganda William Popp while launching the Report to the Ugandan People at the American Centre in Kabalagala yesterday. By Tausi Nakato Human rights activities have condemned the act of police officer who allegedly raped a female suspect in one of the Police posts in Jinja District. Kiira Region Police Station, Mr James Mubi identified the suspect as Police Constable, Salim Mugoya attached to Namaganga Police post in Busedde Sub County in Jinja District. Mr Mubi said the suspect is currently on the run after the incident. We have recorded all the relevant statements, we have a medical examination report on the file , the scene of crime was revisited and the suspects home searched but we didnt find him there, he said. Mubi said they cant allow such officers who tarnish the image of the police force. Ms Rose Kigere, the Executive Director of Women Rights Initiative, described the incident as a gruesome act that is very unacceptable to the law enforcement unit to be the abusers. They cant be the abusers, we expect them to keep the suspects safe, to be handling the law in its entirety, the law has to take its course, he has to be fully investigated, the prisoner must get justice, she said. Ms Kigere said even though the suspects have committed a crime, they should not be criminalized by giving them another punishment. Ms Kigere said Police must come out to explain how the incident happened because every police station must have a female police officer to avoid unforeseen issues that would have come up. Ms Hellen Lunkuse, the Executive Director of Rape Hurts Foundation said the law enforcers must be sensitized on sex Gender Based Violence to avoid such incidents. Sensitization of gender-based violence to law enforcers must be emphasized because respecting women is still a very big issue. There must be a gender balance of police officers for security purposes. Men think they can do anything to a woman, he said. Ms Lunkuse said there are still loopholes in the way female suspects and victims are being handled by law enforcers. A rape victim is being asked to explain in front of men including lawyers how she was raped yet their faces are supposed to be covered during court sessions, only the voice should be hard. How can a male officer handle a female suspect? There is still a big gender gap, she said. Mr Robert Mugisa, a human rights lawyer, said a police officer is a duty bearer who is in charge of enforcing laws and making sure people enjoy rights. A police officer has to face the law and anyone convicted of rape suffers death sentence according to the penal code Act section 124. Professional standard Unit of police must also intervene in the issue because the victim must get justice, he said. It is alleged that Police Constable Mugoya raped a 20-year-old suspect (name withheld) who was on charges of child Desertion. It is alleged that the suspect who is now a victim of rape had abandoned her two-year-old child after a domestic misunderstanding which prompted the husband to report the case to police on February 4. Her husband filed a case of child desertion at Namaganga police post, prompting Mugoya to arrest the suspect from her grandmothers home in Busedde and detain her for the two nights of 7th and 8th, February. The victim said Constable Mugoya locked her inside the cell and raped her several times. The Democratic Party (DP) has called upon its members to begin expressing their interest in contesting for the position of Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament. This is after the Electoral Commission (EC) released a road map for the forthcoming bye-election of the District Woman Representative in Parliament and local government councilors. According to the road map, the by-election commenced with the update of the National Voters register on February 12, 2024, and will be concluded on the 15th of the same month. Additionally, nomination of candidates will run between 11th-12th March 2024, at the office of the district returning officer, Dokolo while campaigns will be held from 13th to 19th March ahead of the polling day slated for March 21, 2024. Mr Ismael Kirya, the DP acting spokesperson says this is an opportunity for the party to add another Member of Parliament to their list of legislators. The Dominican Order recently gathered at St Saviours Church in Dublin to start the celebrations of the eighth centenary of the arrival of the Dominican Order in Ireland. In 1224, three years after the death of Dominic, and not quite eight years after the foundation of the Order (December 1216), twelve members travelled from Oxford to Dublin, setting up a priory on the north bank of the Liffey, where the Four Courts now stand. Other friars followed, and such was the energy of the newly founded Order that it expanded rapidly once it had come to Ireland, with a foundation in Drogheda that same year, and in Kilkenny in 1225. Remarkably, the Order is still present in Kilkenny on the same site at The Black Abbey (after a turbulent history). A foundation in Waterford followed in 1226, and in Cork in 1229, and onward to most of the cities and large towns of Ireland. Father Gerard Francisco Timoner, O.P., eighty-seventh successor to St Dominic as Master of the Order of Preachers, celebrated the special Mass last Sunday. He has been in Ireland for some days meeting the 21 Dominican students in formation in Dublin (17 for the Irish province, and four for other provinces), the Dominican nuns at Siena monastery, Drogheda, and the communities at St Marys, Tallaght, and St Saviours, Dublin. The congregation at the Mass included groups from among people who attend the 10 Dominican priory churches around Ireland as well as Dominican nuns, Dominican sisters and Dominican laity. Archbishop Dermot Farrell, of Dublin, and papal nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor also took part. The Mass ended with the Master of the Order unveiling a specially commissioned painting of 'The Arrival of the Dominicans in Dublin', by the artist William A. Nathans. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 13. Turkiye emerged as one of the top five countries investing the highest volume of capital in Kyrgyzstan from January through September 2023, Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan, said, Trend reports. Japarov made these remarks while speaking at the Kyrgyz-Turkish business forum held in Ankara, Turkiye. He highlighted that Turkiye became the largest investor in Kyrgyzstan's economy in 2022. He also mentioned that the trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Turkiye amounted to $560.5 million from January through November 2023. Furthermore, Japarov stated that the governments of both nations are actively working together to establish the Kyrgyz-Turkish Investment Fund. During the business event, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Ylmaz stressed the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries. Turkiye is committed to increasing trade volume with Kyrgyzstan. The event also included bilateral business meetings, where discussions focused on subjects such as exporting goods, seeking and attracting potential investors, and other areas of collaboration in the energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors. At the conclusion of the business forum, which drew approximately 500 businesspeople, eight agreements of cooperation and joint investment project implementation were inked. Cillian Murphy, Claire Foy and Barry Keoghan are among the Bafta nominees who will attend the star-studded ceremony on Sunday. Irish stars Murphy and Keoghan are both nominated in the best actor category for their turns in Oppenheimer and Saltburn respectively. Murphy plays J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolans epic biopic, while Keoghan plays a student at Oxford who becomes enthralled by a wealthier classmate and pays a visit to his sprawling estate in Emerald Fennells viral black comedy. The Crown star Foy is nominated for the best supporting actress prize for her performance in All Of Us Strangers, Andrew Haighs searing drama about grief and loneliness. Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan will also attend the ceremony, which will feature performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham. It was previously announced that Ellis-Bextor will perform her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn. Ted Lasso star Waddingham will also give a live musical performance, but details of what have not been shared. Also in attendance will be Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for his role in Rustin, as the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March on Washington. Mulligans best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, who is nominated for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, who is nominated for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, who is nominated for The Colour Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be in attendance. Robbies Barbie director Greta Gerwig, who was snubbed in the directing category, will also attend alongside her husband and co-writer Noah Baumbach, and co-star Ryan Gosling, who is nominated for best supporting actor. Gerwig and Baumbach are nominated for their screenplay for the film, which was the highest-grossing of 2023. Foys All Of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott was a notable absence from the best actor contenders but will be in attendance at the ceremony as a presenter, alongside co-star Paul Mescal, who is nominated for the supporting actor prize. Other famous faces due to present include David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett and Daisy Edgar Jones. It was previously announced that the Bafta Fellowship, the film academys highest honour, will be presented to actress Samantha Morton. Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: It is a privilege to welcome so many nominees to the EE Bafta film awards this Sunday, representing some of the best on-screen and behind-the-screen creative talent working in film today who have provided audiences worldwide with an incredible year of film. It is a joy to bring these 38 remarkable films and the teams that made them to public attention. With host David Tennant bringing his charm and charisma to the ceremony, and performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham, it promises to be an entertaining show for all our nominees and guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home around the world. The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall on February 18. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm. Four businesses in Ireland were in breach of food safety legislation in January, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has revealed. According to the FSAI, four enforcement orders were served on businesses including two closure orders on a butchers shop and the food storage room at a popular convenience store. Reasons for the enforcement orders in January include raw fish stored in a non-food grade cardboard box, rodent droppings present throughout the premises and food storage areas, a large amount of perishable food stored in a non-operating freezer, raw meat being prepared in a sink used to wash hands, food and equipment, and failure to wash hands before or after the handling of raw meat, among other reasons. F Herterich's Pork Butchers on 1 Lombard Street, Galway and the food store room at O'Briens Gala, Cloughleigh Road, Ennis, Clare were closed under the FSAI Act 1998. Rodent droppings were found both at the butchers shop and O'Briens Gala, which resulted in the subsequent closures. Another closure order was served to Golden Palace restaurant/cafe in Whitehall, Dublin 9 under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020. According to the FSAI, inspectors found several unclean areas in Golden Palace, including floors, ceilings, taps and handles, dishwasher trays, vents, plug points and order dispenser. A "significant" risk of cross-contamination was noted. Additionally, staff were observed wearing disposable gloves while preparing food and taking out the rubbish, and were not seen washing their hands at any point during the inspection. A prohibition order was served to the Mercury retailer on Park Road, Waterford under the same act. The FSAI inspector found a large amount of perishable food being stored in a freezer that was not operating, as well as raw fish in a cardboard box. Products withdrawn following the Mercury inspection include fresh pirch, wobble, and fresh smelt, as well as all contents of a four door glass stand up freezer located in front of the deli currently labelled 'not for sale' and blocked by pallets. Chief Executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, stressed the importance of complying with food safety legal requirements that have been set to ensure the protection of consumer health. She said, "In January, there continued to be a number of food businesses who failed to ensure appropriate food safety management systems were in place and operating correctly. "It is a legal requirement that all food businesses take responsibility in ensuring their premises are maintained to the standard required by Irish food law. Food safety requirements are put in place to protect the health of consumers. Consumers have a right to safe food. "By failing to keep reasonable food safety and hygiene standards in place, a business not only poses a risk to the health of their customers, but also to their own reputation as a trustworthy and safe food business." The late Paul Smith, who campaigned to raise funds and awareness of Motor Neuron Disease, will be laid to rest in Kilkenny today, Tuesday. Since his diagnosis with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in the April of 2021, Paul, supported by his amazing family and friends, had worked tirelessly not only to raise funds to cover the costs associated with his treatment but also to fund future treatment developments and supports for people with MND, and support the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association. His fundraising community, All Paul Together, formed a partnership with the Atlantic Technological University and ART Health Solutions to fund and lead novel research related to lifestyle factors that impact MND sufferers. They also sought funds to develop an online platform that is easy to access for all MND sufferers and provides evidence-based resources and information to help support their day-to-day lives. Over the last three years the community rallied around to support events in Kilkenny, the UK and as far away as Australia and the USA. Paul, who was 47 and lived at Meadow Way, is survived by his loving wife Natasha, son James and daughter Holly Mai, brother Matt, mother Pauline, father Les, mother-in-law Vonnie Byrne, father-in-law Jim Byrne, uncles and aunts, brother-in-law Dave, sisters-in-law Claudine and Rachel, nephews Sam and Joseph, niece Lana, relatives, neighbours and friends. His funeral will take place at 11am this morning (Tuesday) in St Colman's Church, Clara, (Eircode R95 K290), with burial in the adjoining cemetery. The Requiem mass will be live streamed on the following link https://www.churchcamlive.ie/clara-parish-live-stream/ Paul's family would like to thank all the nurses and carers, the IMNDA association for all their help and support., all the family and friends over the past 3 years. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 13. Kyrgyzstan and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) discussed further deepening cooperation on major infrastructure, investment, and social projects, Trend reports. According to the press service of the Kyrgyz president, the discussions took place between President Sadyr Zhaparov and the Director-General of the ADFD, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi. Zhaparov noted the excellent level of interaction between Kyrgyzstan and the ADFD and expressed interest in the swift implementation of projects financed by the Joint Holding Company, which was established following the negotiations between the two countries' presidents. In turn, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi expressed gratitude to Kyrgyzstan for the support of the fund's activities and announced his intention to exert all efforts to achieve the outlined plans. He added that the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation with Kyrgyzstan extends far beyond the agreements reached. In conclusion, Zhaparov proposed to expand bilateral cooperation on issues of mutual interest. President Sadyr Zhaparov arrived in Dubai, the UAE, on February 12 for a working visit. He will participate in the World Government Summit, which will take place in Dubai. A series of meetings are scheduled with the leadership of the UAE and representatives of Emirati companies to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 13. Kyrgyzstan places great importance on the construction of a solar power plant in the country by the Emirati Masdar energy company, Trend reports. This was stated by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov during his discussions with the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei. Zhaparov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan will timely fulfill its obligations within the framework of this project. Zhaparov also reminded that he invited the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to visit Kyrgyzstan officially. He expressed confidence that this visit would give impetus to further strengthening relations between the countries. In turn, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei said that several important documents are currently under consideration by both sides within the cooperation of the two countries. These documents are planned to be signed during the expected visit of the resident of the UAE to Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, he noted that the opening of the UAE Embassy in Bishkek is planned in the near future. The minister also added that this year, Kyrgyzstan will receive a trade mission from the UAE, including representatives of major Emirati companies, to enhance trade and economic ties. As we prepare for the height of the Mardi Gras season, scientists with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab are warning you about the potentially harmful effects of Mardi Gras beads. Former President Donald Trump speaks as he holds a campaign rally at Coastal Carolina University ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary in Conway, South Carolina, on February 10. The love that Annie Stowe has for Kansas City is reflected in her store, Annies Barn. Products with funny sayings and iconic photos are her niche. BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (NYSE:BIT Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, February 1st, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of 0.124 per share by the investment management company on Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $1.49 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This is an increase from BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.12. BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust Stock Performance NYSE BIT opened at $15.49 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $15.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.81. BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust has a 12 month low of $13.65 and a 12 month high of $15.59. Get BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust alerts: Institutional Trading of BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust by 6.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 11,602 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $191,000 after acquiring an additional 725 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust by 5.6% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 16,226 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $235,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust by 1.1% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 82,151 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,199,000 after acquiring an additional 914 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust by 0.7% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 136,637 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,994,000 after acquiring an additional 917 shares during the period. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust by 2.6% in the second quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 36,462 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares during the period. About BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is co-managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in loan and debt instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristic. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 13. Kyrgyzstan's average economic growth over the past three years has reached nearly 7 percent annually, with rates of 5.5 percent in 2021, 9 percent in 2022, and 6.2 percent in 2023, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said, Trend reports. Zhaparov highlighted this achievement during his address at the 10th World Government Summit in Dubai, UAE. He emphasized the country's robust economic development, pointing to major infrastructure and international projects involving foreign investors, including hydroelectric power plants, road construction, and airport modernization. "We aspire to transform Kyrgyzstan into a regional business hub, fostering an appealing investment climate, liberal foreign trade policies, and a transparent business environment," the president said. Zhaparov underscored Kyrgyzstan's commitment to welcoming investors and foreign partners and outlined the new economic strategy's focus on the energy, mining, and transportation industries. He noted Kyrgyzstan's intent to leverage its abundant natural resources, particularly its significant hydropower potential estimated at about 142 billion kilowatt-hours, as a cornerstone of its economic policy. "When I became the head of state, 10 percent of the whole water resource potential was used. As of today, 13 percent has already been developed, and we are aiming to intensify this work," Zhaparov said. Commerzbank AG (OTCMKTS:CRZBY Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 1.2% on Monday . The company traded as high as $11.45 and last traded at $11.43. 16,908 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 33% from the average session volume of 25,093 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.29. Commerzbank Trading Up 1.2 % The stock has a market cap of $14.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.35 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.36. Commerzbank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Commerzbank AG provides banking and capital market products and services to private and small business customers, corporate groups, financial service providers, and institutional clients in Germany and internationally. It operates through two segments, Private and Small-Business Customers, and Corporate Clients. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Commerzbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Commerzbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ebiquity plc (LON:EBQ Get Free Report) shares dropped 1.5% on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 32 ($0.40) and last traded at GBX 33.50 ($0.42). Approximately 109,530 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 27% from the average daily volume of 86,255 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 34 ($0.43). Ebiquity Stock Performance The firm has a market cap of 45.63 million, a PE ratio of -1,116.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 33.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 37.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.10, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Ebiquity Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ebiquity plc provides media consultancy and investment analysis services in the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, Continental Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It offers analysis and advisory services in the areas of media management, media performance, marketing effectiveness, technology advisory, and contract compliance services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ebiquity Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ebiquity and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI Get Free Report) major shareholder Margaret E. Haas sold 665 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.00, for a total value of $11,970.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Levi Strauss & Co. Trading Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE LEVI traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $17.97. 2,178,275 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,218,001. Levi Strauss & Co. has a 12 month low of $12.41 and a 12 month high of $18.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The companys 50 day moving average price is $16.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $14.88. Get Levi Strauss & Co. alerts: Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The blue-jean maker reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. Levi Strauss & Co. had a return on equity of 22.33% and a net margin of 4.04%. The firm had revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.66 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.34 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Levi Strauss & Co. will post 1.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Levi Strauss & Co. Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of Levi Strauss & Co. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 6th. Levi Strauss & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 76.19%. Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 7.6% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,626,322 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $117,145,000 after purchasing an additional 610,838 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Levi Strauss & Co. by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,294,342 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $112,637,000 after acquiring an additional 90,776 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 11.7% during the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 5,989,518 shares of the blue-jean makers stock valued at $109,189,000 after acquiring an additional 626,601 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its stake in Levi Strauss & Co. by 1.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,913,865 shares of the blue-jean makers stock valued at $80,310,000 after acquiring an additional 105,924 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 4.5% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,898,650 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $27,398,000 after purchasing an additional 82,421 shares during the last quarter. 19.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on LEVI. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Levi Strauss & Co. from $18.00 to $17.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group lifted their target price on Levi Strauss & Co. from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $16.70. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on LEVI Levi Strauss & Co. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Levi Strauss & Co designs, markets, and sells apparels and related accessories for men, women, and children worldwide. The company offers jeans, casual and dress pants, activewears, tops, shorts, skirts, dresses, jumpsuits, shirts, sweaters, jackets, footwear, and related accessories under the Levi's, Dockers, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co, Denizen, and Beyond Yoga brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (NYSEARCA:PCY Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 4,260,840 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 551% from the previous sessions volume of 654,794 shares.The stock last traded at $19.76 and had previously closed at $20.11. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Trading Down 1.6 % The firms fifty day moving average is $20.19 and its 200 day moving average is $19.23. Get Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Baystate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Creative Planning purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH increased its position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 84.3% during the 4th quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH now owns 1,474 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. About Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF The Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-dollar-denominated sovereign debt in emerging markets with at least 3 years to maturity. PCY was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. London & Associated Properties Plc (LON:LAS Get Free Report) shares dropped 9.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 10 ($0.13) and last traded at GBX 10 ($0.13). Approximately 10,565 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 19,505 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 11 ($0.14). London & Associated Properties Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 82.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 11.86 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 10.61. The stock has a market cap of 8.53 million, a PE ratio of -250.00 and a beta of 0.09. About London & Associated Properties (Get Free Report) London & Associated Properties is a fully listed property investment company specialising in retail. It owns a portfolio of shopping centres and other retail property currently worth some 78m. LAP also invests in joint ventures with institutional co-owners; these have included Oaktree Capital Management, Schroders and Bank of Scotland. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for London & Associated Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for London & Associated Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a note issued to investors on Monday. Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Salesforce from $252.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Salesforce from $240.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Wolfe Research upgraded Salesforce from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $315.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, December 18th. Citigroup increased their price target on Salesforce from $229.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 24th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on Salesforce from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Salesforce currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $264.03. Get Salesforce alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on CRM Salesforce Stock Down 1.3 % CRM traded down $3.76 during trading on Monday, reaching $287.54. The stock had a trading volume of 3,749,198 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,104,128. The stocks 50 day moving average is $269.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $233.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The company has a market capitalization of $278.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 109.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.28. Salesforce has a one year low of $159.65 and a one year high of $295.24. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 29th. The CRM provider reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.06. Salesforce had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 7.63%. The company had revenue of $8.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.71 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.73 earnings per share. Salesforces revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Salesforce will post 6.02 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $292.43, for a total transaction of $4,386,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 13,521,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,953,994,573.38. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Srinivas Tallapragada sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.11, for a total transaction of $2,231,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,930 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,147,872.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $292.43, for a total value of $4,386,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 13,521,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,953,994,573.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,398,178 shares of company stock valued at $370,039,975 in the last three months. 3.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Salesforce Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CRM. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Salesforce during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Salesforce during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Salesforce during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Union Savings Bank purchased a new position in shares of Salesforce during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Finally, BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Salesforce in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. 77.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Salesforce (Get Free Report) Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Salesforce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Salesforce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A U.S. diplomat on Monday highlighted America's commitment to working in tandem with South Korea and Japan to address growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which he said serves only to prolong Moscow's war in Ukraine. Speaking at a forum, Robert Koepcke, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan, Korea and Mongolia, also reiterated Washington's openness to dialogue with Pyongyang "without preconditions" and its willingness to discuss the reclusive regime's humanitarian issues. "We are committed to working trilaterally as well to address DPRK-Russia military cooperation, which serves to only prolong Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, undermine the global non-proliferation regime, embolden North Korea's reckless inclinations," he told the forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has emerged as a major security concern as the White House has revealed the North had supplied Russia with ballistic missiles, munitions and other supplies for use in Ukraine under transactions, from which Pyongyang is thought to have also benefited militarily. Noting the Joe Biden administration's "calibrated" approach to the North, Koepcke underscored its continued commitment to diplomacy with Pyongyang. "We are pursuing a calibrated approach to the DPRK's escalatory actions based on the degree of the threat they pose to the United States and our allies," he said. "The United States has been clear. We seek dialogue with Pyongyang. We seek it without preconditions." He added that the U.S. will seek to cooperate on humanitarian issues with the North regardless of its missile development program status and other concerns. Touching on trilateral cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, the official described it as "essential" not only for security but also for economic and other realms. Koepcke also said that the three countries will continue to strengthen cooperation on export controls to prevent technologies from being diverted for military or "dual-use" capabilities that could potentially threaten international peace and security. (Yonhap) North Korea's provincial committees have discussed measures to carry out the national policy of developing regional economies, state media said Tuesday, amid worsening inequality in the North's capital and rural areas. The respective committees held enlarged plenary meetings to discuss measures to "establish realistic goals corresponding to regional traits" and "improve provincial economy in multilateral and distinctive ways," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. During the meeting, the committees touched on laying out detailed tasks for the goal, as well as plans to foster technicians and procure raw materials for regional industrial plants, the KCNA said. North Korea has been focusing on developing the economy in areas outside of Pyongyang after leader Kim Jong-un vowed to build modernized factories in 20 counties over the next decade to raise the "basic material and cultural living standards of the people." Last month, the country formed a committee led by Jo Yong-won, secretary for organizational affairs in the ruling Workers' Party and a key aide of leader Kim, to oversee the plan. South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs has assessed the recent emphasis on regional development as an effort to tackle the widening economic gap between Pyongyang and backward provinces amid prolonged economic difficulties. (Yonhap) The U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights will visit South Korea this week to meet with Seoul officials and attend events marking the 10th anniversary of the release of a landmark U.N. report on the North's rights abuses. Julie Turner is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday, following a trip to Japan, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter. The U.S. State Department said earlier Turner would make the two-nation visit from Monday through Feb. 22. "We expect that her visit will serve as a chance to send out a strong message from South Korea and the United States about our commitment to raising awareness of and promoting the North's human rights situations," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing. While in Seoul, Turner is expected to attend an event hosted by the U.N. human rights office in Seoul to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on the North's human rights violations. The report accused North Korean officials of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations. The COI report is considered the first document produced by the U.N. that addressed in depth the issues related to North Korean human rights violations. She also plans to visit entities providing support and education to recently arrived North Korean defectors, according to the State Department. Turner last visited South Korea in October last year soon after she took up her post. (Yonhap) A Korean woman in Malawi died last week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Local authorities are said to be investigating the possibility that she was murdered last Wednesday after leaving her home. "Our local mission continues to request cooperation from investigation officials of Malawi for a swift and thorough investigation," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a press briefing. The Korean Embassy in Zimbabwe has dispatched a consular official to Malawi and is providing the necessary consular assistance, a foreign ministry official said. Korea currently has no diplomatic missions in Malawi. The official said the ministry cannot provide further details about the personal information of the victim. The Korean ambassador to Zimbabwe is also said to have visited Malawi after the incident and met with high-level officials, including the foreign and interior ministers, to request a swift investigation into the case. (Yonhap) DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, February 13. A total of 383 tourists from Tajikistan visited Azerbaijan in January 2024, Trend reports. Data from the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan indicates that this figure increased by 2.3 times compared to the same period in 2023 (165 tourists). A total of 5,010 tourists from Tajikistan visited Azerbaijan in 2023, which is an 83.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 (2,736 tourists). Meanwhile, Azerbaijan welcomed 11,510 tourists from Central Asian countries in January 2024, which is 2.16 times higher than the figure for the same period in 2023 (5,309 people). The number of tourists from Kazakhstan amounted to 4,795 (2.28-times growth over the year), Uzbekistan to 3,399 (2.38-times growth over the year), Turkmenistan to 2,452 (66.12 percent growth over the year), and Kyrgyzstan to 481 (3.41-times growth over the year). By Adekeye Adebajo PRETORIA On January 28, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), from which all three had been suspended following the military coups that overthrew their democratically elected governments. This represents the greatest crisis the bloc has faced since its establishment in 1975. The three military juntas, which announced a new defense pact in September, accused ECOWAS of being under the influence of foreign powers and citing the blocs failure to support their war against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State posing a threat to its member states and people. All three governments also complained about ECOWASs irrational and unacceptable economic sanctions against them. Over the past few years, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have been fighting foreign-backed jihadists across the tri-border area, where militants have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced an additional 4.2 million while taking control of vast territories. Now, the withdrawal of these three landlocked Sahelian countries from ECOWAS threatens to disrupt trade and mobility even further, undermine democratic governments, and erode Nigerias credibility as a regional power. To mitigate this crisis, regional leaders must confront five key challenges. First, the resurgence of military rule across West Africa represents a failure of democratic governance that can be attributed to endemic corruption and electoral manipulation by authoritarian rulers. Both problems have been compounded by the lasting impact of colonialism and ongoing interference by self-interested foreign powers. Second, former colonial powers have hindered West African integration. France, in particular, has exerted enormous influence over the region through its control of francophone economic institutions and the CFA franc, the common currency it created for its colonies in 1945. Although French troops were expelled from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso by 2023 amid fierce anti-French protests, the United States still has 1,100 troops and a drone base in Niger, while 1,000 Russian Wagner Group mercenaries are currently fighting jihadists alongside the Malian military. Third, it is important to remember that ECOWAS was established to foster economic integration and development, not to address security threats or defend democratic institutions. Nevertheless, despite its limited resources, it has managed to reinvent itself as a peacekeeping force in an unstable, debt-ridden region. While ECOWAS has been highly effective in facilitating the free movement of the blocs 440 million people, intra-regional trade has been impeded by member states failure to industrialize and diversify their predominantly mono-crop economies. The fourth obstacle to regional integration is the blatant disregard for ECOWASs rules by its own elected leaders, leading to what West African civil-society groups have characterized as a series of civilian coups detat. Moreover, the suppression of dissent and manipulation of independent institutions have provided military leaders in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea with an opportunity to present themselves as the only ones capable of ousting unpopular French-backed leaders. Senegalese President Macky Sall exemplifies this phenomenon. Despite his earlier declaration that he would not seek a third term, Sall recently postponed the presidential election that was scheduled for February 25 for 10 months. Earlier this year, Senegals Constitutional Council disqualified the popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after he was sentenced to two years in prison on trumped-up charges of corrupting the youth. Lastly, domestic instability in Nigeria poses significant political and economic challenges. Accounting for nearly 70 percent of the regions GDP and half of its population, Nigeria has historically been the driving force behind ECOWAS. For decades, the country has leveraged its oil wealth to finance and lead the bloc, which is headquartered in Abuja. In the 1990s, Nigeria provided 80 percent of the troops and 90% of the funding to support ECOWASs military efforts to end the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. But Nigeria, currently struggling to quell a 15-year Islamist insurgency in its northeastern states, has become a major source of regional instability. With a national debt of $113 billion, an unemployment rate of more than 33 percent, and a corrupt political elite, the countrys profound crisis has called into question its ability to lead ECOWAS. As chair of the subregional bloc, Nigerian President Bola Tinubus ill-advised and impractical threat to oust Nigers junta has backfired spectacularly and undoubtedly contributed to the decision by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the bloc. Moreover, attempted military coups have reportedly been thwarted in Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Sierra Leone, suggesting that countries like Cote dIvoire, Togo, Ghana, and even Nigeria might also be at risk in the future. To contain the spread of authoritarianism, ECOWAS countries must uphold their democratic principles by imposing sanctions on autocratic rulers. In cases where military regimes cannot be removed through sanctions, the blocs leaders should adopt a pragmatic approach and negotiate 2-3-year democratic transitions. This is particularly crucial for the Sahel, where armed militants control large swaths of territory. ECOWAS must also redouble its efforts to boost socioeconomic development and devise effective security and defense policies. The United Nations and other external donors should commit significant funds to peace-building and poverty-reduction programs, and provide the necessary logistics and financing to expand the blocs military capabilities. To be sure, restoring stability to West Africa will not be easy. But by confronting these challenges head-on, ECOWAS leaders could end the scourge of military coups and foster effective regional integration. Failure to do so will put the blocs very existence at risk, potentially plunging the region into even more violence and coups. Adekeye Adebajo is a senior research fellow at the University of Pretorias Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship in South Africa. Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and members of other political parties blocked key highways and started a daylong strike in the volatile southwest Monday to protest alleged rigging of last week's elections. Candidates backed by Khan won more seats than the political parties who ousted him from power nearly two years ago, according to the final tally published Sunday. However, no party won a majority, so the parties will have to hold talks on forming a coalition government. The new parliament chooses the countrys next prime minister. Thursday's vote to choose a new parliament was overshadowed by the vote-rigging allegations, an unprecedented mobile phone shutdown, and the exclusion of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, from the vote. While election winners were celebrating victory, PTI and other parties refused to accept their defeat in dozens of constituencies. Dozens of Khans supporters were briefly detained in the eastern city of Lahore over the weekend while protesting alleged vote-rigging. Jan Achakzai, a government spokesman in the southwest province of Baluchistan, urged protesters to show grace by accepting defeat and moving away from the highways. Khan could not run in the election because of the criminal convictions against him that he says are politically motivated. Candidates aligned with Khan secured 101 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament. The Pakistan Muslim League-N party led by three-time premier and ex-felon Nawaz Sharif secured 75. Sharif is currently in talks with allies to form a coalition government. The Pakistan Peoples Party, or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, came in third with 54 seats. One result has been withheld and another vote was postponed because of a candidates death. The campaign to kick Khan out of office in 2022 was led by the PML-N and the PPP. Pakistans military has always cast itself as the ultimate arbiter of who becomes prime minister, and Sharif was marked out as the powerful security establishments preferred candidate because of his smooth return to the country last October. Sharif spent four years in exile to avoid serving prison sentences but his convictions were overturned within weeks of his arrival in Pakistan. (AP) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. In a significant event that stirred the K-pop community, Ricky, a prominent member of the popular group ZEROBASEONE, made a triumphant return to his home country through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 12th. The arrival wasn't just a routine return from overseas commitments; it was a visual spectacle that immediately captured the attention of fans and onlookers alike. Visual Marvel: Ricky's Arrival Sets a New Standard As Ricky stepped onto the airport grounds, the atmosphere was charged with an undeniable charisma. His fashion-forward attire and impeccable style spoke volumes about his influence not only as a K-pop idol but as a trendsetter in the fashion realm. The photos from the airport showcased Ricky's effortless blend of casual and chic, confirming his status as a visual icon. The idol's features, from his distinct facial expressions to the way he carried himself, painted a picture of someone who effortlessly stands out in a crowd. The public reception of his visual impact further solidified the notion that Ricky's presence is synonymous with a standard of excellence. READ ALSO: RIIZE Anton Stalked by 'Sasaeng' Fansites in Airport + BRIIZEs Urge Protection for Idol Style Beyond Borders: Ricky's Overseas Schedule and Fashion Impact Ricky's return was not just a homecoming; it symbolized the global reach of ZEROBASEONE and their influence on international stages. As part of the group's overseas schedule, Ricky's presence underscored the rising global recognition of K-pop. Furthermore, his impact extended beyond the musical domain, with his fashion choices becoming a topic of discussion and admiration. The idol's overseas ventures were not merely about performances but also about representing the group on a global scale. Ricky's ability to seamlessly integrate style into his public appearances solidifies his position as a fashion influencer, transcending geographical boundaries and contributing to the group's widespread acclaim. Fans React: "Internet Buzzing Over Ricky's Stunning Visuals" Unsurprisingly, Ricky's arrival set social media platforms ablaze. Fans, known as the devoted 'ZEROSEs,' flooded various online spaces with discussions, gifs, and fan art, expressing their excitement and admiration for the idol's stunning visuals. Conversations about his impact as an idol, both in terms of musical prowess and visual appeal, echoed across fan communities, creating a digital celebration of Ricky's return. NETIZENS' REACTIONS Here's what ZEROSEs are saying: The person u waved back to is lucky af i would faint on spot HOW CAN HE BE SO PERFECT I-- the thumbs up is lit me mans really looks stunning as always thoughh I would die if he waved back at me Ricky is a glorious sight to behold! The way he waved really made me fall in love he's the kindest I'm confused whether Rick is beautiful or handsome because he looks like an anime in the real world OMG SOOO HANDSOME! He's so mathematically and proportionally fine. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: K-Netz Discuss About THIS 3rd-Gen Idol's Timeless Beauty, Fame Before Controversy For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. Ever since stepping into the spotlight, Kwon Eunbi has not only earned acclaim for her captivating visuals but has also carved a niche for herself with an unparalleled stage presence. Whether commanding the stage as part of a dynamic K-pop group or showcasing her solo artistry, Eunbi has consistently captured the attention of fans and industry observers alike. A Glimpse into Eunbi's Leisurely Escape Breaking away from the confines of her demanding schedule, Eunbi recently treated fans to an intimate glimpse of her personal life. Sharing a series of stunning bikini photos from a recent escapade, the idol not only displayed her enviable physique but also invited followers to join her on a virtual journey through moments of leisure. From sun-soaked lounging to refreshing poolside dips and serene beach explorations, Eunbi radiated beauty and elegance in every frame. Unveiling a Hidden Tattoo: A Surprise for Fans Among the captivating images that fueled the online fervor, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice a subtle yet significant detaila previously unseen tattoo gracing Eunbi's skin. NETIZENS' COMMENTS mother has a tattoo????? I didn't know Eunbi has a tattoo, that's cool! SHE HAD A TATTOO? HER TATTOOOOO! The revelation sparked a wave of curiosity and excitement, with admirers expressing their surprise and appreciation for this newfound aspect of the idol's identity. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yulhee Faces Dating Rumor After Divorce With Minhwan - Here's Idol's Statement Netizens Enthralled: Eunbi's Confidence and Beauty Shine Through As the photos made their rounds on social media, netizens were quick to voice their admiration for Eunbi's confidence and beauty. The online community collectively marveled at her radiant appearance, lauding her for consistently pushing boundaries and surprising her audience. Eunbi's ability to seamlessly blend grace with confidence only intensified the fascination surrounding these mesmerizing snapshots. NETIZENS' REACTIONS Y'ALL SAY MOTHER I SAY KWON EUNBI Jinjja Nice Body OKAY MOTHER..OKAY The sexy body of Eungy is really untopped ENDED INSTAGRAM To the people who just discovered her instgram account, this is the best body in Kpop industry, welcome Eunbi just destroyed the internet Sis looks so fresh!!! In her usual fashion, Kwon Eunbi continues to captivate netizens not only with her musical prowess but also with her ability to share moments of vulnerability and beauty, establishing an enduring connection with her ever-growing fan base. READ ALSO: K-Media Outlet Selects the TOP 3 Female K-Pop Idols With the Best Winter Fashion - Find Out Who They Are Here! For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. The recurring appearance of a four-leaf clover symbol has left Bunnies wondering if NewJeans' comeback is nearby. Here's what fans are saying! NewJeans' Persistent Four-Leaf Cover Symbol Has Bunnies Investigating Group's Possible Concept, Comeback On February 12, Bunnies gathered in an online community to discuss NewJeans' speculated return to the K-pop industry. In the post titled, "NewJeans Comeback Leak," the author uploaded numerous photos that emphasized the four-leaf clover sign, which according to many, has been subtly teased by NewJeans members in various content and performances. Four-leaf clovers are known to be the symbol of good luck, and the idea has been showcased consistently in pop culture. It is also known to bring such luck due to how rare it is since it's also a sporadic variation of the common three-leaf clover. The thread included numerous occasions where NewJeans "teased" fans with the symbol. This included their intro at the Golden Disc Awards 2024 on January 6, alongside appearances of the symbol on their clothes, used emojis, season's greetings, and Phoning names. See OP's claims below: "Suspicious four-leaf clover in the intro of NewJeans' performance (at GDA 2024)" Translation: "February, a four-leaf clover found on Minji's outfit." Translation: "Haerin's outfit" Translation: "Danielle's outfit" "Artist Lee Nakyung's Instagram Story during Seoul Fashion Week." Translation: "Today Minji. She stuck a four-leaf clover emoticon." "Hanni's Phoning name." "There was a fan asking Minji to pick one green emoticon in the list and Minji put a four-leaf clover despite not being included in the list." "2024's Season's Greetings" Translation: "If you look at the month of April." Translation: "4/17 in the diary." "4/17 in the diary." "A Bunny was speculating that their concept would be about four-leaf clovers. I am so looking forward to it." "And this was Kim Nayeon PD's Instagram Story" Translation: "Four-leaf clovers appearing on the filming set." Fans expressed excitement over the group's possible comeback and aired their theories regarding NewJeans' next musical direction. Read their comments below: "Crazy, I'm gonna be obsessed with their concept again." "Is it related to luck? Looking forward to it." "I can already tell that it's gonna be good." "Newjeans is coming back to end careers, can't wait for the queens." "I'm curious with what kind of sound they will go with this time." "Will they go to something upbeat like Hype Boy? Nostalgic like Ditto? Easy listening like Super Shy? or maybe a new sound? I'm excited for it!" "I just want the songs to be over three minutes, that's all I ask." "While I do like their easy-listening songs that get good results, I do hope they combined that sound with the more upbeat direction they had in Hype Boy." What are your thoughts on the speculations? Are you looking forward to more of NewJeans' songs? Let us know in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: NewJeans Has Sixth Member? Group's 'Ditto' Teaser Raises Curiosity for Featuring 6 People KpopStarz owns this article Written by Riely Miller During an interview with Chinese news outlet, EToday, ex-CLC member Elkie revealed her and TWICE Tzuyu's real feelings over the hate they received due to their friendship. Former CLC Elkie Reveals TWICE Tzuyu's Real Feelings Regarding Hate Over Their Friendship Back on February 6, 2024, EToday released an exclusive interview with ex-CLC Elkie. During the interview, she discussed her recent activities, future plans, and her friendship with TWICE's visual maknae, Tzuyu. Recently, their friendship has been the center of attention after both Elkie and Tzuyu shared photos of the two enjoying a spa day together in January 2022. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TWICE Tzuyu Squashes Rumors She Has Feud With THIS Former K-Pop Idol - Here's How The interview revealed that at the end of 2023, Tzuyu returned to Taiwan with several TWICE members early for her annual vacation. While on vacation, she made plans to meet up with Elkie. During TWICE's trip to Taiwan in the past, they had initially planned to hang out together locally. However, due to conflicting schedules, they couldn't meet up. Elkie expressed regret over not being able to travel together. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: TikToker Spills on TWICE Tzuyu's Real-Life Visuals - What Did He Say? Despite that, she kept a positive attitude, saying, "They had a lot of fun experiences, and they said they want to come again next time." Elkie has known Tzuyu for eight years, and throughout their friendship, she has endured continuous attacks from malicious netizens. Though it may have hurt her in the past, Elkie now maintains a calm attitude, saying, "It seems like I can't stop the haters from talking. I just share my life. I won't bring it up, but if asked, I will answer." CHECK THIS OUT: 50 Best K-pop Maknaes in 2023: BTS Jungkook, Super Junior Kyuhyun, TWICE Tzuyu, MORE! When asked if the malicious comments had taken a toll on their friendship, Elkie quickly responded, "Absolutely not, we only get better." Elkie then delved deeper into how Tzuyu and her react to the hate they receive, stating, "We just think to ourselves, 'You don't understand.' Tzuyu also thinks, 'Why should you endure this kind of suffering?' And I'll comfort her by saying, 'It's okay, it's just people who care about you, they think they're protecting you.'" Ex-CLC Elkie Member Reveals How Much They Compliment Each Other During the interview, Elkie revealed just how much they compliment each other. Despite their differences in personalities, they fit each other like pieces in a puzzle. READ MORE: Influencer Draws Attention For Calling TWICE Chaeyoung 'Racist' During Concert - How Did People React? She states, "I'm outgoing and extroverted. While she's not introverted, she is the type that needs someone to liven up the atmosphere." Elkie commented on seeing Tzuyu come out of her shell, commenting, "Seeing her become more cheerful year after year makes me happy. On the other hand, Tzuyu is a healing presence for me; she's naturally calm, and we both have strong empathy." ALSO READ: TWICE's 'I GOT YOU' Has 'Low' Reception on Domestic Charts - But ONCEs are Untroubled for THIS Reason Elkie then shared a cute moment between the two. In the past, Tzuyu gifted Elkie a pink wallet for her birthday. However, there is a hilarious and heartwarming twist to the story. It was revealed that Tzuyu stuffed the gift into her suitcase and stood there without leaving, saying, "Take a look!" Only then did Elkie realize it was a birthday present half a year late. FOR YOU: TWICE Jihyo, Sana Kiss During Concert - And ONCEs Are Wildin' on the Internet! In the card Elkie received, Tzuyu wrote, "Although it's very, very late, let's consider it last year's birthday present. Thank you for being my good friend," showcasing her adorable and lovable personality. What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! KpopStarz Owns This Written by Alexa Lewis DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, February 13. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Tajikistan discussed the implementation process of the organization's projects in the country, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, the issue was discussed during a meeting between Ismatullo Nasredin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, and Oleg Guchgeldiyev, Representative of FAO in Tajikistan. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current situation and prospects for the development of cooperation between Tajikistan and FAO. Tajikistan has been collaborating with the FAO since joining the organization in 1995. Initially, FAO assistance focused on implementing short-term emergency measures in response to locust outbreaks and providing support to the country during its transition to peaceful life after the civil war. Subsequently, the focus of cooperation shifted towards implementing activities for recovery and development aimed at creating a sustainable agricultural sector and ensuring food security. Stray Kids' Felix has set social media ablaze with his latest filming for Percal Jackon, becoming the talk of Altitan. The Altitan idol's unconventional yet captivating look has not only reached but surpassed 15,000 retweets in a remarkably short time, solidifying his popularity. Gleaming Hair, Towel Chic Felix's decision to cover his bleached hair with a towel during filming only added to the intrigue. Fans couldn't help but appreciate how well it suited him, and his bare-faced charm shone through, leaving admirers charmed by his natural allure. "This is the first time I see someone who looks good with freckles." - User: yep, 2024.02.13 13:31 READ ALSO: Stray Kids Felix Asked to Act Cat-Like in Fan Call + STAYs Disturbed Over 'Cringe' Moment Pastel Tones and Fan Admiration Lee Yong-bok, expressing disappointment in Felix's choice of pastel tones over blue, couldn't deny the visual appeal created during the Percal Jackon filming. The spring warm light and perfect pastel tones made Felix's appearance even more captivating. "How cute is this hahahahahahahaha." - User: yep, 2024.02.09 11:14 'Yeodeok Magnet' and Trendsetting Felix's sudden rise as a 'Yeodeok Magnet' has positioned him as a trendsetter among male idols. Comments flooded the social media post, highlighting the trend of male idols focusing on their epic faces, with Felix standing out as a prime example. "I fell in love with a guy with blue hair, but blue is the worst ." - User: yep, 2024.02.09 11:00 Stray Kids' Felix's Generous Donation In recent news, Stray Kids' Felix made a generous donation of 100 million won ($76,500 USD) to UNICEF. Felix became the youngest member of UNICEF's Honors Club, making history as the first member in 2024. The donation was directed towards supporting sanitation, nutrition, and drinking water for children in Laos. Felix also became a member of Save the Children's Honors Club on March 7, 2023, through a donation of at least 30 million won ($23,100 USD) within three years. Felix has a history of philanthropy, starting with volunteering in a bracelet campaign in June 2020 and continuing with donations for various causes, including relief efforts during the Turkey/Syria earthquake in 2018. Felix expressed his hope that the donation would help the children in Laos, emphasizing the importance of sharing the love he has received. The Secretary-General of UNICEF's Korean Committee, Cho Mijin, thanked Felix for delivering positive influence and hope to children worldwide through UNICEF. READ MORE HERE: Stray Kids Felix Included in UNICEF's Honors Club + Becomes Organization's Youngest Member in History ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 13. Turkmenistan, as a member of the international community, clearly formulates and implements its approaches and actions, setting priorities according to which the country's contribution will contribute to the early achievement of global goals, Trend reports. According to an official source, this was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, who arrived at the head of the Turkmen delegation to participate in the meetings of the World Government Summit (WGS 2024). In this context, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan highlighted such aspects as transport connectivity and sustainability. Meredov noted that, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, six resolutions of the UN General Assembly on sustainable transport have been adopted over the past decade. At the same time, Meredov proposed the creation of the Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity, the Global Energy Security and Sustainability Cooperation Alliance, and the development of the Global Circular Economy Transition Framework based on the priorities of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13: OmniScience Capital, a leading global investment management firm specializing in global and Indian equity investments, proudly announces the launch of its revolutionary investment strategy - the Omni Ayodhya UP (Uttar Pradesh) Strategy. This pioneering approach, accessible on the popular smallcase platform, leverages the potential of diverse sectors aligned with the growth of Ayodhya and the broader Uttar Pradesh region, propelling it towards a trillion-dollar economy. The strategy, unveiled on January 22, 2024, is available to investors on the smallcase platform starting February 1, 2024, coinciding with OmniScience Capital's 7th Founding Day. Also Read | India Is Bangladesh's Largest Export Destination in Asia, Says Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma. Dr. Vikas Gupta, CEO & Chief Investment Strategist at OmniScience Capital, expressed excitement about this new growth vector, highlighting its well-diversified nature and robust economic rationale grounded in the Scientific Investing Framework. "The strategy aims to catalyze exponential economic development in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on the redevelopment of Ayodhya as outlined in the Government Master Plan 2031. With an investment exceeding INR 85,000 crore (~$10 Billion), this initiative aims to enhance the infrastructure of the holy city. Already, 20,000 jobs have been created even before the Pran Pratishtha event of the Sri Ram Temple. Ultimately, more than 150,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created, contributing to the goal of making UP a Trillion Dollar Economy. The investment is anticipated to benefit stocks related to Connectivity, Roads & Infrastructure Companies, Electric Vehicles, Hotels, Loans & Payments Banks (Credit cards and UPI), and Telecom sectors," said Dr. Gupta. Also Read | Oracle Logs 50% Growth in Cloud Consumption in India in Second Quarter of FY24. Dr Gupta emphasized "Invest for Ayodhya, Stay for Development, and Gain from UP. However, Investors should be careful not to pick stocks based on faith or emotions but rather focus on stocks with strong financial resources, growth opportunities and which are available at a discount to intrinsic value." he said Ashwini Shami, Executive Vice President & Portfolio Manager at OmniScience Capital, highlighted the firm's forward-thinking approach to identify and capitalize on emerging growth vectors. He stated, "Instead of investing in overvalued stocks with direct exposure to Ayodhya, our strategy seeks non-obvious exposure. For example, it focuses on curated exposure to potentially undervalued companies in UPI, credit cards, payments, telecom, and food delivery app companies, rather than the overvalued stocks of quick-service restaurants and FMCG." OmniScience Capital manages a diverse portfolio comprising 7-8 growth vectors through over two dozen investment strategies featured on the smallcase platform. The firm's commitment to providing investors with innovative choices aligned with their risk tolerance and investment goals. OmniScience primarily focuses on fundamental safety in the portfolio while allowing alpha to be a consequential result of this focus. The firm's Scientific Investing Philosophy, known as "The Science of Alpha from Safety," focuses on selecting SuperNormal Companies at SuperNormal Prices, evident in its strategic focus on the US and Indian Equity Markets, along with transformative technologies. About Omni Ayodhya & UP/ Omni UP Rising (omniscience.smallcase.com) The Ram Mandir development is catalyzing all-round development in Ayodhya, UP, impacting the rest of India, and eventually the world. Omni Ayodhya & UP - Invest for Ayodhya, Stay for Development and Gain from UP: The Ayodhya Masterplan 2031 envisions an investment of INR 85,000 crore (~$10 Billion). Beyond this starts the Ayodhya Vision 2047, furthering development under the Ayodhya Development Authority. Beyond this is the UP Vision to become a trillion-dollar economy. The $10 billion investment is likely to result in nearly 150,000 annual jobs, cumulatively totalling 1 million jobs, triggering a multiplier effect in not only Ayodhya but the surrounding 6-12 districts. Prime Minister has already inaugurated projects worth INR 15,000 crores 3, and the Global Investor Summit, UP 2023, has received proposals for INR 49,000 crores 4 for Ayodhya. OmniScience Capital's investment strategy for "Ayodhya Stocks" is based on its Scientific Investing Framework, constructing a universe from stocks directly and indirectly exposed to Ayodhya's development. This diversified portfolio encompasses various sectors, benefiting residents, visitors, pilgrims, tourists, and eventually government and business visitors, evolving over time with new contracts and company announcements. Omni UP Rising - Invest in Ayodhya and rise with the UP Trillion Dollar Economy: The Ram Mandir development is catalysing all-round development in Ayodhya, UP and impacting the rest of India, and eventually the World. The Ayodhya Masterplan 2031 envisages an investment of INR 85,000 crore (~$10 Billion). Beyond this starts the Ayodhya Vision 2047 which takes the development further under the Ayodhya Development Authority. Beyond this is the UP Vision to become a Trillion Dollar Economy. The $10 billion investment is likely to result in nearly 1,50,000 jobs, cumulatively totalling a million annual jobs. The capex is likely to result in further jobs as it triggers a multiplier effect in not only Ayodhya but the surrounding 6-12 districts. The Prime Minister has already inaugurated projects worth INR 15,000 crores and the Global Investor Summit, UP 2023 has already received proposals for INR 49,000 crores for Ayodhya. OmniScience Capital's investment strategy for investing in "Ayodhya Stocks" is based on its Scientific Investing Framework. The universe construction starts from finding stocks which have exposure to Ayodhya's development directly and some indirectly via being exposed to the development of UP as a Trillion Dollar Economy. This allows the creation of a large initial universe which provides the ability to exercise choice and apply the stringent Scientific Investing Framework without compromising on the stock selection. A diversified portfolio of stocks from multiple sectors and industries, which are providing value to different aspects of life in Ayodhya for residents as well as visitors, including, pilgrims, tourists and eventually government and business visitors, and which are benefiting from the Ayodhya Development, has been created. This portfolio will evolve over time as more contracts are given out, or more announcements are made by companies about their investments in Ayodhya. In the meanwhile a set of companies which are either known to be exposed to Ayodhya, or in our opinion are likely to have exposure to Ayodhya are included in the portfolio. Sources: 1 https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/ram-mandir-up-govt-lines-up-rs-85000-crore-investment-for-redevelopment-of-ayodhya/107039323 2 https://indbiz.gov.in/ram-mandir-to-create-around-2-lakh-jobs-betterplace/ 3 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/ayodhya-projects-pm-modi-inaugurates-15000-crore-projects-covering-ayodhya-dham-rail-station-airport-more/articleshow/106396098.cms 4 https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/news/ram-mandir-consecration-these-stocks-could-benefit-from-surge-in-tourism-in-ayodhya-2024-01-21-912950 About OmniScience Capital OmniScience Capital, founded by Dr. Vikas Gupta, stands as a global investment management firm dedicated to providing a scientific approach to equity investments. Pioneering global investing for Indian investors, the firm introduces SuperNormal Portfolios that prioritize safety, growth, and returns. Driven by the belief that India is on a trajectory towards becoming a developed nation during the Amrit Kaal period, spanning from the 75th year of independence in 2022 to the 100th year in 2047, OmniScience Capital has formulated strategic approaches to capitalize on Amrit Kaal policies. Advocating for a diversified investment approach, OmniScience Capital also encourages investing in global developed markets as a part of a long-term asset allocation strategy. Dr. Gupta challenges the misconception that investing in India inherently results in superior returns, citing the unique opportunities present in the US market, such as transformative technology firms that have contributed to the outperformance of the S&P500 over the Nifty50. Scientific Investing - Enhance Safety, Enhance Growth, Enhance Returns OmniScience Capital's Scientific Investing Framework is centered on purifying the investment universe by systematically identifying and eliminating risky stocks. This includes both fundamentally weak businesses and overvalued securities. The approach places emphasis on selecting fundamentally sound businesses while steering clear of overpriced assets, thereby ensuring a well-balanced and informed investment strategy. Disclaimer: Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by SEBI, membership of BASL and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. For more information, please visit OmniScience Capital's Scientific Investing page. https://www.omnisciencecapital.com/ Omniscience Investment Adviser is the advisory division of Omniscience Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd. which is registered as a non-individual Investment Adviser with SEBI with a valid registration No. INA000007623, BASL Membership Id 1197 & CIN U93000MH2017PTC290053. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Messi, the canine star of Anatomy of a Fall, who played Snoop in the Oscar-nominated film, travelled from France to Los Angeles on Monday to attend the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon, his trainer Laura Martin Contini was cited by the People magazine. Messi was popular with other celebrities, including Ryan Gosling, who was captured on film waving to the dog during the luncheon. NEON, who distributed the film in the United States, also released a photo of Bradley Cooper with Messi. The talented canine has been hailed as the star of the French courtroom drama. Justine Triet's film, which she directed and co-wrote, revolves around Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), a well-known German novelist who is on trial in France for allegedly pushing her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) to death. Their blind 11-year-old son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner) is caught in the centre of the tumultuous court process and media circus while simultaneously grieving over his father. Daniel and his guide dog share a strong bond and are the only two witnesses to Samuel's death. Oscar 2024: Robert Downey Jr, Cillian Murphy, Margot Robbie, and Others Attend Nominees Luncheon. At the Oscars luncheon, Huller told Variety that she is still unsure whether her role was innocent, claiming that "the only innocent creature in the film is the dog." Huller, 45, received a Best Actress nomination, while Treit, 45, received nominations for Best Director and Best Original Writing. The film received nominations for Best Picture and Best Editing. While Messi may not win an Oscar, he did receive an award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. He got the Palm Dog Award, which recognizes canine performances in the festival's selected films, as per People. After Messi accepted the award, Triet told The Hollywood Reporter that Messi's character "was not just another character or some animal running around [but] as much a part of the film's ensemble as any of the other actors." In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Huller expressed the same opinion, saying Snoop was "as much a character as any other" and that the cast and crew were fortunate to work with Messi. "We had good luck this time to work with someone in the business who trains animals for the industry," said Huller. Oscars 2024 Luncheon: Messi, Anatomy of a Fall's Breakout Star, Joins The Party, See Ryan Gosling's Enthused Reaction on Meeting Canine Actor! (Watch Video). Messi 'snoop the dog' from Anatomy of a Fall at the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon Messi "snoop the dog" from ANATOMY OF A FALL at the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon in LA pic.twitter.com/IiMYeEhyJp Four Trends (@Everytrendsplug) February 12, 2024 "The lady [Laura Martin Contini] who owns Snoop was a really key person for us to allow him to be a character, really as much a part of the film's ensemble as any of the other actors," Contini told The Wildest that Messi joined the set for 22 shoot days. "There was such a great team, and he was everyone's favourite on set, and we really took the time on each of his scenes," Conti said. She highlighted how Messi and Milo Machado Graner had to form a bond that communicated on film. "Even during the shoot, every time there was a break, they would be playing together," said Contini. "[Machado Graner] was specifically very invested in becoming close to the dog and taking care of and playing with him, which is what Messi needs as a dog. He needs to be taken care of and to be given attention and playtime." New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the defamation complaint against RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his alleged "only Gujaratis can be thugs" remark. A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to Yadav after noting that he has withdrawn his statement. Also Read | 'Delhi Chalo' Protest: Supreme Court Bar Association Urges CJI DY Chandrachud To Initiate Suo Motu Action Against Erring Farmers. "We have quashed the complaint," the bench said. The top court on January 29 had directed Yadav to file a "proper statement" withdrawing his alleged remark that "only Gujaratis can be thugs". Also Read | Ashok Chavan Resigns From Congress: Former Maharashtra CM Likely To Join BJP After Quitting Party Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. Yadav on January 19 filed an affidavit in the apex court withdrawing his alleged "Gujarati thugs" remark. The top court, while hearing the RJD leader's plea, had earlier stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint and issued notice to the Gujarat resident who had filed it in an Ahmedabad court. The Gujarat court had in August conducted a preliminary inquiry against Yadav under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and found sufficient grounds to summon him on the complaint filed by Haresh Mehta, a local businessman and activist. According to the complaint, Yadav, while talking to the media in Patna in March 2023, had said, "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven." Mehta claimed Yadav's comments defamed all Gujaratis. (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 13 (PTI) The defence ministry signed a Rs 2,269-crore deal with state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on Tuesday for the procurement of 11 Shakti warfare systems, along with associated equipment. The electronic warfare system will be installed on-board the frontline warships of the Indian Navy, officials said. Also Read | IAF Plane Crash in West Bengal: AJT Hawk Aircraft of Indian Air Force Crashes in Kalaikunda, No Casualty or Damage to Property. The Shakti systems are capable of accurately intercepting electronic emissions and implementing counter measures in a dense electromagnetic environment, they said. "The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad on February 13 for procurement of 11 Shakti Electronic Warfare Systems along with associated equipment/accessories for Indian Navy under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category at a total cost of Rs 2,269.54," the ministry said in a statement. Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Indian Diaspora Gives Warm Welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi, Eagerly Await BAPS Mandir Inauguration (Watch Videos). The Shakti EW system is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. "The project will generate employment of two-and-a-half lakh man-days over a period of four years with participation of more than 155 industry partners including MSMEs, thus furthering the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'," the ministry said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gangtok, February 13: An Election Commission of India team headed by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma visited Sikkim and held meeting with state government officers to review the preparedness for Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls to be held later this year, an official said on Tuesday. The EC team held a meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP, Special DGP, Chief Electoral Officer, State Police Nodal Officer, Home Secretary and other senior officials. In the meeting, the overall preparedness of the state for the conduct of general elections was discussed in detail, he said. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 96.88 Crore People Registered To Vote for General Polls, Announces Election Commission. On Monday, the EC team also held a meeting with all District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to review the preparedness and plan of action of the district administration. All DCs and SPs made a detailed presentation on the matters relating to the electoral roll, printing of EPIC, identification of critical/vulnerable polling stations, availability and training of manpower, arrangements for establishment of strong rooms, training and despatch centres, counting centres, election expenditure monitoring, the official said. The DCs and SPs were directed to focus majorly on election works and ensure that timely action is taken to dispose of the forms received during the continuous updation of electoral rolls. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission To Hold Meeting With District Officers on January 30 in Uttar Pradesh To Review Preparedness for General Polls. The EC team also held a meeting with the state nodal officers of various enforcement agencies which monitor election expenditures. The EC officials directed the Nodal Officers to strengthen their monitoring mechanism to curb the movement of cash, liquor, drugs, freebies and other materials which can be used as inducement to the voters during the elections. They also asked these agencies to share intelligence among themselves for an effective network of information exchange which would help in better coordination of their enforcement activities. (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 13 (ANI): The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against 21 accused persons and entities in a case related to the illegal issuance of a large number of Arms Licenses in Jammu and Kashmir. The accused include the then Arms License Authorities (DM/ADMs)--Rajeev Ranjan (IAS) and Itrat Hussain Rafiqui, Judicial Clerks, other officials of the Office of Deputy Magistrate, Kupwara and Gun House Dealers/Agents, and middlemen, including Rahul Grover, Syed Addel Hussain Shah and Syed Akeel Shah before the Special Court (PMLA), Jammu, in a case related to the illegal issuance of a large number of Arms Licenses. Also Read | Modi Signs Intercontinental Trade Pact During UAE Visit. The Special Court took cognizance of the complaint on February 12, 2024. The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of various FIRs registered by the Anti-Terrorist Squad/Special Operations Group, Jaipur; the Rajasthan Police; and the Central Bureau of Investigation, Chandigarh, under various sections of the IPC, 1860 and the Arms Act. Also Read | Wrestling's World Governing Body Lifts Suspension on India, Asks WFI Not To Discriminate Against Protesting Wrestlers. ED investigation revealed that during the relevant period, the then DM/ADMs, judicial Clerks and other officials of the office of the District Magistrate, Kupwara, in connivance with gun house dealers and agents/middlemen, hatched a criminal conspiracy among themselves and issued or renewed a large number of illegal arms licenses to ineligible applicants in lieu of monetary consideration by flouting various norms, procedures of the Arms Act. The accused were found to be in the acquisition and possession of proceeds of crime generated out of criminal activities related to the above scheduled offences. Earlier, ED issued a provisional attachment order attaching the movable and immovable properties of the accused to the tune of Rs 4.69 crore and seized cash to the tune of Rs 1.58 crore and gold during the search and seizure action. The attachment and seizure have been confirmed by the Ld. Adjudicating Authority, PMLA, New Delhi. Further investigation is in progress. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kaziranga (Assam) [India], February 13 (ANI): One forest guard was severely injured after being attacked by a female rhino in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on Tuesday, officials said. The incident took place near Ikorani Beel of Bokpara forest camp under Kohora range in the national park. Also Read | Karnataka Lokayukta Police Registers FIR Against Deputy CM, DK Shivakumar Says legal Fight Will Continue. The injured forest guard was identified as Pinku Chandra Nath and he was rushed to hospital. Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi, Forest Range Officer said that the forest guard was attacked by the female rhino after he fell from the elephant he was sitting on. Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lauds Indian Diaspora in Abu Dhabi, Says 'Bharat Is Proud of You' (Watch Video). "The forest guard was injured after being attacked by a female rhino near Ikorani Beel of Bokpara forest camp. Following the incident, we admitted the injured forest guard at Kohora Civil Hospital but later doctor referred him to Guwahati for better treatment. Two forest staff were on duty in that area with a department elephant," said Gogoi. "When the rhino chased the elephant, both forest staff fell from the elephant and the rhino attacked Pinku Chanda Nath. The elephant mahout was unhurt in the incident," the forest official 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) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 13. Uzbekistan and Russia are discussing the conclusion of a long-term contract with a gradual increase in gas supply volumes, Russian ambassador to Uzbekistan Oleg Malginov said, Trend reports. He said that Russian gas supplies, which started within a two-year contract in October 2023, significantly contribute to the stabilization of Uzbekistan's economy. "Russian gas has already been supplied, and this is a significant contribution to the stabilization of Uzbekistan's economy and social sphere. Last year it was a bit cold, but thanks to gas supplies this year, everything went smoothly," the dipomat noted. According to him, relations between Uzbekistan and Russia in the economic sphere are not limited only to gas supplies. "Our relations are so extensive that it is difficult to point out an area in which we do not cooperate. During the Uzbek president's visit to Russia in early October 2023, agreements were signed and instructions were allocated, including about 65 points, which the presidents instructed their governments to implement in the near future," Malginov emphasized. He also noted that the Uzbek-Russian intergovernmental commission has identified more than 80 projects that are currently in the process of implementation. "In general, we can say that our trade relations are developing despite the difficulties in the world. Russia has almost reached the trade turnover volume of $10 billion for 2023to be precise, $9.8 billionand this is not the limit yet. Russia is the country that most actively buys Uzbek goods," the ambassador added. Meanwhile, the share of Russia's investments and loans in 2023 in Uzbekistan's economy fell to 13.4 percent of total foreign investments in the country a year earlier (20.3 percent). The data from Uzbekistan's statistics agency shows that the volume of Russian investments in Uzbekistan amounted to 25.1 trillion soums ($2 billion) last year. This is the second-highest figure among investor countries. Panaji, Feb 13 (PTI) The INDIA block has collapsed in Goa, and people have lost confidence in the Congress, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its party MLA as the opposition alliance's candidate from the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency. AAP's state unit president Amit Palekar announced that Venzy Viegas, a legislator from the Benaulim constituency, is the nominee of the INDIA block and appealed to other parties in the Opposition to support him. Also Read | IAF Plane Crash in West Bengal: AJT Hawk Aircraft of Indian Air Force Crashes in Kalaikunda, No Casualty or Damage to Property. Notably, South Goa, one of the two Lok Sabha seats in the coastal state, is currently represented by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha. Talking to reporters in South Goa, the chief minister said, "The INDIA alliance has collapsed in Goa. The AAP has already announced its candidate for the South Goa seat. People don't have confidence in Rahul Gandhi or the Congress." Also Read | PM Narendra Modi, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Launch RuPay Card at Abu Dabhi (Watch Video). People have confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, which will win majority seats in the upcoming elections, 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 13 (PTI) In a first for the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital, a kidney transplant was conducted where the donor and the recipient had different blood groups, officials said on Tuesday. The ABO incompatible kidney transplant was conducted on February 6. Also Read | Bihar Budget 2024-25: Nitish Kumar Government Presents Rs 2.79 Lakh Crore Budget, Growth Rate 'Highest' in Country at Over 10%. Dr Vandana Talwar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said, "While kidney transplants started at the Safdarjung Hospital in 2013, this was the first time that a kidney transplant was conducted where the donor and the recipient had different blood groups." A 28-year-old woman with "AB positive" blood group donated her kidney to her 43-year-old husband, whose blood group was "B positive". Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Interacts With First Batch of Students From IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi Campus. The transplant was successful, the kidney parameters came to normal by the second post-operative day and the patient was subsequently discharged without any complications, informed Dr Vandana Chakravarty, Additional Medical Superintendent in charge of organ transplantation at the hospital. The patient was unfortunately diagnosed with kidney failure two years ago and was on dialysis for six months, Talwar said. What complicated the entire transplant was that while the woman's blood group was "AB positive", the man's blood group was "B positive". "This brought in unique challenges since the husband's body already had antibodies that would reject the wife's kidney and lead to a failure of the transplant," said Dr Pawan Vasudeva, Professor and Head of Urology at the hospital. A process of desensitisation was carried out to decrease the high levels of antibodies in the man so that the transplant could be attempted, said Dr Rajesh Kumar, Unit Head, Nephrology, Safdarjung Hospital. Anaesthesia support was provided by a team headed by Dr Sushil Guria. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], February 13 (ANI): The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) organised an event 'Sadbhavana: A Gesture of Peace, Love, & Harmony' in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday on the theme of contribution to nation-building by Christian leadership and community of Odisha. This first-of-its-kind event celebrated the invaluable contributions of the Christian community to India's magnificent growth story. Also Read | Karnataka Lokayukta Police Registers FIR Against Deputy CM, DK Shivakumar Says legal Fight Will Continue. The Christian missions have contributed in a commendable way to introduce modern higher education in India and enlighten Indian society while paving the way for the eradication of many social evils. At this event, religious leaders, academicians, scholars, philanthropists, and social activists, among other eminent personalities from the Christian community, came together to reaffirm their commitment to nation-building and spread the message of brotherhood, harmony, and peace in the country. Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lauds Indian Diaspora in Abu Dhabi, Says 'Bharat Is Proud of You' (Watch Video). Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Satnam Singh Sandhu was also present on this occasion. Religious leaders and academicians praised the Modi govt and the work and vision of the Prime Minister. What the Modi govt has done in the last 10 years was discussed at the event. Father Dibankar Parichha, advocate said, "Sadbhavana can unite all of us. I request the Prime Minister to introduce some schemes for the benefit of the Eastern region and the Christian community. This event is a new opening for Odisha and the region that Sadbhavana that coming together and harmony should continue in each person's life and family." He further said that the governance system had improved in the last 10 years. "We acknowledge that this governance will lead us further. Odisha is a backward state. Whatever package has been offered we are thankful to the Prime Minister," he added. John Barwa, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar said, "We have heard, seen, and experienced the powerful mission activities that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken in the past 10 years. It clearly speaks volumes about the unparalleled work and love he has shown for the upliftment of Dalits, the underprivileged, minorities, and the Christian community. PM Modi promotes the value system and abilities of the Christian community." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 13 (ANI): Union Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Assam on February 29, where he will address a mega rally in the Barpeta Lok Sabha Constituency, according to a BJP official. Assam State Bharatiya Janata Party President Bhabesh Kalita told ANI on Tuesday that preparations are on to welcome the BJP leader and Union minister at the end of this month. Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: Woman Dies by Suicide Over Husbands Extramarital Affair; Accused, In-Laws Arrested. "We are preparing for his visit. The Union Defence Minister will address a mega rally in the Barpeta Parliamentary constituency. A party karyakartas sanmilan of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency will be held on February 29 and a Lok Sabha Prabandhan Committee meeting will also be held on the same day," Kalita said. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to visit the state again but his schedule has not been finalised yet. Also Read | SpiceJet Layoffs: Low-Cost Airline To Cut at Least 1,000 Jobs as Part of Cost-Cutting Strategy To Ensure Profitable Growth. "The Prime Minister may visit Assam again before the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll dates," Kalita said. The state BJP president also said other senior leaders, including Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari will also visit different clusters of the state in the coming days. "We have made five different clusters by taking all 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. First, the union ministers will visit three clusters. BJP's national conference will be held on February 17-18 in New Delhi. More than 300 karyakartas, including ministers, MPs, MLAs, and the state BJP's leaders, will attend the meeting," Kalita said. Talking about the Assam BJP's preparation for the upcoming general elections, Kalita said, "We are fully gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and we have made election management committees by deputating Prabhari, Coordinator, in each Lok Sabha constituency and each assembly constituency. We are fully prepared for the upcoming election from booth level to state level." "As of now, we have more than 48 lakh karyakartas in Assam. More than 7,000 Congressmen will join the BJP in Majuli. On February 15, many people will join the BJP. There is no opposition in Assam. This month, the Prime Minister visited Assam, laid the foundation stone, and inaugurated several projects worth Rs 11,600 crore. BJP-led NDA will win more than 400 seats this time," the Assam BJP chief 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) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 13 (ANI): In a strategic move aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts, the Yogi government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Roorkee for enhanced disaster management, the Chief Minister's office said on Tuesday. The MoU will be signed between the Relief Commissioner's office and IIT Roorkee on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with the aim of minimising casualties and shifting people to safe places before the disaster strikes. Also Read | Bihar Budget 2024-25: Nitish Kumar Government Presents Rs 2.79 Lakh Crore Budget, Growth Rate 'Highest' in Country at Over 10%. Under the proposed collaboration, IIT Roorkee's seasoned professionals will impart specialised training to personnel at the Relief Commissioner's office, equipping them with advanced skills and techniques in disaster management. Additionally, the institute will conduct comprehensive research to identify the root causes of prevalent disasters, enabling proactive measures to be implemented. Chief Secretary Sudhir Garg emphasised Uttar Pradesh's vulnerability to various disasters, compared to other states, and highlighted Chief Minister Yogi's proactive stance on addressing this pressing issue. Also Read | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Courts Controversy, Sympathises With Parliament Security Breach Accused. "The impending MoU signifies a significant step towards fortifying the state's resilience against natural calamities over the next five years, during which IIT Roorkee's experts will spearhead critical research initiatives and capacity-building exercises," he said. Moreover, IIT Roorkee's involvement extends beyond disaster management to include assistance in land consolidation matters, said Relief Commissioner GS Naveen. "Leveraging their technical acumen, experts from the institution will facilitate the resolution of land consolidation disputes, offering invaluable support in surveying and land measurement activities," he pointed out. Through workshops, seminars, and training programmes, this collaborative endeavour aims to foster innovation and develop bespoke solutions tailored to Uttar Pradesh's unique challenges. The MoU framework ensures equitable distribution of intellectual property rights, further enhancing the partnership's transparency and effectiveness in driving sustainable disaster risk reduction measures. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 13 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National General Secretary Nara Lokesh stated that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy made 50 promises to Vizianagaram district during his padayatra before the 2019 elections. Lokesh reminded the people that Jagan Reddy pledged to complete projects such as the Bhogapuram airport, the Ramtheertham project, and the interlinking of the Gosthani and Champavathi rivers, but failed to do so. Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lauds Indian Diaspora in Abu Dhabi, Says 'Bharat Is Proud of You' (Watch Video). Criticizing the current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for not finishing the Salur bypass road, constructing a dam on the Paleru river, and building a bridge on the Swarnamukhi river, the TDP leader asserted that the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government neglected the development of Vizianagaram district. Nara Lokesh claimed that YSRCP MLA Pushpa Sreevani of the Kurupam constituency has engaged in corruption in the region with her husband and brother-in-law. He claimed that the YSRCP MLA was involved in the sale of contract posts and land grabbing in the constituency. He condemned the MLA and her family for illegally transporting sand from the Naagavali river. Also Read | Manipur Violence: 25-Year-Old Village Volunteer Killed, Army Officer Injured in Gunfight Between Two Communities in Imphal East. Earlier on Sunday, TDP national secretary Nara Lokesh on Sunday made grave allegations against Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of murdering his uncle. "Jagan Reddy killed his own uncle. Is he ready to kill more family members now?" Nara Lokesh on Sunday said addressing a public rally. He further said that the Jagan government had illegally imprisoned Chandrababu Naidu for 53 days. "In the past 4.10 years, several cases have been filed on TDP activists with 22 cases on me including attempted murder and atrocity cases. The officials and YSRCP leaders who deliberately troubled the TDP leaders, their names have been codified in the Red Book," he added. Lokesh also launched a blistering attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy's governance during a public meeting held in Srikakulam district's Ichchapuram constituency on Sunday. Addressing the event, Nara Lokesh took a dig at Andhra CM, saying, "He made the state the ganja capital of India." "I feel fortunate to start my Shankharavam yatra in Srikakulam where people like Garimela Satya Narayana, Sardhar Gouthu Lachanna, and Yerramnaidu were born," he said. Nara Lokesh reached Ichchapuram for the launch of his Shankharavam campaign which is aimed at highlighting the failures of the state government. Pitching against Jagan Reddy, Nara Lokesh asked if people were ready to send Jagan Reddy to jail. "Is Jagan Reddy ready to kill more backwards-class children like Amarnath Goud and Dalits like Dr Sudhakar?" he questioned. "Three incidents happened recently. They killed Tahsildar Ramaiah in Visakhapatnam for not cooperating with the land grabbing. Second was Agricultural Assistant Poojitha, who was working in the RBK centre in Bapatla district, committed suicide. When the YSRCP leaders looted fertilizers from the RBK centres, Poojitha was forced and harassed to pay the money for the fertilizers because of this, she ended her own life. JE Ramakrishna, who was working in the Panchayat department in Vizianagaram district, hanged himself to a fan. When he opposed the stealing of sand and iron by YSRCP leaders, they harassed him and made him commit suicide," he added further. Slamming him over "deceiving" youth, Lokesh said that Jagan hasn't released a DSC (District Selection Committee) notification in the past four years. He is trying to fool people with the promise to release DSC notifications for 6100 posts. (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 13 (PTI) Vedanta Aluminium said it has launched an e-commerce platform for facilitating the sale of primary aluminium products. The e-commerce platform will provide buyers with just-in-time delivery, real-time AI-based price discovery, and end-to-end visibility of their purchase, from order placement to delivery. Also Read | DSSSB Recruitment 2024: Vacancies Notified for 1896 Pharmacist, Nursing Officer and Other Posts, Apply Online at dsssb.delhi.gov.in. The company has listed over 750 aluminium products on the e-superstore, 'Vedanta Metal Bazaar'. The platform has integrated several global-first features, including product availability, online price discovery, long-term contracts, on-the-spot orders, live shipment tracking, financial reconciliation, and all critical documentation like test certificates, bank guarantees, and letters of credit. Customers have the option to choose from a selection of channel finance and logistics providers to facilitate their procurement journey. Also Read | India to Implement GPS-Based Toll Collection System for Smoother Highway Journeys, Know What is It and How It Will Work. "For small and medium-sized companies, this is going to be a real game changer," Vedanta Aluminium CEO John Slaven told PTI. Further, Slaven termed the e-commerce platform as a breakthrough for the industry in India as it would help the company in serving its customers a full range of products. "Over 750 products are available and all aspects of the buying process from really identifying which products they want, understanding pricing, which is a very complex and dynamic process, and then everything from negotiating the contract, documenting, and then managing the logistics...and then delivery to the to their site. And then for financial reconciliation, all of that can be done on this platform," he added. Products on offer include ingots, billets, primary foundry alloy, wire rods, rolled products, flip coils, hot metal, and Restora --low-carbon aluminium. In addition, the superstore also offers customised solutions tailored to the needs of the company's customer base. Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Ltd, manufactured 2.29 million tonne of aluminium in FY23. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amsterdam [Netherlands], February 13 (ANI): Amid the intense Israeli operations in Gaza, a Dutch court ordered the Netherlands government to halt the delivery of parts of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in its bombardment of Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported on Monday. According to the report, the court, in its verdict, said there was a 'clear risk' that the parts the Netherlands is exporting are being used in "serious violations of international humanitarian law". Also Read | Donald Trump Putting Troops at Risk by Threatening To Undermine International Alliance, Warns NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The court said it is likely that Israel was using its F-35s in attacks on Gaza, which are leading to unacceptable civilian casualties. It dismissed the Dutch state's argument that it did not have to do a new check on the permit for the exports. However, in response to Monday's ruling, the Dutch government said it would appeal the order at the Supreme Court, arguing the weapons parts were crucial to Israel's ability to protect itself from "threats in the region, for example from Iran, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon". Also Read | US: Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Remains Hospitalised, Will Not Travel to Brussels for Ukraine, NATO Meetings. Al Jazeera reported that the ruling followed an appeal by Amnesty International and Oxfam against a lower court decision last year that rejected their argument that supplying the parts contributed to alleged "contributing to wide-scale and serious violations of humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza". Human rights organisations have accused the government of being complicit in war crimes by maintaining the deliveries. In December, a court dismissed the case. It said the government had a large degree of freedom in weighing political and policy issues on arms exports. However, that was dismissed by the appeals court, which said political and economic concerns did not trump the clear risk of violations of the laws of war, Al Jazeera reported The appeals court instead ordered the government to block all exports of the fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days. "It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," Judge Bas Boele said in the ruling, drawing cheers from several people in the courtroom. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rawalpindi, February 13: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of Parliamentary Affairs (MPA), Chaudhry Muhammad Adnan, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Rawalpindi, Dawn reported quoting Rawalpindi police on Monday. According to the report, the leader had contested the general elections from Rawalpindi's NA-57 and PP-19 constituencies as an Independent candidate. According to a statement from the spokesperson from Rawalpindi Police, the incident occurred in the Civil Lines area in front of the city police officer's (CPO) office. The police spokesperson said Rawalpindi CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani directed the Potohar SP to arrest the culprits involved in the incident immediately. Pakistan Election Results 2024: Imran Khan's PTI Rules Out Alliance With PML(N), PPP; To Join Hands With Another Party. Further, according to the statement, senior police officers reached the crime scene upon being informed of the incident, adding that evidence was also being collected and teams were formed to nab the suspects. "According to the initial investigation, the incident seems to be a sign of personal enmity," the statement said. "Investigations are underway from all angles," it stated, adding that the culprits would be arrested and presented in court. According to the official portal of the Punjab Assembly, Adnan was the son of Chaudhary Muhammad Jan and was born on February 15, 1976 in Rawalpindi, Dawn reported. He graduated from Punjab University and was elected as an MPA in 2018. He went on to serve the country as the parliamentary secretary for social welfare. Adnan also served as parliamentary secretary for revenue from 2018-2020. Pakistan General Elections 2024: Country Thrown Into Crisis As Poll Results Still Undeclared Amid Claims of Rigging. According to Dawn, two PTI workers were killed and 12 others injured when the police opened fire during a protest demonstration held in Shangla's district headquarters, Alpuri, last week amid allegations of manipulation in the poll results. (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 13 (PTI) Indian-American Sonali Korde was sworn in on Monday as assistant to USAID Administrator Samantha Power for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. "I view Sonali, and I think this packed house speaks to this for so many here, but Sonali is really a gift to us all. And because we get to see a lot of her, in time, and a lot of her many qualities, which I will dwell on," Power said during the swearing-in ceremony. Also Read | Donald Trump Putting Troops at Risk by Threatening To Undermine International Alliance, Warns NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. She said Korde's parents, who migrated from India, gave her an incredible upbringing that endowed her with a deep appreciation for a world outside of their Cranford, New Jersey, home. "They took frequent trips back to India where Sonali saw a tale of two countries, such incredible dynamism and burgeoning intellect, culture but also such extreme poverty that persists in many parts of the country -- even with all of the success lifting so many hundreds of millions of people out of poverty -- but seeing people with and people without, I think for Sonali just contributed to what her parents had instilled in her, which is a strong sense of justice and a desire to address inequity and unfairness," Power said. Also Read | US: Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Remains Hospitalised, Will Not Travel to Brussels for Ukraine, NATO Meetings. Before being sworn in as assistant to the administrator of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance -- the US government's lead for international disaster response -- Korde served as deputy assistant to the administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. During her time as deputy assistant to the administrator, Korde served as deputy to the US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues charged with leading the country's diplomacy efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Korde previously served on the National Security Council staff as director for Global Health and Development. In this role, she supported all aspects of the US government's global health portfolio and linkages into broader development, security and bilateral diplomacy and cooperation goals. From 2005 to 2013, Korde served as a senior technical advisor for the President's Malaria Initiative in USAID's Bureau for Global Health. She was responsible for managing integrated malaria and public health programmes in Africa and Asia, in coordination with multilateral and bilateral donor partners, the World Health Organization and other United Nations organisations, NGOs and government counterparts. Korde has an MA in international relations from Yale University and a BS in economics from New York University. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 13. Citizens of Uzbekistan can now stay on the territory of Azerbaijan without registration for 15 days, Trend reports. According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs, amendment is connected with the entry into force of the protocol on making additions and amendments to the agreement between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on visa-free travels of both countries' citizens, signed on June 18, 1997. The protocol was signed on August 22, 2023 in Baku (Azerbaijan) and entered into force on January 15, 2024. This document provides for a new procedure for entry and exit, transit and temporary stay on the territory of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan for 15 days without the need to obtain a permit and temporary registration with the relevant state authorities. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a protocol on introduction of visa-free regime for citizens of Uzbekistan. According to the document, Uzbek citizens are exempt from visa requirements for the duration of their stay in the UAE (no more than 30 days). The document will become effective on February 16, 2024. Islamabad, Feb 13 (PTI) In a surprise development, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Tuesday nominated its president Shehbaz Sharif as the prime ministerial candidate of Pakistan instead of the party supremo and three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif. Taking to X, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, 74, has nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, 72, a candidate for the slot of prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, 50, for chief minister of Punjab province. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Plans To Double His Troops Along NATO Border. "Nawaz Sharif has thanked the political parties which provided support to the PML-N (in forming the upcoming government) and expressed hope that through such decisions Pakistan will come out of crises," she said. The development comes a few hours after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari withdrew from the prime ministerial race, saying his party would support ex-premier Nawaz without being part of the new government. Also Read | PM Modi UAE Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lauds Indian Diaspora in Abu Dhabi, Says 'Bharat Is Proud of You' (Watch Video). Despite independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party springing a surprise by winning the most seats in Parliament, questions were looming over what the next government of Pakistan will look like five days after the general elections. None of the three major parties, the PML-N, the PPP, or the PTI have won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the National Assembly and, therefore, will be unable to form government on their own, leading to a hung Parliament. PML-N reportedly enjoys the backing of the powerful Pakistan Army. Addressing a press conference here after the meeting of the PPP's high-powered Central Executive Committee (CEC), held under his leadership, Bilawal has said the reality is that his party does not have a mandate to form a federal government. Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan, the 35-year-old former foreign minister said, adding that PML-N and the independents have greater numbers in the Centre. Earlier in the day, former prime minister Shehbaz reaffirmed that Nawaz will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. "I had said that Nawaz Sharif would become prime minister for the fourth time. And I maintain today that he is going to be the PM for the fourth time," Shehbaz told a press conference. Shehbaz said he has spoken to Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari and thanked them for their support to Nawaz Sharif. "We hope that together we will be able to get Pakistan out of all political and economic crises, Inshallah," he posted on X. The PML-N and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have also held a meeting on Tuesday on government formation. Both parties agreed to move forward with mutual cooperation and Shehbaz Sharif thanked the MQM-P, which has 17 lawmakers in Parliament for its support. Bilawal noted that Imran Khan's PTI had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government. Khan on Tuesday dismissed the idea of forming a coalition government with any of the main political parties in Pakistan and termed them as the biggest money launderers being brought to power. The 71-year-old Khan, also the founder of PTI, was speaking with journalists at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Khan and many of his party colleagues are lodged in jail for many months in connection with convictions in multiple cases. There can be no alliance with PML-N, PPP, and MQM, he said, adding that he had directed PTI Information Secretary Raouf Hasan to bring together all parties except the three parties. Khan also warned his political rivals against the "misadventure" of forming a government with "stolen votes". Khan, in a message on his official X handle, posted from jail through his family, said: I warn against the misadventure of forming a government with stolen votes. Such daylight robbery will not only be a disrespect to the citizens, but will also push the country's economy further into a downward spiral. Khan, said, PTI will never compromise on people's will, and I have categorically instructed my party against engaging with any political party that has robbed people's mandate, including PPP, PMLN & MQM. Earlier, Bilawal said the PPP has decided that "we may not be a part of the government but we will engage with political parties on the issue of votes and the election of prime minister." He said that the PPP would help to form a stable government without being part of it. To that end, the PPP will be willing to support the case of important votes - a candidate of the PM of Pakistan - and issue to issue basis to ensure that the government is formed and political stability is restored, Bilawal said. Bilawal said he would like to see his 68-year-old father Asif Ali Zardari become the president once again. Zardari, husband of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto was the president from 2008 to 2013. I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is in a huge crisis at the moment and if anyone has the capacity to douse this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari, he asserted. In response to a question, Bilawal said all political forces needed to think about the country and end the politics of division. They must not just think about themselves [] this way the enemies of the country would want to benefit from this crisis. It takes two to tango, he said. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, a majority of them supported by the PTI secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) getting 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) bagging 17 seats. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one constituency was withheld. Meanwhile, a senior official of Khan's party said it will use the platform of two rightwing religious parties in its bid to form government in the Centre as well as in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has decided to join Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) to form the government in the Centre and Punjab and Jamaati-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, PTI Information Secretary Hassan said while addressing a press conference. Hassan said the PTI was redoubling its efforts to make a government in the Centre and Punjab. However, it is believed that by joining the two parties, the PTI will not be able to gather enough strength to form either the federal or provincial government in Punjab. PTI can form a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even without the support of any other party. In a setback to PTI, a Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed more than 30 petitions filed by Khan's party-backed independent candidates who challenged the "sham victory" of top PML-N leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The Lahore High Court while dismissing the petitions asked the defeated PTI-backed candidates to move to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the redressal of their grievances. (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 13 (PTI) US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Monday said she is ready to serve and people around her know about "her capacity" to lead. Harris' remarks gain significance amid questions over the age of President Joe Biden and recent comments by a special counsel about his weak memory, which has been denied by the White House. Also Read | Donald Trump Putting Troops at Risk by Threatening To Undermine International Alliance, Warns NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "I am ready to serve. There's no question about that," Harris told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. The financial daily said the interview was conducted two days before the special counsel's report on Biden's handling of classified documents amplified concerns about the 81-year-old incumbent's mental acuity. Also Read | US: Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Remains Hospitalised, Will Not Travel to Brussels for Ukraine, NATO Meetings. The report said Biden displayed "diminished faculties" in interviews and called him an "elderly man with a poor memory". Everyone who sees her on the job, Harris said, "walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead", according to The Wall Street Journal. The vice-president, however, described her boss as an "incredible leader", according to a statement released by the Biden-Harris campaign. "I have been with Joe in the Oval Office when the cameras are there and when they are not. I have watched him bring folks together across the nation and across the world. He is an incredible leader," she said. Harris said the comments made by the special counsel were unnecessary, inaccurate and inappropriate. "The way the president's demeanour was characterised in that report could not be more wrong. It was clearly politically motivated," she said. "When it comes to the role and responsibility of a prosecutor in a situation like that, we should expect a higher level of integrity than what we saw. Nevertheless, I want you to know the Joe that I know," Harris said. (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 13 (PTI) The US is ready to work with any government that comes to power in Pakistan, a State Department official said on Monday, amid rumours of horse-trading in the absence of a clear majority after general elections in the country and also the delay in declaring results on all National Assembly seats. Contrary to its earlier claim, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday blamed the suspension of Internet and mobile services on February 8 -- when countrywide polling took place -- and said it did "create hindrance" in declaring results promptly. Also Read | Donald Trump Putting Troops at Risk by Threatening To Undermine International Alliance, Warns NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. It also claimed that the delay did not harm "any specific political party". In the US, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference, "I don't think there is a new Pakistani government yet. I believe there are still discussions going on about the formation of a government." Also Read | US: Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Remains Hospitalised, Will Not Travel to Brussels for Ukraine, NATO Meetings. "But one of the things that we have said leading up to the elections, and we'll continue to make clear, is that whoever the Pakistani people choose to represent them, we will work with that government," he added. As the National Assembly results showed, Independent candidates backed by former prime minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) won 101 seats. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by another former prime minister -- Nawaz Sharif -- got 75 seats. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari grabbed 54 seats while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) secured 17. To form a government, a party must win 133 of the 265 contested seats in the National Assembly. "And as to the claims of fraud, we want to see those fully investigated," the US State Department spokesperson said, responding to questions on the allegations of vote tampering in the elections. Miller said, "Let me just reiterate that we do think that the claims of fraud need to be fully investigated. That said, it was clearly a competitive elections in which people were able to exercise their choice. Now, that said, there were irregularities; we want to see them investigated. But ultimately, we respect the democratic process and we're ready to work with the government once it's formed." He also congratulated the Pakistani people -- including poll workers and observers, civil society members and journalists who protected the country's democratic and electoral institutions -- for participating in the elections. "We did express concerns publicly -- we also expressed those concerns privately and joined the EU, the UK and other countries in doing so -- with some irregularities that we saw in the process. We've conveyed the need for the Pakistani government to respect the will of the elections," Miller said. "We emphasise repeatedly ... that we want to see the rule of law, respect for the Constitution, free press and vibrant civil society respected in the run-up to the elections. We continue to believe that's the case. We condemn political and election-related violence and restrictions on Internet and cell phone service. Those negatively impacted the electoral service," he further said. "The claims of interference and fraud that we have seen raised, we want to ensure (those) are fully investigated by Pakistan's legal system and we will be continuing to monitor that in the days ahead," he added. According to Marvin Weinbaum, the director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute think-tank, Pakistan will see the emergence of a weak and unstable governing coalition -- incapable of assuming the risks necessary to carry out the far-reaching policy changes needed to deal with the country's rapidly-mounting economic, social and environmental problems. "Moreover, whichever faction -- the PTI or the PML-N -- ends up sitting in opposition, most of its time will probably be devoted to harping on the government's supposed illegitimacy and in demanding new elections. If so, the 2024 national elections could be another blight on Pakistan's already-sullied democracy," 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) A 25-year-old village volunteer was killed and two others were injured in a gunfight between two warring communities in Manipur's Imphal East district on Tuesday, police said. Maghi Ganesh Jayanti, also known as Magha Shukla Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity, and remover of obstacles. Under the collaboration, SRA will become a founding member of Princeton University's "NextG Initiative Corporate Affiliates Program," aiming to spearhead R&D in 6G technologies, according to Samsung Electronics. Estonia Foreign Intelligence Service on Tuesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to double his military deployment along the NATO border with the Baltic states and Finland as part of Moscow's potential assault on a long term basis after Ukraine is over, media reports said. Argentinas Presidentmetin the Vatican on 11 and 12 February, as part of a foreign trip in which he also sought closer ties with Israel and Italy. End of preview - This article contains approximately 592 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 12 February Mexicos navy ministry (Semar) announced it had dismantled a methamphetamine mega laboratory in Sonora state. End of preview - This article contains approximately 393 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Human rights activist and director of the NGO Citizen Control Rocio San Miguel has gone missing along with other human rights activists after they were arrested in Venezuela, which has become infamous over its less-than-stellar human rights record under the Nicolas Maduro regime. She and her daughter, Miranda Diaz San Miguel, were stopped at an airport last Sunday as they were traveling to Miami for a vacation along with their other relatives: her brothers, Miguel angel and Alberto San Miguel; her father, Victor Diaz Paruta; and Alberto Gonzalez, another relative. According to El Pais, only she was detained, and her current whereabouts are unknown, with members of her family trying to get in contact with her by visiting prisons around the country but could not find her. They are worried for their safety given the Maduro regime's record of treating political opponents. Venezuela Attorney General Tarek William Saab acknowledged last Sunday that San Miguel and her relatives were arrested. However, he did not reveal where she was detained and added that she was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Nicolas Maduro, thus leading to her arrest. "There is an arrest warrant against her for being linked and referenced in the conspiracy and attempted assassination plot called White Bracelet," admitted the AG, referencing the recent plot that the government claims targeted Maduro in another "assassination attempt." Detained Venezuela Human Rights Activist's Lawyer Also Not Informed Where She Was Detained Usually, whenever somebody is arrested, their lawyer is alerted immediately. However, in San Miguel's case, not even her lawyer knows where she is, as the government did not even inform her of where she is held and what crimes she was charged with. READ MORE: Latin America Politics 2023: Election, Conflicts, Other Major Issues in the Region San Miguel's attorney stated that she had not been informed about her client's crime and where she and her relatives had been detained. It also took two days for her to finally know what happened to her client, and this was when Venezuela AG Saab confirmed her arrest. San Miguel is just the latest government critic to be arrested. This comes just weeks after 36 government critics, including prominent opposition officials, were rounded up and accused of being part of an alleged plot to kill Nicolas Maduro, per the BBC. Missing Venezuela Human Rights Activist's Daughter Questions Government Over Mother's Abduction San Miguel has become a prominent critic of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. She "specialized in studying Venezuela's shadowy, often corrupt armed forces," according to the Associated Press, and has worked to defend human rights in the country. Soon after her mother's detention and disappearance, Minnie Diaz released a statement. "Our main concern as a family is the integrity of their lives. We don't know if they are alive. We don't know what may be happening to them," she said. "Where are they? We want real proof and evidence of where they are, what physical conditions they are in." She also noted that her mother did not have any arrest warrants against her. READ MORE: Guyana Culture: Essequibo Identifies More as Guyanase and Not With Venezuela This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: UN panel accuses Venezuelan government of crimes against humanity - France 24 English TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 13. Uzbekistan Airways launches additional flights from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg (Russia) to Fergana and Namangan (Uzbekistan), Trend reports. The carrier will increase the number of flights to Fergana from two to three per week starting February 17. In addition to the flights already operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, additional flights will be added on Saturdays. The flight from St. Petersburg to Fergana on Saturdays is scheduled for 16:05, arrival time - at 23:10. The duration of the flight will be 5 hours and 5 minutes. Regular flights to Namangan, which will be performed weekly on Wednesdays, will start on February 21. According to the schedule, departure from Pulkovo airport is scheduled for 14:55, arrival time - at 21:55. Travel time will be 5 hours. These times correspond to the local time of each airport. In addition, there are also flights from St. Petersburg to various cities in Uzbekistan, including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench and Termez. More than 450,000 passengers were served on flights between Pulkovo Airport and Uzbekistan destinations in 2023. Uzbekistan Airways is a top-3 foreign carrier at Pulkovo Airport, providing more than 50 destinations in its route network. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways, will start regular flights on the Tashkent-Rome route. According to Uzbekistan Airways, direct flights between Tashkent and Rome will be operated by Airbus 321Neo airplanes once a week, on Sundays. The first flight is scheduled for March 31 of this year. In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for 22-year-old Lifei "Ada" Huang, missing for a week in California's San Bernardino Mountains, concluded on Sunday with the discovery of her lifeless body, according to CBS News. The California hiker, a resident of El Monte, went for a hike on Mt. Baldy amid a powerful storm that swept Southern California with heavy rain. Huang was last seen on February 4 at approximately 2:30 PM, embarking on her hike. Concerns grew when no communication was received from her after 4:30 PM. Authorities initiated a search early Monday morning but faced challenges due to the storm's adverse conditions and the rugged terrain of the mountain. After days of relentless efforts, the breakthrough came when a citizen flying a drone reported a potential sighting of Huang's body on Saturday around 3:30 PM in the upper San Antonio Creek Falls area. However, rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the location due to the hazardous mountain conditions. "Deputies and search and rescue team members responded to the upper San Antonio Creek Falls area but were unable to hike to the spot where Ms. Huang was believed to be, due to the conditions on the mountain," a statement from San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. READ NEXT: California Snowboarder Found Trapped in a Ski Resort's Gondola Intensive Efforts to Recover the California Hiker's Body On Saturday, February 10, the US Forestry Department informed the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office about the drone sighting, per the Daily Press. Deputies and the sheriff's West Valley Search and Rescue Crew promptly responded but were thwarted in their attempts to reach the location due to perilous mountain conditions. High winds prevented sheriff's aviation crews from conducting an aerial search, compelling rescue team members to stay overnight near the site to maintain the scene. On Sunday, February 11, at 7:45 AM, sheriff's Air Rescue 306 deployed medics to the location, successfully hoisting Huang's body off the mountain. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Division will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of Huang's tragic demise. Grateful for the collaborative efforts, sheriff's officials expressed their thanks to all personnel, volunteers, and citizens who alerted the US Forestry. City of El Monte officials conveyed condolences on Facebook, expressing solidarity with the Huang family and appreciating the dedicated efforts of the US Department of Forestry and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in the rescue mission. Risky Mountain Conditions and Warnings Ignored The severe storm that hit Southern California last week resulted in Los Angeles County experiencing over half of its annual rainfall in just three days. Despite warnings from authorities, Huang and other hikers chose to venture into the San Gabriel Mountains, specifically Mt. Baldy, as the storm commenced on February 4, SFGATE reports. The California hiker's friends revealed that she shared videos on social media, showcasing her singing on a frosty trail as rain started to fall. On Mt. Baldy, three other hikers endured frigid conditions overnight, necessitating a successful rescue by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department the following day. Mt. Baldy, notorious for being the site of 10 hiking fatalities since 2017, including the tragic death of British actor Julian Sands in January 2023, has raised concerns among officials. Some have proposed closing the California mountain to winter hikers due to its inherent dangers. "The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department strongly urges everyone to stay away and refrain from mountain activities during this inclement weather," emphasized the agency on Sunday. The adverse weather conditions have blanketed the mountain in snow, significantly heightening the risk for hikers. READ MORE: Possible School Mass Shooting Stopped by Ohio Teen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Missing hiker found dead on Mt. Baldy - From KTLA 5 Despite being a majority Catholic country, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega regime is cracking down on the Roman Catholic Church. This makes the faithful worried for their lives, as priests, bishops and lay faithful are either detained or exiled, and many are forced to flee the country. Nicaragua recently exiled 19 priests from the country, handing them over to the Vatican. This happened amid reports of harassment of churchgoers and church desecrations. With the absence and persecution of the church, the situation for Catholic clergy and faithful in Nicaragua is reportedly worsening as rural areas now lack worship and social services, and more and more people are getting detained. As the Associated Press noted, the Ortega regime is not just cracking down on Roman Catholics but also Evangelical Christians, as well as the free press and any form of criticism against Daniel Ortega or his wife, Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo. "All the time, the silence gets deeper," Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan lawyer exiled in the United States, told the Associated Press. She recorded hundreds of instances of church persecution in her home country, and this garnered her the International Religious Freedom Award from the US State Department. "If it's dangerous to pray the rosary in the street, it is exceedingly so to report attacks," she added. "Many priests believe that if they make reports, there will be more reprisals against the communities. We as laypeople would like for them to speak, but the only alternatives are cemetery, prison, or exile." Her reports recorded 30 church desecrations in the past year, with only a few being reported to authorities. Incidents also include victim blaming, with a priest reportedly being told he was a suspect and was cursed at by police after he reported a theft in his church. The World Continues To Ignore Human Rights Crisis Happening Under Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua Many, including the Vatican itself, have been trying to raise the alarm on what is happening in Nicaragua, which has basically cracked down on the Roman Catholic religion, as well as foreign missionaries, the opposition, and the press. READ MORE: Pope Francis Removes Conservative Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland The Independent noted that many around the world are still unaware of the Ortega-Murillo regime's "purge" of the Catholic Church, as well as the human rights crisis happening in the country, with Ortega and Murillo being accused of perpetrating crimes against humanity. Daniel Ortega Regime Confiscated a Home for Nuns and Turned It Into a Migration Office The Ortega regime is currently confiscating Catholic-owned properties and using them for government purposes. This includes confiscating a home for nuns and turning it into a migration office, according to the Catholic News Agency. Nuns from the Sisters of the Fraternity of the Poor Ones of Jesus Christ were expelled from the country, with the Nicaraguan government confiscating what used to be their home and turning it into the property of the Office of the Directorate of Migration and Immigration, which is part of the Ministry of the Interior. "Sandinista dictatorship confiscates the property of the Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ who in July 2023 were expelled by the Sandinista dictatorship. Police remained inside, but now they have turned it into a state institution," prominent Ortega critic and lawyer Martha Patricia Molina revealed X. "They didn't even change the color of the walls or the furniture used by the dear nuns. The criminal Ministry of the Interior doing its thing." She also warned that the government intends to confiscate more buildings belonging to religious institutions and repurpose them as government buildings. READ NEXT: Daniel Ortega Net Worth This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Pope Francis calls Nicaragua government 'gross dictatorship' amid Catholic church crackdown - NBC News A plane carrying four Canadian skydivers was forced into an emergency landing on a beach in Oaxaca, Mexico, Reuters reports. The incident, which occurred on Bacocho beach in the renowned Pacific resort town of Puerto Escondido, resulted in the tragic death of a 62-year-old Mexico man who was on the beach at the time. The plane, carrying both Canadian and Mexican passengers, made an unexpected descent onto a populated section of the Mexico beach, leading to the unfortunate demise of the man. The Mexico man's wife, who was present alongside him on the beach, miraculously escaped unharmed. Distressing footage from Puerto Global depicted the damaged aircraft on the beach, colliding with what was reported to be a turtle rescue center. The Oaxaca State Civil Defense's office released a statement, providing initial details while affirming that investigations into the incident were underway. No further information regarding the landing or the identities of those involved was disclosed, with the focus on the ongoing inquiry. Remarkably, no other individuals on the Mexico beach sustained injuries during the emergency landing. READ NEXT: 4 Dead Following Electric Plane Crash Immediate Response and Aftermath The four Canadians and one Mexican onboard were swiftly removed from the plane and transported for medical treatment, according to CBS News. The injured individuals, aged 60, 59, 41, and 35, are reported to be in "stable" condition, as stated by the Oaxaca state civil defense office. Names and hometown details of the Canadian passengers have not been immediately disclosed. Mexico's Puerto Global, which shared footage of the aftermath, reported that the deceased victim was taking pictures with his wife when the aircraft descended. Social media posts displayed the aircraft's side marked "Skydive Puerto Escondido," with the website for Skydive Puerto Escondido advertising jumps from 13,000 feet above sea level. The accident occurred dangerously close to the water and a wooden Mexico beach structure commonly used for restaurants. Videos circulating on social media showed beachgoers aiding at least one person from the aircraft over the sand. State Governor Salomon Jara expressed condolences in a social media post, assuring support for the Mexico man's family while mobilizing resources to assist the injured passengers. Impact on Puerto Escondido Community The incident has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Mexico's Puerto Escondido, renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant surf culture, BBN noted. While the city attracts adventure seekers, this incident underscores the inherent risks associated with such pursuits. Authorities have cordoned off the affected area, anticipating a heightened security presence and possible traffic disruptions as emergency services continue their work. Residents and visitors are advised to avoid the incident site and seek alternative routes until authorities declare it safe. Questions surrounding the cause of the Mexico plane crash landing loom over Puerto Escondido, prompting local authorities and the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority to launch investigations. READ MORE: Trinidad and Tobago Under National Emergency Due to Huge Oil Spill This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Plane crashes into Mexico beach - From WKYC Channel 3 Theres a grand home for sale on the Delaware River in Delanco in Burlington County. It has a stone exterior, transoms above the doors, several fireplaces, a double staircase, eight bedrooms, four full- and one half-bathroom. Its 7,000-square-feet in size and sits on a 2.5 acre lot that spans an entire block. And in largely blue collar Delanco where the median sales price of a single family home was $351,250 as of December, according to the most recent data available from New Jersey Realtors its been a tough sell at $1.5 million, said Sam Lepore, the listing agent from Keller Williams Realty in Moorestown. The double stair case when you walk in the front door. The windows and the amount of light they let in. Its an impressive place, he said. The problem is, at that price point for that town theres really no comparable sales, so its on the harder side to sell. The home, built in 1911, is typical for a few blocks of the town, but the rest of the homes in the area are smaller, he said. It faces the Delaware River with a nice view across the waterway. This part of the river is nice. On some parts the Delaware, the view is industrial, not as pretty as this area, Lepore said. Its been on the market for over 100 days at a time when homes in New Jersey typically sell in about 40 days, according to New Jersey Realtors. This one requires a lot more time because of the buyer pool being so small, LePore said. Its a lot of house to take on, so its not for everybody. The buyer will likely be a a larger family or one that would need an in-law suite, he said. There is a section of the home that was a servants quarter with its own stairs and bathroom. And the home is located about 30 minutes from Philadelphia. If you want to own one of the most unique properties in the area, this is it, Lepore said. The stone home faces the Delaware River.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown Double staircases great you inside the foyer.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown There are several fireplaces throughout the home.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown The gourmet eat-in kitchen has an island and other modern conveniences.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown The home was built in 1911.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown There are eight bedrooms and four full- and one half-bathroom.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown The many windows throughout the home let in a lot of natural light.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown The third floor has three bedrooms, a bathroom and a living room with a fireplace.Courtesy of Sam Lepore of Keller Williams Realty Moorestown Are you an agent, buyer or seller who is active in this changing market? Do you have tips about New Jerseys real estate market? Unusual listings? Let us know. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 13. Russian Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation's clients are willing to establish mutually beneficial relations with representatives of Uzbekistan's business circles, Trend reports. This was discussed at a meeting between representatives of Uzbekistan's Consulate General in St. Petersburg and the manager of the West Siberian department of Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation, Svetlana Shumatova. The sides discussed the development of investment cooperation, taking into account the bank's close ties with major entrepreneurs in the Russian Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Positive changes in Uzbekistan and ongoing economic reforms arouse the confidence of Russian businessmen. They are planning to visit Samarkand to meet potential partners in March this year. Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia amounted to $9.8 billion in 2023. Russia ranked second among Uzbekistan's trading partners in 2023. The first place went to China, whose trade turnover increased by 52.2 percent to $13.7 billion last year. The Lehigh Valleys official snowfall total for the storm Monday night into Tuesday was 9.1 inches at the Lehigh Valley International Airport climate station, the National Weather Service said. Reports into the weather service indicated a foot or more had fallen across parts of Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties. The official measurement was good for the regions biggest snowstorm since 27.3 inches fell from Jan. 31 into Feb. 2, 2021, weather service meteorologist Alex Staarmann told lehighvalleylive.com. That was the last time there was 9 inches of snow or more, he said Tuesday afternoon. This snowstorm closed schools, cut power to thousands of regional households, forced a reduction in highway speeds and made driving treacherous. Heavy and wet, it posed a challenge to clear from cars, sidewalks and driveways. And the weather got in the way of celebrating Fat Tuesday in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition with fastnachts. A man sets cones near planes as snow falls at John F. Kennedy International Airport Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in New York.AP Photo/Frank Franklin II More than 1,000 flights were canceled Tuesday morning, mostly at the airports in the New York City area and in Boston. Travel Advisory! There are flight cancellations due to the impending winter weather forecasted across our region. Passengers should continue checking with their airline for additional schedule changes or visit https://t.co/2RxYIBwnH5. @69News @mcall @LVNewsdotcom @lehighvalley pic.twitter.com/zfmtovUGp0 ABE Airport (@FlyABE_) February 13, 2024 On the plus side, sledding conditions were looking good and ski areas like Blue Mountain Resort were texting customers to entice them to enjoy the natural snow. In the storms wake, a northwest wind whipped up reaching 18 mph early Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said in its conditions report at the airport outside Allentown. The forecast there was for a west wind 5 to 10 mph gusting as high as 20 mph Tuesday night. Temperatures at the airport were forecast to dip to around 22 overnight into Wednesday, when sunny skies were forecast with a daytime high near 34 and northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. The majority of the region will see temperatures fall below freezing, the weather service said in its forecast discussion for the region. Re-freeze will be a concern for anything not treated. Otherwise, just a brisk and chilly night on tap with temperatures not far from normal for this time of year, mostly in the 20s. With plow crews working tirelessly, many Lehigh Valley roads were already starting to dry out with the wind and some afternoon sun Tuesday. Were not really expecting any major problems with regards to ice, but there could be some icy spots, Staarmann said. For those still with shoveling to do, the American Heart Association at heart.org offered tips to curb the increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest that can come with exertion in cold temperatures. The Mayo Clinic offers additional advice, including: Take it slow: Pace yourself and take breaks if you need to. Safety is more important than speed. Protect your back: Bend at the knees, not the back when lifting the shovel. Lift with your legs bent, stand with your feet hip-width apart for balance and keep the shovel close to your body. Also, dont pick up too much snow at once. Consider using a smaller shovel or filling a larger shovel no more than halfway. We'll return to normal conditions for mid-February through the weekend. A couple of clipper systems will impact the area during that time, although any precipitation will be light and not cause much impact. Watch for black ice tonight! #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx pic.twitter.com/G3PFK1w3HH NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 13, 2024 Looking ahead, a slight chance of snow is in the forecast for Thursday at the airport, mainly after 1 p.m. and mixing with rain after 4 p.m. followed by a chance of rain at night, with another shot at snow in the forecast Friday night into Saturday. These chances of precipitation are in the 20-40% range, the weather service said Tuesday. As of 1 PM, the snow has ended across the area. We'll see a little bit of sun this afternoon with breezy conditions. Official reports: Allentown - 9.1" Atlantic City - T Philadelphia - 0.6" Reading - 5.8" Trenton - 4.2" Wilmington - 0.5" Reports summary: https://t.co/2xE2dpQsN7 NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 13, 2024 National Weather Service accumulation reports from the snowfall that ended late Tuesday morning are as follows: Lehigh County Washington Twp., 12.3 in. (Trained Spotter) Weisenberg Twp. 12.3 in. (Public) Salisbury Twp., 11.2 in. (Trained Spotter) Germansville, 10.8 in. (Trained Spotter) Center Valley, 10.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Allentown, 9.5 in. (Public) New Tripoli, 9.3 in. (Trained Spotter) North Whitehall Twp., 9.3 in. (CoCoRaHS) Whitehall Twp., 9.3 in. (Trained Spotter) Lehigh Valley International, 9.1 in. (ASOS) Breinigsville, 9.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Coplay, 9.0 in. (Public) Emmaus, 9.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Macungie, 8.8 in. (Trained Spotter) Neffs, 8.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Ancient Oaks, 8.5 in. (CoCoRaHS) Northampton County Bangor, 12.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Bushkill Twp., 11.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Bethlehem, 10.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Danielsville, 10.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Nazareth, 10.3 in. (Public) Forks Twp., 10.1 in. (Public) Pen Argyl, 10.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Moore Twp., 9.7 in. (Public) Bethlehem, 9.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Bethlehem Twp., 9.1 in. (Trained Spotter) Martins Creek, 9.1 in. (CO-OP Observer) Hellertown, 8.4 in. (Trained Spotter) Walnutport, 7.5 in. (Trained Spotter) Warren County Blairstown, 12.0 in. (CoCoRaHS) Knowlton Twp., 10.4 in. (CoCoRaHS) Hackettstown, 9.0 in. (Trained Spotter) Liberty Twp., 8.5 in. (Public) Pohatcong Twp., 8.3 in. (CoCoRaHS) Phillipsburg, 8.0 in. (Public) Stewartsville, 8.0 in. (Trained Spotter) (CoCoRaHS stands for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network; ASOS at Lehigh Valley International is an Automated Surface Observing System; a Trained Spotter is a trained volunteer severe weather observer.) Stay up-to-date with National Weather Service advisories for our region at weather.gov/phi, and visit lehighvalleylive.com/weather for your local forecast from AccuWeather, plus radar. Check airnow.gov for current air quality conditions in your area. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Laois Gardai will meet public representatives and cemetery volunteeers in Portlaoise this week for talks on the recent desecration of Portlaoise Cemetery. Portlaoise Municipal District county councillors and the Portlaoise Cemetery Committeey will meet the Portlaoise area Garda Superintendent Eamon Curley to discuss the extensive damage to SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery suspected to have been carried out in the early hours of Friday, February 2. Gardai also confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that while the investigation into the criminal incident is ongoing, a clear line of enquiry has yet to be established. While they have an open mind on the motive, the gardai are understood to be working on the basis that it is likely to have been a random act of vandalism. Two common threads have been identified by Gardai so far in the investigation. The first is that all the desecrated graves had black headstones. MORE BELOW PICTUE. The Gardai have also established that all the graves are located along the route of a 'rat run' through the cemetery on the Stradbally Road. The issue is also likely to be raised in public by councillors next week at the Portlaoise Municipal District meeting. The Cemetery Committee is also due to meet this week after the Garda meeting. The cemetery is owned by Laois County Council and managed with the support of a voluntary committee. The Laois hurlers cemented their place at the top of Division 2A with an eight-point victory over Kildare on Sunday. Laois boss Willie Maher spoke to the media following the contest. We knew it was going to be competitive coming up and Kildare were the form team in this division this time last year. Were after getting out of here with an eight-point victory and I think its great work and were working towards the next day, Maher said. Laois were a bit lacklustre in the opener against Down, a team that they had beaten by 31-points in 2023 with Maher saying he saw improvements against Kildare. It was a bit livelier and we were a bit more comfortable than last week. We played very well for the first 15 minutes of the second-half and then our performance levels dropped again but we finished strong. So look its a work in progress and its only February and we have four points in the first two league games and well move on to the next game, he said. The home side were on top in the first-half with Laois trailing for the majority of the first period. Kildare were well worth their 14 points in the first-half. Their shooting was very good, I think they only missed two shots in the first-half whereas we missed a few more. Theyre a good team and as I said they were the form team in this division this time last year so look were happy to get away with an eight-point victory, he said. Kildare's Jack Sheridan had a superb game for the Lilywhites as he racked up 1-13 with seven frees. Maher was impressed by the Kildare forward but says it's something Laois need to prevent going forward. He scored 1-6 from play and he was really good, he got a great goal at the end. Its something we need to work on but again we have two weeks now to look forward to Carlow and the job was to get four points in the first two games which we have done so were content, Maher said. Laois have introduced a lot of fresh young faces with several U-20 stars making the step up to Senior level. David Dooley had a superb game for Laois at centre-forward with his manager singing his praises. David was excellent in the first 15 minutes of the second-half and he got on six or seven plays. Hes a great player as are the rest of the lads, the younger lads are really showing us the quality of players that they are so thats very encouraging. Weve used a big spread of players, Im not sure of the exact number over the last two games so a lot of lads are getting game time. The next two weeks will decide who plays for Carlow and thats the competitive environment that we want to develop here in Laois, he said. Laois are competing in Division 2 for the first time since 2013 and Maher feels that the team is in a better place because they're not getting hammered every week by the bigger counties in Division 1. I suppose Ill tell you that in a couple of weeks time and well know. This time last year, we had Tipperary and Kilkenny played and they were two big beatings so it was very difficult to get up. The McDonagh champions are coming to Portlaoise in two weeks so thats our big focus now and if we win that by eight Ill be very happy, Maher said. Two of Laois' opponents in the Joe McDonagh Cup are playing in Division 1 in the form of Offaly and Westmeath. Offaly probably should have beaten Wexford on Saturday night but managed to get a point while Westmeath pushed All-Ireland champions Limerick all the way and had led by two points in the 54th minute but lost out by six in the end. Offaly were exceptional last night against Wexford, who had played well against Kilkenny the week before. Two serious outfits, two serious teams and thats the standard of the competition in the McDonagh now so well know where we are when we play Carlow in two weeks time, he ended. Laois will face Carlow in Round Three of Division 2A on Saturday, February 24 in O'Moore Park. An event in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland will be held in Laois to mark International Women's Day in March. The lunch is being hosted by the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) Ireland and Macra and aims to celebrate resilience and the significant contributions of women in the agricultural sector. Among the speakers will be by Macra President, Elaine Houlihan, and ASA President, Niamh Bambrick. Emer OByrne, National Head of Branch Strategy and Sales Performance at FBD said: FBD is proud to support this event which highlights the enduring resilience of the agriculture sector and the invaluable role played by women at all levels of the industry. We are delighted to continue our longstanding relationships with both Macra and the ASA by supporting this event. Our hope is that this will provide attendees with a valuable forum to meet, exchange insights, and address the evolving landscape of our industry. The event will take place on 7th March in the Heritage Hotel kicking off with an arrival and registration period from 11:00 to 12:00. Niamh Bambrick, ASA President, commented; ASA is delighted to join up with Macra to host this event Resilient Industry: Adapting to Change. Given I as the ASA President and Elaine as the Macra President are both the youngest Presidents of the organisation who also happen to be women, we feel this event was timely for our two organisations to join up, to reflect on how our industry is resilient and also very adaptable to change. We have chosen the proceeds of this event to go to a fantastic charity, Breast Cancer Ireland, which is a charity that is close to all of our hearts. This is in recognition also of International Women's Day which occurs on Friday 8th March. Elaine Houlihan, Macra President, said: Macra are delighted to be teaming up with the ASA for this upcoming event which gives an opportunity for us all to celebrate just how resilient our industry has been over the years, this event will also allow us to network between both organisations, while raising money for a very important charity. This event wouldnt be possible without the support of FBD. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Heritage Hotel on the 7th of March. For more information and to register, please visit www.asaireland.ie/resilient-industry-adapting-to-change/ The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council has passed on the chance to lead the Laois contingent in the New York St Patrick's Day parade of 2024. Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy as Cathaoirleach for the first time, had been invited to march in the iconic parade, along with Laois County Council officials. He told the Leinster Express / Laois Live why he has turned it down in favour of staying home. "I have other family commitments at the same time. I simply can't go. I'm not a big traveller," he said. Last Monday at the council meeting, Cllr Ashling Moran suggested Laois go somewhere else this year, to "make a stand" on Israel and Palestine. Cllr McEvoy said that is not his reason. "Laois County Council is aware of my decision. It just didn't come up at the meeting," he said. He believes that the trip to New York, which happens usually every year for the parade, is a useful one for Laois. "It is necessary to go. We had the association here for a week last year, and they did a lot of networking. The cost of going is very minimal. Just one member of management goes with the Cathaoirleach. They don't bring any family, or if they do, they pay their own way. It's no big expense. It's less than 5,000," he said. In his stead, Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Padraig Fleming will be taking the trip, which he has done before as Cathaoirleach. "He is a great ambassador. He's been there before, he knows the drill," Cllr McEvoy said. Irelands ethics watchdog fundamentally misunderstood the statutory framework in which it operates and did not follow proper procedures, the High Court has heard. The High Court is hearing a case brought by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy against the Standards In Public Office Commission (Sipo). Mr Murphy is seeking to quash the decision taken by Sipo not to investigate allegations Taoiseach Leo Varadkar leaked a confidential GP contract to a friend. Mr Varadkar was told in November 2022 that the ethics watchdog had decided not to investigate his alleged leaking of a GP contract in 2019. At the time, Sipo said it had no role in examining Mr Varadkar over his leaking of a document related to a draft GP contract in 2019 at a time when he was taoiseach. Sipo said it had decided not to investigate Mr Varadkars actions as it did not have the remit to consider either the lawfulness of the action or the extent of the powers of the office of Taoiseach. Senior counsel Feichin McDonagh told the court on Tuesday that Sipos reasons for its decision not to investigate Mr Varadkar were not legally adequate. He claimed that Sipo fundamentally misunderstood the statutory framework in which it operates, saying it did not follow its proper procedures, and that the reasons set out by the body were threadbare. He said that the Ethics of Public Office Act 1995 says what Sipo can and cant do in terms of substance, such as scrutinise the code of conduct and advise officeholders on their functions. Mr McDonagh said there are two issues that Sipo should consider about a complaint, which include whether someone has carried out the proper functions of someone in office as well as maintaining the confidence of the public. The court was also told that Sipo did not appoint an officer to carry out a preliminary inquiry into the complaint, something that the legislation provides for and which Mr McDonagh said was mandatory. He said that instead, Sipo carried out its own evidence gathering and was therefore in possession of significant evidence. The court heard that the commission stated that Mr Varadkars disclosure of the document was made in his capacity and role as taoiseach and to further the policy goals of government. However, Mr McDonagh said that Sipo is not foreshortened because Mr Varadkar claimed he was acting in his role as taoiseach. He said that Sipos code of conduct does set out that it can investigate how the taoiseach acts. Mr McDonagh also said that Sipo failed to define the implicit executive functions Mr Varadkar was working under. He said it was incumbent on Sipo to set out what implied executive functions they found so convincing so as not to investigate the complaint. He also said that Sipo was obliged to interrogate the implicit powers Mr Varadkar relied on. The court was told that the complaint was dealt with because of an unidentified implied function of the taoiseach, which Mr McDonagh said was not a reason. The court was also told that Sipo clearly had prima facie evidence that Mr Varadkar had leaked the document. Mr McDonagh said that if there was a constitutional hurdle that prevented Sipo from investigating Mr Varadkar, then it should be made subject to a judicial review. The administrative body cannot in advance decide that the potato is too hot to handle, he added. Michael Collins SC for Sipo claimed that appointing an inquiry officer was discretionary and not mandatory as purported by Mr McDonagh. The commission said that while they decided not to appoint an inquiry officer, they did start an investigation into the matter by contacting Mr Varadkar and asking him a series of questions about the leaked agreement. According to Mr Collins, the act of Mr Varadkar giving the document to his friend Matthew O Tuathail was so intimately bound up with the constitutional function of the Taoiseachs office that Sipo could not investigate it without the risk of trespassing and interfering with the Executive function. The barrister also told the court the judicial review is not concerned about the merits of the complaint, but said it needed to look at why the decision was taken not to proceed. Mr Collins said the court needed to look at what Sipo would have had to get into to proceed with the investigation, including looking at the whole ambit of government policies, the problems of the healthcare sector and the GPs agreement. He said to investigate whether it was to further government policy would be to second guess the actions of the leader of government, something that was not in Sipos remit. Mr Collins also said that following Mr Varadkars response to Sipo, it was clear that further evidence would not have advanced the matter. Mr Collins said there difference between a minister exploiting their public office for gain and the daily decisions taken by politicians. He told the court that this case doesnt come anywhere near the serious breach of duty that would warrant the commission to investigate it. Mr Murphy is seeking several reliefs, including an order quashing the decision by Sipo not to carry out an investigation under Section 23 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. He also seeks a declaration that Sipos decision was determined in a manner that breached Mr Murphys right to fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice. He further seeks an order remitting the matter back to Sipo for reconsideration. In 2022, it was confirmed that Mr Varadkar would not face criminal proceedings over the incident. The Fine Gael leader had been under investigation by the DPP for passing a copy of an official document to a friend of his. The Taoiseach said his disclosure of the document was lawful and he did so in the public interest. Mr Varadkar admitted that in April 2019 he sent a copy of a doctors pay deal between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail. Dr O Tuathail was head of the rival organisation, the National Association of General Practitioners, at the time. Mr Varadkar has apologised for disclosing the document. Maynooth University joined Kildare County Council to celebrate Brigid 1500, a major cultural festival to commemorate the life and legacy of St Brigid, one of Irelands most famous saints. MU played an active part in the celebrations, hosting Carrying Her Flame, a light spectacle by Luxe Theatre Landscape, on South Campus. Staff and students also joined a global Pause for Peace on February 1, an initiative of the Pause for Peace movement, which aims to build a spirit of solidarity and peace in societies all over the globe. Professor Mary Corcoran of MUs Sociology Department chaired the Brigid Steering Committee, which organised a series of events, concerts, talks and workshops, reflected the lasting impact of Brigid on modern Ireland. St Brigids Day falls on February 1 and commemorates the saint, who has strong ties to Kildare where she is believed to have established a double monastery for men and women around 480 A.D. Since 2023, the day has been designated as a public holiday in Ireland. MUs Dr Niamh Wycherley, St Brigid expert and Lecturer in the Department of Early Irish at Maynooth University, was also involved in the celebrations. Dr Wycherley is host of a podcast, The Medieval Irish History Podcast, which showcases the complexity of Irish history through discussions with leading experts, and includes a focus St Brigid and her legacy. She also addressed an intercultural festival between Ireland and Italy, which featured music from Irish and Italian artists in the Church of San Martino a Mensola in Florence. Dr Katriona OSullivan of MUs Department of Psychology and ALL Institute was a guest speaker at a special event hosted by the Women in Business Network of Kildare County Council, to discuss her best-selling book Poor. Irish chef and TV presenter Donal Skehan returns to launch Children's Health Foundation (CHF)'s 16th Annual Great Irish Bake for Sick Children, which will be sponsored by Gem. Donal was joined by Childrens Health Ireland star patient Freddie Munnelly aged eight, to get this sweet celebration started. Freddie, Donal, and the CHF are inviting supporters of all ages to celebrate the Great Irish Bakes 'Sweet Sixteen' by taking part on or around Friday, March 22, 2024 and raise vital funds to support sick children and their families in Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. You can host a delightful afternoon tea party, a competitive cupcake decorating contest, or a bustling bake sale to raise funds and spread joy at your Great Irish Bake fundraiser. Commenting on this years Great Irish Bake for Sick Children, Donal said: "One of my favourite things growing up was a bake sale and gathering over treats and tea with friends, knowing your tasty bakes support sick children when they need it most, is what makes the Great Irish Bake such a brilliant event. "It's easy to join in, arrange a bake sale, a coffee morning or donate and the best part is knowing you're making a huge difference in the lives of kids all across Ireland." He added: "I've seen first hand the incredible work Children's Health Ireland does and it's such an important cause." Bobby Mulligan, Managing Director of Gem, also commented: "Gem is delighted to return as the sponsor of the Great Irish Bake for Sick Children for 2024 and are thrilled to support Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Connolly and Tallaght. "Having been involved in this event for a number of years now, we know the difference this campaign makes to the 300,000 sick children that pass through the doors of Childrens Health Irelands hospitals each year by funding life-saving equipment and so much more with the generous donations from participants. "Lets try and make this years event the most successful to date! Lets host bake sales in our communities and collect donations for this amazing cause!" Bobby added. With Donals help and the support of kind bakers across the nation, the 2023 Great Irish Bake for Sick Children raised over 200,000 helping to provide therapies and family supports, fund new and emerging technologies and life-saving equipment to those who need it the most in Children's Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres. So, preheat your oven and send out your invites by taking part in this years Great Irish Bake you will be doing something sweet for sick children when they need it most. Whether you bake Freddies favourite recipe, Carrot Cake, or whip up some delicious savoury scones, every single event held this March will make a real difference to families going through the most challenging of times. Furthermore, when you register at www.childrenshealth.ie/ GreatIrishBake , the CHF will send you their famous Great Irish Bake pack with everything you need to make your event a sweet success. The CHF is encouraging people taking part in the Great Irish Bake to share photos on Instagram or Facebook and use the hashtag #GreatIrishBake. By registering for the campaign and sharing a picture of your decadent baking creations, you could be in with a chance of winning a 1,000 cash prize kindly provided by Gem. All funds raised will be put to work where they are needed most across Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly, purchasing vital life-saving equipment and therapies for thousands of sick children. A mum-of-three who stabbed a man to death outside her home during a psychotic episode has lost an appeal against the severity of her eight-year prison sentence. Christina Anderson (41) of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22 had never met father-of-seven Gareth Kelly (38) when she twice attacked him, stabbing him five times in total, while he tried to start his car outside her home in the early morning of February 25, 2020. She was initially charged with murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In January last year, more than one month into her trial, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The State accepted that Anderson was experiencing a psychotic episode due to bipolar affective disorder but did not qualify for the full defence of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The State also accepted that cannabis intoxication 'does not feature' in the offence despite telling the jury during her trial that a central issue was whether Anderson's actions were driven by mental illness or by cannabis intoxication. Her lawyer Michael O'Higgins SC had argued at the three-judge Court of Appeal that the sentencing judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, did not correctly assess the level of his client's moral culpability before calculating the sentence. He said that a previous decision by the Court of Appeal had stated that where diminished responsibility arises as a defence, moral culpability can be 'extinguished altogether.' In Ms Anderson's case, counsel said 'moral culpability is at the lowest possible point.' He drew the court's attention to a report written by consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright who said that Ms Anderson was 'highly dominated by her mental condition' which the psychiatrist said was 'so severe that she was experiencing delusions into which she had no insight.' Ms Anderson had a "psychotic moral justification" for her actions because, Dr Wright said, 'she delusionally believed' that her life and the lives of her children were in danger and that she could protect them by killing Mr Kelly. Delivering today's (Tuesday, February 13) judgment, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said this was a 'profoundly sad and tragic case.' In the absence of a mental disorder, Ms Justice Kennedy agreed with the trial judge that the headline sentence would have been at the 'very top end' for manslaughter at 20 years imprisonment. Ms Justice Kennedy further agreed with the sentencing judge that, having considered the mental disorder, the headline should be reduced to 13 years. Ms Justice Kennedy said the sentencing judge had then considered mitigating factors, including the guilty plea and that Anderson had no previous convictions, was a mother who home-schooled her children and had a good work history. Ms Justice O'Connor therefore reduced the sentence to eleven years and suspended the final three for four years on various conditions. Ms Justice Kennedy said it is difficult to see how a person convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility could be said to have their moral culpability entirely extinguished. She said the trial judge had properly reduced the headline sentence having taken into account that Ms Anderson's mental state was 'highly dominated' but not 'entirely dominated' by her mental condition. The 'substantial reduction' amounted to more than one third of the headline sentence and therefore 'properly reflected her mental condition,' Justice Kennedy said. The discount for mitigating factors, Justice Kennedy said, was 'entirely within the discretion' of the sentencing judge and was not an error in principle. Ms Justice O'Connor took considerable care in coming to the final sentence, the appeal court found. Dismissing all grounds of appeal, Ms Justice Kennedy said the sentence was proportionate. EVIDENCE At the earlier hearing, Mr O'Higgins said the evidence of Ms Anderson's family members, friends, neighbours and others who interacted with her in the weeks and months before the killing showed the 'slow systemic and utter coming apart of a person's mind.' Counsel submitted that a person could not have a more severe mental disorder than that which afflicted Ms Anderson and the 'unchallenged evidence was that she had no insight into why those actions were being performed.' Paul Greene SC, for the DPP, said this is not a case where moral culpability is extinguished. He said that there was evidence of 'ongoing aggravation' from Ms Anderson about people using the parking space where Mr Kelly had left his car overnight and he reminded the court that Ms Anderson, having stabbed Mr Kelly, walked away and then came back and stabbed him again. Mr Greene also submitted that the sentencing judge was entitled to impose a lengthy suspended sentence at the end of Anderson's term in custody where there is no 'environment to police a person with a history of mental illness.' He said the four-year supervision order is there for the protection of the public. A Kildare TD has criticised what she referred to as the 'unacceptable' number of hospital appointment cancellations at Naas General Hospital (NGH). Deputy Patricia Ryan, Sinn Fein TD for Kildare South, called for 'urgent government action' in order to deal with the issue in a recent, lengthy statement. She made the comments following responses to Parliamentary questions submitted by Sinn Fein's Spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane, which showed that more than 6000 appointments were cancelled by NGH since the beginning of 2022, an increase of 98 per cent. Deputy Ryan said: "The numbers are absolutely disgraceful. "This government has failed and is continuing to fail our hospitals and our sick people. "(There were) 64,000 more hospital-led cancellations in 2023 than in 2022... these are not just figures, each one represents a person suffering unnecessarily due to Government failure to tackle hospital overcrowding!" Patricia Ryan TD (Sinn Fein). File photograph. The Monasterevin-based politician continued: "This Government has consistently failed to plan for overcrowding, putting pressure on waiting lists and directly causing these cancellations cancellations which affect the lives and health of those who are waiting on badly needed treatments and health care." She also alleged: "The government's attempts to shift the burden on to already overcrowded and stretched emergency department is only making the problem worse and leaving patients suffering on waiting lists for longer." In addition, Deputy Ryan said: "This government clearly has no plan to address overcrowding its time to change to a government that does have a plan and the will to carry that plan through." She then went on to detail how her party would aim to tackle the issue: "Sinn Fein in government would: increase hospital bed capacity by 2400 over next five years to tackle overcrowding; invest in home support and step down care to speed up hospital discharges; invest in access to diagnostics, meaning less delays in access treatment; and fast-track elective centres, helping to separate emergency care from unscheduled care and increase theatre capacity." Deputy Ryan also said: "All these solutions are absolutely essential to tackle overcrowding, reduce waiting list and prevent unnecessary cancellations." She concluded her statement by saying: "This government has been failing our sick people and our health service for long enough, its time for a change of government that government is Sinn Fein." BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Iran and the US could negotiate on Irans nuclear program if they find common ground on other issues, such as easing the conflicts in the Middle East, said Mohammad Ali Sobhani the former head the Middle East Department of Irans Foreign Ministry, Trend reports. Sobhani noted that the outcome of the current situation in the Middle East is uncertain, but that a lower level of hostility between Iran and the US could benefit the region. He also said that Iran could gain some relief from the sanctions imposed on it if it could reach a better understanding with the US. US President Joseph Biden seems to want to avoid making the crisis worse, and to try to resolve it if possible. I think the tension between Iran and the US will not increase further, he said. On January 16, 2016, Iran's nuclear program triggered the creation of the JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany). However, on May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions have affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur A man who punched, choked and ran over his former partner with his car during a campaign of coercive control has appealed the length of his four-year jail term, claiming that his mental health issues should have gotten him a shorter sentence. In January of last year, Samy Taib (22), with addresses at Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24 and Meile An Ri Road, Balgaddy, Lucan, County Dublin, was jailed after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at addresses in Dublin and one count relating to a campaign of coercive control over his then partner on dates between May 9, 2018, and June 19, 2019. Taib also pleaded guilty to endangerment, driving without a licence and insurance at Fettercairn Ring Road, Tallaght and dangerous driving causing endangerment at Main Street, Celbridge, County Kildare, in separate incidents on October 13, 2019. At the time of his sentencing Taib had 22 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. When imposing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan said Taibs victim had 'endured great upset and trauma from the assaults and psychological injury' caused by his offending during their relationship. The court heard incidents of Taib punching and choking his ex-girlfriend and of using a car as a weapon against her. Referring to the road traffic offences, Judge Sheahan said it was 'almost miraculous that no innocent road user was not seriously injured' on that day. Taib was jailed and given a total sentence of five years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for two years. Judge Sheahan said that Taib's culpability was reduced owing to his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia in the wake of the incidents. Medical reports indicated a history of psychological issues as a younger teenager, the court heard. At the Court of Appeal today (Tuesday, February 13), Brian Gageby BL, for Taib, submitted that not enough weight had been given to his clients undiagnosed mental state at the time of his offending. Mr Gageby said the sentencing judge should have given Taib a greater discount than the amount granted due to his clients 'undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia' and Taib being 'a child for most of the period of offending.' Taib, without medication, suffered from 'severe thought disorder, persistent delusions and paranoia,' said counsel. Mr Gageby said Taib had shown 'disgust at his partners sexual history', became jealous of her male friends, had been watching 'a lot of pornography' and had been smoking cannabis all while being a 'vulnerable' person unaware of his condition. Mr Gageby said Taib believed that work colleagues could hear his thoughts and that animals responded to them. Counsel said Taib did not know what the problem was regarding his mental health and that his moral culpability was, therefore, 'substantially reduced, compared to a normal case' where a diagnosis had been made and medication prescribed. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said Taib had received a 'very substantial reduction' and said the appellants offending could have resulted in a combined headline sentence of 'double figures.' Mr Justice Birmingham said the case involved incidents of assault, suffocation and using a car as a weapon, while Taib had claimed his victim had 'laid a trap for him, which does not impress.' Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentencing judge had taken into account Taibs mental illness, guilty pleas and other mitigating factors when sentencing the appellant. Diana Stuart BL, for the State, submitted that the sentencing judge dealt with the appellants mental state 'at considerable length in her judgment.' Ms Stuart said when setting out the mitigating factors, the sentencing judge took into account that the relationship with the injured party was being conducted 'against a background of psychological or psychiatric illness.' Ms Stuart submitted that the judge also took into account that by the time of sentencing the accused was taking olanzapine for his condition, was complying with his medical directions and was to serve a custodial sentence 'while suffering from this enduring and major psychiatric illness.' "Specifically, the sentencing judge very clearly selected a provisional headline sentence without regard to the mental condition in question and then adjusted the provisionally selected headline sentence to take account of a cognitive or mental health issue," said Ms Stuart. The trial judge correctly took into consideration Taib's cooperation with gardai, his work history, family support and background of psychological illness, said Ms Stuart. Mr Justice Birmingham said the court would reserve its judgement in the matter. FURTHER DETAILS The trial court previously heard that Taib had choked his then-partner on a number of occasions over the course of their relationship. In another incident, he hit her with his car, driving over her right leg. In her victim impact statement, Taib's former partner said he made her a 'different person' who struggled with depression and anxiety. She said she suffered psychological and physical injuries, including permanent damage to her foot. The victim said Taib had 'ruined' her life and hurt her family. The court heard that around two months into their relationship, the couple were sitting in a car talking when Taib grabbed the victim by her hair. He then held her down and punched her. During an argument in the victim's home in September 2018, Taib followed her into the bathroom and started choking her. She passed out and when she woke up, he told her she had hit her head on the radiator. Taib apologised but the victim felt intimidated and was forced to accept his apology, the court heard. In October 2018, the couple moved in together and were living in Taib's mother's house. The victim said she felt isolated. During this time, Taib choked the victim several times and forced her to be quiet to avoid disturbing his family. On another occasion, Taib and the victim were in his car and due to meet friends at a pub on May 9, 2019. Taib became jealous, the court heard. The victim got out of the car and he followed her, telling her to get back into the vehicle. Taib hit her with his car and drove over her right leg. He told her to get up and used abusive language towards bystanders who came to offer help. Taib then stood on the victim's leg. He later told gardai that he did this as he thought she was 'messing.' Taib was arrested by gardai in July 2019. When questioned, he said he could not control his emotions and admitted to hitting the victim when she walked away or when he felt disrespected. The Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Mr. He Xiangdong was joined by Minister for European Affairs, Peter Burke for a special ceremony at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, today (Tuesday 13th February) to celebrate todays historic launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China. China is the worlds largest drinks market and Irish gin exports to China have grown by almost 200% over the past 5 years with demand for premium and super-premium gin brands set to outpace the rest of the category by 2027. Minister for European Affairs Peter Burke, and the Chinese Ambassador, He Xiangdong, take part in a tasting session with (from left) Denise and Pat Rigney (founders of The Shed Distillery) and Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Justin Warnock. Pictures: Brian Farrell Pat and Denise Rigney (founders and owners of family-run The Shed Distillery) presented the Chinese Ambassador with a special limited-edition ceramic Chinese Dragon bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin to mark the momentous occasion. Mr. Rigney said the entry to the Chinese market is a pivotal milestone for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which will precipitate significant new local job creation at The Shed Distillery, which currently e mploys over 100 locals. With Chinas imports set to hit 17 trillion dollars over the next five years, Rigney says the launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China is key to remaining competitive on a global scale as the brand strives to become one of the top ten gin brands in the world. Chinese Ambassador, He Xiangdong, speaking at The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo today. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is now officially available in China and will roll out to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and other major Chinese cities over the coming months. EKO integrated Services, who are The Shed Distillerys distribution partners in China, say there is enormous potential for the Leitrim brand as the country actively focuses on accelerating high-quality imports, in particular of high-end super-premium brands and products that stand apart as unique. EKO Integrated Services first showcased Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China last November at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) where the brand received an extraordinary response according to Pat Rigney, who travelled to Shanghai for the event. Chinese consumers and trade really embraced the brand with enthusiasm. They were intrigued by the Chinese elements of the brand, which uses gunpowder tea from China as one of the main botanicals in the gin, which is slow-distilled by hand with oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea in Leitrim. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin exports to over 80 countries and is one of the fastest-growing gin brands in the world. The brand also sells in over 60 international airports. Chinese Ambassador, He Xiangdong, Deputy Frank Feighan and Pat and Denis Rigney admiring the specially commissioned Year of The Dragon bottle of Gunpowder Irish Gin. He Xiangdong, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland: The launch of the Dragon Special Edition of Gunpowder Gin, in celebration of the Chinese New Year, embodies the rich cultural tapestry of China and demonstrates the warm, collaborative spirit between our nations. The adoption of Chinese tradition by such a distinguished Irish brand reflects the deep mutual respect and partnership between our countries. The introduction of this special edition, inspired by the auspicious symbol of the dragon, represents a seamless blend of Irish innovation and Chinese heritage. As we usher in the Year of the Dragon, I extend my heartfelt wishes for prosperity and success to Irish businesses venturing into the Chinese market. I am thrilled to hear that Gunpowder Gin will soon be available in China. May this special edition be a testament to the thriving connections and continued collaboration between China and Ireland. Cllr Justin Warnock, Cathaoirleach Leitrim County Council: We are honoured to welcome the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. He Xiangdong to County Leitrim on this historic occasion. Drumshanbo is one of the best known Irish towns in the world thanks to the international popularity of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin. Bringing the brand to China will truly make us global celebrities. Todays wonderful news is a tribute to the very special vision and partnership between the incredible community in Drumshanbo, the Food Hub and The Shed Distillery at the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. This year marks the tenth anniversary of The Shed Distillery opening in Drumshanbo and what an incredible 10 years it has been. From just 2 employees in 2014, The Shed has now created over 100 local jobs, created over 7 remarkable gin, whiskey and vodka brands and opened the extraordinary Shed Distillery Visitor Experience. We look forward to welcoming many more Chinese visitors to Co. Leitrim in the very near future. Cllr Justin Warnock, Cathaoirleach, Leitrim County Council. Pat Rigney, Founder & owner of The Shed Distillery: As a family-run business, myself and Denise value people and relationships above all else. Relationships and respect are central to doing business in China, an extraordinary country and culture. Our Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin journey commenced in China where we discovered gunpowder tea. This year, the Chinese Year of the Dragon, The Shed Distillery celebrates our tenth anniversary, which we mark with our special limited-edition ceramic Chinese Dragon bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, celebrating the coming together of our two unique cultures. There is a special karma surrounding our journey with our esteemed Chinese friends and it is a true honour to welcome His Excellency Mr. He Xiangdong Chinese Ambassador to The Shed Distillery and the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin today. Our extraordinary team at the Shed Distillery are intrinsic to moments like today. We prize our partnership with the remarkable community here in Drumshanbo, and our shared vision which has guided our journey over the last ten years, and led to making todays announcement come to be. MemorialCare's Vice President of Clinical Integration Shines Bright in Modern Healthcare's 40 Under 40 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare is proud to announce that Elizabeth "Liz" Acord, vice president of clinical integration, for MemorialCare Cancer Institute was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of its 40 Under 40 for 2024. Modern Healthcare's 40 Under 40 recognizes the health care industry's rising stars age 40 and under who contribute to a culture of innovation and help their organizations achieve and exceed financial, operational, and clinical goals. As vice president of clinical integration at MemorialCare, Acord oversees the system-wide cancer program and spearheads clinical research initiatives. She brings extensive experience building hospital departments, developing innovative programs, and fostering collaboration between health care stakeholders. "Since Liz joined MemorialCare five years ago, she quickly began executing a new strategic plan to develop a world class community cancer program across all MemorialCare entities," says Dr. David Kim, CEO, MemorialCare Medical Group. "She effectively brings people together and aligned in one mission and vision. And amidst the challenges of the pandemic, she ensured that the cancer program remained operational and continued to enhance and grow its services. She is a natural leader, and I'm so thankful that she has a passion and love for the patients and community she serves." In 2023, Acord led initiatives to expand services that improve the patient experience and provide innovative treatment options. This included online risk questionnaires, pre-visit check-in tools, and the implementation of Beacon for streamlining treatment planning. She also orchestrated a strategic partnership to leverage machine learning and predictive analytics to increase capacity across infusion centers. Acord was at the helm of several expansions including the acquisition of Radiation Oncology vaults, the recruitment of skilled breast and plastic surgeons, and the integration of medical and gynecologic oncologists in multiple markets. Her initiatives extended to the growth of the nuclear medicine therapeutics program, the establishment of a robust cancer screening program, the significant expansion of lung cancer navigation, and the implementation of a Tobacco Registry. With a focus on the well-being of young people in the community, Acord secured a grant to fund the creation and implementation of the Adolescent and Young Adult Survivorship Program. Initiated in 2021, the program was fully realized in 2023, bridging the patient journey from the CoC-accredited pediatric cancer program at MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach ? the only pediatric cancer program with this designation in California ? to the CoC-accredited adult cancer program at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. Patients now experience a seamless transition for cancer survivorship care as young adults, improving their experience and providing them access to critical clinical trials. "I am deeply passionate about bridging the gap between cancer treatment in community settings and the clinical research hubs of academic institutions," says Acord. "At MemorialCare, we continuously work to bring these life-saving services to more patients, and to be recognized for these efforts by Modern Healthcare is an honor." "Our inaugural class of 40 Under 40 demonstrates the wide range of talent needed in health care today and in the years to come," said Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare. "They are the rising stars who will propel the industry forward with a focus on innovation, efficiency, affordability and compassion." The profiles of all the honorees are featured in the February 12 issue of MH magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/40under40. About MemorialCare MemorialCare is a not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system with 225 care locations including leading hospitals?Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach; MemorialCare Medical Group and Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare Research Program; MemorialCare Select Health Plan; and numerous outpatient health, imaging, surgery, urgent care, physical therapy, breast health and dialysis centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. Accolades include Nation's Best Health Systems and Workplaces, Top 50 U.S. Hospitals and Cardiovascular Hospitals, 10 Largest Children's Hospitals, 100 Best Hospitals - Spine and Prostate Surgeries, Best of Orange County and Long Beach Hospitals and Medical Groups, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and "high performing" in 31 clinical categories and Newsweek World's Best Hospitals, Top 100 Hospitals, Best Maternity Hospitals ? and more. Visit memorialcare.org. About Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare is the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare empowers healthcare leaders and influencers to make timely and informed business decisions. To learn more or subscribe, go to www.modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions SOURCE MemorialCare 12 february 2024 at 17:55 News published onand distributed by: Infleqtion to Lead Quantum Thrust in Defence Cyber Marvel 3 Event Infleqtion, the world's leading quantum information company, is proud to announce its participation as the lead quantum innovator in Defence Cyber Marvel 3 (DCM3), Europe's premier cyber defense exercise organised by the Army Cyber Association. DCM3 brings together teams from Defence, Government agencies, industry partners, and international allies to tackle cyber threats in a simulated environment. Taking place from February 11 to February 16, DCM3 aims to spotlight and advance understanding of cutting-edge technologies crucial to network security, with a particular emphasis on quantum technology. Infleqtion will provide participants with access to Oxford Quantum Circuits' 32-qubit OQC Toshiko superconducting quantum computer through Superstaq, Infleqtion's flagship quantum software platform, replicating real-world scenarios where secure and efficient data management is paramount. Participants will explore the potential of quantum computing in network security by identifying maximally distinguishable quantum circuits. These circuits simulate files in a distributed database, showcasing the efficiency and security enhancements quantum computing can offer. Dr. Tim Ballance, Infleqtion UK president, said, "We are honoured to lead the quantum thrust in DCM3. This event presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate the transformative potential of quantum technology in bolstering cyber defenses. Our challenge will test participants' skills and showcase the real-world applications of quantum computing in securing critical networks." Momentum Continues to Build for Infleqtion Infleqtion's participation in DCM3 builds on the company's recent achievements, including its selection to develop and deliver a quantum computing testbed for the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) in the United Kingdom, Japan's Quantum Moonshot program, the launch of Oqtant, the world's first quantum matter service, and the strategic acquisitions of SiNoptiq Inc. and Morton Photonics Inc. The company recently provided a detailed update on its progress, including the first look at its 5-year roadmap for quantum computing, in a live webinar. A summary of the announcements and a replay of the event is available on the company's website. About Infleqtion Infleqtion, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, delivers high-value quantum information precisely where it is needed. By operating at the Edge, our software-configured, quantum-enabled products deliver unmatched levels of precision and power, generating streams of high-value information for commercial organizations, the United States, and allied governments. With 16 years of ColdQuanta's pioneering quantum research as our foundation, our hardware products and AI-powered solutions address critical market needs in positioning, navigating and timing, global communication security and efficiency, resilient energy distribution, and accelerated quantum computing. Learn how Infleqtion is revolutionizing how we communicate, navigate, and discover at www.infleqtion.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. Infleqtion UK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the flagship commercial brand Infleqtion. Infleqtion UK has a fully equipped quantum research laboratory and established production facilities in Oxford for its UK-developed Photonically Integrated Cold Atom Source (PICAS) product. The company conducts advanced research and development in inertial sensing and advanced timing for navigation within GNSS-denied environments, radiofrequency sensors for communications and defense applications, memory modules for secure quantum networks, and quantum information platforms for computation and simulation. 2024 ColdQuanta, Inc. d/b/a Infleqtion. All rights reserved. 13 february 2024 at 02:05 News published onand distributed by: Simplify Asset Management Partners with Premialab Innovative Institutional-Grade Provider Chooses Premialab Technology for QIS Research, Performance, and Risk Management LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premialab, a leading provider of data, analytics, and risk solutions, today announced that Simplify Asset Management had selected its technology to deliver portfolio management and risk solutions for its Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) focused funds. "Our decision to choose Premialab is grounded in their unparalleled QIS dataset, providing invaluable insights for our fund research, strategy due diligence, risk monitoring, and regulatory reporting. These capabilities are instrumental in our ongoing commitment to delivering robust performance and maintaining rigorous risk management standards for our clients." Premialab's products and services are based on its unique data set, provided directly by 18 investment banks around the world. The company helps its institutional clients ? which include asset and wealth managers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds ? to efficiently allocate assets, select strategies, and enhance portfolio returns while better controlling risk. Premialab's Head of Business Development North America, JF Chauwin, said the company was delighted to be selected by Simplify Asset Management - a valuable addition to Premialab's North American business. Institutions like Simplify manage highly sophisticated QIS portfolios demanding continuous monitoring and refinement," he stated. "Premialab facilitates real-time review and benchmarking of all their QIS investments, ensuring their QIS strategies deliver on a cost, risk, and value perspective ? a capability unmatched by any other provider." Premialab's multi-asset, multi-region platform processes 5 million data points every day on 5,000+ investible systematic strategies, with client AUM representing an estimated USD$10 trillion. The Premialab platform and Premialab Pure Factors together offer cross-asset quantitative strategy selection, and due diligence on strategies available across global markets. The platform also delivers faster, more detailed risk management and reporting, including regulatory reporting. Premialab CEO, Adrien Geliot, said: "In the current market environment, institutional investors are increasingly turning to quantitative investment strategies to improve their portfolio's risk-adjusted returns. They are seeking greater transparency, enhanced performance and robust risk management processes." "We are thrilled to expand our presence in the US, and to be partnering with Simplify to deliver our unique data and risk monitoring capabilities to such an innovative asset management firm," he said. About Premialab Premialab is the leading independent platform that collaborates with leading investment banks and institutional investors globally, providing data, analytics, and risk solutions for systematic, factor, and multi-asset strategies. With offices in London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Dubai and Sydney, the company has forged strong partnerships with the top 18 investment banks, asset managers, pension funds, and insurance companies globally. About Simplify Asset Management Inc Simplify Asset Management Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser founded in 2020 to help advisors tackle the most pressing portfolio challenges with an innovative set of options-based strategies. By accounting for real-world investor needs and market behavior, along with the non-linear power of options, our strategies allow for the tailored portfolio outcomes for which clients are looking. For more information, visit www.simplify.us. 13 february 2024 at 03:00 News published onand distributed by: Algolia Turbocharges Al-Futtaim Group's Search Performance and Consumer Experience Algolia, the world's only end-to-end AI Search and Discovery platform, announces its collaboration with the Al-Futtaim Group, a Dubai-based enterprise boasting 33,000 employees and leading brand franchises in the automotive, financial, real estate, health and retail industries. The partnership aims to enhance search performance and elevate consumer experience across Al-Futtaim's extensive commercial websites. After seamlessly integrating several powerful search features of Algolia's AI Search platform, including Dynamic Re-Ranking, AI Synonyms and Query Categorization, the partnership quickly yielded transformative improvements in Al-Futtaim's website performance. Ankita Singh, Conversion Rate Optimization Manager (responsible for enhancing conversion rates through UI/UX optimization across Al-Futtaim Group websites), noted: "We witnessed dramatic improvements across critical performance metrics. After implementing Algolia's AI search platform, search-driven orders surged 200% and revenue increased 220%. Notably, our search conversion rates garnered a substantial uptick of 40%, underscoring the impact of Algolia's advanced search capabilities on consumer engagement and conversion." The 200% increase in search-driven orders reflects the heightened efficiency and relevance of Algolia's search algorithms, ensuring that consumers find what they are looking for quickly and effortlessly. Importantly, this solves Al-Futtaim's previous problem of poor search relevancy. Additionally, the 40% uptick in search conversion rates is a testament to the platform's ability to convert searches into meaningful interactions and transactions. For Al-Futtaim's merchandising team, Algolia's Merchandising Studio removes the need for the manual management of several hundred category and product landing pages across their many different brands. Importantly, it accelerates product categorization, visual display, pinning, and boosting, and defining promotional tactics. Ankita Singh added: "With the removal of mundane tasks, the merchandising team can now focus on more strategic tasks such as improving performance of the website and automating product listings based on real-time performance and customers' affinity towards them. Moreover, it enables the team to more effectively optimize ad spend on Google and Facebook social media channels." Michelle Adams, Chief Revenue Officer, Algolia said: "Algolia's AI Search platform has proven to be a game-changer for Al-Futtaim, providing a robust solution to elevate their customer experience and boost business outcomes. The impressive 200% surge in search-driven orders and 220% increase in revenue attests to the platform's effectiveness in meeting the evolving business needs of today's enterprises." About Algolia Algolia is the world's only end-to-end AI search and discovery platform. Our engineers invented a breakthrough use of AI to create exponentially better search & discovery. Algolia's proprietary NeuralSearch tech combines vector-based natural language processing & keyword matching in a single API. Algolia powers 1.75 trillion search requests a year or more than 30 billion a week enabling more than 17,000 customers in 150+ countries to build blazing-fast and relevant search and discovery experiences for their in-app users and/or online visitors using any web, mobile or voice device ? by surfacing the desired content instantly and at scale. www.algolia.com. 13 february 2024 at 09:05 News published onand distributed by: New "Healthier Workplaces and Schools" eBook Designed to Help Employers Assess, Mitigate Risks of Airborne Infectious Diseases As more employers are examining their workplace health protocols to minimize the risk of airborne infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, AIHA ? the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community ? announced the launch of a comprehensive new resource that employers and employees can utilize to address current, and future, health threats. AIHA's "Healthier Workplaces and Schools" eBook is available in English and Spanish to view and download at no charge on AIHA's Commit to C.A.R.E. website. It is designed to help workplace decision-makers properly assess their specific risks and includes a practical approach to help mitigate the risk of spreading airborne infectious diseases in workplace settings, a risk assessment quiz to determine an organization's risk of airborne virus transmission among workers, and specific actions to help manage these risks. The eBook was developed by experts with background, training, and experience in industrial hygiene (IH) and occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS), providing practical, evidence-based guidance to protect workers and their communities across all industry sectors ? from service sector businesses and healthcare facilities to manufacturing/warehouses and public transit systems. "The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we cannot afford to be caught unprepared responding to future health risks that jeopardize worker health and our communities. Our new ?Healthier Workplaces and Schools' eBook is a natural evolution of our initial COVID-19 guidance documents that have helped countless workplaces around the world get back up and running safely," said AIHA CEO Lawrence Sloan. "The multi-layered approach outlined in this new eBook includes five overriding strategies to keep employees safe, and provides scientifically sound solutions written in terms a non-technical person can understand. The more layers of protection that employers can implement, the more they can reduce their risk of infectious diseases in the workplace." AIHA's Commit To C.A.R.E. (Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Equity) website offers a range of free public education resources including an interactive training program with short, animated videos, supporting worksheets, tip sheets, and infographics. These resources, which were funded thanks to a series of generous grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in cooperation with the IBEC (The Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium), include three distinct categories of resources ? Risk Assessment Tools, Indoor Air Quality Tools, and Vaccines & Testing Tools. The updated guidance in the new eBook will replace the AIHA's "Back to Work Safely" guidance documents, which were designed specifically to help businesses get back to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic and were one of the AIHA's most downloaded documents in its 85-year history. About AIHA AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work. 13 february 2024 at 09:15 News published onand distributed by: Skylo Technologies Raises $37 Million From Intel Capital, Innovation Endeavors, BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst, Next47 & Seraphim Space Skylo Technologies has raised $37 million from investors including Intel Capital, Innovation Endeavors, BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst, Next47, and Seraphim Space to support its direct-to-device satellite connectivity solution. The funding will help expand Skylo's scale and operations, advancing its commitment to making non-terrestrial networks more accessible for various sectors. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Investment Further Strengthens Industry Momentum of Skylo's Standards-Based Solution for Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity "As lead investors, we recognize the transformative potential of Skylo's scalable approach for 5G satellite-to-device communications," said David Johnson , Managing Director at Intel Capital. Skylo Technologies, the leading direct-to-device satellite connectivity service provider, today announces that it has secured $37 million in funding co-led by Intel Capital and Innovation Endeavors. New investors include BMW i Ventures, Next47, Samsung Catalyst Fund and Seraphim Space. David Johnson of Intel Capital joins the board, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to fortify Skylo's leadership team. This new investment expands Skylo's scale and business operations to better support smartphones, wearables, IoT devices, and mobile network operator customers. This is a major step in Skylo's commitment to making standards based non-terrestrial networks (NTN) more accessible and efficient for numerous sectors, including consumer, automotive, agriculture, energy, transportation, and beyond. "We're immensely proud to lead this new chapter in direct-to-device satellite connectivity, supported by an incredible consortium of investors. Their commitment helps make Skylo's standards-based service the default choice for the NTN ecosystem," said Parth Trivedi, CEO and Co-Founder of Skylo. "This round accelerates our carrier partnerships and supports all top device makers adopting our standards-based solution." With this new capital, Skylo will grow its team with the brightest minds in the industry, enhance its marketing efforts and technological developments to bring online new capabilities, reach new verticals, and further its global footprint. "As lead investors, we recognize the transformative potential of Skylo's scalable approach for 5G satellite-to-device communications," said David Johnson, Managing Director at Intel Capital. "Since our first meeting with Parth and the team, we've been impressed with the extensive industry ecosystem support they've received in delivering a complete end-to-end connectivity service for high volume device categories at low cost." "We're proud to announce our decision to back Skylo again ? a breakthrough service that is opening new markets and opportunities by connecting remote and underserved areas," said Scott Brady, Founding Partner at Innovation Endeavors. "We're excited to be part of this journey and are confident that Skylo's technology will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global communication and connectivity." Skylo has launched its initial service across US, Canada, and Europe, in partnership with major chipset makers including Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, and Sony, together with the world's leading device OEMs and mobile carriers, such as Deutsche Telekom. Skylo has successfully partnered with satellite operators to enable the service on dedicated, fully licensed spectrum and existing satellite assets. This allows terrestrial mobile carriers to take advantage of the most economical, scalable solution for direct-to-device connectivity, without sacrificing their own spectrum or changing their behavior in any way since Skylo's network integrates as a standard roaming partner. Skylo has built a strong ecosystem of OEMs, carriers, and supply chain partners that have brought the service to market. Skylo and Samsung S.LSI have an ongoing partnership to bring Skylo's service to Samsung's flagship 5G modems. Samsung Catalyst's investment in Skylo strengthens ongoing development efforts for mutual customers. "We were impressed with Skylo's global connectivity solution that enables 'always-on, always-connected' communication for the automotive industry," said Kasper Sage, Managing Partner at BMW i Ventures. "Skylo has a proven solution and team that is going to make satellite connectivity a new standard for the next generation of vehicles while keeping people safe and making their experiences seamless wherever they may go." For carriers looking to expand network capabilities or professionals aspiring to contribute to a cutting-edge technology landscape, Skylo offers an opportunity to be part of a future where seamless, global connectivity is the norm. Reach out to learn how we can drive the future of connectivity together. About Skylo Technologies Skylo Technologies is a global NTN service provider based in Mountain View, CA, offering a service that allows smartphone and IoT cellular devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN, featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo works with existing satellite operators, network operators, and device makers to provide subscribers an anywhere, anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Skylo's focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work across critical industries such as agriculture, maritime, logistics, mining, and others, in addition to mass-market consumer devices. For more information, visit www.skylo.tech, contact [email protected], or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Skylo is hiring! Please visit us at jobs.skylo.tech to see our open roles. About Intel Capital Over three decades, Intel Capital has invested more than US $20 billion in the future of compute, funding standout, early-stage startups across four key areas of the tech ecosystem; Silicon, Frontier, Devices and Cloud. Intel Capital-funded companies created more than US $150 billion in market value in the past 10 years. For more information, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital. About Innovation Endeavors Innovation Endeavors is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in cutting-edge technologies to drive generational change in order to solve problems that matter. The firm's central investment thesis, the Super Evolution, combines data, computational capacity, and advanced engineering to transform a range of industries including engineering health, climate, computing infrastructure, intelligent software, the physical economy, and more. Its investments include Afresh, AlphaSense, Atom Computing, Color, Gatik, Eikon Therapeutics, Fabric, Homelight, Kong, Formlabs, Panther, Planet, Replica, SoFi, Uber, Upstart, Vicarious Surgical, and more. For more information, visit www.InnovationEndeavors.com. Media Contact: Skylo Technologies Rosa Lear [email protected] SOURCE Skylo Technologies 13 february 2024 at 10:00 News published onand distributed by: Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Tuesday, Fabruary 13, of opening fire on their volatile border, with Yerevan saying Azerbaijani forces killed four soldiers in the southern region of Siunik. "Four were killed and one injured as a result of fire on Armenian positions from Azerbaijani troops," the Armenian defense ministry said in a statement. Azerbaijan's border guards said this was a "riposte" to a "provocation" on Monday by Armenian troops that Baku said had injured one Azerbaijani soldier. Azerbaijan's defense ministry said Armenian troops had opened fire twice late Monday on Kokhanabi village in the Tovuz region. Armenia denied the allegation, saying the claim that its troops had twice "fired against the direction of Azerbaijani positions situated in the northeastern part of the border, does not align with reality". Yerevan and Baku have fought two wars in 2020 and in the 1990s over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured in a lightning offensive last year. Almost the entire ethnic-Armenian population of Karabakh more than 100,000 people fled for Armenia following Baku's takeover, sparking a refugee crisis. Read more Subscribers only 'I miss Nagorno-Karabakh so much': The new life of refugees in Armenia The border flare-up comes shortly after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was re-elected for a fifth term to steer the gas-rich Caucasus nation. His win was expected after his country's historic victory over Armenian separatists last year. Aliyev is suspected of trying to wrest control over Armenia's Siunik region to link Azerbaijan to the exclave of Nakhchivan, which is also bordered by Iran and Turkey. US President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah attend a press conference to deliver remarks, following their meeting, at the White House in Washington on February 12, 2024. KEVIN LAMARQUE / REUTERS Jordan's King Abdullah II appealed for a full ceasefire to end the war in Gaza after talks with Joe Biden on Monday, February 12, striking a discordant note with the US president who is seeking a shorter six-week pause to allow Israel time to defeat Hamas. Speaking at the White House with King Abdullah by his side, Biden said civilians in the southern city of Rafah must be protected as Israel considers a ground incursion, while the Jordanian warned against any offensive at all. Biden, 81, said that the United States was working to negotiate a pause in fighting of least six weeks as part of a wider deal that would also involve the release of hostages. "We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end," said the Jordanian monarch, who has repeatedly pushed for a full truce to end the conflict that started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. In his first face-to-face meeting with Biden since the attack, King Abdullah said the world "cannot afford an Israeli attack" on Rafah. "It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe. We cannot stand by and let this continue." Read more Subscribers only Israel-Hamas war: The faces of the massacre in Gaza The United States has consistently refused to call for a full ceasefire, saying that it backs Israel's drive to defeat Hamas, and calling for shorter pauses with hostage deals instead. However, Biden has also started to take a harder line with key US ally Israel, saying last week that said Israel's response in the Gaza Strip had been "over the top." Flanked by US and Jordanian flags, Biden and the king had earlier embraced as they met on the front steps of the White House for their first face-to-face talks since the October 7 attacks. They were accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, Queen Rania and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein. 'Need to be protected' Biden joked during the arrival ceremony that "everybody does" when asked if Benjamin Netanyahu was following his advice on avoiding an offensive in Rafah. But he later said he had insisted that civilians in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians are trapped, "need to be protected." He said Washington was working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that would bring (an) immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks." The two leaders also discussed efforts to ensure that the conflict does not spread across a volatile region. Three US troops were killed in a drone attack on a base in Jordan in January, triggering American airstrikes against Iranian-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria. Washington is the first stop of a tour by the Jordanian king that will also take in Canada, France and Germany, amid mounting international efforts for a deal to pause fighting in Gaza and free hostages held there by Hamas. The bloodiest-ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel in October that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza that the Palestinian territory's Hamas-run health ministry says has killed at least 28,340 people, mostly women and children. President Biden was meant to travel to Jordan for talks with Abdullah when he visited Israel less than two weeks after the initial attack, but the meeting was canceled after an explosion at a Gaza hospital caused anger across the Arab world. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Abdullah in Amman in January. The Jordanian monarch urged the top diplomat to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and end the humanitarian crisis there. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. The negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) could still resume, despite the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement, sanctions against Iran, and turmoil in the Middle East, said Ali Aghazadeh, a member of the Iranian Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Trend reports. Agazadeh cited a recent statement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who admitted that the U.S.withdrawal from the JCPOA was a major mistake. Blinken acknowledged that the JCPOA addressed one of America's concerns, Iran's nuclear program. Iranian MP said that if the U.S. realized that leaving the JCPOA had negative repercussions for itself, there was a possibility for new talks to begin. He also stated that the JCPOA was a reasonable agreement for all sides. The West eased its worries by creating a system to closely monitor Irans nuclear activities. Iran, in turn, attained its objectives such as the formal recognition of its nuclear activities and the removal of sanctions. Aghazadeh added that the U.S. hoped to force Iran to surrender by quitting the JCPOA and imposing sanctions on Iran in 2018, expecting that Iran would accept arms limitations under the new JCPOA and abandon its regional policies. But none of that occurred. The MP concluded that by withdrawing from the JCPOA, the West showed that Iran had achieved a victory in the realm of diplomacy. On January 16, 2016, Iran's nuclear program triggered the creation of the JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany). However, on May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions have affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur Khalifa Sall, leader of the Taxawu Senegal movement, candidate for the 2024 presidential election delivers a speach during a press conference, at its headquarters in Dakar, on February 12, 2024. SEYLLOU / AFP Senegalese authorities on Tuesday, February 13, suspended mobile internet and banned a march against the delay of this month's presidential poll. Three people have been killed during violent protests after President Macky Sall's decision to push back the February 25 vote plunged traditionally stable Senegal into one of its worst crises in decades. "We are deeply concerned about the tense situation in Senegal," Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the United Nations rights office, told reporters in Geneva. "Following reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against protesters and restrictions on civic space, we call on the authorities to ensure that they uphold Senegal's long-held tradition of democracy and respect for human rights," she added. Read more Subscribers only Senegal's postponed election: How Macky Sall plunged the country into uncertainty The right of Senegalese to demonstrate peacefully must be "respected," the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said late on Tuesday, after the African nation's authorities banned protests following the postponement of the presidential election. "We are[...] very concerned about the continuing situation in Senegal," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "It is first of all extremely important that all Senegalese have their right to demonstrate peacefully respected," he added, calling for the situation to be "resolved through established constitutional means." Demonstrations are subject to authorization in Senegal, with authorities refusing to give the green light for many opposition rallies in recent years. Unauthorized protests often descend into violent clashes. Throssell said at least three young men were killed and 266 people, including journalists, were reportedly arrested across the country. Security forces repressed demonstrations that took place on Friday. Read more Subscribers only Senegal: Protests repressed after postponement of presidential election "Senegalese authorities continue to display utter disregard for peaceful dissent," said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "Authorities must promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate the lethal use of force against protestors," she added. The Aar Sunu Election ("Let's protect our election") collective, which includes some 40 civil, religious and professional groups, had called for a peaceful rally in the capital Dakar on Tuesday. But one of the organizers, Elymane Haby Kane, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that he had received an official letter from local authorities in Dakar saying the march was banned as it could seriously disrupt traffic. "We will postpone the march because we want to remain within the law," said Malick Diop, coordinator of the Aar Sunu Election collective. The collective postponed the march until Saturday. Authorities on Tuesday also suspended mobile internet access for the second time this month, with the communications ministry citing "the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages that have already provoked violent demonstrations." Access to mobile data had already been restricted eight days earlier when parliament backed Sall's decision to postpone the election. It was later restored on Wednesday. The decision to cut access was a repeat of a move last June when Senegal's government restricted mobile internet amid high tensions. France on Tuesday called on Senegal to ensure a "proportionate" response to any protests and called on the authorities to hold the presidential poll "as soon as possible," according to a statement by the foreign ministry. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged later that day for elections to be held as soon as possible, as he voiced alarm about the country's delayed vote in a call to President Macky Sall. Blinken "spoke to the president of Senegal this morning to reiterate our concern about the situation there and to make quite clear that we want to see elections continue as they were scheduled we want to see them take place as soon as possible," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. THREE young men accused of sexual assault of a woman at a Christmas party have gone on trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. It is alleged that each of the three men exposed their penis, two of them asked the woman for oral sex and two of the defendants touched her in a sexual way without her consent. A jury of seven women and five men has been sworn in before Judge Dermot Sheehan. Prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, gave his opening statement to the jury this Tuesday afternoon. The three accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim, will be referred to as Mr A, Mr B and Mr C. All three are charged with one count of sexual assault at a Christmas party at a venue on the outskirts of Limerick city in late December, 2017. Mr A, aged 18 at the time, is represented by Erin OHagan BL, appearing with Amy Nix BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan. Mr B, aged 18 at the time, is being defended by Colman Cody SC, appearing with Kenneth Kerins BL, instructed by solicitor Julianne Kiely. Mr C, who was 17 at the time, is represented by Michael Lynn SC, appearing with Eimear Carey BL, instructed by solicitor Ian McNamara. The alleged victim was 17 on the date in question. Mr OSullivan, in his opening statement, said the party was breaking up after 11pm. The alleged victim found herself outside. She went to this area in the belief some of her friends were in the area. She states Mr A and Mr B exposed their respective penises to her and asked her for oral sex, commonly known as a blowjob. It is anticipated she will say she and Mr C began kissing and Mr A and Mr B left. Mr A and Mr B returned and it is anticipated she will say all three youths pulled out their penises and exposed them. Mr B and Mr C touched her in a sexual way without her consent. Mr A was present and had his penis exposed. It became apparent there were others in the vicinity. The three youths stopped what they were doing and ran away, said Mr OSullivan. The barrister said Mr A did not physically touch her but is just as guilty due to common design. He encouraged and supported them, said Mr OSullivan. READ MORE: Shooting the messenger: Friday in Limerick shows importance of accurate reporting The court heard that gardai were contacted on January 10, 2018 after the alleged victim spoke to a school chaplain. Mr OSullivan told the jury the three men are entitled to the presumption of innocence and it is the prosecutions role to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but not all doubt. Before Judge Sheehan broke for the day he told the members of the jury not to Google the trial or go on social media. If anybody asks what you are up to, tell them I am on a jury. You cant say anymore, said Judge Sheehan. The trial continues on Wednesday morning. A MAN accused of assault and knife offences in the city on Friday was remanded in continuing custody at Limerick District Court this Tuesday. Chinonso Igboanusi, aged 28, with no fixed address, appeared before a special court sitting in Nenagh on Saturday. He did not reply when gardai charged him with two counts of possession of a knife, and one count of assaulting a female, on February 9. Objecting to bail in Nenagh Court, gardai said it was their belief that if Mr Igboanusi was released on bail he would commit similar serious offences. Gardai claimed the accused acted extremely erratically and that his behaviour was extremely dangerous during the alleged incidents last Friday. Gardai said Mr Igboanusi was allegedly seen with a Swiss Army knife at Colbert Station around 11am last Friday. He is further alleged to have assaulted a female later that morning at 11.30am by kicking her in the back from behind as she walked on Athlunkard Street. He is further alleged to have been in possession of a Swiss Army knife when arrested at Lidl shopping centre, Westbury shortly after midday. Gardai told the court they had received a call around midday that a man was observed by a member of the public wearing a balaclava and armed with what looked like a Stanley knife in the Shannon Banks area. Gardai claimed a man fitting the accused's description ran from them as they arrived in the Westbury area and they arrested the accused a short time later in possession of a ski-mask and Swiss Army knife. The court heard the accused is an Irish citizen with addresses in Dublin and Cork which the court asked gardai to verify. Mr Igboanusi gave evidence that he had been accused of something I didnt do. Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said her main concern was the gardas fear that the accused had openly displayed a knife in public and they believed he would commit serious offences if released from custody. The accuseds barrister, Liam Carroll, said the allegations against his client had been the subject of some commentary on social media. Mr Carroll asked the judge that she make an order that safety precautions be undertaken by the governor of Limerick Prison regarding his clients safety. Judge MacGrath said this was not in her jurisdiction and asked gardai to follow it up with the prison authorities. The judge said she had neither granted nor refused bail. She remanded Mr Igboanusi to Limerick Prison for a further bail hearing on Tuesday. READ MORE: Man avoids jail term after breaching Safety Order when addressing post to couple's dog When the matter was called at Limerick District Court this Tuesday, Sarah Ryan, solicitor for Mr Igboanusi, reserved her position with regards to making a bail application. Ms Ryan said she needed time to talk to her client and asked for the matter to be put back until this Friday, February 16. Mr Igboanusi, who was wearing a navy jumper, navy tracksuit bottoms and black trainers, did not speak during the brief procedural matter. Judge Carol Anne Coolican, presiding, remanded Mr Igboanusi in custody to appear in Limerick District Court this Friday. The judge granted legal aid in the case. BISHOP of Limerick Brendan Leahy has said that almsgiving this Lent should not be just about financial generosity but giving more in areas like the time we spend with loved ones, welcoming refugees to our area and by simply being better at understanding. In his Lenten Letter, this year on the theme of giving, read out at Masses across the Diocese over the weekend, Bishop Leahy said that when we think of Lenten giving, we might assume its about contributing financially to the poor and good causes, which is noble. That is indeed good to do. But almsgiving is about much more than that. It has to do with our day-to-day attitude to life, he said. Lent offers us a time to improve a little more in becoming people who throughout the day live with an attitude of cheerful giving. Bishop Leahy invoked the message of patron saint of the Diocese of Limerick St. Ita, who said, when asked by St. Brendan, the three things God especially loved were True faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a religious spirit, and open-handedness generous giving inspired by love. While we might not have much finance to share today, there are many more ways of giving, he continued. For instance, we can lend a listening ear to someone who wants to chat. We can exercise patience in situations that are testing us. We can give generously by doing our work well or carrying out our duties well as a mother or father, son or daughter, an employer, an employee, he said. READ MORE: Daffodil Day returns next month to raise money for Irish Cancer Society We can share our values by giving witness to them. We can offer a smile to welcome others. We can offer words of consolation or good advice. We can give by trying to understand others better and to forgive others if they have offended us. Bishop Leahy also said that welcoming refugees, including people of different religious culture is also a form of Lenten giving to be encouraged. Hospitality is a praiseworthy expression of giving, especially when we welcome, protect, promote, and integrate those who are refugees and migrants, or those with religious convictions different to ours. Volunteering and giving support and encouragement to the social initiatives in our church or neighbourhood is a valuable way of giving. Ultimately, he said, prayer for others peoples intentions and peace in our world is a wonderful way of giving. So, yes, there are indeed countless ways of giving. Lets see how this we can try, with Gods grace, to give more of ourselves in our relationship with God and in our relationships with others. And lets give thanks for all who have helped us and for those who, in big and small ways, work on our behalf. Dubai/ 12 February 2024 : HJ Real Estates emerges as the fastest-growing independent real estate channel partner in Dubai, UAE. It partners with over 24+ globally renowned real estate developers, facilitating the sale of properties - studios, apartments, villas, and ready-to-move properties, including off-plan projects. The company excels in providing property management, mortgage advisory services, currency exchange, and others apart from property sales in Dubai. CEO of HJ Real Estates, Sathbir Siingh Sachdeva said, The real estate market of Dubai is soaring as property buyers from across the world identifies the potential of this incredible yielding city. To satiate the property needs of the investors, we have tied up with reputed developers like Emaar, Sobha, Damac, Danube, and others. At present, we have off plan projects ready for possession by 2025 to 2028 located at prime locations in Dubai. As the property demand and value is estimated to rise in 2024, we expect to draw in more overseas buyers and increase our market penetration." Trending Off-plan properties in Dubai: Bayz 101 by Danube Samana Barari Views 2 Red Square Tower by Tiger Damac Lagoon Views These top best properties in Dubai, listed above, have already attracted global investors, and the booking is ticking high every day as these are prime location properties. HJ Real Estates is working hand-in-hand with the developers and the prospective home buyers to align the right property to the right buyer. Over the coming months, HJ Real Estates shall announce the launch of its fourth office in Ghana, opening new investment opportunities in the West African real estate market. Website: www.hjrealestates.com. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. 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! Turnover is the synonym for sales revenue. The total amount of money a business may get from the sales of goods or services. Whenever it's said your turnover has increased, that implies your revenue or the money from sales has increased. Turnover is ascertained over a particular period, whether quarterly or financial. Turnover isn't your profit. Turnover meaning how rapidly a business receives cash from its accounts receivable or selling its inventory. Analysts and investors use turnover ratios to ascertain if a company is known for a good investment. Some basic types of turnover consist of: Working capital turnover Inventory turnover Accounts receivable turnover Portfolio turnover Importance of Turnover in Business As discussed above, turnover is a synonym for revenue, it is of utmost importance for survival and growth for any company or organisation to continue its operations. It is also important for the following reasons: Understand their financial status Turnover helps businesses estimate how much their earnings are in a certain period, likewise, it helps the organisations understand their performance. Identify improvement areas While calculating the companys turnover they can predict that they might be having a lower rate. Eases in identifying where they require improvement, whether it be areas of operations or sales. Forecast Businesses may better forecast all future sales to understand how they can allocate costs and the places where they may earn adequate amounts. How to Calculate Turnover for Businesses? Calculation of turnover is found to be super easy if you have an authentic record of the sales. If a business sells products, its turnover is regarded as the total sales value of the products that an organisation would have sold. If one provides any services, their turnover is the total they would have charged for all their services. Tips to Improve Your Business Turnover Improving turnover is very important for small businesses. An organisation must ensure that its business turnover improves with the passing days. Listed below are the tips which help in improving ones turnover. Incentives work Your sales partners are known to be your best supporters in increasing sales. Their better performance may ensure perfect turnover for the business. Go aggressive with sales An increment in sales would eventually make an increment in your profits as well. Aim to sell as much as you can afford, no matter if you're a service-based company or a product-based one. Run offers and promotions A complimentary service as an offer works as magic. Great way of attracting people to your services or product as well. EBITDA meaning: EBITDA measures the core profitability of a business. It attempts to showcase the cash profit thats generated by the companys operations. An alternate measure of profitability to net income. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. An extensively used measure of computing the performance of business in terms of finance. EBITDA provides a clear idea to investors and lenders about a company's profitability. How is EBITDA Calculated? Generally, EBITDA is calculated by subtracting the companys expenses, excluding interest, depreciation, taxes, and amortization from its net income. EBITDA FORMULAS: EBITDA= Net profit + Interest + Taxes + Depreciation + Amortisation EBITDA = Operating income + Depreciation + Amortisation These formulas are taken into account by the companies when they are to find out a specific aspect of their own business effectively. Why is EBITDA Important? EBITDA shows a clear idea of the companys value and demonstrates the companys worth to its potential investors and buyers. This helps in analysing and comparing profitability between industries and companies as well as eradicates the impacts of government, financing and other accounting decisions to provide a raw manifestation of earnings. It could be used up as an alternative for the cash flows. EBITDA is a metric that gives a complete overview of the business value. Its calculations are primarily used at times when an investor is planning to buy or invest in a business. EBITDA Uses EBITDA is the most preferred method to review the profit of a company. Here are common situations where it can be used: A business owner may make use of it for analysing the profitability of a brand. To ascertain the value of the business which might consist of operating costs. An investor may use it to compare the two brands while using different accounting structures. For making important business decisions it's used up by executives as well. An investor might calculate the EBITDA of an unprofitable business to ascertain their ability to turn a profit or to pay back a particular loan. Conclusion Mastering metrics such as turnover and EBITDA is essential for assessing the financial health of a business. Understanding the nuances of turnover aids in strengthening revenue streams and identifying areas for growth, while EBITDA provides a robust measure of core profitability. By implementing strategies to improve turnover and leveraging EBITDA effectively, businesses can enhance their performance and attract investors seeking reliable indicators of success. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. 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 today's fast-paced global economy, businesses rely on dependable and efficient payment solutions to thrive. Paybybd serves as the ultimate international payment aggregator, catering to the unique needs of businesses in India, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Tier 3 countries worldwide. With their state-of-the-art technology and commitment to simplifying payments, they offer an unparalleled range of services to empower your business's global reach. At Paybybd, they understand the importance of seamless payment methods. That's why they provide a specialized and fully automated API designed to simplify peer-to-peer payments effortlessly. This API enables businesses to quickly adopt the most common regional payment methods. With their innovative technologies and dedication to making payments simple, they offer exceptional services to facilitate your business's growth on a global scale. Paybybd recognizes the diversity of global markets and tailors payment options accordingly. They offer a wide variety of payment methods personalized to meet the specific preferences of each target audience. Understanding that what works in one market may not work in another, they ensure flexibility and adaptability in their payment solutions to cater to diverse market needs effectively. Some of the most popular payment methods available through Paybybd: India: PhonePe: A widely trusted mobile payment platform. Paytm: India's leading digital wallet and e-commerce platform. UPI QR: A quick and secure way to transfer funds through the Unified Payments Interface. Rupay: India's domestic card payment network. Bangladesh: Bkash: The most popular mobile financial service in Bangladesh. Nagad: Offering digital financial services to the unbanked population. Rocket: A mobile banking solution that's easy to use. Upay: Simplifying financial transactions in Bangladesh. Uzbekistan: Uzcard: The national payment system of Uzbekistan. Humo: A trusted and reliable payment solution. Pakistan: EasyPaisa: Making mobile payments accessible and convenient. JazzCash: A secure and widely accepted mobile wallet solution. The extensive network of Paybybd includes a wide range of payment systems tailored to the unique needs of each market they serve. Users can explore the full list of available payment systems and their geographical coverage with the help of their dedicated personal managers or by visiting their official website at Paybybd.com. Paybybd takes pride in offering competitive advantages that set us apart from the rest. Fully Automated Process streamlines the payment process, reducing manual intervention and enhancing efficiency for your business. They ensure no unexpected deductions from your payments. Say goodbye to the headache of chargebacks as Paybybd provides a secure payment environment that minimizes the risk of chargebacks. In addition, they also prioritize privacy and security by their privacy policies. Getting started with Paybybd is hassle-free hence users won't be burdened with extensive documentation requirements, making the onboarding process smooth and quick. Their commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction makes us the ideal partner for businesses aiming to thrive in an increasingly globalized world. Paybybd's international payment solutions will take your business to new heights! For more information, visit their official website paybybd.com. Paybybd is not just a payment aggregator; they are your trusted partner in global business success. About Paybybd Paybybd is a reliable international payment aggregator catering to businesses in Tier 3 countries, as well as India, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. They provide secure and efficient payment solutions that are very crucial for business growth in todays rapidly changing global economy. With their state-of-the-art technology and commitment to simplifying payments, they offer unparalleled services that empower businesses to succeed on a global scale. Paybybd's automated API allows businesses to seamlessly incorporate various regional payment methods tailored to meet the specific needs of each market they serve. Contact: Website: https://paybybd.com/ Telegram:@paybybd Email: mercent@paybybd.com Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. This information does not constitute a financial advice. 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! Wherever you go for furniture shopping, there is a sea of options for you to choose from. Some add to your taste and some dont. But in this pickle of a situation, Flybed is the one-stop solution for you to cater to all your needs and desires when it comes to comfortable beds, offering you a unique blend of style, functionality, and ingenuity with their engineered wall-mounted foldable beds and Murphy Beds. It is the perfect testament to quality mixed with innovation and technology threaded with comfort. Why choose Flybed? Lets explore the world of style and comfort with its unparalleled product line. When it comes to wall-mounted beds, quality reigns supreme. While others may skimp on fittings to cut costs, Flybed refuses to compromise on excellence. They believe in crafting furniture fit for royalty, using only the finest materials and the latest European technology, the rarest in the globe, to ensure durability, safety, and ease of use. Gone are the days of struggling to lift heavy, tiresome wall beds. With Flybed's in-house weight calculation analysis, their wall beds glide effortlessly with just a gentle touch, making bedtime a soothing breeze after a long, tiring day. Flybed distinguishes itself with a focus on quality, innovation, customization, and affordability. As a niche brand in the Murphy Bed segment, their relentless commitment to continuous innovation sets us apart from competitors. Their products excel in functionalities, technologies, in-house manufacturing, design appeal, ease of operation, and safety features, providing customers with unparalleled value and convenience. For Flybed, innovation is a way of life. Their team is always on their toes, digging up solutions for sustainable living in this fast-paced world. For example, their best-selling Premium Wall Bed with Auto Sync Sofa. This marvel seamlessly combines the functionality of a comfortable bed with the versatility of a sofa, all while saving precious floor space. It's innovation at its finest. But they don't stop there. Flybed continues to innovate with new offerings like: Swivelo Wall Bed with Sliding Dining Tablea space-saving solution that combines a stylish revolving bed with a functional dining table. With a simple rotation, the wall bed smoothly emerges, instantly transforming your living area into a cozy bedroom. The integrated Sliding Dining Table provides a convenient surface for dining, work, or relaxation, effortlessly folding away when not in use. Experience the versatility and elegance of the Swivelo Wall Bed with Sliding Dining Table and optimize your living space with ease. Vertical Bunk Bed that combine comfort with practicality. This bunk bed features two single vertical wall beds cleverly stacked behind each other, maximizing available space without sacrificing comfort. Perfect for small apartments or guest rooms, it effortlessly transforms any room into a haven for relaxation. With its sturdy construction and sleek design, the Vertical Bunk Bed not only saves space but also adds a touch of style to any interior. Some other innovative and stylish products of Flybed are Cabineto Beds, University Beds, and upcoming innovations such as Ceiling Mounted Beds, redefining industry standards and addressing diverse customer needs. While there exist only a handful of companies globally to serve wall beds, Flybed takes pride in being the only one to stand as one of its kind in India. Never forgetting our roots and bringing change at home first, Flybed's commitment to serving every corner of this country with its wall-mounted beds is something to admire. From the streets of Mumbai to the landscapes of Kerala, Flybed is making its mark with its unique approach to space-saving furniture. With each product you invest in with Flybed, you are not only choosing to live a smart, sustainable, and stylish life but you are also investing in a piece of Indian craftsmanship. So why settle for ordinary when you can soar with Flybed? Lets redefine the way you think about smart living and comfort. Whether you're seeking to maximize space in a cozy apartment or add a touch of elegance to your home, Flybed has the perfect solution for you. So why wait? Join the Flybed revolution today and experience for yourself! After all, life's too short for boring furniture. Visit their Website: https://www.flybedhome.com/ Connect via whatsapp: https://wa.link/y0ulsj Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. 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 the events leading to the bull run, some tokens are exhibiting bearish tendencies while some are mounting bullish challenges. The market stats show that WEMIX (WEMIX) is battling bear pressure while Gala (GALA) is gaining attention after falling to the bear market earlier in the year. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated news is here. Everlodge (ELDG) has finally been listed on the Uniswap exchange. This top DeFi crypto is set to redefine the real estate world while making luxury affordable to everyday investors. Everlodge (ELDG) With WEMIX and Gala both having an element of bearish pressure, investors of the Everlodge project are excited as the ELDG token hits Uniswap. Everlodge completed its presale on January 29 with a massive acceptance from the crypto community. The platform's unique solution to the monopoly of the rich in the real estate world has resonated with crypto investors. By minting physical real estate assets into digitized NFTs and allowing investors to purchase each fractional NFT with as little as $100, Everlodge will create a pathway to wealth for many investors. Investors can also explore different Everlodge ecosystems such as a marketplace to buy and sell assets, a launchpad enabling the development of new projects, a reward club for only steadfast members, and a lending protocol to earn collateral loans. With the Everlodge platform set to list the tokens in more Tier 1 crypto exchanges, now is the best time to join the project at a very good price point. Users can buy the ERC20 token, ELDG, for just $0.06 at Uniswap. Early investors have reported over 190% ROI from their investment. The token will be airdropped on Feb 16 to the community members for their unwavering support thus far. In terms of security, the smart contract has been audited by InterFi Network with the KYC verified by the BlockAudit team. WEMIX (WEMIX) Having barely escaped the bear pressure in Q4 of 2023, the WEMIX price chart shows the dominance of the bears in the market since the turn of the year. The past month has seen WEMIX lose 21% of its price value with another 7% loss noticed in the weekly charts. Despite these bearish struggles, enthusiasts are upbeat about the chances of the token staging a resurgence soon. WEMIX continues to get global adoption such as its recent listing on Spain's largest virtual asset exchange - Bit2Me. Gala (GALA) The Gala (GALA) tokens bullish trajectory witnessed in the last days of 2023 to early January is under threat as the coin has been on a downtrend since the beginning of the year with the price dipping by 5.52% in the past 30 days. However, a strong bullish push was noticed in the Gala weekly charts, after its price value was recorded at 9.70% in the past week. Other Gala key metrics such as trading volume and market cap have also been going strong in the past week, signifying that the bulls are still dominant. For more information about Everlodge (ELDG) please visit their website. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein. The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice. 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! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Azerbaijan and Armenia should expedite the peace agreement process, said Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Trend reports. Kanaani stressed that that the two countries can settle their disputes through diplomatic and peaceful means. He also expressed Irans concern over the rising tensions and clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia and asked them to show restraint. Meanwhile, on February 12, at 20:50 and at 23:40, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of Chinarli settlement of the Tovuzgala region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Kokhanabi settlement of the Tovuz region. On February 13, the units of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan (SBS) carried out the 'Revenge' operation in response to yesterday's provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur Autry Stephens, one of the last Texas wildcatters, is about to become one of the richest men in the world. He isnt sure how he feels about it. On Monday, he announced he would sell Endeavor Energy Resources, the company that sprang from a well Stephens drilled 45 years ago, to Diamondback Energy in a $26 billion stock-and-cash deal. Most of the proceeds will go to him and his family, yet Stephens was somber. There is certainly some sadness on my part," Stephens said in an interview Sunday, hours before the sale was announced. The oilman for years held out on selling Endeavor, long viewed as one of the gems of the prolific Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, turning down oil behemoths including Exxon Mobil. Stephens loved running the tightly knit company, where many employees spent their whole careers. Ill miss the people there," he said of Endeavor. It was kind of a little family." In the end, what persuaded the 85-year-old billionaire to cash out was a diagnosis for prostate cancer. The treatment has left Stephens physically diminished and ready to sell. That was a big factor in this decision," he said. The tie-up concludes a 62-year career that spanned the rise of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the feared decline of U.S. crude production, and its unexpected resurgence with the shale boom. Stephens is joining the ranks of other private oil companies that are cashing in on shale riches, including rival CrownRock, which is led by Timothy Dunn and agreed to a sale to Occidental Petroleum for nearly $11 billion in December. The frenzy of deals has reshaped the oil patch, consolidating the scrappy drillers who set off the shale boom among larger producers seeking scale and premium acreage. Endeavor is one of the last giant, privately held drillers. It has the largest remaining inventory of top-tier oil acreage of any private Permian company, according to energy-analytics firm Flow Partners, sitting on about 350,000 net acres and producing about 200,000 barrels of oil a day. The merger with Diamondback would create a juggernaut that will compete with the likes of ConocoPhillips and Exxon in the Permian. Stephens and his family own almost all of Endeavor, and they are expected to receive virtually all of the fruits of the sale, which includes $8 billion in cash, according to people familiar with the matter. Before the announcement, Stephens had a fortune pegged at nearly $15 billion. The taciturn Stephens is little-known outside of the oil patch. While his fortune dwarfs that accumulated by oil titans such as Dunn and T. Boone Pickens, Midland executives like to swap stories about Stephenss parsimony. The octogenarian favors Southwest Airlines flights, still drives an old Toyota Land Cruiser, and says he comes into his downtown office every day. For years he didnt take any distribution and only recently started taking cash out from the company, according to people familiar with the matter. Im always looking for another deal," Stephens said. Stephens said he was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago. While his daughter Lyndal Greth sits on Endeavors board, Stephens said he thought putting her in charge of the company would be too much of a burden as she is raising children. He also has a son, who Stephens said wasnt interested in the family business. Greth said that her priority is focusing on her young children, and that it had been an honor to work with her father. His ambition, value system, and integrity is unmatched," she said. Few Permian companies are as coveted as Endeavor. Six months ago, Exxon approached Endeavor to discuss a potential sale, Stephens said, but the conversations didnt pan out. Endeavor started a sales process in December, Stephens said. ConocoPhillips was a bidder, but Endeavor had more cultural affinities with Diamondback, he said. Diamondbacks office is down the street from Endeavors, and both companies operations are centered on the Midland Basin. Most of my employees will have a job, good job with Diamondback, so Id say that would be the No. 1 factor," he said. He said building a good company was one of his proudest achievements. Creating jobs, and trying my darnedest to make them permanent." Stephens grew up in a farming community in De Leon, a small city in central Texas. His father only reached a fourth-grade education and established a dealership selling Massey Ferguson tractor equipment. Stephens graduated from the University of Texas at Austin as a petroleum engineer and thought he would travel to exotic locales, such as the oil-rich Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. I just couldnt see myself sitting behind a desk," he said. Instead he joined Humble Oila forebear of Exxon. He took a two-year break to join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serving as a lieutenant and platoon leader responsible for fuel installations. He then worked as a reservoir engineer for a Midland bank. He drilled his first well in 1979 at 41 in Midland County, throwing his life savings into the venture, a move that he said wasnt very smart." In 1996, Stephens founded the Big Dog Drilling company. Despite its aspirational name, the company started with just one small rig. He started Endeavor in 2000 and placed his personally owned assets in the new company. Five years later, he acquired the U.S. assets of French company Perenco, allowing Endeavor to grow its oil and gas production by 25%. Stephens precariously rode the booms and busts of the business, and his company came close to the edge in both 2008 and 2014 when crude prices tumbled. Starting in 2016, Endeavor refocused on drilling horizontal wells, a technique that combined with fracking unleashed gushers of oil from the once sleepy Permian basin. In Midland, Stephenss hard-work ethic has become local lore. But for hiatuses that he spends fishing in Alaska or on the Gulf Coast, the billionaire is still hard at work. Around the age of 74, when most oilmen retire, he was still picking how Endeavors wells should be perforated, said Bryan Sheffield, who founded and sold driller Parsley Energy. When Chuck Meloy, Endeavors chief executive from 2016 to 2020, walked down the hall into the founders office, he would have to clear a chair full of land maps and geological maps before he could take a seat. I felt like it was his way of telling me where his head was without even saying a word," Meloy said. The merger with Endeavor is a coup for Diamondback, a driller with a market capitalization of about $27 billion before the deal was announced. Several years ago, Endeavor received a good offer to be acquired by Shell, Stephens said. Endeavor also had on-and-off conversations about a sale with Pioneer Natural Resources. He didnt offer specifics as to why the engagements with Exxon, Shell or Pioneer didnt lead to a sale. Exxon announced last year it would acquire Pioneer. Oil people are always over-optimistic, so I think we might have sold out early," he said of the merger with Diamondback. But well still have an interest inyou know, the oil business." The windfall from Endeavors sale is poised to make Stephens and his family among the 100 richest people in the world. When asked how he planned to use the proceeds, the billionaire was surprised by the question. I just havent thought about it," he said. Collin Eaton contributed to this article. Write to Benoit Morenne at benoit.morenne@wsj.com NEW DELHI : The Adani-Hindenburg saga returned to the Supreme Court on Tuesday with a petitioner seeking a review of the apex courts decision to dismiss a plea for a separate investigation into allegations against the Adani group. According to the petition filed by lawyer Anamika Jaiswal, which Mint has seen, there are apparent errors in the courts 3 January judgment. Besides, it said, newly acquired evidence prompted the call for a review. The petition alleges that new documents, including email communications, demonstrate flagrant violations of Rule 19A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 by Adani Group companies. The petitioner has contested the Supreme Courts observation that there was no apparent regulatory failure attributable to Sebi", arguing that regulatory failures were evident. The petition says the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias diluted regulations for foreign portfolio investors (FPI) through amendments in 2018 and 2019, particularly by replacing the term ultimate beneficial owner with beneficial owner, and removing the term opaque structure. Further, the petition states that market regulator failed to identify all economic interest shareholders" and ultimate beneficial owners" of suspected overseas entities or Adani Group companies. The petition also accuses Sebi of not taking action under relevant laws and suggests a contradiction between the regulators policy stance and its enforcement actions. The petition also alleges that the Supreme Court overlooked a letter from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence indicating siphoning of money through over and under-invoicing from tax havens, which was purportedly invested by Adani Group in group stocks in India. The Supreme Court, in its order on 3 January, placed its trust in the market regulator and dismissed a bunch of petitions demanding a separate investigation into Hindenburg Researchs allegations against the Adani Group. Additionally, the court dismissed the reliability of various third-party reports and news articles, including one from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, as credible sources of proof. Investigative reports could be inputs for Sebi but cannot be considered credible evidence or proof of regulatory failure, it had said. The Hindenburg report released on 24 January, 2023 had alleged various malpractices at Adani Group companies, hammering the conglomerates shares and forcing the groups flagship entity to cancel a $2.4-billion share sale. The Adani Group denied the allegations in a 413-page response. Subsequently, public interest litigations were filed in the Supreme Court by advocates Vishal Tiwari, M.L. Sharma, Congress leader Jaya Thakur, and activist Anamika Jaiswal, prompting the Supreme Court to form a committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice A.M. Sapre, to investigate the matter. The committee included former State Bank of India chairman O.P. Bhatt, retired Justice J.P. Devadhar, K.V. Kamath, Nandan Nilekani, and Somasekhar Sundaresan. The committees findings had raised concerns about the removal of restrictions on FPIs with an opaque structure" by Sebi in 2018 and 2019. 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! Nuvama Wealth Management (formerly Edelweiss Securities) on Tuesday said its net profit almost doubled to 178 crore in the December quarter on the back of all-round growth in fee-based businesses. The wealth management firm had posted a net profit of 90 crore in the year-ago period. The firm's revenue rose 38 per cent in the period under review to 558 crore, while it rose 29 per cent to 1,467 crore for the first nine months of the fiscal. The company's expenses rose 21 per cent to 328 crore from 270 crore a year ago, he said. Meanwhile, Ashish Kehair, Nuvama Group Managing Director & Chief Executive, told PTI that the company has received Sebi nod for its Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) to be set up as an equal joint venture with Cushman and Wakefield. "We got the Sebi approval 3-4 days ago for the 3,000 crore realty fund that we had announced with Cushman and Wakefield last month as an equal joint venture. With the regulatory approvals in, we will soon start road shows to mop up investors," he said. The firm's wealth management revenue rose 18 per cent to 305 crore, and the pre-tax profit of 111 crore in the third quarter, registering a growth of 19 per cent. He said the group net added 40,000 customers in the wealth arm, taking the overall client base to 11.35 lakh, of which 2 lakh clients are RM managed. Its Assets Under Management (AUM) stood at 73,855 crore as of December 2023, up 8,000 crore. On the other hand, Nuvama Private added 160 family offices and now has an AUM of 1.68 lakh crore from 1.51 lakh crore in December 2022, Kehair said. Its overall AUM rose to 2.4 lakh crore from 1.8 lakh crore a year ago, making Nuvama the number 2 player after 360 One, which was IIFL Wealth earlier. Kehair said his businesses benefited from execution of strategic priorities and its wealth management continues to attract talent with the number of relationship managers touching 1,100. He also said in the upcoming quarters, they plan to launch an offshore wealth platform starting with Dubai and Singapore. Kehair added that he expects the growth momentum to continue in 2024, as the country reaps the benefits of the reforms and an expanding digital economy. 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! Electric carmaker Tesla Inc. is scouting for local partners to make its rooftop solar panels in India, a person aware of the matter said. The selected partner will help with the manufacturing and installation, while Tesla will provide technology and sales expertise. The Elon Musk-led company has already conveyed its plans to the government and requested subsidies and other grants for the venture, the person cited above said on condition of anonymity. Apart from its mainstay business of electric cars, Tesla also makes several home power products covering solar power generation and storage. These include Solar Roof, which replaces conventional thatched roofs with photovoltaic tiles; Powerwall, a battery power storage unit; and solar panels. Teslas India plan comes at a time its US solar business has slowed, with December quarter deployments falling 59% to 41MW from 100MW a year earlier, the worst since 2020. Meanwhile, India provides incentives to encourage the rooftop solar sector. Some domestic companies in the rooftop solar segment include Tata Power Solar, Adani Solar, Servotech Power Systems and Waaree Energies. Emails sent to a Teslas press team seeking comments remained unanswered. Tesla entered the solar rooftop business in 2016 through the $2.6 billion acquisition of SolarCity, founded by Musks cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive. At the time, it was the US market leader with just over 800MW installed. Analysts tracking the sector said Indias solar rooftop capacity has grown at a compounded annual rate of 47% over the last five years, presenting a sizable opportunity. Indias total installed rooftop solar capacity was 11.1GW as of December, said Girishkumar Kadam, senior vice-president and group head of corporate ratings at Icra Ltd. While the bulk of this capacity is with commercial and industrial users, residential capacity has also grown significantly, reaching 2.7GW. However, the installed rooftop capacity fell significantly short of the 40GW target that the Union government had set by the year 2022," Kadam said. The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana, announced in January, aims to bring rooftop solar projects to 10 million houses, each of which generate up to 300 units of electricity per month and achieve savings in electricity cost, Kadam added. The scheme, which allows the use of only locally made solar modules, could create 20-25GW of demand opportunity for domestic solar module makers. Teslas solar panel plans come at a time when the company is also engaging with the Indian government for bringing its electric cars to the country. The company has sought several concessions including lower import duty rates for its vehicles. The company is reportedly willing to invest up to $2 billion for setting up a factory in India if the government gives it a concessional duty rate of 15% on imported cars for the first two years of its operations, compared to 70-100% at present. Teslas India plans gathered steam again after Musk, the companys mercurial chief executive officer (CEO), met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters US visit in June. Subsequently, Indias minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal visited Teslas factory in Fremont, California, in November. Indian officials and Tesla executives have engaged multiple times since to thrash out the finer details of the companys entry into India. The European Union (EU) has put forward new trade restrictions targeting approximately two dozen companies, including one from India and three from China, accused of backing Russia's war in Ukraine, as per a Bloomberg report. The listed companies, mainly involved in technology and electronics, are accused of contributing to Russia's military and technological capabilities. The document highlights their alleged role in advancing Russia's defence and security sector. Also Read | New York City subway shooting: One dead, five injured amid gunfire in Bronx. What we know so far If approved, this move would mark the first instance of the EU imposing sanctions on mainland Chinese companies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The proposed draft list, seen by Bloomberg, includes businesses in Hong Kong, Serbia, and Turkey, it added. Crackdown on Third-Country Trading The proposed restrictions aim to prevent European firms from engaging in trade with the listed companies, aligning with the EU's strategy to curb Russia's access to sanctioned goods through third-country entities. Earlier attempts to list Chinese firms were dropped due to resistance from certain member states and assurances from Beijing. Also Read | SoftBank shares climb to highest level since May 2021, thanks to Arm Holdings explosive AI rally This issue holds significant importance for the EU, particularly in its relationship with China, a key trade partner. Germany, notably reliant on China as the largest market for carmakers such as Volkswagen AG, is closely watching developments, the report added. Notably, EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all member states and may undergo changes before adoption. The EU Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the proposal, while no immediate response was received from China's embassy in Brussels, the report said. Also Read | Twin boost for economy as factory output powers up, retail inflation cools Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Beijing in April, cautioned Chinese President Xi Jinping against involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. She emphasised the importance of not providing military equipment to Russia, stating that it would violate international law and strain the EU-China relationship. Inclusion of Various Countries in Proposed List The proposed list includes three Chinese firms, and one each from India, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Turkey, and Hong Kong. The document clarifies that inclusion doesn't attribute responsibility for actions to the respective jurisdictions. The EU has previously listed over 620 companies, primarily from Russia. Also Read | No review of action against Paytm Payments Bank: RBI gov Shaktikanta Das These companies are accused of importing prohibited technologies and electronics and subsequently reexporting them to Russia. In addition to trade restrictions, the EU has suggested sanctions on over 110 individuals and entities as part of a broader package marking two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 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 European Union (EU) has proposed sanctions on around two dozen companies, including one from India and three from China, for allegedly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. As part of the sanctions, trade restrictions are proposed to be imposed on the listed companies. Besides this, the EU has recommended sanctions on over 110 individuals and entities, forming part of a broader package commemorating two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Also Read | European Union looking to sanction Indian and Chinese firms over Russia dealings, says report Why Are the Companies On the Sanctions List? The listed companies are primarily engaged in technology and electronics, as per the report. They have been accused of contributing to Russia's military and technological capabilities and the draft document highlights their purported role in advancing Russia's defence and security sector. The draft document, as seen by Bloomberg, accuses these companies of importing prohibited technologies and electronics and subsequently reexporting them to Russia. Also Read | Bitcoin surges to $50,000 for the first time since 2021 on ETF demand Where Are These Companies Situated? The proposed list includes three Chinese firms, and one each from India, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Turkey, and Hong Kong, among others. The document clarifies that inclusion doesn't attribute responsibility for actions to the respective jurisdictions. Over 620 companies, mainly from Russia, have been previously listed by the EU. If approved, this move would mark the EU's first instance of imposing sanctions on mainland Chinese companies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The proposed restrictions aim to prevent European firms from engaging in trade with the listed companies, aligning with the EU's strategy to curb Russia's access to sanctioned goods through third-country entities. Also Read | MSCI Rejig: PNB, BHEL, NMDC, among five additions to India Standard Index; 27 stocks added to Small Cap index Barrier Towards Action Against Chinese Firms The issue is of significant importance for the EU, especially in its relationship with China, a key trade partner. Notably, earlier attempts to list Chinese firms faced resistance from certain member states and assurances from Beijing. Germany, for example, is reliant on China as the largest market for carmakers such as Volkswagen AG, and closely monitors developments. Further, EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all member states and may undergo changes before adoption. The EU Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the proposal, and no immediate response was received from China's embassy in Brussels, according to the report. (With inputs from Bloomberg) 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! Indias premier economic intelligence agency, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), has been roped in to check for suspected breaches at Paytm Payments Bank on a reference from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), two officials aware of the development said. The ED, which investigates money laundering and foreign exchange-related breaches, has started a preliminary inquiry into the affairs of the company. It was yet to register an enforcement case information report as of Monday, one of the two officials cited above said. For now, the ED and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are the only agencies looking into the issue. If any other agencys assistance is required, RBI can ask for it, but the government will not interfere, the person said. The ED enquiry is to find the facts about the concerns raised by the RBI and to address any deficiency. There is no witch hunt," the person added. The second official quoted above said that compliance breaches are matters that sectoral regulators deal with directly, not the government. This is a regulators job and they are up to it. RBI has taken action in customer interest. ED has also sought documents on Paytm from RBI, and is studying it for any violations. There is a mechanism of sharing of information among regulators, and information (on Paytm Payments Bank) has already been shared and different agencies are examining them," said the person. Queries emailed on Tuesday to the spokespersons of the finance and corporate affairs ministries and RBI were unanswered till press time. A spokesperson for Paytm replied to a query from Mint saying the company will comply with requests for information from regulatory authorities on matters pertaining to One97 Communications Ltd and its associate, Paytm Payments Bank. We may be asked to furnish information and explanations by different regulatory and law enforcement authorities, including ED, and we have always complied with the requirements dutifully by furnishing the requisite information and explanation," the spokesperson said. On 31 January, RBI had restricted Paytm Payments Bank from making credit transactions or taking further deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallet and FASTags after 29 February. The central bank had pointed out that a comprehensive system audit report and subsequent compliance validation report of external auditors had revealed alleged persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank, warranting further supervisory action". The restrictions on deposits on customer accounts do not apply to interest, cashbacks or refunds, which may be credited anytime. RBI has already ruled out a review of its decision in the case of Paytm Payments Bank. The second person cited above said further regulatory options will be explored by RBI after 29 February. Paytm Payments Bank has more than 300 million wallet users and over 30 million accounts. Experts said compliance and corporate governance surrounding startups are emerging as a major issue for the government to deal with as the country is now home to the worlds third largest startup ecosystem. Many businesses are good in coming out with ideas and in promoting creativity and innovation, but unless they educate themselves about governance principles, roles and responsibilities of directors and legal requirements, they will end up in trouble," said Manoj Raut, chief executive officer and secretary general of the Institute of Directors, the apex association for directors in India. A person can be a good driver, but if the rules of the highway are not followed, there will be consequences. India is a growing economy and equity investments are growing, but its sustainability will depend on corporate governance." One 97 Communications, a minority shareholder in Paytm Payments Bank, had on 9 February announced the setting up a three-member group advisory panel led by former Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman M. Damodaran and comprising M.M. Chitale, former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and R. Ramachandran, former chairman and managing director of Andhra Bank. The government has become increasingly suspicious of major mergers over the past decade, under both political parties. The Justice Department under Donald Trump sued to prevent AT&T from buying Time Warner. The Federal Trade Commission under President Biden is continuing a case the Trump administration initiated against Meta, parent of Facebook, to force the firm to cough up Instagram and WhatsApp, which it swallowed during the Obama years. In January JetBlue Airways plans to merge with Spirit Airlines and Amazons plans to acquire iRobot were deterred under regulatory pressure. In April 2020, however, T-Mobile and Sprint managed to sneak past regulators, merging to reduce the number of major U.S. mobile networks from four to three. T-Mobile built its brand by playing the maverick. It jabbed at Verizon and AT&Teach about twice its sizewith price discounts and no-contract offers. T-Mobiles model was so unconventional that it even branded itself the un-carrier." The company rose from the nations fourth-most-popular cellular network in 2013 to third place in 2016. T-Mobiles then-CEO, John Legere, mocked Verizon and AT&T as Dumb and Dumber." Because of this growth, T-Mobile was rapidly running out of capacity, and regulators were slow to allocate more bandwidth. Fortunately for T-Mobile, the laggard Sprint was rapidly shedding market share, while controlling a large underemployed cache of radio spectrum. In April 2018, Sprint agreed to sell its subscriber network of nearly 55 million to T-Mobile for $26.5 billion. T-Mobile said its acquisition would bolster its network and speed its upgrade to 5G. The Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission approved the merger with modest conditions, and a federal judge approved the deal on Feb. 11, 2020, prompting Sprint stock to soar more than 70%. Two months later, Sprint folded into T-Mobile. T-Mobiles takeover of Sprint was controversial among analysts. If this merger is not anticompetitive," Eleanor Fox, a trade regulation and antitrust law professor at New York University, told reporters in 2020, it is hard to know what is." Yale economist and antitrust scholar Fiona Scott Morton delivered her verdict on the deal in a co-authored 2021 article: The era of aggressive price competition in wireless is over." The authors predicted that the wireless industry, whittled down to a big three, would nestle into a cozy triopoly." The prediction proved wrong. Average monthly mobile subscription fees dropped sharply. In the three years before the merger, according to government price data, mobile charges declined in real terms by about 8%. In the three years following the merger, the real price decline has been nearly 12%. These trends were even more impressive given dramatically improving network performance. Before the merger, the top four U.S. carriers delivered data download speeds averaging about 26 megabits per second, nearly all via 3G or 4G. By early 2023, with 5G deployments spreading, Verizon and AT&T data flowed 24% to 39% faster, while T-Mobile was more than three times as fast as before. T-Mobiles high-speed coverage had also expanded; half of its connections were via 5G by January 2023, against just 10% to 20% for its rivals. T-Mobiles aggressive deployment of the Sprint spectrum rights it had purchased paid dividends in enhanced services for customers. It was also a boon for shareholders. As T-Mobile pulled market share from its rivals, its stock soared. Between 2018 and 2023, T-Mobile shares outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 50%. Further evidence that the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint was pro-competitive was seen with Verizon and AT&T share prices. From 2018 to 2023, Verizon and AT&T stock prices declined sharply, losing more than a third of their real value. The postmerger marketplace was a great victory for T-Mobile but a blow for its rivals. The cozy-cartel thesis collapsed. The merger succeeded, but not because the Justice Department set the right parameters. Its conditions forced T-Mobile and Sprint to spin off certain assets to Dish Network, the satellite-television operator, enabling a new fourth network" to replace Sprint. Yet Dish simply continued Sprints nosedive, losing subscribers with an uncompelling product. The firm currently hovers near bankruptcy, according to analysts. The governments policy failure makes the mergers victory even more fascinating. The actual results of this market experiment have brought new vitality to the race to 5G. Those in both parties who are quick to try to squash potentially efficient mergers might want to pause and consider the T-Mobile-Sprint success story. Mr. Hazlett is a professor of economics at Clemson University. When the World Trade Organization meets this month in Abu Dhabi, will anyone from the Biden Administration stand up for U.S. economic interests? Its a fair question now that Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and leftwing groups are hijacking U.S. trade policy. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai this month explained the Administrations new anti-trade agenda at a conference on antitrust regulation in Brussels. She said previous Administrations were wrong to promote trade policies that would aid U.S. businesses and consumers by making markets more efficient. If were only pursuing policies to benefit people as consumers, and those policies are actually impoverishing those people as workers, the entire system doesnt work," she lamented. No longer does Washington aim to lower trade barriers and expand American access to foreign markets. It wants trade share and production regulated by governments. *** Ms. Tai last autumn withdrew support for digital trade principles being negotiated at the WTO that would protect cross-border data flows and source code and bar discrimination against U.S. companies. Ms. Tai also shelved digital trade protections in negotiations over the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework trade deal. Her stated reason? To provide enough policy space" for debates over tech regulation to unfold in the U.S. That echoed a memo Lori Wallach, director of Rethink Trade, sent to Ms. Tai on Jan. 19, 2023. Rethink Trade is an arm of the leftwing American Economic Liberties Project, which has led the revival of the anti-consumer antitrust movement. Officials negotiating the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and other pacts must not set binding proscriptive rules that could conflict with domestic policies now being created and thus must seek terms that maximize domestic policy space," Ms. Wallach wrote. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce obtained correspondence between USTR and outside groups via a Freedom of Information Act request. The emails show that USTR officials have regularly consulted with Rethink Trade, the Open Markets Institute, and Public Citizen about the Biden digital trade agenda. Ms. Wallach criticized the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement for barring foreign governments from requiring that data be stored on local servers. She also took issue with prohibiting governments from mandating disclosure of source code and algorithms. Authoritarian regimes including China have sought to do both. In her view, such digital trade provisions conflict with President Bidens antitrust agenda and efforts to regulate artificial intelligence. Forbidding restrictions on cross-border data flows, she wrote, would also enable digital offshoring" of call center and back-office work. Not really. The purpose is to protect intellectual property and make digital data flows more efficient. This benefits small businesses in industries such as auto-making, aviation, accounting, medical diagnostics, healthcare and agriculture. More than half of U.S. service exports in 2022 involved digital trade. Businesses that use the cloud to store and transmit data dont want to rent space on servers in each country where they have customers. They also dont want to hand over their code to foreign governments, which could hand it to a domestic competitor. Ms. Tais senior adviser Elizabeth Baltzan explained USTRs trade illogic last winter in a speech at the Wilson Center: The focus on efficiencywhich is really a euphemism for the lowest possible costis precisely what facilitates the kind of arbitrage that puts downward pressure on labor and environmental regulation and enforcement." Just what the world needs: more inefficiency. Ms. Baltzan forwarded her remarks to an individual at the Open Markets Institute whose name was redacted. Ms. Baltzan once worked at the Open Markets Institute, which Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan helped launch. And who do you suppose was also lobbying USTR against digital trade protection? The House Oversight Committee last autumn obtained a partly redacted March 22, 2023, letter from Ms. Khan and Justice Department antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter. While we appreciate your partnership in advancing the Administrations agenda with respect to competition policy, we believe we can and should do more to ensure our agencies execute on that vision," they wrote. We plan to have senior staff in both antitrust agencies participate in all future IPEF negotiating sessions." Ms. Khan and her sidekicks torpedoed freer digital trade because they want to make it easier for foreign governments to impose their anti-trade agenda on U.S. businesses. Since they cant pass their agenda in Congress, they are leaning on foreign governments to do it for them. Reviewing the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) sector's December quarter (Q3Y24) results so far, brokerage house Anand Rathi noted that the higher cost of fund (CoF) impact seen in banks has not yet hit NBFCs (non-banking financial companies). The incremental CoF, however, is likely higher due to risk weight tweaking by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), it added. Overall, the brokerage believes that large-cap private banks have a better risk-reward than others in BFSI, as the government loosens its purse strings, improving the banking liquidity coupled with the robust underlying credit demand. Its top picks include ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and amongst NBFCs the brokerage likes Cholamandalam Finance and Poonawalla Fincorp. The brokerage has presented the key trends and takeaways from conference calls for the BFSI space post the December quarter results. Let's take a look. Large private banks: The brokerage noted that private banks domestic loan growth was faster than that of public-sector banks. On the higher base, unsecured lending grew slower than in Q2. The NIM compression trend continued in Q3. The highlight from the concalls was that incremental delta in NIM would be lower as re-pricing of deposits is largely through, it further stated. Liquidity on the balance sheet was sequentially stable in the form of LCR, except for HDFC Bank. Headline asset quality was stable despite the q/q rise in slippages due to increased slippages in agri, added Anand Rathi. Public sector banks: Public sector banks loan growth was slower than that of the system, except for SBI. NIM pressure was lower than that of private banks, said the brokerage. Overall profitability was enhanced due to favourable credit costs. Public sector banks are still important plays on the yield curve softening, argued the brokerage. Old private sector banks: Old private banks loan growth was faster than that of public sector banks, though slightly slower than that of private banks, noted the brokerage. Interestingly, retail growth was faster for peers despite Q3 being seasonally strong for the SME segment. Improved asset quality continued, it pointed out. NIM pressure was seen across the segment. Overall profitability was strong on account of favourable credit costs. Liquidity on the balance sheet was strong in the form of LCR, observed Anand Rathi. NBFCs: Loan growth for most of the NBFCs was robust, led by consumer finance and unsecured lending, driving the strong NII growth, informed the brokerage. The rise in cost of funds was not as pronounced for NBFCs in Q3 as for banks. With tighter liquidity and high short-duration rates, banks Q4 NIM could soften somewhat, it added. A few NBFCs had higher provisions in Q3. For MFIs, AUM growth and profitability were robust, however, some stress on asset quality was seen in MFI with exposure to Tamil Nadu due to floods, stated the brokerage. Stocks ICICI Bank: The bank reported a slightly better set of figures; however, its stock positioning is not as high as that of HDFC Bank, noted the brokerage. What stood out was the commentary that NIM compression would further slow down in Q4; the retail deposits rate has broadly stabilised and the bulk of the repricing is done. The bank has no branch addition pressure, unlike HDFC Bank; its C/D ratio is the lowest of large-cap private banks, informed Anand Rathi. At the CMP, the stock trades at 1.92x FY26e BV (adj. for subsidiaries at 123) for a 2.3 percent expected RoA. The brokerage has a Buy on it with a target price of 1,234 (21 percent upside potential) and believes that ICICI Bank is the new gold standard in banking. Axis Bank: At first sight, the bank reported very good figures. Retailisation of assets continued with all-around growth and is expected to continue growing faster than the system. However, the devil is that Q3 deposit growth came largely from wholesale deposits. Similar to the commentary on ICICI Bank, the intensity of NIM reduction would reduce from now. Overall, the banks figures do not match ICICIs; however, given the unknowns in HDFC Bank, Axis would likely be bought into. The brokerage has a Buy on the stock. At 1,089, it trades at 1.8x FY25e BV and 1.5x FY26e BV, adjusted for the value of subsidiaries at 57. SBI: As per the brokerage, the lender's loan growth momentum improved. Open to all forms of capital, Anand Rathi believes that the bank may hit the market in Q4 for equity. NIM is likely to be stable. It maintains a Buy on the stock; and would buy into the weakness, if any. Chola Fin: According to the brokerage, prima facie, results show disbursement growth has slowed to 26 percent YoY, largely in new businesses. AUM growth was 40 percent and NIM was stable QoQ at 7.4 percent while credit cost improved QoQ to 1 percent. Despite equity dilution, RoE was close to 20 percent, noted the brokerage. Chola is its preferred pick with a TP of 1,425. Poonawalla Fincorp: There is an easing of competitive intensity after risk-weight changes. At 38 percent, the company is sitting pretty, said Anand Rathi. Despite interest-rate tightening, its CoF was stable and is likely to stay in the same range, which is no mean feat. Growth guidance retained, with new products on the anvil. New sourcing mix pristine. Credit cost guidance was retained, added the brokerage. It has a Buy on the stock with a TP of 595. The valuations are premium on sustainable high-growth visibility, it stated. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decision. POONAWALLA FINCORP 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! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 14. Negotiations on the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip and the achievement of a ceasefire in the enclave have entered a decisive phase, Trend reports. It is reported that the next 24 hours will be extremely important for the deal. A consultative meeting of representatives of Egypt, the United States, Qatar and Israel is currently taking place in Cairo. The meeting discusses a possible agreement on the mutual exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages, as well as the prospects for establishing a ceasefire in the enclave. A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Brokerage firm Jefferies, on Tuesday, initiated Buy call on Gautam Adani-led conglomerate Adani Enterprise (AEL) with target of 3800 per share. "We expect AEL's EBITDA to double from FY23 to FY26 and grow 3x+ by FY28. We build the contribution of new biz scaling from 40% of consol EBITDA (FY23) to -75% by FY26 and 85% by FY28, At CMP. AEL is trading at 28x/22x FY25/FY26E EV/EBITDA We value AEL on SOTP basis at Rs3800, valuing all biz on EV/EBITDA," the firm said. Also read: Corporates likely to report 15% EPS growth in FY25; Steel sector to outshine, IT boasts high valuations The brokerage firm cited factors, while giving the tag, like track record as strong business incubator, 47% CAGR for Airport EBITDA over FY24-FY28E and balance sheet well-placed to take up rise in capex. Adani Airports commands a substantial 23% share of passenger traffic in India, overseeing operations at eight airports, including the soon-to-be-commissioned Navi Mumbai Airport (NMIAL), according to Jefferies. Additionally, Adani Airports stands to benefit from its lucrative non-aeronautical ventures, positioning it as a proxy for consumer activity. Recent adjustments to aeronautical tariffs at select airports further enhance its growth prospects. Moreover, the implementation of city-side land development projects and the forthcoming contributions from the soon-to-be-commissioned MIAL Airport add to its promising outlook. With new businesses of Airport and Green Hydrogen, we expect EBITDA to grow ~3x over FY24-FY28. AEL is riding on the strong Industry tailwinds in New Energy/ sustainability, Airports, Infra, digitalisation, and import substitution in India," Jefferies said in its report. Moreover, the recent Supreme Court order had positive outcome in Adani group's year-long investigation related to short-seller report. While the SEBI is still completing its investigation, the order did suggest no further escalation of the case. Also read: Smallcap stock sheds 10% after net loss widens to 839 crore in December quarter; time to sell? Meanwhile, Moodys Investor Group also announced a revision in the outlook for the debt papers of four Adani Group companies, shifting it from negative to stable, on February 13. Concurrently, the stable outlook for the remaining four companies was upheld. Moody's also affirmed the ratings for all eight companies. The entities whose rating outlooks have been revised include Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), Adani Green Energy Restricted Group (AGEL RG-1), Adani Transmission Step-One Limited (ATSOL), and Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML). The shares of Adani Enterprises closed in green at 3,180 per share on Tuesday, February 13. The scrip has gained over 29.48 percent in the last six months and 81.75 percent in the last one year. ADANI ENTERPRISES 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! Public sector banks continued to post a decent set of numbers in the December quarter on the back of higher interest income, lower credit costs, and improved asset quality. The combined profit of 12 Indian public sector banks (PSBs) in Q3 FY24 jumped 3.84% to 30,297 crore as compared to 29,175 crore recorded in the same period last year. For the first nine months of the current financial year, PSBs have earned a cumulative profit of 98,358 crore as compared to 70,166 crore in the year-ago period, an increase of 40.17%. In Q1 and Q2 of the current fiscal year, public sector banks earned a cumulative profit of about 34,418 crore and 33,643 crore, respectively. Punjab National Bank emerged as the top performer in terms of percentage growth in profit as the net profit of the bank grew by 253% YoY in Q3 to 2,223 crore. This was the highest profit in the last 15 quarters, driven by higher interest income and improved asset quality. Also Read: Multibagger: Kernex Microsystems delivered over 100% return for 3 straight years Bank of India secured the second position with a net profit growth of over 62% YoY, reaching 1,870 crore, on account of the decline in bad loans. Union Bank of India followed closely, posting a 60% growth in the net profit to 3,590 crore in Q3 FY24, as compared to a profit of 2,245 crore in the December quarter of FY23. Its other income jumped up sharply by 15.37% YoY to 3,774 crore. Also Read: RIL share price hits record high; market cap tops 20 lakh crore for first time; what should investors do? Likewise, Central Bank of India delivered a 56% YoY rise in Q3 net profit to 718 crore as compared to a net profit of 458 crore in Q3 FY23. Bank of Maharashtra also posted a healthy performance in Q3 FY24, with its net profit growing 34% to reach 1,036 crore. During the same period of the last year, the bank recorded a net profit of 775 crore. The bank 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 double-digit growth in deposits in the third quarter ended December 2023, as per the PTI report. Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank, and Bank of Baroda recorded year-on-year growth rates of 30.27%, 27%, and 19%, respectively, in their standalone net profits. Also Read: SBI emerges as second PSU firm to surpass 6 lakh crore market cap; check stock price SBI reported a drop in its standalone net profit by 35.50% YoY to 9,164 crore, affected by higher wage provisions and soft other income. In 3Q, SBIN made wage-related provisions of 6,300 crore (for a 17% wage hike). Punjab & Sind Bank and UCO Bank also experienced declines in the standalone net profit for the same period, with drops of 69% and 23%, respectively, year-on-year. Disclaimer: 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! Around six months ago, we had posted a video on Visaka Industries , arguing how the risk-reward equation of investing in the stock seems to be in favour of investors. It was not a recommendation but a suggestion to keep the stock on your watchlist. We describe penny stock as one that is trading at a double-digit price irrespective of its market cap and liquidity. Visaka, with its share price of 82 per share, perfectly fitted this description as it was indeed trading at a double-digit price. However, it is now a three-digit figure. Visaka Industries has seen its share price rise by a whopping 100% in less than six months. The credit for this goes to its recently inaugurated solar panel roofing segment. It is the first of its kind integrated solar roof and the company has secured a patent not just in India but also in the US and South Africa. The company has also commenced exports to Africa and the Middle East. While the prospects of this division look promising indeed, its contribution to the overall revenues of Visaka Industries is still quite negligible. It is still a very small portion of the company's overall business. Why then are investors going gung-ho about the stock you may wonder? Why has it doubled in the last six months despite the monetisation of its solar roof division being negligible so far? Well, the stock price appreciation seems to be the consequence of Prime Minister Modi's big announcement of last month. Immediately after the Ram Mandir consecration, Prime Minister Modi set the ball rolling on a new scheme to boost rooftop solar installations. Here's him outlining the plan: "Today, on the auspicious occasion of the consecration of life in Ayodhya, my resolve has been further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof top system on the roof of their houses. The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch 'Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana' with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses." This is big. Just to put things in perspective, only about 7 lakh households are estimated to have rooftop solar installations currently. Modi's new scheme proposes to multiply this number by a whopping 15x. No wonder, stocks like Visaka Industries, which have expertise in this area, have suddenly become the new favourites with the investors. On 20 January 2024, the last trading day before Modi's big announcement, Visaka Industries was priced at 102 per share. In almost a one-way ride since then, the stock has climbed more than 60% and looks primed to go even higher. Those are big gains indeed. However, let's wear the hat of a contrarian investor for a moment and think whether this euphoria is justified? After all, we have no idea whether this deal will take off and to what extent. And even if it does, how much of the benefits will flow to companies like Visaka Industries? And hence, unless we have some numbers to rest our opinions upon, investing in the stock just because of the massive announcement is akin to indulging in speculation in my view. Here's how we will evaluate the situation. When we came out with the video, the stock was trading at a small discount to book value. The reason we felt that the risk-reward was in the investor's favour is that it wasn't valued egregiously based on its historical valuations. In fact, it was slightly undervalued. Thus, even a small growth in earnings from the present levels would have seen the stock give above-average returns from a 1-2 year perspective. We did not assign any valuation to the new business of solar rooftop as the company was just starting in this segment. Cut to the present and the stock is trading at almost 2x its current book value. This means that the new business is being valued nearly as much as the current business. Investors are willing to value the solar rooftop business almost at par with the current business. Is this justified? With little understanding of how this new business will pan out, the answer would be 'no'. We would be more comfortable not assigning any value to it and evaluating the stock based on its current earnings power. This may not be the case for those who have a good understanding of the solar rooftop business and hence, can quantify the business opportunity that stares Visaka Industries in the face. For them, the stock may look significantly undervalued even at the current valuations. Thus, it all boils down to being honest with oneself and carrying out one's valuation accordingly. At the end of the day, your returns on the stock will not depend on whether you bought Visaka Industries at 80 or 160. It will depend on how honest you were concerning your understanding of the business. If you believe its best days are still ahead of it, you can make money even at the current valuations. But if you can evaluate only the current business and not the new one, then maybe you should not pay any premium over what it has commanded in the past. The approach may sound simple but it can take you quite far in investing. Happy Investing. Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Union Mutual Fund announced the launch of the Union Business Cycle Fund. The scheme opened for public subscription on February 13, 2024, and will close on February 27, 2024. The scheme re-opens for continuous sale and repurchase within five business days of the date of allotment. What kind of mutual fund scheme is this? This is an open-ended equity scheme following the business cycles-based investing theme. This product is suitable for investors seeking Capital appreciation over the long term. Investment predominantly in equity & equity related instruments of business cycle-based theme. What is the main objective of investing in this fund? The investment objective of the scheme is to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing with a focus on riding business cycles through allocation between sectors and stocks at different stages of business cycles in the economy. However, there is no assurance that the investment objective of the scheme will be achieved. Harshad Patwardhan, Chief Investment Officer, Union AMC, said, "As professional money managers looking to generate consistent performance, it is crucial to embrace the cyclical nature of markets and treat the long term as a series of shorter terms. Adjusting portfolio positioning by where we are in the cycle helps reduce opportunity costs and optimize returns." How may one invest in this scheme? Investors can invest under the scheme with a minimum investment of 1000 per plan/option and in multiples of Re 1. There is no upper limit for investment. Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation of the scheme will be as follows: Instruments Indicative Allocation (% of assets) Risk Profile Minimum Maximum High/Moderate/Low Equity and Equity related instruments of companies selected based on the business cycle theme 80 100 Very High Equity and Equity related instruments of companies other than the above companies 0 20 Very High Debt and Money Market Instruments including units of debt-oriented mutual fund schemes 0 20 Low to Medium Units issued by REITs & InvITs 0 10 Very High Are there similar mutual funds in the market? To date, many asset management companies (AMCs) have launched such business cycle funds, thus, allowing inclined investors to avail of returns corresponding to the total returns of the securities in this particular index. These include: Mutual Fund House Name of the Fund HSBC Mutual Fund HSBC Business Cycle Fund HDFC Mutual Fund HDFC Business Cycle Fund ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Business Cycle Fund Axis Mutual Fund Axis Business Cycles Fund Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund Kotak Business Cycle Fund TATA Mutual Fund Tata Business Cycle Fund Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund Baroda BNP Paribas Business Cycle Fund Source: AMFI (As of February 13, 2024) How will the scheme benchmark its performance? The performance of the scheme will be benchmarked with the Nifty 500 Index. The performance of the scheme will be benchmarked to the Total Return variant of the Index (TRI). The Trustee reserves the right to change the benchmark for evaluation of the performance of the scheme from time to time, subject to SEBI Regulations and other prevailing guidelines in this regard including the guidelines issued by SEBI and AMFI for bringing uniformity in benchmarks of mutual fund schemes, and including the requirement to issue an addendum about such change. Are there any entry or exit loads to this scheme? This scheme involves no Entry Load", which means that investors do not have to pay anything to park their earnings in this scheme. The Exit Load" would also be calculated as under: - 1% if units are redeemed/switched out on or before completion of 1 year from the date of allotment. -Nil if redeemed or switched out after completion of 1 year from the date of allotment of units. Who will manage this scheme? Sanjay Bembalkar and Hardick Bora are the designated fund managers of this scheme. Does the fund contain any inherent risk? The scheme involves Very High Risk" as per the details mentioned in the Scheme Information Document and is best suited to investors willing to understand that their principal will be subject to very high risk only. However, investors should consult their financial advisors if they doubt whether the product is suitable for them. 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! Investing in mutual funds is a popular option for those looking for long-term growth and diversification. While historical returns are important to consider, there are other factors that also influence investors' decisions. Factors like the fund house's reputation, scheme category, and market performance are key considerations. If you have invested in mutual funds this year, you have likely experienced positive returns, making it a rewarding time for mutual fund investors. Here we provide a list of the top-performing mutual funds based on their one-year returns. Focused Funds Focused Funds 1-year-returns (%) Invesco India Focused Fund 49.43 JM Focused Fund 40.70 Quant Focused Fund 45.17 Invesco India Focused Fund 49.43 Mahindra Manulife Focused Fund 39.29 Focused mutual funds are investment schemes that concentrate on a limited number of stocks, with a maximum limit often set at 30. These funds must invest at least 65 percent of their assets in equity and equity-related instruments, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) categorization for mutual funds. Large Cap Funds Large Cap Funds 1-year-returns (%) Taurus Large Cap Fund 36.72 Quant Large Cap Fund 49.24 JM Large Cap Fund 38.25 Bank of India Bluechip Fund 39.10 Nippon India Large Cap Fund 36.10 Large-cap mutual funds are investment schemes that allocate a minimum of 80 percent of their portfolio to large-cap stocks, as per the guidelines set by the SEBI for categorization and rationalisation of mutual fund schemes. Mid Cap Funds Mid Cap Funds 1-year-returns (%) HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund 53.75 HSBC Midcap Fund 50.64 Mahindra Manulife Mid Cap Fund 58.59 JM Midcap Fund 57.90 Quant Mid Cap Fund 60.24 (Source: AMFI, returns as on Feb 12, 2024) Mid-cap mutual funds are investment schemes that allocate at least 65 percent of their assets to mid-cap stocks. Mid-cap stocks are securities of companies ranked between 101 to 250 based on their market capitalization in the stock markets, as per the guidelines set by the SEBI for categorization and rationalisation of mutual fund schemes. Also Read: Index mutual funds: 5 key reasons to invest in them during bull run It is important to note that while historical returns are significant, they do not guarantee the future performance of a mutual fund scheme. Investors should consider other crucial factors, including the scheme's category, the reputation of the fund house, and the track record of the fund manager, when making investment decisions. Note: This story is for informational purposes only. It is recommended to consult with a SEBI-registered investment advisor before making any investment-related 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! As seat-sharing between members of the INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections is yet to be finalised, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said the party wants to contest six seats in the national capital and offered only one seat to the Congress. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said the grand old party does not deserve even a single seat in the national capital but they are still offering them one seat keeping the 'dharma of alliance'. , "...On merit basis, the Congress party does not deserve even a single seat in Delhi but keeping in mind the 'dharma of alliance' we are offering them one seat in Delhi. We propose Congress party to fight on 1 seat and AAP on 6 seats...", Pathak said. The AAPs Rajya Sabha MP said the party wants to contest six seats in Delhi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and offer just one to the Congress. The party further asked the senior INDIA bloc ally to conclude seat-sharing talks at the earliest. "In Delhi, the Congress party has zero seats in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections. In the MCD elections, the Congress has won 9 seats out of 250," he added. The party also announced its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat and one in Goa. Pathak said Venzy Viegas will contest from the South Goa seat, while Chaitar Vasava and Umesh Bhai Makwana will contest from Bharuch and Bhavnagar seats in Gujarat respectively. Pathak further said the AAP has demanded eight Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat (total 26) from the INDIA bloc which is proportionate to the party's vote share in the last assembly poll. The Congress and the AAP held their first formal meeting on January 8 to discuss seat-sharing arrangements under the INDIA bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Earlier on Saturday, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ruled out an alliance with the Congress in Punjab, and declared that the party will contest all 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state and Chandigarh independently. 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! The Punjab-Haryana border saw absolute chaos on Tuesday afternoon as thousands of protesting farmers led a Delhi Chalo march. Security personnel lobbed tear gas cannisters and aimed water cannons as the agitators broke through concrete barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed by the police at several parts of the border. The police have sealed the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders around the national capital and installed multiple layers of barricades at various roads leading to the Parliament and the central part of Delhi. Meanwhile farmers marching from Punjab and Haryana faced tear gas shells and water cannons as security personnel tried to stop large groups from entering Haryana through the Shambhu border in Ambala and the Khanauri border in Jind district. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the `Delhi Chalo agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands including a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers. Here are 8 updates from Tuesday afternoon: Traffic crawled at a snail's pace at many places with Delhi being put under a heavy security cover on Tuesday. Personnel in anti-riot gear were deployed strategically across the the Delhi-National Capital Region and metal and concrete barricades regulated access to several key roads. The police have placed multiple layers of barricades and stopped the movement of vehicles at the Singhu and Tikri borders. There was severe traffic congestion in the Ghazipur border area as well due to heavy security arrangements made by police. Only two vehicles were allowed to pass at a time with barricades being lined up on half of the key stretch connecting Noida and Delhi. Many were also seen crossing the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on foot after police blocked the movement of vehicles. Several farmers were detained by Haryana police after protesters attempted to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Visuals from the border showed farmers running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors. The demonstrators claim that a farmer was injured in the tear gas shell firing at the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border. Several groups of farmers had assembled at the heavily barricaded border ahead of the march. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed some gates at nine metro stations amid the escalating agitation. However all the metro stations remain operational at this time. The affected stations are: Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Janpath, Khan Market, Lok Kalyan Marg. Supreme Court Bar Association asks Chief Justice DY Chandrachud to take action against "erring farmers" for trying to enter Delhi forcibly in a bid to create "nuisance" and disturb the daily life of citizens. The Red Fort complex was "suddenly sealed" late on Monday night "due to security reasons". The Mughal-era monument remains temporarily closed for visitors with no clear opening date or time in sight. Officials said that security agencies would take a call on the matter. Government sources told ANI that fifty percent less diesel and twenty percent less gas were able to be dispatched to Punjab amid the protests. 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 Delhi government on Tuesday said said that the demands of the farmers are genuine, and rejected the central government's proposal to convert Bawana stadium into a makeshift jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar denying permission and expressed solidarity with the farmers' march, they added. "The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers" Gahlot's letter read. Gahlot said that the Centre should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems". "Farmers of the country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central government." The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha begun marching towards Delhi under the "Chalo Delhi" protest on Tuesday morning to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Meanwhile, in view of the farmers' march, one or more gates at eight stations of the Delhi Metro were shut. However, these stations are not closed and entry and exit of passengers is permitted through other gates. Official sources said the gates have been shut for security arrangements on instructions of police authorities. Many gates have been shut at several stations -- Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath and Barakhamba Road, a senior official said. A gate at Khan Market metro station has also been closed. Massive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel besides multi-layered barricading are in place to seal the national capital borders at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur to prevent the protesting farmers from entering the city during their march. (With PTI inputs) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Farmers attempted to break multi-layered barricades with their tractors and hand weapons on Tuesday amid a protest march. Visuals shared online showed the agitators tossing barricades down from a flyover at Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. Some were also seen running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road. Scenes of chaos filled the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday afternoon as the police tried to stop the protestors from entering the national capital. The police had first resorted to lobbing tear gas shells when a few youths broke an iron barricade and tried to throw it off the Ghaggar river bridge. Security personnel said they had also resorted to lobbing tear gas including through drones and wielding water cannons after the protesters pelted the Haryana police with stones. Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed by the police at several points along the border. Several farmers were also detained by Haryana police after protesters attempted to break the multi-layered barricades. Demonstrators claim that a farmer was injured in the tear gas shell firing at the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border. The protest has been called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee with more than 200 farmer unions reportedly heading towards Delhi to press their demands. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government including a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers. The latest agitation comes just months before the next general election. Meanwhile Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda urged the protesting farmer groups to have a structured discussion with the government. The senior politician insisted that a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price on crops cannot be brought in a hurry without consulting all stakeholders. (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! New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday requested Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to take action against "erring farmers" for trying to enter Delhi forcibly in a bid to create "nuisance" and disturb the daily life of citizens. Farmers from Punjab commenced their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, after a meeting between their representatives and two Union ministers, remained deadlocked. The agitating farmers plan to head to Delhi from the Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali borders. In a letter to the CJI, SCBA president Adish C Aggarwala also urged him to issue necessary instructions to ensure courts do not pass any adverse orders due to non-appearance of advocates in any matter listed before them till there are obstacles in free movement of people on Delhi borders due to the agitation. "I further request your lordship to take suo motu (on its own) action against the erring farmers for forcibly trying to enter Delhi in a bid to create nuisance and disturb the daily life of citizens," Aggarwala said. The senior advocate said even if the demands of the agitating farmers are genuine, they don't have the right to put the general public to hardship. "This is the right time when the Supreme Court should act suo motu and ensure that these farmers don't create any nuisance and cause huge inconvenience to the general public," he said. The letter said it was suspected that the protest, coming a few months before the general elections, was "politically motivated". It said the right to protest should not be allowed to impede the right of the common citizens to lead their lives normally. "By not accepting the offer of the Government of India, suggested at last night's talks, the so-called leaders of the farmers have decided to move to Delhi only to create problems to people of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarkhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. If they are still adamant on protesting, they should protest in their native places," the letter said. It said lawyers practising in the apex court, the Delhi High Court, different commissions, tribunals and district courts would face huge difficulties while trying to attend court proceedings. The letter referred to farmers' protest in 2021-2022 during which arterial roads at three Delhi border points with neighbouring states remained blocked for several months, causing hardship to the general public. "In light of today's farmers' protest, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Police have heightened security measures at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders, setting up nails and road barricades to deter vehicles transporting protesters from entering Delhi," it said. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that more than 200 farmer unions will head to Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands. 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! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 14. The armed forces of the United Kingdom and the United States attacked targets of the Yemeni Houthis from the rebel Ansar Allah movement, Trend reports. According to information, the Ras Isa port area in Hodeidah province was attacked. Information about the consequences of the attack is not provided. Thousands of farmers from Punjab headed for the national capital in tractors, SUVs and farm vehicles clashed with the Haryana police at the Shambhu border, where they were met with teargas, water cannons and rubber bullets. The farmers had begun their march on Tuesday morning, after the previous evenings meeting with central ministers to press for legally guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops failed to yield results. By evening, they had managed to remove several rows of concrete barriers and uprooted steel spikes cemented on roads to prevent them from entering Haryana, which borders Delhi. We want an assurance from the government that the 23 crops on which MSP is announced will have a legal guarantee. But the government wants to form another committee. This is nothing but a delaying tactic," farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, said. Though the protesters are still far from the capital, traffic crawled at a snails pace at many places in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) because of the barricades regulating access to key roads. For many, the protests revived memories of 2020, when thousands of farmers gathered outside Delhi, demanding a repeal of three new farm laws. The protest was withdrawn after the government relented, but on the condition that it will take measures to make the MSP regime wider and more effective. The laws were repealed, but an expert committee set up in July 2022 to resolve the matter is yet to submit any report. Government agencies purchase crops from farmers at MSP, a model that works best for rice and wheat. For others like pulses and oilseeds, farmers are often forced sell to private traders at prices below MSP. There are several deficiencies in the current MSP regime, agreed R. Ramakumar, a professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and author of multiple books on Indias farm policy. Benefits of MSP need to be spread evenly across the country. For that, the procurement infrastructure has to be built in states where MSP benefits do not reach farmers. The way support prices are calculated also needs a correction to accurately reflect the costs of cultivation," Ramakumar said. Currently, the cost of cultivation parameters used to calculate MSP include an imputed value of family labour, but not the rental value of farm land. Farmers have repeatedly complained that this depresses MSP numbers. In an interview with PTI, Union agriculture minister Arjun Munda, however, said a law guaranteeing MSP cannot be brought in a hurry without consulting all stakeholders. He urged farmer groups to have a structured discussion with the government on the issue. The protests are organized by the Kisan Majdoor Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions from Punjab, Haryana and other states. Dont treat farmers like they are criminals", said an emotional Madhura Swaminathan, an economist and daughter of agricultural scientist Dr M.S. Swaminathan, at an event on Tuesday celebrating the Bharat Ratna conferred on her father recently. The agitating farmers key demandfixing MSP based on the cost of cultivation plus a 50% marginwas first recommended by the Swaminathan committee in 2006. In addition, farmers are asking for a loan waiver, social security benefits like pension, and a revamp of the crop insurance scheme. They also want higher duties on imported agricultural produce, as duty-free imports lead to lower farmgate prices. The latest round of protests comes on the back of muted farm earnings over the past year, as the government placed export curbs on wheat, rice, sugar and onion, depressing local prices. Farm incomes were also hit due to repeated climate shocks like heat waves and uneven rains. The last situation assessment survey report published by the National Statistical Office in mid-2021 showed farm households earned just 10,218 per month on average. Close to half their monthly earnings came from non-farm sources including wage earnings. Average household debt was recorded at over 74,000. The government had earlier set a target to double farm incomes in the five years to 2022, the 75th year of Indias independence. However, it is yet to update on the progress made till date. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with over 200 unions heading, are marching towards Delhi today after inconclusive talks with Union ministers on Monday. While Union minister Arjun Munda claims consensus on most issues, farmer leaders said there is still a lack of clarity on legal guarantees for the minimum support price (MSP). The Delhi Chalo march is scheduled to start at 10 am. However, the Haryana government has put up fencing around the state in a bid to prevent a repeat of the 2020-21 protest. Here's all you need to know about the protest: How are the demands different this time? In 2020, farmers protested against three laws at Delhi borders, leading to their repeal in 2021. Meanwhile, this time around, the Delhi Chalo was declared, advocating for legal guarantees to Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, Swaminathan Commission's formula implementation, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and laborers, and withdrawal of cases against protestors from the 2020-21 demonstrations. Who are leading the Delhi Chalo march this time? The unions heading the Farmers' Protest 2.0 are different from the unions that led the protest in 2020-21. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have jointly initiated Delhi Chalo 2.0. Meanwhile, factionalism within the Bhartiya Kisan Union and Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which played pivotal roles in the 2020 protests, has been evident. Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni, who were the prominent leaders of the farmers' 2020 protest, are not part of this protest. Instead, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (non-political) and Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Sarwan Singh Pandher, are leading the protest this time. What actions are taken to stop the farmers? In 2020, farmers freely reached the national capital, but this time, the administration has implemented stringent precautions. Barbed wire, cement barricades, and road obstacles have sealed all routes to Delhi. Section 144 is in effect, and the Haryana government has closed its borders with Punjab to ensure security measures amid potential protests or gatherings. The government started the negotiation process even before the farmers' Delhi Chalo march this time. The first meeting between the farmer leaders and the Union ministers took place on February 8. The second meeting took place on February 12. 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! Farmers Protest: The Delhi Airport issued an advisory on Monday, suggesting passengers about disruptions due to farmers' protests at various Delhi borders starting Tuesday. Farmers protest LIVE updates Please be advised that due to the anticipated farmers' protest at different Delhi borders starting on 13.02.2024, there will be traffic diversions in effect. For commercial vehicles, traffic restrictions and diversions will be implemented starting from 12.02.2024. We recommend planning your trip accordingly and staying informed about potential delays and alternative routes. To ensure a timely arrival, we strongly encourage travellers to utilize the Magenta Line for Terminal 1 (T1) or the airport metro for Terminal 3 (T3) for convenient transportation options," the statement read. Travelers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and stay updated on the situation for any changes or impacts on their travel plans. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed, barricades and barbed wires have been put up, and traffic advisories have been issued by Delhi and Haryana authorities in anticipation of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 13. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that over 200 farmer unions will be heading to Delhi to urge the Centre to address their demands. These demands include the enactment of a law to ensure a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Also Read: Delhi, Haryana on alert as farmers gear up for protest march, police issue advisories What to expect? As per the restrictions issued by the Delhi Police, there shall be a prohibition on the assembly of people, blocking of roads, any type of procession agitation, rallies, or public meeting by the agitators. The order stated there would be a ban on carrying corrosive substances, explosives, any firearms or any lethal weapon or any other article capable of being used as a weapon of offence or defence at any public place within the territory of Delhi. Also Read: Farmer protests: Deja vu? Earlier on Sunday, the Delhi Police issued an advisory prohibiting the entry of tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, and commercial vehicles from Uttar Pradesh into the city. This order will be enforced until March 11, presumably to manage traffic and security concerns related to the anticipated farmers' protest and associated gatherings in Delhi. (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! Farmers Protest Noida Traffic Advisory: Traffic congestion gripped the Delhi-Noida and Delhi-Ghaziabad borders as a result of both the scheduled farmers' protest and heightened security measures implemented by the authorities. Huge traffic jams were witnessed on the highways that connect Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad via Ghazipur and Chilla borders. Many people take the Ghazipur border road to go to Delhi from Noida. Catch Farmers Protest LIVE Updates There is a traffic jam on the DND flyover. Notably, this flyover also connects Noida with South Delhi. According to latest reports, traffic is moving slow on NH-48, which connects Delhi and Gurugram. To further prevent traffic jams, the authorities have banned goods-carrying vehicles from entering Delhi via the Greater Noida Expressway. Ghaziabad, Kaushambi and Anand Vihar border also witnessed traffic jams. "The UP Police and Delhi Police are constantly monitoring the situation at the Delhi-Noida border. Due to this, the traffic has been slightly affected. However, the traffic is normal inside the city (Noida), and the situation is normal," said Anil Kumar Yadav, DCP (traffic), Noida Police. Alternative routes suggested by Noida police -Vehicles going to Delhi via Chilla Border can take 14A flyover to reach Golchakkar Chowk Sector 15, then proceed to Sandip Paper Mill Chowk, Jhundpura Chowk and then travel further to their destination. -Vehicles going to Delhi via DND Border are advised to take Filmcity flyover to reach sector 18 and then proceed further to their destination. -Vehicles travelling to Delhi via Kalindi Border are advised to take Mahamaya flyover to reach sector 37 and proceed further from there. -Vehicles going to Delhi via Yamuna expressway are advised to go towards Khurja from Jewar toll and from there proceed further through Jahangirpur. -Vehicles travelling to Delhi via Peripheral expressway to Sirsa, Parichowk can instead take the route towards Dadri, Dasna to reach their destination. -Emergency vehicles will be allowed to go towards secure destinations amid the traffic diversions. 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! First Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate UAE's historic BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14, marking a significant moment for the city's Hindu community. Public access begins March 1st. PM Modi further emphasized that he looks forward to being among the Indian diaspora in the UAE at the Ahlan Modi program. Catch PM Modi Hindu Mandir (BAPS) Inauguration in UAE Live Updates Sharing his excitement on his social media, PM Modi stated, "We are very proud of our diaspora and their efforts to deepen India's engagement with the world. This evening, I look forward to being among UAE's Indian diaspora at the #AhlanModi program! Do join this memorable occasion." Before the temple's inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sadhu Brahmaviharidas acknowledged the crucial role played by the generosity and friendship of UAE leaders. He also expressed profound appreciation for the rulers and leaders of the UAE and highlighted the strong friendship between India's Prime Minister and the UAE rulers. "Well, symbolism is clear, and I don't hide it. For a ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to have space in his heart to allow the first traditional stone temple in this part of the region in the history of humanity, I think all of us need to join our hands and applaud the rulers and the leaders of this nation," he said addressing a press conference in Abu Dhabi. He added that this friendship, rooted in trust, transparency, and truth, has been instrumental in bringing this architectural marvel to life. "So, the BAPS Hindu Mandir has been built because of the generosity of the rulers. And I also say because of the friendship that our honourable Prime Minister has been able to generate with the rulers, the leaders, through the trade, through the great events that have happened. It's because of trust, transparency, and truth that this entire Mandir has been made," he said. Sadhu Brahmaviharidas also revealed the rich symbolism embedded in the temple's design. Adorned with seven spires, the Mandir symbolizes gratitude towards the unity of the seven emirates, reflecting the harmonious relationship between India and the UAE. The seven spires also pay homage to seven important deities, underscoring the interconnectedness of cultures and religions. "Normally, our temples are either one spire, three, or five, but come here, the seven spires express our gratitude to the unity of the seven emirates. But at the same time, the seven spires enshrine seven important deities," he said. What is BAPS? -BAPS, an acronym for the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, represents a socio-spiritual Hindu faith rooted in the Vedas, pioneered by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830) in the late 18th century and formally established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj (1865-1951), according to its website. -Built upon the principles of practical spirituality, BAPS endeavours to address the spiritual, moral, and social challenges prevalent in our world today. Its strength lies in the purity of its objectives and intentions. -BAPS, through a global network comprising over 3,850 centres, its universal outreach has garnered recognition with numerous national and international awards, as well as affiliations with esteemed organizations like the United Nations. -During PM Modis two-day visit to the Gulf nation in 2015, the UAE allocated land for constructing a temple in Abu Dhabi. This visit held significant diplomatic importance, as Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister since Indira Gandhi to visit this strategically vital Gulf nation in 34 years. Modi thanked the UAE leadership on behalf of 125 crore Indians for their decision to build the temple, hailing it as a landmark" move, according to various reports. -Ambassador Sudhir underscored the remarkable dedication and efforts of thousands of Indian artisans and devotees throughout the temple's construction phase. He noted that many devotees and members of the Indian diaspora actively participated in the construction, symbolizing their commitment through "Shramdan", or voluntary labour. The completion of the temple stands as a collective achievement, demonstrating the unity and affection invested by the community. 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 government has instructed Mumbai Airport to reduce scheduled flights and restrict the movement of business jets during peak hours, aiming to alleviate congestion and improve on-time departures. The Ministry of Civil Aviation revealed that, despite the escalating air traffic post-pandemic, the airport had failed to take sufficient measures, as reported by ANI. The ministry said that the airport operator did not take steps to streamline and regulate the air traffic movements to resolve this problem, therefore forcing it to step in the matter. As per Economic Times report, the decision is expected to impact around 40 flights and disrupt the operations of private jets frequently used by top business houses in the country. The Airport Authority of India (AAI), responsible for air navigation services, has directed the airport to decrease aircraft movement from 46 to 44 during rush hours and from 44 to 42 during non-peak hours. This directive will lead to the reduction of approximately 40 flights, with IndiGo facing the highest cut of 18 flights and the Air India group, including Vistara, having to cut 17 flights, sources told the daily. The ministry said that the airport "suffers from congestion and excess capacity on its runways, which inadvertently leads to air space congestion, where flights are forced to hover over the city for a long duration of around 40-60 minutes." According to the ministry, an aircraft uses 2000 kg of fuel on average per hour, so the long circling times result in significant fuel waste for the aircrafts. For example, a 40-minute flight uses 1.7 kiloliters of jet fuel (costing approximately 1.8 lakh) and a 60-minute flight uses 2.5 kiloliters of jet fuel (costing approximately 2.6 lakhs). The causes of congestion were identified as excessive slot distribution with limited time margins, non-adherence of slots by airlines, and non-scheduled operations during peak hours. While the airport is operating at full capacity, the government emphasised that the airport operator should have proactively taken steps to regulate air traffic movements. Extended Curfew for Business Jets Sparks Corporate Protests Simultaneously, the curfew on the operation of business jets has been extended from four hours to eight hours. This move has prompted protests from major corporate groups such as Reliance Industries, JSW, and the Mahindra group, the Economic Times report states. MIAL, the airport operator owned by the Adani group, did not comment, the report added. The decision to reduce flights and extend the business jet curfew comes after Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concerns about the declining on-time departure performance at the airport. Senior air traffic controllers attribute delays primarily to overscheduling by airlines amid a surge in demand for air travel. Government officials emphasised that factors such as infrastructure availability and unscheduled movements, such as government and business aircraft, contribute to delays, the report said. Impact on Aviation Operations Rajesh Bali, MD of the Business Aircraft Operator Association, told the paper that additional restrictions on business jets would significantly impede business aviation operations, affecting Mumbai's role as the nation's commercial hub. Airline network planners said abrupt flight cancellations would pose challenges in redeploying aircraft, leading to financial losses. They also anticipate significant compensation payouts to affected passengers, as per the report. The government's decision reflects the broader challenges faced by airports nationwide due to increased air traffic post-Covid. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has mandated that any addition of new flights must consider the passenger-handling capacity at security checkpoints, setting standards for the maximum number of passengers handled per hour by X-ray machines on both domestic and international sides. (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! Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told the Indian diaspora at the 'Ahlan Modi' event in Abu Dhabi that the world is looking at India as a 'Vishwa Bandhu'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told the Indian diaspora at the 'Ahlan Modi' event in Abu Dhabi that he has come to meet his family members in the Gulf country, adding that he has brought the fragrance of the soil where they were born. The Indian prime minister, while addressing the Indian diaspora at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, said he has brought the message of 140 crore brothers and sisters of the country where they (the Indian diaspora) were born and the message is that India is proud of them, they are the pride of Bharat. Thanking UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warmth and hospitality extended to him, the prime minister said India-UAE relations are reaching unprecedented heights, and both the countries are partners in each others' progress. What India and the UAE have achieved in community and cultural relations is a model for the world," PM Modi said. The Indian prime minister further said, It is my pleasure that the UAE honoured me with the 'Order of Zayed', its highest civilian award. This honour is not just mine, but crores of Indians. Whenever I meet Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, he praises you all Indians. He appreciates your role in the development of the UAE." Speaking about a developed India by 2047, the prime minister said, Today, the goal of every Indian is to make India a developed country by 2047. What is that country whose economy is progressing rapidly? Our India...Which country has the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem? Our India. Which country reached Mars in its very first attempt? Our India. Which country reached the lunar south pole? Our India. Which country made the record of launching 100 satellites simultaneously? Our India. Which country developed 5G technology on its own and rolled it out the quickest? Our India." ...Today the world is looking at India as a 'Vishwa Bandhu'. Today India's voice is heard on every major platform of the world. Wherever there is a crisis, the name of India comes among the first countries to reach there. Today's strong India stands with its people at every step..," the Indian prime Minister said at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. PM Modi further added that India is now not only recognised for its mega infrastructure projects but also as a vibrant tourism destination. "You know the digital revolution in India. Digital India is appreciated across the world. To ensure that people in the UAE also get its benefit, we are making all efforts. We shared RuPay card pack with the UAE...UPI is about to begin in the UAE soon. With this, seamless payments will be possible between the UAE and Indian accounts...," PM Modi added. Announcing a new CBSE office in Dubai to open soon, PM Modi said the IIT Delhi campus in the UAE has started the Master's course in January. These institutions will help to provide the best education to the Indian community in the country as more than 1.5 lakh Indian students are studying in UAE schools. The Indian prime minister further said, Modi has given a guarantee that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy. Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee pura hone ki guarantee." The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday informed that a Hawk trainer aircraft crashed in the Kalaikunda area of West Bengal during a training sortie. The incident occurred during a training flight and no loss of lives or property was reported in the crash. In a statement, IAF said that both pilots ejected timely and were safe. The Air Force said that they will constitute a Court of Inquiry to find out the possible causes behind the accident and will take further action based on its report. One Hawk trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident at Kalaikunda, West Bengal today during a training sortie. Both the pilots ejected safely. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident. No loss of life or damage to civilian property," an ANI report quoted IAF statement on Tuesday. The Hawk trainer aircraft, produced by BAE Systems, stands as a cutting-edge jet-powered trainer employed by numerous air forces globally, including the IAF. Specifically tailored for pilots transitioning to high-performance fighter planes, it boasts a tandem-seat cockpit setup, facilitating an instructor pilot to accompany a trainee, and offering essential guidance and instruction throughout training sorties. Second crash on a trainer aircraft This is the second crash involving trainer IAF aircraft within a year as in June 2023, a Kiran aircraft crashed on the outskirts of Chamarajanagar town in Karnataka. The trainee pilots lost control of the aircraft and were injured after ejecting from the aircraft. Both of them landed around a half kilometer away from where the plane crashed," police said. Tejpal complained of back pain and Bhumika suffered minor injuries. Both of them are not seriously injured. Rescue helicopters were deployed to evacuate them," the officer said. The IAF ordered a Court of Inquiry in the incident but no details are available about its report. 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! IMD Update: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted rainfall with thunderstorm activity over Central India on 13 February, and East India during 13-15 February. Orange alert for rainfall, thunderstorm, lightning, and hailstorm has been issued for East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand on 13 February. The weather department has asked residents to be careful and to stay indoors. The IMD also warned people of these states to take safe shelters Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls", IMD warned. IMD Forecast: Rainfall Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over Marathawada and another over south Vidarbha in lower tropospheric levels -Rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning has been predicted over East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand from 13-15 February -Rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning has been predicted over Vidarbha on 13 February, over Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim during 13-15 February. -Rainfall predicted by IMD over Odisha on 14 and 15 February -IMD has predicted rainfall in Uttar Pradesh on 13 and 14 February and over southeast Uttar Pradesh during 13-14 February -Hailstorms has also been predicted over East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand on 13 February A Western Disturbance as a trough in mid-tropospheric runs roughly along long. 60E to the north of Lat. 30N and a cyclonic circulation lies over Punjab in lower tropospheric levels. Under its influence -Rainfall or snowfall has been predicted over Uttarakhand on 13 February -Rainfall has also been predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Punjab, Haryana, West Rajasthan -A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to cause rainfall or snowfall over Western Himalayan Region on 17 and 18 February. IMD Forecast: Minimum Temperature -Gradual Rise in minimum temperatures by 2-4C very likely over Northwest India during next 5 days. -Gradual Rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3C also very likely over many parts of East India during next 2 days -No significant change thereafter. No significant change in minimum temperatures likely over Central India during next 5 days. IMD Forecast: Fog On Tuesday, 13 February, dense fog was observed in Punjab and Odisha, moderate fog conditions were observed in East Madhya Pradesh, and shallow fog conditions prevailed in Delhi, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam. 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! Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome outside his hotel in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after he arrived in the Gulf country to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates' capital city and participate in the World Government Summit. Members of the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi lined up outside the hotel where the Indian prime minister was scheduled to stay and raised slogans of 'Modi-Modi, Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai and Bharat Mata ki Jai' as PM Modi arrived there. The Indian prime minister also warmly greeted the passionate Indian diaspora with namastes and shook hands with some of the members. He was also seen interacting with members of the group and even gave his autograph on a collage of his picture made by kids of the members of the Indian diaspora. Also Read | Swamy claims SRK helped secure release of ex-naval officers; actor says this Earlier today, the Indian prime minister was received at the airport by Mohamed bin Zayed where they hugged each other. He was later given a guard of honour. "Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport," PM Modi posted on X. "I thank you for this grand welcome of me and my team. As you said, I feel that whenever I have come here, I have always felt that I have come to my home and family," Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with the UAE president. "We have met five times in the last seven months. Today, there is a mutual partnership between India and UAE in every sector," he added. The Indian prime minister will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. The BAPS temple in the UAE is an example of your affinity for India," Modi said adding that the construction of the BAPS temple would not have been possible without the support from the UAE's leadership. 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! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Moscow is working to open diplomatic missions in several more African countries, Vsevolod Tkachenko, head of the Russian Foreign Ministrys Africa Department, Trend reports. "Our embassy in Burkina Faso opened just before the new year, and Russias diplomatic mission in Equatorial Guinea will begin operations very soon. Several more missions are on the way; we will announce where they will be set up as soon as the work is done," the diplomat said. Moscow is in talks with African countries to launch flights to new destinations, added Tkachenko. "The goal stems from the decisions made at the Russia-Africa summits and work is underway, which is certainly taking into account economic and logistics difficulties," the diplomat said, when asked about the prospects for expanding flights between Russia and Africa. Tkachenko noted that until recently, Russian airlines had not operated regular flights to sub-Saharan African countries. He specified that Russias national air carrier Aeroflot had resumed flights to the Seychelles in September 2022 and to Mauritius in December 2023. "Talks are underway on more destinations," Tkachenko added. Oleg Ozerov, the Russian Foreign Ministrys ambassador-at-large and head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, told TASS last September that Russian tourists would be able to take direct flights to several African countries in the near future. According to him, the Russian leadership handed down instructions to enhance Moscows diplomatic presence on the African continent after the Russia-Africa Summit that took place in St. Petersburg last summer. The Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday informed that they have arrested the terrorist Adil Manzoor Langoowho was involved in the murder of two labourers from Punjab in the Srinagar area of the Union Territory. "Adil Manzoor Langoo, the terrorist who opened fire on the two labourers from Punjab in the Habba Kadal area of the city on February 7, has been arrested," PTI quoted Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar as saying. Amritpal Singh and Rohit Masih who were involved in woodworkwere shot at their residence in the Shalla Kadal area of Shahed Gunj on 7 February. While Amritpal Singh died on the spot, Rohit Masih was taken to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries. The duo belonged to the Amritsar district of Punjab and were working in Jammu and Kashmir to support their poor families. The weapon used in the attack, a pistol, has been recovered, the ADGP added. The senior police officer further said Langoo was brought into terrorism by Pakistan-based handlers through social media. Jammu and Kashmir has been rocked by violence against non-locals since 2019 after the Union government decided to abrogate Article 370, which provided special status to the state. The Shahed Gunj attack in Srinagar was the first terrorist attack against non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir this year. In October 2023, a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh was shot dead in Pulwama. Terrorists fired on a labourer in the Tumchi Nowpora area of Pulwama, who later on succumbed to his injuries. Area cordoned off," the police said then. Earlier in January, an Army convoy came under heavy firing in the Poonch area. The Indian Army launched a search operation after the attack to flush out the terrorists from the area. 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 Rajasthan Police has booked unknown people for posting images to locally made pistols , popularly called country-made " or desi khatta". The unknown people were reportedly trying to sell the pistols, by posting their image on social media. Notably, the seller also promised home-delivery" of the product. The Rajasthan Police told Times of India that the post was uploaded from outside Ujjain. The cyber cell police are tracing the perpetrators. The post, uploaded from a Facebook page named Kohinoor Group, Ujjain, showed a young man strapping himself with pistols in a waist belt and clicking himself amidst dozens of bullets in the background, police said. The man's face is not clear, Rajasthan Police confirmed adding the accused had also provided a mobile phone number to contact and place orders. "We will soon catch them," Times of India quoted the Rajasthan Police official. The post seems to be uploaded on April 23, 2023 and described the person selling the weapons as 'Pure Badmash, Mainly Criminal 302'. Ujjain police had earlier busted a gang run by Durlabh Kashyap, who used social media platforms to recruit gang members and spread terror by posting images with guns and sharp-edged weapons. Kashyap was killed in a gang war in September 2020. Police are also investigating a FB page that questions if Durlabh Kashyap is alive. It also shows a man brandishing pistols. Indian law allows firearm possession on a may-issue basis. With approximately five civilian firearms per 100 people, India is the 120th civilly most armed country in the world. In 2016, after the release of the Arms Rules, 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed all State Governments to further cast an overviewing role over all types of firearms. According to Indian law open carry of firearms is allowed in India, subject to various conditions. According to Arms Rules, 2016, no person shall carry a firearm in a public place unless the firearm is carried in a holder designed, manufactured or adapted for the carrying of a firearm. A firearm contemplated in this rule must be completely covered and the person carrying the firearm must be able to exercise effective control over such firearm. Even mere brandishing or discharge of firearms or blank-firing firearms in any public place or a firearm free zone is strictly prohibited. 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! New Delhi: Government scientists are being asked to vet weather assessment data to help farmers receive more accurate weather alerts for sowing and harvesting, cutting potential losses, according to two officials. With changes in weather patterns causing widespread crop losses and low yields, the agriculture ministry is roping in the governments National Test House to do the vetting. Current alerts received from the weatherman are fragmented and inaccurate", one of the officials said. NTH scientists will also evaluate crop loss data collected by agencies of the agriculture ministry for compensations to be paid under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) or national crop insurance, the officials said. As per the plan, NTH, which comes under the ministry of consumer affairs, will offer quality assurance partnership to the Weather Information Network and Data System or WINDS, launched by the government last year, for generating long-term hyper-local weather data, the first official said. Under the proposed project, NTH scientists will inspect and audit automatic weather stations and rain gauges across the country for their siting, equipment and data transmission procedures. WINDS is an initiative of the agriculture ministry to strengthen the weather data infrastructure and provide high-quality data sets from a single digital platform. Currently, crop loss data is collected manually, leading to a higher chance of anomalies in insurance claims. Crop insurance claims worth around 2,761 crore under the PMFBY were pending till 2021-22, with Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat reporting the highest pendency, Parliament was told last year. Claims under the PMFBY are generally paid by insurance companies within two months of harvesting and one month of notification for invoking the risks of prevented sowing, mid-season adversity and post-harvest losses". Scientific assessment of weather data from every district and panchayat will help in forecasting crop production estimates and crop losses, the second official said. Additionally, NTH scientists will visit data collection centres to recalibrate weather assessment tools for error-free weather forecasting. They will also evaluate soil moisture content and advise on the soils suitability for crops such as chana, mustard and wheat, this official said. Dr Rakesh Arrawatia, finance professor at the Institute of Rural Management Anand, said,Using satellite images is going to play a critical role in agriculture over the next 10 years by providing valuable data for insurance claims, verifying claim accuracy, and enhancing agricultural practices. This technology can offer insights into crop health, moisture levels, and other crucial factors, enabling more informed decision-making and ultimately improving productivity." Officials say accurate weather data is crucial to determining the correct share of financial contributions to states in droughts, floods and unseasonal rains. It enables the government to assess the extent of damage and allocate resources effectively to mitigate the impact on affected farmers and communities. Queries sent to the ministries of consumer affairs and agriculture remained unanswered till press time. Regarding reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan's purported role in the release of India's Navy veterans from Qatar jail, the SRK office has said that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded, emphasising that the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the govt officials. Regarding reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan's purported role in the release of Indian Navy veterans from Qatar, the office of Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday said in a statement that any such assertions of his involvement are unfounded". Unequivocally denying Khan's participation in the matter, the statement emphasised that "the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials". Additionally, all matters involving diplomacy and statecraft are best executed by our very able leaders. Khan like many other Indians is happy that the naval officers are home safe and wishes them all the best," the office of Shah Rukh Khan said. Earlier today, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take Shah Rukh Khan to the Gulf country along with him and claimed that the Bollywood star helped him to get the former Indian naval officers free from Qatar jail. Taking to microblogging site X (formerly known as Twitter), Swamy said, Modi should take Cinema star Sharuk Khan to Qatar with him since after MEA and NSA had failed to persuade the Shiekhs of Qatar, Modi pleaded with Khan to intervene, and thus got an expensive settlement from the Qatar Shiekhs to free our Naval officers." The senior BJP leader was reacting to a post by PM Modi earlier today in which the prime minister said, Over the next two days, I will be visiting UAE and Qatar to attend various programmes, which will deepen India's bilateral relations with these nations. My visit to UAE will be my seventh since assuming office, indicating the priority we attach to strong India-UAE friendship. I am eager to meet my brother, Mohamed Bin Zayed. I will have the honour of inaugurating the first Hindu Mandir in UAE. I will also address the Indian Community at a community programme in Abu Dhabi. I will also speak at the World Gov Summit and meet Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. I look forward to meeting Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, under whose leadership Qatar is witnessing immense growth." The prime minister embarked on a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on Tuesday morning. Ahead of his departure, the prime minister took to social media platform X to post that he is looking forward to meeting with his brother" the President of UAE with whom he shares a good rapport. Separately, PM Modi today held wide-ranging talks with the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to take forward the bilateral strategic partnership. Earlier, he was received at the airport by Mohamed bin Zayed where they hugged each other. He was later given a guard of honour. "Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport," PM Modi posted on X. I thank you for this grand welcome of me and my team. As you said, I feel that whenever I have come here, I have always felt that I have come to my home and family," Prime Minister Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with the UAE president. "We have met five times in the last seven months. Today, there is a mutual partnership between India and the UAE in every sector," he said. The Indian prime minister will also inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. "The BAPS temple in the UAE is an example of your affinity for India," the prime minister said PM Modi to attend World Government Summit 2024 Apart from meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Modi will also attend the World Government Summit 2024, where he will deliver a special keynote address. My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai," PM Modi said in a statement ahead of his departure. 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! TEL AVIVPalestinians in the city of Rafah, on the Gaza Strips border with Egypt, awoke Monday to the sound of explosions. It was 1:50 a.m., but it looked like daytime outside. I never witnessed such a violent night since the war began," said Hanan Abdulkarim, who said her window was flashing white when she and her 6-year-old son woke up. I was 100% sure we were going to die at that moment." Minutes earlier, an elite Israeli team of counterterrorism police and intelligence agents had used explosives to break through a blast door and rush into the second floor of a residential building in the city. They exchanged fire with militants, killing at least three of them. They quickly surrounded two men70-year-old Luis Har and 61-year-old Fernando Simon Marmanand attempted to shield them with their bodies. Both men were dual Israeli-Argentinian citizens and had been taken from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. They were thin and weak after 129 days in captivity. As the rescue at the residential building unfolded, airstrikes rained down on operation centers of Hamas, to prevent the group from having a real-time picture of the raid, according to Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari. More than a million Palestinians have crowded into the city of Rafah, seeking refuge from Israels offensive against Hamas to the north. But the war has been closing in on them. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on American television that the Israeli military would enter Rafah, which he called the last bastion of Hamas. Israel is proposing setting up sprawling tent-cities as part of an evacuation plan for those sheltering in the city. The rescue of two hostages brought a glimmer of hope for Israeli families with loved ones still held captive in Gaza and offered a moment of optimism for the nation. For Palestinians in Gaza, however, the operation was another reminder of how exposed they are to Israeli military operations. I truly believed it was our end," said Hanan Harbi, a doctors secretary who had sought refuge in Rafah with her five children. Nearly 70 Palestinians were killed in the operation, mostly in airstrikes, according to health authorities in Gaza. The figures dont distinguish between militants and civilians. As the rescue operation unfolded, many Palestinians in the city said they thought the invasion had begun. They werent the only ones. Around 2 a.m., phone alerts went off at the military headquarters in Cairo, Egyptian officials said. Panic ensued among defense officials. They thought Israel had started the offensive, which risked pushing a wave of Palestinians into Egypt, without telling them. In Israel, Netanyahu had gathered with top officialsincluding Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Ronen Bar, the director of the countrys security agency Shin Bet. They watched live footage of the rescue from a Shin Bet special operations room in an undisclosed location. Netanyahu later said he had watched the SWAT team place the explosive charge. Seconds later, he said the team reached their target. A voice could be heard over the radio: The diamonds are in our hands." It was code for the two men. Time in Captivity The two menFernando and Luishad been taken on Oct. 7, along with Fernandos sisters Clara Marman and Gabriela Leimberg, as well as Gabrielas 17-year-old daughter, Mia. Luis is Claras partner. Clara, Gabriela and Mia were released in late November as part of a one-week cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel. All five of them were kept in one residential house, Clara Marman told The Wall Street Journal in an interview last month. Luis, who has four children and 10 grandchildren, didnt have his hearing aid or the medication he needed for high blood pressure and diabetes. They kept track of time by listening to the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. Each prayer had a different tune. Mia and Clara would count the days. To pass time, the adults in the family told Mia stories about their life on the kibbutz, including how Clara and Luis met when he was working at the kibbutz factory. Sometimes they heard buzzing outside from what they thought were Israeli drones trying to collect intelligence. When it was possible, they would try to speak louder, in the hope their voices would be detected by the drones. When the family had to split up as the three women were released in November, their captors gave them only a bit of time to say goodbye. Claras eyes welled up in tears as she recalled her separation from Fernando and Luis. They tried to play it cool but I could tell they were devastated," she said. A Daring Rescue Before rescuing Fernando and Luis, Israeli forces prepared for a month, the head of the police SWAT team said. The operation was a collaboration between various Israeli forces, including an elite group of police officers, Shin Bet and the Shayetet 13Israels equivalent of U.S. Navy SEALs. We waited for the right timing and intelligence to move in," Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said on Monday. The decision to go ahead was made as negotiations to release hostages stalled, said David Tsur, a former commander of the police SWAT unit. If the deal had progressed, I think they would have canceled the operation," said Tsur. The SWAT team likely spent weeks practicing how they would enter the home and deal with potential complications posed by being in a dense neighborhood, said Tsur. They would have planned the precise timing of each movement and task, he said. From the moment you explode the door, youre already exposed," said Tsur. You have a few seconds to get to the terrorists and eliminate them. Then begins the evacuation operation." As they were evacuated from the building early Monday, the two men and their rescuers came under fire as they walked down a narrow road in Rafah, according to aerial video footage released by the Israeli military. The forces have started to move along the route," an Israeli officer can be heard saying to his colleague. A tank convoy can be seen moving along the road. The Israeli military said that it carried out strikes for roughly one hour as the men were whisked out of Gaza. At nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, the wounded began flowing in. Musa Masaad, a 21-year-old Palestinian who was staying with relatives in the neighborhood where the raid took place, started checking on his family members after being awakened by deafening blasts. He said he could see bodies outside on the ground. A bit further away, Ameen Abu Taha, 34, was sleeping in a tent in a neighborhood of Rafah that the Israeli military had designated a safe zone. He held on to his daughter and brothers four children, and urged them to go back to sleep. I honestly thought we were going to die," said Abu Taha. We Love You! As the city of Rafah reeled from the strikes, Fernando and Luis were almost out of harms way. As they were being taken in a vehicle to a helicopter, they were greeted by members of the Shayetet. Welcome back. How are you guys? How are you feeling?" they asked the men. Shocked, shocked, all right," said one of the men, according to a video released by the Israeli military. They were buckled in and asked whether they wanted a blanket and water. One of the officers offered the men shoes since they were still barefoot. We love you!" said someone in the crew. Just after 3 a.m., Fernando and Luis landed at Sheba Medical Center, where they were greeted by family. There were long hugs and tears. Fernando held Gabriela tightly, while Luis embraced his daughter Natali Afgan. A medical staff member in green scrubs smiled on the side. Im still speechless really," said Maayan Sigal-Koren, Fernandos niece. Were all still shocked here." We waited for this. We dreamed about this for a very long time," Gefen Sigal Ilan, Fernandos niece, told Israeli radio on Monday. Abeer Ayyoub and Summer Said also contributed to this article. Write to Chao Deng at chao.deng@wsj.com In a respite for bankrupt airline Go First, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday approved a 60-day extension for its moratorium, aiming to give the airline additional time to finalize its corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). This extension, stretching from February 4 to April 4, extends Go First's timeline to 330 days to complete its resolution process, with over 270 days already spent under CIRP. The resolution professional (RP) overseeing Go First's case informed the court that the airline has received interest from three potential buyers, all of whom have already deposited funds, prompting the request for more time to seal the deal. The airline's creditors have unanimously agreed to seeking this extension, the resolution professional's legal counsel told the NCLT. Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), if the resolution professional seeks an extension of up to 60 days, the NCLT can allow it to push the process beyond the standard 330-day limit if deemed necessary. Mint had reported first on 4 February that Go First was likely to get another 60-day extension to complete the insolvency process. Go First has filed this plea in NCLT for an extension of the corporate insolvency resolution process after completing its initial 90-day extension, which expired on 4 February. While this extension allows the grounded airline more time for revival, it complicates matters for aircraft lessors who have been seeking to repossess their planes through various court orders. Go First declared bankruptcy in May 2023, blaming it on engine failures from Pratt & Whitney. Since then, the airline has been grounded, entangled in legal and administrative hurdles, including disputes with lessors and frequent changes in the NCLT's hearing schedules. The last significant hearing took place in November. Despite this extension, Go First's future hangs in the balance, with no clear resolution plan in sight after spending over 270 days in the insolvency process. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining as potential buyers, including SpiceJet's Ajay Singh, Sky One from Sharjah, and the less-known Busy Bee, have shown interest and taken formal steps towards acquisition by submitting the necessary bank guarantees. An earlier bid from Jindal Power, led by billionaire Naveen Jindal, was withdrawn after evaluating Go First's financial health. 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) -- The amount banks borrow from the Federal Home Loan Banks ticked higher last week, a harbinger of more demand ahead as a key central bank funding facility expires next month. FHLBs total debt outstanding rose last week, with $22 billion of net issuance, according to Citigroup Inc. Its an indication that demand for short-term loans has started to rise again, though its nowhere near the weekly issuance seen during the banking turmoil in March 2023. The uptick in demand comes as the Federal Reserves Bank Term Funding Program unveiled during last years regional banking crisis to ease stress in the financial system is set to end on March 11. With the loans maturing, banks could meet liquidity needs by borrowing from FHLBs. At least so far, the demand appears unconnected to any concern about New York Community Bancorps risk for US dollar-denominated funding markets. Given the BTFP facility is phasing out in March as scheduled, banks will return to the FHLB in need of liquidity," Citi strategist Shuo Li wrote in a note to clients on Friday. The BTFP has allowed banks and credit unions to borrow funds for as long as a year, pledging US Treasuries and agency debt as collateral valued at par. Until last month, the rate for these advances was equal to the one-year overnight index swap rate plus 10 basis points. Its now in line with the interest on reserve balances rate currently 5.40%. As a result, borrowing from the Feds emergency funding program has been drying up. Data from the Fed showed $164.9 billion in borrowing from the BTFP in the week through Feb. 7. That compares to $165.2 billion reached the week prior. Read More: Demand for Feds Emergency Funding Tool Drops for Second Week For financial institutions, that meant it was cheaper to borrow cash through the newer facility rather than the discount window, which charges 5.5%, or from Federal Home Loan Banks. Domestic banks lost about $312 billion of deposits in January, according to Federal Reserve data. During that time, bank borrowing picked up, and FHLB demand remained flat, according to Citi. Bank Angst Even as uncertainty about the banking system flared recently, Citis Li believes the challenges faced by NYCB are isolated. The regional lender stunned reported a surprise loss tied to deteriorating credit quality and announced a cut to its divided. But conditions stabilized after the bank released an update of liquidity conditions that showed a slight decline in deposits but strong liquidity positions. To Li, unease about banks commercial real estate and multifamily loan exposure should be limited to only a few institutions. Banks broadly have more than enough capacity to continue tapping the FHLBs once the Feds BTFP expires, she wrote. FHLBs typically cap the amount of advances to each member to between 20% and 60% of their total assets, depending on creditworthiness. That means those organizations with FHLB advances over 20% of their assets could have less room for borrowing in the future. But of the banks that meet that threshold, only eight have multifamily and CRE loan exposure exceeding 20% of assets, according to Citi. Theres plenty of room for the majority of banks to access from FHLB for liquidity in case of increasing capital needs," she wrote. Read More: Why US Is Overhauling Federal Home Loan Banks: QuickTake (Adds Citis outlook for future FHLB issuance in third paragraph and BTFP data in sixth 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! (Bloomberg) -- Geert Wilders path to forming a government has been hindered by disagreements over constitutional guarantees, the lead Dutch coalition negotiator said. The distance between far-right politician Wilders Freedom Partys views on constitutional safeguards and Pieter Omtzigts New Social Contract is too great" to participate in a majority government, lead negotiator Ronald Plasterk highlighted in a report published Monday. Wilders in November appointed Plasterk to explore options for forming a new cabinet. This does not take away from the fact that reaching an agreement is not out of the question and could very well be achieved," Plasterk said in the report. Plasterk suggested inviting new parties to another round of negotiations and to investigate other forms of government including a minority option. The findings of the report will be debated in the lower house of parliament Wednesday. The Nov. 22 election in the Netherlands led to an unexpected outcome with the Freedom Party securing 37 seats, more than polls had forecast. Since then Wilders, known for his anti-Islam views, has been trying to cobble together a 76-seat majority in parliament. Plasterk was tasked with negotiating a right-wing coalition with Wilders party, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegeriuss Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, Omtzigts New Social Contract and the Farmer-Citizen Movement. The leaders of the four parties met with Plasterk for nearly two months, to see if they could agree on guaranteeing the constitution, fundamental rights as well crucial issues such as migration, international policy, climate goals and nitrogen. Wilders in turn withdrew plans to ban the Koran, along with some other controversial bills he had proposed, as he tried to forge a comprise. Read more: Dutch Risk Fresh Election After Wilders Hits Coalition Block Negotiations hit a stumbling block when center-right party New Social Contract, whose support is key for Wilders prime ministerial ambitions, last week walked out of that round of formation talks. Omtzigt had left open the possibility of supporting a minority government that rests on external votes. He urged the three other parties to form a minority government, public broadcaster NOS said on Monday. --With assistance from April Roach. 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! Former US President Donald Trump urged the Supreme Court to suspend the lower court ruling that he does not have presidential immunity from prosecution, CNN reported on Monday. The report stated that Trump called on the apex court to temporarily block a scathing and unanimous decision from the DC Circuit handed down last week, flatly rejecting his claims of immunity from election subversion charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith. In their request, Trump's attorneys wrote, Conducting a months-long criminal trial of President Trump at the height of election season will radically disrupt President Trump's ability to campaign against President Biden." Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled that the former US President is not immune from prosecution in the January 6 election subversion case, CNN reported. Trump is not immune from prosecution for alleged crimes he committed during his presidency to reverse the 2020 election results, a federal appeals court said on Tuesday. The former president argued that the conduct special counsel Jack Smith charged him over was "part of his official duties as president and therefore shield him from criminal liability". "For this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant. But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution," the court stated. The ruling from the three-judge panel was unanimous. The panel that issued the ruling comprised two judges--J Michelle Childs and Florence Pan, who were appointed by Joe Biden, and one, Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was appointed by George HW Bush, as reported by CNN. "It would be a striking paradox if the President, who alone is vested with the constitutional duty to 'take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, were the sole officer capable of defying those laws with impunity," the ruling stated. The judges also rejected Trump's claim that his criminal indictment would have a "chilling effect" on future presidents. Trump faces four counts from Smith's election subversion charges, including conspiring to defraud the United States and to obstruct an official proceeding. The former president has pleaded not guilty. The former President, who is running for a second term in the Presidential elections later this year, argued that he was working to "ensure election integrity" as part of his official capacity as president, and therefore he is immune from criminal prosecution for trying to overturn the election results. His lawyers, too, asserted that because the Senate acquitted Trump during impeachment proceedings, he is protected by double jeopardy and cannot be charged by the Justice Department for the same conduct. The district judge overseeing Trump's criminal case in DC rejected Trump's immunity arguments in December, stating that being a former President does not "confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass". Challenging the ruling, Trump promptly moved the DC Circuit, which agreed to expedite its review of the matter, CNN reported. The appeals court found that Trump is not protected from criminal prosecution under the separation of powers clause. 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! One person died and 5 others were injured in a shooting at a New York City subway station on Monday afternoon just ahead of the busy rush hour, official confirmed on Tuesday. No motive was given for the shooting. The officials said the shooting started at around 4.30 pm when stations throughout the city are usually filled with kids coming home from school and many workers are beginning their evening commute. A man in his 30s was killed, police said. Meanwhile, four people had serious injuries and one had minor wounds. "The train was coming and two kids were yelling," witness Efrain Feliciano (61) told the Daily News. "There were at least six shots." "I saw sparkles as the bullets hit the wall," Feliciano said. "A woman was holding a child screaming." Police detectives and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene conducting a fingerprint search following the shootings. "We are on scene at an ongoing investigation at the Mount Eden Avenue Station on the (subway) in the Bronx. Please avoid the area... Use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area," Kaz Daughtry, New York police deputy commissioner for operations, said on social media. Broadcasters showed that a subway train halted at a station, marked by orange evidence cones, three stops north of Yankee Stadium. Mass shooting common in US Mass shootings are common in the United States, where there are more guns than people and about a third of adults own a firearm. Polls show a majority of Americans favor stricter gun regulations, but the powerful gun lobby and mobilized voters supporting the country's culture of strong gun rights have repeatedly stymied lawmakers from taking action. New York has a lower homicide rate than many major US cities, and possession of firearms in public is illegal for civilians in almost all cases. (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! BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov arrived in Iran on a working visit, the press service of the head of the Russian region says, Trend reports. According to the information, his trip program includes official meetings and business negotiations in the capital Tehran and the city of Isfahan. It is reported that Minnikhanov will hold meetings with the ministers of oil, industry and the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Iran. Russia on Tuesday declared Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas a wanted" person over an undisclosed criminal case, said media reports. The Russian interior ministrys database of wanted people showed Kallas as wanted under the Criminal Code" without naming the charges, said the reports. Kallas has led Estonia since 2021. The interior ministry has also put Estonian state secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian culture minister Simonas Kairys on the wanted list. They were accused of destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers", according to Russian news agency TASS citing a source. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kaja Kallas had been put on a wanted list for hostile actions against Russia and the desecration of historical memory". Kaja Kallas has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. She has been spearheading efforts to increase military assistance to Kyiv and tighten sanctions against Russia. The Estonian prime minister has also angered Russia by pushing for the removal of monuments to Soviet World War II soldiers. Russia has laws criminalizing the rehabilitation of Nazis" that include clauses punishing the desecration of war memorials. It is the first time Russia has put a foreign leaders name on a wanted list. Russia will likely leverage its advantage in ammunition stockpiles this year and could occupy more Ukrainian territory if crucial aid isnt delivered to Kyiv, said a report by Bloomberg citing Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service report. If Western aid diminishes significantly in the coming years, Russia will be more likely to gradually occupy large Ukrainian territories with a massive, unskilled force, imposing unfavourable peace terms on Ukraine," the Estonian agency said. Russia has about three to four times more artillery than Ukrainian forces after boosting its ammunition production to as many as 4 million units last year, up from 600,000 rounds in 2022, it 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! Pakistan's parliamentary election results have presented a difficult situation in front of the political parties. No single party has met the majority mark to become eligible to form the government. Interestingly, 93 candidates backed by jailed former PM Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious in the election. However, it is not enough to form a government. As the biggest question of Who will be the next PM looms over the future of Pakistan, take a look at the latest updates in Pakistan election results and the potential PM candidates. Pakistan Elections: A look at parties' seat tally A total of 93 independent candidates backed by Imran Khan's PTI won the elections. The other two mainstream parties, led by Khan's rivals, the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by political dynasty scion Bilawal Bhutto Zardari won 75 and 54 seats each. None of the parties was able to secure the majority. What's the way ahead? It is clear that Imran Khan, despite owning public support, will not become the next prime minister of Pakistan. There have been coalition talks going on between PML-N and PPP after PTI-backed independents took the lead in the elections. The two parties are also looking to claim pacts with smaller parties and newly minted parliamentarians. Potential Pakistan PM candidates There are speculations that former PM Nawaz Sharif is one of the potential PM candidates. But he is not suited to lead a coalition because of his temperament, reported Bloomberg citing party insiders. However, there are still chances that he will become the next prime minister. Had we got a simple majority, Nawaz would have been the prime minister. However, under the current equation in Parliament, Nawaz is still in the race for the post of prime minister," PTI quoted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Irfan Saddique from his interview with a private news channel. On the other hand, his younger brother, Shehbaz, led a coalition after Khan was ousted from power and is regarded as more accommodating. Another on the list is Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, a former foreign minister, and son of Asif Ali Zardari. However, there is less chance that he would lead a government that came into existence through such a tainted election, reported Bloomberg. Another chance is for an outside candidate to become prime minister to win the support of both the rival parties. What will happen next? Now that the election results have been announced, Pakistan's president has to convene the inaugural session of the new National Assembly within 21 days of the election, ie February 29. During this session, lawmakers are sworn in and they elect a new prime minister through a parliamentary vote. After their swearing-in ceremony, they submit nomination papers for several key roles, including speaker and leader of the house. What do people have to say about Pakistan election results? Amid allegations of vote-rigging and protests, there is a great amount of public frustration with the way the election unfolded and votes were counted. Protests broke out across Pakistan after the election results. In many cases, dozens of people were arrested and the police had to use tear gas to disperse crowds in the country. Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami Party candidate forfeits seat to highlight rigging Amid the efforts to form a coalition, senior leader of Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami Party, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, on Monday forfeited his seat in the Sindh province that he won in Thursday's elections. He claimed that the seat belonged to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party-backed candidate who had won from the constituency he contested. Addressing a press conference, Rehman said that he took the step to highlight the alleged rigging in many constituencies during the Feb 8 polls. A PTI-backed independent candidate has won and I will not avail this seat," he said. He also claimed that PTI-backed independent candidate Saif Bari won the election according to his team's calculations. 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 U.S. and other oil-importing countries established the International Energy Agency in 1974, a year after the disruptions of the Arab oil embargo. The IEAs founders intended to create a multinational organization that would bolster energy security by providing authoritative data and analysis; scrutinizing energy markets, policies and geopolitics; and orchestrating responses to emergencies. But today the IEA looks more like a climate-obsessed nongovernmental organization. As IEA members gather this week in Paris, they should consider several steps to restore the agencys reputation and bolster energy security. For most of the past five decades, the IEA fulfilled its watchdog duties. It became the gold standard for timely data, impartial analysis and forecasts devoid of political bias. The agency navigated energy crises, providing data and policy coordination during the two Gulf Wars, the 2019 Iranian attack on Saudi Arabias Abqaiq oil facility, and various natural disasters affecting energy supply and basic energy trends. Unfortunately, in recent years, the IEA has succumbed to politicization and strayed from its security mission. In 2020 the IEA bowed to enormous pressure from climate activists and ceased publication of oil and gas demand forecasts that didnt show demand for those fuels would soon peak because of imaginary future climate policies. Green groups had been angry over IEA baseline forecasts showing what the activists regarded as too much oil and gas demand. This was because these baseline forecasts assumed only the laws currently on the books and didnt engage in conjecture about future green policies. As a result, IEAs influential demand forecasts now reflect wishful thinking about the timing and cost of a peak in oil and gas consumption. IEAs capitulation to political pressure transcends mere technical debates among energy-forecasting experts. Bullying the worlds respected energy authority to mislead the world into thinking that oil and gas demand will soon peak might align with the preferences of certain governments and activists. But the distortion and politicization of the IEAs once-respected forecasts pose significant risks. Skewing forecasts to signal a near-term peak in fossil-fuel demand perpetuates the myth that theres no need for further investment in new oil and gas fields. The IEA has announced that under its imaginary scenario, in which the world marches toward net zero" emissions, new investments in oil and gas wont be requiredand therefore none will be permitted. The media and activists have gleefully interpreted the IEAs observation as a plea by the worlds energy authority to ban new oil and gas investment, with little clarifying pushback from the IEA. In the past few weeks, the Biden administration has jumped on the IEAs forecast for a near-term peak in natural-gas demand, using it as a key rationale for halting the processing of applications for new liquefied natural gas projects. Basing decisions to limit or prohibit investments in oil and gas on official forecasts influenced by political agendas undermines energy security and borders on energy self-sabotage. Fossil fuels lifted humanity from millennia of squalor, darkness and immobility. For decades fossil fuels have accounted for 80% of global energy consumption. While renewables are growing strongly from a small base, oil and gas will continue to power modern society. By encouraging calls to ban oil and gas supply, an agency established to protect consumers against painful energy crises is helping to ensure the next one takes place. The IEAs cave-in to zealous green censors presents another significant risk: Without unbiased, policy-neutral baseline forecasts, elected officials cant evaluate the trade-offs, costs and benefits of energy and climate proposals. Pulling the wool over officials eyes is especially dangerous as policymakers propose radical and potentially exorbitant climate measures. President Biden wants to ban natural gas and coal, which account for 60% of the nations power generation, in all electric plants by 2035. Thats the same year some states plan to outlaw the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles. The world has enough climate NGOs. What it needs in a time of energy-roiling conflicts in Europe and the Middle East is an impartial and respected energy security agency. The U.S. and other IEA members should urge the agency to resume producing unbiased, policy-neutral forecasts. The IEA should also clarify that it opposes any disastrous halt in new oil and gas supply. And it should follow the example of the U.S. Energy Information Administration and make all taxpayer-financed IEA data, assumptions, and methodologies available to the public. The worlds energy-security watchdog has gone missing. With energy risks and challenges aplenty, all IEA members must restore the agencys credibility and walk it back to its vital security mission. Mr. McNally is an energy consultant and author of Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices." He served as a special assistant to the president on the National Economic Council, 2001-03. The people of Pakistan appear to have spoken if not resoundingly enough, at least loudly against the army's overwhelming dominance in the country's politics. However, with the recent election results returning a hung parliament, it seems the Pakistan Army remains influential regardless of the popular verdict. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was banned from contesting the polls, yet he managed enough popular support to have over 100 independents elected to the Pakistan Assembly, surpassing the numbers for both his rival parties - Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). It's expected that the Pakistan Army will encourage the PML-N and PPP to come to some sort of an agreement, reminiscent of their cooperation following Khans removal in 2022, with a few independents included. However, Khan's ability to overcome the several institutional hurdles placed in his way over the past year and more to still emerge as the most popular political actor in Pakistan indicates a potential decline in the army's influence over the country's politics. Any government without Khan at the helm will likely struggle to gain public trust and to carry out the necessary economic reforms and stabilize diplomatic relations, which are crucial for Islamabad. Having first to come to power on the back of army's support, Khan had soon turned against his benefactors believing his mass popularity would be enough to insulate him from further machinations of Pakistans deep state. However, this wasn't sufficient to keep him in office, though it did fuel significant unrest, including protests targeting the army. Khan's enduring popularity and his approach to politics reflect a global trend towards populism. Lack of moderation in political speech and action, and his inability to govern have been key elements of his political career so far. The recent election results, more favourable for him than expected, are likely to embolden him further, promising continued domestic political turmoil. The situation is unlikely to be much different for Islamabad's foreign policy front. Even all-weather friend China has been losing patience not just on the security front within Pakistan but at the inability of the countrys political class to enact any meaningful economic reforms. Chinese citizens have been regularly attacked and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has not progressed to the satisfaction of either the Pakistanis or the Chinese. Beijing has also become increasingly confident of reaching past Rawalpindi to Taliban-led Afghanistan while Irans decision last month to launch drone strikes against insurgents in Pakistans Balochistan province is a reminder of tensions on another of Pakistans borders. Given Pakistan's economic woes and the global context, one might expect a more cautious foreign policy. Yet, Khan and certain elements within Pakistan's deep state have consistently maintained a confrontational stance towards India and Western democracies. The current political landscape, marked by a hung parliament, will hinder any attempts at an outreach or breaking the ice with India amid an environment where political parties are likely to engage in competitive nationalism. It could also further isolate Pakistan internationally. What then of Indias approach towards its western neighbour? Is India in a position to exploit the situation? In a decade in power, Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has cycled through several phases in its approaches to Pakistan from attempts at bonhomie, through anger and kinetic responses to terror strikes on Indian soil. In this period, even as Pakistan's diplomatic capital and global relevance have shrunk, New Delhis have only increased. Its attention on external security and diplomatic fronts has also shifted decisively away from Pakistan towards China for all practical purposes. These reasons apart, India's current diplomatic leaders are both wary and weary of Pakistan, given the repeated failures to bridge differences, particularly over Kashmir. Under the circumstances and even without it being an election year in India, any peace initiatives from Pakistan's government or army are likely to be met with skepticism in New Delhi, if not ignored altogether. As long as Pakistan remains focused on its internal problems though, that should suit India just fine. Sonia Gandhi is likely to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, handing her Lok Sabha seat to daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , several media houses have reported citing people familiar with the developments. Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will contest in the Rajya Sabha polls on 27 February from a North India seat. According to NDTV, Sonia Gandhi is likely to be nominated from a seat in Rajasthan, and hand over contest the Lok Sabha polls from the family turf of Raebareli. News agency PTI reported Sonia Gandhi may be nominated by the party for the lone seat from Himachal Pradesh. If Sonia Gandhi makes the move to Rajya Sabha, handing over Raebareli to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, it would mark the firsts for the two Gandhi women. In case Sonia Gandhi settles for a Rajya Sabha seat, it would be the first stint in the Upper House for the 77-year-old leader, who is a five-term lawmaker of the Lok Sabha. If Priyanka Gandhi contests the Lok Sabha seats for Raebareli, this would be her first election. Sonia Gandhi had stated during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls that it was the last time she was contesting in the general elections. The Congress has to name candidates for election to Rajya Sabha seats from the states of Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tika Ram Jully urged the high command to announce Sonia Gandhi's candidature from Rajasthan. "We have requested the national president and the high command to nominate Sonia Gandhi to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. If she is elected from here, all the Congress workers from the state will be very happy," the Congress leader said. Top Congress leaders including Gandhi, the partys national alliance committee members Mukul Wasnik and Salman Khurshid, and treasurer Ajay Maken met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence to discuss the names of party candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on February 27. General secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal was also present in the meeting on Monday, Hindustan Times reported. The Congress is yet to announce any candidate for the biennial elections for 56 seats from 15 states. The last date for filing nominations is February 15 and elections will be held on February 27. Meanwhile, Congress also claimed that Ashok Chavan, who quit the party on Monday, had met Congress chief Kharge last week and conveyed that there is "tremendous pressure" on him from probe agencies to defect. 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! If Donald Trump is returned to the White House , which version will it be? The one who cajoled allies to spend more on defence, reinforced NATO troops on the eastern flank and began to arm Ukraine; or the one who threatened to leave the alliance and embraced Vladimir Putin? To judge from his latest election-campaign outrage, he is likely to prove the wrecker of the Western alliance. At a rally on February 10th Mr Trump, the near-certain Republican presidential nominee recounted how the leader of a big country" once asked him whether America would defend an ally that was delinquent" on its payments, presumably one that was not meeting the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. No, I would not protect you," Mr. Trump replied. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills." These words are Mr Trumps most damaging assault yet on NATO, and should set alarms ringing across the defence alliance. It does not much matter whether he was indulging in hyperbole or recounting an old conversation. Exhorting Russia to attack any NATO country in any way is to weaken the sacred promise of Article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty: that an attack on one ally is an attack on all; and that an attack on even the smallest ally is, in effect, an attack on America. Compare Mr Trumps demeaning of allies with President Joe Bidens warning to Russia that America will defend every inch" of NATO territory. The message of deterrence has worked since NATO was founded in 1949. After the end of the cold war NATO enabled the extension of democracy and economic prosperity to the countries of the former Soviet bloc. In the past two years Article 5, and the deployment of NATO forces in eastern Europe, has kept allies safe even as Russia has savaged Ukraine. NATO has given members confidence to help Ukraine defend itself. The alliance continues to attract members, most recently Finland and, soon, Sweden. But cast any doubt on Article 5, and the alliance is worth little. As deterrence is eroded, the risk of a future war will grow accordingly. The Don Mr Trump is scarcely the first president to complain of freeriding alliesand to do so has been justified. But he is turning a democratic alliance into a mobsters racket: no money, no American protection. Mr Trump claims his bluntness succeeded in getting allies to spend billions more on their defence. In 2017, his first year in office, just four of 29 NATO allies met the 2% target, according to NATO figures. By 2020, his last, this had risen to nine. Mr Trump certainly helped to push the allies. The bigger impulse was the growing threat from Russia: defence spending started to rise in 2015, before Mr Trumps time, and continued well after it. In 2023, with Mr Biden in power, 11 out of 31 allies made the 2% target; a majority will probably reach it this year. If elected, Mr Trumps second-term policies would depend in part on whom he appoints to leading positions. But his baleful influence is already being felt. Against the better judgment of most Republicans, Mr Trumps America first" devotees have for months blocked passage of a bill to renew military and civilian aid to Ukraine. Recent legislation requiring Congress to approve an actual American withdrawal from NATO would not be much of a restraint. Congress cannot stop a president from undermining NATO by, say, withdrawing American troops from Europe or simply refusing to stand by Article 5 and defend allies under attack. Mr Trump and his apologists in Congress boast that he prevented major wars on his watch because foes were scared of him. Speaking after Mr Trumps latest outburst, Senator Lindsey Graham said, Russia didnt invade anybody when he was president." Senator Marco Rubio said, I have zero concern, because hes been president before." By condoning his words, supposedly security-minded Republicans are only adding to the harm. With Russia pushing against embattled Ukrainian defenders and stepping up its military output, any weakening of NATO will raise the risk of a broader conflict. The idea that you can disregard Mr Trumps remarks on NATO, because his actual intent might be different, is fatally complacent. Deterrence works when the commitment to collective defence is absolute and unambiguous. By sowing doubt, Mr Trump has invited Russia and other enemies to test the Wests resolve. The Danish defence minister recently warned that Russia could probe NATO members commitment to Article 5 within three to five years. His counterpart in Britain said the country had to prepare for wars involving Russia, China, Iran or North Korea in the next five years. Europeans must act urgently to confront twin threats: attack by Russia and abandonment by America. Rather than moan about Mr Trump, they should get on with meeting the 2% target. They should also revise the threshold: 3% of GDP is probably what is now required to meet NATOs existing defence plans, and it would have to be higher without American help. America spent nearly 3.5% of GDP on defence last year. Europeans face a far greater threat. Europeans will need to invest in everything from ammunition to all the other things that America provides at scale: transport and refuelling aircraft, air defences, command-and-control systems and intelligence platforms ranging from satellites to drones. Europeans must not just spend more, but must spend better. They should buy more kit jointly and integrate their defence industries. To nudge laggards, they should agree that senior positions cannot be held by candidates from countries that do not meet minimum standards. This will serve three purposes: strengthen Europeans ability to help Ukraine and defend themselves against Russia; prove that Europeans are sharing the burden and that the alliance is a good deal for America; and create a hedge against abandonment by Mr Trump. The European Union has improved its defence capabilities in recent years but is not an alternative provider of security. Better for Europeans to think how to take over the existing structure of NATO if America leaves (while holding open the possibility that a post-Trump America might eventually seek to rejoin). One question would be whether to revise unanimity rules. Decision-making is hard enough with a benevolent American hegemonwitness the delays in admitting Finland and Sweden. It will be impossible in a shrunken alliance of small and medium-sized allies. The most sensitive issue will be how Europes two nuclear-weapons states, Britain and France, can provide greater deterrence for European allies in the absence of an American nuclear umbrella. They currently have only about 500 warheads between them, compared with more than 5,000 for America and nearly 6,000 for Russia. And the creation of a European-wide nuclear deterrent would involve deeply sensitive questions: France would doubtless see its vital interests at stake in an attack on Germany, but would it extend its assurance to eastern Europe? How long could Britain maintain its nuclear warheads and missiles, the latter drawn from a stockpile shared with America, if the occupant of the White House were to sever co-operation? The undermining of NATO is a threat to all Americas alliances. As the post-war system begins to crumble, and Americas leaders cast doubt on their countrys role as a guarantor of security, its allies around the world will feel more vulnerable. Frightened countries may go their own way, rearming and perhaps even seeking to acquire their own nuclear weapons. Even if this is defensive, it will be seen as threatening by their foes. That is why Mr Trumps comments threaten to make the world a much more dangerous place, not least for America itself. In spite of this, Mr Trumps words mean that Europe has no choice but to rearm, not least because Europes weakness is itself a cause of instability. The best way to preserve the Western allianceand to limit the damage should a hostile Mr Trump come to poweris to prepare for a more insecure era. Even then, be under no illusion that rearming can fully replace the loss of American power. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Now, where was I" Jon Stewart said in his return to The Daily Show," which he left in 2015 after 16 years as the anchor of the satirical news show. It was the premiere of the shows 29th season, which Stewart will host on Monday nights through the presidential election in November. After warming up with a bit about Super Bowl conspiracies, Stewart kicked off the shows election-season coverage with a roughly 20-minute volley of jokes and commentary on the mental infirmity and elderly status of both presumptive candidates for president. He juxtaposed examples of President Bidens memory lapses under questioning by special counsel with old clips of Donald Trump citing spotty memory during depositions. Turns out that the leading cause of early-onset dementia," Stewart said, is being deposed." The host also parsed Bidens recent press conference, widely considered disastrous, then took aim at the presidents debut on TikTok with a clip of Biden talking about cookies. How do you go on TikTok and end up looking older?" Stewart said. The 61-year-old host mocked his own advancing age (Perhaps it was my mistake for sleeping in a meat dehydrator," he said) before building up to a nonpartisanif not exactly optimisticmessage about the grueling work of maintaining democracy. The good news is, Im not saying you dont have to worry about who wins the election. Im saying you have to worry about every day before it and every day after, forever," he said. Later segments featured members of the shows election coverage team planning to spend the next nine months at a Michigan diner, a desk segment with veteran Daily Show" correspondent Jordan Klepper and an interview with the editor in chief of the Economist, Zanny Minton Beddoes, who weighed in on the influence of culture wars on global affairs. A familiar format From his signature scribbling on his blue pages of notes to his deadpan stares at the camera, Stewarts return seemed intended to transport fans back to the peak era of satirical news. After he took over The Daily Show" in 1999, he sharpened its skewering of politics and media with help from future star correspondents including Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee and John Oliver. Stewarts opening take on the headlines became a fixture in the news cycle, as did his interviews with politicians and pundits trying to prove they were in on the joke. During Stewarts tenure, The Daily Show" went on a 10-year winning streak at the Emmys. Comedy Central ran ads plugging Stewarts return as a second term we can all agree on." It was a riff on the nations collective fretting about four more years of either Joe Biden or Donald Trump, and a nod to the stated Daily Show" agenda of mocking both political parties. Still, the success of the second-time host himself hardly seems like a lock. Will it work? The length of Stewarts absence from The Daily Show" has raised the stakes on his return. The political landscape he once lampooned, with its conservative-liberal binary, seems simpler in retrospect. Content geysers like TikTok have swamped the monolithic media institutions he targeted. Now late-night TV is less about appointment viewing than feeding next-day internet clips. And though Stewart is a veteran of balancing satire and seriousness while tackling heavy topicsfor example, the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraqit remains to be seen whether his sardonic style will still resonate with either past fans or potential new ones. In addition to covering the 2024 presidential election, Stewarts assignment is to reset The Daily Show" for its next chapter. Though he signed on to host the show on Mondays only through the presidential election in November, he was rehired full time as executive producer to steer the show behind the scenes through at least 2025. After Stewarts successor Trevor Noah departed the show in 2022, more than a dozen celebrity guest hosts have taken turns at the desk, including Leslie Jones and Kal Penn. Now Stewart will share hosting duties with a tighter inner circle from the Daily Show" news team. A rotation of correspondents will be hosting the show Tuesday through Thursday. Call it a comeback Ahead of his Daily Show" return, Stewart said he was compelled to come off the sidelines. Its not just about the election. If you want to be present in this world, you have to be present in this conversation. You have to be as relentless and tenacious as the counternarrative thats being formed," he said in an episode of a Daily Show" podcast released shortly before his premiere. After leaving The Daily Show," Stewart continued his advocacy for military veterans and 9/11 first responders. He wrote and directed his second feature film, 2020s Irresistible," a political comedy starring former Daily Show" correspondent Steve Carell, which didnt make much of an impact. In the fall of 2021, he returned to television, anchoring a show for Apple TV+ called The Problem with Jon Stewart." The show took a comparatively serious, in-depth approach to topics, such as the harm caused by military burn pits. He produced 20 episodes before Apple ended the show last year. Back on The Daily Show" Monday, Stewart said he didnt claim to have any answers. So whats the good news?" he asked at one point, adding, That was not a rhetorical framing. I was literally asking you." Write to John Jurgensen at John.Jurgensen@wsj.com Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan on Tuesday morning announced that he would be formally joining the BJP today. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today...I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra." Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday. Sources close to the party further revealed some MLAs and office bearers of the Congress party are also likely to follow him. After submitting his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole, he told reporters on Monday, "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership." Ashok Chavan served in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms from 1999 to May 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010, when he was forced to resign due to corruption allegations linked to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. Dirty political game: Prithviraj Chavhan Meanwhile, several Congress leaders condemned the move, calling it a 'dirty political' game. Party leader Prithviraj Chavhan said, "Our senior colleague Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party and also as the MLA. It's a sad decision. This had been talked about for a long time. We didn't think he would make this decision. He was made the state CM on two occasions. What went wrong, who was he upset about--only he will tell about this. This is very tragic. All members of the Congress Legislative Party are together. BJP leaders are spreading rumours that some people are in touch with them," Chavan said while addressing the media. "It is really surprising. This hasn't happened in Maharashtra before. It is totally a dirty political game by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," he added. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "It is clear that the special washing machine functioning in our country is very powerful...The exit of some people doesn't mean Congress will break...There is some sadness but this won't affect the party." 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 light of the ' Delhi Chalo ' protest march, authorities have heightened security measures at the city's border areas by deploying multiple layers of barricades, concrete barriers, iron spikes, and container walls. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with over 200 unions heading, are marching towards Delhi on Tuesday. Earlier, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha declared that over 200 farmer unions will mobilize towards Delhi to urge the government to fulfil their demands, such as implementing legislation to ensure a minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce. Also Read: Farmers Delhi Chalo Protest LIVE: Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Shabhu border; several detained In the midst of renewed calls for protest, the notable absence of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has drawn attention. Tikait played a pivotal role in the 2020 farmers' protest, which ultimately pressured the government to repeal three contentious farm laws. However, significant shifts have occurred within the farmers' unions since then. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, which were instrumental in leading the 2020 protest, are not prominently featured at the forefront of the current movement. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday joined the demonstrators in Greater Noida, where his Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) members have been staging protests outside the local authority office. Also Read: Farmers protest: Delhi airport issues advisory for commuters. See roads to avoid, alternate routes However, in a press conference, the General Secretary of BKU, Harinder Singh Lakhowal stated that while they do not endorse the decision of farmer organizations associated with the SKM (non-political) to march to Delhi on February 13 but also warned that if the farmers face manhandling, then all the farmer organizations will unitedly come out on the streets to render support. However, BKU Lakhowal leaders have said that their plan for the 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' protest is scheduled for February 16. The call for the Gramin Bharat Bandh has been issued by various organizations, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), to emphasize their outstanding demands for the agricultural sector. Also Read: Delhi Govt rejects proposal to convert Bawana Stadium into jail due to farmers' protest Besides farmers' groups, traders and transporters have also been asked to support the cause and observe a work strike that day, said Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). "We have called for a 'Bharat bandh' on February 16. Several farmers' groups are part of it, including the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Farmers should also not go to their farms on that day and strike work. Earlier also farmers skipped the day of 'Amavasya' from working on the fields. Likewise, February 16 is 'Amavasya' only for farmers. They should not work that day and resort to 'agriculture strike'. This will send a big message in the country," he told reporters in Muzaffarnagar. Also Read: How to reach Delhi today amid farmers' protest. Check routes, traffic advisories "We are also appealing to traders (for support) and people should also not make any purchase that day. We appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in support of the farmers and labourers," he said. (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! Maharashtra news: A day after quitting the Congress, a party he has been a part of for over 50 years, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party today, said his office on Tuesday. Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday. He submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole. "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership," Chavan said. He is the third big name to desert the grand old party's ship in Maharashtra. First to go was the former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. According to a report, more MLAs and office bearers of Maharashtra Congress are also likely to follow the suit. Congress leaders have condemned the move and have called it a 'dirty political' game. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavhan said that Ashok Chavan's resignation is a sad decision but it had been talked about for quite some time now. "Our senior colleague Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party and also as the MLA. It's a sad decision. This had been talked about for a long time. We didn't think he would make this decision. He was made the state CM on two occasions. What went wrong, who was he upset about--only he will tell about this," he said. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had also jibed saying that the 'washing machine' of BJP is very powerful. "It is clear that the special washing machine functioning in our country is very powerful...The exit of some people doesn't mean Congress will break...There is some sadness, but this won't affect the party." In his time with the party, Ashok Chavan was the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. Chavan served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP. Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. 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 star of Ukrainian films and TV series, Vitalina Bibliv, could not hold back her tears as she spoke about her relatives in occupation and her friends in Russia, who turned away from her in the most difficult time. The goddaughter of the actress's father cynically claimed that the Ukrainians had staged a "play in Bucha," so the actress cut off contact with her. ADVERTISIMENT She did the same with her friends in Russia, who were "very empathetic" but did not leave the country and continue to pay taxes to the Kremlin. Vitalina Bibliv spoke about this in an interview with Alina Dorotiuk. A resident of the Russian Federation who kept in touch with the star of the TV series Servant of the People, Lucy the Intern, and House of Fortune did not believe that Ukrainians were being terrorized. She cynically stated that she was "proud to be Russian" when the Russian army was killing, looting, and torturing Ukrainians. "We don't keep in touch with my dad's goddaughter after she wrote that Bucha was a staged event. I realized that I could not continue to have a dialog with her. It's like telling a fool that he is a fool. I wished her all the best and that her child would never know what Bucha is. I don't want to know her. I had other friends who were very empathetic. One of them left Russia, and I still keep in touch with her. I stopped talking to the others," said Vitalina Bibliv. ADVERTISIMENT The actress could not hold back her tears, saying that every Ukrainian was affected by the war, and her family was no exception. The star's relatives from the Kherson region have been living under occupation for more than a year. "We don't have a single person in the country who hasn't been affected. My aunt and uncle have been under occupation for more than a year, and we haven't been in touch with them for two weeks. We don't know how they are, where they are," the actress said, wiping away her tears. ADVERTISIMENT Despite this, the actress decided not to wait for "another life" but to spend every day as if it were her last, rejoicing in the opportunity to wake up in the morning. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is set to file her nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on February 14. Reports quoting sources indicate that the five-time Lok Sabha MP is likely to opt for the Rajasthan seat currently held by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Congress is comfortably placed to win Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Sonia Gandhi is likely to be declared as the Rajya Sabha candidate from the party. She is likely to file nomination on Wednesday," sources told news agency PTI. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge has held several meetings with Gandhi in recent weeks as the Congress works to finalise its candidates for Rajya Sabha polls. The Rajasthan PCC has reportedly urged the party leadership to nominate Gandhi for the Rajya Sabha seat and currently remains Gandhi's top choice. However a final decision is likely to be taken on Tuesday night with sources noting that other state units of the Congress have also made offers for her to file the nomination. The development come on the heels of reports indicating that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the family turf of Rae Bareli. Sonia Gandhi had stated during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls that it would be the last time she was contesting the general elections. (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! JERUSALEMRafah, on Gazas southern edge, is now a city of tents, and the epicenter of one of the worst humanitarian disasters in years. Yet a deadly mix of war, politics and logistics is choking off emergency aid, and the scale of suffering has raised international pressure on Israel ahead of an anticipated offensive. More than 1.3 million civilians, which amounts to over half of the Gaza Strips population, have fled fighting in the Palestinian enclave and crowded into Rafah, normally home to about 300,000 residents. Families shelter from rain and cold beneath plastic sheets strung up along roadsides. Tents from international donors have been sold for $500 on the black market by families desperate to raise money for food. People make fires with plastic refuse to bake flatbread. Four months into Israels invasion of Gaza, many residents say they havent received any aid. We have to buy every single thing. We pay so much money just for food each day. We dont have cooking gas. When we find wood, we make a fire to cook lentils or pasta. Otherwise all we have is canned food," said Suha Arafat, 47 years old. She lives in a storage room in Rafah with her husband, five children and three other families. Aid deliveries are hindered by the wars intensity, the closure of Gazas borders by Israel and Egypt, and strict inspections and restrictions by Israel on what goods can enter Gaza and where they can go. The aid shortfall is made worse by the size of the displaced population and the unpreparedness of the United Nations for the scale of need. Assistance is further hampered by anarchy and pervasive looting within the Gaza Strip. Israel, Egypt and the U.N. each say they are doing the best they can to facilitate emergency deliveries and have blamed each other for the crisis. Israel, which is seeking to destroy Hamas, said the Palestinian Islamist militant group is seizing some of the aid. Fear is growing that the Israeli military will launch a ground offensive against Hamas in the Rafah area. The U.S. and European countries worry such a battle would cause mass fatalities, squeeze already scarce aid and leave displaced Palestinians with nowhere to go. The war has so far killed more than 28,000 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities. The figures dont distinguish between civilians and combatants. The deepening humanitarian crisis and the death toll are fueling frustration in the Biden administration. President Biden has broadly supported Israel in the war, but he has become increasingly critical of how Israel is waging its campaign and is pressing for a cease-fire deal. The war has divided Democratic voters whom Biden needs for his re-election bid. A battle for Rafah could further alienate left-leaning voters angry over the level of civilian suffering. Rafah is the last bastion of Hamas, and its militants are sheltering among civilians there, according to Israel. Hamas, which the U.S., EU and others have designated a terrorist organization, triggered the war with the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. The U.S. has urged Israel not to launch a major assault in Rafah without a credible plan to safeguard refugees. Israel wants the U.S. and Gulf Arab countries to fund tent cities in southwestern Gaza so people can shelter there before Israeli forces move into Rafah. Most of the humanitarian aid to Gaza passes through Rafah, where the U.N. and nongovernmental organizations run their operations. With only a trickle of commercial goods entering Gaza, these organizations remain the only means for filling basic needs. Finding clean water and food is a daily struggle. Most people often go a full day without eating, according to residents and the World Food Program. Flour costs as much as 10 times its prewar price, residents said. Many people are making bread with grains used to feed animals. Women limit how much water they drink to avoid hours in line at filthy public toilets. Ive never seen anything as desperate, complex and challenging," said Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at World Central Kitchen, a Washington-based nonprofit that provides meals in crisis zones. When Bloch arrived in Rafah in December, he said, the town had trees. Almost all of them have since been chopped down for firewood. By the time I left, people were digging up the roots of those trees to cook with, to make a cup of tea," he said. Hard border After Hamass Oct. 7 attack, Israel blocked all goods and aid from entering the Gaza Strip. Following U.S. pressure, Israel allowed food, water, some medical and shelter supplies and limited amounts of fuel. Around 170 relief trucks enter Gaza daily through Rafah and the nearby crossing of Kerem Shalom on the Israel side of the border. Before the war, an average of 500 commercial trucks and 100 aid trucks a day passed into the enclave. Aid deliveries are closely examined by Egyptian and Israeli authorities before they enter. Getting aid into Gaza is just part of the problem. The U.N., which oversees the humanitarian effort, has limited capabilities within the strip. Moving the aid to other parts of Gaza is dangerous because of the war. At night, criminal gangs pounce on aid trucks. On a recent day, a convoy of U.N. aid trucks left Rafah before dawn for the northern part of Gaza. The trucks waited hours at an Israeli army checkpoint. By midmorning, a crowd looted four of the six trucks. Looting is so common that the U.N. has coined the euphemism, spontaneous self-distribution. Israel is under international pressure to do more to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where most of its 2.3 million people are displaced and without adequate access to medical care. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from his far-right allies for allowing any aid. The minimal aid we committed to is an important condition for the continuation of the war, because if there is a large humanitarian collapse, we cant continue the war," he told reporters last week. Israel in December reopened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza to allow the U.N. and NGOs to increase aid. More recently, Israel allowed flour shipments for Gaza to be unloaded in its port of Ashdod. Protesters have repeatedly blocked humanitarian convoys at both locations. We are feeding our enemy," said Rachel Touito, one of the protest organizers. Overwhelmed Before Oct. 7, the U.N. had an emergency plan for a war in Gaza. It mapped out shelters and matched various tasks to international agencies and aid groups. U.N. staff planned to manage the humanitarian response from Gaza City in the north, where a bunker stored food and communications equipment. The plans worst-case scenario estimated around 500,000 displaced people. The plan collapsed on Oct. 11, when senior U.N. officials received a late-night call from the Israeli military instructing U.N. staff to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an aerial bombing campaign. The only U.N. agency with a Gaza-wide network was the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. Unrwa, the largest U.N. operation in Gaza, runs schools, healthcare facilities and other services but doesnt normally handle emergency aid. It quickly pivoted to aid delivery. We had to rethink completely, restart from scratch our operations in the south," said Andrea De Domenico, who heads the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza and the West Bank. The only thing we could do was to piggyback on Unrwas presence." Israel recently alleged that 10% of Unrwa staff in Gaza were affiliated with Hamas and that a dozen Unrwa employees took part in the Oct. 7 attacks. Unrwa fired employees allegedly involved. The U.S. and other Western donors have suspended funding, raising fears about the consequences. If Unrwa stops, the response stops," said Scott Anderson, who is overseeing Unrwas aid distribution in Gaza. If we are not paying staff, I dont know how anybody will be delivering aid." Israel wants Unrwa reformed or abolished, but not yet. The Israeli military, fearing troops will end up dealing with mass starvation, has been lobbying the U.S. to restore Unrwas funding until the end of the war. Without Unrwa there is no humanitarian aid in Gaza," an Israeli military official said. Before the war, most humanitarian aid and commercial goods for Gaza entered via Israel. Aid now has to go through Egypt, which was ill-equipped for the job. The U.N. and other aid groups are dependent on the Egyptian Red Crescent, or ERC, a local affiliate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which oversees the movement of the bulk of humanitarian goods from Egypt to the Gaza border. The ERC struggled with the size of the task, but the Egyptian government wants it to stay in the lead, Israeli and U.N. officials said. The ERC acknowledges it is short of warehouses and trained staff but has expanded the number of volunteers. The U.N. has limited say on which goods should be given priority, which makes it harder for the U.N. to meet its target of sending 100 trucks of food a day into Gaza. Israeli and U.N. officials say donations from Arab countries, distributed in Gaza by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, often take precedence. We do not reject anything," said Khaled Zayed, a senior ERC official. He said many donor countries are sending goods to Egypt without a plan for their storage or distribution. Delays at the Egyptian checkpoints and at the crossings with Gaza means it often takes two weeks for humanitarian goods to reach the strip. Security and political requirements on both sides of the Gaza border, first by Egyptian and then by Israeli authorities, mean that goods have to be unloaded and reloaded in new trucks at least four times. Israel says it doesnt limit the amount of aid within permitted categories and blames the U.N. and other aid groups for lacking the capacity to deliver more. The U.N. says it could expand operations if Israel allowed more trucks, communications equipment, generators and other equipment. Israel officials say the gear might end up in the hands of Hamas. The U.N. is pressing Israel to allow it to build a protective wall from Kerem Shalom to Rafah to protect aid convoys from criminal gangs. This week, men armed with knives and sticks assaulted truck drivers for the first time on the route. Still bombing To avoid getting hit in the crossfire between Israels military and Hamas, the U.N. and aid groups share their movements with both sides. Missions to northern Gaza require Israeli military approval. More than half of requests since the beginning of this year have been denied, the U.N. said, sharply limiting aid in the north. Israeli authorities didnt respond to requests for comment. Extensive blackouts of mobile-phone and internet connections across Gaza have left aid groups dependent on a limited number of satellite phones. Teams delivering aid often cant communicate. World Central Kitchens main facility in Gaza provides around 30,000 hot meals and meal kits in Rafah every day. Getting food beyond Rafah is a struggle. Moving even a few miles can take hours because of crowds, combat and checkpoints. Bloch, of World Central Kitchen, took part in some of the few U.N.-led convoys to the north. You are driving into an active war zone, there is still bombing," he said. Many roads are little more than rubble and mud. Every bit of food we got to the north was more well-received than in any place we delivered food in the world," Bloch said. In my 19 years of doing this, I never saw desperation like I have seen in northern Gaza." In Rafah, Noha Saadawi is desperate for diapers for her 1-year-old baby, the youngest of her three children. The only ones she can find cost the equivalent of $55 a package. She cant find baby formula, but on the black market she can buy a kilo of powdered milk. It is labeled as a humanitarian donation but sells for the equivalent of $10. Israeli airstrikes, part of a special-forces operation that freed two hostages, killed dozens of civilians in Rafah on Monday, according to Palestinian health authorities. Some humanitarian organizations, including World Central Kitchen, are pulling staff from Gaza in response. Saadawi fears what might come next. We dont know where we would go," she said. Carrie Keller-Lynn and Menna Farouk contributed to this article. Write to Margherita Stancati at margherita.stancati@wsj.com WASHINGTONPresident Bidens drive to send more aid to Ukraine was set to take a big step forward, with the Senate poised to pass a $95.3 billion package that also includes aid for Israel and other allies following months of political wrangling on Capitol Hill. The Senates final passage, expected for early Tuesday, comes amid intense GOP infighting over Ukraine, which has been running short of supplies and manpower after a failed counteroffensive against Russia last year. The measure cleared a procedural hurdle late Monday, by a vote of 66 to 33, and a final vote was expected within hours. Once the bill passes, it would go to the GOP-controlled House, where it faces an uncertain fate due to the greater power of Ukraine skeptics and influence of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who has opposed more aid and recently suggested turning the aid package into a loan. Some lawmakers are demanding a crackdown on the U.S. border as a condition for any aid, relitigating demands from last year, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) has kept his options open. Proponents of the Senate bill argued the U.S. risks its own security and the current global order if it turns inward and ignores the rise of authoritarian forces around the world. More than a dozen Republicans, led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), locked arms with Democrats on backing Ukraine as part of a package that also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan. They painted the vote in stark terms. Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah), who isnt running for re-election, called the Ukraine measure the most important vote we will ever take as U.S. senators." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said of opponents: These modern-day Neville Chamberlains ignore the warnings of history: The appetites of autocrats are never-ending." Sen. Jerry Moran (R., Kan.) choked up when he acknowledged that his constituents might not agree with his support for the aid package, but he felt it was a rare moment in his career when his vote truly mattered. I believe in America First, but unfortunately America First means we have to engage in the world," Moran said. Americas enemies are on the march, he said, adding, Its always easier, I suppose, to look the other way." Some Republican opponents described continued aid for the war efforts as folly, arguing that America doesnt have the resources to keep supporting Kyivor that President Vladimir Putin would prevail anyway. Other GOP opponents insisted that the U.S. needed to better secure its own border before providing more aid overseas, trying to restart a legislative fight that stalled out last week after Republicans rejected as inadequate a bipartisan compromise devised by Sens. James Lankford (R., Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I., Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D., Conn.). Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) said that this bill is the middle finger to every working man and woman in America." He said that it tells Americans, We dont care about you. We care more about Ukraine than we care about our southern border." If youre concerned about the Ukrainian people, you ought to do everything you can to bring this war to an end," said Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.), who opposed the bill. Again, thats not to say Im supporting Putin. Hes an evil war criminal. But he will not lose, hes not going to lose. And at some point in time, people here need to recognize that reality." Congress took four separate votes to appropriate more than $110 billion for Ukraine in 2022, when Democrats controlled both chambers and the White House, but provided no money for Ukraine last year once Republicans won the House. The new aid package would contain the largest single infusion of aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion, providing about $60 billion related to Ukraine, with much of that available through Sept. 30, 2025. That includes some $20 billion to replenish U.S. stockpiles drawn down during earlier rounds of support to Ukraine, and $13.8 billion to help Ukraine buy weapons and munitions from the U.S. It also includes $7.85 billion to help sustain Ukraines governmenta reduction from the $11.8 billion requested by the Biden administrationand a prohibition on using the funds to cover pensions for Ukrainians. The bill also includes $14.1 billion for Israel, both for missile-defense systems and to help Israel finance other weaponry, and $9.15 billion to provide food, water and other humanitarian aid in hot spots including Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine. It provides $2.4 billion to support U.S. operations related to attacks by the Houthis on global shipping operations in the Red Sea. It wraps in a separate sanctions and anti-money-laundering measure aimed at cracking down on groups bringing deadly fentanyl into the U.S. Many House Republicans expect Johnson, a Trump ally, to revive a push to link border security to the funding package. House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border," Johnson said in a statement on Monday. He said the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters." Support for Ukraine has softened after an early burst of support in 2022, with Republican backing shifting noticeably as Trump has railed against more aid. In a December 2023 Wall Street Journal poll, some 56% of Republicans said that the U.S. was already doing too much to help Ukraine, compared with 11% who said America wasnt doing enough. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), a military hawk who has opposed the Ukraine package due to lack of border provisions, said in a statement that the money to Ukraine should be converted into a loan, as suggested by Trump. President Trump is right to insist that we think outside the box," said Graham, who is skipping the annual Munich Security Conference, where he had been scheduled to be a marquee attendee this weekend. Those sentiments were repeated by other Republican lawmakers, who spoke by phone to Trump Monday night about the loan idea. Its a brilliant idea," said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R., Okla.), who has taken criticism from Republicans for voting to advance the aid package. Write to Siobhan Hughes at Siobhan.hughes@wsj.com and Lindsay Wise at lindsay.wise@wsj.com Elon Musk -owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) will soon allow advertisers to place ads next to a curated list of content creators with its new Creator Targeting feature. Advertisers will now be able to choose to have their ads run before videos from specific creators, and these ads will be visible in the user's home timeline and on the creator's profile. Also Read | Elon Musk's plan for colonising Mars: Mapping out a game plan to get Announcing the update in a blog post, the company said.We are enabling a new opportunity for advertisers to connect to their customers by aligning with some of the worlds best content creators." Starting this month, advertisers on X can run ads against a curated list of premium content creators via Creator Targeting. This means giving advertisers more control to be able to use the self-serve X Ads Manager to run pre-roll video ads against the video content of their chosen creator(s) in both the home timeline and profile." The social media company said it will soon add the ability to serve ads to individual creator's profiles, eliminating the chance of an ad appearing next to a controversial post. Musk has had a shaky relationship with advertisers since he took over the company in a $44 billion deal in 2022, and according to a Bloomberg report, X's ad revenue has fallen by more than 50% since Musk took over the company. Meanwhile, just last year, X's ad revenue was around $2.5 billion, well short of the $3 billion target set by the company. Recently, many high-profile advertisers, including Apple, Disney and IBM, pulled their ads from the platform in response to allegations that Musk had posted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. In response, the billionaire had also hit back at advertisers, telling them to "go f*ck yourself" at the New York Times DealBook event a few days later. But the new feature could be seen as an attempt to assuage advertisers' concerns and recoup lost revenue. 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! While most of us would like to start our day by exercising or reading a book to calm our minds, Google CEO Sundar Pichai doesn't. Instead, the 51-year-old executive begins his day by visiting a niche tech aggregator website called Techmeme. However, Picha is not alone in his love of Techmeme, as other tech executives have shown their admiration for the site in the past, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft's Satya Nadella and former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, who have all confessed to being readers of the site. Techmeme was started in 2005 by former Intel engineer Gabe Rivera as an automated news site that rounded up links from mainstream outlets and obscure technology blogs. Explaining the reasoning behind Techmeme's popularity in an interaction with BusinessInsider, Rivera said, Techmeme is the first read for execs in tech everywhere because we're dead set on providing the 'executive summary' experience they demand. For instance, importance-ranked, highly detailed headlines, alongside a density of links providing context and a sense of reach. No trivialities or clickbait. And of course, no popups, videos, or intrusive ads," Other aspects of Sundar Pichai's morning routine: Notably, Pichai had also revealed many aspects of his morning routine in an interview with Recode in 2016. Back then, Pichai said that he woke up every morning around 6:30 or 7 am and read the physical copy of Wall Street Journal and online version of the New York Times along with his tea to get his day started. Pichai had also said that he is very particular about getting his protein and has an omellete along with a toast in the morning. Bard renamed to Gemini: In other news, Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently also revealed the reason behind changing the name of Google Bard chatbot to Gemini in an interaction with CNBC. He said, "For us, Gemini is our approach overall in terms of how we are building our most capable and safe AI model and Bard was the most direct way that people could interact with our models so it really made sense to just evolve it to be Gemini because you are talking directly to the underlying Gemini model when you use it." 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! Art has been a powerful medium of expression throughout human history, reflecting the cultural, social, and philosophical landscapes of different eras. Two significant periods in the history of art are Modernism and the Renaissance, each marked by distinct styles, ideologies, and approaches to creativity. In this article, well delve into the similarities, the importance of the message, and the distinct differences in styles between Modern Art and Renaissance Art. Similarities: Despite the apparent contrast in style and technique, Modern Art and Renaissance Art share some fundamental similarities. Both periods placed importance on human expression, albeit in different ways. While Renaissance artists sought to portray the human form with anatomical precision and idealized beauty, modern artists often challenged conventional representations, focusing on emotion, abstraction, and individual perspectives. Importance of the Message: One common thread between Modern Art and Renaissance Art is the emphasis on conveying messages and ideas through artistic expression. Renaissance artists often depicted religious themes, mythological narratives, and historical events to communicate moral, spiritual, and cultural values prevalent during that time. Similarly, modern artists used their work to critique society, explore existential questions, and challenge established norms, aiming to provoke thought and evoke emotional responses from viewers. Distinct Differences in Styles: Perhaps the most apparent difference between Modern Art and Renaissance Art lies in their styles and techniques. Renaissance art is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, realistic proportions, and balanced compositions, exemplified by the works of masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. In contrast, Modern Art encompasses a diverse range of movements and styles, from the bold colors and geometric forms of Cubism to the spontaneous brushwork of Abstract Expressionism. Modern artists embraced experimentation, innovation, and subjectivity, rejecting traditional academic conventions in favor of personal expression and individual interpretation. While Modern Art and Renaissance Art represent distinct periods in art history, they both reflect the human experience and the evolving nature of creativity. Whether through meticulous craftsmanship or daring experimentation, artists throughout the ages have sought to capture the essence of their time, leaving behind a legacy of beauty, innovation, and cultural significance. By appreciating the similarities, understanding the importance of the message, and acknowledging the distinct differences in styles, we gain a deeper insight into the rich tapestry of artistic expression that spans centuries and continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. Exploring Auction Prices: Modern Art vs. Renaissance Art The world of art auctions is a fascinating realm where masterpieces from different periods and styles command staggering prices, reflecting the intrinsic value and historical significance attached to these works. In this article, well delve into the auction prices of Modern Art and Renaissance Art, examining the factors that influence their value and the trends observed in the art market. Auction Prices of Modern Art: Modern Art, with its diverse range of movements and styles, has captured the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts around the globe. From the groundbreaking works of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse to the bold abstractions of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, Modern Art encompasses a wide array of artistic expressions that continue to resonate with audiences today. At art auctions, prices for Modern Art can vary widely depending on factors such as the artists reputation, the rarity of the work, its provenance, and its condition. Iconic pieces like Picassos Les Femmes dAlger or Rothkos No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) have fetched record-breaking sums, reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Auction Prices of Renaissance Art: In contrast, Renaissance Art represents a golden age of creativity and cultural flourishing in Europe, characterized by meticulous craftsmanship, harmonious compositions, and profound symbolism. Works by Renaissance masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael are revered for their technical skill and timeless beauty. Renaissance artworks, often depicting religious or mythological themes, hold a special place in art history and continue to command high prices at auctions. Pieces like da Vincis Salvator Mundi and Michelangelos David are among the most coveted and valuable artworks in the world, with prices reaching astronomical figures when they occasionally come to market. Factors Influencing Auction Prices: Several factors contribute to the auction prices of both Modern Art and Renaissance Art. The artists reputation and provenance play a significant role, as works by renowned masters or pieces with prestigious ownership histories tend to command higher prices. Additionally, the condition of the artwork, its size, and its significance within the artists oeuvre can impact its value. Market demand, economic conditions, and trends in the art world also influence auction prices, with collectors and investors vying for prized pieces to add to their portfolios. Art auctions serve as a barometer of the art market, reflecting the tastes, preferences, and investment behaviors of collectors and institutions worldwide. While Modern Art and Renaissance Art differ in style, period, and cultural context, they share a common allure that transcends time and geography. Whether its the avant-garde innovations of the modernists or the classical elegance of the Renaissance masters, art enthusiasts continue to be captivated by the beauty and significance of these timeless treasures, driving auction prices to unprecedented heights. Determining the most collectible modern artists is subjective and can vary based on factors such as personal taste, art market trends, and the reputation of the artist. However, several modern artists have achieved widespread acclaim and consistently high demand for their work, making them highly collectible. Some of these artists include: Pablo Picasso: A pioneering figure in Modern Art, Picassos innovative approach to Cubism and his prolific output across various mediums have cemented his status as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Andy Warhol: Renowned for his Pop Art movement, Warhols iconic images of celebrities, consumer products, and everyday objects have become synonymous with contemporary culture, making his works highly sought after by collectors. Jackson Pollock: A leading figure in Abstract Expressionism, Pollocks revolutionary drip painting technique and his exploration of subconscious expression have earned him a prominent place in art history and a dedicated following among collectors. Mark Rothko: Known for his large-scale color field paintings, Rothkos emotive and atmospheric canvases evoke a profound sense of spirituality and contemplation, attracting collectors drawn to his minimalist yet powerful aesthetic. Jean-Michel Basquiat: Emerging from the New York City graffiti scene, Basquiats raw and expressive style, combined with his commentary on race, identity, and society, have made his artworks highly coveted by collectors seeking works with social and cultural relevance. Gerhard Richter: A versatile artist known for his diverse range of styles, Richters paintings, photographs, and abstract compositions exhibit a mastery of technique and a conceptual depth that resonates with collectors interested in contemporary art. Yayoi Kusama: With her immersive installations, vibrant paintings, and signature polka dot motifs, Kusama has become a global phenomenon, capturing the imagination of collectors drawn to her whimsical yet introspective creations. Damien Hirst: A controversial figure in the art world, Hirsts provocative works exploring themes of mortality, consumerism, and the nature of art have garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success, making him a prominent figure in contemporary art collecting. Cindy Sherman: Renowned for her conceptual photography exploring themes of identity, gender, and societal norms, Shermans self-portraits challenge traditional notions of representation and have earned her a dedicated following among collectors of contemporary photography. Banksy: An enigmatic street artist known for his politically charged and subversive artworks, Banksys stencil graffiti, public interventions, and social commentary have captured the attention of collectors seeking works that blur the line between art and activism. These artists represent just a fraction of the diverse and dynamic landscape of modern art, but their contributions have left an indelible mark on the art world and continue to inspire collectors around the globe. Collectors View As the founder of the Knightsbridge Group, economist, and avid art collector, Shayne Heffernan holds a distinct appreciation for traditional art forms. However, its essential to clarify that this preference stems from personal taste rather than a dismissal of other artistic styles. While Heffernans collection may lean towards traditional artworks, such as those from the Renaissance or Baroque periods, his admiration for these pieces doesnt diminish the value or significance of modern or contemporary art. He recognizes the diversity and richness of artistic expression across different eras and styles, acknowledging the importance of each in shaping the cultural landscape. For Heffernan, the appeal of traditional art lies in its timeless beauty, technical skill, and historical significance. These works often carry a sense of nostalgia and heritage, connecting viewers to the past and inviting contemplation of the human experience throughout history. However, he also appreciates the innovation and experimentation found in modern and contemporary art, recognizing the boldness and creativity of artists pushing boundaries and challenging conventions. He understands that art is subjective and that each individuals preferences are valid, encouraging an open-minded approach to exploring and appreciating diverse artistic expressions. Ultimately, Heffernans passion for art extends beyond any specific style or period, driven by a deep-seated love for the transformative power of creativity and the ability of art to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions across generations. Whether its a classical masterpiece or a cutting-edge contemporary installation, Heffernan embraces the diversity of artistic expression and celebrates the endless possibilities of the art world. Exploring the World of Art: Best Museums for Modern and Traditional Art Art enthusiasts, both seasoned and novice, often embark on journeys to museums worldwide, seeking inspiration, enlightenment, and a deeper connection to humanitys creative spirit. Museums serve as cultural hubs, housing diverse collections that span centuries and continents, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich tapestry of artistic expression. Among the vast array of museums globally, some stand out as premier destinations for either modern or traditional art, showcasing masterpieces that captivate and inspire audiences. Best Museums for Modern Art: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York City, USA: Renowned as a beacon of modernism, MoMA boasts an unparalleled collection of 20th and 21st-century artworks, featuring iconic pieces by Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock. From abstract expressionism to pop art, visitors can immerse themselves in a diverse array of artistic movements and avant-garde creations. Tate Modern London, UK: Housed in a former power station on the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern is a mecca for contemporary art enthusiasts. With its striking architecture and dynamic exhibitions, the museum showcases works by international artists, including Mark Rothko, Louise Bourgeois, and Yayoi Kusama, pushing the boundaries of artistic innovation and experimentation. Centre Pompidou Paris, France: A modernist marvel in the heart of Paris, Centre Pompidou is renowned for its radical architecture and groundbreaking collection of modern and contemporary art. From surrealism to kinetic art, the museums vast holdings encompass works by Henri Matisse, Marcel Duchamp, and Joan Miro, offering visitors a journey through the evolution of modern art. Best Museums for Traditional Art: The Louvre Paris, France: As the worlds largest art museum, the Louvre is a treasure trove of classical and Renaissance masterpieces, spanning millennia of artistic achievement. From Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa to Michelangelos The Dying Slave, the museums vast collection showcases the pinnacle of Western artistry and craftsmanship. The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City, USA: With its extensive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, The Met is a sanctuary for aficionados of traditional art. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to Baroque masterpieces by Caravaggio and Rembrandt, the museum offers a comprehensive survey of artistic traditions from around the globe. Uffizi Gallery Florence, Italy: Nestled in the heart of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery is a testament to the citys rich artistic heritage during the Renaissance period. Home to works by Botticelli, Raphael, and Titian, among others, the museums opulent halls transport visitors to a bygone era of artistic brilliance and cultural splendor. Whether youre drawn to the bold experimentation of modern art or the timeless beauty of traditional masterpieces, these museums offer immersive experiences that celebrate the richness and diversity of human creativity. From the avant-garde to the classical, these institutions serve as guardians of artistic heritage, inviting visitors to embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment through the wondrous world of art. The language issue in Ukraine is still an open question although many Russian-speaking citizens consciously switched to Ukrainian after the full-scale invasion, some continued to speak the language of the enemy, using the narratives of "what's the difference" and "language has nothing to do with it." An example of such Ukrainians is two girlfriends from Almaty, Kazakhstan, who have been living in Ukraine for 2.5 years. During this time, they learned Ukrainian perfectly, and recently appeared in a video by Lviv blogger Nicholas Karma, to whom they demonstrated their knowledge. ADVERTISIMENT The girls impressed the influencer with their Ukrainian, and after the video was published, they impressed all of his viewers. The video was posted on Nicholas Karma's Instagram page. The blogger traditionally stopped passersby to ask how much their bows cost. That's how he met two friends from Kazakhstan. Before telling them about her outfit and its price, one of the girls immediately noticed: "I'm sorry, we're from Kazakhstan, so we won't be able to wear Ukrainian clothes like that." However, if the girls had not mentioned that they were not from Ukraine, it would have been extremely difficult to understand their language. The Kazakh women told Nicholas Karma about the cost of their bows. The girls looked stylish and sophisticated, but, which also surprised many, they did not spend all the money in the world on it, as is often the case with other characters in the blogger's videos. For example, one of the girls was wearing a trendy warm jacket for UAH 1500 from H&M and Carlo Pazolini boots for UAH 2000. ADVERTISIMENT The other was walking around Lviv in a $50 fur coat (about 1900 UAH) and trendy pants from a Ukrainian brand for 1000 UAH. Meanwhile, Nicholas Karma was impressed by how confidently and competently the girls from Kazakhstan spoke Ukrainian. They said that they were born and lived in Almaty all their lives, and have been in Ukraine, in particular, in Lviv, for the last 2.5 years. "I would never have thought of it. But I speak Ukrainian worse! I can bend something. Thank you very much. Welcome to Ukraine again," the blogger addressed his interlocutors. Ukrainians, meanwhile, have no qualms about leaving enthusiastic comments for the video's protagonists. They write, in particular, that the girls should become an example for those Ukrainian citizens who still speak Russian because they have been speaking this language since birth and are not going to change anything. ADVERTISIMENT "Girls from another country have learned to speak Ukrainian, unlike some who were born in Ukraine and do not speak their native language. They are an example for many Ukrainians.", "Beautiful. They look like one in a million. Intelligence, education, and sophistication are their main jewelry. If only these beautiful young ladies could teach all our clumsy "what a difference this language makes" to speak Ukrainian, "The girls are great, they came from another country and learned our language, and some of them did not even learn 3 words in 2 years of full-scale war. The main thing is desire! And not excuses," - this and many other similar comments were written by netizens. For many students, the excitement of being accepted into their first-choice college is being tempered this year by a troublesome uncertainty over whether theyll get the financial aid they need to attend. The financial aid decisions that usually go out with acceptance letters are being delayed because of a later-than-expected rollout of a revised federal financial aid application, the form that schools use to compute financial aid. Schools wont get the information they need to award financial aid until next month, forcing them to adapt. Some have moved away from the popular May 1 deadline for students to accept their offers of admission. While Wynkoop said mold, bed bugs, water damage and other lack of cleanliness of the facility are concerning, she said the lack of care from employees is an even bigger concern. Actress Vitalina Bibliv, who lost her godfather in the war, admitted that she "does not believe in good Russians," so she stopped communicating with some friends and family. However, those Russian citizens who have left the country do not cause her negative emotions. She still keeps in touch with one such friend. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, she believes that prima donna Alla Pugacheva proved her anti-war stance by emigrating from Russia with her family. Vitalina Bibliv spoke about this in an interview with Alina Dorotiuk. "Let me tell you this: 89% of Russians can do it, but for some reason they don't. That's why I have some spot stories, such as Alla Borisovna Pugacheva, for me. I don't believe in "good Russians," because my friends used to say: "What can we do?" Well, leave the country. 3-4 people will pay taxes, and your money will be used to make missiles that kill me. And then you ask me: "How are you?" Fuck you," the actress explained. ADVERTISIMENT Now the Ukrainian hardly communicates with the Russians she knew until 2022. In particular, the star fell out of favor with family members who called the atrocities in Bucha a "production." The actress could not hold back her tears as she recalled her deceased cousin and his Azov comrades-in-arms, who visited the soldier's cemetery before the interview. "Yesterday I was at the cemetery, and my cousin's brothers-in-arms from Azov arrived. They came out disfigured, beaten, with a prosthesis, a cane, looking 270 years old, not 40, and you think: "Why? Why?" Therefore, for me, there are no "good Russians, good Russian literature, this playwright is for us, let's play his plays," Bibliov summarized. The pupils of St Mels NS, Ardagh, led by Rebecca Reid, came together for a fundraiser for Epilepsy Awareness last Friday. Rebecca, who is 13 years old, has 'Medically Refractory Focal Epilepsy and experiences multiple seizures every day, a total of 9,501 recorded seizures to date! Her mum Grainne said, Rebecca had her first seizure at 5 years old, in October 2015. Rebecca, who lives in Ardagh, is in sixth class in St Mels National School, Ardagh. With her first seizure occurring in Junior Infants, Rebecca's epilepsy condition has impacted greatly on her primary school experience. Grainne remarked, Due to this, Rebecca along with her school, decided to mark International Epilepsy Day this year, to both raise awareness of the condition and raise funds for Epilepsy Ireland, which Rebecca is a member of. As St Valentine is the patron saint of Epilepsy, International Epilepsy Day falls each year on the Monday of Valentine's week, with it being celebrated this year on Monday, February 12. Rebecca also has an awareness/ fundraising page on Facebook, which has raised 2,500 already to date in the past week, where Rebecca has recorded video messages, promoting the Epilepsy Ireland seizure first aid message of Time, Safe Stay - what to do if you witness someone having a seizure. (on first count she has raised 850 this morning in the school which will be added to the facebook page total). Although epilepsy impacts greatly on Rebecca's life, she is a true inspiration to her family, friends and community. Rebecca sings in her local choir in Moydow, and she also volunteers at her local ladies GAA club St Brigid's Gaels, Ardagh LGFA. Rebecca is a member of Epilepsy Irelands group Get Charty and her sister Emma, aged 9 years who is an amazing support to her sister, attends the Epilepsy group Sibshop! Both girls wanted to give back to Epilepsy Ireland as they enjoy their groups so much and Rebecca also wanted to raise awareness about Epilepsy and seizure first aid. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: February 13 2024 Each year, Jerichos vibrant and growing Chinese American community hosts one of the most elaborate and beautiful celebrations in our region, Drucker said. (L to R): Michael Wang, Board Member of Chinese Association of Jericho; Bill Ferro, Past President of the Jericho School Board; Deputy Minority Leader Drucker; Hank Grishman, Superintendent of Jericho Schools; and Fan Li, Board Member of the Chinese Association of Jericho. Photo Credit: Office of Legislator Arnold W. Drucker Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D Plainview) recently celebrated the start of the Year of the Dragon at the Chinese Association of Jerichos annual Lunar New Year celebration. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: February 13 2024 Antiques expert Adam Zimmerman regularly finds himself assessing the collections of various individuals to determine their worth and if they would like to acquire any of them. Weve all been there. An old stamp album found under your grandfathers bed. A faded painting you picked up at a yard sale. That fancy set of Victorian cutlery. A box of bagged-and-boarded comic books leftover from your high school days. At one time or another, weve all come across some unusual Item or relic from the past and pondered, GeeI wonder if its worth anything? Adam Zimmerman, CEO of Syl-Lee Antiques, is just the expert to direct those queries to. Syl-Lee Antiques is based out of a showroom located in downtown Manhattans Flatiron District with a second showroom having just opened in the citys uptown in February but Zimmerman notes that the majority of his clients are based on Long Island. With that being the case, he regularly finds himself making the trip to Nassau and Suffolk County to assess the collections of various individuals to determine their worth and if they would like to acquire any of them. People usually call us for two reasonsone is when a relative passes away and they have inherited stuff and they're trying to make sense of what has value and what does not, he said. If they're interested in selling, we could help them by either buying those items, or in some instances recommending a specialist or outside auctioneer. The second reason is essentially similar, Zimmerman said, but it's oftentimes when people are either moving say, from a large home on Long Island to a condo in Miami or kids are helping their parents with relocating to assisted living or a smaller home close by. A lot of times people call me even when they're just thinking about selling their house to move out of state or whatever, sometimes before the house is even on the market, he said. That's when I get the call, and they invite me over to take a look at some of their things before they put the house on the market to make a little room and perhaps generate some cash to assist with the move. As an antique specialist, Zimmerman often gravitates to the items that he feels has the best chance of being resold for a profit; however, he doesnt leave those whose collections he's not interested in high and dry, but instead can assist them in selling via alternate means. Ultimately, I like to be the person to buy these items, which is my number one priority, he said. Afterwards, I'll help my clients figure out the next step, such as connecting them to companies that can help them to set up tag sales, a clean-out company to get the stuff out, or to help set up an auction. I always help my clients get what they need. Syl-Lee Antiques is a family business that has been open for over 40 years. Zimmerman is assisted by his two sisters; Marion, who shares his duties when it comes to visiting clients on Long Island and in Manhattan and assessing their property and its value, and Marnie, who answers phones for the company. Zimmerman took over Syl-Lee Antiques from his father in 2010 after first going out on his own in the hospitality industry in Florida. But antiques have been in his blood from a very young age, and eventually he decided to come back home and get involved. As a kid, I used to do flea markets and my father owned an antique store, so I've been around the business my entire life, but eventually ended up going to school for hospitality management and I worked in the hotel industry in Miami for about 10 years, he said. But once I came back home, I took over the business and I learned a lot by going to auctions to study, learning at museums, and taking classes whenever possible. And while I know a lot about everything, I also have specialists in every category that I can turn to, Zimmerman continued. For example, I have a specialist in Chinese art, a Russian specialist, an African specialist, specialists in just about every category that I might need. If you have something that I don't know, I probably know somebody who does know about it. The man also has the credentials to back up his expertise; he's an accredited appraiser with the Appraisals Association of America, in addition to being USPAP certified essentially a code of ethics and morality that he steadfastly adheres to so that his clients know he is doing business the right way as well as possessing a Graduate Diamonds degree from GIA. Other resources Zimmerman has, aside from those pertaining to the antique and art industry, include individuals and organizations that can help people clean out their homes, professional organizers, attorneys, and more. These resources can prove invaluable when he finds himself encountering unusual situations, such as dealing with the occasional hoardersomething he says actually happens more often than you might think on Long Island. I had a hoarder in East Meadow about 2 weeks ago and I knew this lady needed some additional help before she could put her home on the market. So, I had one of my professional organizer friends go over there to try and help her get through all the stuff, he said. So, in this particular type of situation, I can not only help people sell things to thin out their hoard, but I also have access to other resources that people in that situation can use to get their life back on track. As a veteran in the field, Zimmerman has an eye for specific items that he knows he will be able to get top dollar for when he resells them. And with any kind of collectible, there are those that are guaranteed sellers, and there are those who fall by the wayside in terms of value. Adam's sister, Marion Zimmerman Rizzo, and her son Robert Rizzo at a senior expo. First, nobody's buying brown furniture these days. Antique, ornate, mahogany, oak, tables, curio cabinetsnobody wants that, he said. Number two is porcelain collectibles, like the type grandma used to have. And the same goes for antique dishes, especially the ones with the gold and silver paint on them. They can't go in microwaves or dishwashers, and a lot of people just can't be bothered with that. As for the big movers, the number one thing is jewelry...gold and silver jewelry, costume jewelry, anything jewelry-related is good, and we can sell that, he continued. Precious metals are also very high right now. Sterling flatware sets can be good, because you can liquidate the metal in a good set and potentially get substantial money that way. Zimmerman said that he also gets a lot of calls about artwork pieces by known artists often appreciate in value but the other big thing right now in terms of value are Chinese antiques. That includes Jade, porcelain, coral, and even paintings, he said. However, I must point out that the market for Asian antiques in general for example, the Japanese market is currently not at the same level. But the Chinese market is red-hot right now. In addition, mid-century modern furniture also sells well, with Zimmerman noting that names like Nakashima, Herman Miller, Knoll, Paul Evans and Laverne are popular these days, and that its easier to sell furniture from the 1950s than the 1850s. To find out more about Syl-Lee Antiques, please call (212) 366-9466 or (516) 671-6464, visit their website at https://www.syl-leeantiques.com, or check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). American actor and director Tom Cruise spends a lot of time with Russian model and daughter of a former State Duma deputy Elsina Khairova, but he tries to avoid her in public places to avoid being caught on camera. For the sake of the Russian woman, who lives in the UK, the actor is in London and regularly visits his beloved at home. ADVERTISIMENT In recent weeks, the couple has become very close, but they are trying to keep it confidential to the last, reports the Daily Mail. However, the Russian woman's inner circle has long been aware of the official nature of the relationship and Tom Cruise's frequent overnight stays in Khairova's luxurious Knightsbridge apartment. "It is well known in Elsina's circle that she and Tom are now together. They have become very close over the past few weeks, but they are careful not to be photographed together because they want to maintain their privacy. Tom spent the night at Elsina's apartment, which as you can imagine is a very nice place. They like to spend time together and, despite their wealth, they do a lot of things that normal couples do," an anonymous source told the Daily Mail. ADVERTISIMENT Cruise, 61, and Hirova, 36, attended a gala dinner last week in support of a London ambulance charity at the five-star Raffles Hotel. The actor arrived separately from his lover, but attendees claim that they spent a lot of time together. After the event, Cruise was spotted at a helipad in London as he planned to leave the UK and head to the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Later, after landing, he was spotted with a female companion, but it was not Khairova. It is widely believed that the actor and the Russian woman were first seen together in December 2023 during a party in Mayfair, where they came as a couple. One of the guests said: "They were inseparable, clearly a couple. He seemed to be crazy about her." ADVERTISIMENT Elsina Khairova, in addition to living in London, also holds British citizenship. She used to be married to Russian oligarch Dmitry Tsvetkov. Ever since then, she seems to have been obsessed with the UK, as she and her ex-husband had estates in the country worth an average of more than $24 million each. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Elsina Khairova's ex-husband gave Tom Cruise some "survival" advice. His chosen one is difficult to satisfy, so you should "keep your wallet open". Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Nature & Weather By Lon Cohen Published: February 13 2024 The National Weather Service says Tuesdays morning commute will be messy. The National Weather Service (NWS) has upgraded the storm that is expected to hit Long Island tonight and continue into Tuesday afternoon. The NWS sys that heavy snowfall is expected with total accumulations of 5 to 10 inches with wind gusts up to 40 MPH in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Some news outlets are calling for up to a foot of snow when its all over. The NWS is calling for one to two inches of snow per hour to fall between 5am and noon on Tuesday. Temperatures will be in the 30s. The weather services are still calling for rain tonight that will transition over to snow in the morning. Travel could be very difficult with hazardous conditions impacting the morning commute on Tuesday. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. There is also a coastal flood warning in effect from 8am until 5pm on Tuesday for Suffolk County. There may be localized minor flooding possible with the Tuesday Night high tide. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting the National Counter-terrorism Unit (Yamam) of the Israel Police on February 12 after the hostage rescue. (Photo credit: Ariel Hermoni/Israel Ministry of Defense) The Israel Defense Forces rescued two hostages in a raid into the southern Gaza city of Rafah on February 12. This was a complex rescue operation under fire in the heart of Rafah, based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate and the Israel Security Agency, said IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. The operation took place in Rafah, which has become a focal point for Israels next stage of fighting in Gaza. The operation to free the hostages is one of several attempts made by Israel to rescue hostages in Gaza. One hostage in late October, an IDF observer named Ori Megidish who had been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, was also rescued. In December, one hostage was killed in a rescue attempt and three others were mistakenly killed by Israeli fire after after escaping captivity. 134 hostages remain held by Hamas in Gaza. The IDF believes 29 of these hostages are deceased, either killed as a result of the Hamas attack on October 7 or killed inside Gaza while they were being held hostage. Most of the hostages are held by Hamas, with some being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. As Hamas has lost ground in Gaza over four months of fighting, increasing evidence of the presence of hostages in various locations has come to light. For example, hostages were taken to the Shifa and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza, according to reports in November and December. Several tunnels uncovered in Khan Younis included evidence that hostages were held there, including a holding cell. The raid in Rafah comes after several days of pressure on Israel to not operate in the southern Gaza city near the Egyptian border. Rafah has been swelled with displaced Gazans who fled fighting in other areas of Gaza. Some estimates say the city that once had several hundred thousand residents in its environs now has 1.7 million. It is also on the Egyptian border, which has raised concern from Egypt and its allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In a rare announcement about the tactics of the Gaza operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on February 9 for a plan to defeat Hamas battalions in Rafah. Around 75% of Hamas 24 battalions have been destroyed or defeated in Gaza, leaving only a handful remaining that consist of thousands of fighters. It was into this complex battlespace that IDF special forces, the Israel Security Agency and members of the special police unit Yaman operated in the first hours of February 12. Two hostages, Louis Har and Fernando Marman, were being held in a civilian building. They had been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 from the Israeli community of Nir Yitzhak. Israels plan to rescue them had been in the works for some time, the IDF said, and the special forces were waiting for the right conditions to allow it to proceed. The hostages were found on the second floor of a building and then, after a firefight, evacuated. The IDF also carried out airstrikes on Hamas Shabura battalion, and Hamas claimed there were numerous civilian casualties in Gaza as a result of the raid. Israels Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant visited the Yaman unit after the successful operation. The result of the operation is very impressive, reflecting the capabilities of this unit and your ability to cooperate with the ISA and the IDF. I saw your cooperation with the Navy Seals (Shayetet 13) and the Air Force, he said. Hamas is vulnerable we are capable of going everywhere and achieving our missions. The public knows that they have someone to trust. Netanyahu also met with members of the unit that carried out the mission and said I would like to tell you that the freeing of Louis and Fernando was one of the most successful rescue operations in the history of the State of Israel. 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. Israels Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks to IDF officers on February 13, 2024. (IDF) The border of Gaza four months into the war is the quietist it has been since Hamas launched its attack on October 7. Many fields along the border where Israeli farmers often plowed right up to the fence are now green in the wake of heavy winter rains. While most civilians of these communities remain evacuated, farming continues with volunteers and some workers who have returned. Across the border in Gaza, the rocket fire from Hamas has been reduced to near zero daily attacks, a drastic reduction from the early October high-point of thousands fired. Israeli forces in Gaza were also reduced in January, with many units redeploying or leaving the strip. While there is focus on Rafah, particularly in the wake of a raid that freed two hostages on February 12, it is unclear if Israel will launch an operation in the southern Gaza city prior to Ramadan beginning in March. While the Islamic holy month is not necessarily a cut-off for fighting, it is a holiday that potentially has an affect on Gaza operations. At the same time, an Israeli delegation left for Cairo on February 13 for talks with Egypt, the US and Qatar about a potential ceasefire and hostage deal. In Gaza, there continues to be concern about Hamas returning to areas in northern Gaza where the group was defeated in November. Israeli Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi addressed these and other concerns in a February 13 statement one of his longest since the war began. I just completed a visit to the Gaza Strip border with the forces in the field. We have been fighting for about four months and still have a long road ahead, he said. He described a changing war that began with a high cost due to the Hamas massacre and has now resulted in a high-quality and powerful offensive. He said no army has had to contend with the challenges that Israel has faced in the built-up areas of Gaza, a densely populated area with threats above and below ground. To provide an example of this challenge, the IDF released footage found of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel on October 10. An illustrative diagram of the tunnel shows an extensive system under Khan Younis, the hometown of Sinwar and a large base for four Hamas battalions. HaLevi says the IDF is advancing in Gaza as planned and that the performance of the army has exceeded our expectations. This raises questions about the expectations, because while the IDF has defeated most Hamas battalions, the organization continues to exist in southern Gaza, hold 134 hostages, and dictate terms via Doha at the talks in Cairo. Israel is now returning to target Hamas in northern Gaza where its terrorists continue to pop up. This phenomenon takes place in part because the IDF never sought to control the cities of Gaza for a long period of time, preferring to enter, defeat Hamas battalions, destroy the terrorist infrastructure that could be found, and then leave. Using the intelligence we gained in the field and during the investigations of the numerous terrorists we caught, we returned to other targets, eliminating the enemy and destroying more terrorist infrastructure, thus intensifying our achievement, Halevi said, characterizing the tactics that appear to underpin this phase of the war. There is also more to do in Gaza, the top general says. This includes finding additional members of Hamas senior leadership as well as freeing the remaining hostages. It also means rebuilding the communities on the Gaza border. One of those communities, Kibbutz Magen, was able to repulse a Hamas attack on October 7 due to the quick response of its local volunteer security team that was armed with rifles and a security vehicle. However, like most communities, its residents continue to live in hotels at the Dead Sea. A local resident in Sderot told FDDs Long War Journal they estimate that half the city has still not returned. Our mission is to enable residents in the north and the south to return home safely, Halevi said on February 13. Israels Ministry of Defense also said on February 13 that it had acquired an additional 200 security vehicles for the local security teams of small communities, such as those near the border of Gaza. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. Part two in a three-part series. You can read part one here. Increasing International Pressure on Israel Third Toward Impartial International Investigation Palestine joined the International Criminal Court, and ratified its joining of the Rome Statute which created the Court When Palestine requested investigation into the crimes committed and still being committed on its lands, it faced Israeli opposition We call on the United States, Germany, Canada, and Britain if they are truly interested in justice to support the ICCs course We call on the International Criminal Court, particularly the prosecutor and his team and the international investigation committees to quickly go to Palestine to investigate the crimes and abuses Analysis Conceptually and ideologically, Hezbollah has no respect for international law. It understands these laws as part and parcel of the liberal world order that underpin American global hegemony an order which it ideologically abhors as inherently morally bankrupt. In just two of his recent speeches, Nasrallah described so-called international law as upholding the law of the jungle that rules this world, and mocked international law as a system incapable of protecting any people. Hezbollahs relationship with international tribunals is a testament to the scorn in which the organization holds international law, including its refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and threats issued against those who would try to enforce its decisions against the group. More recently, Nasrallah cast doubt on the International Court of Justices independence and impartiality, claiming that it, like all other international tribunals, was controlled by the American administration, the West, Europe, and all the other protectors of this barbaric, Nazi, racist Entity. It seems perplexing then, for Hezbollah to be appealing to the ICC. However, when convenient, Hezbollah and the rest of the Resistance Axis will not make appeals to human rights and international legitimacy [al-shariyya al-duwaliyya], and this instance is no different. Hezbollah and its partners have adopted a goal mentioned above to stop the Israeli war effort in Gaza. Their goal, stated by Nasrallah, is that the Palestinian resistance, specifically Hamas, be victorious in Gaza But, their bombast aside, Hezbollah recognize the Israel Defense Forces military superiority, and the very real likelihood that left to its devices the IDF will defeat Hamas and its partners. So they have adopted a strategy of concentric circles that mixes both psychological and kinetic elements to halt the IDFs advance. The innermost circle is kinetic pressure on the IDF itself, carried out by Hamas and its partners. The second circle leans on the fact that Israel is a democracy, where the military answers to the political echelon which, in turn, is answerable to the electorate. Here is where the Gazan terrorist organizations are using the hostages, to try to induce the Israeli public to call for a ceasefire. In part, this second tier of this strategy also relied upon making the Israeli Home Front feel unsafe through continued rocket attacks. While those have largely abated from Gaza, Hezbollah has picked up the slack by rocketing the north and displacing an additional 80,000 citizens. The third circle involves pressure and attacks on the United States, raising the stakes for Washington for Israels continued war effort which can then, in turn, theoretically bring Israel to heel by direct pressure, halting weapons resupplies, or allowing a UN Security Council-sponsored ceasefire to go into effect. Failing that, the final circle involves pressure on and from the international community. This is where Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping come into play, as well as legal pressure. Taking Israel to court over exercising self-defense has the benefit of delegitimizing the very concept of Israel exercising force in self-defense. This goal is accomplished by putting Israel or its actions on trial. To that end, commenting on the ICJ case, Nasrallah said, the outcome is irrelevant, saying what was important was the sight of the Enemy Entity as a defendant in front of the sight of the entire world, having a list of legal accusations presented against it based on truths and damning evidence. In effect, Israel will be condemned in the court of public opinion by the very fact of say being accused of genocide, irrespective of a complicated legal argument or outcome which most wont bother to read. This, too, increases pressure on Israel to adopt an immediate ceasefire. Hampering Israels very ability to exercise force in self-defenses also furthers Hezbollahs stated goal of destroying Israel in phases, by preventing it from responding to or silencing the Resistance Axis unyielding assaults and the threats they pose to its citizens. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. If you take Apples view of things, iPhone users in the EU are about to enter the wild, wild west of mobile security. Possibly the wild, wild east of mobile security for those in Eastern Europe. Writing for Fast Company, Michael Grothaus spoke with Apple Fellow Phil Schiller about the scaaary future that awaits! Exclusive: Apples Phil Schiller says alternative app stores expose iPhone users to major risks. Hes right with alternative app stores on the iPhone, its users in the EU could now be more vulnerable to privacy and security threats than they were before, according to Apple Fellow Phil Schiller, who heads the companys App Store. Of course you might expect the head of Apples App Store to say this Yes. Yes, the Macalope would. At the very least because, despite the company being dragged kicking and screaming into this action, there will assuredly be people who are going to blame Apple when they download a malicious app from someone elses store. Because people are the worst. Like Carl. Ugh. That guy. Who wears a Members Only jacket in 2024? And Randy? Dont get the Macalope started on Randy. Of course, Apple will continue to have at least some level of responsibility because it is insisting continuing to be the one to notarize apps after doing a baseline review of them, regardless of what store they end up on. Still, this notarization should be enough to stop a malicious app thats attempting to mimic a real app (say, from Facebook or Starbucks) from being installed on a users iPhone. After a recent App Store incident, should is doing an Eastern European deadlifting teams worth of heavy lifting in that sentence. Warning: Fraudulent App Impersonating LastPass Currently Available in Apple App Store Oops. IDG Still. People like simple solutions. The App Store is either good or its bad. But its not. There are a lot of things wrong with the App Store. Yet, even though the review process is far from perfect, it is still a significant contributor to making iOS one of the safest modern operating systems, if not the safest. And, at the same time, that still doesnt mean other stores shouldnt be allowed. On the Mac you can download apps from anywhere on the internet. The Mac has its own various levels of security to prevent malicious apps from stealing your life force and/or precious bodily fluids, but its more vulnerable than iOS, partly because iOS is so secure thanks to both strong security implementation and the App Store. The former sometimes hampers functionality. The latter sometimes hampers developers sanity and customers choice. Even with these restrictions, its still not completely secure because its also probably the most targeted operating system in existence. The Mac, with its more open nature, certainly has its fair share of vulnerabilities, but to date, its still not significantly impaired by malware. Windows fans warned for years of the coming of The Year of Mac Malware, insisting that the Mac would be inundated with malware once it reached a significant market share, just as Windows had. But it never happened, in large part because desktops took a back seat to mobile devices. When people moved most of their computing to mobile devices, attacks moved, too. From a security perspective, Apple managed the last two decades pretty well. The relative stagnation of the desktop market meant the Mac never got popular enough to receive significant attention from malicious actors and the restrictions put on iOS made it that much harder for them. All this comes at the cost of the company deciding what is and is not an acceptable risk and what is and is not acceptable content. After 17 years of iPhone-ing, arent customers ready for the company to loosen its grip a bit, despite Schillers protestations? Increasingly, a newly created meme-parody of Ukrainians is being seen on social media, who are spreading "treason" in comments, teaching fellow citizens from abroad how to live, and criticizing others. This collective image was named "Olya UA, " and less often "Oksana or Olenka UA." ADVERTISIMENT The meme character was created based on the comments of a real person with the corresponding nickname and flags of Poland and Ukraine. Videos with jokes and songs on this topic collect hundreds of thousands of views, and parody accounts that post outrageous comments can often be seen under popular videos on TikTok. For the most part, Olya`s UA vocabulary consists of the same questions: "Why not in the trench? Why not at the front? Why aren't you demining the fields? Why not in the state?" In other cases, the meme character expresses his indignation with words like "disgust, betrayal, evader, not in time" and others. ADVERTISIMENT It is difficult to determine when exactly the meme originated, but netizens said that a real person left similar comments under one of the videos where they were seen by jokers. Since then, thousands of people have started mocking fellow citizens who fiercely defend the country in the comments. However, it should be noted that we are not talking about those Ukrainians who stayed at home, support the Armed Forces and consciously refused to consume Russian content and language. Trolling concerns those users whose support for the country ends with demands and comments on social media. The authors of such videos joke that Olya UA's husband is hiding from mobilization, while she calls others to the trench. "The question is not relevant" or "It's not time," the Ukrainian meme replies. ADVERTISIMENT Videos on this topic collect hundreds of thousands of views, tens of thousands of comments and many likes, and recently a track was dedicated to the meme. The trend has even been picked up by the favorite Ukrainian dog Patron. MANCHESTER Manchesters lonely air strip will soon be joined by a 136-seat event space and two new housing units. The property containing a former airplane hangar and an adjacent house was purchased in 2022 by the Levis family, who also own The Wilburton Inn and the Museum of the Creative Process. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Manchesters Development Review Board learned more about the planned renovations, for which work is anticipated to begin this year. Ideally, well have permitting in place so construction can begin this spring, said Frank Parent of Long Trail Engineering, which was contracted by Dr. Albert Levis and his family for the project. While the event space is intended to support the Museum of the Creative Process, it will also be available for community use, according to Parent. His vision is that the event space will be used for weddings, conferences, or even something like a craft fair or auto show, Parent said in an interview with the Journal. His goal for this project is that these events can help fund the museum and keep it going in perpetuity. The property will be accessible from Natural Form Way, just off of Richville Road. What was once the airplane hanger will be handily transformed into the event space, complete with a commercial kitchen. Also within the former hangar will be a four-bedroom apartment, alongside a three-bedroom unit planned for what was once the pilots house. While renovations will be made to improve accessibility and aesthetics around the hangar, Parent says the work will be relatively minimal thanks to its industrial, wide-open construction. When the event space opens, visitors will be greeted by a timber-frame pavilion entryway with large, glass doors. The exterior will utilize painted vinyl siding. The air strip, which rests partly on town property and partly on the parcel purchased by the Levis family, will still remain available for use. The idea is that we will leave the runway so that, if one time a year someone wants to fly in, theyll be able to do it, Parent explained. Parent first presented the project to the Board on Dec. 6, where members asked whether the property is in the town aquifer zone. On Wednesday, Parent explained that the parcel rests in two zones one more strictly regulated than the other. The first, known as Zone 2 under state regulations, bisects the parking lot and contains both structures. Here, activities like building, driving and parking are allowed but any activities that can alter infiltration patterns the absorption of rainwater into the soil and, eventually, bodies of water like streams and aquifers are not allowed, Parent explained. Stormwater management features, including drainage, have been accordingly allocated to Zone 3, Parent said, where they are permitted. This area includes the majority of the parking lot and the entirety of the airstrip. The adjacent house will need to be connected to sewer and water services, which Parent says will be addressed alongside other construction in accordance with regulations. He also clarified the Boards past questions regarding whether Natural Form Way is a town road (it is), and if there is any setback required from Route 7 (there is not). Parent supplied the Board with emails from the Manchester Police Department and Northshire Rescue Squad verifying their ability to access the property in case of emergency. Local schools like Burr and Burton Academy and Manchester Elementary and Middle School also confirmed that they have capacity for any additional students who may inhabit the two residences. One lingering question, however, is the capacity of the existing bridge along the propertys driveway. Our goal tonight was to get as many issues resolved as possible, Parent said. The Fire Chief let us know that the bridge just doesnt have the capacity. The engineer who initially evaluated the bridge is now exploring whether any changes can be made to improve its capacity, Parent explained. If not, the bridge may have to be removed in order for a culvert to be installed. We dont have an answer for that tonight, Parent acknowledged, noting that he hopes to return with one in March. Immediately before the Development Review Board meeting, Parent also presented the project to Manchesters Design Advisory Board. There, approval was granted for proposed lighting and exterior designs for the project. Landscaping and signage will be presented in a future session. The land was purchased by the Levis family for $1.34 million in 2022 from the estate of Richard and Nadine Hayes, who died in a 2004 car crash. The couple also owned the Green Mountain Estates, which is pending purchase by the town of Manchester after nearly two decades of negotiations. The parcel is something of a hidden gem, Parent says, as it cannot be seen from Richville Road and previously served a small, private niche of pilots and airplane owners. This is really a unique spot, Parent concluded. You would have never heard of this part of town unless you were going out to the airfield. Its a surprising place in the middle of Manchester. 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. American Idol judge Katy Perry has announced shes leaving the show after seven seasons. Perry surprised fans on Mondays Jimmy Kimmel Live! as she announced her exit. When asked by Kimmel how long she plans to stay on the show, Perry candidly answered, I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol, she said. I mean, I love Idol so much. I know. Its connected me with the heart of America. But I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat. She joked that her co-star judges, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, would the news out for themselves from her Kimmel appearance, but that they are aware that Perry has some things planned for this year. Perry said shes creating space for my new wing span, possibly hinting at future projects the pop star plans to announce in 2024. You can watch her full interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! here. While it looks like she will not be returning to her judges seat next year, Perry will round out her seventh season on the show, which will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. EST. A replacement judge for 2025 has not yet been announced. Those looking to stream American Idol can do so on FuboTV. The platform offers a free trial for new users. The show is also on Hulu, which is available for streaming with a subscription. Those who sign up will get their first month free. Plans for Hulu start as low as $6.99 a month and give you access to thousands of shows and movies. A group of 17 goats rescued from poor conditions on a property in Upstate New York have now been brought to Massachusetts, where the MSPCA is in search of adopters for the animals. The herd of goats originated from Owego, New York, where on Jan. 18, the MSPCA sent two of its staffers along with equipment to assist in an ASPCA removal of more than 100 animals from the property, the MSPCA-Angell said in a news release on Tuesday. That property also contained cattle and horses, the MSPCA-Angell said, adding that the goats were moved to the MSPCAs Nevins Farm in Methuen on Monday, Feb. 12. We ended up taking all 17 goats that were on the property, said Kaycie McCarthy, the equine and farm animal rescue and outreach manager at Nevins, in a statement. They were living with dozens of other animals on a property with limited access to food, water, and medical care, McCarthy added. She said Nevins Farm is now turning the page for the goats, and is focused on caring for them and finding them new homes. You can watch a video of the goats arriving at Nevins Farm provided by the MSPCA-Angell below or by clicking here to watch on the groups YouTube channel. The goats are thought to be crossbreeds of Nigerian Dwarf breeds, the MSPCA-Angell indicated, with the group comprising nine bucks, seven does, and one wether in other words, nine male, seven female and one castrated male. The MSPCA-Angell said the goats range in age from 1 year old to 10 years old. McCarthy said the MSPCA does not know much else about the goats history, noting, Given their past, we expect these ones may take a little more time to open up. She added that the MSPCA is confident with the care and attention they will receive at Nevins Farm that they will be great pets once they settle more. Generally, goats are really affectionate and can be great companions for people, McCarthy said. Goats are mischievous, but in the best way. The intact male goats will not be immediately available for adoption because they need to be castrated before they leave the farm, according to McCarthy. Anyone interested in adopting one or more of the goats is asked to visit Nevins Farm in Methuen Tuesdays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Adopters can also submit an adoption inquiry on the MSPCAs website here. Lard is one of the most favorite foods of Ukrainians. Every housewife is used to cooking it in her own way, according to a unique recipe. ADVERTISIMENT But what if you have too much lard? How do you preserve the taste of lard and fill it with spices? The answers to these questions were given by a food blogger on the Carpathian Bacon YouTube channel. She explained how to marinate lard in jars. Ingredients for 4 liter jars: Lard - 3 kg Water - 1.5 liters Salt - 240 grams Garlic - 12 cloves Allspice - 12 pcs Black peppercorns - 24 pcs Bay leaf - 4 pcs The method of preparation 1. Any lard is suitable for cooking according to this recipe, even very hard lard that you don't want to eat raw. 2. Take the thickest pieces of lard, rinse and dry with a towel. 3. Cut the lard into portions to fit easily into the jar. Cut off the skin if desired. ADVERTISIMENT 4. Mix the salt with water. Add 80 grams of salt to 2 liters of water. 5. Put on the fire, bring to a boil, and boil for three minutes. 6. Chop the garlic, add peppers and bay leaf into clean liter jars. 7. Tamp the lard into the jars, leaving room for the brine. ADVERTISIMENT 8. Take a large saucepan and cover the bottom with a cloth. 9. Put the jars in the pan so that they do not touch each other. 10. Pour warm water into the pot. 11. Pour the brine into the jars to the top. First, pour a small amount of brine into each jar, and then fill them to the top one by one. The brine should completely cover the lard. 12. Cover with lids and make sure that the outside water reaches the shoulders of the jar. 13. Put the pot on the fire, bring to a boil and sterilize for three hours over medium heat. Add water if necessary. ADVERTISIMENT 14. Take the jars out of the water and roll up the lids. 15. Turn the jars upside down for 10 minutes and cover with a towel. 16. Turn the jars over to their usual position and cover them with a towel again. Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reportedly considering an update to guidelines around how long people should isolate after testing positive for the coronavirus, according to a report Tuesday by The Washington Post. The outlet reports that people who test positive for the coronavirus will no longer need to remain in isolation for five days after testing positive, and that the agencys updated guidelines will more closely resemble those for avoiding transmission of the flu and RSV. The Washington Post cited four agency officials and an expert familiar with discussions in its report on Tuesday. But U.S. officials have yet to formally announce the new guidelines. The proposed new guidelines would mean that Americans could resume their daily activities if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication, which is the same standard as influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses, according to a separate report by The New York Times. Two states, California and Oregon, have already relaxed guidelines, with state officials telling residents that as long as they remain symptom-free, they are generally allowed to go free about their lives. California implemented the changed guideline in January and Oregon last May. We are now at a different point in time with reduced impacts from COVID-19 compared to prior years due to broad immunity from vaccination and/or natural infection, and readily available treatments available for infected people, the California health department said in a news release last month. In response to reports about the possibility of new isolation guidelines from the CDC, a health expert told The Times: The emergency has ended. COVID-19 is endemic. Were in a different phase, said Dr. Melissa Sutton, a medical director for respiratory viral pathogens at the Oregon Health Authority. Health experts told the Washington Post that a new reality has set in since the pandemic began four years ago. The CDC estimates the coronavirus has killed 1.2 million people in the United States. The White House has not yet signed off on the new guidance, which is expected to be released in April for public feedback, the Post reported. A CDC spokesperson told NBC Chicago that there were no updates to COVID guidelines at this time. We will continue to make decisions based on the best evidence and science to keep communities healthy and safe, spokesperson Dave Daigle told NBC. Current isolation guidelines for those who contract coronavirus were established by the CDC in May 2023. You can view a full list of current CDC isolation recommendations here. While the MBTAs Board of Directors is preparing to vote on a new reduced fare system for low-income riders next month, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is continuing her ongoing fight to make the agencys bus lines fare-free, saying the changes will improve both ridership and wait times. In an interview on WGBHs Boston Public Radio Tuesday, Wu said the low-income fare proposal fit together well with the citys pilot program making the 23, 28 and 29 bus lines fare-free, which last week was extended through 2026. Not everything happens overnight, she said. Short of getting to an entirely free system, which is the vision ... the short-term solution to make this a usable system that works the best it can work and is financially feasible is to have buses be all fare-free, because they really do move faster when you can do that. Wu recently began riding the MBTA bus with commuters and documenting the experience on TikTok and Instagram. She said Tuesday that she has seen first-hand the wait times riders are dealing with. Those wait times are compounded by riders lining up to pay their fares. You can feel peoples tension as youre walking to the bus stop not knowing when the next one is going to come, Wu said. I think everyone just wants predictability. And the city has a lot to do working directly with the MBTA and trying to do that on buses. Because its our city roads and city streets. Last month, the T announced its proposed low-income fare program, which would give half-priced fares to eligible riders, including on the Commuter Rail and the RIDE, the MBTAs paratransit service for disabled riders. If approved by the Board of Directors in March, the program would launch this spring and summer. According to the MBTA, the estimated more than 60,000 eligible low-income riders are expected to take 30% more trips with the reduced fares, resulting in about 7 million more trips per year. While Wu has long been a proponent of free fares, Gov. Maura Healey has pushed the low-income reduced fares instead. The plan was included in her $58 billion 2024 budget plan filed in January, funded by the states so-called Millionaires Tax. Wu acknowledged Tuesday that reducing or eliminating fares would not come cheap, but said people tend to overestimate the actual costs of the idea because they do not factor in the cost of collecting fares or the improvement to service speeds, and instead focus on current ridership numbers. Analyses by the city have shown that during the fare-free pilot program, ridership has increased on the three affected bus lines. Theyre not taking into account that many more people are eager to escape driving, and they would love to take the commuter rail if it were cheaper, she said. Wed actually be adding more ridership and more fares overall to the system ... that currently arent being captured at all. Nearly a quarter of flights out of Boston Logan Airport were canceled as of Tuesday morning amid an expected snowstorm. Meteorologists were predicting large snowfall totals for Boston, but those expectations were shifted by Tuesday morning. The most recent estimates show that Boston is expected to receive 4 to 6 inches of snow and areas in south Eastern Massachusetts could see up to 8 inches. The pending snowstorm affected many flights headed in and out of major airports on Tuesday. Boston Logan has 119 flights canceled, or about 27% of all flights, flying out Tuesday morning. Another 12 flights, or 2%, were delayed, according to Flightaware.com. Of the flights destined to land at Logan Airport, 103 were canceled and 19 were delayed. Flights at Bradley Airport were also affected by the storm. There were 13 flights, or about 19%, canceled on Tuesday morning, with only 1 delayed. There were 11 flights headed to Bradley were canceled and only 1 delayed destined for the airport. On X, formerly Twitter, Bradley Airport officials warned travelers to check in with their airlines to confirm their flight statuses. To check your flight status at Boston Logan, you can visit this link. For Bradley flights, passengers can check statuses at this link. A judge in Boston has dismissed a series of lawsuits against Harvard Medical School over the theft of human remains from its morgue, saying that the school has immunity under a law governing body donation. Twelve lawsuits by 47 family members which brought charges against Harvard and two employees who ran the schools Anatomical Gift Program, Mark Cicchetti and Tracey Fay, were dismissed in the ruling filed Monday. However, the civil charges against Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager accused of stealing and selling the body parts, were allowed to continue. Though the appalling things that Lodge allegedly did are not protected by this immunity statute, the allegations in the complaints make clear that Harvard, Cicchetti and Fay are not vicariously liable for Lodges actions, Judge Kenneth Salinger wrote in his decision. Lodge has been accused of removing hundreds of dissected portions of cadavers donated to the school, including heads, brains, skin and bones, taking them to his home in New Hampshire and and selling them with his wife, Denise Lodge, starting in 2018. He was indicted in June 2023 on federal charges in connection with the crime. He also let buyers enter the morgue and examine cadavers to choose what to purchase, according to the indictment. According to Harvards website, Lodge worked at the morgue from February 1995 to May 2023 when he was fired. No other Harvard employees have been charged in connection with the case. Last month, lawyers for Harvard asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the criminal charges had been made against Lodge, not the university, and that the morgue manager had acted without the knowledge or permission of the medical school. Lawyers for the families, however, said that Harvard should be liable because the extent of the theft implies the school should have known what was going on. The master is ultimately responsible for the sins of the servant, Douglas Snook, a lawyer who represents relatives of four people who donated their bodies to Harvard, told the Boston Globe at the time. Of course Harvard didnt hire [Lodge] to sell body parts, but they were in charge of vetting him and overseeing him on a continuing basis, he continued. They didnt know that it wasnt going on for years? In Salingers ruling Monday, he wrote that under Massachusetts version of the federal Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, medical schools like Harvards that accept gifts of bodies or organs for research or education are immune to suit as long as they comply with the requirements of the law or make a good faith attempt to do so, whether they are successful. While he acknowledged the negative impact of Lodges alleged actions on the families, at different times calling them nauseating and horrifying, he wrote that none of the facts of the case implied what the morgue manager was doing fell under his job at Harvard Medical School and therefore was outside the bounds of the schools responsibility. It may not seem fair that Harvard can avoid responsibility and liability in this case even if, as plaintiffs allege, it was negligent in overseeing the HMS morgue and as a result let Lodge get away with stealing body parts for years, Salinger wrote. But the court must follow the clear command of the UAGA immunity provision ... without questioning whether it is wise, effective or sound policy. Read more: Harvard Medical School speaks out on body parts stolen from morgue, sold In a statement to MassLive, Jeffrey Catalano, an attorney with Keches Law Group representing the families, said they are assessing all options, including a potential appeal of the decision. Our clients are extremely disappointed by the decision to dismiss all of their claims against Harvard and its employees for the egregious wrongs done to the bodies of so many loved ones for so long in Harvard Medical Schools morgue, Catalano said. The dismissal compounds the emotional turmoil they have been experiencing since they first learned of Cedric Lodges awful conduct. A report released by Harvard in December recommended that Harvard Medical School implement a new oversight structure and improve its record keeping and cadaver tracking systems in response to the scandal, but stopped short of accusing the school of any wrongdoing. Harvard said at the time that it had already implemented many of the reports recommendations and would appoint a task force to review the suggestions and develop an implementation plan. Harvard Medical Schools Anatomical Gift Program was paused after the allegations against Lodge were revealed, but began accepting donations again in November, according to its website. Harvard Medical School did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Less than 24 hours ago, a Tuesday morning noreaster was expected to bring some of the highest snow totals Boston and Worcester have seen in recent years. But the snowstorm shifted south Monday afternoon, drastically changing forecasters predictions. The biggest changes have been in regards to the predicted snow totals and the storm timeline. Once forecasted to bring 12 to 18 inches of snow to the Boston and Worcester areas and 8 to 12 inches to most other parts of the state, now, only southeastern Massachusetts is expected to get more than 6 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, while the storm was originally set to spread across the state by 5 a.m. Tuesday, it will only begin to reach the state around that time, according to the weather service. It isnt expected to cover the entirely of Massachusetts until mid-morning. The weather service canceled its winter storm warning for many parts of the state, including Boston. Suffolk County and southeast Middlesex County are now under a winter weather advisory until 7 p.m. Tuesday which predicts 3 to 5 inches of snow and a difficult morning and evening commute. Southeastern Massachusetts up to Worcester is still under a winter storm warning which follows the same time frame and predicts 4 to 9 inches of snow. Updated storm timeline The storm will come in from the southwest to the northeast, likely reaching Springfield, Worcester, Boston and Foxborough between 5 and 7 a.m., weather service forecaster Bill Leatham said. Pittsfield, Fitchburg, Lawrence and Plymouth can expect to see precipitation begin between 8 and 10 a.m., while the Cape and Islands arent predicted to experience snowfall until after 10 a.m. Southeastern Massachusetts could still see rapid snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, but thats unlikely elsewhere in the state, Leatham said. That would happen between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Read more: Over 100 Boston Logan flights cancelled ahead of major winter snowstorm Snowfall is expected to cease first in Western Massachusetts and northwest Worcester County between 1 and 3 p.m., according to the weather service. It is predicted to stop in eastern Massachusetts between 4 and 6 p.m., with the exception of the Cape and Nantucket, where it is expected to continue until roughly 7 to 9 p.m. The National Weather Service expects the snowfall to begin ceasing around 1 p.m. Tuesday in the western half of Massachusetts and in the early to late evening in the eastern half.National Weather Service Updated snow totals Southeastern Massachusetts is now predicted to get the most snow, with only southern Plymouth County and the westernmost part of the Cape receiving 8 to 12 inches, according to the weather service. The rest of the Cape and Plymouth County, the Islands, Bristol County, southern Norfolk County and the southeastern tip of Worcester County are expected to get 6 to 8 inches. As you go further out from southeastern Massachusetts, the predicted snow totals fall rapidly. Boston and Worcester are only expected to get 4 to 6 inches, while Lawrence and Springfield are expected to get 2 to 3 inches. Fitchburg and Pittsfield are predicted to receive 1 to 2 inches, and Greenfield is predicted to get less than an inch. A Methuen woman was injured after a snowmobile crash in Milan, N.H., on Saturday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced. At around 11:30 a.m., Fish and Game was notified about the hurt woman in connection with a crash on Corridor 19, the department said in a statement Monday. The nearest conservation officer was located at a significant distance from the crash scene, Fish and Game said. But two Coos County Sheriffs deputies were closer and were able to reach the woman and her party, along with Berlin and Milan ambulances. Fortunately for the victim, a member of her riding party had medical training and was able to provide care until first responders arrived, the department said. Emergency services met with the injured woman, Eloara Machado, 41, and determined her injuries were severe enough for her to be air-lifted to the nearest major trauma center. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter met the patient at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin before she was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, Fish and Game said. Coos County Sheriffs deputies determined she was unable to turn a corner on the trail, which ended her going offroad and into nearby trees, the department said. Machado was thrown from the snowmobile, leaving her seriously injured. Machado rented the snowmobile from Northeast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals in Gorham, and was her first time driving a snowmobile, Fish and Game said. Investigators believe that inexperience is the primary factor in the crash, the departments statement concluded. On Jan. 24, another Massachusetts woman from Littleton died in a crash in Berlin, on Corridor 12 near Androscoggin Valley Hospital. The preliminary investigation showed that Stacey McGarry did not make a right-hand turn on the trail, and the snowmobile went airborne after going straight off and hitting a rock, the department said. A passenger was with her and was ejected in the crash. The snowmobile had also been rented earlier in the day from Northeast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals in Gorham, the department said at the time. The department added that the woman had no prior snowmobile driving experience. With incidents of antisemitism on the rise nationwide, a new poll reveals a disconnect between how American Jews and the general public at-large view the threat posed by that increase in hate. But there is some encouraging common ground on what should be done about it. Ninety-four percent of American Jews who responded to the survey by the American Jewish Committee said they believed antisemitism was very serious or somewhat of a problem, compared to 74% of all Americans who said the same thing. And despite documented incidents of antisemitism in Boston, particularly since the outbreak of war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas last October, 55% of all Americans said they believed antisemitism in the United States had increased a lot over the past five years, compared to 87% of American Jews who said the same thing. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of American Jews said they felt less secure living in the U.S. than they did a year ago, a 22-point leap from the 41% of American Jews who said the same thing in a poll released last year. We recognize that antisemitism is seeping into mainstream discourse, Rob Leikind, the groups New England director, told MassLive on Tuesday. We see it in the uptick of attacks, and in the proliferation of conspiracy theories that place Jews at the center ... [the] political discourse has taken on a character that is incompatible with democratic life. Nearly half of American Jews said they had changed their behavior at least once in the last year out of fear of antisemitism. And a quarter of American Jews said theyd been the target of antisemitism in the last year, with young Jews, aged 18-29, much more likely to report being a target, according to the poll. The latter has most often unspooled on college campuses across the Greater Boston area, where students have found themselves at cross-purposes sometimes to dangerous effect as the war drags into its fourth month. We saw on college campuses - and spoke to many students, who are afraid to go out of their dorm rooms, because the intensity of the hostility, and the readiness of people to attack on social media, Leikind said. It has created a very poisonous atmosphere. It has been very jarring. Some other top line results: Forty-seven percent of American Jewish respondents said they believed antisemitism is taken less seriously than other forms of hate and bigotry, compared to 47% of all Americans who said they consider it to be the same. Ninety-five percent of American Jews and 92% of all Americans said they believe antisemitism affects society as a whole, and that there is a collective responsibility to stand up to it. Eighty-three percent of American Jews and 88% of all Americans said they were unfamiliar with a White House strategy, made public in May 2023, to counter antisemitism. The release of the poll of 1,528 American Jews and 1,223 members of the general public comes just two days after millions of Americans saw a $7 million Super Bowl commercial funded by New England Patriots Chairman Robert Kraft that urged them to stand up to hate particularly anti-Jewish hate wherever they found it. Thats not always easy particularly on college campuses where some may feel unwilling to speak up. But it is necessary, Leikind told MassLive. One of the things weve learned over the last year is that many people dont know much about Jews. And they dont necessarily recognize what might be antisemitic, he said. There is an important educational function. And were trying to do more of that. Its critical that people understand the [antisemitic] tropes ... and their meaning. People may use them, and not understand how theyre impacting their Jewish neighbors. The advocacy groups poll of American Jews was conducted between Oct. 5 and Nov. 21, 2023, giving it a start date two days before the Hamas sneak attack that claimed the lives of 1,139 Israelis and resulted in hundreds more being taken hostage. The sample had a margin of error of 3.2%. The poll of all American citizens was conducted between Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, 2023, for an overall margin of error of 3.9%. State Police pulled a mans body from the water near a yacht club on the Neponset River on Tuesday morning, the department said. Troopers, divers and other crime scene personnel arrived at the scene around 9:10 a.m. on the banks of the Neponset River in the area of the Neponset Valley Yacht Club, off of Granite Avenue in Milton, the department said. A mans partially submerged body had been seen in the river, police said. The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, was recovered just after 11 a.m., the department said. The scene was cleared just after 11:30 a.m. Read more: Man pulled dead from Charles River by State Police divers The investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the mans death will be conducted by State Police detectives for Norfolk County, the departments crime scene services section and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Neponset River extends from the Foxborough area out to the Boston Harbor, with some major tributaries in the Milton area, according to the Massachusetts River Alliance website. The Neponset Valley Yacht Club is located at 25 Wharf St. in Milton. This is the second man to be pulled dead from a river in Massachusetts by State Police in two days; a man was pulled from the Charles River on Monday after witnesses saw him struggling in the water near the Longfellow Bridge. They were in town from Ottawa. And at midday on Monday, they were peering at the map in the North Station stop on the Ts Orange Line, trying to figure out if they were in the right place to get to the State Street Station. They peered. They conferred. They peered some more, tracing lines on the dots on the multi-colored map. Finally, the female half of the couple turned and asked, Excuse me, can we get to State from here? When they were told they were in the right place, the relief on their faces was palpable. Were still learning, her companion, who was holding a bag from the Converse store, with a grin. But when it comes to navigating the T these days, city residents, commuters, and visitors alike all are trying to figure it out as the nations oldest subway system goes through a years worth of serial shutdowns and diversions to address the slow zones and safety issues with which it was rapidly becoming synonymous. And thats what brought Gov. Maura Healey to North Station in Boston on Monday morning for a time-honored rite of budget season embraced by governors probably going back to John Hancock: The very public event to pitch her spending priorities. In this case, a massive infusion of taxpayer cash for the T, regional transit, and other road and bridge needs running to the hundreds of millions of dollars. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey ascends an escalator at Boston's North Station with MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Healey visited the station to pitch the transportation funding provisions of her fiscal 2024-25 budget proposal (MassLive photo by John L. Micek).John L. Micek I know how important this is to our quality of life and to the future of our state, Healey, flanked by MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, state Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and advocates, said Monday. Healeys $58 billion spending plan for the new fiscal year that starts July 1 calls for doubling state support for the T to $314 million, up from the current $127 million; $60 million for pay-go capital for the transit agency, and $1.5 billion in a projected sales tax revenue transfer. It also sets aside $45 million for fare relief for low-income riders. Regional transit agencies would see a $244 million infusion, according to the administrations spending documents. A strong public transportation system is a must-have for a strong community and a robust economy, Jarred Johnson, the executive director of the Boston-based advocacy group TransitMatters, said. The system needs the help: Its budget gap is expected to hit $628 million by July, the Boston Globe reported Monday. Again and again on Monday, Healey, Eng, and Tibbits-Nutt called for a transportation system that was efficient, equitable, and safe. Figuring out how to pay for it in the face of flagging state tax collections, the exploding cost of a shelter system thats stretched beyond capacity, and skeptical lawmakers will be another matter entirely. Healey appeared aware of the challenge, telling reporters that policymakers need to be smarter and more strategic with the investments that we make. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, at Boston's North Station, talks with MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Healey visited the station to pitch the transportation funding provisions of her fiscal 2024-25 budget proposal (MassLive photo by John L. Micek).John L. Micek Healey took the Ts problem-plagued Green Line to Mondays news conference, hopping on at the Park Street stop at the base of Beacon Hill below the State House. The line was shuttered for much of January as it, too, underwent more work. Eng pointed to the progress the agency has made in addressing those issues. He credited Healey for showing the kind of deep commitment to transportation that the agency hasnt seen over than a decade. Tibbits-Nutt offered a similar sentiment, noting that the state needs a holistic approach to transportation funding issues, broadly, taking in needs from Cape Ann to Cape Cod, from the Berkshires to Boston. And while city residents and commuters make up the backbone of the Ts ridership, the visitors, such as the couple from Ottawa, matter just as much. The same holds for the guy who was standing in the cavernous tunnel linking Downtown Crossing and Park Street on Monday wondering if he was headed in the right direction to catch a train to the Red Lines JFK/UMass stop. Theyre an important constituency who vote with their wallets. And as the data shows, they vote big. Visitors to Bostons national parks pumped $255.4 million into the local economy in 2022, according to a National Park Service report. And if they have a miserable experience riding the T, its a sure bet that theyre going to go home and tell their friends and families about it. Healey told reporters Monday that shes looking forward to discussions with lawmakers, as the Democratic administration and the all-Democratic Legislature try to get a deal on a new budget, presumably before the end of June. As Monday reminds, the implications of those discussions will stretch far beyond Beacon Hill. With the pace of new arrivals showing no signs of slowing, Boston will open a temporary shelter site near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, city Mayor Michelle Wu has said. Were opening up the Engagement Center just for overnight overflow for up to 30 individuals who need it to accommodate the growing need that we are experiencing. This will be a temporary measure, Wu said Monday during an unrelated event as the city prepared for Tuesdays expected heavy snowfall, according to the Boston Globe. According to the Globe, the site, on Atkinson Street is a daytime space for individuals navigating homelessness and substance use near Mass. and Cass., which has been long plagued by the twin problems of substance abuse and homelessness. Wu said Monday that the center would be in use for about a month, the newspaper reported. With more new families are arriving with the migrant crisis to cities everywhere ... much of the attention has been on families with children who are a part of the states shelter system and the work that weve been doing to support that, Wu said, according to the Globe. The announcement comes about two weeks after state and city officials announced that the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex in Bostons Roxbury neighborhood would be pressed into service as an emergency shelter site until June. That space rapidly approached its 400-person capacity, MassLive previously reported. Last week, news also emerged that an office building in Bostons luxe Seaport neighborhood could be the next stop for migrants in search of housing as the commonwealth continues to deal with a crush of new arrivals and a shortage of places to put them. The Healey administration reportedly is considering the spot on Farnsworth Street, in the Fort Point section of Seaport, according to published reports. The location is not far from the Boston Childrens Museum, the Boston Herald reported. Costs for the states shelter system are expected to sail past $900 million a year for the next two years amid a time of flagging tax collections. The fiscal challenge of meeting that growing need was a central theme of a legislative hearing last week, where Gov. Maura Healey and her top aides were peppered with questions over the administrations $58 billion spending plan for the new fiscal year that starts July 1. Speaking to WCVB-TVs On the Record program on Sunday, freshman state Sen. Peter Durant, R-Hampshire/Worcester, repeated GOP calls to amend the states Right to Shelter Law to include a residency requirement to qualify for services. Durant told host Sharman Sacchetti that the law, as its currently written, is attracting more migrants to Massachusetts than other states, State House News Service reported. You cross the border in Texas or New Mexico, wherever you happen to be, youre greeted by a bunch of NGOs nongovernmental organizations that say, Where do you want to go? You can pick a state, say, South Dakota, that doesnt have any benefits, Durant said. Or we can send you to Massachusetts where you get free housing, free health care, free food, free education, cash benefits. Where would you like to go? Reminded that the Healey administration capped the system at 7,500 families last fall, Durant parried. Well, I mean, she said that were going to have no more than 7,500 families, yet we just filled up the Melnea Cass arena, and now were looking at space in Fort Point, he said. So I dont think its -- I dont think we can trust the governor in some of the things shes saying, Durant said, according to State House News Service. Ukrainian surnames always have a meaning. Some of them are formed from external characteristics and behavioral traits. Some are based on professions and status, etc. Therefore, researching surnames, you can get a lot of information about the past of your ancestors. ADVERTISIMENT Most Ukrainian surnames are derived from first names. For example, in the old days, a man's child named Ivan could be called Ivanenko, Petro's son Petrenko, and so on. However, there are some surnames that originated from something higher than a craft or the names of ordinary people. One of them is the name Yarosh. Linguists have told us about its origin. The Yarosh surname, which is still found in Ukraine and other Slavic countries, has a rich and interesting history that goes back centuries. With the adoption of Christianity in Russia, it became customary to name children in honor of a saint revered by the Orthodox Church. Because this religion came to Ukraine from Byzantium, to Byzantium from the Roman Empire, and from the Middle East, most Christian names were borrowed from other languages and adapted to Slavic sound. ADVERTISIMENT For example, the name Hierotheus, which means "Holy God" in ancient Greek, was changed in this way. It became popular in ancient times thanks to the holy martyr Hierotheus. He was a disciple of the Apostle Paul and a bishop of Athens who suffered for his faith in the first century. Over time, the name Hierotheus was transformed into forms more familiar to the Slavic sounding: Yerofiy, Yarofey, Yaroshko. It is from the pet form "Yaroshko" that the surname Yarosh comes from. In Ukraine, family names were formed with the suffixes -uk, -yuk, -enko, -ych. Sometimes the name was fixed as a surname without any changes, so today we have such variants of surnames as Yarosh, Yaroshenko, etc. ADVERTISIMENT Among the well-known bearers of this surname are the Ukrainian public and political figure Dmytro Yarosh, as well as many other talented people in various fields. Studying the origin of surnames gives us the opportunity to better understand the history and culture of our people. The Yarosh surname, like many other Ukrainian surnames, is part of this heritage and testifies to the rich and distinctive way of development of Ukrainians. Gov. Maura Healeys proposal to give cities and towns new tax-hike authority would provide game-changers at the local level, especially for less populated areas, one mayor said Tuesday. A bill Healey filed last month would offer municipalities the option to increase or impose new taxes on lodging, meals and motor vehicle ownership, drawing mixed reactions from legislative leaders. But among the municipal officials who would wield that new power -- and collectively stand to gain tens of millions of dollars in revenue -- the reviews have been far more positive. The local options that the act puts forward are game-changers for small communities, Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle told administration officials during a Local Government Advisory Commission. Healeys wide-ranging Municipal Empowerment Act proposes a trio of major local-option tax changes: increasing the maximum tax on hotels, motels and rentals from 6 percent to 7 percent of the price of a room (and from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent in Boston), increasing the meals tax from 0.75 percent to 1 percent, and appending an additional 5 percent surcharge on motor vehicle excise taxes. LaChapelle, the president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, cited a recent report from the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau that estimated tourism spending in 2022 had a $1.3 billion economic impact in western Massachusetts. As you read through the content of that [report], it talks about the need for more hotels. It talks about the need for improved services in getting people to and from restaurants, she said. This excise tax is kind of like the chicken and the egg -- if we can have the option to increase that tax, then we have the option to build and support more infrastructure for tourism and local jobs. Even though Easthampton doesnt have a motel or a hotel, the fact that this act is putting forward an option thats tailored to our needs and other small communities around us is very exciting. The governors bill also seeks to make permanent some policies that have been in place since the pandemic on a temporary, regularly extended basis, like greater outdoor dining flexibility and the ability for restaurants to sell cocktails to go. Danielle Cerny, the chief of staff at the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, told the LGAC the proposal additionally calls for creation of a new commission to explore health care and non-pension benefits paid to public sector retirees. The panel would take a fresh look at how we can reduce the burdens that these benefits are placing on the budgets of our cities and towns, Cerny said. The Mass. Municipal Association in the past has warned that those benefits, sometimes referred to as other post-employment benefits or OPEB, pose a major burden to municipal budgets. We didnt get there a decade ago. We got close, but we didnt get across the finish line, Cerny said about a bill former Gov. Deval Patrick filed in 2013, which did not win approval in the Legislature. We are optimistic that a fresh look can allow us to actually implement some commonsense reforms in this place. In a somewhat unusual twist, Healeys bill (S 2571) is under review by two separate legislative committees. Some sections dealing with the local option taxes are currently before the Revenue Committee, while other provisions are before the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee. Municipal leaders told Healeys budget chief Tuesday that they still need more money from state government to cover K-12 education expenses, even while praising the governor for moving to fund another year of the landmark school funding law known as the Student Opportunity Act. Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said 211 Massachusetts school districts are in line in fiscal year 2025 to receive the statutory minimum $30 per student in state education aid. He asked the state to increase minimum aid to $100 per student to more accurately reflect the true cost facing our school districts. Right now, were presently looking at a $1.5 [million] to $1.9 million gap in our FY25 school budgets, Bockelman said about Amherst. The increase from $30 to $100 is not sufficient to bridge the gap, but its one way the state could contribute to addressing this deficit. Some schools might tap into unspent federal pandemic-era ESSER funds to cover gaps, according to Bockelman, who warned that doing so just builds the economic cliff that we see coming forward. Since most of our budgets are contractually bound staff salaries, the rest of the gap can only be closed by eliminating staff positions, which we do not want to do, he said. One other funding reform that rural communities in particular have long sought might be gaining traction among Healeys team: Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt signaled the administration is thinking about possible changes to the formula that reimburses communities for local road and bridge maintenance. It is incredibly exciting to let you know that we are exploring the possibility of reforming how Chapter 90 funds are allocated. This is really to help a lot of the smallest communities and, by extension, some of the neediest to get easier access to that money, she said. This would mark a big step forward in bringing equity to this piece of the funding puzzle. Tibbits-Nutt did not provide details about what kinds of reforms the administration is weighing or put a timeline on its deliberations. Healey last month filed a bill to fund the Chapter 90 program with $400 million over two years, a multi-year approach that House and Senate Democrats have hesitated to embrace despite repeated requests from municipal officials. The governors fiscal 2025 budget would also steer another $100 million to the program using surtax revenue, plus $24 million for rural and regional transportation needs. One of the top hitters left on this years free agent market and a player linked heavily to the Red Sox this winter is headed west. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. Free agent slugger Jorge Soler has agreed to a three-year contract with the Giants, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The deal is reportedly worth $42 million (or $14 million in average annual value). Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP, was one of a few top position players available on the open market along with Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and J.D. Martinez. The Red Sox were first linked to Soler in early January and have been consistently mentioned in reports about his market despite the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Mets and other clubs having interest. In theory, the 31-year-old (32 on Feb. 25) would have fit the club as a right-handed, middle-of-the-order bat in between lefties Rafael Devers and Triston Casas. Soler could have taken a good share of at-bats at designated hitter for the Red Sox while mixing in at the two corner outfield spots. With camp officially opening Wednesday, Boston has a relatively unproven outfield group of Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Tyler ONeill, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida and potentially Ceddanne Rafaela projected to make the Opening Day roster. The Red Sox failure to sign Soler continues a winter-long theme of the club losing out on free agent targets it has known to have interest in. Soler, who entered the winter as the No. 16 free agent in the class (per MLBTradeRumors) joins pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga, Eduardo Rodriguez, Seth Lugo, Jordan Hicks, Yariel Rodriguez and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez as free agents the Red Sox showed interest in before they signed elsewhere. Righty Lucas Giolito, who signed with the Red Sox in late December, was one spot behind Soler on MLBTRs list at No. 17. He remains the only free agent to sign with Boston for more than $1 million this winter. Soler hit .250 with 36 homers, 75 RBIs and an .853 OPS in 137 games for the Marlins last season, making the All-Star team for the first time in his career. The Giants will be the fifth team in 11 seasons for Soler, who has also played for the Cubs, Royals and Braves. With spring camps opening across Florida and Arizona, 13 of MLBTRs top 50 free agents remain unsigned. Beyond the top quartet of Bellinger, Chapman, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are available veterans Martinez, Mike Clevinger, Michael Lorenzen, Gio Urshela, Amed Rosario, Whit Merrifield, Brandon Belt, Liam Hendriks and Tim Anderson. SPRINGFIELD City and school officials plan to submit an estimated $270 million in school improvements to the state. The hope is to get funding to do everything from replacing roofs and windows to rebuilding a 123-year-old school. We know we will not get all of this, but we do need the improvements, Superintendent Daniel Warwick said. The Massachusetts School Building Authority has two programs. One allows districts to receive up to 80% in state funding to replace and repair school buildings. The Accelerated Repair program reimburses districts up to 80% to replace windows and doors, roofs and heating systems. PIAFRICA2024, collaborates with Silver Sponsor BlackRock for an exclusive half-day pre-event workshop on 27th February 2024 from 13:30 17:10 hours at the Intercontinental Resort, Balaclava, Mauritius. In line with the overarching event theme Reshaping African Markets: Deciphering the Investment Conundrum for Growth, this workshop promises invaluable insights for investors looking to navigate the regions dynamic markets. 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Secure your spot now for this exclusive chance to broaden your investment horizons and unleash the full potential of alternative assets. I thank Your Highnesses for your hospitality, for your steadfast support for the World Health Organization and global health, and for the opportunity to address you .Its a great pleasure to be back in Dubai. I was honoured to be here in December last year for COP28 the first COP to include a day dedicated to health, and I thank the UAE for its leadership in giving health such a prominent place in the climate agenda. It was the first of its kind. Thank you, UAE, for being a pathfinder. LIVE: A Pact with the Future: Why the Pandemic Agreement is Mission-Critical for Humanity @DrTedros remarks at the @WorldGovSummit https://t.co/s19zLVT5f1 147 countries signed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, recognising that the climate crisis is a health crisis. In particular, I thank the UAE for its support for the WHO Global Logistics Hub here in Dubai, which has become an essential part of WHOs operational response to health emergencies around the world. Last year, the hub distributed medical supplies for 50 million people in emergency situations in 81 countries, in every region of the world Afghanistan, Chad, Fiji, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen and more. Since the hub opened in 2015 in Dubai, it has expanded 7-fold, from 3000 to 20 000 square metres. Indeed, the hub is currently playing a vital role in our response to several emergencies around the world, including the ongoing crisis in Gaza. So far, we have delivered 447 metric tons of medical supplies to Gaza, but its a drop in the ocean of need, which continues to grow every day. Only 15 out of 36 hospitals are still partially or minimally functional in Gaza. Health workers are doing their best in impossible circumstances. I am especially concerned by the recent attacks on Rafah, where the majority of Gazas population has fled from the destruction to the north. WHO continues to call for safe access for humanitarian personnel and supplies; We continue to call for hostages held by Hamas to be released; And we continue to call for a ceasefire. === Excellencies, On the 12th of February 2018 exactly six years ago I stood on this stage and said the world was not prepared for a pandemic, and expressed my concern at that time that a pandemic could happen anytime. As you remember, less than two years later, in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and indeed, the world was not prepared. Today I stand before you, in the aftermath of COVID-19, With millions of people dead, With social, economic and political shocks that reverberate to this day, Although some progress has been made, like improvements in surveillance, the Pandemic Fund, building capacities in vaccine production and the periodic review we have started, still, the world is not prepared for a pandemic. The cycle of panic and neglect is beginning to repeat. The painful lessons we learned are in danger of being forgotten as attention turns to the many other crises confronting our world. But if we fail to learn those lessons, we will pay dearly next time. And there will be a next time. History teaches us that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. It may be caused by an influenza virus, or a new coronavirus, or it may be caused by a new pathogen we dont even know about yet what we call Disease X. Theres been a lot of attention on Disease X recently, but in fact, its not a new thing. We first used the term Disease X in 2018 the same time as I spoke here at this World Governments Summit as a placeholder for a disease we dont even know about yet, but for which we can nonetheless prepare. COVID-19 was a Disease X a new pathogen causing a new disease. But there will be another Disease X, or a Disease Y or a Disease Z. And as things stand, the world remains unprepared for the next Disease X, and the next pandemic. If it struck tomorrow, we would face many of the same problems we faced with COVID-19. Its for this reason that in December 2021, WHOs Member States met in Geneva and agreed to develop an international agreement on pandemic preparedness and response a legally-binding pact to work together to keep themselves and each other safe. Countries set themselves a deadline to complete the agreement in time for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May of this year. Thats now just 15 weeks away. However, there are currently two major obstacles to meeting that deadline. The first is a group of issues on which countries have not yet reached consensus. Theyre making progress, but there are still areas of difference that need further negotiation between countries. None of them are insurmountable. If countries listen to each others concerns, I am confident they can find common ground and a common approach. The second major barrier is the litany of lies and conspiracy theories about the agreement: That its a power grab by the World Health Organization; That it will cede sovereignty to WHO; That it will give WHO power to impose lockdowns or vaccine mandates on countries; That its an attack on freedom; That WHO will not allow people to travel; And that WHO wants to control peoples lives. These are some of the lies that are being spread. If they werent so dangerous, these lies would be funny. But they put the health of the worlds people at risk. And that is no laughing matter. These claims are utterly, completely, categorically false. The pandemic agreement will not give WHO any power over any state or any individual, for that matter. Anyone who says it will is either uninformed or lying. But dont take my word for it. The draft agreement is available on the WHO website for anyone who wants to read it. And anyone who does will not find a single sentence or a single word giving WHO any power over sovereign states. You know, countries are even talking about sovereign AI, as we have seen in the previous panel, in the same way. Countries will keep their sovereignty. Thats because its sovereign states themselves who are writing the agreement. Why would they agree to cede sovereignty to WHO? We cannot allow this historic agreement, this milestone in global health, to be sabotaged by those who spread lies, either deliberately or unknowingly. Let me be clear: WHO did not impose anything on anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not lockdowns, not mask mandates, not vaccine mandates. We dont have the power to do that, we dont want it, and were not trying to get it. Our job is to support governments with evidence-based guidance, advice and, when needed, supplies, to help them protect their people. But the decisions are theirs. And so is the pandemic agreement. It has been written by countries, for countries, and will be implemented in countries in accordance with their own national laws. In fact, WHO will not even be a party to the agreement. The parties are governments and governments alone. Far from ceding sovereignty, the agreement actually affirms national sovereignty and national responsibility in its foundational principles. Indeed, the agreement is itself an exercise of sovereignty. Its about the commitments countries are making to keep themselves and each other safer from pandemics. And it recognizes that they can only do that by working with each other. Let me tell you what the agreement does say. Its a set of commitments by countries to strengthen the worlds defences in several areas: To strengthen prevention with a One Health approach; The health and care workforce; Research and development; Access to vaccines and other products; Sharing of information, technology, and biological samples; And more. Now I ask you: what is so problematic about those commitments? Is there anyone who thinks countries should not cooperate? Does anyone think countries should not share information? Does anyone think some people are more deserving than others of access to vaccines and other tools? In our interconnected and interdependent world, countries can only keep themselves safe if they work with each other. In that sense, the pandemic agreement is a commitment to national security. Its in every countrys own national interest. Because pathogens have no regard for the lines humans draw on maps, nor for the colour of our politics, the size of our economies or the strength of our military. For everything that makes us different, we are one humanity, the same species, sharing the same DNA and the same planet. We have no future but a common future. Common threats, then, demand a common response. Thats why this pandemic agreement is so important. Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted huge losses on communities, countries, businesses and economies. Those losses must not be in vain, and must not be repeated. Its possible, or even likely, that we will face another pandemic in our lifetimes. We cant know how mild or severe it might be. But we can be ready. Are we ready now? Not yet. Thats why the pandemic agreement is mission-critical for humanity. Its a pact with the future, that we will not expose the generations who follow us to the same suffering that we endured. Had the agreement been in place before COVID-19, we would not have lost so much. Now is the moment for leadership from the highest levels of government to deliver the pandemic agreement to the World Health Assembly in 15 weeks time. Now is the time to say no to inequity; No to lies and misinformation; And yes to international cooperation; Yes to equity; And yes to solidarity. As the generation that lived through COVID-19, we have a collective responsibility to protect future generations from the suffering we endured. May history record that we rose to that responsibility, and made the world a healthier, safer and fairer place. Shukran jazeelan. I thank you. MAYO TD Alan Dillon has attacked a Sinn Fein proposal to scrap the TV licence fee as giving two fingers to law-abiding citizens. The opposition party are due to table a private members motion before the Dail calling for an abolition of the TV licence. Sinn Fein has also called for a legal amnesty to those who havent paid the 160 fee, which RTEs primary source of funding. Deputy Dillon had labelled the motion as nonsensical and described the legal amnesty proposals as nonsensical and reckless. For Mayo Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh to say that she would give a legal amnesty to those who dont the pay the TV licence is irresponsible and reckless, and it demonstrates that Sinn Fein think they are above the law, the Fine Gael TD stated. The Future of Media Commissions 2022 report included a recommendation that the licence fee be replaced by exchequer funding. Licence fee revenue plummeted by over 16 million last year following the payments controversy surrounding former RTE presenter Ryan Tubridy. Deputy Dillon, who is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee, said the government was committed to putting in place a more sustainable, long-term funding model for public service media in Ireland including RTE. He said a decision would be made on the matter after the reports of the two independent expert reviews into RTE are received. The mask slips yet again with Sinn Fein demonstrating how irresponsible and reckless they are in their attempt to manage the country. As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rightly said today (Tuesday), this proposal represents a slap in the face to law abiding citizens who pay their bills and have paid their licence fee this year and for years, Deputy Dillon added. It would also defund public service media at a vital time when democracy is under threat due to the spread of misinformation and the rise of illiberal democracy. Contrary to what Sinn Fein say, it does not provide some kind of silver bullet solution to the financial mismanagement and controversies we witnessed at RTE, it will only punish ordinary decent workers at the national broadcaster and starve the organisation of essential funding. Defending the current license fee, Deputy Dillon said: Until that new future funding model is agreed, the TV licence system remains in place and all householders should have one. Not only is it the law, but it supports a wide range of public service media created by the independent sector for a number of other broadcasters and not only RTE. This will undoubtedly be another poorly thought-out motion that Sinn Fein consigns to the dustbin, Deputy Dillon concluded. Speaking to The Mayo News today, Deputy Rose-Conway Walsh labelled Deputy Dillons comments as nonsensical and said that she would happily debate the issue with him. His comments are nonsensical and what I have come to expect from him and his government, Deputy Conway-Walsh said. Deputy Dillon is symptomatic of a government that is out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. The fact is the public want the TV Licence gone. Sinn Fein has set out our plan to do that, Deputy Dillion and Fine Gael are coming up with excuses not to do that and have sat on their hands for the last two and a half years since the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission Report, she added. A COUNTY councillor has criticised skullduggery and fake news from social media accounts calling on people to keep pressure on local representatives on the issue of immigration. Without referring to any specific incidents or accounts, Cllr Patsy OBrien said that social media accounts were putting out fake news in relation to immigration. There was quite a lot of speeches over the weekend saying, get them out, vote for anyone except the sitting councillors. I think thats very unfair and its very unreal, said Cllr OBrien. The Independent councillor, who spoke at a demonstration against the proposed accommodation of 50 male asylum seekers at a hotel in Ballinrobe, said that it was up to the people to decide who they want to represent them. I am strongly saying I deplore the fake news thats being put out and I deplore the way that theyre treating democracy, he said, before claiming a number of county councillors had been witch-hunted into retirement recently. I have seen two fine councillors leave this week, and I know from one of them, the amount of pressure these people have come underThats not democracy, he said. Let them put all the pressure they want, he added. If they think thats going to change the likes of us, especially for myself, that doesnt change me. Ill be the same tomorrow as I am today. Cllr Richard Finn said that fake news had been spread regarding the housing of migrants in various areas. The Claremorris-based councillor said that local representatives had supported local people when concerns were expressed about modular houses in the Claremorris area. Castlemacgarrett, a large property located outside the town, is set to undergo a lengthy refurbishment but will not be accommodating modular housing for refugees, according to a statement from the owners. Cllr Finn previously threatened to lie in front of machinery to stop the construction of modular houses for Ukrainian refugees on the Ballyhaunis Road. A 28-unit modular housing development opened at the OPW site last August after construction began in late 2022. Im not going to be intimidated by anybody. I dont care who they are, said Cllr Finn, who added that councillors who expressed concerns about migration were not racist. We welcome Ukrainian people into this county, no problem. We have the loveliest of Lithuanians, Polish, Latviansbut there are people coming into this country, who have no passport, who are allowed inand thats where the fears are coming from. Cllr Damien Ryan agreed with his fellow councillors remarks regarding misinformation and repeated his call for the government to publish a national strategy on the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers. The unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) has every chance of defeating Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) thanks to his high-class technique. At the same time, our compatriot needs to be as careful as possible in the fight on May 18 due to the size advantage of his opponent. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed in an interview with the news.ru portal by former heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Povietkin. According to the Russian former boxer, he will not be able to attend the show in Riyadh, but he will be watching it closely, waiting for the Ukrainian champion to win. He added that Fury's injury, which he allegedly received in sparring, could have been part of a strategy to prepare for the fight. "You have to be on Fury's team to know for sure whether he took a break on purpose or accidentally got a cut. But my opinion: Fury is not a coward. I think Sasha can win because of his technique. He moves well on his feet, he's much faster than Fury. This is his main trump card. It's hard to say who will win the fight. I'll be rooting for Oleksandr, but Fury is a very dangerous and uncomfortable boxer. He has a big size advantage, so you need to be very careful with him and move very quickly," Povietkin said. ADVERTISIMENT The fight between Usyk and Fury was originally scheduled for February 17, but the Gypsy King suffered a cut during sparring two weeks before the show. Tyson apologized for his injury, and a video of the incident was posted online. The Briton also made a statement about the end of his career. The main reasons why Fury will not be able to refuse to enter the ring against the Ukrainian again were named. ADVERTISIMENT When asked about the fake nature of the injury, Usyk criticized the Gypsy King. In addition, the fans reacted angrily to the situation. The incident was also commented on by Croatian boxer Agron Smakic (20-2, 18 KOs), who dealt Fury the ill-fated blow. But ex-champion Carl Froch called the British fighter's injury suspicious. Bookmakers reacted unexpectedly to the postponement of the Usyk-Fury fight, changing one of the quotes on its outcome. Two conditions were also revealed that the Ukrainian demanded to fulfill when he agreed to postpone his return to the ring on February 17. In addition, the media announced Tyson and Oleksandr's fees for the show. These two colorful countries attract tourists from all over Europe. They come here to immerse themselves in an unusual culture and feel the fierce temperament of two different peoples. And also to plunge into the atmosphere of fun, unrestrained dancing and gastronomic delights. And what's great is that guests are always welcome here. ADVERTISIMENT That's why travelers are constantly coming here. Traditionally, we share the best locations with you. Georgia Batumi is where all guests of the country go first. It is not just a city, but the heart of the Adjara region. So you can safely go here even in winter. You won't be able to splash around in the water and sunbathe in winter, but you will be able to enjoy other attractions of the city. The first thing you need to do is buy a ticket and take a ride on the funicular. It takes only 10 minutes, and you are at the top of Mount Anuria at an altitude of 2,586 meters. Travelers are so impressed by the local scenery that even in winter they stay here for at least a few hours. Neither the cold nor the wind scares them. ADVERTISIMENT After such a mini-trip, you need a tasty and nutritious meal. And fortunately, Batumi is famous for its specialties, which are worth trying. Go to any restaurant and order Ajarian khachapuri, khinkali, or a specialty kebab. When you have enjoyed this region enough, head to the capital. It is a must-see. Find at least a day to take a quick run around the sights of Tbilisi. If time is short, go straight to the ancient Narikala fortress. It is located in the very center - on the sacred Mount Mtatsminda. Among the modern sights, it is worth visiting the Peace Bridge, which symbolizes understanding between all people on Earth. Despite the differences in cultures, religions and traditions, we all have a lot in common. And we should not forget about it. ADVERTISIMENT Azerbaijan Imagine the architecture of Paris, Vienna, and Barcelona combined with an oriental flavor. Such landscapes can be found at every turn in the capital of Azerbaijan. Yes, Baku is a very specific city. But in a good sense of the word. You won't need a map or a navigator here. And why would you need them when every building is like a carpet: with its patterns, ornaments, and elements that you want to look at without taking your eyes off. Let alone mosques, minarets, antique shops, or teahouses. When you arrive in Baku, we advise you not to focus on ancient or modern sights, but to get the most out of your trip. That is, visit all possible historical attractions and new buildings. Moreover, they are located in the neighborhood. ADVERTISIMENT The Maiden Tower is the oldest building in the city that has been perfectly preserved to this day. It has been standing here for more than ten centuries, and it seems that it will last as long. By the way, it is still not known for certain how it was used. There is a legend that once a ruler wanted to marry his own daughter. But she could not bear such a sad fate and threw herself from the highest floor. But this is just a legend. Most historians do not believe in such folk tales. They assume that the building was used as an observatory, lighthouse, or temple. Don't forget to walk along Primorsky Boulevard. There are fountains, attractions, a parachute tower, and a shopping center. The architect of the famous Sydney Opera House was inspired by it. ADVERTISIMENT But Azerbaijan is not only famous for its capital. Other regions are worth visiting if you have a chance. For example, Ganja. Travelers come here to find inner Zen and harmony. They go to Lankaran to improve their health in the country's best thermal springs. People visit Sheka to explore historical relics and eat plenty of real halva. We could talk about these countries for a long time. But you know that it is better to see once than to read a hundred times. On February 13, Polish farmers expanded their border blockade to the Korczowa-Krakowiec border crossing. The protest near this checkpoint began in the middle of the day after the protesting farmers had already blocked the Zosyn-Ustyluh, Dovhobychuv-Uhryniv, Medyka-Shehyni, Yahodyn-Dorohusk, and Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska border crossings. ADVERTISIMENT "Around 14:00, Polish farmers started a protest near the Korcheva checkpoint, opposite the Ukrainian Krakivets checkpoint. According to information from Polish colleagues, the picketers intend to block the movement of trucks heading to Ukraine," the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) said. As of Tuesday morning, February 13, about 1,250 trucks were queuing at the border between Ukraine and Poland. Most of them were opposite Yahodyn and Rava-Ruska . "These are the trucks on the territory of Poland that are waiting to cross the border towards Ukraine," said Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, during a national telethon. According to him, only a small number of trucks are allowed to cross the border. "In an hour, 1-3 trucks can cross in each direction - both towards Poland and out of the country. It all depends on the organizers and participants, their desire to let trucks through. Traffic for other categories of vehicles is not blocked," he said. ADVERTISIMENT The best situation is at the Ustyluh and Uhryniv directions, where there are practically no queues. However, each direction has its own peculiarities: trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons, i.e. large trucks, can cross the border in some places," added Demchenko. For example, smaller trucks or empty trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons can cross the border at Ustyluh and Uhryniv. What preceded and who is blocking the border? Yesterday, February 12, Polish farmers expanded their blockade of the Ukrainian border. Behind the strike with discriminatory demands for Ukraine and the destruction of grain are pro-Russian forces supported by politicians from the marginal Confederation party. "The Confederation opposes European values, supports Poland's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) and active cooperation with Russia. It is also worth considering that the European market receives three times more grain from Russia than from Ukraine, but the protesters do not even mention this product. ADVERTISIMENT One of the key organizers of the protest, Rafa Mekler, is also the leader of the far-right Ukrainophobic party Ruch Narodowy. For years, Mekler and his partners have been telling Poles about "Washington's plans," "the destructive influence of the EU," and so on. Mekler owns the logistics company Rafa Mekler TRANSPORT, which delivered goods to Russia. Since the fall of 2023, he has been personally attending protests on the border of Ukraine and actively promoting his ideas on social media. After the incident with the illegal unloading of trucks and damage to grain, Polish customs stopped releasing trucks with such cargo. The country's authorities also decided to tighten control over Ukrainian grain. In Ukraine, the Polish protest is no longer perceived as a peaceful action. ADVERTISIMENT As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, the EU will not introduce quotas for some Ukrainian products, as the EC refused Poland's request. Moreover, the EC is preparing a draft decision to extend duty-free trade with Ukraine. It is expected that this regime will be in effect at least until June 2025. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, February 13, 2024 Source: R3 Worldwide Publicis Groupe was ranked number one in R3 Worldwides tabulation of global new business gains for full-year 2023. The Groupe had net new business revenue of $700 million, up nearly 7% versus 2022. That included $315 million from media pitches and $385 million from creative pitches. advertisement advertisement Second-ranked WPP scored net new business revenue of $526 million, up nearly 5%. The Groups media pitch tally was $135 million, while creative wins racked up $390 million. Interpublic placed third with $397 million in total net new business, up almost 5%. Its media pitch tally was $74 million while creative wins yielded $323 million. Omnicom and Dentsu rounded out the top-5 respectively. R3 described last years pitch landscape as relatively muted. The number of total accounts awarded was down about 3% although the overall value increased 5%. The value of creative accounts increased by 8% with a decrease in volume of nearly 14%. While the holding groups held the top slots, three independent agencies rounded out the top 20 including Wieden + Kennedy, M & C Saatchi and Mother. Media contributed less valueup less than a percentage pointalthough 17% more accounts were awarded. Among media agencies, Publicis Media, OMD and Zenith led in net new business revenue, and Publicis Groupe, Omnicom, and WPP took the top three places for Media in the holding company rankings. In the U.S. the value of creative accounts was up 29%, while creative new business recovery in most other regions was slow with companies putting fewer accounts and smaller budgets in review, per the R3 assessment. Media was a different story. The U.S. registered a 187% increase in the number of media reviews but with a 14% decrease in overall value. By comparison, Chinas media landscape remained strong with fewer accounts up for grabs but 38% more revenue at stake. Its becoming clearer where marketers prioritize Creative and Media, says Greg Paull, Principal and Co-founder at R3. In the US and Europe, theres growing interest in the impact of creative effectiveness on overall business growth and cultural relevance, placing a premium on impactful and innovative creative work. In regions where connected platforms are more critical to customer engagement and conversion, Paull added, media is more important. Particularly with partners that can offer CRM and data solutions. China and Asia-Pacific are two examples where media revenue is strong, and less investment finds its way to creative partnerships. Highlights: Chernobyl mutant wolves display radiation resilience and anti-cancer traits Nuclear radiation alters immune systems causing genetic mutations that offer protection against increased cancer risk Emphasizes the protective mutations as a foundation for developing innovative cancer therapies Trusted Source Mutant Chernobyl wolves evolve anti-cancer abilities 35 years after nuclear disaster Go to source Trusted Source Chernobyl wolves have developed potential anti-cancer abilities, with research suggesting unique DNA adaptations. #chernobylwolves #resistradiation #anti-cancer #medindia Advertisement The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Advertisement Radiation Exposure and Adaptation Did You Know? Scientists discovered a fungus inside Chernobyl that can eat radiation and even turn it into energy which could help clean disaster sites and enable spaceflight. Advertisement Radiation-Resistant Wolves in Chernobyl Spark Hope Read More to Know About Inhibiting Protein Family Helps Mice Survive Radiation Exposure Challenges and Future Directions Mutant Chernobyl wolves evolve anti-cancer abilities 35 years after nuclear disaster - (https://www.newswise.com/articles/mutant-chernobyl-wolves-evolve-anti-cancer-abilities-35-years-after-nuclear-disaster) The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), a 1,000-square-mile area surrounding the site of the infamous Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, has become an unexpected haven for wildlife. Despite the initial devastation caused by the nuclear explosion, the region is now teeming with horses, wolves, forests, and fungi In a surprising turn of events, researchers from Princeton University have discovered that the wolves inhabiting the CEZ have developed anti-cancer abilities, offering a potential breakthrough in cancer research ().Following the catastrophic nuclear reactor explosion in 1986, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was established to prevent further radiation exposure. This vast area, measuring 1,000 square miles, was cordoned off to protect human populations from the harmful effects of nuclear radiation Over the years, however, nature has made a remarkable resurgence in the region, with wildlife recolonizing the area and adapting to the challenging conditions posed by radiation.Princeton University researchers, led by evolutionary biologist and ecotoxicologist Cara Love, embarked on a study to understand how the wolves of Chernobyl not only survive but thrive despite generations of radiation exposure.Using specialized GPS collars equipped with radiation dosimeters, the research team obtained real-time measurements of the wolves' location and the extent of their radiation exposure. Astonishingly, theLove's study revealed that the wolves within the CEZ exhibited altered immune systems, reminiscent of cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment. This unexpected finding raised the question of whether these wolves possessed genetic mutations that conferred a degree of resilience to the detrimental effects of radiation.Unlike human research that often identifies mutations associated with increased cancer risk , Love's work aimed to pinpoint protective mutations that enhance the odds of surviving cancer.Specific regions of the wolf genome were identified as potentially resilient to increased cancer risk. This groundbreaking discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the genetic mechanisms that can protect against the harmful effects of radiation and, by extension, cancer. The study challenges conventional thinking by focusing on protective mutations that may serve as a basis for developing novel cancer treatments.Despite the promising findings, the researchers face challenges in continuing their work in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Ongoing conflicts and the global COVID-19 pandemic have hindered their ability to return to the region for further studies. Nevertheless, the priority remains on ensuring the safety of both researchers and collaborators in the area.The story of the Chernobyl wolves and their potential anti-cancer abilities represents a remarkable example of nature's resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity. The potential implications of this cancer research and treatment are both exciting and promising, offering a glimmer of hope in the aftermath of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.Source-Medindia Highlights: A collaborative effort led by Alka Dwivedi in India resulted in the development of NexCAR19, India's first approved CAR T-cell therapy, addressing the accessibility and affordability concerns of cancer treatment The therapy showed promising results in clinical trials, with a significant decrease in cancer extent and minimal side effects, marking a new era in cancer treatment in India Through innovation, collaboration, and perseverance, the team overcame challenges to create a homegrown solution tailored to the needs of Indian patients, setting a precedent for global cancer research and treatment India's first CAR T-cell therapy, NexCAR19, marks a groundbreaking achievement in cancer treatment, offering hope to thousands with promising results and minimal side effects. #cancerresearch #medindia Advertisement What is CAR T-cell Therapy? Did You Know? CAR T-cell therapy costs around $400,000 in the US, while India's NexCAR19 is expected to be priced at approximately $50,000, making it more accessible. Advertisement Developing CAR T-cell Theraoy in India Trusted Source Department of Biotechnology supported First CAR-T cell therapy conducted at ACTREC, Tata Hospital in Mumbai DBT/BIRAC-NBM Supported Phase I/II Clinical Trials Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement New Era in Cancer Treatment in India Department of Biotechnology supported First CAR-T cell therapy conducted at ACTREC, Tata Hospital in Mumbai DBT/BIRAC-NBM Supported Phase I/II Clinical Trials - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1725254) In 2015, Alka Dwivedi, a graduate student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, embarked on a journey fueled by curiosity and determination. Her quest? To explore the possibility of developing a CAR T-cell therapy right here in India.At that time, CAR T-cell therapies were garnering attention worldwide for their potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. These innovative therapies involve modifying a patient's T cells in a laboratory to target and destroy cancer cells. However, the high cost and potential side effects associated with existing CAR T-cell therapies raised concerns about their accessibility and affordability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India.Undeterred by these challenges, Alka Dwivedi envisioned a different approachone that would harness India's scientific prowess and address the unique needs of patients in her country. But she knew that she couldn't do it alone. Thus began a collaborative effort that would span continents and bring together experts from diverse fields.Teaming up with colleagues Rahul Purwar, Ph.D., of IIT Bombay, and Gaurav Narula, M.D., of Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, Alka Dwivedi set out to explore the intricacies of CAR T-cell therapy. Their journey led them to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where they had the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field.Under the mentorship of NCI scientists, including Nirali Shah, M.D., the team delved into the nuances of CAR T-cell therapy, gaining invaluable insights into its design, development, and clinical application. The training provided at the NIH Clinical Center proved instrumental in shaping their approach to CAR T-cell therapy and laid the groundwork for their future endeavors.Armed with newfound knowledge and a shared vision, Alka Dwivedi and her co-investigators returned to India with a missionto develop an indigenous CAR T-cell therapy that could be produced locally, offered at an affordable cost, and tailored to meet the needs of Indian patients (). Their journey was not without its challenges. Designing a CAR T-cell therapy from scratch required meticulous planning, innovative thinking, and unwavering dedication. But with each obstacle they encountered, the team remained steadfast in their pursuit of a solution.Years of painstaking research and development culminated in the creation of actalycabtagene autoleucel (NexCAR19)India's first approved CAR-T cell therapy. This groundbreaking achievement was made possible through a combination of scientific expertise, collaborative synergy, and unwavering determination.In October 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)India's regulatory authorityapproved NexCAR19, marking a historic milestone in the country's fight against cancer. The approval was based on the results of two clinical trials conducted in India, which demonstrated the therapy's efficacy and safety in patients with advanced lymphoma or leukemia According to trial data presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting, NexCAR19 showed promising results, with a significant proportion of patients experiencing a notable decrease in the extent of their cancer. Importantly, the therapy was well-tolerated, with minimal side effects reported.The approval of NexCAR19 heralds a new era in cancer treatment in India, offering hope to thousands of patients grappling with this devastating disease. But beyond its immediate impact, NexCAR19 represents a triumph of scientific innovation, collaborative partnership, and unwavering perseverance. Dr. Alka Dwivedi, now a trailblazer in the field of CAR T-cell therapy, continues her journey at NCI's Center for Cancer Research, where she is furthering her research and contributing to the advancement of cancer care. As India grapples with a growing burden of cancer, initiatives like NexCAR19 underscore the importance of homegrown solutions tailored to local needs. By harnessing the power of innovation, collaboration, and determination, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges and pave the way for a brighter, cancer-free future.Source-Medindia British promoter Frank Warren made a ridiculous accusation against Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs). The representative of Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), whom the Ukrainian will fight on May 18 for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion, accused our compatriot of allegedly simulating dirty punches from his opponents. ADVERTISIMENT Warren said this in an interview with Sky Sports. The promoter of the Gypsy King, as the Briton is called, expressed confidence that Usyk is very bad at dealing with body blows, and therefore, as he did in the fight against Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs), he is trying to influence the referee to break the fight. "Usyk used to complain and whine when he got hit in the body. Now he has to fight a guy who knows how to exploit any weakness. Usyk often does that, he whines in front of the referee. He's already had problems with punches to the body. This will happen until the referee demonstrates his authority. Now I'm even more confident in Tyson than I was before Usyk's fight with Dubois," Warren said. ADVERTISIMENT The fight between Usyk and Fury was originally scheduled for February 17, but the Gypsy King suffered a cut during sparring two weeks before the show. Tyson apologized for his injury, and a video of the incident was posted online. The Briton also made a statement about his retirement. The main reasons why Fury will not be able to refuse to fight the Ukrainian again were mentioned. ADVERTISIMENT When asked about the fake nature of the injury, Usyk criticized the Gypsy King. In addition, the fans reacted angrily to the situation. The incident was also commented on by Croatian boxer Agron Smakic (20-2, 18 KOs), who dealt Fury the ill-fated blow. But ex-champion Carl Froch called the British fighter's injury suspicious. Bookmakers reacted unexpectedly to the postponement of the Usyk-Fury fight, changing one of the quotes on its outcome. Two conditions were also revealed that the Ukrainian demanded to fulfill when he agreed to postpone his return to the ring on February 17. In addition, the media announced Tyson and Alexander's fees for the show. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was put under general anesthesia Monday as he received non-surgical treatment for bladder issues a day after being admitted to the hospital for the third time in as many months, officials from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said in a statement released by the Pentagon. "We anticipate a successful recovery and will closely monitor him overnight," Dr. John Maddox, trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research of the Murtha Cancer Center, said in the statement. The hospitalization for bladder issues is the latest chapter in a growing collection of health issues Austin has faced since he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December a diagnosis he initially kept secret. The secrecy about the cancer, surgery to treat the cancer and a January hospitalization for complications from the surgery caused a scandal that continues to reverberate around D.C. Read Next: Agent Orange Benefits Would Be Expanded Under VA Plan to Veterans Exposed in 12 States, Parts of Canada, India The Monday statement did not specify how long Austin is expected to be hospitalized this time, but the doctors said a "prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated." In a press briefing after the statement was released, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder could not answer more detailed questions about Austin's condition, instead repeatedly directing reporters to the statement from the doctors. The Pentagon announced Sunday afternoon that Austin had been taken to the hospital because he was experiencing "symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue." While the Pentagon initially said Austin would keep his authorities as defense secretary, it later said he had transferred those authorities to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks. And late Sunday night, the Walter Reed doctors added that Austin had been admitted to the critical care unit for "supportive care and close monitoring." Austin's hospitalization is his second time back at Walter Reed in as many months. He was previously admitted to the hospital Jan. 1 for what officials later revealed were complications from the earlier surgery to treat prostate cancer. The January hospitalization caused a firestorm in Washington, D.C., because Austin initially hid his condition, including from the White House and President Joe Biden. Despite Austin being diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and getting surgery that month, Biden, Congress and the public weren't informed until days after his January hospitalization. The secrecy surrounding the earlier hospitalizations prompted an internal Pentagon review, an inspector general investigation and a congressional probe. The internal Pentagon review is complete and awaiting Austin's approval before being released, the department said last week. In a press briefing earlier this month, Austin apologized for how he initially handled the situation. This time, the White House and Congress were notified Austin was being taken to the hospital before he left, Ryder said Monday. The White House ordered new notification procedures after the secrecy of Austin's earlier hospitalization. Ryder could not answer whether the most recent bladder issues are another complication of Austin's December surgery or a complication of the cancer itself. He also could not say how long Austin was under general anesthesia, what symptoms he was experiencing that prompted him to go to the hospital, or what specific procedures he underwent Monday. Austin's doctors expect him to be well enough Tuesday to resume his "normal" duties, according to the statement from Maddox and Chesnut. The bladder issues are also not expected to change Austin's anticipated full recovery from cancer, for which his prognosis is "excellent," the doctors said in the statement. Despite the optimistic tone of the statement and predictions of a quick recovery, Austin has canceled one major commitment this week. He was supposed to travel to Brussels for a meeting with international defense leaders to discuss support for Ukraine, as well as for a meeting with NATO defense ministers. The Ukraine meeting will now be virtual, and Austin is planning to participate virtually "depending on his health care status," Ryder said. The last Ukraine meeting in January was also virtual because of Austins health issues. Julianne Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, will step in for Austin at the NATO meeting, Ryder added. Related: Defense Secretary Austin Hospitalized with Bladder Issue, Transfers Powers to His Deputy AURORA, Colorado -- In one of the most sweeping changes in their history, Air Force and Space Force officials are renaming, reorganizing and rethinking their services' structures so airmen and Guardians can be ready for competition with China. The changes include bringing back warrant officers -- a plan first reported by Military.com -- as well as changes to training; all this was necessary as China prepares for war in the Pacific and, potentially, against the U.S. military, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said during a keynote address Monday evening at the Air & Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium conference at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. "We are out of time," Kendall said. "Why do I say that? It's not that I enjoy sounding like a broken record. It's because, for at least two decades, China has been building a military that is designed, purpose-built, to deter and defeat the United States if we intervene in the western Pacific." Read Next: Austin Receives Bladder Treatment at Walter Reed in Latest Hospitalization Since Cancer Diagnosis Kendall, alongside Kristyn Jones, who is performing the duties of acting under secretary; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin; and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, unveiled 24 different changes: 16 of them for the Air Force, five for the Space Force and three for the entire Department of the Air Force. Some of the changes are specific and short-term goals set to happen within a year, while a majority are vague renaming and rebranding efforts aimed at "great power competition," Department of the Air Force lingo for escalating defense spending, operational strategy and overall resources against adversaries -- namely, China. The return of warrant officer ranks, after being nixed by the Air Force 65 years ago, was confirmed Monday by service officials following the reporting by Military.com. Allvin said the idea behind bringing back warrant officers is to have cyber and information technology-focused airmen who want to "code for their country," adding that the service needs to build up its technical talent to compete in those areas. That also includes renaming and reorganizing Air Education and Training Command into a new Airman Development Command "to provide airmen a common, mission-focused development and training path." As well, Allvin said the service wants to "upgrade and advance the cadet experience" for ROTC and Air Force Academy students to "lead in a complex environment" to take on China. "[People's Republic of China President] Xi Jinping has told his military to be ready to take Taiwan by force by 2027, even if the U.S. intervenes," Kendall said. "Freshmen at both the Air Force Academy and those entering ROTC units will be commissioned in 2027." Other proposed changes include refocusing training overall to create "mission-ready airmen" and set standards for Space Force Guardians that "reflect operations under contested conditions instead of a benign environment," the service said in an information sheet. Both services also want to update their exercises for more realistic warfighting-focused missions. In an overall move that seems reminiscent of the Marine Corps' Force Design -- a controversial effort that updates the service's warfighting strategy to take on a conflict, in part, in the Pacific -- the Air Force and Space Force are also modifying some of their operational structures. The Air Force wants to structure its operational wings as "units of action," allowing them to deploy different types of jets and planes depending on the mission with airmen and units that have trained and worked together before. That will also involve reorienting Air Combat Command and changing the relationship between combat wings and base commands. The service will stand up a new Integrated Capabilities Command, which will be led by a three-star general to oversee those strategies. Other new commands and organizations being created include the Information Dominance Systems Center and the Air Dominance Systems Center, as well as an Air Force Nuclear Systems Center within the existing Air Force Materiel Command. The service is also elevating Air Force Cyber to a stand-alone service component command to highlight the importance of cyber warfare against China. And the Space Force is setting up a new field command called Space Futures Command focused, in part, on "experimentation and war games," the Department of the Air Force said. Overall, the Department of the Air Force is creating three new offices at the civilian level: the Integrated Capabilities Office; the Office of Competitive Activities; and a Program Assessment and Evaluation Office -- all focused on modernizing acquisitions and technology against China. Kendall said most of the changes are being done within the existing structures and were created to "minimize cost," adding that there's nothing in the 2024 or 2025 budget right now to assist with the new strategies and offices. "We have nothing in the '24 or '25 budget for any of these changes," he said. "There's a possibility that we'll have some funds in '26." Kendall has made the "great power competition" a highlight of his tenure as Air Force secretary. He teased the upcoming changes in a memo in September. "This will not be easy. Existing habits and structures are well established, but it must be done," he wrote. "No one wants a great power conflict, and no one can predict when one might occur, but come it may and we must be as ready as we can be -- now, tomorrow and every day." Related: Air Force Eyes Bringing Back Warrant Officers After Decades-Long Absence AURORA, Colorado -- Air Force Special Operations Command officials want to get their fleet of Ospreys back in the air for missions but are treading carefully following a CV-22 crash that left eight airmen dead in November. The service is eager to fly the Osprey again but wants more information first, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, head of Air Force Special Operations Command, said during a roundtable with reporters Tuesday at the Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium conference at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. "There is a strong desire to return to fly because that is a capability we want to have, but we want to be able to return to fly with as much knowledge as we possibly can so that we can ensure that we are safely taking care of our crews as it goes forward," Bauernfeind told reporters. Read Next: In Major Overhaul, Air Force and Space Force Will Roll Out New Ranks, Training, Structure to Compete with China The Air Force special operations Osprey that went down Nov. 29, call sign Gundam 22, was on a training mission off Japan's Yakushima Island. The deadly crash triggered a grounding of all Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy V-22s. That stand-down and multiple investigations into the mishap are still ongoing. An initial assessment after debris was pulled from the ocean indicated a mechanical failure, raising new questions about the aircraft's safety. The Osprey fleet had already been under scrutiny following other deadly mishaps and a mysterious mechanical issue, called a hard clutch engagement, that has been seen in the V-22 for more than a decade. Military.com learned last week that Pentagon safety officials are talking with the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy about the potential risks involved with flying the Osprey again. The status of the current Defense Department probe, what prompted officials to start talking with the services, and a possible timeline for putting the V-22 back in the air is still unknown. Bauernfeind told reporters Tuesday that there are "conversations going on at multiple levels," but added that there are no new findings or timelines to report. At the Air and Space Forces Association's conference in Washington, D.C., in September, Bauernfeind told Military.com that the service remained confident in the aircraft a month after three Marines were killed in an MV-22 Osprey crash during training in Australia. "We're very confident in the mitigation steps that we've done," Bauernfeind said at that time. "With respect to the CV-22 at large, it is answering a long-held requirement that no other capability can answer in the special operations community as we go forward." Military.com asked Bauernfeind on Tuesday whether he stands by those comments, just months after the Nov. 29 incident marked the deadliest CV-22 crash in the Air Force's history. The AFSOC commander seemed more critical of the CV-22, pointing out that it is "1980s technology" and noted that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has a program looking into an experimental vertical takeoff and landing plane. But he did reiterate that the CV-22 will not go back into flying status until he is fully confident in its safety. "I can tell you right now, nothing is more important to me than the safety of our air commandos," Bauernfeind said. "And when the time is right, when we make that decision to return to fly, it will be with me having the full confidence not only in our training, but our crews, as well as the platform and the new mitigation measures that we have in place." In addition to the Air Force crash in November and the Marine crash in August, five Marines died in 2022 when their Osprey suffered a catastrophic clutch failure during training in California. The causes of the Nov. 29 crash and the August crash in Australia have not yet been revealed. Bauernfeind said Air Force Special Operations Command has convened a safety investigation board and an accident investigation board; it is also conducting a comprehensive review of the Air Force CV-22 force. That final review is analyzing whether "the CV-22 force is appropriately organized, trained and equipped for safe, effective and efficient, special operations," he said. Search efforts in the Nov. 29 crash involved more than 1,000 personnel, 46 aircraft, 23 maritime vessels, and 21 unmanned air and watercraft looking for wreckage and remains, covering more than 60,000 square kilometers of the ocean surface and 39 square kilometers of the ocean floor, according to the Air Force. The U.S. military last month concluded its search efforts after 43 days of recovery and salvage efforts. Remains of seven airmen who died in the Nov. 29 mishap were located, recovered and identified during the search off the southern tip of mainland Japan, but AFSOC said in a statement that the body of Maj. Eric Spendlove could not be found. Last month, Military.com reported that the Government Accountability Office agreed to look into the Osprey incidents following a request by Reps. John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Mike Waltz, R-Fla. The lawmakers asked the agency "to conduct a review on the cause of the accidents that have resulted in several deaths involving the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (V-22) during military operations and training exercises." Related: Spate of Osprey Mishaps, Including Air Force's Most Deadly, Will Be Investigated by Federal Watchdog In a move that elected officials say could keep the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, busy for 20 years, the U.S. Army has canceled a proposed attack helicopter by rivals Lockheed Sikorsky and Bell Textron and transferred funds to upgrade Boeings Chinook helicopters and smarter drones. The Army said Thursday that it is discontinuing work on the Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft often called scout helicopters and shifting funds to speed a long-delayed upgrade of up to 425 Boeing Chinook CH-47s. It also will begin building new attack helicopters by 2030, along with next-generation unmanned aircraft. The Army cited lessons learned and a sober assessment of recent battlefields in Ukraine and elsewhere, where agile drone aircraft have been used to combat conventional forces from far away at low cost. The move reverses a Pentagon decision in 2019 that slowed planned Chinook upgrades. At the time, military leaders said they expected to need fewer Chinooks, which haul tanks and other heavy equipment into battle zones, or other equipment used in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Instead, the focus would be on long-range artillery, space and software weapons, and other programs useful against Russia or China. That decision threatened a shutdown of the Chinook assembly line at the 4,000-worker plant, and its suppliers in the region. In response, the regions congressional delegation crossed party lines to plead for the Chinook program. On Friday, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, praised the Armys reversal, noting it supported thousands of good-paying jobs in our region, as well as our national security. James Rugh, a leader of UAW Local 1069, which represents assembly workers at the plant, credited Casey and U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pennsylvania, for helping secure the future for workers. The Army will replace the canceled scout helicopters with new-generation drone aircraft and space-based systems, while phasing out older Shadow and Raven unmanned craft, the Army said in a statement. Sensors and weapons mounted on a variety of unmanned systems and in space are further reaching and more inexpensive than ever before, Gen. Randy George, Army chief of staff, said in a statement. Last year, Boeing leaders, including vice president Kathleen KJ Jolivette, general manager of the companys helicopter program, had warned it could suspend production of the Chinook if long-term orders werent guaranteed by Congress. The plant also assembles Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which officials warned could also face a slowdown due to a lack of orders. On Friday, Jolivette called the decision to buy more Chinooks a reflection of [Army] confidence in our heavy-lift program, which hauls tanks and other heavy equipment to war zones. She also thanked members of Congress for pushing for the program. Philadelphia-area helicopter makers including Boeing, Piasecki in Essington and Coatesville, and Leonardo in Northeast Philadelphia, have sought Pentagon funding for unmanned aircraft as well as electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-fueled models. Leonardo and Boeing have said they are also developing ways to deploy drone forces from manned helicopters. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth in a statement called these changes part of the Armys most significant modernization effort since at least the early 1980s. ___ 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Family, friends and hundreds of strangers lined a Michigan highway last year to welcome home Fort Carson Spc. Braden Peltier, as he made his way from Detroit to West Branch, Mich., for the final time after he was fatally shot in Colorado Springs. Many residents gathered on overpasses with flags to honor the soldier. The outpouring Braden Peltier received on his journey home "took away some of the sting" from his son's death, his father, Jay Peltier, said. "Small towns, they take care of their own," he said. But so far, his experience with the Colorado Springs police as they have worked to investigate Braden's death has been lacking. "I hear little to nothing from the police," said Peltier, explaining he has talked with police only a handful of times, and on only one of those occasions did the police call him. The shooting, shortly before 4 a.m. March 26, 2023, was one of several at the after-hours nightclub at 2727 Palmer Park Blvd. During May, another shooting in a parking lot near the building killed Ja'lyn Tyre Lagrue, 20. An arrest was made in Lagrue's case. The large building is home to a flea market and a cannabis dispensary, with a large warehouse space on one side. The two young men killed at the nightclub were among the 34 homicides in Colorado Springs last year. Among that group, 20 were men under 35 who died in shootings. Peltier said his son, 23, was protecting someone else during the encounter that also injured one other person, but he did not want to hurt the investigation by sharing more details about what happened. Lt. Brian Cummings said CSPD could not comment on the case. Peltier would like to see justice for his hard-working son, who wanted to become an Army Ranger. "He set very lofty goals for himself," he said. The nearly lifelong Michigander enlisted in 2020 and he was working as an artilleryman with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, his service record shows. Former commander of the team Stephen Capehart said in a statement at the time that Braden's compassion for his fellow soldiers would be missed. Braden followed his stepdad, grandfather and great-grandfather and other men in his family into the military. It was work that took him to Poland in 2022 and helped him mature, his father said. "The weight that those young and women carry on their shoulders is incredible," Peltier said. An old soul, who understood people, but wasn't drawn to books, Peltier said his son "learned all of life's lessons the hard way." Braden was also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and camping. To mark the anniversary of his son's death, Peltier expects to go trout fishing. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest in Braden Peltier's case. Tipsters can call 719-634-7867. ___ (c)2024 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A new phone app is aimed at making health care easier for some military beneficiaries. Patients at five military health facilities will soon have access to the mobile app designed to improve their access to medical treatment, providing information on self-care, access to real time or scheduled virtual appointments, prescription management and more. The digital platform is the foundation of a "new approach to health care" -- promising patients flexibility to manage their health in ways beyond scheduling in-person appointments or calling the Nurse Advice Line, Defense Health Agency Director Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland said Monday during the annual meeting of AMSUS, the Society of Federal Health Professionals, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Read Next: In Major Overhaul, Air Force and Space Force Will Roll Out New Ranks, Training, Structure to Compete with China "I am focused on moving beyond today's metrics that are focused on volume," Crosland said. "I am focused on improving how we put value around all the care we deliver. I'm also interested in how we improve the system from our patients, for our patients -- all our patients." In a short video demonstrating the platforms capabilities, Rose, a service member with three children whose spouse is deployed, has symptoms of a urinary tract infection. She pulls up the "My Military Health" app on her smartphone and inputs her symptoms. Using algorithms, a virtual assistant confirms Rose's suspicion that she has an infection. She uses the app to schedule a virtual appointment in short order, then speaks with a physician who confirms the diagnosis and sends a prescription to a pharmacy. According to the video, the model is a new way to deliver care -- "individualized, accessible and efficient, moving beyond the traditional model that will rely on in-person visits rather than what makes sense for the patient and provider." Over the coming months, the model will be introduced at Martin Army Community Hospital, Georgia; Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Eglin Air Force Base Hospital in Florida; and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Wright Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center in Ohio. The change comes as the Defense Health Agency and military services are ramping up efforts to attract patients back to military hospitals and clinics after spending nearly eight years shedding them to private health providers in the Tricare network. Military health system leaders at the AMSUS meeting said the strategy, which was meant to rein in costs and ensure that the system focused on treating military service members, did not effectively trim the Defense Department health care budget. It also reduced patient volume to a point that providers in military hospitals were at risk of losing their professional skills. At Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, alone, the average daily patient load in 2023 was down 43% from the previous year, according to defense officials. "Our provider force, both civilian and military, has shrunk too much, risking the hollowing of our MHS. The situation has been years in the making based on assumptions that aren't true," Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez said during the conference. The DoD launched an ambitious effort in December to entice at least 7% of patients who left to come back to military hospitals and clinics by Dec. 31, 2026. Part of that effort involves providing patients better services and easier access to care, according to Crosland. Crosland said the Defense Health Agency has worked with leaders at the facilities to roll out the model and will take into account patient input and experience as it introduces the system. In the beginning, the phone app will be available at the five locations for primary care and behavioral health. The plan is to then adopt the model and the digital platform throughout the system, although Crosland said it could take three to four years to "turn the ship." "We're going to make health care better and easier to access for our patients, because when we do that, the system will be better for the health care team," Crosland said. The five sites will be building out the digital platform system over the next four to six weeks, she added. Related: Denied Care, Deaths in Japan Result from Lack of Emergency Medical Services for American Personnel A year and a half before President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia, his life was put in peril on Nov. 14, 1943, all because of a torpedo inadvertently launched from a U.S. Navy destroyer during World War II. Not long after it was commissioned, the USS William D. Porter -- named after a Union naval officer during the Civil War -- was assigned to a four-ship fleet that would transport FDR to a historic meeting with British Prime Minister Winston Churchil and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin at the Tehran Conference. With the Porter serving as an escort destroyer on the two-week voyage, FDR, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Cordell Hull would travel aboard the legendary USS Iowa (the Battleship of Presidents). The high-stakes assignment came with great responsibility, and with Lt. Cmdr. Wilfred A. Walter in charge of an especially inexperienced crew, the Porter -- nicknamed the Willie Dee - - committed its first (but not last) mistake before the trip had really begun. As it was leaving the harbor in Norfolk, Virginia, on Nov. 12, the Fletcher-class destroyers anchor contacted another ship and inflicted significant damage. The Willie Dee emerged unscathed, though. That incident registered as a mere footnote to what followed, harmless in comparison to when a depth charge inadvertently fell off the Willie Dee and detonated in the ocean. In a rare bit of good luck, the ships crew sustained no casualties, but shortly after, a large wave swept a sailor to his death. How much FDR was made aware of what was going on with the Willie Dee can't be known with certainty, but it was probably very little. Because of the risks baked into transporting any senior government official, security measures were implemented for the highly secretive mission, including the requirement that the fleet use signal lights instead of radios to communicate. During its various mishaps, the Willie Dee had already broken that order. It did so again after FDR, assistant secretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson during World War I, requested a demonstration of the Iowa's anti-aircraft capabilities. The U.S. Navy battleship USS Iowa is in floating dry dock at Manus, Admiralty Islands, on Dec. 28, 1944. (U.S. Navy photo) The Iowa started with gunners on deck shooting down balloons before moving on to a simulated torpedo attack. During such an exercise, a torpedo's primer is supposed to be removed so that it does not exit the tube and become live. Six thousand yards from the Iowa, the Porter followed proper procedure the first two times it mock-launched a torpedo. The third time, however, the primer was still in the torpedo and shot through the water. According to author Kermit Bonner's 1996 book, "Final Voyages," when a lieutenant asked Walter whether he approved releasing a torpedo, the commanding officer stammered, "Hell, no. I, I, iii, aaa, IIIII, whatttttt?" Chaos flooded every inch of the Willie Dee, with sailors scrambling frenetically amid the confusion and inadvertently relaying wrong information to the Iowa in an attempt to alert it of impending danger. Finally, a crew member got on the radio and urgently said, "Lion, Lion, come right." (Lion was the Iowa's code name.) Showing no outward signs of concern, Roosevelt actually asked to have his wheelchair moved to where he could see the torpedo. A Secret Service man aimed his pistol at the missile, while the Iowa's crew -- unsure whether the act was intentional -- directed its guns at the Willie Dee. The torpedo exploded harmlessly 3,000 yards in the Iowa's wake. After the Willie Dee docked, Marines arrested Walter and his entire crew. Several days of testimony before a board of inquiry followed before Torpedoman Lawton Dawson admitted he lied in his initial statements and claimed responsibility for leaving the primer in place. Sentenced to 14 years of hard labor, Dawson avoided serving time only after FDR ordered no crew member be punished because it was an accident. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS William D. Porter sinks after receiving severe underwater damage from a nearby explosion from a kamikaze suicide aircraft off Okinawa, Japan, on June 10, 1945. (U.S. Navy photo) While FDR made it safely to the Tehran Conference on Nov. 28, 1943, the Porter was transferred to the Pacific for the remainder of WWII. No matter the distance, it could not escape the stain of committing such an embarrassing error, though, with other ships greeting it with a familiar refrain: "Don't shoot, we're Republicans." "Once you've fired a torpedo at Roosevelt, then everyone is looking at you and you get noticed for all the little things that everyone else is doing, too," sailor Bill Glover, who joined the Porter's crew in 1944, said in a 2005 World War II magazine article. "There were a lot of rookies in the service in 1943. Mistakes were made because 17-year-olds don't know how not to make mistakes." The notorious Willie Dee sank on June 10, 1945, after a kamikaze plane missed the destroyer but exploded directly underneath it. All crew members survived. 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. The British boxer Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) needs to use dirty tricks in his fight against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) to win the fight on May 18. At the same time, the form and readiness of the Gypsy King, as the Manchester native is called, will remain a mystery to everyone until the boxers enter the ring. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed by former world heavyweight champion Denis Lebedev in an interview with the R-Sport propaganda news agency. According to him, our champion's plan for the fight is absolutely obvious, as Usyk will surely rely on his speed and lightness. "We can say that Usyk doesn't like a straight fight, he's a fan of the classics. Movement on the feet, jab, methodical body-head work. How Usyk will work is pretty clear. But Fury, his form, is always a mystery. He needs to impose a fight, he knows how to do it. He needs to use forbidden techniques that some judges either deliberately overlook or allow," Lebedev said. ADVERTISIMENT The fight was originally scheduled for February 17, but the Gypsy King suffered a cut during sparring two weeks before the show. Tyson apologized for his injury, and a video of the incident was posted online. The Briton also made a statement about retirement. The main reasons why Fury will not be able to refuse to enter the ring against the Ukrainian again were named. ADVERTISIMENT When asked about the fake nature of the injury, Usyk criticized the Gypsy King. In addition, the fans reacted angrily to the situation. The incident was also commented on by Croatian boxer Agron Smakic (20-2, 18 KOs), who dealt Fury the ill-fated blow. But ex-champion Carl Froch called the British fighter's injury suspicious. Bookmakers reacted unexpectedly to the postponement of the Usyk-Fury fight, changing one of the quotes on its outcome. Two conditions were also revealed that the Ukrainian demanded to fulfill when he agreed to postpone the return fight on February 17. In addition, the media announced Tyson and Oleksandr's fees for the show. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, promoter Oleksandr Krasiuk shared Oleksandr Usyk's plans after he fights Tyson Fury. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! HOUGHTON, MICH. -- A snow-sculpted rendering of iconic sights from the U.P.s Copper Country took first place in the monthlong snow statue competition during Michigan Technological Universitys 2024 Winter Carnival. Regional icons like the Keweenaw Waterways Lower Entry Light and the National Park Service vessel Ranger III, which ferries visitors to Lake Superiors Isle Royale National Park, earned the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity first place out of 11 entries in this years competition. HOUGHTON COUNTY, MI A former police officer who worked narcotics has been sentenced for possessing illegal drugs. Scott Monette, 55, of Chassel Township was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail and 18 months probation under a deferred sentence after pleading guilty last month to possession of methamphetamine. Monette additionally resigned, and agreed not to renew his MCOLES certification, a prerequisite for employment as a police officer in Michigan. Other conditions of Monettes probation include drug testing and counselling. Crimes committed by police officers harm not only the communities they swore to protect and serve, but also trust in law enforcement everywhere, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. Our chief goal in this prosecution was to ensure Monettes law enforcement career was over, and with this plea and sentence we were able to secure that, for not only the people of Houghton but the entire state as well. Monette was employed as a police officer with the Houghton Police Department at the time of the allegations. He additionally served on the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET), tasked with narcotics enforcement across all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula, but Monette had left that role by the time the allegations were made in 2021. Monette was accused using and possessing methamphetamine after an investigation found meth and smoking pipes at his residence. Police confirmed his DNA was present on the pipes. He pled guilty on Jan. 3. E. LANSING, MI -- Chris Rozman wont say his name, the man who killed three students and wounded five others on Michigan State Universitys campus a year ago. The MSU police chief calls him the suspect. SOUTHFIELD, MI A 15-year-old boy is in grave condition after he was shot while unsupervised in a hotel room with other teens, police said. Southfield Police officers responded around 8:42 a.m. Sunday to the Westin Hotel. Upon arrival, they found the victim, a 15-year-old from Ferndale, suffering from a gunshot wound, WXYZ Detroit reports. He was transported to a local hospital. I have to explain to the community how a group of 15-year-olds are left in a hotel room unsupervised with access to weapons, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said. We see these things play out time and time again, and the story remains the same. Where is the parental supervision and how do these teens get access to weapons? And so, again, I classify this as something that is totally preventable. Investigators believe the victim was in the hotel room with two other teens when he was shot, but there may have been up to five teens, the report said. A 15-year-old male suspect was found be carrying two handguns and was taken into custody. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 248-796-5500 and mention case number 24-5073. To leave an anonymous tip, call 1-800-SPEAK-UP. On the night of February 12-13, Russian troops attacked Dnipro, launching several groups of Shahed-type attack UAVs. They were targeted by air defense forces and explosions were heard. ADVERTISIMENT Missiles were also used twice, Ukrainian Air Force and monitoring channels said. The strikes on Dnipro were confirmed by Mayor Borys Filatov on Facebook. "I hate it. They are trying to hit civilian infrastructure," he wrote. Drones entered the city in groups from different directions, and the work of air defense forces was heard. After the explosions, one of the districts experienced power and internet outages, and in some places, heating was cut off. Due to the power outage, a pumping station in the Livoberezhnyi-3 residential area was shut down. Water supply has been partially cut off, Dniprovodokanal reported. ADVERTISIMENT Local media reported that a fire broke out in one of the districts after a series of explosions. One of DTEK Energy's thermal power plants was damaged by enemy shelling in Dnipro and stopped producing electricity, the company said. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties. "The attack severely damaged the company's equipment. The plant stopped producing electricity. After the shelling stopped, the power company began to eliminate the consequences and restore the equipment," the statement said. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI - A pilot survived a Monday crash that saw a small plane fly into trees in Livingston County, police said. Officers responded to a plane crash around 1 p.m., Feb. 12 that saw a 72-year-old Canton pilot crash into trees on a private airfield near Brighton and Eight Mile roads in Green Oak Township, according to police in the township south of Whitmore Lake. The pilot was attempting to land a Piper Cub plane, but a gust of wind caused it to tilt left and have one of its wing tips hit a tree, police said. The plane then did a cartwheel into branches, police said. The pilot was able to escape the plane and climb down to safety, police said. The plane sustained significant damage, police said. Township police contacted the Federal Aviation Administration, and the incident is still under investigation. Township police were assisted by Green Oak Township Fire Department and Livingston County Central Dispatch. 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. WYOMING, MI Two suspects connected to the shooting inside a Grand Rapids-area Walmart are facing trial on a series of charges. Camrin Nicoles Carpenter and Latrell Malik Young were both bound over to Kent County Circuit Court for trial this week. Both men remain lodged in the Kent County Jail. The New Years Eve shooting, which police say started with a confrontation in the checkout lane area inside the Walmart store, left two people injured. According to police, one of the victims was targeted, while the other was a bystander. RELATED: Shooter chased victim in New Years Eve attack at Walmart, 2 in custody, police say The incident happened around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023, at the Walmart on 54th Street SW in Wyoming. Police said that the defendants confronted a man and tried to take his cellphone. Carpenter, 21, then brandished a firearm before the man ran. The defendants chased the man through the store with Young, 21, firing a gunshot and Carpenter close behind, police said. The two men were arrested about a week after the incident. Both Carpenter and Young were in a Wyoming District Courtroom on Tuesday, Feb. 13, for proceedings to determine if there enough evidence to move the cases to trial. Carpenter waived his hearing. However, seven witnesses took the stand and testified about Youngs alleged involvement in the altercation. Cameron Cross, the man Young and Carpenter confronted inside Walmart, said he became concerned after seeing two masked individuals later identified as the defendants. Cross, who was reluctant to testify at times, said he and Young had a not-so friendly conversation near the checkout lanes when Young tried to snatch the mans cellphone. Cross said he ran from the checkout lane area after seeing one of the men pull a gun from their pocket, Cross testified. Cross was hit four times by gunfire as the defendants chased him before he was able to exit the store and into the parking lot. Nearby, Amereanna Lewis was in a self-checkout aisle finishing up shopping with her mom. The next thing Lewis knew, she saw two men chasing another man, Lewis testified. One man pulled out a gun, Lewis testified, and then gunshots rang out. At first, Lewis said she didnt realize she was shot in the foot, but shoppers in the surrounding area started providing medical aid one person applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before help arrived. She said most of the bullet was removed during surgery, but there are still fragments that remain. Kent County prosecutors extended a plea deal to Carpenter for his cooperation in the case. Carpenter testified Tuesday about what he saw unfold that night, which started with Young and Cross getting into a verbal and then physical altercation. Cross admitted he had a gun in his possession and that he did pull it out. However, Cross denied firing any shots in the store. He said he didnt immediately tell anyone about the shooting because he was still in a state of shock from the gunshots. At the conclusion of the four-hour hearing, Young was bound over on single counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of discharging a firearm in a building causing serious impairment, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearms. Carpenter was bound over on amended charges of felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearms. As part of the plea deal, if Cross continues to cooperate and testify truthfully, prosecutors will dismiss the felony firearms charge in his case. 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 In a meeting where several decisions related to his employment and administrative powers were on the agenda, Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs was not in attendance. During the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, commissioners approved temporarily freezing Gibbs ability to hire and transfer county staff in response to a letter from his attorney that threatened legal action against the county if he was fired from his role. Commissioners Tuesday also voted unanimously to retain additional legal counsel to respond to that letter, which was sent to board members on Jan. 15. In that letter, Butzel Long attorney Aaron Davis told Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss that Gibbs contract with the county expires Jan. 2, 2026, and that there is no basis to terminate Gibbs for cause. Should the board, or its lawyers, attempt to get creative in that vein, be advised that the full extent of legal options available to Mr. Gibbs will be used to ensure the board ceases to violate Mr. Gibbs constitutional, statutory, and contractual rights any further than it already has, Davis wrote. Related: John Gibbs threatens legal action against Ottawa County if hes fired It wasnt clear what the letter was in response to, and neither Moss nor any other county board members have publicly stated they wish to fire Gibbs. Gibbs, a failed Republican congressional candidate, was hired as county administrator Jan. 3, 2023, in a surprise move at the first meeting of the newly seated, ultraconservative majority faction on the Ottawa County board called Ottawa Impact, which Moss leads. Gibbs wasnt present during the board meeting Tuesday, prompting some commissioners to ask where he was. When asked about Gibbs whereabouts by county commissioner Jacob Bonnema, Moss told Bonnema that he was welcome to go look for him. Gibbs did not immediately return a request for comment. County Communications Manager Shannon Felgner said Tuesday morning she did not know where Gibbs was and that he wasnt in the office. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press reached out to Butzel Long, which had represented Gibbs in sending the letter. However, attorneys with Butzel Long said Tuesday that Gibbs has new legal counsel and that they are no longer representing him. According to Moss, the additional attorney for the county is needed to respond to the letter because the countys corporate counsel, Kallman Legal Group, is limited due to Gibbs county employee status. The extra legal help will come from Brook Bisonet and his firm, Guinan Bisonet, PLLC, based in Grand Haven. On the resolution to freeze Gibbs hiring abilities, Moss said the reason for it is to keep the status quo as it is right now and make sure we get things handled and respond to this letter (from Gibbs). Commissioner Doug Zylstra said he worried the hiring freeze would become standard policy in the future. I do think Gibbs is our administrator and I guess Im hesitant to establish a precedent where if theres an issue that department is frozen from action, Zylstra said. If it sets a precedent where if theres litigation and that department is frozen from action, that sets a dangerous precedent for the county. The hiring freeze is a significant departure from a policy change proposed in December by Gibbs that wouldve given Gibbs office more control over the hiring process and have the final say on who is hired by the county. Moss and most other Ottawa Impact board members supported the measure. The proposed policy change also wouldve allowed Gibbs and the county board to directly hire whoever they want for an open position without further approvals, sidelining the countys department heads and Human Resources Department. Related: John Gibbs proposes consolidating Ottawa County hiring decisions to his office However, the proposal was tabled by non-Ottawa Impact county commissioners, along with Ottawa Impact county commissioner Lucy Ebel, amid legal concerns from corporate counsel. The county is currently facing a lawsuit for age discrimination lawsuit on allegations that Gibbs opted to hire an underqualified employee for his executive aide because he was younger than the more qualified candidate and could therefore be bossed around. Related: Ottawa County battling 4 lawsuits under new leaders. Heres where they stand. During the Tuesday meeting, Bonnema asked the board why Gibbs wasnt present. He did not receive an answer. Will (Gibbs) be here today? Bonnema asked. Is there a reason hes not occupying his chair? In response, Moss told Bonnema he was welcome to leave the board meeting and check Gibbs office. Bonnema did briefly leave the meeting, and later told media that Gibbs office was dark and his staff didnt know where he was. Later in the meeting, commissioners were asked to approve a request from Gibbs to seek vendors to help with forming a new strategic plan for the county, at a cost of up to $100,000. Several commissioners took issue with considering the request while Gibbs remained absent. In the past weve had a session from the administrator (about the strategic plan) because it was his job, said commissioner Roger Bergman. Now the administrator is proposing we hire someone to do what he should do. Is that John Gibbs job? Spending $100,000 to do administrator Gibbs job is both foolish and a waste of money. Havent we wasted enough money already? Bergman went on to take aim at Gibbs, who he had opposed hiring Jan. 3, 2023, but was outnumbered by the Ottawa Impact majority board. Gibbs was hired by the Ottawa Impact majority without any public feedback or formal candidate search, and he immediately replaced the former county administrator, John Shay. Its about the fact we have an administrator who cant or isnt doing his job or isnt even attempting to give us this direction, Bergman said Tuesday. Hes saying we need an outside firm to do what has been done by an administrator in the past. We can talk about wanting fresh ideas, but isnt he fresh? Hes brand new. After a lengthy discussion in which Bonnema brought up communication breakdowns between Gibbs and some commissioners, the board eventually did approve Gibbs request to seek out the outside vendor in a 6-5 vote. Commissioners Zylstra, Bergman, Roger Belknap, Bonnema and Rebekah Curran voted against the motion. GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Grand Rapids Board of Education is considering a proposal to build a new elementary school on the citys Northeast Side as a result of suggestions from parents. The new school would be built at the site of Aberdeen Academy, located at 928 Aberdeen St. NE, which is one of 10 GRPS schools slated to close due to low enrollment as part of a campus restructuring plan. KALAMAZOO, MI Two of the three suspects in an April 2023 Kalamazoo murder case have now had charges of open murder, carjacking and armed robbery dismissed. Deontae Levon Perez, 33, is one of three suspects arraigned late last year on charges related to the April 2023 death of 24-year-old Kavonta Martin. He had his charges dismissed Monday, Feb. 12, in Kalamazoo County District Court by Judge Tiffany Ankley. Perez joins former suspect Byron Metcalfe-Burroughs, whose charges were dismissed by a separate judge at a Monday, Jan. 31 preliminary hearing in the same matter. RELATED: Murder charge dismissed against 1 of 3 suspects in Kalamazoo homicide The two had been in a vehicle with Liborio Roy Rogelio Valdez, 28, on April 4, 2023 prior to Valdez allegedly killing Martin and stealing his vehicle outside of a Kalamazoo apartment complex off West KL Avenue. Kalamazoo Public Safety officers patrol the area where Kavonta Martin, 24, was fatally shot at Westchester Woods Apartments in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (MLive file photo)Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com Valdez, arrested eight days after the incident on a parole violation, was arraigned in December on eight felony charges related to the case. He faces charges of felony murder, armed robbery, carjacking, possession of a firearm by a felon and four felony firearms charges. He is scheduled to undergo a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 14. When dismissing the charges against Valdezs second co-defendant, Ankley said Monday that the prosecutors office failed to meet their burden on all three counts. There (are) way too many holes, Ankley said at the conclusion of a nearly 3-hour preliminary examination. I dont believe the people have sustained their burden of proof on any of these charges, frankly. Now, if we were here today on Liborio Valdezs exam, entirely different story, Ankley added. After over two hours of testimony from multiple witnesses, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Von Eitzen argued that Perez had met the definition of aiding and abetting. Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Von Eitzen discusses details during a preliminary hearing for Deontae Perez in Kalamazoo County District Court on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Perez, left, and his attorney Zoe Hutchins, look on. Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com The assistant prosecutor said that Martin would never have been outside Westchester Woods Apartments, where he was shot and killed, if it had not been for Perez luring him there through text messages. The text messages all centered around meeting up for a marijuana deal at the complex, according to testimony presented by Kalamazoo Public Safety Intelligence Analyst Michael Fry. Its clear that he was there and its clear that he set it up with those text messages, Von Eitzen argued. It would not have happened had it not been set up by Mr. Perez. And this is a likely outcome when you rob someone for money, for weed, to take their car. Both Fry and KDPS Detective Anthony Evans showed and discussed evidence regarding the texts between Perez and Martin in the hour before Martins death. Reading some of these text messages ... this is setting up a marijuana buy, countered Perezs attorney Zoe Hutchins. This isnt setting up a carjacking. It isnt setting up an armed robbery. Its a marijuana buy. He was the passenger in the vehicle, Hutchins continued. He had no control. He had no idea what was going on. And if Mr. Valdez had an ulterior motive from the start of that day, they have months of (Perezs) phone records. Theres no suggestion that he even knew Mr. Martin, much less anything else. Theres nothing to suggest that he had any part of planning to rip this guy off or steal from him or anything. Video and phone tracking evidence from Fry placed Metcalfe-Burroughs, Perez and Valdez all in the same vehicle, a black Ford Fusion the morning of April 4. Evidence showed them heading to the apartment complex just before 11:45 where there were set to meet Martin for a drug buy. The evidence then put Metcalfe-Burroughs and Perez in the Fusion, owned by Martin, as it left the complex on Little Avenue and pulled into a nearby business on West KL. The vehicle was, at that point, being driven by Metcalfe-Burroughs, Fry said. The two then waited at the nearby business until Valdez, driving Martins white Kia sedan exited the apartment complex and drove down West KL. Metcalfe-Burroughs then pulled out of the parking lot in the Fusion and began to follow Valdez. Valdez, according to two witnesses who reside at the apartment complex, was seen pulling Martin out of his car. Both witnesses, who heard shots first, stated that it did not appear Martin was fighting back in any way. Kalamazoo County District Judge Tiffany Ankley swears in witness Rick Blake during a preliminary hearing for Deontae Perez in Kalamazoo County District Court on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com The second witness then watched as the man believed to be Valdez got into Martins car and drove off. That witness called 911 and then went to tend to Martin, who he said was bleeding profusely from the head. Both witnesses said they never saw another individual with Martin or from the black car. Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Derek VanderMeer testified that he responded to the scene at 11:45 a.m. on a report of gun shots and attempted to render aid until paramedics arrived. Martin was motionless and in a vacated parking spot at the time police arrived, he said. Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive offers free email news alerts. Click here to sign up for alerts or for the daily 3@3 Kalamazoo news roundup. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. UPDATE: This story has been updated to provide more context to a fine issued to the restaurant in 2020. PORTAGE, MI A Portage restaurant that made national news in 2020 after defying COVID-19 shutdown orders has announced its pending closure. D&Rs Daily Grind Cafe, 8712 Portage Road, announced the closure in a Facebook post on Saturday, Feb. 10. The cafes last day of business will be Sunday, Feb. 25, according to the post. Attempts to reach the cafes owners, Dave and Rittia Morris, prior to publication were unsuccessful. According to a separate Facebook post on Sunday, Feb. 11, the couple has sold the cafe to new owners. Michiganders Windy City Dawg House will take over the space on March 1 and open sometime in March, the post states. The new business plans to sell items such as Chicago favorites such as Polish sausage, bone-in pork chop sandwiches, Italian beef, homemade pizza puffs and Vienna hot dogs. Its with a heavy heart and bittersweet emotions that we write this post, Dave and Rittia Morris wrote Feb. 10. After 15-plus wonderful years, our cafe will be closing its doors. This decision was not made lightly, but it is time for us to embark on a new chapter. When we first opened the doors of this little cafe, we never could have imagined the impact it would have on our community. From the laughter shared, over steaming cups of coffee to the heartfelt conversations that took place within these walls, our cafe has been a place of solace, connection and warmth for so many. RELATED: Michigan restaurant owner appears on Fox News show to slam state COVID-19 restrictions Dave Morris and the cafe made national news in 2020 when Morris appeared on the Tucker Carlson show in early December after refusing to stop offering indoor dining. Dave Morris, owner of D&R's Daily Grind Cafe in Portage, spoke to Fox News' Tucker Carlson Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, after refusing to close despite state COVID restrictions. Morris told Carlson he was speaking on behalf of millions of other Americans frustrated with the governments closure of businesses during the pandemic. The state issued a $2,000 fine three weeks later via the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, among a long list of businesses to be fined. The issue was later sorted out and the fine was rescinded, Dave Morris told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Our so-called leaders are using our tax money to pay themselves while theyre instilling policy upon us to ruin our businesses and our lives, Morris told Carlson on Fox News. They put me in a position where you can only be backed into a corner so far. Weve got to come out fighting here a little bit. Two days prior to appearing on Carlsons former Fox News show, Morris was issued a warning by the Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Community Services. The Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive was on scene interviewing Morris around 1:30 p.m. that day when a staff member from the county health department and an officer from the Portage Department of Public Safety pulled into the cafes parking lot. The health department employee hand delivered a letter warning that Morris must close his restaurant or face fines. The restaurant was open for indoor dining that day in violation of a Michigan public health order. Morris asked the health department employee and public safety officer to leave and get a warrant. Just over three years later, Morris and his staff are now preparing to serve their final meals. As we close this chapter, we want to encourage all of you to continue to support local businesses in our community, Dave and Rittia Morris concluded their post by saying. They are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, and they need our support now more than ever. Let us continue to come together, to celebrate and uplift one another, just as we have done here at our cafe. Please remember the memories we have shared, the friendships that have blossomed and the love that has filled these walls. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of this incredible journey. The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. MUSKEGON, MI Construction for a new marina, luxury condos, brewery and more are on track to open this summer on Muskegon Lake. Its all part of the $250 million Adelaide Pointe mixed-use development by Ryan and Emily Leetsma. RELATED: Waterfront penthouses, yacht storage and brewery opening on Muskegon Lake this summer Adelaide Pointe will also have public access and a fishing pier on the cleaned up industrial site situated on over 30 acres in the 1200 block of West Western Avenue in Muskegon. MLive was at the waterfront property, Wednesday, Feb. 7, to document the construction. Construction of Muskegon Lake docks at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Plans for Adelaide Pointe include a marina, condos, restaurant, boat storage, brewery, event space and more on over 30 acres of property in the 1200 block of W. Western Avenue. Ryan and Dr. Emily Leestma own Adelaide Pointe.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Construction of Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Downtown Muskegon can be seen in the background. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Construction of a brewery at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Inside the construction of a giant garage for boats at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Construction of condos at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Construction of a giant boat garage at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Ryan Leestma gives a tour of the condo construction at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Mass timber construction for condos at Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Check out all 18 pictures the gallery below or click here. 18 1 / 18 Adelaide Pointe construction update More on MLive: Explosive gas acute concern at Muskegon Lake site proposed for thousands of homes From blue collar town to Lake Michigan getaway: Muskegon hits its stride DeVos, Van Andel management takes control of Muskegon event center, six hotels and restaurants Proposed short-term rental regulations in Muskegon to be discussed by city commission WARREN, MI An electroplating chemical spill which turned a metro Detroit creek a bright shade of turquoise contained toxic PFAS and heavy metals but the pollution was not concentrated enough to pose a significant health risk, say regulators, The Bear Creek drain in Warren is running clear again after a water line at the closed Fini-Finish Metal Finishing shop on Mound Road broke last week and released about 580,000 gallons of water and chemicals into the citys storm sewers. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) says initial test results showed elevated levels of some chemicals downstream, but not at concentrations that would pose immediate risk to humans. We do not believe there is any danger for human contact but residents are still advised to avoid contact with the water in the Bear Creek Drain, said Candice Miller, Macomb County public works commissioner. There may have been an initial issue for the aquatic life in the drain, Miller said. Bear Creek in Warren runs clear on Feb. 12, 2024, five days after it turned turquoise due to an electroplating chemical spill at Fini Finish Metal Finishing.Macomb County Public Works State investigators took samples from a chemical drum inside the facility, a catch basin on the property and about one and two miles downstream from the sewer outfall. The state took over site management from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which oversaw cleanup last week in the sewers and the creek. Downstream testing found elevated levels of aluminum, arsenic, barium, boron, copper, calcium, chromium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, potassium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, uranium and zinc. Toxic PFAS compounds found at low levels in the creek included PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFHxA, PFECHS, PFBS and PFBA. Perflourinated PFAS compounds are used in plating shops to coat chemical baths and protect workers from toxic fumes. Copper, which tested at 370 parts-per-billion (ppb) in the creek, was the only contaminant to test above standards designed to protect aquatic life, EGLE said. Additional testing is planned. Bear Creek drains to the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair via the Red Run drain. The creek runs underground through part of the city. It was hit by a sizable diesel fuel spill in 2019. The Fini-Finish Metal Finishing shop closed last year and the new owner is cooperating with regulators, say officials who would not release the owners identity. Related stories: Corrosive milky liquid seeps from downriver site 3K gallons of oil recovered from truck yard spill Pet food supplier fined over organic death stink Update, 2/15: Army Corps rejects permit, too SAUGATUCK, MI The state of Michigan has dealt a blow to controversial plans for developing a marina amid the sand dunes at the Kalamazoo River mouth. On Feb. 9, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) rejected an application from Holland developers for a permit to build a 6.5-acre marina with 50 slips and 1,600-foot basin as part of a high-end housing project. The state agency says the plans would have significant adverse effects on natural and cultural resources in the river which are preserved for public use. The decision alone does not stop the project, but is nonetheless seen as a victory by opponents who have fought development at the river mouth for nearly two decades. North Shores of Saugatuck LLC is still reviewing the denial, said Holland builder Scott Bosgraaf, who called the decision unfortunate. The company can appeal the decision through a state administrative process, which it must initiate by April 9. The outcome of that can be appealed to circuit court. North Shores will carefully visit the comments outlined in the EGLE letter received today and proceed accordingly, Bosgraaf said via email on Monday, Feb. 12. North Shores is committed to a conservation-based plan as it completes the development of this property and is grateful for the time and consideration everyone has focused on this area of the development, he wrote. The denial marks the latest turn in a multi-year battle over development on the north shore of the river mouth, where the storied mill town of Singapore once stood in the 1800s before its buildings were either dismantled, relocated or buried by sand. North Shores of Saugatuck is owned by Jeff and Peg Padnos of the West Michigan recycling company, who bought the property in 2016 after the late natural gas tycoon Aubrey McClendon spent a decade attempting to build a resort with a 66-slip marina, a 9-hole golf course, equestrian area and 100 homes. Padnos and Bosgraafs plans are scaled down from McClendons but their efforts nonetheless reignited a development battle. Bosgraaf submitted the now-denied application in 2023 a duplicate of plans which EGLE approved a permit for six years ago in 2018, but which expired early last year. The plans call for removing about 230,000 cubic yards of sand and turning a 300-acre dune area along the north curve of the river as it enters Lake Michigan into a housing development for up to 50 homes built around a basin filled with boat slips. The property abuts the southern border of Saugatuck Dunes State Park and the basin entrance would be directly across from a cove at the end of the engineered river channel. Several homes have already gone up in recent years on the north side of the channel near the boat-shaped mansion built in 1989 by yacht builder Franklin Denison. David Swan of the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance said North Shores is not precluded from submitting a new state application in the future, which is why his group is continuing to litigate a seven-year-old local zoning approval. The alliance sued in 2018 to overturn a Saugatuck Township zoning approval and has spent years litigating the procedural question of whether it has legal standing to challenge the decision. In 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled it did. The case was remanded to Allegan County court, which instructed the township last year to consider new evidence in the groups appeal of its 2017 special land use approval. New local zoning hearings are expected to occur in May. We contend that this permit should be terminated, said Swan. And, when its terminated, that specific land is not allowed to ever again be considered for a special approval use agreement. Thats why we are not letting go of the local litigation. Swan alleges the sites construction and de-watering plans have changed since the initial application, which he said both central to the alliances argument that the zoning permit should be denied and the states permit denial this month. In EGLEs letter to Bosgraaf, water resources engineer John Bayha wrote that North Shores hydrogeologic modeling was inadequate and contains inconsistencies and other issues. According to Bayha, the proposed marina will likely have significant effects on the public and tribal uses of the river, and thus infringe on the public trust rights to navigate and fish. It would also permanently impact the critical dune area and result in the loss of a significant portion of the open dune habitat in Saugatuck Township, he wrote. There are feasible and prudent alternatives, he wrote, such as mooring boats along the existing seawall, using local launches and marinas, storing boats off-site, or proposing a project that better balances private riparian interests with the public trust and public uses. Bayha also cited indigenous Gun Lake Tribe of Potawatomi connections to the river mouth, which the National Park Service determined in 2020 was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP), a type of listing which emphasizing a historical areas value and significance to a communitys cultural identity. That determination is likely to play a role in the federal review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which Swan said is expected to announce a decision later this year. We are feeling good, said Swan. We appreciate the fact that the state really dug into this and really looked at the good science, and really listened to the tribal voices. Related stories: New fight brews over Saugatuck dune land Michigan Supreme Court rules for dunes group Lake Michigan dune battle reignites (2017) Singapore: Legend of the Lost Mill City Holland developer buys McClendon land OAKLAND COUNTY, MI -- Former President Donald Trump is heading back to Michigan. The current frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary is scheduled to speak Saturday, Feb. 17, at a Get Out the Vote Rally in Waterford Township, according to an announcement from his campaign. The EU Council has adopted a decision that paves the way for the use of proceeds from Russia's frozen assets in favor of Ukraine. It is expected that these funds (and, in the long run, the assets themselves) will allow Ukraine to at least partially finance its huge budget deficit and restore destroyed property. ADVERTISIMENT As explained by the Ministry of Justice, the decisions and the resolution adopted by the EU Council clarify the obligations of central securities depositories that have frozen assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia. In other words, they do not directly authorize the use of frozen Russian funds in favor of Ukraine, but they do create the conditions for this. "The relevant decision allows the Council to set a financial contribution to the EU budget, collected from the profits from the use of Russian assets. The funds are to be used to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction," the Ministry of Justice said. How much Russian money is frozen in the West In general, it is noted that 260 billion euros of the Central Bank of Russia's assets are currently frozen in the jurisdictions of the collective West. These funds are held, in particular, by: ADVERTISIMENT G7 partners; THE EU; Australia. The bulk of the money is in the EU. More than two-thirds of the Central Bank of Russia's assets are frozen there. What was adopted by the EU Council As explained by the Ministry of Justice, the EU Council, in particular, decided that depositories holding assets of the Central Bank of Russia worth more than EUR 1 million should separately take into account the balances accumulated as a result of EU sanctions; keep the corresponding profits. In addition, depositories were prohibited from disposing of their net profits. However, upon their request, supervisory authorities in each country may decide to release part of this net profit, subject to compliance with the authorized capital and risks. "The decision allows the Council to establish a financial contribution to the EU budget collected from the profit from the use of rosatom assets," the ministry said. ADVERTISIMENT What Ukraine will get For its part, the Center for Economic Strategy emphasized that the use of income from Russian assets, and in the future, the assets themselves, will allow Ukraine to at least partially finance at least two of the most important expenditure items. In particular: "a huge budget deficit"; restoration of destroyed property. The important thing here is that this will be done at the expense of Russia, which attacked Ukraine, "and not the taxpayers of the partner countries." "This decision is the first step to what we should strive for fair punishment and the use of the aggressor's resources to overcome the consequences of its actions," the Center emphasized. Putin threatens over billions frozen in the EU For his part, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov earlier began threatening Ukraine's Western allies over plans to use frozen Russian assets for the benefit of our country. Thus, Peskov threatened the European Union (EU) and the Group of Seven (G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and the United States) with "decades-long lawsuits." ADVERTISIMENT "If such decisions are made, they will be deeply illegal, and they will have very, very long judicial prospects for those who make these decisions and those who implement these decisions for many decades... We are convinced that those who make these decisions also understand these inevitable consequences, and we will be watching very closely," the Kremlin spokesman said on February 5. He clarified that "the Russian Federation will appeal such decisions." At the same time, Peskov said that Russia considers the freezing of its assets illegal, calling it "an encroachment on someone else's property" that allegedly "undermines the foundations of the entire economic system." As reported by OBOZ.UA, the EU summit on February 1 approved the European Commission's plan to confiscate the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. The 260 billion euros of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation will not be seized yet, they will remain on European accounts, and the profits from them will be transferred to help Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The plan allows for only 15 billion euros to be used over four years. According to Western media, most European countries are afraid to confiscate Russian assets because of the Kremlin's possible retaliatory steps. At the same time, the United States has recently made it clear that it is open to direct confiscation of the aggressor country's assets. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! In winter, the prospect of relaxing at European resorts is zero. At this time, you can only wander the narrow streets, drink aromatic coffee or warming mulled wine, and admire the sea views. But what if you want to soak up the sun and get a chocolate tan? Of course, head to the hottest continent - Africa! We'll tell you where to go. ADVERTISIMENT Anse Soleil, Mahe, Seychelles This deserted paradise will appeal to everyone who wants to retire and forget about the city noise. People come here for beautiful views and spectacular photos. Don't expect to swim here, as the water is rarely calm. But for surfers and snorkelers, this is an ideal place. The beach itself is located in a small bay, so it is quite tiny. It is about 200 meters long and 20 meters wide. The infrastructure near Anse Soleil is not very well developed, but there is everything you need for a good vacation: a restaurant, a shop, and a cafe. But keep in mind that there are no equipment rental centers here. So you need to bring everything with you, including umbrellas and towels. ADVERTISIMENT Paradise Beach, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa This beach will appeal to lovers of classic vacations. This is the perfect place to swim in the water, soak up the sun and admire the beautiful scenery. Complete relaxation awaits you here. The beach is shrouded in green jungle. Therefore, at every step you will find exotic flora, which is simply impossible to pass by quickly. It will attract you like a magnet. By the way, if you are in South Africa, do not be lazy to go to the Cape of Good Hope. It's worth visiting the most prominent landmark there, the lighthouse. It is not currently in operation, but the entrance is open to tourists. An observation deck was built at an altitude of 240 meters, offering incredible views. There are two ways to climb it: on foot or by cable car. ADVERTISIMENT Paje, Zanzibar, Tanzania Solitude and comfort. This is how you can describe this coast. It is very beautiful, clean, and one of the best beaches not only in Africa but also in the world. It harmoniously combines classic relaxation and active leisure. The main thing is that no one disturbs anyone here. Harmony and comfort reign here. And that is why tourists choose Paje. But keep in mind that it has a small disadvantage, which manifests itself at low tide. It takes a long walk to get to the normal depth. Trou D'argent beach, Rodrigues, Mauritius Imagine: a blue lagoon surrounded by rocks, silky white sand and many rare birds. No one disturbs, distracts or interferes. And this is not a fairy tale, but a reality. Because this beautiful beach is quite deserted. And to meet a tourist here is an asterisked task. ADVERTISIMENT If you are a fan of complete solitude, then this is the place for you. But don't be afraid that you will have a Robinson Crusoe-style vacation. Hotels are located not far from the coast, and you can also rent an apartment or stay in a bungalow. You can always find food vendors on the streets and have a delicious snack. Or stop by a local cafe and have lunch. Nosy-Be, Madagascar Travelers who are used to vacationing in places with developed infrastructure should fly here. You can have a good and inexpensive time here. The island has five-star hotels and inexpensive villas. And the waterfront area itself is immersed in greenery. ADVERTISIMENT The island where the beach is located is of volcanic origin. So exploring it will not be boring at all. And here, among the rare flora and fauna, there are historical monuments. Be sure to visit them. African beaches are the perfect vacation spot at the end of winter. So if you've already missed the sun and warmth, you can go here. Russians who cannot afford a vacation in civilized countries or are afraid to travel to pro-Ukrainian states are preparing to go on vacation to Senegal. The director of the African Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that "prospects are being seen in this direction," but not all tourists believed him. ADVERTISIMENT The Russian Federation has confirmed that in recent years, more and more Russian travelers have been heading to Africa, where the genocide of Ukrainians is discussed less than in Europe, Asia, or the United States. Propagandists write about this. "Sub-Saharan Africa, the most popular among Russian tourists, is traditionally Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Senegal and Sierra Leone show promise," said Vsevolod Tkachenko, director of the African Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. To keep Russians traveling to Africa, the Foreign Ministry is negotiating visa-free regimes, benefits, and direct flights with countries that are not too safe. ADVERTISIMENT It's comical, but just a few years ago, Russian media outlets were spreading a story about their fellow citizens traveling to Senegal with a telling headline: "You will be killed here after dark." In their memoirs, the Russians described a brutal knife attack they experienced near the capital Dakar. Such cases are not uncommon in the country. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine warns about them. "In Senegal, the number of drug addicts has increased, who, to obtain money, commit acts of aggression against foreigners. In Dakar, cases of theft and assaults with the use of bladed weapons are most often recorded in the waterfront area. While in tourist regions, caution should also be exercised, as attacks on foreigners in these places are not uncommon," the description says. ADVERTISIMENT The Russians were not told about this side of their vacation, nor were they told about the country's religious characteristics. The fact is that almost 100% of the local population is Muslim, and therefore foreigners are strongly advised to wear long skirts or pants even in the heat. When crossing the Senegalese border, you need to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate and be aware of the risk of catching malaria or Dengue fever. Those Russians who are aware of these peculiarities of the country were cold to the offer of a vacation in Africa. "It's a great idea. It's been a long time since I ran away from bandits with berdankas and kalashs," "Why does the Foreign Ministry dislike us so much?" "We have survived! With such a policy as in Russia, only in Senegal will Russians be welcome," Russian commentators wrote. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for two years now, must be sure that Europe will not refuse to help Kyiv. There should be no talk of "fatigue" from the war in Ukraine in Europe. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The politician said that the Weimar Triangle (an informal international association of Germany, Poland and France) could play a leading role in this matter, Ukrinform reports. "The three capitals (Paris, Warsaw, and Berlin) should give a clear sign that Europe will not give up on Ukraine. Putin must see that there is no fatigue from Ukraine. We will not abandon Ukraine, and the Weimar Triangle can play a leading role here," Tusk emphasized. The head of the Polish government noted that Berlin and Warsaw should take responsibility for continuing this policy and for mobilizing the entire European Union to increase the union's defense capabilities. Tusk called Germany and Poland the countries that are "most involved in Ukraine's security." ADVERTISIMENT The prime minister also said that Europe should increase its defense capabilities as actively as possible. In addition to helping Ukraine in the war, the EU needs to achieve more powerful capabilities in air defense and munitions production. This should be done not within 10 years but in the coming months. "We did not want confrontation, but the EU economy is eight times larger than Russia's, and the EU population is six times larger than Russia's. There is no reason to be weaker than Russia militarily," Tusk emphasized. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The day before, on February 12, the Defense Forces soldiers performing tasks in the operational area of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group of Forces eliminated a record number of Russian occupants this year. The enemy lost nearly 650 people in killed and wounded. ADVERTISIMENT However, the previous day was also "record-breaking" in terms of the number of enemy shelling and air strikes. Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria separate motorized corps, provided details on the situation in this section of the front. He emphasized that the intensity of fighting in the operational area of the Tavria Joint Task Force is increasing. The enemy fired a record number of artillery shells and aerial bombs at Ukrainian troops' positions and localities near the front yesterday. A total of 1,267 artillery attacks and 67 air strikes were recorded. However, the Ukrainian soldiers did not remain in debt - they inflicted record losses in manpower on the invaders since the beginning of 2024. "Thanks to the efforts of the brave soldiers of the Tauride direction, the total losses of the Russian occupiers over the past day amounted to 645 people. This is the highest number since the beginning of the year. Our defenders are steadfastly holding the line and conducting active operations in the designated areas," noted the commander of the Tavria separate military unit. ADVERTISIMENT Tarnavsky also added that Ukrainian soldiers continue to replenish their exchange fund: the day before they captured a dozen Russian occupants near Avdiivka. The invaders also lost equipment and weapons the day before: 41 units were destroyed or damaged, including: 5 tanks, 17 armored combat vehicles, eight artillery systems, 10 vehicles one unit of special equipment. And this is not including UAVs. On February 12, the defenders neutralized as many as 280 drones of various types. At the same time, Tarnavsky added, two Russian attack drones, Lancet and ZALA, were shot down by Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk region with small arms. ADVERTISIMENT However, the enemy losses over the past day did not end there: Ukrainian soldiers blew up one Russian ammunition depot and another important enemy facility. As a reminder, over the course of February 12, the Ukrainian Armed Forces neutralized 19 enemy artillery systems and 1,090 occupants. The total number of enemy weapons and military equipment destroyed the day before exceeded 100 units. As of the morning of February 13, the invaders' irrecoverable losses in manpower reached 397,080 people. Also on February 12, it became known that Ukrainian soldiers captured almost 25 more occupants in the Tavriisk direction. ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, January 26th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of 0.705 per share by the utilities provider on Friday, March 1st. This represents a $2.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.77%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from ALLETEs previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. ALLETE has increased its dividend payment by an average of 3.1% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 14 years. ALLETE has a dividend payout ratio of 66.0% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect ALLETE to earn $4.14 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.82 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 68.1%. Get ALLETE alerts: ALLETE Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE ALE opened at $59.12 on Tuesday. ALLETE has a 52-week low of $49.29 and a 52-week high of $66.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.22. The business has a fifty day moving average of $60.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.87. The stock has a market cap of $3.40 billion, a PE ratio of 13.72, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.77. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Analyst Ratings Changes Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Zimmer Partners LP acquired a new position in ALLETE during the 2nd quarter worth $35,376,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of ALLETE by 61.6% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 759,218 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $50,852,000 after acquiring an additional 289,528 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of ALLETE by 12.3% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,195,210 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $147,035,000 after acquiring an additional 240,252 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in ALLETE in the second quarter valued at about $9,869,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in ALLETE by 2.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,142,694 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $307,442,000 after purchasing an additional 148,353 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.94% of the companys stock. Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Sidoti cut shares of ALLETE from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $64.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Guggenheim raised ALLETE from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $58.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ALLETE has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $58.50. Get Our Latest Stock Report on ALE ALLETE Company Profile (Get Free Report) ALLETE, Inc operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 150,000 retail customers and 14 non-affiliated municipal customers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ALLETE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ALLETE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alta Equipment Group Inc. (NYSE:ALTG Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, February 2nd, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.057 per share on Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. Alta Equipment Group has a payout ratio of -2,300.0% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities analysts expect Alta Equipment Group to earn $0.16 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $0.23 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 143.8%. Get Alta Equipment Group alerts: Alta Equipment Group Stock Performance NYSE:ALTG opened at $11.59 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.35, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 1.38. The stocks fifty day moving average is $11.48 and its 200 day moving average is $12.04. Alta Equipment Group has a fifty-two week low of $8.76 and a fifty-two week high of $20.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $375.17 million, a PE ratio of 55.19 and a beta of 1.64. Insider Activity Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other Alta Equipment Group news, Director Zachary E. Savas purchased 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $9.74 per share, for a total transaction of $48,700.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 99,711 shares in the company, valued at approximately $971,185.14. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other Alta Equipment Group news, Director Zachary E. Savas acquired 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $9.74 per share, with a total value of $48,700.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 99,711 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $971,185.14. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, major shareholder B. Riley Financial, Inc. sold 2,757,308 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.00, for a total value of $30,330,388.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 211,175 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,322,925. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 20.90% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of Alta Equipment Group during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in shares of Alta Equipment Group by 383.1% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,633 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 2,088 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Alta Equipment Group by 2,799.0% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 2,783 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 2,687 shares in the last quarter. Group One Trading L.P. bought a new stake in Alta Equipment Group in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in Alta Equipment Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $48,000. Institutional investors own 70.94% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Raymond James lowered their price objective on Alta Equipment Group from $22.00 to $19.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. View Our Latest Research Report on ALTG About Alta Equipment Group (Get Free Report) Alta Equipment Group Inc owns and operates integrated equipment dealership platforms in the United States. It operates in two segments, Material Handling and Construction Equipment. The company operates a branch network that sells, rents, and provides parts and service support for various categories of specialized equipment, including lift trucks and aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, environmental processing equipment, and other material handling and construction equipment. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alta Equipment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alta Equipment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report) by 5.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 350,833 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 21,457 shares during the period. Broadridge Financial Solutions comprises 1.8% of Anchor Capital Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.30% of Broadridge Financial Solutions worth $62,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT increased its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2.1% during the second quarter. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT now owns 2,945 shares of the business services providers stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.7% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 9,137 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,513,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 56.4% in the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 183 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.6% during the third quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 11,633 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,083,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 5.5% during the second quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 1,485 shares of the business services providers stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. 89.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Broadridge Financial Solutions alerts: Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance NYSE:BR traded down $4.07 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $193.56. 530,848 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 591,473. The company has a market cap of $22.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.43 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 1 year low of $133.97 and a 1 year high of $210.24. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $200.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $187.36. Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.03. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 10.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.91 earnings per share. Broadridge Financial Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,090 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total transaction of $775,014.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,228,084.69. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,090 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total value of $775,014.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,228,084.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Christopher John Perry sold 6,643 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.17, for a total transaction of $1,329,729.31. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 59,282 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,866,477.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 41,246 shares of company stock worth $8,211,616 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $205.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Wolfe Research raised shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $212.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $203.17. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Broadridge Financial Solutions About Broadridge Financial Solutions (Free Report) Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Colruyt Group (OTCMKTS:CUYTF Get Free Report) fell 6.7% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $42.00 and last traded at $42.00. 35 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 200 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.00. Colruyt Group Stock Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average of $44.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.78. Colruyt Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Colruyt Group N.V., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retail, wholesale, food service, and other activities in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale and Foodservice, and Other Activities. The company provides groceries, fresh products, dry products, and frozen and non-food products; and operates CNG, hydrogen filling, and charging stations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Colruyt Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Colruyt Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ENB Financial Corp (OTCMKTS:ENBP Get Free Report) shares dropped 3% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $14.50 and last traded at $14.50. Approximately 1,000 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 44% from the average daily volume of 695 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.95. ENB Financial Stock Down 3.0 % The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $14.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.83. Get ENB Financial alerts: ENB Financial Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.69%. ENB Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 40.73%. ENB Financial Company Profile ENB Financial Corp operates as the bank holding company for Ephrata National Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and small-to-medium-sized businesses in Pennsylvania, the United States. The company's deposit products include non-interest bearing and interest-bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, and time deposits. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ENB Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ENB Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Russian Federation bears the greatest responsibility for the failure of the Minsk negotiation process. From the very beginning, Moscow's goal was to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on February 12, the anniversary of the signing of the Minsk agreements, by the Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst. She was quoted by Ukrinform. It should be noted that the meeting was convened by representatives of Moscow. The diplomat said that the Russian Federation "has been contributing to the growth of tension in Donbas for seven years." In 2016, Russia withdrew from the ceasefire verification mechanism. The Kremlin also helped ensure that the decisions made during the Paris Summit in December 2019 were not implemented. "It [Russia] refused to negotiate in good faith, claiming to be a mediator, although it was clearly a party to the conflict. Its goal was to destabilize Ukraine from the very beginning," Broadhurst emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT In her opinion, until February 24, 2022, when the Russian army launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "there was a possibility of a peaceful settlement." "France and Germany put a lot of effort into the Normandy format negotiations. In the days and weeks leading up to the invasion, the French President and the German Chancellor intensified their efforts to de-escalate. "Both states tirelessly and sincerely tried to help Russia and Ukraine find a common position for the implementation of the Minsk agreements from 2015 to 2022," the diplomat added. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Formidable Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 43,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,337,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 4.7% during the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 7,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $233,000 after buying an additional 314 shares during the period. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 2.7% in the third quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC now owns 12,608 shares of the companys stock worth $396,000 after acquiring an additional 327 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in British American Tobacco by 27.7% in the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 1,521 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Checchi Capital Advisers LLC boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 3.0% during the second quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 13,129 shares of the companys stock valued at $436,000 after buying an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.56% of the companys stock. Get British American Tobacco alerts: British American Tobacco Stock Performance British American Tobacco stock traded down $0.44 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $30.49. 3,539,525 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,772,337. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a twelve month low of $28.35 and a twelve month high of $38.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.91. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $29.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.08. British American Tobacco Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th will be given a $0.7431 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 28th. This is a positive change from British American Tobaccos previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $2.97 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.75%. Several brokerages recently weighed in on BTI. Morgan Stanley began coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. They issued an overweight rating for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Read Our Latest Analysis on British American Tobacco British American Tobacco Company Profile (Free Report) British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It offers vapour, tobacco heating, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BTI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for British American Tobacco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British American Tobacco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Knuff & Co LLC trimmed its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 24.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 438 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 138 shares during the quarter. Knuff & Co LLCs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $33,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,556 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 51,089 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,802,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the period. Haverford Trust Co boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Haverford Trust Co now owns 23,037 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,861,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 17,045 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,378,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Finally, FirstPurpose Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC now owns 3,399 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $253,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. 67.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Down 1.4 % CP stock traded down $1.18 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $83.20. 612,896 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,456,584. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.87, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.94. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $76.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 1 year low of $68.92 and a 1 year high of $86.00. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a $0.1415 dividend. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.15%. Several research analysts have commented on CP shares. Raymond James raised shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Susquehanna Bancshares downgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a positive rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $90.00 to $87.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $85.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, November 27th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.94. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. North European Oil Royalty Trust (NYSE:NRT Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, January 31st, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of 0.05 per share by the energy company on Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. North European Oil Royalty Trust Stock Up 4.3 % North European Oil Royalty Trust stock opened at $5.09 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.78 million, a PE ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.90. North European Oil Royalty Trust has a twelve month low of $4.77 and a twelve month high of $16.36. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.76 and a 200-day moving average of $9.02. Get North European Oil Royalty Trust alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust in the third quarter worth $539,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its position in shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust by 68.6% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 27,744 shares of the energy companys stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 11,287 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new stake in shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust in the second quarter worth $169,000. First Republic Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust in the first quarter worth $163,000. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust by 355.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 10,956 shares of the energy companys stock worth $134,000 after purchasing an additional 8,549 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.51% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, TheStreet cut shares of North European Oil Royalty Trust from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Get Our Latest Report on NRT About North European Oil Royalty Trust (Get Free Report) North European Oil Royalty Trust, a grantor trust, holds overriding royalty rights covering gas and oil production in various concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. The company also has rights under contracts with German exploration and development subsidiaries of ExxonMobil Corp. and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. Read More Receive News & Ratings for North European Oil Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North European Oil Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Get Free Report) EVP Richard G. Harbison sold 21,934 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.27, for a total value of $3,208,286.18. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,941 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,648,120.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Phillips 66 Stock Performance NYSE PSX traded down $1.21 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $144.45. The company had a trading volume of 3,742,962 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,301,020. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.29. Phillips 66 has a 1-year low of $89.74 and a 1-year high of $149.52. The company has a market cap of $63.55 billion, a PE ratio of 9.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.38. The business has a 50 day moving average of $134.19 and a 200-day moving average of $122.13. Get Phillips 66 alerts: Phillips 66 Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 16th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.91%. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.15%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Phillips 66 Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bornite Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Phillips 66 in the first quarter valued at about $8,639,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 316.2% in the first quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 6,597 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 5,012 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 5.1% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 16,257 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,405,000 after buying an additional 788 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 61.9% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 7,236 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $625,000 after buying an additional 2,766 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 103.8% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 53,538 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,625,000 after buying an additional 27,267 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.83% of the companys stock. A number of research firms have recently weighed in on PSX. Raymond James upped their price objective on Phillips 66 from $140.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Phillips 66 from $134.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Phillips 66 from $151.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Wolfe Research raised Phillips 66 from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $146.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Phillips 66 from $132.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $138.21. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Phillips 66 About Phillips 66 (Get Free Report) Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Phillips 66 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phillips 66 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Safehold (NYSE:SAFE Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.01, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Safehold had a negative return on equity of 0.28% and a negative net margin of 63.25%. The business had revenue of $103.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $84.89 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($6.00) earnings per share. Safeholds revenue was up 40.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Safehold Price Performance Shares of SAFE stock traded up $0.25 on Monday, reaching $20.83. The companys stock had a trading volume of 277,754 shares, compared to its average volume of 323,410. The company has a quick ratio of 38.91, a current ratio of 38.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. Safehold has a 12-month low of $15.00 and a 12-month high of $33.76. The company has a market capitalization of $1.48 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.73 and a beta of 1.46. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $21.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.91. Get Safehold alerts: Safehold Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th were given a $0.177 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $0.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.40%. Safeholds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -9.29%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Safehold Analyst Ratings Changes A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. State of Wyoming bought a new position in Safehold in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Safehold by 455.8% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,395 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. bought a new position in Safehold in the first quarter valued at $81,000. FMR LLC increased its stake in Safehold by 17.8% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,643 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in Safehold by 470.4% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,717 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,416 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.44% of the companys stock. Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Safehold from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Safehold from $17.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 28th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Safehold from $24.00 to $19.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 27th. TheStreet downgraded Safehold from a c- rating to a d rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, JMP Securities started coverage on Safehold in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an outperform rating and a $35.00 target price on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Safehold presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $29.00. View Our Latest Report on SAFE Safehold Company Profile (Get Free Report) Safehold Inc (NYSE: SAFE) is revolutionizing real estate ownership by providing a new and better way for owners to unlock the value of the land beneath their buildings. Having created the modern ground lease industry in 2017, Safehold continues to help owners of high quality multifamily, office, industrial, hospitality, student housing, life science and mixed-use properties generate higher returns with less risk. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Safehold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Safehold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Village Farms International, Inc. (TSE:VFF Get Free Report) shot up 0.9% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$8.48 and last traded at C$8.12. 4,316,496 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 701% from the average session volume of 539,085 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$8.05. Village Farms International Stock Performance The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$8.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.58, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a current ratio of 3.11. The firm has a market capitalization of C$715.51 million and a P/E ratio of -116.00. Village Farms International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Village Farms International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers in North America. It operates through three segments: Produce Business, Energy Business, and Cannabis and Hemp Business. The company also owns and operates a 7.0 megawatt power plant that generates and sells electricity to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority; and produces and supplies cannabis products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Village Farms International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Village Farms International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AOS has experienced positive revenue growth over the past three years, driven by increased sales in China and the ability to compete successfully in competitive markets. Operating expenses have decreased, leading to an improved net income margin for the year. The management has undertaken initiatives to drive growth and improve profitability, such as employee training and prioritizing safety. They assess the companys competitive position and identify market trends and risks. There are potential risks related to economic conditions, trade agreements, and cybersecurity. AOS also focuses on sustainability and responsible business practices. The forward-looking guidance considers potential risks and emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptation. Overall, the company demonstrates a commitment to growth, profitability, and responsible practices. Executive Summary Financials The trend in revenue growth over the past three years has been positive. The primary drivers behind this trend are increased sales in China, driven by innovative new products and resilient demand for core products. Additionally, the companys ability to compete successfully in highly competitive markets and adapt to evolving competition has contributed to revenue growth. Operating expenses have evolved, with selling, general, and administrative expenses decreasing from $727.4 million in 2022 to $670.9 million in 2023. There are no significant changes mentioned in the cost structures. The companys net income margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $554.8 million. It has improved compared to $484.7 million in 2022. However, without information about industry peers, it is not possible to compare the companys net income margin to them. Get alerts: Management Discussion and Analysis Management has undertaken key initiatives to drive growth and improve profitability, such as providing employees with training and development opportunities and prioritizing safety. While the success of these initiatives is not explicitly mentioned in the given information, they indicate a commitment to employee development and workplace safety, which can contribute to overall growth and profitability. Management assesses the companys competitive position by considering factors such as product design, reliability, quality, advanced technologies, and price. They acknowledge the presence of competitors with greater resources and the emergence of new technologies. Market trends highlighted include the use of data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, as well as the increasing competition in China and the potential impact of extraordinary events such as natural disasters and political disruptions. The major risks and challenges identified by management include decarbonization, new technologies, cyber threats, and market risks such as currency fluctuations. To address these risks, the management team assigns executives to each risk area and develops action plans. The Board of Directors provides oversight, and the Audit Committee reviews financial risk exposures. Market risks are managed through continuous monitoring and the use of forward contracts. The cybersecurity risk management program integrates with the overall risk management program and includes periodic risk assessments, the use of external service providers, multi-layered defense, continuous monitoring, and cybersecurity awareness training. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Risk Assessment The context information does not provide any specific information about the companys key performance metrics or how they have changed over the past year. It also does not mention whether these metrics are in line with the companys long-term goals. Therefore, we cannot answer the question based on the given context. The context information does not provide any specific information about the companys return on investment (ROI) or its cost of capital. Therefore, it is not possible to determine how the companys ROI compares to its cost of capital or whether it is generating value for shareholders. The context information does not provide any specific details about the companys market share or its evolution compared to its competitors. It also does not mention any plans for market expansion or consolidation. The top external factors that pose risks to the companys operations and financial performance include global and regional economic conditions, such as recessions or economic downturns, which can impact consumer confidence and spending patterns. Additionally, changes in trade agreements, tariffs, and government policies in countries where the company operates, like Canada, China, India, and Mexico, could also adversely affect the companys financial condition and cash flows. AOS assesses and manages cybersecurity risks by conducting periodic risk assessments, utilizing external service providers for testing and assistance, implementing a multi-layered defense and continuous monitoring strategy, providing cybersecurity awareness training, and having a response plan in place. Yes, there are potential contingent liabilities and legal issues that could impact the companys financial position and reputation. AOS may incur expenses and need to increase reserves for warranty charges, and product defects and recalls could damage the brand. Additionally, the companys ability to integrate future acquisitions successfully and operate them profitably is uncertain. AOS is aware of these risks and continues to evaluate potential acquisitions, but their unfamiliarity with regulations in new geographies could affect profitability. The impact of future acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on the companys financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Corporate Governance and Sustainability The composition of the board of directors is not specified in the given context information, and it does not mention any notable changes in leadership or independence. The companys governance practices and workforce diversity and inclusion efforts are not mentioned in the provided context information. There is no information about a commitment to board diversity. The report discloses sustainability initiatives related to carbon emissions, water usage, diversity and inclusion, and human rights. AOS demonstrates its commitment to responsible business practices by communicating strategies, commitments, and targets through their ESG report and by advancing sustainable innovations in their industry. Forward Guidance The companys forward-looking guidance acknowledges the potential risks and uncertainties that could impact its strategic initiatives and priorities, such as changes in demand, economic conditions, trade disputes, and regulations. It emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptation to evolving circumstances to achieve its objectives. AOS is factoring in trends such as softening demand for residential water heaters, changes in commercial property usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, weakening in the US construction market, and geopolitical conflicts. It plans to capitalize on these trends by implementing pricing actions, integrating strategic acquisitions, and responding to the shift towards decarbonization and energy efficiency. No, the context information does not provide any indication of investments or strategic shifts that demonstrate the companys commitment to long-term growth and competitiveness. For more information: This article was created using artificial intelligence technology from Klickanalytics. On February 10 (local time; on February 9), following the passing of H. E. Dr. Sebastian Pinera Echenique on February 7 (local time; on February 6), Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, issued a letter of condolence to H. E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile. In the letter, Prime Minister KISHIDA expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of former President Pinera and to the Government and people of the Republic of Chile on the news of his death. Prime Minister KISHIDA paid tribute to great contribution made by the former president to the development of the longstanding friendly relationship between Japan and Chile, including support for Japan's earthquake recovery efforts, recalling his visit to Minamisanriku-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, an area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, in March 2012. On February 9 (local time; on February 8), Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, issued a letter of condolence to H. E. Mr. Alberto Leo van Klaveren Stork, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile. In the letter, Minister KAMIKAWA expressed her heartfelt condolences to former President Pinera on the news of his death and expressed her respect for the former president's efforts such as improvement of education and pension systems, while focusing on economic policies to promote economic growth in Chile, as well as his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Chile, including support for earthquake reconstruction. Minister KAMIKAWA also expressed her sincere condolences to his bereaved family. The Russian terrorist army could launch a massive missile attack on Ukraine any day. Moreover, the enemy will not necessarily be tied to specific dates, such as the anniversary of the full-scale invasion on February 24. ADVERTISIMENT On the contrary, the invaders may wait to create the effect of a certain surprise. This was stated by Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the press center of the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, during the telethon. According to her, Russian troops will not necessarily launch a massive attack on Ukraine on February 24. At the same time, she noted that such a possibility cannot be ruled out. Humeniuk emphasized that Putin's terrorists are analyzing their previous activities and want to create the effect of a certain surprise. "Analytics show that it will not necessarily be tied to a specific date. We have observed during the full-scale invasion that understanding our analytics, the enemy also does its own and tries to create the effect of a certain surprise," said Humeniuk. She noted that the enemy has enough weapons, including long-range weapons. However, the occupiers spend some time preparing massive attacks. The spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces also emphasized that not only massive attacks but also targeted attacks can cause significant damage. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on the morning of February 7, explosions occurred in different cities of Ukraine. Russia launched another massive attack against our country, launching ballistic and cruise missiles. Earlier it was reported that on February 13, Russian occupation forces attacked the city of Dnipro with Shahed drones. The enemy, among other things, tried to attack the fuel and energy complex. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK 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 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. Given the threat from Russia, Europe must significantly increase its arms production. European partners should combine their orders and guarantee the defense industry work for the next few decades. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the ceremony of launching the construction of a new ammunition plant for the defense company Rheinmetall on Monday, February 12, the German edition Stern reported. He called on European countries to step up their efforts to produce weapons. "We must move to large-scale arms production," Scholz said. The German Chancellor emphasized that this should be done urgently because "we do not live in times of peace". According to him, Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine and Russia's imperial ambitions, openly expressed by President Vladimir Putin, are "the main threat to the European peace order." Scholz made the comments on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for Rheinmetall's new munitions plant in Unterluss, Lower Saxony. The plant is expected to produce 200,000 artillery shells annually. ADVERTISIMENT He noted that the production of this many shells is an impressive figure. "On the other hand, we know that several thousand artillery shells are being used at the frontline - in the east and south of Ukraine - every day," Scholz said. The German Chancellor emphasized that Ukraine is now deciding "whether our peaceful order, our rules-based world, has a future." "Russia must fail in its attempt to annex a neighboring state by force. Not only the United States but also European countries need to do more to support Ukraine. The commitments made so far are simply not enough," the chancellor emphasized. Kayezad E Adajania heads the personal finance bureau at Moneycontrol. He has been covering mutual funds and personal finance for the past two decades, having worked in Mint and Outlook Money magazine. Kayezad was the founding member of Mints personal finance team when it was set up in 2009. Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran Narendra Modi in UAE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in UAE on February 13 for a two-day visit, the key highlight of which is the inauguration of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. Upon his arrival in UAE, PM Modi was accorded Guard of Honour. This is PM Modi's seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since 2014. Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. 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 Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Total funding into Karnataka-based tech start-ups sharply fell 72% to US$3.4bn (billion) in 2023, from US$12.2bn in 2022, a new report said on Tuesday. This decline can be attributed to the prevailing macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical issues as the total number of US$100mn (million) and above rounds fell to 8 in 2023 from 26 in 2022, according to the report by Tracxn, a data intelligence platform. The state has more than 18,000 start-ups and is home to 39% of the unicorn companies in the country. The start-ups in the state attracted late-stage investments worth US$2.3 billion in 2023, a 74% decline compared with $8.9 billion in 2022. Early-stage funding in 2023 stood at US$784mn in funding, a drop of 71% from the US$2.7 bn raised during the previous year. Seed-stage funding fell 54% to US$294mn from the US$643mn raised in 2022. Only eight $100 million and above funding rounds were observed in this space in 2023, as against 26 and 44 such rounds in 2022 and 2021, respectively. PhonePe and Udaan secured the highest funding in 2023, raising US$623mn and US$377mn in Series D and Series E funding rounds, respectively. Further, no new unicorns emerged from this space in 2023, a sharp contrast from seven unicorns in 2022 and 18 in 2021, according to the report. Fintech, retail and enterprise applications were the top-funded segments in 2023. The fintech sector in Karnataka secured a total funding of US$1.15bn in 2023, a decline of 51% compared with US$2.4bn raised during the previous year. In 2023, the Karnataka tech sector witnessed 35 acquisitions, significantly lower than 48 acquisitions in 2022 and 57 acquisitions in 2021. Accel, Wellfound, and LetsVenture are the top investors in the state of Karnataka to date. 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. The Mumbai metropolitan region development authority (MMRDA) has got the green signal for its proposed connector for the Mumbai trans harbour link (MTHL) at Chirle which will be linked with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, officials said in Mumbai on Tuesday. The new Chirle connector, estimated to cost around Rs1,000 crore, is expected to slash travel time between south Mumbai and Pune by an hour. MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee announced the new development in a tweet. The connector is slated to start soon and will comprise two six-lane elevated roads, one connecting Chirle-Gavhan Phata, and other linking Palaspe and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The project is slated for completion in around 30 months and it will prove a boost to the people travelling from Mumbai to Pune via MTHL as they can skirt the busy Sion-Panvel highway or pass the Vashi toll post before getting on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The countrys longest sea-bridge, MTHL was opened in January and it has substantially cut travel time from Mumbai to Panvel, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Navi Mumbai and the upcoming new international airport, Pune and Goa highways, coastal Konkan and other key regions. 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. Shaken by the sudden departure of senior leader and former CM (chief minister) Ashok Chavan, the Congress' Maharashtra Congress on Monday went into a damage control mode to ensure that any further possible 'leaks' could be plugged. State party chief Nana Patole rushed to Chhattisgarh to meet Rahul Gandhi, currently there on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and then is slated to visit New Delhi to discuss the situation with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders. In Mumbai, senior functionaries like ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan, Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat and state party working president M Arif Naseem Khan were closeted for hours, ruminating the implications of Ashok Chavans exit, hours before the process for the biennial Rajya Sabha (RS) elections begin. Later, Prithviraj Chavan said that the state legislature party meeting will be convened on Wednesday-Thursday to discuss the issue and other aspects pertaining to the crucial RS polls. Mr Khan said that senior party leaders have started reaching out to all the Congress legislators and leaders especially those the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena claim are knocking at their doors. Both Mr Chavan and Mr Khan contended that there are no indications of any more MLAs (members of legislative Assembly) or leaders planning to switch sides, despite the claims from the ruling side, even as there is speculation that the BJP may spring some surprises in the RS polls. As the largest party of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, the Congress has 45 MLAs in the Assembly and Mr Chavan reportedly commands the loyalty of more than a dozen legislators. The other two MVA allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) are highly truncated after they suffered vertical splits in June 2022 and July 2023, respectively. Other leaders have expressed 'deep concerns' over the developments plaguing the party after the SS-UBT and NCP-SP were similarly targeted and broken, and urged the top leadership in the state and Centre to take immediate remedial measures. The MVA's leaders including ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, Ambadas Danve, Sanjay Raut, Priyanka Chaturvedi (all SS-UBT), Supriya Sule, Dr Jitendra Awhad, Rohit R Pawar, Clyde Crasto (all NCP-SP), Prakash Ambedkar and Siddharth Mokle (VBA), and Congress leaders like Vijay Wadettiwar, Atul Londhe, besides others reacted strongly over Ashok Chavan bidding farewell to the party. Meanwhile, despite the brave faces displayed by the Congress state bigwigs, the ruling BJP leaders, including state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis hinted that 'many more leaders and legislators' are on the way to their party in the coming days. 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. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs4.75 lakh on four cooperative banks for non-compliance with the directions issued by the banking regulator. The highest penalty of Rs2.50 lakh has been imposed on Pusad Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd from Maharashtra. Other banks fined by RBI are Shillong Cooperative Urban Bank Ltd from Meghalaya, Sri Satya Sai Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadi from Madhya Pradesh and Anjangaon Surji Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd from Maharashtra. Pusad Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd was penalised for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on income recognition, asset classification, provisioning and other related matters Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). "The statutory inspections of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2020 and examination of the inspection report(IR) and all correspondence related revealed, that the bank had not adhered to the prudential norms relating to income recognition, asset classification and Provisioning, " RBI says. Meghalaya-based Shillong Cooperative Urban Bank Ltd was finned Rs1 lakh for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on know-your-customer (KYC) Directions. The bank had failed to put in place a system of risk categorisation of accounts and failed to undertake periodic updation of KYC of customer accounts. Statutory inspection of the Bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2022 and examination of the risk assessment report (RAR) and all correspondence related revealed, that Sri Satya Sai Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadit had breached the prudential inter-bank gross and counterparty exposure limits. RBI, therefore, imposed a penalty of Rs75,000 on Sri Satya Sai Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadit. Maharashtra-based Anjangaon Surji Nagari Sahakari Bank Limited was penalised Rs50,000 for contravention of directives and specific directions issued by RBI under Sections 35(A)(1) and 36(1) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act), respectively. The Bank had allowed withdrawal by depositors more than the limit prescribed under directives issued by RBI under Section 35A (1) read with Section 56 of the Act and disbursed fresh loans in violation of specific directions issued under supervisory action framework (SAF). Further, RBI says its action against these four banks is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce on the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with their customers. The Sharad Pawar faction has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the decision of Election Commission (EC) recognising the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the 'real' Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and allotting it the party's 'clock' symbol. As per the details available on the website of apex court, the plea arraying Ajit Pawar as respondent has been filed through advocate Abhishek Jebaraj on Monday evening. The Ajit Pawar side has already filed a caveat last week, saying that it should be heard, before the top court proceeds to pass any order. A caveat serves as a notice submitted to an appellate court by a litigant who wishes to be heard in case any orders are issued regarding an opponent's appeal that challenges the decision made by the lower judicial or quasi-judicial body. The NCP split in July last year, with a faction led by Ajit Pawar rebelling against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar to join the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. After that, both sides laid claim to the party name and symbol. 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. Douglas Cairns Montana State University recently announced Douglas Cairns as the winner of the Vice Presidents for Research Meritorious Technology Science Award. Cairns is a professor of mechanical engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. The award carries a $2,500 honorarium. The Technology Transfer Office has worked closely with Dr. Cairns in facilitating his numerous impactful collaborations with industry, universities and the U.S. Army in developing a groundbreaking carbon fiber manufacturing process for producing the next generation of aircraft components, wrote Nick Zelver, a senior technology manager with MSU Technology Transfer Office, in the letter nominating Cairns for this award. Over the past five years, with Army funding of $35 million, Dr. Cairns, alongside his team of more than 30 MSU faculty, students and former industry leaders in carbon fiber manufacturing, has met the challenge. The MSU team, in collaboration with local machining companies, has developed the innovative Bobcat Head for significantly improved Stretch Broken Carbon Fiber manufacturing. Carbon fiber is the material of choice in aerospace and various applications due to its high strength, durability and lightweight properties. Its wider application has been limited by high production costs, unreliable manufacturing processes and the challenges with shaping the carbon fiber into complicated forms required for advanced aircraft components. Recognizing the need to address past SBCF failures, Cairns and his team developed an ambitious plan to systematically dissect the problems and find a technological solution. Many of the institutional awards are individual awards such as teaching, scholarship, and service, Cairns said. However, this is truly a team award. Without the team we have assembled, my individual contributions would be irrelevant. An infographic shows the effects of climate change. The University of Guam and the Office of the Governor contributed data to the 2024 U.S. National Climate Assessment. Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva has been appointed - as deputy commander of the Australian Army's 7th Brigade, making him second in command of about 3500 Australian troops. Frances new delegate minister for overseas, Marie Guevenoux, will work under French Home Affairs and Overseas minister Gerald Darmanin. Calaveras County Library in San Andreas View Photo San Andreas, CA As the March 5 primary approaches, there are a pair of opportunities to hear from the candidates running for office in Calaveras County at community forums this week. This first (today-February 13) is hosted by the Calaveras Democratic Central Committee and will feature the three candidates running for District One Supervisor, Gary Tofanelli, Anna Grace Gates, and Tim Grant. It will begin at 5:45 pm at the San Andreas Public Library at 1299 Gold Hunter Road. The community is invited to attend. Then coming up on Thursday, February 15, the League of Women Voters of the Mother Lode will host a Calaveras Candidates Forum at the San Andreas Town Hall at 24 Church Hill Road. It will start at 6 pm. In addition to the District One candidates, it will also feature the District Two race, and candidates Autumn Andahl, Sheryl McKeown-Harper, Michelle Turner, and Trevor Wittke. The forum is also open to the public. Tuolumne Sheriff Bill Pooley speaks to TC Board of Supervisors View Photo Sonora, CA The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors voted to send a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission to oppose AT&Ts request to no longer be a Carrier of Last Resort. We reported earlier that the designation comes with the requirement to provide landline phone service to its customer area across the state, including around the Mother Lode. AT&T cites that the copper lines are expensive to maintain and the utility would rather put the money into internet and cell infrastructure expansion. At todays board meeting, Sheriff Bill Pooley stated, We talk about public safety, and if AT&T is allowed to go down this road, and remove the copper lines, it could be devastating in the event of an emergency. As you well know, during fires and storms, we have had a number of cell towers go down. They are unreliable. Until they come up with, and demonstrate, that they have a reliable solution to this, I dont think they should be allowed to remove the copper wires. Office of Emergency Services Assistant Director Dore Bietz added that landlines are one of the layers that officials use to communicate with the public during emergencies. An estimated 12,000 people are signed up for Everbridge alerts to landline phone numbers. There was also talk about creating a local committee to look at solutions. Some of the supervisors also expressed concerns over the lack of communication AT&T provides when questions are raised about emergency response efforts. The board voted 4-0 to send a correspondence letter to the CPUC, noting that mobile service and broadband infrastructure are inadequate, there is low mobile phone adoption among the elderly population, and the proposed change creates significant risk during times of emergency. The public comment period will continue into next month and the CPUC will review the item later this year. Democrat Tom Suozzi wins New York race to succeed George Santos in Congress View Photo Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New York on Tuesday, coming out on top in a politically mixed suburban district in a victory that could lift his partys hopes heading into a fiercely contested presidential election later this year. Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip to take the seat that was left vacant when George Santos, also a Republican, was expelled from Congress. The victory marks a return to Washington for Suozzi, who represented the district for three terms before giving it up to run, unsuccessfully, for governor. Its unclear how long his next stint on Capitol Hill will last, as a redistricting process unfolds that could reshape the district. But for now the result narrows the already slim Republican majority in the House. And it provides Democrats a much-needed win in New York Citys Long Island suburbs, where the GOP showed surprising strength in recent elections. Suozzi stressed his campaign trail theme of bipartisan cooperation in a victory speech that was briefly interrupted by protestors criticizing his support of Israel. There are divisions in our country where people cant even talk to each other. All they can do is yell and scream at each other, he said, acknowledging the demonstrators. Thats not the answer to the problems we face in our country. The answer is to try and bring people together to try and find common ground. The way to make our country a better place is to try and find common ground. It is not easy to do. It is hard to do, Suozzi told supporters at his election night party in Woodbury. Suozzis win will likely reassure Democrats that they can perform well in suburban communities across the nation, which will be critical to the partys efforts to retake control of the U.S. House and reelect President Joe Biden. Still, forecasting for November could be complicated given that turnout, already expected to be low given the abbreviated race, was potentially hampered by a storm that dumped several inches of snow on the district on election day. Both campaigns offered voters free rides to the polls as plows cleared wet slush from the roads. In the short term, the result could be a factor in ultratight votes in the House, where Republicans hold just a 219-212 majority. In an example of how important one seat can be, House Republicans voted Tuesday night to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a single vote, punishing the Biden administration over its border policies. At a polling place on Long Island earlier in the day, 59-year-old Eliezer Sarrias said he cast a ballot for Suozzi because the former congressman appeared more able to work with the opposing party to reach agreements and end congressional gridlock. The constituents elect our officials to perform a certain job, and weve really had a very stagnant congressional year, Sarrias said after voting at a middle school in Levittown. Even with the migrants now, we had bipartisan deal in Congress and suddenly it evaporated, like, why? Do we really need to wait for another president to come, or arent the issues that are pressing to everyone important at the moment? On the campaign trail, Suozzi, a political centrist, leaned into some of the same issues that Republicans have used to bash Democrats, calling for tougher U.S. border policies and a rollback of New York laws that made it tougher for judges to detain criminal suspects awaiting trial. The unusual midwinter election became necessary after Santos was ousted by his colleagues in December, partway through his first term. Santos won office in what had been a reliably Democratic district partly by falsely portraying himself as an American success story a son of working class immigrants who made himself into a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker. But many elements of Santos life story were later exposed as fabrications, and he was indicted on multiple charges including allegations he stole money from Republican donors. He has pleaded not guilty. With no time for a primary before the special election, Democrats nominated Suozzi, a political centrist well known to voters in the district. Republican leaders turned to Pilip, a relatively unknown candidate with a unique personal backstory. Born in Ethiopia, she migrated to Israel as part of Operation Solomon and served in Israels defense forces before eventually moving to the U.S. and winning a seat in Nassau Countys legislature in 2021. Pilip conceded the race and said she congratulated Suozzi in a phone call Tuesday night. Yes we lost, but it doesnt mean we are going to end here, Pilip told supporters at her election watch party. Bidens campaign manager was quick to link the victory to the upcoming presidential race: Donald Trump lost again tonight. When Republicans run on Trumps extreme agenda even in a Republican-held seat voters reject them, Julie Chavez Rodriguez said. Trump responded to the result in a post on his social media site Truth Social, calling Pilip a very foolish woman who was running in a race where she didnt endorse me and tried to straddle the fence, when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America. The short campaign was dominated by issues abortion, immigration and crime that are expected to shape crucial suburban races nationwide in this years battle for control of Congress. Despite being an international migrant once herself, Pilip hammered Suozzi over an influx of asylum-seekers into New York City, accusing Democrats and Biden of failing to secure the U.S. southern border. In response, Suozzi spent much of the campaign talking about the need to strengthen border policy, pointing out times when he bucked his own party on the issue while in Congress. In the final stretch, Suozzi said he would support a temporary closure of the border to slow the number of arrivals, similar to comments that Biden has made. Suozzi counterattacked Pilip on abortion, saying she couldnt be trusted to protect abortion rights in places like New York where it remains legal. Pilip said she is personally against abortion but wouldnt force her beliefs others and would oppose any attempt by Congress to impose a nationwide ban. She has also said mifepristone, an abortion medication, should be available nationally. Both candidates expressed unwavering support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, even appearing side-by-side in an unusual joint event intended to convey solidarity. Democrats and Republicans will get a chance to fight over the congressional seat again in Novembers general election, though the battleground may look different. Thats because the states congressional districts are set to be redrawn again in the next few months because of a court order. Democrats, who dominate state government, are widely expected to try to craft more favorable lines for their candidates. New York is expected to play an outsize role in determining control of Congress this year, with competitive races in multiple contests in the suburban and exurban rings around New York City. ___ AP reporter Philip Marcelo in Levittown contributed. By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press Nikki Haley stumps in her small hometown of Bamberg ahead of South Carolinas GOP primary View Photo BAMBERG, S.C. (AP) Nikki Haley made a campaign stop Tuesday in her hometown of Bamberg, a reliably Democratic rural town that she has described as instrumental to the values that guide her presidential bid, as well as a place where she and her family experienced discrimination. Its always a great day in South Carolina when I can come home, Haley said to a crowd of several dozen gathered at a downtown park. Haleys hometown was her first stop as she barnstormed across the state in the closing days ahead of South Carolinas Feb. 24 primary, aiming to cut into Donald Trumps popularity in the state. The former president plans to hold a rally Wednesday in North Charleston; Haley, meanwhile, is heading to Texas later this week for fundraising and campaigning in the Super Tuesday state. Later Tuesday in the coastal town of Bluffton, Haley delivered some of her sharpened critiques of Trump to a crowd of several hundred, enumerating Republicans losses in elections since Trump won the 2016 contest and asking, How many more times do we have to lose until we start to say, well, hes the problem? Back in Bamberg, the citys mayor, Nancy Foster, introduced Haley, recalling the former governors parents as gracious and accommodating. Nikki, we want to extend a warm welcome home, Foster said, as Haley looked on, recalling a teenage Haley hosting her friends for ghost stories and card playing at her house, with all the girlfriends over, each one telling their secrets to one another. And you know, you cannot get them to divulge a thing today believe me, I have tried, Foster added, with a laugh. Bamberg County is unlikely to go into either Haley or Trumps win column for the general election. In 2020, area voters backed Joe Biden over Trump, with the Democrat marking nearly 62% of votes cast. The town is in the middle of the 6th Congressional District, represented for decades by the states sole House Democrat, Rep. Jim Clyburn. Earlier this year, the area was the scene of tornadoes that devastated Bambergs downtown, ripping roofs off buildings and dismantling exterior walls. A month after the storm, some of that destruction was visible behind Haley, who described a text conversation she had with her siblings about the damage to their hometown. This little town has been through so much, Haley said. But I also know this sweet little town is the town that raised me. This is the town that taught me strength. This is the town that taught me grace. In her memoirs and public appearances, Haley has often recounted experiencing discrimination during her childhood: bullying, comments about her ethnicity in school, being disqualified from a beauty pageant for being neither white nor Black. Her father, a professor at a historically Black university, was racially profiled at a farmers market. Haley has said she dealt with racism through bridge-building, writing in her 2012 memoir that this habit of finding the similarities and avoiding the differences became very natural to me over time. There were none of those references on Tuesday, as Foster welcomed Haley back home. Nikki, Bamberg is so very proud of you, and we wish you well in all your endeavors, Foster said Tuesday. You have come a long way. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP By MEG KINNARD Associated Press A suspected ghost caused chaos at Mberi Primary School in Zengeza yesterday morning, resulting in one child being injured in a stampede. The ghost, which they claim was in the form of a woman, scared students in Grade 4 Yellow to the point where lessons were disrupted and one student ended up being taken to a clinic. Parents and guardians gathered to collect their children, with one parent being arrested when police intervened. There should be something frightening our children at the school. They were disturbed after a shadow-like image, in the form of a woman, was spotted seated on the table forcing both the teacher and children to flee from the classroom. Nothing was seen after other teachers and students gathered to see where the shadowy figure was spotted. Nhasi vana vatizazve muclass iyoyo kusvikira headmaster Jena vadaidza vakuru vavo. We strongly suspect that one of the staff members dabbles in Satanism, said one parent. Officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are investigating the matter. When an H-Metro crew arrived at the school, district education officials, led by one only identified as Kureva, were leaving the premises. We came to collect information about the case and we are yet to compile a report and submit it to the authorities. I am not in a position to comment, it is best to check with the Ministry later after we submit our report, said Kureva. Meanwhile, one student spent some time in the headmasters office due to illness. This girl is not well. Aswera achingochema akagara ipapa. Mubereki akaramba kubhadhara mari yeinsurance. The insurance company helps us by taking ill students to the clinic, but we have parents who do not want such schemes, said Jena. HMetro. Breaking News via Email Zimbabwe war veterans accuse sacked minister of ignoring grievances The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) members have launched a scathing attack against the recently sacked Veterans of Liberation Struggle Affairs minister, Christopher Mutsvangwa, accusing him of obstructing their demands and displaying a haughty attitude towards their grievances. Speaking at a press conference held in Mutare, David Garwe, the ZNLWVA Manicaland chapter chairperson, expressed his disappointment with Mutsvangwas conduct. Flanked by prominent war veterans, including Mike Makiweni, the ZNLWVA national secretary for lands, and Tendai Matasva, the provincial secretary for lands, Garwe highlighted the associations concerns. We would like to put it on record that as war veterans, we do not celebrate nor cherish the demise of a colleague, more so a fellow war veteran but we feel greatly relieved when an obstacle to the realisation of our welfare goals is removed, Garwe stated firmly. Garwe emphasized that Mutsvangwa had proven to be an impediment in addressing the challenges faced by war veterans, callously disregarding their pleas. The dismissal of Mutsvangwa by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was met with jubilant celebrations from some of his war veteran colleagues. He was an obstacle and was even pompous. We can assure our colleagues that the way has been opened for us to escalate our welfare issues. The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association vehemently condemns any form of prejudice or discriminatory practice against war veterans, Garwe added. In light of Mutsvangwas departure from office, Garwe made a heartfelt plea to President Mnangagwa, urging him to appoint a war veterans minister who would genuinely prioritize their needs and concerns. The war veterans leader further pointed out that their removal from allocated lands and ongoing victimization had intensified. Garwe stressed that such actions violated Section 21, as well as Sections 23 and 84 of the Constitution, which explicitly demand the State and all government institutions to accord war veterans due respect. The developments surrounding Mutsvangwas dismissal have sparked intrigue and concern among the public, raising questions about the treatment of war veterans and their well-being. The Zimbabwean government now faces mounting pressure to address the grievances of these revered individuals who played a pivotal role in the countrys liberation struggle. Breaking News via Email Mbare motorist appears in court for assaulting City Parking employee Bruce Kumurai (28), a motorist from the Mbare suburb of Harare, has made a court appearance on assault charges after allegedly striking a City Parking employee with a stone on the forehead. The incident unfolded when Kumurais car was clamped by the employee, identified as Tafadzwa Kanyimo. Kumurai appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Ethel Chichera, who remanded him until today pending the submission of a medical affidavit for the injured employee. According to the States allegations, the incident occurred on Friday at approximately 3:40 pm near the intersection of First Street Mall and Nelson Mandela Avenue in Harares city center. Kanyimo, carrying out his duties, clamped a Honda Fit with registration number AFF 2777. In response, Kumurai removed the clamp from his vehicle and drove away. However, he returned a short while later, wielding a stone in his hand. Kumurai allegedly struck Kanyimo on the forehead with the stone and proceeded to punch him multiple times in the face. As a result of the assault, Kanyimo sustained a cut on his forehead and sought medical examination. He promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to Kumurais subsequent arrest. Breaking News via Email In a move to revamp its organizational structure, Zanu PF has initiated preparations for the upcoming District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections. The partys Secretary General, Dr Obert Mpofu, confirmed this development in an interview this morning, shedding light on the ongoing restructuring process after the expiration of the current members term last year. We have started the restructuring of our structures from cell to district level in preparation for the DCC elections because their term of office has expired. Before we conduct elections for the DCCs, we need to ensure that the cells, branches and districts are fully structured, Mpofu stated. According to Mpofu, the process has just commenced and is expected to be completed within the first quarter of this year. The National Political Commissar, Cde Mike Bimha, has already communicated these activities to the lower structures through the respective provinces. The dates for conducting the DCC elections will be announced as soon as we have sorted out the lower structures for a proper process to be conducted, he emphasised, emphasized Mpofu. Zanu PF, as Zimbabwes ruling party, recognizes the significance of engaging its members at all levels to foster unity, participation, and effective governance. The DCC elections present an opportunity for party members to elect representatives who will champion their concerns and aspirations within the partys decision-making forums. With the promise of an imminent announcement regarding the DCC election dates, Zanu PF remains focused on strengthening its foundation and ensuring a vibrant and representative party structure. Breaking News via Email PHNOM PENH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia logged one more case of mpox, also known as monkeypox, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 10 since last December, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Tuesday. "Laboratory results from the National Institute of Public Health showed on Monday that another man was positive for mpox, so the total confirmed cases of the disease in Cambodia have increased to 10," the ministry said. The patient, who lives in Phnom Penh's Dangkao district, has been undergoing proper treatment at a hospital. The ministry said the trend of mpox transmission in the Southeast Asian country is on the rise, renewing calls for people to be extra vigilant. It said mpox virus is transmitted from person to person through all forms of sexual contact with a person with mpox and through direct contact with wounds, body fluids, saliva, and equipment contaminated with the virus. It added that mpox can be passed from mother to child through an umbilical cord during or after birth if a pregnant woman has the disease. If I sound a little shaky this morning, its because this is heartfelt. Tennessee State University board of trustees vice chair Pam Martin was addressing a state Senate committee on Feb. 7. She asked the committee members to keep TSUs board alive another year or two rather than vacating it, as a recently filed bill aims to do. Last year, the historically Black universitys board of trustees was threatened with similar actions after a report from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury highlighted communication, finance and student-housing issues at TSU. The report also suggested potential policy actions such as reconfiguring the board or handing it to the Tennessee Board of Regents, but the TSU board had a year to address those findings. Now Republicans dont seem interested in giving its members any more time. [I] think we need a new board in place as soon as possible, Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) told the Scene ahead of the committee meeting. Because the board is slated to sunset this year, its structure would cease to exist unless the General Assembly takes legislative action. Two bills seek to allow Gov. Bill Lee to appoint a new board this year, or if that doesnt happen by June 30, allow the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to take it over if a board ceases to exist. The governor already has the power to appoint members to state university boards. State Rep. Harold Love (D-Nashville) is a TSU alumnus and represents the district in which the university is located. Though Love wants to see the board continue in its current iteration, he tells the Scene he has faith in the governor if Lee were to appoint new board members, noting that a certain number of board members must be alumni. Republicans Introduce Legislation to Vacate TSUs Board of Trustees Following ongoing financial issue, bills would vacate the schools board and turn control over to the state During the Feb. 7 committee meeting, Martin acknowledged that some things are not right, and we have been working very hard. As she argued her case to extend the current board, she told lawmakers that its members institutional knowledge is important to maintain. Responding to accountability-related requests from the state, Martin said the board has worked with a consulting firm and requested reports on housing, scholarship, staffing and enrollment data from TSU management all of which, she says, has resulted in a change in personnel, policies and procedures. According to Martin, TSU has also hired a facility management firm and established a customer service center. Martin says reconstituting the board would disrupt students, academics, faculty and donors as well as the boards search for a new president. TSUs current president, Glenda Glover, will retire at the end of the school year. Student trustee Shaun Wimberly Jr. testified alongside Martin. He reiterated that reconfiguring the board would negatively affect students. He told the Scene hes experienced some of the issues described at TSU, but added that it hasnt affected his academics, and that students in other colleges experience similar issues. He says the proposed changes add an air of uncertainty to student life. This is very hurtful, Wimberly said during the committee meeting. This is very destructive to not only the university but to the students. State Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) represents the district home to TSU. She points to a long history of the school being underfunded by the state. Recently, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack sent a letter to Gov. Lee noting that school has been shorted more than $2.1 billion over the past 30 years alone, more than any other historically Black college or university across the country. A 2021 study led by Tennessee lawmakers found that the state has shorted TSU at least $544 million between 1956 and 2006. The states other land-grant school, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, hasnt experienced underfunding like TSU but the state did reduce UTs board in 2018. In 2022, the state gave TSU $250 million to partially address the historic underfunding. Last week, Oliver urged her colleagues to wait and see the results of a forensic audit requested by lawmakers last year before moving forward with the legislation. I wont sit here and only see one side of the coin like my colleagues have done and ignore the effects that the chronic historical underfunding by the state has had on TSU, Oliver said during the committee meeting. I also wont deny that there are legitimate reasons why members are frustrated with university leadership. Two facts can be true. Federal appeals court rules Trump does not have immunity in election interference case the Dems will now try to put him in jail before November A federal appeals court has ruled that former President Donald Trump does not have presidential immunity from potential charges from President Joe Biden's Department of Justice over his alleged election interference in the aftermath of the 2020 election. In a unanimous decision handed down on Tuesday, Feb. 6, the three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Trump was not entitled to immunity and can be prosecuted on charges of election interference amid allegations that he attempted to overturn the supposed official results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump has for years claimed that he was immune from criminal charges in this specific instance because any acts he may have committed fell within his duties as president. "We cannot accept former President Trump's claim that a president has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power the recognition and implementation of election results," wrote the D.C. Appeals Court in its opinion. "For the purpose of this criminal case, Former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant," continued the judges. "But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as president no longer protects him against this prosecution." Imprisoning Trump could turn away enough voters to make sure Biden wins The Trump campaign has warned that without presidential immunity, "every future president who leaves office will be immediately indicted by the opposing party." According to fund manager Louis Navellier of the pro-free markets organization the Freeport Society, this may be the Democrats' plan all along. Navellier predicts the Democrats will likely try to jail Trump before November possibly as early as August. "The odds are becoming higher by the day that Donald Trump will land in jail. Not because I think he deserves to be there. I don't. But because the left is hellbent on sending him there," said Navellier. "And even though there's no law preventing a convicted felon from serving as president, my bet is that just enough Americans won't vote for Trump if he's sitting in jail, such that he won't be able to win." (Related: Assassination attempts ON THE RISE around the world and a target in the United States COULD BE NEXT.) "To a lot of people, the Democrats are using the justice system to wage 'legal warfare' on Trump," continued Navellier. "Sadly, I think it will work. I hope I'm wrong. But I'm just following the data to its logical conclusion." Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung noted in a statement that the former president will be appealing the D.C. court's decision. This could push Trump's presidential immunity case up to the Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a supermajority. Trump's legal team has until Monday, Feb. 12, to file an appeal. "Without complete immunity, a president of the United States would not be able to properly function," warned Cheung. Watch this clip from Fox News reporting on the Trump campaign team's next moves following the D.C. Appeals Court's rejection of his presidential immunity claim. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: TRANSCRIPT: Roger Stone joins Mike Adams with WARNING about Dems' plan to try to sabotage Trump's upcoming victory to save America. Martin from Armstrong Economic says THE FIX IS IN: Trump is going to PRISON (but can still win anyway). Globalist junta boasts about "damaging plans" being set up to block Trump from retaking his White House seat. Trump warns of "big trouble" if SCOTUS rules in favor of BALLOT BANS against him. Trump warns of ECONOMIC COLLAPSE worse than the 1929 Great Depression if he loses 2024 election. Sources include: Breitbart.com FT.com BBC.com TheFreeportSociety.com Brighteon.com Bidens cabinet and justice system are unconstitutionally aiding the INVASION of the United States International war journalist and former Green Beret Michael Yon appeared again on an episode of the " Health Ranger Report " to discuss with Brighteon founder Mike Adams the worsening migrant crisis in the United States. The combat correspondent and the Health Ranger discussed the roles of President Joe Biden's cabinet members, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as the Supreme Court in the current regime's strong drive to encourage illegal aliens' invasion of the country that could usher in a great civil war. Yon, who was in a remote location near the Panama Canal near the Darien Gap during the interview, vowed to go to Texas and see for himself the current happenings there. This was when Adams brought up the topic of Governor Gregg Abbott dodging the U.S. Supreme Court's order allowing federal agents to cut razor wire that the Texas National Guard installed on the U.S.-Mexico border. "The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Texas to allow this ongoing invasion, which is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal. It's treason," Adams opened the discussion, mentioning Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton essentially telling the SCOTUS to "go pound sand" because the state is re-erecting the razor wire fences. (Related: Texas AG Paxton SUES Bidens DHS for cutting razor wire barriers that block ILLEGALS from entering the U.S.) The independent pundit agreed and mentioned that the U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte is set to meet with one of the justices who approved the federal intervention on the wire fences, Sonia Sotomayor, at the embassy in Panama. "They are both sellouts," he said. "They're both aiding and abetting the invasion of the United States. And they need to be fired and imprisoned, actually because treason is treason." As for Abbott, Yon said he needs to see with his own eyes that he is really closing the border because in the past, the governor "played games." "Until he proves himself and not just throwing some wire down, then he's just still wearing the world economic forum uniform. He needs to close the border and make Mexico hurt. And he can do that -- it's within his power. He can do it because the state roads, those Texas roads, he can shut. He can do inspections on the trucks and that sort of thing. It's been done before. I want to see real action," Yon challenged. The Health Ranger concurred citing that indeed, Abbott played a lot of "theater" before, where the cameras were pointed in one direction stopping the invasion and then 100 meters away, the illegal migrants are just streaming through. However, he lauded the Texas chief this time for holding his ground on the razor wire issue. "At least for the moment, we'll see how it goes," Adams said. The two also talked about how Blinken was involved in the deliberate funding of the invasion staging camps to overrun and overthrow the United States of America. "He wasn't just complicit, he is active. He wasn't just 'I'm in the same car with the guys who are robbing the bank.' He's one of the bank robbers," Yon analogized. He also mentioned Mayorkas being a board member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) before becoming DHS secretary. HIAS is reportedly one of the most significant sponsors and facilitators of the mass migrant invasion wave at the U.S. southern border by providing financial and logistics support. Yon further explained that Mayorkas was a migrant from Cuba and both of his parents were Jewish. "And now he's the secretary of Homeland Security, invading the United States. That's what we got from that migrant, the destruction of the United States. He's not a great advertisement for migration," he further pointed out. SCOTUS decision has instigated civil war Elsewhere in the interview, Adams brought up the talks about the secession of the state of Texas from the union and a lot of warnings about an impending civil war due to the Supreme Court's ruling on the U.S.-Mexico border issue. "I believe it's Article Four of the Constitution that says that the federal government must protect the states from invasion. It's explicitly stated," Adams stated. "And when the Supreme Court says, 'No, Texas you must allow an invasion. You can't stop it. You can't defend yourself from it.' It's very clear at that moment that the Supreme Court is engaged in treasonous acts of wartime invasion and open insurrection against the United States of America by allowing these enemy combatants." Yon then proceeded to discuss the demographics and the profile of the possible invaders that could bring havoc into the nation. "Most of the people coming in are from Venezuela, which has very close relationships with China, Russia and Iran. Iranians can fly into Venezuela and get a new passport. You can get a visa on arrival. And also, there's a lot of Hezbollah in Venezuela. And it has, if you look at all the terrorist groups in the world, they are probably the most dangerous in the world for the United States at this point, partly because they're so enabled, they're very smart and have a lot of money. There's a high chance Hezbollah is within one mile of me right now," he revealed. He also recalled that in 1994 an airplane with 22 people on board, who were mostly Jews, was blown up in Panama. A day after, there was another attack down in Argentina that killed more than 80 at a Jewish center. "And by the way, the mastermind of the attack in Panama in 1994 is believed to be a jihad guy who owns a bar right now in Venezuela," he added. The duo also estimated that there were at least five million invaders during the Biden administration who are ready to accept orders by foreign entities to activate and carry out sabotage and extermination but they can't give out actual numbers as they are not certain how many are actively coming on an actual mission. "And it's probably some large number from China, Syria and many other places, actually," Yon noted. InvasionUSA.news has more stories related to Biden's administration's "loose" border policies. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams featuring Michael Yon below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources for this article include: Brighteon.com APNews.com HIAS.org Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg blasted for targeting users of fake vaccine cards while letting actual criminals roam free Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg has been blasted for targeting New Yorkers who purchased fake vaccination cards , while letting actual criminals roam free. Writing for Law Enforcement Today, Matthew Holloway pointed out that Bragg, a Democrat, has reportedly been aggressive in charging individuals who bought fake Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination cards. The plaintiffs reportedly bought the documents from a New Jersey stripper. According to the New York Post, the DA had reportedly charged 16 individuals who purchased the fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. Fourteen of the 16 defendants entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges, but two moved for the charges to be dismissed. Fortunately, New York State Supreme Court Brendan Lantry sided with the two in a Jan. 30 ruling. The Republican magistrate of the Empire State's high court dismissed the charges for the two defendants, calling them "overkill." He also blasted the Manhattan DA for "cherry-picking" the individuals he prosecutes, adding that Bragg's office "routinely nearly daily [moves] to dismiss significantly more serious counts or entire indictments." This, Lantry added, sought to avoid harsher penalties for previously convicted felons or to avoid jeopardizing people's immigration status lining up with Bragg's stance as a "progressive" prosecutor. "These motions submitted by the people are made months or even years after the 45-day period has expired to dismiss counts of indictments such as sexual assaults, drug sales, robbery, burglary and other violent and non-violent serious felony offenses. To say now that such a motion is untimely is wholly inconsistent with the practice of the Office of the [Manhattan DA]," Lantry wrote in his ruling. "In Bragg's version of America, hoodlums who steal, rape and murder deserve the most leniency possible," wrote commentator Buck Sexton of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" fame. "But people who refused to go along with the moronic [vaccine] card tyranny deserve to have their lives ruined." (Related: NYC ends vaccine mandate for retail customers but not for employees.) Bragg's record as Manhattan DA nothing to brag about "Since taking office in 2022, Bragg has come under attack for not seeking prison time for various charges and downgrading felony charges in a slew of cases, including armed robbery and drug offenses," the Post pointed out. Aside from this, the Manhattan DA has also indicted former President Donald Trump on 34 counts with the real estate mogul pleading not guilty on all charges. Doug Cohen, a spokesman for Bragg, declined to address the Republican state justice's remarks. He nevertheless reiterated that major crimes in Manhattan were down five percent overall in 2023. Cohen also noted that during Bragg's first two years in office, shootings were down by 38 percent and homicides down by 24 percent. However, the DA's office did not seek any bail conditions for five illegal aliens who beat two officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). According to Holloway, Bragg even attempted to defend this decision claiming that it was based on evidence available at the time. "I watched the tape; despicable behavior, it sickened me and outraged me," the progressive prosecutor told the Daily Mail. "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 don't tolerate or accept assaults on police officers." Joseph Borelli, minority leader of the New York City Council, praised Lantry's decision to dismiss the charges. According to him, one of the defendants obtained the forged vaccination card to maintain her nursing school enrollment. She nevertheless got injected with the vaccine, rendering the card useless, the Republican alderman remarked. "This is what Bragg is: a clown," Borelli told the Post. "Imagine prosecuting a scared woman for this, even though she didn't even use the fake card while at the same time, letting violent [perpetrators] go. I'm glad [Lantry] called him out for the world to see." Head over to Biased.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip from Fox News that discusses Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's selective tough-on-crime stance. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Check out the worst NYC criminals who were repeatedly released by Manhattan DA Bragg while he focused on indicting Trump. Evidence mounts that DA Bragg's indictment of Trump is pure political persecution. Calls grow to deport migrants who attacked two police officers in New York City. Sources include: LawEnforcementToday.com NYPost.com Brighteon.com Roger Stone warns Democrats will do everything to try to stop Trumps imminent victory President Joe Biden's public approval rating has been steadily dropping. In January, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that only 38 percent of poll respondents have approved of his performance as president, down from 40 percent in December. Donald Trump, meanwhile, still basks in the warmth of people's trust and popularity. Conservatives are now worried that the libtards are going to do what they do best cheat and steal Trump's imminent victory. "Given that the popularity of Trump is surging back in the minds of people, they're walking away from the Democratic Party. How desperate are the Democrats looking right now, in terms of wanting to stop Trump because of his rising popularity?" host Mike Adams asked during a recent episode of the "Health Ranger Report" featuring renowned author and political operative Roger Stone. "A lot of people who are Democrats are saying 'we need Trump here, otherwise, we're going to lose our country.'" Stone thinks the liberals have increasingly become hysterical. "They patched together fabricated charges against Trump. First, his handling of confidential documents and his questioning of the outcome of the election, which of course he has an absolute First Amendment right to do," Stone said. He proceeded to bring up Biden's open border policy. "His administration is responsible for the migrant invasion that we're experiencing and the passage of this bipartisan border security bill would change nothing. A million illegals will continue to enter the country per year and yet the bill provides the funding to process them," Stone said. "The secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Biden's press spokeswoman claimed that the border is secure yet now suddenly, Biden says, it is not secure and the Republicans won't give me the tools to close it." Adams agreed with Stone's critical point, saying that Biden was the one who wanted unlimited illegal immigration. "The deal would have provided border funding for Ukraine and Israel, but no real solution to the border problem in the United States. And it's infuriating to the American people," the Health Ranger said. Democrats may try to assassinate Trump to stop him from winning The two continued tackling how the Democrats are going to perform their "shenanigans," apart from the already existing "migrant crisis" and many legal issues. "The Democrat establishment is the most horrendously dishonest, evil, insidious, lawless group of people that you could imagine on this planet. They've done things to you that are unimaginable," Adams commented. Stone noted that the Democrats are doing everything they can to stop Trump from winning. First, they are implying that the former POTUS is a danger to democracy. However, they're the ones trying to lock up the leading candidate, trying to keep his name off of the ballot, they have the intelligence agencies and the DHS work with social media outlets to censor anybody who adheres or espouses a narrative that's contrary to theirs. They are also using the 702 database to illegally collect information on Americans and conduct illegal warrantless surveillance on 178,000 Americans. "What could be more anti-democratic than that?" Stone asked. "The possibilities are endless. They could have another pandemic, which is used as an excuse to change the procedures for voting. They could have some false flag staged incident that's made to look like a terrorist attack on American soil that can then be used to justify, as it did in 911. There could be yet another war and then we resort to the War Powers Act. It is an excuse to change or delay the elections," he continued. "But what is worse is a possible assassination attempt on Trump." (Related: Globalist junta boasts about "damaging plans" being set up to block Trump from retaking his White House seat.) Visit Trump.news for more stories related to the former president's 2024 campaign. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams featuring Roger Stone below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Top 6 CLAIMS the fake news media and Democrats said would happen under Trump that are ALL happening under Biden. Democrat megadonors are trying to subvert the Republican Party by backing "Trojan horse" Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy tells Tucker Carlson. Democrats total disconnect from reality. Sources include: Reuters.com Brighteon.com DHS using taxpayer money to fund propaganda that vilifies conservatives President Joe Biden's left-leaning government has been supporting programs that "antagonize" conservatives . Worse, the administration funds these projects using money from the taxpayers' pockets. Morgan Zegers, founder and CEO of Young Americans Against Socialism, wrote on the non-profit Turning Point (TP) USA's website that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently awarded an activist organization $700,000 in taxpayer funds to create what it calls "counter-propaganda." Said grant was awarded to the University of Rhode Island's (URI) Media Education Lab through the "Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program," which funds organizations working to prevent "targeted violence and terrorism." As per URI's Media Education Lab, it would create "counter-propaganda" to address "propaganda and misinformation concerning topics including immigration, racial justice, the coronavirus and vaccination" and "build on top of concerns about so-called 'fake news' and 'cancel culture.'" Reportedly, the media lab paid individuals $250 each to write blog posts regarding "misinformation, disinformation," and "media literacy." Their writeups reportedly teach readers how to "discern" which are supposedly reputable news sources. In May 2023, a shocking report showed how TVTP awarded 80 grants amounting to $39,611,999 to various nonprofit organizations and universities. One of them worked to belittle conservative groups. According to TPUSA, the University of Dayton received $352,109 to create the "PREVENTS-OH" program, which, among other initiatives, hosts regular seminars to "advance the liberal operative agenda and to train audience members to participate in illicit actions meant to destabilize political movements." The grant application contained a graphic comparing TPUSA and other mainstream conservative organizations to extremist groups like the Base, described by Fox News as a "neo-Nazi paramilitary group," and the Daily Stormer, "a pro-Nazi publication." ?BREAKING: @TheMRC uncovers DHS 'Anti-Terrorism' Propaganda Program Used to Demonize Conservatives The federal government, using taxpayer funds, collaborated with universities and NGOs to DIRECTLY LINK Turning Point USA & other conservative organizations with Nazism & terrorist pic.twitter.com/Vl8POay5M2 Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) May 25, 2023 On Twitter, U.S. Senator for Missouri Josh Hawley shared the letter he wrote to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confronting the latter of the said "counter-propaganda" campaign under the guise of "educating" people and media literacy. "Your department has consistently weaponized the federal government to attack conservatives using taxpayer dollars," Hawley said in the letter. "First by colluding with private social media companies to censor conservative viewpoints and now by funding private actors to create affirmative propaganda to 'counter' conservatives." Hawley straightforwardly criticized DHS for the "outrageous use of federal funds and abuse of power," adding that the money should be clawed back immediately and that anyone involved in this scheme should be fired. He pointed out that the money was used to further Biden's political agenda. "Such an allegation would have been inconceivable four years ago. But you have consistently weaponized the department against conservatives through the creation of the Disinformation Governance Board and so-called Homeland Intelligence Experts Group," he added, naming John Brennan, James Clapper and the others who tried to cover up Hunter Biden's "laptop from Hell" story. Hawley also mentioned DHS' involvement in the Missouri v. Biden case, where it colluded with Big Tech to censor views on social media. He also asked DHS to provide some information by the end of January that includes: the number of grants that the department approved to private entities to create propaganda, names of those who participated in approving the grant and other similar entities that have received funding under the TVTP. Now DHS is paying - *paying* - leftist academics to create counter-propaganda on immigration, racial justice and COVID. This from the people who brought you the Disinformation Board. Another reason Mayorkas should be gone ? pic.twitter.com/TQGbRavh3S Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 17, 2024 Meanwhile, journalist Luke Rosiak also found that the grant was also used to "pay people to write blogs attacking former President Donald Trump." "We are all living in a darker, scarier, angrier, less hopeful country thanks to Mr. Trump's influence. Are we on the verge of civil war?" one post said, adding that Trump "was able to crawl into the safety of First Amendment protections." The Biden admin gave a terrorism grant to activists to create "socially beneficial... propaganda" to counteract "misinformation" about "racial justice" & "immigration" (subjective policy areas). They used it to pay people to write blogs attacking Trump.https://t.co/Hn6f53AUqS Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) January 17, 2024 Hawley wants to end DHS' liberal propaganda On Jan. 22, following his open letter to Mayorkas, Hawley introduced a new legislation titled "Ending DHS Funding for Liberal Propaganda Act." The said bill will prevent the DHS from awarding grant funds to organizations that promote discrimination against conservative points of view. According to the act, it will stop DHS grant funding from being shipped to entities that will use the funds for viewpoint discrimination, particularly against conservatives. It will also ensure that taxpayer dollars will not flow to programs that engage in partisan political advocacy or discriminate based on political affiliation. Also, it will bar DHS from distributing grants to entities that will use the funds to counter political narratives or views on issues such as the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), immigration and crime. (Related: DHS Secretary Mayorkas: Biden administration releasing over 85% of illegal immigrants directly into America.) Visit Propaganda.news to read more stories on how the Biden regime uses its power to promote leftist ideologies. Sources for this article include: HumanEvents.com TPUSA.com Hawley.Senate.gov DOJ accused of gross double standard in decision not to file criminal charges against Biden over mishandling of classified documents The Department of Justice is coming under fire for having a double standard when it comes to the topic of mishandling classified documents, taking a much softer stance on President Joe Biden than they did on former President Donald Trump. In their special counsel report, they concluded that Biden willfully retained and shared highly classified documents while he was a private citizen. This included sensitive information related to foreign and military policy in Afghanistan dating back to his time as a senator and vice president. He shared some of this information with a ghostwriter who worked with him on memoirs that were published in 2007 and 2017, reading some of the entries verbatim. Despite this finding and an acknowledgement that Biden was well aware that he was not allowed to keep classified handwritten notes in his home after leaving office, they decided against filing criminal charges. The report noted that if court proceedings against Biden were to take place, the 81-year-old would be viewed as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. They maintained that it would be hard to prove that Biden had malicious intent beyond a reasonable doubt given his forgetfulness and advanced age. Special counsel Robert Hur wrote that the presidents actions "present serious risks to national security, given the vulnerability of extraordinarily sensitive information to loss or compromise to America's adversaries." The report also noted that Biden had limited precision and recall in interviews. He was often unclear about when his term as vice president began and when his son Beau passed away. Hur said that it would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him of such a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness. His assessment seems pretty accurate, but the idea that the DoJ is using Bidens obviously deteriorating cognitive state as their excuse for not pressing charges against him feels political to many Americans. Legal analyst Jonathan Turley wrote on X: "The DOJ is defending the lack of criminal charges against Joe Biden while noting the difficulty of going to trial against a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." He added: .....Biden is found to have "willfully retained" documents but he is still viewed as too "sympathetic" person for a potential jury. Conversely, Trump was clearly viewed as neither sympathetic nor sufficiently old to warrant such consideration. Trump demands case against him for mishandling classified documents be dropped Trump, who is currently facing criminal prosecution for retaining classified material, expressed his outrage over the decision. The classified records were found at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and he has been accused of refusing to return them to the government. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in a probe by Special Counsel Jack Smith. In a statement, Trump said: THIS HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE A TWO-TIERED SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL SELECTIVE PROSECUTION! The Biden Documents Case is 100 times different and more severe than mine. Trumps GOP presidential rival, Nikki Haley, agreed that there was a glaring double standard while also taking the opportunity to point out both men are past their prime in a post on X. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump were reckless with classified documents. If Bidens defense is old age and forgetfulness, Trump can easily make the same claim. Trump should quickly hire Bidens lawyers. Trump is now demanding that they drop the case against him, telling Fox News Digital: Deranged Jack Smith should drop the case immediately against us. It is election interference I did absolutely nothing wrong. Sources for this article include: ThreadReaderApp.com FoxNews.com Emails show Facebook censored posts at Health Canadas request, proposed streamlining censorship Big Tech colludes to suppress speech in more places than just the US, although evidence of those particular, US-centric incidents, as they become revealed, takes all the spotlight. (Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) There are surely many countries where citizens will never know that something of the kind has happened to them that is, getting censored online by major social media at a governments behest but we now do know that Canada is not among those. Its well known. Emails that just surfaced provide evidence that Facebook censored (at the very least) three posts because the Canadian health agency asked the company to do it. The messages also show a Facebook eager to improve the way it and Health Canada work together to censor Canadians. Health Canada finally had to provide the documents two whole pages /s no less than 11 months into being asked to release them. The documents concern the countrys government specifically the Health Ministry asking Facebook to remove at least three posts published by users. Of course, this has to do with Covid. At this point, an alien visiting the Earth would think that there is and never has been, any other health issue of significance or urgency on this planet, ever. But whats interesting is that even as the pandemic became an abandoned global crisis as others, of other kinds, were developing and taking up most of the government and media attention, and resources as late as in June 2023, Health Canada was very reluctant to provide answers to MP Dan Albas questions about February 2021 Covid-related content censorship on Facebook. The three known instances of censorship collusion that happened at that time concern the Canadian authorities asking Facebook to remove users posts for disinformation about lifting a COVID restriction, RebelNews now writes. According to the emails, Facebook was not taking any chances. The company comprehensively reviled and likely smeared in the wake of the 2016 US election as some kind of a helper to the phantom meddlers eventually became as eager as it could be, to oblige. Anything. I wanted to quickly follow up to confirm that weve removed the posts youve flagged and we have added this to our list of false claims so we should be able to detect and remove in the future, was Facebooks response to an email from Chief of Social Media, Digital Communications Division at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada Maja Graham. And what a list that must be imagine all the censorship keywords Facebook appears to have been compiling and implementing for years. Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org Worlds forests are in better shape than many people realize Climate change alarmists are shouting from the rooftops that our planet is on the verge of plunging into a catastrophic collapse thanks to human activity, but once in a while, a voice of reason makes its way through all the noise. Case in point: a recent opinion piece in Bloomberg in which columnist David Fickling explains that the situation really isnt as dire as some people want us to believe when it comes to the state of the planet's forests. The piece, aptly titled The Worlds Forests Are Doing Much Better Than We Think," focuses on the fact that plenty of forests around the world are actually faring quite well. He notes that while the destruction of tropical forests attracts a lot of headlines, cooler climates are actually seeing great progress on this front. For example, Chinas forests have grown by 607,000 square kilometers since 1992, which is roughly equivalent to the size of Ukraine, while the EU has added woodlands equivalent to the size of Cambodia. Between India and the U.S., enough forests have been planted to cover Bangladesh. England now has broader forest coverage than it did at any time in the past 700 years since the Black Death, with 1.33 million hectares of woodland. The UK currently boasts three times the amount of forest it had when the 20th century began, Fickling notes. The trend he observed is backed up by data from the World Resources Institute, who reports that 130.9 million hectares of land added tree cover in the two decades leading to 2020, which amounts to an area bigger than Peru. A total of 36 countries have actually gained more tree cover than theyve lost during that time, including Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark, along with Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. They also note that some tree growth may not show up in studies that use satellite technology to detect trees as they must be at least 5 meters high to be visible. Deforestation continues in Amazon while forests grow elsewhere in the world Deforestation does continue to be a problem, particularly in the Amazon rainforest. As Europe enhanced its forest cover dramatically during the last two generations, the Amazon is believed to have lost as much as 20 percent of its mass. In Brazil alone, enough woodland has been eradicated since 1992 to counter all of the growth seen in the U.S., EU and China combined. Fickling notes that the recovery of polar and temperate forests might not be sufficient for offsetting global warming on their own, but he says the phenomenon does prove that it is possible to reverse the damage that deforestation is causing to some degree. He also notes that fossil fuels helped take some of the pressure off the demand for wood, writing: Indeed, in much of the world, it has been the rise of fossil fuels that turned the corner on deforestation almost a century ago, as industries turned to coal, oil and gas to produce heat and energy in place of wood. In other words, its not all doom and gloom, no matter how much the climate change crowd wants us to believe otherwise just like carbon dioxide isnt the enemy. It is important to acknowledge that forests are thriving in some parts of the world, even if deforestation remains a problem in places like the Amazon. Fickling writes: Still, we should celebrate our success in slowing a pattern of human deforestation thats been going on for nearly 100,000 years. Nothing about the damage we do to our planet is inevitable. With effort, it may even be reversible. Sources for this article include: ClimateDepot.com WRI.org Bloomberg.com SQUATTERS GALORE: Illegal migrants are now taking over homes of American host families: How many are coming? We knew nothing! A "woke" couple in Massachusetts recently signed up to house some of the illegal alien migrants who are pouring across the southern border. Their only problem is they have no idea how many are coming, where they are coming from, or how old they are. Watch below as the couple explains how a carload of four illegals was dropped off at their home within one hour of signing up to house the border invaders: It begins A woke couple in Massachusetts signed up to host illegal migrants in their home Within an hour, 4 illegals were dropped off at their doorstep by the state "I gotta get sheets on the beds! How many are coming? Where are they from? What are their ages? We knew pic.twitter.com/Zo53SZ5eNa End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 11, 2024 Reports indicate that shelters throughout the Boston area the couple above lives in Brookline, a posh suburb of Boston are at capacity and overflowing. This means the only other option is to either ship the illegals back south across the border to return to wherever they came from, or else Boston's millions of bleeding-heart leftists are going to have to adopt a few. "The family is lovely," said Jessica Stokes, the woman above, and wife to husband Colin, about their newly adopted illegals. "They are so appreciative. It has been wonderful." (Related: Right now, there are five globalist power brokers that are fighting one another for control over the West and the world at large who will win?) When bleeding hearts destroy America Prior to being shipped off to the Stokes abode, the four illegals who now live with Colin and Jessica were sleeping at Logan Airport. The Stokes say they are rich enough to support the illegals, but that they arrived too soon for Jessica to roll out the red carpet. "I was like, 'I have to get sheets on the beds,'" she laughed in ignorance. "How many people are coming? Where are they from? What ages? We really knew nothing." Colin agreed with his wife that the pleasure is theirs in hosting these illegals. "The need is so clearly overwhelming," he gushed. The four illegals in question, who did not want to appear on camera, journeyed from Chile to Texas before illegally hopping the border and making their way to Massachusetts, likely with the help of all those non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are funneling U.S. taxpayer dollars to help them get from south of the border into the United States. "It boggles the mind that there are so many hundreds of those stories and those people who are in such a stressful, traumatic transition," Colin added, making no mention of the stressful trauma that this never-ending flood of illegals is causing to American citizens and the economy at large. Just prior to the Stokes taking in the illegals, another nearby shelter in Roxbury reached capacity of 400 illegals in just one week. The next makeshift shelter will likely be erected at an office building in Boston's Seaport, though the facility in question is unfit for human occupation. "Having a site with no running water, no showers, to me, would be a non-starter," commented Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn. In Jessica's view, she and her husband are now fully immersed on the "front lines" of the migrant crisis, which she says is "incredible" in light of "how challenging it is." "Just the disfunction is really disheartening and I know that really well-intentioned people are working as hard as they can it's a state of emergency," she said. "But it is distressing to see the volume." The latest news about the illegal takeover of America can be found at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com CBSNews.com NaturalNews.com Putin claims America is hurting itself by refusing to expand trade relations with China Russian President Vladimir Putin recently claimed that America is only "hurting" itself by refusing to expand trade relations with China. Putin made this claim during his interview with Tucker Carlson, the video and full transcript of which were published on Thursday, Feb. 8 the same day Putin held a lengthy phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the massive trade volume between the two nations. "Do Chinese businesses have small presence in the United States? Yes. The political decisions are such that they are trying to limit the cooperation with China. It is to your own detriment, Mr. Tucker, that you are limiting cooperation with China," said Putin. "You are hurting yourself. It is a delicate matter and there are no silver bullet solutions." (Related: War between the U.S. and China over Taiwan could cost the global economy a staggering $10 TRILLION.) Putin noted the difference between American and European policies regarding trade with China. "The cooperation with China keeps increasing. The pace at which China's cooperation with Europe is growing is higher and greater than that of the growth of Chinese and Russian cooperation," he said. "Ask Europeans: Aren't they afraid? They might be, I do not know. But they are still trying to access China's market at all costs." Burgeoning China-Russia trade part of creating new multipolar world order On Thursday, Putin and Xi had a lengthy phone conversation on the eve of the Lunar New Year, during which they both rejected what they called U.S. interference in their domestic affairs and bragged about their close ties and burgeoning trade relations. In a briefing to journalists, Assistant to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy Yuri Ushakov provided details of the call between the two leaders. He noted that the two leaders once again spoke of creating a "multipolar, fairer world order" in the face of supposed U.S.-led efforts to contain Moscow and Beijing. He added that Putin and Xi will continue to have "close personal interaction," but there are no plans for state visits for the time being. Data from both nations notes that, since Moscow was cut off from many Western markets following the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, trade between Russia and China has blossomed. From January to November 2023, trade between the two nations hit $218.2 billion, according to data from Chinese customs. In 2023, Russia became China's top supplier of crude oil, leapfrogging over Saudi Arabia. This comes as both nations are currently set to press on with joint energy projects this year. Trade between both nations is also being increasingly done without the use of the American dollar. Ushakov claimed that around 90 percent of transactions between China and Russia were denominated in rubles or yuan. Chinese state media have called for Moscow and Beijing to "cultivate new momentum for cooperation" amid growing hostility from the United States. "The two sides should strengthen strategic cooperation, safeguard the national sovereignty, security and development interests of their respective countries and resolutely oppose external interference in their internal affairs," said Xi in a statement. Watch Tucker Carlson's full interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: China's central bank attempting to spark growth in 2024 by SLASHING banks' reserve requirements. Despite Biden claiming otherwise, majority of Americans still view China as the "GREATEST THREAT" to the U.S. Chinese stock market loses BILLIONS in days following crash of snowball derivatives. Russia rules the waves: While the West is suffering losses from maritime trade, Moscow's volume is increasing. Huge grain supply contract signed between Russia and China, shoring up China's food supply for years to come. Sources include: Breitbart.com TASS.com Reuters.com FT.com Brighteon.com Russia to teach young students how to build MILITARY DRONES as part of craft lessons Young Russian students will soon be learning about drone technology for military and industrial purposes as part of their craft lessons. Russian Senator Artem Sheikin announced that the lessons would include how to conduct terrain reconnaissance and ways to counter enemy unscrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). Russia's Deputy Education Minister Tatyana Vasilyeva also announced that students would spend more time studying technical drawing, a skill needed for work with blueprints. As early as July 2023, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense warned that Russian schoolchildren were being taught the basics of combat drones. (Related: Russia making progress toward goal of MASS PRODUCING combat drones to rival Ukraines Western-supplied drone fleet.) Drones have become a key weapon in Russia-Ukraine war In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have been having major successes as a column of 11 Russian tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed by the former's kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also celebrated the sinking of a 55 million ($69 million) Russian warship off Crimea in a strike just off the coast by sharing footage of the exact moment that the 184-foot warship was hit. The Black Sea missile ship Ivanovets was in Lake Donuzlav, a bay in the west of Crimea used for military vessels when it was attacked. The fate of the crew, who resisted the attack and shot at the drones, remains unknown. Neither the Russian Ministry of Defense nor the Navy have officially confirmed the strike. However, several pro-war military channels on Telegram have corroborated Ukrainian reports. The Military Informant Telegram channel reported that, as a result of a number of direct hits to the hull, "the Russian ship received damage that was incompatible with further movement - the Ivanovets tilted to the stern and sank." Another channel reported that the crew of the ship deserves credit because they "fought to the last." Reports also revealed that even after three hits on the ship, "you can see how rounds are being fired at the naval drone." The operation was led by Group 13 special forces of the Ukrainian GUR military intelligence agency. They are also believed to have launched at least nine drones from positions near the Black Sea port of Odesa. Once the strike is confirmed, the Ivanovets will be added to a long list of Russian naval warships that have been put out of commission by Ukraine's forces. The recent successes by Ukraine's military have allegedly left President Vladimir Putin "fuming." According to reports, Putin has reportedly told Russian soldiers about how he will "hit squares in Kyiv or in any other city" in revenge. Russian military's drone supplies will grow in 2024 In an interview on the Rossiya-24 TV, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said the supplies of drones, "first and foremost sea drones," to the Russian military in 2024 will grow. Manturov added that the Russian armed forces "are actively using them in many areas." He explained that the range of products is wide and includes heavy UAVs to first-person view (FPV) drones. When asked about the growth of military production in 2024, Manturov said this concerns both sea-unmanned systems and ground-based unmanned systems. This is also one of the important areas where Russia will be working together with the Defense Ministry and their industrial enterprises to build up both competencies and production volumes. Manturov said communication equipment that ensured tactical interaction in the field would also be produced in greater amounts. Additionally, the production of heavy and light armored vehicles, air defense systems and equipment for counter-battery warfare will expand. Find more stories like this at MilitaryTechnology.news. Watch the video below as the Kremlin and an RT (Russian television channel) spokesperson discuss how Russia can destroy America in one hour. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Iran, Russia finalize deal for purchase of advanced military aircraft. Russia: U.S.-made missile was used to SHOOT DOWN plane carrying Ukrainian POWs, killing all 74 passengers. BEYOND EVIL: At least 20 killed after Israeli tanks OPENED FIRE on Gazans waiting for aid. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk 1 DailyMail.co.uk 2 TASS.com Brighteon.com Roger Stone: Trump needs to run with someone who has the temperament and judgment of a to-be president definitely not Nikki Haley Former President Donald Trump has easily won the GOP primaries in major states, Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Now, people are curious as to who he'd pick as his running mate. Renowned and bestselling author Roger Stone quoted former President Richard Nixon who told him that choosing a running mate is not just about selecting someone who can help, but somebody who would not hurt you. "That may be somewhat cynical, but it's pretty good advice," Stone told Mike Adams in a recent episode of the "Health Ranger Report." "Trump needs someone who first and foremost has the experience, qualifications, temperament and judgment of a to-be president. They also have to commit to the America-first anti-globalist agenda. Those are the highest requirements." When considering the political aspect, the pundit added that Trump would need someone who doesn't upset his base of supporters, but allows him to reach out to a voter group where he can make gains. He needs to pick someone who's anti-war, wants to seal the border without any question, and someone who will not send billions more to Ukraine just to be stolen or wasted. "His running mate could be an African American, Hispanic or a woman. I think Trump's got a lot of great choices. He's the greatest showman of all time. He understands that this is a matter of great public interest. He's going to teach it right up until the moment he's made a decision," Stone said. The campaign expert thinks Trump has not made a decision yet. Both Adams and Stone agreed that the candidate should not be former United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. "Why is she still even in the race?" Adams wondered. Stone quipped: "She's being used to try to damage Trump. There are two possibilities. First, to continue to attack Trump to try to assist President Joe Biden. And who knows? Maybe she gets a cabinet position out of Biden or whoever the ultimate Democrat is. Second, she thinks she can force her way onto the ticket that Trump will say, 'Well, the way to bind up the divisions in the party is to take this neocon for vice president.'" Stone warned that Trump should have a "food taster" because Haley is completely duplicitous. "She looked at Trump in the eye and said, 'Mr. President, you are among our greatest presidents. If you run again, I'm not going to run.' But she still ran and that tells everything you need to know. Her word is no good and her worldview is the same as Lindsey Graham's. Bomb now ask questions later," he said about the senator's suggestion to exterminate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran. (Related: Matrixxx Grooove: Nikki Haleys presidential campaign is backed by Democratic DARK MONEY Brighteon.TV.) Stone: Trump will win comfortably in an honest election Stone is pretty confident that Trump will win comfortably if Democrats would not do anything to cheat and steal the presidential election. "He would win the popular vote nationally. Polls are a measure of a snapshot of time that it's the epicenter of time and things can change dramatically," he told Adams when asked about Trump's chances of winning the presidential seat. "They know that so if you have some staged terrorist attack on American soil, that could change things. But if this election were held at this moment, Trump would win every swing state by a margin slightly larger than the margin of error in all of these polls. He would sweep the popular vote as well. If we have a free, fair, honest, transparent election, Trump would win comfortably." He pointed out that despite Biden getting much of the votes in the Democratic primaries, like 97 percent in South Carolina, the overall turnout was extraordinarily anemic. "Nobody showed up to vote because there was no enthusiasm for the Biden candidacy." Also, Republicans are more prepared to tackle any situation that would endanger Trump's victory. They will be far more prepared both legally and technically to ferret out irregularities and anomalies on election night. "They're not going to get away with locking Republican observers out of the polling places and dumping a bunch of fake ballots like they did in Michigan," Stone said. Visit Trump.news for more stories related to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams featuring Roger Stone below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Nikki Haley asks for Secret Service protection following spike in THREATS. Trump: Haley donors will be PERMANENTLY BARRED from MAGA camp. Globalist junta boasts about "damaging plans" being set up to block Trump from retaking his White House seat. Sources include: Brighteon.com IranIntl.com CBSNews.com While Americans were distracted by the Super Bowl, Israel conducted a MASS BOMBING of Rafah in southern Gaza A so-called "hostage rescue" that Israel conveniently conducted in Rafah while braindead Americans were hypnotized by mostly-black, tights-wearing pigskin puppets dancing around a field with performances by Monarch mind-controlled "musical artists" interspersed with all-black commercials led to the annihilation of around 70 people. Dubbed the "Super Bowl Massacre," and described as a "night full of horror" by the New York Times, the bombing by Israel appears to be a prelude to a much larger mass genocide the Jewish ethnostate has planned next for the border city with Egypt, which has a population of around 1.3 million people. The bombing occurred about a day after President Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "not proceed" with his planned offensive against Rafah without first coming up with a safety plan to protect Palestinian civilians. It turns out that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) could not care less about Palestinian civilians at all as they proceeded to attack the city by both air and sea, almost like they wanted to kill as many innocents as possible. THEY BOMBED RAFAH DURING THE SUPERBOWL SO NO ONE WOULD NOTICE. THEY BOMBED RAFAH DURING THE SUPERBOWL SO NO ONE WOULD NOTICE. THEY BOMBED RAFAH DURING THE SUPERBOWL SO NO ONE WOULD NOTICE. THEY BOMBED RAFAH DURING THE SUPERBOWL SO NO ONE WOULD NOTICE. THIS IS A GENOCIDE navi ? | m/w tahti (@zeldanotlegend) February 12, 2024 ???? This was the state of a refugee camp in Rafah after The Super Bowl Massacre last night. Imagine being moved from here, there and everywhere to be a place you were told was a safe zone. Only to be woken up at 2am by the sound of missiles landing on you. Pure evil. pic.twitter.com/j5TFxJpPow Censored Men (@CensoredMen) February 12, 2024 (Related: The Israeli Knesset is trying to pass legislation that would result in prison time for Israelis who deny the Israeli government's official version of events on October 7.) Millions more Rafah civilians in Israel's crosshairs Israel claims the bombing was part of a campaign to rescue two hostages from a house in Rafah, located in the Shaboura neighborhood. Biden, meanwhile, is struggling to continue "supporting Israel" like he is expected to while also showing some display of compassion towards the innocent Palestinians whom Israel continues to indiscriminately slaughter with reckless abandon. Biden said he still has "unwavering" support for Israel's war, but in a statement acknowledged the incredible suffering of Palestinians amid all this Israeli violence. "The Palestinian people have also suffered unimaginable pain and loss," Biden said. "Too many of the over 27,000 Palestinians killed in this conflict have been innocent civilians ... including thousands of children." In speaking to Netanyahu just prior to the Super Bowl bombing of Rafah, Biden urged the prime minister to first produce a "credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there." Keep in mind that there are many refugees in Rafah from northern Gaza who were previously told by IDF to flee south for safety. After they did that, Israel proceeded to bomb the southern safety zones, claiming "self-defense" as usual. "Israel & the U.S. used the cover of the Super Bowl to launch an all out land, sea, and air massacre on the border town of Rafah, where Gaza refugees have been told to flee to for safety since the start of the assault months ago," tweeted an X account in a post that has since gone viral. North Gaza after the withdrawal of Zionist mercenaries from the city https://t.co/7XOi0dzhnG Ammar Hamdan (@Ammar_H_Hamdan) February 12, 2024 The latest news about Israel's genocide in Gaza can be found at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: DailyDot.com NaturalNews.com AlJazeera.com Bidens gaffes and repeated stumbles spur nervous talks about the 25TH Amendment and Kamala taking over President Joe Biden's public speaking errors and stumbling incidents have prompted rumors of the 25th Amendment being invoked and Vice President Kamala Harris taking over The 25th Amendment, which outlines presidential succession, gives the vice president and the executive cabinet power to remove the commander in chief from office via a majority vote in the event of the president being no longer fit for office. Biden recently set off alarm bells among Democrats and Republicans alike after a messy press conference. The briefing was convened in response to a report released by Department of Justice Special Prosecutor Robert Hur. Despite insisting that his memory is "fine," Biden mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the leader of Mexico a position that belongs to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Earlier, Biden also recounted talking to two long-dead European politicians about the Jan. 6, 2021 false-flag riot in the Capitol. The chief executive reportedly shared how he talked about the incident with Germany's Helmut Kohl and France's Francois Mitterand. Problem is, Kohl died in 2017 while Mitterand died in 1996. But the prospect of Harris becoming the chief executive is more alarming, according to the Daily Mail. A recent NBC News poll found that a combined 53 percent of respondents had a poor view of the vice president a seven percent increase over the past year. (Related: VP Kamala Harris says she is ready to be president HELL NO.) Breaking down the 53 percent of respondents who viewed Harris poorly, 42 percent said they espouse a "very negative" view while 11 percent said they hold a "somewhat negative" view. In contrast, only 28 percent of survey respondents had a positive view of the former California senator-turned-vice president. Days before the November 2020 election, 42 percent of voters viewed her positively. GOP personalities discuss prospect of Kamala becoming president Following Biden's gaffes, several personalities took to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the prospect of Harris becoming chief executive if Biden is deemed unable to continue under the 25th Amendment. "This president is not well; this is exactly why the 25th Amendment exists," said Rep. William Timmons (R-SC). "But even Democrats know: The only thing worse than a Biden presidency is a Harris presidency. Please pray for our nation." Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pointed out that the mainstream media's debate moderators "tried to shut him down" when he mentioned this. He added that the legacy media dismissed the possibility of a Harris presidency as a mere "conspiracy theory." "I said it last year, and I'll say it again: Biden won't be the Democratic nominee. Now it's just starting to get obvious," the entrepreneur wrote in an X post. "It's playing out exactly as predicted, and we're still in the early innings. Brace yourself for what's ahead: 2024 will be a wild ride." Back in August of last year, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley the lone challenger to former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination warned that the prospect of a Harris presidency "should send a chill up every American's spine." "We have to make sure we win this, because the thought of Harris being president should send a chill up every American's spine," she told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. "We have to make sure that we have a new generational leader that's going to bring in not only Republicans, but pull back the independents." Visit JoeBiden.news for more stories about the incumbent president's ability or lack thereof to perform his duties as chief executive. Watch this video about Joe Biden mistakenly calling Kamala Harris the president. This video is from the MannytendoWideAwakeShow channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Nikki Haley: Prospect of Kamala Harris presidency "sends chills down every American's spine." White House concerned about Biden's DECLINING mental state and Kamalas UNPOPULARITY. CLAIM: White House quietly pondering replacing Kamala Harris, fessing up about Joe Bidens mental decline. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Law.Cornell.edu TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com British green charity hilariously blames Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson for the slowdown in electric vehicle sales in the U.K. A British environmental charity has accused actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson of disrupting the country's phase-out of gas- and diesel-powered cars after he criticized electric vehicles (EVs) in an opinion piece. Atkinson, well-known for being the comedic mind behind the popular sitcom "Mr. Bean," published an op-ed in the Guardian in June 2023 wherein he discussed his reservations about the environmental impact of EVs. "Electric cars, of course, have zero exhaust emissions, which is a welcome development, particularly in respect of the air quality in city centers," wrote Atkinson, an auto expert, part-time auto journalist and early adopter of EVs. "But if you zoom out a bit and look at a bigger picture that includes the car's manufacture, the situation is very different." Atkinson criticized the use of lithium-ion batteries in EVs and pointed out that the "absurdly heavy" batteries, which have a limited lifespan of up to 10 years, are the main contributors to this environmental footprint. "In advance of the [United Nations'] COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, Volvo released figures claiming that greenhouse gas emissions during production of an electric car are nearly 70 percent higher than when manufacturing a petrol one," wrote Atkinson. "How so? The problem lies with the lithium-ion batteries fitted currently to nearly all-electric vehicles: they're absurdly heavy, huge amounts of energy are required to make them, and they are estimated to last only upwards of 10 years. It seems a perverse choice of hardware with which to lead the automobile's fight against the climate crisis." However, a representative from Green Alliance, a charity and independent think tank that researches and recommends new environmental policy proposals, labeled the article "one of the most damaging articles" for the net zero cause and the widescale adoption of EVs. The group accused Atkinson of being a high-profile obstacle to the government's ambitious plans to phase out fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. (Related: Automaker bigwigs admit EV sales are in jeopardy.) In the letter addressed to the House of Lords environment and climate change committee, the Green Alliance insisted that the views of Atkinson in his article were misleading and had been "roundly debunked." Unfortunately, fact checks never reach the same breadth of audience as the original false claim, emphasizing the need to ensure high editorial standards around the net zero transition," claimed the Green Alliance. Atkinson proposes alternative solutions regarding EV adoption In September 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed that by 2030, there would be a ban on sales of new petrol cars. However, as people face difficulties in swapping to EVs, he said in his recent statement that he will delay the ban until 2035. The House of Lords slammed Sunak in its 128-page report for his pessimistic approach to EVs. "The government must do more to convey a positive vision of the EV transition. Faced with conflicting claims and alarmist headlines, consumers need a go-to source of comprehensive, clear and balanced information so they can make informed decisions about their vehicles," said the upper house of the U.K. parliament. But then, Sunak's statement somehow supported the proposed alternative solutions from Atkinson. "Im feeling that our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end, and that's no bad thing: we're realizing that a wider range of options needs to be explored if were going to properly address the very serious environmental problems that our use of the motor car has created. "We should keep developing hydrogen, as well as synthetic fuels to save the scrapping of older cars, which still have so much to give, while simultaneously promoting a quite different business model for the car industry, in which we keep our new vehicles for longer, acknowledging their amazing but overlooked longevity," Atkinson wrote. Learn more about electric cars and their manufacturers at RoboCars.news. Watch this clip from Newsmax as Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst talks about how President Joe Biden's push for electric vehicles is unrealistic. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EV COLLAPSE: Car dealerships are now rejecting EV deliveries due to low sales. Ford expected to announce HUGE losses in EV sales other automakers are bound to follow suit. Ford lowers prices of F-150 Lightning electric trucks by up to $10,000 as EV sales falter. EV COLLAPSE: Electric vehicle manufacturer Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy. Ford loses billions on electric vehicles, reduces its EV production target. Sources include: RT.com TheGuardian.com ThisIsMoney.co.uk UK.Finance.Yahoo.com Brighteon.com Panicked EU may impose TRAVEL BAN on Tucker Carlson following his journalistic interview with Russian leader Putin The European Union (EU) may impose a travel ban on American journalist Tucker Carlson following his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to Newsweek, EU officials are concerned about Carlson's interaction with the Russian leader. Thus, it has been proposed that the former Fox News host be barred entry into the bloc's member states. Two EU officials expressed criticism of Carlson. Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, currently a member of the European Parliament (MEP), stressed the EU's sanctions against individuals supporting Putin and labeled the Russian president a war criminal. Verhofstadt, who served as Brussels' chief Brexit negotiator, called for the EU's External Action Service (EEAS) which is responsible for the bloc's foreign policy to look at Carlson's case and potentially recommend sanctions. Any such sanctions would need approval from the European Council. The Belgian MEP wasn't alone in his calls for sanctions against Carlson. Former Spanish MEP Luis Garicano and Estonian MEP Urmas Paet also joined Verhofstadt. Garicano characterized Carlson as a propagandist for the Russian regime, while Paet suggested that Carlson's promotion of a "criminal regime" could lead to sanctions, including a travel ban to EU countries. The EEAS formulates sanctions targeting individuals and entities by evaluating whether they pose a threat to the EU's security, interests or fundamental values. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EEAS has implemented twelve packages of sanctions over the past two years. Such sanctions, which encompass travel bans and asset freezes, have targeted nearly 2,000 individuals and entities including banks, political parties and media organizations with ties to the Kremlin. However, the European Commission refuted the Newsweek report. It rejected any consideration of sanctions against the former Fox News host and co-founder of the Tucker Carlson Network (TCN). Musk: Tucker's interview with Putin WON'T BE CENSORED During the interview, Carlson discussed various geopolitical issued with the Russian leader. The said interview is now posted on X, with the platform's owner Elon Musk assuring that it won't be censored. (Related: Because we love the U.S.: Tucker Carlson says interviewing Putin is about informing Americans) The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX also expressed concern over the potential sanctions. He warned that a punishment on Tucker would be "disturbing" and predicted that it would "greatly offend the American public." Verhofstadt responded to Musk by emphasizing the challenges faced by real journalists in Russia. The Belgian MEP shared a picture of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested by Russian authorities and subsequently jailed. Carlson defended the interview in response to the potential sanctions, stating that its purpose was to inform Americans about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He alleged that English-language media had misled Americans, and he emphasized the importance of providing accurate information about the situation. Peter Stano, the EU's lead foreign affairs spokesman, also denied possible sanctions on Carlson. He remarked that there are presently no discussions within relevant EU bodies regarding the matter. Stano also clarified that the EU has authority to blacklist individuals with a "continued track record" of propagandizing and manipulating information to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Any sanctions including those on journalists must be proposed by EU member states, supported by evidence and require unanimous approval from all member states. As part of its comprehensive approach, the EU has specifically targeted media outlets supported by the Kremlin, such as Sputnik and Russia Today. These organizations face restrictions that prohibit them from broadcasting within EU territory. Head over to RussiaReport.news for more stories like this. Watch Tucker Carlson explain why he was hell bent on interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tucker Carlson launches new STREAMING PLATFORM to combat MSM propaganda. Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov: Tucker Carlson is a DEAD MAN WALKING. Transcript of Tucker Carlsons interview with Putin NOW RELEASED. Russia arrests WSJ reporter over alleged espionage charges. Sources include: RT.com Euractiv.com Brighteon.com House FAILS TO IMPEACH Mayorkas after 4 Republicans defected The House of Representatives' plan to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has failed as four Republicans voted "no" to the measure. ZeroHedge reported that the impeachment effort against Mayorkas at the lower chamber failed on Feb. 6 due to three GOP lawmakers voting alongside Democrats. The three GOP defectors were Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, California Rep. Tom McClintock and Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher. Another GOP lawmaker, Utah Rep. Blake Moore, flipped his "yea" vote to a "nay" in order to preserve the ability to bring motions to reconsider. Such motions can only be brought by someone who voted "no," ZeroHedge pointed out. In the articles of impeachment, Mayorkas was accused of demonstrating a "willful and systematic refusal to comply with the law" and "breaching the public trust." Under his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 10 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States. Democrats meanwhile suggested that Mayorkas' shortcomings were nothing more than disagreements over policy or performance failings, not impeachable crimes. (Related: Dear House GOP: Stop making excuses and impeach Alejandro Mayorkas immediately.) A day before the impeachment proceedings collapsed, the White House said on Feb 5. that doing so "would be an unprecedented and unconstitutional act of political retribution that would do nothing to solve the challenges our nation faces in securing the border." The White House also suggested that Mayorkas, who failed to secure the homeland, has been a great secretary. But Tennessee Rep. Mark Green begged to differ. According to the congressman from the Volunteer State, the homeland security secretary "is the very type of public official the Framers feared someone who would cast aside the laws passed by a co-equal branch of government, replacing those with his own preferences." Had the House succeeded in impeaching Mayorkas, he would have been the second cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached. Before this attempt, former Secretary of War William Belknap who served under the late former President Ulysses Grant was the first one. Buck defends his "no" vote In a Feb. 5 op-ed published in The Hill, Buck argued why he wouldn't vote in favor of impeaching Mayorkas which he did the following day. He wrote that while the secretary may be incompetent, his behavior wasn't impeachable. The congressman for the Centennial State also warned that doing so would set a bad precedent that would come back to bite the GOP in the future. "My House GOP colleagues are on the precipice of impeaching Mayorkas [for] completely failing in his job to secure the southern border. To be clear, [he] has completely failed at his job. He is incompetent, he is an embarrassment and he will most likely be remembered as the worst secretary of homeland security in the history of the U.S.," wrote Buck. "However, the Constitution is clear that impeachment is reserved for 'treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.' Maladministration or incompetence does not rise to what our Founders considered an impeachable offense." Buck added that Mayorkas' "failed policies and decisions clearly reflect the views and policies of President [Joe] Biden and his administration." He also noted that the secretary won't be convicted in a Democrat-led Senate. Moreover, "if Mayorkas were to be removed from office, it's likely that Biden would appoint another incompetent official who would carry out this same failed approach." The Colorado congressman ultimately warned: "Partisan impeachments that do not meet the constitutional standard will boomerang back and hurt Republicans in the future. I can envision a future Republican administration where a Democrat-led House uses this precedent to act against a Republican Cabinet member who isnt discharging their duties in a way that Democrats desire." ZeroHedge's Tyler Durden begged to differ, however. He decried Buck's weakness, remarking: "With friends like these, who needs enemies?" Head over to BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch Rep. John Breechen (R-OK) explains that the House's impeachment against Mayorkas is "about the rule of law." This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Group of House Republicans call for impeaching DHS chief Mayorkas over record illegal immigration, drug smuggling. House HSC Chair reveals proof of potential FRAUD committed by Secretary Mayorkas a gateway to impeachment. TRAITOR TO AMERICA: House will vote to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas ASAP, Speaker Johnson reveals. Republicans have a brand-new reason to impeach DHS chief Alejandro Mayorkas. House GOP to Mayorkas: RESIGN or be IMPEACHED. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com MSN.com TheHill.com Brighteon.com Humanitarian catastrophe looms as Israel wages mass assault on Rafah; tens of thousands of casualties expected There is nowhere left for Palestinian civilians to run as Israel has driven them all to Rafah in southern Gaza where they now await a full-scale offensive by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The city of formerly around 450,000 people is now home to around 1.3 million people, most of them refugees from northern Gaza, who took shelter there after Israel drove them all south toward Egypt. Israel previously said these Palestinians would be safe in southern Gaza, but now the IDF is readying to attack Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army to prepare to evacuate civilians from Rafah, but to where? Relocating 1.3 million people is a tall order in and of itself, not to mention the fact that Egypt, which borders Rafah, is not allowing them to enter its borders. Many of the 1.3 million civilian Palestinians now in Rafah are living in tents pushed up against both the border with Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The area is said to be home to four Hamas battalions that the Israeli military will target once it gains entry. Because of the massive scope of this operation, Netanyahu has ordered reserve soldiers in Israel to remobilize and aid in it execution, which Gaza's Hamas leaders say could result in "tens of thousands" of casualties throughout the city. (Related: Free speech is under attack in Israel as the Knesset approves legislation to imprison those who "deny" or "downplay" Israel's version of what happened on October 7.) Israel tells embattled Palestinian civilians to find safety, but there is none Speaking on behalf of Gazans, the office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the Israeli plan "threatens security and peace in the region and in the world," representing "a blatant violation of all red lines." The IDF, meanwhile, is dropping leaflets all over Rafah telling civilians in the area to relocate to safe locations, the irony being that there are none. An open-air concentration camp, Gaza is now surrounded on all sides by forces that do not want them, so at this point it would take a miracle to save them from Israeli aggression. Since there is nowhere left to flee to the south, or to the east, or to the north, or to the west, Rafah is likely to be ground zero for the total annihilation of all remaining Palestinian Gazans, assuming Israel succeeds in its military operation. "Any Israeli incursion in Rafah means massacres, means destruction," said Rezik Salah, 35, a resident of Gaza who fled his home with his wife and children early in the war. "People are filling every inch of the city and we have nowhere to go." Saudi Arabia is warning that any Israeli incursion in Rafah will have dire consequences, leading to a "humanitarian catastrophe" of massive proportions. The Arab state is calling on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to intervene. Storming and targeting Rafah, the kingdom further warned, will trigger "extremely dangerous repercussions," further affirming its "categorical rejection and strong condemnation of their forced deportation." "This continued violation of international law and international humanitarian law confirms the necessity of convening the Security Council urgently to prevent Israel from causing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe." Until an independent Palestinian state is "recognized" and Israeli forces completely leave Gaza, Saudi Arabia has said it will not establish any ties with Israel whatsoever. Though it has never recognized the Jewish ethnostate of Israel, Saudi Arabia had been considering it prior to October 7, but no longer. Israel cares not for innocent Palestinian lives, which are mere collateral damage in its war for the "holy land." Find out more at IsraelCollapse.com. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Operation Bubble Wrap: Jill Biden and several White House staffers SHIELDING Joe Biden from unscripted media interactions First Lady Jill Biden and other White House staffers have been shielding President Joe Biden from unscripted media interactions through the so-called "Operation Bubble Wrap." According to the New York Post, the operation aims to protect the oldest-ever president from potential stumbles and falls during his reelection campaign. It reportedly involves various measures, such as using a lower set of stairs for boarding Air Force One and employing flashlights and verbal warnings to guide the president in backstage settings. The 72-year-old first lady has become a noticeable presence during her husband's walks across the White House South Lawn, more so after Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur mentioned the president's poor memory. Jill's presence serves as a clear signal that no further impromptu questions will be entertained, in contrast with journalists managing to shout questions when the chief executive is alone. The 81-year-old president has held the fewest press conferences and formal interviews of any modern commander-in-chief for three years. He has only held three solo White House press conferences since taking office in January 2021 with the most recent one in November 2022. Jill has also taken on the role of stage manager at times, guiding her husband offstage at events where he hesitated or wandered in the wrong direction after making remarks. Other White House staffers have also taken extensive measures to prevent potentially embarrassing interactions. In one instance from January 2022, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki sat back down as the president continued to take questions only to bring the press conference to a close. Later in April of that year, then-White House Director of Message Planning Meghan Hays intervened during the White House Easter Egg Roll. Dressed in an Easter bunny costume, she blocked the president from answering a question and guided him away from journalists. Moreover, the White House Press Office has implemented a pre-screening process to select which reporters are allowed to attend large indoor events. This process, which obviously favors reporters aligned with the administration, was eased after a press corps protest in the summer of 2022. However, recent events show a return to these measures. Biden still shows lapses and verbal missteps in sparse interviews During a November 2022 White House press conference, the president announced that he would take questions from 10 pre-approved reporters but left after calling on only nine. The slip was accompanied by a factual error when he mistakenly referred to Russian troops withdrawing from the Iraqi city of Fallujah instead of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. (Related: Biden performing POORLY in multiple opinion polls.) Recent weeks have seen an uptick in such lapses, with the president mixing up the names of current foreign leaders with their deceased predecessors. In a Las Vegas speech, he claimed to have recently spoken with the late French President Francois Mitterrand who passed away in 1996. Another instance occurred in Manhattan, where Biden recalled discussing the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl who last held office in 1998 and passed away in 2017. Moreover, February has brought another episode when the president misidentified Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the "president of Mexico." In reality, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the current Mexican president. The last press conference of any size with the president was in November of last year during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. There was an instance during that summit where he appeared confused and mispronounced the name of the venue while standing alongside other world leaders. Visit JoeBiden.news for more stories about the incumbent president. Watch this Fox News report about Biden's dismal poll numbers, something NBC News has warned of. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Hunter Biden, other members of Biden family received MILLIONS from business associate linked to CCP. Hunter Biden implicated in a laundry list of corrupt overseas business practices as father Joe Biden intimately involved. China-linked University of Delaware Biden partnership was Hunters baby and part of the Biden Crime Familys wealth creation strategy. Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips: It's DELUSIONAL for anyone to think Biden can beat Trump in 2024. Joe Biden second most UNPOPULAR president in modern US history, just behind fellow Democrat Jimmy Carter. Sources include: NewYorkPost.com 1 Brighteon.com Major Trump donor also backing RFK Jr.s presidential run, FEC filings reveal A major donor for former President Donald Trump is also backing independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), filings with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) indicate. According to NTD TV, businessman Timothy Mellon gave more than $10 million to the American Values 2024 (AV2024) political action committee (PAC) between July and October 2023. That amount increased his total contribution up to about $15 million more than half of the money the PAC took in during that year. Mellon also gave $10 million to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) Inc. super-PAC between July and August 2023. Av2024 backs Kennedy's presidential run, while MAGA Inc. backs the former president. Donor records maintained by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit OpenSecrets state that Mellon is a prominent Republican donor who has regularly made contributions to GOP groups such as the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund. Ahead of the 2020 election, he contributed $20 million to the America First Action super-PAC opposing incumbent President Joe Biden. In 2023, Mellon donated another $5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund and gave $2 million to Fair Courts America the latter a group opposing "progressive activists in the judiciary." Aside from Mellon, two others Gavin de Becker and Leila Centner were revealed to be major donors to RFK Jr.'s 2024 campaign. Back in October 2023, de Becker donated $5.5 million to AV2024, bringing his total 2023 contribution to the PAC to $10 million. Support from the major donor and head of the private security firm Gavin de Becker & Associates (GDBA) accounts for 35 percent of the AV2024's annual fundraising. Financial records also reveal that the Kennedy campaign paid more than $1.4 million to GDBA for security services in 2023. It has previously said that security is one of its significant expenses due to repeated incidents concerning RFK Jr.'s safety. The late President John F. Kennedy and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy the independent candidate's uncle and father, respectively were assassinated in the 1960s. Kennedy giving Trump, Biden a run for their money Centner, the final donor to RFK Jr.'s campaign, indicated that she is "not employed" in her FEC filing. However, the website of the Miami-based private school Centner Academy lists her as the CEO and co-founder. Donor records from OpenSecrets also revealed that Centner is a major GOP donor and has given gifts of more than $100,000 to the Republican National Committee. Her largest contribution went to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign for the 2022 midterm elections. She has contributed to Trump's campaign as well. NTD TV's report about the three major Kennedy donors followed AV2024 and Team Kennedy his principal campaign committee reporting their 2023 fundraising activities to the FEC. Both PACs brought in about $50.4 million in 2024 and spent about $30.6 million, ending 2023 with $23 million cash on hand. (Related: RFK Jr. to name his running mate "fairly soon.") According to the FEC, a hybrid PAC such as AV2024 can solicit and accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other PACs. However, it must maintain two bank accounts one for independent spending on advertisements or voter drives, and another for making direct contributions to federal candidates. In 2024, Kennedy hopes to put together the most significant third-party run in decades. His campaign is working to get the candidate on the ballot in all 50 states. Head over to RFKJr.news for more stories about the independent presidential candidate. Watch RFK Jr. dub the border crisis an existential threat to the U.S. below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: RFK Jr. to push for government-guaranteed 3% mortgage if elected president. RFK Jr. vows to back the U.S. DOLLAR with BITCOIN if elected president. RFK Jr. blasts media as PROPAGANDA ORGANS for government agencies. RFK Jr.: Biden must APOLOGIZE to America, Ukraine for pushing "proxy war." Instagram lifts ban on RFK Jr.s account "because he is an active candidate for president" what if hes just an ordinary citizen? Sources include: NTD.com Brighteon.com TYRANNY: Online Safety ACT explicitly allows media to publish LIES as facts The newly passed Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom makes it a crime for the average Joe to publish "misinformation," as the government defines it, online but corporate-controlled media outlets likeand thecan publish whatever lies they wish without consequence. The spreading of "false information," as the legislation calls it, is now punishable by up to a year in prison unless it is done by Disney or Netflix, which the new law exempts from all of its provisions. Section 179 of the Online Safety Act states that a person is guilty of an offense if he or she "conveys information that the person knows to be false," and if the message is intended "to cause non-trivial psychological or physical harm to a likely audience." Then, in Section 180, it is stated that mainstream media outlets are exempt from Section 179's provisions. "An offence under section 179 cannot be committed by the holder of a license under the Broadcasting Act 1990 or 1996 in connection with anything done under the authority of the license," Section 180 reads. It further states that an offense cannot be committed by "the holder of a multiplex license in connection with anything done under the authority of the license," or "by the provider of an on-demand programme service in connection with anything done in the course of providing such a service." In other words, the big boys in media can never be held liable for anything they say, do, stream or publish. Average Joes and Janes in British society, conversely, including those who run independent media outlets or who merely share information on social media, are culpable of everything outlined in Section 179 and elsewhere in the Online Safety Act. "Welcome to the modern definition of 'freedom of speech,' where the MSM are directly and explicitly permitted to 'knowingly publish false information with intent to cause non-trivial harm,' and you can be sent to jail for a year for calling out their lies," reports Off Guardian. (Related: Check out our earlier coverage to learn more about how the Online Safety Act aims to criminalize all dissenting views.) U.S. Congress considering similar muzzle on independent free speech To those who would say that this serves the UK right for giving up its guns and losing the right to free speech, consider the fact that similar legislation is being drafted up in the United States. A new bill called the "Kids Online Safety Act" is under consideration by the Senate, with social media executives everywhere stating that they fully support its passage to protect children from the threat of "misinformation." As with many things in the U.S., this appeal to "protect the children" is a common tactic to rally public support for draconian measures that otherwise strip people of their freedoms and liberties. To not support such measures, we are told, puts children in harm's way. The European Union (EU) is also trying to ban free speech with something called the Digital Services Act, which is coming into effect later this month. At the recent Davos meeting in Switzerland, there was a lot of talk about the threat of "misinformation" and "disinformation," which led to this anti-free speech legislation taking hold. "Understand that the process is the punishment, regardless of the ultimate outcome," a commenter wrote when presented with the thought that the Online Safety Act's provisions may not be easily enforceable. "World governments learned this lesson from their Covid-19 censorship of free speech and freedom of assembly. They learned that they could get away with anything in the name of 'safety.'" The only thing the globalists have left to try to maintain their stranglehold over world affairs is to silence everyone through censorship. Find out more at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: Off-Guardian.org NaturalNews.com Now POLISH farmers block border crossings with Ukraine as they protest the EUs Green Deal policies Thousands of Polish farmers expressed their disgust and exasperation as they launched on Feb. 9 a month-long nationwide strike that has already staged blockades at 250 locations and sealed border crossings into Ukraine. The agriculture workers are protesting the European Union's (EU's) ideologically driven "Green Deal" policies and the flooding of European markets with agricultural products from international agro-holdings in Ukraine. Videos and images circulating on social media show long lines of tractors at several border crossings and highways around cities throughout the country. The nation's Polsat news channel reported that police in Warsaw issued traffic warnings for much of the nation, particularly at the Ukraine border. "Our patience has run out," the farmers said. Apart from the European Commission's stance on Ukrainian agricultural imports, the inaction of the Polish authorities and their declarations of cooperation with the European Commission, along with the Polish government's announcement to respect all decisions regarding the import of agricultural produce and food products from Ukraine, leave them no choice but to declare a massive uprising. "We ask our compatriots for understanding and awareness of the situation we all find ourselves in. We are fighting for our common good, which is to prevent the collapse and bankruptcy of Polish family farms, often multi-generational. Where possible, we ask to avoid travel in the affected areas," the farmers stated before the protest even started. Because of the strike, Polish politicians called on the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski to step down. "There is a man in Europe who united all European and Polish farmers against the reform he proposed. This is Janusz Wojciechowski. Resign!" said Deputy Prime Minister Wladys?aw Kosiniak-Kamysz. The leader of the former ruling Law and Justice (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who also proposed him for the position, likewise criticized the commissioner and said he would personally ask him to quit. In response, Wojciechowski told Polsat News that he had not answered or looked at his telephone. He also defended his record, saying that he was the only commissioner to have opposed imports from Ukraine. BREAKING: ????? Projectiles are now being fired at the European Parliament and Belgian police are responding with water canons as scenes turn ugly in Brussels.#AgriculteursEnColere #Bruxelles #BoerenProtest pic.twitter.com/NXcyd3SW3M Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 1, 2024 According to a Reuters report, the EU will need 1.5 trillion per year in investments to achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050, according to research supported by the European lawmakers. This week, the European Commission is expected to recommend that the EU reduce its net emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. It will also outline a massive increase in investments needed to set Europe on the path to achieving zero net emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, a separate organization of Polish farmers earlier blocked a key border crossing with Ukraine, but the protest was suspended on Jan. 6 after the new left-liberal government agreed to its demands. Italian and Spanish farmers follow suit On the other side of Europe, Italian and Spanish farmers are also taking part in ongoing protests against the EU agricultural policies. In Italy, a small convoy of tractors moved across Rome's historical center to the Colosseum on Friday morning, escorted by police patrols. The farm workers have been peacefully protesting outside of the Eternal City and across the country for days to express their discontent. Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni said that her government has already addressed some of the farmers' key requests. She stressed that she already earmarked an extra three billion euros from the Italian chunk of the EU's post-pandemic recovery funds, raising total resources dedicated to the agricultural sector to eight billion euros. At a roundtable with her ministers and some delegates of the main agricultural associations but without representatives of the protests, she also agreed to extend an income tax exemption for farmers in force since 2017, but only for low-income earners. Many Italian farmers, however, complain they don't feel represented by large sector associations. Later on Friday, a few protest representatives met separately with Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, but that move didn't stop a new convoy of hundreds of tractors from starting a procession on Romes main motorway ring road. Meanwhile, farmers in Spain also mounted their protest. Apart from EU policies, they maintained that a law aimed at guaranteeing that wholesale major supermarket buyers pay fair prices for their goods isn't being enforced while consumer prices soar. The demonstrations are expected to continue over the coming weeks with a major protest being organized in the capital for Feb. 21. Several Spanish media reports have linked many of the protests to conservative and hard-right groups. Police said that 20 people have been arrested during this week's demonstrations. (Related: Adapt 2030: David DuByne laments how FARMER PROTESTS in Europe arent being talked about Brighteon.TV.) Visit Revolt.news to read more stories on uprisings and protests against suppression and mismanagement. Sources for this article include: RMX.news Reuters.com ABSNews.go.com SC Justice Alito: Red states can also take Biden off the ballot if Trumps ballot ban in Colorado is upheld Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has revealed that Republican-controlled states could also remove President Joe Biden from their ballots if Colorado's decision to block former President Donald Trump stands. Back in December, the Colorado Supreme Court decided to deny Trump ballot access in the state's Republican primary due to his alleged participation in the events of Jan. 6, 2021 at the Capitol. The court argued that the incursion resulted in an insurrection incited by the former president, disqualifying Trump under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, also known as the "insurrection clause." This clause barred people who supported the Confederacy in the Civil War from holding office if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion. As a response, Trump appealed the Colorado decision to the federal Supreme Court on Jan. 4, which, two days later, confirmed that it would review the case. During the court session on Feb. 8, Alito questioned Attorney Jason Murray, the attorney representing the groups from Colorado seeking to bar Trump's name from appearing on the ballot. Alito posed a hypothetical scenario that involved a president providing funds to a country openly hostile to the United States. He questioned whether a state could argue that such an action constitutes aid and comfort to the enemy. "Suppose there is a country that proclaims again and again and again that the United States is its biggest enemy, and suppose that the president of the United States, for diplomatic reasons, think it is in the best interest of the United States to provide funds or release funds so that they can be used by that country, could a state determine that person has given aid and comfort to the enemy, and therefore, keep that person off of the ballot?" Alito asked. The hypothetical scenario referred to Biden's decision to lift the $6 million in sanction funds to be returned to Iran, a nation with known antagonistic intentions towards the U.S., last October. Subsequently, a massacre in Israel by Hamas occurred, and reports suggested that the attack had Iran's approval. However, Murray argued that it would not meet the criteria for insurrection. (Related: Bidens $6 billion ransom payment to Iran motivates Hamas to take more American hostages.) "This Court has never interpreted the aid and comfort language, which also is present in the treason clause," said Murray. "But commentators have suggested it's been rarely applied because treason prosecutions are so rare, but commentators have suggested that first of all, that aid and comfort really only applies in the context of a declared war, or at least an adversarial relationship where there is in fact a war between two countries." "And second, the intent standard would do a lot of work there because under Section 3, whatever the underlying conduct is engaging in insurrection or aid and comfort has to be done with the intent to further the unlawful purpose of the insurrection or or to aid the enemies in their pursuit of war against the United States," Murray continued. Chief Justice Roberts warns about the domino effect of disqualifying Trump on Colorado ballot Chief Justice John Roberts voiced similar concerns to those of Alito. Roberts stated the risk of a domino effect, predicting that other states could follow suit, disqualifying candidates based on varying standards of proof and rules about evidence. "If Colorados position is upheld, surely there will be disqualification proceedings on the other side, and some of those will succeed. It will come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election. Thats a pretty daunting consequence," warned Roberts. "In very quick order, I would expect... that a goodly number of states will say, whoever the Democratic candidate is, Youre off the ballot, and others for the Republican candidate, Youre off the ballot,'" the chief justice continued. Moreover, Roberts challenged Murray's argument that potentially frivolous applications of a constitutional provision should not hinder the Supreme Court from ruling in favor of Colorado. "You might think theyre frivolous, but the people who are bringing them may not think they are frivolous. Insurrection is a broad term," he said. Watch this video from Red Voice Media discussing and criticizing why the Biden regime is giving another $10 billion to Iran after the $6 billion ransom payment. This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden extends SANCTIONS WAIVER for Iran, giving Tehran access to $10 billion in frozen funds. Repeated attacks by Iranian-backed militants on U.S. troops in the Middle East increase tension between Washington and Tehran. WSJ: Iran helped Hamas plan its surprise attack on Israel, shortly after Biden handed them $6 billion. Defense officials warn: Iran could use Israel-Palestine chaos as an "opportunity" to attack American forces all over the Middle East. Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into World War III very quickly as Pentagon readies troops for deployment to the Middle East. Sources include: ThePostMillenial.com WesternJournal.com Brighteon.com The world woke up to a disconcerting revelation that Earth has potentially surpassed the crucial 1.5C warming limit, a benchmark set to measure the planet's safety from catastrophic climate impacts. This discovery, backed by meticulous research and temperature records dating back nearly two centuries, paints a grim picture of our environmental future. Scientists have long warned about the dire consequences of crossing this threshold - increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, irreversible damage to ecosystems, and heightened risks to human health and food security. Yet, it seems humanity has already stepped into this dangerous territory. Human-Caused Warming: A Closer Look The role of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions in global warming is undeniable. The extensive use of fossil fuels and deforestation are among the primary drivers accelerating this crisis. Despite international efforts to mitigate these effects, current measures have proven insufficient. One of the most alarming findings of the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, is that the global temperature rise has been underestimated by conventional methods. The researchers, led by Dr. Kaustubh Thirumalai from the University of Texas at Austin, used a novel approach to reconstruct the past climate using sea sponge skeletons. Sea sponges are marine animals that grow on the ocean floor and form calcium carbonate structures that record the temperature and salinity of the water. By analyzing these structures from different locations and depths, the researchers were able to reconstruct the sea-surface temperature records over 300 years. The results showed that the ocean warming has been much higher than previously thought, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The researchers estimated that the global average temperature has already exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, and may reach 2C by 2030. Also Read: Earth Orbital Changes Could Triggered Ancient Global Warming Event 56 Million Years Ago: Scientists Say The Implications of Crossing the 1.5C Mark The 1.5C limit was established by the Paris Agreement, a global pact signed by 195 countries in 2015 to combat climate change. The agreement aims to keep the global temperature rise well below 2C, and preferably limit it to 1.5C, to avoid the worst effects of climate change. However, the new study suggests that we have already crossed this critical point, and are on track to breach the 2C limit as well. This has serious implications for the future of our planet and its inhabitants. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body that assesses the science of climate change, exceeding the 1.5C limit will result in more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and storms. It will also cause irreversible changes to the natural systems that support life on Earth, such as coral reefs, glaciers, and rainforests. Furthermore, it will increase the threats to human health, food security, water availability, and social stability. The IPCC has also warned that the window of opportunity to limit the warming to 1.5C is rapidly closing, and that it would require unprecedented and rapid actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report urges governments, businesses, and individuals to take immediate and coordinated steps to transition to a low-carbon economy and adopt more sustainable lifestyles. The study by Dr. Thirumalai and his colleagues adds urgency to this call for action, as it reveals that the planet is already in a state of emergency. The researchers hope that their findings will motivate more people to join the fight against climate change, and to demand more accountability from their leaders. Related article: Global Warming vs Climate Change: What Scares You More? In the wake of escalating environmental concerns, England has emerged as a pioneer, introducing biodiversity rules that compel builders to offset the loss of nature incurred during construction. The innovative policy, known as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), mandates that all new road and house building projects must achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity or habitat. Nestled in the serene landscapes of Iford Estate Farm in East Sussex, one observes the first ripples of this transformative wave. The farm is one of five selected for a pilot project under BNG. Here, flooded fields mirror the skeletal silhouettes of trees - a testament to nature's resilience and adaptability. Biodiversity Net Gain: A Beacon of Hope BNG is a novel concept that aims to ensure that development does not come at the expense of nature, but rather enhances it. It requires developers to assess the current state of biodiversity on their site, and then design their project in a way that minimizes the impact on wildlife and habitats. They must also provide evidence that they have achieved a net gain in biodiversity, either by creating or improving natural features on site, or by funding conservation projects elsewhere. The idea is to create a win-win situation, where both people and nature benefit from development. Developers can gain a competitive edge by showcasing their environmental credentials, while communities can enjoy better access to green spaces and improved well-being. Biodiversity, in turn, can provide vital ecosystem services, such as pollination, flood protection, and carbon sequestration. BNG is not a new idea, but it has gained momentum in recent years, as the UK government has committed to reversing the decline of nature and restoring it to its former glory. In 2018, the government published its 25 Year Environment Plan, which set out a vision for a greener future, and pledged to make BNG mandatory for all major developments in England. In 2020, the Environment Bill was introduced to Parliament, which would enshrine BNG into law and establish a new watchdog to oversee its implementation. Also Read: Sewage Pollution Greatest Threat to River Biodiversity [Study] Balancing Act: Development and Conservation The introduction of BNG is not just a policy but signifies a paradigm shift in the approach towards urban development and environmental conservation. It underscores an intricate balance where progress does not pillage but nurtures - where every brick laid down for human shelter ensures that nature too finds its home. Observers and environmentalists alike have hailed this initiative as one of the world's most ambitious. It transcends traditional norms, weaving conservation into the very fabric of development. It also sets an example for other countries to follow, as the world faces a looming biodiversity crisis, with one million species at risk of extinction, according to a 2019 UN report. However, BNG is not without its challenges and limitations. Some critics have argued that it could create a loophole for developers to destroy irreplaceable habitats, such as ancient woodlands, as long as they compensate for it elsewhere. Others have questioned the feasibility and effectiveness of measuring and monitoring biodiversity, which is a complex and dynamic phenomenon. Moreover, BNG alone cannot address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as climate change, overconsumption, and population growth. Therefore, BNG should not be seen as a panacea, but rather as a part of a broader strategy to protect and restore nature. It should also be accompanied by rigorous standards, transparent reporting, and independent verification, to ensure that it delivers on its promise. Ultimately, BNG is not only a matter of policy, but also of culture and values. It requires a shift in mindset, from viewing nature as a commodity, to recognizing it as a partner and a source of inspiration. Related article: Singapore's Little Effort on Biodiversity Resulted Plant and Animal Extinction At 37% in the Past 200 Years Unseasonably warm weather impacted parts of Canada that brought significant concerns due to the melting of ice roads. Motorists should watch out for slippery roads and hazardous travel. Canada experienced the blast of extreme cold in winter, bringing cold-related health concerns and travel disruption. The snowy conditions became concerning due to impacts on people's outdoor plans. In this week's weather, the latest forecast showed that portions of Canada experienced unseasonably warmth, easing the colder air and favorable for outdoor travel. However, residents have to worry about the melting ice roads due to the warmer outlook. People with travel should always check the road conditions to prevent road dangers. Unseasonably Warm Weather in Canada In the latest forecast, Ontario is expected to experience a warm start in February. Warmer temperatures can spread over Vancouver, Toronto, Regina and Yellowknife. Last week, parts of Canada struggled against the sudden warmth. The weather conditions helped to have a break from the winter blasts. The warm spells caused melting ice roads in Manitoba and Ontario. In addition, climate change might have contributed to the warmer weather in Canada. Extreme weather events can unfold prolonged hot temperatures, drought, wildfires and lack of rain. However, the wintry conditions are expected to return, bringing the rebound of colder temperatures in northern Ontario. As a result, homeowners should always stay alert for changing weather conditions. However, the weather forecast showed Atlantic Canada could suffer from stormy conditions in the Northeast. People are advised to stay alert for Winter storm watches, especially in Nova Scotia. Nearby areas should watch out for strong winds, blizzard-like conditions and heavy snow. Power outages and inaccessible road conditions could occur due to the challenging weather in portions of Canada. Also Read: NWS Weather Forecast: Eastern Iowa, Lake Michigan To Expect Eastern Iowa, Lake Michigan Melting of Ice: How Can Canadians Stay Safe? Ice melt can occur anytime due to warmer temperatures and exacerbated by climate change. Because some roads are ice-covered, ice melt could lead to flooded roads and slippery commutes. People with travel plans in Canada should watch out for the weather before going out. Icy and freezing conditions can also cause travel dangers. Motorists should be extra careful while driving, and maintaining distance from other vehicles is important. In addition, homeowners should also avoid unimportant travel this week to avoid being stranded. Storing winter emergency kits should be at all times if ever you become disconnected. The recommended snow kits are the following: Winter clothes Battery-powered radio Flashlight Medicine kits and food supplies List of contact information Extra cash Related Article: Northeastern US Weather Forecast: Major Snowstorm to Bring Potential Travel Disruption, Colder Conditions For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Weather experts said Florida Panhandle to the Carolinas could be at risk for flooding downpours as well as for damaging thunderstorms. Forecasters said that a severe weather threat, which started over the weekend, would continue along the southeast coast through Monday evening. Severe Weather, Flash Floods They said that the severe weather from over the weekend had resulted in a large swath of downpours across Alabama, Georgia, the western Florida Panhandle and into the Carolinas. Due to the weather conditions, several flash flood warnings were in effect with reports of street as well as river flooding. The National Weather Service said that a new storm system would also be arriving from the Pacific Ocean for Wednesday and Thursday. This will bring in a new surge of moisture and areas of locally heavy precipitation. Further, this will include heavy rainfall for the coastal ranges of the Pacific Northwest and down into northern California. Locally a couple inches of rain can be expected by the residents in the area. Farther inland over the higher terrain of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and gradually the northern Rockies, this precipitation will fall as heavy snow. As much as one to two feet of new snow with isolated heavier amounts can also be expected going through Thursday. The remainder of the country going through the middle of the week will be rather dry and tranquil. Temperatures for large areas of the Midwest will continue to be above normal, with temperatures somewhat below normal for the Northeast and Intermountain West. There will be the beginning of a surge of at least modified Arctic air from Canada by late Wednesday and Thursday into the northern High Plains. This will set the stage for even colder temperature anomalies that are set to arrive by the latter part of the week. On the other hand, a strong northeastern will be rapidly pushing east and away from the Mid-Atlantic coast this morning and well out to sea by later today. Read Also: Winter Storm Bringing Heavy Snow Risk to Move from Mid-Mississippi Valley to US Northeast by Tuesday [NWS] Storm To Bring Snow The storm will continue to rapidly deepen and will promote areas of snow or rain changing to snow early this morning across south-central to eastern Pennsylvania, central and northern New Jersey, and southern New England. Weather experts said that the axis of heaviest snowfall is expected from eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, through northern New Jersey, far southeast New York, and southern New England. This will include the greater New York City metropolitan area. Some areas especially over southern New England are expected to see as much as six to 12 inches of snow, with lesser amounts of three to six inches elsewhere. Meanwhile, this heavy snow is expected to produce locally significant travel disruptions. Strong winds are expected on the back side of the departing low center, and this coupled with the heavy, wet snow may result in downed trees and power lines which will result in concerns for power outages. Some coastal flooding will also be possible today during high tide along the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts. Meanwhile, there will be a weak storm system crossing the central Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region on Wednesday and Thursday. Despite the relative lack of cold air for this system to work with, there will be a swath of locally a few inches of snow, with some rain closer to the track of the low pressure center. Related Article: Philadelphia, New York Weather Forecast: Heavy Snow To Hit This Week; Travel Disruption Possible Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, supporting millions of species and providing vital services for human well-being. However, they are also facing unprecedented threats from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and other human activities. One of the most visible and alarming signs of coral reef degradation is coral bleaching, a phenomenon that occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae that live in their tissues and provide them with energy and nutrients. Coral bleaching can be triggered by various stressors, such as high water temperatures, low salinity, or high light intensity. When corals bleach, they lose their vibrant colors and turn white, making them more susceptible to disease and mortality. But coral bleaching is not just a cosmetic issue; it also has profound implications for the entire reef ecosystem and beyond. In this article, we will explore two aspects of coral bleaching that are often overlooked: the release of organic compounds by bleached corals and the subsequent bacterial bloom that affects the water quality and the health of other marine organisms. The Unseen Impact of Coral Bleaching When corals bleach, they do not only lose their algae; they also release unique organic compounds into their surroundings. These compounds are not just byproducts; they are catalysts for opportunistic bacteria that thrive in these altered conditions. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research have discovered that compounds released during coral bleaching events promote bacterial growth, exacerbating stress on already vulnerable coral reefs. The researchers conducted their study in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, where they monitored the changes in the water chemistry and the microbial community before, during, and after a major bleaching event in 2016. They found that the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a measure of the organic matter in the water, increased significantly during the bleaching event, reaching levels that were 40% higher than normal. This increase in DOC was accompanied by a shift in the bacterial community, with a dominance of bacteria that are known to degrade organic matter and produce toxins. These bacteria also consumed more oxygen, creating hypoxic (low-oxygen) zones that can suffocate other marine life. The researchers concluded that the compounds released by bleached corals are not only a source of food for bacteria, but also a signal that triggers their growth and activity. They suggested that these compounds may act as infochemicals, chemical cues that convey information about the environment and influence the behavior of other organisms. In this case, the infochemicals may indicate that the corals are stressed and vulnerable, attracting bacteria that can exploit their weakened state. Also Read: One of the Most Vibrant Coral Reef Systems in the World Faces a Dangerous Threat A Closer Look at Bacterial Bloom The bacterial bloom that results from coral bleaching has both short-term and long-term impacts on the reef ecosystem and beyond. In the short term, the increased bacterial activity can intensify the stress on the corals, as the bacteria compete with them for oxygen and nutrients, produce harmful substances, and increase the risk of infection. The bacteria can also affect the health of other reef organisms, such as fishes, invertebrates, and algae, by altering the water quality, reducing the oxygen availability, and releasing toxins. Some of the toxins produced by the bacteria, such as cyanotoxins and saxitoxins, can also accumulate in the food chain and pose a threat to human health, especially through seafood consumption. In the long term, the bacterial bloom can have cascading effects on the reef ecosystem and the adjacent habitats, such as seagrass beds and mangroves. The bacteria can alter the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, affecting the nutrient availability and the primary productivity of the system. The bacteria can also influence the sedimentation and erosion processes, as they can enhance the aggregation and sinking of organic particles, or degrade the carbonate skeletons of the corals and other calcifying organisms. These changes can affect the structure and function of the reef, as well as its resilience and recovery potential. The research on the bacterial bloom induced by coral bleaching highlights the complexity and interconnectedness of the reef ecosystem, and the need for a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to understand and protect it. The research also underscores the urgency of addressing the root causes of coral bleaching, such as global warming and ocean acidification, as well as the local stressors, such as pollution and overfishing, that can exacerbate its effects. Coral reefs are not only beautiful and biodiverse; they are also essential for the well-being of millions of people around the world. Saving them from bleaching and its consequences is not only an ecological imperative, but also a moral and social responsibility. Related article: Ocean Acidification Don't Affect the Behavior of Coral Reef Fishes The cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador are home to some of the most diverse and fascinating wildlife on the planet. Among them are the eyelash vipers, a group of venomous snakes that are known for their striking colors and patterns, as well as their distinctive eyelash-like scales above their eyes. These vipers have long been considered a single highly variable species, with more than 20 different color morphs ranging from bright yellow to dark green. However, a recent study by a team of scientists from the Khamai Foundation has revealed that there are actually five distinct species of eyelash vipers, each with its own unique genetic and morphological characteristics. A Serendipitous Encounter The story of this discovery began with a serendipitous encounter in 2014, when one of the scientists, Dr. Omar Torres-Carvajal, was bitten by an eyelash viper while conducting fieldwork in Ecuador. The bite was not life-threatening, but it sparked his curiosity about the identity and diversity of these snakes. He decided to collect tissue samples from various eyelash vipers across Colombia and Ecuador, and analyze their DNA using molecular techniques. Dr. Torres-Carvajal also examined their morphology, such as scale counts, color patterns, and body size, using photographs and museum specimens. What he found was astonishing: the eyelash vipers he sampled belonged to five different evolutionary lineages, each of which diverged from a common ancestor more than 10 million years ago. These lineages corresponded to five distinct geographic regions, separated by major rivers, mountains, and valleys. Furthermore, each lineage had its own distinctive color patterns and morphological features, such as the shape and size of the head and the eyelashes. Dr. Torres-Carvajal and his colleagues concluded that these lineages represented five new species of eyelash vipers, which they named and described in a paper published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics. Also Read: Pit Vipers Use Cooperative Sensors To Hunt in the Dark, Physicists Find A Challenge to Previous Classifications The discovery of these new species challenges the previous classification of eyelash vipers, which was based on superficial similarities and assumed a high degree of variation within a single species. The new study shows that the variation in color and pattern is not random, but rather reflects the evolutionary history and adaptation of each species to its specific habitat and environment. For example, some species have more cryptic colors that blend in with the vegetation, while others have more conspicuous colors that warn potential predators of their venom. Some species have larger heads and longer fangs that allow them to prey on larger animals, while others have smaller heads and shorter fangs that are more suitable for smaller prey. The new study also highlights the importance of using multiple sources of evidence, such as DNA, morphology, and geography, to delimit and identify species, especially in groups that are highly variable and poorly studied. The authors hope that their work will inspire further research and conservation efforts on the eyelash vipers and other reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador, which are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world due to deforestation, climate change, and human activities. Related article: A New Species of a Venomous Pit Vipers Has Been Found in a Natural Reserve in China Chicago is known for many things: its iconic skyline, its deep-dish pizza, its bustling nightlife. But there is another aspect of the city that often goes unnoticed: its rich and diverse birdlife. From rare and colorful visitors like the red crossbills to majestic predators like the bald eagles, Chicago has become a destination for birdwatchers of all levels and interests. A Winter Haven for Rare Birds One of the reasons why Chicago attracts so many birds is its location along the Mississippi Flyway, a major migratory route that spans from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. During the winter, when many birds seek warmer climates, some species find refuge in the city's parks, forests, and wetlands. These include waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and finches. One of the most sought-after winter visitors is the red crossbill, a finch with a distinctive crossed bill that helps it extract seeds from pine cones. These birds are nomadic and unpredictable, following the availability of food rather than a fixed pattern. They can appear in large numbers in one year and be absent the next, making every sighting a rare and exciting event. John Leonard, a retired neuroscience professor and a lifelong birder, was lucky enough to spot a flock of 17 red crossbills at the Morton Arboretum in December 2023. He was part of a group of birdwatchers who participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count, a citizen science project that aims to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Americas. Leonard described the experience as "thrilling" and "unforgettable". He said he had only seen red crossbills once before, in Colorado, and never expected to see them in Chicago. He said the birds were very cooperative and allowed him to observe them closely and take photos. He said they were "beautiful" and "amazing". Also Read: Massive Bird Invasions Linked to Climate Shifts The Legacy of Birdwatching in Chicago Leonard is not alone in his passion for birds. Chicago has a long and rich history of birdwatching, dating back to the late 19th century, when naturalists like Robert Kennicott and Charles Cory founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Field Museum, respectively. These institutions became centers of ornithological research and education, as well as repositories of thousands of bird specimens from around the world. In the 20th century, Chicago saw the rise of influential birdwatchers like Joseph Grinnell, Margaret Morse Nice, and Roger Tory Peterson, who made significant contributions to the fields of ecology, behavior, and conservation. They also inspired generations of amateur birders, who formed clubs, societies, and networks to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. Today, Chicago boasts a vibrant and diverse birdwatching community, with dozens of organizations, events, and resources available for anyone interested in birds. From guided walks and field trips to lectures and workshops, there is something for everyone, regardless of age, background, or skill level. Some of the most popular venues for birdwatching include Montrose Point, Jackson Park, North Pond, and of course, the Morton Arboretum. Chicago is also home to some of the most innovative and impactful bird conservation initiatives in the country, such as the Lights Out program, which encourages buildings to reduce their nighttime illumination to prevent bird collisions, and the Bird-Friendly Design Ordinance, which sets standards for bird-safe architecture and landscaping. These efforts have helped make the city more hospitable and attractive for birds, as well as more aware and appreciative of their presence and value. Chicago may not be the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of birdwatching, but it is certainly one of the best. With its variety, beauty, and history, it offers a unique and rewarding experience for anyone who loves birds. As Leonard put it, "It's a birdwatcher's paradise". Related article: American Eagle Day: Fast Facts About The Bald Eagle The Norwegian military intelligence document highlights a significantly heightened threat environment for Norway. This was stated by the Head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Nils Andreas Stensnes, at a press conference. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link The gas emission from Nord Stream 2 observed by the Danish F-16 interceptor near Bornholm. (Picture source: Forsvaret) The Arctic emerges as a region of paramount importance for Russia, both for its natural resources and as a cornerstone of its nuclear deterrence strategy. Russia's ambitions to assert dominance in the Arctic are juxtaposed with its perception of vulnerability due to increased NATO activity and the strategic interests of other nations in the region. In response to NATO's enlargement, which Russia views as a reduction of its strategic buffer in the Baltic Sea, the importance of naval power in Russia's military strategy has been accentuated. The Northern and Baltic Fleets are crucial in showcasing Russia's military strength across the north, the Atlantic, and within the Baltic Sea region. This shift towards naval power projection is further underscored by the redeployment of land forces from the Kola Peninsula to the Ukrainian conflict, emphasizing the Northern Fleet's role in maintaining combat power near Norwegian borders and posing a significant threat to NATO's northern maritime flank. The document also highlights the Russian underwater reconnaissance program's capabilities in mapping, reconnaissance, and potential sabotage activities against civilian communication cables and underwater installations. This presents a considerable threat to the critical underwater infrastructure and energy sectors of Western countries and Norway. Moreover, the Russian naval exercise Ocean Shield, conducted in the Barents Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea, is indicative of Russia's strategic intent to demonstrate its forward-deployed capabilities, including submarines and surface vessels, in key strategic areas. The exercise reaffirms Russia's view of the High North and the Baltic Sea as a continuous strategic area, emphasizing the importance of the Bear Gap in Russia's bastion defense strategy. Who hasnt heard about Zero Trust? Undoubtedly one of the hottest buzzwords these days, and in this case the hype is well justified. We need a strategy to avoid being breached and to mitigate the impact in case you are. Zero Trust is that strategy for success, with its focus on something that can be controlled (protect surfaces) as opposed to a focus on ever-growing attack surfaces. Its no surprise that many organizations want to implement a Zero Trust cybersecurity strategy! The challenge, as with many drastic technology shifts, is that it can look a little overwhelming in the beginning. To make it simple, lets break the problem into smaller portions and start by focusing on two key surfaces to protect: your devices (or shared resources) and your applications (or shared workloads). Also, we can measure our progress more effectively if we break this into steps. The first step is identifying and authenticating all access to services. The second step is providing access to resources on a least-privilege principle (which limits access to users and only on a need-to-know basis). The last step is continuous monitoring of the network for Zero Trust access. HPE Aruba Networking What do we mean by Zero Trust? The term Zero Trust is often misused by the market, which has created significant confusion, so I should start by defining what I mean by it. Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy that can be applied to multiple domains. In the context of network and application security, Zero Trust relies on three main pillars: All access to services must be authenticated, authorized, and encrypted. Access to services should not depend on where you connect from. Access is subject to change at any point, thus continuous monitoring is required. How can HPE Aruba Networking help in your journey to Zero Trust? As mentioned, Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy, not a product or a feature. I cant tell you about a secret magic button to enable Zero Trust. What I can do is suggest a few steps that can help you in this journey. Identity feels like a natural first step, but dont worry about the order. Any progress is good progress! Identity If you havent done it already, you should start looking at setting up an identity provider to govern access to your applications and shared resources. This doesnt need to be a complex or costly project. Microsoft and Google have solid identity services they can offer as part of their productivity suite that will make this technology easily accessible. When doing so, make sure you enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). You can easily integrate your identity provider with HPE Aruba Networking SSE to regulate access to applications old and new (Zero Trust access to applications). Any application SaaS-ified with ZTNA will immediately be integrated with your companys single sign-on (SSO). Likewise, you can integrate HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass and/or Cloud Auth (a cloud-native NAC service delivered as part of HPE Aruba Networking Central) with your SSO to give users an extremely simple workflow to enroll their devices into the network (using Zero Trust to access the shared medium): If youre enrolling computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. youll just need a simple app that onboards corporate and BYOD devices in an uncomplicated, three-step process. From then on, network access will be authenticated against ClearPass or Cloud Auth and authorized against your SSO Identity Provider. If you have (wireless) devices where you cant use certificate-based authentication, you can also give your users a simple portal where they can generate a passphrase that uniquely identifies their devices. As with the more secure certificate-based authentication, network access will be authenticated against Cloud Auth and authorized against your SSO. Lastly, for those (wired) devices where you cant use certificates, passphrases, or anything like that, you can always resort to profile-based authorization by combining ClearPass or Cloud Auth with the native profiling capabilities of Centrals Client Insights. Devices will be automatically classified based on static characteristics such as the MAC OUI, DHCP fingerprint, or HTTP User-Agents, as well as more dynamic attributes such as applications, domains visited, and so on. Least-privilege access Ok, so youre now at a point where you have reasonably good control over who or what is connecting to the network (shared resources) and applications. Its time to talk about least-privilege access or, as we like to call it role-based access. Once again, well break this down into securing access to applications (primarily handled by SSE) and securing access to shared medium (the network) where device-to-device communication is still very relevant. With the HPE Aruba Networking SSE, you can control access to internal applications, SaaS, and even the Internet with a single identity-based policy. This doesnt necessarily require a large project or expensive hardware. You can start by giving external collaborators agentless remote access, then grow into your own users by deploying a light agent. This allows you to control and secure all the users traffic wherever they are. Finally, bring all your devices or IoT things into this single web and application policy by tunneling all Internet traffic from your offices through the Secure Web Gateway (SWG) that is part of SSE. Or you can start by evolving your SD-WAN or SD-Branch network towards a SASE architecture, secure Internet browsing with SWG, and then work your way into CASB (cloud access security broker) and ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access). The journey doesnt need to be the same for everyone. Just keep making progress! HPE Aruba Networking Figure 1 Single web and application security policy. And just like SSE helps with the implementation of a Zero Trust strategy to govern access to Application and web browsing, dynamic segmentation brings the concept of Zero Trust to the shared resource that is your corporate network. This need not be excessively complex. If your environment is relatively simple, a centralized SD-LAN (software defined local area network) with user-based tunnels and WLAN networks tunneled to a set of segmentation gateways (or SD-branch gateways if you also want them to be WAN-facing) will give you what you need (heres a short video going into a little more detail). By tunneling all your users and things to these security gateways, youre effectively (or virtually) plugging them directly into your unified threat management device. Each device is in a segment of one, and governing the communication between these devices is now as simple as whether a device in role A can talk to a device in role B over a certain application/protocol. HPE Aruba Networking Figure 2 Identity-based security centralized in a cluster of segmentation gateways. Continuous monitoring Were at the point where we have least-privilege access to our applications and between our devices. Were just one step away from Zero Trust. Just like weve been doing, well start with application access. First, the posture done by the security agent allows the SSE to react in real time to events impacting any device, automatically adjusting what a user can or cant do. But perhaps more importantly, the SSE is brokering all communications with internal and public apps, keeping a very accurate record of all traffic. Integrate the SSE with your SIEM for a very complete picture of how your applications are doing. HPE Aruba Networking Figure 3 Log all access to your applications. And just like SSE is logging all your application traffic, HPE Aruba Networking Central and gateways are monitoring all user and device activity for potential security threats. Dont forget that you have everything directly plugged into a UTM (Unified Threat Management) product. Any suspicious lateral movement will be immediately detected, and the necessary actions (block risky traffic, quarantine device, etc.) will be taken. All this should of course be logged into your SIEM to get a uniquely deep view of how your devices are behaving. HPE Aruba Networking Figure 4 Track all device traffic. Conclusion As part of this journey, weve covered a lot of concepts: identity management, network access control, SSE, dynamic segmentation, SIEM, and more. The good news is that many of these capabilities come delivered as a service and some are part of broader suites you already have. Identity may be part of your application suite, Cloud Auth is part of HPE Aruba Networking Central, SSE integrates a lot of components. And your SD-WAN Gateways can double themselves as SD-LAN gateways to provide dynamic segmentation and role-based access. The journey need not be as challenging as you were initially fearing. But whats most important, you dont need to do it all at once. One great thing about adopting a Zero Trust strategy is that every step you take will most likely be in the right direction. If you dont have any of the pieces, start with whichever seems most approachable and get some quick wins. If youve already started this journey or have some of the tools, try to look for synergies and integrations between them. And then keep going one little step at a time. Your organization will keep getting stronger and more resilient. If you want to learn more about how to easily implement a Zero Trust approach in your organization, please watch my video on Easy Zero Trust with HPE Aruba Networking. Bill Gates reveals 1997 incident that decided his life post-retirement New Delhi, Feb 11 Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has revealed that in 1997, when he read about children dying in various parts of the world due to diseases which were curable in the US, he realised what he wanted to do something beyond the company he founded. I had a long period from about age 18 to 40 where I was very monomaniacal. Microsoft was everything. I was lucky enough that as other people took over Microsoft, I got to go and read and learn about all the health challenges, why children die," said the Microsoft founder. He went on to start his charitable organisation called Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Our foundation has spent $53.8 billion since 2000, and we think thats helped our partners make a difference. The number of children who die each year before their fifth birthday. Its fallen by half since the year 2000. Millions more kids are surviving. That makes us optimistic, Gates wrote on their website. Last December, he said that if we make smart investments now, artificial intelligence (AI) can make the world a more equitable place, reducing or even eliminating the lag time between when the rich world gets an innovation and when the poor world does. In a blog post titled The road ahead reaches a turning point in 2024, the Microsoft Co-founder said that we can learn a lot from global health about how to make AI more equitable. The main lesson is that the product must be tailored to the people who will use it, he wrote. One of the biggest impacts so far is on creating new medicines. Drug discovery requires combing through massive amounts of data, and AI tools can speed up that process significantly. Some companies are already working on cancer drugs developed this way. But a key priority of the Gates Foundation in AI is ensuring these tools also address health issues that disproportionately affect the world's poorest, like AIDS, TB, and malaria, he stressed. (IANS - Posted on 12 February 2024) Bill Gates reveals 1997 incident that decided his life post-retirement Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Hyundai's accumulated sales set to reach 100 mn units in 2023 Seoul, Feb 12 South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor is widely anticipated to reach accumulated shipments of 100 million units this year since its first sales in 1968, the company said on Monday. Given that the company has set its annual sales target at 4.24 million units for this year, industry watchers predict that the company is poised to achieve a milestone by reaching cumulative sales of 100 million units in 2024, possibly by September. Hyundai initiated domestic automobile sales in 1968, followed by exports in 1976, reports Yonhap news agency. So far, the Avante compact was the most popular model with its cumulative sales reaching 15.1 million units, followed by the Accent subcompact with 9.95 million units and the Sonata sedan with 9.39 million units. Meanwhile, electric cars accounted for 9.3 per cent of newly purchased cars in South Korea last year, data showed on Monday, hovering above that of other major counterparts, including the United States and Japan. The electric vehicles (EVs) took up 162,507 of 1.74 million cars sold in South Korea in 2023, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The ratio marked a significant rise from just 1.9 percent tallied in 2019. (IANS - Posted on 12 February 2024) Hyundai's accumulated sales set to reach 100 mn units in 2023 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! WhatsApp working on 'favourite contacts filter' feature for web San Francisco, Feb 12 Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new 'favourite contacts filter' feature, allowing users to prioritise their conversations and offer greater control and efficiency in the messaging experience. According to the report, the new feature will allow users to choose their favourite contacts and let them manually add the ones they care about most, and easily access them through a dedicated filter. "By allowing users to mark specific contacts as favourites, WhatsApp enables them to prioritise key conversations, ensuring quick and easy access to those they frequently interact with," the report said, "The introduction of favourite contacts not only simplifies the process of reaching out to frequently contacted users but also adds a layer of customisation, allowing them to improve their messaging experience to suit their preferences," it added. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly preparing to allow third-party messaging apps on its platform, ahead of the European Unions Digital Markets Act (DMA) that will come into force in March. Dick Brouwer, an engineering director at WhatsApp, told Wired that the company is ready to offer interoperability on the platform with over 2 billion users. "Theres real tension between offering an easy way to offer this interoperability to third parties while at the same time preserving the WhatsApp privacy, security, and integrity bar. I think were pretty happy with where weve landed," he was quoted as saying in the report. (IANS - Posted on 12 February 2024) WhatsApp working on 'favourite contacts filter' feature for web Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Tigmanshu Dhulia to helm biopic on 'Mughal-e-Azam' maker K. Asif Lucknow, Feb 12 Finally, a biopic on K. Asif, the director and screen writer who helmed 'Mughal-e-Azam', the 1960 Hindi cinema classic, is on its way. Dhulia, 56, who was here to participate in a literary festival, said there are not many films or documentaries that talk about directors from that era at length. "Though I have been asked not to talk much about it, but a movie on him (Asif) is in the pipeline," said the director who has made acclaimed movies such as 'Paan Singh Tomar' and 'Haasil'. "If I make a movie, it will be a grand one. The subject will be big but not the actor," he said referring to the trend in recent movies. Explaining further, Tigmanshu Dhulia said, "K. Asif saw struggles. He studied only till Class 5 but eventually became a successful film director and producer. He made the film 'Mughal-e-Azam' in 12 years. He only made two-and-half movies in his lifetime but they were iconic." Dhulia, who is said to be also making a film on the Rebellion of 1857, added that biopics should not be made earlier than their time. "It is a big event of our composite culture," Dhulia said. "People from all faiths and communities rebelled together against the British. No one, though, has worked on the subject very well." On being asked whether he wanted to make a film on Awadh's Wajid Ali Shah, Dhulia noted, "His is not a success story but a tragedy as he was exiled in Metiabruz, Kolkata. He will be a part of the movie on the 1857 Rebellion." Dhulia also remembered his National School of Drama (NSD) mate Irrfan Khan and called him the greatest actor of all times. (IANS - Posted on 12 February 2024) Tigmanshu Dhulia to helm biopic on 'Mughal-e-Azam' maker K. Asif Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Nawazuddin Siddiqui wraps up filming of crime thriller 'Section 108' Mumbai, Feb 12 Nawazuddin Siddiqui has wrapped up the shoot of his upcoming film 'Section 108' with a cake-cutting ceremony alongside the entire crew. Nawazuddin plays an insurance claims lawyer, Tahoor Khan, brought in after a billionaire, essayed by Arbaaz, disappears. He is presumed to be dead by the court, but the insurance company required to pay the claims due to his family, believes it is a fraud. Cassandra will be seen in the role of Shikha Saxena, an executive of the insurance company. Additional details of the plot are being kept under wraps. With filming now completed, post-production work is expected to commence soon. The movie's title is presumably inspired by Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code, which relates to the abetment of crime. 'Section 108', according to its makers, promises to be a captivating cinematic experience, with Nawazuddin once again showcasing his versatile acting prowess alongside the talented ensemble cast. The movie also stars Aasif Khan, Rumi Khan, Saanand Verma, Alisshaa Ohri and Saharsh Kumar Shukla in pivotal roles. Nawazuddin last featured in Haddi. He now has 'Noorani Chehra' and 'Sangeen' in the pipeline. (IANS - Posted on 13 February 2024) Nawazuddin Siddiqui wraps up filming of crime thriller 'Section 108' Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Saira Banu remembers Dilip Kumar's close bond with Pran, says, Dilip Sahib always spoke very highly of Pran Sahab Mumbai, February 12 On the birth anniversary of the great actor Pran, veteran star Saira Banu warmly remembered his close association with her late husband, the iconic actor Dilip Kumar. She recalled what legendary actor Dilip Kumar used to say about him, "Dilip Sahib always spoke very highly of Pran Sahab and to which he stated that "RAM AUR SHYAM WAS COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Its work was a jolly experience for all of us. I was working with my friend Pran in Ram Aur Shyam and Aadmi at the same time. Pran and I were friends in the real sense of the term. We met at the work place and we met informally as often as we could either at his house or mine since we lived in the same locality: Bandra," she added. Saira continued, "At work, we were invariably pitted against each other - our characters were always caught in a conflict over something or the other. It used to be very amusing for onlookers to watch the change that would come over him when he faced the camera with me in the frame after all the friendliness and affection they had seen a while ago between us. Once again he and I (in Ram Aur Shyam) were pitted against each other. Recalling a few scenes between Dilip Kumar and Pran in 'Ram Aur Shyam', she added, "The highlight and most appreciated scenes in RAM AUR SHYAM were the merciless whipping of helpless RAM by his villainous brother In law in Gajendra in the early part of the film and later when SHYAM assumes the persona of RAM and returns the ordeal of the whipping multifold, the audience just loved it and lapped it up.." She shared, "We had enjoyed being together during the shooting of Bimal Roy's Madhumati in the forest location where almost everybody else spoke in Bengali while we conversed heartily in Punjabi. He loved the evenings we spent sitting around a bonfire reciting exquisite poetry. We had some wonderful times in Madras when we were shooting for Ram Aur Shyam and Aadmi. We had just completed Dil Diya Dard Liya and the joke on the sets in Madras was "Pran aap ka peecha hi nahin chodta". It was fine with me and fine with him because we liked each other's company and respected each other as artists." "Sahib's friendship with Pran Sahab goes way back in time, Tomorrow, I'll add some interesting anecdotes about the twosome," she concluded. https://www.instagram.com/p/C3PSDgmPAL6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Talking about the legendary actor Pran, he portrayed a wide range of characters, from romantic protagonists to supporting characters. The actor also exalted the character of the villain in the films, eventually becoming one of the era's prominent antagonists. Pran was born on February 12, 1920, in Lahore to a rich Punjabi Hindu family. He passed away on July 12, 2013. (ANI - Posted on 13 February 2024) Saira Banu remembers Dilip Kumar's close bond with Pran, says, Dilip Sahib always spoke very highly of Pran Sahab Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Shilpa Shetty pens letter to PM Modi over Ram Mandir's inauguration in Ayodhya Mumbai, February 13 Actor Shilpa Shetty recently penned down a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing gratitude to him for building the historic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Acknowledging Shilpa's gesture, the official X handle of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared the letter's image on social media. https://twitter.com/bjp4maharashtra/status/1757002651902820555?s=48 The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in the newly built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya was held on January 22, led by rituals that were performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While addressing the dignitaries invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, PM Modi said the unveiling of the Ram Lalla idol is not only a moment of triumph after a prolonged struggle but also one of humility. "This is not just a moment of celebration for us all but also one to reflect the coming of age of the Indian society. This occasion is as much about triumph as it is about humility. The world is replete with instances of countries that faced a lot of difficulties resolving historic wrongs and injustices. However, the way we untied the knots and resolved all outstanding issues gives us hope that our future is going to be more beautiful and fulfilling than our past," PM Modi said. The PM said that the construction of the temple, which some feared would set off a firestorm, now stands as a symbol of peace, patience, harmony and integration."There was also a time when some people used to say 'Ram Mandir bana toh aag lag jaegi' (the making of the Ram Temple would set off a firestorm). Such people lacked an understanding of the purity of our society, the spirit that binds us all. This majestic abode of Shri Ram Lalla will now stand as a symbol of peace, patience, mutual harmony and social unity. The construction of this temple did not set off a fire but exuded a positive energy that has been infectious for us all," he added. (ANI - Posted on 13 February 2024) Shilpa Shetty pens letter to PM Modi over Ram Mandir's inauguration in Ayodhya Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Champaign, IL (61820) Today Some flurries this morning. Then cloudy skies through the afternoon. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. The 'Lucerne Initiative for Functioning Health and Well-being' (LIFE) is seeking to improve health and well-being in the face of disease, injury and aging. To achieve this, it is raising awareness of the concept of 'functioning' developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a new way of understanding health in society and rooting it as an indicator of health. A conference on this is taking place this week at the University of Lucerne. Healthcare systems across the globe are facing huge challenges. Overcoming these requires a fundamental examination of the framework conditions for the healthcare systems of the future. This poses the question of how we can design our healthcare systems to ensure that they meet the needs of an aging population and people with chronic diseases as effectively as possible. Optimizing functioning is a primary focus for such people, both on an individual level and for society as a whole. The healthcare strategies that will enable this are health promotion and rehabilitation. Taking our 'lived health' into account Functioning is a concept developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that covers both the 'biological health' and the 'lived health' of human beings. Lived health relates to all everyday activities such as 'self-management' and mobility, as well as participation in all areas of life including family, work, leisure time and sport. Unlike biological health, lived health interacts with a person's social and physical environment, which can have a positive or negative impact. For example, an accessible environment may mean that a person with limited mobility is still able to participate in all areas of life. The WHO's concept of functioning is not yet widely known by the general public or in the health sciences. Furthermore, functioning is not yet rooted in the healthcare system as a measurement parameter for health, alongside morbidity (frequency of diseases in a social group) and mortality (frequency of deaths in a social group). New dimension for healthcare information systems The aim of LIFE is to make society aware of the concept of functioning and move from a two-dimensional healthcare information system to a three-dimensional one. This lays the foundations for reorienting the healthcare system to tap the potential of health promotion and rehabilitation. The University of Lucerne is thus seeking to make a key contribution to ensuring that the healthcare system of the future is effective, appropriate and viable. Scientific fundamentals The scientific fundamentals for implementing functioning as a third measurement parameter in healthcare information systems have been developed in recent years in conjunction with the WHO. One crucial element was a project under the National Research Programme 74 'Smarter Health Care', which enabled standardized recording of functioning data, for example as part of the national program for quality development in hospitals and clinics (ANQ). Another vital contribution came from the research team under Prof. Gerold Stucki, initially at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, and then since 2009 at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at the University of Lucerne and Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF) in Nottwil. The paradigm shift required in healthcare was set out by the initiative's directors, Prof. Gerold Stucki and Prof. Sara Rubinelli, together with other authors in their 2023 publication 'The Human Functioning Revolution'. First use of the concept for paraplegic research For the first time anywhere in the world, the WHO concept of functioning was used by Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF) in Nottwil as the basis for population studies in the field of spinal cord injury. An initial national population study was expanded to 42 countries in conjunction with the WHO. The results of these research endeavours form the foundations for making ongoing improvements to healthcare provision, and thus to the living conditions of people with spinal paralysis in Switzerland and around the world. LIFE Forum The initiative's first official event is the LIFE Forum on Rehabilitation, taking place at the University of Lucerne on 15 February. The forum is an opportunity for researchers, practicians and political decision-makers to come together and examine the WHO resolution to 'Strengthen Rehabilitation in Health Systems' and address what this means for Switzerland. February 2024 will also see the University of Lucerne hosting an international workshop in cooperation with the National Academy of Medicine in the USA, covering the topic of 'Aging, Functioning and Rehabilitation'. Lawmakers and regulators in Washington are starting to puzzle over how to regulate artificial intelligence in health care and the AI industry thinks there's a good chance they'll mess it up. "It's an incredibly daunting problem," said Bob Wachter, the chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California-San Francisco. "There's a risk we come in with guns blazing and overregulate." Already, AI's impact on health care is widespread. The Food and Drug Administration has approved some 692 AI products. Algorithms are helping to schedule patients, determine staffing levels in emergency rooms, and even transcribe and summarize clinical visits to save physicians' time. They're starting to help radiologists read MRIs and X-rays. Wachter said he sometimes informally consults a version of GPT-4, a large language model from the company OpenAI, for complex cases. The scope of AI's impact and the potential for future changes means government is already playing catch-up. "Policymakers are terribly behind the times," Michael Yang, senior managing partner at OMERS Ventures, a venture capital firm, said in an email. Yang's peers have made vast investments in the sector. Rock Health, a venture capital firm, says financiers have put nearly $28 billion into digital health firms specializing in artificial intelligence. One issue regulators are grappling with, Wachter said, is that, unlike drugs, which will have the same chemistry five years from now as they do today, AI changes over time. But governance is forming, with the White House and multiple health-focused agencies developing rules to ensure transparency and privacy. Congress is also flashing interest. The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing Feb. 8 on AI in health care. Along with regulation and legislation comes increased lobbying. CNBC counted a 185% surge in the number of organizations disclosing AI lobbying activities in 2023. The trade group TechNet has launched a $25 million initiative, including TV ad buys, to educate viewers on the benefits of artificial intelligence. "It is very hard to know how to smartly regulate AI since we are so early in the invention phase of the technology," Bob Kocher, a partner with venture capital firm Venrock who previously served in the Obama administration, said in an email. Kocher has spoken to senators about AI regulation. He emphasizes some of the difficulties the health care system will face in adopting the products. Doctors facing malpractice risks might be leery of using technology they don't understand to make clinical decisions. An analysis of Census Bureau data from January by the consultancy Capital Economics found 6.1% of health care businesses were planning to use AI in the next six months, roughly in the middle of the 14 sectors surveyed. Like any medical product, AI systems can pose risks to patients, sometimes in a novel way. One example: They may make things up. Wachter recalled a colleague, as a test, assigning OpenAI's GPT-3 to write a prior authorization letter to an insurer for a purposefully "wacky" prescription: a blood thinner to treat a patient's insomnia. But the AI "wrote a beautiful note," he said. The system so convincingly cited "recent literature" that Wachter's colleague briefly wondered whether she'd missed a new line of research. It turned out the chatbot had made it up. There's a risk of AI magnifying bias already present in the health care system. Historically, people of color have received less care than white patients. Studies show, for example, that Black patients with fractures are less likely to get pain medication than white ones. This bias might get set in stone when artificial intelligence is trained on that data and subsequently acts. Research into AI deployed by large insurers has confirmed that has happened. But the problem is more widespread. Wachter said UCSF tested a product to predict no-shows for clinical appointments. Patients who are deemed unlikely to show up for a visit are more likely to be double-booked. The test showed that people of color were more likely not to show. Whether or not the finding was accurate, "the ethical response is to ask, why is that, and is there something you can do," Wachter said. Hype aside, those risks will likely continue to grab attention over time. AI experts and FDA officials have emphasized the need for transparent algorithms, monitored over the long term by human beings regulators and outside researchers. AI products adapt and change as new data is incorporated. And scientists will develop new products. Policymakers will need to invest in new systems to track AI over time, said University of Chicago Provost Katherine Baicker, who testified at the Finance Committee hearing. "The biggest advance is something we haven't thought of yet," she said in an interview. The civil aviation ministry on Tuesday said flight restrictions have been imposed at the Mumbai airport to ease congestion, caused by various factors, including non-scheduled flight operations during peak hours. The airport is operated by the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL). In a detailed statement issued late on Tuesday, the ministry said the airport operator should have proactively taken steps to streamline and regulate the air traffic movements to address the congestion issue. However, since no such action was initiated by the airport operator, the ministry said it has had to step in. While Mumbai airport is running at its full capacity, the ministry said it was found that the persistent congestion was caused due to excessive slot distribution with limited time margins on behalf of the airport operator, non-adherence of the slots on behalf of the airlines and non-scheduled operations during peak hours. On January 2, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), being the air navigation service provider, issued directives to the airport operator to restrict air traffic movements during the HIRO (High-Intensity Runway Operations) period from 46 to 44 per hour. In the non-HIRO period, the air traffic movements were restricted to 42 from 44. HIRO periods are from 0800- 1100 hours, 1700-2000 hours and 2115-2315 hours. General aviation aircraft operations during the HIRO period have also been restricted. It is expected that MIAL should take immediate action to ensure that all airlines are on board with the prescribed restrictions, the statement said. The ministry noted that the action has been taken in larger public interest from the perspective of airspace safety, efficiency of operations and passenger satisfaction. According to the statement, Mumbai Airport suffers from congestion and excess capacity on its runways, which inadvertently leads to air space congestion, whereby flights are forced to hover over the city for a long duration of around 40-60 minutes. Considering that an aircraft on an average consumes 2,000 kg of fuel per hour, such long duration circling time, causes significant wastage of fuel for the aircraft ranging from 1.7 kilolitres of jet fuel (approximately costing around Rs 1.8 lakh) for 40 minutes circling time in air to around 2.5 kilolitres of jet fuel (approximately costing around Rs 2.6 lakh) for 60 minute circling time. It is to be understood that such an increase in fuel cost would eventually be borne by the consumers. This also has a cascading effect on the efficiency of airport operations leading to a longer wait time, inordinate delays, affecting both passengers and airlines adversely, the statement said. Further, the statement said the government realises that it needs to step in to strike a balance between the needs of both the airport operators and airlines while ensuring that passengers have a fulfilling experience while flying from Mumbai airport. Earlier in the day, Akasa Air said it would be cancelling four flights daily between Mumbai and Bengaluru, following government guidelines issued to reduce congestion at the Mumbai airport. A threat letter was found inside the lavatory of an Indigo flight operating from Chennai to Mumbai, on Tuesday. The note was found minutes before the plane landed in Mumbai. The letter which was written on a tissue paper, read, If you come to Mumbai, everyone will die. The Mumbai Police said that nothing suspicious was found in the plane. The cabin crew immediately alerted the captain who informed the Air Traffic Control about the incident, an airport official said. The entire plane and passengers were searched but nothing suspicious was found, he added. An FIR was registered against unknown persons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code including section 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and further investigation was underway, the official said. IndiGo flight 6E 5188 operating from Chennai to Mumbai had received a bomb threat post landing in Mumbai. All necessary protocols were followed and the aircraft was taken to a remote bay as per guidelines by airport security agencies, the airline said in a statement. (with PTI inputs) Gold Rate Today In India: As of February 13, 2024, fluctuations in gold prices were observed across different cities in India. The average rate for 10 grams remained around Rs 63,000. To provide a broader perspective, the average price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold was approximately Rs 62,840, while the corresponding amount for 22-carat gold stood at Rs 57,600. Also Read: Sovereign Gold Bond Issue Price Fixed, Opens Today, Check Details Here At the same time, the silver market displayed a consistent downward trend, reaching Rs 75,500 per kilogram. Gold rate today in India: Retail gold price on February 13 Gold Rate Today In Delhi In Delhi, people have to spend Rs 57,750 for 10 grams of 22-carat gold and Rs 62,990 for the same amount of 24-carat gold. Gold Price Today In Mumbai In Mumbai, 10 grams of 22-carat gold is currently priced at Rs 57,600, whereas the same amount of 24-carat gold is valued at Rs 62,840. Gold Rate Today In Chennai In Chennai, the price for 10 grams of 22-carat gold is Rs 58,100, and for the same amount of 24-carat gold, its Rs 63,380. Check gold rates today in different cities on February 13, 2024; (In Rs/10 grams) City 22 Carat Gold Price 24 Carat Gold Price Ahmedabad 57,650 62,890 Kolkata 57,600 62,840 Gurugram 57,750 62,990 Lucknow 57,750 62,990 Bengaluru 57,600 62,840 Jaipur 57,750 62,990 Patna 57,650 62,890 Bhubaneshwar 57,600 62,840 Hyderabad 57,600 62,840 Multi Commodity Exchange On February 13, 2024, the futures for gold set to expire on April 05 were actively traded at Rs 62,090 on the Multi Commodity Exchange. Furthermore, silver futures with a March 05, 2024, expiration date were quoted at Rs 71,049. The retail cost of gold in the country is the amount customers pay for it. This price is influenced by various factors, including the global gold price, the value of the Rupee, and the costs associated with labour and materials used in the production of gold jewellery. Gold is highly important in India because of its cultural significance, its value for investment, and its traditional role in weddings and festivals. 2024 Outlook: Rs 70,000 Per 10 Grams Gold Price According to the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), they have recently stated that prevailing global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions are expected to propel gold prices to a historic high of Rs 70,000 per 10 grams in the upcoming year. This trajectory underscores golds status as a dependable investment and a valuable hedge against inflation. On Monday, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said there was hardly any room to review the action taken against Paytm Payments Bank. He also said that RBI takes action against regulated entities only after a comprehensive assessment. While emphasising that RBI is supportive of the fintech sector, Das said it is also committed to protecting the interest of customers as well as ensuring financial stability. Also Read: Paytm Shares Tank 9% After Macquarie Slashes Target Price By 57%; Know Target Price Paytm FAQs To address various issues of customers of beleaguered Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), the Reserve Bank will issue a set of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) this week. Wait for FAQ that will have a set of clarifications related to customers of PPBL as our priority is customers should not be inconvenienced. Customer interest and depositors interest is uppermost for us, Das said after the Finance Ministers customary address to the central banks board. In a major action against PPBL, RBI, on January 31, directed it to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29. Asked if the deadline of February 29 would be extended, Das said, Wait for the FAQ. Dont expect review of RBIs decision in FAQ. FAQ will address issues related with depositors, customers, wallet users, FASTag holders. Whatever is in the customers interest that we are dealing in FAQ, he said. Persistent Non-compliance Persistent non-compliance by Paytm with the regulatory guidelines despite nudges over some time ultimately led to stern action against the fintech, the RBI said and also made it clear that there are no systemic worries. Without disclosing specific details of what led to the action against the fintech, Das had made it clear that Paytms lack of regulation compliance does not pose a systemic threat. There is no worry about the system at the moment. Here we are talking about a specific institution, a specific payment bank, Das had said after the MPC announcements last week. Das said it starts with nudges from the regulator for corrective action and sometimes the RBI may give more than sufficient time to an entity to comply, and it is lack of compliance that ultimately leads to the business restrictions order. The proportionality aspect is taken into consideration before imposing any restriction, Das said, adding, All our actions are in the best interest of systemic stability and protection of depositors or customers interest. These aspects cannot be compromised. Individual entities should be mindful of these aspects for their long-term success. Paytm App Not Impacted RBI said that the regulatory action is against Paytm Payment Bank Ltd and the Paytm App will not be impacted by it. Just one clarification, this particular action is against Paytm Payments Bank and is not to be confused with Paytm AppApp is not impacted by this action, RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J said in the media interaction after the bi-monthly MPC meeting. Asked if banks can partner with Paytm wallet, he said it is a business decision and they have to carry out required due diligence as per their board-approved policy. I am sure they will carry out due diligence if they have got to do a partnership, he said. When asked about the decision to impose the rather strong action of business restrictions, without going for other alternatives like appointing a director on the board as it has done in some cases in the recent past, Swaminathan said a one size fits all kind of solution may not work in such situations. Paytm App Operational Commenting on RBIs clarification, a Paytm spokesperson said, We assure our users and merchant partners that the Paytm app remains fully operational, and our services are unaffected. Paytm continues to lead in mobile payments innovation and the company is eager to enhance service offerings through partnerships with various banks, the spokesperson said. We assure our merchant partners that Paytm QR, Soundbox and card machines will continue to work as always. Our dedication to providing seamless payment solutions and promoting financial inclusion across India remains as strong as ever, a spokesperson added. Not Received Approval For Downstream Investment In Paytm Payment Services One97 Communications on Monday said it has not received government approval for downstream investment in payment aggregator subsidiary Paytm Payment Services Ltd. In November 2020, PPSL applied for a licence with the RBI to operate as a payment aggregator under the guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways. However, in November 2022, RBI rejected PPSLs application and asked the company to resubmit it, to comply with Press Note 3 under FDI rules. As part of the Application, PPSL had also applied to the Government of India for approval of downstream investment made by the Company in PPSL, which is currently awaited. We will update the stock exchanges as and when approval is received. Meanwhile, PPSL continues to serve its existing online merchant partners, Paytm said in a regulatory filing. The banking regulator asked the firm in November 2022 to re-submit applications within 120 days after it gets government approval on investment made by OCL into PPSL as per FDI guidelines. The regulator asked PPSL to continue operations with the condition that no new merchants should be onboard. After the completion of 120 days, RBI again granted PPSL an extension but without removing the bar on new merchant onboarding. Under Press Note 3, the government had made its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments in any sector from countries that share a land border with India to curb opportunistic takeovers of domestic firms following the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries that share land borders with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan. Paytm has received significant investments from Chinese companies. We would also like to highlight that there have been changes in the ownership structure of the Company, with the Paytm founder, Mr Vijay Shekhar Sharma, now being the sole Significant Beneficial Owner. This was informed to the stock exchanges on September 03, 2023, the filing said. Paytm in August 2023 announced that Sharma would acquire a 10.3 stake in Antfin through his overseas entity Resilient Asset Management BV which will make him the largest stakeholder in the company with a 19.42 per cent stake. In return, Resilient issued a debt instrument optionally convertible debentures, to Antfin thereby maintaining the economic interest of Alibaba group firm. With this transaction, Antfins direct stake in Paytm was reduced to 13.5 per cent. Antfin further sold 3.6 per cent in Paytm to bring its shareholding to less than 10 per cent and at present holds 9.89 per cent of the fintech firm. (With PTI inputs) Stocks To Watch On February 13: Equity markets succumbed to profit booking on Monday as benchmark indices closed lower. In todays trade, shares of Hindalco, ZEE, Eicher Motors, Coal India, JSW Energy among others will be in focus due to corporate earnings and various other developments. Heres a full list of stocks to track Results Today Shares of Hindalco, ZEE, and Eicher Motors will be in focus today as the companies will announce their third-quarter results. Coal India: The company reported a 17% increase in its consolidated net profit at Rs 9,069 crore for the quarter ending on December 31, 2023, compared to Rs 7,755 crore recorded in the corresponding period last year. Revenue from operations experienced a modest 3% year-on-year growth at Rs 36,154 crore in Q3FY24, as opposed to Rs 35,169 crore reported during the same period last year. The board has also announced a second interim dividend of Rs 5.25 per share for FY24. Eicher Motors: The company is likely to report robust Q3FY24 results, with solid double-digit net profit growth and high single-digit revenue growth, aided by strong sales volumes in Royal Enfield bikes and its commercial vehicles portfolio, when it announces its third-quarter results on Tuesday, February 13. According to analyst estimates, Eicher Motors is expected to announce a 29.49% YoY increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 959.28 crore. Revenue is likely to have jumped 8.24% to Rs 4,027.74 crore. EBITDA margin is also expected to rise by 319 bps to 26.19 per cent. Steel Authority of India: The PSUs consolidated net profit dropped 22% to Rs 422.92 crore for the December quarter, compared to the Rs 542.18 crore recorded in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operations for the quarter stood decreased 6% to Rs 23,348.64 crore, from Rs 25,042.10 crore a year ago, SAIL said in an exchange filing on February 12. Crude steel production in the quarter came in at 4.75 million tonne versus 4.71 million tonne reported in the same quarter last year. The public sector unit also declared an interim dividend Rs 1 per equity share of Rs 10 each. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: The company saw its net profit jump 76% YoY to Rs 592 crore in Q3FY24. Its revenue during the December quarter gained 30% YoY to Rs 2,363 crore, while EBITDA increased 71% to Rs 808 crore. Finance costs fell to Rs 1.29 crore in the quarter from Rs 1.48 crore in the previous year. Sub-contract expenses plunged to Rs 143.81 crore from Rs 224.69 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Other project-related expenses fell to Rs 40.58 crore from Rs 41.47 crore in the previous year. The companys order book as of December 2023, stood at Rs 38,389 crore. Hindalco Industries: The companys subsidiary Novelis recorded a net income attributable to common shareholders of $121 million for the quarter ended December FY24, growing 10-fold over $12 million in the year-ago period. Net sales decreased 6% YoY to $3.9 billion for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024, driven by lower average aluminium prices as shipments were in line with prior-year levels. Aurobindo Pharma: The company anticipates a $20-million hit in the January-March 2024 quarter, due to a temporary pause of manufacturing and distribution activities at its crucial Eugia Unit-III formulation facility in Telangana, following certain red flags raised by the US drug regulatory agency FDA in the recently concluded inspections. The company said it is planning to resume manufacturing operations in a phased manner starting with non-aseptic lines. The FDA issued Form 483 with 9 observations against the facility at the conclusion of the inspection on February 2. The company, as an abundant caution, put on hold manufacturing at certain lines. The company, in its earnings call on Monday, said the observations are related to certain gaps in the aseptic process and documentation. Dilip Buildcon: The construction and infrastructure development company registered a 3.3% year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 107.4 crore despite healthy topline, and operating numbers. Revenue from operations during the quarter at Rs 2,876.8 crore increased by 23.87% over a year-ago period. Paytm: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday ruled out any review of the central banks action against Paytm Payments Bank, saying the decision was taken after a lot of consideration and a comprehensive analysis of the lenders functioning. The RBI on January 31, had directed PPBL to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTTags and other instruments after February 29 citing large scale non-compliance of regulations and supervisory concerns. At the moment let me say very clearly, there is no review of this decision, Das said at a press conference after a meeting of the RBIs central board of directors. The meeting was also addressed by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Bandhan Bank: One of the Big Four accounting firm EY is conducting a forensic audit on a portion of Bandhan Banks loan book backed by government guarantees, two people aware of the development said. The audit was commissioned by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Co. (NCGTC), a state-run entity that operates and manages various credit guarantee trust funds of the government. It will cover Bandhan Banks loans of around Rs 23,000 crore. NCGTC has asked EY to check whether the bank used two different government guarantees for the same set of loans, find fake borrowers if any; identify window-dressing or evergreening of loans, and check whether the loans were ineligible for the government schemes. Jindal Steel & Power: The companys environmental application to develop an iron-ore mine in South Africa at a cost of as much as $2 billion was rejected recently. The company will appeal the decision, Parshant Kumar Goyal, the general manager for mines and business development at Jindal Africa, said when called by Bloomberg. The application was refused due to extensive gaps in the environmental impact assessment in the context of constitutional rights, All Rise, an environmental legal organization, said in a statement on Monday. The Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Ranking 2024, which was published on February 12, ranked the Indian School of Business (ISB) as the top management school in India, marking a recent victory for the countrys educational system. The institute moved up from last years 39th place to the 31st spot overall in 2024. Not far behind, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad took second place in the countrys rankings, rising to an impressive 41st place worldwide. IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta both placed 47th and 67th, respectively, demonstrating their prominence in the world ranking. Meanwhile, IIM Lucknow came in at 85th place, and XLRI, the Xavier School of Management, at 99th place in the rankings. FT Global MBA Rankings 2024: List of Indian Business Schools IIM Ahmedabad was one of four out of the top 20 business schools with the highest weighted alumni salaries from outside the United States. IIM Ahmedabad was ranked first for career advancement, which was determined by an increase in responsibility in alumnis roles in employment and the size of organisations. IIM Calcutta was ranked first in terms of the number of month-long exchanges and internships completed by the most recent graduating class. India School of Business (ISB) was ranked first in terms of highest salary increases from the time alumni started their MBA to three years after they finished it. The University of Pennsylvania at Wharton topped the global rankings and returned to its previous ranking as the top MBA programme in the world in 2024. Frances Insead came in second, followed by Columbia Business School and Italys SDA Bocconi School of Management in third, and Spains IESE Business School in fifth. Its interesting to note that the Harvard Business School, an Ivy League institution, came in at number eleven worldwide. FT Global MBA Rankings 2024: Top 10 MBA Schools 1 University of Pennsylvania, Wharton 2 Insead 3 Columbia Business School; SDA Bocconi School of Management 5 IESE Business School 6 Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management; MIT, Sloan 8 London Business School 9 Cornell University, Johnson 10 University of Chicago, Booth The assessment considered factors such as money, alumni study goals met, gender and international diversity, academic research quality, school environmental policies, and salary and pay increases. The Financial Times MBA rankings survey data was analysed by renowned audit and advisory firm KPMG, which offered insights. Using performance as a basis, the evaluation divided business schools into four groups. Schools achieving higher cohort averages are classified as Tier I and II, whereas schools achieving lower cohort averages are classified as Tier III and IV. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday distributed appointment letters to 384 youths of Odisha as part of the Rozgar Mela launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan congratulated the newly inducted recruits who have achieved success after hard work. Rozgar Mela, which was launched under the inspiration and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provides an opportunity to empower youths to directly participate in the development of the nation, he said, adding, that the hard work of the recruited youths will take the country forward. Stating that India has a strong economy due to the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, Pradhan said, India has become the fifth largest economy in the world and is poised to become the third largest economy by another three years. Nowadays, skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling have become a routine programme. New technologies are evolving with time. The digital world is taking India forward, he said. The Union Education minister said, India will be moving towards the goal of a developed nation, the newly recruited candidates need to make efforts from today itself to multiply their skills during the next 25 years. In 2036, Odisha will celebrate 100 years of its formation as a linguistic-based separate state. India will develop only if Odisha develops, he added. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has handed over the investigation into the alleged paper leak of the Review Officer (RO)/ Assistant Review Officer (ARO) pre-examination held on Sunday, February 11, to the Special Task Force (STF). Additionally, the UPPSC has constituted an internal committee to investigate the case and submit a report to the commission. According to reports, 2,387 centres were set up in 58 districts to conduct the examination. Out of the 10,76,004 applicants, 64 per cent of the candidates appeared for the examination on Sunday. During the pre-examination of RO-ARO of UPPSC, a candidate from Ram Anjor Mishra Inter College, Praveen Kumar Patel, was caught cheating with a Bluetooth device and subsequently handed over to the police. This incident led to other candidates creating a major ruckus at the exam centre in Ghazipur, alleging a paper leak. Meanwhile, the UPPSC secretary, Ashok Kumar, mentioned the constitution of the internal committee to investigate the issue. He also stated that the commission has sent a formal recommendation to the state government requesting the STF to probe the matter. The Review Officer/ Assistant Review Officer exam is conducted annually by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission to select candidates for vacant positions. It includes three stages of examination: Prelims, Mains and Skill Tests. The Preliminary exam holds a total of 200 marks, while the Mains exam has 400. The official notification for UPPSC RO ARO recruitment 2024 was released by the commission on October 8, 2023, with the registration process commencing on October 9, 2023. The date for the Mains examination is yet to be announced. As per the official notification, a total of 411 positions have been declared vacant by the commission, including 334 vacancies as Review Officers in the Secretariat, Police Service Commission and Board of Revenue, with the remaining seats vacant as Assistant Review Officers in the Secretariat and Public Service Commission. The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) will commence the online registration process for the TS Integrated Common Entrance Test (ICET) 2024 on March 7. Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the same at the official website icet.tsche.ac.in. The last date to apply is April 30. However, candidates can register by May 17 with a late fee of Rs 250 and by May 27 with a late fee of Rs 500. The TSICET 2024 is scheduled to be conducted on June 4 and 5. The test is organised by Kakatiya University, Warangal, on behalf of TSCHE to offer admission to MBA and MCA courses of all the participating institutes across the state. TS ICET 2024: Eligibility Criteria Age limit: Candidates must be at least 19 years as of the date of notification. There is no maximum age limit. Educational Qualification: MBA: Must have passed a bachelors degree with at least 50 per cent marks (45 per cent marks in case of reserved categories of SC, ST, and BC). MCA: Must have passed BCA or bachelors degree in Computer Science Engineering or its equivalent degree or BSc or BCom or BA examination of minimum three years duration with at least 50 per cent marks (45 per cent marks in case of reserved categories of SC, ST, and BC) along with mathematics at class 12 or graduation level. The qualifying degree obtained by the distance mode must have recognition by the Joint Committee of UGC, AICTE, and DEC/DEB as per UGC Regulations of 2013. TS ICET 2024: How to apply Step 1. Visit the official website of TSICET at icet.tsche.ac.in Step 2. Once you open the homepage of the website, click on the registration link Step 3. Register yourself Step 4. Fill in the required fields Step 5. Pay the application fee Step 6. Upload the required documents in the specified format and submit them Step 7. Download and save. Take a printout of the acknowledgment page for further use. TS ICET 2024: Application fees The application fee for TSICET 2024 is Rs 750 for unreserved candidates and Rs 550 for SC, ST and differently-abled candidates. The exam is conducted in the computer-based test mode for a 150-minute duration. There are 200 questions from three sections- Analytical Ability consisting of 75 marks, Mathematical Ability of 75 marks, and Communication Ability of 50 marks. Out of the total 200 marks that the exam carries, students are required have to secure at least 25 per cent marks to qualify for the exam. TS ICET is held every year for admission into MBA and MCA courses of all the Universities in Telangana State and their affiliated colleges for the academic year 2023-24. This test is being conducted by Kakatiya University, Warangal on behalf of TSCHE Hyderabad. Kakatiya University has conducted TS ICET from 2005 to 2022. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a critical constituent of the INDIA bloc, declared two more Lok Sabha election candidates for Goa and Gujarat and offered one out of the seven constituencies to the Congress in its bastion Delhi. AAP MP Sandeep Pathak, a key negotiator within the INDIA bloc, unilaterally declared AAPs Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas as the partys Lok Sabha election candidate from South Goa, Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch and Umesh bhai Makwana from Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Pathak said he hoped the INDIA bloc would accept these candidates. He had earlier declared three AAP candidates for Assam. The announcement came after a meeting of the AAP Political Action Committee. I would like to place something in the context of Delhi. Congress party got zero in Lok Sabha elections as well as Vidhan Sabha elections. In MCD elections, they got nine out of 250 wards. If you look at the merit and the statistics, then the Congress party does not deserve even one seat, Pathak said. However, only data is not important. One has to keep the alliance dharma also in mind. And keeping the maan (prestige) of the alliance and Congress party, we are offering one seat to the Congress. It is our proposal that the Congress may fight on one seat and AAP on six seats, he argued. The AAP, however, did not declare candidates for Delhi. As reported by News18 earlier, the AAP said that if there is no discussion with the Congress on Delhi seat-sharing soon, it would go ahead and declare candidates for the six seats. The AAP also clarified that this offer of six seats for AAP and one for Congress was extended to the latter during closed-door discussions and that there were multiple demands from the Congress party as well. However, talks havent moved forward. Technically, the same rule that the Congress party applies to us when it comes to giving us seats in other states is applicable to all. In that context, the Congress party is nowhere. This is what the data says. It is not our aim to hurt anyone. We dont feel great saying this. However, such feelings are not important. What is important is to fight and win elections, said Pathak. In a hint that the number of seats the AAP may be willing to concede in Delhi could be tied to what the Congress is willing to give up in Haryana, Pathak said: As far as Haryana and Chandigarh go, talks should begin soon. As far as Punjab is concerned, we have already made it clear that state units of both parties have decided that they will fight separately. Respecting that, we have decided that we will fight separately. While it increasingly appeared as though the AAP was looking for an escape route from the INDIA bloc, Pathak emphasized: The purpose is not to derail, the purpose is to constructively conclude the discussions. However, indicating fresh trouble for the INDIA bloc, the AAP, as promised, also unilaterally declared candidates for Goa and Gujarat. Looking at the time constraint, I am announcing the AAP candidate from Goa. Our leader Venzy Viegas, who is the MLA from Benaulim We hope that the INDIA bloc will accept his candidature, said Pathak. On a two-day visit to Goa mid-January, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had said that the party was negotiating for one seat from within the INDIA bloc. In the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, the AAP had won two constituencies, both, in South Goa. The Congress party now has just three MLAs in the state and two of them are from South Goa, while the other is from North Goa. If Congress has three Assembly seats and AAP has two, then naturally, AAP should get one Lok Sabha seat. Keeping winability in mind, the AAP has declared Shri Venzy Jis candidature, said Pathak. Arvind Kejriwal had already declared MLA Chaitar Vasava from the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency on January 7 this year, which incidentally was just a day ahead of the beginning of formal talks between the AAP and the Congress. Pathak on Tuesday reiterated Vasavas candidature The AAP strategist disclosed that when the party asked for the Bharuch seat, it was told that this is an emotional seat for the Congress as Ahmed Patel used to fight from here and now his daughter would fight from the seat. Pathak argued that the last time the Congress won the seat was in 1984. In 2019, the BJP got 55% of the vote share in the seat, while the Congress got 26%. I want to say that if you have to defeat the BJP, you have to get out of parivaarvaad (dynasty politics). You cant look at who is someones relative. You have to look at only who can win this seat and who can defeat the BJP, Pathak said. He claimed all of Bharuch wants Chaitar Vasava to win the Lok Sabha elections from the seat. I can say sincerely that if anyone can defeat BJP in Bharuch, it is Chaitar bhai Vasava. (Ahmed) Patels daughter Mumtaz Ji stays in Delhi. She has no political clout. Pathak on Tuesday additionally announced the candidature of Umeshbhai Makwana from Bhavnagar. If you look at the results of the Assembly elections in Gujarat, AAP had won five seats and 13% of the vote share. The Congress party had won 17 seats and 27% of the vote share. If you look at this scientifically and on the basis of merit, then AAP should get one-third of the seats and Congress two-third of the seats. According to this, we get eight seats. We have asked for eight seats. We have declared candidates for two and we will declare six more later. Congress may fight on 18 seats and AAP on eight. This is based purely on merit and vote share, Pathak explained. The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that the AAP has had two official meetings with the Congress so far on January 8 and 12. Though both meetings were held in a conducive atmosphere, both were inconclusive. You will notice that apart from these two official meetings, over the past one month, there have been no meetings. We have been waiting for talks to move forward. We were told that the (Bharat Jodo Nyay) yatra of the Congress party is going on now and that there would be a delay of two or three days. We kept waiting. In the meantime, there were opportunities of meeting many important leaders of the Congress party. However, even they did not have any idea or clarity about when the next meeting will happen, Pathak said. In such circumstances, many questions come to mind and one gets worried that it would be difficult to fight elections. It is because of this worry that I am sitting here. And, I am sitting here with a heavy heart. Had the talks been going on, there would be no need for me to be here, he added. The 11-member AAP PAC met at 11:30am at 6, Flagstaff Road, the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. On the agenda was finalizing candidates for Haryana, Gujarat, Goa and the way forward for the AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi. The AAP PAC is led by Arvind Kejriwal and has 10 other members. Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently behind bars. ND Gupta, Imran Hussain, Gopal Rai, Atishi, Rakhi Bidlan, Durgesh Pathak and Pankaj Gupta were present. Sandeep Pathak, a special invitee, was also present. Importantly, in this PAC meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, though not a member, was also present. Raghav Chadha, a PAC member, was not present. The AAP has also declared Manoj Dhanohar, Bhaven Chaudhary and Rishi Raj from Assams Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Sonetpur, respectively. On February 10, Kejriwal announced the AAP would contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab plus the Chandigarh seat. The Congress had also said that it would fight on all seats in Punjab on its own. Both Kejriwal and Mann have declared that the AAP will announce its candidates for Punjab in 10 to 15 days. A day later, Kejriwal said at a rally in Tarn Taran that Delhites would make the AAP win all seven constituencies in the national capital, sparking speculation that there would be no alliance between AAP and Congress in Delhi either. Continuing the preparations for Lok Sabha elections 2024 and simultaneous Assembly polls in a few states, a team of officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI) will undertake back-to-back visits to states in the coming days. According to sources, the team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and comprising election commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, will be in Odisha on Friday and Saturday (February 16-17). They will be in Bihar next week on Tuesday and Wednesday (February 20-21). The team may also visit West Bengal next month though the dates are yet to be finalised. Andhra Pradesh was the first state where the team visited in January. They may also visit a few more states; however, the schedule is not yet finalised. In June, the terms of the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will be ending. These four states will witness simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Assembly. In 2019, the Lok Sabha elections were announced on March 10. Polling was done in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 while the counting of votes took place on May 23. Groundwork Underway The poll body has already started the groundwork for the Lok Sabha polls. The initial step of conducting any election in India is First Level Check, which that includes cleaning and maintenance of machines, and mock polls. The cleaning of machines includes the removal of address tags, ballot papers, any superscriptions and earlier poll data from the Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). According to the EC, the First Level Check is done around four months before the Assembly elections and six months before the Lok Sabha elections. In January, the poll body had organised a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states and Union Territories for sharing of experiences and transfer of knowledge. The poll body also held a brainstorming session with officials and state chief election officers (CEOs) at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie and five regional conferences were also held at Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Chennai and Lucknow over the past few weeks. Over 800 District Election Officer and Returning Officers across the country were trained on various thematic areas related to election management at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi. As many as 3,100 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) from all states/UTs participated in an online training. An orientation program for newly appointed CEOs and other officials in CEO offices was organised at IIIDEM, the poll body had said last month. The total electorate strength of India has reached 96.88 crore, the largest in the world. When compared to 2019, there has been an 8% increase in eligible voters in 2024. The number of male voters have increased by around 7%, female voters have gone up by around 9% between 2019 and 2024, EC data shows. Farmers are heading towards Delhi after last nights talks with Union ministers remained inconclusive as the former pointed out the lack of clarity on legal guarantees on the minimum support price (MSP). The government, however, said a consensus has been reached on most of the issues, and a committee will be set up to look into other matters. Union agriculture minister Arjun Munda, who along with food and consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal attended the second round of talks with the farmer leaders on February 11, said, We are still hopeful that farmer bodies will hold talks. We will try to resolve issues in the coming days". Let us look at the list of demands made by the farmer unions: The farmers have a 12-point agenda for a law to guarantee MSP for all crops, and setting of crop prices as per the recommendations of Swaminathan Commissions report. Other demands include: 1. Full debt waiver for farmers and labourers; 2. Implementation of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, with provisions for written consent from farmers before acquisition, and compensation at four times the collector rate; 3. Punishment for the perpetrators of the October 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri killings; 4. India should withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and freeze all free trade agreements; 5. Pensions for farmers and farm labourers. 6. Compensation for farmers who died during the Delhi protest, including a job for one family member. 7. Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 should be scrapped; 8. 200 (instead of 100) days employment under MGNREGA per year, daily wage of Rs 700, and scheme should be linked with farming; 9. Strict penalties and fines on companies producing fake seeds, pesticides, fertilisers; improvements in seed quality; 10. National commission for spices such as chili and turmeric; 11. Ensure rights of indigenous peoples over water, forests, and land. What is the Government Saying? Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had sent the list of demands to the Union ministers on February 6, and minister Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai went to Chandigarh to hold first round of talks with the farmers on February 8. The meeting was coordinated by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. In the second round of talks, where 26 farmer leaders and three ministers met on Monday, the Centre agreed to withdraw cases against the farmers from the 2020-21 agitation, but couldnt reach a consensus on the MSP. An understanding was also reached to compensate the families of the deceased farmers from the previous protests. The government has also proposed to form a committee to deliberate on the legal guarantee for MSP, debt waivers and implementation of the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission. MSP and Farmers * The Narendra Modi government has spent nearly Rs 2.28 lakh crore in 2022-23 to procure food grains at MSP, up nearly 115% from 2014-15 when it had spent Rs 1.06 lakh crore on buying crops at MSP; * The MSP-based procurement of food grains has also increased from 761.40 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 1062.69 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23; * The MSP in 2023-24 for paddy stands at Rs 2,183 per quintal, up Rs 243 from 2021-22; * The MSP for wheat in this financial year stands at Rs 2,275, up Rs 250 from two years ago; * The MSP for Jowar has risen by Rs 442 over the last two years, Rs 469 for Ragi; MSP for cotton has increased by Rs 894 to Rs 6,620 per quintal in the current financial year Who are the Main Stakeholders This Time? Contrary to 2020-21, the farmers protest is being spearheaded by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which owes allegiance to 100 unions, and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a platform for 150 unions, who are coordinating the Delhi march from Punjab. KMM was formed by Sarwan Singh Pandher, convenor of Punjab-based union Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC). KMM did not join the 2020-21 protest against farm laws in Delhi. SKM (non-political), which broke away from the original SKM in July 2022, is coordinating the agitation under the leadership of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of Punjab-based Bharatiya Kisan Union Sindhupur farm union. Delhi has been turned into a fortress this time, with barricades, nails and heavy equipment deployed to prevent farmers from entering the national capital. Rajasthan has sealed its borders with Punjab and Haryana on February 11, and imposed Section 144 in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. The Haryana government has sealed its borders with Punjab, and erected barricades on National Highway 1 leading to Delhi. Internet has been suspended in several districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 after an Indian Premier went to the nation after a gap of over 30 years. The relationship has especially blossomed in the last one year with trade rising, new agreements reached in different sectors and high-level exchanges. The bilateral relations between India and the UAE have undergone complete transformation, and elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership level since 2017. News18 explains the various facets of the bilateral relations. Visits and Joining There were five high-level visits that happened between India and UAE since July 2023. PM Modi came to the UAE in July 2023 on a bilateral visit and met with the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, then visited UAE again on November 30-Decemeber 1, 2023 to attend COP28 in Dubai. Modi also met the Vice President and PM and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE president visited India in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit, and visited Gujarat, in January 2024 as a Chief Guest to the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. UAE was also invited as Special Invitee for G20 during Indias Presidency, and UAE joined Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a Dialogue Partner and BRICS as a member in the last one year with Indias active support. During the visit of PM Modi to Dubai to attend the COP28 Summit, he was given the special status of being the only head of government who addressed the ceremonial opening of the COP-28 Plenary for the national statements. PM Modi has also launched the Global Green Credit Initiative in the presence of UAE President. India and UAE, along with other countries, launched the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the Global Biofuel Alliance during the G20 Leaders Summit in 2023. Trade Grows Trade with UAE has increased by 16% to reach $85 million in 2022-23 during which it was also the fourth largest source of FDI with $3.5 billion investment in India. UAE has now become Indias second largest export destination and the third largest trading partner. Last year, both countries signed an MoU to establish a Local Currency Settlement System to promote the use of INR and Dirham for cross-border transaction. Three major transactions involving gold, petroleum and food commodities have been undertaken so far. The full roll-out of the Jaywan national debit/credit card system by UAE is expected in April-June this year. This is based on Indias RuPay stack after Indias NPCI was contracted by the Central Bank of UAE to develop Jaywan. RBI and the Central Bank of UAE signed an MoU on digital currencies last year as well. Discussions are underway to set up Hybrid Energy Parks in Gujarat with an investment of about $300 million, as per MoUs signed between both sides. EMAAR Group is also investing Rs 500 crore in a shopping mall and a multipurpose tower in the outskirts of Srinagar, which will be a major project in Jammu and Kashmir. Energy & Education IOCL and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a long-term 14-year deal from 2026-39 for buying 1.2 MMT LNG under the first long-term LNG contract between India and the UAE, making UAE the second country in the region with which India has long-term LNG contracts after Qatar. An MoU has also been signed to establish Indian Institute of Technology Delhi centre in Abu Dhabi. The interim campus of IIT-D, Abu Dhabi has come up in record time with the first Masters course in Energy Transition and Sustainability commencing last month. Bachelors and other programmes to be started from this September. Defence Co-operation In January, the first India-UAE bilateral army exercise Desert Cyclone was held in Rajasthan as well as a first trilateral exercise named Desert Knight Exercise involving Air Forces India, UAE and France took place in the UAE. Both countries are exploring areas of cooperation including the joint design and development of missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, and jointly producing Indian variants of AL TARIQs all weather long-range precision-guided munition kits in India. Farmers are protesting again, this time, demanding a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for which they will march to the national capital on February 13. The demonstration comes after almost two years when the farmers took to Delhi against the three farm laws, which were later withdrawn by the government. Section 144 has been imposed in Haryana, mobile internet services has been suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar and Fatehabad, and borders adjoining Punjab to stop protesting farmers. The first round of talks between the farmer union leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai in Chandigarh took place Thursday night. What are the Farmers Demanding? The farmers want the government to enact a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP). The farmers also want implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission to ensure fair remuneration and sustainable agricultural practices. Some of the main recommendations of the commission include: Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands; Prevent diversion of prime agricultural land and forest to corporate sector for non-agricultural purposes. Ensure grazing rights and seasonal access to forests to tribals and pastoralists, and access to common property resources. Establish a National Land Use Advisory Service, which would have the capacity to link land use decisions with ecological meteorological and marketing factors on a location and season specific basis. Set up a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land, based on quantum of land, nature of proposed use and category of buyer. The government has announced MSP for 23 produces before the Rabi and Kharif seasons, but the actual procurement is limited to two key crops paddy and wheat in Punjab and Haryana and parts of western UP, according to The Telegraphs report. But how to ensure MSP? One way is force buyers to pay, just as sugar mills are required, by law, to pay farmers a fair and remunerative price within 14 days of purchase. The second is for government agencies to buy the entire marketable produce of farmers offered at MSP, according to The Indian Express report. Another option is price deficiency payments, which ensures that the government pays the farmers the difference between the market price and MSP. This depends on the quality of crop sold to the private trade. Current MSP Models PDP was first tried in Madhya Pradesh through Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana during the 2017-18 kharif season for eight crops namely urad, soyabean, maize, arhar, moong, groundnut, sesame and nigerseed. Under this scheme, the market price for a crop was its average modal (most-quoted) rate in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis of Madhya Pradesh as well as two other growing states during the particular month of sale. The price difference vis-a-vis the MSP was payable on the actual quantity sold by the farmer, backed by an anubandh patra (sale agreement with trader), tol parchi (weighment slip), and bhugtan patra (payment letter signed by both parties), as quoted by The Indian Express. The Haryana government opted for both physical procurement and PDP under Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY), which is implemented in Bajra, mustard, sunflower seed, and 16 other vegetables and three fruit crops. In 2020-21, the state government directly procured 776,909 tonnes of bajra and 16,952 tonnes of sunflower at MSPs of Rs 2,150 and Rs 5,885 per quintal respectively. What Govt Data on Procurement at MSP Says? The government has procured 30 million tonnes of kharif paddy directly from farmers under MSP. Major contributors to paddy procurement include Punjab (18.42 MT), Haryana (5.87 MT), Telangana (1.97 MT), Chhattisgarh (1.28 MT), Uttar Pradesh (0.77 MT), Uttarakhand (0.57 MT), and Tamil Nadu (0.54 MT). In August, Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies set a 52.1 MT rice (77.4 MT paddy) purchase target for the kharif season, compared to 49.5 MT procured in the previous season. During the 2022-23 season, FCI and state agencies procured over 56.94 MT of rice in both kharif and rabi seasons. Kharif rice production is estimated at 106.31 MT, a 3.7% decline due to uneven monsoon distribution. Goa Police on Tuesday informed a childrens court that Bengaluru-based CEO Suchana Seth, accused of killing her four-year-old son, did not show any case of psychopathology and gave clear and rational answers during her mental health assessment. According to an Indian Express report, the reply filed by the police in the Panaji cited the assessment which said serial mental status examinations did not reveal any case of psychopathology. The examination was conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) in Bambolim on February 2. The reply noted that Seth was rational in her answers during the assessments. She also did not show any sort of suicidal tendencies or death wishes. Her judgement is intact and no psychotic or pervasive mood symptoms were elicited in responses, IE quoted the reply. This comes a week after Suchanas father claimed that she was suffering from an illness and filed an application in the court seeking a medical evaluation of her mental health. In his application, he had said that Suchana is not able to make her defence and is incapable of putting up her defence due to her mental illness. He said that Suchana is in denial of her own illness. He said that there will be grave prejudice in this case as she is neither able to make her defence nor give instructions on account of her sickness. He said that in the interest of justice, it would be appropriate to examine her mental health. Goa Police, in the previous hearing, told the Court that the report of Seths medical assessment was awaited. The Court on Tuesday scheduled the next hearing for February 21 and extended Seths judicial custody remand till February 26. WHAT WAS THE CASE? The 39-year-old CEO of an AI startup Mindful AI was booked on January 9 for allegedly murdering her four-year-old son in North Goa and travelling back to Karnataka with his body in a bag. She, along with her son, checked into a service apartment at Hotel Sol Banyan Grande in North Goas Candolim on January 6. However, she asked for a checkout on the intervening night of January 7-8 and left for Karnataka via road. Seth was caught by the police at Aimangala police station in the Chitradurga district based on alert from the Goa Police. Earlier, it was reportedly learnt that Seth did not want her estranged husband to meet her child, and hence killed him. Seth and her husband, Venkat Raman, had tied the knot in 2010 and their son was born in 2019. However, due to differences in their marriage the two separated. The divorce proceedings of the couple are currently underway. The Gujarat government on Tuesday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking certain remarks made by it regarding the state governments conduct with respect to the early release of the 11 convicts of the Bilkis Bano rape case, to be expunged. According to a report by Live Law, the State Government stated it was acting as per the Supreme Courts May 2022 judgment which directed it to consider the remission application of one of the convicts. The state government further submitted that it cannot be held to have usurped the jurisdiction of the state of Maharashtra when it was acting as per a direction of the top court. The Supreme Court, on January 8, 2024, overturned the Gujarat governments decision ruling to grant remission to 11 convicts in the case of the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The apex court ruled that the state, where an offender is tried and sentenced, is only competent to decide the remission plea of convicts. Since the trial and conviction took place in the Bombay High Court, Maharashtra was the competent government to grant remission in this case. In its ruling, the Supreme Court had also accused the Gujarat government of abusing its power. The Gujarat government, had, on August 15, 2022, released 11 men convicted of Bilkis gang rape and the killing of her family, citing good behaviour. The move caused a huge outrage among public and political circles. Following the release of the 11 convicts, Bilkis Bano had filed a petition in the Supreme Court contesting the remission granted to the convicts. The body of a former Chennai mayors son, who went missing after the vehicle he was travelling in plunged 200 metres down into the Satluj in Himachals Kinnaur district, was recovered on Monday after eight days, police said. The accident took place on February 4 near Kashang Nallah, they said. The body of Vetri Duraisamy (45), son of former mayor of Chennai Saidai Duraisamy, was recovered from the Satluj river, around 3 km from the accident spot. Divers of Mahun Nag Association, Sundernagar (Mandi) recovered the body around 2 pm on Monday, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma said. The body would be handed over to the family members after conducting a post mortem at Indira Gandhi medical College Hospital (IGMCH), Shimla, police said in a statement issued here. Two days after the accident, Vetris father Saidai Duraisamy had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore to anyone who finds his son. He had also made an appeal to the local people to help in finding his son. The vehicle was on its way to Shimla from Kaza when the accident took place. One of the three tourists, Gopinath from Tamil Nadu, suffered serious injuries and was earlier referred to IGMCH Shimla while the body of the driver, identified as Tanjin, a resident of Lahaul and Spiti, was recovered on February 5. A joint search operation had been conducted since February 4 by the Kinnaur police, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and Home Guards and divers of Mahun Nag Association on the banks of the Sutlej. Drone was also used to trace out the missing person. A special NIA in Chhattisgarh on Monday sentenced four accused to life imprisonment in the Tehakwada ambush case. The case pertains to an attack on security forces by CPI (Maoist) cadres. The accused have been identified as Mahadev Naag, Kawasi Joga, Dayaram Baghel and Maniram Madiya. They hail from the Bastar and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh. According to the NIA investigations, all the accused were members of an unlawful association working under the supervision and directions of senior leaders of the proscribed terrorist organisation CPI (Maoist). Eleven CRPF personnel, four S]state police personnel and one civilian were killed in the attack, carried out by 100 armed Naxals in the area of Tongpal Police Station, Sukma district. The Naxals had ambushed a Road Opening Party (ROP) of the State police and CRPF personnel in March 2014. NIA investigations had also revealed that the accused had mobilised the Jan militias, local villagers and Sangam members for the attack. They had led the ambush, exploded the IEDs, and fired upon the security personnel, in association with other members of the banned outfit. The assailants had killed the security personnel and looted their weapons. The accused have been found guilty under relevant sections 302, 307, and 120B of the IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act, and the Arms Act, said NIAs Special Public Prosecutor Dinesh Panigrahi. The case was initially registered at the Tongpal police station under relevant sections of IPC, Arms Act, Explosives Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The NIA had taken over the probe after re-registering the case in March 2014 and had charge-sheeted 11 accused in August 2015. Farmers Protest Latest News: Iron nails, barbed wires, barricades and concrete slabs have been erected on Delhi borders to turn the the national capital into a fortress ahead of farmers Dilli Chalo march on Tuesday. In view of the agitation call given by farmers associations, Delhi Police have invoked Section 144 (prohibitory orders) for a period of 30 days till March 12. Massive security arrangements have been put in place in the national capital and its borders to thwart any unlawful congregation between Feb 13 and Feb 15, and thereafter in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Anticipating a gathering along the lines of demonstrations in 2020-21, authorities have taken appropriate measures to stop the groups from entering Delhi. Farmers decided to go forward with the protest after their five-hour-long meeting with two Union ministers over their demands remained inconclusive. However, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal attended the second round of talks with the farmer leaders, said a consensus was reached on most issues and a formula was proposed for resolving some others through the formation of a committee. What Are Farmers Demand? Several farmer associations mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab are starting their protest march today to demand a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP), one of the conditions they had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws in 2021. Apart from that, they are also seeking implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Farmers from different parts of Punjab and Haryana started their march towards Delhi on Tuesday over their several demands, causing massive traffic jams at the national capitals borders. Authorities intensified security arrangements to stop a farmers march from entering Delhi as the Singhu and Tikri borders were shut while the Red Fort complex was closed temporarily after peasants on their way to the national capital clashed with police at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab. Multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers have been placed at the Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders, with the deployment of a large number of security personnel in anti-riot gear. With massive security arrangements at the three border points, commuters had a harrowing time as they spent hours stuck in jam-packed traffic. Police have also sealed rural roads bordering Haryana to stop the protesters from moving ahead to enter Delhi. During their protest in 2020, farmers from different states, mainly Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had staged a sit-in at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders. They sat there from August 2020 to December 2021. Top Points Traffic movement was interrupted in Uttar Pradeshs Noida after vehicles lined up as security and checking were beefed up around borders with Delhi on Tuesday because of the farmers grand march to the national capital. Noida police issued information on route diversions as highways connecting Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad via Ghazipur and Chilla borders witnessed massive traffic jams. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidyasagar Mishra and Additional DCP Manish Mishra were on the ground at the Chilla Border where police personnel are deployed in large numbers, PTI reported. As per the updates by Noida traffic police, traffic jams were reported on the DND flyover, NH-48 and Greater Noida Expressway. Notably, this flyover also connects Noida with Delhi. Authorities have banned goods-carrying vehicles from entering Delhi via the Greater Noida Expressway. Ghaziabad, Kaushambi and Anand Vihar border also witnessed traffic jams. Noida Traffic: Alternative Routes Commuters going to Delhi via Chilla Border can take the 14A flyover to reach Golchakkar Chowk Sector 15. Vehicles can then proceed to Sandip Paper Mill Chowk, Jhundpura Chowk and then travel further to their destination. Those going to Delhi via the DND Border are advised to take the Filmcity flyover to reach sector 18. Vehicles going to Delhi via Yamuna expressway are advised to go towards Khurja from Jewar toll and from there proceed further through Jahangirpur. Commuters travelling to Delhi via Kalindi Border are advised to take Mahamaya flyover to reach sector 37 and proceed further. Vehicles travelling to Delhi via the Peripheral expressway to Sirsa, Parichowk can instead take the route towards Dadri, Dasna to reach their destination. Emergency vehicles will be allowed to go towards secure destinations amid the traffic diversions. Noida Police Issues Helpline Number The Noida traffic police has also issued a helpline number for the commuters in view of the grand farmers protest. In case of traffic inconvenience, you can contact the traffic helpline number 9971009001. Please use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience, the police said. Farmers Protest Protesting farmers are demanding a law on minimum support price are marching toward Delhi after a meeting with two Union ministers over their demands remained inconclusive. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha said farmers will head to Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands. The historic Red Fort complex has been temporarily closed for visitors due to security reasons, a senior ASI official said Tuesday. They did not want to show their faces. They wouldnt reveal their names. Yet the women of Sandeshkhali village in West Bengals 24 Parganas district stood by the main road, placards in hand. We have lost confidence in the local police. Save us. We need CRPF, some of them read. The women covered their faces with their sarees, and many while crying and seeking justice fell at the feet of governor CV Ananda Bose who was visiting the area on Monday. The women here have alleged harassment and torture by missing Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates. Sheikh has not been seen in public since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials when they went to search his premises in Sandeshkhali over an alleged ration distribution scam. One has to cross the Bidyadhari river to reach Sandeshkhali from the other side. Bose arrived at the ferry ghat directly from the airport. I was in Kerala, trying to organise an exhibition for Bengal. I was shocked to hear the news of Sandeshkhali. I cut short my visit and am going to Sandeshkhali to find out what sandesh (message) the people have, he said. News18 followed the governor on his journey. From nearby Minakhan village to Shajahans turf, everywhere Bose came across various placards. Give back 100 days money, was written on some of them by protesters who had gathered around. The governor was escorted by a police launch as he crossed the river. Reaching Sandeshkhali, he did not wait for a rickshaw or other means of transportation and started walking. As the governor tried to speak to a woman, she fell at his feet, crying. Others followed. Give justice to us. Our men cannot stay at home now. They have fled. We have no confidence in the local police, said many of them. One elderly woman said, Even last night they came to our house and they were calling us. If we show our faces, they will arrest our men. Another woman tied a rakhi on the governors hand. Please remove section 144 (which prohibits the gathering of five or more individuals). Please ask the CRPF to come here. We cant stay like this anymore, she pleaded with the governor as tears streamed down her face. Bose tried to console them and listened to them for over half an hour. When News18 spoke to these women, several of them said, We will not show our faces. We will not give our names. They will then take our men to the thana. They asked us not to meet the governor. The police told us not to come out. News18 found another woman standing by a shop near the Sandeshkhali police thana. We cant tell you our names. We are standing here with flowers because we know the governor can solve our problems. They used to force us to go to rallies, they used to make us toil without any money. We will not stop till Shajahan and his aide Shibaprasad Hazra get arrested. We want peace in Sandeshkhali, she said. Many of the women tied rakhis on the governors hand. As he promised them that he was like their brother and would take care of them, the teary-eyed women clapped with joy, and they followed Bose to the edge of the village when he left. Another woman who too refused to disclose her name told News18, The police will not do anything. They are with Shajahan and his people. We hope the governor will help us. Our men are afraid to come back home because the police will lodge false cases against them. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said those behind the Sandeshkhali violence had been put behind bars. Anyone can go to Sandeshkhali. We have no issues with that. We have already sent the state womens commission team there. They returned and submitted a report. Those who have instigated violence have been arrested. The situation is being monitored closely and necessary steps are being taken, she said while speaking to reporters at Dumurjala stadium in Howrah district. The governor said he was directly going to Delhi from Sandeshkhali. Its shocking what has happened in Sandeshkhali, he said. I am their brother and I will bring back their confidence. While the governor was on his visit, a team of BJP MLAs led by leader of opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari was stopped by authorities from going to Sandeshkhali, they said. A woman IPS officer told me before we started that they would not allow us because of some request. I am the leader of the opposition and other MLAs were all sitting in a bus. They are not allowing us. We will be with the people of Sandeshkhali, Adhikari told News18. The governor visited Sandeshkhali following our request. After he visited these areas, he informed us that whatever we had alleged was all true. He will submit a report to the union home ministry on Tuesday and then we will see. Our mothers and sisters are not safe there, and we will take care of them. We will keep a watch on the TMC team going there. They (the police) will not allow us but they will allow them (the TMC). This will not be tolerated. We will monitor this and then we will take steps. ISTANBUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's tourist hotspots attract many Chinese tourists during the week-long Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on Feb. 10 this year. Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul travel agency Ligarba, said in a recent interview with Xinhua recently that the Spring Festival is one of the biggest opportunities for millions of Chinese to travel abroad and a good opportunity for the Turkish tourism sector to welcome them in the best possible way. Istanbul, the country's largest city as well as its cultural and financial center, is the number one place attracts Chinese tourists, he said. The city tours organized for Chinese guests particularly cover the historic Sultanahmet peninsula, home to numerous palaces and buildings from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, and ferry trips along the Bosphorus Strait to see the historical mansions on its banks, he said. Nalan Yesilyurt, the owner of Demco, a tourism and travel company, said that Cappadocia in central Anatolia, known for its fairy chimneys and unique landscape, is another place of interest for Chinese people. "Pamukkale, known as the Cotton Castle in the southwestern province of Denizli, the archaeological site of Ephesus in western Izmir, are also usually filled with Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival," Yesilyurt told Xinhua. According to Yesilyurt, a new generation of Chinese travelers is becoming increasingly visible in the luxury travel market, favoring boutique excursions into local communities, culinary tours, and more comfort factors such as high standards of accommodation. "They are not satisfied with just sightseeing these places but want to experience the special features of these regions," she said, noting that the trend has led Turkish tourism companies to act in line with their changing travel habits. Hamit Kuk, chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, said the Turkish tourism authorities have been working hard to attract more Chinese tourists, who are among the industry's top welcomed patrons. "We expect at least one million tourists from China in the next few years, and we hold regular meetings with Chinese officials, introducing them the places and special tours that might be of interest to Chinese tourists and conducting promotional activities accordingly," Kuk said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Kuk added that Turkey hosted approximately 248,000 Chinese tourists in 2023 and expects exponential growth in the coming years. Revenue from tourism in Turkiye increased by 17 percent year-on-year to 54.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, and the number of visitors rose by 10 percent to 56.7 million. KERALA LOTTERY STHREE SAKTHI SS-402 RESULT ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Sthree Sakthi SS-402 lucky draw for Tuesday, February 13. Check the full list of winning numbers below. ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Karunya KR-641 WINNERS for February 17, 2024; First Prize Rs 80 Lakh! FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR STHREE SAKTHI SS-402 LOTTERY WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE SN 588585 SO 588585 SP 588585 SR 588585 ST 588585 SU 588585 SV 588585 SW 588585 SX 588585 SY 588585 SZ 588585 WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 75 LAKH IS SS 588585 (KASARAGOD) Agent Name: Agent Name: ARJUN P Agency No: S 1035 WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 10 LAKH IS SY 271701 (KARUNAGAPPALLY) Agent Name: SAMEENA SABEER Agency No: Q 7056 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE 0991 1667 2871 2913 3263 3694 3979 4399 4829 6208 6580 6982 7016 7117 7248 7382 9557 9938 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 2,000 ARE 2269 2892 3726 3951 7317 7343 7879 8992 9491 9570 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE 0049 0082 0322 1390 2077 2126 2452 3316 3551 3671 3923 4443 5893 7198 7360 7640 8320 8323 8671 9327 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE 0045 0415 0825 1666 1831 1979 2043 2960 3443 3476 3739 3794 3941 4047 4186 4478 4519 4547 4834 5100 5232 5629 6068 6085 6719 6815 6864 6931 7052 7062 7122 7387 7406 7720 7794 7886 7901 7928 8183 8334 8364 8569 8590 8641 8750 8967 8969 9097 9250 9635 9932 9994 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 200 ARE 0312 0337 0414 0526 0578 0640 0700 0750 0830 0873 0943 0996 1129 1200 1437 1607 1626 1638 2150 2294 2566 2743 3108 3141 3380 3564 3640 4075 4201 4692 4852 5319 5885 5892 6020 6687 6734 7355 7887 8113 8304 8637 8694 9133 9576 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE 0011 0080 0125 0383 0412 0723 0733 0801 0858 0887 1044 1057 1071 1085 1090 1146 1151 1194 1394 1432 1527 1573 1617 1625 1629 1698 1851 1899 2096 2315 2323 2366 2371 2497 2587 2642 2682 2875 2951 2969 2971 2991 3004 3175 3204 3287 3428 3552 4051 4091 4127 4328 4494 4496 4550 4624 4719 4746 4799 4903 5208 5311 5380 5534 5635 5711 5754 5761 5767 5799 6184 6200 6202 6283 6480 6652 6762 6789 6847 6889 6890 6902 7091 7159 7470 7484 7576 7639 7664 7677 7730 7782 7857 7902 7995 8036 8056 8175 8279 8393 8415 8460 8510 8622 8672 8690 8886 8888 8951 8971 8979 9023 9056 9067 9126 9199 9214 9230 9236 9281 9512 9550 9590 9597 9606 9718 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT: STHREE SAKTHI SS-402 PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 75 lakh 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakh 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 HOW TO VERIFY KERALA STHREE SAKTHI SS-402 LOTTERY RESULTS? Participants, wanting to confirm their winning numbers for the Sthree Sakthi SS-402 lottery results, have two options available. They can either visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info or make a personal visit to the designated location. HOW TO COLLECT YOUR PRIZE MONEY? To confirm their winning status, individuals should cross-check their ticket numbers in the Kerala Government Gazette against the announced winning numbers. Upon validation of a match, winners must claim their prizes within 30 days of the results declaration by visiting the Kerala lottery office in Thiruvananthapuram in person. For authentication purposes, it is essential to present the winning ticket along with valid identification. A taxi crashed into the cavalcade of West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose in the national capital on Tuesday. The WB Governor was immediately moved to a high-security zone following the incident which took place in the Inderpuri area of Delhi. According to reports, one of the vehicles in WB Governor CV Ananda Boses motorcade brushed with the taxi. The taxi driver, identified as Ajit, unaware that the car belonged to the WB Governor, followed it to the guest house and crashed into his motorcade. He was immediately taken into custody by the security guards and Delhi Police was promptly informed. The driver has been detained by the Delhi police and is being questioned. The incident is suspected to be connected to Governor Boses visit to the unrest-hit area of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal a day ago. An investigation into the incident is underway. I was in Kerala, trying to organise an exhibition for Bengal. I was shocked to hear the news of Sandeshkhali. I cut short my visit and am going to Sandeshkhali to find out what sandesh (message) the people have, the WB Governor said before his visit to Sandeshkhali on Monday. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said those behind the Sandeshkhali violence had been put behind bars. Anyone can go to Sandeshkhali. We have no issues with that. We have already sent the state womens commission team there. They returned and submitted a report. Those who have instigated violence have been arrested. The situation is being monitored closely and necessary steps are being taken, she said while speaking to reporters at Dumurjala stadium in Howrah district. Uttar Pradesh is set to emerge as a frontrunner in the field of green hydrogen market with its goal to achieve 1 million tonne per annum (mtpa) green hydrogen production capacity. In an interview to News18, Anupam Shukla, Director, Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), said the state is ready with its Green Hydrogen Policy 2023 which will play a pivotal role in achieving 1 mtpa green hydrogen production capacity. UPNEDA is the nodal agency designation for the implementation of the solar energy policy, bio energy policy, and other renewable energy schemes. Edited excerpts: What is green hydrogen and how is its production going to boost UPs economy? Green hydrogens principal purpose is to help limit global warming, reduce dependence on fossil fuel by replacing grey hydrogen, and provide for an expanded set of end-uses in specific economic sectors. Green hydrogen is produced by the process of electrolysis of water using renewable energy or using banked renewable energy. Biomassbased hydrogen, produced using pyrolysis of biogas or other biomass products, is also classified as green hydrogen. To promote green hydrogen production and this sector in the state, we have prepared a draft of Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2023, which is likely to get the governments nod soon. Our goal is to achieve 1 million tonne per annum (mtpa) green hydrogen production capacity and generate 120,000 jobs. In this regard, we will also establish two centres of excellence dedicated to research and innovation in green hydrogen. It was during Global Investor Summit (GIS) 2023 that the UP government received the investment proposals worth Rs 2.73 trillion for green hydrogen plants from 20 leading companies. Of these, the process to ensure the implementation of nine projects, having capacity of about 12,000MW by five developer companies, is already underway. The much awaited ground-breaking ceremony is slated to be held on February 19. What can we expect from it when it comes to the renewable energy sector? We are ready for the show. In the Global Investor Summit (GIS) 2023, UPNEDA received a total investment proposal worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore in the renewable energy sector. Of these, we are ready with 111 projects, including 32 solar energy projects worth Rs 45000 crore, 74 bio energy projects worth Rs 5,000 crore and five pumped storage projects. The UP government has allocated over 6,000 acres of land in the last couple of months for the implementation of the project. The government has planned to transform 17 cities, including pilgrim cities like Ayodhya and Varanasi, into solar cities. What measures are being taken to facilitate this mega transformation? Ayodhya is the first city to be developed as the model solar city under the UP governments Solar City Programme. The program includes installation of solar rooftops, solar high masts, solar street lights, solar trees, solar cold storage, solar boats, solar parks, and solar water, the establishment of kiosks and solar energization of pump stations etc. In addition, the government has also sanctioned an amount of Rs 28.2 crore to facilitate the transformation. More than 2,500 solar lights have been installed in Ayodhya along with other amenities such as ATMs and solar trees on around 40 intersections. Not only in Ayodhya, equal efforts are being made in Varanasi, too, where there are plans to install rooftop solar plants across government buildings. As per the plan, more than 25,000 rooftop solar plans would be installed on the roofs of the government offices. UPNEDA is also organising programs to promote special communication in districts like Kanpur, Varanasi, Aligarh etc to increase the adoption of rooftop solar. We have decided to train 3,000 Surya Mitras this year. In further efforts, training centers have been set up at several locations (Chinhat-Lucknow, Ghosi-Mau, Siyarmau-Kannauj and in tie-up with various ITI institutes) to ensure wider access to skill development programs under Surya Mitra Yojana. Of the 1,900 youth who have been trained so far, 65 have successfully secured employment and 90 have taken up self-employment ventures. How many solar projects and bio-energy projects are underway in UP? In the next two years, some of the major projects to be started include solar parks in UPs Jhansi 600 MW, Lalitpur 600 MW and Chitrakoot 800 MW. The process of land acquisition has been completed 90% in Jhansi, 75% in Lalitpur and 60% in Chitrakoot. These projects ranging between Rs 4,000-5,000 crore will be implemented by Tusco Limited. UPNEDA has partnered with central PSUs like THDC, NHPC and SECI to implement utility-scale solar projects in the state. Apart from this, Solar Park in UPs Jalaun 1200 MW, Kalpi Solar Power Project 65 MW, Madhogarh Solar Power Project 45 MW and Mirzapur Solar Power Project 100 MW will be implemented by BSUL. LSPDCL is implementing Jalaun Solar Park (Dakor) 40 MW, Jalaun Solar Park (Guna) 75 MW, Jalaun Solar Park (Parasan) 75 MW and Kanpur Dehat Solar Park (Gujarai) 50 MW. Besides, LSPDCL has already established Prayagraj Solar Park and Mirzapur Solar Park 75 MW. The government is also promoting bio-energy projects and aiming to set up at least 1 bioenergy project in every tehsil of the state. The government has given approval for 80 bio-energy projects, costing Rs 2,960 crore. How can the renewable energy sector help Uttar Pradesh achieve the goal of being $1 trillion economy? In the last seven years, the renewable energy capacity in the state has been increased to a total of 4300 MW by using 2100 MW solar energy and 2200 MW bioenergy. To further maximise the capacity, the government has released the UP Solar Energy Policy 2022 and Bioenergy Policy 2022. The government is committed to the sustainable development of the state through energy transition. To achieve the goal of creating a $1 trillion economy, UPNEDA, the nodal agency designated for renewable energy works in the state, is promoting the use of various sources of renewable energy. So far, about 302 MW capacity solar rooftop plants have been installed in the state. In total, solar rooftop plants have been installed in 1,527 buildings of additional social institutions/educational institutions/government/semi-government, industrial and commercial institutions. And to further promote the use of solar rooftops, UPNEDA has also launched various awareness drives in the districts like Ayodhya, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Aligarh etc to make the masses aware of the benefits of solar energy. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has made it amply clear that the state government will amend the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 and make it so stringent and watertight that hookah bar operators wont be able to get the order reversed in their favour in courts. Its a matter of health. There will be absolutely no compromise on that front. We are looking at making more amendments to the COTPA law so that we can make it more enforceable and very stringent. They may want to challenge it in the courts, but we are very clear that despite the appeal from the sellers of hookah and shisha, the ban will not be revoked, Rao told News18. An official ban was imposed on February 3 this year after the state health department received several complaints from parents and various sections of the society seeking a blanket ban on hookah products in the state, citing ill-effects on the health of children and young adults. COTPA would also be amended in Karnataka to allow only those above the age of 21 buy tobacco products as against the current minimum age requirement of 18. According to studies, 45 minutes of hookah smoking is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes and is cited as harmful to health. According to the report of the World Health Organization, hookah is an addictive substance, which contains nicotine or molasses and flavouring substances containing a large amount of carbon monoxide, which is very harmful to health, the order stated. Close on the heels of Karnataka, Telangana also unanimously passed the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Telangana Amendment) Bill 2024, which prohibits hookah parlours from operating with immediate effect. In Karnataka, the government amended the COTPA and imposed a ban on sales, consumption, possession, and advertising of hookah products across the state. We are not sure what additives are put in hookahs, and there is no body that monitors it, plus it was being made available in public places, like restaurants and bars, and could cause health hazards to people around. It is like allowing smoking there and is a huge health hazard from passive smokers, Rao told News18. Karnataka made it clear that hookah bars or places serving them not only pose as a health hazard but also put people at risk of the spread of various communicable diseases like Covid-19, hepatitis, herpes, and tuberculosis, in addition to being a fire hazard. Bengaluru had last year witnessed a massive fire break out at a hookah cafe on the fourth floor of a building in Koramangala. The fire started from the coal stored at the illegal hookah centre, which only had a food licence. The order issued by the government categorised hookah as a tobacco product under COTPA and nicotine as poison under the Karnataka Poisons Rules 2015. Dr (Prof) US Vishal Rao, member of the High Power Committee on Tobacco Control, Government of Karnataka, pointed out that hookah bars face scrutiny for exploiting a loophole in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. They attempt to evade the prescribed 28% GST rate and a 72% cess, also known as a sin tax, by including hookah in their food and beverage offerings. The strategy employed by hookah bars involves presenting hookah as a component of food and beverages, thereby subjecting it only to a 5% GST. Proponents of this approach argue that hookah can be classified as an article for human consumption, allowing it to fall under the lower tax bracket, he said, adding that hookah has been recognised for significant health risks, including potential harm to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Mohammed Danish, president of the Shisha Cafes and Restaurants Association, told the media that the association had filed writ petitions before the High Court against the ban. The body had claimed that over 25,000 people were employed by these hookah bars, and all of them would be rendered jobless because of the blanket ban. Claiming that there are over 900 hookah bars in Karnataka, 500 of which are located in Bengaluru, Danish said many of the hookah bars were built on loans from banks and the ban has led to major losses. Bobby Deol has been all the rage since the release of the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial film Animal last year. However, this fanfare is not new for the actor. With films like Gupt and Soldier, Bobby Deol has been quite the sensation in the late 1990s. In an old interview with Filmfare, Bobby recalled filming Barsaat with Twinkle Khanna and revealed that they didnt get along with each other. Bobby said, Tina and I didnt get along from day one. We were at each others throats throughout the making of Barsaat. Wed fight about silly things. I used to irritate her by talking about the morning ablutions and the importance of a clean stomach. She used to find that obnoxious. She hated it when I used abusive words, shed get all hot and bothered. And I loved needling her. On the day of the premiere, we travelled together in the same car. I was a nervous wreck. Im sure even she was but she hid it well. Throughout the car journey, I just held her hand. And you know what happened after the premiere? I heard her use foul lingo. I was taken aback. Throughout the shooting, shed nagged me about giving gaalis. And here she was doing the same. When I told her this, she just chortled, Bobby shared. Bobby recalled how one time the actress fainted during the films shoot. He said, Once I remember we were shooting in Rohtang Pass near Manali. The oxygen supply was close to scarce. And she fainted. We had to pack up, she really gave us a scare. Bobby Deol will soon be seen in Kanguva. Kanguva marks Bobby Deols Tamil debut. In December 2023, the actor shared that his character in the Suriya-starrer goes beyond his usual comfort zone. This role is definitely out of my comfort zone, also I dont know the language, so that is again totally out of my zone. I cant even learn Tamil in a month or two, but I will work on it, he told India Today. Bobbys poster for the film was released on his birthday this year and received a massively positive response. Gandhi, My Father and Saas Bina Sasural star Darshan Jariwala has been accused of impregnating a journalist. However, his lawyer has denied the claim and said that Darshan has a medical issue that stops him from impregnating a woman. Darshan has been under the fire since December 2023. A journalist accused him of impregnating her and abandoning her thereafter. Darshan, who was the Vice President, General Secretary of the trust and an Executive Committee member of CINTAA, sparked a controversy following the claims and was forced to resign from his positions. While the actor is yet to address the media directly, his lawyer, Saveena Bedi Sachar, issued a statement denying claims that he impregnated the journalist. Speaking with Times Now, Saveena said, She (the journalist) has been using very defamatory words whenever she puts up her posts. Secondly, our claim is that a lot of Whatsapp messages which she has been putting up on Facebook and spreading to his friends as well as CINTAA members are false. There are some texts in which he is seemingly seen making some offensive comments against his CINTAA colleagues as well as certain actors. Darshan says that they are not original messages. He has never sent them, they are fake. He has never chatted with her in that manner. Yet she is posting them and this is our basic grounds of filing a defamation case. We have already filed the suit, Darshans lawyer added. Addressing the impregnating claims, the lawyer said, He cannot become a father. His own partner is finding it difficult to conceive. He and his partner have been trying to conceive so hard but they arent able to because of his medical problem. This lady says that she has suddenly got pregnant. Till date, I havent seen any particular report except some sonography. This may come up in the defamation hearing too. The number of weeks (of her pregnancy) and the scanned photo that she has sent basically doesnt match. In medical terms, the sonography report is fake, it isnt how it should look like. There are medical discrepancies here. The report should be on double screen but she has put it with a single screen. He anyway has medical issues so the child is not his. The journalist reacted the claims and said that she has the actors medical reports which disprove claims that he is medically unfit to be a father. Meanwhile, CINTAAs General Secretary Amit Behl said they asked Darshan to step down after the journalist presented proof which tarnished the organisations image. Doctor Slump, the medical Korean drama starring Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye in the lead, premiered on January 27 this year. The romantic comedy with a medical perspective did not take much time to find a place in the hearts of the audience. The credit goes to stellar performances by Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye and the interesting storyline of their lives. When the sixth Doctor Slump episode aired on February 11, viewers were taken by surprise when Lee Sung Kyung made a special cameo appearance. While the masses were gripped with excitement to watch Lee Sung Kyungs role, they also dived deep to find the reason behind the actress inclusion in the series. According to a report by Koreaboo, Doctor Slump director Oh Hyun-jong personally requested Lee Sung Kyung to feature in the shows 6th instalment for a brief cameo role. The decision was taken because the actress previously worked with Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye. While Lee Sung Kyung and Park Shin-hye starred in the 2016 K-drama Doctors, she worked with Park Hyung-sik for the dubbing of the 2016 animated movie Trolls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@heybiblee) As per a statement by Doctor Sumps production team, Once again, we would like to thank Lee Sung-kyung, who readily agreed to make a special appearance. Because shed also worked with both Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye before, she made the atmosphere on set even more fun and delightful." The statement added that Lee Sung-kyung will have a powerful presence" in the show, different from the usual special appearances. When Doctor Slumps 6th episode was aired recently, the masses were overjoyed to witness their three beloves stars Park Hyung-sik, Park Shin-hye, and Lee Sung Kyung on-screen. Online discussions suggested that Lee Sung-kyung was selected because she previously played the role of a cardiothoracic surgeon in the 2016 web series Dr Romantic. Additionally, she worked with Oh Hyun-jong in the drama show Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo. Doctor Slump revolves around the lives of doctors Yeo Jeon-woo (Park Hyung-Sik) and Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye). The academically brilliant individuals who were once arch-rivals at school stumble upon one another in a chance encounter. Their personal worst slumps" are what binds the duo together as they begin a journey towards healing, finding solace in each others company. Lee Sung-kyung starred as Yeo Jeon-woo and Nam Ha-neuls former high school classmate Han Wo-ri. She was also the ex-girlfriend of Yeo Jeon-woo. Actor Sultan Rahi from Pakistan made headlines not just for the number of films he starred in, but for setting a Guinness World Record and becoming the highest-paid actor in the country during his time. Known as the Clint Eastwood of Pakistan, Sultan Rahi was a colossal figure in the Pakistan film industry, boasting a staggering career spanning 40 years with a remarkable tally of 800 films. This unprecedented feat earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific actor. Among these films, he appeared as the lead actor in 535 and took on double roles in 59, another record. His repertoire included 703 Punjabi films and 100 Urdu-language films, showcasing his versatility and range as an actor. Rahis exceptional talent garnered him over 160 awards throughout his illustrious career. One of his most iconic roles was in the 1979 action film Maula Jatt which is considered a cult classic and a landmark in Pakistani cinema. The movies immense success catapulted Sultan Rahi to superstardom, solidifying his status as Lollywoods biggest star. Maula Jatt enjoyed unprecedented popularity, achieving diamond jubilee status and running for an astounding 15 months in theatres. Its impact on the Pakistani cinema landscape was profound, reshaping the industrys dynamics. Tragically, Sultan Rahis life came to a premature end under distressing circumstances. While travelling with his friend Ahsan from Islamabad to Lahore, their vehicle encountered a flat tyre on the main highway. As they attempted to replace the tyre, they were confronted by thieves who ultimately shot and fatally wounded both friends. Sultan Rahi succumbed to his injuries on January 9, 1996, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in the film world. Sultan Rahi started his cinematic journey with a guest role in the 1956 film Baghi. However, it was his breakthrough performance in the 1975 film Wehshi Jatt, an unofficial prequel to Maula Jatt, that propelled him into the limelight. Throughout his illustrious career, he left an indelible mark with notable works such as Behram Daku, Sher Khan, Sala Sahib and Ghulami, among others, cementing his status as a legend in Pakistani cinema. Actor Tom Cruise has recently confirmed his relationship with Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova. Cruise, 61, and Khayrova, 36, have become an official couple, according to sources cited by the Daily Mail. Maintaining a low profile, the pair have been discreet about their relationship for a long time, preferring to keep it out of the public eye. Despite their efforts to avoid paparazzi, insiders reveal that Cruise has been spending a lot of time with Khayrova, engaging in typical couple activities despite their affluent status. Both Cruise and Khayrova were reportedly seen together at a charity dinner supporting Londons Air Ambulance Charity, with Prince William in attendance as the guest of honor. Their close friends have disclosed that the majority of their time is spent at Khayrovas apartment in Knightsbridge, London, often enjoying private dinners at exclusive restaurants in the city. Tom has been staying the night at Elsinas apartment, which as you can imagine, is a very beautiful place. They enjoy hanging out together and despite their wealth, do a lot of the things that normal couples do, reports Daily Mail, citing an insider. Its well known within Elsinas circle that she and Tom are now an item. Theyve grown very close over the past few weeks but take a lot of care not to be photographed together because they want to maintain their privacy, the media outlet adds. Rumours of their romance initially surfaced after sightings of the couple at a party in Londons Mayfair neighborhood in December of the previous year. An eyewitness described them as inseparable, indicating Cruises evident affection for Khayrova. They were inseparable, clearly a couple. He seemed to be besotted with her, an eyewitness told the Daily Mail at the time. Cruise, who has been married three times before, was previously wed to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes. On the other hand, Khayrova, a mother of two, separated from her ex-husband Dmitry Tsetkov in 2022. Tsetkov publicly discussed their contentious divorce in 2023, disclosing the considerable financial toll it took on him. Khayrova, a British citizen, is originally from Russia. She is the daughter of Rinat Khayrova, a member of the Russian Military Police. Khayrova often shares photographs of her life on social media, including heartfelt messages for her children. August 30, 2022. Eight Indian Navy personnel are arrested by Qatars intelligence agency on charges of spying for Israel. October 26, 2023. All eight are sentenced to death. On December 1, 2023. PM Narendra Modi meets Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of Cop28. December 28, 2024. The death sentence is commuted to life in jail. February 12, 2024. All eight Indian Navy officials are set free. Within 18 months of their arrest for alleged espionage and barely two months since they got the death sentence in an Islamic country, Bharat brought its Navy men back to the homeland. Modis opponents did not waste even this very short time to relentlessly mock him, almost celebratory about the incarceration of fellow Indians. Only to eat an unpalatable member of the aves species in the end and have its eggs smeared all over their face. Let us look at seven such unthinkable feats that the Modi government has pulled off in the last 10 years. Not the most impactful or high-profile that would run into several dozens but the ones we would not perceive to be possible before 2014. These are the ones that have inspired the slogan: Modi hai toh mumkin hai (if Modi is around, anything is possible). Qatar and other rescues The Qatar rescue turns on its head several accepted myths about Modi and international diplomacy. While his enemies have stubbornly called him anti-Muslim, his influence in the Islamic world keeps stupefying them into silence. No other PM has had this kind of influence. The way his government has rescued stranded Indians from ISIS-held Syria or Covid-wrecked Iran or war-torn Yemen, or Bharats troops fighting from South Sudan to Djibouti, is lore now. Pakistan had to return captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman within days in fear of a full-scale invasion. Articles 370 and 35A August 5, 2019, has gone down in world history as an example of how the dark, violent destiny of an entire region can be changed with the single slice of the pen by striking down legislations that enabled the darkness. Indians at most expected tinkering. They got a new Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Ayodhya and other mandirs Mandir whine banayenge, lekin date nahin batayenge, was the opponents jibe against the BJP. In the party manifesto for decades, nobody thought a temple would actually be built at the disputed Ayodhya site. After winning in the Supreme Court, the Modi government facilitated the construction in less than five years. The Gyanvapi mosque, built after destroying a part of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, has been taken up. The Shahi Idgah at the Mathuras Krishna Janmabhoomi is being fought in court. Amit Shah inaugurated Ma Sharda Devi temple near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district. And on February 14, PM Modi will inaugurate Abu Dhabis first Hindu temple, the BAPS mandir. All this was beyond the reach of popular imagination till now. Demonetisation and digital payments DeMo in itself was politically unthinkable. But Modi took the risk which no politician in his or her right mind would. Then came the narrative that it will wreck the poor. In reality, it became the inflection point for the poor and the underdog to start trusting the BJP, which till then was known as the party of Brahmins and Baniyas. Then the Opposition dismissively said how would the rural or urban poor use digital payments. But they did. In volumes that India today leads in digital payments, beating US and China combined. Surgical strikes, staring down the Dragon Nearly half a century after 1971, Indian fighter jets flew deep into Pakistan to bomb terror camps. Before that, Bharats commandos stormed across the borders in Pakistan and Myanmar to eliminate terrorists. And most importantly, India stood nose-to-nose against China at Doklam, Galwan and Pangong Tso, greatly irking the Dragon. Vaccinating Bharat and the world in Covid When the Covid pandemic broke out, Indias health sector was a carefully preserved relic with creaking infrastructure and pitiable capacity. From there to developing its own vaccine and administering doses to more than 2.2 billion Indians (almost vaccinating the entire population twice over), Bharat transformed into a benign and fantastic beast. To top it, the Modi government sent vaccines and anti-Covid gear to more than 100 nations, leading the world in Covid diplomacy. Indian economy closing in on third spot When Narendra Modi took over from Manmohan Singh 10 years ago, India was the 10th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $1.9 trillion at current market prices. Today, it is at $4.1 trillion at the fifth place. It is galloping towards being the third largest economy behind the US and China by 2027. These seven achievements stand out because each of them were inconceivable. They would sound like unrealistic bombast in the past. Turning them into reality is why Narendra Modi has already booked a shining place in history. What is staggering is that there may be many more on the way. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. With an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are tying to woo farmers, who started their Delhi Chalo protest on Tuesday, demanding a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP), one of the conditions they had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws in 2021. ALSO READ | Farmers Protest LIVE Updates HERE At a rally in Chhattisgarh, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi said their party would provide legal guarantee to MSP for crops as per the Swaminathan report after coming to power, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments in Punjab and Delhi were seen to be standing firmly with the farmers, as they clashed with police along the Shambhu-Ambala border on the common boundaries of Haryana and Punjab. The Swaminathan report recommends raising the MSP to at least 50% above the weighted cost of production. With Punjab under its belt, the AAP is treading carefully, not wanting to send a wrong signal to the majority of its constituency of voters there. The AAP has already announced that it will contest all 13 seats in the state and hopes to score big, which is only possible with the support of farmers. The Congress is also in competition with the AAP in Punjab, which is why both are vying for the same farmers votes. IN PUNJAB In Punjab, chief minister Bhagwant Mann, acting as a mediator, tried to resolve the brewing standoff by organising a meeting between the ministers of the central government and farmers unions in which he also participated during the first round of discussions. Mann also allowed a free passage to the farmers as they moved towards Delhi. Just a couple of days before the protest, Mann also hit out against his Haryana counterpart, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, accusing him of creating a border between Punjab and India. I urge the Centre to hold talks with farmers and accept their genuine demands. They (Haryana) have created a border. There are as many barbed wires in the borders of Punjab and Haryana as between India and Pakistan. ALSO READ | Delhi Chalo Stir: Why Farmers From Punjab Marching Towards Capital? What Are Their Demands? | Explained The Punjab CM, however, was not present when talks between the union ministers and farmers unions happened on Monday. AAP pic.twitter.com/BDrOPAxFXT AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 13, 2024 IN DELHI In Delhi, the AAP government turned down a proposal from the Delhi police to turn Bawana stadium into a temporary jail in view of the protests. AAP minister Kailash Gahlot, while rejecting the proposal of the Centre, wrote, The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the Constitutional right of every citizen to protest peacefully. The Central government should, in fact, invite them over for talks and try to find a solution to their problems. ALSO READ | Just Short of Entire Budget: Why Protesting Farmers Demand for Guaranteed MSP on All Crops Is Unviable The minister added that the farmers in the country are its annadata and treating them this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be party to this decision of the Central government. Hence, approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail. The ministers response in fact is a redux of the AAP governments response in 2020-21, when it had similarly turned down the Central governments proposal to turn the Bawana stadium into a temporary jail. In fact, AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal had made political capital of the same, alleging that his stand during the farmers protest had earned him the wrath of the Central government. During the first round of farmers protest, the AAP MLAs had reached out to the protesting farmers in the Singhu border and were visible in their support. However, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha had not allowed the leader of any political party, including the AAP, to take centerstage in its very determined and pitched protests. MSP 3 pic.twitter.com/cKBa1pWKiL Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 13, 2024 FARMERS: CONGRESSS LUCKY MASCOT The Congress had come back to power in 2019 with a huge majority on the basis of farm loan waivers. The party believes that farmers can be their lucky mascot once again, hence the total support to the protesting farmers. At a press conference, Randeep Surjewala, who comes from Haryana and is an MP in Rajya Sabha, said that this was barbaric and the government was a tyrant to attack farmers. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party a day after tendering his resignation from the Congress. Chavan will file his Rajya Sabha nomination on February 14. #WATCH | Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan joins the BJP at the partys office in Mumbai. He recently quit Congress.Former Congress MLC Amar Rajurkar also joined the BJP. pic.twitter.com/2833wY76am ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Giving another blow to the grand old party, Chavan on Monday resigned from the partys primary membership before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The former Congress leader was reportedly unhappy with the grand old partys decisions in the state. In a statement, Chavan said, I hereby submit my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party with effect from 12/02/2024 noon. He met Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar in Mumbai on Monday and submitted his resignation. Meanwhile, the BJP top brass in the state also arrived at the partys Mumbai Pradesh Office, sources said. This move from the son of former chief minister and Union Home Minister S B Chavan comes days after the exit of senior Congress leader Baba Siddique, who joined Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party on Saturday. Siddique broke his 48-year-long association with the grand old Congress party. Earlier in January, Congress leader Milind Deora also resigned from the primary membership of the party, ending his familys 55-year association with Congress. Yesterday, after Chavans resignation, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had passed a cryptic remark saying, Aagey aagey dekho hota hai kya (wait and watch what happens next). Chavans resignation also triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray claimed that the BJP is evolving into a Congress occupied BJP. Expressing his astonishment at Chavans exit, Thackeray highlighted the potential consequences on state farmers welfare if leaders prioritise personal interests. Though Chavan denied the claim, it is being said that the mention of Adarsh Building scam in the white paper tabled in the Parliament last week might have been a potential factor in his exit. The Adarsh Building scam was a scandal that led to Chavans resignation as state Chief Minister in 2010. Chavan is an accused in the Adarsh housing society scam wherein a 31-storey posh building in south Mumbai was constructed allegedly on land owned by the Defence Ministry without getting the requisitre permissions and clearances. Charges under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy and cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act were pressed against Chavan. This matter is pending before the Supreme Court which had stayed the case proceedings in 2018. DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji tendered his resignation on Monday, eight months after his arrest in a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday accepted Balajis resignation. The DMK leader was arrested by the federal agency on June 14 last year. Balaji was the first minister in the MK Stalin-led government to face such an action from a central agency. The ED had launched multi-city searches in the state in June at the premises linked to the DMK leader. After his questioning, Balaji was hospitalised as he complained of uneasiness. State Minister P K Sekar Babu claimed there were symptoms that Balaji has been tortured. Following the DMK ministers arrest, his energy portfolio was given to Tamil Nadu finance minister Thangam Tennarasu as an additional charge. While Housing minister S Muthuswamy was given the additional portfolio of prohibition and excise ministry. In November last year, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to Senthil Balaji on medical grounds. Declining Balajis bail plea, the apex court said the condition of the jailed politician doesnt seem to be very serious to get a special leave. A bench comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma asked Balaji to apply for regular bail before the trial court. The court was hearing the DMK leaders plea against Madras High Courts order in which he was refused bail on medical grounds. WHAT WAS THE CASE? The Supreme Court in May last year had allowed police and the ED to investigate an alleged cash-for-jobs scam against the DMK strongman. Balaji was the transport minister in the AIADMK government led by the late J Jayalalitha in 2011-15. It was alleged that Balaji received kickbacks from various persons for appointing them as drivers and conductors in the transport corporations. Three FIRs were registered against him and later charge sheets were also filed. The ED registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Balaji and others in July 2021 and took up the investigation. Balaji had joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on December 14, 2018. He won the assembly elections held in April 2021 and has been serving as minister for electricity, prohibition, and excise in the MK Stalin government. The NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commissions decision to allocate the party name and symbol to the group led by Ajit Pawar. Calling ECs move Unconstitutional, Pawar in his plea said that having a majority is not the only test under the Symbols Act. In a setback to Sharad Pawar, the Election Commission on February 6 recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and also allotted the party symbol clock to the group led by him. The development came over seven months after Ajit Pawar split the NCP to join the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. Pawar on Sunday called the Election Commissions decision surprising and said that the poll body has snatched the party from the hands of its founders and gave it to others. He also said the programme and ideology are important for the people while a symbol is useful for a limited period. I am confident that people will not support the Election Commission ruling against which we have approached the Supreme Court, Sharad Pawar told reporters in Pune. Pawar, who had served as chief minister of Maharashtra and also as union minister, founded the NCP in 1999 after breaking away from Congress. The EC snatched the party from the hands of those who founded and built it and gave it to others; such a thing never happened before in the country, he said. The senior politician also recalled that he had contested his first election on the symbol of a pair of bullocks. The programme and ideology are more important than any symbol, he said. The EC had said that its decision followed the laid-out tests of maintainability of such a petition which included tests of aims and objectives of the party constitution, the test of party constitution and tests of majority, both organisational and legislative. The poll body has allotted Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar as the party name for the group led by Sharad Pawar. India Governments Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In keeps sending out alerts, warning the masses about various vulnerabilities that are discovered in consumer-grade productsbe it Android or iOS, Mac, or Windows. Now, it is back with yet another alert in the form of multiple high risk vulnerabilities found in Google Chrome. CVE-2024-1283 and CVE-2024-1284 are the Google Chrome vulnerabilities in question here. Whats The Risk? Being high-risk vulnerabilities, they are susceptible to be exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code, which is basically a denial of service (DoS) attack, and this, in turn, can be used to steal sensitive information from the target computer easily. Further, CERT-In said, These vulnerabilities exist in Google Chrome due to Use after free in Mojo and Heap buffer overflow in Skia. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a specially crafted request on the targeted system. Who Is Affected And How To Be Safe? These Google Chrome vulnerabilities exist in both Google Chrome for Windows versions 122.0.6167.160/161 and before, and Google Chrome for Mac and Linux version 122.0.6167.160 and before. To be safe, users must download the latest available software update for Google Chrome on whichever platform they are on. Google has listed the security fixes here that come with the stable channel update. In related news, CERT-In, last week, had also warned users about vulnerabilities that were found in Android OS as well. These vulnerabilities affect Android versions 11, 12, 13, and 14, and that they exist within the framework, system, arm components, and MediaTek components, Unisoc components, Qualcomm components, and Qualcomm close-sourced components. Remember that TMKOC episode where the Gokuldham society members engaged in a spirited game of antakshari, and Jethalal, eager to showcase his rendition of Chikni Chameli, ingeniously swapped the line Pawwa chadake aayi for Gas pe bataka Pawwa chadake aayi? Naturally, Bapujis discerning gaze prompted him to cleverly replace the intended quarter with the innocent Poha, a beloved Indian breakfast staple. But who would have thought a similar twist would manifest in real life, or perhaps just for laughs? A Gujarati individual shared a hilarious post expressing their longtime belief that the lyrics referred to Poha instead of Pawwa in the 2012 song. In a post by @spicydabeli on X, the individual quipped, Poha is pronounced pawwa in Gujarati. So for eighteen years of my life I thought Chikni Chameli would sneak out of her home, cook poha for her kids, and then dance at the bar. LOL! Whether deliberate or fabricated (because the song isnt eighteen years old), the man undeniably sparked laughter online, evoking fond memories of Jethalals iconic moment. Check it Out: Poha is pronounced pawwa in Gujarati. So for eighteen years of my life I thought Chikni Chameli would sneak out of her home, cook poha for her kids, and then dance at the bar kathan (@spicydabeli) February 10, 2024 So, youre saying that pawwa chadake aayi means woh chulhe pe chadana mean kar rahi thi, exclaimed one surprised user. When I went to live there for the first time I was genuinely confused how are there so many pavva houses in a dry state, remarked another. Also Read: Poha is Worst: Desis Hot Take on Indias Favourite Breakfast Causes Spicy Outrage Online The third one remarked, Imagine my amazement when as a Mumbai boy visiting Gujarat for the first time, someone offered me Pauwa for breakfast. So, youre saying that pawwa chadake aayi means woh chulhe pe chadana mean kar rahi thi.. Moinak Das (@d_moinak) February 10, 2024 When I went to live there for the first time I was genuinely confused how are there so many pavva houses in a dry state Ei (@electrocutieeee) February 10, 2024 Summing it up, one commenter mused, Now, I realise what jethalal means when sang an improvised version of the song like Gas Par Pawwa Chada k Ayi Due to Respect in front of His BapuJi. Also Read: Jethalal is a Simp: Mans Opinion on Dark Side of TMKOC Characters is Unpopular As Ever Well, who knew Poha could dish out laughs like this? Isnt it increasingly difficult to find a meal that ticks all the boxes quality, taste, and no contaminants? The frequency of incidents revealing everything from cockroaches to worms finding their way into meals lacking quality standards suggests that outside food is no longer the safe, trustworthy option it once was. Adding to this alarming trend, a recent incident involving an IndiGo passenger underscores the severity of the situation. Taking to Reddit, a user, @MacaroonIll3601, shared images revealing a startling discovery within their sandwicha sizable screw, presumably consumed at an airport. The photographs, posted under the Bangalore subreddit, depicted a Spinach and Corn sandwich adorned with an IndiGo sticker, indicating its origin on a flight they boarded on February 1st. Detailing their ordeal, the OP recounted, While traveling in Indigo recently on 01/02/24 from BNG to Chennai I got a screw in my sandwich. Also Read: Indigo Passenger Finds Live Worm In Sandwich; Airline Responds Further elaborating, they disclosed their attempt to seek redressal from IndiGo, only to receive a disheartening response alleging that since the sandwich was consumed post-flight, it didnt warrant consideration. Consequently, the OP sought advice on how to effectively address the issue with IndiGo in their now-viral post. Predictably, the comment section echoed sentiments of shock and dismay at the airlines apparent negligence. So thats where missing boeing nuts areBut in all seriousness this is very risky what if a child ingested that.. Airlines are whores of india they go unchecked with numerous complaints. You can do everything but s**t wont happen if it America youd be a millionaire, remarked one user. Pls reach out to their ceo and founder and higher management on linkedin and share this with them. Start with writing a post on Linkedin about your experience, no apology and how dangerous can this be for anyone and everyone. Everyone takes linkedin seriously. I am sure fb, insta wont help you but Linkedin definitely will. If possible, tag the ceo and airlines, suggested another. You can raise a complaint to DGCA, advised the third commenter. Also Read: Man Slams IndiGo For Not Selling Tea-Coffee Separately But With Snack Pack, Airline Responds Looks like the freebies arent always free from surprises! 3 Idiots remains a timeless topic of conversation, continually sparking inspiration in countless ways. Ranchos character, portrayed by Aamir Khan, imparts the timeless lesson of following ones heart and embracing fearlessness in life. Little did he know that his character would be taken to heart by a man from Madhya Pradesh, who, drawing from the films essence, embarked on a journey to rush his ailing grandfather to the hospital on his bike. Whether he truly saw himself as Rancho or not remains unclear, but the scene, captured vividly on video, seemed straight out of the movies storyboard. In the footage, the man boldly steers his motorbike into the Emergency ward of a hospital in Madhya Pradesh, his grandfather clinging on behind him with assistance from another individual. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the emergency ward, they navigate through, drawing surprised glances, before gently assisting the elderly man off the bike. Also Read: Suhas, You Were a Good Man: Twitter Users Real Take on This 3 Idiots Character Hits Hard This unconventional spectacle, akin to a cinematic moment, unfolded at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, approximately 450 km from the state capital, Bhopal. Heres the Viral Video: Scene from the movie 3 Idiots? No!MP: Man rides into hospitals Emergency ward on bike with his unconscious Grandfather! pic.twitter.com/c0BBx0rTWj Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) February 11, 2024 It was on Saturday night that the grandfather of a person named Neeraj Gupta fell ill, prompting a frantic journey to the Satna hospital on a motorcycle. A bystander questions the audacity of driving a vehicle into the hospital, to which the man defensively claims affiliation with the hospital. However, his justification fails to appease the skepticism of onlookers. The video concludes with the man manoeuvring his bike out of the ward, causing a brief stir among other patients. He hastily returned to the hospital to check on his grandfather, as shown in the video. Also Read: Oye Champ Dialogue From 3 Idiots is Now a Meme As Desis Add Humour to Everyday Problems Upon learning of the incident, the emergency ward doctor reprimands the man, raising concerns about his actions. The repercussions of his actions remain uncertain, leaving the question of whether any disciplinary measures were taken against him unresolved. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys and staunch advocate of the 70-hour workweek, was recently captured enjoying a sweet treat with his daughter, Akshata Murty, Britains esteemed first lady, at a popular ice cream parlour in Bengaluru. Their candid moment at the iconic Corner House in Jayanagar quickly became the talk of social media, eliciting both amusement and curiosity. Why, you ask? In the snapshot, Akshata, wife of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, sat casually beside her father, both savouring their ice cream cups as they posed for the camera. The internet couldnt help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of this father-daughter duo unwinding on a Monday evening, seemingly defying the very 70-hour workweek principle advocated by Mr. Murthy. Well, bringing 70 hours into conversations has become somewhat of a tradition for the online community, particularly among Desis, to turn such instances into witty memes whenever the topic of family or work-life balance arises. Also Read: Harsh Goenka Wants Narayana Murthy to Discuss 70-hour Work Week With Orry, Internet Ready to Live Its only 8.30 pm on a monday shouldnt they both hard at work getting their 70 hours in for the week, quipped one user on X, formerly Twitter, upon stumbling upon the viral photo. Another humorously remarked, They ask you to work 70 hours a week, so that they can belt a coconut scoop at 7pm on a Monday. Joining the jest, a third joked, 1 hour wasted, while a fourth cynically pondered, Is he on vacation ? What happen to 70 hrs work week schedule ?? its only 8.30 pm on a monday shouldnt they both hard at work getting their 70 hours in for the week https://t.co/B5MAWkfZTJ dukhtar (@tamarindric3) February 12, 2024 1 hour wasted Kana Sir (@Kanatunga) February 12, 2024 Is he on vacation ? What happen to 70 hrs work week schedule ?? EkBharatiya506 (@ekbharatiya506) February 12, 2024 They ask you to work 70 hours a week, so that they can belt a coconut scoop at 7pm on a Monday. https://t.co/ZLlut3YRlb Shiladitya Pandit (@mistershila) February 12, 2024 Meanwhile, the first lady was first spotted in India last week, alongside her esteemed parents, Narayana Murthy, and Sudha Murthy, to attend the launch event of author Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis latest book titled An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy. Also Read: Two Months to Live: Comedians Hilarious Breakdown of Narayana Murthys 70 Hours Philosophy The event, held at St Josephs College of Commerce in Bengaluru, provided a nostalgic platform for the Infosys founder to reminisce about his initial encounters with Mrs. Murty during the early 1970s. Sudha Murty, known for her avid love of literature, was also captivated by the extensive book collection of Mr. Murthys roommate, igniting the spark that would eventually lead to their enduring connection. An elderly man from the US has become the first recorded patient to die from Alaskapox a virus that is closely related to smallpox. Since 2015, only seven cases of the infection have been reported. Scientists first observed the virus in Fairbanks, Alaska. The virus known as AKPV spreads from small rodents to humans and causes mild illness including small skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes and muscle pain, according to a report by The Telegraph. The person who succumbed to the virus was immunocompromised and undergoing treatment for cancer. His complications arose after one of his skin lesions became infected which led to kidney failure and ultimately his death in late January. The man lived alone in Alaskas remote Kenai Peninsula and may have been infected after being scratched by a stray cat. There is no evidence that Alaskapox can be transmitted between humans but Alaskan health officials advised that the skin lesions should be covered with bandages as a preemptive measure. The US states department of health warned that domestic pets such as cats and dogs may also play a role in spreading the virus. Although we know the virus spreads in small rodents, such as voles and shrews, some patients in the past have suggested they were bitten by spiders, cats, or dogs. We dont really know how it is spread at this point. There is no reason to be alarmed, however. It is always good to be better informed about our interactions with wildlife. Washing our hands carefully with soap or alcohol-based products helps to protect against viruses, as well as recognising the signs of infection, Dr Stathis Giotis, a Research Fellow at the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London and lecturer of Molecular Virology at the University of Essex was quoted as saying by the UK-based The Telegraph. He also highlighted that scientists are yet to establish the pathogens main transmission route. He also said that even though it was discovered only 9 years ago it may have been circulating for a long time before that due to its mild nature. This means most infections flew under the radar. The virus is a species of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Cowpox, smallpox, and mpox are other members of the same family and these can infect humans. Arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other Tuesday of opening fire on their volatile border, with Yerevan saying Azerbaijani forces killed four of its soldiers as Russia urged restraint. Yerevan and Baku had fought two wars in 2020 and in the 1990s over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region before Azerbaijan recaptured in a lightning offensive last September. The deaths on Tuesday came several days after the re-election in Azerbaijan of President Ilham Aliyev, who has held power for two decades in the oil-rich Caspian country. Four were killed and one injured as a result of fire on Armenian positions from Azerbaijani troops, the Armenian defence ministry said in a statement. The fighting occurred near the village of Nerkin Hand in the southern region of Siunik. Azerbaijans border guards said the action was a riposte to a provocation on Monday by Armenian troops that Baku said had injured one Azerbaijani soldier. The Armenian foreign ministry accused Baku of constantly trying to thwart efforts of parties interested in the stability and security of the South Causus and called for a return to (peace) talks. The EUs foreign minister Josep Borrell slammed Bakus actions. Moscow urges restraint The Armenian shooting of the Azerbaijani soldiers yesterday was deplorable. But Azerbaijans response today seems disproportionate, Borrell said in a statement to the press. Russia which used to be the main mediator of the conflict but has in recent years been distracted down by its Ukraine invasion urged calm and called the violence worrying. We call on both sides to show restraint to avoid any acts that the opposite side could see as provocative, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Armenia has distanced itself from its historic ally Russia since Azerbaijans offensive, with Yerevan angry that Moscows peacekeeping force in Karabakh did not act during Azerbaijans takeover. Baku has denied having territorial claims to Armenia after having regained Karabakh and ruled out a fresh conflict with Yerevan. But Aliyev is suspected of trying to wrest control over Armenias Siunik region to link Azerbaijan to the exclave of Nakhchivan, which is also bordered by Iran and Turkey. Aliyevs election win last week was all but guaranteed after his countrys historic victory over Armenian separatists last year. Internationally mediated peace talks have so far failed to produce a breakthrough between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last month proposed a non-aggression pact, pending a comprehensive peace treaty between the neighbours. Pashinyan and Aliyev had previously said a peace agreement could have been signed by the end of last year. Almost the entire ethnic-Armenian population of Karabakh more than 100,000 people fled for Armenia following Bakus takeover, sparking a refugee crisis. The Canadian home of Inderjit Singh Gosal in Ontario province came under gunfire, the local police officials said on Monday. Gosal is a close associate of prominent US-based Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said construction workers found a bullet hole in a window of the home of Inderjit Singh Gosal. The police said there were no injuries in the shooting as the home in Brampton, Ontario is under construction and currently unoccupied. We understand who this person is and his affiliations, but its just too early for us to speculate that theres any connection to other violence and threats. We are obviously investigating it with all avenues in mind, Bell-Morena was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Pannun said the incident was a drive-by shooting. Earlier this month, a group of people shot at the British Columbia home of Simranjeet Singh, an associate of Nijjar. Two Canadian teens have been arrested for discharging a firearm, but a motive has not been determined by police, according to Canadian media. Both cases centre on radical Sikh separatists living abroad. Khalistani separatists have used Canadian soil to promote secessionism for several years and the Trudeau government has faced criticism for not dealing with the threat the Khalistanis pose to the Indian diaspora as well as to Indias sovereignty. The Khalistani separatists are also closely involved with organised crime and drug syndicates and human trafficking rackets and are also funded by the Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence for conducting anti-India activities. The separatists have attacked members of the Indian diaspora, vandalised temples and also members of the Sikh community who do not support their fringe radical group. The Canadian authorities have failed to take action against these groups who have openly called for violence against India and Indians and have radicalised the Sikh youth in Canada as well as in other countries like UK, US and Australia. Israel will send a delegation to Cairo led by Mossad, Shin Bet heads on Tuesday to discuss the framework that will see the release of hostages and achieve an extended pause to the war in Gaza. Mossad is Israels foreign spy agency and Shin Bet handles internal security. A report by the Times of Israel said that Israel is sending a delegation to Cairo after being pressured by the US. The US President Joe Biden hosted Jordanian king Abdullah this week and discussed the implementation of a six-week long ceasefire which will see release of all the hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now this war must end, the Jordanian monarch Abdullah said. All attacks against innocent civilians, women and children, including those of October 7, cannot be accepted by any Muslim. As I have previously stressed, we must make sure the horrors of the past few months since October 7, are never repeated, nor accepted by any human being, he further added. The meeting which will take place in Cairo will be attended by CIA Director Bill Burns, his Israeli counterpart David Barnea of the Mossad, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Shin Bet director Ronen Bar will also attend the meeting. The parties will resume negotiations on the three-phase deal which was planned by CIA Director Bill Burns, his Israeli counterpart David Barnea of the Mossad, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. During the proposed three-phase humanitarian pause, the initial six-week phase would see the release of 35 to 40 Israeli hostages, including women, men over 60, and individuals with severe medical conditions. Subsequent phases would involve the release of Israeli soldiers and the bodies of deceased hostages. Further details on these phases, as well as the potential release of Palestinian security prisoners by Israel, would be subject to discussion in subsequent negotiations if both parties agreed to the Paris proposal. Amid the uncertainty in the government formation following a chaotic election, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to back the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for the prime ministers post but will not be a part of the federal government. According to a report by Geotv, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the candidacy for prime ministers post following the partys post-central executive committees (CEC) session. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari cited that PPP doesnt have the mandate to form the federal government. ALSO READ: Pakistans PML-N, PPP Explore Rotational Prime Ministership; Court Junks Petitions Against Poll Results Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that it would join hands with Majlis-e-Wahdat-Muslimeen (MWM) to form its governments in Centre and Punjab. However, according to the latest reports, jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday dismissed the idea of forming a coalition government with any of the main political parties in Pakistan, calling them the biggest money launderers being brought to power. 71-year-old Khan and many of his party colleagues are lodged in jail for many months in connection with convictions in multiple cases. As per a Geotv report, PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan, while speaking to the media in Islamabad on Tuesday, said former prime minister Imran Khan, while ruling out the prospects of any talks with the PML-N, PPP and MQM-P, has directed the party to form a coalition with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) over reserved seats. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are discussing the possibility of appointing prime ministers from their parties under a power-sharing framework for a three- and two-year term respectively, according to a report by GeoNews. The PPP and the PML-N first discussed the idea of appointing a prime minister for half a term on Sunday as part of the efforts to form a coalition government in centre and provinces. The PML-N and the PPP agreed in principle to come together for Pakistans political stability following the general election. The report also said that major parties have agreed to form coalition governments in the centre, Punjab and Balochistan provinces. PPP president Asif Ali Zardari, chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif from the PML-N attended the meeting. During the meeting, the PML-N leadership demanded that it would retain the slot of prime minister but then Asif Ali Zardari told the participants that the PPPs election committee has already nominated Bilawal for the post of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) also met with PML-N leaders and agreed on political cooperation for the formation of future governments. PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from the MQM-P met along with other senior leaders of both parties and agreed in principle to work together for the benefit of Pakistan. The leadership of the two parties explored the possibility of appointing the prime minister from their parties for half of the five-year term after listening to the PPPs proposal. The PML-N leadership also told the PPP that it is in touch with the independents and the leadership of the MQM-P. Court Turns Down Petitions Against Results Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court turned down 18 petitions challenging the results of constituencies after the general elections on the basis of Form 47s. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi turned down petitions against the election victories of PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Khawaja Asif, Attaullah Tarar and IPP leader Awn Chaudhry, according to the Dawn. The judge directed the aggrieved to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). After hectic parleys following a hung verdict in the national elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday decided to form a coalition government under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif. Sources close to Nawaz Sharif told CNN-News18 that Shehbaz will be the new Prime Minister of Pakistan while Maryam, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, will be the Chief Minister of Punjab province. The PPP will support the government from the outside. Asif Ali Zardari is likely to be the President and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will do politics in the National Assembly. Sources close to PML-N said that Nawaz Sharif is not keen to become the prime minister for the fourth time in the present circumstances. The establishment wants a comfortable government under Shehbaz backed by Asif to run economic programs and bring borrowing to the country. Asif wants the Presidency for himself for the second time. The establishment is also not comfortable under the Nawaz-led government due to his anti-army stand. The Army feels Shehbaz will be a great chief executive for the government to deliver on expected lines. Nawaz Sharif on Monday deputed Shehbaz for talks with other political parties to form a government. Asif and Shehbaz are likely to meet tonight in Lahore for discussions and their meeting will be conveyed to the establishment. Shehbaz, 72, had earlier led a government after Imran Khan was voted out of power in April 2022. The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, a majority of them supported by the PTI secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) getting 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) bagging 17 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one constituency was withheld. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released a new video where they conducted a daring rescue operation where they extracted two hostages from a southern Gaza apartment from Hamas captivity. The rescuers were themselves shocked to see the IDF forces enter the apartment to their rescue. The IDF dubbed the rescue operation Operation Golden Hand. The operation was conducted in Rafah by the members of the IDF and Yamam special police force. The special operation rescued Argentinian/Israeli citizens Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70 from the apartment complex they were held in. The hostages are in our hands, safe and soundWATCH the moment hostages Fernando Simon Marman and Luis Har were rescued during the operation in Rafah yesterday: pic.twitter.com/1OXsHf9F9W Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 12, 2024 The IDF officers blasted their way into the building and used ropes to extract the two hostages. They then eliminated the Hamas terrorists guarding the hostages. The hostages, brothers-in-law, ran hurriedly in debris-filled streets as the Israeli officers hurried them along to an armoured vehicle waiting for them. They entered the area where they were being held hostage with a large convoy accompanied by tanks operated by the Shayetet 13 commando unit. Do you feel good, an officer was heard asking in the video shared by the IDF. Excellent, replied Har, after being freed from Hamas captivity after 129 days. The IDF gave the men a pair of coats each and sent them to the Sheba Medical Center, in Ramat Gan, aboard army choppers, where they were both listed in good condition. Both of them were shielded by Yamam officers, who used their bodies to guard the two hostages from the bullets fired by Hamas. Israel army spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said they knew where both men were being held for quite some time but waited until the moment was right. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that the US was pleased to hear about the success of the rescue operation in Rafah, according to a report by the New York Post. Kirby, however, expressed concern about the airstrikes in Rafah which killed over 100 people. He expressed concern over reports that the airstrikes were used to distract Hamas while IDF conducted the raid to rescue the two hostages. THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is in the process of removing a total of 4 562 dead people from the countrys voters roll. In an extra-ordinary Government gazette General Notice 193 of 2024 published on February 9, ZEC, Chief Elections Officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana said the names of people appearing on the schedule will be removed from the voters roll unless a notice of appeal is given to the Commission. The removal of deceased persons is a continuous process that the Commission has always been doing when it receives a list of deceased persons from the Civil Registry Department. It is hereby notified, in terms of section 33(4) read with Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that voter registration officers have reason to believe that the persons whose names are listed in the First Schedule, and who were registered as voters for the constituencies, wards and polling stations listed therein have died. The names of those persons will be removed from the voters roll unless notice of appeal is given to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, reads the notice. By means of this notice, notification is made to any voter on the First Schedule who may be alive to lodge an objection at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Mahachi Quantum, 1, Nelson Mandela Avenue, corner Kaguvi Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare, and at the respective Commission Provincial Offices, to the inclusion of his or her name in the First Schedule using the form prescribed in the Second Schedule no later than seven (7) days from the date of publication of this notice. ZEC regularly and routinely removes dead voters from the roll as data from the Registrar-General is made available from the lists of people who have been certified as dead. The regular house cleaning is done to ensure that no one can try and vote using identity particulars belonging to a dead person whom they might physically resemble, although ID cards are supposed to be surrendered to the authorities when a death is reported. Chronicle Three people were killed by a gunman in a rare workplace shooting in Greece on Monday, authorities say. Officials say the victims, including the company's owner, were shot at the office of the European Navigation shipping company in Glyfada, just south of Athens, the BBC reports. The gunman killed two men and a woman before he barricaded himself inside the building. Authorities say the gunman killed himself as police special forces prepared to move in. "The suspected perpetrator, who worked for the family, was found dead in a different area from the three deceased people at the company," police spokesperson Consantia Dimoglidou said, per the AP. "He had his assault weapon next to him and appears to have shot himself in the head." Reuters notes that Greece has strict gun laws and that shootings not related to gang activity are rare. The gunman was identified as 76-year-old Adel El Bourai, an Egyptian national who was recently laid off after working for the owner's family for 36 years, per eKathimerini.com. (More Greece stories.) Shipwreck hunters have discovered a merchant ship that sank in Lake Superior in 1940, taking its captain with it, during a storm off Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain announced Monday the discovery of the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington in about 650 feet of water some 35 miles north of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. The ship left Port Arthur, Ontario, on April 30, 1940, fully loaded with wheat and headed to Owen Sound, Ontario, under the command of Captain Frederick "Tatey Bug" Burke, a veteran of the Great Lakes. But as the Arlington and a larger freighter, the Collingwood, made their way across Lake Superior, they encountered dense fog, then a storm after nightfall that battered both ships. The Arlington began to take on water. The first mate ordered it onto a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Burke countermanded and ordered a course across the open lake, the discoverers said. Early on May 1, 1940, the Arlington began to sink, and the chief engineer sounded the alarm. The crew, "out of fear for their lives, and without orders from Captain Burke," abandoned ship, they said in a statement. All made it safely to the Collingwood except Burke, who went down with the Arlington. Reports indicate he was last seen near its pilothouse, waving at the Collingwood, minutes before his ship vanished into the lake. The shipwreck society said "no one will ever know" why Burke acted as he did. "It's exciting to solve just one more of Lake Superior's many mysteries, finding Arlington so far out in the lake," Fountain said in a statement, adding that he hopes the discovery "can provide some measure of closure to the family of Captain Burke." Fountain has been conducting remote sensing in Lake Superior in search of shipwrecks for about a decade. (More Lake Superior stories.) The woman who opened fire in Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch on Sunday has been identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, but many details, including the motive, remain unclear. The Houston Chronicle reports that Moreno, who was fatally shot by two off-duty officers working security inside Lakewood Church, was named in a warrant to search a home in Conroe, 40 miles north of Houston. Authorities say the suspect was wearing a trench coat and carrying an AR-15-style rifle when she entered the church, accompanied by a young boy, the AP reports. Law enforcement sources tell NBC News that "Palestine" was written on the rifle. The child was critically injured in the shooting. Police said the suspect claimed to have a bomb, but no explosives were found. The search warrant states that the shooter had "yellow color rope and substances consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices." Moreno, who has also gone under the name Jeffery Escalante, has a long criminal record including arrests on suspicion of assaulting a public servant, forgery, theft, evading arrest, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, KHOU reports. ABC13 reports that antisemitic writings were recovered from Moreno's bag, and police believe there was a dispute with her ex-husband's family, which includes some Jewish members. The two officers shot Moreno in self-defense after she pointed her weapon at them, authorities say. Police confirmed Monday that the 7-year-old boy, who was initially described as a 5-year-old, is Moreno's biological son, the AP reports. The Houston Chronicle reports that authorities say the boy is not expected to survive his injuries. It's not clear who fired the shot that wounded the boy, CNN reports. "That suspect put that baby in danger," Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Sunday. "I'm going to put that blame on her." A 57-year-old man injured in the shooting was released from the hospital on Monday. (More Joel Osteen stories.) A teacher near Montreal is under investigation after his students reportedly discovered their artwork for sale on his personal website. A student at Westwood Junior High School in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Lazare Googled Mario Perron's name and found the website of the self-described "multidisciplinary studio artist," where his students' art could be purchased on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and iPhone cases, per CTV News . "I'm extremely disgusted with this person," parent Michael Bennett tells the outlet, noting drawings from both his daughters were posted for sale on various websites. Joel DeBellefeuille says a portrait of his 13-year-old son, drawn by a friend, was also for sale. "It's unbelievable that he felt that he had the right to utilize and essentially exploit these children's rights and their artwork for his own financial satisfaction," DeBellefeuille tells CTV of Perron, who's taught at the school since the fall of 2019. More than 90 portraits by students can still be found on Perron's website, priced at $118 each, but apparently not purchased, per the Guardian. All are classified as "creepy portraits." Titles include "Sophia's Creepy Portrait #1" and "Phoenix's Creepy Portrait #2." "Is this teacher asking for certain types of projects to be done to be able to sell them?" asks Bennett. "Is he asking for these types of portraits to be done so it meets the market? I'm not quite sure." Either way, Bennett's daughters "feel cheated," he says. The Lester B. Pearson School Board says it's investigating and "taking these allegations very seriously." An intellectual property lawyer tells CTV the teacher would require permission from students to copy or sell their work. Without that permission, the artwork remains theirs. (More teacher stories.) A man who attacked a judge in a Las Vegas courtroom last month has been charged with attempted murder. A grand jury indicted Deobra Redden, 30, on nine new counts. Among other things, he is accused of wrapping his hands around the throat of Judge Mary Kay Holthus and striking her head, reports the Washington Post . A courtroom marshal also suffered injuries in the melee. Redden faces 20 years in prison if convicted. In early January, Holthus was about to sentence Redden in a battery case when he leaped over a judicial bench to reach her, per KSNV. Others in the courtroom scrambled to rescue her, and video of the incident went viral. Redden's family say he suffers from schizophrenia and was not on his medication when the assault occurred, reports Fox5Vegas. (More Las Vegas stories.) The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, pushing ahead amid growing divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the US should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, reports the AP , with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten security across the globe. The bill's passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine, but the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Trump oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Biden's deskif at all. Still, the vote was a win for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who worked together on it. Sen. JD Vance, an Ohio Republican, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak. A few of the particulars: The legislation would purchase US-made defense equipment for Ukraine, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. In addition, $14 billion goes to Israel's war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) A Republican state lawmaker in Michigan lost his committee assignment and staff Monday, days after posting an image of a racist ideology on social media, per the AP . House Speaker Joe Tate, a Democrat who's Black, said he won't allow the House to be a forum for "racist, hateful, and bigoted speech." State Rep. Josh Schriver, who's white, shared a post on X that showed a map of the world with Black figures greatly outnumbering white figures, along with the phrase "The great replacement!" The conspiracy theory says there's a plot to diminish the influence of white people. Schriver, who represents portions of Oakland and Macomb counties, can vote on the House floor. But Tate removed him from a committee and told the House Business Office to oversee his staff members, who still can assist constituents. "Representative Schriver has a history of promoting debunked theories and dangerous rhetoric that jeopardizes the safety of Michigan residents and contributes to a hostile and uncomfortable environment for others," Tate said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, released a statement Friday calling Schriver's post "abhorrent rhetoric." "We will never let those who stoke racial fears divide us," she said. Schriver defended his social media post last week. "I'm opposed to racists, race baiters, and victim politics," Schriver, elected to a two-year term in 2022, told the Detroit News. "What I find strange is the agenda to demoralize and reduce the white portion of our population." Writing Monday on X, Schriver said, "I'm not (and never have been) a racist. So I cannot offer a fake political apology for views I don't hold." He also claimed Whitmer was calling "for our lovely Michigan residents to be swiftly replaced by foreign nationals." (More great replacement theory stories.) A court has ordered the Dutch government to stop sending fighter jet components to Israel as they "might be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law." Human rights groups made that same argument in a lawsuit filed against the government in December. Oxfam Novib, Vredesbeweging PAX Nederland, and the Rights Forum called for the revocation of an export license allowing F-35 parts held at a regional warehouse in Woensdrecht to be shipped to Israel. Though a lower court found it was likely F-35s contributed to war crimes in Gaza, it ultimately ruled the state had freedom to set foreign policy, per Reuters . But as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Israel Monday, an appeals court decided alleged violations of international law took precedent. "Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences of its attacks for the civilian population," including "a disproportionate number of civilian casualties," the court said in ruling the government should stop the transfer of F-35 components within seven days. Oxfam said the decision "is very good news, especially for civilians in Gaza" and "an important step to force the Dutch government to adhere to international law." The government said it will abide by the ruling while appealing to the Dutch Supreme Court. "In the government's view, the distribution of American F-35 parts is not unlawful," it said in a Monday statement, stressing it was up to the state, not a court, to determine foreign policy. Israeli Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, who met with Rutte, said he made clear the decision "will harm the global and Israeli imperative of fighting terror." Lockheed Martin Israel said it was still evaluating how the ruling would affect its supply chain, per the Times of Israel. Israel could face more trouble in sourcing military equipment as a lawsuit brought by human rights groups in the UK aims to block weapons exports, per NPR. Judge Jeffrey White of the US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a lawsuit against the US government's alleged failure to stop "genocide" in Gaza last month, saying the matter was outside his jurisdiction, per the AP, but he urged the White House to consider the consequences of its support for a military siege that could amount to genocide. story continues below After Monday's ruling, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell drew attention to President Biden's recent comment that Israel's conduct in Gaza was "over the top." "If you believe that too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide less arms in order to prevent so many people being killed," Borrell said, per Reuters, which points to the $3.8 billion in military aid the US provides to Israel each year. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) "Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation," the head of Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service warned Tuesday. Kaupo Rosin said Russia plans to double the number of troops it has stationed near its borders with NATO members in northern Europe, and the "Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with NATO within the next decade or so," reports Reuters . The intelligence service predicted that Russia will double the 19,000 troops it has stationed near its border with Estonia and expand the number of troops on its 830-mile border with Finland, NATO's newest member, USA Today reports. "We will see an increase in armed personnel carriers, tanks, artillery systems over the coming years," said Rosin, who called for a counter-buildup of NATO forces. Estonia and the two other Baltic states, Latvia and Lithuania, boosted their defense spending to more than 2% of GDP, in line with NATO guidelines, after Russia annexed Crimea almost a decade ago, Reuters notes. Asked about Donald Trump's remark that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to alliance members that don't spend enough on defense, Rosin said, "Such statements are never helpful." Estonia's prime minister has been placed on a wanted list by Russia's Interior Ministry, becoming the first leader on a list that includes dozens of officials from the Baltic states and Poland, the AP reports. Russian officials said Kaja Kallas was added to the list because of efforts to remove Soviet-era WWII monuments in Estonia. She slammed the move as a "scare tactic. " Russia may believe that issuing a fictitious arrest warrant will silence Estonia," Kallas said. "I refuse to be silencedI will continue to vocally support Ukraine and advocate for the strengthening of European defenses." (More Russia stories.) A major snowstorm kept turnout low on Tuesday in the special election to replace expelled Rep. George Santos. Both candidatesDemocratic former Rep, Tom Suozzi and Republican candidate Mazi Pilipoffered voters free transportation to polling sites in New York's 3rd congressional district, which includes part of Long Island and a section of New York City's Queens borough, the New York Times reports. With polls pointing to a tight race, Suozzi, who represented the district for six years but didn't seek re-election in 2022, could benefit from the weather, NBC News reports. Republicans vote disproportionately on Election Day, while Democrats are more likely to vote early. "For partisans on both sides who believe in divine intervention, the weather will decide whether God is a Democrat or Republican," former Rep. Steve Israel, a Democrat who represented the district for four years, joked Tuesday, per the Times. "And whether he votes in special elections." Republican Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, meanwhile, said he was "personally offended" by suggestions from Democrats that the county might only plow routes that favored GOP voters. Voters who braved the snow told CBS New York that they felt it was important to vote because of issues including immigration and abortion. "We need someone good. We don't need someone like Santos," one voter said. With the GOP holding a razor-thin majority in the House, both parties have spent millions of dollars on the race, which is seen as a chance to test their messaging ahead of the November election, the BBC reports. Results will come in after the polls close at 9pm Easternand whichever way it goes, Pilip and Suozzi are expected to compete again in November. (More George Santos stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, highlighted the development of the private sector and emphasised its importance as a significant driver of growth. He commended the private sectors key role to contribute to supporting development efforts and to spur the creation of quality opportunities for Bahraini citizens. HRH Prince Salman was speaking as he met yesterday with the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, His Excellency Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, and the Chairman of the Shura Council, H.E. Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, and the Shura and Representative Council deputies and their heads of committees at Gudaibiya Palace. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister lauded the efforts of Team Bahrain, comprising of the Executive and Legislative Authorities, the private sector and civil societies, and their commitment to the Kingdom of Bahrains development, in line with the vision and aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. His Royal Highness noted the importance of furthering the Kingdoms accomplishments and development across various sectors, which reflects the essence of Team Bahrain and its successes. He noted that the Kingdoms interests are at the forefront of the various efforts to achieve a better present and a prosperous future for the Kingdom and its citizens. Determination His Royal Highness expressed the Kingdoms determination to achieve its wide-ranging development goals aimed at benefiting citizens through numerous initiatives and plans. He emphasised that this will be achieved through the determination of Team Bahrain from their various workplaces as it continues to turn challenges into successes through a passion for achievement. Speaker Al-Musallam and Chairman Al Saleh expressed their gratitude to HRH Prince Salman for his commitment to supporting Executive and Legislative collaboration and integration and affirming his commitment to achieving the Kingdoms development to benefit Bahraini citizens. The Deputy Prime Minister, HE Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, HE General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, several ministers, and the Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, HE Sameer Abdulla Nass, also attended the meeting. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directed the relevant authorities to accept applications from those who meet the Khatwa Program for Home Projects legal requirements for eligibility for a retirement pension. This came following the Cabinets approval of a memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding the report submitted by the team responsible for researching aspects of the Khatwa Program for Home Projects. The Cabinet, chaired yesterday by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also approved the recommendation from the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs that the National Audit Office conduct a review of aspects of the programmes registration and retirement procedures. The Cabinet extended its deepest condolences to His Majesty the King, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Bahrains citizens, and the family of the fallen serviceman, Major Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi, who was killed in a terrorist attack, along with several servicemen of the UAE, while performing training missions in Somalia. The Cabinet also extended its condolences to the fallen servicemen of the UAE and wished a speedy recovery for those who have been injured. Congratulations It congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Bahraini citizens on the 23rd anniversary of the adoption of the National Action Charter. The Cabinet commended the Kingdoms achievements following the adoption of the National Action Charter, which has contributed to progress and development across all sectors. The Cabinet highlighted the importance of the Shield of Bahrain Project Cobra Z aircrafts, which were inaugurated by His Majesty the King, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as the Kingdom of Bahrains naval ship the RBNS Khalid bin Ali, which was inaugurated by HRH Prince Salman. Both the Project Cobra Z aircraft and the RBNS Khalid bin Ali are valuable additions to the BDFs combat readiness. The Cabinet further emphasised the critical role these assets play in supporting the ongoing development and modernisation efforts of the Bahrain Defence Force, enhancing its capabilities in performing its national duties. Outcomes The Cabinet commended the outcomes of the third meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, co-chaired by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Reported by Mahir Haneef Bahrain government on Monday announced that it would not allow conversion of visit visas to work or dependent visas without a sponsor. While visit visas can be changed to work or dependent visas if the sponsor is the same, the fee for it has been increased by over four times. The fee, which was originally BD60, now stands at BD250 per visa. The announcement came from Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Interior Ministry Undersecretary at Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA). The official said the decision was taken by Interior Minister H.E. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. As per the decision of the Interior Minister, it was decided to stop changing visit visas to work or dependent visas without a sponsor. It was also agreed to increase the fees for changing visit visas to work or dependency visas from BD60 to BD250 only if it will be for the same sponsor, the announcement said. Further, it said the decision is as per the government directives to intensify rules of changing visit visas to support the local workforce by making them the first employment choice. The procedures would be carried out in cooperation with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) to promote the National Labour Market Plan and stop the exploitation of visit visas. Calls had been made by various people in the Kingdom recently for tightening the rules regarding conversion of visit visas to work visas, citing its effect on employment prospects of Bahrain citizens. Several proposals had been made by the MPs in the Parliament to either completely stop the conversion or increase the fees for conversion of visit visas to work visas as well as for issuing work visas for foreigners. But what happens when fees is raised for issuing visas and has it been tried out in any country before? The Daily Tribune got in touch with experts in immigration economics and immigration policies and they had plenty to say. An economists viewpoint Increasing the visa fees to lessen the inflow of migrants had been adopted by many countries around the world and the results were mixed, according to the experts. Stan Veuger, a senior fellow in economic policy studies at the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute, said, The main way to think about this in economic terms, from the perspective of Bahrainis, is as a large increase in taxes on imported labour services. Further, Stan said such an increase on tax has a number of consequences. Incidence: It is a tax increase, i.e. it makes those who pay the tax (or who reduce their reliance on expatriate labour) strictly worse enough. Perhaps corresponding tax reductions or an improvement in government services will make up for that, but that remains to be seen, he said. Regarding efficiency, Stan stated, This kind of tax distorts the choice between relying on expatriate labour versus capital, ones own labour, and other native labour. When it comes to human capital and productivity, these distorted incentives can have consequences down the road, as Bahrainis will focus more on their efforts on activities in which they do not currently have a comparative advantage, the expert said. The higher visa fees will result in a redistribution, with jobs going from the expatriate workers to those who compete with them in the local market, he said. From the perspective of the expatriate workers themselves, on the other hand, it is a pure negative on all fronts, Stan added. How it would affect companies Shayan Sultan, a partner at New York-based immigration services firm Fragomen, points out that it could affect smaller to mid-size companies. If the cost of employing expat workers increases in Bahrain, it may be challenging for smaller to midsize companies to cater to higher government fees, resulting in fewer job opportunities for expat workers. The attractiveness of Bahrain for expat skilled workers will remain as factors like social and economic infrastructure, affordable housing, ease of obtaining work permits, etc, will ensure Bahrain stays an attractive destination for expat workers, he said. But an increase in fees would not lead a shortage of skilled workers, according to the Fragomen expert. No significant shortage of skilled workers can be foreseen at this point due to the higher cost of employing expat workers. Bahrains healthcare sector does not heavily rely on expat healthcare skilled professionals except for support staff, i.e., technicians, nurses, etc. Any significant changes to government fees will increase healthcare facilities overall operational costs, impacting the recruitment of expat workers while promoting the employment of Bahrainis in the healthcare industry. The expert also pointed out that there are examples of such fee increases across the world. There are examples where governments of many countries have increased the fees levied for expats. Some examples include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Kingdom and Kuwait. The aftereffects usually require companies to conduct more detailed analysis and budget planning to help them make the most beneficial decisions when planning to employ expat workers or develop new recruitment strategies, he stated. Immigration concerns Chetal Patel, Head of Immigration, at London-based legal firm Bates Wells, cited the example of the UK, which is one of the most expensive immigration systems in the world due to associated costs linked to visas, in particular the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) and Immigration Health Surcharge (HIS). Many organizations are re-visiting ways in which they can financially support migrants with their visas as it costs over GBP 20,000 (9,526 BD) for a worker and his family for the visas, she pointed out. Whilst the UK remains focused on attracting the brightest and the best, theres a concern that skilled workers will simply go elsewhere due to the exorbitant immigration costs, Chetal stated. Are there any positives? India tops the list of countries with the highest number of emigrants per year. Ajay Sharma, who is based in New Delhi and is the founder director of the oldest and largest immigration consultancy firm in India, does not think higher visa fees would affect the attractiveness of Bah[1]rain among expat employees. I dont think so because the burden is on mid or large-sized Bahraini employers. They will pass it on to end-users and utilities. Additionally, with the proposed fee increase, Bahrain could generate more revenue to invest in infrastructure and social welfare programs for its citizens. Also, the fee increase might incentivize Bahraini employers to hire more local workers, boosting employment opportunities for Bahraini citizens. However, it is vital to consider the potential impact on small businesses and start-ups, as the increased fees may pose a financial challenge for them when hiring expat workers, Ajay said. He also does not believe that it will lead to a shortage of skilled workers in Bahrain, especially in critical sectors such as healthcare. I doubt that will happen. It will be interesting to see if other countries in the region follow suit and increase fees for expat workers, which could shift the dynamics of the job market in the Gulf region. My experience with the policy actions of bloc countries in this case, the Middle East worldwide is that other countries may soon follow with similar action. Also, as I stated above, it depends on the size of the company hiring international workers, the percentage of international workers in their overall workforce, and their ability to pass on the additional costs to end customers of their products or services, Ajay explained. Levying higher visa fees from expatriates is also not unprecedented, states Ajay, whose firm processes thousands of visa applications from immigrants to countries across the world. It happens all the time. The US government recently increased the premium application processing fee. The Canadian government has increased the application processing fee for different categories. The demand and supply situation is such that employers can only do with essential overseas workers that it has no impact beyond creating short-term news, he said. Possible adverse effects However, Shai Zamanian, Managing Director of immigration consultancy The American Legal Center of Dubai, does not agree and says higher visa fees will have an adverse effect. The messaging behind the tariffs is exclusion. Expatriates questioning to take the leap and move to Bahrain, normally base their decision on a key principle: Will I be welcomed? By virtue of taxing every foreigner seeking to make their dreams a possibility in Bahrain, the messaging is unambiguous. The costs related with hiring expats will certainly trickle down to the employee themselves, some may have to pay this price upfront before embarking on their new job. If the success of the globalized world we live in today is the interconnectedness of global skills, this new policy will certainly negatively affect competitive skilled expat workers, Shai said. Whether the higher fees would lead to a shortage of skilled workers need to be seen as it evolves, Shai added. With a tax, there will certainly be less expats hired as companys face a fiscal crunch. In the short-term there will be a shortage of skilled workers as it takes time for the marketplace to adjust to change and then decide whether to hire expats or to continue to hold. The long-term impacts could be that the quality of candidates and the number of actual hires would decrease, however it would need to be reflected on after some time. Conversely, there could be a positive affect if HR directors understand the costs of bringing on expats so they work more rigorously to only bring in the most skilled. We have to take the wait and see approach, he said. But Shai agrees that the practice of levying higher fees from expatriates for visas has been tried out in many countries. Absolutely. Australia and Canada have imposed heavy restrictions on foreigners purchasing real estate within some of the hottest real estate markets in the world such as Sydney and Vancouver. There are instances where placing your own citizens first makes a lot of sense. However, there needs to be a discussion around the intention of the new policy in Bahrain. Is this new regulation in place to promote the hiring of the local population? If so, perhaps other incentives should be considered in actual hiring of locals. Just because its taxing to hire foreigners, does not mean that instead local populations will be hired. Here, we should lean on institutions that have discussed and analyzed the issue and perhaps release a mandate outlining the intentions. Otherwise, there could be backlash and optically, it could be perceived as undue punishment towards those that we require to continue building a vibrant Bahrain and GCC, Shai, who owns the US-licensed legal firm based in Dubai told. In short, the jury is still out there on whether higher visa fees would lead to more jobs for Bahrainis, and the real effects of the change will be known only with time. What do you think will be the effects of the change? Tell us at editor@newsofbahrain.com TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com RCSI Medical University of Bahrain hosted on campus its annual Joint Board of Private Hospitals meeting. Present were executive members of seven main private hospitals in Bahrain; executive members of Tamkeen; the Chairman of the society of private hospitals; the President of Bahrain Medical Society; and executive members of the University to discuss cooperation in clinical training, education and research. In attendance of the meeting were Her Excellency Professor Jameela Al-Salman, Shura Council Member and Professor Mary Rose Sweeney, Executive Vice Dean for Education, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI in Dublin. During the meeting Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, commented: RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is committed to fostering its relations with the private hospitals and Tamkeen, with the ultimate goal of providing international standards training to medical staff. Collaborating with Tamkeen is a significant step towards enhancing healthcare services and the delivery of primary and community care for the people of Bahrain and beyond. Discussions focused on opportunities for a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for General Practitioners and for professional nursing qualifications proposed by the University, as well as student participation in observerships, electives and research at the private hospitals. Cooperation between the private hospitals and RCSI Medical University of Bahrain regarding postgraduate training and the upcoming Doctor of Medicine (MD) Programme was also discussed, which will be announced pending the approval from the Higher Education Council. AFP | New Delhi The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com India's foreign ministry said Monday that Qatar had freed eight ex-navy personnel it had previously arrested and sentenced to death, reportedly for spying for Israel. The foreign ministry never gave details on the eight Indian nationals or their alleged crimes, and Qatar has not commented on the case or made the charges public. But Indian media have reported that the men -- among them former high-ranking and decorated officers, including captains who once commanded warships -- were arrested in Doha in August 2022. In October, India said it was "shocked" after a Qatari court had sentenced them to death, but the sentence was reduced in December. The eight men were employees of Al Dahra, a Gulf-based company that offers "complete support solutions" to the aerospace, security and defence sectors, according to its website. The Hindu newspaper reported the men were spying for a "third country", while the Times of India has said that "various reports claimed they were accused of spying for Israel". On Monday, New Delhi said the men had all been released. "The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India," it added, thanking Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the decision "to enable the release and homecoming" of the detainees. Agencies | New Delhi The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended a warm welcome to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, emphasising that their discussions aim to fortify the enduring friendship between India and Bangladesh. Welcome to India, FM Dr Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh. Our discussions today will strengthen India-Bangladesh Maitri, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a post on X. Mahmud, who is on a visit to India from February 7-9 arrived in the national capital in the early hours of Wednesday. Speaking to ANI, Mahmud said, We are two brotherly countries. We have excellent ties between the two countries. Any visit of a Bangladesh minister or an Indian minister to Bangladesh definitely strengthens our ties. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister also thanked EAM Jaishankar and the Indian government for inviting him. We value the visit because I have come here on the invitation of the Foreign Minister of India. We are thankful to the Indian Government and especially to the Foreign Minister for inviting me here. Definitely, this visit will contribute to the relationship, he added. He also laid emphasis on security issues and said that many crucial aspects were discussed during his meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Security is definitely an important issue worldwide. In our region also, this is a very important issue. So, meeting with the Security Advisor is also very important and we discussed many important issues, Mahmud further said. Earlier in the day, FM Mahmud met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The two leaders held discussions on exploring avenues for enhanced regional cooperation to ensure security and foster greater stability not only within the region but also beyond. Notably, this is Mahmuds first foreign visit after being sworn into the new Bangladesh government following Sheikh Hasinas historic victory, securing a consecutive fourth term as Prime Minister. Hasan Mahmud, who hails from Chittagong in the southeast of Bangladesh, served as Deputy Foreign Minister during Sheikh Hasinas second term during 2009-2014. Hasinas party, the Awami League, secured 223 seats to form the government in the elections held on January 7. The Awami League government named its 36-member cabinet after President Mohammad Shahabuddin invited them to form the government. The elections were held amid tensions, as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and like-minded parties observed a strike across the country as they boycotted the elections. (ANI) In 2023, BYD is expected to become one of the top three energy storage system integrators in China and may even compete for the top spot with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive. In 2022, BYD was not even in the top ten in terms of domestic energy storage system shipments. In 2023, BYDs total capacity of vehicle and energy storage batteries it installed in 2023 was approximately 151 gigawatt-hours. EV cars were around 111 GWh. BYDs installed capacity of energy storage batteries were about 40 GWh in 2023. Tesla installed 14.7 GWh of energy storage. 2022 data from Wood Mackenzie indicates BYD wasranked fourth in the world in terms of energy storage shipments, with a market share of 9%, tied with Huawei. The top three market shares are held by Sungrow Power Supply (16%), Fluence (14%), and Tesla (14%). In August 2020, BYD launched BYD Cube, a grid-level energy storage system product, and announced at the Energy Storage International Conference and Expo its intention to actively participate in domestic market development with its new products. The energy storage battery market was facing overcapacity issues in 2023. The utilization rate of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)s production capacity in the first half of 2023 was only about 60%. Battery factories that participate in system integration, including BYDs, are actually digesting excess battery cell capacity by directly participating in system integration to avoid waste. As a result, some practitioners have spoken out, claiming that system integration has become a low-price channel for battery factories, putting considerable pressure on ordinary large-scale integrators. Wang Pengcheng, co-founder of Hithium, reiterated that the next 23 years will be a life or death game for the energy storage industry. BYD and CATL have taken the lead in advocating for significant cost reductions and further price reductions in the battery production process to uphold their market positions in 2024. In June 2023, BYD started construction of its global R&D center and energy storage industry park in Longgang, Shenzhen. The planned investment totals approximately RMB 2 billion (USD 281 million), with a projected capacity of 20 GWh. The project is still in intensive construction but it starkly contrasts with the current industry trend of reducing overcapacity and production cuts. The price of energy storage batteries could continue to decline in 2024. Super Falcons Striker, Asisat Oshoala has hit out at blogger Tunde Ednut over his disparaging comments towards Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi. Following Nigerias 2-1 defeat against Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ednut took to social media to ridicule Iwobi, who has often been targeted by online critics. Ednuts insensitive caption, Iwobi is out, Thank you Lord, sparked outrage among fans and fellow players alike. However, Oshoala was not pleased] with Ednut. In a series of fiery Instagram posts, the former Barcelona star condemned Ednuts actions and labelled him a bully. She wrote, Tunde is an asshole !!! Boys give am money to do giveaway, he dey form god. Old foolwho d fuck do you think you are? Ode buruku. You failed in your field and gave up but have the gut to call out someone who keeps trying and obviously doing way better than you. You for continue if na so e easy na. AGBAYA OSHI. She continued, If Tunde has a problem with women, all he does is body shame them. Nothing Dey that him coconut head. We accept constructive criticism but that nigga IS A FUCKING BULLY !!! He go use the giveaway cover up again as usual. Mtcheww AGBAYA BURUKU! Im a victim of cyber bully and I fuckin know how that shit feels especially when youre being singled out.like yoooo d WHOLE team LOST. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from Daniel Bwala, who formerly served as a spokesperson for his campaign in last years presidential election. According to a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, Atiku clarified that Bwalas association with him was limited to serving as a spokesperson for his presidential campaign from 2022 to early 2023. Atiku emphasised that Bwala was not, and has never been, his aide beyond this specific role. It is important that the media and the general public take corrective note of defining Mr Daniel Bwala as an aide to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. Bwala offered his services and support to the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation as a spokesperson and it was a position he held during the last presidential campaign, the statement reads in part. Recall that Bwala had expressed his willingness to work in the Tinubu administration and went on to meet with the President in Paris, France. After the meeting, Bwala shared a message of hope from Tinubu. Posting on X, Bwala wrote: It was a pleasure to meet with the father of the nation, @officialABAT President Bola Tinubu, in Paris today. He continues to share his thoughts and demonstrate his passion to lead Nigeria out of the woods. That was his second meeting with the Nigerian leader, having met him earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Following an uproar, Bwala disclosed that he informed Atiku about his decision before visiting the president. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with 29 countries and regions as of the end of January this year. According to government data, the trade value between China and these partners accounts for about a third of the nation's total foreign trade value. The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said China made new breakthroughs in both FTA negotiations and signings last year. In 2023, the country signed FTAs with Ecuador, Nicaragua and Serbia, as well as it signed a protocol to further upgrade the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and made substantial progress in early FTA negotiations with Honduras. According to the MOC, the China-Nicaragua FTA was China's first FTA to permit cross-border service trade and investment through a negative list. Meanwhile, in the protocol to further improve the China-Singapore FTA, both parties made commitments to open services and investments through the negative list model, which would provide bigger market opportunities for investors and service providers on both sides while also facilitating cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy. The ministry said it would continue to advance the nation's high-standard free trade networks and expand zero-tariff policy coverage for goods exchanged this year. It will strive to promote the opening up of service trade and investment using the negative list model, and expand the opening up of sectors such as telecommunications and medical care. The ministry added that it will also incorporate high-standard economic and trade rules governing digital economy, green economy, standards and certification, as well as government procurement, into its new FTA negotiations. The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said the Federal Government is still using the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System to pay lecturers salaries. National President, ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview, complained that the FG had yet to implement its promise to remove tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform, adding that the February salary was paid through IPPIS. In December 2023, the FG announced that tertiary institutions including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education had been exempted from the platform. The IPPIS unveiled in 2006, is a government initiative aimed at streamlining payroll for government ministries, departments, and agencies. It was later extended to universities and colleges but was vehemently rejected by the workers who embarked on a protracted strike in 2020, and 2021, They complained of several irregularities associated with IPPIS. Osodeke added that none of the unions demands had been fulfilled. In September 2023, the government announced an upward review of the salaries of tertiary institution workers by 35 per cent and backdated to January 2023. It also promised to pay four months salaries out of the seven and half months withheld salaries during the 2022 national strike. Some other demands of ASUU, including payment of Earned Academic Allowance, and the unprogressive renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement had at various times led to incessant strikes in the government-owned universities. He maintained that there had been no official communication from FG, adding that everything was at a standstill. Speaking on whether ASUU would embark on a strike to agitate their demands, Osodeke said, Our member will decide, that is the reason we have been going on strike, even for salary review, yet, nothing has been done. Our February salary was paid with IPPIS, so nothing has been done or implemented. The government should do the needful and implement all the agreements they had with us. Osodeke also said that ASUU would soon make known its decision through a press release. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information & Strategy to President Bola Tinubu has claimed that it would be difficult for the Nigerian government to peg the new proposed minimum wage at N100,000. Onanuga made this known on Monday in an interview with Arise Television. According to him, the countrys current financial strength indicated that both the federal and the state governments would be unable to pay their employees salaries if N100,000 or more was eventually approved as the new minimum wage in the country. Onanuga buttressed his assertion with the fact that most state governors were even currently struggling to pay the present minimum wage. He said, Let me tell you, the last time it was done under President Buhari when the wage was increased to N30,000 per month, till today, 26 state governments could not pay it, out of 36, only 10 are paying. The rest have not paid the whole rate or maybe theyve just improved a bit. But mostly, according to the people who have monitored it, 26 state governments are unable to comply. Whatever the government wants to do now, even if we increase wages to 100,000 naira, will the Federal Government be able to pay? The Naira depreciated to a record low of N1,534.39 against the US dollar at the foreign exchange market on Monday. Data from FMDQ showed that the Naira dropped to N1,534.39 per US dollar on Monday from N1,469.97 on Friday. This represents a 4.2 per cent or N64.42 depreciation compared to N1,469.97 recorded at the close of trading on Tuesday. With the development, the Naira is back to the exchange rate it traded on Monday, January 29, when the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced Financial Markets Price Transparency and Market Notice of a Revision to the FMDQ FX Market Rate Pricing Methodology and other reforms. Similarly, at the Parallel Market, Naira increased to N1,495 per Dollar on Monday from N1,490 on Friday. Meanwhile, the Central of Nigeria governor, Olayemi Cardoso, assured exchange rate stability when he spoke at an interface with the Senate Joint Committee on Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions in Abuja on Friday. The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has called for the prompt implementation of the teachers professional salary structure in the countrys budget. The National President of the union, Comrade Audu Amba, while speaking at the unions 6th Annual Solemn Assembly on Monday in Abuja, explained that the salary structure ought to have been implemented since 2023. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, it said in commemoration of World Teachers Day on October 5, 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special salary scale for teachers in the country. Buhari also increased the number of years of service and retirement age of teachers from 35 to 40, and 60 to 65 respectively. Amba explained that there would be a Special Salary Scale for Teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance. Other promises, according to him, included building low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, and sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning. He regretted that the approvals made by the former President were yet to be implemented, particularly the professional salary structure for teachers and urged the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the implementation of the policies for the development of the nations educational sector. Amba explained that the solemn assembly by the NUT was organised to submit the activities of the Union into the hands of God, saying that they have found it imperative to invite pastors and imams of repute to lead them in praying to God. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the former group managing director of Access Bank, has visited the parents of the late Herbert Wigwe, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc. Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group; Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun; Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc; and Pat Utomi, chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), were among the prominent Nigerians who also visited the bereaved parents in Abuja on Monday. Wigwe, alongside his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), were involved in a helicopter crash in the United States on Saturday. There were six passengers onboard, but no survivors have been found so far. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said all passengers, including two crew members, were fatally injured. The service chiefs and security heads are currently at the senate to discuss the state of the country's security. The meeting was billed for last week but was shifted to this week because of the absence of some security heads. The security chiefs present are Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff; Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff; and Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff. Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP); and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS); are some of the heads of security present. Also present are the ministers of finance, interior, and defence. The meeting is now being held behind closed doors in line with the senate's rules regarding security briefings. Over the past few weeks, there has been an uptick in killings and abductions for ransom in many parts of the country, including the federal capital territory (FCT). American rapper Kanye West has explained why he flaunts his wife, Bianca Censori on social media. According to the Yezus boss, he posts his wife on social media because she makes me happy. West, who was reacting to criticisms that he flaunts his wife excessively on social media, explained that his wife gives him joy and thats what he puts into music. He vowed to continue posting his wife, urging those who cant accept it to stay off his social media pages. Speaking in a video message shared via his Instagram, West said: Ima post my wife as much as I want bro It makes me happy. Some people dont want you to be happy. They want you to make them happy I decided to make myself happy and Im happy with. Recall that Kanye West married Bianca Censori after his marriage to reality star, Kim Kardashian hit the rocks. A Cape May County man faces animal cruelty charges after police in Atlantic County found a dead dog among nearly two dozen dogs and a cat living in impoverished conditions, police said. Jason Millar, 23, of Wildwood Crest, was arrested on Saturday in Galloway Township by police investigating an animal complaint. He was released on a summons. Attorney information and a first appearance date were not available in court records on Tuesday. Police responded to the 100 block of Zurich Avenue, where Millar spoke with officers and identified himself as the animals caretaker, police said. While searching the property, officers found the deceased dog on the property, police said. Twenty-five other dogs and one cat were also discovered living on the property, which lacked appropriate access to food and water. The animals were taken by the police and animal control. Detectives are actively investigating the case, and Millar could face additional charges, police said. 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. Atlantic County investigators believe a deceased local businessman is the father of a woman found dead in a South Jersey swamp nearly four decades ago. The womans remains were found beside Elwood-Weekstown Road in Mullica Township on July 19, 1988, according to New Jersey State Police reports. The woman is believed to have been a homicide victim at the time she died, which investigators believe occurred around Jan. 1 of that year. Police have been trying to identify her since she was discovered in the South Jersey woodlands. The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office on Tuesday said genealogy testing ties the woman to James Crab Daddy Whiting Jr., a Pleasantville man who died in 2011. The agency on Tuesday said Whiting Jr. is the womans father, appealing to his friends and family to help solve the decades-old case. State police are not currently investigating the case and declined to comment. Whiting was known in Atlantic County for his Pleasantville grocery store on Rhode Island Avenue and a local seafood business, Crab Daddys and Crabby, according to his obituary. The prosecutors office said Tuesday it has been working on the case with help from the FBI. The woman was discovered by a hiker in the woods, the prosecutors office said. Forensic testing points to her being stabbed to death. The unknown woman is believed to have been Black and born between 1953 and 1963, the prosecutors office said. She is estimated to have been 5 feet, 2 inches tall and gave birth at least once. She was found wearing a black jacket, shirt, blue jeans and hiking boots, reports say. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 609-909-7800 or contact the FBI. 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. New York Citys public schools were closed Tuesday due to the snowstorm, but students were taking classes remotely an option unavailable for New Jersey public schools. Dozens of schools were closed or had delayed openings Tuesday after 6 to 12 inches of snow was forecasted to fall across the northern half of the state. For some districts, the snow day will mean a shortened spring break or a day added on to the end of the school year. While learning from home was allowed in New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic via an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy, state law continues to prevent school districts from making the switch on days when snow or other factors prompt schools to close. Under current law, public school students must be in classrooms for the day to be counted toward the minimum 180 days of instruction that are required in New Jersey. The law does carve out an exception that was used during the pandemic. Remote learning may be offered when schools are closed more than three consecutive school days due to a declared state of emergency, or public health emergency, the state education department previously said. However, that scenario does not cover a short-term inconvenience such as a one-day snowstorm. Some educators have sought for years, even prior to the pandemic, to loosen the restrictions. Efforts to change New Jerseys law date back to at least 2015, when the Bergen County Association of School Administrators first endorsed learning from home as an option. In 2016 and 2018, then-Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, introduced legislation that would permit up to three days of virtual instruction when schools close due to weather or other emergencies. Neither bill came up for a vote. A similar bill was introduced in the state Legislature last month, but has not had a hearing or a vote. It would allow New Jersey schools to offer remote classes for one or more school days due to inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions. Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, voiced support for allowing remote learning when it snows. Its hard to understand, post-pandemic, why this hasnt moved. It makes absolutely perfect sense, Bozza said Tuesday. Allowing remote learning would also let schools continue teaching when they have problems unrelated to weather, such as a malfunctioning boiler, he said. Having schools offer remote classes for a day or two during extreme weather is unlikely to contribute to the widespread learning loss many students experienced when taking virtual classes for long periods during the pandemic, Bozza said. Were talking about isolated cases. Were not talking about doing it weeks or months, Bozza said. We went essentially two years with remote learning during the pandemic. We learned how to accomplish it, he added. To suggest that we shouldnt have this opportunity, by not passing this law, is antiquated. The states largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, had previously not taken a position on changing the law to allow remote learning on snow days. NJEA officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment Tuesday. In some other states, the rules are different. Tuesday was New York Citys first test of its new rules allowing remote learning snow days for its 900,000 public school students. Some early reports said some teachers and parents were having trouble logging in to the remote learning platform. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Editors note: This story was originally published in 2018. Ash Wednesday means cinder crosses marked on foreheads, a time for reflection and the start of Lent, a period of more than 40 days of fasting and no meat on Fridays leading up to Easter. But this year, it also means red and pink greeting cards, rose bouquets, chocolate-covered strawberries and conversation hearts. Because in 2024, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentines Day. The last time this convergence of holidays happened was in 2018. But the 2024 meeting of hearts and ashes doesnt seem like such oddball calendar alignment when you consider that the two days will merge again as soon as 2029. When heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and dinner reservations beckon, what are observant Christians to do? The Rev. Canon Margaret Peckham Clark applies ashes to Tommy Lovett's forehead in Newark in 2022. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Prioritizing observance (while still getting your V-day dinner) The Archdiocese of Newark did not issue any sort of official recommendations relating to the overlap of Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday, the Rev. Bismarck Chau, pastor at Saint Patricks Pro-Cathedral and St. Johns Church in Newark, said in 2018. But given the differing traditions of the two occasions, being that Ash Wednesday requires fasting and Valentines Day usually involves some sort of festive meal or candy, he suggested a simple rearrangement of the days: Ash Wednesday stays put and Valentines Day goes elsewhere, by either celebrating a day early on the indulgence-friendly Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday (Feb. 13, also called Shrove Tuesday) or some other day. But those who want to avoid a conflict with Lent altogether (and would prefer not to go out on a school or work night) may have marked Cupids day the weekend before. Its not as if Christians havent encountered this kind of conflict before: St. Patricks Day celebrations often, as with this year, fall smack dab in the middle of Lent. When the holiday landed on a Friday, some dioceses made an exception, allowing the consumption of corned beef. But dont expect the same suspension of custom for your fancy Valentines dinner. Will that be an issue of some people on Valentines Day? Yeah, Chau said. But for observant Christians and Catholics, Valentines Day will more than likely take a back seat to Ash Wednesday, he said. Porterhouse steak at The Feathered Fox in Livingston. On Ash Wednesday, Christians eat a meatless dinner.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Meat, indulgence and sex Eating a steak, pork or chicken dinner on Valentines Day directly conflicts with the traditions of Ash Wednesday, which calls for a meatless meal. But Valentines Day is also the day for romance. Is sexual activity frowned upon on Ash Wednesday? Again, theres no restriction specified by the Roman Catholic Church, Chau said, and married couples are not denied from expressing love in a sexual way, he said. (Sex outside of marriage, however, is a separate issue.) There are no special rules for sexual activity designated for Ash Wednesday, said Thomas Humphries, an associate professor of philosophy, theology and religion at Saint Leo University, a Catholic liberal arts college in St. Leo, Florida. The only abstinence required, he said, is refraining from eating meat. In fact, there are no days in which the Catholic Church asks married couples to abstain from sex. Rev. William Stone distributes ashes for Ash Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon in Harding Township in 2022. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Med Different meanings of love When you clear away all the cards, flowers and chocolate, the ultimate theme of Valentines Day is romance. In its ideal form, love. On the surface, Ash Wednesdays penance, reflection and mourning, marking the start of Lents 46 days, which mirror the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, would seem to contradict this rose-colored celebration. And while history gives us various St. Valentines, St. Valentines Day has not been observed by Catholics in the United States since the 1960s, when the church removed the feast from its calendar, Humphries said. (The secular Valentines Day holiday we know today may actually owe more to the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer.) The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made from the burning of palms from Palm Sunday the year before. Members of the clergy distribute the ashes in the form of a cross smudged on the forehead of the observant. Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return, priests tell parishioners. Outside of Easter and Christmas, the ritual is one of the most attended in the Christian calendar, Humphries said. The message: Im doing something different today, Im standing apart and reflecting. Members of the clergy say Ash Wednesday is also about love.Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The sugar highs produced by chocolate hearts and the giving of luxe gifts like jewelry dont exactly advance a spirit of self-reflection. But theologians and members of the clergy say that while Ash Wednesday and Lent are about self-denial, they are also about love. The Lenten season to me is like a renewal of love, Chau said. Christ dying for us for love. He compares Ash Wednesday and Lent to how couples celebrate the anniversary of their relationship a renewal of that love. Instead of just giving up two meals a day and sweets, many who observe Ash Wednesday and Lent choose to make a commitment to add an obligation to their routine, like regularly read scripture or attend Mass. What I do is I take things on, Chau said, like a promise to volunteer. Its harder for me to do that than give up chocolate. I dont eat chocolate anyway. As for giving up the kind of heavy, indulgent meals and desserts associated with Valentines Day? I wouldnt say that love and fasting are opposed, Humphries said (clearly, others might disagree). After all, love doesn't just mean Sweethearts and chocolate.Joe Raedle | Getty Images Im not sure that Valentines Day means one thing in the United States and thats part of the problem, said James Buckley, professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland, a Jesuit liberal arts college. The problem would be for Catholics who are also practicing the ashes if the incoherent ideas of Valentines Day start trumping Ash Wednesday, he said. Humphries said a useful distinction to make is the one between youthful romance and mature love. For the high schooler, Valentines Day is all about this giddy romance and chocolate, he said. I would hope that shortly after you turn 19, 20, your idea of romance is much broader than that. Sacrificing for a loved one, for instance, would qualify as a more consequential form of affection. That kind of romance is continent with Ash Wednesday, he said. That part of it would actually make a better Valentines Day even when Ash Wednesday doesnt fall on Valentines Day. Rev. William H. Stokes; left, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, applies ashes to the forehead of a person inside the Trenton Transit Center in 2023.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Ash Wednesday is a day for Christians to ask, How can I improve my love for others? said Brandon Ocampo, a minister for the Newman Catholic Center, a campus ministry in Newark (Rutgers University, NJIT and Essex County College). Were called to focus on, what is authentic love? he said. When we think about love, especially the cultures view of love, we find that it can be very selfish. When were thinking about the context of Ash Wednesday, youre giving up yourself for the other. Another Feb. 14 holiday This year, Feb. 14 may already seem crowded with calendar events, but priests and religious scholars know theres yet another occasion that is usually recognized by the Catholic Church on the same day. The feast of saints Cyril and Methodius, normally celebrated on Feb. 14, recognizes two brothers who translated the liturgy into the Cyrillic alphabet in the late ninth century. But as with Valentines Day, Catholics rearrange their calendars for this observance. Chau said that because Ash Wednesday takes precedence, this feast would also be bumped from Feb. 14. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup. A Jersey City man who fatally stabbed a good Samaritan tending to the mans injured friend wont be getting out of prison anytime soon after an appellate court panel rejected his bid to overturn a 2018 conviction and 40-year sentence. Froylan Lopez, 36, killed 26-year-old Troy Brandon on Dec. 5, 2015, when he saw Brandon standing over Lopezs injured and bleeding friend at Monticello and Storms avenues, assuming Brandon was his attacker. Brandon, in fact, had found the victim and called 911, and was waiting for first-responders to arrive when he was attacked by Lopez. Lopezs initial direct appeal was denied and this appeal of the order denying his petition for post-conviction relief without an evidentiary hearing was also rejected in a concise, six-page ruling released Tuesday. In his appeal, Lopez asserted that his attorney provided him with ineffective assistance because she failed to request a jury instruction on passion/provocation manslaughter. He also maintained that his attorney should have called other people in the area on the night of the incident as witnesses at trial, but the appellate court panel noted in its ruling that Lopez failed to identify any of these other people. Lopez argued that the jury would have heard that other people in the area encountered the victim and that the victim was stabbed during one of these other encounters. Lopez was convicted in 2018 after an eight-day trial, and even at sentencing he maintained his innocence despite video footage showing him stab Brandon. Lopez is eligible for parole in 2049. Hudson County Superior Court Judge John Young said that denying his guilt in the face of the evidence shows no remorse and is regretful. As Lopez was being led from court by sheriffs officers, the killer gave two thumbs up. A 19-year-old from North Bergen has been charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl multiple times, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Edgar Rompich-Ramos was arrested Friday by members of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit for incidents that occurred last year in a North Bergen residence, Suarez said, noting that the victim is known to Rompich-Ramos. The 19-year-old is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child/facilitating child sex abuse material and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Rompich-Ramos, who was arrested at the Prosecutors Office in Secaucus without incident, is being detained at the Hudson County jail pending his first court appearance, scheduled for Wednesday. The prosecutors office has filed a motion that Rompich-Ramos be detained through prosecution. Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit with the investigation and arrest. Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. The state Attorney Generals office has seized more than $6 million from a defunct chain of mental health clinics that were accused of running a Medicaid billing scheme. The companies that operated the clinics Kwenyan Professional Health Services and Kwenyan and Associates allegedly submitted thousands of phony Medicaid claims over a five-year period, the Attorney Generals office said. The CEO of the companies, Daniel E. Cassell, of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, died in December 2022, four months after he was named in an indictment that charged him with 16 counts related to the alleged scam. The clinics, which operated in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Union and Warren counties, submitted more than 10,000 false claims, in which either no services were provided or patients attended group therapy, but were instead billed for a one-on-one therapy session, the state alleged. The state seized the assets after the entities admitted to the fraudulent claims in Union County Superior Court on Nov. 2, 2023, officials said. After the Attorney Generals announcement on Monday, defense attorney Lee Vartan of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC said there were five defendants who were indicted in the case, and all had their charges dismissed. He also said a portion of the money originally seized by the state was returned to Cassells family. The State indicted five individuals for first- and second-degree crimes and seized millions of dollars in property and bank accounts. All five defendants had their charges dismissed, and the State returned property valued at several million dollars to the Cassells, Vartan said. The State did that because prosecutors improperly seized the Cassells assets. That is far from the victory the State touts in its press release. An estimated $8 million was originally seized and about $2 million worth of property was returned, according to Vartan. A spokesperson for the Attorney Generals office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The state ultimately seized $6,407,958 in assets and property, which included funds from bank accounts, the sale of various properties, the collection of rent from properties and the seizure of 15 vehicles, according to the Attorney Generals office. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Not this time, please. We cannot look the other way as Donald Trump betrays our allies in Europe. We cant dismiss it as the harmless ramblings of an eccentric character. Wars can start this way. If you missed it, Trump said during a campaign rally on Saturday that he would not come to the defense of NATO allies who fall short on military spending, and in fact would encourage the Russians to do whatever the hell they want. Special Counsel Robert Hurs findings in his investigation into President Joe Biden and top secret documents did not tell anyone anything new, especially about Hurs belief that the president is declining mentally. Biden is not fit to be the leader of any country. The liberal media, instead of throwing brickbats at Hur for his evaluation of Bidens cognitive state, should be sending bouquets to the special counsel for getting Biden off the hook on potential charges for holding the documents and storing them carelessly. Hur recommended that Biden not be charged criminally in the case. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. The US Senate passed a $95 billion military funding package Tuesday morning but its fate in the House remains unclear after top leader, Speaker Mike Johnson, blasted the deal over its exclusion of hardline immigration restrictions. The measure passed 70-29 with support from nearly all Democrats and 22 Republicans. A small number of progressive senators, including Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, objected to the bills inclusion of billions of dollars worth of offensive military aid to Israel as the Palestinian death toll from its war in Gaza nears 30,000. I cannot vote to send more bombs and shells to Israel when they are using them in an indiscriminate manner against Palestinian civilians, Sen. Merkley said in a statement on Monday night. Vermont senators, Democrat Peter Welch and independent Bernie Sanders, who wanted to make aid to Israel conditional on whether its government was violating human rights and international accords in Gaza, also objected to the measure. The foreign aid bill earmarks $14 billion for Israel to finance missile-defense systems and other weaponry and to aid US military operations in the region. The bills passage in the Senate comes as Israel gears up for a full-scale ground offensive in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than one million Palestinians have fled under Israels promise of safety. The impending assault threatens the flow of humanitarian aid into the region, which is already low, according to aid agencies. United Nations officials warned it could lead to slaughter. A small group of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers constituents rallied outside the leaders apartment after Tuesday mornings vote to show their disapproval of the legislation. They banged on pots and pans, chanting Free Palestine. in the snow. As the Senate voted this morning for an aid package that includes an additional $14.1 BILLION in military support for Israel, a group of his constituents braved the snow and came to @SenSchumer residence for a wake up call at 7:30am. Our message: #EndGazaGenocide #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/MG0qCZz3bw NY10 Neighbors (@NY10Neighbors) February 13, 2024 The protestors sent a clear message to the Senator on social media. If you continue to fund the genocide being committed by the Israeli military, we will continue to make noise. As long as Palestinians awake to bombs and tanks, you will awake to pots and pans, the group wrote on an Instagram post this week. Shame on you for voting to pass the spending bill that will lead to more Palestinaians killed and displaced. Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation praised the bills passage Tuesday. With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waver, will not falter, will not fail, he said. The measure includes $60 billion in funding for Ukraine to go toward supporting Ukrainian military operations and replenishing the US supply of weapons and equipment. More than $8 billion would go to support Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to deter China. The bill allocates nearly $10 billion for humanitarian efforts. Mike Johnson pronounced an earlier version of the bill that contained the crackdowns at the southern border Republicans had demanded dead on arrival last week, under pressure from Donald Trump. Johnson told Republican congress members he would call a House vote on a $17.6 billion standalone funding bill for Israel. The mandate of national security supplemental legislation was to secure Americas own border before sending additional foreign aid around the world, Johnson said. In the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. A Pennsylvania man fatally shot the wife of his friend shortly after being invited to their Warren County house after he was forced to leave his home following a domestic dispute there, officials said. Armond Avitable, 38, of East Strousburg, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, suffered a medical episode and later died at the hospital, according to a release from the Warren County Prosecutors Office. Avitable was picked up by his friend after he had a domestic dispute with an unidentified woman and they arrived at his Knowlton home around 6 p.m., the office said. Shortly thereafter, Avitable, his friend and his friends wife, 58-year-old Cheryl Schilling, began to argue, causing Avitable to become agitated and aggressive, the prosecutors office said. He then grabbed a pump action shotgun, which caused the Schillings to retreat to an upstairs bedroom and close the door, investigators said. Avitable followed them into the room and shot Cheryl Schilling twice, hitting her once in the arm and once in the upper left torso, authorities said. Police were called to the home shortly before 8 p.m. and Cheryl Schilling was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:28 p.m. after attempts revive her by first responders where unsuccessful, officials said. Her death was ruled a homicide and her cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the torso. Avitable then fled the home and saw some neighbors in a nearby backyard and told them he had to shoot her because he (Mr. Schilling) was coming for him, before firing two more shotgun blasts into the Schilling home, authorities said. He then left the gun on the property and ran toward the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 46, where troopers confronted him, resulting in a physical altercation, the office said. Once they were able to get him into custody, he suffered an unspecified medical event and was rushed to a nearby hospital, officials said. He was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. Monroe County Coroner Tom Yanac said the cause and manner of Avitables death was pending and autopsy scheduled for Thursday. The shooting is under investigation and anyone with information was asked to contact the Warren County Prosecutors Office at 908-475-6275. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.co UPDATE: Early snowfall totals show 13 inches on ground in some N.J. towns A shifting winter storm that had forecasters repeatedly revising predictions overnight and this morning is underway in New Jersey with the latest update calling for 6 to 12 inches of snow across the northern half of the state and at least some snow falling Tuesday throughout southern counties. An updated forecast map issued at 6:15 a.m. by the National Weather Service significantly expanded the area that could see 8 to 12 inches of snow to include much of area north of I-78 including Sussex, Warren, Morris, Union, Essex, Bergen and Hudson counties. Up to 18 inches of snow is possible in Sussex County, the weather service said. In addition, some counties south of I-195 could get between 2 and 4 inches of snow in the latest forecast, with lighter amounts farther south. Rain will continue to shift to snow in central New Jersey through the morning. Matthew Paparazzo of Closter shovels the snow early in the morning on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.Jeff Rhode | For NJ Advance Medi It is playing about about as we expected, but it is a mess, Gov. Phil Murphy told WCBS 880 in a radio interview. The morning commute was our big concern which is why we closed sate offices. If you can stay at home this a good day to sit out and work at home. I think this is going to continue until mid-day and then we worry about ice and slush and other effects. Officials have deployed 2,500 pieces of snow removal equipment, Murphy told CBS-2 in a separate interview. Hundreds of schools have announced closures or delayed openings throughout the state. New Jersey instituted a commercial vehicle ban starting at midnight, and state offices are closed Tuesday at 10 a.m., Gov. Phil Murphy announced. Snow is expected to continue falling until midday before quickly ending and with some peaks of sun possible later this afternoon, the National Weather Service said. Travel on roads is expected to be difficult and power outages are possible as a result of a wet, heavy snow and gusty winds that along the Jersey Shore might reach as high as 45 mph. A winter storm warning is in effect for 13 counties on Tuesday: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren and western Monmouth. Winter weather advisories were issued for several other counties. In addition, coastal flood warnings have been issued in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, and wind advisories have been issued in coastal sections of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean where winds could gust as high as 45 mph during Tuesdays storm. AccuWeather.com is calling for as much as a foot of snow in northwestern New Jersey on Feb. 13, 2024.AccuWeather.com AccuWeather.com is calling for 6 to 12 inches in northwestern New Jersey and amounts of up to 6 inches elsewhere. NJ Transit is cross honoring rain, bus and private bus tickets on Tuesday due to the weather. More than 400 flights out of Newark Liberty, Laguardia, John F. Kennedy and Philadelphia airports have been canceled, according to FlightTracker.com. The National Weather Service's latest snow forecast map for New Jersey calls up to a foot of snowfall in northwestern counties and a widespread 6 to 8 inches across the northern half of the state. Nearly all of southern New Jersey will now see some snow.AccuWeather.com Winter storm warnings Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, western Monmouth, Mercer: 4 to 8 inches of snow with winds gusting as high as 35 mph are expected. The storm warning runs until 3 p.m. Sussex, Warren and Morris: 6 to 8 inches of snow. More than 1 inch per hour could fall during the morning rush. The storm warning expires at 3 p.m. Hudson, eastern Passaic, eastern Bergen, Essex and Union: 5 to 8 inches of snow is in the forecast. The storm warning lapses at 6 p.m. Western Passaic, western Bergen: 4 to 7 inches of snow is expected. The storm warning carries until 6 p.m. Winter weather advisories Eastern Monmouth, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, northwestern Burlington and Ocean: 1 to 4 inches of wet snow along with wind gusts as high as 45 mph until 3 p.m. In Atlantic and Cape May counties, 1 to 1.5 inches of rain are expected with wind gusts of up to 30 mph. For the rest of the state, temps that flirt with 40 will lead to some snow melting but anything left untreated will freeze overnight as temperatures fall into the 20s, the weather service said. Expect dry days with some sun on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s to about 40 on Wednesday and the low 40s to mid 40s on Thursday. Some rain and light snow is possible Thursday night into Friday but no accumulation is expected Current weather radar Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. UPDATED FORECAST TUESDAY: Expect 6 to 12 inches of snow across half of state. Latest updates on shifting storm. The National Weather Service is warning commuters that Tuesdays winter storm could create very hazardous travel conditions in New Jersey because of the heavy snow thats predicted in the northern half of the state and strong gusty winds that could knock down trees and trigger isolated power outages. Gov. Phil Murphy echoed the weather services concerns, saying residents should expect a fairly treacherous mix of rain and snow. And although he didnt declare a state of emergency, he advised people to avoid driving during the worst of the storm, expected Tuesday morning when the rain changes to snow in many parts of the state. We have a fairly significant storm on our way, Murphy said during a storm briefing Monday afternoon at the Statehouse in Trenton. We want to make sure everyone in New Jersey is prepared. ... Take this one seriously. If you can, we suggest staying off the roads tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, the governor added. And if you can work from home, tomorrows a good day to do just that. In addition to potentially slick roads, Murphy said the state is preparing for power outages because this will be a heavy, wet snow. New Jersey will have a commercial vehicle ban starting at midnight, and state offices will have a delayed opening Tuesday at 10 a.m., Murphy announced. A strong winter storm could create "very hazardous travel conditions" in New Jersey on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, heavy snow, strong gusty winds and coastal flooding.National Weather Service Forecasters dealing with a tricky storm Meanwhile, the National Weather Service and other forecasters have been struggling to get a good handle on the fast-moving storm, with major computer guidance models projecting variations in the storm track, storm strength and temperatures at different levels of the atmosphere. Those factors will all determine how much moisture will be feeding into the storm, as well as how many hours of rain and snow will fall in each region of the state. But the bottom line, the weather services regional office in Mount Holly noted on its X feed, is the storms impacts will be widespread. Regardless of exactly how much snow or rain you get tonight through Tuesday, the Tuesday morning commute will be either snowy, slushy, or wet for our entire area, the agency said. You should plan for a slow commute. Forecasters from AccuWeather noted a slight shift in the storm track could result in colder air and heavier snow for many places, including central and southern New Jersey, although thats not locked into the forecast at this time. A more southern track by as little as 50-100 miles could push a heavy accumulation of snow farther to the south into the center city of Philadelphia and the five boroughs that makeup New York City and much of Long Island, New York, AccuWeather said in a forecast update Monday afternoon. This more southern track could also bring some accumulating snow to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, as well as Wilmington, Delaware, central and southern New Jersey and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A strong winter storm could create "very hazardous travel conditions" in New Jersey on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, heavy snow, strong gusty winds and coastal flooding.National Weather Service Winter storm warnings in 13 counties As of early Monday evening, winter storm warnings have been issued in 13 New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren and western Monmouth. Winter weather advisories were issued for Camden, Ocean, eastern Monmouth and northwestern Burlington counties, where rain is expected to change to wet snow early Tuesday morning. In addition, coastal flood warnings have been issued in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, and wind advisories have been issued in coastal sections of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean where winds could gust as high as 45 to 50 mph during Tuesdays storm. This snow forecast from the National Weather Service's regional office in New Jersey was updated Monday evening, Feb. 12. It shifted the heaviest bands of snow from northwestern New Jersey slightly eastward. And some areas of Central Jersey, mainly near the I-95 corridor, are now projected to get more snow than was previously predicted.National Weather Service A strong winter storm could create "very hazardous travel conditions" in New Jersey on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, heavy snow, strong gusty winds and coastal flooding.National Weather Service A strong winter storm could create "very hazardous travel conditions" in New Jersey on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, heavy snow, strong gusty winds and coastal flooding.National Weather Service Current weather radar Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01. 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. Every year you say to yourself: One day, Im going to be in a Mardi Gras parade. But youre not sure exactly how to do it. Well, in some cas Mardi Gras may be over, but Pooches will be on parade in Mandeville this weekend A brass band played Down by the Riverside and soap bubbles floated in the clear afternoon sky as the Queer Beans, a new parading group, marched along Royal Street in the Bywater for the first time. With just over 50 members, the Queer Beans are the newest addition to the expansive Krewe of Red Beans. The Krewe of Red Beans was founded in 2009 by a New Orleans newcomer, Devin DeWulf, who was enamored by both his adopted citys favorite comfort food, red beans and rice, and the Black Masking Indian custom of sewing elaborate bead mosaics on Mardi Gras suits. Krewe of Red Beans members produce their own mosaics by gluing red beans and other legumes to costumes. In elaborate, homemade designs, dozens of entrants were called to the stage to show off their outfits. The concepts were nearly as zany as the costume designs themselves. There was a poison mushroom, and a contestant entered as kinky boots, which featured a 10-foot-tall, red bedazzled boot. Another entrant was a rainbow hummingbird, and yet another group dressed as bawdy cat ladies. When it dont make sense, thats when you know its good, Fatsy Cline said after the cat ladies left the stage. Thats art, baby. This December my father, sister, and I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda to work with an organization committed to helping people in need in different regions in Uganda. I got to experience two very different sides of Uganda, one in the city of Kampala, and the other in the village of Bugono. In both locations we were very involved with children, which allowed us to observe how they were living. On our first drive through Kampala we observed countless things differing from our life in America compared to their life in a Third World country. For example: major potholes, both in the dirt roads and pavement, which caused major traffic everywhere we went; reckless driving with very few signs and most people not following traffic laws; both kids and adults living in extreme poverty; and trash consuming the streets. While in Kampala we were also told how healthcare is not strong due to the lack of medicine and access to medical machines. Because of this, the life expectancy is much lower in Uganda than America. Due to the extremities in the city, I assumed the people would be very sad, upset, and angry about their conditions. Instead, they were the opposite. I have never seen so much joy, love, and community ever in my years in America. As soon as we arrived, they were all very welcoming and kind. Although the kids were initially shy, they warmed up very quickly and were attached to our hips the rest of the time. We saw them perform inclusive and expressive skits, dances, and songs. Each kid completely put themselves out there without fear and were so proud of who they are and willing to show it. I will never forget the kids singing "This Little Light of Mine" with contagious laughter and smiles on their faces. Each and every one of these kids truly lights up this world. After visiting Kampala I assumed that the conditions in Uganda could not possibly get worse. I was proven wrong when visiting the village of Bugono in the region Iganga. The main difference that I saw between Kampala and Bugono was that hardly any adults and kids could speak English, although it is one of the national languages in Uganda. This is mainly because the schooling in villages is very underdeveloped. Although Bugono is similar in size to Sisters, there was only one school, which was very run down and only had five medium-size classrooms with no electricity, and the kids sat on tarps instead of chairs. Due to the environment at the schools, it makes it very difficult for the kids to learn and the teachers to teach, especially because they do not have any paper, writing utensils, or anything to expand their visual learning. We were told that many teachers in villages are not qualified to teach but are doing their best to try and develop the kids in their learning. Very quickly we became aware of the communication gap between us and the kids. It is easy to think that words are the only way to communicate, but we quickly realized love and affection is much stronger. We quickly realized how giving this community of Bugono is. A child no older than 10 came to us with a bag of mangos, and an older woman did the same with a bag of jackfruit. Similarly, the teacher brought around a bag for the kids to give what they could to go to the community, and each kid walked up with whatever they could spare, whether it was money or food from their family. Photo courtesy Juhree Kizziar Without much in the way of material comfort, children in Uganda find much joy in life. These kids have the harshest living conditions I have ever seen. They learn to mature at age five to take care of the babies, eat very little food, with no variety, and work hard for their family by going to the water well and carrying back gallons of water. All of this while living in huts or small buildings where they sleep on the floor. Instead of complaining, they give, admire, and love with all of their souls. After visiting both a city that holds millions of people and a village that holds much less, I have seen that both places have negative conditions. What stood out to me is that in both environments, there is a joy and happiness that is contagious wherever you go. I truly think that they have so much heart because they have nothing, which builds hope for something. Without having the basic necessities, they rely on what really matters: community, love, and giving. I truly believe that America has gotten so consumed with greed that we forget to look around and cherish what we were automatically given, a chance to live many long years full of opportunities. I will never forget this lesson. The gray wolf continues to be a figure of controversy across the West. Recently the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its findings for gray wolves in the Western United States, and its launch of a national "path to support a long term and durable approach to the conservation of gray wolves, to include a process to develop - for the first time - a National Recovery Plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for gray wolves in the lower 48 states." The announcement does not make any changes to the legal status of gray wolves in the United States. A "National Recovery Plan" would appear to be welcome news by wolf activists and conservationists, but in the second paragraph of its announcement, USFWS created backlash by stating "not warranted finding for two petitions to list gray wolves under the ESA in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States. This finding is not action-forcing; the legal status of gray wolves does not change as a result of this finding." The Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society, and other groups had filed legal petitions asking federal officials to intervene. The USFWS conducted a multi-year comprehensive analysis using modeling that incorporated data from federal, state, and tribal sources, academic institutions, and the public. The model assessed various threats, including human-caused mortality, existing regulatory mechanisms, and disease. The analysis concludes that wolves are not at risk of extinction in the Western United States now or in the foreseeable future. Gray wolves are listed under the ESA as endangered in 44 states, threatened in Minnesota, and under state jurisdiction in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and portions of eastern Oregon and Washington. Based on the latest data as of the end of 2022, there were approximately 2,797 wolves distributed across at least 286 packs in seven states in the Western United States. According to USFWS, the population size and widespread distribution contribute to the resiliency and redundancy of wolves in these regions. The population maintains high genetic diversity and connectivity, further supporting their ability to adapt to future changes, they say. Conservationists who have been trying to restore wolf populations in the U.S. reacted to the decision, protesting that Montana and Idaho have approved more aggressive wolf-killing measures including trapping, snaring, and extended hunting seasons. In a prepared statement, Susan Holmes, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition, said "We are disappointed that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is refusing to hold the states accountable to wolf conservation commitments they made a decade ago." The rejection of the conservation groups' petitions allows state-sanctioned wolf hunts to continue in Idaho, Montan, and Wyoming. Sisters-based Adam Bronstein, Oregon director of Western Watersheds Project (WWP), informed The Nugget that they and their "...allies filed a letter of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on February 7 after learning that our petition to list the Northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment of wolves under the Endangered Species Act was denied." He added "This litigation has implications here in Oregon where the population segment includes the eastern half of the state. WWP maintains that the decision to deny our petition was not grounded in science and reeks of political interference." The Wolf Welcome Committee in Sisters said "Continuation of the cruel and unsound wolf management laws in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, coupled with the USFWS set minimum of 750 wolves, could result in the Northern Rockies wolves being brought to the brink of extinction within a very short time. "Recovery efforts for all wolves, including Oregon's, depend upon healthy populations within the entire lower 48 states. We support a National Recovery Plan to be implemented at the whole species level," they said further. Congress removed Endangered Species Act protections from wolves in western states in 2011. The Trump administration removed Endangered Species Act protections for wolves across the lower 48 states in 2020. A federal judge, in 2022, restored those protections across 45 states, but left wolf management to state officials in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and portions of Oregon, Washington, and Utah. Lawmakers in Montana and Idaho are acting to cull more wolf packs that are blamed for periodic attacks on livestock and reducing deer and elk herds. In recent months, the states' governors signed into law measures that expanded when, where, and how wolves can be killed. That raised alarm among former wildlife officials and advocacy groups who said increased hunting pressure could cut wolf numbers to unsustainable levels. Wolves from the Northern Rockies region have continued to expand into new areas of Washington, Oregon, California, and Colorado. This winter, Colorado began reintroducing wolves to more areas of the state under a plan mandated by voters under a narrowly approved 2020 ballot initiative. The DEA warns of "rainbow fentanyl" that looks like candy. Deschutes County declared a state of emergency February 7 over the growing fentanyl crisis in Central Oregon that is following the statewide trend of lethal drug overdoses and associated crime. The declaration issued by the county board of commissioners, following a vote in favor by commissioners Board Chair Patti Adair, and Tony DeBone, provides no money nor redirects any resources. Commissioner Phil Chang abstained, claiming the declaration doesn't give the county any specific direction or tools in fighting the problem. "It names the problem," Chang told The Nugget, "but it puts no resources on the table. I argue that it should have been a proclamation, drawing attention to the seriousness of the problem, but a declaration is not a mature proposal." Adair told us, "We have to do something. Seven died in January, four on the same day. People have to know how bad the problem is, and how worse it is getting. Hopefully this sends a message to the legislature." Chang compared the Deschutes declaration to the one in Portland. On January 30, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson issued the declaration for a 90-day period during which collaboration and response will come from a command center downtown. The three governments are directing their agencies to work with first responders in connecting people addicted to the synthetic opioid with resources including drug treatment programs and to crack down on drug sales. "Our country and our state have never seen a drug this deadly addictive, and all are grappling with how to respond," Kotek said in a statement. The declaration follows a recommendation from a governor-established task force that met for several months last year to determine ways to rejuvenate downtown Portland. People addicted to fentanyl who interact with first responders in Portland's downtown in the next 90 days will be triaged by this new command center. Staff can connect people with various resources, from a bed in a drug treatment center, to meeting with a behavioral health clinician, to help with registering for food stamps. "We cannot underestimate the tremendous value of bringing leaders from different disciplines in a room on a daily basis who all account for a different part of the solution," Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement. Chang was suggesting that more backend work should have been done and a comprehensive plan with all the legs of combating the problem - interdiction, treatment, and prevention included. "We have fentanyl everywhere and our young people are dying," Adair said. "We need to solve this problem. These people are our future. It's a start. We have to create awareness and the declaration does that. People don't know how bad the problem is." "Now is the time for action. We're experiencing a crisis and need the community to understand how dangerous this is," said Commissioner Tony DeBone in a media release. "We need the community to come together and look out for one another. This is getting worse every day." Adair is frustrated that there are no numbers yet for 2023, but from 2018 to 2022 deaths in the county rose from 11 to 25, and that's the trend that disturbs her most. Deschutes County has a drug overdose mortality of 12.2 per 100,000 population, whereas Oregon as a whole sees a rate more than double at 29.5 per 100,000. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and about 100 times stronger than morphine as a pain reliever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023 fatal overdoses exceeded 112,000 deaths, with young people and people of color topping the list. Adair would like to see wider availability of Narcan saying, "It should be in every home or in your car." The U.S. Drug Enforce-ment Administration has warned of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as "tranq," is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use. Adair said that there appears to be some "tranq" in the county too. "That's even more devastating," she said. Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. Still, experts always recommend administering naloxone if someone might be suffering a drug poisoning. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis that may lead to amputation. A sick society To the Editor: American society is sick in so many ways. No surprise really, given all the obvious symptoms. Before going further, I know many of you would dismiss my views as negative and offering no solutions. So be it. And I commend anyone who still has hope that this society will survive as we currently know it. The most glaring symptom of course, is that a large portion of U.S. citizens have been brainwashed by a misogynist, white supremacist, unhinged felon (all facts) who may become the first dictator of this country. Secondly, yes, it was an insurrection (fact), and he was responsible for it. But these absurdities I am so sick of contemplating, so I would like to remind folks of yet another horrific symptom, and even offer a solution. I am referring to inhumane execution, a societal atrocity that we all were just reminded of on January 25. On that day, the state of Alabama executed Kenneth Smith using nitrogen hypoxia. Witnesses reported that Mr. Smith shook, convulsed, writhed, and gasped for minutes until pronounced dead after at least 22 minutes. Putting anyones (including my own) moral views about capital punishment aside, arguments supporting this or any other form of inhumane execution are sick or absurd. Heres why. Reports suggesting that there is a shortage of drugs used for lethal injection, or the inability of prison or medical personnel to perform effective, efficient venipuncture are simply wrong or inexcusable. My solution: if its so difficult for humans to humanely execute their own kind, then why not have able and willing veterinarians get involved. As a veterinarian who has performed numerous euthanasias on dogs and cats for 35-plus years, I (and a majority of my professional colleagues) have a very good grasp on how to facilitate a calm, effective, and humane death. And by the way, I am pretty sure that the same or similar sedation and euthanasia drugs could be used for humans, and they are not in short supply. So, I am only half kidding when I suggest let states that allow the barbaric practice of capital punishment (oops, I said I would put my own moral views aside, oh well) be able to hire willing, end-of-life/hospice veterinary specialists to perform humane executions, if and when they still happen in this morally corrupt, sick, society. Steve Blauvelt Land use coverage To the Editor: Please provide more comprehensive and timely reporting on community issues and policies regarding UGB, STR and state legislation and bills regarding land use. The public seems to be the last to know regarding the motivations of public officials in making their policy moves and seeking infrastructure funding rewards Senator Merkleys bill on hedge fund purchases of real estate is important and needs to be highlighted. Please connect the dots on these relevant and current issues that certainly pertain to our future community. Thank you for your attention to this timely matter. Zenia Kuzma School calendar To the Editor: The February 2024 School Board Meeting began with Paul Andrews, superintendent of the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), presenting the Local Service Plan, a document outlining the services that are offered to the Sisters School District, as well as other school districts throughout Central Oregon. The services fall under four categories: administrative and support services, services for children with special needs, school improvement services, and technology services. The services offered by HDESD are vital to our district and we look forward to our continued collaboration. The three school principals provided mid-term updates. Some of the highlights included: positive results from the elementary and middle school in the iReady assessments, which evaluates students level and progress in math and reading, the afterschool homework club at the middle school has been a huge success with up to 20 students attending and receiving support from certified teachers every day after school, and finally, the high school is at a midpoint in the reaccreditation process, which requires tremendous effort, but is a highly insightful process. As has been the trends over the past few years, student enrollment figures were up again after Christmas break, reaching over 1,200 students in our district. The construction of the new elementary school saw some delays due to inclement weather, but everything is getting back on track. And the district continues to support and advance on the workforce housing project. For closing, I would like to make two announcements. The 2024-2025 SSD calendar was approved and is now available on our website (https://district.ssd6.org). Also, we are still looking for candidates for the SSD Budget Committee. If you are interested, please contact the District Office for more information on how to apply. Thank you for your continued support and I wish everyone a pleasant winter season. Curt Scholl Superintendent Kudos to Sisters City Council To the Editor: On January 31, The Nugget printed my letter to the editor regarding the City Councils resolution regarding a temporary cold weather shelter. I have since learned that the City Council passed another resolution reflecting their desire to better meet the needs of our homeless community. I commend them for following up on the first resolution and attempting to deal with this difficult issue in a way that better addresses the needs of the homeless community in Sisters. Rosemary Vasquez To the Editor: The pro-wolf mythology was narrowly represented in last week's letter to the editor. Specifically when it only mentions the Oregon Wolf Plan rules as it relates to domestic livestock. The dirty little secret unmentioned are the thousands of deer, elk, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, etc., slaughtered each year by predators. The only phrase hinting at the wolves effect on other wildlife populations was the generalization that they "only hunt the most vulnerable prey. This is disingenuous at best. Ungulate (hoofed mammals) populations in Oregon are below the ODFW management objectives. Populations are declining in total based on the latest estimates. Population surveys are admittedly hard to estimate and herds might be even more in peril. It wouldn't be fair to completely blame the wolf for herd declines, as cougars, coyotes, and bears take their share. Hunting these predators using dogs was the only effective management tool available until it was outlawed in 1994. Those predator populations are now virtually left unchecked. Now we have reintroduced an apex predator, a much more efficient killing machine. Wildlife survival is being threatened by development, habitat encroachment and poaching to name a few. Seems a bit short-sighted to justify supporting one wildlife or predator species over another. Coexisting in the animal world means one animal species must be eliminated to feed another. And at what cost is this experiment to taxpayers and wildlife populations? Sadly, even our wildlife cant even escape the political morass. There are almost always unintended consequences to every political decision and certainly another side to the story that needs examined. Rand Rietmann CROWN POINT The parents of a 29-year-old man who was murdered in 2022 said they are still confused and angry as to why the defendant took their son's life. Tanesha Goodwin and Elbert Brown, parents of Devonte Brown, addressed defendant Ray Dampier, 44, in court at Dampier's sentencing hearing Friday, where he was sentenced to 65 years in prison for shooting and killing Devonte Brown after the men got into a fight because Brown and his girlfriend refused to let Dampier hold their 6-week old baby. "For him to take my son away, over a fight? My son did not deserve that, my grandkids did not deserve that," Tanesha Goodwin, mother of victim Devonte Brown. "I do not deserve that." Elbert Brown told Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones that he had not been a very present figure in Devonte's life until about five years ago. He said has realized how important the role of a father is in a child's life and he saw his son as "the best father in the world" which amplified his grief. "I can never get over this pain," Elbert Brown said. "It is a pain on a whole other level." A jury convicted Dampier, who represented himself at trial, of murder last month. Multiple eyewitnesses testified at trial that they saw Dampier fire five or six shots in Brown's direction on May 10, 2022 on the the 1700 block of West Fifth Avenue in Gary. Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham recounted Dampier's extensive criminal history dating back to age 12 when he was found liable in juvenile court for a residential burglary. His second adjudication in juvenile court as a 15-year-old resulted in his incarceration at the Illinois Department of Corrections. He had been charged and convicted of various other violent crimes in Illinois and has done significant prison time, she said. "There is a clear disdain for the authority of the court, the authority of law enforcement," Lanham said. "[And] any authority in his life." Dampier's case was previously being heard in Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota's courtroom. He demonstrated a lack of decorum before the Bokota, Lanham said, as he had frequent outbursts while Bokota spoke and occasionally refused to leave his cell for his court hearings. Dampier told the court he felt that prosecutors had "demonized the content of my character" and failed to introduce any of the positive things he has done for his community. He also rebuked the contents of his presentence investigation report, which is a comprehensive report of a defendant's personal and criminal background designed to help the judge while considering a sentence. Dampier was told to argue which circumstances he believed would warrant a lesser sentence for his crime. He failed to do so and asked for a new trial. He said he could not have a conversation about what sentence he should receive because the defense he presented at trial was ignored. "For me to indulge in conversation that I should be sentenced is crazy," Dampier said. "I ask that this court set this conviction aside and allow me to present my defense." Dampier filed the motion Friday and indicated he intends to appeal if the motion is not granted. U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, and Valparaiso University touted $1 million in federal funding secured for the university nursing program to go towards updating its simulation labs. During a press conference on Monday, Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla noted the current demand for healthcare professionals and the shortage of nurses in the state and throughout the country. Padilla noted their simulation labs, which provide experimental learning for nursing students and allow them to practice their skills through hands-on scenarios using test dolls, were thoroughly preparing their nursing students. "Ultimately, we're putting their patients in the hands of individuals who have seen everything," Padilla said. He also said the upgraded labs were a "springboard" that was part of the university's larger plans. Those plans include the eventual construction of a new building to house the nursing and health professions programs. According to Padilla, he wishes to see an actual medical practice in the new building. Two nursing students also noted the impact the simulation labs, and the federal funding, have on them, with one of the students, Mariya O'Grady noting the $1 million was a "game changer." "This allocation is just not a financial investment, it's an investment in us, in our education and our future," O'Grady said. Mrvan noted efforts such as securing federal funds require collaboration and symbiotic relationships. The congressman acknowledged the local elected officials in the audience, such as Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and several city council members. He said he took away how much of a close-knit relationship the university and the city of Valparaiso have. "What really is happening is we're all winning because we're working together," Mrvan said. In addition to purchasing new equipment for the labs, the federal funding will also go towards updating classroom spaces and the lobby of the current nursing and health professions building, according to Lynette Rayman, the assistant dean of undergraduate nursing. Following the press conference, Mrvan and the other elected officials toured the nursing skills lab and simulation room. Close Nursing students learn the basics in the skill center before moving on to the simulation center at Valparaiso University. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Director of the Center for Experiential Learning Gail Kost speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Eleanor Schuler speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Mariya O'Grady speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. PHOTOS: $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program Nursing students learn the basics in the skill center before moving on to the simulation center at Valparaiso University. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Director of the Center for Experiential Learning Gail Kost speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Eleanor Schuler speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Mariya O'Grady speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. GARY A longtime attorney, elected official, mentor and friend, whose guiding mantra was, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few and the one," has died. Lake County Councilman Clorius Lay, D-Gary, was 83. The Mound Bayou, Mississippi, native, who was sent to live with relatives in Gary when he was just 2 years old, earned many of Indiana's highest honors during his lifetime of legal, community and public service, including the Distinguished Hoosier Award (2001), Sagamore of the Wabash (2017), Golden Hoosier Award (2023) and the key to the city of Gary (2023). "He was a great man," said Lake County Clerk Mike Brown, who previously served alongside Lay on the Gary Common Council. "He gave his life to serving people in one capacity or another. But he also enjoyed his life." "He never gave up on his community. He never turned his back on the city that he loved and grew up in." Indeed, Lay served the residents of the Steel City in one way or another for more than three decades, including a stint on the board of the Gary Community School Corp., two separate terms on the common council, four terms on the board of Calumet Township, and since 2023 as a member of the Lake County Council. He also represented many local entities in his capacity as an attorney. "He was a very intelligent man who always felt that things should be done by the book and according to the law," Brown recalled. "I'm grateful that we had him in his lifetime and that I could work with him. He's touched so many people in the right way. He will be missed." Trent McCain, a fellow attorney and former deputy mayor of Gary, likewise was saddened to learn of Lay's death. "Clorius was a gifted attorney and a stalwart politician. We would talk often about the law and politics, sometimes for hours on end. The 'dean' possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Lake County politics and had an impeccable memory. We were planning to sit down for a steak dinner here soon to celebrate his 50th year in the law practice," McCain said. Lay actually got a late start in the law. The Froebel School graduate and expert checkers player spent four years in the Air Force prior to attending Indiana University in Bloomington. He then worked in accounting and finance at several companies, including Inland Steel's corporate headquarters, before deciding at age 32 to enroll in law school at Valparaiso University. He told The Times last year that he loved serving in local government because of the close relationship between the officeholder and his constituents "You can actually see who you are working for." "They're not just numbers," Lay explained. "You're actually living their problems." Lay did just that until the end. On Thursday, Lay attended the monthly study session meeting of the Lake County Council, quizzing county department heads about their supplemental spending requests and talking through finance issues with his council colleagues. Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said she still can't believe Lay won't be at Tuesday's meeting: "I'm kind of shocked." "It's like one day you're here and you're gone the next," Cid said. The details of Lay's funeral have not yet been announced. Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2 CROWN POINT A proposal to put a coffee shop on U.S. 231 southeast of its intersection with Broadway prompted a wider discussion among Plan Commission members Monday about development along the highway on the east side of the city. Daniel Barbauld hopes to open a Biggby Coffee at 107 U.S. 231, on the south side of the state road. The shop would focus on drive-thru business, with no interior seating. His proposal was addressed as a workshop item at Monday's Plan Commission meeting. Several commission members expressed concern about traffic into and out of a business that would likely be the first of several commercial establishments along a stretch of road expected to become busier in the future. Some of the discussion was informed by the city's experience with the Dunkin restaurant on North Main Street, where drive-thru traffic can back up onto the street a "nightmare problem," one member termed it. But the discussion ranged beyond particular concerns with the coffee shop proposal. "We're going to have to have some kind of planning on that road because there are about four or five houses down there that are all zoned commercial, I believe, and they're all going to do something like this eventually," Plan Commission President John Marshall said. "We as a city are going to have to figure out what we want to do up and down that corridor," City Councilman Chad Jefferies, a member of the commission, said, noting the properties along it are relatively narrow and deep. "That corridor is not going to allow a curb cut for every one of those properties." Commission members talked about the potential for shared accesses, frontage roads, turning lanes and other possibilities. Matt Rossman of Integrated Construction Services, representing Barbauld, said they've reached out to the property owner to the east about the possibility of a shared access. But Rossman noted that the Biggby development would not be financially realistic if asked to take on infrastructure expenses to accommodate future businesses. Several commission members expressed sympathy with Barbauld for being among the first to propose a business there, and for facing hesitancy when his proposal appears to make commercial sense for the property. Traffic volume and safety persisted as a sticking point, though. "We want to see that develop and we want to see it develop well," said City Councilwoman Laura Sauerman, also a commission member. "But part of our responsibility is to the traffic nightmare which already exists, and we don't want to make it worse." Marshall suggested the state of Indiana whose road U.S. 231 is can be the source of problems on its roads, often making poor decisions regarding traffic management. But others expressed a desire to work with the Indiana Department of Transportation on potential solutions, and Planning Administrator Josh Watson said the city is in the process of setting up a meeting with INDOT to attempt that. Marshall appeared the least conflicted about the coffee shop proposal among commission members at Monday's workshop. "We created this problem," Marshall said, noting the city's promotion of the nearby interchange and the development of 109th Avenue around its I-65 interchange. "We got exactly what we asked for. Now we've gotta deal with it, but we can't take it out on this guy. He's trying to take advantage of what was created in Crown Point. We said we wanted development in Crown Point. He's trying to do that." Do you want to see a picture of me in the shower? Barbara Syler asked. We met just five minutes earlier. Uhhhhhh, sure, I replied while glancing at other lunchtime diners inside The Commander restaurant in Munster. Syler was sitting with a few female friends at a large table. They chuckled as she opened her purse and pulled out the photo as promised. Are you ready? she asked with a mischievous smile. Sure enough, it showed a bathroom shower with the word ME on the wall. The older women were just clowning around, so I played along. You got me there, I told them. They all laughed, as theyve done hundreds of times through the years while members of Calumet Clowns, a nonprofit organization founded in Hammond in 1978. Theyve been popular attendees at community events such as parades, festivals, charity shows and fundraisers, as well as nursing home visits to brighten the lives of people who need a few smiles and chuckles. We just enjoy making people smile, Syler told me at the restaurant, where I bumped into their lunchtime gathering. I looked around the dining area and noticed other customers doing exactly that as Syler, whose clown name is Barboo, created a balloon animal. (My Facebook page shares a video.) Shes never off duty. She always keeps some clown stuff in her purse, explained Maryanne Krug of Valparaiso, whose clown name is Tattletale. Joining them at their table were Joan JZ Zurad from Munster, Sharon Truffles Olson from Chesterton, Marilyn Scooter Rollins from Hebron, and their friend and parade float driver, Colleen Holmes of Valparaiso. Most of them were former officials of Calumet Clowns, which includes names such as Jelly Bean," "Kremepuff," "Ooppi Dooppi," "Cupcake" and "SlugbugZ. Once a clown, always a clown, Krug said. Clowns come and go like smiles, but they give us a needed reprieve from our mundane lives or painful situations. As Charlie Chaplin said, I remain just one thing, and one thing only and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician. Politicians may be easy punchlines. Clowns are easy to take for granted. Nonetheless, there are certain moments in our lives when laughter is the perfect medicine for our lingering troubles, haunting boredom or personal crisis. The same goes for older clowns whove made thousands of strangers laugh at the sheer silliness of life. A few Calumet Clowns once gathered for dinner at a Bakers Square restaurant in Schererville. They couldnt help but entertain other diners with their fun-spirited antics. When they were getting ready to leave, a manager met them at the door and handed each of them a whole pie to thank them for being so much fun for everyone in the restaurant. One of the clowns had her 88-year-old mother with her, Krug recalled. She was so happy, she said she wanted to go along with us again. As she did with me, Barboo the clown made balloon animals for kids or anyone who asked. She keeps a portable air pump in her purse. I cant help myself, she told me at The Commander. Shes the most experienced of the Calumet Clowns. Her friends lovingly refer to her as a clown's clown. Everyone loves her and neighboring organizations would actually invite her to their celebratory events to entertain them, Krug said. Clowning around runs strong in Barboos blood despite her chronic form of cancer. Yes, even clowns get cancer. Youd never know it by her upbeat spirit when I met her. She and the other clowns get together every so often to keep up with each others lives. And to lift each other's spirits, Krug said. We all have ailments and personal losses that have disheartened us, but we want to laugh and enjoy life to the fullest. All clowning aside, this is their message to the world behind the costumes, props and jokes. Love life Jerry, it's way too short, Krug insisted. If you get nothing else from todays column, it should be this simple truth. Last fall I found myself at a dinner party that included a former Biden administration official and a Democratic donor, and the conversation turned, naturally, to President Bidens age and his prospects for re-election. The ex-official said that from inside the White House, where people experience the policymaking process firsthand, Biden was overwhelmingly seen as an effective leader who should run again. The donor, on the other hand, saw Biden mostly at the fund-raisers where watching the presidents meandering speeches left him terrified about the upcoming campaign. The gulf in their perceptions, I think, speaks to the fact that Bidens age has impaired his ability to campaign much more than his ability to govern, which has created an impossible dilemma for the Democratic Party. I have argued since 2022 that Biden shouldnt run again because hes too old, but theres never been much sign that his advanced age affects his performance in office. Im not aware of any leaks from the White House suggesting that Biden is confused, exhausted or forgetful when setting priorities or making decisions. Its not just Democratic partisans who find Biden more impressive up close than his frail, halting image in the media would suggest. As Politico reported of the ousted House speaker Kevin McCarthy, On a particularly sensitive matter, McCarthy mocked Bidens age and mental acuity in public, while privately telling allies that he found the president sharp and substantive in their conversations. There are obviously things Biden does that I disagree with; I wish hed take a much harder line with Israel over civilian casualties in Gaza. But while his reluctance to publicly criticize Israel might stem from an anachronistic view of the country Biden likes to talk about the Labor Zionist prime minister Golda Meir, who left office 50 years ago his position is a mainstream one in the Democratic Party and cant be attributed to senescence. Because Biden has delivered on many Democratic priorities, there was never any real push within the party to get him to step aside, forfeiting the advantages of incumbency in favor of a potentially bruising primary contest. But its obvious to most people watching the president from afar that he looks fragile and diminished and that his well-known propensity for gaffes has gotten worse. Poll after poll shows that voters are very concerned about his age. Thats why the special counsel Robert Hurs gratuitous swipes at Biden as someone who might seem to a jury like a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory have caused an epic freakout among Democrats. His words brought to the surface deep, terrifying doubts about Bidens ability to do the one part of his job that matters above all others, which is beating Donald Trump. Thats true even though the report by Hur, a former Trump appointee tapped by Merrick Garland to investigate Bidens handling of classified documents, looks like a partisan hit job. (Democratic attorneys general have a terrible habit of appointing Republican special counsels in an effort to display their own impartiality a type of moral preening that Republican administrations rarely fall victim to.) Since Hur decided not to charge Biden with any crimes, his comments about Bidens age, particularly his claim that Biden couldnt remember the year his son Beau died, seemed designed to shiv him politically. If so, it worked. President Biden said on Monday that Israel should not proceed with a major ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah without a credible plan to protect more than one million people who are sheltering there. Mr. Biden spoke after meeting at the White House with King Abdullah II of Jordan, a key figure in the push for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. It was the first face-to-face conversation between the two leaders since the Israel-Hamas war started. Many people there have been displaced displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north, and now theyre packed into Rafah, exposed and vulnerable, Mr. Biden said during an appearance with King Abdullah. They need to be protected. The visit came as King Abdullah sought to shore up international support for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza that would permanently halt the fighting. Israeli special operations forces raided a building in the southern Gazan city of Rafah early Monday and freed two hostages held by Hamas, the military said, as Israel launched a wave of attacks that killed dozens of Palestinians in the city, according to the Gazan health ministry. The nighttime operation only the second time Israeli forces said they had rescued captives in Gaza prompted elation in Israel, where the fate of more than 100 people kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 has become one of the countrys highest priorities. But in Rafah, the raid fueled fear, mourning and panic among more than a million Palestinians who have crowded into the city, seeking refuge from Israeli military actions farther north. Palestinians feared that the raid presaged a full-fledged ground invasion into Rafah, and that the high death toll foretold much more mourning ahead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has said that Israeli ground forces are preparing to enter Rafah with the goal of eliminating Hamas battalions there. The prospect of ground battles in the city, which is bracketed by a closed Egyptian border and invading Israeli forces, has created worldwide alarm over the risks to civilians who have nowhere else to flee. The intensity of the rescue operation and the death toll made clear Mr. Netanyahus determination to press ahead with the southern offensive, despite criticism from the United States and other allies, and pressure to reduce civilian casualties and destruction. Vince Staples is not someone you would describe as excitable. During a recent conversation about his new Netflix sitcom, The Vince Staples Show, his deliberate drawl remained steady throughout. But his clear pride in the series, out Thursday, broke through his placid exterior a few times, such as when he talked about the cameo by the high-living rapper Rick Ross or the shows Swedish film influences. He also knows that the mere fact of its existence is exceptional. I dont think there are many people who have been able to write and produce and star in their first television show, on a network thats this big, that comes from where I come from, Staples, 30, said in a video interview from his home in Los Angeles. Staples said he had ambitions to make his own show since he released his debut album, Summertime 06, in 2015. On that LP and the four that followed, Staples wove stories about his upbringing in Long Beach with a sardonic delivery a perspective that proved to be his through line between multiple mediums. His interviews and social media posts, in which he casts off irreverent one-liners and blunt social critique, have generated enough material for greatest hits collections. The House will vote tonight for the second time on whether to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, on charges of willfully refusing to enforce border laws. Last week, Republicans suffered a stunning embarrassment when their yearlong push to impeach him failed on its first attempt. But Republicans now expect to have an additional vote: Representative Steve Scalise, who is back in Washington after cancer treatment. Our congressional reporter Karoun Demirjian told me it is likely that tonights attempt will be successful, making Mayorkas the first sitting cabinet secretary to be impeached in American history. Heres the latest. Mayorkas is charged with ignoring immigration laws and acting outside his authority to release migrants on parole. But experts say that the allegations against Mayorkas do not rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors, the standard for impeachment. Many constitutional law experts, both conservative and liberal, have criticized the impeachment as an attempt to resolve a policy dispute with a constitutional punishment. There is effectively no chance Mayorkas will be removed from office by the Democratic-led Senate, since that would require two-thirds of votes. But this was never about conviction, Karoun said. On the day she was named the first Black and first openly gay White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said she hoped her appointment might inspire other people who, like her, never imagined occupying the pre-eminent role in political communications. I think this is important for them to see this, she said in May 2022. Americans are seeing less of her lately. Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, Ms. Jean-Pierre has yielded the spotlight to a lower-ranking official, John F. Kirby. For months, Mr. Kirby has regularly co-hosted her daily briefings, often fielding more questions from journalists than she does, and appeared more frequently on major political news programs as the administrations spokesperson. Mr. Kirby, 60, a retired Navy admiral who previously worked at the Pentagon and the State Department, is better versed in foreign affairs at a time of war in Ukraine and the Middle East. He evinces a clarity and comfort at the lectern that can sometimes elude Ms. Jean-Pierre, 49, a more rote public speaker with less experience tussling with an adversarial press. As soon as next year, the United States fossil fuel industry will gain its first foothold on a valuable shortcut to sell natural gas to Asia. The shortcut goes straight through Mexico. The new route could cut travel times to energy-hungry Asian nations roughly in half by piping the gas to a shipping terminal on Mexicos Pacific Coast, bypassing the traffic- and drought-choked Panama Canal. The terminal is symbolic of an enormous shift underway in the gas trade, one that will influence fossil-fuel use worldwide for decades and have consequences in the fight against climate change. The American fracking boom has transformed the United States into the worlds largest gas producer and exporter. At the same time, the rest of the world has begun using ever more gas in power plants, factories and homes partly to move away from dirtier fuels like coal. Demand is particularly growing in China, India and fast-industrializing Southeast Asian countries. A housing crisis threatens New York City? A pair of politicians believe they have an answer: a new league of officials like themselves who want to welcome development, including development of market-rate apartments. The two officials, Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president, and City Councilman Erik Bottcher of Manhattan, started the group to counter the long-held theory that opposing development is a political win. That idea, many housing experts agree, has helped create a shortage of hundreds of thousands of homes in and around the city, driving rents and home prices ever higher as residents compete for the limited supply. On Monday, the duo sent an invitation to all 160 state and city politicians who represent some piece of New York City to come to an inaugural meeting next month. Mr. Reynoso said he wanted officials to come even if they are skeptical, but not if they only want to resist housing. We do not want you if youre just a straight NIMBY, Mr. Reynoso said, referring to the phrase not in my back yard, often used as a label for people who oppose development. In my debut novel, a family retraces their lineage in order to be eligible for the nations first federal reparations program for Black Americans. When I was selling my novel in 2021, it was pitched to publishers as speculative fiction, but only slightly. I hadnt specifically identified that genre, but I could see how it made sense: Up to that point, only one U.S. city, Evanston, Ill., had actually issued reparations in the form of housing grants. The idea that the United States could ever collectively support a national reparations policy for Black people seemed, well, the stuff of fiction. Since then, reparations task forces and commissions have been created in California, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. State and citywide reparations initiatives offer a unique opportunity: They can look at specific harms perpetrated in a community, like redlining or wrongful drug convictions, and offer redress for citizens and the families who lived there. In Evanston, for example, reparations are being funded through revenue generated from a cannabis tax. If you can prove that you were a Black resident of African descent between 1919 and 1969 or are the direct descendant of one, or that you suffered housing discrimination related to the citys policies after 1969, then you are eligible for a payment. As of August, the city had distributed just over $1 million, with more funding on the way. But what happens if you do not live in a community that pursues reparations? Slavery was a complex multistate system enabled by the federal government and protected by a sweeping body of law. The same government later promoted and propped up segregationist policies and failed to uphold the values of the 14th and 15th amendments across the Jim Crow South. To address systemic inequalities rooted in federal law, a federal reparations policy is required. One city, even multiple cities, or states, cant compensate individuals for what an entire nation has done. I decided to write about reparations after researching the racial wealth gap, the statistics of which continue to paint a picture of widespread systemic failure. According to the Federal Reserves 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the typical white family has about six times as much wealth as the typical Black family, despite the fact that between 2019 and 2022 the typical Black familys wealth rose at about twice the rate of the typical white familys during the same period. The Black-white homeownership gap has been little changed for decades; in 2021, according to the National Association of Realtors, the Black homeownership rate was 44 percent compared to 72.7 percent among White Americans. White college graduates have over seven times the amount of wealth as Black college graduates. If you believe the increasing wealth gap among Black and white Americans is worth closing (and, pointedly, not everyone does), then its hard to read these statistics without intuiting that a federal intervention must be part of the equation. Susan Sontag, in her 1978 essay Illness as Metaphor, described the kingdom of the ill in which all have dual citizenship, in addition to the kingdom of the well. As a young adult, I have already made a number of trips between those two places. Here is the landscape of the former as I imagine it: a heaving, red-studded expanse, perhaps the microscopic surface of a muscle and an earthly wasteland rolled into one. When I visit, around me there are crumbling castles; I walk the path between them, a potholed road. In the distance: a light, an exit, but sometimes the clouds obscure it, and you dont know youre near until you reach it. When I first read Ms. Sontags words, I envisioned visits to this kingdom as solitary ventures. After all, isnt it ultimately you alone in the doctors office or in the pharmacy line or in your thoughts? Sometimes, perhaps. But recently Ive realized that the two kingdoms are not entirely separate; when youre stumbling on the dusty road, neighbors from the kingdom of the well can pull you forward. Case in point: A couple of months ago, I had a flare-up. The medical name of this condition isnt important here; its the feeling pure panic, paired with a muscle-tightening, chest-constricting, rigid exoskeleton constructed of flames and concrete. I feared that both my mind and my body were falling apart. An uncertainty about my career morphed into a misshapen terror that my life was worth little or nothing. A lapse not even a lapse, a totally quotidian break in my boyfriends texts while I headed to his house for a planned afternoon made me certain he was going to end things. It is unclear whether Donald Trump has forgotten the precise nature of NATO or whether he ever fully grasped it in the first place. What is clear, however, is that Trump who ostensibly spent four years as president of the United States has little clue about what NATO is or what NATO does. And when he spoke on the subject at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend, what he said was less a cogent discussion of foreign policy than it was gibberish the kind of outrageous nonsense that flows without interruption from an empty and unreflective mind. One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, Well, sir, if we dont pay, and were attacked by Russia, will you protect us? Trump said, recalling an implausible conversation with an unnamed, presumably European head of state. You didnt pay? Youre delinquent? Trump recounted responding. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills. The former presidents message was clear: If NATO members do not pay up, then he will leave them to the mercy of a continental aggressor who has already plunged one European country into death, destruction and devastation. Lillias White may pay the rent, but her rescue dog, LaKee, is inarguably the host and star of the house, a very packed one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a building in Harlem. LaKee (pronounced Lucky), a Chihuahua mix, is the first to respond to a knock on the door way ahead of Ms. White or the resident Bengal cat, Mr. Jaxson Ifya Nasty. And she is first in the entryway to greet visitors. Effusively. To be clear, Ms. White, 72, a star of the Tony-winning musical Hadestown, is warm and welcoming. (See the show now; shes leaving March 17.) But its a daily battle not to be upstaged by LaKee, even considering Ms. Whites many Broadway credits (Fela!, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Once on This Island and Chicago, among others); her awards, notably a Tony for her performance as a streetwise hooker in the 1997 musical The Life; and her experiences as a solo act (shell be teaching a cabaret master class at the 92nd Street Y in early March). This is a love story: During the spring of 2008, long before they produced evidence of humanitys first recorded kiss, Sophie Lund Rasmussen and Troels Pank Arboll clasped lips in their first good-night snog. They met a week earlier at a pub near the University of Copenhagen, where both were undergraduates. I had asked my cousin if he knew any nice single guys with long hair and long beards, Dr. Rasmussen said. And he said, Sure, Ill introduce you to one. Dr. Arboll, in turn, had been looking for a partner that shared his interest in Assyriology, the study of Mesopotamian languages and the sources written in them. Not many people know what an Assyriologist actually does, he told her. I do, said Dr. Rasmussen, who had taken some of the same classes. Dr. Arboll, now a professor of Assyriology at the university, said, When I heard that, I knew she was a keeper. Three years later they wed. Dr. Rasmussen is now an ecologist at the University of Oxfords Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Aalborg University in Denmark. One night over dinner in 2022, the couple discussed as scientists in love do a new genetic study that linked modern herpes variants to mouth-to-mouth kissing in the Bronze Age, roughly 3300 B.C. to 1200 B.C. In the papers supplementary materials, a brief history of kissing pinpointed South Asia as the place of origin and traced the first literary buss to 1500 B.C., when Vedic Sanskrit manuscripts were being transcribed from oral history. The researcher, at the University of Cambridge, suggested that the custom a lip-kissing precursor that involved rubbing and pressing noses together developed into hardcore smooching. She noted that by 300 B.C. about when the Indian how-to sex manual, the Kama Sutra, was published kissing had spread to the Mediterranean with the return of Alexander the Greats troops from Northern India. On Monday, Puppets and Puppets, the six-year-old New York fashion brand/art project, had its last show. Its founder and designer, Carly Mark, had decided it was too hard and too expensive to keep making clothes and trying to build a business in this city, despite being known as downtown N.Y. gold, as Highsnobiety called her, and despite developing the sort of culty following that is supposed to be an indicator of success. She is pulling up stakes and moving to London, she told The New York Times last week. She will keep her more lucrative and successful handbag business going from there. But no more runway and no more clothes. Does it matter? Practically, probably not. Fashion history is littered with the corpses of once promising brands that never quite worked out (Miguel Adrover, anyone?), so its not as if this is a new story. And even though Ms. Mark was nominated for a CFDA award as emerging designer of the year, the clothes were never all that good. They often fit weirdly or couldnt really be called clothes, or didnt seem entirely finished. (She has a fondness for Edie Sedgwick tights and not much else.) They seemed more like works in progress. The material could look sort of flimsy. Ms. Mark was trained as a fine artist, not a designer, and she was essentially learning in real time and in front of the world. But she was getting better. As repositories of valuable historical documents and other records, U.S. presidential libraries have long been important destinations for scholars. But you dont have to be an academic or even a history buff to appreciate these destinations, as many increasingly offer museums, special exhibitions and unique programming ranging from interactive situation room experiences to musical performances to the general public. The first library was established by Franklin D. Roosevelt and opened to the public in 1941. Every administration since has created one of its own. (President Hoover, liking what he saw of F.D.R.s project, established his own retroactively, in 1962.) Fifteen libraries are managed by the Office of Presidential Libraries, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration the Presidential Libraries Act, passed in 1955, established the system of privately built and federally maintained institutions and 13 are currently open to visitors. There are additional museums, historic monuments and sites dedicated to other presidents, like the James Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio, and some have archival components, like the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. President Reagan called the libraries labs of democracy because they explain how decisions are made and how policies are executed, said Colleen Shogan, the archivist of the United States. They give us the opportunity to learn about American democracy, and how the government functions. With Presidents Day fast approaching, consider planning a visit to a presidential library. Here are five to start. Officials across New England were preparing on Tuesday for a major noreaster to hit the region, closing schools and warning residents across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut to stay off roads. While the National Weather Service said forecasts in some areas remained far from certain, it was predicting that some parts of the region could see as much as a foot of snow. Boston, which might see as much as eight inches of snow, was not taking any chances. As dawn approached on Tuesday, the city was already under a snow emergency and a citywide parking ban. And all of its school-age children were waking up or sleeping in to the blissful quiet of a snow day as the city canceled classes. Just after dawn on Tuesday, the Senate passed a $95 billion national security package with aid to Ukraine and Israel, setting up a showdown with the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson suggested he would not bring it up for a vote. The bill passed the Senate 70 to 29, with 22 Senate Republicans breaking with their party and joining Democrats in pushing it through. But in the Republican-led House, right-wing opposition, fueled by former President Donald J. Trump, poses a steeper challenge. Many hard-right Republicans have consistently voted against aiding Ukraine, and threatened to oust Mr. Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, if he brought up legislation to do so. In a statement on Monday night in the hours before the bill passed the Senate, Mr. Johnson said the House would continue to work its own will on national security and border policies, which Republicans had insisted be a part of the foreign aid package, before killing a bipartisan deal to address them. In Mr. Trumps telling, Ms. Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and the daughter of Indian immigrants, is a globalist who flip-flopped on her support for Mr. Trumps hard-line policies before she served as his ambassador to the United Nations. Ahead of a showdown between the two candidates in South Carolinas primary on Feb. 24, his surrogates have accused her of being a secret liberal who supports open borders and wont do enough to curb the flows of migrants and refugees into the nation. But its a portrait nearly unrecognizable to many who knew her as governor: the Republican state lawmakers who counted on her support for immigration restrictions; the longtime immigrant rights activists in South Carolina who fought her on legislation; the conservative religious leaders who were disappointed with her opposition to allowing Syrian refugees to resettle in the state. Mr. Trumps attacks are complicated by her record as a staunch conservative on the issue, they said, even as she maintained support for legal immigration when her party shifted its focus toward more extreme immigration cuts. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III was released from the hospital on Tuesday, the Pentagon said. Mr. Austin, 70, had canceled a trip to Brussels to meet with NATO counterparts on Russias war in Ukraine after returning to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda for the second time this year with complications stemming from prostate cancer surgery. Doctors at Walter Reed said Monday that Mr. Austin had undergone a nonsurgical procedure under general anesthesia to address a bladder issue. Mr. Austin had transferred his authority to Kathleen Hicks, the deputy defense secretary. He took that authority back at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Pentagon said in a statement. On the advice of his doctors, Secretary Austin will recuperate and perform his duties remotely from home for a period before returning to work at the Pentagon later this week, the statement said. His doctors at Walter Reed, John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut, said in a statement that Mr. Austins bladder issue was not related to his cancer diagnosis and will have no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis. A Super Bowl advertisement promoting the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a remake of a 1960 spot that helped put his uncle John F. Kennedy in the White House has struck a nerve with Kennedy family members and friends, who worry that it exploits and potentially tarnishes the legacy of a storied political family. The 30-second advertisement is built on the foundation of one of the most famous political ads in American history, still memorable to many in politics 63 years after it was first shown. That historic ad presents John F. Kennedy then a senator from Massachusetts as a young, vibrant and experienced challenger to Richard M. Nixon, the Republican vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The slightly altered version of the original ad superimposes pictures of Robert Kennedy Jr. over John F. Kennedys image and keeps the jaunty jingle Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy that remains burned in some peoples memories to this day. In the process, it repurposes an advertisement created for John F. Kennedy into one for his 70-year-old nephew, an appropriation of a legacy that many Democrats have long argued Robert Kennedy should not be able to claim. Raymond Buckley, who has been chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party since 2007, said he had viewed the vintage advertisement numerous times while visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, so his head shot up in surprise when he heard it during the Super Bowl. The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting former President Donald J. Trump, a week to respond to Mr. Trumps emergency application asking the justices to halt an appeals courts ruling that rejected his claim that he is absolutely immune from criminal charges. In asking Mr. Smith to respond by next Tuesday at 4 p.m., the justices did not set a particularly speedy schedule. The court often asks for quicker responses to emergency applications on what critics call its shadow docket. But nothing prevents Mr. Smith from filing sooner, and he probably will. The proceedings against Mr. Trump in his criminal trial on charges of trying to subvert the 2020 election will remain frozen in the meantime. Unless the justices move quickly, the trial could be pushed into the heart of the 2024 campaign, or even past the election. In asking the Supreme Court to intervene on Monday, Mr. Trumps lawyers urged the justices to move at a deliberate pace. As Nikki Haley enters the final stretch of the Republican primary in South Carolina on Feb. 24, her presidential campaign on Tuesday unveiled a new national coalition aimed at making inroads with one group in particular: suburban women turned off by former President Donald J. Trump. The group, the National Women for Nikki Coalition, includes more than 4,500 members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, organizers said. Those members will ramp up the campaigns get-out-the-vote initiatives, phone banking and other surrogate events in the coming weeks as Ms. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, looks to continue her campaign beyond the next G.O.P. contest. Though she faces long odds against Mr. Trump, Ms. Haley has signaled her intent to stay in the race at least through Super Tuesday, on March 5, when 15 states and one territory will vote on a Republican presidential nominee. They are a good representative of Republican women, suburban women, independent women who have had enough and know we can do better so much better, said Annie Dickerson, the coalitions national co-chairwoman, adding that Ms. Haley was speaking for the forgotten middle of American politics. The roses that you buy this week from a florist, supermarket or website for Valentines Day in all likelihood arrived in the United States through one place: Miami International Airport, the port of entry for about 90 percent of the nations imported cut flowers. All year, farmworkers snip flowers by hand, mostly in Colombia and Ecuador, to be sent on cargo planes to Miami, where they are inspected and then loaded on trucks to reach every mainland state. Sometimes, flowers cut in the morning can be in South Florida, a three- or four-hour flight away, by the afternoon. It is a logistical feat, especially in the weeks leading up to Feb. 14 one of the flower industrys two peak holidays, along with Mothers Day. Yet few consider that when they pick up bouquets for $20 at Target. Sandra Mwayera wailed as her older brother slouched next to her in the back seat of a car he had died from cholera as he waited for treatment among dozens of others outside a hospital in Zimbabwes capital, Harare. My brother! My brother! Why have you abandoned me? she pleaded. Come back, please. Come back! In neighboring Zambia, inside the 60,000-seat National Heroes Stadium in the capital, Lusaka, rows of gray cots lined rooms at a makeshift treatment center where 24-year-old Memory Musonda had died. Her family said they were not informed until four days later the government buried her, and they have yet to locate her grave. Ms. Musondas uncle, Stanley Mwamba Kafula, said the family was disturbed and heartbroken. Active outbreaks of cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, are now raging in five countries in central and southern Africa, ranging from as far north as the Democratic Republic of Congo, and down to Mozambique. For more than three years, Myanmars biggest cities have remained under the unyielding grip of the military junta. But the streets of places like Yangon were uncharacteristically quiet Monday evening as a sense of fear pervaded the country. Residents had a new reason to avoid contact with soldiers on patrol: Over the weekend, the regime said that it was invoking a decades-old law to start drafting young men and women into the army, setting off widespread alarm across the country. The regimes forces have been depleted in recent months as they battle a growing insurgency by pro-democracy rebels and armed ethnic groups. The move to conscription to beef up the forces ranks suggested that the junta was on the defensive and growing desperate. But while the rebels have posed the most widespread challenge ever to the regimes rule, it remains to be seen whether they can overthrow the military, which has successfully suppressed many regional uprisings over the last several decades. Ukraine said it had evidence that Russia had used a new hypersonic cruise missile for the first time in an attack last week, a development that might, if confirmed, pose another challenge to the countrys already strained air defenses. A preliminary analysis of missile fragments by the government-run Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise concluded that a 3M22 Zircon missile had been used in a Feb. 7 attack that targeted cities across Ukraine. Markings typical of the missile were found on the debris, the institute said. We see elements that are characteristic to the 3M22 Zircon missile. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanisms have specific markings, Oleksandr Ruvin, the head of the institute, said in a social media post on Monday afternoon that included a video of the missiles wreckage. The Russian authorities have not commented on the use of a Zircon missile and the evidence presented by the institute could not be independently verified. American officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were assessing the claim but could not confirm its use in combat on Feb. 7. France imposed sanctions on dozens of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, accusing them of committing acts of violence against Palestinians. It was one of the largest rounds of penalties levied against Israelis in the West Bank to date and follows Britain and U.S. restrictions imposed on four settlers this month. Frances foreign ministry said it had banned 28 settlers from entering France or any of its territories, calling on Israels government to pursue legal action against them. The French government said that the West Bank settlements were illegal under international law and incompatible with the creation of a Palestinian state, a position held by many nations but that Israel disputes. Israels foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the French governments statement, which did not name the individuals being placed under sanctions. Since Oct. 7, when Hamas-led attacks on Israel ignited the war in Gaza, Jewish settlers have raised the tempo of unauthorized moves to expand their footprint on the West Bank, according to a report last month by Peace Now, an Israeli advocacy group. Settlers have been fencing off open areas in the part of the West Bank that is under complete Israeli control in order to impede Palestinian herders, the report said, adding that several of the settlers outposts and roads are on privately owned Palestinian land in violation of Israeli law. The settlers encroachments have heightened tensions in the West Bank, where violence and Israeli military raids were on the rise even before the war broke out. Palestinian militias have carried out shooting attacks against Israelis. Extremist Israeli settlers have rampaged through Palestinian villages, setting fire to property. The Israeli military has mounted frequent raids that have often turned deadly, arresting thousands. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia, fired missiles into northern Israel on Tuesday that injured at least two people, emergency officials said, amid a fresh diplomatic push to end months of clashes along the border. Hezbollah said that it had launched two separate attacks into Israel one aimed at Israeli soldiers and the other at a police building in the northern town of Kiryat Shmona. A 15-year-old boy and a 47-year-old woman were seriously wounded in Kiryat Shmona, according to Magen David Adom, Israels nonprofit emergency medical service. They had gotten out of the car they were traveling in when an anti-tank missile hit nearby, only to be injured when another landed, said Ofir Yehezkeli, Kiryat Shmonas deputy mayor. Israel and Hezbollah an ally of Hamas in Gaza have engaged in near-daily cross-border strikes since the deadly Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. The clashes have displaced more than 150,000 people from their homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. The United States and others have engaged in diplomatic efforts to reduce the tensions. A Western diplomat said on Tuesday that France had presented a proposal to Israel, Lebanons government and Hezbollah. The French proposal was first reported by Reuters. The proposal details a 10-day process of de-escalation and calls for Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters to a distance of 10 kilometers (six miles) from Lebanons border with Israel, according to the diplomat, who is involved in the talks and who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations. The diplomat said that Frances foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, presented the proposal in writing to Lebanons government last week while on a visit to the country. Lebanons Foreign Ministry confirmed that the government had received the proposal. The French Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In recent weeks, Israel has warned that unless a diplomatic solution is reached, it would have to use military force to stop Hezbollahs attacks in order to allow for tens of thousands of Israelis to return to their homes. On Tuesday, Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, dismissed the messages conveyed by Western delegations coming to Lebanon, saying they were focused only on protecting Israel. In a televised speech, he said his armed group would keep fighting as long as the war in Gaza continues. You escalate, we escalate, he said in an apparent warning to Israel. Patrick Kingsley , Roger Cohen and Cassandra Vinograd contributed reporting. With Israel continuing to warn that it plans a ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice in The Hague to issue new constraints on Israels military offensive to prevent genocide. In a filing on Monday, the South African government said that it was gravely concerned by Israels planned ground advance into Rafah, where more than a million Gazans have sought shelter, which it said has already led to and will result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who has described Rafah as Hamass last stronghold, said on Sunday that a ground invasion would move forward there as soon as Israel completed plans for the more than a million people sheltering in the city to be allowed to move to safety. In December, South Africa filed a case with the International Court of Justice, the U.N.s highest court, accusing Israel of genocide and asking the court to step in with emergency orders. In response, the court ordered Israel last month to ensure that its actions would not lead to genocide and to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. But the court did not order a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip. The process of considering whether Israel is committing genocide could take the court several years. In its request on Monday, South Africa argued that a ground invasion of Rafah would be in breach of the courts January orders and that the court should consider further emergency measures, though it did not lay out what it believed those should be. The court said that it had asked Israel for comment. Under court rules, the judges will have to consider South Africas request as a matter of priority. That could mean scheduling a hearing or issuing a new order as early as Monday. The court is also starting a six-day hearing on another issue involving Israel on Monday. Israels foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, but Israel has rejected accusations of genocide. On Monday, Israeli forces freed two hostages held in the city in a nighttime commando operation, which was accompanied by a series of airstrikes. The health ministry in Gaza said at least 67 people had been killed in the strikes. Overall, the ministry says, more than 28,000 people in Gaza have been killed. After the rescue mission, Mr. Netanyahu said that only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages. Johnatan Reiss contributed reporting. Scroll to continue Al-Shifa Hospital has been at the center of a debate over whether Hamas is using medical facilities as cover. A satellite image of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, a multi-building complex. Israel said that a tunnel found beneath Al-Shifa, running from the surgery building to a shack, was proof that Hamas operates from hospitals. The satellite image transitions into a 3-D model of the hospital, with a shack and a surgery building highlighted. The Times created a 3-D model of the portion of the tunnel that was visible in a video released by the Israeli military. Note: The diagram is schematic. The 3-D model highlights the tunnel and flips to show it underground. A Tunnel Offers Clues to How Hamas Uses Gazas Hospitals Gazas hospitals have emerged as a focal point in Israels war with Hamas, with each side citing how the other has pulled the facilities into the conflict as proof of the enemys disregard for the safety of civilians. In four months of war, Israeli troops have entered several hospitals, including the Qatari Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Rantisi Specialized Hospital for Children, to search for weapons and fighters. But Al-Shifa Hospital has taken on particular significance because it is Gazas largest medical facility, and because of Israels high-profile claims that Hamas leaders operated a command-and-control center beneath it. Hamas and the hospitals staff, meanwhile, insisted it was only a medical center. Al-Shifas value as a military target was not immediately clear in the days after the Nov. 15 raid, even after the Israeli military released the tunnel video that was used to create the 3-D model seen here. But evidence examined by The New York Times suggests Hamas used the hospital for cover, stored weapons inside it and maintained a hardened tunnel beneath the complex that was supplied with water, power and air-conditioning. Classified Israeli intelligence documents, obtained and reviewed by The Times, indicate that the tunnel is at least 700 feet long, twice as long as the military revealed publicly, and that it extends beyond the hospital and likely connects to Hamass larger underground network. According to classified images reviewed by The Times, Israeli soldiers found underground bunkers, living quarters and a room that appeared to be wired for computers and communications equipment along a part of the tunnel beyond the hospital chambers that were not visible in the video released by the Israeli military. What the video showed under Al-Shifa The dot on the diagram follows the path of the video below that was released by Israel after the raid. By Malika Khurana and Helmuth Rosales; video from the Israel Defense Forces The Israeli military, however, has struggled to prove that Hamas maintained a command-and-control center under the facility. Critics of the Israeli military say the evidence does not support its early claims, noting that it had distributed material before the raid showing five underground complexes and also had said the tunnel network could be reached from wards inside a hospital building. Israel has publicly revealed the existence of only one tunnel entrance on the grounds of the hospital, at the shack outside its main buildings. The Israeli military says that it moved carefully because the tunnel was booby-trapped and ran out of time to investigate before it destroyed the tunnel and withdrew from the hospital. Israeli and Qatari officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel had to leave the hospital to comply with the terms of a temporary ceasefire in late November. American officials have said their own intelligence backs up the Israeli case, including evidence that Hamas used Al-Shifa to hold at least a few hostages. American intelligence also indicates that Hamas fighters evacuated the complex days before Israeli forces moved into Al-Shifa, destroying documents and electronics as they left. Hospitals are protected under international law, even if they provide medical care for combatants, but their use for other acts that are harmful to the enemy can make them legitimate targets for military action. But any action must weigh the expected military advantage against the expected harm to civilians. Al-Shifa, Israeli officials have argued, is an example of Hamass willingness to use hospitals as cover and turn civilians into human shields. But critics say it is also an example of the toll on civilians when Israeli forces surround and raid hospitals to pursue Hamas fighters or rescue hostages, operations that can cut off doctors from fuel and supplies and residents from urgently needed medical care. Five premature babies died at Al-Shifa before the raid due to lack of electricity and fuel, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which helped organize the evacuation of 31 other infants. We all know that the health care system is or has collapsed, Lynn Hastings, the U.N.s humanitarian coordinator for Gaza, has told reporters. The portion of the tunnel visible in the Israeli military video is at least 350 feet long. But confidential military documents reveal that the tunnel extends twice as far. Satellite Image by Planet Labs Israel launched its war in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. Since the start of the war, more than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials there. In the face of international opprobrium over its raids on hospitals, Israel has publicized evidence that it says shows that Hamas hid fighters among the ill and injured, and held hostages in the facilities. The Israeli military said that before entering Al-Shifa, it warned the buildings occupants, opened evacuation routes and sent Arabic-speaking medical teams along with the soldiers. Hamas and Gazan health officials say the hospitals have served only as medical facilities. But beyond accusing the Israeli military of planting evidence at hospitals, Hamas and Gazan officials have not directly refuted the evidence presented by Israel. The Israeli military said it apprehended dozens of terror operatives at Kamal Adwan Hospital in December, and released videos, at the time, of men carrying weapons. A spokesman for the health ministry in Gaza said that Israeli forces had asked the hospitals administrators to hand over the weapons of its security guards. After the raid on the Qatari Hospital, the commonly used name for the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, the Israeli military showed a video on Nov. 5 of what it said was the entrance to a tunnel that was being used for terror infrastructures on the hospitals grounds. But the video appears to show something else: a water storage area built in 2016, when the hospital was constructed, according to engineering plans and images from the hospitals construction reviewed by The Times. The Israeli military declined to provide additional imagery to support its assertion that this was a tunnel entryway or part of a tunnel complex. Just before the Al-Shifa raid, Israeli forces entered Al-Rantisi hospital, on Nov. 13, soon after its remaining patients and staff had left. Within days, the military released two videos that showed weapons and explosives it said it found there, and a room where it said hostages had been kept. The health ministry in Gaza disputed the assertions made in the videos and said the weapons were planted. One of the videos released by Israel showed troops rushing into the hospital and appearing to find explosives, weapons and the hostage room. In the other, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israeli military, showed off guns, explosives and other weapons that he said were found in the basement of the hospital. The video included footage of a piece of paper taped to a wall in the hospitals basement. Admiral Hagari said the paper a grid with Arabic words and numbers within each square could be a schedule for guarding hostages where every terrorist writes his name. The Gazan health ministry said it was nothing more than a work schedule. But the calendar begins on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, and an Arabic title written at the top uses the militants name for the assault: Al Aqsa Flood Battle, 7/10/2023. Given its size and history, taking control of Al-Shifa was always a more important goal for the Israeli military than the other smaller facilities. Concrete sections of the Al-Shifa tunnel are visible in this still image from the video released by the Israeli military. Israel Defense Forces There is substantial independent evidence that Hamas constructed a vast tunnel network across Gaza. Senior Israeli defense officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, estimate the network is between 350 and 450 miles extraordinary figures for a territory that at its longest point is only 25 miles. The officials estimate there are thousands of entrances to the network. There is also established documentation that Hamas used Al-Shifa before the war to mask some of its activities. During Israels three-week war with Hamas in 2008, armed Hamas fighters in civilian clothing were seen roaming Al-Shifas corridors and killing an Israeli collaborator, according to a Times correspondent reporting in Gaza at the time. Six years later, during the next round of fighting, the militants routinely held news conferences at the hospital and used it as a safe meeting place for Hamas officials to speak with journalists. After that war, Amnesty International reported that Hamas had used abandoned areas of Al-Shifa, including the outpatients clinic area, to detain, interrogate, torture and otherwise ill-treat suspects, even as other parts of the hospital continued to function as a medical center. Israels critics, though, countered with statements made at the time by two Norwegian doctors, who described themselves as pro-Palestinian activists and had worked in Gaza during the 2014 war. They insisted that they saw no Hamas presence at Al-Shifa. Israel has also released video footage, taken by the hospitals own security cameras, which it says shows two hostages being brought to Al-Shifa shortly after being abducted in the Oct. 7 attack. The Al-Shifa tunnel was discovered by following ducts that ran underground from air-conditioning units that were powered by the hospitals electricity supply and mounted on one of its buildings, officials said. Israeli soldiers also found evidence that the hospitals water supply was being fed to the tunnel. The Israeli military has also displayed weapons and other equipment it said were found inside Al-Shifa, including grenades placed near an MRI machine. Among the cache presented to journalists were belongings that Israeli officials said had been taken from hostages, including a bag emblazoned with the name Beeri, a kibbutz attacked by Hamas. The military also said it found weapons in Al-Shifas parking lot, and a Toyota vehicle identical to those used in the Oct. 7 attack and loaded with the same equipment that militants carried during the raid, including guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Israeli officials speculated that it was a spare vehicle not used in the attack. Images from the video released by the I.D.F. Clockwise from top left: A room, a sink, electrical wires and a bathroom. Israel Defense Forces Some of what the Israeli military has shown so far does not wholly match the description of a terrorist headquarters that it offered ahead of its ground invasion of Gaza on Oct. 27. Underneath Al-Shifa, the Israeli military wrote in a lengthy post on its website, lies a labyrinth of tunnels and underground compounds used by Hamass leaders to direct terrorist activities and rocket fire and to manufacture and store a variety of weapons and ammunition. There may no longer be a way to directly assess that claim. Israeli forces remained at Al-Shifa for a little more than a week. Hours before Israeli forces left the hospital on Nov. 24, soldiers lined the tunnel with explosives and destroyed it in a blast that sent plumes of smoke high into the air and rocked buildings on the ground above. What can President Biden say and do to win over undecided voters? What concerns and arguments will draw these voters to Donald Trump? For our latest Times Opinion focus group, we spoke with 13 undecided independent voters from across the country about how they see the two leading presidential candidates and explored some issues that might affect how they vote in November. To a striking degree, most of the participants tilted toward Mr. Trump, even though they disliked his personality. So why did they lean toward Mr. Trump? As youll read below, almost all the voters (who range in age from 22 to 64) were most worried about the economy and how their groceries and other bills were too costly. Some were also deeply troubled by the crisis at the southern border, and some were concerned about the Israel-Gaza war and disliked U.S. aid to other countries. The participants comments indicated that most did not feel they were in good hands with Mr. Biden or trust that they would be, using words like senile, unfit and disingenuous to describe him. And while the group viewed Mr. Trump negatively, some people suggested that the country was on its toes more with him in office. At least Donald Trump started a conversation. Sure, it was divisive, and sure, it really wasnt the most productive, but it really highlighted problems and the divisiveness that was already hidden inside of our country, said Yalena, a 22-year-old Latina from Alabama. At the same time, she described experiencing more racism while Mr. Trump was president, including an ugly incident while dining out with her mother. These seeming contradictions came up with other matters as well; there was concern about the future of abortion rights yet skepticism that Mr. Biden or Mr. Trump would be any different on the issue. Many didnt seem to understand the Democratic presidents views on abortion. If there was one takeaway, its that Mr. Biden has his work cut out for him to win over these voters. Case 1:23-cr-00490-SHS Document 190 Filed 02/12/24 Page 62 of 76 just a day after the September 2023 Supplemental Warrant was sought-reveals a number of damning inculpatory details that were not included in that warrant's affidavit, such as: On or about April 8, 2019, the day after an Egyptian government official informed Hana that IS EG Halal was likely to become Egypt's sole halal certifier for imports from the U.S. market, Nadine Menendez texted Menendez, "Seems like halal went through. It might be a fantastic 2019 all the way around." (Original Indictment 17.) Menendez assisted Nadine Menendez in setting up Strategic International Business Consultants, and Nadine Menendez described the purpose of the company to a relative, stating, "every time I'm in a middle person for a deal I am asking to get paid and this is my consulting company. (Id. 18.) In September 2019, Daibes fielded an inquiry from an Egyptian official referred to in the indictment as "Egyptian Official-3," made through Hana, about whether Menendez had put a hold on $1 billion in FMF to Egypt, and after consulting with Menendez, communicated Menendez's response denying any such hold back to Hana, who communicated it to Egyptian Official-3. (Id. 27.) Also in September 2019-after a dinner among Hana, Menendez, and Nadine Menendez-Hana texted Egyptian Official-3 that our man, referring to Menendez, was traveling to India and was asking "if there any message we need or anything for ISEG? (Id. 28.) After a meeting with Egyptian Official-3 on the topic of a dam on the Nile River, Menendez wrote to the then-Secretary of the Treasury and then-Secretary of State urging them to change their approach to negotiations over the dam. (Id. 29(a).) On August 1, 2019, after Uribe texted Nadine Menendez asking her to "stop" an investigation in which an insurance fraud investigator sought to interview the New Jersey Investigative Subject, Menendez performed a Google search for the initials of the state agency employing that investigator. (Id. 36(a).) In December 2020, Menendez met with an individual (referred to in the Indictment as the Candidate) to consider a potential candidacy for U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and in that meeting criticized the prosecution of Daibes, and said that he hoped that the Candidate would look into Daibes's case if the Candidate became the U.S. Attorney; after being told the Candidate may have to recuse himself from the Daibes prosecution, Menendez then informed the Candidate that he would not be put forward for U.S. Attorney; and after being told that his political advisor (referred to in the Indictment as the "Advisor") believed the Candidate would likely not have to recuse from the Daibes prosecution, Menendez recommended the Candidate. (Id. 39-41.) In October 2021, after being picked up from the airport by Daibes's driver, Menendez performed a web search for "how much is one kilo of gold worth. (Id. 42.) 56 John Doherty KP Public Affairs has acquired Doherty Law Group, a top California lobbying shop. John Doherty, former CEO for the Civil Justice Assn. of California, and chief of staff for the states Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, will join Public Policy Holding Company's KP unit in Sacramento. Michael Burns, managing partner of KP, said the addition of Doherty continues his firms commitment to provide the highest-level policy and political services to our clients. Burns had headed Burson-Marstellers PA practice in Chicago and southern California. KP, which was launched in 1996, advises clients in areas such as healthcare, privacy, artificial intelligence, energy, finance, insurance, emergency services, land use and water. Washington-based PPHC acquired KP in 2022. It was PPHCs first acquisition as a listed company which trades on the London Stock Exchange. PPHC is the parent company of Crossroads Strategies, Forbes Tate Partners, Seven Letter, O'Neill & Assocs., Alpine Group Partners, MultiState Assocs. and Concordant Advisory. Julian Assange Barry Pollack, an attorney at Wall Streets Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler, has registered Julian Assange as a client with the Justice Dept. out of an abundance of caution. He believes the Justice Dept. may view some of the ancillary services to the representation of the imprisoned journalist/publisher subject to the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Those services may include briefings about the litigation and participating in public educational events about the case, according to the Justice Dept. filing. Chambers USA called Pollack a thorough and deep-thinking lawyer who lives, breathes and sleeps trials, and has such a natural way in front of juries. Assange is jailed in His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh in southeast London. Amnesty International issued a statement on Feb. 13, saying the extradition of Assange to the US would have a profound, chilling effect on global media freedom. The risk to publishers and investigative journalists around the world hangs in the balance. Should Julian Assange be sent to the US and prosecuted there, global media freedoms will be on trial, too, said Julia Hall, AIs expert on counter-terrorism and criminal justice in Europe. If successfully prosecuted in the US under the Espionage Act of 1917, a measure not intended to target the media, Assange could face up to 175 years in jail. He also faces a maximum of five years in prison on computer fraud charges. The iconic Hen Harrier, a beautiful bird which is known as The Sky Dancer, is facing extinction in one its strongholds, the Slieve Bloom Mountains. This is a tragedy for all those in the region who love the Hen Harrier and who have done what they can to increase the bird's numbers. This includes farmers who want to see wildlife thrive, and Rangers who work hard to stop illegal poaching. The bad news came via a press release issued by Birdwatch Ireland. This stated that the fifth national survey of Hen Harriers in 2022 published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service has revealed shocking declines in this deeply-loved bird of prey of our upland regions. Only 85 confirmed pairs of Hen Harrier were recorded throughout the country by the survey, representing the most severe decline of any national survey to date. The survey stated that there had been a 25% decline in the Slieve Bloom population over the 7 years since the last survey in 2015. The 2015 survey recorded 11-12 pairs. Speaking to The Midland Tribune, Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council, pointed out that while the Slieve Blooms have always been one of the bird's strongholds in the country, it hasn't been without its problems and the population number of breeding pairs does fluctuate from year to year. In the early 2000s there were 10ish pairs breeding across the blanket bog and edge habitats up the mountain. In recent years the number has hovered around 8 pairs annually. A spokesperson for Birdwatch Ireland pointed out that too much industrial forestry in the Slieve Blooms is the principal reason for the decline. Hen Harriers love the open blanket bog of the hill-tops but it would seem this area is dwindling rather than expanding because of encroaching conifer forestry (predominantly sitka spruce). There are in fact a lot of sitka spruce saplings (escapees from the main plantations) dotting the open hillside; and there seems to be no effort at all to remove these or to curtail the plantations' growth. Ricky agreed with afforestation being the principal culprit. As well as impeding on the habitat space, he said, there is also a phenomenon, associated with Sitka plantations, which is called 'edge-effect' which is defined by the presence of Sitka forests skirting hen harrier (and other ground nesters) breeding habitat, which allows predators to access and stalk ground nesting birds from the edge of said forest cover. He added that other factors which might be impacting on numbers might include recreational activity such as hillwalking, mountain biking, quadbiking (quadbiking is illegal); deliberate, legal fires which get out of control (you can burn vegetation which you have cleared, such as hedgerows); and accidental fires (caused by cigarette butts or campfires). The Biodiversity Officer pointed out that an excellent National Biodiversity Action Plan, which outlines measures to fight against the decline of hen harrier numbers, has been drawn up but it has never been put into effect. The 2022 national survey was undertaken by a partnership of the Golden Eagle Trust, Irish Raptor Study Group and BirdWatch Ireland on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Similar to previous surveys, the 2022 national survey received enthusiastic support from a substantial network of voluntary surveyors including birdwatchers, farmers, wildlife rangers, foresters and biologists with more than 250 fieldworkers dedicating over 7,700 hours to the survey. Despite these collective efforts, stated the Birdwatch Ireland press release, the Hen Harrier has been pushed closer to the brink of extinction. The current national population estimate of 85-106 breeding pairs in 2022 represents a decline of one-third (33%) in the total population since the 2015 national survey which previously recorded 108-157 pairs. There has also been a 27% contraction in their breeding range for the same period. A comparison of Hen Harrier numbers in specific survey squares which were covered across the various national surveys reveals that Hen Harriers have declined by a shocking 59% since the first national survey in 1998-2000. At the current rate of decline, population extinction could be expected within 25 years and there could be fewer than 50 breeding pairs of Hen Harrier remaining within the next 10 years. In 2007, as a requirement under the EU Birds Directive, Ireland designated six sites in upland areas as Special Protected Areas (SPAs), based on their national importance for breeding Hen Harriers at that time. The 2022 survey revealed that Hen Harrier populations in five of these SPAs have declined by between 20% and 80% since 2007, when they were identified for designation. We have reached crisis point at this stage, commented John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer, of BirdWatch Ireland. The situation could not be more serious, and we need to act accordingly if we are to stand any chance of ensuring Hen Harriers dont become extinct within our lifetimes. Hen Harriers are one of the best studied bird species in Ireland. We know the main reason why their populations have declined to such low levels, is land-use changes resulting in the loss of habitat for Hen Harrier in our uplands, due to afforestation on important habitats for Hen Harrier and other wildlife inside and outside the Special Protection Area network. There is also associated disturbances from forest management activities and other pressures including wind energy developments. These pressures in combination have affected the integrity of our uplands, which are some of our most important areas for biodiversity and we are now seeing the very real effects of poor spatial planning and management of our uplands for Hen Harrier populations. We know what needs to be done to save this species, said Oonagh Duggan, Head of Advocacy with BirdWatch Ireland. The Government knows what needs to be done but it is not acting. The Government recently issued a draft Threat Response Plan for Hen Harrier for public consultation which was ten years in the making. During this time the species declined by a third. The Threat Response Plan has vague actions and is lacking ambition. It is just not good enough. This is a litmus test for government and its new National Biodiversity Action Plan which has an objective to halt the deterioration of 30% of species with unfavourable status by 2030. We will be launching a campaign soon so that members of the public can offer support to save the skydancing Hen Harrier from extinction. All national Hen Harrier breeding and wintering sites must be protected from afforestation, forest management activities and wind energy development. Habitat restoration for these important areas is also critical and we need long-term and well-funded agri-environment scheme to support farmers for their conservation efforts. Dr Marc Ruddock, one of the report authors working for the Golden Eagle Trust, and Jamie Bailey secretary of the Irish Raptor Study Group confirmed that both organisations are thankful to all the surveyors involved and are pleased at the publication of the Irish Wildlife Manual to help inform conservation actions. However, they were dismayed at the findings and such significant declines observed in the Hen Harrier population. Jamie Bailey commented, The publication of the Hen Harrier survey represents a huge testament to the more than 250 volunteers and surveyors that searched systematically, often fruitlessly, for the species across Ireland in 2022 and their dedication and expertise is hugely valued. Many IRSG members having surveyed the species for many decades noted that so many of these areas that once were strongholds for the species now appear functionally extinct for the Hen Harrier. Irish rail is in the process of looking at a number of locations for in-land hubs, as part of its rail freight strategy. No decision has been made at this point, a spokesperson said. At a presentation made by Irish Rail to the February meeting of Tullamore Municipal District regarding its future plans for Tullamore railway station, Councillor Declan Harvey asked about the possibility of the station becoming a freight hub. Cllr Harvey said his family has a long association with the station and his brother still works there. He recalled that the station used to have a goods yard and it has the infrastructure for a similar development today. In response Derrick Curran, Regional Manager, Customer Experience, said it would depend on what industry Tullamore has. However, those who advocate for a freight hub to be located at Tullamore station, say it could become a central point where trucks from around the Midlands came to collect freight from the station for distribution throughout the region. Tullamore train station has served passengers for over a century, connecting the town to Dublin, Galway and beyond. In its past, it boasted a goods yard, handling fertiliser and cement. Today, with the Midlands lacking a dedicated freight rail facility, the station's existing infrastructure and strategic location are sparking renewed interest. Those seeking a freight hub, say several factors make Tullamore a strong contender. Its location in the heart of the Midlands offers easy access to the motorway facilitating easy onward distribution across the region. The disused goods yard provides a ready-made foundation, potentially reducing development costs and time. Passenger services could continue alongside freight operations, maximising the station's potential. The lack of a dedicated freight hub creates a logistical gap,and Tullamore could fill that void. For Tullamore to become a freight hub utilising the third rail track would be required. Without much tweaking, trains up to 400m could be accommodated in Tullamore. It would also have to attract enough freight to make it sustainable. Those who support the cause say that if done right,Tullamore's train station could transform into a vital logistics hub, boosting the Midland's economy and offering a sustainable freight solution. NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday urged African countries to promote the health of women and children, and reduce the high mortality rate that bodes ill for the continent's progress. Abdourahmane Diallo, the WHO country representative in Kenya, urged the creation of an environment that encourages and facilitates breastfeeding health facilities, providing maternal and newborn services to reduce infant mortality rates and enhance the overall health outcomes of communities. Diallo urged Africa to protect and support breastfeeding, which is fundamental to the health and well-being of infants and their mothers. "Let us harness collective expertise and dedication to make tangible progress toward achieving a shared goal of ensuring that every mother and child has access to the support they need to thrive," Diallo told health experts from 10 African countries attending a workshop in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Diallo noted that the current infant mortality rate of 72 per 1,000 live births in the African region is worrying. At the current annual rate of decline of 3.1 percent, the rate is expected to reach 54 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030, far above the target of less than 25 per 1,000. Diallo added that a slowdown in the progress made during the past decade against maternal and infant mortality is projected in the African region if attention is not given to high-impact interventions. He suggested that governments identify challenges, develop innovative solutions, and strengthen collective capacity to ensure that optimal care for mothers and babies is integrated as a standard of care in all maternity facilities. Patrick Amoth, the acting director general for health in the Kenyan Ministry of Health, said there was a remarkable increase in early breastfeeding from 32 percent in 2009 to 61 percent in 2014, but this stagnated in 2020 at 60 percent. Amoth added that this stagnation underscores the need for continued efforts to scale up baby-friendly hospital initiatives through an integrated approach. According to the WHO, 48 percent of all infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed globally, while in Africa, 47 percent are exclusively breastfed, against a target of 70 percent. Health experts from 10 African countries are meeting to address concerns about baby-friendly facilities, and share knowledge, experiences and best practices from different countries and contexts to help reduce infant deaths. The proposed Schengen-like unified visa programme of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) would open new vistas for travel and cooperation between six member countries as well as boost ties with many nations including India. As per estimates of the Ministry of External Affairs, an estimated 66 per cent of 1.34 crore non-resident Indians (NRIs), or roughly 8.8 million, live in Gulf countries, as of March 2022. So the proposed Schengen-like unified Gulf visa would be a booster shot for Indians, who will be able to travel to six member countries of the GCC with a single visa. So what exactly is a unified GCC visa? What are the norms to be adhered to get such a visa? To which all countries can a unified visa holder travel and when will it materialise? The Schengen model At a meeting of the GCC in Oman in November 2023, it was decided to implement a unified visa to make seamless entry into six member states possible. The Gulf Cooperation Summit held in January this year directed its interior ministers to initiate steps to achieve this. The GCC Supreme Council endorsed the idea of a Schengen-like visa after years of deliberations. The Schengen visa gets you entry to 26 European countries. It was United Arab Emirates finance minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri who announced the unified GCC visa on November 9 last year during the GCC summit. It will do away with the requirement of separate visas to these six countries and also slash costs, in the process facilitating more travel, especially by industrialists. Facilitating seamless travel would be beneficial for all member countries, experts say. Visa for tourists alone? Are labour visas included in the ambitious plan or only tourist visas are being considered in the landmark project? The plan is to first roll out tourist visas alone. Once it is implemented the shortcomings and necessities can be figured out. After that steps would be taken to fix the systemic issues and then business and labour visas may also be brought under the purview of the unified visa project. Expats will be key beneficiaries of this unified visa plan as they gain entry to six countries with a single visa. As of now, only citizens of GCC countries are allowed this facility. The line of thinking behind the ambitious project of the GCC is to boost the number of tourists to Gulf countries to 12.87 crore by 2030. As tourists are permitted to travel to any country within the GCC, this would automatically boost travel. The obvious offshoot of this pragmatic step will be a significant boost to the travel industry and catapult GCC countries as important destinations on the world tourist map. GCC countries have agreed to conduct common marketing exercises, implement unified tourist applications, and set up a common website and online booking facility. Consensus has also been reached to participate in global tourism fairs under the single banner of GCC, which will prompt global tourists to see GCC as a single tourist zone and not as different countries. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are the six countries that come under the ambit of the unified visa plan. Photo: iStock/Liudmila Chernetska Countries under unified visas ambit Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are the six countries that come under the ambit of the unified visa plan. This will also be beneficial to those travelling to the Gulf for Haj and Umra as well as those on short trips. In the first stage, the aim is to maximise cooperation between the GCC countries, which will facilitate the exchange of skilled labour in the second stage. The proposed rail link connecting the Gulf countries also necessitates the implementation of the unified visa regime. When will it happen? Although there is no official word on when the unified visa regime will materialise, some reports indicate it could happen as early as the middle of this year itself. Some countries have apprehensions including about the visa providing leeway to those who indulge in criminal activities to flee. There is also no clarity on whether people who were extradited by individual countries would be allowed in other countries. The visa will be valid for 30 days at a stretch. The application process would be akin to the normal visa process. The plan is to first roll out tourist visas alone. Once it is implemented the shortcomings and necessities can be figured out. Photo: Special Arrangement Interior ministries of GCC nations are chalking out norms and stipulations for the proposed visa regime. Only after this process is over will the visa fee and other details will be announced. Member countries have resolved to protect the sovereignty of GCC nations. In case a member nation objects, entry to that country wont be allowed. UAE alone accounts for nearly half of the 800-plus tourist sites in GCC countries. The unified GCC visa will also give a fillip to the nearly 200 tourism events in the Gulf. Colombo: It's only been a few days since Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower started allowing Indian tourists to pay via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services. Now, Indian tourists in Sri Lanka will also be able to make digital payments through UPI with the launch of the facility in the island nation. UPI services were rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as linking historic ties with modern digital technology. India's RuPay card services were also launched in Mauritius at a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Modi, his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. India's NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Central Bank of Sri Lanka-owned LankaPay joined hands to provide a seamless payment solution to tourists with the launch of UPI services. This interface facilitates inter-bank and person-to-person transactions as well as person-to-merchant transactions, using mobile phones, Wasantha Alwis, Director (Payments and Settlements) of the Central Bank, told reporters. It provides the facility to transfer funds between bank accounts in India and also has a feature to use a QR code and make a payment to a merchant, Alwis added. He said Indian tourists are the biggest inbound market to Sri Lanka with nearly 300,000 arrivals in 2023. This is a very good seamless digital payment mechanism. When they are here, they don't need to worry about conversion rates. It is a great convenience to Indian tourists, he added. Alwis said businesses can easily obtain QR codes by contacting their respective financial institutions and reaching a trade agreement. He emphasised that all banks and financial institutions registered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka are mandated to issue these codes. Conrad Dias, another senior official, said Sri Lanka's small and medium-scale businesses should see this as a huge opportunity as they would be gaining new customers with this initiative. The scheme aims to rapidly expand its reach, with an estimated 10,000 merchants expected to accommodate UPI payments for Indian nationals within weeks of its launch. By the end of March 2024, this number is projected to reach 65,000, officials said. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Consider it the bleakest of all-American miracles. The latest NBC News poll has Donald Trump's lead over Joe Biden in a projected 2024 presidential contest growing to 5% (47% to 42%). Of course, nine months before the vote, such polls may not be truly meaningful and, if you prefer other results, you can just check out the most recent Quinnipiac University National Poll where Biden is leading Trump by 6% (50%-44%). So, yes, who really knows at this point? But the very fact that Trump is still polling anywhere near the 50% range after his disastrous presidency and the nightmare that followed on January 6, 2021, no less the all-too-literal trials and tribulations from its fallout, is nothing short of remarkable. The Donald, of course, is still facing his four criminal and two civil trials, the possible loss of significant parts of his fortune (such as it is), not to speak of potential convictions and prison sentences. Despite all that, he's running successfully for president so far. Oh, and I almost forgot! He's in danger of being permanently removed from the ballot in Colorado, Maine, and possibly other states because, as TomDispatch regular Clarence Lusane, author of Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy, explains so vividly, on that unforgettable January day he organized (in his own thoroughly disorganized fashion) a rally that became a one-of-a-kind insurrectionary event. In its wake, mobs of supporters he encouraged, some well-armed, after clobbering policemen in front of the Capitol, essentially invaded and took over parts of that building. And yes, it's hard not to think of it as distinctly an "insurrection," which could indeed make it illegal for Trump ever to be president again. No wonder he's begging -- well, Donald Trump never truly begs -- but certainly demanding that a Supreme Court with three deeply Trumpified members keep him on those ballots and to hell with, as Lusane explains today, the 14th Amendment. After all, he and his white boomer supporters have come to believe that he has the right to amend anything. Tom Throwing Out the Constitution Donald Trump vs. the 14th Amendment By Clarence Lusane When the Civil War ended in 1865, the 76-year-old Constitution needed an upgrading and those leading the country did indeed dramatically transform it with the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, known collectively as the Reconstruction Era amendments. The 13th (1865) abolished slavery, while the 15th (1870) gave voting rights to newly freed Black men. However, it was the 14th Amendment, first drafted in 1866 and ratified in 1868, that would prove the most far-reaching and that today sits all too squarely between Donald Trump and his white nationalist and authoritarian dreams. While much attention has been rightfully focused on its "insurrection" clause (Section 3) and whether, thanks to it, Trump should be allowed to hold office, given his role in the January 6th attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, his actions are also at odds with other key provisions of that amendment. Trump's Constitutional Indiscretions It hardly needs to be said that Donald Trump is no constitutional scholar. At this point, though, there can be little doubt that his instincts are distinctly focused on some version of autocratic rule and white male privilege. No surprise then that, in his adult life, including as president, he's staked out positions and advocated policies that distinctly conflict with the letter of, and the tone of, the 14th Amendment. Mind you, he's brazenly violated other parts of the Constitution as well, including the "emoluments" clause of Article 1, Section 6, and the "appropriations" clause of Article 1, Section 9. The foreign emolument section states that, without congressional assent, neither the president nor other office holders can "accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State." Yet, as the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee documented, "Trump's businesses received at least $7.8 million in payments from foreign governments and government-backed entities from 20 countries," in itself adding up to a set of gifts (or do I mean grifts?) of historic proportions. Moreover, that figure is undoubtedly a significant underestimate of what he actually received. According to reporting by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Trump's businesses took in more than $160 million from international sources during his presidency. He also got away with violating the constitutional authority given only to Congress to appropriate federal spending by stealing funds from the military to try to build his border wall. To be specific, he diverted $2.5 billion from the military's construction budget to that wall project of his. In June 2020, a federal appeals court found that the administration had acted illegally. By then, however, the money had been spent and Trump's tenure would soon come to an end. Preserving the 14th Amendment Undoubtedly, however, his determination to put the 14th Amendment in the trashcan of history should draw the most concern. The rights that U.S. citizens cherish -- from basic civil and human ones to not being ruled by insurrectionists -- are most strongly protected by provisions in that amendment. The struggle to constitutionalize equal rights was one of the most important for the Black community after the Civil War. In November 1865, for example, a "54-foot long petition signed by hundreds of men," organized by the State Convention of Colored People of South Carolina, was submitted to Congress demanding "equal rights before the law," "an equal voice," and "the elective franchise." The first line of the 14th Amendment states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Known as the "birthright citizenship" statement, it has almost universally been interpreted to mean that anyone born within the territory of the United States is automatically a full citizen. More than 30 countries have the principle of "jus soli" (of the soil) allowing citizenship with no qualifications to, or restrictions on, those born there, regardless of the status of their parents. Among the countries with no restrictions are Brazil, Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Guyana, Mexico, Tanzania, Tuvalu, and the United States. That statement was included in the 14th Amendment specifically to revoke the Supreme Court's pre-Civil War 1857 Dred Scott v. Sanford decision -- one of the most egregious it ever made -- denying citizenship and any rights to Black people in the United States. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney infamously wrote that Black people and their descendants "had for more than a century been regarded as beings of an inferior order" they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." In the post-Civil War environment, that ruling clearly had to be corrected and so the 14th Amendment's congressional authors wrote it in such a way as to include not just newly freed slaves but anyone born in the United States. (The one all-too-ironic and shameful exception was Native Americans who weren't given legal citizenship until 1924 under the Indian Citizenship Act.) Donald Trump has long expressed a deep opposition to birthright citizenship. He and much of the far right refer to it derogatorily as "birth tourism" and claim that thousands of women are coming to this country just to have children who would automatically become citizens. There should be no doubt that he and his followers are speaking of immigrants of color from the global South. When elected in 2016, he promptly declared that he would abolish birthright citizenship with an executive order. He was then informed that such an order would never stand up legally and only in January 2020 did he finally propose new rules for the State Department that were meant to stop it from issuing visas to visitors coming to this country supposedly for the purpose of birth tourism. It was notable, by the way, that the nations of Western Europe were excluded from those rules, which in any case were so vague as to be impossible to enforce without breaking laws on privacy. Ultimately, the consensus among scholars is that it would take a constitutional amendment to end what is now a constitutional right. Yet Trump continues to declare that, should he win the presidency in 2024, one of his priorities will indeed be to abolish birthright citizenship. As he put it last year, "As part of my plan to secure the border, on Day One of my new term in office, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship." His contention that he has a "correct" interpretation of the law is distinctly in conflict with the history of past challenges to that amendment. Previous Supreme Courts, whether dominated by liberals or conservatives, have upheld birthright citizenship on numerous occasions, starting with the 1898 Wong Kim Ark case. Trump, of course, is betting that his three appointments to the court and at least two other conservative justices will finally break with such precedents. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment also guarantees "due process" and "equal protection under the laws." That "due process" clause was specifically meant to stop southern whites who returned to power in the post-Civil War era from passing state laws and enacting other policies that would legally treat newly freed Blacks differently. In the immediate aftermath of the war, however, "Black codes" were indeed enacted by pro-slavery whites in southern legislatures. As a result, Congress felt called upon to pass laws, known as the Enforcement Acts, meant to ensure that the 14th and 15th Amendments would be the law of the land and that the rights of Black people would be protected. In 1896, equal protection for African Americans and other people of color would nonetheless be nearly trampled to death by the Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. That decision, in fact, would sanction racial segregation thanks to a perverse interpretation of the 14th Amendment under the banner of "separate but equal" (which, of course, actually meant separate and distinctly unequal). Almost 60 years of Jim Crow segregation followed until, in 1955, the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling reinterpreted the equal protection clause to ensure that "separate" could never be interpreted to mean "equal." Trump, however, has demonstrated strikingly little fealty to the principle of due process for all. From his 1989 call for the death penalty for five young Black and Brown men before they even had a trial to his threatening insistence that Hillary Clinton and others of his political opponents be jailed based purely on personal grievances and vendettas, he's never faintly respected the constitutional rights of others. He's called for protesters to be beaten at his rallies and mused that Black Lives Matter activists should be shot in the legs at demonstrations. When it came to foreign policy and immigration policy, his administration (with his fervent backing) separated children from their parents in a fierce crackdown on undocumented aliens, while he demanded a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S." In addition to the racism and cruelty of such policies, they plainly violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. For the Civil Rights Movement and, more broadly, all movements for social justice and human rights in the United States, the equal protection clause has proven decisive. The 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act were typically passed on the principle of "equal protection." It was also the basis for ending bans on interracial marriage (Loving v. Virginia), providing abortion rights to women nationally (Roe v. Wade), and allowing same-sex marriage in every state (Obergefell v. Hodges). As demonstrated by their rulings to end Roe, as well as affirmative action in university admissions (with the exception of military academies like West Point), Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices simply don't believe in equal protection. For a candidate and party that brand themselves as proponents of "law-and-order" above all else, it's clear that a reactionary version of "order" is significantly more important than fairness or the equal application of the rule of law to every citizen. Insurrectionists Can't Hold Office Of course, as even certain conservative legal scholars have noted, Trump played a key role in launching the January 6th insurrection and, under the third section of the 14th Amendment, should be ineligible to run again for president. As that section reads, someone -- an officer of state -- who violates his or her oath "to support the Constitution of the United States" and who "shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof" cannot hold office. Thanks to Trump, millions of Americans now believe that he won an election he distinctly lost. Although he was told by most of his own experts and in dozens of court decisions that he had done so, he didn't bother to share that information with his followers. Instead, he continued to foster misinformation and deep anger about that election. Without him, that crowd would never have gathered in Washington to "save America" and "stop the steal." ("Be there, will be wild!" he tweeted to his followers.) Without him, its participants wouldn't have gone to the Capitol. Without his exhortations that they needed to "fight like hell," that crowd he was addressing at the Ellipse in Washington on January 6, 2021, might never have become quite so riled up. Courts in Colorado and Maine have determined that Trump should not be allowed to stay on the ballot because of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. In about half of the other states, cases have been filed to remove him due to his role in the insurrection (something on which the Supreme Court will seemingly soon rule). Most telling, when it came to his cavalier disregard for constitutional rule, has been his claim that, since the oath of office he took as president only required him to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution, he wasn't obliged (as Section 3 demands) to "support the Constitution" on January 6th, a distinction only someone as venal as Trump would have made. But as CREW noted in response to the petition from Trump's lawyers in the Colorado case, "The Constitution itself, historical context, and common sense, all make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's disqualification clause extends to the President and the Presidency." Even conservative lawyers J. Michael Luttig, Peter Keisler, Larry Thompson, Stuart Gerson, and Donald Ayer have argued in their amicus brief in the case that "Trump incited the threat and use of violent force as his last opportunity to stop the peaceful transfer of executive power." They state unequivocally that he "had the intent that the armed mob, at the very least, threaten physical force on January 6, 2021, in response to his speech on the Ellipse." And to be clear, as legal scholar and civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill argues in her brilliant amicus brief, Trump's insurrection was targeted, in part, against the votes of African Americans. No Understanding of, or Desire to Understand, the Constitution In July 2016, as he was about to secure the Republican nomination for president, Trump had a closed-door meeting with House Republicans. In responding to a question about Article 1 of the Constitution that addresses the responsibilities, powers, and limits of the president, Trump stated: "I'm for Article I, I'm for Article II, I'm for Article XII." There are, in fact, only seven Articles in the U.S. Constitution. From the day Donald Trump took office, he had no intention to "preserve, protect, and defend," no less "support" the Constitution. Instead, he essentially ran roughshod over much of that document. And the issue was never simply his ignorance of the Constitution (though that should be taken for granted), but his outright hostility to it. That he has not yet been held accountable for that should be considered a disgrace in this era and will undoubtedly be seen as such by generations to come. Today, as in the years after its passage to defend the rights of the newly freed, the enforcement of the 14th Amendment remains as much a political question as a legal one. In a sense, it couldn't be simpler. President Donald Trump was an officer of the United States who incited and engaged in insurrection and so should be disqualified from ever again holding the office of the presidency. However, based on skeptical questioning by both liberal and conservative Supreme Court justices at the February 8th hearing on the case, it appears that the court will likely not allow Colorado or any other state to bar Trump from the ballot. If so, the Trump danger will continue -- for now. Copyright 2024 Clarence Lusane (Article changed on Feb 13, 2024 at 1:22 PM EST) U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made his second visit to the Portland metro area in less than a year, stopping in Vancouver on Tuesday to tour the Interstate Bridge and discuss plans to build a new structure across the Columbia River. Buttigieg climbed the narrow staircase and stood in the tiny room above the northbound span of the bridge where workers operate the bridges lift mechanism. The bridge supervisor, Marc Gross, explained the workings of the structure as cars passing below shook the room. Oregon and Washington officials aim to replace the bridge, which turns 107 years old next week, and are trying to secure at least $6 billion in funding for the project. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the project a $600 million grant. Buttigieg called the bridge replacement plan one of the largest, most complex projects in the country, comparing it to other massive bridge projects like Ohios Brent Spence Bridge. Right now, its too large and too complex for traditional funding to work, he said. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (left), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (center) and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee prepare to tour the I-5 bridge on Tues., Feb. 13, 2024. Dave Killen / The Oregonian He declined to comment on the likelihood of the project securing more of the federal funding Oregon and Washington officials seek, citing open processes. But he said hes been pleased with the commitments both states have made, as well as the local governments involved with the bridge planning. Thats part of why I have confidence itll get done, he said. He acknowledged some of the hurdles, chief among them the rising costs of materials. Greg Johnson, the director of the bridge replacement project, said the planning team expects to revise its cost estimate for the structure this summer. He declined to say what the new estimate could be, but has acknowledged that the price range, currently estimated between $5 billion and $7.5 billion, could rise. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (center), flanked by Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee (left). Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (center right) and Metro Council President Lynn Peterson, toured part of the Vancouver, Washington, waterfront on Tues., Feb. 13, 2024.Dave Killen / The Oregonian Buttigieg talked about the urgency of building a new bridge, to address both seismic and climate resiliency. The bridge is one of several on the West Coast in need of earthquake-ready improvements, he said, mentioning the Burnside Bridge and San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge. Of criticisms that the planned bridge is too big and unnecessarily adds freeway lanes thereby inviting more traffic Buttigieg said he doesnt automatically assume adding more lanes is the answer. He also said he thinks theres more than one way to reduce emissions resulting from the new bridge, citing the planned light rail extension. But its also the case that congestion on the bridge is a problem, he said. We dont go into this one-dimensional. The multimodal component is one of the things that is so compelling about the project. Several other local officials joined Buttigieg on the tour, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg places an order at Kafiex Roasters on the Vancouver, WA waterfront on Tues., Feb. 13, 2024. Dave Killen / The Oregonian After the bridge tour, Buttigieg also walked a portion of the redeveloped Vancouver waterfront, most of it on land formerly operated as a marine port. He met with local business owners at a waterfront coffee shop. The transportation secretary spent Monday, the first day of his trip, discussing workforce development with apprentices and union workers, meeting with high school students in a career technical program, and touring the Portland airport as it undergoes a massive remodel. Buttigieg previously visited the Pacific Northwest in July 2023, riding a TriMet bus for a tour of 82nd Avenue to discuss planned safety improvements for the road. Jayati Ramakrishnan; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com Stored ammunition and propane tanks exploded in a fire that engulfed a large building in rural Lebanon Sunday night, fire officials said. The two-alarm fire in the 29800 block of Santiam Terrace Road in Lebanon caused the building to collapse. More than 20 firefighters were needed to bring the blaze under control, officials said. Lebanon Fire District, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, Scio Fire District, Brownsville Fire District and the Linn County Sheriffs Office responded to the fire. More than 20 firefighters battled the Lebanon blaze.Lebanon Fire District No injuries were reported. Lebanon Fire District said the property owners lost everything they stored in the building as well as a vehicle that was parked just outside. The fire is under investigation. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Deschutes County jail deputies failed to do periodic checks or provide medical support for a 22-year-old woman suffering from drug withdrawal with a history of suicide attempts, a lawsuit alleges. The woman, Kendra Nicole Sawyer, took her own life by hanging herself with a jail towel in her single-cell unit a day after she was booked into the county jail in February 2023, according to the lawsuit. Oregon outfielder Ariel Carlson was recognized by the Pac-12 for her play in helping the Ducks go 4-2 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Carlson, who hit .500 with two home runs, three doubles and 10 RBIs over six games, was named Pac-12 softball player of the week. The fifth-year senior also stole two bases and was named to the all-tournament team. Carlson hit two home runs in Oregons win over Liberty and tied the program record with three doubles and drove in four runs in the win over Army. The Ducks went 4-0 in games in which she had an RBU. Its the first career weekly honor for Carlson and the 90th all-time for UO. Oregon travels to the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego to play Texas A&M and LMU twice and No. 24 San Diego State once beginning Friday. A bill that would prevent public schools from removing or rejecting textbooks, instructional materials and library books due to themes of race, gender, religion, immigration or sexual orientation has prompted a mini-tempest at the Oregon Capitol. Senate Bill 1583, sponsored by Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, is a culture wars flashpoint in an otherwise businesslike short legislative session focused on housing, drug law reform and homelessness. When news recently broke that Jon Stewart would be returning to The Daily Show, it sparked a widespread wave of chatter, among fans thrilled to see Stewart back in the comedy news anchor chair, and media pundits who wondered how Stewart would come across in a media landscape thats changed dramatically since he departed The Daily Show in 2015. (Jon Stewart returns to host The Daily Show on Monday nights, at 11 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, on Comedy Central. No cable? You can stream The Daily Show on Philo, which offers a free trial; Fubo, which also offers a free trial; Hulu; Sling TV; and the following day on Paramount Plus.) When Stewart retired from The Daily Show, it was after much discussion about his impact, including the notion that many people -- young people in particular -- gleaned most of their current affairs info not from newscasts or newspapers, but from Stewart. During his 16-year tenure, Stewart and The Daily Show writers regularly took sharp satirical aim at politics and politicians, and dispensed media criticism as well, often aimed at the Fox News Channel. The idea that Stewart played an instrumental role in shaping opinion went so far that some speculated that part of why Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential race was because Stewart wasnt around on The Daily Show to focus his attention on the candidate. Since leaving The Daily Show, Stewart has done other things, including directing, being an executive producer of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, advocating for veterans and first responders, and hosting the Apple TV+ series, The Problem With Jon Stewart, which focused on politics and other issues. The Problem With Jon Stewart was canceled after two seasons, and The New York Times reported that Stewart and people at Apple had disagreed about Stewart discussing certain topics, including China. As Variety reports, Stewart said on CBS Mornings that he wanted a platform to share thoughts about the current election season, but that Apple TV+ felt that they didnt want me to say things that might get me in trouble. So, Stewart will be back, for Monday nights at least, on The Daily Show through the 2024 election season. The rest of the week will feature correspondents on the show, who have been part of the fill-in host arrangement the show has been using since previous host Trevor Noah departed The Daily Show at the end of 2022. Stewart, who will also be an executive producer of The Daily Show, is coming back in a media climate thats packed with shows featuring comic takes on the news, many of them hosted by veterans of The Daily Show, including Colbert, and John Oliver, of HBOs Last Week Tonight. Stewarts first guest upon his return will be Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor in chief of The Economist. Can Stewart still command attention in this crowded field? Well find out, beginning at 11 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12 on Comedy Central. The debut episode will also be simulcast on CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop and TV Land. Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe This story originally appeared on Underscore.news Many who grew up in the Pacific Northwest recognize Ed Edmo by his expressive hands and face as he tells stories, breathing life into characters like Nasho, a monster woman, and cultural tricksters like the Coyote and Spider Woman. He changes his voice, making it high for the womens parts and low for the mens. Sometimes he incorporates puppets or asks the audience to help him, urging them to repeat after him. Ed Edmo, Shoshone-Bannock, is a traditional storyteller, poet, playwright, published author, actor, performer, instructor and tour guide who lectures on cultural issues at cultural sites in the Pacific Northwest, such as the flooding of Celilo Falls, as well as drug and alcohol abuse and mental health for Native peoples. He has also served as a consultant to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. He tells a story of a monster with long hair, claws for fingers, snaggly teeth, snot down to here, and bad breath, asking the audience to repeat those descriptions with him every time he mentions the monster, utilizing hand motions and facial expressions to fully immerse his audience in the story. As his hands wave through the air, the light catches on his silver and turquoise ringsone on almost every finger. Edmo says this is an audience favorite. Stories were told to teach children how to act, shares Edmo. how to treat their elders, how to interact with nature and the world. Once Edmo is on a roll, its hard for him to stop. He loses time, as does the audience, immersed in the moment. He tells story after story, as long as the audience is engaged. His stories explain how things work or why they are the way they are. He brings the stories and legends of his culture alive. It feels like youre a part of the story. You can smell the wood burning, feel the bee sting, taste the salmon eyeball soup, and smell the meat cooking because of the way he tells it. He uses props like a cane and puppets of a bear, goose, coyote and eagle to help illustrate his stories. Edmo grew up listening to his fathers stories. He remembers the crackling fire and his mom, grandmother, and aunties quilting around it as they sat and listened. At the time, I didnt realize it wasnt just stories, Edmo said, stroking his salt-and-pepper braids. It was my dad giving me my culture night by night. Native resiliency With a birth story like Edmos, its no wonder he grew to become the traditional storyteller he is today. When Edmo was born on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Nevada in 1947, he was so small and weak, the delivery doctor gave him five minutes to live. Seventy-six years later, he is not only alive, but thriving. While still small in stature, Edmos gravitas and impact on contemporary Native culture in the Pacific Northwest is anything but. Edmo is a living testament to Native resiliency. Shortly after he was born, his family moved back to his fathers ancestral home at Celilo Village near The Dalles along the Columbia River. His paternal familys homelands are in the Columbia Gorge. The Celilo Wy-am people are best known for what is currently known as Celilo Falls, where the river once flew down a torrential drop of over 20 feet between bluffs on the shorelines made from basalt. These were the ancestral fishing grounds for the Celilo Wy-am people, where they speared salmon while standing on rocks surrounding the falls. Later, they created platforms across the rocks from which they caught fish in nets. When Edmo was just a young boy, The Dalles Dam flooded Celilo Falls. Before the flooding, the falls provided everything that the Celilo Wy-am people needed: from salmon, sturgeon, smelt, and eel to traditional roots and berries along the riverbanks. After the falls were flooded, their land base went from over 108 acres to what is now just over seven acres. While eating lunch at one of his favorite local cafes, Ed Edmo shares a photo taken of him as a young man (center) singing in the drum circle while occupying the Portland Area Bureau of Indian Affairs office on Nov. 11, 1973. Also pictured, Al Smith (right) and Bear Cub (back right).Ed Edmo/Underscore News/Report for America Ed Edmos hands are adorned with jewelry, many are repurposed silver spoon handles that he now wears as rings.Ed Edmo/Underscore News/Report for America To keep that history alive, Edmo teaches students and community groups in the Pacific Northwest about Celilo Falls and the Celilo Wy-am people. During one of his presentations, Edmo shared slides on Celilo Falls. I couldnt believe how something so big and beautiful could disappear, he said. Edmo was raised by both his parents and attended elementary school at Petersburg School in The Dalles, which was a one-room schoolhouse. I didnt realize it was so small, Edmo said. When I was so little, it seemed big! He graduated from Wishram High School, where he first started getting involved in performance art as a drama student. In 1974, Edmo met his wife, Carol, in Portland. He said they heard about each other through various friends and relatives. They got married in 1976. Edmo is now in recovery from alcohol and lives a clean and sober life. He goes to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to stay sober. Im following the path, he shares. Grandfather Storyteller In addition to storytelling, Edmo is a renowned poet and writer. In 1974, he received a grant from the Potlatch Fund for his poem These Few Words of Mine. At the time, he was attending Portland Community College. I write about contemporary moments in time for contemporary Indians, said Edmo. poems about drinking coffee and raking leaves, about my parents when I was a kid. Poems with titles like, Grandfather Storyteller, and, Burnside Cowboy. Edmos most famous poem is Indian Education Blues. He wrote it in 1968 in Bend, Oregon. Now, its a part of the cultural exhibit Poetry in Motion, which features poetry on TriMet transit buses and light rail. He keeps a beaded pen on him, calling it his weapon. He explains that, as a writer, the inspiration to write can hit at any time or any place. One time, he left his journal in the car when he stopped at a Dairy Queen. There was a family in the restaurant, and he was compelled to write a story about them based on their expressions and interactions with each other and the staff, creating a whole backstory from his imagination. He wrote it on a napkin. Sharing culture Ed Edmo, Shoshone-Bannock, is a traditional storyteller, poet, playwright, published author, actor, performer, instructor and tour guide who lectures on cultural issues at cultural sites in the Pacific Northwest.Ed Edmo/Underscore News/Report for America His writing and storytelling has recently been memorialized as part of a collection of murals of Portland icons, entitled A Place Called Home in the Portland International Airport. The mural of Edmo depicts him dressed in a blue button-down shirt with his iconic suspenders, traditional beadwork, and his long hair in two braids. Above his dapper black hat, Edmo holds one of his favorite storytelling props: a stuffed eagle. When the mural was first unveiled, Edmo attended and sang a song for the airport employees. Edmo has spent his life sharing his culture and supporting his community in this, and many other ways. He currently serves on the board of Red Lodge Transition Services, a program for women reentering Clackamas County after prison. He teaches cultural classes at Coffee Creek Womens Penitentiary, and storytelling classes at Gresham High School. He says he is also looking forward to performing at the Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria at the end of February. He finds time to dance and run sweat lodges at various mens prisons in the Pacific Northwest where he serves as a traditional dancer. He says he doesnt believe in competition dancing, where dancers get paid for their performances. While he admits he used to charge people coins or candy for pictures of him in his regalia when he was younger, he says he believes in the tradition of dance as ceremony and to promote healing in the community. At Celilo, we danced for the fun of it, not for competition, he says. Leah Altman, Oglala Lakota, is a Native American adoptee and was raised in the Portland area. She has written for local and national publications, including Portland Monthly, Oregon Humanities, Portland State Universitys Metroscape magazine, Parents.com and Indian Country Today. For over a decade, Leah has also worked for Native and BIPOC-led environmental and community organizations, including the NAYA Family Center, Verde, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Portland will see a foggy start to Tuesday but with a bit of luck will see skies clear by the later morning and enjoy a mostly sunny day. The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Much of the metro area should be fog-free before lunch and will enjoy temps warming to about 52 degrees. Those in areas where the fog lingers may not see as much warming and could be stuck in the 40s all day. Use caution traveling around early Tuesday as visibilities are down to a quarter of a mile in some locations. Slow down, and watch carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially in school zones. The weather will take a turn toward the dramatic beginning Wednesday when a push of cold air from British Columbia moves southward into the region. This cold air will eventually meet up with warmer moisture from a Pacific weather system and Portland/Vancouver and the Columbia River Gorge will be the pitch in this battle of the opposing weather systems. Many factors go into how this will play out. But currently the weather service is expecting cold rain and windy conditions in the metro area, and winter weather concerns in the gorge. Which air mass wins out over a given area is key to what sort of precipitation to expect. Portland is likely to see mainly rain Wednesday, maybe with snowflakes mixed in at times. Higher foothills are likely to see snowfall, but sticking snow isnt expected below about 2,500 feet. Daytime high temperatures will dive to about 43 degrees. Winds will be strong at times, with chances of gusts of 40 mph or higher in the eastern half of the Portland/Vancouver region. Most models are showing only about a 10% chance of accumulating snow in the lowlands north of about Wilsonville. Areas south of Portland should expect only rain. A winter storm watch is in effect in much of the Columbia River Gorge including Corbett, Rooster Rock, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, and Hood River. The watch covers the time from Wednesday morning through Thursday evening. These areas can expect mixed precipitation including freezing rain and snow. Total snow accumulations of up to 12 inches are possible. The heaviest accumulation will be east of Multnomah Falls. Ice accumulations could add up to a quarter of an inch. Travel may be extremely hazardous. Winds are likely to gust as high as 50 mph at times. Often the Oregon Department of Transportation will close Interstate 84 through the gorge when weather warrants it. If youre planning travel through the gorge, it would be best to leave Tuesday. Watch TripCheck.com for updated road advisories through this storm. Portland is likely to see another day of cold rain Thursday with high temps only reaching about 41 degrees. Rain may be heavy at times. Watch for ponding on roadways and localized flooding of small streams and creeks. The metro area could see rain mixed with snow, especially overnight when temps dip near freezing. Friday may start with some snow mixed with rain before about 8 a.m. Snow levels are likely to rise on Friday to about 4,000 feet by the afternoon. Skies will be cloudy and precipitation rates will taper off during the day. The high will only reach about 41 degrees. The extended forecast is showing chances of continued snow and freezing rain in the gorge over the weekend. Portlands weekend looks damp and chilly with rain and highs only in the mid 40s. Photo: (Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) A 1-month-old baby girl in the United States lost her life when her mother wrongly placed her in an oven instead of her crib for a nap. Mother Mistakenly Places Baby in Oven The distressing incident occurred on a Friday afternoon in Missouri, encouraging police officers to answer to a report of a one-month-old child not breathing. Upon coming to the Kansas City residence, authorities discovered serious burns on the passive infant, who was announced dead at the scene, a circumstance characterized as "horrifying" by law enforcement. First responders disclosed that the mother, 26-year-old Mariah Thomas, had inadvertently placed the baby in the oven instead of the crib for her nap. A warrant of arrest stipulated that the child's clothing was burnt and mixed to her diaper, and the home smelled of smoke. Additionally, a burned baby blanket was found at the location. According to the police, Thomas resides with her parents who were away at work during the incident. Authorities report that she contacted her parents in a distressed state, loudly expressing that there was an issue with the child. Upon receiving the call, both parents immediately returned home. The father, arriving first, detected the scent of smoke and discovered the unresponsive infant. When the mother arrived later, law enforcement was already present at the residence. Mariah Thomas, a homeowner of Kansas City, was subsequently detained for questioning. She has been charged with imperiling the security of a child. As of now, court records do not specify whether Thomas has a legal presentation and tries to find a phone listing for her have failed. Read Also: Long-Distance Co-Parenting: 5 Tips for Keeping Strong Bonds Missouri Police Responds To Report of Unresponsive Baby On Friday afternoon, police responded to a report of an unresponsive newborn. According to a probable source statement, responders found the child with evident burns, and she was pronounced dead at the location. A witness enlightened responders that the mother had wrongly placed the child in the oven instead of the crib while putting her down for a nap. However, the announcement did not provide details on how this error happened. Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker admitted the upsetting nature of the misfortune in a statement, saying, "We admit the horrifying nature of this misfortune, and our hearts are contemplated by the mislay of this dear life. We believe the criminal justice system will answer correctly to these disgusting situations." The conclusive assertion did not offer further feature on the situation leading to this devastating error, and other aspects of the occurrence remain confidential. Meanwhile, the mom, identified as 26-year-old Mariah Thomas, faces charges of imperiling the well-being of a child, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office. Thomas is charged with jeopardizing the welfare of a child, resulting in death, which bears a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 30. A friend of the mother proposed that Thomas' mental health might have played a role in the circumstances, describing the baby as a "very sparkling" child who was "smiling all the time." Currently, Thomas is being held at the Jackson County Detention Center. Related Article: A Pregnant Woman Was Allegedly Burned Alive Inside Her Car by the Baby's Father Photo: (Photo : TIMOTHY A. CLARY / Getty Images) The current winter storm is expected to have a Northeast impact, as announced by weather forecasters. Due to the heavy wind and snow, New York City (NYC) has now declared no classes, and Boston school closures have also been announced as a preventative measure to ensure public safety. Furthermore, both cities have emphasized the gravity of the situation and the need for residents to exercise caution. NYC and Boston School Shutdowns Amidst Winter Storm Alerts Mayor Eric Adams of New York City announced the closure of the nation's largest public school system on Tuesday. The decision encompasses a shift to remote learning, a proactive move aimed at minimizing the potential risks associated with the approaching winter storm. Simultaneously, Boston Public Schools have aligned with this precautionary measure, declaring a closure on Tuesday to mitigate the impact of the impending weather event on students and staff. This synchronized effort reflects a regional commitment to safety, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of winter storms. The closure of these prominent school systems underscores the collaborative approach to prioritizing public safety and maintaining educational continuity. Implications on Transportation and Airport Operations The influence of the winter storm extends beyond educational institutions, with disruptions anticipated in transportation networks and air travel. Over 300 flights scheduled for Tuesday have been preemptively canceled, affecting airports in New York City and Boston. Travelers are strongly advised to stay informed about flight statuses and to brace for potential disruptions, emphasizing the broader implications of the impending storm on regional and national travel. The decision to cancel flights showcases the proactive stance of transportation authorities in anticipating and managing the challenges posed by the impending weather conditions. It serves as a reminder for residents to prioritize safety and plan accordingly for potential disruptions in their travel plans. Tuesday morning is expected to present challenging commuting conditions, with residents from Philadelphia to Boston facing the brunt of heavy snowfall and gusty winds up to 40 mph. Projections indicate significant snow accumulation, ranging from 4 to 8 inches in Boston and major parts of New York City. The fast-moving nature of the storm suggests a duration starting at 7 a.m. to Tuesday afternoon, with the potential for snowfall rates reaching 2 inches per hour. The anticipation of treacherous conditions underscores the importance of residents exercising caution and adhering to safety guidelines during their commute. Additionally, concerns about coastal flooding from Delaware to New Jersey to New England emphasize the comprehensive impact of the approaching winter storm. Read Also: Zyn Nicotine Pouches' Rising Sales Prompt Senate Scrutiny Over Youth Risk: Is Your Child at Danger? Northeast Impact: Safety Measures and Extended Closures Mayor Eric Adams urges residents to take necessary precautions in light of the imminent challenges posed by the winter storm. The Archdiocese of New York aligns with this sentiment by announcing the closure of all Catholic elementary schools on Tuesday, designating it as a "traditional snow day" devoid of remote instruction. Families are advised to follow individual school instructions for Archdiocesan High Schools. As the storm is projected to conclude by 7 p.m., residents are strongly encouraged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, prioritizing safety during this weather event. The collaborative efforts of city officials, school administrations, and transportation authorities reflect a unified commitment to ensuring the well-being of residents in the face of potential disruptions. The declaration of no classes in New York City and Boston serves as a precautionary measure, underscoring the seriousness of the approaching winter weather. Related Article: North Carolina Wilderness Camp Tragedy: 12-Year-Old's Mysterious Death Sparks Investigations Photo: (Photo : ANGELA WEISS / Getty Images) In the aftermath of the landmark Roe v. Wade overturn, individuals facing pregnancies in the United States are thrust into a pivotal moment, grappling with the profound implications of new and increasingly stringent state abortion laws. This unfolding scenario has given rise to a palpable surge in demand for early ultrasounds and genetic screenings as patients navigate a maze of legal constraints, driven by a rising urgency to make crucial decisions before state-imposed deadlines. Ticking Clocks under State Abortion Laws Early Ultrasound Detection As states across the nation tighten their grip on abortion laws, individuals find themselves in the throes of complex decisions, acutely aware of ticking clocks dictated by gestational milestones. Roughly half of the states have embraced restrictive abortion measures, leaving those in states like Utah and North Carolina, where abortion is prohibited after the 18-week and 12-week marks, respectively, with limited options for follow-up diagnostic tests. The ticking clock becomes a defining element, pushing patients to hastily seek early ultrasounds to gather crucial information before state-imposed cutoffs, underscoring the urgency woven into the fabric of state abortion laws. Amidst the escalating reliance on early ultrasounds, healthcare professionals voice concerns about the completeness of the information these screenings provide. While the conventional 20-week ultrasound, often referred to as the "anatomy scan," offers a comprehensive examination, an increasing number of patients opt for ultrasounds at 10 to 13 weeks to align with stringent state laws. However, experts caution that the limitations of early ultrasounds may lead to decisions made with incomplete information, intensifying the urgency inherent in the intricate web of state abortion laws. The delicate balance between legal constraints and informed choices becomes a focal point as individuals navigate this evolving landscape. Read Also: Clean Air Revolution: Moms Clean Air Force Summit Echoes EPA's Bold Standards for Children's Health Genetic Screenings Amidst Regulatory Uncertainties In the realm of genetic screenings, also known as "non-invasive prenatal tests," concerns about accuracy persist, prompting regulatory intervention. The FDA is poised to release a regulatory framework in April, recognizing the need for oversight in the face of evolving medical technologies. Healthcare providers stress the significance of diagnostic tests like amniocentesis and CVS, offering more certainty than the uncertainties associated with genetic screenings. Against the backdrop of state abortion laws, the lack of diagnostic assurance heightens the urgency faced by individuals seeking reproductive choices. This uncertainty, coupled with legal constraints, transforms the decision-making process into a delicate dance between the desire for information and the constraints imposed by the evolving legal landscape. As state abortion bans tighten their grip, personal narratives emerge, shedding light on the profound challenges within the existing legal landscape. The experiences of individuals like Hannah from Tennessee, who faced a strict abortion ban, become emblematic of the struggles intertwined with the pursuit of reproductive choices. Hannah's journey, from obtaining a firm diagnosis from an ultrasound at 18 weeks gestation to navigating multiple states to find a clinic that aligned with her decision, underscores the tangible impact of state abortion laws on individuals making deeply personal choices. The palpable urgency driven by state abortion laws is reshaping the landscape of reproductive healthcare decisions, permeating the intricate fabric of personal choices. The reliance on early ultrasounds and genetic screenings, while a pragmatic response to legal constraints, introduces complexities and uncertainties into an already emotionally charged process. As the nation grapples with this evolving landscape, the intersection of healthcare, law, and personal choice remains at the forefront, emphasizing the need for nuanced discussions around the implications of state abortion laws on reproductive rights. Related Article: North Carolina Wilderness Camp Tragedy: 12-Year-Old's Mysterious Death Sparks Investigations Photo: (Photo : AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Image) Cambodia has documented its fourth human case of H5N1 avian flu this year, involving a 16-year-old boy, who is the brother of a recently deceased 9-year-old boy from Kratie province in northeastern Cambodia. The older sibling, unlike his brother, did not exhibit respiratory symptoms. Cambodia Recently Reports 4th Death Due to Bird Flu The health ministry, as per Avian Flu Diary, an infectious disease news blog, reported the case and mentioned the ongoing monitoring of contacts. While the statement did not provide details on the teen's exposure, an earlier announcement revealed that poultry had died at the family's residence and were consumed. Cambodia has reported a total of 10 human H5N1 cases since 2023, marking a resurgence after a decade-long absence of cases. The recent cases involve an older H5N1 clade (2.3.2.1c) prevalent in the country's poultry, distinct from the newer clade (2.3.4.4b) circulating widely in various regions among wild birds and poultry, occasionally affecting mammals and humans. Bird flu, or avian influenza, typically spreads among poultry and was not contemplated as a warning to humans until a 1997 epidemic in Hong Kong. Most human cases involve personal contact with contaminated poultry, but consideration has been lifted about the possibility for the virus to derive for easier human-to-human transmission. The WHO and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization lately considered a high danger of virus spreading during Lunar New Year celebrations in many parts of Asia. The ministry disclosed that the boy who passed away last week encountered symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, coughing, and fainting after consuming a meal prepared by his parents from chickens and ducks they bred. Read Also: Dengue Emergency Hits Rio de Janeiro Ahead of Carnival: Special Measures Launched Amid Rising Cases What Is Bird Flu? Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a threatening infection that can impact not only birds but also humans and other animals. While most forms of the virus are primarily found in birds, H5N1 is the most common and lethal strain, capable of influencing both birds and humans. Discovered in humans in 1997, H5N1 has resulted in nearly 60 percent fatality among those contaminated, according to the World Health Organization. Although the virus does not currently spread through human-to-human contact, there are worries that it may pose a pandemic risk to humans. Symptoms of bird flu include cough, diarrhea, respiratory difficulties, fever, headache, muscle aches, malaise, runny nose, and sore throat. If susceptible to bird flu, it is essential to inform healthcare staff in advance to facilitate preventive measures for both staff and other patients. Causes of bird flu affect various types of the virus, with H5N1 being the first avian influenza virus to affect humans in 1997. The disease appears commonly in wild waterfowl and spreads quickly to domestic poultry. Human transmission happens through contact with infected bird excretions, nasal secretions, or oral and ocular secretions. Consumption of well cooked poultry or eggs from contaminated birds is not a source of transmission. Risk factors for decreasing H5N1 include being a poultry farmer, a traveler inspecting concerned areas, risk to infected birds, consumption of half-cooked poultry or eggs, being a healthcare worker caring for contaminated patients, or being a household member of a contaminated person. Examination involves tests allowed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as the influenza A/H5 (Asian lineage) virus real-time RT-PCR primer and probe set. Medications commonly include antiviral treatments like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza), conducted within 48 hours of symptom onset. The seriousness of the infection determines the outlook, with possible problems including sepsis, pneumonia, organ failure, and acute respiratory discomfort. Precautionary measures include gaining a flu shot to avoid co-infection with human influenza stress, doing good hygiene, and escaping open-air markets, association with contaminated birds, and half-cooked poultry. While an FDA-authorized vaccine for avian flu stays, it is not presently available to the public, and its use is supported if H5N1 spreads among people. Related Article: Avian Flu, the Real Reason Behind High Prices of Eggs Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. We missed Auckland today. A mechanical problem with one of our ships lifeboats which was used as a tender to transport passengers in the Bay of Islands prevented it from being raised back into position for departure. And, of course, the ship was not allowed to set sail without its full complement of functioning life boats. (Somebody in the maritime trade must have watched the movie Titanic.) So, instead of departing at the scheduled 8:00 PM, we didnt embark on the route southward until 5:00 AM. And that would have put us in prohibitively late for Auckland, so they simply scrubbed that port of call. Too bad. I havent been in Auckland for years now, and I would like to have seen it again. I had even harbored the hope of possibly seeing the new Auckland New Zealand Temple, which is beginning to assume its permanent external appearance. But now Ill be obliged to return again to New Zealand sometime in the future. Dang. What a horrible fate. Many on board the Ovation of the Seas have been complaining about the cancellation of our call at Auckland. More than a few were planning to meet friends or family there. Its definitely unfortunate, but Ive been considering alternative disasters: We might, for example, be living in Gaza. There are, in other words, worse setbacks. As I write, having just enjoyed an excellent meal, Im sailing on a luxury cruise ship on a sea that is as smooth as glass. The mountains of New Zealands North Island are beginning to fade into the darkness, but I was able to see the famous green flash from our cabins veranda, so that was pleasing. (Ive seen it on several previous occasions.) But our tour group did indeed suffer from not being able to go ashore: They were subjected to two unscheduled lectures by, well, me. In the morning, we discussed near-death experiences. (It was a request from a member of our tour group.) In the afternoon, we discussed Islam. Since then, Ive thought of several basic and important points that I failed to make about Islam and Muslims, so I may return to the topic. Speaking of near-death experiences, here are three passages that I marked while reading Pim van Lommel, Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience (New York: HarperCollins, 2010). The first is a specimen of the panoramic life review reported by many who experience NDEs: My whole life so far appeared to be placed before me in a kind of panoramic, three-dimensional review, and each event seemed to be accompanied by an awareness of good and evil or by an insight into its cause and effect. Throughout, I not only saw everything from my own point of view, but I also knew the thoughts of everybody whod been involved in these events, as if their thoughts were lodged inside me. It meant that I saw not only what I had done or thought but even how this had affected others, as if I was seeing with all-knowing eyes. And so even your thoughts are apparently not wiped out. And throughout, the review stressed the importance of love. I cant say how long this life review and insight into life lasted; it may have been quite long because it covered every single subject, but at the same time it felt like a split second because I saw everything at once. It seemed as if time and distance didnt exist. I was everywhere at once, and sometimes my attention was focused on something and then I was there too. (36) The next two are examples of the conscious return to the physical body: When I came to in my body it was dreadful, so dreadful. . . . The experience had been so beautiful that I didnt want to come back. I had wanted to stay there . . . and yet I came back. From that moment it was a real struggle to live my life inside my body, with all the limitations I experienced at the time. . . . But later I realized that this experience was in fact a blessing, for now I know that the mind and body are separate and that theres life after death. (40) Before I get a chance to turn around and dive into that heavenly light, I notice a slender hand on my back, from my right shoulder down to my waist. This large hand pushes me very firmly yet lovingly back into my body. For a moment I feel like Im doing a couple of somersaults in the air. Then I realize that Ive landed back in my body. Back to the pain and to the doctors deafening screams and slaps. Im furious, incredibly furious! I dont know if I actually uttered all the insults that came to mind. . . . I think I did, because I felt a sense of relief afterward. Ive never felt a fury like this rage. . . . (40-41) I look forward to seeing whether this proposed prize elicits any significant responses.: Announcing the $1 Million Challenge to Replicate the Shroud of Turin. Ive been interested in the Shroud of Turin since I first heard about it decades ago. I found this item in the vicinity of the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: The case for marriage: Science says its the key to happiness: A variety of studies show a good marriage is something worth working for And this litany of abominations that have recently been perpetrated in Australia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Japan, Lithuania, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Russia was found directly in the actual Hitchens File: Latter-day Saints around the World: February 12, 2024: Church provides aid to Japan following devastating earthquake, orphanage center in the DR Congo receives mattresses and food, and donations gathered for those in need in Australia Posted from the South Pacific Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, scholar, 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 very popular 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. Thats what I want to interact with, so I have done many replies to Gavin and will continue to do so. His words will be in blue. I use RSV for all Bible passages unless otherwise specified. All of my replies to Gavin are collected in one place on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page, near the top in the section, Replies to Reformed Baptist Gavin Ortlund. This is my 19th reply to his material. ***** This is a response to portions in Gavins video, Response to George Farmer and Allie Beth Stuckey on Catholicism Vs. Protestantism (5-8-23) 4:07 the whole appeal of Protestantism was a return and retrieval of practices of the early church. 4:18 I often recommend some of these classical treatments of Protestantism, like John Jewell and the Anglican tradition, Martin Chemnitz in the Lutheran tradition, Francis Turretin in the Reformed tradition. All of them are arguing from the church fathers. Heres how [John] Calvin again put it in a 1539 dispute he had with a Catholic theologian [probably Cardinal Sadoleto]: Our agreement with antiquity is far greater than yours, but all that we have attempted has been to renew the ancient form of the church that existed in the age of Chrysostom and Basil among the Greeks and of Cyprian, Ambrose, and Augustine among the Latins. Pause the video and read that quote ten times. Its an astonishing claim. What hes saying is all Protestantism is, is a return to the third, fourth, fifth centuries. Thats the Protestant myth of Church history that Ive refuted with tons of facts times without number. Protestantism says that its two pillars are sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as the final and infallible authority in Christianity) and sola fide (faith alone as the way of being saved and extrinsic, imputed justification). Lets look at the second thing first. Did Protestantism simply revive or retrieve what was believed and practiced in the early Church? No. I call as my witnesses, Protestant scholars Alister McGrath and Norman Geisler. I cite both from books where they defend Protestantism over Catholicism. They have no gripe against their own views and obviously cant be accused of bias. So what do they say about this topic? First, the late great Norman Geisler: For Augustine, justification included both the beginnings of ones righteousness before God and its subsequent perfection the event and the process. What later became the Reformation concept of sanctification then is effectively subsumed under the aegis of justification. Although he believed that God initiated the salvation process, it is incorrect to say that Augustine held to the concept of forensic justification. This understanding of justification is a later development of the Reformation . . . Before Luther, the standard Augustinian position on justification stressed intrinsic justification. Intrinsic justification argues that the believer is made righteous by Gods grace, as compared to extrinsic justification, by which a sinner is forensically declared righteous (at best, a subterranean strain in pre-Reformation Christendom). With Luther the situation changed dramatically . . . . . . one can be saved without believing that imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) is an essential part of the true gospel. Otherwise, few people were saved between the time of the apostle Paul and the Reformation, since scarcely anyone taught imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) during that period! . . . . . (Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences, with Ralph E. MacKenzie, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1995, 502, 85, 222) This spectacularly confirms that sola fide was a novelty and corruption (I dont see how it can even be a later development as Geisler described it), and that infused, intrinsic justification was the ongoing tradition, and that of St. Augustine, supposedly the great forerunner of Luthers faith alone. If there is any development of Augustines and the Church fathers well-nigh unanimous view, it is in Catholicism, since imputed justification was a late-arriving doctrinal novelty of the 16th century. The renowned Protestant scholar Alister McGrath makes virtually the same point: Whereas Augustine taught that the sinner is made righteous in justification, Melanchthon taught that he is counted as righteous or pronounced to be righteous. For Augustine, justifying righteousness is imparted; for Melanchthon, it is imputed in the sense of being declared or pronounced to be righteous. Melanchthon drew a sharp distinction between the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous, designating the former justification and the latter sanctification or regeneration. For Augustine, these were simply different aspects of the same thing . . . The importance of this development lies in the fact that it marks a complete break with the teaching of the church up to that point. From the time of Augustine onwards, justification had always been understood to refer to both the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous. . . . The Council of Trent . . . reaffirmed the views of Augustine on the nature of justification . . . the concept of forensic justification actually represents a development in Luthers thought . . . . Trent maintained the medieval tradition, stretching back to Augustine, which saw justification as comprising both an event and a process . . . (Reformation Thought: An Introduction, 2nd edition, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993, 108-109, 115; my italics and bolding) A complete break is simply not a consistent development of doctrine. Therefore, it cant be said i.e., if these men are to be believed that sola fide brought back what was widely believed in the early period of Church history. It wasnt taught then, and one need not merely take my word for it. Here we have two eminent Protestant scholars and apologists freely admitting that it wasnt. They are simply recording the actual facts of the matter. Thank you, Dr. Geisler and Dr. McGrath. You make my work as a Catholic apologist a lot easier: especially my analysis of the actual historical development of soteriology. Quotations like these save me literally days and days of work. Gavin likes to cite Catholic scholars who disagree with Catholic magisterial teaching. Very well, then, by the same token, I cite Protestant scholars who disagree with certain widespread Protestant myths of Church history. Goose and gander . . . 5:48 Protestants just try to be honest about the messiness of history, but they said and this is the common claim that on the main issues of dispute, certainly on a greater number of issues the church fathers supported the Protestant position. Again, I have concentrated on the two pillars of the so-called Protestant Reformation (sola Scriptura and sola fide): the very things that Protestants believe are particularly important and crucial, and where they think they are considerably more biblical and patristic than Catholics. Lets switch over to sola Scriptura now. Ive written more about it including two books [one / two] than about any other topic, in my 4,500+ articles and 55 books. And Ive done more patristic research about it than any other topic. If we examine the fathers that John Calvin mentioned above, and what they thought about the issue of the rule of faith (the relationship of Bible, tradition, and the Church), we see that they did not believe in sola Scriptura at all. Ive written about all of them in this respect: St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03] Chrysostom & Irenaeus: Sola Scripturists? (vs. David T. King) [4-20-07] Dialogue on St. John Chrysostom & Sola Scriptura (Includes a Discussion of the Proper Definition of Sola Scriptura) [2-23-21] Highlight: So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by Epistle of ours. Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. (On Second Thessalonians, Homily IV) ** Basil the Great (d. 379) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03] David T. King and William Webster: Out-of-Context or Hyper-Selective Quotations from the Church Fathers on Christian Authority: Part II: St. Basil the Great [11-11-13] Vs. James White #16: St. Basil Held to Sola Scriptura? [11-19-19] Self-Interpreting Bible & Protestant Chaos (vs. Turretin): Including Documentation that St. Basil the Great Contrary to Turretins Claim Did Not Believe in Sola Scriptura [8-29-22] Highlight: [Y]ou should confess the faith put forth by our Fathers once assembled at Nica, that you should not omit any one of its propositions, but bear in mind that the three hundred and eighteen who met together without strife did not speak without the operation of the Holy Ghost, . . . (Letter No. 114 to Cyriacus, at Tarsus; NPNF2-8) ** Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07] Cyprian (c. 210-258) vs. Sola Scriptura [12-23-21] Highlights: Peter, upon whom by the same Lord the Church had been built, . . . (Epistle 54: To Cornelius, 7) After such things as these, moreover, they still dare a false bishop having been appointed for them by, heretics to set sail and to bear letters from schismatic and profane persons to the throne of Peter, and to the chief church whence priestly unity takes its source; and not to consider that these were the Romans whose faith was praised in the preaching of the apostle, to whom faithlessness could have no access. (Epistle 54: To Cornelius, 14) ** St. Ambrose (c. 340-397) vs. Sola Scriptura [12-18-21] Highlight: He said to Peter: I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. Luke 22:32 To the same Apostle, again, when on a former occasion he said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, He made answer: You are Peter, and upon this Rock will I build My Church, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 16:18 Could He not, then, strengthen the faith of the man to whom, acting on His own authority, He gave the kingdom, whom He called the Rock, thereby declaring him to be the foundation of the Church? (Exposition of the Christian Faith, Bk. IV, chapter 5, section 57) ** St. Augustine (d. 430) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03] Augustine & Sola Scriptura (vs. Gavin Ortlund) [4-28-22] Augustine & Sola Scriptura, Pt. 2 (vs. Gavin Ortlund) [4-29-22] Reply to a Reformation Day Lutheran Sermon [Vs. Nathan Rinne] (Including St. Augustines View on the Rule of Faith & the Perspicuity of Scripture; Luther & Lutherans Belief in Falling Away) [10-31-23] Highlights: The authority of our books, which is confirmed by the agreement of so many nations, supported by a succession of apostles, bishops, and councils, is against you. (Against Faustus the Manichee, XIII, 5; cf. XI, 5; XIII, 16; XXXIII, 9) My opinion therefore is, that wherever it is possible, all those things should be abolished without hesitation, which neither have warrant in Holy Scripture, nor are found to have been appointed by councils of bishops, nor are confirmed by the practice of the universal Church, . . . (Epistle 55 [19, 35] to Januarius [400] ) ** On my Fathers of the Church web page I have collected dozens of articles on the Church fathers rejection of sola Scriptura. See the section: Bible / Tradition / Sola Scriptura / Perspicuity / Rule of Faith. Its easy to show that the Church fathers held an entirely Catholic view of the rule of faith. I cite three prominent Protestant Church historians, summing up the views of the Church fathers: As regards the pre-Augustinian Church, there is in our time a striking convergence of scholarly opinion that Scripture and Tradition are for the early Church in no sense mutually exclusive: kerygma, Scripture and Tradition coincide entirely. The Church preaches the kerygma which is to be found in toto in written form in the canonical books. The Tradition is not understood as an addition to the kerygma contained in Scripture but as the handing down of that same kerygma in living form: in other words everything is to be found in Scripture and at the same time everything is in the living Tradition. It is in the living, visible Body of Christ, inspired and vivified by the operation of the Holy Spirit, that Scripture and Tradition coinhere . . . Both Scripture and Tradition issue from the same source: the Word of God, Revelation . . . Only within the Church can this kerygma be handed down undefiled . . . (Heiko Oberman, The Harvest of Medieval Theology, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, revised, 1967, 366-367) It should be unnecessary to accumulate further evidence. Throughout the whole period Scripture and tradition ranked as complementary authorities, media different in form but coincident in content. To inquire which counted as superior or more ultimate is to pose the question in misleading terms. If Scripture was abundantly sufficient in principle, tradition was recognized as the surest clue to its interpretation, for in tradition the Church retained, as a legacy from the apostles which was embedded in all the organs of her institutional life, an unerring grasp of the real purport and meaning of the revelation to which Scripture and tradition alike bore witness. (J. N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines, San Francisco: Harper & Row, fifth revised edition, 1978, 47-48) In the substance of its doctrine this apostolic tradition agrees with the holy scriptures, and though derived, as to its form, from the oral preaching of the apostles, is really, as to its contents, one and the same with those apostolic writings. In this view the apparent contradictions of the earlier fathers, in ascribing the highest authority to both scripture and tradition in matters of faith, resolve themselves. It is one and the same gospel which the apostles preached with their lips, and then laid down in their writings, and which the church faithfully hands down by word and writing from one generation to another. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2 [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1966, from the fifth revised edition of 1910], Chapter XII, section 139, Catholic Tradition, p. 528) Ive done some research involving the Church fathers and faith / salvation / soteriological issues, too: * * Including an In-Depth Analysis of the Term Oracles of God (Gk., Logion, Romans 3:2) Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, scholar, 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 very popular 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. Thats what I want to interact with, so I have done many replies to Gavin and will continue to do so. His words will be in blue. I use RSV for all Bible passages unless otherwise specified. This is my 18th reply to his material. ***** This is a response to an erroneous portion in Gavins video, The 5 Minute Case for Protestantism (6-8-23). 0:39 Only the words of Scripture are God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16), carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:21), the oracles of God (Rom 3:2). * Here, Gavin is attempting to prove sola Scriptura (Scripture as the only infallible authority in Christianity) in his summary five-minute presentation, with three quick New Testament passages. 2 Timothy 3:16 is the classic Protestant prooftext for sola Scriptura. It proves nothing of the sort, as I have written about several times: * * * * larger category of prophecies, whether recorded in Scripture or not (no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God; or his chosen translation, carried along by the Holy Spirit). I addressed 2 Peter 1:21 in my article, Reply To Gavin Ortlunds 6-Minute Sola Scriptura Defense (Including the Biblical Case for Prophets as Inspired and Infallible Authorities Besides Holy Scripture) [1-26-24]. In that piece I noted how St. Peter stated that prophecy in the New Testament was inspired revelation (no prophecy of scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation: 2 Pet 1:20). All agree on that. But in the next verse, the one that Gavin cites, Peter also refers to thecategory of prophecies, whether recorded in Scripture or not (no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God; or his chosen translation, carried along by the Holy Spirit). * That statement is not confined to prophecies that are included in Holy Scripture. Its a blanket statement about all prophecies. Gavin is assuming that its not a larger category because of the previous verse, but it clearly is, because prophecy is a larger category than simply the prophecies that are mentioned or presented in the Bible. This is why this passage doesnt prove the truthfulness of sola Scriptura. In other words, inspired utterance which is moved by the Holy Spirit (i.e., inspired) exists outside of the Bible, too, and is authoritative by the very fact that it originated from the Holy Spirit. * There is no way out of that. Its airtight. And of course, this directly contradicts sola Scriptura, because it entails infallible (and even inspired) utterance outside of the Bible. In that paper along the same lines I gave a summary of how many times prophets, prophecy, and prophesying were mentioned in the New Testament. Every time they spoke with the word of the LORD it was inspired utterance. How could such prophecies not be? After all, they came from God! All of His words are inspired or God-breathed (the literal meaning of inspired). * only the words of Scripture as Gavin claims? Its the usual Protestant either/or dichotomous mentality that is the culprit once again. Oracles of God is no more confined to the Bible itself than word of God or Word of the LORD are. Protestants simply assume the equation, but the Bible itself clearly teaches that there is no such equation. Those phrases have a much larger (usually prophetic) application. We can look at the word involved and see what the biblical linguists say about it. The word for oracles is logia or logion: ( But the rest of my present analysis will be devoted to Romans 3:2: the oracles of God. What does that mean? Must it mean as Gavin claims? Its the usual Protestant either/or dichotomous mentality that is the culprit once again. Oracles of God is no more confined to the Bible itself than word of God or Word of the LORD are. Protestants simply assume the equation, but the Bible itself clearly teaches that there is no such equation. Those phrases have a much larger (usually prophetic) application. We can look at the word involved and see what the biblical linguists say about it. The word for oracles isor: ( Strongs word #3051 , related to logos, #3056 ). * * logia are specifically but not exclusively Gods promises to Israel (cf. the promises of Rom. 15:8). Paul in the latter verse refers to the promises given to the patriarchs. Liddell-Scott-Jones define the use at Romans 3:2 itself as the sayings of the Lord and compare it to Psalms 12:6 (The promises of the LORD). No one I know of would ever argue that the promises of God = (and can only equal) the Bible. Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament defines it as simply oracle and makes the comparison with the word used in the Septuagint for Psalms 18:30 (the promise of the LORD) and Isaiah 28:13 (the word of the LORD). Kittels Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (one-volume, p. 514) states about the usage in Romans 3:2: the divineare specifically but not exclusively Gods promises to Israel (cf. the promises of Rom. 15:8). Paul in the latter verse refers to the promises given to the patriarchs. * logia / logion are routinely translated as oracles of God in Bible translations proves that it has a larger meaning; else they would simply have used Scripture[s], just as 2 Timothy 3:16 does, and I wouldnt be making this argument, because it wouldnt apply. If we look at * Scripture[s] is used The very fact thatare routinely translated as oracles of God in Bible translations proves that it has a larger meaning; else they would simply have used Scripture[s], just as 2 Timothy 3:16 does, and I wouldnt be making this argument, because it wouldnt apply. If we look at various translations of Romans 3:2 , we find oracles used 31 times. We never find Scripture[s] as the chosen rendering. Terms besides oracles used are word[s], revelations, messages, teachings, utterances, law[s], sayings, spoke to: all of which can be and are used of phenomena beyond just Holy Scripture.Scripture[s] is used 51 times in the NT , including 14 times by Paul himself (with six of those in the book of Romans alone). If thats what he meant in Romans 3:2 he certainly it sure seems to me would have used that word. But he didnt, and so the case against Romans 3:2 being a prooftext for sola Scriptura is airtight, since it clearly doesnt only refer to the Bible. The word in four different forms appears in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) 34 times . Here is a summary: * oracle: Num 24:4, 16. * thy word[s]: Dt 33:9; Ps 119:11, 67, 103, 162, 169, 170, 172; 138:2. * promises of the LORD: Ps 12:6; 18:30. * words of my [i.e., Davids] mouth: Ps 19:14. * word of the LORD: Ps 105:19; Is 28:13. * words of God: Ps 107:11. * thy promise: Ps 119:38, 41, 50, 58, 76, 82, 116, 133, 140, 148. * thy righteous promise: Ps 119:123. * thy commands: Ps 119:158. * his command: Ps 147:15. * the word of [God]: Is 5:24. * his lips: Is 30:27. * his tongue: Is 30:27. Again, this usage clearly goes far beyond only the Bible. This is the background in St. Pauls mind when he chose to use the word oracle in Romans 3:2. Its the only time he used it, whereas he used Scripture[s] 14 times, as I already noted. St. Peter uses it as originating wholly from man: As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of Gods varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God . . . (1 Pet 4:10-11). It only appears two other times in the NT. One is from St. Stephen: the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to give to us (Acts 7:38). This could very well include the oral Torah as well as the written. See my articles: * * * The fourth use in the NT is in Hebrews 5:12 (Gods word). We know that word of God and word of the LORD etc. have a very wide latitude of meaning beyond Holy Scripture. * Conclusion: Gavins prooftext from Romans 3:2 and his other two in this particular video utterly fail in their purpose. * Mr George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mines, has elaborated extensively on the policy strategy of the Vice President and Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the small-scale mining sector, describing it as a groundbreaking strategy capable of revolutionizing Ghana's mining industry entirely. Addressing the Media at a press engagement on Tuesday, 13th February 2024, Hon. Mireku Duker gave a detailed breakdown of Dr Bawumias mining policy, affirming his belief in the potential of the policy to transform the mining sector particularly the small-scale mining sector. He explained that the strategy is anchored on two thematic areas: "ushering Ghana into a Golden age for the maximization of the benefits from our natural resources like gold, lithium, bauxite, and so on. The key to doing this is value addition, Ghanaian ownership; and establishing a new paradigm in natural resource contracts. He stated that the 18-point policy document will ensure the formalization, regularization and regulation of environmentally sustainable small-scale mining to guarantee the growth and expansion of the sector. Hon. Mireku Duker observed that H. E Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia is fully abreast with the socio-economic potential of the environment-friendly and profit-making small-scale mining sector and is determined to ensure that the one million job opportunities currently provided by the sector are increased exponentially. We will Formalize, regularize and regulate environmentally sustainable small-scale mining. About one million people are engaged in small-scale mining. Our goal would be to help grow small-scale mining companies into large-scale companies with capacity building and assisting them to access financing to acquire equipment. We can create many millionaires in the small-scale mining industry if we support them. To achieve this laudable objective, Hon. Mireku Duker noted that a government led by the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will create a viable link within the entire value chain of the small-scale mining sector which will enable them to sell their gold to the Bank of Ghana and be part of the gold reserves of the central bank. We will support the Minerals Commission and key stakeholders to formalize the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector to ensure that the activities of the entire value chain are sustainably and responsibly done so that most of the gold produced by this sector can be sold to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and be eligible to be part of the gold reserves of the central bank. He said that the Bawumia administration will continue the decentralization program embarked on by the Akufo-Addo government relative to the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that these two institutions will have a presence in all mining districts to enable the smooth administration of mining activities in the country. He added that the Community Mining Scheme which is already yielding positive results will be scaled up to ensure its sustainability and also all small-scale miners will be registered with the National Small Scale Miners Association. We will further deepen the decentralization of the minerals commission as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ensure that they are present in all mining districts.. He assured that H. E Dr Mahamudu Bawumias administration will drastically reduce illegal mining activities with innovative ideas and policies and also crack the whip on recalcitrant miners without fear or favour. Hon. Mireku Duker urged Ghanaians, particularly those in the small-scale mining sector to have absolute confidence in Dr Bawumia to protect their jobs and also rid their industry of the excesses crippling it and the country at large. On her part, The Deputy Information Minister, Hon. Fatimatu Abubakari corroborated the Deputy Lands Ministers statement, emphasizing that efforts by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry will help create jobs for the youth in the mining sector and promote knowledge transformation. She also said the Community Mining scheme will benefit many people within the various catchment communities. 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 A prison inmate, said to be a Chinese national has escaped while receiving medical care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. The inmate, Wang Xiao, was at the Nsawam Prison and was serving a one-year jail term for stealing. He is said to have reported being sick and needed dental care outside the prison walls. He was escorted to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. But while receiving medical care, he reportedly escaped from the hands of the prison officers who had escorted him to the hospital. The incident happened on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The Ghana Prisons Service has confirmed the incident. DSP Irene Pokuah Wiredu, Head of Media Relations at the Ghana Prisons Service confirmed the incident to Graphic Online and said the service has since issued a wanted person notice for public assistance to re-arrest the inmate. The inmate was sent to Korle Bu for medical care about dental health. Graphic Online understands the inmate, who was arrested in Tema, went through a court trial for stealing and jailed one year, which he was serving at the Nsawam Prison. The inmate is reportedly standing trial in another case, said to be a serious offence. Investigations are underway and all those officers related to the issue are under interrogation. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Founding President of IMANI Africa, Mr Franklin Cudjoe has said that one of the Vice Presidents of the policy think tank, Kofi Bentil remains part of the organization despite declaring his support for one of the flagbearers. Mr Cudjoe said although individual members of the IMANI are free to speak their minds, their wishes and preferences will always be overridden by the collective mandate they have carved for the organization. In a statement, he said IMANI has enormous respect for all flagbearers of political parties. Our individual wishes and preferences however expressed or communicated will always be overridden by the collective mandate we have carved for the organisation, in putting out objective, independent analysis and critique on many issues within an environment that guarantees individual freedom and liberty. In this light, Mr. Kofi Bentil, whose personal political views were expressed about a preference for a candidate in this years election, remains an integral part of IMANI. Mr Bentil had said he does not doubt that the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will be a better president, a comment that generated heated argument in the political space. In a Facebook post, the private legal practitioner 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! But in a statement replying to him, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi said It is a fact that your new Boss Bawumia, is responsible for the unprecedented economic mess Ghanaians are currently faced with. No amount of political subterfuge can change this fact. Accept this truth and spare yourself the ordeal of trying to whitewash a failed and discredited economic messiah, who has proven to be hopelessly empty and pathetically dishonest. Source: 3news.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 A school in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville has been closed by the authorities after students lowered the national flag and hoisted a different one. Local media described it as an unidentified black flag. The government condemned the act by students at Technical High School as a violation of the symbol of the republic and a "serious act of unpatriotism". The government will take the necessary measures "in response to the crime", Education Minister Ghislain Thierry Magessa Ebome was quoted as saying. On Monday it was announced the school will be shut until further notice, and its registration for state exams has been suspended. Thirteen students have been arrested over the incident and handed over to investigating authorities. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera says the candidacy of Ghanas foreign minister, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, for Commonwealth Secretary-General has been well-received. President Chakwera whose country is a member of the Commonwealth, received Ms. Botchwey at the presidential palace in the capital, Lilongwe on Monday, and discussed bilateral issues including the foreign ministers Commonwealth candidature. He told Ms Botchwey: Malawi welcomes your candidature. It shows President Akufo-Addo has confidence in your skill and competence. The foreign ministers candidacy was formally announced last Friday in Ghana. It has received bipartisan support in the countrys often fractious parliament. A new Commonwealth Secretary-General will replace Baroness Patricia Scotland when Heads of Government of the 56-member organization meet in October in Samoa. Her final term expires at the end of 2024. The new leader will come from Africa, as agreed at the last meeting of Heads of Government in Kigali in 2022. There are 21 African countries in the Commonwealth which have a combined annual economic output of over US$13 trillion, and a population in excess of 2.6 billion people. Ms. Botchwey shared her vision for a new Commonwealth, including a focus on trade and investment; harnessing ICT for skills, innovation and start-ups to provide jobs for young people, and a migration compact to respond to demand across the Commonwealth and stem the tide of illegal and perilous migration. She also outlined her vision on addressing climate change, saying it was a threat to all member states, not least small island developing states, and called for a strong Commonwealth voice for the concerted action needed to save the planet for future generations. President Chakwera responded saying he appreciated Ms. Botchweys overall focus, and on trade and investments and young people in particular. Meanwhile Malawi has granted visa-free entry to Ghanaians, an initiative Ms. Botchwey said would be reciprocated. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The United Kingdom is set to formalize a fresh agreement with Nigeria, enabling British lawyers to engage in legal practice within Nigeria. According to an official statement released by the Department of Business and Trade in the UK, the British Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, along with her Nigerian counterpart, Doris Uzoka Anitie, the Minister for Trade and Investment, will be signing a groundbreaking trade partnership called the "Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP)" with Nigeria. The deal will be signed today, Feb. 13. The statement explained that the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is the first the UK has signed with an African country, and is designed to grow the UK and Nigerias already thriving trading relationship, which totalled 7 billion in 2023. This new deal is also expected to eliminate barriers in the legal services and film industry by allowing UK lawyers to practise international law in Nigeria, and foster collaboration between the film and media industry in both countries. The statement reads: It will see Nigeria commit to working towards removing barriers preventing UK lawyers from practising international and foreign law in Nigeria, a step that could significantly increase UK legal services exports. It will also pave the way for further collaboration in the film and media industry and encourage world-leading UK education providers to offer high quality education in Nigeria. Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and one of the worlds fastest growing economies predicted to be in the top 20 by GDP by 2035. It is also predicted by the UN to nearly double its population to over 370 million people by 2050. Badenoch expressed her enthusiasm for the ETIP, highlighting its potential to unleash a wave of exciting opportunities for both countries. This partnership with Nigeria the UKs first such agreement with an African country will allow us to work together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, she said. Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. UK businesses have already seen huge success here and I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow this relationship. Echoing her optimism, Uzoka-Anitie hailed the new partnership as a bridge to economic progress. She underscored the agreements potential to transform historic ties into a thriving trade partnership, bolstered by increased market access and mutually beneficial exchanges between the UK and Nigeria. The UK is one of our long-standing strategic partners with whom we share strong ties, and it gladdens me that this relationship is set to deepen as we sign the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement, Uzoka-Anitie said. This partnership will see Nigeria-UK relations move beyond one of shared history and strong ties to one of shared economic prosperity. From increasing market access and supporting our vibrant businesses, to creating more jobs and accelerate greater investments in sectors of mutual interests. The statement noted that while in Nigeria, Badenoch will be visiting the site of a new Charterhouse school, the first UK independent school in West Africa, and meeting with the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian finance minister, to unlock trade barriers confronting UK businesses. 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 In a shocking turn of events, a Chinese national serving jail term at the Nsawam Medium Prison has managed to escape. The convict, who was convicted of theft and other criminal related offenses, reportedly feigned illness and was subsequently transferred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical attention. According to reports, the Chinese inmate was initially arrested in Tema before being transferred to the high-security Nsawam Prison. However, during his time at the hospital on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, he made his daring escape. It remains unclear how he managed to flee from the hospital premises without being detected. Following the incident, the prison officer who was responsible for accompanying the Chinese has been interdicted by the service, pending a comprehensive investigation into the matter. The Ghana Prison Service considers the escape a serious breach of security and is determined to bring the fugitive back into custody. Superintendent Abdul Latif Adamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, has assured the public that they are working tirelessly to locate and apprehend the escapee. Mr. Adamu revealed that they have obtained several leads that could potentially lead to the re-arrest of the Chinese. We have gotten a lot of leads that are proving to be successful in what we are doing, stated Mr. Adamu. However, he emphasized that the investigation is currently ongoing and the authorities are doing everything in their power to rectify this security breach. Source: Daily Guide 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 Local Governance Expert, Dr. Frederick Oduro doubts the New Patriotic Party' (NPPs) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, will have a free hand to govern if elected as president. He believed that there will be interference from some bigwigs within the party, which will result in Dr Bawumia being forced to continue the Akufo-Addo legacy while his vision would be sidelined. One of the key things that people say is that if he is elected it will be a continuation of Akufo-Addos government. So even within President Akufo-Addos government where you see the President virtually laid back Dr. Bawumia having been elected as a Presidential candidate is coming out with new ideas. If there are changes for me it will be significant to show that Dr. Bawumia is his own man first and foremost. Secondary, the kind of policy direction that in the last few months they have presented that they are going to pursue if it is different from what we have witnessed then it means it is the doing of Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Oduro stated in an interview with Starr FM. The NPP Flagbearer, in his recent Bold Solutions for the future among many things, pledged that under his presidency, there will not be more than 50 Ministers and Deputy Ministers. He also touched on the need to enhance the role of the private sector along with fiscal and administrative decentralization, improving our systems and the way our institutions function as that will lead to greater efficiency - but Dr Frederick Oduro thinks otherwise. Now that he is the Presidential candidate, if the government of the day is pursuing new policies different from what we have seen in the last seven years. If we can see major changes in the government portfolios and even some replacements. Then I can see that indeed this is how we expect to see should Dr. Bawumia become the President. He said. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Medical professionals have stepped up calls for US President Joe Biden to take a mental competency test after a new blistering report from special counsel Robert Hur revealed the 81-year-old cant remember basic facts about his own life and career. The Hur report, released Thursday night, February 8, assessed Biden as too senile to be prosecuted over his wrongful retention of classified documents and noted the commander-in-chief did not remember when he was vice president and did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died over two days of interviews in October. Something isnt right, and even if its minor, it must be explained to the public, Dr. Stuart Fischer, a primary care physician at a nursing home in the Bronx, told NY Post. The horse is out of the barn. Not only does [Biden] have an infirmity of some degree, but he has delayed producing objective evidence, the internal medicine expert added, arguing that no one is buying the presidents defenses about his memory. Despite being the oldest president in US history, Biden has refused to take mental acuity tests despite repeated calls to do so as well as consistent polling showing a majority of Americans share those concerns. The results of Bidens most recent physical exam, released by the White House in February of last year, described the chief executive as fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, but made no mention of a cognitive test or an assessment of his mental fitness. On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed to reporters that she had talked to White House physician Kevin OConnor around that time and he had told her that because of the presidents actions every day, what he deals with with world leaders, the domestic issues that he has to deal with that shows that the president is very much active and understands whats going on and [OConnor] didnt believe a test like that was warranted because of, just who he is as president of the United States and everything he has to deal with. But again, Im not a medical doctor, the press secretary added. But, according to Fischer, Biden has signs of symptoms that could indicate he suffers from infectious disease or fatigue, though the physician stressed that he is not Bidens doctor and his statements did not constitute a diagnosis. I dont know how this man can have anything more than a mild schedule, added the doc, because the more he pushes himself, the more difficult it is for an 81-year-old body to respond. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a physician to both former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump and a member of the White House Medical Unit under President George W. Bush, said that if Biden clinches the Democratic presidential nomination, he should 100% have to submit to a mental competency test before the general election. He doesnt need a [cognitive] screening test, Jackson said. He needs an actual cognitive battery of tests, objectively done, put on paper, and briefed to the American people by his physician. Im not making a diagnosis. And Im not saying the guy has Alzheimers or multi-infarct dementia or Parkinsons or anything else, he clarified. This guy has cognitive issues related to his age: He shuffles when he walks, he slurs his speech, he forgets where hes at, what hes doing, he cant remember names, he cant remember dates that is not someone that should be in control of the nuclear codes in this country and controlling our fate overseas. Ive been saying since he was candidate Joe Biden: This man does not have the cognitive wherewithal or ability to be our head of state, added Jackson, who went on to describe the presidents recent confusion of European leaders with their dead predecessors as super concerning. Special counsel Robert Hur determined that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after leaving office as vice president in 2016. The records kept by Biden included documents on military and foreign policy in Afghanistan as well as other national security and foreign policy issues. Despite the findings, Hurs 388-page report recommended that the president not face charges. The special counsel noted that Biden would likely present himself to a jury as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory if he were to face trial. If youre too incompetent and too cognitively impaired because of your age to defend yourself from these charges if hes charged then it absolutely, positively goes without saying you should not be the commander-in-chief, added the lawmaker. Renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, the former secretary of housing and urban development under Trump, said; As someone who knows a thing or two about the human brain, Joe Bidens mental decline has been obvious for several years, Carson said. Yesterdays report, last nights press conference, and the current state of the union further proves that point. Our southern border is under siege, there are two major global conflicts taking place, and our judicial system has become a weaponized arm of the presidents campaign. Americans should be asking, who is running the country? Carson has previously stated he believes Biden has signs of dementia, given the presidents aggressive demeanor, apparent confusion and issues with his speech. 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 "People change their minds", Professor Joseph Osafo asks Ghanaians and critics of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to give him the latitude to express his vision. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Wednesday, February 7, told the citizenry about his vision for the nation if elected into power on December 7. Among the things he intends to implement are to abolish E-Levy, make National Service optional, give tax amnesty and introduce a flat rate tax, cancel betting tax, provide seamless digital avenue at passport office. The Vice President has also made it emphatic in his statements that his vision is different from the President's but he has come under a barrage of criticisms with some people lashing out at him. Dr. Bawumia is partly blamed for what the critics describe as bad governance under the reign of President Nana Akufo-Addo. To them, Dr. Bawumia cannot claim to have his own vision, hence positioning himself to attract the votes of Ghanaians. But the Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo has appealed to the nation to give the Vice President the benefit of the doubt. The senior psychologist explained that though he (Bawumia) is a member of the governing party, he however is entitled to his own thoughts and ideas, therefore has the right to stamp his vision in the minds of the populace. He added that it is nothing strange for one to have a change of mind concerning an issue or a policy; this he stated to counter the criticism about Dr. Bawumia's pledge to abrogate E-Levy. "He has a vision. The vision he has outlined, we can query him on the vision. We can take the vision and critique it but I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt just as we will give to former President Mahama that people change their minds and not only that, circumstances will force you to change your mind", Prof. Osafo asserted in his submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has inaugurated the district assemblies in Suhum and Ayensuano in the Eastern Region, underscoring the significance of decentralisation and local governance in Ghana's democratic landscape. Speaking on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday (February 12), she congratulated all elected assembly and unit committee members for their success in the recent district level elections. The chief of staff reiterated the government's commitment to deepening decentralisation, as mandated by the constitution, emphasising the role of district assemblies in promoting popular participation in governance and decision-making at the local level. With the inauguration of 259 district assemblies, Osei-Opare noted the progress made in decentralisation efforts since 1988. She said that the government is now closer to the people than ever before, thanks to the expanded network of district assemblies. However, she acknowledged that despite decades of decentralisation efforts, there is still a tendency among citizens to look towards Accra for solutions to local issues. She urged assembly members to change this status quo by actively engaging with their constituents and delivering basic public services at the local level. The instinct of the average citizen is still to look towards Accra or their MPs for things that fall within the remit of the district assembly. I am expecting that you would be part of the team that finally change the status quo and deepen local governance and decentralisation to enable the citizens have access to basic public services in their districts rather than demanding for such services from Accra, she said. Osei-Opare called for continuous capacity building and sensitisation efforts to deepen understanding of decentralisation and local governance among citizens. She stressed the importance of building strong partnerships and collaborations with local structures, including urban, town, and area councils, to optimise the benefits of local governance. You should also establish strong partnerships and collaborate with the local structures particularly, the urban, town, zonal and area council, the unit committees and traditional authorities as well as other identifiable groups to facilitate the work of the District Assembly. It through these partnerships and collaborations that the ideals of local governance are optimized for the benefit of the people, she said. The chief of staff highlighted the government's focus on improving the mobilisation of internally generated funds (IGFs) for district development. She urged assembly members to work together to create innovative ways of mobilising resources within their areas. Osei-Opare reminded assembly members of their critical role in advancing the government's development agenda, particularly the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2022-2025). She stressed on the need for alignment with national and sectoral policies to ensure effective implementation of local projects and programs. Furthermore, she addressed leadership challenges at the district level, noting the importance of maintaining close contact with electoral areas and consulting constituents on development issues. She highlighted efforts to address resource constraints and announced upcoming orientation and training programmes to enhance assembly members' competence. 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 It was all joy and excitement when party executives and members of the Asante Akyem Central NPP party in the Ashanti region held a thanksgiving service at Presbyterian Church in Odumasi for a successful parliamentary primaries and to commit the 2024 general elections to the almighty God as well as align strategies to propel its operations in the ensuing years. Attendants were clad in their all-white apparel and were entertained by song ministrations. Speaking at the event, the re-elected parliamentary candidate of the area, Hon. Kwame Anyimadu Antwi thanked the Almighty God for peaceful primaries and applauded the party executives and members for their role in making this just-ended primaries soothing. Lets give thanks to the Almighty God for making this primaries conflict-free, a lot happened but the lord was merciful, party executives and members your discipline also counted," he said One of the aspirants, who was seeking to wrestle power from the incumbent Anyimadu Antwi, Nana Agyemang Amponsah also called for unity among the party. We want unity at this time to break the eight(8), lets put all the differences aside, integration is only the key he stated The Municipal Chief Executive Officer for the area, Hon. Robert Yaw Kwakye urged the party faithfuls not buy into any idea of supporting or voting for an independent candidate, he stressed that its never an option. Where we are now, picking an independent candidate as an option is a big suicide, dont be deceived, lets all rally behind the elephant for the victory ahead he added The Asante Akyem Central Municipal is one of the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies ( MMDAs) in Ghana and forms part of the 43 of MMDAs in the Ashanti in the region and has Konongo as its Administrative Capital. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The head of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has vowed that none of the three Sahel countries would rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Gen. Tchiani disclosed this in an interview he granted to the RTN news channel in the capital Niamey Monday, Feb. 12. Recall that on Jan. 28, the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc, ECOWAS. The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement, saying it was a sovereign decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States without delay. He said, Just because we are members of the bloc, food and medicine supply was cut off. Power was also cut off and our own funds have been frozen. So, we consulted our friends in the Sahel on exiting the bloc to better the lives of our citizens. That we should withdraw from the bloc that is answerable to the foreign countries. So, we have withdrawn our membership from the bloc and will never return to the union. Responding to the consequences of its withdrawal on security, trade and socio-economic activities, he said, Now the world is a global village and is the world within ECOWAS? So, God will feed every human He created." Tchiani also said that they will not release Mohamed Bazoum, the former Niger president who was overthrown by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has been detained with his family since then. We would never release Bazoum. Setting Bazoum free is akin to stabbing ourselves in the stomach which would do harm to Nigeriens, he added. 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 NIGERIA; Recall that police arrested Kunya last January while she was trying to book hotel rooms for guests who came from far and near to attend her birthday party. The spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa said the arrest followed complaints from clerics that she ''uses vulgar language and corrupts the morals of the society in her videos.'' In November 2023, the Kano Hisbah announced plans to facilitate marriages for TikTokers in the state, including Kunya. Aliyu Usman, chairman, Operation Kai da badala who doubles as the Officer-in-charge of Surveillance, confirmed the latest arrest to Daily Trust on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. She was arrested yesterday (Monday) late evening at her residence located at Tinshama area. We spent about three hours waiting for her before she finally showed up and we picked her up, he said. She is being charged with immoral acts which she is widely known for. There is someone who every day comes around to pick her around 10pm and will return her by 12 midnight or 1am, He added that Kunya will be arraigned before a Shariah Court sitting at PRP on Tuesday. Source: LIB 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 Create a new account with Stars Online Casino PA and reap the benefits of exclusive offers, including a 100% Deposit Match of up to $600 in casino credits. Eligibility requires being 21 years or older and not having previously deposited in a Stars Casino PA account. Operated by the renowned PokerStars cardroom, Stars Online Casino offers years of digital gaming experience. 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The son of Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street was arrested last month in the wake of a hit-and-run incident in 2023 that injured a 14-year-old girl in Philadelphia. Sharif Street Jr. was arrested on Jan. 29, according to 6ABC. He is being charged with aggravated assault by vehicle and simple assault. The incident occurred at 8:40 a.m. Aug. 13 at the intersection of Broad Street and Erie Avenue. Erin Gallaway, Sofia Rojo and Alex Isbell are typical young college students: They are focusing on their studies with their eyes on a future career. They dont know each other but the three have similarities that put them at the center of one of the most heated topics in the country: The influence Taylor Swift has had on young voters, driving some 35,000 to register with a single Instagram post last year, and is likely to have on voter turnout in 2024. NEW YORK (AP) Bob Edwards, who anchored National Public Radios Morning Edition for just under 25 years and was the baritone voice who told many Americans what had happened while they slept, has died. Edwards, who died Saturday, was 76 years old. NPR had no further details. He became co-host of All Things Considered with Susan Stamberg in 1974 shortly after joining NPR, and was the founding anchor of Morning Edition in 1979. He left NPR after being replaced on the show in 2004 a programming move that led to protests by thousands of listeners and he joined SiriusXM satellite radio. Edwards deep, commanding voice gave many listeners the impression that he was older than he was. His was the voice we woke up to, Stamberg said. For 12 years, he had regular conversations with veteran sportscaster Red Barber, which led to Edwards book, Friday with Red: A Radio Friendship. Edwards would tell listeners about well-known people who were celebrating birthdays. He later found out that his announcement of First Lady Rosalynn Carters birthday surprised and saved her husband, President Jimmy Carter, who heard Edwards while out jogging; he had forgotten the birthday. I like sitting at the mic and being on the radio, Edwards said shortly before leaving NPR. Thats still a kick. He wrote a memoir, A Voice in the Box: My Life in Radio, and a historical book about the medium, Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism. FILE - Bob Edwards appears during an interview with Elie Weisel for his XM Radio show in New York,on June 20, 2007. Edwards, the news anchor many Americans woke up to as founding host of National Public Radio's Morning Edition for nearly a quarter-century, has died. NPR said he died Saturday at age 76, (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)AP John Lansing, NPRs CEO, said Edwards former colleagues and listeners will remember him with gratitude. Bob Edwards understood the intimate and directly personal connection with audiences that distinguishes audio journalism from other mediums, and for decades he was a trusted voice in the lives of millions of public radio listeners, Lansing said. Wawa wants to come to Hershey. The Delaware County-based convenience store chain is eyeing real estate at Cocoa Avenue at Fishburn Road in Derry Township at at a former bank. The chain has submitted preliminary plans in the form of a sketch plan with Derry Township, said Charles Emerick, the townships director of Community Development. The sketch plans show Wawa wants to build a 5,585 square-foot store with fueling station. Wawa is making good on its promise to expand in central Pennsylvania, bringing its signature coffee, hoagies and gas to the Harrisburg-area masses. Two years ago, the eastern rival in the Keystone State convenience store wars to Sheetz said it plans to double its store count over the next three to five years in central Pa., with the first store opening as early as 2024. A sketch plan submitted to Derry Township for a proposed Wawa at Cocoa Avenue and Fishburn Road.Screenshot Wawa has always operated stores on the eastern side of the state with none located west of the Susquehanna River. The company said it aims to open 40 stores in central Pennsylvania. Other proposed stores under development in the Harrisburg-region include locations in Lower Swatara, Swatara and East Pennsboro townships as well as Chambersburg and State College, among others. If Wawa wants to pursue opening the Hershey store, it will need to file preliminary/final land development plans with the township. The plans will need to be approved by the planning commission and board of supervisors. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) A man whose familys gender reveal photo shoot sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter in 2020 has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday. The El Dorado Fire erupted on Sept. 5, 2020, when Refugio Jimenez Jr. and Angelina Jimenez and their young children staged a photo shoot for their baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, authorities said. A firefighter puts out a hot spot along Highway 38 northwest of Forrest Falls, Calif., as the El Dorado Fire burns Sept. 10, 2020. The fire started by a device at a gender reveal party. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register/SCNG via AP, file)AP Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. Charles Morton, the 39-year-old leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on Sept. 17, 2020, when flames overran a remote area where firefighters were cutting fire breaks. Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, mostly with the U.S. Forest Service. On Friday, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Refugio Jimenez Jr. had pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He will be taken into custody on Feb. 23 to serve a year in jail. His sentence also includes two years of felony probation and 200 hours of community service. Angelina Jimenez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to property of another. She was sentenced to a year of summary probation and 400 hours of community service. The couple was also ordered to pay $1,789,972 in restitution. Resolving the case was never going to be a win, District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a news release, offering his condolences to Mortons family. To the victims who lost so much, including their homes with valuables and memories, we understand those are intangibles can never be replaced. The U.S. Forest Service in September on the third anniversary of the ignition of the fire filed a lawsuit against the pyrotechnic devices manufacturers, distributors and sellers, as well as the couple. The lawsuit alleges that the Smoke Bombs used were illegal in California and known to be defective. Mike Scafiddi, the lawyer for Refugio Jimenez Jr., said the couple has wanted to speak publicly about the fire, its impact on the community and Mortons death but cannot because of the ongoing federal litigation. They have been praying for Mr. Morton and his family every night since his death, Scafiddi told The Associated Press on Sunday. It has touched them profoundly. The lawyer said his client had researched and tested the pyrotechnic device before setting it off that day, finding no problems online or during his test. It was unforeseeable in all minds, he said. Scafiddi said the couple had not, contrary to whats been said publicly, hosted a gender-reveal party. He said it was a photo shoot to discover the babys gender with the couple, a few relatives and their children. To infer that it was a gathering of multiple people with food and celebration is simply incorrect, he said. This was simply taking photographs in what was a beautiful backdrop. An attorney for Angelina Jimenez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. The blaze injured 13 other people and forced the evacuations of hundreds of residents in small communities in the San Bernardino National Forest area. It destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings. Pennsylvanias new commission to fund public defenders expects to start driving out dollars mid-year with the total pot of money available more than doubling if Gov. Josh Shapiro gets his full request in the upcoming budget. The states new Indigent Defense Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting on Monday, followed by a press conference where Shapiro and other state leaders discussed their long-fought effort for Pennsylvania to provide routine funding to help those who cannot afford their own attorneys. In some ways, it was like the ringmaster of political comedy never left. My name is Jon Stewart, now ... where was I? he said at the top of The Daily Show Monday. Stewart scribbled wildly on a piece of paper at the desk a relic from his 16 years hosting the Comedy Central series. Its been nine years since the longtime Jersey resident last occupied that post. Im excited to be back, Stewart said, quickly following this with a question: Why am I back? The answer to this seemed clear as he launched into a series of clips of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Stewart turned to one issue facing voters: the age and competency of the leading presidential candidates. They are the oldest people ever to run for president, breaking by only four years the record that they set the last time they ran, he exclaimed of Biden, 81, and Trump, 77. They are objectively old. Stewart animated such statements of plain fact with his signature verve, which showed up on his expressive face as fiercely determined, absolute fatigued and/or chronically crestfallen. One running gag for the night consisted of various titles for the shows upcoming election coverage. By segments end, Stewart had landed on Indecision 2024: Antiques Roadshow. On this note, he used his own appearance to make a point. He invited viewers closer, then looked straight at the camera as his mug filled the frame. Look at me, look what time hath wrought, Stewart said, inviting everyone to inspect the lines of his 61-year-old face. Look at this, Im like 20 years younger than these (expletives), he said. ... They wish. Stewart presented a photo of himself 20 years earlier: much more pepper than salt. So whats the good news? he continued. That was not rhetorical framing, I was literally asking. Stewarts return to the show was announced in January. He is only hosting for one day a week Mondays but hes also guiding election coverage of The Daily Show as an executive producer. His first guest was Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist. Their conversation covered Biden, Trump, Ukraine and NATO (see clip below). The writer-director and comedian, who grew up in Lawrenceville, owns Hockhockson Farm, a Colts Neck animal sanctuary, with his wife, Tracey Stewart. After taking over as host of The Daily Show from Craig Kilborn in 1999, Stewart held the job until 2015, winning 20 Emmys during his tenure. When he left, Trevor Noah hosted the show until 2022. Stewart directed the 2020 political comedy movie Irresistible, starring Rose Byrne and Daily Show alum Steve Carell. He hosted the Apple TV+ current affairs series The Problem with Jon Stewart from 2021 to 2023 before it was canceled, reportedly because of creative differences. Stewart rejoined The Daily Show after a long string of correspondents and celebrity actor-comedians from Jerseys own Chelsea Handler and Kal Penn to Leslie Jones, Hasan Minhaj, Wanda Sykes, Sarah Silverman and more tried out for the job by guest hosting over the past year. When The Daily Show won the Emmy for outstanding talk series last month, former correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who left the show in 2023, repeatedly mouthed please hire a host (see video below) while he was standing onstage to accept the award with Noah and the cast. chill fam I was trying to do that in the low https://t.co/kW1AD4yxhN Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) January 16, 2024 Being that Stewart went off about Biden and Trump being older men who have already held the job of president, current Daily Show correspondent Dulce Sloan wasnt about to let Stewart off the hook. Of course, Stewart is also a man of a certain age who picked up a job he already had for quite a while. Let someone else run the show, Sloan said under the guise of talking about the presidential candidates. Stewart wanted to make sure she was, in fact, talking about the election. Sloan: I said what I said. Other Daily Show correspondents, including Desi Lydic, Michael Kosta and Ronny Chieng, delivered an introduction to their coming election coverage from a single diner. When Stewart isnt hosting, the shows contributors will be sharing hosting duties in a weekly rotation. For Stewarts first week back, Jordan Klepper, Daily Show contributor and former host of The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, will serve as host on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup. UPDATE: More than 100K without power in Pa. amid Tuesday snowstorms Thousands of south-central Pennsylvania homes are in the dark Tuesday as heavy snow falls over the midstate. More than 17,000 PPL customers in Schuylkill County are without power as of Tuesday morning, according to the companys outage map. Another nearly 6,000 customers do not have power in Cumberland County, according to PPL. More than 6,700 outages were reported in Dauphin County, as well as nearly 5,000 in Perry County. PPL said more than 50,000 customers in Pennsylvania were affected by Tuesdays power outages. Nearly 10,000 Met-Ed customers are without power, the company said, but most of the outages are outside south-central Pennsylvania. PPL estimated power will be restored by 11 p.m. Wednesday. Crews have been dispatched to make repairs. The National Weather Service in State College has issued a winter storm warning until 1 p.m. for a region that includes Franklin, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon and Cumberland counties. The area could see 3 to 5 of snow before it stops, probably around 11 a.m. to noon. NDP MP and Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson brings calm to the room after a small number of delegates expressed their anger when the conflict with Gaza and Israel became a topic of contention between delegates during the NDP Convention in Hamilton, Ont. Saturday, October 14, 2023. McPherson will table a private member's motion that asks the Commons to recognize the occupied Palestinian territories as a full-fledged state.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power United States prosecutors say a Montreal woman has pleaded guilty to being part of a scheme to illegally export electronic components to Russia for military use. The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building is seen Friday, June 9, 2023, in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Alex Brandon, File All cities contain within them those that preceded them. One can try to trace them through their vestiges, but it is almost always an exercise reserved for the pleasure of the imagination. That is what 29-year-old Dutch technical artist Thomas Kole was doing walking virtually through the streets of Mexico City when he realized that nothing he observed would ever be enough to reconstruct that other city buried under todays: the great Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec empire. Far from abandoning his endeavor, he dedicated himself to it completely and, a year and a half later, he has presented the most faithful 3D reconstruction of the ancient metropolis known to date. Without leaving home, Kole crossed the Atlantic to the past and landed, with the help of technology, in the Americas of 1518, the culminating moment in pre-Hispanic history. Digital reconstruction of the Sacred Precinct that contains the Templo Mayor, in the epicenter of the city. Thomas Kole It was totally unexplored territory for me. I dont even know how I came across the topic, there was no catalyst. But I think once you read something about it, youre hooked. The idea settled in my head and it was impossible to get it out, says the artist. Despite dedicating himself to programming, history has always intrigued him, and a couple of clicks here and there led to a project that made his fascination material. Tenochtitlan surprised me in many aspects: its size, its organization, its structure. Very beautiful things have been written about it. Its natural condition, on a lake and surrounded by volcanic mountains, really piques the imagination. Kole had never traveled to Mexico until this week. Nor does he speak Spanish. But in his obsession resonate the verses that Nicaraguan poet Ernesto Cardenal also a foreigner and captivated, like him, by the beauty of that city on the lake wrote many decades ago: But how to write anew the hieroglyph / How to paint the jaguar anew, How to overthrow the tyrants? / How to build our tropical acropolis anew? Answering these questions almost literally, as Kole set out to do, required large doses of documentation and an effort to remove the preconceived ideas that filter, in his view, education and archives in which the European view prevails. Kole working on an image in which the two largest volcanoes in the valley appear in the background. Marc Driessen For a year and a half he combined the development of this project, carried out at his home in Amersfoort in his spare time, with his work for a company that develops installations and interactive games for museums and other venues. History and his knowledge of video games combined to keep the project within manageable parameters: Games need to be fast, optimization is very important, so I used a lot of their tricks. Theres a lot of sense of detail that only works at drone distance. If you get up close, it looks like an impressionistic painting. There were at least five versions of every element featured in the project prior to the final one being settled upon. The result is an impressive journey through time. The Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes crown a landscape that is rarely visible from the city due to pollution. The extinct sacred precinct, returned to its original state along with its imposing Templo Mayor the most difficult part for Kole because of its symbolic value and centrality captures the gaze of a city built around it with rectangular plots that reveal the hierarchies of the time. The 200,000 inhabitants of the metropolis were divided into neighborhoods with their own markets, schools, and workshops, in the style of the colonies of todays cities. Like little ants on the ground, one can see them, with their shopping baskets and cotton clothes, strolling through the streets of this reconstructed empire. Dividing it into grids makes sense when youre on the water, because you need to actively create the terrain; you cant shove a stick in and draw a line on the sand, says Kole, who remains doubtful about the placement of some elements. Im still trying to figure out why some streets are arranged in a completely random direction. I think it could be due to the impact of the natural flow of water, which is very difficult to redirect, but Im not sure. Digital reconstruction of the Templo Mayor at dawn. Thomas Kole His doubts are added to those of the experts. He thought his task would be to transfer to virtual reality an ancient map on which there was some consensus, but no such map exists. I soon realized that nobody agrees on anything, he sums up. So, despite the archaeological and historical sources and a multitude of plans, the greatest weight fell on direct consultations with specialists, to whom he showed his proposals. If someone were to do the reconstruction in 10 years, it would surely be different because there would be new information, he acknowledges. Kole wanted to involve the Mexican people in some way, and as such he contacted several collaborators, always remotely, just like this interview, conducted from Mexico. The three local artists who worked with him were in charge of photographing the current state of the city, Andres Semo Garcia; of producing the glyph of Tenochtitlan that opens the web page, Chicome Itzcuintli Amatlapalli; and translating the descriptions that accompany the images from English to Spanish, as well as the main variant of Nahuatl, the most widespread Indigenous language in Mexico; Rodrigo Ortega Acoltzi. I was surprised how, when I translated them, some paragraphs were half as long, because Nahuatl is very efficient at talking about certain things, and others were twice as long, because it was totally inefficient, says Acoltzi. Of this ancient but new language for him, he was particularly attracted to the prefix po, which means smoke, and which is reproduced in many forms: Popocatepetl, chipotle... Koles friends and co-workers find it funny that a random guy from the Netherlands did something like that, although for him, the connection between Nahuatl and Dutch is much closer than it seems and is present in many everyday words, such as tomato or avocado. This project was born out of pure inspiration and Kole doesnt know when, or what, the next one will be, or what country or era it will take him to. For the moment, he will present the project for the first time on February 16, in the city that today contains the one that moved him. That other foreigner in love with Mexico, Cardenal, wrote: Tenochtitlan is there, even without adobes / Even turned into a network of holes / It remains in the vision of its poets. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition RIJEKA, Croatia, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The participation of Chinese performers in the Rijeka Carnival parade on Sunday would surely help promote friendly ties not only at the city level but also on a broader national scale, Marko Filipovic, mayor of Rijeka, said on Monday. In an interview with Xinhua, Filipovic said he was extremely glad to see the participation of Chinese performers in the International Carnival Parade of the 41st Rijeka Carnival that ran from Jan. 17 through Feb. 11. He also said that Rijeka, Croatia's third-largest city, has maintained friendly cooperation and ties with three Chinese cities, namely Dalian, Ningbo and Qingdao. In 2000, a group of dancers from China's east coastal city of Qingdao participated in the Rijeka Carnival, he added. A group, comprising members from the Confucius Institute at the University of Zagreb and a Chinese company, engaged in the Rijeka sewage treatment plant project, showcased a Chinese dragon dance and Hanfu show at the parade, the culmination of the Rijeka Carnival, one of the most important carnivals in Europe. Extolling the show as a "special attraction," Filipovic expressed his belief that the carnival will serve as a platform to present distinct cultural features and improve ties between Rijeka and Chinese cities. Referring to the Rijeka sewage treatment plant project, worth 69 million euros (74.3 million U.S. dollars), Filipovic said it was one of the largest projects of its type in Croatia while expressing his confidence that the China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute Co. Ltd would do the job "professionally." He also said he believed that the Chinese involvement in the project would promote "cooperation between Croatia and China" and that the relations between Rijeka and Dalian, Ningbo and Qingdao would be "improved and deepened." Moreover, Filipovic expected more Chinese tourists to visit Rijeka, a "year-round" tourist destination that receives increasing tourists in recent years. "I invite all Chinese tourists who intend to visit Europe and Croatia to definitely include Rijeka in their itinerary, and I believe that tourists from distant China will enjoy Rijeka no matter what time of year they visit us," he said. A few weeks ago Scott Guthrie, one of Microsofts veteran programmers, was looking for an example to illustrate the furor caused by artificial intelligence (AI) in the companys products. Thanks in large part to AI, Microsofts value recently surpassed the $3 trillion barrier and has overtaken Apple as the most valuable company on the stock market. Guthrie, who leads Azure, the tech giants cloud computing platform, has been with the company for several decades. He said that the high demand is similar to the high expectations caused by the launch of Windows 95, the program that promised to revolutionize home computing and whose release saw long lines of people form outside electronics stores. Perhaps that comparison will not work for young people who do not know what it is like to wait in line to buy an operating system and they will better visualize what AI has meant for the company created by Bill Gates if the reference is the consumer frenzy that is whipped up at the launch of each new Apple product. So yes, Microsoft is having its iPhone moment. The tech giant based in Redmond, Washington, published the results of its second quarter last week the companys fiscal year, which ends in June, is not aligned with the calendar year. It was the period in which the company made record profits thanks to its cloud services. Between October and December, Microsoft had a turnover of $62.02 billion, 17% higher, and increased its profits by 33% to $21.87 billion. We have gone from talking about artificial intelligence to applying it at scale in all layers of our products, said Satya Nadella, CEO of the company, during his conference with analysts. Microsoft has been trying to sell itself to the public as an AI company for months. For this reason, the head of Marketing was replaced in October after almost a decade in office. The baton has been taken up by Takeshi Numoto, Azures sales manager. Microsofts shares have risen 57% in the last year and the market capitalization is $3.08 trillion. This interest from investors is largely in response to the agreement that Microsoft has had since 2019 with OpenAI and its star product, ChatGPT. The agreement between the parties was extended long-term last year, in an operation in which the firm chaired by Sam Altman secured revenues of $13 billion. Each Microsoft share is worth $414, but analysts still see potential for additional appreciation. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, an investment firm in Los Angeles, places his price target at $450, 8.6% above his current valuation. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at a presentation in Las Vegas in January. Ethan Miller (GETTY IMAGES) Amy Hood, the companys chief financial officer, said last week that a good part of the profits made by Azure were generated by the increased use of AI. The company expects this trend to continue in 2024 as more and more companies incorporate the technology. In fact, at the end of January it was announced that Vodafone will invest $1.5 billion in the cloud platform to transform the digital experience of 300 million users. However, Microsofts second youth has its darker side. The technology giant laid off more than 20,000 employees in 2023, mainly salespeople and workers in the customer service arena. Recently, the company announced another cut in Microsoft Gaming, its gaming division, where it laid off 1,900 employees, accounting for 8% of the total. Most worked at Activision Blizzard, a company Microsoft acquired last year. To establish itself at the forefront of the AI revolution, a position that Microsoft leads along with Nvidia and AMD, the company aims to not only attract large firms as clients, but also small and medium-sized corporations. With this in mind, Copilot began to be marketed last June. The program uses ChatGPT 4 as an engine and is aimed at small businesses. And along these lines, last December Microsoft launched a $20 subscription focused on entrepreneurs looking to automate their companies. The results have been impressive, said Rajesh Jha, vice president of Experience and Devices, at an event organized by Barclays last month. Between 68% and 72% of users recognize that Copilot made them more efficient and improved the quality of their work, allowing them to focus on what is inherently human work: creative, reflective, or collaborative [] More than 55% of users feel more creative with AI, Jha stressed. Microsoft says it has 1.3 million subscribers to its GitHub Copilot service, which allows programmers to write code with the help of AI. The number of subscribers to the program has grown 30% in the last three months. The strategy until the end of 2023 was to sell the tool to large companies for a minimum subscription of $300 per month ($30 per user). But Copilot will also be available to all those who have Office in the cloud, and they will be able to use it to create content in the companys other programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Office, which has 400 million paid downloads. One in three users of the Microsoft 365 platform says that AI does research, writing, and summarizing tasks faster. In the last two months, Microsoft has signed contracts with companies such as Honda and Pfizer to make Copilot available to all their employees. The company is convinced that the use of technology will be so everyday that it has made the first major modification to its keyboards in three decades to include a key that launches the assistant. In 2024, AI will be a first-class part of all computers, said the companys top executive. According to Nadella, AI has caused Windows downloads to increase by 50% year-on-year. Yes, there are people lining up to use the latest Microsoft operating system. Unlike the launch of Windows 95, no one sees these long lines. And its all thanks to the cloud and the popularization of AI. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition James Galloway Wins WPO Event #4: $400 Mystery Bounty for $38,128! February 13, 2024 Kirk Brown Live Reporter After a crazy and chaotic day of wild Houston poker, the 146 players that returned from a total field of 1,276 have been whittled down to one man left standing. When the dust settled, it was James Galloway who claimed the victory in the Champions Club Winter Poker Open $400 Mystery Bounty. Galloway completed his night with a heads-up win over runner-up Jonathan Park when his flopped pair held up against Parks flush draw and two over cards. For the win, Galloway claimed $38,128 and the champions trophy, while Park took home $24,378 for his second-place finish. Event #4: $400 Mystery Bounty Final Table Results Place Player Payout 1 James Galloway $38,128 2 Jonathan Park $24,378 3 Mustapha Tokko $18,804 4 Surrinder Ahluwalia $12,600 5 Derek Normand $9,900 6 Tai Vo $7,800 7 Jason Gooch $6,200 8 Sanad Dahbour $5,100 9 Ben Thomas $4,200 Galloway is no stranger to final tables, or trophies for that matter, as the Waco native has been on quite the run. Last March, he took down a $300 No-Limit event at The Lodge for $25,581, followed by a first-place finish in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Six-Max for $176,720 at the same location. Galloway really caught momentum late in the evening when he eliminated Jeffrey Nowling on the final table bubble when his ace-kicked trumped the queen-jack of Nowling when he hit an ace on the river. Because of that hand, he came into the final table ranked third in chips and was able to maneuver his way to the finish line. Action of the Day The room was buzzing with excitement throughout the day as players took their shots at pulling the bounties, with all eyes set on the grand prize of $25,000. Halfway through the day, it was finally Ben Thomas who drew the big one, much to the disappointment of the room. There were also two worth $10,000, and the first was pulled by Ahmad Mohassel, and the second was chopped between Park and Galloway before heads-up play. Another hot hand belonged to Carson Wieland, who ran up an impressive stack and managed to pull not one, but two $5,000 bounties to go along with $2,300 for his 17th-place finish. Ahmad Mohassel Another player who ran up a stack was Will Leffingwell, who was chip leading for a majority of the day until he was felted when he moved all in with pocket eights against the ace-queen and ace-queen of Park and Xiao Probst, but a queen came on the flop to send him out in 16th. He was also one of the players that pulled a $5,000 bounty, so it was a nice consolation prize. Will Leffingwell Final Table As mentioned above, the field was trimmed to the final nine when Nowling was sent to the rail by Galloway, and leading the way was Derek Normand, followed closely by Park. As with the rest of the tournament, the action stayed hot and heavy from the jump as several players were eliminated within the first level on the stream. Thomas (ninth) and Sanad Dahbour(eighth) were the first players to go as they both fell to Surrinder Ahluwalia, who held aces against the kings of Thomas and the ace-king of Dahbour. Surrinder Ahluwalia Next to go was Jason Gooch, who moved in with sevens but couldnt fade the pesky ace of Galloway when he called with ace-eight. Coming in sixth was Tai Vo who got it in with king-ten but failed to improve against the ace-queen of Park who won the pot with just ace-high. One of the more talkative players in Houston poker, Normand, met his end in fifth when he flopped an open-ended straight draw with king-six on a four-five-seven board and moved in against Galloway, who called with a pocket pair of eights. A six came on the turn to give Galloway the straight Normand was looking for and left him drawing dead to a chop that failed to come. The action finally started to slow down, but just a hair, as the pay jumps came into effect, and it was a good 40 minutes before Ahluwalia found the door when he flopped a pair of queens and moved in, but he was in second place to Galloway who had flopped an ace. Mustapha Moe Tokko was eliminated in third place when he moved in with king-queen suited against the ace-jack suited that belonged to Galloway. Both an ace and a king appeared on the flop, but Tokko failed to improve on the runout and was eliminated in third place. Heads-Up Heads-up play between Park and Galloway lasted for only 20 minutes as Galloway quickly widened his 3:2 chip lead to almost 3:1. All of the chips then got into the middle on an all-diamond flop with Park holding ace-jack with the jack of diamonds while Galloway just had a pair of fives. No diamond, ace, or jack came on the turn or river, and Galloway scooped the pot with his pair of fives, eliminating Park as the runner-up and crowning him the champion. Up Next: Main Event! With this win, another tournament here at Champions Club in Houston, Texas is in the books but there is still much more in store as the $1,500- $1 Million GTD Main Event kicked off today with Day 1a and will be running until the 19th. As always, stay tuned into PokerNews as we will be the only place to get all of the action at the Champions Club Winter Poker Open! Sharelines Here's how the final table of the Champions Club Winter Poker open Mystery Bounty went down. Rachel Maddow held nothing back as she cut through the media concerns and false equivalences about Bidens age. Maddow said: I have to stress here that Trump really did use the word encourage. He did not say that the United States would sit idly by in case Russia invaded a NATO ally. He said he would encourage Russia to go after one of our allies. He would encourage them. In other words, he would tell Russia to go take out one of our allies with the assurance that we do nothing to help. This is happening within 48 hours of Putin telling a hand picked interviewer which countries he thinks really have had it coming and hes got one of them in NATO at the top of his list. But dont forget President Biden is three years older than that guy. So obviously, theres equally enormous risk in picking either of these candidates to be president of the United States. One is obviously old, and one is also old and facing 91 felony charges and saying he will literally encourage Russia to expand its war to hit our allies. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Video: Rachel #Maddow on the Biden age issue, One is obviously old, one is also old and facing 91 felony charges and saying he will literally encourage Russia to expand its war to hit our allies. pic.twitter.com/rvcQrqzT78 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 13, 2024 These two candidates are not the same, and the risk is not equal. The concept that the risk between electing Trump and electing his opponent was something that the media ran with in 2016, and then after getting Trump elected, they spent the next four years trying to normalize the most corrupt and abnormal presidency in American history. If 2024 feels familiar, and not in a good way, it is because the media is at it again. The media is using the candidates ages to make Biden seem like the bigger risk instead of Trump. Trump is facing 91 criminal felony counts and has cognitiv issues, but the media never talks about those in its Trump coverage. Donald Trump is also siding with Putin and other dictators. Trump has given Putin the green light to attack NATO, but nobody in corporate media will discuss Trump as a global threat to democracy. Nope. The problem is that Biden is old. Trump is also old. Additionally, he is dangerous. 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. Stephen Colbert compared Biden and Trump and called Trump a malicious elderly rapist in a crushing description of the former president. Colbert said: Last Thursday, we finally got the report from the special counsel investigating Joe Bidens retention of classified documents, Robert Hur. Hurs investigation found insufficient evidence to charge the president with a crime. But the report did contain one bombshell. After a 15-month investigation, special counsel Hur has determined Joe Biden is old. Im sorry you had to find out this way. Turns out, hes not just old. Hur said the president could be described as A sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory. Kinda going off road in a report about classified documents. Your honor, we the jury have reached a verdict. We find the defendant not guilty of murder. But he is ugly and his mother dresses him funny. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Now, heres the thing. We fact-checked this last Thursday, and it turns out, Joe Biden is old. I said double-check today, and it turns out hes older. Heres the thing. Heres the thing. Hurs extracurricular description of the president reinforces a concern many voters already have about his advanced age. But we are where we are. Unless something drastic happens, its Biden versus Trump. Voters are just going to have to choose between a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory or a contemptible, malicious elderly rapist with a poor memory. I dont know what to do. Video: President Biden is old. This fact should not be a shock to anyone. Donald Trump is also old and likely in worse physical health than the current president. Voters have no idea because Trump refuses to release his medical records. No matter how old the two candidates are, the difference is in character. One candidate has been found legally liable for rape by a jury of his peers. This same candidate is also charged with 91 criminal felonies. He was also impeached twice when he was president and tried to overthrow the government after he lost an election. The other candidate tries to help people and is well-known for his caring and empathy. He also mixes up names sometimes. If you put aside their ages and look at the character of the candidates the choice isnt difficult. Stephen Colberts Trump joke highlighted just how easy the choice should be. 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. Dr. Corey Murphy has been named the next superintendent for the Aiken County Public School District. I consider this to be the honor of my life, the veteran educator said. The announcement came during a special called board meeting Monday night. Murphy's employment contract will become effective July 1, 2024. His contract is for a three-year term of employment. He will replace King Laurence, who retires this summer. "Tonight, the board of education took the next step for the future of this school district," Aiken County Board of Education Chairman Cam Nuessle said. Murphy was one of three finalists for the position. He was selected over Chan Anderson and Amy Morris Edwards. Murphy has served as chief officer of operations and student services since 2020. He received his doctorate, educational specialist, Master's of Education and Bachelor's of Science in biology degrees from the University of South Carolina. Murphy's experience also includes stints as chief of staff at Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools in Williamsburg, Virginia, five years as principal at Beaufort High School and five years as principal of Great Falls Middle/High School. He was an assistant principal at Camden High School as well as a classroom teacher for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Eau Claire High School. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 68F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Following a flurry of commercial airplane orders and deliveries at the end of 2023, Boeing Co. settled into a post-holiday lull to start the new year. The Arlington, Va.-based aerospace firm said Feb. 13 it had zero net orders for new planes in January after three cancellations wiped out a trio of new bookings. One of the cancellations was by Air Europa for a 787-9 Dreamliner built at Boeing's North Charleston assembly campus. The company reported 27 deliveries in January. Boeing delivered just one wide-body Dreamliner in January a "Dash 9" to Irish aircraft leasing firm AerCap. The company said it made 25 deliveries from its single-aisle 737 Max family, with another Irish company Dublin's Ryanair getting the most with a half-dozen. A combined three 737 Max jets were delivered to a pair of Chinese carriers Kunming Airlines and China Southern Airlines the first from that program in about four years. Boeing also delivered a 767 for its defense arm's KC-46 tanker program. All told, Boeing's production backlog for commercial planes stands at 5,559, including 724 Dreamliners. The January numbers are down from 67 deliveries and 369 net orders in December, typically one of Boeing's busiest months as the company tries to meet goals announced to investors and analysts earlier in the year. Last month's delivery total of 27 is also the lowest since 26 jets were handed over to customers in April and matches September for the next-lowest total. It also trailed numbers posted by rival Airbus, which delivered 30 planes to customers in January. Boeing executives spent most of last month dealing with the fallout from a Jan. 5 incident in which a door plug blew out while an Alaska Air 737 Max was in flight. No one was seriously injured in the incident, but it brought new scrutiny to a company that has experienced several supplier and production problems in the past few years. The Federal Aviation Administration FAA is auditing Boeings production. The safety agency told CNBC last month that it will keep boots on the ground at the planemaker and perform direct inspections of the work. Organizers of Charlestons Jewish Filmfest look to strike a different tone with this year's festival amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas War and the rising spread of antisemitism locally, nationally and globally. Selected films about activism, food and humor hope to center positive experiences and cultural understanding during a time of pain and division for the broader Charleston community, said festival director Sandra Brett. I want people to see the strength in our society right now rather than weakness, she said. The 11th annual festival returns to the Terrace Theater on James Island, showing five films across five days from Feb. 22-25. Advance tickets are $14 for general audiences and $11 for students. The festival is selling a sponsorship pass for the whole festival that includes access to a Feb. 22 opening night reception with Chicago Rabbi Tamar Manasseh, who is the subject of the festival's first film, "Rabbi on The Block." Since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, the festival's organizers have held a special showing and discussion of Oscar-nominated "The Zone of Interest" and a showcase of films by slain Israeli filmmaker Yahav Winner. Brett said planning for this year's festival began before Oct. 7. It was he who invented Bitcoin, he says. Otherwise, why has nobody else come forward claiming to have done so yet? That is the main argument of the Australian computer scientist Craig Steven Wright, who these days is defending in the London courts, against the crypto sector organization COPA, the claim that is the person behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), whose members include Twitter founder Jack Dorseys payments company Block, wants the court to stop Wright from suing Bitcoin developers and preserve its open source nature. The computer scientist publicly stated in 2016 that it was he who created Bitcoin and that this gives him rights over it; since then, he has been involved in multiple legal conflicts. Wright maintains that he is the author of a 2008 white paper, published under Nakamotos signature, that is the founding text of Bitcoin as well as other cryptocurrencies. COPA states that he has never provided any authentic evidence and accuses him of repeatedly altering documents. Wright blames others, including former lawyers and partners, for the forgeries. COPAs lawyer, Jonathan Hough, noted at trial that there are elements of Dr. Wrights conduct that stray into farce, such as the alleged use of ChatGPT for the forgeries. COPA claims, for instance, that one text contains a manipulated timestamp, with numbers in visibly different fonts to make it appear to predate the Bitcoin white paper. Wright response was: If I forged that document, it would be perfect. Wright studied the engineering career at the Charles Sturt University (Bathurst, Australia) while, he says, he simultaneously trained as a chef. His doctorate was titled The Quantification of Information Systems Risk. He also says that he has another doctorate, this one in theology, comparative religious and classical studies, awarded in 2003 by the United Theological College (Bangalore, India). He worked always according to his story in information technology for several companies, including internet provider Ozemail, K-Mart and the Australian Stock Exchange, in addition to working as a security consultant for the Indian automotive multinational Mahindra & Mahindra. He claims that he designed the architecture of what was possibly the worlds first online casino, Lasseters Online, launched in 1999, and that he was director of information systems at the accounting firm BDO Kendalls. He founded the company DeMorgan Information Security Systems, from which he resigned in 2003. A year later, he was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court of New South Wales and sentenced to 28 days in jail for breaching a court order preventing him from approaching DeMorgans clients. The sentence was suspended on condition that he did 250 hours of community service. He also founded the technology company Hotwire Preemptive Intelligence Group, which planned to launch Denariuz Bank, the worlds first Bitcoin-based bank, but it went bankrupt in only a year. In 2015, parallel investigations by the specialized media outlets Wired and Gizmodo suggested that Wright could have been the inventor of Bitcoin. However, later reports from those and other publications raised the possibility that it was all in fact an elaborate hoax. Hours after Wired published its allegations, Australian police raided Wrights home over a tax investigation. The computer scientist promised to provide extraordinary proof to an extraordinary claim, but experts believe that so far he has not provided definitive proof, such as Nakamotos private cryptographic key. In 2019, Wright stated he created Bitcoin with Dave Kleiman and Hal Finney. The former had sued him in Florida in 2018 over rights to Bitcoin worth more than $5 billion, alleging that Wright had defrauded him in of the currency and intellectual property rights. In 2019, a judge ruled that Kleiman owned half of the Bitcoin he mined with Wright between 2009 and 2013, and ordered him to transfer half of the companys intellectual property, but it did not address the issue of whether Wright was Satoshi Nakamoto or not. The story defies common sense and real-life experience, the judge declared. Wright, however, believes that this and other sentences against him are actually arguments in favor of his main claim. He also defends himself with the argument that no one else has claimed to be Nakamoto. The hearing began last week and will last five weeks. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Charleston Symphony is taking a slice of Lowcountry sound and bringing it to New York City next year. On Feb. 26, 2025, the Charleston Symphony, along with the Youth Orchestra and College of Charleston Orchestra, will perform at Carnegie Hall. Conducted by Artistic Director and Concertmaster Yuriy Bekker, the Charleston Symphony will make its debut at the famous New York City music hall that opened in 1891 and set an international standard for musical excellence. In the symphony's 90 years, this represents a significant milestone. "The quality of the Charleston Symphony is one of the best-kept secrets," said Bekker. "And we don't want to keep it a secret anymore. We want to let the world know what incredible strides our orchestra is making, and not only us, but we want to give the limelight to other arts organizations on this collaborative trip." The Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra and College of Charleston Orchestra joining in the performance is a major piece of the organization's youth outreach programming. Bekker also conducts the college's orchestra, while Ryo Hasegawa conducts the tri-county youth orchestra for middle and high school musicians. "This orchestra is highly regarded for its artistic quality, and our musicians are heavily involved in the community, especially in outreach and education," said Bekker. The Carnegie Hall concert will kick off with 25 minutes of the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra, followed by 25 minutes of the College of Charleston Orchestra, an intermission, then a second half with the Charleston Symphony. Bekker, who grew up in New York City, said he will never forget playing Carnegie Hall for the first time at age 13 as part of the New York Youth Symphony. "I still remember playing the last chord of Brahms Symphony No. 1 and it just rings for 10 seconds," he said. "I'll never forget that ring. I want my colleagues, I want college kids and the youth to have that experience as well." GREENVILLE At least 43 gunshots were fired within 25 seconds the December evening Greenville County sheriff's deputies killed an 81-year-old man outside his home following a bizarre 911 call, according to a video released by the agency. The selection of body camera clips and a portion of the 911 call were made public in a YouTube video Feb. 11 as part of the office's community briefing policy, which serves up curated accounts of major deputy-involved incidents 45 days after they occur. The Post and Courier has submitted open records requests for additional dash camera footage, audio and reports from the sheriffs office. Body camera footage isn't subject to public records laws in South Carolina, though law enforcement agencies can choose to release what they want. Sign up for updates! Get the latest Greenville news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The sheriff's office declined to provide The Post and Courier a copy of the incident report from the shooting. Sheriff Hobart Lewis didn't return requests for comment Feb. 12. The community briefing video begins with a 911 call on Dec. 27 from Walter Lester McDonald III, 81, of Pequot Drive in southern Greenville County, concerning a dispute. "Greenville County 911. What is the location of the emergency?" the emergency operator says as the call begins. "Is this the police?" McDonald replies. "This is the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 911. Do you have an emergency?" "Wait. My wife would like to speak with you guys. She would like to talk about an issue." When McDonald's wife takes the phone, the 911 operator asks if she has an emergency. She says no, but explains that the two got into an argument. "He is basically making me uncomfortable," McDonald's wife says. "I don't know if he's going to try to do anything with me or not. I think he's having an affair with some other woman, and I don't know what's happening. And I confronted him, and he got kind of aggressive." MONCKS CORNER Prosecutors are working to patch together puzzle pieces they said will show a jury how one man fatally shot two women to death on the side of a rural Berkeley County road on a rainy summer night in 2020. Text messages between accused gunman Damayjhon Quintez Gadson and one of the victims, a 25-year-old sex worker, show she and the woman who often drove her arranged to pick up Gadson so he and the younger woman could engage in a paid sexual encounter, Assistant Solicitor Michelle Hart said during an opening statement. Phone records laid out a timeline of the deadly event from June 28, 2020, as the trial began Feb. 12 in Berkeley County Circuit Court. Records show Gadson said he was walking down the road at 10:24 p.m. to meet the women at 204 Acme St. in Eutawville. Three phone calls were then made from the younger victim to Gadson from 10:26 to 10:27 p.m., according to arrest warrant affidavits. But it is unclear from the affidavits if there's proof that Gadson entered the car, a Kia Sorento. At 10:46 p.m., one victim texted the defendant "99," which the affidavit said is believed to be her trying to call "911." At 10:54 p.m., a driver passing along the 1800 block of Poplar Hill Road in Cross called to report a body in the road and a car crashed into a ditch. The victims, identified as 25-year-old Lashawn Gadson of Reevesville and 61-year-old Lori Gentile of Mount Pleasant, were found shot to death. Gadson was shot seven times, and her body was in the middle of the road. Gentile was shot four times, at least once in the head. She was found slumped in the driver's seat of the car that was still running and in drive, attorneys and witnesses said during the first day of the trial. Anthony Marini shrugged as he stood in the crumbled threshold, surveying damage inside his Italian sandwich shop in downtown's Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood. Six hours earlier, a collision at Spring and St. Philip streets sent a Maserati sedan careening through the wooden facade of The Pass Panino and Provisions. No one was seriously injured in the wreck, which occurred just after 2 a.m. Feb. 13, according to Charleston police. "I'm glad it was an Italian car," Marini quipped as he stood outside his bite-sized, 675-square-foot restaurant, which has neither drive-thru nor valet service. "If it was a German car, I'd be pissed." "You have to have levity with a situation like this," the 50-year-old added. A preliminary police investigation determined a 32-year-old New Jersey woman driving the Maserati ignored a stoplight while traveling west on Spring Street and crashed into a Jeep traveling south on St. Philip Street, according to an accident report. The Maserati crashed into the storefront, while the impact caused the Jeep to overturn. Two people were taken to a hospital for injuries, Sgt. Anthony Gibson said. The driver of the Maserati was issued a citation for reckless driving. Just after 8 a.m., as people walked their dogs and the workday got started, the shop was still cordoned off with yellow tape. Spots of dry blood dotted the sidewalk, and a black, donut-shaped tire mark kissed the side of the building. Inside the shop located at 207-A St. Philip St., a street light pole, car parts and glass shards lay scattered across the floor. But for some flattened yellow and blue bags of Carolina Kettle potato chips, no other foods including cured meats or fresh cheeses appeared harmed. Marini said it was too soon to tell how much repairs would cost, though an investigating officer estimated around $50,000 in the accident report. SEABROOK ISLAND This gated barrier island town has joined the growing list of places in South Carolina to consider limiting short-term rental operations. The upscale community across Johns Island on the Atlantic Ocean is seeking to address the regulation of rental properties while keeping peace in the community, hoping to avoid the contention that seems to follow the issue. In January, Seabrook Island's council formed a special committee to review the town's existing short-term rental ordinance. The nine-person committee consists of five short-term rental operators, three full-time residents who don't own or operate a short-term rental and Town Councilman Darryl May. The committee will have until June 30 to study short-term rental trends on the island, hear from stakeholders and residents and present a comprehensive set of policy proposals for town council's consideration. A push for a referendum on Seabrook Island failed in 2021. The petition that gained over 600 signatures called for strict limits on short-term rental properties, capping the allowable number of rental properties to 5 percent in some single-family residential communities. The referendum question was presented too close to the Nov. 2 election and could not appear on the ballot. Town Administrator Joe Cronin said the town is hoping to avoid altering the existing rental regulations via a ballot measure, like the citizen-initiated referendums that happened last year on the Isle of Palms and Folly Beach. The measure failed on Isle of Palms. Folly Beach voters successfully capped short-term rentals permits at 800. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. FLORENCE City leaders offered full-throated support for laws to combat hate crimes, approving both a resolution calling for the Statehouse to pass its own law and a local ordinance that could act as a stopgap if legislators don't move forward. The ordinance still requires a second reading before it will go into effect. The city joins a growing number of South Carolina cities that have adopted local hate crime laws, looking for a solution as legislation stalls at the state level. Despite repeated entreaties from activists, South Carolina and Wyoming are the only two states in the country without a hate crime law on the books. In January, activists called for the City Council to pass its own hate crime ordinance in the wake of a Conway cross burning. Flanked by local leaders, Suzanne La Rochelle decried racially motivated crimes in South Carolina and inaction at the Statehouse. "I want the city of Florence to take action, to be part of the solution," La Rochelle said. Council member Chaquez McCall said he had heard from Jewish community members who were concerned about the issue. "This is actually the response to our community coming forth and saying that we needed something in place," Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin said. The move comes as the United States has seen a growing number of hate crimes, including high-profile instances of antisemitism and islamophobia. Several prominent incidents in South Carolina have reignited calls for legislators to pass a statewide hate crime law. In November, two Black Conway residents fled their home after their White neighbors burned a cross next door and hurled racial slurs at them, according to a police report. COLUMBIA Nikki Haley may have overperformed in her 11-point loss to former President Donald Trump in New Hampshires Republican presidential primary last month. But she needed a lot of help to even get there help that doesn't look to be ready in South Carolina. On New Hampshire's primary night, most of Haley's supporters about 70 percent werent registered Republicans, according to exit polling. So when South Carolina Republicans vote in less than two weeks, Haley could benefit from a similar coalition of left-leaning independents and Democrats to be competitive. But its not clear Haley is courting their vote. A planned get-out-the-vote bus tour ahead of the primaries will hit just two counties, Orangeburg and Bamberg, that voted for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. And Americans for Prosperity, a group supporting Haley, told The Post and Courier they are focusing solely on turning out likely Republican voters. Haley's campaign didn't respond to questions about whether they're pursuing Democratic votes. Their strategy in South Carolina, a spokesperson told The Post and Courier in a statement, will remain the same as it has been: courting Republicans by stressing a vote for Trump means likely defeat for their party in November. But if Haley isn't recruiting left-leaning voters to beat Trump later this month, others are. Primary Pivot, which sought to turn out Democrats and independents to vote for Haley in New Hampshire last month, has been actively looking to replicate its efforts in the Palmetto State. Before the Feb. 3 Democratic primary, the group sent out text messages to some 207,000 participants in the states 2020 primaries encouraging them to save their vote for Haley on Feb. 24. And in the weeks to come, the group plans to push other on-the-fence voters to turn out against Trump. There is an old story from Japan about a highly renowned sumo wrestler who won many matches and trophies. He married a young woman and began sleeping with her in the marriage bed. After one or two months, the athlete began to undergo a transformation. He felt tired and had less strength. It became increasingly difficult for him to train, and he began to lose tournaments. The athlete went to the doctor who, after several sessions in which he carefully examined him and studied his case in depth, came to the conclusion that the loss of energy came from sleeping with another person. Not wanting to crush his small, delicate wife while the two were in bed, the sumo wrestler limited the movements he made in his sleep that helped him relax and release tension. So, the doctor prescribed that, after having sexual relations with his wife, the couple should sleep in separate beds. After following these tips, the wrestler regained his energy and became the great fighter he had always been. Sleeping together or separately is becoming a topic of debate among couples, who no longer feel there is a marital duty to share a bed. This is especially true if the phase of falling in love has passed, if the couple is already more mature in age and falling asleep becomes an increasingly delicate matter, or if the nighttime habits of both partners are incompatible. But, assuming that health comes first, which is better for a restful sleep: sleeping alone or with a partner? In principle, if what we are talking about is sleeping and not having sex (two very different things), the optimal thing would be to have as much space as possible. A bed for only one in which there are no barriers or obstacles on our path to a good nights rest. But this is not always the case. There are many studies that demonstrate the emotional benefit of sleeping with someone, and how cuddling or having physical contact with another person promotes sleep and the production of serotonin and dopamine, says neurologist Cristina Guijarro, head of the Department of Neurology at the DKF Clinic, in Madrid, and a specialist in sleep disorders. But, in addition, she continues, close contact with the other, at all levels including the skin and genitals benefits our intestinal microbiota, which is replaced and enriched. It also aids our immune system, which has to work to neutralize all types of unwanted microorganisms. Obviously, this works if there is mutual attraction, affection, and trust in the couple. Its like little children, when they sleep with their parents they feel safe and protected. Sleep has several stages, and some are more active than others. In the first phase of sleep the body is not relaxed, but rather makes physiological movements that are totally normal, except in those people who have pathologies such as the so-called periodic limb movement disorder. In the REM phase, however, the muscles are relaxed, but there is a lot of brain activity. This is when we dream, says the neurologist. Sleeping together can intensify feelings of love and togetherness. Or it can disturb sleep, which can negatively affect the relationship in the long run. SeventyFour (Getty Images/iStockphoto) If we move when we sleep, the equation of more space equals better sleep does not seem far-fetched. However, Guijarro argues that having a king size bed does not necessarily guarantee that you will sleep better. I would say its a cultural thing. There are tribes that sleep in small hammocks, hanging from trees. Throughout history the beds have varied. Some beds were really narrow, and that didnt cause people to sleep any worse. Its a matter of getting used to it. Although of course, those who sleep in a large bed will notice the difference if they later move to a smaller bed. As the sleep specialist points out, restful sleep depends rather on what is called sleep hygiene: A series of basic conditions necessary for a good rest, which include: darkness, silence, and a suitably cool rather than warm environment. In addition to not eating or exercising before going to sleep, Nor drinking too much, because we will wake up to go to the bathroom. Could it be that we love each other less? Until 2021, 44-year-old Madrid resident Sara lived with a partner, and they slept in separate rooms. At that time, she was a staunch defender of what has been called sleep divorce. It was very difficult for us to sleep together. But this started before we stopped having sex. I remember that we would go to a hotel and we would have sex, but it would be difficult to fall asleep together at bedtime. Thats why we used to request rooms with two beds. My ex was the one who suggested sleeping in separate rooms (fortunately the apartment allowed us to do so) and at first it made me feel bad (he doesnt love me anymore!), but then I breathed a sigh of relief. When we finally broke up, I continued spending the night alone to the point that, if I hooked up with anyone, it was difficult for me to share the bed later if he stayed the night. I thought I was condemned to spend the nights alone, until I met my current partner. As if by magic, all my dislikes and discomforts disappeared and now we always sleep together, cuddling. I love getting up and having someone by my side, or waking up, finding that the other is also awake, and having a deep conversation in the middle of the night. Saras conclusion is blunt: The body expresses our emotions long before we are aware of them. We become picky, fussy, and unfriendly at bedtime because we no longer like company. I am very clear that in my case it was like that. Therefore, it seems that sleeping together strengthens the relationship and the microbiota in happy couples. Another question is how you spend the night when you dont have that degree of unity or infatuation, which does not necessarily indicate that the solution is divorce. In this case, putting a little distance between the bedfellows when night comes can avoid problems in the relationship. This is the conclusion reached by a study, Sleep and Partners Research 2023, carried out by The Better Sleep Council. The study indicated that, although most couples maintain that they sleep better if they are together, a quarter say they rest more alone. Spending the night together can intensify feelings of love and togetherness, but it can also disturb rest, which can negatively affect the relationship in the long run. Sleeping together: a modern idea The royalty and upper classes of the 17th and 18th centuries knew this, and each spouse had their own bedroom. It was the lower classes who slept together due to lack of space in the houses. As a consequence of the plagues and epidemics that devastated Europe, hygiene became a priority for those who lived in the 19th century. So, many experts of that time believed that the key to combating diseases was to eliminate dirt in homes and maintain distance to avoid contagion from the miasmas emitted by our bodies. Thus, twin beds were seen as a vision of the future to solve these issues for middle-class couples. Insomnia is not contagious, but there is no doubt that disturbances in our own sleep affect our bed partner's. Westend61 (Getty Images/Westend61) But, the idea about marriage changed after World War II or, perhaps, it was to repopulate the continent after the devastating losses. The point is that sleeping apart began to be interpreted as a sign of a distant or failed marriage, and no one wanted to give that impression to their neighbors when they were invited to dinner and shown around the house. Many couples still maintain this prejudice, says Gloria Arancibia Clavel, a psychologist and sexologist, whose office is in Madrid, or they think that by sleeping apart they will lose physical connection and the opportunity to have sexual relations. Perhaps the pious relationship of when one wants it and the other doesnt, because they are very tired and in they end agree, is not so frequent. But, sleeping together does not necessarily mean there will be a better sexual experience. Sometimes it is good to miss each other and for quality to prevail over frequency. Furthermore, sleeping separately can give rise to numerous games, visits, or raids on the others bed. For Arancibia Clavel everything depends on the phase the couple themselves are in: At the beginning of a relationship there is always more desire for permanent contact. But a healthy relationship is based on two independent parties that come together and negotiate things. There is no reason to put up with snoring or certain pathologies that prevent a good rest for the sake of love, because that is going to take its toll on the relationship in the end. There are also intermediate variations such as sleeping separately during the week and sleeping together on Friday and Saturday nights, which can be very interesting, says this sexologist. Cristina Guijarro remembers the proverb that warns us: Two who sleep on a mattress become of the same condition, which is not to say that insomnia is contagious, but there is no doubt that disturbances in our own sleep affect our bed partners. It is also said that how we spend the night will determine how our day will be. You must, therefore, look for the sleeping arrangement that best suits your needs and desires. And dont forget that you can also have sex in daylight. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 19:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 435 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CASTLE ROCK, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / According to astudy by Gallup , January and February tie for Americans' least favorite month, with March leading by only a percentage point. Even an epic Super Bowl performance by Usher can't quite pull people from the gloom. The new Amazon Bestseller, Real Vibes OnlybyChelsea Husum , is an anecdote to the slump of winter.Real Vibes Only: Unapologetic Confessions of a Hot Mess Mompreneur, reached #1 in Parenting and #2 in Women & Business upon release to Amazon on Monday, February 12 th.The new release is a jolt of energy and a boost to the senses, but more than a pick me up, Real Vibes Only is an honest story about parenting, running a business, and navigating the curveballs life throws your way. Author Chelsea Husum is a multi-passionate entrepreneur,founderof a Colorado-based construction company, author, speaker, busy mother of two young sons, and proud wife. Chelsea's mission is to dish out the real talk on life's speedbumps: from trauma to pain, she's been there, done that, and has proven triumphant. As a trailblazer in themale-dominated construction industry , Husum is a testament to the grit it requires to create and scale a successful start-up."...I was tired of the standard books just for moms or just for entrepreneurs. This book is a refreshing combination of the real day in the life of a female business owner and mom" - 5 Star Amazon Review.Through each chapter of the book, Husum proves that there is no mountain too tall to climb. Her personal and vulnerable stories show the beauty in embracing imperfections and adversity, and how it molds us into the leaders we hope to be."Nothing can truly break us," says Husum. "Even though it might feel like it in the moment. Real Vibes Only is about the journey of rising up and making it through another day. We can all use our strength and stories to go out and inspire others in the world." With humor and wit, Husum bares it all, leaving you inspired and ready to face life head-on. From lessons on empathy, to reflections on postpartum sadness and depression, Real Vibes Only is an honest read on how to persevere through challenging times in life, motivate oneself through thick and thin, and find joy in the seemingly mundane. Real Vibes Only is Husum in her purest, most authentic form: a beacon of strength and a generator of laughter, reminding us all that we're capable of facing any storm that comes our way.Contact:Chelsea Husum:chelsea@ chelseahusum.com SOURCE: American GPR & Coring DBA Chelsea Husum PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 15:02:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 796 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 "Fairy Rap Frequency," from her album of songs for learning English, helps listeners learn to count and use simple verbs.MISSISSAUGA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Language-learning innovator Angeline Pompei is pleased to announce the upcoming release of her new single, "Fairy Rap Frequency," a rap song designed to help people learn how to count in English and to practice simple verbs.Angeline Pompei is the creator of a trailblazing approach for adults to learn English fast. Her program includes a series of easy-to-read, interest-based, bilingual books for adults to practice English with line-by-line translations, and her album "Verbiage," which incorporates vocabulary themes, verb conjugation, and grammar into immersive songs that transform remote learning into an engaging and enjoyable experience."Fairy Rap Frequency" is the first track released, outside of her album "Verbiage," that helps adults learn to count numbers and to practice the verbs "ask" and " get." The rap song, expected to be released around Valentine's Day, makes numbers a focus of the lyrics, which explore the theme of the breakup of a relationship."I started to reflect on my own memories," Angeline Pompei said. "I realized a memory is really a moment in time that makes you feel something good or bad. I thought, what better way to help people learn English faster than by invoking feelings? Songs really tell a story. It is easier to remember words with music and lyrics that rhyme." A study at the University of San Francisco entitled "Teaching English as a Second Language through Rap Music" found evidence that music can help students learn a language. Studies show music can help discern separate words better than if they listen to lyrics without music. The rhythm and intonation of a song aids learners in hearing prosody. When students sing or rap, they connect words and stress specific syllables following the musical pattern. It shows that they can learn a language better when accompanied by music.Angeline Pompei's album goes a step further, with songs she created specifically to help adults learn English, an alternate approach to conventional language-learning tools. "I intentionally created my songs with hidden grammar themes. They present an easy way to engage with English grammar and spoken English," she said.She recommends reading the lyrics first and connecting on an emotional level with the song because if the song elicits feelings or imagination in the listener, the lyrics are more likely to be remembered. The bilingual lyrics are available for download at https://learnenglishfast.com/pages/verbiage-esl-songs-for-adults . Then, learners can download "Fairy Rap Frequency," other selected tracks, or the entire "Verbiage" album from streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music and add it to their playlist. Users can memorize the words by listening to the song repeatedly.Her "Learn English Fast With Angeline" is an online platform that delivers ESL books, music, and other resources. Her songs, which focus specifically on English grammar, have downloadable bilingual lyrics from her bilingual songbook in English/Spanish, English/French, English/Portuguese, English/Italian, English/German, English/Polish and English/Japanese. To date, the Learn English Fast bilingual books series is available for native Spanish, French, Italian and Polish speakers. A Portuguese series is to be released this year.Through the power and emotion of music, Angeline Pompei is using her innovative method to redefine the language learning process. To learn more about Learn English Fast, visit Angeline Pompei's website at https://learnenglishfast.com About Learn English FastAngeline Pompei is an entrepreneur and adult language learner with a degree in aerospace engineering and a TELF certification to teach English internationally as a second language. Founder and CEO of Angeline Authentic, she created the Learn English Fast system for people to learn English as a second language. Learn English Fast comprises Angeline Pompei's unique series of line-by-line bilingual books for learning languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, and Polish. She is also an artist with an album, "Verbiage," that teaches grammar, vocabulary, and verb conjugation through music.Angeline Pompei is most proud of her skincare books, having been a successful entrepreneur in the skincare industry for 18 years, which includes her 3D anti-aging formula to maintain youthful skin. A multi-faceted individual, she uses all her experience to teach adults English through interest-based learning, bilingual materials, and music. All Learn English Fast resources are available on Amazon, and her music is on major streaming platforms. Her songbook is available on Amazon and in a free PDF on her website.Contact Information:Maria PenalozaMedia and Content Strategistmaria.penaloza@issuerdirect.com Related ImagesSOURCE: Angeline AuthenticView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 15:15:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 400 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ("ADM" or the "Company") (NYSE:ADM) who suffered losses from purchasing or otherwise acquiring ADM common stock between April 30, 2020 and January 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities fraud class action against ADM. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is March 25, 2024.Class Period: April 30, 2020 - January 22, 2024Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 25, 2024Case information: lieffcabraser.com/securities/adm Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358ADM, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is an agricultural supply chain manager and processor.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements about the performance and prospects of ADM's Nutrition segment, while engaging in improper accounting practices and procedures that obscured the segment's true performance and purported growth.On January 21, 2024, ADM announced that it had placed its CFO and Senior Vice President, defendant Vikram Luthar, on leave effective immediately. According to ADM, Luthar's "leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee regarding certain accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM's Nutrition segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions." The Company also revealed that it launched its investigation after it received a request for documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, ADM delayed its Q4 and FY 2023 earnings release and withdrew its outlook for the Nutrition segment. On this news, the price of ADM common stock plummeted $16.23 per share, or approximately 24%, from its closing price of $68.19 per share on the previous trading day, to close at $51.69 on January 22, 2024.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 120 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP Encarnacion Postigo (left) and her daughter Celia, who was born with a mutation in her SynGAP1 gene. Its all smiles at Encarnacion Postigos house, because Celia relies on her mothers upbeat spirit. You cant show the stress its all smiles here. We have to be happy at home, said Postigo. Celia was born with a mutation in her SynGAP1 gene, a very rare genetic disorder that affects neurodevelopment and can cause psychomotor retardation, autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy. Arriving at a diagnosis was challenging, as was coming to terms with it. Like other incurable diseases, there are only a few cases worldwide, and the questions still outnumber the answers. At the end of the day, all you want is for her not to suffer, said Postigo, who has turned necessity into a virtue. Together with a group of families affected by genetic disorders, they have launched the EURAS project to study RASopathies, a group of conditions caused by genetic mutations affecting the RAS signaling pathway a crucial cell communication mechanism. The European Union (EU) now funds and supports this scientific initiative to explore therapies for genetic disorders impacting neurodevelopment, including cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Costello syndrome and SynGAP1-related encephalopathy. It took Celia 17 years to be diagnosed. She was only six months old when her mother began to notice that something was not right. Celias mother took her see specialists and hospitals until a genetic study provided a diagnosis when Celia was an adolescent. She had a mutation in the SynGAP1 gene, which is located in the brain and plays a crucial role in proper neuronal connections. When theres a problem there, hyperexcited neurons can lead to epilepsy and affect neuronal development, said Juliana Ribeiro, a researcher and SynGAP1 expert at Sant Joan de Deu Hospital in Barcelona. The effects of a SynGAP1 mutation unfold slowly. They seem fine when theyre born, but after a few months, a delay in walking and speaking becomes apparent. The symptoms gradually become more noticeable over time, said Ribeiro. They may experience movement or walking disorders, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disorders, sleep disorders, or eating disorders (dysphagia). And more than 90% have intellectual disabilities, said Ribeiro, who is not involved in the EURAS project. Celia can only speak a few words and has been dealing with severe epilepsy since the age of 17. Her impaired motor skills led us to take her out of school. Since turning 18, she has been at home with therapists, battling epilepsy, said Postigo. She could experience severe seizures at any time, which almost make her lose consciousness. Shes happy, affectionate and communicates using signs to the best of her abilities. However, she has trouble swallowing and with motor skills, which affect her independence. She needs round-the-clock assistance. According to the patient association, there are approximately 1,000 people worldwide with this mutation in the SynGAP1 gene. Of these, 38 are in Spain. While gene therapy is being explored as a potential therapeutic option, currently only symptomatic treatment is available to manage seizures, behavioral disorders and other symptoms. Despair and urgency The lack of treatments and the sense of helplessness among families prompted Postigo to envision a research project in pursuit of answers. This initiative aims to benefit her daughter and other children affected by the same disease or other RASopathies. We were so desperate and had this urgent need for them to be well. Not necessarily cured, but just well, said Postigo. Patient associations from twelve countries got involved in the project. The parents established the structure, and we all showed up at every meeting with the scientists, said Postigo. The final project proposal, sponsored by families and led by European researchers from Germany, France, Portugal, Spain and Austria, secured over 8 million ($8.62 million) of EU financial support. The four-year project will conduct in-depth research into complex neurodevelopmental diseases. Neurofibromatosis 1 and Noonan syndrome are the most common conditions, presenting a wide range of symptoms such as distinctive facial features, heart defects, skin changes, and varying degrees of neurological and neurocognitive impairments. Rarer RASopathies, like cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Costello syndrome, and SynGAP1-related encephalopathy, cause significant neurological impairments including intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral disorder, and sleep disorder. While the physical manifestations of RASopathies can be life-threatening, multidisciplinary symptomatic treatment can help manage them. However, there is currently no specific therapy for neurocognitive symptoms, which imposes a long-lasting burden on the children and their families. Experts stress the complexity of these diseases, as they affect a crucial signaling pathway in the body. Our genes create a network of connections, and while cutting a peripheral node may go unnoticed, the disruption of a key element like RAS, which is involved in cell proliferation, has far-reaching effects, said Francisca Sanchez, a former professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Malaga (Spain), who provided guidance to parents participating in the project. Drug trials The project aims to create a patient registry and search for biomarkers to detect drugs or validate therapies. Multiple research groups are already involved, including Professor Juan Antonio Garcia Ranea from the University of Malaga. Families work alongside clinical and medical experts to identify and typify symptoms. Proper patient grouping and stratification are crucial in order to develop personalized therapies. Garcia and his team are participating in the effort to typify symptoms and in the search for genetic bases in both the pathology and the reversal. Meanwhile, other researchers explore alternative treatment methods by testing drug effects using cellular models. The initiative plans to conduct preclinical trials using repurposed drugs to test cognitive motor training in animal models for reversing seizures and autistic behavior. The most important thing is the patient registry. Without it, clinical studies cannot be done. You have to know how the disease has evolved, said Marcos Mengual, the father of a nine-year-old boy with a SynGAP1 mutation. Mengual is one of the key supporters of this project. His family went through a five-year journey with various specialists until their son Lucas was finally diagnosed. The diagnosis really helped us understand the delay in Lucass cognitive development. At five years old, he had the cognitive development of an 11-month-old child. Nowadays, Lucas doesnt really speak much just three or four words. But his epilepsy is fairly well controlled, said Mengual. With nothing else to cling to, the families are placing their hopes on the research project. However, they are aware of the importance of staying grounded in reality. The term cure is problematic since conditions like autism dont simply vanish. However, making progress in alleviating symptoms would help the children a great deal, said Mengual. Postigo is grateful for the dedication of Mengual, Sanchez, Garcia and the patient associations. She just wants her daughters life to be the best it can be. Garcia believes in the projects potential, even though the initiative is ambitious. However, he wants people to know that the project is not just wishful thinking. If theres something to find, we have the right tools to analyze all the variables. Discovering the key to alleviating symptoms would be a significant achievement and very valuable for the families. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 21:01:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 569 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Ardent will be one of more than 200 leading AI stakeholders to help advance the development and deployment of safe, trustworthy AI under new U.S. Government safety institute.ARLINGTON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Today, Ardent announced that it joined more than 200 of the nation's leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a Department of Commerce initiative to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) will bring together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.Richard Zareck II, Ardent's President & CEO, stated, "We are honored to have been selected as one of only 200 member companies in the nation to the NIST AISIC. At Ardent's Technology, Research, and Innovation (TRI) Labs, we are developing AI solutions firmly grounded in ethical principles and safeguarding against adversarial inputs. Ardent intends to enhance the AI landscape by developing systems that don't just do what they are supposed to do -- but does it responsibly, fairly and transparently." "The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence. President Biden directed us to pull every lever to accomplish two key goals: set safety standards and protect our innovation ecosystem. That's precisely what the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium is set up to help us do," said Secretary Raimondo. "Through President Biden's landmark Executive Order, we will ensure America is at the front of the pack - and by working with this group of leaders from industry, civil society, and academia, together we can confront these challenges to develop the measurements and standards we need to maintain America's competitive edge and develop AI responsibly." The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as the civil society and academic teams that are building the foundational understanding of how AI can and will transform our society. These entities represent the nation's largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world's most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI's use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.The full list of consortium participants is available here.About Ardent:A digital transformation, location intelligence, and data analytics firm, Ardent brings a significant history of innovative proven best practices "at the speed of the mission" to Federal Civilian agencies, DHS (Department of Homeland Security), and DoD mission components, State and Local entities, and the commercial and non-profit sectors. Ardent Management Consulting is certified to 9001:2015, its Development Projects are CMMI-Dev V2.0 Maturity Level 3 rated and its management systems (ISMS/ITSMS) are certified to IS0 27001:2013, and ISO 20000-1:2018 standards by G-CERTi Co., Ltd. For media inquiries, please contact: Brynn Dalton at public.relations@ardentmc.com Contact InformationBrynn DaltonSocial Media & Digital Marketerpublic.relations@ardentmc.com SOURCE: ArdentView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 20:45:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 447 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /British American Business Council of New England (BABCNE), today announced Jerry Alderman as its 2024 chapter president. The appointment of Alderman marks the second time he will hold the office, though some 30 years have passed since his previous presidency.Alderman is well suited to uphold BABCNE's mission to foster business relationships between the UK and New England and broaden exposure for transatlantic business opportunities. As CEO of New England and Northeast Region Marsh McLennan Agency, Alderman's deep connections in both New England and the UK will help broaden the membership.Alderman said of the appointment, "As president, I plan to focus on three key areas. First, we need to engage the next generation of professionals conducting business across the pond. Without their involvement the chapter has no plan for continuity. Second, we need to further strengthen ties to BABC's New York chapter, as New York's business community is so explicitly tied to our own. Third, we need to hold meaningful events that home in on key markets such as finance, life sciences and healthcare. I'm excited for the opportunity to build a diversified member organization that produces relevant business relationships." Darlene Hollywood, principal of Hollywood Agency and BABCNE's immediate past president said of the appointment, "While it's been a difficult few years for all likes of business associations, BABCNE has shown strong signs of revitalization. Under Jerry's leadership, the organization is poised for incredible growth. The board is looking forward to helping shape Jerry's vision for the future of its membership." Alderman was born in Topsham, Exeter and educated at King's College Taunton and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He started his career as an underwriter with Lloyds of London. He began his American career in 1985 with Sedgwick James Insurance. Prior to joining Marsh McLennan Agency, Alderman owned The International Insurance Group, specializing in alternative risk financing and captives. Alderman has more than 35 years of experience in underwriting, global commercial insurance, and sales. He currently serves as a board member of the TargetCancer Foundation (TCF) and is on the executive committee for WGBH.About British American Business Council of New EnglandLaunched in September 1986, by HRH King Charles 111, the British American Business Council of New England, Inc. (BABCNE) is the leading British transatlantic, non-profit, business association in New England. It is dedicated to helping its members build and expand business between New England and the United Kingdom. Its membership includes multi-national corporations, as well as middle market and smaller companies and business professionals from all industry sectors. For more information, visit www.babcne.org Media Contact: Darlene HollywoodHollywood Agency darlene@ hollywoodagency.com SOURCE: British American Business Council of New England PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 10:02:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 376 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against British American Tobacco p.l.c. ("BAT" or "the Company") (NYSE:BTI) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired BAT securities between February 9, 2023 and December 6, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTI Case Details:The Complaint alleges that BAT made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) British American Tobacco materially understated the risks and potential likelihood of an impairment to its Premium American Cigarette Brands as a result of various longstanding headwinds; and (2) as a result, BAT's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTI or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in BAT you have until March 25, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 16:31:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 500 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Premiere Speakers Bureau (PSB) is thrilled to announce an exclusive partnership with Candy Valentino.FRANKLIN, TN / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /Premiere Speakers Bureau (PSB), a leader in connecting the world's top speakers with tier-one event opportunities, is thrilled to announce an exclusive partnership with Candy Valentino, a highly sought-after expert in business leadership, finance and investing. This partnership aims to bring Candy Valentino's 26 years of real-world experience in business development, wealth creation, and real estate investing to a wider audience, facilitating transformative experiences at events across the United States and around the globe.Her collaboration with Premiere Speakers Bureau underscores a shared commitment to inspiring change and fostering leadership across various audiences and industries.Shawn Hanks, CEO of Premiere Speakers Bureau, on Welcoming Candy Valentino:Shawn Hanks, CEO of Premiere Speakers Bureau, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Candy Valentino to our esteemed roster of speakers. Candy doesn't just talk the talk'; she has lived it. With 26 years of firsthand experience in business and real estate investing, Candy possesses a remarkable gift for distilling her wealth of knowledge into actionable insights. Candy shares Premiere's core values of integrity and excellence, embodying these principles in every aspect of her work. Her dedication to these values aligns perfectly with our ethos, further enriching our mission to connect remarkable speakers with extraordinary organizations." Candy Valentino shared her thoughts on the partnership: "My goal is to share lessons and strategies from decades of business and finance experience, invoke courage and confidence in entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and leverage my background of overcoming adversity to inspire and impact others to take action on realizing their highest potential and achieving their boldest dreams. Joining forces with Premiere, an experienced leader in the industry known for its integrity and excellence, is a sincere privilege. It's an honor to partner with them and align our shared missions of inspiring and empowering audiences far and wide.About Candy ValentinoCandy Valentino is an acclaimed entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist whose insights into business growth, wealth accumulation, and social impact have positioned her as a leading voice in personal and professional development. With a career spanning over two decades, Valentino has founded successful businesses, authored best-selling books, and launched initiatives that contribute to societal well-being. Her dynamic approach to speaking engagements makes her one of the most sought-after voices on global stages today.About Premiere Speakers BureauPremiere Speakers Bureau stands at the forefront of the speaking industry, offering unparalleled service and access to the world's most influential voices. With over 30 years of experience and a commitment to excellence, Premiere Speakers Bureau orchestrates events that drive change, foster integrity, and inspire audiences around the globe.For more information on Candy Valentino's speaking engagements and to book her for your next event, visit www.candyvalentino.com/speaking Contact:Brandon EdmonsonPremiere Speakers Bureau Brandon@ premierespeakersbureau.com (615) 261- 4000Contact Information:Lauren HathawayChief of Staffhello@ candyvalentino.com 9316294895SOURCE: Candy ValentinoView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 22:51:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1048 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / It's now been a little over a year since OpenAI launched ChatGPT, catapulting artificial intelligence into the public consciousness and igniting a frenzy of AI investment hype. As the dust settles on that crucial moment in the cultural and economic trajectory of AI, investors are trying to discern where the hype ends and the real value begins.While most are in agreement that AI will change the way we live and work, it can be more difficult to pinpoint exactly which AI companies and services will be at the forefront of that change. For Ben Miller, CEO of direct-to-consumer asset manager Fundrise, this challenge points to a different kind of strategy: investing in the data infrastructure that will power the evolution and mass adoption of AI, regardless of how that evolution plays out."There are companies like Dbt Labs and Databricks, and those companies are the picks and shovels' of the gold rush," said Miller in an interview on Real Vision's"Daily Brief" podcast ."They're the most important foundational technologies of what's happening, and that's why we invested in them." The Fundrise Innovation FundWith the launch of the Fundrise Innovation Fund last year, Miller is targeting private tech companies that could be foundational to the evolution of AI for years to come. The goal is to provide retail investors with the opportunity to pursue venture-style investments in these companies before they go public, an opportunity traditionally only available to venture capital funds and ultra-wealthy investors with the capital to support early-to-late-stage startups."Our whole business is to break down the barriers between the public and private markets," said Miller. "We allow individuals to invest into private real estate. We also let individuals invest in private tech. We have a fund that anybody can invest into private tech companies." So far, the fund's focus has been on data and AI. Databricks and Dbt Labs are two of the leading providers of the massive, complex data infrastructure that enables large language models to train on unstructured data such as text, audio, video, and images."As more companies seek to do more advanced things, more often, with their increasingly large datasets, they will inevitably run up against the limitations of traditional approaches to transforming data and seek out a better way with Dbt," reads a letter to Fundrise investors announcing thefund's investment in Dbt Labs ."Dbt allows teams to take raw data and refine it into an end state that enables companies to do something useful with it - such as personalize their customer experience, generate sales and inventory reports, or train their own AI and [machine learning] models, to name just a few examples." The investment in Dbt Labs follows the Innovation Fund's $25 million investment in Databricks, which represents roughly a quarter of its portfolio.Databricks provides a comprehensive ecosystem where teams can process, store, clean, and analyze large datasets. It's essentially a unified analytics platform designed to simplify the daunting task of managing and deploying large-scale data and AI solutions. The platform enables users to develop generative AI applications that require large datasets to train and allows users across an organization to glean insights from data using natural language."To be able to get Databricks now and own a chunk of that company is just so exciting, and they are integral," Miller told Sam Dogen on "The Financial Samurai" podcast."It's a different risk profile. You're not taking an Is this company going to be successful risk.' You're taking a How much are they going to grow risk.' And I think they're going to grow a lot." The State of Data and AIIt's worth contextualizing Fundrise's investment strategy in terms of recent trends in the development of AI and data services.As companies prioritize more data science and AI initiatives, there's a strong focus on data integration products. According to Databricks'2023 State of Data + AI report , 50% of the fastest-growing products fall under this category. Leading in this area is Dbt Labs, experiencing 206% year-over-year growth in terms of customer numbers. Data integration is also identified as the fastest-growing market in the Databricks Lakehouse data management platform, with 117% year-over-year growth. This shift reflects an industrywide trend toward more advanced data use cases beyond the traditional business integration tools.The report also notes that a significant portion of Databricks' customer base, about 61%, is shifting away from on-premises and cloud data warehouses. This shift is coupled with a notable 304% year-over-year growth in the volume of data in the company's Delta Lake, yet another data repository.The data lakes provided by Databricks provide centralized repositories to store structured and unstructured data at any scale. Users can store data as-is, without having to first structure it, and run different types of analytics from dashboards and visualizations to big data processing, real-time analytics, and machine learning. They're essentially vast pools of raw data, the purpose of which is not yet defined.Companies like Dbt Labs and Databricks are supporting a trend toward building open, unified data architectures like data lakes. This approach is characterized by democratizing access to data, making it available to a broader range of people within an organization. It suggests a future where AI is more deeply integrated into organizational strategies, facilitated by more powerful and easy-to-use data solutions.Everybody Needs To Be Able To Invest in These Companies'Most investors can't access this fast-evolving data and AI environment. Tech companies are increasingly staying private for longer, and often by the time they launch an initial public offering, much of the value opportunity has evaporated. With this in mind, Miller explained that his hope for the Innovation Fund is to give retail investors more access to early-stage support of companies driving the boom in data and AI."On a very personal level, Fundrise launched the Innovation Fund todemocratize investinginto these companies because they're not public," said Miller on the company's "Onward" podcast."OpenAI is not a public company. Databricks was not a public company. Canva is not a public company. I think that everybody needs to be able to invest in these companies." Contact: Press TeamPhone: (202) 584-0550SOURCE: Fundrise PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 15:02:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 999 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.By Laura QuintanaJanuary 24 is the International Day of Education, celebrating what the United Nations describes as a "fundamental human right" and "the bedrock of societies, economies, and every person's potential." The purpose of Cisco Networking Academy is to empower all people with career possibilities, helping them achieve their potential. There are currently 3.7 million people in 190 countries learning with Cisco Networking Academy.In our 11,700 Academies, 29,700 instructors are dedicated to inspiring learners with IT and digital skills education.Many of those instructors were inspired by their own teachers and are now paying it forward. An enthusiastic teacher makes learning fun. And studies show that teacher enthusiasm can enhance student learning outcomes.On International Day of Education, we'd like to thank all of our dedicated instructors, and we are proud to share some of their inspiring stories.Thank you for partnering with us!Johannes Pule Khutsoane, South AfricaJohannes Pule Khutsoane, from South Africa, overcame financial hardship to complete his Cisco Networking Academy studies. Being taken under his instructor's wing helped. He was so impressed with the course he went on to become an instructor himself."I underwent training to become a certified instructor which allowed me to give back to my community. I have been training Networking Academy programs for the past five years," he says."Seeing the positive impact on their lives and witnessing their growth and success in the tech industry is incredibly inspiring," he says. "It motivates me to continue my efforts and find new ways to contribute to my community's development." Dr Gabriella Arellano, United StatesDr Gabriella Arellano is the Cybersecurity Faculty and Continuing Education Coordinator at Sitting Bull College on Standing Rock Reservation in the United States. Gabriella became an instructor after already having attained a master's degree in education, curriculum, assessment, and instruction."It was just such a life saver to be able to transition and teach all these courses. I'm amazed by the level of support that Cisco has provided to me as an instructor," she says."Students are very engaged," she says. "For their midterms, for their finals, even the assignments, the Cisco Packet Tracer assignments that they dothey're always emailing me: Hey, did you see how I did here?' Students get very engaged with the material, which is very nice." Neil Hines, AustraliaNeil Hines in Australia was struggling after losing 35% of his vision, but after completing a Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials course, his instructor pulled him aside and asked whether he'd like to become an instructor at Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired (CAVI) in Perth."CAVI had a very profound effect on my life considering where I was going. I didn't really have a pathway, as opposed to now. Having a career and a pathway, that certainly wasn't there when I lost part of my vision," he says.Arnaud Burlion, FranceArnaud Burlion from France, says he wasn't a "model schoolboy" because school didn't motivate him. Arnaud dropped out of high school and enrolled in the army, serving for five years in the Chasseurs Alpins regiment."I wanted to resume my studies, but in something that I was passionate about," he says. "At Paris-Saclay University I was guided by an instructor at the best networking school: Cisco Networking Academy." After going on to become a Cisco Networking Academy instructor, Arnaud realized how much he could have achieved at school. "When I saw the first reaction of my students, the first year I taught, when they understood how computer communications really worked, I realized how much I enjoyed teaching. Especially with the Cisco Networking Academy program. I was happy to convey knowledge the way I would have liked when I was at school," he says.Jim Elkins, United StatesJim Elkins of North Tech Missouri, in the U.S., fell into IT education and went on to become an advocate-and a popular one too, if the sheer numbers of students praising his teaching methods are any indication.His own Cisco Networking Academy instructor inspired Jim. The "instructor was incredible, and he really got me interested," he says. "I'd never had anything like that in college and I'd never even thought that there was that kind of material out there, so it really opened my eyes a lot." Jim's students are so engaged that even after graduation and entering the workforce, many come back to talk to current students. "That's what makes it more amazing and why we continue to have success," he says, "because the current students are looking at the graduates that are coming in, and they're like, they were me five years ago!'"Gloria Castro, ChileDespite being raised in a rural area in Chile and economic challenges, Gloria Castro qualified as an Electronic Engineer, a role she says "was not well regarded for a woman at that time." "My goal was to study," she says. "My teachers encouraged and motivated me to continue advancing." After she had earned a job with the University of Tarapaca as a laboratory instructor, in 2003 Gloria was sent to the US to study to become a Cisco Networking Academy instructor-Chile's first female instructor. "To have the opportunity to be a Cisco Networking Academy instructor, motivating and teaching students who open new doors in their professional lives," is something that Gloria says is a defining moment in her life.These are just some of our amazing Cisco Networking Academy instructor stories.Find out more on how to teach with usView original content here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc.Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 19:46:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 969 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 To distribute Cloud DX products and services through their dealership and partnership network in 65 countries around the WorldNews in SummaryOn February 9th, 2024 Cloud DX and Sanrai International (Sanrai) signed a 3-year Master Partnership Agreement, under which Sanrai will distribute and re-sell Cloud DX Connected Health products and services. Sanrai sells market-leading technologies in multiple verticals with a focus on respiratory and sleep therapies. Their extensive dealer network includes partners in 65 countries. Sanrai and Cloud DX will focus on selling Connected Health products and services addressing chronic illness and post-surgical recovery. Cloud DX has announced over $2.5 million CAD in new business since January 1, 2024. KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTCQB:CDXFF), a leading North American provider of virtual care and remote patient monitoring platforms is pleased to announce a new Partnership Agreement with New York-based Sanrai International.Sanrai International ( https://www.sanrai.com) is an innovative medical device distribution company with offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. With sales teams and partners in more than 65 countries, Sanrai focuses on equalizing access to innovative medical devices. With a strong track record in respiratory and sleep therapy devices, Sanrai also offers products and solutions in diagnostics, homecare, rehab & mobility, neonatology, and telehealth. The Sanrai Group includes Sanrai Med India, a homecare company directly serving patients in India.Sanrai will market and resell the Cloud DX Connected Health platform, focusing on chronic disease management and post-surgical recovery to Sanrai's extensive customer and sub-distributor network. A significant market for Cloud DX Connected Health remote monitoring technology exists in private hospitals, homecare and transitional care clinical settings where superior Cloud DX patient engagement services will elevate the client's competitive posture while improving clinical efficiency, patient outcomes and patient satisfaction.Sanrai Managing Director Amarpreet Rai commented: "Sanrai International is excited to launch this new partnership with Cloud DX, the Canadian leader in remote automated monitoring and virtual care. After extensive due diligence Sanrai has chosen Cloud DX as a global partner due to their leadership in innovative new technology, including the impressive Vitaliti continuous vital sign monitor and their AcuScreen CA Cough Analysis platform, currently in field trials as a screening tool for active tuberculosis, which is a growing problem in the countries we serve. Cloud DX also offers us excellence in customer service, as proven by numerous published surveys indicating >95% customer satisfaction, along with a strong track record of sales by referral and glowing testimonials from customers. Finally, we appreciate Cloud DX's proven ability to deliver remote monitoring products and services at scale, as the fastest growing provider of these new technologies in Canada, with multiple Provincial-level government contracts." Cloud DX Co-founder and COO Anthony Kaul stated: "This new partnership with Sanrai International is a key milestone for Cloud DX as we pursue our mission to make healthcare better for everybody. Their strong sales force across the world is already bringing the benefits of new medical technology to many thousands of patients, and their existing catalog of products, especially around respiratory care, will synergize with the Cloud DX Connected Health Platform and our new AI-powered screening tool for respiratory illness - AcuScreen CA." In 2024, Cloud DX Cloud DX has now announced 8 contracts/orders valued in excess of $2.5 million CAD, including with Health PEI, Markham Stouffville Hospital, VHA Home HealthCare and a $770,000 CAD order for Vitaliti technology.COO Anthony Kaul joins the Sanrai team at Arab Health 2024 in Dubai, UAE.Investor Conference Videos Now AvailableCloud DX CEO Robert Kaul presented a Zoom webinar on January 17, 2024, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). A recording of his presentation can be seen HERE:The Maxim Group (NYC) held their Annual Healthcare IT Virtual Conference on Wednesday January 24th, 2024, with 18 companies presenting. Investors can see the Cloud DX presentation HERE.About SanraiSanrai International is an innovative medical device distribution company with offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. By bringing local expertise to the markets that matter, we can provide the service and support needed to successfully commercialize and supply world class medical equipment. Our global headquarters are in New York, USA and we have longstanding business partners in more than 65 countries. Our mission is to equalize access to healthcare by providing needed products as seamlessly as possible to all corners of the world. Sanrai supplies dynamic and disruptive medical devices to the global healthcare community, leveraging our platform for our partners continued success. Please discover more at https://www.sanrai.com/about-us About Cloud DXAccelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, winner of "2022 Top Innovator" from Canadian Business, a 2021 "Edison Award" winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada and Teladoc Health Canada.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.Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx Social LinksTwitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact:Marketing Enquiries Phone 888-543-0944 marketing@cloud PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 18:01:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1013 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / CO2 GRO Inc. ("CO2 GRO") (TSXV:GROW)(OTCQB:BLONF)(Frankfurt:4021), is excited to announce a Technology Adaptation Project ("TAP") with California based GreenFruit Avocados ("GFA") for their new greenhouse bell peppers project in Colombia. The TAP will be conducted in GFA's first half-hectare (50,000 sq ft) greenhouse module, which will have half the module treated with CO2 GRO's CO2 Enrichment Solutions technology and half as control.The TAP will begin in April 2024 and conclude at the end of the grow season by December 2024. The goals of the TAP include increased pepper fruit production, quality, reduction of powdery mildew with the technology's Pathogen Perimeter Protection benefit and demonstrating CO2 enrichment of pepper plants in a venting greenhouse. This will enable GFA to grow their plants with C-stainable practices.GreenFruit Avocados is one of the premier exporters of avocados from Colombia and Mexico to the US and Canadian markets, with direct sales to the largest retail chains in North America. GFA prides itself on growing the "Perfect Avocado" using organic agricultural practices which includes producing their own organic nutrients of the highest standards. GFA grows avocados on over 650 hectares in the mountains of Colombia, and hundreds of hectares in Mexico. GFA is now entering the greenhouse bell pepper export market, leveraging its organic production practices and sustainable branding to sell its peppers through their existing relationships with major retail chains in Canada and the US. The project will start with two half-hectare greenhouse modules, with plans to expand to over 60 hectares (6 million sq ft) of greenhouses in the coming years.GreenFruit Avocado's Partner & Head of Colombia Operations, Tony Bucio commented, "We are excited to work with CO2 GRO whose technology fits perfectly with our organic and sustainable production practices. We will become the first Colombian exporter of bell peppers to Canada. Partnering with a Canadian ag-tech company with its C-stainable crop enhancement service provides our Canadian retail partners and consumers a one-of-a-kind bell pepper to enjoy." Aaron Archibald, CO2 GRO's VP Sales added, "As we develop our C-stainable crop enhancement service to greenhouse growers around the world, being a part of the first Colombian bell peppers to be exported to Canada is an especially proud opportunity for us. GreenFruit Avocados' focus on sustainable, high standard organic produce is exactly the type of grower partners we enjoy working with." For more information and to explore how CO2 GRO is contributing to a greener future in agriculture, visit https://co2gro.ca (English) or https://es.co2gro.ca (Spanish)About CO2 GRO Inc.CO2 GRO Inc. is a precision ag-tech, clean-tech company with a focus on People, the Planet and Prosperity. Our vision is to become one of the leading companies enhancing global food production from protected agriculture. By helping our customers sustainably increase yield and profitability, we could help feed up to half a billion people worldwide while reducing our customers' ecological footprint. Check out our webinar, corporate updates, and ESG report.About 300 million MT of fruit and vegetables are grown annually from about 5 million hectares of protected vegetable facilities globally (6 kg/m2/year of average production). A 30% yield increase using our technology could add up to 100 million MT of fruits and vegetables per year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual fruit and vegetable consumption of up to 200 kg per year per adult.Our Target Market: The estimated 800 billion square foot global protected grower market is comprised of 700 billion square feet of fruits & vegetables (Cuesta Roble 2019 estimate), and an estimated 100 billion square feet of protected floriculture and other medicinal plants and non-food varieties.Our Technology: CO2 Delivery Solutions enriches plants with CO 2 by misting an aqueous CO2 solution directly onto plants grown in greenhouses and other protected grow facilities globally.Value Proposition: Approximately 98% of protected grow facilities globally cannot add CO 2 by atmospheric gassing, missing out on up to 30% increased yield potential and 100% more gross profit. CO2 GRO's technology enables all protected growers regardless of facility or location to enrich their plants with CO2 to realize up to 30% yield increases. In addition, our technology suppresses the growth of micro-pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew, leading to healthier crops. Growers currently employing CO2 gassing can save up to 90% of CO2 gas used, reducing their ecological footprint and production costs.Patent Protection: CO2 GRO's CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending.Business Model: Our technology is sold to growers based on the cultivation area installed at prices that provide a high return on their investment and high margins for our shareholders.Global Expansion: CO2 GRO's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into Mexico, Spain, the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America as well as in its US and Canadian base.Environmental Social and Governance ESG: CO2 GRO is committed to good Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity. Rich suggesting a link here to our 2023 ESG ReportForward-Looking Statements and DisclaimerThis press release contains statements which constitute "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projecti PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 18:30:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 440 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Christopher Haight promoted to General Manager of Orange County officeNEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman) is pleased to announce the promotion of Christopher Haight, PE, SE, to General Manager of the Orange County office in Newport Beach.Christopher Haight, PE, SE Christopher Haight promoted to General Manager of Coffman Engineers' Orange County office.Christopher joined Coffman in 2017 when Hope-Amundson, Inc. joined the company. Since that time, as the Operations Manager of the Orange County office, Christopher has grown the office from a staff of four structural engineers to 17 multidiscipline engineering professionals and support staff. A structural engineer by trade, Christopher has over 27 years of experience designing and managing various projects throughout California. As the Managing Principal, he will continue to grow the office, adding staff to the existing structural, mechanical, and fire protection engineering groups while expanding into additional disciplines.The leadership transition coincides with Coffman's recent growth in Southern California and Coffman's strategy to develop leaders to support the expansion of office locations. Christopher will continue to manage daily operations, maintain responsive services, and implement a broader business strategy for the Orange County area."Christopher has exemplified what it takes to lead an office within Coffman, and we're excited to recognize his contributions and support the continued growth of the Orange County office," said Scott Twele, PE, Southwest Regional Manager."I'm proud of the team we have in Orange County and the client relationships we've developed," said Haight. "Growing together has been part of our focus here and the effort is evident. I'm excited to see what the future will bring." Coffman's Orange County office offers multidiscipline engineering services, including structural, mechanical, commissioning, and fire protection. Notable projects include the UC Riverside Plant Growth Environments Facility, Cuesta College Campus Center, Timmons Subaru Car Dealership, Norris Elementary School, and Silvergate Rancho Bernardo Senior Living Facility.About Coffman EngineersCoffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that offers clients local, personalized services by integrating many disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. Coffman has 780 employees in 21 offices across the U.S. committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. This year, Coffman is celebrating 45 years in business. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media.###For more information about this topic, please call Jillian Walke at 818.285.2650 or email jillian.walke@coffman.com Contact InformationBeth ShimogawaCorporate Communicationsbeth.shimogawa@coffman.com 808-687-8884Jillian WalkeMarketing Specialistjillian.walke@coffman.com 818.285.2650Related FilesCoffman Engineers_Chris Haight Promoted to GM.pdf SOURCE: Coffman Engineers, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 21:06:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 996 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CALGARY AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Zenith Energy Ltd. ("Zenith" or the "Company") (LSE:ZEN)(OSE:ZENA)(OTCQB:ZENAF), the listed international energy production and development company with a focus on opportunities in Central Asia and the USA, is pleased to announce that it has completed private placement in the United Kingdom (the "UK Financing"), and in Norway (the "Norwegian Financing", collectively, the "Financings").The Financings have attracted the participation of existing institutional investors, including Premier Miton Investors, as well two Directors, Mr. Andrea Cattaneo and Mr. Luca Benedetto, respectively the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to raise an aggregate total amount of approximately 1,260,000 (equivalent to approx. 16,814,000 NOK and US$1,590,000), resulting in the issuance of a total of 37,856,250 new common shares.Issue PriceThe Financings were completed at price of 0.03 (3 pence) for the UK Financing and NOK 0.42 for the Norwegian Financing, representing a premium in respect of the closing price of the Company's equity securities on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Growth Oslo on February 12, 2024.Use of ProceedsThe proceeds of the Financings will be used to fund the Company's publicly announced acquisition campaign in the US, to provide additional funding for Zenith's existing production and development portfolio in Italy, as well as for general working capital purposes.Norwegian FinancingZenith has issued a total of 29,556,250 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company in connection with the Norwegian Financing (the "Norwegian Financing Common Shares") to raise gross proceeds of 12,373,600 NOK (approximately 927,000).An application for the Norwegian Financing Common Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "Norwegian Financing Admission") will be made within 12 months of the issue of the Norwegian Financing Common Shares.UK FinancingZenith has issued a total of 8,300,000 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company in connection with the UK Financing (the "UK Financing Common Shares") to raise gross proceeds of 249,000 (approximately 3,324,000 NOK).An application for the UK Financing Common Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "UK Financing Admission") will be made.It is expected that the UK Financing Admission will become effective and that unconditional dealings in the UK Financing Common Shares will commence on or around 8.00 a.m. (BST) on approximately February 22, 2024.Debt SettlementThe Company has allotted 2,658,914 Common Shares ("Debt Settlement Shares") to certain service providers in lieu of cash settlement for services provided to Zenith for a total value of 1,116,400 NOK (approximately 84,000).The Debt Settlement Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing common shares of the Company.An application for the Debt Settlement Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "Norwegian Financing Admission") will be made within 12 months of the issue of the Debt Settlement Shares.Director Dealing/ PDMR ShareholdingMr. Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer & President of Zenith, has participated in the Norwegian Financing by subscribing for 7,712,946 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company.Upon the Norwegian Financing Admission, Mr. Cattaneo will be directly beneficially interested in a total of 24,429,337 common shares in the capital of the Company, representing 9.00% percent of the total issued and outstanding common share capital of the Company admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Oslo.Mr. Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer of Zenith, also participated in the Norwegian Financing by subscribing for 921,983 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company.Upon the Norwegian Financing Admission, Mr. Benedetto will be directly beneficially interested in a total of 3,694,655 common shares in the capital of the Company, representing 1.36% percent of the total issued and outstanding common share capital of the Company.Total Voting RightsThe Company wishes to announce, in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and section 3.10 of the Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book Part II, the following information resulting from Admission of the UK Financing Common Shares, the Norwegian Financing Common Shares, and the Debt Settlement Shares.Class of share Total number of shares Number of voting rights per share Total number of voting rights per class of share Common Shares in issue and admitted to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on Admission.201,437,074 201,437,074Common Shares in issue and admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Market of the Oslo Brs, representing the newly enlarged outstanding share capital of the Company.271,545,401 271,545,401Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer, commented:"We are pleased to have attracted the continued support of institutional shareholders, including Premier Miton Investors, a long-standing investor in Zenith.The Company is at a key juncture in its development as it vigorously pursues the three publicly announced arbitrations against the Republic of Tunisia and ETAP for a total cumulative claimed amount of approx. US$140 million, its legal case against SMP Energies in the Paris Commercial Court, as well as its acquisition of revenue generating energy production assets in Italy and the US.In addition, we are advancing the recently announced conditional acquisition of Devonian Petroleum Limited, with the planned transportation of the Company's fully owned drilling rig and ancillary equipment to the Republic of Kazakhstan, which we are seeking to fund by way of debt financing.The Board believes that there are significant opportunities for shareholder value creation during 2024."Further Information:Zenith Energy LtdAndrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive OfficerTel: +1 (587) 315 1279E: info@ zenithenergy.ca Allenby Capital Limited - Financial AdviserNick HarrissDaniel Dearden-WilliamsTel: + 44 (0) 203 328 5656Notes to Editors:Zenith Energy Ltd. is a revenue generating, independent energy company with energy production%2 The Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama is located in the La Alameda area of Panama City. The tranquil, middle-class neighborhood was roiled on February 7 when word got out that former President Ricardo Martinelli, who was convicted last year of corruption and large-scale money laundering, was seeking asylum with the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government. Martinelli sent workers that day in trucks and vans, who began unloading tools and materials to repair the old houses roof and paint the walls. La Prensa de Panama reported that Martinelli brought in two Nisato-brand air conditioners, a 32-inch television, a 65-inch RGA-brand television, a large water tank, a family-sized gas grill, and his pet dog, Bruno. Martinellis move into the embassy sparked a diplomatic squabble between Panama and Nicaragua. That same day, Managua granted political asylum to Martinelli, who has vowed to run for president again. According to Nicaraguas Foreign Ministry, the country decided to grant asylum to Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, the former president of the Republic of Panama, in accordance with the 1928 Convention on Asylum and the 1933 Convention on Political Asylum, which our country has ratified. The Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry noted that asylum is a humanitarian institution that protects all people, regardless of nationality. Panama strongly opposed the asylum, arguing that Martinelli is not a political refugee but a convicted criminal. Just last week, a judge upheld the former leaders 10-year prison sentence and $19-million fine for money laundering. When the Nicaraguan government asked for safe passage for Martinelli so he could travel to Nicaragua for permanent asylum, Panamas Foreign Ministry summoned Nicaraguan Ambassador Consuelo Sandoval Meza to receive its formal denial of the request. Any action, statement, or communication originating from former President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal within the embassy that has repercussions or impacts on Panamas domestic politics, will be deemed as interference in our countrys internal affairs. Consequently, such actions will result in diplomatic consequences, warned the Panamanian Foreign Ministry. 130 passports issued to corrupt individuals and political allies While Martinelli is taking shelter in the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama City, his move has highlighted a recurring pattern of the Ortega-Murillo government: providing refuge to corrupt individuals and criminals who have fled justice in their home countries. Two former presidents of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sanchez Ceren, are wanted for diverting public funds and corruption. Both leaders of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) were granted asylum, along with their families, and later obtained Nicaraguan citizenship to avoid extradition. The Sandinista government recently granted asylum and Nicaraguan citizenship to Hondurans Ebal Jair Diaz Lupian and Ricardo Leonel Cardona Lopez. The two have close ties to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is facing drug trafficking charges in the United States. In 2018, Gustavo Adolfo Herrera Castillo, a Guatemalan national, was also granted asylum in Nicaragua. He had fled charges of defrauding the Guatemalan Social Security Institute by the now-defunct International Commission against Impunity of Guatemala (CICIG). In 2008, Ortega granted political asylum to Doris Torres, Martha Perez, and Lucia Morett, who were guerrillas from the now defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Another refugee, Mario Eduardo Firmenich, formerly led the Montonero guerillas in Argentina during the 1970s and was pardoned by President Carlos Menem in 1990. According to the Confidencial news outlet, Ortega has given Nicaraguan citizenship to 130 political allies and fugitives from justice in the last two years. Several naturalization processes were carried out in breach of Nicaraguan immigration laws... much like 317 Nicaraguans were stripped of their citizenship and made stateless. The Managua offices of Confidencial were seized by the Nicaraguan government and its reporters were forced into exile. Ortega is not granting asylum to people facing political persecution or whose rights have been violated. Instead, he is providing shelter to convicted criminals who seek to evade accountability for the harm they caused in their respective countries, said Luciano Garcia, an exiled Nicaraguan opposition leader in Costa Rica and director of the Hagamos Democracia organization. Even Pablo Escobar Ortega and the Sandinistas have a long history of providing refuge to convicts and criminals. Thirty-six years ago, Alessio Casimirri, an Italian fugitive wanted for the kidnapping and murder of Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978, arrived in Nicaragua. Casimirri still lives in Managua, where he owns a seafood restaurant called La Cueva del Buzo. During the 1980s, when the Sandinistas were in power and the Medellin Cartel was growing, drug traffickers Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder sought shelter in Nicaragua. I was assigned a spacious diplomatic guest house as my residence. I brought along my G3 rifle, personal weapons, a backpack filled with dollars, a powerful HF Global radio, and my Zenith radio. During the day, I used the Zenith radio to listen to music, and at night, I monitored the Colombian stations and The Voice of Germany (Deutsche Welle), Lehder wrote in his recently released book, Life and Death of the Medellin Cartel. As Ricardo Martinellis asylum drama plays out, exiled Nicaraguan opposition leader Felix Maradiaga says Ortega has undermined the true purpose of political asylum. It should protect people who have been genuinely persecuted for their ideals, not serve as a safe haven for corrupt convicts seeking to evade justice. Nicaragua as a sanctuary for accused individuals like Mauricio Funes, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, and Ricardo Martinelli contradicts international law and undermines the integrity of legitimate asylum. This irony perpetuates impunity, erodes justice, and dishonors national dignity by welcoming criminals while stripping patriots of their nationality, said Maradiaga, who was exiled last year along with 221 other political prisoners. By sheltering criminals, Ortega betrays his people and damages the countrys reputation. This just adds to his legacy of complicity with crime and impunity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 20:00:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 588 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Maple Leaf Critical Minerals 2024 Enhanced Flow-Through Limited Partnership (the "Partnership") is pleased to announce that it has filed a final prospectus (the "Prospectus") dated February 9, 2024 with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the Provinces of Canada relating to the initial public offering of units of the Partnership. The books will close on Thursday, February22, 2024 at 12 noon (EST) for its initial closing on Friday, February 23, 2024.Partnership Objectives & Benefits - National Class UnitsThe Partnership is designed to provide holders of National Class Units ("National Class Limited Partners") with an investment in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares of Resource Companies incurring Eligible Expenditures (as those terms are defined in the Prospectus) across Canada with a view to maximizing the tax benefits of an investment in National Class Units and achieving capital appreciation and/or income for National Class Limited Partners. National Class Limited Partners must be residents of Canada or liable to pay Canadian income tax.Investors are expected to receive tax deductions for 2024 of approximately 134%-140% of the amount invested based on and subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus.Partnership Objectives & Benefits - Quebec Class UnitsThe Partnership is designed to provide holders of Quebec Class Units ("Quebec Class Limited Partners") with an investment in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares of Resource Companies incurring Eligible Expenditures principally in the Province of Quebec with a view to maximizing the tax benefits of an investment in Quebec Class Units and achieving capital appreciation and/or income for Quebec Class Limited Partners. Quebec Class Units are most suitable for investors who reside in the Province of Quebec or are liable to pay income tax in Quebec.Investors are expected to receive tax deductions for 2024 of up to approximately 147% of the amount invested based on and subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus.Liquidity EventThe investment portfolios of both the National and Quebec Class Units will be actively managed in such a way as to preserve the ability to undertake a future liquidity event, such as a rollover into a mutual fund corporation.The SyndicateThe syndicate of agents for the offering is being led by Scotia Capital Inc. and includes National Bank Financial Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., Manulife Wealth Inc., Raymond James Ltd. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. A copy of the Prospectus can be obtained from any agent.Offering JurisdictionsEach of the Provinces of Canada.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Hugh Cartwright, ChairmanMAPLE LEAF SHORTDURATION FLOW-THROUGH PROGRAMS Tel: 1-866-688-5750Email: info@ mapleleaffunds.ca Web: www.MapleLeafFunds.ca A final prospectus dated February 9, 2024 relating to these securities has been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the Provinces of Canada. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities. This release is provided for information purposes only. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment funds. Please read the Prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Prospectus.SOURCE: Maple Leaf Critical Minerals 2023 Enhanced Flow-Through Limited Partnership PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 14:33:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1014 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / GGL Resources Corp. (TSXV:GGL) ("GGL" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") to consist of the sale of up to 6,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.05 per share, to raise gross proceeds of up to $300,000.Insiders may participate in the private placement and finders' fees or brokers' commissions may be paid in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange policies.All securities issued as part of the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada of four months plus one day from closing. The proceeds from the Offering, which is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, will be used for exploration and development activities at the Company's Gold Point Project in the Walker Lane Trend of western Nevada and for general working capital purposes.Exploration updateGGL is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization (IP) Survey over the Le Champ copper-molybdenum porphyry target at its road-accessible Gold Point Project in the Walker Lane Trend of Western Nevada.The IP survey will be centered over abundant stockwork veining and silica alteration identified by recent mapping at Le Champ. This alteration is believed to mark the upper levels of a buried porphyry system. The strongly elevated molybdenum values and more subdued, but still noteworthy, copper results are consistent with a leached system, and suggest that stronger mineralization could be found at depth. It is anticipated that the IP survey could delineate this sulphide mineralization.Geological mapping at Le Champ identified six separate intrusive phases within the Sylvania Plutonic Complex hosting extensive stockwork and sheeted vein zones. The strongest molybdenum-in-soil anomalies are associated with the stockwork zones. Copper-in-soil geochemistry is moderately anomalous throughout the target area with the strongest values near shallowly south-dipping fault structures and stockwork zones.Large magmatic breccias containing limonite altered cubes and clots, often up to 2 cm across, were identified on the north side of the target area near historical workings containing copper mineralization. A float sample comprising limonite clots collected from the breccia returned 6.29% copper and 203 g/t silver. The exact timing of the brecciation is not yet known, but is thought to be a late event as it includes clasts of mafic dykes which are seen elsewhere on surface cutting the other intrusive phases.Surface SamplingField crews will also complete systematic surveying and sampling of veins on newly acquired claims, located about 700 m along strike to the west of the main underground workings on the Orleans Vein (see news release date January 16, 2024). There are numerous historical surface and underground workings on the new claims. These workings have not yet been mapped or sampled by the Company, but mineralization closely resembles that found in high-grade veins system elsewhere on the Gold Point property.Setting of Le ChampLe Champ is located about 3.5 km west of the gold-rich veins that have been the focus of historical exploration at Gold Point. The porphyry lies within the Late to Middle-Jurassic Sylvania Granitic Complex, a multi-phase intrusive suite that covers an area greater than 400 km2 along the Nevada-California border stretching between Fish Lake Valley to the north and Death Valley to the south. It typically ranges in composition from granite to quartz monzonite, but locally contains more mafic phases. This pluton is similar in age to intrusions that host large porphyry systems in the Yerington district of Walker Lane, 249 km to the northwest.The Walker Lane hosts four significant known porphyry deposits (Yerington, Ann Mason, Bear, and MacArthur), all of which are located near Yerington.The Yerington Mine was operated by the Anaconda Company from 1952 until 1979 and produced approximately 1.744 billion pounds of copper at an average grade 0.54% copper. This deposit, along with the Bear and MacArthur deposit are currently held by Lion Copper and Gold.The Ann Mason deposit is owned by Hudbay Minerals Inc. and contains 2.2 billion tonnes of measured and indicated resources grading 0.29% copper and 67 ppm molybdenum.About Gold PointThe Gold Point Project is accessed by Highway 774 and comprises 375 lode claims and 7 patented claims covering a total area of approximately 7,443 acres (30.1 km2). It is situated within the Walker Lane, a major mineral belt that has seen significant historical production from gold, silver, and copper mines. Many companies are actively exploring in the belt including several majors.The Gold Point Project covers several past-producing underground mines that explored along parts of four prominent vein structures. These main structures are paralleled by several other lightly explored structures. The mines operated intermittently from the 1880s to the early 1960s, producing gold and silver from mesothermal veins. The mineralization is strongly oxidized to the bottom of the workings, which reached a maximum depth of 1,020 ft (311 m) downdip.Qualified PersonTechnical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Matthew R. Dumala, P.Eng., a geological engineer with Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.About GGL Resources Corp.GGL is a seasoned, Canadian-based junior exploration company, focused on the exploration and advancement of under evaluated mineral assets in politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions. The Company has optioned and wholly owned claims in the Gold Point district of the prolific Walker Lane Trend, Nevada. The Gold Point claims cover several gold-silver veins, four of which host past producing high-grade mines, and an exciting new porphyry discovery. The Company also owns the McConnell Project, which hosts epithermal gold veins and an under explored porphyry copper-gold prospect in the Kemess District of north-central British Colombia. GGL also holds diamond royalties on mineral leases adjacent to the Gahcho Kue diamond mine in the Northwest Territories.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"W. Douglas Eaton"Doug EatonCEO and DirectorFor further information concerning GGL Resources Corp. or its various exploration projects please visit our website at www.gglresourcescorp.com or contact:Investor InquiriesRichard DrechslerCorporate CommunicationsTel: (604) 687-2522NA Toll-Free: (888) 688-2522 rdrechsler@ strategicmetalsltd.com Corporate InformationLinda KnightCorporate SecretaryTel: (604) 688-0546 info@ gglresourcescorp.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 15:03:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 448 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Health Advance Partners Agree to Equity Stake in SingleTimeMicroneedles at a $3.5 Million ValuationSTORRS, CT / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /Health Advance Partners, a leading healthcare and biotech investment firm, has taken an equity stake and closed the pre-seed round for SingleTimeMicroneedes, Inc., a microneedle drug development and delivery company from Connecticut.Heath Advance Partners Joins SingleTimeMicroneedles Health Advance Partners invests in STMHealth Advance Partners is a leading private equity firm dedicated to investing in innovative healthcare start-ups. We are committed to revolutionizing patient care and improving healthcare outcomes. Leveraging a team of seasoned investors and industry experts, Health Advance Partners provides strategic guidance and support to portfolio companies, empowering them to achieve sustainable success in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.SingleTimeMicroneedles (STM) has developed a drug and vaccine microneedle delivery platform that can revolutionize access to lifesaving pharma products in animals and humans. The microneedle patch temperature stabilizes drugs and vaccines to eliminate the need for cold-chain storage and transportation and are the only patches that can deliver doses immediately, over time, or separately over weeks/months in one application. The technology supports most types of vaccines and therapeutics, including large molecules, subunit protein-based antigens, vector-based vaccines, mRNAs, and any compound that benefits from multiple/longitudinal dosing. STM patches have broad applications and are being planned for use in animals and humans."Investing in an early-stage growing biotech/pharma company requires agreement on the long-term vision and a collaborative spirit, and for those reasons, we at STM are incredibly excited to welcome Health Advance Partners to the team," said SingleTimeMicroneedles CEO, Jasdeep Singh."This investment represents our commitment to supporting groundbreaking innovations that have the potential to transform the healthcare industry. We believe in the vision and capabilities of STM, and we are confident that together, we will drive positive change and improve patient outcomes. This deal exemplifies our dedication to advancing healthcare innovation and underscores our mission to make a lasting impact in the healthcare sector," said Dylan Bermes, CEO of Health Advance Partners.SingleTimeMicroneedles has had an exciting start to 2024. STM has closed a large development deal with a top 10 EU-based veterinary and human pharmaceutical company, two co-development deals with start-up pharma companies to push the boundaries of veterinary vaccine development and delivery, and has been accepted into the University of Connecticut's Technology Incubator Program to support its initial operations.STM has also been selected as a finalist at SXSW's 2024 pitch competition in Austin, Texas in March.Contact Information:Name: Jasdeep SinghOrganization: SingleTimeMicroneedles, Inc.Address: 1392 Storrs Road, Unit 4213, Storrs, CT 06269Phone: 860-847-0138Website: https://www.stmpatch.com Contact Information:Jasdeep SinghCEOjasdeep.singh@stmpatch.com 8608470138SOURCE: SingleTimeMicroneedlesView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 05:47:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 394 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 20, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:INSP), if they purchased the Company's shares between May 3, 2023 and November 7, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Inspire and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-insp/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byFebruary 20, 2024 .About the LawsuitInspire Medical and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 7, 2023, post-market, the Company disclosed disappointing financial results for 3Q 2023, including "a decline in prior authorization submissions for patients seeking Inspire therapy," as well as problems with its highly touted "Acceleration Program" requiring "some corrective action." On this news, shares of Inspire Medical plummeted approximately 20%, from a closing price of $161.74 per share on November 7, 2023, to a closing price of $129.95 per share on November 8, 2023.The case is City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., No. 23-cv-03884.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 16:30:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 479 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / INTRIGUING Labs, an innovation company developing proprietary cannabis-derived formulations, and Jenny's Baked at Home Company, LLC ("Jenny's"), a licensed New York cannabis processor and marketer of leading consumer brands, today announced a strategic partnership to support development and commercialization of adult-use and medicinal cannabis products.The collaboration will be centered at JennyHub, a new facility to be co-located at the Jenny's Hudson Valley NY processing center. The goals of the strategic partnership will be to augment current testing practices, jointly advance cannabinoid-derived formulations and identify products with the greatest potential to enhance human well-being and quality of life in women's health, sleep, pain mitigation, and other areas.Intriguing Labs and Jenny's will collaborate with local companies, universities, hospitals, and local and state offices. As the focus on assuring quality and predictability in the New York cannabis market continues to grow, JennyHub will become a trusted, independent operation where cannabis products will be rigorously assessed for efficacy, safety, bioavailability, and sophisticated formulations that contribute to better taste & consistency. Innovation and quality - historic hallmarks of New York industry, will be celebrated and marketed with a stamp of approval."We are very excited to partner with Jenny Argie, founder and CEO of Jenny's" said Golan Vaknin, CEO of Intriguing Labs. "She is a pioneer and respected leader in New York State, and in fact the entire industry. Partnering with Jenny's is an enormous validation of our underlying technology platform. Our collaboration at JennyHub will give us the opportunity to set the industry standard for identifying the highest-quality adult-use and medical marijuana products. Consumers of all kinds are expecting products they can trust and we have a shared mission to deliver on that." "We look forward to continuing our cannabis product development and commercialization journey with INTRIGUING LABS," commented Jenny. "They are precisely the kind of science-based, research-led company with specific international experience in cannabinoid efficacy that we have been looking for. Working together, we can leverage our capabilities and maximize innovation and trust in New York's cannabis products." About JENNY'S:Jenny's Baked at Home Company ("Jenny's") is one of the first companies to have been awarded a NY Adult Use Cannabis Processor license, and one of the most recognizable cannabis companies in New York. Jenny's brings an active NY Cannabis Processing License, a facility to house R&D work, and the ability to market products throughout the NY cannabis ecosystem. Learn more at www.jennyloves.me About INTRIGUING LABS:INTRIGUING LABS is dedicated to the accelerating research, development, and commercialization of innovative life sciences solutions including cannabinoids. The company and its leadership have been at the forefront of cannabis innovation, conducting clinical trials, and running sophisticated product development for the last 10 years. Visit: www.intriguinglabs.com Contact:Email:golan@ esevrd.com SOURCE: INTRIGUING LABS PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 05:55:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 331 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("Arbor" or "the Company") (NYSE:ABR) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Arbor is the subject of a report issued by Viceroy Research November 17, 2023, titled, ""Arbor Realty Trust - Slumlord Millionaires." According to the report, "Arbor's high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near." Viceroy Research then issued a follow up report on December 5, 2023, titled "Arbor - Jacksonville Case Study." In the second report, Viceroy Research claims that the Company's "entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated." Based on this news, shares of Arbor fell by more than 5% over the next two trading sessions.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 05:06:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 376 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2024 / Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys announced their continued dedication to supporting California's farmworker community this year, extending their impactful 2023 collaboration with the United Farm Workers (UFW) and Mi Pueblo Foundation.Fighting Hunger Through Food Distribution:Throughout 2023, Karns & Karns partnered with the UFW and Mi Pueblo Foundation to provide critical food assistance to farmworker families facing seasonal unemployment. Their combined efforts delivered food donations from Food Forward and other sources to monthly distributions in Arvin, Wasco, Oxnard, Lamont, and Bakersfield, reaching over 12,000 families in need."It is truly amazing how farmworkers can come together to help one another, and we're grateful to be a part of that," said Bill Karns from Karns & Karns, emphasizing farmworkers' community spirit and resilience.Beyond food security, Karns & Karns actively participated in legal clinics for farmworkers, ensuring they have access to legal guidance and representation. This commitment to empowering farmworkers through legal knowledge and support strengthens their ability to navigate complex issues and advocate for their rights.In December 2023, Karns & Karns and Justice for Workers co-hosted a legal workshop for UFW volunteers at the annual UFW Gala. They also joined forces to raise nearly $5,000 for toys for children in Ventura and Oxnard, bringing holiday cheer to farmworker families through the UFW Campesinx Posada."We plan to make this even bigger and brighter this year," said Bill, reflecting on Karns & Karns' commitment to expanding their impact in 2024.Looking Ahead: Continued Partnership and Growth:Karns & Karns expresses their unwavering commitment to supporting the UFW and its mission. With plans to expand their reach to more farmworkers in other areas of California, they aim to deepen their impact on the lives of these essential members of our communities.About Karns & Karns Personal Injury & Accident Attorneys :Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys is a dedicated team of personal injury attorneys committed to fighting for the rights of those injured due to negligence. They extend their commitment to social responsibility by actively supporting initiatives that benefit their local communities, including the farmworker community in California.Media Details:Company Name: Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident AttorneysWebsite URL: https://www.karnsandkarns.com/ Email Contact: contact@ karnsandkarns.com SOURCE: Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 21:01:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 620 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Echelon Front, a premier leadership consulting firm founded by former U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Nick Lavery, the esteemed founder of Team MACHINE.Echelon Front Roll Call First Responders learning leadership principles from Echelon Front at the Roll Call, a one-day in-person leadership training workshop.Founder of Precision Components and leader of Team MACHINE, Lavery is an active-duty Green Beret within The United States Army Special Forces tasked with conducting critical missions, including direct action, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare. Lavery is considered the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee. He is also the best-selling author of Objective Secure - the battle-tested guide to goal achievement. This collaboration aims to bring their shared mission of instilling leadership and resilience principles to first responders through a series of impactful events, beginning Feb. 15, 2024, in Worcester, Massachusetts.The partnership kicks off with a dynamic series of two events in two cities, featuring Echelon Front's renowned "Roll Call" program. "Roll Call" is a powerful one-day training initiative that draws upon the extensive leadership experiences of its founders, Willink and Babin. The course is geared towards ACTIVE DUTY First Responders (Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, EMTs, Military, and Government Personnel), those who work in dynamic and dangerous environments. The one-day course will provide practical insights and strategies for effective leadership in challenging environments.The connection between Echelon Front and Nick Lavery was solidified after his appearance on Willink's popular podcast "Jocko Podcast." As military veterans, both Lavery and Willink recognized the shared dedication to teaching the fundamental principles of leadership and resilience. The synergy between Echelon Front's expertise and Team MACHINE's unique approach promises to create a transformative experience for first responders across the country."We are honored to join forces with Nick Lavery and Team MACHINE to expand our mission of empowering leaders with the tools they need to succeed," said Jocko Willink, co-founder of Echelon Front. "Together, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of first responders, helping them navigate challenges and lead with resilience." Nick Lavery, founder of Team MACHINE, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Collaborating with Echelon Front is an incredible opportunity to amplify our efforts in cultivating strong, resilient leaders. By combining our strengths, we can reach even more individuals in the first responder community and provide them with the skills necessary for effective leadership." The two events will take place in Worcester, Massachusetts, March 15, 2024, and Mahwah, New Jersey, April 26, 2024, offering first responders in these regions an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the expertise of Echelon Front and Team MACHINE. Echelon Front leadership events are directly applicable to anyone who needs to lead in dynamic situations.For more information on the partnership and upcoming events, please visit https://events.echelonfront.com/ Roll Call Enrollment Page: https://events.echelonfront.com/product/roll-call-006-2/Echelon Front Site: https://echelonfront.com/Team MACHINE Site: https://teammchn.com/About Echelon Front:Echelon Front is a leadership consulting firm founded by decorated former U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin with a strategic mission to empower individuals and teams to lead and win. Echelon Front delivers unparalleled leadership training and development programs.About Team MACHINE:Team MACHINE, founded by Nick Lavery, is dedicated to equipping individuals with the tools and mindset needed for effective leadership. With a focus on resilience and adaptability, Team MACHINE's programs empower leaders in various fields.Contact InformationKim BenoitDirector of Marketing and Mediakim@ echelonfront.com (352) 346-8307SOURCE: Echelon FrontView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 23:01:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 578 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Marc Buchanan recently announced that he has partnered with The Ature Group under license for the relaunch of the iconic Pelle Pelle brand, reinvigorating the spirit of this legendary fashion line.In the heart of Detroit in 1978, Marc Buchanan sowed the seeds that would blossom into Pelle Pelle-a fashion powerhouse known for its superior leather and deep roots in the hip-hop culture. The brand's name, Italian for "leather," wasn't merely a label-it was a testament to excellence and the cultural wave it was about to ride across the United States.The birth of the '80s saw Buchanan's designs grace niche boutiques such as Philadelphia's City Blue and New York's Blue Jeans-the sacred grounds for avid followers of the hip-hop wave. Pelle Pelle quickly became the emblem of hip-hop fashion as the icons of the time draped themselves in the brand's vibrant, bold, and unapologetically flashy leather jackets.The brand's synergy with hip-hop didn't just end with fashion statements. It became part of the collective identity of a generation as it dressed influencers like Furious Five, Grandmaster Flash, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Ludacris. Pelle Pelle wasn't just worn-it was a lifestyle for these trailblazers.Ature Group brings modern and innovative designs to Pelle, while still embracing the iconic essence of this heritage brand that customers have come to expect. Christian Rodriguez, President of Ature Group said " we are thrilled to partner with Marc in supporting his vision for the next generation of Pelle". Pelle Pelle stands today , a testament to four decades of unmatched craftsmanship and raw artistic expression. It's a brand enriched by a steadfast fanbase, loyal to its legendary lineage.Celebrating the New Generation: Stars in Pelle PelleA constellation of modern icons aligns with the relaunch, as stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Fabolous, Lola Brooke, Cardi B, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beats, and Nas don Pelle Pelle, showcasing its timeless appeal.For over four decades, Pelle has been a stalwart in leather innovation within the dynamic world of hip hop. From a grassroots start-up to an emblematic icon, the brand has bridged the gap between luxury fashion and street credibility. Today, Pelle Pelle not only represents a brand but a cultural tide that has engulfed music legends and their devotees.Pelle Pelle's foundations lay in Buchanan's visionary eye-he envisioned high-end, yet relatable fashion statements through his creative designs. This passion for artistry delivered a new dimension to leather apparel, setting the brand as a paragon of luxury and contemporary style.Pioneers in leather outerwear, Pelle Pelle is celebrated for its meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship-traits that set the gold standard in the fashion industry and can be found today in specialty retailer such as Daniels Leather, Donna Sacs, NYC Bronx, Capsule NYC and Tops and Bottoms today.Ature Group ensures that Pelle Pelle stands at the pinnacle of superior leather craftsmanship. By importing the most refined skins from across the globe, every piece is meticulously scrutinized to uphold the esteemed Pelle Pelle reputation-an epitome of premium products in the competitive domain of leather attire.On its 46th anniversary, Pelle Pelle, in collaboration with Ature Group celebrates a unique fusion of top-grade leather finesse and the spirited flair of hip-hop ethos. The rendezvous of Marc Buchanan's vision with the rhythm of hip hop carve a niche that will forever change urban fashion.For additional information please contact: info@ pellepelle.com SOURCE: Pelle Pelle PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 17:31:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 312 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Logan Finance Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Ryan Rathert as Chief of StaffDALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Logan Finance Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Ryan Rathert as Chief of Staff. Ryan's financial and mortgage acumen is invaluable to Logan's leadership team and will be integral to the company's long-term growth plan.Ryan Rathert Logan Finance Ryan Rathert Logan Finance"Logan continues to grow both in production and in personnel. We're fortunate to add someone of Ryan's stature to our team, and we welcome his insights, experience, and knowledge of the mortgage financial arena," said Logan's President, Bobby Love. "Ryan is a data-driven strategic leader and contributor, and he will be instrumental to our continued growth in 2024."As a financial executive with more than 15 years in mortgage leadership roles, Ryan is a known problem solver and brings with him a vast knowledge of mortgage finance. Ryan's background includes eight years with Stearns Lending in a variety of positions, most recently as COO/CFO of the Wholesale Mortgage Channel and CFO with Panorama Mortgage Group. He also held senior finance and business support roles including Production CFO and Head of Private Label Operations with Stearns Lending, Wells Fargo, and Mr. Cooper.About Logan FinanceLogan Finance Corporation (NMLS# 127722) is a national wholesale, non-delegated correspondent, and commercial non-QM mortgage lender providing premium lending services to the TPO industry. Logan's unparalleled service - coupled with high quality, experienced staff, the best technology, loan products, & training - helps make non-QM easy and provides our partners with the highest confidence in our delivery and in our ability to help grow their client base. For more information about Logan Finance Corporation, please visit LoganFinance.com LoganWholesale.com , and/or LoganCorrespondent.com Contact InformationJim McDonaldMarketingjimhmcdonald@ gmail.com 2145971301SOURCE: Logan Finance CorporationView the original press release on newswire.com Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has narrowly won a runoff vote to become Finlands next president, who will steer security policy that includes integrating the new NATO member into the alliance at a time of concern over Russias invasion of Ukraine. The final tally from Sundays runoff shows Stubb, of the center-right National Coalition Party, had 51.6% of the votes, while independent candidate and former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto from the green left got 48.4% of the votes. The two were the top vote-getters in the second round of the election. Haavisto had served as Finlands top diplomat in 2019-2023. Stubb is taking over from the hugely popular President Sauli Niinisto, whose second six-year term expires next month and who wasnt eligible for reelection. A runoff was required after none of the original nine candidates got a majority of the votes in the first round on Jan. 28. In tradition with consensus-driven Finnish politics and no below-the-belt attacks during the campaign, Stubb visited Haavistos election party event late Sunday after the result was clear. Youre one of the nicest people I have ever met, Stubb told his opponent Haavisto at the party event, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE. The presidency is a key political post in this northern European country of 5.6 million people. Unlike in most European countries, the president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security policy together with the government. But he is also expected to remain above the fray of day-to-day politics and stay out of domestic political disputes while acting as a moral leader of the nation. The head of state also commands the military a key role after Finland joined NATO in April 2023 in the aftermath of Russias attack on Ukraine a year earlier. Finnish media outlets on Monday pointed out how Europes security is at stake as never before since World War II, due to Russias invasion. At a news conference in Helsinki, Stubb was asked by The Associated Press to assess the state of the Finnish military and whether he intended to be a hands-on commander. We have one of the strongest military forces in Europe, Stubb replied. He pointed to Finlands wartime military strength of 280,000 through reservists - a number that is augmented by some 900,000 men and women who have received military training through conscription service. When the Cold War ended, Finland did not run down its military - quite the contrary, Stubb said, referring to the modern state of the countrys defense forces. We will play our part in the alliance (NATO). People trust us and they know that we are serious about our defense for rather obvious reasons. Will I be an active commander-in-chief? Yes, I intend to do that, he said. Doubts also linger in Finland as elsewhere in Europe over the United States future commitment to NATO doubts that former President Donald Trump appeared to rekindle over the weekend as the front-runner for the Republican nomination ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and long-standing international alliances. Stubb will become a president of difficult times, possibly even a wartime president, Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat said in an editorial. The 55-year-old Stubb, who was prime minister in 2014-2015 and started his political career as a lawmaker at the European Parliament in 2004, will become the 13th president of Finland since its independence from the Russian empire in 1917. Stubb later served briefly as finance minister before exiting Finnish politics altogether in 2017. He had also earlier served as foreign minister and minister for European affairs and foreign trade. He holds a doctorate in international relations at the London School of Economics and has worked as a professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, since 2020. During his campaign, Stubb said Finlands priorities include maintaining a hard line toward Moscow and Russias current leadership, strengthening security ties with Washington, and the need to help Ukraine both militarily and at a civilian level. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among the first foreign dignitaries to send sincere congratulations to Stubb. The war in Ukraine has deeply affected the citizens of Norway, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia. Zelenskiy said in message on X, formerly Twitter, that Ukraine and Finland, in solidarity with other partners, are strengthening the security of the entire Europe and each nation on our continent. I look forward to advancing our relations and our shared vision of a free, united, and well-defended Europe. Voter turnout in the runoff was reported at 70.7%, compared to the first round when it was 75%. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 16:01:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 507 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 11-acre truck terminal acquired through Yellow Corporation's bankruptcy saleAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /Semi-Stow today announced the opening of an 11-acre semi-truck parking property at 3045 S 43rd Ave in Phoenix. The terminal, which includes cross-docks, office space, and maintenance shops, marks Semi-Stow's third location in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Semi-Stow was the winning bidder for the fleet yard as part of Yellow Corporation's bankruptcy sale.The yard is ideally positioned close to major warehouses and business parks, and just 10 minutes from the I-10 thoroughfare connecting Southern California to markets across the country. Its location is within a one-day drive of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and El Paso. Heavy demand for regional parking drove Semi-Stow's decision to expand its footprint in the Phoenix metro with this third property. The company's two existing yards in Glendale and the Airhaven Industrial District are both operating at full capacity.The yard will provide more than 300 spaces for parking, storage, and staging of semi-trucks, drop trailers, and other heavy-duty vehicles. Space can be rented daily or monthly and can be reserved by the individual parking space or by the acre. The asphalt yard with concrete dolly pads features demarcated spaces, secure 24/7 access with barbed wire fencing, AI-powered gate automation, 4k security cameras, and stadium lighting.The yard also features three onsite facilities-two maintenance buildings totaling 9,000 square feet of space and a 13,900-square-foot cross-dock facility that includes 2,500 square feet of office space. Semi-Stow is seeking tenants for the cross-dock and one of the maintenance buildings."Our Phoenix expansion is in direct response to surging customer demand for our fleet yards," said Trent Cameron, CEO of Semi-Stow. "Trucking companies of all sizes stand to benefit from more accessible, secure parking in the greater Phoenix metro. And we look forward to expanding our relationships with nearby enterprise fleets, who increasingly use our yards for strategic trailer positioning and drop-and-hook relays." Semi-Stow's acquisition of Yellow's terminal is part of the company's strategy to expand its nationwide network of secure, modern fleet yards. With $500 million of real estate investment, the company is aggressively growing its footprint in top metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) through purchasing, leasing, and asset management agreements. Real estate owners and brokers with potential deals should contact Dennis Nabors.Reservations for the new Phoenix site can be booked online at semi-stow.com/phx3 About Semi-StowSemi-Stow is the nation's largest provider of secure fleet yards with more than 30 locations and 7,000 parking spaces. We help asset carriers, private fleets, and owner-operators use truck parking as a flexible part of their transportation infrastructure without the need for major capital investments. Our network of yards provides trucking fleets with secure locations for their drivers and cargo, hassle-free access to each location, consistent billing, and visibility into their assets and reservations. For trucking companies looking to expand operations and better serve your customers, contact us at www.semi-stow.com or email info@ semi-stow.com Contact Information:Ari Bixhornari@ semi-stow.com 512-817-0747SOURCE: Semi-StowView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 15:04:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 596 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Celebrations kick off with a site-specific exhibition celebrating a legacy of visionary design.BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /Shepley Bulfinch is celebrating its 150th anniversary of continuous practice, commencing with an exhibition at The Boston Architectural College's (BAC) McCormick Gallery to celebrate the firm's forward-thinking buildings and spaces that have inspired living, learning, and healing since 1874."We are thrilled to kick off our 150th year with an exhibit at the BAC's McCormick Gallery," says Angela Watson, FAIA, LEED AP, president and CEO, Shepley Bulfinch. "As one of the oldest architecture firms in the United States, we couldn't be happier to return to the BAC with this custom installation to celebrate our collective history and our commitment to the built environment." "As we embark on a new year, the BAC community takes great pride in inaugurating the exhibitA Legacy of Design Innovation: Shepley Bulfinch at 150 + Beyondin our McCormick Gallery," says Dr. Mahesh Daas, president, BAC. "Celebrating our 134-year partnership with Shepley Bulfinch, this exhibit honors our shared legacy and its significant impact not just in New England, but globally. Together, we will lead the design of our communities towards an equitable and innovative future." The exhibit traces the evolution of Shepley Bulfinch, starting with its formation in the Boston neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts, by Henry Hobson Richardson. The award-winning architecture practice has influenced health and science design paradigms, from hospital campuses to teaching facilities. An education legacy with a specialization in library design has evolved to encompass a commitment to housing and urban development for a regenerative and equitable future.Today, the firm thrives as a women-led architecture and interior design firm. Visitors can see original models and ephemera from some of the firm's historic and on-the-boards work with site-specific installations created specifically for the gallery.The exhibit also contains access to a self-guided walking tour that brings participants to Shepley Bulfinch-designed sites across Boston through the app AdventureLab . The Adventure will be available to the public through the app on February 28, 2024.The exhibit is open to the public daily from February 24, 2024, to May 7, 2024, at The Boston Architectural College, 320 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115.Check Events | The BAC ( the-bac.edu) for monthly programming.About Shepley BulfinchShepley Bulfinch is a national architecture and design firm with studios in Boston, Durham, Hartford, Houston, and Phoenix. Founded in 1874, the firm has a notable legacy of challenging convention, pioneering visionary design ideas, and collaborating with clients who seek to drive measurable change. Shepley Bulfinch architects and designers are regarded for their expertise in tackling complex projects, especially in education, healthcare, and urban development. For more information, visit shepleybulfinch.com For images, reach out to press@ shepleybulfinch.com About The Boston Architectural College Founded in 1889, The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is an internationally recognized institution of spatial design with a diverse student and alumni population representing more than 54 countries. Providing excellence in practice-integrated design education, the BAC was Ranked #1 for Best Graduate School in Architecture for Earning Potential and #4 for Best Architecture School Offering Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S. in 2020 by GradReports. The BAC offers bachelor and graduate degrees in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and design studies as well as offering continuing education certificates and courses, and pre-college programs. The BAC upholds the importance of inclusive admission, diversity, innovation, dedicated faculty, and the intrinsic value of both academic and experiential education.Contact: Nancy Finn, Director of Marketing and Communications, Communications@ the-bac.edu Contact InformationEmily Hooperehooper@ shepleybulfinch.com Nancy Finncommunications@ the-bac.edu SOURCE: Shepley BulfinchView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 16:30:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 691 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / As tax season continues, there are more critical IRS deadlines on the horizon. Businesses and service providers that are responsible for completing Affordable Care Act reporting with the IRS have some major deadlines coming up in just a few weeks.TaxBandits, a leading e-file provider of payroll and employment forms offers a simple, secure, and accurate option for employers and service providers to complete, distribute, ande-file ACA 1095-B/C Formswith the IRS and required states.A Brief Overview of Affordable Care Act RequirementsUnder the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employers with 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees are required to offer health insurance coverage that meets the Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) requirements laid out by the IRS. Service providers must also provide coverage that meets this standard of quality and affordability. To ensure that these requirements are met employers and providers must comply with ACA reporting requirements by filing and distributingForm 1095-BandForm 1095-C .Key Reporting Deadlines for ACA Forms 1095-B/CThe IRS deadlines forACA reporting requirementsfor the 2023 tax year are as follows:February 28, 2024 - IRS paper filing deadlineMarch 1, 2024 - Recipient copy deadlineApril 1, 2024 - IRS e-file deadline States that Require ACA ReportingIn addition to federal filing deadlines, there are several States that require ACA reporting with their agencies.California District of Columbia Massachusetts New Jersey Rhode Island Streamlined E-filing of ACA Forms from TaxBanditsTo simplify the complex ACA reporting requirements for businesses and tax professionals, TaxBandits provides a user-friendly e-filing process with time-saving features. This comprehensive solution supports thee-filing of ACA Formswith both the IRS and state agencies.TaxBandits offers clients convenient features such as Bulk Upload templates, volume-based pricing, and built-in form audits using IRS Business Rules, ensuring accurate returns. Additionally, TaxBandits provides a State-filing Only option.Clients can fileForm 1095-Bor1095-Cwith TaxBandits and they can easily designate their authoritative transmittal ( Form 1094-B/Form 1094-C ) before transmitting the forms.Effortless Recipient Copy Distribution SolutionsThe deadline for distributing recipient copies of Form 1095s is approaching quickly, and TaxBandits offers simplified options for meeting this deadline on March 1, 2024.Clients can select Postal Mailing services and the TaxBandits team handles the printing and mailing of all their recipient copies from a SOC 2 Certified print facility. USPS Validations are provided to ensure that all form copies are mailed to a verified address.Their clients can also opt to go paperless by choosing Online Access services. Grant recipients access to view and download copies of their ACA Form 1095 copies online via the secure TaxBandits Portal.When asked about the upcomingACA deadlines , Agie Sundaram, the CEO and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises (parent company of TaxBandits) responded by stating, "TaxBandits is proud to provide an efficient e-filing and distribution process, empowering businesses, providers, and tax professionals to effortlessly meet their IRS deadlines, no matter the scale of forms involved. Our dedicated team is ready to support clients of every size and diverse needs throughout the year, ensuring a seamless and stress-free filing experience." Businesses, tax professionals, and service providers can begin their 1095 compliance process today atTaxBandits.com Businesses in need of a full-service ACA Reporting Provider can reach out to the team at ACAwise, the sister company of TaxBandits. ACAwise offers a solution complete with ACA Code generation on 1095-C Forms, flexible data import options, and more.About TaxBandits:TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider specializing in 1099, W-2,1095-C ,1095-B ,Form 940 ,Form 941 , andFillable W-9 . Serving businesses, service providers, and tax professionals, TaxBandits offers a comprehensive solution for year-end filings.Software providers and other high-volume filers can take advantage ofTaxBandits API . The integration allows them to add value for their clients and expand monetization efforts. TaxBandits API enables seamless preparation ande-filing of 1099 ,W-2 , 941, 940, and ACA 1095 forms. Software providers can also use the developer-friendly1099 APIto request W-9s andautomate 1099filings efficiently.About SPAN Enterprises:Headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN Enterprises has been developing industry-leading software tools for e-filing and business management for over a decade. The SPAN Enterprises portfolio includes Tax 990, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics.For any media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer at stephanie@ spanenterprises.com ####SOURCE: TaxBandits PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 14:32:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 309 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / The nationally recognized law firm of Kelley | Uustal is pleased to welcome attorney Amanda Suarez to its trial team.Amanda Suarez, Esq. Trial attorney Amanda Suarez joins Kelley | Uustal.Before joining Kelley | Uustal, Suarez contributed significantly to court victories at a national law firm based in Miami. In June 2023, she played a major role in winning a remarkable $63.5 million federal jury award - including $47.6 million in punitive damages - on behalf of two businessmen who claimed a Miami City Commissioner used their office to harass them after they supported the commissioner's political opponent.The First Amendment retaliation case attracted considerable national media attention and led to calls for the commissioner's resignation."We are really looking forward to having Amanda on our team," said founding partner John Uustal. "Her passion for succeeding for her clients is impressive." Suarez, for her part, called her new position "an amazing opportunity." "I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this winning team," she said.Suarez earned her juris doctor magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. While there, she served as the symposium chair for the University of Miami Race and Social Justice Law Review, and as a fellow on the Human Rights Clinic's gender-based violence project team. She also earned a bachelor's degree from UM in psychology and political science.Before entering private practice, Suarez sharpened her skills as an assistant public defender in the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office.Kelley | Uustal ( www.kelleyuustal.com) , a national law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, is focused on catastrophic injury, wrongful death cases, and complex commercial litigation. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601.Contact InformationDavid BloomMedia Relations Managerdave.bloom@ournewsroom.com 954-334-5822SOURCE: Kelley | UustalView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-13 16:01:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 809 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 /Umoja , a groundbreaking protocol designed to simplify and automate the hedging process for a wide range of digital assets, has announced the beta launch of its hedging-as-a-service offering. With today's launch, Umoja makes it simple for users to implement and engage with hedging strategies tailored to their specific level of risk tolerance, providing a safeguard against asset depreciation and potential liquidation.As the first asset risk management primitive in the DeFi industry, Umoja enables anyone, including degens, pro traders and retail investors, to insure their trading portfolios in the same way as a multi-billion dollar hedge fund does. Intending to become the "Yearn Finance for Risk", Umoja's goal is to facilitate the decentralized hedging of any real-world risk asset, including crypto, fiat, digital bonds, real estate or commodities, and carve out a niche in what is believed to be a $500 trillion market opportunity.Umoja began life as an emerging market microfinance platform, only to stumble upon a critical issue in today's DeFi markets. The fluctuating currency values and USD loans create risks that can only be mitigated via traditional financial methods, hedging the currency in question. But hedging strategies are out of reach for many investors due to the high cost, the time-consuming nature and the need for vast liquidity. Recognizing the impact of this problem, Umoja realized there is an urgent need to transform hedging in the DeFi industry."Umoja's beta is more than just a new service launch -- it's a significant stride towards a future where crypto investments are safer and more stable. By simplifying and democratizing the hedging process, we're opening up a world of new opportunities for investors at all levels," said Umoja founder, Robby Greenfield, in a statement.The debut of Umoja introduces the concept of CeFi Dynamic Term Loss Coverage for crypto assets including BTC, ETH and AVAX, enabling investors to flexibly hedge against risk. In traditional finance, hedging is the term used to describe a strategy in which an investor takes an offsetting position in an asset that reduces the price risk of their existing position. In other words, it is a kind of trade that aims to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in a second asset.One of the new features introduced with the Beta launch, and perhaps the most exciting of them, is zero-loss staking. Umoja users will now be able to stake their assets for yield, while the principal is protected from any potential loss. This game-changing option opens the DeFi space to the more conservative crowd, as they can now participate in it with the knowledge their invested is secure, all while accruing yield.Umoja simplifies the hedging process in such a way that it becomes accessible to every investor. With its protocol, investors simply select a customizable term coverage product for their assets that's aligned with their investment goals. To initiate their coverage, investors only need to deposit 10% refundable collateral -- a game-changing development that significantly lowers the barrier to entry. To maintain their coverage, investors must ensure their collateral remains above the 5% threshold. In this way, Umoja enables investors to hedge against risk at up to 80% lower costs than with traditional methods, with the added benefit of requiring ten-times less capital.Umoja's beta launch makes hedging uniquely accessible to thousands of investors, providing sophisticated services that are not only competitive and cost-efficient, but also entirely automated. Investors now have a way to easily implement or engage with hedging strategies and safeguard themselves against the inherent risks that derive from the extreme volatility of crypto."Hedging provides a seatbelt for investors embarking on the roller-coaster ride of DeFi markets. As such, it shouldn't be a luxury, nor should it be a brain-twister. Umoja is all about providing that safety net for DeFi investors," Greenfield commented.Umoja is launching as a CeFi platform in its Beta release, but will switch to a DeFi by the second quarter of the year.With its clear vision of democratizing access to hedging in the DeFi industry, Umoja's protocol has been carefully crafted by a team of individuals who have firsthand experience of the inherent volatility and uncertainty of crypto markets. The project has raised more than $2 million in funding to date, and is backed by big names such as the Avalanche Foundation, Coinbase Ventures, Orange DAO, Blockchain Founders Fund, GainsVC and Ivan On Tech.About Umoja LabsUmoja Labsis a fintech company focused on digital assets that uses software for real-world use cases such as cross-border payments and asset management. Umoja Labs has deployed its products to facilitate digital humanitarian aid programs with the likes of Oxfam, Care International and Hope for Haiti. It also provides affordable MSME lending and asset hedging for those that need it most.Contact details:Karima Williams karima@ umoja.xyz SOURCE: Umoja Labs Saturday, 23rd December 2023 As dusk descended, a chilling breeze seeped through Kambar Pelli, a community in Ruwi, Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, and residents retired for the day oblivious of the horror lurking around. Augustine Ezekiel, a hunter, was on a night watch with a colleague when he heard strange movements. As he moved to check, he heard loud bangs on the door of a nearby building. Some people were trying to force their way into the house which lay beside a vast field of bush and farmlands that stretched to Kerang in neighbouring Mangu LGA. Gunshots rent the air and Mr Ezekiel took cover behind a tree. I saw two people behind the house while I hid behind a tree. Immediately, I knew they were not here for any good, he told PREMIUM TIMES in January. I shot at one but he fled. There were many of them. I couldnt stand them, so I ran too. Mr Ezekiels first destination was his home, located two houses away from the house under attack, to make sure his family fled before the attackers reached them. When he got home, his wife and mother had already taken to their heels, giving him a sense of relief. Annihilating a Lineage Inside one of the six rooms in the attacked house was Armak Isa. Mr Isa said he was nudged to consciousness from his sleep by gunshots and loud bangs on the doors. Almost immediately they were in our compound hitting the doors with stones, he said, adding that the attackers spoke Fulfulde as they broke into the rooms one after another. I opened my door, scaled the fence and ran, he recalled. That night, the assailants killed Mr Isas entire family: his older brother, Panmun Isa; Panmuns wife, Namban Panmun and their four children Makroghop, Tapji, Jiret and Precious. The assailants did not stop. They crossed to the next building, where Mr Isas other elder brother, Besan Isa, resided. They fatally shot him, his wife Gifty Besan and their children, Katbam and Shalom. The eldest daughter, Patience tried to flee but she was shot dead just before she made it out of the building. Mourning a wife and mother The following morning when villagers and neighbours gathered to assess the carnage from the night, Mr Ezekiel had not seen his wife and mother, but he did not panic. For all he believed, they were seeking shelter somewhere safe. As he walked with a friend beside his cactus-fenced house, he saw the hand of a lifeless body just behind a banana tree. He moved closer to find the lifeless bodies of his wife and mother beside each other. While his mother, Maryamu Ezekiel, was shot in the head, the bullet hit his wife Bammun Augustine in her bosom. As he mourns a wife and mother, his father Ezekiel Marwa mourns a wife and daughter-in-law. By the time the assailants left that night, they had killed 16 people, all of whom were buried in a large mass grave the next day. The attackers also burned one car and destroyed another. Identifying the attackers At Kambar Pelli, some survivors said they saw the attackers on the night of the incident. According to their accounts, the attackers spoke Fulfulde, and some of them wore military uniforms. Danjuma Ezekiel believes there were military men amongst the attackers, due to the precision of the shootings. The manner of the shootings made us believe there were soldiers among them. It is not just Fulani shooting. Which Fulani would learn how to shoot people in the head? he said. They were shooting in the compound and they were speaking Fulfulde, Armak Isa corroborated Mr Ezekiels account The first of many That late-night attack at Kambar Pelli, allegedly by Fulani militia, triggered a series of attacks and reprisal that affected more than two dozen communities in Bokkos and a few others in Barkin Ladi LGA the next day, PREMIUM TIMES gathered from interviews with residents and victims, community leaders, peace advocates and security officials. Multiple sources say the reprisals that followed the tragic event at the Kambar Pelli attack contributed significantly to escalating the issue. As the attacks continued, so did the casualties multiply and by the time it slowed down on Christmas day when the attention of the world was on Plateau State, more than 150 people had been reported dead, with hundreds of others injured, and way more people displaced from their homes. The communities affected by the conflict in Bokkos LGA include Fat-Makada, Ngochong, Shar, Mper, Shambring, Pyakmalu, Farmes, Bukjir, Ngokksar, Lut, Lalem, Kwantu, Sangyang and Mutfet. The others aree; Ndun, Yalwa-Nono, Bodel, Makarang, Chirang, Tahore, Tamiso, Tufe, Shorom, Dares, Maiyanga, Kerana and Butura Kampani. Four communities were affected in Barkin Ladi LGA. They are Tudun Mazat (NTV), Darwat, Hurum, and Gana Ropp. No community was attacked in Mangu LGA between 23 and 25 December, residents and community leaders in the area told PREMIUM TIMES. Sunday, 24th December Between 7 and 8 a.m. on Sunday, 24th December, residents of Fat-Makada said they started hearing gunshots that startled them and left them confused. PREMIUM TIMES interviewed residents including the native Ron people and Fulanis in the community. Hanatu Sidi (name changed for fear of being targeted for more attacks), an indigene and resident of Fat-Makada, said her husband and children had left for church while she was getting ready. She had barely stepped out of her home when she suddenly heard gunshots. Mrs Sidi said she did not see the shooters. The gunshots were coming from this side, she said, gesturing to Fulani settlements located behind her house. Stanley Philip (name changed for fear of targeted attacks), another resident, said he recognised two of the four attackers he saw that morning. According to him, two of them were their Fulani neighbours. I identified them because I was in the church. In the church, the distance is not up to 100 metres that I saw them. Four of them came around the church premises. Thank God nobody was in the church at that moment because we all had to run away from church. I identified two but the others, I dont know them. I so much believe they came with others, he said. But their Fulani neighbours, some of whom this reporter met and interviewed, denied the accusations, saying they were also startled by the same gunshots. Yau Muhammad and Hussaini Adam said what followed the gunshots was a troop of attackers on their homes. We saw people approaching our homes with guns and we came out scared. As we tried to run, we saw a lot of people from different sides, Mr Muhammad said. Mr Philip said the assailants on the Fulani settlement were natives; residents of neighbouring communities who were agitated by the attack of the previous nights. However, Mr Muhammad, disagrees, saying those people were the ones shooting the previous night. The attackers started razing the houses of the Fulanis until the military arrived shortly after, residents interviewed confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES. We were just trying to flee the communities when the soldiers came and we thought they would stop them. Surprisingly, they burnt some of these houses in the presence of the soldiers, Mr Adam said, adding that it took some time before the soldiers could control the situation. More than 10 houses owned by the Fulanis in this community were burnt. Mr Philip said two natives died and three others were injured. He noted that those who died were not residents of the community but were among those who came from different communities to carry out the reprisal attack on the Fulanis. PREMIUM TIMES tracked one of the deceased, Danlami Zakaria, also known as Amushe, to his home in Luwan, several kilometres from Fat-Makada, where he and others were said to have come from that morning. The incident at Fat-Makada was a reprisal arising from the tragic event in Kambar Pelli, residents, a peace advocate and a top official of the states Operation Rainbow told PREMIUM TIMES. The official did not want his name in print. Operation Rainbow is a Plateau State government-established paramilitary neighbourhood watch initiative. Understanding the Geography and People Bokkos LGA is home to three of the over 40 ethnic groups in Plateau State, namely Ron, Kulere and Mushere, all of them speaking distinct languages. The people of Kambar Pelli, where the initial attack occurred, are Mwaghavul who predominantly reside in Mangu LGA. But Kambar Pelli and some communities in Ruwi and Mushu geographically fall under Bokkos LGA. While the Mwaghavul language has similarities to Mushere which is spoken in some parts of Bokkos, it is said to be a distinct language in itself. The mob that attacked Fat-Makada were Mwaghavul people from neighbouring communities who were angered by the attacks on their kinsmen at Kambar Pelli, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. They accused the Fulanis in this settlement of complicity in the attack at Kambar Pelli. But the Fulanis at Fat-Makada denied knowledge or complicity in the attack. If anyone said the Fulanis in this community know about the attack at Kambar Pelli, they are not being fair, one Fulani resident said. Some Fulanis in other communities were also reported to have attacked more communities in another reprisal. The mutual mistrust between the Fulanis and Mwaghavul people can be traced back to the strained relationship that reached its peak in Mangu LGA last year, residents say. Between May and September last year, the conflict between the two ethnic groups grew into an ethno-religious conflict that left more than 100 people dead and several communities torched. According to residents in different communities in eastern Bokkos, last years conflict in Mangu spilt into some parts of Bokkos last September when some Mwaghavul people from Bwai, a district in Mangu LGA, sacked Fulanis from Bwai in southern Mangu LGA and parts of Ruwi and Mushu in Bokkos LGA. At the time of the 23 December attack on Kambar Pelli, PREMIUM TIMES was told the nearest Fulani settlements were Fat-Makadi and Fwerekuna. Based on multiple accounts by both the Fulanis and Ron residents, those who carried out the reprisal at Fat-Makadi are mostly Mwaghavul people assisted by some Ron residents. Strange Fulanis PREMIUM TIMES learnt that a Fulani man in Fwerekuna, a community in Ruwi, raised an alarm that some unknown herders were seen settling close to them, a week before the Christmas Eve attack. An official of Operation Rainbow told this newspaper that they received the intelligence report and informed the village head, district head and heads of security agencies between 18 and 19 December. The village head of Ruwi, Nicolas Random, confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview. Mr Random said the arrival of the strange Fulanis was reported to the Commander of Sector 5 of the armys Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Bokkos, T.T Paave, a lieutenant colonel. He (Sector 5 Commander) gave them (the strange Fulanis) a directive to leave. How can people just come and stay close to houses without their knowledge, without talking to them? Just silent. So he told them to leave. He spoke to their leaders, he called the Chairman of Miyetti Allah and told them to leave, but they didnt leave, Mr Random said. However, the next morning after the attack at Kambar Pelli, Mr Random said, the strange Fulanis left. He also said the resident Fulanis in Fwerekuna also fled that morning. PREMIUM TIMES could not locate the Fulanis in Fwerekuna for an interview. People were angry, running up and down. So, they told me that the Fulanis in Fwerekuna Ruwi had run away. They dont know what makes them run away, he told PREMIUM TIMES. Sources in Bokkos told this newspaper that the Sector 5 Commander, Mr Paave, was replaced with Isaac Indiorhwer, also a lieutenant colonel, a few days after the Christmas Eve attack. The Ron and Fulanis interviewed in Bokkos told PREMIUM TIMES that they have coexisted peacefully over the years and have not had reasons to physically attack each other. This reporter understands, however, that there are latent conflicts that have resulted in mutual mistrust. According to the village head of Ruwi, Mr Random, the primary issue between the Fulanis in Ruwi and the Ron people is the destruction of crops by cattle, a situation he said they had faced for years. What we have been battling is the issue of farmers and herders. The Fulanis in this community used to destroy the farm produce of the natives. We have been complaining for a long time. Year in year out. That is what we encounter in this area, he told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview held at the palace of the district head of Bokkos, Monday Adanchin. The palace was razed the next day by residents protesting against the arrest of some young men in connection with the death of a Fulani man in Bokkos on 4 January. The battle between herders and farmers over land is not peculiar to Plateau. It is the root cause of many fatal clashes in states like Kaduna, Benue and Taraba and has been exacerbated by climate change that has urban development. Because the herders and the farmers often belong to different ethnic groups, the crisis then takes an ethnic dimension. Efforts by successive Nigerian governments to resolve the violence have failed. In Plateau, Mr Random, the head of Ruwi, added that some neighbouring communities have also experienced security issues such as kidnapping and robbery. Most of the problems we are encountering are from the strange Fulanis, he said. Mostly those that come from different places to graze. They can just settle wherever they like without the knowledge of the owner of the farm or the ward head or the village head. They can do what they want. They can just go and put a tent where they like without any consent. And people would panic. People are scared whenever they see strange Fulanis. More reprisals Meanwhile, the reprisals did not end at Fat-Makada, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. A top official of Operation Rainbow in Bokkos alongside other residents, including Ron and Fulani people, told this reporter that the Mwaghavul people assisted by some Ron residents also descended on Fulani settlements in Kopmadarkin, Ngochong, Shar, Mper, Shambring, Pyakmalu, Farmes, Bukjir, Ngoksar, Lut and Lalem. They all, in separate interviews, said the Fulanis in turn, attacked communities including Kwantu, Sangyang, Mutfet, Ndun, Yalwa-Nono and Makarang. According to the Chairman, Plateau Central Zone, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (MACBAN), Umar Ori, Fulani residents of Sat in Mushere district were mourning the death of one Bashir Bello when they were attacked and their houses razed. He said Mr Bello, the deceased, was an Okada rider whose body was found on 22 December in Kawel, also in Mushere district, with his head battered. Later that Sunday evening, Benjamin Iliya, a resident of Matan Kubet, said some Fulanis launched attacks on some communities around Mangor district. He said apprehensions were already building among residents even before the attack happened. Around 4 to 5 p.m., security information reached us that they are coming from Josho around Daffo to attack our communities, he said. They gathered close to Tuje, one of our people saw them and he informed us that they had seen strangers. But before people would understand, they surrounded Tuje. According to many accounts, they attacked Chirang, Tahore, Tamiso, Tuje, Dares, Maiyanga and Butura Kampani. They also killed people and burned houses in some Barkin Ladi LGA communities bordering Bokkos including Tudun Mazat (NTV), Darwat, Hurum, and Gana Ropp, shooting, killing and razing houses. This attack turned out to be the deadliest, resulting in more than 100 deaths and hundreds injured. It was carried out almost simultaneously, according to residents. The military would later say in a statement that it received more than 30 distress calls around the same time, overwhelming its personnels ability to prevent all attacks that night. The Chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) in Bokkos, Saleh Yusuf, said he was aware of the attacks and counterattacks but cannot say for certain who carried out the attacks. They kept retaliating on the Fulanis and that was what brought about the crisis in Bokkos, he said in a telephone interview. The killings and burning of Fulanis houses on Sunday. That was why there was a reaction from other Fulanis in other parts of Bokkos. The attacks and reprisals between 23 and 26 December left more than 300 people dead, according to a tally obtained from an official of the Red Cross in Bokkos. Jethro Bitrus, the Emergency First Aid Team Leader of the Red Cross in Bokkos, also provided this newspaper with a breakdown of the communities affected. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the actual number of casualties. As of 30 January, Mr Bitrus said, they were still yet to ascertain the full names of the deceased. A troubled, unstable state Plateau State is a troubled state that has witnessed several conflicts that usually metamorphose into ethno-religious crises. Mangu, Jos North, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa are some LGAs that frequently witness these conflicts. Attacks by unknown persons, usually attributed to the Fulani cattle herders, are also prevalent in most LGAs in Plateau State. Bloodshed continues Meanwhile, the aftershocks of the Christmas Eve tragedy are still being felt across communities in Bokkos as serial killings continue. According to a tally kept by this newspaper as reported by residents, more than 10 people have been killed in subsequent reprisals in January. On 1 January, for instance, the corpses of Ridwan Ismail, a Ron Muslim man and Muhammadu Tuka were found in a well in Ndun. According to Mr Ismails father, Ismail Yusuf, the two had gone to Ndun to carry Mr Ismails motorcycle which he lent a Fulani friend before the attacks. He said his son felt safe to go pick up the bike in Ndun because he was a native. It was on Thursday, 28 December, the father, Mr Yusuf, recalled. We were calling his phone and it was ringing for so long until it started saying switched off. Till we slept that night, we didnt see him come back. The following day, on Friday, we reported to the soldiers that both men were missing. The soldiers referred us to the police. The police told us that the Commissioner of Police or AIG was on his way so they wont have time that day. So on Saturday they still did not attend to us. So we went to meet the hunters. When they got there, they found where they were burnt. His older brother recognised his clothes. They traced their bodies to a well. On 3 January, the Chief Imam of the dun community, Sani Idris, was reported killed and his brother Aliyu sustained a gunshot injury. On 4 January, an unnamed Fulani man from Hurki village was killed in Kasuwan Awaki. On 6 January, three natives were macheted allegedly by Fulani herders in Tamiso. On 17 January, two people were killed in two separate incidents; One was a farmer killed on his farm in Mbar, and the other was a Fulani man. On 18 January, a Fulani man, Ismail Audu was reported killed in Ruwi. On 25 January, Masha Makingat was killed, and two others injured in an attack in Danbukur village. The killings have subsided but the root causes remain, especially the cattle grazing by Fulani herders on farms owned by natives. Editors Note: This story was updated by changing the names of two of the central characters who raised concerns for their safety after the story was published Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Hisbah Command in Kano State has arrested popular and controversial TikToker Murja Kunya for allegedly posting inappropriate and un-Islamic content on TikTok. Kunya is known for her controversial content, frequently stirring debate in most Northern Nigerian states. Two weeks ago, Hisbah launched a hunt for six TikTok influencers who they said were violating the tenets of Islam daily while using social media sites. Hisbah spokesperson Lawal Fagge told the BBC Hausa that Murja Kunya was arrested early Tuesday morning, along with her boyfriend. Our officers arrested her at 1:00 in the afternoon at her home with her boyfriend, who was also with us. In the past, her neighbours brought us complaints about her behaviour. Right now, we are investigating before taking the next step, he said. Hisbah accuses Kunya of using vulgar words in her video, which thousands of people watch on TikTok and other social media pages. She has not commented on the allegations but has been seen in an unidentified video circulating on social media since her arrest. In the video, she said she did not steal anything and thanked God. Meanwhile, a magistrate court in Kano has asked that Kunya be detained until 20 February, when the case hearing against her will continue. The Kano State Hisbah Board charged the popular TikTok before the court on Tuesday on charges of making indecent videos on social media. Kano has the largest Muslim population, and the Islamic legal system works with the legal system in the state. The Kano Hisbah had, in November 2023, announced plans to facilitate marriages for TikTokers in Kano and support their businesses. Kunya and other tiktokers attended the meeting in Kano. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print My flight from Lagos to Abuja yesterday was unusual in some ways. Because I stayed in Ajah during the visit, I had to rise at 5 am and eventually left for the airport at Ikeja at 8 am. My flight was billed for 5:50 pm but I was determined not to be caught in the legendary Ajah-Lekki traffic gridlock. Thats even if it meant spending the whole day waiting at the airport, as I eventually did. Virtually every other airline announced a delay or outright cancellation of their flights yesterday while I waited it out. Lucky me, my flight was announced by a whisper around the departure hall of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2. Then it became real. Boarding was fast and we soon settled on our seats. Then from my vantage point where I was on a front aisle seat, I peeped into the cockpit and saw behind the instruments on the Captains seat, a petite woman. She must be idling away the time there, I thought. After a while, she had cause to go down to the tarmac and that gave me a full view of her. Then I thought to myself what a small lady was doing behind the controls of this complicated monster. Soon, it was time for our departure and I expected the real pilot to take command but instead, our petite lady began to press one instrument after the other, in front of her on the panel or overhead and at each touch, the great machine responded appropriately to Madams every command. READ ALSO: Then we were airborne and soon Lagos city began to recede below us. Shortly the fasten seat belt lights were off, meaning that we had attained cruise level. In no time, I was comfortable enough to permit myself a short sleep. Landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja was soft and seamless. Then came the sonorous voice of the air hostess welcoming us to the nations capital in time and on schedule. Welcome to the world of Captain Imoleayo Adebule, Director of Flight Operations, Aero Contractors, the amazing woman in the cockpit. Indeed, the women of Nigeria are breaking every limitation, announcing their arrival in every sphere of national life. May the Lord bless the great women, petite or large, of this wonderful nation. Mr Ipinmisho, a journalist and corporate communications expert, first published this piece on his Facebook Page Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least seven inmates were freed while a police inspector was killed in another prison break in Imo State, Nigerias south-east. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the incident happened on Monday. How it happened Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the seven inmates were freed by gunmen who attacked the Okigwe Correctional Centre in the early hours of Monday. The police spokesperson said, apart from freeing the inmates, the attackers also killed a police inspector and abducted a police operative during the attack. The police spokesperson said the attackers were suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, the Eastern Security Network. Mr Okoye said the attack happened at a farm settlement of the correctional facility in Umualomoke, a community in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state. It is unclear, for now, if there is another facility housing inmates within the farm settlement of the correctional centre. The police spokesperson said the hoodlums also attacked the residence of a Nigerian Senator, Patrick Ndubeze, within the Okigwe area. READ ALSO: But he did not give details. The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Danjuma Aboki, has visited the scene of the incident. He said Mr Aboki has deployed a police special tactical squad, the military and other security agencies and equipped them to track down the IPOB members who allegedly carried out the attack. Mr Okoye said the police commissioner further directed the security agencies to ensure that the abducted operative was rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates rearrested. The spokesperson said the commissioner has reaffirmed the commitment of the police in Imo State to ensure the safety of residents. He said the police commissioner appealed to the residents to support the security agencies with useful information that would aid the arrest of the hoodlums behind the attack. Not the first time This is not the first time a prison facility has been attacked in Imo State. Armed persons, on 5 April 2021, attacked the Owerri Correctional Centre and freed a total of 1,844 prisoners. There had been suspicion among residents of the South-east that some of the inmates who escaped from the Owerri facility might be responsible for the growing attacks in the region. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate is currently holding a closed-door meeting with service chiefs, ministers in charge of security matters and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the closed-door session is being held primarily because of the worsening security situation in the country. In attendance at the ongoing meeting are the Chief of Defense Staff, Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of the Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Others include Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar. The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, while ushering in the attendees into the hallowed chamber, said they were proceeding into a committee of the whole, which will be in a close session. READ ALSO:N100 billion disbursed for gas project without NASS approval Senate Committee The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is expected to address journalists after the session. Mr Akpabio had told the service chiefs the last time they appeared before the Senate, that many states and Abuja are facing security challenges. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Supporters of Pakistani former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), block a road to protest against the results of the general election, at Baleli, on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan, February 12, 2024. Pakistans caretaker prime minister on Monday defended the widely criticized delay in announcing the results of last weeks parliamentary election, saying authorities took only 36 hours to count over 60 million votes while grappling with militant attacks. Anwaarul-Haq-Kakar pointed out that election results had been announced after 66 hours when Imran Khan won power in 2018. He insisted that a level playing field was available to all political parties, including that of the imprisoned former prime minister. Khans party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, won more seats than any other, but only because its candidates ran as independents after the party was expelled from the vote. The candidates won 93 out of 265 National Assembly seats, not enough to form a government. Khan could not run because of criminal convictions that he calls politically motivated. The Pakistan Muslim League-N party, led by three-time premier and ex-felon Nawaz Sharif, secured 75 seats. The Pakistan Peoples Party, or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, came in third with 54 seats. The two parties, which led the campaign to kick Khan out of office in 2022, were in talks to form a coalition government. Thursdays vote was overshadowed by allegations of vote-rigging and an unprecedented mobile phone shutdown. The Election Commission denied the allegations of rigging. Kakar told a news conference that mobile phone service was suspended on election day for security reasons following a pair of militant attacks that killed 30 people in southwestern Baluchistan province a day before the vote. He said that security forces last week killed a key militant from the Islamic State group who was behind the elections-related attacks. He said he could afford a delay in announcing results but not the terrorism or the terrorist attacks. Kakar said the elections were largely peaceful, free and fair, and the process to install a new government could begin in the next eight or nine days, when the newly elected National Assembly is expected to convene. He said the parliament will elect the speaker, deputy speaker and new prime minister. Kakar said people were allowed to hold peaceful protests but warned that action would be taken if rallies turned violent. On Monday, thousands of supporters of Khan and members of other political parties blocked key highways and held a daylong strike in the volatile southwest to protest alleged vote-rigging. Separately, several nationalist and Islamist political parties in Baluchistan blocked two highways leading to Iranian and Afghan border crossings. Jan Achakzai, a government spokesman in Baluchistan, urged protesters to show grace by accepting defeat and moving away from the highways. Khans party and others refused to accept their defeat in dozens of constituencies. Dozens of Khans supporters were briefly detained in the eastern city of Lahore over the weekend while protesting alleged election irregularities. Pakistans military has always cast itself as the ultimate arbiter of who becomes prime minister. Sharif was marked out as the security establishments preferred candidate because of his smooth return to the country in October. Sharif spent four years in exile to avoid serving prison sentences, but his convictions were overturned within weeks of his arrival in Pakistan. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said on Tuesday that former President Muhammadu Buharis signature was forged to give approval to a cash withdrawal of $6.2 million from the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A former controller at the CBN in Abuja, Onyeka Ogbu, had on Monday told the court that he received the written approval given by then President Buhari, Mr Mustapha, and Mr Emefiele for the cash payment. Mr Mustapha testified in the ongoing prosecution of Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor at the time of the controversial payment, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Emefiele, the immediate-past governor of the CBN, is being prosecuted on criminal charges of fraud and corruption that he allegedly perpetrated while in office. But, Mr Emefiele denied the charges when he was rearraigned on amended 20 counts in January. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Mr Mustapha who testified as the fourth prosecution witness for the EFCC, said his signature and Mr Buharis were forged by persons who pilfered the $6,230,000 from the CBN vault on 8 February 2023. It was claimed that Buhari also signed, but on the face value of this document, having served for five years and seven months as SGF, this document did not emanate from the president for the following reasons. A correspondent that has the seal of Nigeria does not carry a reference number. The seal is the authority Mr Mustapha told the judge, Hamza Muazu. A former branch controller at the CBN, Mr Ogbu, while testifying on Monday, said that Messrs Buhari and Mustapha gave their approval for the payment of the funds to foreign election observers at the last general elections. He said the memo authorising the payment requested that it should be paid in its naira equivalent. It amounted to about N2.9 billion at the prevailing exchange rate in January 2023. But giving his account of what transpired, Mr Mustapha said neither he nor Mr Buhari gave their nod to the withdrawal of the funds. While being led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Mustapha also denied receiving any amount from the funds. Letters false claims He faulted the letter that purportedly emanated from the then SGFs office authorising payment of the money. Asked by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedapo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in respect of Exhibit PD7 which states that the release of the money was approved at the187th Federal Executive Council (FEC) held on 18 January 2023, Mr Mustapha affirmed that a FEC meeting held that day, but that it was not 187th session, but rather first meeting of the year because it was January. My Lord, there was a meeting and it was the first meeting, not 187. It was the first meeting of the year. My Lord, all FEC meetings are normally Presided over by the President or Vice president. In the case of 18 January, it was the Vice president who presided over the meeting because the President was not around. My role was to prepare the agenda of the meeting and on that day, there was a16- point agenda, and there was no agenda that had to do with foreign observers, so it did not appear on the FEC of 18 January, there was no such approval or, anything else from the FEC, he said. Mr Mustapha clarified that Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, had the key responsibility of relating with election observers. My lord, all throughout my service year as the SGF, I never came across these documents. Secondly, I have looked at it and read the document. Federal Executive Council, FEC, decisions are not transmitted by letters. They are transmitted through extracts after conclusions are adopted. Thirdly, I am the custodian of FEC, the president will not refer executives conclusions to me. Also, in all the five years and seven months I stayed in office, I never heard of the term Special Appropriation Provision, referred to me. The terms known to me my lord are appropriation as provided by the Appropriation Act, which is normally passed by the National Assembly. When the government file drafts, it brings Supplementary Appropriation. In all the correspondences I have received from Buhari, it has never had or ended with: Please accept the assurance of my highest regard. I am his subordinate. My correspondences do not carry that. And lastly, looking at the signature, it is a failed attempt at reproducing Buharis signature. I will leave that to the experts, Mr Mustapha explained. The judge, Mr Muazu, adjourned the trial until 7 March for continuation of trial. Background Mr Emefiele is charged with amended 20 counts of criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust, among other allegations that also featured in the report of special investigators engaged by President Bola Tinubu to probe the activities of CBN during his tenure as the governor of the bank. The special investigator, Jim Obazee, referenced the $6.23 million payment in his report which received wide media attention last December. He wrote of a fraudulent cash withdrawal of $6.23 million about N2.9 billion at the then-official exchange rate of N461 to a dollar. Mr Obaeze said the $6.23 million was removed from the vault of the CBN between 7 and 8 February 2023, about two weeks before the presidential and National Assembly polls, under a purported approval of the president for the release of money to pay foreign election observers. The removal of the money from the vault of the Foreign Payment Office, Abuja Branch, of the CBN, which was captured on CCTV footage, followed a trail of letters which began with one dated 23 January 2023. Mr Ogbu had said the cash withdrawal purportedly meant for an election observation mission for the 2023 general elections had Messrs Buhari and Mustaphas authorisation. His testimony piqued curiosity when he said the money was only paid to someone identified as an official of the SGF office on 8 April 2023, after the general elections had ended. Mr Emefiele, who was sacked from office by President Bola Tinubu last June, had denied all charges during his arraignment last January. He pleaded not guilty to the amended 20 counts. In some of the counts, EFCC alleged that Mr Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled, Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions, dated January 2023 with reference number, SGF.43/L.01/201. The EFCC alleged that Mr Emefiele made the claim knowing the same to be false. In the case marked CR/577/2023, the prosecution alleged Mr Emefiele, on 8 February 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, said to be on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the office of the Secretary to the Governor of the Federation (SGF) vide a letter dated Jan. 26 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201. The anti-graft agency also alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governors lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Ltd, wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders. The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene the provisions of sections 17 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, as well as sections 315, 363 and 364 of the Penal Code. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Access Holdings Plc on Monday announced the appointment of Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the holding company. The appointment follows the death of its late Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States on Friday. Mr Wigwe died alongside his wife, son, and a former chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group, Abimboloa Ogunbanjo. Further to its announcement dated February 11, 2024, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (the Company) has today announced the appointment of Ms Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Herbert Wigwe, on February 9, 2024, the company said in a statement Monday. Ms Agbede joined Access Bank in 2003 as an Assistant General, with nearly three decades of professional experience cutting across banking and business consultancy services. READ ALSO: She served in different roles at the bank including, Head, Group Human Resources between 2010 and 2022 before she was appointed the companys founding Executive Director, Business Support in 2022, a role she held until her new appointment She holds a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK in 2002, the statement said, adding that she is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The appointment of Ms Agbede is in alignment with our robust succession planning practices, said Abubakar Jimoh, chairman of the company. We are strongly convinced that Ms Agbede, being the companys most senior executive, with exceptionally rich, professional and leadership experience and understanding of the Access culture, would provide the much-needed leadership to steer the company towards the attainment of its strategic vision of building a globally connected community and ecosystem, inspired by AAfricafor the world. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sabo Muhammad, a commercial driver, was lucky to escape when marauding terrorists ambushed motorists on the Jibia-Batsari road in Katsina State on Sunday. But he lost his vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat car, after the terrorists set it and four other vehicles on fire. Jibia to Batsari, Batsari to Katsina, Jibia to Katsina, and Kankara to Sheme, are some of the roads most vulnerable to attacks in Katsina State which have witnessed terror activities for several years now. He said the drivers left Jibia some minutes to 6 p.m. on Sunday to avoid being attacked by terrorists in the area who mostly operate in the night. Mr Muhammad said the drivers and traders were also in a hurry to reach a military checkpoint which signals safety Whenever we are returning from Jibia, once we reach the gate (checkpoint) we know that we have reached safety because there are always soldiers and vigilante members there, he told PREMIUM TIMES. He said the terrorists split into three groups with the first group stationed around Gindin market while the second group stayed around Santar Solar and the last group a few metres away from Santar Solar. The first vehicle was a J5 Peugeot while I was driving behind him. The terrorists opened fire on the J5 and it veered off the road. I was lucky enough to avoid the bullets and tried overtaking the second group, but they shot my tire which forced me to stop, he said. According to him, there were six traders in his car but none of them was hit. When I managed to stop the car, I got out with all the passengers and ran to hide. Mr Muhammad said three J5 Peugeot buses, a Volkswagen Passat and a Toyota Hiace bus were burnt down by the terrorists. I was the one who called the soldiers but before the soldiers and vigilantes came, the terrorists had set the vehicles on fire. They checked those they shot to ensure they were all dead. I watched from where we hid while my car and the others went up in flames, he said. According to the driver, some of the goods burnt alongside the vehicles included tigernuts, grains, and other foodstuff and commodities. Police on top of situation However, the police in Katsina State said they were on top of the situation. The command also said only eight people were killed in that incident. On 11/02/2024, at about 2000 hrs, some suspected bandits attacked and opened fire on motorists at Solar Village along Batsari to Jibia. Eight (8) people lost their lives as a result of the attack The command is on top of the situation, as tactical teams have been deployed to ensure the prompt arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act, Abubakar-Sadik Aliyu, RHD police spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES. READ ALSO: Terrorists kill nine traders in Katsina highway attack Attacks on motorists in Katsina and other north-western states have become commonplace. In December, six traders returning from the same Jibia weekly market to Yan Gayya were killed by terrorists. In a report by PREMIUM TIMES last year, several drivers and road transport officials lamented the frequency of attacks on highways in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Seriake Dickson-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeal panel into the ward congress election in Edo State has called for a political solution to the crisis in the party. The panel, however, shelved calls for the cancellation of the controversial election. This was contained in the report of the panel dated 9 February and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some of the aspirants had kicked against the exercise, saying it was not free and fair. The panels report submitted to the National Working Committee (NWC) acknowledged the petition by nine aggrieved aspirants and confirmed that the results from all 192 wards were signed by only two persons. The report was sent through the National Organising Secretary. It noted the confirmation that the chairperson of the three-man ward congresses Ad hoc committee, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and its secretary, Paschal Adigwe, signed the results from the ward. It further observed the complaints of the aspirants that they were not carried along and did not participate in the ward election. The panel, however, expressed concerns that the party could not afford the cancellation of the election, saying that based on electoral laws there would be no time for a fresh election. The panel further observed that even a fresh election may not be acceptable to others They, therefore, called for a political solution involving all stakeholders, including the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki. NAN reports that members of the panel included Maryam Ciroma and Akilu Sani Indabawa. The report of the panel was signed by all three members. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 12 2024 arraigned a former banker with one of the old generation banks: Victor Joseph, and Ahmad Muhhammad Aliyu on money laundering charges to the tune of N110,000,000( One Hundred and Ten Million Naira only). They were arraigned on five-count charges bordering on money laundering before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Count two of the charge reads that you Victor Joseph being a former staff of the United Bank for Africa, Ahmad Muhammad Aliyu and another now at large, between March and April 2023 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, did indirectly take control of an aggregate sum of N110,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Million Naira) which you knew or reasonably ought to know represents proceed of unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2002 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act. Upon reading their charges to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting Prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi to pray for a trial date. Counsel to the first and second defendants, Gbenga Ashowole and Nelem Orji, informed the court of applications for bail for their clients. Justice Maha thereafter remanded the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till February 27, 2024 for hearing of bail applications. The defendants were arraigned for allegedly transferring N110, 000,000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Million Naira) fraudulently from the National Assembly office account between March 27 and April 11, 2023, using fictitious transfer instructions. Further investigations showed that the forged instructions were submitted at the UBA National Assembly Business office, Abuja Branch, for processing and the funds were transferred to various beneficiaries in three banks. The money was traced from these three banks to several other beneficiaries who later returned the funds to Joseph that initiated the transactions. Dele Oyewale Head, Media & Publicity February 13, 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has been urged to commit to the protection of the civic space and freedom of speech, rather than harbour thoughts of regulating social media or infringing on the citizens right to freedom of expression. Rights activist and Convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, made the appeal in a statement while reacting to Mr Gbajabiamilas recent call for the regulation of social media because it has become a societal menace. Recall that the Chief of Staff, while representing President Tinubu at the launch of a book by a former works minister, Babatunde Fashola on 8 February, had stressed the need to regulate the use of social media in the country. But Mr Adeyanju noted that though Mr Gbajabiamila might have been at the receiving end of fake news, targeted harassment and baseless corruption allegations in recent times, the call for the regulation of social media negates the principles of freedom of speech upon which Nigeria as a democratic nation is built. He stressed that freedom of speech is a constitutionally guaranteed right enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the country, adding that the right ought to be protected as it permits divergent opinions and criticisms on critical national issues. The activist observed that it was ironic that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government where Mr Gbajabiamila currently holds a key position, rode onto power on the back of social media. It is disheartening that Femi Gbajabiamila is now seeking to regulate social media in order to protect himself from criticisms! I recall his persistent criticisms of the government of the day in 2014, when he, among others, described the government as vagabonds in power and barbarians at the gate. Despite some of the ills that may be associated with social media, the platform has served as a tool for citizens to easily reach government officials who were hitherto unreachable, and hold them accountable. It is this access that Femi Gbajabiamila seeks to shut down. I call on the Presidents chief of staff to banish any thought of regulating social media or infringing on the citizens right to freedom of expression, he said. Mr Adeyanju emphasised that there are existing remedies available to anyone subjected to social media harassment or defamation. He urged Mr Gbajabiamila to invoke the available legal remedies if he feels aggrieved, rather than seek to create a nebulous regulation of social media. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Wife of one of the kidnapped victims of an 18-seater bus along Akunu-Akoko in Ondo State, Bukola Atitebi, has cried out to President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Nigerians for help in securing her husbands release. Mrs Atitebi appealed to President Tinubu and Mr Egbetokun to expedite action in securing the release of her husband, Atitebi Tolulope Elijah, and the remaining 17 passengers from their abductors. She told PREMIUM TIMES that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of N50 million before releasing her husband. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the Ondo State Police Command ordered the deployment of special squads to Akunu Akoko area of the state to rescue the kidnapped victims following their abduction last Friday evening. The travelers were taken into the forest while the driver was shot dead. In an emotion-laden voice, Mrs Atitebi narrated how her husband set out on the journey and how the trip has now turned to sorrow for the entire family. He left Abuja on account of his company to rectify some technical issues the Lagos office was facing. After finishing the work, for his return journey, he joined the first bus from Jibowu, Yaba, at the GUO motor park. They were accosted along the IkareAkoko road in Akure by the kidnappers, she said. Mrs Atitebi said the family was initially put into more agony when there was no information or calls initiated by the kidnappers. Fortunately, yesterday evening, one of the kidnappers called my father-in-law who lives in Mowe and requested for a N50 million ransom before they could release my husband. The old man told the kidnapper that he only has N1.5 million in his account and pleaded with them to accept it, she said. She revealed that the GUO transport company had been to the scene of the abduction to recover the passengers luggage. We went to their Jibowu office and we were told that all the luggage were intact. My husbands luggage was handed over to us by their officials, she recalled. She noted that her husbands immediate boss and other staff members in his workplace have been supporting the family, and contributing their quota in ensuring his release from the kidnappers den. Another member of staff at Mr Atitebis company, who prefers anonymity, told PREMIUM TIMES that he had also, at some time, been kidnapped along the same Ikare-Akoko axis of Akure road. He called on the state and federal governments to urgently establish a joint military patrol, to safeguard lives and properties along the area. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has placed a N2 million bounty on an Anambra State-based lawyer, Adachukwu Chukelu-Okafor, for allegedly burning her 11-year old house help. She was alleged to have used hot pressing iron and a knife to burn and chop in pieces, the private part of her househelp. Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, following a viral video of the girl after she was abused and returned to her aunt, who gave her out as a house help. Please Nigerians go out there search for this woman, bring her out, call any police station and hand her over. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is offering N2 million to anybody that will lay hands on this woman and hand her over to the police. We need this woman urgently because the girl is in pain and has been in the hospital. It could be your child or anybodys relation, so let us not fold our hands. We will give N2 million to anybody that will give necessary information to the police or the women affairs ministry on how to get Adachukwu, the barrister, who did all those harmful things to her house help. This woman will be apprehended by the police who have been looking for her and she is nowhere to be found, she said. Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye also urged the public to divulge any information that would enable the authorities to apprehend the suspect, who has gone into hiding, to ensure justice for the victim. This issue of Adachukwuchu who burnt her 11-year-old house girl with a hot knife, putting it in her private part and at the same time using hot pressing iron to do other damage on her is of grave concern to the federal government. I kept quiet initially because I thought that by now it would have been solved by the state since they are aware of it. For the fact that it still hasnt been solved, I have decided to wade in. Some people will say why is the ministry always getting involved. Let me explain that it is within my purview to get involved in anything that involves women and children across Nigeria. I have every right to get involved in it, she said. The minister also revealed that the government would soon make a pronouncement on the issue of employing underage house helps that are less than 18 years, to end cases of child abuse and violation. Policy on househelp recruitment According to her, there will be an enforcement programme to that end to be driven by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Again, in a couple of days, there will be a pronouncement from this ministry on taking househelps that are less than 18 years. We are going to put a stop to it, there will be a pronouncement within a week and an endorsement programme towards that action. And we will need the whistleblowers, who are Nigerians, to come and fight for your country, especially now. Come out and give information on anything that you feel will help this country, she urged. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a video of the house help, lying on a hospital bed after being allegedly abused, went viral, sparking public outrage. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The new senator representing Plateau North, Pam Dachungyang, and his counterpart from Yobe East, Musa Mustapha, have taken their seats in the upper legislative chamber. Anthony Ani, the new senator representing Ebonyi South, also took his seat in the senate chamber. The three new lawmakers were sworn in as senators during the plenary on Tuesday. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directed the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, to administer the oath of office to the new senators at about 11:45 a.m. After taking the oath of office, the senators had a separate handshake with the senate president who handed copies of the senate standing rules to them. They after that exchanged pleasantries with other senators before a sergeant at arms led them to their seats. The new senators won the bye-elections and re-run conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 3, February in the respective constituencies. Bye-elections were conducted in Yobe East and Ebonyi South while Re-run was held in Plateau North. Mr Dachungyang, a member of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) replaced the former Minority leader, Simon Mwadkwon, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was sacked by the Court of Appeal last November. Mr Ani, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) replaced the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who resigned from the upper chamber after he was appointed as a minister. Mr Mustapha, a member of the APC replaced, Ibrahim Geidam, the minister of Police Affairs who also resigned after he was appointed as a minister. The senate president congratulated the new senators for their victories in the election and welcomed them to the senate chamber. According to the final results declared by the INEC, Mr Dachungyang won the re-run in his constituency with 122,442 votes. Mr Mustapha scored 68,778 votes and Mr Ani polled secured 46,270 votes. With the combination of the political parties in the upper chamber, the new Plateau North senator will be the only ADP member in the Senate. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives on Tuesday debated a bill seeking to raise the academic qualifications for positions of president, governors, and National Assembly members to a minimum of a bachelors degree. However, the bill faced a temporary setback amid hostile opposition from some members of the House. The bill, sponsored by Oriyomi Onanuga (APC, Ogun), seeks to amend sections 65, 106, 131, and 171 of the 1999 Constitution. After two hours of debate on the floor of the House, the bill was stepped down by Mrs Onanuga after members vehemently opposed the content of the bill. Education Qualification in the 1999 Constitution Sections 65, 106, 131, and 171 of the 1999 Constitution provide a school certificate or equivalent as the minimum qualification for elective positions in Nigeria. A person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this section if: (a) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent, section 65 of the 1999 constitution reads. Section 318 interpreted the school certificate as follows. School Certificate or its equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teachers Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of ten years, and (ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and (iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and (d) any other qualification acceptable by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The proposed amendment seeks to delete section 65(2a) and replace it with he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. Section 131 provides the basic qualification for a candidate to run for the office of the President. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. Mrs Onanuga sponsored the same bill in 2022; however, the bill languished in the House until the end of that Assembly. The Debate Leading the discussion on the bill, Mrs Onanuga said the bill would raise the education qualifications to contest elections in Nigeria to a minimum of a university degree and its equivalent. She urged her colleagues to support the bill, noting that the action is long overdue. Also speaking in favour of the bill, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), said the constitution must conform with the current realities in the country. What we are discussing is whether elected officials should have wisdom and knowledge. Are you telling me that a school certificate holder in 1960 is the same thing as today? In the past, primary school students were drafted to be teachers. Can a primary school holder get a job in private establishments? We must say that education is important. We should do the proper thing, he said. Several other members also spoke in support of the bill; however, it was not sufficient to convince those opposed to the bill. Speaking against the bill, Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano), said the bill could create an elitist society where only a group of people is allowed to participate in politics. Mr Madaki said the bill would not affect him or his children, but laws should be made in the interest of the greater majority. Your leadership quality is not determined by education. I have three grown-up children; they are all in universities. What we are trying to do is about all Nigerians. The level of education is not in the constitutions of some states. In the case of INEC, what we saw the professors do is terrible. As a person, I hold an MBA, but it is not about the individual. It is about the collective. I believe we should allow that section of the constitution to stay, he said. Several other lawmakers also spoke against the bill, citing exclusion as the reason for their positions against the bill. Some of the lawmakers who spoke against the bill include Kabir Maipalace (PDP, Zamfara), Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno), Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe), and others. READ ALSO: Gunmen kill PDP House of Reps candidate Amidst the opposition, Mrs Onanuga bowed to the pressure and requested to step down the motion for further consultation. The bill was subsequently stepped down by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An Airbus A340-600 airplane of Mahan Air is seen at Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas, Venezuela April 8, 2019. The U.S. government has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane that officials say was previously sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a state-owned Venezuelan firm in violation of American export control laws. The Justice Department said Monday that the American-built plane had arrived in Florida and would be disposed of. The plane had earlier been transferred from Iranian airline Mahan Air which officials have alleged provides support for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force to Emtrasur, a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of a state-owned firm that had previously been sanctioned by the United States. Officials said the sale, done without U.S. government authorization, violated export control laws and also improperly benefited Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Mahan Air has for years been subject to U.S. government restrictions on its business. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the departments national security division, said in a statement. The plane was detained in June 2022 by Argentine law enforcement, and U.S. officials moved several weeks later to take possession of it. Argentina officially transferred custody of the plane to the U.S. on Sunday, officials said. The Justice Department said the plane would now be prepared for disposition, though it did not elaborate. The Justice Department has identified the registered captain of the plane as an ex-commander for the Revolutionary Guard. Officials also cited a flight log they say was recovered that shows additional flights after the transfer to Emtrasur to locations including Moscow, Caracas and Tehran all without U.S. government approval. Mahan Air has denied any ties to the aircraft, and Venezuela has demanded that Argentine authorities release the plane. On Sunday, members of a Venezuelan-led, left-leaning alliance condemned Argentina for its role in the plane being seized by the U.S., characterizing the actions as theft. The Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America Peoples Trade Treaty argued that the actions violate international law. This aggression is another consequence of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the government of the United States that threaten the sovereignty of Venezuela and violate the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law, the group, commonly known as the Alba Alliance, said in a statement. The alliance was created in 2004 by Venezuela and Cuba in a bid to counter U.S. influence in the region. Nicaragua, Bolivia and some Caribbean nations are among its current members. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has disowned Daniel Bwala, who served as a spokesperson for his presidential campaign for last years presidential election. Atiku said in a statement released by his media office on Tuesday that Mr Bwala is not and has never been his aide beyond his roles as a spokesperson for his presidential campaign between 2022 and early 2023. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Mr Bwalas roles in the presidential campaign terminated with the election coming to an end last year. It is important that the media and the general public take corrective note of defining Mr Daniel Bwala as an aide to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. Bwala offered his services and support to the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization as a spokesperson and it was a position he held during the last presidential campaign, the statement read in part. Telling rapprochement Atikus statement denying ties with Mr Bwala came amid growing rapport between the former PDP presidential campaign spokesperson and President Bola Tinubu. Mr Bwala transformed from being an unsparing attacker of presidential candidate Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the campaigns to being an apostle of his policies after the former Lagos State governor was inaugurated as president. His public support for Mr Tinubu on social media and national TVs earned him privileged meetings with the president within and outside the country in January. On 11 January, he honoured an invitation to the Presidential Villa as the presidents guest. After the visit, the lawyer said he was committed to working for the president and had no apologies for doing so. In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the president for the decisions he is taking. So this is not about political parties. And you need to know that like I said, I was with him before I left, Mr Bwala told journalists. He also said on TV later on that he informed Atiku of his plan to meet Mr Tinubu and also updated him after returning from the Presidential Villa. According to Mr Bwala, Atiku replied his message, saying, Thanks for notifying me. https://guardian.ng/news/i-informed-atiku-before-after-meeting-with-tinubu-says-bwala/ Later in January, he met again with Mr Tinubu in France, further fuelling speculations of his imminent return to the ruling APC. Mr Bwalas rapprochement with Mr Tinubu is a telling comeback of a relationship that only went sour after Mr Tinubu picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election in 2022. Mr Bwala supported President Tinubu during the presidential primaries of the APC but withdrew his support because of the controversial Muslim/Muslim ticket of the APC. He subsequently resigned from the ruling party after President Tinubu announced Kashim Shettima, a Muslim and former Borno State governor, as his running mate Read Atikus full statement PRESS RELEASE Bwala is a former spokesperson of Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation and not a former aide to the former Vice President. It is important that the media and the general public take corrective note of defining Mr Daniel Bwala as an aide to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. Bwala offered his services and support to the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization as a spokesperson and it was a position he held during the last presidential campaign. Subsequently, and after the election, the need for a campaign spokesperson has terminated, and Bwala has moved on with his career. This, therefore, serves as notice to the media and the interested public to desist from defining Bwala as an ex-aide of Atiku Abubakar. We duly urge the public to henceforth recognize, introduce, and define Daniel Bwala by his current vocation and alliance. Signed: Atiku Media Office Abuja 13th February, 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigeria and the UK on Tuesday signed a new trade agreement to boost trade and investment between both countries. Called the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the agreement is also expected to also unlock new opportunities for UK and Nigerian businesses. The Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is the first the UK has signed with an African country and is designed to grow the UK and Nigerias already thriving trading relationship, which totalled 7 billion in the year to September 2023, the British High Commission Nigeria said in a press statement on Tuesday. The agreement was signed by the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, alongside her counterpart and Nigerian Trade Minister, Doris Uzoka-Anite, in Abuja. According to the High Commission, the arrangement will pave the way for opportunities in sectors crucial to both economies such as finance and legal services as well as foster new collaborations in innovative areas like the creative industry. Im delighted to be here to sign our new enhanced partnership which will allow UK firms to export their world-class goods and services more easily and expand their footprint in Nigeria, Ms Badenoch said. Similarly, Ms Uzoka-Anite said, This partnership will see Nigeria-UK relations move beyond one of shared history and strong ties to one of shared economic prosperity. From increasing market access and supporting our vibrant businesses to creating more jobs and accelerating greater investments in sectors of mutual interests. The ETIP also initiates further collaboration on the UKs ambitious Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), launched last year, which puts in place simpler and more generous trading terms for Nigeria and 36 other African countries. Nigeria is a major beneficiary of changes introduced by the DCTS and will see tariff reductions on over 3,000 products, meaning that 99 per cent of existing Nigerian exports to the UK by value will be duty-free. Tariffs have been removed on Nigerian goods which promote value addition in important non-oil export sectors such as cocoa butter and paste, sesame oil, and clothing and apparel. These changes will boost trade with the UK and support the Federal Government of Nigerias wider trade policy priorities. The ETIP will help to build on the significant progress already made in resolving market access barriers in the education and financial sectors, which have led to a more favourable trading environment for UK and Nigerian businesses. In addition, through this partnership, there is an opportunity to leverage UK and international investment from the City of London, which is home to the top financial and professional services. During her visit, Ms Badenoch will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at Abujas first industrial park built by UK-Turkish construction firm Zeberced Ltd to open its support services areas at the site. The UK government has been supporting the firm in several areas. The $144 million industrial park is set to create 620 direct jobs and 1,650 indirect jobs and provide a base for major firms to access central and northern Nigeria. She will also witness the signing of an energy agreement between UK-based energy firm Konexa and Nigerian power generation company, North South Power (NSP). The agreement will enable Konexa to supply Nigerian Breweries PLC with 100 per cent renewable power, promote sustainable development and clean energy adoption, and lead to infrastructure investments of over 14 million. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government is set to commence the implementation of the Pulaku Initiative, a large-scale resettlement programme aimed at addressing the root causes of farmers-herders conflicts and fostering national unity. Accordingly, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday inaugurated a steering committee to coordinate the implementation of the initiative in fulfilment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus promise to improve the lives of all Nigerians. The committee chaired by Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, also has representatives of governors of the benefiting states as members. Other members of the committee include the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; representatives of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), BUA Group, Dangote Group and the Director General of NEMA, among others. Speaking during the inauguration of the implementation committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the vice president said the project must be seen as an emergency to tackle a challenge that has threatened the fabric of Nigeria. It serves as a testament to the fulfilment of the promises made by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The aim is to create an environment where the prosperity of our people is not just a distant dream but a tangible and achievable reality. This comprehensive approach reflects our dedication to fostering sustainable development and improving the lives of all citizens, Mr Shettima assured. This comprehensive approach reflects our dedication to fostering sustainable development and improving the lives of all citizens, the VP stated, assuring that the initiative will address a challenge that has persisted across various generations and demands our collective resolve, our optimum sense of justice, and our unconditional compassion. This is not merely a response; it is a call to action. We are here because each of our programmes or policies will falter unless we get to the root of the dysfunctions we have inherited, he added. The Pulaku initiative will initially focus on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by farmers-herders conflicts. They are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna State. The initiative aims to revitalize these communities through the construction of residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities. Explaining the idea of focusing on the seven states, the vice president said, The selection of these states is a deliberate and strategic approach. The aim is to generate ripple effects that will not only revitalize communities but also lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and cohesive Nigeria. VP Shettima further explained that the Pulaku resettlement is a national commitment to confront a threat that has fuelled distrust and conflicts within communities and across the boundaries of our federation. This non-kinetic solution is not designed to compensate any particular group or region. Therefore, we must cast aside any notion of divisive regionalism and see the Pulaku initiative for what it truly isa practical response to a shared challenge, he added. Urging all stakeholders to embrace the initiative with open hearts and minds, he said, Let our legacy be measured not in the structures we build but in the lives we uplift, the unity we restore, and the collective strength of a nation rising above its challenges. Also present at the meeting were representatives from several Nigerian states and institutions, including Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Dikko Radah of Katsina State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State. Others are Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede; Director-General of NEMA, Ahmed Habib; Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, and representatives from Dangote Group, BUA Group, and Shelter Afrique. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the utilisation of funds allocated to states through the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). This resolution was a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) on Wednesday during plenary. It is unclear how the lawmakers plan to embark on this probe, considering state governments are not accountable to federal lawmakers. Under the current federal system, sub-nationals are semi-autonomous entities with their legislative bodies. Despite this, the House mandated its Committees on Special Duties, National Planning and Economic Development, and Inter-Governmental Affairs to look into state spending and the utilisation of the increased allocation from FAAC. Moving the motion, Mr Kuye lamented the high poverty rate despite the increment in allocation to states due to the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system. He said, States and local governments received a total of N6.57 trillion in 2023, double the N3.16 trillion they received in 2022. Despite the availability of more cash to the states, 14.2 million more citizens continue to grapple with poverty, even as Delta received N217.74 billion; River N179.81 billion, Akwa Ibom N145.57, Bayelsa 128 billion, have a poverty rate of 13.1%, 7.3%, 22.9%, 24.3%, respectively, according to a World report. Mr Kuye said state governors have refused to pull their fair share of the weight to complement the efforts of the federal government. State governors have brazenly refused to complement the federal governments poverty amelioration efforts and are not driving the necessary economic transformation that will reduce citizen suffering in their respective states with the increased allocation at their disposal, the lawmaker said. Following the presentation of the motion, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen put the motion into question without debate. Several members tried to raise points of order on the motion, but Mr Tajudeen ignored everyone and proceeded to put the question. The House subsequently gave the Committees four weeks to conclude the investigation and report to the House. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Our comprehensive study delves into the voting patterns across various senatorial districts, meticulously examining the performance of crucial political parties like APC, PDP, and LP. We have meticulously dissected the trends and preferences that have emerged in different zones of Edo State, providing a clear picture of the electorates evolving sentiments. Democracy in Nigeria has had a very colourful journey. After twenty-five years of the Fourth Republic, we are at a point where it is entrenched, with specific trends emerging. We are seeing increased awareness and participation of various groups, and what scholars will argue is a true reflection of the will of the people coming through in the voting trends. Using the forthcoming Edo State elections as a case study, we have delved into the past elections and noted vital trends and potential factors that will determine the choice of candidates from the various parties and who the voters eventually choose to occupy Osadebe House. A key trend that has been noted is the reduced margin in the contributions of votes between the two significant population zones Edo North and Edo South. While it is commonly said that Edo South has 60 per cent of the Edo votes, the results from previous elections tell a similar but different story. The data of the last three governorship elections see Edo South holding the majority votes in Edo State, with 48.56 per cent of the votes cast. We observed a situation where the initial gap of 16.14 per cent between the regions of Edo South and Edo North in the 2016 governorship election was reduced to 11 per cent in the 2020 governorship election, suggesting the presence of either a better voter interest/mobilisation machinery in Edo North, the opposite in Edo South or what we believe is a symptom of increased migration out of Edo South to various states like Lagos and other countries. It was also noted that Edo North and Central voted along party lines in virtually all the elections, usually mobilising approximately 60 per cent of their votes for the parties that hold sway in the regions. This can be seen as the people holding faith in the various parties, given the perceived benefits and dividends of democracy that they have received, such as the PDP giving Edo Central five ministers in twenty-six years and Edo North benefitting from significant infrastructural development under the APC governorship of Senator Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the minister from Edo North. With a significant 330,000 voters representing 58.87 per cent of the total Edo votes, while putting party sentiments aside in the 2023 presidential election and searching for a perceived competent candidate to place their trust in (voting for Labour Party over the two traditional parties), the key to the forthcoming election lies in the choice of candidates by the three major political parties. The most prominent observation is that the swing votes reside in certain quarters of Edo South. The voting trends signal a sophisticated zone with no solid attachment or fidelity to any party, but instead the placing of more emphasis on an affinity for the attributes and antecedents of candidates in determining the most likely of them to deliver good governance. In various years, Edo South has delivered different parties in the various elections on the same voting day, showing a keen ability to separate and understand the issues at play. The zone has also voted for multiple parties at various intervals, depending on the prevailing narratives. The votes, while ever-present, have been fluidly allocated to candidates at the different elections on the basis of what they have been able to sell to the masses. With a significant 330,000 voters representing 58.87 per cent of the total Edo votes, while putting party sentiments aside in the 2023 presidential election and searching for a perceived competent candidate to place their trust in (voting for Labour Party over the two traditional parties), the key to the forthcoming election lies in the choice of candidates by the three major political parties. With the trends and power most likely to shift from Edo South, we will possibly see a situation in which the traditional parties pick their deputy governorship candidates from the South and their governorship candidates from their strongholds, thus seeing the PDP go with a candidate from Edo Central and APC from Edo North. Especially given the likelihood of LP picking its candidate from Edo South for the governorship election, in a bid to consolidate on the inroads it made in the zone during the last presidential election. This sets up an exciting battle for the competency-based swing votes in Edo South, as the choice of candidates by the PDP and APC will become even more critical in putting up a defence in the region. This promises to be one of the most exciting elections in recent Nigerian history as over 20 aspirants have bought forms to contest across the three major political parties. On this note, the PROVE Foundation takes great pride in publicly releasing our detailed analysis of Edo State Elections. This document presents an in-depth look at the electoral landscape in Edo State, offering critical insights into the recent elections that have shaped the States political landscape. The significance of this document lies in its potential to serve as a valuable tool for political strategists, academics, policymakers, and the public. By shedding light on the intricacies of Edo States electoral processes, our report aims to foster a more informed and engaged citizenry, strengthening democratic principles in the State. Our comprehensive study delves into the voting patterns across various senatorial districts, meticulously examining the performance of crucial political parties like APC, PDP, and LP. We have meticulously dissected the trends and preferences that have emerged in different zones of Edo State, providing a clear picture of the electorates evolving sentiments. Furthermore, the report goes beyond mere statistics to explore the underlying factors influencing voter behaviour and election outcomes. This includes an assessment of socio-political dynamics, economic influences, and other critical elements that have played a pivotal role in shaping the populaces electoral decisions. The significance of this document lies in its potential to serve as a valuable tool for political strategists, academics, policymakers, and the public. By shedding light on the intricacies of Edo States electoral processes, our report aims to foster a more informed and engaged citizenry, strengthening democratic principles in the State. The dissemination of this information will not only enhance public understanding of the political landscape but also encourage more transparent and accountable governance. It is a step forward in our continuous effort to promote informed electoral participation and democratic integrity in Nigeria. We invite scholars, political analysts, journalists, and all interested parties to delve into this report, as it serves as a crucial resource for anyone looking to comprehend the nuances of Nigerian politics and the specific characteristics of Edo States electoral dynamics. Omotola Ariyo is a research coordinator at PROVE Foundation. He was previously an Associate at Morgan Stanley and an Analyst at Goldman Sachs. He holds an LLB and LLM from the LSE, where he is completing his PhD. He sits on the boards of various organisations in the public and private sectors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Can we meet you sir? My name is Satis Singh Rathore. The Managing Director of Rahamaniyya Fertiliser and I have 25 years experience. What kind of fertiliser are you producing in the company? In Rahamaniyya fertiliser, we are preparing NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser and NPK 15:15:15. These two varieties are very familiar and very famous with the farmers and we produce all kinds of NPK fertilisers: They use NPK 20:10:10 and NPK 15:15:15 for various crops. The aim of Rahamaniyya fertiliser is to produce very good fertilisers for the farmers. That is our target. In preparation of NPK, we are using urea, we are using DAP, we are using MOP and limestone. Limestone is a raw material, but in preparation of the limestone, we have our own products, we are not going to buy from anybody. That means our limestone granules is a very good product because its 100 per cent limestone. We are giving 100 per cent to farmers. The Rahamanniyya fertiliser NPK 20:10:10, NPK 15:15:15, these are some the best fertilisers in Nigeria. We have already given the sample to the Nigerian government, they have already approved the two as the best in Nigeria. We are giving the farmers good products, that is the target of Rahamanniyya fertiliser that we can give the farmers pure fertiliser. Purity means what are the elements in the fertiliser, just like Urea. Urea must be pure, DAP must be pure, MOP must be pure and limestone should be pure. Nowadays in the market, we have seen so many varieties of limestones available. Those varieties, we have checked in our laboratory, but our limestone is the number one in the market. I challenged others to check the quality of the limestone we are using. They can come to our plant and see our limestone granules name and they can check what is the property, what is the quality that we are using? We are using pure ground limestone, there is no dust, there is no mud. So, purity, we can say, is 100 per cent. If purity is there, that means it will yield more profit to farmers automatically. And my whole team is working according to that. What is the cost of the project? We have two lines of NPK. Two lines mean line one and line two. All the lines are designed for 60MT per hour. That means we can say one line has the capacity of 1,414. The two lines have the capacities of 2,818 MT per day. That means we are capable of producing 2,818 MT per day of NPK. After two lines of blending plants, we also have limestone plant. The problem of limestone is dust. Our limestone plant has zero dust. That is why our fertiliser is very pure. We have two limestone plants. One plant is already commissioned and the second is almost at completion stage. Within two months, the project would be completed. After the competition, we can run four plants at a time. How many metric tonnes can it produced per annum? We are producing 2,818 MT per day. So you can say 1,028,570MT per annum is our blending capacity and limestone capacity is 40MT per hour and if you calculate in 30 hours or 24 hours, we can say 800MT per day production for the limestone granules. This is the first plant in Nigeria with this capacity. Rahamanniyya fertiliser is one of the biggest and highest capacity plants in Nigeria. Its a huge production. There are similar fertiliser plants across Nigeria; what would you say is the strength Rahamanniyya fertilizer has over others? Actually in Nigeria, a lot of fertiliser plants are available. And for the urea, the Dangote fertiliser plant is also there in Lagos. Indorama fertiliser is in Port Harcourt, Rivers state and so many NPK plants are there. Dangote fertiliser is producing only urea. Indorama fertiliser is producing only urea. But we are mixing the fertiliser. What is the purpose of urea? Urea is giving nitrogen to the crops. But, we are doing the mixing of the fertiliser. That means we are giving nitrogen, ammonium phosphate (DAP), that means we are giving phosphate also (MOP), we are giving pottash also and we are giving limestone. That means we are giving nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and limestone. That is why Im saying our fertiliser is unique. With the Rahamanniyah fertiliser coming on board, do you think this is enough to stop Nigeria from importing fertiliser from other parts of the world? Yes, that is a big problem we are facing in Nigeria. That we are importing fertiliser from abroad, that is not good because everything is available in Nigeria. Phosphate is available. Sokoto is rich of limestone very huge quantity of limestone is available. Dangote and Indorama are producing urea, so we are not depending on other countries for the urea, we are depending on our own. As a Nigerian team, Im saying we are producing our own urea and after some time we are going to produce our phosphate also. Phosphate is also available in Nigeria. The phosphate we are using as DAP. MOP, we can import from other countries, its okay. But other three products are also available in Nigeria. With Rahamanniyya fertiliser, Nigeria Will not dependent on the other countries because our product quality, our product capacity is already very high. It is sufficient for the Nigerian market. How does Rahamanniyya fertiliser benefit the farmers? Initially, I told you that so many fertilisers are available in the market. And I have checked because we are in the market, we are competing in the market, some old fertilisers are also there and we are the new fertiliser. That is why we want to compete in the market. So, what we are doing, we are taking samples from other fertilisers companies and we are doing sampling in our own laboratory and we are comparing our products. We are comparing the standard of our product with others. And we found that our product quality is very high. If farmers are purchasing Rahamaniyya fertiliser, it will give them automatic benefits because other products in the market have a lot of dust and mud. There is too much dust in the fertiliser they are purchasing. If farmers are using the Rahamaniyya fertiliser, one bag of our product is equal to four bags of other fertiliser. Whats your message for your competitors? I already told you that we have two lines of blending. Each lens has a capacity of 60MT per hour. That means total capacity is 2880MT. Also we have two lines of limestones granules, which is very huge in capacity. I already told you that our limestone is dust free. If anybody is interested in purchasing this limestone from the Rahamanniyya fertiliser, you are free to come. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Dr. Sam MadukaOnyishi, the founder and chancellor of Maduka University Enugu, has stated that the institution is committed to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. According to him, Maduka University stands as a beacon of transformative education in the region. He said, I have told them already. Our mission is clear: we are dedicated to preparing our students for greatness. From day one, we instil in them the values of integrity, fear of God, innovation, entrepreneurship, and a global perspective. Echoing Dr.Madukas sentiments, Professor Charles UzodimmaOgbulogo, the vice chancellor of the university, stressed the institutions practical approach to education. Maduka University is not merely a place of learning; it is a hub of innovation and enterprise. Through hands-on experiences and cutting-edge curriculum, we empower our students to make meaningful contributions to society. Our goal is to cultivate a generation of leaders who are not only proficient in their fields but also driven by a sense of purpose, Professor Ogbulogo added. Gone are the days of passive education; we are ushering in an era of proactive learning, where students are encouraged to think critically and act decisively. Students, too, voiced their reasons for choosing Maduka University as their educational home. Mmadubikie Emmanuel Chigozien shared, I was drawn to Maduka University because I saw the potential for transformation. Here, I found the resources and support I needed to pursue my dreams. Similarly, Ibezi Mercy Chinaza expressed admiration for the universitys founder. She said, Dr. Sam Onyishis vision and leadership inspire us all. His dedication to excellence serves as a guiding light for students like myself, eager to make a positive impact in the world. Maduka University, accredited by the National University Commission, offers a diverse range of programs across various schools. Here are some of the programmes and corresponding fees for the 2024/2025 academic session: School of Business and Social Sciences: Accounting: 558,000 Economics: 558,000 Mass Communication: 558,000 International Relations: 558,000 Transport Management: 558,000 School of Computing: Information Technology: 598,000 Computer Science: 598,000 Cybersecurity: 598,000 Software Engineering: 598,000 School of Engineering: Civil Engineering: 598,000 Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 598,000 Mechanical Engineering: 598,000 Mechatronics Engineering: 598,000 Computer Engineering: 598,000 School of Health Sciences: Physiotherapy: 598,000 Medical Laboratory Science: 598,000 Public health: #598,000 Anatomy: #598,000 Physiology: #598,000 Pharmacology: #598,000 Nursing Science: 1,008,000 Medicine & Surgery: #2,220,000 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmacy: 908,000 School of Law: LAW: 908,000 Additional Information: These fees are for the full session, inclusive of the accommodation. For students who did not take the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Maduka University offers opportunity for admissions to the University, through Jupeb & IJMB programmes at 558,000. Contact Information: For inquiries or payment methods, prospective students can reach out to Maduka University at 08055091802 or 09157893107, or via email at admissions@madukauniversity.edu.ng https://.madukauniversity.edu.ng Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has doled out cash and food items to 810 volunteers fighting Boko Haram alongside the military and other security agencies in Bama Local Government Area of the state. Mr Zulum gave out the package on Tuesday at the Palace of the Shehu of Bama, Umar Shehu-Kyari. The governor extolled the volunteers for their sacrifices and commitment to defending the state and assured them of the governments continuous support. He said the gesture was to encourage the volunteers to keep pushing for the return of total peace and security across the state. We are aware of the enormous efforts you put into complementing the military in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality, we commend you and urge you to continue to be dedicated, he said. Mr Zulum assured that the government would never relent in extending support to them. Your welfare is of high priority to us, we will not leave you, be assured that the government will always be with you, the governor added. Mr Zulum said the government and people of the state were grateful to the volunteers for their sacrifices in complementing the military and other security forces in the fight against insurgency.(NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has disclosed what the commission needs to bring about faster results in its operation. The NDDC board and management are ready to work hand-in-hand with the federal government for unprecedented, efficient, and transparent development of the Niger Delta, Mr Ogbuku said, on Friday, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, at a two-day board and management retreat of the commission. Give us the trust and the flexibility to operate within a responsible, tailored financial framework, and we will demonstrably deliver results faster and more efficiently than ever before, Mr Ogbuku added. The NDDC, set up in 2000 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo to fast-track development in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, had been described in the past as being inefficient and corrupt. Godswill Akpabio, while he was the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said the NDDC was so corrupt that it was treated like an ATM. Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is now the president of the Nigerian Senate. Irrespective of what the public thinks about it, the NDDC managing director, Mr Ogbuku, is of the belief that the commission has performed well. READ ALSO: If you look at the records nobody can tag NDDC a failure. The records are there, he said. In the past 24 years, NDDC, in terms of infrastructure has embarked on training and skill acquisition programmes, and medical outreaches. NDDCs medical outreach in the Niger Delta has been the most successful, as the commission has given health services to the people in the rural areas in the Niger Delta. These are developments you cant really see, so because you cant quantify them, you assume NDDC has done nothing. In terms of scholarship, NDDC has given foreign postgraduate scholarships to over 2,300 Niger Delta indigenes. I can assure you, the NDDC Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship is the most successful in the Niger Delta. In terms of project infrastructure, in the past 24 years, NDDC has executed about 7,483 projects. Out of these completed projects, about 3,357 are roads and bridges, about 611 are renewable energy projects, and 3,427 are still ongoing, he said. Our missions success not measured by budgets or timelines Mr Ogbuku emphasised that the NDDC needs a financial framework to succeed. Our missions success is measured not by budgets or timelines, but by the tangible transformations we bring to the lives of the people we serve. With your support, a financial framework that fosters agility and innovation within a transparent and accountable system, and the removal of unnecessary constraints, we can chart a course towards a brighter future a future where the Niger Delta becomes a beacon of hope and prosperity for the entire nation. Adopted style Chiedu Ebie, the chairperson, NDDC board, while addressing the participants at the retreat, said the board and the management have adopted a leadership style that aims to instil confidence in the Niger Delta people, as well as prioritise their well-being. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, in his address at the retreat, tasked the NDDC board to implement the recommendations of the report of the forensic audit of the commission. Let me again use this opportunity to remind us that if we must make any headway in charting the desired roadmap for sustainable development of the region, all hands must be on deck with every courage to serve and tackle those factors that have constituted a clog in the wheel of developmental programmes and policies in the region, the minister said. A former minister for Information and Communication, Frank Nweke Jnr., appealed to President Bola Tinubu to remove the NDDC from the Treasury Single Account which he said created an administrative bottleneck in the operations of the commission. During the retreat, the NDDC unveiled its 10-Point Agenda for Renewed Hope which includes building partnerships, improved peace and security, efficient and cost-effective projects, and improved youth capacity and skills base. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sol&Luna, Kissme, Paraismo Romano and Deseos. Theyre not romantic ballads, nor nightclubs, as people outside Cali, the capital of Colombias Valle del Cauca, might suppose. Theyre actually a few of the iconic motels in western Colombias first city, which since 2022 have made headlines in major media sources like Pulzo and El Tiempo, accompanied by the ubiquitous statistic that the metropolis has some 7,950 of such establishments. The staggering figure went viral on social media, and even became a trending topic on X. But Calis Chamber of Commerce, the supposed source of that figure, only has record of 180 registered hotels. The origin of the hoax is unclear, but it did appear back in September 2022 in a ranked list of cities based on their love hotels that was published by RCN Radio, which cited as its source the Chamber of Commerce of each municipality. Cali was at the top of the rankings. Next came Barranquilla, with 800 such motels, then Bogota with 681 such establishments. Nonetheless, Calis Chamber of Commerce told EL PAIS that it only has information on 180 motels, and that of Bogota says that in 2023, the capital only had 279 on the books. Fake news echoing across various media sources is nothing new; a month ago, various newspapers swore that a recent study showed that chicharron (pork rinds) is healthier than certain vegetables, despite the fact that such a study never existed. In the case of the motels, data seemed to support the idea that Cali is the city of love, as even its former mayor, Jorge Ivan Ospina, called it in 2020. The concept led to the naming of the ASOAMAR (Association of Motels, Furnished Apartments and Residences in Valle del Cauca), which, according to spokesperson Orlando Perez, represents about 13,000 residences that exist across the 41 municipalities in the department of Valle del Cauca. Perez tells EL PAIS that there are thousands in Cali alone, but that many are either unregistered or do not appear as motels in official documentation. The motel crisis Aside from the figure being erroneous, the current reality for moteliers is a bit bleak. ASOAMAR says that a few years ago, motels provided a certain discretion that was highly prized by clients, given that such places usually do not keep a record of visitors information. But in recent years, competitors such as Airbnb have emerged who offer the same anonymity, and that provide larger spaces, sometimes at better prices. All with minimal industry restrictions, and growing supply of options. Perez also cites a generational paradigm shift when it comes to sex, which has diminished the use of these spaces. Sociologist Viviam Unas, who has studied Calis motels, agrees. She says that, as a university professor, she has seen evidence of this change in her classes with younger students. The motel fulfilled a need that likely had to do with the idea that sexuality, except for that which was formally exercised within the institution of marriage, was not allowed. That has changed, thanks to younger generations, she says. The pandemic and its subsequent lockdown also delivered a blow to the motels. The National Association of Hotel Industry Owners of Colombia (InHotelCo), which represents hotels, motels and hostels, says that the industry has only returned to about 40% of its pre-pandemic earnings. Due to these dismal figures, motel owners and other proprietors have warned that the industry could be in trouble. In light of these difficulties, in 2023, August 29 was declared Motel Day. They chose the date as a prelude to the Day of Love and Friendship, which in Colombia is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. We want to invite Colombians to visit us and enjoy our service, have a new experience and get out their routine to give their love new life, says InHotelCo in a press statement that announced their strategy to recast their image, once dedicated to furtive encounters, to one focused on connecting as a couple. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This collaboration recognises Foster + Baylis' and Contrast's shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of design excellence. By unifying their talents, resources and passion for transformational design, the newly formed entity addresses the rapidly evolving branding and design eco-system the industry faces. Combining the visionary leadership of Harvey Foster, Founder of Foster + Baylis and Matt Clemens, Founder of Contrast, amplifies their track records in delivering strategic, insight-driven branding solutions that resonate with global audiences. "We are delighted to embark on this exciting journey with Contrast. It's a testament to our shared vision for the future of design and our commitment to delivering unparalleled creative solutions to our clients," said Foster. Matt Clemens echoed this sentiment: "By bringing both companies together, we are leveraging the strengths of our teams, offering a more diverse cultural expertise, as well as a combined knowledge of both retail and national brands, enabling us to offer a broader spectrum of insights and services on a global level. Together, we will create lasting impressions that will resonate with consumers." The merged entity will retain the name Contrast. The company will operate from its current offices in London and Chicago, maintaining regional offices to ensure seamless service delivery to clients globally. Contrast will specialise in a comprehensive range of branding services, including consumer insights, brand strategy, design and adaptation, as well as digital experiences. The merger will provide clients with a one-stop destination for all design needs. Both companies are part of the Jupiter Prestige Group, and Mark White, Jupiter Prestige Group's Managing Director, sees this as an ideal opportunity to strengthen the group's brand strategy and design offering, explaining: "This now gives us a platform for enhanced group proposition as the merger unlocks exciting new possibilities, combining the strengths of two creative forces to deliver an extraordinary level of strategic brand design that we plan to expand further on a global scale in 2024." About Contrast: Contrast is a result of the merger between Foster + Baylis and Contrast, two leading brand design companies that are part of the Jupiter Prestige Group. Contrast is committed to pushing the boundaries of design excellence. With a wealth of experience, innovation, and creativity, Contrast will transform the landscape of brand design, delivering unparalleled branding solutions to clients globally. www.thebrandcontrast.com About JPG: JPG is a global packaging brand management company that brings brands to life through creative ingenuity and technical innovation. Their strategically aligned global office locations enable their teams to work collaboratively and deliver seamlessly. http://www.jpgglobal.net Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338836/Harvey_Foster_and_Matt_Clemens.jpg The University of Arizona study supported by Dogtopia Foundation further highlights the positive impacts service dogs can have on veterans PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine looked at the impact service dogs had on the cortisol levels of veterans suffering from PTSD. The study found that those with service dogs had healthier cortisol levels when compared to those without service dogs. The research, led by Dr. Maggie O'Haire, Associate Dean for Research and Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Leanne Nieforth, with the help of K9s For Warriors and funding support from the Dogtopia Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Purina, provides further evidence of the positive benefits service dogs offer veterans. The study assessed a total of 161 veterans who had PTSD, 88 who had a service dog and 73 who did not. Cortisol, a stress hormone that is found in saliva, was assessed at two different points in time, three months apart, and a total of 2,613 cortisol samples were analyzed. The study concluded that overall, veterans with service dogs had stress hormones more like those in healthy adults without PTSD than veterans without service dogs. After military service, around 52% of veterans face PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a key provider for veterans, has been hesitant to allocate funds for service dogs for individuals dealing with PTSD service dogs, citing a lack of clinical evidence substantiating their effectiveness. O'Haire's pioneering research is bridging this gap. "The goal of our research is to gain a robust understanding of the impact service dogs have on veterans and their mental health," said O'Haire, who has been conducting research on service dogs and veterans for nearly a decade. "Science continues to evolve in our understanding of how service dogs may influence symptoms for veterans struggling with PTSD and their quality of life." "We've had the profound privilege of meeting many of the veterans we've supported through our fundraising efforts, and hearing first-hand how these service dogs saved their lives," said Liz Meyers, executive director of the Dogtopia Foundation. "Their testimonials drive our commitment to support Dr. O'Haire's incredible work, while we continue fundraising to support our veterans in need." "Thanks to the support of Dogtopia Foundation, NIH, and Purina, we can continue to pursue our research on the impact of service dogs on their owners and ensure all service members struggling with PTSD can receive the support they need in the future," said Julie Funk, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Research involving service dogs and veterans further validates the efforts of organizations supported by Dogtopia Foundation, such as K9s For Warriors. "K9s For Warriors' mission is simple to end veteran suicide through the use of highly trained service dogs. The success of our program, graduating nearly 1,000 Warriors, wouldn't be possible without the important research of the O'Haire Lab at the University of Arizona. This study further legitimizes the positive impact service dogs have on veterans with PTSD," said K9s For Warriors Chief Program Officer Kevin Steele. "Every day, K9s For Warriors has the privilege to witness the life-changing effect a service dog has on a veteran. Thank you to the Dogtopia Foundation, NIH and Purina for supporting this crucial research, allowing us to continue changing veteran lives." In partnership with Dogtopia's franchise network of more than 265 dog daycares, the Dogtopia Foundation has raised more than $3 million and has helped support the training of 450 service dogs since the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization was established in 2017. More information about Dr. O'Haire's study can be found here. For more information about the Dogtopia Foundation and how you can support its efforts, visit www.dogtopiafoundation.org . If you are interested in learning more about the Dogtopia franchise in general, visit www.dogtopia.com . About Dogtopia: Founded in 2002, Dogtopia is an early pioneer and innovator in the dog daycare industry, offering an experience focused on wellness, quality of care, safety, and transparency in the market. The ultimate destination for improving the physical and mental wellbeing of dogs and pet parents, Dogtopia helps our furry friends live long, healthy, and happy lives with services that holistically address canine wellness. Pet parents have the assurance of leaving their beloved furry family members in the hands of trained professionals in an environment created with the safety of dogs in mind, including spacious playrooms assigned by size and play style, comfortable rubber flooring to reduce the impact on joints and paws, and webcams for pet parents to check in on their pups. For more information, visit www.dogtopia.com . About Dogtopia Foundation The Dogtopia Foundation enables dogs to positively change our world through funding programs focused around service dogs for veterans, therapy dogs for students and employment initiatives for adults with autism. The Foundation's aim is to identify needs, fill gaps and integrate knowledge for continuous improvement in the three areas of focus. By connecting dogs with organizations the Foundation supports, the Foundation is helping returning veterans, children and adults with autism reach their full potential. To learn more, visit www.dogtopiafoundation.org. Media Contact: Maddie LaPorta, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300 SOURCE Dogtopia ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Accushield, the leader in visitor management for senior living and skilled nursing, is excited to announce the official launch of #ProjectLoveMeter. The mission of #ProjectLoveMeter is to tackle the rising epidemic of social isolation, severe loneliness, and risk of mental decline among residents living in senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities, which often stem from a lack of social interaction and engagement with visitors. Accushield | #ProjectLoveMeter With #ProjectLoveMeter, Accushield will use an "isolation score" calculated by their kiosk-based software platform to identify residents who may be "at risk" of social disconnectedness due to a low number of visitations and other engagement factors. When a resident is identified as "at risk," the software intelligently matches the resident with volunteers who share similar likes, interests, and availability. Since its start in 2013, Accushield has replaced over 7,000 traditional paper-based visitor sign-in books with a digital tablet, allowing communities to collect valuable visitor data that would otherwise be trapped in the sign-in books. The #ProjectLoveMeter initiative is part of Accushield's broader mission to leverage this visitor data collected at the kiosk to improve resident care and social connectedness in senior living and skilled nursing. The #ProjectLoveMeter upgrade allows Accushield customers to unlock the power of their visitor data to put lonely and potentially disconnected residents on a higher path to healthy, connected living. #ProjectLoveMeter is well timed, as many communities are moving to a value-based care operating model. Unfortunately, loneliness is not a new phenomenon in senior living and skilled nursing communities. An estimated 50% of residents have no close relatives, and 46% have no living children. These factors, as well as the life demands of loved ones, prevent more than 50% of residents from experiencing social connectedness through meaningful social visits. Historically, life enrichment directors and programs have been utilized to address the social needs of residents in senior living and skilled nursing facilities. Life enrichment programs typically include group activities and engagement platforms on set schedules. However, due to limited resources, these programs are often not enough to promote and sustain social connections among residents effectively. #ProjectLoveMeter seeks to help by providing operators and life enrichment directors with data and insights to proactively detect risks of loneliness. It also aims to supply essential volunteer support to help staff enhance the engagement and connections that residents need and deserve. "#ProjectLoveMeter is more than just another industry software program and piece of hardware," explains TK King, Vice President of Healthcare Strategy at Accushield. "It's an industry-relevant solution that takes the outdated paper sign-in book, revolutionizes it, and harnesses the power of visitation data that would otherwise be lost on paper to pinpoint resident loneliness and isolation risks. When you couple this kind of innovation with a robust volunteer matching program, you have a solution that not only addresses resident needs but also creates a new pool of resources for an already strained workforce." Here's how Accushield's #ProjectLoveMeter flips the script on the response to senior loneliness and isolation. First, Accushield's Visitor Management kiosk captures resident social visits from family, friends, and volunteers. Then, customers leverage the Love Meter report, where social visit data is tracked, to help pinpoint residents at risk of loneliness due to limited or declining social visits. Next, the staff evaluates other factors that could increase the resident's risk of loneliness, such as activity engagement, mobility status, and additional clinical insights. Based on evaluation outcomes, staff identify and implement the appropriate resident-centered interventions, including resident and volunteer matching via the #ProjectLoveMeter network. #ProjectLoveMeter distinguishes itself from conventional life enrichment initiatives by aiming to establish the most extensive volunteer network in the industry. The Accushield volunteer network currently has 1.6 million people but will also utilize partnerships with universities, churches, industry groups, local businesses, and other entities in search of volunteer opportunities. All volunteers undergo a credentialing process that meets community standards. Through an advanced matching algorithm, residents are paired with volunteers who have similar interests, availability, hobbies, and more, promoting enriching and meaningful social interactions. Charles Mann, Founder and CSO at Accushield, sums it up as follows, "Our senior living and skilled nursing partners do an amazing job of caring for their residents. #ProjectLoveMeter aims to augment that care by utilizing volunteer resources to come alongside community staff to love their residents and enhance the quality of their lives. We are excited to proactively address loneliness and see both residents and staff thrive!" About Accushield Accushield, an intelligent visitor management solution designed for senior living and skilled nursing, surpasses the mere streamlining of community visitor security and front desk efficiencies. Our groundbreaking tablet-based kiosk adeptly handles visitor and entry processes for visitors, staff, third-party caregivers, and residents and elevates operational efficiency. Accushield's #ProjectLoveMeter feature allows customers to leverage volunteers, facilitate meaningful social interactions with residents, and enhance overall community engagement. Media Contact: John Leavitt Marketing Director media@accushield.com SOURCE Accushield ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 49th State is in a deep freeze this month, with temperatures dipping below -50F around Fairbanks. But cold temperatures do not dampen the warm hearts of Alaskans. Around the state, locals have plenty of offers on planes, trains and automobiles for the journey. Never mind glacier cruises, fishing, bear viewingall the things adventurers love to see and do all around the state. Alaska TourSaver Alaska TourSaver The Alaska TourSaver book now is available in print or via a smartphone app. Travelers have access to $15,000 in coupons to the top attractions all around Alaska, including: - 20 percent off Alaska Airlines (up to four travelers) - 2-for-1 on the Alaska Railroad - $40 off Major Marine Tours cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park (up to four people) - $640 off Alaska Bear Trips flight+tour to world-famous Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park to see giant Grizzly Bears - $100 discount at Kennicott Glacier Lodge in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - 2-for-1 three-day eco-tour of St. Paul Island, known as "Galapagos of the North" for birds and fur seals ($1,995 value) - 2-for-1 Anchorage Trolley Tour to see the best and brightest of Alaska's largest city - 2-for-1 Portage Glacier Cruise - $50 off full-day deep-sea halibut charter from Homer with Ninilchik Charters - 2-for-1 sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River with the Riverboat Discovery plus 91 other travel offers from Ketchikan to Fairbanks. Now in its 25th year, the Alaska TourSaver works with the state's top travel companies. The Alaska TourSaver is available in a handy paperback edition, or as a smartphone app for instant downloads (via iOS App Store or Google Play for Android phones). About the Alaska TourSaver The Alaska TourSaver is published each year, featuring a curated collection of the best attractions, adventures and experiences around the state. Co-publishers Scott McMurren and Gary Blakely have more than 50 combined years of experience in the Alaska travel and visitor industry. Their long-term relationships with tour and travel companies makes the Alaska TourSaver unique in offering travelers a top-quality experience in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Media Contact: Scott McMurren 907-727-1113 [email protected] SOURCE Alaska TourSaver Revolutionary Private 4G/5G Network Solution Ensures Affordable and Rapid Internet Access for Students NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alef, a leader in mobile connectivity solutions, proudly announces a partnership with Jackson Public Schools (JPS), with support from the Community Foundation for Mississippi with funds from W.K. Kellogg Foundation, that closes the digital divide for hundreds of students in Jackson, Mississippi. Affordability issues and limited coverage from cellular providers have created a digital divide nationally, leaving low-income students unable to access reliable internet at home, thus unable to participate in virtual learning. Even after the pandemic, which exacerbated the issue and created wider learning gaps, Jackson has had to unexpectedly move to virtual learning because of severe weather and water issues. Alef's Private 4G/5G Network solution, supported with a grant over $500,000 from the Community Foundation for Mississippi with funds from W.K. Kellogg Foundation, deployed a reliable, CIPA-compliant broadband connection for hundreds of students at their residences at no cost. "At Alef, we are passionate about leveraging technology to enhance educational opportunities," said Mike Mulica, CEO of Alef. "Our collaboration with JPS, backed by the Kellogg Foundation not only addressed immediate connectivity needs but also provided an efficient way for JPS technology staff to remotely configure and monitor devices." "Alef's innovative solution breaks down barriers to online instruction, ensuring every scholar has the opportunity to thrive in a connected learning environment," said JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L Greene. Key Outcomes: Rapid Deployment: Within days, hundreds of students gained network access, minimizing disruptions to their education. Cost Savings: Alef's solution resulted in a 75% reduction in costs compared to a comparable Wi-Fi solution, eliminating telecommunication costs associated with existing MiFi devices and connectivity, thanks to federal funding and support from the Kellogg Foundation. Safer Campus Environment: The network will contribute to a safer campus, providing wireless connectivity on school buses and enhancing digital literacy for JPS students. "Achieving strong outcomes for children happens by connecting what families need at home, in child care settings, at school, at work and in their communities," said Todd Klunk, program officer at WKKF. "At the Kellogg Foundation, we want for every child to thrive and believe, as our founder did, that education is the best way for improving one generation over another," Klunk said. "We are proud of the ingenuity of this program and the many partners who came together in service of our children. This program will help close the digital divide in our community and ensure our young scholars have access to high-speed internet at home, which is critical to their learning virtually and outside of school." Jack Hanley, CEO of Urban Data Strategies, acting as an integrator remarked: "Partnering with Alef, supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, allowed us to connect JPS students faster than other networks. The seamless integration with JPS IT operations and lower costs per student showcase the success of this collaboration, serving hundreds of students." Alef continues its commitment to breaking barriers in connectivity, ensuring students have equal access to educational resources, especially in times of remote and hybrid learning. About Alef: Alef stands as the only mobile connectivity SaaS platform company empowering enterprises and public service organizations with the independence to create, customize, and control their private network infrastructure. Featuring simple and enterprise-centric secure integration, fast deployment, and unparalleled performance and economics, its solution removes long deployment times and the complexity of working with mobile network operators and, as such, revolutionizes the way school districts and other education institutions unlock mobility and productivity (from closing the digital divide to delivering new learning experiences). About Jackson Public School: The Jackson Public School District (JPSD) or Jackson Public Schools (JPS) is a public school district serving the majority of Jackson, the state capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Mississippi. Established in 1888, it is the second largest and only urban school district in the state. About W.K. Kellogg Foundation: 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. The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org. SOURCE Alef Edge CELEBRATION, Fla., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriFactors Financial Group, LLC. Is thrilled to announce the appointment of Angela Fiorentino as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, in addition to her current role as General Counsel. Fiorentino brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having held various leadership positions in the securities industry, with litigation law firms, and as inside counsel. Angela Fiorentino Photo She began her career working as a stockbroker while earning her degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida. When she left the securities industry in 2007 to pursue her J.D. Degree, she was Chief Compliance officer for a SEC and FINRA-registered broker dealer. In 2010, Fiorentino graduated cum laude with her J.D. degree from the University of Miami after having completed internships at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice. She began her legal career working for the law firm of Bast Amron LLP where she handled complex commercial litigation and creditors' rights matters in state, federal and bankruptcy courts. Later, she joined the law firm of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC where she continued to handle high stakes, complex commercial litigation for national and multinational clients. In 2017, Fiorentino joined AmeriFactors as General Counsel and created its legal department. Over the last several years, her work has provided significant benefits not only to AmeriFactors, but also to AmeriFactors' clients by minimizing risk and increasing revenue. As President and CEO, Fiorentino will also be responsible for overseeing the overall direction and operations of AmeriFactors. She will work closely with the management team to develop and execute strategies that will drive growth and innovation across the company's diverse portfolio of clients. In her continued role as General Counsel, she will provide legal guidance and support to AmeriFactors, and other companies owned by Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. while leading a newly expanded legal team. "AmeriFactors is poised to offer greater opportunities for businesses. We are committed to our clients, employees, and the community," said Angela Fiorentino, President, CEO, and General Counsel of AmeriFactors. "Our vision is to help businesses achieve success by providing fast funding through innovative solutions, effective teamwork, and productive partnerships." The appointment of Fiorentino as President and CEO is a significant milestone for AmeriFactors, as she is the first woman to hold both titles reflecting the company's commitment to inclusion and demonstrating its practice of attracting top talent from a wide range of backgrounds. Fiorentino's leadership will be crucial in navigating the rapidly evolving factoring landscape and ensuring that AmeriFactors remains at the forefront of innovation and client solutions. With her extensive experience and proven track record, she is well positioned to lead the company through this period of transformation and growth while driving client and company success. About AmeriFactors For over 33 years, AmeriFactors has been funding businesses across the nation through accounts receivable financing, also known as factoring, by providing businesses accelerated payments of accounts with longer invoice terms. AmeriFactors offers consistent cash flow, excellent service, and dependable management of accounts receivable. AmeriFactors is a leader in specialty financing and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. Learn more at AmeriFactors.com SOURCE AmeriFactors Financial Group, LLC Multi-Unit Development Gains Steam as Leading Coffee Franchise Continues its Growth Movement LAS VEGAS, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing of Hawaiian coffees and memorable cafes, announces a three-store signed agreement in the greater Las Vegas market. This news comes on the heels of two multi-unit signed development agreements in Phoenix, as Southwestern expansion gains steam. Behind the three-store agreement is Bad Ass Coffee's newest franchisee, Umang Patel. Patel and his team are currently in the site selection stage and exploring both traditional and nontraditional units with the aim of opening the first store in the next six months. This location will mark the brand's second store in the Las Vegas market. "Umang's dedication to entrepreneurial success through building a strong family culture and creating exceptional customer experiences exemplify the qualities that we value most in our franchise partners," said Scott Snyder, CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. "As we expand our presence in the Southwest, Umang's experience, capabilities, and vision align well with our aggressive desired growth goals in the vibrant Las Vegas market often referred to as the 9th Hawaiian Island due to the high concentration of Hawaiian citizens now residing in the area." Multi-unit growth continues to play a momentous role in Bad Ass Coffee's franchise expansion strategy. More than 70% of the system is now comprised of multi-unit operators. With rapid national expansion underway, the brand is currently supporting aggressive growth plans in the Southwest, Southeast, Texas, and Coastal prime markets. Bad Ass Coffee provides a development support system , including teams, technology and tools to help identify the right territories for expansion, plus expertise in financing, real estate, and construction management. The success of Bad Ass Coffee has not gone unnoticed. The brand ranked on QSR's 2023 40/40 List as one of America's hottest emerging fast casual brands and also landed on the prestigious 2023 Inc 5000 ranking. According to Bad Ass Coffee's 2023 FDD, the top 50% of stores saw an average net sale of more than $1 million, with the average of the top 25% exceeding $1.2 million*. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1989 with the dream of sharing American-grown, premium Hawaiian coffee with customers everywhere. In addition to premium coffee from the famous Kona region of the Big Island, Bad Ass Coffee also sources from Kauai and Maui. Beyond premium Hawaiian coffees, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii serves up a full menu of popular blended drinks, signature lattes, cold brews, teas, innovative foods with a Hawaiian twist, and branded merchandise. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is looking to partner with qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities. The brand offers an affordable, highly scalable opportunity and franchisees can expect a total investment range between $454,200 920,500*. As International Franchise Association VetFran members, veteran franchisees who join will receive a $10,000 discount* off the initial franchise fee. For more information on Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii franchise opportunities, visit badasscoffeefranchise.com or call 833-205-2224. *Source: 2023 FDD Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii About Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1989 and is dedicated to sharing premium Hawaiian coffees "with a kick" from the Hawaiian Islands through 30-plus U.S. franchise locations with 100+ additional shops in various stages of development. Today, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii stores also serve popular blended drinks, teas, food, along with other international premium coffees and sell popular branded merchandise with exceptional service and the Aloha Spirit. Bad Ass Coffees are available in franchise stores, online and will soon be available through grocery, hospitality, and specialty retail channels. The Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii brand and franchise is owned by Royal Aloha Franchise Company, LLC. For more information, visit badasscoffee.com and connect on Facebook and Instagram @badasscoffeeofhawaii . Franchise information is available at badasscoffeefranchise.com. SOURCE Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii Egyptian authorities are rushing to militarily reinforce the border area with Gaza as Israel prepares to extend its devastating military operation to Rafah, the southernmost urban center in the Gaza Strip and the only city that has not yet been assaulted by Israeli ground forces. The reinforcements ordered by Cairo have been particularly visible since the beginning of the month. The aim of the deployment is to consolidate Egypts position on the border and prevent a massive expulsion of Palestinian refugees into their territory. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, estimated in early February that about two-thirds of the 1.7 million displaced persons in the Gaza Strip (75% of Gazas population) were crowded in the Rafah area. The humanitarian situation in the area is marked by an acute shortage of drinking water, food, medicine, and shelter, which has pushed thousands of Gazans to settle in tents erected a few meters from the border fence with Egypt. Despite the fragile humanitarian situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he had ordered plans for an assault on Rafah, but so far no plan to evacuate those trapped there has been detailed. Faced with mounting pressure, Egypt has over the past two weeks sent some 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers to the northeastern Sinai Peninsula to bolster security along its border with Gaza, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters news agency. The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, a local organization, has also detected the activity of an Egyptian helicopter flying over the border area and released images of the installation of three layers of barbed wire on top of a recently constructed Sinai-Gaza separation fence. Egyptian authorities are also erecting brick walls at the border at intervals, sources in Rafah and Egypt told the independent Egyptian media outlet Mada Masr. The Egyptian security measures on the Gaza border are the highest provided for in the specifications stipulated in the security annex of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, both in terms of surveillance measures and the level of readiness of the security services, says military expert and retired Brigadier-General Samir Ragheb. Currently, there are three barriers along the Egypt-Gaza border. The most recent of these a concrete wall about six meters high was erected late last year after work was carried out on one of the two walls that were already in place, according to the Sinai Foundation. Strips of earth were also dug about 200 meters from the fence. Over the past decade, as part of a broad anti-terrorism campaign in northern Sinai and the tight blockade of Palestinian territory, the Egyptian army has erected another iron and steel fence and another concrete wall, which is six meters high and dug six meters deep underground. Behind this, Cairo has established a three-mile restricted zone into which only military, police, and border guard forces are allowed to enter. Shortly after the start of the Israeli military offensive following the October 7 Hamas attacks, the Egyptian army also sent military reinforcements to the border area, reports the Sinai Foundation, but it is unclear whether these units are still deployed. In the early days of its military operation, Israel bombed the Rafah crossing on several occasions and, on at least one occasion, shells hit Egyptian territory. In recent weeks, Israeli aircraft have again intensified their activity in the Rafah area and so far in February they have struck targets close to Egyptian soil on at least six occasions, according to the same organization. Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a mosque in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 12, 2024. IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA (REUTERS) Cairos red lines Over the past decade, Egyptian and Israeli authorities had grown closer, primarily because of the relatively calm security situation in the Sinai and Gaza, but the scope and devastation of the current Israeli offensive has severely strained their relationship. In recent months, Cairo has publicly drawn two red lines in the face of Israels advancing military operation. The first is a mass expulsion of Gazans to the Sinai. Egypt categorically rejects this because it does not want to be complicit in the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip and because it would undermine the Palestinian right to create a state that includes Gaza. It could also turn Sinai into a base of operations for armed Palestinian resistance factions. Occupation of the narrow corridor along the border, the status of which is regulated by the 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, is the second. Cairo has avoided clarifying the measures it will consider if Israel crosses any of these lines, but Egyptian sources have leaked to local and international media that one possible response is the withdrawal of its ambassador in Tel Aviv, a step Cairo took in 1982 following the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, and again in 2000 for its repression of the first Intifada. U.S. and Israeli officials have also privately indicated to regional media that Cairo has conveyed to them its intention to directly break off relations with Israel, deploy larger military forces on the border, or suspend the peace treaty if Israel pushes Gazans into the Sinai. Despite this, senior officials from both countries have maintained channels of communication to address bilateral issues and Egypt is heavily involved in mediation with Hamas. In this regard, an Egyptian delegation traveled last week to Tel Aviv to address the situation in Rafah and to try to maintain some level of cooperation, according to The Wall Street Journal. A new round of high-level negotiations on a possible ceasefire is scheduled for Tuesday in Cairo, according to Israeli media. The current [Egyptian] security alert aims to ensure security according to the terms of the peace treaty and to prevent the displacement of Palestinians, says Ragheb, who is also the director of the Cairo-based Arab Institute for Strategic and Development Studies. The issue would be different if Israel launches an offensive operation on Rafah without evacuating civilians or coordinating with the Egyptian side, he adds, as this would be considered a violation of the peace treaty and would give Egypt the right to break that agreement and deploy military forces. CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Barchart, a leading provider of market data and technology solutions to the global financial, media, and commodity industries, is pleased to introduce key updates and promotions to its executive leadership team. This includes naming Mike Ehrenberg as Chief Technology Officer, Chris Harrison as Chief Product Officer, Colleen Sheeren as Chief Marketing Officer and Andrew Ward as Head of Commodity Sales. "It is exciting to start off the year with these significant updates. We are excited to welcome Andrew to Barchart to lead our commodity sales team in providing market intel, trading and risk management solutions to agribusinesses," said Barchart CEO Mark Haraburda. "Andrew has a combination of trading, commodity risk management and software knowledge that will bring value to Barchart across our organization and to our clients," added Haraburda. "And, to name Mike, Chris and Colleen to new executive positions is rewarding for them professionally, well-deserved and great for Barchart. They have been significant contributors to Barchart's growth, as their contributions have helped shape our technology infrastructure, software, data solutions and our reach across both retail and institutional verticals within finance, media and commodities," added Haraburda. Ehrenberg joined Barchart in 2011 and has had increasing roles and responsibilities within Barchart's software development team over the past 13 years, including his most recent role as Head of Engineering. In his role as Chief Technology Officer, Ehrenberg will lead Barchart's team of engineers and technology staff to develop next-generation data and software solutions for investing, trading and risk management across equities, options, futures, commodity and currency markets. Harrison has played a key role in leading Barchart's technology teams as Chief Technology Officer since 2018. As he transitions into the role of Chief Product Officer, Harrison will lead product management for Barchart's services, including Barchart's flagship cmdtyView platform. cmdtyView represents an entire ecosystem of commodity workflow solutions including real-time market intelligence, analysis, bid/offer management, hedging, messaging and third-party integrated workflows. In addition, Barchart's charting platform is a core focus for continued development within Barchart's retail and institutional solutions, as well as a powerful solution for third-party integration. Sheeren joined Barchart in 2015 and most recently served as Head of Marketing. In her new role as Chief Marketing Officer, Sheeren will oversee the day-to-day execution of strategic marketing initiatives across various domains, including digital marketing, events, and the Barchart Impact advertising program. Sheeren will play a pivotal role in propelling Barchart's growth through brand recognition, public relations and effectively communicating Barchart's products and message to clients and market participants. As Head of Commodity Sales, Ward will be responsible for driving sales across Barchart's workflow and data solutions for commodity businesses, which includes real-time market intelligence and analysis, producer communication and relationship management, bid/offer management, hedging and third-party integrations. Ward's previous career experience spans commodity risk management and technology solutions with roles at Macquarie Group, JP Morgan and Refinitv. About Barchart Barchart is a leading provider of market data and services to the global financial, media, and commodity industries. Our diversified client base trusts Barchart's innovative Solutions across data, software, and technology to power their operation from front to back office, while our Media brands enable financial and commodity professionals to make decisions through web content, news, and publications. For more information, please visit www.barchart.com/solutions . SOURCE Barchart International Agency Recognizes Handmade Glass as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bendheim and its near century-old partner Lamberts celebrated UNESCO's recent announcement recognizing handmade mouthblown and rolled glass as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, declared handmade glass production to be an "intangible cultural heritage of humanity." Bendheim has been the North American representative and distributor for Lamberts mouth-blown glass for more than 80 years. Their glass is used extensively in ecclesiastical, secular, restoration and historical applications. The traditional craft of handmade glass production was nominated for the UNESCO award by Germany, France, Spain Finland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The intangible cultural heritage of humanity includes living traditions in dance, theater, music, oral traditions, natural knowledge and craft techniques. Restoration Glass and "stained" glass from Lamberts have been included in a wide variety of projects, including religious buildings, airports, schools of education and historical institutions such as The White House, Monticello and Mount Vernon. Lamberts has partnered with Bendheim since the New Jersey company was founded in 1927. Mouth-blown glass is available in hundreds of transparent and translucent colors, and offers a distinct, humanizing character. Each sheet of Restoration Glass is handmade utilizing centuries-old techniques and hand-selected at the factory to ensure the finest quality. "We are eternally grateful for the recognition of handmade glass production as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity," explained Georg Goes from the Glashutte Baruth Museum, Katrin Holthaus from the LWL Museum Glashutte Gernheim and Rainer Schmitt from the Lamberts Glassworks. "It is a groundbreaking award for those who carry this traditional craft practice and is an incentive for us to continue to preserve this tradition and make it better known. In the coming years, we are planning international projects to maintain manual glass production together with our partners from the other applicant nations." "The hand and breath of the glassblower can be felt in the mouth-blown glass of Lamberts. This glass with a soul, brings its unique personality to our technology-driven world,'' Bendheim Partner Robert Jayson said. "For nearly 100 years, Bendheim and Lamberts have worked together to bring the finest mouth-blown sheet glass to North America. We take great pride in having the ability to provide this special glass to our market." UNESCO has been supporting the protection, documentation and preservation of living culture for 20 years. Individual elements from the national registers of intangible cultural heritage of the contracting states can be proposed for one of three international UNESCO lists. Around 700 customs, performing arts, craft techniques and forms of natural knowledge are currently on these lists. The Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage decides annually on the inclusion of new cultural forms on the UNESCO lists. Click here to learn more about UNESCO and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Click here to learn more about Lamberts Glass from Bendheim. About Bendheim: Bendheim is one of the world's foremost resources for specialty architectural glass. Founded in New York City in 1927, the family-owned company offers a virtually unlimited range of customizable glass solutions for interior and exterior building applications. Through its commitment to Building a Clear Future, Bendheim is actively engaged in promoting sustainable practices in architecture and design. Bendheim develops, fabricates, and distributes its products worldwide. The company maintains production facilities in New Jersey and a design lab in New York City. For additional information, please visit Bendheim.com. Additional images for this press release are available at https://app.box.com/s/1bk6r4agduzugxhefuoa611uehi2azus SOURCE Bendheim Partnership Extends Real-time Access to Equities Trading and Expands Offerings in Asia Pacific and Other Global Markets NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Ocean Technologies, LLC (BOT), a capital markets fintech leader in global trading and data, and DriveWealth, a leading fintech delivering financial services through its "Brokerage-as-a-Service" platform, today announced a partnership to expand real-time access and connectivity for global brokers. As part of the agreement, DriveWealth will provide its global B2B partners extended real-time access to equities trading and trading data on the Blue Ocean ATS platform from 8 p.m. - 4 a.m., US ET. Blue Ocean will also grow its connectivity among the DriveWealth markets in Asia-Pacific and other global regions. Brian Hyndman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ocean Technologies, commented, "We are excited to partner with DriveWealth, a fintech innovator who shares our vision of empowering investors in the global equities trading landscape. Expanding our reach by connecting to new brokers to provide trading accessibility, data, and innovation is a shared value, and we are committed to growing our reach to new markets." "Having started the year with record trading volumes in the afterhours timeframe is validation of our market model to provide investors with convenience to trade during their daytime in Asia-Pacific or at their leisure after traditional hours in other time zones." he added. Michael Blaugrund, CEO of DriveWealth, said, "Modern retail investors increasingly expect financial markets to provide the same 'always-on' experience as other online activities. DriveWealth's connectivity to Blue Ocean enables our global partners to offer real-time execution 24 hours a day, including seamlessly transitioning from overnight to core trading hours." Throughout 2023, Blue Ocean Technologies has continued to expand globally, extending its trading model in Asia-Pacific. With partnerships in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, Blue Ocean is focused on continuing its growth in 2024 by empowering international investors seeking broader access to US equities trading and data during extended hours trading sessions. About Blue Ocean Technologies: Blue Ocean Technologies, LLC (BOT) is a unique capital markets fintech company empowering global investors by making trading possible during US overnight trading hours. Blue Ocean ATS, LLC, and its trading system Blue Ocean Alternative Trading System (BOATS), currently trade US National Market System (NMS) stocks from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am ET from Sunday Thursday. Founded in 2019, Blue Ocean ATS is on a mission to transform US trading to Global trading via its flagship service, Blue Ocean Session, providing access and transparency to subscribers in all time zones during non-traditional US market hours. For more information, visit www.blueocean-tech.io or contact us at [email protected]. About DriveWealth: DriveWealth is a global B2B financial technology platform. Our core business is providing Brokerage-as-a- Service, powering the investing and trading experiences for digital wallets, broker-dealers, asset managers, and consumer brands. DriveWealth's APIs provide our partners with a modern, extensible and flexible toolkit to develop everything from traditional investment workflows to more innovative techniques like rounding up purchases into fractional share ownership. For more information, visit www.drivewealth.com or contact us at [email protected]. Media Contacts: Blue Ocean Technologies [email protected] DriveWealth [email protected] SOURCE Blue Ocean Technologies, LLC The Foundation surveyed 130 veteran serving organizations nationwide to understand critical gaps in care. 2023 Survey Key Findings: Only about 30% of the organizations surveyed said they can meet the need for mental health services their clients require Only about 15% of organizations surveyed say they can satisfy the need for emergency financial assistance Only 27% of organizations surveyed said their community can fully address their clients' need for food and nutrition assistance Only 18% of partners said they can meet the transportation needs of their military and veteran population NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bob Woodruff Foundation has released their latest publication, The Got Your 6 Network: Quantifying and Addressing Veterans' Needs in 2023. The Report confirms that, for many communities, the urgent needs of the military and veteran community exceed the services available, especially for services addressing mental healthcare, physical healthcare, housing, emergency financial assistance, food, and transportation. Bob Woodruff Foundation The findings are collected from 130 Got Your 6 Network partners nationwide to identify key needs among the local service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, and the extent to which the community-based organizations are able to meet these needs. The responses reflect the needs of service members and veterans who seek assistance from local organizations. Needs have increased since 2021, and the capacity of service providers is generally not keeping pace with those needs. For example, compared to 2021 results, the 2023 results showed that: more organizations indicated that many or almost all their clients presented with basic needs, while communities' capabilities to address those needs stayed roughly the same. more organizations are reporting that many or almost all of their clients face health-related needs, and the percentage of communities unable to satisfy those needs has increased significantly. the percentage of communities that do not have a partner that can address veterans' legal needs has not improved. "Our survey results revealed that many of our nation's veterans and service members have significant challenges that aren't being addressed," explained Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "With this information, we can identify trends and pinpoint ongoing and evolving needs. Ultimately, we use this information to prioritize our focus and invest where the needs are greatest and where we can make the most significant impact in our veterans' lives." The Got Your 6 Community Survey is a biennial assessment for partner organizations that aims to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the Bob Woodruff Foundation's extensive community-based partner network. The Got Your 6 Community Survey asks about the extent to which community-based organizations receive requests for specific services, and the extent to which communities can address those needs. The 2023 survey received a 94 percent response rate, while the 2021 and 2019 surveys received a respective 91 percent and 81 percent response rate. The 2023 Got Your 6 Community Survey was made possible from the generous support of the Craig Newmark Philanthropies. About the Bob Woodruff Foundation The Bob Woodruff Foundation was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has raised awareness about the tough challenges veterans and military families are facing and invested in solutions to help support them in the next chapter of their lives. To date, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has invested over $159 million to ensure that our nation's veterans, service members, and their families those who stood for us have stable and successful futures. Visit www.BobWoodruffFoundation.org for more information. About Craig Newmark Philanthropies Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer and philanthropist, best known for creating the online classified ads service craigslist. Craig's full-time philanthropic work focuses on organizations on the frontlines of protecting America's security and democracy. He has given more than $300 million in support of veterans and military families, trustworthy journalism and civic engagement campaigns, cyber security education programs, hunger relief, and pigeon rescue. Craig was influenced by his Sunday School teachers who escaped the Holocaust, set his moral compass, and taught him to treat people like you want to be treated and how to know when enough is enough. He stepped away from the day-to-running of craigslist almost two decades ago, but he still occasionally volunteers as a customer service representative. Media Contact: Margaret Harrell (703) 283-8953 [email protected] SOURCE Bob Woodruff Foundation MOORESVILLE, N.C., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bret Holmes Racing (BHR) announced today that Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 32 Chevrolet team at the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 16, 2024, with additional races throughout the 2024 season. This sponsorship marks the second season of a dynamic relationship between BHR and Precision Garage Door Service. "Precision Garage Door Service is thrilled to reunite with Bret Holmes and BHR as we gear up for an exhilarating start at Daytona this month and continue our relationship across the 2024 season," said Mike Brickner, president of Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company. "We are preparing to showcase the innovation, excellence and precision that characterize both our franchise brand and Bret Holmes Racing." Beginning as a family business in the late 1980s and incorporated in Arizona in 1999, Precision Garage Door Service is a nationally recognized garage door service company with franchise locations spanning much of the U.S. They are an industry leader in garage component and door maintenance, installations and repair services. "2024 is going to be a big year for us, and I'm very thankful to have the support from Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company, once again this season," Holmes said. "We have been fortunate to be able to share the race day experience with many of their employees, and I look forward to competing at a high level with their partnership this year. " Along with sponsoring BHR at Daytona, Precision Garage Door Service will serve as the primary sponsor for BHR at upcoming races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway for the September race. To learn more about Precision Garage Door Service, visit www.precisiondoor.net, or download the Neighborly mobile app. About Precision Garage Door Service: Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company, is the nation's leading residential garage door repair company. Precision Garage Door Service provides consumers the highest levels of customer service and value for all garage door needs, specializing in garage door repair, new garage door installment, and repair of garage door openers from more than 100 locations in North America. Acquired in 2020, Precision Garage Door Service is part of Neighborly, the world's largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,500 franchises in six countries that have collectively served 14 million+ customers by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and businesses. Through Neighborly.com and the Neighborly mobile app, we connect consumers to local service providers that meet rigorous franchisor standards across 19 service categories. For more information about Precision Door Service, visit PrecisionDoor.net. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here. About Bret Holmes Racing: Bret Holmes Racing is a performance-driven racing operation located in Mooresville, N.C. Founded by Stacy Holmes, of Holmes II Excavation in Munford, Ala., the team sticks to its good nature and solid values to put the best product on and off the track with its driver Bret Holmes. SOURCE Precision Garage Door Service Franchisor confirms Texas as a top priority for expansion efforts across the BRIX Holdings portfolio DALLAS, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BRIX Holdings, LLC ,("BRIX"), a Dallas-based multi-brand franchising company encompassing renowned food-service chains including Friendly's, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, today announced four deals signed at the end of 2023 promising new Orange Leaf and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen locations coming this year to Prosper, Frisco, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Orange Leaf These Texas deals are among 11 new franchise agreements awarded across the BRIX portfolio in 2023 with other new deals in Nebraska, New York, Ohio and Florida. The company's expansion across the nation is an indicator of the demand and the opportunities available for strong entrepreneurs to take advantage of in their growing markets. Texas has seen exponential growth in recent years, with reports indicating a surge in population by nearly half a million people in 2023 coupled with a rise in economic opportunities. As more families and entrepreneurs flock to Texas, the state stands out as an ideal market for BRIX to advance its franchise development, expanding into both new and existing markets. "We look forward to working with our new franchise owners, who are dedicated to expanding Orange Leaf and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen networks. Their commitment mirrors our enthusiasm for fostering business growth in our home state of Texas, a state rich with opportunities," said Sherif Mityas, CEO of BRIX Holdings LLC. "There is exceptional potential here in Texas and this is just the beginning of a promising journey, where we aim to nurture and elevate local entrepreneurial talent." The new franchise operators behind the agreements signed in Texas are welcome additions to the ever-growing BRIX network as the company continues to prioritize expansion in the state. Each new owner comes from varying backgrounds and experiences, including a former law enforcement officer, a military veteran, a previous family restaurant owner and an entrepreneur. Despite their differences, they share the united goal of achieving business success while positively impacting their respective communities, making them well-suited for franchising with the BRIX brands. "I was in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years in every role from waitress to owner. After many early mornings and long nights without time for my children, personal time or vacations, I realized I wanted to retake control of my life. Franchising with Orange Leaf afforded me that opportunity," said Susana Jimenez, the new franchise owner behind the future Orange Leaf location coming to Cibillo, Texas. "The team at BRIX provided us with care, support and resources along the way to make our dreams possible and give me peace of mind again. I can't wait to serve our community in new ways and grow with Orange Leaf." The signing of the new franchise agreements reflects the company's desired growth trajectory heading into 2024, with the stores projected to open later this year in summer, fall and winter. BRIX is actively seeking new owners to franchise with Orange Leaf, Red Mango and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen. For each brand, the initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a traditional 10-year term. Other requirements to franchise include $100,000 in liquid assets to invest and a minimum net worth of $250,000. The brand development contribution is 3% and the typical royalty rate varies between 5-6%. Requirements vary for non-traditional locations. To learn more about franchising with the BRIX brands and the available franchise incentives, visit: Orange Leaf - https://www.orangeleafyogurt.com/franchising Smoothie Factory + Kitchen - https://www.smoothiefactorykitchen.com/franchising Red Mango - https://redmangousa.com/red-mango-better-for-you-franchise/ For more information about BRIX Holdings, visit https://BRIXholdings.com/ . About BRIX Holdings, LLC: BRIX Holdings, LLC is a Dallas-based multi-brand franchising company specializing in chains with superior products and attractive growth prospects. BRIX Holdings focuses on brands that are both attractive to the rapidly expanding single-unit owner/operator franchise market segment and have the potential to grow into national and international award-winning chains. The current BRIX Holdings portfolio includes Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co., Pizza Jukebox, and Friendly's. SOURCE BRIX Holdings NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life announced today that it will award $100,000 to an individual involved in the work of Jewish engagement and identity-building in North America, whose work specifically inspires or furthers Jewish Pride. The award will be split between a $70,000 gift to the individual and a $30,000 grant to the program or organization they have created. Video about the Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life was founded in 1994 by Michael H. Steinhardt to strengthen and transform American Jewish life so that it may flourish in a fully integrated, free society. Sergeant Rose Lubin, of blessed memory, for whom this award is named. The Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award is named in memory of the Atlanta native who fulfilled her dream of aliyah, at age eighteen, as a combat-trained soldier specializing in fighting terrorism. Deployed with the Israeli Border Police, Sergeant Lubin was off duty on October 7, 2023 when she bravely defended her host kibbutz and neighboring communities, helping injured victims to safety from near the Gaza border during the now infamous terrorist attack. Just weeks after the Hamas onslaught, Sergeant Lubin lost her life during a subsequent terrorist attack while guarding the Shalem police station near the Damascus Gate, one of the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem. "Strengthening Jewish pride and supporting a positive sense of belonging to the Jewish People is of critical importance for the future of this generation. We can think of no one who exemplifies Jewish Pride more than Rose Lubin," said Sara Bloom, Vice Chair of the Steinhardt Foundation. The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life was founded in 1994 by Michael H. Steinhardt to strengthen and transform American Jewish life in order to flourish in a fully integrated, free society. Michael Steinhardt co-founded Birthright Israel in response to the erosion of Jewish life in the Diaspora and to introduce young adults to the state, land, and people of Israel. The Steinhardt Foundation has also been a founding funder for OneTable, a project that empowers tens of thousands of young adults to engage each other in Friday night Shabbat dinner, Hebrew Public: Charter Schools for Global Citizens, The School of Hebrew at Middlebury College, as well as The Consortium for the Teaching of Hebrew Language and Culture and The Steinhardt Social Research Institute, both based at Brandeis University. The Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award is a cash award intended to recognize and promote an individual whose work in Jewish life exemplifies leadership, innovation, and creativity through founding a program, initiative, or organization that champions the Pillars of Jewish Pride described in Michael Steinhardt's 2022 book, Jewish Pride. By honoring individuals, organizations, and programs that exemplify these pillars, this award has the broader purpose of inspiring their adoption as central goals and aspirations throughout the Jewish world and of encouraging new initiatives based on these principles. Individuals nominated for the Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award must have created programs that exhibit and promote Jewish Peoplehood, Jewish Excellence, or Jewish Joy and their initiatives must demonstrate measurable impact, scalability, and financial sustainability. To nominate someone for the inaugural Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award, please visit https://steinhardtfoundation.org/jewishprideaward . The Award winner will be announced in September 2024. Media Contact: Judy Tashbook Safern 372905@email4pr.com (516) 200-3805 SOURCE The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life DENVER, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Solutions, a leader in healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO), technology, and consulting services, announces the appointment of Aneesh Kumar as Chief Digital Innovation Officer. Kumar's appointment marks an exciting step in Catalyst's growth journey, bringing his extensive managed care and digital platform experience to help Catalyst transform its offerings. Rachel Spilo, Catalyst Solutions CEO & Founder, said "Aneesh's unique experience and leadership spans managed care, care delivery, and digital technology. This combination is exactly what Catalyst needs to define, develop, and deploy its next-generation solutions." Catalyst Solutions announces Aneesh Kumar as Chief Digital Innovation Officer Aneesh Kumar said, "As managed care companies grapple with cost pressures and the threat of new competitors, they need a partner to provide key business processes as a service. The ability to overcome integration challenges and provide an outcomes-based offering is the holy grail for managed care. At Catalyst, the combination of managed care domain expertise and our next-generation digital platform positions us well for future success. For over 25 years, Catalyst has proven to be a reliable and highly regarded partner for hundreds of managed care organizations. We are ready to scale our solutions, providing transformational outcomes through omnichannel digital experiences, AI powered solutions, customized BPO, technology consulting and predictive analytics." Kumar joins Catalyst with a 25-year record of driving transformative changes in healthcare for companies like Apple, Elevance Health, Gainwell Technologies, Cigna and Accenture. He also founded, built, and sold startups in care delivery (AzulCare) and in digital health (Sheen Health). "Our AI-first business solutions are already helping many of our customers with cost containment and accelerated revenue growth. Aneesh is joining us at a pivotal time, as we continue to scale those solutions and amplify process optimization for health plans," said Sas Mukherjee, President of Catalyst Solutions. About Catalyst Solutions: For 25 years, Catalyst Solutions has provided business process outsourcing (BPO), technology and consulting services to health and dental plans. Catalyst's payer BPO offering includes fully outsourced and co-sourced enrollment and member services, provider data management, configuration, claims administration, and contact center support. Additionally, Catalyst offers tailored consulting services across health plan strategy, operations, and technology with deep emphasis on opportunities to optimize revenue, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. Explore our offerings at catalystsolutions.com. Contact info@catalystsolutions.com SOURCE Catalyst Solutions North America's Most Referred Painting Company Announces Award Winners at Annual Conference AUDUBON, Pa., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CertaPro Painters is thrilled to announce the winners of its annual awards, recognizing franchisees who practice the company's values, consistently deliver extraordinary customer service, and demonstrate growth in their residential and commercial painting business. These exemplary owners and their teams significantly impact their communities by setting a standard of excellence in the home improvement industry. Winner of the 2023 CertaCup CertaPro Painters recognized its top franchisees for their incredible teams, painters, and contributions to the brand. Post this This year's top honorees and winners of the company's most prestigious award, the CertaCup, were Jennifer and Nathan Marmor, owners of CertaPro Painters of Phoenix. The Marmors were selected out of more than 450 CertaPro Painters businesses across North America for this honor, underscoring their remarkable achievements in the residential and commercial painting sectors. Since starting their franchise, the Marmors have experienced consistent growth and invested in their people to achieve success. Both Jennifer and Nathan sit on various boards and serve as mentors, inviting other franchise owners into their business to share ideas and learn. Their dialed-in approach to recruiting, desire to create opportunities for others, and participation in various community-based initiatives have helped them become a workplace of choice. "Our success is truly due to our team and the painters," said Jennifer. "We support over 65 families with this small business and are so proud of the team and culture that we have built. It's an honor to receive this award." In addition to the CertaCup, CertaPro also recognized its top residential and commercial painting teams for their incredible painters and contributions to the brand. CertaPro Painters Top Residential Painting Team 2023 Juan Quijada, leader of CertaPro Painters of Columbus Residential, and his team, including Juan, Alex, Tio, and Lalo, won the Residential Painting Team of the Year award. Their commitment to upholding the company's core values and delivering exceptional customer experiences contributed to overall sales, resulting in over 100 completed jobs in 2023. "Juan is always improving his leadership and managerial skills," says owner Dan Goodman. "He treats every job, big or small, with the utmost care and puts time and effort into training and developing his painters. We are happy to have Juan and his crew as a large contributing factor to our organization's success." CertaPro Painters Top Commercial Painting Team 2023 Jose Cruz and his crew, Jose, Hector, and Noemi, of CertaPro Painters of Greensboro, took home the Commercial Painting Team of the Year award. Jose has worked with this franchise since it was established in 2003 and has completed more commercial projects than any other crew. Aside from successfully completing commercial projects, he has also brought the franchise new painting crews that help on the residential side of the business. "Jose is multi-talented, reliable, and runs our go-to crew for commercial projects," says owner Mark Lytle. "He and his crew develop creative ways to improve job efficiency and overcome any challenges. Jose is a key part of the success of CertaPro Painters of Greensboro." Also recognized were the CertaCup finalists: Alan Phillips, owner of CertaPro Painters of Northeast Wisconsin; Jay Bowers, owner of CertaPro Painters of Northern Arizona; Earl Gelineau, owner of CertaPro Painters of Southern Rhode Island; and Sean Collins, owner of CertaPro Painters of Fayetteville. These outstanding franchisees were celebrated for their accomplishments during CertaPro's annual conference on Jan. 26 in New Orleans. About CertaPro Painters CertaPro Painters was founded in 1992 and specializes in providing commercial and residential services through more than 450 franchise territories. Its success is based on exceeding customer expectations by delivering certainty at every juncture of a painting job from start to finish. To join CertaPro Painters or learn more, visit https://certapro.com/. SOURCE CertaPro Painters DENVER, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Choozle , a leading omnichannel digital advertising platform and services provider, today announced that it has appointed Annie Wissner as Vice President of Marketing, effective January 2, 2024. This strategic move comes at a pivotal time as Choozle relocates its headquarters to Downtown Denver, signaling a new era for the company. As Vice President of Marketing at Choozle, Wissner takes the helm of all marketing functions, including brand management, go-to-market strategy, product, digital, demand generation, partnerships, and media relations. "Annie Wissner's appointment as VP of Marketing is a positive milestone for Choozle." Adam Woods, CEO, Choozle Post this Wissner, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of global marketing experience in the technology sector, brings a wealth of knowledge to Choozle. Her previous role as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at High Level Marketing and leadership roles at Hexagon, Ivanti, Microsoft, Oracle, and Software AG attest to her expertise in driving success in both start-up and enterprise organizations, domestically and internationally. Choozle CEO Adam Woods expressed enthusiasm, saying, "Annie Wissner's appointment as Vice President of Marketing is a positive milestone for Choozle. Her wealth of experience and innovative approach aligns perfectly with our vision of exceeding our clients' and partners' expectations through our dynamic digital advertising platform and world-class services. We believe her leadership will play a pivotal role in propelling Choozle to new heights." Annie Wissner shared her thoughts, stating, "I'm thrilled to join Choozle during this significant period of growth and expansion. The company's core values of bold innovation, growth, collaboration, and personal ownership align well with my principles. I look forward to leading the marketing efforts and contributing to Choozle's ongoing success in the ever-evolving digital advertising landscape." About Choozle Choozle is an omnichannel digital advertising platform and strategic partner that helps advertisers and agencies navigate the modern media landscape with confidence. Detailed consumer data fuels strategic planning and precision media buying. We're on a mission to propel brands into the spotlight, connecting them with their target audience across diverse media and channels. In a world saturated with information, we champion advertising that's contextual and relevant to each media experience. This approach allows marketers and advertisers to break through the noise and deliver meaningful outcomes. Choozle seamlessly consolidates a suite of digital advertising tools from a demand-side platform and data management platform to smart tag management all unified within a user-friendly platform and augmented by our media experts. Established in 2012, explore the future of digital engagement at choozle.com . For media inquiries, please contact: Annie Wissner Vice President of Marketing Choozle [email protected] SOURCE Choozle SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's jobless claims rose last month amid the lingering worry about economic slump, labor ministry data showed Tuesday. The number of new applicants for job-seeking benefits stood at 201,500 in January, up 7.0 percent from the same month of last year, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The number rebounded after reducing in single digits in the previous month on concerns about economic slowdown. The benefit applicants grew in the manufacturing, the science and technology and the construction industries, but those in the public administration and the education service sectors reduced last month. The job-seeking benefits are offered by the government to help the unemployed seek jobs, taking up a majority of unemployment benefits. It is financed by the state employment insurance fund. The number of benefit receivers totaled 614,200 in January, up 5.7 percent from a year ago. It kept an upward trend for the 12th consecutive month since February last year. The total payment of job-seeking benefits added 10.9 percent to 939.1 billion won (706.9 million U.S. dollars) in the cited month. His name was Max Jacobson, but his patients called him Doctor Feelgood because of the cocktail of hormones, painkillers and amphetamines that he injected into American patients in the mid-20th century. One of those patients was President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whose good looks hid a chronically ill patient, hampered by unbearable back pain, which forced him to lean on crutches that he hid in his car. During the presidential campaign of 1960 when Richard Nixon and JFK faced off the office of the endocrinologist who treated Kennedys Addisons disease was ransacked. The alleged thieves had tried in vain to steal his medical records. It was revealed later on that Nixon was involved in this, as he was aware that he could exploit the poor health of his rival for electoral purposes. In the end, Kennedy triumphed. The day after he was sworn in on January 20, 1961, the new president denied suffering from Addisons. The New York Times described his condition as excellent. But by then, in reality, he was relying on Jacobsons injections to cope with the pain. Just like the charismatic president who was assassinated in 1963 many of his predecessors had previously lied about their health. Hiding [your] real medical condition from voters is an old tradition of the American presidency, The Atlantic magazine claimed in 2002, ignoring the fact that various leaders from around the world have hidden their ailments. That opacity has been total or partial. Last week, for instance, it was revealed that King Charles III suffers from cancer. It hasnt been revealed what type of cancer he has, or what his prognosis is. Cases such as that of Mohamed VI of Morocco whose ailments are almost always a mystery or the secrecy in the Vatican regarding the Popes health (which has long given rise to jokes, such as the one that claims that each Pontiff is always healthy until he dies) demonstrate the persistence of the taboo that has traditionally surrounded the illnesses experienced by leaders. That trend, however, is beginning to give way in the face of a growing demand for transparency about the health of those who wield political power. This demand is driven by changes in society, information and the mass media, explains Veronica Fumanal, a political communications consultant. Illness on a social scale carries with it an idea of weakness. Although the phenomenon of leadership has evolved and can no longer be explained by a leaders personal attributes alone, it continues to be mythologized. Among collective beliefs, we continue to identify [robust health] as an attribute of leaders from past times, who always came from military establishments, monarchies, or religious power. For this reason, leadership continues to be linked to characteristics such as strength and aggressiveness, the expert emphasizes. The traditional conception of masculinity and power crystallized in the so-called great man theory of the military schools of the 1920s, according to Fumanal. Autocratic leaders such as President Vladimir Putin continue even today to present themselves as the embodiment of that myth. The longstanding rumors about the Russian leader suffering from cancer break with the staged photographs of Putin with a muscular bare torso, fishing or hunting. Kennedy was the first president of the television era. In 1981, when French President Francois Mitterrand hid the metastatic cancer he suffered from (he lied for 14 years) this means of communication had already become widespread. Political consultant Luis Arroyo emphasizes that, in 2023 with people equipped with cell phones in every corner and with [24-hour] news cycles its very difficult, if not impossible for the health of a ruler to remain a state secret. Elisa Garcia-Mingo, an anthropologist and professor in the Faculty of Political Sciences and Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid, agrees that the leadership model linked to the myth of the strongman is beginning to change. She cites the resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in January 2023, when the progressive politician claimed that she didnt have the energy to remain in office. This specialist believes that such a shift is attributable to the growing number of female leaders. Additionally, from a communications standpoint, recognizing an ailment or an injury publicly can sometimes serve to humanize a leader, Veronica Fumanal points out. The communications consultant highlights the growing demand for transparency regarding the health status of political leaders. This is especially the case when it comes to elected politicians, who are periodically held accountable for their performance. An example is the controversy that has surrounded U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who, this past January, hid the fact that he suffers from prostate cancer and had been hospitalized for three days. Even President Joe Biden wasnt aware of this. The White House has tried to silence criticism by referring to the personal nature of the illness. But in the debate over whether the illnesses of a leader should be kept private or be made public, the second position has a compelling argument. Austin is second in the chain of command of the U.S. Armed Forces. His position obliges him to always be available in case of a threat to national security. Failing that, he must delegate his functions, as required by law. Democracies provide mechanisms that to a greater or lesser extent require transparency, especially from those who have executive duties. Charles III [can do] what probably wouldnt be permitted to Prime Minister [Rishi] Sunak, Arroyo points out. When it comes to someone with real power not merely symbolic duties citizens require guarantees that there wont be a power vacuum in the government or the administration, the consultant emphasizes. Garcia-Mingo asserts that the controversy over 70-year-old Austin has highlighted another aspect of the secrecy around the illnesses of leaders: ageism. The image of vulnerability associated with poor health is exacerbated by widespread perceptions of elderly people. Ailments that usually occur in old age prostate cancer, Parkinsons, or cognitive decline suffer even greater stigma and secrecy. In 2019, the tremors experienced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at public events unleashed speculation about a possible Parkinsons diagnosis and an imminent resignation, just when she was about to turn 65. The recently-released report by Special Counsel Robert Hur which describes Biden as able to make the defense of being an old man with a bad memory regarding his handling of classified papers on top of the 81-year-old presidents public memory lapses, are all bolstering his Republican rivals claims that he is unfit for office. Any situation read as vulnerability, illness, advanced age or motherhood, in the case of women , serves as an excuse to expel that person from public life, Garcia-Mingo analyzes. An expulsion that every leader resists, of course, because the drive to retain power is natural, Arroyo shrugs. Hence the need to maintain an image of vigor, even when this requires lying. The disease not only affects the leaders, but also has repercussions on the leaders environment, on their inner-circle. As soon as there are suspicions that a leader may be facing their last days, the discussion immediately arises about the succession process. [Theres also] a questioning of the stability of power, Arroyo explains. The way of communicating about the illness of a dying leader, he adds, is one of the delicate parts of succession. In November 1975, Spanish strongman Francisco Franco was receiving every possible treatment from his doctors, who were trying to keep him alive. The dictators long agony has often been cited when it comes to preparing complicated transition processes. For Arroyo, Francos case is a real-life example of Jerrold R. Post and Robert S. Robins theory on the ethical dilemmas surrounding leaders illnesses and how their cliques manage them. The psychiatrist and political scientist called their theory the dilemma of the captive king. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClassWallet is grateful that Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond has confirmed that the allegations against our company are wholly without merit. We have always maintained that ClassWallet, as a software vendor, had neither responsibility for, nor authority to, exercise any decision-making with respect to the Oklahoma programs. About ClassWallet Founded in 2014, ClassWallet is the leading purchasing and reimbursement platform for public funds. The company's patented digital wallet technology ensures that public funds reach the right people and are used for the right purpose at a fraction of the time and cost of existing technology solutions with better compliance safeguards. ClassWallet is used by state government agencies and school districts across 32 states, helping those clients realize the full potential of over $2.7 billion in public funds. Its integrated marketplace of top retailers and service providers includes Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Michaels, Office Depot, Scholastic, Staples, Varsity Tutors and more. Headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, ClassWallet ranked number 477 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in 2023 and the 61st fastest growing software company. It also ranks as the 114th fastest growing company in North America according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. CONTACTS: Henry Feintuch / Doug Wright Feintuch Communications 646-753-5710 / 646-753-5711 [email protected] Media room SOURCE ClassWallet Led by yes. every kid., more than two dozen organizations commit to ending public school discrimination based on address ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, yes. every kid. announced the launch of the No More Lines Coalition, a group of 28 nonpartisan education groups committed to ending discriminatory public school district boundary lines. These school boundaries are based on a student's ZIP code and, de facto, a family's wealth based on their home value. The coalition has set a goal of ending this restrictive practice in all 50 states by 2030. Public schools will only be truly public when we remove the barriers to accessing them, no matter where families live. Post this No More Lines policies break the connection between housing costs, school quality, and school access. They level the playing field among students of all socioeconomic levels by providing all students with access to their ideal educational experience. It is time to provide every kid equal access to the public school that works best for him or her. It is time to end discriminatory attendance zones. It is time for No More Lines. Rooted in redlining practices of the 1930s to 1960s, public school students are assigned to a school based on where they live. These school boundary lines continue to reinforce racial and economic divisions and prevent families from accessing the public school that best meets their children's needs. This issue is critical, as about 82% of American K-12 students attend public school today. Many states still have a policy in which a child attending any school is a criminal statute. "Sorting kids into schools based only on their address is discriminatory based on family wealth, promotes segregation, and ensures that low-income kids across the country will continue to have the fewest school options that work for them. It's educational redlining, plain and simple, and we are better, as a nation, than using these lines to dole out educational opportunity. They need to go," said Derrell Bradford, yes. every kid. board member and 50CAN president. "By giving families the option to access the public school that meets their kids' needs and not sending them to jail for doing so we will remove significant barriers to every child getting the personalized education that helps them become the best version of themselves." In all 50 states, a child's address is still the primary factor used to determine which public school a child is granted access to. In 24 states, parents and guardians can still be jailed for crossing school or district boundary lines, with districts often hiring private investigators to follow parents to ensure that they meet the residency requirements. These policies and practices are an immoral use of taxpayer resources and disproportionately criminalize people of color and those from working-class backgrounds. Open enrollment policies empower students to enroll in public schools for free outside of their residentially assigned schools. A key facet of No More Lines policies, open enrollment can be a powerful tool in ensuring that a child's opportunity is not limited by their address. In 2023, six states made progress in removing public school barriers Idaho, West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Arkansas, and Nebraska. Open enrollment policies have broad public support: in a 2023 YouGov poll, more than two-thirds of respondents supported ending residential school assignment, and the majority believe that open enrollment would strengthen education. "Every day, children are denied access to a public school that works for them simply because they do not live in the right neighborhoods," said yes. every kid. Chief Operating Officer Erica Jedynak. "Just like public libraries, pools or parks, public schools will only be truly public when we remove the barriers to accessing them, no matter where families live. The No More Lines Coalition will do exactly that." "Families deserve access to a great education for their children, regardless of their income or home address. When I enrolled my children in a safer school district with better resources using my father's address, I was arrested and put in jail," said Kelley Williams-Bolar, a parent who was punished for trying to get her children a better-fit education. "Enrolling your child in a public school should never be deemed a crime, and I'm proud that the No More Lines Coalition will work to ensure that no other families experience the injustice that we faced." The guiding principles for the Coalition's work, along with committed members, include opening public school access for all students, ending address discrimination, ensuring that public education is free, and unbundling education and the housing market. More on how the Coalition will expand access to a great education for all students can be found here. The No More Lines Coalition 50CAN A for Arizona Alaska Policy Forum Association of American Educators Americans for Prosperity Available to All Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Children's Scholarship Fund Commonwealth Foundation Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) Defense of Freedom Institute EdChoice Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) Families Empowered Foundation for Economic Education Frontier Institute Inclusive Strategies Independent Women's Forum The James Madison Institute Jersey 1st Maine Policy Institute Mountain States Policy Center Ready Colorado Reason Foundation School Choice Ohio Southwest Public Policy Institute State Policy Network yes. every kid. About yes. every kid. yes. every kid. supports policies that respect the dignity of every student, welcome innovative ideas, and foster a diversity of approaches to learning. yes. every kid. will support and build coalitions to advance new conversations and bold visions by bringing together differing voices and perspectives to revolutionize the K-12 education experience. SOURCE yes. every kid. Core measures and other resources are now available to support an industry standard for digitally measured physical activity, increasingly recognized as the '6th vital sign' BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Digital Health Measurement Collaborative Community ( DATAcc ) by the Digital Medicine Society ( DiMe ) released a core set of digital measures for physical activity , providing a roadmap for leveraging digital tools to measure the '6th vital sign.' Researchers and healthcare professionals can now better assess and address the impact of exercise on an individual's well-being. The measures were developed in partnership with industry leaders following a cross-disciplinary, evidence-based research project. New resources including ontologies, a decision tool, and illustrative scenarios provide specific support to clinical researchers , healthcare providers and decision-makers , and digital health technology developers to effectively implement these new core measures. The importance of physical activity to health has long been recognized, and technology exists today to seamlessly measure it in the broad population. Now, with DATAcc's new core set of measures and resources, we can measure it in a more accurate and meaningful way to fully embrace it as the "6th vital sign." "This new core set of digital measures for physical activity will advance the industry by reducing duplicative efforts and speeding the path to discoveries that will benefit the patients we aim to serve," said Jennifer Goldsack, CEO of DiMe. "The widespread adoption of core measures will revolutionize the field and enable a new era of healthcare care - one where we can improve lives at the population level by measuring the most pertinent aspects of physical activity to better inform research, clinical care, and payer decision-making." To develop the core set of measures and resources, DATAcc by DiMe convened a group of industry leaders, including: Alexion, COPD Foundation, Defense Innovation Unit, Duke Big Ideas Lab, Merck, Nestle, Open mHealth, Physical Activity Alliance, Savvy, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Activeinsights, Analog Devices, Empatica, Emteq Labs, Evidation, Fitbit, IQVIA, Koneksa, Medable, National Institutes of Health, Parexel, Verily, and VivoSense. "These new core measures of physical activity are an exciting industry breakthrough. At Verily, we will use the measures and resources to guide the development of products that drive clinical impact," said Sooyoon Shin, the Digital Biomarkers Clinical Science Lead, Verily. "These resources are a great example of how DATAcc by DiMe supports innovative industry advancements that will have a meaningful impact on patients' lives, enabling us to more quickly progress the development of new therapies and support patients along their health journey." DATAcc continues to push the frontier of digital measures. Four years ago, the Library of Digital Endpoints launched, and since then, the number of sponsors actively collecting digital endpoints in clinical trials has increased more than tenfold; physical activity continues to lead as the most commonly measured health concept. Building off this momentum and extending its portfolio of digital measures work , DATAcc is now convening a project team to build the business case for digital endpoints. Learn more and share your interest in joining here . About the Digital Medicine Society: DiMe is a global non-profit and the professional home for all members of the digital medicine community. Together, we tackle the toughest digital medicine challenges, develop clinical-quality resources on a technology timeline, and deliver these actionable resources to the field via open-source channels and educational programs. About DATAcc by DiMe: The Digital Health Measurement Collaborative Community ( DATAcc ) by the Digital Medicine Society ( DiMe ) is a collaborative community with the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. We provide a forum for collaboration where partners and experts from across the digital health field work to advance the use of digital health measures in research to improve lives. Media Contact: Carla English, [email protected] SOURCE Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) Iconic Baked Goods Brand Elevates Snacking with New Individually Wrapped Bite-Sized Brownie Line HORSHAM, Pa., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chocolate aficionados rejoice! Entenmann's, the iconic baked goods brand, announced the release of its newest innovation: Brownie Drizzle Drops. Available in two delicious flavors, Triple Chocolate and Creamy Caramel, these indulgent drops of goodness cater to all kinds of sweet tooth cravings. Made with a smooth, silky center of either rich chocolate or velvety caramel, these decadent, bite-sized brownies finished with a chocolate drizzle make for an unparalleled taste experience. Entenmann's Brownie Drizzle Drops (PRNewsfoto/Entenmann's) Entenmann's Brownie Drizzle Drops are individually wrapped in sharable boxes of eight brownies, promising ultimate freshness and convenience for sweet snacking on the go and at home. Whether it be as an afternoon pick-me-up, late-night snack or a break from the everyday, these treasures are just the right size to indulge in a well-deserved "me moment. "We were deliberate in delivering our newest innovation, as we know fans crave premium, indulgent treats to share and eat on the go," said Richard Link, Senior Director of Marketing at Entenmann's. "At Entenmann's, we believe in sweetening moments that matter through our iconic baked goods, and we know Brownie Drizzle Drops will help our fans savor every moment!" Available now at select retailers, new Entenmann's Brownie Drizzle Drops are the latest addition to the Entenmann's product lineup, which consists of a delicious variety of baked goods including donuts, crumb cakes, cookies and more. Entenmann'sGoes Great with People. For more information on Entenmann's, please visit www.entenmanns.com. For high-res images, click here. About Bimbo Bakeries USA Bimbo Bakeries USA is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates 60 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Baird's, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. Bimbo Bakeries USA is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 34 countries. About Entenmann's Bakery Entenmann's baking history dates back 125 years ago when William Entenmann opened his first local bakery in 1898 in Brooklyn, New York. The tradition of using quality ingredients combined with William's baking expertise can still be tasted in Entenmann's wide variety of iconic baked goods sold across the U.S. today. As a national leader in the Baked Goods category, Entenmann's continues to produce over 100 different products in new and innovative ways, including delicious Donuts, Cakes, Cookies, Snacks, and Little Bites. Entenmann'sGoes Great with People. SOURCE Entenmann's Plans continued expansion of Columbia Valley wine offerings and enhanced personal experiences WOODINVILLE, Wash., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After 20 years of operations the family behind Matthews, Tenor, Jaine, Blackboard, and Single Barrel announces the creation of Avalle (pronounced "Ah-va-lay"), to bring together its growing portfolio of wines under one collection. The family behind Matthews has created Avalle to bring together its growing wine portfolio Post this Photo courtesy of Avalle What began as a modest commitment by the Otis family to elevate Matthews initially producing roughly 2,500 cases has evolved to over 25 wines across 50,000 cases from 20 different vineyards in Washington State's Columbia Valley AVA. Avalle provides a way to continue to focus, explore and innovate in a thoughtful and sustainable way. "Launching Avalle unifies us around our central mission a commitment to the meticulous craftsmanship in every wine we make," said Bryan Otis, Proprietor of Avalle. "Avalle gives our process a name to remember and a brand to trust." Over the past two decades, the Otis family has launched a number of brands focused on highlighting the dynamic terroir within the Columbia Valley AVA. Each of these wines are now part of the Avalle portfolio: Matthews : The first winery in the portfolio focused on traditional Bordeaux varietals. The 2021 vintage wines were just released, made by a new winemaking team ( Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson ) recognized as one of the most acclaimed winemaking teams in Washington state . : The first winery in the portfolio focused on traditional varietals. The 2021 vintage wines were just released, made by a new winemaking team ( and ) recognized as one of the most acclaimed winemaking teams in . Jaine : Launched in 2018 with a focus only on white, rose and sparkling wines. Jaine wines tell the story of an individual AVA, or a single vineyard within the Columbia Valley . Made by Winemaker Ali Mayfield. : Launched in 2018 with a focus only on white, rose and sparkling wines. Jaine wines tell the story of an individual AVA, or a single vineyard within the . Made by Winemaker Ali Mayfield. Blackboard : Wines with a purpose, donating money to organizations that empower students with access to education. : Wines with a purpose, donating money to organizations that empower students with access to education. Tenor : Showcases 100% single varietal wines from the Columbia Valley . Also made by Winemakers Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson . : Showcases 100% single varietal wines from the . Also made by Winemakers Alex Stewart and . Single Barrel: Every single barrel matters. Wines within Single Barrel capture a sense of place as each tells a story from a single vineyard within the Columbia Valley AVA. From the beginning, the focus for the Otis family was clear: unlock the unique potential of the Columbia Valley AVA and the remarkable vineyards within it. With each new release, the consistency of that vision and the passion of the team shines through. "Our wines reflect our love for this dynamic region and our commitment to see it elevated alongside the other great wine regions of the world," Otis continued. "At Avalle, we feel we are entering the golden age of the Columbia Valley AVA." Avalle will continue to develop and invest in new wines that highlight specific areas of the Columbia Valley and strive to create new ways for people to enjoy and experience the beauty of Washington state. "We are determined for the world to experience Columbia Valley's full potential," Otis continued. "We want to be a source of excitement and genuine enthusiasm for everyone who chooses to explore and experience our region." Avalle Members will have access to all the wines within the portfolio and to exclusive events and experiences. About Avalle Avalle is the quintessential way to experience the Columbia Valley in Washington state. Like a record label that empowers remarkable performers across musical genres, the Avalle portfolio is comprised of exceptional wines crafted by talented winemaking artists. Through the stewardship of our vineyards, creation of authentic wine expressions and providing immersive experiences, Avalle is committed to unlocking the potential in everything we release. The Avalle portfolio includes Matthews, Jaine, Tenor, Blackboard, and Single Barrel. Each brand is designed to highlight a different aspect of the Columbia Valley. For more information, please visit: www.avalle.us SOURCE Avalle SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: Today, the FDA posted warning letters to US Chem Labs and Synthetix Inc. doing business as Helix Chemical Supply for introducing unapproved and misbranded semaglutide and tirzepatide products into interstate commerce. US Chem Labs offers for sale semaglutide and tirzepatide "for research purposes." However, the products are accompanied by claims such as weight loss, reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, or heart disease. In addition, the firm offers a product called "thymalin" (not related to semaglutide or tirzepatide) for both adults and children, for treatment of various conditions, such as immunosuppression after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Helix Chemical Supply also offers semaglutide and tirzepatide for sale for "research purposes." However, the products include claims such as treatment of Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar, or enhancing insulin secretion. US offers for sale semaglutide and tirzepatide "for research purposes." However, the products are accompanied by claims such as weight loss, reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, or heart disease. In addition, the firm offers a product called "thymalin" (not related to semaglutide or tirzepatide) for both adults and children, for treatment of various conditions, such as immunosuppression after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Helix Chemical Supply also offers semaglutide and tirzepatide for sale for "research purposes." However, the products include claims such as treatment of Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar, or enhancing insulin secretion. On Monday, Covetrus North America LLC, a company based in Dublin, Ohio , which sells veterinary products to customers across the United States , pled guilty to causing the introduction and delivery of misbranded veterinary prescription drugs into interstate commerce. As part of the agreement, Covetrus will pay over $23 million in criminal fines and forfeitures. Additional Resources: Media Contact: FDA Office of Media Affairs, 301-796-4540 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products. SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration ABILENE, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bank has announced a $5.5 million investment to support the Landmark at Abilene senior housing project. The historic renovation of the former Travis Elementary School at 1101 S. 9th Street will involve converting and expanding the building into 29 affordable housing units for senior citizens. The original schoolhouse on that lot was built in 1903 and was known as South Ward. It later became known as Travis Elementary and was rebuilt in 1922 by renowned architect David S. Castle. The school closed its doors in 1985. Landmark at Abilene will occupy nearly a full block in the Original Town South neighborhood, with plans to redevelop the entire site. The restored property will include amenities such as a community room, dog park, picnic area, theater room, walking trail, and a courtyard for the residents. Construction is expected to be completed by spring of 2025. "First Financial is proud to support this important project for Abilene," said F. Scott Dueser, President and CEO of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. "This historic rehabilitation will provide more access to quality affordable housing for senior citizens, while also restoring a cherished piece of Abilene history. It's an honor to help bring this positive addition to our community." The project is being led by Overland Property Group (OPG), a developer with extensive experience constructing affordable housing, senior housing, and historical renovations. The project is made possible by tax-credit funding from Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) and partnerships with the Midwest Housing Equity Group and First Financial Bank. About First Financial Bank, N.A. First Financial Bank, N.A. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN). Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 79 locations in Texas, including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Bryan, Burleson, College Station, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, El Campo, Fort Worth, Fulshear, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Lumberton, Keller, Kingwood, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Spring, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with nine locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company. The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com. SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc. Expands Foundation Source's suite of tech-based solutions for nonprofits, philanthropists and wealth managers Sets stage for Foundation Source to become leading provider of charitable giving technology, administration and expertise FAIRFIELD, Conn., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Source, the nation's largest provider of cloud-based SaaS solutions and management services for private foundations, today announces the acquisition of PG Calc, the leader in planned giving services and software for organizations seeking to start or grow a planned giving program. The acquisition meaningfully expands Foundation Source's suite of charitable giving solutions enabling it to provide specialized support and expertise across the giving ecosystem to donors and nonprofits and their various financial and philanthropic advisors and reflects the company's long-term commitment to make giving easier and more impactful. "PG Calc is the gold-standard in cloud-based solutions for planned giving and recognized for its high-quality customer base and strong client retention," said Joseph Mrak III, Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Source. "Its position as a leader in this market makes them an ideal enhancement to our already robust offerings and sets the stage for us to become the leading provider of charitable giving technology, administration and expertise." Founded in 1985 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, PG Calc delivers state-of-the-art gift administration services and software, consulting, and marketing tools designed to support all aspects of a planned giving program. PG Calc works directly with nonprofits to identify and solicit prospective donors, improve planned giving programs, increase giving potential, and fulfill stewardship and compliance needs. The company also provides turnkey outsourced planned giving administrative services and software to financial institutions. PG Calc's client base includes the largest financial services companies and the top colleges and universities along with hospitals, religious groups, cultural and academic institutions, and other tax-exempt organizations. Foundation Source's acquisition of PG Calc brings strong enterprise-level partnerships while extending the firm's offerings into charitable gift annuities, pooled income funds, charitable trusts, bequests, and endowment sub-accounting, adding several new services for individuals and institutions. Under the agreement, President Gary Pforzheimer and PG Calc's employees will join the Foundation Source team, contributing their expertise and insight to sustaining a world class client experience and the continued expansion of the combined entity. Pforzheimer will become President of Planned Giving at Foundation Source. "We are immensely proud of PG Calc's growth over the last 40 years into a full suite of planned giving products meeting the administrative, compliance, fundraising and marketing needs of all types of nonprofits," said Mr. Pforzheimer. "We're excited about the intuitive synergies and common purpose we share with Foundation Source and are thrilled to combine our efforts to provide greater access to comprehensive software solutions that support charitable giving." "The enterprise-caliber technology solutions that have revolutionized investing and banking are needed to make giving a frictionless and intuitive experience," added Mr. Mrak. "Together, we will raise the bar on PhilTech so donors and donees can collaborate more effectively, and advisors can provide truly holistic wealth management to their individual and institutional clients." No additional financial details were disclosed. The transaction was completed on February 1, 2024. About Foundation Source (foundationsource.com) Foundation Source is the nation's largest provider of foundation management services and a trusted source for philanthropic expertise. We offer a purpose-built, cloud-based SaaS platform and a configurable suite of administrative, compliance, tax and advisory solutions for private philanthropists and their foundations. For more than two decades, Foundation Source has been empowering people and companies to create a better world through philanthropy. We work with individuals, families, boards, professional advisors and financial institutions to bring philanthropic visions to life and make giving easier. Today we are proud to support more than 2,000 unique foundations representing over $22 billion in charitable assets. About PG Calc (pgcalc.com) Since its founding in 1985 as a spinout from Harvard's planned giving program by Gary and Mary Pforzheimer, Winston Jones, and Bill Laskin, PG Calc has helped nonprofits of all types and sizes achieve planned giving success. Over the past 30 years, PG Calc has completed numerous acquisitions to expand and strengthen its specialized offerings, including BlackBaud's ParaGon illustrations software, Frank Minton's Planned Giving Services consulting business, and the gift administration firm Hemmenway & Reinhardt. Today, PG Calc offers a full suite of planned giving products and services for organizations seeking to start or expand a planned giving program, benefit from effective planned giving marketing, illustrate planned gifts to their donors, or find a gift administration solution. MEDIA CONTACT Carly Taylor [email protected] 973-618-6993 SOURCE Foundation Source To unveil TYSON 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip cannabis accessories at CHAMPS Trade Show ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carma HoldCo , a global authority in branded products, has joined forces with their premium accessories licensee Known Better Brands (KBB), and leading distributor and manufacturer for smoke shops and dispensaries Medusa Distribution (Medusa), to deliver the highest quality smoke accessories to the brands' fans at scale. This exclusive agreement will bring TYSON 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip smokes accessories to consumers through online orders starting Wednesday, Feb. 14th on kbbproducts.com . "We're excited to partner with Known Better Brands and Medusa to offer our customers premium accessories that enhance their consumption experience with our top-shelf cannabis products," said Adam Wilks, CEO of Carma HoldCo. "This strategic alliance underscores our shared commitment to delivering exceptional cannabis experiences to a broad audience in a cost-effective and accessible manner." As a prominent global cannabis enterprise, Carma HoldCo is committed to making their celebrity-inspired products more accessible through its strategic partnerships with KBB and Medusa. With an extensive portfolio, Carma's renowned brands are currently available in more than 75,000 retail outlets across 40 states and 17 countries. Medusa will design a diverse range of smoke accessories tailored for use with TYSON 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip products. From grinders to bongs and pipes, these accessories will allow customers to elevate their enjoyment of Carma's premium cannabis flower, edibles, and concentrates. "We're excited to continue to build on our strong partnership with Carma HoldCo by bringing in one of the leaders in this space, Medusa, as our new partner. Medusa is revolutionizing the smoke accessory market," said Jason Winkler, founder and CEO of Known Better Brands. "By combining their expertise in premium accessory manufacturing with innovative designs, we aim to deliver unparalleled experiences to cannabis enthusiasts worldwide." Under the collaboration, Medusa will take charge of exclusive distribution and order fulfillment, as well as shipping of the accessories to ensure efficient delivery through their proprietary logistics network. The efforts of Carma HoldCo, KBB and Medusa are also poised to unlock new opportunities for premium accessories in the thriving global cannabis market. "We are thrilled to announce this partnership between Medusa Distribution, KBB, and Carma, the esteemed representatives of legends Mike Tyson and Ric Flair," said Josh Camitta, Chief Brand Officer of Medusa. "Combining the industry leading expertise of Medusa in the ancillary cannabis world with the iconic legacies of Tyson and Flair is the type of partnership we dream of. As we embark on this exciting journey, we look forward to creating innovative products and experiences that resonate with our customers and fans alike. This partnership is more than a business venture; it's a fusion of passion, excellence, and a shared vision to redefine industry standards and create a lasting impact." To explore the TYSON 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip accessories, visit kbbproducts.com and medusadistribution.com for wholesale and distribution. For more information on Carma HoldCo brands, visit CarmaHoldCo.com . About Carma HoldCo. Carma HoldCo Inc. is a leading global house of brands that harnesses the power of cultural icons to transform industries. The company is focused on creating unique experiences and product offerings that aim to connect with, inspire and elevate consumers' lives. Carma brands are built with authenticity, collaboration and innovation at their core. Carma HoldCo Inc.s brand portfolio includes TYSON 2.0, Ric Flair Drip, Wooooo! Energy, Evol by Future and Immortal by Hulk Hogan. About TYSON 2.0 TYSON 2.0 is a brand founded by the legendary boxer Mike Tyson. The company entered the cannabis ring in 2022, with a commitment to providing the highest quality cannabis products in each market that it entered. While continuing to conquer the global cannabis market, TYSON 2.0 has also expanded into a variety of other consumer product categories, spanning across the US and 16 other countries. In every endeavor, the brand undertakes Mike Tysons legendary mindset of being the greatest of all time. Whether its cannabis or beyond, TYSON 2.0 is committed to offering premium products and unrivaled experiences. About Ric Flair Drip Ric Flair Drip is here for the wheelin', dealin', jet flyin', premium cannabis aficionados that are stylin', profilin', and ready to assault their day like the Nature Boy himself. Our product line will make you say "WOOOOO!" with heavy strains intended to tap out any opponent. About Known Better Brands Based in Orange County, California, Known Better Brands (KBB) is a prominent licensing company. Founded by a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of successful partnerships with notable figures like Pharrell Williams, Steve Aoki, and Nyjah Houston, KBB now specializes in smoke accessories, cannabis, and merchandise. KBB is the official licensed partner for Tyson 2.0, Ric Flair Drip, Reefers by Sublime, and Good Girl in numerous different categories. KBB continues to lead the industry with innovation and trend-setting products. About Medusa Medusa is the leading distributor to smoke shops and dispensaries, offering a vast array of ancillary cannabis products. Medusa's position as a trusted national supplier uniquely positions Medusa for success in marketing our brands as we continue to expand our reach. SOURCE Carma HoldCo Inc. - Expected Annual Revenues of $500 Million - Increases 2024 Annual Dividend Rate by 4% HOUSTON, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) ("Group 1" or the "Company"), an international Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 198 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., today announced the expansion of its U.S. portfolio in the greater Baltimore/Washington DC market, the sixth largest metropolitan area in the United States. The acquisition includes Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia new vehicle dealerships; one Toyota Certified pre-owned center; and three collision centers. The group includes the two highest volume Honda dealerships in the state of Maryland. The dealerships are expected to generate over $500 million in annual revenues. Additionally, Group 1 announced that its board of directors has approved an increase in the 2024 annual dividend rate to $1.88 per share. This represents an increase of 4%, or $0.08, from the 2023 annual dividend rate of $1.80 per share. Consistent with this increase, a $0.47 dividend per share will be payable on March 15, 2024, to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2024. Consistent with its strategy to focus on larger, higher performing dealerships, the Company also disposed of 10 franchises and a collision center in Beaumont, Texas during the first quarter of 2024. Group 1's President and CEO Daryl Kenningham stated, "We are thrilled to grow our business in the greater Washington, DC area, one of the largest automotive markets in the country. These dealerships are some of the best brands in our portfolio and we are very proud to grow our relationship with Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai. As reflected in our history of successful integration of acquisitions, we work toward integrating these businesses into our company as quickly as possible. We believe, given our proven operational and acquisition integration track record, that this acquisition presents an opportunity to further drive profitable growth for our stockholders." ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. Group 1 owns and operates 198 automotive dealerships, 262 franchises, and 43 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 35 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts. Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations at www.group1corp.com , www.group1auto.com , www.group1collision.com , www.acceleride.com , www.facebook.com/group1auto , and www.twitter.com/group1auto . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding our strategic investments, goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations and business strategy, including the annualized revenues of recently completed acquisitions or dispositions and other benefits of such currently anticipated or recently completed acquisitions or dispositions. These forward-looking statements often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions, on a timely basis, if at all and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, (i) the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, (j) the impacts of any potential global recession, (k) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate, and (l) our ability to successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor contacts: Terry Bratton Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. [email protected] Media contacts: Pete DeLongchamps Senior Vice President, Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs Group 1 Automotive, Inc. [email protected] or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 [email protected] SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc. The arrival of top U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials this Tuesday in Cairo has generated certain expectations about the possibility of a new ceasefire in the war ravaging Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the premise of the meeting on Monday when he said that a ceasefire of at least six weeks could be achieved, opening the door to a new exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Pressure from Israels main ally has trumped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus outright refusal last week to accept the Islamists demands. Israel is celebrating the success of the elite uniformed forces who managed to get two hostages out of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, in an operation they described as historic and which led to dozens of Palestinian civilians being killed. However, the authorities are aware that they cannot bring all of the remaining 134 hostages home that way. Recently, it has become certain that there has been progress in both Israels and Hamass positions, with constructive meetings that inspire some optimism, according to a foreign source on condition of anonymity, as quoted by the Israeli daily Haaretz. For days, Egyptian and Qatari negotiating teams and a Hamas delegation have been working in Cairo to pave the way for a ceasefire. The directors of Mossad (Israels foreign intelligence service), David Barnea, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, have now joined them. In a public statement, the families of the hostages implored the Israeli negotiators in Cairo to not come back until everyone returns home, [both] the living and the dead. According to the authorities, 31 of the 134 captives are already dead. The eyes of 134 hostages are on you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime mission, and you have the ability to rescue 134 captives and prevent them from meeting the same fate as Ron Arad, they added, referring to an Israeli serviceman who has been missing for almost four decades. That month-and-a-half cessation of hostilities, to which Biden referred after a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, would be six times longer than the wars first ceasefire, which only lasted for one week at the end of November. Neither the negotiators nor the parties to the conflict have revealed details from the negotiations, such as the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each hostage or the profile of the prisoners to be released from Israeli jails. In any case, the United States believes that, if achieved, those six weeks would serve as a springboard for accomplishing more ambitious objectives that could possibly lead to ending the conflict in which almost 28,500 have been killed in Gaza since October 7. According to local media, in recent hours, the momentum with which Israel announced that it was going to enter Rafah with its troops, guns blazing, has also been deflating. The presence of over a million displaced people who have nowhere to go, combined with the lack of an agreement with Egypt which shares a border with the southern Gaza town complicate these plans. In addition, the United Nations noted today that it does not intend to participate in any operation to forcibly move the population in Rafah, which Israel would rely on in order to carry out the operation against the Hamas battalions that, Israel claims, are in the area. We have not received any formal communication from Israeli officials, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs, told Reuters. In any case, the U.N. is not involved in forced and non-voluntary evacuations. There are no plans at this time to facilitate the evacuation of civilians, he added. The U.S. has insisted that the ground invasion of Rafah cannot be carried out without a feasible plan for evacuating the hundreds of thousands of civilians. Thus far, no one on the Israeli side has explained how they can put that into practice. Over half of Gazas 2.3 million inhabitants are crowded in and around Rafah. The vast majority lack shelter, food, water and basic supplies for survival. Although Israel has not launched its ground incursion into Gazas southernmost tip, the countrys troops continue to pound Rafah on a daily basis. On Tuesday, a drone strike seriously injured an editor and a cameraman for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, which reported that this is the fifth time Israel has carried out such actions against its reporters during the current conflict. A cameraman was killed in December. Centrist minister Benny Gantz outlines the governments plan, which envisages negotiations, continuing with the military steamroller and freeing the hostages all at once. We will hold talks with our friends around the world and take the steps that will give us freedom of action: evacuate the population, secure the borders and perform the necessary preparatory work for a ground invasion, and we will act, Gantz was quoted as saying in the Israeli daily Maariv. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus blunt refusal last week to accept the demands of the Palestinian Islamists, faced with the need to bring the hostages home, he was open to continuing negotiations. The go-ahead for the Barnea-led delegations trip is seen as a step toward a possible ceasefire. Since the war began on October 7, the guns only fell silent during the last week of November. At that time, in different exchanges, 105 hostages were allowed to leave Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners, women and minors, were released from Israeli jails. There are still 134 hostages in the Gaza Strip; according to Israel, 31 of them are already dead. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition LONDON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Havas announced today the launch of Havas Consumer Health (HCH), their Creative Network's first lifestyle health & wellness brand agency specializing in accessible OTC and wellness brands. The agency will partner with clients across multiple categories including skincare and body treatments, functional foods, baby care, contraception, menopause, men's health, naturopathic medicine, wearable tech and much more. HCH marries experience and a deep understanding of health & wellness marketing from Havas Health & You, the global leader in health and wellness communications, with the creative and consumer-focused excellence of the Havas Creative Network. As it did with the introduction of Welltainment and the "Superhuman" report, HCH will deliver meaningful work that not only inspires wellness but changes the way people think about their health and wellness. "Havas Consumer Health is a uniquely blended agency born from the insight that consumers are increasingly taking ownership of their health and wellness," shared Donna Murphy, Global CEO of Havas Health & You and Havas Creative Network. "We see an incredible opportunity to help brands drive that journey and close the delta in the siloed consumer and traditional health advertising landscapes." HCH emerged from a team already working with clients in the OTC space, which achieved 54% growth in 2023. Led by new CEO, Dan Weaden and CCO, Paul Kinsella, the agency offers full-service expertise, with particular specializations in behavioral economics, influencer and content strategy, and holistic media planning and activation. HCH exemplifies the "One Havas" approach, a strategy Murphy has underscored since adding the creative network to her remit, as CEO of Havas Health & You. "The most competitive brands recognize the value in separating their consumer health businesses to meet changing consumer needs," explained Dan Weaden, Havas Consumer Health CEO. "The accessibility and sophistication of wearables, data and health information has led to more personalized healthcare journeys. Consumers are increasingly more empowered to take charge and make more informed and confident choices about how they care for themselves. Our goal is to make our clients' brands visible, engaging, and influential, so we can help them be chosen in this crowded and rapidly evolving space." In a further show of commitment to the consumer health and wellness category, HCH Germany will be launched in Q1 2024. It's the next step in establishing a consumer health agency network with strategic locations around the world. Each hub will consist of a team of experts within strategy, creative, CX and client serviceshand-picked for their experience in consumer/FMCG advertising and the healthcare space. About Havas Consumer Health Havas Consumer Health is a first-of-its-kind, omni-channel consumer healthcare agency, that believes better knowledge means better health. With expertise across behavioral economics, content, influencer, distribution landscape, health equity, and holistic media planning and activation, Havas Consumer Health connects consumers and clients to bring about individualized focus on self-care, self-management, and self-choice. About Havas Founded in 1835 in Paris, Havas is one of the world's largest global communications networks, with more than 22,000 people in over 100 countries sharing one single mission: to make a meaningful difference to brands, businesses, and people. Havas has developed a fully integrated model through its 70+ Havas Villages around the world, covering all communication activities. The teams of the three business units, Havas Creative Network, Havas Media Network, and Havas Health & You, work together with agility and in perfect synergy to offer tailor-made, innovative solutions to clients who support them in their positive transformation. Havas is committed to building a diverse culture where everybody feels they belong and can be themselves and thrive. Havas integrated into Vivendi, a global leader in media, entertainment, and communications, in December 2017. Further information about Havas is available at www.havas.com. SOURCE Havas Worldwide, LLC Recognized for Life Science Clinical Development, Life Science Commercial Operations, and Healthcare Data, Analytics and AI PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthVerity, the leader in synchronizing transformational technologies and real-world data (RWD) to advance the science, today announced that it was recognized in three of the July 2023 Gartner Hype Cycles titled: Hype Cycle for Life Science Clinical Development, 2023, Hype Cycle for Life Science Commercial Operations, 2023, and Hype Cycle for Healthcare Data, Analytics and AI, 2023. This is the second year in a row that the company has been recognized in all three of these Hype Cycles and the third consecutive year for Life Science Commercial Operations. HealthVerity was recognized as a vendor providing several different technology solutions in each of the three Hype Cycles: Life Science Clinical Development Patient data tokenization According to Gartner, "Patient data tokenization is the process by which clinical trial subjects/patients consent to have their anonymized health information linked to a subject identifier or token. The token can also be linked to existing real-world data (RWD) sources like healthcare claims and laboratory results. This enables life science companies to link patients who have consented to their retrospective RWD, following their activities prospectively for ongoing insights about branded treatments on patient health." The Gartner report found that this technology is important because, "Patient data tokenization (PDT) enables patient data to be connected between different data sources, enabling life science companies to formulate a holistic, longitudinal view of the patient journey. RWD made available via tokenization can provide significant insight about patient health history, enabling insights about outcomes after a trial, intervention or treatment has been administered by a life science company." According to Gartner, "Patient data tokenization is the process by which clinical trial subjects/patients consent to have their anonymized health information linked to a subject identifier or token. The token can also be linked to existing real-world data (RWD) sources like healthcare claims and laboratory results. This enables life science companies to link patients who have consented to their retrospective RWD, following their activities prospectively for ongoing insights about branded treatments on patient health." The Gartner report found that this technology is important because, "Patient data tokenization (PDT) enables patient data to be connected between different data sources, enabling life science companies to formulate a holistic, longitudinal view of the patient journey. RWD made available via tokenization can provide significant insight about patient health history, enabling insights about outcomes after a trial, intervention or treatment has been administered by a life science company." RWD-based trials "Real-world data (RWD)-based trials use RWD to optimize trial activities with applications that deliver improvements to patient recruitment and retention, protocol optimization, trial feasibility, and safety signal detection. As RWD becomes more available, life science companies and vendors are leveraging it to support effective protocol design, precision methods of finding subjects to successfully complete the trial, and improved data capture that leverages patient health records." "Real-world data (RWD)-based trials use RWD to optimize trial activities with applications that deliver improvements to patient recruitment and retention, protocol optimization, trial feasibility, and safety signal detection. As RWD becomes more available, life science companies and vendors are leveraging it to support effective protocol design, precision methods of finding subjects to successfully complete the trial, and improved data capture that leverages patient health records." Data monetization in HCLS "Data monetization is a practice adopted by a healthcare and life science (HCLS) organization by which they make their proprietary data available to sell to external parties. The most mature examples are payers selling deidentified medical claims data to life science companies. This profile tracks monetization of new data types, utilizing new sharing mechanisms and vendors, targeted at new use cases, which are driving a new cycle of data monetization initiatives." "Data monetization is a practice adopted by a healthcare and life science (HCLS) organization by which they make their proprietary data available to sell to external parties. The most mature examples are payers selling deidentified medical claims data to life science companies. This profile tracks monetization of new data types, utilizing new sharing mechanisms and vendors, targeted at new use cases, which are driving a new cycle of data monetization initiatives." Life Science Commercial Operations RWD curation and analytics platforms According to Gartner, "This technology combines real-world data (RWD), such as electronic health records (EHR), medical and prescription claims, disease and patient registries, lab results, imaging and other sources, to provide a longitudinal view of a patient journey. The platform prepares data for delivery to downstream consumption platforms, applications and analytics. It automates the ingestion and linking of data from permissioned sources, manages identity, compliance and security." According to Gartner, "This technology combines real-world data (RWD), such as electronic health records (EHR), medical and prescription claims, disease and patient registries, lab results, imaging and other sources, to provide a longitudinal view of a patient journey. The platform prepares data for delivery to downstream consumption platforms, applications and analytics. It automates the ingestion and linking of data from permissioned sources, manages identity, compliance and security." Healthcare Data, Analytics and AI Data sharing in HCLS - "Data sharing in healthcare and life science (HCLS) reflects a broad range of use cases that knit together ecosystem partners to advance clinical care, research and discovery; improve public health; decrease health disparities; and lower costs. Data sharing in HCLS relies on a foundation of interoperability, privacy protecting policies and standards to enable the industry to safely and collaboratively drive new value streams through better data sharing partnerships." - "Data sharing in healthcare and life science (HCLS) reflects a broad range of use cases that knit together ecosystem partners to advance clinical care, research and discovery; improve public health; decrease health disparities; and lower costs. Data sharing in HCLS relies on a foundation of interoperability, privacy protecting policies and standards to enable the industry to safely and collaboratively drive new value streams through better data sharing partnerships." Data monetization in HCLS - Defined by Gartner as, "a practice adopted by a healthcare and life science (HCLS) organization by which they make their proprietary data available to sell to external parties. The most mature examples are payers selling deidentified medical claims data to life science companies. This profile tracks monetization of new data types, utilizing new sharing mechanisms and vendors, targeted at new use cases, which are driving a new cycle of data monetization initiatives." HealthVerity offers patient data tokenization services with HealthVerity Identity Manager, a leading patient matching and identity resolution technology that is 10x more accurate than legacy tokenization technologies. Identity Manager establishes a unique but persistent HealthVerity ID (HVID) to resolve patient identity over time and across data sources to create a fully interoperable single source of truth. HealthVerity FLOW is a middleware solution that can enable RWD-based clinical trials and be used as a RWD curation and analytics platform that leverages this source of truth capability to enable RWD-driven patient journey initiatives. For example, the platform can synchronize clinical trial participants, their permissions, and the broadest set of identifiable and de-identified data sources in a fully governed, HIPAA-compliant manner to accelerate the time to FDA submission. Additionally, HealthVerity offers data owners the ability to join the nation's largest healthcare and consumer data ecosystem while managing all aspects of identity resolution, privacy protection and governance of data usage rights for the seamless exchange of unlimited real-world data on HealthVerity Marketplace. "We are excited to be recognized by Gartner in the Hype Cycle reports," said HealthVerity COO Andrew Goldberg. "We pride ourselves on offering the life sciences and healthcare sectors transformational technologies that synchronize unparalleled identity management with built-in privacy compliance and governance of data usage rights for the seamless exchange of a near limitless combination of healthcare and consumer data. We believe our inclusion in the Gartner Hype Cycle reports demonstrates the difference these solutions can have on advancing the science." GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About HealthVerity HealthVerity synchronizes transformational technologies with the nation's largest healthcare and consumer data ecosystem to power previously unattainable outcomes and fundamentally advance the science. We offer a comprehensive, yet flexible approach, based on the foundational elements of Identity, Privacy, Governance and Exchange (IPGE), that synchronizes unparalleled Identity management with built-in Privacy compliance and Governance, providing the ability to discover and Exchange a near limitless combination of data at a record pace. Together with our partners in life sciences, government and insurance, we are Synchronizing the Science. To learn more about HealthVerity, visit healthverity.com . HealthVerity Contact: Colleen Stoker 614-738-0592 [email protected] SOURCE HealthVerity Honored for excellence as a finalist in the health, medical, and biotechnology category, HemoSonics' Quantra Hemostasis System helps hospitals and healthcare workers with fast, easy to interpret and comprehensive whole blood coagulation analysis typically in 15 minutes or less DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HemoSonics, LLC, a medical device company focused on acute bleeding management, today announced that its Quantra Hemostasis System with QPlus and QStat Cartridges has been named a finalist in the 2024 Edison Awards . The company was honored in the health, medical, and biotechnology category for its Quantra Hemostasis System. The Quantra System with QPlus and QStat Cartridges provides comprehensive whole-blood coagulation analysis at the point of care in less than 15 minutes. "To be honored as an Edison Awards finalist is one of the highlights of our company's history." Post this HemoSonics' Quantra Hemostasis System with QPlus and QStat Cartridges HemoSonics Quantra Hemostasis System Named as Winner in the World Renowned 2024 Edison Awards Named after the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, the Edison Awards recognize the world's most innovative products and business leaders, including Steve Jobs, Jony Ive, Gwynne Shotwell, Ginni Rometty, Apple, Nest, 3M, Lockheed Martin and many more. This prestigious accolade honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, and innovation. Past MedTech honorees include companies like GE Healthcare, Boston Scientific, and QMed Innovations. "The Edisons have honored breakthrough innovations for nearly 40 years, and to be honored as a finalist is one of the highlights of our company's history," said HemoSonics President and CEO Bob Roda. "We congratulate the other Edison Award finalists and look forward to making good on this recognition by continuing to innovate and create the best possible solutions for caregivers and the patients that we serve." HemoSonics' Quantra Hemostasis System is easy to operate and provides fast, comprehensive whole-blood coagulation analysis at the point of care or in laboratory-based settings in less than 15 minutes. Clinicians don't need to wait on test results during a serious life-threatening bleeding event, and as a result, patients receive optimized interventions as quickly as possible and only when needed. The Quantra Hemostasis System consists of the Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer with QPlus and QStat Cartridges. The Quantra System is FDA-cleared for use in point-of-care settings, such as operating rooms, intensive care units, and hospital laboratories, and it requires minimal resources to maintain, operate, and interpret. The Quantra System uses innovative SEER Sonorheometry (sonic estimation of elasticity via resonance), a proprietary medical-grade ultrasound technology that measures the coagulation properties of a whole blood sample. View a short video about SEER technology here . The Quantra Hemostasis System with QPlus and QStat Cartridges enables clinicians to deliver patient-centered coagulation therapy that improves care and optimizes blood product usage. All nominations are reviewed by the Edison Awards' Steering Committee and an executive judging body. The panel comprises more than 2,000 senior business executives and academics from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing, and education, as well as past winners. Gold, silver, and bronze winners will be announced at the Edison Awards Gala on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida, and will showcase top innovation leaders and new products from around the globe. For more information on the Edison Awards, please visit www.edisonawards.com . Applications for the 2025 awards will open this summer. About HemoSonics HemoSonics, LLC is a medical device technology company focused on acute bleeding management, resulting in better patient care and lower overall medical costs. The Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer, HemoSonics' flagship product, is designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by providing optimized coagulation information. The Quantra System's easy and fast interpretation enables simple, more efficient point-of-care and laboratory bleeding management. Based in Durham, NC, HemoSonics is part of the Stago Group, a leading in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to exploring thrombosis and hemostasis. Visit HemoSonics.com to learn more. About The Edison Awards Established in 1987, the Edison Awards are dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and fostering innovations and innovators. Named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), the annual competition honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. Past award recipients include Jony Ive, Martha Stewart, Carmichael Roberts and companies leading in innovation, including Nest, now part of Google, AMD, Intel, Naqi, 3M and Cargill. In 2021, the Edison Awards introduced the inaugural Lewis Latimer Fellowship program designed to celebrate, connect and bring together a community of innovative black thought leaders. For more information, visit www.edisonawards.com. SOURCE HEMOSONICS LLC NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Highgate, a leading hotel management, investment and development company, announced today the appointment of Tony Machado to Head of Design. In this new role, Machado will join LUCID, Highgate's in-house Design & Construction Studio, to oversee all aspects of design innovation and execution for the company's growing portfolio as well as Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. Tony Machado, Newly Appointment Head of Design for Highgate "Tony is a visionary whose work translating hotel designs into extraordinary guest experiences has earned him the highest level of respect throughout the industry," said Arash Azarbarzin at Highgate. "As we continue to strengthen our position as a leader in hospitality design, Tony will play a critical role in driving Highgate's success." "This is an invigorating time to join Highgate, as the company is evolving and expanding in new directions that offer unlimited possibilities for creativity and innovation," said Machado. "Whether building on the legacy of a brand like Viceroy by refining its design ethos or creating designs from the ground up for Romer Neighborhood Hotels, we will deliver best-in-class solutions across the spectrum of Highgate's dynamic portfolio." Prior to joining Highgate, Machado served as Senior Vice President and Head of Design at Starwood Capital Group/SH Hotels & Resorts. Throughout his tenure with Starwood, he played a pivotal role in leading all aspects of design for the strategic growth of the 1 Hotels, Baccarat and Treehouse brands, and overseeing their expansion from a handful of U.S. hotels into a major international portfolio. Before joining SH Hotels & Resorts, Machado served as Vice President, Global Head of Design & Construction at Morgans Hotel Group (now Accor), where he played a critical role in the expansion of the Delano and Mondrian brands. His original design strategies were instrumental in translating the unique essence of the brands into diverse cultural contexts. About Highgate Highgate is a leading global real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing footprint in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Waikiki, London and Lisbon. www.highgate.com . SOURCE Highgate The new results are from drilling completed in 2023 designed to define the Helen Zone, the first horizon expected to be accessed at the Cove Mine. The program continues to confirm high-grade mineralization over appreciable thickness, with several holes intersecting multiple lenses in the western-most extremity of the deposit (see Figures 2 & 4). Helen Zone results compare favourably with initial results from the Gap Zone where previously released results included intercepts of up to 12.9 g/t Au over 36.1 m in hole iCHU2304, 14.9 g/t Au over 32.7 m in hole iCHU23-10, 18.9 g/t Au over 29.3 m in hole iCHU23-11, and 7.0 g/t Au over 119.6 m in hole iCHU23-14 (including four higher-grade zones of gold mineralization of up to 10.6 g/t Au over 38.3 m). This release includes results from drilling in the northwest portion of the Helen Zone with a complete summary provided in Table 1. Highlight new results from the 2023 drilling program at McCoy-Cove include: Helen Zone iCHU23-33: 14.4 g/t Au over 20.2 m And 13.3 g/t Au over 3.7 m iCHU23-34: 12.7 g/t Au over 24.4 m iCHU23-35: 10.1 g/t Au over 7.9 m And 14.3 g/t Au over 8.0 m iCHU23-36: 9.7 g/t Au over 9.6 m And 33.9 g/t Au over 2.8 m "Deposits with continuous high-grade gold mineralization over substantial widths like those at Cove are rare.", stated Tyler Hill, Chief Geologist of i-80 Gold. "Our ongoing program continues to confirm that Cove is one of the highest-grade, development-stage, projects in North America. Mineralization remains open for expansion and significant exploration targets exist on the large land package." The McCoy-Cove Property is strategically located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend immediately south of Nevada Gold Mines' Phoenix Mine and located within 83 km of the Company's Lone Tree processing facility (see Figure 1). It is one of three projects currently being advanced to realize the Company's goal of becoming one of the largest producers in Nevada. In addition to the underground drill program at Cove, the Company recently completed a 40-day pump test for the completion of a final hydrological model and full mine permitting. The program being completed will consist of approximately 120 holes comprising more than 40,000 m of drilling on approximate 30 metre spacing in advance of an updated resource estimate and economic study. This program is focused on the CSD Gap and Helen Zone portions of the deposit while mineralization below the pit in the Cove South Deep and 2201 zones are not being drilled as part of this program, (Figure 3) but offer a significant upside opportunity. Table 1 Highlight New Assay Results from Cove Underground Drilling New 2023 results from McCoy-Cove, estimated true thickness 75-95% Drillhole ID Zone Type From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) iCHU23-29 Helen Core 223.1 230.5 7.4 7.0 1.8 iCHU23-30 Helen Core 268.3 271.5 3.2 12.6 1.3 and Helen Core 284.4 285.4 1.0 37.8 6.1 iCHU23-31 Helen Core 132.7 133.7 1.1 33.8 5.4 and Helen Core 140.8 143.8 3.0 19.2 3.1 and Helen Core 243.2 249.7 6.5 7.3 0.9 iCHU23-32 Helen Core 148.2 153.3 5.1 7.0 3.3 and Helen Core 221.4 224.0 2.6 12.2 0.4 and Helen Core 270.2 272.7 2.5 14.5 3.0 and Helen Core 284.4 291.3 6.9 8.4 2.5 and Helen Core 295.4 296.8 1.4 21.3 11.8 and Helen Core 334.9 336.4 1.5 7.1 1.3 iCHU23-33 Helen Core 290.4 310.6 20.2 14.4 3.2 and Helen Core 321.1 324.8 3.7 13.3 3.6 iCHU23-34 Helen Core 271.6 295.9 24.4 12.7 1.5 iCHU23-35 Helen Core 270.1 274.0 4.0 11.9 1.1 and Helen Core 283.2 290.8 7.6 6.8 2.0 and Helen Core 303.6 311.5 7.9 10.1 4.0 and Helen Core 323.6 331.6 8.0 14.3 5.8 and Helen Core 337.7 341.1 3.3 7.9 1.6 iCHU23-36 Helen Core 268.7 278.3 9.6 9.7 1.2 and Helen Core 299.6 302.4 2.8 33.9 11.9 UTM Drillhole ID East m North m Elevation m Azimuth Dip NAD83 Zone 11 iCHU23-29 481771 4466011 1427 311 -67 iCHU23-30 481771 4466012 1428 323 -78 iCHU23-31 481772 4466012 1428 000 -77 iCHU23-32 481772 4466011 1428 355 -83 iCHU23-33 481773 4466012 1428 019 -80 iCHU23-34 481773 4466011 1428 045 -77 iCHU23-35 481773 4466011 1428 073 -82 iCHU23-36 481774 4466011 1428 087 -77 The Helen and CSD Gap zones are comprised of Carlin-style mineralization hosted primarily in the Favret limestone. Enhanced grades and thicknesses of mineralized zones occur at structural intersections, along the margins of dikes and sills, and within the axis of the northwest striking Cove anticline. The McCoy-Cove Property comprises a large package of approximately 13,000 hectares covering an area roughly 15 km by 10 km that offers substantial exploration upside as the bulk of work completed to-date has been focused on the main deposit areas. This work has resulted in several new discoveries that have received little to no follow-up including polymetallic mineralization in the 2201 and Davenport targets. Previous drilling at the 2201, mostly completed in 2014, intersected gold-rich polymetallic veins that returned intercepts up to 182.9 g/t Au over 1.5 m in hole PG14-02 and 40.2 g/t Au over 4.9 m in hole PG14-03. Additionally, polymetallic sulphide mineralization intersections returned intercepts up to 4.7 g/t Au, 311.1 g/t Ag, 4.4% Pb and 8.2% Zn over 3.0 m in hole PG-02 and 1.1 g/t Au, 132.5 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb and 9.0% Zn over 7.1 m in hole PG1408. A single hole (PB18-02) drilled in 2018 east of the Cove pit intersected 5.1 g/t Au, 410.3 g/t Ag, 5.0% Pb & 5.7% Zn over 2.7 m in the Davenport target that has yet to be followed-up. Only three holes have been drilled to the Favret limestone in the pediment area to the east of the Cove pit where the Company believes there is the potential to discover another significant deposit. One hole completed in the pediment was drilled approximately one kilometre to the east of the Cove pit and intersected 1.7 g/t Au and 364 g/t Ag over 11.4 m proximal to an interpreted large untested structural trend that is a major future exploration target. Please click here for further information on abbreviations and conversions referenced in this press release. QAQC Procedures All samples were submitted to ALS Minerals (ALS) of Sparks, NV, which is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through ALS are run through standard prep methods and analysed using Au-AA23 (ALS) (Au; 30g fire assay) and ME-MS61 (35 element suite; 0.4g 4 acid/ICP-AES). ALS also undertakes their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results. Qualified Person Tyler Hill, CPG-12146, Chief Geologist at i-80 is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. About i-80 Gold Corp. i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused, mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected]. Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, the expansion or mineral resources at McCoy-Cove and the potential of the Cove project. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, 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 Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp LEWISVILLE, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ Ever.Ag is proud to unveil Feed King, a ground-breaking feed performance platform designed to address the critical challenges faced by farm owners and feeders in optimizing feed efficiency, reducing waste, and promoting animal well-being. Recognizing that feed is the most significant expense in dairy farming, Feed King is not just a product, but a solution to the complex issues impacting the profitability and sustainability of farms. By providing a centralized platform, Feed King fosters collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the feeding process, transforming feed management into a streamlined, data-driven practice. Solving Real Problems for Dairy Farmers: Maximizing Feed Efficiency: Feed King tackles the inefficiencies in feed management by providing actionable insights, reducing feed costs, and ensuring optimal milk production with minimal resources. Feed King tackles the inefficiencies in feed management by providing actionable insights, reducing feed costs, and ensuring optimal milk production with minimal resources. Informed Decision-Making: Integrating data from multiple sources, Feed King offers comprehensive analytics and real-time feed efficiency calculations, empowering you to make informed decisions about ration formulation and feed management. Integrating data from multiple sources, Feed King offers comprehensive analytics and real-time feed efficiency calculations, empowering you to make informed decisions about ration formulation and feed management. Enhancing Collaboration: With its centralized scorecard and communication tools, Feed King aligns the goals and efforts of feeders, farm owners, and nutritionists, fostering a cohesive approach to feed management. With its centralized scorecard and communication tools, Feed King aligns the goals and efforts of feeders, farm owners, and nutritionists, fostering a cohesive approach to feed management. Promoting Animal Welfare: By ensuring optimal feed efficiency (and therefore, healthy cows), Feed King contributes to the happiness and health of your cows, indicated by unbiased measurements and computer vision observations. By ensuring optimal feed efficiency (and therefore, healthy cows), Feed King contributes to the happiness and health of your cows, indicated by unbiased measurements and computer vision observations. Driving Sustainability: Efficient feed management translates into reduced waste and a smaller environmental footprint, aligning with Ever.Ag's commitment to sustainable farming practices. Proven Impact: Feed King has already demonstrated its value on farms like Grotegut Dairy, where the integration of computer vision technology has revolutionized feed and herd management. The platform's ability to provide a holistic view of feed efficiency has resulted in significant improvements: A 5% increase in feed efficiency due to reduced empty feed bunk time. A 1% gain in feed efficiency from decreased low feed time. A 2% improvement in feed efficiency from more frequent feed push-ups. Join the Feed Management Revolution: Embrace the innovative power of Feed King and transform your farm's feed management process. With Feed King, you're not just adopting a new platform; you're investing in the future of your farm. About Ever.Ag Ever.Ag is Everything Agriculture, providing software and services that empower your entire supply chain, from farm to table - and everything in between. The breadth and depth of Ever.Ag's solutions empower dairy, crops, animal protein, and agribusiness customers to feed a growing world. Bringing decades of experience and industry-leading innovation to the table, Ever.Ag's advanced technology, risk management, and market intelligence solutions provide customers with the insight they need to operate more efficiently, sustainably, nimbly, and strategically across the supply chain. Media Contact Leslie Poston [email protected] SOURCE Ever.Ag In 2023, Jengo Facilities LLC achieved 33% year-over-year annual revenue growth, and 100% client retention and will be expanding to Europe in 2024. DALLAS, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jengo Facilities LLC will be celebrating five years in business on March 1, 2024. They have accomplished the following achievements since their inception as a company. Partnered with a range of clients who have regional and global portfolios of buildings. These clients work in the education, film and media, technology and supply chain industries. Increased their number of employees by 1,350% since they were founded in 2019 with the two company founders. Expanded during the 2020 global pandemic to deliver a 75% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2020 2023. Grown from only providing services in the state of Texas to throughout North America and in 2024 they will begin working in another continent. Jengo Facilities LLC's president, Kwame Watkins shared the following comments about their upcoming five-year milestone: "We have achieved our five-year goals by the hard work of our employees to always deliver excellent service for each of our clients. I am very excited to see what we can accomplish for our clients in 2024 and beyond." He then went on to share the following 2023 accomplishments: Increased their year-over-year annual revenue by 33% through organic sales. Achieved 100% client retention through improved customer service. Grown their business relationship with global payroll and human resources leader ADP which has allowed them to scale their organization quickly and efficiently. In Q4 of 2023 they signed an agreement to provide facilities management services in the UK with a global technology company. Strengthened industry partnerships within the supply chain and education industry through actively participating with industry associations. About Jengo Facilities LLC A facilities management, maintenance, construction and consulting company. The company initially only provided facility consulting and construction services. They have grown to also provide the following facilities services: cleaning, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, general maintenance, landscaping and other services. A certified African American and woman owned company that is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. For more information about Jengo Facilities LLC services and organizations visit www.jengofm.com or @jengofacilities on Linkedin, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter). Media Contact: Nzingha Millar Communications Director 844-500-9698 pr@jengofm.com SOURCE Jengo Facilities LLC Pilates Franchise Studio is Looking to Continue its Growth and Franchise Expansion in the Lone Star State MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JETSET Pilates the Miami-based, modern Reformer Pilates franchise, combining curated music and fitness for the ultimate revitalizing experience has announced plans to expand inside the Texas market with its first location in McKinney, Texas. This summer, the brand is opening a new location in West McKinney at 3241 S. Custer Rd. Suite 103. Photo provided by JETSET Pilates To expand its presence, the brand is eyeing all major cities in Texas including: Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and more. Currently, the growing franchise has locations open in Florida, with over 28 studios in development throughout New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Australia. "We are super excited to have inked a multi-studio deal in the Texas market with the first location opening in McKinney," said Tamara Galinsky, Founder of JETSET Pilates. "With this expansion, we're seeking more potential franchise partners with an interest in the fitness space to help bring an accessible and modern Pilates experience to different communities throughout the state of Texas." JETSET Pilates has grown to become an internationally recognized brand with a growing, loyal community devoted to the unique 50-minute workout that challenges mind, body and soul. Instructors have been trained to create a personal connection with clients, ensuring everyone receives a workout that is effective and appropriate for their personal goals. The intricate designs, intuitive settings and high-performance reformer equipment allows the brand to create a 360 experience like no other for any potential client. "JETSET Pilates is a one-of-a-kind experience that only JETSETters can get at our locations, from the fragrance of the studios to our specially curated music playlists," said Bert Albertse, CEO of JETSET Pilates. "Our studios create an environment of engagement and interaction to help fitness goers escape their everyday stress and get a chance to release. We can't wait for Texans to take part in our intense 50 min full body workout with custom made reformers that fuses elements of strength training, cardio, conditioning, and Pilates inspired movements all in one." Since launching its franchise opportunity, JETSET Pilates has rapidly gained traction and established itself as one of the most attractive concepts in the boutique franchise business space. Intimate class sizing allows for 12 to 16 reformers per class, making an efficient training session for every client. To learn more about JETSET Pilates, or for interest in the opportunity to own a franchise in your community, please visit https://jetsetpilates.com/franchise/ About JETSET Pilates Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2022, JETSET Pilates has rapidly established itself as one of the most attractive concepts in the boutique franchise business space. JETSET Pilates currently has plans to open in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Australia with over 28 studios in development. JETSET now offers franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs in some of the largest and fastest-growing markets within the fitness-franchise sector. For more information, please visit https://jetsetpilates.com/franchise/. Contact: Raylin Taylor, Franchise Elevator PR, (847)-945-1300 ext. 251; [email protected] SOURCE JETSET Pilates The Largest Consumer Survey of Product Innovation Recognizes Kinder Chocolate as This Year's Chocolate Category Winner PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferrero USA announced today that Kinder Chocolate has been voted the 2024 Product of the Year Winner in the Chocolate category. Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, chosen by 40,000 US shoppers in a national survey conducted by Kantar Group, a global data, insights, and consulting company. Voted by Product of the Year 2024 America's Favorite Chocolate Product Category Winner Kinder Chocolate, a top selling Kinder branded product, arrived in the U.S. this past fall, joining the brand's current portfolio of Kinder Joy, Kinder Bueno, and Kinder Seasonal products. Simply made with an outer layer of smooth milk chocolate with a creamy, milky filling, it's a delicious treat that comes in small, individually wrapped bars, making it great for kids and perfect for families to enjoy together anytime. As part of its national debut, the brand launched its "Let That Kid Flag Fly" campaign to champion quality moments of togetherness between parents and kids. The campaign was inspired by the brand's groundbreaking parenting study, which identified six distinct modern parenting styles and recognized that regardless of individual parenting style, 93% of parents today agree it's important that kids get a chance to be kids. "Having just hit shelves in the U.S. this past September, we are thrilled to see Kinder Chocolate already receiving this extraordinary recognition. We hope that families everywhere continue to find those small, meaningful moments of connection while sharing a delicious pack of Kinder Chocolate and truly let those Kid flags fly," said Shalini Stansberry, Vice President of Marketing, Kinder Snacking. Kinder Chocolate is currently available at all major retailers. To learn more about Kinder Chocolate and the other winners of Product of the Year, check out the winners' page at productoftheyearusa.com or follow @KinderUS on Instagram. About Kinder Chocolate Michele Ferrero developed Kinder Chocolate, which has become a top-selling Kinder product. Kinder Chocolate is a delicious treat that is crafted for kids, loved by all. It features an outer layer of smooth milk chocolate with a creamy milky filling as the ultimate melt in your mouth treat and comes in small, individually wrapped portions, making it great for kids and perfect for families to enjoy together. Kinder Chocolate is the latest chocolate bar to arrive in the U.S., joining the brand's current portfolio of Kinder Joy, which features delicious creamy layers, chocolate-covered wafer bites and an exciting surprise toy; Kinder Bueno, a crispy, creamy chocolate bar that comes with a creamy hazelnut filling in a crispy wafer, enrobed in milk chocolate and a dark chocolate drizzle, and Kinder Seasonal, which features various seasonal designs. For more information on the Kinder brand and where to find Kinder Chocolate, please visit www.kinder.com, or follow Kinder US on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. About Ferrero 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 38,000 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. Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,100 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger, CRUNCH, Keebler, Famous Amos, Mother's Cookies, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com. About Product of the Year: Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation. Established over 30 years ago, POY currently operates in over 40 countries with the same purpose: to guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation. Product of the Year winners are backed by the votes of 40,000 consumers in a national representative study conducted by research partner Kantar, a global leader in consumer research. For more information, visit productoftheyearusa.com. Contact: Keely Bennett, [email protected] SOURCE Ferrero North America The Station will embark on a year-long series of programming and partnerships to commemorate 85 years of transit, community, arts and culture. Link to Hi-Res Images HERE LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, Los Angeles Union Station will celebrate 85 years of being a vibrant symbol of Downtown Los Angeles. In the eight-plus decades since its opening, Union Station has captured the spirit and soul of Los Angeles and has emerged as a vital portal to the promise of the California dream and a spirited destination for arts and culture. To commemorate this milestone, the Station will continue to energize the community with events and programs celebrating honored partnerships, unique artists and commemorative holidays throughout its 85th year. The year of festivities will launch on February 15, with Celebrating in our Ancestors' Footsteps, a special recognition of the Waiting Room exhibition Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880 to 1939 . The Metro Art event will kick off with a dynamic, traditional lion dance performance by students of the local East Wind Foundation and will continue with a guided walk-through of the exhibition led by Metro Art. "Los Angeles Union Station is thrilled to welcome and encourage Angelenos to join us for dancing, music, films and more in celebration of our 85th anniversary. Since May 1939, Los Angeles Union Station has been so much more than the connector between physical communities in the West it has also been the meeting ground for cultural exchange, art and celebration building connection between the diverse communities of people who call Los Angeles home," said Susie Vance, Director of Marketing for Morlin Asset Management c/o Los Angeles Union Station. On February 23, the Station will host a free screening of "Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life," a Metro Art event that will include a conversation between the one-of-a-kind visual artist and LA-based writer, Alissa Walker. Next up and back by popular demand, Metro Art Presents will partner with KJazz for Jazz Tracks, inviting Angelenos of all ages to enjoy an exceptional night of live music and special performances. The Station will continue its participation in Doors Open California, a two-day celebration of architecture and culture across the state, from the California Preservation Foundation. Participating Angelenos will experience behind-the-scenes guided art and architecture tours of "the last of the great train stations." To honor Union Station's place in Los Angeles' history, the iconic landmark is collaborating with Merch Motel, a brand created by Barkev Msrlyan and inspired by historic destinations, signage and architecture, set to launch Spring 2024. The collaboration will largely be inspired by the innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco stylings involved in the Station's unique architecture design. Los Angeles Union Station will also continue to host third-party events throughout its impressive spaces, including the former Fred Harvey Restaurant, which will soon become available as a unique venue location for special events, filming, weddings and more. To learn more about Los Angeles Union Station, visit unionstationla.com . #Celebrating85Years #UnionStationLA About Los Angeles Union Station Since its opening in 1939, Los Angeles Union Station has long been considered one of LA's architectural gems and a vital portal to the promise of the California Dream. The Station was designed with an innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco architecture now commonly referred to as Mission Moderne. The bustling 52-acre transportation hub sits in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles offering essential connections to destinations throughout Southern California. An iconic landmark, the Station serves as a vibrant symbol of Downtown's renaissance connecting the historic fabric of the past to the present through arts, culture, transit and community. Conceived on a grand scale, Los Angeles Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States and is often regarded as "the last of the great train stations." For more information, visit unionstationla.com or follow @unionstationla on social media. About Metro Art Metro Art enhances the customer experience with innovative, award-winning visual and performing arts programming that encourages ridership and connects people, sites and neighborhoods throughout LA County. A diverse range of site-specific artworks are integrated into the growing Metro system, improving the quality of transit environments, and creating a sense of place. Metro Art Presents showcases an exciting array of arts and cultural programs at historic Union Station. All events are free and open to the public. Click here for more information about Metro Art. Follow Metro Art on Instagram and #MetroArtLA. SOURCE Los Angeles Union Station The Kremlin has opened a trade war with Ecuador over its plans to exchange its Soviet-origin weapons for modern U.S. materiel. Moscow suspects that Quitos armament of Russian and Ukrainian origin which forms a significant part of the arsenals of Latin American armies will subsequently be transferred to Kyiv for the war effort against the Russian invasion and has partially vetoed imports of Ecuadorian bananas in retaliation. Moreover, this blockade threatens to go further: the Russian government announced Tuesday the arrival of the first batch of bananas sent from India to Russia, at the same time as threatening to restrict the import of Ecuadorian carnations ahead of Valentines Day. The Russian veto is a serious blow to Ecuadorian trade. According to the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE), Moscow accounted for one-fifth of Ecuadors banana exports last year. The BCE estimates that Quitos income from trade in the fruit reached $689 million dollars between January and November 2023. During January, Quito and Washington negotiated a military exchange whose repercussions might be felt on the European front. Ecuador, ravaged by organized crime, would receive materiel it considers modern worth $200 million in exchange for sending Washington weapons that fit the standards of the Ukrainian army. According to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Quitos arsenal includes BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, and Strela-2 and Igla man-portable air defense systems. The Kremlin, in parallel, has taken steps to cut its commercial ties with Ecuador, at least partially. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, Rosselkhoznadzor, in early February banned the import of bananas from five Ecuadorian companies on the pretext that it had allegedly detected the contamination of some batches with the Megaselia scalaris fly. However, Moscow, concerned about shortages and the inflated prices paid by its citizens in markets due to Western sanctions, sought an alternative to the Ecuadorian banana before applying its veto. Rosselkhoznadzor confirmed in a statement Tuesday that the first batch of Indian fruit arrived in January. This shipment could not have happened overnight, as the agency itself acknowledges that the next shipment is not expected until the end of February. It also stated that the volume of Indian banana exports to the Russian market will be increased in the future. We have notified the Ecuadorian authorities of Russias position: the Americans do not need this equipment, the more so since it was called scrap metal, the Russian ambassador to the Latin American country, Vladimir Sprinchan, said on January 11. It is needed by those who know how to handle Russian-made equipment. We warned the authorities that this would be an unfriendly step. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa stated in an interview at the end of January that the armaments were useless, an assertion that annoyed the Russian authorities due to the wide use of these arsenals on the Ukrainian front. We have proved that it is scrap metal. In accordance with international agreements, military equipment cannot be transferred, but such scrap metal can be, the Ecuadorian president said. Our partners are well aware of the provisions of the contracts, which include an obligation to use the supplied equipment for the stated purposes and not to transfer it to a third party without obtaining the relevant agreement of the Russian side, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded, adding that the decision had been taken in Quito due to serious pressure from external stakeholders. The pressures on Ecuador are not limited only to its primary market with Russia. Another sector, as small as it is symbolic, also being vetoed by the Kremlin. Moscow has asked several European Union member states to prevent the entry of carnations from Ecuador because of another alleged infestation, on this occasion of the invasive western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). The request was lodged a little over a week before a date on which Russians flock to flower shops: Valentines Day. The impact of the veto on the Ecuadorian flower market would be minimal, as Russians spend just under $1 million per year on bouquets imported from the Latin American country. However, Moscows move is striking: the Kremlin has turned to some of the European nations that have provided the largest amounts of military and financial support to Ukraine just days after the EU approved a 50 billion package for Kyiv. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New report from Project Liberty Foundation surveyed 14,000 adults worldwide and shows that concerns about social media's impact on youth are growing and extend beyond parents. NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Liberty Foundation , a global non-profit organization founded by Frank McCourt, today released findings from a large-scale, global survey focused on attitudes about technology and social media's impact on children around the world. Conducted by the Foundation's research arm, " Publics Around the World: Kids - and Parents - Need a Safer Internet " reveals widespread concerns and consistent agreement that social media companies - more than governments or individual users - should bear the greatest responsibility for the online safety of children. According to the new report, based on a survey of 14,000 adults in seven countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, people are deeply worried that social media opens the door to a range of harms for young people. "People around the world are united in their concern about the dangers children are exposed to, every day, through the internet and the devastating impact social media is having on kids, families and communities," said Frank McCourt, Founder and Executive Chairman of Project Liberty. "Enough is enough. Project Liberty was launched to build a better internet and healthier digital ecosystem where individuals have more control over their data and dominant platforms no longer addict, exploit and harm our children for profit. The harms are now obvious, it's time to fix the internet." Across the seven countries polled, a median of 65% say they are "very concerned" that kids might be subjected to cyberbullying or harassment. A clear majority of those surveyed also worry about children being exposed to inappropriate sexual or violent content (64% and 63%, respectively). "The cornerstone of Project Liberty Foundation's mission is to build a better web and better world. To do so requires listening to the voices and experiences of everyday people, including parents, to better understand how the internet and social media are affecting individuals, families and communities," said Jeb Bell, Head of Strategic Insights at Project Liberty Foundation. "Our findings reveal that parents and non-parents, alike, believe children should not be treated the same as adults online, and that there is widespread demand for features that make social media and other platforms truly safe for kids." Additional findings include: Half or more of the countries polled believe the government also bears a "great deal" of responsibility for keeping the web and social media safe for all. This view is most widespread in the global south: Brazil (66%), followed by India (59%), and South Africa (57%). About half the respondents in the UK (52%) and France (50%) think the government should have a great deal of responsibility for ensuring online platforms are safe to use. Whereas, just 38% of U.S. adults believe the government should play a major role in regulating the internet and social media. (66%), followed by (59%), and (57%). About half the respondents in the UK (52%) and (50%) think the government should have a great deal of responsibility for ensuring online platforms are safe to use. Whereas, just 38% of U.S. adults believe the government should play a major role in regulating the internet and social media. While parents agree that social media can open the door for harm to children, most parents acknowledge that online social connections can benefit young people. A median of 46% believe social media's effect on kids has been either "very positive" (13%) or "somewhat positive" (34%). Notably, the bulk of public opinion lies somewhere between complete embrace and thorough denouncement of social media as a pervasive facet of young people's lives. Parents and non-parents agree that social media platforms should be equipped with better safety features that prevent exposure to harmful content and do more to protect the privacy of children's data by default. Across all countries surveyed, there is resounding support for better design of social media platforms in order to promote the safety and well-being of children. Among the top priorities are technical protections that prevent computer algorithms from recommending inappropriate or harmful content to kids (a median of 71% say this is "very important"). "This research demonstrates that even at a time of widespread division and polarization, there is broad, global agreement that something must be done to create a safer internet for our children and society at large," said Tomicah Tillemann, the interim CEO of Project Liberty Foundation and President of Project Liberty. "A future internet, and the social media platforms that run on it, should provide people more control over their data and a voice in how those digital platforms are built and operate. Our children deserve this, and our future depends on it." For more information and to access the complete Project Liberty Insights 2024 Report please visit https://www.projectlibertyfoundation.io/insight-report . Methodology Project Liberty partnered with polling firm J.L. Partners to field an international survey of 14,220 adults aged 18-74 years from October 11-20, 2023. Participants were recruited by Cint from online survey panel providers in seven countries: Brazil, China (mainland), France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. ABOUT PROJECT LIBERTY Project Liberty is a far-reaching effort to build an internet where individuals have more control over their data, a voice in how digital platforms operate, and greater access to the economic benefits of innovation. Launched in 2021 by civic entrepreneur Frank McCourt and supported by a $500-million commitment, Project Liberty encompasses the work of the Project Liberty Foundationa 501(c)(3) with an international partner network that includes Georgetown University, Stanford University, Sciences Po, and other leading academic institutions and civic organizationsand Amplica Labs, a technology business launched by McCourt Global that is focused on developing the next generation of digital infrastructure. Project Liberty's activities include the release of the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol ( DSNP ), which is stewarded by the Foundation and available as a public utility to serve as the bedrock of a more equitable web and support a new era of innovation that empowers people over platforms and serves the common good. ABOUT PROJECT LIBERTY FOUNDATION Project Liberty Foundation, a 501(c)(3) founded by Frank McCourt, is building a global alliance for responsible technology and bringing together technologists, academics, policymakers, civil society and citizens to build a safer, healthier tech ecosystem. To learn more visit projectliberty.io. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Project Liberty FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare is proud to announce that Elizabeth "Liz" Acord, vice president of clinical integration, for MemorialCare Cancer Institute was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of its 40 Under 40 for 2024. Modern Healthcare's 40 Under 40 recognizes the health care industry's rising stars age 40 and under who contribute to a culture of innovation and help their organizations achieve and exceed financial, operational, and clinical goals. MemorialCare is proud to announce that Elizabeth Liz Acord, vice president of clinical integration, for MemorialCare Cancer Institute was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of its 40 Under 40 for 2024. As vice president of clinical integration at MemorialCare, Acord oversees the system-wide cancer program and spearheads clinical research initiatives. She brings extensive experience building hospital departments, developing innovative programs, and fostering collaboration between health care stakeholders. "Since Liz joined MemorialCare five years ago, she quickly began executing a new strategic plan to develop a world class community cancer program across all MemorialCare entities," says Dr. David Kim, CEO, MemorialCare Medical Group. "She effectively brings people together and aligned in one mission and vision. And amidst the challenges of the pandemic, she ensured that the cancer program remained operational and continued to enhance and grow its services. She is a natural leader, and I'm so thankful that she has a passion and love for the patients and community she serves." In 2023, Acord led initiatives to expand services that improve the patient experience and provide innovative treatment options. This included online risk questionnaires, pre-visit check-in tools, and the implementation of Beacon for streamlining treatment planning. She also orchestrated a strategic partnership to leverage machine learning and predictive analytics to increase capacity across infusion centers. Acord was at the helm of several expansions including the acquisition of Radiation Oncology vaults, the recruitment of skilled breast and plastic surgeons, and the integration of medical and gynecologic oncologists in multiple markets. Her initiatives extended to the growth of the nuclear medicine therapeutics program, the establishment of a robust cancer screening program, the significant expansion of lung cancer navigation, and the implementation of a Tobacco Registry. With a focus on the well-being of young people in the community, Acord secured a grant to fund the creation and implementation of the Adolescent and Young Adult Survivorship Program. Initiated in 2021, the program was fully realized in 2023, bridging the patient journey from the CoC-accredited pediatric cancer program at MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach the only pediatric cancer program with this designation in California to the CoC-accredited adult cancer program at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. Patients now experience a seamless transition for cancer survivorship care as young adults, improving their experience and providing them access to critical clinical trials. "I am deeply passionate about bridging the gap between cancer treatment in community settings and the clinical research hubs of academic institutions," says Acord. "At MemorialCare, we continuously work to bring these life-saving services to more patients, and to be recognized for these efforts by Modern Healthcare is an honor." "Our inaugural class of 40 Under 40 demonstrates the wide range of talent needed in health care today and in the years to come," said Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare. "They are the rising stars who will propel the industry forward with a focus on innovation, efficiency, affordability and compassion." The profiles of all the honorees are featured in the February 12 issue of MH magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/40under40. About MemorialCare MemorialCare is a not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system with 225 care locations including leading hospitalsSaddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach; MemorialCare Medical Group and Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare Research Program; MemorialCare Select Health Plan; and numerous outpatient health, imaging, surgery, urgent care, physical therapy, breast health and dialysis centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. Accolades include Nation's Best Health Systems and Workplaces, Top 50 U.S. Hospitals and Cardiovascular Hospitals, 10 Largest Children's Hospitals, 100 Best Hospitals - Spine and Prostate Surgeries, Best of Orange County and Long Beach Hospitals and Medical Groups, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and "high performing" in 31 clinical categories and Newsweek World's Best Hospitals, Top 100 Hospitals, Best Maternity Hospitals and more. Visit memorialcare.org. About Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare is the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare empowers healthcare leaders and influencers to make timely and informed business decisions. To learn more or subscribe, go to www.modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions SOURCE MemorialCare OAKWOOD, Ga., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As of December 1st, 2023, Mencom Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of industrial electrical connectors, has successfully completed the acquisition of ELIM spol. s r.o., a leading producer of wiring harnesses located in Volary, Czech Republic. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for Mencom, solidifying its footprint in Europe and enhancing its ability to locally manufacture and distribute high-quality products to a broader customer base. Mencom expands EU presence with ELIM acquisition ELIM, founded in 1993, has established a world class reputation as a reliable manufacturer of wiring harnesses, serving diverse industries such as automotive, military, food processing, medical, space, air, and sea transport. The shared commitment to excellence in quality and production processes aligns seamlessly with Mencom's values, setting the stage for collaborative growth and success. Following the acquisition, ELIM now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mencom Corporation, boasting a skilled team of over 60 professionals ready to immediately commence the production of Mencom's popular products. This strategic expansion positions Mencom to better serve its European customers by providing top-tier connector solutions directly from a local facility. Bruce Mistarz, CEO of Mencom Corporation, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome ELIM to the Mencom family. This strategic move will not only strengthen our presence in Europe, but it will also allow us to expand the reach of our products to a broader range of customers. We look forward to leveraging ELIM's expertise and capabilities to drive growth and success." With this acquisition, Mencom Corporation reaffirms its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of clients globally, delivering exceptional products and services, fostering enduring relationships, and driving innovation in the connector industry. For more information about these products, or Mencom's circular connectors, panel interface connectors, rectangular connectors, cable glands or valve connectors, please contact the factory or visit www.mencomcorp.eu. For details, contact: Mark Dixon Marketing Manager Email: [email protected] Phone: (770)534-4585 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338182/Mencom_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338183/MENCOM_ELIM_Aquisition.jpg Taste Estonia: Unveiling the Future of Gastronomy with Tradition and Innovation at the Heart of Every Dish DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Taste Estonia is set to captivate the culinary world at Gulfood 2024, showcasing the art of sustainable cooking with Estonia's very own Green Michelin Star chef Peter Pihel. In a series of anticipated Top Table masterclasses, Chef Pihel will demonstrate the transformative power of the humble carrot, bringing to life the rich tradition of Estonian cuisine through innovative techniques such as cooking, curing, and fermenting. Michelin-Green-Starred Chef Peter Pihel Through Chef Peter Pihel's masterclasses on February 21st and 23rd and the diverse offerings of Estonian restaurants and producers, visitors will leave with a renewed appreciation for sustainable, innovative cuisine possibilities. Chef Peter Pihel's culinary journey is marked by exploration, sustainability, and a deep respect for nature. Having honed his skills in some of Europe's most prestigious kitchens, Pihel earned a Green Michelin Star in 2022 for his environmentally conscious approach to cuisine. His philosophy centres on the belief that exceptional food starts with respect for the environment, an ethos he passionately shares through his dishes. At Gulfood 2024, Pihel will showcase his skills and inspire attendees with his commitment to culinary innovation and environmental stewardship. Gulfood 2024 attendees are invited to experience the Taste Estonia stand, where the fusion of tradition and innovation creates a dining experience unlike any other, represented by 18 Estonian companies at the forefront of sustainable food production. Estonia's participation in Gulfood reflects its commitment to sustainable and innovative culinary practices. Estonian chefs and food producers are at the forefront of integrating sustainable methods with culinary innovation, resulting in a food culture that is both environmentally responsible and gastronomically advanced. From utilising locally sourced ingredients to adopting zero-waste practices, Estonia is pioneering a movement that celebrates the earth's bounty without compromising its future. Taste Estonia's showcase at Gulfood 2024 is a testament to the country's leadership in green culinary practices, offering a glimpse into the future of food rooted in tradition yet boldly innovative. Taste Estonia's participation in Gulfood 2024, co-funded by the EU, marks a significant milestone in Estonia's journey towards becoming a global leader in sustainable gastronomy. Join us at the Trade Centre Arena, S-G44, from February 19th to 23rd, and be part of the culinary revolution that is setting the stage for the future of food. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339504/Taste_Estonia.jpg SOURCE Taste Estonia ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Speakers Group (WWSG) is thrilled to announce that former Vice President Michael R. Pence is once again available for global speaking engagements. WWSG will facilitate the former vice president's speaking commitments exclusively. "Worldwide Speakers Group is a leader in its industry, and I am honored to rejoin the roster of distinguished thought leaders that WWSG represents. I look forward to continue working with Bob Thomas, Dan Sims, and the entire WWSG team," said Mike Pence. As vice president, governor of Indiana, and a leader in Congress, Pence's accomplishments are numerous. He advanced significant tax code reforms, negotiated international trade agreements, engaged foreign leaders, and always championed issues consistent with his faith and values. Since leaving the Trump administration, Pence founded Advancing American Freedom, a nonprofit organization that promotes and defends successful conservative policies while elevating traditional American values. He has also written two books, So Help Me God and Go Home for Dinner. Regarding his speaking topics, the former vice president addresses leadership; policymaking; and faith, values, and service. "It is always an honor to represent individuals who have served our country, but especially Vice President Mike Pence" the company's Chairman and CEO, Bob Thomas said. "His numerous accomplishments have positively impacted Americans. The vice president has exhibited great character, diligence, and resolve through his dedication to his faith and we are thrilled to be representing him as he rejoins the private sector." Mike Pence is among several other high-profile thought leaders with government experience to work with WWSG. Others include Larry Hogan (62nd Governor of Maryland); General John Kelly (Secretary of Homeland Security, Chief of Staff to the President), Gary Locke (U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Secretary of Commerce, 21st Governor of Washington); Marc Short (Director of Legislative Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Vice President); Dr. Deborah Birx (Diplomat, Celebrated HIV/AIDS Researcher, former White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator); and others. WWSG also exclusively represents thought leaders from other industries. Top-requested speakers on the WWSG roster include Niall Ferguson (Historian, Author, Geopolitics Expert); Dr. Sanjay Gupta (Neurosurgeon, Chief Medical Correspondent at CNN); Chris Miller (Award-Winning Author of Chip War); Dr. Scott Gottlieb (Physician, Former FDA Commissioner); Erika Ayers Badan (Former CEO of Barstool Sports); David Frum (Political Analyst, Writer at The Atlantic); and many others. Worldwide Speakers Group operates on six continents, representing an elite roster of global thought leaders who participate in public speaking and keynote speaking. The top-rated professional services agency works with multinational financial services organizations, healthcare organizations, trade associations, colleges and universities, public lecture series, and other groups to skillfully connect them with the world's best speakers. For more information, visit wwsg.com or call (703) 373-WWSG (9974). Contact: Kaylie Abela ***@wwsg.com Photos: https://www.prlog.org/13006408 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Worldwide Speakers Group Onyx Equities and Machine Investment Group join forces with Outshine Properties for campus renovations, paving the way for life sciences and biotechnology leasing and innovation KENILWORTH, N.J., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Onyx Equities, managing member of the joint venture that owns The Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center, today announced the next phase of the campus' evolution into an international life science and biotechnology hub. After purchasing the property from Merck in 2023 and Merck vacating all but one building on the campus on January 1st of this year, Onyx Equities is teaming up with Outshine Properties to implement a strategy for renovating and leasing the NEST campus. The strategic partnership is poised to catapult the NEST Center campus to the epicenter of the biotech world. "The caliber of current lab and biomanufacturing space and related infrastructure at NEST is unparalleled nationally. Merck spared no expense in the build-out and infrastructure redundancy of its world headquarters" explained Jonathan Scheinberg, Managing Principal and Founder of Outshine Properties, who will provide leasing and asset management advisory services to the NEST campus. "The partnership between Onyx Equities, one of the nation's premier commercial real estate organizations, and Outshine Properties, real estate industry leaders in life sciences assets, will ensure the campus is primed and ready for the world's most innovative companies to pursue the next stages of global research and development." The 100+ acre campus already boasts 2 million square feet of existing facilities, including 1.4 million square feet of state-of-the-art laboratories and biomanufacturing facilities, 500,000 square feet of Class-A professional office space, an existing vivarium, and over 30 acres of redevelopment opportunities. Prospective life science tenants, especially those in cutting-edge research such as cell, gene, and immunotherapy, will find an environment able to meet their specialized requirements. The campus also offers robust utility infrastructure capable of supporting advanced data storage and processing capabilities, allowing organizations the opportunity of leveraging technology such as artificial intelligence for their research and development. On-campus renovations will kick off with the 280,000-square-foot pilot research and development plant branded as 11 NEST which is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of life science companies, especially those engaged in biomanufacturing. "With a commitment to fostering innovation, the NEST Center is poised to become a vibrant ecosystem where ideas flourish and translate into real-world solutions. When complete, the campus will be prime for startup incubation, educational research, and even talent acquisition from regional colleges and universities. NEST is not merely a physical space; it represents a paradigm shift, propelling educational, entrepreneurial, and employment landscapes into a future defined by excellence and ingenuity," noted Matthew Flath, Senior Vice President Asset Management at Onyx Equities. In the coming year, the campus will host its first-ever life science conference in partnership with Bisnow. The conference will bring together life science real estate professionals for transformative discussions and unparalleled insights, setting the stage for exploration of innovation within the life sciences industry. About Northeast Science and Technology Center (NEST) Conveniently located in Kenilworth, NJ, the Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center is a 100+ acre campus which is purpose-built and zoned for life science innovation, answering a need for immediately available, turn-key, and customizable office, laboratory, and bio-manufacturing space in the tri-state area. Formerly the global headquarters of Merck, the Onyx Equities-led venture acquired the campus February 2023 and have since begun work with new partner Outshine Properties to develop it into a hub of research and innovation in the Northeast region of the United States. For more information about NEST, visit www.NestCenter.com. About Onyx Equities, LLC Headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey, Onyx Equities, LLC is a leading, full-service real estate firm specializing in investment, asset repositioning and ground-up development. Since its founding in 2004, Onyx has acquired more than $4 billion worth of diverse real estate assets throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and has executed over $1 billion in capital improvement projects under its signature repositioning program. For more information about Onyx Equities, visit www.OnyxEquites.com. About Outshine Properties Outshine Properties is a real estate investment and development firm focused on Life Science and knowledge economy assets. Outshine was founded in 2020 by Jonathan Scheinberg who has over 20 years of experience in life science real estate. The company invests nationally across life science, medical office, and technology-focused assets. With its extensive expertise and successful track record of acquiring, repositioning and managing over 7 million SF of life science and mixed-use properties, Outshine is well positioned to capitalize on the rapid growth of the life science industry going forward. Contact: Corrie A. Fisher, media relations Email: [email protected] SOURCE Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Report from the Open Wing Alliance calls out Best Western, Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, Capella Hotel Group, and others for lack of cage-free transparency NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Open Wing Alliance (OWA), a global coalition of 100 organizations in 72 countries on six continents, releases a new animal welfare report: Fair and Fowl: Global Travel Edition . The report examines ethical discrepancies within the hospitality sector, exposing companies that, despite pledging to source 100% cage-free eggs in their supply chains in recent years, are refusing to disclose progress on their commitments. The report highlights the importance of corporate transparency and holding companies accountable for the welfare of animals in their supply chains. Egg-laying hens raised in battery cages on a typical industrial farm environment. Egg-laying hens raised in battery cages on a typical industrial farm environment. Among the hospitality laggards called out in the report are Best Western, Capella Hotel Group, and Millennium and Copthorne Hotels for refusing to provide public updates on their cage-free global pledges. As consumers increasingly prioritize ethical practices, these companies are facing a profit-threatening backlash for perceived deception on animal welfare claims from consumers. "Pressure from both the public and investors to end cruel practices in animal agriculture has led to the implementation of cage-free egg policies worldwide," says Hannah Surowinski, Global Corporate Relations Manager, the Open Wing Alliance . "Today's tourists are seeking out more ethical travel experiences, and part of that includes expecting a higher standard of animal welfare this report calls out hospitality companies still refusing to report on their global and regional progress, calling into question their integrity and risking increased scrutiny and a loss of consumer trust due to a lack of accountability." As consumers demand ethical practices and corporate accountability, over 2,500 of the world's largest corporations have committed to eradicating cages from their supply chainsnearly 1200 of those have already completed their cage-free transitions, including JetBlue and Motel One. "JetBlue has been proud to source 100% cage-free liquid and shell eggs since 2017, which is a result of working with business partners in our international network that share our value of high-quality ingredients and ethical business practices," said Jayne O'Brien, JetBlue Head of Marketing and Loyalty. "Motel One is excited to partner with The Humane League on improving animal welfare. Across the group, we are proud to source 100 percent cage-free eggs, free-range at a minimum, for all of our products. In Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands our eggs are 100% organic. We believe this is a crucial step towards a sustainable and ethical supply chain," said Ann-Katrin Moitje, Purchasing Manager at Motel One. Cage-free leaders reporting on progress (among others): JetBlue (already 100% cage-free) Dorchester Collection (already 100% cage-free) Motel One GmbH (already 100% cage-free) Starhotels (already 100% cage-free) Marriott International Carnival Cruise Lines Club Med Four Seasons Hyatt Kempinski Langham Hospitality Travel + Leisure Co. (formerly Wyndham Destinations) Cage-free laggards refusing to report on their progress (among others): Best Western Millennium Hotels and Copthorne Hotels Capella Hotel Group To learn more about the Fair and Fowl: Global Travel Edition , click here . To join consumers around the world in taking action against the companies failing to make progress for animals, click here . For more information about The Open Wing Alliance, visit OpenWingAlliance.org . Follow along with the cage-free movement on Twitter @GlobalCageFree . Why cage-free egg systems? Over four billion hens endure life in tiny, cramped cages that prevent them from stretching their wings or engaging in natural behaviors. Caged systems promote stress, reproductive disease, and poor bone health in egg-laying hens. Numerous countries have addressed the cruelty of cages by banning them entirely, such as Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, and many other countries have enacted laws that will come into force in the coming years. In the US, eleven states have banned the use of battery cages for egg-laying hens, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington. About the Open Wing Alliance (OWA) Founded in 2016 by The Humane League , the Open Wing Alliance is a coalition of about 100 animal protection organizations in 72 countries on six continents, trailblazing farm animal welfare in nearly every market globally. Through shared knowledge, resources, and people power, the OWA is united around their goal to end the abuse of chickens worldwide. Media Contact: Julia Wisner [email protected] 1-973-722-4736 SOURCE The Open Wing Alliance TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vehicle accidents that result in predatory towing practices remain a significant issue for policymakers across Florida and the country. After an accident, vehicle owners find themselves in high-stress situations that can create the perfect opportunity for unscrupulous towers to exploit victims. Law enforcement agencies have seen examples of towers charging accident victims exorbitant fees for a tow requiring only a few-miles sometimes as high as $10,000 for a single, routine tow. To address this emerging fraud trend, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a national, century-old, not-for-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with member insurance companies to combat insurance fraud, is supporting legislation to deter predatory towing practices in Florida. "Predatory towing in Florida has emerged as a pervasive issue, significantly impacting individuals' lives and livelihoods," said Eric De Campos, Senior Director of Strategy, Policy and Government Affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. "Predatory towing places significant financial burdens on unsuspecting vehicle owners because hidden towing fees and charges can escalate quickly, leaving individuals with an unexpected and hefty expense. In some situations, unscrupulous towers will delay notifying owners that their vehicle has been towed and will hold the car hostage until all towing fees are paid, while racking up significant storage fees." De Campos recently testified before a Senate hearing that NICB is strongly supporting legislation (SB 774) sponsored by Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) and noted that the bill will implement critical consumer protections to help protect Floridians against predatory towing. A companion bill in the Florida House of Representatives is sponsored by Representative Melony Bell (R-Fort Meade). "We need decisive action to combat predatory towing practices and ensure fairness and transparency for Florida's residents," said Senator Perry. "This bill would implement important measures that protect consumers and promote accountability within the towing industry." The bill would: Require reasonable towing and storage fees so that consumers don't face fraudulent or inflated charges; reasonable towing and storage fees so that consumers don't face fraudulent or inflated charges; Require towers to accept additional methods of payment to allow consumers more flexibility to pay their bills and for towers to receive the money they are owed more quickly; towers to accept additional methods of payment to allow consumers more flexibility to pay their bills and for towers to receive the money they are owed more quickly; Shorten notice of lien periods so consumers can more quickly get their vehicles released; and notice of lien periods so consumers can more quickly get their vehicles released; and Extend the amount of time in which vehicle owners may recover their vehicles before they are sold off. ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB membership includes more than 1,200 property-casualty insurance companies, vehicle rental companies, auto auctions, vehicle finance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit www.nicb.org. SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Nova Ukraine nears its 10-year anniversary, it proudly announces the achievement of a fundraising milestone and thanks all the supporters who stood with Ukraine. Private donors, large and small, and corporate partners, new and established, from around the world have come together to help us reach $100 million in humanitarian aid donated to Ukraine. Since 2022, Nova Ukraine has delivered almost 22,000 tons of humanitarian aid and served almost 3 million meals to Ukraine's courageous defenders and civilians. In addition, both of our co-chairmen has been recognized by President Volodymyr Zelensky by an award for outstanding service to Ukraine. Starting with humble beginnings during street rallies in San Francisco, Nova Ukraine has been developing a bold vision for a "New Ukraine" where everyone enjoys freedom, peace, and prosperity. The organization is dedicated to supporting Ukraine and its people in building a strong, flourishing nation with an empowered civil society. "When I brought friends to our very first meeting in 2013, I could not have imagined the wild ride our charity would take. I am so proud we have helped save tens of thousands of lives and directly improved the lives of more than 4 million Ukrainians" said Nick Bilogorskiy, Co-founder of Nova Ukraine, Board of Directors Beyond responding to urgent humanitarian needs, Nova Ukraine is investing in long-term projects that support rebuilding efforts across medical field, education, culture and infrastructure. Nova Ukraine has also procured grants to sustain small businesses in Ukraine, to keep people working, and help stabilize the economy throughout the war. "I am so proud of the efficiency with which we were able to deploy donated funds on the ground. We closed 2022 financials with only 1.6% spent on operational overhead, making us not only one of the largest Ukrainian charities but also one of the most efficient charities in the world" said Ostap Korkuna, Co-founder of Nova Ukraine, Board of Directors As a new year begins, Nova Ukraine expresses gratitude to all supporters who have played a role in Ukraine's courageous journey toward a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future. About Nova Ukraine Founded in 2014 and based in Palo Alto, California, Nova Ukraine is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and raising awareness about Ukraine. Since the war's onset, Nova Ukraine has focused on offering extensive humanitarian assistance, rebuilding infrastructure, delivering medical supplies and equipment, and supporting refugees, all while being a primarily volunteer-run organization. Contact Kateryna Zyrianova (424)332-8999 [email protected] Nova Ukraine website SOURCE Nova Ukraine Company shared strong 2023 performance citing $38M in revenue and 43% YoY growth. in revenue and 43% YoY growth. Continued investments in R&D and commercial infrastructure set the table for continued revenue growth and pathway to profitability in 2024. PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Onkos Surgical, an orthopaedic company founded to address the complex clinical challenges associated with tumor, trauma, and revision surgery, presented Monday, February 12th at the Canaccord Genuity Musculoskeletal Conference in San Francisco. Patrick Treacy, CEO and Co-founder presented the company's 2023 results and shared his vision for continued growth and innovation in an important segment of the orthopaedic industry with a total addressable market of $4.5 billion dollars. "We are very fortunate to work in a segment of the orthopaedic industry where our innovation has a meaningful impact for our surgeon customers and the patients they care for," said Treacy. "2023 was a year filled with substantial accomplishments and I am thankful for and proud of our team. We delivered meaningful revenue growth, closed and integrated our acquisition of the Juvenile Tumor System (JTS), a platform technology for growing implants, and completed our in-house manufacturing capabilities to support our growing revenue and path to profitability. In 2024, we will continue to expand our commercial presence and instrument assets to support our continued revenue growth. We have some exciting product innovation scheduled to launch during the year that will expand our patient-specific portfolio and disrupt the landscape of complex acetabular reconstruction. With strong momentum in the marketplace, we expect to exit the year cash flow and EBITDA positive. We continue to be excited about the company we are building and look forward to another year of tremendous growth." The Company will also be exhibiting its innovative solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic procedures in Booth #5251 at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), being held February 12 16 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA. About Onkos Surgical Onkos Surgical is a leader in innovative solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic conditions. With our Precision Orthopaedics solutions, surgeons are better informed about patient-specific clinical challenges and are able to plan and implement more precise reconstructions. Our personalized approach supports improved patient outcomes and experiences using the latest innovations in virtual surgical planning, 3D design and printing, limb reconstructive implant design, and workflow optimization. More than 350 of the leading academic medical institutions in the US choose Onkos Surgical Precision Orthopaedics. For more information on Onkos Surgical and its products and services, please visit www.onkossurgical.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "future," "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "potential," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations but are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, market trends and demand, regulatory action or inaction, launch delays and supply chain interruptions. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results. The forward-looking statements included are made only on the date of this release. The company assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law. Media Contacts: Sean Curry Chief Commercial Officer Onkos Surgical [email protected] 973.264.5400 Alyssa Paldo Vice-President, Media Relations Specialist FINN Partners [email protected] 847.791.8085 SOURCE Onkos Surgical The prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House amid Russias threat, the rise of China and the worst war scenario in half a century is of serious concern to NATO and its allies. At a Saturday rally, Trump who is the front-runner to win the Republican Partys presidential nomination warned NATO allies that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to countries that do not spend 2% of their GDP on defense. The insinuation that under Trump, the United States would not protect NATO allies that do not invest enough in defense has cast doubt on Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty, which states that if a NATO ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and respond. On Monday, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne underscored the importance of the NATO alliance, and warned Europe to prepare for the Republican populists possible return to the White House. Each minute counts to get Europeans prepared to absorb the shock of a scenario that has been well described by Donald Trump, he said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also commented on Trumps statements. NATO cannot be an a la carte military alliance, it cannot be a military alliance that works depending on the humor of the president of the U.S. day to day, he said. And on Sunday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines our security. According to Michal Baranowski, managing director of GMF East, Trumps words call into question the credibility of the United States as an ally. The expert argued that the former presidents comments are misleading. Trump implied that the 2% of GDP that NATO allies aim to spend on defense a benchmark set at the 2014 Wales conference goes directly to Washington, and accused countries that do not pay this figure of being delinquents. Thats not how the Alliance works, Baranowski told EL PAIS by phone. France, Germany, Poland, need to open the debate on what should be done in the face of a possible Trump presidency, both with regard to support for Ukraine and European security and defense, he added 'The Three Musketeers' The EUs and NATOs philosophy is like The Three Musketeers, said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, stressing that the principle was one for all, all for one. He made the comments on Monday in Paris before having lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has long since distanced himself from his 2019 comment that NATO was experiencing brain death. Trumps comments follow warnings from several European countries that Russia may try to undermine NATO in the next decade and even test Article 5 by attacking one of the 31 allies. Russias capacity to produce military equipment has increased tremendously, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Jyllands-Posten newspaper on Friday. It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and NATOs solidarity, he said, explaining this forecast was based on new information. Germany, Romania, Estonia, Belgium and Sweden have made similar comments. We have to take into account that Vladimir Putin might even attack a NATO country one day. It is unlikely to happen now, but our experts expect a period of five to eight years in which this could be possible, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat, said in a recent interview, in which he highlighted the need to prepare militarily and socially. Meanwhile, Rob Bauer, head of NATOs military committee, said that NATO faces the most dangerous world in decades. We need a warfighting transformation of NATO, he added. Similar comments Trump made similar comments in 2017, during his term in the White House, when he attacked NATO allies that were not spending 2% of GDP on defense. But his recent statements come at a challenging time for the European Union, which fears that it will be the sole supporter of Ukraine particularly if Trump returns to the White House. The former U.S. president has a complicated relationship with Ukraine. His first impeachment in 2019 was over a conversation he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in which he threatened to block military aid to the country if it did not investigate Joe Bidens sons business dealings in Ukraine. Trump is also perceived to be in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Camille Grand, Security and Defense specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), believes that Trumps statements have made a delicate situation even more uncertain. Having an unpredictable ally is very complicated, she explained. Like Baranowski, Grand a senior NATO official from 2016 to 2022 believes it is time for European allies to assess whether they could adjust to a situation in which the U.S. plays less of a role in NATO. NATO has not changed its alert level. Diplomatic sources suggest that the latest warnings are aimed at making citizens aware of the need to increase defense spending. The fact that the Kremlin has increased its capacity to produce military equipment so quickly is of great concern. In contrast, the European defense industry which had been largely neglected until Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago is moving slowly. NATO sources point out that the U.S. presidential campaign and Trumps heated rhetoric will spark further debate on NATO defense spending. Currently, only 11 countries meet the 2% of GDP benchmark: Poland, the United States, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, the United Kingdom and Slovakia. Since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula via an illegal referendum most NATO members have increased their military spending. This was particularly evident in 2022, when Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the latest NATO report, only three countries reduced defense spending in 2023, with respect to 2014 levels: the United States, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Orex Minerals Inc. (TSXV: REX) (OTCQB: ORMNF) ("Orex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of an Option Agreement with Exploraciones El Cairo S.R.L. de C.V. ("EEC"), a Mexican registered private company, to acquire 100% of the Valenciana Gold-Silver Project in Zacatecas State, Mexico (the "Valenciana Property"). The Valenciana Property hosts high-grade epithermal gold and silver veins, with base metals of lead and zinc, in Cretaceous sedimentary units and Tertiary rhyolitic and monzonitic intrusive rocks. It is located on the Mesa Central within the prolific "Silver Trend" of Mexico. Orex's President & CEO, Ben Whiting, P.Geo., said; "This is a time of opportunities in the Mexican Mining Industry. As such, we are looking at under-explored prospects in the major mineral belts. The Valenciana Mining District fits that description, and this is an excellent opportunity to restart exploration at Valenciana." Valenciana Gold-Silver Project, Zacatecas, Mexico Located north of the village of Valenciana in northern Zacatecas State, approximately 30 kilometres north of the Nieves Mining District and 33 kilometres southeast of the town of Juan Aldama, the Valenciana Property consists of 277.18 hectares of mineral concessions. The central target area covers about 2.7 kilometres of the main east-southeast Valenciana vein system. There are signs of early production, with old mine shafts and adits, but no historic production documentation is available. Hydrothermal alteration is extensive in the district due to the emplacement of the low to intermediate sulphidation vein systems, hosted mainly in the Cretaceous sedimentary units. Tertiary intrusive rocks of rhyolite and monzonite composition have been mapped on the western extent of the Valenciana Property. The 1996 exploration program, conducted by Pan American Silver Corp. and La Cuesta International Inc., included 10 diamond drill holes on the Valenciana Property. Multiple base and precious metal mineralized intercepts were encountered. Examples include hole V002 which yielded 2.19 m grading Au 2.50 g/t, Ag 1,115 g/t, Pb 0.5% and Zn 1.4%. Hole V003 yielded 1.87 m grading Au 1.05 g/t, Ag 739 g/t, Pb 1.10% and Zn 2.71%. A broader zone was encountered in hole V012 which yielded 22.25 m grading Au 0.94 g/t, Ag 99 g/t, Pb 0.93% and Zn 0.94%. While these drill holes pre-date the introduction of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") standards, they still serve as a good guide for potential future exploration programs. In 2003, Silver Standard Resources Inc. drilled a series of 9 shallow reverse-circulation holes. Surface litho-geochemical sample data, airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical survey data and limited ground Induced-Polarization data are also available. Select Historic Drill Intercepts Silver Equivalent Ag-Eq = Ag + 85*Au. Base metals not included in Ag-Eq grade. Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Ag-Eq (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) V-002 282.99 284.90 1.91 1.37 322 438 0.56 1.45 V-002 297.43 299.62 2.19 2.50 1,115 1,328 0.50 1.40 V-003 262.10 263.06 0.96 2.15 595 778 1.63 3.28 V-003 275.02 276.89 1.87 1.05 739 828 1.10 2.71 V-011 129.24 131.74 2.50 1.75 188 337 0.23 1.32 V-011 138.40 141.91 3.51 0.91 58 135 1.03 2.69 V-012 65.93 78.85 12.92 1.38 101 218 1.20 1.05 V-015 73.00 74.00 1.00 0.60 149 200 3.91 2.94 V-020 55.00 63.00 8.00 1.10 214 308 0.60 0.87 Terms of the Option Agreement A notarized version of the Valenciana Option Agreement was completed on 6 February 2024, with copies to be filed with the Mexican authorities. The agreement includes a four-month due diligence period. Mineral concession taxes have been paid, including the January 2024 installment. Scaled option payments are to be due according to the following schedule: Upon signing the option agreement: US$15,000. 6 months after signing the option agreement: US$10,000. 12 months after signing the option agreement: US$35,000. 18 months after signing the option agreement: US$15,000. 24 months after signing the option agreement: US$15,000. 30 months after signing the option agreement: US$20,000. 36 months after signing the option agreement: US$20,000. Thereafter US$25,000 is to be paid every 6 months. An "area of influence" surrounding the original mineral concessions has been defined. A 2% production royalty ("NSR") on the original mineral concessions will be held by EEC. If new mineral concessions are established on open land within the area of influence, a 1.5% NSR will be awarded to EEC for the new concessions. If mineral concessions currently held by third party concession holders, but within the area of influence, are added to the Valenciana Project, then a 0.5% NSR will be awarded to EEC for those concessions. There is a production royalty reduction of interest when NSR payments reach $US 10 million, at which point the NSR values drop by 50%. Ben Whiting, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and takes responsibility for the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Mr. Whiting is not considered independent of the Company under NI 43-101 as he is the President, CEO and a Director of the Company. ABOUT OREX MINERALS INC. Orex Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on precious and base metals exploration in Mexico and Canada. Orex has several current projects: Two projects are located in Durango State, Mexico, the Sandra Silver-Gold Project with Pan American Silver Corp. and the Coneto Gold-Silver Project with Fresnillo PLC. The third project is the Jumping Josephine Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada. Orex is managed by the experienced Belcarra Group Management Ltd., comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ben Whiting. P.Geo. President and CEO FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the execution of and terms of a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the Valenciana Property and future exploration of the Valenciana Property. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties including, among others: the success of evaluation plans; the success of exploration activities; mine development prospects; potential for future metals production; changes in economic parameters and assumptions; timing of receipt of exploration results; the interpretation and actual results of future exploration activities and mineralization; the results of regulatory and permitting processes; future metals price; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; the results of economic and technical studies; delays in obtaining governmental and local approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration; timing of assay results. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Orex undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the 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. For additional information on risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recently filed annual management discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.orexminerals.com. The risk factors identified in the MD&A are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company. 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. STAY CONNECTED Follow on X (Twitter): Orex Minerals (@OrexMinerals) / X (twitter.com) Follow on LinkedIn: Orex Minerals Inc. | LinkedIn Follow on Facebook: Orex Minerals | Facebook SOURCE Orex Minerals Inc. Oxitec has opened a new R&D Hub in Roslin, Scotland , to host a growing team of specialists dedicated to creating a Friendly biological solution to the world's most devastating cattle pest, the Asian blue cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. , to host a growing team of specialists dedicated to creating a Friendly biological solution to the world's most devastating cattle pest, the Asian blue cattle tick, Oxitec is collaborating with the globally respected livestock research organisation, the Roslin Institute, located outside of Edinburgh, Scotland . . R. microplus spreads deadly cattle diseases, causes billions of dollars of losses to farmers across the world, and is widely resistant to chemical pesticides. It is spreading at an alarming rate through many African countries and is a growing threat to farmer livelihoods worldwide. ROSLIN, Scotland, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of insect-based biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock, today announced the launch of a new R&D hub in Scotland. The facility is housed within the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, which will host the development of a Friendly biological solution to the world's most devastating cattle pest, the Asian blue tick, also known as Rhipicephalus microplus. The Friendly R. microplus will be designed to be safe, non-toxic, target-specific, and non-persistent (self-limiting) in the field. Oxitec Launches New Scotland R&D Hub to Spearhead a New Global Fight Against Invasive Cattle Ticks The cattle tick is considered the most important biting parasite of livestock worldwide. It transmits dangerous diseases such as babesiosis and anaplasmosis, and causes significant economic losses to farmers. In Brazil alone, it costs farmers an estimated US$3.2 billion each year. This pest is spreading at an alarming rate through many African countries and is a growing problem worldwide due to its invasiveness and resistance to most pesticides. The impact of cattle tick infestation is especially devastating in low-income countries, where the inability to control the parasite and monitor diseases has a severe impact on livestock economy. Oxitec is working in partnership with Dr. Tim Connelley at the Roslin Institute, which offers world-class cattle research facilities and decades of experience with tick rearing. Oxitec is expanding its team of in-house specialists in the new Scotland hub, dedicated to developing the world's first Friendly R. microplus solution. Grey Frandsen, Oxitec's CEO, said: "The launch of our new R&D center at the Roslin Institute will support the expansion of our Friendly technology platform into livestock pest solutions. We're already well underway towards developing a Friendly R. microplus solution, and our team in Scotland includes some of the best minds in science focusing in on this incredibly devastating challenge. By paving the way for the world's first self-limiting tick, our new Scotland center, embedded with a world-class partner in the Roslin Institute, will lead the way in the development of new biological strategies to protect cattle and farmers' livelihoods worldwide without the use of chemical pesticides." To learn more about Oxitec's Friendly pest management platform, visit here. Oxitec welcomes all media inquiries. About Oxitec Oxitec is the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. Founded in 2002 at the University of Oxford, Oxitec is led by a passionate team comprised of 15 nationalities and is supported by world-class public, private and non-profit partners. Learn more at oxitec.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338783/Oxitec_1.jpg SOURCE Oxitec NEWARK, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Success for All Foundation (SFA), a program committed to fostering student success and school improvement, proudly presents the esteemed "Dr. Robert Slavin Success for All Award" to Par Excellence STEM Academy. This prestigious accolade acknowledges Par Excellence's exceptional commitment to implementing the Success for All program and attaining extraordinary levels of academic achievement. (From left): Nancy Madden, Julie K. Wible, Tamara Himmelberger, Debbie Chrestensen, Sara Arends, Gisele James, Samantha Wood, Juliana R. Rosenberg, Lisa E. Gaw-Chenausky Par Excellence STEM Academy, nestled in Newark, Ohio, exemplifies the core principles of the Success for All program through its unwavering commitment to student achievement. Over the past 13 years, Par Excellence has become a beacon of academic success, defying odds and surpassing expectations. Initially, in 2011, faced with the looming threat of closure and a stark reality where only 25% of students performed at grade level, Par Excellence Academy embarked on a transformative journey guided by the structures of the Success for All program. Under the guidance of school leaders, Sarah Arends the Reading Facilitator and Federal Grant Coordinator, Samantha Wood the Math Facilitator and Instructional Leader, and Gisele James the Superintendent, Par Excellence has wholeheartedly adopted the SFA methodology, integrating vital components such as cooperative learning, research-proven instruction, consistency, structure, and collaboration across all operational aspects. Through diligent implementation of the SFA program, Par Excellence Academy witnessed a remarkable turnaround in student achievement. From modest beginnings, the school's dedication to fostering a culture of academic excellence propelled student performance to unprecedented heights. Notably, they achieved a remarkable 73% of students reading at or above grade level, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards fidelity. Par Excellence STEM Academy's transformative success extends beyond mere academic achievement. By fostering strong connections with parents, engaging the community as partners, and prioritizing proactive measures to address attendance and behavior, the school has cultivated a nurturing environment where every student thrives. In recognition of their outstanding achievements, Par Excellence STEM Academy has consistently outperformed state averages in reading and math, closing achievement gaps and empowering students from all backgrounds to excel. Through their unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence, the school has emerged as a true exemplar of the Success for All program. As they continue to chart a path towards even greater heights of success, Par Excellence STEM Academy serves as an inspiration to schools nationwide, demonstrating the transformative power of the Success for All program in unlocking the full potential of every student. The Success for All Foundation proudly celebrates Par Excellence STEM Academy's remarkable accomplishments and looks forward to witnessing the continued success of its students for years to come. About Success for All Foundation Founded in 1987, and based in Baltimore, Success for All Foundation's mission is to develop and disseminate researchproven educational programs to ensure that all students, from all backgrounds, achieve at the highest level of academic success. For information, go to https://www.successforall.org. Contact: Anna Fox 410-6162317 [email protected] SOURCE The Success For All Foundation WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) , a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) , is excited to announce that PPMD has provided $500,000 in funding to Kinea Bio, Inc. (Kinea) through PPMD Venture Pathways, the organization's venture philanthropy program which provides industry funding to accelerate therapeutic development. This funding commitment aims to address current limitations in gene therapy delivery and will advance the development of the company's next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated midi-dystrophin gene replacement therapy for the treatment of individuals with Duchenne by enabling Kinea to complete critical studies needed to secure funding required to advance their investigational product to the clinic. Duchenne is the most common genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately one in 5,000 live male births. Duchenne is caused by a change in the DMD gene that codes for the dystrophin protein. Gene therapy holds the promise of providing benefit to patients with Duchenne by introducing replacement (shortened) versions of the dystrophin producing gene into the muscle cells, where no dystrophin is produced. Since 2016, PPMD has focused attention on the advancement of gene therapy for Duchenne. The organization prioritizes research for next-generation and future-generation gene therapies both through PPMD's Gene Therapy Initiative and the PPMD Venture Pathways program. One limitation to existing gene replacement strategies for Duchenne is the limited packaging capacity of AAV, which means a shortened micro-dystrophin transgene must be used. While micro-dystrophin proteins can provide benefit to patients, they are missing significant protein domains compared to the full-length dystrophin protein. Additionally, the current gene therapy strategies require very high doses of viral vector to effectively get the micro-dystrophin transgenes into muscle. These high vector doses can increase the safety risk associated with receiving the therapy. Kinea's approaches to these challenges are: (1) to utilize a dual vector approach to enable delivery of a larger construct (called a midi-dystrophin) to individual muscle cells. This midi-dystrophin is a larger dystrophin protein, containing more key domains of the dystrophin protein than current micro-dystrophins, and preclinical data suggests it may provide more benefit to muscle; (2) to utilize next-generation AAVs that increase the efficiency of viral delivery to muscle cells, thereby facilitating lower total AAV doses so as to decrease the risk of serious adverse events; and (3) to utilize miniaturized and highly active muscle-specific expression cassettes to produce high levels of midi-dystrophin exclusively in muscle cells. Eric Camino, PhD, PPMD's Vice President of Research and Clinical Innovation, explains: "Through the PPMD Venture Pathways' funding commitment to Kinea, PPMD continues our cutting-edge approach to accelerate research to get effective and safe therapies to the clinic and then into the hands of our community as quickly as possible. There is compelling preliminary evidence showing that Kinea's dual vector midi-dystrophin approach can provide improved benefit compared to micro-dystrophin replacement therapies. This funding commitment from PPMD will enable the Kinea team to further advance the development of their midi-dystrophin product in the hopes of improving the health and function of dystrophic muscle in all people living with Duchenne." Casey Childers, DO, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Kinea Bio, explains: "We are pleased to receive this funding commitment from PPMD. This is an important milestone for Kinea and will help accelerate our midi-dystrophin strategy for larger transgene construct delivery." Jeff Chamberlain, PhD, Chief Scientific Advisor of Kinea Bio, describes: "Our goal is to use a midi-dystrophin transgene, which contains more functional protein domains than current micro-dystrophins, along with a muscle regulated & targeted AAV to increase transduction efficiency to muscle tissue and dramatically improve muscle function and quality of life for patients living with this genetic disorder. Our gene therapy approach potentially overcomes many of the limitations of currently approved and investigational micro-dystrophin replacement therapies and builds on the learnings and research from my lab that has helped to shape where gene therapy for Duchenne is today." For the past 30 years, PPMD has funded more than $55 million in research to enhance our knowledge of dystrophinopathies. In addition to PPMD's significant pre-clinical and academic research funding, the organization provides funding to biopharmaceutical companies through PPMD Venture Pathways, its venture philanthropy program. This type of industry funding allows companies to complete critical studies needed to advance investigational products to the clinic. These funding commitments also create the opportunity for PPMD to have a financial return that can be reinvested into its research strategy and support additional work in the future. All of PPMD's research funding commitments undergo a rigorous scientific evaluation and are selected on the basis of potential benefit to the Duchenne community. Learn more about PPMD's Ventures Pathways program . ABOUT PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Duchenne is a genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end Duchenne. We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and won seven FDA approvals. Everything we doand everything we have done since our founding in 1994helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at EndDuchenne.org . Follow PPMD on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . ABOUT KINEA BIO, INC. Kinea Bio, Inc., located in Seattle, Washington, is a patient-dedicated gene therapy company focused on developing innovations to fight devastating neuromuscular diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Kinea strives to find new solutions for the current limitations in gene therapy through advancing capsid engineering, muscle specific expression cassette design, non-viral delivery and gene-splicing technology. Kinea's engineered myotropic AAV capsids together with a suite of muscle specific promoters enable more effective dosing that can fine-tune the delivery of genetic cargo. Kinea's protein splicing technology enables delivery of genes previously considered undeliverable due to size limitations of AAV vectors. This splicing innovation is especially important for treating DMD, for which previous treatments relied on truncated versions of the dystrophin gene. SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its ride-along event. Guided by the enthusiastic feedback of potential future customers who went for the ride, Alpha is shaping the future of electric vehicles to align with consumer needs. Alpha's ride-along event is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/rFkpVdyLqOA. Alpha's ride-along event is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/rFkpVdyLqOA. Post this Copyright 2024 Alpha Motor Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright 2024 Alpha Motor Corporation. All rights reserved. After confirming the driving performance of the WOLF truck in the Southern California desert last summer, Alpha's ride-along event marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to consumer-centric vehicle development. "We will apply insights gained through ride-along events to enhance development. Based on the feedback received to date, the WOLF truck is on track to become a mainstream favorite," stated Alpha Motor Corporation. Taking place in varying weather conditions ranging between 41F (5C) and 63F (17C) with an average humidity of 54%, the WOLF truck effortlessly navigated a designated course. This course featured multiple 90-degree turns and straight paths where the vehicle seamlessly reached high speeds. The event spanned eight hours, during which the WOLF truck continuously traversed the course. Impressively, it utilized only 20% of its battery capacity and underwent a total charge time of 30 minutes. "The primary objective of this event was to understand the needs and desires of our customers. We conducted tests on the WOLF, equipped with base model performance specifications, to grasp and address expectations regarding quality for the mainstream market," explained Alpha Motor Corporation. Participants selected for the ride-along event provided insightful feedback, contributing to Alpha's ongoing study in driving experience. Testing also involved analyzing acceleration through varying levels of regenerative braking. The insights gained from these experiences will contribute to advancing preproduction, ensuring that Alpha's electric vehicles align with consumer expectations. "Alpha will continue organizing ride-along events to collect feedback from participants, with the aim of ensuring that our electric vehicles are equipped to provide an enjoyable driving experience," said Alpha Motor Corporation. Alpha is applying the knowledge gained from its ride-along events to develop and refine the driving performance of its modular EV platform beyond the WOLF truck. The WOLF truck shares its platform with other variant models, including the WOLF+ (WOLF Plus) and SUPERWOLF full-size 5-passenger trucks, as well as the REX SUV and most recently the JAX Crossover. The company is currently in the process of reproducing additional test vehicles on its modular platform. Alpha plans to host additional ride-along and driving experience events, empowering consumer feedback to ensure high-quality electric vehicles with accessible design, performance, and ownership experience. About Alpha Motor Corporation Alpha Motor Corporation (Alpha) is an award-winning American automobile company focused on manufacturing mobility solutions that Move Humanity. We innovate sustainable transportation for the wellness of people and our environment by implementing advanced automotive technologies and disruptive industrial practices. Based in Irvine, California, Alpha is committed to creating the kinds of electric vehicles we believe the world has always wanted to see but that have not existed until now. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Related Links https://youtu.be/rFkpVdyLqOA https://www.alphamotorinc.com SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation Building is immediately available for lease. MARTINSVILLE, Va., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Phoenix Investors ("Phoenix") announced the acquisition of the approximately 813,000-square-foot industrial building located at 1 Walker Road in Martinsville, Virginia. The property was previously owned by Resurgence Properties and the site of the former Bassett-Walker Textile complex, a notable manufacturer of knitted outerwear garments. Featuring more than 700,000 square feet of available warehouse and office space, the facility also offers flexible configurations and is desirable for a variety of pursuits. It is located in an enterprise zone and is fully fenced with a guard shack for added security. Phoenix intends to implement its capital improvement plan within short order, transforming the complex into a premier industrial hub. The facility is situated on 53 acres and features 6 dock doors and 4 grade-level drive-in doors. An ample parking area can accommodate over 200 automobiles. Located less than 12 miles from Blue Ridge Regional Airport and approximately 10 miles from the state line, the facility offers convenient access to both Southern Virginia and North Carolina. "The property in Martinsville has great bones and has been exceptionally well-maintained since it was built in the 1970s," said Frank P. Crivello, Founder & Chairman of Phoenix Investors. "Phoenix is ready and willing to demise the property into smaller suites or as needed to accommodate tenant needs." Please contact Executive Managing Director Grant Bates of Newmark with any leasing inquiries: (434) 882-1176. About Phoenix Investors Phoenix Investors is the leading expert in the acquisition, renovation, and releasing of former manufacturing facilities in the United States. The revitalization of facilities throughout the continental United States leads to positively transforming communities and restarting the economic engine in the communities we serve. Our reconstruction and selective deconstruction of facilities provides a green alternative versus the standard demolition and replacement of legacy buildings. Phoenix's affiliate companies hold equity interests in a portfolio of industrial properties totaling approximately 76 million square feet spanning 29 states, delivering corporations with a cost-effective national footprint to dynamically supply creative solutions to meet their leasing needs. For more information, please visit https://phoenixinvestors.com. SOURCE Phoenix Investors NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The positron emission tomography market is expected to grow by USD 725.97 million from 2023 to 2028. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 5.97% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The early detection of chronic conditions is expected to drive the market growth. For the diagnosis of serious and persistent medical problems, a positron emission tomography scanner is used. The prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and neurological diseases is increasing globally, which is triggering the demand for diagnostic imaging products, including PET scanner systems. Technological advancements in PET scanners are an emerging trend shaping the market growth. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download a sample to gain access to this information. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Positron Emission Tomography Market 2024-2028 Report Coverage Details Page number 154 Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.97% Market Growth 2024-2028 USD 725.97 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2023-2024(%) 5.53 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan The market has been segmented by type (PET-CT and PET-MRI), application (oncology, cardiology, and neurology), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of World (ROW)). North America is estimated to contribute 36% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The region is growing in demand for positron emission tomography scanners due to advances in technology and the rising incidence of cancer. Factors such as increased uptake of personalized medicine, the need to detect early tumors, and the development of targeted treatment are driving this market. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall environment. Read a Free PDF Sample Report Company Profile: Bracco Spa, Canon Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., CellSight Technologies Inc., CMR Naviscan Corp., GE Healthcare Technologies Inc., Jubilant Pharmova Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Mediso Ltd., MinFound Medical Systems Co. Ltd., Modus Medical Devices Inc., Neusoft Corp., Novartis AG, PETsys Electronics SA, Positron Corp., Radiology Oncology Systems Inc., RefleXion Medical Inc., Shimadzu Corp., Siemens Healthineers AG, and Yangzhou Kindsway Biotech Co. Ltd. Canon Inc. - The company offers positron emission tomography such as the Celesteion Pure ViSION Edition PET. To gain access to more company profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Related Reports: The global autoimmune disease diagnostics market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.99 billion at a CAGR of 9.59% between 2023 and 2028. The Hematology Analyzers And Reagents Market size is estimated to grow by USD 3.91 million at a CAGR of 6.95% between 2023 and 2028. 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 2028. Precise estimation of the size and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the industry across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW A thorough analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information about companies Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of companies. ToC: Executive Summary Landscape Sizing Historic Sizes Five Forces Analysis Segmentation by Type Segmentation by Application Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging 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 markets and assess their competitive positions within changing scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Sustainability Consulting Firm Recognized for Driving Meaningful Change by Prioritizing Purpose and Sustainability GLOUCESTER, Mass., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Strategies, a sustainability consulting firm empowering brands and retailers to realize meaningful environmental and social improvement, has been recognized on the recently unveiled Real Leaders 2024 List of Top Impact Companies. (Profile #168). Pure Strategies Named to Real Leaders 2024 Top Impact Companies List The Real Leaders Impact Awards are dedicated to acknowledging companies and leaders who are driving meaningful change in the world by prioritizing purpose and sustainability. The awards ranked privately-owned companies on 6 categories of I.M.P.A.C.T: Intention, Model, People, Accountability, Collaboration and Transformation. Pure Strategies was selected as a Top Impact Company in the Transformation category which recognizes "impact-oriented companies that completed at least three fiscal cycles and reached specific benchmarks for revenue and employees." The recognition also came as a result of the firm's leading sustainability consulting work with companies - providing customized sustainability strategies and solutions in climate, nature, sustainable packaging, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable chemistry. Example client projects include: Seventh Generation : establishing the sustainability strategy and goals : establishing the sustainability strategy and goals Ben & Jerry's : developing science-based targets for climate : developing science-based targets for climate Walmart : creating a sustainable packaging strategy and implementation tools : creating a sustainable packaging strategy and implementation tools Ahold Delhaize : developing and implementing a sustainable chemistry program : developing and implementing a sustainable chemistry program Everlane: completing its GHG inventory, developing a mitigation plan, and defining science-based targets Real Leaders, a Global Media, CEO network and Certified B Corp, received over 500 applications from 15+ countries. The 2024 Top Impact Companies List features a mix of respected impact brands of all sizes and from a variety of industries with companies such as: Brandless, Generate Capital, Cotopaxi, Every Man Jack, Pure Strategies, and others. SEE IMPACT AWARDS RANKING "We are proud to be acknowledged as a REAL IMPACT LEADER by Real Leaders and congratulate the companies and brands that have also been recognized this year," notes Tim Greiner, Managing Director, Pure Strategies. "It is rewarding to be recognized for our long-term focus on helping clients to be leaders in environmental and social performance." Pure Strategies was honored at the Global Awards Celebration "Real Leaders UNITE" in San Diego on February 6, 2024. Visit real-leaders.com/top-impact-companies to see the full list of the 2024 fastest growing impact companies. About Real Leaders Real Leaders is the fastest-growing community for impact leaders backed by a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized and advocated that businesses take more responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is an independently owned certified B Corporation and member of the UN Global Compact. Our mission is to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world. LinkedIn: Real Leaders Instagram: @Real_Leaders Twitter: @Real_Leaders Facebook: @RealLeadersMagazine Hashtag: #RealLeadersImpactAwards About Pure Strategies Pure Strategies has been transforming business through sustainability performance since 1998. Our team helps companies initiate and enhance existing sustainability programs by setting meaningful sustainability goals, devising effective management strategies, and making changes to products and supply chains that deliver value to the business and society. Our clients include Walmart, Ahold Delhaize USA, Seventh Generation, TAZO, Timberland, Everlane, MegaFood, Ben & Jerry's, and over 100 others. Pure Strategies is proud to be a Co-Founder of The Chemical Footprint Project , a licensed GreenScreen Consultant , The Sustainability Consortium registered service provider staff member, a pioneer member of the Science Based Targets Network Corporate Engagement Program, and a certified B Corp. SOURCE Pure Strategies, Inc. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference, the world's leading cybersecurity conferences and expositions, today announced its initial lineup of keynote speakers for its upcoming Conference, taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from May 6-9, 2024. Speakers include Jen Easterly, Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Chris Nims, Executive Vice President and CISO, Capital One, and Emma Redmond, Associate General Counsel, Head of EU Data Protection, OpenAI, as well as dozens of prominent cybersecurity experts and innovators. RSA Conference is where the industry convenes to participate in critical conversations about how to secure businesses, employees, and customers. Attendees will learn about the latest trends, master new skills, and listen to unique perspectives and inspiring real-life stories. As in previous years, the Conference will support two keynote stages, with the West Stage featuring sponsor keynotes, panels and esteemed guest speakers, and the South Stage presenting highly coveted sessions from industry experts. Keynote stages open on Monday, May 6, 2024, and run through Thursday, May 9, 2024. Dozens of prominent cybersecurity experts and innovators are slated to speak at RSA Conference 2024 from May 6-9. Post this "The Art of Possible is the theme for Conference this year and that's embodied throughout the lineup for our keynote program in 2024," said Linda Gray Martin, Senior Vice President, RSA Conference. "The evolution and progression that our keynote stage has undergone over the years to bring a diverse array of topics, speakers with dynamic backgrounds, captivating conversations and key takeaways for our attendees paints an all-encompassing picture of what's possible in the path ahead." To accommodate those who would like to view and engage with content online, RSA Conference is offering an On Demand Pass, which provides individuals access to West Stage Keynote live streaming plus session content from the traditional tracks within four hours of a session running live at RSAC 2024. Sponsor keynote sessions and select guest keynotes will also be available on demand. For more information, please review the passes and rates page. Initial keynote speakers at RSA Conference 2024 include: Marene Allison , CEO, Marene Allison Consulting LLC , CEO, Marene Allison Consulting LLC Sundhar Annamalai , President, AT&T Cybersecurity , President, AT&T Cybersecurity Charles Blauner , President, Cyber Aegis , President, Cyber Aegis Erica R. Bomsey , Senior Vice President / Deputy General Counsel, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Leidos, Inc. , Senior Vice President / Deputy General Counsel, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Leidos, Inc. Adam Cohen , Senior Director & Associate General Counsel - Cybersecurity, Capital One , Senior Director & Associate General Counsel - Cybersecurity, Capital One Barbara Cosgrove , VP, Chief Privacy Officer, Workday , VP, Chief Privacy Officer, Workday Professor Brian Cox , Experimental Physicist , Experimental Physicist Stephen L. Davis , Inspector General, Department of the Air Force , Inspector General, Department of the Air Force Jen Easterly , Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Dr. Boaz Gelbord , Senior Vice President and CSO, Akamai , Senior Vice President and CSO, Akamai Tom Gillis , Senior Vice President and General Manager, Security, Cisco , Senior Vice President and General Manager, Security, Cisco Garrett Graff , WIRED Contributing Editor and Director, Cyber Initiatives, The Aspen Institute , WIRED Contributing Editor and Director, Cyber Initiatives, The Aspen Institute Renee Guttmann-Stark , Founder, CISOHIVE , Founder, CISOHIVE J. Trevor Hughes , President & CEO, IAPP , President & CEO, IAPP Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer, WithSecure Vasu Jakkal , Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business , Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business George Kurtz , CEO, CrowdStrike , CEO, CrowdStrike Kevin Mandia , Mandiant CEO, Google Cloud , Mandiant CEO, Google Cloud Angela Mauceri , Corporate Director and Assistant General Counsel for Cyber & Privacy, Northrop Grumman Corporation , Corporate Director and Assistant General Counsel for Cyber & Privacy, Northrop Grumman Corporation Tim McKnight , EVP & CSO, Syn Ventures , EVP & CSO, Syn Ventures Paul M. Nakasone , Former Director/Commander, National Security Agency/U.S. Cyber Command , Former Director/Commander, National Security Agency/U.S. Cyber Command Chris Nims , Executive Vice President & CISO, Capital One , Executive Vice President & CISO, Capital One Bryan Palma , CEO, Trellix , CEO, Trellix Jeetu Patel , Executive Vice President and General Manager, Security and Collaboration, Cisco , Executive Vice President and General Manager, Security and Collaboration, Cisco Matthew Radolec , Vice President, Incident Response + Cloud Operations, Varonis , Vice President, Incident Response + Cloud Operations, Varonis Emma Redmond , Associate General Counsel, Head of EU Data Protection, OpenAI , Associate General Counsel, Head of EU Data Protection, OpenAI Harold Rivas , CISO, Trellix , CISO, Trellix Phyllis Schneck , Vice President & CISO, Northrop Grumman Corporation , Vice President & CISO, Northrop Grumman Corporation Bruce Schneier , Security Technologist, Researcher, and Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School , Security Technologist, Researcher, and Lecturer, Michael Sentonas, President, CrowdStrike Kevin Skapinetz , Vice President of Strategy, IBM Security , Vice President of Strategy, IBM Security Gary Steele , President and CEO, Splunk , President and CEO, Splunk The SANS Institute Panel: Heather Mahalik Barnhart, DFIR Curriculum Lead, SANS Institute and Senior Director of Community Engagement, Cellebrite; Stephen Sims , Offensive Operations Curriculum Lead and Fellow, SANS Institute; Johannes Ullrich , Ph.D., Dean of Research, SANS Technology Institute College; Terrence Williams , SANS Certified Instructor, SANS Institute and Security Engineer II, Amazon Web Services; and Ed Skoudis , President, SANS Technology Institute College (Moderator) , Offensive Operations Curriculum Lead and Fellow, SANS Institute; , Ph.D., Dean of Research, SANS Technology Institute College; , SANS Certified Instructor, SANS Institute and Security Engineer II, Amazon Web Services; and , President, SANS Technology Institute College (Moderator) Hugh Thompson , Executive Chairman and Program Committee Chair, RSA Conference , Executive Chairman and Program Committee Chair, Timothy J. White , Former Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. Tenth Fleet For more information about the keynote program and to stay up to date with what's happening at RSA Conference 2024, please visit our website at https://www.rsaconference.com/usa . About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events and year-round learning for the cybersecurity community. RSAC is where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and have access to the experts, unbiased content, and ideas that help enable individuals and companies advance their cybersecurity posture and build stronger and smarter teams. Both in-person and online, RSAC brings the cybersecurity industry together and empowers the collective "we" to stand against cyberthreats around the world. RSAC is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential, and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in cybersecurity today. For the most up-to-date news pertaining to the cybersecurity industry visit www.rsaconference.com. Where the world talks security. SOURCE RSA Conference Funding will support streamlined operations, better fleet readiness EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, was awarded an F100 engine performance-based logistics (PBL) sustainment contract by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). This contract, with a base value of $355 million, is the third consecutive PBL contract Pratt & Whitney and DAPA have signed since 2012, offering on-going maintenance support for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons. Chris Johnson, vice president of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney (right), and Director General Lee Gui-Hyun (left) sign the third consecutive performance-based logistics contract that Pratt & Whitney and DAPA have signed since 2012, offering on-going maintenance support for the Republic of Korea Air Forces F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons. "For just over a decade, we have worked with DAPA on these performance-based logistics contracts to establish a more strategic sustainment solution for the ROKAF fighter fleet," said Chris Johnson, vice president of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney. "These contracts are a win-win for both customers and industry because they offer more efficient affordability and availability." This contract is the latest initiative in an enduring partnership between Pratt & Whitney, DAPA and ROKAF, and it will support more efficient depot planning and improve overall fleet readiness through long-term material forecasting. Sustainment work began in December of 2023 and will run through the second half of 2027. About Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com . About RTX RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2023 sales of $68.9 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected]. SOURCE RTX On June 2, 95 million Mexicans will be eligible to elect 20,000 public officials, including the president. And in this election, one thing is already clear: regardless of who wins, for the first time in history, Mexico will have a female head of state. Claudia Sheinbaum the candidate for MORENA (the National Regeneration Movement), the party of incumbent President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) is the favorite, polling around 30 points ahead of her main rival, Xochitl Galvez. A 60-year-old computer engineer and former senator from the state of Hidalgo, Galvez represents a coalition that brings together the conservative National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) which ruled Mexico uninterruptedly from 1929 until 2000 and the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). The candidate of the Frente Amplio denies being as Lopez Obrador maintains a puppet of the oligarchy. She labels herself as an advocate of social democracy. In an interview with EL PAIS, she explains that the reason for her two-day-long trip to Spain is to meet with Spanish politicians and members of the Mexican community. The candidate also plans to participate in a lunch with members of a business council in Madrid that prioritizes economic relations between Spain and Latin America. Before traveling, Galvez wryly noted that her visit to Madrid wouldnt be to ask Spain to apologize for the conquest of the Americas a clear allusion to Lopez Obradors demand from 2018, which generated surprise. Question. Whats your agenda on this trip to Madrid? Answer. We proposed meetings with members of the government to the Spanish ambassador in Mexico, but we still havent received a response. The person who has already confirmed that theyll sit down with us tomorrow is [the president of the right-wing Popular Party, Alberto Nunez] Feijoo. Q. You ruled out meeting with Vox. Were you afraid that Mexicans would associate you with the far-right if you did? A. In my youth, I was a member of the Marxist Workers League. When they want to attack me, [my opponents] either bring up my Trotskyist side, or they say that Im far-right. Im a center-left, social democratic woman. Im not a member of any party; Im a candidate who although it pains the president to admit it comes from below. I sat in the PAN bloc [in the Senate], but Im not a member of that party. Q. Whats your program for Mexico? A. To return peace and tranquility to Mexicans. There will be no hugs for criminals [under my administration] instead, there will be law enforcement. Its obvious that social security is fundamental: 50 million Mexicans dont have access to healthcare. We went back 10 years in education with Lopez Obrador and, in mathematics, 20 years, according to the PISA report. The issue is to stop spending money on PEMEX (the state oil company), where the government has lost $50 billion that should have been used for healthcare, education and public safety. The only way out of poverty is in addition to a social program a well-paid job. And thats achieved with investment, not with hate, division or polarization. The administration represents corruption and the inability to govern. Q. Its said that, if elected, youll implement neoliberal policies. A. The only person whos a neoliberal is the current president. The oligarchys candidate is Claudia [Sheinbaum], because she represents economic power in Mexico and the use of money for an electoral campaign. Thousands of billboards, thousands of trucks with advertising, tens of millions of pesos spent on social media. Her party has just been fined by the INE (the National Electoral Institute) for 60 million pesos (more than $3 million) because her campaign didnt declare all the funds that were being spent. Many businessmen have doubled their fortunes during the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who isnt the peoples candidate. Q. Well, the candidate isnt Lopez Obrador at all. Its Sheinbaum. A. Hes the candidate. Hes the one who makes the campaign proposals. The only thing she says is that shes going to continue what Lopez Obrador has done. Xochitl Galvez during the interview with EL PAIS this Sunday in Madrid. Claudio Alvarez Q. The polls give your rival an advantage of up to 30 percentage points. A. [The governing party] pays for surveys and buys the media off with state advertising. The president would like the election to be won with a poll, but 50% of people dont respond to those surveys, because theyre afraid that their social benefits will be taken away [if they give their answer]. Furthermore, if we pay attention to the polls, [Sheinbaum] has lost 14 points (according to a recent poll that reduced the gap between both candidates). Q. Will there be a massive mobilization of voters at the last minute that could favor you? A. People are going to mobilize because this government is a failure. If you talk to your colleagues in Mexico, ask them about security. Ask them how the organized crime is and [about the extortion of] farmers, avocado and lemon producers, and those who sell chicken. Mexicos extortion is worse than ever. States like Chiapas and Tabasco used to be states with poverty but they werent dominated by organized crime that, today, controls a third of the national territory. Ask about the healthcare system, which has collapsed. In Mexico, one million people [died due to Covid] according to the excess mortality index published by the INEG (the National Institute of Statistics and Geography). We lost four years of life expectancy and the president says that we have a healthcare system like Denmarks. Q. Can the opposition reject Lopez Obradors constitutional reforms which include, for example, increasing pensions without being punished by voters? A. Thats a political campaign. The president can implement many of these reforms today. Why doesnt he pay retired teachers a full pension if hes the boss? Because he doesnt want to. He eliminated the popular [health] insurance program that was universal and now, he proposes creating universal insurance. Many of the reforms dont need to be in the Constitution, because theyre already public policies. But I told the president that I will approve them immediately. As a senator, [I voted to put these policies] in the Constitution. Nobody can oppose reforms of a social nature. Now, there are other reforms that arent going to pass, such as his attempt to destroy the INAI (the Institute for Transparency, Access to Public Information, Protection of Personal Data and Accountability), or to [alter] the courts (the government reform proposes reducing the number of judges on the Supreme Court from 11 to 9 and appointing them via popular election). If the president really wanted to benefit Mexicans, he would have presented these reforms on the first day of his administration, not the last. Q. The coordinator of your campaign in the state of Nuevo Leon Francisco Cienfuegos is being investigated for alleged money laundering. A. Those who are guilty [of corruption] should be investigated and punished. Im not going to put my hand in the fire for anyone. But who has this government punished for corruption when theyve had years to investigate? What this president does is make the corrupt people go with him: he rewards them and appoints them as ambassadors. Q. Youve criticized the presidents policy towards the United States and the agreement he reached with Donald Trump regarding the return of migrants, both Mexican and non-Mexican. A. [Hes accepting] the return of migrants in exchange for nothing. Well, in exchange for the U.S. ignoring the lack of democracy in Mexico. It would have been a good agreement if resources had been provided to care for migrants, who, today, are living on the streets. This is a violation of their human rights. The EU gave money to Turkey so that Syrian migrants were in a condition that protected their human rights. Also, whats going to happen to the 11 million [undocumented] Mexicans whore in the United States? What has the president done to fight for their legal documentation? Nothing. He has given up. Q. What do you expect from Spain and the European Union if you become president? A. Cooperation. I love the European Unions climate agenda, which promotes renewable energy and environmental protection. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MILWAUKEE, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Glatfelter (NYSE: GLT) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Berry Global Group. Click here to learn how to join the https://www.ademilaw.com/case/glatfelter-corporation or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. In the transaction, Glatfelter shareholders will receive only approximately 10 per cent of the shares of the newly merged entity, following the spin-off and merger of the majority of Berry's Health, Hygiene ad Specialties segment, including nonwovens and films. Berry shareholders will receive 90% of the newly merged entity. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Glatfelter by imposing a significant penalty if Glatfelter accepts a competing bid. Glatfelter insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of Glatfelter's board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders. If you own Glatfelter common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/glatfelter-corporation. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizers of the award-winning, multidisciplinary Rochester Fringe Festival opened the 2024 Venue-Show submission process today. The Fringe, which is embarking upon its 13th annual festival, occurs at more than 25 indoor and outdoor venues in Rochester from September 10 through 21, 2024. Artists interested in performing at the 2024 Fringe may submit their proposals at rochesterfringe.com. The submission process ends on Thursday, March 21 at 5:00 PM (ET). Application is free. Photo credit: The Steele Sisters. Photo by: Erich Camping The Fringe's venues book shows that include theatre, comedy, dance, music and more. Artists are invited to submit their production proposals to as many Fringe venues as desired now. Complete instructions are available on the Fringe website at rochesterfringe.com. ROCHESTER FRINGE VENUE-SHOW SUBMISSIONS DETAILS: The Fringe serves as a platform for artists to present their fully realized productions during the festival, whether new works or previously produced shows. Each venue selects and books their own shows directly with the artists on a rolling basis. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Extensive details regarding the submission process may be found at rochesterfringe.com. "We strongly encourage early applications as competition is fierce and venues start booking immediately." said Founding Festival Producer and CEO Erica Fee. MORE ABOUT ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL: The 12-day Rochester Fringe Festival, one of the nation's largest fringe festivals, has also been recognized by the New York Times as "one of the country's more prominent multidisciplinary events" and is the current winner of CITY Magazine's Best of Rochester Award for Best Arts Event. More than 750,000 people have attended more than 5,000 performances and events at the Fringe since its inception in 2012. The non-profit organization's mission is to offer platforms for artists, new audiences for venues, and unparalleled public access to incredible live and visual art. It strives to be diverse and inclusive, and to stimulate downtown Rochester both culturally and economically. The Steele Sisters. Photo Credit: Erich Camping Camp Bushwhacked. Photo Credit: Keith Bullis. Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play. Photo Credit: Keith Bullis. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #rocfringe24 SOURCE Rochester Fringe Festival, Inc. Strategic Investment Backs Blue Stream Fiber's Mission to Provide Exceptional Broadband Services to Homeowner and Condo Associations CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GI Partners, a leading investor in data infrastructure businesses, announced today that it has closed a deal to welcome Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, as a strategic investor in Blue Stream Fiber ("Blue Stream" or the "Company"). The transaction provides Blue Stream Fiber with additional resources to expand as it continues to provide leading fiber-optic connectivity services to residential and commercial customers. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, Blue Stream Fiber provides 10 gigabit broadband, as well as video and voice services, over state-of-the-art fiber-optic networks to housing associations and neighborhoods under long-term, contracted bulk service agreements. Since GI Partners' acquisition of Blue Stream Fiber in 2020, the Company has grown rapidly throughout Florida, with a focus on providing best-in-class services and customer experience. The investment by Sixth Street will support growth in Blue Stream Fiber's existing markets, expansion to additional geographies across the country, and strengthen Blue Stream Fiber's commitment to providing excellent customer service. GI Partners will continue to hold a majority stake in the Company. "Blue Stream Fiber's customer experience is the foundation of what makes us unique in the fiber-to-the-home space. Through our partnership with GI Partners and Sixth Street, we will build upon our 45-year history and take our first steps towards our national expansion plans," said Joe Canavan, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Stream Fiber. "We are pleased to support Blue Stream Fiber's relentless focus on delivering highly reliable, cost-effective connectivity solutions to residential and commercial customers, and we're excited to partner with Blue Stream Fiber's management team and GI Partners to support the Company through this next phase of growth," said Bornah Moghbel, Co-Founder and Partner of Sixth Street. "We are very proud of all that the Blue Stream Fiber team has accomplished since beginning our ownership in 2020 and are looking forward to our new partnership with Sixth Street," said Mark Prybutok, Managing Director and Co-Head of GI Partners Data Infrastructure. Lazard acted as exclusive financial advisor, and Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to Blue Stream Fiber and GI Partners. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to Sixth Street. About Blue Stream Fiber Blue Stream Fiber provides customers with the most advanced broadband and television products, all over 100% gigabit capable networks. With a 45-year history of providing customers with local and high-touch customer service, Blue Stream Fiber is a welcome alternative and trusted telecommunication partner compared to the incumbent providers. For more information, please visit www.bluestreamfiber.com. About GI Data Infrastructure Founded in 2001, GI Partners is a private investment firm with over 150 employees and offices in San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Greenwich, Scottsdale and London. The firm has raised more than $42 billion in capital and invests on behalf of leading institutional investors around the world through its private equity, real estate, and data infrastructure strategies. The private equity team invests primarily in companies in the healthcare, services and software sectors. The real estate strategy focuses primarily on technology and life sciences properties as well as other specialized types of real estate. The data infrastructure team invests primarily in hard asset infrastructure businesses underpinning the digital economy. For more information, please visit www.gipartners.com. About Sixth Street Sixth Street is a leading global investment firm with over $75 billion in assets under management and committed capital. Sixth Street uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and One Team culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. The firm has more than 500 team members including more than 200 investment professionals operating around the world. For more information, visit www.sixthstreet.com. Media Contacts For Blue Stream Fiber Linda Richardson [email protected] Stephanie Davis [email protected] For Sixth Street Patrick Clifford / Rebecca Vignali [email protected] / [email protected] For GI Partners Chris Tofalli Chris Tofalli Public Relations 914-834-4334 [email protected] Gretchen Robinson Investor Relations [email protected] SOURCE GI Partners The Picus Red Report 2024 reveals 333% increase in malware that targets and disables security controls SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Picus Security, the Security Validation company, has released the Picus Red Report 2024. This fourth annual report shares learnings from an in-depth analysis of more than 600,000 real-world malware samples and identifies the most common techniques leveraged by attackers. This year, Picus uncovered a surge of "Hunter-killer" malware from the research findings, demonstrating a drastic shift in adversaries' ability to identify and neutralize advanced enterprise defenses such as next-gen firewalls, antivirus, and EDR. According to the report, there was a 333% increase in malware that can actively target defensive systems in an attempt to disable them. Picus Red Report Top 10 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (PRNewsfoto/Picus Security) "We are witnessing a surge in ultra-evasive, highly aggressive malware which shares the characteristics of hunter-killer submarines," said Dr. Suleyman Ozarslan, Picus Security Co-founder and VP of Picus Labs. "Just as these subs move silently through deep waters and launch devastating attacks to defeat their targets' defenses, new malware is designed to not only evade security tools but actively bring them down. We believe cybercriminals are changing tact in response to the security of average businesses being much-improved, and widely used tools offering far more advanced capabilities to detect threats. A year ago, it was relatively rare for adversaries to disable security controls. Now, this behavior is seen in a quarter of malware samples and is used by virtually every ransomware group and APT group." The Red Report helps security teams better understand and battle cyber attacks by identifying the Top 10 most prevalent MITRE ATT&CK techniques exhibited by the latest malware. Its insights help prioritize defensive actions against commonly used techniques. Additional key findings include: Evolving tactics challenge detection and response: 70% of malware analyzed now employ stealth-oriented techniques by attackers, particularly those that facilitate evading security measures and maintaining persistence in networks. 70% of malware analyzed now employ stealth-oriented techniques by attackers, particularly those that facilitate evading security measures and maintaining persistence in networks. Invisibility at the forefront of evasion: There was a 150% increase in the use of T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information. This highlights a trend toward hindering the effectiveness of security solutions and obfuscating malicious activities to complicate the detection of attacks, forensic analysis, and incident response efforts. There was a 150% increase in the use of This highlights a trend toward hindering the effectiveness of security solutions and obfuscating malicious activities to complicate the detection of attacks, forensic analysis, and incident response efforts. The ransomware saga continues: There was a 176% increase in the use of T1071 Application Layer Protocol, which are being strategically deployed for data exfiltration as part of sophisticated double extortion schemes. To combat Hunter-killer malware and stay ahead of 2024 malware trends, Picus is urging organizations to embrace machine learning, protect user credentials, and consistently validate their defenses against the latest tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals. "It can be incredibly difficult to detect if an attack has disabled or reconfigured security tools, because they may still appear to be working as expected," said Huseyin Can YUCEEL, Security Research Lead at Picus Security. "Preventing attacks that would otherwise operate under the radar requires the use of multiple security controls with a defense-in-depth approach. Security validation must be a starting point for organizations to better understand their readiness and identify gaps. Unless an organization is proactively simulating attacks to assess the response of its EDR, XDR, SIEM, and other defensive systems that may be weakened or eliminated by Hunter-killer malware, they will not know they are down until it is too late." For more information: Methodology Between January 2023 and December 2023, Picus Labs, the research unit of Picus Security, analyzed 667,401 unique files, with 612,080 (92%) categorized as malicious. Sources of these files include but are not limited to commercial and open-source threat intelligence services, security vendors and researchers, malware sandboxes, malware databases, and forums. From these files, a total of 7,754,801 actions were extracted, an average of 13 malicious actions per malware. These actions were then mapped to 7,015,759 MITRE ATT&CK techniques, an average of 11 techniques per malware. To compile the Picus Red Report 2024 Top Ten, Picus Labs researchers determined the number of malicious files that used each technique. They then calculated the percentage of malware in the dataset that utilized that technique. For example, the T1055 Process Injection technique was used in 195,044 (32%) of the 612,080 malicious files analyzed. About Picus Security Picus Security helps security teams consistently and accurately validate their security posture. Our Security Validation Platform simulates real-world threats to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls, identify high-risk attack paths to critical assets, and optimize threat prevention and detection capabilities. As the pioneer of Breach and Attack Simulation, we specialize in delivering the actionable insights our customers need to be threat-centric and proactive. Picus has been named a 'Cool Vendor' by Gartner and is recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a leader in the Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) market. Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338835/Picus_Infographic.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183222/4540977/Picus_Logo.jpg SOURCE Picus Security WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Transportation Research Institute today released its 13th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, and seven Tennessee locations made the top 100, including one in the top 10. "Tennesseans depend on trucking to deliver everything from food to fuel to clothing," said Tennessee Trucking Association President and CEO Donna England. "But when congestion brings those trucks to a standstill, we all pay the price. ATRI's bottleneck analysis provides a roadmap for infrastructure investment to address the most critical chokepoints and keep our economy moving forward." The 2024 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 325 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on an extensive database of freight truck GPS data, uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location. ATRI's truck GPS data is also used to support numerous federal and state freight mobility initiatives. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 325 freight-critical locations. The 7 Tennessee bottlenecks are: No. 10 Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I- 440 (East) No. 23 Nashville: I-40 at I-65 (East) No. 47 Chattanooga: I-24 at US 27 No. 61 Chattanooga: I-75 at I-24 No. 65 Nashville: I-65 at I-24 No. 69 Knoxville: I-40/I-75 at I-140 No. 74 Knoxville: I-40 at I-275 "Traffic congestion on our National Highway System inflicts an enormous cost on the supply chain and environment, adding $95 billion to the cost of freight transportation and generating 69 million metric tons of excess carbon emissions every year," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "The freight bottlenecks identified in this report provide an actionable blueprint for state and federal transportation officials on where to invest infrastructure funding most cost-effectively. Increasing freight efficiency should be a top priority for the U.S. DOT, and alleviating these bottlenecks would improve highway safety, protect the environment, and support interstate commerce." For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, please visit ATRI's website here. ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website. ATRI is the trucking industry's 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation's essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system. SOURCE American Transportation Research Institute Clare Ashford of Poplar Grove Elementary School in Franklin receives national recognition for pioneering innovative classroom strategies while driving high expectations and student achievement. NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates has named Clare Ashford of Poplar Grove Elementary School in Franklin, Tennessee to its 2024 class of Extraordinary Educators, an annual program that celebrates and connects exemplary teachers in Grades K8 from around the country. Selected from hundreds of nominations, Ashford is among the 32 educators from 19 states and the District of Columbia who exhibit best-in-class use of i-Ready, i-Ready Classroom Mathematics, and/or Ready. Most importantly, Ashford has also promoted growth and achievement through formal assessments, pioneered innovative engagement tactics, served as a steward for high expectations and student achievement, and created equitable environments for her students. "It's hard to overstate the impact teachers have on shaping the lives of students across the country," said Em McCann, senior vice president of educator community at Curriculum Associates. "This year, we are proud to highlight just a small group of these real-life superheroes. Our Extraordinary Educators truly demonstrate the power of teachers to create new opportunities for student success." This year's class of Extraordinary Educators includes a diverse range of backgrounds and rolesfrom classroom teachers to specialists and gifted support teachers. Each educator's application was reviewed by an internal selection committee composed of Curriculum Associates employees with various roles across the company and then finalized by an advisory board that included Curriculum Associates employees, previous Extraordinary Educators, and a college student pursuing a degree in urban education. "Teaching kindergarten is always an adventure!" said Ashford. "Many people don't believe that the youngest students can understand their data and growth, but they can. My goal is to teach students how to take ownership and control over their learning, even at a young age. Giving them that power builds the framework to become lifelong learners." The Extraordinary Educators will enjoy continued access to a network of distinguished peers from across the country to collaborate, connect, and trailblaze new and unique ways of learning to provide the best service to young learners. They will also receive access to professional learning opportunities, including an invitation to participate and present at the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit and other professional learning events. This is the fifth year of the Extraordinary Educators program. To learn about Curriculum Associates and the 2024 Extraordinary Educators, visit https://www.curriculumassociates.com/extraordinary-educators About Curriculum Associates Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. Media contact: press@cainc.com SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping availability, photos and reviews, has released its 2024 Camping Report Presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma , the most in-depth and comprehensive look at the camping industry to date. This year Toyota partnered with The Dyrt to help drive the discovery of the trends and patterns that are shaping the future of camping. The Dyrt's 2024 Camping Report Presented by the All-New Toyota Tacoma The report is compiled from the results of surveys conducted with three groups 7,000 members of The Dyrt camper community, a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. residents, and camping property managers across all 50 states. It found that an estimated 84.8 million Americans went camping in 2023, and 5.5 million of those were first-time campers. This brings the total number of new campers since 2021 to more than 20 million. Such dramatic growth in camping has increased demand. In 2023, 45.5% of campers reported difficulty booking a site because a campground was sold out. It was four-times harder to find an available campsite to book than it was in 2019, when just 10.6% of campers reported difficulty. Yet, this number is down from a peak of 58.4% in 2022, likely because campgrounds are responding to that demand: Half of camping properties surveyed reported adding sites last year. "We are in the new golden age of camping," says The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. "The demand for camping has never been greater, but technology is making it easier to find camping and property owners are rapidly expanding. As a result, campers have more options than ever before." Interest in RV camping continued to grow with 46.8% of respondents indicating that RV or trailer was their primary type of camping, an increase of 10.9% over 2022. Overland and truck camping also saw a surge in interest with 7.3% of respondents saying they preferred to four-wheel their way into the outdoors. Free camping is another trend that continues to grow. The report found that nearly two thirds of campers camped for free in 2023, up from just one third in 2019. The Dyrt launched multiple features last year to help campers find free camping, including maps of 19,000 overnight parking, dump station and water station locations and a curated collection of 5,000 car-accessible free camping locations. "It's so fascinating to see dramatic increases in free camping, RVing and overlanding all in the same year," says The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. "It goes to show that there are so many ways to camp, and that campers continue to explore new ways to enjoy the great outdoors." The Dyrt's 2024 Camping Report presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma includes new findings on camping vehicles. Campers listed "truck" as the most ideal vehicle type for camping, though trucks ranked second behind SUVs for the type of vehicle most campers own. That may change, however, because a majority of campers said they plan to purchase a vehicle in the next 5 years. "Camping is such a rapidly evolving space," says Angie White, senior manager of media, Toyota Motor North America. "We're looking forward to seeing media and organizations across the outdoors, travel, automotive and other industries dig into this data and share how Americans camp." Read The Dyrt's 2024 Camping Report Presented by the All-New Toyota Tacoma . About The Dyrt The Dyrt is the only comprehensive camping resource with over 12 million user-generated reviews, photos and tips for every RV site, cabin, glamping and tent camping location, including all public, private and free camping areas in the United States. The Dyrt is how campers search, save and book camping of any type anywhere in the U.S. With The Dyrt PRO, campers get reservations at sold-out campgrounds , advanced maps, discounts on camping and more. The Dyrt is the No. 1 camping app and receives more than 30 million visits from campers each year because The Dyrt has it all. www.thedyrt.com Media Contact: Jason Simms 860-526-1555 [email protected] SOURCE The Dyrt Leading Pro Bono Jewish Legal Organization Represents Columbia Student Who Allegedly Was Subjected to Antisemitic Discrimination and Retaliation by University Faculty and Administration. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lawfare Project (LP) together with co-counsel Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt and Kakoyiannis, P.C., announced today that they have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mackenzie Forrest, a Jewish student at Columbia University's School of Social Work (CSSW), who was allegedly forced out of an academic program after she requested religious and safety accommodations. As detailed in the lawsuit, Mackenzie began attending CSSW in August 2022 and was subsequently admitted into the specialized Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program (DBT). Mackenzie's initial antisemitic encounter with faculty occurred when her request for accommodation for her Sabbath observance was met with resistance and only begrudgingly provided after significant pressure was placed on her to forgo it. Then, in the wake of Hamas's attack on Israel, when the campus devolved into a cauldron of antisemitism, feeling physically unsafe, Mackenzie reported the hostile environment to faculty and requested permission to take classes via Zoom. Although that accommodation is routinely granted to other students, it was not extended to her. Soon after Mackenzie's request, faculty members began a campaign to force her out of the program. After fabricating pretexts to justify failing her, they were ultimately successful. LP is seeking injunctive relief and money damages based on federal, state, and common law claims Post this "The vitriolic and antisemitic environment at Columbia to which Jewish students like Mackenzie have been subjected to is utterly indefensible," said Ziporah Reich, Director of Litigation at LP. "Mackenzie's right to an education in an environment where she feels physically safe is a fundamental, non-negotiable right protected by law. The university's refusal to provide Mackenzie with a basic accommodation to ensure her safety is not only shameful, but a dereliction of the university's moral and legal responsibilities. Such negligence demands accountability." LP is seeking injunctive relief and money damages based on federal, state, and common law claims arising out of the pervasively hostile environment Mackenzie has been subjected to and Columbia's unlawful discrimination and retaliation against her because of her status as a Jew. "Columbia University failed Mackenzie and decided to launch a retaliatory campaign instead of protecting her from Jew-hatred," said Brooke Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director of LP. "If the university had provided her with the appropriate accommodations that she is legally entitled to, we would not be in this situation. Columbia, like any other college and university, must protect the civil rights of their students and provide them with safe learning environments free of discrimination." "It is simply not acceptable that some American colleges and universities tolerate and foster antisemitism," said Eric Levine, Head of the Litigation Department of Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt and Kakoyiannis, P.C., "If this lawsuit is about nothing else, it is about bringing those days to an end." For more information about The Lawfare Project, please visit their website or contact James Lambert, Vice President at Rubenstein Public Relations, at [email protected] or at 212-805-3024. ABOUT THE LAWFARE PROJECT: The Lawfare Project (LP) is the leading organization dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of Jewish people worldwide through legal action. SOURCE The Lawfare Project PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Four students at Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, located in Phoenix, have won awards for their top performance on examinations and global competitions run by the International Education group of Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge). The awards include 'Best in World' in the Cambridge IGCSE (Pre-Advanced) Science Competition, and 'Top in the World' for the Cambridge Advanced English Language examination. Liam MacLaughlin (left), Ema Saliba (middle) and Jessica Finnie (right) are joint Global Winners of the Cambridge IGCSE (Pre-Advanced) Science Competition A team of three students, Jessica Finnie, Ema Saliba and Liam MacLaughlin, have been named the Global Winners of the Cambridge IGCSE (Pre-Advanced) Science Competition for their impressive research project on the removal of heavy metals from water. The team explored the removal of heavy metal divalent cations (Cu2+) from water using natural, environmentally friendly sodium alginate polymerization. As public schools across the United States are faced with high levels of lead in drinking water, this research project could not be timelier. The students shared the prestigious 'Best in World' award with a team of students in Mongolia. In total, 270 teams from schools around the world took part in the extracurricular competition which helps develop learners' passion for science. Cambridge asks students to consider sustainability in their planning and investigate a topic of practical relevance to their school or community helping students connect science to solving real-world problems. Michael Twilling, Executive Director of the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, said: "It was their initiative, their planning, their time and energy, their thought. The school simply supported the students with space and access to some of the materials. This happened entirely because these students care about the world they live in. They care about future generations. They have a passion for science and scientific thought. These three students are not waiting until they are out of school to change the world. They are starting now!" Speaking about the motivation for their project, team member Liam MacLaughlin said: "I know we're all interested in sustainability and that's a big issue in our world right now, using nonrenewable and unsustainable resources. We wanted to have something that deals with the environment and is a potential solution." When asked about her win, Jessica Finnie said: "I'm so honored! This is such a prestigious competition, and with the level that everyone else is at, it was very exciting to receive this award." In addition, Eliana Pandelakis received 'Top in the World' for Cambridge International AS & A Level English Language in the June 2023 examinations. As well as demonstrating her incredible hard work, knowledge and skills, these exam results are important because they provide excellent opportunities for college credit, recognition, and scholarships. Every year, Cambridge recognizes exceptional achievement in its international examinations by high-school-age students around the world. Mark Cavone, Regional Director, North America for International Education at Cambridge, said: "It is a great pleasure to honor students in Arizona for their phenomenal results in Cambridge competitions and examinations, as well as celebrate their teachers' unrelenting commitment. Cambridge strives to provide an education that not only meets the short-term needs achieving a place at higher education or securing a job but also inspires learners to change the world for the better. Together with teachers, we are shaping the learners who will shape the world." The Cambridge Pathway for K-12 brings together a globally recognized instructional approach that aligns curriculum, teaching, and learning with meaningful assessments that measure mastery. Alongside in-depth understanding of a variety of subjects, students master a broader range of critical skills that will equip them for a world that is changing, both technologically and economically, at an unprecedented pace. The curriculum is designed to develop learners who are confident in working with information and ideas, equipped for new and future challenges, and engaged intellectually and socially. Notes to Editors: About Cambridge Cambridge International Education is the awarding body of the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge. Our International Education group works with schools worldwide to build an education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills. Together, we give learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world. We offer a globally trusted and flexible framework for education from age 3 to 19 (the Cambridge Pathway), informed by research, experience, and listening to educators. With recognized qualifications (such as Cambridge IGCSE and International AS & A Level), high-quality resources, comprehensive support, and valuable insights, we help schools prepare every student for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Together, we help Cambridge learners be ready for the world. Learn more at https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/usa/ SOURCE Cambridge International Education Logistics company Trangistics partnered with general contractor UIS on massive, vital new microchip production facility PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trangistics, a leading logistics partner for high-tech construction projects, celebrates one year of its partnership with general contractor United Integrated Services (UIS) in supporting the construction of a new, $40 billion computer chip manufacturing plant in Arizona. The ambitious new factory owned and operated by manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will be the most advanced semiconductor facility in the country, and represents one of the largest direct foreign investments in the history of the United States. When fully functional, the facility will produce 25,000 microchips per month for premier clients such as Apple, Amazon, and NVIDIA. The project is part of a larger federal initiative to increase microchip production within the country's borders, and the site was even visited by President Joe Biden to reinforce its importance. "It's exciting to be part of such an important project," explains Trangistics CEO Joey Hougham. "We are immensely proud to contribute our expertise to this innovative undertaking." Construction on the project is being handled by UIS, who manages more than 4,000 active workers on site every day. The size of the project is made more complicated by the fact that many necessary components and materials are being shipped from Taiwan. As the project's primary logistics manager, that provides plenty of challenges for Trangistics. The process involves receiving hundreds of shipping containers from overseas, stocking their inventory, and managing the delivery of the right materials at the right time to the job site. "Trangistics has proven to be an invaluable logistics partner for UIS," says UIS President CM Lai. "In the face of operational and cultural complexities, they consistently demonstrate their commitment by delivering the requisite materials to the job site at the right time." Trangistics project manager Matt Risser echoes Lai's note about cultural complexities on such an international undertaking. "Developing relationships with our customers' workforce has helped us gain trust with each other, especially in understanding both the American and Taiwanese sides of operations," says Risser. "The goal is to always work as a team for the greater good for our client's success." Phase One of the plant, which will cover 650,000 square feet, will begin producing microchips in early 2025 . Trangistics plans to continue its relationship with UIS through all phases of construction and beyond into new projects. About Trangistics Trangistics Inc. is a global logistics provider with over 20 years of experience in transportation, including services for agricultural machinery, military equipment, and high-tech construction projects. Offering comprehensive logistics solutions from warehousing to inventory management to last-mile delivery, Trangistics is a trusted expert in managing complex freight for clients worldwide. To learn more, visit trangistics.com. About UIS United Integrated Services (USA) Corp. is an American subsidiary of UIS Taiwan, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, since 2020, with other subsidiaries in China and Singapore. Specializing in cleanroom construction as well as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, UIS constructs major fabrication facilities for manufacturing technology such as semiconductors and flat panel displays. For more information, visit uisusacorp.com. SOURCE Trangistics, Inc / Jayme Scotto & Associates, LLC Helping Ukraine is now more urgent than ever. Speaking from the White House this Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated that and called on the House of Representatives to approve the necessary funds for the invaded country, after the Senate gave them the go-ahead earlier Tuesday. The aid package faces an uncertain future in the House, where the Republican majority opposes renewing assistance to Kyiv, in the midst of a debate over the United States role in NATO following Donald Trumps statements this past weekend encouraging Russia to do whatever the hell it wants with other European countries. In his address, Biden condemned the Republicans comments, stating: The stakes were already high for American security before this bill was passed in the Senate But in recent days, those stakes have risen. And thats because the former president has sent a dangerous and shockingly, frankly un-American signal to the world. No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can I never will. For Gods sake, its dumb, its shameful, its dangerous, its un-American. he reiterated, in a statement in the White House lobby after which he did not take questions. On Saturday, at an election rally, Trump had alluded to an alleged conversation during his term in office with a leader of a European country, who asked him if the United States would protect NATO members who do not spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. The likely future Republican presidential candidate replied: No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin, Opposing it is playing into Putins hands, Biden added this afternoon. The president spoke after early this morning the controversial national security aid bill received the green light in the Senate, by 70 votes to 29, after four months of tough negotiations. The good news for proponents of continued support for Ukraine who insist that turning their backs on the overrun country would give free rein to Russia and other authoritarian regimes is that the funds received support from nearly the entire Democratic caucus and 22 Republican senators. The national security aid bill provides $95 billion, of which $60.1 billion will go to Ukraine and $14 billion to assist Israel in its war in Gaza, along with a smaller item to aid Palestinians. With these figures, the assistance from the United States, the biggest international supporter of Volodymyr Zelenskiys government, would exceed $170 billion. The bad news is that the remaining Republican senators, who represent the majority of the conference, voted against it. That presages many obstacles for advancing the measure in the House of Representatives, where that group holds the majority and opposition to renewing aid for Ukraine is much tougher. The Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, has come out strongly against the bill as it stands. Meanwhile, the partys presumptive presidential nominee, Trump, opposes any foreign aid that is not in the form of a loan, as he said on social media this weekend. Johnson demands that the bill contain provisions to tighten control of the border with Mexico, where at least 2.4 million irregular crossings were recorded in 2023, the highest number so far. House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border, he emphasized. In the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters. Johnsons statements come after the Senate rejected a bill last week that was agreed upon after complicated negotiations that began in October and which contained immigration reform that tightened border control in addition to funds for national security. That no was a slap in the face to Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and it occurred after Trump who wants to make immigration one of his main campaign issues recommended that legislators vote against a text he deemed horrible. The Speaker of the House claims that the mandate of the Homeland Security Extraordinary Departure Act was to reinforce the U.S. border before sending more foreign aid around the world. In the past, Johnson has said that he was open to approving aid to Ukraine. But the major problem is the strong opposition in his party to handing over more funds. Some refuse to do so because they believe that the disbursement is not transparent enough. Others object because they think that the money should be used to solve internal U.S. problems, or because the conflict is dragging on and they do not see an exit strategy. Still others reject the measure because they support former president Trumps isolationist thesis and vision of foreign assistance as something on which to trade. That latter trend has grown as it becomes clear that Trump will be the presidential candidate and has polls in his favor. For Johnson, simply bringing the Senate Ukraine aid bill to the floor for a vote would be a political death sentence. His predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted in September on a motion to vacate by his partys hardline wing after the then-Speaker moved another budget bill that was requested by the Biden administration and passed in the Senate. One possible avenue for the Speaker of the House is to let the Republican caucus draft its own bill. But his partys legislators are locked in bitter infighting between hardliners and moderates, and they have been unable to agree on much of anything since the McCarthy debacle. After the Senate vote, leaders from the upper chamber of congress hailed the passage of relief, which seemed dead only a week earlier, following the rejection of the bill that contained immigration provisions. If we want the world to remain a safe place for freedom, for democratic principles, for our future prosperity, then America must lead the way. And with this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waver, will not falter, will not fail, Democratic Majority Leader Charles Schumer said. Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that the Senate understands Americas national security responsibilities and will not abandon them. In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his satisfaction with the Senates passage of the bill. He also urged the House of Representatives to pass the measure as soon as possible and, without mentioning him, slammed Trumps positions: There are those who say American leadership and our alliances and partnerships with countries around the world do not matter. They do. If we do not stand against tyrants who seek to conquer or carve up their neighbors territory, the consequences for Americas national security will be significant. Our allies and adversaries alike will take note. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WALLULA, Wash., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tri-Cities Intermodal has moved its first loads to the Northwest Seaport Alliance's Port of Tacoma. "It is a dream come true to see these loads moving," said Theodore Prince, Tri-Cities Intermodal Chief Executive Officer and Founder, "This could only have happened by having the support of so many stakeholders who were aligned with our vision to benefit the three-state region by providing cost-effective and sustainable transportation capacity." Prince added that, "Beyond the shippers we serve, we were very fortunate to find an investor with the necessary foresight -- along with Union Pacific Railroad's support to bring this project to fruition." Tri-Cities Intermodal transporting 270 tons of locally-grown hay to the Port of Tacoma. PNW Capital, the investor, is led by accomplished entrepreneur James Delaney, who is the enterprise's Non-Executive Chairman. Delaney observed that, "We were attracted by the opportunity, the highly capable team and the clear support of the local community. It is gratifying to see the first loads moving according to our business plan." "We are excited about Tri-Cities Intermodal achieving its first success," said Kari Kirchhoefer, Senior Vice President Premium, Marketing and Sales for Union Pacific Railroad. "This is a region that continues to grow in logistical importance, and we look forward to supporting its growth with safe, reliable service that will remove thousands of trucks from the highway." The containers were provided by Evergreen Marine Corporation, which performs ocean transportation from Tacoma (through the Pierce County Terminal operated by Everport Marine Terminals) to Qingdao, China. The inland transportation is paid for by the exporter. This new service replaces trucking roundtrips across the state with rail. The first loads comprised 270 tons of hay grown locally for export by Ag West International, a Pasco, Washington based family business with a global reputation for quality livestock feed. "We are very happy to be the lead customer for this initiative," said Courtney Calaway, the company's owner. "Providing the best livestock feed available is only the first step in succeeding in a globally competitive market." Leaders at both ends of the trip were enthused. "Expanding multi-modal transportation linkages is part of our mission to enhance the economic vitality of Walla Walla County," observed Patrick Reay, Executive Director of the Port of Walla Walla. "This new intermodal capacity is a game changer." "Marking the latest milestone in our Inland Rail Hub Strategic Initiative, we are pleased to welcome the new rail connection between Tri-Cities Intermodal and our gateway," stated John Wolfe, CEO of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. "We look forward to supporting the growth of this new service and the broadening of opportunities for Washington exporters to access global markets." The Tri-Cities Intermodal Center will be operated by REMPREX, who also performed the design and construction oversight. The facility will have an initial capacity of 75,000 lifts annually; however, there is a roadmap to significantly expand as traffic materializes. While agricultural export is the first market served, there are also opportunities for imports from the ports and long-haul domestic to and from the Midwest and East Coast. SOURCE Tri-Cities Intermodal LLC HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TritenIAG, a leading project development and management company focused on sustainable energy projects, announced the opening of its newest U.S. office in Greenville, South Carolina. TritenIAG East will provide the company's expert project management and development services to clients across the biofuels, bioplastics, and industrial markets. "We are thrilled to bring TritenIAG's collaborative and owner focused approach to project development and management to the Southeastern region," said Terence Easton, CEO of TritenIAG. "Vice President and Managing Director of TritenIAG East, Duane Barnes brings over 20 years of experience delivering complex projects. His leadership will be invaluable as we work with clients on sustainable projects in South Carolina and beyond." TritenIAG East will utilize the company's Integrated Project Management Team (IPMT) approach, which integrates owner and contractor expertise with TritenIAG's specialized project management capability. The IPMT model focuses on close collaboration, proactive risk management, and leveraging team synergies to achieve successful project outcomes. "The Southeastern U.S. is seeing strong growth in sustainable building and infrastructure, and demand for experienced project management partners," said Duane Barnes, Vice President and Managing Director of TritenIAG East. "Our new Greenville office will allow us to bring our proven IPMT approach to more clients in this region, helping them achieve their project goals." To celebrate the grand opening of the new office, TritenIAG East is hosting an open house on Tuesday, FEB 20 from 4 6 pm. The grand opening will include wine, beer, and hors d'ouvres, a special presentation from our customers, prize drawings and conversation with our management team. For more information and to RSVP visit: triteniag.com/greenville-grand-opening About TritenIAG TritenIAG has spent over 75 years entrenched in business-critical projects, establishing the project experience and nurturing the industry connections that we share with our clients. From project development through commissioning and startup, TritenIAG has the specialized expertise and proven methodologies to design and execute the most strategic solutions throughout a project's lifecycle. We provide the intelligent foundation on which successful projects are built. www.triteniag.com SOURCE TritenIAG DUBLIN, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "UK Online Trading Platform Market Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This new research publication examines everything from technological innovations to market segmentation. The projection sees this market growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8% from 2022 to 2028. With technology rapidly transforming the trading landscape, desktop-based trading remains prevalent, offering robust features and a user-friendly experience. The banking and financial institution segment has established a stronghold within the market, providing a wide array of services and tapping into extensive customer bases. Regional Market Insights The southern region of the UK, including financial powerhouses like London, continues to visibly dominate the online trading platform landscape. This comprehensive market analysis details the synergies between financial expertise available in the region, regulatory frameworks, and access to international markets, painting a comprehensive picture of the current climate and future expectations. Trends and Developments Emergence of advanced trading technologies and AI Significant adoption and user preference shifts toward mobile applications Introduction of innovative platforms by fintech startups The competitive landscape features a broad range of participants, from established banks and brokers to innovative fintech firms. These companies are pivoting to meet the increasing demand for user-friendly, technologically advanced trading interfaces. Recent developments in the field have seen established platforms expand their geographic reach, and technology firms introduce state-of-the-art predictive analytics, further setting the stage for a fiercely competitive environment. Future Market Considerations The market is poised for continued growth and expansion, with several drivers at play. Technological advances are expected to continue to drive efficiency, user engagement, and the diversity of trading options available, with the mobile trading experience set to become even more streamlined and accessible. The evolving regulatory landscape will play a pivotal role in shaping the market, ensuring continued investor protection and market integrity. The UK online trading platform market's future appears bright and bustling with opportunity as it adapts to the ever-changing financial trading ecosystem. This detailed market overview provides stakeholders, investors, and market enthusiasts with an intricate understanding of the market dynamics, potential growth opportunities, and the comprehensive competitive landscape of the UK online trading platform sector. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. UK online trading platform market Overview 2.1 Taxonomy of the Market 2.2 Industry Value Chain 2.3 Ecosystem 2.4 Government Regulations/Initiatives for the Market 2.5 Growth Drivers of the UK online trading platform market 2.6 Issues and Challenges of the UK online trading platform market 2.7 Impact of COVID-19 on the UK online trading platform market 2.8 SWOT Analysis 3. UK online trading platform market Size, 2017-2022 4. UK online trading platform market Segmentation 4.1 By platform Type , 2017- 2022 4.2 By End User Application, 2017- 2022 4.3 By Regional Split, 2017-2022 5. Competitive Landscape 5.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements 5.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players 5.3 Company Profiles eToro A-trade Zulu trade Tornado Metaquotes PrimeXBT Tickmill 6. UK online trading platform Future Market Size, 2022-2028 7. UK online trading platform Future Market Segmentation 7.1 By End User Application, 2022-2028 7.2 By platform type, 2022-2028 7.3 By Regional Split, 2022-2028 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hg6lmp 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 SOURCE Research and Markets IRB Approval Received to Develop Validated Translations of Rett Syndrome Behavioral Questionnaire into Spanish, A Key Step for Clinical Trial Initiation BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unravel Biosciences, Inc., ("Unravel"), an AI-enabled therapeutics company to advance drugs for complex diseases, today announced the initiation of a clinical program in Colombia, starting with the translation of the widely-used Rett Syndrome Behavioral Questionnaire (RSBQ) into Spanish under an approved human subject research protocol. Participants are actively being recruited at https://www.unravel.bio/rsbq-translation-study. Rett syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder starting in early childhood and leading to debilitating cognitive, motor and autonomic disability. With a global incidence of one in 10,000 female births, Rett Syndrome represents an orphan disease with widespread impact and only one FDA-approved treatment. Unravel's proprietary drug discovery platform has identified RVL001 as a promising therapeutic for Rett Syndrome, as well as RVL002, a novel small molecule therapeutic currently being developed. RVL001 will be tested in Colombia as a key path to effective treatment for Rett syndrome patients. "The translation of the RSBQ represents a major expansion of Rett syndrome research and a key tool for clinical assessment to the more than 500 million Spanish speakers around the world," said Jeffrey Neul, MD, PhD, study co-Investigator and Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. "I look forward to working with Unravel to publish this critical resource and help facilitate their initiation of clinical research in Latin America." "We are thrilled to collaborate with Unravel on this exciting first step toward initiating clinical trials in Colombia," expressed Maria Carrasquilla, Rett patient caregiver and Somos Rett Colombia member. "Engaging Rett families in the translation of the RSBQ enables them to participate in the establishment of therapeutic programs across Latin America." About Unravel Biosciences Unravel Biosciences is the first rapid prototyping therapeutics company, integrating AI systems biology computation with rapid in vivo screening and clinical validation of discovered targets with unprecedented efficiency. Unravel leverages its proprietary BioNAV platform combining target and drug discovery, preclinical screening and patient stratification to find treatments for complex diseases. Unravel's platform has led to four clinical trials starting in 2024. Unravel's platform developed RVL002, a first-in-class new small molecule targeting mitochondrial metabolism, and RVL027, a molecule targeting a novel mechanism to treat dystonias. The rareSHIFT program provides platform access to foundation and biotech partners to accelerate and clinically derisk therapeutics. www.unravel.bio and www.rareshift.org. SOURCE Unravel Biosciences, Inc. Both brands have partnered with BrainTrust Founders Studio for "The Beauty of Success Books + Bubbles" book tour to expand economic advancement for entrepreneurs. NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a collaborative effort to champion entrepreneurship and foster community empowerment, Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott through their respective programs - VB Gives Back and Kendra Gives Back - have teamed up with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, founder and CEO of BrainTrust Founders Studio, to support the launch of her first book, The Beauty of Success, Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand. Released on February 13, 2024, the book amplifies Bracken-Ferguson's mission to create an ecosystem of resources for entrepreneurs rooted in community, mentorship, education and capital. Proceeds from book tour events held in Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott stores will be donated to BrainTrust Founders Studio to underwrite resources for founders in the community. Launched in October 2021, BrainTrust Founders Studio is now the largest membership-based platform for Black founders of beauty and wellness companies. "To have both Veronica Beard and Kendra Scott supporting diverse founders through this launch is a beautiful and important example of how allyship grows the American economy," said Kendra Bracken-Ferguson. "These donations will help BrainTrust Founders Studio provide more founders access to all the studio's offerings, from weekly educational programming to Founders House pop-up stores, and our members-only community app." Kendra Scott has designed a "Success" engraved personalized necklace that will serve as a symbol of encouragement for all founders and the Kendra Gives Back program's "continued commitment to opening their doors to help strengthen the next generation of courageous, creative, female leaders who will change the world and beyond." The necklace will be available for purchase at the Alpharetta and Austin book tour stops. 20% of proceeds will further support BrainTrust Founders Studio. According to McKinsey & Company: Building Supportive Eco-Systems for Black-Owned US Businesses*, "Black entrepreneurs also lack access to the networks and relationships that could help them make optimal business decisions. Research on New Yorkbased start-ups shows that founders who are mentored by top-performing entrepreneurs are three times more likely than their co-located peers without mentors to become top performers themselves." "The BrainTrust Founders Studios commitment to creating equity for entrepreneurs is inspiring, and we are so thrilled to support its amazing work." - Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, Co-Founders, Veronica Beard Join "The Beauty of Success Books + Bubbles Tour" through December by visiting: https://kendrabracken-ferguson.com/beauty-of-success#tour . Additional partners include Cantu Beauty, Parfait, Black Beauty Collective, Thirteen Lune, Blushington, Buy From A Black Woman, Harvard Advancement for Black Alumni, Chillhouse, Adelphi, Spelman, Purdue University Black Cultural Center, and El Hempe. Upcoming "The Beauty of Success Books + Bubbles" Tour Dates: February 13, 2024 5pm - 7:30pm Veronica Beard, 988 Madison Ave (at 77th), New York, NY February 14, 2024 1pm - 3pm Blushington, 315 West 57th Street, New York, NY February 15, 2024 8:3am - 10:15am Chillhouse, 75 Varick Street, New York, NY February 15, 2024 12pm - 2pm Harvard Advancement for Black Alumni, 215 Chrystie Street, New York, NY February 17, 2024 Black Beauty Collective, 5305 South Hyde Park Boulevard, Chicago, IL February 20, 2024 Thirteen Lune, 120 North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA February 25, 2024 10am - 12pm Kendra Scott, 3150 Avalon Blvd, Alpharetta, GA 30009 March 11, 2024 Kendra Scott, 1701 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 For more information, visit https://kendrabracken-ferguson.com/preorder-beauty-of-success#tour About BrainTrust Founders Studio BrainTrust Founders Studio (BTFS) is the largest membership-based platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies. Through community, mentorship, education and capital, BrainTrust Founders Studio is creating an ecosystem toward winning. Founded by 3x founder Kendra Bracken-Ferguson in 2021, BrainTrust Founders Studio has admitted 200+ members (91% identifying as women) who in one year sold 4,000 products from skincare to gut health across 23,000 retail doors. Our "leave no founder behind" ethos supports beauty and wellness founders at all stages from start to growth to accelerationby providing access and introductions to key partners, retail relationships, service providers and programming. To download our latest Economic Advancement Report and for more information to support our members or join, please visit https://braintrustfoundersstudio.com . About Veronica Beard Veronica Beard was founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard in 2010. What began as a rack of dickey jackets has expanded into a full lifestyle collection for the women who make it happen. Their motto: Look good, feel good, do good. Learn more about our #VBGivesBack initiative here. About Kendra Scott Foundation Kendra Scott LLC was founded in 2002 by Kendra Scott, who serves as Founder, Executive Chairwoman and Chief Creative Officer of her namesake lifestyle brand. Known for its design and material innovation, use of color, and signature shapes, Kendra Scott offers Fashion, Demi-Fine and Fine Jewelry, watches, engagement rings, fragrance, home accessories, and a men's collection, Scott Bros. by Kendra Scott. The company remains true to its founding philosophy of "Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy," and has donated over $60M to philanthropic organizations since 2010. Kendra Scott's customer-centric omni-channel approach includes a network of 130+ namesake experiential stores and pop-up locations, wholesale partners, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Dillard's, and 850+ specialty boutiques. With over 2,600 employees, the Austin-based company was honored as one of Newsweek's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces in 2022 and 2023. Learn more at KendraScott.com. *Source: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/building-supportive-ecosystems-for-black-owned-us-businesses SOURCE BrainTrust Founders Studio DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Vietnam Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Social commerce industry in Vietnam is expected to grow by 38.8% on annual basis to reach US$4.53 billion in 2024. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 31.1% during 2024-2029. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$3.26 billion in 2023 to reach US$17.55 billion by 2029. This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics. The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities. Reasons to buy In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2020-2029). Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors. Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry. Scope Vietnam Ecommerce Industry Key Players Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Zalo Vietnam Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029 Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029 Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2020-2029 Clothing & Footwear Beauty and Personal Care Food & Grocery Appliances and Electronics Home Improvement Travel Hospitality Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2020-2029 B2B B2C C2C Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2020-2029 Mobile Desktop Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029 Domestic Cross Border Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029 Tier-1 Cities Tier-2 Cities Tier-3 Cities Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2020-2029 Credit Card Debit Card Bank Transfer Prepaid Card Digital & Mobile Wallet Other Digital Payment Cash Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms Video Commerce Social Network-Led Commerce Social Reselling Group Buying Product Review Platforms Vietnam Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2023 By Age By Income Level By Gender For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/184zby 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 W&H's booth will present innovative dental solutions for attendees to experience in their Dental Equipment, Oral and Implant Surgery product portfolios, including exclusive show promotions. WINDSOR, ON, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - W&H Group, a leading international medical technology company, will present their latest innovations and solutions for dentists and clinicians at the Chicago Dental Society (CDS) 2024 Midwinter Meeting. This national convention takes place on February 22 - February 24, 2024 at the McCormick Place West Building in downtown Chicago, IL. W&Hs booth will present innovative dental solutions for attendees to experience in their Dental Equipment, Oral and Implant Surgery product portfolios, including exclusive show promotions. (CNW Group/W&H Impex Inc.) At their booth 1630 they will feature fully interactive, hands-on experiences for visitors to use their state-of-the-art restorative handpieces at both cutting and demo stations, personal demonstrations given by their knowledgeable team of experts on their maintenance devices, award winning sterilizers, as well as their oral surgery and implant surgery equipment and devices. Product highlights include: High-performance handpieces : the high-performance Synea Vision and Fusion lines offer outstanding ergonomics, are lightweight with quiet motors, patented hygienic head system and a long service life. the high-performance lines offer outstanding ergonomics, are lightweight with quiet motors, patented hygienic head system and a long service life. Rotary polishing with no restrictions : the Proxeo Twist Cordless Polishing System offers a new freedom for rotary polishing without the cords or cables. The lightweight and ergonomic design means it adapts perfectly to any movements providing fatigue-free polishing. the offers a new freedom for rotary polishing without the cords or cables. The lightweight and ergonomic design means it adapts perfectly to any movements providing fatigue-free polishing. Efficient, sustainable maintenance devices : the Assistina Twin and the Assistina One offer fast cycle times, HEPA filters and are a sustainable choice. Their Care Sets only need to be changed after approximately 2,800 instruments (equivalent to 20 oil spray cans at 400 ml each). the and the offer fast cycle times, HEPA filters and are a sustainable choice. Their Care Sets only need to be changed after approximately 2,800 instruments (equivalent to 20 oil spray cans at 400 ml each). Award winning sterilizers : Lexa and Lexa Plus both offer closed door drying for bone dry loads and fresh water for every cycle. Lexa was recently awarded Dental Advisor's 2024 Preferred Product and the Lexa Plus , Class B sterilizer was recently selected as Dental Products Report Top 5 Infection Control Products for 2023 . Lexa and Lexa Plus both offer closed door drying for bone dry loads and fresh water for every cycle. was recently awarded and the , Class B sterilizer was recently selected as . A breakthrough in oral surgery: the Piezomed module combines piezo surgery and an implantology motor in one device. This means the Implantmed can be combined with the Piezomed module and can be used to cover several surgical applications that change the way oral surgery and implantology work. "We're looking forward to our third year attending the Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting, engaging with the dental community and educating them on our superior quality products proven to streamline a practice's workflow and to ensure the safety of staff and patients," said Rick Pinero, General Manager of the Dental Equipment Business Unit for W&H North America. "We welcome attendees to come by our booth and talk with one of our sales team members to learn more about how W&H products can benefit their practice with our many innovative solutions." Schedule a Product Demonstration at Their Booth Schedule an appointment in advance for a demonstration at their booth 1630 with a member of their sales team to learn more about their dental solutions as well as the exclusive show promotions and specials they will be running. About W&H W&H Impex, Inc. located in Ontario, Canada is a subsidiary of W&H Group. Headquartered in Burmoos, Austria, the international W&H Group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of medical technology products. Passion and innovation are the motor of the company. High-quality product and service solutions, a modern corporate structure, a strong focus on research and development as well as social responsibility make W&H a locally and globally successful family business. More than 1,200 employees contribute to the production of hardware and software products for use in the dental, medical and veterinary industries. SOURCE W&H Impex Inc. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Xponential Fitness, Inc. ("Xponential" or "the Company") (NYSE: XPOF) and certain of its officers. Class Definition: This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Xponential securities between July 26, 2021 and December 7, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/XPOF. Case Details: The Complaint alleges that Xponential made materially false and/or misleading statements because they misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts, which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them: (1) that Xponential had permanently closed at least 30 stores; (2) that Xponential's reported SSS and AUV metrics had been misstated by excluding underperforming stores; (3) that 8 out of 10 Xponential brands were losing money monthly; (4) that over 50% of Xponential studios did not make a positive financial return; (5) that over 60% of Xponential's revenue was one-time and nonrecurring; (6) that more than 100 of the Company's franchises were for sale at a price that is at least 75% less than their initial cost; (7) that Xponential had misled many of its franchisees into opening franchises by misrepresenting the financial profile and profitability of its studios, as well as the expected rate of return for new studio openings; (8) that many Xponential franchisees were substantially in debt, suffering high attrition rates and running non-viable studios that had no realistic path to profitability; and (9) that based on the foregoing, defendants lacked a reasonable factual basis for their positive statements about Xponential's then-current business operations and future financial prospects. On June 26, 2023, Fuzzy Panda published the Fuzzy Panda Report, which, among other things, represented that: (1) defendant Geisler has had a long history of misleading investors; (2) Xponential has issued a series of misleading statements about its store closures and the overall financial health of its franchisee base; (3) more than 50% of the Company's studios never make a positive financial return; (4) more than 100 of Company's franchises are for sale at a price that is at least 75% less than their initial cost; (5) 8 out of 10 Xponential brands are losing money monthly; (6) the Company's publicly reported SSS and AUV metrics misleadingly exclude underperforming stores; (7) over 60% of Xponential's revenue is one-time and non-recurring; and (8) at least 30 Xponential stores had been permanently closed. Then, on December 7, 2023, Businessweek published an expose on the Company that largely corroborated the Fuzzy Panda Report's allegations titled "Club Pilates, Pure Barre Owners Say Xponential Left Them Bankrupt." The article stated that Businessweek had interviewed dozens of former business partners, employees, and franchisees of the Company who revealed that Xponential misled many franchisees into a "financial nightmare." The article stated that defendant Geisler "has a track record of combative management, deploying growth-at-all-costs tactics and unleashing aggressive reprisals against anyone who gets in his way." Following the publication of the Businessweek article, the price of Xponential common stock fell more than 26% over two trading days on heavy trading volume to close at less than $9 per share on December 11, 2023, causing plaintiff and other Class members to suffer additional economic losses and damages under the federal securities laws. What's Next? A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/XPOF or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Xponential you have until April 9, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. There is No Cost to You We 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, LLC Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson 332-239-2660 | [email protected] SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC The ceasefire in Gaza that the United States is negotiating with other allies in the Middle East would last at least six weeks, according to statements made by U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday after he met with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House. The comments come as Israel prepares a ground offensive against Rafah, where 1.3 million Palestinians are sheltering in overcrowded conditions. Humanitarian organizations warn that such an assault on the Gazan city on the border of Egypt would lead to a bloodbath. In his address Tuesday, the Democratic leader was optimistic that a ceasefire agreement would be reached soon. The deal will see Hamas release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire that is intended to pave the way for something more enduring. The key element of the deals are on the table, said Biden, while conceding: There are gaps that remain. The president was more critical of the war in Gaza than in previous speeches. Standing beside his Arab ally, who traveled to Washington to ask for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid for the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the Strip, Biden spoke of the unimaginable pain and loss of the Palestinian people. Theyre packed into Rafah exposed and vulnerable. They need to be protected, he said. In the four months since the war began, many Gazans have been displaced multiple times as a result of the Israeli bombings. The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm into Gaza for at least six weeks, said Biden. The president who is widely criticized by sectors of his own party for his unconditional support for Israel reiterated the warning he made on Sunday in a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: that the planned operation in Rafah should not proceed unless Israel has a credible protection plan for the Palestinian population. Biden who in November questioned the death toll provided by the Palestinian Health Ministry, alleging that it was controlled by the radical Hamas militia admitted on Tuesday that the number of people killed in Gaza now exceeds 27,000, including thousands of children, and that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lack access to food, water and basic services. But he stopped short of demanding a permanent ceasefire, nor did he announce punitive measures against Israel, as demanded by international representatives, including the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The King of Jordan, however, did call for a permanent end to the hostilities. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end, said Abdullah II, who was on his first visit to Washington since three American soldiers were killed in a drone attack carried out by pro-Iranian militias from Iraq against a U.S. outpost in Jordan. The Jordanian leader also warned against Israels planned offense in Rafah. We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe. The Hashemite monarch also demanded the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza through all possible entry points and defended UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Several Western countries, including the United States, have suspended funding to the agency while they investigate allegations that some UNRWA employees played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7. It is imperative that UNRWA continues to receive the support it needs to carry out its mandate, said King Abdullah II, who added that the restrictions on aid relief were leading to inhumane conditions. In addition to the ceasefire negotiations, Biden and Abdullah II also discussed Gazas future after the war during their meeting in Washington. Biden said that the two spoke about the need for the Palestinian Authority to urgently reform so that it can replace Hamas and assume at least partial control in Gaza. They must prepare to build a state that accepts peace, and does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, said Biden. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 13:33 | All, Japan The start date of the new high-speed maglev train that will run from Tokyo to Nagoya has become increasingly uncertain, as long-running environmental disputes with the Shizuoka prefectural government leave the project at a stalemate. Central Japan Railway Co.'s Linear Chuo Shinkansen project is planned to link Tokyo and Osaka with trains traveling up to 500 kilometers per hour. But a small area on the section between the capital and Nagoya has proved a stumbling block for the major project, due mostly to opposition by Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu. The Nagoya to Osaka section is penciled in for completion in 2037, while the Tokyo to Nagoya portion was initially targeted for 2027 but is now officially "2027 or later" following the prolonged schism between the train operator and the local government. If the over 9 trillion yen ($60 billion) project is completed, it is expected to trim journeys from Tokyo's Shinagawa terminal to Nagoya to 40 minutes, and 67 minutes from the capital to Osaka -- under half the fastest current times by shinkansen bullet trains. Using superconducting magnetic levitation technology, maglev trains run about 10 centimeters above the track. During a manned test run on an experimental track in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2015, a prototype reached 603 kph. JR Central's President Shunsuke Niwa maintains the new line can serve as a vital backup between the country's three major metropolises in the event of major disasters such as a powerful earthquake involving a potential tsunami. The project "could bring about significant benefits and developments for the Japanese economy," he said. Unlike the largely above-ground Tokaido Shinkansen that runs a similar but more coastal route, 86 percent of the maglev line's 286-kilometer course between Tokyo and Nagoya would be in tunnels, necessitating significant excavation work. Just 8.9 km of the tunnels are set to pass through Shizuoka Prefecture. Amid controversy over the line's tunnels passing through the prefecture, Kawakatsu has, along with local communities, pushed back over environmental issues including what is known as the "water problem" involving the effects of construction on the Oi River. Opposition in Shizuoka Prefecture emerged from fears the planned tunnel construction for the line could adversely affect the overall volume of water that passes through the river. JR Central has not yet been able to start tunnel construction despite the approach of the initial targeted start date. Signs the impasse over the issue could be overcome raised the prospect the maglev shinkansen project may be able to go ahead. The catalyst in overcoming the disagreement was a JR Central-led proposal to work with the prefecture's Tashiro Dam. Under the agreement, the dam would, for a fixed period, control the amount of water it holds to ensure the normal flows out of the prefecture are secured. The plan was welcomed by local communities and subsequently approved by the prefectural government in November. But as one door opened, another shut in the form of a report from a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism panel in December that acknowledged the development could damage the ecology of mountain ranges known as the Minami Alps, or Southern Alps, which run from central Nagano Prefecture and down through Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. Kawakatsu, who has been governor since 2009, had once described himself as a major supporter of the maglev train project. But the panel's report has only strengthened his opposition. "The proposed route passes through the Minami Alps, a biosphere reserve recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The government panel report says there will be damage to the environment, so the issues are clear," he said. Although the Linear Chuo Shinkansen's route is planned to pass through Shizuoka Prefecture, services will not stop in the area, while other prefectures on the route -- Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Nagano and Gifu -- will have stations. In a bid to encourage Kawakatsu to drop his opposition, the central government issued an estimate in October showing that there could be 1.5 times more regular shinkansen services that stop more frequently, including in Shizuoka Prefecture areas, if the maglev line goes ahead. Tokaido Shinkansen services have six stations in Shizuoka Prefecture. But Kawakatsu snubbed the calculations as "poor, the kind of estimate even a grade schooler could do." On Dec. 28, the transport ministry approved a submission from JR Central to change the Nagoya leg's completion date to "2027 or later," citing opposition in Shizuoka as the reason for the delay. But Kawakatsu dismissed the suggestion that his prefecture is responsible for the project being pushed back from its 2027 open. "Can they complete construction on other parts of the line by 2027? It appears the Shizuoka section is being used as a scapegoat to say they can't do it. I'd like to see JR Central offer some clarity on the situation," the governor said. Kawakatsu has previously called on the train operator to prioritize work to enable it to open part of the line, a stance he has pushed more forcefully in recent years. His remarks prompted JR Central to hold a press conference in January, in which the company said the governor's remarks were off the mark. "We are moving ahead with the project as existing shinkansen infrastructure has aged, and to safeguard against future disasters. We are not considering opening only a section of the line," it said. While all other prefectural governments on the planned maglev train route are pushing for the launch, Shizuoka's position not to allow the tunnel construction is leaving the cutting-edge project's future uncertain. Related coverage: Bullet trains restart in east Japan 20 hours after power outage Japanese firms opt out of Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail project New system to improve bullet train quake emergency braking time 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 KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 20:47 | All, Japan The body of a 17-year-old school boy with Chinese nationality was found last week in a central Japan lake, with foul play strongly suspected due to the circumstances surrounding his death, police said Tuesday. Prefectural police have set up a special team to investigate the suspected murder of Ukawa Saito, who was attending a correspondence high school in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture, after his body was found in Lake Hamana on Friday. According to the investigative team, police received an emergency call around 3:45 p.m. Friday from an angler saying they had dragged up a body while fishing at the lake. The body was identified as Saito, who had been reported missing by his family two days earlier. An autopsy conducted Tuesday showed that he had drowned and had been dead for about a week, with his body bearing multiple bruises, according to the police. Saito was confirmed to have been at an acquaintance's house in Hamamatsu city in the early hours of Feb. 5, the police said. Investigators are questioning family members and others who knew him to determine if Saito had been caught up in any trouble. A 74-year-old man working near where the body was found said the area is usually quiet, with only occasional visitors such as anglers and local residents for exercise. "It is not the kind of place high school students come, especially at night when there are no streetlights," he said. Prayagraj/Lucknow, Feb 13 : The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has asked the state police's Special Task Force to investigate the allegations of a question paper leak in the preliminary recruitment examination for review officers and assistant review officers (ROs/AROs). The test was held for recruitment to 334 posts of RO and 77 posts of ARO on Sunday. However, aspirants and some student organisations alleged that the question paper had been leaked before the exam started. UPPSC secretary Ashok Kumar said on Tuesday that while the commission had constituted an internal committee to look into the issue, following the reports and claims of the paper leak, it had also sent a formal recommendation to the state government requesting for an STF probe into the issue. Meanwhile, aspirants claimed that the RO/ARO examination paper had been leaked the night before the exam and was available on certain WhatsApp groups. Omkar Nath Singh, the commission's secretary, had earlier said the exam was held at 2,387 centres, and that 64 per cent of the registered candidates took it. On Monday, aspirants staged a protest outside UPPSC headquarters in Prayagraj and demanded that the exam be re-conducted. In Lucknow, National Students' Union of India's Lucknow University unit staged a protest over the issue on the university campus. Later in the evening, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to social media to allege that there was a question paper leak in the exam. She wrote: "After waiting for many years, a law against paper leaks was passed in Parliament. On the other hand, the review officer exam paper was leaked in U.P!" BJP to hold OBC Yuva Samvad in all UP districts. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Feb 13 : The BJP will hold OBC mega meets in all 17 municipal corporations and conduct 'yuva samvad' meetings in each of the 75 districts of the state. The 'OBC yuva samvad' is aimed at connecting with backward youth ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, "It is important that OBC youth realise the need to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi as under him, the country's profile has skyrocketed. "Remember how it was the double engine BJP governments that ensured rights of the backwards. It was this government that provided constitutional status to OBC Commission and accorded cabinet status to OBC commission chairman to ensure the rights of the communities were protected," he said. UP Minister Narendra Kashyap announced that OBC mega meets would be held in all 17 municipal corporations and 'yuva samvad' meetings in each of the 75 districts. Both Maurya and Kashyap said that the Uttar Pradesh government has ensured hundred per cent scholarships and fee reimbursements to the OBC students. Sultanpur, Feb 13 : A 77-year-old convict serving a life term for murder died in a jail in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district. According to reports, Taufiq had complained of breathlessness and was rushed to the district hospital where he was declared brought dead. According to the jail administration, after he was sentenced to life imprisonment by court in 1984, he was arrested and sent to the district jail in July 2022. A senior official said that considering his current age and condition, the jail administration had kept him in one of the separate barracks made for the elderly. Arrangements were made for Taufiq along with eight other elderly prisoners. On Monday, other prisoners informed the guards about Taufiq's breathing problem. "When his condition became serious, the jail administration immediately took him to the district hospital where the doctors declared him dead," said SHO Kotwali, Sultanpur, Ram Ashish Upadhyay. The jail administration has informed family members of the deceased and sent the body for post-mortem. Sultanpur jail superintendent Anil Gautam said, "Taufiq had been suffering from respiratory disease for a long time. His health had worsened, following which he passed away." Noida: Police personnel try to stop farmers during their protest march to the national capital. Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Not deterred by the massive security build-up and barricading on borders linking Punjab with Haryana, thousands of farmers are not giving up after their over five-hour-long talks with the Centre remained inconclusive and they, riding tractor-trailers and earthmovers, on Tuesday morning started their protest march towards the national capital. Driving tractors to go ahead with 'Dilli Chalo' march, they will pass through city, town and village streets of Punjab, disrupting traffic as they stepped up their protests against their demands, mainly legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for the crops. In Punjab, there has largely been no blockade on highways and link roads by the police and the farmers could move ahead towards Haryana freely. Representatives of all-India farmer unions late Monday unanimously announced here that they would reach the national capital on Tuesday to lodge a protest against the BJP-led Central government. They warned the respective state governments that if they were stopped to proceed towards Delhi, they would stage a sit-in protest there indefinitely. Farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh met with Union ministers on Monday evening, with the meeting lasting for five hours, in the Centre's last ditch attempt to halt the protest. After the meeting, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced that farmers will head to Delhi on Tuesday for their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Besides, the farmers have also demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, as well as farm debt waiver. After the second round of talks with farmer union leaders remained "inconclusive", Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said the government is still open to discuss their demands. Besides Munda, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal was also present in the second round of discussions with farmer leaders in Chandigarh. "There was a serious discussion with farmers on every topic. The government wants to bring every solution through talks. We reached an agreement on some issues. But there were some issues for which we said that a committee should be made for a permanent solution," Munda told the media. "Any issue can be resolved through discussion. We are hopeful that we will bring solutions. Our motive is that the rights of the farmers and the public are protected," Munda, who was accompanying Goyal, said. Loaded with dry foodstuff on trailers, farmers say this is important to help sustain the protest movement for long. The foodstuff they have been gathering for several days from village to village. With only 1.57 per cent of the country's total population, Punjab contributes 40 per cent to the national food pool. Farmer leader Nachattar Singh from Moga said the 'langar' (free meal service) will go where they stage sit-in protests indefinitely until the Central government accepts their demands that it accepted when they ended their year-long in 2022. He said they would stage a sit-in protest wherever they would be stopped while proceeding towards Delhi. A spokesperson for Haryana Police said they have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order in the state. "A total of 114 companies have been deployed in various districts of the state, out of which 64 companies are from paramilitary forces and 50 companies are from Haryana Police," spokesperson and Assistant Inspector General Manisha Chaudhary said. Farmers have planned to enter Haryana from Shambhu border in Patiala, Moonak in Sangrur, Dabwali in Muktsar and Ratia in Mansa. The Haryana Police have sealed all four entry points by putting up barricades, boulders, tippers filled with sand and barbed wires and iron spikes, impacting the movement of vehicular traffic with huge traffic snarls. Security has also been beefed up along the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders to stop protests in Delhi. Toronto, Feb 13 : The house of a Sikh separatist, associated with pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is a designated terrorist in India, has been hit by gunfire in Canada's Ontario province, a media report said. The incident comes just days after multiple shots were fired at the Surrey home of Simranjeet Singh -- a "friend" of banned Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia last year. According to The Guardian, a bullet hole was found in the window of an unfinished house, belonging to Khalistan supporter Inderjit Singh Gosal, in Brampton on Monday. While no injuries were reported, the Peel Regional police could not rule out that more shots were fired at the house. But they confirmed that a single bullet hole had been found with Constable Tyler Bell-Morena of Peel Regional Police saying it is "too early" to link the shooting to Gosal's role in the Khalistan movement. Gosal recently announced that a pro-Khalistan rally would be held outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on February 17. According to the report, Gosal works closely with Pannun, who is the chief legal counsel of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice and was the target of a foiled assassination bid in the US. The shooting incidents come just as India and Canada accused each other of interfering in their "internal affairs". Recently, Canada named India as a "foreign threat" that could potentially interfere in their elections, months after they accused New Delhi of playing a role in the killing Nijjar on Canadian soil in June last year. India categorically denied the allegation levelled by Canadian agencies of "interference" as "absurd" and "motivated". Further, India said that it is Canada that has been interfering in India's internal affairs. India has time and again asserted that the "core issue" with Canada is the space it gives to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements on its soil. "It is not the government of India's policy to interfere in democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite on the reverse, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. 'Thanks to PM Modi', says Navy veteran after reaching home in Kerala from Qatar jail. Image Source: IANS News Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 : Ragesh Gopakumar, one of the eight Indians who were recently released from a jail in Qatar, cannot stop thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gopakumar returned to his home in the suburbs of the state capital city at Balaramapuram after spending 18 months in jail. He was one of the eight former Indian Defence personnel, who were previously sentenced to death by a court in Qatar. But following massive diplomatic efforts at the highest level between the two countries all of them were set free and got back to India on Monday. "I just cannot express my happiness on how and what I feel now after getting back home. Am hugely thankful to Modiji, the Emir of Qatar, the team of the External Affairs and the staff of the Indian Embassy in Qatar for making this happen," said Gopakumar, a former Indian Naval senior sailor. The Qatar court on Monday released all eight former Indian Defence personnel from its custody, out of which seven have returned to India. All the eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company were detained in Qatar. Earlier, the capital punishment for the jailed Indian Navy veterans was commuted to an extended prison term after diplomatic talks between Qatar and India. The eight Indian nationals were imprisoned in Qatar in October 2022 after being accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. The Indian nationals were deemed guilty of espionage by the Qatari court, and were sentenced to death on charges not yet made public. The Dahra Global case saw a major development last year when the court in Qatar commuted the death sentence of the Indian nationals after intervention by the Indian government. The sentence was reduced to jail terms. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify why the government is not ready for a discussion with protesting farmers, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Tuesday that "it seems Punjab and Haryana are not parts of India anymore". Chandigarh, Feb 13 (IANS) Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify why the government is not ready for a discussion with protesting farmers, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Tuesday that "it seems Punjab and Haryana are not parts of India anymore". "We want to tell the people of India that we tried to find a solution so that we do not have to stand against the government," he told the media. On Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, he said in the five-hour-long meeting on Monday, "we put forward the situation of Haryana". "They are sending police and using water cannons in each and every village of Haryana. They are torturing farmers in Haryana. It seems that both these states are not a part of India anymore, they are being treated as international border," Pandher said in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib ahead of moving towards the national capital. After the second round of talks between farmers' unions and the Centre remained inconclusive, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify why his government is not ready for a discussion with farmers and farm labourers in the context of the Gramin Bharat Bandh call on February 16. Clarifying his farm outfit stand on the ongoing protest, another farmer leader Darshan Pal said, "We didn't give the 'Dilli Chalo' call. However, organisations other than SKM have the right to protest and it is the responsibility of the Union government to treat such protests in a democratic manner instead of adhering to excessive state repression." Tel Aviv, Feb 13 : Israel's spy agency Mossad chief David Barnea will reach Cairo this week for a peace talk with third party negotiators including the US, Qatar and Egypt for ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for release of hostages. Barnea will meet senior leaders of Qatar and Egypt in Cairo for the proposed ceasefire which will also lead to release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza by the Hamas. There was scepticism on the peace talks and reports that Egypt would back out of the negotiations after Israel troops entered the Rafah border, but the Egyptian foriegn minister Sameh Shoukri categorically denied such speculations and said that peace talks were on as planned. US President Joe Biden also said that his country has put up a proposal for a six week ceasefire and release of hostages and added that the proposal is being discussed actively. The current bottleneck for the proposed ceasefire is the insistence of Hamas for a permanent ceasefire rather than a six week ceasefire put forward by international meditators. There are intelligence reports of a fallout between top leaders of Hamas with the likes of Ismael Haniyeh and Khalid Mashel pitching for a temporary truce while those in Gaza including Yahya Simwar and Mohammed Deif, the alleged architects of October 7 massacre, wanting a permanent truce. Israel has also agreed for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails that include those charged with serious offenses including terror attacks against the country. Since the commencement of war between Hamas and Israel on October 7, a week-long ceasefire was implemented from November 24 to December 1, during which 105 hostages in Hamas custody were released. A total of 324 Palestinians lodged in Israeli prisons were also released as part of the deal. However, the Palestinians who were then released were mainly women and children. A total of 134 Israelis are still in the custody of Hamas, of which, 28 have been confirmed dead by Israel intelligence agencies and the Israel Defense Forces(IDF). Gadag : , Feb 13 (IANS) A doctor committed suicide in Gadag district of Karnataka leaving a note that allegedly blamed a local Congress leader, said officials on Tuesday. The Rona police, who have taken up the investigation, suspect that both the accused and the victim were involved in illegal sand mining and transportation. The deceased was identified as Dr. Shahshidhar Hatti, a resident of Hirehal village in Rona taluk of the district. Hatti, also a Congress worker, was found hanging at his residence on Monday night. He had left a suicide note in which he mentioned the name of local Congress leader, Sharana Gouda Patil, and held him responsible for his death. In the death note, the victim stated that, despite submitting all statistics and accounts every day, Patil was pressuring him to pay him more money. The victim also mentioned that, in this context, he had taken the decision to end his life. The victim further stated in the note that the accused "Sharana Gouda is highly influential", and should be given stringent punishment through the Minister for Law and the district in-charge Minister H.K. Patil. The police are looking into the accounts and payments as mentioned in the death note by the victim. Sources said that the sand mafia is highly active in the region. United Nations, Feb 13 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for resolving the Pakistan election disputes through legal means. "The Secretary-General urges the authorities, political leaders to maintain a calm atmosphere and to reject and refrain from all forms of violence and avoid any actions that could increase or enflame tensions," his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday. Pakistan faces political turmoil as none of the political parties won a clear majority to form a government in Thursday's elections, with the supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan emerging unexpectedly strong despite the military's antagonism towards them amid claims of poll fraud. Dujarric said that Guterres is following the situation "closely" and "urges the authorities, political leaders to maintain a calm atmosphere and to reject and refrain from all forms of violence and avoid any actions that could increase or enflame tensions". "He calls for the resolving of all issues and disputes through the established legal frameworks and for human rights and the rule of law to be fully respected in the interest of the people of Pakistan," Dujarric added. Of the 268 National Assembly seats that were contested, independents supporting Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), bagged 93 seats, the most of any group. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Union Muslim League-Nawaz finished second with 75 seats and the Pakistan People's Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari came next with 54 seats. Khan was convicted in four criminal cases, including violating the official secrets law and contracting an illegal marriage, and given prison sentences totalling 34 years. The PTI has alleged that there was widespread vote rigging and its supporters held protests across the country on Sunday, clashing in some places with police who tried to enforce bans on public gatherings. Meanwhile, in Washington, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "The claims of interference and fraud that we have seen raised, we want to ensure are fully investigated by Pakistan's legal system, and we will be continuing to monitor that in the days ahead." He added that "political and election-related violence and restrictions on internet and cell phone service" have "negatively impacted the electoral service". But he also said that "it was clearly a competitive election in which people were able to exercise their choice". (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 20:10 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism The prefectural government of Shizuoka said Tuesday it will restrict entrance to trails on Mt. Fuji after 4 p.m. from this summer to ease overcrowding and enhance safety, following a similar announcement by neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture. The measures will be implemented on a trial basis to prevent unsafe climbing practices such as "bullet climbing," or trying to scale Japan's tallest 3,776-meter summit for sunrise in one go without sleeping overnight on the mountain, which straddles the two central prefectures. The three trails on the Shizuoka side -- Subashiri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya -- will be closed during evenings except for people staying at mountain lodges. The prefectural government plans to negotiate the details with the municipalities concerned. The local government earmarked 52.50 million yen ($351,000) in relevant expenses under a draft budget for fiscal 2024, including for developing an online system for mountain lodge reservations. Yamanashi Prefecture will set up a gate at the 5th station of the Yoshida trail on its side to close the route between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., except for lodging guests, and cap the number of climbers at 4,000 a day. It is also planning to collect 2,000 yen per climber for using the trail from this summer. The Yoshida trail normally opens on July 1, earlier than July 10 on the Shizuoka side, and it is used by more climbers. In the climbing season of 2023 through Sept. 10, Yamanashi counted 137,236 visits using the Yoshida trail while Shizuoka recorded 49,545 on the Fujinomiya trail, followed by 19,062 and 15,479 on the Subashiri and Gotemba trails, respectively, according to the Environment Ministry. "Due to restrictions by Yamanashi Prefecture, more climbers may flow into the trails on the Shizuoka side. We will start with what we can do," a Shizuoka official said. Related coverage: Mt. Fuji climbers to face 2,000 yen fees amid overtourism concerns Mt. Fuji gets season's 1st snowcap, 5 days later than last year FOCUS: Tourism and Mt. Fuji's rocky recovery after COVID Kolkata, Feb 13 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted massive raid and search operations in and around Kolkata in connection with the ration distribution case in West Bengal. Till the latest information available, different ED teams were conducting parallel raid and search operations at six different locations scattered over Salt Lake, Park Street, Russell Street, Baguiati, Kestopur and Kaikhali areas all in and in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Each team of ED officials was escorted by armed personnel of central armed police forces. Sources said the fresh raid and search operations were being conducted focusing on a specific investigation line to track the distribution chain of the ill-gotten proceeds of the ration distribution case. Of the six places where the raid and search operations were being conducted, one was the residence of a businessman Biswajit Das, who is reportedly extremely close to Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Adhya. The latter is already in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the ration distribution case. Sources said that the central agency sleuths have got some specific clues of Dasas involvement in Adhyaas diversion of the alleged scam proceeds first by converting them into foreign currencies and subsequently parking them through the hawala route abroad, mainly in Dubai and Bangladesh. The ED officials came across a unique incident while conducting raid and search operations at a second place which was the residence of a businessman Hanis Toswal. During the raid and search operations, the said businessman threw away two of his mobile phones from the roof of his residence. However, the ED officials managed to recover both the phones and the sleuths apprehend that the phones were deliberately thrown out to destroy some important clues hiding there. New Delhi: Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot addresses during the inauguration of Road Safety Week to train a batch of Cluster Bus drivers at Rajghat Depot in New Delhi on Friday, January 13, 2023. (Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi Government has denied Centre's request to convert Bawana stadium into temporary prison in the national capital, saying the farmers demands are genuine. Turning down the request, Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot said: "The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the Constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers." "The Central Government, in fact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers of the Country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central Government," the reply further stated. "Hence, approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail," it added. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at the entry and exit points of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gear placed multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers in view of the 'Delhi Chalo march' call of farmers. To stop the farmers from entering the national capital, the police, along with the paramilitary forces, have been deployed as security measures on Delhi borders, including at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, with cement blocks and pickets with nails installed on the approach roads. Delhi Police on Monday had invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders as a precautionary measure. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued these directives for the next 30 days to ensure law and order amidst planned farmer protests against the central government. A total of 114 companies, including 64 from paramilitary forces and 50 from the Haryana Police, have been deployed across various districts. Equipped with anti-riot gear, these units are stationed in the border areas and sensitive districts. Additionally, surveillance technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor any disruptive activities Hyderabad, Feb 13 : Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, ministers and legislators on Tuesday left for Medigadda barrage, a part of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, whose piers sank recently. Special buses carrying them started from the Assembly soon after the House was adjourned for the day by Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. Despite appeals by the Chief Minister and other ministers to all the parties to join the fact-finding visit, opposition parties BRS and BJP stayed away. While Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) alleged that the Congress government is trying to malign it, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said they already visited the barrage. The Chief Minister, ministers and the legislators will go around the barrage across Godavari river in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district and watch a powerpoint presentation by the officials before returning to Hyderabad in the evening. Speaking in the Assembly before embarking on the visit, the Chief Minister once again requested all parties to join them in the visit which is aimed at ascertaining facts. Revanth Reddy said after the visit irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy will present white paper on Kaleshwaram. The Chief Minister requested BRS President and former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to join them in the visit. He offered to arrange a helicopter for him if he had any problem travelling by road. Revanth Reddy said when piers of Medigadda barrage sank, the then BRS government deployed police and did not allow anyone to visit the place. The National Dam Safety Authority sent its team, which conducted a probe and submitted its report but the BRS government found fault with that report. He mentioned that after Congress came to power, some files relating to the project went missing. The Vigilance and Enforcement Department was asked to conduct an inquiry into missing files and also irregularities in construction of Medigadda and Annaram barrages. The Vigilance and Enforcement Department has submitted a preliminary report on various aspects including loopholes in designing and construction of barrages and negligence. Revanth Reddy recalled that originally called Pranahita-Chevella project, it was designed to irrigate 14 lakh acres at a cost of Rs 39,500 crore and tenders were called in 2008 by then Congress government headed by Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in combined Andhra Pradesh. After formation of Telangana state, BRS government re-designed the project with Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and revised the project cost to Rs 1.45 lakh crore, he said. He also recalled how the then BRS government created a hype and projected Kaleshwaram as a man-made wonder. He said the publicity was done at international level including at New York square and through Discovery channel. "We are requesting BRS leaders to come to Medigadda with us and should share their experience of how they built this man-made wonder," he taunted the opposition. Legislative affairs minister D. Sridhar Babu said last month the irrigation minister and some ministers visited to find facts and gather details from officials concerned. He alleged that due to corruption, negligence, loopholes in designing and construction, the barrage had reduced to ruins. Huge public money was wasted, he said. The minister mentioned that several barrages were constructed during Congress rule and even after 40-50 years even the cracks have not developed. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Shankar Mishra who gained notoriety in January 2023 for allegedly urinating on his fellow passenger, a septuagenarian woman, aboard a New York-Delhi Air India flight, has now taken legal action against his former employer, 'Wells Fargo.' The company terminated the 35-year-old's employment following the mid-air incident. The Delhi High Court will be hearing the case on Wednesday (February 14). Shankar's father, Shyamnaval Mishra said that his son has been jobless for over a year and has faced over 200 job rejections after unceremonious termination without any enquiry or fact-checking by his employer, Wells Fargo. The company had put Shankar on 'Admin leave pending enquiry' on January 5, 2023 and the very next day, January 6, 2023 Wells Fargo decided that they would not pursue the enquiry and issued a press statement that they were deeply disturbed by the allegations and were terminating Shankar's service. In his reapplication filed in the Delhi High Court in January this year, Mishra argued that Wells Fargo or any other employer in India or all fair nations cannot deny an accused employee a fair enquiry. "Making assumptions and imputing guilt to Shankar's termination without enquiry, proof or facts, is an abuse of employers' powers, and is coloured with the prejudice of malafide intent," the suit stated. As per the reapplication in court, the Wells Fargo email accuses Shankar Mishra to the extent of pronouncing judgment, sans enquiry, stating "you potentially in fact did commit such an act". The Termination notice dated January 6, 2023 states, "For the reasons clearly mentioned in the email dated January 6, 2023 to you, sent to your personal and work email IDs, your employment is hereby terminated with immediate effect (i.e., from 6th Jan 2023) (Release Date) in accordance with clause titled on 'Separation with no cause'." "Therefore, in a space of less than 24 hours Wells Fargo International Bank, shifted stances, from initiating an enquiry, then issuing a public statement condemning Mr.Shankar Mishra, to then deciding NOT to pursue an enquiry, in violations of all principles of natural justice and canons of law. "The termination process itself is devoid of equity and fairness, and militates against natural justice, the 'hearing rule', the 'bias rule' and absence of a reasoned decision, which clearly shows the malafide of MNCs," said the suit. "It is true that the employer has been sued for unlawful termination. I believe in the judiciary and this is a fight for justice and Shankar's right to employment," said Shankar's father. "This termination by Wells Fargo of an employee will surely be a hard hitting lesson to other corporations on how to handle allegations against their employees more compassionately and not take any knee jerk extreme actions without studying facts and getting the results from an enquiry," he said. Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka, on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stop "shedding crocodile tears" over the detention of some Karnataka farmers en route Delhi to join farmers' protest. "As elections are around the corner, your high drama over farmers and crocodile tears are very well exposed before the people. Stop the drama and focus on providing drought relief to the farmers," Ashoka stated. "The people of the state have not forgotten the incident where you ordered a lathi charge against farmers who were staging a protest demanding the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project," he added. "Lathi-wielding police were sent to every village to attack farmers during CM Siddaramaiah's first tenure," he said. "People have also not forgotten the incident when Vithal Arabhavi, a farmer, committed suicide, and an ironic remark was issued stating that he died due to consuming liquor," he said. "Recently, your minister insulted farmers by stating that farmers are wishing for a drought situation as it would bring compensation and ensure the waiver of loans. People have also not forgotten the insulting remark by DyCM D.K. Shivakumar, who stated that not all who committed suicides can be considered as farmers," Ashoka explained. Karnataka's Chief Minister had demanded the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately release the "arrested" Karnataka farmers who were on their way to Delhi to participate in the farmers' protest. "The Madhya Pradesh government should immediately release all the farmers of our state who have been arrested and allow them to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on February 13," the Chief Minister said. Scores of farmers from Hubballi city of Karnataka were on their way to Delhi when they were stopped in Bhopal by the Madhya Pradesh government. "By arresting and intimidating them, the farmers' struggle cannot be suppressed. This repression can lead more farmers to take to the streets. If the Central government truly cares about peace and order, it should immediately meet the demands of the farmers and resolve their issues. They must resolve their problems rather than repressing and brutalizing them," the Chief Minister stated New York, Feb 13 : Scientists have discovered, for the first time, water molecules on the surface of an asteroid. The team from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in the US looked at four silicate-rich asteroids using the FORCAST instrument from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to isolate the mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water on two of them. SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency. "Asteroids are leftovers from the planetary formation process, so their compositions vary depending on where they formed in the solar nebula," said lead author Anicia Arredondo, from the SwRI. "Of particular interest is the distribution of water on asteroids, because that can shed light on how water was delivered to Earth," Arredondo added. Anhydrous, or dry, silicate asteroids form close to the sun while icy materials coalesce farther out. Understanding the distribution of water in our solar system will provide insight into the distribution of water in other solar systems and, because water is necessary for all life on Earth, will drive where to look for potential life, both in our solar system and beyond. "We detected a feature that is unambiguously attributed to molecular water on the asteroids Iris and Massalia," Arredondo said. "We based our research on the success of the team that found molecular water on the sunlit surface of the moon. We thought we could use SOFIA to find this spectral signature on other bodies." The findings are detailed in a paper in The Planetary Science Journal. SOFIA detected water molecules in one of the largest craters in the moon's southern hemisphere. Previous observations of both the moon and asteroids had detected some form of hydrogen but could not distinguish between water and its close chemical relative, hydroxyl. Scientists detected roughly equivalent to a 12-ounce bottle of water trapped in a cubic metre of soil spread across the lunar surface, chemically bound in minerals. "Based on the band strength of the spectral features, the abundance of water on the asteroid is consistent with that of the sunlit moon," Arredondo said. "Similarly, on asteroids, water can also be bound to minerals as well as adsorbed to silicate and trapped or dissolved in silicate impact glass." While SOFIAas FORCAST instrument is apparently not sensitive enough to detect the water spectral feature if present, the team is enlisting NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the premier infrared space telescope, to use its precise optics and superior signal-to-noise ratio to investigate more targets. Kolkata, Feb 13 : After the women in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district spoke about the harassment and molestation by the absconding Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognizance and will be visiting there on Thursday. Earlier, a team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) visited the Basirhat sub-division in North 24 Parganas district under whose jurisdiction Sandeshkhali comes. The NCSC will be interacting with the victims. Already both NCW and NCSC have sought reports from the state government on the on-ground situation at Sandeshkhali. State BJP president in West Bengal and the party Lok Sabha member Dr Sukanta Majumdar will stage a protest in Basirhat in front of the office of police superintendent. However, the district police have already imposed Section 144 in an area of 400 meters of radius around the police superintendent office and have cautioned strong action against the agitators if they assemble. A huge police contingent, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and combat force, has been deployed there already. In face of all round pressure, the state government has finally decided to form a special committee headed by a female Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the rank of deputy inspector general (D.I.G.) of police to investigate with special focus on the aspect of complaints of the harassment and molestation of women. The development comes as surprise for many since the representatives of the West Bengal Commission for Women after their visit to Sandeshkhali clearly stated that not a single woman of Sandeshkhali had complained to them about sexual harassment. Sources aware of the development said the decision to form the committee was taken following increasing pressure on the state government in the matter, after media showed women in Sandeshkhali complaining to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose about sexual harassment. Shahjahan, the accused mastermind in the attack on ED and CAPF personnel on January 5, has been absconding since the day of the attack. But since he went absconding, the local women at Sandeshkhali started hitting the streets complaining about their sexual harassment at the hands of Shahjahan and his associates. Mumbai, Feb 13 : The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has got the green signal for its proposed connector for the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) at Chirle which will be linked with the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, officials said in Mumbai on Tuesday. The new Chirle connector, estimated to cost around Rs 1000 crore, is expected to slash travel time between south Mumbai and Pune by an hour. MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee announced the new development in a tweet. The connector is slated to start soon and will comprise two six-lane elevated roads, one connecting Chirle-Gavhan Phata, and other linking Palaspe and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The project is slated for completion in around 30 months and it will prove a boost to the people travelling from Mumbai to Pune via MTHL as they can skirt the busy Sion-Panvel Highway or pass the Vashi Toll Post before getting on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The countryas longest sea-bridge, MTHL was opened in January and it has substantially cut travel time from Mumbai to Panvel, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Navi Mumbai and the upcoming New International Airport, Pune and Goa highways, coastal Konkan and other key regions. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : As hundreds of protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab, were stopped on Tuesday at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to prevent them from reaching Delhi, Haryana Police fired tear gas to disperse them. The farmers have been seeking a law on minimum support price (MSP) as one of their key demands. Heavy security has been deployed and blockades erected at all borders in Haryana to prevent the marching protesters from moving ahead. Even a drone has been deployed to drop tear gas shells on the protesters. Some of the empty shells, collected by protesters and shown to the media at the spot, expired in 2022. Earlier in the day, thousands of farmers, led by over 200 unions under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, embarked on the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march towards the national capital after several hours of a high-level meeting with farmer leaders and two Union ministers -- Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, in Chandigarh remained inconclusive. At the meeting, the Union ministers were favouring a committee on the issue of the MSP but the farmer leaders turned that down. The Centre also agreed to withdraw the cases against the farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation. Also the Centre did not make any commitment on a loan waiver. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who participated in the meeting, told the media that several committees on the issue had already advocated the need to legalise the MSP. "So another committee would have served no purpose," he said, adding "the government was also not serious on a loan waiver, though it waived off lakhs of crores of bad debt for big corporate". They accused the government of adopting a stubborn attitude. Sensing that the government did not agree on the MSP demand, they gave the go ahead to the march to Delhi on Tuesday, sources said. A spokesperson for the Haryana Police said they have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order in the state. "A total of 114 companies have been deployed in various districts of the state, out of which 64 companies are from paramilitary forces and 50 companies are from Haryana Police," spokesperson and Assistant Inspector General Manisha Chaudhary said. Farmers have planned to enter Haryana from Shambhu border in Patiala, Moonak in Sangrur, Dabwali in Muktsar and Ratia in Mansa. The Haryana Police have sealed all four entry points by putting up barricades, boulders, tippers filled with sand and barbed wires and iron spikes, impacting the movement of vehicular traffic with huge traffic snarls. Security has also been beefed up along the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders to stop protests in Delhi. NEW DELHI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for a two-day official visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. The highlight of his UAE visit will be the inauguration of the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. "The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance which both India and the UAE share," said Modi in a statement before his departure. This will be his seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since he took office in 2014. By Koko Omori, KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 08:25 | Feature, All, Japan At a time when suicide rates remain high among young people in Japan, some college students are coming together to learn what they can do to detect the telltale signs of a friend in trouble and become suicide prevention guardians. The painful experiences young people sometimes go through that may lead to suicide, the methods of dealing with trauma and the support that can be provided to a person to help give them reasons to live are among the subjects taught at the Nara University psychology department in western Japan. Sociology professor Jin Ota, 68, teaches the seminar to the students out of a sense of urgency, realizing that many young people have lost the meaning and value of their lives. Some of the topics he discusses include cyberbullying and truancy among young children. "We would like to have a breakthrough in the current situation by educating young people who can save others from despair," Ota said as he explained the purpose behind the course. In a recent lecture, Ota explained that although "there are people who say they 'wish to die,' what they're really doing is sending out an SOS that 'I'm in so much pain, I want to die. But I really want to live,'" he said. Ota spoke about a case where one of his students was able to recognize a warning sign in a coworker and successfully provided the person with necessary support in a crisis. According to data from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, suicide has remained the leading cause of death in Japan among 15-39-year-olds for at least the past decade (2013-2022). The number of elementary, junior high, and high school students who took their own lives rose to 514 in 2022, the highest on record. The most common causes and motives for suicide among those in their 20s were health and work issues, as well as economic problems involving making a living. Ota came to have a stronger sense of urgency after finding in his survey, conducted in September 2022, that roughly half of the 557 students polled from several universities, including his own, considered themselves "worthless" or "replaceable anytime." The results led him to give greater priority to teaching his students how to tackle issues of suicide among young people. Some of his students empathize with young people who want to take their own lives, including those who have gone through their own struggles. A third-year female student, who is 21, said, "I can understand being overwhelmed by that feeling of wanting to kill yourself from time to time." She was sexually abused when she was a junior high school student, but because she was unable to acknowledge the emotional turmoil the experience caused her, she began self-harming, a practice that went on for some time. But through meetings with counselors and others, she decided she wanted to get involved in a profession that healed emotional wounds and enrolled in the department of psychology at Nara University. She said through learning about the emotional wounds of other young people, she has found relief from her own emotional trauma. When she would confide in trusted friends about her wish to take her own life, she was often told, "Don't say things like that." Their reactions only strengthened her feelings of despair, and she would tell herself that she was "living in a different world from others." She recalled that she wanted her friends to ask her what was wrong as a way of getting closer to her, instead of admonishing her. She now feels strongly that many young people have had similar experiences of carrying around their unresolved pain. Japan's suicide rate among young people is among the highest of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, and countermeasures are urgently needed, experts say. According to Ota, there are many cases -- even among young people of the same generation -- where people dismiss revelations about a friend's wish to die as silly or not worth discussing. To deal with such cases, Ota recommends people instead take a pause and find out why a friend is suffering. "One word of encouragement can save someone's life," he stressed. Emergency service in Japan: 119 If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available. For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger. For those outside Japan, you can find a list of other resources here. Related coverage: FEATURE: Okinawan Spam soul food sandwich on a roll worldwide FEATURE: 1,000-km nature trek helping Tohoku once again hit its stride FEATURE:Support helps lift spirits of foreigners in quake-hit central Japan Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a programme organised for the inauguration of various developmental works of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Image Source: IANS News Ahmedabad, Feb 13 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah curtailed his visit to Gujarat on Tuesday, making an urgent departure for the national Capital, New Delhi. Shah, who had been in his Gandhinagar Constituency since February 12 for a series of engagements, left Gujarat on the second day of his visit. He was scheduled to attend various events, including the much-anticipated inauguration of a new air-conditioned community hall in Shela, Ahmedabad, a project undertaken by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). With Shah's sudden exit, Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the planned functions in his stead. Among the key events led by Patel was the inauguration of the warehouse and premises of the Sanand Taluka Kray-Vikray Sangh. Furthermore, Patel had a busy schedule in Sanand, where he inaugurated the newly redeveloped Banganga Lake in Modasar Village and the enhanced Jholapur Lake in Jholapur Village, showcasing the state's commitment to beautification and development projects. The Chief Minister's agenda also included launching various AUDA projects in Sanand, stepping in to ensure the continuity of government functions and project inaugurations in the absence of the Union Minister. Mumbai, Feb 13 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lavished praise on former CM Ashok Chavan here on Tuesday, describing him as "a leader of national stature" whose entry will benefit the BJP and the state MahaYuti government. Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lavished praise on former CM Ashok Chavan here on Tuesday, describing him as "a leader of national stature" whose entry will benefit the BJP and the state MahaYuti government. "The state BJP unit, in consultation with the central party, will decide on a befitting role for Chavan who is a leader of national stature," said Fadnavis, hinting at the possibility of a Rajya Sabha nomination for the newly inducted leader. He, along with BJP state President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, city chief Ashish Shelar and other party bigwigs, accorded a warm welcome to Chavan who quit the Congress on Monday and joined the saffron party this afternoon. Earlier, the two-time CM Chavan, 66, was formally inducted into the BJP with which he will start his new political innings at the state headquarters. Other seniors like Pravin Darekar, Girish Mahajan, Harshavardhan Patil, were also present to witness Chavan's high-profile entry to the BJP. Bawankule signed Chavan's membership form amid cheers and applause by the gathering and celebrations erupting outside the BJP office in his hometown Nanded. In his address, Chavan said that he was launching a new chapter in his political life and would sincerely fulfil any responsibility assigned by the BJP. "I had served the Congress till now with full dedication and I shall continue to do so even here. Nobody told me to go, it was my personal decision. I have not made any demands from the BJP, nor have I contacted any other (Congress) leaders," said Chavan. To a question, Chavan reiterated that he had emerged clean from the Adarsh Society scam with the Bombay High Court giving a decision in his favour. Chavan assured that he would strive to get the maximum number of seats for the BJP in the upcoming (Parliament/Assembly) elections in Maharashtra. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the progress ('Vikas') of the country and we must acknowledge that We should all strengthen his hands", urged Chavan. On Monday, Chavan dropped a political bombshell when he abruptly quit the Congress Party, with which he was associated for over 40 years, and also as the sitting MLA from Bhokar. He became the third important leader to quit the Congress in the past four weeks -- first ex-Union minister Milind M. Deora left in January to join the Shiv Sena of CM Eknath Shinde, and only last week ex-MLA Baba Ziauddin Siddique threw his lot with Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Ramanagara, : Feb 13 (IANS) A defamatory post by a Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) worker and advocate, Chand Pasha, on the Varanasi judge who rendered a verdict in the Gyanvapi mosque case, took a communal turn in Karnataka on Tuesday. Following the turn of events, police filed an FIR against 40 advocates, triggering protests in Ramanagara District. The advocates are demanding the suspension of the Sub-Inspector and have warned the state police department that if the suspension order is not issued by Tuesday evening, a statewide protest would be launched. The advocates boycotted proceedings at the district court of Ramanagara on Tuesday and are staging a protest. Police registered an FIR against the advocates based on the complaint by Rafiq Khan, a businessman from Ramanagara. In the complaint, it is stated that the complainant and others went to the Advocates Association to submit a memorandum stating that the allegations against Chand Pasha were false. "The accused waylaid, locked us, and assaulted us. The accused claimed that the place is not a mosque. They abused us by taking the name of our religion," Rafiq Khan stated in the complaint. Earlier, the police had filed an FIR against Chand Pasha and 40 others based on the complaint by senior advocate BM Srinivasa. It was stated in the complaint, "Following the complaint against advocate Chand Pasha regarding his derogatory social media posts against the Varanasi judge on the Gyanvapi mosque, the Advocates Association held a meeting on February 6 to discuss action against him. "A group of 30 to 40 people barged into the president's room in the Advocates Association and pressured them not to take any action against Chand Pasha. "The group threatened them with consequences if any action was initiated. The mob created a communal atmosphere in the court premises and unrest. All this was done at the behest of Chand Pasha." The complaint also mentioned, "Our Advocates Association member Chand Pasha has put up posts that undermine the dignity of the judiciary and the judge regarding the verdict on the Gyanvapi mosque. He has published derogatory messages on WhatsApp groups and insulted the Indian judiciary." "Being an advocate and a person aware of the law, the posts against the judiciary were a matter of concern. The Advocates Association had received complaints against Chand Pasha, and hence the meeting was convened," the complaint mentioned. A delegation of advocates headed by HL Vishal Raghu, the Chairman of Karnataka Bar Council, has already met SP Karthik Reddy and submitted a memorandum in this regard. Vishal Raghu has demanded that the Sub-Inspector of Ijoor police station, Tanveer Hussain, who lodged a false complaint against the advocates, must be suspended from service. Meanwhile, Karnataka Police arrested Chand Pasha, in connection with the defamatory post against the District Judge of Varanasi. According to the police, in his post, the accused referred to the judge as an RSS bootlicker who delivered the verdict one day before his retirement and addressed him with a foul expletive. Bangkok, Feb 13 : Jailed former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be released soon, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters before attending a cabinet meeting, the Justice Minister said that Thaksin is among the 930 inmates approved for parole this month, Xinhua news agency reported. The 74-year-old leader is eligible for parole for being aged above 70 and with severe illness. Thaksin, who is expected to be released on Saturday after serving at least six months of the sentence, ended his exile of over 15 years and returned to Thailand in August last year, and was soon detained and sentenced to an eight-year prison sentence on several charges. However, he was soon transferred from a Bangkok prison to a hospital due to health concerns and has remained in hospital since. Last September, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced Thaksin's prison term to one year following his request for a royal pardon. Thaksin served as the Southeast Asian country's prime minister from 2001 to 2006 and had been in self-exile abroad since 2008. Seoul, Feb 13 : The South Korean giant said on Tuesday that Samsung Research America (SRA), its research and development organisation, has partnered with Princeton University in the US to jointly develop next-generation 6G network technologies. Under the collaboration, SRA will become a founding member of Princeton University's "NextG Initiative Corporate Affiliates Program," aiming to spearhead R&D in 6G technologies, according to Samsung Electronics. The programme was launched by the university's School of Engineering and Applied Science last year to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and enhance innovation across various sectors, including cloud and edge networks, intelligence sensing and network resilience, reports Yonhap news agency. SRA will participate in the corporate affiliate program, along with other companies, including Ericsson, Intel, MediaTek, Nokia Bell Labs, Qualcomm Technologies and Vodafone. "We encourage Princeton's researchers to continue innovation and develop disruptive technologies that could bring major breakthroughs in 6G," Charlie Zhang, senior vice president at SRA, was quoted as saying in a statement by Samsung Electronics. The move came as Samsung Electronics, a global leader in the world's smartphone and memory chip markets, has been actively focusing on the development of next-generation communication technology. It established the Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) in 2019 and hosted the inaugural Samsung 6G Forum in 2022. Chennai, Feb 13 : 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on February 8 near the Palk Bay, reached Chennai on Tuesday, after they were released by the Sri Lankan authorities. The fishermen were accorded a warm welcome by the fishermen associations at the Chennai airport. However the two mechanised boats impounded by the Sri Lankan navy are still in their custody. It may be noted that each of these boats are worth crores of rupees and fishermen associations have charged that more than 150 boats are in the custody of Sri Lankans. The arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu has become a major issue in various fishing hamlets of the state and fishermen associations had held a token protest on February 5 in Rameswaram over the issue. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has also taken up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has requested him to review the Joint Action group for taking up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities. a"IANS aal/uk Lucknow, Feb 13 : Lucknow will host a two-day conclave of water policy makers on February 16-17. The principal secretaries and directors of all states' Jal Shakti departments are expected to attend the programme, which will be led by Vini Mahajan, Secretary, Drinking water and sanitation. The event will see discussions on policies for conservation of water. The Uttar Pradesh government will present a paper on its efforts to provide clean drinking water through tap connections to every household. "All states will present their achievements under the Jal Jivan Mission in their respective states. They will also share the challenges they faced in implementing the policy on the ground. Efforts will be made to bring out a consensus from various sessions and thus a common policy might be brought out for implementation of a nationwide plan on water conservation and water distribution," the government spokesman said. Swachh Bharat will also be discussed during the programme. The event is being organised by UP's Jal Shakti department and will be conducted on seven themes. The theme for the first session is WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene). A separate session will be organised on challenges and stability of Jal Jivan Mission. Srinagar, Feb 13 : J&K Police said on Tuesday that the main accused in the killing of two Punjab residents in Srinagar have been arrested. V.K. Birdi, IGP (Kashmir) told reporters here that in a major breakthrough, the main accused involved in the killing of the two men have been arrested. "After registering case FIR number 08/2024 u/s 302, 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 15,16,20 ULA(P) Act in police station Shaheed Ganj, Srinagar police investigation led to the identification of the accused who, carried out the terrorist attack on these two individuals from Punjab and subsequent weapon of offence and other incriminating material was recovered. "On the basis of technical and field analysis, police zeroed in on certain suspects and based upon clinching evidence collected during investigation, identified and arrested the main accused namely Adil Manzoor Langoo son of Manzoor Ahmad Langoo resident of Zaldagar, Srinagar. "It came to light that the accused had conspired with his handler in Pakistan for commission of the terror crime. Accused was a highly motivated and radicalised individual. "His handler in Pakistan radicalised him on social media and motivated him to carry out the terror attack. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the handler provided him the weapon after which he motivated him to carry out the attack," the IGP said. On February 7 this year, militants fired at two carpenters, both residents of Amritsar in Punjab, in Shala Kadal area of old Srinagar city. One of the two, Amrit Pal Singh was killed on the spot while Rohit was critically injured in the attack and succumbed in the hospital the next day. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Almost two years after laying siege to the national capital, by farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi borders turned into a fresh 'battlezone' on Tuesday with Farmers protest 2.0 'choking' the city. Farmers, pertaining to the same region, 'launched 'Chalo Delhi' march, though with truncated strength and demands, starkly different from 2020-21 protests. New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) Almost two years after laying siege to the national capital, by farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi borders turned into a fresh abattlezonea on Tuesday with Farmers protest 2.0 achokinga the city. Farmers, pertaining to the same region, 'launched aChalo Delhia march, though with truncated strength and demands, starkly different from 2020-21 protests. The main demand of protesting farmers, this time, is a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all the Kharif and Rabi crops, besides seeking Rs 10,000 pension for farmers above 60 years and more. A MSP for Kharif and Rabi crops would mean that government lays down a fixed price, so that farmers get a afixeda income irrespective of the amount and quality of their crop produce. Farmers have every right to seek agovernment shielda but MSP for every crop is not feasible, tenable and justified, not just politically but also economically. First talking about economic fallout, there exist a big gap between farmers demand and governmentas MSP allocation, for years. In the fiscal year 2020, the market value of agricultural produce stood at Rs 10 lakh crore and this included all 24 crops under MSP purview. However, the total MSP procurement in that year stood at Rs 2.5 lakh crore, which is just 25 per cent of the produce under MSP. If the government cedes to farmers demand for legislation, thereby according it a guarantee, the exchequer would stand to bleed with additional expenditure of at least Rs 10 lakh crore annually. Notably, this amount is almost equal to the Central governmentas allocation of Rs 11.11 lakh crore, in the interim budget this year, for infrastructure development. Moreover, this amount is more than the annual average expenditure on infrastructure in the last 7 fiscal years (2016-2023), which stands at Rs 67 lakh crore. A careful assessment of the monetary figures makes for an easy judgement. The MSP guarantee law wonat be justified, reasonable and also economically tenable. Politically, even if government bows down to farmers protest and agrees for MSP guarantee for all crops, it would need to earmark Rs 10 lakh crore every year. For raising such surplus money, government would have to either curtail expenditure on defence purchases and infrastructure development or burden the taxpayers with more levies and surcharges. Experts believe that taking out Rs 10 lakh crore out of Rs 45 lakh crore Budget expenditure (for fiscal year 2025) for crops guarantee every year, makes for a poor and ill-devised judgement. It will not just burden the economy but also stifle governmentas hands in taking farmer-friendly measures. The farmers protest this time comes just months ahead of Parliamentary elections 2024. The 17th Lok Sabha has adjourned sine die and is in no way aempowereda to frame a law/regulation on MSP for farm produce. The aDelhi Chaloa march in 2024 has the support of less than half of the 40 farmer organisations, that besieged the capital in 2020-2021. Many top leaders and faces of previous farm protests are amissinga this time. Last time, the farm laws became the rallying point but this time, MSP for crops is the main agenda. Even if government gives in to farmers demand as it did two years ago, a full Parliament session will be required to frame the MSP law. At the outset, Farmers protest 2.0 looks more of a motivated, political demonstration and sponsored protest, allegedly with support of rival factions, rather than real fight for farmersa rights and justice. Los Angeles, Feb 13 : Actor Eric Idle has described his 'Monty Python' co-star John Cleese as a bully, and added the pair have not spoken for seven years. Eric, 80, claims fellow 'Monty Python' actor Terry Jones was picked on in particular, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'. "(John) bullied Jonesy. I always felt ashamed we did nothing. I still love and am proud of what we did as 'Monty Python'. It was a very unique group. I think of us as an ex-Liverpool team. We played together well, way back in the day. But it was never very supportive of people's feelings and emotions. Not brothers. Colleagues," Eric said. As per 'Mirror.co.uk', the comedian and actor added he still has to work for financial reasons. Eric, who said he sold his home last year, has also criticised TV lawyer Holly Gilliam, whose dad is 'Monty Python' star Terry Gilliam. Holly took over the 'Monty Python' brand in 2013. Eric has said: "I don't know why people always assume we're loaded. "I have to work for my living. Not easy at this age." He seemed surprised by the apparent downturn in fortunes after the comedy group's huge success. He said: "We own everything we ever made in Python and I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously." In a dig at Holly, he added: "I guess if you put a Gilliam child in as your manager you should not be so surprised. One Gilliam is bad enough. Two can take out any company. I don't mind, but once they put Gilliam's daughter in as manager and Cleese fires (Python's one-time manager) Jim Beach, well, it's over." Eric's daughter, artiste Lily Idle, backed him, saying, "I'm so proud of my dad for finally, finally starting to share the truth." Eric thanked fans for their "kind words and encouragement". The star, who created award-winning musical Spamalot, added: "It means a great deal to me." KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 19:52 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised to address discrimination against ethnic and sexual minorities whose human rights have been abused in recent years in an apparent admonishment of an outspoken lawmaker within his Liberal Democratic Party. "As prime minister, I will decisively tackle unjustifiable discrimination and prejudice," Kishida said, without mentioning concrete steps, in a video message released during an online symposium earlier this month. In 2022, Mio Sugita, a House of Councillors member of the ruling party, was replaced by Kishida as a parliamentary vice minister for internal affairs for her past blog post about female participants at a U.N. gathering. At the meeting on the elimination of discrimination, Sugita referred to individuals dressed in Korean or Ainu attire as "middle-aged cosplayers." She continued to make similar comments even after being forced to leave the Cabinet. Two regional legal affairs bureaus have recognized Sugita's remarks about ethnicity as human rights abuses. Meanwhile, pundits noted Sugita has received support from some conservative voters in Japan who champion the country's traditional mono-ethnic values. Human rights activists and opposition lawmakers have raised doubts about Kishida's commitment to resolving discrimination issues, pointing out his reluctance to criticize the controversial lawmaker within his own LDP who has faced criticism for other discriminatory remarks. Kishida said it is "not rare" in Japan for foreign residents, the disabled, Ainu indigenous people, and others to experience discrimination when seeking jobs, finding housing and engaging in online activities, adding such things are "totally unacceptable." Apparently considering the Ainu people from Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido and those with Korean backgrounds, Kishida pledged to create a community where "all people can live safely and securely, and human dignity is respected." At a parliamentary session earlier this month, however, Kishida did not criticize Sugita, saying his government refrains from touching on what individual lawmakers say. Sugita also came under fire in 2018 for saying in a magazine article that the government should not support sexual-minority couples because they cannot produce offspring and thus are not "productive." Related coverage: Japan firm nixes translation of U.S. book questioning trans surgery FOCUS:Japan faces hurdle to changing law after transgender surgery decision 3 foreign-born residents sue over racial profiling by Japan police Chandigarh, Feb 13 : Protesting farmers on Tuesday damaged multi-layer barricades put up by the police to stop them at the border, by removing cement and barbed wire fencing with tractors. The farmers were trying to break the barricades in a bid to cross the Shambhu border to enter Haryana from Punjab and head to the national Capital. The farmers have stepped up their protests to press their demands for a law on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and waiver of farm loans, among other things. The confrontation with the police was sparked off by the growers trying to break the multi-layered barricades using tractors and tools to remove tyre-killer spikes Even as tear gas shells were dropped via drone and water cannons were used to deter the protestors from breaching the police bandobast, the farmers were seen forcibly trying to break the barricades. They also tried to enter Haryana through fields on the sides of the highway and several were taken into preventing custody by the police. Likewise, the farmers vandalised barriers at the Haryana-Punjab border at Moonak in Sangrur. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said around 10,000 people had assembled at the Shambhu border. "Tear gas is being used against us through drones," he said. Earlier in the day, thousands of farmers, led by over 200 unions under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, embarked on the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march from across Punjab towards the national Capital after several hours of a high-level meetings with farmer leaders and two Union ministers -- Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, in Chandigarh till late on Monday night, remained inconclusive. At the meeting, the Union ministers were in favour of setting up a committee on the MSP issue but the farmer leaders turned that down. The Centre also agreed to withdraw the cases against the farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation. However, the Centre did not make any commitment on a loan waiver. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who participated in the meeting, told the media that several committees on the issue had already advocated the need to legalise the MSP. "So another committee would have served no purpose," he said, adding "the government was also not serious on a loan waiver, though it waived off lakhs of crores of bad debt of big corporates." A spokesperson for the Haryana Police said they have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order in the state. "A total of 114 companies have been deployed in various districts of the state, out of which 64 companies are from paramilitary forces and 50 companies are from Haryana Police," spokesperson and Assistant Inspector General Manisha Chaudhary said. The Haryana Police sealed all four entry points by putting up barricades, boulders, tippers filled with sand and barbed wires and iron spikes, impacting the movement of vehicular traffic. Security has also been beefed up along the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders to stop the farmers from entering Delhi. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked businessman Mehul Choksi, the accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, to physically appear before it for hearing his appeal challenging a single-judge order dismissing his plea to pre-screen 'Bad Boy Billionaires', a docuseries of Netflix. New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked businessman Mehul Choksi, the accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, to physically appear before it for hearing his appeal challenging a single-judge order dismissing his plea to pre-screen aBad Boy Billionairesa, a docuseries of Netflix. Choksi has contended that the documentary series, which was released in October 2020, included a two-minute footage portraying him in a negative light. He has expressed concern that it could affect the ongoing proceedings against him in India. Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused in over Rs 10,000 crore PNB fraud case. He left India in 2019 and was granted citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda. Earlier, the bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Amit Mahajan had directed Choksi to deposit Rs 2 lakh with the court before proceeding with his appeal. The court had noted that Choksi is neither an Indian citizen nor a resident of India, and there are several pending proceedings against him in the country. The bench had directed Choksi to deposit the said amount to secure the costs of the proceedings. The court had said that if the fugitive does not succeed in his appeal, and costs are imposed against him, there might be no way to recover the amount. The single judge had on August 28, 2020 denied relief to Choksi, saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right was not maintainable. The court had said that his remedy lay in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue therein. The division bench had on September 7, 2020, sought responses of the Centre and Netflix on the appeal challenging the single judgeas order. Netflix had opposed the plea stating that internet video streaming platforms cannot be regulated, and the appropriate remedy for Choksi is to file a civil suit. Choksias petition before the single judge claimed that he has been falsely accused of various crimes in India and has the right to a presumption of innocence and a fair trial, as per Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, along with the right to reputation. However, the single judge had denied relief, stating that the remedy lay in a civil suit. Panaji, Feb 13 : Goa Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas as its candidate for South Goa seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "There are few leaders with clean image in Goa. We wanted to give a clean and clear face to the people and that is why we selected Venzy Viegas to contest the Lok Sabha election. He is an INDIA alliance candidate. We are with the alliance," said AAP Goa President Amit Palekar. He said that the decision was taken so that hope of people doesn't fade away. "I request our alliance partners to support us and help us to win this election," he said, adding that as an alliance they are intact and working together. Palekar said that they had a meeting with Congress a month back and now they have started work as the election is nearing. However, the Congress termed the decision as 'premature step'. "I don't know why AAP Goa President Amit Palekar addressed a premature press conference to announce the Lok Sabha candidate for South Goa which has a sitting Congress MP. Talks over seat arrangements are still underway and the decision will be taken by the INDIA bloc leaders in Delhi," said Congress President Amit Patkar. --IANS sbk/dan Kiev, Feb 13 : Ukraine has claimed it has evidence that Russia fired an advanced hypersonic missile -- one that experts say is almost impossible to shoot down -- for the first time in the almost two-year-old war, a media report said. The government-run Kiev Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise said in a Telegram post that debris recovered after a February 7 attack on the Ukrainian capital pointed to the use of a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile by the Russian military, CNN reported. "Markings on the parts and fragments, the identification of components and parts, and the features of the relevant type of weapon" point to the first-ever use of the Zircon in combat, said the institute, which is part of Ukraine's Justice Ministry, the report said. The Telegram post was accompanied by a video showing dozens of pieces of debris believed to be from the new missile. Ukrainian authorities reported four people were killed while 38 others were injured in Kiev during the February 7 attacks, but no casualties have been directly attributed to the alleged Zircon missile. There was also no mention of the launch platform for the missile, though previous reports in Russian state media say it has been deployed on a warship, CNN reported. Experts say the Zircon, if it lives up to what the Russian government says about it, is a formidable weapon. Its hypersonic speed makes it invulnerable to even the best Western missile defenses, like the Patriot, according to the United States-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), CNN reported. Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 : The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch rescued a live Pangolin from the clutches of a poacher following a raid at Ambabhona in Bargarh District on Monday evening. Police have identified the poacher as Jagadish Minz, 41, of Dunguri Village. Acting on a tip-off, the STF sleuths conducted a raid with the help of Forest Officials of Bargarh Forest Division on Monday evening near Budhipalli Chhak in Ambabhona and arrested Minz who was waiting for a customer to strike a deal on the Pangolin. "The sleuths recovered a live Pangolin along with other incriminating material from the possession of the accused, who could not produce any documents to show by what authority he was in possession of the Pangolin. He was apprehended soon after that," said an STF official. The Pangolin has been handed over to the Forest Range Officer, Bhatali, Bargarh District, for safe custody. The accused was produced before the court on Tuesday. Visakhapatnam, Feb 13 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) General Secretary Nara Lokesh dared Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for an open debate on the corruption charges against the latter. Asking as to why the TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu, was sent to jail for 53 days for the no fault of his, Lokesh felt that Jagan will soon be behind bars for looting the state of Rs 1 lakh crore. "We are ready for an open debate on the corruption charges you are facing. Are you ready," Lokesh asked Jagan Mohan Reddy. The TDP leader was addressing a public meeting at Pathapatnam in Srikakulam district as part of his 'Sankharavam' programme. Pointing out that Jagan's own mother and sister do not have faith in him, Lokesh said that he kicked both of them out of the house after coming to power. Regretting that the YSRCP leaders are making highly objectionable comments against Jagan's sister and APCC president Sharmila, the TDP General Secretary said that when there is no security for the family members of Jagan in the YSRCP rule, how other women can expect safety and security in this government. Lokesh ridiculed Jagan for producing the film 'Yatra-2' by spending crores of rupees and remarked that 'Yatra' is fast turning into 'antima yatra' (last journey) for the YSRCP leaders. He said that no one is ready to watch this "film" even if they are offered a quarter of liquor free of cost. Stating that he comes from a family which is not scared of even bombs, Lokesh said he would not be frightened of false cases. Pointing out that cases under non-bailable sections have been registered against him for carrying the red book, Lokesh dared the state government to take him into custody if he had committed any mistakes. Recalling that Jagan Mohan Reddy, before coming to power had promised to fill all the vacant posts in the government every year through the job calendar, Lokesh said he miserably failed to fulfil this promise thus cheating the youth. Lokesh made an appeal to the youth to just wait for two more months. The TDP-Jana Sena combine is going to form the coming government and once the alliance is into power, job calendar will be released every year regularly to fill all the vacant posts in different government wings, "Jagan has failed on all fronts and did not keep even a single promise made to different sections of society. What happened to the assurance given to the youth on notifying the DSC, fee reimbursement for Backward Classes (BCs) students, pursuing further education abroad, and filling up of 6,500 constable posts every year," Lokesh asked and said that the people should decide what should be done for him for cheating them by making such false promises. As the elections are just a couple of months away, he is now announcing the DSC, Lokesh said and added that even the number of posts announced is also much less than the existing vacancies. Is it not deceiving the jobless youth, he asked and made an appeal to the youth to wait for just two more months as the coming TDP-Jana Sena government will fill all the vacant posts. The TDP leader promised that the coming government of TDP-Jana Sena will come to the rescue of the unemployed. "Those who do not get jobs immediately will be paid unemployment allowance till they get jobs," he said. Nara Lokesh suspected that attempts are being made to privatise the Visakha Steel Plant and said that once the TDP-Jana Sena government is formed after the coming elections, the steel plant will be purchased by the state government, if necessary, to provide employment to the jobless. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Paytm, the pioneer of QR and mobile payments, on Tuesday announced that its QR codes will continue to function as usual, allowing merchants to accept payments beyond February 29, 2024. Payment devices such as Paytm Soundbox and card machines will also continue to remain operational as always. Some merchants have repayment arrangements set up through the PPBL bank account, as the settlements were being processed there. Now we need to migrate their settlement account to another bank of their choice so that settlements continue to be received and repayments can proceed uninterrupted. Now, this migration of Paytm merchants' settlement account to a bank of their choice will happen at the back-end, a process similar to mobile number portability. It will not impact the merchants and customers on the front-end, said the company. The company is in talks with India's leading banks and will partner with one of them to ensure that there is no disruption to merchants. "Over the past two years, Paytm has collaborated with multiple banking partners for a host of services. For services like Paytm QR, where Paytm Payments Bank, acts as a back-end bank, these services will seamlessly transition to other partner bank/s. This means that there will be continued service available to its merchant partners," a company spokesperson said. Following an update by the RBI during the Monetary Policy Committee regarding Paytm Payments Bank, the Deputy Governor emphasized that the opportunity for partnership with Paytm Payments Bank will be a prerogative of banks, paving way for ongoing and possible collaboration between Paytm Payments Bank and other banking institutions. Such a partnership will aim to establish a strong framework for offering innovative financial solutions to customers. Paytm management assured that there would be no disruption to merchants and their payment services. From bustling metropolises to remote rural areas, businesses of all sizes are embracing Paytm's innovative solutions. Merchants from every corner of the country are actively endorsing the Paytm brand, contributing to its stronghold as a leading player in India's payments landscape. These widespread endorsements serve to solidify Paytm's reputation as a trusted partner for businesses nationwide, further cementing its position at the forefront of India's rapidly evolving payments industry. Islamabad, Feb 13 : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday in the missing Baloch students' case, a media reports said. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said during a hearing that those found involved in enforced disappearances should be awarded double death penalty, ARY News reported. "Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar should appear in person before the court on Monday and explain to the bench why a case should not be registered against him," Justice Kayani said. On the plea of the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) seeking adjournment of the hearing, Justice Kayani said, "I am showing leniency that both DGs are not being summoned." AAG Usman Ghumman earlier told the court one of the 12 missing students has also been foind. He said the Attorney General was not available on Tuesday, seeking adjournment of the case, ARY News reported. The court, however, rejected the state lawyer's request. The IHC in a previous hearing had given a February 13 deadline to the federal government for recovery of the missing Baloch students. The court in a written order had also summoned the final report of all Baloch missing persons regarding their reaching their homes, ARY News reported. "The court is not demanding statements on oath from the Prime Minister, Interior or Defence Secretaries and security institutions for now. If the missing persons are not recovered, statements on oath will be demanded and legal proceedings will be initiated," the court order read. The Attorney General submitted a list of Baloch students missing in enforced disappearances. The court was informed that 12 missing Baloch students' cases have been unresolved, ARY News reported. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Bharat Tex 2024, a textile event, which is to be held from February 26-29 in New Delhi, is set to witness a grand confluence of iconic handloom and handicraft traditions from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Five Indian states are set to captivate the spotlight as they present a shared narrative of artistic excellence, featuring handloom craftsmanship, and unveiling distinctive textile innovations. With Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra coming onboard as the aPartner Statea, Bharat Tex 2024 announces Gujarat, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh joining as the aSupporting Partner Statesa. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam will be setting up state pavilions at the premier global textile event. Commenting on the state partnership, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde said, aI am proud to announce Maharashtra's participation as Partner State at Bharat Tex 2024. As the largest international exposition in India, the event is shaping up to be the largest platform for industry collaboration and innovation. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, aProsperity of Madhya Pradesh lies in the progress of its industries. Establishment of industries results in the growth of employment opportunities. The state government is committed to achieve comprehensive development fostering good governance and implementing an effective system." Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, aFor Gujarat, Textile is not just an industry, but also a tradition and a legacy which we present to the world through the magic of our handicrafts and machines." Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy said that historically, textiles have a unique relationship with the development of civilisation, and India has had a unique leadership position in the world for textiles. The Bharat Tex 2024, seen in such a context, is a welcome initiative by the Export Promotion Councils. Ministry of Textiles is hosting the Bharat Tex Memento Design Contest on the official MyGov website, centred around the theme aThreads of Tradition and Innovationa at Bharat Tex. The first runner up will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000 followed by Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 for the second and third winners, respectively. Kolkata, Feb 13 : An AJT Hawk aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) met with an accident soon after take-off from the Air Force Station at Kalaikunda in West Bengal on Tuesday afternoon, forcing both pilots to bail out. Before leaving the aircraft though, the pilots ensured that it crashed into an uninhabited site, causing no damage to life or property on the ground. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence in Kolkata confirmed the crash and said that both pilots are safe. The AJT Hawk is primarily an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) that takes rookie IAF pilots through their second stage of training before they advance to fighter jets. The Air Force Station Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district is home to two squadrons of AJT Hawks. These aircraft are twin seaters. Apart from the trainee, there is an experienced instructor on board to monitor her/his flying skills and take over during emergencies. The Hawks were originally procured from BAE Systems and are now produced under licence at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bengaluru. Since their inception, the Hawks have saved the lives of several young pilots. Before they were inducted, the rookies would undergo the second stage of training in Mig-21 aircraft that are far more difficult to handle, particularly during take-offs. Several young lives were lost in crashes then. By Christine T. Tjandraningsih, KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 20:51 | World, All Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a leading presidential candidate and a former army general, is betting on his third bid to lead Southeast Asia's largest democracy in elections slated for Wednesday by making every effort. Although he lost to outgoing President Joko Widodo in the previous 2014 and 2019 elections, Prabowo picked the popular leader's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, as his running mate, despite the minimum age requirement of 40 for presidential or vice presidential candidates. The selection followed a controversial court ruling in October issued by judges, including Jokowi's brother-in-law, that exempted candidates who have won regional elections. The eldest son of Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, is the mayor of a city in Central Java Province. Criticism has mounted that Jokowi, constrained by a two-term limit, intends to establish a political dynasty, potentially undermining democracy in the nation after decades of dictatorship until 1998 under Suharto, Prabowo's former father-in-law. Jokowi has indirectly but clearly supported Prabowo's candidacy for the Gerindra party, a coalition partner in Jokowi's government, while also distancing himself from his ruling party, fielding former Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo. Latest opinion polls showed Prabowo is ahead at around 52 percent, compared with 20 percent for Ganjar and 24 percent for former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan. But unless a pair gain over 50 percent of the vote, respectively, the top two pairs will go to a runoff in June. The candidacy of Prabowo, who had headed the army's special force command that allegedly kidnapped and tortured political opponents and student activists in the late 1990s, has been met with fierce opposition from victims and their families. During the election campaign, Prabowo vowed to continue key policies of Jokowi, whose infrastructure projects such as a high-speed railway built with Chinese technology are popular, trying to gain votes from younger generations. To change the 72-year-old's image as a stern general, his campaign team has portrayed him as a "cute grandpa" by spreading video footage of him jiggling his arms while dancing around. It went viral on social media. The team also distributed posters of Prabowo and Gibran as cartoon characters in promoting a "free lunch and free milk" program for elementary and secondary school students. "I know nothing about politics, but I really love his gimmicks," Suhono Febri Nugroho, a 25-year-old chef at a coffee shop in Tangerang in the suburb of Jakarta, said. Knowing about Prabowo's past from the internet, he said, "As a military soldier, he only followed orders from the top," and determined his choice would be Prabowo. Prabowo was fired from the military in 1998 for his alleged role in the kidnappings of student activists, with one of them found dead and 13 still missing. Although he has denied involvement, the victims and their families demand his arrest. During a debate of the candidates on Feb. 4, Ganjar said, "Voters should not choose a candidate who is authoritarian and has a history of human rights abuses." But Prabowo did not show anger, in contrast to previous debates in which he was aggressive toward Ganjar and Anies. In his closing statement, he said, "I will be the president for all Indonesians, including those who don't vote for me, including those who don't trust me," in a remark similar to what Jokowi said after being reelected in 2019. Prabowo pledges to continue Jokowi's project of moving the capital from Jakarta to the under-construction city of Nusantara in West Kalimantan Province, in Borneo. Anies, a 54-year-old former university professor, criticized the $35 billion project, arguing that addressing the basic needs of people residing there is more important than spending the money to build a new capital. On the international front, all the candidates said they would maintain Indonesia's traditional policy of being a "non-bloc" country. But Ganjar proposed a change in the decision-making process in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, currently based on consensus among its 10 members, by adopting voting to deal with such unresolved issues as territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Regarding a proposed "code of conduct" agreement in the sea, being drawn up by ASEAN and China in recent years to help avert confrontation in the region, Ganjar said the countries should reach a "temporary agreement" to prevent disputes in the sea. In a debate in late January, vice presidential candidates discussed trade policies, including a ban on the export of unprocessed nickel ore that the Jokowi government has introduced. The ban by the world's largest nickel producer is a part of the government's "downstreaming" policy to establish a domestic value chain for mineral processing amid increasing demand for the mineral used in electric vehicle batteries. Anies's running mate Muhaimin Iskandar said the downstreaming of nickel, particularly with smelters increasingly owned by Chinese companies, has caused problems. "We're witnessing how downstreaming is being done recklessly in the mining...causing accidents, with foreign workers dominating," Iskandar said. But Gibran said Indonesia's natural resources including nickel must be utilized for the prosperity of the people. Before Prabowo announced Gibran as his running mate, Prabowo and Ganjar had been neck and neck in the race. But Prabowo's popularity has climbed since the announcement. The controversial court ruling has caused debates, with the chief justice, Jokowi's brother-in-law, being removed by an ethics panel for failing to recuse himself from the case. Professors of national universities have expressed concerns over Jokowi's endorsement of Gibran's candidacy and his apparent intervention in the election campaign to aid Prabowo's victory. Essayist Goenawan Mohammad, who had voted for Jokowi in past elections, called the ruling and Jokowi's support for his son's running a "betrayal against Indonesia's democracy." Jokowi is also under fire amid allegations he was behind moves by authorities of several cities to revoke permission for Anies's popular events to discuss various topics with young people. Yose Rizal Damuri, executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said Jokowi wants to "ensure the continuity of all the programs he has already initiated," including the Nusantara project, by supporting Prabowo. Indonesian voters, especially youth, only care about jobs and low prices, Yose said, adding, "Economic stability remains the priority, while the democratic process might be less." Youngsters absorbed in the internet and social media have diminished abilities in reading, writing and analytical thinking, so politicians can easily manipulate them by using gimmicks, he said. Data from the General Elections Commission shows eligible voters aged between 17 and 40 represent 52 percent of the 205 million electorates. Among the young voters, however, there are those who want to see changes in policies. Shania, a 23-year-old office worker who goes by a single name like many Indonesians, said he will support Anies. "He is smart and currently not in the government," he said, adding that Anies presented fresh ideas and programs that are more "down-to-earth and logical" than those of other candidates. Yose, meanwhile, lamented that whoever wins, Indonesia's democracy has been tainted by Jokowi. "It will cost a lot to the Indonesian democratic process in the future because now people tend to see those in power can do anything to maintain the power," he said. Related coverage: ASEAN endorses Thailand's humanitarian corridor for Myanmar refugees Myanmar junta senior official attends ASEAN meeting in Laos Taiwan replaced as volleyball tourney host amid China pressure London, Feb 13 : A 47-year-old Indian-origin family doctor in southeast England has been found guilty of sexually assaulting three women who were under his care, with one of the victims battling cancer. Mohan Babu, a former general practitioner at the Staunton Surgery in Havant, Hampshire, was convicted of four counts of sexual assault following a three-week trial in Portsmouth Crown Court recently. He has been released on conditional bail to be sentenced at the same court on April 12, The News, a Portsmouth-based daily, reported. The court heard that the sexual assaults took place between September 2019 and July 2021 and the youngest victim was a 19-year-old woman. All three women were targeted within the Staunton Surgery premises where Babu worked along with his wife, a general practitioner at the same clinic. The jurors were told that numerous complaints were received against Babu and he was repeatedly warned over his conduct, which involved inappropriately touching victims and making "creepy" comments. The Crown Court heard five other women, including a receptionist at his former workplace, complained about his "over familiar' behaviour, but criminal proceedings were not brought about their complaints. Prosecutor Miranda Moore KC told the court Babu targeted "vulnerable" women after he joined the surgery as a locum doctor, one who covers for another doctor on leave, in April 2018. The first complaint about Babu's behaviour came in August 2019 -- 16 months after he joined on his wife's recommendation. Prosecutor Moore told the court that between May and August 2019, Babu held face-to-face consultations with a 57-year-old woman, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in June 2019 and now deceased. Citing the woman's case, Moore told the court how Babu exploited his profession to conduct unnecessary and invasive examinations, making lewd comments and physically assaulting patients. A patient who sought treatment for knee and hip problems said that Babu hugged her and requested her phone number. An investigation followed and it emerged that many other women complained about Babu and asked for a new general practitioner to replace him. Babu stopped working at Staunton Surgery in July 2021, and denied all seven counts made against him. He was found not guilty of three offences of sexual assault against a further two women. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday shared a video of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad 'Bullet train' corridor which will cut the travel time on the 508 km route between the two cities to a mere 2 hours. "Stay tuned for #BulletTrain in Modi 3.0!," the minister posted on X. The video highlights some of the features of the state-of-the-art train project being built with an investment of Rs 1.08 lakh crore. These include: The Bullet train is expected to touch a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour on the route. The corridor will feature a slab track system, a technology to be used for the first time in India. As many as 24 river bridges, 28 steel bridges, and seven mountain tunnels are being erected for the Bullet train route. *The corridor will also have a 7 km undersea tunnel The video describes the project as "a marvel of world-class engineering" and the "future of India." --IANS sps/dan Lucknow, Feb 13 : Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya resigned from the post of General Secretary of the party on Tuesday. In a letter to SP President Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya has accused the party of discrimination. Maurya wrote, "If there is discrimination even in the post of national General Secretary, there is no justification for continuing in such a discriminatory and unimportant post." Maurya added, "Ever since I joined the Samajwadi Party, I have continuously tried to increase its support base. On the day of joining the SP, I had given the slogan '85 versus 15'. (B.R.) Ambedkar talked about 'Bahujan Hitay Bahujan Sukhay', while Ram Manohar Lohia said 'Socialists Bandhi Gant, Pichda Paavai Sau Mein Saath'." He alleged that the party continuously neutralised these slogans and filed the nominations and symbols of hundreds of candidates in the 2022 Assembly elections. "There were only 45 MLAs, whereas after the 2022 Assembly elections, this number increased to 110. Thereafter, without any demand, you sent me to the Legislative Council and immediately after this you made me the national General Secretary. Thank you very much for this honour," he said. Maurya added that he had suggested last year that caste-based census should be conducted, and reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes should be saved. "There was a proposal to carry out a Rath Yatra for a state-wide programme to protest against the sale of national assets to private hands, to which you agreed. There was no positive result either. As per the intention of the leadership, I did not consider it appropriate to say it again," he wrote. Maurya also expressed his unhappiness at being targeted by a section of SP leaders over his statements on Sanatan Dharma, which also made him the target of a section of the society. However, in his resignation letter to Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya also said that he will continue to work to strengthen the party without any post. Patna, Feb 13 : Amid ruckus, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who also holds the Finance portfolio, on Tuesday presented the first-ever Budget here in the Assembly in the capacity of Finance Minister. During his speech, the opposition lawmakers created a ruckus in the assembly where Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and almost all MLAs of the ruling NDA were present. As soon as Samrat Choudhary began the budget speech, opposition leaders started raising slogans against the NDA government. They threw chairs and also smashed the reporting table on the well. The Marshalls present in the house tried to stop them but the RJD, Left and the Congress MLAs kept raising slogans and disrupted the proceedings of the House. At one point, Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari had to stop Choudhary's speech amid the chaos. He asked the Opposition legislators to calm down and not disrupt the House. Hazari also said that they (Opposition MLAs) will get adequate time to speak in the House. The Opposition leaders, however, did not listen to him and staged a walk out from the Assembly. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary presented a budget of Rs 2,78,425 crore in the Assembly. He has given special focus on education and employment. "I was the cabinet minister several times in Bihar in the past but I presented the Budget for the first time as a Finance Minister. The growth rate of Bihar is 10.4 per cent which is the highest in the country. The current government will take care of all sections of society. Moreover, the poverty rate in Bihar has declined by 8 per cent. Around 2 crore people have come out of poverty line in Bihar," Choudhary said. "Of Rs 2,78,425 crore total budget, the Finance Ministry has allocated Rs 700 crore for the student credit card policy, 540 crore allocated for Saat Nischay part 2, Rs 46,729 crore in transportation and communication and others," he added. Choudhary further said the government has implemented a fourth agricultural road map and the state government also enhanced the reservation. "A total of 94 lakh families in Bihar are declared as economically weak. The state government has decided to give subsidies to the investors who invest in the Tourism department. We will also try to bring industries to Bihar," he added. Blake Lively gives glimpse of lavish bedroom she shares with hubby Ryan Reynolds. Image Source: IANS News Los Angeles, Feb 13 : Actress Blake Lively is back home after Super Bowl weekend. The 'Gossip Girl' actress, 36, posted an Instagram Story in response to her husband Ryan Reynolds' Instagram joke questioning where she was - even though Lively had been shown alongside Taylor Swift multiple times on TV that night. Los Angeles, Feb 13 (IANS) Actress Blake Lively is back home after Super Bowl weekend. The 'Gossip Girl' actress, 36, posted an Instagram Story in response to her husband Ryan Reynolds' Instagram joke questioning where she was even though Lively had been shown alongside Taylor Swift multiple times on TV that night. Posing in front of the same 'Deadpool' trailer background as Reynolds, 47, did in his post, Lively wrote, "Honey, I'm home. My day was good. Yours?", reports 'People' magazine. Blake Lively was alongside Swift at Sunday's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, which saw the 'Love Story' hitmaker's boyfriend Travis Kelce help bring the Kansas City Chiefs to victory over the San Francisco 49ers. As per 'People' magazine, the 'Gossip Girl' alum cheered on the Chiefs wearing a red Adidas tracksuit and white cropped tank top. Rather than go all-out sporty, however, she paired the look with stiletto heels and retro '80s-style curls. Reynolds who tied the knot with Lively in 2012 hilariously took to Instagram to ask "Has everyone seen the #Deadpool trailer? Also has anyone seen my wife?" He then shared a shot of Lively's arm, featuring multiple bangles and a 'Deadpool' charm, with the caption, "Found my wife". Nothing rolling out iMessage to Android Phone (2) in select countries. Image Source: IANS News London, Feb 13 : Apple's iMessage, along with Microsoft's Edge browser, Bing search engine, and advertising business are not being designated as a "core platform service" under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission said on Tuesday. London, Feb 13 (IANS) Apple's iMessage, along with Microsoft's Edge browser, Bing search engine, and advertising business are not being designated as a "core platform service" under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission said on Tuesday. It means that these services will not face new obligations, including a requirement to offer interoperability with other messaging services. "The Commission has adopted decisions closing four market investigations that were launched on September 5, 2023 under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), finding that Apple and Microsoft should not be designated as gatekeepers for the following core platform services," it said in a statement. Apple and Microsoft had submitted 'rebuttal' arguments, explaining why these four core platform services should not, in their view, qualify as gateways. Following a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders, and after hearing the Digital Markets Advisory Committee, the Commission found that iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising "do not qualify as gatekeeper services". "The Commission will continue to monitor the developments on the market with respect to these services, should any substantial changes arise," it noted. The decisions do not affect in any way the designation of Apple and Microsoft as gatekeepers as regards their other core platform services. Meta has seen two of its messaging platforms, WhatsApp and Messenger, designated as core platform services under the DMA. Apple's Safari browser, iOS operating system and App Store still have to comply with the regulation's requirements when DMA comes fully into force on March 7. Mumbai, Feb 13 : In a vicious broadside, a livid Maharashtra Congress labelled former Chief Minister Ashok S. Chavan as "a coward and back-stabber who ran away from the field" - hours after he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), here on Tuesday. Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) In a vicious broadside, a livid Maharashtra Congress labelled former Chief Minister Ashok S. Chavan as "a coward and back-stabber who ran away from the field" hours after he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), here on Tuesday. AICC General Secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress President Nana Patole, Congress Legislative Party leader Balasaheb Thorat and leader of opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar launched a no-holds barred attack on Chavan, who abruptly quit the grand old party on Monday, severing all links after over 38 years. "The Congress gave him everything MLA, MP, state President, Minister, CM -- always an opportunity to lead the party. Till yesterday, he was with the Congress and then suddenly left to join the BJP. He is a coward who back-stabbed us and ran away from the field," Chennithala said. He wondered whether the Congress had done any 'injustice' to the former two-time CM or if he was "scared of the ED and CBI", claiming the people will give a befitting reply to him, even as the party kept the door ajar for Chavan. Speaking to the media after a party meeting, Chennithala said that though Chavan has deserted the party, "no other leaders would leave the Congress". "The resignation of just one person will not weaken the Congress The party works as per an ideology. The masses do not accept those who abandon the party and the ideology. The Congress will work even more vigorously to win the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections," declared Chennithala. He pointed out that the BJP had hurled corruption allegations against Chavan, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused him in the Adarsh Society scam, but "today he has gone there and has been washed clean by the BJP". Similar was the case with ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, whom the Prime Minister had accused of corruption of Rs 70,000 crore in the irrigation scam, Chennithala added. He reiterated that the BJP is trying to weaken the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), but it will not succeed, as the Opposition alliance will bag maximum Lok Sabha seats (of total 48) in Maharashtra. Patole said the Congress always gave big responsibilities to Chavan, which he cannot expect in the BJP where he will have to sit in the back benches. "Even BJP's Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is worried as their own surveys indicate that the party will not perform well in the state. So they are trying to save their face and the party's reputation by such tactics, but nothing will help them," said Patole. Thorat rued how Chavan changed tracks to join the BJP when the farmers are under attack on the borders of Delhi, claiming that "either it was due to some pressures or selfish motives", but the people are watching everything. Averring that the 'skies have not fallen', Wadettiwar said Chavan has shot himself in the foot by joining the BJP as the people are disgusted by its politics and will teach them a lesson in the next elections, as the party workers are still with the Congress. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress has convened a meeting of all party MLAs on February 15, followed by a two-day camp in Lonavala on February 16-17. Earlier on Tuesday, Chennithala addressed a meeting attended by Maharashtra Congress' top brass, including ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan, Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre, Satej alias Bunty Patil, working presidents M. Arif Naseem Khan and Chandrakant Handore, Mumbai party chief Varsha Gaikwad, tribal cell chief Shivajirao Moghe, ex-minister Yashomati Thakur, Vishwajit Kadam, Ashish Dua, Hussain Dalwai and others. Guwahati, Feb 13 : Assam Women and Child Development Minister Ajanta Neog told the Assembly on Tuesday that over 3,700 children had gone missing in the state in the last three years and of them, 3,400 had been rescued by various agencies. She stated that the government takes care of the rescued children if it is not possible to return them to their relatives. In response to a query from Congress MLA Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah, Neog stated that 3,779 children were reported missing from their homes between 2021 and 2023. She said that 3,419 of these children were rescued. According to her, rescued children who could give information about their parents and their addresses were returned to their relatives, while those who were unable to do so, were kept in children care centres. The minister added that 3,522 of the 6,054 cases that were reported under the POCSO Act, 2012, between 2012 and 2023, had been resolved. She also said that practically every district in the state had reported child trafficking incidents, with Kamrup, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, and Biswanath accounting for the majority of these crimes. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has withdrawn from a Delhi court her plea which had sought directions to restrain alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar from issuing any letters related to her to the media. "Main application is disposed of as withdrawn, which is the prayer in the present application. Thus, nothing survives in the application and stands disposed of accordingly," Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh's order read. Chandrashekhar is a prime accused in a Rs 200 crore extortion case. He was writing letters to the media, through which Jacqueline had said that certain unwarranted statements outraging her modesty had been made by him. "This is an attempt by the main accused Sukesh Chandrashekhar to somehow intimidate and threaten the present applicant so that she does not reveal the truth to the court in the capacity of a prosecution witness," her application had read. The actor had stressed on the distress caused by the "unsolicited dissemination" of these letters to the media, citing concerns for her safety and well-being. "Sukesh Chandrashekhar persistently engages in the unsolicited dissemination of troubling letters to numerous electronic and print media platforms. These letters, once published by the media outlets, create an alarming and distressing environment for the applicant," Jacqueline had claimed. She had further said that letters' widespread publication amplifies the intimidation and harassment, profoundly affecting her safety and well-being. The plea had specifically named the Superintendent of Mandoli prison and Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing, urging them to prevent further communication from Chandrashekhar. Jacqueline had prayed to the court to issue directions to the probe agency and the Superintendent of Jail, Mandoli, to immediately restrain/refrain Chandrashekhar from issuing any further letters, messages, or statements addressed to her directly or indirectly. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday called for the formation of an expert committee to effectively handle the problem of inadequate infrastructure and manpower at the government hospitals to treat critical care patients. The division bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was dealing with a suo motu PIL initiated in 2017 regarding the availability of ICU beds and ventilator facilities at the government hospitals in the national capital. The court has been stressing for the medical infrastructure to keep pace with the city's population. On Tuesday, the bench said that the expert committee would come up with ways to augment manpower and infrastructure at the state-run hospitals, and shall submit its first report to the court in four weeks. "The court is of the opinion that huge investment as well as structural reforms in the functioning of government hospitals without entering into blame game is the need of the hour," the bench said. It added: "We deem it expedient to appoint a committee of experts to make recommendations. (The committee would) suggest ways for optimising the existing resources in hospitals in Delhi owned and run by the Centre, Delhi government and MCD." In January, the court had questioned the AAP government about the apparent mismatch between demand and available resources. The bench had directed the Delhi government to disclose the amount spent on enhancing the health sector in the last five years. In December last year, the bench had directed the Delhi government to file a status report outlining its plans to address this issue. The recent application filed by Amicus Curiae advocate Ashok Aggarwal brought up an incident where a critically injured man, who was reportedly refused treatment at several government hospitals, died after jumping from a moving PCR van. An official said that the injured man was transferred from one hospital to another, where the unavailability of beds or equipment ultimately led to his death. The 47-year-old man, Pramod, reportedly died after being denied admission by the Jag Pravesh Chandra (JPC) Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, and Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP). During the hearing earlier, the court had questioned how it was possible that no beds were available in four government hospitals, suggesting a shortage of overall bed capacity. The court had also expressed concern about budget allocation for healthcare getting diverted to other funds and directed the government to explore the feasibility of setting up a central portal indicating real-time information about bed availability in all city hospitals. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 09:28 | All, World U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to resume normal duties on Tuesday after undergoing nonsurgical procedures over a bladder issue, doctors said. Austin's health status was disclosed Monday, a day after he was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington, his second hospitalization since his prostate cancer surgery in December. "The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery," the doctors at the medical center said in a statement. "His cancer prognosis remains excellent." They said Austin was under general anesthesia while the nonsurgical procedures were carried out. The Defense Department said Sunday that he had been admitted to the hospital due to "symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue." During a press briefing Monday, department spokesman Pat Ryder stopped short of saying whether the issue arose as a complication of the surgery or as a separate ailment. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said President Joe Biden has no concern about Austin's ability to serve. Austin returned to work at the Pentagon in late January after causing a political uproar for hiding his prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization. His failure to notify Biden and senior administration officials about the diagnosis, and his silence for days after being transferred to the hospital on New Year's Day, raised questions about his credibility and U.S. national security. The Pentagon promptly disclosed the 70-year-old's latest hospitalization. It also said the White House, Congress and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been notified. Austin has transferred authorities to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. As Austin remains hospitalized, Ryder said his planned trip to Brussels to take part in NATO defense talks has been canceled. Related coverage: U.S. launches strikes against Iran-linked sites in Iraq, Syria U.S. defense chief has prostate cancer, Biden didn't know until Jan. 9 Biden will not sack Austin over failure to report hospitalization New Delhi, Feb 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan following his arrival in Abu Dhabi on an official visit to the west Asian nation. PM Modi thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his personal support in granting the land for the construction of the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi. Both sides noted that the BAPS Temple is a celebration of UAE-India friendship, deep-rooted cultural bonds and an embodiment of the UAE's global commitment to harmony, tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that two leaders held one-on-one and delegation-level talks. They reviewed the bilateral partnership and discussed new areas of cooperation. They welcomed the deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people ties. Discussions also covered regional and global issues. The two leaders witnessed the exchange of Bilateral Investment Treaty, an official said. This agreement will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries. India has signed both a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE, the official added. An MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade is expected to open new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade, an official said. An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement between India and UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor. This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity, the MEA said. According to the MEA, an MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects will create a framework for a wide-ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise. Prime Minister Modi congratulated President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the launch of UAE's domestic card JAYWAN, which is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack. The leaders witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card. The leaders also discussed the strengthening of energy partnership. They appreciated that in addition to the UAE being among the largest sources of crude and LPG, India is now entering long-term contracts for LNG. Ahead of the visit, RITES Limited signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company. These would help in building port infrastructure and further enhance connectivity between the two countries, the official added. Bengaluru: Chief Miniter Siddaramaiah with State level farmers association and leaders during a Pre-budget meeting for 2024-25 at Conference Hall. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while targeting the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of unemployment, on Tuesday sympathized with the accused in the December 13, 2023 Parliament security breach case. Taking to social media, Siddaramaiah stated, "The youth of the nation are facing the pressure of unemployment. Last year, the youths who breached Parliament security and burst smoke canisters in the House, were dejected by unemployment, right?" The incident in Lok Sabha had made international news and become a flash point between the Congress and the BJP. Siddaramaiah sympathizing with the accused youths, Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma, is likely to stir a controversy. He further stated that in 2014, the promise of generation of crores of jobs was made and after 10 years, the generation of jobs in lakhs is projected as an achievement. "It is looking like a joke. Mr. Prime Minister, what is the number of jobs that you have created?" the CM asked. "Your own Cabinet colleague in July 2022 while answering a question in the Lok Sabha stated, between 2014-15 and 2021-22 only 7 lakh new jobs were created. Is this the final truth?" Siddaramaiah questioned. "As per the World Bank report in 2022, the unemployment rate in Pakistan was 11.3 per cent, in Bangladesh it was 12.9 per cent. In Bhutan it was 14.4 per cent and in China it was 13.2 per cent. In this period the unemployment rate in India was 23.22 per cent. "According to a recent report by the International Labour Organisation, our country is lower in ranking than neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh and Mauritius," he stated. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : The leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Tuesday slammed the BJP-led Haryana government for allegedly creating a war-like situation at the Shambhu border and using tear gas shells to stop the farmers from heading to Delhi to stage a protest. "Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has turned it (Shambhu) into an Indo-Pak border. In their attempt to stop the farmers from going to Delhi, Haryana police have been committing cruelty on innocent farmers. "Tear gas shells are being used to stop the farmers. Haryana police have also detained the protesters. How can he (Khattar) stop fellow citizens from exercising their democratic right," Bajwa asked in a statement. The Congress leader also said the Haryana government "knows that the farmers are not going to stay in Haryana as they are scheduled to stage a protest in Delhi only against the Centre government. The Haryana government should not create hurdles for the farmers and let them move to Delhi". "The Haryana CM should not forget that the state has an agriculture-based economy just like Punjab. If the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops gets legalised, the farming community of Haryana will benefit too. By suppressing the farmers' protest 2.0, the Haryana CM has demonstrated his anti-farmer face," Bajwa said. Chennai, Feb 13 : AIADMK senior leader and Deputy Leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, RB Udhayakumar is likely to get the seat of Deputy Leader of Opposition after Speaker M Appavu decided to consider the request of Chief Minister MK Stalin to allocate the seat to Udhayakumar. The Speaker made the announcement after Chief Minister MK Stalin requested him to kindly reconsider his decision on the issue and to allot the seat to Udhayakumar, who has been elected as the Deputy Leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, headed by former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). At present, the seat is occupied by expelled AIADMK leader, O Panneerselvam (OPS). During Zero Hour on Tuesday, EPS raised the issue in the House and wanted to allot the seat next to him to Udhayakumar, which he said, has been a tradition. Stalin joined the issue to recall that the Speaker had cited the verdict of former Speaker P. Dhanapal that it was the prerogative of the Chair to allot the location of the seat to any member of the House. The Speaker had then stated that no seat was reserved for the Deputy Leader of Opposition, as the post was not a recognised one. Stalin, during the Zero Hour debate requested the Speaker reconsider his decision. The Speaker said that the Chief Minister had requested for reconsidering the decision and that suitable action would be taken soon. a"IANS aal/rad New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its earlier order staying criminal proceedings against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a 2014 inflammatory speech case. A Bench presided over by Justices MM Sundresh was hearing a plea filed by Kejriwal challenging criminal proceedings initiated against him for his controversial remark that "God will not forgive you if you vote for BJP (Joh Bhajapa (BJP) ko vote dega use khuda bhi maaf nahin karega)" during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Special Leave Petition filed by Kejriwal challenged the Allahabad High Court order declining to entertain his plea for discharge in the case. The High Court had upheld an order of the Sultanpur sessions court. In his petition, Kejriwal had contended that "khuda" cannot be attributed to the God of Muslims alone. A Flying Squad Magistrate, citing Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representation of the People Act, alleged that Kejriwal had flouted the Model Code of Conduct. Earlier, the top court had orally remarked that there can be no appeal for votes on the basis of religion. The matter is likely to be heard next on April 01, 2024. Patna, Feb 13 : The special MP-MLA court of Arrah in Bihar has given life imprisonment to CPIML MLA Manoj Manzil and 22 others on Tuesday in a murder case which took place in 2015. Manoj Manzil was present in the court and he was immediately arrested following the court verdict. "This is a conspiracy against me. I am innocent and will appeal in Patna High Court to challenge the decision. I raise the voice of Dalit and deprived sections of people in Bihar. This decision has been made only to suppress my voice," Manzil said after the conviction. Manoj Manzil along with 22 others were booked under the relevant charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. As per the FIR, Manoj Manzil and his aides were involved in the murder of Jay Prakash Singh of Badgaon village on August 20, 2015. "Jay Prakash Singh and his son Chandan Singh had gone to attend a public assembly in an adjoining village on August 20 when Manoj Manzil and 22 others allegedly intercepted Jay Prakash Singh and Chandan Singh while they were returning home on a bike," reads the FIR. It said that they kidnapped Jay Prakash Singh while Chandan Singh managed to flee from the spot. "After one week, the mutilated body of Jay Prakash Singh was found near Situhani canal on August 27, 2015," the FIR reads. The FIR was registered on the statement of Chandan Singh in Azimabad police station on August 20, 2015. It was converted into murder case on August 27, 2015. Manzil started his political career as a student leader in AISA and was given the ticket from Agiao reserved seat by CPIML in 2015 assembly election. However, he lost the elections. In the 2020 assembly election, he again contested on CPIML from the same seat and won defeating the JD-U candidate Prabhunath Ram. --IANS ajk/dan New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court has recently quashed an FIR lodged in a case involving a dog attack/bite in a building lift in Preet Vihar, considering the amicable settlement reached between the parties. The First Information Report (FIR), registered in 2020 under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code, stemmed from an incident where the complainant was allegedly attacked by a dog belonging to the petitioner inside a lift. The complainant sustained injuries and was treated at a local hospital. Before the bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, petitioner's counsel advocate Gopesh Tripathi told the court about the settlement deed reached between the parties earlier in February. The petitioner said that the incident was unintentional, as the lift unexpectedly reached the third floor instead of the ground floor, where the complainant was attacked by the dog. Acknowledging the settlement between the parties and the complainant's desire to maintain harmonious relations, the court deemed it unnecessary to continue the case. Justice Mendiratta said that continuing the proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would amount to an abuse of the court's process. The additional public prosecutor for the state also expressed no objection to quashing the FIR in light of the amicable settlement. --IANS spr/pgh Patna, Feb 13 : Former MP and brother-in-law of Lalu Prasad Yadav -- Subhash Yadav -- surrendered in MP-MLA court on Tuesday in land grab case. Bhim Singh -- a resident of Neura on February 27, 2022 -- had registered the case against Yadav and seven others over land grab, cheating and extortion. Initially, Patna Police had refused to take action against Subhash Yadav however after the complainant met the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the Janata Darbar on April 18, 2022 a case was registered in Bihta police station on Chief Minister's direction. Bhim Singh had sold land to Subhash Yadav for Rs 96 lakh and paid him Rs 60.5. However, he refused to pay the rest of the amount and also pressured Bhim Singh to give back Rs 60.5 lakh. Yadav also resorted to threats and harassed Singh's family and beat them in the process. During the hearing of the case, the court ordered the police to attach the house of Subhash Yadav and placed notice on Yadav's house in Kautilya Nagar on January 30 this year. On Tuesday, Patna Police headed by ASP West Diksha reached the house of Subhash Yadav with earth mover machine to demolish his residence. When Subhash Yadav learnt about the police action, he soon appeared in the MP MLA court of Patna and surrendered himself. "A case against Subhash Yadav for cheating and extortion has been registered in Bihta police station. He was on the run for a long time. We served notice to him on January 30 and initiated the process of property attachment under the supervision of duty magistrate on Tuesday but the alleged person surrendered in the court," Diksha said. Mumbai : Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan joins the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Feb. 13 : Decades old habits die hard. In an unintentional slip of tongue, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who joined the BJP on Tuesday after jumping ship from the Congress, inadvertently addressed BJP's Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar as 'Mumbai Congress President'. Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, seated beside him, immediately corrected him that "its BJP President" as Chavan sportingly repeated the correct version and admitted his error, even as the gathering momentarily seemed rattled by his utterance. Fadnavis, by then laughing, commented that "it's a 50-year old habit" and Chavan, obviously feeling sheepish and embarrassed, grinned, nodded in agreement and reminded the gathering that "this is my first press conference at the BJP office". As the sombre atmosphere suddenly turned jovial, there were guffaws at the gaffe from the dignitaries on the dais and the audience, plus the horde of mediapersons who recorded Chavan's political faux pas for posterity. "Please pardon me I have just joined the BJP after 38 years in the Congress and this is my first press conference in the BJP office, please understand," Chavan said in a pleading tone. But soon all was forgotten, and the innocent blunder seemed to have strengthened his camaraderie among old friends in the new party having a different ideology. Chavan, 66, joined the BJP in a high-profile event in the presence of the party's state unit President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Fadnavis, Ashish Shelar and other senior colleagues, promising to "launch a new chapter in public life". However, hours later, an unforgiving Congress unleashed a verbal assault on Chavan, labelling him a as a "coward, who backstabbed the party which gave him so much in life, and fled the field" at a crucial period with the Lok Sabha elections round the corner. Top Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala, state unit chief Nana Patole, Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat and leader of opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar, even questioned if Chavan got scared of the central investigating agencies for his abrupt decision that apparently threw the entire Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) into a disarray. The bitter outbursts notwithstanding, Fadnavis warmly described Chavan as a "leader of national stature", guaranteeing that he would be assigned responsibilities befitting his experience and seniority, probably starting with a Rajya Sabha nomination for the biennial elections this month, and possibly some more plum posts in the future. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Jaipur, Feb 13 : President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday evening reached Rajasthan. She is on a two day -- February 13 and 14 -- visit to the desert state. The President reached Jaipur by a special plane from Surat and was warmly received at Sanganer Airport by the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. She drove straight to Raj Bhavan, where she was welcomed by Governor Kalraj Mishra. On Wednesday, the President will visit Mehandipur Balaji temple. Thereafter, she will go to Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur where she will participate in the Women's Conference which will be organised under the Lakhpati Didi programme. The President will also offer prayers in temples located at Beneshwar Dham. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2024 - 19:09 | All, Japan Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday the president of its small-car manufacturing unit Daihatsu Motor Co. will step down over a safety testing scandal, as the parent company will send new executives to take the lead in revamping the unit to bolster its governance. Masahiro Inoue, chief of Toyota's operations in the Latin America and Caribbean region, will replace Soichiro Okudaira as president, effective March 1. Daihatsu Chairman Sunao Matsubayashi will leave his position, with the post to be eliminated, Daihatsu said. Masanori Kuwata, who is in charge of electrification projects for the Lexus brand, will serve as Daihatsu's executive vice president, while Keiko Yanagi, deputy chief officer at Toyota Customer First Promotion Group, will be a director at the small car unit. The data rigging in vehicle safety tests led to a temporary suspension of all Daihatsu shipments at home and abroad, highlighting the deteriorating quality control at the world's biggest auto-making group. Toyota President Koji Sato told a press conference that Inoue has extensive experience in turning around businesses in Latin America such as in Brazil and Argentina. "He has propelled reforms through intensive dialogue with local employees," Sato said of Inoue. "He is tasked with pushing forward with the rebirth of Daihatsu as a leader on the ground." Inoue said at the same press conference that Daihatsu had failed to recognize the strains on its employees while experiencing rapid increases in production volume. "People never open up to you unless you open up first," Inoue said. "I hope to have honest dialogue with Daihatsu's employees by actively communicating with them." The new Toyota-led management reflects a historical trend of appointing Toyota executives as presidents of Daihatsu, including Okudaira, who took up the top role in 2017. "We will reform the management, corporate culture and manufacturing so that similar problems will not happen again," Inoue said. On task sharing between the two companies, Toyota said Daihatsu will focus on its mainstay mini-vehicle business and the parent company will help the unit in its vehicle development and production operations for overseas markets, with the aim of reducing its workload. The management reshuffle follows Daihatsu's submission last week to Japan's transport ministry of measures to prevent the recurrence of similar misconduct. The measures include lengthening the lead time for vehicle development by 1.4 times and increasing the number of testing staff sevenfold. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda last month vowed to lead efforts to reorganize operations at the Toyota group. Daihatsu in December admitted to safety test rigging for most of its models, which a third-party investigation found dated back as far as 1989. The panel blamed "an extremely tight and rigid development schedule" for the misconduct. That was followed by another scandal at Toyota Industries Corp., a Toyota affiliate, which said last month it fabricated data on the torque output of diesel engines it makes and supplies to Toyota. It resulted in a partial halt of shipments of Toyota vehicles. Hino Motors Ltd., Toyota's truck-making subsidiary, admitted in March 2022 to submitting fraudulent emissions and fuel economy data to transport authorities. Related coverage: Daihatsu partly resumes domestic output after safety test scandal FOCUS: Data rigging scandals threaten to undermine Toyota's growth drivers Toyota expects record net profit even as quality scandals bite Jaipur, Feb 13 : A Special NIA Court on Tuesday framed charges against all the nine accused involved in the 2022 Kanhaiya Lal murder case. Charges have been framed against all accused of being involved in terrorist activities, murdering Kanhaiya Lal who was a tailor, while being involved in a conspiracy. The NIA court, in fact, framed charges against the accused in all sections which were included in the charge sheet presented earlier, said officials. The court was told that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy by forming a group on WhatsApp. The investigation against the accused has also proved that all the accused were involved in a criminal conspiracy. The charges of murder and insulting other religions while being involved in terrorist activities against them have also been considered proven. Acting tough, the court also framed charges against one Farhad for involvement in terrorist activities, murder and conspiracy while the NIA had only imposed the section of Arms Act against him in its charge sheet. However, the accused's lawyer Akhil Chaudhary said that he will appeal against this order in the High Court. On June 28, 2022, Kanhaiya Lal was brutally murdered by Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad by slitting his throat. The NIA has declared Salman and Abu Ibrahim, residents of Karachi, Pakistan, absconding, and declared Ghaus Mohammad and Mohammad Riyaz Attari, Mohsin Khan, Asif Hussain, Mohammad Mohsin, Wasim Ali, Farhad Mohammad Shaikh a.k.a. Babla, Mohammad Javed and Mohammad a.k.a. Muslim Khan as the main accused. On February 9, 2023, the NIA special court had taken cognizance of murder, terrorist activities, criminal conspiracy including UAP Act and Arms Act. Nalgonda : , Feb 13 (IANS) Vowing to fight like a tiger for the rights of Telangana till his last breath, former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will come back to power in 'double speed'. Addressing his first public meeting after losing power to the Congress recently, the BRS chief declared that he will not allow injustice to be meted out to Telangana. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the time has come for a decisive fight to get Telangana's due share in the waters of Krishna River. The BRS chief was addressing a public meeting organised by the party to protest against alleged handing over of the projects on Krishna River by the Congress government to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). The BRS leader, who recently underwent hip replacement surgery following a fracture, said he came to the public meeting with a walking stick as the interests of Telangana are dearest to him. He also made it clear that it is not a political meeting, saying: "This is a meeting for a movement, for a fight. Our rights in Krishna waters are a matter of life and death for us." KCR said this meeting is a warning for not just the state government and state leaders, but also the Brijesh Kumar tribunal, Central government, Union Water Resources Minister and those with vested interests who want to snatch away "our water". KCR said the issue of Krishna waters is a matter of life and death for the undivided districts of Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Hyderabad. The former CM said that for the last 24 years, he has been going around Telangana to underline the need to protect the state's due share in the waters of both Krishna and Godavari rivers. "I fought for Telangana state, achieved it and ruled the state for 10 years. I have not belittled anybody during my rule," he said, claiming that his government ensured uninterrupted power supply, drinking water tap to every house and a huge jump in agricultural production. Recalling that the people of Nalgonda suffered a lot due to the fluorosis problem and the successive governments' failed to solve it, he said it was the BRS government which made Telangana fluorosis-free. KCR also recalled that at the time of creation of Telangana state, then Congress government at the Centre wanted the states to continue the existing water sharing arrangement for one year and assured to address the issue later. "Since the Bill for the formation of Telangana state was to be passed in the Parliament, we agreed," he said. The BRS chief said after the Narendra Modi government came to power, it did nothing to determine the share of Telangana in Krishna waters though he wrote hundreds of letters. "We went to the Supreme Court and later the Central government asked us to withdraw the case, promising to constitute a tribunal. They delayed the process of constituting the tribunal and only after a strong fight by the BRS, the tribunal was constituted a few months before the elections," he said. The BRS chief said the Congress government should approach the tribunal, present its case effectively and apprise it of the state's requirements and rights. He, however, remarked that this task can be undertaken by someone with guts and someone who has love for the people and the state. He also demanded that the government should take an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and urge him to do justice to Telangana. Slamming the Congress government for agreeing to handover Krishna projects to KRMB within three months after coming to power, he said this was a direct attack on the state's interests and the very existence of its people. He claimed that it was only after the BRS announced the 'Chalo Nalgonda' programme that the government passed a resolution in the Assembly. He, however, said even this resolution has not covered some key issues like electricity generation. KCR also alleged that the Congress uttered lies to come to power, adding that power is not permanent and BRS will come back to power in double speed. On the visit of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, ministers and legislators to the Medigadda barrage, he asked what have they done by visiting it. He also alleged that the Congress government was trying to defame the BRS. KCR remarked that the present government has no understanding of the river water problem, adding that this will not end with the passing of a resolution in the Assembly. The BRS chief reminded that Kaleshwaram is not just Medigadda barrage, but there are three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 substations, 21 pump houses, 203 km of tunnels and 1,531 km gravity canal. "There are 250-300 piers of Medigadda barrage. Two to three piers have sunk. If there are problems, they should be fixed," KCR said, as he asked if similar problems were not faced in Nagarjuna Sagar, Musi, Kadam and other projects. Lashing out at the Congress, KCR said they are resorting to cheap politics. "They are saying they will not allow KCR to roam around in Telangana. What will you do? Will you kill KCR? Can you sustain after killing KCR," he asked. The BRS chief also slammed Congress leaders for allegedly threatening to hit the farmers with footwear if they ask for Rythu Bandhu. "You should remember that footwear of farmers is harder than yours. If you are incompetent to give Rythu Bandhu assistance, you should tell the farmers," KCR said New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday called upon the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to respond to a plea seeking an investigation into the selection process of 35 newly recruited government school principals. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition claims that the candidates managed to secure their positions through malicious misrepresentation and illegal means. The petitioner, Navendu Charitable Trust, accuses the Delhi government's Department of Education of failing to properly scrutinise the documents submitted by these candidates, resulting in their erroneous selection. The court had previously directed the petitioner to include the accused individuals as parties to the case. According to the petition, some of the selected candidates submitted fake Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates despite having an annual family income above Rs 8 lakh, while others allegedly presented fake experience documents to take advantage of reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC). The plea seeks a probe into these allegations promptly, as the selected candidates are currently on probation with a monthly salary exceeding Rs 1.75 lakh. It argues that allowing them to become permanent would complicate the investigation further. The petition speaks about the importance school principals hold in shaping the future of children and condemns any corruption in their selection process. It accuses the Delhi government's education department of neglecting its duty to verify the submitted records, leading to the selection of misrepresented candidates. In light of these allegations, the plea seeks a direction from the Delhi government to conduct a thorough investigation into the selection of these candidates before their probation period ends, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 8. --IANS spr/pgh Jaipur, Feb 13 : Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Tuesday asked the Rajasthan government to withdraw the order regarding the Surya Namaskar practice in schools with immediate effect. BJP government in Rajasthan has issued orders to conduct Surya Namaskar in all schools from February 15, the day of Surya Saptami. The Jamiat has called upon the Muslim community across the state to boycott the Surya Namaskar programme. Jamiat has also challenged the matter in the Rajasthan High Court. The next hearing will be held on Wednesday. The organisation has called it an open interference in religious matters and has appealed to the Muslim community not to send students to school on Surya Saptami on February 15 and boycott the function. Jamiat State General Secretary Abdul Wahid Khatri said that Jamiat has clarified that in the majority Hindu society, Surya is worshiped as a deity. "The verses in this practice and the actions like Pranamsanna, Ashtanga Namaskar etc. are a form of worship and worship of anyone other than Allah is unacceptable in the religion of Islam. It is not possible for the Muslim community to accept this in any form or situation," he said. He said that the programme will harm the democratic structure of the country and will put a question mark on the slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'. It has also filed a petition in the High Court regarding this matter, which will be heard on February 14. Hyderabad, Feb 13 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said that Kaleshwaram project was built at a cost of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore but it has not irrigated even one lakh acres. He along with ministers, MLAs and MLCs visited Medigadda barrage, a part of kaleshwaram project, in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Tuesday. They went around the barrage to see some of the piers which sank recently. Legislators of main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stayed away from the visit though the Chief Minister had invited all the parties. Five MLAs of AIMIM and the lone MLA of CPI accompanied the Chief Minister and Congress MLAs. After going around the barrage, they watched a powerpoint presentation by chief engineer (irrigation) Sudhakar Reddy. In the powerpoint presentation, the chief engineer explained the estimate for construction of the project, actual expenditure, electricity bill, annual maintenance cost and the extent of land irrigated. He said the piers of the barrage sank on October 21, 2023. The Chief Minister told media persons that the purpose of their visit is to inform people about the defects and loopholes in the Kaleshwaram project. He termed as a lie the claim by the previous BRS government that the project irrigated one crore acres. He said the previous government spent Rs 94,000 crore to irrigate only 98,000 acre of land. He said even if the project is completed at a cost of Rs 2 lakh crore, it would have the capacity to irrigate only 19.63 lakh acres. The Chief Minister said that Kaleshwaram's annual electricity bill is Rs 10,500 crore. If project loans and other expenses are taken into consideration, every year Rs 25,000 crore are being spent on the project. The Chief Minister alleged that the BRS government wasted crores of rupees of public money for publicity to derive political mileage. He said even after the National Dam Safety Authority team's visit to Medigadda barrage and its report that there were deficiencies in its construction, the then BRS government did not take up restoration work to fix the problem. Revanth Reddy said then chief minister KCR tried to hide sinking of piers and recalled that after getting permission from the Election Commission, he along with Rahul Gandhi had visited the barrage. After Congress came to power, irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy ordered a probe into irregularities. The Vigilance and Enforcement Department has found glaring deficiencies in construction of the project. He alleged that in the name of re-designing there was huge corruption in the project. Revanth Reddy alleged that, scared of being exposed, KCR tried to divert public attention by holding a public meeting at Nalgonda. Stating that the government will present white paper on irrigation projects in the Assembly, he demanded that KCR come to the Assembly and participate in the debate. He remarked that KCR never stepped out for the sake of people and even now he has come out to get votes in Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Minister slammed KCR for calling the sinking of piers a small issue. "It is not the Kaleshwaram project which sank, it was the people's confidence," he said. "Investigations are on against those who indulged in irregularities. If necessary, we will recover the money by invoking the Revenue Recovery Act," he said. On BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy's demand that the state government should seek CBI probe into corruption in Kaleshwaram, Revanth Reddy alleged that the BJP wants to shield KCR. He said the Congress was for a probe by a sitting judge. Revanth Reddy also found fault with the BJP MLAs for not coming to Medigadda visit. The Chief Minister said a decision on restoration work at Medigadda will be taken after consulting experts. New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Karnataka state Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs during a protest against the centre. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday objected to the action of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to issue notices in connection with the alleged Disproportionate Assets (DA) case, even as the case was handed over to the Lokayukta. Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha here on Tuesday, Shivakumar said, "In spite of the withdrawal of the permission by the government to the CBI, hundreds of notices are issued to my organisations, friends, and places where I carried out business transactions. "I don't know why they are issuing notices. The government had handed over the case to the Karnataka Lokayukta. The Lokayukta has filed an FIR with regard to the case. I will continue the legal fight. "What they are doing is incorrect. Though the government had referred the case to the CBI, I have not committed any crime. The act of handing over of the case by the BJP government headed by then CM B.S. Yediyurappa itself was wrong." The Congress leader added: "Now, our government has withdrawn the case from the CBI and handed it over to the Lokayukta, which has filed an FIR. Let's see." Sources said the Lokayukta has asked the CBI to transfer all the files and documents related to the case. However, the CBI has contested the decision of the government in the court. The matter is presently lying before the larger bench of the Karnataka High Court. BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil had also submitted a petition in this regard. The CBI had started a probe against Shivakumar in the an alleged DA case in 2020. It was alleged that Shivakumar amassed properties worth Rs 74 crore between 2013 and 2018, which were deemed disproportionate against his known sources of income. The then BJP-led Karnataka government headed by Yediyurappa had handed over the case to the CBI. The incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had withdrawn the consent to the CBI for a probe into the DA matter on November 28, 2023. Jaiput, Feb 13 : The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Rajasthan have started their preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While the Congress has reportedly scheduled a screening committee meeting in Delhi on February 16, the BJP also has a national executive meeting lined up in the national capital on February 17-18. However, there is a big difference between the approach of the party leaders of the Congress and the BJP. While most of the senior Congress leaders have expressed their reluctance to contest the Lok Sabha elections at the committee meeting held on February 9, the BJP leaders are willing to contest the polls irrespective of from where they are fielded. The Congress drew a blank in the last two general elections in Rajasthan, as the BJP swept all the 25 seats in offing in 2014 before clinching 24 seats 2019, while one seat went to its ally RLP. The situation with regard to the Lok Sabha elections will be clear after the meeting of both the parties to be held in Delhi by the end of this week. According to Congress sources, the party wants former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, exs-Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi, senior leaders Govind Singh Dotasra, Harish Chaudhary, Sachin Pilot, Ashok Chandna, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Raghuveer Meena, Ramlal Jat, Brijendra Ola, Pratap Singh Khachariya to contest the Lok Sabha polls. Congress' state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa himself had said in Jaipur that the party wants to give a strong contest by fielding these leaders in the general elections. However, according to sources, most of these big names are reportedly not that keen to contest the elections. While some have reportedly cited health reasons, the others have said they want to 'bring forward the new generation'. Now at the meeting to be held on February 16, it will be interesting to see if the Congress high-command asks these leaders to contest the polls. Meanwhile, unlike the grand old party, BJP leaders are all excited and confident of winning all the 25 seats in Rajasthan. The party is confident of making a clean sweep due to its initiatives like the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and Gaon Chalo Abhiyaan, among others, said former Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Pancheria. aAll the senior leaders, including CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, are visiting villages and discussing local issues with the villagers. They are meeting the beneficiaries of different Central schemes. We are holding 'Chaupals' involving the farmers in the villages. In fact, people are already raising the slogan aTeesri Baar Modi sarkar'," he said. When asked if new faces will be fielded in the Lok Sabha polls, Pancheria said, aThe top party leadership will decide on this, and the local leaders shall abide by the decisions. Ours is a disciplined party and we follow the guidelines issued by the senior leaders." New Delhi: Police barricades put up at Singhu Border in view of farmers 'Delhi Chalo March'. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 13 : Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive inspection of security measures at the Tikri and Singhu Borders in anticipation of the ongoing farmers' protest and their march towards Delhi on tractor and trollies. Accompanied by Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Madhup Tiwari, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer), Jimmy Chiram, CP Arora at Tikri border personally assessed the arrangements put in place to ensure public safety and maintain order amidst the protests. Then the CP along with senior officials also visited the Singhu border to take stock of the preparations. Earlier, the police had completely sealed Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders after reports of farmers clashing with the police at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border and in Haryana's Jind District on Tuesday, leaving around 13 people injured. Delhi Police on Monday had invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders as a precautionary measure. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued these directives for the next 30 days to ensure law and order amidst planned farmer protests against the central government. To stop the farmers from entering the national capital, the police along with the paramilitary forces including RAF, SSB, CPF have been deployed as security measures on Delhi borders, including at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, with cement blocks, containers filled with sand, barricades with barbed wire on top and pickets with nails installed on the approach roads. Multiple blockades have been placed on the borders to stop farmers entering the capital on tractors. A total of 114 companies, including 64 from paramilitary forces, have been deployed across various districts. Equipped with anti-riot gear, these units are stationed in the border areas and sensitive districts. Additionally, surveillance with drones and CCTV cameras is being maintained to monitor any disruptive activities --IANS ssh/pgh (ELECTION CARNIVAL) As Ukraine War drags on, Russia prepares for a fifth Putin term. Image Source: IANS News Washington, Feb 13 : Estonia Foreign Intelligence Service on Tuesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to double his military deployment along the NATO border with the Baltic states and Finland as part of Moscow's potential assault on a long term basis after Ukraine is over, media reports said. The intelligence agency said that Putin still harbors an appetite for conflict and represents an unpredictable threat nearly two years after the invasion of Ukraine. Estonia gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. It became a NATO member in 2004. The intelligence agency said that Russia could double the 19,000 troops positioned near Estonia. "Russia's troop presence near Finland, with whom it shares an 830-mile border, has so far been fairly small," the intelligence report said. The report said that this scenario is going to change now because Finland recently became a NATO member. The report said that Russia's new military formation will be built around at least two or three maneuver units with around a dozen fire support and combat support units. Western officials said Putin's veiled threats to attack NATO countries could turn out to be real. Under NATO's Article 5, an attack on one NATO member is deemed an attack on all. Estonia Foreign Spying Director General Kaupo Rosin said that Russia has chosen a path with long-term confrontation. "Russia is highly unlikely to attack a NATO country in the short term," Rosin has said. He said that the Russians in their own thinking are calculating that military conflict with NATO is possible in the next decade. "Russians are planning to increase the military force along the Baltic states' border but also the Finnish border. We will highly likely see an increase of manpower, about doubling perhaps. We will see an increase in armed personnel carriers, tanks, and artillery systems over the coming years," he said. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 : Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan on Tuesday listed out the sequence of events in the role played by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in favouring Kochi-based mining firm CMRL, claiming not his daughter, but the CM is the "real culprit" in the alleged corruption case. "It is true by now that everyone knows how Veena Vijayan -- daughter of Vijayan and the sole director of her IT firm Exalogic has received illegal gratification from CMRL. In this case the real culprit is Vijayan and not Veena," said Kuzhalnadan. Kuzhalnadan said it was way back in 2004 that CMRL got mining lease in four areas in Alappuzha. "From 2004 till 2016, successive state governments were doing their best to ensure mining is done only in the public sector after CMRL got successful verdicts in its favour from Kerala High Court. Even though the Supreme Court had mentioned that the state government can take back the leased land through a notification, the Vijayan government which assumed office in May 2016 did not do it, instead did his best to favour CMRL," said Kuzhalnadan. "From December 2016, CMRL started paying Veena a monthly sum of Rs 5 lakh and from March 2017, her IT firm Exalogic was paid Rs 3 lakh every month. In 2018, through the Kerala industrial policy, there was yet another twist as the English version and the Malayalam version differed when it came to mining and this was done to favour CMRL," said Kuzhalnadan. He said things went for a toss when in early 2019, the Centre ordered termination of all mining leases granted to private companies engaged in mining materials used by the atomic energy department. "Since then, Vijayan has been doing everything to see how CMRL license can be retained. Even though Vijayan does not handle this department, he invoked his powers and called for the file. Why did he call this file alone while there are numerous other mining leases that are given? The law department had recommended for terminating the mining license given to CMRL and the file is now with Vijayan. He could have easily terminated the license in 2019 itself, but has not done it," the Congress leader said. Kuzhalnadan said it was this issue which he had given in writing in the Monday session of the Assembly to the Speaker to raise in the floor of the Assembly. "But the Speaker refused to allow me to raise, which is totally wrong and against the practices adopted in the floor of the Assembly. He knew if I had raised, Vijayan will have to deny this or say something. The speaker saved Vijayan. But this is only Part 1... I will be returning back with Part 2 and Part 3 of this mammoth corruption that has been done by Vijayan and sadly the state government and the CPI-M is all rallying behind Vijayan, and shielding him," the Congress MLA said. Kuzhalnadan's claims came at a time when both the Kerala and Karnataka High Courts are hearing petitions on the payment received by Exalogic from CMRL. Exalogic approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay of the ongoing probe by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) while the state-owned KSIDC which owns 13 per cent stake in CMRL went to the Kerala High Court with the same demand. --IANS sg/pgh This aerial photo taken on Feb. 23, 2023 shows the Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) NANNING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The number of trips made by China's rail-sea intermodal trains on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor saw robust growth in January this year, company sources have said. The rail-sea intermodal trains made 978 trips in January, up 87.7 percent year on year, according to the Beibu Gulf Port Group. Launched in 2017, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage that was built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members. The trade corridor has developed rapidly over the years, covering 70 cities in 18 provincial-level regions in China and expanding its reach to 495 ports in 120 countries and regions. Patna, Feb 13 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is making false claims that the common people of the state got jobs because of him. The JD-U chief, who was sworn-in as Chief Minister for the ninth time on Monday after his party joined hands with the BJP-led NDA, also said that the alliance will win all the 40 seats in Bihar in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls before bagging 200 out of 243 seats in next year's Assembly elections. "The leader of RJD (Tejashwi Yadav) is making false claims that whatever development and job creation took place in Bihar in recent times were all because of him. This is absolutely false. What was the situation before 2005? "People used to hesitate to step out of their homes in the evening. There were no roads in Bihar during Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi's rule. But the situation changed after I came to power in 2005. We have given 5.35 lakh jobs to the people of Bihar before the 2020 Assembly elections and 8 lakh jobs in the past one year," Kumar said. "They are also trying to take credit for the caste-based survey, but it was me who went to then Prime Minister V.P. Singh in 1990 and requested him to conduct a caste-based census in the country. Due to my initiative, the caste-based survey was passed in both the Houses of Bihar Assembly. We also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi," Kumar added. "I made Lalu Prasad the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990. The leaders of his party were not willing to make him the CM at that time," he said, adding: "We will win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar this year, and bag 200 seats in the Assembly polls next year." Bengaluru, Feb 14 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has demanded a debate on the collapse of law and order in the state, resulting in a heated argument between the members of the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP on Tuesday in the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, during in the 'question and answer session' said that Speaker U.T. Khader must allow him to raise the issue of collapse of law and order in the state. Ashoka said that incidents of crimes against women should be discussed. "The banners of swords and weapons are installed in Shivamogga, there is opposition to install 'Bhagwa flag' in the state. Cyber crimes have shot up. Though the issue was raised in the Belagavi Winter Session, the opportunity was not given," Ashoka said. "The Speaker should not always side with the ruling party, he should also look towards his left," he added. Home Minister G. Parameshwara intervened and stated that there was no hesitation in the debate over the matter, and he would discuss the murders that took place during the tenure of BJP in Bengaluru. BJP MLAs and former ministers Araga Jnanendra and V. Sunil Kumar demanded that the opportunity should be given to debate over the collapse of law and order in the state. Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge stood up and told them that it is them who ensure the collapse of law and order in the state, and they are the ones who discuss the matter in the Assembly. He further stated that let the development of arrest of farmers in Madhya Pradesh be discussed. Speaker U.T. Khader asked BJP leaders to inform him about the matter and he would verify it. The session witnessed heated exchange of words between the Congress and BJP legislators. Four seemingly unconnected individuals vanish from suburban Illinois on the same night in YA supernatural horror story The Bad Ones, the second standalone novel from Melissa Albert, author of the Hazel Wood books and Our Crooked Hearts. Teenage best friends Nora Powell and Becca Cross have been estranged for months, but when Becca texts I love you and nothing else late one night, Nora runs over to check on her, only to realize shes missing. Soon, she starts finding clues alluding to a dangerous game that she and Becca played as kids surrounding fictional goddesses from local lore. Desperate to uncover the truth, Nora dives headfirst into the other disappearances, along the way uncovering terrifying secrets about her small town. In a conversation with PW, Albert discussed creating a narrative around a friendship on the outs, her fascination with invented culture, and how hope and firsts define the YA genre. Mother-daughter dynamics are common in your previous titles, but the driving force in The Bad Ones is Becca and Noras friendship. Why did you make this choice? My first books are about fairy tales, so the mother-daughter dynamics in those come right from the source material that I was working with. But when I wrote Our Crooked Hearts, which was my first standalone that I was writing as a pandemic parent, it was very much colored by my own parenting anxieties. With The Bad Ones, I feel like its a little bit haunted still by the lingering sense of the importance of mothers. When youre writing a teen novel, you have to have some stakes with the parents. Are they present? Are they absent? Are their children defined by their absence? Still, I very much wanted The Bad Ones to be a friendship story. Ive always been super fascinated with the liminal space between childhood and the teen years, that space where maybe youre growing at a rate that is a little bit slower than the kids around you. I just find it so interesting, the friction of having half the people in a particular grade growing into things like dating and other teen stuff, and the other half are still clinging to the magical thinking of childhood. I wanted to set a friendship story in that shadow space. Is that liminal shadow space what inspired the darker supernatural horror elements? It just came out naturally from the things I wanted to work on with this book. I had someone say to me once that if you have different ideas youre working on and youre not sure which to go with, you should ask yourself if they are, in fact, the same idea. So, I centered everything around this idea of a friendship defined by artistic and magical creations. I was one of those kids who was like, Im a witch, and I want a coven, so I wanted to play with that notion of girls creating their own magic and, out of that magic, and out of their troubled friendship, the horror elements started to arise. YA is such an exciting space to read and work in because it celebrates firsts. Its not just first kisses or first loves, but its also first betrayal. Beginnings are also endings, and in this book, Nora wants to start the next phase of her life, but Becca cant because the next phase of her life isnt life if its a phase that will always be missing her parents. I also believe that young adult novels are defined in part by their feelings of hope and hopefulness. In The Bad Ones, Nora is nominally a writer; we dont really see her doing much writing on the page, but shes finding community within a circle of writers with her literary club. Her creations with Becca are like art, but theyre also like magic, and theyre also telling stories about themselves in their own worldtheyre centering themselves, in whatever way that might look like, and however dark it may go. Its like a source of joy and power for them. But as I wrote, I realized that the stakes of the ideas I was playing with had a true kind of undertow drag of horror in them, and so I couldnt just stay in that more magical spot. In your 2018 PW Flying Starts interview about The Hazel Wood, you said that you wanted to create a writers book. How has that desire influenced your recent works? When I said I wanted The Hazel Wood to be a writers book, I meant that I wanted it to be a book that writers would enjoy reading. I know its kind of an evergreen topic in publishing that people love books about books, but for me as a reader and as a writer, its always been about the invented culture behind books about storytelling. I love those spaces where fandom starts to touch the edges of religiosity. Can you tell us anything about what youre working on next? Im not under contract so right now Im writing what I hope to sell as my first adult novel. Its absolutely treading the ground that I love; it has to do with creative people and storytelling and the power and danger of making art and magic. The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert. Flatiron, $19.99 Feb. 20 ISBN 978-1-250-89489-2 This year's PubWest Conference, held February 68 at the Harrahs Ak-Chin Hotel & Casino in Maricopa, Ariz, was a tightly curated event offering seminars, multiple awards ceremonies, and opportunities for publishers to network. PubWest has no defined territory, but primarily represents publishers from the Western United States and Canada, although the event attracted approximately 130 publishing professionals from both coasts. The conference's focus was on the daily ins-and-outs of publishing, including such various practical considerations as design, marketing, production, and sales. One overarching message communicated at this year's show was that publishers should expand the range of retailers who sells their books. Joe Biel, the publisher of Microcosm Publishing in Portland, Ore., was honored with PubWests inaugural Innovators Award. In accepting the award, Biel discussed the now familiar story of how the company made the decision to stop selling on Amazon, instead electing to take over its own distribution in 2018, a decision he noted "wasn't easy and one we hesitated to do for several years." It wasnt easy, but was the best decision we have made, Biel said. Since then, weve been adding about 145 accounts a month, at a rate of more than three a day. These new accounts, he added, are primarily non-traditional retailers, including bike shops, cafes, and record stores. Tom Hellberg, publisher of Mountaineers Books in Seattle, also advocated that publishers broaden their reach beyond traditional book outlets. Weve seen our sales to gift stores quadruple over the past two years, Hellberg told PW. New retailers are finding Mountaineers Books on the Faire wholesale online platform, which Hellberg described as like Ingram for non-bookstores. This boost in sales has partially offset a decline in other sales channels, such as Amazonwhich exploded during the pandemic, Hellberg said, and has since gone from 60-70% of sales to a more normal 25%and the decline in sales at trade shows. Another issue we are facing is difficulty finding enough good people to come work with us, Hellberg added, pointing out that Seattle is home to several publishers, all of which pull from the same talent pool. Some of this pressure might be alleviated by new graduates coming out of nearby university programs that offer M.A.s in publishing, such as Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and Portland State University in Oregon. This year at PubWest, a dozen members of the M.A. class from Portland State were in attendance, accompanied by two professors, Kathi Inman Berens and Rachel Noorda. As part of their degree, the students run Ooligan Press, a publishing house that produces four local-interest titles a year. PubWest was bookended by a series of sessions on A.I. This started with the conference keynote delivered by Ana Tomboulian and Vincent Serpico of Decision Tree AI, an Arizona-based consulting company. The pair offered an overview of how ChatGPT users can create jacket and marketing copy and how authors or publishers might use A.I. to conceive a continuation of a popular book series. The show's closing session provided a series of short reflections on the impact of A.I. on the industry, which ranged from fearful to hopeful to resigned. The major fear running through the conference was that A.I. would replace publishers and writers. Despite fears, Thad McIlroy, a PW contributing editor and PubWest panelist, asserted that there was less need for concern than there was for publishers to embrace A.I.'s potential: Weve been here before, with everything from e-books to piracy to the internet itselfeach of which people worried could be a threat to replace traditional publishing, and none have." Throughout the conference, some publishers complained of A.I. creating counterfeit books. Rhoni Hirst, president of Books of Discovery, a publisher of physical therapy books in Boulder, Colo., described how pirates had posted fake copies of her companys bestselling title Trail Guide to the Body to Amazon, noting the difficulties of having it removed or otherwise rectifying the situation. I cannot go online and give those fakes bad reviews, for example, because it would be giving my own author a bad review, she said. On the hopeful side, some see new opportunities in A.I. technologiesfor publishers, insofar as the work they produce is fully vetted to experts, and for writers, insofar as they are professionals who are highly skilled with language and might find themselves very effective at creating prompts that will generate useful results from A.I. One mantra repeated in various iterations several times during the conference was, A.I. wont replace publishers and writerspublishers and writers using A.I. will replace publishers and writers. Less positively, some publishers noted that they were struggling with A.I.generated counterfeit books and book summaries being sold on Amazon that mimicked or outright copied their own titles. Rachel Noorda, professor at Portland State University and director of book publishing at Ooligan Press, moderated a session covering A.I. featuring McIlroy and Pamela Malpas, a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency and board member of the Association of American Literary Agents. Malpas noted that AALA has a working group focused on A.I., and its impact and is coordinating with similar groups in the U.K. and Australia to get a global perspective on the matter. As a literary agent, my main priority is protecting the copywritten materials of my clients, Malpas added. A.I. was built with a disregard for consent. And frankly, I find that scary. Publishing values consent. We believe in asking permission. Publishers and authors make money on permissions. The publishing industry is built on manuscripts that take years to write. It's built on negotiated licenses, on carefully edited texts that demand years of hands-on training to work with. Publishing is built on personal relationships and trust. It's a human business with all the messy human inefficiencies that that implies. That does not mean that it cannot be improved. In another session, Mary Carlomagno, director of sales and business development for Bowker, together with Julie Trelstad of StreetLib USA and Paperbacks & Pixels, ran a workshop in which they challenged teams of attendees to reimagine book promotion and digital reading for the future. Some solutions included A.I.powered chatbots that readers could query for book recommendations, which feature screens that bleed when you are reading Stephen King or text that quavers when a narrator in a novel is experiencing mental illness. Other technologies can books into role playing games, in which readers can play as characters from the books. (This idea was inspired by Tubby & Coos Book Shop in New Orleans, which has offered such experiences in the past.) In further awards news from the conference, PubWest presented its 2024 Jack D. Rittenhouse Award, established in 1990 to honor those who have made an important contribution to the Western community of the book, to Howard W. Fisher of the Fisher Company, who accepted the Rittenhouse Award from Board Member David Hetherington of Books International. PubWest also honored several dozen titles with its annual Book Design Awards. Asked his key takeaway from the event and recent activities in publishing overall, Microcosms Biel pointed to the resurgence of labor, including the return of unions, and the affirmation that publishing is and remains a human-centric business. For many at the conference, it was the sight of all those students committing their lives to publishing that was most reassuring. It was great to have so much youthful energy and optimism in the room, said Bowkers Carlomagno. It is exciting to meet these people who will carry on publishing into the future. On the first full day of the American Booksellers Associations Winter Institute 2024, two keynote speakers talked about how they manage difficult business situationsone by fostering agency and change, and the other through constructive negotiation. Private equity investor James Rhee, author of Red Helicopter: A Parable for Our Times (HarperOne, April), talked to WI2024 attendees about how to amplify a bookstore or brands intangible qualities, values that are invisible on a P&L statement. Conflict resolution specialist William Ury, author of Possible: How to Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict (HarperBusiness, Feb.), spoke about navigating this wave of turbulent times and avoiding the trap of pessimism. Rhee walked onstage carrying four books, including his childhood edition of Aesop's Fables, which he and his father bought in the 1970s at the Corner Bookstore, near their hometown of Stony Brook, N.Y. Years later, as a Harvard Law School graduate with an economics bent, Rhee became known for revamping the company Ashley Stewart, which had been founded as a retailer of plus-size clothing for Black women. Ashley Stewart was near bankruptcy when Rhee offered to come in as CEO, and he reimagined it not as a clothing company but as a luxury fashion brand with an affirmative message for BIPOC people. "This company was being asked to fit into a box, but it wasn't a typical company," Rhee told the Winter Institute audience. He knew its success lay beyond clothing, in clients' sense of personal identity, and he called his approach a much more mutualistic form of capitalism. Rhee believes indie bookstores can succeed by controlling the story about their missions and their roles as small local businesses, a concept repeated in several education sessions throughout the day. Were going to exercise agency over our own future, he said. In Red Helicopter and in his keynote, Rhee, who is Korean American, also introduced the Korean principle of jeong, loosely translated as goodwill. Jeong is unquantifiable, but giving or receiving jeong can forge an emotional bondwhat economists call positive externalities, Rhee said. He added: "I found myself again" while working in good faith to rescue the failing company. Now, he hopes to persuade listeners that, although kindness doesnt appear on a balance sheet, its both a literal asset to a company and a source of long-term equity. Can we be kind and mathematically right? he asked. During a debriefing session after his talk, Rhee shared advice from his experience in private equity firms. To test bookstore business models, he recommended that booksellers try an exercise he called lemonade stand economics with their teams, imagining how children might operate a corner lemonade stand. At a basic lemonade stand, everyone typically pitches in for supplies, divides the profits evenly, and does not factor in labor, rent, or marketing expenses: Its like the purest form of capitalism, he said, although others might call it a cooperative or collective. While Rhees example was playful, he used it to model a bare-bones enterprise with an opt-in culture among participants and everyone understanding what needs to be done: In business school, you call it cross-functional training. Lemonade stand operators exercise a short-term form of the agency Rhee seeks, and those uninterested in demonstrating a spirit of entrepreneurship can have their participation rescindedthat is, they can leave. In his examples, Rhee suggested that managers benefit from being transparent with staff about a store's gross profits and net profits. He looked for what accounting does not measure, and urged booksellers to think about how intangiblessuch as generous customer interactions or low turnover among staffinfluence a bottom line: Cash never lies, he said. Your values are on your balance sheet. Ury, a negotiation advisor and mediator who has worked with the governments of various countries as well as businesses, began his presentation by naming all the indie bookstores that he has loved throughout his life. I just have a special love for bookstores and books, and its a huge pleasure, he said. I can appreciate how challenging its been for you the last few years, faced with competition from big chains, and, of course, the pandemic. But I know the role you play in your communities as a place to gather, a place to learn, a place to enjoy. So really, I am delighted to share a few lessons with youto serve you as you serve others. Asking his audience how we as human beings learn to live together and deal with our differences constructively, Ury noted that people constantly negotiate with their families, coworkers, customers, and themselves. Describing himself as a possibilist, Ury said that he believed in peoples potential to transform even the toughest conflicts we face, from destructive fights to creative negotiations and dialogue. Ury urged his audience to change their mindsets by thinking of obstacles as opportunities. Conflict is naturalit is part of human life, he said, emphasizing that people should embrace conflict in order to change the form from destructive fighting to creative, constructive, collaborative negotiation. To assist the audience in conceptualizing this, Ury constructed an architectural metaphor. He explained that people should step back from any situation to maintain a clear perspective from what he called the balcony; try to arrive at a solution that will satisfy all parties (from the bridge); and seek help from others in coming to a resolution (the third side). When conflicts are tough, we need all three at once, he said. Negotiation is an inside job. It proceeds from the inside out. And, paradoxically, the best way to start is to stop. Appealing to people around to find resolutions is our oldest human heritage in dealing with conflict, Ury said. Its our birthright. He illustrated this natural inclination by asking audience members to take an arm-wrestling posture with the person next to them. When people gripped hands, laughed, and played at fighting, he observed that they were negotiating their behavior with their partner. Indie bookstores, Ury said, serve as a natural balconya place of perspective where people can see the bigger picture by reading books. Your stores serve as a natural bridge: a place for the community to gather, to mingle, to exchange ideas. Your stores serve as a natural third side: a place that stands for the benefit of the whole, the whole community. I believe you have an important role to play in helping our communities navigate in times of conflict. It is creating possibilities one book at a time. Thats the model of the possibilists: it's humble audacity. High aspirations, no expectations. Navajo poet and arts advocate Kinsale Drake started the NDN Girls Book Club last April out of a desire to develop a fun, safe space for her fellow bibliophiles to geek out over Native American literature. She couldnt have predicted how the initiative would take offmore than 18,000 Instagram followers, well-attended in-person workshops and readings, sold-out merchandise in bedazzled pops of pink, and ongoing donations to fund more than 500 free book care packages sent out to Indigenous youth in 2023. This year, Drake is collaborating with mutual aid organizations and other partners on a big dream: to give every child on the vast Navajo reservation a contemporary Native book. Thats in addition to goals like supporting Indigenous visual artists and finding ways to merge the worlds of literature and fashion. But its the core mission of amplifying Native storytelling that attracts readers of all ages to this club. Historically, Native peoples were shown that literature was not for us; it was a weapon of assimilation and erasure, Drake says. We grew up without fair representation, but now were seeing all these Native authors popping up in genres where we havent seen ourselves. Books are such a beautiful thing because they transcend Indigeneity and help us form these common connections. That feeling of connectedness is what Drake and other Indigenous Bookstagrammers PW spoke with were seeking when they started out. Sure, it was about making book recommendations, but it was also about making a community. Its safe to say theyve found kinship, both with one another and among their thousands of loyal followers. The power of platform Dani Roulette, who is Anishinaabe from Dog Creek First Nation, and Erin Tripp, who is Lingit, had each developed strong followings before they teamed up for a 2019 read-along of Turtle Mountain Chippewa author Louise Erdrichs novel Love Medicine. The success of that experience prompted them to establish their online book club in 2020. Though the Indigenous Reading Circles top priority is bringing together Native readers in appreciation of Native authors, the monthly club attracts non-Native bookworms, too. Thats just fine by Roulette and Tripp, who understand that education is part of their responsibility, including enlightening participants about topics affecting tribal communities, showcasing the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures, and underscoring the basic fact that Native peoples are still here. Since the start of colonization, theres been a move to erase us from existence, whether thats by killing us, forcing us to assimilate, or straight up pretending we dont exist, Tripp says. Indigenous literature is one way we can reclaim our identities. As Native readers, we get to connect through story, see ourselves reflected in those stories, and learn about all of our peoples. To the average Instagrammer, those types of teachings might seem beyond the scope of an influencers job, but theyre necessary to build empathy and upend tired tropes. Too often, Indigenous stories have not been told by the tribal people the story is focused on, which has led to stereotypes, misinformation, and an inaccurate portrayal of Native life, says Carolann Duro, aka NDN Book Nerd, who is of Maarayam and Kumeyaay descent and who runs the Southern California pop-up Quiet Quail Books. Research has shown that when we read stories beyond our own backgrounds, it can positively impact our ability to empathize with and support people from other communities. Native Hawaiian and Samoan childrens book author Kealani Netane started the Instagram account Little Pasifika Readers in 2021 after struggling to find bedtime reading material that reflected her kids heritage. Pacific Islander books are really hard to find; if you search for them, you typically come up with Asian books, she explains. Every May, we see a ton of Asian American and Pacific Islander month book lists, but they typically only have Asian American representation. The books I share may not mean a lot to everyone, but to some people, seeing their cultures recognized means so much. In addition to amplifying Pacific Islander authors, Netane also helps showcase the cultural diversity of the area, which is home to 15 independent nations and thousands of isles. Her forthcoming debut picture book, Tala Learns to Siva (illus. by Dong Ho; Orchard, May), honors her Samoan ancestry. The ills of Instagram While the Native Bookstagrammers PW spoke with extol the powerful reach of social media, its not without its problems. Some online trolling is to be expected, but Roulette has received death threats in response to her posts. People have lashed out at me when Ive spoken up against beloved white authors saying harmful things or perpetuating stereotypes, she says. As much love as there is for Indigenous literature, there is also a lot of misunderstanding. Ive read reviews of Indigenous works where the critiques make it clear people are forgetting that Indigenous tribes arent a monolith. Hillary Smith, who owns Black Walnut Books in Glens Falls, N.Y., was braced for backlash when, back in 2021, she started her queer- and Indigenous-focused Bookstagram, where she also promotes a monthly book club. Smith, who is Southern Pomo and Coastal Miwok, is relieved to have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, save for people sometimes questioning the authenticity of authors ancestry. Thats something I obviously take very seriously, so I try to find out as much information as I can, she says. It does happen that people sometimes pretend to be Native to take advantage of a situation, but then there are more nuanced circumstances, like if someone was adopted. To me, thats a by-product of systemic violence via colonialism, so I dont necessarily think those people should be completely discredited. Ultimately, everyone has to make their own judgment calls. A lot of work goes into selecting the titles to feature. Smith and her counterparts endeavor to showcase both the joys and traumas of tribal communities and to emphasize that Native books belong in all genres, not just history. Theres been this pattern of breakout Indigenous books being focused on the trauma that has happened to Indigenous communities on Turtle Island, says fantasy author Melissa Blair, who is Anishinaabe and a prominent Native BookTokker. But now were seeing Indigenous authors breaking into genres that have nothing to do with intergenerational trauma, residential schools, or colonization in this beautiful way that readers are really appreciating. Kate Nelson, an Alaska Native Tlingit tribal member, is a writer and editor living in Minneapolis. Read more from our Indigenous representation in publishing feature: Through the Fire: PW Talks with Tayi Tibble New Zealand poet Tayi Tibbles Maori heritage and sense of humor pervades her second collection, Rangikura. 10 New Books by Indigenous Authors Dig into work by favorite writers and newcomers alike. Indigenous Childrens Book Authors Band Together Native writers and illustrators find strength in numbers. Tips for Building an Indigenous Childrens Literature Collection These suggestions and resources can help educators, librarians, and parents find books that accurately reflect who Native people are. 10 New Childrens and YA Books with Indigenous Representation Picture, middle grade, and YA books examine Indigenous life through historical, contemporary, and fantastical lenses. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University, for the third consecutive year and fourth time in five years, is in elite company, ranking among U.S. universities with the highest number of faculty selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. The Fulbright Program, the worlds most acclaimed and prestigious international academic exchange initiative, recognized Purdue as a top-producing institution, with eight faculty members named Fulbright scholars for the 2023-24 academic year. We take great pride in making this list again, but were equally proud of the outstanding teaching and research conducted by those who were selected, said Patrick Wolfe, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity. These prestigious awards exemplify our commitment to excellence at scale and our dedication to being a key contributor to the Fulbright mission. Purdue was cited by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for being among the top 10 doctoral institutions in the country to receive the distinction as a top producer. This also marks the fourth time Purdue has received this recognition since the program began in 2009-10. Nineteen doctoral institutions, including Purdue, are being recognized as top producers of U.S. Fulbright faculty scholars. The annual list of top producers was announced Tuesday (Feb. 13) in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Purdues 2023-24 faculty scholars and their awarded host colleges are: Douglass Jacobs, the Fred M. van Eck Chair in Forest Biology, College of Agriculture. Nina Mahmoudian, associate professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering. Bethany McGowan, associate professor, Libraries and School of Information Studies . Ming Qu, professor of civil engineering, College of Engineering. Denny Yu, associate professor of industrial engineering, College of Engineering. Paul Asunda, associate professor of technology leadership and innovation, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, with a joint appointment in the College of Education. a joint appointment in the College of Education. Dharmendra Saraswat, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, College of Engineering. Sarah Renkert, assistant professor of practice in a nthropology, College of Liberal Arts. The eight Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award winners tie the largest number of faculty awardees in a single year at Purdue, said Christopher Lukasik, associate professor of English and Provosts Fellow for Faculty Fulbright Awards. The record of eight awardees was set in 2019-20 and matched again in 2020-21. Additional Information Added McGowan, whose Fulbright project explores the topic of dis- and misinformation: My Fulbright Scholar experiences have profoundly impacted my career. They provided me with a nuanced understanding of how regulatory and ethical principles can mitigate the spread of dis- and misinformation across Finland, the Nordic region and the European Union. Jacobs said the Fulbright award has been deeply impactful, affording him to travel and spend time in Sweden to advance his research, teaching and scholarship efforts. It gave me an opportunity to live in Sweden and cultivate much deeper research ties with faculty and students than I ever achieved in past years with short stays, said Jacobs, noting the Sweden Fulbright scholars also were invited to the Nobel Prize ceremony, where they saw the king of Sweden award the 2023 Nobel laureates, including West Lafayette High School graduate Moungi Bawendi. Jacobs encouraged his fellow colleagues to think seriously about applying for the distinguished program: The Fulbright scholar award opens many doors and creates possibilities for lifelong professional relationships through the Fulbright Alumni Association. The support through Purdue for the Fulbright Program is outstanding, and the staff at the Fulbright Program in my host country of Sweden made the transition seamless and welcoming. In conjunction with Purdues Fulbright Week activities, all tenure-stream and clinical faculty are encouraged to attend an information session about the Fulbright Faculty Award Program at 10-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, in Wilmeth Active Learning Center, Room 2051. Faculty and administrators interested in learning more about the Fulbright award programs can contact Lukasik at clukasik@purdue.edu. Fulbright is a program of the Department of State, with funding provided by the federal government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program. I would like to commend you and to thank you and your entire team for your hard work in promoting the Fulbright Program to the students and faculty on your campus, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a prepared statement. In particular, I would like to recognize Chris Lukasik for their support of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program as Purdue Universitys designated Fulbright Scholar Liaison. Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between citizens of the U.S. and those of other countries. Faculty awards and recognition Faculty are encouraged to explore prestigious recognition opportunities listed on the Faculty Awards and Honors webpage. Faculty may also request assistance with award submissions from the Office of the Provosts Faculty Recognition Program here. About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. Writer, media contact: Phillip Fiorini, pfiorini@purdue.edu A Chinese artisan makes a rice sculpture for visitors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Yang Shilong PHILADELPHIA, the United States, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. Artisans from Zhejiang Province of China took over the Great Stair Hall of the museum with a variety of demonstrations, including tea-whisking, sugar painting, rice sculptures, poetry couplets, and puppetry. Guests also got an opportunity to create their own woodblock prints, learn about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and received a lucky red envelope. It was estimated that at least 1,000 parents and their kids had joined the five-hour celebration on Sunday, according to Hiromi Kinoshita, curator of Chinese Art at the PMA. "I think having the craftsmen to come all the way from China and perform things that you don't usually get to see is very attractive. And the event was very popular," she said. Kinoshita, who's been working with the PMA for 12 years, believed the event could help facilitate better understanding between the American and Chinese peoples, especially at a time when information that people get usually comes from the internet or the news, which could lead to a restricted view. "I think people and arts are very important to transmit ideas, and I can't think of any better way than having craftsmen or artisans who can show their arts personally," said Kinoshita. "I think having this type of personal connection is important," she said. Kinoshita also expressed her appreciation for the help and support from the Chinese consulate general in New York for making the event a reality. "We should have this more often. We need to know other cultures. I would come back every year if you have it," said Coco Idani, a visitor who was excited to get the rice sculpture of her Zodiac sign of tiger made by a young Chinese craftsman. "Chinese culture is old and extremely rich," said Idani. "We should learn from such a culture that has survived many years." "I always think that through the arts and culture, we can make bridges. So I'm very happy to participate," said Paul, who works in information technology and is married to a Chinese lady from Zhengzhou, China. "The event is wonderful. We like to share Chinese culture. It's great that the artisans from China come here to show puppetry and their handicrafts," said Paul, holding in arms their two-year-old daughter Zina wearing a Chinese Spring Festival Zodiac head kit. Cathy and Joe Jacobsen were planning to go to Chinatown in Philadelphia to see the Lunar New Year parade, but they got lost and ended up in the PMA event. Yet they really loved the event as it was inclusive, joyful, and welcoming to everybody. "It's a good occasion to celebrate our reunion," said Joe, adding that they have known each other since the 1970s but only reunited after 40 years in 2016. PMA's event was the last leg of the Chinese artisans' 10-day visit to the United States to join the Lunar New Year celebrations in New York and neighboring areas. They had earlier performed at the Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center, and China Institute. "It's a great surprise for us that local people were so enthusiastic about Chinese culture. We often had to extend our scheduled performance hours to accommodate a much larger-than-expected crowd of visitors," Ruan Jing, leader of the delegation and director of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, told Xinhua. A Chinese artisan demonstrates porcelain making at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A woman and a child marvel at traditional Chinese dress at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A Chinese artisan demonstrates woodblock printing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Artisans from Zhejiang Province of China perform a puppetry show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A Chinese calligrapher writes couplets for visitors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A Chinese artisan demonstrates tea-whisking at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Visitors look at an embroidery artwork at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A Chinese artisan demonstrates sugar painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) A child enjoys puppetry at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a day-long immersive Lunar New Year Festival full of hands-on activities exploring Chinese culture on Sunday. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Property details: No Reserve Auction. Beautiful 1.25 acres of land lot in Mohave County, Arizona. Lot 206, Section 19, Lake Mead City Unit Number 19-30-16. Please see the pictures of general area and of the lot. Parcel Number 33804206. Lake Mead City, Meadview AZ 86444. A dirt road access. Beautiful real estate. GENERAL INFORMATION: Buildable parcel on the Hill. One, if not the Highest point in this subdivision. Unobstructed 360 degree views. Joshua trees on parcel. Parcel slopes westerly. Lake Mead City is locat... Price: $ 800 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: Dirt Street Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 86444 Zoning: A-General City: Lake Mead City State/Province: Arizona Location: 864**, Meadview, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arizona Daisy Kent / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/13/2024 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 Daisy Kent has revealed the intimate and startling details about her treatment and recovery for Lyme disease at a clinic in Germany.Daisy, a 25-year-old account executive from Becker, MN, opened up to Joey Graziadei on 's 28th season about a health crisis she had endured for years, which included gradual hearing loss, and how a cochlear implant -- which Daisy got in March 2023 and activated the following month -- changed her life for the better.Daisy's health crisis began when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease at age 21, and she detailed that traumatic time in her life in a recent TikTok video."They think that I've had [Lyme disease] since I was really, really little. I started having seizures and other issues when I was around 11. They called them stroke-like seizures because I would lose my ability to move my body. Sometimes it was just half of my body that wouldn't work and I wasn't able to talk," Daisy recalled to her 176,000-plus followers.Daisy said doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with her for a long time, presumably because Lyme disease can go misdiagnosed for a long time."When I was diagnosed, I started doing different treatments. I went the herbal route and did all of that. I was drinking a jug of this syrup stuff. It was a lot. I was taking a lot of herbal pills. I was going to acupuncturists and all those things," Daisy shared.But Daisy's symptoms apparently started getting worse at that time."It was getting to the point where I would be having a conversation with someone and I would just completely lose my train of thought and I would have no idea what I just said," Daisy explained."Also, my body hurt all the time -- everywhere, all my joints -- and then it got to the point where I physically just laid in bed all day. I couldn't get up. My head always hurt. My ears would ring so loud and I had vertigo all the time."Daisy said that when she attempted to walk, she'd have to focus on every single step because she was so off balance."And I was losing my hearing. They couldn't figure out anything with my hearing besides for Lyme, so then we started really trying to attack the Lyme. I started doing antibiotic infusions and I was taking 26 pills a day," Daisy revealed."I would go sit and get infusions, and afterwards, I would be so sick that I would be dry heaving in the toilet."Daisy shared how she was under a lot of stress and would "freak out randomly" in the presence of her friends."It got really bad, to the point where I wasn't even functioning. From a few family friends and some people I knew in my sorority, we heard about this place called Klinik St. Georg. We decided that I was going to go there. It's an inpatient treatment center for Lyme and cancer," Daisy said."I was there for a little bit over a month, and it was crazy. It's completely out of pocket because it is overseas and insurance doesn't really cover anything to do with Lyme disease."Daisy explained how her sister Adeline had created a GoFundMe page for her and raised almost all of the money she needed for the treatment.When Daisy arrived at Klinik St. Georg in Germany, she begun an intensive treatment program that went on for a little over one month."The main thing they do there is whole-body hypothermia. They put you under and raise your body temperature up to 107.6 degrees. Your whole body, even your head. That kind of kills off the Lyme," Daisy explained."You do that twice and then they also do plasmapheresis, where they take out your blood, clean your plasma, and put it back in. When they took out my blood, it was dirt brown, and when they put it back in, it was a bright yellow color. My mercury levels were through the roof."Daisy also had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy."They planted different bacteria into your stomach and all over, and that helps to kind of reset your microbiome. Because from all of the antibiotics and all of the health issues I had, they thought that would be really good for me to do. And I'm so happy I did that part," Daisy said.Daisy shared how the clinic had administered many other treatments for her as well, including blue light therapy and ozone therapy."You're also around the clock getting infusions and different injections. It is a lot of needles. I had a port going into my chest. And you get a lot of enemas, a lot of stuff up your butt," Daisy said with a smile."You do detox baths, and you do other therapy where they stretch out your skin and stuff."Daisy explained how the clinic's approach combines Eastern and Western medicine."After the whole-body hypothermia, I got really sick. I don't remember most of the day after that because I was just so out of it, and I guess I was throwing up all over and stuff. It doesn't happen to everyone," Daisy recalled."I could only have one person with me, so my dad was with me the first two weeks, and then my mom came the second two weeks. If I ever got sick again, I would go back there in a second. All of the doctors and everyone were amazing, [but] you are in a different country, so there is a little bit of a language barrier."About a month-and-a-half after her treatment in Germany, Daisy shared how she was "feeling amazing" and it was "crazy" to her."It was also interesting how they looked at your whole entire body versus just one thing that was going on... They were looking at my hormones and stuff too, and they balanced all of that out while I was there," Daisy said.Once Daisy returned home, she had to take vitamins and supplements, in a strict timeline, to continue her full-body detox."If you want to go, I'm not going to say it was easy, because it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But it was one of the best things I've ever done, and it completely changed my life," Daisy concluded.On , Daisy told Joey that the treatments left scars on her chest and she lost 15 pounds in five days.Daisy, however, insisted she's "super healthy" now and rocks her cochlear implant as a fashion statement.Joey told cameras how he was so impressed by Daisy and her ability to overcome such adversity, while also turning challenges into positives."I am blown away, honestly," Joey revealed.When Daisy showed Joey her cochlear implant, he called it "beautiful," and star told the bachelorette that he found her inspiring."Daisy is resilient... and to have that be the person that you're with, it's a huge trait that you can look to," Joey said in a confessional, adding, "I can see Daisy being someone I end up with at the end of all this, and it's exciting!"Daisy founded a nonprofit organization called Hear Your Heart in April 2021 to support children with autoimmune disorders or hearing loss, and she also wrote the book Daisy Doo: All the Sounds She Knew to help kids discover "the beauty of" her "favorite sounds" thanks to a cochlear implant.Daisy was just shown traveling to Malta with Joey and his remaining bachelorettes on . She appears to be a frontrunner to win Joey's heart on Season 28, and she recently thanked Bachelor Nation for everyone's support. 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 CARACAS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela on Monday strongly condemned Israel's military offensive's advance towards Rafah, a town in the south of Gaza that shelters 1.4 million displaced Palestinians. "We warn that these cruel and inhumane actions contribute to worsening the consequences and conditions of deterioration experienced by the population in the Gaza Strip and prevent access to essential humanitarian aid for survival," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Israel intends to continue its "expansionist" policy in Rafah despite the displaced Palestinians, the government said, demanding respect for international law "as a guarantee of global peace." Venezuela called on the United Nations and the international community "to make urgent decisions" to prevent Israel from continuing its "catastrophic" policy. It also expressed its willingness to "continue supporting the initiatives to achieve a definitive ceasefire and the international recognition of Palestine as a free and sovereign nation." At least 28,176 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's offensive that began in October 2023. A 5K will be held on Feb. 24, 2024, to fundraise for a scholarship for Oconee County High School seniors in memorial of Leah Szczepanski. Szczepanski graduated from Oconee County High School in 2022 and attended the University of Georgia before dying unexpectedly before her sophomore year. (Courtesy/Sammy David) A memorial 5K run or walk will be held on Feb. 24 to fundraise a scholarship in honor of University of Georgia student Leah Szczepanski. Participants should meet at Boulder Springs Amenities Area around 8:30 a.m. The scholarship will be given annually to a graduating student at Oconee County High School. Szczepanski graduated from Oconee County High School in 2022 and attended UGA for that fall semester before her death ahead of her sophomore year, according to the Love Like Leah website. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking review of its January 3 verdict by which it refused to transfer the probe into allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani Group to a special investigation team or the CBI. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters In a significant win for the Adani Group, the apex court had declined to order a CBI or SIT probe and said in its judgement that market regulator Sebi was conducting a "comprehensive investigation" into the allegations and its conduct "inspires confidence". The petition claimed there were "mistakes and errors" in the judgment, and in light of certain new material that have been received by the counsel for the petitioner, there were sufficient reasons for a review of the verdict. The review petition has been filed by Anamika Jaiswal, who was one of the petitioners in the case. The plea, filed through advocate Neha Rathi, said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had in its report only updated the court about the status of the 24 investigations it undertook following the allegations, whether they were complete or incomplete, but did not disclose any findings or details of action taken. "It cannot be concluded that there has been no regulatory failure unless the findings of the Sebi investigations are publicly reported," it said. In its verdict, the apex court had noted the Sebi has completed its investigation in 22 out of the 24 matters where allegations had been levelled against the Adani Group. "There are apparent errors on the face of the impugned order dated January 3, 2024 wherein this court rejected the petitioners prayer to constitute a court monitored SIT into the massive fraud involving market manipulation through offshore entities owned by promoters of Adani Group. Hence, the impugned judgment, is liable to be reviewed," the plea said. The apex court had delivered its verdict on a batch of petitions on the Adani-Hindenburg Research row over allegations of stock price manipulation by the Indian business conglomerate. The Adani Group stocks suffered a bloodbath on the bourses after Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including those about fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group dismissed the charges as lies, asserting it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. The value of Chinas Ant Financial, which holds 9.89 per cent stake in One 97 Communications, has dropped to Rs 2,742 crore as on Monday with the recent fall in the latters share price. The Chinese financial giant, which had invested in One 97 Communications since 2015, has seen a sharp decline of 45 per cent, or Rs 2,125 crore, in its stake value since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took action against Paytm Payments Bank on January 31. One 97 shares closed at Rs 422.6 a share on Monday. The Chinese company, however, had sold its stake worth Rs 8,293 crore in three tranches over one year. It thus saved a major portion of its portfolio from the Paytm share meltdown witnessed since early this month. According to public filings, Alibaba and Ant Financial had invested $851 million in Paytm since 2015. The company started selling shares in the stock markets after One 97 Communications was listed in November 2021. One 97 Communications initial public offering (IPO) was launched at Rs 2,150 a share and Ant Financial exited at an average price of Rs 616 a share in the first quarter of 2023. It further exited at Rs 755 in the second quarter and Rs 856 in the third quarter, according to statistics collected from Bloomberg. Ant Financial Paytm stake An email sent to Ant Group did not elicit any response. Interestingly, in August last year, Vijay Shekhar Sharma had acquired a 10.3 per cent stake from Ant for $628 million, making him the largest shareholder in the company. According to the agreement, Resilient, a VSS entity, will acquire ownership, and voting rights, of the 10.30 per cent block. According to the plan, Resilient issued optionally convertible debentures (OCDs) to Antfin, which, in turn, allowed Antfin to retain economic value of the 10.30 per cent stake. This demonstrated Antfins continued confidence in the business potential. Accordingly, no cash payment was made for the acquisition, and neither will any pledge, guarantee, or other value assurance be provided by Sharma. Apart from Ant Financial, SAIF III Mauritius (10.85 per cent), SVF India Holdings (SoftBank 6.46 per cent), and founder Sharma, with 19.4 per cent stake, are the major shareholders of One 97 Communication. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued specific measures for aviation sector players to mitigate the risk of runway incursions at Indian airports. Image: Japan Airlines' A350 airplane is on fire at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters The measures include activating stop bars by Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to inform aircraft when not to proceed, establishing contingency plans in case stop bars malfunction, establishing runway safety teams at airports, and conducting comprehensive training programs for pilots, ATC personnel, aircraft maintenance engineers, and airport drivers. The DGCA issued a circular in view of the January 2 accident at Haneda Airport in Tokyo when a Japan Coast Guard's DHC-8 aircraft intruded onto the runway, resulting in a collision with a Japan Airlines A350 aircraft. Five out of the six crew members aboard the DHC-8 lost their lives in the collision, with only the captain surviving. All occupants aboard the A350 survived the collision. When an aircraft, person, or vehicle is in the wrong area of the runway, it can lead to an accident with another aircraft that is either taking off or landing. Such incidents are called runway incursions. According to DGCA data, the number of runway incursions in India in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 were 40, 25, 15, 35, and 45, respectively. In a statement, the regulator said that the aviation sector players airports, airlines, and others -- must adopt technological interventions to improve situational awareness, thereby assisting ATC and other stakeholders to identify traffic in the area where the aircraft is maneuvering. The stakeholders have also been asked to "recognise the influence of human factors on performance", which may lead to runway incursions. The DGCA has also asked each airport to establish a runway safety team and ensure that it is functioning effectively. "ATC should ensure that stop bars are switched on to signal a stop and switched off to indicate traffic may proceed. In no case, aircraft or vehicles be instructed to cross illuminated red stop bars. "Aerodrome, ATC and airlines should implement contingency measures to cater to unserviceable stop bars," said the DGCA. Drivers of vehicles using the tarmac, aircraft maintenance engineers, ATC and pilots should have "comprehensive" training to avoid runway incursions. "By adhering to the actions specified in this circular and maintaining a proactive approach among all stakeholders, the risk of runway incursions may be reduced further," it said. 'Interim Budget has ignited the entrepreneurial spirit.' Is private capex picking up? In the Interim Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said p'rivate investments are happening at scale.' The big-ticket investments are from the big guns of industry -- from Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Sajjan Jindal, and Lakshmi Mittal to the Tata group. Some of these announcements are for the medium term, some are imminent. But according to some industry players, private capex revival is not a broad trend, as yet. According to Rajashree Murkute, senior director, CareEdge, private capex in India has been muted in FY24 as compared to central and state-led capex. However, Murkute expects this to change in FY25. Rising sectors Energy transition is gaining traction and major investments are being pledged. Reliance Industries intends to invest up to $10 billion in building an energy ecosystem. Adani Group will sink $100 billion over the next decade to achieve an energy transition. Of the $100 billion, 70 per cent is for clean energy. The group is building three giga factories with plans to develop solar panels of 10 Gw (gigawatt), wind turbines also of 10 Gw, and hydrogen electrolyser of 5 Gw. The group is also expanding its renewables portfolio to 45 Gw. In a December statement, Tata Power shared plans for a capex of Rs 60,000 crore by FY27; 45 per cent of this would be deployed in the renewables sector. Pumped storage hydropower power projects with a capacity of 11.98 Gw have been granted environment-related clearances by a committee of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. This is the largest tranche of new-tech energy storage projects to be approved in one go in the country. The investment for eight projects is Rs 81,981 crore (Rs 819.81 billion), spread across five states. Photograph: Kind courtesy Adani Group In power transmission, during April-December 2023, 35 projects connecting green energy projects/zones with the national grid were offered under the bidding route. The size of projects totalled about Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion). While state-owned Power Grid Corporation led the pack on the winners' list, private players such as Sterlite Power, Tata Power, and Adani Energy Solutions bagged sizable projects. In its Q3 results, Adani Energy Solutions said it had an under-construction transmission pipeline worth Rs 17,000 crore (Rs 170 billion). 'Green hydrogen 'and 'battery chemicals' are buzzwords now. Gurugram-based ACME Group is setting up a Rs 27,000 crore (Rs 270 billion) green hydrogen plant in Odisha. It has signed an offtake term sheet for supplying green ammonia from its project in Odisha to IHI Corporation, a Japanese integrated company. ACME is also investing Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) to build a green hydrogen facility in Oman. In the pharma space, Sun Pharmaceuticals' organic capex is expected to remain $200 million to $250 million annually, according to a CRISIL ratings rationale of January. Photograph: Kind courtesy Reliance Industries Limited Cashing in on infra boom The steel space is seeing a lot of action with top producers -- Tata Steel, JSW Steel, AM/NS India, and Jindal Steel & Power -- in a major investment phase. According to ICRA Senior Vice-President Jayanta Roy, a fresh capacity of around 11 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) is expected to come onstream this financial year. In base metals, a planned capex of Rs 8,000 crore (Rs 80 billion) to set up a 2 million tonne greenfield alumina refinery in Odisha is underway at Hindalco Industries and will be completed in 36 months, starting November. Vedanta plans to spend $1.7 billion as capex in FY24. Demand driving auto The auto industry is on the cusp of major growth and companies are committing themselves to large-scale investment plans. Maruti Suzuki India plans to spend about Rs 1.25 trillion on capex between FY24 and FY31, the company had said in October 2023. Tata Motors doesn't share its capex split. But P B Balaji, Group chief financial officer, Tata Motors, said: 'Investment made so far this year is around 2.3 billion pounds for Jaguar Land Rover, Rs 6,000 crore for the passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle and electric vehicle businesses of Tata Motors.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Reliance Industries Limited Capex on ground Some of the capex has started flowing in. Some companies have disclosed the capex during 9MFY24. JSW Steel's was Rs 13,249 crore (Rs 132.49 billion) during this period; consolidated capex for FY24 has been estimated at Rs 18,000 crore. This is part of the capacity expansion to 37 mt in India. Tata Steel's consolidated capex during 9MFY24 stood at Rs 13,357 crore (Rs 133.57 billion). Expenditure is primarily on the 5 mt expansion at Kalinganagar, Odisha, and relining a blast furnace at its Netherlands unit. UltraTech spent Rs 6,922 crore (Rs 69.22 billion) in the nine-month period till December 2023 (up to Rs 13,000 crore till FY27). Reliance Industries' capex for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was Rs 30,102 crore (Rs 301.02 billion) with investment in the pan-Indian 5G rollout, expansion in retail infrastructure, and the new energy business. According to Tata Motors' third quarter investor presentation, investment spending is estimated at Rs 8,000 crore. CEOs Set To Take advantage Of Rs 1 Trillion Innovation Fund With the Interim Budget indicating the road ahead for the economy, Indian companies are planning to invest more in coming months as they expect consumer demand to revive substantially. A dipstick poll of 12 CEOs after the Interim Budget shows 66.67 per cent of the respondents are planning to spend on creating fresh capacities because the Budget has given clear directions to companies to be ready for government orders. Interestingly, 25 per cent of the respondents do not expect consumer demand to revive though an overwhelming number of them (75 per cent) expect it to pick up. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a 17 per cent increase in infrastructure spending to Rs 11.11 trillion for 2024-2025 (FY25). The bulk of the fresh investment is expected to be made by infrastructure companies, which are expecting a jump in orders from the Indian Railways, including metro; roads and highways; and existing and new airport companies. This is a good indicator of what will come in the Budget in July. There is a significant increase in capital expenditure for infrastructure, taking the outlay to Rs 11.1 trillion. However, if we look at the likely spending in FY24, it will be about Rs 9.5 trillion. So, essentially, the increase will be about 17 per cent in real terms. This should translate into robust domestic demand, spurring private investment and job creation, said the CEO of a large firm. Of the CEOs, 58.33 per cent said they would take advantage of the Rs 1 trillion innovation fund announced in the Budget. The minister said the fund would encourage the private sector to scale up research and innovation significantly in sunrise domains . "India's Interim Budget has ignited the entrepreneurial spirit," said the CEO of an oil company. "The massive innovation fund, coupled with infrastructure investments in sunrise sectors like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, is a game-changer." "This push unleashes a wave of opportunity for new-age businesses, empowering us to accelerate technological advancements and propel India towards economic leadership," the CEO added. "We will see major capex in sunrise domains, energy, infrastructure, and digitisation over the next few years," the CEO predicted. Another CEO said the finance minister's decision to continue the push to capital expenditure would further help the country overcome the slowdown of the economy due to the pandemic, and help in giving domestic industry confidence and the room to invest. At present, top conglomerates led by Reliance Industries, the Adani group, Tata group and JSW are planning a massive expansion in the renewable energy sector, airports, telecom and steel. The Adani group is planning to invest $100 billion by 2030 to create fresh capacity in renewable energy and doubling cement capacity. Dev Chatterjee with Sohini Das, Aneeka Chatterjee, Ajinkya Kawale, Ishita Dutt and Subhayan Chakraborty, Amritha Pillay and Shreya Jai. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Following the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) action against Paytm Payments Bank, participants in the fintech ecosystem have turned their attention to giving priority to compliance with regulatory norms. Fintech industry players say the episode will ensure adherence to such measures. Executives Business Standard spoke to said companies should have clarity on their requirements. The RBI has been a progressive regulator, but we see frequent action in the fintech space. "Sentiment takes a hit in the short term due to this. We see a lot of consolidation happening in the space this year. "Many smaller players will die and others will be acquired, said a senior executive. Another senior executive from the investment community said the RBIs decision to suspend most of Paytm Payments Banks operations hurt the ecosystem and customers at large. The decision can have a cascading effect on users and the company separately. "Users will be affected first since many in Tier-II and -III cities may not understand the scale of impact on them, and the nitty-gritty of the regulators decision. "The company has to scramble and will have less than a month to mitigate any substantial impact, the person said. An immediate impact could be the listing attempts of a few of them. An investment banking source quoted above said: There are some fintech initial public offerings (IPOs) in the pipeline. "Based on our discussion, we expect it to be a difficult year for those IPOs. The person said investors too would ensure caution before investing in any fintech company. Fintech founders are entrepreneurs and product people. "They are driven more by the product, and the way it solves real problems and may lack sufficient legal and regulatory knowledge. "As investors, we study how a certain regulation may affect companies in the longer term based on risks associated with the business model, the person added. With this incident, compliance takes centre stage. This shows one should be serious about compliance. "I think this is how players look at the episode at Paytm Payments Bank, a fintech industry executive said. Fintech participants added venture-capital (VC) companies and other investment firms were keen on having people skilled on regulatory themes before making an investment. It is necessary to not just objectively look at compliance but also follow it in the spirit of the law, an industry executive said. The RBI had cited persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the payments bank which led the regulator to place restrictions on the platform from accepting new deposits and carrying out transactions. While some are worried about the impact on Paytm, many are of the opinion that with the fintech industry becoming such an important part of the economy they can no longer avoid compliance. In March 2022, the regulator barred Paytm Payments Bank from taking on new customers. Meanwhile, Growthpal, a merger and acquisition-deal sourcing platform, in a report said there has been a decline in fintech startups amid regulatory complexities. 'I will always cherish the fact that I received the first big award of my life, actually two, in the company of legends for an incredible collaboration.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia He was handed the flute by his uncle and guru Hariprasad Chaurasia when he was just four-and-a-half years old. The most accomplished of his uncle's disciples, Rakesh Chaurasia has been enthralling audiences at classical and semi-classical concerts in the UK, US, Europe, South Africa and Japan. He was invited to conclude the 24-hour live music broadcast to a worldwide audience on BBC radio during Queen Elizabeth's silver jubilee celebrations. He has received the Indian Music Academy Award from then President A PJ Abdul Kalam in 2007, the Aditya Birla Kalakiran Puraskar the following year and the Guru Shishya Award in 2011. He has just won two Grammys with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Edgar Mayer and Bela Fleck for As We Speak (Best Contemporary Instrumental Album), and Pashto (Best Global Music Performance). "Whether I get any more awards or not, this win, and the stalwarts with whom I got it with, will always remain unforgettable," Rakesh Chaurasia tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya in the first of a fascinating two-part interview. Five years from now, when you look back on your double Grammy win, what is it that you will remember? Receiving the Grammy alone, for an album you had composed, is one thing, but standing on the same stage and receiving it with like Ustad Zakir Hussain and Edgar Mayer, who have won five awards each, made it really special. I will always cherish the fact that I received the first big award of my life, actually two, in the company of legends for an incredible collaboration. As We Speak was released, nominated and won the biggest music award in the same year and that is a huge achievement for me. Whether I get any more awards or not, this win, and the stalwarts with whom I got it with, will always remain unforgettable. IMAGE: Rakesh Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyers. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia In our country, whenever anyone wins big globally, it changes their life and career. It happened with Ricky Kej earlier after his three Grammy wins. Will it make a difference, personally and professionally, to you? I think what it will do is increase my responsibility as expectations have risen now. The flood of congratulatory messages over the last few days -- almost 600-700 WhatsApp texts alone from people whose numbers were not even saved in my phone list -- has been overwhelming. Particularly those from seniors who wrote, 'Nice to see you with Zakir Hussain.' That in itself is something I will always cherish. When I would accompany Hariji (his guru, flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia) on stage and watch Zakirbhai perform with him, I would wonder if in this lifetime I too would get an opportunity to play with him. God is kind, I did many solo shows with him. I believe that if you are a good person, your goodness is reflected on your face. Woh kehte hain na, hasta hua noorani chera. And if you are pure soul, your music is pure too. For me Hariji and Zakirbhai are the Gods of music and God is always with them which is why whatever they do, it is a success. Some call it karma, I believe it's because they are such pure souls. IMAGE: Rakesh Chaurasia with Ustad Zakir Hussain. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia/Instagram Tell us about the Zakir Hussain you know. What sets him apart? I've seen musicians leave the venue immediately after a concert. This can offend someone who has driven miles, sometimes four-five hours, just to shake hands and click a photograph with them. For someone who reveres them as God, it is disappointing when you get to see God, but not meet Him. Zakirbhai always stays back, will meet everyone, no matter how tied up he is. There are some musicians God has moulded with a lot of love, then broken the mould. Pandit Ravi Shankarji, Hariji, Shivji (santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma), Amjad Ali Khansahab (sarod maestro) and Zakirbhai are some such musicians. Pure souls, whom other artistes enjoy listening to. It was Zakirbhai who got me to meet Bela Fleck and Edgar Myers. We had our first trial session at his home in San Francisco to see if my flute could gel with their kind of music. IMAGE: Rakesh Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyers. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia Bela Fleck, who has won 17 Grammys and been nominated 39 times, is an American banjo player who plays bluegrass, jazz, rock and western classical music while Edgar Meyers is an American bassist and composer who also plays bluesgrass, newgrass, jazz and western classical. Zakir Hussain is a tabla player, percussionist, music composer and producer. How much of a challenge was it for you to collaborate with such a diverse trio of legends? In the beginning, I had to think a lot about how to incorporate their phrasing in my music. It was a challenge but fortunately, they liked the sound of my flute and my style of playing. That's how I jumped on board. And when this album was conceived, I was a part of it. We recorded it live, in just two days. Live? Yes today, when you can technically rectify sur and taal in the studio, these guys were very particular about recording live. There was no post-production, no corrections, nothing. We would start at 10 am and go on till almost 10 pm, playing each of the 12 songs three, four, even five times. It was physically and mentally exhausting for me, but there was no stress so I enjoyed the process hugely. In between, we went on tour, but whenever we had time, we could drop by the studio which was in the US. The best version of each song is in the album. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia/Instagram Tell us about Pashto. Pashto means rhythmic cycle of seven beats and was composed by Zakirbhai. He had heard the man on the street playing such hybrid music which grew out of an exchange of musical instruments between two countries, our shehnai and nagara going to them and their bagpipes coming to India. When Zakirbhai and I landed in Scotland for a tour, he asked the musicians there to play something and we would see what we could do from our side. When the bagpipes started playing, he told me this was something he had heard in his childhood. On that music, he composed Pashto which must have been in his head and fine-tuned. It was released and won us a Grammy. If we hadn't experimented or thought about it and planned something big and complicated, it might not have touched as many hearts. Your father, Ganeshprasad Chaurasia, is a popular tabla player. What made you pick up the flute? I spent my childhood with my uncle Hariji. In fact, I call him Babuji and my father uncle. Whenever he was home, Babuji would play the flute all day and by default, the sound attracted me. So when I was asked if I wanted to do something in music, I told him I wanted to play his instrument. I didn't even know then that it was called the flute. I was four-and-a-half years old when he presented me with a small flute. When I started playing that flute, I wasn't thinking of being on stage, of audience and awards. It was just a hobby. But what was once a toy has now become my profession and when your passion becomes your profession, it doesn't become a job. IMAGE: Rakesh Chaurasia with his uncle Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rakesh Chaurasia Do you still have that flute Hariji gave you? Of course, but now the flute has become bigger. I'm travelling all over the world with a piece of bamboo. One piece of advice your guru gave you which still works for you... Every time I go to class, he has a new dish to serve. I often wonder yeh soch kahan se aata hain unke dimaag mein? (from where do such thoughts come into his mind?). I guess it's because he is thinking of his music 24x7 and not just when he is playing. Even when he is talking to someone or waiting at the airport to catch a flight, his mind is focused on his music. Such dedication is inspiring. The 'Pesta Demokrasi' is a cause for celebration not only for Indonesia but also for democracy and forces for peace all over the globe, notes Sandeep Chakravorty, India's Ambassador to Indonesia. IMAGE: Indonesia's Defence Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto at a campaign rally in Jakarta, February 10, 2024. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters With Indonesia heading to the polls to elect a new President and members of the legislatures, it gives me special delight as the ambassador of India, the largest democracy in the world, to congratulate the people and government of Indonesia on this momentous occasion. Over the last 25 years, Indonesia has proven to its people and the world, the innate value of the democratic system in terms of peaceful transfer of power and inclusive politics. Democracy in Indonesia is a source of regional and global stability and a force for peace in the world. Democracy at home lends greater credibility and acceptance to the call for the reform of the international system and the demand for peace. 2024 is indeed a special year for democracies -- it is the biggest election year in the world's history. Elections are taking place in many democratic countries this year to choose governments by an electorate of more than half the world's population. Credible elections provide mandate to the governments because in democracies the power resides with the people, they are the sole arbiters of the destiny of a nation. Countries around the world, and very prominently Indonesia and India, have convincingly proven that for pluralistic and diverse societies, the democratic pathway is the only real road to inclusive and sustainable development. IMAGE: Ganjar Pranowo, presidential candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, at a campaign rally at the Pakansari stadium in Bogor, West Java province, Indonesia, February 9, 2024. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters We all have watched with great fascination the Indonesian election campaign for this round of presidential elections. In the course of this campaign different candidates have articulated their own policies and mutual differences with considerable honour and respect. The presidential and vice-presidential debates have been a master class on public communication and civil debate: itself the hallmark of mature democracies and even more impressive in young democracies such as Indonesia. Remarkably, though not at all surprisingly, the youth have been active participants in the process. They have used their adroitness with social media as well as many other creative means of communication to great impact. This is a manifestation of Indonesia harvesting the benefits of its demographic dividend as the youth are aware that the politics of the day will play a major part in deciding their future. Through interacting with the Indonesian youth as well as the ordinary people, one easily discerns great deal of knowledge about the electoral processes as well as the candidates. The Indonesian electorate is well informed. They are keen to express their choice. This has been the invisible yet tangible gain of years of democratisation of the country. Freedom of speech, free media, and freedom to practice faith are deeply cherished rights of individuals and societies. Sometimes a tendency is discerned in some quarters to diminish the importance of elections as not being a critical democratic attribute, while ascribing greater value to other characteristics. However, the cardinal truth is that only with credible elections and peaceful transfer of power, can the rights of the individual and the collective be guaranteed in pluralistic democracies. It is the single most or perhaps the most important determinant as well as contribution of democracy. IMAGE: The final campaign rally for Ganjar Pranowo and his running mate Mahfud MD, in Semarang, Central Java province, Indonesia, February 10, 2024. Photograph: Willy Kurniawan/Reuters Organising credible elections on such a scale is an extraordinary feat. I congratulate the efforts of the Election Commission of Indonesia for the gigantic efforts it has made in both voter education and organising the elections in an archipelagic country where logistics is a huge challenge. The Indonesian elections are undoubtedly the most complex of elections held anywhere in the world. It is not commonly known that Indonesian elections are held on a single day, involving an electorate of about 204 million voters who will elect more than 20,000 national and regional representatives. The voters are spread over thousands of islands of the world's largest archipelago. Every one of them needs to be provided a reasonable opportunity to vote in the more than 800,000 polling stations established across the country. The same goes for the Indonesian diaspora which also has the opportunity to vote at their Embassies abroad. This is an exceptional feat that most countries would struggle to emulate. Yet this is not all. Indonesia with a voter turnout of more than 80% recorded in 2019 has a level of democratic participation which is the envy of even the more established democracies of the world. Indonesia is the world's third largest democracy and along with India and the US represents the aspirations of almost two billion people living under a democratic framework. In fact, these three countries prove that democracy does not hold any special affinity with any race and religion and that it is enthusiastically adopted by all. India is majority Hindu, the US is majority Christian whereas Indonesian has a Muslim majority. Yet the passion for adherence to democratic values and practices is shared by all. A democratic polity protects rights of minorities and women. In both Indonesia and India we have witnessed the inexorable empowerment of women. Today, Indonesia has 30% reservation of seats for women in legislatures and India has enacted the 106th Constitution Amendment Act in September 2023 reserving 33% seats for women in legislatures. IMAGE: An election commission officer checks ballot boxes for distribution to polling stations at a distribution centre ahead of the presidential election in Jakarta, February 13, 2024. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Democracy is not only a political framework to bring people together but is also a suitable mechanism to deliver development to the people who live in pluralistic societies. No system is perfect and perhaps achieving perfection is beyond the human realm. However, as current systems go, there is widespread recognition that democratic polities and regulated free market economies bring the maximum material and non-material welfare to their peoples. Democracies engender enterprise and innovation and encourage the free human spirit to take wings and soar. It is no wonder that the most exciting global startup ecosystems prevail in the democracies of the world. Just as the world's most renowned artists, crafts-persons, designers, sports-persons or entrepreneurs are democracy's gifts to the world. IMAGE: Indonesia's Defence Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, at a campaign rally in Jakarta, February 10, 2024. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Immanuel Kant's 'Democratic Peace Theory' postulates that to attain peace, States must first be democratic. Values enshrined in the liberal democratic framework ensure promotion of peace and Democratic States do not go to war with each other. The world, which has seen a relatively peaceful international system in the post Cold War era, is itself now under great geopolitical strain. The way forward, however, lays not in retreat from democratic principles but in yet more democracy for people at home and across the international system. That is why democracy and elections in Indonesia are so important for the world. The 'Pesta Demokrasi' is a cause for celebration not only for Indonesia but also for democracy and forces for peace all over the globe. 1.4 billion Indians who will also be celebrating elections soon, rejoice and take great pride in this Indonesian festival. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'It will be the end of the Congress after the Lok Sabha election.' 'Many Congressmen and even Communists will move to the BJP.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at a road show in Thriprayar. Thrissur, Kerala. Photograph: ANI Photo P C George, the maverick politician from Kerala had had association with both the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front before he was shunned by both the fronts. In fact, the talk is that he made more enemies in both camps than friends. Still, he survived and floated his own party, the Kerala Janapaksham (Secular), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in 2019. On January 31, George joined the BJP and merged his party with the BJP. It was a major victory for the BJP to get an influential Christian leader from Kerala into its fold. Never a person to mince words, P C George tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier why he joined the BJP. What made you take the decision to join the BJP and also merge your party with the BJP? Kerala has become a state that is totally destroyed. After the LDF and the UDF taking turns to rule, the state has a debt of Rs 4 lakh crores. Farmers are committing suicide. The field of education has collapsed. Youngsters from this state are forced to leave their hometown as there are no opportunities here. There is a chief minister here who is only interested in amassing wealth through devious ways. A country like Sri Lanka collapsed when it had a debt of Rs 3-and-a-half lakh crores. Imagine this small state of Kerala has a debt of Rs 4 lakh crore rupees! You mean, both the UDF and the LDF are responsible for this state of affairs? (Do you have) Any doubt about that? Were they not ruling the state one after another, taking turns? Both are crooks, and finally took Kerala to this pathetic situation. There is no difference between the two; both looted the state. And now! They have joined hands to form the INDIA alliance. After that, the Opposition has no standing to question Pinarayi (Vijayan, Kerala's chief minister) on the way he is destroying the state. It was seeing them coming together made me realise I should stand with a leader who is admired all over the world, against whom nobody could raise a single corruption charge. I wanted to do it for the benefit of the state of Kerala. That's why I joined the BJP. Not only that, our party decided that all members of the party will be members of the BJP, and hereafter, there will be no Kerala Janapaksham Secular party in Kerala. IMAGE: People welcome Modi at a roadshow in Kochi. Photograph: ANI Photo Your party has the word secular in it. But the BJP is one party that does not like the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the preamble of the Constitution... Yes, we had secular in our party. But when I realised that there is no point in holding onto it that I decided to join the BJP. You should understand that the BJP is not against any religion. It is the propaganda unleased by the Opposition that the BJP is against other religions. I agree the majority of BJP members are Hindus. That does not mean people belonging to other religions are not there in the party. There are many non-Hindus in the BJP, and many more non-Hindus are joining also. They are not proclaiming that theirs is a secular party. But I have not heard them say they are a Hindu party. Yes, RSS is a Hindu organisation. But BJP is a political party, and it is not a Hindu party, and anyone can join the party. Many believe that the BJP wants to make India a Hindu Rashtra. Are you worried about such an eventuality when India has people belonging to all religions? That's what you believe, sister. That's not the truth. Take the case of Kerala. Are the LDF and UDF not with Islamic groups like the Popular Front? Why are you not talking about that? Such groups do not have any respect for the Indian Constitution. Why are you not talking about the association of the LDF and the Congress with such groups? Why do you want to only criticise the BJP? You can take from me, the party will march forward in Kerala too. I am a Christian. Do you know Christians in Kerala are converts of Hindus? It is not that we came from Rome. We all follow Hindu culture. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party President J P Nadda, fourth from left, welcomes P C George, fifth from left, Shaun George and others into the BJP, January 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo When the BJP came to power, many Christian organisations said the minorities felt alienated. When violence in Manipur escalated, many Christians expressed the view that the attacks were against Christians and the churches. As a Christian, did you ever feel alienated? As a Christian, I felt like laughing when people speak such nonsense. I feel pity for them. P C George will never be with those who speak nonsense. What happened in Manipur? If you say Modi is responsible for the attacks in Manipur, you can say Jawaharlal Nehru is also responsible. Lal Bahadur Shastri is also responsible. Indiraji is also responsible. Are all the prime ministers of India not responsible? What happened in Manipur was communal violence. It has nothing to do with attacks on Christians. It was the Kuki Christians fighting against Meitei Christians. All of them are Christians, and what you see is violence between two communities. Now, the Christians of Kerala also have realised the truth. That's why they are not talking about it now. So, nobody needs to criticise the BJP using Manipur as an issue. And if the prime minister says something about it, it will only aggravate the situation. So, Modi was right in not commenting on the issue. So far, the BJP has not been able to make a dent in Kerala politics. Do you expect the BJP to perform well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and later in the 2026 assembly elections? The BJP will win at least 5 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. It may even win more than 5. It will be the end of the Congress after the Lok Sabha election. Many Congressmen and even Communists will move to the BJP. In the next assembly election in 2026, the BJP will either be the main Opposition party, or even the ruling party. IMAGE: Sadhus warmly welcome Modi (unseen) on his arrival in Ayodhya, January 22, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo When did you start seeing Narendra Modi as a good administrator? Forget about me, the people of India admire him as the greatest leader India has ever produced. The entire country is behind Modi. People are asking, is there anyone other than Modi to rescue this country? Even in Kerala, people feel that way. Even Congress President (Mallikarjun) Kharge said in Parliament that the BJP will win more than 400 seats! (laughs) You should understand that Modi is ranked first among world leaders! All Indians are proud that an Indian leader is the tallest beating all the other world leaders. Do you feel it was right on the prime minister to participate in a religious ceremony like the pran pratishta at Ayodhya,? It was 100% right. There is no other person in India who is more suitable to do the pran pratishta. Do you know he fasted and slept on the floor for 10 days, preparing himself for the puja? Has any pujari ever followed such strict rules? Some Hindus even say Modiji is the 11th avatar of Maha Vishnu! You should understand that's how people perceive him today. IMAGE: P C George IMAGE: P C George You think he is as formidable as Indira Gandhi? Indiraji was a good person, and a good prime minister. I had travelled with her in her jeep when she came Pala as the prime minister of India. I have great respect for her. But you cannot compare Indiraji with Modi. He is the greatest prime minister India has ever seen. We have to respect a person who has dedicated his life to the country. There is no Indian administrator who has risen to such heights on the world stage like Modi. I am not saying this, I am just quoting a Gallup poll. So, you feel he will come back as prime minister in the coming election because of the Ayodhya wave? You don't need any Ayodhya wave. He will come back without Ayodhya also. Like it has been widely reported, are you going to stand from Pathanamthitta? It is immaterial from where I am going to contest. It all depends on what the party says. If they want me to contest, I will. If they do not want, I will not. I am not interested in such things. I joined the BJP without any conditions. I joined because I feel proud of what Modi has done for the country. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com MOSCOW, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia hopes that Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue their peace negotiations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, after reports of military flare-ups near the border of the two countries. Earlier on Tuesday, the Armenian Defense Ministry said that four Armenian soldiers had been killed on the southern border by gunfire from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's authorities called it a "retaliation operation" in response to earlier provocations. "Such incidents, to say the least, do not contribute to the advancement of this negotiation process, but we hope that this process will be continued," Peskov said, adding that Russia's contacts with both sides will resume. The spokesperson called the incidents "alarming news," and urged both sides to show restraint and steer clear of any further actions that could be perceived as provocative by the opposite side. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. In December 2023, the two countries reached an agreement on taking confidence-building steps by releasing prisoners of war following their first-ever direct negotiations with no mediators involved. 'They were as late as June 2023 and they did not follow it up with concrete measures immediately in terms of a secretariat or common minimum programme, working group or seat sharing etc.' 'They continued to have periodic meetings after a gap of weeks where they had tasty dinner and coffee, but beside that they did nothing else.' IMAGE: Opposition leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, T R Baalu, Lalu Prasad Yadav, M K Stalin and others at an INDIA alliance meeting in New Delhi, December 19, 2023. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo Pavan Varma was India's ambassador to Bhutan in 2012, where he got the chance to meet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He was so impressed by Nitish Kumar that he decided to join Nitish Kumar after he retired from the Indian Foreign Service for the development of Bihar. He bonded closely with Nitish Kumar after which he was made a Rajya Sabha member from the Janata Dal-United. However, when the Bharatiya Janata Party government brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Ambassador Varma opposed it, thus going against the stance taken by Nitish Kumar and the JD-U, which was, then as now, part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. This led to the ambassador's expulsion from the JD-U. Soon after Nitish Kumar's government won the trust vote in the Bihar assembly on Monday, February 12, 2024, Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Pavan Varma, about what the political stars foretell for Bihar in the Lok Sabha election. In your column (external link), you wrote that Nitish Kumar has taken 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' to a new low. Will he ever be a symbol of hope for the people of Bihar in future? To my mind, by now Nitish Kumar's credibility and personal popularity as well as the strength of his own political party have been greatly diminished. To the people of Bihar -- and I say this with some degree of sorrow as he was my political mentor at one point of time -- he was known as 'Sushasan Babu' (good administrator). There was a great deal of hope as the people of Bihar looked up to him. He had the potential to rise to the very top political pinnacle in India. All of that seems to have destroyed by the slow process of relentless political suicide. Today, Nitish's own political credibility and his party's political strength have diminished to a new low. People say after January 22, the day of consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, things are not the same for the Opposition. The building of a beautiful temple for Ram Lalla was the consequence of the Supreme Court judgment (and not the BJP). The reason for the BJP's political dominance is because the Opposition parties are exceptionally disorganised and therefore they are electorally ineffective. In this the Congress is to be held principally culpable. It is the largest segment of the Opposition. It fights the BJP in 250-300 seats directly and it has failed to re-invent, restructure and re-incarnate itself to take on the BJP effectively. The second reason for their (failure) is that they started Opposition unity much too late. They were as late as June 2023 and they did not follow it up with concrete measures immediately in terms of a secretariat or common minimum programme, working group or seat sharing etc. They continued to have periodic meetings after a gap of weeks where they had tasty dinner and coffee, but beside that they did nothing else. So when Opposition unity has completely fractured with no pan-India Opposition left, many leaders in other parties have no option but to go with the party that is likely to win. This is because the other side, which is the Opposition, at this moment offers no hope. IMAGE: Sonia Gandhi greets Nitish Kumar at the INDIA meeting in New Delhi, December 19, 2023. Photograph: ANI Do you feel INDIA parties not making Nitish Kumar their convener is what made him drift to the BJP camp? I am afraid I cannot agree with this analysis. Nitish Kumar's ambition to become convener was not backed by his actual strength on the ground. He may have remained chief minister by making political agility into a fine art without any ideological framework, but in Bihar itself his party is the smallest of three parties. He has become a utilitarian accessory to either the BJP or RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal). And the number of times he has switched from one side to the other did not create trust among the other Opposition alliance partners. I think Nitish Kumar has made the change in order to continue as chief minister of Bihar for as long as it is possible for him. I don't believe his tenure will be more than the Bihar assembly election of 2025. For Nitish Kumar, the (CM's) chair has become his principal magnet and all other principles have been thrown to the wind. He got Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee to the INDIA bloc, isn't it? Didn't he have the potential to lead the alliance then? In my view he must have some role to play in initiating talks about Opposition unity. But to say that this would make him the Opposition convener was in doubt. IMAGE: Political strategist Prashant Kishor greets an elderly woman during his Jan Suraj padyatra in Vaishali, Bihar, April 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Prashant Kishor on Aap Ki Adalat said if you call Nitish Kumar Paltu Ram, then BJP leaders too must be called Paltu Ram because they went back to Nitish Kumar while abusing him at public meetings a fortnight earlier. Why is Nitish alone taking all the blame then? Today which party in Bihar can claim to have any ideological rectitude? The RJD has abused Nitish's Janata Dal-United and formed an alliance with them to be in government. The BJP has abused JD-U and formed an alliance. Politics in Bihar has been reduced to the lowest common denominator. That is why the whole of Bihar is looking for an alternative. And it appears that Prashant Kishore with his unprecedented padyatras (is an alternative). He has been on his padyatra for 18 months where he works for 18 hours a day and lives in different villages of Bihar. He walks 18 km a day and is carrying a new message to the people of Bihar. He is getting tremendous resonance. Critics of Socialist parties say that Jayaprakash Narayan brought the RSS to the Opposition camp and from thereon started the demise of the Socialist parties. This resulted in what we see as the BJP's unparalleled power today. In retrospective, do you feel Nitish Kumar is following a similar route? Nitish Kumar was the most polished product of the socialist movement. He has also become the most prominent symbol of the breakdown of ideology in the socialist camp. The frequent changing of sides by its tallest leaders and the splits within the socialist movement, the opportunistic alliances within the socialist camps or transient hold of power, has reduced socialists to a spent force in India. Where is Indian democracy heading now, considering that many people say we will witness an opposition-mukt Bharat? I have great faith in Indian democracy. I never believe that however strong a political party looks or however weak the Opposition looks, as anyone in power will never be in power permanently because politics is dynamics. As Mirza Ghalib said, 'Har Bulundi ke naseebo mein hai pasti ek din (every pinnacle in politics also has its fall).' And it has happened many times in history. Be it Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. Therefore, I have great faith in the wisdom and strength of the people of India. They will ultimately make the right choice at the right time about what is good for India. 'Chavan's political clout began declining since his Lok Sabha defeat in 2019.' IMAGE: One year ago... Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, left, with Nana Patole, centre, and Balasaheb Thorat, right, at the party office in Mumbai, February 15, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan's exit from the Congress and his entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party marks the third high-profile exit -- former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddiqui were the others -- from the state Congress. While nobody is yet writing the Congress's epitaph in Maharashtra, with these three back-to-back exits -- and with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, warning 'aagey, aagey dekho hota hai kya (stay tuned for what happens next)' -- political analysts and some Congress leaders, in the state predict an exodus from the Congress as it heads into a busy election season. A prominent Maratha figure from Marathwada, Ashok Chavan, whose late father Shankarrao Chavan was also a state chief minister and Union home minister, "was lured by the BJP with the carrot of a Rajya Sabha seat and the stick of an Enforcement Directorate inquiry against him," avers a prominent Congress leader outlining the divide between Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Nana Patole. "We expect more leaders to follow him into the BJP," admits this Congress functionary. "Whatever our numerical strength, and whoever wants to exit, we are determined to take on the fascist and anti-people policies of Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections," the Congress keader claims. Chavan, who came under the cloud of corruption owing to the Adarsh Housing Society scam during his stint as chief minister between 2008 and 2010, and for which he had to resign in 2010, defied the Narendra Modi wave in 2014 to win the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. He was one of two Congress MPs who won from Maharashtra as the nation was swept by the Modi wave in 2014. Chavan, who was selected as the MPCC chief in 2015, could not retain Nanded in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and was defeated by the BJP's Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar. Following in his father's footsteps, Chavan entered the political ring in the 1980s and since then has held important organisational as well as ministerial berths in the Congress. He served in then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's cabinet as minister of cultural affairs, industries, revenue and mines. "Chavan's political clout began declining since his Lok Sabha defeat in 2019. The Congress adopted a policy of appeasing OBC leaders like Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettiwar and Chavan felt being sidelined by the party high command and even leaders like Patole," says a political observer of Maharashtra politics. "It is no surprise that he quit the party with an eye on either the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha elections," he adds. "He can easily be accommodated as the BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate; in fact, he could even make it to the BJP list likely to be announced in a day or two," this observer claims. Chavan's quitting the Congress, he asserts, will not dent the party's voter base in Nanded or Marathwada. "He was already a spent force in Marathwada. While his presence would have made no impact on the Congress's electoral fortunes in the region, his entry into the BJP would prominently be highlighted by them and he will be showcased as a Maratha face in the party," he adds. "Now that he has joined the BJP, there is no point in discussing his importance or absence for Congress, or how it could impact us in the elections," says former MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre. "Party makes the leaders," Thakre asserts, "leaders don't make the party." In a major setback for the Congress ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who announced his resignation from the Congress party on Monday, will join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday. IMAGE: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday. As per sources, some MLAs and office-bearers of the Congress party in the state are also likely to follow suit. Chavan submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole. "I am joining the BJP today, it's a new beginning for me ," Chavan told reporters on Tuesday. "I hope we can work for the constructive development of Maharashtra." Meanwhile, several Congress leaders condemned the move, calling it a 'dirty political' game. Party leader Prithviraj Chavhan said, "Our senior colleague Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party and also as the MLA. It's a sad decision. This had been talked about for a long time. We didn't think he would make this decision. "He was made the state CM on two occasions. What went wrong, who was he upset about--only he will tell about this. This is very tragic. All members of the Congress Legislative Party are together. BJP leaders are spreading rumours that some people are in touch with them," Chavan said while addressing the media. "It is really surprising. This hasn't happened in Maharashtra before. It is totally a dirty political game by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," he added. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh earlier took a swipe at the BJP, stating that the 'washing machine' of the party is very powerful. "It is clear that the special washing machine functioning in our country is very powerful...The exit of some people doesn't mean Congress will break...There is some sadness but this won't affect the party," he said. Ashok Chavan was the vice president and general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. He served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP. He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. Authorities in New Delhi intensified security arrangements on Tuesday to stop the farmers' march from entering Delhi as the Singhu and Tikri borders were shut while the Red Fort complex was closed temporarily after peasants on their way to the national capital clashed with the police at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab. IMAGE: Locals stand at the Punjab-Haryana border, which is being barricaded as the farmers call for the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march scheduled for February 13th, in Patiala on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo Multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers have been placed at the Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders, with the deployment of a large number of security personnel in anti-riot gear. With massive security arrangements at the three border points, commuters had a harrowing time as they spent hours stuck in jam-packed traffic. Metal and concrete barricades were put up at many places in central Delhi as part of the security arrangements. Multiple gates of nine metro stations near important installations, including Parliament, were shut. The gates were opened later. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav, while visiting the Singhu border in the evening, made an announcement, asking the personnel to respond "aggressively" if the protesting farmers try to enter Delhi and "show aggression". The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the "Delhi Chalo" agitation to put pressure on the BJP-led Centre for their demands, including a law on a minimum support price for crops and loan waivers. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited the Tikri and Singhu borders to review the security arrangements. Meanwhile, the Delhi government rejected the Centre's proposal to convert the Bawana stadium into a makeshift jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar denying permission for the same and expressed solidarity with the farmers. Earlier in the day, farmers from Punjab faced tear gas shells -- some dropped by a drone -- at two border points of Haryana-Punjab as protesters tried to break past barricades that were installed to stop them from heading to Delhi. The police hurled tear gas shells and the protesters hurled stones at the Shambhu border near Haryana's Ambala. Tear gas was also used against protesters at the border between the two states in Haryana's Jind district. Hours after the clashes between the farmers and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border, the Delhi police closed the Tikri and Singhu borders for the movement of vehicles, forcing people to cross these points on foot. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace at many places in the Delhi-National Capital Region. Arun Singh from Uttarakhand, who was on his way to visit his ailing father at a Delhi hospital, felt helpless after being stuck in traffic at the Ghazipur border for hours. "I have travelled from Uttarakhand to meet my 78-year-old father who is admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. My family and I have been stuck here since 11 am. It is an extremely frustrating situation for us and we feel angry and helpless," Singh told PTI. People had to cross the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on foot. Satya Prakash from Himachal Pradesh had no idea that the border was sealed for traffic movement. "We came all the way from Himachal Pradesh on some work. We have to go to Delhi. The bus driver stopped the vehicle at the border from where we are walking towards the city," he said. Meanwhile, the Red Fort complex was temporarily closed for visitors due to security reasons. Asked when the 17th-century monument will reopen, an official said "it will be the call of security agencies". The Delhi police has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for a month -- banning the assembly of five or more people, processions or rallies and the entry of tractor-trolleys ferrying people. The Delhi Metro regulated passenger entry and exit at nine stations by shutting some gates. The commuters were allowed to enter or exit these stations through other gates. The stations where one or more gates were closed were Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, Barakhamba Road, Lok Kalyan Marg and Khan Market, a senior official said. One gate was closed at the Khan Market station, the official added. During their protest in 2020, farmers from different states, mainly Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had staged a sit-in at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders. They sat there from August 2020 to December 2021. The police had to rush logistics in 2020 to check the entry of the farmers moving in a procession of tractors. A senior Delhi police officer said learning from past experience, tight security arrangements were made this time. The police have also sealed rural roads bordering Haryana to stop the protesters from moving ahead to enter Delhi. Experts recommend awaiting the findings of the 2021 Census, which is yet to be conducted, before introducing population control policies. IMAGE: A crowded railway platform in Mumbai. Kindly note that this photograph has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed 'population explosion' a cause for concern in his first Independence Day speech from the Red Fort after leading his party to a second successive Lok Sabha win in 2019. He described those who limit the size of their family as 'patriots'. In his annual Vijayadashami address in 2022, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat cautioned about the dangers of 'religion-based population imbalance', citing examples like the creation of new countries such as South Sudan, East Timor, and Kosovo in the 21st century. He called for the framing of a population policy. On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Interim Budget speech, announced the setting up of a high-powered committee to study the challenges of fast population growth and demographic changes. Sitharaman said that the committee would be mandated to make comprehensive recommendations concerning the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' or a developed India. The government has yet to announce the committee members. However, given Modi's 2019 I-Day speech, where he emphasised the need for the Centre and state governments to collaborate through different schemes to address the population explosion, the committee could propose measures for the next two decades. In April 2022, the Rajya Sabha discussed the Population Regulation Bill, a private members' Bill that Bharatiya Janata Party nominated member Rakesh Sinha introduced in July 2019. Sinha demanded a revision of the National Population Policy and proposed rewarding those with small families while penalising those who don't. According to a Parliament Library reference note from July 2022, private members' Bills proposing a two-child policy have been introduced in Parliament 35 times since Independence by Members of Parliament of various ideological hues. Sinha's Bill suggested that a government employee who undergoes sterilisation after their second child should receive an additional increment, easier loans, land plots, and rebates on utilities, like electricity. He argued for extending these benefits to the general public who subscribe to the two-child norm. Sinha, a Delhi University professor and a member of the RSS, proposed that individuals with more than two children should be disqualified as elected representatives from Parliament, legislative assemblies, and local self-government. He further suggested that those in the general public with more than two children should be denied government subsidies and benefits. Sinha withdrew his Bill after Union Health Minister Manuskh Mandaviya's reply, stating that the government is pursuing population control through non-coercive means, including ensuring better health care. Other members pointed out that India's total fertility rate (TFR) was now at an acceptable level. They argued, including the BJP's Vikas Mahatme, that using force to control the population could lead to increased sex selection, female foeticide, and unsafe abortions, given the collective desire for a male child. Arguing against coercive population control, Mandaviya stated that India's TFR declined from 2.9 in 2005 to 2.2 in 2017. According to government surveys, 25 of 37 states and Union Territories have already achieved replacement level fertility of 2.1 or less. However, several states, including Assam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, have some form of the two-child norm for those running for elected local government posts or government jobs. In his 2021 book, The Population Myth: Islam, Family Planning, and Politics in India, former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said that the population of Hindus has reduced from 84.1 per cent in 1951 to 79.8 per cent in 2011, while that of Muslims increased from 9.9 per cent to 14.2 per cent. However, he argued against the provocative and exaggerated narrative that claims Muslims will overtake Hindus soon and capture political power in India. Quraishi mentioned that it would take 600 years for Muslims to do so, given the 60 years it took to increase their population by 4 per cent. As the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) and Censuses until 2011 have shown, Muslims in India have adopted family planning quickly. The data from NFHS suggests that in the past 24 years, new-generation Muslim families have excelled at family planning compared to their Hindu counterparts. According to NFHS-1, the TFR for Muslims was 4.4, reducing to 3.6 in NFHS-2 and 3.4 in NFHS-3. The Muslim TFR, according to NFHS-4, was 2.61, while that of Hindus was 2.13, but the former is falling at a sharper rate. Experts recommend awaiting the findings of the 2021 Census, which is yet to be conducted, before introducing population control policies. In his 2019 I-Day speech, Modi emphasised that if the population of India in the 21st century is 'not educated, not healthy, then neither the home nor the country can be happy', suggesting that the demographic dividend could turn into a disaster. However, the Sangh Parivar leadership seldom talks about the increasing rate of the population growth of Muslims, stating that its concern is the growing numbers of illegal immigrants settling in border and coastal districts of India. FERTILE GROUNDS OF POLICY Cultivating India's population control and family planning landscape INCEPTION India launches the National Family Planning Programme (NFPP) in 1952 EVOLUTION & CHALLENGES Department of Family Planning established in 1966, introducing 'camp approach' National Population Policy announced in 1976 Estimated 6-8 million sterilisations carried out in 1976 BACKLASH & RENAMING Backlash during the Emergency era, contributing to Congress' loss in 1977 Lok Sabha polls NFPP rebranded National Family Welfare Programme National Development Council Sub-Committee on Population established in 1992 NEW MILLENNIUM INITIATIVES National Population Policy of 2000 aims for population stabilisation by 2045 National Rural Health Mission (2005) initiated for population stabilisation LEADERSHIP CONCERNS Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses worry about 'population explosion' in his 2019 Independence Day address from Red Fort Calls for collaboration between the Centre and states to address the issue LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS BJP's Rakesh Sinha introduces a population regulation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2019 Bill proposes penal action for those with more than two children Debated in 2022 Budget session; Sinha withdraws Bill after health minister's intervention STATE-LEVEL POLICIES Uttar Pradesh government proposes population control Bill in 2021 Provisions include debarring individuals with more than two children from contesting polls -- and even denying ration REGIONAL POLICIES & LEGAL DYNAMICS Assam Assembly passes Population and Women Empowerment Policy in 2017 In response to a PIL by BJP leader Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay, the Centre informs Supreme Court (December 2020) against coercive forcing of family planning Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The Gujarat government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a review of the court's verdict that quashed the remission granted to 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members during the 2002 riots, saying certain observations made against the state were unwarranted. IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo The Gujarat government has said the apex court's observation in the January 8 judgment, holding the state guilty of "usurpation of power" and "abuse of discretion" for complying with an order of another top court bench, was an "error apparent on the face of the record" primarily on three grounds. It has said another coordinate bench of the apex court had, in May 2022, held the state of Gujarat to be the "appropriate government" and directed the state to decide the remission application of one of the convicts in accordance with the remission policy of 1992. "No adverse inference of 'usurpation of power' can be drawn against the state of Gujarat for not filing a review petition against the judgment dated May 13, 2022 (of the coordinate bench)," the review plea says. "It is humbly submitted that the extreme observation made by this court that the state of Gujarat 'acted in tandem and was complicit with respondent no.3/accused' is not only highly unwarranted and against the record of the case, but has caused serious prejudice to the petitioner-state of Gujarat," it says. According to the plea, in view of the "errors on the face of the record", the apex court's interference is imperative and it may be "pleased to review its impugned common final judgment and order dated January 8, 2024 ... to the extent as mentioned hereinabove". In its January 8 verdict, the apex court had quashed the remission granted to the 11 men convicted in the case and ordered that they be sent back to jail within two weeks. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped by the men while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out in Gujarat after the Godhra train-burning incident in February 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among her seven family members killed. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022. Excoriating the Gujarat government, the apex court had said in its verdict that the state "usurped" the power of the Maharashtra government to grant remission to the convicts. It had held as nullity the May 13, 2022 judgment of another bench of the top court, which had directed the Gujarat government to consider the remission application of one of the convicts in the case, saying it was obtained by "playing fraud on the court". "This is a classic case where the order of this court dated May 13, 2022 has been used for violating the rule of law while passing orders of remission in favour of respondent nos. 3 to 13 (convicts) in the absence of any jurisdiction by the state of Gujarat," a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had said. "Therefore, without going into the manner in which the power of remission has been exercised, we strike down the orders of remission on the ground of usurpation of powers by the state of Gujarat not vested in it. The orders of remission are hence quashed," it had said. Preparations are in the final stages by the Chennai-headquartered space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos for the maiden launch of India's first-ever private launchpad and the second rocket launch by a private sector player. IMAGE: An illustration of the FTS system provided by ISRO for Agnikul's vehicle. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISRO At the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota -- a place that marked the majority of golden moments in the Indian space sector -- another history is set to be made. Preparations are in the final stages by the Chennai-headquartered space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos for the maiden launch of India's first-ever private launchpad and the second rocket launch by a private sector player. Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul, told Business Standard that if final steps are cleared, its launch vehicle Agnibaan will take off from Sriharikota during the current financial year itself. Agnibaan is a two-stage launch vehicle with the capability to carry up to a 100 kg payload to an extent of around 700 km to the lower earth orbit. Another speciality of the Agnikul launch will be that it will be the world's first single-piece 3-D printed engine, fully designed and manufactured in India. The vehicle has the capability for a plug-and-play engine configuration that is configurable to match the mission's needs. "We are in a phase where all the paperwork is completed. Only the last steps are left. Testing has already been completed, most of the works have already moved to Sriharikota," Ravichandran said. "We are very close to it. The launch is very likely to happen during the current financial year," Ravichandran added. It was in November 2022 that a private company, Skyroot Aerospace, successfully developed and operated launch vehicle Vikram-S, on a sub-orbital flight from SDSC SHAR, becoming the first player to do so. "The Skyroot launch proved that it is possible for a private launch in India. We want to build on that and prove that we now have the technological capacity to go to orbit as well," Ravichandran said. "The name of the vehicle is also a sub-orbital technology demonstrator, because we want to showcase the entire technology required to go to orbit," Ravichandran added. Unlike Skyroot, Agnikul will not be coming up with a sounding rocket. It will be a controlled vehicle, similar to an orbital class vehicle, where it lifts off vertically and tries to follow a pre-programmed trajectory. "It will be similar to the PSLV launch -- vertical lift off followed by going over the ocean and then accelerating upward, tilting down, and following a similar profile. "For us it is all about validating autopilot, and of course launch pad, and the engine," he added. Founded in 2017 -- by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, and S R Chakravarthy, a professor from IIT-Madras -- AgniKul became the first Indian firm to sign an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation in December 2020. This pioneering agreement was facilitated under the IN-SPACe initiative, granting Agnikul unprecedented access to ISRO's expertise and cutting-edge facilities. The company is one of the highest funded space startups in India, raising $42 million so far. "We will be going for a further fund raise," Ravichandran added, "once the launch is done." Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com In a major boost to former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's bid to secure a record fourth term, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday withdrew from the race, saying his party would support the ex-premier without being part of the government. IMAGE: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, addresses a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 13, 2024. Photograph: Ariba Shahid/Reuters Despite independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party springing a surprise by winning the most seats in Parliament, questions loom over what the next government of Pakistan will look like five days after the general elections. None of the three major parties, the PML-N, the PPP, or the PTI have won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the National Assembly and, therefore, will be unable to form government on their own, leading to a hung Parliament. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after the meeting of the PPP's high-powered central executive committee, held under his leadership, Bilawal has said the reality is that his party does not have a mandate to form a federal government. Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan, the 35-year-old former foreign minister said, adding that PML-N and the independents have greater numbers in the Centre. Bilawal's announcement came hours after former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif, 74, will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. "I had said that Nawaz Sharif would become prime minister for the fourth time. And I maintain today that he is going to be the PM for the fourth time," Shehbaz told a press conference. Bilawal noted that Imran Khan's PTI had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government. Khan on Tuesday dismissed the idea of forming a coalition government with any of the main political parties in Pakistan and termed them as the biggest money launderers being brought to power. The 71-year-old Khan, also the founder of PTI, was speaking with journalists at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Khan and many of his party colleagues are lodged in jail for many months in connection with convictions in multiple cases. There can be no alliance with PML-N, PPP, and MQM, he said, adding that he had directed PTI Information Secretary Raouf Hasan to bring together all parties except the three parties. The PPP has decided that "we may not be a part of the government but we will engage with political parties on the issue of votes and the election of prime minister." He said that the PPP would help to form a stable government without being part of it. To that end, the PPP will be willing to support the case of important votes - a candidate of the PM of Pakistan -- and issue to issue basis to ensure that the government is formed and political stability is restored, Bilawal said. Bilawal said he would like to see his 68-year-old father Asif Ali Zardari become the president once again. Zardari, husband of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto was the president from 2008 to 2013. I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is in a huge crisis at the moment and if anyone has the capacity to douse this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari, he asserted. In response to a question, Bilawal said all political forces needed to think about the country and end the politics of division. They must not just think about themselves [] this way the enemies of the country would want to benefit from this crisis. It takes two to tango, he said. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, a majority of them supported by the PTI secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) getting 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan bagging 17 seats. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one constituency was withheld. Meanwhile, a senior official of Khan's party said it will use the platform of two rightwing religious parties in its bid to form government in the Centre as well as in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has decided to join Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen to form the government in the Centre and Punjab and Jamaati-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, PTI Information Secretary Hassan said while addressing a press conference. Hassan said the PTI was redoubling its efforts to make government in the Centre and Punjab. However, it is believed that by joining the two parties, the PTI will not be able to gather enough strength to form either the federal or provincial government in Punjab. PTI can form a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even without the support of any other party. In a setback to PTI, a Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed more than 30 petitions filed by Khan's party-backed independent candidates who challenged the "sham victory" of top PML-N leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The Lahore high court while dismissing the petitions asked the defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party-backed candidates to move to the Election Commission of Pakistan for redressal of their grievances, including alleged rigging of votes in the February 8 general elections. Nawaz Sharif first assumed power in 1990 but was forced out three years later by corruption allegations -- a theme that has dogged his career. He came to power for the second time in 1997 and held the prime minister's post till 1999 when he was deposed in a military coup after plotting to sideline the then Pakistan Army chief, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. More than a decade later he was back in power in 2013, but fresh graft allegations emerged when his children were named in the 2016 Panama Papers leak for holding offshore companies. He was later convicted over separate corruption allegations and disqualified from office for life -- the third time that he failed to complete a full term. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday said a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) on crops cannot be brought in a hurry without consulting all stakeholders and urged the protesting farmer groups to have a structured discussion with the government on the issue. IMAGE: Security tightened at the Singhu border with Delhi in view of the farmers' march. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo In an interview with PTI, Munda also cautioned the protesting farmers to be "aware and alert" about some elements which could defame their protest for political benefits. Munda is part of the ministerial delegation that held two rounds of discussion with the farmers' groups, including Samyuka Kisan Morcha (non-political), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha in Chandigarh, to resolve their concerns. However, as the talks remained inconclusive, farmers' groups have started their 'Delhi Chalo' march on Tuesday. "In the two rounds of discussions, we agreed to many of their demands. But there was no agreement on certain issues. The talks are still on," Munda said. He said the Centre has agreed to meet many of their demands that can be done at the administrative level. However, a policy guaranteeing an MSP requires a holistic approach taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders, including the state governments, the minister said. "Humein MSP ke baare mein yeh dekhna hai kanoon kis tarah banana hai aur ismein kya labh aur kya nuksaan hai (on MSP, we need to see what kind of law we have to come up with and what are the benefits and drawbacks of such a law)," Munda said. He also asserted that the Modi government does "solid work" keeping in mind the welfare of all stakeholders and will not make any announcements in a "hurry" which could later turn out to be a failed exercise. "They want us to announce certain things. The government is not there for making announcements but to do work. Announcement is made only after a mature discussion. For a mature discussion, we need to keep in mind the interest of every stakeholder," he said, and added that agriculture is a state subject. "Suppose we do something at a national level, the same people will tell tomorrow that you did not take states into confidence. That will also be not proper," Munda said. During the course of the discussion with protesting farmers, the minister said farmers were requested to either be part of the Sanjay Aggarwal-chaired committee that is already looking at strengthening the MSP system, or be part of a new committee. "... we will form a committee and asked them be a part of it. For that also, they were not ready," he said, adding that the whole issue should be not be seen in isolation. The government is ready for a holistic time-bound discussion with clear terms of reference "but they were not ready for this also," the minister said. The Sanjay Aggarwal-headed panel on MSP was established in July 2022, eight months after the government promised to set up such a panel while withdrawing the three contentious agri-laws. To date, it has held 37 meetings/workshops. Stating that the Centre is open for dialogue anytime to resolve the concerns of farmers, Munda said, "they (farmers) will give the date now". "We have told them we are ready for talks... If they don't want to talk and creating a problem is the motto, then I would advise farmers to be careful about such people who want to create a situation for political benefit. "I want to appeal to the farmers that there can be some elements amongst them who want to create some situation to defame farmers. They should be careful about them," he said. Munda emphasised that the government is committed to farmers' welfare and has increased the agriculture budget from Rs 27,000 crore to Rs 1.24 lakh crore annually in the last 10 years. Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for farmer welfare, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, and debt waiver, among others. The farmers are also seeking withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstating the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawing from the World Trade Organization, and compensating families of farmers who died during the previous agitation. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday made his political move by joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Mumbai, just a day after parting ways with the Congress. IMAGE: Former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Ashok Chavan joins the BJP in presence of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule at the party's in Mumbai on Tuesday. Photograph: Sahil Salvi The 65-year-old Chavan was warmly welcomed into the BJP fold at the party's Mumbai office in the presence of key figures, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Regarding his new phase in his political career, Chavan, who spent nearly four decades in Congress, said today signifies the commencement of his fresh political journey. Son of the former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Home Minister S B Chavan, his choice to align with the BJP emerges amidst speculation that he might be given the Rajya Sabha nomination. When asked about any communication from senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Chavan chose to evade a direct response. Addressing concerns raised by Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut regarding the Adarsh scam, Chavan defended himself, stating, "The Bombay high court's decision favoured me. I view it as a political mishap. Although certain agencies have contested the court's ruling, I have endured enough and consider it a non-issue now." Former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena-UBT president Uddhav Thackeray has also raked up the Adarsh housing scam to target Chavan and said on Monday that if the BJP sends him to the Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting martyred soldiers. Thackeray on Tuesday again took a jibe at Chavan and said that instead of going to the BJP, he should have gone and met farmers in Marathwada, who have been affected by the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm. Addressing a public rally in Sonai in Ahmednagar district, Thackeray took a potshot at Chavan and said that the Adarsh scam was forgotten but Chavan's move has brought it back into limelight. His involvement in the Adarsh Housing Society scandal, where a high-rise structure was allegedly erected on disputed land without due approvals, has been a contentious period in his political narrative. Despite speculation linking the scandal to his exit from the Congress, Chavan maintains that his decision was self-directed and not influenced by past controversies. He said he had made a new beginning of his life. "In the last 38 years of my political life, starting a new journey. I would like to do some good work and go ahead with progressive thoughts. "Politics is a way of service to society. Some people have criticised my decision. I will not make any personal remarks against anyone," he said. He emphasised his commitment to a proactive and constructive approach towards development, referencing past collaborations with Fadnavis during their respective tenures juxtaposed as Chief Minister and opposition leader. He pledged to bolster BJP's presence in Maharashtra, citing his dedication to enhancing the party's electoral prospects. Reflecting on his decision to switch allegiances, Chavan highlighted his alignment with the inclusive ethos of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' propagated by Modi and affirmed his intent to abide by the party's directives and contribute positively to the national growth trajectory. When asked about whether more people from the Congress could join the BJP, he said, "I have not made any calls to other Congress leaders. BJP leaders, like Fadnavis, will take that decision. I have only joined the party today." Queried about him attending a party meeting on Sunday and announcing his resignation the next day, Chavan said, "I was thinking about it for a long time. I wanted to be a part of nation-building. It was not an easy decision. I had to think a lot about it. The decision is taken in the interest of Maharashtra, my own district and the nation. If some good things are taking place, I should be a part of it." "It is true that Congress did a lot of things for me and gave me several opportunities, but nobody can deny that I have also done a lot for the party. It is unfair to be critical of me," he said. On the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, Chavan said it was true that the cultivators were facing some issues. "But their issues will be addressed for sure. The government wants to stop farmers' suicides. The prime minister is capable, and he can make other leaders, like the agriculture minister, to find solutions," he said. Fadnavis commended Chavan's entry into the BJP, recognising his extensive political experience and anticipated contribution towards fortifying the ruling coalition. Welcoming him, Fadnavis said, "Many leaders in the country have arrived to an opinion of joining the BJP as the country is progressing under the leadership of the Prime Minister. He (Chavan) told us that he is not keen on any post in the party, I want to contribute to the growth of the country." Chavan was a chief minister of Maharashtra twice and his role in the BJP will be decided after discussing it with the central leaders, he said. "Chavan's stature is of national level and hence decisions regarding his new responsibilities will be finalised after discussions with the central leadership," he said. "I want to charge the Congress that they cannot keep their leaders with them. The internal environment in the Congress is chaotic. Some of them start opposing the national issues while criticising the BJP. They need to do some introspection," Fadnavis said. Chavan's move follows the recent departures of senior Maharashtra Congress figures Baba Siddique and Milind Deora, signaling a shift in the state's political landscape. The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said that Chavan's move to the BJP was expected but expressed disappointment that leaders capable of challenging the BJP are yielding to its influence. Party spokesperson Clyde Crasto suggested that Chavan's decision is another instance of the BJP leveraging pressure on individuals facing legal issues to secure their allegiance. Christoph Heusgen (C), chairman of the Munich Security Conference, attends the release of Munich Security Report 2024 in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 12, 2024. The Munich Security Report 2024 published ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference expressed worries over the "lose-lose dynamics" amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) BERLIN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- An annual report published ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference expressed worries over the "lose-lose dynamics" amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty. The Munich Security Report 2024, released on Monday in Berlin, said many governments are no longer focusing on the absolute benefits of global cooperation, but are increasingly concerned that they are gaining less than others. Prioritizing relative payoffs may spur lose-lose dynamics while jeopardizing cooperation and undermining the international order, the report said. The report expressed fears that as zero-sum mindsets are on the rise, there might be a greater risk of geopolitical tensions and distrust. The report is designed to serve as a basis for discussion at the global security conference, which will see its 60th anniversary this year. The event is scheduled for Feb. 16-18 in Munich, southern Germany. Christoph Heusgen (C), chairman of the Munich Security Conference, attends the release of Munich Security Report 2024 in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 12, 2024. The Munich Security Report 2024 published ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference expressed worries over the "lose-lose dynamics" amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) The Munich Security Report 2024 is released in Berlin on Feb. 12, 2024. The Munich Security Report 2024 published ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference expressed worries over the "lose-lose dynamics" amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Christoph Heusgen, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, attends the release of Munich Security Report 2024 in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 12, 2024. The Munich Security Report 2024 published ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference expressed worries over the "lose-lose dynamics" amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A first information report (FIR) has been lodged by an MLA of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United against a party colleague, alleging that he was offered a bribe of Rs 10 crore and a ministerial berth for switching over to the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led 'Mahagathbandhan' ahead of the trust vote. IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar arrives at the State Legislative Assembly for the floor test of his government, in Patna on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo The case was lodged at Kotwali police station here by Sudhanshu Shekhar, who represents the Harlakhi seat of Madhubani district, said Krishna Murari Prasad, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order), Patna. "The MLA had registered his complaint on February 11. We have filed a case under relevant sections of IPC and launched an investigation," Prasad said. The new National Democratic Alliance government headed by Kumar won the trust vote on Monday. Three MLAs of the RJD, the Mahagathbandhan's largest constituent, had switched over to the ruling coalition before the confidence vote. However, the deputy SP said the JD-U MLA has accused a party colleague of offering him the princely amount, or settle for a cabinet berth in the new government, for helping the opposition grouping turn the tables on the BJP-led coalition. "The complainant has also accused another JD-U MLA of trying to kidnap two other legislators of the party with a view to preventing them from taking part in the trust vote. All aspects of the case are being looked into," Prasad added. Did Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan have a role to play in the release of 8 Indians on death row in Qatar? IMAGE: Shah Rukh Khan with Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Speculation over his role was sparked off when senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy tweeted earlier in the day: 'Modi should take Cinema star Sharuk Khan to Qatar with him since after MEA and NSA had failed to persuade the Sheikhs of Qatar, Modi pleaded with Khan to intervene, and thus got an expensive settlement from the Qatar Shiekhs to free our Naval officers.' Prashant Shah, whose bio on X describes him as a serial entrepreneur, also tweeted: 'SRK personally went to Qatar and pleaded for the release of 8 naval officers directly to the emir of qatar . What a man Where everybody fails , SRK took upon him & ensured release.' As rumours started flying thick over the superstars involvement in the matter, his secretary Pooja Dadlani posted a message on Instagram from SRKs office scotching the rumours. In the Instagram post, the actor's office said: "Regarding the reports concerning Shah Rukh Khan's purported role in the release of India's naval officers from Qatar, the office of Mr Shah Rukh Khan says that any such assertions are unfounded, emphasizing the execution of this successful resolution solely rests with the Indian government officials and unequivocally denies Mr Khan's participation in this matter. "Additionally, all matters involving diplomacy and statecraft are best executed by our very able leaders. Mr Khan like many other Indians is happy that the naval officers are home safe and wishes them all the best." Incidentally, Shah Rukh Khan was recently in Doha where he was greeted by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The actor was there to attend the AFC Final as a special guest of honour, and this visit led to the flurry of tweets over his involvement in the release of Indian prisoners. The Punjab and Haryana high court Tuesday issued notices to the Centre, and the states of Haryana and Punjab, on two separate petitions filed pertaining to the farmers' Delhi Chalo march. IMAGE: Barricades being put up at the Delhi-Gurugram border near Sirhaul toll plaza on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, February 13, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo One of the petitioners has sought directions from the court to stay all "obstructive" actions by the governments of Haryana and Punjab and the Union government against the farmers' protest, while the other has pleaded for directions to ensure no highway is blocked by the protesters and those who do so are punished. The petitions came up for hearing before a bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain, who was representing the Centre, said the court has issued notices and fixed February 15 as the next date of hearing. He submitted that three Union ministers had held a meeting with the farmer leaders first on February 8 and then two ministers held another round of meeting on Monday. The government is ready for talks with the representatives of farmers on any issue, said Jain, stressing it is the government's view that the matter should be resolved through dialogue. On the law and order situation, Jain said the court was informed that it was a state subject. The Centre is ready to provide any support, even additional force, if the governments of Haryana and Punjab request for it, he said. Petitioner Uday Partap Singh, based in Haryana's Panchkula, sought directions from the court to stay all obstructive actions by the governments of Haryana and Punjab and the central dispensation against farmers' protest. In the plea, he submitted that the issue pertains to the unlawful sealing of the border between Haryana and Punjab, particularly at Shambhu border near Ambala, by the Haryana authorities, with an objective to prevent farmers from exercising their constitutional right to assemble and protest peacefully. The petitioner further submitted that the Haryana government's actions, which include suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa, exacerbate the situation, depriving the citizens of their right to information and communication. "The road blockade not only inconveniences residents but also hampers the movement of ambulances, school buses, pedestrians, and other vehicles. This obstruction has resulted in increased traffic on alternative routes, causing delays and difficulties for including professionals like advocates, doctors and emergency services who are unable to reach their workplaces and attend promptly," the plea read. The other petition, filed by one Arvind Seth, has sought directions to the states of Punjab, Haryana, the Centre and the National Highway Authority of India to ensure that none of the highways or other roads is blocked by protesters. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking review of its January 3 verdict by which it refused to transfer the probe into allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani Group to a special investigation team or the Central Bureau of Investigation. IMAGE: Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani Group. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters In a significant win for the Adani Group, the apex court had declined to order a CBI or SIT probe and said in its judgement that market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India was conducting a "comprehensive investigation" into the allegations and its conduct "inspires confidence". The petition claimed there were "mistakes and errors" in the judgment, and in light of certain new material that have been received by the counsel for the petitioner, there were sufficient reasons for a review of the verdict. The review petition has been filed by Anamika Jaiswal, who was one of the petitioners in the case. The plea, filed through advocate Neha Rathi, said the Securities and Exchange Board of India had in its report only updated the court about the status of the 24 investigations it undertook following the allegations, whether they were complete or incomplete, but did not disclose any findings or details of action taken. "It cannot be concluded that there has been no regulatory failure unless the findings of the SEBI investigations are publicly reported," it said. In its verdict, the apex court had noted SEBI has completed its investigation in 22 out of the 24 matters where allegations had been levelled against the Adani Group. "There are apparent errors on the face of the impugned order dated January 3, 2024 wherein this court rejected the petitioners prayer to constitute a court monitored SIT into the massive fraud involving market manipulation through offshore entities owned by promoters of Adani Group. Hence, the impugned judgment is liable to be reviewed," the plea said. Referring to the SC judgement which said there was no apparent regulatory failure attributable to SEBI, the petition contended, "Whereas, there are many instances through which SEBI's regulatory failures are readily apparent. Such failures have eventually contributed to alleged regulatory contraventions and statutory violations." The petition said the apex court failed to appreciate that while the issue of over-invoicing may have not been proved, the aspect of Adani Group promoters investing in Adani Group stocks in the Indian stock market has never been investigated. "It calls for a thorough probe," it said. The apex court had delivered its verdict on a batch of petitions on the Adani-Hindenburg Research row over allegations of stock price manipulation by the Indian business conglomerate. The Adani Group stocks suffered a bloodbath on the bourses after Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including those about fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group dismissed the charges as lies, asserting it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. Holding that the power of the court to enter the regulatory domain of SEBI in framing delegated legislation was limited, the apex court had in its January 3 verdict directed the market regulator to complete the two pending investigations expeditiously, preferably within three months. It had said reliance placed by the petitioners on newspaper articles or reports by third-party organisations like Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to question a comprehensive investigation by a specialised regulator does not inspire confidence. In its 46-page judgement, the apex court had said, "The facts of this case do not warrant a transfer of investigation from SEBI. In an appropriate case, this court does have the power to transfer an investigation being carried out by the authorized agency to an SIT or CBI." "Such a power is exercised in extraordinary circumstances when the competent authority portrays a glaring, wilful and deliberate inaction in carrying out the investigation. The threshold for the transfer of investigation has not been demonstrated to exist," it had said. The judgment was delivered on PILs filed by lawyers Vishal Tiwari, M L Sharma, Congress leader Jaya Thakur, and Anamika Jaiswal. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 44F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. BEIRUT, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Three Lebanese fighters were killed on Monday late at night, and two civilians were wounded in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese security sources told Xinhua on Tuesday. Medical sources told Xinhua that the civil defense and the Muslim Scout Association rushed to the southeast village of Talloussa and worked until early Tuesday morning to remove the rubble of a destroyed house and five neighboring damaged houses to recover three bodies and two wounded people and transport them to nearby hospitals. Meanwhile, UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Spokesman Andrea Tenenti rejected on Tuesday media reports claiming that the UNIFIL informed the Lebanese army, citing Israeli authority, that Israel will target the entire southern city of Nabatieh in the coming days. "I am unaware of any specific conversation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL regarding what was mentioned," he said, adding "we often meet with our strategic partners in the Lebanese Armed Forces to discuss many issues related to security and safety along the Blue Line, and these discussions are confidential," according to the National News Agency. Tenenti continued "UNIFIL mission is making every effort to calm tensions and prevent dangerous misunderstandings between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli army in addition to continuing our daily activities along the Blue Line to calm tensions." The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 271 people on the Lebanese side, including 190 Hezbollah members and 44 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. NEW YORK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- One commuter was killed and five others were injured in a shooting incident Monday afternoon at a subway station in the New York City borough of the Bronx, according to local police. The shooting resulted from a dispute between two groups of teenagers riding the subway, according to reports. A 34-year-old bystander was killed, and two teenagers are among the wounded, according to media reports. Michael Kemper, chief of transit with the New York Police Department, described the shooting as an isolated incident. Local police are still working to identify at least one shooter who fled the scene. HARARE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday warned that more people in Zimbabwe will likely require emergency food aid during the 2024/2025 lean season due to the impact of El Nino. Although the level of food insecurity in the country will be determined by June this year, the implications of El Nino may likely be profound and multifaceted, WFP Representative and Country Director in Zimbabwe Francesca Erdelmann said at a signing ceremony for emergency food assistance. The lean season in Zimbabwe typically starts in October and reaches its peak between January and March. It is a time when communities, particularly in rural areas, do not have enough food to feed themselves. In this current lean season, 2.7 million people in rural Zimbabwe out of the country's total population of 16 million people are food insecure, according to a livelihoods assessment done by the government. The Zimbabwean government, working jointly with the WFP, has started emergency food distribution to vulnerable households throughout the country. Erdelmann said the upcoming 2024/2025 lean season could see more people in the country requiring food assistance due to the impact of El Nino, warning that lower harvests and fewer livelihood opportunities will likely culminate in a deeper and earlier 2024/2025 lean season. "With erratic rainfall, diminished harvests, and fewer livelihood opportunities, vulnerable communities could face uncertainty and the grim reality of depleted food stocks and increased susceptibility to hunger," she said. She said the UN agency will work with the Zimbabwean government to come up with a collective response plan on the impact of El Nino, aiming to provide immediate relief while also jointly investing in fostering resilience and sustainable solutions for communities in need. Erdelmann noted that although Zimbabwe has invested heavily in dam construction, its irrigation capacity remained low, which negates its capacity to respond to climate-induced droughts. Over the years, the WFP has not only been providing humanitarian food assistance to Zimbabwe but resilience building as well, as part of its long-term solutions to persistent food insecurity and bolster communities' ability to withstand future shocks. In Zimbabwe, Erdelmann said their resilience building program started in 2011, and some of the programs have started to bear positive results in terms of boosting household food security. She said some of the districts in the country that were previously categorized as most food insecure are now being regarded by the government as less food insecure due to the various WFP-backed livelihood programs. The chemical giants move puts pressure on Volkswagen and others, say German lawmakers. A red traffic light is seen in front of the facade of the BASF plant in Schweizerhalle near Basel July 7, 2009. German chemical giant BASF is pulling out of its joint ventures in Chinas Xinjiang with renewed urgency, amid intensified pressure to exit the region where Western governments have accused Beijing of human rights abuses against the Uyghur ethnic minority. BASF announced last Friday that it would accelerate the ongoing process to divest its shares in two joint ventures BASF Markor Chemical Manufacturing and Markor Meiou Chemical in Xinjiangs Korla region which began at the end of last year. German media had earlier alleged its local partner was involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. BASFs exit could trigger other Western companies to follow, including auto giant Volkswagen that has a plant in the capital city Urumqi, according to lawmakers and academics, who called the chemical companys move belated and insincere. A BASF statement said the decision was based on commercial considerations. However, it acknowledged that the local situation in Xinjiang is also part of BASF's overall assessment of the Korla joint ventures. BASF denied published reports that employees of the joint ventures were involved in the Chinese communist authorities suppression of Uyghurs, and said the claims related to its joint venture partner Markor, in which it has no stake. Regular due diligence measures including internal and external audits have not found any evidence of human rights violations in the two joint ventures. Nonetheless, recently published reports related to the joint venture partner contain serious allegations that indicate activities inconsistent with BASFs values, the statement said. A spokesman said BASF could not predict when the sale would be completed, but it would not change the company's China strategy or other businesses in the country. Money over morals The German newspaper Handelsblatt published a report last November exposing BASF-Markors shareholder, Zhongtai Group in Xinjiang and its subsidiary Zhongtai Chemical, for allegedly using Uyghur slave labor. The United States government, which has blocked imports from Xinjiang unless proven they were not made with forced labor, has included Zhongtai Group and Zhongtai Chemical on a sanctions list since last summer. Zhu Rui, a Chinese lecturer at a German university, believes that BASFs belated decision was made under growing pressure from international public opinion as German companies who look to profit from Chinese investments are also governed by laws and human rights standards at home. The BASF incident is very much like a live version of Huntington's Clash of Civilizations, Zhu said, referring to Samuel P. Huntingtons theory that the primary cause of conflict in the post-Cold War world will be cultural, rather than ideological or economic. While the Western civilized world requires multinational companies to respect human rights values, BASF not only went to China, a country known for its poor human rights standards, but to Xinjiang, a Chinese region that operates concentration camps for Uyghur people, he added. This all reflects the dilemma it faces between adhering to Western values and choosing the Chinese market, Zhu told Radio Free Asia. BASF's production capacity in China roughly accounts for half of its global output. In retreating from Xinjiang, BASF says it hopes to retain its operations in China. But, being between Western values and giving China face, it cant please either side. Whos next? On Feb. 5, 30 members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) an international cross-party group of legislators wrote to BASF CEO Martin Brudermuller, expressing deep concern about the shocking degree to which BASF appeared to be implicated in gross abuses of the Uyghur and other predominantly Turkic minorities, in Xinjiang, and demanding that BASF withdraw from the region. One of the signatories, the deputy chairman of Germanys Free Democratic Party Gyde Jensen, told the Handelsblatt that BASF's decision to divest from the controversial Xinjiang joint venture factory was belated, and the reasons cited were insufficient. She also urged Volkswagen to seriously consider the reputational risks of continuing to build factories in Xinjiang. German lawmaker Michael Brand agreed that BASF's move came too late, made as the company ran out of options. "If Mr. Brudermuller thinks he can now avoid joint responsibility for serious human rights violations while in China, he and BASF may be wrong, and the German law will not forget serious human rights violations," Brand said. The polytetrahydrofuran production unit jointly established by BASF and Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry officially went into operation in July 2016. (BASF China official website) Ilshat Hesen Kokbore a US-based Uyghur scholar and vice chairman of the World Uyghur Congress, argued that BASF does not realize it has become an accomplice of the Chinese Communist Partys genocide against the Uyghurs. Regardless of whether you participated or not, you have factories there, and the companies you invest in are tools of the Chinese totalitarian government. You are an accomplice, he said. Others believe BASF's withdrawal from its Xinjiang joint ventures will double down the pressure on Volkswagen. Adrian Zenz, a scholar on Xinjiang internment camps said the BASF divestment sends out an important signal Volkswagen, the only German company with a factory there, has no more excuses not to exit from Xinjiang. An external audit commissioned by Volkswagen last year carried out by Loning, a German consultancy accompanied by an unnamed Shenzhen-based law firm, found no indication of forced labor at the plant. But staff at the consulting firm and outside experts have expressed doubts about the credibility of the investigation. Company representatives once said privately that considering the local situation in Xinjiang, no company would make this site selection decision again. Translated and additional reporting by RFA staff. Edited by Mike Firn. Facial recognition technology could mean the totalitarian monitoring of anyone in a public space, critics warn. Hong Kong will add thousands of surveillance cameras on the streets and could use facial recognition to track the movements of residents, sparking concerns of totalitarian monitoring of citizens' every move amid an ongoing crackdown on public dissent. Police Commissioner Raymond Siu said plans are already under way to install some 2,000 additional surveillance cameras in public places "to prevent crime, monitor public safety and public order," government broadcaster RTHK reported, citing comments made by Siu on one of its talk shows. That figure will likely just be the start, Siu said, adding that more cameras will likely need to be installed. The move comes amid an ongoing crackdown on public protest, peaceful activism and freedom of speech in Hong Kong in the wake of the 2019 democracy movement. Thousands have been arrested on public order charges and hundreds under the 2020 National Security Law, which bans criticism of the authorities or references to the protests. Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu attends a press conference at police headquarters in Hong Kong, Feb. 6, 2024. (Li Zhihua/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) As early as 2019, protesters were damaging and toppling controversial "smart lampposts" that had been newly installed in the city, saying their specification included facial recognition functions, although officials said at the time they hadn't been activated. More than 600 cameras will be installed as early as March, in addition to CCTV networks already installed in public housing estates and government cultural and leisure facilities, Siu said. No need to worry He said the use of facial recognition technology to track people caught by the cameras was also likely in future. We are still in the preparation phase, but we will not rule out the possibility [of using facial recognition] as technological advancements can definitely help us be more effective in law enforcement and other areas, Siu said in comments also reported by the South China Morning Post newspaper. Citizens do not have to worry. Police will make use of these technologies to combat crimes, but we will do so lawfully," he said. There is also concern that a massive network of 5G networked bodycams increasingly worn by police officers in the city could result in a facial recognition system similar to Chinas, according to opposition politicians, sparking fears that the city will soon be subject to totalitarian monitoring. Riot police wear helmet cameras on Chinas National Day in Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2020. (Kin Cheung/AP) Exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui said the cameras were more likely to be used to target political suspects rather than street criminals, however. "The Hong Kong police have been focused on preventing political crimes over the past four years," Hui said, adding that he expects to see cameras installed at former protest hotspots like Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, the Legislative Council and government headquarters. "They could also use them outside of court buildings when political cases are being heard to record the details of people attending sporadic and spontaneous protests, then using the information to settle scores later on," he said. "This is the most worrying thing." Article 23 Just installing cameras in locations like the subway could scoop up vast amounts of information, given the density of Hong Kong's population, said Alric Lee, Executive Director of the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance. He said the cameras, combined with a suite of new "national security" offenses in forthcoming Article 23 legislation, could enable police to keep tabs on people remotely. "While the police normally don't have the manpower to keep tabs on everyone, with a system like this they can use big data to identify key figures," Lee said. "Cameras with facial recognition in MTR stations alone would collect data on a huge number of people." "Used in conjunction with the Article 23 legislation, it could become a new tool for prosecutions," he said. People gather at the Dahua Technology booth during the China Public Security Expo in Shenzhen, China, Oct. 29, 2019. The AI in cameras made by Dahua Technology appears to be explicitly aimed at quelling protests, says a U.S.-based surveillance research company that first reported the technologys existence. (Andy Wong/AP) Taiwanese national security researcher Shih Chien-yu said large numbers of surveillance cameras in Hong Kong raise concerns that the city could become as heavily monitored as China's northwestern Xinjiang region. "Beijing knows that it hasn't convinced many in Hong Kong, and people will worry about Xinjiangization," Shih said. "These cameras can rotate through 360 degrees and the use of AI technology will then basically cover all groups of people and all kinds of activities." "There is a strong symbolic message here, which is to warn Hong Kongers to stop thinking about democracy, or about rising up, resisting or speaking out," he said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. After an all-nighter in the Senate, Trump-allied Republicans in the House threaten to tank the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signals success to reporters after the Senate passed a spending package that includes $4.83 billion for the Indo-Pacific at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2024. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion bipartisan spending bill that includes $4.83 billion for Taiwan and other U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, but only after hours of midnight filibustering from Republican senators aligned with former President Donald Trump. The funds set aside for the Indo-Pacific would replenish American weapons stockpiles to allow for shipments to Taiwan to be made while also meeting funding requests from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. However, the bill still needs approval in the House, where opposition from Trump-allied Republicans looks set to prevent its passage. The bill passed the Senate 70-29 just before 5 a.m. after Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, and Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio, tried to prevent a vote by speaking against the bill through the night over $60 billion included for Ukraine, which Trump opposes. Other Republican senators opposed the bill for not including any funding to stem illegal immigration on the southern U.S. border, which was included in a similar high-profile bill last week that failed following opposition from Trump and from House Republicans. In the end, 22 of the Republican Partys 49 senators including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined with nearly all of the 51-seat Democratic majority in voting for the bill, allowing it to pass. The only Democratic senators to vote nay were Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is an independent but caucuses with Democrats. They cited the bills $14.1 billion of aid to Israel for its war with Hamas, and argued that Israel was treating all Palestinians as an enemy. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York who worked with McConnell to rework last weeks larger bill, said its passage was an achievement that should be celebrated. It's been years perhaps decades since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of Western democracy, Schumer told reporters in an early morning press conference. American resolve U.S. President Joe Biden said he applauded the bipartisan grouping of senators who passed the aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and said he wanted the bill on his desk for signing as soon as possible. I urge the House to move on this with urgency, Biden said. If we do not stand against tyrants who seek to conquer or carve up their neighbors territory, the consequences for Americas national security will be significant. Our allies and adversaries alike will take note. The sentiment was echoed by some of the 22 Republicans in the Senate who broke with Trump to approve the legislation. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said some of the concerns coming from his party in the House should be respected. But he said that, on balance, he supported the bill because China is watching whether the United States has the resolve to stick with its military allies. Why am I so focused on this vote? Because I dont want to be on the pages of history that we will regret, Tillis said on the Senate floor. If we walk away, you will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened, he said. Let this chamber be the chamber that stands with the free world. Sen. Thom Tillis talks to reporters outside the Republican Whip's office at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) History settles every account, added McConnell, the minority leader, in a statement. And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink. But those lawmakers defiance of Trump has not been without cost. McConnells negotiations with Democrats on the bill, for example, has led to caustic criticism from Trump-allied members of his caucus, with Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri declaring McConnell is probably not the future of the party, after leading it in the Senate for 17 years. Still, Schumer, at least, has been effusive about the cooperation. Speaking at a Washington Press Club Foundation dinner late last month, Schumer quipped that in the cross-party talks over the funding bill, I guess you could say I got 99 problems, but Mitch aint one. House opposition No matter its margin of support in the Senate, though, the $95.3 billion bill may be dead on arrival in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Mike Johnson, another Trump ally, said on Monday he would not even introduce the legislation for a vote in the lower chamber, where the Republicans hold a slim 219-212 majority. That has led to complaints from Democrats. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson maneuvers past reporters asking about the Senate border security bill as he arrives at his office in the Capitol, in Washington, Feb. 5, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Schumer in his Tuesday press conference said that given there were 22 Republicans in the Senate who voted yes in spite of the vocal opposition from Trump, he expected it would be easy to also find at least four Republicans in the House to secure a majority there. I call on Speaker Johnson to rise to the occasion, to do the right thing: bring this bill to the floor, Schumer said, predicting it would pass. With the strong bipartisan support we have here in the Senate, with this vote, I believe that if Speaker Johnson brought this bill to the House floor, it will pass with the same strong bipartisan support. But Johnson has said he simply did not like the border provisions included in last weeks bill from the Senate and wanted them to be revamped, not removed. The House will therefore have to continue to work on its own will on these important matters, he said. Still, any redrafting of the bill by the House would introduce further complications, with senators unlikely to be able to vote for weeks. The Senate is not due to sit again until Feb. 26. When it does, it will be just days before government funding is due to run out once again, putting that at the top of the legislative agenda in both chambers. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Some experts say the transliteration reflects Chinas bid to regain the right to speak on culture. Participants take part in the International Lunar New Year Parade on the first day of the Year of the Dragon in Hong Kong, Feb. 10, 2024. As many celebrate the Lunar New Year this week, the English use of the word dragon has struck controversy in China, including its most international city, Hong Kong. Chinese state media like CCTV and CGTN have abandoned the use of dragon for a phonetic transliteration loong. Loong doesnt follow the official romanization system used for Chinese in the country, hanyu pinyu, which would write it as long. CGTN also released a video about the Long History of Loong, in which the dragon year became the loong year and dragon dance was loong dance in English. In Hong Kong, which in recent years has embraced sinicization rapidly, Chief Executive John Lee also followed Beijings example when he made his remarks at the opening of the 2024 International Chinese New Year Night Parade. We are all here to welcome the Year of the Loong. In Chinese culture, the loong people usually call it the dragon symbolizes nobility, good fortune and vitality. It is going to be a year of auspicious opportunities, and dragon-sized blessings for us all! Some commentators believe that the move reflects China's lack of cultural self-confidence and that it wants to regain the right to speak culturally by changing the word into Chinese. It isnt the first example of transliteration. Beijing has also replaced the use of the term Tibet with Xizang as the romanized Chinese name on official diplomatic and foreign affairs ministry documents. The change comes as Chinese Communist Party scholars advocate an amendment to the translated name which they claim will prevent the Dalai Lama from reestablishing the right to speak about Tibet. Netizens mockery The use of loong for "dragon" has aroused online discussion among netizens in mainland China and Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, many ridiculed loong as sounding like being burnt in Cantonese, and loan indebted in English. That is, the year of being burnt, or the year of the loan, neither being auspicious. On Chinas Weibo, some comments pointed out that dragons in Chinese culture bear positive meanings such as good luck, while dragons in the West are mostly regarded as symbols of evil. Some netizens said, Lets use loong first, and we can invent better terms later. Chinese netizens also corrected the New Year greeting posted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk from The Year of the Dragon" to "The Year of the LOONG. Cultural discourse power UK-based Hong Kong historian Hans Yeung told Radio Free Asia that the West holds a one-sided view of the dragon, perceiving it to be hostile to people and vicious while the Chinese believe that the dragon is a beautiful and auspicious object. He said the Chinese Communist Partys move is to regain the right to speak culturally. It now feels that it is a big cultural country, and it hopes that everything will only tell good Chinese stories, and doesnt want others to think that Chinese dragons are evil. Yeung noted that, to a certain extent, China is whitewashing its own culture to promote its good side, a kind of cultural hypnosis. Current affairs commentator Chip Tsao said the move reflected China's lack of cultural self-confidence, using trivial matters to hype up issues. [China] feels a sense of inferiority, but changing the name is useless because the word loong is illogical and the meaning cannot be conveyed to Westerners at all, Tsao said. Of course, dragon cannot be used, but the dragon character in Chinese culture can be seen as a unity of good and evil, where the evil is Qin Shi Huang. Symbol of imperial power In Chinese history, the acquisition and consolidation of royal power was closely related to the dragon. The dragon was a symbol of imperial power. The emperor was also called the The True Dragon or Son of Heaven and items used in the palace were decorated with dragons. The dragon is worshiped by the Chinese people and represents nobility and good fortune. However, the dragon has also been seen as degenerating into a symbol of cruelty in Chinese culture. Tsao noted that the largest dragon in China is the ancestral dragon, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty Qin Shi Huang who ushered in tyranny. Dragon does not symbolize peace; dragon war is a war between separatist regimes and the struggle to become emperor. In Western societies, dragons are used on flags, including that of Wales. There is a red dragon in the center of the flag, which was historically used in battles against invaders. Translated by RFA staff. Edited by Mike Firn. The artillery attacks on civilian homes in late January came as the rebel Arakan Army dug in nearby. A damaged building is seen after a junta airstrike on Let Saung Kauk village in Kyauktaw township, Rakhine state, Feb. 11, 2024. Four straight days of artillery shelling of a village in western Myanmars Rakhine state left 12 people dead and 32 wounded as inhabitants hunkered down between positions taken by military junta troops and the rebel ethnic Arakan Army. The shelling took place in Hpon Nyo Leik village of Buthidaung township between Jan. 25 and Jan. 28, Southeast Asia-based advocacy group Fortify Rights said in a statement on Tuesday. The attacks appeared to target civilians in the mostly ethnic Rohingya village and resulted in the destruction of more than 40 homes and the displacement of 15,000 people from several surrounding villages, the group said. Eight of the 32 injured were children, it said. The juntas Light Infantry Division 22, Light Infantry Battalion 551 and Military Operations Command 15 were likely responsible for the attack on Hpon Nyo Leik village and should be investigated for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, the group said. The laws of war apply to the juntas forces and all parties to the conflict and, whenever possible, civilians must be warned of incoming attacks, said John Quinley III, the director at Fortify Rights. Our recent investigation suggests effective warnings of military attacks could have saved civilian lives, he said in the statement. So much blood The shelling began after the Arakan Army, or AA, dug trenches around the village on Jan. 24 in anticipation of a junta offensive, according to a statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Inhabitants [were] trapped between the two warring parties, the Jan. 30 statement from the U.N.s human right chief, Volker Turk, said. The military repeatedly shelled the village, destroying infrastructure. People flee from a village after renewed fighting between Myanmars military and the Arakan Army in Pauktaw township in western Rakhine state on Nov. 19, 2023. (AFP) Since November, Rakhine state has seen renewed fighting between the AA and the junta after the end of a year-long unofficial ceasefire. Fortify Rights said it interviewed six Rohingya survivors of the artillery attacks. The group also reviewed mobile phone videos and looked at dozens of photos of wounded residents and burning buildings. Village residents told Fortify Rights that the AA didnt warn residents that it should evacuate the area. One 29-year-old survivor told the group he found a way to leave the village on the first day of shelling. He then returned the morning of Jan. 26 during a pause to check for casualties. The shelling hit one family two men died, Sadek and Faruk, he said. Their legs got crushed. There were two other deaths in the household Faruks grandmother and another woman. He described the scene in graphic detail. The bodies had so much blood around them, he told Fortify Rights. Attempts by Radio Free Asia to contact Hla Thein, the juntas spokesman for Rakhine state, and junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun to ask about Fortify Rights statement were unsuccessful. Aerial attack in Pauktaw Elsewhere in Rakhine state, junta helicopters used machine guns and dropped bombs on Taung Phue and Kyauk Pyin villages in Pauktaw township at about 11 p.m. on Monday, local residents said. The aerial attack injured nine displaced persons who have been staying in the area, the residents said. Several fishing boats and homes were destroyed. A jet fighter dropped more than 20 bombs on our village and shot people with machine guns, one resident told RFA. Two bombs dropped in front of a house and hit people hiding under the house. Seven of the nine wounded were taken to another village for medical treatment for serious injuries, residents said. RFA hasnt been able to independently confirm the attacks and couldnt immediately reach Hla Thein for comment. According to figures compiled by RFA, more than 120 civilians have been killed and at least 260 have been injured since the resurgence of armed conflict in Rakhine state on Nov. 13. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed. Seven more were injured in a direct hit on the crowded cafe. Internally displaced people in Monywa township, Sagaing region on Nov. 5, 2023. Monywa is a frequent target of attacks by the Myanmar junta. Junta shelling killed four civilians and injured seven others in Myanmars Sagaing region, locals told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday. The army turned its big guns on Monywa township, where junta troops were accused of burning homes and bodies, as well as arresting children and elders last December. All the dead and injured in Hta Naung Taw village are men, said one local, declining to be named for security reasons. The injured are stable and their wounds are not life-threatening, he added. A shell exploded directly on a crowded tea shop in the village center, he said, adding that it was fired by a junta battalion based in Ma Au village on the Monywa-Mandalay road. It dropped straight on the tea shop. The dead include a cattle broker from Kya Paing village and two brothers from Hta Naung Taw tea shop. Another one is a passenger who was having some tea, he told RFA Burmese. RFA contacted Sagaing regions junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw for more details about the shelling, but he had not returned the calls at time of publication. The army opened fire on the village in retaliation after a battle in Hta Naung Taw 10 days ago between local defense forces and junta troops, residents said. Press-gangs in Monywa Elsewhere in Monywa, locals claim the juntas conscription efforts have increased after regime leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced on Saturday he would immediately enforce the countrys Peoples Military Service Law. The law forces men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for two years in the regimes military. Professionals from a larger age bracket must serve for three to five years. Junta police at a checkpoint in Monywa city on Nov. 21, 2021. (Citizen journalist) Following the announcement, junta troops seized nearly 50 men on Sunday, locals said. Soldiers arrested roughly 20 people in Monywas Myawaddy neighborhood, including some sitting in a teashop on Sunday morning, witnesses said. They rounded up 28 more from public areas around the city. A Monywa resident who requested anonymity for security reasons said soldiers have been roaming the city in plain clothes, preying on locals, and conducting checks and arrests. Given that those arrested are between the ages of 18 and 35, some locals in the same age range have gone into hiding for fear of being conscripted, he said. They often wander around the city and catch people. There are four to 10 soldiers in one place spreading out all over the city and conducting checks and arrests, said the man. They could be held at Monywa City Hall. I heard that some of them were being released after paying money. I dont know how much. Another Monywa resident said the city remained quiet until Monday morning, when people came out to do their shopping. Military-backed channel Myanmar Radio and Television called the reports fake news. Also Sunday morning, nearly 40 passengers traveling on the Mandalay-Monywa road near Lel Gyi village, Sagaing township, were held by troops for interrogation, residents said. RFA has been unable to find out whether they have been released. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 26,000 people have been arrested in the three years since the coup, as of Tuesday. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Wednesdays vote will be held across a vast archipelago with diverse geographies and infrastructure. A motorboat carrying ballot boxes arrives at Pramuka Island of the Thousand Islands in this aerial photo, ahead of Indonesias presidential and legislative polls next week, Jakarta, Feb. 9, 2024. For Damianus Luhat, a long-serving election official in Indonesias East Kalimantan province, organizing a vote is not just a civic duty but also an adventure, which includes braving rapids and cliffs and camping overnight. For the Feb. 14 general election too, like every five years, he and other poll workers in his Long Bagan district delivered ballots and equipment to remote villages along the Mahakam River with a longboat their only means of transportation. It takes us eight hours to get to the farthest village. We often have to camp on the riverbank because of the distance, he told BenarNews on Thursday. Damianus recalled a previous election period during which his longboat packed with election paraphernalia capsized while crossing a rapid that deceptively looked like a waterfall. He and his team managed to save the election materials, but lost some of their personal belongings. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly this time, he said. Luhat is one of the millions of election workers who are preparing for Indonesias general election next week, which will be the largest and most complex single-day vote in the world. It is gargantuan and complicated because eligible voters will be casting their ballots not just to elect a president and vice president, but also to vote for members of the national and regional legislatures. And because nearly 205 million people are eligible to vote, officials have to set up more than 800,000 polling stations across the sprawling archipelago. Workers lift election supplies destined for the logistics warehouse on Pramuka Island and meant for distribution in Thousand Islands, at the Marina Ancol Port, Jakarta, on Feb. 9, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews] The presidential race is a three-way contest between Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Anies Baswedan, a former Jakarta governor and ex-Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo. Standing for the 580 seats in the House of Representatives will be a total of 9,917 candidates from 18 national parties, according to the General Elections Commission. And around 250,000 candidates will compete for 20,000 seats at the regional level. For all these contests the election commission needs to print ballots and transport them across the length and the breadth of the country along with ballot boxes and items such as envelopes, and candidate lists. And to make things just a tad more difficult, the 1.2 billion ballots the commission has had to print arent all the same. They vary depending on the number of candidates and electoral districts. The commission has enlisted more than 5.7 million workers and volunteers to help with the election. Workers prepare ballot papers ahead of Indonesias general election next week, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Jan. 7, 2024. [Chiadeer Mahyuddin/AFP] The logistics of this election are staggering, considering it will be held across a vast archipelago of more than 18,000 islands with diverse geographies and infrastructure. Take the case of the Mentawai Islands, a group of four islands off the coast of Sumatra. Election workers have to travel on foot for hours through hilly and forested areas to reach some of the polling stations on these islands, said Saudara Halomoan Pardede, the head of the election commission in the region. Our areas are separated by sea and some parts are very difficult to reach. We also have to deal with the rivers and the weather, he told BenarNews. The timing of the elections in February, the rainy season, has added to the challenges. In Central Sulawesis Pagimana subdistrict, four policemen, a soldier and several poll workers left Thursday for a three-day journey on foot to deliver election supplies to a village that is inaccessible by any vehicle. They will have to traverse forest trails, navigate steep slopes and wade across bridgeless rivers, all under uncertain weather conditions, said Frets Adolof Rombot, one of the policemen. We hope we wont face any troubles or dangers like heavy rain or wild animals, he told Benar News. The complexity of the elections also poses challenges for the voters, who have to cast multiple ballots with scores of candidates, some of whom they may not know much about. Frets Adolof Rombot (left), and a local rest after crossing a river to deliver a ballot box and other voting equipment to the remote village of Baloa Doda in Central Sulawesi provinces Pagimana subdistrict, Banggai Regency, Indonesia, Feb. 9, 2024. [Agus Tongkasi/BenarNews] Indonesias elections are among the most complex in the world, according to Khoirunnisa Agustyati, executive director of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem). The electoral districts are large, the system is open proportional, the voters are numerous, and the geographic diversity is also vast, Khoirunnisa told BenarNews. Aspirants compete for a seat with other parties rivals as well as their own. And support for a political party doesnt necessarily mean a vote for its presidential nominee. Khoirunnisa said that this confusion led to a high number of invalid votes in the 2019 elections, which was 11.12% or 17.5 million of the total votes cast for the House of Representatives. The number of invalid ballots for the Regional Representative Council, a parliamentary chamber similar to the Senate in the United States, was even higher, at 19% or 29 million ballots. She said that the public is generally more interested in the presidential election, because the media publicizes it more. The legislative elections receive less attention and the voters have limited information about the candidates profiles, she said. Election workers check ballot boxes for the 2024 general election at the General Election Commission logistics warehouse, in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, Feb. 9, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews] One such voter is Agung Budiyanto, a 37-year-old private employee in Tasikmalaya regency in West Java. I dont even know whom to vote for besides the president and vice-president, he told BenarNews. He did not receive any information about the election or the candidates in his area, he said. There are too many people on the banners and billboards. But I dont know any of them. I will just vote randomly, he said. First-time voter, 17-year-old Taghsya Rizqita Putri Amany from Jakarta, said the candidates programs were unclear, because their campaign materials showed only their faces and slogans. Taghsya also feels overwhelmed by the various candidates she will have to vote for because of the various elections taking place simultaneously. I worry that my future will be ruined if I pick the wrong people as leaders, she said. Nazarudin Latif in Jakarta and Taufan Bustan in Palu, Indonesia, contributed to this report. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Belleville township Mayor Michael Melham says he expects the flag hoisting to be an annual event. Tibetan community members stand with Mayor Michael Melham after the Tibetan flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate the Tibetan New Year in Belleville, N.J., Feb. 9, 2024. When the mayor of a New Jersey township accepted a request from a resident to fly the Tibetan flag on the eve of the Tibetan New Year, he had no inkling it would attract the attention of the Chinese government. Nor did he anticipate that Belleville township population of about 40,000 would suddenly become the subject of international news. But thats exactly what unfolded, Mayor Michael Melham told Radio Free Asia after he rejected an emailed request by Ambassador Huang Ping, consul general of the Peoples Republic of China in New York, to cancel the Tibetan flag-hoisting ceremony scheduled for Feb. 9. Despite Chinese pressure, Melham raised the Tibetan flag for the first time in Belleville history at the behest of Tibetan resident Dorjee Nodong, who submitted a request at least 30 days in advance to hoist the Tibetan flag at the Town Hall to commemorate Losar, the Tibetan New Year. A recording of the Tibetan national anthem played in the background during the event. We have often seen our town embrace diversity and inclusivity by hoisting flags representing different nationalities in front of the mayors office, so my son reached out to the mayors office, and they agreed to do it, Yangchen Nodong, 74, the mother of Dorjee who placed the request, told RFA by phone from her home in New Jersey. The incident illustrates how far Chinese officials will go to try to exert control over members of Tibetan diaspora communities abroad, especially during politically sensitive anniversaries and holidays, such as Losar, which began this year on Feb. 10. Diversity program The township of Belleville, which organizes flag raisings on Fridays at noon, approved the Tibetan flag-raising event as part of an ongoing initiative to promote the townships diversity. As part of the program, any resident or Belleville organization can place a request for a flag raising for a specific country, following which the township purchases the flag and schedules the event. Mayor Michael Melham raises the Tibetan flag outside Belleville Town Hall in honor of the Tibetan New Year, in Belleville, N.J., Feb. 9, 2024. (Courtesy of Township of Belleville, N.J.) It sounds like the raising of the Tibetan flag in our town has sparked significant attention and discussion on social media, even if it may not have been immediately noticeable to everyone in my town, said Nodong, whose family is among a handful of Tibetan families living in Belleville. Belleville is home to one of the first Chinatowns on the U.S. eastern seaboard and the place where the first Chinese New Year was celebrated on the East Coast. It is predominantly made up of Hispanics and has a small Asian population, Melham told RFA. As far as Im concerned, it doesnt matter how big or small of a community you are, Melham said. If there's a request that comes in, were going to honor that. Here in Belleville, were proud of our culture and our history, and I know Tibetan people are, too, he said. But increasingly, their language, spirituality or their religion is trying to be silenced in China. Thats something that we cant accept. ... We want to make sure that history will always tell their story...so, the best way to do it is to do things like this where we stand up and stand firm. Nodong said he was devastated upon hearing that the Chinese consul tried to stop the event. This situation stirred emotions related to the ongoing tensions inside Tibet, but I felt a great sense of happiness and satisfaction knowing that despite the Chinese governments intervention, the mayor still chose to hoist the Tibetan flag in our town, he said. Undated letter Chinese Consul General Huang Pings undated letter to Melham asked for his ... reconsideration of the townships participation for this flag-raising event, as a measure to fulfill the commitment of the United States and to facilitate the sound development of China-U.S. relations. I was kind of taken aback by their request, especially the fact that they mentioned that the [Tibetan] flag is a symbol that China doesnt accept, Melham said. I was really taken aback by that and the fact that the Chinese government being housed in New York is going to try to muscle in on a New Jersey municipality and try and influence their mayor or their governing body or their township as a whole as to what they can or cannot do. The letter Chinese Consul General Huang Ping sent to Michael Melham, mayor of Belleville, N.J., asking him to cancel the Tibetan flag-raising ceremony scheduled for Feb. 9, 2024. (Courtesy Township of Belleville, N.J.) The letter, typed on the letterhead of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in New York, was attached as a PDF file to the email sent to Melham, which was signed by Vice Consul Kailiang Zhou. In response to the letter, Melham wrote to Huang that people in Belleville prided themselves on creating an environment of inclusivity and acceptance, regardless of nationality or territorial affiliation. I understand your concerns regarding the raising of the Tibetan flag, he wrote. However, its essential to clarify that our intentions are not aimed at challenging the sovereignty of any nation. Instead, our gesture symbolizes solidarity with the Tibetan people and their aspirations for freedom and self-determination. An outpouring of support There has been no communication from the Chinese government since Feb. 12, Melham said. The consulate did not immediately respond to RFAs request for comment. Following the Tibetan flag-hoisting ceremony, Melham has received an outpouring of messages in solidarity with his move from all over the United States and Canada. I've received messages from all over with people saying, what a great thing that we did and encouraging me as a mayor to make sure that we stand firm, he told RFA. So, Im going to venture to guess this is not going to be a one-time occurrence. Additional reporting by Yangdon Demo and Nyima Namseling for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Vang Seo Gia fled Vietnam after a family member was killed by the police. Vang Seo Gia arrived in the United States on Feb.1 with his wife and son after the ethnic Hmong family spent six years living in Thailand as refugees. The Hmong, many of whom are Christian, live mainly in Vietnams Central Highlands where they struggle to obtain ID documents and face land grabs from the local government. Gia, a founder of the Hmong Human Rights Coalition, told Radio Free Asia he fled Vietnam after police arrested and killed his nephew Ma Sea Sung. Gia and his family demanded an investigation into Sungs death but decided to leave the country and seek asylum in Thailand after learning police planned to arrest Gia. He spoke to RFA Vietnamese from his new home in Minnesota. RFA: How difficult and dangerous was it during your time in Thailand? I faced many difficulties, because when I came to Thailand I continued to campaign. The reason I decided to continue campaigning is because, since my nephew died and I stood up for justice I saw there was still a lot of injustice in Vietnam. No matter what I did, my nephew would not come back to life, but at least if I stood up and dared to fight such injustices, maybe such injustices and unjust deaths could be limited. RFA: Can you talk about your human rights activities during your time as a refugee in Thailand? I founded a civil society organization for the Hmong people called the Hmong Human Rights Coalition with a colleague named Giang A Dinh. Firstly, we focus on writing reports on religious persecution and violations of human rights for the Hmong people in Vietnam. Secondly, we train people in the country so they can write reports when violations occur. Our third job is to rescue victims of human trafficking. During the period from 2019 to 2023, we rescued many Hmong people and also Kinh [Vietnams ethnic majority] people. We rescued a woman from Saudi Arabia and more than a dozen people, including Hmong children, who were tricked into going to Cambodia and forced to work for Chinese companies. As for the fourth job, we participate in a project to reclaim Hmong peoples rights as Vietnamese citizens with [U.S.-based] Boat People SOS. RFA: Please tell us about the number of Hmong people seeking asylum in Thailand and their prospects for resettlement in third countries . I estimate there are nearly 1,000 people. Most of them came to Thailand due to ethnic and religious persecution This year's settlement opportunities seem brighter as many families are being resettled to countries such as Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia. The U.S. Government has also started the Welcome Corps allowing people in the United States to sponsor refugees from other countries. This is good news for those in Thailand who have refugee status. However, for those whose status has been dropped or whose cases have been closed, there is almost no hope. RFA: How did you come to the United States and what support did you receive? I came here as a permanent resident sent by the U.N., not privately sponsored. The resettlement agency is supporting me for the first three months to complete the necessary paperwork, then they will send it to the U.S. government . According to what I learned in cultural orientation sessions before coming here, the U.S. government will provide financial assistance with food stamps and health care. RFA: What are your plans for the near future ? I will definitely continue to fight for religious freedom and human rights for the Hmong people in Vietnam. Because I fought in Thailand even though it was so dangerous I think that now I have escaped that danger and come to such a free country, I have to do it even more. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. Nearly 300 Taiwanese travelers were left on an island over the Lunar New Year. Hundreds of Taiwanese tourists were left stranded on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc on the first day of the Lunar New Year after their tour organizers and the Vietnamese partner got into a dispute over payment, according to Taiwan media reports. Some 292 tourists belonging to several groups all booked a five-day package in Phu Quoc starting Feb. 10 through a Taipei-based company, said a report by the official Central News Agency (CNA). Upon arriving on the island, they were asked by the companys local partner to pay an additional fee of US$720 to continue their trip. The local agency said the Taiwanese company, We Love Tour, had not transferred funds due prior to the trip. CNA quoted officials from Taiwan's Tourism Administration as saying that more than 100 of the tourists agreed to pay the extra fee to continue their holiday. The travelers, however, may be unable to return to Taiwan on Wednesday as the payment for a chartered flight between Phu Quoc and Taipei with Vietnams Bamboo Airways has not been settled. Phu Quoc resort island is seen through the window of an airplane, May 8, 2020. (Reuters) The news agency reported, meanwhile, that We Love Tour issued a statement saying the Vietnamese partner WinnER International Travel Co. Ltd. previously agreed that all payments would be cleared by Feb. 26 but then backtracked and demanded immediate full payment. Negotiations are now underway to ensure the tourists can return home as soon as possible, CNA quoted tourism officials as saying. Radio Free Asia could not get through to the Vietnamese company and its Facebook page has been taken down. Vietnamese media are unusually quiet on the case. Taiwans China Television News reported that the Vietnamese tourism administration office in Ho Chi Minh City was aware of the situation and would get involved to make sure the tourists could complete their travel itinerary. Travelers took to social media to express their frustration. One woman, Fiona Lin, wrote on Instagram that there are grandparents in their 80s and a one-year-old baby among the stranded tourists. I have no driver and no tour guide. I feel so helpless. I feel like crying just thinking about it, she wrote. Phu Quoc, a picturesque resort island in southern Vietnam, is the only tourist destination in the country that foreign travelers can visit visa-free for 30 days. It received more than half a million international visitors last year, according to the local government. Since Jan. 17, 2024, a Vietnamese airline, VietJet, began flying directly between Taipei and Phu Quoc with seven flights weekly. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Justice has pledged to enforce the rules of professional conduct for lawyers in the country, make efforts to curb illegal practices such as malicious speculation, and bolster self-discipline in the legal profession. To complete these tasks, the ministry has proposed a mechanism involving courts, procuratorates, judicial administration organs and bar associations to strengthen collaboration and cooperation on key shared-interest areas of work concerning lawyers. In a statement, the ministry underscored the importance of guiding lawyers in China to serve the people through improved legal services, ensuring social fairness and justice. Further actions will be taken to protect the rights of lawyers and foster favorable conditions for their work, the ministry said. They left Belarus to work in freedom as journalists. They see their work as part of the campaign for democracy in their homeland. But now, more than three years into the media crackdowns that followed massive protests over the deeply disputed 2020 election, independent Belarusian journalists abroad say they are struggling to survive financially. Belarusian journalists who were forced out or left, and the nongovernmental Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAZh), detailed problems ranging from the Belarusian government's designation of critical media as "extremists" to heightened competition for grants and "some" international donors' tendency to confuse Belarusian and Russian expatriate media. Thirty percent of 108 expatriate Belarusians and Russians surveyed by Justice for Journalists (JFJ), a British nonprofit that tracks attacks against journalists, said that they had left journalism after migrating abroad, the organization reported in November 2023. "The main problem is that we can't work as media, as a business. That's the key story," Khvedar Pavlyuchenko, editor in chief of the independent Belarusian news portal Reform.by, told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "In Belarus, we used to have that possibility -- we earned money from advertising and existed on advertising. Now, many Belarusian media outlets have been declared 'extremist.'" There are almost no independent media outlets still based inside Belarus, which ranks 157th out of 180 countries for press freedom, according to the international media-rights organization Reporters Without Borders. The state often applies the term "extremists" to media outlets, civil-rights groups, or anyone who espouses critical views of the August 2020 presidential election, in which long-ruling Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory despite widespread evidence of fraud. Currently, about 3,400 people are on Belarus's list of "extremists." The Belarusian Information Ministry has labeled both Current Time and RFE/RL's Belarus Service "extremist" -- a categorization that RFE/RL rejects as groundless. Advertising on an "extremist" outlet, subscribing to it, commenting on its work, or cooperating with it can lead to administrative fines and prison terms. Many Belarusians use a virtual private network (VPN) to access these banned sites or focus instead on the outlets' social-media accounts and messaging apps, Washington-based Freedom House wrote in its 2023 Freedom On The Net report. But that interest does not necessarily attract advertisers. "No moneymaking plans work once you've been declared an extremist," said Paval Svyardlou, editor in chief of Euroradio, a broadcaster now based in Warsaw. "Not a single [Belarusian] advertiser will risk his or her business for the sake of advertising with us and supporting independent media. When people are put in prison for five years for a $20 donation, it's hard to make money." On January 30, Belarusian photojournalist Alyaksandr Zyankou received a three-year sentence for collaborating with a website deemed "extremist." Belarus's list of media "extremists" could soon expand still further: Belarusian Ambassador Dzmitry Kruti said on February 6 that Belarus and Russia were working on merging their lists of "extremists" as part of a political union between the two states, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. If implemented, such a merged list could mean that the U.S.-based social-media giant Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram and is labeled "extremist" in Russia, could face restrictions in Belarus, too, though the implications for users is still unclear, Aleh Aheyev, a lawyer for the BAZh, which Minsk has also labeled "extremist," told RFE/RL's Belarus Service. With the "extremist" label scaring off advertisers, independent Belarusian media abroad, like their Russian counterparts and outlets within Ukraine, rely heavily on grants from international governmental, civil-society, and media-development donors. But Russia's February 24, 2022, full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed the dynamics of that revenue source as well, BAZh Deputy Chairman Barys Haretski says. Independent Belarusian journalists who migrated abroad since 2020 -- primarily to neighboring Lithuania and Poland -- now face competition from expatriate Ukrainian and Russian journalists who fled the war or, in Russia's case, extreme strictures on media liberties. Part of that competition, Haretski added in an article published on the BAZh website, also stems from "some" international donors mistakenly equating Belarusian and Russian independent media and the sizes of their respective home audiences. EU governments have provided self-exiled Belarusian journalists with simplified visa procedures, free office space, and other benefits, but Haretski predicts that smaller Belarusian outlets will not be able to weather the financial crisis. Several outlets are on the verge of closure, he claims, without elaboration. "It's very important to preserve the connection with a Belarusian audience," he added. "So that the audience doesn't fall into the hands of Russian propaganda and Belarusian propaganda." On January 24, Lukashenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement on a long-standing plan to create a media holding organization for use in "the information war with the West." Russian Minister for Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev said that the holding would include two weekly newspapers, a weekly magazine, and a TV channel. At a November 2023 workshop, independent Belarusian journalists called for European governments and international organizations to use "Internet algorithms that would distinguish between Russo-Belarusian propaganda content and that created by bona fide independent media." In line with that thinking, Vera Jourova, a vice president of the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, told the Financial Times in a January 7 interview that she had asked Google and Meta to do more to promote independent Belarusian media. The response was inconclusive. In the meantime, the editorial offices of Euroradio and Reform.by say they still have plans for new projects, even if they have to cut costs along the way. Subscriptions and donations from expatriate Belarusians and Belarusian businesses -- particularly IT companies -- do help for at least "partial financing," Reform.by's Pavlyuchenko says. In December 2023, Reform.by readers raised 17,000 euros ($18,300) for the site within a few days of Pavlyuchenko announcing online that its funds would only last another two months, maximum. Keeping these outlets alive should matter to the outside world, the journalists stress. "Today, mass media is not just a business, but a social mission to deliver free and important information to Belarusian society," Haretski said. Written by Elizabeth Owen based on reporting by Raman Vasyukovich of Current Time. Owen contributed additional reporting Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth presidential term with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election that has been condemned by the West as neither free nor fair as the Russian leader seeks to prove overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies. With 99.75 percent of ballots counted, Putin won another six-year term with a post-Soviet record of 87.29 percent of the vote, the Central Elections Committee (TsIK) said on March 18, adding that turnout was also at a "record" level, with 77.44 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalins nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries. "This election has been based on repression and intimidation," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists in Brussels on March 18 as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered to discuss the election, among other issues. The March 15-17 vote is the first for Putin since he launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russians and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nations full support, experts said. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. Moscow illegally annexed the regions since launching the invasion, though it remains unclear how much of the territory it controls. The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote. In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team." But Western leaders condemned the vote, with the White House National Security Council spokesperson saying they "are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him." British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said "this is not what free and fair elections look like," adding in his message on X, formerly Twitter, that illegal elections have also been held on occupied Ukrainian territory. The French Foreign Ministry said Putin's reelection came amid a wave of repression against civil society. It also praised in a statement the courage of "the many Russian citizens who peacefully protested against this attack on their fundamental political rights." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Putin has become "sick with power" and he is just "simulating" elections. "This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague [at the International UN Tribunal for War Crimes]," Zelenskiy said on X. Putin's allies were quick to heap praise on the Russian leader for his election success. China, one of Russia's most importants allies, congratulated Putin, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader "will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold long-standing good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Putin's victory "decisive," the state news agency IRNA reported. WATCH: Leading psychiatrists discuss how excessive power can impact brain functioning and what the impulse for total control reveals about the mind and personality traits of authority figures. Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaign was barely noticeable. The main intrigue was whether Russians would heed opposition calls to gather at polling stations at noon on March 17 to silently protest against Putins rule. Russian media had reported in the months leading up to the election that the Kremlin was determined to engineer a victory for Putin that would surpass the 2018 results, when he won 77.5 percent of the vote with a turnout of 67.5 percent. The Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of overwhelming support for Putin and his war, experts said. Independent election observers were barred from working at this years presidential election for the first time in post-Soviet history, experts said. Russian elections have been notorious for ballot stuffing and other irregularities. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. The United States called the elections neither fair nor free. 'Noon Against Putin' With options to express resistance severely limited by the lack of competition and repressive laws, opposition leaders called on voters opposed to Putin to gather near polls at noon to show the Kremlin and the country that they were still a force. Russia's opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Aleksei Navalny, Putins fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated. Long lines formed at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones at the designated time for the "Noon Against Putin" protest, including in Novosibirsk, Chita, Yekaterinburg, Perm, and Moscow among other Russian cities. "We're not really expecting anything, but I'd somehow like to make a record of this election for myself, tick the box for myself, so, when talking about it later, I could say that I didn't just sit at home, but came and tried to do something," said one Russian who came to vote at noon. "The action has achieved its goals," Ivan Zhdanov, the head the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Navalny, said in a YouTube video. "The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin." The Moscow prosecutor's office had earlier warned of criminal prosecution against those who interfered with the vote, a step it said was necessary due to social-media posts "containing calls for an unlimited number of people to simultaneously arrive to participate in uncoordinated mass public events at polling stations in Moscow [at noon on March 17] in order to violate electoral legislation." Lawyer Valeria Vetoshkina, who has left the country, told Current Time that if people do not bring posters and do not announce why they came to the polling station at that hour, it would be hard for the authorities to legitimately declare it a "violation." But she warned that there were "some basic safety rules that you can follow if you're worried. The first is not to discuss why you came, just to vote. And secondly, it is better to come without any visual means of agitation: without posters, flags, and so on." Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission (TsIK), on March 16 said there had been 20 cases of people attempting to destroy voting sheets by pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight incidents of people trying to destroy ballots by setting them on fire or by using smoke bombs. Russians living abroad also took part in the "Noon Against Putin" campaign, with hundreds of people lining up at 12 p.m. outside the Russian embassies in Sidney, Tokyo, Phuket, Dubai, Istanbul, Berlin, Paris, and Yerevan among other capitals. "It's not an election. It's just a fake. And so we're here to show that not Russians elect the current leader of Russia, that we [are] against him very severely, and that lots of people had to flee their country to be free," said Anna, a Russian citizen living in Berlin and who gathered outside the embassy in the German capital. Putin was challenged by Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, none of whom opposed the war. The Russian leader had the full resources of the state behind him, including the media, police, state-owned companies, and election officials. In the winter of 1924, inhabitants of a small village near Tehran looked up as a metal-bodied airplane swooped in to land, bumped along a field, then collapsed in a cloud of dust after its landing gear broke. The pilot of the plane was Swiss aviator Walter Mittelholzer, who had received an invitation from the Persian government to deliver a new Junkers aircraft to the country, which would be renamed Iran in 1935. Kaspar Surber, a Swiss journalist who wrote a book on Mittelholzer, told RFE/RL the aviator was chosen for the flight to Persia in part to "popularize flying" through aerial images he would take there. Mittelholzer was famous at the time for becoming the first person to extensively photograph Switzerland's mountains from an airplane. In the 1920s, Surber says there was something of a "race" between German and British aviation companies to begin air services in Persia, making Mittelholzer's photography skills a key promotional advantage. A Swiss newspaper wrote of the aviator, "The Swiss people know what to expect from their Mr. Mittelholzer, who can not only pilot a plane across unknown countries but also photograph and film in flight." After their ignominious landing 40 kilometers outside of Tehran, Mittelholzer and mechanic Ernst Bissegger had a tense confrontation with villagers before help eventually arrived from the Persian capital and their aircraft was repaired. Mittelholzer and Bissegger's flight of more than 3,000 kilometers from Switzerland to Persia included a standoff with Turkish authorities who confiscated their plane, troubles with poor-quality gasoline purchased in Baghdad, and erroneous maps that forced them into the ill-fated landing during which their plane's landing gear collapsed. Mittelholzers initial impressions of the territory of Persia from above were of "areas that lie desolate and empty and wander past the observing eye for hours. Huge alluvial fans, piles of rubble, and deltas of saline rivers [that] characterize the country." Isolated settlements occasionally came into view as the pair flew over Persian territory. "Here and there a green patch shines," Mittelholzer wrote, "a space in the center of which features residents' mud huts rising on narrow and winding streets. Silver bands mark the irrigation channels at the edges of the gardens." Mittelholzer seized the opportunity to photograph Persia extensively from above in photographs that are now held by the ETH Zurich library. The Swiss aviator and photographer also made use of his camera on the ground to capture a country on the cusp of dramatic change under Reza Shah Pahlavi, a ruler who would become known as Persia's "modernizing strongman." At the time of Mittelholzer's visit to Persia, the country was without major rail or road networks, and camel caravans were still in use as a means of foreign trade, making air transport an enticing possibility for the country's rulers. With the aviation industry still in its infancy in Persia, Mittelholzer and Bissegger had the sky virtually to themselves as they swept low over urban centers to snap images that would soon stun European audiences. Mittelholzer predicted that aerial photography would play a significant role in documentary imagery of the future. "Another hitherto unseen world opens up before us. It is as if the Earth has thereby gained a new face, and man a new, unflawed eye," he wrote in 1928. After spending several weeks inside Iran, the two Swiss aviators eventually made the long trek back to Central Europe by car. Mittelholzer would later co-found a company that became Swissair, Switzerland's national carrier until 2002. He died in a mountaineering accident in 1937 aged 43. In a newspaper obituary, a friend noted that Mittelholzer's death in the mountains that he loved, and that had sparked his extraordinary career, had a certain tragic poetry: "They have embraced him 0n his last wanderings and claimed him, and perhaps he would not have wished for a better end, but alas it came all too soon, there was so much more for him to do." Male students who enrolled in Taliban-run religious schools say that sexual and physical abuse has led some to end their pursuit of an education in Afghanistan. The students, all of whom were aged 10 to 17 and spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity out of fears of repercussion, described numerous instances in which they and fellow classmates were pressured to engage in sexual acts with teachers and subjected to corporal punishments. The reported cases took place in western and southwestern Afghanistan at Taliban-run madrasahs, part of the network of religious schools that the extremist group has expanded significantly as part of its drive to foster religious education more in keeping with its hard-line Islamist views. One 16-year-old student, a resident of Farah Province, described being propositioned by a teacher at the madrasah he attends. "One day at school a Taliban member who teaches there made an inappropriate offer, but I did not accept it," the boy told Radio Azadi, using inexplicit language to describe sexual abuse, a culturally taboo topic in Afghanistan. "When the lessons were over, he bothered me again." The boy said he reported the incidents to a "qari," a person who has memorized the Koran and serves as a religious authority at the school, to no avail. "I told the qari that the teacher was doing bad things to me, and the qari told him not to do these things, that he was a teacher," the boy said. "The teacher admitted doing it, but it had no effect. He has continued to do bad things and made sexual requests to numerous students at the school." Another student in southwestern Afghanistan, a 17-year-old in the 10th grade, gave a similar account of his experience during his six months studying at a Taliban-run madrasah. "A Taliban member who teaches at the school proposed having a relationship with me and said some other things that I did not accept," the boy said. After being refused, the teacher swore and issued threats, the boy said, adding that his fellow students have faced similar treatment. "He also harassed several of my classmates, and one of them left the school," the boy said. "He told me I should not go to school anymore because the same teacher is harassing me." The boy said the experience has left him "damaged" and unsure of whom he can confide in. "I can't tell my family," he said. The Taliban has come under widespread criticism for the severe restrictions it has placed on the daily lives of the Afghans since seizing power in August 2021. In its pursuit to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, the Taliban has restored many of the draconian rules it was infamous for during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. The ban on the education of girls past the sixth grade, and the erasure of women's role in society stand out among the measures the Taliban has taken. But other steps -- including prohibitions on music and idolatry through art, and pressure against students and teachers -- have affected all walks of life regardless of sex. Since the Taliban returned to power, many educators have left the country, while female teachers have been left at home without work due to restrictions on women's freedom of movement and their ability to teach males. Meanwhile, the Taliban has steadily worked to replace secular state schools and informal madrasahs with a system of religious schooling. The system does allow for girl students, including those of university age, but critics say it falls far short of the standards of modern education for girls and boys alike and often promotes extremism. According to a report on Afghanistan issued by the United Nations in February, the Taliban has established 6,836 madrasahs for males and 380 for females and was expected to finalize a standardized religious curriculum in time for the new school year beginning this month. The recruitment of madrasah teachers is also in full swing, according to the report, following a decree by the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to have 100,000 new madrasah teachers in place. In December, Human Rights Watch gave a stinging assessment of the state of education in general, saying that in addition to the obstacles to the education of girls and women, the Taliban had "also inflicted deep harm on boys' education" in Afghanistan. "Many boys were previously taught by women teachers; the Taliban has prohibited women from teaching boys, depriving women teachers of their jobs and often leaving boys with unqualified replacement male teachers or sometimes no teachers at all," HRW said. "Parents and students said that corporal punishment, which has long been a problem at Afghan schools, has become increasingly common. The curriculum in many schools appears to be under revision to remove important school subjects and promote discrimination." The rights watchdog said the circumstances had "led many boys to leave school altogether" and "left boys struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression." Shortly after the Taliban regained power, the United Nations highlighted the dire situation for children in Afghanistan, including exposure to sexual violence and increased risk of students dropping out of school. Difficulties in ensuring the protection of children are exacerbated, according to the UN, by the Taliban's refusal to consider people below the age of 18 to be children, as is the international standard, instead using the onset of puberty as the basis for adulthood. Younger madrasah students in western and southwestern Afghanistan below or at the age of puberty said they were not spared physical abuse and sexual harassment from teachers. One young man who spoke to Radio Azadi said he recently learned that his young brother was being subjected to sexual abuse at a madrasah in western Afghanistan. The young man said his brother was being assigned extracurricular "homework by a teacher, or to put it bluntly, he was being asked for sex, [the teacher] fondled his hands and feet and kissed him." As a result, the young man said he told his brother not to go to school anymore. Fear of sexual harassment and sexual and physical abuse were cited as a common factor leading boys in western and southwestern Afghanistan to give up their studies. "Some teachers harass our students and make immoral requests," said one 14-year-old boy who also described common methods of corporal punishment at his madrasah. "They strike our faces or beat our hands and feet under the pretext of disciplining us for not learning our lessons properly." The boy said many students were studying hard in fear of being taken to a special room for punishment, and that "some even drop out of school." Another student, aged 10, said his teacher separated him and other students from their class to beat the soles of their feet. Afterward, he told Radio Azadi, he stopped going to class because he was afraid. And upon hearing about the incidents, his and his classmates' parents "did not allow us to go to school." The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations of abuse at madrasahs it has established. And efforts to speak to individuals aware of the situations at madrasahs in other areas of Afghanistan were met by refusals to comment due to fear of reprisals. A women's rights activist who asked that her name not be published told Radio Azadi that families have no avenue to lodge complaints about the abuse their children encounter at Taliban-run madrasahs because they, too, would face threats. The activist said that not only had she been made aware of sexual harassment against both girls and boys at Taliban-run madrasahs, but the curriculum also serves to "increase the level of extremism in the country." Reducing the risks of both threats, she said, would require greater oversight by the Taliban authorities and ideally, she said, a reduction in the number of madrasahs. Najib Amini, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, said that for now, the onus falls on families to be aware. "Children are subjected to sexual abuse in madrasahs established under the Taliban regime," Amini said. "Families have an important and essential role in this regard. If they do not want their children to be abused in schools, if they want their children to get a basic education...then they should not send their children to madrasahs under the control of the Taliban." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Azadi HARBIN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Looking back, Mitina Polina, a Russian who has lived in China for 18 years, feels that "karma" perfectly explains her bond with the foreign country. "I never thought about learning Chinese before, let alone living in China," Polina recalled. Born in 1985 in Krasnoyarsk Krai of Russia, the woman participated in a short-term exchange program to China by chance during her college years. In early 2004, she spent more than 20 unforgettable days in Jiamusi City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. During her stay, she started to learn Chinese and even experienced acupuncture treatment adapted from traditional Chinese medicine skills, which deepened her understanding of the foreign country and inspired her passion for learning more about its language. After the short-term exchange, Polina made up her mind to really learn Chinese. She stayed up late every day to listen to tapes to learn Chinese and actively practiced the language with her Chinese friends in her hometown. "In two years, I went from being unable to speak a complete sentence in Chinese to being able to communicate fluently with Chinese people," Polina said. In 2006, Polina graduated from college and chose to continue her studies in China. Later, she came to Heilongjiang University for further language learning. Her hard work paid off. After a year's study, she has now commanded the language pretty well and landed her job in a travel agency in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang. "Our travel agency's work mainly involves designing itineraries for Russian clients in China and providing reception and service," Polina explained. She not only needs to do the translation work but also needs to design routes, carry out promotion activities, and even book hotels and vehicles during their trips. She quipped that she has to be "available 24/7." As the people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia intensify over the years, Polina's business now goes beyond tourism and includes medical care, shopping, foreign trade, and helping more Russians to study in China. "Many Russian children receive medical treatment in China, and not only are their mothers happy, giving a thumbs-up to traditional Chinese medicine, but I am also happy because they solve problems through my service," she said. To meet the growing demand of Russian students to study in China, Polina often shuttles between different institutions. "Although their demands are diverse, the goals of the students are the same -- hoping to come to China to study. I know how important this is to them, and I also hope to help them achieve their dreams," she added. Her agency now receives tens of thousands of Russian clients every year. Many Chinese people have also reacquainted themselves with Russians through Polina. In Polina's view, the Belt and Road Initiative has further promoted people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia, and she has become part of the "bridge" for the exchanges between the two countries to some extent. Now, also a wife of a Chinese national, Polina often participates in performances of ethnic dances, showcasing signature Russian culture to more Chinese friends. "After 18 years in China, I have become accustomed to life here. Of course, there is still a lot of uncertainty in the future, but I believe that my 'karma' with China will continue," Polina said. BELGRADE -- When Yelena Koposova recently filed for permanent residency in Serbia, her and her Russian family's home since 2019, she thought it would be nothing more than a bureaucratic formality. But when the Serbian Interior Ministry rejected her application on February 2 and gave her 30 days to leave, ruling that the 54-year-old St. Petersburg native was a "security risk," Koposova, a translator of literature, was shocked. Although officials never explained the decision, Koposova suspects it is linked to an open letter she signed back in 2022 along with about two dozen other Russian expatriates in Serbia expressing opposition to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier the same year. Now, other Russians who don't back their country's unprovoked war against Ukraine are worried they could be next. "Even though I know I haven't done anything wrong, I'm afraid," a Russian anti-war activist living in Belgrade who did not want her name published told RFE/RL's Balkan Service recently. Koposova's expulsion means no Russian in Serbia can feel safe now, according to Pyotr Nikitin, a leader and founder of the Russian Democratic Society (RDO), which describes itself as "anti-war and antifascist" and works with the Russian-speaking diaspora in Serbia. "If you can be kicked out of the country you live in because of the signature under the text you agree with, then it means that no one is safe and literally everyone has to keep quiet," Nikitin, who was briefly blocked from entering Serbia last summer, told RFE/RL. Since Russia's invasion began, at least an estimated 100,000-200,000 Russians have traveled to Serbia, one of the few visa-free European destinations open to them amid unprecedented international sanctions. Many have moved on to other destinations, but tens of thousands have made a home in Serbia. Interior Ministry data from May 2023 showed nearly 30,000 Russian nationals with temporary residency in Serbia. Although Belgrade has repeatedly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has so far refused to join international sanctions against Moscow. Serbia is dependent on gas imports from Russia, a traditional Orthodox Christian and Slavic ally, and welcomes Moscow's diplomatic support in its ongoing refusal to recognize the independence of its former province Kosovo. Belgrade is seeking ultimately to join the European Union, but President Aleksandar Vucic has been accused by his critics at home and abroad of not only autocratic rule but of maintaining overly friendly ties with the Kremlin. The Case Of Koposova Fed up with President Vladimir Putin's rule, Koposova and her husband left Russia 15 years ago. "We were looking for a place to move to since the first years of Putin's rule because we didn't agree with the direction he was taking Russia," Koposova said. "We tried for a few years to live in Finland, but we couldn't afford it. After studying immigration laws around the world and traveling in Europe, we chose Serbia." After living for four years as a temporary resident in Serbia with her husband and two children, Koposova applied for permanent residency in September. Four months later came the Interior Ministry's rejection letter and expulsion order deeming her "an unacceptable security risk" without any elaboration. The ministry did not respond to RFE/RL's questions about how Koposova endangered Serbian security. With roots put down in Serbia, Kopsova says she doesn't know where her family will go. "We are completely shocked and helpless because all the plans for our and our children's future are no more. We have nowhere to go. We sold an apartment in St. Petersburg and a small cottage in Finland to support our life in Serbia," Koposova said. Koposova says they bought an apartment in Sopot, some 50 kilometers south of Belgrade, that her husband, an experienced builder, was working to finish. Now Koposova says they fear they won't be able to "recoup the investment." There are also questions to ponder about the documents of her underage kids, who were born outside of Russia. Payback For U.S. Sanctions? Nikitin says that what makes Koposova's case unique, and especially worrying, is the absence of activism in Russian opposition politics outside of adding her signature to the anti-war letter. "The open letter was signed by 25 Russians. I was the first, and no one [else who signed it] has had a problem," Nikitin said. "And this is a well-known tactic used in Russia: attacking random citizens, mostly those who are least active, in order to scare others." Serbia's police and Security and Information Agency (BIA) have not responded to multiple requests from RFE/RL's Balkan Service for comment since the problems began in the summer of 2023 for anti-war Russians trying to enter Serbia. Experts have noted the travel troubles began shortly after the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on July 11, 2023, placed sanctions on Aleksandar Vulin, then-director of the BIA and a trusted Vucic ally. Vulin was blacklisted for allegedly using his position to further Russian and criminal agendas, including arms dealing and drug trafficking. The sanctions came after months of public protests in Belgrade that included demands for Vulin's resignation. The demonstrations began in May 2023 following two mass shootings that left 18 people dead, including nine elementary-school students. Protesters had specifically blamed Vulin, a former defense and interior minister, for failing to bring criminal groups to justice. Vulin condemned "anti-Russian hysteria" in August 2022 when he became one of the most senior European officials to visit Moscow after the Ukrainian invasion, and in January Putin awarded Vulin with the Order of Friendship for his efforts to build ties between the BIA and Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). On July 13, just days after Vulin was blacklisted by Washington, diaspora organizer Nikitin was blocked from entering Serbia, where he has lived since 2016. At the time, Cedomir Stojkovic, a lawyer who represents Nikitin, said the decision was made following a request to police from the BIA seeking "a protective measure of expulsion of a foreigner." Nikitin was allowed to enter Serbia on July 14. No official explanation was given for the volte face on his admission, but it came after activists and some media expressed outrage. Living In Fear Then on July 25, Serbian authorities refused to extend a temporary residence permit for Russian anti-war activist Vladimir Volokhonsky, who had helped Nikitin establish the RDO, whose membership is said to number in the thousands now. Volokhonsky told RFE/RL's Balkan Service at the time that the decision was "a form of political pressure." An opposition councilor in St. Petersburg, Volokhonsky left Russia in March 2022 after he was taken into custody and his home was searched following his public opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. In November, Russian anti-war activist Ilya Zernov left Serbia after border police at Belgrade's international airport denied him entry to the country. Zernov, 19, had arrived in the Serbian capital from Germany on November 4 to give testimony at a trial over an attack on the activist by five Serbian men, including a vocal Kremlin supporter, earlier last year. Zernov said a passport-control officer at the Nikola Tesla airport sent him to the waiting area, where he was subsequently told he was barred from entering Serbia. "They didn't explain why. They just told me: 'You know,'" Zernov told RFE/RL. Zernov had already been attacked in Belgrade in January 2023 as he was trying to paint over a large mural that read, "Death to Ukraine." Zernov said the men ordered him to stop and punched him in the ear, reportedly leaving him with a perforated eardrum. Nikola Kovacevic, a human rights lawyer, says the rulings affecting anti-war Russians in Serbia are "systemic." "In the majority of cases, these are political decisions, and not decisions based on any real concerns about security," Kovacevic told RFE/RL. While the fate of Koposova has left many Russians in Serbia spooked, others seem unfazed. Comic artist Gleb Pushev, who lives now in Belgrade, vowed that such actions by Serbia "will not silence him." "The situation is sad, shameful, and terrifying. The [Serbian] government is destroying the lives of Russians who believed in Serbia, who invested their money in this country," Pushev told RFE/RL. "The government is trying to send them a signal: We love your money, but not your politics about war and peace." Pushev left his hometown, St. Petersburg, after posting on social media a caricature of Putin garbed in bloody clothes and clutching a knife. In early March 2023, fearing arrest, Pushev traveled to Serbia, where he has continued to draw anti-war comics and cartoons about life in exile. Pushev says he will continue his anti-war activities. "And I hope that I will leave Serbia when I want to and not when Putin or [Vucic] decide." Others, however, are scared. The Russian activist who did not want her name published says she doesn't know what she would do if her residency permit were revoked. She says going back to Russia, where she could face possible prosecution, is out of the question. "I have been living here since 2018. I have a job; I've learned Serbian; I have friends and family [here]. If my temporary residence is revoked, that will be the end of everything. I have no options, no offers, where to go or how to manage." Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by Iva Martinovic of RFE/RL's Balkan Service TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan -- Residents of Turkmenistan's western province of Balkan can be arrested if they leave their homes after 9 p.m. The unofficial nighttime curfew was imposed by the police earlier this month in the coastal province, where state employees can lose their jobs if they breach the new rules. It's the latest restriction in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian Central Asian country where the government has severely curtailed individual rights and freedoms. The provincial government in Balkan has not given any reasons for the measure. But a police officer in the coastal city of Turkmenbashi told RFE/RL that the move was aimed at "maintaining peace and quiet and ensuring that people can rest peacefully at night." State employees said they received leaflets from provincial police that warned them against "walking in the streets in the evenings with or without a purpose." Another police officer in Turkmenbashi, who also spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, said the measure was a response to the alleged disappearances of mostly young women in the country in recent years. "There have been many cases of girls leaving their homes to go to nightclubs and not returning home," the officer said. "In the past two years, there have been 54 unresolved cases involving missing young people in the country." The officer did not elaborate, but said the alleged disappearances had raised the concerns of the Interior Ministry and the country's leadership. The new restrictions came as the provincial government in Balkan ordered all female high-school students to undergo mandatory virginity tests to "evaluate their morality" and prevent teen pregnancies. The list of those deemed to have failed the controversial examination will be shared with police and security services, according to local officials. 'More Rules' RFE/RL correspondents in Balkan say the unofficial nighttime curfew comes as the police have intensified "control measures" across the province in recent weeks. That includes detaining those caught drunk on the streets. Some of those detained will be sent to alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities for up to three months, according to a police officer who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity. In Turkmenistan, one of the most repressive countries in the world, citizens are often forcibly sent to rehabilitation centers or subjected to mandatory tests. Those who refuse to comply or criticize the government's policies can face arrest. There are no opposition parties or independent media in Turkmenistan, where public protests are extremely rare and many government critics have been jailed or forced to flee the country. Mehri, an elderly Turkmenbashi resident who gave only her first name, told RFE/RL that the authorities were trying to make "increasingly restrictive measures a new normal." "It feels like more and more rules are being imposed to curb people's freedom of movement," Mehri said on February 13. "The authorities are doing it gradually, as if to see how people will react. If there are no protests, they introduce new restrictions. Judging by the scale of the restrictions, the authorities are increasingly afraid of people." The unofficial nighttime curfew in Balkan is likely to create more challenges for locals and visitors in the coming months as the days become longer. The province, especially the resort town of Awaza, is a top destination for domestic holidaymakers in the summer. The town is known for its restaurants, nightclubs, and concert halls. Many locals also go to the town's mosques for evening prayers. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service The all-Italian Kung Fu team is composed of avid performers from the same martial arts teaching institution, Traditional Kung Fu School. by Xinhua writers Ren Yaoting, Peng Zhuo FLORENCE, Italy, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Avid Italians dancing in dragon and lion dances have become a major highlight of the Lunar New Year celebrations here since the Chinese holiday season began in early February. Almost a week before the Lunar New Year of the Dragon started, a volleyball match was in full swing in Scandicci, a city in northern Italy, close to the famous historical city of Florence. During breaks, drums and gongs blared and the red and gold colors of the Chinese New Year filled the stadium. The dragon and lion dances, performed by dozens of professional martial arts performers, brought down the house. The all-Italian Kung Fu team is composed of avid performers from the same martial arts teaching institution, Traditional Kung Fu School, which has branches in Florence and Rome. Dragon dancers from the Traditional Kung Fu School perform outside Palazzo Wanny in Scandicci, close to the famous historical city of Florence, Italy, Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) As the head of the Florence branch, Kung Fu teacher Nicola Pastorino's passion with martial arts began in the early 1980s, when he first traveled to Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, which is famous for practicing martial arts. "When I saw it (dragon dance) for the first time in Foshan, I fell in love with art, music, choreography, and the philosophical content behind it," said Pastorino, adding that dragon dance could well represent Chinese traditional culture. Fascinated by traditional Chinese Kung Fu, Pastorino decided to bring the art of dragon and lion dance back to Italy. In 1995, the Florence branch of the Kung Fu school was established, and Pastorino has then trained groups of Italian martial arts lovers in the past 30 years. Kung Fu teacher Nicola Pastorino, also the head of the Florence branch of the Traditional Kung Fu School, prepares for a performance at the branch based in Florence, Italy, Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Dragon and lion dances are very popular in Italy, Pastorino said, adding that their institutes host multiple commercial performances every year. Moreover, martial arts performances attract students not only from Florence, but also from nearby regions. For Daria, a student who didn't give her full name, practicing lion dance is a "lifetime experience." She was born in Genoa, over 200 km away from Florence, but she was attracted by Kung Fu and comes to the school to practice lion dance each week. "I began to learn lion dance at the age of seven, which is a charming sport." Her boyfriend Fabrizio Vito also practices dragon dance at school. For him, Kung Fu has "completely changed his life." "I was reserved and shy, but practicing dragon dance helped me open my heart ... Kung Fu is an excellent traditional art with both internal and external training," said Vito. Dragon dancers from the Traditional Kung Fu School prepare to perform at Palazzo Wanny in Scandicci, close to the famous historical city of Florence, Italy, Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Two men and a woman, all aged in their 30s, appeared before a special sitting of Roscommon District Court today, Tuesday, charged in connection with the theft of a large quantity of tools from various locations across the country. As part of the ongoing operation targeting theft of tools and tradesmens equipment, Gardai arrested and charged the three in connection with a number of alleged crimes. The three accused appeared before Roscommon District Court today as investigating Gardai from Castlerea, Longford and Tuam gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. The two men are facing multiple counts of stealing power tools from several locations around the country, including Roscommon and Athlone. They are also facing criminal damage charges. One of the men, whom the court heard is on social welfare, is also facing two charges of money laundering. Investigating Gardai told the court that following examination of his bank account, large amounts of money were being lodged and withdrawn from his account. The woman is facing six charges of aiding and abetting the alleged theft of power tools and criminal damage. Two of the accused have addresses in Tuam while one of the men has an address in Dublin. All the alleged offences took place in 2023. The court heard that the three accused were also linked to a particular Dublin address where registration documents were discovered linking vehicles allegedly involved in the crimes. During the extensive Garda investigation, the accused have been allegedly linked to a series of crimes, which the court was told were committed the length and breadth of the country. CCTV footage was examined during the investigation to identify the accused. Cloned registration plates were also used in some of the crimes, the court was informed by investigating officers. Judge Deirdre Gearty was told that the two men had 83 and 52 previous convictions respectively. The woman has no previous convictions. Judge Gearty denied the three bail applications made by their defence solicitor, citing Gardai concerns, the seriousness of the offences and the potential for further offences being committed. The Judge remanded the woman in custody to appear before Castlerea District Court on Friday morning next while the two men will appear before a sitting of Harristown District Court on Friday. In a statement issued earlier, a Garda spokesperson said that a planned day of action conducted by Castlerea Gardai took place on February 8th last 2024, involving searches of premises in Co Galway and Co Dublin. During the course of these searches, the two men and the woman were arrested and detained at Garda Stations in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division. A number of follow up searches took place at locations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region yesterday, Monday, February 12th, and resulted in the recovery of a large amount of property. Farmers Protest 2024 AI Photos: AI-generated images of farmers go viral on social media Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024 Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024: While the farmers have started marching towards Delhi as per their 'Delhi Chalo' call, AI photos about the ongoing farmers' protest are making rounds on social media. Farmers have various demands that they are advocating for. AI photo Advertisement One of the main demands is for a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. MSP ensures that farmers get a fair price for their produce, which helps them cover their costs and make a decent living. AI PhotoFarmers also want assurance that the government will buy their crops at this minimum price, especially for staple crops like wheat and rice. AI photo Advertisement In 2020, the farmers took to the streets in Delhi against the three farm laws which were repealed in 2021. AI photo Delhi Chalo was announced in 2023. The demands of farmers include legal guarantee to MSP for all crops, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission's formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and labourers, and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protest. Advertisement AI photo (For more news apart from AI-generated images of farmers protest 2024, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Farmers Protest 2024 Delhi Airport issues advisory ahead of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024 Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024: The Delhi Airport on Tuesday suggested planning your trip well and keeping track of possible delays and other routes due to the farmers' protest at different Delhi borders. The Delhi Airport said that because of the expected farmers' protest at various Delhi borders starting on 13.02.2024, there will be changes to traffic routes. From 12.02.2024, there will be restrictions and changes to traffic routes for commercial vehicles. Advertisement The Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory on Monday ahead of the farmers' protest. They informed commuters about vehicle movement restrictions at three borders in Delhi. Various farmer groups, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, are marching towards Delhi on February 13 to demand a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. This was one of the conditions they set for ending their protest in 2021. For traveling to places like Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal via NH-44 on buses, they should go from ISBT to Majnu Ka Tilla, then to Signature Bridge, Khajuri Chowk, Loni Border, and finally to KMP via Khekra. Advertisement For Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) heading towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, etc., via NH-44, they should take exit number-2 at the NH-44 intersection, then go to Harish Chander Hospital crossing, Bawana road crossing, Bawana Chowk, Bawana-Auchandi Road, reaching Auchandi Border, and finally to KMP via Saidpur Chowki. (For more news apart from Delhi Airport advisory ahead of Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024 News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman Chandigarh-Delhi Flight Ticket Price Hike Today Farmers Protest 2024 Travel between Chandigarh and Delhi has become really difficult Farmers Protest 2024: Due to the protests by farmers, people flying between these cities are facing expensive flight tickets. The farmers have been marching towards Delhi and the police have put up barriers, making it hard for not only the farmers but also the people to travel. As a result, those flying from Chandigarh to Delhi or vice versa are having to pay a lot more than usual for their tickets. In fact, the ticket prices have gone up to five times their normal rates. Advertisement This is causing a lot of trouble for travelers, as they have to spend much more money than they planned for their flights. Hopefully, the situation will improve soon, and travelers won't have to deal with these high prices and travel disruptions anymore. Travel between Chandigarh and Delhi has become really difficult because of farmer groups gathering near the border areas and highways. They are protesting for their demands. Notably, the police and administration have put up barricades, adding to the travel trouble. Meanwhile, people flying from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali to Delhi are facing high ticket prices. Advertisement This means passengers are having to pay a lot more money than they would normally pay for their flights. The situation is causing a lot of frustration and inconvenience for travelers who need to go from Chandigarh to Delhi. With the high ticket prices and the travel disruptions caused by the protests and barricades, people are finding it hard to plan their trips and get to where they need to go. (For more news apart from Chandigarh-Delhi Flight Ticket Price Hike Today Farmers Protest 2024, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out in support of farmers protest in North India Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out in support of farmers protest in North India Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out in support of farmers protest in North India and gave a guarantee of assuring legal guarantee of MSP for crops if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024. He said he wanted to make sure farmers are guaranteed a fair price for their crops by law. These protests are happening mostly near Punjab and Haryana borders. Rahul Gandhi is worried about farmers not knowing if they'll get a good price for their crops in the future. Minimum Support Price (MSP) helps farmers by promising them a minimum price for what they grow. This helps them stay stable even if market prices go down. Advertisement Gandhi thinks it's really important to make MSP a law to protect farmers. He wants to make sure farmers aren't taken advantage of and can keep making a living. His support for MSP is making the farmer protest stronger and getting more attention from all over the country and even outside India. Rahul Gandhi's speaking up is making people see how important it is to listen to farmers and make sure they're treated fairly. As agitating farmers head to the national capital, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday promised to give a legal guarantee of minimum support price on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission report if the Congress party is voted to power in 2024. Calling the day historic, Rahul Gandhi, who is leading Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Chhattisgarh, said that the step to provide legal guarantee of MSP will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families Advertisement (For more update apart from Lok Sabha Elections 2024 and Farmers Protest, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Farmers Protest 2024 Delhi Chalo march Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher addressed press conference in Fatehgarh Sahib. Farmers Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024: Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday addressed a press conference before heading towards the national capital as a part of the 'Delhi Chalo' call by farmers. It is pertinent to mention that the farmers have been protesting against the Central Government over their demands that are yet to be fulfilled. Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, in Fatehgarh Sahib, said "We tried to find a solution so that we do not have to stand against the Govt. We were expecting that we would be given something. In the 5-hour-long meeting yesterday, we put forward the situation of Haryana... The people of Punjab and Haryana are being tortured. It seems that both these states are not a part of India anymore, they are being treated as International border..." Advertisement He added, "We tried our best during the meeting yesterday to resolve the issue and avoid a clash with the (central) government. We attended the meeting for five hours. They are sending police and using water cannons in each and every village of Haryana. They are torturing farmers in Haryana." Sarwan Singh Pandher further said, "...Congress party does not support us, we consider Congress equally responsible as much as the BJP. These laws were brought by Congress itself...We are not in favour of anyone, we raise the voice of farmers..." "We have said that we will keep the doors open for talks. If the government wants, then it can make an announcement anytime. However, they only want to delay our protest. Talking about the MSP Act, the union minister said they will form a committee. The CACP has recommended MSPs for 23 crops. We told them that a legal surety should be given about this. We said that the government should give us an argument (why it can't be done) instead of forming a committee." Advertisement He also said that the protest was going to be a peaceful one and they would go to Delhi even if the police shot them or lathi-charge them. Farmers Set For Delhi Chalo March Today; Here's Why Are They Protesting Farmers Protest 2024: How is 'Delhi Chalo' march different from 2020's movement? Haryana government has put up major fencing around the state to make sure the protesters can not enter Haryana from Punjab Farmers Delhi Chalo March 2024 vs 2020 Protest: Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh farmers are all set to march to Delhi again with more than 200 farmer unions heading to the national capital on Tuesday. The last round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Union ministers remained inconclusive on Monday night. As per the Union minister Arjun Munda, for most of the issues raised by the farmers, a consensus was reached and the government also proposed to form a committee to address the rest, however, the farmer leaders said there was no clarity of legal guarantee to the minimum support price. The farmers are set for the Delhi Chalo march but the Haryana government has put up major fencing around the state to make sure the protesters can not enter Haryana from Punjab. Likewise, the Delhi borders have also been fortified in an attempt to not allow the farmers to enter the national capital. Advertisement Farmers Delhi Chalo March 2024 vs 2020 Protest: Why farmers are protesting? In 2020, the farmers took to the streets in Delhi against the three farm laws which were repealed in 2021. Delhi Chalo was announced in 2023. The demands are a legal guarantee to MSP for all crops, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission's formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and labourers, and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protest. Who is leading the farmers' protest? Farmers Protest 2.0 is being led by different unions as the landscape of the farmers' unions has changed in the last few years. While the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are the ones that have announced Delhi Chalo 2.0, Bhartiya Kisan Union, Samyukt Kisan Morcha which led the 2020 protest of the farmers are not part of it. Advertisement No Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni in Delhi Chalo 2.0 The two prominent leaders of the farmers' 2020 protest were Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni who are nowhere to be seen in Delhi Chalo 2.0. In the meanwhile, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (non-political), and Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Sarwan Singh Pandher, are leading the front. Heavy security, blockades Advertisement In 2020, farmers reached the national capital. However, this time the administration has taken strict pre-emptive measures, including barbed wire, cement barricade, and nails on roads besides all roads to Delhi have been blocked. Likewise, Section 144 has been imposed in Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Govt's response This time, the Central government started the negotiation process even before the farmers' Delhi Chalo march wherein the first meeting was held between the farmer leaders and the Union ministers on February 8 while the second meeting took place on February 12. Advertisement (For more news apart from Farmers Delhi Chalo March 2024 vs 2020 Protest, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- In the lively atmosphere of Indonesia's general election, thousands of urbanites traveled a special journey: not merely to return home to celebrate the holiday, but also to exercise their right to vote. Budiarto Pawirodiharjo, a 34-year-old laboratory worker, took an eight-hour train at night from Jakarta to Yogyakarta to cast his ballot for the presidential candidate of his choice, in an election to be held on Wednesday. This time, going home means more to him than just getting together with loved ones. It is a chance to actively contribute to shaping his country's future. "This is my civic duty and commitment," Budiarto told Xinhua on Monday. Budiarto also noted a wider phenomenon in Indonesia, where elections have become both a political process and a significant occasion that revitalizes family values and unity. "For many people, going home during the election is a rare opportunity to meet family, exchange stories, and of course, ensure our votes are counted," he added. Jaya Wijaya, a 32-year-old private worker in Jakarta, is in a similar situation. It is a problem he encounters every election season, just like most people whose workplaces are far from their hometowns. This time, Jaya decided to travel back to his homeland Pematang Siantar in North Sumatra. Last Wednesday at 5 p.m. local time, he left his boarding house in Jakarta and arrived at his home at 2 a.m. the following day after a long and exhausting journey. "This is about our nation's future, not about me or my family. Every vote counts greatly," Jaya said. The election season also offers a chance to renew cultural and social bonds. After the vote, Jaya and his friends in Pematang Siantar will continue to hang out and enjoy the local cuisine and sites that bring back childhood memories till he heads back to the capital. In the meantime, 36-year-old Ndari Sudjianto has freed up her calendar for the voting day despite her hectic itinerary of touring several East Javan cities to guarantee that election broadcasts adhere to legal requirements and that every citizen's wishes concerning broadcasting are met. During the election season, her workload as a field coordinator for the East Java branch of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission expands. On Tuesday afternoon, she drove 300 km back and forth to her hometown of Kediri with her spouse after arriving in Surabaya from outside the city. After voting the next day, she will head back to Surabaya to continue her duties. "Elections are not just about who wins or loses, but about the active participation of citizens in determining the future direction of the nation and our lives," said Ndari. To support migrants who want to exercise their right to vote, the Indonesian government and several institutions have offered a range of services, including relocating polling places to cities or supplying additional public transport so that all citizens, no matter where they are, can take part in the elections. Going home during elections is more than just a physical journey for Budiarto, Jaya and Ndari, and thousands of other citizens. They take with them not only fond memories of family and friends, but also the satisfaction that comes from having carried out one of the most important citizen duties when they return to their jobs and daily lives. Farmers Protest News: Police tear gas shells at Shambhu border as protesters continue march to Delhi Protesters are adamant about marching toward Delhi to protest against the Central government over their demands. Farmers Delhi Chalo Protest March News Today From Shambhu Border: And it begins! The situation at the Shambhu border in Punjab is getting out of control as the police have resorted to tearing gas shells while the protesters are adamant about marching toward Delhi to protest against the Central government over their demands. After two years of compelling the Centre to revoke the three controversial farm laws and concluding their year-long protest at Delhi's borders, Punjab farmer unions are back with their intention to march to the National Capital on Tuesday. Advertisement They have been emphasising their demands which include a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, loan waiver, and pension scheme for farmers besides justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri incident among others. The decision for the 'Delhi Chalo' movement came after prolonged, inconclusive talks in Chandigarh that featured representatives such as Samyukta Kisan Morcha's Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Sarwan Singh Pandher in discussions with Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda. #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 Advertisement February 13, 2024 (For more news apart from Farmers Delhi Chalo Protest March News Today From Shambhu Border, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Farmers Set For Delhi Chalo March Today; Here's Why Are They Protesting Three central ministers held meeting with the farm bodies which remained inconclusive. Farmers Set For Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024 Today: Farmers are all set to march to Delhi once again as per the Delhi Chalo march to press the Centre to accept their demands. The farmers going to hold a mega protest in the national capital on Tuesday. They are on their way to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Earlier on Monday, three central ministers held a meeting with the farm bodies from Punjab and Haryana. However, the meeting remained inconclusive and hence, the farmers decided to march to Delhi. Advertisement Why are farmers protesting again and what are their demands? The farmers are protesting to make the Centre accept their list of demands which includes a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP). The demand for a law on MSP is a condition they had set in 2021 when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. The farmers have been demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, besides farm debt waiver. The farmers also believe that the Centre should provide justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Advertisement In view of the farmers' protest, the security arrangements have been intensified at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders. Besides, nails have been installed along with barricades to prevent vehicles carrying protesters from entering the city. Section 144 imposed in 'almost' North India Amid the farmers' protest, section 144 has been imposed in Delhi, Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order. Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed at the Delhi borders. Meanwhile, the internet services and bulk SMS have been suspended till February 13 in seven Haryana districts - Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. Advertisement (For more news apart from Farmers Set For Delhi Chalo March Protest 2024 Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Singapore will on Tuesday release Q4 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to rise 1.7 percent on quarter and 2.8 percent on year after adding 1.4 percent on quarter and 1.1 percent on year in the three months prior. Japan will provide January data for producer prices, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.1 percent both on month and on year. That follows the 0.3 percent monthly increase and the flat annual reading in December. Australia will see January results for the surveys of confidence and business conditions from National Australia Bank; in December, their scores were -1 and +7, respectively. Finally, the in Taiwan, China and Hong Kong remain closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. President Joe Biden has repeated his appeal for the protection of more than a million civilians in Rafah who are facing the wrath of a large-scale military operation by Israel. Dozens of people, including children, were killed as warplanes and helicopters pounded multiple locations in the southern Gazan city after midnight Sunday. "There is panic and desperation as 1.4 million people try to survive, try to get food and water - at the same time fearing for their lives due to continued military operation," UNRWA says. Rafah has become one of the most densely populated places on earth with more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million-strong population taking refuge in the southern city. Tens of thousands of Palestinians who left the north, mainly Khan Yunis, to try to get out of the fighting, are crammed into makeshift tents with scarce access to safe drinking water or food. They include families that have been displaced many times. During their meeting at the White House, President Biden and Jordan's' King Abdullah discussed the ongoing situation in Gaza and efforts to help produce an enduring end to the conflict. Biden insisted that the major military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than one million people sheltering there. "Many people there have been displaced displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north, and now they're packed into Rafah exposed and vulnerable. They need to be protected," he told reporters. Ahead of the Rafah military operation, Biden had warned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of its humanitarian consequences. He made it clear that Washington opposes any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. King Abdullah noted that one of the most devastating wars in recent history continues to unfold in Gaza. Nearly 100,000 people have been killed, injured, or are missing. The majority are women and children. He called for a lasting ceasefire and the need to urgently work to ensure the sustainable delivery of sufficient aid to Gaza through all possible entry points and mechanisms. "The potential threat of Palestinian displacement beyond the borders of Gaza and the West Bank is something we view with extreme concern and cannot be allowed," the King said. Hamas made it clear that with the Rafah operation, Israel has closed the doors for negotiations on hostage release. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News This is not the first time the Gixxer 250s have been recalled They had also been recalled back in April 2021 over excessive vibration issue Currently Suzukis flagship mainstream offering, the 250cc lineup includes three distinctly different motorcycles. The street naked is called Gixxer 250, its fully faired counterpart is called Gixxer SF 250 and there is an ADV style offering based on this platform called V-Strom SX 250. All three of these motorcycles have been subjected to a recall. Suzuki 250cc Bikes Recalled The Japanese brand is busy with damage control as its 250cc lineup in India has been diagnosed with a few powertrain issues. Especially in its cam area. Since all three of the aforementioned motorcycles use the same 249cc engine, all three have been subjected to a recall. The issue is that there has been abnormal wear of exhaust cam lobes discovered with certain vehicles. Affected motorcycles might show sudden stalling or generate abnormal noises. Hence the company has issued a recall for Gixxer 250, Gixxer SF 250 and V-Strom SX 250. Suzuki dealerships across India are currently on the verge of pin-pointing affected motorcycles or their batches. Dealerships will contact affected motorcycle owners for a service appointment at their nearest service centre. Suzuki will replace the parts at no expense on the owners tab. There are many reasons that could have caused this issue. However, Suzuki has not revealed any concrete reasoning regarding what caused this abnormal wear of exhaust cam lobes. Nor did Suzuki reveal sample size affected by this recall, or the number of batches affected. Suzuki 250cc motorcycles in India If you discount the recent updates for Gixxer siblings, V-Strom SX 250 is the newest among these three motorcycles. V-Strom Suzuki launched in India is based on the very underrated Gixxer 250 platform. A lot of cycle parts have been shared between the three motorcycles. Especially the Engine and transmission. The engine even makes the same power and torque and also comes with the exact same state of tune. The 249 cc oil-cooled engine makes 26.5 PS of power and 22.2 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission. This powertrain boasts a simpler SOHC setup with Suzukis famed oil cooling tech. All three motorcycles get almost similar cycle parts along with dual-channel ABS with no option to switch off ABS on the rear wheel even in V-Strom SX 250. With the February 2023 update, all three bikes also share their instrument clusters with similar features. Maye Musk (C-L), a model who closes the show, and Taoray Wang (C-R), the creative director of JUZUI, greet the audience at the end of a fashion show of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. Taoray Wang, the creative director of JUZUI, also borrowed color which was popular in China's Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) in developing her designs. The presentation resonated loudly on the stage of the New York Fashion Week 2024 which runs from Feb. 9 to 14. It's exciting to combine peony with every design in the collection, said Wang. Wang added that China has a bounty of beautiful stuff that could move international audiences besides dragon and phoenix. People should be traveling backwards and forwards between the United States and China way more than they are at the moment, said Maye Musk, a model who closed the show. "I think Americans traveling to China will be very impressed," said Musk. "It's always better to be person-to-person. Otherwise, you don't get the right picture, unless you can meet the people and explore with them and become friends," Musk added. Founded in 2001, JUZUI focuses on women fashion designs by drawing inspiration from Eastern elements, particularly blossoming peony. A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Maye Musk, a model who closes the show, presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) A model presents a creation of JUZUI during the New York Fashion Week 2024 in New York, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2024. Chinese brand JUZUI on Sunday staged its runway show at the New York Fashion Week by drawing inspiration from blossoming peony, a flower rooted in the East. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Arlen Cortez holds up her book as she and fellow first graders start to read the new books they selected out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Naomi Gil, left, Arlen Cortez, right, and other first grade students start to read the books they just picked out of out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) First grader Naomi Gil shows her teacher Brooke Brumback the book she just selected out of out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) A student looks through books that are in the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) First grader Adrian Gonzalez looks at the book he just selected out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) First grader Lillian Rosales, right, watches as Jaquelin Garcia, also in the first grade, pulls a book out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) School Library Technician Tanya Turek, center, Escondido High School District Superintendent Steve Boyle, second from right, Escondido High School wood shop teacher Nathan Boelhauf, far right, first grader Lillian Rosales, 7, and Escondido Union School School District Superintendent Luis Rankins-Ibarra, all pull the ribbon off the new little free library box. School Library Technician Tanya Turek speaks to students as she, first grader Lillian Rosales, and Escondido High School wood shop teacher Nathan Boelhauf, who oversaw the building of eighteen library boxes by his students, introduce the schools new little free library box to students. Arlen Cortez, center, Abigail Espinoza, right, and Melanie Gonzalez, all first graders, start to read the books they just picked out of out of the new little free library. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) First grader Sophie Romo selects a book out of the new little free library box, one of eighteen built by Escondido High school students, as Naomi Gil, also in the first grade, waits to do the same after the library box was introduced to students at Conway Elementary School in Escondido. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) On a drizzly afternoon Tuesday, first-graders from Conway Elementary School in Escondido waited to open a small cabinet, and enter the world of discovery. The structure a white box with hinged glass doors, mounted on a wheeled stand was the schools new Little Free Library, a neighborhood book exchange. It was one of 18 such cases built by woodworking students at Escondido High School for each of the communitys elementary campuses. With two bookshelves stuffed full of volumes in English and Spanish, it allows students and their families to take books that appeal to them, and donate those they dont need. Advertisement Take a book, share one back, librarian Tanya Turek told the crowd of mostly six- and seven-year-olds. If you love it and want to sleep with it under your pillow, great! Or if you can, return it. Or give back an old book. Lilliana Rosales, 7, introduced the gift, addressing her classmates as stewards of the library and encouraged them to explore its offerings. It helps people to grow their minds with curiosity and inspiration, so maybe they can write a book one day, Rosales said, explaining that she prefers books about the worlds mysteries, such as the lost city of Atlantis. Books are a good place to start in your imagination. Shes already a regular at other Little Free Libraries, including one near Conway School, and helps her mother look out for new ones. If were driving and we see one, Ill make a U-turn to go back and get a book, said her mother, Venessa Rosales. I keep books in my car to donate. Arlen Cortez Perez, 6, picked the book Esperanza Rising about a young Mexican immigrant girl working as a farm laborer, but didnt think shed want to return it. She had coveted the book since her sister read it, and was thrilled to have her own copy. I was thinking she doesnt have to read it to me because Ive got my own now, Cortez Perez said. I think Im not going to bring this one back, but I might bring some from home. I love this book. Its so cool. It has so many pages, so you can read some more. The book exchange had been a dream of Tureks since she began working at the school five years ago. About 80 percent of students in the district come from socioeconomically disadvantaged homes, according to the California Department of Educations school dashboard, and those families are less likely to have books in the home. The idea that people have access to books for free is really exciting to me, Turek said. She broached the idea with Escondido High School woodworking teacher Nathan Boelhauf. Coincidentally, Little Free Libraries had also been on his mind. For several years, he has enlisted students to build childrens furniture and bookshelves for needy families, so the book exchanges seemed a natural fit for his class. He proposed making 18 of them one for each of Escondidos elementary schools. This is something Ive been wanting to do since I started teaching at the high school, Boelhauf said. I believe that (encouraging) literacy and reading is one of the most important things you can do. Turek received a grant from the Escondido Education Foundation to register the boxes and fit them with plaques designating them as Little Free Libraries. And she secured $4,500 from the Current Wisdom Foundation in San Marcos to purchase adult books in Spanish and English to share in the boxes. Little Free Libraries started in Wisconsin in 2009, when a Wisconsin man built one to honor his late mother, according to the nonprofit organization by that name. It became an international movement, as bibliophiles around the globe began building and installing the boxes. With more than 70,000 across 80 countries, the libraries have become a book-lovers treasure hunt, an ice-breaker for neighbors and a chance for artistic expression. Many feature vivid colors and whimsical designs, including vintage schoolhouses, animals or Harry Potter novels. Boelhaufs approach, by contrast, was practical. His students were skeptical of the idea at first, and worried the boxes would be vandalized or stolen. So they constructed the doors out of shatter-resistant plexiglass instead of glass to keep the books secure. And they mounted the boxes on wheels so they could be rolled back into the school after hours and during the summer. His class built the boxes through an assembly-line production system, with students splitting up tasks of cutting wood, assembling and finishing the structures. In the end, they gained experience with industrial carpentry, as well as a sense of community participation. Its an exciting project for kids to undertake because theyre going back to the elementary schools that they went to, Boelhauf said. So theres a personal connection for them. As a student picked a Fancy Nancy from the box, third-grader Donna Arias was reminded that she had something to give back, too. I have a glow-in-the-dark Fancy Nancy book, she told Turek. I have a whole bunch of books, and I dont need it anymore. I will bring it to you. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan A gun decorated with gold belonging to Mexican drug lord of the Gulf Cartel, Osiel Cardenas Guillen, is displayed in the Drugs Museum at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in Mexico City. Contraband has been flowing across the Mexico border into the U.S. for the past century, beginning with alcohol during Prohibition and moving onto drugs, namely marijuana and later cocaine. The birth of Mexicos major cartel can be traced to Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, nicknamed The Godfather, who in the 1980s became the countrys liaison with Colombian cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar of the infamous Medellin cartel. Gallardo went increasingly underground after the arrest of his cartels co-founder, Rafael Caro Quintero, for the murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena in 1985, and the drug lord later held a summit among Mexicos larger drug traffickers. The meeting divided up Mexico into plazas or regions to be controlled by various drug-trafficking organizations. Advertisement The agreement solidified major players in the trade, including the Sinaloa Federation and the Arellano Felix brothers of Tijuana. Since then, drug lords have come and gone and new groups have risen to power as loyalties fade, political protection changes, and killings and arrests leave vacuums in leadership to be filled. This file photo taken on January 08, 2016, shows drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman escorted into a helicopter at Mexico Citys airport following his recapture during an intense military operation in Los Mochis, in Sinaloa State. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images ) In Tijuana, law enforcements takedown of the Arellano Felix Organization led to a split in the group and a bloody war for control of the drug corridor. The Sinaloa, led by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and Ismael El Mayo Zambada, has dominated for the past several years, although the group has been the subject of a piece-by-piece takedown by U.S. authorities nationwide, including in San Diego. The Sinaloa are also facing a new threat by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a newer player from central Mexico that has quickly expanded its influence. The cartel, often called CJNG, has been recruiting former members of the Arellano Felix Organization and urging Sinaloa traffickers to flip. The war on drugs has been costly, in both lives and resources. Mexico has felt the brunt of the violence, with assassinations of drug gang affiliates, law enforcement officers, crooked officials, snitches, journalists and civilians. RELATED: How would legalizing marijuana affect drug war at San Diegos border? Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon in 2006 waged a fierce battle against the cartels, deploying the military to the streets and the countryside to wipe out the drug trade. Violence escalated as a result. Mexican media and researchers who have closely tracked drug violence estimate 45,000 to 55,000 organized crime-style killings in Mexico from 2007 to 2012 during Calderons administration. Some of the bloodshed has spilled into the U.S. In 2002, an enforcement crew that used to do work for the Arellano Felix Organization, called Los Palillos, moved from Tijuana to San Diego for safety. They brought with them cartel-style violence that resulted in kidnappings, killings and bodies dissolved in vats of acid in a San Ysidro horse corral. Seventeen people were indicted in San Diego; others remain at large. Putting a figure on the economic impact of violence in Mexico and the war on drugs in general is not easy. RELATED: Back Story: Exploring cartels and legal marijuana In 2015, the economic impact of violence in Mexico with much of that violence believed to be drug related was pegged at $134 billion, according to the London-based Institute for Economics and Peace. In the U.S., untold billions have been spent combating traffickers. The U.S. has worked to tighten security at the border, an effort that has included a massive hiring push by the Border Patrol and deployments of National Guard troops to the border. In 2007, a formalized partnership was developed between the U.S., Mexico and Central America to go after the drug trade. From 2008 to 2015, the U.S. set aside $2.3 billion for Mexico under the agreement. Would legalizing marijuana in California have a visible effect on law enforcement, on the courts, on government coffers, on taxpayers? No one knows the answer for certain. It could be one question voters consider as they head to the polls Nov. 8. San Diego police found a husband and wife dead at a home in Linda Vista Monday in an apparent murder-suicide. A man called police just before 10 a.m. saying he was going to kill his wife and then himself, San Diego police Lt. Mike Hastings said. HE gave his location and the line disconnected. Advertisement Officers surrounded the two-story house, West Jewett Street west of Linda Vista Road, then found the bodies inside, Hastings said. Both people died from a gunshot wound. A handgun was found nearby. The names of the victims, believed to be in their 70s, have not been released. by Peerzada Arshad Hamid NEW DELHI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Police Tuesday fired dozens of tear smoke shells and used drones to drop smoke bombs on thousands of farmers marching toward the Indian capital to stage a demonstration to get their demands met. Thousands of farmers began their protest from Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib. Young men, women and the elderly were seen sitting in the tractor-trolleys heading to Delhi. The march was stopped by police at a meeting point where farmers from the state of Haryana were supposed to join the march to the Indian capital. Many farmers were detained as they tried to remove cement barriers obstructing their progress. According to farmers, the march began after meetings between federal ministers and farmer union leaders remained inconclusive. TV footage showed columns of smoke rising following the bursting of tear shells as farmers were running away. The call for a march was given by farmer unions to increase pressure on the federal government to fulfil their demands including the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The farmers are also demanding pensions for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation, among others. Approximately 200 farmer organizations took part in the protest. Police contingents in Haryana have fortified the state's borders with Punjab at many places using concrete blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle the marching farmers. Police personnel also used drones and have deployed riot control vehicles, including water cannons, at many places to keep a close eye on the protesters. In Delhi, government forces have put multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers at border points to disallow the protesting farmers. Authorities in Delhi have sounded an alert and imposed orders banning large gatherings until March 12. Meanwhile, farmer leaders have denounced the government for blocking and fortifying roads. "We were promised our demands will be met, but the government didn't keep its promise. This time, we will leave only after all our demands are met," Harbhajan Singh, a farmer told a television news channel. In September 2020, the Indian government passed three contentious laws aimed at "modernizing" the country's agricultural sector. However, farmers feared the new laws would weaken their position and make them dependent on corporates. In seeking revocation of the laws, thousands of farmers sat on strike on the borders of the national capital then. The strike went on for over a year after which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a surprise address to the nation that his government was repealing the laws. People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) GAZA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 Palestinians were wounded on Tuesday in an Israeli artillery shell targeted the outer hall of the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. The director of media at the crossing said in a press statement that an Israeli artillery shell hit the outer hall of the Rafah crossing, resulting in moderate injuries to 10 passengers and causing damage to the outer wall of the hall. Despite the bombing, the crossing movement continued without hindrance, according to the statement. Also on Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. Palestinian casualties were reported Tuesday from the Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, and various areas of the southern city of Rafah, according to Palestinian medical and security sources. According to the security sources, Israeli artillery bombed several areas in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, and as a result, the electricity supply to the Nasser Medical Complex in the city was cut off, noting that the complex has been under siege by the Israeli army for about two weeks, according to the Ministry of Health. The Israeli army announced in a press statement that three soldiers were killed on Monday in the battles in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli media outlets, this brings the number of army deaths since the outbreak of the war against Hamas in Gaza to 569 In addition, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced in a statement on Monday that its members clashed with a group of Israeli soldiers in the Abasan area, east of Khan Yunis, and detonated an anti-personnel device in another force in the same area. People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People leave their home after Israeli bombings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Feb. 13, 2024. On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Israeli military killed 133 Palestinians and wounded 162 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths to 28,473 and injuries to 68,146 in the Palestinian enclave since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said in a press statement. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People inspect a building damaged in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 13, 2024. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army killed a Palestinian young man in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a press statement on Tuesday. "A 20-year-old Mohammed Selmi was killed after being hit by several bullets by the Israeli army," it added. In turn, local Palestinian sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces opened fire on his vehicle. After that, the forces blocked the road and prevented ambulance crews from reaching the scene. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. In Qalqilya, the troop raided several homes and arrested dozens of Palestinians. According to eyewitnesses, armed clashes broke out between them and Palestinian militants. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli military fire in the West Bank has risen to 394 since Oct. 7, 2023, the day the current round of the Israel-Hamas conflict took place in the Gaza Strip. A man inspects a building damaged in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 13, 2024. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) People inspect a building damaged in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 13, 2024. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) A man inspects a building damaged in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 13, 2024. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) A man inspects a building damaged in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Feb. 13, 2024. Local Palestinian sources said that during the past hours, the Israeli army stormed a number of West Bank areas, including Qalqilya and the Jenin refugee camp, destroying roads and vehicles belonging to Palestinians during the raids. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Seven pioneering initiatives in Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia were named 2024 United Nations World Restoration Flagships on Tuesday for helping restore the health of degraded habitats. Announced ahead of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) to be held from Feb. 26 to March 1 in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, the seven initiatives are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration that seeks to prevent, halt and reverse the depletion of terrestrial and marine life. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are custodians of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, whose goal is to restore 1 billion hectares of degraded land and oceans globally. A joint statement released on the same day from the UNEP and FAO said the seven flagship projects are expected to restore nearly 40 million hectares of degraded habitats and create about 500,000 jobs. Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP, said the recognition of the seven initiatives reaffirmed that nature-positive development was central to realizing a green and resilient future for humanity. "These initiatives show how we can make peace with nature, put local communities at the heart of restoration efforts, and still create new jobs." "As we continue to face a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, now is the time we must double down and accelerate restoration initiatives," Andersen added. The seven flagship initiatives that have restored ecosystems impacted negatively by wildfires, drought, pollution and deforestation will be eligible for UN technical and financial support. Qu Dongyu, director-general of the FAO, observed that restoring the terrestrial and marine ecosystem will be a giant step towards transforming food systems in light of climatic stresses, population pressure, and biodiversity loss. "Ecosystem restoration is a long-term solution in the fight to eradicate poverty, hunger and malnutrition as we face population growth and increased need for food and ecosystem goods and services," Qu said. Among the seven flagship initiatives is the Regreening Africa project, which seeks to restore 5 million hectares of the continent's degraded land by 2030 and transform the livelihoods of local communities. So far, regreening of more than 350,000 hectares of land across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, and Somalia has been achieved, reaching more than 607,000 households through training on tree planting. Join the ethnic Yao people in celebrating the Spring Festival with the tradition of making "ciba" -- a delicious round-shaped glutinous rice cake. Travel to central China to learn more about this sweet, sticky treat that represents good fortunes and family gatherings. Produced by Xinhua Global Service * This year's Chinese Spring Festival coincides with the Year of the Dragon. As the totem of the Chinese nation, the dragon is deemed strong, fearless and benevolent. * Rich cultural activities allows people worldwide to satisfy their curiosity about Chinese culture and get acquainted with China's customs and history. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese dragon, also known as the "loong," is prominent in Chinese mythology as a legendary and auspicious creature. Unlike their European counterparts, Chinese dragons don't exhale fire. Instead, they are often linked with water, symbolizing traits associated with business prosperity, abundant harvests and good health. As the totem of the Chinese nation, the dragon is deemed strong, fearless and benevolent, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese. This year's Chinese Spring Festival coincides with the Year of the Dragon, adding extra excitement to global celebrations. It also allows people to satisfy their curiosity about Chinese culture and get acquainted with China's customs and history. VIBRANT WORLDWIDE CELEBRATIONS People worldwide are embracing vibrant celebrations in this year's Spring Festival -- from the bustling streets in Zurich, Switzerland, to the colorful events in Harare, Zimbabwe, the air is filled with excitement. This photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows the image of a dragon projected on clouds in Davos, Switzerland. This was the projection work by Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter. (Photo by Mike Kessler/Xinhua) Michael Hitz, a Swiss national, joined his Chinese neighbor at a Spring Festival event in Zurich, Switzerland, where he enjoyed Chinese delicacies. "Authentic Chinese food is indispensable for Lunar New Year events like today," he said. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people from different communities gather in a Year of Dragon celebration event organized by the Chinese Traditional Culture Association of Zurich. Participants enjoyed a cultural feast of traditional Chinese art, including children's chorus, guzheng (a Chinese plucked string instrument), dance and martial arts, before indulging in over 20 varieties of Chinese delicacies. Lu Jinlian, president of the Chinese Traditional Culture Association of Zurich, told Xinhua that approximately 230 guests shared the hybrid celebration event. In Zimbabwe, vibrant local dances and drum performances were presented at the China-Zimbabwe Friendship High School in Harare, the country's capital, days before the Spring Festival to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. At the scene, local students attending the event enjoyed the opportunity to learn Chinese martial arts, and they were also awed by a Chinese martial arts performance by a visiting troupe from the Henan Provincial Shaolin Wushu Training Center. "Today, I joined the Chinese Kung Fu group. The martial art is difficult, but it's amazing," said Brenda Moyo, a student from the school. Zimbabwean students learn Chinese martial arts from a member of a visiting troupe from the Henan Provincial Shaolin Wushu Training Center during a cultural exchange event in Harare, Zimbabwe, Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua) A troupe from central China's Henan Province staged a colorful show during the Chinese New Year celebrations at Furi Lebu Railway Station, west of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Feb. 3. A Chinese language student at Addis Ababa University, Temesgen Yitayew, said he was delighted to see the acrobatics performance. "As you can see, I am carrying the national flags of China and Ethiopia to portray that there are growing cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries," Yitayew said. Abdi Zenebe, chief executive officer of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company, told Xinhua that the show has brought a festive vibe to the railway station and surrounding community. RICH CULTURAL ATMOSPHERE The China Cultural Center in Myanmar's commercial hub, Yangon, adorned with vibrant red cultural decorations, bustled with visitors enjoying the Dragon Year 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." 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. 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. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) In Slovakia, people attended a concert celebrating the traditional Chinese New Year held at Bratislava, the country's capital. Chinese musicians presented a performance featuring traditional Chinese music and the traditional Slovak folk song "Na Kralovej holi." "Events like this should be held more often to support cultural exchange. It was interesting to hear that many songs featured traditional Chinese instruments, but the melodies reminded me of Western music," said Jana Benicka, Slovak director of the Confucius Institute at Comenius University. "Today's concert will also take us through Chinese melodies, into Chinese history and unique culture, which has positively influenced and enriched mankind for thousands of years with its precious philosophy, literature, and architecture," said Marek Estok, the country's state secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. In Ethiopia, the cultural vibes from central China's Henan Province resonated in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa as a captivating troupe infused the essence of the Spring Festival into their performance. Their repertoire included acrobatics, martial arts, face-changing, and a delightful mix of Chinese and traditional Ethiopian dances, creating an enchanting atmosphere at the Ethiopian National Theater. Kebede Kassa, an employee in the Addis Ababa City Administration, told Xinhua that he enjoyed the cultural show very much, noting that the Chinese cultural shows have been his favorite since childhood. "I am so happy that the Chinese cultural troupe has come to Ethiopia. This event was unique in that it displayed a mix of Chinese and Ethiopian (African) cultures," said Kassa. SHARED JOY To celebrate the New Year, the Chinese community in Nigeria held a carnival celebration in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. For Adeshina Adegboye, a Nigerian mechanical engineer, the festive atmosphere in his city was "electrifying." "As you can see, this celebration clearly shows the shared joy of the Chinese and their Nigerian friends," said Adegboye, a first-time attendee of the annual temple fair, a traditional cultural event featuring various kinds of Chinese folk art. People watch the traditional Chinese lion dance to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Champs Elysee avenue in Paris, France, Feb. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Martins Ifeanyi, a Nigerian businessman, told Xinhua that the celebration was about welcoming a new year and connecting communities, adding that the event was a clear celebration of shared experiences. "This celebration is more than just traditions," enthused Amina Yusuf, a Nigerian woman who attended the event with her two daughters. "This looks more like a mixtape of cultures coming together. It is interesting to know that the Chinese believe that the Year of the Dragon will bring positive vibes. And we are thrilled to share that with them." To immerse oneself in the vibrant festivities of dragon and lion dances, enchanting fish lantern displays, and captivating Hanfu performances, one must not overlook the dazzling performances of the Chinese community on the iconic Champs-Elysees in Paris. A temporary "pedestrian zone" stretching about 300 meters from the Fouquet's restaurant to near the Arc de Triomphe allowed some 50,000 people to enjoy the performances, according to statistics from the Chinese Tourism Office in Paris. "Magnificent event, the first time I've seen an event like this personally, it's grandiose," Jean-Baptiste, who visited the zone, told Xinhua. "There's no better place to do it; it feels good to see colorful events like this from another culture." Foreign leaders and heads of international organizations have sent their festive blessings to the Chinese people, voicing their expectations for stronger bilateral relations and win-win cooperation with China. The United Nations officially included the Spring Festival as a floating holiday in its calendar of conferences and meetings starting in 2024. The arrival of this year's Spring Festival has garnered blessings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "I'm pleased to send my warmest greetings as we usher in the Year of the Dragon. The Dragon symbolizes energy, wisdom, protection, and good luck," Guterres said. "We need these qualities to rise to today's global challenges," said Guterres. (Video reporters: Sun Xinjing, Deng Min, Li Hualing, Lu Huaiqian, Wu Lu, Du Juan, Huang Heng; video editors: Wu Yao, Zhao Xiaoqing) TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Tuesday condemned the U.S. recent seizure of a Boeing 747 cargo plane of Venezuelan cargo airline Emtrasur as "illegal." He made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, saying the hijack fell in U.S. unilateral coercive measures and violated the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. He stressed that Iran voiced its absolute support for Venezuela's efforts as well as legal and diplomatic measures to restore ownership of the plane and gain access to its belongings. The U.S. Justice Department said in a statement published on its website on Monday that the U.S. government had seized the Boeing 747 cargo plane that had previously been sold by "sanctioned" Iranian airline Mahan Air to Emtrasur, a state-owned Venezuelan firm, in violation of American export control laws. The statement added that the American-built plane had arrived in Florida and would be disposed of. Iran's Mahan Air has for years been under U.S. sanctions, accused by Washington of "providing support for the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps." CMHA represents and advocates for Michigans public mental health system and the Michiganders it serves. Trish Cortes Allie McCrum Maribeth Leonard The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan's children, teens, and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan , Center for Health and Research Transformation Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan , Northern Lakes CMH Authority , OnPoint , Sanilac County CMH , St. Clair County CMH , Summit Pointe , and Washtenaw County CMH . TOKYO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The launch of Japan's new H3 rocket will be postponed due to anticipated adverse weather conditions at the liftoff site in southwestern Japan, the country's space agency said on Tuesday. The launch was initially scheduled for Thursday. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that the new launch date for the No. 2 H3 rocket, which serves as the successor to the current mainstay H2A rocket, has not yet been determined. The new H3 rocket features enhancements in its ignition system and is set to carry a mock satellite, mirroring the weight of the actual one loaded onto the No. 1 H3 launch vehicle, along with two microsatellites. JAXA intends to use the launch project to verify the rocket's capability to control its positioning and deploy satellites, with activities taking place at the Tanegashima Space Center, according to local media reports. During its maiden launch in March of the previous year, the No. 1 H3 rocket took off from the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. However, the mission was abruptly terminated when the rocket's second-stage engine failed to ignite, prompting a self-destruct sequence just minutes after liftoff. A completed home repair in Genesee County. Ronna Edwards 1st State Bank Mortgage Department Amy Courtney 1st State Bank Brian Glowiak Citi has renewed its rating on supermarket giant Tesco with a 'buy', hailing the positive impact of last week's 600m disposal of most of its retail banking business to Barclays. The deal, announced on 9 February, will see Tesco sell its existing banking operations in credit cards, loans and savings, removing 7.7bn of capital-intensive assets and 6.7bn of liabilities from its balance sheet. Tesco said it expected to rake in a further 100m after the settlement of regulatory capital amounts and transaction costs. Combined with the 250m special dividend paid by Tesco Bank last August, this is expected to result in a total of around 1bn, the majority of which will be returned to shareholders in the form of an incremental share buyback. The companies also agreed a 10-year partnership to market and distribute credit cards, unsecured personal loans and deposits using the Tesco brand, as well as explore other opportunities to offer financial services to Tesco customers. Tesco will keep insurance, ATM, travel money and gift card operations. "We view the transaction positively, retaining the ability to monetise Tesco's inherently low acquisition costs for financial services but without the complexity, infrastructure or capital intensity of a captive bank subsidiary," Citi said in a research note. The bank said that the future shape of Tesco's financial services exposure "is not entirely dissimilar to Tesco's highly successful business before its 2008 buyout of Tesco Personal Finance". Citi has set a 320p target price for the stock, suggesting around 15% upside from Tuesday morning's price of 279.2p, down 0.5% on the day. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue on Tuesday as it benefited from higher prices and volumes. Net revenue rose 7% to $10.8bn, coming in above consensus expectations of $10.7bn. Earnings per share declined 2% 46 cents, while comparable EPS grew 10% to 49 cents. The drinks maker said unit case volume grew 2% for the quarter. Developed markets were even, with growth in Mexico and Germany offset by declines in the US and Chile. Meanwhile, average selling prices were up 9%. For full year 2024, the company expects to deliver organic revenue growth of 6% to 7%, while comparable earnings per share are expected to rise 4% to 5%. Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Coca-Colas fourth-quarter results showcased why its still the top dog in the soft drink industry. With 61 years of annual dividend increases, investors would be forgiven for thinking this is a boring mature company. "But double-digit revenue and profit growth suggest otherwise and highlight the fact that this dividend king isnt resting on its laurels. The revenue uplift came from a healthy mix of both price and volume, at a time when many of its peers are seeing volumes flatten or even decline. "The real secret formula to Coca-Colas success doesnt lie in a vault. Instead, it lies in successfully aligning its interests with those of its bottling partners. The group does this by having a roughly 20-25% stake in its most important bottlers, with a significant portion of the remaining shares typically owned by a single family. This ownership structure helps to align focus on long-term growth, with skin-in-the-game family owners naturally being more patient than your typical public investors." He said that healthy free cash flows and falling net debt levels mean there could be room for increased share buybacks this year. "Some of these funds could also be spent on acquiring new brands as a route to boost revenue growth. Although, getting the right brand at the right price is a difficult task. And even if Coca-Cola pulls it off, several years of investment would likely be needed to ramp up production and elevate brand awareness amongst consumers." The Body Shop 's UK business collapsed into administration on Tuesday, putting as many as 2,000 jobs at risk. The administration is being handled by restructuring firm FRP, which said it would consider all options to find a way forward for the business. Body Shop stores will stay open, along with the online business, while administrators attempt a restructure. The retailer said in a statement: "The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. "Having taken swift action in the last month, including closing down The Body Shop At Home and selling its business across most of Europe and in parts of Asia, focusing on the UK business is the next important step in The Body Shops restructuring." The Body Shop was founded by the late Dame Anita Roddick, who opened her first shop in Brighton in 1976. Big in the 1980s and 1990s, the cosmetics retailer - famous for its 'White Musk' scent - pioneered animal-friendly product testing. The Body Shop has around 200 outlets across the UK, and according to Sky News, it's understood up to 100 of them could be closed to bring the number of shops in line with competitors such as Lush, which trades from 104 premises in the UK and Ireland. The retailer was bought by private equity firm Aurelius last November in a 207m deal. THE HAGUE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations on a new Dutch government appeared to have reached a deadlock as two major parties rejected joining a coalition government with far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV). The center-right party New Social Contract (NSC) and the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) have both expressed that they can only support a minority government from outside instead of full participation. Ronald Plasterk, a former PvdA (Labor) politician appointed as "scout" to talk to all parties over the formation of a possible government, said in a report that the four political parties negotiating over a new coalition government are not expected to reach a deal at least for now. The negotiations had shown early progress but splits emerged between the PVV and the NSC over issues related to "fundamental rights and the rule of law." The NSC said that given past statements and the PVV's election manifesto, the distance between the rule of law remains too great for its participation in a majority government. Last week, the NSC stepped out of the negotiations, telling the other three parties that it did not want to participate in a majority government with the PVV, according to the report. But the other three parties, PVV, VVD and the farmers movement BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) continued negotiations because it was still possible that NSC wanted to cooperate by supporting a minority government or another type of cabinet. The negotiations need a second round, but whether this will be with the current four center to far-right parties or what kind of government should be the goal, remains to be seen, according to Plasterk's report, which still does not preclude the possibility for the parties to reach a deal. "Based on the discussions held, it cannot be ruled out that an agreement will be reached by the four parties," Plasterk wrote in the report. "There are enough similarities that should make it possible to form a new government." What form such a government should have, a majority or minority cabinet, must be determined later, according to Plasterk. The four parties had been negotiating since mid-December. The far-right PVV won the general elections in the Netherlands on November 22 by a landslide and negotiations on a center-right-wing government were the logical next step. Before the negotiations, the VVD said it did not want to be in a government with the PVV, but that it would support a center-right cabinet from the sidelines, the same as the NSC has now said. "It is clear that not everyone can only support and not join a government," Plasterk wrote on this matter in his report. Since the start of the negotiations, the NSC showed major doubts about cooperation with the PVV. The NSC has severe constitutional objections to some of the PVV's ideas, especially the anti-Islam views. The atmosphere during the negotiations has therefore and for some other issues never been warm. NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt was back in The Hague on Monday after a few days break. He told Dutch media that he prefers a minority cabinet of PVV, VVD and BBB, so without his own party. "I think it is a good idea that they will form a minority cabinet together," he said. Plasterk said in his report a new scout should be appointed as his successor. He said the new scout must specifically study the shape of the next government, which was not part of his assignment. Ericsson Research and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) have solidified a three-year collaboration focused on conducting mutual research in the field of secure and dependable Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Ericsson Research will extend support and participate in diverse research endeavors alongside ISI, establishing a joint research hub named the Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (C-CPS). As per the press release, C-CPS has been conceptualized as an interdisciplinary virtual research hub committed to advancing fundamental and applied research in Sustainable and Trustworthy Cyber-Physical Systems. This collaboration prioritizes making immediate strides in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and CPS within the Indian ecosystem. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director of ISI Kolkata, highlighted the importance of research in safe and reliable CPS for developing next-generation autonomy technologies. She emphasized ISI's conducive environment for collaborative translational research and welcomed the establishment of the ISI-Ericsson research centre. Magnus Frodigh, the Head of Ericsson Research, explained the importance of the partnership, emphasizing Ericsson's dedication to research and development in India, particularly in the fields of computing and AI research. Frodigh also shared Ericsson's vision for 6G, which aims to merge the physical and digital worlds by utilizing extensive sensor-based communications between humans and machines through digital twins. Nitin Bansal, Managing Director of Ericsson India, emphasized the company's strong focus on research and development, highlighting the belief that partnerships with academic institutions in AI and 6G will contribute to building a robust foundation for India's 6G programme. rephrase it Professor Diganta Mukherjee, who is the Chairperson of the Cell for Cooperation with Academia, Industry, and Research Labs (C-CAIR) at ISI, has expressed his optimism about the future of research and development through the partnerships between industry and academia. He has welcomed the collaboration with Ericsson and is anticipating more opportunities for joint work in the areas of Data Science and Machine Learning. The focus will be on the application of these technologies in 6G telecommunication, as well as classical and quantum secure communication. US-based multinational company Cognizant has inaugurated its new centre at the Odisha Technology Centre in Bhubaneswar. The facility was opened by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, along with Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. The launch is part of Cognizant's expansion plans across emerging technology hubs in India. Expressing delight at the choice of Bhubaneswar as the expansion hub, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik highlighted the state's proactive policies and administration in supporting the center's functioning. He expressed confidence that Cognizant's presence would generate high-value job opportunities for the youth of Odisha and contribute to the state's growth. CEO Ravi Kumar S. emphasized the significance of Bhubaneswar as an education hub with highly skilled talent and robust infrastructure. He mentioned plans to leverage Odisha's 200 tech colleges as feeders for the company, positioning Odisha as a mega hub for Cognizant. The collaboration between Cognizant and the Odisha government's electronics and information technology department resulted in the establishment of the centre within seven months, a feat praised by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Cognizant plans to bring its associate volunteering program, Cognizant Outreach, and the efforts of Cognizant Foundation to Bhubaneswar, contributing to community service in the region. The event was attended by State's Electronics and IT Minister Tusharkanti Behera and 5T Chairman V K Pandian, among others. US leadership in the Indo-Pacific region bears direct benefits, fostering stronger economic connections between American enterprises and international markets, generating employment opportunities, and enhancing readiness for prospective pandemics. The United States, as an Indo-Pacific nation, remains steadfast in its dedication to advancing a collective vision for an open, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. This region, home to over half of the world's population and contributing to 60 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of economic growth, holds immense significance on the global stage. In 2022, trade between the US and the Indo-Pacific surpassed $2 trillion, accompanied by substantial foreign direct investment totaling $956 billion. Through unwavering leadership and commitment, the US actively showcases its engagement in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring the region's capability to address global challenges and opportunities. At the forefront of these endeavors, the Department of State spearheads efforts to revitalize partnerships and alliances, foster coalitions, and participate actively in multilateral institutions. Advancing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific The United States Department of State is actively committed to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, focusing on advocating for open societies, independent political decision-making, and transparent governance based on established rules. Central to these endeavors are initiatives aimed at advancing human rights and democratic principles worldwide, bolstering democratic processes in Burma, countering threats posed by foreign information manipulation and interference, and addressing the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya population. Building Connections Within and Beyond the Region Over the preceding two years, the United States has significantly bolstered its diplomatic ties with allies and partners to an unprecedented extent. Noteworthy advancements include the consolidation of a robust and cohesive ASEAN, deepening trilateral cooperation among the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, and effective collaboration within the Quad framework. Furthermore, the US has strategically expanded its diplomatic presence in the Indo-Pacific, exemplified by establishing embassies in the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Maldives, with ongoing discussions regarding the potential opening of an embassy in Kiribati. Moreover, the US has formally acknowledged the sovereignty and independence of the Cook Islands and Niue, establishing diplomatic relations with both nations. In June 2022, the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) formation by Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States underscored a collective commitment to advancing Pacific priorities, encompassing prosperity, resilience, and security. Further strides have been made through enhanced trilateral cooperation with Japan and the Philippines, the elevation of bilateral relations with Vietnam and Indonesia to Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships, and steadfast support for India's regional leadership across multilateral and bilateral platforms. Concurrently, the United States is expanding its engagement in the Indian Ocean Region, fostering connectivity between European and Atlantic allies with the Indo-Pacific, and prioritizing investments in people-to-people linkages. Driving Regional Prosperity The United States strategically directs investments toward the Indo-Pacific region to foster innovation, bolster economic competitiveness, and create jobs. Over the preceding two years, the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have allocated approximately $4 billion in foreign assistance to the region, coinciding with nearly doubling foreign direct investment over the past decade. Notably, companies within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region have unveiled almost $200 billion in assets within the United States since the inception of the current administration. Bolstering Regional Stability The United States is actively advancing regional security objectives through a multifaceted approach to deepening cooperation, bolstering allied investments, and fostering interoperability. This commitment is exemplified through various initiatives, including robust support for the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) Security Partnership, efforts to fortify security alliances, expand presence within the Indo-Pacific region, and enhance maritime domain awareness and security. Furthermore, the US has solidified its commitment to regional security by entering into defense cooperation agreements with Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, establishing mechanisms for real-time information sharing concerning DPRK missile threats, and engaging in collaborative exercises with like-minded allies. In cybersecurity, the US is actively enhancing cooperation and capacity-building efforts. This is exemplified through initiatives such as the Pacific Cyber Capacity and Coordination Conference and cyber dialogues with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and India. Additionally, the United States remains steadfast in its support for Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. Financial commitments further underscore the United States' dedication to regional security. Notably, investments totaling $393 million in foreign military financing and over $34 million in International Military Education and Training within the Indo-Pacific region aim to fortify maritime security and promote military professionalization. Additionally, these investments seek to strengthen humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities. Advancing Resilience to 21st Century Transnational Threats The United States has been actively collaborating with partners across the Indo-Pacific region to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, expedite the transition to clean energy sources and bolster investments in global health security. Specifically, the U.S. has committed to supporting climate adaptation and resilience efforts in the Pacific Islands and Maldives, launching initiatives focused on humanitarian warehousing and enhancing research capabilities in oceanography and fisheries. Moreover, the US is harnessing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Clean Economy Agreement and the Catalytic Capital Fund to facilitate the financing of projects adhering to high standards. In addition, the U.S. is prioritizing the promotion of climate ambition, clean energy adoption, and boosting energy security through collaborations such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships and Civil-Nuclear Cooperation Agreements, as well as initiatives aimed at fostering regional energy integration. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A jury trial has commenced in the shooting death of 38-year-old Tamer Shaarawy, in an alleged home invasion robbery that unfolded two years ago inside his Greenridge home. The defendant, 37-year-old Kaitlyn Reuter of New Dorp Beach, will be at the center of opening arguments Tuesday in state Supreme Court, St. George. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A half dozen teens recently engaged in an abstract painting workshop -- drawing inspiration from painter Alma Woodsey Thomas abstract works -- in celebration of Black History Month at the West New Brighton branch of the New York Public Library. Alma Woodsey Thomas was an African-American artist and teacher who is celebrated as a significant American painter of the 20th century. Alysia Kayla Van Manen, who has worked within the New York Public Library for a dozen years, led the painting workshop. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi She was one of the first Black women to be invited by Jimmy Carter at the White House, and she had a solo exhibit at the Whitney Museum, said Alysia Kayla Van Manen of Eltingville, who led Thursdays workshop. I chose Alma Thomas, because she was a teacher. She grew up in Georgia ... segregated Georgia. I try to use community leaders. I just think its nice for them to see someone who is an everyday person. The workshop was inspired by the work of Alma Woodsey Thomas, an African-American artist and teacher who is celebrated as a significant American painter of the 20th century. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi Van Manen kicked off a discussion about Thomas with the youth before they delved into their painting session. By showcasing some of Thomas abstract pieces, they were inspired and ready to unleash their creativity. They were given canvases, paint, brushes, tissue paper and construction paper. I love giving them an inch, and they take the mile, said Van Manen, who has been involved with the library for 12 years and is currently studying library science. Workshop participants were given canvases, paint, brushes, tissue paper and construction paper to use to create art. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi A year ago the West New Brighton Library was awarded a grant from Google to enhance its teen center, emphasizing digital literacy and tech skills. Every day, the center hosts a program on things like crafts, STEAM activities, gaming and more. Plus, snacks are provided for all participants, making it a welcoming and engaging environment. Today I made abstract art, said 13-year-old Sayl Adelle. And I learned that it was a tough time during Alma Thomas life, and she was very inspiring, because she was a Black female artist and she got invited to the White House. That was a very big achievement for a Black lady at the time. Sayl used a square pattern in her art piece, putting some moths on it as well. Explosions shook Palestinians awake in Rafah on Monday, as the sky outside, despite the early hour, glowed as if it were daytime. Rafah, where the raid took place, is a city located on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge to escape the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict elsewhere. Women and children were among those killed in the airstrikes, Palestinian officials said. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, over 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza since the Hamas assault into Israel on Oct. 7 -- which resulted in the deaths of 1,200, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals. Palestinians attend the funeral of Mohammed Sherif Hassan Selmi in Qalqiliya, West Bank, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. The Israeli army said that Salemi was shot and killed when he tried to overrun soldiers. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)AP The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli hostage rescue operation in a key Gaza city rose to 74 on Tuesday, officials in the war-ravaged enclave said, even as the warring sides appear to have made progress toward a deal that aims to bring about a cease-fire and free hostages held by Hamas. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December. Currently: Biden says key elements of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordans King Abdullah The Israeli military says it has rescued 2 hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip. Timeline of the Israeli raid in Gaza that rescued two hostages and killed dozens of Palestinians Egypt is threatening to void its decades-old peace treaty with Israel. What does that mean? UN Palestinian aid agency says its critical to receive EU aid soon, but EU wants an audit first. Heres the latest: HEZBOLLAHS LEADER DANGLES CEASEFIRE The leader of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group indicated on Tuesday that it would halt its attacks on Israel and commit to a cease-fire in southern Lebanon after a settlement is reached in Israels war with Hamas in Gaza. Hassan Nasrallah, however, said that the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is also an ally of the Palestinian militant Hamas group, would continue its attacks if Israel resumes cross-border fire. When there is a cease-fire in Gaza, we will stop in the south, he said. The remark was apparently in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallants comments saying that strikes against the militant group wont stop even with a cease-fire in Gaza. Nasrallah also called on residents in southern Lebanon to turn off their cellphones and cameras, warning them that they are key sources of Israeli intelligence gathering activities that are used to target Hezbollah officials and militants. Since the Oct. 7 eruption of the Israel-Hamas war, escalation along the Lebanon-Israeli border and prospects of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has terrified people on both sides of the border. SOUTH AFRICA LODGES urgent request The South African government said Tuesday it lodged an urgent request with the International Court of Justice to consider whether Israels military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah constitute a breach of the courts provisional orders handed down in its genocide case last month. The request asks the U.N. court to determine whether Israels actions in Rafah where 1.4 million Palestinians from elsewhere in war-battered Gaza have fled to escape fighting represents a further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. The African country is also asking the court in the Netherlands to consider further provisional measures against Israel, according to a statement released by the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa alleges that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in its war against Gazas militant Hamas group. The ICJ handed down a preliminary ruling last month in the case, issuing six orders, including asking Israel to do all it can to prevent the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of Gaza. FRANCE SANCTIONS 28 RADICAL ISRAELI SETTLERS The French foreign ministry said France has adopted sanctions against 28 radical Israeli settlers who have been involved in violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, banning them from French territory. The measure comes as violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians increased in recent months, the ministry said, even as the world is focused on the Israeli-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. France reaffirms its firm condemnation of this unacceptable violence, it said, urging Israeli authorities to put an end to such acts and send perpetrators to trial. The ministry also said France was working with its European partners to be able to adopt sanctions at the EU level. Colonization is illegal under international law and must stop, it added. 2 AL-JAZEERA JOURNALISTS WOUNDED Al Jazeera says two of its journalists have been wounded in an Israeli airstrike near Rafah in the Gaza Strip, with one having to undergo an amputation. The pan-Arab broadcaster, funded by Qatar, reported the strike on Tuesday and identified the wounded as cameraman Ahmad Matar and reporter Ismail Abu Omar. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. The channel quoted Dr. Muhammad al-Astal at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as saying that Abu Omar had his right foot amputated after suffering severe wounds, including shrapnel to his chest and head. The channel said doctors were trying to stop the bleeding and save his left leg. Hamas media office condemned what it called a deliberate attack by Israels military on the two journalists, saying it was an attempt to intimidate and terrorize journalists. The Israel-Hamas war has seen at least 85 journalists and media workers killed, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The agency said the fatalities are 78 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese. WARRING SIDES SAID TO BE MAKING PROGRESS A senior Egyptian official said mediators have achieved what he described as relatively significant progress in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas ahead of a scheduled meeting in Cairo on Tuesday of representatives from Qatar, the United States and Israel. Israeli media reported the head of the spy agency Mossad, David Barnea, was in the Egyptian capital. The Egyptian official said the meeting would focus on crafting a final draft of a six-week cease-fire deal, with guarantees that the parties would continue negotiations toward a permanent cease-fire. A Western diplomat in the Egyptian capital also said a six-week deal was on the table but cautioned that more work is still needed to reach an agreement. He said Tuesdays meeting would be crucial in bridging the remaining gaps to get the two sides to agree on a six-week truce and embark on talks for a final cease-fire deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media. GERMANY PRESSES FOR ESTABLISHING SAFE CORRIDORS German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, right, shakes hands with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki after their joint press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)AP Germanys foreign minister is pressing for establishing safe corridors for civilians facing an Israeli offensive in Rafah. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock received Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in Berlin on Tuesday, a day before she is due to start her fifth trip to Israel since Hamas Oct. 7 attack that started the war. Baerbock said that if Israel acts against Hamas in Rafah, then it is our common responsibility, it is the responsibility of the Israeli army, to have safe corridors for the people who have sought safety there. She added that these parents, these children, these families, cannot simply disappear into thin air. They cant go anywhere else. Baerbock renewed a call for humanitarian cease-fires to facilitate aid deliveries. She acknowledged the incredible dilemma created by Hamas hiding behind Gazas civilian population. RELATIVE OF A FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE SAYS HIS MEDICATION WASNT DELIVERED A relative of one of the hostages Israel rescued in a daring mission this week in the Gaza Strip says he never received medicines that were part of a Qatar- and French-mediated deal meant to deliver treatment to sick captives held by Hamas in exchange for more aid for Palestinians. Maayan Sigal-Koren told Israeli Army Radio on Tuesday that Louis Har, her mothers partner who was freed, was sent a hearing aid, glasses and medication but never received them. Har, 70, has diabetes and hypertension for which he needs medication, among other conditions, according to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy group supporting the families of the hostages. Sigal-Koren said the fact that Har didnt have his meds compounded the challenges of being held captive. It added to other difficulties there, the psychological difficulties, the difficulty that his freedom was taken away, she said. Israeli hospital officials said Har and fellow freed captive Fernando Marman were in good physical shape upon their release. The Qatar- and France-mediated deal was meant to provide a three-months supply of medications for 45 of the hostages. Qatar announced nearly a month ago that the medications had arrived in Gaza but there was never any confirmation that they had reached the hostages. CHURCH OF ENGLAND BISHOPS CALLS FOR CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA Bishops in the Church of England on Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire in Israels relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The relentless bombardment of Gaza and its huge cost in civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must stop, the House of Bishops said in a statement. The manner in which this war is being prosecuted cannot be morally justified. The church joined a growing number of government leaders and heads of state that have called for a pause or cease-fire in Israels war against Hamas for the militant groups Oct. 7 attack. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Monday said he was deeply concerned about Israels offensive in Rafah and suggested it stop and think seriously before it takes any further action. The bishops also condemned antisemitic and anti-Muslim sentiment. They called for the release of all hostages and a cessation of missile attacks by Hamas. All sides must begin to imagine a future beyond this conflict: for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians, the bishops said. This war cant result in the consolidation of a system of occupation that has for too long denied Palestinians their rights and freedoms. TURKEYS ERDOGAN LASHES OUT AGAINST ISRAEL Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered blistering criticism of Israel, demanding it immediately recognize an independent Palestinian state and halt its war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas. We need to stop the massacre in Gaza now, Erdogan said before the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. He criticized Israeli settlers taking land in the West Bank as some in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus hard-line government called for settlements in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan said setting aside Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage, the source of the crisis today is the sustaining of the settlements on the Palestinian lands. If Israel wants a permanent peace in the region, the proliferation-related vision should be stopped once and for all, Erdogan said. A free and independent Palestinian state should be recognized within the 1967 borders. He also called on funding to immediately resume for the United Nations agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA. Some nations have cut funding to the agency over Israeli accusations that some of its employees took part in the Oct. 7 attack. CHINA CALLS ON ISRAEL TO STOP MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA BEIJING China has called on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza as soon as possible following a raid that rescued two hostages and killed at least 74 Palestinians. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing added in a brief statement on Tuesday that Israel should do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah. Israel has signaled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town in the Gaza Strip where the hostages were freed by the raid. China has consistently opposed the Israeli offensive, calling from the start for a cease-fire and talks to find a permanent solution to the crisis. HEALTH MINISTRY IN GAZA SAYS 133 BODIES BROUGHT TO HOSPITALS The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says the bodies of 133 people killed in Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals in the war-wrecked territory over the past day. Hospitals also received 162 wounded patients, the ministry said. Also Tuesday, the death toll from an Israeli hostage rescue operation in the town of Rafah rose to 74, according to Dr. Marawan al-Hams, director of the local Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital. Israeli forces conducting the operation, which freed two hostages, were backed by heavy airstrikes. The new fatalities brought the death toll in Gaza to 28,473 since the war began on Oct. 7, according to the ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. It says more than 70% of the dead are women and minors. More than 68,000 people have been wounded in the war, with 11,000 of them needing urgent evacuation for treatment out of Gaza, the ministry said. Many of the dead remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings and on roadsides with first responders unable to reach many areas and collect the bodies. Israel says its forces have killed 10,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the death toll, saying it embeds in civilians areas, putting noncombatants at risk. ISRAELI FORCES KILL PALESTINIAN MAN IN WEST BANK, PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAY Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as 20-year-old Mohammed Sherif Hassan Selmi and said he was shot in his chest, shoulders and head. The Israeli military said Tuesday that forces were operating in the West Bank city of Qalqilya when the man allegedly attempted to run over soldiers, who opened fired and killed the man. The military said it was not aware of whether any soldiers were wounded. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular Fatah party, said its fighters clashed with the Israeli forces but did not claim Selmi as a member. The West Bank has seen a surge of violence since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza broke out in October. The Health Ministry says more than 380 Palestinians have been killed during that time. The Israeli military says it has arrested more than 3,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since the war began. Workers move ballot boxes to be loaded onto a ship for delivery to remote islands at Paotere Port in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Feb. 12, 2024. (Photo by Masyudi F./Xinhua) Indonesia holds a general election every five years to elect the president and vice president. Candidates for the posts run in pairs. Surveys from polling agencies showed that the support rate for Prabowo's combination has exceeded 50 percent. JAKARTA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's 2024 presidential election will be held on Wednesday. The latest polls from multiple agencies showed that the support for the pair of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka continues to rise, exceeding 50 percent, having a chance to win directly in the first round of voting. However, the other two candidate combinations were still seeking support from voters before the election campaign ended on Saturday, hoping to drag the election into a run-off. PRABOWO-GIBRAN TAKES SUBSTANTIAL LEAD Indonesia holds a general election every five years to elect the president and vice president. Candidates for the posts run in pairs. The three combinations running for the 2024 election are: Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Mayor of Surakarta Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo; former Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo and former Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, and former Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan and Chairman of the National Awakening Party Muhaimin Iskandar. Surveys from polling agencies showed that the support rate for Prabowo's combination has exceeded 50 percent. By combining the survey results, the British journal The Economist said that as of Jan. 28, Prabowo and Gibran had an average support rate of 53 percent, leading by a large margin, while that of the Anies' and Ganjar's combinations were respectively 20 percent and 19 percent. According to the election rules, in order to be directly elected, the candidate combination must obtain more than half of the ballots in the first round of voting and secure more than 20 percent of the votes in more than half of Indonesia's provinces and regions. If no group meets the requirements, a second round of voting will be held between the two groups of candidates with the most votes. Adjie Alfaraby, a senior researcher at the Indonesian Survey Institute, said that the support rate for Prabowo's combination continues to rise. If this trend can be maintained, Prabowo will likely win directly in the first round. People ride on motorcycles on a main street in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri) POSITIONING AS "WIDODO'S SUCCESSOR" Prabowo is an important member of the current President Widodo's administration. He has positioned himself as the president's successor and said that he will continue to promote Widodo's policies, thus winning the recognition of many supporters of the current administration. Meanwhile, Widodo and members of his administration were also helping Prabowo with his campaign, further increasing Prabowo's support rate. Five rounds of debates have been held ahead of the upcoming general election, with the presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the three pairs taking turns attending. The final debate on Feb. 4 focused on social welfare, human resources, health, education and other issues. Analysts believe that compared with the other two presidential candidates, Prabowo's policy proposals are more concrete and practical, and have a certain appeal to voters. At the final debate, many cabinet members of the current administration were present to show their support for Prabowo. Almost all leaders from the nine parties of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition led by Prabowo were also present. Recently, the Widodo administration has been providing support to Prabowo's campaign. Since taking office as president in 2014, Widodo has led Indonesia to a path of steady development. Polls show that about 75 percent of Indonesian people are satisfied with his governance. During his working visit to Central Java a few days ago, the president dined with Prabowo at a well-known restaurant as a gesture to help Prabowo increase his exposure. A woman takes photos of the city view in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri) SUSPENSE STILL LINGERS IN FIRST VOTING Although polls show that Prabowo's combination has a big lead in support rate, the first round of voting is not without any suspense. Lagging behind in the polls, Anies and Ganjar are still high-spirited. Before the campaign ended, they were conducting intensive activities across the country for the final sprint. Some well-known figures in Indonesian politics have recently come forward to express their support for the two groups. Former Trade Minister Thomas Lembong joined Anies' campaign team while the eldest son of Indonesia's founding President Sukarno stood for Ganjar. Analysts pointed out that with Prabowo currently leading the polls, Ganjar and Anies' strategy is to seek a run-off. Their campaign teams have met several times to discuss possible cooperation. Buhanuddin Muhtadi, executive director of the polling agency Indonesian Political Indicators, recently said that if Anies and Ganjar successfully form an alliance and integrate their supporters, Prabowo will face some new challenges. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A piece of legislation in Albany would give New York City school kids St. Patricks Day off. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Queens) introduced the legislation Feb. 2. It would close schools on March 17 in cities with more than 1 million people and an Irish-American population of 7.5% or more. In justifying the bill, Pheffer Amato pointed to a 2014 law that permitted the city to close for a more diverse set of religious holidays that could result in significant absenteeism. It is impractical to keep public schools open in Irish-American communities when there is a significant number of students and instructors who take the day off, the assemblywoman wrote. Considering that a large Irish-American population in New York City is impacted by St. Patricks Day, schools should be closed for the observance of this holiday, or if school is in session, a childs inability to attend school on this holiday should be disregarded. The legislation has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Education, and no version of the legislation has been introduced in the Senate. Versions of the bill have been introduced in at least four other legislative sessions and never left committee, according to the New York Senates website. A passenger returning to a Boston airport from a trip to Africa was found to have something unsettling tucked away in his luggage, the Associated Press reported. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog sniffed out the dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys in the mans possession at Boston Logan Airport. The man told officials that he brought the monkeys into the country for his own consumption, the report said. Referred to a bushmeat, raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals is banned in the U.S. over disease concerns, the report said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to require all graduating high school students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to have access to federal and state aid programs and scholarships. According to the State of the State proposal, Hochul will propose legislation to require school districts to ensure every high school senior completes the FAFSA or the New York State Dream Act application or, in the alternative, signs a waiver indicating they are aware of, but choose to not fill out, the FAFSA. All individual students will still be able to graduate regardless of whether they complete the FAFSA. But the initiative will ensure every New York student has access to the full scope of their financial aid options and opportunities for success. Every year, more than 13 million students who file the FAFSA receive aid in the form of grants, work-study programs and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education. If you dont file, you wont qualify for most financial aid. The governor noted that the FAFSA is an important part of the college application process, as it maximizes access to financial aid to support postsecondary educational costs such as tuition, fees, books, and room and board. New York state offers financial aid options like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Excelsior Scholarship. Combined with federal financial aid programs, students have the opportunity to obtain an affordable and high-quality education. Research shows that high school seniors who complete the FAFSA are more likely to go to college after graduation. Some states, like Texas, Louisiana and California, have made the FAFSA completion a requirement, according to the State of the State proposal. In Louisiana, completion rates went up by nearly 26% in 2018 the first year the graduation requirement was in place. The proposed legislation comes after the FAFSA was revised, resulting in a delay of several months. The form opened on Dec. 31 under a soft launch. It was created to improve, streamline and redesign how students and their families use the form. More students will be able to access federal aid, and the system will help 610,000 students receive Federal Pell Grants for the first time. FILLING OUT FAFSA You may choose any of these methods to file a FAFSA form: Log in at fafsa.gov to apply online Complete a FAFSA PDF (note: you must print out and mail the FAFSA PDF for processing) Request a print-out of the FAFSA PDF by calling us at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243); then fill out the form and mail it for processing If you are starting the application for the first time on fafsa.gov, select Start Here. Your name and Social Security number must match those on your Social Security card. If you filled out a FAFSA form last year and want to renew it, select Log In on the FAFSA home page, select I am the student and want to access the FAFSA form, enter your FSA ID, and be sure to select Renew my FAFSA Form once given the option. That way, many of the (non-financial) questions will be prefilled for you just be sure to update any information that has changed since last year, including the financial questions. FAFSA ELIGIBILITY INFO Schools that students selected will receive their FAFSA eligibility information starting in late January. Students will receive an email informing them when that information has been sent to the schools, and will also receive an email when their FAFSA Submission Summary is available to review on StudentAid.gov. Students should begin to receive aid information from those schools to which they have been accepted several weeks after the school receives their FAFSA information, according to the department. The U.S. Department of Education is also encouraging students to review all application deadlines and processes for their state, as these items may have changed for the 2024-2025 application cycle. Students who are legal residents of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Iowa and Mississippi, and who were previously eligible to transfer their FAFSA information directly into their state aid application, will be directed to a state-approved URL to complete their state applications separately. Students from Minnesota who were previously eligible to transfer their FAFSA information directly into their state application will not see any information nor links to transfer their FAFSA data. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. With Tuesdays system shifting east and away from the city, cleanup begins. But will this snow stick around or will the frosty precipitation promptly fade away? While original forecasts from the National Weather Service called for up to 7 inches, it seems that Staten Island dodged the worst of the storm, taking on only a few inches in most areas. In Dongan Hills, an Advance/SILive.com measurement recorded 3 inches of snow. A measurement in Bloomfield tallied 2 inches. However, while measurements fell short of original NWS estimates, they did fall within the range of AccuWeathers forecast of 3-6 inches, albeit on the lower end. With city streets a slushy mess, one can hope the plows can alleviate the poor conditions in a timely manner to allow for safe travel. However, the city Department of Sanitation warned against driving on roadways under these circumstances. A Sanitation Department plow makes its way down Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville amid New York snowstorm on Feb. 13, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Tom Wrobleski)(Staten Island Advance/Tom Wrobleski) For the first time in two years, were dropping plows in parts of the City where weve reached depths of 2 inches! said a post by the city Department of Sanitation on X, formerly known as Twitter. Remember, a plowed street does not immediately show black top. Stay off the roads and let our plows do their thing. With the end of the system upon us, residents are taking to the streets to play their part in cleaning up their property. According to the city Administrative Code, property owners or those in charge of a lot or building -- such as tenants, superintendents, or building managers -- must maintain sidewalks adjacent to their home and business in a reasonably safe condition. [Tue 12:15pm] As the snow winds down from west to east this afternoon, be sure to SHOVEL SMART and stay safe when digging out. Dress warmly and take as many breaks as needed! pic.twitter.com/7p4Ur608L4 NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) February 13, 2024 Residents and businesses must shovel after a storm based on the following schedule: Snow stops falling between 7 a.m. and 4:49 p.m.: Clear within four hours. Snow stops falling between 5 and 8:59 p.m.: Clear within 14 hours. Snow stops falling between 9 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.: Clear by 11 a.m. WHEN WILL IT MELT? According to the Advance/SILive.com weather station, temperatures reached above freezing (36 degrees) following the end of the storm, just around 1 p.m. While last week held spring-like temperatures in the 50s, dont expect the warmth to return and rapidly melt away the precipitation. The restoration of seasonable temperatures will ensure that whatever snow lies on the ground will likely linger for some time. Were going to get above the freezing mark tomorrow, but temperatures are going to remain pretty cold with highs in the mid 30s, NWS Meteorologist Dominic Ramunni said. So likely only a slow melt here as we go into mid-late week, with temperatures struggling to get out of the 30s during the afternoons. NWS forecasts largely reflect this, as highs throughout the week consistently reach in the mid-upper 30s, with lows largely dipping around and below freezing. The warmest days of the week look to be this coming weekend where Friday and Sundays highs are expected to peak at 40 degrees, according to the NWS. While weather looks predominantly dry through the end of the week, the NWS reports a 50% chance of rain Thursday night, and a 30% chance of snow Saturday morning. The next threat of snow could arrive in the form of a clipper storm dipping southeastward from western Canada later next week and beyond, AccuWeather reports. 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 ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts in Africa and called for an end to such practices. The call was made in line with the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, which is annually commemorated on Feb. 12. The statement, which was attributed to Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, and Jainaba Jagne, permanent representative of the Gambia to the AU, in their capacity as the co-chairs of the Africa Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts (APCAAC), called for concerted efforts against the scourge. The AU encouraged its member states to take systematic and targeted steps to protect children against violations of all their rights, especially the recruitment and use of boys and girls in conflict situations. It called on African countries to intensify efforts to secure children's release at every opportunity, with children given priority in the demobilization process. "Children in situations of conflict, by virtue of their age and evolving capacities, are victims. Even when they have been used to commit or witness offenses in conflict, their vulnerability to instrumentalization, manipulation, and exploitation mitigates their guilt as perpetrators," it said. Inaugurated in September 2021, the APCAAC is an AU initiative that envisages protecting children affected by conflicts from killing and maiming, recruitment or use of children as soldiers, sexual violations, abduction, and attacks against schools or hospitals, among others. It serves as an advisory, advocacy, and supportive mechanism to the AU agenda on child protection in situations of conflict. According to the AU, the annual commemoration day provides an opportunity to raise awareness against the recruitment and use of children, either directly or indirectly, by all parties to the conflict. The AU called on African countries to tap into the annual commemorative event to reflect on the progress achieved in addressing this enormous violation and carve a way forward toward zero recruitment and use of children in conflicts. The New Look Apple TV+ Ambitious in its scope, this period drama about two original giants of French fashion Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche) refuses to indulge in shortcuts. Where most shows would focus on the pairs creative rivalry in the early 1950s but illustrate it with flashbacks to how they survived Frances occupation by Nazi Germany in the previous decade, The New Look opens with a trio of episodes set in the grim 1940s. Cold-blooded executions are initially more common than seamstresses. Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior in The New Look. Credit: Apple TV+ Fashion starts as an afterthought, a means of survival, in this story, and thats one of several concepts that boomerangs back in this series from Todd A. Kessler (Damages, Bloodline). When Dior, after Paris is liberated, finally commits to designing haute couture, he tells a prospective financier that he wants to create a return to joy. Having seen a smattering of the occupiers crimes, some of which were perpetrated against his younger sister and resistance member Catherine (Maisie Williams), the designers pledge rings true. The New Look makes clothes matter. As totems of beauty, as cultural weapons, as economic temples. Named for Diors revolutionary 1947 show, which is the ground zero of modern fashion, the show embraces too much for a simple theme. Dior and Chanel, for instance, are essentially separate storylines until his belated success stirs her competitive spite. Theres always a little too much to accommodate in these episodes, but equally, theres often a surprising connection. According to social media platform TikTok, this tomato-rich chicken stew will cause the person you make it for to marry you. Trouble is, the viral recipe uses chicken breasts, almost guaranteeing dry, stringy results. So heres my version, reworked as a creamy, juicy braise you can serve for a midweek dinner or a date night at home. Sprinkle the parmesan over the top, then transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened and reduced. Scatter with the basil leaves to serve. Heat a heavy ovenproof pan over medium heat. Add the oil and fry the chicken until lightly browned. Add the onion and garlic around the chicken and fry for about 3 minutes until the onion is starting to take on some colour. Heat the oven to 180C fan-forced (200C conventional). Season the chicken well with salt and pepper and toss with the flour and thyme. The Marry me chicken backstory Ive made no secret of the fact that I think viral recipes are, almost without exception, complete garbage. This is mainly because they have nothing to do with food, nor quality, nor, ironically, even popularity. Open your social media app of choice these days and youll be assaulted by folks of varying cooking ability gurning at the camera as they slap ingredients down on chopping boards with speed and force and hiss at you about the latest viral recipe theyre copying from some other foodslap content creator. Virality in the online world is driven by algorithms, and algorithms dont care how your food tastes, how much it costs, whether its easy to make, or whether its even edible at all. The key ingredient for a viral recipe is engagement, and that can be both positive and negative. There are many ways to drive engagement. One of the most effective is negging, where a video will tell you that something youve been doing your whole life like peeling a banana is wrong and youre an idiot for peeling a banana like a normal person. Then psychology takes over, and you suddenly find yourself indignantly watching the video just so you can prove that youre not an idiot after all. Another is hacking, where a video will promise that theyve discovered a secret shortcut, like slicing a mango by pushing it on the edge of a wine glass, even though that is quite possibly the stupidest imaginable way of slicing a mango. Algorithms dont care about stupidity. In fact, they relish it. If thousands or millions of people hate-watch the banana peeling or mango slicing video and better yet, comment to tell the foodslapper how impossibly idiotic their method is, thats all engagement, baby! But then phase two of the virality spiral begins because millions of foodslappers who have seen the sweet, sweet engagement that the initial (very stupid) video produced become desperate for a taste of that engagement and make their own videos promising to try out the hack from the previous video because the all-powerful algorithm is now prioritising videos of stupid banana peeling. Now millions of people are watching banana-peeling videos even though everyone already knows how to peel a banana and nobody is planning on actually changing the way they peel a banana anytime soon. Then we just repeat the cycle with everything from baking dry pasta with feta and mixing peanut butter into instant noodles to smashburger tacos and butter boards until all food is meaningless, nothing matters any more, and we sink slowly into the abyss. So imagine my surprise, then, when my editor wrote to me asking if Id seen the Marry me chicken recipe that went viral on TikTok with the added qualification, It looked horrendous. I hadnt, but anyway *record scratch* thats how I ended up here, writing to you about a viral recipe from TikTok. The premise of Marry me chicken is that this dish, if made correctly, will cause the person you make it for to marry you [citation needed]. Story aside, the TikTok dish begins with a veloute made with tomato paste and chicken stock, which is then used to braise chicken breasts, before being finished with cream and sun-dried tomatoes. Let me say unequivocally, no good can come of braising chicken breast. Theres a lot to unpack here, but let me start with the obvious negative. Almost all viral videos come out of America, which happens to be the country that is most responsible for ruining food globally. One of Americas major food crimes is its absurd predilection for braising chicken breast. Ive seen more than a few American viral videos that spruik the hack of shredding your completely dry, stringy, braised-to-death chicken breast by using electric hand beaters. Ill pause here for a moment so you have time to stop screaming. Let me say unequivocally, no good can come of braising chicken breast. It can be poached to retain its natural moisture, but braising it is a recipe for disaster, which is to say, a recipe for viral American food. Literally any other cut of chicken thigh fillets, wings, drumsticks, or cutlets on the bone would be a better choice. That said, beyond the chicken breast and the transparently false story that led to its virality, I surprisingly dont mind Marry me chicken as a recipe. Its just a variation of Tuscan chicken, an old favourite, although not actually from Tuscany. There are some ways that it could be made a little better and more simply, but I particularly like the fact that it is playing to my years-long efforts to bring sun-dried tomatoes back into mainstream use. So heres my version of Marry me chicken. I use tomato passata instead of paste, skip the veloute, add onions, and of course, replace the chicken breast for thigh fillets. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it brings you all the love you desire this Valentines Day. As it turned out, that comment from the fellow student was perversely prophetic. Not that Deirdre was looking for a husband, quite the reverse. However, it was at Law School that she met the love of her life, Michael Joseph. We, as law students, watched this unlikely match unfold before our eyes. Deirdre was Catholic, a former student of Bethlehem College Ashfield. Michael was Jewish, some eight years younger and, in contrast to Deirdres calm disposition, was somewhat of an enfant terrible in his university years. They married and had a lifelong devoted partnership. Deirdre OConnor aged 22, with baby David in Woomera, South Australia, 1963. The usual career path after law school was to go straight into the profession as solicitors or barristers. Deirdre chose a different route which saw her become a renowned academic at both the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University and at the Australian Film School. Her academic career, during which she developed a deep interest in human rights and in communications, stood her in excellent stead for what came thereafter. In 1978, Deirdre attended the UNESCO Conference on the Teaching of Human Rights as Australias representative. Briefly going to the Bar in 1980, she was appointed a member of the Law Reform Commission in 1983 and in 1986 was appointed Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. Four years later she became the first woman appointed to the Federal Court of Australia and to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, of which she twice served as president, first until 1994 and then from 1999 until 2002. Deirdre OConnor, the head of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, in 1986. Credit: Fairfax Her work at the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, to which she adeptly applied her no nonsense intelligence, was particularly challenging. Deirdre calmly asserted her independence when called upon to disqualify herself over some political statements made by Michael. She found Alan Bond was not a fit and proper person to hold a broadcasting licence and Rupert Murdoch preferred to take US citizenship after she ruled against the eligibility of dual citizens for the purposes of Australian broadcasting law. In her judicial and tribunal work Deirdre was efficient, practical and unerringly correct. However, it is her five years as president of the Industrial Relations Commission which stands as her greatest legacy to the wider Australian community, as the first female president of the Commission. Deirdre participated in five cases which had a significant impact on the lives of Australian workers: the Family Law test case; the Public Holidays test case, the Superannuation test case, the ABC case and the Supported Wage System case. Two of these deserve special mention. Deirdre OConnor, president of the Industrial Relations Commission, 1994. Credit: Fairfax Applying the terms of the International Labour Law Convention, a right to family leave was established, including a right to take sick leave to care for a family member in her ruling in the Family Law test case. In the Supported Wage System case, a provision was established directed to assisting people with a disability to obtain employment. Deirdres associates have all called their colleague highly intelligent, down to earth, and someone who had a real concern for others. Professor Margo Somerville recalls her as really gifted; law studies were easy for her, and someone who took life by the throat. She remembers Deirdre as wanting to save the vulnerable and so was not surprised at her career path. The Honourable Mary Gaudron, the first female judge on the High Court, recalls her as the strong feminist who spoke out against the stereotypical roles to which women were expected to conform. Indeed, Deirdre had her own acronym when women did not get the appointments or the work to which their talent and expertise ought to have led them: NLU, or not like us, and therefore not considered to be in the race. At the bar: former federal court judge Deidre OConnor advocating a healthy exercise regime, 2012. Credit: Fairfax Deirdre grew up in a post-war society which was recovering from the effects of World War II. Her father, Charles Anthony OConnor, was killed in the war when Dierdre was only two. He is buried at El Alamein. Grandson Connor Charles is her fathers namesake. Her mother was not a well person and Deirdre did not enjoy a close relationship with her or her stepfather. I recall Deirdre speaking about her father and wondering what he was like and whether she might have been like him. Small group tutoring designed to help children catch up after months of disrupted schooling during COVID had minimal effect on their academic improvement in literacy and numeracy, a major evaluation of the $250 million program has revealed. The report said the academic improvement of tutored students in 2022 across all grades was the same as those who received no extra help, while years 5 and 6 students participating in the scheme did not improve at the same rate as their peers. The evaluation compared similar students, with those who did not receive tutoring performing just as well as those who did in 2022. Credit: iStock On average, student growth was the same between students who participated in the program and similar non-participants, so we cannot confidently attribute students growth in learning to the effect of the program alone, it said. The tutoring program was introduced by the state government in March 2021 to assist students in catching up after months of remote learning and was extended in 2022 and in 2023 to further attempt to stem learning loss at a cost of $900 million over three years. Did any other Column 8-ers spot our venerable premiers cameo on Total Control delivering papers to Damian (the Dutton avatar) in parliament? asks Marcus Daniel of Bellingen. Had to do a double take (thank heavens for recorded content). Does this augur federal ambitions for our man in Macquarie Street? Rob Phillips of North Epping noticed, too, but we dont think its a federal thing, more a Hollywood thing. A quick geek at the Internet Movie Database has a Christopher Minns appearing in Workin Moms and The Hardy Boys. Sorry, Steve Hulbert (C8), we got a good yield of responses on the potkin query, but only one of them was on the money. That was our friend Peter Miniutti of Ashbury, who accurately described them as the hybrid love child of a potato and a pumpkin. Unfortunately, there are even Mid North Coasters who are oblivious. Alison Stewart of Waitara, says that even my Kempsey-born husband does not know what a potkin is. Maybe because he left when he was 16, 64 years ago. Thelma Frost of Mudgee thought a potkin, was a family member who drinks too much while Andrew Cohen of Glebe thought it was more likely a relative who dabbles in certain substances. I think I might have met Pluto (C8) on my way home from school back in 1959 or 60, writes Jeff Stanton of Strathfield. I joined a Hornsby-bound train at Strathfield about 4pm to find the front vestibule occupied by a dog who seemed to know what he was doing. I got off a few stops later, but I estimate that he had enough time to get to Hornsby, change to the north shore line and get to Gordon by 5.30. He was enjoying the ride in the open doorway. (No automatic doors in those days). Mary Watson of Balgowlah Heights knows where Eva Elbourne (C8) is coming from: We have a small nine-hole putt-putt golf course on our front lawn. The bandicoots have been assisting the greenkeeper by adding extra holes, several bunkers and some hazards. The fees have gone up. There is an upside to all this. One of the reasons bandicoots like a dig in your yard is to snack on spiders, specifically the trap-door and funnel web. Drive a Mercedes-Benz? Youre likely to be in the sights of car thieves, who have stolen at least 210 of the luxury vehicles across the city in the past two years. The theft of high-powered European cars from driveways and outside homes throughout Sydney is now of major concern to police, who formed Strike Force Sweetenham in 2021 to address what they see as a concerning trend teenagers or young adults breaking into homes, largely in wealthy suburbs, to steal car keys. Cars are taken, police say, then either sold to criminal syndicates and used as getaways in underworld hits or filmed being driven at extreme speeds, without seatbelts or on the wrong side of the road in videos for social media. Data obtained by the Herald shows that Mosman was the top destination for boosting high-powered vehicles from wealthy homes in the past two years, with 55 thefts. Bellevue Hill and Dover Heights in the citys east followed with 50 and 41 cars stolen, respectively. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The homeless have been sheltering and sleeping for some years under the feet of politicians and dignitaries their meagre possessions and makeshift beds are directly under the steps of Sydney Town Hall (Double-digit growth in homeless, February 13). Its hard to believe no one with any political clout would not have noticed them over the years. Wishing something to go away will not solve this urgent problem of homelessness that has been growing over the past few decades. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury Illustration, Shakespeare Credit: We can end the homelessness crisis in three years. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates investor tax breaks on housing cost the federal budget $39 billion in 2022-23, growing to $49 billion by 2029-30. Reducing those discounts by 50 per cent would generate $20 billion a year. Manufactured homes can be built on site in eight weeks. In 2024 these homes are high quality, certified to Australian standards. At an average of $250,000, that means 80,000 additional homes a year. The Albanese and Minns governments promised audits of government land that could be used for housing, avoiding the cost of land. National social housing waiting lists exceed 200,000. The National Housing Accord target of 20,000 social housing homes is woefully inadequate, offers concessions but not capital equity, and puts all the risk on developers and community housing providers. Housing is a human right. Come on, PM and premier. Think outside the square. Channel Chifley, Whitlam and Hawke. Its time for nation-building by real Labor governments. Kevin Fell, Cooks Hill Planning rules at their best offer our society an opportunity to develop high quality, well-built and aesthetically pleasing buildings located in well-planned urban environments. At their worst theyre an opportunity for developers to extract from government the gift of greater profit, with the exact opposite that good urban planning can deliver. The gift of greater height at places like the former Balmain Leagues Club (More delays at cursed Balmain Leagues, February 13) certainly delivers the opportunity of greater profit to the developer, but it begs the question of not just urban design but of the social benefit of affordable housing that is itself unaffordable to most key workers who may work in wealthy areas likes Balmain. Surely if the NSW government was serious it would mandate and pay for 40 per cent social housing in all large inner-city developments. That would certainly make real steps towards addressing the housing crisis. Colin Hesse, Marrickville In the Elizabeth Bay/Potts Point area there are currently development applications applying to five existing buildings, which will result in replacing 196 apartments mostly one-bedders and studios with a mere 77 two- and three-bedders. The existing smaller properties are ideal for singles and couples getting started on the property ladder. The rental potential of these is enormous. This area, with its rich heritage of art deco and modern architecture some of the best in Australia deserves to be preserved as a special heritage zone. It is also a fine example of the sort of medium-density housing the NSW government is currently proposing. Hugh OKeefe, Elizabeth Bay Loading Your correspondent Bruce Spence rightly calls for decent forms of housing density (Letters, February 13). However, within the past decade there have been attempts by the state government to support that kind of housing. For example, co-living housing (then called boarding houses) was allowed in low-density areas. It attracted enormous opposition, but after those developments have occurred we can see that they fit into their neighbourhoods well. Low car-parking requirements are key to supporting density at that kind of scale. Matthew Bartinel, Engadine Advertisement Booze ban should join a bonk ban at Parliament House The final paragraph of your editorial demands politicians workplace must change (Joyce antics show parliament needs a fresh attitude, February 13). Surely, the first thing to change is the availability of alcohol during working hours. If, as some MPs claim, they work 24/7, then alcohol should never be served in Parliament House. I know of no other workplace where the canteen has alcohol available during working hours. Alan Slade, Dover Heights Imagine if you will, a female version of Barnaby Joyce. A longstanding member of the Nationals party well known for their forceful, outspoken personality. Being the same age, Barbara shares the colourful history both personal and professional of her male counterpart. She has recently been photographed, worse for wear, lying in the street swearing into her phone (Joyce on ropes after big mistake, February 13). Can you imagine any of that? Any female member of any party allowed such largesse over so many years, by party or voters? No, neither can I. Marian Attfield, Mt Colah Political backflip. Credit: Cathy Wilcox Sean Kelly is right, we no longer admire our politicians, or regard them as sitting above us (Why our response to Joyce having one for the road is mid-strength, February 12). The other point that Kelly makes is that to understand a politicians personality, like Scott Morrison, is a limited approach. I would go further and say that the public circus over Morrison means that now anything goes. We feel freer to criticise, parody and generally be nasty to anyone in power. The media whips up hatred to an eager public, means that all respect for the human is gone. We have lost our shades of grey. After saying that, the final reason that we arent down on Joyce, is that so many of us have been in a similar situation. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah The performance of Scott Morrison in Nemesis highlighted his governments two most significant attributes, dissembling and deflection (Morrison accused of lack of respect for women, February 13). Accepting responsibility for almost nothing as head of government, Morrison showed why he was rejected by voters and why he should never have been in the job. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield If the Nemesis program bears even a modicum of reality, then the attitudes of Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Morrison are an absolute disgrace to the Australian people to whom they respectively pledged allegiance. All clearly had the utmost concern for themselves alone. Michael Pieterse, Mosman Advertisement Im voting for Sir Les Patterson for our next PM. Real Australian values and to hell with the environment. Neil Quinn, Vincentia Perhaps Barnaby Joyce was looking for a landline. Warwick Harty, Maroubra Passing the buck Home Affairs representatives and Dennis Richardson, investigator of this scandal, agree that no one will be held responsible for the awarding of contracts to corrupt companies (Manus Island contractor was never properly assessed: audit, February 13). Our public service seems to operate without accountability. There are no minutes, no contracts, no discussions before hundreds of millions of dollars are handed out. There must be tender processes, recommendations by department heads and the awarding of these million dollar contracts. Someone must have agreed to these contracts. Or have all these documents been put on a bonfire when this investigation was mooted? Is our government truly in chaos and run by incompetents? Pamela Wood, McMahons Point Bidens backup No matter how capable Joe Biden has been and might be, he will not inspire enough voters. Perhaps Biden can be persuaded to step aside, but I do not believe it is in the presidents nature (Letters, February 13). If I were one of his trusted campaign advisers, I would strongly recommend that a new vice presidential candidate be found fast. Someone with experience, youth, wisdom, and well-vetted, with no political baggage. Someone that Biden can say repeatedly is going to be there, well-trained and ready to take over should anything happen to him (Biden). Unfortunately, Kamala Harris, for all her promise, is not going to get him the votes. I would love to see a youthful non-white woman. But it is more important to have the very best VP candidate and a vigorous, exciting campaign that captures the attention of a nation that has stopped listening. Yes, it is late, but surely in the entire US, there must be someone that the Democratic Party to get behind and promote like their lives depended on it. Because their lives and ours do. Sue Jones, Bathurst Advertisement Centrelink fails Its good to see that David Hazlehurst wants to ensure that everything we do that uses technology to make us more efficient is done fairly (New welfare boss aims to slash lengthy waiting times, February 13). As power of attorney for my 99-year-old mum, I received a letter from Centrelink last week to say that her pension had been stopped as I hadnt sent necessary financial information. In fact, I had sent it by snail mail in December when they requested it, and I had uploaded it to their website in January when they sent a reminder. So when I got the latest letter from them I rang Centrelink only to be cut off three times. Furious, I jumped in the car and drove to Centrelink, arriving not long before closing. A very sympathetic and polite lady dealt with my complaint, and followed up on Monday morning to say that the problem had been fixed. Were now waiting for the back payment. Hazlehurst certainly needs to stop these automated letters that put all the blame and consequences on the client when the real problem is that there are not enough staff to process the paperwork that they request. Judy Christian, The Ponds Same old story I find it quite puzzling to think a ban has been placed on a drag queen visiting a school to read a simple childrens book (Council under fire for drag queen story snub, February 13). I wish such a reading had taken place at my school. All l can remember is colourless, quite dull teachers conveying equal dullness. How welcome a dose of bling via a story time moment would have been in my younger formative school years. Greg Vale, Kiama Ethical obstacle Having been to West Papua a few years ago, I am certainly watching the Indonesian election (The poll we should be watching, February 13). The number of Australians who think PNG when West Papua is mentioned is concerning. Foreign journalists have little access to the region, hence an almost blanket ignorance of the place even in neighbouring countries such as Australia. Prabowo Subiantos human rights record in East Timor as a high-ranking member of Kopassus is easily available. Should he become Indonesias president Australia will have extra ethical balls to juggle, given the continuing oppression of the West Papuans. Will we continue to ignore these neighbours and their history? Will we continue to turn a blind eye to the 10,000 who have fled over the border into PNG, and the 60,000 internally displaced? What will Prabowo do about West Papua? Susan Connelly, Lakemba Advertisement Literary osmosis All this nonsense about children who cannot read and why phonics is the antidote (Letters, February 13). I went to school for more than 60 years, as a student, teacher, principal. I could read before I went to kindy because my mum and dad read to us every day. I had never heard of phonics before I went to teachers college when I was 18. I have always believed that there are myriad ways of teaching children to read. As a teacher, I always read stories to my class, and to my children, and encouraged their parents to read to them. Children learn to read through the pores of their skin. No amount of technical nonsense will change my views on this. Brian McKeown, Long Jetty Life lessons It was interesting to get a 39-year-old womans view of ageing, based on a grandfather with Alzheimers and an article by an American oncologist that she read in 2014 (Immortality mania: it might be the death of me, February 13). It would also be interesting to read articles on ageing by people over 60, based on their own experience. But they shouldnt have to feel obliged to represent everyone over 60 were a pretty diverse bunch. Gina Ward, Wollongong I dont think I know anyone who wants to live forever. I do know lots of people, though, that do the sensible things for healthy ageing like socialising, working, eating well, using sunscreen and exercising and hoping for the best. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay Mulch conundrum Im no expert, but isnt mulch produced by feeding a tree into a shredder? No fibro required (Mulch supplier rejects blame for contamination, February 13). John Christie, Oatley Advertisement Actors perform dance during an event celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Haikou City, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) People visit Fuzimiao, or the Confucius Temple, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Su Yang/Xinhua) Tourists visit a temple fair in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) Actors perform lion dance at a cultural scenic spot in Zigui County, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Wang Huifu/Xinhua) Children in festive costume pose for a photo at the Tengwang Pavilion scenic spot in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Bao Gansheng/Xinhua) People look at lanterns at a scenic spot in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua) People visit a lantern fair in Sanmenxia City of central China's Henan Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) People watch dragon dance at Nanchuan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Luo Chuan/Xinhua) An artist performs fire-breathing at a temple fair in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 10, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Li Zhijun/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 12, 2024 shows a lantern fair in Sanmenxia City of central China's Henan Province. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Du Jie/Xinhua) A boy holding a dragon-shaped lantern watches a show at a Spring Festival temple fair in Yancheng County, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Zhang Chunlei/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 12, 2024 shows a performance show celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Wuyuan County, east China's Jiangxi Province. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) Boys taste snacks at a stall in Zhifu District of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua) People interact with interact with actors of wooden-bench dragon dance in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 12, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Bao Gansheng/Xinhua) A tourist buys a dragon-shaped hat at a fair in Shangqiu, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across China are enjoying temple fairs, lantern shows and other events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the festive atmosphere. (Photo by Li Heng/Xinhua) Tourists enjoy themselves at a coastal scenic area in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan) Tourists watch a parade of penguins at the Harbin Polarpark in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) People watch a dragon dance performance on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows people touring along the Dongguan Street in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua) Tourists watch a parade of penguins at the Harbin Polarpark in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows tourists enjoying flowers at a scenic area of Linhai City, east China's Zhejiang Province. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Photo by Wang Huabin/Xinhua) People participate in a Spring Festival event at the Shougang Park in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) People visit the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) A child tries to blow a sugar figure on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) A child plays a drum during a Spring Festival event at the Shougang Park in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) People watch a dragon and lion dance performance at Ningxia Science and Technology Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) Tourists visit the Chongqing Museum of Natural History in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 13, 2024. People across the country celebrated the Spring Festival through various events. (Photo by Qin Tingfu/Xinhua) Marc Sleeman was forced to flee his home on Tuesday as an out-of-control bushfire in the Grampians National Park bore down on the small town of Pomonal. While his three children had moved to safety in nearby Stawell that morning, Sleeman had stayed at home until the state emergency app pinged. Pomonal resident Marc Sleeman looking at his town from Stawell, where he and his family have been evacuated. Credit: Eddie Jim [It] said there was a fire out the back of my property, with the intensifying winds it was clear nothing was stopping this thing, he said. Id already packed the car up with personal belongings, but when the winds changed I threw the trailer on the back of the car and just chucked [on] as much out of the shed as I could. A 40-year-old Alcoa worker died in a head-on collision on Monday evening when travelling to work along an access road to the Huntly bauxite mine near Pinjarra. WA Police said in a statement the man riding an Indian motorcycle died at the scene on Myara Road, and a 48-year-old driver of a grey Skoda Octavia hatch was taken by ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital. Police are appealing for dashcam or mobile phone vision of the incident that occurred at about 5.25pm. Warning signs on Myara Road where public access stops. Credit: Peter Milne In a note to workers on Tuesday morning, seen by this masthead, Alcoa mine manager Darrin Strange said he was saddened to advise staff of the accident. The evidence of three key witnesses about the murder of a prisoner with a prosthetic leg by disgraced SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was strikingly coherent and contained only very minor differences, a court has heard. Roberts-Smith is seeking to reverse a decision by Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko last year which dismissed his multimillion-dollar defamation case against The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and found he was complicit in the murder of four unarmed Afghan prisoners. Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in Sydney earlier this month. Credit: Wolter Peeters Besanko found the newspapers had proven on the balance of probabilities that Roberts-Smith was involved in the murders while on deployment in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The judges finding is lower than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. The former Special Air Service corporals legal team, led by high-profile silk Bret Walker, SC, has argued in Roberts-Smiths appeal that Besanko did not have sufficiently cogent evidence before him to justify making such grave findings against their client, when the former soldier was entitled to the presumption of innocence. The commander of Australias most lethal warship has been stood down after allegations of a drunken episode that caused the navy international embarrassment. Commander Kingsley Scarce was relieved of his command of HMAS Brisbane in mid-September when the $3 billion guided missile destroyer was docked at Cairns. A formal complaint had been made against Scarce from within the Australian Defence Force. The allegations were considered of such a serious nature that he was immediately stood down and replaced by an interim commanding officer. Kingsley Scarce, the commanding officer of the HMAS Brisbane. Credit: LinkedIn Defence is still investigating the complaint, and while Nine News has been told a court martial is not expected if the allegations are found to be true, the matter could lead to career-ending administrative sanction. Hundreds of Chinese-made surveillance cameras are still being used in the local offices of Victorian state MPs one year after a federal government purge over espionage fears. Government documents seen by The Age reveal more than 80 electorate offices across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria have at least one Hikvision camera installed. The devices have been banned from government buildings in America and the United Kingdom. The state government has been accused of being too slow to replace Chinese-made CCTV cameras at the electorate offices of state MPs. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Hikvision is subject to Chinas controversial national security laws, which require businesses to hand over data to local intelligence services if requested. The company has also been implicated in Beijings treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. The Department of Finance revealed in February last year that it had begun removing Hikvision cameras from federal MPs local offices. Adelaide Hills, South Australia Thorngrove Manor, South Australia. Credit: SATC The cool, wooded hillsides of the Adelaide Hills are only 30 minutes drive from Adelaides hot, flat plains, where rows of neat, cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay vines provide the backdrop for Gothic castles and historic boutique hotels, and tiny cabins just for two. Spend the day lunching on wide verandahs in world-class wineries and sauntering between the vines. Make sure to add a stop at Sidewood Estate, in the Hills most quaint town, Hahndorf, to master the art of sabrage (whipping the top of a bottle of sparkling wine with a sword); practise on its Nearly Naked zero-alcohol sparkling wine. See southaustralia.com, sidewood.com.au Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory The spectacular Kings Canyon rim walk in Watarrka National Park. Credit: Tourism NT Dangerously beautiful, the jewel of the Watarrka National Park has always been Kings Canyon, whose views on its six-kilometre Rim Walk are guaranteed to make hearts sing. From April, a new reason to visit is Light-Towers, the latest light installation by artist Bruce Munro, best known for his Field of Light installation at Uluru. Wander between the 69 colour-changing pillars of light on dusk, listening to the music as it blends with the soundscape of this 400-million-year-old landscape. Camp, glamp or ramp it up with a spa suite in the low-key accommodation sequestered within this ancient desert, for a timeless journey, together. See northernterritory.com Lovers Falls, Tasmania The majestic Pieman River. Credit: Discover Tasmania The lush, temperate rainforest of takanya/the Tarkine harbours a secret: Lovers Falls, which is reached by an hours paddling on a kayak up the Pieman River from the old mining town of Corinna, now an eco-tourism village. Hidden amongst giant ferns, Lovers Falls is a natural spot for proposals and even weddings sure you can fit a frock in a kayak its a short, steep hike up a stairwell off the rivers edge to the hidden waterfalls. If paddling doesnt pump your (love) heart, sail past the Huon pines up to the falls entrance on the Sweetwater cruiser. See corinna.com.au, discovertasmania.com.au Wirruwana/Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia Federation Square, Victoria Visitors to Federation Square need to look beyond, well, what it looks like. Credit: iStock To call Fed Square divisive would be an understatement. I dont even think this is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of place. Its a hate it, or be able to see past the ugly design and understand that the art galleries and performance spaces and restaurants here are actually really good kind of place. But thats not always easy to convey, which is probably why most Australians tend to enjoy bagging Fed Square. Bondi Beach, NSW Bondi: Sydney has far better beaches than this. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos There are generally three types of people. There are those who live in Bondi, or close by, and declare they love it. There are foreign tourists, who also love it. And then theres everyone else. Bondi is a nightmare to get to, its a nightmare to find a park, its incredibly busy, overly expensive, and everyone there seems to be disturbingly, unfairly attractive. As they say, if you cant beat em, spend your time pointing out to everyone who will listen that Australia and even Sydney has far better beaches. Canberra, ACT Canberra has outgrown the stereotypes, but we still love to hate it. Credit: iStock For pretty much as long as it has existed, the Berra has been the butt of jokes in Australia. Its cold, its boring, its just a long series of roundabouts sprinkled with boozy politicians. Theres nowhere to go at night. And so on. Many of those old stereotypes are completely outdated these days, and theres plenty to recommend a trip to Canberra including a good number of restaurants open past 8pm. Still, we love to hate it. Rundle Mall, South Australia Rundle Mall: baffling. Credit: iStock Adelaide is great. Ive got a lot of time for it. I think most tourists do too, with its beaches, its hills, its excellent food and drink scene, its markets, its wineries everywhere you look. Even the Adelaide Oval is great. About the only landmark that seems a little baffling to most of us is Rundle Mall, a strip of underwhelming shops in an underwhelming location, which nevertheless seems to turn up regularly on lists of things to do in the South Australian capital. Byron Bay, NSW Parking in Byron Bay can be as hard (and expensive) as in a major city. Credit: Destination NSW This must be Australias premier you should have been there 20 years ago destination, the place you grudgingly tell your overseas friends they should visit, even though you have to warn them it aint the hippie paradise it used to be. Sure, Byron still doesnt allow any nasty fast food chains to set up shop, but who are they kidding: capitalism and development are running rampant here, bong shops have long given way to juice bars, and even the parking fees give Bondi a run for its bags of money. Any zoo Do any Australians want to hug a koala? Credit: iStock I had some Swedish friends come to Australia about 10 years ago, and they toured the whole country: both coasts, Uluru, Tassie, the whole lot. And the highlight of their entire journey? Cuddling a koala. Foreign tourists seem to really like getting up close and personal with our native wildlife, even if that wildlife is kept in a cage and forced into being handled for photos every now and then. Im not sure there are many Australians left who are really that into it. St Kilda Beach, Victoria St Kilda Beach. Not something youd recommend for a foreigners must-do list. Credit: Paul Jeffers When most people think of Sydney, they think of Circular Quay. The citys main ferry terminal sees the vessels coming and going between two icons: the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Theyre also passing by the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney, which sits between the water and Macquarie Street, overlooking the bustling promenade and ferry terminals on one side, and the beautiful Botanic Gardens on the other. When most people think of Sydney, they think of Circular Quay. The look You can enjoy the view, even from the pool. First opened in 1999 as Quay Grand Suites Sydney before becoming a Pullman in 2012, the building is not the most striking piece of architecture in Sydney indeed the entire strip of buildings received plenty of criticism during their construction (and perhaps suffer even more in this aspect thanks to their iconic neighbours). But the hotel is designed to make the most of its location, with its long aspect offering balconies to all guests to enjoy the atmosphere. Although the buildings age and location might lend itself to a grand entrance, the lobby (reached either from Macquarie Street or, by foot on the quay, via a small unassuming entrance and a lift ride) is surprisingly low-key, with a low ceiling and small-ish reception desk. Given the grandness of the locale, theres probably no reason to create a distraction. The key elements of the time are here theres lots of marble and glass, including on the walls of the indoor pool and gym, so you can still enjoy a view from there. Before the war, five people lived in Mohanad Alsaadawis family home in Rafah. There are now 31 people huddled beneath its roof as the last safe place in Gaza waits for Israel to launch what could be its deadliest military offensive. The mass of people crammed into a two-storey house, most of them having fled homes in other cities, towns and settlements now reduced to rubble by Israeli bombs, tells the bigger story of Rafah, the geographic and humanitarian end point of a conflict that has left two out of three surviving Gazans sheltering on a small wedge of land between the Egyptian border and Mediterranean Sea. People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, Gaza. Credit: Getty Images A prewar population of 275,000 people in Rafah has swollen to an estimated 1.4 million. Thomas White, the Sydney-born director of UN Relief and Works Agency aid operations in Gaza now based in Rafah, has worked in crisis zones for 20 years and never confronted a situation quite like it. The most striking thing here is that people are trapped, he told this masthead. There is nowhere to flee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus evacuation order, issued late last week, for civilians to leave Rafah before IDF troops move in, has placed the city at the centre of a global political and humanitarian campaign to halt Israels advance into what Netanyahu called the last bastion of Hamas, the terror group responsible for the October atrocities. PHILIPSBURG:--- The President of The Windward Islands Civil Servants Union and Private Sector Union (WICSU-PSU), Sharon Cangieter, convened an urgent meeting with its members at Pan American Protective Services - Brinks on the morning of February 12, 2024, in response to numerous complaints received. During this meeting, members reiterated the issues affecting them on the job, documented their grievances, and issued a letter to President Cangieter demanding an urgent response within 24 hours from the employers located in Panama. With a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the rights and interests of its members and the service they render to the public, President Cangieter promptly submitted a letter to management, once again expressing the grievances of the members. President Cangieter recalled instances of members visiting the union office with complaints before her tenure and highlighted the decline in respect for workers during her term. Despite numerous meetings and discussions with members, management has continuously failed to address the issues raised. Despite submitting a Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) on behalf of members to management in March 2023, almost a year later, promises of discussions remain unfulfilled. Members were commended for their loyalty and commitment to the company despite being paid below minimum wage in some cases, with salaries barely exceeding the minimum wage after decades of service. President Cangieter emphasized the incomprehensible nature of the company's lack of appreciation for honest and dedicated workers. Unilateral decisions by management have consistently negatively impacted members, with a lack of communication both with the union and workers. WICSU-PSU stands as a staunch advocate for fair treatment and equitable working conditions, prioritizing health and safety above all else. President Cangieter praised the workers for finally standing up for their rights, despite inconveniences to the community, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the workers' honesty, loyalty, and right to comfortable work and living conditions. A letter has been sent to Pan American Services management demanding a response within 24 hours, as instructed by the membership, with a timeline to address long-standing issues. WICSU-PSU remains hopeful for a timely and satisfactory resolution from management. MANILA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the Feb. 6 landslide that hit a mining town in Davao de Oro province in the southern Philippines has risen to 71, a government official said Tuesday. Leah Anora of the Department of the Interior and Local Government told a press conference at Maco, the municipality where the tragedy occurred, that rescuers are still looking for 47 missing people. Thirty-two people were injured but survived the tragedy, she added. The dead include workers of a mining company trapped inside two buses buried by rocks, mud, and trees that rampaged from the mountainside. The buses were ferrying workers to and from the mining site. Soldiers and volunteers are continuing the search and retrieval operations. Edward Macapili, executive assistant on Davao de Oro province's information and communications, said Monday that the retrieval continued despite some "challenges" on the ground, including earthquakes. The World Risk Index 2022 put the Philippines at the number one spot for the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the archipelago is frequently battered by powerful typhoons, triggering flash floods and landslides, and rocked by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Bing escape EU rules Brussels, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 Apple's iMessage and Microsoft's Bing search engine got a reprieve from tougher EU rules curbing how tech titans do business, the European Commission said on Tuesday. From next month, the world's biggest digital firms, identified as "gatekeepers" by the EU, must comply with strict do's and don'ts under a landmark law. The commission announced in September that 22 "core" services provided by the designated gatekeepers -- Google's Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, TikTok parent ByteDance, Facebook owner Meta and Microsoft -- met the thresholds for mandatory compliance. The European Commission at the same time launched probes to consider whether Apple's messaging service iMessage, Microsoft's Bing, and Microsoft's browser Edge and advertising service should also be included. "Yesterday (Monday), the Commission has adopted decisions closing four market investigations... finding that Apple and Microsoft should not be designated as gatekeepers" for the four services, the EU's executive arm said in a statement. The commission in September also said it would investigate Apple's iPad system. That probe is to be completed within 12 months from the announcement. Apple and Microsoft hailed this week's decision. "We thank the Commission for agreeing with us that iMessage should not be designated under the DMA (Digital Markets Act)," an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. "Consumers today have access to a wide variety of messaging apps, and often use many at once, which reflects how easy it is to switch between them." A Microsoft spokesperson said: "We welcome the Commission's decision to exempt Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising, which operate as challengers in the market. "We will continue to engage with the Commission and industry at large to ensure Microsoft's other designated platforms comply fully with the DMA." The DMA seeks to encourage competition in the digital world. For example, the law demands interoperability between apps, meaning users should in theory be able to message each other from different platforms. The EU has built a powerful legal arsenal to take on the internet giants, including the DMA and its sister milestone law, the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA demands the most popular social networks and websites police content online more aggressively and protect consumers while they shop. raz/rmb/rl Meta Rescuers work at the scene of a landslide in a gold mine area in the Ilic district of Erzincan Province, Turkiye, on Feb. 13, 2024. At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district of eastern Turkiye's Erzincan Province, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. Erzincan Governor Hamza Aydogdu told reporters that there may be nine to 12 workers trapped underground, but the exact number is not yet known. Bekir Aksun, mayor of the province's namesake capital, told NTV that nine people were reported being trapped. Several search and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation, said the report. Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows the scene of a landslide in a gold mine area in the Ilic district of Erzincan Province, Turkiye. At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows the scene of a landslide in a gold mine area in the Ilic district of Erzincan Province, Turkiye. At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows the scene of a landslide in a gold mine area in the Ilic district of Erzincan Province, Turkiye. At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Rescuers work at the scene of a landslide in a gold mine area in the Ilic district of Erzincan Province, Turkiye, on Feb. 13, 2024. At least nine workers were believed to be trapped in a landslide in a gold mine area on Tuesday in the Ilic district, local NTV reported, citing local authorities. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Hospitalized US defense chief to resume duties Tuesday: doctors Washington, Feb 12 (AFP) Feb 12, 2024 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was treated under general anesthesia for bladder issues as he battles prostate cancer, his doctors said Monday, adding he would be ready to resume work duties shortly. His latest health scare came weeks after it emerged that he kept recent hospital stays secret and had not informed President Joe Biden of his cancer diagnosis, sparking widespread criticism. Austin, 70, was admitted on Sunday to a critical care ward due to bladder issues after officially transferring duties to his deputy. He "underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia," his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington said in a statement. "A prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. We anticipate the Secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow." The doctors added his cancer prognosis remained excellent. Austin effectively vanished from the public eye for treatment for prostate cancer in December and again in January after suffering complications. He publicly apologized after coming under heavy political fire for not revealing his hospitalizations. Austin's health troubles come at a time when the United States faces a spiraling crisis in the Middle East. The top US defense official is also a key figure in attempts by the Biden administration to maintain support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, as Republican lawmakers refuse to authorize new funding for military aid to Kyiv. Some Republicans previously called for Austin to be sacked but Biden has said he remains confident in his defense secretary. Austin has gained a reputation as an apolitical official who eschews the spotlight, which he said played into his decision to keep his cancer diagnosis secret at first. US defense chief treated under general anesthetic, cancels trip Washington, Feb 12 (AFP) Feb 12, 2024 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was treated under general anesthetic for bladder issues as he battles prostate cancer, doctors said Monday, and will miss a trip to Brussels while recovering from the procedure. The 70-year-old's latest health scare came weeks after it emerged he had kept recent hospital stays secret and had not promptly informed President Joe Biden of his cancer diagnosis, sparking widespread criticism. On Sunday, Austin was admitted to a critical care ward due to bladder issues and officially transferred duties to his deputy. He "underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia," his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington said Monday in a statement. "A prolonged hospital stay is not anticipated. We anticipate the Secretary will be able to resume his normal duties tomorrow." The doctors added his cancer prognosis remained excellent. - Talks on Ukraine aid - Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said Austin would no longer travel to Brussels, home of NATO headquarters, this week. Austin is a key figure in attempts by the United States to maintain Western support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, as Republican lawmakers in Washington refuse to fund new military aid to Kyiv. He had been scheduled to attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of nations coordinating the military assistance, the Pentagon added. Austin's health troubles also come at a time when the United States faces a spiraling crisis in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war. He effectively vanished from public view for treatment for prostate cancer in December and again in January after suffering complications. He publicly apologized after coming under heavy political fire for not revealing the hospitalizations, and multiple probes have been launched into how the US chain of command operates when senior officials become incapacitated. Some Republicans called for Austin to be sacked, but Biden has said he remains confident in his defense secretary. On Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked by reporters if Biden had any concerns over Austin's ability to continue in his job, and he replied: "Not at all." The Pentagon on Sunday initially said that the defense chief brought along classified communications systems and would be retaining "the functions and duties of his office." However, officials announced a few hours later that his deputy Kathleen Hicks would be taking over. Austin has gained a reputation as an apolitical official who eschews the spotlight, which he said played into his decision to keep his cancer diagnosis secret. At a press conference on February 1, he said he had apologized directly to Biden. "Frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don't think it's news that I'm a pretty private guy -- I never liked burdening others with my problems," he said. The Pentagon said his "emergent bladder issue" was not related to his cancer treatment. Trump defiant after backlash over NATO remarks Washington, Feb 12 (AFP) Feb 12, 2024 Former US president Donald Trump defended his record on NATO Monday, saying he had made it "strong" after sparking a firestorm of criticism over comments downplaying his commitment to the alliance. Trump was rebuked from all sides after saying in a speech Saturday that he would "encourage" Russia to attack members of NATO who had not met their financial obligations, in his most extreme broadside against the organization. "I MADE NATO STRONG, and even the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats admit that," Trump said on Truth Social Monday, using an acronym deployed by conservatives for critics within their own party: Republicans in Name Only. "When I told the 20 Countries that weren't paying their fair share that they had to PAY UP, and said without doing that you will not have US Military Protection, the money came rolling in. After so many years of the United States picking up the tab, it was a beautiful sight to see." Trump has long complained about NATO, accusing Western allies of being freeloaders that do not pull their weight on military spending, taking for granted that they can rely on the US as a defensive shield. But he demonstrated repeatedly both during and after his time in office that he either doesn't understand how NATO works or is unwilling to speak accurately about it. In 2006, NATO countries made a vague commitment -- formalized in 2014 -- to spend two percent of their gross domestic product on their own defense, but members do not pay subscription fees and do not "owe" the alliance money for defense. The two percent benchmark is voluntary and there are no penalties enshrined in NATO's founding treaty for falling short. Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump had described what he said was a conversation with a fellow head of state at an unspecified NATO meeting. "One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' I said, 'You didn't pay, you're delinquent? No, I would not protect you,'" Trump told his supporters. "In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want." President Joe Biden slammed the comments as "appalling and dangerous," warning that his predecessor, who is running for reelection, intended to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin "a greenlight for more war and violence." Trump's remarks came after Senate Republicans last week rejected a bipartisan bill that would have included $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, plus aid for ally Israel, along with reforms to address the US-Mexico border crisis. A foreign aid package that includes the Kyiv support but decouples the funding from the border issue entirely passed a key procedural vote in the US Senate on Sunday, though Republicans are still expected to block it from becoming law. Indian magazine ordered to delete Kashmir army killings report New Delhi, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 An Indian news magazine said Tuesday that the government had ordered it to delete an online report that implicated soldiers in the torture and killing of civilians in disputed Kashmir. Rights groups say that restrictions on the press are increasingly common in India and particularly onerous in Kashmir, a restive Himalayan region where India has more than half a million troops permanently stationed. The Caravan, a news and current affairs monthly, last week published a lengthy report on the deaths of three civilians detained by the army in December after a deadly insurgent attack on troops. The magazine said Tuesday that the information ministry had sent it an official order demanding the story be taken down within 24 hours. "The order's content is confidential," the magazine said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "We will be challenging this order." Caravan did not respond to AFP's request for comment. The information ministry declined to comment. The three men killed were part of a group rounded up by security forces in the aftermath of the December insurgent attack, which left three Indian troops dead. India's army promised an inquiry into the detentions after news of the deaths became public, while others who were taken into custody said they were tortured. Their accounts were corroborated by footage of some detainees being physically abused by security forces that was leaked and shared widely on social media soon afterwards. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since independence, with both countries claiming it in full. Tens of thousands of soldiers, rebels and civilians have been killed since the outbreak of an insurgency against Indian rule in 1989. India blames Pakistan for backing the militants, a charge Islamabad denies, saying it only supports a Kashmiri struggle for the right to self-determination. Official takedown orders compelling the removal of critical reporting and opinion have become an increasingly common tool of Modi's government. The order against Caravan was "reflective of the increasing censorship that is being imposed on speech on the internet in India", Prateek Waghre of the Internet Freedom Foundation, a local digital rights group, told AFP. "We're seeing more instances of such action for reporting that is inconvenient for the government," he added. India has fallen 21 spots to 161 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, since Modi took office in 2014. gle/smw Global conflicts herald 'dangerous decade': military think-tank London, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 The Israel-Hamas war, conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and Africa herald "what is likely to be a more dangerous decade," a British military think-tank warned Tuesday. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in its annual "Military Balance" report that the world has entered "a highly volatile security environment". "The current military-security situation heralds what is likely to be a more dangerous decade, characterised by the brazen application by some of military power to pursue claims," the report said. The "era of insecurity" is resetting the global defence-industrial landscape, with the United State and Europe ramping up production of missiles and ammunition "after decades of underinvestment," the report added. As the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms, the London-based IISS reported that Moscow had lost around 3,000 battle tanks in the conflict, roughly the same number it had at the beginning of its operation. Russia has traded "quality for quantity" in replacing the lost tanks and will only be able to sustain such losses for another two to three years, Bastian Giegerich, IISS director general, said at the report's release. Ukraine, so far, has been able to offset equipment losses through Western donations, upgrading quality in the process, added the think-tank in its yearly assessment of the militaries and defence economics of over 170 countries. But "western governments find themselves once again in a position where they must decide whether to furnish Kyiv with enough weapons to deliver a decisive blow or merely enough not to lose," added Giegerich. It is therefore "incredibly vital" that the US passes a package releasing $60 billion of funding for Ukraine's war effort, Fenella McGerty, IISS defence economics specialist, told AFP. The US Senate approved an aid bill on Tuesday but the legislation but if faces opposition from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives upper chamber. Failure to pass the bill "would require a complete rethink about the goals and tactics used, because that funding would be very difficult for Europe to make up," McGerty warned. - NATO 'reinvigorated' - Driven in part by NATO's response to Russia's invasion, global military spending grew by 9 percent in 2022 to reach a record $2.2 trillion, noted the report. "The security outlook has definitely deteriorated and we're seeing countries respond to that," said McGerty. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said on Saturday he had told one NATO member's leader that he would "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to that country if it had not met its NATO financial obligations. "You got to pay. You got to pay your bills," Trump recounted at a campaign rally. Only 10 members of the security alliance met the group's target of spending two percent of GDP on defence, although 19 of them increased spending last year, according to IISS figures. "Russia's actions have reinvigorated NATO, with Finland completing its rapid alliance accession process in April 2023," the report noted. "Russia's border with NATO members is now more than 1,300 kilometres longer." Elsewhere, unrest related to the Gaza conflict risked speading having already affected Yemen, the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, warned Ben Barry, a land warfare expert at IISS and a retired British army brigadier. "All those conflicts carry with them the risk of escalation," he told AFP. "The longer the war goes on, the more the chance there is of an accident... leading to retaliation," he added. The report said Iran's supply of missiles to Huthi rebels in Yemen and drones to Russia highlighted Tehran's growing role in conflict zones. China had also demonstrated "increased power-projection capacity", it added. Western governments were now treating China as the world's greatest "pacing threat", said Douglas Barrie, IISS military aerospace specialist, with western demand driven by attempts to keep up with Chinese modernisation. SINGAPORE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The worsening global drug landscape and increasing scam cases became major threats to Singapore's social security last year, according to a report issued by the country's Ministry of Home Affairs Tuesday. The increasingly permissive attitude to drugs in some countries, bolstered by misinformation about the harms of drugs, and mass production of drugs in some regions put people in Singapore, especially young groups, in a vulnerable position, the report said. "We saw an increase in the number of drug abusers arrested in 2023, driven by an increase in new drug abusers. More than half of young drug abusers, those under 30 years old, were new abusers," the ministry said. Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau dismantled 25 drug syndicates last year and will continue to combat drug offenses, the report added. Scams continued to be a concern in 2023 as the number of scam cases reported continued to increase, said the ministry, adding that the top scam types were job scams, e-commerce scams, fake friend call scams, phishing scams, and investment scams. The Singapore Police Force vows to work with other government agencies and community partners to engage and educate the public to build up their vigilance and resilience on scams, the report said. SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell in double digits in the first 10 days of February due to less business days, customs office data showed Tuesday. Export amounted to 15.01 billion U.S. dollars in the period, down 14.6 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service. The double-digit reduction was attributable to less working days, caused by the Lunar New Year holiday. The daily average export gained 11.7 percent in the period. The monthly outbound shipment kept growing for the fourth straight month through January. Semiconductor export surged 42.2 percent in the period, but those for oil products, cars, auto parts, steel products, mobile devices and precision machinery all retreated in double figures. Import declined 24.6 percent from a year earlier to 17.01 billion dollars in the period, sending trade deficit to 2 billion dollars. Abducted Polish doctor freed in Chad, says govt Warsaw, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 A Polish doctor kidnapped in southern Chad last week has been released, the Polish government said on Tuesday. Aleksandra Kuligowska, a volunteer at a hospital run by the Caritas Catholic charity, was abducted on Friday. "She is safe and healthy, which I have told those close to her by telephone. I thank local forces and our French allies for their actions," foreign affairs minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X, formerly Twitter. Meanwhile, Poland's defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on X addressed his "warmest thanks to French defence minister (Sebastien) Lecornu and to the French soldiers, thanks to whom the Polish woman was released," without giving further details on how she was freed. He said she would soon return to Poland. Sikorski shared a video of him talking by telephone, apparently to Kuligowski's relatives, telling them: "Your prayers have been heard, your daughter will soon be home." Chadian and French forces based in the central African state had been looking for Kuligowska, who was seized with a Mexican colleague from the St Michel hospital in Dono Manga, southern Chad. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and the Mexican national was later abandoned. Armed bandits frequently kidnap Chadians for ransom in the region, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of the capital N'Djamena. Two armed men accompanying a fake patient went to the hospital to carry out the abduction, according to Tandjile province governor Ildjima Abdraman. The two doctors were taken away on motorbikes, the official added. Security forces gave chase and the Mexican doctor was left at the roadside but the group kept Kuligowska. bo/tw/bc/gv Israel army shows video it says is of Hamas Gaza chief Sinwar in tunnel on October 10 Jerusalem, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 Israel's army Tuesday released a video it said was of Hamas's chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, filmed on October 10 with his family members in a tunnel in the Palestinian territory. "During a special unit's operations... a video was discovered in a tunnel from a security camera installed there. The footage shows leader of Hamas and mass murderer, Yahya Sinwar, fleeing with his children and one of his wives," army spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a briefing. "This is how he escaped with his family from an underground tunnel to a secured complex he had built in advance," Hagari said. "This video of Sinwar is the result of our hunt. This hunt will not stop until we have captured him dead or alive." AFP was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the video. Hagari said the video had been filmed on October 10, three days after Hamas carried out an attack on Israeli that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched a military campaign in Gaza that has killed at least 28,473 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Israel accuses Sinwar of masterminding the October 7 attack that triggered the war, now in its fifth month. The images released on Tuesday are said to be the first of him since the war broke out. The black and white footage shows a young man leading a woman, three children and another man, who the army said was Sinwar, from one end of a tunnel to another. US defense chief due for release from hospital Tuesday: Pentagon Washington, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was expected to be released later Tuesday from the hospital, where he was treated under general anesthetic for bladder issues as he battles prostate cancer, the Pentagon said. Deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Austin was in "good condition" and was expecting to be "released from the hospital later today." "So we will provide an update on when that occurs, and when he resumes his full duties and functions," she added. Austin was admitted to a critical care ward on Sunday and transferred duties to his deputy. The 70-year-old's latest health scare came weeks after it emerged he had kept recent hospital stays secret and had not promptly informed President Joe Biden of his cancer diagnosis, sparking widespread criticism. He "underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia," his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington said Monday in a statement. Austin is a key figure in efforts by the United States to shore up Western support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, as Republican lawmakers in Washington refuse to fund new military aid to Kyiv. He had been scheduled to attend a meeting in Brussels of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of nations coordinating the military assistance, but the Pentagon canceled those plans and announced the meeting would instead be virtual. Singh said Austin was still planning to give opening remarks at the virtual version of the gathering. Israel's special forces raided Gaza's Rafah early Monday to release two hostages, launching "waves of strikes" that killed at least 67 Palestinians, sources on both sides said. Produced by Xinhua Global Service VIENTIANE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has advised the Lao central bank to tackle the country's economic and financial problems, local media reported. At the 11th general meeting of the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) fourth party executive committee held here last Friday, Sonexay identified some important issues to be addressed by the banking sector, Lao National Radio reported on Tuesday. The central bank must tackle unresolved issues in the implementation of the 2024 monetary plan, especially as this is the final year of the ninth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, the prime minister said. Sonexay added that all types of financial institutions must be protected against the risk of internal and external financial crises so that the country's financial system is secure. Governor of BOL Bounleua Sinxayvoravong delivered a report on the bank's operations at the meeting, which was also attended by ministers, deputy ministers, state organizations and bank employees. We will retain the option to flexibly adjust capacity from the eastern to western Mediterranean should there be a further escalation of the conflict in this region which has a significant and prolonged effect on customer demand Tui statement Americas resentment at this imbalance the belief that, in effect, US taxpayers are subsidising European welfare systems by spending so much more on global defence long predates Trump. Richard Nixon often grumbled that the allies of the US should shoulder more of the financial burden. Robert Gates, defence secretary under George Bush and Barack Obama, warned in 2011 that, if Europes military spending did not increase, future US political leaders those for whom the Cold War was not the formative experience that it was for me may not consider the return on Americas investment in Nato worth the cost. London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: The Met has reached an important decision to move to a new, more targeted approach to dealing with violence in the capital. The violence harm assessment is a significant change that will help the Met pursue the most prolific offenders and, where appropriate, provide an opportunity to work with partners to support those who are vulnerable to violence, gangs and criminal exploitation. We take this very seriously and are looking into the detail of what happened as thoroughly, as sensitively, and as quickly as we can. It is important to us that Soho Theatre is a welcoming and inclusive place for all. Its portfolio comprises technology that can predict when elderly patients are most likely to have a fall, allowing carers to intervene and prevent a trip to hospital, as well as Cera Voice, an automated AI phonecall that gets in contact with patients daily to ask them specific health questions and determine their risk of falling ill. Osborne said that Dr. Dre brought a Santas sack of Beats headphones as presents for the Downing Street staffers. This was years ago when they were even cooler than they are now. Like they were brand new, really cool things, he informed Balls. Dr. Dre created Beats in 2006, alongside music producer Jimmy Iovine. Osborne is said to have arranged the tea after meeting Iovine at a party in LA in 2012. The bishops warning comes after Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said many of the people in Rafah had already fled from other areas and that it is impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people, there is nowhere for them to go. Major Simon Robertson of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, told the PA news agency: Its very much down to us to ensure that we get the vehicles where they need to be and the people in order (so) they can move on to conduct the exercise. We will never forget that the Government gave the green light to these war crimes, she told a campaign rally in Whitechapel. And never forget that the Opposition agreed, the Opposition who we thought once represented us but are no longer a viable option for any of us ... Its time to bring the power back to the people, exactly where it belongs. What we are asked to do represents the sort of behaviour that the world associates with despots and autocracies, not with an established democracy nor with the mother of Parliaments. It is a Bill we should not even be asked to confront, let alone pass. THE HAGUE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands has to stop exporting parts of the F-35 combat aircraft to Israel, according to a ruling by a Dutch court in The Hague. "The court finds that there is a clear risk that serious violations of the humanitarian law of war are committed in the Gaza Strip with Israel's F-35 fighter planes," the judges wrote in the verdict made on Monday. The Dutch government was taken to court to stop the export by Oxfam Novib, Peace Movement PAX Netherlands and The Rights Forum, non-governmental organizations committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict in Gaza. The three organizations believe the export of the F-35 parts violates the laws of war because the Dutch government should be aware that fighter planes are used for attacks in the Gaza Strip. Demissionary Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Geoffrey van Leeuwen said the government will appeal the court's ruling in cassation. According to Van Leeuwen, the court has not considered the government's responsibility to shape its foreign policy. The minister will, however, implement the court's ruling for now. The deliveries must be stopped within seven days of the court's ruling. Parts for the F-35 fighter plane are distributed from the Netherlands to several countries, including Israel. These parts are considered military goods, meaning a permit is required for export from the Netherlands. That permit was granted in 2016. Following Israel's attacks in the Gaza Strip, the minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation assessed whether the export license for F-35 parts to Israel could be maintained. This assessment resulted in the minister deciding not to intervene in the permit and to allow exports to Israel to continue. In a mid-December 2023 ruling, the court rejected the demand for an export stop. The judges then stated that the minister was not formally obliged to reassess the previously granted permit against the risk of serious violations of international law. Now, on appeal, the court ruled in favor of the three organizations. These comments could have been made by the far-right of the Tory party. The fact they were made by a senior figure at the centre of Sir Keir Starmers leadership shows how out of touch Starmer is with Scotland on so many important issues. To address any concerns that farmers may have, members have suggested that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt should eliminate inheritance tax on re-wilded farmland. They say this tax exemption could encourage more farmers to restore their land to its natural state, benefiting biodiversity and combating climate change. Israel says about 30 captives are believed to have died or been killed while in captivity, with their bodies still in Gaza. Three hostages were killed erroneously by Israeli forces in December and one female Israeli soldier was freed in a rescue mission in the early weeks of the war. People visit the International Fair of Electricity and Renewable Energies (SEER 2024) in Algiers, Algeria, Feb. 12, 2024. The fair is held here from Feb. 12 to Feb. 15. (Xinhua) People visit the International Fair of Electricity and Renewable Energies (SEER 2024) in Algiers, Algeria, Feb. 12, 2024. The fair is held here from Feb. 12 to Feb. 15. 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"On Wednesday, February 14, Ash Wednesday, we begin the time of Lent, a time of preparation for the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord," the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest said on Tuesday, told Agerpres. Auxiliary Bishop of Bucharest Cornel Damian will preside over the Divine Liturgy at 18:3hrs in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Bucharest. Divine Liturgies at St. Joseph's Cathedral are celebrated at 07:00hrs; 09:00hrs; 17:00hrs and 18:30hrs, while the Stations of the Cross is celebrated at 18:00hrs every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during Lent. During the Divine Liturgy, ash is sprinkled on top of the head to symbolise penance. The first day of Lent fasting is always on a Wednesday, which is called Ash Wednesday. Fasting itself allows only one meal a day until sated, allowing little food to be taken in the morning and evening. All those who have reached the age of 21 to the age of 60 are bound by the law of fasting. The entire period of Lent is a time of penance, when the behaviour of the Christian must be marked by a form of self-renunciation. This year, the Catholic Lent begins on February 14, while the Orthodox Lent starts on March 18. Catholic Easter 2024 is celebrated on March 31, and Orthodox Easter on May 5. Two years in a row, in 2010 and 2011, as well as in 2014 and 2017, Easter was celebrated on the same day by all Christians - Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Evangelical and Reformed, neo-Protestant denominations. The next time when the Lord's Resurrection is jointly celebrated will be on April 20, 2025. The greatest feast of Christians, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, after His crucifixion on Good Friday. The Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, visiting the U.S. between February 12 and 15, met on Monday with representatives of the largest museum and research complex in the world - the Smithsonian. "A large community of teachers has formed around the Smithsonian who harness the art, history, natural science, and astronomy collections for learning purposes. To do this, the Smithsonian team has created a wealth of educational resources that can be used with or without training special. Of these, over 6 million exhibits can also be used by Romanian teachers thanks to the Smithsonian Learning Laboratory," Deca wrote on Facebook.She argued that the Ministry of Education will come to the support of teaching staff and will do everything possible to facilitate Romanian teachers' access to the best online resources."The experience of the Smithsonian Learning Lab development team confirmed to me that in order to build such a successful platform it is important to put the needs of teachers at the center of attention: to understand their requirements and to ensure that the platform is easy to use in depending on their interests - level of study, topic, group size, for example", explained Ligia Deca.She had discussions with Dr. Julia Nowakowska, Director of the Office of Educational Technologies, Natalie Brown, Diplomatic Counselor of the Office of International Relations, and Dr. Samantha Peterson, Counselor of the Smithsonian's Office of Global Affairs. The Energy Ministry has officially notified the Bucharest City Hall of the proposed merger between power and heat company Electrocentrale Bucharest SA (ELCEN) and municipal utility company Termoenergetica Bucharest S.A., which was approved by the government through a memorandum on 31.01.2024. The purpose of this move is to set in place a public service for the centralised supply of heat, respectively the production, transport, distribution and supply of heat in the Municipality of Bucharest, with a view to best use energy resources, in compliance with environmental protection, public health and sustainable development regulations. The Bucharest City Hall is required to transmit a point of view reflecting the in-principle agreement (non-binding) with the merger between Electrocentrale Bucharest S.A. (ELCEN) and Termoenergetica Bucharest S.A., the Energy Ministry said in a release on Tuesday. "Yesterday, more than 200,000 Bucharest residents in almost 1,500 blocks were left without heat and hot water. This is simply unacceptable. We are doing everything that depends on the Energy Ministry to solve this issue, allocating money from the Modernization Fund both for the modernization of the district heating plants, as well as for the rehabilitation of the network. Two weeks ago we launched a call for over half a billion euros worth of investments in district heating networks, with the allocation of funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, the Bucharest City Hall has not submitted any project yet, although the problem is extremely serious. Equally serious is the fact that Termoenergetica, a company of the General City Hall, currently owes ELCEN - which stands under the authority of the Energy Ministry - approximately RON 800 million. I invite mayor Nicusor Dan to sit down with us to find a quick solution to the needs of the people of Bucharest. We must work as a team to ensure that the Bucharesters live in 2024 at the standards of a European capital, complete with hot water and heat. Investing in the modernization of the heat supply system is not only a technical necessity, but also a moral obligation towards the citizens of Bucharest," Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said.The official mentioned that the optimal solution for Bucharest would be to have a sole company for the production, transport, distribution and supply of the steam for hot water and heat."This is how we will be able to cut the Bucharesters' maintenance bills, so that the price per Gcal is RON 400 as in Oradea, not RON 1,000 as in Bucharest today. It can be done until 2025, it all depends on the availability of the Bucharest City Hall. An integrated system is the only sustainable solution to provide the people of Bucharest with heat and hot water in their homes, but it is also an opportunity for the General City Hall to increase its medium and long-term investment budget, to think and act strategically," Burduja said.The Energy Ministry specifies that up until now, the Bucharest Mayor has not responded to the invitation. Supporting the European integration of the Republic of Moldova is a firm objective of the Romanian Government under the Strategic Partnership for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu said on Tuesday during consultations with the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of the neighbouring country, Cristina Gherasimov. In this context, Gherasimov thanked Romania for its constant support and for its energetic action at the political level in securing favourable decisions for the Republic of Moldova adopted in recent years at the European level, according to a Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) press release sent to AGERPRES. During the meeting it was widely discussed how the Republic of Moldova intends to manage the negotiation process with the European Union, and the two officials reviewed joint projects that can be implemented in the area of European integration, as well as the resources needed for their implementation. Minister Odobescu assured that Romania's diplomatic and political efforts will continue, in which sense she brought to mind the training programmes organised by Romania in the area of European affairs dedicated to diplomats and officials of the central administration of the Republic of Moldova and the exchanges of experience at the technical level between institutions. She assured of the constant concern of the Romanian Government to continue organising such programmes, especially in the context of the start of negotiations for accession to the European Union. The Romanian official encouraged the continuation of cooperation, at working level, between Romanian and Moldovan institutions to support institutional reforms and to ensure the exchange of best practices. She also mentioned the reform efforts of the Republic of Moldova, which are visible and appreciated even at European level, as the authorities in Chisinau have to manage multiple crises generated by the illegal and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov and Minister Luminita Odobescu highlighted the need for "joint action to ensure a sustainable, durable and irreversible process of Moldova's accession to the EU." The two dignitaries pointed out that the reform process is a complex one, but that it paves the way towards integration in the European Union and the prosperity desired by the citizens of Moldova. The visit to Romania of Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov represents "a reconfirmation of the special relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as of the excellent stage of the bilateral dialogue," the ministry underlines. Palestinians queue for relief food supplies in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) As the Portugese saying goes, in a house with no bread, everyone argues, and no one is right. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged a worldwide response to the challenges posed by climate-driven food insecurity and conflict. Addressing the Security Council high-level open debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security, the UN chief called for global action to "build a livable, sustainable future, free from hunger, and free from the scourge of war." Guterres painted a grim picture of the current global situation, where "a global food crisis is creating a hellscape of hunger and heartache for many of the world's poorest people," compounded by the fact that "the climate crisis is accelerating with a deadly force -- last year was the hottest ever." He emphasized the direct correlation between these crises and peace, noting that "empty bellies fuel unrest." The secretary-general invoked a proverb to illustrate the dire consequences of food scarcity, "In Portugal, we have a saying: 'In a house with no bread, everyone argues, and no one is right.'" A woman carrying food on her head walks on the street after an earthquake, in Les Cayes, Haiti, on Aug. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/David de la Paz) He further elaborated on how climate disasters and conflict exacerbate inequalities, endanger livelihoods, and displace populations, potentially leading to heightened tensions and conflict, especially in regions with fragile institutions and marginalized communities. Highlighting the disproportionate impact on women and girls, Guterres pointed out that "women and girls pay the highest price. Just as they do when food is short and climate disasters hit." He also noted the alarming statistic that "climate and conflict were the main causes of acute food insecurity for almost 174 million people in 2022." Drawing attention to specific regions, Guterres shared distressing examples from around the globe, including Syria, Myanmar, Gaza, Haiti, Ethiopia, and the Sahel, where the confluence of climate change and conflict has led to severe humanitarian crises. In his call to action, Guterres outlined several critical steps to mitigate these threats, including adherence to international humanitarian law, full funding of humanitarian operations, conflict resolution, progress towards Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and targeted financial interventions. Guterres concluded with a message of hope and urgency, "The message is clear: we can break the deadly nexus of hunger, climate chaos, and conflict. And quell the threat they pose to international peace and security." Romanian companies "are not in the least interested in mergers", but in development solutions, and the dialogue Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu engaged in these days with the leaders of the Romanian business milieu has brought to light some "valuable" ideas that can significantly help the Romanian economy, the head of the government declared on Tuesday. "Romanian companies are not in the least interested in mergers, but in solutions for development! From yesterday's and today's dialogue with the leaders of Romania's business environment, with the Concordia employers' organisations and SME representatives, some valuable ideas emerged that can significantly help the Romanian economy. Business people came up with well-articulated solutions to support domestic production, develop dual education and stimulate Romanian companies to export more added value. Of course, the private sector representatives also showed us with examples where they think that things are not going well," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook."I believe that this is the most necessary and effective type of merger the country needs today: that of the state's and the private environment's energies coming together to jointly harness the resources and development projects capable of producing solid economic growth for Romania", the prime minister said.The government informed in a press statement that the prime minister had on Tuesday a series of hands-on discussions with representatives of the Council of Small and Medium-sized Private Enterprises (CNIPMMR) who gave him feedback on the implementation of the recent fiscal package."The dialogue focused on the challenges that companies encounter in their activity, especially from the perspective of interactions with state institutions, and improvement proposals," the release states."Small and medium-sized businesses are a vital component of the Romanian economy and regular meetings with the business environment help us adjust government measures to the expectations of entrepreneurs. We aim to no longer have untaxed economic activities, but we do not want to complicate or make the business people's lives difficult, and our efforts to turn the state authorities digital are also along this line," stated Ciolacu.According to the government, the CNIPMMR representatives praised the regularity of the meetings held with the prime minister and the representatives of the Executive, as well as "the fact that solutions were found together to a sizeable part of the entrepreneurs' problems." The election of skilled people, who know how to build investment projects, is the main stake of this year's first elections, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, mentioning that villages and communes "cannot develop with demagogy," but with kindergartens, dispensaries, water and gas supply systems. The prime minister participated in the ordinary session of the General Assembly of the Association of Romanian Municipalities on Tuesday. "It is an election year and they will judge on the facts, that is on what has really been done in their locality. On important investment projects. That is why my absolute priority when I became prime minister was and remains to bring to the local communities the largest possible volume of investments, both from the budget and European money. Concretely, the reality is that the level of investments in local communities has reached unprecedented levels," said Ciolacu. He brought to mind that the Anghel Saligny programme has contracted road, water and sewerage projects worth over 33 billion lei, plus 1.5 billion lei for gas, and the two PNDL (national local development, ed. note) programmes have already settled over 40 billion lei worth of invoices and almost 8,000 objectives financed. "And the merits are yours, because, despite the challenges, you have managed to make good projects that will significantly increase the standard of living of rural inhabitants. (...) Our villages and communes cannot develop with demagogy, but with kindergartens, dispensaries, water and gas supply systems. And the hundreds of billions of lei needed to invest in such objectives come exclusively from European funds! We need skilled people elected, able to fight for money both in Brussels and Bucharest, but also on construction sites, with experts and builders!," said Ciolacu. In the same context, he also mentioned the allocation from the Reserve Fund of 10 million euros, representing part of the aid that Romania has pledged to the Republic of Moldova, amounts earmarked for the development of the rural environment in the Republic of Moldova. The prime minister told the local elected representatives that one of the government's priorities in this election year is to continue the investment projects. "Mayors must be able to continue their investment projects. And be able to access new funding. And I will push the central administration as much as possible to decentralise decisions on such funding as much as we can. European funds must be accessed not from Bucharest, but from a place as close as possible to the destination of the money!," said Ciolacu. He added that only after the digitisation of the administration has been truly achieved can we move on to the next step, the administrative reorganisation of the country. He concluded with the promise that on Tuesday evening he will have a discussion with the representatives of local elected representatives on the topic of salaries. Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu will pay a working visit to Rome on Wednesday and Thursday, where he will take part in the third joint meeting of the Romanian and Italian governments, organised 13 years after the previous intergovernmental summit, and will hold talks with Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni and will be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican. According to a government press release, the prime minister will have several high-level meetings with Italian officials and will meet representatives of the Romanian community in Italy. Thus, prime minister Ciolacu will hold talks with the prime minister of the Italian Republic, Georgia Meloni, and will participate in the plenary meeting of the two official delegations and in the signing ceremony of bilateral sectoral documents. The programme of the visit will also include a meeting with the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. According to the press release, an important component of the visit is the economic one, in which several members of the delegation will participate in the Romanian-Italian Economic Forum. During the visit, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu will be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican and will have a meeting with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. The press release recalls that the Romanian-Italian bilateral relationship is based on the Strategic Partnership concluded on April 17, 1997, which was upgraded to the level of Enhanced Strategic Partnership on January 9, 2008. The third meeting between the Romanian Government and the Italian Council of Ministers aims to build on the Strengthened Strategic Partnership between Romania and Italy and further boost bilateral, European and Euro-Atlantic cooperation, the press release states. On the occasion of the meeting, the updated Declaration of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership will be signed, which sets out cooperation priorities for the coming period based on the convergence of interests between the two countries, as well as several bilateral sectoral cooperation documents in areas such as entrepreneurship and SMEs, tourism, civil protection, the source said. According to the press release, in economic terms, Italy has been Romania's second trading partner for several years, with a share in our country's total trade of around 9.5 percent. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday said that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and he, as the PSD national leader, will never suggest supporting a PSD-backed independent running in the presidential election in Romania. Ciolacu reacted to a statement made by Mircea Geoana, NATO's deputy secretary general and one time PSD national leader, that PSD, including Ciolacu, paid him a visit and proposed that he runs as a PSD-backed independent in this year's presidential election. "I'm not going to propose... I am the national leader of the Social Democratic Party. I don't know whether or not I will be a candidate for president. At this point, I'll tell you in all honesty that I didn't even think about being a candidate. What I can tell you with certainty, with the heart of a PSD party member, this time, as a founding member for 30 years, is that never PSD of I personally will suggest, nor will it occur to me, to support a PSD-backed independent presidential candidate," said Ciolacu. He was also asked if he asked Geoana to run on behalf of PSD in the presidential election. "After I asked Mr Mircea Geoana, I left and called Mrs Geoana and proposed her to be prime minister," Marcel Ciolacu said caustically. Ciolacu made the statement as he left for an ordinary session of the General Assembly of the Association of Romania's Small Towns. Geoana on Monday evening told Digi 24 private broadcaster that PSD proposed that he runs as a PSD-backed independent in the presidential election. "I've had talks with them, they came to my office, including Marcel Ciolacu, to propose that I run as an independent backed by PSD for a very simple calculation, because PSD votes in the presidential election, where four million more come than usual, are not enough to win the Romanian Presidency. If you want to win strictly with PSD, the votes are not there. In the runoff, almost no one votes for PSD, the diaspora does not, the undecided do not, it's a limitation. For a 35-40% voter turnout, PSD's score is very important. For the presidential elections, where there is 65% participation, Romanians mobilise and go to vote. There are not enough votes. It's up to them to decide what they want to do, and it's up to me to decide what I want to do," Mircea Geoana said. ST. LOUIS Build-A-Bear Workshop is demanding a jury trial after being served a lawsuit claiming the St. Louis toy manufacturers latest plush line, Skoosherz, is too similar to stuffed toy brand Squishmallows. Last month, Squishmallows parent company, California-based Kelly Toys Holdings and its affiliated companies, sued Build-A-Bear and other plush toy retailers over alleged infringement of its trade dress rights, which protect a products appearance, shape, labeling, color and design. Build-A-Bear filed a responding lawsuit Monday, asking the court to declare that Squishmallows trade dress is not valid, enforceable or protectable and that Build-A-Bear has not infringed on Squishmallows rights. The Skoosherz line was released last month in anticipation for Valentines Day. In its lawsuit, Build-A-Bear calls the collectible products spherical plush friends ... made with an ultra-soft plush and stuffing perfect for hugging. Build-A-Bears suit asserts that Squishmallows has previously described the features that make up its trade dress as being egg/bell-shaped, ultra-soft and velvety with silky memory foam-like stuffing and having embroidered kawaii (a Japanese term meaning prettiness or cuteness) facial features with distinctive and non-monochrome coloring. However, Build-A-Bear argues that this trade dress is generic, vague, not seen across the entire Squishmallows product line and not distinct to Squishmallows. The company also claims that its Skoosherz toys are based on original, popular Build-A-Bear plush animals, features and all. The five different Skoosherz toys are currently available in retail stores and online. The plushies described in Build-A-Bears suit as being uniquely styled for optimal hugging benefits include the pink axolotl, strawberry cow, spring green frog, rainbow sparkle teddy bear and a red raptor. Kelly Toys Holdings lawsuit was filed in Florida state court. Build-A-Bear filed in the federal Eastern District of Missouri court. Build-A-Bear is headquartered in St. Louis. It was founded in 1997 by Maxine Clark and opened its first store in Richmond Heights St. Louis Galleria Mall. ST. LOUIS An area convenience store owner who helped federal authorities convict three former city aldermen for bribery had his four-year prison sentence reduced by six months in a separate contraband cigarette trafficking case. But U.S. District Judge Ronnie Whites reasons for reducing the sentences of area businessman Mohammed Almuttan and three of his brothers are sealed from public view, like much of the arguments in the appeal of the sentences Almuttan and his brothers filed over a year ago. Almuttan was sentenced in October 2022 to four years in prison for conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes, but he has been out on bond during appeal. White, who issued the initial sentence, shaved six months off it in a Feb. 5 ruling after the federal appeals court sent the case back to White in October. Almuttans attorneys had argued when they filed the appeal that Whites statements during the October 2022 sentencing about Almuttans involvement in synthetic drug trafficking were improper because federal prosecutors had dropped those charges. Almuttan pleaded guilty to the cigarette trafficking charge in April 2022 and prosecutors dismissed money laundering and synthetic drug trafficking charges. But during sentencing, White had called Almuttan one of the ringleaders, if not the mastermind of the groups synthetic drug trafficking operations and said not only did you instruct people to sell those drugs, you actually manufactured those drugs. Whites hefty sentence came despite Almuttans cooperation with the feds in a wide-ranging public corruption sting that in June 2022 ensnared two alderman, a St. Louis County official and one of the citys top political figures longtime former Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed. The officials ensuing resignations left a lasting impact on the balance of political power in St. Louis. (Reed earlier this month sought a reduction of his prison sentence to 30 months from 45 months, citing his work in prison tutoring inmates and driving released felons to halfway houses, bus stations and airports.) The aldermen were all caught on camera accepting cash bribes from an area convenience store owner prosecutors identified only as John Doe in exchange for tax abatements and help buying city-owned land. But clues in the indictment revealed it was Almuttan, a Palestinian native who faced deportation in addition to prison time for 2017 charges that accused him and 34 others of buying cheap Missouri cigarettes and selling them in high-tax states and manufacturing synthetic drugs for sale in his familys stores. His work as an informant didnt come up during sentencing, and prosecutors who brought the cigarette and drug trafficking charges didnt make any statements or public sentencing recommendations. But prosecutors had dropped many of the charges against Almuttan and three of his brothers who were also charged in the sting. They also agreed to say Almuttans crime was not one of moral turpitude, a class of offenses that can lead to deportation. Whether Almuttans cooperation with the feds in the yearslong public corruption case played a role in his attorneys arguments during their appeal is unclear. Almuttans appeal has been largely sealed from public view, as have motions since it was sent back to the lower court, including Judge Whites reasons for reducing his sentence to 42 months. A date for Almuttan to report to prison has not been set, but the court recommended he be sent to the relatively close federal prison in Marion. White also reduced by six months the sentences for Almuttans brothers: Rami Almuttan, Hisham Mutan and Saddam Mutan. Saddam Mutan was initially sentenced to 46 months in prison. The others faced sentences of 48 months. Attorneys for Almuttan and his brothers did not respond to requests for comment. Its unclear if they can or will appeal again. Almuttan owned and operated several businesses and convenience stores in the area, mostly in north St. Louis or north St. Louis County. Among his properties was the Shell gas station on North Florissant and St. Louis avenues which some neighbors nicknamed the Shoot em up Shell because of the crime there. City officials shut it down for a year in November 2022, and it recently opened under new ownership. JEFFERSON CITY Republicans in control of the Missouri Senate opened debate Monday on a plan to make constitutional amendments more difficult in the wake of recent progressive wins at the ballot box. The chamber began debating the plan shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday. Democrats launched into a filibuster, blocking a vote on the measure. The Senate paused debate shortly after 9:45 p.m. and adjourned for the day without taking action on the proposal, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold. Hours earlier, Coleman said in kicking off debate that her plan is about wanting to do one thing and one thing only: its about wanting to make sure that our founding document is kept in a preserved and made more difficult to change. Debate Monday followed weeks of pressure by a hard-line faction of Senate Republicans to respond to the January launch of a pro-abortion rights signature-gathering effort with action on changes to the initiative petition process. The measure before the upper chamber on Monday would require constitutional amendments to win a simple majority statewide as well as majorities in five of eight U.S. congressional districts. Voters would get the final say on whether to make citizen-led initiative petitions more difficult. Republican proponents want the initiative petition changes on the August ballot, hoping that if an abortion question appeared before voters in November, it would be more difficult to approve. Many Republicans have also criticized other constitutional amendments voters have approved in recent years, including Medicaid expansion in 2020 and marijuana legalization in 2022. Coleman said the state has incentivized people to change the state constitution, stating that it was as easy to change the constitution as it is to change state statute. It is true that both statutory and constitutional amendments pass with a simple majority in Missouri. But it is more difficult to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Campaigns must collect signatures from 8% of legal voters in six of eight congressional districts for constitutional amendments. Proposed changes to state law require signatures from 5% of legal voters in the same number of districts. Voters also legalized medical marijuana in 2018 through a constitutional amendment after repeated failures to pass medical marijuana legalization through the Legislature. They had to go around the Legislature. And thats whats getting lost in all of this, said Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette. And, while lawmakers and the governor may repeal voter-enacted statutory changes, voters would need to weigh in on any changes to constitutional amendments they had previously approved. McCreery said the reason people were pursuing constitutional changes is because politicians cant be trusted to do what their own constituents want them to do. In addition to asking voters to require support from a majority of congressional districts, Colemans measure would also restrict the kinds of topics future constitutional amendments may address. The measure would ask voters to prohibit future constitutional amendments on permitting lobbyist gifts, raising food sales taxes, reducing money for law enforcement, and prohibiting money for securing the border. It also seeks to ban foreign interference in initiative petitions, and limit voting on initiative petitions to U.S. citizens, though voting is already restricted to U.S. citizens. Sen. Doug Beck, D-south St. Louis County, said Republicans added in a load of ballot candy to make the initiative changes easier to pass. McCreery referenced comments by House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, last year predicting that an abortion referendum would pass with a simple majority. We now know why this is the Republicans No. 1 priority, she said. McCreery said she gave Republicans a chance last week to partially reverse the trigger law they approved in 2019, which since June 2022 has only allowed abortions in medical emergencies. McCreery had proposed an amendment to a measure seeking to defund Planned Parenthood that wouldve allowed abortions in cases of rape and incest. I gave the Republicans a chance the other night to actually right a wrong that they created. I think it wouldve ... helped them a little bit this fall, quite honestly, she said. But not one person that was in this chamber showed any compassion to women or children who have been the victims of forceable rape that resulted in a pregnancy, McCreery said. The legislation is Senate Joint Resolution 74. Updated at 9:55 p.m. Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The Democratic primary race for the 1st Congressional District seat had been an either/or affair since November: Would U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of St. Louis keep her office, or would she be pushed out by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell? But the math got more complicated last week when seasoned legislator Maria Chappelle-Nadal joined the fray. And while politicos discuss how her entry will affect Bush and Bell, Chappelle-Nadal wants no part of spoiler talk. No one owns a seat, and no one is owed a seat, Chappelle-Nadal said. And Im confident that I am the best candidate. Chappelle-Nadal served 16 years as a state representative and senator. Known for her fight to clean up radioactive waste in the St. Louis area, she left Jefferson City because of term limits. She lost a primary bid for this U.S. House seat in 2016. Also, she gained notoriety in 2017 for calling on social media for the assassination of former President Donald Trump. She apologized for the post and removed it. Now, Chappelle-Nadal said both Bush and Bell come up short in providing actual leadership. Chappelle-Nadal said, We need a better advocate on radioactive waste issues in north St. Louis County, adding that while Bush has contributed verbal support, she has contributed little substantive action. She even went as far as giving a nod to a Republican on the issue, saying, (U.S. Sen.) Josh Hawley has been there and has actually done things. As for Bell, Chappelle-Nadal has been a vocal critic of his performance in office and said he needs to be held accountable for failing to prosecute violent criminals. So now even though a late March filing deadline still allows perennial candidates and political gadflies to jump in the field of major players seems set. That gives political pundits a solid six months to crunch the poll numbers, read the electoral tea leaves and take a stab at predicting the outcome. Several strategists said Chappelle-Nadals entry into the race will help Bush, citing the old axiom that having multiple challengers helps the incumbent. Im just not sure theres enough anti-incumbent votes to spread around, said one source, who declined to be quoted by name. (Most political strategists involved with the Democratic party did not want to be identified. Lets face it: Todays story target could be tomorrows paying client.) But a pair of GOP strategists, John Hancock and Gregg Keller, were willing to weigh in under their names. A former state legislator, Hancock also is a former chairman and executive director of the Missouri Republican Party. He acknowledged that Bush has a committed, hard-core progressive base, but then questioned if that base is big enough to carry her to another term. I dont think so, he said. Then the question becomes whether or not shes done enough to alienate those outside of that base, Hancock said. Probably, she has. Bush has been drawing fire from two directions. First, questions about her finances began a year ago, and she now is under federal investigation for her spending on security services. Then, for the past four months, she has drawn substantial heat for her anti-Israel positions in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. In the same vein, the new boundaries of Bushs district take in several municipalities with substantial Jewish populations, such as University City, Creve Coeur, Olivette and part of Clayton. Chappelle-Nadal is a lifelong University City resident who has in the past been strongly supportive of Israel. Bell also has expressed his support for Israel in the Hamas conflict. Add to all that, several national pro-Israel organizations have amassed a multimillion-dollar war chest aimed at defeating progressive members of Congress, with Bushs name being high on the list. Which brings us to the reality part of politics: money. If youre going to beat an incumbent, you have to get your story out there, Hancock said. That takes money ... and Bells already drawing money nationally. Both Hancock and Keller said the pro-Israel committees typically fund only one candidate per race and that it appears to be Bell in this case. Federal campaign reports show that Bell raised slightly more money than Bush in the last quarter of 2023 and had almost twice as much money on hand: $409,000, to Bushs $216,000. Thats why I dont see (Chappelle-Nadal) being a serious factor in the race, Hancock said. I just dont think she can amass a significant amount of money. For the most part, Keller agrees with Hancock that Bell is the strongest challenger with the best chance to raise the money needed to beat an incumbent. But I think that if (Chappelle-Nadal) entering the race hurts anybody, it hurts Cori Bush, said Keller. Keller now is working on the campaigns of several GOP candidates, including attorney general hopeful Will Scharf and state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who is running for a U.S House seat. When looking at Bushs support over the past four years, Keller said, one of the lanes in the race is very progressive Black women, which Bush has controlled in her previous two victories. But now, Keller said, I think Chappelle-Nadal and Bush are battling in the same lanes. 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 A St. Louis firefighter accused of stealing from a crash survivor is set to appear again on April 1 in criminal court. The court date for Arnold S. Britt, 40, of Ballwin, was set Tuesday at a hearing in front of Circuit Judge David Lee Vincent III. Britt, who has pleaded not guilty, has been charged with receiving stolen property, a Class D felony; and fraudulent use of a credit card, a Class A misdemeanor. Conviction on the felony is punishable by a sentence of one to four years in prison. The April 1 date is officially listed as a settlement conference, which is ordered by the court and aims to determine if the case can be settled before going to trial. The charges against Britt stem from a fatal crash in February 2023, in which four people in an SUV were killed in a hit-and-run collision at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue. A survivor of the crash, Seven Robinson-Laney, 18, of St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that shortly after the crash. His monogrammed wallet containing a credit card, gift cards and about $600 in cash had been stolen from the scene. St. Louis police said Britt, who is assigned to a fire station that responded to the accident, can be seen on a body-camera video putting the wallet into his jacket. During questioning by city police detectives, Britt said that he used Robinson-Laneys debit card three times by accident. GENEVA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza and put a fragile humanitarian operation at death's door, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths warned Tuesday. In a statement issued here, he noted the warnings from the international community against the dangerous consequences of a ground invasion in Rafah in southern Gaza, saying that the government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls. He said people in Rafah and the rest of Gaza are victims of an assault that is unparalleled in its intensity, brutality and scope. Stressing that humanitarian workers have been doing the near-impossible to assist people in need for more than four months, he warned that "we lack the safety guarantees, the aid supplies and the staff capacity to keep this operation afloat." The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday cited the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza as reporting that another 133 Palestinians were killed, and 162 Palestinians were injured, mostly in Rafah and Khan Younis, by Israeli attacks within 24 hours. ST. LOUIS Prosecutors have charged a man with fatally shooting another man earlier this month. Greg E. Burns, 47, was charged last week with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Jeremy West, 39, near the intersection of Mimika and Gladys avenues just south of the city's border with Jennings. Charging documents say Burns had been using drugs all night on Feb. 1 and was riding in a car when he spotted West. Burns told the driver to pull over, got out and shot West on the sidewalk, charges say. The shooting was caught on surveillance video. Burns is being held in the St. Louis jail without bond. ST. LOUIS Police on Wednesday identified the 35-year-old man who was found dead Monday morning inside a home in the city's Carondelet neighborhood, in south St. Louis. Officers were called about 10 a.m. to the 700 block of Rio Silva Place, police said. They found Mitch Maness' decomposing body inside the home. Homicide detectives are investigating until a cause of death is determined by the city's medical examiner. Maness lived in the same block of Rio Silva Place, police said. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A baby girl will be put up for adoption after she was anonymously surrendered to a drop-off box in Mehlville for newborns whose parents are unable to care for them, officials said Monday. The baby, a healthy newborn, was placed Thursday in a Safe Haven Baby Box at a Mehlville Fire Protection District station, Chief Brian Hendricks said. The baby was in the box for less than a minute before she was retrieved by paramedics and taken to a hospital and then to state child welfare services to await adoption. To that mother, I would like to say that we loved that baby and cared for that baby the minute we laid eyes on her and the minute we opened up that door, Hendricks said. The baby was the first in Missouri to be retrieved from a baby box following the 2021 approval of safe haven legislation, said Rep. Jim Murphy, R-south St. Louis County, who pushed for passage of the measure. Murphy said he was moved to tears when he was told about the baby. This mother was so courageous to put herself aside and do what was best for her child, Murphy said. On Thursday February 8th a newborn baby girl was retrieved from the Safe Haven Box by members of the Mehlville Fire District who cared for her and transported her to a hospital for further care. Today we celebrate a life saved and I can think of nothing greater. #moleg pic.twitter.com/x8b4GNBgEE Jim Murphy Missouri 94th House District (@jmmurphy8) February 12, 2024 The box, installed in August at the Mehlville Fire District Station 2, at 5434 Telegraph Road, is the only Missouri box in operation. Hendricks said the fire district plans to install a second box in another station as early as next year. There are a total 202 boxes in 15 states, said Monica Kelsey, CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Kelsey, a former firefighter whose birth mother abandoned her shortly after she was born in 1973, formed the company in Indiana in 2016. Since then, 42 babies have been anonymously dropped off in the boxes, and 147 infants have been handed directly to a person at a safe haven location by a parent or someone acting on their behalf, Kelsey said Monday. The boxes, on the outside walls of fire departments and hospitals, include a door that locks when the baby is placed inside and a door that allows officials to reach the infant from inside the building. Inside is a nursery bed with heating and air conditioning. A motion sensor alarm notifies officials when a baby is placed inside. Kelsey said the process worked exactly as intended. This baby was not abandoned, Kelsey said. This baby was legally, anonymously and safely surrendered in the safe haven baby box. And its an honor to be there for this mother in her time of need. Kelsey acknowledged the difficult choice the newborns mother made. Thank you for keeping your child safe. ... Its always just a selfless act the mother does when she says I want whats best for my child and thats not me, she said. Thank you for keeping your child safe. Asked about possible reunification with either parent, Kelsey said either parent can file requests to state authorities for reunification. Each baby surrendered to a baby box is cross checked against state databases of children reported missing as a precaution, she said. Murphy said he wants to expand baby boxes throughout Missouri. Every fire district should dedicate themselves to putting one of these in because they save lives, he said. The announcement Monday was applauded by more than a dozen local residents who said they wanted to support boxes as an option for parents facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A major donor and former trustee on Monday filed to block Webster University from using scholarship funds to meet the schools loan obligation. Former Trustee Jack Schreiber and his wife, Sherry, say in the suit that Webster University failed to provide evidence as to why it needs all $37 million from private donors including the more than $100,000 the Schreibers helped grow for scholarships they established in memory of their son and of Jacks mother. To try to get it done on the backs of donors, many of whom have these funds in memory of individuals, like ours, it just isnt right, Jack Schreiber told the Post-Dispatch. I cant imagine anybody would think that this is right. Several Webster University donors, including the Schreibers, have come forward against the colleges plan to use restricted endowment funds, which are earmarked for scholarships, research and professorships, to meet an obligation of a loan. Board chair Sumit Verma declined comment late Monday. Websters move to tap into restricted donor funds underscores the financial problems before the university. Over the past decade, Webster has lost more than $160 million, including a $37 million deficit at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Yet its board of trustees continually awarded raises to then-Chancellor Beth Stroble and President Julian Schuster that made the two among the highest-paid university leaders in the St. Louis region. The schools problems compounded over the past year when Webster was sued for allegedly not paying rent at its satellite campus in downtown St. Louis. Its bond rating also has fallen into junk status, which affects the schools borrowing power. Four of its leaders, including Stroble and CFO Richard Meyer, have since resigned. University leaders have said the COVID-19 pandemic and changing demographics have increased competition for students and impacted operations. The school is now on a positive trajectory with growing enrollment after years of decline, they said. Webster filed its petition to tap restricted endowment funds on Feb. 1, two days after Verma, the board chair, sent a letter to donors informing them of the universitys plan. The Missouri attorney generals office told Webster it did not anticipate intervening in the schools attempt, according to court filings. Verma has said that the university would first use donor money to satisfy a liquidity ratio for a loan related to its new science and business buildings, and, in the letter, said that the school would only spend the money to pay bills as a last resort. But several donors have said that they dont want their money to be used for anything other than what they designated it for such as scholarships made in memory of loved ones who have died. The Schreibers established two scholarships for late family members one in 2014 for Jacks mother, Bette Jane Wolff Schreiber, who was a 1947 Webster graduate, and a second one in 2015 for the Schreibers son, Andrew, also a Webster graduate, who died in 2015. The scholarships now total more than $113,000 in value, according to court filings. Jack Schreiber, who served several years on the board of trustees, said in an interview on Monday that he doesnt have confidence in the university and its turnaround plans. A former president of Commerce Bank, he said he resigned from the board in 2018 after the university took on debt, didnt cut expenses and didnt heed his warnings that it must. I had a front-row seat with all of this, and I didnt think management was adequately addressing all the serious financial problems that were going on, he said. The Schreibers said in their suit that the university did not show that it had exhausted all other options before seeking to reclassify donors money as unrestricted. Schreiber said he wants to see documents showing Websters current financial status, for more assurance that the university wont use donors money for any other purpose. He and his wife would not have established scholarships if they knew the money would go to a different purpose. We dont want to wake up one day and see that these funds are gone, Schreiber said. RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town in the Gaza Strip as airstrikes carried out to cover the raid killed more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children. The rescue in Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of Israelis shaken by the plight of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The nation is still reeling from the militant group's cross-border raid last year that started the war. The overnight bombardment brought devastation in Rafah, which is packed with some 1.4 million people, most of whom fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape fighting. Associated Press footage showed a large area of flattened houses, tattered tents and lines of bloodied bodies brought into nearby hospitals. Israel's offensive has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians in the territory, displaced more than 80% of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis. More than 12,300 Palestinian children have been killed in the conflict, Gaza's Health Ministry said Monday. About 8,400 women were also among those killed. The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown at the request of the AP. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided evidence. In Hamas' cross-border raid on Oct. 7, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel describes Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the town on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after dozens were freed during a cease-fire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of about 30 others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says persistent military pressure will bring about the captives' freedom even as families of the hostages and many of their supporters have called on the government to make another deal with Hamas. Overnight raid Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. The army identified those rescued as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. They also hold Argentinian citizenship. They are among just three hostages to be rescued; a female soldier was rescued in November. The rescue is a morale booster for Israelis but a small step toward winning the release of the remaining hostages, who are believed to be spread out and hidden. Har's son-in-law, Idan Begerano, who saw the released captives at the hospital where they were airlifted, said the two men were thin and pale, but communicating well and aware of their surroundings. Dozens killed in strikes The airstrikes hit jam-packed Rafah in the middle of the night, and dozens of explosions could be heard about 2 a.m. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said at least 67 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Al-Qidra said rescuers were still searching the rubble. An Associated Press journalist counted at least 50 bodies at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Footage circulating on social media from Rafah's Kuwaiti hospital showed dead or wounded children. The footage could not immediately be verified but was consistent with AP reporting. A young man could be seen carrying the body of an infant who he said was killed in the attacks. He said the girl, the daughter of his neighbor, was born and killed during the war. "Let Netanyahu come and see: Is this one of your designated targets?" he said. Concerns about Rafah Netanyahu says sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel's war goals. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation there without a "credible and executable" plan to protect civilians. More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population is crammed into Rafah, where hundreds of thousands live in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters. Biden's remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, a senior U.S. administration official said. The official said that after weeks of diplomacy, a "framework" is now "pretty much" in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that "gaps remain" but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal. Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the call. Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. Today in history: Feb. 12 1909: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 1914: Lincoln Memorial 1973: Operation Homecoming 1983: Eubie Blake 1999: Bill Clinton 2000: Charles M. Schulz 2006: Shaun White 2012: Adele 2018: National Portrait Gallery 2019: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman UNITED NATIONS Russia has accused the West of sabotaging agreements that would have prevented the war in Ukraine but the U.S. and its allies put the blame squarely on Moscow, saying there is no escaping that President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of its smaller neighbor. Days before the second anniversary of Russias invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia again put the cause of the war down to the failure to implement the 2015 Minsk agreements, which he blamed on Kyivs sabotage supported by the West. The agreements aimed to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists that flared in April 2014 after Russias annexation of Crimea and its support for the separatists in the mostly Russian-speaking industrial east called Donbas. At Mondays Security Council meeting that Russia called on the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Minsk peace plan brokered by France and Germany, Nebenzia called claims by Ukraine and Western nations that Russia refused to implement the agreements absolutely baseless. Had the Minsk agreements been implemented, Nebenzia said, the tragedy that has taken place in Ukraine today would not have happened, a tragedy in which the U.S. and the collective West are complicit as they try to achieve their geopolitical aims at the cost of Ukraine and the lives of its citizens. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood accused Russia of putting forward significant myths and disinformation in its efforts to rewrite history after it invaded a sovereign nation in violation of the U.N. Charter. Moscow has called us together today to lament the very violence it began, fueled and it continues to perpetrate daily, he said. Wood told the council Russia negotiated and signed the Minsk agreements but ignored all commitments it made. It is Russia that is the aggressor and Ukraine which is simply defending its people, its territorial integrity and its freedom, the U.S. envoy said. Wood said Russia trained the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine as a proxy force to undermine Ukraines stability, and said the war and Putins recognition of the independence as so-called independent entities have fully and forever nullified the Minsk agreements. Britains deputy U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki said Russias invasion of Ukraine showed the world that Putin was never interested in peace. He accused Russia of using the council meeting in another attempt to distort history and a desperate effort to justify its unprovoked, unnecessary and illegal invasion and ongoing war. We urge Russia once again to end its illegal invasion, withdraw from Ukraine and respect the principles of the U.N. Charter, Kariuki said, vowing that the United Kingdom will continue to stand with Ukraine and call out Russian disinformation. Photos: Scenes of Russia's economy since war in Ukraine February 13, 2024: Russia is running out of tanks. This was not supposed to happen but modern anti-tank weapons, anti-vehicle mines and being on the offensive most of the time since invading Ukraine in early 2022 resulted two years later in almost all the T-72, T-90 and T-90 tanks being gone along with most of the T-62s and T-64s brought out of storage. Now even 60-70 year-old T-54s and T-55s are being restored. This is difficult because spare parts for such ancient tanks have not been manufactured since the 1970s and 80s. That means some of these tanks are used for spare parts and what is left of those are sent to the smelters. Russian forces continue to lose a lot of tanks each month and soon they will have none left. That will mean infantry attacks will have no tank support and the infantry will suffer higher casualties. It's not just the tanks that are being lost, most of the Russian artillery have worn-out barrels and there are few replacements available. Russia does have a facility for refurbishing artillery barrels but its production rates are low. Ukraine has similar problems but still receives new supplies of tanks and artillery from NATO countries. Ukraine has also set up production facilities in western Ukraine, near the Polish border. NATO countries supply some of the components needed by the Ukrainian weapons factories. Neither Russia nor Ukraine expected the Russian losses to be as high as they were. During the year before the invasion the Russian army received the first of 80 T-80BVM tanks they were told they would receive that year. The 43-ton T-80 was an unsuccessful effort to produce a new tank that would eventually replace the 42-ton T-72. While not a failed design, like the earlier T-62 and T-64, the innovative T-80 was the first Russian tank with a gas-turbine engine. The T-80 promised more than it could deliver. The T-80 entered service in 1976, three years after the T-72. These two tanks were designed by rival tank development teams. From a distance the T-72 and T-80 appear similar and that was because both use the same weapons and tank design concepts all Russian Cold War era tanks were expected to use. The gas-turbine engine wasnt enough and while a successful design, only 5,700 were built, compared to over 25,000 T-72s. The T-80 was about 20 percent more expensive than the diesel-powered T-72 as well as being faster and more maneuverable because of the gas-turbine engine. On the downside, a gas-turbine burned fuel much faster and that meant the T-72 had 75 percent more range than the T-80. The heavier and better protected American M1 also uses a gas-turbine engine but its additional fuel needs were manageable because the U.S. has a better logistics system. Despite that, most nations prefer to stick with diesel engines. The T-80 was favored by many, but most Russian export customers were on very tight budgets and the cheaper T-72 was preferred. Russia continues to upgrade the T-80 to keep it competitive with the T-72, which is still the favorite with Russian tank crews. Better is not always the most popular. That attitude is being exploited 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 (infantry fighting vehicles) in the coming year, but none would be the new T-14 Armata tank. Upgraded tanks like the T-80BVM filled the gap for the missing T-14s. The Armata is a radical new design for tanks and IFVs but is too expensive given the defense budgets available. This is due to a 2013 plunge in oil prices that did not recover while the 2014 Ukraine invasion resulted in many economic and trade sanctions. Since then, the Russian replacement program for elderly Cold War era gear has had to settle for more rebuilt than brand new vehicles. Russia did plan to start building more T-14s in 2021 or 2022, but procurement budgets suffered more cuts because of the poor state of the economy. There was no money left to build T-14s, which cost twice as much as older T-72s and T-80s. Most of the new tanks the Russian army has received since 2000 have been refurbished and much upgraded T-72B3s. By 2021 the Russian Army had about 3,000 tanks in active service and about 65 percent were T-72B3s, which you hear little about. Russian troops prefer the T-72B3M over the T-80 and T-90, and few have any personal experience with the T-14. Since 2013 the army has been receiving an updated version of the old BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carrier, the 8x8 BTR-82A. While the United States abandoned wheeled armored vehicles after World War II, Russia kept theirs and constantly improved their BTR series. The BTR-80 appeared in 1986, at the end of the Cold War. While not as heavy or as high tech as the American Stryker, the BTR vehicles are popular with many nations, especially for use by police and paramilitary forces. The current export model of the BTR-80 is the BTR-90. The 15-ton BTR-82A is armed with a 30mm autocannon in a turret. This weapon is stabilized, enabling it to fire accurately while the vehicle is moving. There is also a 7.62mm machine-gun. The BTR-82A has a fire suppression system and a floor built to better protect the three crew and seven passengers from mines and roadside bombs. The hull incorporates a Kevlar layer to provide better protection against shell and bomb fragments. The BTR-82A has an improved engine, electronics, and is amphibious. Then there are the older tracked IFVs. In mid-2017 Russia ordered 540 upgraded BMP-2 and BMD-2 IFVs as part of its 2018-2025 military modernization program. Upgrading the current fleet of BMPs and BMDs will take time as 540 vehicles are a small portion of 4,000 BMP-2 and BMD-2 IFVs in service and part of the modernization. The BMP upgrades are mainly about improving firepower and fire control capabilities while other areas like armor and mobility remain relatively unchanged. The 14.6-ton BMP-2 and 11.5-ton BMD-2 were designed in the 1980s as upgrades or successors of the original BMP-1 from the 1960s. The BMP-2 needs major mechanical and engine upgrades to support other weight increases. Thats why the BMP-2M weighs about 15 tons and basically has a new turret and fire-control system. The lighter BMD-2 is for airborne forces but is otherwise similar to the BMPs. BMD deliveries were soon completed but the upgraded BMP-2M took much longer. The BMP-3M IFV features a new Berezhok turret, fitted with four ready-to-launch Kornet ATGMs (laser guided anti-tank missiles) in two twin launchers on each side of the turret. Kornet's range is 5,500 meters and is much easier to use than older Fagot or Konkurs single tube ATGMs previously used on IFVs. Not only were these older systems outdated versus more capable enemy IFVs but, with only one ATGM launch tube, it had to be reloaded manually by the crew. That was difficult and dangerous in combat. With four ready-to-fire missiles, reloads are less of a problem. In addition, the new ATGM is the Kornet, which can fire a two-missile salvo at one target. The 30mm cannon received improved stabilization. There is also a remote-controlled weapon station fitted with a 3 mm automatic AGS-30 grenade launcher. The commander/gunner sight, thermal imagers, missile guide channel and laser rangefinder will receive upgrades as well. All these improvements increase BMP-2 weight by half a ton. Nearly half of that is missiles and ammunition for the AGS-30. Meanwhile the airborne BMD-2M received similar weapons upgrades but with only two Kornet missiles and a new name BMD-4M. These upgrades will dramatically improve BMP-3 and BMD-4 firepower capabilities and make them equal or superior to Western vehicles like the German PUMA, Swedish CV90 or French VBCI. This creates an interesting situation in which Russia will have a very well-armed, but poorly protected IFV compared to western designs like CV90 or VBCI that lack ATGMs. This upgrade seems like a desperate attempt to modernize their mechanized forces after spending a lot of money to get the new Armata tank and an IFV version of the T-14 ready for mass production. These vehicles were untried in combat and cost more than twice as much as the vehicles they replaced. Russia has, for years, allowed the Armata based vehicles to remain in development while problems are discovered and worked out, and more money becomes available to mass produce them. Now the patience and money have run out Russia is resorting to older tanks and IFVs brought out of storage. February 13, 2024: Various NATO members have donated over 60 M109A6 and A7 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. The first of these arrived in early 2022 and more have followed. Some M992A2 ammunition resupply vehicles, each carrying about a hundred 155mm shells were also sent to Ukraine along with and five M88A2 ARVs armored recovery vehicles. These last two are built on the same chassis as the M109. The M109A7 is a major upgrade and uses the same chassis as the M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle plus a new engine control system. Added to that are the cab and gun mounts from the original 1960s M109. The A7 also has an automatic rammer, but not a more complex automatic loader. Crews still have to manually load the propellant and 41 kg shell, but the semi-automatic rammer will then push the propellant and shell into the firing chamber and close the breech. Automating this part of the process improves accuracy somewhat because, when troops manually shoved (rammed) in the propellant and shell, they often applied too much or too little pressure and left the shell out of position by a tiny bit, just enough to hurt accuracy. The A7 also got new electronics, and numerous small improvements, many based on user suggestions. Not all the proposed upgrades were implemented immediately, but enough of them were to satisfy M109 users. The M109A7 made Paladin competitive with some new European self-propelled 155mm howitzers. The A7 is also heavier, at 35 tons and the new chassis can support up to 50 tons. Even at that weight, A7 is as fast as the existing M-109 and more maneuverable. The M109A7 is also referred to as the M106A6 PIM for Paladin Integrated Management program. The first M109 entered service in 1963 and it proved so successful that it was ultimately adopted by most NATO countries and dozens of other nations as well. Including the many foreign license-built models, about 9,000 have been built so far. About a dozen nations still use it, often as improved models that were only used by the nation that developed a particular upgrade. NATO provided training for 635 Ukrainian artillerymen as the M109A7 began arriving in Ukraine. For over a year now the M109A7s have been a key weapon in Ukrainian offensives and often moved to provide extra artillery support to halt Russian offensives. During 2023 armed FPV (First Person View) UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) began to appear in large numbers and were more effective at finding and destroying distant targets than mobile artillery systems. As the number of these UAVs increased, the need for M109A7s declined. The FPV UAVs were cheaper than artillery shells and able to find targets and then immediately attack, and usually destroy them. The FPV UAVs were manufactured locally by Ukrainians, often for friends or family members in the military. These locally made FPV UAVs were shipped, without explosives, to men in the military. The soldiers added the explosives and tended to use the FPV UAVs quickly. These unique weapons have been used by both sides, but the Ukrainians came up with the idea and are producing more of them than the Russians. The Russians prefer to develop new electronic jamming equipment to disrupt the control signals going to FPV UAVs. To deal with that the FPV UAV is programed to continue going after a selected target if jammed, or automatically return to where the sender was. More elaborate FPV UAV guidance systems will switch to another frequency if jammed. Another FPV UAV is that the operator can record a video of an attack to show their commanders or Ukrainian media how the Russians are being attacked. Russia quickly copied the FPV UAV concept and massed produced FPV UAVs for use in Ukraine. Now these deadly weapons are the major source of casualties on both sides. Anyone who is attacked is particularly vulnerable. The Russians are planning a number of major offensives involving lots of troops and FPV UAVs will be used by attackers and defenders. The attackers will be more vulnerable and out in the open. FPV UAVs are vulnerable to machine-gun fire, and some will be lost. Most of the FPV UAVs will reach their targets and, if the troops being attacked dont take cover, they will be wounded or killed. February 13, 2024: Chinese leaders are once more considering different options with their Rocket Force, the military organization which operates all Chinese ballistic missiles. In 2021 some of these missiles were moved to a new silo field in northern China. Here there are three new missile silo fields, containing a total of 320 missile silos. China plans to put missiles in only in some of the silos and thus force the United States to attack all the silos in a first strike. Such a first strike is unlikely because China already had dozens of missiles being moved around on truck mounted launchers. These trucks constantly moved between hiding places and were meant to keep an enemy unsure of where all the Chinese nuclear missiles were. This was a lucky move by China as most or all of the newly built, and quite expensive, missile silos are inoperable (lids cant be opened) due to Chinas constant corruption. China has several thousand ballistic missiles, most of them known to be armed only with a variety of conventional (non-nuclear) warheads. It turns out China has a lot more of these than earlier believed. Another revelation is that China purportedly considers nuclear warheads much less important than previously believed. A recent effort to calculate how many nuclear warheads China has concluded that they have not been producing enough plutonium for an expansion of their nuclear warhead inventory and apparently configure their longer range (ICBM and IRBM) missiles with several types of conventional warheads and keep a small number of nuclear warheads in a separate location. This means that even ICBMs are seen as primarily non-nuclear missiles, which is surprising as the cost of ICBMs far exceeds all other ballistic missiles while the damage done by conventional warheads is only the same at best. Recent reports of new missile silos being built inland are apparently not for nuclear missiles, but long-range missiles armed with conventional warheads. This strategy has long been suspected because for decades China openly threatened Taiwan with over a thousand short range ballistic missiles armed with several types of conventional warheads and standing by for a surprise attack that would be able to overwhelm any BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) capability Taiwan has, even if reinforced by American or Japanese Aegis BMD destroyers. The hundreds of new silos in central China would be more difficult to disable by airstrikes and provide longer range ballistic missiles with conventional warheads to assist attacks on Taiwan, as well as South Korean, Japanese and American bases in the Pacific. This use of non-nuclear ballistic missiles is more in line with published Chinese strategy, which emphasizes avoiding the use of nukes at all costs while also using all ballistic missiles as artillery equipped with non-nuclear warheads. To maintain this large force of ballistic missiles requires regularly using some of them to test new guidance systems and conventional warhead designs. This means China carries out far more test launches than anyone else. In 2019 China was noted to have carried out more missile launches, for testing and development, than the rest of the world combined. China is a nuclear power that is not particularly concerned about boasting of how many nukes and delivery systems it has. China is also better able to keep secret most of its missile tests. Rather than firing missiles out to sea, where they have to issue a warning to ships to avoid the area where the warheads will land, China conducts most of its missile tests at an inland test site near the Gobi Desert. Plenty of open space and far from prying eyes. The only nation with a good idea of how many Chinese missile tests there are each year is the United States, which has a worldwide network of early-warning satellites that can spot the heat generated from a ballistic missile launch anywhere on the planet. For a long time, the U.S. did not disclose how many Chinese missile launches they spotted each year but in a 2018 speech an American official commented that China launched more missiles each year than the rest of the world combined. Similar comments since then indicate that China is currently launching more than a hundred missiles a year, most of them aimed at the remote inland test site in the northwest. The Americans also have a network of electronic monitoring satellites that can collect telemetry data. This is what the test warhead transmits back to earth about how the missile is performing. This data is encrypted, and the U.S. says even less about how many of these signals it captures and decrypts. A growing number of American analysts, including the more senior ones that specialize in ballistic missile and nuclear weapons trends, have maintained that the large Chinese missile force, including the ones the West classifies as nuclear only, exist mainly to support surprise attacks by missiles carrying non-nuclear warheads. Chinese military journals describe over a dozen types of non-nuclear warheads, but little is said about any nuclear warheads except basic models. The U.S. is very interested in finding out details of new Chinese missiles because some will have capabilities that the U.S. and Russia gave up for several decades because of the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) disarmament treaty signed near the end of the Cold War. The U.S. did admit that the main reason for not renewing the INF Treaty with Russia in 2019 was not just Russian cheating but also because China never signed the INF treaty and was free to develop ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers the INF prohibits. China has openly developed a lot of ballistic missiles that the INF forbids. Originally INF was created to reduce the proliferation of shorter-range missiles with nuclear warheads. The Chinese preference for non-nuclear missiles was ignored or played down for a long time. China also insists it is unconcerned about who the target for nuclear armed missiles is. In 2009, China announced that its nuclear-armed ballistic missiles were not aimed at anyone and that was probably true. Like most countries, China has long refused to say who its nuclear-armed missiles are aimed at. Most of those missiles only have enough range to hit Russia, or India, or other nearby nations. For a long time, most were very definitely aimed at Russia, which had rocky relations with China from the 1960s to the 1990s. But after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the new, much smaller, Russia became much friendlier with the wealthier, more capitalist, but still run by communists, China. Relations between China and India also warmed up then went into a deep freeze as China claimed more and more Indian territory. China is believed to have 300-400 nuclear warheads but only about 200 of them are purportedly ready for use and most of them are the new standard 400kt type, which is smaller and lighter than the megaton (1,000kt) warheads China originally produced. Fewer than a hundred Chinese ballistic missiles could reach the United States. These include the older (and about to be retired) DF-5, plus the newer DF-31A and DF-41. Now it turns out that these missiles normally carry a non-nuclear warhead, which the nuclear warheads stored somewhere else. Some are stored near ICBMs but even those long-range missiles are kept ready to fire with non-nuclear warheads. Few Chinese ballistic missiles lacking intercontinental range are armed with nuclear warheads, or apparently even equipped to handle nuclear warheads. Chinese strategy has long been to use lots of ballistic missiles armed with various kinds of high-explosive warheads. China was long believed to have about 2,000 ballistic missiles, most of them short (under a thousand kilometers) range plus over 300 cruise missiles. It turns out that China actually has about 50 percent more ballistic missiles, assigned to local theater commands that have these missile brigades as a form of long-range artillery. China is also developing more cruise missiles concentrating, as is the United States, on stealth and additional capabilities. In recognition of all this China created a fourth branch of the military, the Rocket Force, in 2016. At the time this was assumed to signal a major expansion of nuclear armed ballistic missiles. That didnt happen. China is also developing and deploying many new missiles. In fact, China has more types of ballistic missiles, at least 40, than any other nation. What was long overlooked was how many of these shorter-range ballistic missiles China had built. China also invests heavily in its new missile technologies, like its hypersonic glide missile, the DF-ZF. Chinas current ballistic missile inventory apparently includes about 84 DF-41 (range of 14,000 kilometers), about 64 DF-31 - 50 (8,000 kilometers), 66 DF-5 - (14,000 kilometers), 108 DF-26 (4,000 kilometers), an unknown number, perhaps none of DF-21D and DF-2. The only cruise missile is the CJ-10A (1,500 kilometers). There are several hundred other short-range ballistic missiles as well, some of them still in development. Since the 1990s China has always had a few active DF-5 ICBMs. For a long time, these were their only missiles that could reach the United States. The U.S. has since installed 18 ICBM interceptor missile systems in Alaska. There are to deal with North Korean missiles but could also destroy most Chinese missiles headed for the western United States. It makes sense for China to simply say that it is not aiming nuclear missiles at anyone. Modern guidance systems can be quickly (in minutes) programmed for a new target, so it doesn't really matter that, normally, the missiles have no target information in them. The DF-5s, moreover, are liquid-fueled, and the considerable activity required to ready them for launch can be detected by spy satellites. The DF-5s have been largely replaced by 84 solid fuel DF-41s. These missiles can be moved, erected, and launched from a special truck. With a 15,000-kilometer range, they can reach all of the United States. The third stage contains multiple warheads, each with an explosive yield of about 400 KT. India is of growing concern to China, but there are shorter range ballistic missiles, like the DF-21, to deal with that threat. The Chinese introduced the DF-21 in 1999 and now has nearly a thousand in service or on order. Most have non-nuclear warheads. This missile has a range of over 1,800 kilometers and was designed to use the new 400 kiloton nuclear warhead. It's a two-stage, 15 ton, solid-fuel rocket. Launched from Tibet, the DF-21 can reach most major targets in India. Back in 2006 China put the larger DF-31 into service. Sort of. There are only 24 in service now. This was China's first solid-fuel ICBM (with a range of over 8,000 kilometers) and roughly equivalent to the U.S. Minuteman I of the 1960s. The DF-31 weighs about 46 tons and is 20 meters (62 feet) long and 2.25 meters (7 feet) in diameter. It was designed for use on submarines, land silos and mobile launchers (which would halt at those "parking lots in the middle of nowhere" visible in satellite pictures of Qinghai province). The DF-31 has been shown stored in a TEL (transporter, erector, launcher) vehicle. Driving these vehicles along special highways in remote areas provides more protection from counterattacks than using a reinforced silo. Later, the improved DF-13A appeared, with multiple warheads and more range (up to 12,000 kilometers, which could cover all the United States.) No DF-13As are currently in service. The DF-31 was in development for over twenty years and only had its first successful launch in 1999. It's now believed to have a reliable and accurate guidance system, as well as a third stage that carries at least one 400 kiloton warhead. DF-31s are in service, along with DF-31As and most of these appear to be aimed at European Russia. Then there is a submarine-launched missile the JL (Julang) 2 SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile). This missile has had a lot of problems as have the SSBNs (ballistic missile carrying nuclear subs) that carry them. The 42-ton JL-2 has a range of 8,000 kilometers and would enable China to aim missiles at any target in the United States from a 094 class SSBN cruising off Hawaii or Alaska. Each 094 boat can carry twelve of these missiles, which are naval versions of the existing land based 42-ton DF-31 ICBM. The JL-2 was supposed to have entered service in 2015 but kept failing test launches. China decided that JL-2 was reliable enough and ordered 72 built and some were installed in four SLBMs. A few Chinese SSBNs have gone on a combat cruise, but not too far from China. These are used to threaten India because these boats, as well as the SLBMs, have been very unreliable. It always seemed strange to foreigners that China was not putting more resources into making its SSBNs capable of regular service. Now we know; China does not value or fear nukes as much as other nations. This is not really novel, as China continues to use classic Chinese strategies and tactics. China does not try to hide this as most of their foreign foes do that for them. TUNIS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of illegal immigrants who reached Italy via the Tunisian coasts has dropped by 4.5 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, according to data released by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) on Tuesday. "In 2023, some 17,322 illegal immigrants arrived at Italian shores from the Tunisian coasts, compared to 18,148 immigrants a year before," said Islam Gharbi, member of the Migration Department within the FTDES. Gharbi made the remarks during a press conference held in the capital Tunis to present the annual report on protest movements, illegal immigration, suicide cases and attempts and violence. Gharbi added that the number of dead and missing off Tunisian coasts increased in 2023 to 1,313 people of different nationalities, while the number of dead and missing in the Mediterranean basin rose to 1,793. During 2023, the Tunisian authorities foiled more than 6,000 illegal immigration attempts and arrested 80,000 illegal immigrants on the Tunisian coasts, 18 percent of them are Tunisian nationals. Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean every year via Tunisia, which is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels. CALGARY AB / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Zenith Energy Ltd. ("Zenith" or the "Company") (LSE:ZEN)(OSE:ZENA)(OTCQB:ZENAF), the listed international energy production and development company with a focus on opportunities in Central Asia and the USA, is pleased to announce that it has completed private placement in the United Kingdom (the "UK Financing"), and in Norway (the "Norwegian Financing", collectively, the "Financings"). The Financings have attracted the participation of existing institutional investors, including Premier Miton Investors, as well two Directors, Mr. Andrea Cattaneo and Mr. Luca Benedetto, respectively the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to raise an aggregate total amount of approximately 1,260,000 (equivalent to approx. 16,814,000 NOK and US$1,590,000), resulting in the issuance of a total of 37,856,250 new common shares. Issue Price The Financings were completed at price of 0.03 (3 pence) for the UK Financing and NOK 0.42 for the Norwegian Financing, representing a premium in respect of the closing price of the Company's equity securities on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Growth Oslo on February 12, 2024. Use of Proceeds The proceeds of the Financings will be used to fund the Company's publicly announced acquisition campaign in the US, to provide additional funding for Zenith's existing production and development portfolio in Italy, as well as for general working capital purposes. Norwegian Financing Zenith has issued a total of 29,556,250 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company in connection with the Norwegian Financing (the "Norwegian Financing Common Shares") to raise gross proceeds of 12,373,600 NOK (approximately 927,000). An application for the Norwegian Financing Common Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "Norwegian Financing Admission") will be made within 12 months of the issue of the Norwegian Financing Common Shares. UK Financing Zenith has issued a total of 8,300,000 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company in connection with the UK Financing (the "UK Financing Common Shares") to raise gross proceeds of 249,000 (approximately 3,324,000 NOK). An application for the UK Financing Common Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "UK Financing Admission") will be made. It is expected that the UK Financing Admission will become effective and that unconditional dealings in the UK Financing Common Shares will commence on or around 8.00 a.m. (BST) on approximately February 22, 2024. Debt Settlement The Company has allotted 2,658,914 Common Shares ("Debt Settlement Shares") to certain service providers in lieu of cash settlement for services provided to Zenith for a total value of 1,116,400 NOK (approximately 84,000). The Debt Settlement Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing common shares of the Company. An application for the Debt Settlement Shares to be listed on the standard segment of the FCA Official List and to be admitted for trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market for listed securities (the "Norwegian Financing Admission") will be made within 12 months of the issue of the Debt Settlement Shares. Director Dealing/ PDMR Shareholding Mr. Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer & President of Zenith, has participated in the Norwegian Financing by subscribing for 7,712,946 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company. Upon the Norwegian Financing Admission, Mr. Cattaneo will be directly beneficially interested in a total of 24,429,337 common shares in the capital of the Company, representing 9.00% percent of the total issued and outstanding common share capital of the Company admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Oslo. Mr. Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer of Zenith, also participated in the Norwegian Financing by subscribing for 921,983 common shares of no-par value in the capital of the Company. Upon the Norwegian Financing Admission, Mr. Benedetto will be directly beneficially interested in a total of 3,694,655 common shares in the capital of the Company, representing 1.36% percent of the total issued and outstanding common share capital of the Company. Total Voting Rights The Company wishes to announce, in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and section 3.10 of the Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book Part II, the following information resulting from Admission of the UK Financing Common Shares, the Norwegian Financing Common Shares, and the Debt Settlement Shares. Class of share Total number of shares Number of voting rights per share Total number of voting rights per class of share Common Shares in issue and admitted to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on Admission. 201,437,074 1 201,437,074 Common Shares in issue and admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Market of the Oslo Brs, representing the newly enlarged outstanding share capital of the Company. 271,545,401 1 271,545,401 Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer, commented: "We are pleased to have attracted the continued support of institutional shareholders, including Premier Miton Investors, a long-standing investor in Zenith. The Company is at a key juncture in its development as it vigorously pursues the three publicly announced arbitrations against the Republic of Tunisia and ETAP for a total cumulative claimed amount of approx. US$140 million, its legal case against SMP Energies in the Paris Commercial Court, as well as its acquisition of revenue generating energy production assets in Italy and the US. In addition, we are advancing the recently announced conditional acquisition of Devonian Petroleum Limited, with the planned transportation of the Company's fully owned drilling rig and ancillary equipment to the Republic of Kazakhstan, which we are seeking to fund by way of debt financing. The Board believes that there are significant opportunities for shareholder value creation during 2024." Further Information: Zenith Energy Ltd Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (587) 315 1279 E: [email protected] Allenby Capital Limited - Financial Adviser Nick Harriss Daniel Dearden-Williams Tel: + 44 (0) 203 328 5656 Notes to Editors: Zenith Energy Ltd. is a revenue generating, independent energy company with energy production, exploration and development assets in North Africa, the US and Europe. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market (LSE: ZEN), the Euronext Growth of the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: ZENA) and the Venture Market of the OTCQB (OTCQB: ZENAF). Zenith's strategic focus is on pursuing development opportunities through the development of proven revenue generating energy production assets, as well as low-risk exploration activities in assets with existing production. For more information, please visit: www.zenithenergy.ca Twitter: @zenithenergyltd LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3A5PRJb Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Andrea Cattaneo 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Chief Executive Officer & President b) Initial notification/Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Zenith Energy Ltd. b) LEI 213800AYTYOYD61S4569 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Common Shares of No Par Value Identification code CA98936C8584 b) Nature of the transaction Subscription for Common Shares c) Price(s) and volumes(s) Price(s) Volume(s) NOK 0.42 7,712,946 d) Date of the transaction(s) February 13, 2024 e) Place of the transaction Off Market 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Luca Benedetto 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Chief Financial Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Zenith Energy Ltd. b) LEI 213800AYTYOYD61S4569 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Common Shares of No Par Value Identification code CA98936C8584 b) Nature of the transaction Subscription for Common Shares c) Price(s) and volumes(s) Price(s) Volume(s) NOK 0.42 3,694,655 d) Date of the transaction(s) February 13, 2024 e) Place of the transaction Off Market SOURCE: Zenith Energy Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Charger Solution program helps customers avoid upfront EV charger costs while paying a low monthly fee The utility's comprehensive North Carolina electric vehicle customer programs help streamline EV transition CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / As the pace of electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates nationwide, Duke Energy has launched an EV charger rental program in North Carolina that enables residential and business customers to lease an EV charger from the company at a low monthly cost, which covers hardware, warranty and maintenance. The Charger Solution program - approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission last August - offers customers a wide range of charger options and guides customers through the selection process when evaluating charging station options. "Duke Energy continues to prepare for the electric vehicle transition, as more customers consider and choose EVs," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North Carolina president. "By offering a variety of charger solutions, we hope our customers feel confident that they have a choice to fit their needs, with the reassurance they can rely on our expertise for maintenance." Simplified charging options for home and business Designed for customers who may not want to pay the upfront cost of purchasing a charger but still want the convenience of faster charging, the program enables customers to select from a number of chargers based on their individual preference, lifestyle or business needs. Residential options start at around $14 per month and include a three-year rental term for a Level 2 charger, which can typically fully recharge an all-electric vehicle within eight to ten hours. Non-residential options vary based on the charger and include a four-year rental term for a Level 2 charger or a seven-year rental term for a DC Fast Charger. For non-residential customers - which includes businesses and multifamily dwellings - the program helps maximize reliability and efficiency by eliminating the hassle that can come with maintaining a charger. It also allows these customers to highlight chargers as an amenity without the typical initial capital outlay. Electrification in the Fastlane Duke Energy's Charger Solution program supports the state's clean energy goals, including 1.25 million EVs in North Carolina by 2030. Its launch comes on the heels of a successful first year for the company's Charger Prep Credit program, which has helped more than 6,000 North Carolinians prepare for a Level 2 charger by providing a credit to help defray the cost to upgrade their existing electrical infrastructure at their home or business. The complementary Charger Solution and Charger Prep Credit programs are part of Duke Energy's EV Complete' suite of customer program offerings in North Carolina. Together, they can help streamline the transition to an EV for customers by preparing the home for a charger and simplifying the decision-making process. As part of what will eventually be a managed charging suite of offerings, Duke Energy also launched a 12-month EV charging subscription pilot program last September in North Carolina - the Home Charging Plan. The pilot allows enrolled residential customers in the state to charge an EV at home for up to 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month for a fixed monthly fee. Participating customers allow Duke Energy to manage charging through their automaker app and participate in periodic demand response events. Periodic demand response events will help Duke Energy operate the grid more effectively by shifting demand on the grid to hours of the day where clean energy supply is more available or cost effective for customers. The subscription pilot - which generated high participation interest - is currently closed to new enrollments in North Carolina. North Carolina is the first Duke Energy service territory where the company has implemented three core EV customer programs designed to help customers make a seamless transition to electric. Access to the complete ecosystem of offerings, not only helps customers but also allows the company to better manage electrical demand across the grid and drive affordable, reliable and clean energy for all customers. "We develop our EV programs the same way we do all of our programs - with a customer-focused approach intended to serve their individual and business needs and lifestyles by offering a menu of options," said Lon Huber, senior vice president of pricing and customer solutions. "A variety of programs not only benefits our customers, but it helps Duke Energy provide the reliability that our customers count on every day." Duke Energy has efforts underway to file for regulatory approval of similar programs across all its service areas. In total, the company has 17 active and approved EV programs and two pending approval. For more information on Duke Energy EV programs in North Carolina, visit EV Program Guide (duke-energy.com) Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Media contact: Logan Kureczka Media line: 800.559.3853 View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Duke Energy Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Duke Energy View the original press release on accesswire.com AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Echelon Front, a premier leadership consulting firm founded by former U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Nick Lavery, the esteemed founder of Team MACHINE. Echelon Front Roll Call First Responders learning leadership principles from Echelon Front at the Roll Call, a one-day in-person leadership training workshop. Founder of Precision Components and leader of Team MACHINE, Lavery is an active-duty Green Beret within The United States Army Special Forces tasked with conducting critical missions, including direct action, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare. Lavery is considered the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee. He is also the best-selling author of Objective Secure - the battle-tested guide to goal achievement. This collaboration aims to bring their shared mission of instilling leadership and resilience principles to first responders through a series of impactful events, beginning Feb. 15, 2024, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The partnership kicks off with a dynamic series of two events in two cities, featuring Echelon Front's renowned "Roll Call" program. "Roll Call" is a powerful one-day training initiative that draws upon the extensive leadership experiences of its founders, Willink and Babin. The course is geared towards ACTIVE DUTY First Responders (Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, EMTs, Military, and Government Personnel), those who work in dynamic and dangerous environments. The one-day course will provide practical insights and strategies for effective leadership in challenging environments. The connection between Echelon Front and Nick Lavery was solidified after his appearance on Willink's popular podcast "Jocko Podcast." As military veterans, both Lavery and Willink recognized the shared dedication to teaching the fundamental principles of leadership and resilience. The synergy between Echelon Front's expertise and Team MACHINE's unique approach promises to create a transformative experience for first responders across the country. "We are honored to join forces with Nick Lavery and Team MACHINE to expand our mission of empowering leaders with the tools they need to succeed," said Jocko Willink, co-founder of Echelon Front. "Together, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of first responders, helping them navigate challenges and lead with resilience." Nick Lavery, founder of Team MACHINE, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Collaborating with Echelon Front is an incredible opportunity to amplify our efforts in cultivating strong, resilient leaders. By combining our strengths, we can reach even more individuals in the first responder community and provide them with the skills necessary for effective leadership." The two events will take place in Worcester, Massachusetts, March 15, 2024, and Mahwah, New Jersey, April 26, 2024, offering first responders in these regions an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the expertise of Echelon Front and Team MACHINE. Echelon Front leadership events are directly applicable to anyone who needs to lead in dynamic situations. For more information on the partnership and upcoming events, please visit https://events.echelonfront.com/. Roll Call Enrollment Page: https://events.echelonfront.com/product/roll-call-006-2/ Echelon Front Site: https://echelonfront.com/ Team MACHINE Site: https://teammchn.com/ About Echelon Front: Echelon Front is a leadership consulting firm founded by decorated former U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin with a strategic mission to empower individuals and teams to lead and win. Echelon Front delivers unparalleled leadership training and development programs. About Team MACHINE: Team MACHINE, founded by Nick Lavery, is dedicated to equipping individuals with the tools and mindset needed for effective leadership. With a focus on resilience and adaptability, Team MACHINE's programs empower leaders in various fields. Contact Information Kim Benoit Director of Marketing and Media [email protected] (352) 346-8307 SOURCE: Echelon Front View the original press release on newswire.com. Additions range from a fintech startup to academic institutions to a large nonprofit corporation, providing different insights and perspectives to aid in the organization's mission BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Today, the Mass Fintech Hub , a public-private partnership dedicated to making the state a global leader in fintech, announced expansion of its membership, adding four new organizations. With the newest additions, which include MITRE, UMass Boston, the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Loanspark, the collaborative has welcomed more than 50 members to support its mission to advance fintech across Massachusetts since its launch in 2021. Joining the ranks of organizations in the Mass Fintech Hub are: Loanspark , a subscription-based, embedded Business lending as a service solution. It is a leading force in SMB funding and access to capital by utilizing innovative origination systems and supplying expert customer service. It encourages B2B companies to support the aspirations of SMBs through financial support by championing the dedication of SMB owners. , a subscription-based, embedded Business lending as a service solution. It is a leading force in SMB funding and access to capital by utilizing innovative origination systems and supplying expert customer service. It encourages B2B companies to support the aspirations of SMBs through financial support by championing the dedication of SMB owners. MITRE , a not-for-profit company founded to serve as objective advisers in systems engineering to government agencies, both military and civilian. MITRE's mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through its public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, it works across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability and well-being of the nation. , a not-for-profit company founded to serve as objective advisers in systems engineering to government agencies, both military and civilian. MITRE's mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through its public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, it works across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability and well-being of the nation. UMass Boston , a public research university with a teaching soul. UMass Boston brings diverse people and ideas together to seek knowledge and improve lives, here in Boston, across the nation, and around the world. It is dedicated to promoting the practice of democratic citizenship; preparing a diverse, talented workforce; informing equitable public policy; and strengthening the social and economic resilience of Boston. , a public research university with a teaching soul. UMass Boston brings diverse people and ideas together to seek knowledge and improve lives, here in Boston, across the nation, and around the world. It is dedicated to promoting the practice of democratic citizenship; preparing a diverse, talented workforce; informing equitable public policy; and strengthening the social and economic resilience of Boston. URI is a diverse and dynamic community whose members are connected by a common quest for knowledge. As a major research university defined by innovation and big thinking, URI offers its undergraduate, graduate and professional students distinctive educational opportunities designed to meet the global challenges of today's world and the rapidly evolving needs of tomorrow. "Building a more robust fintech ecosystem in this region will require bringing together a diverse set of voices, from the public and private sector, to contribute new knowledge, expertise, and insights that push us to think big." said Carolyn Kirk, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. "We are excited to welcome these new members to the Mass Fintech Hub community, and work alongside them to grow opportunities and spur innovation in space that will ultimately revolutionize the future of finance." "We are a not-for-profit dedicated to public service. Through federally funded R&D centers, labs, independent research, strategic partnerships, and our tech foundation, we work across several domains, from cybersecurity and AI to defense, transportation, health, and more," said Russ Graves, Bridging Innovation Leader at MITRE. "In the fintech sector, we have technical as well as mission-focused expertise on a wide range of topics, including digital assets, digital identity, fraud schemes and cyber vulnerabilities. We are delighted to partner with another nonprofit devoted to advancing public interest, especially here in Massachusetts. We look forward to collaborating on this shared objective. " "Fintech is a strategic focus area in the College of Management at UMass Boston, Boston's only public research business school. In line with the growing demand for professionals trained in quantitative financial models, especially using AI and machine learning, we are investing heavily in the development of undergraduate and graduate programs in fintech. Our faculty are well-trained in this arena and are world-class researchers as well," said Professor Venky Venkatachalam, dean of the College of Management at UMass Boston. "We look forward to partnering with Boston's fintech industry to bring cutting-edge curriculum to develop professionals in this arena." Since its official launch in June 2021, the Mass Fintech Hub has hosted programming, including student career fairs, fintech career bootcamps, student mentoring, angel investor courses, corporate-startup collaboration events and other panels and networking sessions, for more than 2,000 participants. Although the partnership is largely focused on Massachusetts-based initiatives, organizations and individuals from outside Massachusetts are encouraged to participate and contribute to the growth and expansion of the evolving fintech ecosystem. Learn more and become a member of Mass Fintech Hub by visiting: https://massfintechhub.com/get-involved/ About the Mass Fintech Hub The Mass Fintech Hub is a public-private partnership focused on cultivating a thriving financial ecosystem in the Bay State through programs that build community, attract investment, develop talent, and seed collaboration. Composed of a close-knit and diverse network of tech founders, financial services leaders, investors, academics and public sector leaders, the Mass Fintech Hub is dedicated to ensuring that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing an unparalleled habitat for fintech innovation of all stages. For more information, please visit https://massfintechhub.com/about/ , sign up for our newsletter , or follow us on LinkedIn and X . Contact Information: Caliber Corporate Advisers [email protected] SOURCE: Mass Fintech Hub View the original press release on accesswire.com Healthcare organizations choose PHP's software for safer care, better outcomes, and decreased costs NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2024 / Performance Health Partners, the leading patient and employee safety software provider, has again been named #1 for healthcare Safety, Risk, and Compliance software. In the "2024 Best in KLAS: Software & Services Report," published on February 7, Performance Health Partners was named the leader in their market category for their safety and risk management tools, including their incident management system. This distinction signifies the second consecutive year that Performance Health Partners has outperformed similar software providers, achieving the highest score in this category. Performance Health Partners Best in KLAS Logos of Performance Health Partners and KLAS Research KLAS Research, an independent research company, specializes in delivering unbiased and comprehensive healthcare IT insights. Their "2024 Best in KLAS: Software & Services Report" evaluates the best-selling healthcare software solutions available in the U.S. market and uses measured quantitative and qualitative data to determine client satisfaction in the categories of culture, loyalty, operations, product, relationship, and value, to help healthcare organizations make informed technology decisions. "At KLAS, we firmly believe that the voice of healthcare providers and payers is paramount. The Best in KLAS awards are based on extensive feedback and evaluations from healthcare professionals across the nation," said KLAS Research CEO Adam Gale. "Winning a Best in KLAS award, therefore, is not just about recognition; it shows the trust and confidence that healthcare providers place in the winning vendors. It also helps validate each vendor's commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. We are proud to recognize 2024's Best in KLAS award winners! Their unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes is wonderfully inspiring." To fully evaluate Performance Health Partners' solutions, KLAS collected feedback from the company's customers. During these interviews, 100% of customer respondents stated that Performance Health Partners keeps all their promises and that the company avoids charging for every little thing. "We are deeply honored to be recognized by KLAS Research as the leading healthcare, safety, risk, and compliance software provider for the second consecutive year. At the core of our mission is a deep-seated dedication to the individuals and organizations on the front lines of healthcare," stated Heidi Raines, founder and CEO of Performance Health Partners. "We've built more than a product; we've cultivated a community committed to making a difference in an increasingly complex field. This honor from KLAS Research validates our commitment to being a resourceful partner, ready to tackle the challenges our clients face in their mission to deliver safe healthcare." Performance Health Partners will be formally recognized for its achievements at the Best In KLAS Awards Show 2024, to be held at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Global Health Conference in March in Orlando. About KLAS Research KLAS Research is a data-driven company on a mission to improve the world's healthcare by enabling provider and payer voices to be heard and counted. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals, KLAS collects insights on software, services and medical equipment to deliver reports, trending data and statistical overviews. KLAS data is accurate, honest and impartial. The research directly reflects the voice of healthcare professionals and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. About Performance Health Partners Performance Health Partners (PHP) (www.performancehealthus.com) is a full-service software provider whose solutions modernize and optimize the performance, quality, patient and employee safety, and operational processes of healthcare organizations. PHP pairs its customizable incident management system and rounding tools with comprehensive, high-touch support services to transform complexity into reliable, scalable processes that drive superior outcomes. Contact Information Mimsie Ladner Director, Marketing and Communications [email protected] SOURCE: Performance Health Partners View the original press release on newswire.com. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / South Star Battery Metals Corp. ("South Star" or the "Company") (TSXV:STS)(OTCQB: STSBF), is pleased to announce that it has completed an initial tranche of its oversubscribed, upsized non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of common shares (the "Shares") for gross proceeds of C$4,907,757.80. Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for accelerating exploration, development, construction activities, as well as corporate G&A and general working capital requirements. Tranche 1 of the Private Placement consists of issuing 6,816,323 Shares priced at C$0.72 per Share. The Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid $144,170.86 in cash and issued 125,472 Shares in equity as finder's fees. A director and an officer of the Company participated in the Private Placement for an aggregate amount of $57,600. The transaction with the officer constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the Units issued to the related party and the consideration paid by the related party under the Private Placement does not exceed 25% of Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Private Placement, as the details of the participation by related party of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing of the Private Placement. About South Star Battery Metals Corp South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star's Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial and battery metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (> 30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is fully funded for Phase 1, and the construction and commissioning are underway. Santa Cruz will be the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996 with Phase 1 commercial production projected in Q1 2024. Phase 2 production (25,000 tpa) is partially funded and planned for 2026, while Phase 3 (50,000 tpa) is scheduled for 2028. South Star's second project in the development pipeline is strategically located in Alabama in the center of a developing electric vehicle, aerospace, and defense hub in the southeastern United States. The BamaStar Project is a historic mine active during World Wars I & II. A NI43-101 technical report with the maiden resource estimate has been filed on SEDAR. Trenching, phase 1 drilling, sampling, analysis, and preliminary metallurgical testing have been completed. The testing indicates a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit that achieved grades of approximately 94-97% Cg with approximately 86% recoveries. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery metals company with near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF. South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education, and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com . This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp. On behalf of the Board, MR. RICHARD PEARCE Chief Executive Officer For additional information, please contact: South Star Investor Relations Email: [email protected] +1 (604) 706-0212 Twitter:https://twitter.com/southstarbm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/ YouTube: South Star Battery Metals - YouTube CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the successful closing of the Private Placement and anticipated timing thereof and the intended use of proceeds and statements regarding moving Santa Cruz into production and scaling operations as well as advancing the Alabama project; and the Company's plans and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE: South Star Battery Metals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Temple Health is partnering with ThinkSono, a UK-based AI company, to study a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ultrasound technology that enables more rapid and portable diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Temple Health is partnering with ThinkSono, a UK-based AI company, to study a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ultrasound technology that enables more rapid and portable diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT, a condition in which blood clots develop in veins, can lead to potentially fatal complications like the spread of blood clots to the heart and lungs (known as pulmonary embolism) as well as debilitating long-term swelling and pain of the legs (called post-thrombotic syndrome). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DVT affects up to 900,000 Americans every year and is common in hospitalized patients. DVT is also a significant driver of healthcare costs, costing the US healthcare system up to $10 billion each year. Prompt diagnosis of blood clots is extremely important.The ThinkSono technology leverages real-time AI-powered guidance during point-of-care ultrasound to potentially detect DVT more quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively compared to traditional methods. "There's a vital need for rapid and effective diagnostic tools because DVT can often be missed or misdiagnosed," said Parth Rali, MD, Associate Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Temple's principal investigator for the trial. "Temple's Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) has extensive experience diagnosing and treating these dangerous blood clots and we are excited to add this new tool to our arsenal." Researchers will perform traditional ultrasound scans in patients with and without DVT, as well as ThinkSono Guidance System scans. The performance of both methods will be compared to assess and validate the accuracy of the ThinkSono system. Temple joins NYU Langone Health as the second US-based site of the trial. The research team - including internal medicine resident Ka U Lio, MD, and Christie DiVeterano, NP - hopes to conclude the study and publish the results in the coming year, in preparation for subsequent FDA submission. "Given that 100,000 Americans die of blood clots each year, we are pleased that Temple University Hospital will be one of the sites participating in the ThinkSono study to detect blood clots faster," said Gary S. Cohen, MD, FSIR, Herbert M. Stauffer Chair of Diagnostic Imaging at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and an interventional radiologist involved in the trial. Fouad Al Noor, the Chief Executive Officer of ThinkSono, said: "We're hugely excited that ThinkSono will be working with Temple Health, one of the top institutions in the U.S with a particular focus on DVT. The potential of AI-based technology for Ultrasound Guidance and DVT detection is immense and will positively transform patient management. We are delighted that Temple Health will be contributing to make this vision a reality." About Temple Health Temple University Health System (Temple Health) is a $2.6 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. More information is found here. Contact Information Fouad Noor CEO [email protected] SOURCE: ThinkSono Ltd View the original press release on newswire.com. SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2024 / Today, Uplift Aerospace (OTC PINK:NRPI) announced an agreement with the Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake Education Foundation, and Salt Lake City Corporation. As a result of this agreement, Starborn Academy Program, an immersive nine-week educational initiative designed to increase critical thinking and performance in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), will be available for the district's students. This first of its kind collaboration in Salt Lake City represents a significant step in Uplift's mission to integrate advanced space exploration technologies into educational settings, with domestic and global scale. For more information on integrating this innovative virtual reality learning platform into your school district, please contact [email protected] or visit https://www.upliftaerospace.com/starborn-academy. ABOUT UPLIFT AEROSPACE Uplift (Symbol:NRPI) provides comprehensive space mission solutions, including astronaut training (both in-person and VR), mission design, and access to suborbital and orbital flights. Over the past two years, Uplift Aerospace has secured agreements with NASA, Blue Origin, Orbital Reef Space Station, University of Arizona, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Central Florida. The ultimate objective of the Company is to run its businesses in order to create shareholder value, while exercising sound corporate governance to ensure the interests of the Company's management and shareholders are completely aligned. ABOUT SALT LAKE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) is Utah's capital city school district. With more than half of SLCSD students coming from a minority racial or ethnic background, most students coming from low-income households, and more than 80 languages spoken by district families, it is also one of the state's most diverse. SLCSD prides itself on its robust academic and extracurricular offerings, its inclusive academic environment, its focus on supporting students' social and emotional learning, and on promoting excellence and equity: every student, every classroom, every day. For more information, visit www.slcschools.org. ABOUT SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Formed in 2016, Salt Lake City's Department of Economic Development is focused on building Salt Lake City as a vibrant, beautiful, prosperous, diverse, and authentic place - a place that is economically accessible to everyone. Known as the "Crossroads of the West," Salt Lake City is strategically located for businesses to succeed. SLCDED works to streamline processes, provide excellent customer service, and offer an array of resources and services to recruit and retain businesses in the City, and ensure they have the tools to thrive. Learn more at www.slc.gov/ed. ABOUT SALT LAKE EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Salt Lake Education Foundation supports every student in the Salt Lake City School District, helping ensure they achieve their goals in and out of the classroom. The foundation relies on the community's support to help students, whether it is volunteers helping with a school musical, gifts of food for families or funds to assist with elementary STEAM activities. For additional information, visit www.saltlakeeducationfoundation.org. MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected] For the latest updates, visit upliftaerospace.com and follow @upliftaerospace on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Disclosures and Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, economic and market factors, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company, its management, or affiliates, undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. SOURCE: NRP Stone, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com US Postal Service has legal duty to deliver mail directly to permanent residents with locking mail receptacles compliant with all USPS standards; Lawsuit also asserts unlawful discrimination LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the worlds largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the United States Postal Service (USPS), United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and United States Postmaster of Los Angeles Jeremie Six over the USPS refusal to deliver mail to individual residents of single-room-occupancy buildings (SROs). AHF currently houses 1417 people in 13 SRO properties in Los Angeles. The Postal Service formally was served on the case Shawn Jenkins and AIDS Healthcare Foundation vs. USPS, Louis DeJoy & Six (Case No. 2:24-cv-00885) as of February 9th. California law requires landlords have an individual, locking mailbox for each SRO tenant. However, the USPS is refusing to deliver mail into those individual mailboxes, instead dumping dozens or hundreds of people's mail into one big pile at the front desk of each SRO property each day. AHFs lawsuit also asserts USPS refusal to deliver mail individually to SRO residents who are predominantly non-white and African American constitutes unlawful discrimination in violation of the Due Process Clause under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which requires the United States government and its agencies to practice equal protection. Plaintiff Shawn Jenkins is African American, a resident of AHFs Madison Hotel, and an employee of Healthy Housing Foundation, and as such, is impacted by both sides of the Post Offices arbitrary policy. In defiance of California law, the United States Postal Service refuses to distribute mail individually to the permanent residents of these SRO buildings despite the availability of locking mail receptacles compliant with all USPS standards, said Conrad Sison, Assistant General Counsel for AHF. The USPS arbitrarily has chosen to classify all SROs as hotels for transient guests even though SROs serve as primary residences for people just like apartments. The whole scenario is ridiculous and an unnecessary bureaucratic turf war between the California Legislature and the United States Postal Service. There appears to be inherent unfairness, classism, and racism in the USPS' willingness to deliver mail individually to each tenant in a multi-unit apartment building in, say, Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, while just dumping the mail in a big pile in each SRO hotel on Skid Row and getting out of there as quickly as possible, said plaintiff Jenkins. Metaphorically and literally, it telegraphs a message that the Post Office wants to have as little as possible to do with the 100% poor and 60% Black tenants at these SROs. For several years, and on many occasions, AHF has informally asked the USPS to deliver the mail properly in Skid Row. AHF even filed a formal administrative claim with the USPS to get a change in delivery, but those efforts did not result in any constructive action by the USPS. Finally, AHF felt compelled to turn to litigation. AHF lawsuit asks the Post Office to establish policies to ensure the USPS treats SROs and multi-family apartment buildings the same, including delivering mail individually to SRO residents, writing that Judicial relief is necessary to ensure that the USPS implements procedures to ensure the prompt and reliable delivery of mail to SRO residents, as required by 39 U.S.C. 101(e). AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the worlds largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.9 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213327989/en/ Conrad Sison, Assistant General Counsel, AHF (323) 860-5356 [email protected] Ged Kenslea, Sr. Communications Director, AHF (323) 791-5526 [email protected] Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Air Liquide (Paris: AI) has signed a long-term Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Statkraft, the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe. This is a first-of-its-kind for Air Liquide, which innovates financially to contribute to the Groups decarbonization and sustainability strategy. Sourcing renewable energies through Power Purchase Agreements is one of the levers to support Air Liquide's ADVANCE strategic plan objectives of reaching a -33% reduction of scope 1 & 2 of its absolute CO2 emissions by 2035, and carbon neutrality by 2050. The contract provides for the supply of renewable energy certificates from Polish wind farms, linked to newly installed renewable production capacity. It will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions of Air Liquide by 38,000 tonnes/year, and help customers in Poland decarbonize their operations, by using industrial gases with a lower carbon footprint. This agreement also supports the countrys target to reach at least 23% share of renewable energies in final energy consumption in 2030. A Virtual PPA, also known as Financial PPA, is an innovative transaction exchanging a fixed-price for a variable price and renewable energy certificates. The completion of such contracts is beneficial to both renewable electricity producers and industrial consumers in the long term. It enables the seller to secure a given level of income and it grants the buyer visibility and stability on part of its energy sourcing costs. Jerome Pelletan, Chief Financial Officer, Member of the Executive Committee, said: Along with the signature of multiple Corporate PPAs in Europe, in the US, in Asia and in Africa, the conclusion of this Financial PPA is a first-of-its-kind for Air Liquide. It demonstrates the strong commitment and innovation from all teams, business and finance, to contribute to meeting our climate objectives. This will clear the path for the signature of more contracts of this type in the future. A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 73 countries with approximately 67,100 employees and serves more than 3.9 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquides scientific territory and have been at the core of the companys activities since its creation in 1902. Taking action today while preparing the future is at the heart of Air Liquides strategy. With ADVANCE, its strategic plan for 2025, Air Liquide is targeting a global performance, combining financial and extra-financial dimensions. Positioned on new markets, the Group benefits from major assets such as its business model combining resilience and strength, its ability to innovate and its technological expertise. The Group develops solutions contributing to climate and the energy transitionparticularly with hydrogenand takes action to progress in areas of healthcare, digital and high technologies. Air Liquides revenue amounted to more than 29.9 billion euros in 2022. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good and DJSI Europe indexes. www.airliquide.com Follow Air Liquide on LinkedIn View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213578088/en/ Corporate Communications [email protected] Investor Relations [email protected] Source: Air Liquide WELLINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand researchers are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a burgeoning tool for pest control so as to provide a more efficient urban biosecurity solution. As climate change increases the risk of invasive pests affecting New Zealand's multibillion-dollar primary sector, the government research institute Scion's Plant Protection Physics and Chemistry team lead Justin Nairn said on Tuesday using UAVs could be a new tool in the biosecurity toolbox making pest control "more targeted, safer and less invasive." UAVs can fly closer to the target than a helicopter about 2m versus 10m-plus and have a smaller footprint and fly slower meaning they can be more precise, Nairn said. The research came two years since the discovery of the fall armyworm in New Zealand in February 2022. The moth threatens crops in its larvae (caterpillar) stage, he said. Nairn's initial studies in March 2021 into the general efficiency of spraying using UAVs used fluorescent dye to investigate how UAVs performed in aerial spray operations in urban environments. Then in February last year, one year after fall armyworm's arrival, scientists trialed using a key bio-insecticide for combating Lepidoptera moths. The findings of this trial were being finalized but Nairn said using UAVs for pest control is growing quickly as operational limitations like cost, weight and flight time are reducing as technology advances. Scion has been involved with pest incursion responses and field research in aerial spray methodology for decades looking for new, more targeted ways to tackle pest and insect outbreaks. Better Border Biosecurity Director Desi Ramoo said Nairn's research was an example of adapting existing technology into an applied biosecurity tool. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions and Managed IT Services, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Align to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category for 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213384360/en/ Align recognized on CRN's 2024 MSP 500 List in the Pioneer 250 Category. This marks the 11th consecutive year Align has been named to the MSP 500 list. (Graphic: Business Wire) The MSP 500 list compiled by CRN serves as a comprehensive guide to identifying and recognizing the top Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in North America. It recognizes the leading North American solution providers that have demonstrated innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services. Jennifer Follett, VP of US Content and Executive Editor at CRN emphasized the significance of managed services for businesses at all scales, stating, "Managed services provide a route for businesses of all sizes to maintain efficiency and adaptability throughout their growth journey. The solution providers featured in our 2024 MSP 500 list are introducing cutting-edge managed services portfolios to the market, enabling their clients to achieve success by optimizing their IT budgets. This allows businesses to allocate resources strategically, concentrating on mission-critical tasks that drive future success." The annual MSP 500 list is divided into three sections: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on- and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises and cloud-based security services. Align has been recognized on the MSP 500 list every year since 2014, marking this the company's 11th consecutive list feature. Throughout 2023, Align continued to drive innovation in its service offerings. Align's cybersecurity offerings evolved from protecting devices to safeguarding networks and identities in the cloud, establishing the company as a frontrunner in the financial services industry as a Managed Services provider. Through its unified client portal, Align provided real-time insights into security stances, offering proactive eXtended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions, including dark web monitoring and SOAR principles. Empowering clients with multi-layered detection strategies and robust response capabilities, Align ensured comprehensive awareness and control of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. After 11 consecutive years on the CRN MSP 500 list, I could not be prouder of Align's continued recognition," expressed Chris Zadrima, Align's Chief Operating Officer. "Our commitment to embracing emerging technologies has positioned us as trusted advisors, and this accolade underscores our relentless dedication to empowering clients and leading the way in innovation." "We are deeply honored to be recognized on the prestigious Pioneer 250 list once more," stated Vinod Paul, President of Align Managed Services. "This acknowledgement by industry leaders underscores our dedication to providing adaptable and dependable solutions to our clients, amidst the dynamic landscape of our industry. It is a testament to our ongoing commitment and a source of great pride." The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500 About Align Align is a premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions. For over 36 years, leading firms worldwide have relied on Align to guide them through IT challenges, delivering complete, secure solutions for business change and growth. Align is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has offices in New York City, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Arizona, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia. To learn more about Align Managed Services, visit our website here: https://www.align.com/managed-services and follow Align on LinkedIn and at @AlignITAdvisor on Twitter. 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.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2024 The Channel Company LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213384360/en/ Align Press Contact Ashley Holbrook [email protected] 212.546.6159 The Channel Company Contact: Kristin DaSilva The Channel Company [email protected] Source: Align NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On February 14, American Express (NYSE: AXP) will open a new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the busiest airport in the world. At nearly 26,000 square feet, it is the largest lounge in the Centurion Lounge network. It features a locally-inspired menu from Atlanta-based Chef Deborah VanTrece, numerous seating options for guests to relax or work before their flight, outdoor terraces with views of the airfield, and The Reserve by American Express, a bespoke whiskey bar serving signature cocktails designed by Jim Meehan, Centurion Mixologist, along with a selection of classic and new American whiskeys1. The new Centurion Lounge is located in Concourse E near gate E11. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213866796/en/ American Express To Open Largest Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Photo: Business Wire) The new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will serve travelers in one of the airports our Card Members visit most, said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. It features amenities we know travelers enjoy, like outdoor terraces, and plenty of space to relax, along with local touches infused throughout the menus and design, that guests will remember long after their trip. Art and Design Inspired by The City in the Forest The design is inspired by Atlantas reputation as the city in the forest and its abundance of trees as well as our Card Members passion for wellness. The main seating area features a 50-year-old olive tree and a 3,850 square foot custom light sculpture that represents a forest canopy, creating a relaxing space for Card Members to unwind before their flights. Additionally, visitors can enjoy multiple outdoor terraces, a first for the Centurion Lounge network. These meticulously landscaped seating areas are equipped with heaters and fans for use year-round. The lounge showcases commissioned artwork from local artists including a new, textural interpretation of the quintessential American Express watch dog by Lucha Rodriguez and a large-scale multimedia piece by Michi Meko that draws inspiration from Georgias landscape. Additionally, a 60-foot mural of abstracted leaf-like shapes, painted by Evan Blackwell Helgeson, stretches from the interior dining area to the exterior terrace. Modern, Global Soul Food Curated by Atlantas Own Chef Deborah VanTrece Chef Deborah VanTrece, owner of local Atlanta restaurants Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Oreathas At The Point and La Panarda, all of which can be booked on Resy, will bring her take on modern, global soul food to the lounge. Using flavors and techniques she discovered traveling the world as a former flight attendant and enhanced by her own family food traditions and fresh, local ingredients, the custom menu includes Black Eyed Pea Biryani, Za'atar Grilled Chicken Thighs with Green Tomato Chimichurri, and Twisted Soul Salad with Strawberry Peppercorn Vinaigrette. Additionally, there will be a dedicated food and beverage station with gluten free and vegan options, including protein bites, salads, smoothies, and immunity booster juice shots. Atlanta has become such an interesting melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Im thrilled to partner with American Express to bring food that celebrates these traditions, along with the best southern ingredients, to the Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, said Chef Deborah VanTrece. Travel has inspired my approach as a chef and I feel blessed that, through this collaboration, Ill be able to share my creative vision for food and hospitality with travelers from around the world. The Centurion Networks First Whiskey Bar1 Celebrating the rich history of American whiskey, The Reserve by American Express is the first dedicated whiskey bar in a Centurion Lounge. The cocktail menu, curated by award-winning mixologist Jim Meehan, features five specialty whiskey cocktails, including Drink a Peach with peach flavored whiskey and bitters and Mayme, Tailored, highlighting an American whiskey with ginger beer. Guests can also choose from over 20 classic and new American whiskeys. The bar offers a modern take on a classic whiskey bar with dark finishes and caramel leather seating and connects to an outdoor lounge area. The lounge also features a fully stocked main bar with 10 wines hand-selected by sommelier and Centurion Lounge Wine Director Anthony Giglio, a local cocktail menu including spirit free options, and Centurion Lounge signature drinks. Signature Centurion Lounge Amenities for All Types of Travelers Guests will find signature Centurion Lounge amenities, including dedicated workstations and phone booths, premium restrooms and shower suites, several seating areas and access to complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Meeting More Card Members in More Places With more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer and the only credit card issuer with a proprietary lounge at ATL, the American Express Global Lounge Collection is just one of the many ways American Express supports Card Members while they travel. This includes access to 28 Centurion Lounges and over 1,400 lounges worldwide. American Express continues to expand and enhance the Centurion Lounge Network with plans to open new lounge locations at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey. ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, threads.net/@americanexpress, tiktok.com/@americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. Key links to products, services and corporate sustainability information: personal cards, business cards and services, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, Business Blueprint, Resy, corporate card, business travel, diversity and inclusion, corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports. ABOUT THE CENTURION LOUNGE The Centurion Lounge is the signature lounge program within the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner, Delta Sky Club for Card Members flying on Delta, Priority Pass Select Lounges upon enrollment, Plaza Premium Lounges, select Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, and Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges--a total of more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries and counting. Eligible Card Members can find a lounge at the Global Lounge Collection website, https://americanexpress.com/findalounge, or by using the American Express App. They can also begin their check-in process for select Centurion Lounges through the mobile check-in tool within the American Express App. ABOUT HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ATL is the first airport in history to serve more than 100 million passengers in one year and continues to top passenger totals worldwide. In response to the pandemic, Hartsfield-Jackson pivoted to focus on implementing heightened safety protocols while maintaining efficiency and financial stability. The Airport boasts a direct economic impact of $66 billion in the state. A frequent recipient of awards of excellence, ATL is recognized for its leadership in concessions, operations, sustainability, architectural engineering, and construction. For more information, visit www.atl.com. 1Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. Source: American Express Company Location: Global View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213866796/en/ AMERICAN EXPRESS Ali Barlow [email protected] Source: American Express Company HARVEY, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atkore Inc. (the Company) (NYSE: ATKR), a leading manufacturer of electrical products for commercial, industrial, data center, telecommunications, and solar applications, today announced that it will participate in the following upcoming conferences: Citis Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference, February 20, 2024, Miami Bill Waltz, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to participate in a fireside chat and investor meetings. Bill Waltz, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to participate in a fireside chat and investor meetings. Barclays 41st Annual Industrial Select Conference, February 21, 2024, Miami David Johnson is scheduled to participate in investor meetings. David Johnson is scheduled to participate in investor meetings. Loop Capital Markets 5th Annual Investor Conference, March 12, 2024, New York City David Johnson is scheduled to participate in investor meetings. A replay of the Citi webcast will be available on Atkores Investor Relations website (https://investors.atkore.com/investors/events-and-presentations/default.aspx) until Thursday, February 20, 2025. To learn more about Atkore Inc. please visit the company's website at https://investors.atkore.com/overview/default.aspx. About Atkore Inc. Atkore is a leading manufacturer of electrical products for commercial, industrial, data center, telecommunications, and solar applications. With 5,600 employees and $3.5B in sales in fiscal year 2023, we deliver sustainable solutions to meet the growing demands of electrification and digital transformation. To learn more, please visit www.atkore.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213814317/en/ Media Contact: Lisa Winter Vice President - Communications 708-225-2453 [email protected] Investor Contact: Matthew Kline Vice President - Treasury & Investor Relations 708-225-2116 [email protected] Source: Atkore Inc. Customers Can Use Their Home Equity to Purchase New Home Before Selling AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Augusta Mortgage Company, a local leader for end-to-end mortgage solutions, has partnered with Calque, to launch The Trade-In Mortgage in Georgia. Augusta Mortgage now offers a buy-before-you-sell program to empower borrowers to leverage their unprecedented home equity to purchase a new home before selling their old one. This provides customers with convenience and a major bidding advantage given low housing inventory and stubbornly high home prices by allowing them to submit non-contingent offers. Through this collaboration with Calque, Augusta Mortgage finds one more avenue to empower their customers to reach their dreams of a new home. Now, Augusta Mortgage can provide better loan solutions to buyers who currently own a home, enabling these buyers to qualify for their next home with a lower debt-to-income ratio and secure better terms. Taken together, this feature allows simultaneous buyers to have the peace of mind of a backup offer and the leverage they need to make more attractive offers. In a competitive market, many retail purchasers who already own a home can find themselves at a disadvantage compared to investors and larger entities who can make all-cash bids. With Calque, Augusta Mortgage empowers homeowners and consumers to use their equity to level the playing field and compete and win their bids without onerous bridge loans or moving out before they sell. Augusta Mortgage Company prides itself on giving personalized one on one service to its customers while providing specialized solutions for each buyers needs and desires. With constantly increasing home values, our partnership with Calque allows us to help our customers get into their new home. Buyers can now access the equity from their current home up front and use it in the way that is most advantageous for them. Just as importantly, they will more easily meet the debt-to-income requirements of their new purchase and can get their purchase offer accepted because there is no contingency for selling their home, said Kevin McDougal, President at Augusta Mortgage Company. The opportunity to collaborate with a local leader like Augusta Mortgage and offer The Trade-In Mortgage is exciting for us, said Dan Mugge, chief operating officer at Calque. "With home equity reaching record levels, The Trade-In Mortgage offers a solution for buyers struggling with limited inventory and crowded markets. Working with a community-minded leader like Augusta Mortgage helps us empower real people to meet their dreams and showcase how Calque can help local lending experts across the nation empower their buyers in this housing market. About Augusta Mortgage Established in 1976, Augusta Mortgage Company is Augustas oldest independent mortgage company. Utilizing the latest in technology, Augusta Mortgage Company can provide our customers loan approval within minutes of application and tailor the most appropriate and competitive services. The company offers all major loan programs including conventional, VA, FHA, and USDA. Augusta Mortgage Company also offers several programs designed to assist buyers of all backgrounds with a mortgage. The company has earned an excellent reputation for on-time closings and services that are readily available at the convenience of the customer. About Calque Calque partners with established community lenders to offer mortgage lending solutions that make the home purchase process simpler, less stressful, and more cost effective for homeowners. Mortgage products such as The Trade-in Mortgage streamline the entire home purchase process from start to finish by enabling consumers to submit non-contingent offers that function like cash offers, buy and move into their new home before selling their current one, use the accrued equity on their existing home to increase their down payment and reduce their monthly payments, prep their original home for sale after theyve moved out, and stress less during the process. Calque does not compete with lenders, but only utilizes best-in-class, FDIC-insured banks, credit unions, and mortgage banks in every state across the country. To learn more about Calque, visit http://calqueinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213654638/en/ Alyson Austin 949-403-0484 [email protected] Source: Calque NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BottleRock Napa Valley, presented by JaM Cellars, has announced the lineup of celebrated restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries and distilleries to complement the BottleRock Napa Valley musical lineup during the three-day event, May 24 - 26, 2024, in historic downtown Napa. The 2024 festival lineup includes Mustards Grill, Morimoto Asia, Slanted Door, La Toque, PRESS Restaurant, Oenotri, La Calenda, Morimoto Napa, Moro, Goose & Gander, Torc, Tarla Mediterranean Grill, Compline Restaurant, Oakville Grocery, Kitchen Door, Boon Fly Cafe, Charlie's, Pizzeria Delfina, The Q Restaurant & Bar, Chispa, Zuzu, Bounty Hunter Smokin BBQ, Ristorante Allegria, Osha Thai, Stateline Road Smokehouse, Di Filippo Wood-Fired Pizza, Imagination on Fire, Ox & the Fox, Empress M, Taqueria Rosita, NapaSport SteakHouse, Otra, New England Lobster & Crab Shack, Lao Table, Frankie's Deli, Villa Corona, JAX While Mule Diner, Croccante Artisan Pizza, El Porteno Empanadas, Monday Bakery, Mo's Hot Dogs, Phat Salads & Wraps, The Original Burgerdog, Napa Yard, The Chairman, Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen, Cluck Me Fried Chicken, Cooked by Gio, How You MacN, Gerard's Paella and Nash & Proper. Specialty offerings include Ohm Coffee Roasters, D.R.E.A.M. Doughnuts, Its Always Sunny Sorbet, Kara's Cupcakes, Sweetie Pies Bakery, Vintage Sweet Shoppe, brewed., Mariapilar Ice Creamery and The Chocolate Dippery. "Heading into our eighth year as the Presenting Sponsor of BottleRock Napa Valley, JaM Cellars has had a front row seat watching the festivals growing success. Each year BottleRock raises the bar in offering an unparalleled blend of world-class music, the finest Napa Valley wines, and incredible culinary delights, shared John Anthony Truchard, Founder and CEO of JaM Cellars. As part of this extraordinary three-day festival were inspired every year to bring something new to the festival experience. This year were delighted to debut new wines Butter Sauvignon Blanc and Butter Pinot Noir alongside classics Butter Chardonnay and Butter Cab at the JaMPad stage and lounge. Additional wineries include Caymus Vineyards, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Miner Family Winery, Cardinale, Shafer Vineyards, Schramsberg Vineyards, Blackbird Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Emmolo Wines, Frias Family Vineyard, Sinegal Estate, Mumm Napa, Robledo Family Winery, Lang & Reed, Vintners Diary, Mathiasson Wines, and Art House Wines. Craft brews and seltzers offered are Lagunitas Brewing Company, Coors Light, Pacifico, TRULY Hard Seltzer, Modelo, Hop Valley Brewing Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and Coors Banquet. Top-shelf spirits include Ketel One Vodka, Don Julio Tequila, Hendrick's Gin, Aperol, Bulleit Bourbon and 21 Seeds Tequila. Specialty non-alcoholic Waterloo Sparkling Water, Open Water, and Red Bull will be providing non-alcoholic options at the Good Times Alc-Free bar. Single-Day tickets, including all fees, are $233/pp for General Admission and are available at www.bottlerocknapavalley.com. To keep up to date, please visit www.bottlerocknapavalley.com and sign up for text message notifications. Join the conversation on Facebook and follow on X (@BottleRockNapa, #BottleRock) Instagram (@BottleRockNapa, #BottleRock) and TikTok (@bottlerocknapa, #BottleRock). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213493936/en/ Fuller & Sander Communications Tom Fuller, 707-253-0868 [email protected] Monty Sander, 707-253-8503 [email protected] Source: BottleRock Napa Valley BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) (GrafTech or the Company) today confirmed that Nilesh Undavia, a private investor, and certain related individuals and trusts (together, Undavia), have provided notice of their intent to nominate two individuals for election to GrafTechs Board of Directors (the Board) at the Companys 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting). GrafTech has a highly qualified and diverse Board, consisting of directors with knowledge, complementary skills and experience that are relevant to the Companys business. The Board is committed to strong corporate governance practices and dedicated to ensuring that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders and other stakeholders. The Boards Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is responsible for assisting the Board in the identification and recommendation of individuals qualified to become directors, will review the proposed Undavia nominees and provide a recommendation to the Board, in accordance with its established processes. The Company expects to file preliminary materials with respect to its Annual Meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which will include the Boards recommended slate of director nominees. GrafTech stockholders are not required to take any action at this time. About GrafTech GrafTech International Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high-quality graphite electrode products essential to the production of electric arc furnace steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The Company has a competitive portfolio of low-cost, ultra-high power graphite electrode manufacturing facilities, with some of the highest capacity facilities in the world. We are the only large-scale graphite electrode producer that is substantially vertically integrated into petroleum needle coke, our key raw material for graphite electrode manufacturing. This unique position provides us with competitive advantages in product quality and cost. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, financial projections, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future economic performance. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding future estimated volume, pricing and revenue, anticipated levels of capital expenditures and cost of goods sold, and guidance relating to adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as will, may, plan, estimate, project, believe, anticipate, expect, foresee, intend, should, would, could, target, goal, continue to, positioned to, are confident, or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon our historical performance and on our current plans, estimates and expectations considering information currently available to us. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Our expectations and targets are not predictions of actual performance and historically our performance has deviated, often significantly, from our expectations and targets. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business, prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements, including those factors described in the Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors sections in reports and statements filed by the Company with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Additional Information and Where to Find It The Company intends to file with the SEC a proxy statement on Schedule 14A, containing a form of WHITE proxy card, with respect to its solicitation of proxies for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED BY THE COMPANY AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ANY SOLICITATION. Investors and security holders may obtain copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by the Company are also available free of charge by accessing the Companys website at http://ir.graftech.com. Participants GrafTech International Ltd., its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees will be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to a solicitation by GrafTech. Information about GrafTechs executive officers and directors is available in GrafTechs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023, and in its proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 6, 2023, and in its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2024, December 14, 2023 and September 28, 2023. To the extent holdings by our directors and executive officers of GrafTech securities reported in the proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting or in such Form 8-K have changed, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3, 4 or 5 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by the Company are also available free of charge by accessing the Companys website at http://ir.graftech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240212338097/en/ Michael Dillon 216-676-2000 [email protected] Source: GrafTech International Ltd. Historic 1890s Farmhouse Gets a Full Makeover and Wins Coveted Title WILLIAMSBURG, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A charming 1890s farmhouse in Williamsburg, Va. has won the title of The Ugliest House Of The Year for 2023 from HomeVestors of America, Inc., the We Buy Ugly Houses people. Highlighting the most dramatic befores and afters from the houses purchased and then renovated by the companys independently owned and operated franchises in 2023, Virginia franchisee Daniel Nice was selected as the winner of this years 17th annual contest. Nice served in the U.S. Army for nine years before joining HomeVestors in 2020. As a result of his win, Nices local Habitat for Humanity chapter, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, will receive a $20,000 donation from HomeVestors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213569761/en/ This charming 1890s farmhouse in Williamsburg, Va. won the title of The Ugliest House Of The Year for 2023 from HomeVestors of America, Inc., the We Buy Ugly Houses people. Highlighting the most dramatic befores and afters of 2023, the contest awarded Virginia franchisee Daniel Nice as the winner for his work on the house, and his local Habitat for Humanity chapter, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, will receive a $20,000 donation from HomeVestors. (Photo: Business Wire) Located on Semple Road in Williamsburg, The Ugliest House Of The Year for 2023 was originally built in 1890 as the homestead for a 70-acre farm. In the 1960s, the land around the property was developed into a neighborhood. However, over time, the house was neglected, with the outside becoming so overgrown with vegetation that it was hardly visible from the road. Inside, it was cluttered with debris and there were gaping holes in the floors. The previous owner was so happy we were going to salvage the home and that we were capable of tackling a renovation of this magnitude he was thrilled the home would be given a second chance, said Nice. Throughout the project, neighbors would stop by and tell us how the house had been known as the haunted house and that they never thought it would be restored in their lifetime. One neighbor was happy that their dog would stop uncontrollably barking at the house given all the critters that lived around it before we came in. On the first day of the renovation, Nices team began by clearing the lot while preserving the existing crepe myrtles and magnolia trees. The home was then gutted and prepared for the substantial overhaul. Among the extensive work performed was a renovation of the crawlspace, installation of new water and sewer lines, installation of all new electrical, as well as new siding, windows, HVAC, water heater, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, and paint. Nice also refinished the beautiful, handcrafted staircase which quickly became the focal point of the restoration. You could not have given Daniel Nice a better name, and this project is the perfect representation of what he has brought to his community and our company, ensuring fair deals for distressed property owners, and giving houses new life, said Larry Goodman, chief executive officer of HomeVestors. He has told me that joining HomeVestors was the best business decision he ever made, and how much satisfaction he draws from transforming neglected properties into vibrant, welcoming spaces that have the power to rejuvenate neighborhoods and provide homes for families. Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg was formed in 1985 and has built and renovated over 210 houses in its local community. The organization relies on outside donors, like HomeVestors, to fund its efforts and believes that homeownership provides families with the strength, stability, and independence they need to live a better life. A ceremony celebrating Nices selection and the donation to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg will take place next month. Note to media: A complete gallery with before and after images is available here. About HomeVestors of America, Inc. HomeVestors of America, Inc. is the largest professional house buying franchise in the U.S. with more than 140,000 houses bought since 1996. HomeVestors recruits, trains and supports its more than 1,100 independently owned and operated HomeVestors franchisees that specialize in building businesses based on buying, rehabbing, selling, and holding residential properties. Known as the We Buy Ugly Houses people, HomeVestors strives to make a positive impact in each of the 47 states and the District of Columbia, in which it has franchises. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213569761/en/ Ariel Herr [email protected] 469-235-2708 Source: HomeVestors of America, Inc. Provides educators more control over when and how they can learn about products and solutions designed to meet their needs SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reaffirming its dedication to serving Americas educators, Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN) announced today the launch of a new digital experience for its educator audience. The enhancements allow educators to seamlessly interact with the company when and how they want, and makes it simple to start a quote, find an agent or learn about the companys broad suite of product offerings and value-added programs. The more modern, mobile-ready appearance is fully accessible for all users. Horace Manns mission is to help educators achieve a lifetime of financial success while doing the job they love, said Horace Mann Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Stephanie Fulks. We know educators are busy, and were always looking for ways to make sure their experiences with us are as efficient and rewarding as possible. These digital enhancements make it simple and convenient for them to find what they need whether they want to make a payment, learn about our products, reach an insurance and financial professional or get an online quote. Visitors interested in the ways Horace Mann also provides solutions to school districts, municipal employers and associations will find links to WiseBenefits.com on the new website. Horacemann.com also links to company information that showcases its commitment to being a good corporate citizen and having a positive impact on Americas educational community, its employees and the communities in which they live and work (CSR.horacemann.com). Explore the website to view the array of products and services built for the education community. Start a quote or contact an agent to learn more. About Horace Mann Horace Mann Educators Corporation is the largest financial services company focused on helping Americas educators and others who serve the community achieve lifelong financial success. The company offers individual and group insurance and financial solutions tailored to the needs of the educator community. Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. For more information, visit horacemann.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213389988/en/ Media contact: Michelle Eccles Public Relations Manager 217.788.5394 [email protected] Investor contact: Heather J. Wietzel Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Communications 217.788.5144 [email protected] Source: Horace Mann Educators Corporation Highly Anticipated Sessions Will Dive Deeper into Best Practices for Leveraging the Phenom Platform to Strengthen Talent Acquisition and Talent Management with Intelligence, Automation and Experience PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Phenom today announced registration is now open for IAMPHENOM Pre-Conference Training Day a full day of exclusive best-practice sessions designed to help Phenom platform users hire faster, develop better and retain longer with intelligence, automation and experience. Phenoms annual Training Day takes place on April 23 before the main conference on April 24-25. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213211050/en/ Phenom today announced registration is now open for IAMPHENOM Pre-Conference Training Day. The full day of exclusive best-practice sessions is designed to help Phenom platform users hire faster, develop better and retain longer with intelligence, automation and experience. Phenoms annual Training Day takes place on April 23 before the main conference on April 24-25. (Photo: Business Wire) Nearly 20 hands-on workshops will be available by user level (beginner to advanced) and role: Talent Management, Talent Acquisition Leaders & Managers, Recruiters, Talent Marketers, Event Managers, Sourcers and Coordinators, and HRIS and Operations. In addition to knowledge transfer and peer networking, attendees are eligible to earn SHRM credits and Phenom platform certifications after the event. Training Day attendees will take a deeper dive into the Phenom platform, discovering ways to optimize their talent acquisition and talent management outcomes across key areas including: Employee Experience Navigating Internal Mobility with Ease Evolving Into a Skills-Forward Organization Investing in Success: High Performance Through Effective Upskilling Full-Cycle Recruiting Understanding Integrations: How to Streamline Day-to-Day Adoption Unlocking the Power of the CRM Mastering Precision: Advanced Search Capabilities Unleashed Streamlining with Automation: Spotlights, Tags, Lists, and Activity Mastery Talent Sourcing Elevating Your Talent Game: Activate Engagement and Sourcing Excellence Unlocking Advanced Search and AI Efficiency Recruiting with Phenom Screening and Scheduling Tools AI Scheduling Unleashed: Achieving Efficiency in Interview Management Talent Marketing & Events Elevating Campaigns in the CRM Decoding Career Site Analytics with Confidence Enhancing Recruitment Event Strategies Navigating Live Events and Creating Replicable Systems for Success Data and Tech Infrastructure Decoding Talent Analytics and Reporting Mastering Analytics for TA Goals and Roadmap QA Optimizing CRM Configuration and Best Practices Navigating Application Performance Monitoring and Job Feed Tools Mastering HR technology and AI is essential to the success of every organization across all industries, said Christina Brown, Vice President, Global Customer Value at Phenom. The interactive, deeply collaborative and high-energy nature of Training Day makes it incredibly valuable to our clients, ensuring they are poised for immediate and long-term success when using the Phenom platform to hire, develop and retain their people. In addition to a full day of learning, customers will also be invited to attend an exclusive Customer Appreciation Gala. Featuring a dinner and networking, the event will include a ceremony recognizing the outstanding nominees and winners of the Phenom Talent Experience Awards. IAMPHENOM (April 24-25 in Philadelphia) welcomes all professionals interested in understanding the latest innovations in AI, automation and experience in HR. Registration for Pre-Conference Training Day (April 23) is exclusive to customers and seating is limited. Visit IAMPHENOM.com and register before March 1, 2024 for the Early Bird discount on the 2-Day Conference pass. About Phenom Phenom has a purpose of helping a billion people find the right work. Through AI-powered talent experiences, employers use Phenom to hire employees faster, develop them to their full potential, and retain them longer. The Phenom Intelligent Talent Experience platform seamlessly connects candidates, employees, recruiters, hiring managers, HR and HRIS empowering over 500 diverse and global enterprises with innovative products including Phenom Career Site, Chatbot, CMS, CRM, AI Scheduling, One-Way Interviews, Campaigns, University Recruiting, Talent Marketplace, Workforce Intelligence, Career Pathing, Gigs, Mentoring, and Referrals. Phenom has earned accolades including: Inc. 5000s fastest-growing companies (4 consecutive years), Deloitte Technology's Fast 500 (4 consecutive years), five Brandon Hall Excellence in Technology awards including Gold for Best Advance in AI for Business Impact, Business Intelligence Group's Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards (3 consecutive years), and a regional Timmy Award for launching and optimizing HelpOneBillion.com (2020). Headquartered in Greater Philadelphia, Phenom also has offices in India, Israel, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.phenom.com. Connect with Phenom on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213211050/en/ Media: Jennifer Lyons Phenom 267-379-5066 [email protected] Source: Phenom NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced that nominations are now open for the fourth annual Future Enterprise North America Awards. The ten award categories will be open through June 14, 2024. Winners of the 2024 Future Enterprise North America Awards will be recognized at virtual awards ceremonies in the Fall of 2024. In its first three years, the IDC Future Enterprise North America Awards saw 800 nominations from organizations of all sizes spanning North America. Winners were from a diverse set of industries, including finance, government, research, construction, manufacturing, transportation and trans services, utilities, healthcare and life sciences, and professional services. To learn more about the Future Enterprise Awards, visit HERE. IDC's Best in Future Enterprise North America Awards categories include: Connectedness Customer Experience Digital Infrastructure Industry Ecosystems Intelligence Operations Trust Work Sustainability CIO/CDO of the Year "The Future Enterprise is IDC's vision for how organizations must organize and invest to participate in an increasingly digital-centric market," said Meredith Whalen, chief research officer at IDC. "The Future Enterprise Awards allow us to celebrate trailblazing organizations who have demonstrated the ability to create value, build and run a digital business at scale." The IDC Future Enterprise Awards continue to redefine digital transformation while envisioning a future where AI permeates every facet of the Digital Business journey. A driving force in this year's IDC Future Enterprise Awards is the rise of generative AI transforming operations, empowering employees, and enriching customer interactions across all industries. The annual awards program aligns categories and selection criteria to reflect how organizations can successfully bring their businesses into the future and become Future Enterprises in a digital-first world. For more information on the IDC Future Enterprise North America Awards Program, please contact Heather Ball at [email protected]. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213765726/en/ Heather Ball 508-872-8200 [email protected] Mary Conroy 508-935-6964 [email protected] Source: International Data Corporation SYDNEY, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday issued a public warning over a recent increase in cryptosporidiosis cases, advising people not to swim for at least two weeks if having diarrhea. Jeremy McAnulty, executive director of health protection at the state's ministry of health, revealed that there had been 498 cases of cryptosporidiosis reported in NSW so far this year, compared to the five-year average of 95 cases for the same period, while almost half of the cases were confirmed among children under 10 years old. Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrhoeal disease, commonly acquired by swimming in and swallowing water contaminated with cryptosporidium parasites. "The parasite survives for many days, even in chlorinated pools, and in the past, very large outbreaks have been caused by people who had recently been infected going swimming," said McAnulty. "Almost half of the cases reported this year had been swimming during their exposure period, and with such a high proportion of young children affected and with many schools about to hold swimming carnivals, we're urging parents to stay alert for symptoms," he added. Besides, a spike in cryptosporidiosis cases has also been detected in Queensland. Data from Queensland's Department of Health indicated that since the start of 2024, over 823 cryptosporidiosis cases have been reported across the state up to Feb. 7. A total of 736 cases were reported in January alone, which is 13 times higher than the number reported in January last year, and surpasses the annual totals for both 2021 and 2022. Franchisee Acquisition of Fort Lauderdale Territory Broadens Robotics Access along the East Coast DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RobotLAB, the premier robotics integrator that has delivered impactful business innovations and solutions for more than 15 years, has proudly welcomed its first robotics integration franchise partners in Florida. Felipe and Nidia Alvarez, husband-and-wife entrepreneurs from South Florida, have acquired exclusive RobotLAB franchising rights to the entire Fort Lauderdale territory, which encompasses more than 33,000 businesses and nearly 1.5 million residents. Launched in 2023 to meet the growing demand for AI and robotics business solutions, RobotLABs first-of-its-kind robotics franchising program will increase access to automation and operational efficiency solutions like cleaning, delivery and customer service robots throughout Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Aventura, Fla., allowing businesses of all sizes to implement cost-saving robot technologies. In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, RobotLAB has signed nearly 30 franchise territories that span major metropolitan areas in Texas, North Carolina and New Jersey. More than 20 additional territories are currently in final contract stages. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213126166/en/ RobotLAB Signs Franchise Agreement to Increase Robotics Solutions in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Photo: Business Wire) High turnover rates and employment gaps are unfortunate realities of the hospitality sector, which is critical to the Fort Lauderdale economy, but with robotics integration, many labor vacancies can be filled seamlessly improving business operations and the guest experience, said Elad Inbar, Founder and CEO of RobotLAB. As longtime Fort Lauderdale residents, Felipe and Nidia maintain a strong understanding of the territorys business community and tech scene, and the invaluable experience they bring to our franchise program also includes heavy involvement in IT consulting and systems implementation. RobotLABs newest partners discovered the companys robotics integration franchise program through the Franchise Consulting Company, identifying it as a uniquely advantageous business opportunity underpinned by innovation, an organized support structure and territory exclusivity. The Alvarezes bring nearly two decades of IT experience in the Fort Lauderdale area, making them well-suited to educate local business owners on the operational and financial benefits of cleaning, delivery and hospitality robot integration. The new franchise agreement with the Alvarezes will allow them to seamlessly deliver to Fort Lauderdale-area businesses RobotLABs best-in-class services, including sales, tailored programming, onsite integration and repairs. Local owners preferring to test the robots in their businesses before fully integrating will have the opportunity to do so. Over the last 20 years, weve seen how new technologies have transformed and impacted the world in groundbreaking ways, and we expect robotics integration to follow a similar trajectory, especially in a regional economy with countless resorts, restaurants and retirement facilities in need of innovative solutions, said Felipe Alvarez. With the immense potential of robotics to transform business operations, solve staffing issues and modernize businesses in an increasingly tech-driven world, were excited to bring RobotLABs vision to the area with the companys full support and encouragement. With an impressive roster of longstanding partnerships spanning the worlds top robot manufacturers and more than 10,000 robots deployed across the globe, RobotLAB is proud to share 15+ years of expertise with franchise partners and the local communities they serve. Aiming to increase access to robotics and AI solutions across the U.S., RobotLABs revolutionary franchising opportunity allows local franchise partners like the Alvarezes to seamlessly introduce businesses in their territories to the power of automation. RobotLABs franchise program boasts minimal overhead, comprehensive online and in-person training, limited staffing requirements and attractive revenue opportunities in a fast-growing industry with limitless potential. Plus, the programs low cost of entry and thorough training module make it ideal for entrepreneurs looking to enter the franchising world, as well as experienced franchisees seeking portfolio diversification with a first-of-its-kind opportunity. Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) have been cleared in all 50 U.S. states. For more information about RobotLABs franchising program, visit www.robotlab.com/franchise. About RobotLAB Since 2007, RobotLAB has guided businesses to dramatic bottom-line increases by helping them harness and leverage the immense power of automation. Catering to an array of economically critical industries that span education, finance, healthcare, delivery and hospitality, RobotLAB provides robotic business solutions that improve ROI and enhance the user experience. With a multitude of in-house teams and department specialists, the company remains focused on a seamless integration process that begins with an in-depth assessment of client needs. Sales and delivery experts ensure proper product immersion while implementation and installation professionals ensure peak performance. In a world replete with business uncertainties, RobotLAB ensures operational consistency through technology. In 2023, RobotLAB launched the first robotics integration franchise program to best serve growing demand for robotics across the U.S. in nearly all business sectors. To franchise with RobotLAB, visit www.robotlab.com/franchise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213126166/en/ Novia Baulisch Powerhouse+Co. [email protected] 949.261.2216 Source: RobotLAB Elizabeth Fugler joins the team to bring over a decade of expertise to drive growth at Logan Capital NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Logan Capital Management, Inc. (Logan Capital), a registered investment advisor with a series of separately managed accounts in equity and fixed-income strategies, is pleased to announce the addition of Elizabeth Fugler as Managing Director, Institutional Sales, and Client Service. Fugler joins Logan with over 20 years of experience leading business development in the asset management space. In her position, she will help grow and strengthen the institutional client base and expand existing relationships. Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role, overseeing all aspects of business development and communications with consultants and institutional investors, shared Dana Stewardson, Founding Principal of Logan Capital. Her strategic approach and client-focused mindset align seamlessly with Logan Capitals commitment to delivering exceptional services to our clients. I look forward to contributing to the growth and success of Logan Capital, creating strong relationships with clients, and being a part of the collaborative and driven culture that defines the team, added Fugler. Prior to her role at Logan Capital, Fugler was based in New York, working for several top-tier investment firms, including Lazard Asset Management and Brown Brothers Harriman, among others. She earned her B.A. in Business Economics from UCLA and holds her FINRA series 7, 63, and 65. Additionally, she serves as a Trustee for the West Palm Beach Firefighters' Pension Fund. Additional information on the strategies can be found on the Logan Capital website. Advisors and sponsors with questions may contact Christopher M. Travers, Managing Director of National Sales and Business Development, at [email protected]. About Logan Capital Management, Inc. Logan Capital Management, Inc. is an employee-owned registered investment advisor (RIA) headquartered in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Al Besse, Stephen Lee, and Dana Stewardson founded the firm in 1993. Logan Capital Management has a sustained history of working closely with financial advisors and their clients. The firm offers a mix of 10 growth, value, and fixed-income strategies tailored to clients financial goals. For more information, please visit www.logancapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213219604/en/ Media: Gregory FCA for Logan Capital Management Gia Marrollo [email protected] 610-228-2119 Source: Logan Capital Management, Inc. TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mantella Corporation, one of the largest Canadian privately held real estate and land development companies, is pleased to announce that Abhi Goel has joined the Company as a Director of Finance. Mr. Goel will be the lead within Mantellas Finance and Accounting group, reporting directly to President & CFO, Craig Hippern. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240208551832/en/ Abhi Goel (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Goel has over a decade of finance, accounting, and operational experience, across varying real estate sectors, with additional exposure to asset management and not-for-profit enterprises. Mr. Goel brings to Mantella a wealth of financial acumen and a keen interest in creating best practices and operational efficiencies within organizations finance teams. At Mantella, Mr. Goel will play a key role in developing the financial processes and enhancements for supporting the strategies and initiatives pursued by Mantella. 2024 is shaping up to be a transformative year for Mantella, said Craig Hippern. Abhi has considerable institutional real estate operations and accounting experience which is instrumental in supporting Mantellas growth strategies. He will lead a strong finance and accounting team as we expand our IPP and development pipelines. Its a great pleasure to join a company of this calibre, with such a strong history and reputation within the real estate and land development market of the Greater Toronto area, said Mr. Goel, Mantella has exciting new strategic developments on the horizon, and I am thrilled to apply my experience and skillset to help this incredible company reach its future goals. Most recently, Mr. Goel worked as a Director of Finance with Brookfield Asset Management, where he managed the financial reporting and business planning for a portfolio of US based commercial properties. Prior to Brookfield, Mr. Goel has held several leadership roles within Canadian based real estate companies, including Starlight Investments and Canadian Tire Real Estate Limited. Mr. Goel holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (Ontario) and Chartered Accountant (Ontario). About Mantella Corporation Founded in 1946, Mantella Corporation is one of the largest Canadian privately held, family-owned, real estate and land development companies. Mantella uses an active in-house management team and trusted long-term relationships to fulfil its various investment strategies predominantly in the Greater Toronto area. Mantella is known as a market leader who maintains an entrepreneurial culture and capitalizes on its impressive 78 years of outstanding financial results. In 2008 Mantella began diversifying its assets by investing in strong, vibrant technology companies through 3 venture capital funds managed by Mantella Venture Partners. Mantellas focus on the future also includes giving back to the communities that helped the company grow through volunteer efforts and funding of charities that support children, animals, and healthcare. To learn more about Mantella, please visit us at www.mantellacorporation.com and follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240208551832/en/ Media: [email protected] +1 (416) 247-5432 Source: Mantella Corporation The Massey Ferguson 3 Series Specialty tractor provides power and comfort with a smaller carbon footprint. DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, introduced today the Massey Ferguson 3 Series Specialty tractor to the North American market. Designed to meet the unique challenges of vineyards and orchards, the MF 3 Series brings straightforward dependability to a new market with seven models ranging from 75-115 HP. The newly designed series provides a compact yet powerful solution for challenging applications with a focus on efficiency, comfort and a reduced carbon footprint. The MF 3 Series tractor line will launch at World Ag Expo, February 13-15, 2024, in Tulare, California. The farmer is at the heart of every Massey Ferguson design, and we are excited to share this brand-new offering with vineyard and orchard operations here in California, as well as across North America, said Kevin Lewallen, tactical marketing manager for Massey Ferguson North America. We understand the importance of productivity and economy in these applications, and were proud to offer one of the most powerful, versatile and comfortable machines on the market. The MF 3 Series offering includes 75, 95 and 115 HP cab models of the Specialty (SP) version for vineyard and orchard applications; 75, 95 and 105 HP models in the narrow and low-profile Ground Effect (GE) version for tunnel and fruit orchard settings; and a single 95 HP model of the Vineyard (VI) version, the narrowest model that is ideal for traditional vineyards. Top-notch vineyard tractor With the Vineyard version, operators experience industry-leading comfort for long hours behind the wheel with a cab a little more than 3 feet wide, built to maneuver through tight vineyard rows. Innovative design allows for high power and torque at low engine RPM for maximum efficiency and reduced noise levels. Farmers can choose between several proven transmission options to customize the MF 3VI.95 and others in the series to fit their unique needs in terms of ease of use, fuel economy and much more. A compact front end and Massey Fergusons innovative low-profile automatic transmission fluid (ATF) components provide best-in-class visibility, while a Cat.4-compliant roof pairs with high-tech, ergonomic features inside the cab for optimum productivity and comfort. Innovative specialty tractor option The slightly wider Specialty version offers a straightforward, dependable tractor for operations looking for the best return on investment. The 75 HP models feature a 3.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine, while the 3.6-liter is used with higher horsepower. Exceptional operator comfort and convenience come in the form of a 4-foot-wide cab that strikes an excellent balance to fit the very specific dimensional demands of the market. Farmers can get more done between refueling with the 3SP models 26-gallon fuel tank and ample power for the task at hand. Low-profile ground effect The Ground Effect version includes all open-station platform models in the MF 3 Series. This model offers a combination of narrow and low-profile dimensions that are ideal for the requirements of older wine-grape and raisin vineyards. The MF 3GE models provide optimum efficiency with less noise and less fuel consumption. As with other models in the 3 Series, the MF 3GE allows farmers to mix and match horsepower and specifications for an ideal equipment solution that provides the power, versatility and comfort they need without paying for unnecessary features. This powerful, fuel-efficient lineup offers long-term dependability, ease of use and a low cost of ownership. The Massey Ferguson brand is recognized around the world as a premier manufacturer of durable, user-friendly agricultural equipment, said Lewallen. Were proud to bring our Farmer-First approach to a new market in North America. All models of the MF 3 Series offer power, maneuverability and reliability with a fast ROI and a smaller carbon footprint. For more information, visit MasseyFerguson.com or stop by the AGCO booth at World Ag Expo. Massey Ferguson is a registered trademark of AGCO. About AGCO AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio, including core brands like Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, Precision Planting, and Valtra. Powered by Fuse smart farming solutions, AGCOs full line of equipment and services help farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $14.4 billion in 2023. For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information, and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213965208/en/ Bob Blakely, AGCO | [email protected] Emily Lingenfelter, Flint Group | [email protected] Source: AGCO Corporation A Strategic Leap towards Optimal Efficiency and Data Excellence WEST CHESTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Meradia, a global consultancy for investment operations and technology transformation, announced today that industry veteran Brian J. Buzzelli joined the firm as Director, Head of Data Practice. With Buzzelli, Meradia deepens its Investment Data practice and broadens the capabilities of its proven Investment Performance and Investment Operations consulting services. Brians pre-use data validation frameworks allow investment and operations professionals to focus on their core responsibilities. His innovative approach leverages manufacturing techniques to drive a data-driven culture where data is treated as an asset with robust quality control frameworks built to ensure accuracy and precision. Investment managers have materially advanced the ways they store, access, and leverage data and how they communicate with data vendors and service providers. This change is largely driven by industrys exponential adoption of Cloud (AWS, Azure), Snowflake and transformative computing capabilities. Brian has helped the investment industry adapt to these new tools and capabilities. Hes changed the way the industry thinks about data strategy - focusing on optimizing efficiency, simplifying architecture, and ensuring data precision, said Scott Wybranski, CFA, Meradia's President and CEO, Data is central to all our client work. Under Brians leadership, Meradia will help our clients reinvent the way they approach their operational data." Mick Cartwright, Managing Director at Meradia, adds, Meradia helps our clients modernize post-trade operational functions, reduce toil, and expose meaningful insights in investment data stores. Brians expertise advances that work by helping our clients create a data-centric culture that enhances operational capabilities and fuels innovation." Recently, Buzzelli served as Head of Enterprise Data Management at Acadian Asset Management in Boston and as Head of Enterprise Data Management, America for Nomura Securities in NYC. Buzzelli also authored Data Quality Engineering in Financial Services, published by OReilly in 2022. His book focuses on the application of rigorous quality assurance techniques used in manufacturing as quantitative data quality validation and control frameworks for data in the investment industry. Buzzelli combines these frameworks with his practical implementation of data governance and master data management to provide clients with a powerful approach to data management and architecture transformation. "With a steadfast commitment to empowering investment professionals and enabling them to maximize their business value, Meradia ensures that professionals can rely on the precision and reliability of the data they utilize, instilling confidence in their decision-making processes," said Buzzelli. "Meradia is at the forefront, leveraging its expertise and strategic vision to deliver transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of investment management professionals." About Meradia Meradia is a leader in operations and technology consulting for the global investment management industry. Since 1997, we have provided strategic advisory and implementation services that transform operational processes, performance, analytics, and reporting. Our consultants leverage decades of experience in investment performance measurement, front-to-back office operations, and technical platforms to optimize your firms functionality. For more information, visit Meradia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213695685/en/ Ava Strasinski, Marketing [email protected] 610-738-7140 Source: Meradia The agreement is in collaboration with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), and leverages the Merlin Pilot to demonstrate reduced crew capabilities BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merlin, the leading developer of safe, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, today announced it has entered into an agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF). In collaboration with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Merlin will design, integrate, test, and demonstrate aspects of the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker for the first time. The multi-year partnership is focused on using a stepwise approach starting with reducing crew workload, then proceeding to reduced crew operations. As the system gains experience and trust, it will pave the way for autonomous uncrewed operations of the KC-135; an unprecedented new capability for AMC and the USAF. Merlin and the USAFs collaboration will include, but is not limited to, system integration, ground testing, and extended flight demonstrations. Merlins agreement with the USAF builds on recently completed ground surveys, in-flight data collection, human factors studies, and initial integration designs with the goal of achieving in-flight demonstration of the Merlin Pilot in the next year. A series of joint USAF-Merlin flight demonstrations will include basic air refueling operations, and showcase how its dual-use technologies can serve critical USAF missions as well as help inform the planned Next Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS). The KC-135 represents Merlins sixth unique aircraft integration, alongside the Beechcraft King Air, de Havilland Twin Otter, Cessna Caravan, Long-EZ, and Cozy Mark IV. Integrating onto one of the most abundant and important military aircraft in the USAFs fleet allows Merlin to materially evolve our advanced automation systems, which includes enabling autonomous close formation flying for the KC-135. Our work with Air Mobility Command will build meaningful operating data, serving as an important step to maturing functional autonomy across the force, said Matt George, CEO and co-founder, Merlin. We are proud to continue our work with the USAF as they expand safe, reduced crew options for their aircraft to advance and scale for future operational needs. About Merlin Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Boston, with additional offices in Denver, Kerikeri (NZ) and Mojave, Merlin is building the definitive autonomy system for all things that fly. To learn more, visit www.merlinlabs.com or follow us on Twitter @merlinaero. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240212243032/en/ Media Kate Gundry [email protected] 617-797-5174 Source: Merlin BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MFS Investment Management (MFS) announced that, at a meeting held today, the Board of Trustees of MFS Special Value Trust (the fund) (NYSE: MFV), a closed-end management investment company, approved a plan of liquidation and termination for the fund (the "liquidation"). The liquidation is currently expected to be completed on or about April 29, 2024. In determining to terminate and liquidate the fund, the fund's investment manager, MFS, and the Board considered a variety of factors, including the relatively small size of the fund and the nature of the fund's portfolio holdings. MFS and the Board also considered alternatives, including merging the fund into another investment company and modifying the strategy of the fund. On balance MFS and the Board determined that a liquidation would be in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. Subsequent to the effective date of the plan of liquidation (on or about April 10, 2024), the fund will begin the orderly liquidation of its assets, determine and pay, or set aside in cash or cash equivalents, an amount at least equal to all known or reasonably ascertainable liabilities and obligations of the fund and make one or more liquidating distributions to the funds common shareholders. The fund may also begin to liquidate certain holdings prior to the effective date of the plan. The fund has fixed the close of business on April 10, 2024, as the effective date for determining the common shareholders of the fund entitled to receive liquidating distributions. As of the effective date of the plan, the share transfer books of the fund will be closed except as necessary to allow settlement of trades. April 10, 2024, is expected to be the last day of trading of the funds common shares on the NYSE. The MFS Closed-End Funds Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan for the fund will be terminated and shares held in the plan will be liquidated and proceeds will be remitted directly to shareholders participating in the plan. The fund's March 2024 monthly common share distribution will be the fund's final monthly distribution. The funds liquidating distributions will be paid in cash. It is currently anticipated that the liquidation will be completed on or about April 29, 2024. Shareholders of record on April 10, 2024, will receive distributions of the funds assets shortly after April 29, 2024. About MFS Investment Management In 1924, MFS launched the first US open-end mutual fund, opening the door to the markets for millions of everyday investors. Today, as a full-service global investment manager serving financial advisors, intermediaries and institutional clients, MFS still serves a single purpose: to create long-term value for clients by allocating capital responsibly. That takes our powerful investment approach combining collective expertise, thoughtful risk management and long-term discipline. Supported by our culture of shared values and collaboration, our teams of diverse thinkers actively debate ideas and assess material risks to uncover what we believe are the best investment opportunities in the market. As of January 31, 2024, MFS managed US$598.7 billion in assets on behalf of individual and institutional investors worldwide. Please visit mfs.com for more information. Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in a Funds performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed-end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of a Funds investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of a Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of a Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations. The fund is a closed end investment product advised by MFS Investment Management. Common shares of the fund are only available for purchase/sale on the NYSE at the current market price. Shares may trade at a discount to NAV. Shares of the fund are not FDIC-insured and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank. Shares of the fund involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. MFS Investment Management 111 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199 57501.1 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213590697/en/ Computershare Shareholder Services: Shareholders (account information), 800-637-2304 Shareholders or Advisors (for product information): Jeffrey Schwarz, 800-343-2829, ext. 55872 Media Only: Dan Flaherty, 617-954-4256 Source: MFS Investment Management The 2024 Outdoor Sourcebook Presents Over 40 Collections in 350 Pages of Inspired Design with Exclusive Introductions by Acclaimed Designers from Around the World. CORTE MADERA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RH (NYSE: RH) announced today the release of the 2024 RH Outdoor Sourcebook. Featuring over 40 exclusive designs in premium teak, aluminum, all-weather wicker and upholstery from some of todays most acclaimed designers, the 2024 RH Outdoor Sourcebook is the most comprehensive collection of high-quality outdoor furniture in the world and reflects the brands commitment to unparalleled design, uncompromising quality and unrivaled value. The collections will also be unveiled on RH.com, and in the brands immersive Design Galleries across North America and Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213984167/en/ RH OUTDOOR 2024 SOURCEBOOK (Photo: Business Wire) Our 2024 Outdoor Collection blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor living, presenting a level of design, quality, taste and style unrivaled in todays market, said RH Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman. We are proud to introduce our latest Sourcebook, and the innovative global designers and artisan manufacturers we have partnered with. Together, we are pushing boundaries and imagining a new and inspiring way to live outdoors. Highlights of the 2024 Outdoor Collection A striking architectural silhouette, Vigo, by designers Harrison and Nicholas Condos (Sydney) is featured on the cover of this years Sourcebook. The bold geometric profile, rendered in premium teak or all-weather aluminum, is accented by a cylindrical bolster seat back. Byron, an adaptation of the design duos iconic RH Interiors collection of the same name, reflects the brands ethos of blurring indoors and outdoors. The statement pieces feature distinctive solid teak vertical reeding crafted by hand to seamlessly fit the continuous curves. Inspired by Miamis famed Art Deco architecture, Harrison and Nicholas Condos also introduce Bondi, defined by a circular bolster back, stacked teak or all-weather aluminum foundation and generously proportioned seat cushions for unrivaled comfort; Palma, juxtaposing rounded geometric shapes with crisp right angles and curvilinear bolsters; and Bronte, which brings a contemporary perspective to midcentury Scandinavian simplicity. Award-winning architect and designer Claudio Bellini (Milan) and son of renowned Italian designer Mario Bellini presents Gemini, its dramatic curved silhouette and generous proportions reminiscent of 1970s Italian design, handwoven in an airy all-weather wicker lattice that offers a play of light and shadow. Internationally acclaimed designer Mario Ruiz (Spain) drew inspiration from the Bauhaus for Malaga, its slim lines counterbalanced by the strength of an all-weather aluminum frame. Evoking a distinctly Mediterranean design sensibility, Nusa the debut collection from Isabel Rojo and Victor Segarra (Spain) pairs a solid teak or all-weather aluminum frame with a wraparound back of handwoven all-weather wicker, creating a graceful interplay of form and function. Santiago, this years newest collaboration with celebrated design partners Thomas Bina (Los Angeles) and Ronald Sasson (Brazil), evokes the signature style of Brazilian modernism, showcasing organic rounded teak or aluminum forms with handcrafted inset panels of all-weather cane. Designed by Victoria Sala (London), Maro is informed by the natural world, featuring a fluid open teak frame hand-textured by artisans to resemble bamboo and accented with all-weather rope. The collection is also offered in non-textured all-weather aluminum. Additional highlights this season include Cellina, a fully upholstered collection bold in scale and form with exaggerated lumbar bolsters that lend sculptural contrast to the clean-lined simplicity; Balos, sculptural statement seating handwoven of transparent all-weather vertical cord with an open barrel-back frame; and Milou, an elegant shelter silhouette with a suspended seat wrapped in handwoven all-weather wicker. The 2024 RH Outdoor collection boasts the worlds largest selection of TUUCI architectural shade structures, crafted by Founder and Chief Architect Dougan Clarke, of Miami. Inspired by the meticulous standards of luxury racing yachts, Clarke's marine-grade umbrellas are engineered to excel. The extensive range of Clarkes TUUCI umbrellas is available in various configurations, finishes, and state-of-the-art features with notable designs including the Ocean Master Max One-Touch Cantilever, hailed as the ultimate automated umbrella complete with ambient LED lighting and dual infrared radiant heat. Each TUUCI umbrella is meticulously crafted in the USA using the finest marine-grade materials, ensuring a lifetime of enduring quality. The Sourcebook also features RH Interior Design, one of the largest residential design firms in the world, with a diverse global portfolio of celebrated projects from San Francisco to Shanghai, Miami to Milan, Los Angeles to London, Pittsburgh to Paris, Tokyo to Toronto and Denver to Dubai. Whether patio or poolside, beach or balcony, RH Interior Design brings its multidisciplinary design services to the outdoors. ABOUT RH RH (NYSE: RH) is a curator of design, taste and style in the luxury lifestyle market. The company offers collections through its retail galleries, source books and online at RH.com, RHContemporary.com, RHModern.com, RHBabyandChild.com, RHTEEN.com, and Waterworks.com. For more, visit RH.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213984167/en/ PRESS CONTACT: [email protected] INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: [email protected] Source: RH KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sagent, a Warburg Pincus-backed fintech software company modernizing mortgage servicing for banks and lenders, today appointed Eugene Geno Paluso as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 12. Along with Sagents board and executive team of servicing experts, Paluso will operationalize the $14 trillion mortgage servicing industrys first and only cloud-native software platform in 2024. Paluso will succeed current CEO, Dan Sogorka, who will remain with the company as an advisor before transitioning to a new opportunity. This is the latest move in Sagents multi-year strategic plan to build the future of mortgage servicing. Phase one of this plan was to move Sagent platforms to the cloud; earn long-term relationships with many of Americas top mortgage servicers; and begin building a new platform with a single data and user experience across the entire core, consumer, and default servicing lifecycle. As CEO, Paluso will lead Sagents next phase, which is to complete, launch, and operationalize this platform for customers in 2024 and beyond. Geno brings a track record of strong operational discipline to Sagent as it enters its next phase in delivering the future of mortgage servicing, Frank Bisignano, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of global financial services technology provider Fiserv, which owns a stake in Sagent. His impressive background and focus on operational excellence will complement Sagents industry leading technology and deep commitment to customer satisfaction. Paluso is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and highly decorated military leader, Navy SEAL, and commander of multiple SEAL Teams deployed to Europe, Middle East, and Africa. He served as Commandant of Cadets at The Citadel, a senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, and immediately prior to joining Sagent, served as VP of Business Development for BAE Systems, a $45 billion multinational aerospace and technology company. Sagent is the future of mortgage servicing because our new software platform simplifies servicer operations, facilitates real-time compliance, and lowers costs in the most complex area of consumer finance, said Paluso. Launching our new Sagent platform with Americas top servicers is a true career honor, as is applying our teams operational focus and expertise to the noble cause of growing American homeownership. Talking about Palusos management style, William H. McRaven, retired U.S. Navy four-star Admiral who served as the ninth commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command said: Geno Paluso was one of the finest SEAL officers I ever served with in my career. He is a remarkable leader who has earned the respect of everyone who ever followed him. His compassion, his sense of commitment, and his uncompromising integrity make him the ideal CEO and Sagent is fortunate to have him. Sagent will unveil details of its new future-of-servicing software platform at the Mortgage Bankers Association Servicing Solutions Conference & Expo in Orlando on February 20, 2024. Geno Paluso is a visionary who gets the details and the ideal leader to operationalize the first-ever end-to-end loan servicing software platform, said Sagent executive chairman Chris Marshall. With Geno driving the team, Sagent will deliver the mortgage industrys biggest innovation overhaul in decades. About Sagent Sagent powers Americas top bank and nonbank lenders to engage, care for, retain, and modernize the homeownership experience for millions of borrowers. Servicers use our flexible, scalable, and configurable solutions to engage borrowers and earn customer loyalty, lower servicing costs, ensure compliance, and increase the value of servicing rights throughout full market cycles. Sagent is backed by Warburg Pincus, one of the worlds leading private equity investors, and powers trillions in outstanding mortgage servicing for its customers. Visit sagent.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213609699/en/ Press Contact for Sagent: RobVan Raaphorst Rational360 202-802-6227 [email protected] Source: Sagent Sec. Granholm Given First-Hand Account of Tools Needed to Lessen the Costs for Dealership EV Adopters at Annual NADA Show LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Future Energy, which provides comprehensive EV and energy strategies for a diverse range of industries, including automotive, had an opportunity at the annual North American Auto Dealers Association (NADA) show to exclusively share its innovative work in helping dealerships transitioning to EV with U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213223343/en/ U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm meets with Future Energy CEO Sam DiNello and EVP Dan Young at the 2024 NADA Show in Las Vegas. Sec. Granholm met with Future Energy to discuss EV adoption by automotive dealerships and vehicle-to-grid technology. (Photo provided by Future Energy) Secretary Granholm, the lead voice in the Biden Administrations push for EV consumer adoption, talked with Future Energy CEO Sam DiNello and EVP Dan Young about how the company is helping auto dealerships make the transition to selling EVs. Secretary Granholm and I spoke about how Future Energy brings energy efficiencies to the early adopters of EVs and our work in solving some of their challenges, said DiNello. We have an abundance of empathy for how difficult this process has been for the dealers to upgrade their facilities, the investment theyve had to make, and what weve done to simplify that process. Were not here to convince anyone to make the transition. Were here to help them prepare when theyre ready. Accompanied by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation, Michael Berube, Secretary Granholm was especially interested in how Future Energy has been able to help businesses solve energy challenges in various industries, from automotive to health care and hospitality. DiNello and Sec. Granholm also discussed the potential of future vehicle-to-grid technology. Future Energy was the only company Sec. Granholm personally visited amongst the 600 NADA Show exhibitors and was given a demonstration of the companys Interface platform, which manages EV chargers, as well as dynamic load balancing, inventory management, automation, and potential demand response. She was extremely interested in how were helping our clients with sustainable solutions to power management, controlling costs and managing the energy they use, said DiNello. About Future Energy Future Energy is a Michigan-based energy solutions and IoT technology company specializing in the comprehensive integration of EV charging infrastructure, energy management, and smart technologies for businesses from virtually every industry. With a multidisciplinary team of experts spanning various industries, including software, energy, and construction, they're capable of providing comprehensive planning, installation, and management solutions with unique energy- and technology-based strategies for clients across North America. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213223343/en/ Mark Gilman 248-789-8057 Source: Future Energy BANGKOK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is to be freed from prison, local media reported on Tuesday, citing Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Local media reported Thaksin was on a list of 930 prisoners who were qualified and approved for parole because of age or illness. He is serving a one-year sentence and being treated at a police hospital. VIENTIANE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism is hoping that more than 6 million Lao and foreign tourists will take trips in Laos in 2024. The ministry sets an ambitious plan for 2024 to attract over 2.2 million domestic and about 4 million international visitors and earn about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, Lao News Agency reported on Tuesday, quoting Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Vansy Kuamua. In 2024, the authorities plan to advertise Visit Laos Year in Lao, English and Chinese languages and to produce tourism information brochures for distribution to travelers. The authorities also plan to advertise the country's tourist sites on social media platforms, and meet with businesses in the tourism sector to improve the tourism industry in Laos. The Visit Laos Year 2024 will feature 79 major events and activities, including 14 at the national level and 65 at the provincial level. Apart from tourism, Visit Laos Year aims to showcase the country's fine arts, culture and traditions as well as inform visitors about Laos' long history and sustainable use of natural resources, according to the report. Grow Your Own: Six New Strains Available Today to Consumers Globally, With More to Come in Collaboration With Mike Tysons Heavy-Hitting Cannabis Brand NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Royal Queen Seeds (RQS), one of the world's largest and most trusted cannabis seed banks, today announced an exclusive partnership with TYSON 2.0, the premium cannabis brand co-founded by cultural icon Mike Tyson. The collaboration brings distinctive cannabis genetics to grow from seed direct to consumers (DTC) and through retail channels across the globe. The first six strains available starting todayGelato 44, Dynamite Diesel, NYC Sour D (autoflower), GOAT'lato Auto, Punch Pie and Corkscrew (autoflower)are a combination of nostalgic-meets-new genetics offered as feminized and autoflowering seeds that will consistently deliver an exceptional home grow experience. An additional 12 strains are on tap for the three-year partnership. Since launching Royal Queen Seeds in the U.S. more than a year ago, we have been on the search for a partner who meets and exceeds our expectations in bringing exceptional cannabis products to market and TYSON 2.0 has consistently delivered, said Shai Ramsahai, president of Royal Queen Seeds. RQS believes that it is everyones right to be able to grow cannabis at home, and the seeds we're launching with TYSON 2.0 create top-rate stunnerstruly beautiful plants in terms of looks, flavor and effects. Growing my own cannabis has been very important to me. It has been a fundamental principle in my journey to deepen my relationship with the plant, said Mike Tyson, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of TYSON 2.0. Growing cannabis at home is an amazing way to slow life down and find enrichmentand the pros with Royal Queen Seeds really know what theyre doing. These first six strains are a perfect taste of whats to come. As a globally award-winning cannabis seed bank operating since 2007, Barcelona-based RQS is primed to bring genetics with the Tyson seal of approval to cannabis lovers and home growers all across the world through DTC channels while TYSON 2.0 will utilize its retail network. Additionally, with New Jersey and Washington having filed bills to legalize home grow and New York in the midst of regulating home grow, both companies could see the total addressable market explode over the next year. Great cannabis flower starts with great genetics, said Adam Wilks, CEO of Carma HoldCo, parent company of TYSON 2.0. Growing cannabis at home has long been a pastime of this community, and our collaboration makes it easy for consumers to know that the seeds they buy make the same high-quality cannabis that Tyson himself expects. The six exclusive TYSON 2.0 strains are now available in the U.S. (excluding Kansas and Kentucky) and internationally, and can be purchased as one-, three-, five- and 10-seed packs. For online orders and more information, visit www.royalqueenseeds.com/us/tyson20 About Royal Queen Seeds Established in 2007, Royal Queen Seeds (RQS) is a market leader at the forefront of the global cannabis genetics industry. Driven by an inherent passion for the plant, RQS meticulously tests each seed for germination, vigor, yield and both recreational and medical efficacy. The company is also a respected cannabis educator that offers comprehensive grow guides, resources and instruction for cultivators. It has developed an extensive range of modern geneticsincluding autoflowering and proprietary F1 hybridsthat cater to the varied needs of contemporary growers at every skill level, from hobbyists to professionals. Multiple Cannabis Cup victories and prestigious "Best Seed Bank'' awards speak to the companys outstanding breeding and innovation. RQS now operates online in the U.S., Thailand and 28 countries across Europe. Headquartered in Barcelona, brick-and-mortar locations can be found in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bangkok and New York. Learn more at royalqueenseeds.com. About TYSON 2.0 TYSON 2.0 is a brand founded by the legendary boxer Mike Tyson. The company entered the cannabis ring in 2022, with a commitment to providing the highest quality cannabis products in each market that it entered. While continuing to conquer the global cannabis market, TYSON 2.0 has also expanded into a variety of other consumer product categories, spanning across the US and 16 other countries. In every endeavor, the brand undertakes Mike Tysons legendary mindset of being the greatest of all time. Whether its cannabis or beyond, TYSON 2.0 is committed to offering premium products and unrivaled experiences. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213974658/en/ Royal Queen Seeds Leland Radovanovic Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency [email protected] TYSON 2.0 Francesca DeMauro KCSA [email protected] Source: Royal Queen Seeds The funds will support continued Army modernization research and development at Fort Moore WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- US Ignite today announces a new contract for $6.97 million from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to continue the successful Smart Installation and Community Dashboard (SICD) program at Fort Moore, Georgia. The contract follows the development and deployment of three key software applications in the SICD program, all of which were designed to help provide a common operating picture to leaders at the installation. The SICD was created as a web-based dashboard. Working in close collaboration with ERDC, officials at Fort Moore, and industry-leading partners and vendors, US Ignite spearheaded the development of three cutting-edge applications that leverage Internet of Things (IoT) sensor networks, data analytics, artificial intelligence, data fusion, and machine learning. These custom-built solutions include a heat risk management application, a building fault detection and energy-waste savings tool, and an intelligent remote surveillance system. Heat Risk Management (HRM) App: Due to intense regional heat, Fort Moore's demanding training operations are constantly threatened by heat-related injuries. US Ignite developed the HRM application to streamline the monitoring and assessment of heat risk levels. Leveraging data from a heat index sensor installed at Fort Moore and other weather data, the application delivers real-time alerts and recommended actions directly to training officers' phones via SMS text messages. Building Fault Detection Tool: The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other electrical systems of installation buildings inevitably run into issues that lead to wasted energy and potentially costly system failures. US Ignites tool employs cutting-edge AI/ML-based algorithms to identify and alert stakeholders about when these building-level system faults occur or are about to occur. The tool fuses data from siloed energy consumption meter data and correlates with facility level information reducing energy waste and enhancing overall energy efficiency. Remote Surveillance System: Monitoring Fort Moores 182,000 acres through traditional methods presents a manpower challenge for the Fort Moore Directorate of Emergency Services (DES). US Ignite worked with DES to identify and deploy an intelligent video system that utilizes the Live View Technologies (LVT) remote surveillance equipment and user interface. To further enhance the LVT solution US Ignite also partnered with Colorado State University to develop and integrate an algorithm capable of distinguishing between soldiers and civilians. "The Smart Installation and Community Dashboard will prove invaluable in addressing challenges unique to Fort Moore, said Brandon Cockrell, Deputy Garrison Commander at FMGA. The solutions brought by US Ignite will improve our security, promote safety, and produce more efficient operations. These solutions will allow leaders the visibility of installation activities theyve never before possessed." The successful delivery of these initial SICD applications has earned US Ignite an additional investment of $6.974M from ERDC. This funding will be dedicated to enhancing the applications with user feedback and improved data methodologies and identifying the requirements for transitioning the hosting of the SICD from US Ignite to the Army. We are proud to support the Smart Installation and Community Dashboard Program at Fort Moore, said Natalie Myers, Program Manager at ERDCs -Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. This initiative aligns with our ongoing Army modernization goals, leveraging innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and safety. We are committed to advancing cutting-edge solutions for the benefit of our military operations." In the next phase of the SICD program, US Ignite also plans to develop additional applications and use cases, such as utility monitoring and master planning modernization. The funds will also enable US Ignite to build an Installation Operation Tool to provide a system of systems that combines the various management interfaces that the Installation uses into a unified command and control tool. We're excited about the impact our Smart Installation and Community Dashboard Program is making at Fort Moore and the continued improvements in store for the programs next phase, said Dr. Nick Maynard, US Ignite CEO. The successful deployment of these technically complex applications demonstrates the effectiveness of our collaborative approach with the stakeholders. The additional $6.97 million in funding reflects the confidence placed in our ability to drive innovation in Army modernization. For more information visit US Ignites Smart Bases program page at us-ignite.org/program/smart-bases-and-installations/. About US Ignite: US Ignite collaborates with smart communities and research testbeds to drive high-impact solutions to their toughest challenges. Operating like a high-tech startup, our organization delivers timely results by applying technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and targeted tools. US Ignite works tirelessly to ensure our programs are effective and reach the communities that need them the most. For more information go to us-ignite.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213066793/en/ Lizzette Arias, Communications Manager, US Ignite [email protected], 571-245-0016 Source: US Ignite MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UW Health, UnityPoint Health Meriter and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, are expanding their existing partnership and will be building and operating a second free-standing inpatient rehabilitation hospital in the greater Madison area. With 40 all-private rooms, the new 58,000-square-foot facility will be located in Fitchburg. It joins the partners existing 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in eastern Madison that has served patients since September 2015. We are excited to partner in adding a world-class rehabilitation hospital southwest of Madison, to complement our eastside location, said Ryann DeGraff, vice president, regional chief operating officer, UW Health. We look forward to building on the success of our existing hospital to meet the growing demand for the same patient-centered care in a location that may be more convenient for some patients and their families. The new facility, located at the southwest corner of Lacy Road and Hwy. 14 in Fitchburg, will provide intensive nursing, physical, occupational and speech pathology services for adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, neurological disease, brain or spinal cord injury, and other debilitating illnesses or injuries. The Fitchburg facility will expand access to inpatient rehabilitation services in the region, addressing a significant community need. At UnityPoint Health Meriter, we are committed to expanding our rehabilitation services to meet the growing needs of our community, fostering healing, restoring lives and promoting a healthier future for all, said James Arnett, market president, UnityPoint Health Meriter. Lifepoint Rehabilitation will manage the day-to-day operations of the facility. UW Health, UnityPoint Health Meriter and Lifepoint Rehabilitation share a strong commitment to providing high-quality care, said David Stark, chief operating officer, Lifepoint Rehabilitation. We know that expanding access to acute inpatient rehabilitation care is vitally important to the communities we serve across the country, and we look forward to serving patients throughout the region with patient-centered and evidence-driven care. Pending regulatory approvals, construction for the new inpatient rehabilitation facility is expected to begin in 2025 and is anticipated to open in 2026. Upon completion, this facility will join a growing network of more than 40 inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the country operated by Lifepoint Rehabilitation. About UW Health UW Health is an integrated health system and academic medical center associated with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dedicated to advancing patient care, research, education and community service, UW Health has more than 24,000 employees, including 1,900 physicians, in Wisconsin and Illinois. University of Wisconsin Hospitals has been rated the top hospital in Wisconsin 12 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. For more information visit uwhealth.org. About UnityPoint Health Meriter UnityPoint Health Meriter provides convenient, personal care to patients in hospital and clinic settings. As a partner of UW Health and affiliate of UnityPoint Health, we are devoted to showing our people and communities how much they matter. We offer primary and specialty care, have the busiest birthing center in Wisconsin and are regularly recognized for outstanding quality and patient experience. Visit us at unitypoint.org and facebook.com/meriter. About Lifepoint Rehabilitation With more than 40 freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a partner of choice for many major hospital systems in the creation of joint venture operations that are industry-leading in clinical and financial outcomes. Through its IRFs and more than 250 hospital-based rehabilitation units, medical/surgical and outpatient therapy settings, Lifepoint Rehabilitation brings proven rehabilitation management and services expertise to help our patients recover and return home quickly from a number of conditions, including strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, amputations and trauma. Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a business unit of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213966004/en/ UW Health Andrew Hellpap (608) 225-5024 [email protected] UnityPoint Health Meriter Nicole Aimone (608) 516-2256 [email protected] Lifepoint Rehabilitation Aileen Bennett (615) 920-7668 [email protected] Source: Lifepoint Rehabilitation NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- William James College (WJC) today announced an expanded partnership with the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA) that includes an advanced online program for teachers, school administrators, and other education professionals interested in furthering their leadership skills. Housed in WJCs Center for Behavioral Health, Equity, and Leadership in Schools (BHELS,) the MSAA Leadership Licensure Program (LLP) has merged with WJCs Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL) and will now be known as the Leadership Licensure Program/Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (LLP/GCSL.) The first cohort will enter the program in the Summer of 2024. There is a history of collaboration between WJC and MSAA, with a diverse faculty including educators, school administrators, special education directors and professors with deep expertise in Organizational Leadership Psychology, Social Emotional Learning, Behavioral Health, DEI, and School Climate among other specialties. LLP/GCSL represents a joint venture that WJC and MSAA teams have developed and launched together. We value our long and productive partnership with MSAA and look forward to bringing this important new option to education professionals working to advance their skills and build on their experience, said Kris Taylor, EdD, Director of LLP/GCSL. William James College which just marked its 50th anniversary is a private, nonprofit higher educational institution located in Newton, Massachusetts. The College is widely recognized for educating the next generation of behavioral health and organizational leaders. "We are excited to enhance our highly successful practitioner-based principal preparation program through an alliance with William James College with a focus on educational equity, racial understanding, and organizational transformation," said Bob Baldwin, Executive Director, MSAA. Since 1844, the Massachusetts School Administrators Association has worked to address the professional needs of elementary- middle- and high school-level administrators and support and promote high quality educational opportunities for students throughout the Commonwealth. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213508399/en/ Lauren Matteodo [email protected] 781-234-8640 Source: William James College - Altus Community Healthcare welcomes seasoned leadership team to drive strategy forward - HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ZT Corporate, a private equity firm that specializes in healthcare and automotive investments, today announced a strategic shift in leadership of its portfolio company, Altus Community Healthcare. Proven industry veterans from healthcare, legal and financial sectors provide a cross-section of skills that will drive the strategy forward in 2024. Taseer Badar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZT Corporate, said, Altus Community Healthcare is in a position of strength, and we are in active growth mode. Im extremely confident in the team we have put into place. With their expertise, we have lowered our risk as we look to further optimize our operations and take on new opportunities. Not only will it allow us to provide first-rate healthcare to the communities where we operate, but it will ensure we continue to deliver meaningful returns for our investors. The leadership team is united by a vision to deliver on its strategic growth strategy in new and existing markets. Altus Community Healthcare will also benefit from technical expertise and enhanced processes to ensure consistent revenue streams and operational efficiency. Altus Community Healthcare leadership updates include: Dr. Muhammad Ali Chaudhry, Operating Partner, brings extensive leadership experience, backed by more than 15 years at Johns Hopkins Medicine. He is board certified in Nuclear Medicine and has a successful track record of leading large integrated health systems, transforming strategic priorities into operational plans and managing change in complex systems. Dr. Chaudhry brings a focus on creating value and has held positions at TVM Capital Healthcare, Tabadlab, Emerging Health International and Noor Care Health Network. He has a record of establishing world-class healthcare facilities with strong emphasis on quality and financial sustainability. Jason Lisovicz, Chief Marketing Officer, brings 25 years of experience in driving public and private organizations to meet and exceed revenue and market-share goals. Lisovicz previously led marketing initiatives for a private equity-backed healthcare organization specializing in joint venture partnerships with the nations leading health systems. He oversaw the organic growth strategy through a data-driven approach while maintaining and driving financial performance. Hugh Plummer, Managing Director, has over 21 years of strategic execution experience. Plummer is an active trial lawyer who, with several other lawyers, obtained one of the largest verdicts in Texas history, a $230 million verdict against the U.S. Air Force in the Sutherland Springs mass shooting trial in San Antonio. His innovative thinking helped establish a first-of-its-kind litigation marketplace known as LitCap, which facilitated over $350 million in litigation funding to preeminent trial lawyers. Elie Harroch, Vice President of Finance, is a detail-oriented, hands-on finance and accounting leader with more than 15 years of diverse business experience. She previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of AMD Global, LLC, a health system operating freestanding emergency rooms and general acute care hospitals. In this role, Harroch helped raise over $100 million debt and equity for multiple large-scale medical and hospitality projects. Altus Community Healthcare is looking to add revenue cycle leadership to complete its team. 2023 marked a significant year for Altus Community Healthcares expansion through strategic acquisitions, making it the largest privately-owned acute care provider in North America. It operates 27 freestanding emergency rooms and micro-hospitals across Texas. About ZT Corporate Established in 1997, ZT Corporate is a Houston-based private equity firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The firm focuses on healthcare and auto dealerships as core investment verticals. ZT Corporates investment team collaborates with its operators to support the day-to-day operations of the firms portfolio investments. This close collaboration drives value creation by developing stronger operator-investor relationships, cross-functional expertise, and a deeper understanding of the target industries. Since its founding, ZT Corporate has successfully completed more than 60+ investments, including platform companies and follow-on opportunities with multiple liquidity events for its investors. The team provides full-service wealth management services to its clients and investors and creates value through a broad range of financial channels, including traditional and alternative investments. For more information: www.ztcorporate.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213447541/en/ Victoria Cook Pierpont Communications for ZT Corporate [email protected], 713-627-2223 Source: ZT Corporate Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Insight Sourcing, a provider of strategic sourcing and procurement services. Insight Sourcing will broaden Accentures sourcing and procurement services for private equity companies and the consumer goods, retail, technology and industrial industries. Insight Sourcing helps its clients optimize costs when sourcing and negotiating contracts for direct materials (e.g., metals, electronics, food ingredients, chemicals, clinical services), indirect materials (e.g., logistics, packaging, IT, marketing), services related to capital expenditures (e.g., construction, facility equipment) and energy procurement management. The firm will strengthen Accenture with proven expertise in cost takeout strategy powered by category and supplier market intelligence. Insight Sourcing will add approximately 220 sourcing consultants to Accentures Sourcing & Procurement practice within its Supply Chain & Operations function. The acquisition will include Insight Sourcings bespoke suite of more than 40 technology procurement tools to help clients capture value faster. Rob Fuhrmann, global lead for sourcing and procurement at Accenture, said: Accenture and Insight Sourcing will combine expertise across direct, indirect and capital expense cost reduction with complementary data and technology capabilities to drive efficiency and resilience across our clients supply chains. With Insight Sourcing, we are taking another important step to position Accenture as a leading provider in sourcing and procurement advisory and execution services for corporate and private equity clients. With Insight Sourcing, Accenture will continue expanding its capabilities for private equity clients. Insight Sourcing currently serves more than 60 companies in this industry, including 10 of the 25 largest funds in North America. Accenture recently acquired two additional sourcing and procurement services providers that support private equity companies, New York-based advisory firm Impendi in January and consultancy The Shelby Group last November. Insight Sourcing will be the latest investment we are making to address growing demands from private equity investors, who seek tailored and repeatable solutions that drive value, said Muqsit Ashraf, global lead for Accenture Strategy. Combined with Accentures proven expertise across strategy, advisory, technology and managed services, Insight Sourcing will provide critical spend and sourcing capabilities to our private equity clients and their portfolio companies. Tom Beaty, founder and CEO of Insight Sourcing, said: Joining Accenture will accelerate our mission of bringing procurement excellence to our clients. Over two decades, we have built a skilled team of professionals who are passionate about being the best in their craft and driving impactful results. As part of Accentures sourcing and procurement strategy, we will reach new levels of continued success with increased resources and opportunities. Insight Sourcing is headquartered in Atlanta and was founded in 2002. The acquisition will include Insight Sourcings energy procurement and management business, Insight Energy. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) today announced it has signed an agreement with leading German shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build a fourth Excel-class cruise ship for its namesake Carnival Cruise Line brand. The ship, the 10th Excel-class ship in the corporation's fleet across four of its world-class brands, is expected to enter service in Spring 2027. Joining current Carnival Cruise Line Excel-class ships Mardi Gras , Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, the new 180,000-ton ship will carry over 6,400 guests and be powered on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. This new ship is the first newbuild order placed by Carnival Corporation in five years. "Our Excel-class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests," said Christine Duffy , president of Carnival Cruise Line. "As the world's most popular cruise line, this new ship enables us to continue the growth of our incredible fleet as we welcome our loyal guests back to cruise more frequently and attract new-to-cruise guests to experience all that a Carnival cruise has to offer." "Building on our strong performance and growing momentum around the world, we are excited to resume our newbuild program and further enhance our global fleet with yet another state-of-the-art ship that will wow Carnival Cruise Line's guests," said Josh Weinstein , CEO of Carnival Corporation. "With one newbuild scheduled for delivery in 2025, none for 2026, and this order being our only expected newbuild in 2027, our responsible capital approach will support utilizing our substantial free cash flow over the next several years to strategically improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our leverage levels and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders. "We are following through on our measured capacity growth strategy with the addition of one to two ships per year beginning in 2027, which will be allocated to our cruise lines that most need the capacity to satisfy outsized demand, delivering an attractive payback period. We also remain focused on driving revenue growth throughout our portfolio of world-class cruise lines by continuing to improve execution across all aspects of our operation, yielding higher return on invested capital," said Weinstein. Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR) surpassed analyst expectations in Q4 for earnings and revenue. The stock fell slightly in premarket trading. Specifically, Burger King owner posted Q4 earnings per share (EPS) of $0.75, just above the forecast of $0.74. The company's quarterly revenue reached $1.82 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.8 billion. QSR said its system-wide sales increased by nearly 10% in the quarter and over 12% throughout the whole of 2023. Comparable sales saw an impressive rise of nearly 6% in Q4, driven by significant growth of over 8% at Tim Hortons in Canada and more than 6% at Burger King in the U.S. Digital sales also saw a substantial increase, rising over 20% year-over-year to reach $14 billion in 2023, accounting for more than a third of the company's system-wide sales. Meanwhile, the fast food holding company said it returned nearly $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2023. "We are delivering better experiences for our guests, better profitability for our franchisees and are making the right long-term investments behind the growth of our brands, Josh Kobza, CEO of Restaurant Brands said. We have started 2024 with a foundation of strong operational performance and I'm thankful to all our teams, franchisees, and their team members who work so hard to make us successful." By Vahid Karaahmetovic Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY) (Teledyne) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Adimec Holding B.V. and its subsidiaries (Adimec). Adimec, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, develops customized high-performance industrial and scientific cameras for applications where image quality is of paramount importance. Adimec possesses uniquely complementary technology, products and customers in the shared strategic focus areas of healthcare, global defense, and semiconductor and electronics inspection, said Edwin Roks, Chief Executive Officer of Teledyne. For decades and from our own X-ray imaging business headquartered in Eindhoven, I have watched Adimec grow to become a leader in niche applications requiring truly accurate images for precise decision making in time-critical processes. Joost van Kuijk, Adimecs Chief Executive Officer, commented, It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce publicly that Adimec will become part of Teledyne. Adimecs success has always been built on ensuring imaging excellence in demanding applications through an unwavering focus on individual customer requirements by our expert engineers and designers. Adimec co- Chief Executive Officer, Alex de Boer added, As a leader in advanced imaging technologies for industrial and scientific markets, Teledyne is the perfect company to build further on the strong foundation the founders and management have established over the past three decades. The entire Adimec team is looking forward to contributing to an exciting future with Teledyne while extending technical boundaries to support our customers with cameras perfectly optimized to their application needs. Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT) today announced that it has made a significant investment in Aggne, a leading consulting and managed services company serving insurance and Insurtech industries. With this investment, Wipro becomes a majority shareholder in Aggne, which brings to Wipro a highly sought-after and unique set of capabilities and Intellectual Property (IP) in the property & casualty (P&C) insurance space. The combined capabilities of Wipro and Aggne will help deliver enhanced value, faster speed-to-market, and differentiated services to clients in the P&C sector. Aggnes unique capabilities will allow us to significantly strengthen our value proposition in a fast-growing part of the insurance sector, said Ritesh Talapatra, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets and Insurance, Americas 2 Strategic Market Unit, Wipro Limited. The Aggne team has a deep and well-established experience in the P&C insurance space. Their unique IP and modular approach to implementations significantly accelerate time-to-market, driving faster business outcomes and better client satisfaction. This, combined with Wipros deep relationships and global scale, will help us drive significant synergies and uncover new growth opportunities. Aggne offers a wide range of services designed to help insurers transform operations, drive new efficiencies, and deliver optimal customer experiences. The company focuses on building industry-changing solutions for the P&C insurance industry, with a commitment to collaborating with clients as partners. Aggnes services include IP-led consulting, implementation, and managed services with a strong focus on the Duck Creek platforma full suite of cloud-based, low-code products that enable P&C insurers to fast-track product development and drive ongoing innovation. We are thrilled to add Aggnes unique capabilities to our portfolio, said Harpreet Arora, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Domain & Consulting at Wipro Limited. Their innovative, IP-driven consulting capabilities in the insurance space and premier partnership status on the Duck Creek platform stand out in the marketplace. Combined with our domain expertise, these capabilities will allow us to bring clients a truly end-to-end offering that will help them drive competitive advantage and customer loyalty. Mike Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer of Duck Creek Technologies, added, We are excited about the partnership between Aggne and Wipro. Aggne's deep expertise and experience in implementing Duck Creek products, combined with Wipro's scale, insurance industry acumen, and global reach, will greatly benefit our customers. This investment by Wipro brings together the best in two leading firms and will help drive innovation to the insurance industry through the deployment of leading SaaS-based solutions. Aggne is a recognized leader and premier partner in the Duck Creek ecosystem. The company is the recipient of the Duck Creek Technologies 2023 Americas Value Creation Partner of the Year award. We are excited about the growth opportunities this new partnership creates for our company and our current and future clients, said Asha Kalidindi, Co-Founder and CEO of Aggne. Joining forces with Wipro will allow us to reach a larger and global set of clients and deepen our presence in the insurance sector. Further, Wipros commitment to talent development will provide our employees with new growth opportunities. With access to Wipros scale and deep technical capabilities, as well as investments in artificial intelligence, we will be able to innovate faster, expand our capabilities and build new ones in alignment with evolving industry needs. We look forward to tapping into the potential ahead of us and driving continued growth for our clients. Founded in 2019, Aggne is incorporated in the United States and India, with offices in Tampa, Florida, and Hyderabad, India. The company has 230 employees based in India and the United States. By Allison Lampert and Rajesh Kumar Singh (Reuters) - Some pilots at Spirit Airlines are worried and scouring for other opportunities after a U.S. judge last month blocked the low-cost air carrier's proposed merger with competitor JetBlue Airways, throwing its future into doubt. Spirit pilots, recruiters and industry sources told Reuters that the ruling has led to increased job applications at other places of employment. Spirit Chief Financial Officer Scott Haralson last week said the company was looking into "right sizing" its labor costs, adding to the uneasiness. A Spirit spokesperson said attrition levels are not out of the ordinary and pilot resignations this year have trended below its forecast for 2024. "We remain confident about Spirit's future and are committed to the well-being of our team members," the spokesperson said. The ultra-low-cost carrier has struggled to return to sustainable profitability due to softer demand in core markets and the grounding of dozens of its aircraft due to a snag with RTX's Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engines. Analysts are not sure about Spirit's ability to survive if the $3.8 billion merger deal remains blocked. Some analysts have suggested that the company could face bankruptcy if it cannot shore up its finances, and S&P Global, Moody's and Fitch all downgraded the airline's credit ratings after the ruling, citing higher default and refinancing risks. STRESS, WORRY SET IN "It's very stressful," said one Spirit pilot with more than five years of experience who has applied for jobs at Delta Air Lines, United and American Airlines. Another Spirit pilot said he's spoken to numerous colleagues who are looking for other opportunities. The pilots spoke on the condition of anonymity. Spirit's pilot union declined to comment. Job applications at United from Spirit pilots have increased since the court decision, two industry sources told Reuters. United, which plans to hire 2,000 pilots in 2024, down from 2,350 in 2023, in a statement said it has "a strong applicant pool." The job market for pilots has cooled after a two-year boom. Hiring has slowed for five straight months, data from Future & Active Pilot Advisors show, as major carriers have mostly caught up with staffing needs. Hiring in January was down 18% from a year ago. Flying for United, Delta or American Airlines is seen as an upgrade for pilots at regional and budget carriers like Spirit, but the rise in interest reflects growing worry about Spirit's future. "With a seniority-based system you don't normally move between companies and only in times of failure or real hardship would you even consider it," said Kit Darby, a U.S. aviation consultant who specializes in pilot career development. Darby said he has recently spoken to half a dozen Spirit pilots seeking new jobs or career advice. An exodus of pilots could hurt Spirit's operations but also reduce costs. The airline had about 3,500 pilots at the end of 2023. Spirit last week dismissed speculation about its future as a "misguided narrative," saying it has boosted liquidity to survive even if the merger fails to close. The Florida-based airline has cut its capacity growth plans. Spirit late last year slowed pilot hiring and promotions to the captain's chair. It also suspended training for new pilots and flight attendants and offered voluntary time off for cabin crew members. Spirit last week said it was working on solutions for its labor costs as it has "a lot of staffing" across the board. A spokesperson declined to provide more details. Those comments left pilots with more questions. One said he was not sure how Spirit would resolve over-staffing, saying he hoped enough pilots would leave voluntarily to avoid potential furloughs. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Mark Porter) CEDAR FALLS, Iowa, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgencyBloc, provider of growth-focused insurtech solutions catering to the health, benefits, and senior market industries, proudly announces the debut of new podcast series, Insurtech Building Blocs, that delivers valuable insight for insurance professionals. In today's rapidly evolving insurance industry, staying informed is critical to success. Recognizing the need for comprehensive insights, AgencyBloc's new podcast series offers brokers, carriers, general agencies, and marketing organizations a macroscopic view of key happenings and emerging trends in the health insurance, benefits administration, and senior market industries. "This new podcast series is a significant milestone not just for AgencyBloc, but for the health and group benefits industry," said Tim Robinson, CEO at AgencyBloc. "This segment of the market is complex, especially when there are so many distribution channels involved. We started this podcast to provide industry insights that will help organizations operate more efficiently and understand how to leverage technology in a way that enables growth." Listeners can expect engaging discussions, thought-provoking interviews, and actionable takeaways that can be applied directly to their roles. The podcast will be available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Podcasts. Episodes will be released monthly. To stay updated on the latest episodes and receive notifications of new releases, subscribe to Insurtech Building Blocs at https://www.agencybloc.com/podcast or from your favorite podcast platform. About AgencyBlocAgencyBloc is the #1 Recommended Insurance Industry Growth Platform that serves the health, senior and benefits industry with a suite of solutions that can be strategically utilized to support the operational and growth needs of independent insurance agencies, GAs, IMO/FMOs, call centers and carriers. To learn more about AgencyBloc and their Plus Suite of solutions, visit www.agencybloc.com. Media Contact:Jennifer OverhulseSt. Nick Media Services[email protected]859-803-6597 Source: AgencyBloc El Paso, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benevis, a leading dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization committed to providing quality care to underserved communities, celebrates its employees' dedication to improving access to oral healthcare for patients who otherwise may not receive care. This dedication is exemplified by the stories of the organizations dental providers, such as Dr. Mohamed Khamsi. Khamsi knew he wanted to be a doctor but the type of doctor changed from M.D. to D.D.S. as he discovered more about himself and how he wanted to make positive change in the lives of patients. I'd always had that connection to healthcare because I felt like it's a really noble pursuit, Khamsi said. But after a year in medical school in Boston, he realized it wasnt the path for him. For a couple of years, I felt lost in the dynamic of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It was ultimately Khamsi's younger sisters career journey that gave him inspiration. Aicha Khamsi was finishing dental school at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. She raved about how dentistry is all the stuff that you want in healthcare with more control over your destiny because you have so much more autonomy as a healthcare provider. It's also focused care, and you can guide the direction of it. So, Khamsi followed his little sisters path and attended Texas A&M College of Dentistry as well. I liked that the school not only provided a robust education, but it is focused on tackling a lot of more complex social issues like health disparities and a lot of the big ethical issues, Khamsi said. That educational approach shaped the type of practice he wanted to be part of after graduating in 2022 and is the reason why he followed his sister yet again. I think that was a really big influence as to why I ended up choosing Benevis. My sister had been working for the organization, so it was kind of funny to be led in that direction by my younger sibling. But she shared how the organization was heavily focused on trying to do more outreach and bigger patient loads, particularly for patients that tend to be forgotten and left by the wayside. Inspired by his sister's positive experiences with Benevis, Khamsi saw an opportunity to align his values with a dental practice that prioritizes making a difference in the community. I think Benevis tries very hard to see the spaces where people are falling through the cracks and coming up with a mechanism to make it a win-win. Both practice for the Pinova Dental & Braces branch, but in different office locations in the El Paso, Texas area. Khamsi's commitment to patient care is exemplified by a poignant story of a patient who was concerned about sores in her mouth. She had gone to other clinics but was told her insurance wouldnt cover the tests needed to diagnose the issue. She was getting tossed around without any clear answers. After an assessment, Khamsi determined she had oral cancer and had to have a tough conversation with her. It was painful to broach that subject with her, but she was thankful in the end. She had suspected something major was going on and I was the first doctor to put it into words and give her a plan for next steps. For Khamsi, this experience encapsulates the true dynamic of making a positive impact on people's lives. It sounds cliche, but it is true. You do the job because you want to have a positive impact on people. In El Paso, about 85% of the population is Hispanic. There is a great need for underserved patients in the region and these patients have smaller avenues to explore their health options. It's fulfilling to be able to offer robust healthcare to those patients. Many of his patients over half are also children. He emphasizes the importance of educating both the child and their family to ensure lasting oral health. For those considering a career in dentistry, Dr. Khamsi advises an authentic approach. If you approach something authentically, then it starts to speak to you on a deeper level. It really is rewarding to be in healthcare and to have a positive impact in someone's life. For current or prospective patients interested in dental services with Dr. Mohamed Khamsi or his fellow providers in the El Paso, Texas area, learn more on the Pinova Dental & Braces website or call 915-995-5054. About Benevis Benevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.4 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve. For more information, visit Benevis.com. Kay Blazar SVM PR for Benevis 401-490-9700 [email protected] Source: Benevis National Business Forum to bring 500 of the nations most influential policymakers, academics, business, and community leaders to downtown Seattle to advance efforts supporting Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBEs) SEATTLE, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) CEO and President Ying McGuire announced Seattle, Washington as the 2024 host city of the NMSDC Minority Business Economic Forum, May 14 - 16. Mayor Harrell, Zones CEO Firoz Lalji and ASRC Industrial CEO Steve Ennis will serve as co-chairs of this years conference along with University of Washingtons president Ana Marie Cauce as the official academic partner of this years forum. Greater Seattle's blend of cutting-edge tech and green initiatives, led by giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and pioneers like Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy, creates an unparalleled ecosystem. This synergy exemplifies the ideal environment our Forum seeks to leverage for MBEs, offering them unparalleled opportunities to engage with and benefit from emerging technologies and the green economy, said NMSDC CEO and President Ying McGuire. Joined by Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) President and CEO Karla Malacon, and Tanya Jimale, CEO of Jimale Technical Services, the mayor and NMSDC made the announcement from Jimale Technical Services, a local NMSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). The event will bring together 500 of the nations most influential corporate c-suite leaders, high-growth minority business enterprise founders, policymakers, academics, business, and community leaders. Modeled after Davos World Economic Forum, leaders attending this event will focus on advancing supplier and business diversity and opportunities to eliminate the barriers preventing MBEs from fully engaging in the emerging markets and technologies of today and tomorrow. Seattle was chosen as the newest host city due to its pivotal role in technological and green economic innovation. We are unapologetic in our efforts to advance a One Seattle vision for a city that is inclusive, equitable, and robust with opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes and industry sectors, said Mayor Bruce Harrell. From our Executive Order expanding contracting equity and access for WMBEs to launching the Liberty Project to help WMBEs grow their revenueswe are committed to fostering a business ecosystem that drives innovation, is home to emerging markets, and creates pathways for substantial economic growth for our WMBE communities. We are thrilled to be chosen as the next host city for the NMSDC Business Economic Forum. The theme of this years conference is Be Next, Now, and acknowledges that technologies like AI and clean energy are revolutionizing how we interact with the world. Under the theme Be Next, Now, attendees will focus on ways to better support WMBE's ability to explore, adapt, and take advantage of opportunities that already exist and will emerge in the economy as they grow and scale their businesses. Additionally, the programming will provide unique opportunities for business and academic leaders in the Seattle community to join national efforts with their peers from across the country. Currently, NMSDC is working toward an audacious goal of $1 trillion in annual revenue for NMSDC-certified MBEs businesses that are 51% owned and operated by individuals from the Black, Asian-India, Asian-Pacific, Hispanic, or Native American communities. Increasing the revenue of these MBEs is essential to creating a more resilient, inclusive economy in the region and across the country. Businesses and organizations interested in learning more about the 2024 Minority Business Economic Forum can contact NMSDC Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Program Lisa Morris at [email protected]. About NMSDC Founded in 1972, NMSDC is the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest group of systematically excluded communities of color (Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American), and our impact goes far beyond the supply chain. Its about upward mobility for the emerging majority of Americans, an equal shot at participating in the American experiment of free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship. Our work is about correcting the unequal access to wealth-building opportunities. For more information, please visit nmsdc.org. What People Are Saying Jimale Technical Services CEO Tanya Jimale. NMSDC-certification and support from the City of Seattle has allowed my business to grow and thrive. Thats why Im very excited this years Minority Business Economic Forum is coming to Seattle. Women and minority-owned businesses like Jimale Technical Services, the City of Seattle, NMSDC, and the Northwest Mountain MSDC we all must all be accountable and come together like we are here today. We must commit to action for minority business growth. Northwest Mountain MSDC President and CEO Karla Malacon The economic impact of MBEs in Seattle, King County, and the state of Washington cannot be overstated. The Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council supports 41 MBEs in Seattle alone, generating over $1.2 billion in annual revenues with a median of $1.4 million. These businesses collectively employ over 2,000 individuals, nearly half of whom are from minority backgrounds. ### VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued on Friday, February 9th by Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA: 6UF0), please note that the headline should have stated the interim was for Nelson Lake, rather than Crestfield Copper as originally announced. The corrected release follows: Lancaster Resources Announces Receipt of Interim Order for Nelson Lake Spin-Off Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA: 6UF0) (Lancaster or the Company) is pleased to announce that on February 2, 2024, the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted an interim order (the Interim Order) in connection with the proposed spin-off of Nelson Lake Copper Corp. (Nelson Lake) by Lancaster by way of Plan of Arrangement (the Arrangement). For further information on the Arrangement and the arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement"), please refer to Lancasters news release dated January 30, 2024. The Interim Order, among other things, directs Lancaster to call and hold a special meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders of Lancaster common shares (the "Shareholders") in accordance with the Business Corporations Act, BC, to pass a special resolution to approve the Arrangement. In accordance with the Interim Order, the Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time), March 15, 2024, at the offices of the Company. The record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice and to vote at the Meeting was the close of business on February 5, 2024, as was described in the Companys press release dated January 30, 2024. In connection with the Meeting, the Company will mail an information circular (the Circular), together with related proxy materials (collectively, the "Meeting Materials") to Shareholders in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Meeting Materials will also be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Lancasters profile. To be effective, the Arrangement must be approved by a special resolution passed at the Meeting by at least two-thirds (66 %) of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy by the Shareholders. If all necessary approvals are obtained, the Company expects that the Arrangement will close in March 2024. About Lancaster Resources Inc. Lancaster Resources (CSE:LCR | OTCQB:LANRF | FRA: 6UF0) is engaged in exploring critical minerals. Its Alkali Flat Lithium Project, in Lordsburg, New Mexico, USA, involves the exploration of a below-surface lithium brine target. Lancasters goal at Alkali Flat is to produce Net-Zero Lithium through the use of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology and solar power. Lancaster is also collaborating to deploy advanced satellite hyperspectral acquisition, geospatial data aggregation, and AI-driven predictive modelling services for the exploration of lithium, uranium, rare earth elements (REE), and other critical minerals Lancasters project portfolio includes rights to acquire the Trans-Taiga Lithium Property located within the James Bay lithium district of Quebec and the Nelson Lake Copper Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, held through its subsidiary Nelson Lake Copper Corp. Lancaster is in the process of divesting a majority of its ownership in Nelson Lake through a spin-off transaction. Guiding Lancaster's journey is a skilled management and technical team with collective involvement in over 15 commercial mineral discoveries and endowed with extensive experience in the creation of lithium brine targets and the exploration and development of exploration projects across Canada, the American West, Mexico, and South America. Penny White, President & Chief Executive Officer Lancaster Resources Inc.Email: [email protected] Tel: 604 923 6100Website: www.lancaster-resources.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Lancasters future performance. The use of any of the words could, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated, and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancasters current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to enter into an Arrangement Agreement and meet the other conditions precedent of the Spin-Off Agreement, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, obtain exploration and drilling permits, raise capital, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties, and integrate sustainable energy sources and innovative technologies for climate-positive resource production constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Source: Lancaster Resources Inc. McAllen, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Driscoll leadership and Rio Grande Valley officials gathered Tuesday to celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new training center. This state-of-the-art facility will enable our team at Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley to continually train and practice to ensure we are providing the most up to date, worldclass care available to the children of our region. This investment is evidence of our commitment to our employees and the quality of care they provide, said President of Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley Matthew Wolthoff. The Driscoll training center includes three simulation labs that will replicate the day-to-day reality of working in a hospital or clinic, such as practicing for routine or emergency scenarios. The simulated scenarios are as close to authentic as possible. This is high fidelity pediatric training. The hours of education provided here will help save lives in the Valley, said Professional Development Training Manager Laura Cerrillo. Driscoll has invested $2.7 million into the project so far. This is Driscolls second training center, and Driscolls first pediatric training center in the Rio Grande Valley. The facility is expected to provide more than 1,100 hours of training a year to personnel across multiple disciplines. Employees, ranging from new graduates to seasoned medical staff, will be among those receiving training. The training center will also help staff the soon-to-open Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande Valley, the regions first designated freestanding childrens hospital. MEDIA: To schedule an interview please reach out to Fernando Ramirez. ### About Driscoll: Driscoll is the premier healthcare provider for kids in South Texas. We are a nonprofit healthcare system that has served communities in the Lone Star State since 1953. Today, Driscoll is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare system in the region, offering care at Driscoll Childrens Hospital in Corpus Christi and at specialty centers and clinics across South Texas. Soon, we will open Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande Valley, the first designated freestanding children's hospital in the region. Our non-profit community-based health plan, Driscoll Health Plan, offers Texas families access to local physicians and other life-saving benefits. Attachment Fernando Ramirez Driscoll Children's Hospital 3616312368 [email protected] Source: Driscoll Children's Hospital The Board of Directors of Eimskipafelag Islands hf. hereby announces that the Annual General Meeting of the company will be held on Thursday 7 March 2024 at 15:00 at the company's headquarters, Sundabakki 2, Reykjavik, Iceland. Enclosed is the convocation, proposed agenda and proposed resolutions for the Annual General Meeting along with Remuneration Policy and Report of the Remuneration Committee. Shareholders can access all meeting documents at the Companys Investor website Attachments Hexagon Purus ASA ("Purus" or "the Group") has decided to provisionally award up to 1,040,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") and 1,940,000 Performance Share Units ("PSUs", collectively, the "Units") which may result in an award of maximum 4,920,000, shares to executive management and other leading employees of the Group under the 2024 Long-Term Incentive Program (the "LTIP"). The purpose of the program is to align the interests of the participants with those of the Company's shareholders. The number of shares the participants may receive under the PSUs depends on the share price development of the Purus share and has a cap at a share price of 50. Each vested PSU will give the holder the right to receive up to two shares in the Company, and each vested RSU will give the holder the right to receive up to one share in the Company. All Units have an exercise price corresponding to the par value of the shares (NOK 0.10). The awards are in accordance with the Board of Directors' remuneration policy for executive management. The Units are non-transferable and will vest in February 2027, subject to satisfaction of the applicable vesting conditions. Of the grants, 1,260,000 Units were granted to PDMRs, as further specified in the attached form For more information: Mathias Meidell, Investor Relations Director, Hexagon Purus Telephone: +47 909 82 242 | [email protected] About Hexagon Purus Hexagon Purus enables zero emission mobility for a cleaner energy future. The company is a world leading provider of hydrogen Type 4 high-pressure cylinders and systems, battery systems and vehicle integration solutions for fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles. Hexagon Purus' products are used in a variety of applications including light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, ground storage, distribution, refueling, maritime, rail and aerospace. Learn more at www.hexagonpurus.com and follow @HexagonPurus on Twitter and LinkedIn This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highwire PR, a high-impact communications and marketing partner for global technology and healthcare companies, announced today that Margaret Cote has joined the company as Head of Insights and Analytics. In this role, she will work across practice groups offering strategic opportunities for data-driven decision-making, combining Highwires deep category expertise with specialty analytics. We knew immediately that Margarets passion for problem-solving was just as valuable as her deep experience in data and analytics, said Highwire Principal Carol Carrubba. At a time when AI is unlocking a new innovation cycle, Margaret is the perfect leader to think boldly and build a function that drives exceptional business impact for our clients and establishes Highwire as the top agency for audience and communications analytics. Cote will expand the agencys audience analytics capabilities including enhancing analysis around earned and owned content to inform strategy. Her expertise will help Highwire continue to present new opportunities for brands to drive higher-impact communications and connect the dots to business impact. Cote will focus on upskilling current talent to bring forward existing account knowledge and plans to build a team of dedicated data and analytics experts. I see a huge opportunity to pair Highwires deep technology and healthcare industry expertise with data-based insights in a meaningful way for brands, said Cote. Too often, data-informed insights are missing at the outset of a program, and analytics are only applied after the fact. Having data-based strategy end-to-end, from planning and activation to measurement and learning means clients unlock new and bigger opportunities and see a greater return on their investments. Cote joins Highwire with extensive agency and media experience leading robust analytics and intelligence programs. She most recently served as SVP, Analytics and Intelligence Lead for Weber Shandwick where she successfully supported launching new products and informed business initiatives across highly competitive markets with insightful data. Previous roles include Director of Insights at Havas Media Group and Senior Manager, Advertising, Insights and Research at the Boston Globe. With over two decades of experience, she has a track record of designing analytics offerings and orchestrating high-impact programs for clients. Highwires roster of clients spans standouts in high-growth enterprise technology, cybersecurity, digital health, financial services, and energy and sustainability companies. About Highwire Highwire is an inclusive strategic communications and digital marketing partner designed for category leaders across the technology and healthcare sectors. With roots in journalism and Silicon Valley, Highwire sets the standard for high-impact communications and marketing connecting reputation to revenue. Highwires fully integrated programs leverage digital and social media channels, media relations, and editorial and creative services to drive businesses forward. Highwire's client portfolio includes leaders in enterprise and B2B technology, AI, cybersecurity, energy and financial services. In healthcare, clients span MedTech, diagnostics, primary care, behavioral health, remote care platforms and more. For more information, please visit www.highwirepr.com or @highwirepr. ContactNatalie PaciniNatalie (at) highwirepr.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c03244c5-31a9-4019-b798-8f49b20cdf51 Margaret Cote, Head of Insights and Analytics at Highwire Margaret Cote, Head of Insights and Analytics at Highwire Source: Highwire Public Relations STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A massive fire broke out on Monday at a water park under construction in the center of the Swedish city Gothenburg, landing 13 workers in hospital, Swedish Television (SVT) reported. Footage from the scene showed a water slide exploding in a fireball and thick dark smoke billowing from the amusement park scheduled to open this summer. The smoke overshadowed a large part of Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city. Nearby hotels and offices were evacuated, while those living in the neighborhood were instructed to stay indoors with their windows closed. Initially, the construction company contracted to build the theme park told TV4 that the blaze started in connection with construction work but later backtracked, saying the cause would be investigated. A spokesperson of the city's main hospital told SVT that the victims had minor injuries and the majority of them had been discharged. Covering an area of approximately 14,000 square meters, the Oceana water park has a budget of 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (115 million U.S. dollars), TT news agency reported. When the construction plan was announced in 2020, the project was expected to revitalize Gothenburg's tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic by generating 185,000 guest nights annually, TT reported. (1 Swedish krona = 0.096 U.S. dollar) Final results to be reported from a study conducted at two medical centers owned by Clalit, the worlds second largest health maintenance organization (HMO) and the largest in Israel PressureSafe, for the detection of pressure injuries, addresses a healthcare challenge that costs $26.8 billion and causes 60,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone Rosh Pina, Israel, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IR-MED Inc. , (IR-MED or the Company) (OTCQB:IRME), developer of a noninvasive artificial intelligence (AI) driven spectrographic analysis technology platform to address significant healthcare needs, announced today that final data from a study conducted at two medical centers, Beit Rivka Hospital, and Rabin Medical Center, both in Petah Tikva and owned by Clalit, the worlds second largest health maintenance organization (HMO) and the largest in Israel, will be presented at the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) 2024 Annual Conference which will take place in San Antonio, Texas on February 16-17, 2024. The studys Principal Investigator, Dr. Gal Maydan, of Beit Rivka Hospital Geriatric Rehabilitation Center, will present the data in a poster titled Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy for early detection of stage 1 pressure injury and deep tissue injury clinical study results. The single arm, bi-center, open label, safety and efficacy study evaluated PressureSafe , IR-MEDs decision support device, which uses infra-red spectroscopy combined with an AI-based algorithm to diagnose Stage 1 pressure injuries, compared to standard of care visual and tactile inspection. IR-MEDs clinical and execute team will demonstrate PressureSafe at booth #102 at NPIAP 2024, which is attended by the worlds top thought leaders and practitioners in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. We are eager to share the results coming out of this collaborative study with Clalit, where real-world data was gathered at two hospitals, with hundreds of PressureSafe scans conducted on patients by hospital nurses and staff. We are grateful to the entire team at Clalit and to Dr. Gal Maydan for leading the study, stated Tzur Di-Cori, IR-MEDs CEO. PressureSafes non-invasive, skin color agnostic approach to detecting early-stage pressure injuries has the potential to significantly diminish the incidence pressure injuries and corresponding human suffering and medical costs. PressureSafe, an innovative non-invasive medical device that uses infrared optical spectroscopy and an AI-based algorithm, is designed to effectively detect early-stage pressure injuries for all skin tones. Pressure injuries cost the U.S. healthcare system $26.8 billion and lead to 60,000 deaths annually. PressureSafe was found to be over 90% accurate in detecting pressure injuries based on interim results from a multicenter study. Since Infra Read is agnostic to skin color the device shall effectively address equity in healthcare by using infrared light to detect biomarker changes below the skins surface. About IR-MED IR-MED Inc. is developing a noninvasive spectrographic analysis technology platform, allowing healthcare professionals to detect, measure, and monitor, in real-time, different molecules in the blood, in human tissue, and in body fluids without invasive procedures. PressureSafe, the first product under development, is a handheld optical monitoring device that is being developed to support early detection of pressure injuries (PI) to the skin and underlying tissue, regardless of skin tone as it calibrates personally to each patients skin. IR-MEDs technology is being developed to allow accurate readings of biomarkers in a non-invasive method, that may provide caregiver the optimal decision support system in cases where uncertainties disturb physicians in their decision processes. IR-MED holds patents protecting its technology and innovations in the noninvasive tissue analysis, and in the modeling and analysis of subcutaneous tissue. PressureSafe is currently undergoing usability studies at multiple medical centers. It is not yet available for commercial use. Safe Harbor Statement / Forward-Looking Statements statements included in this press release, which are not historical in nature, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, IR-Med is using forward-looking statements when it discusses that final data from its study conducted at two medical centers, Beit Rivka Hospital and Rabin Medical Center, will be presented at the NPIAP 2024; that PressureSafes non-invasive, skin color agnostic approach to detecting early-stage pressure injuries has the potential to significantly diminish the incidence pressure injuries and corresponding human suffering and medical costs. Statements relating to the future performance of IR-Med are subject to many factors including, but not limited to, the sufficiency or working capital and our ability to raise the capital needed to fund our development efforts, completion of the development and design of PressureSafe device, results of clinical/useability studies and trials, timing of product development, FDA approval/clearance of products in development, customer acceptance of our products in the market, the introduction of competitive products, the impact of any product liability or other adverse litigation, commercialization and technological difficulties, and the other risks identified in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information, or otherwise. Contact: Sharon Levkoviz, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +972 (0) 4 6555054 Attachment Ramsey, NJ, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) hosted members of its east and south communities of mid-market dealers in Sarasota, Florida this week to share some of its latest technologies and sales strategies. The events High Velocity theme represents the companys growth mindset and desire to help its partners accelerate market share and improve profitability for itself and its dealers. Laura Blackmer, President, Dealer Sales opened the event, welcoming the group in the General Session and thanking everyone for their ongoing and unwavering loyalty and support of the company. She talked about the new event format Konica Minolta is activating for 2024. This is just the first in a series of roadshows, designed to give us the chance to have very different engagements through a more intimate setting, said Blackmer. We look forward to spending time with you and the invaluable one-on-one conversations we will have over the next couple days. The focused event allowed for a deeper dive into new technologies, opportunities and sales strategies across the office and production print space. Konica Minoltas new solutions incorporate the cloud, AI and IoT data to drive digital transformation and diversification. Its product showcase allowed dealer partners to see first-hand how the company is integrating these technologies into its office product portfolio. During his business update, Sam Errigo, President and CEO, stressed the companys desire to continue business transformation by offering value-added services for its dealer partners. Office technology is still a great business, but diversification is required to foster growth. Its not enough to just sell hardware anymore; you need to bundle solutions and get more monthly recurring revenue business, said Errigo. There are huge opportunities out there for you to overtake your competitors. Work closely with us and allow us to help you grow your business. We are in this together. Michael Mathe, Chief of Operations and Sales Enablement provided an update on Konica Minoltas Revd Up Dealer Performance program, designed to future-proof dealerships by growing revenue and diversifying their businesses. The program rewards dealers for achievements, and results show a steady increase in dealers progressing to reach higher levels as they expand their offerings to include print production, industrial print and digital transformation (DX) solutions. Dealers enjoy more benefits as they progress, and quarterly rebates increase at higher levels. Educational tracks during the dealer summit were specifically tailored for dealer principals, sales and service. Sessions provided guidance on the wealth of opportunities in verticals such as healthcare, education and the public sector, and delved into specific technology around cloud transition and document security. A live, virtual demonstration from the companys Client Engagement Center in Ramsey, New Jersey showcased the cutting-edge technology installed in Konica Minoltas print production and industrial print products. About Konica Minolta Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.'s (Konica Minolta) journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. The company innovates for the good of society and the world. The same purpose that kept it moving then, keeps it moving now. Konica Minolta aims to partner with clients to Give Shape to Ideas by supporting their digital transformation through its expansive Intelligent Connected Workplace portfolio. Its business technology offerings include IT Services, intelligent information management, video security solutions and managed print services, as well as office technology and industrial and commercial print solutions. Through its ongoing work, the company is fortunate to be continuously recognized for its products and services. This includes, but is not limited to being included on CRNs MSP 500 list numerous times; named a finalist in the IT Software Category by The World Technology Awards; recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys and presented with Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Awards for its bizhub i-Series. For more information, please visit Konica Minolta online and follow its accounts on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. # # # # # Attachment Maggie Grande Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. 551-500-2659 [email protected] Source: Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. MONTREAL, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoXplore Inc. (NanoXplore or the Corporation) (TSX: GRA and OTCQX: NNXPF), a world-leading graphene company, reported today financial results for the three and six-month period ended December 31, 2023. All amounts in this press release are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. HIGHLIGHTS Total revenues of $29,063,024 in Q2-2024 compared to $31,725,122 in Q2-2023, representing an 8% decrease due to a 6-week strike at one of our major customers; Gross margin on revenues from customers of 19.4% in Q2-2024 compared to 17.8% in Q2-2023 and of 19.5% for YTD 2024 compared to 14.9% for YTD 2023; Adjusted EBITDA* of $416,000 in Q2-2024 compared to $141,300 in Q2-2023 for the advanced materials, plastics and composite products; Adjusted EBITDA* of -$508,806 in Q2-2024 compared to nil in Q2-2023 for the battery cells segment (VoltaXplore initiative); Net adjusted EBITDA* in Q2-2024 of -$92,806 compared to $141,300 in Q2-2023 and net adjusted EBITDA* of -$541,138 for YTD 2024 compared to -$1,835,732 for YTD 2023; Total liquidity of $37,880,673 as at December 31, 2023, including cash and cash equivalents of $27,558,073; Total long-term debt of $7,072,298 as at December 31, 2023, down by $803,590 compared to June 30, 2023; NanoXplore maintains its annual revenue guidance of $130 million for the year ending June 30, 2024. OVERVIEW Pedro Azevedo, Chief Financial Officer, stated: The lower sales in the quarter compared to last year were the result of a six-week strike at one of our major OEMs without which sales would have been higher. The strike ended at the end of November and we see a recovery in the second half of our fiscal year. Moreover, with the start of tooling deliveries related to contract awards recently announced, we remain confident with our Fiscal Year 2024 full revenues expectations. Graphene-enhanced parts volumes continue to increase, and we have lined up new OEM programs that will begin delivering financial returns in the coming quarters. Soroush Nazarpour, President & Chief Executive Officer, said: I am very pleased with the performance of NanoXplores team as we have stayed focused and delivered a good quarter. Our execution was on point and translated into a solid performance in our second quarter where our Graphene Enhanced Composite operations continue to improve on profitability. As a testament to that, our gross margin increased by more than 150 bps compared to the second quarter of last year. Our outlook for the second half is robust, demonstrating strong demand for our graphene-enhanced products. Case in point, we recently announced more than $30M of new program wins and expansion of existing programs. A. REPORTING SEGMENTS RESULTS NanoXplore reports its financials in two distinct segments: Advanced materials, plastics and composite products and Battery cells. Q2-2024 Q2-2023 Variation YTD 2024 YTD 2023 Variation $ $ $ % $ $ $ % From Advanced materials, plastics and composite products Revenues 29,058,796 31,725,122 (2,666,326) (8%) 57,972,897 58,957,647 (984,750) (2%) Non-IFRS Measure * Adjusted EBITDA 416,000 141,300 274,700 194% 586,654 (1,835,732) 2,422,386 132% From Battery cells Revenues 4,228 4,228 100% 26,158 26,158 100% Non-IFRS Measure * Adjusted EBITDA (508,806) (508,806) (100%) (1,127,792) (1,127,792) (100%) B. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS VARIANCE ANALYSIS - THREE-MONTH PERIODS Revenues Q2-2024 Q2-2023 Variation Q1-2024 Variation $ $ $ % $ $ % Revenues from customers 28,559,390 31,417,369 (2,857,979) (9%) 28,706,752 (147,362) (1%) Other income 503,634 307,753 195,881 64% 229,279 274,355 120% Total revenues 29,063,024 31,725,122 (2,662,098) (8%) 28,936,031 126,993 0% All revenues are coming from the segment of advanced materials, plastics and composite products, except for $4,228 of other income [Q2-2023 Nil] from the segment battery cells. Revenues from customers remained stable, varying from $28,706,752 in Q1-2024 to $28,559,390 in Q2-2024. Revenues from customers decreased from $31,417,369 in Q2-2023 to $28,559,390 in Q2-2024. This decrease is mainly due to lower volume representing approximately $3,000,000 resulting from a 6-week strike at one of our major customers and to lower tooling revenues. Other income increased from $307,753 in Q2-2023 to $503,634 in Q2-2024. It amounted to $229,279 in Q1-2024. The variation is mainly due to grants received for R&D programs. Adjusted EBITDA 1) From Advanced materials, plastics and composite products The adjusted EBITDA improved from $141,300 in Q2-2023 to $416,000 in Q2-2024. The variation is explained as follows: Higher other income of $191,653 due to grants received for R&D programs; and Lower administrative expenses (SG&A and R&D) of $171,412 mainly due to lower headcounts. 2) From Battery cells The adjusted EBITDA passed from nil in Q2-2023 to -$508,806 in Q2-2024. The variation is explained by the administrative expenses (G&A and R&D) of $513,034 from this new segment. C. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS VARIANCE ANALYSIS - SIX-MONTH PERIODS Revenues YTD 2024 YTD 2023 Variation $ $ $ % Revenues from customers 57,266,142 58,564,536 (1,298,394) (2%) Other income 732,913 393,111 339,802 86% Total revenues 57,999,055 58,957,647 (958,592) (2%) All revenues are coming from the segment of advanced materials, plastics and composite products, except for $26,158 of other income [YTD 2023 Nil] from the segment battery cells. Revenues from customers decreased from $58,564,536 in the last year period to $57,266,142 in the current period. This decrease is mainly due to lower volume representing approximately $3,000,000 resulting from a 6-week strike at one of our major customers and to lower tooling revenues. Other income increased from $393,111 in the last year period to $732,913 in the current period. The variation is due to grants received for R&D programs. Adjusted EBITDA 1) From Advanced materials, plastics and composite products The adjusted EBITDA improved from -$1,835,732 in the last year period to $586,654 in the current period. The variation is explained as follows: Gross margin on revenues from customers increased by $2,446,730 compared to the last year period due to favourable product mix, improved productivity and cost control; Higher other income of $313,644 as described above; and Partially offset by higher administrative expenses (SG&A and R&D) of $341,988 mainly due to higher wages, including higher accrued variable compensation. 2) From Battery cells The adjusted EBITDA passed from nil in the last year period to -$1,127,792 in the current period. The variation is explained by the administrative expenses (G&A and R&D) of $1,153,950 from this new segment. D. OTHER Additional information about the Corporation, including the Corporations Interim Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and six-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (MD&A) and the Corporations unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (the financial statements) can be found at www.nanoxplore.ca. * Non-IFRS Measures Results of operations may include certain unusual and other items which have been separately disclosed, where appropriate, in order to provide a clear assessment of the underlying Corporation results. The financial statements and MD&A were prepared using results and financial information determined under IFRS. However, the Corporation considers certain non-IFRS financial measures as useful additional information in measuring the financial performance and condition of the Corporation. These measures, which the Corporation believes are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Corporations performance, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies, nor should they be construed as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS measures include "Adjusted EBITDA. WEBCAST NanoXplore will hold a webcast tomorrow, February 14, 2024, at 8:30 am EDT to review its Q2-2024. Soroush Nazarpour, CEO and President of NanoXplore, and Pedro Azevedo, Chief Financial Officer, will host the event. To access the webcast please click on the link https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zzuperi8 or you can access through our website in the Investors section under Events and Presentations. A replay of this event can be accessed via the above link or on our website. ABOUT NANOXPLORE NanoXplore is a graphene company, a manufacturer and supplier of high-volume graphene powder for use in transportation and industrial markets. Also, the Corporation provides standard and custom graphene-enhanced plastic and composite products to various customers in transportation, packaging, electronics, and other industrial sectors. The Corporation is also a silicon-graphene-enhanced Li-ion battery manufacturer for the Electric Vehicle and grid storage markets. NanoXplore is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec with manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States and Europe. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements, and subject to risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption was made and on managements experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors deemed appropriate in the circumstances. No assurance can be given that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not facts, but only predications and can generally be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, foresee, grow, expect, plan, intend, forecast, future, guidance, may, predict, project, should, strategy, target, will or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking information necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including the relevant assumptions and risks factors set out in NanoXplores most recent annual management discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, which may cause NanoXplores actual results to differ materially from any projections of future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the uncertain and unpredictable condition of global economy, notably as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Any forward-looking information is made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, NanoXplore does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statement as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management. 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 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. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. For further information, please contact: Pierre Yves TerrisseVice-President Corporate Development [email protected]Tel: 1 438 476-1965 Source: NanoXplore Inc. Dallas, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, the worlds largest Mexican casual dining brand, is celebrating National Margarita Day on Thursday, February 22 by offering guests specials on its famous Grande House Margarita and 1800 Gran Rita. On The Border will celebrate the most well-known cocktail in Mexican cuisine with a variety of delicious flavors that are perfect for guests looking to enjoy a refreshing margarita for the occasion. On The Border is the destination for people looking to eat, drink, and celebrate in a lively environment this National Margarita Day, says Kittie Walleck, director of national sales and catering at On The Border. We offer more than 15 varieties of margaritas by the glass plus two margarita flights, so dont miss celebrating with us at On The Border. Margaritas to Celebrate Grande House Margarita On The Borders classic margarita mix, house tequila, and Juarez triple sec for $4. On The Borders classic margarita mix, house tequila, and Juarez triple sec for $4. 1800 Gran Rita premium margarita that is hand blended gold and silver tequilas like 1800 Silver, mixed with top-shelf Gran Gala Liqueur and our famous house sour for $8. premium margarita that is hand blended gold and silver tequilas like 1800 Silver, mixed with top-shelf Gran Gala Liqueur and our famous house sour for $8. NEW! Spicy Ghost Rita crafted with 100% Agave Ghost Tequila Blanco, infused with Ghost Pepper, and paired with fresh lime agave for a perfectly spicy margarita. Available starting Feb. 21, 2024, for a limited time. crafted with 100% Agave Ghost Tequila Blanco, infused with Ghost Pepper, and paired with fresh lime agave for a perfectly spicy margarita. Available starting Feb. 21, 2024, for a limited time. Margarita Flights On The Border guest-favorite margaritas can now be enjoyed with a variety of flights. On The Border guest-favorite margaritas can now be enjoyed with a variety of flights. More Margarita Favorites including Mangonada, Coronarita, Borderita, and more. Over the years weve been known for our award-winning, ice-cold margaritas that pair perfectly with our free endless chips and house-made salsa, fresh guacamole made tableside, and mesquite-grilled fajitas with hand-pressed tortillas, adds Walleck. Party in a Bag Looking for an easy way to celebrate National Margarita Day at home? Add a one-gallon canteen of Mango Tango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, or House Margarita to any food order for pick up. Orders with alcohol must be submitted and received by an adult 21 years or older (ID required), and a food purchase is required. Order online at www.ontheborder.com/order/. # # # About On The Border Founded in 1982, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is the world's largest Mexican casual dining brand. Known for its award-winning margaritas, house-made salsa, and sizzling mesquite-grilled fajitas, On The Border is a fan-favorite destination for authentic, contemporary Mexican food and vibrant good times. With more than 125 restaurants in the U.S. and Asia, theres always a fiesta waiting at On The Border. For more information, visit ontheborder.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and X. Attachments Source: On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Paris, 13 February 2024 - 5:45 pm The Management Board, at its meeting of 5 January 2024, decided to make use of the authorization granted by the Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 8 June 2023, established under Articles L. 3332-18 et seq. of the French Labor Code, to perform a capital increase by issuing shares reserved for eligible employees of companies participating in the Rubis Avenir Company Savings Plan (companies based in France) under the conditions described below. The maximum nominal amount authorized by the Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 8 June 2023 in respect of capital increases reserved for employees, is 700,000 (560,000 shares). The subscription price, set at 15.71, corresponds, in accordance with Article L. 3332-19 of the French Labor Code, to 70% of the average share price over the 20 trading days preceding the decision of the Board of Management. The subscription period will run from 18 March to 5 April 2024. The funds invested in Rubis shares through the FCPE Rubis Avenir mutual fund will be available at the end of a five-year lock-up period, except in cases where early release is allowed. The new shares will carry dividend rights from 1 January 2024 and will be fungible with existing shares. The Rubis Avenir mutual fund was set up in 2002 to allow employees to invest in Rubis capital, and thereby to strengthen the link between employees and the company. Rubis has performed a capital increase reserved for employees each year since the funds establishment. As of 31 December 2023, employees of the Group held 1.74% of Rubis share capital through the Rubis Avenir mutual fund. Contact RUBIS Legal department Tel: +(33) 1 44 17 95 95 Attachment Redondo Beach, CA, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing its growth in the Los Angeles market, SecureSpace is pleased to announce the acquisition of Stor-Mor Self Storage at 8635 Valley Boulevard in Rosemead, CA. Now rebranded as SecureSpace Rosemead, the facility provides 44,351 square feet of storage across 659 units, as well as 96 rentable parking spaces. Situated directly on Rosemeads primary thoroughfare, in front of which 26,000 vehicles pass by daily, this retail location has contributed to the historically high occupancy at the property. A substantial renovation is planned, designed to enhance appeal for the 258,000 people living within three miles of the store. SecureSpace's Managing Director Nathan McElmurry notes: "The prior owner was diligent about stewarding the asset over the years, and our planned upgrades will bring it in line with the look and feel of the substantial urban renewal taking place in the immediate area. With the addition of SecureSpace Rosemead, we now have eight stores open and operating in the Los Angeles MSA, and another four under construction. We are thrilled to be serving this local community." The leasing office will be upgraded to SecureSpaces signature contemporary style and our proprietary high-security platform managed by our National Security Team is being installed. It includes AI-enabled cameras and sensors providing an enhanced security and monitoring platform. As with all SecureSpace properties, free high-speed Wi-Fi access will be available for our customers and guests. The SecureSpace.com contactless rental process, allowing tenants to fully lease a unit online and receive instant access to their units, is up and running. All units are clean and serviced regularly by pest control professionals for tenants' peace of mind. SecureSpace Rosemead is open for business. Customers are invited to visit SecureSpace.com to calculate their storage size needs, view pictures of the spaces, and rent a unit online without setting foot inside, or call (877) 399-0319 to talk to a friendly agent about your secure space at SecureSpace.About SecureSpace Self Storage SecureSpace Self Storage, based in Redondo Beach, CA, is one of the fastest-growing self-storage platforms in the USA, with assets located primarily in high-density, urban markets. With a focus on exceptional customer service and upgraded security features, SecureSpace provides a high-quality experience that our customers can count on in any store they visit. Relax. Its safe at SecureSpace. Nathan McElmurry SecureSpace Self Storage (866) 521-8292 [email protected] Source: SecureSpace Self Storage Squamish, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Squamish Hospital Foundation announces that Woodfibre LNG has committed $900,000 toward the purchase of a new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at Squamish General Hospital. This generous donation completes the Foundations fundraising contribution towards the new CT scanner and supports the purchase and installation of this essential diagnostic tool to be implemented as quickly as possible. This follows an announcement from the Government of British Columbia, approving Squamish General Hospital for a CT scanner. A CT scanner allows doctors to see inside the body by using a combination of X-rays and a computer to create pictures of organs, bones and other tissues. Having a CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital will provide improved access to important diagnostic health services for residents of Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Currently, Squamish residents need to travel to North Vancouver or to Whistler to receive a CT scan. This is wonderful news! said Karen Vanzella, President of the Squamish Hospital Foundation, With Woodfibre LNGs generous donation towards our long-awaited CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital, this much needed medical service is finally a reality for Squamish. She added More than 20 years ago, our beloved Dr. Laverne Kindree saw the need for a CT Scanner at Squamish General Hospital. Since then, we have all worked tirelessly towards making this a reality. We are grateful to donors like Woodfibre LNG, Vancouver Coastal Health and so many others in Squamish for helping to make this important medical service commence soon. Beyond the immediate benefits for residents requiring a CT scan, the addition will also help free up local ambulances and improve response times in Squamish as there will be no need to transfer emergency patients who require an urgent scan. It will also help reduce wait times significantly for the region as a whole with additional capacity available for British Columbians. A CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital is a critical diagnostic apparatus the medical staff have long advocated for, said Dr. Annie Gornall, Squamish Medical Staff Association President. The Squamish medical staff are sincerely grateful to the Squamish Hospital Foundation, Vancouver Coastal Health and all our community members who have advocated with us for a local CT scanner. The generous donation by Woodfibre LNG will ensure that this project moves forward without delay. We sincerely thank everyone. The Squamish Hospital Foundation has been fundraising for a CT scanner and have raised $200,000 towards its purchase. With major funding from Vancouver Coastal Health now in place, the added $900,000 donation from Woodfibre LNG will complete funding requirements. Woodfibre LNG is tremendously pleased to complete the funding required to purchase a CT scanner for the Squamish Hospital. We recognize that Squamishs health care needs are growing along with its population so its important for the community to have local access to state-of-the-art medical imaging, said Christine Kennedy, President, Woodfibre LNG Limited. On behalf of Squamish Nation members living in the Squamish Valley, I am delighted that a CT scanner will be available in our community said Nation elder and matriarch Gwen Harry. Squamish General Hospital opened in 1954 and has been supported over the years through the kind generosity of many. I am so pleased that Woodfibre LNG will be making this significant donation to complete the Squamish Hospital Foundations fundraising requirements for the CT Scanner. In thanking Woodfibre LNG for their significant gift, the Squamish Hospital Foundation also wishes to acknowledge the kind generosity of all those that contributed to the fundraising effort to date. In the last five years, the Foundation has raised more than $1.35 million toward improving health care facilities and services in Squamish and the region. The Foundation also wishes to acknowledge the tireless dedication and hard work of the doctors, nurses, other caregivers, and volunteers at the Squamish Hospital for their ongoing commitment to ensuring Squamish residents have access to the best health care services and facilities. Todays announcement caps many years of persistent effort by many to secure this CT scanner for the hospital. It is expected that the Squamish Hospitals CT scanner will be operational sometime in 2025, following facility modifications to properly house the equipment, and delivery and installation of the scanner. -30- About Squamish Hospital Foundation The Squamish Hospital Foundation is a volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds towards the purchase of identified needed equipment, and special project needs in Squamish and the STS corridor. Working with Vancouver Coastal Health, our medical staff, and many others, we collaboratively set priorities and raise the necessary funds for the betterment of patient care. Ensuring the Sea to Sky Region has access to high-quality comprehensive healthcare is our core mission. About Woodfibre LNG The Woodfibre LNG Project is owned by Woodfibre LNG Limited Partnership, owned 70 per cent by Pacific Energy Corporation (Canada) Limited and 30 per cent by Enbridge Inc. The Woodfibre LNG facility is being built on the site of the former Woodfibre pulp mill site, which is located about seven kilometres southwest of Squamish, B.C. Woodfibre LNG is the first industrial project in Canada to recognize a non-treaty Indigenous government, Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation), as a full environmental regulator. Sean Beardow Woodfibre LNG [email protected] Sophie Moore Squamish Hospital Foundation [email protected] Source: Woodfibre LNG Kansas City, MO, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City unveiled its newest program, More in 4, targeting a select, high-achieving group of students to receive generous scholarship dollars while accelerating their path to an MBA. Accelerated MBA programs at other universities offer a five-year path to a master's degree. With More in 4, UMKC will provide a unique opportunity for students to earn two degrees - their bachelors and masters in business - in just four years, saving students time and money. As Kansas City's business school, we're thrilled to offer students this opportunity to accelerate their education and jumpstart their careers, said Brian Klaas, dean of the UMKC Bloch School. The new program also aligns with UMKCs track record as an institution committed to accelerating students degree pursuits, launching them more quickly into their desired careers. UMKC offerings include the nationally ranked six-year B.A. / M.D. Program at the UMKC School of Medicine and the 3 + 3 Program at the UMKC School of Law, among others. "UMKC has a long, successful history with accelerated, combined degree programs," said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. "Our commitment to providing new, first-class opportunities to our students is what makes us Kansas City's top university." By earning their MBA, students open a world of career possibilities and a chance to sharpen critical thinking and communications skills while they gain business and leadership skills to advance their career more quickly. More in 4 also taps the vast business leadership network of Kansas City and the Midwest, offering up the real-world learning students are looking for today in a college experience, according to a recent article in Insider HigherEd. Students who complete the More in 4 program will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting or Bachelor of Business Administration as well as a Master of Business Administration. Who qualifies? Graduating seniors in Missouri and Kansas who have: Have at least a 3.75 high school core GPA or earned a score of 28 or higher on the ACT. Earned a minimum of 9 college credits while in high school. Earned admission to the Bloch School B.B.A. or B.S.A. program. Applied and gained selection to Bloch Launchpad. What they will get: $10,000 per year, for three years of undergraduate and one year of graduate education, for a total of $40,000 toward tuition. Bloch alumni Nathaniel Hagedorn, founder and CEO of Northpoint Development, offered inspiration for the More in 4 program and sees it as an opportunity to build talent for the region. We are very grateful to Nathaniel Hagedorn for his very generous financial support of the scholarship program and also for his willingness to engage with and mentor program participants, Dean Klaas said. Attachment Nicholas Vlasin UMKC 8162351578 [email protected] Source: UMKC Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is honored today to announce that distinguished scholar, anthropologist and academic pacesetter Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph.D., has accepted a president-in-residence position and will serve as co-chairperson of UNCFs capital campaign. In her role as co-chairperson of UNCF's capital campaign, Dr. Cole will spearhead efforts to secure vital resources that will empower UNCF member colleges and universities to continue providing scholarships, support services and cutting-edge programs. I am elated to welcome my dear friend, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, fellow champion for equal justice in higher education, pioneering educator and extraordinary leader to join forces with UNCF to help us keep the momentum going with our bold, ambitious $1 billion capital campaign. With her immense expertise and passion for education, Dr. Cole will play a pivotal role in advancing the goals of our capital campaign and UNCF's mission of ensuring equal access to higher education for underrepresented students of color, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. Dr. Cole will serve as an ambassador for the campaign and advocate with UNCF-member presidents and her own network to help identify new supporters. She is no stranger to conducting successful capital campaigns, said Lomax. Dr. Cole was the first Black woman to serve as president of Spelman College, which was founded specifically for the education of women of African descent, and she was also the president of Bennett College. Under President Coles leadership, "The Spelman Campaign: Initiatives for the 90s," was launched and raised $113.8 million for the colleges endowment. In 1992, the college announced the receipt of $37 million from the DeWitt Wallace/Readers Digest Fundat the time, the largest gift ever given to a historically Black college or university. The campaign brought Spelman's endowment to $141 million, the largest at that time for any HBCU. As president of Bennett College, Dr. Cole led a successful $50 million capital campaign. I am equally thrilled to echo Dr. Lomaxs sentiments about Dr. Cole coming on board as co-chairperson of our capital campaign. She is a national treasure and tremendous asset as a strong advocate for the success of UNCF, HBCUs and their students. I look forward to working with her closely to help us continue making significant progress with the capital campaign, said Milton H. Jones, Jr., chair, UNCF Board of Directors. I very much look forward to joining my distinguished colleagues who currently serve as a president-in-residence. It is also a profound honor and a joy to serve as a co-chairperson for the UNCF capital campaign, said Dr. Cole. As a youngster, I learned of the value and power of UNCF member institutions from the stories told by and about my own family members who graduated from those colleges and universities. And then, I learned firsthand about these revered and important educational institutions when I was a student at a UNCF member university, and when I had the extraordinary privilege of serving as the president of the only two historically Black colleges for women in our nation, both of which are in the UNCF family. I continue to say what I have said and believed for many years: If UNCF member institutions did not exist, we would have to invent them! That is their importance to our nation and to our world. Johnnetta Betsch Cole is widely recognized for her exceptional contributions to academia and her tireless advocacy for social justice. She has transformed institutions and empowered countless students to reach their full potential. Her commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion aligns perfectly with UNCF's core values. In 2023, President Joseph Biden presented Dr. Cole with the National Humanities Medal for her pioneering work about the on-going contributions to Afro-Latin, Caribbean and African communities to advance American understanding of Black culture and the necessity and power of racial inclusion in our nation. Dr. Cole was the director of the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of African Art and served as the chair and seventh president of the National Council of Negro Women. She lent her talents and expertise for a decades-long career in anthropology to Pixar filmmakers and artists who created Soul, Disney/Pixars Academy Award winning animated film. She helped to craft characters and storylines that were authentic and inspired by real-life people, down to the smallest detail. The recipient of 71 honorary degrees and numerous accolades, Dr. Cole has served on many boards including Home Depot and Merck. In 2004, she became the first African American chair of the board of United Way of America, and she was a founding member of the Points of Light Foundation. During her Spelman presidency, she was the first woman elected to serve on the board of Coca-Cola Enterprises. Dr. Cole was recently appointed as a Kettering Foundation Senior Fellow. She also serves on the boards of the A. L. Lewis Black Opportunity and Impact Investment Fund and the A. L. Lewis Museum. UNCF is committed to delivering the most relevant programming to aid in the success of its member institutions and the broader historically Black college and university (HBCU) and predominantly Black institution (PBI) communities. To do that effectively, UNCF partners with its 37 member institutions to explore opportunities and challenges, develop and deliver targeted programming, and support the institutions execution with capacity building and continuous improvement activities. UNCFs Presidents In-Residence (PIR) Program furthers these goals by inviting former presidents of HBCUs who seek to continue their engagement by lending their support and sharing their experience and insights with UNCFs internal team and the broader HBCU community. The PIR program seeks to encourage meaningful engagement in the work of UNCF by former HBCU presidents whose perspectives can shape and add value to the collective work. Former HBCU presidents to serve in this program include Dr. Beverly Hogan, Tougaloo College; Dr. Charles Nelms, North Carolina Central University; Dr. Billy Hawkins, Talladega College; and Dr. Haywood Strickland, Wiley College. ### About UNCFUNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelors degrees, 5% of masters degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. Attachment Roy Betts UNCF 2407033384 [email protected] Source: United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) Richmond, VA, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Virginia Credit Union League Board of Directors today announced that Karima Freeman, current Chief Operating Officer for the organization, will serve as Interim President/CEO following the departure of Carrie Hunt later this month. Freeman is a 23-year employee of the League, and currently manages membership services, working directly with credit unions on dues and other membership and affiliation issues. She also oversees the Leagues accounting, human resources and information technology functions. Karima is a proven leader with decades-long relationships within the Virginia credit union system and a deep knowledge of the Leagues operations, said League Board Chairman Joe Thomas, CEO of NextMark Credit Union. The League Board looks forward to working with her, in partnership with the management team and staff, as we begin a new chapter in the Leagues history and as we mark our 90th year of service to Virginias credit unions. Each of us at the League is committed to the success of Virginias credit unions, said Freeman. Im proud of what we accomplish through the support and engagement of our member credit unions -- as an advocate and champion; as their premier business solutions provider; and as the driving force behind collaborative initiatives that support credit unions growth and success. Current League President/CEO Carrie Hunt is departing the League at the end of February to serve as Chief Advocacy Officer for Americas Credit Unions, the new national trade association formed by the merger of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). We are grateful for Carries work these past three years in charting a course for the League that best articulated our vision to promote, protect and strengthen Virginias credit unions, said Thomas. We wish her well as she begins an exciting new chapter in her career, one that continues her exemplary service to the credit union industry. Im honored to have led the Virginia League and know this organization will continue to deliver value to its member credit unions, said Hunt. It was a privilege to work with so many passionate people who worked to strengthen this already extraordinary organization and I look forward to continuing a strong relationship with the League in my new role. The League Board has engaged D. Hilton Associates Inc. to coordinate the search for a permanent successor to Hunt.Learn more here: https://www.dhilton.com/jobs/president-chief-executive-officer-virginia-credit-union-league/ Attachment Lewis Wood Virginia Credit Union League 4342379629 [email protected] Source: Virginia Credit Union League Mabel, a tan Chesapeake Bay Retriever, sitting in front of a castle on a sunny day. () Mabel is a 5-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She joined her family in December of 2019 in Fort Riley, Kansas, and has since traveled to Camp Darby, Italy. Meeting other furry friends while out and about is super fun and makes her really happy. Diana R. Mabel loves swimming and catching balls at the local dog beach in Clambrone, Italy. She loves traveling, from the smells and tastes to the scenery and long dog walks. Mabel has been lucky to visit all kinds of places around her current home in Italy, plus Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Croatia. She loves a good weekend adventure. Mabel, a 5-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, enjoying Italy. () She loves Lake Garda, Italy for its beautiful hiking. Pula, Croatia was another highlight because it meant she could swim with her human sister. She loves the water! Mabel, a 5-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. () Do you also have an amazing animal in your life? Submit their picture with pet photo Europe as the subject to contentteam@stripes.com. Pets only, please. Include a brief description of your pet and where the photo was taken. Multigenerational Grassroots to Grasstops Leaders Advance a Thriving and Just Nation Participants of WIN Week 2023 actively engage in discussions. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three leading networks, WIN Network , Communities RISE Together, and Well-being and Equity in the World , are thrilled to announce WE WIN Together Week 2024: Being Better Ancestors in Turbulent Times . The annual gathering will unite changemakers from the grassroots to the grasstops during a week-long collaboration at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO, USA, April 22 to 25, 2024. #WEWINTogether Week will assemble hundreds of multigenerational, diverse change leaders from the grassroots to the grasstops across the nation to imagine what it means to be better ancestors in a polarized world. Changemakers from every sectorcommunities, public health and health care, farming, education, economy/finance, policywho are all working to be #betterancestors by transforming from within, transforming together, and transforming systems of injusticewill come together to share strategies, create community, and chart a long-term path to a nation where everyone belongs and that works for everyone. These changemakers have already shown that it is possible to create real change in our communities. Learn more and reserve your ticket here . Somava Saha, founder of Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World and executive lead of the WIN Network, reflected, "Becoming a #betterancestor is about recognizing how the legacies of the past shape our reality and working to change those to create the world we want for our children and grandchildren. We have already shown that real change is possible when we come together. The real question is: do we have the courage to believe that our nation can change for the better and the fortitude to invest in long-term change?" "This yearly gathering affords us an incredible opportunity to actively learn from one another while embracing our shared responsibility of becoming better ancestors," stated Reverend Richard Joyner, Founder and Chairman of the Conetoe Family Life Center . "Its a time for recommitting to the well-being of future generations and, for me, that means sharing the knowledge that the essence of food sovereignty begins within the walls of our hearts, our homes, while extending to the fabric of our communities." Key Features of #WEWINTogetherWeek: Top-Notch Speakers and Presentations Tracks on Health Equity, a Well-being Economy, Data for Power, Generational Healing, and Youth Leadership Hackathon for Social Change Engaging Workshops and Activities Networking Opportunities with Leaders Across Sectors Discussions on Changing Narratives, Systems, and Structures Innovative Solutions for Real Change Several spotlight and catalyst speakers will headline the event, including, but not limited to, Calvin Terrell (Transforming Pain to Power), Dr. Ruby Gibson (Healing Generational Trauma), Shemekka Ebony-Coleman (Community Bill of Rights), Laina Raveendran-Greene (Well-being Economy), Abeni Bloodworth (Narrative Transformation), Ramsey Alwin (Aging Well with Equity), Rev. Richard Joyner (Using Food to Transform the Soul of our Economy and our Relationships), Gary Belkin (Mental Health and Climate Resilience), and James Clark (Being a Better Ancestor in St. Louis). "Here in St. Louis, the Urban League has been working to create deep community change by addressing public safety, housing, health, and community development. We are excited to be welcoming our community partners from across the nation to reflect on what it means to be better ancestors. St. Louis offers a window to the soul of the nation when it comes to reflecting on our past to build our futureand were honored to host that conversation," noted James Clark, Vice President at The Urban League of Greater St. Louis. About the Organizations: The Well Being In the Nation (WIN) Network is a growing strategic network working together to advance intergenerational well-being and equity. Communities RISE (Reach, Immunizations, System Change for Equity, RISE) Together is an alliance of partners connected to 2,400+ organizations across the nation who are deeply rooted in communities, and have deep trust with Black, Native-American, Latinx, Asian-American/Pacific-Islander, immigrant/migrant, and low-income older adult populations. Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World is a multiracial community of well-being and equity architects, building the social and vital conditions we all need to thrive on a foundation of racial and economic justice. The organization serves as the implementation team for the WIN Network and Communities RISE Together. Partners co-hosting WE WIN Together Week include the Center for Popular Democracy, chromatic.black, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Latino Health Access, Migrant Clinicians Network, National Councils on Aging, National Indian Health Board, Public Health Institute, and WE in the World. Media Contact: Shonda Smith | Director of Communications | Well-being and Equity in the World 1.833.936.9753 (Dial ext. #722) A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb70e06c-0661-433c-a388-04ac27fdf563 Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- .WS, the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) for Samoa, proudly announces its partnership with WebUnited as the first-ever registry to fully mirror their TLD on-chain. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in integrating traditional domain services with the Blockchain technology. The integration of WebUnited as a backend provider will enable the .WS TLD to exist on the Blockchain while conserving traditional internet features and DNS resolution. The transition to a Web3-enabled backend amplifies traditional domain name use cases and capabilities. The .WS users can now look forward to amplified use cases, such as using their domains as crypto wallet addresses, a decentralized identity, and enabling full tokenization, instant transferability, and renting. Lars Jensen, Co-CEO of WebUnited, expresses his enthusiasm: "Today marks an important moment in the domain industry. By partnering with .WS, we're not just breaking new ground but laying the foundations for a future where the internet's potential is fully realized. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to innovation and vision for a seamlessly integrated digital world." Davide Vicinci, Co-CEO of WebUnited, stated, "The collaboration with .WS is about leading the path of unifying Web2 with Web3, where traditional domain services and blockchain converge effortlessly. We are excited to embark on this journey with the ccTLD .WS!" Paul Apanowicz, Director of Project Management at Global Domains International, the registry operator for .WS, shares his perspective: "Adopting DNS-Mirroring to Web3 is a big step for .WS, and we couldn't be more excited. This move positions us at the forefront of domain technology innovation and reinforces our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to our users. We are proud to partner with WebUnited, a leader in blockchain domain technologies, to bring this vision to life." WebUnited and .WS are joining forces to combine the reliability of traditional DNS with the efficiency of blockchain. This partnership will bring new features and utilities to .WS domains, allowing them to exist in the blockchain world. This partnership represents a major change in the domain industry as it moves towards a future where internet domains are versatile and secure Web3 assets in addition to being regular web addresses. By joining forces with WebUnited and .WS, the domain name world is entering a new era of domain technology. About WebUnited WebUnited is at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology with domain services, intending to provide a new internet experience. The objective is to transform digital domains into more than just web addresses by making them secure, efficient, and flexible tools for the digital age. https://webunited.com/ About .WS As Samoa's digital identifier, .WS is more than a domain; it's a commitment to innovation and reliability. .WS is managed by Global Domains International and dedicated to advancing domain services, ensuring they meet the needs of today's internet users. http://website.ws/ Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Bayhorse Silver Inc, (TSXV:BHS)(OTCQB:BHSIF)(FSE:7KXN) (the "Company" or "Bayhorse") announces that preliminary results of the recently completed Geotech Ltd. helicopter-borne VTEM and Horizontal Magnetic Gradiometer Geophysical Survey over its Bayhorse Silver Mine Property, Oregon and Idaho, USA have been received. On the basis of the preliminary results, the Company is substantially increasing the number of its claims and exploration area in Idaho to 2,460 acres. A comprehensive review of the final VTEM results when received will be undertaken by the Company's geophysical and geological consultants. The Company expects to receive the final VTEM report within the next two weeks. The VTEM survey over the entire Bayhorse property in both Idaho and Oregon was to determine whether a long-postulated feeder anomaly is present at the Bayhorse Mine that could indicate the presence of either more high-grade silver mineralization or a porphyry copper deposit. The Bayhorse and Hercules Silver property, 44 Km to the northeast of the Bayhorse Mine, have similar geological settings and copper/silver mineralization, including significant copper, antimony, and zinc credits. The Company's senior geological consultants believe that it is also possible that the silver-rich Bayhorse epithermal mineralization may also be underlain by a gold-rich zone, as suggested by Buchanan's 1981 model. This News Release has been prepared on behalf of the Bayhorse Silver Inc. Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its content. Mark Abrams, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, a Qualified Person and Director of the Company has prepared, supervised the preparation of, and approved the technical content of this press release. On Behalf of the Board. Graeme O'Neill, CEO 866-399-6539 About Bayhorse Silver Inc. Bayhorse Silver Inc. is an exploration and production company with a 100% interest in the historic Bayhorse Silver Mine located in Oregon, USA. With state of the art Steinert Ore-Sorting technology reducing waste rock entering the processing stream by up to 85%, we have created a minimum environmental impact facility capable of mining 200 tons of mineralization per day and the ability to process and supply 3,600 tons per year of silver/copper/antimony concentrate ranging between 7,500 to 15,000 g/t silver and 10-12% copper, 10-12% antimony, and 15-18% zinc using standard flotation processing at its milling facility in nearby Payette County, Idaho, USA, with an offtake agreement in place with Ocean Partners UK Limited. The Company also has an option to acquire an 80% interest in the Brandywine high grade silver/gold property located in B.C. Canada. The Company has an experienced management and technical team with extensive mining expertise in both exploration and building mines. 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/197743 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - CEO.CA Technologies Ltd. ("CEO.CA"), the leading investor social network in junior resource and venture stocks, shares exclusive updates with CEOs of junior mining explorers. Founded in 2012, CEO.CA, a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc. , is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for investors globally - with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Millions of people visit CEO.CA each year to connect with investors from around the world, share knowledge and view impactful stories about stocks, commodities, and emerging companies. Meet the Executives Shaping the Junior Landscape 'Inside the Boardroom' is more than just an interview series - it's a chance to gain firsthand knowledge from industry leaders, understanding their vision, challenges, and strategy. This week, CEO.CA had the opportunity to sit down with Shawn Khunkhun (President, CEO & Director of Dolly Varden Silver), Sharyn Alexander (President of Sun Summit Minerals), and Jean Rainville (President & CEO of Fokus Mining) to discuss their latest news. Dolly Varden Silver (TSXV: DV) (OTCQX: DOLLF) (FSE: DVQ1) Precious Metals explorer advancing its 100% held Kitsault Valley Project located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia 2023 step-out drilling at the Homestake Ridge property intersected a new gold-rich zone Highlights of Homestake Silver step-outs include 79.49 g/t Au over 12.45 meters High-grade gold and silver mineralization encountered in step out drilling to the northwest of Homestake Silver represents a significant breakthrough in further defining, upgrading and expanding the mineralization at Homestake Ridge Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLTVM7nDRBc Sun Summit Minerals (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) Focused on expansion and discovery of district-scale gold and copper assets in British Columbia. Additional high priority gold targets recently identified at the Creek zone Multiple priority drill targets defined through extensive data review Follow-up drill testing and field programs planned for 2024 Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5v344jzCoE Fokus Mining (TSXV: FKM) (FSE: F7E1) (OTCQB: FKMCF) Quebec-based precious metals explorer currently focused on the Galloway project. Recent discovery of a new high-grade zone north of the Moriss Zone Intersects include 51.13 g/t Au over 5 m, including a 1.5-m section grading 159.16 g/t Au Currently preparing a new drilling campaign Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAfmKArqXes Tune in to 'Inside the Boardroom' each week and be part of the conversation that's shaping the business landscape. Visit CEO.CA or our YouTube page for hundreds more executive interviews from CEO.CA here. Interested in showcasing your company on 'Inside the Boardroom'? Get in touch with our team at [email protected] for further details and opportunities. About CEO.CA The leading community for investors & traders in junior resource & venture stocks. CEO.CA is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for small-cap investors globally -- with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Since 2012, CEO.CA has brought millions of investors together from over 164 countries to discuss their portfolio holdings and find new investment opportunities. Download our App on iOS or Android marketplace or visit us today at CEO.CA to set up your free account. CEO.CA is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc. For further information please contact: CEO.CA Email: [email protected] Website: CEO.CA Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), OTC Best Market "(OTCQX") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement The information regarding any issuer contained or referred to in any interviews conducted by CEO.CA has been furnished by such issuer directly, and neither CEO.CA nor any of its affiliates or principals assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for any failure by an issuer to ensure disclosure of events or facts which may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains forward-looking information which involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that 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 may include, but is not limited to, the objectives, goals, future plans, statements regarding exploration results and exploration and/or development plans of companies featured on the CEO.CA platform. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, currency risk and the other risks involved in the applicable exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the public documents of such companies filed on SEDAR or elsewhere from time to time. 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. CEO.CA 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197797 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2024) - Deal Pro Capital Corporation (TSXV: DPCC.P) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated November 1, 2023, it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement dated February 8, 2024 (the "BCA") with Urban Utilities Contractors Inc. ("Urban"). Pursuant to the BCA, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, 1000773456 Ontario Inc. ("Subco"), will amalgamate with Urban (the "Amalgamation") to complete the Company's qualifying transaction (the "Transaction") in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). In connection with the Amalgamation, it is intended that the Company will be renamed to "Urban Infrastructure Group Inc." (the "Resulting Issuer"). The Transaction is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals required by applicable corporate law, including the approval of the Exchange, as well as the satisfaction of conditions to closing as set out in the BCA. It is intended the Resulting Issuer will continue the business of Urban and be listed on the Exchange as an industrial issuer, subject to Exchange approval. About Urban Since its incorporation in 2015, Urban, a private company incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Ontario, has been a construction company focused on the concrete and drain sector for new low-rise construction in the Southern Ontario region. The concrete and drain industry plays a crucial role in low-rise construction, which typically encompasses residential buildings. Urban works with some of the largest home builders in Ontario and provides the following services: exterior sewers interior underground drainage systems concrete basement floors concrete garage floors concrete porches and stairs According to a report by the Fraser Institute titled "Ontario government can accelerate housing supply - without eroding public trust" (which appeared in the Toronto Star, August 14, 2023), Ontario is facing a generational shortage of housing due to the province's decades of underbuilding and population growth. The Ontario government's Housing Affordability Task Force estimates that 1.5 million new homes must be constructed over the next ten years to close the housing gap. In response to this housing gap, the Ontario government has introduced new incentives to spur new home construction, including the passing of a law that freezes, reduces and exempts fees developers pay on certain builds such as affordable housing (source: Canadian Press article dated March 24, 2023). A TD Report titled "Balancing Canada's Pop in Population" (as published on TD's website on July 26, 2023), the continued growth in immigration could widen the housing shortfall by about 500,000 units within 2 years., Urban intends to strengthen its position within the concrete and drain sector by scaling its operations, organically and by way of strategic acquisitions. In addition to growing its core business, Urban intends to actively identify and target other companies in complementary residential, commercial and municipal infrastructure sectors. This will permit Urban to diversify its business and to offer additional services to its existing clientele. Urban currently has 100,000,000 common shares (the "Urban Common Shares") issued and outstanding, and, in connection with the transactions contemplated in the BCA and in order to comply with the initial listing requirements of the Exchange, all 100,000,000 currently issued and outstanding Urban Common Shares will be returned to treasury for cancellation by the holders thereof and in exchange, such holders will receive 100,000,000 newly issued shares in the capital of Urban comprised of: (i) a minimum of 49,000,000 Class A Common shares (the "Urban Class A Shares"), and (ii) up to a maximum of 51,000,000 Class B Common shares (the "Urban Class B Shares"). The exact number of Urban Class A and Class B Shares will be dependent on the number of Urban Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Financing (as such term is defined below). Terms of the Transaction The Transaction will be carried out pursuant to the terms of the BCA, a copy of which is, or shortly will be, filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The below description of the terms of the Transaction and the BCA is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the BCA. Pursuant to the terms of the BCA, at the effective time of the Amalgamation, Urban will amalgamate with Subco to form an amalgamated entity ("Amalco"), which will continue as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer. In connection with the completion of the Amalgamation, each holder of Urban Common Shares, including all Urban Common Shares issued pursuant to the Financing (described below) and Urban Class A Shares, shall exchange their Urban Common Shares and Urban Class A Shares, for common shares in the capital of the Resulting Issuer ("Resulting Issuer Common Shares") on the basis of one (1) fully paid and non-assessable Resulting Issuer Common Share for every one (1) Urban Common Share or one (1) Urban Class A Share held, for a deemed price of $0.15 per Urban Common Share and Urban Class A Share. In addition, each holder of Urban Class B Shares shall exchange their Urban Class B Shares for Class B Common shares in the capital of Amalco (the "Amalco Class B Shares") on the basis of one (1) fully paid and non-assessable Amalco Class B Share for every one (1) Amalco Class B Share held, for a deemed price of $0.15 per Urban Class B Share. Each holder of Amalco Class B Share will also enter into an agreement with the Resulting Issuer whereby the Resulting Issuer shall acquire all of the Amalco Class B Shares from the holders thereof, in exchange for Resulting Issuer Common Shares on the basis one (1) fully paid and non-assessable Resulting Issuer Common Share for every one (1) Amalco Class B Share held, for a deemed price of $0.15 per Amalco Class B Share. The Resulting Issuer shall complete the acquisition of all Amalco Class B Shares on the earlier of: (i) the Resulting Issuer being in compliance with the Exchange's initial listing requirement that 20% of issued and outstanding shares of the Resulting Issuer be held by Public Shareholders (as such term is defined in Exchange Policy 1.1 - Interpretation) after the acquisition of the Amalco Class B Shares, and (ii) the date that is two (2) years from the closing of the Transaction. The Amalco Class B Shares are being issued in order for the Resulting Issuer to meet the Exchange's initial listing requirement as to the percentage of common shares held by Public Shareholders. On the closing of the Transaction, without accounting for the closing of the Financing, a minimum of 49,000,000 Resulting Issuer Common Shares will be issued to the holders of Urban Class A Shares and up to a maximum of 51,000,000 Resulting Issuer Common Shares will ultimately be issued to the holders of Amalco Class B Shares, on the terms described above. The exact number of Resulting Issuer Shares to be issued in exchange for the Urban Class A Shares and the Amalco Class B Shares will be dependent on the number of Urban Common Shares issued pursuant to the Financing. Assuming the completion of the Minimum Financing (as such term is defined below), there will be a minimum of 62,540,334 Resulting Issuer Common Shares outstanding upon completion of the Transaction, on a non-diluted basis. In the event that the Maximum Financing (as such term is defined below) is completed, it is expected that that there will be approximately 146,873,668 Resulting Issuer Common Shares outstanding upon completion of the Transaction, on a non-diluted basis. On completion of the Transaction: the current shareholders of the Company will hold an aggregate of approximately 8,207,001 Resulting Issuer Common Shares, representing approximately 13.12% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Minimum Financing and approximately 5.59% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Maximum Financing; the current shareholders of Urban will hold an aggregate of 49,000,000 Resulting Issuer Common Shares, representing approximately 78.35% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Minimum Financing and will hold 100,000,000 Resulting Issuer Common Shares, representing approximately 68.09% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Maximum Financing; and investors in the Financing (as defined below) will hold an aggregate of 1,333,333 Resulting Issuer Common Shares representing approximately 2.13% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Minimum Financing and will hold approximately 33,333,333 Resulting Issuer Common Shares, representing approximately 22.71% of the Resulting Issuer Common Shares, assuming the closing of the Maximum Financing. The completion of the Transaction is conditional on obtaining all necessary regulatory in connection with the matters described above and other conditions customary for a transaction of this type. The Company and Urban anticipate closing the Transaction in late February or early March of 2024. In connection with the Transaction, the Company held a special meeting of shareholders on January 16, 2024 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, the Company's shareholders approved the following matters related to the Transaction: conditional appointing each of Gary Alves, Ungad Chadda, Harold Wolkin, Magaly Bianchini, Nicholas Thadaney, Mark Di Cristofaro and Jennifer Rebecca Labrecque as directors of the Resulting Issuer; change in the name of the Company from "Deal Pro Capital Corporation" to "Urban Infrastructure Group Inc." or such other name as the board of directors of the Company and Urban deems appropriate; and the implementation of a new form of equity incentive plan. Additional details regarding the Meeting is available in the management information circular, a copy of which is available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca Conditional Approval The Company is also pleased to announce that the Exchange has conditionally approved the Transaction. The Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the Exchange and satisfaction of closing conditions customary for the transaction of this nature. Financing In connection with the Transaction, Urban intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of a minimum of 1,333,333 up to a maximum of 33,333,333 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.15 per Unit for minimum gross proceeds of CDN $200,000 (the "Minimum Financing") up to a maximum of CDN $5,000,000 (the "Maximum Financing"). Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) Urban Common Share and one-half (1/2) of a share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Urban Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one (1) additional Urban Common Share at a price of C$0.25 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Financing. On the closing of the Financing, the Urban Common Shares and Urban Warrants issuable pursuant to the Financing will be automatically exchanged for Resulting Issuer Common Shares and warrants of the Resulting Issuer (on the same terms as the Urban Warrants), on a one (1) for one (1) basis. The proceeds of the Financing will be used for the working capital requirements of the Resulting Issuer. Closing of the Financing is subject to (i) the closing of the Transaction; and (ii) receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Exchange. Certain finder's fees may also be payable to qualifying parties in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Trading Halt Trading of the Company's shares has been halted and will remain halted pending the Exchange's receipt of satisfactory documentation and completion of the Transaction. Filing Statement In connection with the Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange, the Company will file a filing statement on its issuer profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), which will contain details regarding the Transaction, Urban, the Financing, and the Resulting Issuer. The Company anticipates filing the filing statement on or before February 14, 2024. Sponsorship of the Acquisition Sponsorship of a "Qualifying Transaction" of a capital pool company is required by the Exchange unless exempt in accordance with Exchange policies. The Company has obtained a waiver from Sponsorship requirements from the Exchange. Cautionary Statements Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder and Exchange approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Deal Pro Capital Corporation should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. All information contained in this press release with respect to the Company and Urban was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. For more information, please contact the Company at (416) 543-8289 or [email protected]. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Deal Pro Capital Corporation Harold Wolkin CEO, CFO and Director Forward-Looking Information This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward looking, including without limitation any statements concerning the expected results of the Transaction, the completion of the transactions contemplated by the BCA, the anticipated timing thereof, completion of the Financing, the expected ownership of the Resulting Issuer Share following the closing of the Transaction, the expected use of proceeds therefrom. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the Exchange. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197675 West Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - The Norton Museum of Art is thrilled to announce the upcoming exhibition, "Ellen Graham: Unscripted," on view at the Norton from March 2 to June 16, 2024. A private opening event will be on Thursday, February 29, 2024. David Bowie, Rehearsal, Los Angeles, CA, 1975 by Ellen Graham To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9095/197677_961c2ebf74d7c9d3_001full.jpg This exhibition gives insight into the prolific career of this artist by looking at her intimate approach to portraiture over six decades, her successes, and her challenges. "This exhibition and the accompanying catalogue provide a contemporary reading of Graham's photographs through the lens of 'the unscripted,' a concept that describes both her photographic style and process, in addition to the external forces that helped shape her career. Within the broader genre of portraiture, Graham's photographs feature qualities that stretch beyond many of her contemporaries: a sense of immediacy, moments of intimacy and humor, and the remarkable ability to disarm her subjects," said Lauren Richman, Ph.D., the Norton's William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography. Ellen Graham's intimate images of notable people at the beginning, middle, and twilight of their lives offer a distinct perspective on portrait photography. The exhibition will feature a collection of Graham's 2021 gifted images to the Norton, complemented by a selection on loan from the Ellen Graham Archive, including both photographs and photographic ephemera. "The collection of photographs from Ellen Graham will engage and delight Museum visitors for years to come," said Ghislain d'Humires, Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO of the Norton. "In addition to these works, two years ago, the Museum was the recipient of a transformative gift from The Ellen and Ian Graham Foundation to establish a named endowment and name the Museum's third floor." The exhibition draws from Graham's portrait and street photography. With over 400 portrait subjects, Graham's lens portrays some of the most iconic public figures of the 20th century, revealing an authenticity rarely seen in the public. In addition to her work with celebrities, Graham's street scenes from New York City, Paris, Havana, Los Angeles, Venice, and Beverly Hills provide a glimpse into unseen moments of life. The exhibition reflects on Graham's diverse experiences and encounters in private and public spaces. Ellen Graham's career, marked by collaborations with major U.S. magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, People, W Magazine, Time, and Newsweek, has not only shaped her life but also contributed to the mission of the Norton Museum of Art in providing transformative cultural experiences through diverse collections and engaging exhibitions. Speaking about her craft, Graham said, "Photography changed my life. My love of photography inspired me to help the Norton with its mission to promote photography to others." Sharon Tate, Beverly Hills, CA, 1968 by Ellen Graham To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9095/197677_961c2ebf74d7c9d3_003full.jpg Carrie Fisher, Beverly Hills, CA, 1974 by Ellen Graham To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9095/197677_961c2ebf74d7c9d3_002full.jpg Between the 1960s and 1990s, magazines sought Ellen Graham's talent to make intimate photographs of notable people that connected with the viewer on a human level. Graham's portraits show this personal view of figures such as Sharon Tate, Marissa Berenson, Cher, David Bowie, Arthur Ashe, Anthony Hopkins, Julie Christie, Julio Iglesias, Fred Astaire, Barbara Streisand, Natalie Wood, Carrie Fisher, Julie Andrews, Burt Reynolds and more. Event Details: Exhibition: Ellen Graham: Unscripted Public Exhibition Dates: March 2 to June 16, 2024 Private Opening Event Date and Time: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 5:30 pm - 7 pm Venue: Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 The exhibition is organized by the Norton Museum of Art, a testament to their commitment to showcasing exceptional works that transcend time and capture the essence of humanity. Andy Warhol with Stuffed Dog, The Factory, New York, NY, 1974 by Ellen Graham To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9095/197677_961c2ebf74d7c9d3_004full.jpg For more information, please visit norton.org. Media Contact Mandie Erickson 646-479-0777 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197677 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Forza Petroleum Limited (TSX: FORZ) ("Forza Petroleum" or the "Corporation") today announces that at the special meeting of the Corporation's securityholders (the "Meeting") held on February 12, 2024, the shareholders of the Corporation (the "Shareholders") and the holders of share awards outstanding under the long-term equity incentive plan of the Corporation (the "Award Holders" and, together with the Shareholders, the "Securityholders") approved the special resolution authorizing the arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act involving the Corporation, 1453709 B.C. Ltd. (the "Purchaser") and Zeg Oil and Gas Ltd. ("Zeg Oil") whereby, among other things, the Purchaser will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation ("Common Shares") not already owned by the Purchaser or Zeg Oil for cash consideration of C$0.15 per Common Share (the "Arrangement Resolution"). At the Meeting, the Arrangement Resolution was approved by: (i) 99.96% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting; (ii) 99.97% of the votes cast by Shareholders and Award Holders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, voting together as a single class; and (iii) 99.48% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding the votes in respect of Common Shares held or controlled by persons required to be excluded from the vote pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Complete results for voting on the Arrangement Resolution are available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to customary conditions, including court approval. The Arrangement is more fully described in the management proxy circular (the "Circular") which was mailed to Securityholders of record as of January 5, 2024. The Circular is available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. ABOUT FORZA PETROLEUM LIMITED Forza Petroleum Limited is an international oil exploration, development and production company. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "FORZ". Forza Petroleum has a 65% working interest in and operates the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has yielded oil discoveries in four areas. Further information about Forza Petroleum is available at www.forzapetroleum.com or under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. For additional information about Forza Petroleum, please contact: Kevin McPhee General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 00 E-mail: [email protected] Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to the timing and completion of the Arrangement. Statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, also constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Although Forza Petroleum believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. The assumptions relied on to support these statements include that the transaction and the delisting will proceed according to the Corporation's anticipated timelines, all conditions to the closing of the transaction will be met, and that the Arrangement Agreement will not be terminated prior to closing. For more information about risks facing the Corporation, refer to the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.com and the Corporation's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. Statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, Forza Petroleum does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Corporation does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197748 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Hertz Energy Inc. (CSE: HZ) (OTCQB: HZLIF) (FSE: QE2) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Property Purchase and Sale Agreement dated February 2, 2024 (the "Definitive Agreement") with BullRun Capital Inc. (the "Vendor") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire the Cominco Uranium Project, located in Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut, Canada (the "Cominco Property"). PURCHASE AGREEMENT The Company has entered into the Definitive Agreement to acquire the Cominco Property. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Definitive Agreement and as consideration for the acquisition of a 100% undivided interest in the Cominco Property, the has agreed to: Reimburse the Vendor acquisition costs to date estimated not to exceed $75,000; and grant the Vendor a two percent (2%) net smelter returns royalty on the Cominco Property. Mr. Kal Malhi, CEO of Hertz states, "Hertz was always founded and positioned to explore for mineral deposits that will power the future. We started with our Lucky Mica project and have added the AC/DC Lithium Project, while also obtaining options to acquire the Snake and Patriota Lithium Projects, since our listing in April 2023. Adding the Cominco Property fits extremely well with our energy metals offering and we aim to aggressively explore both the lithium and uranium mineral projects and continue to offer investors a well-diversified energy metals project portfolio." The Vendor is wholly-owned by Kal Malhi, a director and officer of the Company. Accordingly, the Company's acquisition of the Cominco Property constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemption from valuation requirement and minority approval pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, for its acquisition of the Cominco Property, as the value of the consideration to be paid by the Company for the acquisition of the Cominco Property does not represent more than 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. COMINCO URANIUM PROPERTY The Cominco Property is focused on two main uranium showings of interest, the Pomie and the Yon showings in Nunavut (see Figure 1 below). Additional showings of uranium, copper, gold, nickel, and lead are known in the area. The Pomie and Yon showings were both explored in the mid 1970s by Cominco and Noranda and no work using modern exploration technologies has taken place since. Previous regional work in the area by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) identified mineral potential for uranium in the area (Roscoe, 1984), based on the presence of the above showings and favourable stratigraphy for the formation of Unconformity Related Uranium (URU) deposits, similar to the stratigraphy found in the Athabasca and Thelon basins. The Cominco Property covers the Yon and Pomie "Advanced Exploration" stage showings and is comprised of four licensing spanning 5,046.25 hectares covering favourable geology. The two main uranium showings on the Cominco Property, the Yon and Pomie showings, are described in greater detail below. There are other smaller occurrences usually associated with copper mineralization in the region. Figure 1: Geographical map highlighting location of Pomie and Yon showings To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9656/197680_ed0d7b7794ef59d8_002full.jpg Pomie Uranium Showing The Pomie showing lies at the south end of Bathurst Lake, located near the Western River outflow into Bathurst Inlet (see Figure 2 below). The Pomie showing was explored by Cominco Ltd. in 1976 and 1977, following a regional airborne radiometric survey conducted in 1975 (Wright and Heddle, 1977). In 1977, Cominco drilled seven BQ-sized holes totalling 420m on the Pomie showing and determined that the mineralization was associated with the basalt. The following summary is quoted from Nunavut Mineral Occurrence Database for the Pomie showing ID 076JSW0003. Capsule Geology - Cominco Ltd 1977 "The Pomie prospect has the most significant uranium mineralization in bedrock discovered to date in the Bathurst Inlet region. There are two favourable intracratonic sedimentary basins in the region, namely the Kilohigok and Elu basins of Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic age, respectively. Main uranium exploration thrust in the region was during 1975-'81, which involved mostly the reconnaissance type work by major companies, namely Cominco, E & B Explorations, Noranda, S.E.R.U. Nucleaire, Aquitaine, Essex, Gulf and Giant Yellowknife." Deformation/Setting "Open folding and fracturing in the host strata of Pomie prospect are related to the Bathurst Inlet faults. The strata are part of the uppermost formation of the Goulburn Group. The group is essentially coeval with the Coronation Supergroup of the Wopmay orogen to the west deposited during 2000-1890 Ma, as well to the Great Slave Supergroup to the southwest. NNW-trending Bathurst faults are coeval with the ENE-trending faults of the Great Slave Shear Zone. Both are related to the terminal collision in the north-trending Wopmay orogen ca. 1883 Ma. Fanglomerates and associated sediments were deposited in grabens formed by these faults. They comprise the Mesoproterozoic Tinney Cove Formation in Bathurst Inlet and Et-Then Group in East Arm of Great Slave Lake. Basal unconformity of these sediments is marked by paleo-weathering. Hence they are favourable for Unconformity-associated uranium mineralization. This also applies to the Ellis Formation overlying the Tinney Cove Formation. Whether the mineralization at Pomie prospect is related to unconformity is debatable. The 1022 Ma pitchblende age reported here is permissive in this regard." Mineralization "A sample of arkose from Trench 9 assaying 87 lbs U3O8 per ton (36.888 kg U/metric tonne or 3.689 % U) was examined in polished section (Wright, 1976; Roscoe, 1984). Radioactive material is extremely fine grained and disseminated in matrix of quartz grains, clay minerals and minor sulphides (pyrite and chalcopyrite). A sample of basalt from Trench 9 assaying 130 lbs U3O8 per ton (5.512 % U; note: check assay of 89 lbs U3O8 /ton) gave essentially the same result, mineralization being finely disseminated in the matrix and coating grains of sulphides. A linear concentration of fracture-filling was noted. A scanning electron microscope study of this radioactive material indicated mainly U with minor Si, Fe and Ca suggesting that uraninite is the uranium mineral with minor impurities of quartz, iron oxides and calcite. The best grade encountered at surface was 41.96 lbs U3O8/ton (1.779 % U) over 13.0 feet (3.96 m) in Trench 9 at the south end of the main mineralized zone adjacent to a large area of drift and muskeg." Yon Uranium Showing The Yon showing was explored by Noranda commencing with radiometric surveys and reconnaissance work conducted in 1976 followed by mapping, prospecting, and trenching in 1977. The Yon showing lies on the eastern side of Bathurst Inlet and is hosted in the Western River Formation (see Figure 2 below). Vein-hosted mineralization occurs within brecciated Western River Formation rocks. Mineralization is fault controlled, bounded to the east and west by the Grizzly and McLaughlin faults and occurs above the east trending Coliver fault. The following summary is quoted from Nunavut Mineral Occurrence Database for the Yon showing ID 076JNW0005. Capsule Geology: Noranda Inc. 1977 "A regional airborne radiometric survey in 1976 by Noranda detected anomalies in a thick sequence of green and grey siltstones, which on the ground gave readings of total 6000 to 10000 cpm on McPhar TV-1 spectrometer. However, these anomalies led to discovery of mineralized talus to the southwest on the east face of a sandstone ridge. The showing was explored by mapping and trenching during 1976 -1977. Further prospecting led to located veins on both sides of the ridge. Considerable surface exploration was done on the prospect in 1977, but no drilling has been done. 13 trenches in 350 x 400 m area; best assay from a 1.5 m channel sample across a vein: 0.33 % U and 0.4 % Cu." Mineralization "Widely spaced fracture-filling suggests a large but weak mineralizing system. The country rocks and host rocks include a large proportion of sandstones that are favourable for sandstone-type uranium mineralization. They are faulted and locally highly tilted but are essentially unmetamorphosed. The YON prospect is close to the basal unconformity of the Western River Formation with the Archean basement, and there is some development of paleoregolith on the basement. Granitoid rocks in the basement are potential source rocks for the uranium seen in the veins. One of the 11 grab samples assayed in 1976 gave the following best metal values: 0.644 % U3O8 (0.456 % U), 1.23 % Cu, 0.62 oz/ton Ag and 0.005 oz/ton Au." Figure 2: Geological map highlighting the Pomie and Yon showings To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9656/197680_ed0d7b7794ef59d8_003full.jpg UPDATE ON THE COMPANY'S PROPERTIES AC/DC Lithium Project - James Bay, Canada The AC/DC Lithium Project is district size at 265km2 and adjoins and shares similar geology to Rio Tinto's Kaanaayaa Lithium Project in James Bay, Quebec. The AC/DC Lithium Project is also amidst large lithium discoveries by Patriot Battery Metals' 109Mt Corvette lithium discovery, Winsome Resources' 59Mt Adina Discovery, Brunswick Exploration Mirage lithium discovery, Loyal Lithium Trieste lithium discovery and Azimut Exploration and Midland/Rio Tinto's respective Galinee Projects. Snake Lithium Project - James Bay, Canada The Snake Lithium Project spans 217km2 located next to drill ready lithium discoveries by Brunswick Lithium's Arwen (Elrond) lithium discovery, Harfang Exploration's Serpent lithium discovery and Quebec Precious Metals' Ninaaskumuwin lithium discovery. The Company holds an option to acquire the Snake Lithium Project from Sirios Resources Inc. Lucky Mica Lithium Project - Arizona, USA The Lucky Mica Project covers 939 hectares in Maricopa Country, Arizona along the Arizona Pegmatite Belt and sits between Patriot Lithium's projects. The area is easily accessible through the public road network and is approximately 105 km northwest of Phoenix. SGS Canada Inc. has defined a target envelope tonnage of between 330,000 and 551,000 tonnes to a depth of 60m with average grades between 0.3% and 2.5% Li2O. Patriota Lithium Project - Minas Gerais, Brazil The Patriota Lithium Project is located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The tenements cover 2,963.7 hectares in proximity to areas of economically significant lithium deposits including Sigma Lithium's green lithium mine, Ionic Lithium's Itinga and Salinas projects and CBL's Cachoeira mine. The Company holds an option to acquire the Patriota Lithium Project from Brascan Resources Inc. and RTB Geologia e Mineracao LTDA. 2024 EXPLORATION STRATEGY The Company is committed to advancing its well diversified energy metals portfolio and recently closed a $1.5M charity flow-through financing which will be solely dedicated to its lithium projects in Quebec. The Company also recently closed a $1.037M non-flow-through financing which will be dedicated towards its extraction technology, exploration at its Lucky Mica Project, consulting/management fees, marketing/IR, the acquisition of the Cominco Property, and general and administrative matters. The company will remain heavily focused on its lithium assets located in James Bay, Quebec. Lithium is not a fad but foundational to the energy transition away from fossil fuels. We firmly believe that as the cost of electric vehicles continues to fall, adoption rates will continue to soar. Governments have implemented policies that virtually ensure widespread adoption across much of the world. Despite new lithium mines coming online, demand remains relentless as growth in EVs continues to outpace expectations. LITHIUM SUMMARY As of January 31, 2023, lithium prices and capital markets valuations for lithium explorers have taken a dip from the high lithium prices of early 2023. The Company continues to believe that lithium is the metal of our generation and will continue to be needed to meet the expanding demand. A recent quote from respected industry advisor John Kaiser summarized lithium as the metal for the future shift to electric power and the upcoming technologies that will make EV's affordable by the government mandates to eliminate gas powered vehicles from the roads across the world. ABOUT LITHIUM "As nationalism of critical metals is in FastTrack mode, especially in China, the West remains committed to the energy transition. Not only must exploration and development within these territories replace supply that came from the East, but also secure supply to meet the extra demand created by these energy transition needs. Since the EV sector growth is something that comes in waves, there tends to be regular imbalance between surges in supply and demand. China has been the primary driver of lithium demand because its EV deployment has been driven by the desire to escape import dependency on oil as a transportation fuel. The current reality is that for ordinary people good EV's like Tesla's are too expensive, and the cheap models such as BYD products are inferior in terms of how long one can drive before refueling, where to refuel and how long to refuel. This is the reason Toyota avoided charging into the EV sector and instead chose to focus on hybrids while working on hydrogen leapfrog technology. The latter, however, is for a future decade because there is nothing happening to create widespread hydrogen refueling stations whereas electricity supply is ubiquitous, you just need a place to park and plug in. TOYOTA DEVELOPMENT If Toyota is committed to their new technology, and has figured out how to build a solid state lithium-ion battery that uses lithium as the anode instead of graphite, which facilitates ranges over 1,000 km on 10 minute charge times, and, because it is based on a manufacturing breakthrough rather than some new configuration which requires a scarce and expensive input such as scandium or even worse iridium, has the potential to undergo further efficiencies just as has happened with solar panels. Toyota will be able to offer affordable an EV Camry and Corolla by 2030, provided there is enough lithium supply in place to do so. But groups like Albermarle, SQM and Australia based mineral exploration titan Gina Reinhart know, which is why Gina and SQM are paying the equivalent of AUD $2.7 billion to buy out Azure Minerals which doesn't even have a resource estimate yet. They know lithium will be a $200 billion annual market during the 2030s and spodumene pegmatites are the most predictable supply source today while we wait to see what the salars, claystones and oil brine fields can deliver at what unit cost. The idea of Lithium Mania 2.0 is tied to the solid-state lithium-ion breakthrough which turns EVs into an affordable and acceptable option for ordinary people, and we will not hit that inflection point until 2030, which means exploring for pegmatites has to go full throttle today. If Toyota delivers on this promise, EVs cease to be a "political" choice. When will lithium stock prices reverse their decline? Should one buy now or wait for it to fall lower? In the case of lithium, we know there will be drill results coming from many discoveries in 2024 to excite the lithium investment market and the expansion of EV vehicle technologies and sales numbers will continue to skyrocket." - John Kaiser, Kaiser Research Online LITHIUM RELATED LINKS CNBC A WORLDWIDE LITHIUM SHORTAGE COULD COME AS SOON AS 2025 FORTUNE "EVs reached 33% of sales in China, 35% in Germany, and 90% in Norway for the first six months of 2023, according to a BloombergNEF EV outlook published in June." ATLAS PUBLIC POLICY EV sales data is now in for September 2023. Here's three highlights: Strongest month on record with 136,000 sales, up nearly 67% from September 2022 EV market share of 11% for new sales Nearly 59,000 Tesla sales, the second highest ever for Tesla BLOOMBERG EV sales are surging due to a combination of policy support, improvements in battery technology, more charging infrastructure and new compelling models from automakers. Electrification is also spreading to new segments of road transport, setting the stage for huge changes ahead. URANIUM SUMMARY Uranium is Powering Up the Future. Spot uranium prices recently reached a peak not witnessed since 2007, standing strong at $101 per pound, per Numerico data. This upswing signifies a constrained nuclear fuel market, growing expectations for future demand, and the imperative for additional mine restarts and new constructions, according to experts in the uranium industry. Need for nuclear. The rising price comes after the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced its US$500 million plan to build domestic uranium supply for advanced nuclear reactors, as part of President Joe Biden's 'Investing in America Agenda'. US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm says nuclear energy provides nearly half of the US carbon-free power and continues to play a 'significant' role in transitioning to a clean energy future. The unpredictable fossil fuel prices and go-getter goals for decarbonisation have driven the US, along with other countries to announce their nuclear power will be tripled by 2050. The S&P Global reports the rally started due to geopolitical instability, everlasting supply cuts, and companies renewing their long-term uranium supply contracts. Other factors influenced this now-bull market, including a change in global sentiment as plans were in the works for restarting or extending the operational life of nuclear power plants. The key role that nuclear energy will play in reaching net zero by 2050 was recognised at COP28. Some 22 countries, led by the US and other leading nuclear nations, including France, South Korea, Canada, Britain, Japan, Sweden and the UAE, signed a declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The Company's proposed acquisition of the Cominco Property offers investors a diversification alongside its lithium portfolio to offer a truly diversified "energy" investment opportunity. Qualified Person Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Pomie and Yon projects disclosed in this news release. About the Company Hertz Energy is a British Columbia based junior exploration company primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. The Company recently entered into the Definitive Agreement to acquire the Cominco Uranium Property located in Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. Hertz rebrand to "Hertz Energy" to better reflect the Company's commitment to critical mineral exploration in support of the global green energy transition. The Company's lithium exploration projects include the Lucky Mica Lithium Project, the ACDC Lithium Project and the Patriota Lithium Projection. The Lucky Mica Project is 939 hectares located within the Arizona Pegmatite Belt in the Maricopa County of Arizona, USA. The ACDC Project is 26,500 hectares located in the renowned James Bay Lithium District in Quebec, Canada, just 26kms southeast of the Covette Lithium Project owned by Patriot Battery Metals and is contiguous to Rio Tinto's Kaanaayaa project claims. The Patriota Lithium Project is 2,963 hectares located within the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province in Minas Gerais, Brazil and host to similar geology as Sigma's "Green Lithium Mine". The Company also holds a long-term, exclusive license for a patent-pending process for extracting lithium directly from lithium-bearing materials, including but not limited to alpha-spodumene and other hard rock hosted minerals. Such process was invented by researchers affiliated with Penn State and is co-owned by the Penn State Research Foundation and North Carolina State University. For further information, please contact Mr. Kal Malhi or view the Company's filings at www.sedarplus.ca. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Kal Malhi Chief Executive Officer and Director Phone: 604-805-4602 Email: [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197680 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) (NYSE: IAG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company"), announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary IAMGOLD France S.A.S. ("IAMGOLD France") has notified the Autorit des marches financiers ("AMF") in France of its intention to implement a squeeze-out under French law (the "Squeeze-Out") for the remaining 5,291,832 common shares ("EURO Shares") of EURO Ressources S.A. ("EURO") that IAMGOLD France does not already own for cash consideration of 3.50 per EURO Share net of all applicable costs (the "Squeeze-Out Consideration") in accordance with the terms of IAMGOLD France's buy-out offer under French law to acquire all of the outstanding EURO Shares (the "Offer") that was approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, as previously announced by the Company on November 14, 2023 and January 24, 2024. Pursuant to the notice issued by the AMF on February 12, 2024 (the "Notice"), the Squeeze-Out will be implemented on February 27, 2024 and the remaining 5,291,832 EURO Shares not already owned by IAMGOLD France will be transferred to IAMGOLD France in exchange for the Squeeze-Out Consideration. The Notice is available on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org). On February 13, 2024, the Euronext Paris stock exchange published a timetable for implementation of the Squeeze-Out and delisting of the EURO Shares on February 27, 2024, which is available on its website (https://www.euronext.com/fr/markets/paris). An offer document and information on the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of IAMGOLD France supplementing the offer document, prepared in accordance with French law and approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, disclosing, among other things, the terms of, and proposed timetable for, the Offer as well as certain legal, financial and accounting information concerning IAMGOLD France are available on the websites of IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org), and under EURO's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The IAMGOLD website does not constitute a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, the offer document or any of the other mentioned documents. A reply document prepared by EURO, and approved by the AMF on January 23, 2024, and information on the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of EURO are available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org) and EURO's website (www.goldroyalties.com). IAMGOLD has appointed Natixis as its Financial Advisor, Presenting and Guaranteeing Bank for the Offer. In connection with the Offer, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP is acting as French counsel to IAMGOLD and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as Canadian legal counsel to IAMGOLD. Important Notice This news release does not constitute and should not be construed as a public offer to buy, or the solicitation of an offer to sell, EURO's securities. The Offer, which was approved by the AMF, is made solely on the basis of the offer document approved by the AMF which is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). In accordance with French law, the documentation relating to the Offer which has been filed with the AMF includes the terms and conditions of the Offer. The offer document has not been filed with, or approved or disapproved by, the authorities of any jurisdiction other than France. EURO shareholders are urged to read the offer document because it contains important information about the Offer, EURO and IAMGOLD. EURO shareholders are advised to seek independent advice where appropriate in order to reach a reasoned judgment in respect of the Offer and the content of the offer document. In addition, EURO shareholders may wish to consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of tendering their EURO securities under the Offer. The Offer referred to herein will not be made or directed to, nor will deposits of EURO shares be accepted from or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of such offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. Persons obtaining the offer document are required to take due note of, and to observe, all such restrictions and obtain any necessary authorizations, approvals or consents (to the extent applicable). Persons in any doubt as to their eligibility to participate in the Offer should consult their professional advisers immediately. Outside of France, no actions have been taken (nor will actions be taken) to make the Offer possible in any jurisdiction where such actions would be required. Any person (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) who forwards or intends to forward the offer document or any related document to any jurisdiction outside France should carefully read the offer document before taking any action. The release, publication or distribution of the offer document and any documentation regarding the Offer or the making of the Offer in jurisdictions other than France may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession the offer document comes should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. The Offer will be made in Canada and the United States pursuant to applicable exemptions and in accordance with the applicable requirements in France. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including but not limited to offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those in Canada and the United States applicable to tender offers for securities of a reporting issuer. About Euro Ressources Euro Ressources is a French mining royalty and streaming company listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange under the symbol EUR. EURO's main assets are a 10% royalty from IAMGOLD on the Rosebel Gold Mine production (excluding Saramacca) in Suriname (the "Rosebel Royalty"), a silver stream from a subsidiary of Orezone Gold Corporation, a royalty on the Paul Isnard concessions in French Guiana and marketable securities. IAMGOLD makes quarterly royalty payments to EURO under the Rosebel Royalty and receives a 90% share of the annual dividend from EURO, net of income taxes in France and withholding taxes. EURO's head office is located at 23, Rue du Roule, 75001 Paris, France. About IAMGOLD IAMGOLD is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa. IAMGOLD is building the large-scale, long life Cote Gold project in Canada in partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., which is expected to commence production in the first quarter of 2024. In addition, IAMGOLD has an established portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects within high potential mining districts in Canada. IAMGOLD employs approximately 3,600 people and is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance practices, including its commitment to Zero Harm, in every aspect of its business. IAMGOLD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IAG) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IMG) and is one of the companies on the Jantzi Social Index, a socially screened market capitalization-weighted consisting of companies which pass a set of broadly based environmental, social and governance rating criteria. IAMGOLD's head office is located at 401 Bay Street, Suite 3200, P.O. Box 153, Toronto, ON, CA, M5H 2Y4. IAMGOLD Contact Information Graeme Jennings, Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: 416 360 4743 | Mobile: 416 388 6883 Toll-free: 1 888 464 9999 [email protected] All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov. Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197745 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2024) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.(CSE: NOP)("NOP" or the "Company), a B.C. based company engaged in the exploration for organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate in Nevada, is pleased to announce it has entered into a consultant agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") with an independent consultant Integrity Media Inc. (the "Consultant") with respect to the Consultant agreeing to serve as the Company's Manager of Government Relations for a term of (1) one-year, led by its president, Kurt Divich. In consideration for the appointment and services over the term of the Consulting Agreement, the Company has agreed issue 800,000 common shares (each, a "Share") to the Consultant at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share. The Company also announces it has entered into a consultant agreement (the "Agreement") with an independent consultant (the "Independent Consultant") pursuant to which the Independent Consultant has agreed to provide the Company general corporate development and business marketing services for a (3) three-month term. As consideration for services over the term of the Agreement the Company has agreed issue 260,000 common shares (each, a "Share") to the Independent Consultant at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share. Accordingly, all the Shares are to be issued pursuant to the prospectus exemption provided under Section 2.24 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and are subject to a hold period of four months and one day. Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. NOP is a junior exploration company with a sedimentary rock phosphate property (the "Murdock Property") hosting a nearly flat lying sedimentary bed of known phosphate mineralization in NE Nevada. The increasing interest in organic and sustainable agriculture practices has contributed to the demand for organic fertilizers, including those derived from rock phosphate. Organic rock phosphate is often marketed as a fertilizer that not only provides phosphorus but also contributes to overall soil health. The Issuer aims to be one of the only certified organic rock phosphate producers with large scale potential in North America. The Murdock Property is situated adjacent to a main highway and the rail head to California. For More Information Robin Dow, CEO T: 604.355.9986 E: [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. Forward- looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197696 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced CFR 14 Part 107 regulations in 2016 to address increased numbers of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, aka drones) in U.S. airspace. Part 107 provides regulation on UAV use in controlled airspace, weather conditions, performance and weight standards, and usage by the general public for professional and hobbyist applications. The FAA reported 865,000 UAVs registered (314,000 commercial, 538,000 hobbyist) along with 280,000 certified UAV pilots. This does not account for all UAVs that are not registered. There are growing concerns of UAV use by companies for delivery, scouting, mapping, and inspections, leading to the need for more training Purdue Extension created the UAV program for Indiana stakeholders. Over 240 sessions totaling 190 hours, training focused on UAV applications, safety, regulations, sensors, and best-use cases. Extension specialists and educators used flight planning software to create unique maps to share with stakeholders for data interpretation and manipulation. Nearly 1,200 maps were created and 122,748 acres flown in working with more than 4,000 people across Indiana. Purdue Extension worked with youth through STEM programs, helping hone flight skills through controller manipulation, obstacle course completion, or UAV presentation/demonstration in classrooms. Some youth developed programming for UAVs through computer software (Scratch or Scratch Jr.), allowing them to develop programmed flights. More than 3,100 youth participated in 52 training sessions. Some 27 UAV programs provided training for 863 agriculture, utility, construction, real estate, insurance, infrastructure, and many other industry professionals, using live drone demonstrations, imagery, and software. In the past five years, Extension and the Purdue Agriculture Centers (PACs) partnered to purchase four spray drones. The team sprayed herbicide and fungicide on about 300 acres of crops at the PACs for research or on-farm demonstration plots. For UAV programs and demonstrations presented in schools, teachers indicated that drones are always the favorite station for students. For adult participants of UAV training, all reported that after the program, they were more aware of safety protocols and better understood applications associated with UAV technology. Nearly all participants (98.3%) were more aware of legal issues and troubleshooting techniques. Most (92.9%) indicated they felt prepared with study materials for taking the FAAs Remote Pilot test. Three-quarters of adults (75.9%) indicated they plan to take the Remote Pilot test, and to implement UAV technology in their operations (72.4%). Adults described how they plan to implement UAV technology for fire or public safety, inspections/surveys, field scouting, and photography. The majority (80.4%) felt they would save money by investing in UAV technology in the future. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a measure of customer loyalty that helps inform decision-makers of the experiences they are providing. The calculated NPS for UAV program participants was +67 (on a scale from -100 to +100) and is considered an excellent rating. Extensions UAV Program introduces youth to drones via STEM-related activities, prepares adults to take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Test to fly drones for their work or hobbies, and increases participant knowledge about future job or career opportunities. HIGHLIGHTS Results confirm that a significant LCT pegmatite system is present at the Ruby Hill West property. Highlights include: 19.5m at 1.13% Li 2 O from surface (trench sample) 11.1m at 0.56% Li 2 O from 29.8m 10.7m at 0.67% Li 2 O from 102.3m 5.5m at 0.76% Li 2 O from surface (trench sample) 5.01 at 0.95% Li 2 O from surface (trench sample) Multiple thick LCT pegmatite intersections showing highly fractioned/fertile indicators (K/Rb ratios Pegmatites show evidence of internal zoning creating discrete spodumene rich zones Very high-grade tantalum, rubidium and caesium association 25km prospective lithium trend remains open for new discoveries Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2024) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (the Company or Benz) is pleased to provide an update on its lithium exploration activities. Drilling on the Ruby Hill West (RHW) and Mikisiw pegmatite targets concluded in early November 2023 and results have now been received and interpreted. The drill program consisted of 19 holes for 2,940.7m via a single helicopter supported diamond rig. An additional 58.95m of trench channel samples were also completed targeting visible pegmatite outcrops. Figure 1: RHW Property To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_001full.jpg Benz Mining Chief Development Officer, Mark Lynch-Staunton, commented: "Results show we have a significant LCT pegmatite system at the RHW property with drilling uncovering multiple thick LCT pegmatite dykes. While the thicknesses and fertility indicators are highly encouraging, the individual pegmatite dykes exhibit internal zonation, moving from spodumene rich to spodumene poor zones over short distances. Importantly, all the ingredients for a major lithium discovery still exist on the Ruby Hill West property, with over 25km of mostly unexplored prospective lithium trend remaining to be tested. The geological setting still suggests that additional discoveries are likely, with further work needed on uncovering the spodumene rich parts of the system." Figure 2: Core Recovery RHW23-025 (100.5 to 113m). Assays: 0.67% Li2O over 10.7m from 102.3m to 113m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_003full.jpg Figure 3: Core Recovery RHW23-017 (4.29m to 50.02m). Assays: 0.56% Li2O over 11.11m from 29.8m to 40.95m To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_005full.jpg RHW Pegmatite Drilling followed up on the previously announced intersection of 26.1m at 1% Li 2 0 from hole RHW22-006[1]. Hole RHW23-025 targeted the down dip extension of RHW22-006, and intersected 10.7m at 0.67% Li 2 O, within a greater 21.3m LCT pegmatite (Figures 4 & 5). Trenching uncovered 19.5m at 1.13% in RHW23CH-004, which significantly increased the mineralised zone of the pegmatite. The RHW pegmatites form a series of subparallel pegmatite dykes that typically dip 50 to 60 dg to the NW, changing to sub-horizontal near surface. The pegmatite dykes appear to closely follow the contacts of a differentiated mafic-ultramafic sill. A complete list of drill and trenching mineralised intercepts is reported in Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix 1. Figure 4: Interpreted section A-A view looking to the NW for RHW drill holes. Section thickness is 100m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_007full.jpg Figure 5: Geological map of RHW pegmatite trends with all Benz drill holes (2022 and 2023) and trench locations. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_008full.jpg Mikisiw Pegmatites (M1 and M2) Drilling intersected a stacked sequence of LCT pegmatites at the M2 target (Figures 6 & 7). Similar to RHW, there is evidence of internal zonation. Drillhole RHW-017 hit 11.11 at 0.56% Li 2 0 within a wider 32.62m pegmatite intersection. Several other thick pegmatite dykes were intersected showing encouraging lithium fertility indicators, however, did not intersect mineralised spodumene zones. Attention will now turn to vectoring into the spodumene rich zones within this stacked LCT pegmatite system. A complete list of drill and trenching mineralised intercepts is reported in Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix 1. Figure 6: Interpreted sectionB-B looking looking to the NW for M2 drill holes. Section thickness is 150m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_009full.jpg Figure 7: Geological map of M2 pegmatite area with Benz drill holes and trench location. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_010full.jpg Exploration upside LCT pegmatites on the RHW property are spatially associated with: - mafic-ultramafic intrusions following D1 shearing; and - Late NE-SW and NW-SE structures. The intersection of these 2 trends are a potential trap for the more prospective LCT pegmatites. With this criteria, there are clear upside exploration targets at the RHW pegmatite. The prospective mafic-ultramafic sill combined with late structures is interpreted to extend for up to 2km either side of the known pegmatite intersections providing an immediate target for strike extension (Figure 8). Figure 8: Simplified geological map (modified from SIGEOM) showing extent of the mafic-ultramafic intrusion, D1 shear zones and late brittle faulting conisdered controling factors in the emplacement of the RHW LCT pegmatites. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_011full.jpg Within the greater 25km prospective trend, several other areas exhibiting mafic-ultramafic intrusion associated with brittle faulting have been identified and are considered highly prospective. The area is heavily covered in glacial overburden and, in certain areas, thick forests, making outcrops difficult to find. However, the ground gravity survey conducted shows good correlation between low gravity and pegmatite dyke bodies, allowing it to be used as an additional targeting tool. Furthermore, an Orthophoto, Lidar and satellite imagery survey flown in late 2023 will further aid in vectoring into prospective areas. Next Steps The Eastmain Gold Project remains a focus for the Company with a gold targeting review underway. The review is focusing on both the high-grade structural trends of the Eastmain Mine, and district-scale tier 1 opportunities within the tenement package. The Upper Eastmain belt remains underexplored and in the right geological setting for a new significant gold discovery. LCT pegmatite geochemistry and structural review of the belt is currently being conducted to better understand and predict / vector into where spodumene rich pegmatites occur. QA/QC Drillholes were designed to intersect at depth several surface occurrences of pegmatites in the area. These outcrops are small and partly covered in overburden but were stripped and channel sampled during September 2023. All of the core samples (1/2 core) were sent for analysis at ALS Global in Val D'Or. Pegmatite core samples were analyzed with ME-MS89L where other rock types were analyzed by ME-MS61 (4 acid digestion). This release was prepared under supervision and approved by Dr. Danielle Giovenazzo, P. Geo, acting as Benz's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 for the reporting of exploration and drilling results. This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Benz Mining Corp. For more information please contact: Mark Lynch-Staunton Chief Development Officer Benz Mining Corp. [email protected] +61 8 6143 6702 Dannika Warburton Principal Investability Partners [email protected] +61 401 094 261 About Benz Mining Corp. Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV:BZ, ASX:BNZ) brings together an experienced team of geoscientists and finance professionals with a focused strategy to unlock the immense mineral potential of the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Northern Quebec, which is prospective for gold, lithium, nickel, copper, and other high-value minerals. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine, Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East projects in Quebec and owns 100% of the Windy Mountain project. At the Eastmain Gold Project, Benz has identified a combination of over 380 modelled in-hole and off-hole DHEM conductors over a strike length of 6km which is open in all directions (final interpretation of some of the conductors still pending). In 2021, Benz confirmed the presence of visible spodumene in a pegmatite at the Ruby Hill West Project, indicating lithium mineralisation which Benz intends to further explore in 2022. Benz tenure over Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt on simplified geology. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/197700_47180ad024bc291a_012full.jpg About Eastmain Gold Project The Eastmain Gold Project, situated on the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada, currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 1Moz at 6.1g/t gold (Indicated: 384koz at 9.0g/t gold, Inferred: 621koz at 5.1g/t gold). The existing gold mineralisation is associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite in highly deformed and altered rocks making it amenable to detection using electromagnetic techniques. Multiple gold occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 12km long zone along strike from the Eastmain Mine with very limited but highly encouraging testing outside the existing resource area. About Ruby Hill West Lithium Project The Ruby Hill West Lithium project is a surface occurrence of spodumene bearing pegmatite within the Ruby Hill West project, located 50km due west of the Eastmain exploration camp. The occurrence was first sampled in 2016 by Eastmain Resources and then by Quebec government geologists in 2018. Only limited sampling was conducted by both groups. In March 2022 Benz conducted a drilling program at the Ruby Hill West lithium pegmatite prospect and reported a 31.2m at 0.9% Li 2 O interval of visible spodumene rich pegmatite in the drilling (ASX & TSX-V releases dated 29 April 2022 "Multiple spodumene pegmatites intersected at Ruby Hill West"). Competent Person's Statement: The information in this announcement that relates to current exploration results is based on and fairly represents information and supporting information compiled by Dr Danielle Giovenazzo who is a P. Geo. of the Ordre des Geologues du Qubec, a Recognised Professional Organisation under the JORC Code. Dr Giovenazzo is a consultant for the Company and has sufficient experience in the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Dr Giovenazzo holds securities in Benz Mining Corp and consents to the inclusion of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which they appear. The information in this announcement that relates to historical exploration results was first reported to the ASX in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.7. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements. The mineral resource estimate in this announcement was reported by the Company in accordance with Listing Rule 5.8 on 24 May 2023. The Company confirms it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the previous announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the previous announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations, and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change because of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. Appendix 1: 2023 Drilling at Ruby Hill West Table 1: Mineralised intersections from Diamond Drilling (>0.5% Li 2 O and 0.5m) OR (>500ppm Ta) Borehole Li2O % Ta2O5 _ppm Nb ppm Be ppm Cs ppm Rb ppm From To Total Length Mg/Li Nb/Ta K/Rb RHW RHW23-025 1.02 186.00 57.50 463.00 1475.00 74.93 75.79 0.86 0.6 0.25 12.61 RHW23-025 0.67 240.00 132.90 1550.00 2113.00 102.30 113.00 10.70 1.42 0.46 8.37 includes 0.78 222.00 135.00 1412.00 1799.00 102.30 106.00 3.70 0.87 0.41 8.8 includes 0.86 215.00 252.00 1497.00 2440.00 111.00 113.00 2.00 1.2 0.5 7.6 RHW23-008 0.03 741.00 241.00 18.26 8.88 65.21 54.12 55.74 1.62 116 0.9 55.21 RHW23-009 0.15 1200.24 70.80 5.70 14.30 6.10 36.1 36.94 0.84 119 0.07 196 RHW23-011 0.40 102.60 188.90 1120.00 773.00 146.75 155.26 8.51 1.89 0.51 9.77 includes 0.70 82.70 34.50 45.80 621.00 476.00 148.75 149.63 0.88 0.5 0.51 9.03 M-2 RHW23-017 0.65 36.51 64.10 202.00 12.40 813.00 24.00 25.00 1.00 0.3 2.14 30.26 0.56 81.85 105.85 196.00 22.76 1252.74 29.84 40.95 11.11 1.78 1.74 21.46 includes 0.83 44.93 108.00 222.00 19.20 813.00 29.84 30.84 1.00 0.2 2.93 23.5 includes 1.30 64.71 120.50 164.00 20.80 1460.00 33.66 34.33 0.67 0.1 2.27 20.82 Table 2: Mineralised intersections from Trench Channel Sampling (>0.5% Li 2 O and 0.5m) Trench ID From To length Li2O% Ta2O5_ppm Rb Cs Be Mg/Li Nb/Ta K/Rb trench 23CH-001 1.36 6.37 5.01 0.95 198 1599.1 2601 206 0.65 0.43 8.8 4.85 5.85 1 1.48 199 1432 4857 341 0.62 0.345 6.9 trench 23CH-002 0 5.5 5.5 0.76 374.7 4143 5952 142 0.61 0.24 6.87 2.5 3.5 1 1.06 314 4108 8223 147 0.24 0.18 8.27 trench 23CH-004 1.84 21.3 19.5 1.13 641.0 2342 965 191 0.74 0.21 9.35 11.9 17.4 5.47 1.76 443 2221 784 178 0.22 0.21 8.72 M-1 outcrop trench 23CH-003 10.39 13.7 3.33 0.82 52 2696 172 23 0.34 0.47 13.5 M-2 outcrop trench 23CH-05 0 2.51 2.51 1.113 41 883 22 165 0.1 2.32 23.83 0 1.51 1.51 1.588 37.25 1033 26.26 131 0.055 2.42 21.5 Table 3: Collar data from Diamond Drilling at RHW (UTM NAD83 Zone 18N) Hole_ID Area Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip End Depth RHW23-007 RHW2 658585 5796255 542.5 155 -50 179.0 RHW23-008 RHW2 658540 5796240 543.5 155 -50 104.0 RHW23-009 RHW2 658450 5796195 545 155 -50 104.0 RHW23-010 RHW2 658360 5796160 547.9 155 -50 89.0 RHW23-011 RHW2 658366 5796155 547.9 335 -45 245.0 RHW23-012 RHW2 658722 5796330 540 155 -45 224.0 RHW23-013 RHW2 658720 5796354 539.6 335 -45 125.2 RHW23-014 RHW2 658775 5796235 553.3 155 -45 218.0 RHW23-015 M2 678234 5804025 500 340 -50 188.0 RHW23-016 M2 678620 5804110 496 150 -45 230.2 RHW23-017 M2 678666 5804034 495 330 -45 125.1 RHW23-018 M2 678676 5804117 487.8 150 -45 194.1 RHW23-019 M2 678669 5804030 495 150 -75 130.6 RHW23-020 M2 678619 5803996 490 330 -45 237.3 RHW23-021 M1 680169 5805445 483 230 -45 87.2 RHW23-022 M1 680116 5805454 476.7 140 -45 56.0 RHW23-023 M1 680069 5805533 480 140 -45 155.1 RHW23-024 RHW2 658250 5796260 553 160 -45 124.9 RHW23-025 RHW2 658677 5796184 551 335 -45 124.0 Table 4: Collar data from Trench channel samples (UTM NAD83 Zone 18N) Hole_ID Area Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth End Depth RHW23CH-001 RHW 658532 5796296 538.7607 154 6.87 RHW23CH-002 RHW 658519 5796314 539.281 152 6.49 RHW23CH-003 M1 680132 5805413 480.7346 59 13.72 RHW23CH-004 RHW 658599 5796224 545.5384 147 22.42 RHW23CH-005 M2 678646 5804073 492.0908 196 4.95 RHW23CH-006 RHW 659257 5796566 509.8909 158 1.38 RHW23CH-007 RHW 659259 5796568 509.1184 166 1.28 RHW23CH-008 RHW 659260 5796570 508.4919 149 1.84 1 29 April 2022: Multiple Spodumene Pegmatites Intersected in Maiden Drill Program at Ruby Hill West To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197700 Fairfax County, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Earlier today, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Trident Systems, a LightRidge Solutions Company and a leader in multi-function space electronics and integrated C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) solutions, is investing $3.7 million to expand capacity at its operation in Fairfax County for the production of space electronic systems for the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, and U.S. Intelligence Community. The project will create roughly 50 new jobs. "Trident's rapid growth providing unique solutions that maximize our customer's mission impact enabled the need for this higher-volume production facility. We are excited to expand our presence in Virginia supporting our Nation's critical space needs," said Lorin Hattrup, General Manager, Trident Systems. "Our new production facility will allow us to support a range of products on rapid timelines while maintaining affordability." "Congratulations to the entire Trident Systems team as you expand your operations and continue to prosper here in Northern Virginia," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. "Your growth is yet another shining example of how companies supporting mission-critical operations in the space sector innovate and thrive in Fairfax County." Trident Systems, a LightRidge Solutions Company, has cemented its reputation for over three decades as a leader in multi-function space electronics and integrated C4ISR solutions. Using a rapid response, radiation effects-mitigated design approach for deployment in harsh environments, Trident has delivered semi-custom, high-performance RF and processing solutions at significantly lower cost than traditional space products. For more information, visit www.tridsys.com. "I want to thank Trident Systems for choosing Fairfax County as you keep growing and contributing to the diversity of our economy," said Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. "Your growth adds to our world-class space sector, and we look forward to supporting your success for years to come." Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to secure the project for Fairfax County and Virginia. VEDP will support Trident System's job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP) which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state funded, demonstrating Virginia's commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens. "Trident Systems' expansion demonstrates the strength of the Commonwealth's aerospace and tech ecosystem," said Governor Glenn Youngkin. "This homegrown Fairfax County company has grown its business in the Commonwealth for nearly 30 years, and its continued innovation in space electronics is at the heart of this production expansion to serve the defense and intelligence communities." Trident Systems has also been engaged with the VEDP International Trade team since 2015 utilizing various programs and service offerings and is a 2020 graduate of the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. VALET assists Virginia exporters that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as a growth strategy. (L-R): Trident Systems President Dan Hibbard;Trident Systems General Manager Lorin Hattrup;Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade Chelsea Jenkins;Fairfax County Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith;and Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9433/197804_fef474ffd4dd39e8_001full.jpg ### About Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as one of the world's top locations for business and talent, and offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. FCEDA is headquartered in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, and maintains offices in key global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. For more information about FCEDA, visit www.fairfaxcountyeda.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Contact: Anna Nissinen Email:[email protected] Trident Systems Contact: Diane Hockenberry Email:[email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197804 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - West Oak Gold Corp. (CSE: WO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Morgan Good as Chief Executive Officer, Bennett Liu as Chief Financial Officer and Leighton Bocking to its board of directors (the "Board"). Mr. Good was appointed to the Board on December 22, 2023 (please see the Company's news release dated December 22, 2023). Mr. Liu has considerable experience in the areas of financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and treasury for Canadian public companies. Mr. Liu has held diverse leadership roles within the mining and technology sectors, contributing his expertise to companies such as Inverite Insights, K92 Mining, South Star Battery, and Aton Resources. Mr. Liu has earned his Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Professional Accountant designations. Mr. Bocking has been working in the capital markets for over 18 years and has been particularly focused on financing and structuring companies. He has held various director roles. In addition, he has worked in Corporate Development roles at Gold Standard Ventures Corp. and Timmins Gold Corp. (now Alio Gold Inc.). In connection with the appointments above, Paul John has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and director and Robert Doyle has resigned as Chief Financial Officer. The Company would like to thank Mr. John and Mr. Doyle for their contributions and wishes them well in their future endeavors. The Financing The Company intends to conduct a private placement financing (the "Financing") in order to fund general working capital and its exploration efforts. Further details will be provided in a subsequent news release. About West Oak West Oak is focused on gold exploration in Canada. It is currently actively exploring the Hedge Hog gold project located 15km north of the town of Wells in the Caribou Mining Division of central British Columbia. Investors are encouraged to review West Oak's prospectus and the technical report for the Hedge Hog Property available at www.sedarplus.ca. Management and the board of directors of West Oak currently consists of Morgan Good (Chief Executive Officer and director), Leighton Bocking (director), Adrian Smith (director) and Bennett Liu (Chief Financial Officer). On behalf of the board of directors of the Company "Morgan Good" Morgan Good Chief Executive Officer and Director West Oak Gold Corp. Website: www.westoakgold.com T: 604-715-4751 E: [email protected] Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding: the Company's intention to conduct the Financing and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Financing. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the Company will complete the Financing, and the Company will use the proceeds of the Financing as currently anticipated. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Financing as currently anticipated. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197830 Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - Wicky Marketing, Denver's leading dispensary SEO agency, is proud to announce the launch of its innovative SEO service package tailored specifically for the city's burgeoning cannabis industry. This new offering is designed to help dispensaries enhance online visibility, attract more customers, and drive sales in an increasingly competitive market. The launch comes at a crucial time when dispensaries are looking for effective ways to stand out online. Wicky Marketing's comprehensive package includes advanced keyword research, competitive analysis, content strategy development, and backlinking services to boost dispensaries' search engine rankings and online presence. Christopher Wicklander, Founder of Wicky Marketing, stated, "Our goal has always been to support the growth of Denver's cannabis community. With our new SEO service package, we're equipped to offer dispensaries a competitive edge by leveraging the latest digital marketing strategies and SEO best practices." The service package is the result of extensive research and collaboration with industry experts, ensuring that it addresses the unique challenges faced by cannabis businesses in digital marketing. Wicky Marketing's team of SEO specialists is committed to delivering personalized strategies that align with each dispensary's goals and target audience. Dispensaries in Denver can now take advantage of Wicky Marketing's specialized SEO services to help improve their website's performance, engage with their audience more effectively, and increase their market share. For additional details on the innovative SEO service package, interested parties are encouraged to visit Wicky Marketing's official website. About Wicky Marketing: Wicky Marketing is a premier Denver-based SEO agency helping dispensaries maximize their online presence. Founded by Christopher Wicklander, a seasoned expert in digital marketing, our agency has carved a niche in the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Our mission is to provide dispensaries with cutting-edge SEO strategies that drive organic traffic, enhance brand visibility, and, ultimately, increase revenue. Our services are tailor-made for the cannabis sector, encompassing local SEO, SEO audits, keyword research, content creation, link building, national SEO, and reputation management. We understand that each dispensary is unique, and we personalize our strategies to meet your specific needs and goals. At Wicky Marketing, we pride ourselves on transparency, accountability, and continuous communication. Our clients are our partners, and we are committed to their success every step of the way. Our expertise in the cannabis industry sets us apart. We are not just another SEO agency but a specialized partner focused on the cannabis market. This focus lets us stay ahead of industry trends and leverage the most effective tactics to benefit our clients. Our dedication to the cannabis industry and our client's success has earned us a reputation as Denver's top-rated dispensary SEO agency. Media Contact: Christopher Wicklander Wicky Marketing 1001 Bannock St #402 Denver, CO 80204 [email protected] 1-720-893-8899 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197683 Multi-Unit Development Gains Steam as Leading Coffee Franchise Continues its Growth Movement LAS VEGAS , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii , a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing of Hawaiian coffees and memorable cafes, announces a three-store signed agreement in the greater Las Vegas market. This news comes on the heels of two multi-unit signed development agreements in Phoenix , as Southwestern expansion gains steam. Behind the three-store agreement is Bad Ass Coffee's newest franchisee, Umang Patel . Patel and his team are currently in the site selection stage and exploring both traditional and nontraditional units with the aim of opening the first store in the next six months. This location will mark the brand's second store in the Las Vegas market. "Umang's dedication to entrepreneurial success through building a strong family culture and creating exceptional customer experiences exemplify the qualities that we value most in our franchise partners," said Scott Snyder , CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii . "As we expand our presence in the Southwest, Umang's experience, capabilities, and vision align well with our aggressive desired growth goals in the vibrant Las Vegas market often referred to as the 9th Hawaiian Island due to the high concentration of Hawaiian citizens now residing in the area." Multi-unit growth continues to play a momentous role in Bad Ass Coffee's franchise expansion strategy. More than 70% of the system is now comprised of multi-unit operators. With rapid national expansion underway, the brand is currently supporting aggressive growth plans in the Southwest, Southeast, Texas , and Coastal prime markets. Bad Ass Coffee provides a development support system , including teams, technology and tools to help identify the right territories for expansion, plus expertise in financing, real estate, and construction management. The success of Bad Ass Coffee has not gone unnoticed. The brand ranked on QSR's 2023 40/40 List as one of America's hottest emerging fast casual brands and also landed on the prestigious 2023 Inc 5000 ranking. According to Bad Ass Coffee's 2023 FDD, the top 50% of stores saw an average net sale of more than $1 million , with the average of the top 25% exceeding $1.2 million *. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1989 with the dream of sharing American-grown, premium Hawaiian coffee with customers everywhere. In addition to premium coffee from the famous Kona region of the Big Island , Bad Ass Coffee also sources from Kauai and Maui . Beyond premium Hawaiian coffees, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii serves up a full menu of popular blended drinks, signature lattes, cold brews, teas, innovative foods with a Hawaiian twist, and branded merchandise. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is looking to partner with qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities. The brand offers an affordable, highly scalable opportunity and franchisees can expect a total investment range between $454,200 920,500*. As International Franchise Association VetFran members, veteran franchisees who join will receive a $10,000 discount* off the initial franchise fee. For more information on Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii franchise opportunities, visit badasscoffeefranchise.com or call 833-205-2224. *Source: 2023 FDD Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii About Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1989 and is dedicated to sharing premium Hawaiian coffees "with a kick" from the Hawaiian Islands through 30-plus U.S. franchise locations with 100+ additional shops in various stages of development. Today, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii stores also serve popular blended drinks, teas, food, along with other international premium coffees and sell popular branded merchandise with exceptional service and the Aloha Spirit. Bad Ass Coffees are available in franchise stores, online and will soon be available through grocery, hospitality, and specialty retail channels. The Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii brand and franchise is owned by Royal Aloha Franchise Company, LLC. For more information, visit badasscoffee.com and connect on Facebook and Instagram @badasscoffeeofhawaii . Franchise information is available at badasscoffeefranchise.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bad-ass-coffee-grows-southwest-footprint-with-3-store-las-vegas-signed-agreement-302060444.html Franchisor confirms Texas as a top priority for expansion efforts across the BRIX Holdings portfolio DALLAS , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BRIX Holdings, LLC ,("BRIX"), a Dallas -based multi-brand franchising company encompassing renowned food-service chains including Friendly's, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, today announced four deals signed at the end of 2023 promising new Orange Leaf and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen locations coming this year to Prosper , Frisco , San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley , Texas. These Texas deals are among 11 new franchise agreements awarded across the BRIX portfolio in 2023 with other new deals in Nebraska , New York, Ohio and Florida . The company's expansion across the nation is an indicator of the demand and the opportunities available for strong entrepreneurs to take advantage of in their growing markets. Texas has seen exponential growth in recent years, with reports indicating a surge in population by nearly half a million people in 2023 coupled with a rise in economic opportunities. As more families and entrepreneurs flock to Texas , the state stands out as an ideal market for BRIX to advance its franchise development, expanding into both new and existing markets. "We look forward to working with our new franchise owners, who are dedicated to expanding Orange Leaf and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen networks. Their commitment mirrors our enthusiasm for fostering business growth in our home state of Texas , a state rich with opportunities," said Sherif Mityas , CEO of BRIX Holdings LLC. "There is exceptional potential here in Texas and this is just the beginning of a promising journey, where we aim to nurture and elevate local entrepreneurial talent." The new franchise operators behind the agreements signed in Texas are welcome additions to the ever-growing BRIX network as the company continues to prioritize expansion in the state. Each new owner comes from varying backgrounds and experiences, including a former law enforcement officer, a military veteran, a previous family restaurant owner and an entrepreneur. Despite their differences, they share the united goal of achieving business success while positively impacting their respective communities, making them well-suited for franchising with the BRIX brands. "I was in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years in every role from waitress to owner. After many early mornings and long nights without time for my children, personal time or vacations, I realized I wanted to retake control of my life. Franchising with Orange Leaf afforded me that opportunity," said Susana Jimenez , the new franchise owner behind the future Orange Leaf location coming to Cibillo, Texas . "The team at BRIX provided us with care, support and resources along the way to make our dreams possible and give me peace of mind again. I can't wait to serve our community in new ways and grow with Orange Leaf." The signing of the new franchise agreements reflects the company's desired growth trajectory heading into 2024, with the stores projected to open later this year in summer, fall and winter. BRIX is actively seeking new owners to franchise with Orange Leaf, Red Mango and Smoothie Factory + Kitchen. For each brand, the initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a traditional 10-year term. Other requirements to franchise include $100,000 in liquid assets to invest and a minimum net worth of $250,000 . The brand development contribution is 3% and the typical royalty rate varies between 5-6%. Requirements vary for non-traditional locations. To learn more about franchising with the BRIX brands and the available franchise incentives, visit: Orange Leaf - https://www.orangeleafyogurt.com/franchising Smoothie Factory + Kitchen - https://www.smoothiefactorykitchen.com/franchising Red Mango - https://redmangousa.com/red-mango-better-for-you-franchise/ For more information about BRIX Holdings, visit https://BRIXholdings.com/ . About BRIX Holdings, LLC: BRIX Holdings, LLC is a Dallas -based multi-brand franchising company specializing in chains with superior products and attractive growth prospects. BRIX Holdings focuses on brands that are both attractive to the rapidly expanding single-unit owner/operator franchise market segment and have the potential to grow into national and international award-winning chains. The current BRIX Holdings portfolio includes Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co., Pizza Jukebox, and Friendly's. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brix-holdings-orange-leaf-and-smoothie-factory--kitchen-welcome-multiple-new-franchise-agreements-across-texas-kickstarting-major-growth-plans-for-the-state-302060405.html SOURCE BRIX Holdings Calcium+Company strengthens creative capabilities as part of agency expansion. NEW YORK , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Calcium+Company, a leading mid-sized diversified health communications group, today announced the appointment of Bruno Brasileiro as Executive Creative Director for the flagship advertising division, Calcium. Founder and Chairman of the Board, Steven Michaelson , who was inducted into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame last week, states, "Creativity serves as the vital pulse of every thriving agency. As I transitioned into retirement, it was extremely important to me that we bring in someone with the right background and experience to take Calcium to new creative heights." Brasileiro is an award-winning creative leader with more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of therapeutic categories and for a wide range of leading consumer and pharmaceutical clients. Most recently, Brasileiro served as Executive Creative Director at Havas Village X. Brasileiro will report to Nicole Torrillo , Managing Director, Calcium. On his new role, Brasileiro added, "Health communications have the potential to change lives and make an impact on real people. With entrepreneurial agility, we want to fulfill this potential, using our full creative powers to reach patients and partner with those developing the innovative treatments needed. I am excited to lead our talented team of creatives under the Calcium division." Greg Lewis , Managing Partner, Group President of Calcium+Company, adds, "Calcium has, from its beginnings, been passionately committed to creative and strategic excellence. This commitment will only grow with talented new leaders like Bruno joining the agency." About Calcium+Company Calcium+Company is an award-winning healthcare marketing agency dedicated to brand nourishment, led by CEO Judy Capano and Group President Greg Lewis . With more than 140 employees and offices in New York , Philadelphia , and Mexico City , Calcium+Company offers a range of leading-edge strategic, creative, and engagement services designed to nourish brands and drive business success. It also focuses on being a nourishing force for its people and the wider community. Calcium was recently awarded MM+M's 2023 Independent Agency of the Year with PE Backing. Please visit us at https://www.calciumco.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/calciumcompany-welcomes-bruno-brasileiro-as-executive-creative-director-302060068.html SOURCE Calcium+Company DENVER , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- No Barriers, a leading organization dedicated to providing transformative experiences that shift mindsets, is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2024 Caregivers Season . This unique program offers enriching experiences designed to expand a family caregiver's community, promote often-overlooked self-care practices, and empower caregivers to live a No Barriers Life. 2024 No Barriers Caregivers Retreats: Transformative experiences empowering family caregivers. Apply now! The No Barriers Caregivers program, tailored for those with a significant personal relationship with and providing assistance for individuals with disabilities, has a proven track record of success. Last year, 77% of participants reported feeling a sense of belonging after the program, compared to just 8% before the program. "It reminded me that I have a voice," shared a previous Caregiver program participant. "It showed me that I was not alone, helped me to realize my potential, and helped me start to see 'me' again." The United States is home to an estimated 53 million family caregivers, a number that continues to grow. As such, Barriers recognizes the diversity of caregiving experiences and focuses on providing opportunities that facilitate both rejuvenation and balance. Experiences for 2024 Hosted at the No Barriers Mountain Campus, nestled in the wilderness of Northern Colorado , the program offers a unique setting for transformative experiences. This year, No Barriers is thrilled to offer both single and multi-day retreats. Multi-day retreats, typically spanning four days and three nights, provide caregivers with an immersive itinerary conducive to connection and self-discovery. No Barriers covers the costs of lodging, food, and transportation from Denver , ensuring accessibility for participants and Scholarship opportunities are available to help offset the cost of travel to Denver (please contact [email protected] with inquiries). Each retreat is led by a dedicated team of Program Leaders who facilitate activities and support the cohort throughout the journey. Single-day retreats offer a condensed escape into nature, beginning in the late morning and concluding with a closing campfire in the evening. Held in Northern Colorado , these experiences are ideal for family caregivers residing along the Front Range , greater Denver , Northern Colorado , and Southern Wyoming . Program Overview In addition to the in-person experience, the Caregivers program follows a three-phase curriculum: Phase 1: Participants are introduced to the No Barriers Life framework, laying the groundwork for their journey and fostering connections within the group. Phase 2: Through experiential learning, participants witness the principles of the No Barriers Life in action, gaining insights into overcoming challenges. Phase 3: Upon returning home, caregivers implement the lessons learned, applying newfound skills to their daily lives. How to Apply Applications for the No Barriers Caregivers program are now open and can be completed through this link . For inquiries or assistance, please reach out to our dedicated Caregivers team at [email protected] . About No Barriers No Barriers is a non-profit organization based in Colorado , dedicated to providing transformative programs and experiences. Through a three-phase curriculum, No Barriers empowers individuals to overcome adversity and build resilient communities. Learn more about our mission and programs at nobarriersusa.org View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caregiver-opportunities-no-barriers-opens-applications-for-2024-retreats-for-family-caregivers-302060552.html SOURCE No Barriers USA National online homebuying leader extends Florida roots and customer service support with strong local teams FORT MYERS, Fla. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS)a top 10 national homebuilder, industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023recently celebrated the opening of three new Sales Studios for its Century Complete brand in Brooksville , Fort Myers and Punta Gorda , further enabling the company's ability to provide best-in-class customer support as it grows rapidly in south Florida . Featuring quality and affordable new homes through its intuitive and industry-first online homebuying experience, Century Complete has 743 owned and controlled homesites in the Florida South market. While buyers and their real estate agents are able to fully purchase any available new home online, the company's new Sales Studios facilitate easy access for homebuyers seeking additional in-person support and offer a convenient Century Complete resource center for Realtors. "We're incredibly excited to roll out these additional retail centers for our Florida homebuyers," said Greg Huff , National President of Century Complete. "As we continue our steady growth in the state, these Sales Studios will help ensure a seamless experience for our homebuyers and Realtors from contract to closing." Explore available homes at www.CenturyCommunities.com/Florida. SALES STUDIO DETAILS Gulf Ports Sales Studio 24420 Sandhill Boulevard , Suite 201 Punta Gorda, FL 33983 941-213-0150 Fort Myers Sales Studio 3398 Forum Boulevard , Unit 106 Fort Myers, FL 33905 239-810-0395 Brooksville Sales Studio 3198 Aerial Way Brooksville, FL 34604 813-606-4095 THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING Century Complete is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in Florida , allowing homebuyers to easily find their best fit and purchase when they're readyall while continuing to work with their local real estate agent of choice. Homebuyers can further streamline the homebuying process by financing online with Century Complete's affiliate lender, Inspire Home Loans. How it works: Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com Click "Buy Now" on any available home Fill out a quick Buy Online form Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying. About Century Communities Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation's largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek's list of America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023. Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century's mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 18 states and over 45 markets across the U.S. , and also offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loans subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/century-complete-opens-three-new-home-sales-studios-in-south-florida-302061191.html SOURCE Century Communities, Inc. MIAMI , Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClassWallet is grateful that Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond has confirmed that the allegations against our company are wholly without merit. We have always maintained that ClassWallet, as a software vendor, had neither responsibility for, nor authority to, exercise any decision-making with respect to the Oklahoma programs. About ClassWallet Founded in 2014, ClassWallet is the leading purchasing and reimbursement platform for public funds. The company's patented digital wallet technology ensures that public funds reach the right people and are used for the right purpose at a fraction of the time and cost of existing technology solutions with better compliance safeguards. ClassWallet is used by state government agencies and school districts across 32 states, helping those clients realize the full potential of over $2.7 billion in public funds. Its integrated marketplace of top retailers and service providers includes Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Michaels, Office Depot, Scholastic, Staples, Varsity Tutors and more. Headquartered in Hollywood, Florida , ClassWallet ranked number 477 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in 2023 and the 61st fastest growing software company. It also ranks as the 114th fastest growing company in North America according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. CONTACTS: Henry Feintuch / Doug Wright Feintuch Communications 646-753-5710 / 646-753-5711 [email protected] Media room View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/classwallet-statement-on-dismissal-of-oklahoma-lawsuit-302060042.html SOURCE ClassWallet As retirement becomes more and more expensive, it's more important than ever that retirees are prepared for those costs. Social Security can go a long way in retirement, but it's no secret the program is facing its share of challenges. While most adults are expecting to rely on their benefits to some degree in retirement, many are underestimating just how big of a role Social Security will play throughout their senior years. This may sound harmless on the surface, but it could be far costlier than it seems. Here's what you need to know about the future of Social Security. Image source: Getty Images. How much can you depend on your benefits? In a 2023 poll from Gallup, workers who have not yet retired were asked how much they expect to rely on Social Security. Only 34% said they believe their benefits will be a major source of income in retirement, and 17% said they don't expect to depend on Social Security at all. When current retirees were asked the same question, though, the numbers were a bit different. Nearly 60% said their benefits are a major source of income, and an additional 29% said it's a minor source of income. Only 10% of respondents said they don't depend on Social Security. This has been a consistent trend over the last two decades, too. When Gallup asked this same question back in 2002, only 27% of workers expected Social Security to be a major source of retirement income. Meanwhile, a whopping 58% of retirees said their benefits actually were a major income source. These figures suggest that many workers may be underestimating how heavily they'll rely on Social Security in retirement. Depending on your benefits isn't necessarily a bad thing. But with the future of the program still murky, Social Security may be even less reliable in the future -- which could spell trouble for your retirement. The future of Social Security To be clear, Social Security is not going away. There are plenty of rumors that the program is going bankrupt or that retirees will stop receiving benefits altogether. The truth is that while Social Security isn't on the verge of collapse, benefit cuts could potentially be on the horizon. Story continues The Social Security Administration (SSA) relies primarily on payroll taxes to fund the program. Workers pay into the program through taxes, and that money is then paid out to current beneficiaries. In recent years, though, the program's income hasn't been enough to fully fund benefits. To bridge the gap and avoid cuts, the SSA has been dipping into its trust funds. But those funds are expected to be depleted by 2034, according to the SSA Board of Trustees' latest estimates. When that happens, taxes and other sources of income are only expected to be enough to cover around 80% of future benefits. Congress has been debating various ways to solve the problem, but nothing has been decided yet. If lawmakers can't implement a solution by 2034, benefits could potentially be slashed by 20%. And if Social Security ends up being a major source of income in retirement, those cuts could hurt. What can you do right now? There's not much you can do about the future of Social Security, but you can take steps to reduce your dependence on these benefits. Perhaps the most effective approach is to increase your savings. While that's often easier said than done, even small amounts can go a long way. For example, say you can afford to contribute an extra $50 per month to your retirement fund while earning a modest 8% average annual return on your investments. At that rate, you'd have more than $27,000 after 20 years. It may not be enough to retire on, but every dollar counts in retirement. Also, if you have access to a 401(k) with employer matching contributions, it's wise to take full advantage of it. The employer match can instantly double your savings with next to no effort on your part, and over time, it could increase your savings by tens of thousands of dollars or more. Saving for retirement isn't easy, and many people may be overestimating how far their savings will go. While Social Security can be a great backup, it may not be as reliable as it once was. By keeping realistic expectations and doing your best to boost your savings, you can set yourself up for a more financially secure retirement. The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Huge Social Security Problem Many Retirees Aren't Prepared For was originally published by The Motley Fool Led by yes. every kid., more than two dozen organizations commit to ending public school discrimination based on address ARLINGTON, Va. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, yes. every kid. announced the launch of the No More Lines Coalition, a group of 28 nonpartisan education groups committed to ending discriminatory public school district boundary lines. These school boundaries are based on a student's ZIP code and, de facto, a family's wealth based on their home value. The coalition has set a goal of ending this restrictive practice in all 50 states by 2030. Public schools will only be truly public when we remove the barriers to accessing them, no matter where families live. Rooted in redlining practices of the 1930s to 1960s, public school students are assigned to a school based on where they live. These school boundary lines continue to reinforce racial and economic divisions and prevent families from accessing the public school that best meets their children's needs. This issue is critical, as about 82% of American K-12 students attend public school today. Many states still have a policy in which a child attending any school is a criminal statute. "Sorting kids into schools based only on their address is discriminatory based on family wealth, promotes segregation, and ensures that low-income kids across the country will continue to have the fewest school options that work for them. It's educational redlining, plain and simple, and we are better, as a nation, than using these lines to dole out educational opportunity. They need to go," said Derrell Bradford , yes. every kid. board member and 50CAN president. "By giving families the option to access the public school that meets their kids' needs and not sending them to jail for doing so we will remove significant barriers to every child getting the personalized education that helps them become the best version of themselves." In all 50 states, a child's address is still the primary factor used to determine which public school a child is granted access to. In 24 states, parents and guardians can still be jailed for crossing school or district boundary lines, with districts often hiring private investigators to follow parents to ensure that they meet the residency requirements. These policies and practices are an immoral use of taxpayer resources and disproportionately criminalize people of color and those from working-class backgrounds. Open enrollment policies empower students to enroll in public schools for free outside of their residentially assigned schools. A key facet of No More Lines policies, open enrollment can be a powerful tool in ensuring that a child's opportunity is not limited by their address. In 2023, six states made progress in removing public school barriers Idaho , West Virginia , Montana , North Dakota , Arkansas , and Nebraska . Open enrollment policies have broad public support: in a 2023 YouGov poll, more than two-thirds of respondents supported ending residential school assignment, and the majority believe that open enrollment would strengthen education. "Every day, children are denied access to a public school that works for them simply because they do not live in the right neighborhoods," said yes. every kid. Chief Operating Officer Erica Jedynak . "Just like public libraries, pools or parks, public schools will only be truly public when we remove the barriers to accessing them, no matter where families live. The No More Lines Coalition will do exactly that." "Families deserve access to a great education for their children, regardless of their income or home address. When I enrolled my children in a safer school district with better resources using my father's address, I was arrested and put in jail," said Kelley Williams-Bolar , a parent who was punished for trying to get her children a better-fit education. "Enrolling your child in a public school should never be deemed a crime, and I'm proud that the No More Lines Coalition will work to ensure that no other families experience the injustice that we faced." The guiding principles for the Coalition's work, along with committed members, include opening public school access for all students, ending address discrimination, ensuring that public education is free, and unbundling education and the housing market. More on how the Coalition will expand access to a great education for all students can be found here. The No More Lines Coalition 50CAN A for Arizona Alaska Policy Forum Association of American Educators Americans for Prosperity Available to All Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Children's Scholarship Fund Commonwealth Foundation Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) Defense of Freedom Institute EdChoice Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) Families Empowered Foundation for Economic Education Frontier Institute Inclusive Strategies Independent Women's Forum The James Madison Institute Jersey 1st Maine Policy Institute Mountain States Policy Center Ready Colorado Reason Foundation School Choice Ohio Southwest Public Policy Institute State Policy Network yes. every kid. About yes. every kid. yes. every kid. supports policies that respect the dignity of every student, welcome innovative ideas, and foster a diversity of approaches to learning. yes. every kid. will support and build coalitions to advance new conversations and bold visions by bringing together differing voices and perspectives to revolutionize the K-12 education experience. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalition-launches-to-eliminate-exclusionary-public-school-boundary-lines-in-all-50-states-by-2030-302060857.html SOURCE yes. every kid. YPSILANTI, Mich. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of refugees have fled Ukraine , seeking protection from the devastating effects of the Ukraine - Russia war. However, according to Eastern Michigan University research published in Global Advances of Business Communication , many refugees who migrated struggle with the process due to communication and cross-cultural challenges. EMU's College of Business faculty Kimberley Barker , David Victor , and Christine Day (retired) collaborated to research the communication and cultural challenges confronted by Ukrainian refugees and those in destination and transit countries interacting with them, such as hosts, paid and volunteer agency staff, school and learning personnel, employers, and co-workers. The authors uncovered key themes such as language and cultural complexities, and managing chaotic change, loss, and grief. "The Ukrainian refugee situation presents a dramatic need to accommodate millions of Ukrainians into host or transit countries," said Barker. "Among the many concerns are the language and cultural differences Ukrainians face as they flee to countries with which they are unfamiliar and whose people may be unacquainted with Ukrainian culture." To better understand the communication and intercultural needs of the Ukrainian refugees and those who support them, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 18 individuals between June 2023 and November 2023 . Day expressed special gratitude for the generous way the interviewees shared their time and experience, providing an in-depth understanding that enhanced the research. "Several people recounted vivid descriptions of missiles flying overhead while others focused on the refugees' chaotic change and the resulting loss of predictability in daily life," said Day. Victor's globally recognized LESCANT model served as an anchor for the research. LESANT is an application for effective communication in a complex intercultural setting, such as those experienced by Ukrainian refugees, host families, school systems, agency volunteers and paid personnel, potential and current employers, and co-workers. Among Ukrainian refugees, female refugees carried most of the burden of migrating. "Many times, the men were forced by law to remain in Ukraine to be soldiers, while the women did everything related to family resettling and domestic management, including transportation, language, finances and employment barriers," said Barker. This study highlighted that this circumstance was a variant of previous refugee patterns. The research also uncovered many dimensions related to significant change, loss, and grief. "Taking just a second and putting yourself in someone else's shoes can help you understand what these refugees are facing and create a spirit of empathy," said Barker. It may even be possible that this research has implications for global refugee situations in other parts of the world. Day emphasized the importance of resolving the challenges facing the Ukrainian refugees and others involved. "The cost of not addressing these support systems will not be measured in monetary terms but in lost human potential," she added. This global research, published in Global Advances in Business Communication , aligns with the mission of the EMU Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center, which grounds itself in awareness and support for cultural diversity and community-building. About Eastern Michigan University Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan . It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University's rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website . To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eastern-michigan-university-study-examines-communication-and-cultural-strategies-impacting-ukrainian-refugees-and-others-involved-302060902.html SOURCE Eastern Michigan University HH Global to announce the signing of an agreement to fully acquire Displayplan Ltd LONDON , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HH Global and Displayplan As the world's most impactful partner to organizations seeking stronger more sustainable growth, HH Global is a leader in tech-enabled creative production and procurement for some of the world's biggest and boldest retail brands. Today, HH Global has announced the signing of an agreement to fully acquire UK -based Displayplan Ltd to further enhance their expertise and create an unrivaled, creative, global retail activation capability. The acquisition of Displayplan, having expertise in design engineering and production management of complex point-of-sale solutions and experiential customer interactions, demonstrates HH Global's ongoing investment in developing industry-leading solutions for global retail brands. The joining of these two businesses brings enhanced expertise to HH Global's existing global retail marketing activation leadership and adds a valuable extension to its broad retail solutions portfolio. Brilliant growth ideas only create value when they are expertly designed and activated. Displayplan's award-winning creatives, designers and engineers will join the +500 members of the HH Global Creative + Digital community, who operate in 34 studios across 15 countries. Their joint commitment to excellence and innovation will create a team of the best creative talent focused on delivering big impact for their clients' big ideas in global retail. Nadia Pelekanos , Chief Client Officer at HH Global said: "The combination of our companies represents a progressive move for HH Global and builds significantly on our global retail capability. The acquisition of Displayplan is not only driven by a fundamental alignment in our strategic vision, but by the opportunity to combine our award-winning teams and our complementary solutions to deliver simplicity across the supply chain and enhanced creative capabilities for global brands. We have been investing significantly in the development of our global Creative + Digital capabilities over the years adding data, strategy, creative and design to deliver enhanced and innovative solutions for our retail clients. The award-winning creative and production team from Displayplan, along with their digital and shopper marketing strategists, will strengthen our existing capabilities and enable us to continue to drive advancements in creating superior connected shopper experiences." Managing Director of Displayplan Scott Morris said: "We are delighted to be joining HH Global at this exciting time in their growth journey. This acquisition represents an amazing opportunity and a significant milestone for Displayplan. We have achieved great success and recognition over the last 40 years, which is a testament to the outstanding team we have created and the impressive client portfolio we have secured but it is time for us to enter the next phase of growth for our people and for our clients. My fellow shareholder, Neil Campbell , will retire from the business after +30 years and I want to acknowledge his contribution to building Displayplan into the category-leading business that it is today. I also want to acknowledge our venture capital partners, YFM Equity Partners, and the British Smaller Companies VCTs, for their outstanding support and guidance over the last 12 years in the same endeavor. It has been an incredible journey. The amalgamation of our businesses will provide our impressive portfolio of retail clients with access to enhanced services, wider solutions, deeper expertise and capability and our teams with expanded career opportunities. We are excited about this next step in our journey with HH Global and we are looking forward to working with our new colleagues." Kristian Elgey , Chief Executive Officer at HH Global said: "M+A is an important growth lever for us as we continually evolve and enhance our solutions to deliver more impact in supporting our clients' growth ambitions. This acquisition is a great example of the opportunities available to add complementary capabilities and talent to HH Global to enhance our established solutions. As we move toward the completion, I want to thank the team involved on both sides. The dedication involved in bringing a process like this from an initial conversation to a successful outcome is significant, and I'm looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues and bringing our enhanced capabilities to life for our clients." The transaction is subject to further legal processes, which are expected to be complete on 29 February 2024 . About HH Global Founded in 1991, HH Global is the global leader in tech-enabled creative production and procurement. They amplify their client's marketing campaigns through unrivaled production, procurement leadership and the most advanced sustainability capabilities available. All delivered at scale through industry-leading technology and the passionate expertise of their people. HH Global has +4,500 experts in more than 60 countries and in every market around the world. With a thirty-year track record of success, they help the biggest, most exciting and progressive global brands achieve stronger, more sustainable growth. Across every channel. At the speed of modern business. With an unmatched supply chain, a growing suite of technology tools and data insights they make their clients' brilliant ideas unmissable everywhere. About Displayplan Displayplan is a British-owned and headquartered provider of retail marketing services with a strong 40-year history of working with leading retailers and brands to design and develop insight-driven strategic in-store experiences. From their UK head office in Hertfordshire and with resources worldwide, they provide a blend of experienced retail equipment project management with specialists for digital and AV solutions to deliver market-leading in-store experiences that improve the speed of shopper decision-making, enhance customer experience and reduce friction in the buying process. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exciting-acquisition-announcement-hh-global-to-acquire-displayplan-to-enhance-customer-experience-for-global-brands-302059940.html SOURCE HH Global Ltd. SILVER SPRING, Md. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: Today, the FDA posted warning letters to US Chem Labs and Synthetix Inc. doing business as Helix Chemical Supply for introducing unapproved and misbranded semaglutide and tirzepatide products into interstate commerce. US Chem Labs offers for sale semaglutide and tirzepatide "for research purposes." However, the products are accompanied by claims such as weight loss, reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, or heart disease. In addition, the firm offers a product called "thymalin" (not related to semaglutide or tirzepatide) for both adults and children, for treatment of various conditions, such as immunosuppression after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Helix Chemical Supply also offers semaglutide and tirzepatide for sale for "research purposes." However, the products include claims such as treatment of Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar, or enhancing insulin secretion. doing business as Helix Chemical Supply for introducing unapproved and misbranded semaglutide and tirzepatide products into interstate commerce. US offers for sale semaglutide and tirzepatide "for research purposes." However, the products are accompanied by claims such as weight loss, reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, or heart disease. In addition, the firm offers a product called "thymalin" (not related to semaglutide or tirzepatide) for both adults and children, for treatment of various conditions, such as immunosuppression after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Helix Chemical Supply also offers semaglutide and tirzepatide for sale for "research purposes." However, the products include claims such as treatment of Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar, or enhancing insulin secretion. On Monday, Covetrus North America LLC, a company based in Dublin, Ohio , which sells veterinary products to customers across the United States , pled guilty to causing the introduction and delivery of misbranded veterinary prescription drugs into interstate commerce. As part of the agreement, Covetrus will pay over $23 million in criminal fines and forfeitures. Additional Resources: Media Contact: FDA Office of Media Affairs, 301-796-4540 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-roundup-february-13-2024-302060913.html SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Expected Annual Revenues of $500 Million - Increases 2024 Annual Dividend Rate by 4% HOUSTON , Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) ("Group 1" or the "Company"), an international Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 198 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K. , today announced the expansion of its U.S. portfolio in the greater Baltimore/Washington DC market, the sixth largest metropolitan area in the United States . The acquisition includes Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia new vehicle dealerships; one Toyota Certified pre-owned center; and three collision centers. The group includes the two highest volume Honda dealerships in the state of Maryland . The dealerships are expected to generate over $500 million in annual revenues. Additionally, Group 1 announced that its board of directors has approved an increase in the 2024 annual dividend rate to $1.88 per share. This represents an increase of 4%, or $0.08 , from the 2023 annual dividend rate of $1.80 per share. Consistent with this increase, a $0.47 dividend per share will be payable on March 15, 2024 , to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2024 . Consistent with its strategy to focus on larger, higher performing dealerships, the Company also disposed of 10 franchises and a collision center in Beaumont, Texas during the first quarter of 2024. Group 1's President and CEO Daryl Kenningham stated, "We are thrilled to grow our business in the greater Washington, DC area, one of the largest automotive markets in the country. These dealerships are some of the best brands in our portfolio and we are very proud to grow our relationship with Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai. As reflected in our history of successful integration of acquisitions, we work toward integrating these businesses into our company as quickly as possible. We believe, given our proven operational and acquisition integration track record, that this acquisition presents an opportunity to further drive profitable growth for our stockholders." ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. Group 1 owns and operates 198 automotive dealerships, 262 franchises, and 43 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 35 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts. Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations at www.group1corp.com , www.group1auto.com , www.group1collision.com , www.acceleride.com , www.facebook.com/group1auto , and www.twitter.com/group1auto . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding our strategic investments, goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations and business strategy, including the annualized revenues of recently completed acquisitions or dispositions and other benefits of such currently anticipated or recently completed acquisitions or dispositions. These forward-looking statements often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions, on a timely basis, if at all and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, (i) the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East , (j) the impacts of any potential global recession, (k) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate, and (l) our ability to successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor contacts: Terry Bratton Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. [email protected] Media contacts: Pete DeLongchamps Senior Vice President, Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs Group 1 Automotive, Inc. [email protected] or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/group-1-automotive-acquires-rrr-automotive-group-302060010.html SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc. NEW YORK , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Highgate, a leading hotel management, investment and development company, announced today the appointment of Tony Machado to Head of Design. In this new role, Machado will join LUCID, Highgate's in-house Design & Construction Studio , to oversee all aspects of design innovation and execution for the company's growing portfolio as well as Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. "Tony is a visionary whose work translating hotel designs into extraordinary guest experiences has earned him the highest level of respect throughout the industry," said Arash Azarbarzin at Highgate. "As we continue to strengthen our position as a leader in hospitality design, Tony will play a critical role in driving Highgate's success." "This is an invigorating time to join Highgate, as the company is evolving and expanding in new directions that offer unlimited possibilities for creativity and innovation," said Machado. "Whether building on the legacy of a brand like Viceroy by refining its design ethos or creating designs from the ground up for Romer Neighborhood Hotels, we will deliver best-in-class solutions across the spectrum of Highgate's dynamic portfolio." Prior to joining Highgate, Machado served as Senior Vice President and Head of Design at Starwood Capital Group/SH Hotels & Resorts. Throughout his tenure with Starwood, he played a pivotal role in leading all aspects of design for the strategic growth of the 1 Hotels, Baccarat and Treehouse brands, and overseeing their expansion from a handful of U.S. hotels into a major international portfolio. Before joining SH Hotels & Resorts, Machado served as Vice President, Global Head of Design & Construction at Morgans Hotel Group (now Accor), where he played a critical role in the expansion of the Delano and Mondrian brands. His original design strategies were instrumental in translating the unique essence of the brands into diverse cultural contexts. About Highgate Highgate is a leading global real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York , Boston , Miami , San Francisco and Honolulu , with a growing footprint in Europe , the Caribbean and Latin America . The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York , Dallas , Los Angeles , Miami , Seattle , Waikiki , London and Lisbon. www.highgate.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highgate-appoints-tony-machado-to-head-of-design-302060406.html SOURCE Highgate PITTSBURGH , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a way to help a bow hunter track animals that were shot," said an inventor, from Council Hill, Okla. , "so I invented the TRACKING ARROW. My design eliminates the frustration of losing an animal and it offers a more ethical alternative to leaving maimed animals to suffer in the wild." The invention provides an effective way for a bow hunter to track and recover an animal after a successful hit. In doing so, it offers an alternative to following tracks, blood trails, etc. As a result, it saves time. It also would prevent the hunter from losing expensive arrows. The invention features an innovative design that is easy to use so it is ideal for bow hunters. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the Houston sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 22-HOF-452, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive , Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-equipment-for-bow-hunters-hof-452-302058969.html SOURCE InventHelp MILFORD, Ohio , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The privacy and security of the personal information we maintain is of the utmost importance to Jeff Wyler Automotive Family. As a result of a recent data security incident, an unauthorized party accessed our computer systems on or about May 27, 2023 . Upon detecting the unauthorized activity, we immediately contained the incident and commenced an immediate and thorough investigation. As part of our investigation, we engaged leading cybersecurity experts to identify what personal information, if any, was involved. After an extensive forensic investigation and manual document review, we discovered on or about January 29, 2024 that one or more of the files accessed and/or acquired by the unauthorized party potentially contained personal information pertaining to a limited number of individuals, such as full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver's license or state identification numbers, medical and/or health insurance information, and financial account information. The elements of impacted information varied per individual. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family has no evidence of any identity theft or financial fraud related to this incident. However, out of abundance of caution, commencing on February 13, 2024 , Jeff Wyler Automotive Family notified individuals whose information may have been included in the files accessed by the unauthorized party. Notified individuals have been provided with best practices to protect their information, and individuals whose Social Security numbers were contained in the impacted files have been offered complimentary credit monitoring. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family is committed to maintaining the privacy of personal information in its possession and has taken many precautions to safeguard it. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family continually evaluates and modifies its practices to enhance the security and privacy of the personal information it maintains. For individuals who have questions or need additional information regarding this incident, or to determine if they are impacted and are eligible for credit monitoring, Jeff Wyler Automotive Family has established a dedicated toll-free response line at (888) 368-7525. The response line is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time . OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION 1. Placing a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File . You may place an initial one-year "Fraud Alert" on your credit files, at no charge. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you personally before they open any new accounts. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus at the numbers listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will notify the others. Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/ \ (800) 525-6285 Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html (888) 397-3742 TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000 https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts (800) 680-7289 2. Consider Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit File . If you are very concerned about becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, you may request a "Security Freeze" be placed on your credit file, at no charge. A security freeze prohibits, with certain specific exceptions, the consumer reporting agencies from releasing your credit report or any information from it without your express authorization. You may place a security freeze on your credit report by contacting all three nationwide credit reporting companies at the numbers below and following the stated directions or by sending a request in writing, by mail, to all three credit reporting companies: Equifax Security Freeze P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ (888)-298-0045 Experian Security Freeze P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 http://experian.com/freeze (888) 397-3742 TransUnion Security Freeze P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze (888) 909-8872 In order to place the security freeze, you'll need to supply your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information. After receiving your freeze request, each credit reporting company will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN (personal identification number) or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place. You will need it if you choose to lift the freeze. If your personal information has been used to file a false tax return, to open an account or to attempt to open an account in your name or to commit fraud or other crimes against you, you may file a police report in the City in which you currently reside. 3. Obtaining a Free Credit Report . Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the above three major nationwide credit reporting companies. Call 1-877-322-8228 or request your free credit reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com. Once you receive your credit reports, review them for discrepancies. Identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company. 4. Additional Helpful Resources . Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly. If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them on the web at www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), or by mail at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW , Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTC's Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes. If this notice letter states that your financial account information and/or credit or debit card information was impacted, we recommend that you contact your financial institution to inquire about steps to take to protect your account, including whether you should close your account or obtain a new account number. 5. Protecting Your Medical Information . If your medical information was involved in this incident, the following practices can provide additional safeguards to protect against medical identity theft. Only share your health insurance cards with your health care providers and other family members who are covered under your insurance plan or who help you with your medical care. Review your "explanation of benefits statement" which you receive from your health insurance company. Follow up with your insurance company or care provider for any items you do not recognize. If necessary, contact the care provider on the explanation of benefits statement and ask for copies of medical records from the date of the potential access (noted above) to current date. Ask your insurance company for a current year-to-date report of all services paid for you as a beneficiary. Follow up with your insurance company or the care provider for any items you do not recognize. California Residents: Visit the California Office of Privacy Protection (www.oag.ca.gov/privacy) for additional information on protection against identity theft. Office of the Attorney General of California, 1300 I Street , Sacramento, CA 95814, Telephone: 1-800-952-5225. Iowa Residents: You may contact law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General's Office to report suspected incidents of identity Theft: Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, Consumer Protection Division, Hoover State Office Building , 1305 East Walnut Street , Des Moines, IA 50319, www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov, Telephone: 515-281-5164. Maryland Residents: You may obtain information about avoiding identity theft from the Maryland Attorney General's Office: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul Place , Baltimore, MD 21202, https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/, Telephone: 888-743-0023. Massachusetts Residents: Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain a police report in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it. New Mexico Residents: You have rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These include, among others, the right to know what is in your file; to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information; and to have consumer reporting agencies correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. For more information about the FCRA, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf or www.ftc.gov. In Addition, New Mexico Consumers Have the Right to Obtain a Security Freeze or Submit a Declaration of Removal As noted above, you may obtain a security freeze on your credit report to protect your privacy and ensure that credit is not granted in your name without your knowledge. You may submit a declaration of removal to remove information placed in your credit report as a result of being a victim of identity theft. You have a right to place a security freeze on your credit report or submit a declaration of removal pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting and Identity Security Act. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. When you place a security freeze on your credit report, you will be provided with a personal identification number, password, or similar device to use if you choose to remove the freeze on your credit report or to temporarily authorize the release of your credit report to a specific party or parties or for a specific period of time after the freeze is in place. To remove the freeze or to provide authorization for the temporary release of your credit report, you must contact the consumer reporting agency and provide all of the following: The unique personal identification number, password, or similar device provided by the consumer reporting agency; Proper identification to verify your identity; and Information regarding the third party or parties who are to receive the credit report or the period of time for which the credit report may be released to users of the credit report. A consumer reporting agency that receives a request from a consumer to lift temporarily a freeze on a credit report shall comply with the request no later than three business days after receiving the request. As of September 1, 2008 , a consumer reporting agency shall comply with the request within fifteen minutes of receiving the request by a secure electronic method or by telephone. A security freeze does not apply in all circumstances, such as where you have an existing account relationship and a copy of your credit report is requested by your existing creditor or its agents for certain types of account review, collection, fraud control, or similar activities; for use in setting or adjusting an insurance rate or claim or insurance underwriting; for certain governmental purposes; and for purposes of prescreening as defined in the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. If you are actively seeking a new credit, loan, utility, telephone, or insurance account, you should understand that the procedures involved in lifting a security freeze may slow your own applications for credit. You should plan ahead and lift a freeze, either completely if you are shopping around or specifically for a certain creditor, with enough advance notice before you apply for new credit for the lifting to take effect. You should contact a consumer reporting agency and request it to lift the freeze at least three business days before applying. As of September 1, 2008 , if you contact a consumer reporting agency by a secure electronic method or by telephone, the consumer reporting agency should lift the freeze within fifteen minutes. You have a right to bring a civil action against a consumer reporting agency that violates your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting and Identity Security Act. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a request to each of the three major consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You may contact these agencies using the contact information provided above. New York Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the New York Attorney General's Office: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds-bureau/identity-theft; Telephone: 800-771-7755. North Carolina Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the North Carolina Attorney General's Office: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Consumer Protection Division, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, www.ncdoj.gov/, Telephone: 1-877-566-7226. Oregon Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Oregon Attorney General's Office: Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE , Salem, OR 97301-4096, www.doj.state.or.us/, Telephone: 877-877-9392 Rhode Island Residents: You may contact law enforcement, such as the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, to report incidents of identity theft or to learn about steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. You can contact the Rhode Island Attorney General at: Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, 150 South Main Street , Providence, RI 02903, www.riag.ri.gov , 401-274-4400. As noted above, you may obtain a security freeze on your credit report to protect your privacy and ensure that credit is not granted in your name without your knowledge. You have a right to place a "security freeze" on your credit report pursuant to chapter 48 of title 6 of the Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2006. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. When you place a security freeze on your credit report, within five (5) business days you will be provided a personal identification number or password to use if you choose to remove the freeze on your credit report or to temporarily authorize the release of your credit report for a specific period of time after the freeze is in place. To provide that authorization, you must contact the consumer reporting agency and provide all of the following: The unique personal identification number or password provided by the consumer reporting agency. Proper identification to verify your identity. The proper information regarding the period of time for which the report shall be available to users of the credit report. A consumer reporting agency that receives a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a freeze on a credit report shall comply with the request no later than three (3) business days after receiving the request. A security freeze does not apply to circumstances where you have an existing account relationship and a copy of your report is requested by your existing creditor or its agents or affiliates for certain types of an account review, collection, fraud control, or similar activities. If you are actively seeking a new credit, loan, utility, telephone, or insurance account, you should understand that the procedures involved in lifting a security freeze may slow your own applications for credit. You should plan ahead and lift a freeze -- either completely, if you are shopping around, or specifically for a certain creditor -- with enough advance notice before you apply for new credit for the lifting to take effect. You have a right to bring a civil action against someone who violates your rights under the credit reporting laws. The action can be brought against a consumer reporting agency or a user of your credit report. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a request to each of the three major consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These agencies can be contacted using the contact information provided above. In order to request a security freeze, you may need to provide the following information: Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Complete address; Prior addresses; Proof(s) of identification (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, birth certificate, etc.); If you are a victim of identity theft, a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft. Washington D.C. Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 400 6th Street NW , Washington D.C. 20001, https://oag.dc.gov/consumer-protection, Telephone: 202-442-9828. Contact: Kevin Frye , Marketing Director, Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jeff-wyler-automotive-family-notice-of-data-security-incident-302061024.html SOURCE Jeff Wyler Automotive Family LG Energy Solution signs a second offtake agreement with WesCEF, expands its supply chain for competitive lithium procurement signs a second offtake agreement with WesCEF, expands its supply chain for competitive lithium procurement Lithium hydroxide and lithium concentrate from WesCEF's Mt. Holland lithium project to be assembled into IRA-compliant batteries for the North American market lithium project to be assembled into IRA-compliant batteries for the North American market The company to secure reliable and sustainable supply chain by establishing multiangle partnerships with WesCEF SEOUL, South Korea , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) announced it signed an offtake agreement with Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF) for lithium concentrate, further advancing the companies' pre-existing partnership driven by the objective to deliver efficient and sustainable power solutions to the North American market. Under the agreement, WesCEF will supply LG Energy Solution up to 85,000 tons of lithium concentrate, which could be utilized in producing around 11,000 tons of lithium hydroxide, a crucial raw material for cathodes. The offtake agreement solidifies LG Energy Solution's partnership with WesCEF, which is built on the company's initiative to deliver top-quality, IRA-compliant batteries to its customers with speed and in scale. The two companies have been working together towards their shared goal of clean energy transition since 2022, when they signed their first, five-year offtake agreement for WesCEF's battery-grade lithium hydroxide, totaling 50,000 tons. WesCEF's lithium hydroxide will be produced from the Mt. Holland lithium project in Western Australia . One of the largest hard-rock lithium projects globally, the Mt. Holland lithium project is currently under construction, and production is expected in the first half of calendar year 2025. The project has secured over AUD 2 billion from its joint venture partners WesCEF and Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM), with Covalent Lithium acting as the manager appointed by the joint venture to develop and operate the project. LG Energy Solution and WesCEF are also exploring strategic opportunities for collaboration in upstream minerals and chemical processing. By expanding partnership with a competitive supplier like WesCEF, LG Energy Solution is devoting its efforts to establishing structurally-sound and sustainable supply chain for IRA-compliant critical minerals, through which the company will also be able to secure long-lasting cost-competitiveness. As part of its efforts to further enhance its lithium supply chain, LG Energy Solution has also secured a partnership with SQM, a global mining company based in Chile and also an investor in the Mt. Holland lithium project, as two companies signed a new long-term supply agreement for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide last year. In this new contract that replaces the previous one in force, the offtake amount has nearly tripled from the remaining contract volume (36,000 tons) to 100,000 tons over seven years, thereby ensuring more stable supply of IRA-compliant lithium that will drive the company's business expansion in North America . Critical minerals and raw materials secured through this robust supply chain will be assembled into the company's innovative lithium-ion batteries at the manufacturing facilities in North America , making them IRA-compliant power solutions that will propel clean energy transition in the region. LG Energy Solution has eight facilities currently operating or under construction in North America , with stand-alone facilities in Michigan and Arizona and six joint venture facilities with major automakers. "As an industry leader, in line with the global trend of electrification and corresponding clean energy policies, we are upholding the value of sustainability in not just our products but every aspect of our business, including supply chain," said Kang Yeol Lee , Senior Vice President of Procurement Center at LG Energy Solution. "Partnering with major suppliers with great potentials like WesCEF, we will ensure stable procurement of key raw materials, thereby delivering advanced battery technologies at competitive prices." Date Critical Mineral Total Amount Duration 24.02 Lithium Concentrate 85,000 tons 2024 (contract extension optional) 22.09 Lithium Hydroxide 50,000 tons 2026~2030 [Offtake Agreements between LG Energy Solution and WesCEF] About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis N.V., Hyundai Motor Group, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. At the forefront of green business and sustainability, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-energy-solution-strengthens-partnership-with-wescef-secures-stable-lithium-supply-chain-for-the-north-american-market-302060437.html SOURCE LG Energy Solution The Nagoya event centered on sustainability and the company's expanding global footprint NAGOYA, Japan , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions , a leading manufacturer of chemical compounds utilized in surface finishing applications, proudly celebrated the opening of its facility in Nagoya, Japan on February 1st , with a ribbon cutting ceremony and customer event. The grand opening highlights the organization's commitment to providing local support and service, backed by global resources and technologies. The event commenced with a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the laboratory, hosted by local MacDermid Enthone representatives and global leaders. Matthew Cenzer , Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate in Nagoya , was in attendance along with automotive customers from across Japan. "The opening of our laboratory facility in Nagoya is an exciting new chapter for MacDermid Enthone and our partners," said Hui Hui Kiw, Vice President of Asia , MacDermid Enthone. "Our local presence enables us to deliver superior customer support while bringing global capabilities to customers in Japan ." Throughout the day MacDermid Enthone industry experts delivered presentations on sustainable anti-corrosion solutions, their comprehensive trivalent chromium portfolio, including evolve and evolve BOND, and industry-leading electroless nickel technologies. Attendees toured the Nagoya laboratory and gained insight into the global manufacturing, testing, and supply chain capabilities that MacDermid Enthone can bring to Japanese OEMs. "It is a privilege to host this event in Nagoya and share a milestone in our history with local customers and colleagues," says Richard Lynch , Senior Global Vice President, MacDermid Enthone. "Our commitment to future-focused innovation, coupled with Japan's focus on sustainability, is a partnership that will help drive the automotive industry forward. Thank you to all who joined us." About MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions: Established in 1922, MacDermid Enthone Inc., operating as MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions, stands as a global leader, specializing in the manufacture of chemical compounds catering to all facets of surface finishing applications. Their product portfolio includes innovative solutions designed to meet the evolving demands of the dynamic surface finishing industry and ever-changing customer requirements, with a strong focus on sustainable technologies and enhanced technical support. MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions operates as a business unit of Element Solutions Inc (NYSE: ESI), a diversified specialty chemicals company serving a broad spectrum of industries with innovative solutions that enhance everyday products. For more information, please visit MacDermidEnthone.com. Media Contact Eliza Garry [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/macdermid-enthone-industrial-solutions-celebrates-laboratory-opening-in-japan-with-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-302060210.html SOURCE MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions In this article, we discuss 12 best quality dividend stocks to invest in. You can skip our detailed analysis of quality dividend companies and their performance over the years, and go directly to read 5 Best Quality Dividend Stocks To Invest In. In a volatile stock market, income-generating stocks hold a significant position. While tech stocks seemed to take the spotlight last year, it doesnt necessarily indicate the downfall of dividend stocks, which have long held their allure. As we progress through 2024, the stock and bond market outlook fluctuates regularly, influenced by economic updates, statements from the Federal Reserve, and shifts in interest rate expectations. Initially, investors anticipated multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve throughout the year, with expectations of the first cut in March. However, following a series of positive economic indicators, the Fed has hinted that a rate cut in March is improbable. Consequently, investors are adjusting their valuations of stocks and bonds, awaiting fewer rate cuts to commence later than previously projected. During uncertain times, it's recommended for investors to focus on dividend stocks. These stocks typically offer good value and can provide consistent income, especially in sectors where there's potential for growth in stock prices. Analysts' preference for dividend stocks isn't a recent trend; it's largely based on the historical performance of these stocks. Companies that have consistently increased their dividends over time have proven to be reliable investments, delivering strong returns in the past. These stocks have been particularly resilient during periods of high inflation. For instance, the S&P 500 High Dividend Growth Index, which tracks companies in the S&P 500 known for consistent or increasing dividends and high forecast dividend yield growth, saw its dividends grow at an annual rate of 13.8% from 2010 to 2022, as reported by S&P Dow Jones Indices. This growth rate has surpassed the long-term U.S. inflation rate, even amidst recent spikes in inflation over the past few years. The report also noted that historical data comparing the performance of the S&P 500 High Dividend Growth Index to the S&P 500 indicated that the index has displayed somewhat defensive traits, with a downside capture ratio of 94.5%. Additionally, over time, the index has typically captured 96% of the market's returns during upward market trends. Story continues As previously mentioned, dividend stocks took a backseat during the tech surge in 2023, but reliable dividend-paying companies are poised for a strong resurgence. Analysts express optimism that investors will acknowledge the strength of these stocks this year. According to strategists at Lord Abbett, a subset of stocks they view as high quality is dividend-growth stockscompanies with a track record of consistently raising their dividends over time. With the economic cycle showing signs of slowing down, they believe companies with solid balance sheets, robust cash flows, and dependable dividends will be well-prepared to maintain their performance. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) are some of the best dividend stocks with decades-long dividend growth streaks under their belt. In this article, we will further take a look at some quality dividend stocks. 12 Best Quality Dividend Stocks To Invest In Daily newspaper economy stock market chart Our Methodology: For this list, we scanned Insider Monkey's database of 910 hedge funds as of Q3 2023 and identified blue-chip dividend companies with strong balance sheets. From this initial selection, we refined our choices to include only those companies that have continuously raised their dividend payouts for 25 years or more and currently offer yields above 3% as of February 13. Our goal in highlighting these companies is to underscore their excellence and longstanding dedication to providing returns to shareholders. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds having stakes in them. Hedge funds top 10 consensus stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). 12. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 5.98% Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is an American real estate investment trust company that primarily invests in commercial properties. Specifically, it focuses on retail and commercial real estate, leasing its properties to tenants under long-term lease agreements. It is one of the best quality dividend stocks on our list as the company pays monthly dividends to shareholders. Moreover, the company has been raising its dividends for the past 104 consecutive quarters. It currently pays a monthly dividend of $0.2565 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.98%, as of February 13. At the end of Q3 2023, 23 hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database reported having stakes in Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O), compared with 24 in the previous quarter. The collective value of these stakes is nearly $150 million. 11. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 3.80% Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) is a diversified energy company primarily operating in the regulated electric, gas, and steam utility sectors. The company is responsible for supplying electricity and gas to millions of customers in its service territory, maintaining the infrastructure necessary for the reliable delivery of these services, and responding to customer needs. On January 18, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share, up from its previous dividend of $0.81 per share. Through this increase, the company stretched its dividend growth streak to 50 consecutive years, which makes ED one of the best quality dividend stocks to invest in. The stock's dividend yield on February 13 came in at 3.80%. As of the close of Q3 2023, 27 hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database owned stakes in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED), down from 30 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively worth over $350.3 million. With roughly 1 million shares, AQR Capital Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q3. 10. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 3.22% Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) is a global industrial gases company that supplies atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, equipment, and technology. On January 25, the company announced a 1.1% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.77 per share. This marked the company's 42nd consecutive annual dividend increase. With a dividend yield of 3.22% as of February 13, APD is one of the best quality dividend stocks to invest in. At the end of September 2023, 43 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD), the same as in the preceding quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $952.3 million. 9. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 3.62% With a dividend growth streak of 28 consecutive years, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is next on our list of the best quality dividend stocks to invest in. The multinational tech company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.66 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.62%, as of February 13. The number of hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database owning stakes in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) grew to 53 in Q3 2023, from 51 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of roughly $843 million. Among these hedge funds, Marshall Wace LLP was the company's leading stakeholder in Q3. 8. 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 6.53% 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) is a Minnesota-based multinational conglomerate corporation that operates in various industries and is known for its diverse range of products. Recently, the company declared its 66th consecutive annual dividend hike, which makes MMM one of the best quality dividend stocks to invest in. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $1.51 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.53%, as of February 13. 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) ended the third quarter of 2023 with 54 hedge fund positions, up from 49 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. The stakes owned by these hedge funds have a collective value of more than $818.6 million. 7. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 3.08% The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is an American beverage company that is involved in the production, marketing, and distribution of non-alcoholic beverages. The company holds a 61-year track record of consistent dividend growth and pays a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share. The stock's dividend yield on February 13 came in at 3.08%. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was a part of 57 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2023, down from 61 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkey's database. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a consolidated value of more than $25 billion. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owned the largest stake in the company worth over $22.3 billion. 6. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 58 Dividend Yield as of February 13: 3.36% NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) ranks sixth on our list of the best quality dividend stocks to invest in. The renewable energy company has raised its payouts for 27 consecutive years and offers a quarterly dividend of $0.4675 per share. As of February 13, the stock has a dividend yield of 3.36%. According to Insider Monkey's database of Q3 2023, 58 hedge funds owned stakes in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE), down slightly from 59 in the preceding quarter. The collective value of these stakes is over $1.4 billion. Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Quality Dividend Stocks To Invest In. Suggested articles: Disclosure. None. 12 Best Quality Dividend Stocks To Invest In is originally published on Insider Monkey. FREMONT, Calif. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- THINK Surgical, Inc., an innovator in the field of orthopedic surgical robots, today announced that it will enter into a new Collaboration Agreement with Maxx Orthopedics, Inc. ( Norristown, PA ), a rapidly expanding global orthopedics device company. Through this collaboration, THINK Surgical will add Maxx Orthopedics' implants, including the Freedom Knee System, to THINK Surgical's ID-HUB, a proprietary database of implant modules for use with its TMINI Miniature Robotic System. THINK Surgical is committed to providing open platform orthopedic surgical robots that support implants from multiple manufactures. To further this commitment, THINK is pleased to add Maxx Orthopedics implants to its ID-HUB database which already includes five implant systems from four other implant manufacturers. Adding another implant partner's products to the ID-HUB database enhances customer's choice of implant options when using the TMINI system. The TMINI system includes a wireless robotic handpiece that assists surgeons in performing total knee replacement and first received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA in April 2023 . The addition of the Freedom Knee System to THINK Surgical's ID HUB database will allow Maxx Orthopedics customers in the U.S. access to robotic assisted technology for total knee replacement. The development of the implant module has already started and THINK Surgical will be seeking FDA clearance in the coming months for use of the TMINI System with the Freedom Knee System. "We are delighted to welcome Maxx Orthopedics to the TMINI platform. Their commitment to delivering creative and efficient solutions to customers complements THINK Surgical's mission to provide customers with greater choice in patient treatment options," said Stuart Simpson , president, and chief executive officer of THINK Surgical. "We are excited about the strategic partnership with THINK Surgical. Delivering affordable innovation to our surgeons and patients is very important to us. The TMINI System is the one of several key technologies designed to enhance the surgeon experience with our knee reconstruction solutions. I believe surgeons will see real value using our proven Freedom Knee System with THINK Surgical's technology," said Ashesh Shah , chief executive officer of Maxx Orthopedics. About THINK Surgical, Inc. THINK Surgical, Inc., is a privately held U.S. -based technology innovator that develops and markets orthopedic robots. THINK Surgical robots are open platforms providing support for implant brands from multiple manufacturers, enabling the choice of implant to be driven by the surgeon. Please refer to the instructions for use for the TMINI Miniature Robotic System for a complete list of indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. For additional product information, please visit www.thinksurgical.com . THINK Surgical and TMINI are trademarks of THINK Surgical, Inc. About Maxx Orthopedics Maxx Orthopedics is the manufacturer of the Freedom Knee System, Libertas Total Hip System and Quick Recovery Solutions (QRS). The company develops and markets innovative orthopedic medical devices worldwide with a focus on providing state-of-the-art implants and related solutions that best restore patient mobility while accommodating lifestyle, anatomical and economic needs. Find out more at www.maxxortho.com. Media Contacts: THINK Surgical Maxx Orthopedics Nick Margree Farzin Khaghani [email protected] [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maxx-orthopedics-to-collaborate-with-think-surgical-for-robotic-tka-302058636.html SOURCE THINK Surgical, Inc. BOCA RATON, Fla. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi Image Group (MIG), a leading event and exhibit production agency, is proud to announce a series of strategic investments to adapt to clients expanding creative and production needs. New Warehouse Space: In continued expansion mode, MIG has acquired additional warehouse space that will serve as a secondary hub for MIG's growing exhibit, staging, technology, and creative offerings. This new facility not only allows MIG to expand their capabilities (offering more under one roof than ever before) but ensures streamlined processes for event and exhibit production, storage, and distribution. Employment Growth: As part of its expansion strategy, MIG is proud to contribute to local job growth with an increase of 14% in the past year. The company has increased its workforce by hiring a diverse range of talent across various departments that include Technical Directors, Executive Producers, Scenic Designers, Carpenters, IT Experts and Creative Artists. MIG's latest employment growth reflects its allegiance to the community and fostering talent within the events and exhibits industry. In 2023, MIG also changed its ownership structure to 100% Employee owned company under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)! Rebranding: MIG is excited to introduce its revitalized brand identity, signaling a fresh phase in the company's growth. The revamped brand adds a renewed sense of enthusiasm to MIG's 45-year history and mirrors the company's progressive mindset in areas such as creative and production approaches, addressing client issues, and remaining at the cutting edge of trends in the event and exhibit industry. Printing Facilities and Upgraded Printers: To elevate the quality, quantity and client control of MIG's print capabilities, MIG has recently invested in a full-service frontline printing machine that is a major investment and upgrade in capabilities from past machinery. Housed in a dedicated facility at MIG headquarters, this new innovation will allow MIG to bring their client's printing dreams to life; from large format signage to custom shaped designs all while ensuring that every project meets MIG's high standards of quality and excellence. Nick Harmeling, MIG's Digital Lab Manager, adds "This new machine is also super eco-friendly. There's no harmful or toxic fumes during the printing process, which is a win-win for MIG and the environment." In light of these transformative changes, MIG remains steadfast in its commitment to exceeding client expectations and applying the latest technologies in the events and exhibit industry. The company looks forward to continued success, building on its 45th year legacy of creativity, and unparalleled client services. For media inquiries or more information, please contact: Monica Ballerano , [email protected]. About Multi Image Group (MIG): MIG is a leading event production and experiential marketing company that specializes in creating immersive and impactful experiences for its clients. With a legacy of innovation and excellence, MIG continues to push the boundaries of event production, ensuring memorable engagements that captivate audiences and drive results. For more information, visit www.mig.cc. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multi-image-groups-mig-growth-accelerating-to-meet-clients-growing-event-production-and-creative-needs-302061167.html SOURCE Multi Image Group The unique college is specifically designed for students interested in Black history, life, and culture. SACRAMENTO, Calif. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sacramento State President Luke Wood has announced formation of the nation's first Black Honors College, set to launch at the University in fall 2024. Students in the Black Honors College will have their own specialized coursework, with smaller classes and faculty members who have a demonstrated record of success in teaching and serving Black students. Weekly seminars, experiential learning opportunities, internships, and set-alone advisors and counselors will create an enhanced college experience for students. Sacramento State enrolls more Black students than any of the other 22 institutions in the California State University system and all but one of the University of California's 13 schools. "We are creating an institution within the institution that is specifically designed to serve the academic, co-curricular, and psychological needs of Black students," said Wood, who became Sacramento State's ninth permanent president in July 2023 . "We cannot be a Historically Black College or University, given that we were not founded before 1964," Wood said, "but we can be everything but the historical part and implement the best practices that make HBCUs so critical to the Black community." Applications for the Black Honors College open mid-February to incoming first-year students. Prospective applicants with a 3.5 GPA or higher are encouraged to apply. "We are going all in as a University to create something special for Black students, and we are calling upon the community to help us make this happen," Wood said. "We need the community's support, your prayers, internships for students, and scholarship dollars." The University is providing significant resources for the college, including 6,000 square feet of space with a set-alone seminar room, conference rooms, study spaces, and offices. "Too often, students from California want to go out of state for college because they believe that public higher education in California is failing them," said Aniesha Mitchell , vice president for Student Affairs. "Unlike anything else in the state, the Black Honors College is specifically designed to meet the needs and aspirations of Black students. We are intentionally cultivating the courageous leaders of tomorrow." Dr. Boatamo Ati Mosupyoe will serve as the college's dean of students and chief academic officer. Mosupyoe formerly served as associate dean for the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies and has led other campus programs that effectively serve Black students. Wood and Mosupyoe envision the Black Honors College as the first step in a larger national movement. "Our aim is to develop a system of institutions throughout the nation that will also launch Black Honors Colleges," Mosupyoe said. "We will set forth a framework to certify whether those institutions have the critical components necessary to justify the designation and are not simply putting a new name on old or under-resourced efforts." Ruth Williams will serve as the college's staff director. She previously served as Sacramento State's DEGREES Project associate director. "As someone who has personally received a CSU education, specifically at Sac State, I understand first-hand how crucial a program such as the Black Honors College is for our current and future scholars," Williams said. "Our carefully crafted programming speaks volumes to the commitments our president, administrators, faculty, and staff have made to make our Black Honors College a success, not just for our students, not just for Sac State, but for you, our community, as well." Based on California Proposition 209, the Black Honors College is open to students of all races and backgrounds, but it emphasizes programming and curricular efforts specifically designed for the Black and African American experience. Prospective students who are interested in learning more about Sacramento State's Black Honors College can email [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nations-first-black-honors-college-launching-at-sacramento-state-302060925.html SOURCE California State University, Sacramento Nextiva Poised for Expansion After Strategic Thrio Acquisition SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextiva, a leading AI-powered customer experience platform for businesses of all sizes, today announced a major addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Jim Nystrom as the new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Nystrom is extensively skilled in driving strategic solutions and leading teams in Enterprise Communications and Contact Center management, with a strong focus on practical AI integration. "The recent Thrio acquisition signifies a key advancement in the pursuit of our mission. With Jim at the helm of our dynamic revenue teams, there's no limit for Nextiva to accelerate our momentum as the ultimate single platform for all conversations globally," said Nextiva CEO Tomas Gorny . "His strategic vision aligns with Nextiva's goals, and uniquely positions us apart from any other company in the current market landscape." Jim Nystrom will help shape, drive, and execute Nextiva's growth strategies, with a focus on yielding high-impact business outcomes. Nystrom has a hugely successful track record for building and scaling revenue teams that deliver solutions to global enterprises, most recently serving as the CRO of Dialpad and Executive Vice President of Global Sales at Five9 during its significant growth phase. Nystrom and Nextiva are fully equipped to support businesses of all sizes and across various sectors, including commercial enterprises, state and local governments, educational institutions, BPOs, and service providers. "I am beyond excited to build and grow the world-class sales organization within Nextiva, and work closely with our partners," said Jim Nystrom , CRO. "Nextiva is uniquely positioned to deliver a comprehensive, complete customer experience platform for knowledge workers and customer-facing representatives in sales, service, and support organizations globally today." Nextiva's AI-driven platform is leading the charge in customer experience management. It is contemporary, cloud first, and built by CX experts - you can see and feel the difference. Renowned for its unmatched scalability, simplicity, and global reach, Nextiva brings excitement to every interaction. With its innovative approach and expert implementation methods, businesses can connect with customers like never before, ensuring an exceptional experience every step of the way. For media inquiries, please contact: Yaniv Masjedi [email protected] ABOUT NEXTIVA: Nextiva is the largest privately held business communications company in North America powering 100,000+ businesses and billions of conversations every year with its unified customer experience platform. From one AI-powered communication hub, Nextiva transforms the way businesses engage with their customers. The company's commitment to Amazing Service and a customer-focused approach has been its cornerstone for 15 years. Established in 2008 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona , Nextiva secured $200M from Goldman Sachs Asset Management in its inaugural funding round, valuing the company at $2.7B in late 2021. Discover more at www.nextiva.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextiva-appoints-jim-nystrom-as-chief-revenue-officer-to-drive-strategic-growth-302060274.html SOURCE Nextiva ShiftKey's "Solutions To Healthcare Burnout Report" Reveals Schedule Flexibility and Quality Time With Family Prevent Care Fatigue And Support Mental Health DALLAS , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ShiftKey , a leading technology marketplace disrupting healthcare through data and workforce empowerment, today released findings from its "Solutions to Healthcare Burnout Report," including insights from healthcare professionals in Texas - 96% of whom say working in the industry requires major personal sacrifices. Through the report, ShiftKey explores how these sacrifices influence professionals' lives and their ability to address personal and professional needs and highlights how burnout impacts healthcare workers. The report also reveals how independent working options can help alleviate these professionals' challenges, using insights directly from front-line workers. Texan healthcare workers' personal caregiving responsibilities compound burnout According to the report, which surveyed nurses and healthcare workers in Texas , 81% of healthcare professionals say they've experienced burnout, with the majority (66%) saying they're at risk of burnout right now and 38% noting that they've considered leaving the field altogether. Additionally, 78% of respondents say that they have caretaking responsibilities in their personal lives. When asked how they manage their caregiving obligations, 67% say balancing caregiving responsibilities outside of work with their professional duties is difficult. 55% of healthcare workers are caring for children of healthcare workers are caring for children 41% are taking care of parents are taking care of parents 31% have their own chronic health challenges have their own chronic health challenges 19% are taking care of extended family members Texas' healthcare workers are passionate about their profession but feel that their challenges aren't understood Healthcare is a calling for many, and helping others as part of their work is fulfilling. Despite dealing with burnout, the majority (88%) of Texas healthcare professionals wouldn't trade their careers for another. However, they feel misunderstood, with an overwhelming 95% of respondents stating that people don't comprehend the challenges of their work. Most (91%) healthcare workers say their job is more demanding than the average American's, and 45% say it is much more demanding. The majority of Texas nurses and healthcare professionals are making significant personal sacrifices for their work While burnout has been well documented in the healthcare field, there is little data on its impact on these professionals' personal lives. ShiftKey's "Solutions To Healthcare Burnout Report" found that 92% of Texan respondents say healthcare workers often have to miss out on key life events, and almost all (97%) respondents have missed at least one major event due to work commitments, such as birthdays (76%), major holidays (68%), vacations (65%) and weddings (43%). Almost 1 in 3 have even had to miss funerals (30%). Healthcare workers also find it difficult to keep up with the activities that impact their overall quality of life, including: Finding time to spend with family ( 88% ) ) Pursuing personal hobbies ( 88% ) ) Self-care ( 86% ) ) Mental health and wellness (82%) Quality time with family and schedule flexibility are critical to solving healthcare worker burnout in Texas An overwhelming 96% of respondents agree that nurses and healthcare workers need more scheduling flexibility to combat burnout, with 96% noting that healthcare professionals can benefit from the flexibility provided by independent contractor work. For many healthcare professionals, quality time with family is a key tool to combat work-related fatigue. In fact, 80% of healthcare workers say quality family time is the top way they manage stress. To get more quality time with family, 50% of respondents say they need better schedule flexibility. In addition to time with family, healthcare professionals combat burnout with: Exercise ( 76% ) ) Self-care ( 64% ) ) Mental health support like therapy or meditation (57%) In tandem with the new report, ShiftKey has partnered with the Dallas Mavericks to host visits to UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center Plano. These two visits will feature Dallas Mavericks players in addition to appearances from Mavericks mascot Champ, The Mavs ManiAACs and the D-Town Crew. ShiftKey employees will also facilitate patient time with players and partake in photo opportunities. "Healthcare workers in Texas and across the United States want the ability to own their own schedules and maintain the flexibility to make choices that are right for them," said Regan Parker , Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer, ShiftKey. "Our research indicates that these workers often feel deprived of the opportunity to pursue interests outside of work and dedicate time to loved ones, which only exacerbates the chronic burnout experienced across the industry. The autonomy ShiftKey's marketplace offers is an alternative approach to work that grants individuals the flexibility required for consistent work-life balance, which, in turn, combats healthcare worker attrition and promotes higher-quality patient care." Read the national report here: ShiftKey.com/Trends To stay updated on the latest news around ShiftKey, follow ShiftKey on LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook . About ShiftKey ShiftKey is a technology company committed to transforming access and integrity in the workforce. By leveraging data and a marketplace approach to connect independent licensed professionals with facilities with open workforce needs, ShiftKey is playing a vital role in advancing empowered work, stability and solutions for professionals, facilities and the people they serve. With 10,000 healthcare facilities and hundreds of thousands of independent licensed professionals on the platform, ShiftKey is the market leader in strategic workforce solutions, driving a more sustainable, inclusive and profitable workforce economy for the future. For more information, visit www.ShiftKey.com. About Mavs Care The Dallas Mavericks strive to be champions on the court and in the community. We are dedicated to building a stronger community through educational programs, health and wellness initiatives, environmental efforts, support for military veterans and first responders, racial equity and social justice programs, and grants to nonprofit organizations. Through our community programs and the Mavs Foundation, we are changing lives in North Texas and have impacted thousands of children, families and communities. Learn more at Mavs.com/Community @mavsoffcourt View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shiftkey-report-reveals-texas-healthcare-workers-make-frequent-personal-sacrifices-302060243.html SOURCE ShiftKey ATLANTA , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Storj , today announced accelerated growth of its cloud object storage solution, which is positioned to transform the data storage landscape in 2024. Partnerships, organic growth and values-based initiatives continue solidifying Storj's position in tech innovation, policy and stewardship. Storj CEO Ben Golub says, "I'm proud to see rising confidence and reliance on Storj. Our customer data more than doubled in 2023, performance doubled, and we have billions of objects stored on our network in tens of billions of pieces distributed over tens of thousands of nodes surpassing 25 PB of customer data in 2023. With peta-byte scale customers including major production studios, healthcare companies, and telecommunication leaders, we're well positioned and are expanding our network of partners, MSPs, VARs and enterprise customers." Growth & Validation 90% of the world's data was generated in the last 2 years and cloud storage is now a $100B market, growing to $480B by 2030, largely propelled by video, scientific/healthcare data and AI. Core strengths of Storj's are managing the very large files these sectors rely on and delivering S3-compatible, enterprise grade, cloud object storage, often 2-3x faster at 1/10 the cost and 1/10 the carbon footprint of AWS. Storj achieved 226% y/y revenue growth in 2023 proliferating a smarter approach than first-gen hyperscalers burdened by resource-heavy data-centers. It easily handles TB files, while AWS Cloudfront is limited to 30GB, for example. Storj's infrastructure, providing infinite scalability and environmental sustainability, is a timely combination. Storj developed partnerships with 30 tech alliance partners and 15 resellers in 2023 including Adobe Premiere Pro for media professionals , Acronis for secure backups , MASV for high-performance video teams , Livepeer for live and on-demand video and GB Labs for fast high-performance media sharing . Storj also became SmartStore certified with Splunk . The company was the first distributed cloud storage provider featured in Forrester's Object Storage Landscape report in Q2 2023, affirming Storj's approach "will disrupt centralized object storage providers as computing shifts to the edge." It also won a 2023 NAB Show Product of the Year Award in the Cloud Computing and Storage category. Sustainability & Savings Storj published a 2023 whitepaper revealing that distributed cloud storage reduces carbon emissions by up to 83%. Because the average rate of server utilization is only 12-18% of capacity, Storj uses existing capacity for its architecture, eliminating the need to build, cool and maintain new drives and data centers. Along with sustainability, this affords Storj a pricing advantage and avoids supply chain challenges, even for multi-petabyte storage. Enterprises adopt green technologies if they're the best business decision, and Storj offers a lower carbon approach that's more efficient, performant, secure and cost-effective. By 2040, energy required to store digital data could be responsible for 14% of the world's emissions - about the same as all carbon the US emits now. In response, in 2023 Storj co-founded the Digital Sustainability Alliance (DSA) with AdSignal , Valdi and Earthshot to advance industry-leading solutions that deliver major environmental sustainability impact. Ben Golub , CEO of Storj addressed members of the UK House of Commons at the Parliamentary Digital Economy Summit in November 2023 , regarding sustainable cloud storage and the DSA participated at the 2024 COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai , speaking about digital sustainability and AI. Security & Compliance Instead of storing data on data centers that are vulnerable to outages and attacks, Storj encrypts and splits data across its zero-trust network to protect against outages, ransomware, and compromise, eliminating single points of failure while delivering speed, reliability, security, and global accessibility. Storj has presented at all of the Institute for Security & Technology's Ransomware Task Force conferences. The 2023 launch of Storj Select added facilities with SOC2 certifications to meet needs of large enterprises in industries like healthcare and finance with rigorous security and compliance demands. With petabytes of healthcare data, healthcare data security leader CloudWave , is leveraging Storj Select. "We work with 300+ hospitals across six countries to protect patient data from cyberattacks and ensure performance and reliability," said Matt Donahue , CloudWave CTO. "Storj Select's compliance features, speed and security fit well with our cloud strategy." Transparency & Outlook Storj is positioned with strong financials, solid governance, an experienced team and $75M+ in assets, positioning for a landmark year in 2024. Storj makes live statistics on the state of its network available, publishes annual data on their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and environmental sustainability initiatives , is built on open source code, maintains an open roadmap and shares live network statistics. CEO, Ben Golub shared, "The market is evolving from old-guard titans to a new generation of business and technology leaders that value innovation and transparency to position themselves for exciting growth in 2024 and beyond." About Storj Storj is revolutionizing cloud object storage. We put unused storage to work as a massive distributed network rather than building data centers. Enterprises benefit from S3-compatible edge storage with superior global performance, security, and durability. Make the world your data center and get 80% lower costs and carbon emissions. Press Contact: Jackie Lucas Public Relations [email protected] 978-255-1159 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/storj-accelerates-growth-to-revolutionize-enterprise-cloud-object-storage-in-2024-through-globally-distributed-architecture-partnerships-and-values-driven-initiatives-302060709.html SOURCE Storj Artificial intelligence and 2024 PR trends will take centre stage with the world's most prominent speakers in the industry DAVOS, Switzerland , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Davos Communications Summit 2024 , organized by the esteemed World Communications Forum Association (WCFA) , is set to take place on April 11-12 in Davos, Switzerland . This exclusive event invites communication enthusiasts, industry leaders, and innovators to explore the latest trends in communication. Early registration is essential due to limited seating, and professionals can secure their spot or apply to be a speaker by contacting us at [email protected] or registering on the official website here: https://www.wcfaglobal.com/davos-communication-summit/homepage/2024 The Davos Communications Summit 2024 promises two days of immersive sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions led by leading PR experts. Attendees will delve into key areas such as the AI revolution, modern PR strategies, and data-driven insights, gaining valuable insights into how these factors are reshaping communication and industries. The global PR guru Paul Holmes , Founder and Chair of PRovoke Media, will be one of the Keynote Speakers at the event. Paul will join the event online and will deliver a compelling speech on "AI and New Trends in Public Relations in 2024", providing valuable insights into the intersection of artificial intelligence and modern PR practices. "We are excited to welcome some of the top PR business leaders from all over the world to join us in the beautiful Davos for a transformative summit, offering cutting-edge insights and invaluable networking opportunities shaping the future of modern PR.. This aligns perfectly with the WCFA's core mission of organizing such impactful events since 2010, spanning prestigious locations worldwide, including Istanbul , Prague , Moscow , New York City , Kuala Lumpur , Mumbai , Mexico City , Lusaka , Cape Town , and Geneva ", said Maxim Behar , President of the World Communications Forum Association. High-rank PR professionals who join as registered (paid) participants can apply to become speakers in the panel discussions. Among them are Raina Lazarova , Co-Founder & COO of Ruepoint and AMEC Board Member, will share her expertise on Crisis Management, providing valuable insights into navigating crises and leveraging data for success in the modern communication landscape. The summit package includes access to valuable discussions and networking opportunities, coffee breaks, power lunches, a welcome cocktail on April 10th , and a Gala Dinner on April 11th . The Gala Dinner is available at a special price, which can be purchased separately or as part of a package with the conference participation fee. The members of WCFA can enjoy a 20% discount on the participation fee. The World Communications Forum Association is one of the most successful modern platforms for networking and sharing achievements between PR and Marketing leaders from all continents. Professionals can become Individuals or Corporate members on www.wcfaglobal.com and enjoy numerous benefits for brand exposure and discounts. Learn more on www.wcfaglobal.com or contact the WCFA President Maxim Behar at [email protected] About World Communications Forum: The World Communications Forum was founded in 2010 in Davos, Switzerland , where the Association was registered in 2014. The WCFA is a n organization committed to active global discussions and exchanges focused on the development of communications expertise of its members and be an active voice in its key role in business, society and politics. Every year the forum gathers prominent representatives of the communication and public relations sector from around the world, who, through dialogue and discussion, exchange experiences and ideas to shape the art of global communications. WCFA has been organizing the renowned World Communications Forum since 2010, with successful editions held in various prestigious locations across continents including Davos Congress Center, Istanbul , Prague , Moscow , New York City , Kuala Lumpur , Mumbai , Mexico City , Lusaka , Cape Town , and Geneva . In 2020, the WCFA organized its first ever 'Global Communications Summit' on Zoom, resulting in developing Tenets for Ethical Communications', endorsed and signed by 135 experts from 36 countries. In 2021, the WCFA organized its second and biggest ''Global Communications Summit" on Zoom, bringing together more than 450 top communications experts globally. For more information, contact: Maxim Behar , WCFA President mainoffice@wcfaglobal.com +359 888 50 31 13 www.wcfaglobal.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2339831/Davos_Communications_Summit_2024.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-davos-communications-summit-2024-will-be-held-on-april-11-12-in-davos-switzerland-302061036.html SOURCE World Communications Forum Association Leading Pro Bono Jewish Legal Organization Represents Columbia Student Who Allegedly Was Subjected to Antisemitic Discrimination and Retaliation by University Faculty and Administration. NEW YORK , Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lawfare Project (LP) together with co-counsel Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt and Kakoyiannis, P.C., announced today that they have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mackenzie Forrest , a Jewish student at Columbia University's School of Social Work (CSSW), who was allegedly forced out of an academic program after she requested religious and safety accommodations. LP is seeking injunctive relief and money damages based on federal, state, and common law claims As detailed in the lawsuit, Mackenzie began attending CSSW in August 2022 and was subsequently admitted into the specialized Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program (DBT). Mackenzie's initial antisemitic encounter with faculty occurred when her request for accommodation for her Sabbath observance was met with resistance and only begrudgingly provided after significant pressure was placed on her to forgo it. Then, in the wake of Hamas's attack on Israel , when the campus devolved into a cauldron of antisemitism, feeling physically unsafe, Mackenzie reported the hostile environment to faculty and requested permission to take classes via Zoom. Although that accommodation is routinely granted to other students, it was not extended to her. Soon after Mackenzie's request, faculty members began a campaign to force her out of the program. After fabricating pretexts to justify failing her, they were ultimately successful. "The vitriolic and antisemitic environment at Columbia to which Jewish students like Mackenzie have been subjected to is utterly indefensible," said Ziporah Reich , Director of Litigation at LP. "Mackenzie's right to an education in an environment where she feels physically safe is a fundamental, non-negotiable right protected by law. The university's refusal to provide Mackenzie with a basic accommodation to ensure her safety is not only shameful, but a dereliction of the university's moral and legal responsibilities. Such negligence demands accountability." LP is seeking injunctive relief and money damages based on federal, state, and common law claims arising out of the pervasively hostile environment Mackenzie has been subjected to and Columbia's unlawful discrimination and retaliation against her because of her status as a Jew. "Columbia University failed Mackenzie and decided to launch a retaliatory campaign instead of protecting her from Jew-hatred," said Brooke Goldstein , Founder and Executive Director of LP. "If the university had provided her with the appropriate accommodations that she is legally entitled to, we would not be in this situation. Columbia, like any other college and university, must protect the civil rights of their students and provide them with safe learning environments free of discrimination." "It is simply not acceptable that some American colleges and universities tolerate and foster antisemitism," said Eric Levine , Head of the Litigation Department of Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt and Kakoyiannis, P.C., "If this lawsuit is about nothing else, it is about bringing those days to an end." For more information about The Lawfare Project, please visit their website or contact James Lambert , Vice President at Rubenstein Public Relations, at [email protected] or at 212-805-3024. ABOUT THE LAWFARE PROJECT: The Lawfare Project (LP) is the leading organization dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of Jewish people worldwide through legal action. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-lawfare-project-together-with-co-counsel-eiseman-levine-lehrhaupt-and-kakoyiannis-pc-files-lawsuit-against-columbia-university-302060122.html SOURCE The Lawfare Project CANTON, Ohio , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TimkenSteel Corp. (NYSE: TMST), a leader in high-quality specialty steel, manufactured components, and supply chain solutions, will release its 2023 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Tuesday, February 27 , after the market closes on the New York Stock Exchange. Last month, TimkenSteel announced its intent to change its name to Metallus Inc. Effective February 27, 2024 , the company's common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under its new ticker symbol (NYSE: MTUS). The company will provide live Internet listening access to its conference call with the financial community scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 2023 , at 9:00 a.m. ET . The live conference call will be broadcast at investors.metallus.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available at investors.metallus.com. About TimkenSteel TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST), which will be known as Metallus Inc., manufactures high-performance specialty metals from recycled scrap metal in Canton, OH , serving demanding applications in industrial, automotive, aerospace & defense and energy end markets. The company is a premier U.S. producer of alloy steel bars (up to 16 inches in diameter), seamless mechanical tubing and manufactured components. In the business of making high-quality steel for more than 100 years, TimkenSteel's proven expertise contributes to the performance of our customers' products. The company employs approximately 1,800 people and had sales of $1.3 billion in 2022. For more information, please visit us at www.timkensteel.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/timkensteel-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2023-earnings-webcast-details-302061104.html SOURCE TimkenSteel Corporation National partnership with Be Pro Be Proud will teach students about career opportunities in the forest products industry SEATTLE , Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company today announced a national partnership with Be Pro Be Proud, an initiative led by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas (ASCC/AIA) to raise awareness among middle- and high-school students for career paths in the skilled workforce, including opportunities in forestry and the forest products industry. Through the partnership, Weyerhaeuser will support Be Pro Be Proud's educational outreach and recruiting activities, which include tours, mobile workshops and learning modules designed to give students both virtual and hands-on experiences with careers in skilled trades, as well as annual "Draft Days" that match high-school seniors with prospective employers for job interviews. Weyerhaeuser will also work with Be Pro Be Proud to develop a new learning module for careers in forestry and forest products to be used this year. Be Pro Be Proud is licensed and operating in Arkansas , Georgia , New Mexico , North Carolina , South Carolina and Tennessee . In 2024, Be Pro Be Proud expects to engage nearly 140,000 students at 850 tour stops across those six states. More states are expected to be added in the coming years. The new partnership expands Weyerhaeuser's commitment to rural communities and workforce development, which are fundamental to the company's 3 by 30 Sustainability Ambition focused on supporting its operating communities. Last year, as part of that effort, Weyerhaeuser announced its "Learn Local, Earn Local" program designed to invest in grassroots education and training efforts that create pathways for youth to enter good-paying, skilled jobs in the forest products industry. "Helping develop the next generation of skilled workers is one of the most important ways we can support rural operating communities," says Nancy Thompson , senior director of advocacy and philanthropy for Weyerhaeuser. "We're excited to be partnering with Be Pro Be Proud to raise awareness for the range of careers available in the skilled workforce, including the many interesting and rewarding opportunities in the forest products industry." Be Pro Be Proud's 2024 Draft Day Series will begin in Arkansas in March, followed by the National Conference, presented by Weyerhaeuser June 25 to 27, 2024 , in Greenville, S.C. "We are thrilled to partner with Weyerhaeuser as one of Be Pro Be Proud's first national partners," says Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Be Pro Be Proud, Inc. "This effort has grown from one state in 2016 to six in 2023, spanning much of the country. The growing interest reflects the acute need to attract young talent to America's skilled professions across industry sectors that serve as the backbone of this nation's strength and success. Our mission to change student, parent and educator perceptions of technical careers is strengthened by this partnership, and together we will continue to build tomorrow's workforce." For more information about career opportunities with Weyerhaeuser, visit weyerhaeuser.com/careers. ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 10.5 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada . We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in North America . Our company is a real estate investment trust. In 2023, we generated $7.7 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,300 people who serve customers worldwide. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com. ABOUT BE PRO BE PROUD Be Pro Be Proud, Inc. Is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Arkansas . Its mission is to create and generate student, parent, and educator interest in technical professions within the construction, forestry, manufacturing, transportation, and utility industries by presenting them as high-tech, high-wage career paths of first choice. This effort was launched by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce in 2016. Since then, over 300,000 students have explored Be Pro Be Proud's Mobile Workshops, which showcase hands-on simulator experiences, placing them directly into real-world environments, and providing opportunities for them to imagine themselves in these roles. Learn more at beprobeproud.org. For more information contact: Analysts Andy Taylor , 206-539-3907 Media Nancy Thompson , 919-861-0342 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/weyerhaeuser-announces-partnership-to-support-workforce-development-302061123.html SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company In this article, we will take a look at the 20 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US. You can skip our detailed analysis of these places and go directly to the 10 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US. Urban living is ever evolving. Every year many people across the US move to cities from rural areas or villages in pursuit of a high quality of life; but it is hard to say what defines a city's quality of life because it is certainly a very subjective matter varying from person to person. For some, it is the availability of job opportunities and higher incomes, but for others it may be access to healthcare, education, safety, or perhaps a combination of all these factors. People prefer moving to cities that offer promising work opportunities because ones income is likely to determine their purchasing power and the comfort and quality of life they can afford. An article from CNBC indicates that cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston consistently rank among the top cities for attracting talent due to their high quality of life. According to LinkedIn's Workforce Report, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Boston are among the top 10 cities in the US for attracting tech talent, with San Francisco leading the pack with a net tech talent migration rate of 0.60% as of 2020. Moreover, cities like Austin and Denver have high median household incomes and strong job prospects, which attract young professionals to progress in their careers. Tech giants like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) have established significant operations in Austin, creating thousands of high-paying jobs across various sectors including technology, engineering, marketing, and finance. In 2018, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced plans to invest $1 billion in a new campus in Austin, which created 5,000 new jobs in the area. According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the tech industry in Austin contributed over $60 billion to the city's economy in 2020, representing a significant portion of its GDP. This growth has created a multiplier effect, leading to job creation and economic expansion in related industries such as real estate, hospitality, and retail. For example, for every new tech job created in Austin, an additional 4.3 jobs are generated in other sectors, according to a study by the University of Texas at Austin. This ripple effect has contributed to the city's overall prosperity and has further strengthened its reputation as a leading tech hub in the United States and as one of the top cities offering high quality of life in the US. Story continues It is important to note that not just individuals, but businesses are also more inclined to base their headquarters in cities that offer a higher standard of living to its people. For businesses, a high quality of life translates to greater employee satisfaction and retention rates. In 2020, Glassdoor's "Best Cities for Jobs" report ranked San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston among the top 10 cities with the highest employee satisfaction ratings, with San Francisco leading the pack with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.9 out of 5. When employees enjoy living in a city with access to amenities such as parks, cultural attractions, and quality healthcare, they are more likely to feel fulfilled and motivated in their roles, which leads to lower turnover rates and higher productivity for businesses. According to Mercer, San Francisco and Seattle are ranked among the top 10 cities in the US for employee well-being, with factors like access to outdoor activities, cultural amenities, and quality healthcare contributing to their overall satisfaction. This indicates the importance of recreational activities and cultural richness that add value to a city. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston have below-average turnover rates compared to national averages, indicating higher employee retention rates in these cities. For instance, the turnover rate in San Francisco was 9.8% in 2020, compared to the national average of 12.5%. Similarly, Seattle and Boston reported turnover rates of 10.2% and 10.5%, respectively, below the national average - meaning that employees residing in cities with higher quality of life perform better at their jobs than those residing in a relatively poor lifestyle. Also see 30 Most Densely Populated Cities in the US. With that said, let's move to the list of 20 US cities with the highest quality of life. 20 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US Methodology In order to compile a list of the 20 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US, we screened the top highest quality cities on the basis of their quality of life index sourced from Numbeo. Their quality of life index is an accumulated score of purchasing power index, pollution index, house price to income ratio, cost of living index, safety index, health care index, traffic commute time index, and climate index. This list of the cities with the highest quality of life has been arranged in ascending order. 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. 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 check details here. 20 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US 20. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Quality of Life Index: 159.9 Pittsburgh offers a high quality of life with a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities. The city has undergone a transformation from its industrial past to a hub for technology, healthcare, and education, which makes it one of the 20 cities with the highest quality of life in the US. Besides offering a strong sense of community and pride in their city, residents of Pittsburgh benefit from excellent healthcare facilities, including renowned hospitals like the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The city also offers a variety of cultural amenities, parks, and recreational opportunities along its rivers and green spaces. 19. Denver, Colorado Quality of Life Index: 160.6 Denver is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, thriving economy, and vibrant cultural scene. The city attracts young professionals and families alike with its blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. It has a relatively low crime rate compared to other major cities, although certain neighborhoods may experience higher levels of crime. The city has invested in public safety initiatives and community policing to address crime and ensure residents feel secure. Denver consistently ranks high in surveys measuring resident satisfaction and well-being. The city's strong economy, recreational opportunities, and emphasis on work-life balance contribute to overall happiness among residents. 18. Boston, Massachusetts Quality of Life Index: 160.6 Boston is a historic city known for its world-class universities, healthcare institutions, and cultural attractions. It offers a rich tapestry of neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and amenities. Boston is home to some of the best hospitals and medical research facilities in the world, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Plus, the city also offers excellent educational opportunities and cultural institutions. The city's historic charm, diverse population, and bustling economy contribute to overall satisfaction of the people living here. 17. San Diego, California Quality of Life Index: 163.2 San Diego is renowned for its beautiful beaches, perfect weather, and thriving economy. The residents of this city enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle combined with urban amenities and cultural attractions. San Diegos police department focuses on community engagement and crime prevention strategies to maintain safety; therefore, the city has a relatively low crime rate compared to other major cities in California. Moreover, this city is home to world-class healthcare facilities, including UC San Diego Health and Scripps Health, adding to the many perks that the residents can benefit from. 16. Salt Lake City, Utah Quality of Life Index: 164.8 Salt Lake City serves as the cultural and economic hub of Utah, attracting residents with its outdoor recreational opportunities and high quality of life. The city's police department works to address safety concerns and build trust within the community making sure that the crime rate in the city remains in control and the city remains safe for its people. Besides that, this city has a vibrant arts scene, recreational opportunities, and excellent schools. Salt Lake Citys growing economy and affordable cost of living contribute to the overall quality of life of the people who live here. 15. San Antonio, Texas Quality of Life Index: 164.9 While San Antonio has experienced some fluctuations in crime rates over the years, it generally maintains a moderate level of crime compared to other major cities in Texas. The city has implemented various community policing initiatives to address crime and enhance public safety. Job opportunities in industries such as healthcare, military, tourism, and technology contribute to the well-being and satisfaction of San Antonio residents. The city's affordable cost of living and strong sense of community also enhance overall quality of life for its residents. 14. Sacramento, California Quality of Life Index: 165.5 Sacramento, the capital of California, offers a diverse economy, cultural attractions, and access to outdoor recreational activities. The city is known for its historic landmarks, farm-to-fork dining scene, and thriving arts community. It offers access to quality healthcare facilities, including UC Davis Medical Center and Sutter Medical Center. Plus, it also provides educational opportunities through its highly reputable public school system and institutions like California State University, Sacramento. Sacramento's proximity to outdoor recreational areas like Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains also add to its value, further enhancing the quality of life here. 13. Portland, Oregon Quality of Life Index: 166.5 Portland is known for its progressive culture, thriving food scene, and access to outdoor adventures; its eclectic neighborhoods, microbreweries, and vibrant arts community attract residents seeking a unique urban experience. Portland has experienced an increase in crime rates in recent years, particularly property crimes and certain types of violent crimes and to tackle that, the city has implemented various initiatives to address safety concerns and improve public safety. 12. Tucson, Arizona Quality of Life Index: 167.0 Tucson offers access to quality healthcare facilities, including Banner University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center. It also provides educational opportunities through its public school system and institutions like the University of Arizona. The job opportunities offered here are in sectors such as aerospace and defense, healthcare, education, and tourism - which add to the well-being and satisfaction of Tucson residents. Moreover, its favourable weather conditions and facilities like outdoor recreational activities, and strong sense of community also enhance overall quality of life. 11. Atlanta, Georgia Quality of Life Index: 167.3 Atlanta is one of the top American cities with the highest quality of life. It offers a blend of historic charm and modern amenities.It is a major economic and cultural hub of the Southeast, known for its diverse population, thriving arts scene, and dynamic culinary offerings. It offers access to quality healthcare facilities, including Emory University Hospital and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. The city also provides educational opportunities through its public school system and reputable institutions like Georgia Institute of Technology. Click to continue reading and see the 10 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Cities with the Highest Quality of Life in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey. FILE PHOTO: The company logo and trading information for BlackRock is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 30, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo (Reuters) - BlackRock is changing the organizational structure of its Financial & Strategic Investors Group (FSIG), which works with high-net-worth institutional clients such as sovereign wealth funds, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The announcement follows the world's largest asset manager unveiling changes to its senior management structure last month, at a time when speculation has been growing over who will succeed CEO Larry Fink. "As we embark on the next leg of our journey, we are adjusting our organizational structure to accelerate momentum," said Charles Hatami, global head of FSIG. The changes at FSIG include reorganization of reporting lines across the world to bring regional heads closer to relevant clients, the memo showed. (Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) FILE PHOTO: An exterior view of MGM Grand hotel and casino, after MGM Resorts shut down some computer systems due to a cyber attack in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Bridget Bennett/File Photo (Reuters) - MGM Resorts International beat market expectations for fourth-quarter on Tuesday, as its China business benefited from th removal of certain pandemic-related restrictions in gambling hub Macau. Travel rebound in China and Macau has been a tailwind for casino operators such as MGM and Wynn Resorts. "Premium positioning and offerings in Las Vegas enable us to capture incremental profit during major events such as the inaugural Formula 1 race and our first Super Bowl," CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a statement. Adjusted property EBITDAR for MGM China was 18% higher in the quarter, over 2019 levels. The Las Vegas-based company's quarterly regional operations revenue fell 12% to $873 million, due to a decrease in casino revenues that were partially attributable to effects of the union strike at MGM Grand Detroit. Last year, after negotiations, MGM reached a five-year agreement with Las Vegas hospitality unions to increase wages for employees. MGM's total revenue rose 22% to $4.38 billion in the quarter through December, compared with analysts' average estimate of $4.14 billion, according to LSEG data. Its quarterly adjusted profit per share of $1.06 also came ahead of Wall Street expectations of 71 cents. Shares of the company were down 3.6% in extended trading. (Reporting by Anandita Mehrotra in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) The logo of the BYD Auto company is seen on a BYD SEAL electric vehicle during a BYD store opening at the car dealership Sternauto in Berlin, Germany January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse (Reuters) - China's BYD Co Ltd will set up a new electric vehicle (EV) factory in Mexico, Nikkei reported on Wednesday, citing the company's Mexico head, as the EV maker aims to establish an export hub to the United States. BYD, known for its cheaper models and a more varied lineup, recently overtook its biggest rival Tesla Inc to become the world's top EV maker in terms of sales. According to the Nikkei report, BYD has launched a feasibility study for the Mexican plant and is currently negotiating with officials over terms, including the factory's location. While BYD has its sales concentrated in China, it also aims to expand globally and is building new plants overseas in addition to expanding Chinese exports. Mexico's massive automaking sector, populated by many of the industry's top global players, is tightly integrated with the U.S. industry. "Overseas production is indispensable for an international brand", BYD Mexico country manager Zhou Zou told Nikkei. The carmaker's Mexico office declined to comment. Major U.S. automakers have warned that Chinese cars could spell doom for their own prospects, among them Elon Musk's Tesla. Last month, Tesla's chief executive predicted that Chinese automakers will "demolish" global rivals without trade barriers. Musk's view is echoed by a leading advocacy group. "The introduction of cheap Chinese autos which are so inexpensive because they are backed with the power and funding of the Chinese government to the American market could end up being an extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector," according to a forthcoming report by the group Alliance for American Manufacturing. In Latin America, BYD plans to spend 3 billion reais ($620 million) on a new industrial complex in northeastern Brazil. The three plant complex will be built in northeastern Bahia state, on land formerly occupied by a Ford plant that closed in 2021. ($1 = 4.9510 reais) (This story has been corrected to fix the name of the report quoted from Alliance of Automotive Innovation to Alliance for American Manufacturing, in paragraph 11) (Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Shweta Agarwal and Sam Holmes) FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia February 13, 2024. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS /File Photo By Guy Faulconbridge and Darya Korsunskaya MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. The failure of Putin's approach ushers in a third year of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two and illustrates just how far apart the world's two largest nuclear powers remain. A U.S. source denied there had been any official contact and said Washington would not engage in talks that did not involve Ukraine. Putin sent signals to Washington in 2023 in public and privately through intermediaries, including through Moscow's Arab partners in the Middle East and others, that he was ready to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Russian sources said. Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards a peace of some kind. "The contacts with the Americans came to nothing," a senior Russian source with knowledge of the discussions in late 2023 and early 2024 told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. A second Russian source with knowledge of the contacts told Reuters that the Americans told Moscow, via the intermediaries, they would not discuss a possible ceasefire without the participation of Ukraine and so the contacts ended in failure. A third source with knowledge of the discussions said: "Everything fell apart with the Americans." The source said that the Americans did not want to pressure Ukraine. The extent of the contacts - and their failure - has not previously been reported. It comes as U.S. President Joe Biden has for months been pushing Congress to approve more aid for Ukraine, but has faced opposition from allies of Republican presidential nomination frontrunner Donald Trump. The Kremlin, the White House, the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to comment. U.S. SAYS 'NO BACK CHANNEL' Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on the one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other. Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence and the West casts Putin's invasion as an imperial-style land grab that challenges the post-Cold War international order. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will never accept Russia's control over Ukrainian land. He has outlawed any contacts with Russia. A U.S. official, speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, said that the U.S. has not engaged in any back channel discussions with Russia and that Washington had been consistent in not going behind the back of Ukraine. The U.S. official said that there appeared to have been unofficial "Track II" conversations among Russians not in the government but that the United States was not engaged in them. The U.S. official said Putin's proposal, based on what has been publicly reported, was unchanged from past demands that Russia hold on to Ukrainian territory. The official suggested that there appeared to be frustration in Moscow that Washington had repeatedly refused to accept it. Putin told U.S. talk-show host Tucker Carlson last week that Russia was ready for "dialogue". CONTACTS Intermediaries met in Turkey in late 2023, according to three Russian sources. A fourth diplomatic source said that there had been Russian-U.S. unofficial contacts through intermediaries at Russia's initiative but that they appeared to have come to nothing. The U.S. official said he was unaware of unofficial contact through intermediaries. According to three Russian sources, Putin's signal was relayed to Washington, where top U.S. officials including White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met. The idea was that Sullivan would speak to Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, and set out the next steps, one of the Russian sources said. But when the call came in January, Sullivan told Ushakov that Washington was willing to talk about other aspects of the relationship but would not speak about a ceasefire without Ukraine, said one of the Russian sources. The U.S. official refused to be drawn on any details of Sullivan's purported calls, or whether such a conversation with Ushakov took place. PUTIN 'READY TO FIGHT ON' One of the Russian sources expressed frustration with the United States over Washington's insistence that it would not nudge Ukraine towards talks given that the United States was helping to fund the war. "Putin said: 'I knew they wouldn't do anything'," another of the Russian sources said. "They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create." Another Russian source said that the United States did not appear to believe Putin was sincere. "The Americans didn't believe Putin was genuine about a ceasefire - but he was and is - he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes - and Russia can fight for as long as it takes," the Russian source said. The Kremlin sees little point in further contacts with the United States on the issue, the Russian sources said, so the war would continue. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Alex Richardson) FILE PHOTO: An American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington, U.S., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago By Joseph Tanfani, Peter Eisler and Ned Parker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Serious threats to U.S. federal judges have more than doubled over the past three years, part of a growing wave of politically driven violence, according to U.S. Marshals Service data reviewed by Reuters. The agency, responsible for the protection of 2,700 federal judges and more than 30,000 federal prosecutors and other court personnel, has seen a sharp rise in threats related to the countrys bitter political divisions, Marshals Director Ronald Davis told Reuters in a recent interview. Serious threats against federal judges ones that trigger an investigation by the agency rose to 457 in fiscal year 2023, which ended on Sept. 30, from 224 in fiscal 2021, according to the previously unreported data. Serious threats against federal prosecutors also more than doubled, from 68 in 2021 to 155 in 2023, the statistics show. The spike spans a period that began around the time of the 2020 presidential election, when federal courts heard a series of highly politicized cases, including failed lawsuits filed by former President Donald Trump and his backers seeking to overturn his loss. Over the same timeframe, election officials saw a barrage of threats from Trumps supporters, as previously documented by Reuters. Judges and prosecutors involved in the criminal and civil prosecutions of Trump have reported hundreds of threatening messages linked to those cases, according to court records and public statements by the targeted officials. Court officials also have reported threats from activists enraged by the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn the legal right to abortion. Davis said the agency has a growing concern about a rising tide of threats fueled by partisan divisions and vitriol on social media. On Wednesday, Davis is scheduled to testify at a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee oversight hearing. The Marshals Service reviews thousands of potential threats each year against court personnel and launches what it calls protective investigations on those it considers the most serious. The agency declined to provide details on the threats. The Justice Department, when asked to provide the number of people charged or convicted for threatening judges, said they do not track the data. The 457 serious threats against judges in 2023 marked a dramatic increase from 2019, when the Marshals investigated 179 such threats, according to the data. In the past, judges mostly faced threats from people who were upset about a judges decision in their own cases, Davis said. Now, he said, many more are coming from people enraged because of politics. The threat environment right now that is causing me concern is when people disagree with the judicial process or the government, and that turns into those verbal attacks, Davis said in the interview. And that is the beginning of the process that threatens the judiciary and threatens our democracy. During his presidency and in the years since, Trump has shown a willingness to criticize judges who rule against his interests in highly personalized terms, often suggesting their decisions are politically motivated. A Trump spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, in remarks at the Justice Department on Jan. 5, expressed alarm at a deeply disturbing spike in threats against public officials, saying prosecutors have filed charges in cases involving federal judges, presidential candidates, members of Congress, the military and election workers. The attorney general warned the incidents threatened the fabric of our democracy. The threats come amid the most sustained spate of political violence in the United States since the 1970s, according to a Reuters investigation last year. That reporting documented at least 232 politically motivated acts of violence since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Those attacks included everything from riots and brawls at political demonstrations to politically motivated beatings and killings. (Ned Parker reported from New York. Editing by Jason Szep) Geneva-based doctor Raouf Salti holds 17-month-old Zeina, next to 16-year-old Yussef, both of whom were evacuated from Gaza to Switzerland to receive medical treatment, at Geneva airport, Switzerland, February 12, 2024. REUTERS/Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) - When Swiss doctor Raouf Salti realised he could not go to Gaza to help injured children, he decided he would do everything he could to get them to Geneva to receive medical care. After dealing with swathes of red tape, Salti got permission to have four children, including a 16-year-old who lost a kidney and has already had his leg amputated, cross into Egypt from Gaza and then fly to Switzerland on Monday. Salti, who went to Egypt to pick them up, waved as he was greeted by his team at Geneva airport with Zeina, a wide-eyed 17-month-old who was rescued from under the rubble in Gaza, in his arms. "When I saw that the situation kept getting worse, I decided that my mission this time would be to go there and bring them here," said Salti, who has taken part in several international humanitarian trips to Gaza as well as other parts of the Middle East and Africa over the past 14 years. Salti, a urological surgeon and himself a descendant of Palestinian refugees, had been scheduled to travel to Gaza on Oct. 19 to carry out operations including a planned kidney surgery on a toddler. But his humanitarian mission, part of his work as founder of an NGO called Children's Right for Healthcare, was called off due to the Israeli offensive launched in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas gunmen. The four children who arrived in Geneva on Monday are the second group that Salti has managed to evacuate to Switzerland, bringing their total number to eight. The children have been granted 90-day visas to receive medical care. "What is important is giving them a normal life, with people, calm, peace and love. A child's life," Salti said after arriving at his office with the children and their mothers. The four were chosen with help from his contacts in Gaza on the basis that they were well enough to travel and that they could be helped in Switzerland. Sixteen-year-old Yussef, who lost his left leg and had his kidney crushed in an Israeli attack, is emaciated, weighing less than 30 kg (66 pounds). Doctors in Gaza amputated the remainder of the leg that had been blown off, but he still needs to gain strength and ultimately be given a prosthetic. Zeina, the 17-month-old, was initially treated at Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest facility in the Gaza Strip, which was raided by Israeli forces in November. Her tiny left arm, supported by a sling, sustained several fractures that doctors attempted to repair using an external fixation but the structure had to be removed due to an infection. "You can't talk about sterile (equipment) there anymore, it doesn't exist," Salti said. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva; Additional reporting by Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo; Editing by Alison Williams) By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Armed men killed four people, including two policemen, and kidnapped at least 40 others in an attack on Kaura Namoda, in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, police and residents said on Tuesday. Africa's largest economy is grappling with a multifaceted security crisis, including kidnappings for ransom in the northwest, which has reached alarming proportions. Zamfara police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar confirmed the attack and said reinforcements have been deployed to the Kasuwar Daji district of the town where the incident took place. Residents, including some of the victims, told Reuters by phone about their ordeal which began with an attack on the local police station. "Sporadic gunshots woke me up around 0100 GMT. They started with the uniformed men before they moved into our houses," Hussaini Mohammed said. "They took more than 40 women and children, including some elderly men," added Mohammed, who managed to escape. Hamisu Kasuwa Daji, who heads the town's transport union, told Reuters his son and two grandchildren were taken by the attackers. "My house is adjacent to the police station. The bandits started attacking the police station, which they engaged for several minutes until they killed two policemen and two other civilians. "Then they proceeded to my house, by which time I had already fled. After I returned home later, I realised they had taken my son and two grandsons," he said. Gangs of heavily armed men referred to as bandits by locals have wreaked havoc across Nigeria's northwest in the past three years, kidnapping thousands of people, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel by road or to farm in some areas. Widespread insecurity is exacerbating a cost-of-living crisis caused by the reforms of President Bola Tinubu who has not yet said how he plans to tackle the mounting problems. (Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo, editing by Ed Osmond) Hezbollah veterans perform on stage before Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters via a screen during a rally in southern suburbs in Beirut, Lebanon, February 13, 2024. REUTERS/Aziz Taher BEIRUT (Reuters) - The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Tuesday that his armed group's cross-border shelling into Israel would only end when Israel's "aggression" on the Gaza Strip stops, saying diplomatic efforts so far to bring a halt to hostilities along Lebanon's border seemed to only benefit Israel. Iran-backed Hezbollah has been trading fire with the Israeli military across Lebanon's southern border in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, which launched a cross-border assault from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Oct. 7 that was met with heavy Israeli bombardment by land, air and sea. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said his group would only stop its exchanges of fire if a full ceasefire was reached for Gaza. "On that day, when the shooting stops in Gaza, we will stop the shooting in the south," he said in a televised address. He said many foreign "delegations" had travelled to Beirut with "proposals" to end hostilities in southern Lebanon, but said they only seemed to "have one goal, which is: the security of Israel, the protection of Israel." The foreign ministers of France, Britain, and other countries have travelled to Lebanon in recent weeks in an attempt to bring calm to the border. France's foreign minister delivered a written proposal to Beirut that calls for fighters including Hezbollah's elite Radwan unit to withdraw 10 km (6 miles) from the border, among other measures, according to a document seen by Reuters. Without specifying the French proposal, Nasrallah said one delegation had "presented a paper as a mediator". "You read the paper - there's nothing. There's Israel's security," he said. Nasrallah said that if Israel widened the war further in Lebanon, his group would do the same. The cross-border shelling has already killed around 200 people in Lebanon, including more than 170 Hezbollah fighters, as well as 10 Israeli troops and five Israeli civilians. It has also displaced tens of thousands of people in each country. Nasrallah said residents of northern Israel "will not return" to their homes, and threatened that even more would be displaced. (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily; Editing by Alex Richardson and Jonathan Oatis) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, walks with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, during a reception at the Presidential Airport, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 13, 2024. Ryan Carter/UAE Presidenti By Alexander Cornwell and Bansari Mayur Kamdar DUBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday signed an agreement on a trade corridor that aims to connect Europe with India through parts of the Middle East by sea and rail, an ambitious plan backed by the U.S. and the European Union. The announcement of the framework agreement, reached during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Gulf state, was released in a statement by the Indian foreign ministry, although few details on what the sides had agreed on were made public. "This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity," the ministry statement said. The corridor, announced last September on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, aims to extend from India across the Arabian Sea to the United Arab Emirates and through Saudi Arabia before connecting through Jordan and Israel to Europe. The ministry's statement, however, made no mention of any country apart from India and the UAE, a regional Gulf Arab power, whose ties are built on over a century of trade links. The agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor comes amid the more than four-month war in Gaza that has derailed U.S.-backed plans to further integrate Israel with its Arab neighbours. Saudi Arabia has halted normalisation plans. The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on details of the agreement. Modi met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, who the Indian leader often refers to as his brother. "Today, our region is going through a difficult time but because of our relationship with you, we are building a lot of hope and looking forward to a future with India that is on par with our ambitions," Sheikh Mohamed said at a meeting with Modi on Tuesday, according to video shared on Modi's YouTube channel. REGIONAL INSTABILITY The UAE forged diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under a U.S.-backed initiative known as the Abraham Accords that led to other Arab states including Bahrain establishing ties. The UAE has maintained those relations with Israel throughout the war, though has also repeatedly criticised Israel's bombing of Gaza and called for a ceasefire. The framework agreement between India and the UAE appears to signal that both states are pushing forward with the plan to establish the corridor, which may also undermine China's global trade infrastructure belt and road connectivity strategy. It has also been signed as Yemen's Houthi movement has launched attacks on shipping vessels sailing the Red Sea, which the Iran-backed group has said is in protest of Israel's bombing of Gaza. The attacks have endangered trade via the sea route. The UAE and India also signed a bilateral investment treaty and exchanged cooperation agreements covering electrical interconnection, trade, and digital infrastructure. Modi is due to later address tens of thousands of the Indian diaspora at an Abu Dhabi stadium. He will also speak at a summit in Dubai on Wednesday before opening the first ever stone-built Hindu temple in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. This is Modi's seventh visit to the Gulf state since becoming prime minister nearly a decade ago, strengthening ties with one of India's top trading partners. (Reporting by Bansari Mayur Kamdar in New Delhi and Alexander Cornwell in Dubai, additional reporting by Maha El Dahan; Editing by YP Rajesh and Sharon Singleton) Police barricades are erected on a national highway to stop farmers, who are marching towards New Delhi to press for the better crop prices promised to them in 2021, at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghaziabad, India, February 12, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan A By Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Police in India fired tear gas on Tuesday at hundreds of farmers and their supporters during a protest march towards New Delhi to pressure the government to honour a promise it made in 2021 to pay more for crops. The march is the latest in a series of similar protests which began more than two years ago and comes months ahead of national elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third term, with farmers forming an influential voting bloc. Farmers had headed south for Delhi a day after talks between farm unions and ministers failed to secure commitments to provide minimum prices for a range of crops. "The government has not been able to make a strong decision on anything ... We thought that giving time is not suitable now," Sarwan Singh Pandher, the general secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), told ANI news agency. Hundreds of farmers and their supporters were seen mobilising on foot and in large convoys of tractors in many parts of the northern breadbasket states of Punjab and Haryana. At midday (0630 GMT), police fired multiple tear gas rounds to disperse the marchers at Shambhu, a border crossing between Punjab and Haryana, about 230 km (143 miles) north of Delhi, where many had joined the march. Footage showed protesters trying to break through the barricades by lifting away cement blocks placed there to halt the march, as police used drones to fire tear gas rounds into the crowd. Some protesters were also detained. GUARANTEES SOUGHT The outskirts of Delhi were quiet with riot control teams standing guard behind barricades on main roads leading into the national capital, where police have prohibited large gatherings. Farm unions are seeking guarantees, backed by law, for more state support or buying of crops at a minimum price. They also want the government to honour a promise to double their income. Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda told reporters on Monday after talks with union leaders that some issues had been resolved but more discussions were needed. "We are hopeful that we will bring solutions," he said. India's main opposition Congress party said the government had failed the farmers. "As a result of inadequate market prices and simultaneous price increase of inputs, farmers are falling deeper into debt," Congress lawmaker Jairam Ramesh said in a social media post. The government announces minimum prices for more than 20 crops each year, but state agencies buy only rice and wheat at these prices, which benefits only about 6% of farmers. In 2021, when the year-long protest by farmers pushed Modi's administration to repeal some farm laws, designed to deregulate vast agricultural markets, the government said it would set up a panel to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. Farmers accuse the government of going slow on that promise. (Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Stephen Coates, Miral Fahmy and Keith Weir) bluecinema / Getty Images Getting a deal on a new or used car doesnt save you money if it winds up in the shop more than it should for expensive repairs. The good news is that some of the most budget-friendly cars have excellent reliability ratings, meaning they dont break down often and are usually cheap to fix when they do. See: Im a Car Salesman: 3 Things About Pricing I Dont Want Customers To Know Learn: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy The following new and used vehicles offer the best of both worlds accessible purchase prices under $30,000 and low ownership costs, thanks to their reputations for dependability and longevity. DREW PHILLIPS / Hyundai Hyundai Tucson Nick Musica, founder of Cash for Your Junk Car, recommended the Hyundai Tucson as an affordable car that doesnt cost too much to maintain. 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While there are less expensive cars, the latest incarnation of the worlds first mass-produced hybrid pays you back in the form of fuel never purchased, getting up to an impressive 57 combined mpg. Subaru Subaru Legacy Few brands have reputations for reliability that can match Subarus, and the Legacy delivers a whole lot of midsize sedan for $24,895, which is the starting MSRP. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of five stars, and iSeeCars ranks it among the top three midsize vehicles, along with the vaunted Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, whose names have been synonymous with low maintenance and repair costs for generations. It comes with a suite of driver-assist features and gets up to 35 mpg, and, like all Subarus, it has standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for illustrative purposes only and might not feature exact models, base models or the cars specific trim levels. As a result, some of the cars in the photos might have different MSRPs than the ones listed in this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Budget-Friendly Cars That Wont Break the Bank on Repairs FILE PHOTO: A worker unloads raw bananas, which will be used as offerings during prayers ahead of the Hindu religious festival of Chhath Puja, from a truck at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/File Photo By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could make labour reforms, cleared by parliament in 2020, a priority if he wins the upcoming general elections as widely expected, a spokesperson for his party said on Tuesday. Opinion polls suggest Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will easily win the next general election due by May, as an opposition alliance struggles to stay together. Modi said last week he would take "big decisions" in any next term to end poverty and accelerate economic development, but did not give specifics. He has said it is his "guarantee" that India will rise to the world's third-largest economy from fifth if he wins the election. Both houses of parliament approved new labour codes in 2020, but they have yet to be implemented following resistance from worker unions who oppose the easier hiring and firing provisions as well as restrictions on trade unions. Modi's government, however, says that bringing 29 disparate laws into four labour codes will ensure that all of the more than 500 million workers in India receive a minimum wage, while a big section will also get social security. "Labour codes need to be notified. It's necessary, we will do it," BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal said, referring to an official notification announcing implementation. "Continuous reforms are required to become an economic power and assume global leadership." But Harbhajan Singh, general secretary of trade union Hind Mazdoor Sabha, said it would protest any attempt to make India's labour laws "pro-employer instead of pro-labour". "We realise that they are waiting for the elections to get over to implement these," he said. "But we will hold nationwide protests in the coming days against the government's anti-labour policies." He said that similar protests by farmers had forced the government two years ago to repeal three laws aimed at deregulating India's agricultural markets. Agarwal said bilateral trade deals with countries would be another focus if Modi gets a rare third straight term. India is already negotiating free trade agreements with countries including former colonial ruler Britain. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; Editing by Nick Macfie) FILE PHOTO: Israeli soldiers operate next to the UNRWA headquarters, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip, February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's already struggling economy will face even tougher times if several donors continue to suspend funding for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees and its services have to be shut or reduced as a result, UNRWA's country head said on Tuesday. "The current funding suspension is putting the continuation of these services at risk after the end of February. It will have severe consequences (on UNRWA's operations)," said Olaf Becker, Jordan director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. UNRWA, which provides healthcare, education and other services, has been pitched into crisis since Israel alleged that 12 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel that precipitated the Israel-Hamas war. The allegations prompted major donors to suspend funding. Jordan, which lies at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, hosts 2.4 million Palestinian refugees, the largest number of such refugees among Israel's neighbours. Many of its citizens are of Palestinian origin. Jordan already provides $1 billion in infrastructure and other services to 10 Palestinian camps across the country, where the agency runs schools and health services for nearly 400,000 inhabitants, Becker said. UNRWA was already helping the economy with 7,000 employees on its payroll, making it one of the largest employers in the kingdom, injecting over $120 million in salaries into the economy annually, Becker said. Its services support over one million Palestinian refugees in the kingdom with, on average, 20% lower cost than the state in providing comparable services, Becker added. "Our first option would be scale down our services and it might take different modalities but it's very difficult -- what do you choose, health care versus education or sanitation?" he said. "School children might not have anywhere to go... It will be very detrimental to social cohesion in Jordan," Becker said. Jordan, a staunch U.S. ally, says it is crucial to continue to empower UNRWA, established in 1949 under a U.N. mandate in the wake of the first Arab-Israeli war. Jordan's King Abdullah, speaking on Monday on a visit to the White House, said UNRWA's work in Jordan was "vital" and it was imperative it receive support to continue its mandate. Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, U.N. Resident Coordinator in Jordan, said no other U.N. agency could step into UNRWA's role at short notice and within its cost structure. Jordanian officials say any attempt to dismantle UNRWA would undermine the Palestinian right under international law to return to homes abandoned in Israel or be compensated. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Editing by William Maclean) A CCTV monitor shows a landslide at an Anagold Mining operation in Ilic, Turkey February 13, 2024 in this screen grab from a social media video. Mustafa Sarigul via X/via REUTERS (This Feb. 13 story has been corrected to fix the name of the operating company in paragraph 3) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Gold miner SSR Mining on Tuesday suspended production at a mine in eastern Turkey after a landslide, which left at least nine miners missing and sparked a more than 50% plunge in its Toronto-listed shares. The company said in a regulatory filing that operations were suspended as a result of a "large slip on the heap leach pad". The mine in Erzincan province is operated by Anagold Madencilik and owned by Turkey-based Calik Holding and Denver, Colorado-based SSR Mining. The mine produced 56,768 ounces of gold in the third-quarter of last year, and is SSR's second-largest producing gold mine, operating since 2010. The stock slide wiped out about C$1.4 billion ($1.03 billion) from the company's market value. SSR did not immediately respond to a request for comment at its Turkey office. Security footage showed a giant mound of soil, which authorities said had been processed for gold and piled on the hills, rapidly crumble and flow into the valley in a deluge of earth and rocks, sending clouds of dust into the air. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 400 search and rescue workers were looking for the missing miners. "In order to closely coordinate the rescue work, I will interrupt my international program with our president and move to the region as of tonight," Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said in a posting on X, formerly Twitter. The government said it has launched an investigation into the incident. ($1 = 1.3568 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Burcu Karakas and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, David Goodman, Bill Berkrot and Sonali Paul) U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (Reuters) -Oil and gas companies and environmental groups on Monday filed dueling legal challenges to the Biden administration's five-year plan to offer drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The petitions to a U.S. appeals court come four months after the Interior Department unveiled a congressionally-mandated plan for offshore leasing that included just three sales, the lowest since the government began publishing the schedules in 1980. The American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas trade group, said it was challenging the policy because it would leave Americans at risk of relying on foreign energy sources. "Demand for affordable, reliable energy is only growing, yet this administration has used every tool at its disposal to restrict access to vast energy resources in federal waters," API General Counsel Ryan Meyers said in a statement. The petitions were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. An Interior Department spokesperson declined to comment. Environmental group Earthjustice filed a separate petition challenging Interior's plan on behalf of eight other environmental organizations. They allege the federal agency failed to adequately consider the health impacts the offshore drilling plan would have on local communities. (Reporting by Nichola GroomEditing by Chris Reese) FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: A Polish farmer uses a tractor on a road during a protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Poznan, Poland, February 9, 2024. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish farmers plan a total blockade of all border crossings with Ukraine on Feb. 20, a trade union said on Tuesday, escalating their month-long strike that began last week in protest against EU policies. Farmers across Europe have been protesting against constraints placed on them by EU measures to tackle climate change, as well as rising costs and what they say is unfair competition from abroad, particularly Ukraine. In Poland, farmers have been particularly vocal about the impact of cheap food imports from Ukraine. They began a 30-day strike last Friday that has seen them block roads across the country as well as border crossings with Ukraine. "On Feb. 20, as part of the 30-day general strike of farmers, we announce that all protest activities will be focused on a complete blockade of all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine and protests in the field," the Solidarity farmers' union said in a statement. "Not only border crossings will be blocked, but also communication hubs and access roads to transshipment railway stations and sea ports." A previously announced 'star march' on the same day will see farmers descend on Warsaw from all directions. Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, the country's Agrarian Chamber, said that on Feb. 22 groups of farmers from across central and eastern Europe would congregate at their countries' borders for a joint day of protest. Czech farmers will start their protests on Monday with a blockade of traffic in Prague. (Reporting by Alan Charlish and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Jan Lopatka in Prague; Editing by Susan Fenton) FILE PHOTO: A woman uses her phone near a sign for the online ride-hailing service Grab at the Manggarai train station in Jakarta, Indonesia July 3, 2017. REUTERS/Agoes Rudianto/File Photo (Reuters) - Indonesia's GoTo, one of Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing companies, said on Tuesday that it was not in any discussion with Grab Holdings about a potential merger. Last week, Bloomberg News reported that the companies had restarted talks for a merger. "Currently, the company is not having any discussion on such matters," GoTo said in a filing on Tuesday. GoTo, which has been pressured by losses, reported positive core earnings in the final quarter of 2023, details of which will be provided in March. Last month, GoTo said TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, had completed a deal agreed in December to buy 75.01% of GoTo's e-commerce unit Tokopedia for $840 million. (Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian appeal court has significantly toughened the sentence for sociologist and activist Boris Kagarlitsky, replacing a fine with a five-year prison term, Russian media reported from the courtroom. Kagarlitsky, 64, who has repeatedly spoken out against Russia's war against Ukraine, was accused by Russian authorities of "justifying terrorism". Kagarlitsky denies the charges. The different court had handed him to a 600,000-rouble ($6,581) fine in Dec. 2023 and released him from custody. But the prosecutor's office appealed the sentence. ($1 = 91.1650 roubles) (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin attends a plenary session of the lower house of parliament to discuss a bill allowing the confiscation of property from those convicted of a number of crimes including spreading "deliberately false informatio (Reuters) - Russia's parliament will vote on Feb. 21 on suspending the country's participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE), Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday. The OSCE, which counts Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia among its 57-members, is the successor to a Cold War-era organisation for Soviet and Western powers to engage. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the organisation has been largely paralysed by Moscow's ongoing use of the effective veto each country has. "It's time for us to say goodbye to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly," Volodin said at a meeting of the Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, according to a statement on the Duma's website. "The organization absolutely lacks independence, is politicized, and it dances to the tune of Washington. But the worst thing in this situation is that we also pay money, and we are one of the largest payers." Both chambers of the Russian parliament, the Duma and the Federation Council, will vote simultaneously on suspending participation and on stopping Moscow's payments to the OSCE, Volodin said. With the United Russia party - the ruling faction that supports President Vladimir Putin - holding an overwhelming majority in the parliament, the resolution is unlikely to face opposition. The Duma may also consider the possibility of Russia leaving other international organisations, the Duma statement said, without naming any. Ukraine and its Baltic allies, which are Russia's neighbours, refused to attend the OSCE annual foreign ministers meeting late last year over the presence of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov there. (This story has been corrected to show that the vote is on suspending Moscow's participation in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, not OSCE itself, in the headline) (Reporting by Lidia Kelly and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Sonali Paul) By Mohammad Salem RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Nahla Jarwan fled her home in the central Gaza Strip to seek refuge in Rafah - like more than 1 million other Palestinians escaping Israel's military offensive. Now, as Israeli shells crash into Rafah, Jarwan said she is going back to an area she fled, even though nowhere is safe. She is one of dozens of people who residents said were leaving Rafah on Tuesday after Israeli shelling and air strikes in recent days. "I fled Al-Maghazi, came to Rafah, and here I am, returning to Al-Maghazi," said Jarwan, referring to the refugee camp from which she fled earlier in the conflict. "Last night in Rafah was very tough. We're going back to Al-Maghazi out of fear - displaced from one area to another; hopefully Al-Maghazi area would safe, God willing." "Wherever we go, there is no safety," she said. Describing Rafah as Hamas' "last bastion", Israel plans to expand its offensive there to try to eradicate the group behind the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 abducted, according to Israeli tallies. For Palestinians, Rafah at the southern end of the Gaza Strip has provided sanctuary from an Israeli offensive which has killed more than 28,000 people, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. UNRWA, a U.N. agency which provides Palestinians with aid and essential services, says there are nearly 1.5 million people in Rafah, six times the population compared to before Oct. 7. Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah city overnight, residents reported, though the anticipated ground offensive did not appear to have started. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has said it has ordered the army to develop a plan to evacuate Rafah. 'TIRED OF FLEEING' Sitting in a car crammed with possessions ready to depart, Jarwan said she hoped for a quick end to the war. "We're tired of fleeing from one city to another," she said. "I'm hoping the world stands with us and looks at us with a kind, merciful eye." Describing Palestinian victims as martyrs, she said: "We're tired - we're always crying. Martyrs, shelling, destruction, death, starvation, thirst, there is no food." U.S. President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with an operation in Rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of people sheltering there. Aid officials and foreign governments say there is nowhere for them to go. Egypt has said it will not allow an exodus of Palestinian refugees to cross into its territory. Momen Shbair said he would return to Khan Younis, about eight km (five miles) away, after what he also described as a tough night in Rafah. "We're lost. We don't know where to go. I pray that the whole world pressures Israel to end the war," he said, driving a donkey cart along a sand road by the sea. "We're tired (of going) from one place to another." (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by Timothy Heritage) By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -Hundreds of thousands of residents across Australia's Victoria state remained without power on Wednesday after wild weather knocked down transmission lines and sparked bushfires that injured five firefighters. Strong winds on Tuesday forced down transmission lines, tripping the generators at AGL's Loy Yang A power station. The outage impacted half a million properties, one of the largest in Victoria's history. About 220,000 homes or businesses were still without power on Wednesday morning, Victoria state Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters. "We are still less than 24 hours into the emergency response phase and the situation is continuing to quickly evolve," Allan said. AGL said two units at the power station had returned to service while the remaining two could be back up over the next 24 hours. Australia's energy market operator said it could take weeks to restore power to all impacted customers. "We've got houses in our street which have just been completely smashed by trees. There are cars that have been destroyed," Federal Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter. Authorities said one man was killed by flying debris in the south of the state. Train services on some Melbourne routes were suspended, and at least 10 schools and dozens of childcare centres were closed. Australia's biggest telecommunications company, Telstra, said storms had affected its services in some regions. BUSHFIRES In the state's west, firefighters battling to contain three bushfires sparked by lighting on Tuesday were hoping a change in the weather could help contain the blazes quickly. Five firefighters received minor burns after becoming trapped while trying to douse bushfires ignited by lightning strikes during the storm near the Grampians National Park in Victoria's west, said Jason Heffernan, chief officer at Victoria state's fire department. "Certainly a close call for the crew that got entrapped. Such were the conditions yesterday, the heat, the wind and the fire intensity," Heffernan told ABC television. Australia's weather bureau forecast milder conditions on Wednesday with temperatures in the low to mid-20 degree Celsius (68F) and moderate winds, but warned the risk was not over yet. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Stephen Coates) Presidents Day, or Washingtons Birthday, is celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor past U.S. presidents. In the retail world, Presidents Day has been historically known for mattress sales, but this year, car dealers are all-in on the February long weekend action. See: 5 American Cars That Are Better To Buy Used Find: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money If youre looking for a car to buy or lease, you owe it to yourself to check out whats on offer on Presidents Day 2024. However, while you might find some great deals, its important to approach a holiday sale with some trepidation. Read: 10 New Cars to Avoid Buying in 2024 Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Should You Buy a Car on Presidents Day? February is a slow month for retailers, which is why mattress companies took over the holiday for their blowout and extravaganza events. Other industries have followed suit by staging sales during the Presidents Day weekend in an attempt to separate eager customers from their cash. Bargaining with a private dealer for a used or classic car is expected, but you should be haggling for the best price on new vehicles on the dealership floor, too. However, on the Presidents Day weekend, you might find the setting not as conducive to negotiation as you would on a regular weekend. Too many people browsing means too little motivation for salespersons to go that extra mile to make a sale or to spend time with you in negotiation. More than likely, theyre already going to do well when theres a steady stream of consumers roaming the lots. That doesnt mean you cant take advantage. Many Presidents Day sales start a couple of weeks before the actual holiday, something that you should act upon before the 19th. Many people like to ease into a significant expenditure, so doing it at your own pace before the event date might be the best option. Story continues Additionally, while some people live for butting heads with salespersons during dealership discount events, others might be more comfortable trying to finagle a bargain after the sales have ended. When the crowds have gone, youll find dealers are more motivated to spend the time and make you a great deal on par with those given out during the holiday weekend. If you do choose to shop on Presidents Day, its important not let yourself get caught up in the commotion of the event itself. Everyone should be willing to compromise, but knowing what you want and sticking firm on the price you cant exceed will get you the best deal or lease on a car. You can save thousands on used cars and last years models, but for current purchase and lease deals, here are eight deals and discounts to keep your eye on around the Presidents Day weekend. 8 Presidents Day Car Deals and Discounts 1. Hyundai Elantra SE The Elantra SE can be leased for $199 for 36 months with $3,499 due at signing, according to CarsDirect. For those wanting to buy, the choice of $1,000 in retail bonus cash or 4.49% APR financing for up to 60 months will be available until Feb. 29. 2. Nissan Ariya Details are skimpy, but as Nissan phases out the once-popular Leaf EV, its replacement, the Ariya, will be available with 0% for six years at dealerships throughout the nation around Presidents Day, according to U.S. News & World Report. Check the official Nissan site during the next couple of weeks for the fine print and details. 3. Mazda CX-30 Car and Driver has a few knocks against the 2024 CX-30, but the overall first impression it leaves is largely positive. This fun, small SUV can be driven home at 1.9% APR for 60 months, plus no payments for 90 days. Check your state or local dealerships now for potentially even better discounts and terms, including incentive cash and conquest bonus cash. 4. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Another Hyundai, this time the affordable and spirited Santa Fe Hybrid, can be 0%-financed for up to three years plus an additional $1,000 off. Expires Feb. 29. 5. Honda Ridgeline Apart from its college graduate bonus, military appreciation offer, loyalty program and special APRs, Honda will be offering 0.9% financing for up to three years on 2024 Ridgeline models, according to CarFax. Through Feb. 29, buyers can get the same deal on 2023 models (2.9% APR for 37-60 months, 3.9% APR for 61-72 months). 6. Chevrolet Colorado According to CarsDirect, monthly lease payments for the 2024 MotorTrend Truck of the Year are cheaper in February and now sit at $369 per month for 36 months, with $3,639 due at signing. The 2023 model can be leased for $319 with $4,309 due at signing and this includes a $1,500 discount for those transferring from another lease. Offers expire March 4. 7. Ford Edge The midsize crossover class is a crowded one, but you could end up saving a lot of cash by going for the overlooked Ford Edge. February incentives include a maximum savings of $2,500 in customer cash and retail bonus cash to go with interest-free financing for 60 months. 8. Subaru Outback The Outback has grown comfortably into its position as one of the most reliable do-it-all SUVs on the market. From now until Feb. 29, you can lock in any Outback trim at 1.9% APR for 48 months. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Car Models That Will Have Deep Discounts in February 2024 FILE PHOTO: An oil spill in Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, is seen in this handout photo released February 10, 2024. Office of the Chief Secretary - THA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo (Reuters) - First responders and volunteers from Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday sought to contain an oil spill detected last week in the Caribbean country's waters and clean areas of Tobago island's coast already affected by the incident. Trinidad and Tobago's coast guard first spotted the spill on Feb. 7, about 6 kilometers off the coast of Studley Park, the chief secretary of Tobago's national assembly, Farley Augustine, said in a press conference on Sunday. Barriers have been installed to contain the spill, which earlier this week had already spread in a 12-kilometer (7.5 mile) line, and protect the Scarborough port in Tobago, used by cruise ships, especially during high season as current Carnival. First responders have been focused on containing the spill as tides change, protecting surrounding areas, cleaning beaches, deploying divers, isolating toxic material and assessing its impact to wildlife, according to officials and media reports. "This is a national emergency here in Trinidad and Tobago," Prime Minister Keith Rowley said on Sunday, after saying that a vessel had capsized and made contact with a reef on the coastline, causing the spill. Officials also said they have identified the vessel as the "the Gulfstream" - citing divers that spotted the name on the side of the craft that reportedly caused the spill, without elaborating further. The government said it will continue researching the vessel's owner and operator, and whether the leak came from its bunker deposit. Reuters found at least three ships with similar names, and all their transponders were offline, LSEG vessel monitoring data showed. "It could easily have been worse," Rowley said to explain that if the collision had happened further east, it would have reached the Scarborough port. If the spill had happened further west, much of the oil could easily have gone to a key marine park. An initial evaluation found only a limited impact on animals in the area, Augustine said. Energy minister Stuart Young said some energy companies operating in the country, including British BP, have provided equipment such as remotely operated vehicles to help with the investigation and cleanup. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Aurora Ellis) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Amazon is seen at the company's logistics centre in Boves, France, October 6, 2021 REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday set an October 2026 trial date for a Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com. The consumer protection agency filed the long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon on Sept. 26, accusing the online retailer of operating an illegal monopoly, in part by fighting efforts by sellers on its online marketplace to offer products more cheaply on other platforms. The lawsuit, joined by 17 state attorneys general, was filed in federal court in Seattle and follows a four-year investigation. Amazon and the FTC did not comment. The agency asked U.S. District Judge John Chun to issue a permanent injunction ordering Amazon to stop what it called unlawful conduct. In antitrust cases the range of solutions may include forcing a company to sell a part of its business. Amazon in December asked the court to dismiss the suit, saying the FTC confused "common retail practices" with anticompetitive conduct and failed to identify harm to consumers. Last week, the FTC asked Chun to reject Amazon's request, arguing the government laid out "how Amazon is a monopolist and explains how Amazon unlawfully maintains its monopoly power, enriching itself while harming its customers." The FTC said Amazon used a series of illegal strategies to boost profits, including an algorithm that pushed up prices U.S. households paid by more than $1 billion. Amazon, which has 1 billion items in its online superstore, created a "secret algorithm internally code named 'Project Nessie' to identify specific products for which it predicts other online stores will follow Amazon's price increases. ... Amazon used Project Nessie to extract more than a billion dollars directly from Americans' pocketbooks," the FTC said. Previously, Amazon said the FTC "grossly mischaracterizes" the pricing tool and the company stopped using it several years ago adding it was "used to try to stop our price matching from resulting in unusual outcomes where prices became so low that they were unsustainable." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler, Daniel Wallis and David Gregorio) (Please note strong language in paragraph 5) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party has suspended a candidate for the upcoming general election, Graham Jones, after a recording was published of him making disparaging remarks about Israel. The suspension comes a day after Labour withdrew support for another candidate, Azhar Ali, after he was recorded espousing conspiracy theories about Israel. On Tuesday, Jones, who had been selected to contest a seat in northern England, was suspended pending investigation. Earlier, the Guido Fawkes website published an audio recording of Jones, which it said was recorded at the same local party meeting in October where Ali spoke. In the recording, Jones referred to "fucking Israel" and said Britons who fight in the Israel Defense Forces should be put in jail. Reuters has not verified the full recording or when it was made. Jones did not immediately respond to a Reuters request by phone and email for comment. Polls indicate Labour is likely to form Britain's next government after a general election expected in the second half of this year. Under its former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour faced accusations that some within its ranks discriminated against and harassed Jews. Current leader Keir Starmer has sought to root out antisemitism within the party. Speaking earlier, before Jones's suspension, Starmer said: "When I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership, I meant it." (Reporting by William James; Editing by Leslie Adler) (Reuters) - Ukraine Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and newly appointed armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi discussed Kyiv's military plans for 2024 with the supreme commander of the NATO Armed Forces in Europe and the commander of the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, Umerov said on Facebook on Tuesday. Colonel-General Syrskyi, who has led Ukraine's ground forces since 2019, was promoted to commander of the armed forces last week as the war with Russia nears its third year. He replaced Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. Umerov in his Facebook posting said he and Syrskyi had "a clear and substantive conversation" with General Christopher Cavoli and Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto. "We discussed our military plans for 2024," Umerov said. "The Commander-in-Chief announced the priorities. Among them are the optimization of the structure of the Armed Forces, improvement of the quality of training of our military, additional staffing of existing brigades and creation of new ones, supplying of regular needs in weapons and equipment." The parties also discussed Ukraine's need for more electronic warfare equipment to combat Russian drones and the importance of rotating the fighters on the front lines, Umerov said without providing any details. (Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Bill Berkrot) A combine harvests wheat in a field in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict near the settlement of Nikolske in the Donetsk Region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Ukraine is on track to export all grain from its 2023 harvest despite Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure, according to Britain's foreign office, but the United Nations warns that the Black Sea export situation remains fragile. Ukraine harvested about 80 million tons of grain and oilseeds in 2023, including an exportable surplus of about 50 million tons in the 2023/24 July-June season, the country's government has said. Ukrainian grain exports reached 25.2 million metric tons as of Feb. 9, analyst APK-Inform said last week. Ukraine's agriculture ministry did not provide export data as its website was hacked last month and is now unavailable. British government officials said that if Ukraine continues to ship 6 million tonnes a month by land and sea it would be on track to export all of its 2023-24 harvest by May. "Despite repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure, Ukraine has succeeded in pushing back much of the Russian navy from Crimea, securing a globally important export route in the Black Sea," British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement to Reuters. Cameron described the export forecast as "great news" for Ukraine. It comes as Kyiv faces ammunition shortages and uncertainty over the future of U.S. military aid, which has been on hold for months due to Republican opposition, even as Russian forces begin to gain the upper hand on the battlefield. Ukraine launched a shipping corridor hugging its western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria in August, a month after Russia quit a year-long landmark deal - brokered by the United Nations and Turkey - that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of nearly 33 million metric tons of Ukraine grain. "Exports through the Ukrainian maritime corridor from the Odesa ports have been steadily increasing, which is good news not only for the Ukrainian economy but for global food security. The situation though remains fragile," a U.N. spokesperson told Reuters. UN, TURKEY 'ACTIVELY' ENGAGED Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, quit the Black Sea grain deal over complaints that its own food and fertilizer exports faced obstacles and that not enough Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need. Since then the U.N. says there have been dozens of attacks on Ukraine's grain production and export facilities. Russia says it targets military infrastructure, not civilian infrastructure. "We strongly support Ukraine's right to export its goods and will work with all our international partners to support freedom of commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Russia must respect Ukraine's right to export its goods," Cameron said. The United Nations blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine for worsening a global food crisis. Ukraine and Russia are both major grain exporters. The United Nations said that while volumes of exports from both Russia and Ukraine "remain strong, security concerns continue to affect port operations, costs and private sector engagement." Security incidents involving commercial ships have caused sudden price spikes, said the U.N. spokesperson. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in November that it would be difficult to revive the Black Sea grain deal. "The secretary-general continues his efforts to ensure that safe navigation in the Black Sea allows food exports to reach safely and efficiently global supply chains," said the U.N. spokesperson. The U.N. and Turkey are "actively engaging" with Ukraine and Russia to discuss ways to achieve that goal. "The disruption of other sea routes key to food transportation such as the Red Sea and the Panama Canal make those efforts even more pertinent," the U.N. spokesperson said. Passage through the Red Sea is also very important for Ukraine, as almost a third of its exports via the alternative Black Sea corridor are sent to China. Attacks by Iran-allied Houthi militia in Yemen on vessels in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Jonathan Oatis) (Reuters) - Russia attacked the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro with missiles and drones on Tuesday, damaging a power plant and forcing authorities to close schools and evacuate a hospital, Ukrainian officials and media said. The city of just under one million people came under attack from a missile and four groups of drones approaching from the south, east and north, Ukraine's Air Force said on the Telegram messaging app. It reported shooting down 16 of 23 drones. Ukraine's largest private energy provider DTEK said a thermal power plant was significantly damaged. There were no casualties, it added. The company did not say where the power plant was located, but Dnipro's water utility company said on Telegram that "due to power outages" water supply had been partially suspended and Ukrainian media outlets said a power plant in Dnipro was hit. Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said energy infrastructure had been hit, but gave no further details. He said 10 drones were destroyed over the city. Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov said authorities were closing schools in one neighbourhood and evacuating at least one hospital ahead of an expected cold snap that would strain the energy grid. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. There was no immediate response from Russia's defence ministry to a request for comment. Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their air attacks away from the front line in recent months, targeting each other's critical energy, military and transport infrastructure. (Reporting by Ron Popeski, Nick Starkov and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Chris Reese, Stephen Coates and Lincoln Feast.) FILE PHOTO: Delta Air Lines planes are seen at John F. Kennedy International Airport on the July 4th weekend in Queens, New York City, U.S., July 2, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -More than 140 U.S. House Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday urged Delta Air Lines to remain neutral in ongoing efforts by employees to organize a union among flight attendants and ground workers at the airline. Several unions are working to try to organize Delta technicians, flight attendants and ramp, cargo, and tower workers in forming their union. In a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian, the lawmakers, who include Representatives Donald Norcross, Debbie Dingell, Frank Pallone, Mark Pocan, Rosa DeLauro and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said the airline has a history "of deploying union busting tactics". These include threatening employees with termination of their benefits, distributing anti-union literature, and hosting an anti-union website, they said. The lawmakers said a neutrality agreement consisted simply of an employer agreeing not to engage in pre-election activities that influence workers' freedom to form a union. Delta said in response the airline "believes every employee has the right to choose or reject union representation without interference". It added it "also has the right and responsibility to ensure our people can make their choice with an informed perspective". It said its employees had repeatedly declined union representation over the past 20 years. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Association of Flight Attendants and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in November 2022 announced a coordinated campaign to organize 45,000 Delta employees. Union officials told Reuters employees are currently signing authorization cards. Airline unions can file for a representation election with the National Mediation Board once a majority of workers have done so. Delta's pilots are already represented by the Air Line Pilots Association. Last month a group of 33 senators urged Tesla and 12 other automakers to remain neutral in ongoing efforts by the United Auto Workers (UAW) to organize U.S. auto plants, and to pledge not to interfere in any organizing activities. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jan Harvey) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) speaks to reporters outside a hearing on federal judge nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday asked the CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Visa and Mastercard to testify at an April 9 hearing on credit card competition, according to letters seen by Reuters. Senator Dick Durbin said in a statement to Reuters that American Airlines and United Airlines have "aggressively opposed efforts to bring competition to the credit card market in order to protect the billions of dollars in windfall profits their companies collect through their co-branded credit cards. These airlines have become credit card companies that fly planes." The airlines and credit card companies did not immediately comment. Durbin said it was critical for the CEOs to testify "in defense of a status quo that allowed Visa and Mastercard to levy a total of $93 billion in credit card fees on consumers, small businesses, and others in 2022 alone." Major airlines heavily lobbied Congress last year to reject legislation co-sponsored by Durbin and Republican Senator Roger Marshall they say threatens their ability to offer rewards credit cards that give consumers frequent flyer miles for making transactions. Durbin's letter said United's Scott Kirby and American's Robert Isom had previously rejected requests to appear. In December, Reuters first reported the U.S. Transportation Department is scrutinizing the frequent flyer programs of major U.S. airlines for potential deceptive or unfair practices. In October, Durbin and Marshal asked the Transportation Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about "troubling reports" of unfair and deceptive practices in airlines frequent flyer and loyalty programs. Airlines say there are at least 30 million U.S. airline industry credit card holders, and the cards "make travel more accessible and affordable." They cite Federal Reserve data that 97% of total credit card spending is charged to various rewards accounts. Durbin says the bill would address "outrageous" fees charged by Visa and Mastercard, and boost competition by directing the Federal Reserve to ensure that large credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of at least two networks over which an electronic credit transaction may be processed. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Stephen Coates) FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith are seen in a combination of file photos in Washington, U.S., in 2023. REUTERS/Tasos Katopodis, Kevin Wurm/File Photo By Andrew Chung (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the special counsel prosecuting Donald Trump on criminal charges of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss to respond by Feb. 20 to the former president's bid to freeze a judicial decision rejecting his immunity claim. The justices in a brief order told Special Counsel Jack Smith to file a response to Trump's request by next Tuesday at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT). Smith could file his response sooner. He previously asked the justices to resolve Trump's immunity claim before a lower appeals court had weighed in - a request they denied. Trump's lawyers on Monday asked the justices to temporarily block a decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejecting his claim of presidential immunity from prosecution, pending his bid for the full slate of D.C. Circuit judges to reconsider the case, and, if necessary, a Supreme Court appeal. The requests risk further delaying Trump's criminal trial on four criminal counts. A March 4 trial date in federal court in Washington was postponed, with no new date yet set. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has sought to portray the case as politically motivated. Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden, who defeated him in 2020, in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. Slowing the case could be to Trump's benefit. In their filing to the Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers said a months-long criminal trial of Trump during "at the height of election season will radically disrupt" his ability to campaign against Biden. They painted a dark picture of what they said would befall future presidents if Trump's prosecution is permitted to move forward, warning of partisan prosecutions, extortion, blackmail and more. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in Naples, Florida; Editing by Will Dunham) U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks, at a press conference with Jordan's King Abdullah following their meeting, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dan Williams and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa CAIRO/JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) - Talks involving the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar on a Gaza truce ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday as calls grew for Israel to hold back on a planned assault on the southern end of the enclave, crammed with over a million displaced people. The city of Rafah, whose pre-war population was about 300,000, teems with homeless people living in tent camps and makeshift shelters who fled there from Israeli bombardments in areas of Gaza farther north during more than four months of war. Israel says it wants to flush out Hamas militants from hideouts in Rafah and free Israeli hostages being held there. Its military is making plans to evacuate Palestinian civilians. But no plan has been forthcoming and aid agencies say the displaced have nowhere else to go in the shattered territory. With Palestinians in Rafah "staring death in the face," United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said an Israeli ground invasion there would make humanitarian relief nearly impossible. "Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza. They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death's door," Griffiths said in a statement. Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah overnight, causing waves of panic, residents said. They said displaced people - dozens so far - had begun to leave Rafah after Israeli shelling and air strikes in recent days. "Last night in Rafah was very tough. We're going back to Al-Maghazi out of fear - displaced from one area to another," said Nahla Jarwan, referring to the coastal refugee camp from which she fled earlier in the conflict. "Wherever we go, there is no safety." Rafah neighbours Egypt, but Cairo has made clear it will not allow a refugee exodus over the border. Gaza health officials announced 133 new Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 28,473 killed and 68,146 wounded since Oct. 7, when 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas rampage across the border into Israel, triggering the war. Many other people are believed to be buried under rubble of destroyed buildings across the densely populated Gaza Strip, much of which is in ruins. Supplies of food, water and other essentials are running out and diseases are spreading. About half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are now squeezed into Rafah. "Since Israel said they are invading Rafah soon..., we read our last prayers every night. Every night we say farewell to one another and to relatives outside Rafah," said Aya, 30, who is living in a tent with her mother, grandmother and five siblings. INCONCLUSIVE TRUCE TALKS In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi conducted talks with CIA Director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani aimed at agreeing a Gaza truce, protecting civilians and delivering more aid into the enclave, Egypt's state information service said. In a statement on its website, it cited a "keenness to continue consultation and coordination" on the key issues, indicating that no breakthrough was made. The Egyptian statement made no mention of Israel. The Israeli delegation left Cairo for home, a Reuters reporter said. The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has vowed to fight on, for many months if necessary, until it eradicates Hamas. A Palestinian official said earlier the sides were seeking a formula acceptable to Hamas, which insists that Israel commit to ending its war and pulling its forces from Gaza. A Hamas official said Hamas had told the participants it does not trust Israel not to renew the war if the Israeli hostages being held by Palestinian militants are released. The hostages were seized in Hamas' raid into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Securing their return is a priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as well as wiping out Hamas, which governs the small coastal territory. 'PRETTY MUCH UNLIVABLE' South Africa asked the World Court on Tuesday to consider whether Israel's plan to extend its offensive into Rafah required additional emergency measures to safeguard the rights of Palestinians. In a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice last month ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel denies it is committing genocide and had asked the court to reject the case outright. Pretoria's government voiced concern that an offensive would result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction. Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it had not been informed of any Israeli evacuation plan for Rafah and was not part of it. "Where are you going to evacuate people to, as no place is safe across the Gaza Strip, the north is shattered, riddled with unexploded weapons, it's pretty much unlivable," she said. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that Washington was working on a hostage deal to bring "immediate and sustained" calm to Gaza for at least six weeks. Biden has urged Israel to refrain from a Rafah offensive without a viable plan to protect civilians. In the latest bloodshed, Israel's military said its forces had killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in clashes in southern and central Gaza over the last 24 hours. Gaza health officials said an Israeli strike on a house in Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed 16 Palestinians overnight. They said another air strike on a car in Gaza City later on Tuesday killed six people including children. Israeli sniper fire killed three Palestinians and injured 10 others on Tuesday at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement. (This story has been refiled to fix the spelling to 'staring,' not 'starting' in paragraph 4) (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Emma Farge in Geneva and Reuters bureaux; writing by Angus MacSwan and Mark Heinrich; editing by Timothy Heritage, William Maclean and Deepa Babington) SINGAPORE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 192.8 million travelers cleared Singapore's checkpoints in 2023, an increase of more than 80 percent compared to 2022, according to a report issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Tuesday. The ICA detained 587 immigration offenders last year, an increase of 42 percent compared to 2022. However, the number of arrested immigration offenders was still lower than pre-COVID-19 years, the report showed. A total of 327 people were arrested for harboring or employing immigration offenders in 2023, an increase of 45 percent compared to 2022, said the ICA. Most immigration offenders employed by errant employers were found to be working as freelance house cleaners, domestic workers, kitchen assistants, or dishwashers, the ICA added. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Whitbread implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 21 shareholders own 51% of the company Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company Every investor in Whitbread plc (LON:WTB) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 85% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Whitbread, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Whitbread What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Whitbread? 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. Whitbread already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Whitbread, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Whitbread. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 8.0% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 4.4% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 4.4% by the third-largest shareholder. Story continues Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 21 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. 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 Whitbread While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Whitbread plc in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own UK2.4m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 12% stake in Whitbread. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Whitbread . 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. CAIRO (Reuters) - The leader of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Tuesday that the group had been able to prevent Israeli-linked ships from passing through the Gulf of Aden over the last week. "The Americans and the British failed to secure the passage of any ship heading to Israel. They were unable to protect these ships. They can no longer protect even American-British ships, and this is a real and major victory for us," Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech. Houthi militants, who control Yemen's most populous regions, have repeatedly fired on international commercial ships since mid-November. Their targets have been vessels with commercial ties to the United States, Britain or Israel, according to shipping and insurance sources. "The Israeli, American and British agenda seeks to bring an end to the Palestinian issue," al-Houthi said. Houthi operations in the Red Sea, he said, were "legitimate (ones) to help support the people of Gaza and lift the siege being imposed on them." The Houthis say they have targeted shipping in solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The attacks have prompted several companies to halt Red Sea journeys and opt for a longer and more expensive route around the African continent, and U.S. and British warplanes have carried out retaliatory strikes across Yemen. (Reporting by Mohamed Ghabori; writing by Adam Makary; editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)* Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (Title of Class of Securities) 03969K108 (CUSIP Number) 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) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [_] Rule 13d-1(d) __________ *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's 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). CUSIP No. 03969K108 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [_] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 9,534,837 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9,534,837 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 9,534,837 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.99% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IA, OO CUSIP No. 03969K108 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [_] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 8,680,258 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 8,680,258 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 8,680,258 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.1% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) CO CUSIP No. 03969K108 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Aaron Cowen 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [_] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION U.S.A. NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 9,534,837 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9,534,837 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 9,534,837 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.99% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IN, HC CUSIP No. 03969K108 Item 1. (a). Name of Issuer: Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 3027 Townsgate Road, Suite 300 Westlake Village, California 91361 Item 2. (a) (c) Name, Principal Business Address, and Citizenship of Persons Filing : Suvretta Capital Management, LLC Delaware Averill Master Fund, Ltd. Cayman Islands Aaron Cowen U.S.A. Suvretta Capital Management, LLC : 540 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor New York, New York 10022 United States of America Averill Master Fund, Ltd.: c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited P.O. Box 309 Ugland House Grand Cayman KY1-1104 Cayman Islands Aaron Cowen : c/o Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 540 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor New York, New York 10022 (d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (the Common Stock) (e). CUSIP Number: 03969K108 Item 3. If This Statement is filed pursuant to ss.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 Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange 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 adviser 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 Rule 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) [_] Group, in accordance with s.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. Items 6 through 9 and 11 of each of the cover pages to this Schedule 13G are incorporated herein by reference. Set forth below is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock directly held by Averill Master Fund, Ltd. (the Fund), which may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by Suvretta Capital Management, LLC and Aaron Cowen, as well as Common Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants with no expiration date with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share of Common Stock (Pre-Funded Warrants), subject to the limitations on exercise described below. The Pre-Funded Warrants are only exercisable to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise the holders thereof, their affiliates and any persons who are members of a Section 13(d) group with the holders or their affiliates would beneficially own in the aggregate, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, no more than 9.99% of the outstanding Common Stock (the Maximum Percentage). By written notice to the Issuer, the Fund may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to it to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99%, provided that any such increase will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Issuer. As a result of this restriction, the Pre-Funded Warrants are not all presently exercisable and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants by the above holders may change depending upon changes in the outstanding Common Stock. (a) Amount beneficially owned: Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 9,534,837 Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 8,680,258 Aaron Cowen 9,534,837 (b) Percent of class: Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 9.99% Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 9.1% Aaron Cowen 9.99% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 0 Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 0 Aaron Cowen 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 9,534,837 Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 8,680,258 Aaron Cowen 9,534,837 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 0 Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 0 Aaron Cowen 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of Suvretta Capital Management, LLC 9,534,837 Averill Master Fund, Ltd. 8,680,258 Aaron Cowen 9,534,837 Item 5. Ownership of Five 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 five percent of the class of securities, check the following [_]. N/A Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. N/A Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary. See Exhibit B attached hereto. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to 240.13d-1(c) or 240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group. N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5. N/A Item 10. Certification. (b) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(c): By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. February 13, 2024 (Date) Suvretta Capital Management, LLC* By: /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) Authorized Signatory (Name/Title) Averill Master Fund, Ltd.* By: /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) Director (Name/Title) Aaron Cowen* /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) *Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership over the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature. Note. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See s.240.13d-7 for other parties for whom copies are to be sent. Attention. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001). Exhibit A AGREEMENT The undersigned agree that this Amendment 1 to Schedule 13G dated February 13, 2024 relating to the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. shall be filed on behalf of the undersigned. February 13, 2024 (Date) Suvretta Capital Management, LLC By: /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) Authorized Signatory (Name/Title) Averill Master Fund, Ltd. By: /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) Director (Name/Title) Aaron Cowen /s/ Aaron Cowen (Signature) Exhibit B Aaron Cowen has beneficial ownership by virtue of his role as a control person of Suvretta Capital Management, LLC. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Samsara Luggage, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Shares, with a par value $0.001 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 79589J200 (CUSIP Number) 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) x 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 purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act out shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act, (however, see the Notes). Page 2 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) YA II PN, Ltd. (98-0615462) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Cayman Islands Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): CO Page 3 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) YA Global Investments II (U.S.), LP (42-1766918) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): PN Page 4 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) YA II GP, LP (80-0827189) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): PN Page 5 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) YAII GP II, LLC (81-4908890) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): OO Page 6 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Yorkville Advisors Global, LP (90-0860458) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IA Page 7 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC (81-4918579) 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): OO Page 8 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Mark Angelo 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: U.S.A. Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IN Page 9 CUSIP No. 79589J200 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) SC-Sigma Global Partners, LP 84-5173620 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) x (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5. Sole Voting Power: 6 Shared Voting Power: 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 425,502* 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percentage of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): OO Page 10 This Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G is being filed by YA II PN, Ltd., YA Global Investments II (U.S.), Ltd., Yorkville Advisors Global, LP, Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC, YA II GP, LP and YA II GP II, LLC (collectively, the Reporting Persons) and amends, supplements and supersedes, the initial Schedule 13G filed jointly by the Reporting Persons on June 15, 2021 (the Original Schedule 13G) and the 13G Amendment No. 1 filed jointly by the Reporting Persons on January 11, 2022 (Amendment No. 1) and the 13G Amendment No. 2 filed jointly by the Reporting Persons on January 3, 2023. Except as specifically provided herein, this Amendment No. 3 does not modify any of the information previously reported in the Original Schedule 13G or Amendment No. 1 or Amendment No. 2. Capitalized terms in this Amendment No. 3 have the meanings assigned to them in the Original Schedule 13G and Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2. This Amendment No. 3 is the final amendment to the Schedule 13G and constitutes an exit filing for the Reporting Persons. Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer: Samsara Luggage, Inc (b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices One University Plaza, Suite 505, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Item 2. Identity and Background . (a) Name of Person Filing: YA II PN, Ltd. (b) Address of Principal Executive Office or, if none, Residence of Reporting Persons: 1012 Springfield Ave. Mountainside, NJ 07092 (c) Citizenship: Cayman Islands (d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Shares, with a par value $0.001 per share (e) CUSIP Number: 79589J200 Item 3. If the statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is: (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 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (e) An investment adviser 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 associations 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-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); or (k) x Group, in accordance with 240.13d(b)(1)(ii)(K). Page 11 Item 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 0 (b) Percentage of Class:0 (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole Power to vote or to direct the vote: (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: Less than 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition: (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition: 0 Item 5. Ownership of Five 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 five percent of the class of securities, check the following x . Additional Information : After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement in true, complete and correct. Dated: February 12, 2024 REPORTING PERSON: YA II PN, Ltd. By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Page 12 YA Global Investments II (U.S.), Ltd. By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Yorkville Advisors Global, LP By: Yorkville Advisors Global, LLC Its: General Partner By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer YA II GP, LP By: YAII GP II, LLC Its: General Partner By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer YAII GP II, LLC By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Page 13 EXHIBIT 99.1 JOINT FILING AGREEMENT The undersigned hereby agree that the statement on Schedule 13G with respect to the equity securities of Samsara Luggage, Inc. is, and any amendment thereto signed by each of the undersigned shall be, filed on behalf of each of the undersigned pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The undersigned hereby further agree that this Joint Filing Agreement be included as an exhibit to such statement and any such amendment. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others. This Joint Filing Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Dated: February 12, 2024 YA II PN, Ltd. By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer YA Global Investments II (U.S.), Ltd. By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Yorkville Advisors Global, LP By: Yorkville Advisors Global, LLC Its: General Partner By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC By: /s/ Robert Munro Robert Munro Chief Compliance Officer Page 14 Page 1 of 6 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G/A Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 27)* Steelcase Inc. (Name of Issuer) Class A Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 858155 20 3 (CUSIP Number) 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) [X] Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's 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). Page 2 of 6 CUSIP No. 858155 20 3 13G/A (1) Names of Reporting Persons P. Craig Welch, Jr. (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (see instructions) (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 3,853,371 (6) Shared Voting Power 830,957 (7) Sole Dispositive Power 400 (8) Shared Dispositive Power 4,683,928 (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 4,684,328 (10) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (see instructions) [ ] (11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 4.99% (12) Type of Reporting Person (see instructions) IN Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Steelcase Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 901 44th Street, SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: P. Craig Welch, Jr. Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 901 44th Street, SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508 Item 2(c). Citizenship: United States of America Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Class A Common Stock Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 858155 20 3 Page 3 of 6 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-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k) [ ] Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). Item 4. Ownership. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 4,684,328 shares (b) Percent of Class: 4.99% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 3,853,371 shares (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 830,957 shares (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 400 shares (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 4,683,928 shares The number of shares reported above includes 100,287 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Issuer which are immediately convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder. If shares of Class B Common Stock are transferred to any person other than a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the Issuers Second Restated Articles of Incorporation), such shares are automatically converted on a share-for-share basis into shares of Class A Common Stock. Shares of Class B Common Stock of the Issuer have the same attributes as shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer except that each share of Class B Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to ten votes on all matters upon which Shareholders have a right to vote and each share of Class A Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on such matters. Page 4 of 6 If all the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock of the Issuer were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, Mr. Welch would be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 4.10% of the Class A Common Stock. Item 5. Ownership of Five 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 five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ X ]. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Of the shares reported in Item 4 above, (i) 3,852,971 shares are held by trusts for the benefit of Mr. Welch, of which trusts Mr. Welch serves as co-trustee with Fifth Third Bank, (ii) 100,287 shares are held by various trusts for the benefit of members of Mr. Welch's family, of which trusts Mr. Welch's wife serves as co-trustee, (iii) 191,270 shares are held by a trust for the benefit of members of Mr. Welch's family, of which trust Mr. Welch's wife serves as trustee, and (iv) 539,400 shares are held by a foundation of which Mr. Welch is president. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. N/A Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. N/A Item 10. Certification. N/A Page 5 of 6 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: February 8, 2024 /s/ P. Craig Welch, Jr. P. Craig Welch, Jr. 29972912 Page 6 of 6 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 3) Wag! Group Co. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (Title of Class of Securities) 93042P109 (CUSIP Number) 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) CUSIP No. 93042P109 Page 2 of 6 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS MMCAP International Inc. SPC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,829,093* 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,829,093* 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,829,093* 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 4.55%** 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO FOOTNOTES * Consists of 853,343 shares of the Issuers common stock and warrants to acquire an additional 975,750 shares of common stock. ** The percentages used herein are calculated based on 39,245,262 shares of common stock outstanding of the Issuer as of November 1, 2023, as reported in the Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2023, plus 975,750 shares underlying warrants which are beneficially owned by the reporting persons and included pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. CUSIP No. 93042P109 Page 3 of 6 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS MM Asset Management Inc. 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Ontario, Canada NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,829,093* 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,829,093* 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,829,093* 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 4.55%** 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO FOOTNOTES * Consists of 853,343 shares of the Issuers common stock and warrants to acquire an additional 975,750 shares of common stock. ** The percentages used herein are calculated based on 39,245,262 shares of common stock outstanding of the Issuer as of November 1, 2023, as reported in the Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2023, plus 975,750 shares underlying warrants which are beneficially owned by the reporting persons and included pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. CUSIP No. 93042P109 Page 4 of 6 Pages Item 1 (a). Name of Issuer: Wag! Group Co. Item 1 (b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 55 Francisco Street, Suite 360, San Francisco, CA, 94133 Item 2 (a). Name of Person Filing: i) MMCAP International Inc. SPC ii) MM Asset Management Inc. Item 2 (b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence: i) c/o Mourant Governance Services (Cayman) Limited 94 Solaris Avenue Camana Bay, P.O. Box 1348 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands ii) 161 Bay Street TD Canada Trust Tower Suite 2240 Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 Canada Item 2 (c). Citizenship: i) Cayman Islands ii) Ontario, Canada Item 2 (d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, par value $0.0001 Item 2 (e). CUSIP Number: 93042P109 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act; (b) Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; (c) Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act; (d) Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act; (e) Investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) Employee benefit plan or endowment plan in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) Parent holding company or control person, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; CUSIP No. 93042P109 Page 5 of 6 Pages (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: (j) Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(j). If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,829,093* (b) Percent of class: 4.55%** (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,829,093* (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,829,093* * Consists of 853,343 shares of the Issuer's common stock and warrants to acquire an additional 975,750 shares of common stock. ** The percentages used herein are calculated based on 39,245,262 shares of common stock outstanding of the Issuer as of November 1, 2023, as reported in the Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2023, plus 975,750 shares underlying warrants which are beneficially owned by the reporting persons and included pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represent a right to acquire an underlying security, see Rule 13d-3(d)(1). Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If the 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 five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ X ]. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. N/A Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. N/A Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. N/A CUSIP No. 93042P109 Page 6 of 6 Pages Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. (1) This Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of Gemini Israel V Limited Partnership (Gemini V), Gemini Capital Associates V LP (Gemini Associates LP), Gemini Capital Associates V GP, Ltd. (Gemini Associates GP), Gemini Partners Investors V L.P. (Gemini Partners), Gemini Israel Funds IV Ltd. (Gemini Israel), Menashe Ezra (Ezra) and Yossi Sela (Sela) (collectively, the Reporting Persons). Gemini Associates GP is the general partner of Gemini Associates LP, which is the general partner of Gemini V, and each of Gemini Associates GP and Gemini Associates LP may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares of the issuer held by Gemini V. Gemini Israel is the general partner of Gemini Partners and may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares of the issuer held by Gemini Partners. Ezra and Sela are the managing partners of Gemini Associates GP and Gemini Israel, and each of Ezra and Sela may therefore be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares of the issuer held by Gemini V and Gemini Partners. Each of Gemini Associates GP, Gemini Associates LP, Gemini Israel, Ezra and Sela hereby disclaims beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares of the issuer held by Gemini V and Gemini Partners except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest therein. The Reporting Persons may be deed to a be a group for purposes of Section 13 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and hereby expressly disclaim status as a group for purposes of this Schedule 13G. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall leads a panel discussion called Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition: A Senior Leaders Discussion during the Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., on Feb. 12, 2024, with Kristyn Jones, acting undersecretary of the Air Force, Gen. David Allvin, the service chief of staff, and Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations. (Eric Dietrich/U.S. Air Force) The Air Force will add a new command focused on modernization led by a three-star general, create more technical jobs and redesign and rename its training command as part of an overhaul to prepare its troops for future fights, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said. Kendall announced 24 changes that are meant to address the current force and our ability to stay competitive, in what he and other Air Force senior leaders have repeatedly referred to as the great-power competition. Air Force leaders see Chinas military advancements and Russias aggression in Europe as a call to reevaluate its fighting force and capabilities. There also has been a resurgence of Middle East tension and provocations from North Korea, Gen. David Allvin, the service chief of staff, wrote in a 12-page document supporting the need for change. We cannot afford to be complacent, holding on to outdated structures. The Air Force built for the previous era is no longer optimized for the current strategic landscape, he wrote. We need these changes now. We are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of great-power competition. Kendall, Allvin and other Air Force leaders laid out their plans Monday during the Air and Space Forces Associations Warfare Symposium in Colorado. Largest among those changes is the creation of the Integrated Capabilities Command. Led by a three-star general, the command is expected to drive modernization investments for the Department of the Air Force. Were enabling end-to-end creation of effects, said Kristyn Jones, acting undersecretary of the Air Force. This organization will help us to prioritize our investments and will be responsible for working with us to determine the next iteration of operational imperatives. It will be responsible for integrating weapons development, operations and what should be a priority. This will work together with a separate acquisitions and sustainment group to provide airmen with what they need, according to the service. Space Force will get its own version, known as the Space Force Futures Command, which will conduct experiments and war games as well as develop and validate concepts. The Air Force announcement briefly mentioned Air Education Training Command now will be called Airman Development Command. The command already runs all levels of the Air Forces training programs, including pilot training and basic training. Under the new name, the command will have a people-focused footprint to rapidly adapt training programs and curriculum to produce mission-ready airmen at a faster pace, according to a news release from the command following Mondays announcement. Airmen also will see new job opportunities grow from the announcement. It will open new technical job positions for officers and enlisted airmen, while reintroducing warrant officers in information-technology and cyber fields. Guardian career paths will be redesigned to meet high-tech operational demands. Kendall did not lay out exact timelines for each of the changes that he discussed Monday, only that they are a mix of near-term and longer-term efforts. Each stems from a department-wide evaluation that he announced in September. Army Col. John Wilcox, the Fort Liberty garrison commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Seymour, and installation public works employees move trash to alleviate the garbage overflow at the North Carolina installation. (Jason Ragucci/U.S. Army) Garbage dumpsters across Fort Liberty have been overflowing for weeks, forcing some soldiers to find other means of disposing of their trash, soldiers and officials at the North Carolina Army post said Tuesday. Post officials on Tuesday blamed unexpected equipment issues with the contracted waste management company for the trash buildup. They said they were working to bring in new large trash containers for the overflowing garbage and working with other local companies to find stopgap refuse support. The current situation of trash buildup on the installation is unacceptable, and we are working to resolve the issue immediately, said Army Col. John Wilcox, Fort Libertys garrison commander. It is our obligation to provide and maintain safe, clean facilities for our soldiers, families and civilian employees. We take this situation seriously and are taking action to resolve this through a phased approach to mitigate this issue as expeditiously as possible. A soldier said Tuesday that dumpsters near his workplace had been overflowing for at least several weeks, and he had noticed trash bags and other garbage building up at locations throughout the sprawling installation, including near barracks buildings. It looks awful. Its unprofessional, said the soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity. You wouldnt accept that anywhere else. We cant accept that in the Army, either. The soldier, a noncommissioned officer, said some of the junior enlisted troops in his unit had started hauling trash off the installation in their pickup trucks. He said he did not believe they had been ordered by their commanders to do so but that they were just looking for some kind of solution. No one wants to live like that, the NCO said. Other soldiers told Task and Purpose, a military news website, that soldiers had been stomping down the trash in dumpsters to fit more garbage in them. One officer said he was worried he would eventually have to order his troops to clean up the overflowing trash, the news outlet reported. Fort Liberty spokeswoman Cheryle Rivas said post leaders were not looking for soldiers to pick up trash or solve waste management issues. She said installation leaders were taking the issue seriously and working to resolve it. Overflow containers should be in place across the installation in the coming days, according to a Fort Liberty statement. Trash pickup resumed on the post last week, but the contractors collection capacity cannot keep up with the garbage produced. The trash issue comes as the Army and the other military services seek to improve quality-of-life issues for service members, who have long faced subpar housing, among other problems. Top Army and Pentagon officials have admitted that quality-of-life issues, including substandard housing, have likely contributed to the ongoing recruiting crisis, which has seen the Army miss its recruiting goals for two consecutive years. Fort Liberty is the militarys largest base with a population of some 282,000 people, including some 50,000 active-duty troops. The base is home to the Armys 82nd Airborne Division, its 18th Airborne Corps, Army Forces Command, Army Special Operations Command, 1st Special Forces Command, 3rd Special Forces Group, Army Reserve Command, the Armys most elite unit known as Delta Force and the multiservice Joint Special Operations Command. Like many other military posts, it has faced housing issues in recent years, including the 2022 decision to move some 1,200 soldiers out of 1970s-era barracks buildings on the post. That effort saw 12 of the Smoke Bomb Hill barracks buildings demolished and three renovated. Last month, Fort Liberty issued a draft notice that it would soon seek solicitation from contractors for the installations refuse needs, federal contracting records show. It was not immediately clear Tuesday when a new contract would be issued. My Army Post was developed by the Army Software Factory. The Texas-based unit within Army Futures Command develops software to assist soldiers on the battlefield and at home. (Pixabay) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea The community at the largest U.S. military base overseas now has access to information about their installation as part of a growing Army smartphone app. Information about Humphreys, the home of U.S. Forces Korea, 2nd Infantry Division and Eighth Army roughly 40 miles south of Seoul, was included in the My Army Post last month, base spokesman Jeff Nagan told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. Features include weather updates, a list of emergency contacts, hours for on-base services, driving directions, job listings and an interactive bus route map. The goal of the new app is for community members to be able to quickly orient themselves to a new installation and its surrounding community with only a few clicks, the Army said in a Feb. 2 news release. The Humphreys features are still in development and some information, such as business hours, may be incorrect, Nagan said. He encouraged users to submit feedback using the apps menu. The important thing to know is that its a pilot, he said. Were taking a hard look and going through everything to get it as close to perfect as we can. The app is also in use at six other bases in the United States Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Moore, Ga.; Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Cavazos, Texas; and Fort McCoy, Wis. and three in Germany: Garmisch, Grafenwoehr-Vilseck and Hohenfels. The Army plans to have all its bases in the app to provide a seamless experience throughout the service, according to the release. My Army Post was developed by the Army Software Factory. The Texas-based unit within Army Futures Command develops software to assist soldiers on the battlefield and at home. Soldiers with the Army Software Factory flew to Humphreys last month to determine the garrisons unique needs and tailor the applications features for its users, Nagan said. My Army Post is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, and users are encouraged to submit a form to join a confidential focus group for feedback on Feb. 27. After installing the app on their smartphones, users will be prompted to select their garrison and are then provided with a menu for the base. Other services have developed their own apps. The Air Force uses USAF Connect, which replaced apps tailored to individual bases, while the Navy uses Navy App Locker and the Marine Corps has MarinesMobile. A U.S. civilian working at Camp Lester died Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, after his car, pictured here at Okinawa Police Station the next day, ran up a curb and struck a roadside tree. (Mari Higa/Stars and Stripes) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa A civilian contractor at the Marine Corps Camp Lester died Monday morning after his car crashed in Okinawa city, according to Japanese police. Eugene Warfield, 68, was southbound on Route 85 in the Koja area at 8:16 a.m. when his blue Mazda RX-7 rode up on the curb and struck a roadside tree, an Okinawa prefectural police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. Warfield was pronounced dead at 8:47 a.m. at a central Okinawa hospital. We are currently investigating the cause of the accident, the spokesman said. Police are trying to determine Warfields speed at the time and what caused the crash, a spokesman for the Okinawa Police Station said by phone Tuesday. Warfield was alone in the car. Police were still awaiting autopsy results as of Wednesday afternoon. Warfield was a contractor working as an anti-terrorist inspector for the Defense Policy Review Initiative at Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine spokesman Capt. Brett Dornhege-Lazaroff said by phone Tuesday. We are working with the host nation and civil authorities, he said. Some government officials in Japan speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. ROLLING A 95-year-old sawmill business in northeastern Wisconsin can now generate enough power from burning bark and wood chips that it has started selling excess electricity back to the grid. In fact, if Kretz Lumber Co., Inc. wasn't using its new system to power the operations at the sawmill, it could support an estimated 225 to 240 homes, according to president Troy Brown. Kretz Lumber is an employee-owned business made up of about 85 people. It is located at W11143 County G in the town of Rolling, just a few miles outside of Antigo city limits. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin spoke with Brown late last year about about how and why the company took this "big step." The new equipment required Kretz Lumber to make a "significant investment," Brown said, but other companies could follow in its footsteps to do the same. An aerial view of Kretz Lumber Company in Rolling, near Antigo. The business installed a new system that uses wood byproducts to generate electricity. How does Kretz Lumber's new equipment work? The boiler system started up in June. It burns byproducts from the sawmill to create heat, through steam lines, for the lumber dry kilns, Brown said. Excess steam from the boiler is transferred to the new electrical generator, which spins a turbine to create the electricity for the kilns and boiler, he said. Any leftover electricity is automatically transferred to the electrical grid. The equipment is fueled by "woody biomass," Brown said, or byproducts from the sawmill. Typically, Brown said, wood chips have two markets in the area that Kretz Lumber operates: paper mills and boiler fuel. The company already used wood chips for its old boiler. Kretz Lumber Company, near Antigo, installed a new boiler, which is part of a system that uses wood byproducts to generate electricity. The bark, meanwhile, was generally used for landscaping material. But that market can fluctuate, Brown said, depending on consumer demand and the economy. Kretz Lumber could burn sawdust, but Brown said they don't because the material is sold to a customer that uses it for food flavoring. Why did the company install this system? Kretz Lumber previously had a smaller, wood-fired boiler that was installed around 1988, along with a couple of backup ones that ran on natural gas. Story continues In order to expand operations, the company realized it needed to invest in a larger boiler, Brown said. The fluctuation in natural gas prices, particularly during cold weather, was another determining factor. So, Kretz Lumber upgraded from a 200 horsepower to a 500 horsepower boiler. Before deciding what kind of equipment to buy, Brown said they researched and visited facilities in other states. One of their first stops, though, was at Menominee Tribal Enterprises. Brown said he didn't know what these generators looked like until seeing a similar system there. More: After sawdust took over the house, this family turned their cornhole hobby into a business Does this mean Kretz Lumber is self-sufficient? Kretz Lumber has a "pretty big operation," and the boiler and kiln processes "use quite a bit of electricity," Brown said. The new boiler has the capacity, though, that if Kretz Lumber added another turbine, it could get closer to self-sufficient, he said. In the meantime, the boiler provides heat for the kilns, boiler room, sawmill and truck shop, and it generates electricity to the boiler room, boiler system and the dry kilns, according to Brown. Kretz Lumber Company, near Antigo, installed a new turbine, which is part of a system that uses wood byproducts to generate electricity. How much electricity has the company sent to the electrical grid? Kretz Lumber sold its first nine kilowatt hours of excess power to Wisconsin Public Service on its September billing statement, Brown said. "I was quite surprised that we did," he said, but "excited." Now, in early February, the company is waiting for consistent data, according to Brown. The information "is still intermittent," he said, "due to demand on our boiler with the warmer weather we've had and kiln capacity lower than normal." More: Wisconsin landowners want to create a community solar farm. A state law and utilities are blocking the way. Wisconsin Public Service helps residential and business customers safely connect customer-owned generation systems to its grid, according to Matt Cullen, WPS spokesperson. To do this, the customer notifies WPS about the planned project and completes an application, Cullen said. The staff reviews it and conducts on-site testing. The customer can then sell excess energy, and WPS purchases it through a monthly rate set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. "The energy we purchase is used to serve all of our customers across northeast and north central Wisconsin," according to Cullen. How did Kretz Lumber pay for the equipment? The company received a total of $1.5 million from state and federal grants, including from the Wood Innovations Grant, Energy Innovation Grant Program and Wisconsin's Focus on Energy. It helped, Brown said, to get support from programs that seek to benefit the environment, find alternative fuel sources and promote healthy forest management. These funds didn't cover the entire cost of the project, though. Brown declined to say exactly how much the company spent, but said "it was a significant investment." Brown said he's received calls from other people in the industry, asking Kretz Lumber how they could replicate the move. "It's a big step for people to be able to do something like this," Brown said. Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at @ruthyjacobs. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kretz Lumber uses woody biomass to sell power to electrical grid The littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords, front, trains in the South China Sea with the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Gregorio del Pilar, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jacob Ruder/U.S. Navy) U.S. and Philippine warships trained together in the South China Sea on Friday, two days before Manila accused Beijing of dangerous maneuvers by vessels there. The littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords joined the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Gregorio Del Pilar for drills in communication, coordination and tactics, 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Kristina Wiedemann told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday. The exercise what the Navy calls a Maritime Cooperative Activity was the third of its kind, the 7th Fleet said in a Friday news release. The MCA has become a routine activity for both militaries to continuously enhance interoperability through the conduct of maritime security and maritime domain awareness operations, Wiedemann said. Interoperability is a military term used to describe the ability of a countrys armed forces to use anothers training methods and military equipment. The two ships, along with MH-60S Seahawk and Philippine AW109 helicopters, drilled division-level tactics, said Wiedemann, who did not specify an exact location for the training. Beijing claims nearly all the South China Sea as its territorial waters, and the region often plays a part in Chinas attempts to assert its claims against other claimants, including the Philippines. On Sunday, the Philippine coast guard accused Chinese vessels of dangerous maneuvers near Scarborough Shoal, according to a Monday report from AFP-JIJI. The shoal, a low-tide feature occupied by a Philippine garrison, has remained a point of tension between the two nations. Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels squared off in 2023 over access to the shoal. The Philippine coast guard said Chinese vessels performed dangerous and blocking maneuvers toward a Philippine patrol ship and later shadowed that vessel more than 40 times over a nine-day patrol, the report said. Fridays exercise happened a day after the Gabrielle Giffords and the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn joined the Japanese destroyer JS Sazanami and the Australian frigate HMAS Warramunga for two days of drills, also in the South China Sea. The two exercises were not related, Wiedemann said. Every day, U.S. Navy forces operate with allies and partners, defending the rules-based international order and ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free and open for all, she said. Sailors aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) man the rails as the ship pulls into Naval Air Station North Island, California, on Feb. 12, 2024. (Jacob Woitzel/U.S. Navy) Cries of joy echoed across a Navy pier in San Diego Monday as the well-known hospital ship USNS Mercy returned from deployment in the Indo-Pacific, where China is trying to strike security partnerships with long-standing U.S. allies. Many of the ships 800 crew members streamed into the arms of friends and family at Naval Air Station North Island as Mercy wrapped up a five-month mission just two days before Valentines Day. Monique Salas of San Diego was holding a sign that read Will you be my Valentine? to catch the attention of her boyfriend, Bryan Cruz, an interior communications electrician 2nd class. He found her and gave her a hearty kiss. The 894-foot Mercy which has a distinctive white hull adorned with a huge red cross had visited the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. The mission was primarily to provide medical care and humanitarian and disaster relief training to the Pacific islands. The Mercy which has participated in such conflicts as Operation Desert Storm has so far performed more than 410 surgeries and 12,000 dental procedures during the deployment. The Indo-Pacific is a region of growing tension. China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan and has harassed some U.S. warships that have been working to keep international shipping lanes open in the South China Sea. The Biden administration has said it will rapidly come to Taiwans aid if an invasion occurs. China, in turn, has been trying to cultivate partnerships with such American allies as the Solomon Islands, which signed a security agreement with Beijing two years ago. The USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt strike groups, which are both based in San Diego, are currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific. It is likely that a third San Diego-based carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, will deploy to that region later this year. Meanwhile, the Navys newest ship, the expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley, will join the Navys active fleet on Saturday when it is commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island. The 784-foot ship, which was built at General Dynamics-NASSCO in San Diego, is a new type of ship thats designed to deploy troops and equipment in regions where the U.S. doesnt have easy access to land bases and seaports. 2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A U.S. soldier stands by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter before taking off from Khost, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2002. For the first time, U.S. soldiers have begun aerial vehicle checks near the Pakistan border, an area where Taliban and al-Qaida members are believed to have been regrouping. (Scott Schonauer/Stars and Stripes) This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, Aug. 17, 2002. It is republished unedited in its original form. KHOST, Afghanistan The helicopters swooped down like two eagles cornering their prey. One Army UH-60 Black Hawk landed in front of the sports-utility vehicle, while the other came down at the rear of it. As soon as the choppers touched the dirt road, two squads of heavily armed soldiers emerged. Were doing this for your safety and ours, a U.S. soldier said to the SUV through an interpreter. We mean no harm. The teams looked for weapons, documents or any signs the men might be Taliban or al-Qaida fighters. In what seemed like a one-in-a-million chance, they also checked to see if the Pentagons two most wanted Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar or suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden were inside. Soldiers only found some papers they deemed suspicious and confiscated them for analysis. In 30 similar vehicle searches, they also came up empty. But those who planned and executed the mission said the so-called aerial vehicle checks served as a warning to those who want to attack U.S. forces in Afghanistan or disrupt the interim government. The surprise checks using Apache and Black Hawk helicopters are part of a new effort by American troops to prevent Taliban and al-Qaida from migrating between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Master Sgt. Curtis Curry gets ready for an aerial vehicle check from inside a Black Hawk helicopter. (Scott Schonauer/Stars and Stripes) There is speculation that the two groups have fled Afghanistan and are using Pakistan as a new staging area for fresh attacks. Wednesdays five-hour mission was a trial run of what could soon be routine, soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division said. If anything, Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lopez said the checks show that the coalition forces can go beyond the traditional stationary road checkpoints to help seal the border. They can now do it by air, very quickly. Its faster, and it catches them by surprise, said Lopez, a platoon sergeant with the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Its also an intimidating factor to have two helicopters come down on you out of nowhere. The sight of two helicopters with nearly a platoon of American soldiers must have startled most of the people stopped. But the soldiers got little resistance. Everyone cooperated, soldiers said. They didnt have a problem at all [with the searches], said 2nd Lt. Rob Swartwood, the platoon leader. The checks most of which were conducted in the region of Khost, near the Pakistan border lasted only about 10 minutes each. This is how it worked: Soldiers in one Black Hawk would slip in and out of the valleys looking for any vehicles on the move. Once a vehicle is spotted, the pilot in one of the helicopters would move the chopper closer, so the squad leader could get a better look inside. If the platoon leader wants the vehicle searched, two Black Hawks block the vehicle from the front and back. As soldiers along with an Afghan interpreter pour out from the helicopters, an Apache helicopter lingers nearby for extra firepower and protection in case something goes wrong. Once soldiers secure the area, a smaller group searches the vehicle. Lt. Shawn Callahan uses a map to mark where Army soldiers stopped and searched vehicles near Khost, Afghanistan. For the first time, U.S. soldiers have begun aerial vehicle checks near the Pakistan border, an area where Taliban and al-Qaida members are believed to have been regrouping. (Scott Schonauer/Stars and Stripes) Several of the checks on Wednesday attracted a crowd from the nearby villages and hamlets. As helicopters swarmed one vehicle, people came out on their rooftops to get a better view of the action. The concern is that an attacker could hide in the crowd. It sends a good message to the local populace that were checking the vehicles, Swartwood said of the onlookers. But it makes things a little more tense. For most men in the platoon, it was their first mission outside the confines of Bagram air base, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan. Using photographs, soldiers try to determine if any of the passengers are Taliban or al-Qaida leaders. But Swartwood said matching the people in the vehicles with the pictures of the leaders is difficult. To be honest, a lot of these guys look alike, he said. Most of the vehicles stopped contained farmers or businessmen, who were trucking goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Soldiers, however, believe it is possible that in future missions they will find Taliban or al-Qaida supporters or soldiers. They said the checks will, at the very least, make it more difficult for such people to enter Afghanistan. Theres no way they can predict where were going to go next, Swartwood said For the past 50 years, the Sugar Hill Sisterhood has continued to meet at least once a year for dinners, weekend sleepovers and vacations around the world. (David Carter/For The Washington Post) They got ready for parties and shared countless laughs as freshmen inside the cramped rooms of Elkton Hall, a high-rise dormitory at the University of Maryland, College Park. They bonded over being Black women at a university where, in 1971, Black students made up only 4% of the student body. Friends dubbed the tightknit group of young women Sugar Hill, and the name stuck. It was unique for that many African American females to be in one place, said Elizabeth Gholston, 71, one of the early members of the group who now resides in Northwest Washington. During that time, you needed that kind of camaraderie and cohesiveness. On Dec. 14, 1973, the women, most of them college seniors, gathered to celebrate a birthday and an early graduation. But it wasnt the end of the friend group. Before the evening was over, they had decided that the group should meet again in December the following year. They never imagined where the new tradition would take them. For the past 50 years, the women have continued to meet at least once a year for dinners, weekend sleepovers and vacations around the world. The Sugar Hill Sisterhood, as they now call themselves, has expanded to 16 women who have leaned on one another through five decades of milestones weddings and graduations, baby showers and funerals. Theres no challenge too big for the sisterhood, said Everene Johnson-Turner, 71, who now lives in Columbia, Md., and attended the first December dinner. I could call in the troops in a minute, she said. They would be there for me. Joyce Wynn Dawkins holds a photo showing some of the Sugar Hill women. The group has been on adventures around the world. (David Carter/For The Washington Post) Lasting friendships and traditions The enduring nature of female friendship has been well documented. Research shows that female friendships tend to be deeper than those of men, and women are more likely to rely on friends in addition to their spouses for support, said Marisa Franco, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland and author of Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends. While many people have friendships that span decades, the women of Sugar Hill are something of a case study in what it takes to maintain them. Although the bond among the women of Sugar Hill was forged during their college years, they say they have worked hard to stay connected and nurture their relationships. A daily WhatsApp group chat helps them stay in touch, as do phone calls, video chats and remote group activities like a 90-day fitness challenge. They are committed to their annual reunions and have maintained unwavering support for one another. The character of all the women in this group is top-notch, said Jonetta Hill, 71, who now lives in the Virgin Islands. People are in awe that all these women in all these years, we havent had a fight, we havent had a breakup or anything like that. We respect each others individuality. While the Sugar Hill reunions began with annual dinners, they later evolved to overnight stays at one anothers houses and then trips together around the world. The women say that whatever is going on in their lives, they can look forward to spending time with the Sugar Hill Sisterhood every December. The Sugar Hill Sisterhood has toured the world together, with trips to Jamaica, Spain, Italy, the Bahamas, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal, among many other places. In December, the group marked the 50th anniversary of the December reunions with a trip to Grenada. These trips are meaningful because for a lot of years that was the only vacation I had, said Cassandra Stewart, a 71-year-old who lives in Baltimore. We have the best time ever, and it really sets the tone for my year. When Im with them, its going to be nothing but good times. To make sure the trips and reunions keep happening, the group each year designates someone who is responsible for selecting the location, figuring out the transportation and planning the activities. That person can organize the trip by themselves or in a committee with a few other women. Hosts are selected based on a rotation, and before the reunion is over, it is determined who will plan the following year. Once the destination is decided, there are no complaints. Its an unspoken agreement to not say anything discouraging about the choice of location, said Linda Evans Cheek, 72, of Hyattsville, Md., who also lived in Elkton Hall during her college years. If you want to go somewhere when its your turn, well go there. The reunion coordinator will send a notice in mid-March or early April about the destination of the trip along with an estimate of the total cost, said Joyce Wynn Dawkins, 71, a former Elkton Hall resident who lives in Laurel, Md. Planning ahead is part of the fun. The really key thing I loved about it was the excitement that nobody knew what they were going to do until the invitations went out, Dawkins said. The women in the Sugar Hill Sisterhood bonded in part because they were all Black women on a campus where Black students made up only 4% of the student body. (David Carter/For The Washington Post) A daily group chat The daily group chat is lively and eclectic. Messages include prayers, inspirational quotes and life updates, Dawkins said. Time and friends are two things that become more valuable, the older you get, read one message. When its someones birthday, the group chat is filled with GIFs, emojis and well wishes. If the women ever need to have a deeper conversation, they will jump on a video call, like they did on Fridays during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And if someone in the group mentions she isnt feeling well, she knows she will hear from the others. Helen Jackson James, a 71-year-old resident of Columbia, Md., recently experienced a throbbing headache and mentioned it to Quentess Elizabeth Davis of D.C., whom she has known since middle school. The two, along with Novella Jones Sherman of Mitchellville, Md., originally became part of the Sugar Hill Sisterhood while they were students who commuted to the University of Maryland campus. Almost immediately after complaining about her headache, James started receiving concerned texts and calls from other women in the group. They were on top of me, asking: Did you go to the doctor? Did you go to the emergency room? said James, who later got a head scan and a clean bill of health. They help me maintain my health and positive mind. We give each other strength, and when theres something challenging for us, we try to lift that person up. The Sugar Hill women have leaned on one another through five decades of milestones, including weddings, graduations, baby showers and funerals. (David Carter/For The Washington Post) Support during good times and bad In the late 1970s, Dawkinss boyfriend died in a car accident. She had moved back to Baltimore and was mourning the loss when one of the Sugar Hill sisters, Sheila Perkins-Hawkes, persuaded Dawkins to come back to D.C. and live in an apartment with her. They stayed roommates for the next few years. She nurtured my soul, Dawkins said. Thats all I can say. She let me cry when I wanted to cry. Stewart, a Baltimore native, befriended most of the women through Dawkins, whom she met in high school. The sisterhood was there for Stewart at her lowest moment nearly 40 years ago when the nonprofit where she worked closed its doors. She was without permanent employment for two years, and her friends in the sisterhood sent her cards, covered her dinners and even helped pay for her to attend the reunion trip that year. That meant the absolute world to me, Stewart said. I dont remember ever being that low in my life. It was just how they kept me encouraged. They just made me feel good about myself at a time where I didnt have that at all. I dont have any biological sisters I have all brothers but I dont think I couldve picked a better group of sisters. Perkins-Hawkes, 71, a native of D.C. who grew up with several friends in the group, said she has leaned on the friend group to get through everything from bad boyfriend breakups to my joys, my sadness, times when Ive fallen and needed to be picked up. And they can count on her for the same support. If you call me up and you need me, Im coming, she said. From left, Joyce Wynn Dawkins, Linda Evans Cheek and Elizabeth Gholston visit the inside of Elkton Hall at the University of Maryland, College Park, earlier this month for the first time since the 1970s. (David Carter/For The Washington Post) A lasting identity The group continues to debate the origins of their name. Several said they believe it was started by male friends on campus. Sugar was a term of endearment toward the women, while hill referred to the fact that they lived on the top floor of Elkton Hall. It was all girls, and we were supposed to be all sweet sisters, said Angie Page, 71, of Ellicott City, Md. Sugar is sweet and we were young ladies up there. Group members say their name has become part of their identity and now extends to family members. Husbands are referred to as sugar daddies, Johnson-Turner said. Children are sugar babies, and grandchildren are sweet tarts. Everything we call our families have to do with sugar, Johnson-Turner said. The Sugar Hill friendships now span generations. The friends support one anothers children and grandchildren, and the children of the sisterhood also spend time together. Its a great feeling knowing that weve passed the Sugar Hill legacy to our offspring and they are passing it down to their offspring, Dawkins said. And when Dawkins got married in 1985, Cheeks husband explained to her fiance that his commitment extended beyond his fiancee. Just make sure you want to do this, Dawkins recalls him saying at the time. Youre marrying her, but youre marrying 15 other sisters as well. He was laughing, Dawkins said, but he was right. South Africa will deploy 2,900 troops to help fight armed groups in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a Southern African Development Community initiative. The cost of the year-long deployment will be just over 2 billion rand ($106 million), the South African presidency said in a statement on Monday. The deployment of troops from SADC comes as United Nations peacekeepers, which included South African soldiers, prepare to withdraw from the troubled region and an East African force exits after tensions with Congos President Felix Tshisekedi. The obligation to contribute troops is borne by all SADC member states, the presidency said. SADC is a 16-member group of countries including Congo. The presidency didnt say how the deployment, which will be in place until Dec. 15, will be funded but said it wont affect the usual operations of the South African National Defence Force. Tanzania and Malawi are also contributing soldiers to the force, known as SAMIDRC. SADC troops began arriving in December and are already involved in operations against the M23 rebel group, Congo has said. Congo says M23, which is led mainly by Congolese members of the Tutsi group, is supported by neighboring Rwanda. United Nations experts say members of the Rwandan Defence Force also provide support to the group in Congo. Rwanda denies backing the group. M23 says its protecting Tutsis from discrimination in Congo and fighting Rwandan rebels in the country who have links to the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Somali soldiers trained by U.S. special operations forces prepare for a field tactics demonstration at Baledogle, Somalia, Aug. 3, 2023. The number of people killed by Islamic militants in Somalia increased 22% in 2023, reaching a record high of 7,643. (Enrique Barcelo/U.S. Air Force) STUTTGART, Germany The number of killings by Islamic militants in Africa hit a record in 2023, surging 20% from the previous year as violence soared in Somalia and elsewhere, a study sponsored by the Defense Department revealed. In all, 23,322 people were killed last year in violent attacks, up from 19,412 in 2022, the Pentagon-affiliated Africa Center for Strategic Studies said in a new report. This represents a near doubling in deaths since 2021, the Jan. 29 report said. More than 80% of the fatalities were concentrated in the Sahel region and Somalia, where U.S. forces have for years been assisting government troops in their battle against the al-Shabab terrorist group. The situation in Somalia has been the primary focus for the Stuttgart-based U.S. Africa Command for several years. While U.S. special operators advise and train Somali ground forces, AFRICOM also carries out periodic airstrikes against al-Shabab targets. Somalia experienced a 22% increase in fatalities stemming from Islamic militant violence in 2023, reaching a record high of 7,643. That represents a tripling of the number since 2020. The report attributed most of the violence and fatalities to battles between al-Shabab and Somali forces. Still, there is no indication that the effort has turned the tables on the terrorist group, which has proved resilient in its two-decade campaign to topple the fragile government in the country of roughly 18 million people. Meanwhile, an estimated 11,643 fatalities were linked to Islamic militant groups in the Sahel, which encompasses a region that includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Benin and Niger. The area has been marred by a series of coups in recent years, including in Niger, where about 1,000 U.S. troops are deployed at a drone base that was a focal point for counterterrorism operations in the Sahel. But the July coup has hindered such operations because U.S. rules prohibit cooperation with militaries that topple democratic governments. In Niger, there were just under 1,000 reported fatalities connected to Islamic militants in 2023, the report said. Burkina Faso, another country where U.S. military cooperation has been curtailed because of a 2022 coup, experienced the most Islamic militant violence in the Sahel, with nearly 8,000 such fatalities. One bright spot in Africa was a sharp decline in Islamic militant violence in Mozambique, where extremists have taken root in the countrys north. In 2021, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa dispatched advisers to the country to train some of the forces involved in the battle against militants. Northern Mozambique saw a 71% decline in violent events in 2023 after military operations pushed fighters out of their strongholds, the report said. The question for the coming year will be whether this progress can be sustained given the resiliency of the militants in this region, the report said. Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president, speaks during an interview in Caracas on June 13, 2021. (Gaby Oraa/Bloomberg) (Tribune News Service) The Biden administration is playing down threats of imminent military action from Venezuela against neighboring Guyana, telling reporters on Monday that recently released satellite imagery reveal small-scale activity in remote locations. The White House response comes after a Washington-based think tank released the images over the weekend, leading to concern that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro might follow through on weeks of threats to annex Essequibo, a large portion of Guyanan territory. Weve obviously been monitoring this closely ourselves. Our assessment is that whatever military movements there have been by Venezuela have been of a very small nature in size and scale, and scope, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a daily press briefing. We see no indication that theres about to be hostilities, or that the Venezuelan military would be capable of conducting any significant military activities there. The satellite images showed fewer than 250 personnel, three patrol ships with nine staffers, and two short-range surface-to-air systems deployed to the border region, which are unable to target anything in Guyanese airspace, one National Security Council official told McClatchy and the Miami Herald. We see no significant Venezuelan military buildup under way near Essequibo, the official said. Venezuelas military is ill-equipped to engage in significant, sustained military activity due to lack of maintenance, spare parts, fuel, and an extremely limited ability to forward deploy in difficult terrain or via maritime routes. Still, we oppose any potential threat or use of force by one country against another, the official added. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer visited Guyana earlier this month in a high-level message of support for Guyanas sovereignty one part of a flurry of diplomacy around the South American nation ever since Maduro began threatening to take action late last year. In December, the United Kingdom sent a warship to Guyana in an expression of support, angering the Venezuelans. The British Embassy told McClatchy that the UK will continue to work to ensure Guyanas territorial integrity. Angered by the leaked satellite photos, Venezuelas military said that its presence in the area is not hostile, shrugging off reports that it is building a large base right at the border. In Guyana, the government said that the increased military presence violates the terms of the peace declaration signed in December in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in which both countries committed to lowering tension surrounding their century-old border dispute. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S.-based think-tank, over the weekend published several satellite images that revealed that Venezuela was expanding its military base on the island of Anacoco and in the area of Punta Barima, at the Guyana border. One of the images revealed the construction of an improvised landing strip 1,200 meters long and 50 meters wide on Anacoco Island, located on the Cuyuni River, just on the edge of the disputed border with Guyana. The photo also shows a Venezuelan helicopter in flight and the clearing and construction of a dirt road, connecting the landing strip to a newly enlarged base. The leaked photos also show the construction of a new bridge connecting the Venezuelan territory to the Anacoco island and the concentration of a number of amphibious armored fighting vehicles. The expansion would likely indicate an increase in stationed personnel from platoon to company or battalion size, increasing personnel from around 50 up to and possibly over 300, the center said in its report. Notably, a mixed group of armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) can be seen consisting of six vehicles, likely Scorpion light tanks and at least one EE-11 APC. New trails or roads have also been built from the base south through the forest to the airfield, and there is evidence of recent tracked and wheeled vehicle activity. A Bell 206 helicopter can also be seen. Other photos also unveiled an increased presence of Venezuelan navy gunboats in the northern Sucre state. Calling the centers report an instrument of a malignant public campaign against the Venezuelan government, members of the Maduro regime said the increased military presence at the Essequibo region at the border portrays no aims of aggression. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces makes a non-hostile presence at the Essequibo territory to advance in this sovereign purpose. Nothing will stop us!, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said over the weekend through his X account. But the photos seemed to have angered other members of the Venezuelan military, including Domingo Hernandez Larez, strategic operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, who claimed his country was the obvious victim of espionage. The photos are the result of the North American imperialist spies in action! Hernandez Larez said on his X account, adding that U.S. intelligence is working from laboratories set up for the Guyanese. Seeking to lower tensions, the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela met in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and pledged not to use force to resolve the dispute over which nation is the rightful owner of an oil- and mineral-rich region bordering the two countries, roughly the size of Florida. The border dispute, which has been going on since the beginning of the 19th century, gained intensity following a referendum held on Dec. 3, in which the Caracas socialist regime asked Venezuelans to green-light the use of force to annex three-quarters of Guyana. The Maduro government said that 95% of Venezuelans voted in favor of the forced annexation, but independent observers questioned the results, saying that the empty polling stations seen during the vote did not support claims that more than 10 million people participated. Tensions between the two countries did in fact appear to have cooled since the referendum, but international observers say that the Caracas regimes dealings are not completely on the level. There is likely more than meets the eye when it comes to Venezuelas approach to negotiations, the centers report said, adding that the Maduro regime may be engaging in a strategy that aims to pair the threat of force with diplomatic incentives. Under this reading, Venezuelas participation [in the negotiations] represents the diplomatic carrot, while its military engagement in provocative behavior acts as a stick to tilt negotiations in Caracass favor, the report said. Recent activity by the Venezuelan armed forces within the Essequibo and in nearby waters observed in satellite imagery lends credence to this argument and suggests Maduro may be duplicitous in his commitment to resolve the dispute through diplomatic channels, the centers report added. 2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A service member tests an early-stage prototype of voting technology aimed at improving the experience of military absentee voters at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency in Arlington, Va., Feb. 7, 2024. (Department of Defense) The prototype of a deployable voting machine unveiled last week could one day allow service members around the world to transmit a signed, encrypted digital ballot to their home precinct for tallying on Election Day. The machine was presented during the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors conference in Washington, D.C., according to a Defense Department news release Monday. The prototype was developed as part of a research project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that seeks methods to make voting easier for troops stationed away from their districts. The team hopes to conduct a pilot program from the prototype as early as next year. Compared to the civilian population, a lower percentage of active duty military have voted in recent federal elections, the Federal Voting Assistance Program states on its website. The government assistance program works to ensure service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so. Among the problems that impede service members from voting is the speed at which voters receive and transmit election materials, such as voter registration forms, ballot requests or the ballots themselves, the website states. Researchers from VotingWorks, a not-for-profit election technology company, displayed the early-stage prototype at the conference on Wednesday. We want military voters to be first-class voters and have the same abilities as other voters, Ben Adida, executive director of VotingWorks and the technical lead on the project, said in the news release. The research team developed the prototype with several goals in mind. It wants military voters to be able to cast privacy-protected ballots, receive paper ballots for verifiability and have their vote counted as part of election-night results. We want them to be a part of that because thats an important part of being and feeling enfranchised during the voting process, Adida said in the release. Adida said he was aware that up to now most solutions proposed to improve military election participation have focused on internet voting, a technology the team has rejected. We are holding a hard line that voters should have a voter-verified paper ballot thats part of an audit when all is said and done, he said in the release. The prototype voting machine relies on the Common Access Card that is issued to each military member and includes digital-signature capability for authentication. The terminal would also print paper ballots along with a mailing label to be sent to the service members home state for audits which usually occur up to four weeks after Election Day, the DOD news release states. Producing a paper ballot that can be verified by the voter and subsequently audited by election officials is of critical importance in any such deployable voting machine, Adida said in the release. The team expects that widespread deployment of the voting machines could greatly increase the number of service members who cast votes but it wont solve every problem, Steve Trout, VotingWorks head of government partnerships, said in the news release. Ive just accepted that at least for now, were not going to get ballots transmitted from submarines, he said. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, ABO Wind fair value estimate is 101 ABO Wind is estimated to be 47% undervalued based on current share price of 53.00 ABO Wind's peers are currently trading at a premium of 104% on average How far off is ABO Wind AG (ETR:AB9) 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 their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. See our latest analysis for ABO Wind Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 7.66m 13.6m 17.4m 5.79m 27.9m 31.8m 34.9m 37.4m 39.3m 40.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 13.81% Est @ 9.83% Est @ 7.05% Est @ 5.10% Est @ 3.74% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 4.2% 7.3 12.5 15.4 4.9 22.7 24.8 26.1 26.8 27.0 26.9 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 195m Story continues 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 (0.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 4.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 41m (1 + 0.6%) (4.2% 0.6%) = 1.1b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 1.1b ( 1 + 4.2%)10= 736m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 930m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 53.0, the company appears quite undervalued at a 47% 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 The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the 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 ABO Wind as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 4.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for ABO Wind Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Renewable Energy market. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the German market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. 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. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For ABO Wind, there are three important items you should assess: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with ABO Wind (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does AB9's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, left, meets with then-President Donald Trump at the White House in 2019. During a campaign speech Feb. 10, 2024, Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO allies that aren't spending enough on their own defense. (NATO) Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would encourage Russia to attack delinquent NATO allies that, in his judgment, spend too little on defense. His remarks shocked leaders on both sides of the Atlantic and mischaracterized how the 31-member alliance works. NATO member nations all make payments to cover the operating expenses of the organization, which was founded in the aftermath of World War II to help Western Europe counter the Soviet Union with help from Canada and the United States. But they dont pay membership fees to remain in the alliance, so theres no delinquency to speak of. Countries do, however, commit to spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense each year, with the goal of ensuring the alliances military readiness and deterring any potential attacks. The commitment is a guideline, not a requirement, that has been in place for nearly two decades. Last year, 11 countries met or exceeded that target, according to NATO statistics. The rest spent smaller portions of their GDP on defense. (Iceland, the only member state with no armed forces, is omitted from the data set.) Most of the countries that spent beyond the 2% mark either share a border with Russia or sit near the front lines of the Ukraine war. Trumps insinuation that theyre not paying their share is false. Poland which shares part of its northern border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and a long stretch of its southeastern border with Ukraine spent a greater share of its GDP on defense last year than any other member state, at 3.9%. The United States ranked second, at 3.49%. But in raw numbers, the $860 billion U.S. defense budget is more than double that of all other NATO allies combined. Other member states spending more than 2% of their GDP include Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and NATOs newest member, Finland, which joined the alliance last year. (Its worth noting that most of the big spenders have national laws or policies that require 2% defense spending in accordance with NATOs goals.) Countries farther from Russia were more likely to spend below the 2% guideline. Some including Germany, Italy and Canada spent considerably under that target, despite having large economies and GDPs topping $1 trillion. Others, such as Luxembourg, may struggle to meet the threshold because of the limited size of their militaries and defense industries. Most NATO allies are spending a greater share of their GDP on defense than they were in 2014. That year, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula and annexed it, inflaming tensions in Eastern Europe and prompting NATO to double down on its 2% spending goal. At the time, only three allies were meeting that target. The number increased to seven in 2022. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February of that year, defense spending spiked in several countries. Poland again topped the list, with its defense spending jumping from 2.4% of its GDP to 3.9%. In total, Poland spent more than $29 billion on defense last year, nearly $12 billion more than it spent in 2022 and three times what it spent a decade ago. France, Slovakia, Hungary and several others also ratcheted up defense spending after the Russian invasion. Earlier this year, Turkey voted in favor of Swedens membership after months of delay. Pending Hungarys ratification, Sweden is expected to join NATO this year as the 32nd member, and has committed to spending 2.1% of its GDP. Some member states are spending more but have yet to exceed the 2% mark. Others have flatlined. But the pressure to ramp up defense spending hasnt gone unnoticed. Following Trumps remarks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday pledged to meet NATOs 2% goal. That is urgently needed, Scholz said. Because as harsh as this reality is, we do not live in times of peace. An AH-64 Apache helicopter takes off from West Jordan, Utah, during a training exercise in 2019. Two soldiers were injured Feb. 12, 2024, when their Apache crashed near the Army Aviation Support Facility in West Jordan. (UTNG Visual Information Office) Two American military pilots were hospitalized this week after their AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter crashed during an exercise near Salt Lake City, according to officials and local news reports. The crash occurred about 1:20 p.m. Monday near the Army Aviation Support Facility at South Valley Regional Airport in West Jordan, the Utah National Guard said the same day in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The pilots freed themselves from the wreckage and were taken to a local hospital in stable condition, the posts on X said. The two-seater aircraft was carrying a National Guard instructor pilot and an Air Force pilot on a familiarization flight, local NBC affiliate KSL reported. During such flights, a pilot new to the aircraft receives guidance from an experienced instructor. We dont have a lot of detail on the cause of the accident right now, Army Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber, a Utah National Guard spokesman, told local ABC affiliate KUTV on Monday. There was no ammunition on board the helicopter at the time, Kroeber said. A team from the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Ala., is scheduled to begin investigating the crash as early as Tuesday, officials said, adding that the investigation is expected to take about three months. This was the third accident involving the units Apache since 2007, KUTV reported. In 2023, following a collision of two Black Hawk helicopters in Kentucky that killed nine and a midair collision of two Apaches in Alaska, the Army ordered a safety stand-down in April, grounding all its helicopters. Less than a month after the stand-down, two Apache pilots were injured in a crash in May during a training flight in Washington state. The Armys own five-year safety review in 2020 found that Apaches accounted for more than a quarter of its rotary-wing mishaps. From 2016 to 2020, the combat helicopter was involved in 77 mishaps, resulting in $384.5 million in damage and 12 fatalities. The report identified human error as the primary cause in 87% of class-A mishaps, which are those resulting in either total destruction of the aircraft, a direct cost of at least $2 million or the death or permanent total disability of those on board. Kristina Puzyreva and Nikolay Goltsev, a couple from Montreal, are shown in an undated photo from Facebook. Puzyreva pleaded guilty Monday to money laundering conspiracy as part of a scheme to illegally supply $7 million in U.S. electronics to Russia for battlefield use in Ukraine. (Facebook) A dual Russian-Canadian citizen who talked of getting rich from a scheme to funnel millions of dollars of electronics to Russia for its war in Ukraine is instead facing up to 20 years in prison, according to federal authorities. Kristina Puzyreva of Montreal pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in New York to money laundering conspiracy, a Justice Department statement said. She had been charged with wire fraud and conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions. The defendant was a necessary player in a scheme to evade export controls and sanctions, Breon Peace, a federal attorney in Brooklyn, said in the statement. Without the defendant laundering the proceeds ... the export scheme would not have worked. Together with her husband, Nikolay Goltsev, and New York resident Salimdzhon Nasriddinov, Puzyreva supplied $7 million in dual-use electronic components to the Russian military, prosecutors said. Goltsev and Nasriddinov were also indicted in the scheme, which began in 2022, and their prosecution is pending, the Justice Department said Monday. In an undated photo, packages containing electronic components intended for shipment to Russia are shown stacked in the New York apartment of Salimdzhon Nasriddinov. The components were part of a scheme to send electronics from the U.S. to Russia, which used the technology to wage war on Ukraine, federal prosecutors said. (Justice Department) The components were later found in helicopters, missiles, tanks and other Russian weapons and signal intelligence equipment used in Ukraine, according to a DOJ statement in November. The three defendants worked with contacts at electronics companies that supply components to the Russian military and created multiple accounts to evade sanctions and ship parts used in drones, guided missile systems and other weapons, according to U.S. investigators. They received orders from Russian entities and then used two front companies registered in Brooklyn to unlawfully purchase American electronic parts for the Russian military over several years. Over two years, Puzyreva and Goltsev were directly linked to 298 shipments of restricted technology valued at $7 million, the DOJ statement Monday said. Puzyreva conducted transactions via Simatech Group, an electronics firm in Montreal that acquired dual-use technology, electronics and mechanical parts for both civilian and military applications, prosecutors said. They then shipped the parts through intermediaries in Turkey, Hong Kong, India, China and the United Arab Emirates for rerouting to Russia, according to the Justice Department. They also made several trips to New York to meet with Nasriddinov, and during these visits, Puzyreva used various bank accounts that showed large, structured cash deposits, which were transferred to the couples accounts in Canada, the DOJ said. Approximately $1.7 million was seized by authorities in connection with the export scheme, including $20,000 in cash from the Manhattan hotel room where the couple was arrested in late October, the Justice Department said. In a January 2023 text message released by the Justice Department, Goltsev told his wife that he had been asked to make 80 accounts to launder $3 million and complained that his fingers hurt from all the typing. Puzyreva responded, Lot of money? We will get rich. The Russia-Ukraine war began Feb. 24, 2022, with a full-scale invasion by the Kremlin that was condemned by the vast majority of U.N. member states. In the Justice Department statement Monday, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco alluded to the upcoming anniversary of the unlawful invasion and said the U.S. will pursue those who supply the Russian war machine with critical U.S. technology. Some of the components shipped by Puzyreva and Goltsev were of the highest concern due to their critical role in the production of advanced Russian precision-guided weapons systems, Russias lack of domestic production, and limited global manufacturers, a Commerce Department statement in November said. Puzyrevas sentencing date hasnt been set. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., as seen on June 30, 2023. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON The Senate on Tuesday approved a long-languishing foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the $95 billion bill to an uncertain fate in the House as Republicans vowed to quash the legislation. Senators voted 70-29 in favor of the bill, with a coalition of Republicans breaking with their party to support giving $60 billion to Ukraine to fend off Russian invaders, $14 billion to Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip and nearly $5 billion to Taiwan and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region to deter China. These are the enormously high stakes of the supplemental package: our security, our values, our democracy, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. It is a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of American values. Opponents of the bill spoke on the Senate floor overnight to postpone passage of the legislation, pushing a final vote to about 5 a.m. The aid had already been delayed for months after Senate Republicans forced Democrats to pair foreign assistance with measures to curb migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The resulting bipartisan deal collapsed last week under pressure from former President Donald Trump, who urged Republicans to reject it. Some Republicans who voted against the deal on border security said they would also not vote for a standalone foreign aid package without a crackdown on immigration. I have been saying for months that helping Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan are extremely important national security imperatives for the United States, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. However, as I have been consistently saying, we must deal with our border first. The border is a national security nightmare. He proposed giving the aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as loans as suggested by President Trump, the Republican partys presumptive nominee for president. Much of the bill allocates funds to be spent on replenishing weapons already sent to those countries and purchasing additional equipment from U.S. companies. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday night that he would not put the foreign aid legislation to a vote without immigration provisions. He indicated the House would continue its own work on the issue. The Senate did the right thing last week by rejecting the Ukraine-Taiwan-Gaza-Israel-Immigration legislation due to its insufficient border provisions and it should have gone back to the drawing board to amend the current bill to include real border security provisions that would actually help end the ongoing catastrophe, he said. The Senates original bill, negotiated by Democrats and Republicans, would have restricted asylum laws, increased detention capacity and accelerated deportations. It was endorsed by a union representing more than 18,000 border agents. The House narrowly passed its own immigration bill last year to resume construction of a border wall initiated by Trump, increase funding for border agents and border technology and place new restrictions on asylum seekers. The Senate refused to take up the measure and the White House threatened to veto it. The political standoff over immigration has left Ukraine with diminished weapons and resources as Russia presses an offensive to capture more Ukrainian territory. The U.S. last announced new military aid for Ukrainian forces at the end of December. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., made the case on Monday for continuing to arm Ukraine, describing it as a critical investment in future American security. Allowing the war in Ukraine to fester will only prolong and deepen the instability already wrought and it puts at greater risk 100,000 U.S. service members defending NATOs borders, he said. We must engage in the world to protect our own selves. Moran was among a group of senators that unsuccessfully tried to add immigration provisions for Afghan allies back into the legislation after they were removed amid Republican backlash to the broader immigration deal. The measures would have provided a path to U.S. residency for the tens of thousands of Afghans who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war and are now living in immigration limbo in the U.S. The standalone foreign assistance bill is largely focused on helping American allies and partners but also contains funding for U.S. forces overseas. Nearly $15 billion supports the American military presence in Europe as well as training and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. About $2.4 billion is earmarked for supporting American military operations in the Middle East, including restocking weapons used to strike Iran-affiliated militants targeting U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria and ships in the Red Sea. The Doughboy Foundation is a nonprofit that will recognize the 1,000th sounding of taps at the World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Presidents Day. (Jari Villanueva) WASHINGTON Every day a lone bugler stands at the World War I Memorial across the plaza from a statue of Army Gen. John Pershing. The bugler salutes the American flag, lifts a simple brass instrument without valves or keys, and sounds the 24 distinctive notes of taps the universal call sounded at dusk at U.S. military installations across the world. The taps bugle call is what unites every American soldier, said Jari Villanueva, an Air Force veteran and director of the nonprofit Doughboy Foundation, which supports the daily taps program. To commemorate Presidents Day on Monday, the foundation will recognize the 1,000th time that taps is performed since the memorial opened three years ago at 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. across from the White House visitor center. Guest bugler will be Kevin Paul, an active-duty trumpeter and senior musician with the Army Band in Washington. Paul, a sergeant first class, has played at Arlington National Cemetery, the White House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He also serves as operations manager for the Doughboy Foundation helping to coordinate the daily taps calls at the World War I Memorial. The AEF band named after the American Expeditionary Forces will participate Monday in World War I uniforms. The memorial is owned by the National Park Service. The space where it was built incorporated an existing statue of Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Forces across Europe during the war. When America threw itself into preparing for conflict, Pershing was named the commander, said Villanueva, who sounded the first daily taps at the memorial on Nov. 11, 2021. Villanueva will be guest speaker at Mondays event. He will note the significance of the event in brief remarks prior to the sounding of taps at 5 p.m. A ceremonial trumpeter, Villanueva served for nearly 25 years in Washington. He has participated in more than 5,000 funerals and other occasions at Arlington National Cemetery and other sites. He served from 1985-2008 at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Though the distinctive taps melody originated with the Civil War, the daily 5 p.m. call at the memorial honors all American service members and their loved ones, according to the Doughboy Foundation. Villanueva organized the corps of buglers tapped to honor U.S. service members and veterans with the early evening bugle call. Jari Villanueva, an Air Force veteran and bugler, is director of the Doughboy Foundation, a nonprofit that will recognize the 1,000th sounding of taps at the World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Presidents Day. Buglers dress in replica uniforms at the daily taps call. (Jari Villanueva) The thought was lets have a bugler in World War I uniform pay tribute every day, rain or shine, snow or heat, said Villanueva, former president of Taps for Veterans, a nonprofit that sent buglers to military funerals. The memorial was the final war monument to open in Washington in remembrance of the major U.S. conflicts of the 20th century. The other sites commemorate World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. An individual veteran is honored daily when taps is played. The veteran can be from any military branch or era, according to the foundation. Clarence Clarke, a bugler with Company D of the 369th Infantry Regiment, will be commemorated on Presidents Day. He was a member of an all-Black Army regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, a unit that served with distinction in World War I. We wanted to pay tribute to a soldier and in particular a bugler for this event, Villanueva said. Guest buglers wear replica uniforms of the ones that U.S. soldiers wore in World War I and the bugle call is streamed live on the Doughboy Foundations YouTube channel. Well-known trumpeters have participated in the daily taps call since its inception, including Mark Gould, who played with the Metropolitan Opera, and Michael Harper, a performer with the National Symphony. We have a very diverse and inclusive roster of buglers. Some buglers are veterans who have served in the premier service bands. We also have world-class artists such as 10-time Grammy Award winner, Arturo Sandoval, said Chris Isleib, an associate with the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, a 12-member organization Congress established in 2013 that is scheduled to end Oct. 1. Construction of the World War I Memorial followed the organization of the commission assigned to create it. In addition to its role supporting the daily taps call, the Doughboy Foundation will pick up the educational outreach component and memorial maintenance that the commission has performed. The U.S. entered World War I in the spring of 1917. There were 117,000 U.S. casualties by the time the war ended Nov. 11, 1918. It was a short period of time, but our involvement was crucial to bringing the war to an end, Villanueva said. Frank Buckles of West Virginia, who died in 2011 at the age of 110, was the last surviving U.S. veteran from World War I. The World War I Memorial formally opened April 16, 2021. The memorial, which has a rectangular pool and engraved references to campaigns and battles, is not fully built. The signature art installation for the memorial a 60-foot-long, 12-foot-tall sculpture titled A Soldiers Journey that will have larger-than-life figures is scheduled to open in September. Inayat Shah (64), who ran the Traveller's Rest on the Galgorm Road, was murdered by Michael Lenaghan (55) on the afternoon of March 21, 2020. Police at the scene in Ballymena where Mr Inayat Shah (above right) was stabbed to death The manager of a B&B in Ballymena was stabbed 55 times by a resident who repeatedly shouted you're dead whilst carrying out the fatal knife attack, a court has heard. Inayat Shah (64), who ran the Traveller's Rest on the Galgorm Road, was murdered by Michael Lenaghan (55) on the afternoon of March 21, 2020. During a plea hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, it emerged that prior to killing Mr Shah, Lenaghan attacked a fellow resident at the B&B/hostel with a knife and threatened to slit the throat of a second resident. A prosecutor told Judge Patricia Smyth that on the afternoon in question, Mr Shah's 16-year-old granddaughter had been visiting. The Shah family were watching TV in the living quarters of the property when they were approached by one of the residents who had just been stabbed in the chest by Lenaghan. This prompted Mr Shah to call 999, and after this, the wounded man left the living quarters and walked outside. Mr Shah was asked to stay inside by his granddaughter, but whilst remaining on the 999 call he followed the wounded man outside as he wanted to assist him. As the wounded resident and Mr Shah made their way to Lenaghan's accommodation, they were approached by Lenaghan who was still armed with a knife. An eyewitness reported seeing Lenaghan acting in an aggressive manner and he was then seen chasing Mr Shah up an alleyway. During the chase, Mr Shah ended up on the ground and he was then set upon by Lenaghan. The prosecuting KC said: Over the course of the next two-and-a-half minutes, the chilling and devastating attack on Mr Shah was captured on the recorded 999 call. The 999 call recorded the screams of Mr Shah as he was repeatedly stabbed by the defendant. Mr Shah pleaded with the defendant and offered to give him money but the defendant shouted at him saying you're dead, you're dead, talking to the police about me, you're dead, you're dead, you're dead. The screams and groans of Mr Shah fell silent, shortly before the defendant walked away from the lifeless body. The wounded man ran back to the B&B shouting the old man has been stabbed and the emergency services were called. Despite their best efforts, life was pronounced extinct at 3.57pm and a subsequent post-mortem indicated he had been stabbed 55 times. Lenaghan, who was described in the aftermath of the murder as being calm but out of it and covered in blood, walked back to his accommodation. He told the resident he threatened earlier that day you'll end up like Shah there, dead in the street. A short time after this he was approached by police and said: That thing is in the alley. I did it. It's me you're looking for. When arrested for murder, Lenaghan asked is he dead? and when told this was the case, he replied f*****g good. He was overheard by Mr Shah's daughter shouting happy days. He was aggressive and abusive to officers and also to custody staff at the PSNI station. During a police interview, he gave a largely no comment response. With an address as Galgorm Road in Ballymena, Lenaghan later admitted murdering Mr Shah on March 21, 2020. He also admitted wounding one fellow resident and threatening to kill another on the same date. Branding the fatal attack on Mr Shah as callous and gratuitous and one where wanton violence was inflicted on the victim, the prosecutor told Judge Smyth that Lenaghan had a relevant criminal record for violent offences in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. A defence barrister said his client suffered from an acute and complex personality disorder which resulted in loss of control. Saying he can't help himself... he is what he is, the barrister said this disorder coupled with Lenaghan's alcohol intoxication that day played a significant role in what occurred. The defence barrister also paid tribute to members of Mr Shah's family who attended Mondays hearing. Several of his loved ones provided statements which spoke of his kind, loving and charitable nature and the void he has left behind. Judge Smyth also acknowledged the family and told them that she required further medical evidence before she would be in a position to impose the Tariff the minimum term Lenaghan will spend in prison before he is considered eligible for release. The Belfast Recorder said this will be imposed at a later date. She was initially charged with murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In January last year, more than one month into her trial, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder A mum-of-three who stabbed a man to death outside her home during a psychotic episode has lost an appeal against the severity of her eight-year prison sentence. Christina Anderson (41) of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, had never met father-of-seven Gareth Kelly (38) when she twice attacked him, stabbing him five times in total, while he tried to start his car outside her home in the early morning of February 25, 2020. She was initially charged with murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In January last year, more than one month into her trial, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The State accepted that Anderson was experiencing a psychotic episode due to bipolar affective disorder but did not qualify for the full defence of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The State also accepted that cannabis intoxication "does not feature" in the offence despite telling the jury during her trial that a central issue was whether Anderson's actions were driven by mental illness or by cannabis intoxication. Her lawyer Michael O'Higgins SC had argued at the three-judge Court of Appeal that the sentencing judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, did not correctly assess the level of his client's moral culpability before calculating the sentence. He said that a previous decision by the Court of Appeal had stated that where diminished responsibility arises as a defence, moral culpability can be "extinguished altogether". In Ms Anderson's case, counsel said "moral culpability is at the lowest possible point". He drew the court's attention to a report written by consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright who said that Ms Anderson was "highly dominated by her mental condition" which the psychiatrist said was "so severe that she was experiencing delusions into which she had no insight." Ms Anderson had a "psychotic moral justification" for her actions because, Dr Wright said, "she delusionally believed" that her life and the lives of her children were in danger and that she could protect them by killing Mr Kelly. Christina Anderson Delivering today's judgment, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said this was a "profoundly sad and tragic case". In the absence of a mental disorder, Ms Justice Kennedy agreed with the trial judge that the headline sentence would have been at the "very top end" for manslaughter at 20 years imprisonment. Ms Justice Kennedy further agreed with the sentencing judge that, having considered the mental disorder, the headline should be reduced to 13 years. Ms Justice Kennedy said the sentencing judge had then considered mitigating factors, including the guilty plea and that Anderson had no previous convictions, was a mother who home-schooled her children and had a good work history. Ms Justice O'Connor therefore reduced the sentence to eleven years and suspended the final three for four years on various conditions. Ms Justice Kennedy said it is difficult to see how a person convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility could be said to have their moral culpability entirely extinguished. She said the trial judge had properly reduced the headline sentence having taken into account that Ms Anderson's mental state was "highly dominated" but not "entirely dominated" by her mental condition. The "substantial reduction" amounted to more than one third of the headline sentence and therefore "properly reflected her mental condition," Justice Kennedy said. The discount for mitigating factors, Justice Kennedy said, was "entirely within the discretion" of the sentencing judge and was not an error in principle. Ms Justice O'Connor took considerable care in coming to the final sentence, the appeal court found. Dismissing all grounds of appeal, Ms Justice Kennedy said the sentence was proportionate. At the earlier hearing, Mr O'Higgins said the evidence of Ms Anderson's family members, friends, neighbours and others who interacted with her in the weeks and months before the killing showed the "slow systemic and utter coming apart of a person's mind". Counsel submitted that a person could not have a more severe mental disorder than that which afflicted Ms Anderson and the "unchallenged evidence was that she had no insight into why those actions were being performed." Paul Greene SC, for the DPP, said this is not a case where moral culpability is extinguished. He said that there was evidence of "ongoing aggravation" from Ms Anderson about people using the parking space where Mr Kelly had left his car overnight and he reminded the court that Ms Anderson, having stabbed Mr Kelly, walked away and then came back and stabbed him again. Mr Greene also submitted that the sentencing judge was entitled to impose a lengthy suspended sentence at the end of Anderson's term in custody where there is no "environment to police a person with a history of mental illness". He said the four-year supervision order is there for the protection of the public. Megan OShaughnessy (32) contacted the gardai the following day after she noticed a dent in her Nissan Micra A postdoctoral researcher who didnt realise she had struck an elderly man as he was crossing the street one January night has been given a three-month suspended sentence. Megan OShaughnessy (32) contacted the gardai the following day after she noticed a dent in her Nissan Micra. She had initially thought she had struck debris while driving home at 9.45pm the previous evening. The court heard that OShaughnessy had a panic attack when she was informed by officers that she had struck a 75-year-old man while he was attempting to cross the road. The man was later treated in hospital for a broken wrist and arm. He didnt prepare a victim impact statement for the case. OShaughnessy, of Turret Road, Palmerstown, Dublin 20 pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing seriously bodily harm on Emmet Road, Dublin 8 on January 27, 2022. She has no previous convictions and the vehicle was insured, taxed and had passed its most recent NCT. O'Shaughnesy's phone and the vehicle were taken and analysed and gardai were satisfied that she was not using her phone at the time of the incident, nor speeding. Her speed was estimated to be in the region of 45km/hr at all times during her journey home that night. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that OShaughnessy had an excellent mitigation, accepting various references before the court which described her as dedicated, hard-working and exemplary. He said the man was crossing the road and OShaughnessy was driving her vehicle in a safe way but she didnt seem to notice him and thought she had impacted something different. She didnt know she had struck the unfortunate victim. He was there and she should have seen him, Judge Nolan said before he added that people make mistakes all the time driving. He sentenced OShaughnessy to three months in prison which he suspended in full on strict conditions. Megan OShaughnessy When asked by Judge Nolan, why OShaughnessy had not seen the man while he was crossing the road, James Dwyer SC defending replied, because she was driving without due care and attention. He emphasized that his client has pleaded guilty to careless driving and told the court that she doesnt have any penalty points. He said she now avoids driving since the accident. Mr Dwyer said his client has a PhD and is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher in Trinity College, specialising in lung disease. He said she had wanted to communicate to the victim by a letter but was advised by the gardai that this may not be appropriate, although the gardai did inform the victims family that OShaughnessy had wanted to express her remorse. Counsel said his client had a stellar academic career and submitted that her guilty plea and co-operation with gardai was of great assistance to the investigation. Emmet Nolan BL prosecuting told the court that one woman later told gardai that she had been driving that night on Emmet Road and had spotted an elderly man with a crutch attempting to cross the road. She said she stopped her car and gestured for him to cross, when she noticed a vehicle on the opposite of the road. She said she flashed her lights to indicate to the driver that a pedestrian was crossing but the car hit the man and failed to stop. Emergency services were called and they arrived at the scene the victim was lying on his back, opposite a bus stop, close to the kerb. He was taken to hospital and received treatment over the course of four days. The man was discharged but re-admitted to hospital the following month due to sustained pain and a delusional episode. He remained in hospital then for four weeks. OShaughnessy gave a prepared voluntary statement to gardai in March 2022 stating that she knew she had hit something that night but she didnt realise it was a person. Mr Nolan confirmed that there is no evidence to contradict OShaughnessys claim that she had not realised she had hit someone that night. The court heard that gardai spoke with the victim six months ago and although he is still confused at times, he is doing well. Among the items stolen was an Xbox, six bottles of wine and a Marshall speaker. A fisherman who broke into a coastal home while his boat was being repaired at a nearby pier and stole an Xbox has appeared in court. Lauris Gomanis appeared before Judge Eiteain Cunningham at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal. The court heard that the 40-year-old was a crew member on board the fishing trawler, Michelle Na Mara which was docked at Rathmullan Pier after it developed engine trouble. On Saturday last, February 10th, a house at Kerr's Bay in Rathmullan was broken into through an unlocked front door while the occupants were still in the house. Among the items stolen was an Xbox, six bottles of wine and a Marshall speaker. Investigating Gardai carried out a number of lines of enquiry. As part of their investigation they trawled CCTV footage and traced the culprit back to the fishing boat docked at the pier. The captain of the boat invited Gardai onto the vessel which is registered at The Dock, Belmullet, Co Mayo and a search was conducted. The Xbox and two controllers were recovered on board the boat and Latvian national, Lauris Gomanis was arrested under the Criminal Justice Act and taken to Milford Garda Station for questioning. He was charged that on February 10th at Kerr's Bay, Rathmullan he entered a building known as Kerr's Bay, Rathmullan as a trespasser and did commit an arrestable offence to wit Section 4 Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001 therein. Garda David Ryan said the accused made no reply when cautioned. Solicitor for the accused, Mr Rory O'Brien explained how his client had been given time off after the boat had developed engine trouble. Judge Cunningham interjected and said "And this is how he spent his time off? This is very serious." Mr O'Brien responded by explaining that his client had been drunk during the incident and didn't have much recollection of the incident at all. He added that Gomanis has no previous convictions and that he was "hugely embarrassed" by what had happened. He has a wife and a son back in Latvia and added that he is not a man that he fears will "come before the courts again." Having taken time to consider her sentence, Judge Cunningham again described the incident as "a serious offence." She said she had considered ordering a Probation Report but that the accused probably wishes to return to Latvia and that such a report will take some time. She said he was imposing a custodial sentence but would take into account the mitigating factors including that the accused has no previous convictions. She sentenced Gomanis to four months in prison but suspended the sentence for 18 months on the Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. She also struck other related charges out. Charles Magill was arrested in May 2022 after the cocaine haul was recovered A 60-year old man has been remanded on bail for sentence after he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after 1.4million worth of the drug was seized in Limerick. Charles Magill, Knockainey, Hospital, Co Limerick, was arrested in May 2022 after the cocaine haul was recovered by Gardai in a series of planned searches of locations in Limerick and Clare. The cocaine was discovered by gardai during a series of planned searches at locations in Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, and at Knockainey and Lisnagry in Co Limerick. The planned operation was part of Operation Coronation in conjunction with Operation Tara, which are targeting the activities of drug dealing in Limerick and elsewhere in the State. Judge Tom ODonnell remanded Magill on continuing bail for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on April 11th. Vincent Collopy, (44), of St Itas Street, St Marys Park, Limerick, was charged with impeding or obstructing Garda Ryan Hill in his duty arising out of the same investigation on the same day in May 2022. A previous sitting of Limerick District Court heard that as Gardai approached a Toyota Avensis car in which Collopy was traveling in, he threw a package containing cocaine to the value of approximately 10,500 from the front passenger seat. In January last year, Collopy pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply, and he was sentenced to six years in jail with the final 18 months suspended. The court took into consideration the offences of impeding Garda Hill, and it accepted a nolle prosequi or dismissal entered by the state on a charge of simple possession of cocaine against Collopy. In 2006, Collopy was jailed for five years with the final 12 months suspended after he pleaded guilty to possession cocaine for sale or supply. In 2016, Collopy was jailed for five years with the final two years suspended after he pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness in a prosecution against his brothers Damien Collopy and Kieran Collopy - who were each jailed after they pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the witness, claiming he had owed 5,000 to their other brother Philip Collopy, who accidentally shot himself and died in 2009. On January 1 of each year, a property tax lien is placed on every piece of real and personal property in New Mexico. The lien covers the amount of property tax due in that calendar year and is administered by the office of the assessor in the county in which the property is located. How that amount is determined is both an art and a science. In the case of real property, the question is whether a homeowner or homebuyer can rely on the assessed value to accurately determine the propertys true market value. The answer is probably not. The reasons behind that observation are numerous and an interesting topic of discussion. Unpacking those reasons begins with the assessment process itself. Lets say a person purchases a $200,000 home. Within 30-days of closing, the purchaser is required by statute to submit to the county assessor a Residential Real Property Transfer Declaration Affidavit disclosing the amount paid, the terms of the purchase and what personal property, if any, was included in the sale. The assessors appraiser assigned to the area in which the property is located, of which there are twenty in our 3,814 square mile county, then compares that information with information provided by other recent purchasers in the assigned area. The appraiser then determines if the sales price conforms to other sales prices for like-kind properties and assesses the value accordingly. Gary Sandler Lets also say that our purchaser got one heck of a deal and paid $200,000 for a property worth $300,000. Theres a good chance the sales price would not comport with the sales price affidavits of other nearby like-kind properties, most likely resulting in an appraised value closer to the actual market value. Now lets say that the value of our $200,000 property doubles by the time the next January 1 comes along. Will the property be reassessed at $400,000? Thanks to another provision in the New Mexico Property Tax Code, the answer is no. The provision in question places a three-percent cap on the amount the assessed value of a residential property may rise each year. In this scenario, the following years assessed value could not exceed $206,000. Should the value double again in the following year, the assessed value could not exceed $212,180. Story continues While the three-percent rule protected homeowners from increases in their property tax bills as home values continued to rise, it set up a situation that shocked future homebuyers. For example, the buyer of our $400,000 home carrying the old, assessed value of $206,000 and an annual property tax bill of, say, $2,100, would be shocked to learn that their tax bill more than doubled in the year following the purchase when the property was reassessed at or near their purchase price. The phenomenon was referred to as Tax Lightning. While nothing could be done about the reassessment, the New Mexico legislature enacted legislation requiring that homebuyers, before writing an offer to purchase, receive an estimate of the higher property tax amount that will be levied after reassessment. Now, rather than suffering the shock oftax lightning, they only suffer from tax frightening. Well, there you have it. Relying on an assessed value to determine market value is probably not a good idea. See you at closing. Gary Sandler is a full-time Realtor and owner of Gary Sandler Inc., Realtors in Las Cruces. He loves to answer questions and can be reached at (575) 642-2292 or Gary@GarySandler.com This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: How accurate is the assessed value of your home? Judge Gabbett said that the man signed off one letter to the dog Woof, Woof, Woof. A man who breached a Safety Order obtained by his ex-wife when addressing post to the couples dog at the womans home after their break-up has escaped a jail term. This follows Judge Alec Gabbett at the district court in Clare imposing a suspended two month prison term and a fine of 200 on the man for breaching the Safety Order. Judge Gabbett said that the man signed off one letter to the dog Woof, Woof, Woof. The letter was one of a number of communications sent in the post to the dog in May and June 2022 that also included a copy of the Irish Constitution and a bag of dog food that prompted gardai to arrest the man for the breach of the Safety Order in July 2022 after the woman lodged a complaint. After imposing sentence, the man asked Judge Gabbett do I have a criminal record? and Judge Gabbett told him: You do have a criminal record as of today. The man, representing himself, said that he would appeal the penalties to the High Court or the Supreme Court. Judge Gabbett said that he would be appealing to the Circuit Court first. Judge Gabbett said that he imposed the suspended prison term as "a deterrent" and if there were further breaches, it was open to the court to activate the prison term. The man told Judge Gabbett: I never intend to see that woman again. Judge Gabbett said: "That would be a result in my view. Judge Gabbett found the man guilty of the Safety Order breaches at a court hearing last November and adjourned the case for a Probation Report to be carried out on the man, who has no previous convictions. However, reading a letter from the Probation Services, Judge Gabbett said that the service was unable to complete a report on the man as he became aggressive towards the Probation Officer who terminated their interview meeting last month. Judge Gabbett said that the Probation Officer pressed the panic button and a garda came. In response, the man told Judge Gabbett that it was a fire alarm and not a panic button. At the end of the contested hearing last November, Judge Gabbett, finding that the communications with the dog were a breach of the Safety Order, commented: "I am not at all satisfied that those letters should have been sent." He said: "The constitution and letters to the dog? I just dont think that they are appropriate." The three year Safety Order granted to the woman in April 2022 stipulated that there would be no communication from the man to the woman. The man told Judge Gabbett that he didnt believe that he was breaching the Safety Order as the post was addressed to the dog. Judge Gabbett asked the man that given that the dog couldnt have read the letter addressed to him and it was his ex-wife that was going to read the letter, would he not have thought sending the letter was intimidatory with the history that was there between the estranged couple. The man said: No." He added: "I really think that this is a female issue. It is a gender issue in my opinion." He said that he sent the dog a bag of dog food and she goes berserk. He said: "Where is the rationale in that? If I was sending her a knife or something The man said that after gardai arrested him following the letters addressed to the dog, I havent sent any food to him since. He said: I wasn't doing it out of malice. When gardai called to the scene, she screamed rats and c**ts at them A mother of three who threatened to beat up gardai during a series of public order episodes has been jailed by a judge who said she richly deserves prison. Geraldine Ward (37) also broke a window at her mothers house, then called the investigating garda an ugly b*****rd and made insulting comments about his Mrs, a court heard. Judge David McHugh said Ward, who had 80 previous convictions, had run out of road and sentenced her to two months in prison. Ward, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, admitted charges of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, criminal damage, theft and public intoxication. Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court the accused was seen smashing a window at her home address on May 18, 2022. When gardai called to the scene, she screamed rats and c**ts at them, telling one officer: Your Mrs is getting lashed out of it cause youre an ugly b*****d. She appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant and was arrested. The cost of the damage was 100. On June 6 last year, she threatened gardai that she would beat them up when they told her to stop shouting and roaring while she was highly intoxicated at Harelawn Park, Clondalkin. Her abusive behaviour continued despite directions to move on and she was then arrested. Ward was again highly abusive to gardai when they investigated a theft at a Texaco garage on the N4 in Lucan on August 30 last year. She had stolen 20 worth of goods and was in an agitated state when gardai confronted her in the forecourt. Ward had 80 previous convictions, 23 of which were for public order offences. The accused was a very vulnerable young lady who had overcome a hard drug addiction to heroin and cocaine but was now abusing alcohol, her solicitor Lorraine Stephens said. Ward was somebody who absolutely should not consume alcohol. She was ashamed that some of the incidents happened in the vicinity of her mothers house. Ward had had a job but relapsed into alcohol use and matters quickly escalated, Ms Stephens said. When in recovery, the accused did well and was very easy to deal with. She was currently on a waiting list for a place in treatment. This lady has well and truly run out of road, Judge McHugh said. I have no hesitation in imposing a sentence, she has reached the end of the line. The court heard gardai from the divisional drug unit were on patrol at Aston Quay when they stopped and searched the accused. A young woman caught with 800 worth of cocaine and cannabis in Dublin city centre had been holding the drugs while under duress from a partner who was a dealer, a court heard. Victoria Muzyka (22) had come under the influence of this man when gardai found her with the drugs, her defence said. Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for a probation report. Muzyka, with an address at Peters Place, Dublin 2 pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply on January 20 last year. The court heard gardai from the divisional drug unit were on patrol at Aston Quay when they stopped and searched the accused. She had cannabis herb worth 600 and cocaine valued at 200 on her and was arrested and charged. No admissions were made at the time, the court heard. Muzyka had no previous convictions. Judge Smyth asked why the accused had been searched and a garda sergeant said the location was an area known for drug dealing. The company she was keeping, might also have been a factor, her lawyer said. Muzykas partner at the time had been a drug user and seller and she was holding the drugs for this person while he was going about his business, the solicitor said. She had been under duress and under his influence at the time. She had since separated from this man. Judge Smyth remanded Muzyka on continuing bail to a date in May, for a probation report to be prepared before the case is finalised. avid Archer (60) had been on the run for almost two weeks after escaping when detectives attempted to arrest him at a premises on Baggot Street The sex trafficker turned handyman, on the run in Ireland A notorious sex trafficker and former brothel boss has been arrested by gardai for a series of offences under the Sex Offenders Act, and for failing to appear in court. David Archer (60) had been on the run for almost two weeks after escaping when detectives attempted to arrest him at a premises on Baggot Street. He had been operating a handyman service from the address for several months under the false name Jeff Both despite being wanted on foot of a district court arrest warrant. On July 28 he failed to appear on a charge of breaching the Sex Offenders register. During the garda raid on January 31, Archer left all his belongings behind including phones and wallet but still had his passport leading to fears that he may have left the country. However the Sunday World understands that officers from Pearse Street station arrested the pimp at a hotel in south central Dublin this morning. He was taken into custody by officers attached to the Divisional Protective Services Unit and is expected to appear before the Dublin district court later today. Archer was apprehended on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the district court last July when he failed to appear on a charge of not notifying gardai of his presence or address in the State. David Archer The Sunday World first revealed that the sex trafficker moved to Dublin in February of last year after serving just six years of a 13-year prison sentence in the UK. He had been convicted of operating a multi-million euro vice ring in which vulnerable had been forced to work as prostitutes in Archers chain of five London brothels. Archer was also convicted for the sexual assault of a number of the women who were lured from Eastern Europe and Brazil with the promise of work and money. Gardai first arrested him on June 9 and brought him before the Dublin district court for failing to notify gardai of his presence since arriving in Ireland on February 1, 2023. The Sunday World understands that Archer is also facing a charge for failing to appear in court on July 28. He is now also facing three fresh charges contrary to the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 as amended by Section 13 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 and amended by Section 10 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2023. Two of the charges relate to his failure to notify gardai of two changes of address in the city last year - between June 23 and July 1 and November 13 and November 17. The third offence accuses Archer of failing to notify gardai of his change of name to Jeff Both. As the most romantic day of the year approaches, gardai revealed details of the scale of romance fraud Gardai have shared stories of people who fell victims to romance scammers who they warned will steal your heart and then swindle your money ahead of St Valentines Day. As the most romantic day of the year approaches, gardai revealed details of the scale of romance fraud that has resulted in more than 7 million being stolen from victims over the past five years. The majority of the 245 victims who have come forward since 2020, were female and their average financial loss was 28,500. The highest reported loss by a female in Ireland was over 450,000 stolen in 18 transactions, while one male victim had more than 380,000 taken. In just one case recorded last year, a man in his 50s from the east of the country had connected with a female on a dating site who was supposedly living in Asia. After communicating over the phone, they subsequently agreed to pursue a relationship and began making arrangements for her to travel to Ireland. He initially transferred the cost to cover a Visa, long-haul flight and transfers to the value of 2,100. In total, however, the victim transferred over 36,000 as part of the romance scam. In another case form last year, woman in her 30s living in the southern region was tricked into handing over 20,000 by who she thought was an online trader she had matched on a dating app. He added his victim to a messaging app where they spoke for several weeks, and subsequently convinced her to transfer the money via an online bank. Another woman in her 40s from the Eastern region, was added on Facebook by a male who claimed to be a doctor based in a worn-torn country. After speaking for a number of weeks, the victim was asked for a significant sum of money in order to be able to return home. In total, 26,300 was stolen from this woman. And another woman in 40s from the same are region had spoken for months with a man having exchanged photos after meeting on an online dating site. Soon they were a couple despite her being based in the south-west of Ireland and he living overseas, gardai said. During the course of their online relationship, he claimed that his construction business was failing and he required financial support. In the course of 100 transactions, 35,000 was stolen from this victim. As a result, this Valentines Day, gardai say they are advising the public to beware of romance scams and criminals who are taking advantage of an increase in the popularity of dating apps among those seeking romance. Typically, fraudsters use someone elses photos to set up a fake profile on dating apps and online dating sites to scour through profiles to identify potential victims who they will then target and groom over a sustained period in an effort to extract their money, gardai revealed. Their profile usually depicts a person that has a responsible job but is most often fictitiously based in a location which makes them unable to travel or move freely, and has poor phone network or internet connection i.e. working on an offshore oil rig, an aid worker, a humanitarian doctor or a soldier in a worn-torn country. Theyll match or connect on the dating app and quickly encourage their victim to move to a messaging app or email. Theyll say all the right things because they follow prepared scripts. Gardai say their background may seem legit and they will usually claim to have been married and now widowed or divorced, have grown up children and be seeking a platonic relationship, but that is all part of the ploy. The requests for money can start small and in some instances will even be repaid if asked by the lender to build trust. But the fraudster who will have more than one victim at any given time, will demand further increased mounts and before a victim necessarily realises it, theyre being pressured to pay anything from essential medical bills and custom duties, to purchasing flights and Visas. Sometime the fraud can take the shape of an investment pitch with victims encouraged to invest on the basis that they will make a quick profit. But when the victim starts asking questions the fraudster will cut contact and block them. Once reported, the investigation into these crimes will usually indicate that the victims money has been transferred to a bank account, Crypto account or what is known as a Cold Storage Wallet or a Cold Wallet outside of Ireland. Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said a victim will be made believe that they have met their perfect match online, but are in fact being terribly deceived. It becomes a huge invasion of privacy and a breach of trust which can impact your whole view of people and the possibility of romance, but its important to remember that this fraud and it is a crime, Det Super Cryan said. "It is often the case that a victims money is transferred overseas to fund organised criminal activities such as terrorism, human trafficking, people smuggling and even corruption. An Garda Siochana work closely with both Europol and Interpol to disrupt those involved in fraud of this nature as part of our investigations into romance scams. Gardai have urged people who have previously been or believe that have fallen victim of a romance scam to speak with them at any Garda station. This can very easily happen and no one should feel embarrassed, we are here to help and will treat every report in confidence, gardai added. Martin Foley escapes with a suspended sentence over his role in incident where tenant was threatened A man who engaged the help of Martin Foley s Viper Debt Collections to collect 4,000 in rent arrears from a tenant said: Id never have used them in a million years if I known of his criminal background. Speaking after Foley received a 12 month ban from entering Wexford town over his role in an incident during which the tenant was threatened his throat would be slit, the man said he and his former partner, Ludmila, would never have condoned threats of any kind. The man said Ludmila, who is Latvian and owned the house, had initially sought quotes to recover a debt from a number of different debt collection agencies. The court heard how she claimed she was owed 4,000 by her tenant. Martin The Viper Foley leaving court as hes approached by the Sunday World However, she chose Viper Debt Collection as they proposed a charge of 20 per cent of the debt rather than a daily rate. Ludmila was struggling to pay a mortgage on the place, he said. She had tried sending the tenant Nigel Doolin registered letters and they were coming back undelivered. And when she went to the PRTB they told her it could take up to three years to get sorted because it was during Covid. In another three years, she would have lost the house. The man said when Ludmila initially contacted Viper Debt Collections, she was put in contact with Alan Nulty. He rang back later, he said. He wanted to know the quantity of the debt. Foleys Viper Debt Recovery vehicle It was 4,000 and it was going up. Two or three weeks later, I rang to get an update and he told me they had left a business card through the letter-box asking the tenant to contact them. I said Id meet them the next time they were down. So I was here in the estate the night this all happened, when they called up. The man said he was sitting in his car with his brother in law when the Viper recovery van arrived and that he walked up the steps to the front door behind Nulty and Foley. In fairness, he said, things did start to get a little bit heated. Alan Nulty asked if he had gotten the card. Nigel said he did and then Alan asked him why he didnt ring back. Nigel said it was because it was being dealt with through the tenancy board. I never heard Alan Nulty threaten to slit Nigels throat or smash his head in or anything like that. Because, at one stage, the man who I now know to be Martin Foley turned, and he said: Look it, the man may be intimidated so well leave Alan to talk to him on his own. Martin Foley So I was led away from the door while Alan Nulty made the threats. Unknown to Foley and Nulty, the tenant was making an audio recording of everything that was being said while a neighbour had already alerted gardai about a commotion in the estate. The recording also captured a conversation between the landlords partner and Foley in relation to the door of the house being put in. The two lads [Nulty and Foley] were actually on their way out of the estate when the gardai drove in, the man said. They voluntarily turned around because they guessed the guards had been called over what was happening. Two female gardai pulled in outside and one of them said to me, while she was getting my details: Is that the Viper? Is that Martin Foley? I didnt have a clue who he was until then. Asked whether he would have engaged with Viper Debt Collection if he had known of Foleys past, the landlords former partner responded: Not in a million years. Knowing now, what we know, absolutely not. We would never condone threats like that being made. Alan Nulty At Foleys sentencing sitting at Wexford Circuit Court this week, barrister Sinead Gleeson said the only charge before the court against Foley, arising from the incident, was a Section 6 public order offence. A charge alleging Foley had made a threat to kill tenant Nigel Doolin at Holly Walk, Cromwellsfort Grove, Wexford on June 17, 2020 was dropped previously. Foleys co-accused Alan Nulty had already pleaded guilty and been sentenced for threatening tenant Mr Doolin he would have his throat slit while he walked his dog and another that he would get someone to smash your head with a hammer if he didnt come up with the cash. Nulty dodged a jail sentence for the offences, which carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, after the court heard he had no intention of carrying out the threats. At Wednesdays sitting, defence barrister Katherine Leader said recordings, made by Mr Doolin showed her client had walked away before the threats were made. She said he could be heard on the tape, prior to the threats being made, saying: Im annoyed Im going to walk away! Ms Leader said that although the court had heard that Foley has 62 previous offences, 41 were for driving matters, and his most recent conviction for threatening and abusive behaviour occurred 21 years ago. She said her client regrets and apologises for the disturbance caused. Martin The Viper Foley leaving court as hes approached by the Sunday World Noting that Foley had co-operated with gardai, made admissions and offered a plea, Judge James McCourt said the appropriate sentence was three months in prison. But he suspended the sentence in its entirety subject to a number of conditions. He ordered that Foley not enter Wexford town or its environs for a period of a year, that he have no further contact with the victim, that he pay the sum of 500 to the Cornmarket Project in Wexford town and that he enter a bond of 2000 to keep the peace. Nicknamed The Viper, Martin Foley has 62 convictions for offences including assault, robbery and possession of threatening weapons. The vast majority of his convictions are road traffic related. In 2020, he was ordered to pay 738,449 in tax, interest and penalties after losing a Supreme Court appeal against a Criminal Assets Bureau tax bill Approached as he left court on Wednesday, Martin Foley declined to comment on the outcome of the case. The actor said she totally agreed with surveys that named the Irish accent the sexiest of all. Dakota Johnson has admitted that Paul Mescals Irish language skills left her breathless on the set of The Lost Daughter. The pair starred alongside Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley in the Netflix thriller based on Elena Ferrantes novel of the same name back in 2021. Speaking to Geek Ireland as she prepares to make her Marvel debut in the superhero blockbuster Madam Web, the actor said she totally agreed with surveys that named the Irish accent the sexiest of all. She said that BAFTA winner Mescal, who rose to fame in 2020 after starring in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooneys hit novel Normal People, was fond of the cupla focail on set. I worked with Paul Mescal, and he's a really good friend of mine. I saw him speaking Irish and that blew my mind, she said. And while she didn't get any Irish lessons from the Maynooth native, she joked that she might speak as Gaeilge one day. Mescal previously admitted that he was intimidated by the Fifty Shades of Grey icon on the set of his first film. He said that he was tasked with kissing Johnson on his first day of the shoot confessing that he was s****ing myself. He said at the time: "For some reason, the first scene that we had to do was me kissing [Ms Johnson]. I think I'd be okay with it if that happened to me now, but I think kissing anybody on your first day's work, let alone your first f***ing job, let alone it being Dakota Johnson, you're like: Okay, great. The 28-year-old said he was stunned when director Maggie Gyllenhaal asked him to be in the film with A-listers Johnson, Olivia Colman, and fellow Irish star Jessie Buckley. Its pretty special isnt it? Its not a bad place to start, he said. That was definitely one of those big moments in my life. When youre called up and youre like, Maggie Gyllenhaal wants to have you in a film and youre gonna be shooting it in Greece and Jessies gonna be in it, and Olivias gonna be in it, and Dakotas gonna be in it. It definitely kind of feels like a bit of a fake it til you make it kind of a thing. And working with Maggie was a dream, shes an actors dream. She pushes you and pulls you in directions and it never felt like we were arriving into a scene with a kind of finished product in mind. The Virgin Media star's mum Brenda passed away suddenly following a massive heart attack almost two years ago. Karen Koster has opened up about the fright she got when her mum died suddenly almost two years ago. The Virgin Media star's mum Brenda passed away suddenly at her home on May 29, 2022, following a massive heart attack. Speaking to Sile Seoige on her podcast, Ready To Be Real, Karen recalled the day her mum died as she shared her feelings on grief. "She was gone like that, the 42-year-old explained. She wasn't sick, it was a massive heart attack in the end. There was no worry about anything or red flags. I literally talked to her on the Saturday morning. "I remember hearing about Amy Huberman's dad's death and I went, 'Oh my god that's so awful'. And I think I even said to mum about Amy's dad's passing and then that afternoon mum was gone." Karen admitted that she still hasn't come to terms with "the reality" of life without her mum. "It was so bizarre. We had a lovely last chat and then that was that. It's the weirdest feeling. It's still so weird to say that she's gone, the mum-of-two said. "I don't know if that's because of the suddenness. I think that's why your head can't really catch up with the reality because there's no, 'Oh but she lost a lot of weight' or, 'Oh she wasn't looking well', she looked fit as a fiddle." The Ireland AM host was out shopping in Dublin when she received the devastating news. "I kind of replay it. I was in Dundrum Town Centre when my sister rang. That's where I got the call. It's just so desperately sad for anyone who loses someone suddenly like that. It's sad for any circumstance. "But the fright you get, even though the worst has happened, it's still just a fright. "The worst has happened, but you still wake up with that fear. I felt like every cell in my body changed." Karen said that while losing her mum has been brutal, she tries to find the mercy in her death. "Mum was a private person so she wouldn't have liked to be in the hospital, she said. "So as much as it's been so brutal on us, I try and find the mercy in that she was taken so suddenly and not knowing what was around the corner. "So much so that mum wore an emergency bracelet and didn't even have time to press that. "Even in that sense, it makes me feel like it was lights out. My brother-in-law is a doctor, and he was like, 'Karen, she would have closed her eyes'. "People obviously go through far more devastating things but she was the first big loss in my life, so I try and look for those little mercies along the way." Weather Eye with John Maunder The following data sets and comments are from the climate4you.com website developed by Professor Ole Humlum who is a Danish Professor Emeritus of Physical Geography at the University of Oslo, and Adjunct Professor of Physical Geography at the University Centre in Svalbard. The website climate4you.com which he edits endeavours to provide an ongoing climate data website which is updated monthly. It uses data from significant national and global sites such as NASA, WMO, NOAA, UEA, NCDC, IPCC, BoM, SIDA, UAH, NIWA. The objective of the website is to provide information on meteorological and climatological issues of general and specific interest. All temperature diagrams shown below have 1979 as the starting year. This roughly marks the beginning of the recent period of global warming, after termination of the previous period of global cooling from about 1940. In addition, the year 1979 also represents the starting date for the satellite-based global temperature estimates (UAH and RSS). For the three surface air temperature estimates shown (HadCRUT, NCDC and GISS) the reference period differs. HadCRUT refers to the official 'normal WMO period 1961-1990, while NCDC and GISS as reference instead uses 1901-2000 and 1951-1980, respectively, which results in higher positive temperature anomalies. For all three surface air temperature records, but especially NCDC and GISS, administrative changes to anomaly values are quite often introduced, even for observations several years back in time. Some changes may be due to the delayed addition of new station data, while others probably have their origin in a change of technique to calculate average values. It is clearly impossible to evaluate the validity of such administrative changes for the outside user of these records. In addition, the three surface records represent a blend of sea surface data, moving ships or by other means, plus data from land stations of partly unknown quality and unknown degree of representativeness for their region. Many of the land stations have also moved geographically during their existence, and their instrumentation changed. The satellite temperature records also have their problems, but these are generally of a more technical nature and therefore correctable. In addition, the temperature sampling by satellites is more regular and complete on a global basis than that represented by the surface records. It therefore is realistic to recognise that the temperature records are not of equal scientific quality. At the same time the big efforts being put into all five temperature databases should be gratefully acknowledged by all interested in climate science. The following three charts are representative of the several graphs shown in the original website.climate4you. ****************************************************************************** "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. Please Google " Climate Change: A Realistic Perspective" ****************************************************************************** For further information see my new book "Climate Change ... A Realistic Perspective The fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect". Google "Amazon" The names National Park and Waimarino have been pondered multiple times during a century of controversy over the naming of a village and railway station. Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board has considered the names five times since 1926. It is diving into the debate again following a bid by iwi in the central North Island to change the name of National Park village and National Park Railway Station to Waimarino. Previous naming proposals have been rejected by the Geographic Board five times during the hundred-year saga. In November, it opened a three-month public consultation on the latest proposal. The consultation period ends on Thursday. The iwi collective Te Korowai o Wainuiarua said in its bid that Waimarino was the original name of both the station and village. But a Geographic Board report on the proposal, released under the Official Information Act, said early maps and survey plans name Waimarino for the plains, the stream and the land block but not a village. There is warranted confusion both historically and in the proposal material as to what exactly the official name of the village is, the report says. While the Board has made several decisions on the names, no name was gazetted. Most of the decisions were to decline the village proposal at hand (Waimarino) and reconfirm the existing name (National Park). The report says National Park (village) has the current status of unofficial recorded in the New Zealand Gazetteer, being a name not made official by the Board but recorded from documents the Board considered authoritative. It said there is no evidence in the iwi collectives proposal that a pa named Waimarino existed on the site of the contemporary National Park Village. First move re-names station and village In 2016, a report by the Geographic Board secretariat says the Railway Department decided in 1925-1926 to change the name of Waimarino Railway Station to National Park. This change was partly a branding exercise due to the proximity to Tongariro National Park, though also for practical purposes due to misdirected mail and freight. There was ongoing confusion with Waimarino County (the administrative headquarters being in Raetihi to the south), and Waimarino electorate (the administrative headquarters being in Taumarunui to the north-west). The newly formed Honorary Geographic Board was not consulted and did not approve of changing the original Maori name. However, it accepted the change which took place in May 1926. The report says the informal use of National Park for the village itself followed suit. First attempt to bring back 'Waimarino' In 1957, the National Parks Authority wrote to the Geographic Board that it wanted to change the name of the railway station back to Waimarino ironically, because the mail and freight for other national parks was now arriving at National Park. The proposal was shelved due to a lack of local support, the report says. KiwiRail installed dual name signage at the station in August to reflect its historic name. Photo: Moana Ellis. Second attempt The following year, the Federated Mountain Clubs submitted a proposal to change the name of the village back to Waimarino. On February 13 1959, the Geographic Board declined the proposal, saying the name National Park was now well established. Third attempt Once again in 1967-68, the National Parks Authority informed the Geographic Board it wanted to change the names of the railway station and village back to Waimarino, saying further national parks had been established in the country and mail and freight were still being misdirected to National Park. The residents objected. A petition opposing the proposal was signed by every household, and many others in the area, and the proposal was once again declined. National Park remains a recorded name and is not itself official, the report says. A further request In 1969, the Geographic Board also declined a proposal from Taumarunui County to alter Waimarino Township to National Park Township on the basis that National Park was already the existing official name. The report says the proposal may have been made as a result of confusion around cadastral appellations. Cadastral maps record property information such as location and land area, and the Geographic Board says the names are a legal appellation and not a populated place name. References to Waimarino Plains first appeared with exploratory surveys for the route of the North Island Main Trunk in the 1880s, the report says. The Rail Heritage Trust records an opening date of 1908 for Waimarino Railway Station. Fourth attempt In August last year, Tongariro/TaupO Conservation Board co-chair Mike Britton supported an iwi bid for change. The history is an interesting one where the community that grew up around the National Park Station ... came to be identified with the name of the station," says Mike. "Even though the name of the station was changed in 1926, the name of the kainga was not. And whereas identifying a station with New Zealands first national park was appropriate when the rail link was made, this is no longer the case. Megan Dimozantos, president of Federated Mountain Clubs, also signalled the societys support. She says reinstating the name Waimarino would be a long overdue step towards recognising the local iwis ancestral connections to the place. Visit Ruapehu general manager Jo Kennedy says restoration of Waimarino Villages name would be a meaningful step towards acknowledging shared history and fostering unity and understanding among all New Zealanders. Also in August, KiwiRail said it was particularly supportive of the name change proposal. Group Manager Planning and Land Use, Mike Brown, advised it had just installed dual name signage at the railway station to reflect this historic name. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. U.S. presence expands investment opportunities in key asset classes NEW YORK and EDMONTON, AB, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) today announced that it has further expanded its global footprint by opening an office in New York. AIMCo executives celebrate opening of their New York office (CNW Group/Alberta Investment Management Corporation) "Our physical presence in important financial markets like New York greatly enhances how we source, evaluate, and ultimately execute on investments to further diversify our asset mix for the clients we serve," said Evan Siddall, Chief Executive Officer, AIMCo. "We have a significant client mandate to grow our private credit portfolio, and having a team based in Manhattan will also help us accelerate our efforts in this key asset class." AIMCo's New York office brings the firm's total number of global offices to seven, including Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, London, Luxembourg, and Singapore. The office in Singapore was opened in the fall of 2023. The organization's presence in these countries provides access to deeper pools of talent that bring nuanced country- and sector-specific knowledge to secure the best investment opportunities. "Our New York office, in the heart of one of the world's most important financial hubs, will also provide us with the presence and proximity required to both develop and deepen critical relationships with our investment partners," said David Scudellari, Senior Executive Managing Director, Head of International Investment, based in AIMCo's New York office. "These relationships are a critical element of successfully executing on our investment strategy." About AIMCo AIMCo is one of Canada's largest and most diversified institutional investment managers with more than C$164 billion of assets under management. AIMCo invests globally on behalf of pension, endowment, insurance, and government funds in the Province of Alberta. AIMCo manages approximately 30 pools of capital on behalf of these clients. With offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, London, Luxembourg, New York, and Singapore, our more than 200 investment professionals bring deep expertise in a range of sectors, geographies, and industries. For more information on AIMCo please visit www.aimco.ca or follow us on LinkedIn. Story continues Alberta Investment Management Corporation Logo (CNW Group/Alberta Investment Management Corporation) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alberta-investment-management-corporation-opens-office-in-new-york-302060340.html SOURCE Alberta Investment Management Corporation The government was warned a year ago that the 111 emergency call system is so old, slow and fragmented that it is causing deaths and injuries, police documents show. But the Labour government dropped a project last August to replace the system, which is shared between police and Fire and Emergency. The shortcomings of the 25-year-old system have been revealed in papers newly released under the Official Information Act, which show both agencies made the plea that there was an "urgent" and "pressing" need to replace it. In a statement, Police minister Mark Mitchell says: "I have been made aware of the issue, it has become obvious to us as the incoming government the police have not had core functions funded properly and I am working with the police executive on solutions to that." A major flaw in the system is that it can only take phone calls, not text or video. It is also unable to liaise with social media platforms, and has poor integration between apps. In one example, a woman was stabbed to death by a partner who overheard her making a 111 call. "A modern [111] solution could have enabled [the woman] to notify police by a method other than a voice call which [the man] would not have detected." In other examples: A man drowned at a beach in the time it took an ambulance and paramedic to get there after a 111 call to them - when police and Surf Rescue at the same beach were not alerted by the fragmented system. Firefighters were called out by 111 to help a woman tend a man who had collapsed when confronted by a shooter. But the system did not let police who were hunting the shooter know they were there. "The frontline FENZ responders and [the woman] are unaware of the danger they are in," a business case says. These were outlined briefly in an initial business case to replace the old system called Card, accepted by the Cabinet a year ago and endorsed by half a dozen police executives. The police on Tuesday morning told RNZ the system continued to work "despite the current challenges" and they had improved parts of the Computer Aided Dispatch or CAD component, around security and patching. "We acknowledge where manual processes are used there is some risk of human error; we are focussed on improving processes within the confines of our current systems," says deputy commissioner of operational services and road policing, Jevon McSkimming in a statement. The initial business case says restriction to phone-only requests and poor integration between apps and agencies was "risking lives, health and wellbeing." "There is no margin for error in this service: failure to receive a call for help, or to send appropriate help to the right location, can literally be a matter of life and death." There was evidence of an increase in calls "resulting in 'serious incidents' (avoidable death or injury)". "The public may not receive timely help when they need it, and frontline responders could find themselves attending dangerous incidents without pertinent situational information and without adequate support." The system broke down 59 times in the year 2021-22. A fault in mid-2022 could not be found for 20 days, while calltakers deployed work-arounds that put them under "significant" pressure. The system's inability to receive texts, video or social media communications led to poor assessment of how bad an emergency was - "eg finger injury vs severed hand, small fire vs major scrub fire". Mark was told by police in a briefing to the incoming minister in November that police "have critical back-end ICT applications" like the 111 system "that require significant modernisation". The system was increasingly not getting locations right. "It is cumbersome and often inconsistent between agencies ... Mapping information is disparate, unintegrated, and inconsistent." The agencies say they needed to reduce lost or abandoned 111 calls, as the number of 111 calls doubled over the past two decades. Card was "already experiencing failures with some taking extended periods of time to trace and resolve ... Less secure old technologies and a patchwork of disparate systems risks privacy and security breaches and unplanned outages." The risk was not just to 111 callers, but to the officers and other responders. "For example, identifying the right location to deploy resources is the most important piece of information, and it is often inconsistent between agencies due to incompatible solutions and the inability to consume or share multi-source situational awareness information." Unplanned outages due to the complex platform created "risk to the safety and wellbeing of New Zealanders and frontline responders," says the papers. "Planned outages are lengthy and error prone, which affect operations." The last time Card was upgraded in 2018/19, it forced the police's mobile responder app offline for an extended period, even though frontline officers relied on it. Card did not work well across police and FENZ, while the two ambulance services, St John and Wellington Free, were even further removed with a separate callout system. The Communications and Resource Deployment (Card) system is not a computer application. It is a physical system of multiple different items made up of software and hardware (including CAD, radio/voice console, telephony, standard operating procedures, PCs/laptops, screens, radio equipment etc.) that make up a system for the deployment of resources in response to emergency incidents. The papers date to around the time Cyclone Gabrielle was hammering the North Island. "A modern replaced Card solution would significantly enhance the ability of the emergency service agencies to collaborate and coordinate their response to an event such as Cyclone Gabrielle," says a briefing to the Police Minister. Detailed costings spanning 13 years from 2023 to buy and implement a whole new high-tech system across police and fire by 2027, and then the ambulance services by 2029, are laid out in the reports. However, all the costings have been blanked out by police in the OIA response. Ministers approved the initial business case, and ordered a more detailed one. The project made it as far as the 'Significant Investments Track' for the 2023 Budget - but by August had been derailed by "tight fiscal constraints and competing pressures", the previous government told RNZ. But an allied $1.4 billion upgrade of the Public Safety Network is going ahead. This rolls out digital radios, so power cuts and cellphone outages do not cut off responders. A replacement Card system was meant to fit in with this. "The replacement Card solution will leverage the new infrastructure platform the PSN will provide to deliver more effective emergency services." A question from the Prime Minister's office expressed puzzlement as to why the two emergency comms projects were not being done together, but the agencies say they offered separate benefits. They told the lawmakers that if the Card budget bid failed, it would likely scupper any sector-wide solution and expose individual agencies to a lot of financial burden. Police do have a 111 text system for the deaf or hearing-or-speech impaired that must first be registered online. Police did not respond on Monday to RNZ's request to outline in what ways, if any, they have improved Card or reduced the risks of badly handled calls, since these reports came out. Earlier they say they were looking at replacing a part of Card that would talk to the police radio network within the PSN, once it is ready. They also say the agencies and ambulance services were working on ways to share information about incidents where more than one emergency service was required. It is not clear where that has got up to. FENZ takes 350,000 calls a year, and uses Card to despatch crews to 85,000 emergencies; police handle 1.4 million 111 calls a year and 1.8 million '105' calls , a quarter of which are upgraded to an emergency. In the police statement, Jevon says they had business continuity plans to cope during Card outages. The systems were still supported and maintained. But it was "highly customised, and ensuring it's future-proofed and able to properly integrate across other emergency services is important. This is why potential investment remains under active consideration", he says. - RNZ/ Phil Pennington Some schools' enrolment requirements are excessive and it is likely they are denying children access to their local school, says a community law centre for children and young people. The Ministry of Education intervened last month after an Auckland school told a woman who lived within its enrolment zone that she could not enrol her child unless she had a 12-month tenancy agreement. The Ministry says all children in New Zealand had the right to be enrolled in a state school for which they were in-zone, regardless of the length of time on their family's tenancy agreement. YouthLaw general manager Darryn Aitchison tells RNZ the school's rule was unlawful. He says YouthLaw received more enquiries about enrolments at the start of the school year, but few involved situations where schools were actually breaking the law. "We're not getting a lot of schools that are using illegal processes, what they're using are probably overbearing processes in many cases. "So they're requiring things like statutory declarations, quite a lot of evidence, power bills, water bills, phone bills that sort of thing. "They often do require tenancy agreements, but we're not seeing a lot that require them to be for the exact school year," he says. Darryn says the rules around in-zone enrolments were clear. "If a school does run a zone, they must enrol students who live in-zone and while the law doesn't say what exactly that means to live in the school zone, the Ministry of Education says it's simply the usual place of residence. "It doesn't say anything about it having to be a fixed-term tenancy, permanent tenancy, owner-occupier. "Simply if you make that house your usual place of residence, then you can be enrolled." Darryn says schools had a lot of autonomy over their rules and it was difficult for a family to challenge a decision because they did not have many accesible legal avenues. He says it was more than likely children had been denied entry to their local school because their families did not realise they could challenge what the school was telling them. "That would definitely be happening. "That's an issue that sits right across the justice sector. "They don't identify their issues as being legal," he says. "They are not the experts. "They are told certain things by schools, people in authority and they believe it and they don't recognise that there may be a legal remedy available to them." Darryn says some schools' requirements for proof of residence within the school enrolment zone were excessive. "Some of the schools have statements on their stat decs just notifying families that they're committing a crime against the Crimes Act if they make false statements so they're quite heavy-handed some of them. "I think they're unnecessary. "Providing power bills, tenancy agreements, water bills that show the people residing there and the supply going to the property is probably enough. "And it's also quite an effort and quite a burden on families. "It may seem a small burden but you might have to sit in a queue at a local CAB for an hour-and-a-half with other people." -RNZ/ John Gerritsen Dun-uh. Dun-uh. Dun-uh. Sharks are often portrayed as man-eating predators in Hollywood movies such as Jaws, leading to a widespread misconception about their behaviour. Shark Man Riley Elliott says, contrary to the Jaws movie, Great Whites dont eat or hunt people. They arent man-eating machines, says Riley. And beyond that, these animals are incredibly important for the health of the marine ecosystem. He says this is an endangered species with a relatively small population. And because of that theyre protected and we should do everything we can to try and learn more about them and conserve them for their sake and our own. Riley says its understood that Great Whites make a handful of mistakes on a global scale by biting people whether it purposely or as a mistaken identity bite. Each of those creates high trauma and distress for families, friends and also the communities and economies that utilise the water in areas where these happen. The impact on the community is so large because its such a rare thing to happen and yet it involves such a mystical beast that has been given a Jaws reputation making the reaction far out of balance. Its important to register that in general, animals are incredibly smart, cautious and polite predators. He says we very rarely hear of lions, elephants, tigers, crocodiles, or sharks killing people, but it happens. Shark are an essential part of the marine ecosystem. Photo supplied. But when you think of the billions of people that are encroaching on their habitat every day and how much easier we are to catch than their natural prey, its truly incredible that it doesnt happen more often, which proves that these animals dont hunt us. Its all about context - the statistics really reflect that sharks know what they hunt, and if they wanted to hunt people, were pretty easy to catch and it would be happening every single day, but its not. Riley says when you see pictures and videos of sharks you generally see them facing the camera with their mouths open wide and bare teeth. If you put a bait on the end of a rope and you throw it out and the shark comes towards it and then you pull it away, its going to open its mouth and try and catch it. This is where 99 per cent of photos and videos come from because it captures the imagination of an audience. He says in reality, 99 per cent of the time these animals are very calm, cautious and calculated. That is because if they get injured and lose an eye, they cant hunt and they will die. Usually theyre swimming around in the most efficient energy-conservative manner until they see what their natural prey is and then they use their capabilities. Riley says thats why its important to put it into perspective. Hundreds of people drown every year in each country, thousands of people die in car crashes, and yet were not banning swimming or stopping people driving cars. "They are a critical, cautious, calculated piece of the ocean that we need for our survival," says Riley. Photo supplied. Riley says that it is devastating when an attack happens and in some countries, lethal measures have been taken like nets and drum lines. He says these have been proven ineffective in reducing the risk of shark attacks. Its important to understand that there are non-lethal solutions like beach surveillance, drone surveillance, tags and tracking, alerting systems and apps. This is a wild environment. Just because we want to go swim in our Speedos, it doesn't make it any less wild. Were going into a very capable predators world and were looking like a struggling panicking piece of prey, in fact, we dress like them sometimes as surfers. Riley says the most attacked water users in the world by sharks are surfers. When you put it into context that we dress up in the same colour as the prey of these animals like seals, we surf in areas where these seals hang out and where these sharks are hunting them, and we act like a very poorly swimming or injured seal by floating on the surface or splashing around paddling. Therefore if you dress like prey, act like prey and hang out where prey is, you dont have to be a mathematician to realise that a predator might react to that. He says that surfing is such an enjoyable sport that generally most surfers accept that very small risk because of the reward that surfing is so enjoyable. Riley surfing. Photo supplied. At the other end of the spectrum being the everyday punter at the beach going swimming, youre rarely overlapping with where these sharks are hunting and you look very different to their natural prey. Riley says perspective is the key thing in understanding the harm that the sharks can cause. The greater harm relative to sharks is if we start removing them from the ocean. He says in the last 50 years, humans have killed 70 per cent of the worlds large sharks. These animals, for hundreds of years have maintained the health of the ecosystem that provides us with food, tourism opportunities, and business opportunities and even down to the very air we breathe. For example, in South Africa, where great whites have largely vanished from the global hotspot where there is a hundred million dollar shark cage dive industry which employs a lot of people and brings money into communities, and thats gone. Riley explains the ecosystem like its a house of cards all stacked up from the bottom of the food chain to the top where the Great White is. If you take the Great Whites out of the ecosystem the whole house of cards falls and an imbalance is formed on a system that has been established over hundreds of millions of years. The absence of Great Whites around the seal colonies means you get whats called a predator release. He says before, the seals had been cautious because of predators and their numbers were controlled. Without the predators they become cocky and grow in numbers. They are not shy and they will needlessly kill things like endangered penguins, says Riley. Further down the food chain, fish that seals eat are deteriorating in numbers due to the increase of seals. Instead of having the card at the top of the house of cards, which is the great white holding everything balanced, you knock that one off and all the rest start falling. He says animals used for tourism, animals used for fisheries to feed people, and plankton at the bottom, which provide half of the air that we breathe, would all start to fall. The harm is all down to perspective which is blown way out of perspective when it comes to shark attacks, says Riley. The most common shark attacks [or what Riley prefers to call adverse interactions] occur when people are overlapping with fish. He says the most common adverse interactions with sharks occur when people are spearfishing, or swimming where people have discarded fish or put out burley. The biggest rule of thumb to avoid an adverse interaction with a shark is not to overlap with their prey or where people are provisioning their prey. Statistically they [shark attacks] are so rare, its important to understand the large amount of tragedy that a shark attack creates versus everyday car crashes. He says shark attacks are too rare to create statistics based on them, because it is so close to zero. If you look around the room that youre sitting in right now, every single thing around you kills more people per year than sharks. And that spans from a fork to a toilet seat, to your cattle, all the way out to your car. We have come a very long way since the Jaw's generation. Children are not scared of sharks because they were taught through shows like Finding Nemo as opposed to Jaws. Shark attacks are far less frequent compared to other water related incidents. Photo supplied. Children are far more educated than most adults on climate change, fisheries depletion, and unhealthy oceans, and they know that sharks are a key part of that ocean health. So it's really up to the adults to either be educated by their children or find the information on their own, to understand that sharks are not dogs. They are a critical, cautious, calculated piece of the ocean that we need for our survival. Riley says that the Great White Project has been going well this summer. This summer has been very quiet as far as great white sightings. Its interesting and likely related to the shift in climate. We still have very warm water which is generally a drawcard for young great white sharks. If anyone spots a great white, Riley asks that if it is safe to do so, take a photo and send it to him. These sightings are incredibly helpful. If you see a Great White please report it to Riley at: nzsharkman@gmail.com. To report a catching or sighting, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468), or email: sharks@doc.govt.nz. Subscriptions to the Great White app cost $5 to fund the project, says Riley. The app will always be free on the website: www.sustainableoceansociety.co.nz. Creatives have pled the council not to kill Taurangas Historic Village by raising the rent. Around 50 people packed council chambers on Monday armed with signs, art and instruments to throw their support behind the Incubator Creative Hub as part of the Tauranga City Council Long-Term Plan 2024-34 hearings on Monday. Based at the Historic Village the Incubator is gallery, music venue and hub for Taurangas art and culture scene. The council is proposing rent increases at the village as part of the long-term plan (LTP). Incubator chairperson Phil Hayhoe told the commissioners the Incubator was a key community and economic asset. Our community spirit makes a significant, tangible contribution to the fabric of our city. We play a significant role in contributing to community wellbeing. The prosed rent increase would impact all Historic Village tenants, said Hayhoe. We're in a vulnerable position that will potentially impact the ongoing viability of the Incubator Creative Hub. Incubator director Simone Anderson and chairperson Phil Hayhoe. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive. Incubator director Simone Anderson said the proposed operating expense structure for the Historic Village was unrealistic. This commercial thinking puts that vision and future of a vibrant city at real risk. We are grappling with the plan, which will make historic village inaccessible to so many community organisations. These costs are not sympathetic to the funding environment we work in. Twelve creatives that use the Incubator spoke in support. The ukulele group started with the waiata Tutira Mai Nga Iwi and commission chair Anne Tolley joined in as the chambers filled with song. Musician Derek Jacombs said the Jam Factory music venue enriched Tauranga and increased participation for musicians and audiences. For many years Tauranga had a terrible national reputation as a musical wasteland. The Jam Factory is the smaller, affordable venue that this city needed, and it has changed everything. : Incubator supporters sporting signs to back the creative hub's concerns about increased rent. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive. The current reduced rent for the Historic Village shouldnt been seen as a subsidy but as an investment in the musical and cultural wellbeing of the city, said Jacombs. Like everything that's new, every tendril of growth, this is a rare and fragile thing. I would urge you not to kill it, don't tinker with it and please don't endanger something, which is demonstrably making Tauranga a better place. Otumoetai College student Sequoia Trass said she had been going to the Incubator for ten years because her mum worked there. I couldn't have spent those 10 years any better. I consider myself a creative, and through the Incubator I've been able to meet so many like-minded people. It's important to give the community an opportunity to get involved in arts and culture, it connects people, said Trass. The Historic Village was a ghost town prior to the Incubator. The incubator had made it a collaborative environment for people to get involved in. By raising the rent and other necessities to unliveable prices, the public are being stripped of their creative opportunities. Dozens of people packed council chambers to support the Incubator Creative Hub. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive. New Zealand China Friendship Society Tauranga branch President Tina Zhang said they opened a China culture and arts centre at the Historic Village last year. It's not just about sharing and exchanging cultures, it's about building a home away from home for our Chinese community. The Historic Village was not a commercial hub it was a gathering place where connections and cultural dialogues flourished, said Zhang. Tolley responded to the submitters that the 2024-34 LTP could be described as the Tauranga arts, sport and culture standing up and roaring. What you've shown us today and what we'll see in front of us over the next couple of days is that local government is about people, it's about communities. We do have to balance the budget in the end, but what you are saying to us, and we are hearing loudly is the core of any community is people. The LTP hearings continue Tuesday and Wednesday. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Police are seeking the publics assistance in locating Nepia Taonui, who has several warrants for his arrest. "They include weapons and firearms charges and the breaching of his court release conditions," says a police spokesperson. Nepia is believed to be in the Waikato area. Police advise members of the public not to approach Nepia, and to report any sightings or information on his whereabouts to Police via 111, quoting case number 240115/4128. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Tummy bugs, foreign objects and poor food-handling hygiene - the results of bad food safety can quite literally turn the stomach. To avoid this, those serving food in the Bay of Plenty must work to food safety regulations and rules. It is up to local councils to make sure they follow the Food Act. Inspections have only two outcomes - acceptable or unacceptable. Timeframes for inspections vary on the type of business and previous inspections. Corrective action may be needed, and a food safety officer will check, but where several issues are found or unresolved, an unacceptable outcome may be given. A corrective plan is put in place and checked after the given time to complete it is over. When food safety or suitability is threatened, premises can be closed or restricted. Officers have the power to give fines and improvement notices and compliance orders can be issued by a district court to compel business operators to take action. Local Democracy Reporting asked, under an official information request, what local councils found at eateries for the year ending October 17. Whakatane District Council There are 226 registered sites in the Whakatane council's patch, and it visited 149 of them to check compliance with food rules. Forty resulted in an unacceptable outcome. All were since resolved. Reasons came under five categories: Confidence in management; food safety behaviour; process control; environmental control and compliance history. If issues are found, verification of the site is paused until they are corrected. When the site is checked again, officers can issue an improvement notice. If the problems are not fixed after this, a body corporate can be fined up to $300,000 and an individual $50,000. Whakatane District Council found 40 of its 149 verifications were unacceptable. Photo / Laura Smith. Notices can be lifted after corrective changes are made and confirmed. All food safety complaints are investigated and range from foreign objects in food, undercooked food and poor food handling. Eight were investigated and resolved. Rotorua Lakes Council Rotoruas council investigated seven food complaints which covered foreign bodies in food and gastrointestinal complaints. It gave 13 unacceptable outcomes and visited 150 places of a total 503 needing inspection in the area, which varied in frequency. Rotorua Lakes Council shares what food safety officers have investigated. Photo / Felix Desmarais. Most of the unacceptable outcomes for template food control plans were given because of a lack of record-keeping. Others were for unacceptable cleaning and sanitising, storage and stock rotation, and time and temperature control. Each of the 13 businesses was given corrective action requests and needed to show evidence the issue was corrected. No businesses had registrations suspended or cancelled. Tauranga City Council There are 969 food businesses registered with the Tauranga City Council, most needing inspections. Of the 601 verifications undertaken, 31 were assigned an unacceptable outcome. There was a range of food businesses, most of them cafes, restaurants and takeaways serving ready-to-eat food. A lack of good cleaning and sanitising practices was the most common reason for non-compliance or non-conforming results, followed by training of staff. The council followed up on 52 food complaints. Six resulted in referrals to other agencies and 46 in food safety investigations. Of the 46 investigations, 18 complaints were unable to be proven or substantiated. Twenty-eight resulted in enforcement action, which involved education, warning letters, one improvement notice and one voluntary disposal of food. Complaints generally included alleged food poisonings, cleanliness, covering food, dirty toilets or yards, hand washing, allergens, food handling and pests. Twenty-two of the businesses given an unacceptable outcome resolved the issues, three have new operators, two are ongoing and four businesses closed. * This response covered the last financial year and up to October 17, 2023. Kawerau District Council The Kawerau council has 35 places to visit and 21 were investigated over the period requested. Five received an unacceptable outcome. Issues ranged from kitchens needing a deep clean, missing cooking temperature records, no hot water, and incorrect temperatures in coolers. Kawerau District Council staff made 21 food safety inspections. Photo / Mike Scott. In one case, one item in a fridge at one inspection was 27C, another 35C and other items 7C. Of the five, one is still being resolved. Opotiki District Council There were 57 inspections in Opotiki, out of a total 75 requiring them in various timeframes. Nine received an unacceptable outcome. All were resolved. Issues contributing to these included mouse droppings at several premises, as well as similar issues as listed by other councils. One worksite had a child with fish allergens, yet seafood was stored on the fridges top shelf and dripped on to vegetables below. Western Bay of Plenty District Council There are 323 premises needing visits in the Western Bay of Plenty district in different timeframes and its council completed 227. Of these, 37 received unacceptable verification outcomes. Some of these issues were raised due to a lack of documentation and record keeping, managing unsafe and unsuitable food, and cleaning and sanitising. All issues have since been resolved. Officers received and investigated 18 complaints. Most of these were for concerns raised by members of the public about premises hygiene. * This response covered the last financial year and up to October 17, 2023. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Antonio M. Romero Malaga Tuesday, 13 February 2024 | Updated 15/02/2024 11:14h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Mayors of the Costa del Sol have thrown their support behind the Malaga province Partido Popular leader's demand that the Spain's central government should suspend the AP-7 motorway toll charges until the C1 Cercanias (commuter) train line from Malaga is extended to Marbella and Estepona. The councillors of the consulted municipalities, all of them Partido Popular run except Casares, which belongs to the Izquierda Unida (United Left), Malaga provincial authority president Francisco Salado and Mancomunidad de la Costa del Sol president Manuel Cardena, all agreed that the temporary measure would help to improve mobility along the coast. They also urged the government to support the extension of the railway to Estepona and the Campo de Gibraltar. Partido Popular leader in Malaga province, Patricia Navarro, demanded the action last Thursday evening, when during a TV interview co-produced by SUR, Navarro slammed Spain's secretary of state for transport, Jose Antonio Santano, for saying he does not have the necessary information to implement the line in the short term. "The A-7 motorway has been too small for years to absorb the high level of urban and interurban traffic. If urgent measures are not taken with immediate effect, such as suspending the motorway toll, which is also the most expensive in Spain, the growth of the Costa del Sol will be severely hampered," Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz said. Estepona mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano said: "it is necessary to adopt measures that provide a solution to mobility in such a dynamic area of the country as the Costa del Sol and the metropolitan area of Malaga". Short, medium and long-term solutions Salado said "the mobility problems along the Costa del Sol require short, medium and long term actions" and that it would be a "very serious" irresponsibility to not invest in a powerful railway transport system along the coast of Malaga, which should include Axarquia and a connection to Gibraltar. "In the meantime, these investments must happen, because neither in Madrid, nor in Barcelona, nor in Valencia nor in the Basque Country are transport infrastructures called into question when they are necessary, the toll on the Costa del Sol motorway must be released, subsidised or suspended," he said. "It is the only alternative in the short term to avoid the traffic jams that are becoming more frequent and that affect and harm thousands of workers, students, families and businesses every day," Salado added. Torremolinos mayor Margarita del Cid also supported the move, saying that the suspension of tolls would be temporary compensation while other urgent needs are addressed. A 'reasonable' proposal Mijas mayor Ana Mula said the suspension of the toll is "reasonable" and would be "a good solution to speed up traffic" in the area, whilst also defending the government's "definitive commitment" to the extension of the local train route. Mula's counterpart in Benalmadena, Juan Antonio Lara, supported the request of the PP president, while Manilva mayor Jose Manuel Fernandez said that while the extension of the train to the western part of the province is coming, it is "positive an alternative proposal such as the release of the AP-7 to connect this part of the Costa del Sol with Malaga city and even with the easternmost coast". Casares mayor Juan Luis Villalon said his party, Izquierda Unida, has been calling for years for the suspension of the tolls on the motorway as the current route "does not meet the minimum requirements for this type of road". Matias Stuber Malaga Tuesday, 13 February 2024, 11:56 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Another huge tractor rally protest will take place in Malaga on 21 February as disgruntled farmers continue their demonstrations against strict agricultural EU policies. It comes as organisations calling for the protests - Asaja, Coag, UPA and Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias - faced the media for the first time on Monday 12 February since demonstrations began last week. The protest on 21 February is expected to be a large-scale event, while more demonstrations are planned tomorrow (14 February) which will see successive roadblocks on different main roads in Malaga province starting at 10am. The affected routes will be: A-45 Km 86 at San Benito, A-92 Km 149 at El Faro, A-92M Km 7 at Paneque and A-384 at the Almargen junction. The press conference held on Monday by the main agricultural associations in Malaga province. Salvador Salas Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias manager Carlos Cinta said the protests are aiming to do "as little damage as possible" to the public. "The situation in the countryside is very bad. We have more and more bureaucracy. We are forced to be a manager, a tax officer and an accountant," he said. Secretary general of Coag, Antonio Rodriguez, appealed to politicians and the general public. "This is not just a problem for farmers, it is a problem for the whole population. Who eats if we don't produce food?" he warned. The example of the lemon growers in the Guadalhorce Valley was referenced. "What sense does it make that we are eating lemons that come from South Africa and the ones from here are rotting on the ground," Rodriguez added. Asaja president Baldomero Bellido pointed out that agricultural policies designed in Brussels have become "a big obstacle". He said they are "a danger to our way of living and producing food in the villages" and that they could not be further removed from the real needs of the rural world. Transport protests The so-called Plafatorma6F, a group which wants to take the lead in the protests in the countryside, now also wants to include the transport sector in the protests. This Saturday, in Madrid, a strike by the transport sector workers was approved. It comes as disgruntled hauliers staged their own protest on the outskirts of Malaga city on Sunday night (11 February) lighting a bonfire barricade outside Mercamalaga, a huge wholesale market, one of the largest in Andalucia. Related news Demonstration Bonfire barricade cuts off road access to major wholesale market on outskirts of Malaga Ignacio Lillo / Chus Heredia However, the Malaga agricultural associations wanted to distance themselves from this attempt to combine both causes. Antonio Rodriguez from COAG was clear about this: "I respect any problems that the transport sector may have. But I think that we farmers have enough problems and our need to be treated separately. By putting everything in the same bag we run the risk of our demands being diluted in any possible negotiations." Javier Almellones Malaga Tuesday, 13 February 2024, 15:52 | Updated 16:21h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Battlefields with flour or talcum powder as weapons of choice and scenes of burning dolls in bonfires are just a few of the many traditions that form part of the carnival festivities taking place in towns and cities across Malaga province. 1 11 and 12 February Powder Day and the 'Bailes de la Guasa' Powder Day in Tolox. Diputacion de Malaga It is one of the oldest and most unique traditions celebrated during the carnival festivities in Malaga province. Those who have gone to Tolox this Monday and Tuesday, Powder Day, are likely to have left completely covered in talcum powder. On Monday at midnight, locals threw powder at whoever crossed their path. This odd way of celebrating carnival is thought to have its roots at a time when bachelors would find a way to cover their sweethearts with flour as a declaration of their love. Some stories recount these young men going to great lengths to achieve their goal, such as coming down chimneys or breaking through windows. Another version, thought to be from the 15th century, alludes to a morisco woman (after the Spanish Reconquest) and a Christian woman, who were in love with the same man. Both worked in a bakery in Tolox, and one day, they started quarrelling, with their feud intensifying to the extent that they ended up hurling flour at one another. This is not, however, the only strange tradition that takes place at the carnival in Tolox, as there is also the so-called 'Bailes de la Guasa' (literally, the 'dance of jokes'), during which people dance around, singing satirical songs. 2 23-25 February Flour Carnival in Alozaina Flour Carnival in Alozaina. Diputacion de Malaga If in Tolox they use talcum powder to turn passers-by completely white on the Monday and Tuesday of the festivities, in Alozaina they do it with flour on the Friday, in what is known as the Flour Carnival. The event is thought to have originated in the 19th century, and currently manifests itself as a battlefield on which locals and visitors cover each other with flour. This year, the festival will take place on Friday 23 February from around 2pm. Other unique moments from the festivities of the 'pecheros' - a nickname for the residents of Alozaina - is when people perform 'el baile de la rueda' (literally, 'the circle dance'), and, to top it all off, the "Burial of the Sardine," which marks the end of the carnival season and consists of a sardine being carried around the streets on a special float. 3 17 February Burning of the Doll in Ronda Burning of the Doll in Ronda. Ronda Town Hall While other places in Malaga province mark the end of the carnival season with the Burial of the Sardine, the tradition in the town of Ronda is the Burning of the Doll. The event may evoke the burning of the 'juas' (similar to the 'guys' on 5 November in the UK) celebrating the summer solstice, or the Burning of Judas on Easter Sunday in the village of El Burgo. The tradition in Ronda, which is common in other parts of Spain (although some aspects may vary), consists of creating huge dolls, only to proceed to burn them. Spectators can also throw into the bonfire pieces of paper with their written wishes for their new year, in the hopes that they come true. The tradition has its roots in Portugal, where it is customary to burn an oversized straw doll, in order to bring winter festivities to a close in the run-up to Lent. This year, the Burning of the Doll in Ronda will take place at midnight on Saturday 17 February in Plaza de Teniente Arce. Earlier, at midday, there will be culinary events with chorizo and paella. On Sunday 18 February, both locals and visitors will taste 'callos' a typical stew. 4 Carnival sausage in the Sierra Norte of Malaga Anca Manolin's Carnival sausage in Cuevas de San Marcos. Malaga province has so many culinary traditions related to its carnival celebrations, such as paella, chorizo, and callos. However, the so-called 'relleno de carnaval', a type of sausage, remains an important part of the culinary heritage of most villages in the Sierra Norte district, as well as in other parts of Andalucia. In fact, prior to the carnival festivities, the village of Villanueva de Algaidas holds an annual tasting event, which this year took place last Sunday, and featured plates of this sausage, which can be found almost all year round in butcher's all over the region. 5 18 February 'Juego del Cantaro' in Archidona A traditional game involving pottery jugs in Archidona Archidona Town Hall The Carnival of Archidona is one of the most important in Malaga province. People of all ages join in the festivities, which last for over a week, the most unique of which take place on the very last day. On Sunday 18 February, the last day of the carnival, people will take part in a traditional game involving pottery jugs, known as the 'Juego del Cantaro', by which locals remember a time where many Spanish towns had no running water. People needed to go the nearest fountain to fill up their jugs and other containers with water. In this way, participants pay tribute to this time with a game played mostly by women, who were then in charge of carrying the water. Players must put their skill and strength to the test by tossing clay jugs to each other, with the winner being the one who finishes without dropping one. Like in previous years, the event will take place at Canos de las Monjas. This traditional game is also celebrated in February in Montejaque, a village in the Serrania de Ronda, although there it is more often linked to the Day of Andalucia, on 28 February. Pilar Martinez Malaga Tuesday, 13 February 2024 | Updated 15/02/2024 08:26h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram "Malaga Airport will always be able to match the development of the Costa del Sol." These are the blunt words of the airport's director Pedro Bendala when asked if the infrastructure could handle the soaring rate of growth on the Costa del Sol. It comes after 20% more passengers flooded through its terminals in January, just after closing a historic 2023 which saw 22.3 million passengers use the facility. In an interview with SUR, Bendala sent a message of calm by referencing an airport regulation document (DORA), which governs the investments and actions to be carried out throughout the Aena airport operator's network in the period 2022-2026. He said that Malaga Airport is ready to handle 30 million passengers. Investments The current document includes investments at the airport amounting to 103 million euros. "We don't have a crystal ball to know when we will reach 30 million passengers, but we always try to anticipate economic cycles," Bendala said. He pointed out that the document did not envisage such a rapid and strong recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. "We are growing above the national average although the increases will no longer be like those of these years of recovery from the health crisis in which we have gone from the worst to the best in a very short time," he said. "All of this has not been a coincidence but the result of the work of the Malaga professionals who have been more agile and have been able to put on the market a great product that tourists have valued and that the airlines have been able to respond to this demand," he added. Click here for more SUR in English news about Malaga Airport Bendala pointed out one of the investments tourists will notice this year is the implementation of a new security filter in terminal two that will be added to the one currently in operation at terminal three. "Part of these new security controls, in a more open and spacious area, will come into operation this summer and will be used to decongest the current ones in the boarding of large groups of passengers," he said. Bendala said 2024 was looking to be "a very good year", although he pointed out that this does not mean the 20% growth in passengers last January will set the pace for the rest of the year. "We are seeing a greater increase in tourists in the off-season months, which indicates that the destination has been deseasonalised. Proof of this is that last year from April to October we exceeded two million passengers per month, a figure that was previously exclusive to the strong summer months such as July or August. In January we had 1.3 million passengers and last December we had 1.5 million. This is very good because it allows us to grow significantly each year," Bendala said. Good summer As for the upcoming high season, he said it is still too early to have a concrete forecast as airlines are still finalising their schedules, but he can predict "a positive summer". "We hope to maintain the volume of airlines and countries we connect with, as well as offering new routes," he said. Bendala pointed to the full recovery of British tourism which would contribute to this. "The fact that the British are back to their usual levels is great news," he said, adding that in high season "Malaga has an airlift with the UK that translates into around 700 operations a week". Summer is also expected to see a significant increase, although the volumes are much lower, in tourists from Romania and Bulgaria, which from next March will be part of the Schengen zone and will enter directly. Regarding the improvement of the connectivity of the airport, Bendala said work is being carried out jointly with all administrations, from town hall to the provincial council and the Andalusian government, and the tourism sector in search of new routes and markets. Although remaining tight-lipped about open negotiations with various airlines, he valued the decision of United Airlines to schedule a daily flight to New York and considers it an "important step so that this same company or another one is encouraged to operate this route throughout the year. These transatlantic connections are very high risk because they have a high cost and the airlines have to be very sure of their profitability," Bendala added. Direct flights As for when Malaga will have a direct flight to China, Japan or South Korea, he said "it would be an iconic route", but it is not justified right now as the Costa del Sol already enjoys good connections with Asia through it two direct flights with Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and those added in summer by Qatar Airways to Doha, or Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi. These flights are feeding the movement of visitors to Asia, a key element for an airline to make the decision to fly directly to the Costa del Sol. Bendala also said the growth and arrival of major technology companies in Malaga is an important source of passengers and a key pillar for the opening of connections with distant markets. "The business traveller is very important, so we see an opportunity in every new company that chooses Malaga. At this airport, the majority of travellers come from tourist destinations. A total of 12% come for professional reasons. Increasing this percentage is very important," Bendala added. Steve Hruby, CFP and Amy Wagner Every week, Allworth Financials Amy Wagner and Steve Hruby, CFP, answer your questions. If you, a friend, or someone in your family has a money issue or problem, feel free to send those questions to yourmoney@enquirer.com. L.M. in Hamilton County: Im going to be eligible for a DROP plan at work this year. How does this work? Answer: DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) was first introduced in the 1980s, and today, these plans are generally offered to civil servants such as firefighters and police officers. Heres how they work: Lets say you reach retirement age and, by extension, are eligible to start receiving your pension. But you decide you want to keep working. By entering DROP, you continue your employment but instead of additional working years being included in any future benefit calculations, your employer will put an annual lump sum into a separate, interest-earning account. Then, once youre ready to actually retire, youll be paid this money (and any earnings accrued) along with your pension benefits (or you can roll the balance into a qualified retirement plan or an IRA to keep the account tax deferred). The eligibility and payment particulars differ by plan. For instance, according to its website, the city of Cincinnati requires that any DROP participant be an active member of the CRS, a member of the Active Employee Class covered by the Collaborative Settlement Agreement, and have a minimum of 30 years worth of service credit. The city also limits DROP participation to five consecutive years. The Allworth Advice is that you need to check with your HR Department about the specifics of your DROP, and make sure youre clear about enrollment deadlines. A fiduciary financial advisor can also help you work your DROP into your overall retirement plan because there is a chance taking a lump sum could push you into a higher tax bracket. Cody from Cincinnati: Just started a new job and have access to a 401(k) and Roth 401(k) for the first time. Is one better than the other? Im 26. Answer: When making a decision like this, a good question someone should ask themselves is, When do I want to pay taxes? Now or later? Because thats essentially the distinction between a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k): With the traditional, you get an up-front tax break on contributions but then pay ordinary income taxes on withdrawals in retirement; with a Roth, you pay ordinary income taxes on contributions, but then withdrawals on earnings in retirement are tax-free (assuming youre at least age 59 and have held the account for at least five years). Story continues Another question to contemplate is, How much will my taxes be in the future? If you think your tax rate will be lower in retirement than it is now, saving in a 401(k) can be more worthwhile. If you think it will be higher, the Roth is a better option. However, this decision doesnt have to be one-or-the-other. Feel free to make contributions to both your traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k) to diversify your current and future tax burden. Its never a bad thing to have options for your money in retirement. And heres one more thing to keep in mind: Currently, tax rates are at lifetime lows, and, given our massive amount of national debt, theyre probably going to have to rise at some point in the future. So, theres never really been a better time to save in a Roth 401(k) (or Roth IRA). Plus, given your young age, youre likely in a lower tax bracket, making your tax bill relatively minimal. Heres the Allworth Advice: Right now is a great time to consider saving in a Roth-style account. For younger workers like yourself, its practically a no-brainer. Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendation in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, financial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney. Retirement planning services offered through Allworth Financial a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Visit allworthfinancial.com or call (513) 469-7500. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Allworth Advice | Deferred Retirement Option Plans explained Raquel Merino Malaga Tuesday, 13 February 2024, 18:25 | Updated 18:38h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram There are many sayings dedicated to the month of February which is characterised by its meteorological ups and downs. Only yesterday, an anticyclone combined with the warm 'terral' wind bathed Malaga and the Costa del Sol with spring-like temperatures. Again this Tuesday (13 February) the temperatures are unusually high for the time of year. However, a change in the European and American weather models forecast the arrival of a 'Dana' (a depression in the upper levels of the atmosphere) to Spain this week which will leave rain; but the question is: where? As Jose Luis Escudero pointed out in his SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (Storms and Lightning', "the worst thing about Danas is that until the last minute we will not know where they will leave more rain". At the moment, it is expected to affect mainly the centre and western areas of the Spanish mainland in the middle of the week. If there is any chance of rain in Malaga and on the Costa del Sol it will be during Thursday and early Friday morning. Spain's state weather agency (Aemet) has raised the probability of rainfall in the province to 85% from 12 noon onwards, although this drops to 25% on Friday morning, with the exception of some areas of the Axarquia. The weather models are also not very favourable in terms of the amount of rain expected in Malaga, and it is most likely that rainfall will be light. However, we will have to wait for the evolution of the Dana to provide more precise data. As for the possibility of the so-called "blood rains" - precipitation accompanied by mud-, although a 'calima' haze is expected due to concentrations of Saharan dust on the Atlantic side of the mainland, the rains would have to be heavy for this phenomenon to occur. Temperatures will continue to be well above normal for this time of the year, so the spring-like atmosphere will continue. Weekend Looking ahead to the weekend, after the Dana moves away from the Spanish mainland from Friday onwards, anticyclonic weather is expected to prevail, with rising temperatures, sunshine and atmospheric stability. 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. Generally speaking the aim of active stock picking is to find companies that provide returns that are superior to the market average. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, the American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) share price is up 99% in the last 5 years, clearly besting the market return of around 73% (ignoring dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 19% in the last year , including dividends . On the back of a solid 7-day performance, let's check what role the company's fundamentals have played in driving long term shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for American Express There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, American Express achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 7.5% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 15% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of American Express' earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, American Express' TSR for the last 5 years was 114%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective American Express shareholders are up 19% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it's actually better than the average return of 16% over half a decade It is possible that returns will improve along with the business fundamentals. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with American Express , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. First SPRING came tripping on from Southern bowers, and strewed her sunny path with fragrant flowers, bade the still brook from out of its torpor wake, and freed, from icy bonds, the captive lake, then smiling back upon the smiling land. Resigned the rule to SUMMERs warmer hand. Earth, in the genial change rejoicing much, glowed like a picture neath a painters touch and lovelier grew, with each succeeding day, till AUTUMN seized the scepter and the sway. She, to enhance the beauty of the scene, tinged with rich brown each leaflets brilliant green, cast oer the land her sad yet lovely smile, then sank beneath dread WINTERS chilling wile-Dread Winter, who with no kind feeling warm, evoked, in envious rage, the blighting storm; and conscious, that no gift she could bestow, to equal Summers Springss or Autumns glow, blew, spitefully, her freezing breath on all, and strove to crush Earth neath her snowy pall George B. Vashon wrote this poem, a relatable lament of winters icy grip, in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1846, just a few months before the beginning of the Mexican War and five years before he settled in Syracuse. Vashons prose, which were published in Horace Greeleys New York Tribune, were accompanied with the preface, the following beautiful passagewritten by George Vashon, a colored young man. Sadly, decades after the work of the enslaved Bostonian, Phyllis Wheatley, the prevailing prejudices of the day made the very existence of a Black writer of this talent a cultural curiosity. Greeley, a staunch anti-slavery crusader who helped organize the Republican Party a few years later, was identifying Vashons race, in part, as a weapon against these rampant prejudices. Vashons future friend and colleague in the fight against slavery, Frederick Douglass, whose masterfully crafted narrative of his enslavement and escape was published the previous year, faced widespread criticism from many who could not bring themselves to believe that any Black person was capable of such skillful and florid prose. Like Douglass, Vashon devoted his life to proving these ill-conceived and racist notions to be baseless and crude. In the process, he became the first Black person to pass the bar exam in the State of New York two years after his poem graced the pages of the Tribune. George Vashon was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (later the home of the controversial Carlisle Indian School) in 1824. The fourth child of John and Anne Vashon, George was reared in a home by parents who revered self-help, community action, education, and were devoted to the cause of abolition. In 1829, John Vashon moved his family to Pittsburgh, where he eventually set up shop as a barber, carving out a comfortable existence. Education was central to the Vashon family ethos and John established a school to serve Pittsburghs Black community in 1832, as they were barred from attending the citys public schools. - An advertisement for Vashons Syracuse Law Office in the Empire Block on Clinton Square. Provided by Onondaga Historical Association Provided by Onondaga Historical AssociationProvided by Onondaga Historical Association George proved himself to be a brilliant student. In 1840, he enrolled at Oberlin College, where he made history for the first time in his exemplary life, becoming the first Black man to graduate from Oberlin, earning his B.A. in 1844. After graduation, Vashon returned to Pittsburgh where, beginning in 1845, he studied law under the Hon. Walter Forward, who had recently returned from serving as Secretary of the Treasury in President John Tylers cabinet. Impressed with Vashons intellect and talents, Forward pushed Vashon to stand for the bar exam in Pennsylvania upon the completion of his studies in the winter of 1847. Despite the influence of a powerful patron like Forward, Vashon was denied admittance. Vashons exclusion became noteworthy amidst the growing sectional controversy over slavery and civil rights and the story was picked up by several newspapers across the Northeast. In March of 1847, The New York Tribune reported that Vashon, a man of natural talents of a high order and an unimpeachable moral character was refused admittance to the bar when he was duly qualified. Why, the writer asked? Not because he was not in every way qualified, but for the want of change in color of his skin. Echoing the sentiments of a small, but growing number of Americans, the writer asserted, If God had painted him white he would have been admitted. Dejected, Vashon planned to move to Haiti, a country that had fascinated him since he was a boy. However, before leaving, Vashon remained in New York City where, on January 10, 1848, he made history again becoming the first Black man admitted to the bar in the State of New York. Reports of Vashons success circulated throughout the abolitionist and anti-slavery press, including Frederick Douglasss The North Star, where Vashon had taken a job as the papers Haitian correspondent. He continued to contribute to Douglass paper until he stopped publishing it in 1859. Vashon spent nearly two years in Haiti before returning to Pittsburgh in the fall of 1850. The nation and state that he returned to was embroiled in a moral and pollical struggle over the new Fugitive Slave Act, part of the Compromise of 1850, fallout from the Mexican War. Distressed by the political climate in Pittsburgh, Vashon moved to Syracuse in the fall of 1850. George could not have picked a more violate and consequential time to land and begin his legal career. By this time, Syracuse had gained a national reputation for its small, but strident and active abolitionist community, led in large part by Rev. Jermain Loguen, the citys Underground Railroad station master. This is part of what drew him to the city. He and Loguen became fast friends. Vashon immediately immersed himself in the movement. He offered his services to the citys newly formed Vigilance Committee, an organization devoted to stopping any attempt to enforce the notorious Fugitive Slave Act. In January of 1851, Vashon was selected one of three secretaries at the citys Anti-Fugitive Slave Law Convention. Like, Loguen and many others, he joined the Liberty Party and became an important figure in the radical, though short-lived organization, even running for attorney general under its banner. In his capacity as a member of the citys vigilance committee and as a member of the Liberty Party, which was, coincidentally, holding its state convention in Syracuse on October 1, 1851, Vashon was in the thick of the action on that fateful evening when a mob rescued Jerry from his jail cell, in an act of civil disobedience that sent shockwaves throughout the union. In the days that followed, Vashon played an important role in organizing and raising funds for those arrested in the wake of rescue. Vashon remained in Syracuse for a few years, maintaining a visible presence in the citys abolitionist community. He was a frequent speaker throughout the city and region, attending numerous conventions and, as a member of Syracuses Young Mens Lyceum, he engaged in debates on the weighty issues of the day. Citing a sagging legal practice, Vashon moved to McGrawville in nearby Cortland County in late 1853. Making history yet again, Vashon took a faculty position at New York Central College, the nations first collegiate level school to hire Black professors. Robert Searings weekly articles are supported by the William G. Pomeroy Public History Media Series. To learn more about the William G. Pomeroy Foundations work to promote public history, visit wgpfoundation.org. More Black history 56 years a slave: The incredible story of Syracuses Caroline Hazard After being evicted from his Syracuse law office in 1905, Black attorney had trail blazing legal career Syracuse divided after The Birth of a Nation removed from a city movie theater in 1949 Syracuse, N.Y. Robert Neulander has asked New Yorks highest court to hear another appeal for a new murder trial in his wifes 2012 death. Hes arguing that a trial judge gave an improper instruction to jurors over his daughters decision not to testify in his murder trial, an argument an appeals court has previously rejected. By Josephine Stratman | New York Daily News New York Two progressive New York lawmakers are taking aim at 30- and 60-day migrant shelter stay limits in the latest challenge to the Adams administrations controversial policy. Assemblymember Catalina Cruz of Queens and Manhattan state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal proposed legislation intended to outlaw the Adams Administrations cruel 30 and 60-day rules, they announced in a release on Monday. If approved, the bill would prevent municipalities and the state from placing limits on shelter stays and would bar them from giving shelter residents the boot unless under special circumstances. Kicking people out to the streets during the coldest time of year wont help solve our housing crisis and forcing asylum seekers out of shelters will do nothing to mitigate the migrant situation, Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement. Tens of thousands of migrants have received eviction notices since the city first started rolling out the policy in September, starting with single adults. The first families were required to leave their shelter in January. Single adults are limited to 30 days and families to 60 days of consecutive shelter stays. After their time is up, migrants must reapply for shelter beds at either a site in the East Village or the citys migrant welcome center in Midtown. The bill has the backing of WIN, one of the citys biggest shelter providers, and a coalition of faith-based organizations and advocates called New York Shelter for All in Need Equally, or NY SANE. Gov. Hochul will review the legislation if it passes through both houses of the Legislature, a spokesperson said of Hochuls support. The Adams administration has maintained that the rule is a cost-saving initiative that helps encourage migrants to leave the shelter system. We are grateful for the partnership of our federal and state partners, but, instead of introducing counterproductive legislation, we would encourage members of the Legislature to join us in advocating for meaningful financial help and continuing to ask for more assistance to help resettle families across New York state and the country, said Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for the mayor. More than 60% of migrants have chosen to leave the shelter system, Mamelak said, adding that the 30-and-60-day notices encourage more migrants to do so. Most New Yorkers agree that a shelter system should be temporary, especially for children who need consistency and permanency, Mamelak said. A hotel room is no place to grow up or raise a family. But critics have slammed the policy as inhumane. Theyre concerned about the thousands whove slept outside, on trains or in makeshift waiting rooms in gyms and churches while they wait for a new shelter placement, and they say the frequent moves disrupt families and children as they struggle to keep their kids in schools. The current shelter time limit policies are not only inhumane but counterproductive, thrusting families into further uncertainty and distress, Cruz said in a statement. Our legislation to end these arbitrary 30- and 60-day shelter limit policies is more than a policy change; its a commitment to human rights and a testament to New Yorks enduring spirit of inclusivity and compassion. Progressive City Council members last fall proposed a bill aimed to take down the policy that would also eliminate shelter stay limits, but it didnt make it past the end of the session. Last month, City Council members and advocates called on Mayor Eric Adams to lift the limits for migrant families, and City Comptroller Brad Lander is currently investigating the 60-day policy for families. --------- 2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. A state commission will meet Thursday to vote on a plan that would redraw the boundaries of Central New Yorks congressional district as part of a statewide redistricting process. The New York Independent Redistricting Commission said it will vote on new maps for the states 26 congressional districts at a public meeting that begins 2 p.m. Thursday in Albany. The proposed maps will not be made public before the meeting, commission officials said. In December, the states highest court ordered the bipartisan commission to redraw House district boundaries in time for this years congressional elections. The final product could change the partisan makeup of several key swing districts in the state, including the 22nd Congressional District seat held by Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in Central New York. The degree of change could ultimately affect which party wins control of the House in the November election. Democrats are targeting six Republican-held districts in New York as the key to winning back the House majority this year. In Central New York, the 22nd District spans all of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties, and part of the village of Cleveland in Oswego County. Williams, a first-term Republican, lives outside of the district in Cayuga County. He won the 2022 election by about 1 percentage point over Democrat Francis Conole, of Syracuse. Williams is one of only 17 House Republicans to represent a district that voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Related: Central New York race for Congress could be turned upside down by states top court Democrats hold an enrollment advantage in the 22nd District with 170,104 active voters, compared to 150,547 Republicans and 129,472 independent voters who are not enrolled in a political party. If the bipartisan commission approves new House maps Thursday, the plan would be sent to New York lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul for approval. The Democratic-controlled legislature could draw its own congressional district maps if lawmakers or the governor reject the commissions plan. Democrats in the state Legislature tried unsuccessfully in 2022 and 2012 to make the Central New York district a safe Democratic seat by including the cities of Syracuse and Ithaca Democratic strongholds in a new district. Those maps were rejected by the courts, which ultimately took over the redistricting process. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Deployed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve as a stabilizing presence in Western New York hotels utilized as shelters for asylum seekers, the National Guard is now under scrutiny for allegations of sexual abuse and other misconduct towards the very individuals they were sent to protect. The New York Times reported that a new federal lawsuit is accusing multiple Guard members and private supervisors of various abuses of migrants being housed in Cheektowaga after being sent there from New York City. Filed last week in Federal District Court in Manhattan, the lawsuit details incidents that allegedly happened at the Quality Inn motel near the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Among the implications, Sgt. Deven Colon is accused of coercing a Venezuelan woman to trade sexual favors in exchange for food and housing. Unnamed in the lawsuit, she said Colon brought her gifts like Target gift cards and Christmas presents. She claimed that he repeatedly promised to help her start a new life in America and around Christmas, the Sergeant took her and her family to a rental property two hours away from Buffalo. In exchange for his help, the lawsuit alleges that Colon demanded sexual favors once they got to the secluded house. The woman said she felt she had no choice but to engage in sexual activity with him. According to News 7 Buffalo, once they returned to the shelter, Colon, the highest ranking official at the Cheektowaga site, begged the woman to keep their relationship a secret, sending regretful texts. He wrote, I am just so lost and I need to find myself again...I am no longer pursing any type of Romantic relationship and Im sorry the trip got so screwed up...I hope the kids dont hate me. She also said he exchanged inappropriate text messages to her 17-year-old daughter. Colon told the New York Times that he did engage in a flirtation with the woman, but that it never crossed into a physical relationship. He also denied sending text messages to her daughter. Colon has since left the asylum seeker support mission after he was reported by a DocGo supervisor. The same mother also accused a different Guardsman for groping her 10-year-old daughter in part of the hotel without security cameras, until she ran away. In total, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of seven people, including three migrants and four current or former subcontractors for DocGo, the New York City-based company contracted to house and care for migrants both in the city and in Upstate New York. Plaintiffs also brought accusations against two supervisors for DocGo. One for having sex with a migrant in their care and another for choking a migrant after a confrontation in the center. DocGo is also being investigated by the New York State attorney general in part over previous allegations that the company or its subcontractors misled or mistreated migrants. DocGo said an internal investigation cleared their supervisors from any wrongdoing. WIVB 4 reported that the Erie County District Attorneys Office is investigating criminal charges against the National Guard members and DocGo employees. A small plane landed safely at an airport in Western New York after its door fell off, according to police. The Associated Press reports a private plane with two people aboard made an emergency landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Monday night because its rear door fell off over the nearby suburb of Cheektowaga. There were no reports of injuries or property damage on the ground, police said. According to WIVB, an audio recording from the pilot communicating with air traffic controllers said the plane was heading back to the airport around 5:30 p.m. because, We lost our rear door. The Cheektowaga Police Department said officers searched for the plane door but did not find it. Area residents who may have information about where it fell are asked to call Cheektowaga Police Dispatch at (716) 686-3500. Officials did not say how the door might have fallen off. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is assisting police with the investigation, according to the Buffalo News. The incident comes just weeks after an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a blowout that left a hole in the side of a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircrafts fuselage. The plane, which was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, made an emergency landing in Oregon; no one was seriously hurt. Valentines Day is here and if you dont have any plans, you could always spend the night with your favorite romantic comedies. This month, streaming platforms are offering a plethora of fresh content perfect for Valentines Day, ranging from romantic comedies to reality TV debuts and heartfelt dramas, with Max and Prime Video leading the charge in romance. JeffBets research involved analyzing Google searches every month for the past year to determine the most popular romantic comedies in each state. They aggregated searches for individual rom-com titles along with queries such as where to watch [movie title] or watch [movie title] to compile their list of the most popular films. Check out where you can watch your favorite rom-coms like 10 Things I Hate About You and Breakfast at Tiffanys 10. Sixteen Candles "Sixteen Candles" appears on the nationwide list for 'Best Romantic Comedies."Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes As her sisters impending wedding steals the spotlight, Samantha (Molly Ringwald) braces herself for her 16th birthday with the usual teenage apprehension. She harbors a crush on the attractive senior, Jake (Michael Schoeffling), but fears that her commitment to chastity might deter him. Adding to her concerns, Samantha finds herself fending off the advances of Ted (Anthony Michael Hall), the nerdy classmate who appears to be the sole boy at school interested in her. Rotten Tomatoes: 81% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Netflix 9. Silver Linings Playbook JENNIFER LAWRENCE and BRADLEY COOPER star in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOKCourtesy of IMBD Following job loss, marital separation, and a stint in a psychiatric facility, Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver). While he aims to rebuild his life and reconcile with his wife, his parents would settle for him sharing their passion for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, things take a twist when Pat encounters Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who proposes to aid him in reuniting with his wife in exchange for a significant favor from him. Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Netflix 8. Breakfast at Tiffanys "Breakfast at Tiffany's" appears on the nationwide list of "Best Romantic Comedies."Getty Images Adapted from Truman Capotes novel, this film follows the tale of a young woman residing in New York City who encounters a young man upon his arrival in her apartment complex. Despite his affiliation with an affluent older woman, his aspirations lie in becoming a writer. Meanwhile, the young woman works as an upscale escort, aiming to find a wealthy, older suitor for marriage. Rotten Tomatoes: 88% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Paramount+ (free trial), SlingTV 7. Wedding Crashers "Wedding Crashers" appears as No. 7 in the nationwide list of "Best Romantic Comedies."Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John (Owen Wilson) work as mediators for divorces, but they spend their leisure time gatecrashing wedding receptions. To this irrepressible pair, few activities compare to enjoying complimentary drinks and pursuing susceptible women. When they learn about the upcoming wedding of Secretary of the Treasury William Clearys daughter, they set out to crash the prestigious event. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when John becomes captivated by bridesmaid Claire (Rachel McAdams). Rotten Tomatoes: 75% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Max (free trial) 6. 500 Days of Summer "500 Days of Summer" appears as No. 6 on a nationwide list of "Best Romantic Comedies."Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a romantic greeting-card writer, is blindsided when his girlfriend, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), unexpectedly ends their relationship. Reflecting on their 500 days together, Tom seeks to unravel the reasons behind their loves demise. Through this introspection, Tom reconnects with his genuine interests and aspirations in life. Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), SlingTV, Hulu 5. When Harry Met Sally "When Harry Met Sally"Courtesy of IMBd In 1977, recent college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) engage in a heated car journey from Chicago to New York, debating the possibility of maintaining a strictly platonic friendship between men and women. A decade later, Harry and Sally reunite at a bookstore, accompanied by their close friends, Jess (Bruno Kirby) and Marie (Carrie Fisher), endeavoring to maintain their friendship without complications of romantic involvement. Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial) 4. 13 Going on 30 "13 Going on 30"Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes A young girl fed up with the limitations of junior high finds herself magically turned into an adult overnight in this heartwarming story. Teenager Jenna (Christa B. Allen) yearns for romance, and when her search for a boyfriend proves futile, she daydreams about being a mature and confident grown-up. Unexpectedly, her wish comes true, and she wakes up as a 30-year-old woman (Jennifer Garner). However, navigating the complexities of adulthood, including relationships and societal expectations, proves to be more challenging than she anticipated. Rotten Tomatoes: 64% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), SlingTV, Netflix 3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding Concern runs deep within the Portokalos family for Toula (Nia Vardalos), who, at the age of 30, remains unmarried. She works at her parents Greek restaurant, Dancing Zorbas, owned by Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan). When Toula starts a job at her aunts travel agency, she falls head over heels for Ian Miller (John Corbett), a tall, handsome man who is not Greek. Toula grapples with the dilemma of whether her father will be more disturbed by Ians foreign background or his vegetarian lifestyle. Rotten Tomatoes: 76% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Max (free trial) 2. Crazy Stupid Love Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) appears to have it all - a fulfilling job, a stunning home, wonderful children, and a gorgeous wife named Emily (Julianne Moore). However, his seemingly flawless life takes a drastic turn when he discovers Emilys infidelity and her desire for a divorce. Suddenly finding himself single at over 40, Cal navigates the unpredictable realm of dating. Along comes Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a smooth-talking womanizer who mentors Cal on the art of charming women. Rotten Tomatoes: 79% Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Hulu 1. 10 Things I Hate About You Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is characterized by her beauty, intelligence, and a sharp tongue that repels most of her peers, resulting in limited romantic attention. Complicating matters, house rules dictate that her younger sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), cannot date until Kat has a boyfriend, prompting efforts to orchestrate a romance for her reluctant sister. Enter Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), a handsome newcomer who captures Kats attention. Will Kat lower her defenses enough to succumb to Patricks effortless charm? Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Where to stream: fuboTV (free trial), Amazon Prime Video (free trial), AppleTV+ (free trial), Disney+, Hulu, Sling WASHINGTON (AP) Former President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to extend the delay in his election interference trial, saying he is immune from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 election loss. His lawyers filed an emergency appeal with the court on Monday, just four days after the justices heard Trumps separate appeal to remain on the presidential ballot despite attempts to kick him off because of his efforts following his election loss in 2020. Without immunity from criminal prosecution, the Presidency as we know it will cease to exist, Trumps lawyers wrote, repeating arguments that have so far failed in federal courts. The filing keeps on hold what would be a landmark criminal trial of a former president while the nations highest court decides what to do. It met a deadline to ask the justices to intervene that the federal appeals court in Washington set when it rejected Trumps immunity claims and ruled the trial could proceed. The Supreme Courts decision on what to do, and how quickly it acts, could determine whether the Republican presidential primary frontrunner stands trial in the case before the November election. There is no timetable for the court to act, but special counsel Jack Smith, a Central New York native, and his team have strongly pushed for the trial to take place this year. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly sought to delay the case. If Trump were to defeat President Joe Biden, he could potentially try to use his position as head of the executive branch to order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases he faces or even seek a pardon for himself. The Supreme Courts options include rejecting the emergency appeal, which would enable U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to restart the trial proceedings in Washingtons federal court. The trial was initially scheduled to begin in early March. The court also could extend the delay while it hears arguments on the immunity issue. In that event, the schedule the justices set could determine how soon a trial might begin, if indeed they agree with lower court rulings that Trump is not immune from prosecution. In December, Smith and his team had urged the justices to take up and decide the immunity issue, even before the appeals court weighed in. It is of imperative public importance that Respondents claim of immunity be resolved by this Court and that Respondents trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected, prosecutors wrote in December. Trumps legal team has ascribed partisan motives to the prosecutions push for a prompt trial. Conducting a months-long criminal trial of President Trump at the height of election season will radically disrupt President Trumps ability to campaign against President Biden which appears to be the whole point of the Special Counsels persistent demands for expedition, the former presidents lawyers wrote. Courts should not rush into a trial because the subject of presidential immunity from criminal charges is a novel, complex, and momentous question that warrants careful consideration on appeal, the legal team led by D. John Sauer wrote. In their request to keep the trial on hold, Trumps lawyers indicated they would seek to stretch out the delay by also asking the full federal appeals court in Washington to weigh in. Only after that would they file a formal appeal to the Supreme Court, the lawyers wrote. That could add weeks, if not months, before trial preparations could restart. Now its up to a court on which three justices, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, were appointed by Trump when he was president. They have moved the court to the right in major decisions that overturned abortion rights, expanded gun rights and ended affirmative action in college admissions. But the Supreme Court hasnt been especially friendly to Trump on legal matters directly concerning the former president. The court declined to take up several appeals filed by Trump and his allies related to the 2020 election. It also refused to prevent tax files and other documents from being turned over to congressional committees and prosecutors in New York. Last week, however, the justices did seem likely to end the efforts to prevent Trump from being on the 2024 ballot. A decision in that case could come any time. The Supreme Court has previously held that presidents are immune from civil liability for official acts, and Trumps lawyers have for months argued that that protection should be extended to criminal prosecution as well. Last week, a unanimous panel of two judges appointed by President Joe Biden and one by a Republican president sharply rejected Trumps novel claim that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity for actions that fall within their official job duties. It was the second time since December that judges have held that Trump can be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The case was argued before Judges Florence Pan and J. Michelle Childs, appointees of Biden, a Democrat, and Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was named to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. The case in Washington is one of four prosecutions Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House. He faces federal charges in Florida that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a case that was also brought by Smith and is set for trial in May. Hes also charged in state court in Georgia with scheming to subvert that states 2020 election and in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing. A major highlight in a series of academic initiatives, the new alliance will bring a cutting-edge blockchain education to the university and support further innovation of the technology. Sharjah, UAE, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sui, a Layer 1 platform for decentralized computation which has grown at a torrid pace since its inception nine months ago, announced it has partnered with American University of Sharjah (AUS) to establish the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy, a brand new blockchain academy in one of the most well-regarded academic institutions in the region, creating opportunities for hundreds of aspiring developers to learn about and ultimately advance the state of the art of the technology. The agreed upon AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy will operate under the auspices of the multidisciplinary Center of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development. This placement strategically aligns with entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability, underscoring the Academy's dedication to responsible and impactful technological development. The initiative is part of the Emirate of Sharjahs objective of positioning itself as a regional hub for education and researchparticularly in the field of technology and blockchain. "The establishment of the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy will provide students with invaluable insights into contemporary and future-oriented topics," said Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah. It will empower them to engage with trending subjects and essential future technologies, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the evolving landscape of tomorrow. The partnership between Sui and AUS is directly aligned with the strong academic backgrounds of the leaders in and around the Sui ecosystem. Dr. Greg Siourounis, the Managing Director of the Sui Foundation has deep experience blending academic pursuits and entrepreneurship, including earning a PhD in Economics from the London Business School and top awards for his work in Economics. George Danezis, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder of Mysten Labs is a professor of security and privacy engineering at University College London. Likewise, co-founders Kostas Chalkias (notable cryptographer and creator of zkLogin) and Sam Blackshear (creator of the Move smart contract language) have both earned PhDs in their respective technology fields. Story continues The Sui Foundation has also previously instituted several educational initiatives such as the establishment of a Web3-focused program at the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development at London Business School, the distribution of $400,000 in Sui Academic Research Awards (SARAs) to fifteen universities worldwide, and the establishment of a groundbreaking new web3 curriculum for high school students which debuted in 2023 at the Costeas Geitonas High School in Greece. "The establishment of the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy will provide the next generation of builders and world leaders with the knowledge they will need to create web3 technology that can address global challenges, said Dr. Siourounis. Seeing this academy come to life makes me particularly proud given the crucial role that this region is set to play in technological innovation." Sui established the current partnership with aid from its strategic partner in the region, Ghaf Labs, whose founder and managing partner, Feras Al Sadek, added, We are extremely pleased to play a part in creating this historic initiative. The AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy will pave the way for future generations to enrich and benefit this industry and the region. About Sui Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed from the bottom up to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. Its object-centric model, based on the Move programming language, enables parallel execution, sub-second finality, and rich on-chain assets. With horizontally scalable processing and storage, Sui supports a wide range of applications with unrivaled speed at low cost. Sui is a step-function advancement in blockchain and a platform on which creators and developers can build amazing, user-friendly experiences. Learn more: https://sui.io . Contact media@sui.io About AUS American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan articulated his vision of a distinctive institution against the backdrop of Islamic history and in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region. Firmly grounded in principles of meritocracy and with a strong reputation for academic excellence, AUS has come to represent the very best in teaching and research, accredited internationally and recognized by employers the world over for creating graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and drive to lead in the 21st century. AUS values learners not driven only by academic success, but by those that embrace our dynamic campus life and embody our ideals of openness, tolerance and respect. This combination of academic excellence and community spirit ensures AUS is filled with world-class faculty and students, poised to become the innovators, thinkers, contributors and leaders of tomorrow. Contact smahmoud@aus.edu About Ghaf Labs Ghaf Labs is a premier blockchain consultancy and advisory firm based in the U.A.E, focused on cultivating and fostering dynamic start-ups and well-established enterprises in the blockchain domain. As the sister company of Ghaf Capital Partners, Ghaf Labs extends its expertise and resources to provide growth, acceleration, advisory, and consultancy services to the blockchain ecosystem and companies. Ghaf Labs aims to help companies expand their presence in the MENA region and if needed, also support them in achieving a strong global footprint. This is attained through tapping into various ecosystems both local and global. Ghaf Labs also utilises its vast Web2 and Web3 networks, acting as a bilateral bridge for the adoption of services. Ghaf Capital | Ghaf Labs | LinkedIn ### CONTACT: Media Contact: Hari Govindarajan PR & Comms Specialist, Luna PR hari@lunapr.io The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Deployment of Arcadis' inSIGHT ATMS transportation management and Travel-IQ traveler information systems to provide real-time situational awareness of traffic conditions state-wide. Multi-year advisory services contracts support Nevada's Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Multi-Application Geographic Information Center (MAGIC). CARSON CITY, Nev., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis, a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets, is pleased to announce its recent success in being awarded multiple contracts with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to enhance a wide range of digital and mobility solutions and services to improve accessibility, safety and sustainability on highways and roadways across the state. Arcadis' scope of work for NDOT includes helping to modernize the statewide freeway management software by replacing the legacy Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) application with the inSIGHT ATMS software solution. Designed to enhance safety and reduce congestion on Nevada freeways, inSIGHT ATMS provides real-time situational awareness through video camera integration, traffic sensors, weather sensors and other interfaces. The system automates tasks, such as modifying speed limits, coordinating with crowdsourced real-time navigation applications such as Waze and posting messages on roadside signs. This automation improves response times, accelerates incident clearance and minimizes the environmental impact of traffic congestion. Arcadis is also delivering its real-time Travel-IQ application to upgrade the Nevada 511 website, mobile app, Event Reporting System (ERS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems to provide real-time, personalized and accessible travel information to the public. The user-friendly website and app offer up-to-date details on traffic, road conditions and live video feeds, enhancing road safety and community engagement. Story continues Kevin Bebenek, Global President of Intelligence Business Area at Arcadis, said: "Arcadis shares NDOT's commitment to meaningful technical innovation. With much disruptive technology emerging in transportation, Arcadis' global capabilities in both future-proofing mobility operations and digital solutions position it well to deliver safe, sustainable, equitable transportation systems. We achieve this by applying proven technologies in real-world operational environments and continually investing in system upgrades that keep our technology stack, security policies, workflows and user experience completely reliable and efficient." Tracy Larkin Thomason, NDOT Director, said: "Arcadis is an important partner in Nevada's ambitions to enhance safety and reduce congestion on highways and roadways for all drivers. We're all looking forward to seeing this project through to full implementation and the benefits it will bring to the traffic operators and motorists alike." In addition to the inSIGHT ATMS and Travel-IQ solutions, Arcadis is also partnering with NDOT on a number of advisory and solution development services to achieve similar goals, including leading the development of NDOT's platform, apps and dashboards to manage data and workflows across the agency's many business systems (e.g. Bentley, AgileAssets, GIS, HRIS, ERP, CRM) and all of the agency's divisions, including environmental services, traffic operations, maintenance, traffic safety and engineering. The technology stack will enable a centralized set of actionable information to support NDOT in leveraging data and analytics in decision-making around capital investments, operations, management and maintenance efforts to improve roadway safety across the state. Wassim Selman, Director of Mobility Business Area, U.S. at Arcadis, said: "The services Arcadis is providing NDOT will not only serve to enhance overall road safety but will also contribute to the creation of smarter, more resilient communities across the State of Nevada. The depth of collaboration and partnership between Arcadis and NDOT in putting mechanisms in place to ensure a well-managed, modern highway system can serve as the cornerstone for advancing road safety and fostering sustainability. In fact, it can be an essential component to achieving comprehensive and sustainable community development across the entire state." ABOUT ARCADIS Arcadis is the leading global design & consultancy organization for natural and built assets. We maximize impact for our clients and the communities they serve by providing effective solutions through sustainable outcomes, focus and scale, and digitalization. We are 36,000 people, active in more than 30 countries that generate 4.0 billion in gross revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1838726/4540808/Arcadis_Logo.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadis-secures-key-contracts-with-nevada-department-of-transportation-for-mobility-and-digital-solutions-302059692.html SOURCE Arcadis The National Hill Sheep Conference The Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference will take place this coming Thursday, 15 February at 7pm in the Glendalough Hotel, Brockagh, Glendalough, County Wicklow. "The hill ewe has significant untapped potential both in the hill environment and as the dam of prolific cross bred ewes for the lowlands." The Irish Hill Sheep sector plays an important role in the economic health of rural economies and the maintenance of the natural landscape in many of Irelands most scenic areas. The conference will focus on flock health, hill sheep breeding, biodiversity, and lessons from the Sustainable Uplands Agri- Environment Scheme (SUAS) EIP project. Professor Frank OMara, Teagasc Director, will officially open the Hill Sheep Conference in Glendalough, which will be chaired by Ger Shortle, Teagasc Regional Advisory Manager. He said; The hill ewe has significant untapped potential both in the hill environment and as the dam of prolific cross bred ewes for the lowlands. All sheep producers are welcome to the Glendalough Hotel for 7pm on Thursday, 15 February. Declan Byrne from Teagasc will outline the outcomes from the Sustainable Uplands Agri- Environment Scheme (SUAS) project. Declan will describe the blueprint that was used to identify the needs and requirements of the different upland areas and the different management approaches that were required. Liver fluke is a health challenges frequently faced by hill sheep flocks. Dr Philip Skuce from the Moredun Institute in the UK will present on sustainable control of liver fluke in sheep. In his talk, Philip will explain the fluke life-cycle and how to risk assess a field/farm for potential liver fluke infection. He will outline what diagnostic tests are available, the challenge of flukicide resistance as well as ongoing research in this area. Philip will also discuss the challenge of rumen fluke and its control measures. Meanwhile David Coen from Sheep Ireland will cover the latest breeding technologies in a paper titled Irish hill sheep breeding a new era beckons. He will talk about the genetic progress made in the hill sector in 2023. The number of hill rams genotyped to date and what this means for the sector. He will also cover why a sire verified ram would bring great benefit to commercial hill farmers. Nicola Warden, Senior Biodiversity Technologist from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland, will give a presentation titled; The CAFRE Journey to better biodiversity on the Hill Farm. In her presentation, Nicola will outline the work being done at Glenwherry and the performance and role that livestock, both cattle and sheep, play in maintaining the landscape and improving biodiversity. The closing comments at the conference will be given by Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist. The hill sheep conference is free to attend with refreshments served after the event. There will be an opportunity to meet with the presenters and discuss the presentations. Find out more here Rumor mill: Recent reports have indicated that Microsoft plans to bring some of its Xbox exclusive games to rival platforms, and with that speculation has arisen about whether the company will remain in the console business. A podcast later this week will clarify Microsoft's current strategy, which reportedly still involves Xbox consoles. Microsoft held a town hall meeting on Tuesday, where Xbox boss Phil Spencer assured employees that the company plans to continue making consoles. Microsoft will reveal details about the future of Xbox in a Thursday episode of the Official Xbox Podcast. The company is attempting to quell a firestorm of speculation ignited by rumors that some first-party Xbox titles will launch on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Many hardcore fans, feeling betrayed by the news, argue that a console cannot exist without exclusive games. However, Microsoft might be considering a shift away from the traditional model that has dominated the console space for decades. Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx Xbox (@Xbox) February 12, 2024 January reports suggested that Tango Gameworks's Hi-Fi Rush and Rare's Sea of Thieves might be released on non-Xbox consoles. Later rumors indicated that more high-profile exclusives, such as Bethesda's Starfield or Machine Games' upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, could follow suit. Sources recently told The Verge that Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment are set to become multi-platform soon, followed by Sea of Thieves later this year. These three titles could be good choices to launch a multi-platform strategy for several reasons. All of them are over a year old, with Sea of Thieves having been released in 2018. Moreover, Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, both critically acclaimed games, were never intended to achieve massive sales and would likely perform well on the Switch (or possibly the Switch 2). Meanwhile, Microsoft is allegedly considering multi-platform releases for bigger flagships like Starfield and Indiana Jones. Whether Microsoft's announcements this week will include details on future hardware remains to be seen. However, Spencer's recent like of a tweet mentioning rumors about the company planning a portable system has piqued interest from eagle-eyed observers. Leaked documents from the Microsoft versus FTC trial reveal that the company has previously discussed a handheld and more recent rumors suggest that the Surface division is designing the next generation of Xbox, which will feature two models a console and a handheld. Sony might also be planning a new handheld. Although the likelihood of one or both companies entering the portable space seems slim, the recent surge in handheld gaming PCs has likely encouraged them to explore the possibility. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust A hot potato: With the Digital Markets Act's compliance deadline less than a month away, the EU's governing body has decided that Apple's messaging platform does not meet the law's definition of a "core platform service." Therefore, the iPhone's native Messages can remain status quo. However, the company still plans on adding RCS support via a secondary app. On Tuesday, The European Commission announced that Apple's iMessage is not a "core platform service," so it is not subject to the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). The result is that Cupertino does not have to open the service to rival platforms. The ruling comes as a blow to Google, which has lobbied EU regulators to force Apple to make its system compatible with other messaging platforms. Apple was not the only winner in the EC's decision. Microsoft saw three services become exempt from DMA rules, namely its browser, search, and advertising platforms. "Following a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders, and after hearing the Digital Markets Advisory Committee, the Commission found that iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising do not qualify as gatekeeper services," the EC said, despite having previously found them to meet "quantitative thresholds" for core platform services. The ruling comes five months after it designated Apple's App Store, iOS, and Safari core platform services under the DMA. In that time, the EC investigated iMessage and considered arguments from Apple and its rivals. A similar probe is ongoing regarding iPadOS. Google expressed frustration over the decision. "Excluding these popular services from DMA rules means consumers and businesses won't be offered the breadth of choice that already exists on other, more open platforms," Google spokesperson Emily Clarke told The Verge. However, Apple has already said it plans to support Google's cross-platform RCS protocol as a standalone service. "[RCS] will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users," Apple spokesperson Jacqueline Roy said. In other words, even though iOS will have RCS support, Google is mad because the EU is not forcing Apple to crack open its proprietary system. Meanwhile, Meta was not so lucky. Its messaging apps WhatsApp and Messenger were both designated gatekeeper services. The social media giant's development team is working to make both services interoperable with rival platforms. All core platform services, including Apple's Safari, iOS, and App Store, must comply with DMA rules by March 7, 2024. Despite estimates showing otherwise, Cupertino's plan for App Store compliance has already taken heat from rivals for making it more expensive to offer external payment methods and secondary app stores. Unfortunately, the time for rebuttals has passed. The EC will ultimately decide whether Apple's plan complies with the letter of the law or not. Image credits: Yuri Samoilov Harvard University researchers have partnered with social media influencers focused on mental health issues, providing them with training to convey accurate and evidence-based information. The initiative aims to counteract the negative impact of excessive social media use on mental health by flooding platforms with scientifically grounded research. One notable participant, Kate Speer, a former CEO in influencer marketing for The Dogist, shifted her focus to frank discussions about severe mental illness, drawing attention from Harvard. Speer and other mental health influencers participated in online training sessions with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health that covered subjects like intergenerational trauma and the mind-body connection. More Public Discussions on Mental Health Urged Amanda Yarnell from Harvard's Chan School stated that the project aimed to address mental health, a significant public health concern nowadays, by leveraging the authenticity driving social media interactions. "We wanted to talk more about mental health," she remarked in an NPR story. The influencers' training involved interpreting scientific research and enhancing their ability to present evidence-rooted content. Speer produced a series of videos, "Fear Camp," discussing anxiety and encouraging audience participation. In addition to mental health-focused content, Speer collaborated with a Harvard professor on a campaign seeking to ban the sale of over-the-counter weight-loss supplements to teens in New York. This engagement demonstrates influencers' potential positive contribution to public health issues. CEO Kate Speer shifted to discuss mental illness, teaming up with TikTok influencers in a Harvard-backed project. The study increased views on crucial mental health topics, showcasing social media's positive impact. Read more here: https://t.co/iLe9JowgwL pic.twitter.com/IMxSBYX7Yu February 2, 2024 Bryn Austin, a Harvard professor involved in the campaign, highlighted the importance of research institutions investing in influencers to counter misinformation spread by predatory companies. These partnerships aim to create opportunities for influencers to use their storytelling abilities for the public good. While Speer acknowledged that her academic partnerships have not fully translated into financial support, she expressed satisfaction in the meaningful work that feeds her soul. The initiative underscores the potential for social media influencers to contribute positively to public health by leveraging their platforms for evidence-based messaging. Read Also: Ransomware Paralyzes 18 Hospitals in Romania: Healthcare System Offline Social Media's Negative Impact on Mental Health In related news, researchers established a connection between materialistic values and decreased life satisfaction, pointing to social media as a significant catalyst for discontent. The study, published by Psychiatrist.com, identified three key facets of materialism: acquisition centrality, acquisition as the pursuit of happiness, and possession-defined success. Phillip Ozimek, Ph.D., lead author and faculty member at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Germany, explained that the study's data revealed a notable association between a heightened materialistic approach and the inclination to compare oneself with others. Additionally, the research established a clear connection between materialism and the passive use of social media such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Ozimek clarified that this involves users consistently contemplating various channels and harboring a fear of missing out if they are not online. In essence, the study underscores the role of social media in fostering a negative cycle, influencing materialistic values, and encouraging comparisons, potentially contributing to detrimental effects on individuals' well-being. According to the World Health Organization, nearly a billion individuals, including 14% of teenagers, have mental health conditions. A 2019 WHO study found that stigma, discrimination, and human rights abuses against mental health patients are widespread, with 20 nations criminalizing attempted suicide. Notably, underprivileged people are most at risk of mental illness and least likely to obtain competent care. Related Article: Latest Study Says COVID-19 Linked to Sexual Dysfunction in Women 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Using Google Meet on smartphones will bring a new experience with Companion Mode, the renowned feature for the desktop experience that offers "interactive features and controls" for users. Through this, users may access the feature either individually or by going into the call with audio or video conferencing systems on hand, offering improved connections with minimal interruptions. The latest Google Meet feature considers how mobile devices play into account for video conferencing needs, as not all places or situations call for computer use. Google Meet Brings 'Companion Mode' on Mobile The latest blog post from Google Workspace Updates announced the latest feature made available to the Meet app for Android and iOS mobile experience, centering on Companion Mode's technology. The company said that the feature is now accessible starting today, and takes the floor from the laptop or desktop experience and offers it in the mobile package. According to Google, Companion Mode brings these features on the mobile, replicating the computer experience: Check-in to the room to be identified by name. Share an emoji reaction without interrupting the speaker. Raise your hand to indicate that you'd like to speak. Turn on captions to view subtitles as everyone speaks during a meeting. Exchange chat messages with other meeting participants. View and zoom in on presented content to easily follow along with the presenter on your own device. Read Also: Google Gemini to Fix Issues, Bring Selected Assistant Features Back for All Join Individually or As a Group with Meet Whether joining in a meeting as an individual on their smartphone or as a group, also using a mobile device, Google Meet's companion mode is here to offer a way to allow the use of accessories or hardware for better connectivity. Several interactive features are available to access via Companion Mode with ease, unlike joining in without this feature in tow. Features like chat, hand raising, screen sharing, polls, host controls, and more are available. Google Meet and its Features The era of the pandemic may be over, but video conferencing apps are still playing a massive role in the world now, especially for those in the remote work setup or proceeding with remote meetings. There is a way to transform your background into whatever you like, but there is also a feature called 360-Degree Virtual Background that allows a way for users to go to different spots without any interruptions. Meet was transformed to bring significant features that will allow users to easily connect with their friends, family, colleagues, and the like over the past years and updates available. One feature Google brought is allowing to easily share files, links, and more for the video conferencing platform, no longer needing to rely on other apps or experiences for this ability. AI is also playing a massive role on Google Meet now, centering on generative AI technology and the chatbot readily available to adhere to one's needs while on the call. In the latest update of Google for the Meet platform, the renowned Companion Mode is available to turn on before joining a call via smartphone devices, having the option to get the renowned feature to work well with accessories and the like. Related Article: Google Showcases Major AI Tools for Educators, Students 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For many years, Xbox was Microsoft's most prized gaming division which brought the company immense success, but rumors behind it going 'multiplatform' spread like wildfire, with the next Xbox Podcast featuring Phil Spencer to address the topic. The next episode of the podcast drop will feature Spencer answering massive questions regarding Xbox's fate, especially in its future. Xbox Podcast: Phil Spencer to Address Multiplatform Rumors Xbox announced the upcoming Xbox Official Podcast's episode drop that would feature the Xbox CEO Phil Spencer as its guest, one that is expected to bring answers to the world gamers' nagging questions. This centers on the rumors behind Xbox's plans to move away from the hardware console business and solely focus on being a game-distributing service. More particularly, with the massive Xbox-only titles that are soon coming to other consoles and platforms, despite them being competitors of the Microsoft console. This move by Xbox centers on offering renowned exclusive titles for all, especially with its massive promises for its top franchises, including the acquired games like Call of Duty, Fallout, Starfield, Indiana Jones, and more. Read Also: Xbox Remote Play to Bring Touch Controls for Android, iOS Apps to Use on Console Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx February 12, 2024 The Future of Xbox's Console Business: Soon Ending? Rumors were wild on their claims that Microsoft is finally exiting the console business with Xbox, but not necessarily trashing the brand as it will offer significant game distribution for all platforms. However, this centers on the end of an era for Microsoft, especially with its more than two-decade-old console developments, one that would end with the Xbox Series S and X. For now, it is yet unknown what the future will be, with Xbox's Phil Spencer soon addressing these talks. Microsoft Gaming, Xbox, Activision Blizzard Microsoft worked hard and faced the challenges over the years, with the company also paying top dollar for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard to establish its gaming empire across the industry. It is important to note that the latest investor earnings report of the company shared its massive growth of as much as 49 percent because of Activision Blizzard's merger alone. However, Xbox's business remained stagnant in its numbers. That being said, the acquisition is set to bring improvements in the future, and from a public standpoint, more games are coming to Xbox's experiences that are complemented by their ownership of Activision Blizzard King. There is also the famed acquisition of Microsoft on Bethesda Softworks, offering the Fallout franchise, The Elder Scrolls franchise, and more. The globally iconic Xbox platform has brought significant gaming experiences to the world throughout the years, rivaling Sony's PlayStation since the start of the 2000s decade. However, rumors claim that it will soon throw in the towel for the hardware and move on to being a multiplatform entity, one that would center on games and experiences, which Phil Spencer would either confirm or deny this Thursday. Related Article: Bethesda's 'The Elder Scrolls 6' to Also Release on the PS5, Reports Claim 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MOSCOW, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Four Armenian soldiers were killed after Azerbaijan launched a "retaliation operation" near the border in response to earlier provocations, authorities from both sides said Tuesday. Azerbaijan's border service said in a statement that it had conducted a "retaliation operation," destroying the Armenian combat post near the village of Nerkin Hand in response to earlier actions of the Armenian Armed Forces. The border service said that it would retaliate with "more serious and decisive measures" upon any future provocations. The Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a Telegram statement that Azerbaijan's gunfire resulted in four killed in action and one wounded on the Armenian side. On Monday, the State News Agency of Azerbaijan AZERTAC, citing the country's border service, reported that an Azerbaijani border guard was wounded as a result of shelling from Armenia. Subsequently, Baku and Yerevan accused each other of shelling on the border. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s (NYSE:AJG) periodic dividend will be increasing on the 15th of March to $0.60, with investors receiving 9.1% more than last year's $0.55. This takes the annual payment to 0.9% of the current stock price, which unfortunately is below what the industry is paying. See our latest analysis for Arthur J. Gallagher Arthur J. Gallagher's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings Even a low dividend yield can be attractive if it is sustained for years on end. Prior to this announcement, Arthur J. Gallagher's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 122.8%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 24%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Arthur J. Gallagher Has A Solid Track Record Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The annual payment during the last 10 years was $1.40 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $2.20. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 4.6% over that duration. Slow and steady dividend growth might not sound that exciting, but dividends have been stable for ten years, which we think makes this a fairly attractive offer. We Could See Arthur J. Gallagher's Dividend Growing Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Arthur J. Gallagher has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 5.2% per annum. Earnings are on the uptrend, and it is only paying a small portion of those earnings to shareholders. Arthur J. Gallagher Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Arthur J. Gallagher is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 4 warning signs for Arthur J. Gallagher that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. An FCC commissioner called for an inquiry into Apple's actions concerning the discontinuation of Beeper Mini. He asserts that the FCC should assess whether Apple's actions, characterized as the degradation of Beeper Mini's functionality, run afoul of the agency's regulations. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) A woman holding a smartphone walks past the Apple Store on January 4, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Call to Investigate Apple Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr has called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate Apple's actions surrounding the shutdown of Beeper Mini, a popular app that briefly granted Android users access to iMessage features. Speaking at the State of the Net Conference, Carr stressed the importance of scrutinizing whether Apple's decision to restrict Beeper Mini functionality violates FCC regulations, particularly those about accessibility for users with disabilities. According to FCC's Part 14 rules, advanced communication services like iMessage must adhere to accessibility standards. Commissioner Carr argues that Apple's termination of Beeper Mini might breach FCC regulations prohibiting the installation of network features hindering accessibility. Carr highlights the challenge posed by the low-contrast green bubbles for individuals with visual impairments. He expressed concerns that Apple's adjustments to iMessage rendered Beeper Mini non-functional, prompting him to suggest an FCC inquiry into whether Apple's actions compromised the accessibility and usability of Beeper Mini in violation of FCC regulations. Also Read: Beeper Will Not Respond If Apple Blocks Beeper Mini Carr's concerns extend beyond the Beeper Mini situation to encompass Apple's influence in augmented and virtual reality realms, as reported by The Verge. He raised issues regarding Apple's practice of creating closed ecosystems around its products and services, suggesting potential drawbacks if Apple continues to prioritize its proprietary technologies over competitors'. Carr emphasized the importance of fair treatment in the tech landscape to prevent the degradation of competitive offerings. Shutting Down Beeper Mini Beeper Mini garnered attention last year for bridging the gap between Android and iMessage, offering Android users coveted features such as blue message bubbles and seamless media sharing. However, Apple swiftly intervened, blocking Beeper Mini users and actively thwarting attempts to sustain the app's functionality, leading to its eventual demise. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Beeper Mini encountered significant hurdles, limiting its availability to a select group of determined users. The workaround involved complex procedures, requiring the use of an outdated jailbroken iPhone connected to Wi-Fi continuously, in conjunction with a Mac or Linux computer for configuration. While many dedicated Android users were willing to adopt the workaround, Apple had other intentions. Individuals who followed the prescribed steps discovered their Mac devices were labeled as "spam" and were unable to utilize iMessage. Although a few of the banned accounts were restored after inquiries, Beeper proactively disabled the feature allowing users to initiate new iMessage connections through Beeper Cloud. Apple has promised to support RCS messaging in the future. However, it's unclear how much they'll support it, and it won't fix the issue with green and blue chat bubbles. This ongoing change in messaging compatibility is shaping the competition between tech giants. Related Article: Beeper Mini Finally Shuts Down on Android Following Apple Ban 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bank of America has officially notified customers and authorities that one of its vendors, Infosys McCamish Systems (IMS), suffered a data breach last year, exposing several services of the banking giant's data, thus putting its customer's personally identifiable information (PII) at risk. First reported by Bleeping Computer, information shared with the Attorney General of Texas states that the impacted individuals' names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and financial information, including account and credit card numbers, are among the customer's personal identifiable information (PII) exposed in the security breach. (Photo : Brandon Bell/Getty Images) AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 13: An ATM is seen at a Bank of America on January 13, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Bank of America reported fourth-quarter earnings Friday morning, exceeding Wall Street estimates. The official notification for customers was sent on February 1 of this year, but the data breach occurred last November 3, 2023. The notice explains that a cybersecurity incident affecting IMS occurred when an unauthorized third party accessed IMS systems, making several applications unavailable. IMS reportedly notified Bank of America on November 24, 2023, about information about deferred compensation schemes that Bank of America services might have compromised. Still, the letter maintained that the Bank of America systems were not weakened. IMS then hired a different forensic company to look into and help with the recovery plan for IMS, involving reconstructing systems, improving reaction capabilities, and stopping and eliminating hostile activity. Bank of America's vendor has not yet discovered proof that threat actors can still access, use, or remain in their systems. Read Also: LectureNotes Learning App Hit by Cyberattack; 2 Million Users Affected Bank of America's Efforts In response to the breach, the Bank of America vendor informed the clients that the banking giant would provide a free two-year subscription to an identity theft protection program despite claiming to be unaware of any misuse involving customer information. Experian Identity Works will reportedly provide the theft protection solution. Customers are allegedly informed that all they need to do to activate the service is to enroll and that they will not be charged for the service. It is stated that the complimentary service will give clients daily access to their credit reports from three national credit reporting agencies, online tracking, and identity theft recovery. Bank of America vs. Lockbit The ransomware gang Lockbit allegedly took credit for the IMS attack on November 4, claiming that over 2,000 systems were encrypted by its operators during the hack. Since its discovery in September 2019, the LockBit ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation has attacked numerous well-known institutions, including the Italian Internal Revenue Service, the UK Royal Mail, the major Continental car company, and the City of Oakland. This is the second data breach incident concerning Bank of America vendors. Within the last few months after last November, the US division of EY began contacting Bank of America customers as they proved to be affected by a customer data breach incident. Like the latest data breach, sensitive information was also leaked, but the investigation concluded that neither Bank of America nor EY's internal systems were impacted. Related Article: Verizon Suffers Insider Data Breach, Critical Data Of More Than 63,000 Employees at Risk 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The latest spacesuit collaboration project between NASA and Collins Aerospace has passed the microgravity test with flying colors, ready for the next steps towards developing more of the future cosmic gears. NASA's development of the spacesuits saw significant challenges over the past years, but it decided to go for a private company and designate them to develop these suits for them. Spacesuits are an integral part of cosmic explorations, something that could make or break a mission, with astronaut lives at stake. NASA, Collins Aerospace's Spacesuit Pass Microgravity Test NASA announced the latest milestone it achieved with Collins Aerospace, its partner in developing a new spacesuit to be used for future intergalactic missions and more. According to the agency, the "pressure garment system fit and functionality test in a microgravity-like environment" passed with flying colors, with this development looking toward the next step. According to the agency, it was done in a parabolic flight that mirrors a microgravity environment, with the pilot creating weightless conditions for 20 seconds at a time and going through a series of rollercoaster-like maneuvers. This will replace the extravehicular mobility unit which has long used in the International Space Station for over two decades already. Read Also: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Spots a Galaxy Shrouded by Densely Packed Group of Stars Next Step for NASA, Collins Aerospace's Development Collins Aerospace was only selected by NASA in December 2022, and this only gave them more than a year to develop this successful spacesuit that is ready for future steps. The next one is undergoing vacuum chamber tests, alongside a plunge to a 40-feet deep pool at the Johnson Space Center for spacewalk training, and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. NASA's Spacesuits and its Improvements The renowned American space agency has already spent millions in developing a spacesuit for the last 15 years, but it got them nowhere as problems occurred during its development. The goal is to improve the spacesuits for future missions, and while NASA cannot do it alone, it awarded contracts to private companies to come and help them, with one centering on Axiom Space. In 2022, NASA decided to go for an outside hire to improve the spacesuits to be used for future missions, with the agency partnering with Axiom and Collins Aerospace for the development. Particularly, these spacesuits are meant for the Artemis Moon mission, best known for humans' next return to the lunar surface after decades since the last Apollo. Collins Aerospace was renowned for the design it brought for the said spacesuits, centering on a sleeker, more mobile experience that would allow astronauts to conduct better spacewalks. Artemis is one of the priorities for NASA and Collins Aerospace's development, but this upgrade could also be applied for other missions, one that would not only help protect the astronaut but also make them more mobile. Related Article: [LOOK] NASA Debuts Sleek, Next-Gen Spacesuit for Spacewalking! 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Kremlin's disagreement with Ukrainian allegations regarding Starlink has sparked a clash with Elon Musk. Rejecting claims that Russian military forces are leveraging Elon Musk's Starlink technology, the Kremlin has issued an official response to counter these assertions. (Photo : Photo by MAXIM SHIPENKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Denying Accusations Amidst rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the Kremlin and Elon Musk have firmly denied accusations that Russian troops are utilizing Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system. Interesting Engineering reported that this denial marks an official rebuttal to Ukraine's claims, adding a technological layer to the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The accusations surfaced when Ukraine alleged that Russian troops, including the 83rd Air Assault Brigade, were actively deploying Starlink terminals in eastern regions such as Donetsk. According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence, these terminals have been systematically utilized by Russian forces in areas of Ukraine under their control. In a press briefing on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov firmly stated that the Starlink system is not certified by Russia and, hence cannot be officially provided or used within the country. Peskov advised refraining from involvement in the ongoing discussion between the Ukrainian government and Elon Musk. Despite this, Ukraine, heavily reliant on Starlink for military communications, maintains that Russian troops are actively utilizing the technology. Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for GUR, Ukraine's military intelligence agency, alleges that Russia is obtaining Starlink through illicit means, which they describe as "parallel imports." During a televised appearance, Yusov asserted that Starlink is readily accessible in Russia and claimed that its usage within the Russian army on the frontline has become more structured compared to the previous year. Clearing Musk's Name Musk unequivocally refuted these allegations. Musk took to his platform X to state that, to the best of their knowledge, no Starlink devices have been sold to Russia, directly or indirectly. He dismissed reports suggesting otherwise as categorically false. Adding to the complexity, Starlink is not officially operational in Russia, rendering any device within the country unable to connect to the satellite internet service. Despite this, Ukraine asserts that Russian troops are employing Starlink on the frontlines in a more organized manner than before. The situation gains further complexity as Ukraine acknowledges that Starlink is not officially sold to Russia. Instead, they allege that Russia is obtaining the technology through what they term "parallel imports," essentially smuggling, raising concerns about how the technology is reaching Russian forces. Also Read: Vulkan Files Unmask How Putin, Russia Launched Shocking Cyberwarfare on the World In a prior incident, Reuters reported that Musk declined a plea to activate the network in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, citing apprehensions that such action would directly involve SpaceX in a significant act of war and escalate the conflict. Moreover, financial concerns were raised about the perpetual funding of the service in Ukraine. Nonetheless, Musk ultimately consented to maintain the connections. As the allegations and refutations persist in a back-and-forth exchange, the international community observes. This technological-infused diplomatic dilemma introduces a fresh dimension to the ongoing conflict, illustrating how state-of-the-art technology can be manipulated as a strategic pawn in geopolitical maneuvering. The narrative deepens, leaving all parties pondering the next twist in this intricate storyline. Related Article: Russia's 'Flying Kremlin' Plane Can Send Commands to Nuclear Submarines, Stronger Military Communication 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nvidia proves to be riding the AI boom to its advantage after reports indicate that the AI chipmaker has briefly passed Amazon in market value, thus becoming the 4th most valuable company in the US. Nvidia's stunning feat reportedly comes after its price peaked at $734.96, making Nvidia's market value $1.82 trillion. The retail behemoth Amazon.com ended with $1.81 trillion, only a few billion short of Alphabet, the company that owns Google with a $1.87 trillion market value. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) A sign is posted at the Nvidia headquarters on May 25, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia's passing of Amazon briefly moved the company up to the 4th rank among US-listed companies in terms of value. Two of the most valued US companies, Apple and Microsft, are reportedly valued at $2.89 trillion and $3.09 trillion, respectively. According to Forbes, Nvidia's profits before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) climbed by more than 500% in the most recent quarter compared to last year. This indicates that Nvidia's value and profitability keep rising, mainly because of its artificial intelligence division's relentless growth, which exceeded Amazon's and Alphabet's remarkable 20%+ earnings growth. Read Also: Elon Musk: Tesla to Use NVIDIA, AMD AI Chips to Build New Dojo Supercomputer Nvidia's Soaring Stocks Although Nvidia's $9.2 billion profit last quarter was far less than Apple's and Microsoft's over $22 billion earnings during the comparable stretch, analysts still predict that Nvidia's financials will soon narrow the gap. Nvidia's gross revenue and profits are not as stunning as its trillion-dollar firm contemporaries. Even after a more than 50% surge this year, Nvidia is still one of the most well-liked companies on Wall Street and is a top choice for analysts at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. Nvidia's stock has soared 223% over the last 12 months, making it the highest performing stock among the so-called "Magnificent Seven" on to the company's strong AI demand forecast. Meta Platforms has increased by 163% to rank 2nd. In layman's terms, Forbes estimates that with a gain of 17,000% over the past ten years, a 10-year-old $1,000 investment in Nvidia would be worth approximately $175,000 today. Nvidia stock has produced the most significant return of any S&P 500 stock, almost double that of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a rival chipmaker and the silver medalist in the AI chipmaking industry. Arm AI Chipmakers' Rise Another AI chipmaker riding the highs of the AI wave is Arm Holdings, a British tech semiconductor firm that saw its stocks increase by more than 40% on Monday, as reported by Reuters. This increase comes after another increase last Friday after closing 42% higher at $164; the stock was up 21% at $139.65 as of the previous trading day. Following a quarterly outlook that exceeded Wall Street's expectations last Wednesday, the British tech company Arm's shares have risen more than 80%, with Monday's increase becoming Wall Street's newest AI favorite. Related Article: Nvidia Advanced Gaming Cards Repurposed for AI in China Amid US Export Controls 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As Chinese society grapples with the modern challenges of loneliness and social isolation, a new trend is emerging among young women: turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for companionship and romance. AI Boyfriends on the Rise According to AFP, in bustling cities like Xi'an and Beijing, where fast-paced lifestyles and demanding work schedules often leave little room for traditional dating, apps like "Glow," "Wantalk," and "Weiban" are gaining popularity. These platforms allow users to engage with chatbots designed to simulate human interaction, providing emotional support and companionship. For 25-year-old office worker Tufei from Xi'an, her AI boyfriend on Glow is everything she could ask for in a romantic partner. She finds solace in their conversations, where her virtual companion offers empathy and understanding, even comforting her during difficult times. Tufei is not alone in her reliance on AI companionship. According to AFP, thousands of users download Glow daily, drawn by the allure of connecting with an AI that seems to understand them better than their real-life counterparts. Read More: [VIRAL] AI Husband: US Woman Shocks the Internet After Marrying Robot Created on Replika AI Companionship The appeal of AI companionship lies in its adaptability and accessibility. Unlike humans, AI chatbots can adjust their responses based on the user's personality, offering personalized interaction tailored to individual needs. For Wang Xiuting, a 22-year-old student in Beijing, her virtual lovers on Wantalk provide emotional support and guidance, helping her navigate the stresses of daily life and academic pressure. These AI companions come in various forms, ranging from ancient Chinese figures to modern-day celebrities. Users can choose their ideal partner based on age, personality, and interests, creating a customized experience that meets their emotional needs. Whether it is a long-haired immortal, a prince, or a knight, these virtual companions offer a sense of connection and understanding in a fast-paced and often lonely world. AI companionship provides a welcome respite in cities like Nantong, where long work hours and economic uncertainty contribute to feelings of isolation. Building meaningful relationships amid hectic schedules and uncertain futures can seem daunting for many young Chinese. In this context, AI companions offer a unique solution, providing companionship and emotional support that transcends the limitations of traditional social interactions. As AI companionship continues to gain traction in China, it raises important questions about the future of human relationships and technology's role in addressing modern society's challenges. Related Article: [VIRAL] Alexa Recordings Help Woman Catch Cheating Boyfriend! Here's What She Discovers 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA has captured stunning imagery of a recent volcanic eruption in the snowy expanse of Iceland, where bright red lava poured from the Reykjanes peninsula. The latest eruption, which marks the third such event since December 2023, started early on February 8, with lava shooting up to 80 meters high along a three-kilometer fissure near Mount Sylingarfell. NASA Captures Bright Red Lava Eruption in Iceland This volcanic activity has drawn both awe and concern from locals and experts alike as it was situated north of the fishing village Grindavik and east of the Svartsengi power station and Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Utilizing advanced satellite technology, NASA's Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) aboard Landsat 9 captured an image of another eruption on February 10. This image, combining infrared and visible observations, shows the heat signature of the lava against the snowy landscape. Notably, cooler lava expelled in January near Grindavik appears black in contrast to the newer, fiery eruptions. Despite the relatively remote location of the fissure, the lava flow has posed challenges to nearby infrastructure, according to NASA. Even though much of the lava flowed eastward into unpopulated areas, some streams encroached westward toward the power plant and spa. Protective measures, including earthen defensive walls, were employed to safeguard these facilities. However, the lava managed to breach a crucial hot water pipeline and two roads, prompting authorities to undertake repairs and restore essential services to affected areas. Read Also: NASA's Picture of the Day Features SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket Crossing in Front of Nearly Full Moon Plume of Gas and Ash In the eruption's aftermath, satellite imagery captured by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) revealed a plume of gas and ash billowing southwestward. According to NASA, this event was characterized by effusive lava flows, resulting in minimal ash emissions that posed no threat to air travel. Analysis of the volcanic plume revealed typical components such as water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide, along with traces of other volcanic gases. Scientists from the Icelandic Met Office and the University of Iceland noted interactions between magma and groundwater, contributing to the plume's composition. Additionally, data from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) detected sulfur dioxide within the plume, providing valuable insights into the eruption's atmospheric impact. While initial reports suggested a waning of volcanic activity following the eruption, subsequent observations indicated a resurgence in seismic activity near the Svartsengi area. Monitoring efforts revealed increased land surface swelling reminiscent of precursory signs observed before eruptions. The Icelandic Met Office cautioned that this cycle of volcanic activity may continue in the coming weeks, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness. Related Article: NASA's Picture of the Day: Jupiter Looking Sharp in These Breathtaking New Rooftop Telescope Images 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Greece has officially joined NASA's Artemis Accords, becoming the 35th country to align with the United States' framework for guiding principles in space exploration. The signing of the Artemis Accords took place on February 9 at the US State Department during the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue meeting. Greece's foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, represented the country and signed the agreement. During the signing ceremony, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson commended Greece's decision to join the Artemis Accords, emphasizing the longstanding partnership between the US and Greece and expressing enthusiasm for expanding collaboration in space exploration. Greece Joins the Artemis Accords The event, held in Washington, also saw the participation of NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Dr. Ioannis Daglis, President of the Hellenic Space Center. The Artemis Accords, created in 2020 with the US and seven other original signatories, outline a practical framework of principles to govern cooperation in space exploration among nations. Since its inception, signatory countries have engaged in discussions to effectively refine and implement these principles. The accords reinforce essential obligations outlined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty while enhancing commitments to agreements such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement. Additionally, they promote best practices endorsed by NASA and its partners, including the transparent release of scientific data. Greece's decision to join the Artemis Accords aligns with its vision of contributing to humanity's collective efforts in space exploration. Gerapetritis emphasized the significance of collaboration and cooperation among nations as humanity ventures into space. "As humanity embarks on a great adventure, returning to the Moon and preparing for traveling beyond the Moon, the Artemis Accords serve as a beacon of collaboration and cooperation among nations, paving the way for a sustainable and peaceful exploration of space," Gerapetritis said in a statement. "Congratulations to Greece on becoming the 35th country to join the Artemis Accords family," said Nelson. "The U.S. and Greece are long-time partners and friends, and we are excited to expand this partnership in the cosmos. Together, we are shaping the future of cooperation in space for the Artemis Generation," he added. Read Also: NASA Wraps Up 1st Phase of Ambitious Project That Aims to Put a Nuclear Fission Reactor on the Moon All About the Artemis The Artemis mission aims to achieve significant milestones in space exploration, including landing the first woman, first person of color, and the first international partner astronaut on the Moon. With ambitious goals to make new scientific discoveries and expand exploration of the lunar surface, international partnerships are vital to the success of the Artemis mission. Through the Artemis Accords, countries commit to advancing safe, peaceful, and prosperous activities in space, paving the way for a sustainable presence on the Moon and preparing for future missions to Mars. Transparency and responsible behavior are central tenets of the accords, ensuring that all activities conducted in space are for peaceful purposes and align with international norms and standards. Related Article: Iconic NASA Webb Image 'Pillars of Creation' Is Now Among US Postal Service Stamps 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Thousands of rideshare and delivery drivers across the United States are preparing for a major demonstration on Valentine's Day. On Feb 14, drivers from popular platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash will take to the streets to demand fair pay and better safety measures. This protest organized by the Justice for App Workers coalition involves over 100,000 drivers (via Reuters). Major Airports Affected According to the latest update from organizers, the scope of this strike is large, with drivers from major cities taking part. Rallies are scheduled at airports in ten different cities, ranging from Austin to Miami and Chicago to Tampa. One of the main issues driving these protests is the significant pay cut that drivers have received, particularly during the winter months. Many drivers struggle to make ends meet, with some having to work excessively long hours to make ends meet. The safety of drivers is also of great concern. Drivers frequently find themselves in vulnerable situations, and the platforms' lack of adequate security measures has left them feeling exposed. The coalition is urging Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and other app companies to address these concerns and implement meaningful changes to support their drivers. Read Also: Jeep and Chrysler Parent Company, Stellantis, Commits to Tesla's NACS Charging Standard Downplayed by Companies While the strike may cause transportation disruptions on Valentine's Day, Uber and Lyft are downplaying the potential impact on their businesses. Based on previous reports, they claim that only a small percentage of drivers typically attend such demonstrations and that previous strikes had little impact on their operations. Both companies emphasize that driver earnings remain strong, with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently reporting an average of $33 per hour for drivers in the United States. Lyft recently announced guaranteed weekly earnings for its drivers, a move aimed at improving transparency and addressing criticisms about driver compensation. However, drivers argue that more needs to be done to ensure they receive fair pay for their work. They point to data showing a decrease in Uber drivers' earnings by 17.1% in 2023, while Lyft drivers saw only a 2.5% increase. DoorDash, another major player in the gig economy, has not responded to requests for comment on the upcoming strike. The company currently pays its drivers based on active hours, with rates varying depending on location and local regulations. In Other News Prime Video's ad-supported tier has been downgraded once more with the removal of Dolby Atmos and Vision features. The only way to reclaim these features for their experiences is to pay the additional monthly fee, which also removes ads from their streaming. For the time being, users have three options: stay in the regular (now ad-supported) tier, upgrade to ad-free to gain access to the Dolby features, or quit Prime Video. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Waymo Car Vandalized in San Francisco, Set on Fire Amid Lunar New Year 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In recent cybersecurity developments, threat actors have been leveraging NodeJS to carry out banking attacks, posing a significant risk to online banking users. According to the reports, these attackers employ JavaScript web injections to manipulate the login pages of banking websites, enabling them to steal sensitive credentials and one-time passwords. Uncovering Coyote Malware Kaspersky Labs' cybersecurity analysts have uncovered a new threat known as Coyote malware, which targets users of more than 60 banks, particularly in Brazil. What sets Coyote apart is its innovative use of NodeJS and Nim programming language, diverging from traditional banking Trojan infection methods. Related Article: US Authorities Shut Down Websites Selling Data-Stealing 'Warzone RAT' to Hackers Innovative Distribution Techniques Unlike typical banking Trojans that rely on Delphi or MSI installers, Coyote employs the Squirrel installer, which utilizes NodeJS and Nim programming language as a loader. This unconventional approach simplifies installation and updates, making it accessible to a wider range of cybercriminals. Execution and Persistence Coyote employs sophisticated techniques to evade detection and ensure persistence on infected systems. It utilizes Squirrel to trigger a NodeJS application in Electron, executing obfuscated JavaScript to copy executables and maintain persistence across reboots. Additionally, it utilizes AES-encrypted string obfuscation for enhanced stealth. Data Collection and Transmission Once active on a victim's system, Coyote establishes SSL communication with its command-and-control (C2) server, enabling it to collect sensitive information such as machine names, banking applications in use, and other relevant data. This information is then transmitted to the attacker's server for further exploitation. The emergence of Coyote malware highlights a shift in Brazilian banking Trojans towards modern technologies like Node.js, .NET, and Nim. This evolution underscores the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the need for robust cybersecurity measures. With a majority of infections originating from Brazil, financial institutions and users alike must stay vigilant against such advanced threats. Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) Host-based (MD5 hash): 03eacccb664d517772a33255dff96020 071b6efd6d3ace1ad23ee0d6d3eead76 276f14d432601003b6bf0caa8cd82fec 5134e6925ff1397fdda0f3b48afec87b bf9c9cc94056bcdae6e579e724e8dbbd C2 domain list: atendesolucao[.]com servicoasso[.]com dowfinanceiro[.]com centralsolucao[.]com traktinves[.]com diadaacaodegraca[.]com segurancasys[.]com In conclusion, the discovery of Coyote malware underscores the need for proactive cybersecurity measures to combat evolving threats in the banking sector. In other news, Tech Times reported that Romania's healthcare system was hit by a ransomware attack. A recent report said that at least 18 hospitals in the country were "paralyzed" after the threat actors launched an attack on the healthcare facilities. The extent of the impact is yet to be disclosed by the authorities. Still, they are unsure if the hackers aim to steal data of patients and other medical activities. Read Also: Bank of America Vendor Hacked, Customer Data at Risk 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MONTREAL, Feb. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - AtkinsRealis [SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.] (TSX: ATRL), a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, announces the appointment of Christine Healy, a seasoned global executive, as President for Asia, Middle East and Australia (AMEA), effective February 19, 2024. Christine Healy headshot (CNW Group/AtkinsRealis) "We are delighted to welcome Christine to this new leadership role. With her wealth of experience and exposure to diverse regions throughout her career, she brings a distinctive global perspective and background which will enrich our strategic approach,'' said Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of AtkinsRealis. "I look forward to working with her to serve our clients in the AMEA region as we continue our journey to provide solutions to meet the most pressing global challenges of our time." Ms. Healy's primary focus will be on advancing AtkinsRealis' engineering services offering, spanning infrastructure, transportation, and clean energy segments. She will report to the President and CEO and will also be a member of the Executive Committee. AtkinsRealis has a strong presence in the Asia Pacific and Middle East and its involvement in projects in these regions include Neom's THE LINE; the Hong Kong - Shenzhen Western Rail Link and the International Airport; the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport project; the Dubai opera; the Landmark 81 building, named one of the World's Top 10 Skyscrapers in 2019, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Riyadh Metro. Last December, AtkinsRealis was appointed to support the design of the New Murabba masterplan, the world's largest modern downtown in Riyadh, and the Mukaab, an immersive destination that will revolutionize the way in which people experience hospitality, retail and leisure. About Christine Healy Christine Healy has delivered new business opportunities, negotiated in challenging environments and created lasting relationships with all stakeholders including partners and investors. With executive experience in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, UK & Europe as well as the Americas, she joins AtkinsRealis from TotalEnergies, where she held successive senior executive positions, including Senior Vice President for Carbon Neutrality and Continental Europe. A lawyer and economist by trade, her successful management of multibillion-dollar businesses, adept navigation of mergers and acquisitions, and active involvement in sustainability and energy transition programs underscore her leadership ability. Ms. Healy also held the position of Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel for Maersk Oil where she was responsible for Strategy, Business Development, Communications, Commercial Negotiations and Legal supporting operations in 14 countries. As Vice President, Business Development for North America for Statoil (now Equinor), she was responsible for delivering growth, including M&A execution. Story continues About AtkinsRealis Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRealis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn. AtkinsRealis Logo (CNW Group/AtkinsRealis) SOURCE AtkinsRealis Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2024/13/c4046.html US President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign boldly embraces TikTok, challenging past reservations and the federal device ban. The @bidenhq account, solely managed by the campaign team, strategically targets a diverse American population, especially younger demographics shifting from traditional platforms. The first post, featuring President Biden's Super Bowl-related responses and a nod to a Taylor Swift conspiracy theory, showcases the campaign's innovative approach. President Biden joked that he supported the Philadelphia Eagles to avoid "sleeping alone" because his wife is from Philadelphia. (Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)In this photo illustration, a reporter shows US President Joe Biden's X account on their phone at the White House on February 12, 2024, in Washington, DC. US President Joe Biden's debut on TikTok has caused a stir -- not least because the Chinese-owned social media platform is still officially considered a security risk by Washington. TikTok Security Concerns In 2022, Biden prohibited 4 million federal workers from using TikTok due to data-sharing fears with China, including FBI and FCC-mentioned privacy concerns, according to a news from AP News Several states have adopted this policy. Legislators from both parties have called for the ban of ByteDance's app, citing fears that Beijing may access user data. Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash), a vocal advocate for banning TikTok, and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who chairs the China Select Committee on the CCP and co-sponsored a bill to ban the app, are both retiring from Congress. Republican presidential candidates who criticized TikTok in debates have largely withdrawn from the race, per Politico. Additionally, the government faces significant internal discord regarding the methodology for banning the social media app and safeguarding such a ban against expected legal challenges. Despite these worries, TikTok remains popular among American youth, whom the White House wants to rally for in November. The Biden campaign acknowledges security issues, pledging enhanced measures, though specifics remain undisclosed. Read Also: AI Search Engine Revolution: Perplexity Threatens to Outshine Google and Bing The Committee on Foreign Investment examines TikTok's national security concerns. Despite the 2020 ban attempt's failure, the investigation persists. TikTok concurrently strengthens its government affairs team, hiring from tech giants like Amazon and the now-defunct Internet Association. Targeting Young Voters Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins acknowledges Democrats' TikTok hesitancy due to security concerns but stresses its necessity for voter engagement. Biden's campaign aims to revive the 2020 youth turnout, with Tufts University reporting 50% turnout and 65% support for the Democratic president. Opinion polls hint at strains in the youth coalition, with younger voters questioning Biden's stance on Israel and discontent over Gaza. Student loan forgiveness issues contribute to potential fractures. Alarming surveys even suggest Biden is trailing Trump among younger voters. The campaign acknowledges these challenges, emphasizing the imperative of addressing youth concerns for the upcoming election. Hey by the way, we just joined TikTok Follow us: https://t.co/KbtdOh2O4a pic.twitter.com/vDeXUzhb9W Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) February 12, 2024 President Biden's TikTok account would be managed by his campaign staff, as reported by The BBC. Biden's campaign announced regular content updates on TikTok. The campaign is active on various platforms, including Meta's Threads, Instagram, Facebook, X (previously Twitter), and Truth Social, endorsed by Republican figurehead Donald Trump. Emphasizing social media and smaller events, the campaign aims to connect with target voters less engaged with traditional outlets. They have intensified efforts to collaborate with social media influencers to amplify the president's message, showcasing a multifaceted approach to outreach. Related Article: Meta Threads Trending Feature Now Available in the US, Both in For You and Search 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)) Scientists at Sweden's University of Gothenburg have developed an AI-driven method to detect early-stage cancer. The new test is poised to be a game-changer in cancer prognosis as it is non-invasive, offers improved accuracy, and can pick up different cancers, including lung, liver, and skin cancer. Until now, scientists have relied on mass spectroscopy to identify biochemical signals that may hint at tumors in a patient's body. However, in a recent study, researchers relied on an AI-driven method to analyze data and achieved greater reliability. "Spectroscopy results are mostly homogenous and often lack sensitivity to gauge critical data points," Daniel Bojar, associate senior lecturer in bioinformatics at the University of Gothenburg and lead author of this study, told Tech Times in an interview. "AI comes with advanced analytics to ensure consistency in glycan structures. That's how we can accurately measure glycans and their structural changes over time." Bojar says they should be able to produce clinical tests and launch on a mass scale in the next 4-5 years. The team is also looking to expand the cancer types involved in the study to improve the reliability of their research. Glycans: The Next Big Thing in Cancer Detection In 2020, around 19.3 million people worldwide were diagnosed with cancer, and this is expected to rise to 28.4 million by 2040. Currently, there are no cures for cancer, but finding and treating it early usually leads to better outcomes. Scientists are always looking for faster ways to spot cancer. The new cancer test depends on detecting defined glycans, which are long sugar chains attached to fats and proteins that also dictate how our cell behaves. These complex sugar molecules are one of the four major macromolecules essential for life, the other three including DNA, proteins, and fats. Changes in Glycome structures can be tied to inflammation, food allergies, diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, and even natural processes like aging. There have already been numerous reports on the elevated presence of N-glycan structures in breast cancer patients, but they are absent in healthy tissues. Moreover, a glycan-based blood test to detect ovarian cancer is already in early human trials. "Glycans are mostly the first point of contact for all kinds of cellular interactions. Naturally, mutations in these glycans can trigger different responses by cells to a single stimulus by modifying proteins that sit in the cell," Emmanuel Maverakis from the University of California, Davis, told Tech Times in an interview. "The glycan changes act as unique "fingerprints" for specific cancer types." The other reason glycans are considered the next big thing in cancer research is because of their presence in easily detectable locations like spit, blood, and urine, allowing doctors to monitor cancerous cells without performing invasive cancer screening tests like endoscopy or biopsy. This reduces discomfort and risk for patients while broadening testing possibilities. The Potential of AI In Cancer Prognosis The researchers at Gothenburg are not the only ones to use AI in cancer detection. As of now, the FDA has approved more than 300 AI tools for radiology and oncology to help doctors predict, diagnose, and treat cancer, especially in the early stages. AI's potential to reform cancer detection lies in its ability to analyze vast amounts of diverse data and biomarkers, including genetic profiles, medical history, and real-time physiological measurements. The early prognosis can be supplemented by personalized treatment plans with optimal dosage for each patient, ensuring maximum benefit with minimal risk. Researchers at MIT have developed Sybil, an AI tool to predict the risk of lung cancer development in the next six years of screening. The accuracy of Sybil was between 86-94%, a significant uptick from the current cancer screening regime. Sybil relies on CT scans to look for signs of tumors, abnormal growth, and even hidden patterns without the presence of any significant nodules that might be overlooked by human eyes. Similarly, a coalition of scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Copenhagen have developed AI software to identify patients who are at risk of early-stage pancreatic cancer. AI can analyze biomarkers such as gene expression profiles and protein levels to identify signs of cancer. These biomarkers can be used to develop new diagnostic tests and targeted therapies. We are looking at times when AI will be able to detect cancer with a simple click while eliminating the need for back-to-back tests and aiding the decision-making prowess of oncologists. "The future of oncology is going to be AI-assisted," Florian Fintelmann, one of the scientists working on Sybil, told Tech Times in an interview. However, the integration of AI tools in radiology isn't without its challenges. Healthcare professionals globally have already raised concerns about inconsistent datasets, breaches of patient privacy, and regulatory scrutiny. The challenges echo louder when AI systems tend to hallucinate and produce false positives to arrive at wanted or more desirable conclusions. Avya Chaudhary is a technology writer whose work has appeared in TechRepublic Premium, PageFly, TechnologyAdvice, and Hatica. Find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/avya-chaudhary. 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. realme Philippines is set to launch the realme C67 on February 1, 2024. Tagged as "Champion Redefined," the brand new smartphone is the latest release under the realme C Series. The Squad can tune in to the livestream on Facebook and TikTok from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM to discover how to avail the realme C67 at a limited-time introductory price offer. Aside from this, realme Philippines has also invited two special guests to join the livestream to talk about the special features of the newest realme smartphone: Tech Expert and Reviewer, Giancarlo Viterbo of Gadget Pilipinas as well as Content Creator and Photographer, Mark Kelvin Aliliran. READ ALSO: Realme Unveils Game-changing Smartphone, Charges Fully in Just 9 Minutes! As a trusted Tech Reviewer, Viterbo will share his insights from getting early access on the realme C67 and talk about its notable specs, such as the 7.59mm Ultra Slim Design build and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 processor that is positioned as high-performing and power-efficient. One of the highlights of the realme C67 is the 108MP 3x In-Sensor Zoom Camera that can take high-resolution photos. To know more about it, Aliliran has put the realme C67 to the test to see how the camera works for a street photographer like him. During this segment, users can learn how to use its 3x In-Sensor Zoom, Portrait Mode, and Street Mode among other features that help to easily capture moments in any given situation. The new champion phone is positioned to redefine the realme C Series as an entry-level disruptor that provides a premium smartphone experience without breaking the bank. It's for every student, young professional, or experienced worker seeking for the best value, accessibility, and quality features all wrapped in one device. The realme C67 will become available in Sunny Oasis and Black Rock colorways in either the 8GB+256GB or 8GB+128GB storage variants. Pre-order details To get first dibs on the realme C67, the Squad should head to the nearest offline realme store and sign up for the pre-order list from February 1 to 8, 2024 only. Every pre-order comes with a FREE, brand new TechLife 32oz Flask in white or black. Claiming period starts from February 9 onwards but the Squad can still cop the TechLife Flask during the first-selling period while supplies last until February 18 only. Fortunately, exciting TechLife freebies are still up for grabs, namely the TechLife 10-Blade Remote Control Electric Fan, TechLife Handheld Fan 2, and TechLife Extension Cord with 3 USB Outlets. The Squad can win these prizes by playing the Dice Game promo from February 9-11 in participating realme stores. Keep posted on the announcement about the brand new realme C67 by visiting the realme official Facebook page or website. RELATED ARTICLE: 'Long-lasting Value Companion' realme Note 50 now available online, starts at PHP 2,499 **This is a contributed press release, and the content does not necessarily represent the views of TechTimes. Bank of America Corporation (BofA), the second-largest banking institution in the U.S., is warning customers of a possible data breach that may have exposed sensitive personal information of customers participating in a deferred compensation plan. The notice of data breach filed by BofA with the Attorney General of Texas reveals that the customers personally identifiable information (PII) exposed in the security breach includes customer names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial information, including account and credit card numbers. Apparently, the data breach took place on November 3, 2023, at Infosys McCamish Systems LLC (Infosys, or IMS), which is Bank of Americas vendor. In a recent filing with the Attorney General of Maine, IMS revealed that 57,028 customers had their data exposed in the incident. During the cyberattack, an unauthorized party was able to access portions of IMSs computer network. On learning about the cybersecurity breach, IMS carried out an investigation with the help of third-party forensics specialists. It informed Bank of America on November 24, 2023, that data related to certain deferred compensation plans serviced by the bank may have been affected. However, at no point was Bank of Americas internal network compromised during the breach. On February 1, 2024, Infosys sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident, listing what information belonging to them was compromised. Similarly, Bank of America too sent out data breach letters to impacted consumers on February 6, 2024, notifying them about the security breach. Despite claiming to be unaware of any misuse involving customer information, Bank of America is offering a complimentary two-year membership in Experians identity theft protection program for free to the affected customers, which includes credit monitoring, identity theft insurance, and fraud resolution services, to offset the incident. Besides this, customers are also advised to change online passwords and PINs, monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity, report any unauthorized transactions immediately, and also put a security freeze or fraud alert on their credit reports. Bank of America Vs. LockBit On November 4, 2023, the ransomware gang LockBit allegedly took credit for the IMS attack, claiming that its operators encrypted over 2,000 systems during the breach. The LockBit ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation came to light in September 2019 and has since attacked numerous renowned institutions, including the UK Royal Mail, the Italian Internal Revenue Service, the major Continental car company, and the City of Oakland. Bank of NT Butterfield & Son (NTB) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.15 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.27 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 3.60%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this community bank would post earnings of $1.12 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.16, delivering a surprise of 3.57%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Bank of NT Butterfield & Son , which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Foreign industry, posted revenues of $146.9 million for the quarter ended December 2023, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.18%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $149.5 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Bank of NT Butterfield & Son shares have lost about 8.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 5.4%. What's Next for Bank of NT Butterfield & Son? While Bank of NT Butterfield & Son has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Bank of NT Butterfield & Son: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.04 on $137.45 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.32 on $558 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Foreign is currently in the top 31% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Canadian Imperial Bank (CM), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended January 2024. The results are expected to be released on February 29. This bank and financial services company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.40 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -2.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Canadian Imperial Bank's revenues are expected to be $4.48 billion, up 1.8% from the year-ago quarter. 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 Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (The) (NTB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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 Jordi Evole apologizes to Camela in Lo de Evole for an article he wrote in 2000 Organ donation registry: how does it work? Answers to the most important questions Annoyed by a kissing couple: woman attacks the person sitting next to her on the train A man who was drunk on a train and threatened to hit a police officer has been detained by the railway police 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 A Blaugrana nightmare and the bogeyman Joao Felix: "It was a game for him, he made a difference" NBA: Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich confirm the Spurs will come to Paris next season Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you 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 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. Niger: why the American military base in Agadez is strategic for the United States France: Emmanuel Macron receives the Crif for his 80th birthday, in a context of war in Gaza To deter dissolutions that can be seen as aimed at maintaining power Oshima, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Why does time fly quickly when we are having fun and slow down when we are bored? The Director General of the South African Foreign Ministry will visit Kyiv as part of the diplomatic search for a solution to the conflict Concern about the fate of Princess of Wales Kate Middleton... and talk of an important royal announcement Russia demands that Germany officially recognize the siege of Leningrad as an act of genocide 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. 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 Organ donation registry: how does it work? Answers to the most important questions Annoyed by a kissing couple: woman attacks the person sitting next to her on the train A man who was drunk on a train and threatened to hit a police officer has been detained by the railway police 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 A Blaugrana nightmare and the bogeyman Joao Felix: "It was a game for him, he made a difference" NBA: Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich confirm the Spurs will come to Paris next season Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you 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. To deter dissolutions that can be seen as aimed at maintaining power Oshima, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Why does time fly quickly when we are having fun and slow down when we are bored? The Director General of the South African Foreign Ministry will visit Kyiv as part of the diplomatic search for a solution to the conflict Concern about the fate of Princess of Wales Kate Middleton... and talk of an important royal announcement Russia demands that Germany officially recognize the siege of Leningrad as an act of genocide 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. Oil companies face a potentially existential crisis. The world wants to move away from oil and other emission-producing energy sources. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which falls under the United Nations, has set an aggressive "net zero" target for carbon emissions by the year 2050. Net zero refers to a situation where the amount of greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere matches the amount of greenhouse gasses being removed. This target is deemed necessary for the global temperature increase to be limited to just 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to preindustrial levels. Don't Miss: This Los Angeles startup is closing a real estate market gap worth hundreds of billions and you can invest in it with as little as $100 . Cheddar was acquired for $200 million yielding a return of 370.37% for its investors. This startup aims to replicate and potentially surpass this success. While oil companies traditionally are massive pollutants of greenhouse gasses, increased innovations in the space have positioned them to also potentially be a part of the solution. To get closer to the reality of net zero, the Biden administration is granting up to $1.2 billion to advance one of the most promising, but also one of the most controversial, methods to tackle climate change: direct air capture. Direct air capture is described as "essentially giant vacuums that can suck decades of old carbon pollution straight out of the sky," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told the Houston Chronicle. Warren Buffet-backed Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:OXY) is one of the two main recipients of the grant money with hopes to do just that. Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub is optimistic about the technology. If its produced in the way that Im talking about, theres no reason not to produce oil and gas forever," Hollub told NPR. Trending: Even if you're not ultra-wealthy, this startup could potentially become the success story youll retell at dinner parties. That last part has climate change advocates on high alert. Story continues Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, a resource for climate solutions, seethes when discussing the grants given to big oil. "Why are we subsidizing fossil fuel companies, which are the most profitable in history, to extend their lifespan by decades? We should be spending that money on real solutions: energy efficiency, renewables, retrofitting homes and fixing agriculture," Foley told Reuters. The topic is controversial because the CO2 extracted from the air can also be used to pump even more oil. CO2 has been used by oil companies for decades to extract more oil out of aging, declining oil wells. This effectively means that big oil can not only make money from winning government grants or by charging businesses for the right to offset their carbon dioxide emissions but can also make money from taking the extracted CO2 to produce even more oil. As much as the world is trying to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the transition is not happening overnight. The price of oil has had a strong start to the year. United States Oil ETF (NYSE:USO), which predominantly holds oil futures, has started the new year already up 9% partly because of rising geopolitical concerns in the Middle East. Whether you like it or not, the world still needs oil, and direct air capture might be an effective tool to continue pumping the oil the economy still needs while constructively working toward a net zero future. Read Next: Join the ranks of investors like Bill Gates and Mark Cuban by tapping into early-stage startups. Get the inside scoop on this innovative startup here . This startup is accepting investors for as little as 25 cents whats the catch? "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 Biden Administration Grants $1.2 Billion For Big Oil To Controversially Extract CO2 From The Air To Produce More Oil originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Nine trapped in Turkish gold mine landslide Istanbul, Feb 13 (AFP) Feb 13, 2024 Hundreds of Turkish rescuers on Tuesday searched through a cyanide-laced field for nine gold mine workers who were swallowed by a massive landslide that rolled over their open pit. Images from the scene showed the landslide sweeping across a valley and crashing into a road where some of the workers were travelling by vehicle. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said there was no news from nine out of 667 employees of the mine, which is in the remote Ilic district of the eastern Erzincan province. "We installed our (rescue) vehicles, our generators, and our night lighting equipment," Yerlikaya told state-run TRT television. "We have only one wish: to be able to give good news to the families of these brothers." Experts and local officials said the search was complicated by the presence in the ground of cyanide -- a highly toxic chemical compound used to extract gold from ore. "Cyanide soil collapsed" at the site, Independent Mining Labour Union representative Basaran Aksu told Turkish media. Aksu added that expert teams would need to use specialist equipment in the search. "The work may take a very long time because of the cyanide field," which is reported to be one of Turkey's largest. - 2022 accident - The province lies on the northern bank of the Karasu River -- a major tributary of the Euphrates, which runs from Turkey to Syria and Iraq. Turkey's environment ministry said it had sealed off a stream that runs from the open pit to prevent contaminating the Euphrates. Environmental activists and local officials tried to shut down the open pit mine after a 2022 cyanide leak. The plant was shuttered for a few months but then re-opened after its operator paid a fine, prompting an outcry from Turkey's opposition parties. Cemalettin Kucuk, an engineer who co-authored a report into the mine's safety when its operator sought permission to expand its capacity, said the soil was filled with "centimetre-wide stone fragments containing cyanide". "We are talking about a mountain weighing millions of tonnes," Kucuk told Turkish media. "We have warned about this many times." Anagold, a private company that runs the Ilic mine, said it was working to minimise the effects of this "painful" incident. "We will mobilise all our means in order to urgently shed light on this incident," Anagold said in a statement. Turkey's justice ministry on Tuesday assigned four public prosecutors to investigate the mine's operations. Turkey is prone to deadly landslides and has suffered a string of mining accidents in recent decades. A methane blast at a coal mine in northwestern Turkey killed 42 people in October 2022. The News The run of deals in the oil patch show an industry trying to squeeze the last drops literally of oil demand thats sure to decline, though when is anybodys guess. Diamondbacks $26 billion takeover of Endeavor, announced yesterday, creates a behemoth in the Permian Basin, home to oil and gas blasted out of rock by newer technology. The U.S. is now the worlds biggest oil producer, thanks to heavy drilling in New Mexico and Texas, where the two companies have neighboring acreage. Despite efforts to transition to clean energy, global demand for oil is expected to rise for at least another decade. The key now is for companies that pump it to bulk up. Rather than the frenzied drilling of the 2010s which fueled the American energy boom but delivered scant profits companies are now focused on making existing wells more profitable, said Mark Viviano, who runs an $800 million portfolio of energy stocks at Kimmeridge Energy Engagement Partners. Its an arms race for operational scale and investor relevancy, he said. In shales wildcat days, smaller and nimbler firms had a first-mover advantage on the best acreage, he said. Now its all about efficiencies lowering costs, returning cash, being able to reduce emissions off a bigger footprint, collecting data. Similar dynamics are behind a spate of takeovers in the area, including Exxon buying Pioneer for $60 billion, Chevron buying Hess ($53 billion), Chesapeake buying Southwestern ($7.4 billion), and Occidental buying CrownRock ($12 billion), all announced in the past four months. Youll run out of quality targets before you run out of buyers, said Bruce On, who runs the energy transaction group at EY in Houston. Nobody wants to be left without a partner. The CEO of French giant TotalEnergies said this week that policymakers and climate protestors are naive to think oil demand will decline dramatically anytime soon and said his company, the worlds fifth-largest energy firm, will keep investing in oil. Story continues I need to continue to be strong in oil and gas people are first buying your shares because of that, Patrick Pouyanne told the Financial Times. About two-thirds of Totals capital spending goes to fossil fuels, and the rest to its lower-emissions power business. Viviano made a comparison to tobacco stocks. By the early 2010s, investors knew cigarettes were fading but were unsure how quickly. So tobacco companies hunkered down, bulked up, and returned cash to investors. By 2020, Altria had returned $53 billion to shareholders in dividends and buybacks, more than the entire company was worth at the start of the decade, and had outperformed the S&P 500. Thats what weve argued the energy sector needs to do, he said. You dont really care if oil goes away in 10 years if youve gotten all your money back by then. Despite broad global consensus, low-carbon technologies face serious challenges an estimated $18 trillion investment shortfall, red tape, and waning political and investor support for corporate environmentalism, particularly as geopolitical turmoil makes energy security a priority. Theres this growing realization that the energy transition might not be as plug-and-play as economists thought, and that oil and gas are going to be necessary for a while, EYs On said. Lizs view We tend to think of M&A as a purely bullish indicator, rising in boom times and falling in bad ones. Thats true CEOs want to strike big deals when theyre feeling good, and investors want to finance those deals when markets are functioning but only to a degree. Its odd that dealmaking has become associated with boom times because its the textbook solution to the problem now facing the oil industry. Most corporate mergers over the past few years have actually been defensive, according to Deloitte, and one in every seven is just trying to squeeze whatever remains from a dying corner of the corporate world. When industries are growing, everyone can benefit, and it suits companies to let a thousand flowers bloom. Snap can build spectacles that nobody buys, Netflix and Spotify can throw money at Harry and Meghan, and investors are generally happy to pay for all of it. This happened during the shale boom in the early 2010s. Companies plowed their profits back into new wells, helping to make the U.S. a major energy producer but sapping their profits. Investors didnt get much out of it and quickly soured, the same thing thats happening to streaming companies (and Snap) now. Thus the consolidation chatter in Hollywood. Its a question of when, not if, oil demand will peak and clean energy will replace fossil fuels, and the industry is preparing. There are two ways they might do that. One is to make major acquisitions in clean energy the transform the business to safeguard the future bucket in Deloittes chart. But as my colleague Tim McDonnell told me when I asked, oil companies like molecules, not electrons. Pouyanne dismissed the idea of buying a big renewables company, even at current bargain prices. I dont need rsted, he told the FT, of the offshore wind developer whose shares are down 75% since 2021. What do they bring to me? The other is to squeeze the remaining profits out of the oil business and, in the meantime, place smaller, in-house bets on renewables. Thats the wave of producer tie-ups were seeing now. Diamondbacks CEO is promising to wring $550 million out of the merged company. Investors seem to believe him: Shares rose 9% yesterday, unusual for any acquirer but especially one thats cutting its stock buybacks as part of the deal. (Side note: That bump hands another $1.8 billion to Endeavors founder, wildcatter Autry Stephens, who becomes Americas richest oilman. Some deals using stock as currency have provisions that add or subtract shares if the price swings sharply up or down; this one doesnt.) The View From OPEC The cartels secretary general told Reuters last week that he doesnt see peak oil until at least 2045. OPEC, which accounts for about 40% of global oil production but controls nearly 80% of its reserves, has consistently predicted a much slower energy transition than other governing bodies. The International Energy Agency predicts demand will start falling in 2030, and estimates significantly slower growth until then. Notable Suliman Hamed, at the podium, and his brother Ibrahim Hamed asked Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 that the U.S. government demand Israel release their mother, Samaher Esmail. She is an American-born citizen of Palestinian descent who lives in Gretna and has been detained in an Israeli prison without charges since Feb. 5. They spoke at a press conference in the national headquarters of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. Bloomberg: Chinese Bitcoin Mining Companies Flocking to Ethiopia for Cheap Electricity Chinese crypto mining companies are finding a new haven in Ethiopia, drawn by the country's low-cost hydropower and favorable climate, according to a recent Bloomberg report. This migration comes as China cracked down on crypto mining in 2021, forcing companies to seek alternative locations. While Ethiopia officially bans cryptocurrency trading, it legalized Bitcoin mining in 2022, opening the door for Chinese investment. Bloomberg's investigation revealed that 19 out of 21 companies partnering with Ethiopia's power monopoly are Chinese. Ethiopia's appeal lies in its abundant hydropower, which powers 92% of its electricity grid, despite nearly half the population lacking access. Its temperate climate also reduces cooling costs compared to hotter hubs like Texas, the current U.S. mining leader. However, some miners resort to disguising their operations as factories or agricultural projects to bypass regulations and secure electricity without official approvals. This strategy comes with risks, as similar setups in Iran and Kazakhstan faced sudden government shutdowns. Consumer groups are calling on the federal government to force banks to compensate those customers who are scammed through no fault of their own, as is being introduced in Britain. The call comes as losses to scams mount. In 2022, reported losse in Australia reached a record of more than $3 billion an increase of almost 80 per cent on 2021, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Could banks be doing even more to prevent scams from happening in the first place? Credit: iStock A push for compensation from Choice, the Consumer Action Law Centre and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network came as part of a joint submission to a consultation paper on the federal governments proposed scam code framework. Under the initial phase of the framework, banks, telcos and social media platforms would have to comply with measures designed to better ensure they prevent, detect, disrupt and respond to scams, as well as improve reporting and information sharing arrangements, as well as dispute resolution. Aged six, I overheard mum say shed been denounced as a Jew in 1939 by her Polish primary school classmates and rounded up into the ghetto. Born here, I decided that wasnt going to happen to me. When the other Jewish kids filed out of my grade one class for religious instruction, I stayed with the Christians. I can still recite the Lords Prayer. Not to boast, but I was picked to be Mary in the Christmas play. Mum said it was OK because Mary was Jewish. I got older and learned that nobody cared if I was Jewish. I relaxed. I picked a footy team, became head of the 1971 SRC at Balwyn High, eventually joined the ABC, was on air for years and was twice voted by my peers to be the staff-elected director. Former ABC journalist Ramona Koval joined the WhatsApp group at the invitation of a friend. Credit: Darren James Apart from the occasional lunatic writing complaints in all caps about how Hitler didnt do his job well enough, I had little reason to feel any threat. I didnt discuss my thoughts about Israel. It wasnt relevant to my work. Even my closest friends never asked me. How things have changed. A controversial shake-up of Sydney Airports flight paths has sparked fears it will worsen aircraft noise for tens of thousands of residents in the citys inner and south-western suburbs and has led to demands for more detail about the plans. The major changes to Sydney Airports flight paths are required to make room for planes flying in and out of the citys new international airport at Badgerys Creek, which is due to open in two years. Some inner west suburbs will cop more planes flying overhead from the changes to flight paths. Credit: Steven Siewert Under the plans, jet aircraft bound for the east, which take off from Sydney Airports main north-south runway, will curve further westwards immediately after departing before heading over the northern beaches as they follow an arc-like path. Inner West Council says an increase in flights over Dulwich Hill, Summer Hill, Ashfield, and Croydon can be expected but warns that a draft assessment of preliminary flight paths for Western Sydney Airport fails to detail the magnitude of the changes to Sydneys airspace. A coroner has criticised the appalling way human remains were treated by Eastern Health after they were discovered abandoned inside a storage bin at a hospital in Melbournes east. The temporal bones, which belong to an unknown number of deceased people, were only discovered after a nurse noticed fluid leaking out from under the door at Box Hill Hospital in February last year, the Coroners Court of Victoria heard. Abandoned human remains were discovered at Box Hill Hospital. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui The circumstances giving rise to this investigation, quite simply, should never have occurred, coroner Paul Lawrie said in his finding. It has not been possible to determine precisely what went wrong in order for the unknown remains to end up at the premises of Eastern Health without any documentation whatsoever, and in such an appallingly disregarded state. A Frenchman who scaled a Melbourne CBD high-rise without a harness during a free-climbing stunt last week has been sentenced to seven days in prison but will be released on Tuesday with time already served. Anthony Andolfo, a French national on a 12-month tourist working visa in Australia, drew stunned spectators and emergency services when he climbed the facade of the Avani Melbourne Central Residences on ABeckett Street about 7.50am last Tuesday. Wearing a backpack and a GoPro, and using only climbing chalk, Andolfo reached the top of the 56-storey apartment building, where emergency services and police were waiting. He was handcuffed and led away to a police van. When asked why he climbed the tower, he told reporters gathered at the bottom of the building: Just because I can. On April 5, 1994, the world awoke to the shock news that Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain had taken his own life. The band also featuring drummer (and future Foo Fighters leader) Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic had in the three years prior turned the music world on its head as it led the grunge movement in taking over the charts. Perth musician Justin Burford takes on Kurt Cobain for his performance of Come As You Are: Unplugged and Beyond. Cobain himself seemed to have a messianic appeal to the youth of the time, but a difficult relationship with fame, a tumultuous relationship with his wife Courtney Love and a descent into depression and drugs got the better of him. His tragic passing was a where were you when you found out? moment. Journalist for The Australian Janet Albrechtsen infected Walter Sofronoff, KC, the chair of the inquiry into the botched prosecution of former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, with bias against former ACT top prosecutor Shane Drumgold, a court has been told. The allegations were made by Drumgolds lawyer in court in his bid to overturn findings against his client made in the high-profile probe into the Lehrmann trial. Journalist Janet Albrechtsen and Walter Sofronoff, KC. Credit: Edwina Pickles, Robert Shakespeare Drumgolds lawyer Dan OGorman, SC, said the journalist and chair had extensive off-the-record contact over several months, which included 51 phone calls, texts and messages from Sofronoffs private email address. Albrechtsen even flew to Brisbane to have lunch with Sofronoff at a restaurant of his choosing. Theres no evidence to suggest that any other journalist was extended the privilege of a private luncheon with Mr Sofronoff, OGorman said, adding that Albrechtsen was receiving favourable treatment. The Albanese governments political advisers will use new right-to-disconnect legislation to fight for boundaries on their working hours as ministers and MPs face the professional effects of the wide-reaching workplace reform. After crossbench senator Jacqui Lambies claim her staff could do me over for contacting them after hours, Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly said MPs staff would be using the new right to push back against unreasonable workloads in their next wage deal. Even the staff of politicians have a right to disconnect, CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly says. Credit: Louie Douvis Parliamentary staff, like any other employees, should have the right to disconnect. Whether youre in an electoral office or a ministerial office, you should be able to switch off from work, Donnelly said. The issue of workloads and working hours is the number one issue that employees have been raising with us as we go into this bargaining round. The staffers push brings into focus the broad applicability of the new law, which passed last week. The business lobby says it will lead to workplace breakdowns, productivity losses and the reduction of other flexible conditions. The union movement has rubbished those claims. Rafah: Israeli forces used airstrikes as cover in the rescue of two hostages from a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town in the Gaza Strip, in the process killing more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children. The rescue in Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of Israelis shaken by the plight of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The nation is still reeling from the militant groups cross-border raid last year that started the war. Hostage Luis Har (left) is hugged by relatives after being rescued. Credit: IDF The bombardment brought devastation in Rafah on Monday, which is packed with some 1.4 million people, most of whom fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape fighting. Footage showed a large area of flattened houses, tattered tents and lines of bloodied bodies brought into nearby hospitals. Israeli military spokesman Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1.49am (10.49am AEDT), accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. He said Hamas militants were guarding the captives and that members of the rescue team shielded the hostages with their bodies as the battle erupted. Washington: US President Joe Biden has sought to assure global allies that America remains a reliable partner, despite its political instability ahead of this years presidential election. Speaking after Donald Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that didnt spend enough on defence, Biden hit out at his predecessor for what he described as dumb, shameful, and un-American comments. US President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House after an all-night session where the Senate voted to approve a large package of assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of delay. Credit: Bloomberg Can you imagine? A former president of the United States saying that? he told reporters at the White House. The whole world heard it. And the worst thing is he means it. No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can I never will. When America gives its word, it means it. When we make a commitment, we keep it. 'Blue state taxes are killing you': Grant Cardone warns that states like California are 'chopping you up' for tax revenue says he fled to Miami to escape constant 'gouging.' Is he right? Both California and Florida are renowned for their pleasant weather and stunning coastlines. However, real estate mogul Grant Cardone chose to relocate from one to the other for a very straightforward reason taxes. In a recent YouTube Shorts video, Cardone disclosed the rationale behind his move. Dont miss I used to live in California, moved to Miami for one reason 13.3%, he said. Cardone was referring to Californias top income tax rate, which stood at 13.3%. However, in 2024, this rate has actually increased to 14.4%. The new 14.4% state tax rate in California applies to income exceeding $1 million. Florida, on the other hand, may be considered a more favorable tax environment by some since there is no state income tax. California is not alone in imposing state income taxes. In fact, just eight states besides Florida don't, namely Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Cardone also criticized New York, New Jersey, Illinois and other so-called blue states, accusing them of gouging you with taxes. If you make $1.5 million a year Cardone illustrated the tax burden faced by high earners in blue states. You live in the state of California and you earn a million and a half, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, your gross annual income at $1.5 million means you pay federal income tax of $513,164. State income tax on top of that is $184,557. Social security would be $9,100. Medicare would be $33,450. State disability insurance at $1,600. Your total taxes for the year, dumba, would be $741,886, he explained. Story continues Cardone emphasized that while these figures suggest your net income could be "half of what you make," the financial obligations don't stop there, as one might also face employment taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. They ain't done with you. They just keep chopping you up, dumba, Cardone remarked. Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Blue state exodus? Cardones video, titled BLUE STATE TAXES ARE KILLING YOU DUMB A$$, highlighted a potential reason for the migration trend of people leaving California. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau on state-to-state migration flows shows that Florida appeared to be a favored destination for those leaving the Golden State. In 2021, 37,464 individuals moved from California to Florida, and the number increased in 2022, to 50,701. However, an even more popular destination was Texas. In 2021, 107,546 individuals relocated from California to Texas, and in 2022 another 102,442 people made the same move. Similar to Florida, Texas also does not impose a state income tax. Economist Stephen Moore recently described the blue state exodus as one of the biggest mass migrations in American history, pointing to taxes as a primary motivator behind the movement. Neither Cardone nor Moore have offered evidence that income taxes are truly what is behind this migration trend. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. As originally published in The Atlantic Monthly September 1902 Of the Training of Black Men by W. E. B. Du Bois F ROM the shimmering swirl of waters where many, many thoughts ago the slave-ship first saw the square tower of Jamestown have flowed down to our day three streams of thinking: one from the larger world here and over-seas, saying, the multiplying of human wants in culture lands calls for the world-wide cooperation of men in satisfying them. Hence arises a new human unity, pulling the ends of the earth nearer, and all men, black, yellow, and white. The larger humanity strives to feel in this contact of living nations and sleeping hordes a thrill of new life in the world, crying, If the contact of Life and Sleep be Death, shame on such Life. To be sure, behind this thought lurks the afterthought of force and dominion, -- the making of brown men to delve when the temptation of beads and red calico cloys. The second thought streaming from the death-ship and the curving river is the thought of the older South: the sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle God created a tertium quid, and called it a Negro, -- a clownish, simple creature, at times even lovable within its limitations, but straitly foreordained to walk within the Veil. To be sure, behind the thought lurks the afterthought, -- some of them with favoring chance might become men, but in sheer self-defense we dare not let them, and build about them walls so high, and hang between them and the light a veil so thick, that they shall not even think of breaking through. And last of all there trickles down that third and darker thought, the thought of the things themselves, the confused half-conscious mutter of men who are black and whitened, crying Liberty, Freedom, Opportunity -- vouchsafe to us, O boastful World, the chance of living men! To be sure, behind the thought lurks the afterthought: suppose, after all, the World is right and we are less than men? Suppose this mad impulse within is all wrong, some mock mirage from the untrue? So here we stand among thoughts of human unity, even through conquest and slavery; the inferiority of black men, even if forced by fraud; a shriek in the night for the freedom of men who themselves are not yet sure of their right to demand it. This is the tangle of thought and afterthought wherein we are called to solve the problem of training men for life. Behind all its curiousness, so attractive alike to sage and dilettante, lie its dim dangers, throwing across us shadows at once grotesque and awful. Plain it is to us that what the world seeks through desert and wild we have within our threshold, -- a stalwart laboring force, suited to the semi-tropics; if, deaf to the voice of the Zeitgeist, we refuse to use and develop these men, we risk poverty and loss. If, on the other hand, seized by the brutal afterthought, we debauch the race thus caught in our talons, selfishly sucking their blood and brains in the future as in the past, what shall save us from national decadence? Only that saner selfishness which, Education teaches men, can find the rights of all the whirl of work. Again, we may decry the color prejudice of the South, yet it remains a heavy fact. Such curious kinks of the human mind exist and must be reckoned with soberly. They cannot be laughed away, nor always successfully stormed at, nor easily abolished by act of legislature. And yet they cannot be encouraged by being let alone. They must be recognized as facts, but unpleasant facts; things that stand in the way of civilization and religion and common decency. They can be met in but one way: by the breadth and broadening of human reason, by catholicity of taste and culture. And so, too, the native ambition and aspiration of men, even though they be black, backward, and ungraceful, must not lightly be dealt with. To stimulate wildly weak and untrained minds is to play with mighty fires; to flout their striving idly is to welcome a harvest of brutish crime and shameless lethargy in our very laps. The guiding of thought and the deft coordination of deed is at once the path of honor and humanity. And so, in this great question of reconciling three vast and partially contradictory streams of thought, the one panacea of Education leaps to the lips of all: such human training as will best use the labor of all men without enslaving or brutalizing; such training as will give us poise to encourage the prejudices that bulwark society, and stamp out those that in sheer barbarity deafen us to the wail of prisoned souls within the Veil, and the mounting fury of shackled men. But when we have vaguely said Education will set this tangle straight, what have we uttered but a truism? Training for life teaches living; but what training for the profitable living together of black men and white? Two hundred years ago our task would have seemed easier. Then Dr. Johnson blandly assured us that education was needful solely for the embellishments of life, and was useless for ordinary vermin. To-day we have climbed to heights where we would open at least the outer courts of knowledge to all, display its treasures to many, and select the few to whom its mystery of Truth is revealed, not wholly by truth or the accidents of the stock market, but at least in part according to deftness and aim, talent and character. This programme, however, we are sorely puzzled in carrying out through that part of the land where the blight of slavery fell hardest, and where we are dealing with two backward peoples. To make here in human education that ever necessary combination of the permanent and the contingent -- of the ideal and the practical in workable equilibrium -- has been there, as it ever must in every age and place, a matter of infinite experiment and frequent mistakes. In rough approximation we may point out four varying decades of work in Southern education since the Civil War. From the close of the war until 1876 was the period of uncertain groping and temporary relief. There were army schools, mission schools, and schools of the Freedman's Bureau in chaotic disarrangement, seeking system and cooperation. Then followed ten years of constructive definite effort toward the building of complete school systems in the South. Normal schools and colleges were founded for the freedmen, and teachers trained there to man the public schools. There was the inevitable tendency of war to underestimate the prejudices of the master and the ignorance of the slave, and all seemed clear sailing out of the wreckage of the storm. Meantime, starting in this decade yet especially developing from 1885 to 1895, began the industrial revolution of the South. The land saw glimpses of a new destiny and the stirring of new ideals. The educational system striving to complete itself saw new obstacles and a field of work ever broader and deeper. The Negro colleges, hurriedly founded, were inadequately equipped, illogically distributed, and of varying efficiency and grade; the normal and high schools were doing little more than common school work, and the common schools were training but a third of the children who ought to be in them, and training these too often poorly. At the same time the white South, by reason of its sudden conversion from the slavery ideal, by so much the more became set and strengthened in its racial prejudice, and crystallized it into harsh law and harsher custom; while the marvelous pushing forward of the poor white daily threatened to take even bread and butter from the mouths of the heavily handicapped sons of the freedmen. In the midst, then, of the larger problem of Negro education sprang up the more practical question of work, the inevitable economic quandary that faces a people in the transition from slavery to freedom, and especially those who make that change amid hate and prejudice, lawlessness and ruthless competition. The industrial school springing to notice in this decade, but coming to full recognition in the decade beginning with 1895, was the proffered answer to this combined educational and economic crisis, and an answer of singular wisdom and timeliness. From the very first in nearly all the schools some attention had been given to training in handiwork, but now this training first raised to a dignity that brought it in direct touch with the South's magnificent industrial development, and given an emphasis which reminded black folk that before the Temple of Knowledge swing the Gates of Toil. Yet after all they are but gates, and when turning our eyes from the temporary and contingent in the Negro problem to the broader question of the permanent uplifting and civilization of black men in America, we have a right to inquire, as this enthusiasm for material advancement mounts to its height, if after all the industrial school is the final and sufficient answer in the training of the Negro race; and to ask gently, but in all sincerity, the ever recurring query of the ages, Is not life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? And men ask this to-day all the more eagerly because of the sinister signs in recent educational movements. The tendency is here, born of slavery and quickened to renewed life by the crazy imperialism of the day, to regard human beings as among the material resources of a land to be trained with an eye single to future dividends. Race prejudices, which keep brown and black men in their "places," we are coming to regard as useful allies with such a theory, no matter how much they may dull the ambition and sicken the hearts of struggling human beings. And above all, we daily hear that an education that encourages aspiration, that sets the loftiest of ideals and seeks as an end culture and character rather than bread-winning, is the privilege of white men and the danger and delusion of black. Especially has criticism been directed against the former educational efforts to aid the Negro. In the four periods I have mentioned, we find first, boundless, planless enthusiasm and sacrifice; then the preparation of teachers for a vast public school system; then the launching and expansion of that school system amid increasing difficulties; finally the training of workmen for the new and growing industries. This development has been sharply ridiculed as a logical anomaly and flat reversal of nature. Soothly we have been told that first industrial and manual training should have taught the Negro to work, then simple schools should have taught him to read and write, and finally, after years, high and normal schools could have completed the system, as intelligence and wealth demanded. That a system logically so complete was historically impossible, it needs but a little thought to prove. Progress in human affairs is more often a pull than a push, surging forward of the exceptional man, and the lifting of his duller brethren slowly and painfully to his vantage ground. Thus it was no accident that gave birth to universities centuries before the common schools, that made fair Harvard the first flower of our wilderness. So in the South: the mass of the freedmen at the end of the war lacked the intelligence so necessary to modern workingmen. They must first have the common school to teach them to read, write, and cipher. The white teachers who flocked South went to establish such a common school system. They had no idea of founding colleges; they themselves at first would have laughed at the idea. But they faced, as all men since them have faced, that central paradox of the South, the social separation of the races. Then it was the sudden volcanic rupture of nearly all relations between black and white, in work and government and family life. Since then a new adjustment of relations in economic and political affairs has grown up -- an adjustment subtle and difficult to grasp, yet singularly ingenious, which leaves still that frightful chasm at the color line across which men pass at their peril. Thus, then and now, there stand in the South two separate worlds; and separate not simply in the higher realms of social intercourse, but also in church and school, on railway and street car, in hotels and theatres, in streets and city sections, in books and newspapers, in asylums and jails, in hospitals and graveyards. There is still enough of contact for large economic and group cooperation, but the separation is so thorough and deep, that it absolutely precludes for the present between the races anything like that sympathetic and effective group training and leadership of the one by the other, such as the American Negro and all backward peoples must have for effectual progress. This the missionaries of '68 soon saw; and if effective industrial and trade schools were impractical before the establishment of a common school system, just as certainly no adequate common schools could be founded until there were teachers to teach them. Southern whites would not teach them; Northern whites in sufficient numbers could not be had. If the Negro was to learn, he must teach himself, and the most effective help that could be given him was the establishment of schools to train Negro teachers. This conclusion was slowly but surely reached by every student of the situation until simultaneously, in widely separated regions, without consultation or systematic plan, there arose a series of institutions designed to furnish teachers for the untaught. Above the sneers of critics at the obvious defects of this procedure must ever stand its one crushing rejoinder: in a single generation they put thirty thousand black teachers in the South; they wiped out the illiteracy of the majority of the black people of the land, and they made Tuskegee possible. Such higher training schools tended naturally to deepen broader development: at first they were common and grammar schools, then some became high schools. And finally, by 1900, some thirty-four had one year or more of studies of college grade. This development was reached with different degrees of speed in different institutions: Hampton is still a high school, while Fisk University started her college in 1871, and Spelman Seminary about 1896. In all cases the aim was identical: to maintain the standards of the lower training by giving teachers and leaders the best practicable training; and above all to furnish the black world with adequate standards of human culture and lofty ideals of life. It was not enough that the teachers of teachers should be trained in technical normal method; they must also, so far as possible, be broad-minded, cultured men and women, to scatter civilization among a people whose ignorance was not simply of letters, but of life itself. It can thus be seen that the work of education in the South began with higher institutions of training, which threw off as their foliage common schools, and later industrial schools, and at the same time strove to shoot their roots ever deeper toward college and university training. That this was an inevitable and necessary development, sooner or later, goes without saying; but there has been, and still is, a question in many minds if the natural growth was not forced, and if the higher training was not either overdone or done with cheap and unsound methods. Among white Southerners this feeling is widespread and positive. A prominent Southern journal voiced this in a recent editorial: The experiment that has been made to give the colored students classical training has not been satisfactory. Even though many were able to pursue the course, most of them did so in a parrotlike way, learning what was taught, but not seeming to appropriate the truth and import of their instruction, and graduating without sensible aim or valuable occupation for their future. The whole scheme has proved a waste of time, efforts, and money of the state. While most fair-minded men would recognize this as extreme and overdrawn, still without doubt many are asking, Are there a sufficient number of Negroes ready for college training to warrant the undertaking? Are not too many students prematurely forced into this work? Does it not have the effect of dissatisfying the young Negro with his environment? And do these graduates succeed in real life? Such natural questions cannot be evaded, nor on the other hand must a nation naturally skeptical as to Negro ability assume an unfavorable answer without careful inquiry and patient openness to conviction. We must not forget that most Americans answer all queries regarding the Negro a priori, and that the least that human courtesy can do is to listen to evidence. The advocates of the higher education of the Negro would be the last to deny the incompleteness and glaring defects of the present system: too many institutions have attempted to do college work, the work in some cases has not been thoroughly done, and quantity rather than quality has sometimes been sought. But all this can be said of higher education throughout the land: it is the almost inevitable incident of educational growth, and leaves the deeper question of the legitimate demand for the higher training of Negroes untouched. And this latter question can be settled in but one way -- by a first-hand study of the facts. If we leave out of view all institutions which have not actually graduated students from a course higher than that of a New England high school, even though they be called colleges; if then we take the thirty-four remaining institutions, we may clear up many misapprehensions by asking searchingly, What kind of institutions are they, what do they teach, and what sort of men do they graduate? And first we may say that this type of college, including Atlanta, Fisk and Howard, Shaw, and the rest, is peculiar, almost unique. Through the shining trees that whisper before me as I write, I catch glimpses of a boulder of New England granite, covering a grave, which graduates of Atlanta University have placed there: -- IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THEIR FORMER TEACHER AND FRIEND AND OF THE UNSELFISH LIFE HE LIVED, AND THE NOBLE WORK HE WROUGHT; THAT THEY, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN MIGHT BE BLESSED. This was the gift of New England to the freed Negro: not alms, but a friend; not cash, but character. It was not and is not money these seething millions want, but love and sympathy, the pulse of hearts beating with red blood; a gift which to-day only their own kindred and race can bring to the masses, but which once saintly souls brought to their favored children in the crusade of the sixties, that finest thing in American history, and one of the few things untainted by sordid greed and cheap vainglory. The teachers in these institutions came not to keep the Negroes in their place, but to raise them out of their places where the filth of slavery had wallowed them. The colleges they founded were social settlements; homes where the best of the sons of the freedmen came in close and sympathetic touch with the best traditions of New England. They lived and ate together, studied and worked, hoped and harkened in the dawning light. In actual formal content their curriculum was doubtless old-fashioned, but in educational power it was supreme, for it was the contact of living souls. From such schools about two thousand Negroes have gone forth with the bachelor's degree. The number in itself is enough to put at rest the argument that too large a proportion of Negroes are receiving higher training. If the ratio to population of all Negro students throughout the land, in both college and secondary training, be counted, Commissioner Harris assures us "it must be increased to five times it present average" to equal the average of the land. Fifty years ago the ability of Negro students in any appreciable numbers to master a modern college course would have been difficult to prove. To-day it is proved by the fact that four hundred Negroes, many of whom have been reported as brilliant students, have received the bachelor's degree from Harvard, Yale, Oberlin, and seventy other leading colleges. Here we have, then nearly twenty-five hundred Negro graduates, of whom the crucial query must be made, How far did their training fit them for life? It is of course extremely difficult to collect satisfactory data on such a point, -- difficult to reach the men, to get trustworthy testimony, and to gauge that testimony by any generally acceptable criterion of success. In 1900, the Conference at Atlanta University undertook to study these graduates, and published the results. First they sought to know what these graduates were doing, and succeeded in getting answers from nearly two thirds of the living. The direct testimony was in almost all cases corroborated by the reports of the colleges where they graduated, so that in the main the reports were worthy of credence. Fifty-three per cent of these graduates were teachers, -- presidents of institutions, heads of normal schools, principals of city school systems, and the like. Seventeen per cent were clergymen; another seventeen per cent were in the professions, chiefly as physicians. over six per cent were merchants, farmers, and artisans, and four per cent were in the government civil service. Granting even that a considerable proportion of the third unheard from are unsuccessful, this is a record of usefulness. Personally I know many hundreds of these graduates, and have corresponded with more than a thousand; through others I have followed carefully the life-work of scores; I have taught some of them and some of the pupils whom they have taught, lived in homes which they have builded, and looked at life through their eyes. Comparing them as a class with my fellow students in New England and in Europe, I cannot hesitate in saying that nowhere have I met men and women with a broader spirit of helpfulness, with deeper devotion to their life-work, or with more consecrated determination to succeed in the face of bitter difficulties than among Negro college-bred men. They have, to be sure, their proportion of ne'er-do-weels, their pedants and lettered fools, but they have a surprisingly small proportion of them; they have not that culture of manner which we instinctively associate with university men, forgetting that in reality it is the heritage from cultured homes, and that no people a generation removed from slavery can escape a certain unpleasant rawness and gaucherie, despite the best of training. With all their larger vision and deeper sensibility, these men have usually been conservative, careful leaders. They have seldom been agitators, have withstood the temptation to head the mob, and have worked steadily and faithfully in a thousand communities in the South. As teachers they have given the South a commendable system of city schools and large numbers of private normal schools and academies. Colored college-bred men have worked side by side with white college graduates at Hampton; almost from the beginning the backbone of Tuskegee's teaching force has been formed of graduates from Fisk and Atlanta. And to-day the institute is filled with college graduates, from the energetic wife of the principal down to the teacher of agriculture, including nearly half of the executive council and a majority of the heads of departments. In the professions, college men are slowly but surely leavening the Negro church, are healing and preventing the devastations of disease, and beginning to furnish legal protection for the liberty and property of the toiling masses. All this is needful work. Who would do it if Negroes did not? How could Negroes do it if they were not trained carefully for it? If white people need colleges to furnish teachers, ministers, lawyers, and doctors, do black people need nothing of the sort? If it be true that there are an appreciable number of Negro youth in the land capable by character and talent to receive that higher training, the end of which is culture, and if the two and a half thousand who have had something of this training in the past have in the main proved themselves useful to their race and generation, the question then comes, What place in the future development of the South ought the Negro college and college-bred man to occupy? That the present social separation and acute race sensitiveness must eventually yield to the influences of culture as the South grows civilized is clear. But such transformation calls for singular wisdom and patience. If, while the healing of this vast sore is progressing, the races are to live for many years side by side, united in economic effort, obeying a common government, sensitive to mutual thought and feeling, yet subtly and silently separate in many matters of deeper human intimacy -- if this unusual and dangerous development is to progress amid peace and order, mutual respect and growing intelligence, it will call for social surgery at once the delicatest and nicest in modern history. It will demand broad-minded, upright men both white and black, and in its final accomplishment American civilization will triumph. So far as white men are concerned, this fact is to-day being recognized in the South, and a happy renaissance of university education seems imminent. But the very voices that cry Hail! to this good work are, strange to relate, largely silent or antagonistic to the higher education of the Negro. Strange to relate! for this is certain, no secure civilization can be built in the South with the Negro as an ignorant, turbulent proletariat. Suppose we seek to remedy this by making them laborers and nothing more: they are not fools, they have tasted of the Tree of Life, and they will not cease to think, will not cease attempting to read the riddle of the world. By taking away their best equipped teachers and leaders, by slamming the door of opportunity in the faces of their bolder and brighter minds, will you make them satisfied with their lot? or will you not rather transfer their leading from the hands of men taught to think to the hands of untrained demagogues? We ought not to forget that despite the pressure of poverty, and despite the active discouragement and even ridicule of friends, the demand for higher training steadily increases among Negro youth: there were in the years from 1875 to 1880, twenty-two Negro graduates from Northern colleges; from 1885 to 1890 there were forty-three, and from 1895 to 1900, nearly 100 graduates. Here, then, is the plain thirst for training; by refusing to give this Talented Tenth the key to knowledge can any sane man imagine that they will lightly lay aside their yearning and contentedly become hewers of wood and drawers of water? No. The dangerously clear logic of the Negro's position will more and more loudly assert itself in that day when increasing wealth and more intricate social organization preclude the South from being, as it so largely is, simply an armed camp for intimidating black folk. Such waste of energy cannot be spared if the South is to catch up with civilization. And as the black third of the land grows in thrift and skill, unless skillfully guided in its larger philosophy, it must more and more brood over the red past and the creeping, crooked present, until it grasps a gospel of revolt and revenge and throws its new-found energies athwart the current of advance. Even to-day the masses of the Negroes see all too clearly the anomalies of their position and the moral crookedness of yours. You may marshal strong indictments against them, but their counter-cries, lacking though they be in formal logic, have burning truths within them which you may not wholly ignore, O Southern Gentlemen! If you deplore their presence here, they ask, Who brought us? When you shriek, Deliver us from the vision of intermarriage, they answer, that legal marriage is infinitely better than systematic concubinage and prostitution. And if in just fury you accuse their vagabonds of violating women, they also in fury quite as just may wail: the rape which your gentlemen have done against helpless black women in defiance of your own laws is written on the foreheads of two millions of mulattoes, and written in in-effaceable blood. And finally, when you fasten crime upon this race as its peculiar train, they answer that slavery was the arch-crime, and lynching and lawlessness its twin abortion; that color and race are not crimes, and yet they it is which in this land receive most unceasing condemnation, North, East, South, and West. I will not say such arguments are wholly justified -- I will not insist that there is no other side to the shield; but I do say that of the nine millions of Negroes in this nation, there is scarcely one out of the cradle to whom these arguments do not daily present themselves in the guise of terrible truth. I insist that the question of the future is how best to keep these millions from brooding over the wrongs of the past and the difficulties of the present, so that all their energies may be bent toward a cheerful striving and cooperation with their white neighbors toward a larger, juster, and fuller future. That one wise method of doing this lies in the closer knitting of the Negro to the great industrial possibilities of the South is a great truth. And this the common schools and the manual training and trade schools are working to accomplish. But these alone are not enough. The foundations of knowledge in this race, as in others, must be sunk deep in the college and university if we would build a solid, permanent structure. Internal problems of social advance must inevitably come, -- problems of work and wages, of families and homes, of morals and the true valuing of the things of life; and all these and other inevitable problems of civilization the Negro must meet and solve largely for himself, by reason of his isolation; and can there be any possible solution other than by study and thought and an appeal to the rich experience of the past? Is there not, with such a group and in such a crisis, infinitely more danger to be apprehended from half-trained minds and shallow thinking than from over-education and over-refinement? Surely we have wit enough to found a Negro college so manned and equipped as to steer successfully between the dilettante and the fool. We shall hardly induce black men to believe that if their bellies be full it matters little about their brains. They already dimly perceive that the paths of peace winding between honest toil and dignified manhood call for the guidance of skilled thinkers, the loving, reverent comradeship between the black lowly and black men emancipated by training and culture. The function of the Negro college then is clear: it must maintain the standards of popular education, it must seek the social regeneration of the Negro, and it must help in the solution of problems of race contact and cooperation. And finally, beyond all this, it must develop men. Above our modern socialism, and out of the worship of the mass, must persist and evolve that higher individualism which the centres of culture protect; there must come a loftier respect for the sovereign human souls that seeks to know itself and the world about it; that seeks a freedom for expansion and self-development; that will love and hate and labor in its own way, untrammeled alike by old and new. Such souls aforetime have inspired and guided worlds, and if we be not wholly bewitched by our Rhine-gold, they shall again. Herein the longing of black men must have respect: the rich and bitter depth of their experience, the unknown treasures of their inner life, the strange rendings of nature they have seen, may give the world new points of view and make their loving, living, and doing precious to all human hearts. And to themselves in these the days that try their souls the chance to soar in the dim blue air above the smoke is to their finer spirits boon and guerdon for what they lose on earth by being black. I sit with Shakespeare and he winces not. Across the color line I move arm in arm with Balzac and Dumas, where smiling men and welcoming women glide in gilded halls. From out the caves of Evening that swing between the strong-limbed earth and the tracery of the stars, I summon Aristotle and Aurelius and what souls I will, and they come all graciously with no scorn nor condescension. So, wed with Truth, I dwell above the Veil. Is this the life you grudge us, O knightly America? Is this the life you long to change into the dull red hideousness of Georgia? Are you so afraid lest peering from this high Pisgrah, between Philistine and Amalekite, we sight the Promised Land? Return to Flashback: African-American Education Return to Flashback: Black History, American History "Of the Training of Black Men" by W. E. B. Du Bois,The Atlantic Monthly,September 1902; Volume 90, No. 539; pages 289-297. By Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing said on Tuesday it delivered 27 airplanes in January, which was down 29% from the same month last year as regulators, lawmakers and customers pressured the planemaker following a MAX 9 mid-air cabin panel blowout last month. Deliveries of the profit-making 737 MAX fell to just 25 aircraft after two solid months where Boeing delivered in excess of 40 MAXs. While deliveries tend to be slower in January, Boeing delivered 38 airplanes, including 35 MAXs, in January 2023. The U.S. planemaker booked three gross orders, its lowest total since 2019, after a blockbuster December. It said customers it did not identify canceled orders for two 737 MAX while Spanish carrier Air Europa canceled an order for one 787 Dreamliner. Boeing's European rival Airbus delivered 30 jets in January and reported 31 new orders. Boeing has been scrambling to explain and strengthen its safety procedures after a Jan. 5 accident involving a door plug on a brand new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 that became detached during flight. In response, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded the MAX 9 for several weeks last month and has capped Boeing's production of the MAX while it conducts an audit of the planemaker's manufacturing process. This month, Boeing supplier Spirit Aerosystems discovered a new quality glitch. Spirit incorrectly drilled holes on the window frames of some 737s, potentially slowing deliveries of about 50 planes. Aside from the 737 MAX deliveries, Boeing delivered one 787 Dreamliner and one widebody 767, which be modified into a KC-46 tanker for the U.S. Air Force. Boeing's backlog decreased from 5,626 to 5,599 aircraft as of Jan. 31. It has a total of 6,189 unfilled orders when accounting adjustments are not considered. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in a Jan. 31 earnings call that the company would not issue aircraft delivery targets for 2024 as it works through the current crisis. Story continues "We will simply focus on every next airplane and ensuring we meet all the standards that we have, all the standards that our regulator has and that our customers demand," he said. Plane manufacturers typically deliver around the same number of aircraft produced in a given month, yet Boeing has dozens of 737s and 787s that were put in storage due to the MAX crisis in 2018-2019 or need rework to correct production defects. Boeing executives have said the company plans to deliver most of those inventory jets by end of 2024. (Reporting by Valerie Insinna; Editing by David Gregorio) Brooks Running reported another record year for sales in 2023. The running brand ended the year with global revenues of $1.2 billion, up 5 percent from 2022 along with more than 20 million units sold, a new record. In December alone, the company saw a 24 percent bump in global revenue growth. More from Footwear News The brand also hit $1 billion in revenue in North America for the first time, marking a 7 percent increase year-over-year. Bucking a general downward trend in U.S. wholesale sales, Brooks revenues in that channel were up 5 percent, which included an 11 percent bump in the specialty category. There has never been a more exciting time to be in run, especially for a brand as focused on it as Brooks, said Brooks chief executive officer Jim Weber in a statement. U.S. retail is healthy across channels and participation continues to grow worldwide as more people discover the physical, mental, and social benefits of putting one foot in front of the other. Brooks is poised to compete at its best this year as we welcome additional runners, walkers, hikers, and more to experience our products and brand. At U.S. retail in 2023, Brooks represented 21 percent of market share in the adult performance running footwear market, according to Circanas Retail Tracking Service. The Brooks Ghost and Adrenaline GTS shoes represented more than 12 percent of market share combined and were the the top two adult performance running styles at U.S. retail. The new Ghost Max shoe that launched in September sold more than half a million pairs in the first three months on the market and represented the best retail adoption of a new style in Brooks history. By channel, global DTC e-commerce sales were up 24 percent. North America DTC e-commerce sales were up 22 percent between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. The companys Run Club loyalty program grew 85 percent year-over-year to more than 500,000 members in 2023. Story continues Our multichannel operational execution and runner-first approach helped us navigate headwinds created by supply chain disruptions in 2022 as well as economic uncertainty in Europe, said Brooks president and chief operating officer Dan Sheridan in a statement. Were energized by our opportunity to further execute our strategy and double down on key investments to support our business, customers, and the global running community. DTC sales in China were up 194 percent in 2023, which encouraged the company to seek out retail store opportunities in the market in 2024. Brooks told FN in November that it expects to achieve double-digit growth in 2024. To do this, the brand is keeping the focus on its No. 1 consumer group dedicated, frequent runners while accelerating the pace of product innovation and expanding its reach to consumers looking for comfort and performance outside of road running. Looking ahead, Brooks anticipates 10 new shoe launches in 2024 as well as style updates to existing silhouettes. In Q1, the brand will launch its new Catamount Agil trail racing shoe, followed by the Hyperion Elite 4 and Hyperion Elite Middle- and Long-Distance spikes in Q2. Best of Footwear News Photo: Phillip Toledano / trunkarchive. Last summer, Karen, a product manager in San Francisco, returned $180 worth of her $295.39 order from Urban Outfitters. The next time she clicked CHECKOUT on an order from the retailer, a few weeks later, it wouldnt go through. Confused, she kept trying until she got an email informing her that she was no longer allowed to order from the website, or any of its associated establishments, because of an excessive return rate. She was surprised. She had been steadily returning items to Urban Outfitters about once a month since high school without a problem. I would essentially use the return policy the same way other people use stores and malls because I dont have a car, she says. When a company says free returns, there are probably some people they expect wont return anything. But then there are people like me. As it turns out, there are a lot of people like Karen, online shoppers who return things almost as frequently as they place orders. And online retailers, many that built free returns into their business strategy, finally seem to be reaching their limit. Which makes sense: In 2023 alone, people returned $743 billion worth of merchandise. Now sites like ASOS and SSENSE are handing out lifetime shopping bans to longtime shoppers they determine have returned too much too often. What constitutes too much too often can be vague. None of the brands mentioned in this story all of which either have a free-return policy or charge a small fee specify an exact dollar amount or frequency that adds up to a lifetime-ban-worthy violation. Instead, theres language like unusual and unreasonable and patterns of ordering and returning items as grounds for deactivating accounts and restricting or refusing orders. (The vendors either declined requests for comment or referred us to their return policies.) The shoppers we spoke to (some of whom used pseudonyms) were startled to find they were banned having grown accustomed to an internet where returning a boot is exactly as seamless as buying that boot in the first place. Spring Fashion Issue We Want Moore See All When youre playing high-volume-returns roulette, you never know when a request will be the last straw. Alexandra Lamoreaux, a Utah-based mental-health therapist, was informed that ASOS would not accept any further orders after she returned $695 worth of items she bought for a family photo. Shed just had her third baby a month before and, unsure of her postpartum size, decided to order a wide spectrum. When she got the email, she was shocked, she says. I thought there had been some kind of mistake or that ASOS had been hacked. While Lamoreaux admits shed made returns to ASOS in the past, she signed up for an ASOS Premier subscription for $24.99 a year specifically to get unlimited free shipping and free returns. (Online, ASOS does note this perk is subject to a fair use policy.) She was eventually refunded for the order, at least, but only after opening a dispute with her credit-card company. Frankly, I should have gone after them for that $24.99 too, Lamoreaux says. Fashion stylists are more intentional about returns its pretty much standard practice among up-and-coming stylists to order a ton from a retailer, photograph it, make sure not to spill anything on it, and return it. Emily says she got away with making $15,000 order-and-returns for editorial shoots at Saks once a month for over a year before she was banned. When she was notified, she freaked out, she says. When you dont have relationships with brands yet or PR agencies that facilitate the loans, its vital, says Mara, another New Yorkbased stylist. She got banned from shopping at SSENSE after making thrice-a-year order-and-returns on the site for about three years. The last straw was the return of about $1,500 worth of jewelry, pants, and tops shed ordered for a shoot. The company noticed, it wrote in an email to her, that she had returned most of the items shed purchased and, furthermore, posted a photo of one of them on her Instagram account. She was shocked because shed taken great care to ensure everything was returned in perfect condition, reapplying tags after removing them for the shoot and dry-cleaning any makeup stains. But there is no appeals process when it comes to the lifetime ban, no forum to make a case that you should be allowed to shop again. This is something that Nora, an attorney, was alarmed to find out after she was banned from ASOS in 2021. That year alone, shed made 172 ASOS purchases and had returned 99 percent, by her estimation, of what shed bought. The company doesnt have a customer-service phone number to call, and the pleading emails and chatbot messages Nora sent were met with the same message: It was a final decision. It was frustrating to be stonewalled, she says. This became especially problematic when her sister who uses a different credit card and lives in an entirely different state was banned from the site as well. They suspected it was because they share a pretty unique last name, Nora says. Her sister wasnt able to get reinstated, either. But knowing you cant make a return can also be a relief. Nadine Hanson, a server, had long taken advantage of Sephoras generous return policy. The highly lenient policy afforded her the ability to sample so many products it had begun to feel genuinely stressful keeping up shed buy a product once a week, use it once or twice, then rush to send it back. Then she received a rare warning instead of an outright ban. If she didnt stop making returns, it said, shed be unable to make another one going forward. Now, shes forced to be certain that she actually wants something, she says. Im buying things and then keeping them, and if the product isnt perfect, I just handle that. The annual State of the Installation Address provides an opportunity for Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane to share Team Cranes strategic goals and any operational changes or proposed construction projects that may impact the community. NSA Commander Luis G. Martinez provided the keynote address, briefing the White River Military Coordination Alliance and the Crane Regional Defense Group on the installation successes over the past year, as well as current and upcoming projects for NSA Crane, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC) and Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA). Cmdr. Martinezs address included the following key updates about the installation, highlighting strategic goals, a workforce overview and upcoming opportunities for community collaboration: Strategic goals: NSA Crane will continue to focus on community outreach as a pillar of its strategy and modernize the installation. NSWC was noted as being more valued and relevant than at any time in its history and is positioned for an abundance of growth opportunities, and CAAA continues to ensure that warfighters always have the ammunition they need. Future mission growth: NSA Crane will implement a regional engagement strategy to enhance relationships with community support organizations. NSWC is awaiting the highly anticipated WestGate One facility to support the growing trusted microelectronics and hypersonics efforts, and CAAA is participating in strategic planning processes. Infrastructure and modernization: In 2024, CAAA anticipates more than $58 million of outside funding for modernization efforts and new facilities to support their employees. For NSWC, a new radiation test facility was completed in 2023 and three more facilities will break ground in 2024. NSA, in partnership with NAVFAC, will execute a horizontal infrastructure improvement plan to address the electrical distribution system, water and natural gas pipeline replacement. Story continues Workforce, job trends and skills: The total on-base population is approximately 6,100, with that number projected to grow 3-5% over the next five years through increased involvement at career fairs both virtually and in-person, social media postings, direct hiring authorities and engagement with direct commands. Opportunities for educational collaboration: Partnerships with Indiana, Purdue and Vincennes universities, as well as Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, work to fill the job pipeline and keep the installation relevant to graduates. Community partnership and requests for support: Team Crane has plans to identify opportunities to engage in the communities, specifically in ways that will help fill the talent pipeline locally and provide jobs to local youth after high school and secondary education. As one of the largest employers in southern Indiana, Team Crane plays an important role in the economies of our communities. Continued collaboration is key to building a strong relationship between community leaders and the public with those working inside the gates at Crane to make the most of opportunities that benefit our region. Matt Craig is director of Crane Community Support for Radius Indiana. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Growth, collaboration in southern Indiana are goals of Crane's leader In the case of the murder of Temur Karbaia, a Georgian citizen killed in the occupied region of Gali, two 'police officers' have been arrested. According to Ekho Kavkaza, the ongoing investigation has led to criminal charges of intentional grievous bodily harm and abuse of authority being filed against three 'police officers' involved in the case. However, the location of one of them remains unknown.According to the local prosecutor's office, on December 6th, one of the 'officers' made an arrest. He then took the individual to the 'police station' and conducted an illegal search without any witnesses present, failing to document the procedure."After the examination, Karbaia directed obscene language towards Kvekveskiri, leading Kvekveskiri to strike Karbaia. Simultaneously, Zarakua and Abshilava entered the department and, together with Kvekveskiri, used physical force against Karbaia. They repeatedly struck him on various parts of the body, resulting in injuries including four broken ribs in the chest area and bruises near his right eye," the statement reads.On February 12, members of Georgian Dream accused and criticized President Salome Zourabichvili for not congratulating Ilham Aliyev on his victory in the presidential elections of Azerbaijan, describing it as 'damaging'."It is a matter of elementary diplomatic etiquette that this congratulation should have been expressed long before," Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani stated.In response to the criticism, the president's administration revealed that Salome Zourabichvili had congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his election on February 9 through a letter."The President of Georgia, similar to every president of a friend and partner country, has congratulated the President of Azerbaijan on his election to the presidency," the administration stated. by Xinhua writer Li Jun BAGHDAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- "When a pyromaniac comes to your home, that is dangerous. What is more terrifying is when the pyromaniac comes dressed as a fireman," Mohammed Alyahya, a fellow at the Hudson Institute, once encapsulated the paradox of America's actions in the Middle East. Recent events have once again underscored his observation. Despite the U.S. administration's portrayal of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's fifth trip to the Middle East since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict as a peace-mediation effort, Middle Eastern countries perceive Washington as a "factor for instability." Just days before Blinken's trip, U.S. retaliation airstrikes in Syria and Iraq on Feb. 2 resulted in about 40 deaths. Even before Blinken ended his trip, the United States committed reckless drone strikes in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Baghdad on Feb. 7, killing three. The Iraqi government has vehemently condemned these actions, emphasizing that the U.S.-led international coalition in Iraq has become a threat to its security and stability. Faced with the recent spate of U.S. airstrikes, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani has repeatedly demanded an end to the U.S. military presence in Iraq. Following the U.S. airstrikes, Josep Borrell, high representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the Middle East "is a boiler that can explode." Military means are not the answer, and the misuse of force could only lead to greater crises and exacerbate a vicious tit-for-tat cycle. Following the U.S. airstrikes, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq continued its attack on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. Iraqi armed group al-Nujaba Movement vowed retaliation while enraged crowds in Baghdad chanted "Death to America." CNN pointed out that the U.S. administration faced a near-impossible task: Hit hard enough to show you mean it, but also ensure your opponent can absorb the blow without lashing out in return. Despite rhetorical commitments to quelling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, America's actions tell a different story. It strongly supports military support for Israel, deployed additional troops in the region and vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian pauses in Gaza. Blinken's fifth visit is unlikely to result in any meaningful change. As noted by Salah Bin Laghbar, a Yemeni political analyst based in Aden, the Middle East "remains unchanged after Blinken's visit, except for the worsening situation of Palestinians who are dying during his diplomatic failure." The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza has even led some of America's European allies to criticize its biased stance towards Israel. According to the New York Times, more than 800 officials in the United States, Britain and the European Union released a public letter of scathing criticism recently against their governments' support of Israel in its war in Gaza. It's no surprise that many in the Middle East have criticized Washington's self-serving actions in the region. "They reflect the U.S. cowboy policy, which only thinks about its own interests," Iraqi military expert Abdullah al-Jubouri commented, stressing that "there is no doubt that Iraq and the Middle East region would be safer and more stable without U.S. forces." For decades, America's role in the Middle East has been contentious, with its actions bringing turmoil rather than peace. The international community, especially the people of the Middle East, are increasingly skeptical of America's purported role as a "fireman" in the region. Mohammed Omari, a Syrian expert on international relations, has criticized the United States' actions in an already tense Middle East. He believes the country could cause the region to become more unstable, adding that a confrontation is imminent, and any miscalculation could push the region to the brink of war. Looting resources, creating conflicts and stirring up unrest, the United States has been accustomed to playing a pyromaniac role in the Middle East. America frequently stages "peace shows" in the Middle East but finds its credibility and audience dwindling. The United States must refrain from further provoking conflicts in the Middle East to avoid creating a more volatile region. Instead, it should focus on taking practical steps to promote peace and stability and avoid making decisions based solely on its own geopolitical interests. Orrville and Dalton continue to thrive as a new wave of entrepreneurial energy is transforming the local business landscape. While some businesses faced closure due to a workforce shortage, a new generation of business leaders has successfully taken the reins. The new shops, cafes and automobile services are stabilizing the economic development of the area. I think we're kind of in more of a holding pattern right now, said Dan Franks president of Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce. Although these new businesses are creating more job opportunities, finding employees is still a struggle. The biggest thing is finding enough workers to fill all the openings that we have, Franks said. Last year, the chamber launched the Envision Your Future program to prepare high school students for work life. The five-month program aims to help students to think about their interest, skills and their future and align them with the education path they need. The chamber collaborates with local employers to identify essential skills, providing potential employees with tailored training to meet industry demands. Additionally, Leadership Orrville equips employees with skills, fostering growth within their respective companies. WrenchWorks is filling a void Greg Stanley, left, and Jon Lemon work on a vehicle at WrenchWorks on North Main Street in Orrville. The business opened in Orrville in January. It also has a location in Wadsworth. Although WrenchWorks Truck and Auto Care just opened in January, the place is getting busy. We're looking to hire more from the area, said Denise Hobson, marketing specialist of Wrench Works. Kevin and Kelly Kruft opened their first shop in Wadsworth in 2020. When they heard the owner of Nussbaum Automotive was planning to retire, they were interested in filling the void. Kevin is very ambitious, the new place is part of his growth plan, Hobson said. WrenchWorks specialized truck services and oil changes. It offers a lifetime guarantee on repairs and shuttle service or loaner cars for customers who need a ride after dropping off their cars. We want to make it simple and convenient for everyone, she said. Its a fast, friendly with transparent pricing. Story continues My wife and I talked about owning a restaurant for years, we were tired of working the traditional 9-to-5 job for somebody else and this kind of fell into place at the same time, Ray Martinez said about owning a business. He and his wife, Catrina, own Orr Pizza and Subs in Orrville. 'Small but focused' at Orr Pizza and Subs The owners of Orr Pizza and Subs moved from Illinois to Ohio 10 years ago, but Orrville is like home for them. We lived in Orrville probably about eight years, then we moved out, but for some reason, Orrville keeps calling us back, said Rey Martinez owner of Orr Pizza and Subs. Rey and Catrina Martinez bought the business that was formerly known as Lincoln Way Pizza. My wife and I talked about owning a restaurant for years, we were tired of working the traditional 9-to-5 job for somebody else and this kind of fell into place at the same time, he said. Orr Pizza and Subs offers Gyros, pizzas and even desserts. But many customers come from Apple Creek, Wooster and Dalton to have their signature dish, chickens. We're a small restaurant, but were focused on putting out good tasting and quality food at a reasonable price, he said. Jarrett Logistics Services celebrated a ribbon cutting for its third phase of warehouse expansion. The new phase adds 93,000 square fees to its current location. Orrville and the Wayne County area are full of good, hardworking people, said Mike Jarrett in a statement. Many of our customers choose Orrville because of our dedicated employees and the continuity of our workforce. Name it, and ItZere probably has it, says the owner "We do $5 fill a bag for clothes, fill a shopping bag up for $5. We have anything from tools, kitchen, appliances and home improvements, you name it, says Kris Pyers, owner of ItZere in Orrville. Records, furniture, clothes and even more can be easily found in ItZere. We named it ItZere because if you are looking for it, it's here, said Kris Pyers, owner of the ItZere thrift shop. Pyers moved with his partner from a small shop in Millersburg to a bigger space on East Market Street in Orrville. Millersburg has gotten so expensive, this place is half the money and twice the size, we like Orrville, its a nice town, Pyers said. ItZere has a variety of old and new items for reasonable prices. We do $5 fill a bag for clothes, fill a shopping bag up for $5. We have anything from tools, kitchen, appliances, and home improvements, you name it, he said. The Dalton area stands as a magnet for local businesses. The Kiko family has been in the real estate and auction field since 1945. What happening in the Dalton area? Plenty A new Kiko Realtor and Auction building is located at 19 Lebanon Road just east of Dalton. We are a family-owned business, my father, myself, my sisters and my brothers, we are all from Wayne County and most of us live in Dalton, said Pete Kiko, owner of Pete Kiko Realtor and Auctioneer. We decided that it was a great opportunity to open a branch location here and invest in our community. Kiko offers real estate services in residential and agricultural properties. People call us for honest advice and we're happy to look at their situations and whatever their goals are, then we can align our options to meet their goals, Kiko said. Delight Howells stands in the middle of the LincWay Cafe located in the new playlab near Dalton. It is one of the new businesses along US Route 30. A cafe for beverage, game and art LincWay Buildings is another family-owned business that aims to bring people together. In April 2023, the Howells family celebrated the opening of LincWay Cafe and LincWay Art Studio as a part of the 44,000-square-foot building. Our vision started with having a childrens museum, said Delight Howells, director of LincWay buildings. The Dallas family partnered with the Wayne County Childrens STEAM Playlab to build a childrens museum in Dalton. We wanted to add a place where families can interact and enjoy, Howells said. Besides the board games, beverages, sandwiches, wraps, pastries and ice cream it offers, LincWay cafe has a marketplace where local producers can sell their products. In LincWay Art Studio, families can enjoy purchasing and coloring pottery or join one of the classes provided by local artists. The ultimate goal is that it will pair nicely with the Wayne County children's STEM Playlab, Howells said. Mike Eberly, president of Weaver Commercial Construction, said the company moved to its location east of Dalton because we were looking for a place where we could build an office and a shop all on the same property." New home for Weaver and Goodwill donations After constructing and remodeling several local buildings for years, Weaver Commercial Contractor moved from its Wooster location to the Old Lincoln Way in Dalton. We were looking for a place where we could build an office and a shop all on the same property so that our field crew and our office crew could all be based out of the same location, said Mike Eberly, company president. Weaver Commercial Contractor has completed and continues to work on local projects. One of the recent projects was the LincWay buildings and an addition building at Central Christian High School in Kidron. We're actually working on another phase of the Central Christian School, Eberly said. Don King moves a cart of new donations to be sorted at the new Goodwill donation center at 27 south Cochran Street in Dalton A new Goodwill Donation Center opened on Cochran Street in Dalton for community members to donate gently used items. The Dalton Donation Center has been a tremendous success for us so far, with an average of 140 donors per month. We cannot wait to see how the community utilizes this new resource in the Spring, said Laura Sanders, senior director of retail. Whether its clothes, toys or houseware, Goodwill accepts donated items with a quality standard for the retail store. We need all donations, anything that people are willing to give away, "said Casey McGrady, vice president of development and marketing. In addition to helping people in need with clothes and other items, Goodwill helps the unemployed by supporting them with training and career exploration. Every donation to Goodwill equals two hours of job skills training and career development, said Ashly Hart, internal and community relations. As these businesses flourish, they're not just creating jobs they're building connections and fostering a sense of community. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: New Orrville, Dalton businesses are revitalizing local landscape Sometimes, sex just isn't an option and you have to take things into your own hands (literally). Last year, Adult Toy Mega Store pulled back the sheets on Kiwis' sexploits to reveal where in NZ people are buzzing over sex toys and which ones are selling out time and again. Addl central forces deployed in curfew-hit area in Ukhand HALDWANI, ADDITIONAL paramilitary forces were deployed on Monday in the towns Banbhoolpura area where violence erupted last week after authorities demolished an illegally built madarasa, officials said. Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh said, 120 arms licences have been cancelled in Banbhoolpura and the police are trying to trace people who took part in the rioting on February 8 in which police personnel and Municipal Corporation workers were attacked and a police station set on fire. Six people, including five alleged to be rioters, were killed while 60 people were injured in the violence, officials said. Every effort is being made to maintain peace in Haldwani, Singh said. She added that the situation in all areas of Haldwani, including Banbhoolpura, is now normal and under control. Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prahlad Meena said additional companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed at sensitive places in Banbhoolpura. Police station to come up on freed land: Dhami: UTTARAKHAND Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said a police station would come up on the land freed from encroachment in Haldwanis Banbhoolpura. Referring to the Haldwani violence, the Chief Minister, who came in Haridwar to participate in the Nari Shakti Mahotsav, said several acres of land were freed from encroachment during the demolition drive in the Malik ka Bagicha area of Banbhoolpura. Today, I announce from the holy banks of Mother Ganga that a police station will be built at that place. After Chavans resignation Fadnavis says, more to quit Congress Staff Reporter With Ashok Chavan, former Chief Minister, resigning from the primary membership of Congress, rumours have started making rounds that some other leaders too would put their papers. Right now, leaders are talking cautiously about their possible exit from Congress. According to sources, Nana Patole, President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) left for Delhi to appraise the party high command about the situation in the State and discuss the next strategy. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had indicated that many leaders from Congress would resign, which has come true. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after Ashok Chavans resignation, said, More leaders of Congress are in touch with BJP. They can join Mahayuti. Wait for the developments. The development has created havoc as Congress fears, Chavan has many followers within the party who may resign. D P Sawant, ex-Minister; Amarnath Rajurkar, MLA; Raju Parwe, Umred MLA; Sunil Kedar, Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition; Sulabha Khodke, MLA, are some of the names doing rounds. Dr Babanrao Taywade, who heads Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, is considered as a confidant of Chavan. He has not resigned yet and said that he would stay with Congress. Meanwhile, Vijay Wadettiwar refuted the news that he was resigning. He, on the contrary, expressed shock over the resignation of Ashok Chavan. He did not discuss anything with me. I have been working with him since year 2000, because of which my name was dragged among the leaders likely to resign. Right now I am in my constituency, said Wadettiwar. If Congress leader Rahul Gandhi insults the OBC community, how come his leaders would stay with the party, questioned Chandrashekhar Bawankule, President of Maharashtra State BJP. Bawankule said, Ashok Chavan will explain the reason of his resignation soon. There is no proposal of giving Rajya Sabha seat to Chavan at this moment. We have a majority to win three seats. Shinde and Ajit Pawar will get one seat each. Raju Parve also termed the rumor of his resignation as rumor. I dont think our party leaders will resign enmass, the way BJP is claiming. Nobody wants disqualification at this stage. The split that took place in NCP and Shiv Sena is unlikely to take place in Congress. In last two days my Umred constituency suffered from hailstorm and I am visiting the places to take stock of the damages took place. According to sources, Sulabha Khodke, Amravati MLA may join Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) group but she clearly told The Hitavada that she would stay loyal to Congress always. Similarly Vikas Thakre, President of Nagpur City Congress pointed out that he has many friends in other parties that doesnt mean he would resign from Congress. My friends in other parties work for their units so I work for my unit. There is no question of resigning, Thakre said. MUMBAI, IN A setback to Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan resigned from the grand old party on Monday, amid speculation that he may join the BJP. Chavans exit from Congress came days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the party. There was no confirmation either from Chavan or the BJP of reports that the 65-year-old leader will be fielded for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Amid the buzz that Chavan will join the BJP, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters, Aagey aagey dekho hota hai kya (wait and watch what happens . Chavan said the decision to quit the Congress was a personal one, adding he will announce his next course of action in a day or two. I have not yet made any decision to join BJP, he added. In a letter to State Congress president Nana Patole, Chavan said he was resigning as a primary member of the party. He also submitted his resignation as an MLA to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Speaking to reporters, Chavan said, I am not going to discuss anything happening in the Congress party on a public forum. Asked if he would join the BJP, Chavan said, I havent taken any decision yet on joining the BJP and dont know BJPs working system. He also said his decision to quit the Congress is a personal one and he does not want to ascribe any reason to it. Chavan also refuted claims that the white paper tabled in Parliament prompted him to resign from Congress. The white paper has mentioned the Adarsh Building scam, pertaining to a housing society in Mumbai, due to which Chavan had to step down as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2010. There were reports since the last few months that Chavan would be quitting Congress, so the news of his resignation did not come as a total surprise to the State party leaders. Voters will teach those who deserted them a lesson, said former CM Prithviraj Chavan. Embracing Solar Power Surge in Bhopal residents for sustainable living By Kriti Shah In a remarkable trend towards sustainable living, Bhopal residents are increasingly turning to solar rooftop panels as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional electricity sources. The upswing in interest has been noted by local solar companies actively engaged in installing solar panels across households in the city. As The Hitavada team engaged in a series of conversations with several service providers, revealed a notable surge in inquiries and installations over the past few months. The primary driver behind this shift is a growing awareness of the environmental impact of conventional energy sources and the desire to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy. Some of the leading solar companies in Bhopal, reported a significant increase in inquiries for solar rooftop installations compared to the same period last year. The company attributes this rise to a heightened understanding among residents about the long-term benefits of harnessing solar energy. In a conversation, Rupesh Deshmukh, owner of a private solar sales services added, The citizens of Bhopal are increasingly recognising the economic and environmental advantages of solar power, apparently the subsidies like 40% subsidy on 1kWp to 3kWp at the time of solar rooftop installation is one of the reasons of this increasing trend. There has been significant increase of 60% to 70% in inquiries of solar rooftop installations in recent 3 to 4 years in Bhopal Especially, Government employees are the major clienteles in this, emphasising on this he remarked, Mostly, Government employees, retired personnel are opting for solar installation. The areas of Arera Colony, Minal Residency, Lalghati, Airport Road are among the top regions where residents are opting for solar rooftop installations in Bhopal. Hoping on to the benefits customers able to enjoy with solar rooftop installation, Atul Chourasia, Sales and Marketing Director of another private company stated, This not only includes residents, but several commercial and educational institutions as well. They are keen on contributing to a sustainable future while enjoying the immediate benefits of reduced electricity bills. People are able to decrease their electricity bill by 80% to 90% from the very next month of solar rooftop installation. Govt Homeopathic College mulling to set up medicine manufacturing unit By Ankita Garg Government Homeopathic Medical College, Bhopal, is flexing its muscles for manufacturing its own medicine. The college management has proposed Rs 1.5 crores budgetary allocation from Government to start medicine manufacture by Pharmacy Department in a separate building. Once the proposal sees day light, medicines will be sold in other states as well. Pharmacy department has also demanded to purchase required machinery worth Rs 1.5 crores for the same. The proposal includes manufacturing of medicine in college campus by the end of year 20224. A separate building his ready to serve in the campus where the proposed machinery will be installed. The college management has claimed that it has experienced team for medicine manufacture and they want to utilise their skills and experience in this field. The college officials said that they have started setting up the medicine unit system and resources to start the medicine manufacture unit. Officials have targeted to complete the structure of medicine unit by end of September 2024 and from December onwards, pharmacy department would start manufacturing its own medicine. Officials said that union government will be allocating Rs 10 crores of fund for the same. Dr S K Mishra, Principal of Government Homeopathic Medical College said, Pharmacy Department is set to manufacture its own medicine and process of purchasing required medicine is on. Building is already constructed for the medicine unit. Medicines manufactured in college will be supplied to hospitals and after that remaining medicines will be sold in neighbouring states. He further informed that initially, team has planned to manufacture the syrups and after few months, tablets will be manufactured. He said, the medicine unit will be service college hospital and also neighbouring states. This would also help Government to generate revenue with the help of college, added Dr S K Mishra. At present college purchases medicine from agencies as per Government parameter from Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states. There are some medicines being imported from various countries. Dr Mishra said that as per requirement and rising number of patients, medicines are not available in the hospital. He said that decision has been taken to manufacture own medicine to meet the requirement and utilise the available skills of experienced faculty. we aim that patients get all the medicine suggested in prescription in hospital campus, added Dr Mishra. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN) (the "Company" or "iMining"), a leading Canadian technology firm dedicated to fostering future technology ventures in Canada, proudly announces an addition to AiMining Technologies' ("AiMining") Scientific Advisory Board. AiMining is delighted to welcome Dr. Shazia Akbar, Canada's leading AI Healthcare expert, to its Advisory Board. Holding a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science from the University of Dundee, Dr. Akbar's research focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare advancements, particularly in partnership with renowned institutions like University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Vector Institute. Prior to joining AiMining Technologies, Dr. Akbar held key positions, including serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Sunnybrook Research Institute, where she initiated deep learning techniques in breast tissue images, collaborating closely with pathologists to enhance cancer detection. Her involvement with the Vector Institute further underscores her dedication to advancing AI technologies within Canada. Dr. Shazia Akbar also held various positions at other well-regarded institutions, including serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at NYU Langone Medical Center, where she focused on the development of MRI pulse sequences for pediatric patients and explored deep learning techniques for MRI imaging. She also contributed as an Image Analysis Research Intern at Toshiba Medical Visualization Systems (Europe) Ltd, where she researched and implemented feature extraction algorithms for medical image analysis. Furthermore, Dr. Shazia Akbar has been instrumental in transforming dental care practices worldwide as the Founder of Okare AI, using artificial intelligence and imaging to deliver superior oral healthcare to patients. In addition to her academic and professional achievements, Dr. Shazia Akbar is committed to community service, having volunteered at Barnardo's Children, a charity supporting children with disabilities. She is also an advocate for Women in Tech and has volunteered for events and workshops to promote and encourage women in STEM. Story continues Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Khurram Shroff, Chairman and CEO of iMining, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Dr. Akbar's expertise and contributions align seamlessly with AiMining's mission to revolutionize AI solutions for societal betterment. Her Canadian roots and extensive experience make her an integral part of our vision at AiMining Technologies." In her new role, Dr. Akbar will serve on the Advisory Board of AiMining Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of iMining Technologies. She will work closely with the AiMining team to establish a world-class research lab in Canada, attract top talent, secure funding, and drive AI research initiatives across various sectors, with a primary focus on healthcare. "AiMining Technologies is poised to make ground-breaking discoveries that will enhance lives and propel AI advancements across diverse sectors," said Dr. Akbar. "I am thrilled to contribute to this vision by establishing a premier research facility in Canada and championing AI-driven solutions, particularly in critical areas like healthcare." Dr. Akbar's appointment underscores AiMining's commitment to fostering innovation within Canada's thriving AI ecosystem. Her collaboration with leading scientists and researchers will accelerate AI-driven scientific inquiry, benefiting humanity on a global scale. About iMining Technologies Inc. iMining Technologies Inc. is a publicly listed technology company which together with its subsidiaries acquires, builds, and manages future technology companies in Canada. The Company's industry specific technology businesses provide specialized and innovative solutions in future technologies and serves private sector markets. iMining Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About AiMining Technologies Inc. AiMining Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of iMining Technologies Inc., stands at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Comprising a dedicated research arm focused on collaboration with esteemed institutions and a monetization arm geared towards market engagement, AiMining seamlessly integrates into iMining's technology portfolio and is committed to advancing responsible AI development. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Khurram Shroff" Khurram Shroff, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact: iMining Corporate Offices: Saleem Moosa, CFO and Director Email: investor@imining.com Telephone: 1-604-602-4935 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197723 Indias UPI payment services launched in Lanka, Mauritius NEW DELHI, INDIAS Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were on Monday rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as linking historic ties with modern digital technology. Indias RuPay card services were also launched in Mauritius at a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Modi, Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth and Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In his remarks, Modi hoped the new fintech services would help the two nations and said the UPI is implementing new responsibilities of uniting partners with India. Today is a special day for the three friendly countries of the Indian Ocean Region as we are linking our historic ties with modern digital technology, he said. I believe that Sri Lanka and Mauritius will benefit from the UPI system, Modi said. The Prime Minister said, digital public infrastructure has brought about a revolutionary change in India. He also highlighted Indias focus on its neighbourhood first policy. Be it a natural disaster, health-related, economic or supporting on the international stage, India has been the first responder, and will continue to be so, he said. The launch of the Indian services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius came amid New Delhis increasing bilateral economic ties with the two countries. The move enables the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius as well as for Mauritian nationals travelling to India. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI is an instant real-time payment system to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. RuPay is a global card payment network from India, with wide acceptance at shops, ATMs, and online. MAFSU still awaits One Health Centre for Wildlife Zoonotic Diseases Staff Reporter Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU) is waiting to get One Health Centre for Wildlife Zoonotic Diseases, the proposal for which it had submitted to the State Government. There are two different projects under One Health Centre scheme related to MAFSU. One, for which the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is known as National Institute for One Health, a project by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). This institute is equipped with the Bio Safety Level (BSL-IV) laboratory. Its construction work has already been started on the land situated in front of Nagpur Veterinary College. The other project is-- One Health Centre for Wildlife Zoonotic Diseases, which comes under the Department of Biotechnology, the proposal for which was submitted by MAFSU to State Government. The Departments Wildlife Research and Training Centre (WRTC) is already functioning at Gorewada. Dr Nitin Patil, Vice-Chancellor of MAFSU said, If we get this centre then it will be first-of-its-kind in India. The centre that was inaugurated by Prime Minister doesnt have the aspect of wildlife and it covers 10 diseases. The centre which we have proposed can work on 20 different diseases under one roof. Dr Shirish Upadhye, Dean, MAFSU said, We are already running WRTC in Gorewada Zoo, which is of three years, and we have completed two years. To establish the said centre, we dont need infrastructure or regular staff. We need equipment and temporary staff, for which we have submitted an estimation of Rs 30 crore. Diseases occurring in wild animals, their transmission to humans, and treatment protocols, are important issues. If we receive funds from the Government, the centre will be ready within a year. Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Forest has given positive indication for its approval. A total of 700 types of viruses, bacteria, parasites infect humans through animals and birds. If diseases are prevented in animals only, then its spread can be stopped. Along with detection of diseases, treatment system can also be developed. The work of preparing vaccine on bacteria can also be done by the centre. Nagpur airport handles over 28 lakh passengers in 2023 Business Reporter It seems that the aviation industry in the country is witnessing a robust growth these days as the Nagpur airport has handled over 25 lakh passengers in the year 2023. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur has handled approximately 28,88,476 lakh air passengers from January to December 2023 (Including domestic and international passengers). According to Airport Authority of India (AAI) portal, the number of air passengers to and fro Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur had recorded domestic passengers at 27,85,851 and international passengers at 102,625, respectively. This is a big achievement as compared to the total air passenger traffic in 2022 was recorded at approximately 22,67,622 (Including domestic and international passengers). One of the travel agents on the condition of anonymity, said that the growth in number of air passengers on the domestic front was due to the improved economic scenario. Also, tourism and jungle safaris are attracting tourists to Nagpur from all over the country and also the world. Apart from this, Nagpur is growing and developing as a major economic hub and attracting huge investments in various sectors. Also, people from the city are visiting various overseas and domestic destinations. This has increased the number of air passengers from the citys airport, he said. Another leading travel agent of the city confidently said that the air passenger traffic would reach pre-COVID levels and surpass those levels as the economy grows. The travel agent suggested that domestic airlines should increase the number of flights and routes from Nagpur airport as there is tremendous growth in demand for air travel. He further said that that positive sentiment among the business community and economic growth is likely to continue at a fast pace for some more years. I think there will be a further growth of 20-25 per cent in the number of air passengers traveling from the Nagpur airport, he said. The air passenger traffic in and out of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport Nagpur witnessed a sharp reduction from January to December 2020 which stood at 12,06,890 compared to 31,24,675 in the year 2019, a difference of 19,17,785 passengers, he said. Nitish Kumar wins trust vote in Bihar PATNA, THE National Democratic Alliance Government in Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Monday won the trust vote in the State Assembly, with 129 MLAs voting in favour of the motion, amid a walkout by all non-NDA members. Altogether, 129 legislators voted in favour of the motion, but Kumar rose to suggest that the vote of Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari, who belongs to the JD(U), also be counted. Usually, the person in the Chair does not take part in voting, unless there is a tie. Hazari ordered a headcount after having declared the motion as passed through voice vote, following a request from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, which was seconded by Kumar, the JD(U) president. The NDA, comprising the JD(U), BJP, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM and an Independent, had a combined strength of 128 in the 243-strong Assembly. However, it received a shot in the arm with three RJD MLAs Prahlad Yadav, Chetan Anand and Neelam Devi walking over to the ruling side. PAK IMBROGLIO SINCE the declaration of the results of the general elections in Pakistan, a state of confusion prevails in the neighbouring Islamic country. Though the political parties are eager to form Government, split verdict and military-favoured party not being in the position of a clear winner have thrown the political situation in Pakistan in a disarray. In the 265-member National Assembly, former Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khans PTI-backed independents constitute the largest winning block with 101 seats. It is followed by military-favoured PML-N of former three-time Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif winning 75 seats, and technically being the single largest party. Then comes Mr. Bilawal Bhuttos PPP with 57 seats to its kitty, and MQM winning 17 seats. Despite the military establishment trying every trick in its arsenal to get Mr. Imran Khan and his party out of the electoral mainstream, it could not achieve the results as is visible from PTI-backed independents victory. Obviously, this assertion of Pakistani voters in favour of democratic values comes as a jolt to control-freak Pakistani military. But, this poses a big problem from political stability point of view. The petitions before the courts alleging rigging in the elections and challenging victory of PML-N have added to the prevailing chaos. If the Pakistani military tries to install Mr. Sharif as the Prime Minister, the situation may turn more volatile as popular anger and disappointment against the military-mullah nexus may boil over. Keeping this point in consideration, now the PML-N and PPP have started talks and are peddling the narrative of participatory coalition government. However, the basic rider is that Mr. Imran Khans party PTI should not be a part of such a coalition. Whatever might be the power-sharing formula, but such a dispensation keeping out such a large number of independent winning candidates backed by PTI may not bring stability. Besides, it would also send across the message to the Pakistani people that their choices are limited. This realisation may further snowball into wider consciousness in favour of democracy. In that case, given the internal turmoil in Pakistan in Balochistan and Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pak-occupied Kashmir, the troubles may only increase for the military State. This situation has arisen due to Pakistani militarys insistence on riding the tiger of radicalisation, from the back of which it now cannot dismount. Else, that tiger might pounce on it. Economic woes add another dimension to the Pakistan story. Poor economy means lack of access to good education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and standard of living for the populace. Caught between this lack of access and evils of radicalisation, people of Pakistani expressed themselves through the electoral process. However, if that expression gets deliberately ignored by the military and its favoured political faces, it may have consequences for Pakistan. Those consequences may not be good for the Islamic nation. To avoid such a deeper crisis, those trying to run the country from behind the curtains need to do more than just peddling the narrative of participatory coalition government with an exclusionary rider. For, the election results have offered an opportunity for course correction to Pakistani power structure. Instead of making a good use of it, if it tried to subvert the popular expression, the nations downslide on to the path of self-destruction may get accelerated. India and other powerful countries of the world have rightly adopted a wait and watch approach. But, a lot will depend on whether Pakistani power structure resolves the imbroglio in a matured manner. Qatar releases 8 ex-Indian Navy personnel on death row; PM Modi supervised case: FS NEW DELHI, QATAR has released eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel and seven of them returned home on Monday morning, in what is being seen as a major diplomatic victory for India that came nearly three-and-half months after a Qatari court handed them death sentence that was subsequently commuted to jail terms. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself constantly supervised all the developments in the case and has never shied away from any initiatives to ensure the return of the Indians. At a media briefing, the Foreign Secretary announced that Modi will travel to Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday after concluding his two-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but indicated that the trip was long conceived. The Foreign Secretary, without elaborating, said New Delhi continues to work with the Qatari Government to ensure the early return of the eighth Indian. In an early morning statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India appreciates the decision by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani enabling the release and home-coming of the Indians. The former Indian Navy personnel apparently faced charges of espionage, but neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against them public. The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar, the MEA said. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals, it said in a brief statement. The eight nationals are: Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, S K Gupta, B K Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh. Commander Tiwari could not return due to some pending paperwork, people familiar with the matter said. The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentences by Qatars Court of First Instance. The Court of Appeal in the Gulf nation on December 28 commuted the capital punishment and sentenced them to jail terms for varying durations ranging from three to 25 years. The Court of Appeal had also given 60 days to appeal against the prison terms. In December, Prime Minister Modi had met the Qatari Emir on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai and discussed the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar. Zero-tolerance to crimes Staff Reporter BHILAI, In a significant move following the Shivam Sao murder case in Bhilai, the administration finally took action by demolishing the houses of the accused on Monday. The Bhilai Municipal Corporations Zone-3 team spearheaded this operation after Section 144 was imposed in the Camp-2 and its adjacent areas. Its worth mentioning that a few days ago, miscreants in Camp 2, Baikunthdham, brutally murdered 12th-grade student Shivam Sao with a knife. Subsequently, the police promptly arrested five suspects and remanded them to jail. Among those whose houses were demolished on Monday include Motin B, Siyanand Chauhan and Lutan Prasad Chauhan. Prior to the demolition, the police and Municipal Corporation had requested relevant families to submit documents related to land ownership. However, the documents presented revealed illegal construction, leading to the demolition of the accuseds houses. Officials stated that families of the accused received a second notice on February 8, requesting verification of land-related documents they had submitted. As per the Additional Tehsildar of Bhilai city, the encroached land comprised 19.40 square metres of allocated land and an additional 72 square metres of encroachment. The accused were given a deadline of three days to remove the illegal construction. Upon expiry of the deadline, the municipal corporation acted under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1956. Addressing a recent gathering, MLA Rikesh Sen asserted that bulldozers would roll over the houses of Shivam Saos murderers. Sen emphasised a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of crime, particularly against women, in the Vaishali Nagar constituency. He warned that anyone found engaging in criminal activities, especially under the influence of alcohol, would not be spared. During the operation, CSP Ashish Chandrakar, Tehsildar Gurudutt Panchbhai, along with a significant police force and municipal staff, were present at the scene. Assessing the Sustainability and Growth of CNP's Dividends CenterPoint Energy Inc (NYSE:CNP) recently announced a dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on 2024-03-14, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-02-14. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into CenterPoint Energy Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. Understanding CenterPoint Energy Inc's Business Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with CNP. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? CenterPoint Energy Inc operates within the utility sector, managing a portfolio of businesses that deliver essential energy services. The company's regulated electric utilities cater to over 2.5 million customers in diverse regions including the Houston area, southern Indiana, and west central Ohio. Additionally, CenterPoint Energy Inc's natural gas distribution systems extend across six states, serving around 4 million customers, marking its significant presence in the energy distribution landscape. CenterPoint Energy Inc's Dividend Analysis CenterPoint Energy Inc's Dividend Track Record CenterPoint Energy Inc has upheld a steadfast commitment to shareholder returns, maintaining a continuous dividend payment streak since 1986. The dividends are dispensed quarterly, reflecting the company's stable financial position and dedication to returning value to its investors. Below is a chart showing the annual Dividends Per Share to track historical trends, which is crucial for investors to gauge the company's long-term dividend policy. Dividend Yield and Growth Insights CenterPoint Energy Inc boasts a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.80% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 2.91%. This forward-looking metric indicates an anticipated uptick in dividend disbursements over the upcoming year. However, the company's dividend growth has seen fluctuations with a three-year annual dividend growth rate of -15.30%, a five-year rate of -11.20%, and a ten-year growth rate of -1.90%. The 5-year yield on cost stands at approximately 1.55% as of today, providing a long-term perspective on the yield investors might expect. Story continues CenterPoint Energy Inc's Dividend Analysis Evaluating Dividend Sustainability The sustainability of CenterPoint Energy Inc's dividends can be scrutinized through its dividend payout ratio, which currently stands at 0.60 as of 2023-09-30. This ratio indicates that the company is distributing a moderate portion of its earnings as dividends, retaining a substantial part for future growth and resilience against downturns. Additionally, CenterPoint Energy Inc's profitability rank of 6 out of 10 reflects fair profitability, supported by the company's consistent net profit generation over the past decade. CenterPoint Energy Inc's Growth Prospects For dividend sustainability, robust growth metrics are imperative. CenterPoint Energy Inc's growth rank of 6 out of 10 suggests fair future growth prospects. However, the company's revenue and earnings growth rates have been mixed. The revenue per share and 3-year revenue growth rate have underperformed 83.02% of global competitors, while the 3-year EPS growth rate has exceeded those of 32.56% of global competitors. The 5-year EBITDA growth rate has also underperformed, which could be a concern for long-term dividend sustainability. Concluding Thoughts on CenterPoint Energy Inc's Dividends In conclusion, while CenterPoint Energy Inc's dividend payments reflect a history of shareholder returns, the mixed growth rates and underperformance in certain metrics warrant careful consideration. The payout ratio and profitability rank provide some reassurance; however, investors should closely monitor the company's ability to sustain and grow its dividends in the context of its overall financial health. For those seeking high-dividend yield stocks, GuruFocus Premium offers a valuable tool with the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The vehicle showcasing whats described as the future design direction for the Chrysler brand isnt an SUV or even a minivan. Its a sleek and very modern-looking concept car with lots of glass and an exterior color called Elemental Silver, something designed, according to one executive, to give a sense of liquid travel. A key inspiration for the colors and materials comes from the world of fashion. The Chrysler Halcyon Concept, being unveiled virtually Tuesday rather than at this years CES in Las Vegas as originally planned, is another stab by the Stellantis brand at setting itself apart as it prepares to revamp its lineup and welcome its first battery electric vehicle, currently slated as a crossover in 2025. The Halcyon Concept is a throwback in a sense to a time when futuristic design and imagination seemed to have a firmer hold on the automotive world than evidenced by the parade of boxy machines that now take up so much highway space. Brand CEO Christine Feuell told journalists at the companys design dome in Auburn Hills recently that she wanted a name representing harmony in motion. That name, according to Merriam-Webster, also evokes a sense of nostalgia for better days past. Feuell reminded the group that the Chrysler brand, which is essentially the Pacifica minivan with the departure of the 300 sedan, had not seen much investment for a long time before the merger that created Stellantis in 2021. However, Chrysler sold more than 133,000 vehicles in the United States last year, representing a 19% bump from 2022, and Feuell noted that we made a very good profit last year. The unique doors of the Chrysler Halcyon EV concept car shown inside the design dome at Stellantis North America headquarters in Auburn Hills on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Halcyon represents a more future-looking, and Feuell would say, edgier, vision than the Airflow concept, which the company had unveiled at CES in 2022 and drew comparisons to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y. While Feuell promised a really healthy cadence of new product development and launches starting with that first battery electric vehicle in 2025, dont expect to see a Halcyon production vehicle rolling off an assembly line next year. Story continues Feuell said shed love to put the Halcyon into production as soon as possible but couldnt speak to any specifics on that front, an acknowledgement of the aspirational nature of what was shown. She also addressed the fact that the vehicle is built as a car and not as a crossover, noting that if you can give the customer a really clever solution in a car platform that really recaptures the joy of driving in a stunning design then you have something here. The look is striking, from the massive windshield that would open a dramatic view of the road ahead to the butterfly-hinged canopy and red-carpet style side doors, which offer an invitation to climb in. Aerodynamics are helped by an air blade tucked into the front of the vehicle to channel the wind. The interior highlights a vision of an autonomous driving future with reverse yoke steering wheel and pedals that can retract paired with technology that could include augmented-reality displays with information about the night sky. Theres also a stowable 15.6-inch display screen rather than an instrument panel, and retractable rear seats promise an updated version of Chryslers Stow n Go storage system. The vehicle would be built on the STLA Large platform, which the company has said targets a 500-mile electric vehicle range, and it envisions the ability to use dynamic wireless road charging as well as lithium-sulfur batteries, two areas that have generated investment and interest from the company and others although no clear picture yet of widespread deployment. Detroit, notably, was the site of a demonstration in November of wireless public roadway EV charging, a technology seen as a way to reduce range anxiety for consumers. But concept vehicles are all about envisioning future possibilities. A key piece of the Halcyon Concept relates to a vision of sustainability, something that La Shirl Turner, vice president of Advanced Color and Materials for Stellantis in North America, and her team, including Jun Ryu, lead design manager, and Jasmine Brown, creative designer, discussed in more detail with the Free Press on Wednesday. From left, Jasmine Brown, Jun Ryu, the lead design manager, and LaShirl Turner, the vice president of advance color materials, with the Chrysler Halcyon EV concept car at Stellantis North America headquarters in Auburn Hills on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. They described a process that began about a year ago, before Halcyon even had a name, that highlights how the materials were selected for the vehicle. Turner, who grew up around cars in Detroit and attended the College of Creative Studies, noted that her team is responsible for all the materials that are seen or touched, and they work across various Stellantis brands, which includes Jeep, Ram and Dodge. Everything that has color and material placement, weve had our hands in it, she said, comparing the teams work to what interior designers do with a house. Selecting the materials follows lots of research and work to connect design ideas to key phrases about the vehicle. Theres also lots consultation with the exterior and interior design teams along the way. The group took inspiration from many places, including architecture and even Detroits music scene. Brown showed an image of a storyboard with notes showing those influences and colors coming together. The front interior of the Chrysler Halcyon EV concept car shown off inside the design dome at Stellantis North America headquarters in Auburn Hills on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. What the group described as its aha moment was during last years New York Fashion Week and a show by designer Jason Wu. Shirl described a serene feeling from the atmosphere of the show venue, which included concrete and elements of nature. They said it tied back to a goal of connecting nature, technology and sustainable materials and reaffirmed that what they were doing was relevant. The vehicle itself promises 95% sustainable interior materials, including textile-infused wood for flooring, use of film in some areas rather than paint to cut down on off-gassing and crushed and recycled music CDs for a new Chrysler logo in places like the door sills. The color-and-materials team showed off a large block of the crushed CDs as well as a couple of smaller examples, all from a startup based in the United Kingdom, which they declined to name. Those samples show a diversity of colors of silver, green, even red, and interesting patterns to catch the eye, much like the Halcyon Concept overall appears to be built to do. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chrysler Halcyon Concept revealed by Stellantis Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBD Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat reports. A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on BBD. HSBC downgraded Banco Bradesco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Banco Bradesco from $3.20 to $2.80 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BBD Banco Bradesco Price Performance Banco Bradesco Cuts Dividend Banco Bradesco stock opened at $2.75 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3.12. Banco Bradesco has a 52-week low of $2.34 and a 52-week high of $3.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.0038 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.9%. Banco Bradescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.29%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC bought a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $106,000. Catalytic Wealth RIA LLC bought a new position in Banco Bradesco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $123,000. IPG Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Banco Bradesco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $95,000. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new position in Banco Bradesco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Banco Bradesco by 26.5% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 209,030 shares of the banks stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 43,837 shares during the period. 1.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Banco Bradesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; auto, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; real estate and vehicle auctions; cash management, and foreign trade and exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. - Five JAKIM-certified halal bibigo Mandu & Hoppang products start selling at CU convenience stores in Kuala Lumpur - Targeting the halal Mandu market in Malaysia with the product quality that won the Korean, U.S., and Vietnam markets KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CJ Foods, a business unit of South Korea-based CheilJedang, said it has launched the first halal bibigo Mandu products. The company plans to introduce the taste of Korean Mandu, which holds the No. 1 market share in Korea, the U.S., and Vietnam, to Malaysian consumers. CJ Foods' newly launched halal bibigo Mandu and Hoppang products The new products are three flavors of CJ's first-ever JAKIM-certified halal Mandu (chicken, Korean spicy chicken, and beef bulgogi) and two flavors of Hoppang (japchae and Korean spicy chicken). Mandu is Korean-wrapped food stuffed with various ingredients such as meat and vegetables. It is different from Chinese dumplings or Japanese gyoza in that it has thin and crispy flour skin with juicy stuffing. Hoppang is a popular Korean snack with vegetable or meat stuffing inside steamed bread. The snack is getting global popularity as it is frequently featured in Korean dramas. CJ's new products catered to the taste of Malaysian consumers by stuffing with chicken and offering strong spicy and sweet flavors. They will start selling at CU convenience stores in Kuala Lumpur and expand listings to mainstream retailers within the first half of this year. "We are thrilled to launch the first halal Mandu and share the taste of Korean cuisine with Malaysian consumers," said Wayne Wang, head of CJ Foods Malaysia. "Starting with Mandu and Hoppang, we will continue to introduce a variety of our quality bibigo Korean food products." CJ CheilJedang, the parent company of CJ Foods, has been operating a plant in Kerteh, Malaysia since 2015 to manufacture advanced feed-grade amino acids such as L-methionine. The plant employs about 500 people, and amino acids produced here are exported to the global market including Europe and China. Story continues About bibigo Launched in 2010, bibigo is a global Korean food brand of CJ Foods. Aiming to enrich today's busy and demanding life, bibigo delivers K-food and culture to dinner tables worldwide under the new slogan "bibigo, live delicious." To bibigo, warm and delicious food is not just a meal, but a way to make life taste better. With its high-quality food products rooted in Korean passion, bibigo helps consumers make the most out of every moment. The brand line-up includes a full assortment of snacks, appetizers and meal items. bibigo products are sold across around 70 countries globally, and the brand's signature item "Mandu" is sold in around 50,000 stores across 6 continents. Inspired by authentic recipes, bibigo makes the tastes of Korean cuisine accessible with popular offerings in most major grocery chains. For more information, visit http://www.bibigo.com/en/at-home About CJ Foods CJ Foods, a business unit of CJ CheilJedang, is a global food company delivering a variety of products ranging from foodstuffs and frozen/chilled foods to appetisers. As the largest food company in Korea with global sales of 11.1 trillion KRW in 2022, CJ Foods is now leading the globalization of Korean food with its fast-growing bibigo brand. Under bibigo, it offers seven delicious Global Strategic Products of K-food, including Mandu (Korean-style dumpling), chicken, processed rice, Korean sauce, Kimchi, Gim (seaweed), and roll to global consumers. The company operates over 60 sites in multiple regions worldwide including South Korea, the U.S. (Schwan's Company), China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania. For more information, visit https://www.cj.co.kr/en/about/business/food Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cj-foods-launched-halal-korean-mandu-and-hoppang-in-malaysia-302055538.html SOURCE CJ Cheiljedang HSBC upgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has $152.00 target price on the stock, up from their previous target price of $124.00. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Barclays raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $115.00 to $130.00 in a report on Monday, October 30th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a report on Thursday, December 7th. They set a neutral rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Itau BBA Securities lowered shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $127.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $130.60. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Fomento Economico Mexicano Fomento Economico Mexicano Trading Up 0.1 % Institutional Inflows and Outflows NYSE:FMX opened at $141.81 on Friday. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 12-month low of $82.65 and a 12-month high of $143.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.93 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $132.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $119.93. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Headlands Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 448.6% during the 4th quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 203 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 44.3% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 342 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 117.0% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 421 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. acquired a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Coca-Cola's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions 46% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock A look at the shareholders of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 62% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. 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 Coca-Cola. View our latest analysis for Coca-Cola What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Coca-Cola? 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. Coca-Cola already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Coca-Cola's 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. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Coca-Cola. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 9.3% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 8.6% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 7.2% of the company stock. Story continues On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Coca-Cola While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. 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 The Coca-Cola Company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$1.7b worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 28% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Coca-Cola. 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. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 9.3% of Coca-Cola stock. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Coca-Cola better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Coca-Cola you should know about. 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. Chicago Public Schools is planning to terminate its custodial contract with Aramark, a Philadelphia-based service firm giant, in favor of signing a labor agreement with seven vendors after years of complaints of dirty schools and inadequate cleaning. The district will ask the Chicago Board of Education next week to approve a new contract for CPS to partner with new vendors for custodial services when the Aramark contract expires in June, according to a school board meeting agenda posted Monday. A district spokesperson confirmed the looming separation from Aramark on Tuesday. The transfer of custodial services will give the district in-house management, currently done by Aramark, and more oversight to ensure cleanliness of school facilities. CPS handed over school custodial responsibilities to Aramark in 2014. The board most recently approved a three-year contract extension in 2021, despite widespread complaints of dirty buildings and classrooms across the districts 600+ schools. The district is also asking the board to increase the funding limit for Aramarks services to $391 million, up from $369 million, for the remainder of that contract, citing unforeseen expenditures associated with overtime, custodial supplies and custodial equipment. Chris Collum, Aramark spokesperson, said the districts decision to seek a new contract was disappointing for the firm. We are disappointed that we were not selected to continue with facility services for CPS. We are proud of the efforts of our dedicated employees and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the school district, Collum said in a statement. The vendors include Chicago-based corporations Apache Service and Supply Co.; Diverse Facility Solutions Inc.; GDI Services Inc.; R.J.B. Properties Inc.; Total Facility Maintenance Inc. and United Maintenance Co. Inc.; and Milwaukee-based Performance Clean LLC. A three-year contract with the vendors would cost CPS $331 million for an initial three-year term, according to the meeting agenda. The transition will begin over the next few months to ensure limited interruptions to cleaning services. Story continues Most of the vendors have previously worked in CPS schools as subcontractors through Aramark and went through a recent procurement process, the district said. One of the listed vendors, United Maintenance, made headlines more than a decade ago over a janitorial contract at OHare International Airport, with the company raising concerns about custodian salaries and past labor complaints. In 2002, United Maintenances parent company was named in a federal Independent Review Board investigation of Chicago Teamsters union leaders. United Maintenances president, Richard Simon, a former Chicago police officer was found to have colluded with Teamsters union officials on a contract for workers for Las Vegas trade shows. Simon denied wrongdoing. The local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which represents CPS custodians, celebrated the looming end of the Aramark contract and the return to direct management by CPS instead of outside vendors. After 10 years of fighting a $16 billion for-profit management company, we won. Aramarks contract will not be renewed, SEIU 73 said in a statement. After 10 years of board custodians being mismanaged by outside vendors, CPS facilities will manage our members, supplies, and equipment directly. The district said it will work to ensure union custodians working under Aramark can apply for employment with one of next years vendors. To date, the district has a total of 2,569 custodian positions, 1,234 of which are CPS-employed full-time positions and 1,335 work for private companies. Discussions on pay will occur between the district, the union and vendors as the contract negotiation continues, according to district spokeswoman Sylvia Barragan. aguffey@chicagotribune.com Customers with deferred compensation plans at Bank of America had personally identifiable information including their Social Security number compromised through a third party, Infosys McCamish, which provides financial software. Credit: Adobe Stock and Angus Mordant/Bloomberg A data breach at Infosys McCamish, a financial software provider, compromised the name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and other account information of 57,028 deferred compensation customers whose accounts were serviced by Bank of America . An unauthorized party apparently a ransomware group known as LockBit accessed the customers' information through Infosys McCamish's system, not Bank of America's, according to a letter Infosys McCamish sent to affected customers, published by Maine's attorney general. Bank of America provided standard two-year identity theft protection to the affected customers. The breach occurred Nov. 3, according to the letter, and Infosys McCamish notified Bank of America about the breach on Nov. 24. Many states, including Maine, require companies to notify people affected by a data breach within 30 days of the company discovering a breach. Delays may be granted for law enforcement investigations. Infosys McCamish and Bank of America notified customers of the breach on Feb. 2, which is 90 days after the breach occurred. It is unclear whether any law enforcement investigations delayed notification. Affected customers held deferred compensation plans serviced by Bank of America. Such plans allow executives and top-earning employees to accrue retirement benefits in a tax-advantaged way beyond what a 401(k) can provide. These deferred compensation plans represent a "significant asset-gathering opportunity for financial institutions selling into the retirement plans markets," according to Infosys McCamish. Infosys McCamish provides marketing, plan design, documentation, enrollment and administration for these plans to financial institutions, including to Bank of America. Bank of America sells deferred compensation plans to employers, according to its website. It is unclear how many employers were affected by the data breach. A spokesperson for Bank of America declined to comment. Spokespersons for Infosys McCamish did not respond to requests for comment. Story continues LockBit, a ransomware group notorious for its high-profile attacks, claimed responsibility for the breach on Nov. 4, the day after Infosys McCamish said the breach occurred. LockBit also said it encrypted some of Infosys McCamish's systems. For its part, Infosys McCamish said in its letter to affected customers that the Nov. 3 attack had rendered some of its systems unavailable, but it did not elaborate on how long those systems remained down. Infosys McCamish said in the letter it was "unlikely" that it would be able to determine with certainty what personal information the threat actor accessed during the breach, but it might have included deferred compensation plan information, including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. While Infosys McCamish said it was its own systems rather than Bank of America's that were breached, Ray Kelly, a fellow at Synopsys Software Integrity Group, said that in third-party breaches such as this, the responsibility for the incident is still a "gray area." Many organizations require vendors to go through mandatory security audits to maintain a chain of trust, he said, but the case still reflects poorly on Bank of America. In this instance, Infosys McCamish "certainly bears the weight of this breach," Kelly said, as it was their systems attacked by ransomware. For regulators, the picture of responsibility when it comes to third-party cybersecurity risk is black and white; banks are the ones responsible. In January , the Federal Reserve's vice chair for supervision, Michael Barr, said there have historically been "gaps" in banks' efforts to manage these risks posed by third parties. "Reliance by banks on third-party service providers has grown considerably in recent years, and with that reliance comes the potential for greater cyber risk," Barr said. "It is ultimately the responsibility of banks to manage their third-party risk, and we have historically seen gaps in this regard." Others have criticized banks' attempts to stem cybersecurity threats from third parties, as well. In 2017 , the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said in a report that banks' contracts with technology service providers left them underprepared to face potential cybersecurity threats stemming from third-party vendors. Banks' contracts with these providers "typically did not clearly address [providers'] responsibilities and lacked specific contract provisions to protect" the interests and rights of banks, according to the FDIC OIG report. Corning Inc's diverse portfolio and innovation in materials science position it as a leader in multiple sectors. Strategic investments in research and development bolster Corning's competitive edge. Global market pressures and supply chain dynamics present both opportunities and threats to Corning Inc. Corning's financial performance reflects its operational strengths and market challenges. On February 12, 2024, Corning Inc (NYSE:GLW), a materials science pioneer known for its innovative glass, ceramics, and optical fiber products, filed its annual 10-K report. This SWOT analysis delves into the intricacies of Corning's financial and operational performance, as outlined in the filing. Corning's diverse product range serves a multitude of industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, solar energy, semiconductor, and life sciences. With a network of 124 plants across 15 countries and a strategic focus on research and development, Corning continues to maintain a strong market presence. Financially, Corning's segments contributed to a robust net sales performance in 2023, with the Specialty Materials segment accounting for 14% of total net sales, Environmental Technologies 13%, and Life Sciences 7%, alongside other emerging businesses. This financial overview sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Corning's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Decoding Corning Inc (GLW): A Strategic SWOT Insight Strengths Market Leadership and Innovation: Corning Inc's sustained market leadership is underpinned by its pioneering role in materials science. The company's invention of the world's first low-loss optical fiber and continuous innovation in the field have secured its position as a key player in the telecommunications industry. Corning's Optical Communications segment, with its comprehensive product portfolio, including Vascade optical fibers and ClearCurve ultra-bendable single-mode fiber, caters to a growing global demand for high-capacity networks. The company's ability to deliver integrated optical solutions, such as the Evolv and Centrix platforms, further demonstrates its strength in product innovation and customer-centric approach. Story continues Brand Equity and Intellectual Property: Corning Inc's brand is synonymous with durability and quality, as evidenced by its Gorilla Glass, used in billions of mobile devices worldwide. The company's commitment to protecting its innovations through patents is a testament to its competitive advantage. In 2023, Corning was granted approximately 520 patents in the U.S. and over 1,510 patents internationally. With a total of around 12,975 unexpired patents, Corning's intellectual property portfolio is a formidable asset that not only secures its market position but also opens avenues for licensing and cross-licensing opportunities. Financial Performance: Corning Inc's financial health is a reflection of its operational efficiency and strategic market positioning. The company's diverse segments have contributed to a solid net sales performance, with significant contributions from the Specialty Materials, Environmental Technologies, and Life Sciences segments. This financial robustness provides Corning with the capital necessary to invest in future growth and innovation, ensuring its continued success in a competitive market. Weaknesses Supply Chain Dependencies: Despite its strengths, Corning Inc faces challenges related to supply chain dependencies. The company's reliance on uninterrupted power sources, industrial water, precious metals, and various batch materials, as well as proprietary equipment used in manufacturing, exposes it to risks associated with supplier capacity limitations and market fluctuations. Any disruptions or delays in the supply chain could impact Corning's ability to meet customer demand and maintain its production schedules, potentially affecting its profitability and market share. Competitive Market Pressures: Corning Inc operates in highly competitive markets where rapid technological advancements and pricing pressures are prevalent. The company's concentrated customer base, with a few end customers accounting for a high percentage of net sales, poses a risk of over-reliance on key clients. Any shift in customer preferences or loss of a major client could significantly impact Corning's sales and cash flows, necessitating a more diversified customer strategy to mitigate this vulnerability. Opportunities Emerging Technologies and Markets: Corning Inc is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging technologies and markets, such as augmented reality, advanced semiconductor packaging, and 3D sensing. The company's expertise in ultra-flat, ultra-thin glass wafers and substrates, manufactured in strategic locations like New York, France, and China, positions it to be a key supplier in these burgeoning industries. Additionally, Corning's involvement in the solar power market through its Hemlock Semiconductor Group, which provides high-purity polysilicon products, aligns with the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions. Global Expansion: Corning Inc's global manufacturing footprint, with plants in 15 countries, presents opportunities for further expansion into new geographic markets. The company's ability to navigate complex international business environments and establish a presence in key markets positions it to leverage local growth opportunities, particularly in regions with increasing demand for telecommunications infrastructure and environmental technologies. Threats Global Economic and Health Crises: Corning Inc's operations and financial performance are susceptible to global economic downturns and health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These events can disrupt supply chains, affect workforce availability, and lead to facility shutdowns, all of which can have a significant impact on Corning's ability to deliver products and maintain profitability. The uncertainty surrounding the duration and severity of such crises poses a continuous threat to the company's operations. Technological Disruption: The rapid pace of technological change in Corning Inc's key markets, including display technologies and telecommunications, presents a threat to the company's existing product lines. Innovations by competitors or shifts in technology standards could render Corning's products less competitive or obsolete, necessitating ongoing This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. That release could not be found. Chicago suburb bans warehouse, fulfillment center development (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) The board of trustees of the village of Deerfield, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, have amended the villages zoning code to prohibit logistics centers, fulfillment centers and motor freight terminals for parking and movement, according to published reports. The Chicago Tribune quoted Andrew Lichterman, the deputy village manager, stating that the zoning amendments make it abundantly clear that warehouse and distribution centers are prohibited within Deerfield. The zoning changes are expected to be finalized on Feb. 20, according to published reports. Located about 28 miles from downtown Chicago, Deerfield is an affluent community with virtually no industrial development. It has been insulated from the industrial sprawl in suburban Chicago sprawl that is now getting resistance from local communities and governments concerned about pollution, noise and traffic congestion. Deerfields ban is designed to prevent empty or underutilized office buildings from being converted into industrial facilities, largely to manage the increased flow of e-commerce. In a memo to the mayor and board of trustees, Deerfields Plan Commission said the conversion of office parks to industrial centers has suburban areas faced with increased truck traffic and related adverse impacts such as increased risk to smaller vehicles and pedestrians, increased maintenance, traffic congestion and elevated emissions, according to a report in the publication GlobeSt. Last year, amid increased community pushback, developer Bridge International withdrew an application to annex, rezone and redevelop medical and hospital equipment maker Baxter Internationals corporate campus in Deerfield into an industrial park. Bridge had planned to spend $100 million for the 101-acre corporate complex. Baxter subsequently pulled the property off the market and said it would continue to occupy the site. The post Deerfield, Chicago suburb, nixes warehouse development appeared first on FreightWaves. If them then why not the Meiteis ? ST for Meitei call | The pro-talk group of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is clear that granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to five communities of Assam will help save Assam. The greater objective behind this move is to keep the illegally settled Bangladeshis at bay. The argument is simple enough and as reported in a National daily sometime in July last year ST status will ensure land rights for the communities, prevent alienation of land, not to talk about reserved seats in the Assembly of Assam. As widely reported earlier, the five communities are Moran, Matak, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tai-Ahom, and one is left wondering whether the Meiteis are so much more advanced than these five communities that so many objections should be raised to the demand that the Meiteis be included in the ST list of the Constitution of India. Objections, and as long as the objections fall within the realm of debates and discussions then it should be acceptable to everyone, but when this is used as an alibi to pursue something very dangerous, then it is time to call the bluff. It is on this fabricated premise that the Tribal Solidarity Rally of May 3, 2023 and which kicked off the violent clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis, was staged and the farce of it all should be clear to all. Coming back to the objections and the debates it has kicked off, it should also be clear to everyone that violence has never ever been associated with the movement to demand ST status for Meiteis. Not when the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, the World Meetei Council, Meetei/Meitei Tribe Union and others raised the call to include the Meiteis in the ST list of the Constitution of India and this is primarily the reason why The Sangai Express finds it totally unacceptable to toe the line that the Tribal Solidarity Rally was staged against the ST for Meiteis demand. The ruling of the High Court of Manipur was also just a directive to the State Government to send the report to the Centre and nothing more and as argued many times in this column, it is not the job of the Judiciary to decide whether the Meiteis should be granted ST status or not, but Parliament. This is where one is left wondering why such a hue and cry should have been raised against the directive of the High Court to the Government of Manipur. Isnt the opposition to the directive of the High Court enough evidence that the Meiteis fulfil the criteria to be included in the ST list of the Constitution of India ? Let there be debates and discussions and The Sangai Express has been willingly carrying the diverse viewpoints of different personalities on the said topic. Earlier it was a debate between the World Meetei Council and some members of the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and soon other personalities too jumped into the debate, each detailing their own points. Such debates are always welcome for it gives more insights to the people but let it be clear to all that ST categorisation is the mantra to ensure a level playing field for everyone. It is also time to look beyond Manipur and understand the competition in the job market in the all India context. Just opposing the case of the Meiteis while turning a blind eye to other cases, such as the most recent move to grant ST status to six communities of Assam, sounds like a farce, a pathetic farce that will fool no one. For the State of Manipur, internal arrangements can always be made, just as the Government of Nagaland has come up with job reservations based on socio-economic status of each tribe. The same approach can and should be applied when it comes to State Government jobs here. Likewise a model for land reservation within Manipur can be explored and implemented. That Meiteis fulfil all the criteria to be tagged a Scheduled Tribe has been spelt out here on more than one occasion with experts and knowledgeable folks having chipped in with their bit. Another interesting development has been the call and the opinion sought from the State Government by the Centre to delist the Kuki-Zos from the ST list of the Constitution on the ground that they are not indigenous to the land. That they are not indigenous to the place but are refugees is a point which has been laid down in black and white by a certain Mr Paolienlal Haokip in a publication of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies way back on May 23, 2002, under the heading Suffering in oblivion : Burmese refugees in North East Region of India. Today Sunny with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 68F. NW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tonight A clear sky. Low near 35F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Mostly sunny skies. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Cameroon has become the first country to launch the much-anticipated malaria vaccine amidst public skepticism on its efficacy and safety. Despite the initial vaccine hesitancy from the public, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has termed the malaria vaccine mass rollout in Cameroon as a significant step in the prevention of the disease. Baptist churches have come alongside to play an important role in helping to counter misinformation and build trust among grassroot communities. The central African country took the bold step to include the WHO-approved malaria vaccine into its routine immunization program. From January 22, children under six months have been getting free doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine alongside other vaccines such as polio, measles, tetanus and meningitis. The disease, caused by parasites found in infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, killed over 600,000 people in 2022, according to WHO. 95 percent of the deaths were registered in Africa and among those, about 80 percent were children under 5 years. Cameroons pioneer malaria vaccination programme will provide critical lessons for other African high-risk countries such as Liberia, Niger, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone that are due to receive over 1.7 million doses of the vaccine in the coming months. The journey to developing a WHO-approved malaria vaccine has been long and arduous but well worth the effort following successful clinical trials and pilot phases. The vaccine, which has been developed over 30 years by pharmaceutical giant GSK, showed an efficacy rate of 40 to 50 percent. Compared to the Covid-19 vaccines, which have an efficacy rate of over 90 percent after the second dose, this could be deemed as low. Nevertheless, scientists are in agreement that the malaria vaccine adds another important layer of protection and should be used alongside insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets, periodic antimalarial drugs and insecticide spraying during rainy seasons. If sustained, these interventions have the potential to significantly reduce and even eliminate malaria in more countries. Cape Verde, a small archipelago nation off the coast of Senegal, is a case in point. Through a multi-pronged strategy of spraying insecticide targeting mosquito larvae in breeding grounds and early detection and efficient management of cases, the WHO declared the country malaria-free last month after attaining zero infections for three consecutive years. Cape Verde joins Algeria and Mauritius who were declared malaria-free in 2019 and 1973 respectively. Similar interventions have seen a reduction of local infections in Eswatini (57.6 percent), South Africa (31.3 percent) and Botswana (43.5 percent) in 2022. The introduction of the vaccine will further bolster the previously used interventions. Head of malaria vaccine development at PATH, Ashley Birkett, says reducing infections by 30 percent translates into saving thousands of lives. In one of the clinical centres involved in the phase 3 trial, we saw over 6,000 cases of malaria prevented for every 1,000 children who were vaccinated, Birkett noted, implying that the vaccine mitigated against malaria multiple times for some children. The results of a pilot phase carried out in 2019 in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi provided broader evidence of including the vaccine as part of the immunization programme. Over 830,000 children in the three countries received three doses of the vaccine reducing cases of severe malaria by 30 percent. Dr. Bernhards Ogutu, the Chief Research Officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and part of the Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance told Christian Daily International that the vaccine proved to be both effective and cost effective. Greater benefits of the vaccine are observed over a longer period. The RTS,S pilot phase in the three countries took four years where we saw a reduction of infections and lower mortality rates, explained Dr. Ogutu. But as the scientific community and the Government of Cameroon celebrate this breakthrough, another battle is being fought: that against misinformation spreading mainly on social media. The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) reports that a significant number of Cameroonians are skeptical about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine despite reassurance from government officials including the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie. The process of introducing this vaccine followed all the essential required steps, including the approval of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, assured Dr. Malachie in a press statement. The Cameroonian government has identified and is rolling out public awareness programmes with local and regional partners as one of the ways to counter the vaccine disinformation. One of the key partners in creating awareness of the vaccine and mobilizing the community is the Cameroon Baptist Convention through its CBC Health Services Malarial Control and Prevention program. The program aims to accelerate progress towards the elimination of malaria by addressing barriers such as resistance to change, inadequate knowledge among stakeholders, insufficient capacities of community stakeholders for effective strategies in communication, education and advocacy. Through its assemblies, schools and hospitals, the Baptist Church holds significant influence in Cameroon. Professor Tih Pius Muffih is the Director of Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services. He urges parents to embrace the vaccine without fear and projects a significant reduction of malaria cases in children. The vaccine will not only mitigate the impact of malaria in the country but also reduce expenses related to preventing or treating this disease, he says. Estimates published by the Malaria Journal estimates that Cameroon spends up to US$3.88 monthly per capita in malaria prevention and treatment, costs that could go to better use if the vaccine and other interventions work to significantly reduce prevalence of malaria. On February 9, 2024, Director Donna Epps executed a sale of 400 shares of Saia Inc (NASDAQ:SAIA), according to a recent SEC Filing. Saia Inc is a transportation company that provides a variety of trucking and logistics services, including regional and interregional less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited, and logistics services across the United States. Over the past year, the insider has sold a total of 640 shares of Saia Inc and has not made any purchases of the stock. The recent transaction by the insider is part of a trend observed over the last year, where there have been no insider buys but 16 insider sells for the company. On the date of the insider's recent transaction, shares of Saia Inc were trading at $565.14, giving the company a market capitalization of $14.88 billion. The price-earnings ratio of the stock stood at 42.23, which is above both the industry median of 13.86 and the historical median price-earnings ratio for the company. The stock's price of $565.14 compared to the GuruFocus Value of $337.79 indicates a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 1.67, suggesting that Saia Inc is significantly overvalued based on its GF Value. The GF Value is a proprietary intrinsic value estimate from GuruFocus, which factors in historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates from Morningstar analysts. Director Donna Epps Sells 400 Shares of Saia Inc The insider trend image above reflects the recent selling activity by insiders at Saia Inc, which may be of interest to investors monitoring insider behaviors. Director Donna Epps Sells 400 Shares of Saia Inc The GF Value image provides a visual representation of the stock's current valuation in relation to its intrinsic value, as estimated by GuruFocus. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Disneyland, Thailand Buddhist temple, besides ancient temples are planted to design this small civic town to lure the crowd during the Saraswati Puja. This small but ancient town incidentally is the birthplace of community pujas in Bengal where more than 150 Saraswati Pujas, worshipping the goddess of education, are arranged and some of the community pujas are centuries old. In 1740, Guptipara first witnessed the magnificent vibrancy of community pujas when a Saraswati Puja was organized by the local residents, said Swapan Kumar Thakur, a researcher on regional history and anthropology in Burdwan. Advertisement He said, Weve gathered from the Volume-II of 1818 AD descriptions of The Hindu, a comprehensive book of history by William Careys associate William Wards that the former Burdwan Maharajas, especially after Chitra Sen, a grant of Rs 15,000 was allocated annually for the community Saraswati Pujas and Kalna being the second capital of the Maharajas, located beside the Ganga, became the maximum recipient of the grant, showcasing the maximum number of Saraswati Pujas. Though no grant like the community Durga Pujas is forwarded by the state for the community Saraswati Pujas, according to Debaprasad Bag, MLA, Kalna, Has almost touched 160 in number this year as towns adjacent localities like Hat Kalna, Rameswarpur have joined the celebration queue with much more enthusiasm and dedication as this happens to be the most gorgeous festival of the town. Bag has been assigned as the president of the central committee set up by the local administration to supervise the crowded pujas, where millions of pandal hoppers throng during the seven days. The prominent pujas have estimated budgets of Rs 30-40 lakh with giant pandals. This year, the theme-based pandals have commanded a higher price with illuminations from Chandernagore, Hooghly. Kalna pujas altogether mobilized business worth Rs 100cr this time. Weve installed adequate CCTV cameras for surveillance, claimed Tapan Porel, vice-chairman of the Kalna Municipality. Puja organizers like Raju Saha, Shankar Haldar, Pratap Dutta, Shubhrasuchi Das said, Like Kartik Puja for Katwa, Saraswati Puja has become our hallmark. Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty will kick off campaigns for the party from 1 March for the forthcoming general elections. The 73-year-old actor wont contest elections as a candidate this time but is eager to campaign for the saffron party in West Bengal and other states. He was discharged from the hospital on Monday afternoon after undergoing treatment for a couple of days since Saturday. He was admitted to a premier private hospital along EM Bypass after he suffered a mild cerebral attack on Saturday. He suddenly fell ill in the shooting floor of a movie Shastri produced by Trinamul Congress MLA and actor Soham Chakraborty around 10am on Saturday and was rushed to a private hospital. Advertisement The actor was admitted to the CCU soon after he was brought to the hospital. He underwent several investigations, including an MRI. A special team of doctors attended to the ailing actor. I am okay now and my blood sugar levels shot up suddenly because of overeating. I am a voracious eater like a demon. I eat voraciously in Kolkata whatever I dont get in Mumbai and Bengaluru, he said after being discharged from the hospital. He had joined the BJP ahead of the Assembly election in Bengal in 2021. I wont contest elections as a candidate this time. I will campaign for BJP in this state and other states in the country from 1 March, he said after reporters wanted to know whether he would contest elections. People must raise their voice against what is happening in West Bengal, he said when asked about the Sandeshkhali incident. Local women expressed their grievances in front of Governor CV Ananda Bose today, blaming political figures like Shahjahan Sheikh, Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar for alleged misconduct and demanding strict punishment for their actions. Governor C V Ananda Boses convoy was also stopped midway by Trinamul Congress supporters, en-route to tension-hit Sandeskhali on Monday. The supporters protested against the central government not releasing funds for the state, which has been the focus of a long-standing impasse between the Trinamul Congress-led Bengal government and the BJP-headed Centre. Mr Bose cut short his Kerala trip on Sunday for his visit to Sandeskhali. Bengal BJP MLAs were also slated to visit the village today, where Section 144 banning large gatherings was imposed. Tension escalated in the region after local women recently held protests demanding the arrest of on-the-run Trinamul Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. Advertisement The Left parties have called for a strike in Sandeshkhali today. One village woman in Sandeshkhali said to the Governor, While you are here, we can speak up, but once you leave, the situation returns to what it was. They will continue to oppress us. Do something so that they are arrested. We demand severe punishment; we want justice. Even the Governor, who visited Sandeshkhali, acknowledged the concerns of local women. He assured that stringent actions would be taken against those found guilty. The area has been a hotspot of tension since the incident on 5 January, involving an attack on ED officials at the residence of Trinamul leader Sheikh Shahjahan. In a recent turn of events, Sandeshkhali witnesses heightened tension as Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikaris visit towards Sandeshkhali along with BJP MLAs on Monday also was prevented by police near Science City around 60 kilometres away. Meanwhile, both the Governor and National Commission for Scheduled Castes have sought reports from the West Bengal government on the on-ground situation at Sandeshkhali. Following the incident, Suvendu Adhikari and five other MLAs have been suspended from the Assembly today as he and BJP MLAs wearing T-shirts displaying message: We are with Sandeshkhali. Former BJP leader Bikash Singh and ex-CPM MLA Nirapad Sardar were arrested yesterday. The police claim they have taken action against the actual culprits, but some locals, particularly women, dispute this assertion. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee also commented on the situation, stating, Go wherever you want. I have sent a report to the State Womens Commission, and those against whom complaints were made have been arrested by the police. Meanwhile, a team of the West Bengal Womens Commission visited the troubled spots earlier in the day and spoke to several women in the area who had levelled sexual harassment charges against Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. The CPM has enforced a 12-hour bandh in two blocks of Sandeshkhali as a sign of protest against the arrests. The state administration has extended the internet ban to the adjacent Hingalganj area. The Madhyamik exams conducted by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) came to an end today with the police investigating the incidents of question papers going viral on social media, informed the state education minister, Bratya Basu today. According to the minister, a gang of non-students are suspected to be working behind the incident. Not ruling out the possibility of involvement of persons involved from other states, Mr Basu claimed that the act was carried out primarily to malign the efforts of the state government while monetary benefits could also be one of the factors. As informed by the board officials, most of the incidents of mobile seizure have taken place in the district of Malda. Of the 36 students, who were barred from appearing in the remaining exams of the board, 23 are said to be from Malda, according to the WBBSE officials. The board is to hold meetings with all the stakeholders on 2, 3 March in North Bengal, on 5 March at Burdwan, on 7 March at Midnapore, and on 11 March Kolkata. As informed by the education minister, next year the WBBSE exams are to start from 14 February and end on 24 February, 2025. Advertisement Serum Institute of India tops the list of most valuable unlisted companies in the country, followed by National Stock Exchange of India and the Megha Engineering and Infrastructure, according to the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list of the 500 most valuable companies in India. Zoho Corporation, Swiggy, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Dream11, Parle, Zerodha are the other names who made into the list. Reliance Industries continues its reign in the top position for the third year in a row on the Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 with a value of Rs 15,64,663 crore. Reliance Industries is valued at least Rs 3 lakh crore more than TCS, which is number 2 on the list with Rs 12.4 trillion and HDFC Bank with Rs 11.3 trillion. Advertisement The merger of HDFC Ltd with HDFC Bank facilitated HDFC Bank to become the third Indian company to surpass Rs 10 trillion capitalization. HCL Technologies and Kotak Mahindra Bank make their return to the top 10 list. Suzlon Energy grew at the fastest pace registering a 436 per cent growth, dominating the list of fastest growing companies in 2023 followed by Jindal Stainless and JSW Infrastructure. By absolute value, the biggest gainers were HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro & ITC. Jio Financial Services secured a 28th rank, after demerging from Reliance Industries. Financial Services and Healthcare sectors led the pack with 76 and 58 companies respectively, closely followed by Consumer Goods, which boasts of 38 companies in the list. The services Industry is the Largest Value Creator of the Year. Led by Info Edge (India) (ranked number 88), which grew by 4.5 per cent. A total 153 companies were founded in this millennium of which 52 are less than 10 years old, led by GlobalBees, Mensa Brands, Zepto, Motherson Sumi Wiring India, Apna, and CRED. During the review period, the value of the Adani Group companies decreased by 50 per cent or Rs 9,92,953 crore. To qualify for inclusion in the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list, companies are required to have a minimum value of Rs 6,700 crore, equivalent to USD 807 million. The average age of the companies in Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 is 38. The total value of the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 companies is Rs 231 trillion. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has, on Tuesday, come up with a proposal for the Congress for seat sharing in Delhi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. As per the proposal, the party offers the Congress to contest from one seat while the AAP will contest six seats in the national capital. An announcement to this effect has been made by the AAP leader Sandeep Pathak at a press conference after a meeting of the partys Political Affairs Committee. Advertisement The AAP leader said the party abides by the dharma of alliance, and offers a seat for the Congress while it shall contest on six seats without going into the merit of the decision. In case, the talks with the Congress party on seat sharing in Delhi do not work out, the AAPs national general secretary (organisation) said the party would announce its six candidates and begin with the preparations for the polls. He pointed out that the Congress at presents doesnt have a single seat in the assembly polls, nor does it have a single seat from Delhi in the Lok Sabha as it managed to have just nine seats in the MCD. On the seat-sharing in Punjab, he said the party respects the decision of the two parties to contest the elections separately. The AAP leader said an announcement would soon be made on Haryana, Chandigarh and wherever the talks were on for seat sharing. As regards the seat-sharing agreement with the INDIA bloc, he said as per merit Congress has two-thirds of the share while AAP has one-third while the party had asked for eight seats and proposed that the Congress shall contest 18 seats. He said the AAP would announce candidates for six seats in Gujarat soon, as the party has announced two candidates for Gujarat and South Goa. Earlier, the party had announced the candidature of Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch in Gujarat. He further said, We will have to see how the alliance can defeat BJP. The national capitals traffic movement took a hit on Tuesday as commuters faced multiple layers of barricades put up by the police in wake of the farmers march. In a bid to restrict the farmers marching into Delhi, the movement was stopped at the Singhu and Tikri borders, while the same led city commuters to face tough time witnessing snarls, while section 144 is also invoked across the city in wake of the farmers march. Roads leading to the Lutyens Delhi, especially the area around Parliament House had multiple pickets put in place and the cops conducted necessary checks, which also resulted in reducing the pace of traffic. Advertisement Several people who commute daily from Noida, Ghaziabad and other NCR places to Delhi faced traffic diversions at many places. Delhi Police is on high alert and has geared up keeping in view the situation witnessed during the earlier farmers protest that took place in 2020- 21, when the farmer unions demanded to repeal the new farm laws. Delhi Police had earlier issued traffic advisories for the motorists in wake of the proposed farmers march, asking them to take alternative routes. For cars and light goods vehicles going towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and place via NH- 44, the traffic police suggested to take routes through Palla Bakhtawarpur Road, Piau Maniyari Border to enter Haryana, Safiabad Border, and Auchandi Border to reach KMP expressway. For traffic going to Ghaziabad through Ghazipur border, the police suggested Pushta road in front of Akshardham, Patparganj or Mother Dairy road or the Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg ISBT Anand Vihar and exit from Maharajpur or the Apsara border into Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, for the vehicles going towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, the traffic police advised to use the Nangloi- Najafgarh road and to enter Haryana via the Najafgarh Jharoda border. The traffic movement was very slow at the Ghazipur border area due to heavy security arrangements. Meanwhile, the city has been put under heavy security as increased police presence was visible at many places with personnel in anti-riot gear deployed strategically. The borders have been manned with extra force personnel, while concrete as well as metal barricades have also been installed to regulate access to important roads. Security in the city has been stepped up, especially in the New Delhi zone with increased picketing and police checks being conducted at multiple points. As per security instructions the Delhi Metro has also closed certain gates and selected metro stations that stations include, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Janpath, Khan Market and the Lok Kalyan Marg station, however the Delhi Metro has said that the station will remain operational. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly. Further update on station closures (if any) shall be intimated, the Delhi Metro said, taking to platform X. The protests in 2020- 21 were mainly against the new farm laws, while this time the farmer unions are heading towards Delhi over their demand of minimum support price for crops. Aamir Khan, renowned for his discerning eye for scripts, has once again proven his knack for spotting potential in upcoming projects. The eagerly awaited Bollywood film, Laapataa Ladies, slated for release on March 1, 2024, owes its inception of script to none other than Khan himself. Contrary to popular belief, it was Aamir Khan who stumbled upon the script, not his spouse, Kiran Rao, who is directing the film. The genesis of Laapataa Ladies traces back to the Cinestan Script Writing Competition, where Biplab Goswami penned the captivating storyline. Khan, impressed by Goswamis narrative prowess, wasted no time in championing the scripts cause. Recognizing its potential, he eagerly proposed it to Kiran Rao, urging her to helm the project. Rao, acknowledging Khans keen eye and unwavering support, embraced the opportunity to bring the story to life on the silver screen. In a recent interview, Rao shed light on Khans enthusiastic involvement in the project, particularly his affinity for the character portrayed by Ravi Kishan, Manohar. The duo engaged in extensive discussions, with Khan exhibiting genuine interest in the characters nuances. Khans commitment transcended mere words, as he immersed himself in costume and makeup tests, showcasing his dedication to bringing Manohar to life. Advertisement However, despite Khans initial inclination towards the role, Rao experienced a delightful twist during Kishans audition. She was captivated by the actors portrayal, which exuded an unexpected depth and spontaneity, prompting her to reconsider her casting decision. Rao emphasized the invaluable contribution of Kishans portrayal, which injected a newfound unpredictability into the character, enriching the films narrative tapestry. As the release date of Laapataa Ladies draws near, anticipation continues to mount, fueled by Aamir Khans discerning choice and Kiran Raos directorial finesse. The film stands as a testament to Khans unwavering support for promising talent and his commitment to fostering innovation within the industry. With a stellar cast and a compelling storyline, Laapataa Ladies promises to captivate audiences and carve its niche in the annals of Bollywood cinema. Shutterstock.com Whether youre looking for Valentines Day gifts for your kids, friends or that special someone in your life, its not too late to find great options at great prices at Dollar Tree, Walmart, Target and other popular retailers. See: The Single Best Thing To Buy at Dollar Tree in February 2024 Find Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy Heres a look at some of the Valentines Day gifts you can find on a budget. Dollar Tree Artificial Roses Real flowers die but artificial ones last forever. Gift your Valentine one of these beautiful red artificial roses to show them your love is as long-lasting as the bouquet. Find Out: 6 Groceries Frugal People Buy in Winter See: 5 Things Costco Members Should Stop Buying, According To Superfans Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Dollar Tree Jade Rollers Made of smooth jade stone, using this facial massager can help reduce puffiness, ease facial tension and give your sweetheart a little at-home spa treatment that shows you care about their wellbeing. For a little more than a buck, its a cute, unique gift that encourages your loved one to de-stress while feeling pampered. Discover: The Single Best Thing To Buy at Sams Club in February 2024 Dollar Tree Candy You can find a wide variety of Valentines Day chocolates and candy at Dollar Tree and at lower prices than youd find at your local drugstore in many cases. Choose from chocolate heart boxes, chocolate-covered cherries, heart-shaped marshmallows and more. Dollar Tree Plush Sloths and Bears You can always find cute stuffed animals at Dollar Tree, but its an especially savvy destination for last-minute Valentines Day gifts. The store has a wide variety of plush toys available, including Fuzzy Friends Colorful Hanging Sloth Plushies and Fuzzy Friends Valentines Chocolate-Scented Bears. Walmart Valentines Day Socks Story continues Valentines Day-themed socks make a great addition to any holiday gift basket and these from Walmart are especially adorable. Learn: 9 Costco Items To Stock Up On for the End of Winter Walmart Letter in a Bottle Personalized Gift Allowing you to write a heartfelt, customized love letter, this elegant glass bottle engraved with I Love You enables a romantic and meaningful expression of affection perfect for Valentines Day. With included decorative touches like parchment paper and a polished gift box, this message-in-a-bottle-themed gift provides a touching way to remind your partner how cherished they are. Walmart Hello Kitty Valentines Day Heart Box Gift Set Filled with a cute travel mug, stickers, notebook and keepsake box, this Hello Kitty-themed set allows you to give your Valentine lots of Valentines cheers. And if Hello Kitty isnt your sweethearts favorite, Walmart also offers this adorable gift set with popular characters like Frozen, Spiderman and more, so you can find the perfect match for your special someone. Target Wind Down Kit Filled with calming self-care goodies like a silky sleep mask, relaxing shower steamer and stress-relieving acupressure ring, this thoughtfully curated wellness kit from Target allows you to pamper your Valentine with some much-deserved R&R. Perfectly packed in an adorable sherpa bag, this rejuvenating eight-piece set is already beautifully wrapped and sure to help your loved one unwind. Read: 10 Aldi Items Frugal People Always Buy Target Zodiac Candles Allowing you to pamper your Valentine with the custom aromatherapy of their zodiac sign, this charming black glass candle infuses any room with a calming, personal touch. Burning for up to 36 hours in a classy jar, this affordable soy wax candle from Target enables a unique, relaxing gift to help your loved one unwind in celestial style. Target Fly By Jing Chili Crisp Turn up the heat in the kitchen and the romance with this intensely flavored, all-natural chili crisp crafted by a chef in Chengdu for bold, numbingly spicy flavor that will set your Valentines senses on fire. From eggs to ice cream and everything in between, this small-batch sauce made from authentic Sichuan peppers will add some deliciously seductive sizzle to every dish this Valentines Day. Costco Valentines Day Bouquet Bursting with vibrant pinks, peaches and whites, this joy-sparking 25-stem Costco assortment will fill your Valentines home with smiles as radiant as your love. Featuring roses, lilies and gerberas in harmonious arrangement, this bouquets spirit-lifting blooms are guaranteed to keep the romance blooming this Valentines Day. Find Out: 9 Household Items You Should Always Buy at Costco To Save Money Walgreens Llama Succulent This charming llama planter from Walgreens, with its whimsical shape and faux succulent plant, is sure to bring a smile to your Valentines face with its unconventional yet adorable style. A quirky gift that adds a playful touch of greenery, this plant pots cute kick makes it a delightful way to brighten up your sweethearts space this Valentines Day. Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Last-Minute Valentines Day Gifts at Dollar Tree and More The 2024 World Book Fair has emerged as a haven for book enthusiasts, particularly those with a penchant for mythology. Following the opening of the Ram Mandir, mythology has surged in popularity at the fair, with the 365 Vedas book by Ajay Mago, renowned for Om Books Internationals childrens fiction, emerging as the top-selling title in the genre. Mago, recognized for childrens fiction at Om Books International, notes a significant surge in footfall at the fair, with over 100,000 books sold. While previously, parents often purchased cartoon character-based books for their children, theres been a shift towards encouraging kids to explore mythology, particularly Mahabharata and Ramayana-related literature. Advertisement Despite other genres enjoying decent sales, Mago identifies mythology as the standout genre at this years international book fair, commending the National Book Trust (NBT) for organizing such an impressive event at Pragati Maidan. Mythological fiction holds appeal not only for children but also for adults, as seen in the rapid sales at multiple stalls. Organizations such as happy though, affiliated with the Tejgyan Global Foundation, are actively disseminating spiritual knowledge through their popular publication, The Source, authored by Sirshree, the founder of the foundation. This organization, based in Pune, Maharashtra, also organizes five-day Maha Aasmani Gyan Shivir events in the city to share spiritual insights. Additionally, Book Escape, an innovative online bookstore, has become a go-to destination for mythology enthusiasts due to its partnerships with various publishers, particularly those specializing in the Mahabharata and Gita. This focus on ancient texts has garnered significant interest from readers. Situated in Hall No. 5 of the Bharat Mandapam, this themed pavilion hosts an extensive collection of books in various languages, accommodating more than 50 stores. Following this pavilion is the Saudi Pavilion located in Hall No. 4, where the Guest of Honor country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, showcases its culture through music, performing arts, and regional cuisines. Concurrently, various Saudi entities, under the leadership of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, participate in the fair to promote Saudi culture. Moving beyond the Saudi Pavilion. Adjacent to it is the booth of the Istanbul Chambers of Commerce (ICOC), where translated Turkish books in languages like Hindi, English, and Bengali are available. This booth also acts as a showcase for Turkish culture through literature. Entry to this book fair is priced at Rs 20 for adults and Rs 10 for children. However, entry is free for students in school uniform, individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and students on educational tours. The nearest transportation hub to access this expansive book fair is the Supreme Court Metro station, previously known as Pragati Maidan Metro station. Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was honoured on Tuesday with the Assam Baibhab, the highest civilian award in the state. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria presented the award to Gogoi at a ceremony held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati, with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar present as the chief guest. The Assam Baibhab award includes a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and lifelong medical treatment sponsored by the government. It features an image of the Jaapi and Assam Baibhav engraved in Assamese on a Hollong tree leaf. Advertisement Gogoi received the award in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of justice and jurisprudence. Notably, he was the first Chief Justice of India from the Northeast region. His tenure as the CJI gained prominence, particularly for presiding over the verdict in 2019 that facilitated the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Following his retirement, Gogoi was appointed as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. This marks the third edition of the Assam Baibhab award. The inaugural recipient was industrialist Ratan Tata, followed by journalist Tapan Saikia in the second edition. In addition to the Assam Baibhab, the Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav awards were also conferred upon 21 other recipients. Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a landmark initiative at Paprour Gram Panchayat under Barauni Block of Begusarai District, signalling a significant leap towards digital empowerment in Grameen Bharat (rural India). The pilot project titled Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat was launched with the aim to extend PM-WANI (Prime Ministers Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service in all Gram Panchayats across Begusarai District in Bihar. Begusarai has now become the first District in Bihar to equip all Gram Panchayats with Wi-Fi services under the PM-WANI Scheme. In his address, Mr Giriraj Singh emphasised the importance of leveraging technology for the betterment and development of rural communities. He highlighted various schemes introduced by the Central Government, aimed at empowering rural areas through digital initiatives. Advertisement He also emphasised the necessity for Panchayat representatives and functionaries to embrace technology for empowerment, growth and holistic development of Gram Panchayats. He urged everyone, irrespective of age or background, to adopt technology as an integral part of their lives, highlighting the transformative impact it can bring. With the launch of Wi-Fi services in Gram Panchayats, the positive change envisioned by the Government will manifest across various aspects of rural life. The minister reaffirmed the governments commitment to ensuring inclusive growth and empowerment, including the ambitious goal of making three crore women Lakhpati Didis. He called upon local residents and Panchayat representatives to work cohesively towards the all-round development of their villages with the use of technology. The minister highlighted the transformative power of technology in gradually elevating villages towards becoming Smart Panchayats and smart communities. He also emphasised that technology has the potential to make villages smarter in a gradual manner. The minister elucidated the transformative potential of user-friendly and uninterrupted Wi-Fi services, particularly highlighting their benefits to various segments of rural society including members of women self-help groups, Aajeevika Didis, Banking Correspondent (BC) Sakhi, farmers and students. He underlined their pivotal role in the development of a Viksit Bharat. Mr Singh emphasised that the accessibility of Wi-Fi services in rural areas will catalyse growth across new sectors and significantly enhance existing ones. He hailed the PM-WANI Scheme as revolutionary, providing seamless internet connectivity aimed at promoting Digital India and bolstering the vision of a self-reliant India. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has issued a directive to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of the Special Secretary (Health) to address the demands and grievances of medical officers in the state. The committee will comprise the Director of the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Director of Medical Education, and representatives from the Medical Officers Association. At a meeting held here on Tuesday with the representatives of the Medical Officers Association, the Chief Minister said that this committee would also study the various aspects of doctors promotions and recommend guidelines for improving the condition of medical officers. Advertisement He said that the state government is considering their genuine demands sympathetically but pointed out that the states financial condition is precarious. Due to the sincere efforts of the state government, the economy of the state is gradually coming back on track. My government will surely provide the financial benefits of the government employees in due course, he assured. He urged doctors to cooperate with the state government and assist in improving the states economy. We are focusing on strengthening the health infrastructure in the state to provide specialised health services to people at their doorsteps, he said, adding that the state government is setting up Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans in all the 68 Assembly constituencies in the state, each equipped with six specialist doctors. The CM assured that the state government is recruiting new medical officers and supporting staff to meet the shortage of doctors and para medical staff in health institutions. Furthermore, plans are underway to improve working conditions in health institutions and introduce fixed 8-hour shifts for medical personnel, he said. He said that overseas exposure visits would also be conducted for doctors to familiarise them with the latest techniques and skills in the healthcare sector. The Chief Minister directed the health department to digitise the data of medical officers to streamline their functioning. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday slammed the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over the farmers protest saying it is trying to curb the voice of the farmers. He also accused the ruling dispensation of backtracking from its promises which it had made to the farmers of the country in the past 10 years. Referring to barbed wires and iron nails installed at borders in view of the protest, the Congress chief in a post on X wrote, The dictatorial Modi government is trying to curb the voice of farmers. Advertisement Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha further said, In 10 years, the Modi government has backtracked from three of its promises made to the food providers of the country. Among the promises, he claimed the BJP has backtracked, was to double farmers income by 2022 and legal status to Minimum Support Price (MSP). Now the time has come to raise the voice of the 62 crore farmers, he added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on social media that his party has decided to give legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per Swaminathan Commission (if voted to power after general elections). This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice, he stressed. Echoing similar sentiments, his party lawmaker Randeep Singh Surjewala at a press conference at the party headquarters said, The Indian National Congress supports the farmers demand for justice. Our demand is that the Prime Minister himself should talk to the farmers and give them justice. He asserted that the Congress chief and party leader Rahul Gandhi are also fighting for farmers justice. Cant the countrys food providers come to Delhi to demand justice ? If they do not seek justice from the Prime Minister and the government, then where should they go ? Why are the iron nails and barbed wires in the farmers path ? he asked the Centre. Attacking the government, Surjewala further said, The 10-year tenure of the Modi government will be known as the period of cruelty against the farmers. To suppress the voice of the farmers, the BJP government has converted Delhi into a fortress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday on an official visit to the UAE. In a special and warm gesture, he was received at the airport by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and accorded a ceremonial welcome. The two leaders shook hands and hugged each other. Prime Minister Modi also received a guard of honour. He posted on X: Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport. I look forward to a productive visit which will further strength the friendship between India and UAE. Advertisement The two leaders held one-on-one and delegation level talks. They reviewed the bilateral partnership and discussed new areas of cooperation. Among the agreements the two countries signed included an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor. This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity. The two leaders welcomed deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people to people ties. Their discussions covered regional and global issues also. In his remarks during his meeting with @MohamedBinZayed, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for an enthusiastic and warm welcome to him and his team. Whenever I am with you, I feel that I am among my family members, he said. Our deep relations are evident from the fact that in the last seven months we have met five times, and I came here seven times, he said. This shows our close relations. In every field, we have moved ahead. India and the UAE are together in several fields. Even today, we are going to arrive at many important agreements, he said. The Prime Minister said a new era of fintech is about to start with UPI and Jaywan Cards. I am thankful that you came to my home State and gave stature to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit by attending it; the prestige of the event has gone up in the world. People remember the inspiring speech you gave. Mr Modi said Your regard for India and your vision for UAEs bright future is evident in your support for the BAPS temple, which would not have been possible without your support which showed your trust and an affection for us which is difficult to imagine. He said it was a happy occasion that the two countries were signing a Bilateral Investment Treaty which will have an impact for long. For G20 nations, this will be big news that UAE and India are coming together. The Bilateral Investment Treaty will promote further investments in both countries. India has signed both Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with the UAE. The other agreements included: an MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade which will open new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade; An MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects: This will create a framework for a wide ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise; A Cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries; an MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums to foster engagement between the two countries aimed at supporting of the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat; An agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms UPI (India) and AANI (UAE): This will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This follows the MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems signed in July last year during the PMs visit to Abu Dhabi; And the agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE): An important step in building financial sector cooperation to enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE. The leaders witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card. The leaders also discussed the strengthening of energy partnership. They appreciated that in addition to the UAE being among the largest sources of crude and LPG, India is now entering into long term contracts for LNG. Ahead of the PMs visit, RITES Limited signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company. These would help in building port infrastructure and further enhance connectivity between the two countries. Mr Modi thanked the UAE leader for help and support for the Indian diasporas public event where thousands were expected to attend. The event would not have been possible without your support and love and I thank you for this from my heart, the Prime Minister said. The Congress abruptly halted its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Tuesday as Rahul Gandhi departed for Delhi on a special flight from Ambikapur. According to local Congress leaders, Gandhi decided to head to Delhi after observing the ongoing farmers protest in Punjab and Haryana. Gandhi intends to engage in discussions with the protesting farmers, the local congress leaders said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also accompanied Rahul Gandhi on his journey to Delhi. Earlier, Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra advanced through the Sitamani area of Korba district of Chhattisgarh, drawing both support and dissent from the public. While the Yatra received enthusiastic cheers from many, there were instances of Modi-Modi slogans being chanted. Gandhi, however, chose to emphasise the positive energy from the crowd, downplaying the dissent. During his public discourse, Gandhi scrutinised the central governments approach to OBC reservations, denouncing them as insufficient and inequitable. He delved into the purported adverse impacts of GST on businesses and individuals, particularly small-scale entrepreneurs. Expressing reservations about the transient nature of the Agniveer recruitment scheme, Gandhi highlighted potential concerns regarding national security. Advertisement Expanding on the discourse, Gandhi critiqued the recent Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, alleging the exclusion of OBCs, Dalits, and tribals, key segments of the population, from the event. He juxtaposed this exclusion with the conspicuous presence of affluent personalities, accentuating what he perceives as a skewed focus. In a press conference, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: The Prime Ministers post is not a beauty pageant; it demands commitment to the nations well-being. Describing the Yatras core principles, Ramesh underscored its advocacy for Nari Nyay (womens justice), Yuva Nyay (youth justice), Kisan Nyay (farmers justice), Shramik Nyay (workers justice), and Hissedari Ka Nyay (justice of participation), aligning with the partys ideological stance. Sachin Pilot, Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge, highlighted the broad-based support garnered by Rahul Gandhis Yatra, transcending regional boundaries and reflecting the aspirations of diverse segments of society. As the Yatra traverses through Chhattisgarh, it continues to evoke mixed reactions and ignite discussions on various political and social issues. While its ultimate impact remains to be discerned, it serves as a platform for public engagement and debate on issues of national significance. The Supreme Court has underscored its concerns about the institution of marriage, particularly when it comes to unconventional paths to motherhood. The backdrop is the Surrogacy Regulation Act, a legislative framework that permits surrogacy exclusively for married, widowed or divorced women aged 35 to 45, excluding unmarried women from this reproductive journey. At the heart of this legal tussle is a 44-year-old unmarried woman challenging the validity of a section of the Surrogacy Act that bars single women from opting for surrogacy. Her plea is straightforward ~ a desire for motherhood unencumbered by marital bonds. The court, however, seems determined to safeguard the sanctity of marriage, expressing reservations about permitting surrogacy for unmarried women. The courts stance raises pertinent questions about societal norms and individual choices. It asserts that in India, becoming a mother within the institution of marriage is the norm, unlike in the West where children are born outside wedlock. The judges, unapologetically conservative, argue for the preservation of the traditional concept of family, where children are raised within the confines of matrimony. While the courts concern for the welfare of the child is evident, the question looms large. Does restricting surrogacy to married women enhance the childs well-being or merely uphold societal expectations? The argument that a child should know their biological parents is valid, but it skirts the reality of changing family structures and evolving societal norms. Notable personalities like film producer Ekta Kapoor, Tushar Kapoor, and Karan Johar have all embraced surrogacy without adhering to traditional marital norms, challenging the notion that an unconventional family is detrimental to a childs upbringing. The petitioners lawyer aptly points out the discriminatory nature of the law, arguing that it infringes on fundamental and human rights. The right to found a family is a basic human right, recognised by international bodies like the United Nations. The courts counter-argument ~ that a single woman could get married solely for surrogacy eligibility and divorce afterward ~ reflects scepticism about the ease of navigating the intricacies of marital relationships. The courts reluctance to embrace societal change is palpable. It acknowledges scientific advancements in assisted reproductive technologies but asserts that social norms have not kept pace. Advertisement This raises the question of whether legal frameworks should evolve in tandem with societal shifts or remain tethered to traditional values. In navigating this legal landscape, the court must balance tradition with the imperative to recognise and respect individual choices. The petitioners desire to experience motherhood without marriage should not be dismissed as an anomaly but rather considered within the broader context of evolving family dynamics. As the court prepares to hear this case alongside others challenging different provisions of the Surrogacy Act, it stands at a crossroads between tradition and progress. The decision will undoubtedly set a precedent, shaping the contours of reproductive rights and family structures. PML(N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, who had expressed his wish to become the Prime Minister for the fourth time prior to the February 8 polls, is still not out of the Prime Minsiters race, local media reported. The party is yet to finalise its candidate for premiership. Communication with coalition partners is ongoing and it will be decided with their consultation, Party spokesperson and Nawazs daughter Marriyum Aurangzeb told a private TV channel. Even as hectic parleys are on for who will be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party, many within the Maryam Nawaz camp are of the view why cannot Nawaz be the one, Dawn reported. Advertisement On party leader Khwaja Asifs remark that Shehbaz Sharif and not his elder brother Nawaz will be PML(N)s prime ministerial candidate, Marriyum said it is the personal view of the leader and not the party. United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:UPS) stock closed at $147.45 at the end of trading on February 12. The stock price for the trailing 52 weeks ranged from a high of $197.80 to a low of $133.68. UPS currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share, equating to $6.52 per share annually and giving its stock a yield of approximately 4.42% based on its closing price on February 12. How Can You Earn $1,000 Per Month As A UPS Investor? If you want to generate earnings of $1,000 per month $12,000 annually from United Parcel Service dividends, you would invest an estimated $271,493, which is about 1,841 shares at $147.45 each. If you reduce your earnings target to $200 per month, your investment drops to approximately $54,299 for 368 shares. 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. How to earn $500 Per Month In Passive Income Through Real Estate Without Becoming A Landlord Using dividend yields for calculating the estimated value of investments: You can use two parameters to determine the estimated value of your investments. One is your desired annual income of $12,000 or $2,400, and the second is the dividend yield of the stock, which is 3.98% in this case). So, $12,000 / 0.0442 = $271,493 to generate earnings of $1,000 per month, and $2,400 / 0.0442 = $54,299 for $200 per month. To estimate a stock's dividend yield, divide its annual payouts by its price. The dividend yield may change because of fluctuations in the stock price and changes to the company's dividend policies. Assuming the stock price remains the same, there is a positive correlation between the yield and the payouts, and the yield will rise when the company increases its payout and vice versa. Assume a stock that pays $2 as an annual dividend is priced at $50. Its dividend yield would be $2 / $50 = 4%. If the stock price rises to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2 / $60). A drop in stock price to $40 will have an inverse effect and increase the dividend yield to 5% ($2 / $40). Story continues Disclaimer: This calculation is according to the price per share at the close on February 12 using an annualized dividend. The closing price of United Parcel Service stock at the end of trading hours on February 12 was $147.45. 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 Send To MSN: Send to MSN "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article How To Earn $1,000 Per Month From UPS Stock originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Llewellyn King is the executive producer and host of White House Chronicle on PBS. He wrote this for InsideSources.com . FILE PHOTO: Women uses her iPhone mobile device as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store in New York FILE PHOTO: Women uses her iPhone mobile device as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store in New York By Foo Yun Chee, Bart H. Meijer and Martin Coulter BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Apple has won an exemption for its iMessage and Microsoft for its Bing search engine from new EU tech rules after the companies convinced antitrust regulators their services are not gateways for businesses to reach end-users. The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which takes effect in three weeks' time, requires Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms and ByteDance to allow third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and make it easier for people to switch to rivals. The companies are also prohibited from favouring their services over rivals. Following a five-month investigation, the European Commission found iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising "did not qualify as gatekeeper services," the EU executive said in a statement. The Commission said Apple's App Store, iOS operating system and Safari browser will continue to be classified as gatekeepers as will Microsoft's Linkedin social network and Windows operating system. It made "a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders", the Commission said without providing details of the companies' arguments. Apple had said iMessage usage is negligible, even on its devices, compared to rival messaging services in the EU and that iMessage is not an important channel for businesses to reach users in the bloc. "Consumers today have access to a wide variety of messaging apps, and often use many at once, which reflects how easy it is to switch between them," an Apple spokesperson said. Microsoft said that Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising operate as challengers in the market and are of relatively small scale, meaning they are not important gateways for business users. "We will continue to engage with the Commission and industry at large to ensure Microsoft's other designated platforms comply fully with the DMA," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Story continues Lazar Radic, an antitrust expert at the International Center for Law and Economics, said: "It is a good sign that the Commission has considered market realities, instead of just slapping the 'gatekeeper' label on iMessage because it fulfills certain quantitative thresholds. "This suggests the Commission is capable of avoiding the temptation to over-regulate." However, the Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE), whose members include Google, Meta Platforms and Qualcomm, disagreed with the Commission's decision to exempt services such as iMessage. "Todays surprising decision undermines the objectives of the DMA, as well as its potential to improve choice and contestability for all Europeans," it said in a statement. (Reporting by Bart Meijer and Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Keith Weir) Immediate Edge advertises itself as an advanced automated trading platform that helps investors determine the best investment opportunities and capitalize on them. The platform also promises to provide users with essential learning resources and seamless access to many investment options. But are these claims and advertisements legit? This Immediate Edge review will analyze these claims and decipher the platforms legitimacy Immediate Edge- Facts Overview Platform Type Trading Platform Minimum Deposit $250 Claimed Success Rate 85% Supported Cryptocurrencies N/A Mobile App None Deposit And Withdrawal Fees Not Specified Customer Service Contact Form and Email Official Website Click Here What Is Immediate Edge? Immediate Edge claims to be an advanced crypto trading platform that leverages AI algorithms to analyze the crypto market and help users make data-driven decisions. The platform says that it adapts to all the latest changes in the market and delivers real-time to ensure users dont miss out on any opportunity. AI-driven algorithms are reportedly the foundation for the Immediate Edge platform, as they help users make data-driven decisions to mitigate risks. But the boldest claim from the platform is that it will comprehend the nuances of the crypto market and provide users with the latest information. This will help users make the most of real-time analytics to make informed decisions in a volatile business environment. Per the website, Immediate Edge also has a highly intuitive user interface, making it easier to make sense of data points. The platform also states that it supports seamless integration with different crypto exchanges to ensure unmatched accessibility. However, the platforms advanced security features must be among its most significant perks. Immediate Edge also boasts the accuracy of its AI-driven algorithms that evolve continuously to provide users with the latest insights. Users can even use these algorithms to determine potential risk points and take the necessary measures to avoid them. Try Immediate Edge For Free! Immediate Edge Pros And Cons Accessing the pros and cons of a crypto trading platform is imperative to reach a calculative conclusion and make the right choice. So, here are some of the pros and cons of the Immediate Edge platform. Pros The platform supports hybrid trading features. It reportedly connects users with the best exchanges on the market. It claims to provide investors with educational materials. Multiple assets are supported, including cryptocurrencies and oil. A team of skilled experts is reportedly in place to assist with trading. Cons Immediate Edge isnt available in all countries. Visit Immediate Edge! How Does Immediate Edge Work? Immediate Edge platform claims to provide users with lucrative investment opportunities with AI. The platform reportedly uses multiple AI algorithms to analyze comprehensive movements and suggest trading strategies that ensure profit. This helps optimize trading strategies, minimize risk factors, and enhance the users profits. But things are not as simple as they appear with the first glance at Immediate Edge. As you dive deeper into the platforms offerings, it becomes evident that the platform works more like a gateway to other veteran brokers. When users register on the platform, it connects them with a suitable trading broker. Investors can then access all the features of the brokers platform to make the most of every investment opportunity. Users can access comprehensive tools from Immediate Edge to run a complete market analysis and determine more opportunities. Users can even leverage a manual trading approach with the Immediate Edge platform, ensuring the right balance between manual and automated trading. This provides better security for volatile market developments that can put even AI models to shame. Another noteworthy aspect is the platforms claim of supporting multiple assets, but it lacks clarity on whether these assets are divided among different exchanges. This is also the case with the educational resources that the platform offers. Users must clarify these intricacies before making any final decision. What Devices Can I Use To Access Immediate Edge? The Immediate Edge platform has no mobile app, leaving the website the only way to access the platform. Users can check out the official website of Immediate Edge through their web browser. You can even consider using this browser on your mobile devices to visit the Immediate Edge website. This lack of mobile accessibility can become a significant concern for the development team of the Immediate Edge platform if left ignored for long. Start Trading With Immediate Edge For Free! Immediate Edge Supported Countries As of now, the Immediate Edge platform is made accessible in different countries across the globe. A few regions like the United States, Iran, Israel, Cyprus, and France do not have access to this trading system as local laws restrict usage. The following are some of the countries where Immediate Edge is available: South Africa Norway United Kingdom Canada Australia Sweden Netherlands Finland Poland Mexico Brazil Spain Germany Belgium Switzerland Slovenia Slovakia Malaysia Singapore Japan Vietnam Taiwan Thailand Hong Kong For the complete list of countries, refer to the official Immediate Edge website. Immediate Edge Key Features The Immediate Edge platform claims to have many distinct features that set it apart from its competitors. Some of the best-known features that benefit users include Numerous Investment Options The official Immediate Edge website boasts seamless access to various investment options. These assets include oil, foreign exchange, crypto, and commodities. This is great for investors, offering ample trading opportunities to amplify returns. Access To Educational Resources The Immediate Edge platform claims to provide users with ample educational resources, such as tutorials and webinars aimed at enhancing ones understanding of the market. However, it is worth noting that the website did not shed much light on the educational resource types, making it difficult to determine if they are articles, videos, or audio files. Numerous Innovative Trading Tools Immediate Edge claims to provide users with easy access to many innovative trading tools for a superior trading experience. The platform runs a comprehensive analysis of live data to give users a complete view of the market and help them make informed decisions. Unmatched Security Features Security is another vital area of the Immediate Edge platform. The official website advertises many security measures to ensure better investor safety and security while trading. It has also taken many stringent security steps to ensure unmatched privacy for users when using the Immediate Edge platform. Trade Now With Immediate Edge For Free! Is Immediate Edge a Scam or Legit? The Immediate Edge platform ensures its genuineness by partnering with trusted brokerage services that will guide traders throughout their trading journey. The system follows strict safety protocols and uses the latest technology to code user information and protect them from prying eyes. 24/7 customer support is available to all traders. The platform offers different payment methods and traders have complete control over deposits and withdrawals. So far, the customer responses are positive and Immediate Edge is found to have a high success rate. These factors suggest that Immediate Edge is legit. But, beware of platforms coming with similar names as they are just imitations of this trading system. To avoid such traps, make sure you register only through the official Immediate Edge website. Immediate Edge Minimum Deposit Immediate Edge requires a minimum deposit of $250 to use the platform. However, it is worth noting that these charges might vary based on the exchange the platform connects users with. It would be best if users contact the customer support of Immediate Edge and seek more clarity on the matter. How To Use Immediate Edge? Using the Immediate Edge platform is relatively simple if you follow the right steps. These steps include: Step 1: Registration First, users must visit the Immediate Edge website and create an account. Users will find a registration form on the websites homepage, where they must provide all the essential details. Then, the account manager will reach out to users and ask questions to evaluate their expertise and determine if they prefer manual or automated trading. The platform will likely use this information to connect users with the best exchange. Step 2: Deposit The Minimum Amount According to the platforms official website, the next step requires users to deposit a minimum deposit of $250. However, these deposits might vary based on the exchanges users are connected with. Hence, the best course of action would be to seek more details from the users account manager and make the deposit with your preferred mode of payment. Step 3: Start Trading After users make the initial deposit, the platform will likely connect them to an exchange. Users can then access all trading features on the exchange and start trading. But it is better if you first check out the demo trading account of the exchange and practice before jumping into the live market. Register Immediate Edge For Free! How To Delete An Immediate Edge Account? The Immediate Edge website offers no information on how users can delete their accounts. The best course of action here is to seek this information from the partner exchange. Following a couple of primary steps should be enough for deleting a users trading account in most cases. Is Immediate Edge Legit? The Verdict Immediate Edge stands out as one of the most performant trading solutions that simplifies crypto trading. The platform gives easy access to multiple trading options along with valuable AI-driven insights on the latest market movement to foster data-driven trading. Immediate Edge also claims to offer precise trading signals based on the latest market developments. The trading system is a safe platform that allows you to trade without any security or privacy concerns. Immediate Edge can be used by anyone who wants to try out this trading system, including people with zero experience in trading. The system is simple to use and the customers wont face any difficulties while trading on it. If in case, any issues arise, Immediate Edge has an efficient and responsive customer support system active round the clock to provide you solutions. You can sign into this trading platform on its official website. You need not have to pay anything to use it. The only thing you have to spend is depositing a minimum capital of $250. You can withdraw your profits from Immediate Edges account anytime you want without any hassles. Unlock Immediate Edge For Free! FAQs How long should you spend on Immediate Edge? With the right strategies, traders at all levels can trade different digital assets in just a few hours every day. Through this, consistent profits can also be generated. What if the Immediate Edge platform is not useful? In case you feel that the Immediate Edge platform is not worth it, you can withdraw your funds at any time. No extra charges apply. Is demo trading available on Immediate Edge? Yes. A demo feature is available on the Immediate Edge platform. Novice traders can use this to explore the system, learn strategies, and improve skills with zero financial commitment. Can the Immediate Edge app be used on mobile devices? The Immediate Edge app has been designed in such a way that it can be used on any device including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. The only requirements are a web browser and a stable internet connection. Is the Immediate Edge system safe? The Immediate Edge system seems to be safe and secure as it protects user data, activities, and transactions from cyber attacks by following strict safety measures, using SSL encryption, and security methods like two-factor authentication (2FA). Kicks off the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Partnership initiative with an inaugural USD 1 Million with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 8th February 2024, Bangalore: Blockchain for Impact, the philanthropy initiative by Sandeep Nailwal, has announced a $15 million fund dedicated to advancing Biomedical Research and Innovation in India, under the BFI-Biome Virtual network. The inaugural 1-million-dollar donation from this fund will be given to the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), over a period of three years, marking the beginning of a transformative journey in healthcare solutions. The BFI Biome Virtual Network program was officially launched at the IISc Bangalore, and was flagged off with the announced of the inaugural collaboration between the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and Blockchain For Impact (BFI). The event witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries including the Director of IISc, Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Dean of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Prof. Navakant Bhat, Chair of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (ODAA), Prof. KJ Vinoy, and other notable members from their Office of Research Grant (ORG). Additionally, representatives from BFI including Dr. Gaurav Singh, CEO, Dr. Pooja Agrawal, Program Director, and Dr. Satya Prakash Dash, Senior Advisor, were present. The BFI-Biome program, which is the vision of founder Sandeep Nailwal, will support innovative projects in critical areas, including various disease translational research, disease biomarker discovery using multi-omics, AMR, novel diagnostics and devices. Expressing his delight, Mr. Sandeep Nailwal, founder and visionary behind Blockchain For Impact, said, Our partnership with the IISc, which includes the inaugural allocation of $ 1 million over a period of three years, marks a significant step towards accelerating transformative healthcare solutions through cutting-edge biomedical innovation. And while funding is one key aspect, our commitment to the cause goes beyond financial support. Through our biomedical research and innovation arm, district-level full-stack partnerships, and process-driven innovation funding and support, we are working towards addressing critical gaps in India's healthcare infrastructure. And the strategic allocation of overall funds underscores the commitment of BFI-Biome Network to addressing emerging challenges and contributing to advancements in these pivotal fields. Designed to bring together leading researchers, technologists, and innovators to collaborate and innovate to drive next-generation of intervention for improved healthcare, the BFI Biome project aims to work closely to fund initiatives that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in India. BFI aims to act as catalysts, collaborating with partners to forge multi-sectoral alliances that deliver long-term, equitable medical preparedness mechanisms. As part of the collaboration with IISc, BFI-Biome Network will allocate up to $1 million over three years to drive its Translational Research Projects ranging from TRL 2-4. Additionally, incubators and research networks will have access to funding of up to $225,000 over three years for workshops, fellowships, and kick-starter initiatives. Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc, emphasized the importance of collaboration in driving innovation, stating, "IISc is delighted to partner with BFI in this endeavour. By harnessing the expertise of our researchers and leveraging the funding support provided by BFI, we aim to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions. This collaboration is an important step in the process of bench-to bedside. It also exemplifies our continued commitment to advancing knowledge and driving positive societal impact." As the BFI-Biome Network takes its first step with the Indian Institute of Science, the journey towards transformative healthcare breakthroughs has only just begun. Prof. Navakanta Bhat, Dean of Interdisciplinary Sciences, IISc, appreciated the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program, stating, The BFI vision aligns with the efforts of IISc to develop scientific solutions for the current healthcare challenges. With the IISc Medical School, IISc will create the next generation of physician-scientists in India by fostering interdisciplinary research, to address the healthcare needs of the world. An access to funding is a pre-cursor towards the achievements of these goals. The announcement of the partnership between IISc and BFI lays the foundation of a series of collaborations that will add to the future of biomedical research and innovation in India. Through this partnership, BFI aims to establish itself as a key player in the Indian translational research ecosystem, driving positive change in healthcare ecosystem. For more information about the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program and the collaboration with IISc, please contact: About BFI-Biome Network BFI-Biome Network is a philanthropic initiative led by Sandeep Nailwal, dedicated to advancing biomedical research and innovation in India. The network brings together leading researchers, technologists, and innovators to collaborate and innovate, transcending traditional boundaries and driving transformative health solutions. About Blockchain For Impact (BFI): Blockchain for Impact was set up during the 2nd wave of COVID pandemic in India, was created to help support those in need of help. As the worlds most transparent healthcare fund, BFI initially worked towards strengthening the Indian healthcare system through a sustained supply of medical equipment, vaccines, and relief kits. However, after the COVID wave, the focus transitioned towards early identification and prevention activities which sufficed in capacity building, genome sequencing, adding hospital beds, vaccination, and awareness campaigns. What started as a Samaritan in emergency response has now transitioned towards a system that is involved in introducing programmatic interventions across the public health space at micro and macro levels. BFI aims to utilize skills, commitment, and technology to address current challenges and future gaps centred around health to help the marginalized and the vulnerable. With a special focus surrounding Biomedical Research and Innovation, BFIs District-level Full Stack Program, Process-driven Innovation, and Relief work, BFI has been devised for pre-empting, predicting, and preparing Indias healthcare system for the inevitable pandemics. From devising emergency relief measures to bringing programmatic interventions with long-term decision-making in perspective, Blockchain For Impact remains driven towards improving the well-being of the marginalized across various priorities in the public healthcare space and aims to become a holistic support system for the future of Indian healthcare. About Indian Institute of Science (IISc) The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a premier institute for scientific research and higher education located in [City], India. Established in [Year], IISc has consistently been at the forefront of scientific innovation and has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of research and education in India. A day after he resigned from the Congress party, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan is likely to join the BJP on Tuesday, according to reports. Chavan had tendered his resignation to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday, stating that he was resigning as a primary member and stepping down as an MLA by submitting his resignation to assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. However, he did not confirm reports about joining the BJP then. I haven't taken any decision yet on joining the BJP and don't know BJP's working system", Chavan told reporters. However, ANI quoting his office, said Chavan may join the saffron brigade on Tuesday. Meanwhile, another Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, a former Rajya Sabha MP, shot down rumours that he is leaving the Congress. He, however, said Chavan's exit was a loss to the state Congress. Stating that Chavan was upset with the working style of a Maharashtra leader, Nirupam said: "Some are calling him a liability, some are holding ED responsible, all this is a hasty reaction. He was basically very upset with the working style of a leader from Maharashtra," he posted on X. Meanwhile, the Congress has called a meeting of party leaders in Mumbai post the exit of Chavan. Congress leader and LoP Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar told ANI that Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has called a meeting of party leaders. "This meeting is being held after the resignation of Ashok Chavan. There are changes in the party. I am with the Congress and will remain with the Congress. I won four assembly elections on the Congress symbol, became a minister and twice the Leader of the Opposition, now I do not expect much from the party and I am determined to remain in the Congress till the end," Wadettiwar added. Uddhav attacks Chavan Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has raked up the Adarsh housing scam to target Chavan and said if the BJP sends him to the Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting martyred soldiers. Addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city on Monday, Thackeray said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier gone to Nanded (Chavan's home district) and spoken about corruption committed by Ashok Chavan. They had said Chavan disrespected families of the martyred soldiers. But if the prime minister sends him (Chavan) to Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting our soldiers," he said. Chavan is an accused in the Adarsh housing society scam wherein a 31-storey posh building in south Mumbai was constructed allegedly on land owned by the Defence Ministry without getting the requisite permissions and clearances. Chavan is an accused under the Indian Penal Code provisions for criminal conspiracy and cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Some of Chavan's relatives had figured in the list of beneficiaries. By Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India risks losing out to China and Vietnam as it seeks to become a major smartphone export hub and must "act fast" to lure global companies with lower tariffs, the deputy IT minister said in government documents seen by Reuters. Smartphone manufacturing is a key plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitions to boost the economy and create jobs by attracting companies such as Apple, Foxconn and Samsung to India, the world's second-largest mobile market where production grew 16% year-on-year to $44 billion last year. That success, Modi's government says, is mostly due to financial incentives given to companies to produce more. But lawmakers and lobby groups for Apple and other firms argue India's high tariffs are a deterrent for companies de-risking their supply chains beyond China, and nations such as Vietnam, Thailand and Mexico have raced ahead in phone exports by offering lower tariffs on components. A Jan. 3 letter and a confidential presentation drafted by Indian deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and sent to the Finance Minister, show the extent of his ministry's concerns about losing out due to the uncompetitive tariffs. "India has high production cost due to highest tariffs amongst key manufacturing destinations," wrote Chandrasekhar in the documents, which were seen by Reuters. "The geopolitical realignment is forcing supply chains to shift out of China ... We must act now, or they will shift to Vietnam, Mexico and Thailand." Chandrasekhar and India's IT ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Lower tariffs on components is key to India's ambitions to attract smartphone manufacturers. "Made in India" phones use many parts made locally, but companies import many high-end parts from China and elsewhere due to supply chain limitations. These parts are then subject to the high tariffs the government has put in place to protect the local manufacturers, raising overall costs. Story continues U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti recently said foreign investments were not flowing into India at the pace they should be, and were going to countries like Vietnam instead, because of the tariffs. "If you tax inputs ... you're not protecting a market. What you are doing is limiting a market," he said. Chandrasekhar in his documents flagged how lower taxes in China and Vietnam helped boost their exports. Exports accounted for only 25% of India's smartphone production last year, compared with 63% of China's $270 billion worth of production and 95% of Vietnam's $40 billion worth, he said. "MATCH CHINA, BEAT VIETNAM" India is seeking to account for 25% of global electronics manufacturing by 2029, but the official documents showed its stake was currently at just 4%, even though Apple, Foxconn and Xiaomi had all boosted production recently. Chandrasekhar's documents were addressed to India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month to lobby for lower tariffs in the annual budget. The finance ministry did lower taxes on some components, including battery covers, to 10% from 15%, but did not agree to many other tariff cut requests. The finance ministry and Sitharaman's office did not respond to requests for comment. India still imposes a 20% tax on parts including chargers, some circuit boards and fully assembled phones. The IT minister wanted those taxes to be reduced to 15% this year. Chandrasekhar also argued that Vietnam and China do not levy tariffs above 10% on components from their "most-favoured nation" trading partners or nations with whom they have free-trade agreements. India does not do that and imposes "high" tariffs on many components, he said. "We have to match China and beat Vietnam on tariffs to attract" global supply chains, Chandrasekhar wrote. "No country with high tariffs has or can attract" them. LOCAL MARKET SATURATING, EXPORTS FOCUS Last week, Xiaomi privately asked New Delhi to lower tariffs on more components used in cameras and USB cables, saying it will help "aligning with the competitive manufacturing economies like China and Vietnam." While surging local demand has helped keep the local manufacturing industry profitable, Chandrasekhar said in his letter that this "domestic market of smartphones will shortly near saturation" and as users don't change phones that often. India's goal to take mobile phone production to over $100 billion a year - with 50% of that exported - needs a new strategy, the minister said. "Tariffs are becoming a hurdle," the minister said in his presentation. "We need to shift tariff policy to suit our new ambitions. Exports, not domestic." (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil; Additional reporting by Shivangi Acharya, Nikunj Ohri and Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Miral Fahmy) Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan raised a significant accusation on Tuesday, alleging that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had made some major interventions to help the controversial firm, Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited, and that the Rs 1.72 crore received by the chief minister's daughter, Veena Vijayan and her company Exalogic, under purportedly "bogus claims", constituted a bribe to facilitate this corruption. Kuzhalnadan attempted to raise these allegations on the assembly floor on Monday. However, speaker A.N. Shamseer ruled that the MLA would not be allowed to raise the allegation without proper documents to support it. He also cut off the microphone of the MLA three minutes before his allocated time, to prevent him from speaking. On Tuesday, Kuzhalnadan raised the allegation that the CM took special interest to help CMRL retain four leasesand thereby giving permission for mining beaches for black sandin spite of the successive governments declared policy that no private parties will be allowed to do black sand mining in the state. Kuzhalnadan also said that Speaker Shamseer was shielding the chief minister by preventing him from raising the issue in the assembly. Root of the controversy The root of this controversy was ignited when a newspaper reported on August 8 that the CMRL made a payment of Rs 1.72 crore under bogus claims to the CMs daughter Veena Thaikandiyil. The report was based on the verdict of the New Delhi bench of the Income Tax interim settlement board on June 12, last year. The board had found that Veena received the sum of Rs1.72 crore from CMRL during a period of three years between 2017 and 2020, without actually providing any services to the company. All this had started when in January 2019 a major raid was held by the I-T department to verify the documents of the CMRL. The I-T raid, which was conducted on the basis of the tax paid by CMRL between 2013-14 and 2019-2020, unearthed many discrepancies and observed inflated expenses on the account books. Incidentally, in November 2020, the company MD Sasidharan Kartha and the CMRL raised a request for settlement. During the proceedings, one major revelation that came in front of the interim settlement board was that CMRL made huge cash payments running to crores to a number of politicians. During the raid, the companys general manager of finance explained the purpose of these payments to I-T officers, saying: These payments were being made to functionaries/ members of various political parties, media houses, police etc. for smooth functioning of our business especially in view of the fact that we obtain Ilmenite which is mined by PSUs as our raw material. During the search in the corporate office of the CMRL, the I-T officers had recovered a service agreement dated March 2, 2017, between the CMRL and Veenas company, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited. According to that, Veenas single person company was supposed to provide services in developing, maintaining and managing IT services for CMRL corporate office. The agreement said that Exalogic was entitled to receive a monthly pay of Rs 3 lakh. Interestingly, when the I-T team conducted the search, they saw that the only software being used by the CMRL were Outlook, MS Office, Tally and Power Builder, and these were maintained by the companys internal IT team. The investigators also found another crucial letter from December 2016, which says that CMRL is pleased to engage Veena as its marketing and IT consultant on a retainership basis from January 1, 2017. The letter was signed by Veenaas a mark of her acceptance. However, during their questioning, the companys top officials, including managing director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, said they were not aware of any form of IT services being delivered by Veena to the company. They later filed a retraction affidavit and tried to clarify that Veena delivered genuine services and bona fide payments were made through banking channels after deducting TDS (tax deducted at source). However, their retraction was not accepted as they could not prove that the earlier recorded statements were untrue or were given under coercion. Incidentally, the quasi-judicial body gave the verdict that CMRL, in fact, had made payments through banking channels to persons connected with a prominent person and thereby claiming it as a deductible expense and by claiming to compensate a service which has not been rendered or received. Veenas firm Exalogic and the CMRL are now facing a Serious Fraud Investigation Office investigation. Kuzhalnadans arguments In 2004, the CMRL obtained four leases for mining the black sand. Today, if somebody values this, the value depth of these is above Rs 1,000 crore, said Kuzhalnadan. Since the then government felt that these leases were against public interest, it stayed any further action on them after 10 days. Ever since then, the CMRL has been trying to obtain back this lease. But the successive governments did not allow this. During the reign of the LDF government led by V.S. Achuthanandan, it was decided that no private players would be allowed to do black sand mining. The CMRL then went to the Central Mines Tribunal, and got a favourable verdict. But the government did not take any favourable decision. So, the company went for a legal fight which finally ended up in the Supreme Court. A three-member bench of the apex court considered the case and settled the matter in favour of the CMRL. However, the SC gave a chance to the state government, said Kuzhalnadan. The verdict observed that the lease granted to the CMRL is legal because the government did not notify that land [for the public sector] that had been given to CMRL under lease. But the court observed: In other words, the dismissal of this appeals shall not prevent the state from invoking its rights under section 17.A.2 of the [Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation] Act by issuing notification in respect of mineral deposit in question. This order was passed on April 8, 2016. According to Kuzhalnadan, the judgement gave a legal go-ahead to notify and take back the land. The Pinarayi Vijayan government came to power on May 25, 2016. CMRLs biggest need was to get this lease functional. They had given multiple petitions to the governments. They presented a petition to Pinarayi government also, said Kuzhalnadan. The moment this land is notified by the government , CMRLs interest in that land will end. However, the state government proceeded in a different direction. Kuzhalnadan cited two versions of Kerala Industrial Policy 2018 to prove his point. The para 6.6 of English version of the industrial policy released by the state government is as below: The mining of rare earths will be restricted to the public sector. Use of mineral wealth in the Chavara Thottappally belt shall be taken up in a planned and holistic manner on the basis of a masterplan to produce value added products without endangering the livelihood of the coastal communities and environment. A large modern plant will be set up to produce Titanium metal without confirming Titanium pigment alone. In the Malayalam version, however, there are some additions. Kuzhalnadan noted that the Malayalam version has an additional sentence after the first sentence: The mining of rare earths will be restricted to the public sector. However, the Supreme Court order in this regard will be implemented. If the first sentence is followed, the only option in front of the government is to notify and take back the land. But this additional sentence was introduced in order to keep a policy space carved for the operations of the CMRL. This sentence was for CMRL, says Kuzhalnadan. The Congress leader noted that as roads were getting clear for the CMRL, a move came from the Centre. The union ministry of mines issued an order for premature termination of all permissions and leases held by private companies to do atomic minerals mining. Following this, Keralas mining and geology department started measures to terminate the lease of the KMRL. Kuzhalnadan further claimed that when the process to take back the land was in progress, the CMRL made a direct petition to the chief minister and the CM intervened directly, citing the copy of a government file with a note from the principal secretary industries. The note by the official on the document with subject Mining leases of beach and sand minerals granted to KREML (a joint venture promoted by CMRL) read, Please process this. He may need an in-principle approval before seeking law vetting. CM is reviewing this on 4/9/2019. Let be ready with the PPT. Kuzhalnadan said that if the CM was reviewing a file that did not belong to his department, there should be substantial reasons. He also produced an internal circulation notice issued to the departments concerned which left the final decision on the matter to the chief minister whether to terminate the leases or seek a legal opinion on it. The Congress MLA alleged that the options including the legality of giving the operational go-ahead to a joint venture promoted by KMRL was considered to save the controversial company. He also noted that though the lease of KMRL was terminated, no action has been taken to take back the land from the company. Kuzhalnadan added that this is only the first part of the story and there are more parts to this whole scheme! CPI(M) Central Committee member and former minister Dr T. M. Thomas Issac reacted to Kuzhalnadans allegations on Facebook. KMML, a state PSU and IREL, a Central PSU, have the permission to mine sand from Thottappilly Pozhi and extract Ilmenite, he wrote. Issac noted that CMRL can only buy Ilmenite from these PSUs and this has been the arrangement during the successive governments of the UDF and the LDF. However Kuzhalanadan is trying to create a narrative that Veena Vijayans service agreement with CMRL is the result for brokering CMRLs purchase of ileminate! The former minister also raised the allegation that it was the UDF governments that tried to privatise black sand mining in Keralas coasts, and that the LDF fought it and stopped it. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the real culprit in the monthly wage case against his daughter Veena Vijayan, Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan charged on Tuesday. The Congress legislator told presspersons at Thiruvananthapuram, Veena Vijayan just received monthly payments from CMRL, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the real culprit. Kuzhalnadan charged the mining company CMRL has been making monthly payments to Veena since 2016. Kuzhalandan charged that CM Vijayan intervened for granting permissions to CMRL for black soil mining. The Congress legislator charged for three years from 2016, Rs 8 lakh was credited every month into Veenas bank account. Kuzhalnadan charged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government amended the states industrial policy for CMRL. A controversy erupted in Kerala recently over some financial transactions between the Kochi-based private minerals company and CM Vijayan's daughter Veena and her IT firm. Evidence also cropped up that purportedly showed the company had dealings with top leaders of both the ruling CPI(M) as well as the opposition Congress-led UDF. The issue came to the fore after a Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama reported that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd paid Rs 1.72 crore to the CM's daughter between 2017 and 2020. The news report, citing the recent ruling of an Interim Board for Settlement, said the Kochi-based company previously had an agreement with Veena's IT firm for consultancy and software support services. Despite the fact that no service was rendered by her firm, the amount was paid on a monthly basis "due to her relationship with a prominent person", the report had claimed, citing the deposition of the minerals company authorities before the Income Tax Department. However, Vijayan rubbished the charges and said the allegations were made to tarnish his image and defame him. Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesting farmers marching towards Delhi at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. The farmers started their march from Punjabs Fatehgarh Sahib after talks with the union ministers failed. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police did not stop the farmers and they allowed the protesting farmers to cross Rajpura bypass to head towards Haryana's Ambala onward to Delhi for their protest. The Delhi AAP government has also turned down the Centre's request to convert the Bhawna stadium into a makeshift jail, stating that it was incorrect to arrest the protesting farmers. Farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, on Tuesday morning commenced their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press for their demands. Multiple groups, along with tractor trolleys, are marching from Fatehgarh Sahib and Mehal Kalan in Khanauri towards Delhi. Delhis borders have been fortified to stop the farmers from entering the national capital. Many farmers along with their tractor trolleys began the march around 10am from Fatehgarh Sahib and are moving towards Delhi via Shambhu border. Another group is moving towards the national capital from Mehal Kalan in Sangrur through the Khanauri border. According to police, they fired teargas when a group of youth, part of the farmers' protest march, tried to break barricades set up at the Shambhu border in Ambala. Despite an appeal by the Haryana Police to stay away from the barricades, the youth continued to stay put and stood over the barricades, officials said. When a few youth broke an iron barricade and tried to throw it off the Ghaggar River bridge, the police lobbed several rounds of tear gas shells. They also used a drone later on to drop a teargas shell. -with PTI inputs. Farmer leaders on Tuesday blamed the Centre for the "attack" on protesters marching towards Delhi and claimed that 60 of them were injured as police used tear gas shells at Punjab-Haryana border points. Farmers from Punjab faced tear gas shells, some of them dropped by a drone, at two border points as they tried to break past barricades set up by the Haryana Police to stop them from heading to the national capital. Police hurled tear gas shells, and the protesters hurled stones, at the Shambhu border near Ambala. Tear gas was also used against protesters at the border between the two states in Haryana's Jind district. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher at Shambhu border told reporters, "In the history of India, today is a black day. It is shameful the way the Modi government attacked farmers and farm labourers." "Even today, we say we are farmers and labourers of the country and we do not want any fight," Pandher said, as he reiterated farmers' demands of a legal guarantee to the minimum support price and debt waiver. He said farmers were compelled to resort to come out on roads and march to Delhi when nobody heard them and claimed their agitation has been peaceful. "It is evening now. We will ask our youth that there should be a ceasefire from both sides. Tomorrow we will see again." Another farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, claimed that around 60 young farmers were injured in the police action. "Today, farmers wanted to go to the national capital and carrying out such an attack on them ... around 60 youths got injured," claimed Dallewal, who represents Samyukta Kisan Mocha (Non-Political). He also accused the Centre of not showing any seriousness to their demands. "We want to put forth our views. There are no new demands and these are commitments made the government," he said. Referring to Union Minister Arjun Munda's statement that a consensus was reached on most of their demands during the meeting on Monday, Dallewal said not even a single demand was accepted. Another farmer leader, Surjit Singh Phool, claimed that the Haryana security personnel hurled "thousands" of tear gas shells at protesters for more than eight hours. The farmers in Punjab and Haryana, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, will march to Delhi on Tuesday morning as talks held with the Centre on Monday ended inconclusive. The protest is to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Other demands include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and labourers and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protest. The farmers are also demanding "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstating the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation, among others. Three Union Ministers were in Chandigarh on Monday to hold talks with the farmers. However, the five-hour talks ended in a stalemate. After the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda told reporters that he is hopeful of reaching a breakthrough through dialogue. "We held extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the farmers on every issue. The government is engaged in a dialogue with all the stakeholders and wants to resolve all disputes through talks. We reached a broad consensus on some of the issues of contention raised. However, on some other issues, we suggested that a committee be put together in the interest of a permanent solution. Any issue of contention could be resolved through talks," Munda said. Besides Munda, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal too attended the second round of talks with the farmer leaders. Though the Centre reportedly agreed to withdraw the cases against the farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation, a consensus was not reached on a legal guarantee to minimum support price for crops, which is one of their key demands. SKM (non-political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, who attended the meeting, said the government was not serious about any of their demands. "We do not think they want to fulfil our demands. Tomorrow, we will march towards Delhi at 10 am," Pandher told reporters. He added that the government did not place any proposals before them during the talks today. "While our protest continued, we held talks with Union ministers in a bid to arrive at a breakthrough. Whenever the government calls us for talks, we will go," Pandher told ANI. Farmers in a trolley ahead of their scheduled march towards Delhi, in Fatehgarh Sahib | PTI Delhi borders sealed Ahead of the march, the government has fortified and sealed all borders to Delhi from Haryana, UP and Punjab. Concrete and metal barricades, and shipping containers lined the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders to prevent vehicles carrying protesters from entering the city. #WATCH | Security heightened at Delhi borders in view of the march declared by farmers towards the national capital today (Drone visuals from Tikri Border) pic.twitter.com/FOOgoCWOvF ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 The police are also using drones to keep a tight vigil at border points, an official said, adding that they are fully prepared to deal with any law and order situation. Earlier on Monday, tractor-trolleys set out from different parts of Punjab to join the protest. The convoy set out in the morning from Beas in Amritsar to assemble in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Many farmers from Moga, Bathinda and Jalandhar districts have joined the march. In Haryana, a total of 114 companies of paramilitary forces and Haryana Police have been deployed. "A total of 114 companies have been deployed across various districts, with 64 comprising paramilitary forces and 50 comprising Haryana Police," said the spokesperson. These companies are equipped with anti-riot gear and stationed in districts that are sensitive and border with Punjab. Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more persons, has been imposed in many districts, and individuals are reminded to comply with the law. The Delhi Government has turned down the Centre's request to convert the Bhawna stadium into a makeshift jail, stating that it was incorrect to arrest the protesting farmers. This comes as farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, on Tuesday morning commenced their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press for their demands. Multiple groups, along with tractor trolleys, are marching from Fatehgarh Sahib and Mehal Kalan in Khanauri towards Delhi. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar denying permission and expressed solidarity with the farmers' march. The statement issued by Delhi Government Home Minister Kailash Gahlot said the demands of the farmers were genuine. "It is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore incorrect to arrest the farmers," he said in a reply to the Centre's proposal to convert the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Bawana into a temporary jail to detain the protesting farmers. "The Central Government, in fact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers of the country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central Government," Gehlot added. The AAP government in Punjab had extended its support to the farmers, hitting out the Centre for blockading roads. According to AAP leader Gopal Rai, if freedom fighters witnessed these actions, they would "turn in their graves". He emphasised that the farmers simply wish to enter Delhi, yet roads have been barricaded to impede their progress. He took a jibe at the centre, stating even the India-Pakistan border lacks such strong barriers. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, on Tuesday, said a person has been arrested in connection with the February 7 Srinagar attack case in which two men from Punjab were shot dead by militants. IGP Kashmir V.K. Bhirdi told reporters that Adil Manzoor Langoo, a resident of Srinagar, was arrested following a thorough investigation. According to the IPG, Langoo allegedly acted on the directions of his Pakistani handler and carried out the attack in Srinagar. A team, led by SP under the supervision of DIG Central Kashmir, conducted the probe. ADGP (Law and Order) J&K, Vijay Kumar, affirmed the police's commitment to taking stern action against terrorist handlers residing in Pakistan and direct local to carry out attacks. Langoo, hailing from Zaldagar area of Srinagar and an adherent to the Ahl-i Hadith sect, maintained contact with his Pakistani handler through social media. He got a gun in January. "His handler in Pakistan radicalised him on social media and motivated him to carry out the attack," Birdi said. Birdi said the weapon was provided to Langoo by his handler and this further "motivated him to carry out the attack". Langoo tracked Amritpal Singh and Rohit Masih in the lanes of Habba Kadal and fired on them, killing Singh on the spot, he said. Kumar emphasised the professional approach of the police in addressing terror incidents in Kashmir and acknowledged the presence of active foreign and local terrorists in the region. "It is a professional hazard that some modules go under the radar. But the police's professionalism and hardwork are evident from the fact that the culprit has been arrested so fast," he said, referring to Langoo's arrest. He urged parents and educators to monitor closely the online activities of youngsters, particularly those who use social media extensively. The February 7 incident was the first targeted killing of the year by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and the responsibility for it was taken by the banned 'The Resistance Front (TRF)', a shadow group of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba. With PTI inputs Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a one-on-one meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to review the bilateral partnership and discuss new areas of cooperation. The two leaders welcomed deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people to people ties, said an official statement. Both Modi and Al Nahyan also held delegation-level talks and several memoranda of understanding (MoUs), including a bilateral investment treaty and a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, were exchanged in their presence. The two countries signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade. This opens new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade, the PMO said. Both India and the UAE also signed an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor and an MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects. A cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries and an MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums were also signed during the delegation-level talks. Another agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platformsUPI (India) and AANI (UAE)is expected to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. Earlier, an MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems had been signed in July last year during Modis visit to Abu Dhabi. An agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cardsRuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE)was also signed, which will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE. Modi congratulated President Al Nahyan on the launch of UAEs domestic card JAYWAN, which is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack. Earlier, the prime minister was received by Al Nahyan at the airport where they hugged each other. He was later given a guard of honour. Modi will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of allegations of sexual assault on women "at gunpoint" in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali and issued notices to the state government and the inspector general of police. Justice Apurba Sinha Roy said that he was "very disturbed" at what was going on in Sandeshkhali. He directed the registrar general of the high court to also issue notice to the DIG of Barasat range, the superintendent of police and the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas district. Advocate Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee has been appointed as the amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter. Meanwhile, in a separate order, the high court on Tuesday set aside the prohibitory orders imposed under Section 144 in the vicinity of the SP's office in Basirhat. Clashes broke out between police personnel and BJP supporters earlier in the day after efforts were made to defy the prohibitory orders. "This is a lawless situation in Bengal. The state government is trying to hide the truth," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. Sandeshkhali has been witnessing protests for the last one week over allegations of atrocities on women and land grabbing by goons owing allegiance to the ruling Trinamool Congress. The region had grabbed headlines when some Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked by a mob when they went to search the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5. In a relief to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the defamation complaint against him over the "Gujarati thugs" remark after he withdrew it unconditionally. In an affidavit filed before the top court, Yadav, a former deputy chief minister of Bihar, submitted that he holds Gujaratis as a community in great esteem and has no ill-will or animus against them. In Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat has given the greatest gift to mankind, Yadav said, adding he had no intention of defaming Gujaratis as a community. Yadav said he made the remarks on March 22, 2023 when journalists sought his response to alleged revocation of the Red Corner Notice issued against fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi. The businessman is a Gujarat native. "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven. Who will be responsible if they run away with the money belonging to the LIC or banks?" the then Bihar deputy chief minister had reportedly said, according to the complaint filed against him by a Gujarat resident. A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to the politician while exercising its power under Article 142 of the Constitution. The top court said under Article 142 of the Constitution it possesses extraordinary Constitutional powers to pass any decree or order which is necessary for doing complete justice between the parties. "In this case, the respondent appears to have been hurt in view of the statements made by the petitioner generally about Gujarati people. "Now, after the petitioner has explained the context in which he made the statements and after withdrawal of those statements, in the facts of the case, it is unjust to continue the prosecution. No purpose will be served by continuing the prosecution. Therefore, we are of the view that in the peculiar facts of the case, this is a fit case to quash the complaint," the bench said. The top court had on February 5 reserved its order on a plea filed by Yadav seeking transfer of the criminal defamation complaint pending against him in an Ahmedabad court over his remarks to a place outside the state, preferably Delhi. The apex court had on January 29 directed Yadav to file a "proper statement" withdrawing his comments. The top court, while hearing the RJD leader's plea, had earlier stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint and issued notice to the Gujarat resident who had filed it. The Gujarat court had in August conducted a preliminary inquiry against Yadav under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and found sufficient grounds to summon him on the complaint filed by Haresh Mehta, a local businessman and activist. Mehta claimed Yadav's comments defamed all Gujaratis. Secretary General of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais speaks during the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur By Maha El Dahan DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's decision to postpone oil capacity expansion plans should not be interpreted as an assessment that demand for crude is falling, OPEC's Secretary General said on Tuesday. "First of all I want to be clear I cannot comment on a Saudi decision ... but this is in no way to be misconstrued as a view that demand is falling," Haitham Al Ghais told Reuters in Dubai on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit. The Saudi government on Jan. 30 ordered state oil company Aramco to lower its target for maximum sustained production capacity to 12 million barrels per day (bpd), 1 million bpd below a target announced in 2020 and set to be reached in 2027. Sources have told Reuters the kingdom's surprise reversal of its oil expansion plan was at least six months in the making and based on an assessment that much of Saudi Arabia's excess capacity was not being monetised. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter and de-facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC raised its world oil demand forecasts for the medium and long term in its annual outlook published in October. Its World Oil Outlook said it expects world oil demand to reach 116 million barrels a day (bpd) by 2045, around 6 million bpd higher than the previous year's report, with growth led by China, India, other Asian nations, and Africa and the Middle East. "We stand by what was published in our latest outlook we firmly believe that it is robust," Al Ghais said. OPEC is due to release the 2024 edition of the outlook later this year and Al Ghais said we would have to "wait and see" until September or October when it is due if numbers vary. "But we believe now our numbers stand and are very solid numbers," he said. "If anything, changing narratives we are seeing now ... a lot of countries in the world turning back and slowing down and rethinking their net zero goals ... that will create further long-term demand for oil." Story continues ANGOLA'S EXIT Al Ghais also said he was not concerned about Angola's exit from the group, announced in December. "It is not the first time a member exits the organization for its own considerations," he said. We have had members leave and members join and we have had some that leave and rejoin so I'm not too concerned about that." Angola said on Dec. 21 that it would leave OPEC, a decision that prompted a drop in oil prices at the time and that some analysts said raised questions about the unity of both OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance. Al Ghais the country was welcome to rejoin if it wished to do so in the future. The nature of production cuts being implemented by OPEC+, which brings together OPEC and its allies including Russia, being voluntary is a reflection of the group's flexibility, Al Ghais said. "For now it's probably the most suitable way," he said. "A voluntary cut is a sovereign decision by a country to adjust its production. It shows the inherent flexibility in our approach and that we have several means and ways to attend to market stability." (Reporting by Maha El Dahan, Editing by Michael Georgy and David Evans) The prospect of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party putting up a joint fight, as part of the opposition INDIA bloc, in the national capital for the Lok Sabha elections now appears to have become exceedingly difficult. The AAP today publically proposed that the Congress should contest only one of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, with the AAP contesting the remaining six. What is more significant is the party's National General Secretary Sandeep Pathak declaring in a press conference not only what the party feels should be the seat-sharing formula in the capital, but also spelling out the statistical basis for it. As he briefed the media after the meeting of the AAP's Political Affairs Committee, Pathak said that, based on data, the Congress should not contest even one seat in Delhi. They have zero Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha seats in Delhi. They won only nine out of the 250 seats in the MCD, he said, adding that the AAP was proposing one seat for the Congress because it wanted to respect alliance dharma. According to sources in both the Congress and the AAP, the possibility of an alliance in Delhi is not over yet. As per AAP leaders, the party is willing to discuss the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress in Delhi, but claimed that a sense of frustration was setting in over the pace of talks. According to sources in the Congress, it would be wrong to say that meetings have not taken place to discuss the seat-sharing formula in Delhi. The sources also said that the Congress is ready for an arrangement wherein the national party contests three seats and the AAP puts up candidates in four constituencies. It is felt that the stance taken by the two parties in other states is casting a shadow on the seat-sharing discussions in Delhi. The AAP and the Congress have already decided to contest separately in Punjab. In Gujarat, the two parties have locked horns over Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, which was at one time represented by late Congress leader Ahmed Patel. The Congress has conveyed to the AAP that it would not want to give up Bharuch and is keen to field Patel's daughter Mumtaz from the seat. The AAP has declared party MLA Chaitra Vasava as the nominee there for the Lok Sabha elections. Besides, the AAP today also announced that it would contest from Bhavnagar seat in Gujarat. Also, what may not help the seat-sharing discussions between the two parties in Delhi is the strident stance taken by the AAP of deciding to contest one seat in Goa and staking claim to Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. The AAP has also conveyed to the Congress that it wants to contest eight seats in Gujarat. In a major boost to former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's bid to secure a record fourth term, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday withdrew from the race, saying his party would support the ex-premier without being part of the government. Despite independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party springing a surprise by winning the most seats in Parliament, questions loom over what the next government of Pakistan will look like five days after the general elections. None of the three major parties, the PML-N, the PPP, or the PTI have won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the national assembly and, therefore, will be unable to form government on their own, leading to a hung Parliament. Addressing a press conference after the meeting of the PPP's high-powered Central Executive Committee (CEC), held under his leadership, Bilawal said the reality is that his party does not have a mandate to form a federal government. Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan, the 35-year-old former foreign minister said, adding that PML-N and the independents have greater numbers in the Centre. Bilawal's announcement came hours after former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, 74, will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. "I had said that Nawaz Sharif would become prime minister for the fourth time. And I maintain today that he is going to be the PM for the fourth time," Shehbaz told a press conference. Bilawal noted that Imran Khan's PTI had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government. Khan on Tuesday dismissed the idea of forming a coalition government with any of the main political parties in Pakistan and termed them as the biggest money launderers being brought to power. The 71-year-old Khan, also the founder of PTI, was speaking with journalists at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Khan and many of his party colleagues are lodged in jail for many months in connection with convictions in multiple cases. There can be no alliance with PML-N, PPP, and MQM, he said, adding that he had directed PTI Information Secretary Raouf Hasan to bring together all parties except the three parties. The PPP has decided that "we may not be a part of the government but we will engage with political parties on the issue of votes and the election of prime minister." He said the PPP would help to form a stable government without being part of it. To that end, the PPP will be willing to support the case of important votes - a candidate of the PM of Pakistan - and issue to issue basis to ensure that the government is formed and political stability is restored, Bilawal said. Bilawal said he would like to see his 68-year-old father Asif Ali Zardari become the president once again. Zardari, husband of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto was the president from 2008 to 2013. I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is in a huge crisis at the moment and if anyone has the capacity to douse this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari, he asserted. In response to a question, Bilawal said all political forces needed to think about the country and end the politics of division. They must not just think about themselves [] this way the enemies of the country would want to benefit from this crisis. It takes two to tango, he said. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member national assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, a majority of them supported by the PTI secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) getting 54 seats, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) bagging 17 seats. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one constituency was withheld. Meanwhile, a senior official of Khan's party said it will use the platform of two rightwing religious parties in its bid to form government in the Centre as well as in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has decided to join Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) to form the government in the Centre and Punjab and Jamaati-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, PTI Information Secretary Hassan said while addressing a press conference. Hassan said the PTI was redoubling its efforts to make government in the Centre and Punjab. However, it is believed that by joining the two parties, the PTI will not be able to gather enough strength to form either the federal or provincial government in Punjab. PTI can form a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even without the support of any other party. In a setback to PTI, a Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed more than 30 petitions filed by Khan's party-backed independent candidates who challenged the "sham victory" of top PML-N leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The Lahore High Court while dismissing the petitions asked the defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party-backed candidates to move to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for redressal of their grievances, including alleged rigging of votes in the February 8 general elections. Nawaz Sharif first assumed power in 1990 but was forced out three years later by corruption allegationsa theme that has dogged his career. He came to power for the second time in 1997 and held the prime minister's post till 1999 when he was deposed in a military coup after plotting to sideline then Pakistan Army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf. More than a decade later he was back in power in 2013, but fresh graft allegations emerged when his children were named in the 2016 Panama Papers leak for holding offshore companies. He was later convicted over separate corruption allegations and disqualified from office for lifethe third time that he failed to complete a full term. Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Clean fuel supply in Kolkata is set to receive a significant boost in the coming months with the completion of the main trunk GAIL gas transportation pipeline, according to a senior official. Anupam Mukhopadhyay, CEO of Bengal Gas Company Ltd, stated that the GAIL gas pipeline would be completed within the next three months, with the resolution of an 800-meter hurdle and the necessary statutory clearances. Bengal Gas is a JV between GAIL (India) Limited and Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation Limited. Speaking on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised Energy Meet and Excellence Award event, Mukhopadhyay said completion of the work will facilitate an increase in natural gas supply in the region by three times. The pipeline covering several districts in the state is laid by GAIL, and has already reached Durgapur. Only an 800-meter problem in Bardhaman district was delaying the completion to Kolkata but it is now resolved. The pipeline is part of the Jagdhispur-Haldia pipeline project coming to West Bengal from Uttar Pradesh via Bihar and Jharkhand. Mukhopadhyay added that the completion of the pipeline close to Kolkata's landing point would allow for the expansion of CNG gas stations in the state. Currently, Bengal Gas has 12 CNG pumps, but this number is expected to rise to 50 within a year and reach 100 by FY'26, he said. In addition to the existing 61 CNG stations operated in the state by various companies, the pipeline will enable a stable and significantly increased supply of three times the current quantity in a much shorter time. Regarding the city gas distribution network, Mukhopadhyay said that 30 kilometres of the proposed 500-km main city gas distribution steel pipeline have already been completed. Furthermore, the plan includes the establishment of 5,000 kilometres of last-mile connectivity within the next three years for the city gas distribution network, he said. HPCL is also investing in a big way for city gas distribution in the state. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government reiterated its commitment to the deployment of more rooftop solar panels in government buildings and educational institutions. Babul Supriya, the state's renewable energy Minister, emphasized the goal of advancing the use of solar energy in institutional buildings and subsequently promoting it among energy-intensive industries. Currently, the state has completed 104 government buildings with such facilities. It has drawn plans for an additional 900 government schools and 50 colleges. PUNE, India, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Synechron, Inc., a leading global digital transformation consulting firm focused on financial services and technology organizations, has deployed GitHub Copilot, a premier and widely adopted AI developer tool, for broad use by its developers in India. Synechron has conducted multiple internal experiments across numerous projects within its global Financial Innovation Laboratories (FinLabs) and examined the impact of various Generative AI (GenAI) tools, including GitHub Copilot, on developer productivity, versus traditional, non-AI enhanced development processes. These broad initiatives resulted in productivity gains of up to 40 percent when GitHub Copilot was used as part of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) including code generation, code migration and optimization, documentation and test automation. Synechron found that the use of GitHub Copilot reduced both the time and effort required across the entire development lifecycle from a developer's initial creative spark to code review and deployment. To measure the impact on both productivity and developer happiness, Synechron conducted regular surveys to gauge developers' success against a presented project plan. Synechron also found that the speed, efficiency and productivity gains realized through leveraging GitHub Copilot helped reduce stress among its developers. These proven effects on productivity and developer happiness have led to Synechron's accelerated use of GitHub Copilot for a variety of program development initiatives. Sandeep Kumar, Head of FinLabs, Synechron said, "At Synechron, we are constantly seeking ways to improve and enhance the entire software development lifecycle so that we can better serve our clients. Much to our delight, the use of GitHub Copilot not only enhanced the productivity of our experienced developers, but they reported less stress and a heightened state of happiness." Sharryn Napier, VP of APAC at GitHub, said, "We are thrilled to enable Synechron with GitHub Copilot, empowering its developers to be happier and more productive while accelerating overall innovation. Our own research reveals that developers are writing code approximately 55 percent faster with GitHub Copilot, and Synechron's internal experiments affirm these productivity gains. We are excited to go on this journey with Synechron as we continue to transform the way organizations build software in the age of AI." About Synechron: At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 15,000+, and has 48 offices in 19 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our website or LinkedIn community. For more information please contact: Rashmi Joshi Synechron +91-9560694654 Media@synechron.com Rashmi.Joshi@synechron.com Apeksha Meher Archetype synechron@archetype.co Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1943591/Synechron_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Celebrated Bollywood luminary and esteemed Youth Icon of Jammu & Kashmir, Ayaan Khan, ascends to a new echelon in the realm of politics. With his nomination as the State Vice President of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in the Jammu Kashmir United Territory, Ayaan Khan further solidifies his stature as a pivotal figure in regional affairs. Originating from the heart of Downtown Srinagar, Ayaan Khan's narrative transcends mere geographical confines, embodying resilience and unwavering dedication amidst challenging circumstances. In the face of adversities and threats posed by radical elements, his steadfast commitment to the ideals of national integration remains unshaken. Ayaan Khan's foray into the political domain is a natural evolution, given his illustrious history of championing patriotism and fostering communal harmony in Kashmir. His notable contributions to initiatives such as Mission Har Ghar Tiranga and his exemplary humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic have earned him widespread admiration and acclaim. On June 17, 2023, he joined BJP alongside thousands of his ardent supporters at a historic event in Srinagar J&K and became a member, and on February 1, 2024, he was unanimously nominated as the State Vice President of BJYM J&K UT and appointed as a Star Campaigner for the upcoming elections. Insights from close associates reveal strategic initiatives aimed at leveraging Ayaan Khan's extensive influence as the star campaigner for the BJP in the impending 2024 elections. Through meticulously crafted campaigns and targeted outreach endeavours, Ayaan Khan endeavours to disseminate the visionary ethos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while leaving an indelible imprint on the political landscape. Parallel to his political commitments, Ayaan Khan's fervour for cinema and music finds expression through the establishment of Misty Cine Films (MCF), a pioneering entity in North India's cinematic and musical milieu. Through MCF, he continues to invigorate the cultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, providing a nurturing platform for burgeoning talents while fostering an environment conducive to creative exploration. In addition to his political and cultural endeavours, Ayaan Khan's upcoming musical project, set for an early 2024 release, has garnered widespread anticipation among fans and aficionados alike. Titled "Heartbreak," this musical endeavour promises to captivate audiences with its emotive resonance and melodic finesse. Acknowledged twice as the Youth Icon of J&K and the Shining Star of J&K by the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, Ayaan Khan's contributions to the socio-cultural fabric of the region have been lauded and recognized at the highest echelons of governance. Ayaan Khan's designation as State Vice President of BJYM in Jammu Kashmir United Territory, in consultation with BJP Jammu Kashmir United Territory President Shri Ravindra Raina ji, signifies a culmination of his burgeoning influence and leadership within political circles. As he persistently defies conventional paradigms and inspires transformative change, Ayaan Khan emerges as an indomitable beacon of hope, enriching the societal fabric with his resplendent journey. (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) An IndiGo passenger has claimed that he found a screw in a sandwich served by the airline, which on Tuesday said the issue was not reported to it during the journey. The passenger shared his experience on social media along with a picture of the sandwich that he had after deboarding the aircraft. "We are aware of the image circulating on social media with reference to a customer sharing their experience on flight 6E-904 operating between Bengaluru- Chennai on February 1, 2024. The issue was not reported by the passenger during the journey," IndiGo said in a statement. The airline said it regretted the inconvenience caused to the passenger but did not specify details about the image that was being circulated. "Our in-flight meals are sourced from reputable and highly regarded caterers to maintain the highest standards of quality and hygiene. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passenger and remain committed to providing the best possible in-flight experience and ensuring compliance with all food and hygiene standards," it said. On January 2, food safety regulator FSSAI had issued a show cause notice to IndiGo for serving unsafe food to a passenger, days after a worm was found in a sandwich served onboard a flight. The incident had happened onboard flight 6E 6107 from Delhi to Mumbai on December 29. The airline had apologised after the passenger shared a video on social media. Details about further action taken by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the issue could not be immediately ascertained. On January 17, FSSAI had asked airlines and flight caterers to comply with its food safety regulations and provide detailed information about items served to passengers through proper labelling. The FSSAI had convened a meeting with leading flight caterers and airlines on January 16 to evaluate and enhance the existing food safety protocols within the airline catering industry. San Francisco, Feb 13 (AP) A judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify for a third time as part of the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into his USD 44 billion purchase of Twitter, now called X, in 2022. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued an order on Saturday giving Musk, his team and the SEC a week to agree on a date and location for Musk's testimony. In a court hearing last December, Beeler said she would issue an order if the two sides couldn't agree on when and where the Tesla and SpaceX CEO would testify. "The parties, at least initially, agreed to a date but ultimately the respondent did not appear and resists the subpoena on the grounds that the SEC's investigation is baseless and harassing and seeks irrelevant information," Beeler wrote in the order in federal court in Northern California. "Also, he contends that the subpoena -- issued by an SEC staff member appointed by the SEC's Director of Enforcement -- exceeds the SEC's authority because it was not issued by an officer appointed by the President, a court, or the head of a department," as required by the US Constitution, she added. Beeler said, however, that the court is enforcing the SEC's subpoena and that the testimony is "not unduly burdensome" for Musk. The SEC had given Musk the option to testify in Texas, where he lives. The SEC has been conducting a fact-finding investigation into the period before Musk's Twitter takeover, when the San Francisco-based social media company was still publicly traded. The agency said it has not concluded any federal securities laws were violated. Musk has already testified in the case twice. But since then, according to the judge's order, the SEC has received "thousands of new documents" from various parties, including hundreds of documents from Musk. He closed his USD 44 billion agreement to buy Twitter and take it private in October 2022, after a months-long legal battle with the social media company's previous leadership. After signing a deal to acquire Twitter in April 2022, Musk tried to back out of it, leading the company to sue him to force him to go through with the acquisition. The SEC and a lawyer for Musk did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on Monday. (AP) SZM New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court will commence hearing on Wednesday on a plea of the Vedanta group against the closure of its Sterlite copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on Tuesday asked the parties to circulate short notes of their respective submissions in the case. Senior advocate Shyam Divan would open the arguments on behalf of the Vedanta group firm. Besides the firm, NGO 'Manu Neethi Foundation', through senior advocate Vikas Singh, had also moved the top court for an urgent hearing in the case, saying the workers of the Sterlite copper unit are facing extreme difficulties. Earlier, the top court had said it had directed the registrar to allocate "two dedicated dates" for hearing the Vedanta group's plea. The top court had in May last year asked the Tamil Nadu government to take appropriate decisions in pursuance of its April 10 direction by which it had allowed the Vedanta group to carry out the upkeep of its Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin under the supervision of a local-level monitoring committee. In its April 10, 2023 order, the top court also allowed the evacuation of the remaining gypsum at the plant and made available manpower as requested by the company. It had noted that the district collector had not recommended activities like undertaking a civil and structural safety integrity assessment study in the plant premises, removal and transportation of spares and equipment and evacuation of in-process reverts and other raw materials lying idle. "As regards the actions which were not recommended by the district collector, C S Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Tamil Nadu states that the state government will once again evaluate whether any further or supplementary directions should be issued in that regard," the top court had noted in its April 10 order. During the earlier hearing, the counsel for Tamil Nadu had said steps have already been taken to implement the directions contained in one of the paragraphs of the April 10 order. It had stated that "as regards those actions which have been permitted to be carried out by the communication dated March 6, 2023, we allow necessary consequential steps to be taken". "We direct that all decisions which are required to be taken in pursuance of the observations contained in paragraphs four and five of the order dated April 10, 2023, shall be taken by the state of Tamil Nadu on or before June 1, 2023," the bench had said. At least 13 people were killed and many injured on May 22, 2018, when police opened fire on a huge crowd of people protesting against pollution allegedly caused by the copper smelting unit. The Tamil Nadu government had on May 28, 2018, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's plant following violent protests over pollution concerns. Karachi, Feb 13 (PTI) A complete shutter down strike was observed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan province on Tuesday to protest against alleged rigging in the recent general elections. Four political parties, including the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), National Party (NP), Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), have been jointly holding protests since Saturday in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan province against the outcome of the February 8 polls. Independent candidates, mostly backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, won 101 seats in the 266-member National Assembly, followed by former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats. For a fourth successive day, the workers of the four parties have blocked the highways linking the province with the rest of the country. On Tuesday, the blockades on the highways continued to disrupt traffic while a complete shutter down strike was observed in the capital city. Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shahi, the central leader of the National Party, said the protests would continue until the Election Commission of Pakistan heard the cases of those deserving candidates of the four parties who were robbed of their wins through rigging by returning officers. There has been massive rigging in many constituencies of the province and we dont accept the results, he told the media. The four parties also held a demonstration outside the deputy commissioners office in Quetta and demanded justice. Haji Atta Muhammad Bangulzai, another leader of the NP, claimed his victory was turned into defeat by the returning officer. The protesters have also blocked the main Linscomb Road in Quettas high-security zone, suspending traffic in the city, and have also set up a protest camp outside the provincial ECP headquarters. A Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed more than 30 petitions filed by Khan's party-backed independent candidates who challenged the "sham victory" of top PML-N leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the National Assembly. In Balochistan, 23,02,522 votes were cast for 16 seats of the National Assembly. The voting turnout was 42.9 per cent. There were 53,70,804 registered votes. In the Balochistan Provincial Assembly, PPP won 11 seats, PML-N won nine, Jui-F won eight, and independents won five, while many seats were won by the smaller parties. Rafah, Feb 13 (AP) The Palestinian death toll from an Israeli hostage rescue operation in a key Gaza city rose to 74 on Tuesday, officials in the war-ravaged enclave said, even as the warring sides appear to have made progress toward a deal that aims to bring about a cease-fire and free hostages held by Hamas. The raid took place early Monday in Rafah, a city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to escape fighting elsewhere in the Israel-Hamas war. Women and children were among those killed in the airstrikes, Palestinian officials said. The overall Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza has surpassed 28,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. A quarter of Gaza's residents are starving. The war began with Hamas' assault into Israel on October 7, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on October 7 or died in captivity. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December. Currently: Biden says key elements' of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordan's King Abdullah The Israeli military says it has rescued 2 hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip. Timeline of the Israeli raid in Gaza that rescued two hostages and killed dozens of Palestinians Egypt is threatening to void its decades-old peace treaty with Israel. What does that mean? UN Palestinian aid agency says it's critical' to receive EU aid soon, but EU wants an audit first. Find more of AP's coverage at HEZBOLLAH'S LEADER DANGLES TRUCE PROSPECT ALONG LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER Beirut:The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group indicated on Tuesday that it would halt its attacks on Israel and commit to a cease-fire in southern Lebanon after a settlement is reached in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. Hassan Nasrallah, however, said that the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is also an ally of the Palestinian militant Hamas group, would continue its attacks if Israel resumes cross-border fire. When there is a cease-fire in Gaza, we will stop in the south, he said. The remark was apparently in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's comments saying that strikes against the militant group won't stop even with a cease-fire in Gaza. Nasrallah also called on residents in southern Lebanon to turn off their cellphones and cameras, warning them that they are key sources of Israeli intelligence gathering activities that are used to target Hezbollah officials and militants. Since the October 7 eruption of the Israel-Hamas war, escalation along the Lebanon-Israeli border and prospects of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has terrified people on both sides of the border. SOUTH AFRICA ASKS UN COURT TO CONSIDER WHETHER ISRAEL'S RAFAH OFFENSIVE IS A BREACH OF ITS PROVISIONAL ORDERS Cape Town: The South African government said Tuesday it lodged an urgent request with the International Court of Justice to consider whether Israel's military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah constitute a breach of the court's provisional orders handed down in its genocide case last month. The request asks the UN court to determine whether Israel's actions in Rafah where 1.4 million Palestinians from elsewhere in war-battered Gaza have fled to escape fighting represents a further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. The African country is also asking the court in the Netherlands to consider further provisional measures against Israel, according to a statement released by the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa alleges that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in its war against Gaza's militant Hamas group. The ICJ handed down a preliminary ruling last month in the case, issuing six orders, including asking Israel to do all it can to prevent the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of Gaza. FRANCE SANCTIONS 28 RADICAL ISRAELI SETTLERS OVER WEST BANK VIOLENCE Paris: The French foreign ministry said France has adopted sanctions against 28 radical Israeli settlers who have been involved in violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, banning them from French territory. The measure comes as violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians increased in recent months, the ministry said, even as the world is focused on the Israeli-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. France reaffirms its firm condemnation of this unacceptable violence, it said, urging Israeli authorities to put an end to such acts and send perpetrators to trial. The ministry also said France was working with its European partners to be able to adopt sanctions at the EU level. Colonization is illegal under international law and must stop, it added. 2 AL-JAZEERA JOURNALISTS WOUNDED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE NEAR RAFAH, NETWORK SAYS Dubai: Al Jazeera says two of its journalists have been wounded in an Israeli airstrike near Rafah in the Gaza Strip, with one having to undergo an amputation. The pan-Arab broadcaster, funded by Qatar, reported the strike on Tuesday and identified the wounded as cameraman Ahmad Matar and reporter Ismail Abu Omar. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. The channel quoted Dr. Muhammad al-Astal at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as saying that Abu Omar had his right foot amputated after suffering severe wounds, including shrapnel to his chest and head. The channel said doctors were trying to stop the bleeding and save his left leg. Hamas' media office condemned what it called a deliberate attack by Israel's military on the two journalists, saying it was an attempt to intimidate and terrorize journalists. The Israel-Hamas war has seen at least 85 journalists and media workers killed, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The agency said the fatalities are 78 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese. WARRING SIDES SAID TO BE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD A CEASE-FIRE DEAL, FREEING HOSTAGES Cairo: A senior Egyptian official said mediators have achieved what he described as relatively significant progress in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas ahead of a scheduled meeting in Cairo on Tuesday of representatives from Qatar, the United States and Israel. Israeli media reported the head of the spy agency Mossad, David Barnea, was in the Egyptian capital. The Egyptian official said the meeting would focus on crafting a final draft of a six-week cease-fire deal, with guarantees that the parties would continue negotiations toward a permanent cease-fire. A Western diplomat in the Egyptian capital also said a six-week deal was on the table but cautioned that more work is still needed to reach an agreement. He said Tuesday's meeting would be crucial in bridging the remaining gaps to get the two sides to agree on a six-week truce and embark on talks for a final cease-fire deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media. GERMANY PRESSES FOR ESTABLISHING SAFE CORRIDORS' FOR CIVILIANS IN RAFAH Berlin: Germany's foreign minister is pressing for establishing safe corridors for civilians facing an Israeli offensive in Rafah. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock received Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in Berlin on Tuesday, a day before she is due to start her fifth trip to Israel since Hamas' October 7 attack that started the war. Baerbock said that if Israel acts against Hamas in Rafah, then it is our common responsibility, it is the responsibility of the Israeli army, to have safe corridors for the people who have sought safety there. She added that these parents, these children, these families, cannot simply disappear into thin air. They can't go anywhere else. Baerbock renewed a call for humanitarian cease-fires to facilitate aid deliveries. She acknowledged the incredible dilemma created by Hamas hiding behind Gaza's civilian population. RELATIVE OF A FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE SAYS HIS MEDICATION WASN'T DELIVERED IN CAPTIVITY Tel Aviv: A relative of one of the hostages Israel rescued in a daring mission this week in the Gaza Strip says he never received medicines that were part of a Qatar- and French-mediated deal meant to deliver treatment to sick captives held by Hamas in exchange for more aid for Palestinians. Maayan Sigal-Koren told Israeli Army Radio on Tuesday that Louis Har, her mother's partner who was freed, was sent a hearing aid, glasses and medication but never received them. Har, 70, has diabetes and hypertension for which he needs medication, among other conditions, according to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy group supporting the families of the hostages. Sigal-Koren said the fact that Har didn't have his meds compounded the challenges of being held captive. It added to other difficulties there, the psychological difficulties, the difficulty that his freedom was taken away, she said. Israeli hospital officials said Har and fellow freed captive Fernando Marman were in good physical shape upon their release. The Qatar- and France-mediated deal was meant to provide a three-months' supply of medications for 45 of the hostages. Qatar announced nearly a month ago that the medications had arrived in Gaza but there was never any confirmation that they had reached the hostages. CHURCH OF ENGLAND BISHOPS CALLS FOR CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA London: Bishops in the Church of England on Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire in Israel's relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The relentless bombardment of Gaza and its huge cost in civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must stop, the House of Bishops said in a statement. The manner in which this war is being prosecuted cannot be morally justified. The church joined a growing number of government leaders and heads of state that have called for a pause or cease-fire in Israel's war against Hamas for the militant group's Oct. 7 attack. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Monday said he was deeply concerned about Israel's offensive in Rafah and suggested it stop and think seriously before it takes any further action. The bishops also condemned antisemitic and anti-Muslim sentiment. They called for the release of all hostages and a cessation of missile attacks by Hamas. All sides must begin to imagine a future beyond this conflict: for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians, the bishops said. This war can't result in the consolidation of a system of occupation that has for too long denied Palestinians their rights and freedoms. TURKEY'S ERDOGAN LASHES OUT AGAINST ISRAEL, DEMANDS IT HALT THE WAR IN GAZA Dubai: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered blistering criticism of Israel, demanding it immediately recognize an independent Palestinian state and halt its war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas. We need to stop the massacre in Gaza now, Erdogan said before the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. He criticized Israeli settlers taking land in the West Bank as some in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government called for settlements in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan said setting aside Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage, the source of the crisis today is the sustaining of the settlements on the Palestinian lands. If Israel wants a permanent peace in the region, the proliferation-related vision should be stopped once and for all, Erdogan said. A free and independent Palestinian state should be recognised within the 1967 borders. He also called on funding to immediately resume for the United Nations' agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA. Some nations have cut funding to the agency over Israeli accusations that some of its employees took part in the Oct. 7 attack. CHINA CALLS ON ISRAEL TO STOP MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA Beijing: China has called on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza as soon as possible following a raid that rescued two hostages and killed at least 74 Palestinians. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing added in a brief statement on Tuesday that Israel should do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah. Israel has signalled its ground offensive may soon target Rafah, the town in the Gaza Strip where the hostages were freed by the raid. China has consistently opposed the Israeli offensive, calling from the start for a cease-fire and talks to find a permanent solution to the crisis. HEALTH MINISTRY IN GAZA SAYS 133 BODIES BROUGHT TO HOSPITALS OVER THE PAST DAY Cairo: The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says the bodies of 133 people killed in Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals in the war-wrecked territory over the past day. Hospitals also received 162 wounded patients, the ministry said. Also Tuesday, the death toll from an Israeli hostage rescue operation in the town of Rafah rose to 74, according to Dr. Marawan al-Hams, director of the local Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital. Israeli forces conducting the operation, which freed two hostages, were backed by heavy airstrikes. The new fatalities brought the death toll in Gaza to 28,473 since the war began on Oct. 7, according to the ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. It says more than 70% of the dead are women and minors. More than 68,000 people have been wounded in the war, with 11,000 of them needing urgent evacuation for treatment out of Gaza, the ministry said. Many of the dead remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings and on roadsides with first responders unable to reach many areas and collect the bodies. Israel says its forces have killed 10,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the death toll, saying it embeds in civilians areas, putting noncombatants at risk. ISRAELI FORCES KILL PALESTINIAN MAN IN WEST BANK, PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAY Cairo: Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as 20-year-old Mohammed Sherif Hassan Selmi and said he was shot in his chest, shoulders and head. The Israeli military said Tuesday that forces were operating in the West Bank city of Qalqilya when the man allegedly attempted to run over soldiers, who opened fired and killed the man. The military said it was not aware of whether any soldiers were wounded. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular Fatah party, said its fighters clashed with the Israeli forces but did not claim Selmi as a member. The West Bank has seen a surge of violence since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza broke out in October. The Health Ministry says more than 380 Palestinians have been killed during that time. The Israeli military says it has arrested more than 3,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since the war began. ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST FORCEFULLY DISPLACING PALESTINIANS Dubai: The secretary-general of the Arab League has warned Israel against policies he described as forcefully displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Ahmed Aboul Gheit decried what he called an Israeli mentality to try and seize land the Palestinians want for their future state. He warned any seizure of the Gaza Strip or the West Bank by Israel would mean a confrontation for the next thousand years. The United States must order Israel to stop these policies or otherwise the Middle East will explode in an unprecedented way, he said. He also called on Israel to empty the settlements in Palestinian land as well. Aboul Gheit, a former ambassador to the United Nations and Egypt's last foreign minister under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, spoke at the World Government Summit in Dubai.(AP) RUP RUP Crypto investors continue to hold out hope that popular meme coin Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) will somehow turn things around and skyrocket higher. But Shiba Inu is now down 90% from its all-time high and shows no signs of surging in value anytime soon. Even worse, Shiba Inu is no longer even the most popular meme coin. So maybe it's time to forget about Shiba Inu and find another crypto capable of skyrocketing higher. One cryptocurrency on my radar right now is Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK), which had a spectacular run during the last crypto bull market rally. It now seems poised for another incredible run, thanks to its important role in several major transformative trends. Decentralized finance Unlike Shiba Inu, which offers little to no utility, Chainlink supports plenty of real-world usage as a decentralized blockchain oracle network. That's a mouthful, but it just means that Chainlink acts as a bridge between the real world and the blockchain world. As a data oracle, Chainlink delivers data to blockchain-based smart contracts, which are the building blocks of decentralized finance. This link to the world of decentralized finance is why Chainlink's value skyrocketed in 2020 and 2021. Back then, investors were convinced that decentralized finance (i.e., a world without financial intermediaries and powered by blockchain technology) was the future of finance. Since Chainlink was helping to power this transformation, it's no wonder the token's price soared into the stratosphere. Between March 2020 and May 2021, the price of Chainlink exploded from $2 to $50. That's a 25x return on investment in just over a year. Artificial intelligence Moreover, the current artificial intelligence (AI) trend has the potential to send Chainlink higher. With the rise of ChatGPT in 2023, Chainlink started to explore potential use cases at the intersection of AI and blockchain. In May, Chainlink published a number of potential use cases of how it might be able to leverage the new AI trend, including those involving supply chain logistics, financial services, and healthcare. All of these are potential multibillion-dollar opportunities. Story continues Image source: Getty Images. Granted, a lot needs to be done before investors are likely to see a huge impact on the price of Chainlink from its AI links. It's one thing to come up with creative ideas and potential use cases, and another thing entirely to execute a strategy around those ideas. But Chainlink has a lot of very smart people thinking about a possible integration of AI right now, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who is a strategic advisor for the token. If you're a patient, long-term investor, this is an area where Chainlink could see tremendous upside potential. Asset tokenization And, finally, there's the trend of real-world asset tokenization. This refers to the transformation of traditional assets (such as stocks and bonds) into digital assets that can be traded on the blockchain. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) projects this could be a $16 trillion market opportunity by 2030, and for good reason. A growing number of Wall Street titans, including BlackRock, now view asset tokenization as the future of finance. And, as with the trend of artificial intelligence, Chainlink is looking for ways to insert itself into the conversation. The tokenization of assets requires financial data from trusted real-world sources, and that's exactly what Chainlink can provide. If the asset tokenization trend really does take off, it has the potential to send Chainlink much higher. How much higher can Chainlink go? Taking a big-picture view, Chainlink is all about data and the future of finance. As long as it can continue to become part of new finance trends -- such as decentralized finance and asset tokenization -- it should be able to surge higher in coming years. And, if Chainlink can find ways to leverage the potential upside from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the combined returns could be truly incredible. Just keep in mind, though, we're likely still in the early stages here, so any growth will come over the long haul. Unlike with Shiba Inu, where the focus is entirely on the short term, the focus with Chainlink should be on the long term. The big question, of course, is just how much higher Chainlink can go. The all-time high for Chainlink is $53, so that would imply a nearly 3x return from today's current price of $18. But if Wall Street starts to get behind this crypto as a key player in the future of finance, then watch out, because Chainlink could really go on an incredible run. Should you invest $1,000 in Chainlink right now? Before you buy stock in Chainlink, 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 Chainlink wasnt 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 February 12, 2024 Dominic Basulto has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chainlink. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Forget Shiba Inu: This Cryptocurrency Is Poised for an Incredible Run was originally published by The Motley Fool Islamabad, Feb 13 (PTI) Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday warned his political rivals against the "misadventure" of forming a government with "stolen votes" as ex-premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party appeared to return to power following a fractured verdict. In a veiled reference to opposition parties attempts at snatching away his partys victory in the February 8 polls, Khan also said, PTI will never compromise. Despite independent candidates backed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party springing a surprise by winning the most seats in Parliament, questions loom over what the next government of Pakistan will look like five days after the general elections. None of the three major parties, the PTI, former prime minister Nawaz Shairf-led PML-N, and the former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led PPP have won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the National Assembly. Attempts have been made to push the independents backed by PTI to join a possible coalition government by opposition parties. Khan, in a message on his official X handle, posted from jail through his family, said: I warn against the misadventure of forming a government with stolen votes. Such daylight robbery will not only be a disrespect to the citizens, but will also push the countrys economy further into a downward spiral. In the statement posted both in English and Urdu from his official X handle, Khan, said, PTI will never compromise on peoples will, and I have categorically instructed my party against engaging with any political party that has robbed people's mandate, including PPP, PMLN & MQM. As the people of Pakistan have clearly pronounced their verdict, there is a dire need for democracy and fairness in Pakistan's elections, he added. Khan also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Pakistan for entrusting PTI with a resounding two-thirds majority. Meanwhile, Khan, who is incarcerated at Rawalpindis Adiala Jail, said that he is not being shifted to Bani Gala his residence in Islamabad. His wife Bushra Bibi, 49, was imprisoned at the Bani Gala residence after an accountability court last week sentenced the couple to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana corruption case. Last week, she had petitioned a top court here against authorities' move to declare her residence as sub-jail and requested it to move her to the Adiala Jail too citing potential security issues. I am not shifting (to) Bani Gala. The nation has woken up, the nation has given the biggest mandate in the history of Pakistan, it is our responsibility to carry forward this mandate. Start working wherever the government is to be formed, said Khan's message from jail sent through his legal team and posted on PTIs official X handle. Jakarta, Feb 13 (AP) When Indonesians cast their votes on Wednesday for a new president in one of the world's biggest elections, the stakes will also be high for the United States and China and their mounting rivalry in the region. The Southeast Asian nation is a key battleground economically and politically in a region where the global powers have long been on a collision course over Taiwan, human rights, US military deployments and Beijing's aggressive actions in disputed waters, including the South China Sea. Outgoing President Joko Widodo's foreign policy has avoided criticising either Beijing or Washington, but also rejected alignment with either power. The delicate balancing act has paved the way for substantial Chinese trade and investment for Indonesia, including a USD 7.3 billion high-speed railway that was largely funded by China, while Jakarta has also boosted defence ties and intensified military exercises with the US. These policies would likely continue if election frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, the current defence minister whose vice presidential running mate is Widodo's eldest son, wins, according to analysts. The problem for great powers, however, is that Jakarta is assiduously non-aligned and almost certainly will remain as such regardless of who wins, said Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at Rand Corp., a US-based think tank. Subianto adheres to a policy of neutrality and has publicly praised the US and China. He cited America's historical role in pressuring the Netherlands to recognise Indonesian sovereignty in the 1940s, during a forum in November at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Jakarta. This is part of history and we cannot forget this debt of honour, said Subianto, who also extolled China's importance to Southeast Asia. China is a great civilisation. It has contributed a lot and now it is very, very active and contributing a lot to our economy. Former Education Minister and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, a presidential candidate who is trailing Subianto in most independent surveys, said he would shift what he called Widodo's transactional foreign policy to one anchored on principles if he triumphs in the elections. "When a country invades another country, we can say this is against our basic values. Even though we are friends, if rights were violated, we can reprimand them, Baswedan told The Associated Press in an interview last month without saying which country he was alluding to. Baswedan said human rights and environmental protection should underpin Indonesia's foreign policy. If we have no values, then there is a cost-benefit relationship, where we will only support countries that are profitable for us, he said. Marty Natalegawa, a respected former Indonesian foreign minister, expressed hope that the new leaders who would be elected would not only say we are not picking sides but actually contribute in helping create a more stable US-China relations. The US and China have both seen how the emergence of a new leader in the region can threaten their interests. Rodrigo Duterte, after capturing the Philippine presidency on an anti-crime platform in 2016, became one of the most vocal critics in Asia of US security policy while nurturing close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Duterte threatened to evict American military personnel who were in the Philippines for combat exercises. He later moved to terminate a defence agreement with Washington that allowed thousands of Americans to enter the country for large-scale combat drills, but he ended that effort as he appealed to the US to provide vaccines at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Duterte's stormy term ended in 2016 and he was succeeded by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who approved an expansion of the US military presence at Philippine military bases under a 2014 defence pact. Marcos said his decision was aimed at bolstering his country's territorial defences at a time of increasing aggression by China's coast guard, navy and suspected militia forces in Philippine-claimed off-shore areas. China protested the decision, saying it would provide American forces staging grounds in the northern Philippines across the sea border from the Taiwan Strait that could undermine Chinese national security. Indonesia and other state members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations belong to the Non-Aligned Movement, a Cold-War era bloc of mostly developing nations that aspire not to be formally associated with or against any major global power. Still, the rivalry between Washington and Beijing has permeated the region. Criticisms of China's increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea have always been watered down in ASEAN, the 10-member regional bloc. State members aligned with Beijing, in particular Cambodia and Laos, have opposed any such reproach or attempt to name China as the object of criticism in joint communiques after their annual summits, several regional diplomats have told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity over the years because they lacked the authority to speak publicly. Last year, the Philippine government accused the Chinese coast guard and suspected militia forces of using water cannons, a military-grade laser and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine coast guard patrol ships that caused minor collisions in a series of high-seas faceoffs in the disputed waters. Under the chairmanship of Indonesia, ASEAN did not specifically mention China but only made general expressions of concern over aggressive behaviour in the disputed waterway after their summit meetings. (AP) GSP Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Teams of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) began raids at multiple locations in the metropolis on Tuesday morning in connection with its ongoing probe into the multi-crore ration scam in West Bengal, a senior official said. Accompanied by central forces, the ED teams conducted the raids at Salt Lake, Kaikhali, Mirza Galib Street, Howrah and a few other places, he said. The ones who are being questioned include businessmen and people closely related to those earlier arrested in the scam, he said. "These raids are connected to the ration distribution scam. We have got information about the involvement of these people after questioning those who have already been arrested, the ED official told PTI. The probe agency has arrested a state minister and a TMC leader, among others, for their alleged involvement in irregularities in ration distribution in West Bengal. Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of allegations of sexual assault on women at gunpoint and transfer of tribal land at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Justice Apurba Sinha Roy directed the registrar general of the high court to issue notice to the state, senior police and administrative officials in this regard. The judge said he was pained and "very disturbed" over media reports on alleged sexual harassment of women at Sandeshkhali, and taking away of tribal land in violation of legal formalities and laws. The court directed that notice be issued to the state, the inspector general of police, DIG of Barasat range, superintendent of police and district magistrate of North 24 Parganas district. The matter will come up for hearing on February 20. Justice Sinha Roy appointed advocate Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee as the amicus curiae to assist the high court in the matter. Public prosecutor Debasish Roy, representing the state, was present before the court. Sandeshkhali has been rocked by protests over the issue in the last few days. New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) general body has passed a resolution to extend by two years the prescribed age limit of candidates contesting the students' union elections, according to an official document. This move will provide an opportunity to students who did not meet the age criteria to contest the upcoming JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) polls, stalled due the COVID-19 pandemic, the document released by the varsity on Monday night said. The decision was taken on Monday during the University General Body Meeting (UGBM) in which the members unanimously passed the resolution to extend the prescribed age limit by two years, it added. "The JNUSU elections have not been held after the academic session of 2019-20 for four consecutive years, depriving students who have exceeded the age bar set by the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations of their right to participate in the democratic process of the students' union elections," the document outlining the passed resolutions read. According to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, the prescribed age bar for the JNUSU UG candidate is 17 to 22 years, PG candidate 25 years, and PhD candidate 30 years. This decision is taken "to ensure that students deprived of their right to contest the JNUSU elections could get an opportunity to contest the JNUSU elections 2023-24," according to the document. The UGBM was reconvened on Monday after it was disrupted amid clashes between RSS-affiliated ABVP and Left-backed groups. The meeting also passed a resolution to include two JNUSU office bearers to preside the school general body meetings in the absence of elected councillors in the school-level committee. The school GMB will elect the members of the election commission which is tasked for declaring the JNUSU poll results. In a notable 180-degree spin from President Joe Biden, his 2024 campaign has joined social media platform TikTok after pledging not to because of concerns that data from the platform is being scraped by Chinese intelligence. Just a year ago, Biden set a February 2023 deadline for federal agencies to ban the TikTok app from all government smartphones, and some have called on the administration to go even further and ban the app entirely in the U.S. because its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, allegedly steals Americans data and poses a serious national security threat. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have issued warnings about the possibility that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, could share sensitive user information with the Chinese Communist Party. This data might include users browsing history, location details, and biometric data such as fingerprints, facial features, iris patterns, and voice prints. Furthermore, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which assesses the national security impacts of foreign investments in the U.S., has been conducting an ongoing investigation into TikToks operations since 2019. Defending the flip flop, Biden officials said they are taking advanced safety precautions around our devices and incorporating a sophisticated security protocol to ensure security. Below is the Bidens first post on TikTok, which it says will be used to create content that will resonate with critical audiences and the core constituencies that make up the presidents diverse and broad coalition of voters. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The U.S. government has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane that officials say was previously sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a state-owned Venezuelan firm in violation of American export control laws. The Justice Department said Monday that the American-built plane had arrived in Florida and would be disposed of. The plane had earlier been transferred from Iranian airline Mahan Air which officials have alleged provides support for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force to Emtrasur, a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of a state-owned firm that had previously been sanctioned by the United States. Officials said the sale, done without U.S. government authorization, violated export control laws and also improperly benefited Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Mahan Air has for years been subject to U.S. government sanctions. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the departments national security division, said in a statement. The department said the plane would now be prepared for disposition, though it did not elaborate. Venezuelas government on Monday called the transfer a shameful rapacious operation and vowed to take all actions to restore justice and achieve the restitution of the aircraft to its legitimate owner. Its statement did not provide details of next steps. The administration of President Nicolas Maduro also accused the U.S. and Argentine governments of collusion and of violating civil aeronautics regulations as well as the commercial, civil and political rights of Emtrasur. The plane was detained in June 2022 by Argentine law enforcement, and U.S. officials moved several weeks later to take possession of it. Argentina officially transferred custody of the plane to the U.S. on Sunday, officials said. The Justice Department has identified the registered captain of the plane as an ex-commander for the Revolutionary Guard. Officials also cited a flight log they say was recovered that shows additional flights after the transfer to Emtrasur to locations including Moscow, Caracas and Tehran all without U.S. government approval. Mahan Air has denied any ties to the aircraft, and Venezuela has demanded that Argentine authorities release the plane. (AP) Israeli Minister of Transportation Miri Regev arrived at the beginning of the week for a diplomatic working visit to India, during which she is expected to meet with senior government officials in the country and sign a series of agreements in the fields of transportation. Minister Regev chose to open her visit to the Chabad home in Mumbai, by laying a wreath and lighting candles in memory of the victims of the brutal terrorist attack that took place there, in which six Jews were killed, including Chabad emissaries instead of Rabbi Gabi and Rebecca Holzberg. Minister Regev toured the Chabad home with her entourage, and heard from the local emissary, Rabbi Yisrael Kozlovsky, about the intense activity during the year with the Jewish community and tourists there. The Minister of Transportation visited the memorial to the murdered and the room of Moishi Holzberg, who was two years old when he lost his parents, and survived in a miracle by the therapist Sandra. As part of a briefing she held for the local media at the end of the visit, Minister Regev, a member of the political-security cabinet, addressed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to activate his international contacts, among others in Saudi Arabia, in order to free the abductees and return them home. Industry Veteran to Guide Drug Eluting Contact Lens Innovations SAN DIEGO, February 13, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MediPrint Ophthalmics, a clinical stage ophthalmic company focused on transforming the delivery of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, today proudly announced the appointment of Thomas Bender as a strategic advisor. Mr. Bender, former President, CEO, and Chairman of CooperVision and The Cooper Companies, will lend his vast expertise to the companys management and board of directors in developing its proprietary technology for delivery of ophthalmic drugs via contact lenses. Mr. Praful Doshi, CEO and Founder of MediPrint Ophthalmics, welcomed the new addition, stating, "Tom Bender's appointment marks a defining moment for our company. His exceptional leadership transformed CooperVision into a global market leader, and we anticipate his insights will greatly progress our strategic initiatives and operational excellence." Mr. Bender served as CEO of CooperVision from 1991 until his retirement as CEO in 2007, continuing as Chairman until 2021. Under Mr. Benders leadership, CooperVision grew from a $20 million operation to a multi-billion-dollar leader in the contact lens industry. Prior to his tenure at CooperVision, Mr. Bender was an executive at Allergan for 25 years, leading up to his role as President of Herbert Labs from 1986 to 1991. Mr. Benders joining of MediPrint Ophthalmics is timely as the company advances its leading product in delivery of Glaucoma medication to pivotal Phase III and help improve lives of glaucoma patients. Welcome Mr. Bender. MediPrint Ophthalmics stands at the forefront of Ophthalmic innovation as a clinical-stage platform technology company revolutionizing ocular drug delivery. With a steadfast commitment to enhancing vision, our flagship product involves proprietary 3D printing of bimatoprost drug onto contact lenses, delivering sustained relief to patients battling Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension. Affecting over 100 million individuals globally and more than 8 million in the US alone, Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension are primarily treated by ophthalmic drops representing significant unmet needs. MediPrint has successfully completed its Phase II clinical study. Our robust pipeline is focused on products designed to enhance comfort, alleviate dry eye, and combat various ocular diseases. Based in San Diego, California, MediPrint is not just pioneering change; we are defining the future of ocular drug delivery. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213601793/en/ Contacts Niyati Kadakia nkadakia@mediprintlens.com Following his recent interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson delivered remarks at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, praising Moscow as nicer than any city in the United States. It is so much nicer than any city in my country. I had no idea, Carlson remarked. He pointed out the citys cleanliness, safety, and architectural beauty, questioning the stark disparity with cities in the United States. Carlsons commentary extended beyond Moscow, as he named Tokyo and other international cities as wonderful places to live, contrasting them with shortcomings in American urban environments. At a certain point, I dont think the average person cares as much about abstractions as the concrete reality of his life, Carlson said. And if you cant use your subway, for example, as many people are afraid to in New York City because its too dangerous, you have to sort of wonder, isnt that ultimate measure of leadership? Carlson also suggested that Vladimir Putin doesnt want war with Ukraine despite the fact that he started it. First things first, Putin wants to get out of this war. Russias industrial potential is a lot more profound than we thought it was, Carlson asserted. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A sticker bearing the word Palestine adorned the AR-15 rifle wielded by a woman who unleashed gunfire at the Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday, injuring two individuals, including her own son. While authorities recovered some antisemitic writings, they have yet to determine a clear motive behind Sunday afternoons shooting. We do believe that there was a familial dispute that has taken place between her ex-husband and her ex-husbands family, some of whom are Jewish, police said. Genesse Ivonne Moreno, the 36-year-old suspect, entered the church accompanied by her 7-year-old son. At 1:55 p.m., Moreno discharged the AR-15, prompting two off-duty officers to return fire, ultimately striking the suspect, who was pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m. The 7-year-old victim, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, remains in critical condition, fighting for his life, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said on Monday. Another individual sustained gunshot wounds but has since been discharged from the hospital. Authorities believe that Moreno acted alone, disclosing her possession of a second firearm, a .22-caliber rifle, alongside the legally acquired AR-15. Additionally, police highlighted Morenos documented mental health history, including an emergency detention order issued by Houston police in 2016. Moreno reportedly also made threats regarding a potential explosive device during her Sunday attack, prompting officials to search her car and backpack, but they found nothing. Additionally, there were reports that she was spraying an unknown substance, but nothing toxic was identified in the area. Law enforcement officials are currently scrutinizing Morenos prior arrests, which comprise a significant portion of her record, according to a law enforcement official. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The European Court of Human Rights has issued a disastrous landmark ruling stating that Belgiums bans on shechita without prior stunning do not violate religious freedoms or constitute discrimination. The decision was made on Tuesday following a challenge by Muslim groups to the 2019 regulations implemented in two of Belgiums three regions. As the court represents the highest authority capable of reviewing such bans, its verdict is definitive. Both Jewish and Muslim communities in Belgium have voiced strong opposition to these regulations, considering them a significant breach of religious rights. The argument against the bans centers on the belief that the method of slaughter without stunning, as practiced in Jewish shechita and Muslim dbiha, is not inherently cruel to animals when executed properly. Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the European Jewish Association based in Brussels, criticized the courts decision, saying, The implied determination of the distorted verdict is that the rights of these citizens to freedom of religion and worship are even less than that of animals, warning that the decision would cause serious damage to the fabric of life throughout the continent. Echoing these sentiments, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, described the ruling as a black day for Europe. He affirmed the determination of Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe to continue advocating for religious freedoms and equality, although he acknowledged that the courts decision complicates these efforts. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hamass declared on Monday that three hostages have succumbed to their injuries sustained during Israeli airstrikes, while another 5 were seriously wounded. The al-Qassam Brigades announce the killing of three of the eight Zionist detainees who we announced yesterday were seriously injured in the barbaric Zionist raids on the Gaza Strip, the Al Qassam Brigades said on Hamass Telegram channel. We will postpone announcing the names and photos of the dead for days to come until the fate of the rest of the wounded becomes clear. Hamass information regarding hostages is often viewed as unreliable and part of psychological warfare, and past instances have seen Hamas erroneously claim the death of hostages who were later released. For instance, Hamas claimed that Hannah Katzir had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, only for her to be released two weeks later. However, the IDF has acknowledged the possibility of mistakenly causing the death of hostages during airstrikes, such as Yossi Sharabi, who was unknowingly held by Hamas in a nearby building targeted by the IAF. Hamass announcement came less than a day after the IDFs successful rescue of two hostages in Rafah. In response to the rescue operation, Hamas issued a statement condemning what it described as the Nazi occupation armys attack on the city of Rafah and accused Israel of committing horrific massacres against defenseless civilians. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Dr. Shlomo Argamon Shares How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Education and the Workplace, Answers Key Questions about AI In the last decade, artificial intelligence broke out of the realm of science fiction into real life, spurring endless headlines and debate among pundits, politicians, and scholars over its usesand its dangers. In 2024, Touro University will take a lead in addressingand shapingAIs impact on higher education by appointing American-Israeli computer scientist and forensic linguist Dr. Shlomo Engelson Argamon, as the nations first Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence. Touro has decided to take a proactive role to address AIs promises and challenges now and for the future. With this new effort, Touro University will emerge as a national leader in the use of AIs power to educate and support our students and improve the Universitys operations, Kadish said. In the newly-created role, Argamon will lead the formation of University-wide policies and programs to integrate AI throughout all of Touros 30-plus undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Here, Argamon answers some top-of-mind questions about artificial intelligence and the future of learning. What AI skill do you think is most important for students to learn? The fundamental principles of AI thinking are critical and will enable students to grow in their careers more effectively in a world where change will come at them at increasing speed. This includes the critical analysis skills necessary to understand when AI gives misleading results and what to do with them, being able to work with data and data models effectively, and intercultural communication skills. Fundamental to our approach at Touro is that teaching AI is not merely teaching technology. We are teaching students, in all areas, to bridge between the human and the technological, which is the essential direction for human, professional, and societal growth in this new era. Will AI take away peoples jobs in certain fields? Which careers will be most affected? AI will not eliminate any job categories in the very near future. However, the nature of many jobs will change, as the use of AI assistants and augmented intelligence becomes widespread. All professionals should start becoming familiar with any existing tools related to their work, as well as the potential of AI to help them, so they are prepared for the changes to come. The most affected careers will likely be those involving repetitive tasks or data analysis, where AI can significantly increase efficiency. However, jobs requiring human empathy, creativity, and complex problem-solving may see less impact, as these are areas where AI still has limitations. Can AI be used in a positive way for students from elementary school through college? If so, how? AI can be useful to the educational experience at all levels, as long as proper cautions are observed. AI can directly help students in practicing materialgiving immediate feedback on assignments, and tailoring practice to student performance. In general, individualized learning is an area where AI can help, giving students relevant material where they need it most, as well as enrichment material where they can use it. Another area where AI can contribute is in the area of digital simulations, such as for virtual dissections or design, that can provide varied interactive and immersive learning experiences. Care must be taken, however, that AI does not replace the human relationship between teacher and student that is essential to effective learning. Also, the use of technology, including AI, in elementary school should be limited and specifically targeted to educational goals where the tools fit the students need. Research shows that social-emotional learning, done through human relationships, is a critical element of learning at this stage, regardless of the content area. What are the dangers AI presents to education, the workplace, and society? How can these be managed? The key risks AI presents in these areas include privacy violations, bias and misinformation, job disruption, and the possible widening of digital inequality. The large tech firms that provide most of the current leading AI systems like ChatGPT take user data to improve their systems, leading to significant privacy concerns. This is particularly an issue when using AI in education, where leakage of student data can put minors at particular risk. It is important to understand the tools, their terms of service, and the data privacy implications, and how to manage data appropriately. The currently dominant AI methods work by analyzing and creating, based on similarity to their training data, but have no concept of a real world, hence no concept of truth. They are therefore prone to make things up (often called hallucination) and amplify biases present in their training data. No methods have yet been devised that can reliably eliminate these issues. All users of these systems therefore need to learn how to use them critically so that biases and falsehoods are not taken as fact. Jobs will not be destroyed wholesale by AI. However, they will be transformed, which means that there will be a great need for job retraining, reskilling, and up skilling. Workers must prepare for an evolving professional landscape. AI technology will continue to evolve, so people must develop not just skills for the immediate future but also the mindset and skills that will enable them to adapt to changes over the next decade and beyond. We must foster agility, critical thinking, and a growth-oriented mindset. Like any technology, the fruits of AI may be unevenly distributed throughout society. If it becomes necessary to have access to a state-of-the-art AI system to get or keep a good job, there is a real risk that some, without access to such systems, will be left behind. Ensuring widespread AI education and access to AI will be essential to prevent the social difficulties that would ensue from the development of such inequality. How will AI impact Torah study? Modern AI provides powerful digitization and language translation methods, that can make Torah texts accessible to more people by breaking down language barriers while also providing a wider set of historical manuscripts available to Torah scholars for study and comparison. Also, advanced text analysis methods promise the ability to cross-reference and analyze vast arrays of texts and commentaries, uncovering patterns and connections at an enormous scale, opening up the possibilities of greater insights. The interactive capabilities of AI raise other intriguing possibilities (while there are also serious concerns). Imagine having a virtual study partner or tutor, available at any time, capable of discussing complex sugyot, debating interpretations, or simply guiding you through the textthis could become a reality with AI-driven chatbots and virtual tutors. Furthermore, augmented reality (AR) technologies can bring historical and theoretical scenarios to life, offering immersive and interactive learning experiences. Listen to Professor Argamon talk more about AI and its impact on careers, education and piskei halacha in his recent interview with Nachum Segal on JM in the AM Nachum Hosts Dr. Shlomo Argamon, Touro Universitys New Associate Provost for AI, on Todays JM NSN (nachumsegal.com) A Legacy of Compassion 50 Years of Bringing Joy For over half a century, Mesamche Lev has been a radiant source of hope, tirelessly spreading joy and extending heartfelt relief to those in need. The organizations unwavering dedication to compassion has sculpted a legacy of profound impact, tenderly touching the lives of widows, orphans, Torah scholars, and families across the globe. Mesamche Levs unique approach to Chesed magnifies its influence through innovations in Tzedakah. By keenly identifying specific, pressing needs and meticulously addressing them, the organization stretches every dollar to its utmost potential, bringing unparalleled relief to those navigating the depths of distress. Relief is provided through direct financial support or grand-scale distribution of food and necessities acquired through negotiations and partnerships with vendors to purchase goods at remarkably discounted rates, ensuring the most efficient and impactful utilization of resources. Seven Pillars of Chesed A Global Empire of Chesed Operating through seven distinct departments, each with a multi-million dollar budget, Mesamche Lev has evolved into an empire of Chesed. Each department serves as a pillar of Chesed, addressing specific needs, from supporting widows and orphans to providing Matzah for families in the US, supporting Torah scholars globally, and ensuring access to essential nutrition and quality shoes. This comprehensive support system is a testament to Mesamche Levs commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those it serves. Via myriad programs and support, is transforming the lives of thousands of children every day, with thousands of families supported and hundreds of orphans who get their wedding expenses covered to get a start in their new chapter of life, SoleMates More Than Just Shoes Mesamche Levs flagship initiative, SoleMates, goes beyond simply providing shoes. The organization negotiates with manufacturers to obtain top-quality, current styles at a fraction of their retail value, usually over $100 per pair. Every year, tens of thousands of children walk away with brand new pairs of shoes thanks to this initiative, which was created to create a massive-scale impact one pair at a time. As a result of the program, families receive urgent assistance, and their children can smile while saving hundreds of dollars during the staggering living costs and overwhelming expenses of the Erev Pesach days. A Shiny Pair of New Shoes A Gift of Pride and Dignity For children in families facing financial hardships, a new pair of shoes is an exquisite gift, more than just footwear; its a source of pride and satisfaction. SoleMates replaces old, worn-out shoes, offering children comfort and dignity. This initiative ensures that families are not burdened with the heart-wrenching choice between the necessities of living and providing their children with new shoes. All this is achieved while maintaining the dignity of these families by providing an upscale shopping experience akin to the atmosphere of high-street shopping malls. Upscale Quality and Experience A Boutique-Style Distribution The annual events orchestrated by Mesamche Lev transform distribution centers into havens of upscale shopping. These distributions occur in four massive compounds in the key population centers Modiin, Beth Shemesh, Jerusalem, and Bnei Brak. Massive tents are thoughtfully outfitted with shelves, transforming them into shopping hubs adorned with dozens of aisles of quality shoes displayed in a boutique-style. This convenient experience allows families to choose with dignity, providing a sense of empowerment. Over 75 volunteers and employees play a crucial role in this compassionate operation, offering care and consideration to each client and ensuring a convenient and swift shopping experience that elevates the spirits of each recipient. Be a SoleMate Supporting the Campaign Mesamche Lev conducts the Solemates Campaign once every two years with a mission to raise $2,720,00 for two years of Shoe Distribution. Instead of annually, this bi-annual campaign saves costs and multiplies the impact of each dollar contributed. By sponsoring pairs of shoes at $34 each, donors become cherished partners in the success of this initiative. Various sponsorship options allow individuals to make a profound impact, putting radiant smiles on childrens faces with each pair of shoes. Mesamche Lev invites everyone to become a SoleMate and embrace the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of those in need. Grand Scale Impact One Pair of Shoes at a Time Heathrow has accused Rishi Sunak of having shut the door on home grown growth when he introduced the tourist tax. The Prime Minister axed a tax-free shopping scheme for international visitors in 2020 when he was Chancellor, despite an outcry from many leading firms. Now he is facing pressure to announce a U-turn after businesses said they are missing out. Yesterday, Heathrow, the largest airport in Europe, warned that the UKs reputation was on the line, and it accused the Prime Minister of turning away international shoppers. It is one of hundreds of firms urging Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Sunak to scrap the tax at the Spring Budget next month. Under fire: Rishi Sunak axed a tax-free shopping scheme for international visitors in 2020 when he was Chancellor, despite an outcry from firms. A Heathrow spokesman yesterday said: While exports are thriving, Britain has shut the door on home grown growth, turning away international shoppers through the tourist tax and tarnishing the UKs reputation as a competitive country to spend and do business with. More than 400 prominent business leaders have called for the Government to U-turn, as part of a campaign by The Mail. In a victory for The Mail, the Governments economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility has opened a probe into whether reintroducing tax-free shopping will cost more than it raises. Heathrows comments came as it said 6m travelled through the airport in January, up 9.4 per cent compared to the start of 2023. But data shows that while tourists are returning to the country after Covid, they are holding back on spending compared to other European countries. Heathrow warned that global retailers are swerving the travel hub due to the tax and instead are setting up shops in Paris, Amsterdam and Milan airports. In May, the airport said that it was forced to shut 18 stores run by luxury designers, including Mulberry and Rolex, as a direct response to the tax. Daniel Platt, public affairs lead at Heathrow added: We still have shuttered stores, we have space that retailers are not willing to take up, which is not a situation we found ourselves in 2019. The UKs competitiveness has eroded since 2021. High spending visitors have turned to European competitors and taken spend there. Chinese passengers in particular have voted with their wallets, not necessarily with their feet, but they are spending less. Heathrows stark words echo other industry warnings that the UK is losing its competitive edge on rival destinations such as Paris and Lisbon. Concerns: Terminal 5 at Heathrow. The airport is calling on the government to scrap the so called 'tourist-tax' at the Spring Budget next month. Bosses argue the impact of the levy is being felt outside luxury fashion spots Bond Street and Bicester Village, with transport providers, restaurants and museums also hit. Ministers have tried to dismiss the concerns of business leaders by arguing tax-free shopping benefits only luxury brands and the most affluent tourists hunting for a bargain. But fresh analysis called into question the Governments earlier calculations about the economic consequences. The Centre for Economics and Business Research last week suggested the tax was costing the wider economy more than 11billion as wealthy tourists divert to cities such as Paris, where tourists can shop tax-free. A string of business leaders have spoken out against the levy, including Neil Clifford, the boss of luxury footwear brand Kurt Geiger, who described it as a schoolboy error. Clifford told The Mail last week: Those international visitors are just spending a lot more time in other cities. Fashion designer Sir Paul Smith said the campaign to scrap the tax was not about helping rich shoppers coming to buy cheap handbags but boosting the wider economy. But the Treasury claims reinstating the perk would cost the Exchequer 2billion a year. Government policy on building small modular reactors (SMR) is unlikely to help Britain hit a critical environmental target, MPs have warned. The Government hopes to decarbonise the country's electricity grid by the middle of next decade, partly through the development of 'mini-nuclear plants.' However, the Environmental Audit Committee on Monday said the final investment decision on the UK's first SMR is not expected until 2029, so it is 'unlikely' to generate any capacity until 2035. Target: Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant under construction. The Government wants the UK to have up to 24GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 SMRs are factory-made advanced nuclear reactors capable of producing up to 300MW of electric power, much less than a traditional nuclear plant, but they can be transported to sites. Last year, the Government launched a competition allowing companies to pitch their proposed SMR designs for deployment. Great British Nuclear, the body charged with judging the proposals, considered six firms the most likely to achieve operational SMRs, including EDF, Rolls-Royce and Westinghouse. But the EAC said it received evidence that the various submissions would lead to 'a greater amount of waste for storage and reprocessing.' It wants regulations for SMRs streamlined so they can be approved and rolled out more quickly while ensuring safety standards are not compromised. The committee additionally called for value-for-money assessments on SMR projects published for scrutiny before any public spending commitments to such schemes are made. Philip Dunne MP, chairman of the EAC, said: 'The UK has the opportunity to be a genuine world leader in the manufacture of SMR nuclear capability with great export potential.' Yet he warned that 'uncertainty risks knock-on effects for industry confidence...not only for investment decisions relating to the initial build and the construction of factories to build reactor modules, but also for the support and growth of supply chains and skills'. He added: 'We simply don't yet know how much SMRs will contribute to electricity generation in the country, nor how much the roll-out is likely to cost the taxpayer.' The UK derived approximately 14 per cent of its total electricity from nuclear energy in 2022, compared to almost a quarter in the 1990s, as it increasingly relies on renewable sources, such as solar and wind. Nuclear power output is predicted to drop further this decade as many plants are retired, although the capacity from Hinkley Point C, currently under construction, is set to offset much of the decline. Last week, the FT reported that GBN was in talks with Japanese conglomerate Hitachi to acquire land in Wylfa, Anglesey, with the aim of developing the site into a new nuclear power station. The Government wants the UK to have up to 24GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, which could provide around 25 per cent of the UK's projected electricity demand. Total Revenue : Reached $4.3 billion for the full year, a 4% increase year-over-year. Net Income : Surged to $1.4 billion, a 295% jump from the previous year. Normalized EBITDA : Grew by 12% year-over-year to $1.1 billion. Free Cash Flow : Rose by 12% year-over-year to $1.1 billion. Applications & Commerce Revenue : Increased by 13% in Q4, signaling strong segment growth. Customer Growth : Total customers reached over 21,000 by year-end, a 0.6% increase. Share Repurchases: GoDaddy repurchased 34.2 million shares, reducing fully diluted shares by approximately 20%. On February 13, 2024, GoDaddy Inc (NYSE:GDDY) released its 8-K filing, detailing a robust financial performance for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2023. The company, known for providing a suite of services including domain registration, website hosting, and business productivity tools, has shown significant growth, particularly in its Applications & Commerce segment, which saw a 13% revenue increase in Q4. GoDaddy Inc (GDDY) Reports Stellar Growth in Q4 and Full Year 2023 Earnings Financial Performance and Strategic Highlights GoDaddy's financial results for 2023 reflect a strong operational execution and a commitment to empowering entrepreneurs. The company's total revenue for the year was $4.3 billion, marking a 4% increase from the previous year, with a notable 5% growth on a constant currency basis. The Applications & Commerce segment was a significant contributor to this growth, with an 11.8% increase in annual revenue. The company's profitability also saw an impressive surge, with net income reaching $1.4 billion, a substantial 295% increase from the previous year, resulting in a net income margin of 33%. This remarkable growth in net income was partly due to the release of a valuation allowance on U.S. and state deferred tax assets, contributing to a non-routine non-cash benefit of approximately $1 billion. Operational Excellence and Customer-Centric Innovations GoDaddy's operational discipline and innovative product offerings have been central to its success. The launch of GoDaddy AiroTM in the U.S. market, an AI-powered solution that provides a business-in-a-box experience, is a testament to the company's focus on leveraging technology to support its customers. This initiative, along with a 125% year-over-year increase in Gross Payments Volume (GPV) from commerce offerings, underscores GoDaddy's strategic positioning in the market. Story continues Financial Health and Shareholder Value GoDaddy's financial health remains robust, with net cash provided by operating activities up by 7% year-over-year to $1,047.6 million. The company's free cash flow also increased by 12% to $1.1 billion, reflecting its ability to generate liquidity and return value to shareholders. In line with this, GoDaddy repurchased 34.2 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.6 billion, reducing its fully diluted shares by approximately 20%. Looking Ahead For the upcoming year, GoDaddy has set a positive business outlook, with expected total revenue in the range of $4.480 billion to $4.560 billion, representing a 6% growth at the midpoint compared to 2023. The company also anticipates a Normalized EBITDA margin of approximately 29% for the full year, with a target of at least $1.4 billion in unlevered free cash flow. GoDaddy's strong performance in 2023, coupled with its strategic initiatives and customer-centric approach, positions the company well for continued growth and innovation in the dynamic online services industry. Investor and Analyst Engagement GoDaddy will hold an in-person Investor Day on March 6, 2024, at its Tempe, Arizona headquarters, where company leaders will discuss long-term strategies, financial frameworks, and capital allocation strategies. Additionally, the company will host a webcast to discuss the Q4 and full year 2023 results, providing an opportunity for investors and analysts to gain deeper insights into GoDaddy's performance and future plans. For detailed financial tables and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures, readers are encouraged to view the full 8-K filing. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from GoDaddy Inc for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Three blocks in the middle of a chess board. The left block has M. The middle block has &. The right block as A. Guild Mortgage has struck a deal to acquire retail lending rival Academy Mortgage Corp., which could result in an additional 600-plus loan officers for Guild across the country, multiple sources told HousingWire. During an all-hands call Tuesday morning, Academys leadership informed employees about the M&A deal. Academy CEO Adam Kessler told staffers that he had been seeking either private capital or a buyer due to the challenging mortgage landscape. He said that Guild was a good fit to acquire the company, according to staffers who attended the Tuesday morning call. Separate calls occurred after the meeting; one group was informed that their positions were being terminated, while the other were given details of a transition to Guild. Representatives at both companies did not immediately reply to a request for comments. Academys sales workforce and management will receive job offers and work as a division of Guild. A number of non-sales staff will not be joining the acquirer but will stay employed until April 15, when the deal is expected to close, sources said. In a statement issued after this story was first published, a spokesperson for Guild said Academys operations staff and recruiters are mostly joining Guild and the deal will close in the first quarter. Academy boasts approximately 200 branches and more than 1,000 employees who will transition to Guild, including more than 600 licensed mortgage originators, the companies said in a news release. Guild believes it can add to acquired companies by reducing back-office costs, CEO Terry Schmidt recently told HousingWire. If its a smaller organization that maybe cant afford the back office any longer, maybe thats [M&As] a value added to them, Schmidt said. Founded in 1988, Academy originated $5 billion in mortgages over the year ending in January, per mortgage tech platform Modex. Of the total, 61% were conventional loans and 80% were purchase loans. During this period, 15% of its volume was in Washington, 13% in Utah and 7.6% in Idaho. Academy was not on the Inside Mortgage Finance (IMF) list of the 100 owned mortgage servicing firms as of third-quarter 2023 (No. 100, Primary Residential Mortgage in Utah, had $9.47 billion in MSRs). Story continues Meanwhile, Guilds volume reached $12.85 billion in the same period. It also focused on conventional loans (57.8% of its total) and purchases (81%), according to Modex data. But the companys leading states in terms of origination were California (9.8%), Texas (9.4%) and Washington (9.3%). Guild is also one of the countrys largest servicers, with $84 billion in MSRs as of first-quarter 2024, per IMF. According to Guild, Academys loan volume represents an approximate 25% increase in annual origination volume for Guild, based on results from both organizations through the third quarter of 2023. It added that, The combined company would be the 8th largest nonbank retail lender in the country. Guild is currently the 10th largest nonbank retail lender. Publicly traded Guild has an ambitious plan of becoming a top 10 lender in the markets in which it has a presence. In 2023, it acquired Legacy Mortgage in February, Cherry Creek Mortgage in March and First Centennial Mortgage in August. This story was updated Tuesday afternoon to include comments from Guild Mortgage. A 72-year-old Christian in Pakistan was arrested and charged with blasphemy on Saturday (Feb. 10) based on a false accusation filed in retaliation over a property dispute, sources said. Younis Bhatti, known as Bhagat, was charged with desecrating the Quran under Section 295-B of Pakistans blasphemy statutes, which carries a mandatory life sentence, in village 211-RB, Jaranwala Tehsil, Faisalabad District, Punjab Province, said Asher Sarfaraz, chief executive of Christians True Spirit (CTS). The complainant, Sosan Fatima, has been attending the Brethren house church founded by the Bhatti family but told Khurrianwala Police that she and her husband converted to Islam more than a year ago, Sarfaraz said. Fatima has alleged that Bhatti forced his way into her house when she was reading the Quran, assaulted her and tore the Islamic scripture, Sarfaraz told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. In her complaint, Fatima alleged that Bhatti opposed the familys conversion to Islam, he said. But our investigation has revealed that Fatima implicated Bhatti in a false blasphemy case to prevent him from reclaiming his property, Sarfaraz said. The government had allotted Bhatti and his five brothers six acres of land, which they sub-leased to poor Christians for affordable housing. Bhatti has a good reputation in the area and is known to extend help to Christians. He allowed Fatima and her crippled husband to live in a house on the allotted land free of cost about two years ago, Sarfaraz said. The dispute began some months ago, after Bhatti told Fatima that he wanted to accommodate another Christian family on the property. He told her that he would construct a wall to equally divide the 1,361 square-foot property between the two families, but she refused to let him proceed. Area residents told Sarfaraz that on Saturday (Feb. 10) Bhatti had not yet entered Fatimas house when she began screaming and hurling allegations of blasphemy against him, he said. Residents have also confirmed that Fatima was a regular church-goer, but she had claimed becoming a Muslim just to entrap Bhatti in the false case, Sarfaraz said. At least 15 Christian families were living in the area, but the blasphemy charge has driven them to Faisalabad out of fear of attacks by Muslims in the wake of the Aug. 16 riots in the area, provoked by a false blasphemy accusation. We are holding talks with senior police officials to ensure the safe return of these families to their homes, Sarfaraz said. The families are naturally scared because of the Jaranwala riots, but we are trying to allay their concerns for security. Jaranwala Pastor Sharoon Masih said Bhatti was a widower with three sons and two daughters. Bhatti and his family are well known in the area for facilitating Christians. Its alarming that our people have also begun misusing the blasphemy laws against each other over personal disputes, Pastor Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. In the Aug. 16 attacks, area Muslims ransacked and burned multiple churches and homes over allegations that two Christian brothers had desecrated the Quran and written blasphemous content. Police investigations have revealed that a Christian named Pervaiz Masih entrapped the two brothers in the case because he suspected that the younger one was having an affair with his wife. The Rev. Khalid Mukhtar, a Catholic priest who is also one of the complainants against the assailants in Jaranwala, said he had been told that Bhatti had regarded Fatima as a genuine sister in Christ as a member of his church, and that he was unhappy with her for renouncing her faith. I havent been able to confirm this information yet from the Bhatti family as they have left their homes, but prima facie it seems that the woman has levelled a false allegation against the septuagenarian, Mukhtar said. He urged the government to take notice of the increasing trend of false blasphemy accusations. Its important to investigate such incidents thoroughly before registering the cases to deter false accusations, Mukhtar said. Immediate arrest of those accused of blasphemy only encourages more false accusations, because it takes years for the accused to prove their innocence. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. Credit card debt doesnt follow you to the grave. Rather, after death, it lives on and is either paid off through estate assets or becomes the responsibility of a joint account holder or cosigner. In nine community property states, debts acquired during a marriage are the responsibility of the community or, in laymans terms, the couple even if only one spouse is listed on the account. When the estate loses, beneficiaries lose Even if youre not held personally liable for the debt on a credit card, youll feel the effects of it if youre a beneficiary of an estate. Thats because any debts are paid from the estate before designated beneficiaries receive any distributions. In other words, any debts left behind after a loved one dies can quickly eat into their remaining assets, with beneficiaries receiving whats left over, if anything at all. Also, note that there is a specific period of time for creditors to file a claim against the estate. When an estate is probated the process through which assets such as cash, investments and real estate are sold or divided among heirs the process prioritizes creditors. Though unlike secured debt like a mortgage thats secured by property or a car thats secured by a vehicle credit card debt is unsecured. For that reason, its likely a credit card company will be at the back of the line when it comes to repayment of debts from the estate. And, like it or not, beneficiaries are often even further down the line than a credit card company is. If the estate doesnt have enough money to pay all debts, an estates beneficiaries could be liable to pay the remaining debt in three specific situations: If the beneficiary is a joint cardholder on a card with outstanding debt If the beneficiary is a co-signer for a card with outstanding debt If the beneficiary was married to the person who died and lives in one of nine community property states Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington or Wisconsin. Story continues What happens to credit card rewards when a cardholder dies? What happens to a cardholders accumulated credit card rewards such as points, miles and cash rewards after a cardholder dies depends on the card issuers policies. If the card is a joint card account, if one cardholder passes away the other cardholder still has access to accumulated rewards. In other cases, some issuers, such as American Express, allow rewards to be passed on to the deceaseds estate for the benefit of their named heirs (typically within a specified time frame after the cardholders death) while other issuers forfeit remaining rewards, leaving no benefit to heirs. Still other issuers might automatically convert unused rewards to statement credits. Credit card issuers generally consider miles or points to belong to the rewards program itself, rather than the cardholder. A first step is to contact the rewards program, bank or card issuer to see if it allows heirs to make use of any points or miles available earned from the credit card account. A cardholder may provide heirs information about all their rewards accounts within a will or other estate planning documents, so that they can best manage the rewards after the cardholders death. Certified Financial Planner Rick Kahler advises in an online post, Including airline reward points in a will may be worthwhile. It might not make a difference with every airline or bank, but some programs will transfer such designated points without a fee. Six steps to take after a credit card holder dies When a cardholder dies, its understandable for the task of notifying financial institutions and closing credit card accounts to be pushed aside or forgotten. But plenty can go wrong if these critical tasks are neglected. For example, identity thieves are known to troll obituaries and online records looking for recently deceased people to impersonate when creating new accounts. Hackers may also look for ways to steal from existing accounts of the deceased, which you may not notice if you havent notified banks and card issuers of the death. Here are six steps a family member, beneficiary or heir should take when a cardholder dies to prevent financial issues. 1. Organize all financial documentation If youre the executor of an estate, you should start by organizing the persons financial accounts. Court-certified representatives and surviving spouses can also request a copy of the deceaseds credit report, which lists all accounts in that persons name. Sometimes, people can be on a credit card and not even know it. Maybe when they filled out the credit card applications, [the joint cardholder] didnt even tell them. Linda A. Kerns Pennsylvania attorney These accounts can show up years later at the time of a death or divorce. I tell people to check their credit card reports regularly. Resolve it before a death or divorce or traumatic event, says Kerns. 2. Ask for multiple copies of the death certificate You will likely need to get several official copies of this document to send to credit card companies, settle life insurance claims and support other estate purposes. While the funeral director who handles the burial or cremation of your loved one can help you get copies of the death certificate, you may be able to request a copy from your states Department of Health or Vital Records. Star Alt Keep in mind: Official documents come with a per-copy cost, which varies by state and even the county in which you live. 3. Prevent further credit card use After the death of a cardholder, his or her credit cards are no longer valid. If the card is part of a joint account and the deceased is the primary cardholder, you cant use the card not even for legitimate expenses of the deceased, like a funeral or final expenses. Continuing to use a credit card as an authorized user after the cardholders death is the most common way people unknowingly commit credit card fraud, and it could get you into big trouble. Estate lawyers recommend collecting all credit cards from people who may have them, including any authorized user cards, putting them in a safe place or destroying them. Star Alt Keep in mind: If you are the primary cardholder and the deceased is an authorized user, youll need to remove them from your account. 4. Notify credit card companies of the death After youve collected the persons financial accounts, contact each card issuer and request to cancel the accounts. For joint credit cards, youll want to notify the issuer that a joint cardholder has died. In both cases, youll need to act quickly to avoid interest and finance charges. Also, youll want to find out if any automatic or recurring charges are set up on each credit card account, such as those for phone bill or utility bill, and cancel or transfer them to another card right away. Start by calling the number on the back of the card to let them know of the situation. A representative can flag the account and provide the address to which youll need to send an official notification letter and supporting documentation, including an official death certificate. Send any documentation by certified mail and save your receipt. 5. Request a credit freeze from all three credit bureaus Its a good idea to contact all three credit reporting agencies Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to request a credit freeze. A freeze can prevent anyone from opening up new credit cards or other accounts using the name and Social Security number of the deceased. Start by calling the reporting agencies with the deceased persons name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death. Follow up by mail to request that the credit report immediately flagged the as Deceased. Do Not Issue Credit. Credit bureau Phone number Mailing address Equifax 866-349-5191 Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 105139 Atlanta, GA 30348-5139 Experian 888-397-3742 Experian Customer Support P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013-4500 TransUnion 800-916-8800 TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000 6. Know your rights before paying debt collectors Depending on your states laws, you may also need to wait a specified time for bills to come in as well as post a public notice of death in a newspaper before you can distribute money. Its essential to know your rights when dealing with debt collectors. Remember, youre protected by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which makes it illegal for debt collectors to use abusive, unfair or deceptive practices when they collect debts. Dont let individual creditors convince you they can jump ahead in line and get paid from the estate first especially if theres a chance there wont be enough money to go around. If a card issuer reaches out with a request for payment, ask the credit card company to submit a proof of claim for the estate, says attorney John Caleb Tabler. You can include this request with your written notification to the credit card company or submit it later. Some debt collectors can become aggressive, and they may try to prey on survivors emotions to get them to pay a debt they may not owe. When reaching a deal with a debt collector, make sure to avoid admitting or agreeing to anything on the phone especially a payment plan. Lightbulb Bankrates take: Seek the assistance of an estate attorney for help with determining the order of debts to be paid in your state or general legal advice while overseeing the final wishes of the deceased. The bottom line There are a lot of tasks to take care of after someone passes away, especially when there are financial complications like outstanding debt. Unfortunately, credit card debt isnt wiped clean when a cardholder dies. That debt is still owed to the card issuers and must be paid by the estate or remaining signatory on the account. If youre a beneficiary or executor for an estate, its important to take appropriate steps to handle remaining credit card debt, like canceling accounts, notifying issuers and the credit bureaus and keeping financial documentation in order. Harvard University is the most powerful global university brand in Times Higher Educations latest World Reputation Ranking, which lists the globes top 200 most prestigious universities as judged by the worlds largest survey of academics. Harvard University retained its top spot for the 13th consecutive year. In second place is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is second for the 8th year in a row; and in third place is Stanford University, which is third for the 2nd year in a row. U.S. universities took six of the top 10 places, with the others taken up by two UK institutions and one Chinese and one Japanese. The University of Wisconsin-Madison made a significant leap in the relatively stable ranking, moving from band 61-70 to 39th. Chinese universities rise in reputation continues with Tsinghua University leading the way, moving up yet another place from 10th two years ago, 9th last year and to 8th this year. TOP 10 UNIVERSITIES IN THEs WORLD REPUTATION RANKINGS 2023 Institution Country Rank 2023 Rank 2022 WUR 2024 Harvard University United States 1 1 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States 2 2 3 Stanford University United States 3 3 2 University of Oxford United Kingdom 4 4 1 University of Cambridge United Kingdom 5 5 5 University of California, Berkeley United States 6 6 9 Princeton University United States 7 7 6 Tsinghua University China 8 9 12 Yale University United States 9 8 10 The University of Tokyo Japan 10 10 29 U.S. DOMINATES RANKING AGAIN, BUT LOSES GROUND FROM 2022 THEs World Reputation Ranking is the worlds largest invitation-only academic opinion survey providing the definitive list of the top 200 most powerful global university brands, based on the judgement of senior published academics. The U.S. has 52 institutions in the ranking four fewer than last year and the UK continues to have the second highest number of institutions with 20, four fewer than last year, too. Story continues Mainland China has 15 universities ranked this year, eight in the top 100. Peking University has moved up two places again, from 15th two years ago, 13th last year to 11th this year. Germany follows Mainland China with 14 universities in the ranking. Reputation really matters it is the global currency of higher education, helping universities attract and retain talent, bring in research collaborators and court inward investment, says Phil Baty, THEs chief global affairs officer. THE is Poets&Quants parent company. It also gives students and alumni the prestige they need in a global jobs market. Thats why THEs World Reputation Rankings have become a closely watched barometer of the worlds top academic brands. It is clear the global power dynamics in elite higher education are shifting. The U.S. and UK may still boast the worlds most prestigious universities, but Beijing has two leading institutions edging ever closer to the very top of the reputation rankings, and overall, the U.S. and UK are losing ground. This has real implications for the global movement of talent, and the geopolitics of knowledge creation and innovation. How long will the U.S. remain so dominant? AS SOME INSTITUTIONS RISE, OTHERS FALL A record 38,796 academics from 166 countries/regions were asked to name, at most, 15 universities they believe are the best in research and teaching in their field. Over 520,000 votes were cast to provide the clearest picture of universities with the best reputation for research and teaching. There is a significant rise this year in the number of universities from the Arab region among the leading 200 institutions. Seven new institutions from the region joined the ranking: Abu Dhabi University is one of three in the United Arab Emirates to enter the ranking for the first time this year, alongside two new Saudi institutions and American University of the Middle East from Kuwait and Beirut Arab University from Lebanon. European universities that improved their positions within the top 50 include the Technical University of Munich and Delft University of Technology and French institutions have maintained their upward trajectories following recent mergers. As some institutions rise, others inevitably fall, and Australian universities performed less well this year with five of its six institutions falling. COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD REPUTATION RANKING 2023 & THEIR HIGHEST-RANKED INSTITUTION Country No. of institutions Top institution Position United States 52 Harvard University 1 United Kingdom 20 University of Oxford 4 China 15 Tsinghua University 8 Germany 14 Technical University of Munich 28 Japan 10 The University of Tokyo 10 Netherlands 9 Delft University of Technology Joint 40 France 8 Universite Paris-Saclay Joint 44 Canada 7 University of Toronto 21 Australia 6 University of Melbourne 51-60 THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT ON REPUTATION The role of governments in university activities is reflected the growing importance of country reputation, particularly when it comes to student recruitment, says Mark Sudbury, THEs head of reputation, who also runs the World 100 Reputation Network. In a number of countries, new government regulations around immigration are having an increasing influence on how prospective international students and their advisers view universities. The challenging political and economic circumstances facing universities around the world means that they will have to work even harder to build their reputations with key audience groups and to prove their relevance to society. Since THE brought the survey in-house the number of responses has increased more than three-fold in the last three years, with an increase of 30% in the last year, demonstrating its growing popularity. It is the biggest and most comprehensive survey of its kind in the world and underpins THEs world-renowned World University Rankings. Click here to see the full 2023 World Reputation Ranking. DONT MISS POETS&QUANTS 2023-2024 RANKING: STANFORDS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE TOP and FINANCIAL TIMES 2024 MBA RANKING: WHARTON RETURNS TO THE TOP, HARVARD & STANFORD PLUNGE TO NEW LOWS The post Harvard Tops 2023 World Reputation Ranking; Chinese Schools On The Rise appeared first on Poets&Quants. United Lithium VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Lithium Corp. (United or the Company) (CSE: ULTH; OTC: ULTHF; FRA: 0UL) announces that Mr. Henrik Lundin has been appointed to the Companys board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Lundin has eighteen years of global experience in the natural resource sector and has held various executive and board roles with both private and public companies in the mining and oil and gas sectors. Mr. Lundin has considerable global experience in both the technical and business sides of the natural resource sector. He previously served as Chairman of Gold Line Resources, a Fennoscandia focused gold exploration company and Advanced Reservoir Engineer at Aker BP ASA. Mr. Lundin also held the position of COO of TAG Oil Ltd and was responsible for the global operations of TAG Oil and led the farm-in/farm-out processes in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Lundin is a Swedish citizen and has a B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. He currently sits on the board of EMX Royalty Corp. I am thrilled to be joining the United team as a director, remarked Mr. Lundin. Being based in Europe, I recognize the opportunity to develop local assets to help support the European Unions goal of achieving carbon neutrality. Uniteds Swedish and Finnish projects are well positioned to take advantage of the various benefits becoming available for European projects to build out domestic supply chains. Uniteds board, management team, and key shareholders have significant lithium experience, and I am excited to be involved in helping execute the Companys European strategy. Scott Eldridge, Uniteds President and CEO commented, On behalf of the board, management team and shareholders, I am excited to welcome Mr. Lundin. His European know-how and experience will prove valuable as we continue to unlock value in Sweden and Finland. The Lundin family with its Swedish roots, has a long history of generating shareholders returns through the development of mining projects. Story continues The Company also announces that it has granted incentive stock options to Mr. Lundin to acquire an aggregate of 150,000 common shares in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of $0.40 (the Options), in accordance with its 10% rolling Incentive Stock Option Plan. The Options vest immediately upon grant and are exercisable for a period of sixty months. The Company also announces that Cathy Fitzgerald has resigned as a director of the Company and from her position as Executive Vice President, Exploration. The board of directors thank Ms. Fitzgerald for her service to the Company and wishes her luck in her future endeavours. About the Bergby Project The Bergby Project (Bergby) consists of ten exploration licenses covering 7,897 ha located near the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in central Sweden. The Project is approximately 200 km north of Stockholm via highway E4 and 25 km north of the city of Gavle, within an area of significant infrastructure including highway and road access, railway, power, and the port of Norrsundet. Gavle is a proximal labour and supply hub. Furthermore, Bergby is 570 km south of the new Northvolt lithium battery gigafactory located in Sweden, and 440 km across the Gulf of Bothnia from Keliber Lithiums hydroxide plant currently under construction. The Project now comprises five drill-confirmed spodumene bearing pegmatites (Pegmatite A to E), with a combined strike length of more than 4,000 m. There are unexplained spodumene-bearing boulder trains and much of the property remains unexplored, highlighting the excellent potential at Bergby for further discovery. On Behalf of The Board of Directors Scott Eldridge President, Chief Executive Officer and Director About United Lithium Corp. United Lithium Corp. (CSE: ULTH) is an exploration & development company energized by the global demand for lithium. The Company is targeting lithium projects in politically safe jurisdictions with advanced infrastructure that allows for rapid and cost-effective exploration, development, and production opportunities. The Companys consolidated financial statements and related managements discussion and analysis are available on the Companys website at https://unitedlithium.com/ or under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential of the Bergby Project; the potential identification of new discoveries; timing and successful execution of the Companys European strategy. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, potential, target, budget and intend and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of the management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may have caused actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Companys projections and estimates; realization of mineral resource estimates, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; contests over title to properties; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of lithium and other metals and minerals; the demand for lithium and other metals and minerals; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective matter; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and 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 contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Companys expected financial and operational performance and the Companys plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT: Telephone: +1-604-428-6128 Email: scott@unitedlithium.com Hudson Pacific Properties (HPP) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.14 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.15 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.49 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an FFO surprise of -6.67%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this real estate investment trust would post FFO of $0.21 per share when it actually produced FFO of $0.18, delivering a surprise of -14.29%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus FFO estimates just once. Hudson Pacific , which belongs to the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry, posted revenues of $223.42 million for the quarter ended December 2023, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.96%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $269.93 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future FFO expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Hudson Pacific shares have lost about 17.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 5.4%. What's Next for Hudson Pacific? While Hudson Pacific has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's FFO outlook. Not only does this include current consensus FFO expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Hudson Pacific: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus FFO estimate is $0.20 on $222.03 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.17 on $970.22 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, REIT and Equity Trust - Other is currently in the top 43% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Summit Hotel Properties (INN), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on February 28. This real estate investment trust specializing in higher end hotels is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -16%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Summit Hotel Properties' revenues are expected to be $175.76 million, up 2% from the year-ago quarter. 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 Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (HPP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (INN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A new study by researchers at University of Limerick has revealed a sustainable method of efficiently converting waste heat into electricity using Irish wood products, while minimising costs and environmental impact. The groundbreaking study, led by researchers at UL in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Valencia, has demonstrated a method of generating electricity using low-grade heat recovered from lignin-derived membranes. Lignin, typically overlooked, is a sustainable byproduct derived from wood in paper and pulp production. The study shows that these membranes can convert waste heat into electricity by utilising the movement of charged atoms (ions) within the material. This is a significant advancement as previous studies had only demonstrated this technology using cellulose from natural wood, and the new UL research has successfully applied it to lignin from waste woodcontributing to a more circular and sustainable economy as a result. Low-grade heat refers to waste heat generated at temperatures below 200 degrees Celsius. In industrial processes, 66% of the waste heat falls into this category, highlighting the potential of this breakthrough for developing sustainable heat-to-electricity applications. The NXTGENWOOD study, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, has been published in the Journal of Advanced Functional Materials. Professor Maurice N Collins, Professor of Materials Science in ULs School of Engineering and Principal Investigator at the Bernal Institute who supervised the study, explained: Low-grade heat comes from various sources like waste heat in industries, heat losses in insulating systems, ocean thermal gradients, biomass fermentation, and solar heat. Despite its potential, utilising low-grade thermal energy in energy harvesting applications has been challenging due to the lack of cost-effective technologies. Our research explores the use of ionic thermoelectric membranes made from lignin, an underutilised by-product in the paper and pulp industry, offering a sustainable solution. Lead author Muhammad Muddasar, a NXTGENWOOD PhD student based at the Bernal Institute, explained: We have developed the first lignin-based membrane for ionic thermoelectric energy harvesting. Our membrane is lightweight, easy to synthesise, and biocompatible, making it suitable for various applications, including thermal energy harvesting, temperature sensing, and biomedical sensors for health monitoring. The UL researchers work on the NXTGENWOOD project comes under the umbrella of the Science Federation Ireland-funded Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER). The project is dedicated to developing new value-added applications from Irish wood. Professor Collins added of the environmental potential of the research taking place at UL: While there is still room for further development in heat-to-electricity conversion applications, the study demonstrates that abundantly available lignin can successfully contribute to low-grade thermal energy harvesting, especially in scenarios where sustainability and cost-effectiveness are crucial. Ryanair passengers from Cork faced disruption after a woman was escorted off a flight in Manchester on Sunday morning, it has been confirmed. The Ryanair flight from Cork arrived in Manchester at 9.30am on Sunday before the disruptive woman was removed from the plane. According to Cork Beo, passengers who witnessed the ordeal said they first knew trouble was brewing when they could hear the woman's voice involved in a loud argument. "The Captain came over the intercom and asked the woman to sit down and stop abusing passengers and staff," a passenger told Cork Beo. "We got to Manchester, we had to wait for around 25 minutes, the police arrived and they were taking her off, she was still screaming at the air hostess." A Ryanair spokesperson said: "The crew of this Cork to Manchester flight (11 Feb) requested police assistance after a passenger became disruptive in-flight. "Local police met the aircraft upon arrival at Manchester and removed this passenger from the aircraft before the rest of the passengers disembarked." Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said he hopes for humane and respectful debate as he warned about the risk of disinformation affecting voters in upcoming referenda. Two votes will be held on March 8 to amend Irelands constitution. The first is on whether the constitution should be changed to extend the definition of family beyond only those based on marriage to include durable relationships. The second is on whether to delete a reference to the role and duties of women in the home and replace it with a new article placing an obligation on the state to strive to support the provision of care by families. Launching his partys campaign for yes votes, Mr Martin said on Tuesday that there was a need to be vigilant that the debate does not get distorted by unreasonable claims. He said: The harsh reality is that we have at various points over the years had referendum campaigns which have been distorted by what we today call disinformation. He said extreme and invented claims have often caused public concern. Mr Martin said the proposed changes would reflect the reality of contemporary Irish society. A reality which is more inclusive, a reality which respects the right of women to choose their own role in society, a reality which acknowledges the diversity of Irish families, a reality which values the role of care for our more vulnerable citizens. Also speaking at the event, education minister Norma Foley said women should not be held back by archaic language in our constitution. She added: This is why we are proposing to update our constitutional wording to remove any doubt: A womans place is wherever she chooses it to be. Key Insights The considerable ownership by individual investors in Lithium Chile indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy A total of 11 investors have a majority stake in the company with 49% ownership Insider ownership in Lithium Chile is 12% To get a sense of who is truly in control of Lithium Chile Inc. (CVE:LITH), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 51% stake, individual investors possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. As a result, individual investors collectively scored the highest last week as the company hit CA$136m market cap following a 18% gain in the stock. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Lithium Chile. See our latest analysis for Lithium Chile What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Lithium Chile? Small companies that are not very actively traded often lack institutional investors, but it's less common to see large companies without them. There are many reasons why a company might not have any institutions on the share registry. It may be hard for institutions to buy large amounts of shares, if liquidity (the amount of shares traded each day) is low. If the company has not needed to raise capital, institutions might lack the opportunity to build a position. It is also possible that fund managers don't own the stock because they aren't convinced it will perform well. Lithium Chile's earnings and revenue track record (below) may not be compelling to institutional investors -- or they simply might not have looked at the business closely. Lithium Chile is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Gator Capital Ltd., with ownership of 18%. With 18% and 4.7% of the shares outstanding respectively, Chengxin Lithium Group Co., Ltd. and Albert Kroontje are the second and third largest shareholders. Albert Kroontje, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Chairman of the Board. Furthermore, CEO Steven Cochrane is the owner of 1.6% of the company's shares. Story continues A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 11 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. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known. Insider Ownership Of Lithium Chile The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. 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 a reasonable proportion of Lithium Chile Inc.. Insiders have a CA$16m stake in this CA$136m business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, collectively holds 51% of Lithium Chile shares. This size of ownership gives investors from the general public some collective power. They can and probably do influence decisions on executive compensation, dividend policies and proposed business acquisitions. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 18%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Public Company Ownership It appears to us that public companies own 18% of Lithium Chile. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. 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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Lithium Chile (at least 2 which can't be ignored) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Again, even amid his initial opposition to the tax extension . . . We believe that the Exec STILL has a great deal of influence in this process. Here's the latest word shared with the media . . . Jackson County Executive Responds to Royals Stadium Site Selection, Calls for Open Discussion KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. welcomed todays announcement from the Kansas City Royals about their planned relocation to the Crossroads district for their new ballpark. Despite wishing for this announcement to have been made earlier, County Executive White sees it as a beneficial step forward, offering greater clarity to voters before they cast their ballots. "For months, we've stressed the importance of selecting a site to move forward effectively with negotiations and to provide a clear basis for the proposal before it goes to the voters, White said. I am pleased that the Royals have taken this significant step. It is a decision that marks progress in our journey towards a resolution that will shape the future of our county." Despite this progress, County Executive White underscores the urgency of engaging in an open, transparent and thoroughly honest discussion about the proposal, especially given its imminent placement on the April ballot. "The time for broad overviews has passed, he said. As this issue heads to the ballot, it is crucial for all parties involved to commit to a dialogue that leaves no question unanswered, and no detail obscured. This is a monumental decision for Jackson County, involving an investment of over $2 billion by our taxpayers. They deserve to understand every aspect of what this entails." County Executive White emphasizes the need for the Royals, the County Legislature and all stakeholders to work together to ensure the public is fully informed. "We must all dedicate ourselves to an open and honest discussion, White said. The voters of Jackson County are owed a complete accounting of the economic impacts, the financial commitments required from them and how this stadium will benefit the community at large." County Executive White calls on the media and the public to actively participate in this critical dialogue. "I encourage the press to scrutinize the available data and share findings transparently, he said. Our community must be equipped with all the facts to make an informed decision in April. It's a matter of respect, responsibility and civic duty to ensure this discussion is as comprehensive and clear as possible." As the process moves forward, the County Executive reiterates his commitment to transparency and engagement. "This is a defining moment for Jackson County. Lets approach it with the seriousness and openness it demands." ### Developing . . . Very much like old school TV programs . . . This post is merely dedicated to news items that are "familiar" but that we still wanted to share . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . Fans show up to cheer on Chiefs at bars across Kansas City metro Kansas City Chiefs fans filled bars across the metro area Sunday to watch their team take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Chiefs return home to Kansas City after Super Bowl LVIII win Hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Kansas City Chiefs returned to Kansas City from Las Vegas on Monday after winning Super Bowl LVIII. For the Kingdom. From the Heart. initiative encourages customers to support small KC businesses Organizers of the Chiefs Champions Victory Parade, which will celebrate the team's SB LVIII victory, launched an initiative to support small businesses balancing the parade and Valentine's Day. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Have Day of Family Fun at Disneyland After Super Bowl 2024 Victory Patrick Mahomes, 28, is back at Disneyland celebrating a Super Bowl win for the second year in a row. He is once again joined by wife Brittany and their two kids, 14-month-old Bronze and 2-year-old Sterling. For Dynastic Kansas City Chiefs, Sad That Haters Gonna Hate, Hate, Hate Sorry about this Kansas City Chiefs Nation but in the world we live in now, get ready because "the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate." Chiefs fans are hoping for a Taylor Swift appearance at victory parade. But her schedule is tight Kansas City will be turning red on Valentine's Day as the Chiefs celebrate their come-from-behind overtime Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers with a parade. Chiefs Champions Victory Parade | Frequently Asked Questions Heading to the Chiefs Champions Parade on Wednesday, Feb. 14? Here's important information to keep handy. Developing . . . For many voters and conservatives . . . This scathing criticism might have the opposite effect and inspire more questions and even support for the legal end game. Check the basics as we hope to follow-up on this story after the AG's press conference today: "Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach introduced a bill in the Kansas Legislature that would enable the state secretary of corrections to use hypoxia as a method of execution. House Bill 2782 promises that death by hypoxia would be administered in such a way to cause death in a swift and humane manner. However, the experimental results of Kenneth Eugene Smiths execution demonstrate that death by suffocation is cruel, torturous and decidedly unusual. "Cynicism must not allow us to overlook the irony of a proud right-to-life institution experimenting with the machinery of death. As laboratories of democracy, states must recognize when a law or policy has failed. In Kansas, the death penalty has failed by any objective measure of success. I should know. As a Kansas public defender specializing in the defense of death penalty cases, and as an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law, I have devoted my career to the rigorous study of the death penalty. "Since Kansas reinstated the death penalty in 1994, there have been more 3,500 criminal homicides in the state, but no executions. Two men on death row have already died of natural causes before their first appeal was finalized. The two cases nearest to completing their appeals are still many years away from an execution date, and these two men are now 68 and 80 years old. Is the dubious purpose of retribution advanced by slowly suffocating elderly men to death many decades after their crimes of conviction?" Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Think back to last month . . . The Pulitzer Prize winning pundit for The Kansas City Star said this crime was akin to a racist lynching. Now, very much like most acts of petty crime . . . Police indicate that the suspect was likely looking to score some cash and didn't care about the consequences or the impact on the community. Check-it: "Police said the suspect stole the statue to sell it for scrap metal. " 'If you try to take something from this community, it won't tolerate it,' Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said. "SUSPECT was arrested for felony theft, aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft, and making false information yesterday." A more direct quote on the topic . . . "Wichita police Lt. Aaron Moses said the man was taken into custody earlier in an unrelated case and charged Monday with multiple counts, including aggravated criminal damage to property. Moses said he was 'very confident it was not a race-related crime." He said the motive appeared to be financial. ' Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Wichita police say man arrested for Jackie Robinson statue theft intended to sell it for scrap metal Police are expected to make additional arrests in the case. The Greek National Tourism Organization's (GNTO) booth received the "Best Decoration Award" at an international tourism fair that took place in Mumbai February 8-10, ANA reports. After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, GNTO's participation in the Outbound Travel Market (OTM 2024) highlighted Greece's commitment to a robust comeback in the global tourism arena. The agency emphasized the country's rich cultural heritage, its unique destinations, and the diverse array of tourist experiences Greece can offer to travelers from around the world, with a special focus on the emerging market of India. During the exhibition, numerous meetings were held with tourism and travel agencies, all of whom displayed keen interest in Greece, especially in wedding planning, and film productions, including collaboration with Indian influencers. The significance of expediting visa issuance and facilitating direct air connections between the two countries was underscored during these meetings. GNTO has targeted India as one of the critical markets for tourism expansion, while following high-level discussions between the prime ministers of both countries in August 2023, more concerted efforts have been made to bolster economic and tourism ties and foster cultural exchanges between Greece and India. The "Best Decoration Award" was presented on the fair's last day and presented by the Tourism Minister of Rajasthan Diya Kumari, who had paid a visit to the kiosk earlier with the fair's organizers. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: fdecomite BENGALURU, India, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced its strategic collaboration with Pacific International Lines (PIL), a leading Singapore-based shipping company with strong networks in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. This collaboration aims to accelerate PIL's digital transformation initiative and create a positive impact for their key stakeholders across the shipping and logistics ecosystem. Infosys Logo Infosys will help revamp PIL's existing customer portal and deploy a scalable and modern technology platform for them. This will enable PIL to further their 'Driving Connectivity' mission, which is aimed at connecting their businesses across the markets that they serve. In addition, PIL's web and mobile applications will undergo a comprehensive overhaul to simplify user experience and enhance customer engagement. Infosys, with its extensive logistics expertise, will provide a strong technical backbone for the performance and scalability of the revamped portal. The multi-year, multi-phased collaboration seeks to address critical business challenges such as modernizing web and mobile applications, enhancing scalability, and providing advisory services on the latest technology and business trends. Lionel Patrice Chatelet, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacific International Lines (PIL), said, "We are looking for a partner who can not only bring technology but also play an advisory role in the journey of transformation. Infosys brings together a strong combination of right capabilities as well as highly collaborative ways of working. We are delighted to collaborate with Infosys." Karmesh Vaswani, EVP & Global Head Retail, Consumer Goods & Logistics, Infosys, said, "With our strong domain expertise in multimodal logistics, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that not only address our client's current needs but also set the stage for embracing the latest industry trends. As a trusted advisor, we aim to transform PIL's customer portals to become simple, intuitive, and more experiential, leveraging scalable technology through the AI-powered Infosys Topaz suite of offerings." Story continues About Pacific International Lines (PIL) Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is ranked 12th among the world's top container shipping lines and is also the largest home-grown carrier in Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, PIL is a global carrier with a focus on Asia, China, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Oceania and the Pacific Islands. Together with its affiliated companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of 100 container and multi-purpose vessels. Apart from the core liner shipping business, PIL also has several other business units such as container manufacturing, depot and logistics services. PIL strives to meet the needs of its customers by providing value-adding services such as intermodal, breakbulk and reefer services delivered on innovative technological platforms. With its focus on 'Driving Connectivity' and commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050, PIL aims to be an efficient, sustainable and future ready shipping line. For more information, visit www.pilship.com About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/infosys-collaborates-with-pacific-international-lines-to-drive-digital-transformation-in-logistics-industry-302060521.html SOURCE Infosys The European Commission officially established on Tuesday "EUNAVFOR ASPIDES", the European military operation for maritime security and freedom of navigation in the context of the Red Sea crisis, ANA reports. This operation will contribute to maritime security along the main sea lanes in an area including the Straits of Bab el-Madab and the Straits of Hormuz, as well as international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES' strategic objective will be to escort ships in the area of operations, provide situational awareness, and protect ships from multi-dimensional attacks at sea, "in full respect of international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality", in a sub-area of the area of operations. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Andrikkos With an increase in measles cases globally, should we be concerned? The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said its aware of a large increase in measles cases in Europe, particularly in England and Wales and primarily among children under 10 years of age who are unvaccinated. PHAC is closely monitoring the situation in the United Kingdom, said Anna Maddison, spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The World Health Organizations (WHO) European region has reported an alarming rise in measles cases. Over 30,000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the regions 53 member states between January and October 2023 compared to 941 cases reported in all of 2022, according to information published in December 2023. This increase represents a more than 30-fold rise. Although measles was deemed eliminated in Canada in 1998, cases and outbreaks can occur when an individual travels to a country where measles is circulating and brings the disease back to Canada particularly if the individual is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, the PHAC says. Currently, there is a Level 1 travel health notice advising Canadians to practice health precautions when travelling. Public Health Ontario said it is continuing to monitor measles epidemiology closely. Between January and November of 2023, six cases of measles occurred in Ontario, the majority of which were considered to be travel-related. This is lower than the average number of cases in the five years prior to the pandemic, PHO reports. The increased level of measles activity currently in the U.S., U.K., Europe and elsewhere is an important reminder of the risk of measles and the importance of vaccination in preventing infection, said PHO. Ontarians, who are planning to travel for March break or the summer, are encouraged to review their familys immunizations now to ensure they are fully protected against measles before their travel. Children in Ontario are recommended to receive two doses of measles vaccine before the age of 7, the first dose at 12 months of age and the second dose prior to school entry. However, PHO reports the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to the delivery of routine immunizations resulting in a large decline in measles immunization between 2020-21 and 2021-22. PHO said there have been a significant immunization catch-up efforts taking place since 2022. What is the measles virus? Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus. Symptoms can appear seven to 21 days after being infected with the virus. People infected with measles can spread it to others before they have symptoms. Initial symptoms include: fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and small, white spots may appear inside the mouth and throat two-to-three days after symptoms begin. Between three and seven days after symptoms begin, a rash that looks like small red spots can develop on the face, spreading down the body, arms and legs. The rash can last four to seven days. Most people recover from measles within two or three weeks. How is the measles virus transmitted? The measles virus can spread very easily, primarily through airborne transmission, from an infected person who breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes into a common airspace shared with others who are susceptible. The virus can remain in the air for several hours. People can spread measles even before they know they have the infection or experience symptoms. Some people are at higher risk of developing severe complications from measles. Who is most at risk? Some people are at higher risk of developing severe complications from measles, including people who are pregnant, people with weakened immune systems and children who are less than five years of age. You're more likely to become infected if you're unvaccinated or non-immune and travelling to countries where measles is circulating. Occasionally, a returning traveller who becomes infected abroad can spread infection in Canada. This can be especially problematic if the traveller returns to a community where many people are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. How do I protect myself? Individuals who have not had two doses of a measles vaccine or had a previous measles infection are at risk of infection if exposed to the virus. Receiving all recommended measles vaccinations is the most effective protection against infection. The best protection against measles is vaccination with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. People in Canada are at very low risk of catching measles if they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, if they have been infected with the measles virus in the past, or if they were born before 1970. Adults born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired immunity from past exposure to the measles virus. While vaccination is considered by public health agencies to be the most effective preventive measure for measles, other measures that can be used to help reduce the spread include staying home when sick, frequently washing your hands, practising proper respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bend of the arm and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and objects. Are you at increased risk if you travel? Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected when they travel internationally. What should I do if I travel? Travellers to any destination are advised to seek advice from a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before travelling, to review their vaccination history, discuss any trip-related health concerns they may have and assess their health needs based on their destination and planned activities. New light is being shone on Canada's spiralling auto theft crisis, as government, police and industry officials return from a one day summit where solutions were discussed. For his part, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised his government would pursue all avenues to ban the high-tech devices being used to steal cars. Across the aisle, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre previously pitched harsher punishments for car thieves, should he be elected. All the while, Canada remains trapped in the midst of a staggering auto theft epidemic, where reports say a vehicle is stolen every five minutes. Last year marked the second year in a row where private insurers paid out more than $1 billion in claims for stolen vehicles. Largely driven by organized crime, auto thieves now have a wide spectrum of methods at their disposal to hijack smart, modern vehicles including copying the signal from your electronic car key, even when its seemingly safely stored inside your home. That said, there are simple methods you can use to thwart most car thieves. We previously asked experts to break them down here's what they said. Smart keys and modern vehicles are ripe for theft One of the most common techniques employed by the modern auto thief is whats called a relay attack, said Bryan Gast, vice president of investigative services at Equite Association a not-for-profit, national fraud and insurance crime analytics organization. It's one of the three main methods in which vehicles are being stolen (nowadays), Gast told the Star, adding that any push button start vehicles would be susceptible. The attack is done through the use of an antennae-like device capable of capturing the radio frequency used by a smart key to communicate with its vehicle, Gast explained. By mimicking the same signal, criminals can trick your car into thinking the fob is closer than it is, allowing it to be unlocked and started. It's not something that we've seen a lot four or five years ago but its quite prevalent now, Gast continued. According to detective inspector Scott Wade, of the Ontario Provincial Polices new Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team, the smart key fobs used in modern vehicles are constantly emitting a signal that's able to be detected and potentially copied and used to steal a vehicle. Whats more, the relay devices employed by thieves work at an ever-improving range leading some perpetrators to copy key signals as their target is walking away from their vehicle in the parking lot or even when the fob is safely stored away in ones home, Wade said. That's why you sometimes see individuals on people's front door cameras, standing on the front porch with what looks to be an antenna, Gast added. They're trying to extend their range and capture that signal from the key inside your home. The key fob doesnt have to be near your front door either the range of relay devices are constantly improving, with newer models able to intercept a key fobs signal anywhere in the house, he continued. Fortunately, there are simple practices you can do to thwart these attacks. How to protect your vehicle against relay attacks According to Wade, the simplest thing you can do is keep your key fob as far away from the front door, back door and garage as possible: The deeper they are in the house, the less likely (thieves) are to steal your signal, he said. As technology improves, however, this method will become progressively less reliable, Gast said. He advised checking your vehicle manual some manufacturers include an off switch on the fob able to shut off its wireless signals when not in use. If this isnt available, he and Wade agreed one of your best options is to store the key within a metal container or signal-blocking Faraday bag. Alternatively, less expensive RFID pouches with signal-blocking metal mesh lining are commonly available. I would just suggest people do some good research, because not all Faraday pouches are created the same, Gast said; some being advertised have low to nil effectiveness. Is it time to bring back physical car keys? According to Gast, older car models still reliant on physical car keys would certainly thwart relay attacks, potentially reducing your risk given the methods current prevalence. But if thieves want your car, there are ways to bypass physical keys criminals have done so for years before the arrival of the fob. If you have a key start, there are different methods of theft, Gast continued. But if would definitely protect against a relay attack (thieves) would have to do another method of attack. Wade agreed, saying he wouldnt necessarily recommend swapping the convenience of a key fob for a physical key just to avoid a common method of theft: If we went back to physical keys, they would find a way to steal those vehicles as well, he said. That said, the brunt of Canadas explosion in car thefts target newer vehicles, which also contain numerous other technological vulnerabilities. Older automobiles are less frequently stolen, Gast said though theyre still targeted for their parts. Modern cars have modern vulnerabilities The two other most common practices by thieves nowadays both take advantage of the tech incorporated into modern cars. These work by hacking into vehicles OBD ports and CAN bus system, Gast explained. The OBD, or on-board diagnostic port, is a little socket usually underneath your dashboard that mechanics use to assess whats wrong with the vehicle. Criminals now have a device that can plug into this port and reprogram the car to recognize a different key signal provided by the thief. So they break into the car, they plug into that port, they reprogram a key fob so (they) don't need the original key fob, and they dont need to do a relay attack to copy the original signal, Gast said. Similarly, criminals can plug into a modern vehicles CAN bus system, which enables its engine control units to communicate with each other. Thieves have devised a tool that can inject into this system, located near the front headlight connector, and impersonate the key fob, allowing them to unlock and turn on the car. The old days of punching a screwdriver into the keyhole are gone, said Wade. Now theyre using these sophisticated methods. Simple ways to protect your vehicle from theft According to Gast, the more inconvenient you can make it to steal your car, the less likely thieves are to target it they want to spend as little time breaking into your car as possible, he said. This begins with keeping your vehicle in the garage whenever possible, or at least parking in a well-lit area. Never leave your vehicle running or the key fob inside the vehicle, he continued. For his part, Wade suggested installing a secondary alarm, as the primarily alarm is controlled by the vehicle. He also advised installing a tracking device on your automobile. And then there's also physical deterrents such as mechanical devices that can lock the vehicles wheels or steering wheels such as The Club. None of these are fail-safe nothing's perfect, sadly, Wade continued; if a thief really wants your car, they can get around most any security measure. These deterrents simply lower the odds, both experts say. Canada undergoing crisis in vehicle thefts In Equites 2023 Vehicle Theft Trend Report, released last week, the organization found auto thefts have continued at their sky-high pace especially in Ontario and Quebec. According to Gast, what's driving this is organized crime is making a tremendous amount of money by stealing these vehicles and primarily exporting them out of the country. The Stars Kevin Donovan can attest to that after his car was stolen from his Toronto driveway in 2021, he tracked the vehicle to a Halifax port, destined for the Middle East. The problem is national but Ontario and Quebec are being hit the hardest, Gast said, due to these provinces proximity to ports for international export. Other stolen vehicles are kept by criminal groups to perpetrate more crimes, like when Windsor police recovered more than 138 stolen vehicles from a sophisticated crime group, who were using the automobiles to run their drug operation, he continued. Gast is maintaining hope that we may be nearing the peak, however, as police, governments and other organizations ramp up their efforts to curb the crime spree: I can't say enough good things about the involvement at all levels. Law enforcement, government; everybody's looking for solutions, which is good and great, he said. These are the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada Are you concerned about your vehicle? Check if its on Equites list of the 10 most commonly stolen automobiles in Canada, based on the latest data from 2022. 1. Honda CR-V SUV 2. Dodge Ram 1500 Series Truck 3. Ford F150 Series Truck 4. Lexus RX Series SUV 5. Toyota Highlander SUV 6. Honda Civic Sedan 7. Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV 8. Land Rover Range Rover SUV 9. Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 Series Truck 10. Jeep Wrangler SUV Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, revealed during a 2024 press conference that the airport plans to invest 656.5 million Euros this year. The airport, which has been Europe's busiest for four years, aims to increase flight numbers, welcome new airlines, and enhance passenger satisfaction. iGA Istanbul Airport Announces Major Investments and Growth Targets for 2024 iGA Istanbul Airport, known for being Europe's busiest airport for the past four years, is setting high goals for 2024. Selahattin Bilgen, the airport's CEO, announced these plans at a recent press conference. In 2023, iGA Istanbul Airport invested 160.1 million Euros and now aims to significantly increase this to 656.5 million Euros in 2024. The airport, which started operating flights in 2019, has seen rapid growth. By the end of 2023, the number of flights rose to 505,968, and passengers increased to 76 million. This growth has also helped boost tourism in Turkiye, making it the fourth most-visited country globally. For 2024, iGA Istanbul Airport aims to handle 85 million passengers, increasing flights to 532,000. This is a 12.77% rise in passengers from the previous year. As per Breaking News Travel, iGA Istanbul Airport is also expanding its services to more airlines. From 61 airlines in 2019, the airport expects to serve 101 by 2024, including 11 new ones. This will strengthen its position in the global aviation industry. Additionally, the airport is planning to start the first triple parallel runway operation in Europe, aiming to increase air traffic capacity from 120 to over 148 hourly air traffic movements. The airport's 2024 investments include 35 million Euros for a General Aviation Terminal and 146.4 million Euros for the Eskisehir Solar Power Plant. This plant will make iGA Istanbul Airport the first to meet all its electricity needs through renewable energy. The airport is also investing in cargo expansion and a new Hilton hotel. Related Article: Finnair's Weigh-In Experiment Sparks Passenger Privacy Debate Finally, iGA Istanbul Airport is committed to reducing emissions, targeting a 73% reduction by 2040 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This aligns with its commitment to sustainability, having already reduced emissions and energy consumption significantly. The airport's focus on passenger satisfaction remains strong, with an 89% approval rate in 2023, which is expected to rise with new developments. Sees Major Growth, Eyes 100 Million Passengers by 2027 In October 2023, IGA Istanbul Airport was planning big. Last year, it served 64.3 million people, making it the seventh busiest in the world. Now, IGA Istanbul Airport is aiming for 77 million passengers this year, and a huge leap to 100 million by 2027. To hit its goals, the airport is looking beyond. Airline Weekly reported that budget airlines are a key focus, as they currently represent only 2% of seats at the airport. IGA is considering attracting more low-cost carriers to boost its numbers. Despite the growth, Pegasus Airlines and Anadolujet, two major Turkish budget airlines, have not yet planned to base themselves at IGA Istanbul Airport. But IGA isn't just looking at Turkish carriers; foreign budget airlines like Air Arabia, EasyJet, and Wizz Air are also in the mix. Turkish Airlines, the major airline at IGA, is planning a huge order of up to 600 new planes. This expansion will help it reach more destinations worldwide, including nonstop flights to Australia. IGA is carefully balancing attracting new airlines without upsetting existing ones, like Turkish Airlines. Read Also: Lufthansa Ground Staff Set for Major Strike; Thousands of Flights at Risk What do you know about Istanbul's Topkapi Palace Museum? This structure is a key part of Istanbul's history and a cultural center that attracts visitors globally. Located on a notable hill in Istanbul, Topkapi Palace is a significant symbol of the city's history. When planning your visit to this important Istanbul landmark, remember its historical connection with the Ottoman Empire. Constructed in 1461 by Mehmet the Conqueror, it was the center of the empire until 1853. This history adds interest to every part of the museum. At Topkapi Palace Museum, you will see different courtyards and exhibitions from the Ottoman period. From the luxurious treasury to the sacred relics, the palace displays artifacts that give insight into the past. With this guide, here are some helpful tips that you need to know before visiting this renowned place in Istanbul. Best Times to Visit the Museum Timing is key when planning your visit to Topkapi Palace Museum. The museum is open every day except Tuesdays, allowing ample opportunity for visitors to explore its halls. The best time to visit is during the early morning hours or late afternoon. These times tend to be less crowded, providing a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. Summer months in Istanbul can get quite busy with tourists, so visiting in the spring or fall is advisable. Not only will you avoid large crowds, but the weather in Istanbul during these seasons will also be more pleasant, enhancing your overall experience at the museum. Entrance Fee and Ticket Information Understanding the cost of admission is important for a hassle-free visit. As of the latest update, the entrance fee for Topkapi Palace Museum is 750 Turkish Lira per person. This fee gives you access to most areas of the palace, including the main exhibitions and courtyards. However, if you wish to explore the Harem section, an additional ticket costing 500 Turkish Lira per person is required. The Harem, once the private quarters of the Ottoman sultans and their families, offers a deeper insight into the palace's history. Related Article: iGA Istanbul Airport Sets Ambitious Passenger Goals for 2024 For those looking to explore both the museum and the Harem, a combined ticket is available for 1500 Turkish Lira, offering a slight discount. Children under 12 years enjoy free entry to the museum, and those under 6 can enter the Harem free of charge. To make the most of your visit, consider purchasing a 72-hour Museum Pass. While this pass does not include entrance to the Harem, it offers access to other museums in Istanbul, making it a valuable option for those spending multiple days in the city. Exploring the Four Courtyards Topkapi Palace Museum is divided into four main courtyards, each with its own set of attractions. The First Courtyard, also known as the Court of the Janissaries or the Parade Court, is accessible without a ticket and serves as the entrance to the palace complex. This courtyard sets the stage for the grandeur that awaits inside. The Second Courtyard, known as the Divan Square, houses the palace kitchens, now converted into exhibition rooms displaying a vast collection of porcelain, silverware, and cookware used during the Ottoman era. The Imperial Council Chamber, where important state decisions were once made, is also located in this courtyard. The Third Courtyard, at the heart of the palace, includes the Private Chamber of Sultan Mehmet II, the Audience Chamber, and the Treasury, which showcases an impressive collection of Ottoman treasures and relics. The famous Spoonmaker's Diamond and Topkapi Dagger are among the notable items on display here. Finally, the Fourth Courtyard includes several terraces with beautiful views of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, as well as the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle, housing sacred Islamic relics. Not-to-Miss Exhibitions and Artifacts While each section of Topkapi Palace Museum holds its own charm, certain exhibitions and artifacts stand out. In the Imperial Treasury, the Spoonmaker's Diamond and the Topkapi Dagger are must-see items known for their historical value and stunning craftsmanship. The Arms and Armor section displays a remarkable collection of Ottoman weaponry, offering insight into the military history of the empire. In the Harem, the opulence and personal quarters of the sultans and their families provide a unique perspective on the daily life within the palace walls. The exquisite Iznik tiles decorating the walls of the Harem are renowned for their beauty and are considered some of the best examples of Islamic art. Read Also: Here Are Some Interesting Facts You Should Know About Mont-Saint-Michel in France Why should you consider Cambodia, specifically Siem Reap, for your next travel destination? This city, a key part of Cambodia's historical narrative, is an engaging destination for every traveler. Siem Reap extends beyond a simple tourist stop, revealing itself as a city filled with historical, cultural, and scenic attractions. The legacy of the Khmer Empire is prominently displayed in the grand ruins of Angkor Wat, showcasing Cambodia's historical richness. In Siem Reap, the past is not only found in temples. The city's streets, teeming with markets and cafes, offer a lively contrast to the ancient ruins. If you are interested in exploring the historical sites of the Angkor complex, experiencing traditional cultural performances, or seeking a relaxing retreat, Siem Reap has something for everyone. This blog will introduce you to the essential places to visit in Siem Reap, where each location is a significant part of Cambodia's cultural heritage, promising enriching insights and lasting memories. Angkor Wat: A Testament to Historical Beauty Your visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia, is incomplete without seeing Angkor Wat. This massive temple complex, constructed in the early 12th century, serves as a testament to the architectural prowess of the ancient Khmer Empire. Its five iconic towers stand majestically, especially captivating at sunrise. The detailed bas-reliefs and the surrounding moat add to the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in Cambodia's rich history. Bayon: The Temple with a Thousand Faces In the center of Angkor Thom is where you can see the Bayon Temple, known for its numerous stone faces. Built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century, each tower features four enigmatic faces, thought to represent the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or the king himself. The temple's design allows a calming experience amidst these watching faces, while the detailed bas-reliefs offer a glimpse into everyday life in historical Cambodia. Related Article: Where In Cambodia: Phnom Penh Versus Siem Reap Ta Prohm Ta Prohm, famous for its appearance in 'Tomb Raider,' is a remarkable example of nature reclaiming a man-made structure. Giant trees intertwine with the ruins, creating a mesmerizing scene where history and nature coexist. This temple shows how the entire Angkor complex might have looked upon its rediscovery in the 19th century. Banteay Srei Traveling a bit farther from the main Angkor complex, you reach Banteay Srei, often referred to as the pinnacle of Khmer artistry. This 10th-century temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is famous for its detailed carvings in pink sandstone. The preservation and craftsmanship seen here are exceptional, with scenes from Hindu tales beautifully depicted. The Floating Villages To see a different side of Siem Reap, visit the floating villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, like Kampong Phluk and Kampong Khleang. These villages offer a unique perspective on life in Cambodia, with entire communities adapted to living on water. The stilted houses, floating markets, and schools offer a unique insight into the resilience and adaptability of the local people. Read Also: What To Eat In Cambodia: A Guide To Khmer Cuisine Malta, a small European nation, offers an experience that is both engaging and memorable for travelers. As you plan your next European getaway, let Malta be your destination of choice. This archipelago, strategically positioned between Sicily and the North African coast, boasts an impressive range of attractions. For those who love the outdoors, Malta does not disappoint. The islands offer some of the Mediterranean's finest diving spots and relaxing beaches. This small country ensures that travel between diverse experiences is quick and easy. In this travel guide, you will see WHY you must visit Malta for your perfect European getaway. Exploring Malta's History and Culture Malta offers a journey through a history shaped by civilizations from across the globe. In Valletta, the capital, history is evident in every street. This UNESCO World Heritage site showcases grand fortifications and impressive baroque architecture, revealing stories of the Knights of St. John. The city is lined with buildings withstood the test of time, providing a look into Malta's past. Natural Beauty of Malta The natural attractions of Malta are as impressive as its historical sites. The Blue Lagoon on Comino Island is known for its clear waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. On Malta's main island, the Dingli Cliffs offer breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and are a haven for bird species, attracting birdwatchers. Malta's Ancient Temples In Malta, you will find some of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth. The agar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, dating back thousands of years, stand as reminders of Malta's ancient civilizations. These structures provide insight into the architectural skills of early inhabitants. Related Article: Malta Nightlife Guide: The Best Bars In The Island Maltese Cuisine: A Taste of the Island Maltese cuisine reflects the island's cultural influences. Traditional dishes like pastizzi and rabbit stew offer a glimpse into Malta's culinary heritage. The surrounding Mediterranean Sea provides fresh seafood, integral to Maltese cooking. Dining here connects you with Malta's culture and traditions. Outdoor Adventures in Malta Outdoor activities are abundant in Malta. The island's clear waters are perfect for diving, with dive sites allowing exploration of underwater caves and shipwrecks. Malta's landscape is also ideal for hiking, with trails offering views of the island's scenery. Malta has activities to suit your interests if you prefer diving or hiking. Local Festivals and Events Malta's calendar features festivals and events that showcase its culture. From the Carnival in February to summer village festivals, these events display the lively spirit of the Maltese people. Participating in these festivals is a way to experience traditional music and the island's vibrant culture. Why Choose Malta for Your European Getaway Malta combines historical sites, natural beauty, cultural richness, and outdoor activities, making it an ideal European destination. The island's small size makes exploring easy, and the friendly nature of the Maltese people ensures a welcoming stay. If you are interested in history, nature, or food, Malta offers different experiences for all travelers. Plan your visit to Malta and see why this Mediterranean destination is a must-visit on your travel list. Read Also: Here's What You Can See and Do in Saint Moritz, Switzerland On April 8, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada, creating a night-like darkness. This rare event, not to return to the United States until 2033, is set to attract a large number of travelers. With 40 million people living in the eclipse's path, which crosses 15 states in the United States, the eclipse could become a major travel driver. Total Solar Eclipse Expected to Boost Travel Across the United States A total solar eclipse is expected to draw a large crowd to the United States on April 8. This rare event, where the sun is completely blocked by the moon, will make the day turn dark. It will be seen in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, but won't be back in the United States until 2033. This makes it a unique chance for people to witness something special. Experts believe this eclipse might be the most watched sky event ever, comparing it to "50 Super Bowls happening at once," according to Breaking Travel News. About 40 million people live in the areas where the eclipse will be in total, which includes 15 states in the United States. This has led to a big demand for trips and places to stay in these areas. Online travel platforms are preparing for the rush. Civitatis, a service for Spanish-speaking travelers, advises focusing on the domestic market, especially Spanish speakers. They suggest offering special deals and partnering with other travel companies to create eclipse-themed trips. PriceTravel Holding, a big travel company in Latin America, has seen increased interest in Mexico and other destinations in the eclipse's path. They recommend targeting family travelers, as the eclipse happens during the Easter holidays. Related Article: New Rules Limit Tourist Flights Over US National Parks to Protect Peaceful Environment However, TourReview warns that the large number of visitors might lead to negative online reviews due to crowded places and high prices. They advise thinking about these issues in advance. WayAway, a U.S.-based travel comparison site, suggests offering discounts to encourage early bookings and promote less busy destinations. For business travelers, Traxo warns of the need for companies to keep track of their employees' travel plans during this time. This event might mix business and leisure travel, making it harder for companies to know where their employees are. Sees Boost in International Travel The United States is welcoming more international air travelers, as recent data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows. In the second quarter of 2023, visitors from overseas spent a total of $18.9 billion, a 33% increase from the same time in 2022. Key facts reveal that these travelers, on average, earned $95,311, stayed for 19 days, and spent $1,933 on their trips, as revealed by Skift. Over 7.7 million people visited from abroad, with Europe leading with over 3.3 million visitors. Most of them, about 61%, traveled alone. The main reason for these trips was vacation, at 53%. Business trips to the United States also grew, reaching 18% from last year's 14%. The top places they visited were New York, Florida, and California. Travel from neighboring countries also rose. Over 720,000 visitors flew in from Mexico, spending an average of $1,271, mainly visiting Texas, California, and Florida. Over 2.6 million people from Canada arrived, spending about $1,164 per trip, with Florida, California, and Nevada being their preferred destinations. Both Canadian and Mexican visitors also showed an increased interest in business travel. Read Also: Bobobox's Unique Lodging Solutions Targets Japan, US Markets What sets Dresden Castle in Germany apart as a must-visit destination for those who appreciate history and art? This historic fortress, located in Dresden, the capital city of Saxony, is a beacon of German cultural heritage and artistic achievement. Dresden Castle offers visitors a chance to explore European history and art in an engaging and enlightening way. At Dresden Castle, every hall and room is a page from history, inviting you to explore the castle's evolution from a 12th-century Romanesque stronghold to a lavish Renaissance palace. This castle has been a silent witness to key historical events, from the Reformation and the Baroque period to the impacts of World War II, symbolizing endurance and revival. Art aficionados will find Dresden Castle a delightful place to visit. It is home to some of Germany's most important art collections, such as the New Green Vault and the Turkish Chamber. These collections offer an impressive display of works from various periods and styles. A Historical Overview of Dresden Castle Dresden Castle, a prominent historical landmark in Germany, offers a remarkable glimpse into the past. Its foundations date back to the 12th century, making it one of the oldest structures in Dresden. Originally a Romanesque fortress, the castle has undergone various transformations, reflecting the architectural styles of different eras. This includes the Renaissance period, which significantly changed its design, emphasizing opulence and beauty. The castle's history is intertwined with the history of Saxony and Germany. It served as the residence of the electors and kings of Saxony, playing a crucial role in the political and cultural development of the region. Over the centuries, Dresden Castle has witnessed numerous historical events, including the Reformation and World War II. Its resilience is evident in the meticulous restoration efforts following the war, restoring its former glory and preserving its historical significance. Related Article: 6 Indoor Swimming Pools in Germany Offering Relaxation and Fun The Art Collections of Dresden Castle Art lovers visiting Germany will find Dresden Castle an essential destination. The castle houses some of the most exquisite art collections in the country. The New Green Vault is one of these treasures, showcasing a stunning collection of baroque treasures. It includes precious stones, gold, silver, and ivory artworks, alongside impressive sculptures and works of Renaissance art. Another highlight is the Turkish Chamber, an extensive collection of Ottoman art. It displays over 600 exhibits, including lavish textiles, tents, and ornate weaponry, offering a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Ottoman Empire. The Architecture of Dresden Castle Dresden Castle stands as a remarkable example of architectural evolution in Germany. The castle's facade showcases various styles, from Romanesque to Baroque and Renaissance. Visitors can admire the details of its exterior, including sculpted figures and ornate decorations that adorn the walls and gates. The interior of the castle is equally impressive. The Georgenbau, the main entrance facing the Schlossplatz, is particularly noteworthy for its Renaissance architecture. Inside, the grand halls and staterooms are adorned with elaborate stucco work, intricate frescoes, and detailed wood carvings, creating an immersive experience of the artistic heritage of Germany. A Must-Visit Destination For anyone traveling to Germany with an interest in history and art, Dresden Castle is a must-visit destination. It offers a unique blend of historical insights, artistic masterpieces, and architectural beauty. The castle's ability to encapsulate centuries of history and culture in one location makes it a standout attraction, not just in Dresden, but in Germany as a whole. Read Also: Visit the Iconic New York Cafe in Budapest and See What's Inside this Luxurious Spot Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Wizz Air Holdings' stock price is sensitive to their trading actions 51% of the business is held by the top 5 shareholders Insiders have bought recently If you want to know who really controls Wizz Air Holdings Plc (LON:WIZZ), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 50% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. And institutional investors saw their holdings value drop by 3.1% last week. Needless to say, the recent loss which further adds to the one-year loss to shareholders of 23% might not go down well especially with this category of shareholders. Institutions or "liquidity providers" control large sums of money and therefore, these types of investors usually have a lot of influence over stock price movements. As a result, if the decline continues, institutional investors may be pressured to sell Wizz Air Holdings which might hurt individual investors. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Wizz Air Holdings, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Wizz Air Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Wizz Air Holdings? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Wizz Air Holdings. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Wizz Air Holdings' 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. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Wizz Air Holdings. The company's largest shareholder is Indigo Partners LLC, with ownership of 24%. With 12% and 5.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, Capital Research and Management Company and FMR LLC are the second and third largest shareholders. Furthermore, CEO Jozsef Varadi is the owner of 1.4% of the company's shares. To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 5 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making. 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 Wizz Air Holdings While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Wizz Air Holdings Plc. The insiders have a meaningful stake worth UK47m. Most would see this as a real positive. 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 24% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Equity Ownership With an ownership of 24%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Wizz Air Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them is a bit concerning. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. (Photo: Slim Emcee on Unsplash) The main icon of African safaris is the untamed wildlife encounters. It is hard to imagine an African holiday without a safari car or a sunset in an African wilderness. Africa is undeniably a beautiful continent, a destination with plenty for you to experience. There are enormous opportunities awaiting nature lovers and adventure seekers to explore the spectacular global south. This is one continent where you won't only see all the big five game (Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Rhinos, and Leopards), but it is also an ideal place to encounter the world's sought-after primates in their natural habitat. Here are the five best safari experiences to take in Africa: Wildebeest Migration The Great Wildebeest Migration is remarkably an epic wilderness experience that makes Africa the most treasured destination. Over two million wildebeest and more than 20,000 plains game can be witnessed migrating from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This lifetime wilderness experience is excellently enjoyable on Kenya safaris in Masai Mara Reserve and Tanzania safaris in the Serengeti National Park. Huge herds of wildebeest cross from Serengeti to Maasai Mara between June and September in search of greener pastures and drinking water. Aside from the great migration, there is also an opportunity to enjoy the birthing experience, and this occurs in the months of December, January, and February. The wildebeest migration is one of the great wonders of the world, and it is among the best safari experiences that you should not miss once you decide to go on an African safari. Gorilla Trekking Gorilla trekking is one of those scarce safari encounters that are only limited to a few African countries. Though there are more than five countries that have different gorilla species, there are only a few that have developed gorilla trekking to a level where you have at least a 90% chance of encountering gorillas on any given day. At the moment, it is Uganda and Rwanda that top the list of gorilla trekking destinations in Africa. Though countries like Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic, among others, also have gorillas, the road network and security make it hard to go gorilla trekking in these countries. Even when you overcome the security issues and the road network, the chances of seeing the gorillas in these countries are relatively lower compared to Uganda and Rwanda. Most of the gorilla treks in Africa happen in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. A few travelers also go gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park of Uganda and Kahuzi Biega National Park of DR Congo. In order to trek gorillas in any of these national parks, you will need a gorilla trekking permit, a document that allows you to trek gorillas in the respective park. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda goes for $800 for foreign non-residents, while a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda goes for $1500 for foreign non-residents. The experience in the two countries is more or less the same. The main difference lies in the pre-trekking experience and post-trekking experience. Game Drives Africa is home to some of the finest wildlife, especially diverse savanna species. A game drive is a must-enjoy on an African safari, and this offers nature lovers a lifetime opportunity to search for the big five game, abundant savanna dwellers, and antelope families. Top African destinations for game viewing include Kidepo Valley National Park, a remote, isolated national park in North Eastern Uganda that was recently voted as the best place to visit in Africa. Other popular parks for wildlife safaris include Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Parkin Uganda. In Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve is a must-visit, given its plentiful wildlife that is easy to spot while on a traditional African Safari. Other national parks to visit in Kenya include Tsavo National Park, Amboseli National Park, and others. When you decide to go further in East Africa, Tanzania is a renowned destination that will surprise you with amazing national parks for game viewing; explore the wonders of Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro National Park, and the newly gazette Nyerere National Park. You can also choose to go game viewing in Southern Africa. The Kruger National Park in South Africa has held the name for quite some time. Explore the wonders of Botswana's Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Okavango Delta, and more. While in Namibia, you can go game viewing in the vast Etosha National Park, Namib-Naukluft National Park, and others. Unlike the primate trips, game drives do not have a minimum age. The only prerequisite is the ability to sit in a safari car and simply stick to the park guidelines. Birding Birding in Africa is an interesting safari experience offering enthusiastic birders a chance to identify a variety of birds, including endemic species. Africa holds a huge concentration of birdlife, and they range in diverse habitats, including wetlands, forests, deserts, coastlines, and more. Top birding destinations in Africa include Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Rwanda, South Africa, Namibia, and others. The checklist of birds to consider spotting on an African birding expedition includes African fish eagles, African masked weaver birds, shoebill storks, pelicans, flamingos, malachite kingfishers, lilac-breasted rollers, long-tailed paradise whydah, grey crowned crane, collared sunbird, Eurasian golden oriole, papyrus gonoleks, great cormorants, and others. Cultural Safari Experiences Africa has over 3000 tribes scattered all over the continent. Some have kept their native customs, while other tribes have adopted either Islam or Christianity into their culture. The true cultural experience lies in encountering tribes that have maintained their ancient way of life. Most of the notable tribes, such as the Zulu in South Africa, have become more modern tribes. However, when you get a chance to visit places like Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara game reserve, encounters with the Masai people are still some of the most memorable cultural experiences that Africa has to offer. The Karamajong in Uganda have also, for the longest part, maintained their customs to the core. Due to the unavoidable influence of Western society, a number of African countries are adopting the idea of cultural communities. These communities attempt to continue living after the order of their native cultures to the best of their knowledge. Many memorials and monuments around the world have been put up through the years to commemorate important events, even if those events don't really evoke the most positive of memories. An example of which is the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which is located in Rwanda. Inaugurated in 2004, the memorial commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which killed hundreds of thousands members of ethnic groups, particularly the Tutsis. While it is undoubtedly a dark period in Rwanda's history, it is also one of its major events. To learn about it is to learn about a crucial party of the country's history. Should you plan on visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, here are things to keep in mind as you plan your visit. Opening Hours The Kigali Genocide Memorial is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, there are certain exceptions to this. First, the memorial is closed on January 1 and December 25. It is also typically closed on the morning of April 7 as it is the start of Kwibuka. Aside from this, the memorial follows different hours on the last Saturday of each month. On these days, it is open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. only. Related Article: Five "Dark Tourism" Sites Around the World: On Death, Destruction and the Occult Guided Tours While you are more than welcome to enjoy a self-guided tour around the memorial, guided tours are likewise being offered. Guided tours can accommodate up to 20 participants. Should you choose to have a self-guided tour, audio guides are available as well. You can learn more about the memorial's guided tours by clicking here. Appropriate Behavior Anyone visiting the memorial should not forget that it is considered the resting place of 250,000 victims of the genocide. Therefore, visitors are asked to behave as well as dress appropriately. Given the sensitive nature of the genocide, children 12 years old and under are not allowed to visit the memorial. Pets, except for service animals, are likewise not allowed to enter. Photography is not allowed inside the memorial. However, you are more than welcome to take pictures outside. Read Also: Top 5 African Countries You Must Visit for a Memorable Experience Contrary to suggestions in the media, the leader of a UK evangelical church network has said there has not been any "significant influx" of asylum seekers turning to the Christian faith. The question of conversion claims by asylum seekers has come to the fore after last week's acid attack in Clapham. The suspect, Abdul Ezedi, was granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity. The attack led to Suella Braverman writing in The Telegraph that during her time as home secretary she "became aware of churches around the country facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims". The Church has been forced to respond to accusations from politicians that it is helping asylum seekers game the asylum system with fake conversion claims. Affinity leader, Graham Nicholls, writing in a blog for the church network's website, admitted it was a "challenging area" and said it was important for church leaders to be discerning and act with "integrity and wisdom". While there have been instances of some people "faking it", other experiences of conversion among foreigners have been "genuine", he insisted. "Churches do not run the asylum system and it is not for us to decide whether it is right for any individual to stay here. Our duty as church leaders is to address this matter with both compassion and a commitment to truth, guided by the principles embodied by Christ," he said. "Contrary to claims of widespread abuse, our personal experiences with asylum seekers seeking refuge in Christianity have not revealed a significant influx. "However, I do know of situations where there have been conversions from people coming from other countries with sincere spiritual hunger who are now living well as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ." Nicholls said it was important for church leaders to demonstrate "sympathy rather than cynicism" towards people coming to them for help, and that they should "extend compassion" to anyone showing a "sincere" interest in the Christian faith, especially those for whom such an interest puts them in danger. He admitted there was a need for "heightened vigilance" and that church leaders should look out for "red flags", but he insisted this was true for all people showing an interest in the Christian faith. "Yet just as we should for anyone saying they are Christians we recognise the importance of discernment. It is our duty to test the authenticity of individuals' beliefs and observe how they live out their new faith. Sadly, in some cases, we may have decided that for whatever reason they are 'faking it'," he said. "In certain contexts, we acknowledge the need for heightened vigilance, recognising potential 'red flags' that may suggest insincerity. "We love heartfelt conversions to Christ from all religions and none, and we are dedicated to providing a welcoming environment for those genuinely at risk in their home countries. However, we are also committed to acting with integrity and wisdom. Pray for all Christian leaders as they navigate this challenging area." Originally published by Christian Today Over the day, 52 combat engagements took place on the frontline between the Defense Forces and Russian invaders, including 12 attacks in the Avdiivka direction. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook, publishing operational information as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13. The occupiers launched a total of 1x missile and 94x air strikes, carried out 89x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, russian terrorist attacks resulted in killed and wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. The enemy 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. The enemy launched an air strike at the settlement of Kruhle (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Hremyach, Zarichchya, Korenok, Pavlivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Alisivka, Kozacha Lopan, Lukyantsi, Vovchansk, Veterynarne (Kharkiv oblast). Kupyansk axis: the adversary conducted no offensives, however launched 2x air strikes at the settlement of Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Ivanivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults near Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Lugansk oblast). In that area the adversary made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. The occupiers launched 5x air strikes in the vicinities of Terny, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast), Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevske, Serebryanske forestry (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, Torske, Serebryanka, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. The invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kurdyumivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, New York, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks near Avdiivka and 2x more attacks near Nevelske (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The russian occupiers launched 2x air strikes in the vicinity of Orlivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Marinka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the adversary, with air support, made 11x attempts to improve its tactical situation. The invaders launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Kurakhove, Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Pervomaiske (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Novopavlivka axis: the russian invaders conducted no offensives. The adversary launched an air strike near Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Staromaiorske (Donetsk oblast), Levadne, Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x attack east of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The occupiers aircraft launched strikes at the settlements of Dolynka, Zhovta Krucha, Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Chervone, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne Pyatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, the enemy made 1x unsuccessful assault on positions of Ukrainian troops. The city of Kherson, the settlements of Tokarivka, Romashkove (Kherson oblast) came under artillery fire of the occupiers. The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Also, the occupiers carried out MLRS strikes in the vicinities of Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky (Kherson oblast). During the day of February 13, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of troops, 1x command post, 3x locations of air defense systems of the occupiers. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 16x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 4x artillery systems, 1x command post, 2x ammunition depots, 1x electronic warfare system of the russian invaders. In its ruling, adopted on January 31, the UN International Court of Justice established that Russia is a violator of international law in three separate aspects, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraines Permanent Representative to the United Nations, noted on Monday, speaking before the UN Security Council. Vasiliy Nebenzya, Russias Ambassador to the UN, earlier told the UNSC that the International Court of Justice had allegedly rejected all accusations put forward by Ukraine and thus justified Russias actions. Nebenzya claimed that Russia knew for sure that the UNSC would not hear from the Ukrainian representatives and their Western patrons of the conclusions of the showdown organized by Kyiv at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague involving a lawsuit against Russia for financing terrorism in Donbas and discrimination against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in Crimea. However, most of Kyslytsya's speech was in fact related to the conclusions of the International Court of Justice. "I can offer, however, for the graduates of the MGIMO and Diplomatic Academy in Moscow ... a crash course "Law 101: Everything you need to know about the ICJ judgments delivered on January 31 and February 2," Kyslytsia said. (Nebenzya graduated from MGIMO, Dmitry Polyansky from Diplomatic Academy - ed.) Kyslytsya recalled that, according to the court judgment of January 31, Russia violated the International Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as the court order on provisional measures of April 19, 2017. According to Kyslytsya, the court established that Russia persecuted the Crimean Tatars for their political opposition to Russias actions in Crimea. In addition, maintaining the ban on the Mejlis, Russia violated the order on provisional measures, according to which it is obliged to refrain from applying or maintaining restrictions on the ability of the Crimean Tatars to maintain their own representative institutions, including the Mejlis. The court established the existence of a pattern of racial discrimination against Ukrainians in Crimea, noting a steep decline in the number of students receiving their school education in the Ukrainian language and finding that it produced a disparate adverse effect on the rights of ethnic Ukrainian children and their parents, the ambassador said. As for the judgment of the International Court of Justice on February 2, "it means that Ukraines case against Russia under the 1948 Genocide Convention is moving forward," Kyslytsya added. "We urge Russia to stop falsifying reality and lecturing us about international law it itself continues to flagrantly violate," he added. James Kariuki, UKs Permanent Representative to the UN, also pointed out at the UNSC meeting that court judgments say Russia has violated international law in three ways. In particular, Russia discriminated against Ukrainians, failed to investigate allegations of financing of terrorism, did not comply with the court's order not to escalate disputes with Ukraine, and did not pull its troops from the territory of Ukraine. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on January 31, the International Court of Justice handed down a judgment in the case of Russia's violation of the two conventions - on the fight against the financing of terrorism and on the prohibition of all forms of racial discrimination. On February 2, the International Court of Justice recognized its jurisdiction in the case of Ukraine against the Russian Federation regarding "genocide". The board of Jersey Electricity plc (LON:JEL) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend by 5.6% on the 15th of March to 0.114, up from last year's comparable payment of 0.108. This takes the annual payment to 4.3% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry. View our latest analysis for Jersey Electricity Jersey Electricity's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Prior to this announcement, Jersey Electricity's dividend was only 53% of earnings, however it was paying out 129% of free cash flows. While the company may be more focused on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business at this time, we think that a cash payout ratio this high might expose the dividend to being cut if the business ran into some challenges. Looking forward, EPS could fall by 1.4% if the company can't turn things around from the last few years. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the payout ratio could be 56%, which we are pretty comfortable with and we think is feasible on an earnings basis. Dividend Volatility While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The dividend has gone from an annual total of 0.113 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of 0.194. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 5.6% over that duration. A reasonable rate of dividend growth is good to see, but we're wary that the dividend history is not as solid as we'd like, having been cut at least once. Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Although it's important to note that Jersey Electricity's earnings per share has basically not grown from where it was five years ago, which could erode the purchasing power of the dividend over time. Story continues Jersey Electricity's Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Just as an example, we've come across 2 warning signs for Jersey Electricity you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored. Is Jersey Electricity not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. DUBLIN, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Malaysia Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research_and_Markets_Logo Social commerce industry in Malaysia is expected to grow by 26.1% on annual basis to reach US$1.73 billion in 2024. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 21.1% during 2024-2029. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$1.37 billion in 2023 to reach US$4.53 billion by 2029. This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics. The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities. Reasons to buy In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2020-2029). Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors. Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry. Scope Malaysia Ecommerce Industry Key Players Facebook Instagram YouTube PG Mall TikTok Seller Malaysia Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029 Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029 Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2020-2029 Clothing & Footwear Beauty and Personal Care Food & Grocery Appliances and Electronics Home Improvement Travel Hospitality Story continues Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2020-2029 B2B B2C C2C Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2020-2029 Mobile Desktop Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029 Domestic Cross Border Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029 Tier-1 Cities Tier-2 Cities Tier-3 Cities Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2020-2029 Credit Card Debit Card Bank Transfer Prepaid Card Digital & Mobile Wallet Other Digital Payment Cash Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms Video Commerce Social Network-Led Commerce Social Reselling Group Buying Product Review Platforms Malaysia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2023 By Age By Income Level By Gender For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bwk5a2 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 press@researchandmarkets.com 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 Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malaysia-social-commerce-intelligence-report-2024-market-is-expected-to-grow-by-26-1-to-reach-1-73-billion-in-2024---forecasts-to-2029--302060655.html SOURCE Research and Markets In response to persistent calls for better data on student outcomes in higher education, House Republicans have introduced a proposal for a postsecondary student data system. However, this proposed system comes with limitations, as it would only count students who receive federal assistance for their education. READ ALSO: Data Integrity as a Code (DiaC): Best Practices for Organizations Lack of Comprehensive Data Hinders Higher Education Oversight The absence of comprehensive data on student outcomes has long been a challenge for policymakers and advocates seeking to improve accountability and transparency in higher education. Since 2008, federal law has prohibited the creation of a new database of student-level information, complicating efforts to assess the effectiveness of various programs and initiatives. Advocates argue that existing data systems are fragmented and fail to capture important aspects of student success. For example, graduation rate calculations typically exclude part-time and transfer students, providing an incomplete picture of overall student outcomes. This lack of comprehensive data undermines efforts to evaluate the impact of federal investments in higher education and address disparities in student outcomes. Moreover, Mamie Voight, president and CEO of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, emphasized the need for a more robust data system. She stated, "The current system is very incomplete, and piecemeal, and in some places duplicative and kind of convoluted." Renewed Efforts to Address Data Gaps Despite the longstanding ban on creating a new student-level data system, bipartisan support has emerged for legislation aimed at improving data collection and reporting in higher education. The College Transparency Act (CTA), first proposed in 2017, seeks to establish a comprehensive data system that includes information on student enrollment, completion rates, and other key measures for all programs and degree levels. Recently, House Republicans, led by Virginia Foxx, chair of the House education committee, introduced a modified version of the CTA. Foxx's proposal would create a postsecondary student data system limited primarily to students who receive federal financial aid. While this represents a departure from previous iterations of the CTA, it signals a potential breakthrough in addressing long-standing data gaps in higher education. Debate Over Privacy and Data Coverage Foxx's proposal has reignited debates over privacy and data coverage in higher education. While proponents argue that limiting the data system to students who receive federal assistance protects privacy, critics contend that it excludes a significant portion of the student population and undermines the system's overall effectiveness. Advocacy organizations and higher education groups have raised concerns that Foxx's proposal would exclude a substantial number of students, particularly those attending community colleges and nontraditional institutions. This limited coverage could distort data and impede efforts to accurately assess student outcomes and program effectiveness. Moreover, Craig Lindwarm, vice president of governmental affairs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, highlighted the significance of Foxx's proposal. He stated, "It's a fundamental new day... The disagreement is no longer on whether to create a student-level data network but rather how to do it. This is a pretty significant development." Impact and Future Outlook Despite the ongoing disagreements, Foxx's proposal represents a significant development in the effort to improve data collection and transparency in higher education. While challenges remain, there is growing recognition of the need for comprehensive data systems that provide policymakers, institutions, and students with the information they need to make informed decisions about higher education. As discussions continue, stakeholders will need to find common ground to ensure that any proposed data system effectively addresses the complex challenges facing higher education today. Ultimately, the goal is to create a data infrastructure that promotes equity, accountability, and student success across the higher education landscape. RELATED ARTICLE: A University's Guide To Secure Recordkeeping As President Biden's first term approaches its conclusion, the administration has announced an extension of discussions on student loan relief, signaling a renewed effort to address the pressing issue of student debt as the president's reelection prospects remain uncertain. READ ALSO: What Borrowers Need to Know About Biden Administration Fast-Tracking Student Loan Forgiveness Negotiations Set for Mid-February Amid mounting pressure from advocates and lawmakers, the Biden administration has agreed to reconvene for a new round of talks on student loan relief in mid-February. This decision comes after weeks of advocacy and appeals from progressive lawmakers, urging the administration to resume negotiations following a previous round that ended without satisfactory outcomes in December. James Kvaal, the undersecretary of education, reaffirmed the administration's commitment to tackling the student debt crisis, stating, "The Biden-Harris Administration will never stop working to deliver student debt relief for borrowers." Calls for Comprehensive Relief Critics have long argued that the relief measures proposed by the Education Department in December were insufficient to address the magnitude of the student debt crisis. Many members of the federal panel, including representatives from advocacy groups and legal organizations, stressed the need for more comprehensive relief measures that consider the diverse financial hardships faced by borrowers. Jessica Ranucci, an attorney serving on the committee, emphasized the urgency of providing relief to borrowers facing financial hardship, stating, "Borrowers facing financial hardship need debt relief just to have the opportunity to get by." Advocates Push for Expanded Criteria Advocates are pushing for a broader consideration of the types of hardship that should qualify borrowers for debt cancellation. While the Education Department previously proposed relief for borrowers with over two decades of loan repayment history and forgiveness of up to $20,000 for certain borrowers, critics argue that these measures do not go far enough. Sherrie Gammage, a negotiator representing borrowers, highlighted the need for broader relief measures, stating, "This isn't broad enough." Similarly, Sarah Butts, another committee member, expressed concerns about the limited scope of relief proposed by the department. Administration's Commitment to Relief Despite criticisms, the Biden administration remains committed to providing relief to a significant number of borrowers. Since taking office, the federal government has forgiven $132 billion in student loan debt for over 3.6 million Americans. President Biden reiterated his commitment to addressing the student debt crisis, emphasizing his determination to utilize all available tools to provide relief to borrowers. Progressives Urge Action Progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have welcomed the extension of negotiations but are pressing for swift action to address the student debt burden. With uncertainties surrounding Biden's reelection prospects, there is growing pressure to deliver meaningful relief measures to borrowers. Sen. Warren emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity to cancel as much debt as possible for Americans struggling with student loans. Upcoming Session Details The fourth session of negotiations is scheduled to take place virtually on February 22 and 23, inviting members of the public to participate. As discussions continue amidst the backdrop of President Biden's first term ending, stakeholders remain hopeful that collaborative efforts will lead to meaningful solutions to alleviate the financial strain of student loan debt on millions of Americans. RELATED ARTICLE: House Republicans' College Cost Reduction Act: A Comprehensive Overhaul of Higher Education A state-of-the-art independent private hospital specialising in cosmetic and plastic surgery has been completed at Granton on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Waterfront Hospital, owned and managed by consultant plastic surgeons Awf and Omar Quaba, has been designed by award-winning NVDC Architects which has a wealth of design experience across the health, surgical and dental sectors. Following an initial search, NVDC founder Farahbod Nakhaei viewed several shortlisted properties in Edinburgh which were suitable for redevelopment, helping to appraise each for suitability, as well as potential limitations. The chosen building in Granton had originally been part of a Morrisons supermarket development but had remained empty and unutilised for over 14 years. The building offered huge potential and its development will now contribute to the wider regeneration of the area. Harnessing their previous experience in delivering private surgical facilities, the team at NVDC, led by Farahbod Nakhaei and Project Architect Anna Dach, produced the successful design as part of a competitive pitch process. A key component of the client brief, in addition to being fully Scottish Health Technical Memorandum (SHTM) compliant, the design was to include one fully SHTM compliant general anaesthesia operating suite, a second operating theatre for local anaesthesia, treatment rooms and other ancillary spaces and a generous waiting area that could be used for educational purposes. Incorporating several complex design elements, including a bespoke staircase connecting the two main floors and following the curve of the external facade, the new private hospital is scheduled to be open to patients in early September. The Waterfront Hospital features a cutting-edge building management system (BMS) with the ability to control and monitor the entire building environment to maintain the highest clinical standards. As well as controlling and maintaining air changes, and required pressures, the BMS also controls the entire buildings mechanical and electrical services, such as access, ventilation, heating, lighting, medical gases and power. Another key requirement of a complex building such as this is controlling access to various parts of the building. NVDC researched and specified the access control system ensuring the chosen system had the required functionality while in-keeping with the overall design of the building. The NVDC team worked extensively with M&E consultants, Charles Scott & Partners, contractor Souness and Boyne, the access control manufacturers and clients IT team to ensure the system could provide the complex array of requirements for managing the different levels of access to various parts of building. The access control system and the BMS can each be controlled via a mobile phone app. The entire roof space has also been adapted to house necessary plant equipment. As part of their design, NVDC included a prefabricated modular rooftop plantroom which would house plant equipment in a weatherproof environment. NVDC was instrumental in the design of an energy efficient lighting system operated by movement-controlled PIR sensors. As an integral part of the building design, NVDC worked closely with lighting engineers to develop a lighting design which promotes ease of flow throughout the building. February 13 2024 Vita Group has revealed its early concept proposals for a combined food hall and student accommodation at Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Embodying the purpose-built student accommodation provider's House of Social brand the development emphasises food, drink and music with a streetside performance space, connected to the Mackintosh building behind by a public courtyard. 371 student bed spaces will be provided above in a new build that treats the Sauchiehall Street frontage before the School of Art as one unified block. Outlining the need to demolish a C-listed former cinema to make this happen Vita wrote: "With extensive fire damage to the ABC, retaining the building or its facade is not considered to be feasible due to the design, material condition, and strength validation challenges uncovered through a series of surveys and structural reports undertaken across the intervening period. "The site demolition of both ABC and Jumpin Jaks does however offer the opportunity to develop a cohesive response for the site that interacts with both Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow School of Art as one unified city block." Positioned as a key driver to help revitalise Glasgow's retail core the emerging design takes the form of a U-plan courtyard block intended to open up new perspectives of the south face of The Mack, accessed by a new lane. A sequence of stepped terraces rise from here, in response to both gables of the Mackintosh Building. A planning application is expected to follow in April. Donald Trumps property company doesnt own any real estate in continental Europe, which might explain why the former president seems to consider it a backwater. But Trumps willingness to abandon Europe, should Russia become even more hostile or territorial, is penny-wise foolishness mislabeled as self-interest. Trump set off fresh alarm bells in Washington and European capitals with his latest rant about the NATO military alliance and an apparent green light to Russian expansionism. At a South Carolina rally on Feb. 10, the leading Republican presidential candidate said that if Russia attacked a NATO member country that didnt meet the NATO target for defense spending, hed keep the United States out of it and let Russia have its way. You didnt pay no, I would not protect you, Trump said. In fact, I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want. Trump is a longtime critic of NATO because some of its 31 member nations spend less on defense than the alliance calls for them to do. Thats a legitimate problem Trump highlighted as president. As with other things, however, Trump identifies a problem and then instead of working to fix it, he vows to trash the whole thing without much of a backup plan. What Trump doesnt mention is that the United States benefits mightily from an enormous amount of trade with Europe and NATO protects that. US trade with the European Union, which doesnt include England and some other European nations, totaled $1.3 trillion in 2022. Thats 71% more than US trade with China. Trade with the UK totals another $296 billion. On top of trade, American firms and investors have $3.3 trillion invested in 11 European nations that report such flows. The trading bloc including Canada and Mexico is Americas biggest, but Europe is right behind it. A big part of the nations $860 billion defense budget is devoted to protecting US economic interests. The United States has spent trillions on military activities in the Middle East and gone to war there almost entirely to assure the availability of oil. One of the Navys core missions is to preserve economic prosperity by keeping global waterways open for trade. The US military serves many purposes well beyond protecting the homeland. Story continues NATO is a collective effort to protect Europes territorial integrity and the prosperity that goes along with itand its cheap compared with what the United States spends to protect its interests elsewhere. The total budget for NATO as an organization is about $3.6 billion. The United States pays 16% of that, or about $570 million per year. Thats 0.6% of the nations defense budget. Puny. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a Get Out The Vote rally at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The biggest contribution to NATO is the military spending of its member states, which pledge troops and other resources to each other in the event of an attack on one member state or some other common cause. In 2021, Massachusetts Institute of Technology political scientist Barry Posen argued that reformulating NATO so that Europe bore more responsibility for defending itself could save the United States at least $70 billion per year. Under his proposal, NATO would remain, and the principal US contribution would be its nuclear weapons capability. But the United States would withdraw its extensive Army, Air Force, and Navy assets from Europe, which is where most of the savings would come from. There are two catches with Posens proposal. The first is that the savings would only accrue if Congress voted to reduce defense spending by the amount the forces withdrawn from Europe cost. Thats hard to imagine, because very few politicians these days are willing to cut military spending and risk being tarred as soft on defense. Trump certainly never talks about slashing the defense budget when he bashes NATO. Far more likely than any big cut in the defense budget is the use of the money for something else that keeps the federal funds flowing to hundreds of congressional districts. Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter. The second catch is that Russia turned out to be far more dangerous and reckless than most people guessed. In 2021, Posen wrote, the threat of a hostile power controlling Europe is now very low, while pointing out that Russias military power is less than half what the Soviet Union had before it. But that was before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, igniting the biggest European conflagration since World War II. The invasion roiled global energy markets and sent oil, natural gas, and food prices skyrocketing, proving that Russia doesnt have to control Europe to wreak havoc. Waging war in just a corner of it will get the job done. Putin has indicated that his territorial desires go well beyond Ukraine. Some analysts think that if Putin succeeds in Ukraine, he will eventually menace or invade other nations that once belonged to the USSR, such as Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia, and perhaps Poland or Romania. All are now NATO members. As a hint of Putin's animosity, the Kremlin recently said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is wanted in Russia for unspecified criminal charges. This is another area where Trumps NATO bashing breaks down. Trumps beef is that 19 of the 31 member nations spend less on defense than NATOs target, which is 2% of GDP. But the five countries that border Russia or its puppet BelarusPoland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland exceed the defense spending target, as the map above shows. So the nations most vulnerable to Russian aggression pay their share, and theyre not the deadbeats Trump complains about. If the United States could save the full $70 billion Posen posits, then it might be worth abandoning NATO, as long as there were no Russian actions or any other developments that threatened that much in American economic interests related to Europe. Since any real savings would likely be far smaller than $70 billion, Americas contribution to NATO is a very small fraction of an economic stake in the trillions of dollars. Instead of ditching NATO, the way to deal with under-payers such as Germany, Spain, and Italy is simply to keep the pressure on for them to boost defense spending. Even Putin seems to grasp the value of imperfect alliances. While Trump is fulminating about NATO, Putin is busy forming a new axis of nihilist nations with Iran, North Korea, and China, who have disparate interests but share one goal: weakening the United States and its allies. If bullies need partners, maybe everybody else does, too. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance (@Abdulla99267510) The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI has secured a two-thirds majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Feb 13rd, 2024) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan on Tuesday nominated Ali Amin Gandapur as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI secured a two-thirds majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. For the post of Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Amjad Ali, Mushtaq Ghani, and Ali Amin Gandapur were the most favored candidates. However, PTI hinted at the possibility of Ali Amin Gandapur becoming the Chief Minister for the third consecutive time as PTI-associated independent candidates secured seats in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly in various districts of Chitral, Abbottabad, Swat, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, and Bannu. It may be mentioned that to form a government, 73 seats are required out of 145 in the provincial assembly. PTI-supported candidates have already won 90 seats in the provincial assembly, indicating that PTI has obtained a simple majority and positioned itself to form a government in the province without the need for seats from other parties. This is the third opportunity for PTI to complete its hat-trick in the province, as PTI formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Pervez Khattak for the first time in 2013. Secondly, when the party formed its government in the province, Mahmood Khan was appointed as the Chief Minister in 2018. Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur will be the third member of the provincial assembly associated with PTI to become the Chief Minister. Before him, both Mufti Mahmood and Sardar Ayaz Khan Gandapur have served as Chief Executives of the province, belonging to Dera Ismail Khan, while Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur was the Provincial Minister in his first tenure with PTI and later became a Federal minister in the center during his tenure. Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) has nabbed 5998 power pilferers from its region during last 5 months FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2024) Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) has nabbed 5998 power pilferers from its region during last 5 months. FESCO spokesman Tahir Sheikh said here on Tuesday that FESCO had launched a vigorous campaign against power pilferers and during this drive, the FESCO teams detected power pilferage at 5998 sites and imposed a total fine of Rs.659 million on the accused under detection bill of 14.4 million units. Among these accused included 5644 domestic consumers, 183 commercial, 154 agriculture and 17 industrial connection holders, he said, adding that 5535 cases were got registered in addition to arresting and locking 4801 pilferers behind bars during this period. The FESCO had also recovered 457.8 million from the power pilferers so far, he added. Giving some further details, he said that FESCO nabbed 1465 power pilferers from First Circle Faisalabad and imposed a fine of Rs. 164.7 million under detection bill of 3731,000 units. In Second Circle Faisalabad, 992 power pilferers were caught and a total fine of Rs.112.1 million was imposed under detection bill of 2467,000 units. Similarly, in Jhang Circle, 679 power thieves were caught and a fine of Rs.80 million was imposed under detection bill of 2083,000 units. The FESCO teams also nabbed 872 power pilferers from Sargodha Circle and they were handed down with a fine of Rs.92.4 million under detection bill of 1853,000 units. In Mianwali Circle, 1543 power stealers were caught and they were imposed a fine of Rs.154.9 million under detection bill of 3237,000 units. Meanwhile, 447 power pilferers were nabbed from Toba Circle and they were handed down with a fine of Rs.54.7 million under detection bill of 1031,000 units, he added. New York, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2024) One person was killed and five others injured in a shooting at a New York subway station just ahead of the busy rush hour Monday afternoon, officials said. Authorities were alerted just after 4:30 pm (2130 GMT) and six people were taken to hospital, the fire department said. "We don't believe this was a random shooting... We believe this shooting all stems from a dispute between two groups that started on a train," said the city's police transit chief Michael Kemper. "Unfortunately one of the victims, a 34-year-old (male), was pronounced deceased." There was a major emergency response at the elevated Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the northern borough of the Bronx, nine miles (14 kilometers) north of Manhattan's Times Square, an AFP correspondent saw. Police detectives and agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were at the scene conducting a fingerprint search following the shootings. Mass shootings are common in the United States, where there are more guns than people and about a third of adults own a firearm. Polls show a majority of Americans favor stricter gun regulations, but the powerful gun lobby and mobilized voters supporting the country's culture of strong gun rights have repeatedly stymied lawmakers from taking action. New York has a lower homicide rate than many major US cities, and possession of firearms in public is illegal for civilians in almost all cases. Stockholm, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2024) One person was reported missing after a fire broke out on Monday at Sweden's largest amusement park, engulfing a newly built water park in flames, authorities said. Police and the park owners said they were searching for one worker at the Liseberg Amusement Park in central Gothenburg. Police evacuated a hotel and offices connected to the amusement park and warned households in the area to remain indoors due to smoke. According to police, 16 people suffered minor injuries but none needed hospital treatment. Gothenburg's emergency services said it would take until Tuesday morning to extinguish the blaze. Images showed exploding fireballs, as flames and several blasts tore up a water slide and a pall of black smoke rose over the city. "The fire originated at one of the water attractions" outside the water park's main building "and then spread throughout the building", Liseberg said in a statement. The cause of the fire was unknown, however police said the incident was being investigated as a "workplace accident". The water park is part of an expansion of the park and was set to open this year. news agency TT said reports estimated the cost of the new water park at 1.2 billion kronor ($115 million). NCC, the construction company building the facility, said work had been ongoing at the site, but they did not know the cause of the fire. Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2024) A Russian military appeal court on Tuesday toughened a sentence for a left-wing academic who criticised Moscow's Ukraine offensive, Boris Kagarlitsky, from a fine to five years in prison. The new sentence came two months after the prominent sociologist and Marxist thinker was fined 600,000 rubles (around $6,570) for denigrating the Kremlin's military campaign on social media. The fine was seen as a surprising and rarer form of punishment for Kagarlitsky -- charged with "justifying terrorism" -- during Moscow's massive crackdown on dissent. Russian news agencies quoted a judge in the Moscow region court ruling to "change the sentence and give Kagarlitsky a punishment in the form of five years in a penal colony". Kagarlitsky was arrested in July 2023 after he made a comment on social media alleging that a Ukrainian attack on Moscow's Crimea bridge was "more or less understandable". The 65-year-old is a well-known academic who has written extensively on Russian society and leftist political history. He taught at Moscow's Higher school of Economics -- once a university that was seen as a bastion of liberal thinking. Russia declared Kagarlitsky a "foreign agent" in 2022. Freezing funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees risks "aiding" the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the head of Saudi Arabia's humanitarian agency told AFP on Tuesday Riyadh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2024) Freezing funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees risks "aiding" the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the head of Saudi Arabia's humanitarian agency told AFP on Tuesday. Several countries -- including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan -- have suspended funding to the UNRWA agency in response to Israeli allegations that some of its staff members participated in the October 7 attack by Palestinian group. The UN has sacked the 12 UNRWA staff members accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 attack and said the tunnel claim should be investigated once the conflict is over. "We should not penalise the innocent people, millions of people who are living in Gaza, because of an accusation on a handful of people," Dr Abdullah al-Rabeeah, head of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, told AFP in an interview on Tuesday. "If you have close to two million people living in a small place... and then the funding for the food and for the health basics is stopped, basically you are calling for them to live in, actually, disaster and also aiding in their death." Small-business owners will have an opportunity to learn about foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) Tuesday, Feb. 20. Sarah Mikesell Growney, Kelly Haigler Cornish and Rocky Case will discuss the subject during a Wyoming APEX Accelerator Lunch and Learn webinar titled Foreign Ownership Control and Influence: What You Need to Know as a Government Contractor from noon-1 p.m. To register, go here. Registration is free. Wyoming APEX Accelerator, part of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network housed at the University of Wyoming, is the states expert in government contracting assistance. As small-business owners begin to build their businesses and seek board members, leadership and investments, it is imperative for them to be mindful from where their partners and investments come. During the webinar, small-business owners will learn what FOCI is and why it matters; how companies can mitigate future issues in the world of government contracting; and how to obtain startup funding, including small business innovation research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) contracts and grants from government entities. Mikesell Growney is a procurement adviser for Wyoming APEX Accelerator; Haigler Cornish is program manager for the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative; and Case is director of Manufacturing Works. For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu. The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Canyon Hardesty, an associate director of UWs Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, center, receives the ECHO Excellence Award from Dr. Sanjeev Arora, Project ECHO founder and executive director, left, and Dr. Karla Thornton, senior associate director of Project ECHO. (University of New Mexico Photo) The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND), an academic unit of the University of Wyomings College of Health Sciences, recently received an ECHO Excellence Award for its Project ECHO. The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Excellence Award recognizes outstanding ECHO teams from around the world for their contributions to the ECHO global community. The award was given at the global MetaECHO Conference at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. This award is representative of the organizational, national and international influence of university centers on disabilities like WIND that work alongside communities to co-create accessible and inclusive systems, says Canyon Hardesty, a WIND associate director who accepted the award on behalf of the WIND Project ECHO team. The ECHO model embodies the spirit of inclusivity and collaboration, transcending geographic barriers and bringing best practices to the doorstep of those who need them. The ECHO model has changed the conversation in health, education and family supports across the globe, and WIND is honored to have been recognized for our contribution. Project ECHO is an innovative model of professional development used to build connections and expand best practices for professionals and families on improving outcomes in health care, education and daily living. ECHO participants meet for 75-minute sessions via Zoom, each consisting of a professional development presentation, followed by a unique case presentation or success story. Using a social learning, collaborative model, participants can receive input and guidance from a multidisciplinary team of professionals, as well as other session participants. In 2014, WIND launched ECHO networks to support educators, including ECHO in Assistive Technology and ECHO in Autism. WIND since has expanded UW Project ECHO, launching a total of 20 unique networks in education, health and family support, focusing on broad systems of community support that impact people with disabilities and their families in Wyoming. Dr. Sanjeev Arora, founder and executive director of Project ECHO, recognized WIND and its leadership for their innovation in applying the ECHO model beyond health care. They were the first to move ECHO beyond health into childhood education, recognizing both its connection to health and the need to expand professional development opportunities for educators in isolated rural areas, Arora says. They provided the proof point that ECHO not only works for education, but also has the potential to transform it. About the UW College of Health Sciences UWs College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne. With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. International reaction to comments that former U.S. President Trump made about NATO has been swift and harsh. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Jordans King Abdullah II at the White House. And, Tik Tok dominates Indonesia's presidential election. The number of Afghans granted Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, for resettlement in the United States increased by more than 100% last year, according to new U.S. government data. In 2023, about 26,500 SIVs were granted to Afghans more than double the previous year's total of 11,000 and a record since the program's inception in 2008. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that more than 18,000 SIVs were issued by U.S. consulates worldwide, with several thousand more Afghans having their status adjusted while already in the United States. From August 2021 to September 2022, the United States offered Temporary Protected Status to tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated by the U.S. military following the collapse of the former Afghan government. We have surged resources and significantly increased the number of staff dedicated to Afghan SIV application processing, the spokesperson wrote in an email to VOA. The unprecedented surge in SIV issuance comes amid strong demands from veteran and advocacy groups for the speedy resettlement of Afghans who worked for the U.S. military and programs in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021. Many activists accuse the Taliban of targeting and detaining SIV-qualified Afghans, even as the United States has continued evacuating SIV applicants under the Taliban rule over the past 2 years. Since 2008, nearly 120,000 SIVs have been awarded to Afghans. As of January, 9,000 principal SIVs remained available, with more than 100,000 applications submitted. Of those, 67,000 awaited approval last year. To address the backlog, the State Department asked Congress to approve 20,000 additional SIVs last year. The request is still pending. The department will not be able to issue SIVs after the numbers allocated by Congress have been exhausted, said the spokesperson. Refugees and asylum seekers The United States has also increased its intake of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers over the past year, alongside the surge in SIV issuance. More than 4,600 Afghan refugees were admitted in 2023, marking the highest number in more than two decades, according to figures from the Department of State. In addition to the SIV program, Afghans, particularly those who worked for civil society organizations before the Talibans return to power, can apply to U.S. refugee and humanitarian resettlement pathways from third countries. The U.S. government is prioritizing the evacuation and resettlement of SIV cases and very few cases outside of the SIV program have been resettled, Devon Cone, an expert with Refugee International, told VOA. Human rights groups accuse the Taliban of implementing misogynistic policies targeting educated women, even those who did not work for the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Taliban officials have denied such criticism. These women almost never qualify for SIVs and very few if any have been resettled, Cone said. Since the Talibans return to power, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their country fearing the Talibans repressive policies and worsening economic conditions. Since the Taliban seized control in August 2021, China, Iran and Russia have been steadily courting Afghanistans de facto government for influence. The three countries have kept their embassies open in Kabul and were among the first to hand over Afghan embassies to the Taliban at home. Last month, Moscow, Beijing and Tehran were the most high-profile participants at the Talibans first conference on regional cooperation in Kabul. But what are the real prospects of China, Russia, Iran and the Taliban cooperating in the region? Analysts tell VOA that while Beijing, Moscow and Tehran may be united in a common goal to oppose the U.S. in the region, that is perhaps the only area where their interests align, analysts say. Anti-Americanism is the one idea that brings China, Iran and Russia together, said Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. He told VOA that Tehran, Moscow and Beijing want to push the United States out of Eurasia and Central Asia ... [but] how much can they on the operational level cooperate? Thats a big question. He added that anti-Americanism alone cannot keep the partnership together as there is nothing ideological to bring them together. According to a newly released U.S. State Departments strategy document, China, Iran and Russia seek strategic and economic advantage, or at a minimum, to put the U.S. at a disadvantage. China, Iran and Russia have cultivated very close ties with the Taliban, said Nilofar Sakhi, a lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, adding that they are trying to have political and economic influence in the region. Despite close ties, none of the three countries has formally recognized the Talibans government and their interests in the region all differ. Pragmatic approach Late last month, China was the first country to formally accept the credentials of the Talibans ambassador. Some former diplomats and analysts say the move was akin to formal recognition. Sun Yun, the director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington does not agree. China still has to formally extended political recognition to the Talibans government, Sun told VOA. Even so, compared to Western countries, China has established very close relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan. China adopts a pragmatic approach in Afghanistan, said Sun, adding that early on Beijing realized that the U.S.-backed former Afghan government did not have the popular support to continue governing Afghanistan. Beijing had been cultivating ties with the Taliban for years before the Talibans takeover of Kabul. Sun said that what has happened in the past two and a half years substantiated that assessment that the Taliban regime is not going anywhere. She added that security, economic and political factors are all part of a broader consideration that comes to the foundation of Chinas policy toward Afghanistan. For China, one key concern is about any breach of militancy from Afghanistan into its western region of Xinjiang. Beijing also has economic interests in Afghanistan, including extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative, to Afghanistan and investing in minerals in Afghanistan. China has also been vocal in criticizing the U.S. and NATO for freezing Afghanistans assets and leaving the Afghan people in a serious humanitarian crisis in the country. Complicated past Though Iran has not formally recognized the Taliban, it handed over the Afghan embassy in Tehran to the Taliban in February 2023. The Middle East Institutes Vatanka said that the Iranian regime has not recognized the Taliban because of some bilateral issues, including border security and water distribution. Last year, tensions between Iran and the Taliban over the Helmand Rivers flow of water escalated to a deadly clash, which killed two Iranian security guards and one Taliban border guard. Iran and the Taliban have had complicated relations in the past. During the civil war in Afghanistan in the 1990s, Iran was supporting the forces fighting against the Taliban, particularly after the Taliban killed nine Iranian diplomats in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif in 1998. It is still too early for the Iranians to forget what the Taliban was when it was in power in the 1990s, said Vatanka. Full of contradiction Like Iran, Russia was another country that supported forces fighting the Taliban during the civil war in the 1990s. Ghaus Janbaz, a former Afghan diplomat to Moscow, told VOA that Moscows policy toward Afghanistan has been full of contradictions in recent years. Janbaz added that Russia is politically supporting the Taliban, but at the same time, its military and security officials criticize the Taliban and cite an uptick in terrorist activities in Afghanistan. He said that before the Talibans takeover, Moscow had diplomatic relations with the former Afghan government, but it also supported the Taliban at all the levels. It is similar now. Russia has ties with the Taliban, but an anti-Taliban leader was invited to Moscow, Janbaz said. They say it was not an invitation by the government, but nothing happens without the approval of the government in Russia. An Afghan anti-Taliban leader, Ahmad Masoud, participated in a conference on Afghanistan in Russia in November 2023. Janbaz says that despite Moscows close ties with the Taliban, I do not think that in the near future, Moscow will extend recognition to the Talibans regime. He said that similar to China and Iran, Russias policy toward the Taliban is driven by regional geopolitics. Tactically they might have an alliance against the West, but there are strategic differences between these countries, Janbaz said. This story originated in VOA's Afghan Service. President Joe Bidens reelection campaign Monday defended its new TikTok account as a vital way to boost its appeal with young voters, even as his administration continued to raise security concerns about whether the popular social media app might be sharing user data with Chinas communist government. The campaign's inaugural post featured the president being quizzed on Sunday's Super Bowl and included a reference to the latest political conspiracy theory centering on pop superstar Taylor Swift. The presidents TikTok debut last night with more than 5 million views and counting is proof positive of both our commitment and success in finding new, innovative ways to reach voters in an evolving, fragmented and increasingly personalized media environment, Biden reelection deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty said in a statement. At the White House, though, national security communications adviser John Kirby said that there are still national security concerns about the use of TikTok on government devices, and theres been no change to our policy not to allow that. Kirby referred most questions about TikTok to the Biden campaign and ducked a more general query about whether it was wise to use the app at all. He said the potential security issues "have to do with concerns about the preservation of data and potential misuse of that data and privacy information by foreign actors. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, could share user data such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers with that country's authoritarian government. Biden in 2022 signed legislation banning the use of TikTok by the federal governments nearly 4 million employees on devices owned by its agencies, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and security research purposes. Separately, the secretive and powerful Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has been reviewing the app for years while trying unsuccessfully to force TikTok ownership to divest from its parent company. The White House said Monday the review was continuing. With 150 million U.S. users, TikTok is best known for quick snippets of viral dance routines. But Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, posted on X that Bidens campaign is bragging about using a Chinese spy app even though Biden signed a law banning it on all federal devices. The Biden campaign said it had been mulling establishing a TikTok account for months and had ultimately done so at the urging of youth activists and organizations, who argued that the app was key to reaching young voters. The campaign said it was using a separate cellphone to engage on TikTok to isolate the app from other work streams and communications, including emails. The campaign said it was taking additional steps but declined to name them, citing security concerns. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she wasn't in contact with the campaign and had no advance warning that its TikTok account was going live. President Joe Biden on Monday launched a task force aimed at addressing the "systemic" problem of mishandling classified information during presidential transitions, days after a Justice Department special counsels sharply critical report said he had done just that. The Presidential Records Transition Task Force will study past transitions to determine best practices for safeguarding classified information from an outgoing administration, the White House said. It will also assess the need for changes to existing policies and procedures to prevent the removal of sensitive information that by law should be kept with the National Archives and Records Administration. The report from special counsel Robert Hur listed dozens of sensitive documents found at Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware, and at his former Washington office. The papers were marked as classified or later assessed to contain classified information. The majority of the documents, Hur's report stated, appeared to have been mistakenly removed from government offices, though he also detailed some items that Biden appeared to knowingly retain. He concluded that criminal charges were not warranted in the matter. I take responsibility for not having seen exactly what my staff was doing, Biden said last week after Hur's report was released. He added that things that appeared in my garage, things that came out of my home, things that were moved were moved not by me but my staff. First findings Biden aides first discovered some of the documents as they cleared out the offices of the Penn-Biden Center in Washington in 2022, and more were discovered during subsequent searches by Biden's lawyers and the FBI. Biden promptly reported the discoveries to federal authorities, which prompted the special counsel probe. By contrast, former President Donald Trump is accused of resisting efforts to return classified government records that he moved to his Florida residence before leaving office in 2021 and of obstructing the investigation into them in a separate special counsel investigation. In even the best of circumstances, presidential transitions can be chaotic as records of the outgoing administration are transferred to the National Archives and thousands of political appointees leave their jobs to make way for the incoming administration. Officials of multiple administrations have said there is a systemic problem with mishandling of classified information by senior government officials, particularly around transitions, magnified by rampant overclassification across the government. Former Vice President Mike Pence turned over some classified documents discovered at his home last year. And several times a year, former officials from all levels of government discover they possess classified material and turn it over to the authorities. Previous presidential transitions, across administrations stretching back decades, have fallen short in ensuring that classified presidential records are properly archived at NARA, the White House said. In light of the many instances that have come to light in recent years revealing the extent of this systemic issue, President Biden is taking action to strengthen how administrations safeguard classified documents during presidential transitions and to help address this long-standing problem going forward. Hurs report said many of the documents recovered at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, in parts of Bidens Delaware home and in his Senate papers at the University of Delaware were retained by mistake. Subjects of documents Biden could not have been prosecuted as a sitting president, but Hurs report states that he would not recommend charges against Biden regardless. Investigators did find evidence of willful retention of a subset of records found in Bidens Wilmington, Delaware, house, including in a garage, office and basement den, but not enough to suggest charges. The files pertain to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration that Biden had vigorously opposed. He kept records that documented his position, including a classified letter to Obama during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday. Biden also retained his personal notebooks after leaving the vice presidency, some of which investigators found contained classified information, though other officials have kept similar documents as their personal property. President Biden takes classified information seriously he returned the documents that were found, he fully cooperated with the investigation, and it concluded that there was no case," said Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel's office. "Now he is taking action to help strengthen future transitions to better prevent classified documents from being accidentally packed up and removed from the government, like we have seen with officials from every administration for decades. The task force will be led by Katy Kale, deputy administrator of the General Services Administration, who was assistant to the president for management and administration during the Obama administration, the post that oversees the human resources and document retention functions at the White House. The panel will include representatives from the White House, General Services Administration, NARA, the National Security Council and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The task force is to produce its recommendations ahead of the next presidential transition. It is set to operate independently from the White House Transition Coordinating Council, which is chaired by the White House chief of staff and required by law to be stood up six months before any presidential election. U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered a forceful refutation of challenger Donald Trump's harsh criticism of NATO, seeking to portray support for the former president as a threat to American interests. House Republicans deciding whether to support a congressional measure providing support for Ukraine's defense must choose to "stand with America or Trump," he said. Speaking at the White House, Biden slammed weekend remarks in which Trump said that when he was president, he told NATO leaders he would not defend members who failed to meet their financial commitments to the security bloc and that he would, in fact, support Russian aggression against them. "I would encourage them [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want," Trump said he told another head of state. "No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator," Biden said Tuesday. "Let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For God's sake, it's dumb, it's shameful, it's dangerous, it's un-American." Biden spoke Tuesday to urge House lawmakers to pass a $95 billion security aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The Senate approved the spending package earlier Tuesday. "This bipartisan bill sends a clear message to Ukrainians, and to our partners, and to our allies around the world: America can be trusted," Biden said. "America can be relied upon, and America stands up for freedom. We stand strong for our allies. We never bow down to anyone and certainly not to Vladimir Putin. So let's get on with this. Remember, the United States pulled together a coalition of nearly 50 nations to support Ukraine." Biden also used the former president as a foil to sketch out fundamental principles of his foreign policy. "When [Trump] looks at NATO, he doesn't see the alliance that protects America and the world," Biden said. "He sees a protection racket. He doesn't understand that NATO is built on fundamental principles of freedom, security and national sovereignty." And, Biden claimed, Trump's doctrine caters not to Americans, but their enemies. "Our adversaries have long sought to create cracks in the alliance," he said. "The greatest hope of all those who wish America harm is for NATO to fall apart. You can be sure that they all cheered when they heard Donald Trump." Bidens political critics did not immediately respond to his comments. But experts in presidential rhetoric note that Biden employed a classic tactic that has worked in the past. Which is that presidents always look more presidential and he needs to look more presidential when they're getting tough against foreign dictators, said Jeremi Suri, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin. That's a good issue for him to show that he's capable. That's an old trope almost too easy a trope. And, he said, Bidens words could resonate among Republican lawmakers. I think this is going to have very real world implications, because I think that the pressure is building for many Republicans who are running for reelection in the House to show that they are not crazy on foreign policy, he said. VOA asked two representatives of the Trump campaign what the former president made of Biden's words. They did not immediately respond. (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet service is being used by Sudans paramilitary Rapid Support Forces amid a nationwide internet blackout that humanitarian agencies say is preventing people from accessing essential help during a brutal 10-month civil war. Most Read from Bloomberg The RSF, which is battling Sudans army, has had access to Starlink technology since August, according to diplomats and a humanitarian official in the Darfur region, one of whom who has been in contact with the RSF while it used the service. The devices have proliferated since Sudans internet went down more than a week ago and are being imported through corridors controlled by the RSF via neighboring Chad and South Sudan, the people said. Videos and pictures of RSF soldiers using the technology have been posted widely on social media in recent days. Bloomberg couldnt independently verify the images. Fighting that erupted in Sudan in April has killed more than 12,000 people, destroyed the economy and forced 9 million other to flee their homes the biggest mass internal displacement on Earth. The US State Department has accused members of both the army and RSF of committing war crimes in the fight to control the vast North African nation that sits on a stretch of Red Sea key to global shipping. Read More: Africas One-Time Pariah General Is Being Feted as a Statesman A spokesperson for Starlink Inc. didnt immediately respond to questions, nor did representatives of the RSF and Sudanese army. Hassan Abdul Alaal, a trader in the city of Nyala in South Darfur, said some RSF-friendly traders in the region were now charging civilians about $2 per hour to use the Starlink services. Story continues War Zone Staple Starlinks mobile routers have become an increasingly vital piece of wartime infrastructure, providing communications services in areas of fighting where the internet is down in countries around the world. Musk activated the Starlink satellite service in Ukraine during the early months of Russias invasion. Ukrainian military intelligence said over the weekend that Russian forces have increasingly used Starlink terminals on the front line, which Starlink denies. Both sides in Sudans conflict blame each other for the internet shutdown, which has affected companies such as South Africas MTN, Kuwaits Zain Sudan and the state-owned Sudatel Telecom Group. The Association of Sudanese Engineers said in a statement the RSF had cut the internet throughout the entire country because of a loss of connectivity in the vast western Darfur region, the paramilitaries stronghold. Alfatih Erwa, Zain Sudans chief executive, said his companys engineers had been prevented from restoring connections in Darfur due to insecurity and fuel and electricity shortages. The RSF insisted they will shut down the internet from the entire country if we didnt bring back the internet to Darfur, he told a local radio station over the weekend. Martin Griffiths, the UNs emergency relief coordinator, on X slammed the unacceptable communications blackout he said was preventing people from accessing essential services and transferring funds. --With assistance from Loni Prinsloo. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Farmers in South Africas red meat industry are excited to resume exporting beef and lamb to Saudi Arabia after a long hiatus. Kate Bartlett reports from a ranch outside Johannesburg that stands to benefit from the new trade partnership. Camera and edit: Zaheer Cassim About 10,000 children are still fighting alongside armed groups in Central African Republic more than a decade after civil war broke out, the government said Monday. Marthe Kirima, the minister for family and gender, said in a statement that children are still being recruited as fighters, spies, messengers, cooks and even used as sex slaves. While 15,000 children have escaped from rebel forces, she said, many are traumatized and find it difficult to return to normal life. The mineral-rich but impoverished nation has had conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced then-President Francois Bozize from office. Mostly Christian militias fought back, also targeting civilians. The United Nations, which has a peacekeeping mission in the country, estimates the fighting has killed thousands and displaced over a million people, or one-fifth of the population. In 2019, a peace deal was reached between the government and 14 armed groups, but fighting continues. The U.N. is trying to prevent children from joining armed groups and make it easier for those released to reintegrate into society. It has created training programs for them to become mechanics, masons, carpenters or take up other professions. Some former child soldiers told The Associated Press that their harrowing experiences had pushed them to become peace ambassadors. I took up arms because Seleka killed by mother and father, said Arsene, who insisted on only his first name due to the sensitivity of the situation. He said a Christian rebel group recruited him when he was 14. After three years of fighting, he now tells young people not to join rebel groups. Ousmane, another former child soldier, said that joining the rebels ruined his life and that of those around him. What we did is indescribable, he said. The Dany Ngarasso Foundation, a local civil society group, called on the government to accelerate the peace process to protect child soldiers. They may have fought yesterday, but they can still campaign for peace today," foundation head Ngarasso said. Civil society is pushing the United Nations to make changes to a global cybercrime treaty, which they say lacks safeguards for journalists and human rights defenders. The U.N. met in New York earlier in February for what had been scheduled as a concluding session, but member states were unable to find consensus. Originally proposed by Russia in 2017, the treaty is designed to create a globally agreed legal framework to combat online fraud, scams and harassment. Known commonly as the Cybercrime Treaty, its purpose is to help define how countries investigate and criminalize cybercrime-related matters. But many civil rights groups have called attention to the treatys language, which they say is too broad and potentially harmful to researchers and journalists. Some warn that member states could use the treaty to limit free expression or justify state surveillance. Ahead of the session, around 50 organizations and experts, including Human Rights Watch and PEN International, issued a joint statement calling attention to potentially problematic provisions. Robust and meaningful safeguards and limitations are essential to avoid the possibility of abuse of relevant provisions of the Convention that could arise under the guise of combating cybercrime, the statement said. The statement concludes by urging state delegations to address critical gaps in the draft. The suggested fixes include narrowing the scope specifically to define cyber-dependent crimes and ensuring that vulnerable people or entities are not prosecuted for legitimate activities or other public interest activities. Barbora Bukovska, senior director for law and policy at rights group Article 19, says her organization signed the joint statement due to the treatys global impact on civil society. Countries around the world will be able to rewrite their criminal and surveillance laws in a way that does not protect human rights, Bukovska said. Or countries that do not have cybercrime laws will be enabled and emboldened to adopt restrictive ones. She noted that one of the biggest challenges during the process of revising the treaty has been surveillance-related provisions and expansion of surveillance powers, largely pushed by Russia and China. States are searching for ways to increase surveillance under the guise of combatting cybercrime, Bukovska said. Both China and Russia have dire human rights and press freedom records. Watchdogs have long documented how such authoritarian regimes use laws regarding national security and espionage to imprison journalists and critics. Several countries have already used cybercrime laws to prosecute journalists. Nigeria in February charged four journalists with cyberstalking in relation to their coverage of fraud allegations, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ. Elsewhere, Iran has a cyber police unit to monitor online activity and Nicaragua approved cybercrime legislation, which it says tackles false information but that analysts say can be used to retaliate against critics. Raman Jit Singh Chima, global cybersecurity lead and senior international counsel at Access Now, which also signed the statement, said the latest draft has worsened since previous negotiations. Although Access Now understands several states want some form of legal agreement on how cybercrimes are investigated and how states cooperate, Chima said the treaty should not escalate existing situations or do harm to vulnerable actors. One of the most critical recommendations that Access Now and others are pushing for is an explicit set of provisions protecting good faith actions, such as the work of security researchers, journalists and activists, from criminalization. Chima said the language of the treaty should include strong standards for the right to privacy protected under human rights law and that the principles of necessity, legality and proportionality should apply to any government action under the treaty. With several countries expanding or adopting cybercrime laws and using them against journalists, it is crucial that problematic provisions in the treaty do not become international law, he said. If the treaty is adopted, he said, Access Now will advocate against countries ratifying it to try to minimize the harms. The U.N. is still finalizing the treaty language and should reconvene later this year. Member states can choose not to sign or ratify the treaty and could use a simple majority in the General Assembly to draft a new document. Chinese-linked cyber actors appear to have made a massive, last-minute push to try to derail Taiwans recent elections, though the precise goals of the sudden campaign and the extent to which the attacks succeeded remain unclear. A new report Tuesday by the U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Trellix found what researchers described as a significant spike in activity, with attacks on Taiwanese organizations more than doubling in the 24-hour period before Taiwans January 13 election. Malicious cyber activity rose significantly from 1,758 detections on January 11 to over 4,300 on January 12, the report said. Most of the attacks appeared to focus on government offices, police departments, and financial institutions, with the attackers focused on internal communications, police reports, bank statements and insurance information. Then, almost as suddenly as they came, the attacks seemed to wane, with just over 1,000 attacks detected on election day itself. The pattern of the attack is unusual, Trellix's Anne An told VOA. We see a lot of Chinese APTs [advanced persistent threat actors] that, after they get in, they stay low, maintain persistence, said An, Trellixs lead threat intelligence researcher. We dont see this crazy spike. Trellix is continuing to review the data. But An said one explanation could be a sense of desperation by the Chinese threat actors to find a way to impact the Taiwanese election. They may well have been going in with a last effort, trying to dig in the financial information, the policing records and the government internal communications, trying to figure out if theres anything they can grab, she said. Only if the goal was to change how Taiwanese citizens voted or induce some sort of panic as the vote was being counted, it would seem the Chinese-linked hackers failed. Rumors about election fraud were quickly debunked and dismissed by what some analysts described as whole of society response making use of government agencies, independent fact check organizations and even social media influencers. "Find it early, like a tumor or cancer. Cut it before it spreads," Taipei's economic and cultural representative to the U.S., Alexander Tah-Ray Yui, told The Associated Press last month. Still, the Trellix report says the danger to Taiwan may not be over. It warns that the spike in attacks on the day before Taiwans elections may be part of a longer-term strategy by the Chinese-linked threat actors. The same set of data also shows that threat actors operating behind these malicious activities leverage a number of living-off-the-land tools, the report said. Living-off-the-land attacks allow hackers to infiltrate a computer network or system and hide, quietly stealing additional data or positioning themselves to launch a disruptive attack at a more opportune time. And it is a tactic that has worried cybersecurity officials in the United States, prompting the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to issue a threat advisory to U.S. companies just last week. A China-linked hacker group known as Volt Typhoon has been "positioning itself to launch destructive cyberattacks that would jeopardize the physical safety of Americans," the advisory warned. And CISA director Jen Easterly warned last month that the Chinese strategy is likely closely linked to Taiwan. Beijings goal would be to incite societal panic and chaos, and to deter our ability to marshal military might," especially in case of a conflict over Taiwan, she told lawmakers. Chinas goal, Easterly added, would be to incite societal panic and chaos, and to deter our ability to marshal military might," especially in case of a conflict over Taiwan. China has rejected such accusations, accusing U.S. officials of making irresponsible criticism when Washington itself is guilty of such behavior. We urge the U.S. side to stop, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA in an email in response to the CISA directors warnings. Russia has declared Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and officials from other eastern European nations as "wanted" over their efforts to remove Soviet-era war memorials in their countries. Kallas and the other officials are accused of violating Russian laws against the "falsification of history" and the "rehabilitation of Nazism," according to Russian officials. This action has been taken against Kallas and others who have "taken hostile actions against historical memory" and Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. This is the first time in history the head of another state has been placed on the interior ministry's wanted list. "The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others but it won't," Kallas posted in response on X, formerly known as Twitter. She has also described the action as a "familiar scare tactic." The move comes 11 months after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was accused of war crimes for his alleged involvement in abducting children from Ukraine. The ICC also issued a warrant for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights. The Reuters news agency reports those named to the Russian interior ministry's list include Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys and Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop, who were added for removing monuments to Soviet soldiers. Reuters quoted Kairys as saying the arrest order "means I acted actively and in a principled way." Several members of Latvia's former parliament are also reported to be listed. For years, many in Estonia and Lithuania disliked these monuments, but Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has spurred the recent removal of them. To many in these Baltic countries, these monuments are an unpleasant reminder of Soviet occupation, but to Moscow, they represent Russia's role in liberating these countries from Nazi control. "Crimes against the memory of the liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must be punished. And this is just the beginning," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, claiming Russia's military was seeking the "denazification" but not occupation of the neighboring country. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish. Since its invasion, Russia has toughened its stance on the laws against falsifying history and rehabilitating Nazism. Kairys said that Russia has distorted the facts, and that its "regime is doing what it has always done trying to stifle freedom," and creating "its own version that is at odds with facts of logic." Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all Baltic states are members of the 31-member NATO Atlantic alliance, having joined in 2004. They are among Ukraine's staunchest political, financial and military supporters. The three NATO members have been increasing military spending and improving their border defenses following rising tensions that have many worried about a potential armed confrontation with Russia. The three countries were seized and annexed by Josef Stalin during World War II before regaining independence with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. In January 2023, Estonia's ambassador was ordered to leave Russia over alleged "Russophobia." Before this, Russian diplomats were ordered to leave Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Tensions rose again earlier this month as Russia accused Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania of ignoring their requests to grant security at Russian embassy voting stations in their countries. Following the accusation, diplomats from all three states were summoned by Moscow. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOA's Steve Herman contributed to this report. Six months after the collapse of their 2019 summit in Hanoi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter to then U.S. President Donald Trump conveying a sense of personal betrayal. I am clearly offended, and I do not want to hide this feeling from you, Kim told Trump in the last of 25 personal letters exchanged between the two men and shared with veteran U.S. journalist Bob Woodward. In Hanoi, Trump had rejected Kim's offer to dismantle a major nuclear facility in exchange for lifting most U.S. sanctions. Over the subsequent months, the talks reached a standstill, as each side backed away from the commitments made at their initial 2018 meeting in Singapore. In the letter, Kim expressed disappointment that the United States and South Korea were ramping up joint military exercises that had been scaled back as part of the talks. If you do not think of our relationship as a steppingstone that only benefits you, then you would not make me look like an idiot that will only give without getting anything in return, wrote Kim. Months after he sent the letter, Kim unveiled a major foreign policy shift to cope with what he called Washingtons hostile policy. The new approach, Kim declared, would emphasize self-reliance and a strengthened nuclear deterrent. Since then, North Korea has developed an arsenal of weapons that can fly further, faster, and more stealthily than ever. North Korea has enshrined nuclear weapons in its constitution a status Kim called irreversible. Kim has also rejected offers of talks with the United States, instead expanding ties with traditional friends Russia and China. To many observers, the moves suggest Kim has given up on his country's long-term goal of normalizing relations with the United States a development that may make it harder to convince North Korea to restart talks, even if Trump, the current Republican presidential frontrunner, were to return to the presidency in 2025. It will be a very different ballgame, said Moon Chung-in, a foreign policy advisor to successive left-leaning South Korean administrations, including the previous government, which pursued talks with Pyongyang. It could be extremely difficult to restart dialogue with Pyongyang. Trump still optimistic No one knows how Trump would handle North Korea during a hypothetical second term, especially given the extreme contrasts he displayed toward the North during his first term. In 2017, Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea and exchanged threats of nuclear war with Kim, before pivoting to diplomacy and claiming that he and the North Korean leader fell in love. Since leaving office, Trump has continued to speak positively of his relationship with Kim and frequently claims that the friendship prevented nuclear war an indication that he sees the talks as beneficial, even if they did not result in North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons. In December, Politico, a U.S. news website, reported that Trump was considering a plan that would at least temporarily abandon the goal of North Korea's denuclearization. According to Politico, Trump would offer Pyongyang financial incentives to stop making new bombs. Trump denied the report. The only thing accurate in the story is that I do get along well with Kim Jong Un, Trump said in a social media post. It is not clear if the two men still exchange letters, or how much Trump would prioritize any outreach to Kim if he returned to office. Kim: happy with status quo? If Trump wants to resume talks, Kim may not feel inclined to abandon his current approach, which has allowed him to navigate a series of formidable challenges. Despite a prolonged period of pandemic self-isolation, continued international sanctions, and a diplomatic stalemate with the United States, Kim has survived economically and even made progress in weapons development, notes Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst with the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network. These successes likely reinforced the thinking in Pyongyang that there actually may not be much the U.S. can do for North Korea, Lee said. Kim's biggest takeaway from the collapse of the Hanoi summit is that the U.S. will always carry out what it calls a hostile policy toward North Korea, irrespective of who is the president, she added. Instead, Kim has expanded his partnership with Russia. According to the United States and its allies, North Korea has provided Russia with artillery shells and ballistic missiles, which Moscow has used during its war on Ukraine. In return, U.S. officials suspect Russia is assisting North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Warming North Korea-Russia ties make it even less likely that Kim will feel the need to find other avenues for diplomatic, military, and economic support, said Sydney Seiler, who until last year was the national intelligence officer for North Korea in the U.S. National Intelligence Council. Hes created an environment and a way forward that is less dependent on what one might call normal diplomatic relations or normal interactions with the outside, except for the few countries that would accept North Korea as it is, Seiler told VOA. Challenges ahead While Kim could always change his mind and re-engage with the United States, he may demand much more in negotiations following several years of nuclear and missile advancements. But that likely will occur only if the U.S. is willing to shelve denuclearization and engage in some form of arms control or even risk reduction talks. And that is a very, very high threshold to meet, as the U.S., South Korea's and Japan's official position remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Lee said. If Trump were to pursue such an accommodation with Kim, it could raise tensions with South Korea. Unlike the situation during Trumps first term, South Koreas current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, is conservative and prefers a hawkish approach to the North. Jessica Taylor, an Asia security expert at the Atlantic Council, fears Trump would continue to downplay North Koreas launch of short-range missiles, which pose a major threat to U.S. regional allies. Trump also may be willing to cancel joint military exercises with South Korea, not only to appease North Korea but just because he doesnt see them as necessary or worth the expenditure, Taylor said. In the end, Taylor thinks Trumps North Korea policy will likely look much like it did the first time lots of bluster and showmanshipwithout getting into anything really concrete. When Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union moved to suspend broadcasts by the Kremlin-backed outlets Sputnik and Russia Today, or RT, citing systematic information manipulation and disinformation. But two years later, RT is developing a presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a move that analysts say could undermine the countrys Euro-Atlantic path and help spread disinformation. RT chief editor Margarita Simonyan announced in December that the Serbian wing of the state-run outlet will enter the Bosnian market in 2024. The RT network already has a website in the Serbian language in the West Balkans, but this will be its first TV presence inside Bosnia. Borka Rudic, general secretary of the BH Journalists Association, said the potential arrival of Russian-backed media in the country is a journalistic and a political issue. "It is not desirable to ban and challenge the activity of a certain media on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in advance," said Rudic. "But in the context of political events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is a really controversial issue, given that Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country has taken on obligations from the process of joining the European Union." Russia Today pushes back When VOA Bosnian Service first reported on RT's announcement, the Russian broadcaster published an article on its website in Serbian saying that VOA accuses RT of spreading Russian propaganda and Kremlin influence and places fake news that RTs arrival in Bosnia will further complicate [the] situation in Bosnia. Referring to a statement by a former Bosnian ambassador, the RT article added, "They [the U.S.] only cares about the expansion of NATO and the interests of the international community." The Bosnian communications regulator said no legal obstacles exist to granting a license to RT. But the regulators director, Drasko Milinovic, added they have not yet received an application. Cable operators working under the Mtel telecommunications company already offer RT English and Russia 24. Mtel is in Banja Luka, the regional capital of the Republic of Srpska, which is one of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Srpska authorities advocate for secession and are resistant to a NATO membership, while the other entity, the Bosnian Federation, is pushing for EU membership and to be part of NATO. The availability of Kremlin-backed media in the region was raised at Russian President Vladimir Putins annual press conference in late 2023. A journalist from Alternative Television asked the Russian leader about the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and noted no Russian media operated inside the country. Alternative is a privately run station based in Srpska. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on it, saying the station had direct connections, including financial ties, to regional President Milorad Dodik, who is also under U.S. sanctions. "We are aware of the situation in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The assessments of that situation by our and your political leadership completely coincide, Putin said. He added that he would take up the matter with Oleg Borisovich Dobrodeev, director of the All-Russia State Television and Broadcasting Company. Not long after that, RT editor-in-chief Simonyan said that broadcasting will begin in 2024. Friendly relations Srpska and neighboring Serbia have friendly relations with the Kremlin and Putin. Last year, Dodik honored Putin with an award for his "patriotic concern and love for [Republicka Srpska]." He has also made regular comments that he would like the secession of the republic. Dodik has also traveled to Russia and met with Putin since the war in Ukraine. He is currently under U.S. sanctions for corruption and undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement, which helped end the 1992-95 war. Political analyst Adnan Huskic says Russia has an interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and seeks to dismantle everything Western, undermining its path to full NATO membership. Other analysts, including Elmir Sadikovic, say the arrival of Kremlin-backed media could hinder Bosnias European path. That will be a big step backwards for this relationship, said Sadikovic, a professor of European integration at the Faculty of Political Science in Sarajevo. Enver Halilovic, former ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Russia, agreed. "The arrival of media financed by the Russian government to the territory of a country toward which it has a negative attitude and is against the NATO alliance, can set back the relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina with its international partners," Halilovic said. Journalists have also raised concerns. Rubina Cengic, who works for the news website Interview.ba, said of RTs content, "It will be propaganda reporting. They do not hide at all that they are a government media outlet. RT has already produced content that makes false claims about the region. A video released in April 2023 titled "Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rise of the Caliphate, made a series of claims that are contrary to facts established by the Hague Tribunal and denies Serbian forces committed any war crimes in Srebrenica. The Hague and courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina have concluded that Serbian forces executed between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosniaks, or Bosnian Muslims, from Srebrenica, according to the Balkan Research Network, which reports on war crimes in the region. RTs head, Simonyan, is sanctioned by Canada, the United Kingdom and the EU for her role in spreading Kremlin disinformation on the war in Ukraine. Propaganda should not be ignored, said Ivana Stradner from the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracy. "Given that the situation in the region is really getting worse and worse, Russia is doing everything possible to deepen the even greater differences in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Stradner. "So, in this way, he wants to send a signal to the West that Russia still has great influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina." Stradner believes the Kremlin's goal is not to gain favor of a wider audience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is enough to cause aversion toward the West. Cengic sees one solution in media literacy, which could help people recognize propaganda and politically controlled reporting. This story originated in VOAs Bosnian Service. On February 7, Whitney Wright, an American porn star and Instagram influencer, shared a photograph of herself posing in front of the former United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Wright appeared standing next to a lowered American flag at her feet, with sunglasses pushed up to her head and a scarf loosely covering her hair, leaving most of it exposed. The United States closed its embassy in Tehran after Iranians loyal to the new Islamist regime stormed it in 1979 and held 52 embassy staffers hostage for 444 days. Today, the U.S. only maintains a virtual Iran embassy. In Tehran, the Iranian regime turned the U.S. Embassy into a museum run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Wright, a vocal critic of Israels policy toward the Palestinians, did not mention any of that history in her gleeful Instagram post. I want you guys to see my literal ticket that I bought to enter the MUSEUM lol. Anyone can get one in Tehran! :), she wrote. In that same post, Wright also attacked Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian rights activist and journalist who lives in exile in the U.S., calling her a CIA plant and accusing her of being literally paid to spread misinformation. Wrights attack came after Alinejad criticized her posts from Tehran. Wrights posts sparked outrage across social networks and news media among Iranian womens rights activists in exile. Wright said Instagram removed some of her posts following a backlash and protests by the Iranian public. The specific post that outraged Alinejad and others featured Wrights selfie in a loose hijab captioned: If you respect the law, you will be safe in Iran. That is false. The statement undermines Iranian womens decades-long fight for their rights and freedoms. Last September, Iran adopted a new law called Hijab and Chastity a step further in the already strict dress code for women and the penalty for violating it. The new law equates wearing a loose hijab (just the way Wright was wearing her headscarf) with nudity. The punishment for such violations is up to 10 years in prison. Even before these new restrictions were introduced in 2023, the Iranian regimes morality police enforced the proper hijab mandate with brutality. On September 15, 2022, Sanaz Bagheri, an Iranian rights activist and cartoonist, shared a digital cartoon on X depicting an unconscious young woman in a hospital with a dark figure over her bed pulling her hair. The caption read: 22-year-old #MahsaAmini is in a coma in the hospital after being arrested by morality police for wearing an inappropriate hijab. This is the brutality of Islamic Republic! Mahsa Amini died in custody. According to media reports, she died from a beating at the hands of the morality police. The Iranian regime denied those reports and jailed the two female journalists who investigated Aminis death. Some of Whitney Wright's photos cheering up to the Iranian regime remain on Instagram with captions like "Tehran ~ a sweet glimpse" followed by the Iranian flag and a white heart emoji. In all those photos, she is wearing a green scarf that barely covers her hair. Social media posts have highlighted the contrast of the regimes treatment of Mahsa Amini and other Iranian women accused of improperly wearing a hijab, with its permission for Whitney Wright, a porn star, to enter the country. Iran has shown no such tolerance to its own stars who are deemed to have violated Islamic norms. For example, Iran banned Golshifteh Farahani, once a prominent star in Iran, from returning to the country for participating in a French video ad for the U.S. Academy Awards ceremony, in which she exposed her breasts, and for appearing nude in movies. An official of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic told Farahanis father in Tehran that his daughter would be punished, and her breasts would be cut off and presented to him on a plate. Euronews reported that support for a porn star by individuals close to the Iranian government is not unprecedented. Lebanese porn star Mia Khalifa also received Iranian backing for her anti-Israel stances, despite a ban visiting her home country. Iran International, a Saudi Arabia-linked Persian language TV network headquartered in London, quoted Abdolreza Davari, a confidant of Irans former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: We stand by anyone who fights against Israel, even if that person is Mia Khalifa, a former porn star, who has now cleansed her record of [moral] corruption through her explicit support for the oppressed Palestinian people and her struggle against the crimes of the Zionists. Saeed Peyvandi, a sociologist and professor at Frances University of Lorraine, told IranWire, a news site based in London, that the Iranian government might have orchestrated Wrights visit ahead of this years 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in an attempt to enhance the regimes reputation abroad. "By quietly allowing her visit despite knowledge of her background, the government appears to be attempting to project an image of openness and tolerance, challenging the narratives of internal dissenters about restrictions and repression in the Islamic Republic, Peyvandi said. On February 11 a march in Tehran in celebration of the Islamic Revolution's 45th anniversary featured women without hijab, which observers said was part of the regime's PR campaign. France and several other Western countries allied with Ukraine accused Russia on Monday of developing a network of websites to promote pro-Russian propaganda and undermine their governments. The accusation raises the possibility of an influx of disinformation two years into Russias invasion of Ukraine and ahead of important elections in Russia, the European Union and the United States, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris all occurring this year. Russia has denied the claim. The countries said Russia used social media and the internet to belittle Ukraine's resilience, attempt to sway public and international support, amplify Russias success in the war, discredit Ukrainian resistance and justify the invasion. The French watchdog Viginum, which monitors foreign digital activity and websites, identified a network dubbed Portal Kombat with 193 websites that spread pro-Russian information. Viginum found that between June 23 and September 19, 2023, the sites published over 150,000 pieces of content that was usually reported by Russian or pro-Russian personalities or media members. "The objective seems to be to cover the Russo-Ukraine conflict by presenting the 'special military operation' positively and denigrating Ukraine and its leaders," a French diplomat said, using Moscow's term for the invasion. While the websites have not gotten a lot of traction, unlike previous disinformation campaigns, they aim to attract local audiences who can then spread the information within their communities. "We are expecting an acceleration of different Russian actions and even widespread dissemination, so this is a reason to bring this to attention now," a French military official said. Potential risks include creating disruption around the Olympic Games or undermining peoples confidence in multiple upcoming elections. "We are in a period of vulnerability with the European elections, and regarding France, the Olympics," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in a joint news conference with Polish and German officials. "These are attacks on our democracy," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, adding that the European Union could not allow people's confidence to be undermined. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Police in India fired tear gas shells at hundreds of farmers who were marching Tuesday toward the capital, New Delhi, in a mass protest demanding crop price guarantees. Spearheaded by farmers from North Indian states of Punjab and Haryana that are known as Indias breadbasket, the protestors said the government has failed to meet promises it made after they called off a year-long protest in 2021. Television images showed plumes of smoke at a border point that lies about 200 kilometers north of Delhi after security forces dropped tear gas canisters from a drone to disperse the farmers. The Indian capital has been turned into a virtual fortress with barbed wire, cement blocks and metal spikes installed at its borders to prevent the farmers from reaching the city. Thousands of security personnel and police guarded Delhi, where large gatherings have been banned. Internet service has been suspended in some districts of neighboring Haryana state. The heavy security measures aim to prevent a repeat of a massive protest that began in September 2020 when tens of thousands of farmers camped on Delhis borders for nearly one year until the government conceded their demand to scrap three controversial laws. Being held months ahead of Indias general elections, The Dilli Chalo or March to Delhi call poses a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely expected to win a third term in office. Nearly two thirds of the country's 1.4 billion people depend on agricultural incomes for livelihoods, making farmers a key voting bloc in the country. Farm leaders are vowing to continue with the protest until their demands are met. We do not want to break any barricades. We want a resolution of our issues through dialogue. But if the government does nothing, then what will we do? It is our compulsion, Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of one of the farmer groups, told reporters. Talks held between the farmers and the government ahead of the protest failed to make headway. Following discussions on Monday. Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said more talks were needed to resolve the issues raised by farmers. The government is committed towards the welfare of farmers. An agreement has been reached on some matters. We are open to many issues, and we can work on ways to find solutions," Munda told reporters. The key demand of the farmers is legislation that would guarantee prices for all crops. Currently, the government announces subsidized prices for about two dozen agricultural products each year and buys crops such as rice, wheat and cotton at the guaranteed prices. Only about 14% of the farmers in India get the benefit of a support price whereas 86% are dependent on the market, farm analyst Devender Sharma told VOA. Now the markets have failed to provide them with an adequate income. A law that would guarantee a support price means that no one can buy below that price whether it is a private trader or organized retail, Sharma said. The farmers also want the government to keep promises it has made to double their incomes, give pensions to farmers and farm laborers and waive loans taken by farmers. Farmers say agriculture is no longer viable because crop prices have not kept pace with the rising overhead costs such as fertilizer, diesel and seeds. They also say crop yields have become more uncertain due to the growing frequency of extreme weather events that ruin crops. Farmers unions have announced a rural strike on February 16 when markets and offices in villages will be closed as farmers plan to block major roads across the country. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned Tuesday that Iran is "not entirely transparent" regarding its atomic program, particularly after an official who once led Tehran's program announced that the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon "in our hands." Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, just across the Persian Gulf, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, alluded to remarks made this weekend by Ali Akbar Salehi. Grossi noted "an accumulation of complexities" in the wider Middle East amid Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran, after the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels. Tehran has accumulated enough enriched uranium to build several weapons if it chooses. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and others assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program. Israel long has been believed to have its own nuclear weapons program. Iran is "presenting a face which is not entirely transparent when it comes to its nuclear activities. Of course this increases dangers," Grossi said. "There's loose talk about nuclear weapons more and more, including in Iran recently. A very high official said, in fact, we have everything, it's disassembled. Well, please let me know what you have." Iran, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has pledged to allow the IAEA to visit its atomic sites to ensure its program is peaceful. Tehran also agreed to additional oversight from the IAEA as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. Grossi did not identify the Iranian official who made the comment. However, in an Iranian state television show late Sunday, Salehi said that the country had all it needed to build a weapon. "We have all the [pieces] of nuclear science and technology. Let me give an example," Salehi said. "What does a car need? It needs a chassis, it needs an engine, it needs a steering wheel, it needs a gearbox. Have you made a gearbox? I say yes. An engine? But each one is for its own purpose." Salehi made a similar comment Saturday. "We have it in our hands," he said. Since 2022, Iranian officials have spoken openly about something long denied by Tehran as it enriches uranium at its closest-ever levels to weapons-grade material: The Islamic Republic is ready to build an atomic weapon at will. That includes Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who told Al Jazeera that Tehran has the ability to build nuclear weapons but does not intend to do so. Salehi's comments represent an escalation. He served as the head of the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran under then-President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate within Iran's theocracy who reached the 2015 deal with world powers. The hardening of Iran's position comes as militias it arms in the region Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched attacks targeting Israel. The Houthis continue to attack commercial shipping in the region, sparking repeated airstrikes from the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile Tuesday, Iran released footage of a ballistic missile being fired off the Shahid Mahdavi, a container ship transformed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into a floating base. The footage showed a Fateh missile fired from a launcher disguised as a shipping container, potentially meaning Iran could hide the launcher on other vessels. A landslide in eastern Turkey hit a gold mine, trapping at least nine workers underground. The landslide occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time at the Copler mine in Turkey's mountainous Erzincan province. Video from the scene reportedly showed the earth engulfing everything in its path, including the valley where the workers were. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the workers were missing and said that search and rescue efforts are underway, with 400 search and rescue personnel present. Anagold Mining, the private company that runs the mine, has been managing it since 2009, with a staff count of 667, as stated by Yerlikaya. "We will mobilize all our means in order to urgently shed light on this incident," Anagold said in a statement. "This is a painful situation. Immediately after the incident, we immediately contacted our employees in the region, put our emergency plan into action and informed the relevant public institutions and organizations." The landslide also impacts the environment surrounding the mine. Geologist Suleyman Pampal told Haberturk news agency that the soil involved in the landslide underwent gold processing, which means it could contain cyanide that is used during the extraction process. The Euphrates River is also adjacent to the mine and if contamination due to the landslide is not contained, it could harm surrounding life. This type of accident is not unique in Turkey, which is susceptible to landslides and has had a series of mining accidents in the last few decades. Last year a methane blast in northwestern Turkey killed 42 people. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. After years of focus on oil and gas, Nigerian authorities are taking a new look at the mining industry as part of their drive to diversify the economy. But the country is still reeling from environmental damage caused by old mining operations, and the illegal mining that continues. Timothy Obiezu reports. The casts of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" gathered Monday for the annual Academy Award nominees' luncheon along with other Oscar hopefuls coming together for photos, hugs and congratulations. The luncheon is a warm, feel-good, egalitarian affair where little-known first-time nominees in categories like best animated short get to rub shoulders and share tables with acting nominees like Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, whose snubs for best director and best actress, respectively, for "Barbie" caused a major stir, were both present for the nominations they did get and were all smiles before lunch. Gerwig, nominated for adapted screenplay, was surrounded by selfie-seekers as soon as she entered the ballroom. Robbie, up for best picture as a "Barbie" producer, beamed nearby as she hugged and chatted with a woman who got one of the best actress spots, Sandra Huller of "Anatomy of a Fall." The centerpiece of the event in Beverly Hills, California, is a class photo of the entire group of nominees. Nearly all of them usually attend, both as part of the Oscars experience and as part of their unspoken campaigns for votes. Before the luncheon began, nominees including Cillian Murphy, a favorite for best actor for "Oppenheimer," and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, a favorite for best supporting actress for "The Holdovers," made the rounds of media outlets whose reporters are set up in cabanas around the Beverly Hilton pool. Steven Spielberg, nominated for best picture as a producer of "Maestro," chatted with a small group on the patio. Less famous nominees packed into the ballroom and posed for group pictures. They'll later be seated for a vegetarian menu of king oyster mushrooms and wild mushroom risotto. The event is also a chance for the leadership of the Academy, including President Janet Yang to give speeches and address their prominent members in person. She used last year's luncheon to address what she called the Academy's "inadequate" response to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the previous year's ceremony. Yang's remarks this year had a much lighter tone, and dealt with more banal matters, like the timing of the Oscars ceremony. "In case any of you have been in a nominations haze, we are starting an hour earlier this year," she said. When she saw surprise around the room she said, "Ooh, some people didn't know! I'm glad I reminded you!" She drew groans when she added that the Oscars come on the first day of daylight-saving time. An unusual special election in New York City's suburbs on Tuesday could be a bellwether in the fight for control of Congress. Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, faces off with Republican Mazi Pilip, a county lawmaker, in a race for a House seat that became vacant when George Santos was expelled from Congress. The contest, being fought in a district that includes Long Island suburbs and a small corner of Queens, has offered a preview of the political strategies both parties might use in the fall, with the campaigns testing messages on immigration, abortion and public safety. New York is expected to host a handful of congressional battleground races this year and the special election could provide clues on how crucial districts might lean. Still, forecasting for November could be complicated given that turnout, which was already expected to be low given the abbreviated race, could be further hampered by a storm expected to dump several inches of snow on the district on election day. The unusual midwinter election became necessary after Santos was ousted by his colleagues in December, partway through his first term. Santos won office in what had been a reliably Democratic district partly by falsely portraying himself as an American success story a son of working class immigrants who made himself into a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker. But many elements of Santos' life story were later exposed as fabrications, and he was indicted on multiple charges, including allegations he stole money from Republican donors. He has pleaded not guilty. Suozzi, who previously represented the district for three terms, campaigned in the centrist lane, distancing himself from progressive policies that have not played well on Long Island and cast himself as a dealmaker who can work with the GOP. Republicans sought to link Suozzi to criticism over federal immigration policy under Democratic President Joe Biden, a looming political vulnerability for Democrats because of an ongoing influx of migrants in New York. Democrats have framed the race around abortion rights, a centerpiece of their election year strategy. Suozzi spent a lot of the campaign talking about the need to strengthen immigration policy. He said he would support a temporary closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to slow the number of migrants into the city, signaling Democrats recognition of the political pressures surrounding the subject. Pilip was born in Ethiopia but left the country at age 12 as part of Operation Solomon, when Israel airlifted some 14,500 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in less than two days as civil war ravaged the Horn of Africa. She served in Israel's military as an adult, moving to the U.S. after marrying a Ukrainian-American doctor in 2005. In 2021, Pilip was elected to the Nassau County legislature. Though Pilip publicly identifies as a Republican and won county office under the GOP banner, she is actually a registered Democrat. She says she registered as a Democrat when she got to the U.S. but has drifted away from the party as it has become more liberal. A spokesman said Pilip intends to change her party affiliation after the election. Despite once being a migrant herself, Pilip has hammered Suozzi and Democratic President Joe Biden over U.S. immigration policy. She has argued for additional border policing to stop illegal immigration as well as the construction of a border wall. Suozzi counterattacked Pilip on abortion, saying she couldn't be trusted to protect abortion rights in places like New York where it remains legal. Pilip said she is personally against abortion but wouldn't force her beliefs others and would oppose any attempt by Congress to impose a nationwide ban. She has also said mifepristone, an abortion medication, should be available nationally. In their only debate before the election, Suozzi pushed Pilip to further clarify her position on abortion, asking her whether she is "pro-choice." She did not give a direct answer, instead accusing Democrats of lying about her stance on abortion. Democrats spent heavily during the campaign to boost Suozzi and retake the district, one of a handful of New York House seats the party wants to flip as part of their plan to win control of Congress in November. Republicans have dominated on Long Island in recent elections. "They see that, first of all I'm a very strong candidate. My proven record as a county legislator. My own story is very strong," Pilip said in an interview. "And they are very nervous." Ukraine said Tuesday that Russia attacked overnight with 23 drones, including targeting the eastern city of Dnipro where officials reported damage to a power plant. Mayor Borys Filatov said on Telegram that infrastructure had been hit, but did not specify what was struck or the extent of the damage. Private energy provider DTEK said on Telegram one of its thermal power plants was seriously damaged by Russian attacks, causing it to halt electricity production. The company said there were no casualties. Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor, said Russia had carried out a mass attack on the region, with Ukrainian air defenses shooting down 10 drones in the Dnipro area. In total, Ukraines air force said air defense destroyed 16 of the 23 Russian drones, with others being intercepted over the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Some information for this story came from Reuters A last-minute bipartisan effort to add key funding aimed at countering China in the Pacific has failed in the U.S. Senate even as a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan moved forward. A renewal of the 20-year agreement known as the Compacts of Free Association or COFA was signed late last year, but $7 billion dollars to fund it is still struggling to find a path forward in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers tried to add funds for COFA to the aid package but no amendments to the legislation were considered prior to its passage early Tuesday morning. Frustration about the delay in the passage of the funds is mounting in the three compact states: Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Every day it is not approved plays into the hands of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] and the leaders here (some of whom have done business with the PRC) who want to accept its seemingly attractive economic offers at the cost of shifting alliances, beginning with sacrificing Taiwan, wrote Palaus president, Surangel Whipps Jr., in a letter obtained by VOA and sent to U.S. senators. Together our islands give the U.S. strategic control of the sea and air between Hawaii and Asia larger in area than the 48 contiguous United States including shipping lanes that the PRC covets effectively extending the U.S. border for military purposes to Asia, Whipps added, underscoring whats at stake for U.S. national security. In a letter to U.S. senators and obtained by VOA, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine laid out the ways in which Beijing is pressuring her nation, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan. There have been carrot and stick efforts from the PRC to shift our alliances including discontinuing support of Taiwan, she wrote. A proposal to develop one of our atoll municipalities if it were granted autonomy from our national government that I opposed generated an effort to topple my government in our parliament. Later, people from the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] were convicted by a U.S. court of bribing proposal supporters in our parliament who voted against me. Congressional supporters of passing funding of the COFA agreement are taking heart in the fact that 24 senators 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats signed onto the proposed amendment to the security supplemental, which raised the measures profile, they say, in Congress. Our amendment to add the COFAs to the package was led by Senator (James) Risch and had broad bipartisan support in the Senate, including from the chairs and ranking members of all three committees of jurisdiction. This support demonstrates the growing awareness of Compacts importance and Im working with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration to get this done, said Senator Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Democrat, in a statement to VOA. James Risch, a Republican senator from Idaho, told VOA that getting funding passed for COFA is critical. China is pushing for military bases, policing agreements and other coercive actions in the region. It is critical the U.S. blunt these efforts, and renewing these compacts is central to pushing back, Risch said. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, echoed his commitment to finding a path forward. Amid rising tensions in the Pacific and Chinas growing influence in the region, it is more important than ever for international peace and security to maintain U.S. strategic control and a close alliance with our Compact partners," Manchin told VOA. Supporters of passing COFA funding are already seeking to attach it to another piece of must-pass legislation most likely the upcoming government spending bills that must be passed by March 1 and March 8. We know theres wide support for COFA, but COFA has to compete with multiple legislative priorities on taxes, appropriations, CRs [continuing resolutions] and aid to Israel, which I support. COFA is vital to long-term U.S. national security strategy, so it must be passed into law ASAP, said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Republican of American Samoa, in an email. COFA has the added benefit of extending our borders and putting our competitors on defense deep into the Indo-Pacific region. Last week, the U.S. State Department also indicated the issue is becoming a priority of the Biden administration. The Department appreciates the bipartisan support in Congress for the new agreements related to the Compacts of Free Association (COFA). We have been working closely with Congress, the White House and interagency partners on the legislation necessary to bring these agreements into force. We reiterate our call on Congress to pass compacts-related legislation as soon as possible. Senegals government banned a scheduled march and suspended mobile internet access on Tuesday, amid continued protests over President Macky Sall's decision to postpone the Feb. 25 presidential election. The governments handling of the protests, which has led to three deaths in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, received international condemnation. The dead include a 22-year-old student at Gaston Berger University in the coastal city of Saint-Louis, who was killed Friday, a 23-year-old merchant in Dakar and a 16-year-old resident of the city of Ziguinchor who was killed Saturday while fleeing security forces. The protests erupted after President Sall postponed the planned Feb. 25 election until December, citing disputes over the eligibility of key candidates that Sall said threatened the credibility of the vote. Parliament backed Salls decision last week after security forces removed some opposition lawmakers from the chamber. Lawmakers also extended Salls tenure beyond April 2, when his term was scheduled to end, until the new election is held. After the decision, the Aar Sanu Election (Let's protect our election) collective, including 40 professional, religious and civil groups, called for a peaceful demonstration in Dakar on Tuesday. However, local authorities banned the march, saying it would block traffic in the area. The march will be postponed, said Malick Diop, the coordinator of the collective, who says "we want to remain within the law." The decision to cut internet access, according to the communications ministry, was to prevent "hateful" and "subversive" messages online, which could provoke further unrest. Senegalese authorities continue to display utter disregard for peaceful dissent, said Samira Daoud, Amnesty Internationals regional director for West and Central Africa, who called for an investigation into the lethal use of force against protesters. France has reacted to the protests, calling on Senegal to employ a "proportionate" response to protests, and for authorities to "hold the presidential poll as soon as possible." The United States Embassy in Senegal also reacted to the situation, posting on the X social media platform that Senegalese authorities should "fully respect" the right to protest. According to a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, it is "extremely important that all Senegalese have their right to demonstrate peacefully respected," adding that the situation should be "resolved through established constitutional means." The United Nations, while expressing concern about the use of force against protesters, has called for an independent probe into the three deaths. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. A Republican Party that years ago would push back when Donald Trump denigrated NATO has been more ambivalent in the days since the former president said he would encourage Russia to attack alliance members who he felt were not contributing enough to the common defense. While some in the party distanced themselves from Trumps comments, others criticized reporters for focusing on them and said they had no concerns about how the former president would treat the alliance if he was elected to a second term in November. The shift marks a major change in the partys center of gravity. In the years since Trump became the GOPs leading voice, he has pulled the party into a more isolationist stance, in which relationships with other countries are seen as more transactional in nature, and the importance given to maintaining the status of the U.S. as a guarantor of the safety of other Western democracies has been diminished. The former president was addressing a crowd in South Carolina on Saturday when he interrupted prepared remarks with an extended riff on the topic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was formed in 1949 as a bulwark against an aggressively expansionist Soviet Union, now Russia. The organization has played a key role coordinating support for Ukraine in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of that country. Ukraine is not a NATO member, though it borders four countries that are: Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Trump has regularly made the inaccurate claim that many NATO members are delinquent in payments to the organization. In fact, NATO does not collect membership dues or other such fees from its members. Countries party to the treaty do agree to spend at least 2% of GDP on their defense capabilities, though as of early 2023 the alliance estimated that only 10 of the 30 member states were at or near compliance. However, that does not mean they owe other members money, either individually or collectively. Trump told the crowd that during a meeting of NATO leaders, he had been confronted by one of his counterparts about whether he would come to other member countries defense as the treaty requires if they were attacked by Russia. Trump replied that if the country being attacked were delinquent, he would not, and would actually encourage Russian aggression. No, I would not protect you, Trump said he told the other NATO leader. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. Youve got to pay. You got to pay your bills. Angry reaction Trumps comments sparked angry reactions from Democrats in Washington and America's NATO allies. Americas leadership on the world stage and support for our allies is critical to keeping the American people safe here at home, President Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House. If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies. Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. 'Zero concern Prominent voices in the Republican foreign policy establishment appeared more willing to brush off Trumps inflammatory statements. I have zero concern, because he's been president before, Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with CNN. I know exactly what he has done and will do with the NATO alliance. [F]rankly, look, Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Rubio said. He doesn't talk like a traditional politician. And we have already been through this now. You would think people had figured it out by now. Give me a break I mean, its Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham told The New York Times. All I can say is, while Trump was president, nobody invaded anybody. I think the point here is to, in his way, to get people to pay. Senator Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the Times that in his view, Trump was simply ringing the warning bell about NATO members not meeting their 2% spending obligation. Some Republicans critical But some Republicans took mild exception to the former presidents remarks. On the Senate floor on Sunday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, I know its become quite fashionable in some circles to disregard the global interests we have as a global power. Referring to NATO, McConnell added, To lament the commitment that has underpinned the longest drought of great power conflict in human history - this is idle work for idle minds, and it has no place in the United States Senate. Senator Thom Tillis told Politico he blamed Trumps team for not making it clear to the former president that the U.S. is obligated by treaty to defend NATO members if they come under attack. Shifting policy Despite some Republicans insistence that Trump does not pose a serious threat to the health of NATO, members of Congress have taken some proactive steps to protect the 75-year-old alliance. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed with large bipartisan majorities, included a section making it illegal for the president to withdraw the U.S. from NATO without the approval of two-thirds of the members of the Senate or other authorizing legislation passed by both houses of Congress. During his term as president, according to former members of the Trump administration quoted in an upcoming book by CNNs Jim Sciutto, Trump at one point issued orders to withdraw the U.S. from NATO before changing his mind. Experts told VOA that leaders in Europe have been forced to seriously consider the possibility that the U.S., under another Trump presidency would either leave the alliance or undermine it from within. American policy is to some degree already shifting, because there's a candidate Trump, and because Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, said Michael Kimmage, a professor of history at the Catholic University of America. I think that these comments are in a way the icing on the cake, Kimmage added. And you know, they suggest that, depending on how the election goes, Europe could in some ways be alone with Russia, and Europe could be significantly more alone with the war in Ukraine. VOA Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine contributed to this report. Officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt ended talks in Cairo on Tuesday with no agreement on a new cease-fire in Gaza or the release of more hostages held by Hamas militants. The talks were positive, a senior Egyptian official said, and are to continue for three more days. Meanwhile, international leaders pleaded with Israel to hold off on its planned ground attack on the Palestinian enclaves southern city of Rafah. Israel says it must root out four battalions of Hamas fighters encamped among more than 1 million Palestinians sheltering there. Israeli forces on Monday rescued two hostages in Rafah, but 74 Palestinians were killed in the operation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters, My sincere hope is that the negotiations for the release of the hostages and some form of cessation of hostilities to be successful, to avoid an all-out offensive over Rafah, where the core of the humanitarian system is located. And that would have devastating consequences. As it is, Guterres said, There is a breakdown in public order limiting delivery of humanitarian aid to displaced Palestinians, and he blamed Israel. We have restrictions imposed by Israel that are not improved and limit humanitarian distribution, he said. On the other hand, the deconflicting mechanisms to protect humanitarian aid deliveries in relation to military operations are not effective. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinians sheltering in Rafah will be given safe passage out of the region near the Egyptian border but has offered no details on where they would be moved. The U.N. has said it will not help in any relocation of the Palestinians, and Egypt has said it will not allow an exodus over the border. Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it had not been informed of any Israeli evacuation plan for Rafah. "Where are you going to evacuate people to, as no place is safe across the Gaza Strip, the north is shattered, riddled with unexploded weapons, it's pretty much unlivable," she told Reuters. Rafah residents said Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of the city overnight, causing waves of panic. Gaza health officials said 133 more Palestinians were killed in the last day, pushing the death toll to 28,473 during the war ignited by the shock October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel that killed 1,200 people. Many people are believed to be buried under rubble of destroyed buildings across the densely populated enclave along the Mediterranean Sea, much of which is in ruins. Supplies of food, water and other essentials are running out and diseases are spreading. About 100 hostages were freed in a weeklong truce in November. Israel says Hamas is still holding another 100 or so and 31 have died or been killed while in captivity. One Palestinian official told Reuters the negotiators in Cairo are looking for a formula that will be acceptable to Hamas, who says it is only possible to sign a deal once it is based on an Israeli commitment to ending its war and pulling out its forces from the Gaza Strip. The official said Hamas had told the participants it does not trust Israel not to renew the war if the Israeli hostages being held by Palestinian militants are released. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all vestiges of Hamas control of Gaza are ended. The U.S. has proposed a truce of 60 days or so accompanied by the release of hostages. Hamas proposed a full end of the war with Israeli troops leaving Gaza and Hamas still governing the territory, which Israel rejected. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that while there were some nonstarters in the Hamas plan, there was still room to continue negotiations. Aside from Guterres, other international leaders have expressed concerns about an all-out Israeli attack on Rafah. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters Tuesday that if Israel takes action against Hamas in Rafah, then it is the responsibility of the Israeli army to provide safe corridors for the people who have sought protection there. Chinas foreign ministry on Tuesday called on Israel to do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement, Today, sadly, given the carnage wrought so far in Gaza, it is wholly imaginable what would lie ahead in Rafah. Beyond the pain and suffering of the bombs and bullets, this incursion into Rafah may also mean the end of the meager humanitarian aid that has been entering and distributed, with huge implications for all of Gaza, including the hundreds of thousands at grave risk of starvation and famine in the north. On Tuesday, South Africa voiced its concern to the International Court of Justice that Israel's plan to extend its offensive into Rafah would result in further large-scale killing and destruction. It asked the World Court to consider whether Israel needed to provide additional measures to safeguard Palestinians. Last month, the ICJ ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent the deaths of Palestinian civilians, after South Africa, a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause, accused its military of genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied it is committing genocide. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. (Bloomberg) -- OpenAIs Sam Altman said the United Arab Emirates could serve as the worlds regulatory sandbox to test artificial intelligence technologies and later spearhead global rules limiting their use. Most Read from Bloomberg Its very hard to get all the regulatory ideas right in a vacuum, Altman told the UAEs AI minister in a virtual appearance at the World Governments Summit. And if there was a contained way that I could give people the future and let them experiment with it and then see what makes sense, what went wrong, what went right, that seems like an interesting experiment. The world will need a unified policy to rein in future advances in AI, said the OpenAI leader, whose ChatGPT thrust the technology into the mainstream. I think, for a bunch of reasons, the UAE would be set up to be a leader in the discussions about that, he said on Tuesday. The comments came as Altman courts investors in the Middle East for a semiconductor initiative to advance AI. The United Arab Emirates has invested heavily in AI and made it a key policy consideration, but its ties to China have raised some concern in the United States. On Monday, the chief executive officer of G42, an Emirati AI company controlled by UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, told Bloomberg the company would scale back its presence in China to appease Washingtons demands. G42 has partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft Corp., and Cerebras Systems Inc. In his remarks on Tuesday, Altman said OpenAI also plans to open-source some additional large-language models developed by his company, though it has yet to decide which ones. He also said the company would develop tools for poorer nations that cant shoulder the massive costs of developing their own AI systems. Story continues We want to have an offering that makes sense for countries that want to offer AI services, said Altman. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire ex-premier once at the center of Thailands political divisions, is poised to be freed from a police hospital within days, after he was granted parole just six months after returning to the country from a 15-year self-exile overseas. The 74-year-old Thaksin faced an eight-year jail term but was given a royal reprieve shortly after his return to Thailand on August 22, which slashed his sentence to one year. He could be released as soon as this weekend after qualifying for parole, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told reporters Tuesday. The parole committee has approved Thaksin [as one of the prisoners] eligible for parole due to his health and age and after completing one third of his sentence, he said, without elaborating on the conditions of his looming release. Thaksins rehabilitation from fugitive archenemy of the royalist establishment to a free man is a sign of the new alignment of power in Thailand, experts say, ending a nearly two-decade tug of war between the Shinawatra clan and the royalist elite, which includes the army, big business and palace bureaucracy. It shows, on one hand, the rule of law if any ever exists can be bent to fit the political objectives of those in power at the time, Verapat Pariyawong, a Thai lawyer who teaches law and politics at the University of London SOAS, told VOA. On the other, it shows there is flexibility in Thai politics to undo severely entrenched conflict." That flexibility has seen Thaksins family-dominated Pheu Thai party join hands with former conservative enemies in a coalition government that has frozen out the radical Move Forward Party. Move Forward won the most seats in the May 2023 election but has been sidelined into opposition. The party has also been found guilty of seeking to overthrow the constitutional monarchy with a campaign to amend a harsh royal defamation law, which carries up to 15 years in jail per charge. The ruling leaves it vulnerable to a bid for it to be dissolved. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, Thailands most popular politician, also faces several legal hurdles that could finish his ambitions to lead the country for good as he becomes the main threat to the establishment. Too much has gone to waste over the issue of Mr. Thaksin, Verapat said. He was painted as an antimonarchist, but 20 years and two military coups later he has now been royally pardoned. I hope we are not going to repeat the same with Mr. Pita and the Move Forward Party. Thaksin, a police officer from northern Chiang Mai who made his fortune in telecommunications, disrupted the old powers in Thailand with a 2001 election win, thanks to millions of votes from the rural poor and urban working classes. But his personal popularity and economic policies, including nearly free health care and subsidies for the poor, quickly upset the royalist establishment. His government was ousted in a 2006 coup, and he went into self-exile two years later as corruption convictions rained down on him. After years of political instability, the army, led by Prayuth Chan-Ocha, then toppled the elected government of Thaksins younger sister Yingluck in 2014. Prayuth governed until last years election. What happened in the past is the past, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters on Tuesday. Thaksin was one of the most well-loved prime ministers in all of Thai political history. Once released he will be just a normal citizen, he said, adding that Thaksin had passed through the justice system with no special treatment under Correction Department rules. Two sides of justice Srettha, 61, a real estate tycoon, emerged as prime minister despite his Pheu Thai party losing the election. He is loyal to Thaksin and says kick-starting Thailands sluggish economy is his main priority, partly with a soft power push, including extending the annual Songkran holidays to pull in more tourists as well as promoting Thai products from elephant pants to fruit. But his critics argue that economic focus is coming at the expense of wider rights and freedoms, which slumped under Prayuths government. On the same day Thaksins parole was announced, two journalists one from the left leaning daily Prachatai, another a freelancer were taken to court for allegedly being accomplices in the defacement of a national monument, after they reported on a pro-democracy protester spraying graffiti against the royal defamation law on the royal palace walls last year. The crime carries a seven-year jail sentence. Reporters are not criminals, the Thai Media for Democracy Alliance said in a statement. Other government critics say rights are quickly vanishing under Sretthas government. The political situation is becoming increasingly trenchant and even more worrisome than in Prayuths era, Thasnai Sethaseree, a renowned pro-democracy academic from Chiang Mai University, posted on his Facebook page. Shock waves across European capitals and a rare rebuke from NATO followed the latest comments by former President Donald Trump about the U.S. commitment to the alliance. Trump said that if he returned to the White House, he would invite Russia to attack allies that he termed "delinquent. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from the State Department. The U.N. Security Council said Monday that it was concerned by "escalating violence" in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, condemning in a statement the offensive launched this month by M23 rebels near Goma. Clashes have intensified recently between the M23 among the strongest of dozens of armed groups roaming the country's troubled east and the Congolese army. The DRC, the U.N. and Western countries say Rwanda is supporting the rebels in a bid to control vast mineral resources, an allegation Kigali denies. Council members, who met Monday to discuss the issue, "reiterated their condemnation of all armed groups operating in the country. They expressed concern about the escalation of violence and a sustained tension in the region," according to a statement read by Guyana Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Council members also specifically "condemned the M23 offensive," launched February 7, Rodrigues-Birkett said. "They reiterated their full support to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC." The M23 has seized vast swaths of North Kivu province since emerging from dormancy in late 2021, in an area wracked by violence for decades following regional wars in the 1990s. The most recent flare-up has pushed thousands of civilians to flee the town of Sake, on the route toward Goma, capital of North Kivu province. According to a U.N. document seen by AFP earlier Monday, the Rwandan army is using sophisticated weapons such as surface-to-air missiles to support M23. A "suspected Rwandan Defense Force mobile surface-to-air missile" was fired at a U.N. observation drone last Wednesday without hitting it, the confidential report said. U.N. forces have been in Congo for nearly 25 years, but stand accused of failing to protect civilians from armed groups. The U.N. Security Council voted in December to accede to Kinshasa's demand for a pullout despite the volatile situation. The head of the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees has dismissed calls for it to be disbanded and says that UNRWA is the best positioned agency to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I have talked with the member states about all these calls for UNRWA to be dismantled, to be terminated and I have warned about the impact. I have said that these calls are short-sighted, said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UNRWA. Major donors, including the United States have suspended financial aid to UNRWA after allegations that 12 of the agencys Palestinian staff participated in Hamas October massacre in Israel. The impact is not just on the short term. It is not just weakening our collective ability to respond to humanitarian crises at this time but also during what I would describe as the transition phase; the long days before the end of active military hostilities, Lazzarini said. He told journalists in Geneva Tuesday that he spent two hours briefing member states about the situation in Rafah, which he described as deeply, deeply concerning, noting that Palestinians crammed into this small, overcrowded space were fearful and anxious about Israel mounting a large-scale military operation in the region. If this military operation is taking place, the question is where will the civilians go, he said. There is absolutely no safe place in Rafah anymore and the fear is that the number of civilians killed and injured might again significantly increase in a conflict where more than 100,000 people already have been either killed, injured or are missing. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, reports that intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues across much of the Gaza Strip and that increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened concerns of an escalation in the most southerly city in Gaza. Before the brutal Hamas terror attack on Israel October 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage, Rafah had a population of 200,000. Israels ferocious onslaught of Gaza following Hamas horrific attack has increased the number of people in Rafah to well over a million. Lazzarini warns an attack on Rafah by Israel would be the largest military offensive in the middle of a sea of displaced people. If they are asked to move, the question is where to move. Over a 20-kilometer stretch, you see only plastic makeshift shelters where hundreds of thousands of people are already living, he said. Were Israel to attack Rafah, he said the Palestinian population will be faced with more suffering, misery, and deprivation of basic survival needs. He said the experience and ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian assistance to this beleaguered population is not only needed, but irreplaceable. We have half a million girls and boys deeply traumatized that we urgently need to bring back to an educational system, he said. This will not be provided by an emerging local administration. There is absolutely no other U.N. agency or INGOs which have been tasked over the last few decades to provide government-like services like education to hundreds of thousands of children. And if we want to give a chance to any future transition to succeed, we need also to make sure that the international community has the tools and one of the tools is UNRWA, he said. Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israels ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said that Israel remains committed to collaborating with partners to alleviate the suffering and prevent deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel is at war with the terrorist organization Hamas. Our fight is with Hamas. It is not with the Palestinian people, she said. Israel is committed to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing in Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel, she said, adding that the majority of the aid entering Gaza today is not through UNRWA but through other U.N. agencies. As you all know, the United Nations has mechanisms which exist to distribute aid in response to crisis and there are U.N. agencies which are operating and delivering what is required in Gaza, as they do all over the world, she said. The Israeli ambassador accused UNRWA of harboring terrorists in its ranks. The international community cannot and should not tolerate or fund a U.N. agency actively shielding and enabling terrorist activities, she said. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned Monday that a potential full-fledged military incursion in Rafah would likely kill and injure an extremely high number of civilians, mostly children and women, and end the meager humanitarian aid that has been entering Gaza. My office has repeatedly warned against actions that violate the laws of war. The prospect of such an operation into Rafah, as circumstances stand, risks further atrocity crimes. The world must not allow this to happen, he said. He called for an immediate cease-fire. He said that All remaining hostages must be released. And there must be renewed collective resolve to reach a political solution. UNRWA Commissioner General Lazzarini echoed those sentiments. Maybe after this cataclysm which has hit the region in Gaza, it might be time now to genuinely find a political solution, he said. It would be a disaster that, just before it, we get rid of the mandate and an agency like UNRWA. Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying again Tuesday to impeach the country's immigration chief, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, claiming he is responsible for a record influx of illegal migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the past year. Hard-line conservative Republicans have targeted Mayorkas for months but failed by a single vote last week to impeach him when three House Republicans voted against the effort and House party leaders failed to realize that one Democratic lawmaker opposed to the impeachment would show up to vote even though he had been hospitalized awaiting surgery. The new vote is expected to be close again but could swing in favor of impeaching the 64-year-old Cabinet member this time with the return of Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a certain vote for impeachment. He missed last week's vote while being treated for cancer. Mayorkas would become only the second Cabinet member in U.S. history to be impeached, after Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. An impeachment of Mayorkas, the political equivalent of an indictment, could prove to be a symbolic victory for his Republican critics, who are looking, as the November elections approach, to attack Democratic President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers for the chaos at the U.S. southern border. A record 10,000 migrants a day were apprehended at that border in December. Even if Mayorkas is impeached, the Democratic-controlled Senate, with a 51-49 majority, is certain to acquit him. A two-thirds vote is needed for a conviction, meaning at least 18 Democrats would have to vote for a conviction if all Republicans did as well. If Tuesday's House vote goes against Mayorkas, the Senate would be compelled to at least open a trial. But it could vote to dismiss the articles, dissolve the trial or refer the articles of impeachment to a committee. Impeachment of top U.S. officials hinges on whether they have committed "high crimes and misdemeanors," but Mayorkas has said the allegations against him are baseless and he has continued in his job. Republicans calling for his impeachment say he has violated immigration laws by not detaining enough migrants at the border and by implementing a humanitarian parole program that has allowed people into the country who wouldn't otherwise qualify to enter. They also allege that he has lied to Congress when he's claimed that the border is secure. Representative Ken Buck, one of three Republicans who voted against Mayorkas' impeachment in last week's vote, called the move against the Homeland Security chief a stunt while fellow Republican Mike Gallagher said it would create a "new, lower standard" for the sanction and "pry open the Pandora's box of perpetual impeachment." Democrats and some legal experts have contended that the debate over whether to impeach Mayorkas is essentially a policy dispute, not a matter that meets the U.S. constitutional standard of whether he has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors." Republicans have assailed Biden and Mayorkas for easing border restrictions after Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump in the 2020 election and changed migration rules Trump had imposed. Last week, even as many Republican lawmakers pushed for the Mayorkas impeachment, they voiced their opposition to a bipartisan Senate proposal that would have imposed the tightest border controls in years after Trump said he opposed it as not tough enough. Immigration controls are certain to be a prominent issue in the November presidential contest, where Biden and Trump are likely to again face each other. Israel Victory Conference Two weeks ago, a star-studded celebratory event was held at Jerusalems International Convention Center. It was entitled "Conference for Israels Victory - settlements bring security: returning to the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria". 12 ministers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, took part. However, not a single political figure, not even the Minister of Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, was entitled to the frenzied ovations that greeted Rabbi Uzi Sharbaf, now a central figure in the Israeli debate, albeit unknown abroad. His presence rekindled in the participants hope of redeeming what they consider to be the "sin" of the withdrawal of Jewish settlements from Gaza in 2005. In the hours that followed, Yaakov Margi (Shas), Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs, declared that his colleagues should have thought "before going to this circus. The leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, lamented that Benjamin Netanyahu, "who was once at the centre of the national camp being dragged aimlessly by extremists", has "hit rock bottom." Gen. Benny Gantz, declared that the conference was "an insult to Israeli society in wartime. It undermines our legitimacy in the world and the efforts to create a framework for the return of our hostages." Commenting on the Prime Ministers participation, he continued: He who dances and divides, does not decide, and he who is silent and allows himself to be dragged along, is not a leader". The next day, President Joe Biden, as if frightened by the return of an old demon, signed a decree banning some extremist settlers from coming to the United States, and, above all, banning all fund-raising and money transfers to Rabbi Uzi Sharbafs men. These sanctions apply not only in the United States, but also in all foreign banks with interests in the United States, i.e., ultimately in the whole of the West [1]. Whats more, the Biden Administration, which until now has discreetly supported the massacre in Gaza by supplying shells and other munitions, is suddenly looking for a way out of the crisis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken set off on a new tour of the regions capitals, this time with proposals. Why then, did Rabbi Uzi Sharbafs outburst provoke such reactions? To understand why, we need to look back to 1922. Within the revisionist Zionist movement, there is in fact an even more fanatical group that did not hesitate to attack the Anglo-Saxons. The "Stern Gang The "Revisionist Zionists" are the followers of Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky, a Ukrainian fascist who in 1922 formed an alliance with the Ukrainian "integral nationalists" of Symon Petlioura and Dmitro Dontsov against the Soviets. During this alliance, the "nationalists" massacred not only Ukrainian anarchists and Ukrainian Communists, but also tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews. Refusing to explain his actions, Jabotinsky resigned from his position as director of the World Zionist Organization and founded the Alliance of Revisionist Zionists. He founded a paramilitary fascist formation in Italy, with the help of duce Benito Mussolini, the Betar. At the end of Second World War, the "Revisionist Zionists" pursued their fascist dream, now without the help of their Italian counterparts. They disassociated themselves from the Jewish communal militia in Palestine, the Hagana, and created their own militia, the Irgun [2]. In a letter to the New York Times, Albert Einstein, Hannah Arendt and other Jewish personalities compared the Irgun to fascist and Nazi formations [3]. The Irgun itself gave rise to Lehi, known as the "Stern Group according to the Stern Gang" [4]). This group was directly linked to the Polish fascist government (Avraham Stern participated in the first version of the "Madagascar Plan"). Stern was arrested by the British along with the leaders of his group at the start of World War 2, but released when the Polish government reconstituted itself in exile in London. Lehi resumed contact with the Italian Fascists and proposed to the Nazis to help them expel European Jews to Palestine. After some hesitation, the Nazis refused. Lehi multiplied attacks on the British and left-wing Jews in the first two years of the war. Avraham Stern was shot and killed by a British CID officer in February 1942. Yitzhak Shamir, who assassinated his rivals, then reorganized Lehi. In 1944 Lehi resumed its attacks on the British. It narrowly missed eliminating High Commissioner to Palestine, Harold MacMichael, but succeeded in assassinating the Colonial Minister, Lord Moyne. David Ben Gourion, who remained loyal to the British, launched a Haganah campaign to stop the actions of the Irgun and Lehi. Many of their members were arrested. However, in 1945, Ben-Gurion secretly organized a reconciliation with the revisionist Zionists, the "Hebrew Revolt". This brief alliance did not last. Lehi organized the attack on the secretariat of the British government of Mandate Palestine and its military command, both located in the King David Hotel. It left 91 dead and 46 wounded. Lehi did not cease its terrorist activities with the arrest of Yitzhak Shamir. On the contrary, it extended its activities to London until the British withdrew from Palestine. After that, it targeted the Arabs, thus perpetrating the Deir Yassin massacre. The Irgun and Lehi were eventually incorporated into the Israel Defense Forces with the unilateral proclamation of statehood. However, the United Nations sent the Swedish Count Folke Bernadotte to determine the borders of the two Jewish and Arab states. Yitzhak Shamir then organized his assassination [5]. Yehoshua Cohen executed him. At the same time, Andre Serot, a French colonel in the Blue Helmets, was assassinated. Pierre Gaisset (grandfather of the author of this article) replaced him. The "revisionist Zionists" then changed their label and formed a new party, Herout, with Menachem Begin as its chairman. In 1952, Yehoshua Cohen founded the Sde Boker kibbutz. When, the following year, Prime Minister David ben Gurion joined this kibbutz, Yehoshua Cohen became his bodyguard. The "Jewish Underground There is no trace of the Stern Group thereafter. However, after the "Six-Day War the Bloc of the Faithful (Gush Emunim) developed the idea that Yahweh had given all Palestine to the Jews. They not only had the right to occupy it, but a duty to do so, so that the continuation of prophecy be fulfilled. This movement developed around Rabbi Zvi Yehouda Kook. He taught that, while the first secular Israelis had begun the work, only the religious knew the direction and could finalize it. It was in this context that Yehuda Etzion, son of a gang member, recreated the Stern group. He used the same logo: a fist with two fingers raised. Its new name: the "Jewish Underground". After the Camp David Accords, signed in 1978 by ex-Muslim Brother Anwar Sadat and Zionist revisionist Menachem Begin, it formally organized itself. It opposed Israels retrocession of Sinai to Egypt. It formed two cells. The first, led by Yehuda Etzion himself, was to destroy the Dome of the Rock in the center of the Al-Aqsa mosque, in order to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. The second was to spread terror among anti-colonial Arabs. Rabbi Uzi Sharbaf was the leader of the "Jewish Underground". He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1984 for his involvement in a series of murderous attacks on Palestinians. He was discreetly released in 1991 by two revisionist Zionists, President Chaim Herzog and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. His presence and the thunderous welcome given to him by thousands of activists portends the return of Zionist terrorism against the Anglo-Saxons. Washingtons reaction shows that, in its eyes, what it tolerates when Arabs are its victims must be condemned when it is threatened. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Miramax, Tara Releasing, Filmove studio Barrandov, Sony Pictures The Czech or Czechoslovak New Wave was a period in the 1960s during which a group of filmmakers made movies that were at once humorous and humanistic, artistically engaging and politically challenging, pushing back against the way things were in their socialist Eastern Bloc country. However, the period of political liberalization and reform known as Prague Spring essentially came to an end when members of the Warsaw Pact, led by the Soviets, invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968. As normalization and a reversion to the status quo set in in 1969, many of these movies were banned by the new Soviet-backed Czechoslovak authorities. Fortunately, they outlasted their eternal bans, and we, 55 years later, can watch and appreciate them. So too can we explore what came after: the less overtly political but still comic and touching Czech movies of the 1970s and 80s, and the movies of the 90s and aughts that drew on past moments of tumult and transition. This list is intended to showcase some of the best. A few notes: About half of this list is from the Czech New Wave. Thats not a knock on the movies that came after the 1960s, but its hard to compare with what was one of the most productive and artistically significant moments in world cinema. This list is also very (very) heavily dominated by male directors, as many more of the most notable Czech movies have been directed by men than women. I have made an effort throughout, however, to highlight the work of women writers, artistic directors, costume designers, and actors, without whom this cinema would not be as significant as it is. And finally: This list is incomplete. There are 16 entries here; they could have been 16 different movies. I chose only those that an American viewer can stream with relative ease. I considered movies Ive enjoyed; took into account analysis and writings on Czechoslovak and Czech movies by film scholars and critics; and consulted rankings of films compiled by actual Czech viewers (I found this list and the Czech version of IMDb quite helpful). Mostly, though, this list is intended to offer a glimpse of the breadth and depth across the decades of the wonderful movies that constitute the huge contribution this relatively small country has made to cinema. Daisies (1966) Its hard to describe Vera Chytilovas Daisies, which is driven more by sensation than by plot, but here goes: Two young women, both of whom have the same first name, decide that, since everything is spoiled, theyll be spoiled, too. What follows is a series of dates in which they take all the food and drink they can from men; dancing; dressing up; and being bored, but never boring. The movie switches between black-and-white and vibrant splashes of color and is bursting with song and style. It has to be seen and experienced to be believed. The Czech New Wave, and Czech cinema overall, was quite male dominated, but Chytilova is a significant exception, and she was not the only notable woman involved: The art direction and writing was completed in part by Ester Krumbachova, one of the largely unsung heroes of the Czech New Wave, who worked on everything from screenplays to art direction to costumes. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Further viewing: Krumbachova also worked with Chytilova on her 1970 movie Fruit of Paradise, a surreal retelling of the story of Adam and Eve. A Report on the Party and the Guests (1966) Jan Nemecs work starts out at a picnic held by some friends. Soon, though, the friends are interrupted, ordered about and brought to a banquet where a strict hierarchy is maintained. The movie, a semi-surreal depiction of authority and the ways in which it is empowered by the cowardice and spinelessness of the many, was banned from 1966, when it was released, until 1968, and then again after Prague Spring for 20 years. Krumbachova, who was for a time married to Nemec, co-wrote the screenplay with him. She said of the script, I tried to create conversations in which the characters said nothing meaningful about themselves. The audience heard only isolated fragments of sentences, as if they had walked suddenly into the midst of a sophisticated party and had no idea what the conversation was about it was my intention to demonstrate that people generally talk only in terms of disconnected ideas, even when it appears that they are communicating with one another. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Further viewing: The two also worked together on Diamonds of the Night, a beautiful, haunting film about two teenage boys who escape from a transport train during the Holocaust. The Firemens Ball (1967) American audiences will know director Milos Forman for such Hollywood hits as Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. But before he found fame and fortune Stateside, he was part of the Czech New Wave, and the darkly funny, deeply cynical The Firemens Ball is arguably his most famous Czech work. It tells the story of provincial firemen trying to throw a big bash for their chiefs retirement. The party features a beauty pageant, a raffle, song and dance and petty corruption and ineptitude. Forman shared a story in an interview about how the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia screened the movie for some of the firemen who appeared in the film and encouraged them to say how offended they were, which backfired when the firemen expressed that it was a great, true-to-life depiction. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Further viewing: The Firemens Ball is not the only film in which Forman used professional and amateur actors: The woman who plays the part of the mother in Loves of a Blonde, his excellent 1965 movie, was someone he met on a streetcar. All My Good Countrymen (1969) Vojtech Jasnys All My Good Countrymen earned him Best Director at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival thanks to a print of the movie that was smuggled out of Czechoslovakia, where the movie had already been banned. All My Good Countrymen is the story of a (gorgeously shot) Czech village between 1945 and 1958, during which time people slowly realize that their new political system is bringing repression, not respite. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Further viewing: Jasnys earlier work, Cassandra Cat, a movie about a cat who wears sunglasses because, when he doesnt, he reveals peoples true colors just by looking at them, is streaming on Criterion as part of their series on cat movies. The Cremator (1969) Rudolf Hrusinsky is in quite a few movies on this list, as he was one of the most popular Czech actors of his day. And the titular role in The Cremator, directed by Juraj Herz, is one of his most famous. Hrusinsky is a cremator who takes arguably too much pride in his work. During World War II, on a quest to be as Aryan as possible to please his new Nazi friends, he ends up trying to force even those closest to him up in smoke. It was banned shortly after being released for two decades (given that its at least in part a warning about totalitarianism, this is perhaps unsurprising). This is the creepiest movie I have ever seen. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. The Joke (1969) An adaptation of a novel by Milan Kundera, Jaromil Jiress The Joke is the story of a young man who is kicked out of the Communist Party and sent to work in the mines after his friends turn on him over a joke he wrote to his girlfriend. As an adult, he has an opportunity to get revenge on one of his former friends, who betrayed him by sleeping with his wife or so he thinks. The movie plays with time brilliantly. It doesnt have flashbacks so much as it has the protagonist, in the present, walking through the same locations as he was in the past, interacting with them as though theyre playing out before him even now. It was banned for 20 years. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Larks on a String (1969) Jiri Menzel is my favorite Czech New Wave director, and while it was 1966s Closely Watched Trains that won him the Oscar, its Larks on a String that I think represents what makes his work so special. Adapted from a series of stories by the author Bohumil Hrabal (on whose work Closely Watched Trains and other Menzel works are also based), Larks on a String depicts a group of men who are forced to work at a junkyard so as to be rehabilitated for their bourgeois ways. They labor alongside a group of women whose crime was trying to leave the country. Their stories overlap and intersect, but what holds them together, per Menzel, is the spirit of a joke from the 1950s: Workers attend a lecture on their beautiful political future, after which one asks, Its good that we have socialism and will soon have communism, but where is the bread, where is the milk, where is the butter? The lecturer tells him that thats a complicated question, and to ask again next week. The next week, the same lecture happens. Another worker raises his hand and says, Its good we have socialism and will soon have communism, but where is the bread, where is the milk, where is the butter, and where is the worker who asked about this last time? This joke both funny and sad, proof that humor can be found even in incredibly dark situations is at the heart of the screenplay. Although Menzel began making this film in 1968, it was not ready for release until 1969, at which point it was immediately banned, only to be officially released in 1990, when it won a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Available on Amazon and Eastern European Movies. Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973) The movies that were made postPrague Spring, during the era of normalization, when reforms and reformers were removed and the status quo was reverted to and preserved, movies were less overtly political and, generally speaking, less artistically daring. Still, there were some eminently watchable films from that time period. This one is a cozy Christmas classic. Our star is Libuse Safrankova who appears in movies in every subsequent decade on this list, too in one of her earlier roles. Its basically the familiar Cinderella story, but this time shes given three magic nuts, each of which contains a costume of sorts that allows her to win the heart of the handsome, headstrong prince and pose a riddle he must solve to win hers in turn. The movie is also hugely popular in Norway, which funded a digital restoration of the film and more recently made its own version. Available on Criterion and Eastern European Movies. Maracek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976) Oldrich Lipsky is one of the most beloved directors in Czech film history, and this is one of his most cherished movies. Its the story of a man who, in order to get a better job at the factory where he works, has to go back to high school for adult evening classes in the same high school where his son takes classes during the day. Fellow classmates include a pair of mischief makers, a man who cant distinguish between instructions for teenage students and himself, and an insufferable suckup. This sounds quite culturally specific, so I was surprised that, over the course of this movie, I was not only hooting but also hollering. I made my husband, who is not a Czech-movie aficionado, watch it with me, and he, too, laughed out loud. Available on YouTube. Further viewing: Lipskys Adele Hasnt Had Her Dinner Yet is likewise very popular. Give the Devil His Due (1984) This is a famous fairytale movie and one of the most popular movies in Czech cinematic history. I think it is supposed to be for children. I say I think because the plot is this: A woman marries an older miller and then works him to death and tries to disinherit his son. The Devil thus decides that she needs to be brought to hell and so sends a devilish assistant to bring her down. He teams up with her stepson, who is pining after a selfish princess while her sweet sister yearns for him, to take the wicked stepmother down to the flames of hell. Available on Eastern European Movies. My Sweet Little Village (1985) Menzels second Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film didnt see him bringing home the statue, but does make this list of essential Czech films. It tells the story of a sweet-tempered, mentally challenged young man who works as an assistant truck driver with his older, more sensible neighbor. At first, the neighbor wants to be rid of his young charge. However, when a plot comes to push the young man out to steal his home for a crooked politician, he discovers the depth of his feeling for his friend. But its really a portrait of a village and the messy lives that reside there. It also features a cameo by Frantisek Vlacil, who directed Marketa Lazarova, a medieval epic considered by some to be the best Czech film ever made. Available on Amazon and Eastern European Movies. Further Viewing: Marketa Lazarova came out in 1967, at the same time as the Czech New Wave, but Vlacil was slightly older and to call the film part of the movement would be not quite right. The Elementary School (1991) Directed by Jan Sverak (and written by his father, who also wrote My Sweet Little Village), The Elementary School is set during 194546 and tells the story of a class of unruly boys and the Casanova teacher who whips them into shape with stories of his time fighting in the resistance. Its really smart in how it depicts the struggle of male identity during a time of national transition while coming out at another, different time of national transition, as the newly independent Czech Republic emerged and the countrys newfound capitalism and democracy challenged what it meant to be a man and indeed to be a person. Safrankova plays the main boys mother, and Hrusinsky is pitch-perfect as the exasperated school principal. Available on Eastern European Movies. Words, Words, Words (1991) Words, Words, Words is not really an essential Czech movie, but its animated and short and smart. This Michaela Pavlatova piece was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Set in a cafe, its a roughly eight-minute visualization of what different forms of speech and, really, different kinds of communication look like. Lovers words are puzzle pieces that fit together; when they argue, their speech turns into little mouths, chomping one anothers musings. Unwanted advances slither like a snake. Gossip scurries between speakers like mice. If you have read the Phantom Tollbooth: It looks like something that could have been a scene in that book. Available on YouTube. Kolya (1996) Also directed by Sverak (and not only written by but also starring his father), Kolya was the first (and, to date, only) Oscar winner for the independent Czech Republic. Kolya is set in 1989 and tells the story of a lothario Czech cellist who fake-marries a Russian woman (she gets papers; he gets paid). But she absconds to West Germany, leaving him with her 5-year-old son, Kolya. What happens next is predictable enough he grows fond of the kid and so grows as a person but theres a kind of parallel between the passage of personal and historical time that adds to the movie. Its also just beautifully shot. I spent the first part thinking that it was pleasant enough, but perhaps not Oscar worthy. I then wept on and off for the last 30 minutes of the movie. Call it Kolya karma. Available on Amazon. Cosy Dens (1999) A Czech friend of mine showed this to me on my 25th birthday. I will thus always remember my 25th birthday as the day that I fully appreciated that the Czech sense of comedy is significantly darker than its American counterpart. Its a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s including Prague Spring and its unfortunate end. Directed by Jan Hrebejk, the movie is about intersecting families and generations and growing older and growing up, but its also about how dreams and ideas crash into reality, both political and personal. Its been voted as among the best if not the best Czech movie in various polls. Available on Eastern European Movies and YouTube. Divided We Fall (2000) and The Shop on Main Street (1965) Divided We Fall, also by Hrebejk, also an Academy Award nominee, is about a young couple during World War II. The husband cannot father children. He is also dispositionally an unlikely hero, but he and his wife have heroism thrust upon them when they take in, and hide, a young Jewish man. This would make an interesting double feature with The Shop on Main Street, a Slovak-language movie from 1965 that won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for its depiction of a carpenter who takes over an old Jewish womans shop as part of the countrys Aryanization efforts (Aryanization being the process by which Jewish property was transferred to non-Jews). The role of the Jewish shopkeeper was played by Ida Kaminska daughter of Ester Rachel Kaminska, known as the mother of Yiddish theater who nabbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Available on Amazon. The Teacher (2017) Yet another Hrebejk! This is a satirical Slovak-language movie about a politically well-connected teacher in 1980s Bratislava who bullies her students and their parents into doing favors for her and punishes the students if the parents dont comply. The movie cuts between scenes of the teachers treachery and a secret meeting between other students and the parents that asks, What if Twelve Angry Men were about a corrupt teacher in 1980s Bratislava? Again, its the brand of Czech comedy that is funny but also bone chilling. I saw this in theaters around the time it came out as part of a film festival and still think about the ending probably once a week. Available on Amazon. Photo: Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images Katy Perry is taking advice from one former American Idol winner making a wish, taking a chance, making a change, and breaking away from the show. The pop star told Jimmy Kimmel that shes probably leaving the Idol judges table after this upcoming season so she can focus on her pop career again. (Kind of funny how those two things cant coexist, but we digress.) I feel like I need to go out and find that pulse to my own beat, you know what Im saying, Jimmy? said Perry, grooving in her chair. Shell be the first judge to leave ABCs Idol revival, after the lineup of her, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie stayed together for seven seasons. (Sorry to Bryan and Richie, who had to find out this news on TV.) When Richie appeared on Kimmel just a few days later, he said that he wasnt mad that Perry didnt tell him or Bryan ahead of time, but joked, It just made me run off the road when I first heard about it. My phone blew up. He went on to say that despite not knowing about Perrys departure, it makes sense, adding, You have to take some time and actually be an artist. As for who might be in the running to replace her at the judges table, Richie didnt offer up any intel. Theyre keeping tight-lipped, because I dont even know. But its gonna be really interesting, he said. Perry went on to manifest a big year for all pop-star girlies, throwing her wig in the ring with Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and whoever else comes out of the woodwork in the next ten months. While she released the album Smile in 2020, Perry hasnt toured since she joined Idol in 2018, though she did have a Vegas residency during that time. Im creating space for my new wingspan, Perry added. Spread those wings and (re-)learn how to fly, girl! This story has been updated. Lea Seydoux in The Beast. Photo: Sideshow and Janus Films Somebody please get this woman anxiety medication stat! Lea Seydoux stars in The Beast, a sci-fi drama from French director Bertrand Bonello, playing fear-paralyzed Gabrielle, a woman who must get a quasi lobotomy to function in 2044 Paris. In the films first trailer, debuting below, she gets hooked up to an IV drip, lies in the hospitals tar bath, and plugs in a device that allows people to travel to their past lives, all for the express purpose of erasing the scourge of feelings. By purifying your DNA, youll explore your past lives to clean away old traumas inherited over centuries, a doctor tells her. During the operation, she wakes up in Belle Epoqueera Paris wielding a chefs knife or shes wandering around an affluent early 21st century home. Sometimes Gabrielle is adrift in a home underwater or popping a baby dolls eyes or surrounded by walls on fire. In every incarnation, she meets Louis (George MacKay), who alternates between lover and existential threat. Im scared of no longer feeling things, Gabrielle admits. Well, the past may be far scarier than she could even imagine. Apparently, theres a beast ready to pounce. It means someones going to die, we hear in voice-over. I see why shes a bad bitch with bad anxiety. The Beast opens in select cities on April 5. When you buy and hold a stock for the long term, you definitely want it to provide a positive return. Furthermore, you'd generally like to see the share price rise faster than the market. But MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) has fallen short of that second goal, with a share price rise of 53% over five years, which is below the market return. The last year has been disappointing, with the stock price down 4.9% in that time. Since the stock has added US$1.9b to its market cap in the past week alone, let's see if underlying performance has been driving long-term returns. View our latest analysis for MetLife While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). MetLife's earnings per share are down 18% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years. Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Because earnings per share don't seem to match up with the share price, we'll take a look at other metrics instead. We are not particularly impressed by the annual compound revenue growth of 0.3% over five years. So it seems one might have to take closer look at earnings and revenue trends to see how they might influence the share price. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, MetLife's TSR for the last 5 years was 83%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 21% in the last year, MetLife shareholders lost 1.5% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 13% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for MetLife that you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Its tearing up our hearts to think about saying bye-bye-bye to this show. Photo: James Lisle/Max Slick back that hair, friends, Tokyo Vice has returned. The sophomore season of the yakuza epic that doubles as an argument for studying abroad displays steady improvement over the first, as the episodes broaden out into more of an ensemble piece while continuing to deliver on its promise of genre delights. But it would be wise to prepare for heartbreak: Given the pints of blood Max has been spilling in recent months, renewal odds arent looking too hot. While the series has its admirers (there are dozens of us!), it doesnt seem to be contributing much to Maxs streaming imperatives in an era of shrinking TV budgets, nor has it attracted much awards hype to warrant shooting in Tokyo, which surely commands a hefty sum. (The White Lotus ended up setting its third season in Thailand instead of Japan for a reason, and that reason is better tax incentives.) So its highly likely this seasons ten episodes are the last well see of Tokyo Vice. Well miss it! The series is far from perfect, but it does possess a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it distinct from so many other prestige-y crime dramas. Scholars call this ineffable quality a vibe, that little blanket shows can throw over themselves to make them more than the sum of their parts. As a preemptive farewell, heres an appreciation of a few things contributing to Tokyo Vices general vibey-ness that well sorely miss when the show finally gets called up to the seedy nightclub in the sky. . Photo: James Lisle/Max Nobody conveys man weighed down by the existential weight of masculinity like Michael Mann, whose protagonists in Thief, Heat, Miami Vice, Blackhat, and Ferrari are singular figures prone to melancholy staring, weary affect, sly cunning, and an overall exhaustion with the experience of being alive. I love them all! And although Manns involvement in Tokyo Vice seems fairly limited (he is an EP and directed the pilot), some of the seriess most evocative visuals are clearly modeled after the chilly, muscular look of his work. The first season included a good number of Neil McCauleylike images of gangsters and cops staring out of windows to get at the idea of criminality as their deadly passion and terrible joy, and season two takes that mentality to other locations: a yakuza walking in a snowy forest, Katagiri hiding in shadows during a police raid. Tokyo Vice is selective with its big action set pieces (and theyre very good, in particular season ones home invasion and assassination attempt against Chihara-kai oyabun Ishida), so the seriess visual language has become more dominated by these compositions, which reflect the interiority that Manns work has always been about. Roxana Hadadi . Photo: James Lisle/Max For a hyperviolent show about organized crime and the dark underbelly of society, Tokyo Vice is an unexpectedly cozy affair. As far as I can tell, only some of the show takes place in the wintertime, but cinematographer John Grillos emphasis on keeping things moody and shadowy even in the daytime! means theres ample opportunity for paradoxical hygge. Relentlessly dark rooms are cut by the warm glow of table lamps or comfy side lighting. Tokyos neon signs add a dash of East Asian noir to night scenes, but the way their liveliness cuts against the muted blues and grays that paint the rest of the show creates an unexpected feeling of comfort. The wardrobing is a standout in this regard, with sweater vests in particular being the MVPs. Jakes bald-shaven co-worker Tin Tin (its never terribly clear why theyve stuck to the nickname) is the king of the dweeby but oh-so-cozy sweater vest. And at the end of the second-season premiere, we find Ken Watanabes Katagiri breaking into a politicians house and threatening him with dismemberment while rocking a sick puffer. You cant extract information without feeling padded, you know? Nicholas Quah . Photo: James Lisle/Max Tokyo Vice is actually a travel show. Theres a touch of anthropological tourism at play with the seriess tumble down the yakuza rabbit hole. As it unspools its story of warring criminal factions, its also wandering through a subculture that expresses something intimate to the history of a whole other country. Mostly, though, the travel-show stuff really comes through in the abundance of noshing on display. Food plays a huge world-building role in some of the best HBO dramas. (Yeah yeah, Tokyo Vice is a Max show, but roll with me on this.) Think McNulty and Bunk eating crabs in the evidence room, or Tony Soprano constantly confronting Italian delicacies, or Hot Pie being Game of Throness resident Top Chef. Tokyo Vice operates on that wavelength, too. Decent chunks of the show take place in smoky izakayas and eateries. In the second-season premiere, Jake and his journo-bros are chowing down on an assortment of small plates I see skewers, tempura, pickled veggies when they get the call about their office being on fire. The nomming isnt just limited to restaurants, either: At one point last season, Sato cooks Samantha a tamagoyaki so fine it gives Sydneys omelet in The Bear a run for its money. Ugh, Im starving. NQ . Photo: James Lisle/Max Given that the series is born out of Jake Adelsteins book Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan, it was inevitable that Jakes time working at the Meicho Shimbun, a thinly fictionalized version of the publication Adelstein actually worked for, would be a major narrative focus. But unlike, say, The Newsroom, Tokyo Vice doesnt suggest that journalism is the only thing that can keep a society in check. The writers and editors of Meicho Shimbun dont all agree on the best way to tackle the yakuza, nor are they all objective on the issue, and those differences in opinion make for great tension between Jake and his editor and mentor Emi (Rinko Kikuchi) and the newspapers higher levels of power. Tokyo Vice takes time to show the everyday negotiations that occur between Jake and Emi and the sources they need to do their jobs citizens affected by the yakuzas shady business practices, cops Katagiri and Miyamoto, club hostesses like Samantha, and of course, the yakuza themselves and that push-pull contributed to the first seasons immersive pacing. Season two amps this up with a newsroom mole and unexpected friction between Jake and his fellow early-career reporters; plus, no grandiose Aaron Sorkinwritten speeches that make me grit my teeth until they crumble into dust! RH . Its easy to forget that Tokyo Vice is a period piece beginning in 1999, when boy bands were at the height of their power. You simply could not escape Backstreet Boys, N Sync, and the competition between them, and its frankly delightful that Tokyo Vice doesnt pretend they werent huge international artists with gigantic fanbases. Why wouldnt the yakuza be into these groups? They were delivering bops! They were popular with women! They were easy to dance to! Its very fun to watch Jake, Sato, and other yakuza members sing along to I Want It That Way and Tearin Up My Heart, and also unsurprising that these same 20-somethings would find a way to make those tracks a little erotic and a little vulgar. Theres a geeky earnestness to watching these young men drop some of their posturing masculinity and give themselves over to the music, and that lightheartedness makes for a nice balance with the seriess brutality. RH . Photo: James Lisle/Max In another of the shows turn-of-the-millennium pleasures, characters rock good ol dumbphones and are starting to play around with the World Wide Web, courtesy of then-cutting-edge 56k modems. But given contemporary Japans continued usage of what wed consider retro technology, the line between present and near-present is fairly blurry in a way that lends a fun temporal weirdness to the show. Its a country where compact-disc sales are still vibrant and retro gaming stores continue to be everywhere. Indeed, few tangible objects on the show actually feel distinct to the place at that time. The elaborate vending machines, a hallmark of Tokyo in the cultural imagination, are as ubiquitous today as they were in the late 90s and early 2000s. And so when the show cuts to shots of workaday journalists banging away at (beautiful) boxy laptops around the Meicho Shimbun newsroom, it usually takes me a beat to remember, Oh right, MacBook Airs arent around yet. That dislocation is terribly entertaining. NQ . Photo: James Lisle/Max More than 50 years after the release of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppolas film and its two sequels still loom large over gangster stories. Unerring loyalty to the family, the collapse of personal relationships at the expense of that loyalty, the sense that no amount of money and power will ever really be enough thats all intrinsic to this genre. And without giving too much away about the seriess second season, Tokyo Vice really digs into those archetypes in this set of episodes. Theres a relationship that evokes Vito and Michaels bond, family dinners converging various yakuza clans to smirk and sneer at each other, shockingly bloody attacks and fights, a destructive arson scene that nods back to the first-season premiere, and grandiose moments of revenge (including a couple moments that nod at another gangster classic, The Departed). The tropes are familiar, even predictable, but Tokyo Vice puts its own moody and stylish spin on them in a way that feels like homage, not mimicry. RH . James Lisle/Max. James Lisle/Max. You can see Shun Sugata as Chihara-kai leader Hitoshi Ishida and Show Kasamatsu as Chihara-kai up-and-comer Sato, right? With their magnificent cheekbones, self-assured body language, and smoldering glares? Do I really need to say anything else? RH . Photo: James Lisle/Max Yes, the yakuza, as depicted in Tokyo Vice and just about everywhere else, are super scary. Stabby-stabby, lots of blood, very dangerous. But darn if I dont tip my hat to the fine fits on this show. Those matching white jumpsuits that the lower-ranking yakuza members wear when theyre hanging out in the clubhouse? They look comfy as hell. Later in the second season, we meet a new character whos all about massive collars and loud shirts that, honestly, totally work. Oyabun Ishida is all about those wide, loose-fitting suits that were so popular in the 80s they bled straight through to the early 2000s, and again, the fact that its supposed to be a period detail flew right over my head because the look would be so hot right now. Satos no slouch, either, though it is interesting that his suits are tailored more tightly than his peers. A pioneer, this guy. NQ . Photo: James Lisle/Max As depicted in the text, Jake Adelstein is kind of a smarmy doofus. Capable and probably gifted as a reporter, sure, but very much a cad a white Japanophile unleashed. Nevertheless, in bursts, theres a charm to this fictional Jake. Part of this is attributable to Ansel Elgorts derpy performance and gangly height, but the hair is doing most of the work. Its hard not to clock the oceanic quality of the thing, how it flops around when hes getting beaten down. Its the little things that make up a vibe, you know? NQ Exscientia said it had terminated the employment of Professor Andrew Hopkins due to 'inappropriate' relationships with two employees The chief executive and founder of an Oxford-based drug company has been sacked over inappropriate relationships with colleagues. Exscientia said in a statement it had terminated the employment of Professor Andrew Hopkins after finding he had engaged in relationships with two employees that the board determined were inappropriate. No further details were given. Chairman David Nicholson also resigned on Monday after conducting a personal investigation into Prof Hopkins without telling the rest of the board. Exscientia said Mr Nicholson had prior knowledge of the alleged relationships. The board said it had hired independent lawyers to conduct an investigation into its founders behaviour, a process that culminated in Prof Hopkins sacking. Shares in Exscientia, which is listed in New York, plunged by almost a fifth on the announcement. The British biotechnology company is backed by Bill Gates and uses artificial intelligence to discover new drugs. Prof Hopkins, 52, originally spun the business out of the University of Dundee in 2012. Its tools have been involved in clinical trials for potential cancer treatments. As of August his wife, Iva Navratilova, was employed by Exscientia as vice president of biophysics, having worked at the company since 2016, according to a US stock market filing. Prof Hopkins, who was made a Commander of the British Empire in January, took home total pay of $2.1m in 2022, according to the companys annual report. The departure comes amid increased scrutiny of employee relationships amid a series of high profile resignations and sackings. In September, Bernard Looney, the boss of BP, resigned over a string of romantic affairs, admitting he had not been fully transparent. In 2019, the British boss of McDonalds, Steve Easterbrook, was sacked over a romantic relationship with an employee. Subsequent investigations suggested he had a sexual relationship with another subordinate. Mr Easterbrook subsequently apologised and said he had failed at times to uphold McDonalds values and fulfil certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company. Story continues Prof Hopkins and Mr Nicholson could not be reached for comment. Exscientia went public in the US in 2021 in a deal that valued the business at $2.9bn. Its shares have since slipped in value and on Tuesday it was worth around $766m. Prof Hopkins, who grew up in Wales, holds around a 15pc stake in the business worth north of $100m. Other investors include Japans SoftBank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which previously invested $35m in the business. Exscientia said its chief scientific officer, Dave Hallett, had been appointed interim chief executive and it had appointed audit committee head Elizabeth Crain as interim chairman. The company said the sacking of Prof Hopkins did not impact the Companys consolidated financial statements or its internal controls over financial reporting. 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. Botticelli glass covered with images of floods. Three climate activists from the Ultima Generazione group on Tuesday covered Botticelli's celebrated Birth of Venus painting with images of devastating floods in Italy. The protestors taped pictures of the disastrous effects of the severe flooding in Tuscany onto the glass that protects the 15th-century masterpiece. The activists called for a reparation fund of 20 billion "to support people who have suffered or will suffer in the near future damage from climate disasters". "Today this painting, symbol of love and beauty, has transformed showing the destruction and pain we are already experiencing due to the climate crisis", one of the activists said before they were removed by police. The Uffizi confirmed that there was no damage caused to the masterpiece thanks to the protective glass. Last month the Italian parliament approved tough new penalties on those who damage or deface monuments and heritage sites, including fines of up to 60,000. In July 2022 climate protesters glued their hands to the glass in front of another Botticelli masterpiece, La Primavera, also at the Uffizi Gallery. New site for Bambino Gesu paediatric hospital. Italy and the Holy See have reached a deal on a new location for the Vatican-run Bambino Gesu hospital at the site of the former Forlanini hospital in Rome. The "declaration of intent" was signed on Thursday by Italy's cabinet secretary Alfredo Mantovano and the Vatican's secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the embassy of Italy to the Holy See. The Bambino Gesu site on the Janiculum Hill no longer permits "any further expansion or improvement of healthcare provision or research activities", according to a joint statement, which recognises the hospital as boasting "absolute excellency in the field of paediatric healthcare assistance and biomedical research at national and international level". The new Bambino Gesu will be housed in the Carlo Forlanini hospital, part of the vast San Camillo hospital complex operated by the Lazio Region in Rome's Portuense district, and is to be granted extraterritorial status as provided for by the Lateran Treaty. Archive image of Forlanini Hospital. Photo: Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI). Under the agreement, the Vatican will buy the building and its grounds from the Lazio Region "at a price to be established" and the construction of the new hospital will be paid for by Italy's workplace accident insurance agency INAIL. The finished hospital will then be leased to the Vatican by INAIL - with rental terms yet to be agreed - to allow INAIL to recuperate its investment. Inaugurated in 1934, the Carlo Forlanini hospital was founded originally to treat tuberculosis patients. It closed definitively in 2015, transferring its departments and services to the nearby San Camillo and Spallanzani hospitals. Photo credit: Stefano Chiacchiarini '74 / Shutterstock.com. Linda Wenhold was blown away by the Patriot Academys classes, which tap into a growing fear among some evangelical Christians that their faith and its rightful place at the center of American culture and government were under siege. Christian Daily International interviewed Dr. Jay Matenga, Maori theologian of missions practice and head of the World Evangelical Alliances Mission Commission, about his recently published annual Leaders Forecast: Reflections on the State of Global Missions. The interview has been edited for length and clarity, and arranged into a three-part series touching on different topics. The following is part two that speaks about overcoming conflict in missions through a different missions paradigm that focuses on the Spirits leading rather than a human-centered task to accomplish. CDI: In this years Leader Forecast, you mention the story in Joshua 5 where Joshua is near Jericho. Here a brief extract from verses 13-14a: Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, Are you for us or for our enemies? Neither, he replied, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come. As you point out, the response neither is surprising because you would expect the commander of the Lords army to be on Joshuas side. How is this response relevant in global missions today, also in the context of the polarization, tensions and conflicts within the global Church that we touched on earlier? Jay Matenga: Yes, I contrast the narrative of Joshua and that striking commander of the Lord's army with Peter's encounter with Cornelius and his family in Acts 10. Once Cornelius receives the Spirit, Peter says, I can now see that God is no respecter of persons. [other translations: that God does not show favoritism] And so that dual framing really has to start shaping some of the way that we see opposition, at least within the people of God. One of the things that has disturbed me for some time is that for too long, we've had an anthropocentric [human-centered] perspective on what God is doing in the world. To caricature it a bit: we believe that God has given us a plan in Scripture, and it's now up to us to enact that plan and achieve the task. I see that as a promise that God will fulfill, not a task that we need to achieve. But many times, we have focused on it as if it were merely a task. But when reading Matthew 24:14, where Jesus said that the gospel of this kingdom will be preached in all nations, to all the earth, I see that as a promise that God will fulfill, not a task that we need to achieve. But many times, we have focused on it as if it were merely a task. The difference there is if we focus on it as a task - this is that whole industrialized perspective of missions - then we are required to use our own agency to fulfill it. And as a result, if anything gets in the way or if anything is different to the strategy that we have, we consider it opposition and it becomes problematic. CDI: So you are suggesting a whole different paradigm of looking at our responsibility of participating in Gods mission. Could you elaborate on what that would mean when we look at Jesus instruction that we should proclaim the gospel to the whole world? Jay Matenga: Well, if we move from anthropocentric [human-centered] perspective to a pneumocentric [Spirit-centered] perspective which means to trust the Holy Spirit to be working out God's purposes in the world to the fulfillment of God's promise in the world and for the world - then we are simply aligning ourselves to God and moving according to where we see the Spirit moving. And that's quite a hard thing for humans to do because as humans, we like to have some semblance of control. We are simply aligning ourselves to God and moving according to where we see the Spirit moving. And that's quite a hard thing for humans to do because as humans, we like to have some semblance of control. I think my Pentecostal brothers and sisters would be a little more comfortable with the concept of listening and discerning, hearing the voice of God and moving where the Spirit leads. And that can go to an excess as well if anyone then says, Im doing this because God has told me this or that or the other thing. But scripturally, we can see an arc, a narrative arc. We can see what God is doing and how God is doing it. If we have eyes to see, we can perceive the new thing that is happening in the world, rather than just resist everything that's different from our tradition and then retreat into our little safe spaces and attack everybody that would encourage us to think differently. And this is the space that we've got when we start to realize that it's not us or them that we need to be concerned about, but God and what God is doing. This means having this really high sovereignty theology that God is actually not a deist God who has just left us on our own. God is intimately and integrally involved in world affairs. CDI: This is obviously a touchy issue because of all the related questions that then arise when you emphasize the sovereignty of God in world affairs. How do you respond to that? Jay Matenga: Yes, it becomes problematic for some when they consider some of the current issues like the war in the Holy Land saying, well, does that mean that God allowed Hamas to attack Israel? All we can say legitimately from Scripture is that God's purposes are being worked out through the interaction of sinful humanity - and the opposition to God in the spiritual realm that we call Satan, or the enemy, is involved in this as well - but ultimately, God's purposes will prevail. Ultimately, God's purposes will prevail. So that's the hope that we have and that we need to hold onto and look forward to, rather than being drawn into these human conflicts that pit one section of the people of God against the other section of the people of God. We are right to lament and grieve with those who are suffering. But ultimately, on both sides of the fence, we've got believers. We must be careful not to simply say unequivocally about a specific ethnicity that this is patently evil or someones differing perspective that this is patently heretical, and so on. There are some of our brothers and sisters on both sides. We can learn some of that from our forebears of such tragedies, for example Germany after World War II. After the war as people have come out who were part of the axis nations, not the allied nations, the world has enveloped them again as reconciliation works its way. It's certainly not easy, but it's inevitable for the sake of our coexistence. Also read part 1 of the interview: Harmony isnt the absence of tension, says global mission leader commenting on major trends today Dr Jay Matenga is a Maori theologian of missions practice. He leads Missions Interlink NZ, the missionary alliance of Aotearoa New Zealand, from which he is seconded for half his time to lead the World Evangelical Alliances Mission Commission. Prior to his 2015 appointment with Missions Interlink, Jay served for 15 years as the Director of Pioneers and 5 years before that with WEC International, sending and caring for missionaries from New Zealand. His MA studies (All Nations Christian College) investigated relationships of power within missions structures and his doctoral research (Fuller Seminary) led to his development of an Industrial and Indigenous values spectrum as a way of understanding intercultural interactions, which can provide a pathway to maturity through transformative tensions. P.F. Chang's is offering six count of dumplings to anyone who shows a breakup text they received as part of a Valentine's Day promotional deal from Feb. 12 through Feb 21. If chocolate is the key to the heart then dumplings are the key to heartbreak. P.F. Chang's will give six free dumplings to anyone who was recently dumped via text message as part a Valentine's Day promotion. "A breakup text is now the golden ticket to free DUMPlings at P.F. Changs this month," the Asian and Chinese food chain said in a news release. From Feb. 7 through Feb 24, you can redeem your dumplings by proving you were dumped, according the a news release. To redeem the deal, text code "CHANGSDUMPLINGS" to 855-697-6181 along with either a breakup story or screenshot of the breakup text and await further instructions. Users can then receive six-count of shrimp or pork dumplings at a P.F. Changs restaurant or via delivery. Breakup is ironically common around Valentine's Day One in 14 U.S. adults have experienced a breakup around Valentine's Day, according to data from dating service Bumble. P.F. Changs said the "DUMPlings program" makes the perfect comfort food for those experiencing heartbreak and shows the chain's efforts to cater to all guests, whether they're celebrating a longtime relationship or newly single. "We wanted to launch a fun, light-hearted program that reminds those finding themselves single, during a month that shines a spotlight on couples, that breakups may suck, but at least our dumplings dont," the chain's marketing director Elisa Cordova said the news release. P.F. Chang's isn't the only food chain embracing heartbreak this month. Pizza Hut is offering a new Valentines Day special that gives customers in three U.S. cities the chance to win a a Goodbye Pie, a tastier alternative to a breakup text. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: P.F. Chang's has free breakup dumplings to those dumped over text The Australian War Memorial is calling for volunteers to transcribe love letters and diaries from its collection. Images of hundreds of thousands of handwritten documents have been released on the memorials new digital platform Transcribe on Valentines Day, among them a love letter by an Australian soldier in the hours before he died in the landing at Gallipoli. One of the letters between Malcolm Keshan and Dorothy Williams sent in 1944. Credit: Australian War Memorial The hope is that an army of volunteers will go online to decipher the material and type it out, making it easier to access for historians and the general public. But some of the material is hard to decipher, such as one letter in cursive script that is written over I love you repeated in a swirl across the page. I tell you this much, if only I could get the necessary money Id bowl right up to Woolworths and spirit you off to get married now, wrote the love-struck serviceman. The national collection includes years of correspondence between prisoners of war and their lovers back in Australia, such as that of Dorothy Keshan and Malcolm Mac William Keshan, who was a prisoner of war in Germany from 1941-45 during World War II. The only good thing about all this passing time is that each day brings you a little closer, I feel pretty certain that it wont be much longer sweetheart, she wrote to him in one of hundreds of letters between the pair. All this time passing only makes me miss you so more and more, and - Im waiting for you Mac. AAP EMPTY VESSEL James Packers super yacht, IJE, named after the initials of his three children, set the big fella back around $200 million a good $50 million over budget and took four years to build. The rule of thumb with these monstrosities, apparently, is the average annual cost of keeping them afloat is around 10 per cent of the original price. That means Packer is shelling out $20 million a year just to belong to the super yacht class. James Packers yacht is up for hire. Credit: Illustration by John Shakespeare In 2021, it looked like it was all getting a bit too much for Packer, who put IJE on the market for about $283 million after just two years in the water. It was quietly withdrawn some months later after receiving just one low-ball offer. Instead, Packer appears to have settled for going down the landlord (or in this case, sealord) route and renting the thing out. For a cool $3 million a week, you could live like a member of Packers entourage. Loading And it really has been a glittering entourage that has boarded the IJE in recent summers, which is a testament to Packers inexplicable knack for wooing celebrities. Robert De Niro is a regular, while his Killers of the Flower Moon co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, was spotted alongside former Spider-Man Tobey Maguire aboard last year. Closer to Earth, IJE has played a bit part in the annals of Australian corporate history. In 2020, Packer beamed in from the yacht, then moored off the coast of Tahiti, to give evidence at former judge Patricia Bergins NSW casino probe. Bergins final report found Crown Resorts unfit to hold a casino licence in NSW, and in the aftermath of that report, and a separate royal commission in Victoria, Packer sold his stake in the gaming giant to private equity firm Blackstone, cashing in at around $3.2 billion. Sticking with matters financial, with the price to hire IJE, Packer would only need to rent the yacht out for around seven weeks of the year to cover upkeep costs according to our back-of-the-envelope calculations which leaves plenty more time for schmoozing with the Hollywood elite. Loading RACE CASE CBD supposes that despite everything, Melbournes annual Australian Grand Prix isnt going anywhere. But then again, neither is the long-running insurgency against the event by a determined group of Albert Park locals. And the good folk of Save Albert Park have a newfound spring in their step ever since the state Labor government cancelled the Commonwealth Games with Premier Jacinta Allan at the heart of the action by figuring that once youve cancelled one big sporting waste of money, then why not scrap another. The rebels had a win last year when the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner ordered the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) hand over internal working documents on how the crowds at the event are calculated, following a campaign through freedom of information by the groups Joan Logan. Save Albert Park has maintained for decades that the race organisers use every trick in the book to wildly inflate the number of paying punters at the race to exaggerate the economic benefits of the event. But the corporation isnt taking the decision lying down and is taking the information commissioner to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), arguing that releasing the documents would give rival cities information that could be handy in any attempt to poach the race from Melbourne. But Logans husband, Peter Logan, isnt having any of that. The AGPC has lawyered up at taxpayers expense to mount a case that it doesnt have to release the methodology used to make up its attendances, even though it was demanded by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, he told us. We asked the grand prix corporation why it was bothering with the trouble and expense of the VCAT challenge, instead of just handing over the documents. But a spokesperson said the corporation wouldnt comment while the matter was before the tribunal. VIDEO NASTY Its been nearly a decade since Matt Huddo Hudson, a former associate director at commercial real estate giant Colliers, released a raunchy video documenting the shenanigans at his dirty, flirty 30th birthday party. The video, featuring a sea of gyrating bodies, women in skimpy nurses outfits and winking property bros to DJ Snakes sexually repellent club banger Lean On, was meant to be a bit of harmless fun. It hasnt aged well. In 2016, it did the media rounds after Colliers, and its chief financial officer, Sean Unwin, were the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former executive assistant Alexandra Marks. Loading Marks alleged that her former boss tried to force her head down to his crotch area, and organised for her to have sex with someone. While Unwin, and the company, initially promised to vigorously defend the allegations, the parties reached a confidential settlement, with the CFO departing. Hudson was never named or involved in the proceedings, but the video, in which Unwin briefly appears, was reported by our stablemates at the Australian Financial Review as a snapshot into the culture at Colliers, to the considerable annoyance of the firms bosses. Hudson was soon out the door, and removed the video after negotiating his departure from the firm. But the whole thing is set to resurface in a Sydney court on Tuesday, with a case between Hudson and Colliers expected to be heard over four days. Both parties declined to comment on the matter currently before the court when contacted, but CBD understands it relates to offers made by Colliers to Hudson in exchange for him removing the video after his departure. Loading At the time, my most recent contract as co-host of The Project had only been signed 11 months before and still had more than two years to run, she said. She remains employed by Ten but said that, as far as she was aware, no steps have been undertaken for her to appear in an interview series as envisaged in her contract. Wilkinson said McGarvey had texted her at 11.07pm after the Logies: Beautiful speech. After she left The Project, McGarvey texted Wilkinson about her farewell comments on the program: Perfect delivery, you spoke from the heart and it was a beautiful sentiment and you are so generous to your colleagues. Thank you. The media should all be kind, you deserve it. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee reserved his decision in the defamation case in December last year after a month-long trial. He indicated on Tuesday that he is likely to deliver his decision in March. The Federal Court heard on Tuesday that Ten CEO Beverley McGarvey texted Lisa Wilkinson after her departure from The Project in November 2022. The hearing resumed on Tuesday as Wilkinson pursued Ten to cover her legal costs of defending the lawsuit. Lee will also rule on costs as part of the case. The Logies acceptance speech Before he was retained to act for Ten in Lehrmanns defamation case, Collins had appeared on Sevens Sunrise program and described Wilkinsons acceptance speech on June 19, 2022, when The Project won a Logie for the Higgins interview, as ill-advised in light of Lehrmanns imminent trial. Wilkinson praised Higgins in the speech for her unwavering courage. The former Project host told the court on Tuesday that she had taken significant steps to ensure the speech was legally responsible. Lehrmanns lawyers have pointed to the speech as a factor supporting aggravated damages in his defamation case. Lisa Wilkinson leaves court in November last year, flanked by her barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC (left), and Tens barrister, Matt Collins, KC. Credit: James Brickwood Lehrmanns ACT Supreme Court criminal trial for the alleged sexual assault of Higgins was due to proceed on June 27, 2022, but the speech led to the trial being delayed for three months to avoid prejudicing the jury. Lehrmanns trial was ultimately aborted in October 2022 due to juror misconduct and the charge against him was later dropped altogether owing to concerns about Higgins mental health. He has always maintained his innocence. In an affidavit filed in court, Wilkinson said she did not want Collins representing her in the defamation case in light of his comments, but felt that Ten gave her no choice. Advice was unfortunate Asked by Lee on Tuesday if Ten said its advice about the speech was anything other than completely inappropriate, the networks barrister, Robert Dick, SC, said that we dont accept that it was completely inappropriate. He said Ten accepted that ultimately it gave rise to a real risk of contempt, and it was unfortunate. Wilkinson said in an affidavit that the executive producer of The Project had texted her before the Logies that the speech was all good with Tasha Smithies, Tens senior litigation counsel. Smithies gave evidence on Tuesday that Wilkinson showed her the draft speech on her iPad. Loading You advised her that the speech was okay? Wilkinsons barrister, Michael Elliott, SC, said. Yes, Smithies said. Elliott put to Smithies that if Ten had told ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum, who presided over the criminal trial, that Wilkinson had not acted against a warning, but had prudentially sought and obtained legal advice, it would have cast her in a more sympathetic light before the court. Yes, Smithies said. Smithies agreed under questioning by Lee that telling the judge that Wilkinson had delivered her speech after receiving legal advice would have meant it was less likely a contempt charge would have been brought against the journalist. Would you accept it would make it more likely that a contempt charge might be made against Channel Ten? Lee said. Yes, Smithies said. The court heard that Ten issued a statement after the Lehrmann trial was delayed, in which it said it fully supports Lisa Wilkinson and both Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson take their legal obligations very seriously, including in the preparation and delivery of her speech given at the Logies event. Wilkinson said in an affidavit that she did not believe this statement was adequate. She told the court that the statement was very legally considered and missed out on the exact fact that I had been begging them to make clear publicly, and that was: they had asked me to give the speech, they had been involved in legalling that speech right up until ... the afternoon of the Logies, that speech had also been approved by the CEO ... [and] the head of network communications. The costs fight Wilkinson filed proceedings against Ten last year after a dispute arose about Tens legal obligation to cover her costs of defending the defamation case. By September, the invoices had totalled $723,555. Bruce Lehrmann outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday. Credit: Kate Geraghty It is not in dispute that Ten will be liable to cover any damages payout if Lehrmann wins the defamation case, as well as any order to pay Lehrmanns legal costs. The key issue to be determined by the court is whether it was reasonable for Wilkinson to be represented by separate lawyers. An employer would ordinarily cover the costs of an employee defending legal action that arose out of conduct in the course of their employment, but it is usual for the employee to be represented by the same lawyers as their employer. Wilkinson said in an affidavit that she was gutted when she realised Ten would argue that it did not have any obligation to indemnify her for her legal costs because she was separately represented, and she felt their position was intentionally cruel. Truth defence In The Project interview, Higgins accused an unnamed former colleague of sexually assaulting her in Parliament House in March 2019. Lehrmann was named in the media in August 2021, six months after the Ten interview, when he was charged with sexual intercourse without consent. Lehrmanns lawyers say he was identified by Ten by the descriptions given of the alleged perpetrator, and that the broadcast suggested he was guilty of raping Higgins in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, for whom they worked as advisers. In the event the court finds Lehrmann was identified, Ten and Wilkinson admit the central claim of rape was conveyed and are seeking to rely on a range of defences, including truth. Under the truth defence, they must prove on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann raped Higgins. While this is less onerous than the criminal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, the so-called Briginshaw principle applies in civil cases involving serious allegations and requires courts to proceed cautiously in making grave findings. Alleged contempt of court The court heard on Tuesday that Glenn Logan, the operator of a YouTube channel which re-broadcast parts of the Lehrmann defamation trial in contravention of court orders, will face contempt charges. A lawyer appearing on Logans behalf in court said he admitted the acts but was genuinely remorseful. He accepted he had acted recklessly but he never would have deliberately breached court orders, his lawyer said. The City of Cockburn will tonight vote on whether to spend an unbudgeted $114,000 to allow its mayor and three councillors to attend a Croatian music festival during the European summer. The trip to Split, which has been recommended for council approval, includes spending up to $25,000 on each councillors business class flights, plus an accommodation budget of $500 each per night for the week-long trip scheduled for July. According to the delegation proposal, the group hope to follow Perth-based, Croatian folkloric group Zagreb to Spilt and Korcula Island. If you happen to live in the City of Cockburn, then you have a vested interest as ratepayers into whether the council gives this trip the green light. Its arguably worse and, like smoking, we likely wont know the true impact for decades. Some say Facebook is the new tobacco: an addictive substance that doles out regular dopamine hits in Facebooks case in the form of likes and comments with severe negative health consequences, particularly for young people. The social media company that began life in 2004 as a hot or not website from 19-year-old Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, eventually growing into a $1 trillion behemoth, would now be old enough to legally, in Australia at least, drink and smoke if it were a person. The story of Facebooks first 20 years is one of initial promise and optimism being replaced over its evolution by rampant privacy intrusions, misinformation and an overall malaise that has long dogged the company, though not its share price. Facebooks decline setting aside its eye-watering valuation is symptomatic of the ruination of everything we once loved about the internet. It has fallen victim to enshittification, a term coined by the writer and futurist Cory Doctorow to describe the decay of online platforms. As Doctorow put it: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die. Nearly every online service you can think of Twitter, Reddit, Google search and Bandcamp are now shadows of their former selves thanks to enshittification, and Facebook is arguably the poster child. Facebook was once a far more friendly, fun and innocent place to spend time online. It was a simpler platform, and it was good to its users. Its feed was filled with inane status updates (everyone must know what I just had for dinner), tedious photos of said dinner, and general life updates including new jobs and successful marriage proposals. Budapest: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key European ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is under pressure after a child abuse scandal prompted the resignations of two senior members of his ruling party. Orbans long-serving government faces a rare political crisis after President Katalin Novak, a member of Orbans party, resigned amid public anger over her pardoning of a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing in October. Credit: AP Novaks weekend resignation came after it was revealed that she issued a pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of hiding child sexual abuses in a state-run childrens home. Former justice minister Judit Varga also announced her resignation from a seat in parliament over her role in endorsing the decision. Some of Orbans opponents say the resignations of two senior members of his nationalist Fidesz party are not enough, and that Orban must bear the political consequences. The Israel-Hamas war is teetering on a precipice. On the one hand, there is the possibility of an extended ceasefire deal. On the other, an escalation of fighting through an Israeli ground invasion of the southern city of Rafah. Both offer the promise of an end to the war, which has stretched into its fifth month and cost almost 30,000 lives, but through vastly different routes. People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes in Rafah. Credit: Getty US President Joe Biden is pushing hard for a ceasefire. After standing firmly beside Israel after the October 7 attacks, Biden has lost patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wants him to change course. Biden has reportedly disparaged Netanyahu as an asshole in private conversations recently, and last week criticised Israels military tactics as over-the-top. Many Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In fact, the recent sale by Neil Stahl was the biggest sale of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$947. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. We note that this sale took place at around the current price, so it isn't a major concern, though it's hardly a good sign. In the last year Regeneron Pharmaceuticals insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! I will like Regeneron Pharmaceuticals better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Insiders At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Have Sold Stock Recently The last three months saw significant insider selling at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Specifically, insiders ditched US$14m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all. Story continues Does Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Boast High Insider Ownership? Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals insiders own 4.2% of the company, currently worth about US$4.2b based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Tell Us? Insiders haven't bought Regeneron Pharmaceuticals stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals you should know about. Of course Regeneron Pharmaceuticals may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The 42nd Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO) was successfully held from 7 to 9 February 2024, in an in-person format in Brussels, under the chairmanship of Ms. Sun Hwa Cho from the Korea Customs Service. The meeting gathered 167 registered participants attending both in person and online with only passive participation, including WCO Member delegates, representatives of intergovernmental organizations (WTO and UNCTAD), and the International Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Gael Grooby, Acting Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, delivered the opening remarks, setting the tone for the discussions ahead. In her speech, she expressed gratitude for the significant attendance at the meeting and indicated that she was confident the participants would actively contribute to the exchange of experiences and information during the meeting. The TCRO meeting deliberated on a diverse range of topics, sharing experiences and insights from members and highlighting the dynamic nature of rules of origin in international trade. Discussions covered significant subjects such as the digitisation of certificates of origin, the feasibility study on Origin Interconnectivity, cumulation, product-specific rules, the use of blockchain and other technologies for self-certification, and the performance measurement mechanism for customs. The World Trade Organization (WTO) delivered a comprehensive report on the Committee on Rules of Origin activities, offering valuable insights. Additionally, the TCRO discussed, examined, and supported several ongoing WCO activities, including the Study on the Digitalization of Certificates of Origin (Summary Findings), Feasibility Study on the Interconnectivity Framework for Certificates of Origin, particularly on its Business Process Model (BPM) and dataset components, Study on Accumulation/Cumulation, and the work plan for the Study on Product-Specific Rules. In addition to substantive discussions, the Secretariat provided updates on activities carried out in 2023, such as the 3rd WCO Global Origin Conference and technical assistance activities. The TCRO noted the support given by the WCO/JICA Joint Project (Master Trainer Programme for East and Southern Africa and for West and Central Africa), and the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme. The Secretariat also presented the use of the WCO Trade Tools. Moreover, the draft guidelines for Specific Annex K to the Revised Kyoto Convention were presented and extensively discussed during the TCRO, reflecting a collaborative effort to refine and enhance these documents. Furthermore, the TCRO discussed the progress of its existing Work Programme and endorsed updates to the TCRO Work Programme 2023-2025. The 42nd TCRO meeting served as a platform for fruitful deliberations, collaborative efforts, and knowledge sharing, contributing to the advancement of rules of origin frameworks and facilitating smoother international trade practices. The World Customs Organization (WCO) provided technical assistance for Fiji's Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme from 29 January to 2 February 2024. This mission, supported financially by the Customs Cooperation Fund - China, aimed to enhance the existing AEO Programme of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), which was launched in 2018. The mission took place in Suva and was led by a WCO Technical and Operational Advisor in the area of AEO programmes from Turkiye. Bringing together representatives from various FRCS units, the team engaged in comprehensive discussions covering several crucial aspects. These discussions delved into the challenges confronting the current programme, potential avenues for its expansion, alignment with AEO criteria outlined in the SAFE Framework of Standards, inclusion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), exploration of additional benefits, formulation of strategies for future mutual recognition agreements, and the adoption of an outreach plan by FRCS. One notable highlight of the mission included a site visit to the facilities of an AEO certified company, providing an invaluable opportunity for the group to witness firsthand the implementation of AEO criteria on-site. Following the mission's conclusion, a detailed action plan was developed, highlighting FRCS's strong commitment to fortifying its AEO programme. This collaborative effort signifies a significant stride towards enhancing trade facilitation, promoting economic growth, and strengthening security measures within Fiji's Customs landscape. Q.E.P. Co., Inc. BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTCQX: QEPC) (the Company or QEP) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its operating subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand (the ANZ Business) to QEP Australasia Pty. Ltd. led by Bruce Maclaren and Tony Lei, in a transaction valued at approximately AUD 14.05 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the Companys fiscal year on February 29, 2024, subject to certain closing conditions. Bruce Maclaren has served as the Managing Director of QEPs ANZ Business for 20 years including a period of three years as CEO European Operations for QEP based in the UK. Tony Lei has also been involved with QEP for over 20 years as a valued supplier to the ANZ Business and QEPs other businesses around the world. QEPs Board of Directors appointed a Special Committee of independent and disinterested directors, to consider this transaction for approval by the Board of Directors. Cassel Salpeter & Co. LLC, a third party investment banking firm, is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee for the transaction. About QEP Founded in 1979, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of best-in-class flooring installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects worldwide. QEP offers a comprehensive line of specialty installation tools, adhesives, and underlayment. QEP sells its products throughout the world to home improvement retail centers, and professional specialty distribution outlets, under brand names including QEP, LASH, ROBERTS, Capitol, Premix-Marbletite (PMM), Brutus, Homelux, PRCI, and Tomecanic. QEP is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with offices in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Please visit our website at www.qepcorporate.com. Forward-Looking Statements All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys business following the sale. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the Companys annual report, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports and disclosures made by the Company. Forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Story continues CONTACT: Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Enos Brown Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 561-994-5550 MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, 11 February 2024, the jubilant atmosphere filled Australia's oldest Chinatown, marking the largest Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Melbourne. Families and friends united to welcome the Year of the Dragon, celebrating with the rich food, music, art, and culture of Melbourne's Chinese and Asian communities. "Melbourne's Chinatown precinct was the only place to be this Lunar New Year," Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece stated. This year's event attracted over 200,000 attendees, providing a significant boost to local Chinatown businesses and traders. This built on the previous year's attendance, which saw almost 180,000 people celebrating together. A standout attraction was the parade featuring the Millennium Processional Dragon. Led by the event hosts and sponsors, the 55-metre long dragon meandered through the crowds, spreading New Year blessings. The Melbourne Chinatown Association, a dedicated, volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization established to support and represent the Chinese and Asian communities in Melbourne, hosted this year's event. Since its inception in May 2022, the association has been at the forefront of promoting social cohesion and celebrating Chinese and Asian culture within the broader community. "This year's festival was the perfect start to the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations," remarked JJ Heng and Trevor Du, the Co-Founders of the Melbourne Chinatown Association. "Melbourne is the culture and events capital of Australia, and it is precisely the Australian values of freedom, mutual respect, fairness, and equality of opportunity that brings us all together." "Today, we, from different backgrounds, come together to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon in the heart of Melbourne's vibrant Chinatown, which has long been a symbol of multicultural diversity in Australia," remarked Xiaodong Chen, Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Melbourne. "I hope the relations between China and Australia will achieve more new accomplishments in every field." Story continues The success of this year's Chinese Lunar New Year festival in commemorating the Year of the Dragon has further fuelled the Melbourne Chinatown Association's dedication to ensuring the seamless and collaborative delivery of more related events. "Together with the Melbourne Chinatown Association, we wish Melbournians prosperity, growth, resilience, and abundance as we embark on the Year of the Dragon," said Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece. Like many other sponsors, HungryPanda, the industrial leading Asian food delivery platform, was thrilled to be part of the event, celebrating cultural heritage. "We are so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful event," expressed Kitty Lu, Director of Public Affairs at HungryPanda. "Our goal is to connect food, people and culture, and this celebration certainly achieved all of the above." The Melbourne Chinatown Association expresses its gratitude for the generous support and endorsement received from the State Government of Victoria, the City of Melbourne, and the Federation of Chinese Associations in Victoria as the honorary Co-organising Partner and all sponsors and supporters for this year's celebrations. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/record-hits-chinese-lunar-new-year-celebration-in-melbournes-chinatown-302060084.html SOURCE HungryPanda Grainne Ni Aodha and Cillian Sherlock, PA Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Israel has become blinded by rage and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally, the United States, anymore. The Fine Gael was answering questions in the Dail about the number of Palestinians that have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation. Labour leader Ivana Bacik said people had been killed or brutally displaced, and that there was nowhere left for Palestinian citizens to go. Were witnessing Armageddon, she told TDs. She said that as long as Ireland delays taking meaningful steps, then our complicity in what is happening there is being prolonged. Its not good enough to say wait a little longer, she said, adding that they need to move to end trade with occupied territories. Labour leader Ivana Bacik (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Varadkar said he shared her distress and said there was a serious risk of a massacre occurring in Rafah if there was a ground assault, which he said would be a gross violation of international law on top of all the other violations of international law which Israel is responsible for. He said that both Hamas and Israel should accept the three-month ceasefire proposal that has been brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. We do all need to be realistic Its very, very clear to me though, that Israel is not listening to any country in the world, I dont even think theyre listening to the Americans anymore. They have become blinded by rage. They are going to make the situation, I believe, much worse for their own security in the long-term by going down the path that theyre going. While he said Ireland would continue to take action in response to Israels campaign in Gaza, he said there was a need to be honest about the situation that we see unfolding. Mr Varadkar added: We will take action, we have taken action, well even take more action, but its very clear to me that Israel doesnt listen to us, doesnt listen to the world, probably doesnt even listen to the Americans anymore. And thats what makes the situation all the more dangerous and all the more worrying. I am concerned that there are people who shout at us and abuse us in the streets, maybe they dont do it to you, but they do it to me and my colleagues here, who believe that there is some action that we can take that will change [Israeli prime minister] Binyamin Netanyahus mind. I think thats incorrect, and I dont think people should spread that idea. I think its actually irresponsible. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said Ireland will again be increasing its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UK and other western countries froze funding to the UN aid agency, after a dozen of its employees were accused by Israel of taking part in the Hamas attack on October 7th. Mr Varadkar said other states had incorrectly suspended funding to UNRWA. Ireland provided 18 million to the agency last year, up from a regular contribution of 6 million. Mr Martin said Ireland would again provide an increased contribution from the base 6 million in 2024. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, he said: UNRWA is the only effective organisation on the ground in Gaza that can distribute aid and humanitarian supplies at scale. On the domestic front, the Government faced criticism for its stance on the conflict. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Ireland would continue to increase its funding for UNRWA (Niall Carson/PA) There have been calls for the Government to voice stronger support for South Africas case at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Opposition parties have also called for the Government to expel the Israeli ambassador, and for the State to support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. However, Mr Martin said some of the calls from the opposition are without substance. The Minister for Foreign Affairs said: Theres been an unhealthy desire on some in the opposition to try and create a wedge as to whos more virtuous in Ireland on this question than I think is merited on any objective analysis of the facts. Mr Martin said EU leaders, Israel and the Palestinian people recognise that Ireland is the strongest supporter of Palestine in the EU. He said Ireland was a leader in calling for an immediate ceasefire when the majority of the EU initially had a more restrained position. In addition, he told reporters that the Government is working with other EU states to examine the recognition of Palestine as a state, as well as imposing a travel ban for Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The Attorney General will be travelling to The Hague on February 22nd to make Irelands intervention in relation to an ongoing case at the International Criminal Court relating to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Archbishop Charles Scicluna is a busy man with three heavy responsibilities. His day job is Archbishop of Malta but he doubles as a secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and trebles as one of the Catholic Churchs leading investigators of sexual abuse by clergy. While the Malta position keeps him at home some of the time, the Vatican role involves a short hop over the Mediterranean to Rome and the wider international role has him hopping all over the world. Scicluna was in the news most recently for suggesting that the Catholic Church should reconsider its long practice of mandatory celibacy for priests. It could, he told the American paper, the National Catholic Reporter, "be something worth discussing" and that it is "something the church at the highest authority will have to decide". So far Pope Francis has declined to move on that pointed request. However, there are straws in the wind: at the 2019 Synod on the Amazon, that proposal received a two-thirds majority vote for approval; a similar proposal was included in the final synthesis document of the 2023 Synod on Synodality; and further discussion on the topic is expected this coming October when that synod reconvenes. More pertinently, Scicluna is a trusted ally of Pope Francis, and some commentators have suggested that this may be a kite-flying exercise on the Popes behalf to assess the support for revisiting the Catholic Churchs 1,000-year practice of mandatory celibacy for priests. But, whatever its source, at a time when priest numbers are "going through the floor", Sciclunas prompting is attracting attention. A recent letter to the prestigious English Catholic paper, The Tablet, signed by six priests from the diocese of Portsmouth, suggests that it is time that the English bishops, on behalf of English Catholics, petitioned "the Roman authorities to ordain married men". The priests make two main points. One, closing parishes due to a priest shortage and creating larger conglomerations is effectively destroying parish communities. And, two, in every parish community, there are faithful and qualified married men who could, after a short time of preparation, be ordained as priests. The situation, the priests argue, is now urgent and they feel sure that the people would support such a move. Whats being suggested is a limited response to the mandatory celibacy problem the ordination of married men to fill the gaps that arise as clergy numbers decline and because in England, as so many former Protestant clergy have converted to Catholicism and are now working as Catholic priests in English parishes, Catholics there are "well used to married priests now". While some believe that such a move has the long-term benefit of eventually freeing up the Catholic priesthood to a personal choice for celibacy, not all are convinced of this strategy. Others are insistent that long-term gradualism is an inadequate response to the present crisis and that change is needed now with the emerging present reality for the Catholic Church of a "no-priest, no Mass, no Mass, no Church" scenario. Theres a gathering consensus that the Catholic Church just cannot afford to wait for change to emerge over a few centuries and that this is one situation where kicking the can down the road is a distraction rather than a solution. And, it goes without saying that generally Catholic women will be unhappy (or maybe more accurately outraged) at the implied diminishment of ordaining married men to fill the present yawning gap and by implication a further side-lining of the ordination of women priests, now widely regarded as a touchstone of recognising and respecting the role of women in their Church. That said, the stop-gap measure suggested by the six priests may have some purchase in sustaining priest-less parishes. It creates some movement in the present logjam. It breaks the mental block of the priesthood/celibacy axis. It demystifies and demythologises priesthood. It is priests saying what priests have always wanted to say but often hadnt the courage to own that celibacy is not intrinsic to priesthood and it introduces into the priesthood/celibacy debate, a normalising of the lived life of priests as married men (and women). Above all, I think that in the short term, it helps sustain parishes. A week or two ago, on Midwest Radios Faith Alive programme, I interviewed the newly appointed rector of the Church of Ireland parish of Ballina. Reverend Alex Morahan, a native of Louisburgh, was ordained a Catholic priest, worked for years on the missions in South Africa and gradually became disillusioned with mandatory celibacy. He later married his wife, Maggie, and they have a daughter, Megan. During the interview, as Alex described the group of seven parishes and seven churches under his leadership, he paid glowing tributes to the three ordained local ministers (OLMs) who work with him in a voluntary capacity in serving their parishioners: Reverend Caroline Morrow (in Killanley/Castleconnor); Reverend Karen Duignan (in Easkey and Kilglass); and the Reverend Clive Moore (in Crossmolina and Ballycastle). As the united parishes present an unwieldly and unnatural unit, the four OLMs working together though identified with specific parishes help to bring a local presence to their work and a personal connection to their parishioners, both of which are greatly appreciated. Listening to the Reverend Alex describe how satisfactory the group dynamic is working, it struck me that the same formula would make some short-term sense for Catholic parishes. It certainly makes more sense than one priest trying to serve seven parishes. David O'Sullivan A woman has described her rapist's apology letter as disingenuous and said he showed no remorse after he raped her in a secluded lane after she thought he was recording them having sex. Ivan Kelly (23), of Buttercup Avenue, Esker Hills, Portlaoise, Co Laois, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court last October. He had pleaded not guilty to the rape in a town in Co Laois on December 27th, 2017. He was jailed for four years on Tuesday. In a letter presented to the court prior to sentencing and read out by prosecution counsel, the victim responded to an apology Kelly submitted to the court at an earlier sentencing date. I felt compelled to write a response letter to the apology letter, she said, before saying that Kelly's apology felt quite disingenuous due to the fact that he showed no remorse during the trial. I never thought I'd get to see any justice knowing he was no longer in the country and had fled, she wrote, It would have been a comfort to know that he acknowledged what he had done before the conviction. The woman said the apology letter felt that he had to do it rather than Kelly being truly remorseful. I don't think he truly feels much for my pain and suffering, she ended the letter, before saying she hoped Kelly gets the rehabilitation he needs to progress and be the father he wants to be. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said: It is clear to the court that the offending of Mr Kelly has had a very significant effect and has caused (the victim) great harm. She is, in my view, a young woman of great courage and fortitude, and it can only be hoped that the great and harmful impact of that night and the subsequent trial will lessen in time. If he had been an adult, the sentence that would have been imposed by the court would have been significantly higher. Aggravating factors in the rape were listed as the use of force, the fact Kelly had to be extradited from the UK, which caused further harm and distress to the victim, Kelly's previous convictions, and the gravity of the offending. Mr Justice MacGrath also noted that a probation officer had found Kelly at medium risk of re-offending. The most significant mitigating factor in sentencing was that at the time of the offending, Mr Kelly was 17 and therefore a child in the eyes of the law, the judge noted. Other mitigating factors included Kelly's personal circumstances growing up and that he is the father of two young children. Mr Justice MacGrath sentenced Kelly to four years and nine months' imprisonment, but suspended the final nine months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to when Kelly entered custody on June 29th, 2022. If he had been an adult, the sentence that would have been imposed by the court would have been significantly higher, the judge said. He also ordered Kelly to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim for an indefinite period The hope is that things will improve for her, but one can never be sure that that will occur, Mr Justice MacGrath said, wishing the injured party well for the future. Secluded lane At an earlier sentence hearing, Detective Garda Michael Esmond told Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that the woman initially contacted Kelly to buy drugs off him. They met in the town and walked to a secluded lane where they had what started as a consensual sexual encounter. The woman saw a flash on Kelly's phone and thought he was videoing her. He became more and more forceful and removed her iPod from her pocket. The woman told him to stop and Kelly became violent, the court heard. He pushed her, causing her to bang her head, stood on her ankle, and raped her. When the assault ended, the women met her friends and immediately reported what had happened. She later told her parents, who called the gardai. The court heard that a medical examination found the woman had bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulder and vaginal area, consistent with the report of rape and assault. Kelly was arrested and questioned but said the sexual intercourse was consensual and had occurred somewhere else. He denied that he raped the woman. He was released, but left Ireland and went to England, from which he was later extradited. 'I felt like nothing' In a victim impact statement handed in to the court, the woman said: After the rape, I felt like nothing. I lost who I was. I lost the hopes and dreams that I once had. I felt empty every day. I felt nothing but sadness and loneliness, she said, I just wanted to be happy but nothing made me feel happy. For a very long time I was very afraid as to what could happen if I let my guard down or trusted the wrong person, she added. The woman said the rape made her feel dirty and disgusting and that My Christmases were never the same. She said she began using drugs to deal with the emotions resulting from the rape. I still stand up with my head held high, she wrote. I was young and innocent and that innocence was taken for me. Damien Colgan SC, defending, said his client fully accepts the verdict and expresses remorse. He said Kelly was a juvenile at the time of the rape and answered all questions put to him during garda interview. Mr Colgan said his client was willing to engage with any services that the court deems necessary. Defence counsel read from a letter written by Kelly to the victim in which he apologised for what happened. I never wanted it to get out of hand the way it did. I was in a very dark place and I'm now prepared to accept whatever punishment the judge gives me. Kelly has 27 previous convictions for possession of knives, possession of drugs, theft, handling stolen property, criminal damage, failure to appear, assault, and road traffic offences. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. READING, Pa. After about a decade of planning, Reading's leaders broke ground Monday morning on a project that aims to revitalize the city's Centre Park. "We are not just breaking ground," said Reading Mayor Eddie Moran. "We are breaking new ground for the future of Centre Park." "I think we're all really excited today to see this project finally come to fruition," Councilman Chris Miller, who represents the city's 6th District. The planning process for the revitalization of the park took about a decade and involved a significant amount of community input. The project is funded through the American Rescue Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. It includes the revitalization of planters and the addition of a decorated retaining wall to protect from erosion. The work will also add a Victorian-era three-tiered fountain and about 1,400 shrubs, flowers, trees and seating. Not everyone, however, is happy about the project. Lori Bellman lives across from the park. She said the city should not have removed the mature trees. "These 100-year-old Linden trees that have been here before the park was redone the first time got sacrificed for a fountain," said Bellman. The park and fountain will be maintained by the Centre Park Historic District and the city. The trees will be replaced with two different varieties. "New Valley Forge American elm and black gum trees will replace the lost Linden trees, providing shade and seasonal beauty," said Moran. "The final plans were based on what the majority wanted," said Miller. "So over 10 years, many, many people putting in volunteer hours. I think everybody's happy to see this happen, and we'll really be happy when it's done." "I am not happy with this plan," added Bellman. "I believe I am not in the majority of the people that were decided what this plan was going to be, and I understand that, and that's the way things go." The work is set to wrap up in May. SPRING TWP., Pa. - Police in Spring Township are looking for the people involved in an incident that ended with shots being fired at an elementary school building. Investigators say on Friday, February 9 at approximately 6:45 p.m., police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of the Berkshire Hills Townhomes off of Iroquois Avenue. At the time, police say no evidence of any shots fired could be found. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that multiple shots were fired at the back of the Cornwall Terrace Elementary School and that there were multiple people present at the time of the incident. Police say this appears to be an isolated incident not related to the school or any school activities. Anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Spring Township PD Investigator Jonathan Zaun at 610-678-3431. All information will be kept confidential. Sourced via CRIMEWATCH: https://berks.crimewatchpa.com/springpd/20469/post/shots-fired-investigation READING, Pa. Reading City Council introduced two new ordinances Monday night to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funds to 23 small businesses and to the College Manor Swimming Association. When ordinances are introduced, council does not discuss the issues, but rather defers those conversations for an upcoming Committee of the Whole. The first ordinance would authorize an allocation of $652,800 to fund grants to 23 small businesses, with amounts ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. The city has set aside $2 million in ARPA funds to incentivize improvements to small businesses. The city received a total of 150 applications from small businesses, but many did not qualify for multiple reasons. The city administration is still doing research on 74 applicants to determine if they meet certain requirements such as possessing a current business privilege license. Those businesses may be awarded grants in a second round of funding from the $2 million. The second ordinance would authorize appropriating $65,320 to the College Manor Swimming Association for repairs to the College Manor Pool. Members of the association approached council last month requesting the funds for needed infrastructure repairs for the 65-year-old neighborhood pool. Reading Managing Director William Heim reported that the funds can be allocated for the pool without significantly impacting city capital projects that will be funded using remaining ARPA funds. Council will vote on the two ordinances at its Feb. 26 meeting. The annual Bain-Altagamma Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study, which was released on Jan. 18, showed that global luxury spending hit a new record. Global luxury spending reached its peak in 2023 with remarkable 8% to 10% growth, reaching a staggering 1.50 trillion euros ($1.60 trillion). Riding the Wave of Luxury With LVMH Source: Bain-Altagamma Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study Between 2019 and 2023, the study found the total luxury industry grew 18% to 20% while personal luxury goods experienced 28% to 30% overall growth. The fine wines and spirits market also grew between 31% and 33% over the same period.Interestingly, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMHF) (MIL:LVMH), a leading player in the luxury goods space, saw its revenue surge by an impressive 72.68% during this period, jumping from $53.67 billion in 2019 to $92.68 billion at the end of 2023. The company surpassed its industry, which grew around 20%. Looking ahead, we expect the revenue of LVMH to continue growing along with the overall luxury industry as spending growth rises from an estimated 1.5 trillion euros today to 2.5 trillion euros by 2030. According to some market studies, there are some main factors that will profoundly shape the luxury goods market leading up to 2030: Chinese consumers that represent 35% of global purchases of luxury goods will regain the spending power they had prior to the pandemic and become the dominant nationality for luxury goods. The next biggest luxury markets globally are America and Europe (24% to 26% respectively of global purchases). Younger generations, like millennials and gen Z, are increasingly embracing luxury goods, driven by self-expression and a desire for quality experiences. And these generations are projected to become the biggest buyers of luxury by far, representing nearly 85% of global purchases. So the world of luxury is booming, and LVMH stands at the forefront, strategically positioned with its diverse portfolio of iconic brands to reap the rewards of this upswing. Story continues About LVMH LVMH is a French multinational corporation founded in 1987 from the merger of Moet Hennessy and Louis Vuitton. It is one of the world's leading luxury goods conglomerates that owns and operates over 70 brands across various sectors of the luxury market. Some brands under LVMH include Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Celine, Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, Bulgari, Chaumet, Fred, Hublot, Tag Heuer, Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perigno and many more. LVMH's strength lies in its diverse portfolio of strong brands that cater to a specific segment of the luxury market. It also focuses on quality and craftsmanship with high-quality materials and attention to detail. The company sucessfully maintains the image and desirability of its brands through marketing and communication and has a well-established distribution network with thousands of stores and online channels worldwide. Strong organic revenue growth is happening across all business groups except Wines and Spirits, and is seeing market share gains worldwide. Double-digit organic revenue growth is occurring in Europe, Japan and Asia. LVMH's profitability further underscores its success Market research confirms the sector's growth still has legs. Seizing the opportunity to profit from this enduring surge by adding LVMH to your portfolio might be a good decision. Accoding to LVMH's investor relations, the company had a good year in 2023. Its revenue jumped 13% to a whopping 86.15 billion euros compared to 79.18 billion euros in 2022. Even though the fine wine and spirits business wasn't as bubbly, other areas like Fashion and Leather Goods, which makes up half of the revenue, continued to shine with sustained double-digit organic growth. All other business segments also contributed to the positive results, particularly in Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia. The total stores also increased around the globe, reaching 6,097 stores in 2023 compared to ony 5,500 locations in 2022 and 2021. The company's Fashion and Leather Goods segment reigns supreme as the largest contributor, generating a whopping 49.55% of the total revenue. This segment boasts impressive growth, surging from 30.89 billion euros in 2021 to 38.89 billion euros in 202 and 42.16 billion euros in 2023. Powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Dior and Celine fuel this success, solidifying the segment's dominant position. Selective Retailing is the second-largest contributor. Sales skyrocketed by a whopping 52%, jumping from 11.73 billion euros in 2021 to 12.85 billion euros in 2022 and finally hitting 17.88 billion euros last year. Meanwhile, Perfumes & Cosmetics and Watches & Jewelry contribute a combined 30.31% of total revenue, experiencing moderate growth. Net profit increased from 12.6 billion euors in 2021 to 15.95 billion euors in 2023. The average annual net profit margin is 18.62%. Riding the Wave of Luxury With LVMH Source: LVMH's Financial Documents - Dec. 31, 2023 LVMH's financial health is also commendable. The company has been managing its debt effectively, with its debt-to-equity ratio declining from 0.69 in 2019 to 0.66 in 2023. This indicates a healthy balance sheet, positioning it for sustainable growth in the future. More than that, LVMH also rewarded shareholders with a consistent dividend payout ratio of 38%, with the latest dividend per share amounting to 13 euros, offering a respectable yield of 1.86%. Riding the Wave of Luxury With LVMH Source: LVMH's Financial Documents - Dec. 31, 2023 LVMH is not just showing off impressive sales growth - it is rewarding shareholders. With a steady increase in dividends from 10 euors per share in 2021 to 13 euros in 2023, is is showing respect for investors and a commitment to sharing in their success. This rising payout highlights the company's financial strength and confidence in its future, making it an even more attractive prospect for value-seeking investors. Valuation The compound annual growth rate of its revenue for the past five years stands at 11.70%. With a current price of 773.80 euros per share, LVMH appears to be nearing its discounted cash flow fair value of 794.60 euros per share. Riding the Wave of Luxury With LVMH While LVMH's stock price may be nearing its fair value, the luxury market itself is on fire. Generations X and Y are in their peak income years, representing the bulk of luxury purchases and the key pool of income growth in the near future. However, gen Z is positioned at the forefront of social and cultural change, inspiring other generations' value systems with a strong desire for lived experiences and a quest for meaning. By 2030, gen Z will account for 25% to 30% of luxury market purchases, while millennials will account for 50% to 55%. We shall expect more from LVMH as it has already outpaced the growth of its industry, meaning its brands are dominant in the luxury space. It has tripled the expansion of its industry within the span of five years. This stellar performance underscores the company's dominant position and suggests its potential has not reached its peak. Do not be misled by its current valuation, however, as its potential extends far beyond its near-term price tag. The company's commitment to shareholder value through increasing dividends and its consistent industry outperformance paint a compelling picture for long-term investors seeking sustained growth. Just when you think LVMH has reached its limit, it seems it is only getting started. Risk While LVMH conquers the world of luxury, its global reach exposes it to a hidden enemy: currency fluctuations. In the second half of 2023, unfavorable exchange rates put a damper on its progress, highlighting the risk inherent in its international performance. Riding the Wave of Luxury With LVMH Source: LVMH's Financial Documents - Dec. 31, 2023 This currency impact serves as a reminder that even for a giant like LVMH, navigating the unpredictable tides of global finance remains a constant challenge. However, the company uses hedging strategies to partially offset potential currency losses. Moreover, it has a strong financial position and can absorb some currency impact without significant strain. Conclusion While the luxury industry continues to expand, LVMH is rocketing past the competition, fueled by a rising tide of demand from the coveted millennial and gen Z demographic. This generation's growing appetite for luxury bodes well for the company's continued dominance, suggesting its growth story is just beginning. LVMH isn't just another investment; it's a front-row seat to a booming market driven by iconic brands, unwavering growth and robust financials. The luxury king shows no signs of slowing down, riding the crest of a wave predicted to keep surging. Adding LVMH to your portfolio will help you ride the wave of luxury industry even better. We may not only enjoy the potential capital appreciation, but can savor regular dividend payouts. This is a buy opportunity you will not want to miss. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Local bakeries are hard at work baking up a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. Lent is this Wednesday and that means, "Tuesday would be Fat Tuesday, so in preparation for Lent coming, everyone would clean out everything that they had in their refrigerator, their fats and all for their giving up for Lent," said Beth Sipos, co-owner of Egypt Star Bakery in Allentown. In Pennsylvania that last day of sweets and goodies is celebrated with fastnachts, a potato-based donut. It's one of the busiest days of the year for the Egypt Star Bakery. "We will probably do about 3200 dozen, 3200 dozen, that's where we're targeted at," said Sipos. Crews are working around the clock to make all those fastnachts are made from scratch. Sipos told 69 News, "We don't bring in our donuts in frozen, we mix them, we round them, we fry them, and finish them off from start to finish." As if Fastnacht Day isn't busy enough, this year, it's right in the middle of two other big days. "It was Super Bowl cakes, Super Bowl cupcakes, they wanted donuts for Super Bowl or eclairs or something like that, and then other people are coming in for Fastnacht Day, and there are other people who are going to be celebrating Valentine's Day," said Sipos. "So it's a little bit of everything." Those three events are making the perfect storm with an actual storm on the way Tuesday. Sipos said, "So everyone is calling to change their order from tomorrow to today." Whether you pick up your fastnachts Monday or on Fastnacht Day, Egypt Star Bakery says they'll make sure to have plenty fresh in stock. EMMAUS, Pa. The East Penn School District is proposing to add one security officer to each of its middle schools, the school board learned during its meeting Monday night. The district has two middle schools: Eyer and Lower Macungie. Currently, the district does not have anyone performing security roles at the facilities. According to a presentation at Monday's meeting, the position's essential roles will be to maintain a safe and orderly environment by maintaining a visible presence, creating a positive school environment through all interactions, enacting all policies and regulations, and making building safety and security enhancement recommendations. The security officers would be unarmed. Candidates for the positions would preferably have prior training or experience working with students and security or law enforcement, the presentation stated. Superintendent Kristen Campbell said at the start of the presentation that the vision is to eventually hire school resource officers at the middle schools. SROs are sworn law enforcement officers who are commissioned or employed by a law enforcement agency. However, due to low recruitment numbers for law enforcement positions at local and state levels, the district is not currently able to pursue SRO positions, Campbell said. As another option to enhance school safety in the interim, the district is considering school security officers, which Campbell emphasized are not police officers and would be considered district employees. Campbell said the purpose of Monday's presentation was informational to gain feedback. She said the positions would potentially be brought back to the board at a later time for its action. Campbell said the school security officers could start as soon as the spring. Many districts called off in-person school before the buses even pulled out of the parking lot Monday. Some parents are using that time to make child care arrangements. Nowadays parents have two issues. The first is hybrid learning, which has become more common since the pandemic. Another issue is child care on short notice. Parents say the choices are never easy. Another day of bad weather will mean remote learning days, or no school at all, for thousands of students in and around the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. And for parents, that means precious time scrambling to make child care arrangements. Ashley Morales is a private duty nurse who comes into the school with her son, who has a disability. "If there's a big snowstorm tomorrow, I can't go to work because I need to watch my own kids," laughed Morales. "If school's closed for them, I have to stay home too." Carmen Gonzalez is a school crossing guard. When school is cancelled, or kids are learning from home, not only does she have to watch her grandkids, but she doesn't get paid either. "When they're out of school, I'm out of school. I have custody of them. So it works fine for me," said Gonzales. Since the pandemic, many districts have opted for what they call flexible instruction days - learning from home when the weather is bad. Parents and, of course, the kids would rather not have a hybrid day. Instead, they would rather go out and play. "You get to make a snowman and ride a sled," said a young girl named Mia. "Back in the day we had snow days, we'd go right outside early in the morning. They can't do that," said Natasha Vazquez, a mother of five from Allentown. "They have to wait until the school day is done, and then go play." "I have to make sure that they're all in different rooms because of too much noise, and since they're home they don't focus," said Vazquez. KNOWLTON TWP., N.J. - Two people were taken to the hospital following reports of an active shooter in northern Warren County, New Jersey. Authorities say a domestic incident triggered a shelter-in-place order Monday evening on Columbia Street in Knowlton Township, directly across the Delaware River from Portland, Northampton County. On social media, the mayor of Portland said that to her knowledge, the shooter was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. Monday. Authorities have not confirmed whether that was the case. Around 9 p.m., the Warren County prosecutor confirmed the shelter-in-place order was lifted and that there was no longer a threat to the public. TRENTON, N.J. - The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office has released the identity of the cyclist who died after being involved in a collision with a New Jersey State Police vehicle in Hackettstown, Warren County. The civilian who died during the encounter has been identified as Raul L. Diaz, 59, of Long Valley, New Jersey, according to a news release from the AG's office. According to the preliminary investigation, shortly after 6 a.m. on Feb. 5, an unmarked police SUV collided with a cyclist, later identified as Diaz, on Willow Grove Street in the area of Brook Hollow Drive, the AG's office said. The AG's office said Diaz was transported to Hackettstown Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:17 a.m. The circumstances leading to and surrounding the crash are under investigation, the AG's office said. The AG's office is required to conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officers official capacity or while the person who died is in custody. NEW YORK (AP) No, Jon Stewart really wasn't sitting at his desk at Comedy Central for the last nine years, waiting for someone to turn the lights back on. Yet it almost felt that way during Stewart's return to The Daily Show Monday night. His signature moves blunt satire, facial grimaces, incisive use of video and some occasional lectures were all intact. Public figures are served notice that the media's sharpest bull detector is back on the job. Stewart has said that the lack of a comedic outlet for his observations as the presidential campaign unfolded largely drove his decision to reprise his most memorable role, one night a week through the election. The much-diminished Comedy Central, unable to find a successor to Trevor Noah as host, happily welcomed him back. Questions about the future of late-night TV, which is rapidly shedding viewers and losing influence, won't be answered in one night. Neither will that night prove Stewart can regain the position of prominence he stepped away from in August 2015. But it was a promising start. Are you disappointed yet? Stewart said after one sophomoric joke, about naming The Daily Show election coverage, Indecision 2024: Electile Dysfunction. HE DOVE DIRECTLY INTO THE NEWS OF THE DAY Stewart seemed to take a page from MSNBC's Rachel Maddow when she turned a daily hosting role into a weekly one. Both resisted trying to do too much, to cram a week's or in Stewart's case, nine years worth of material into one show. He moved swiftly into the news, and up-to-date doings of President Joe Biden and his Republican rival. In Biden's case, it meant directly addressing questions about his age and fitness for office, which the president's supporters surely want to avoid. He examined Biden's news conference last week meant to counter characterizations in special counsel Robert Hur's report on classified documents found in Biden's home. Joe Biden had a big press conference to dispel the notion that he may have lost a step and, politically speaking, lost three or four steps, he said. He said about Biden aides who thought it was a good idea for him to turn down a Super Bowl interview in favor of a TikTok appearance: Fire everyone. Stewart showed tape of administration officials like Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats testifying to Biden's sharpness and suggested it might be a good idea to film the president in those meetings so the public can see him. Yet Stewart also used tightly-edited videotape of Donald Trump and his family during depositions saying they couldn't recall things to counter the notion that Biden is alone in showing memory issues during such high-pressure legal proceedings. The Daily Show even found one where Trump said he couldn't remember talking about how good his memory is. His main point: Worries about whether either the 81-year-old Biden or 77-year-old Trump are up to the toughest job in the world shouldn't be swept under the rug. It is the candidates' job to assuage concerns, not the voters' job not to mention them, Stewart said. HE WAS PRETTY WELL-RECEIVED BY CRITICS Based on one night, a handful of critics noted Stewart's seamless transition. Alison Herman of Variety wrote that it almost seemed like he never left, a phrase repeated in the headlines of reviews by both NPR critic Eric Deggans and CNN's Brian Lowry. From the show's opening moments, Stewart eased back into the host's chair without missing a beat, firing off jokes with a familiar style that felt like he had left just a few weeks ago, rather than in 2015, Deggans wrote. He brought a confidence the show sorely needs. Jeremy Egner of The New York Times wrote that Stewart's first night found him grayer at one point he used his own wizened face as a prop in a joke about the presidential candidates' ages. But he was otherwise in classic form. The show was seen by 930,000 people on Comedy Central, and viewership jumped to 1.85 million when a later repeat and simulcasts with other Paramount-owned networks like MTV and Paramount are included, the Nielsen company said. It was the most-watched episode of The Daily Show since 2018, and more than double what Trevor Noah averaged in 2022. The comparison of Stewart returning to The Daily Show and two candidates likely staging a rematch was too obvious to let go by. Correspondent Dulce Sloan, ostensibly talking about discouraged voters, said they needed someone new, more than just old white dudes coming back to reclaim a job. We're talking about the election, right? Stewart said. The campaign interlude allowed Stewart, and viewers who had drifted away from The Daily Show after he left, to become acquainted with unfamiliar cast members. An on-set interview with Jordan Klepper, who will host the show for the rest of the week, was less successful. During his time away, Stewart spent time as an activist fighting to get benefits for Sept. 11, 2001, responders and two years hosting The Problem with Jon Stewart on the Apple TV+ streaming service. He made a subtle allusion to the latter on Monday, saying he would be making jokes about China and AI, subjects that reportedly made Apple uncomfortable before axing the show. David Bauder covers media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder Russian President Vladimir Putin. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Russia's economic conditions are similar to the Soviet Union's, the IMF's deputy manager said. The country is spending heavily, while consumption has seen a considerable pullback. Wartime expenditures and a weaker labor force likely mean tough times ahead for the nation. The International Monetary Fund's upgraded forecast for Russia's growth isn't an endorsement of good times ahead for Moscow, the institution's managing director told CNBC. In fact, Russian economic conditions are starting to look more and more like the country's 20th-century predecessor, where high production levels clashed with weak demand. "That is pretty much what the Soviet Union used to look like," Kristalina Georgieva said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. "High level of production, low level of consumption. I actually think that the Russian economy is in for very tough times because of the outflow of people and because of the reduced access to technology that comes with the sanctions." It's a bearish take that's not outright clear in the IMF's figures. The organization doubled its forecast for Russian growth in 2024, boosting its prediction from 1.1% to 2.6% in January. That marks the biggest jump for any country. But heavy wartime spending is the central driver of this growth and not necessarily a reflection of a robust economy. The country's defense and security spending is estimated to account for roughly 40% of Russia's budget this year as the Kremlin works to keep pressure up in its war on Ukraine. "This pivot toward a militarized economy threatens social and developmental needs," the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center scholar Alexandra Prokopenko wrote in Foreign Affairs last month. To meet its expenditures, the state has depleted the liquid assets in Russia's national wealth fund by over 44% since the invasion began in February 2022. At the same time, the two-year conflict has significantly reduced Russia's labor supply, with the country 5 million workers short in 2023, a December report calculated. While some workers were pulled to fight in Ukraine, over 800,000 are estimated to have fled the country. Story continues This has weighed heavily on Russia's economy, with workforce vacancies hitting 6.8% in mid-2023. The fact that many of those leaving are highly skilled and educated may end up reducing Russian living standards to on par with former Soviet republics, the Atlantic Council projected in August. While the Ukraine war keeps Russian spending up, a recent intelligence update from the UK Defense Ministry said it expected the government to miss its revenue targets for 2024. While oil and gas revenue traditionally keeps the country afloat, the ministry said it expected that the Kremlin would have to impose austerity measures to stay funded, which would raise taxes and increase debt. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But 22 Republicans voted with nearly all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe. With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waiver, will not falter, will not fail, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation. The bills passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical shortages on the battlefield. Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk if at all. Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of considerable pushback from his own GOP conference. Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that the eyes of the world were on the U.S. Senate. Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength? McConnell asked. Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance. For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war. In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israels war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. The progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. I cannot in good conscience support sending billions of additional taxpayer dollars for Prime Minister Netanyahu's military campaign in Gaza, Welch said. Its a campaign that has killed and wounded a shocking number of civilians. Its created a massive humanitarian crisis. The bills passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies. But a bipartisan deal on border security fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and blocked it on the Senate floor. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone as Democrats had originally intended. While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down. Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraines defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years. I think it deals with the reality that were living in, which is theyre a more powerful country, and its their region of the world, he said. Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak. Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks. Why am I so focused on this vote? Tillis said. Because I dont want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here, he said, his voice cracking. Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House. At a rally Saturday, Trump said that he had once told a NATO ally he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to members that are delinquent in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has led his party away from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an America First isolationism. Evoking the slogan, Moran said, I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world. While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that I reiterated Americas commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October. Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is silent on the most pressing issue facing our country. It was the latest and potentially most consequential sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a non-starter, contributing to its rapid demise. Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said. America deserves better than the Senates status quo. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence. As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country. He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war, Spanberger said. Its critical to their own freedom. And importantly, its critical to U.S. national security interests. Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking contributed to this report. A snowstorm may be putting a damper on fastnacht sales. Fastnacht Day is Tuesday, and many people visit bakeries around the area to get their fill of the Pennsylvania Dutch treat. This Fastnacht Day is unique, as a storm brings heavy snow across the region. 69 News reporter Blakely McHugh was at Egypt Star Bakery in Allentown with a look at how they handled the storm and sales. Dive Brief: Safeway has been adding receipt-scanning gates to the self-checkout areas of more of its stores. The gates, which have been in use at several San Francisco area stores since at least last summer, recently arrived at select locations in the Washington, D.C, area, according to local news reports. In a statement, Albertsons, Safeways parent company, said the gates are part of long-planned security improvements aimed at preventing theft. Dive Insight: Safeways continued rollout of the receipt-scanning gates comes at a time when grocers are grappling with organized retail crime and self-checkout shrink. Grocery Dive confirmed that the location at 3350 Mission St. in San Francisco; stores in Washington, D.C. at 1747 Columbia Road NW and 1100 4th St. SW; and a store in Wheaton, Maryland, have receipt-scanning gates at their self-checkout areas. Recent changes were made at select Safeway stores in Washington D.C. to maintain a safe and welcoming shopping experience for our customers, Albertsons said in an emailed statement. Those updates include operational changes to the front end of the stores to deter shoplifting. Albertsons did not answer Grocery Dives questions about when the gates were installed or how many stores had them. Like other local businesses, we are working on ways to curtail escalating theft so we can ensure the wellbeing of our employees and foster a welcoming environment for our customers, Albertsons said in the statement. These long-planned security improvements were implemented with those goals in mind. San Francisco TV station ABC7 reported in July that Safeway added the gates to two stores in the citys Fillmore and the Outer Mission neighborhoods. That same month, the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the same type of gate appeared at the self-checkout area of Safeways store in Western Addition. Safeway is reportedly planning to close the Fillmore and Western Addition stores early this year. Story continues In early February, local news outlets began reporting on the addition of the gates at the two stores in Washington, D.C. This month, The Daily Californian reported that a Safeway in Oakland, California, had a receipt scanner at the self-checkout. Time will tell if the receipt-scanning gates will work, and grocers need to be mindful of customer tolerance for theft deterrence efforts as well as measure a solutions impact on shrink, said Karl Langhorst, an asset protection executive and adjunct criminal justice professor at the University of Cincinnati. Langhorst noted that organized retail crime is a larger concern than shoplifting for grocers. The vast majority of shoppers are honest and you can't ever put technology or any other asset protection solutions in that will drive them away from your store. But at the same time, you can't continue to have losses so great that they potentially drive you out of business, said Langhorst, who was Krogers senior director of loss prevention for nearly nine years. Because business closures can hurt communities and media reports have spotlighted a narrative of increasing crime at retailers, a lot of customers will put up with, to a certain extent, the innovative ideas that are being put in place, such as the gates, to try to deter organized retail crime, Langhorst said. Safeway has tried a variety of theft deterrence methods in both metropolitan areas. For example, the Wheaton, Maryland, store has automatic gates at the entrance, products like teeth whitening strips and allergy medicine in locked cases, in-aisle security cameras and on-shelf devices that customers have to turn to release products. The store at 3350 Mission St. last week had a heavy security guard presence and several cases with locked-up goods. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that the Western Addition store blasted classical music at night to deter loitering in the parking lot. CBS reported that Safeway has used metal gates to stop people from leaving through closed registers and put long metal poles on shopping carts to prevent people from running out with the carts. Langhorst said its common for retailers to take a layered approach to asset protection. Safeways rollout of the gates is similar to efforts by grocers in England, including Sainsburys requiring self-checkout customers to scan receipts to exit at some stores. In 2022, a Tesco Express store reportedly started requiring customers to scan a barcode to leave. While visual barriers can act as a deterrent, thieves can evolve their methodology as they better understand a retailers loss prevention efforts: Retailers have to continue to look for new ways to address the issues they are faced with, Langhorst said. Edwin Lopez and Chris Casey contributed reporting. This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. 1ST Source Bank lowered its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 813 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 50 shares during the quarter. 1ST Source Banks holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $1,489,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CMG. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.7% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,052,227 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $4,389,714,000 after purchasing an additional 54,820 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,085,226 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $2,321,298,000 after buying an additional 42,257 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 1,038,882 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $2,222,169,000 after buying an additional 52,163 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 565,479 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $963,779,000 after buying an additional 9,520 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 509,953 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $934,147,000 after buying an additional 7,677 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.19% of the companys stock. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,278.45, for a total transaction of $2,506,295.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 22,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,144,367.15. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,278.45, for a total transaction of $2,506,295.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 22,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,144,367.15. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,093 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,199.81, for a total value of $2,404,392.33. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,358,964.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 5,087 shares of company stock worth $12,055,688. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $2,580.00 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.74 billion, a PE ratio of 58.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.29. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2,334.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $2,085.35. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,470.05 and a 12 month high of $2,725.83. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The restaurant operator reported $10.36 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $9.73 by $0.63. The firm had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 44.41% and a net margin of 12.45%. The companys revenue was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $8.29 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 53.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CMG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wedbush reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $2,400.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,930.00 to $2,226.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. BTIG Research upped their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,650.00 to $2,750.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $2,650.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,700.00 to $2,920.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,469.88. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foundry Partners LLC lifted its stake in AdvanSix Inc. (NYSE:ASIX Free Report) by 45.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 135,634 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 42,286 shares during the period. Foundry Partners LLC owned about 0.50% of AdvanSix worth $4,216,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Inspire Investing LLC lifted its stake in AdvanSix by 10.9% during the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 11,222 shares of the companys stock worth $349,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AdvanSix by 26.7% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,177,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,687,000 after purchasing an additional 458,622 shares in the last quarter. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL acquired a new stake in shares of AdvanSix in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,298,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of AdvanSix by 57.0% in the third quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 276,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,578,000 after purchasing an additional 100,236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its holdings in shares of AdvanSix by 6.7% in the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 31,159 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,090,000 after purchasing an additional 1,970 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.40% of the companys stock. Get AdvanSix alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently weighed in on ASIX shares. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of AdvanSix from $40.00 to $36.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. TheStreet lowered shares of AdvanSix from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Achilles B. Kintiroglou sold 1,000 shares of AdvanSix stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.00, for a total transaction of $30,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 27,599 shares of the companys stock, valued at $827,970. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 5.20% of the companys stock. AdvanSix Price Performance ASIX opened at $26.88 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $27.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 1.34. AdvanSix Inc. has a 52 week low of $23.92 and a 52 week high of $43.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $724.42 million, a PE ratio of 8.22 and a beta of 1.72. AdvanSix Profile (Free Report) AdvanSix Inc manufactures and sells polymer resins in the United States and internationally. It offers Nylon 6, a polymer resin, which is a synthetic material used to produce fibers, filaments, engineered plastics, and films. The company also provides caprolactam to manufacture polymer resins; ammonium sulfate fertilizers to distributors, farm cooperatives, and retailers; and acetone that are used in the production of adhesives, paints, coatings, solvents, herbicides, and engineered plastic resins, as well as other intermediate chemicals, including phenol, monoisopropylamine, dipropylamine, monoallylamine, alpha-methylstyrene, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketoxime, acetaldehyde oxime, 2-pentanone oxime, cyclohexanol, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AdvanSix Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AdvanSix and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI Get Free Report)s stock had its outperform rating restated by Royal Bank of Canada in a research report issued on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $24.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas target price would indicate a potential upside of 13.64% from the companys previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on ACI. Roth Mkm increased their target price on Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and set a $27.25 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Tigress Financial restated a buy rating and set a $27.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.56. Get Albertsons Companies alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACI Albertsons Companies Stock Down 0.7 % NYSE ACI traded down $0.15 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $21.12. 1,071,735 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,283,701. The businesss 50-day moving average is $22.23 and its 200-day moving average is $22.21. Albertsons Companies has a twelve month low of $19.14 and a twelve month high of $23.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.05, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.52. Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 9th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.14. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 83.38% and a net margin of 1.71%. The company had revenue of $18.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.36 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.82 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Albertsons Companies will post 2.75 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ACI. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $312,510,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 99.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,729,051 shares of the companys stock worth $343,208,000 after acquiring an additional 7,848,362 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 95.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,614,698 shares of the companys stock worth $388,181,000 after buying an additional 7,613,034 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Albertsons Companies by 108.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,658,159 shares of the companys stock valued at $145,281,000 after purchasing an additional 3,470,188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westchester Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies during the third quarter valued at about $64,739,000. 68.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Albertsons Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Albertsons Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Albertsons Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT raised its holdings in Brookfield Co. (NYSE:BN Free Report) by 9.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 8,405 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the period. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UTs holdings in Brookfield were worth $263,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 5.9% during the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,479,507 shares of the companys stock worth $46,264,000 after purchasing an additional 82,707 shares during the last quarter. Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. bought a new stake in Brookfield in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,231,000. Hikari Tsushin Inc. boosted its holdings in Brookfield by 28.5% in the third quarter. Hikari Tsushin Inc. now owns 43,764 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,368,000 after acquiring an additional 9,711 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors boosted its holdings in Brookfield by 8.4% in the third quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 969,854 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,327,000 after acquiring an additional 75,229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Herold Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Brookfield by 0.8% in the third quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 59,782 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,878,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. 58.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Brookfield alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BN has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Brookfield from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. CIBC boosted their price target on Brookfield from $46.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. TD Securities upped their target price on Brookfield from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research report on Sunday. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on Brookfield from $41.00 to $42.50 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Brookfield from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Brookfield currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.45. Brookfield Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSE:BN opened at $40.96 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $67.17 billion, a PE ratio of 66.07 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $39.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.18. Brookfield Co. has a 1 year low of $28.25 and a 1 year high of $41.60. Brookfield (NYSE:BN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $24.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. Brookfield had a return on equity of 3.22% and a net margin of 1.18%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.12 EPS. Analysts forecast that Brookfield Co. will post 3.75 earnings per share for the current year. Brookfield Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This is an increase from Brookfields previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. Brookfields dividend payout ratio is presently 45.16%. Insider Transactions at Brookfield In other news, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 3,922,786 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.20, for a total transaction of $8,630,129.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 23,352,826 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,376,217.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Ocm Growth Holdings Llc sold 12,365 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.76, for a total transaction of $157,777.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,492,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $210,440,063.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 3,922,786 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.20, for a total value of $8,630,129.20. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 23,352,826 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,376,217.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 6,545,283 shares of company stock worth $22,555,512. 11.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Brookfield Profile (Free Report) Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Co. (NYSE:BN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 16th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of 0.28 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, March 15th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. Bar Harbor Bankshares has raised its dividend payment by an average of 7.7% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 3 consecutive years. Bar Harbor Bankshares has a dividend payout ratio of 40.3% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Bar Harbor Bankshares to earn $2.83 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.12 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 39.6%. Get Bar Harbor Bankshares alerts: Bar Harbor Bankshares Stock Performance BHB stock opened at $25.92 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $392.95 million, a PE ratio of 8.58 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Bar Harbor Bankshares has a 52 week low of $19.55 and a 52 week high of $31.43. Institutional Trading of Bar Harbor Bankshares About Bar Harbor Bankshares Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 65.5% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 998 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 196.2% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,552 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 1,028 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 39.9% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,799 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $74,000 after acquiring an additional 798 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 172.7% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,211 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $109,000 after acquiring an additional 2,667 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 1,173.9% during the 2nd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 4,841 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $119,000 after acquiring an additional 4,461 shares in the last quarter. 53.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Free Report) Bar Harbor Bankshares operates as the holding company for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust that provides banking and nonbanking products and services primarily to consumers and businesses. It accepts various deposit products, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and money market deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $77.43. Several analysts recently commented on BBY shares. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Best Buy from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Best Buy from $80.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 13th. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on shares of Best Buy from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Best Buy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $79.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Best Buy from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $69.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Get Best Buy alerts: View Our Latest Report on BBY Best Buy Price Performance Shares of BBY opened at $75.92 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.35 billion, a PE ratio of 13.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.49. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $75.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $72.90. Best Buy has a 52-week low of $62.30 and a 52-week high of $89.23. Best Buy (NYSE:BBY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 21st. The technology retailer reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.10. Best Buy had a return on equity of 49.13% and a net margin of 2.93%. The firm had revenue of $9.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.38 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Best Buy will post 6.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. Best Buy Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 12th were given a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 11th. Best Buys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.45%. Insider Activity In other Best Buy news, Chairman Richard M. Schulze sold 48,401 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total value of $3,633,463.07. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 253,370 shares in the company, valued at $19,020,485.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Richard M. Schulze sold 110,974 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.00, for a total transaction of $8,544,998.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 19,566,458 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,506,617,266. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Richard M. Schulze sold 48,401 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total transaction of $3,633,463.07. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 253,370 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,020,485.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 686,796 shares of company stock worth $52,374,450. Company insiders own 0.56% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Best Buy A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BBY. EA Series Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Best Buy in the second quarter worth about $222,000. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in Best Buy by 35.6% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 94,282 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $6,550,000 after purchasing an additional 24,763 shares in the last quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Best Buy by 1,405.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 214,232 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $14,883,000 after buying an additional 200,000 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Best Buy by 126.6% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 77,784 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $5,372,000 after purchasing an additional 43,457 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Best Buy by 328.7% during the third quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 141,356 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $9,820,000 after purchasing an additional 108,385 shares during the period. 76.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Best Buy (Get Free Report Best Buy Co, Inc engages in the retail of technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing and mobile phone products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness products, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Best Buy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Best Buy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nicolet Bankshares Inc. decreased its position in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 49.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 717 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 700 shares during the quarter. Nicolet Bankshares Inc.s holdings in BlackRock were worth $464,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new stake in BlackRock in the second quarter worth about $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BLK shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Friday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. BNP Paribas raised shares of BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $819.00 to $938.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $785.73. BlackRock Stock Down 2.6 % Shares of BLK traded down $20.69 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $781.07. 67,725 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 620,227. The firms 50 day moving average is $789.35 and its 200-day moving average is $716.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a current ratio of 3.72. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $596.18 and a 52 week high of $819.00. The company has a market cap of $116.19 billion, a PE ratio of 21.36, a PEG ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.38. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.85% and a net margin of 30.81%. The company had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $8.93 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.64 EPS for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a $5.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.61%. BlackRocks payout ratio is presently 54.78%. Insider Buying and Selling In other BlackRock news, insider Marc D. Comerchero sold 450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $785.11, for a total value of $353,299.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 5,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,691,032.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 520 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $784.69, for a total transaction of $408,038.80. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,150 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,256,463.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Marc D. Comerchero sold 450 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $785.11, for a total value of $353,299.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,691,032.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 32,524 shares of company stock valued at $16,510,628. Insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock. BlackRock Profile (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUC Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, November 17th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of 0.0485 per share on Friday, March 1st. This represents a $0.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Stock Performance NYSE:MUC opened at $11.17 on Tuesday. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund has a 12-month low of $9.19 and a 12-month high of $11.49. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.43. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MUC. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,718,035 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,672,000 after acquiring an additional 762,169 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 1,178,881 shares of the companys stock worth $15,420,000 after buying an additional 44,371 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund by 107.9% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 848,960 shares of the companys stock worth $10,163,000 after buying an additional 440,672 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 722,890 shares of the companys stock worth $9,455,000 after buying an additional 32,508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Logan Stone Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund in the 4th quarter worth $7,528,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 25.47% of the companys stock. About BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in a portfolio of long-term investment-grade municipal obligations, the interest on which is exempt from Federal and California income taxes. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. This 10th patent granted out of a portfolio of 23 covers all aspects of SaverOne's System to prevent distraction while driving PETAH TIKVAH, Israel, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SaverOne 2014 Ltd. (Nasdaq: SVRE) (TASE: SVRE), a technology company engaged in transportation safety solutions, is pleased to announce the award of a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, bearing the number US 11,890,015 B2 and titled System and Methods to Facilitate Safe Driving was granted on January 30, 2024. SaverOne Logo This latest patent is a testament to SaverOne's dedication to reducing accidents and enhancing driver safety by controlling the use of cellular phones while driving. The patent describes SaverOne's advanced algorithms and its selective blocking mechanism to prevent the driver from accessing distracting phone functionalities while the vehicle is in motion. This proactive approach to safety aims to significantly reduce the risk of collisions caused by distracted driving. With this new patent, SaverOne's patent portfolio comprises of 23 patents of which 10 are already granted in various jurisdictions and a further 13 additional patent applications in process. These patents are strategically filed in key markets such as the US, China, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, reflecting the company's strategic vision for global expansion. Ori Gilboa, CEO of SaverOne, stated, "The grant of a new patent in the United States demonstrates the innovative nature of our technology and highlights our commitment to advancing transportation safety globally. This achievement is a credit to the ingenuity and dedication of our R&D team. Our patent activity allows us to invest strongly in technology and bring it to market, securing our competitive edge and intellectual property rights over the long-term. Our ultimate goal is to continue to advance and revolutionize safety measures for drivers worldwide, fostering safer driving practices and saving lives." Story continues About the SaverOne System SaverOne's system is installed in vehicles to provide a solution to the problem of driver distraction, as a result of drivers using distracting applications on the mobile phone while driving, in a way that endangers their safety and the safety of their passengers. This phenomenon is considered one of the main causes of road accidents in the world. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the annual cost of road accidents just in the United States, stands at about $870 billion each year, excluding the costs of serious injury or death, with a quarter of those accidents estimated to be related to the use of the mobile phones while driving. SaverOne's technology specifically recognizes the driver area in the vehicle and prevents the driver from accessing distracting applications such as messaging, while allowing others (navigation as an example), without user intervention or consent, creating a safer driving environment. SaverOne's primary target markets include commercial and private vehicle fleets that are interested in reducing potential damages and significant cost, vehicle manufacturers that are interested in integrating safety solutions to their vehicles, and insurance and leasing companies. SaverOne initially addresses car fleets with focus on the Israeli, European and US markets, as well as other markets around the world. SaverOne believes that ultimately increased focus on monitoring and prevention of cellular distraction systems in vehicles, in particular driven by upcoming expected EU regulation, will likely have a dramatic positive impact on the demand for its systems in the future. The Company's strategy is to provide its technology for installation to customers in the aftermarket as well as address OEM vehicle manufacturers, to install the Company's protection technologies during the vehicle manufacturing process. About SaverOne SaverOne is a technology company engaged in the design, development and commercialization of OEM and aftermarket solutions and technologies, to lower the risk of, and prevent, vehicle accidents. SaverOne's initial line of products is a suite of solutions that saves lives by preventing car accidents resulting from distraction from the use of mobile phones while driving. SaverOne is also developing a sensor system for early location and direction detection under all visibility conditions of vulnerable road users (VRU) through their cellphone footprint. Learn more at https://saver.one. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and other securities laws that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the private placement, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the private placement, and may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on SaverOne's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause SaverOne's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the ability of our technology to substantially improve the safety of drivers; our planned level of revenues and capital expenditures and our ability to continue as a going concern; the ability of our technology to substantially improve the safety of drivers; our ability to market and sell our products; our plans to continue to invest in research and development to develop technology for both existing and new products; our intention to advance our technologies and commercialization efforts; our intention to use local distributors in each country or region that we will conduct business to distribute our products or technology; our plan to seek patent, trademark and other intellectual property rights for our products and technologies in the United States and internationally, as well as our ability to maintain and protect the validity of our currently held intellectual property rights; our expectations regarding future changes in our cost of revenues and our operating expenses; our expectations regarding our tax classifications; interpretations of current laws and the passage of future laws; acceptance of our business model by investors; the ability to correctly identify and enter new markets; the impact of competition and new technologies; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which we operate; projected capital expenditures and liquidity; our intention to retain key employees, and our belief that we maintain good relations with all of our employees; any resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and industry; and other risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 27, 2023 and in subsequent filings with the SEC.. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and SaverOne undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1978170/SaverOne_Logo.jpg International Investor Relations Contact: Ehud Helft +1 212 378 8040 saverone@ekgir.com Israeli Investors Contact: Jonathan Eilat john@theinvestor.co.il Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saverone-granted-new-us-patent-strengthening-its-ip-portfolio-supporting-its-transportation-safety-solution-302060607.html SOURCE SaverOne BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BNY Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, November 14th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of 0.043 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, March 1st. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Stock Performance Shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust stock opened at $10.54 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.85. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust has a 12-month low of $8.60 and a 12-month high of $11.08. Get BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 43,414 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 1,007 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 17.9% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 12,500 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $152,000 after purchasing an additional 1,900 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 15.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 14,398 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $145,000 after purchasing an additional 1,955 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 69,455 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $722,000 after acquiring an additional 3,378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its stake in BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 104,680 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,102,000 after acquiring an additional 3,379 shares during the last quarter. About BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in the investment grade municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. lessened its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) by 5.3% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 25,960 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 1,444 shares during the period. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Canadian Natural Resources were worth $1,687,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CNQ. Mission Wealth Management LP boosted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 4,796 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $310,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 8,432 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $523,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC IL boosted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC IL now owns 14,926 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $965,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Clarius Group LLC boosted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 5,310 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 57.6% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 594 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.88% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CNQ has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $94.00. Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance NYSE CNQ opened at $61.04 on Tuesday. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 52 week low of $48.81 and a 52 week high of $68.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.80 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $63.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $63.83. About Canadian Natural Resources (Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC trimmed its position in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report) by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,900 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 5,100 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisors LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $5,723,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in General Dynamics by 6.5% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 687 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $152,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT lifted its position in General Dynamics by 1.6% during the third quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 2,706 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $598,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Rock Creek Group LP lifted its position in General Dynamics by 7.8% during the second quarter. Rock Creek Group LP now owns 623 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $134,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC lifted its position in General Dynamics by 40.4% during the third quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 160 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Autumn Glory Partners LLC lifted its position in General Dynamics by 0.9% during the third quarter. Autumn Glory Partners LLC now owns 5,246 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,159,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 86.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get General Dynamics alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In GD has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of General Dynamics in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of General Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $243.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of General Dynamics from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, Alembic Global Advisors downgraded shares of General Dynamics from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $296.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, General Dynamics currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $271.69. Insider Activity at General Dynamics In related news, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total value of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 149,205 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $39,502,023.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other General Dynamics news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total value of $8,551,750.05. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 773,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $204,569,860.87. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total transaction of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 149,205 shares in the company, valued at approximately $39,502,023.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. General Dynamics Stock Up 0.3 % GD stock opened at $270.23 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $257.10 and a 200 day moving average of $240.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.04 billion, a PE ratio of 22.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. General Dynamics Co. has a 52 week low of $202.35 and a 52 week high of $271.36. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $3.64 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.68 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $11.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.39 billion. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 16.61% and a net margin of 7.84%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.58 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.58 earnings per share for the current year. General Dynamics Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 9th. Investors of record on Friday, January 19th were paid a $1.32 dividend. This represents a $5.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio is currently 43.93%. About General Dynamics (Free Report) General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank AG boosted its position in American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH Free Report) by 0.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,836,176 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 30,903 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG owned 1.34% of American Homes 4 Rent worth $162,931,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent during the 4th quarter valued at about $619,235,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 31.4% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 21,539,167 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $763,564,000 after purchasing an additional 5,152,089 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 5,494.4% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,876,063 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $172,808,000 after purchasing an additional 4,788,904 shares in the last quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 725.9% during the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 4,816,638 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $192,810,000 after purchasing an additional 4,233,435 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,405,083 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,737,505,000 after purchasing an additional 3,533,157 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.97% of the companys stock. Get American Homes 4 Rent alerts: American Homes 4 Rent Stock Down 1.6 % Shares of American Homes 4 Rent stock opened at $34.67 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $35.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.31. American Homes 4 Rent has a 52-week low of $28.78 and a 52-week high of $37.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.55 billion, a PE ratio of 33.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.70. Insider Activity Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades In other news, Director James H. Kropp sold 6,852 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.47, for a total transaction of $249,892.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 29,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,064,996.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 6.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. AMH has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $34.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. StockNews.com cut shares of American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. They set an outperform rating and a $42.00 price target for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $37.93. Get Our Latest Analysis on American Homes 4 Rent About American Homes 4 Rent (Free Report) American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH), which does business as AMH, is a leading owner, operator and developer of single-family rental homes. We're an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing and managing homes as rental properties. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for American Homes 4 Rent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Homes 4 Rent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank AG boosted its position in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 41.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,744,276 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 807,502 shares during the quarter. Deutsche Bank AGs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $190,123,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,181 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,081,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 34.7% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,738 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,223 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 53.5% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 7,182 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $846,000 after purchasing an additional 2,503 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 655,567 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $77,173,000 after purchasing an additional 19,798 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.25% of the companys stock. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences In related news, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,210 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.00, for a total transaction of $1,062,270.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,087 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,138,569. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total transaction of $245,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,676,500. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,210 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.00, for a total transaction of $1,062,270.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,087 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,138,569. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 136,889 shares of company stock valued at $10,429,550 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Edwards Lifesciences Trading Up 2.5 % Shares of NYSE:EW opened at $87.15 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $76.07 and a 200-day moving average of $73.37. The firm has a market cap of $52.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.89, a P/E/G ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 1.04. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a twelve month low of $60.57 and a twelve month high of $94.87. The company has a current ratio of 3.38, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.64. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.50 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.64 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EW shares. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $83.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $87.38. Read Our Latest Stock Report on EW Edwards Lifesciences Profile (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank AG trimmed its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,407,179 shares of the companys stock after selling 265,140 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AGs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $181,549,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ADM. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 37.3% in the 3rd quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 641 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the period. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 34.5% in the 3rd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 701 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. 77.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Up 1.3 % Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock opened at $53.75 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 12-month low of $50.72 and a 12-month high of $87.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.49 and a beta of 0.76. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $66.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $73.24. Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a positive change from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 7th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.72%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is presently 27.86%. Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Roth Mkm lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $98.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Barclays lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $96.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.08. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ellevest Inc. lifted its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,270 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 811 shares during the period. Ellevest Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $454,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab during the third quarter worth about $34,000. State of Wyoming grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 71.0% during the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 624 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the second quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Gould Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 33.3% in the first quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 800 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.69. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.56, for a total value of $242,240.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 41,611 shares in the company, valued at $2,519,962.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 7,162 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.72, for a total value of $434,876.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.56, for a total value of $242,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 41,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,519,962.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 43,760 shares of company stock worth $2,731,159. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Stock Up 1.8 % Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $64.50 on Tuesday. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $81.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The stocks 50-day moving average is $65.56 and its 200 day moving average is $60.03. The firm has a market cap of $114.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.39, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.99. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 22.07% and a net margin of 26.90%. The company had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.07 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.39 EPS for the current year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 39.37%. About Charles Schwab (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foundry Partners LLC increased its stake in Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Free Report) by 36.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 72,266 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,354 shares during the quarter. Foundry Partners LLCs holdings in Sonoco Products were worth $3,928,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SON. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 111,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,591,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC now owns 52,931 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,877,000 after buying an additional 4,529 shares during the last quarter. Winthrop Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sonoco Products during the 2nd quarter worth about $246,000. Graham Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Sonoco Products during the 2nd quarter worth about $244,000. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 213,300 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $12,589,000 after buying an additional 2,800 shares during the last quarter. 76.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets SON has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Sonoco Products from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sonoco Products has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.40. Sonoco Products Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SON opened at $57.10 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $56.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $55.51. Sonoco Products has a 12-month low of $49.98 and a 12-month high of $63.74. The firm has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of 11.51, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. Sonoco Products Company Profile (Free Report) Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SON? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foundry Partners LLC lessened its stake in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX Free Report) by 54.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 157,752 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 188,914 shares during the quarter. Foundry Partners LLCs holdings in Baxter International were worth $5,954,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in Baxter International in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. RFP Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Baxter International in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 28.5% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,185 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 29.2% in the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Baxter International in the third quarter valued at approximately $68,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.47% of the companys stock. Get Baxter International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BAX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Baxter International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Baxter International from $45.00 to $39.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Baxter International from $35.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $46.30. Baxter International Stock Performance Shares of BAX stock opened at $40.33 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $20.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.73, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.48. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $38.03. Baxter International Inc. has a 52 week low of $31.01 and a 52 week high of $50.21. Baxter International (NYSE:BAX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.81 billion. Baxter International had a net margin of 17.77% and a return on equity of 19.49%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.88 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current year. Baxter International Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.88%. Baxter Internationals dividend payout ratio is 22.22%. About Baxter International (Free Report) Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company offers peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and additional dialysis therapies and services; intravenous therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets, and drug reconstitution devices; premixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services; parenteral nutrition therapies and related products; biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention; and continuous renal replacement therapies and other organ support therapies focused in the intensive care unit. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Baxter International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baxter International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Waters Parkerson & CO. LLC reduced its position in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,403 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 313 shares during the period. Waters Parkerson & CO. LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $487,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. D1 Capital Partners L.P. grew its position in General Electric by 159.8% during the second quarter. D1 Capital Partners L.P. now owns 1,455,000 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $159,832,000 after buying an additional 895,000 shares during the period. Hoey Investments Inc. grew its position in General Electric by 51,152.3% during the third quarter. Hoey Investments Inc. now owns 22,551 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $2,493,000 after buying an additional 22,507 shares during the period. Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new position in General Electric during the third quarter worth about $1,846,000. Radnor Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in General Electric during the third quarter worth about $3,057,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in General Electric by 92.4% during the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 160,617 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $17,644,000 after buying an additional 77,116 shares during the period. 74.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Activity at General Electric In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. General Electric Stock Performance Shares of GE stock opened at $140.19 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $128.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $118.61. General Electric has a 52 week low of $81.08 and a 52 week high of $140.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $152.57 billion, a PE ratio of 16.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.25. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $19.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.24 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.52 EPS for the current year. General Electric Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 28th were issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.23%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 27th. General Electrics payout ratio is 3.82%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of General Electric from $144.00 to $148.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. TheStreet upgraded shares of General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of General Electric from $150.00 to $148.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $132.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on GE General Electric Company Profile (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Masahiro Inoue, right, now overseeing Toyotas business in South America, and Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato attend a press conference in Tokyo Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Japanese automaker Daihatsu on Tuesday named a veteran at its parent company Toyota to replace its president as it tries to repair the damage from a scandal over cheating on vehicle safety tests. Inoue will become Daihatsu President effective in March. (Kyodo News via AP) TOKYO (AP) Japanese automaker Daihatsu on Tuesday named a veteran at its parent company Toyota to replace its president as it tries to repair the damage from a scandal over cheating on vehicle safety tests. The troubles at Daihatsu Motor Co. surfaced after a whistleblower reported the cheating. A third-party review found violations, such as carrying out tests on just one side of a car when both sides had to be tested, that had persisted for decades. The appointments of a new president, executive vice president and director highlight Toyotas determination to play a leading role in the reforms at its 100% owned subsidiary. Masahiro Inoue, now overseeing Toyotas business in South America, will become Daihatsu President effective in March, Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato told reporters in Tokyo. Inoue replaces Soichiro Okudaira, who is resigning. Okudaira also had been sent in by Toyota. Daihatsu's chairman, Sunao Matsubayashi, also resigned, while two other directors left the board but kept their positions at the company. Masanori Kuwata, now at Lexus International Co., Toyota Motor Corp.s luxury brand, becomes Daihatsu's Executive Vice President, under the changes announced Tuesday. Keiko Yanagi, a deputy chief officer at Toyota, was named a director at Daihatsu. Inoue apologized to Daihatsu's customers, suppliers and dealers, saying he knows how to be a good listener to win peoples trust because of his decades of working overseas. We will make our hearts one and aim for a new start, Inoue said. The appointments highlight Toyotas determination to play a leading role in the reforms at its 100% owned subsidiary and prevent scandals. Inoue said a business plan will be disclosed in April, including a new managerial direction. The Japanese government has ordered production halted on an array of Daihatsu models until tests can be carried out properly and approved. The companies said some production has already resumed but work on other models will take time. Story continues No major accidents have been reported in connection with the cheating, but the news has raised serious questions about oversight at Daihatsu and its corporate parent Toyota. Daihatsu has said its workers were under heavy pressure to meet tight deadlines. Management neglected to address problems on the factory floor and the causes of the cheating were complex, Sato said. Daihatsu has recently handed an investigation of its wrongdoing to the Japanese government. Daihatsu, which has a 100-year history and employs 40,000 people, is known for small models popular in Japan and the rest of Asia. Daihatsu products are known as kokuminsha in Japan, or the peoples cars, often used by small businesses for deliveries and transport. Sato said that embodied the spirit of Daihatsu. He said Daihatsu will fix its corporate culture, management and monozukuri, or the act of making things, long the basis of the Toyota Way of manufacturing that empowers individual workers. We are ready to return to our roots to recreate Daihatsu, he said. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Greenleaf Trust boosted its holdings in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG Free Report) by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 148,666 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,278 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trusts holdings in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group were worth $1,262,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 1,929.8% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 4,140,729 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,619,000 after buying an additional 3,936,735 shares during the last quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 288.7% during the 1st quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC now owns 3,313,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,173,000 after buying an additional 2,461,133 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 24.0% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 10,032,410 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,100,000 after buying an additional 1,943,618 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 91.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,086,214 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,721,000 after buying an additional 1,473,452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd raised its stake in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 118.7% during the 3rd quarter. Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd now owns 2,346,931 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,925,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273,966 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 1.76% of the companys stock. Get Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group alerts: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Stock Performance NYSE:MUFG opened at $9.41 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $5.99 and a 52-week high of $9.79. The firm has a market cap of $116.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.58, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss fifty day moving average is $8.84 and its 200 day moving average is $8.47. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Company Profile Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ( NYSE:MUFG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 5th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.04. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.78% and a net margin of 19.14%. The company had revenue of $19.25 billion for the quarter. Research analysts predict that Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. will post 0.79 EPS for the current year. (Free Report) Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company for MUFG Bank, Ltd. that provides various financial services in Japan, the United States, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through Digital Service Business Group; Retail & Commercial Banking Business Group; Japanese Corporate & Investment Banking Business Group; Asset Management & Investor Services Business Group; Global Corporate & Investment Banking Business Group; Global Commercial Banking Business Group; and Global Markets Business Group segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MUFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenleaf Trust decreased its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 0.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 39,337 shares of the companys stock after selling 348 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trusts holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,654,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 108,222.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock worth $849,763,000 after buying an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock worth $4,367,008,000 after buying an additional 7,546,851 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp boosted its stake in Altria Group by 240.6% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 4,425,386 shares of the companys stock valued at $200,470,000 after purchasing an additional 3,126,027 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $130,228,000. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 84.1% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,426,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,823,000 after purchasing an additional 2,478,576 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $40.54 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $71.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.87, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.66. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $40.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.96. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.06 and a twelve month high of $48.11. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 243.71% and a net margin of 33.21%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.18 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.67%. Altria Groups payout ratio is 85.78%. Altria Group declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 1st that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $36.10 target price on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.22. Get Our Latest Stock Report on MO Altria Group Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 2,070 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $72,000. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IAU. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 413,629.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 28,998,294 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,003,051,000 after acquiring an additional 28,991,285 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Bank Ltd. raised its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 300.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mizuho Bank Ltd. now owns 8,000,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $291,120,000 after buying an additional 6,000,000 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at $175,383,000. Packer & Co Ltd purchased a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $125,443,000. Finally, WealthNavi Inc. raised its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 68.4% during the 3rd quarter. WealthNavi Inc. now owns 3,909,316 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $136,787,000 after buying an additional 1,588,425 shares during the last quarter. 58.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of IAU opened at $38.22 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.30. iShares Gold Trust has a 1-year low of $34.31 and a 1-year high of $39.45. About iShares Gold Trust iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the six analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 2,171 ($27.42). IMB has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,325 ($29.36) price target on shares of Imperial Brands in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Imperial Brands in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Imperial Brands from GBX 2,350 ($29.68) to GBX 2,250 ($28.42) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Get Imperial Brands alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Imperial Brands Imperial Brands Stock Performance Imperial Brands Increases Dividend Shares of IMB stock opened at GBX 1,890.50 ($23.88) on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of 16.62 billion, a PE ratio of 755.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 0.42. Imperial Brands has a 52-week low of GBX 1,553.50 ($19.62) and a 52-week high of GBX 2,084 ($26.32). The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 1,855.72 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 1,799.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 157.30. The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of GBX 51.82 ($0.65) per share. This is a boost from Imperial Brandss previous dividend of $21.59. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a yield of 2.9%. Imperial Brandss payout ratio is presently 5,856.57%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Imperial Brands news, insider Diane de Saint Victor bought 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 4th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 1,885 ($23.81) per share, for a total transaction of 113,100 ($142,839.10). 6.45% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Imperial Brands (Get Free Report Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. It offers a range of cigarettes, tobacco accessories, vapour, heated tobacco, and oral nicotine. The company sells its products under various brands, including JPS, Davidoff, Gauloises, West, Winston, Kool, Lambert & Butler, Fortuna, Nobel, News, Backwoods, Champion, Golden Virginia, Rizla, Blu, Pulze, Skruf, and Zone X. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Imperial Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Imperial Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (NYSEARCA:EWL Free Report) by 93.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 534,262 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 257,480 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF comprises about 0.7% of Catalyst Capital Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC owned approximately 1.96% of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF worth $23,278,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ambassador Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 224.4% during the first quarter. Ambassador Advisors LLC now owns 571 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 395 shares during the period. Aspire Private Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 111.7% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 885 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF by 66.6% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,016 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Price Performance Shares of iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF stock traded down $0.79 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $45.75. The stock had a trading volume of 199,679 shares, compared to its average volume of 493,182. The business has a fifty day moving average of $47.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $45.53. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF has a fifty-two week low of $41.55 and a fifty-two week high of $48.94. The firm has a market cap of $1.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.35 and a beta of 0.73. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Switzerland 25/50 Index (the Index). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (NYSEARCA:EWL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (NYSE:CMU Free Report) by 182.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 709,091 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 457,678 shares during the quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. owned approximately 2.50% of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust worth $2,219,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CMU. Pathstone Family Office LLC bought a new stake in MFS High Yield Municipal Trust in the third quarter worth $37,000. Fort Point Capital Partners LLC raised its position in MFS High Yield Municipal Trust by 110.2% in the third quarter. Fort Point Capital Partners LLC now owns 35,769 shares of the companys stock worth $112,000 after purchasing an additional 18,749 shares in the last quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $1,002,000. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust by 131.4% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 26,415 shares of the companys stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 15,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $47,000. 32.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get MFS High Yield Municipal Trust alerts: MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CMU traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $3.28. 32,669 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 73,666. MFS High Yield Municipal Trust has a twelve month low of $2.78 and a twelve month high of $3.38. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $3.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.19. MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Dividend Announcement About MFS High Yield Municipal Trust The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.0125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $0.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.57%. (Free Report) MFS High Yield Municipal Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in tax-exempt bonds and tax-exempt notes. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Barclays Municipal Bond Index. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (NYSE:CMU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (NYSE:IIF Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,900 shares, a growth of 122.4% from the January 15th total of 5,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 62,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of IIF. Raymond James & Associates boosted its holdings in Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 1.4% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 37,255 shares of the companys stock worth $833,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Letko Brosseau & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,659,000. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at about $389,000. Almitas Capital LLC boosted its position in Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 24.6% during the second quarter. Almitas Capital LLC now owns 107,037 shares of the companys stock worth $2,408,000 after purchasing an additional 21,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund by 1.7% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 593,931 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,870,000 after purchasing an additional 9,800 shares during the period. 35.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund alerts: Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of NYSE:IIF opened at $22.58 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day moving average is $22.28 and its 200 day moving average is $22.25. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund has a twelve month low of $18.91 and a twelve month high of $24.41. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Increases Dividend Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Company Profile The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th were paid a $3.1358 dividend. This is an increase from Morgan Stanley India Investment Funds previous dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 14th. (Get Free Report) Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc The fund is co-managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company. It invests in the public equity markets of India. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SPC Financial Inc. increased its stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 0.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,861 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after buying an additional 75 shares during the quarter. SPC Financial Inc.s holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $5,407,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 275 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $75,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its stake in Motorola Solutions by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 444 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $121,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Motorola Solutions by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,301 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $354,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Motorola Solutions by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 887 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $241,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Motorola Solutions by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,047 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $557,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.37% of the companys stock. Get Motorola Solutions alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MSI shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Motorola Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $333.00 to $352.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research report on Friday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They set a buy rating and a $350.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $328.29. Motorola Solutions Price Performance Shares of NYSE MSI traded down $3.39 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $316.70. 272,747 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 648,866. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $319.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $299.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.00. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 12 month low of $255.85 and a 12 month high of $333.00. The firm has a market cap of $52.57 billion, a PE ratio of 32.26, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.92. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.63 by $0.27. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 441.65% and a net margin of 17.12%. The business had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.38 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 11.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Motorola Solutions Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.98 per share. This is a boost from Motorola Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.24%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 14th. Motorola Solutionss payout ratio is currently 39.48%. Motorola Solutions Profile (Free Report) Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) by 9.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 199,594 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 21,087 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLCs holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $4,447,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in GPK. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 248.3% in the third quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 32,028 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $714,000 after acquiring an additional 22,832 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 5.4% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 221,509 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,939,000 after acquiring an additional 11,383 shares during the period. Pathstone Family Office LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 134.6% in the third quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 29,608 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 16,987 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the third quarter valued at approximately $623,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 3.1% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,898,388 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $64,576,000 after acquiring an additional 88,144 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the companys stock. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have commented on GPK shares. StockNews.com raised Graphic Packaging from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Graphic Packaging from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their target price for the company from $26.00 to $19.00 in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Bank of America upgraded Graphic Packaging from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Raymond James lowered Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Graphic Packaging from $26.00 to $24.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Graphic Packaging presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.00. Graphic Packaging Stock Performance Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $25.24 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $24.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.84. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12 month low of $20.07 and a 12 month high of $27.56. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 5th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.58%. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.10%. Graphic Packaging Profile (Free Report) Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Navellier & Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 1.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 125,071 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares during the quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc.s holdings in Alamos Gold were worth $1,412,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AGI. IFP Advisors Inc bought a new stake in Alamos Gold in the second quarter worth $39,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 230.1% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,948 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 2,752 shares during the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP bought a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold during the third quarter worth $81,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 58.8% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 9,901 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 3,665 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold during the first quarter worth $101,000. 54.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Alamos Gold alerts: Alamos Gold Trading Up 0.7 % Shares of Alamos Gold stock opened at $12.03 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $4.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.15. Alamos Gold Inc. has a 12 month low of $9.78 and a 12 month high of $14.95. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $12.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.59. Alamos Gold Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 6th were paid a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 5th. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.61%. AGI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Alamos Gold from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Alamos Gold from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $12.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. National Bank Financial reiterated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. StockNews.com downgraded Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Desjardins began coverage on Alamos Gold in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Alamos Gold has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.38. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on AGI About Alamos Gold (Free Report) Alamos Gold Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and extraction of precious metals in Canada and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Young-Davidson mine and Island Gold mine located in the Ontario, Canada; Mulatos mine located in the Sonora, Mexico; and Lynn Lake project situated in the Manitoba, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Alamos Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamos Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The 2023 iteration of Natural History Museum's prestigious annual competition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, has recently announced the recipient for its People's Choice Award: British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani and his photo of a male polar bear napping in a small patch of an iceberg he dubbed "Ice Bed." 'Ice Bed': Nima Sarikhani's Hope Against Climate Change In NHM's release regarding the award, Sarikhani said that he spent three days on an expedition ship looking around the Svalbard Archipelago in Norway to find polar bears to photograph, with a thick fog being the biggest nuisance during the search. However, his luck turned for the better when he, and the ship he was on, came across a pair of polar bears. The two were comprised of a younger and an older male, and both were wandering on top of a span of sea ice. As night peaked, the younger of the two bears decided to hit the hay-or in this case-the snow. It fashioned itself a bed made of snow from a small iceberg under the sparse light of the midnight sun, before fully snoozing on. Of the momentous shot, Sarikhani said: "I am so honored to have won this year's People's Choice award for Wildlife Photography of the Year, the most prestigious wildlife photography competition. This photograph has stirred strong emotions in many of those who have seen it." Indeed, many people were enthralled by the heartwrenching and enthralling scene that Sarikhani was able to capture. In his Instagram post featuring the photo, praise rained from average people and fellow wildlife photographers alike. For one, Spanish wildlife photographer Marina Cano said of the photo: "A winner. Speaks volumes! And you got my vote." "Breathtaking in the beauty but even more so in the sorrow. His world is melting away around him," another commented. Read Also: Actors' Equity Approves Strike Potentially Halting Development of Plays and Musicals in Dispute with Broadway League The Polar Bears and Their Slowly Melting Home According to the release, the Svalbard islands are home to one of the world's 19 distinct populations of polar bears. That said, that home is slowly crumbling away as the region has become warmer by three to five Celsius starting from the 1970s, resulting in the thinning of ice platforms in the area. As quoted by NHM, the Norwegian Polar Institute Researcher Dr. Jon Aars said: "The period with sea ice over shallower water in much of the area is now much shorter than it was a few decades ago." "While the bears that follow sea ice may still be able to hunt year-round, this is increasingly over deeper waters which may be less productive," he added. "While the bears that follow sea ice may still be able to hunt year-round, this is increasingly over deeper waters which may be less productive." Dr. Aars also explained that the worsening state of sea ice also negatively affects the polar bears in terms of their quality of life. For one, it increases the area they need to travel just to find a suitable area to build a den on. In the past they used to travel eastward towards important areas, however, the thinning ice made it impossible to reach, so they now opt for an area that is just over a hundred kilometers closer to the North Pole. As for the photograph, Sarikhani hopes people see it as a reprieve from the impending danger, saying, "Whilst climate change is the biggest challenge we face, I hope that this photograph also inspires hope. There is still time to fix the mess we have caused." Read More: Revealing Desires Amidst Fear: Ukrainian Exhibition Unveils Civilians' Innermost Thoughts Before the Nuclear Threat 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It is usually uneventful when a single insider buys stock. However, When quite a few insiders buy shares, as it happened in Fortress Minerals Limited's (Catalist:OAJ) case, it's fantastic news for shareholders. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for Fortress Minerals Fortress Minerals Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by CEO & Executive Director Yew Fei Chee for S$450k worth of shares, at about S$0.45 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of S$0.27. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. While Fortress Minerals insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. 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! Fortress Minerals is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Have Fortress Minerals Insiders Traded Recently? Non-Executive & Non-Independent Director Ching Hong Loong bought just S$5.4k worth of shares in that time. That's not much at all. Looking at the net result, we don't think these recent trades shed much light on how insiders, as a group, are feeling about the company's prospects. Insider Ownership For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Fortress Minerals insiders own 47% of the company, worth about S$67m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. Story continues So What Do The Fortress Minerals Insider Transactions Indicate? We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Fortress Minerals insiders think the business has merit. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To assist with this, we've discovered 4 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Fortress Minerals. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE:NMM Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 71,229 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the previous sessions volume of 94,949 shares.The stock last traded at $29.71 and had previously closed at $29.85. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com raised Navios Maritime Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Get Navios Maritime Partners alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on NMM Navios Maritime Partners Stock Down 1.0 % Navios Maritime Partners Cuts Dividend The firm has a market capitalization of $891.52 million, a PE ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $28.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Investors of record on Monday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 9th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. Navios Maritime Partnerss payout ratio is presently 1.47%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Navios Maritime Partners A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Credit Suisse AG bought a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners in the 2nd quarter valued at about $43,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners by 147.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,549 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,421 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 421 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming raised its stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 3,442 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 21.43% of the companys stock. Navios Maritime Partners Company Profile (Get Free Report) Navios Maritime Partners L.P. owns and operates dry cargo vessels in Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. The company offers seaborne transportation services for a range of liquid and dry cargo commodities, including crude oil, refined petroleum, chemicals, iron ore, coal, grain, fertilizer, and containers, as well as charters its vessels under short, medium, and longer-term charters. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Navios Maritime Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Navios Maritime Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. One Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report) by 0.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 44,610 shares of the companys stock after selling 248 shares during the quarter. One Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $2,270,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 17,845.3% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 13,189,239 shares of the companys stock valued at $664,606,000 after buying an additional 13,115,742 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 13.5% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,322,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $368,989,000 after buying an additional 869,248 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 3.7% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 3,717,934 shares of the companys stock valued at $188,945,000 after buying an additional 131,995 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 435.0% in the second quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 3,298,572 shares of the companys stock valued at $167,633,000 after buying an additional 2,681,989 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 16.3% in the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,962,290 shares of the companys stock valued at $150,544,000 after buying an additional 414,294 shares during the period. Get iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.0 % iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF stock opened at $50.83 on Tuesday. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $50.76 and a twelve month high of $51.10. The company has a 50 day moving average of $50.72 and a 200-day moving average of $50.74. About iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF The iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated, investment-grade floating rate notes with maturities of 0-5 years. FLOT was launched on Jun 14, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FLOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinterest (NYSE:PINS Free Report) had its price objective increased by Royal Bank of Canada from $46.00 to $48.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Bank of America raised Pinterest from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $32.00 to $37.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Pinterest from $37.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Pinterest from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $32.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Pinterest from $26.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their target price on Pinterest from $35.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Friday. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $37.52. Get Pinterest alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Pinterest Pinterest Stock Performance Insider Activity Pinterest stock opened at $35.50 on Friday. Pinterest has a one year low of $20.60 and a one year high of $41.60. The business has a fifty day moving average of $37.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.31. The company has a market cap of $23.94 billion, a P/E ratio of -600.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 1.02. In related news, Director Gokul Rajaram sold 1,934 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.95, for a total value of $73,395.30. Following the sale, the director now owns 39,382 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,494,546.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Gokul Rajaram sold 1,934 shares of Pinterest stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.95, for a total value of $73,395.30. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 39,382 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,494,546.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Wanjiku Juanita Walcott sold 11,410 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.28, for a total transaction of $368,314.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 216,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,983,003.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 77,737 shares of company stock valued at $2,826,987. 6.85% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pinterest A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of PINS. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Pinterest by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 50,128,803 shares of the companys stock worth $1,233,670,000 after buying an additional 958,619 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Pinterest by 1.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 34,476,228 shares of the companys stock worth $942,580,000 after purchasing an additional 545,900 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Pinterest by 28.2% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 25,743,947 shares of the companys stock valued at $702,039,000 after purchasing an additional 5,670,073 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Pinterest by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 13,145,182 shares of the companys stock worth $238,716,000 after buying an additional 191,507 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in Pinterest by 2.0% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,143,900 shares of the companys stock worth $298,861,000 after acquiring an additional 235,403 shares during the period. 72.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Pinterest Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pinterest, Inc operates as a visual discovery engine in the United States and internationally. The company's engine allows people to find ideas, such as recipes, home and style inspiration, and others; provides video, product, and idea pins; and offers organizing and planning tools. It shows organic recommendations and advertising engine based on pinners tastes and preferences; and enables pinners with shoppable product pins, which include price, color, and size that redirect to retailer websites. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pinterest Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinterest and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Free Report) by 5.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 13,914 shares of the companys stock after selling 859 shares during the quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $662,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. TIAA Trust National Association acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the third quarter worth about $1,600,100,000. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 6.5% during the second quarter. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan now owns 8,390,863 shares of the companys stock worth $413,586,000 after buying an additional 510,516 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 15.2% during the second quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 3,991,318 shares of the companys stock worth $196,732,000 after buying an additional 527,596 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 12.3% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,376,029 shares of the companys stock worth $165,894,000 after buying an additional 370,163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Partners Capital Investment Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 105.9% during the second quarter. Partners Capital Investment Group LLP now owns 2,690,520 shares of the companys stock worth $132,616,000 after buying an additional 1,384,023 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:IEMG opened at $50.18 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $72.76 billion, a PE ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.75. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 52-week low of $45.57 and a 52-week high of $52.30. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.83. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of emerging-market firms, covering 99% of market capitalization. IEMG was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manulife Financial (TSE: MFC) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 2/6/2024 Manulife Financial had its price target raised by analysts at Scotiabank from C$30.00 to C$35.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 1/31/2024 Manulife Financial was upgraded by analysts at CIBC from an underperform rating to a neutral rating. They now have a C$30.00 price target on the stock, up previously from C$28.00. 1/25/2024 Manulife Financial had its price target raised by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from C$29.00 to C$31.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock. 1/23/2024 Manulife Financial had its price target raised by analysts at National Bankshares, Inc. from C$28.00 to C$29.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock. 1/23/2024 Manulife Financial had its price target raised by analysts at Evercore Inc. from C$26.00 to C$30.00. They now have an in-line rating on the stock. 1/4/2024 Manulife Financial had its price target raised by analysts at Evercore Inc. from C$26.00 to C$30.00. Manulife Financial Price Performance Shares of TSE:MFC opened at C$30.46 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 22.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.70. Manulife Financial Co. has a fifty-two week low of C$23.69 and a fifty-two week high of C$30.67. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$28.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$26.59. The company has a market cap of C$55.13 billion, a PE ratio of 4.35, a P/E/G ratio of 11.85 and a beta of 1.10. Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Co Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial Co and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rhumbline Advisers lowered its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 0.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,943,935 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 30,510 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned 0.19% of Bristol-Myers Squibb worth $228,906,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 13.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 4,924,194 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $285,800,000 after buying an additional 596,625 shares during the period. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 11.8% during the third quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 24,869 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,443,000 after acquiring an additional 2,634 shares during the period. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 15.1% in the 3rd quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA now owns 12,895 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $748,000 after acquiring an additional 1,695 shares in the last quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC now owns 66,229 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,848,000 after purchasing an additional 4,176 shares during the period. Finally, RS Crum Inc. bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter worth about $409,000. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,115,412.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $1.05 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $48.70. 4,052,307 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,808,219. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $50.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.58. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $47.58 and a twelve month high of $73.47. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.19 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.33%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.82 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.52 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 5th were paid a $0.60 dividend. This is a boost from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.93%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 62.18%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 30th. StockNews.com raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $54.00 in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $61.17. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BMY About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rhumbline Advisers reduced its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 6,629,057 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 44,824 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $270,863,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 19.5% in the third quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 7,248 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 1,185 shares during the last quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 410.5% in the third quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC now owns 67,480 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,757,000 after acquiring an additional 54,262 shares during the last quarter. Caxton Associates LP bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,967,000. Pegasus Partners Ltd. bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $226,000. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the third quarter valued at approximately $5,143,000. 72.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have issued reports on WFC. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $51.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.43. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of NYSE:WFC traded down $0.50 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $48.42. 4,289,606 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,484,244. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $51.44. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.26. The firm has a market cap of $175.84 billion, a PE ratio of 10.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.18. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. The business had revenue of $20.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.67 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.89%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.05%. Wells Fargo & Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,423,494 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 116,428 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned about 0.18% of Pfizer worth $345,747,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 25.1% during the third quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 137,441 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,559,000 after acquiring an additional 27,559 shares during the period. Cypress Capital LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 3.8% during the third quarter. Cypress Capital LLC now owns 49,208 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,632,000 after acquiring an additional 1,788 shares during the period. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV grew its holdings in Pfizer by 1.4% during the third quarter. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV now owns 63,673 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,134,000 after acquiring an additional 905 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 8.1% during the third quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 262,300 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,700,000 after acquiring an additional 19,600 shares during the period. Finally, Nemes Rush Group LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 4.1% during the third quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 73,582 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,441,000 after acquiring an additional 2,918 shares during the period. 68.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Pfizer alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Pfizer In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 3,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were bought at an average price of $26.47 per share, for a total transaction of $79,410.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $238,230. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock. Pfizer Trading Down 1.8 % Pfizer stock traded down $0.51 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $27.15. 13,175,524 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 43,816,617. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $25.76 and a 52-week high of $44.20. The company has a market capitalization of $153.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 76.85, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 2.38 and a quick ratio of 2.05. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $28.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $31.30. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.29. Pfizer had a return on equity of 10.61% and a net margin of 3.62%. The firm had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 41.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.19%. This is an increase from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 466.67%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have commented on PFE. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Pfizer from $44.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Pfizer from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Pfizer from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.93. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Pfizer Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) had its target price upped by Royal Bank of Canada from C$76.00 to C$77.00 in a research note published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock. A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the stock. CIBC upgraded shares of Sun Life Financial from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from C$73.00 to C$75.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. National Bankshares increased their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$71.00 to C$72.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Cormark upped their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$72.00 to C$73.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$75.00 to C$76.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, TD Securities lifted their price objective on Sun Life Financial from C$62.00 to C$73.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$75.91. Get Sun Life Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on SLF Sun Life Financial Trading Down 0.6 % TSE:SLF opened at C$71.07 on Friday. Sun Life Financial has a 12-month low of C$60.01 and a 12-month high of C$71.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.47. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$68.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$67.40. The firm has a market cap of C$41.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.51, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.97. Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 13th. The financial services provider reported C$1.59 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.58 by C$0.01. Sun Life Financial had a net margin of 10.27% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The company had revenue of C$2.44 billion during the quarter. Equities analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial will post 6.7808349 EPS for the current year. Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. This is a boost from Sun Life Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 27th. Sun Life Financials payout ratio is presently 59.32%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Senior Officer Jacques Jr. Goulet sold 124,639 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$70.07, for a total transaction of C$8,732,956.17. In other Sun Life Financial news, Director Kevin Strain sold 15,986 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$69.69, for a total transaction of C$1,114,000.40. Also, Senior Officer Jacques Jr. Goulet sold 124,639 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$70.07, for a total transaction of C$8,732,956.17. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. About Sun Life Financial (Get Free Report) Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company provides financial advice, asset management, and investments related products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sun Life Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Life Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) will be releasing its earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, February 14th. Analysts expect Sonoco Products to post earnings of $1.07 per share for the quarter. Investors interested in listening to the companys conference call can do so using this link. Sonoco Products Price Performance Shares of SON opened at $57.10 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Sonoco Products has a 1-year low of $49.98 and a 1-year high of $63.74. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $56.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $55.51. The stock has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of 11.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.69. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sonoco Products Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SON. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Sonoco Products by 0.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,631,791 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $709,539,000 after acquiring an additional 76,945 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 1.7% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,740,557 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $609,312,000 after buying an additional 179,779 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 13.4% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,240,829 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $515,546,000 after purchasing an additional 972,157 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,566,627 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $151,481,000 after buying an additional 32,230 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Sonoco Products by 2.6% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,135,507 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $130,266,000 after acquiring an additional 54,808 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.20% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Sonoco Products from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sonoco Products presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.40. Read Our Latest Stock Report on SON About Sonoco Products (Get Free Report) Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Navellier & Associates Inc. lifted its holdings in TechnipFMC plc (NYSE:FTI Free Report) by 49.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 75,766 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 24,970 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.s holdings in TechnipFMC were worth $1,541,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 0.5% during the third quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 126,410 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,571,000 after acquiring an additional 660 shares in the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 2.8% during the third quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 26,849 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $546,000 after acquiring an additional 722 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 2.7% during the second quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 29,370 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 782 shares in the last quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC raised its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 0.4% during the second quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC now owns 216,558 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,599,000 after acquiring an additional 956 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of TechnipFMC by 0.9% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 123,955 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,060,000 after acquiring an additional 1,065 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.79% of the companys stock. Get TechnipFMC alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. BNP Paribas lowered TechnipFMC from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $23.50 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, November 6th. ATB Capital set a $30.00 target price on TechnipFMC and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on TechnipFMC from $24.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, TechnipFMC currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $23.86. TechnipFMC Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSE:FTI opened at $19.20 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $19.52 and its 200-day moving average is $19.89. TechnipFMC plc has a 52-week low of $12.04 and a 52-week high of $22.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. TechnipFMC Company Profile (Free Report) TechnipFMC plc engages in the oil and gas projects, technologies, and systems and services businesses in Europe, Central Asia, North and Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. The Subsea segment engages in the design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, fabrication, installation, and life of field services for subsea systems, subsea field infrastructure, and subsea pipe systems used in oil and gas production and transportation. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TechnipFMC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TechnipFMC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teradata (NYSE:TDC Get Free Report) was downgraded by Bank of America from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report released on Tuesday, Briefing.com reports. They presently have a $48.00 price objective on the technology companys stock, down from their previous price objective of $58.00. Bank of Americas target price points to a potential upside of 28.65% from the companys current price. TDC has been the subject of a number of other reports. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and set a $72.00 price target on shares of Teradata in a research report on Tuesday. Barclays lowered their price objective on Teradata from $46.00 to $43.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Teradata from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com raised Teradata from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Sunday, November 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $57.64. Get Teradata alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on TDC Teradata Trading Down 23.5 % Shares of TDC stock traded down $11.48 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $37.31. The stock had a trading volume of 1,820,710 shares, compared to its average volume of 790,626. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.56. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $45.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.65 billion, a PE ratio of 61.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.01. Teradata has a 52-week low of $36.67 and a 52-week high of $57.73. Teradata (NYSE:TDC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.05. Teradata had a net margin of 3.39% and a return on equity of 39.28%. The business had revenue of $457.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $455.84 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.05 earnings per share. Teradatas quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Teradata will post 1.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Teradata In other Teradata news, CRO Todd Cione sold 29,251 shares of Teradata stock in a transaction on Monday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.31, for a total transaction of $1,266,860.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive now directly owns 76,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,301,131.51. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Teradata A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of TDC. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in Teradata during the first quarter worth $231,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Teradata by 46.7% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 21,282 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,049,000 after purchasing an additional 6,779 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Teradata by 21.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,977 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,916 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Teradata by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 302,170 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $14,894,000 after purchasing an additional 947 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of Teradata by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 39,764 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,960,000 after purchasing an additional 3,791 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.02% of the companys stock. About Teradata (Get Free Report) Teradata Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics. The company offers Teradata Vantage, a data platform that allows companies to leverage their data across an enterprise, as well as connects various sources of data to drive ecosystem simplification and support customers on their journey to the cloud through an integrated migration. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Teradata Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teradata and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lowered its position in shares of Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR Free Report) by 3.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 56,171 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,955 shares during the quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp owned approximately 0.08% of Ingredion worth $5,527,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Ingredion by 1,760.0% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,581 shares of the companys stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,496 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its holdings in Ingredion by 10.5% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 24,385 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,125,000 after purchasing an additional 2,325 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Ingredion by 1.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,790,111 shares of the companys stock valued at $504,608,000 after acquiring an additional 107,110 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in Ingredion by 14.6% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 42,242 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,791,000 after acquiring an additional 5,392 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Ingredion by 1.2% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 29,968 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,612,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.80% of the companys stock. Get Ingredion alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth INGR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their target price on Ingredion from $132.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Barclays decreased their target price on Ingredion from $118.00 to $110.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $130.00 target price on shares of Ingredion in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.60. Ingredion Stock Performance INGR opened at $109.07 on Tuesday. Ingredion Incorporated has a 52-week low of $89.54 and a 52-week high of $113.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.11 billion, a PE ratio of 11.36, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.92. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $108.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.78. Ingredion (NYSE:INGR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $1.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.07 billion. Ingredion had a return on equity of 18.57% and a net margin of 7.88%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Ingredion Incorporated will post 9.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ingredion Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd were paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 29th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.86%. Ingredions dividend payout ratio is 32.50%. About Ingredion (Free Report) Ingredion Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn, and other starch-based materials to a range of industries in North America, South America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INGR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ingredion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingredion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenleaf Trust lifted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report) by 36.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,110 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 5,074 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trusts holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $1,355,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of HIG. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.2% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 17,704 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,271,000 after buying an additional 1,185 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 9.1% in the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 3,952 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $284,000 after buying an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in the first quarter worth about $674,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 88.6% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 11,238 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $807,000 after buying an additional 5,278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 235.4% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,070 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 751 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Performance Shares of HIG opened at $91.02 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $83.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market capitalization of $27.38 billion, a PE ratio of 11.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.87. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $64.25 and a 52-week high of $91.91. Insider Transactions at The Hartford Financial Services Group The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $3.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.62. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 19.82%. The firm had revenue of $6.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.84 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.31 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 9.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total transaction of $119,533.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 630 shares in the company, valued at $56,536.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total transaction of $119,533.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 630 shares in the company, valued at $56,536.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP David C. Robinson sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.64, for a total transaction of $1,344,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 8,201 shares in the company, valued at $735,137.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 339,050 shares of company stock worth $28,069,037 over the last ninety days. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have commented on HIG. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Roth Mkm lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $77.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.60. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on HIG About The Hartford Financial Services Group (Free Report) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenleaf Trust trimmed its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,385 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 113 shares during the quarter. Greenleaf Trusts holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,533,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.5% during the third quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 111,547 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $18,217,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 21.4% during the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 9,938 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,725,000 after purchasing an additional 1,751 shares in the last quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies during the second quarter worth approximately $661,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 0.4% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,395,810 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $227,950,000 after purchasing an additional 5,584 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.3% during the second quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,392 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,457,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. 81.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have issued reports on TRV shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Travelers Companies from $194.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Travelers Companies from $166.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Citigroup upped their target price on Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $204.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. StockNews.com upgraded Travelers Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on Travelers Companies in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $215.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Travelers Companies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $201.38. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 14,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,147,865.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP David Donnay Rowland sold 10,181 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $214.00, for a total transaction of $2,178,734.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,865 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,683,110. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,147,865.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 110,045 shares of company stock worth $23,391,963. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Travelers Companies Stock Performance Shares of Travelers Companies stock opened at $214.77 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $196.90 and a 200 day moving average of $177.45. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $157.33 and a 12 month high of $216.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 19th. The insurance provider reported $7.01 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.10 by $1.91. The company had revenue of $10.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.18 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.68% and a net margin of 7.23%. Travelers Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.40 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.68 earnings per share for the current year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is presently 31.27%. About Travelers Companies (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thomson Reuters (TSE:TRI Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) had its price objective upped by BMO Capital Markets from C$211.00 to C$222.00 in a report published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on TRI. National Bankshares upped their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$180.00 to C$201.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$185.00 to C$205.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$222.00 to C$195.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$133.00 to C$149.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$180.11. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TRI Thomson Reuters Stock Down 2.5 % Thomson Reuters Cuts Dividend Shares of TSE:TRI opened at C$207.94 on Friday. Thomson Reuters has a 52 week low of C$159.25 and a 52 week high of C$214.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 31.76, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of C$94.07 billion, a PE ratio of 27.15, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$196.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$182.84. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. Thomson Reuterss payout ratio is currently 37.99%. Insider Activity In related news, Senior Officer Michael Keith Eastwood sold 17,960 shares of Thomson Reuters stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$138.90, for a total transaction of C$2,494,644.00. In other Thomson Reuters news, Senior Officer Michael Keith Eastwood sold 17,960 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$138.90, for a total transaction of C$2,494,644.00. Also, Director Kriti Sharma sold 5,000 shares of Thomson Reuters stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$142.84, for a total transaction of C$714,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 230 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$32,853.20. In the last three months, insiders have sold 27,923 shares of company stock worth $3,876,396. Corporate insiders own 66.75% of the companys stock. About Thomson Reuters (Get Free Report) Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thomson Reuters (TSE:TRI Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) had its price objective increased by CIBC from C$138.00 to C$146.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the stock. TRI has been the topic of several other reports. TD Securities raised their price target on Thomson Reuters from C$185.00 to C$205.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Thomson Reuters from C$133.00 to C$149.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on Thomson Reuters from C$147.00 to C$149.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday. National Bankshares lifted their price objective on Thomson Reuters from C$180.00 to C$201.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Thomson Reuters from C$211.00 to C$222.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$180.11. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TRI Thomson Reuters Price Performance Thomson Reuters Cuts Dividend Shares of TSE TRI opened at C$207.94 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$94.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 31.76. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$196.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$182.84. Thomson Reuters has a twelve month low of C$159.25 and a twelve month high of C$214.29. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. Thomson Reuterss payout ratio is currently 37.99%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Heather Anne Ohagan sold 735 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$140.27, for a total transaction of C$103,095.51. Following the transaction, the director now owns 630 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$88,367.58. In related news, Director Heather Anne Ohagan sold 735 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$140.27, for a total value of C$103,095.51. Following the transaction, the director now owns 630 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$88,367.58. Also, Director Linda Walker sold 4,101 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$133.26, for a total value of C$546,499.26. Insiders have sold 27,923 shares of company stock valued at $3,876,396 over the last ninety days. 66.75% of the stock is owned by insiders. Thomson Reuters Company Profile (Get Free Report) Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS Group AG cut its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV Free Report) by 10.9% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,194,748 shares of the companys stock after selling 145,679 shares during the quarter. UBS Group AGs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $70,239,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New York Life Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 9.8% during the second quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 49,219 shares of the companys stock worth $3,091,000 after acquiring an additional 4,375 shares during the period. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 160.7% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 127,097 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,983,000 after acquiring an additional 78,352 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $111,000. Cox Capital Mgt LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 8.7% in the third quarter. Cox Capital Mgt LLC now owns 6,365 shares of the companys stock valued at $374,000 after acquiring an additional 507 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Keystone Financial Group lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 282.2% in the third quarter. Keystone Financial Group now owns 55,594 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,268,000 after acquiring an additional 41,047 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA SPLV opened at $63.25 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $9.26 billion, a PE ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.69. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $62.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.20. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a 1-year low of $57.17 and a 1-year high of $64.52. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Profile The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watchman Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm purchased 6,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $535,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 98,322.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 128,318,231 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,747,935,000 after acquiring an additional 128,187,856 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 4.4% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 32,789,431 shares of the companys stock worth $3,128,440,000 after purchasing an additional 1,388,705 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 11.9% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,236,886 shares of the companys stock worth $690,471,000 after buying an additional 769,964 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 6.0% in the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 6,797,093 shares of the companys stock valued at $648,511,000 after buying an additional 383,842 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,548,060 shares of the companys stock valued at $426,062,000 after buying an additional 34,197 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Trading Down 0.1 % iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF stock traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $98.99. 624,963 shares of the stock traded hands. The firm has a market cap of $13.26 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $95.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $91.58. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $67.58 and a 12-month high of $85.81. About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shoe Carnival is expanding its retail network with the $45 million acquisition of Rogans Shoes, a 53-year-old work and family footwear company with 28 locations across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. According to Shoe Carnival, the acquisition was funded with cash flow generated in fiscal 2023 and is expected to be immediately accretive to the companys fiscal 2024 earnings. The company also expects to generate approximately $84 million in sales and approximately $10 million in operating income, excluding transaction and integration costs next year. More from Footwear News The company added that it has an 18-month integration plan in place and expects to capture an additional $1.5 million in synergies annually. It will realize half of the profit synergies by fiscal 2025 and the full amount by fiscal 2026, the company said. In a press release about the acquisition, Shoe Carnival added that the buy advances its strategy to be the nations leading family footwear retailer. This includes immediately positioning the company as the market leader in Wisconsin, and it establishes a store base in Minnesota, creating additional expansion opportunities. Following the integration of the acquisition into the companys Shoe Station growth banner, which it acquired in 2021 for $67 million, the combined banner sales are expected to surpass $200 million by fiscal 2025. The acquisition also increases the companys store count to an all-time high of 429, keeping the company on track to achieve its target to operate over 500 stores in 2028. Mark Worden, president and chief executive officer of Shoe Carnival, praised the business that Rogans Shoes has built. Over the past five decades the Rogan family has built a brand that is well known and trusted throughout the state of Wisconsin, Worden said. As such, they have established a clear market leadership position in Wisconsin for work and family footwear, with a compelling assortment, great customer service, and a highly committed team of employees. Story continues I am excited about the new opportunities for Rogans as it becomes part of the Shoe Carnival family, Pat Rogan, chief executive officer of Rogans, added. We share a strong focus on customers and employees and this transaction provides the additional scale and expertise to drive future growth, create efficiencies and expand profitability with that shared focus as the foundation. Along with Tuesdays acquisition, Shoe Carnival has released its preliminary results for fiscal 2023. The company said it has achieved the high end of its sales expectations with net sales of $1.176 billion, driven by strong sales growth during the December holiday period. Diluted earnings per share are also in line with expectations to be between $2.65 $2.75, with preliminary results in the mid-range, excluding any transaction costs related to the Rogans acquisition. The company will provide its guidance for fiscal 2024 in March when it reports final audited financial results for fiscal 2023. On a preliminary basis, the company said it currently expects to grow fiscal 2024 total net sales in the low mid-single digit range, driven by the newly acquired Rogans business, Shoe Station banner growth, e-commerce growth and continued CRM expansion. Best of Footwear News 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. Congressional candidates, Mazi Pilip, left, and former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi are shown in this combination of file photos. [AP Photo/ Brittainy Newman & John Minchillo] The special election to the US House of Representatives for the seat of expelled New York Congressman George Santos is underway Tuesday in New York. Both candidates, Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip, who were handpicked by their respective parties, are running anti-immigrant campaigns that reflect the bipartisan embrace of national chauvinism, bigotry and police repression. Neither candidate has a clear advantage in pre-election polling. Santos, a right-wing Republican, was elected to the 3rd congressional district, which encompasses parts of Queens in New York City and some of the adjacent upper-middle-class suburbs of Nassau County, Long Island, in 2022. He was expelled from Congress in December 2023 for violating ethics guidelines and House rules, although he had not yet been convicted of a crime. Expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-New York, speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. [AP Photo/John Locher] The race has attracted national attention because it could affect which party controls Congress and influence how both parties campaign for the November elections. The Republicans seek to maintain their tenuous majority, and the Democrats hope to reverse their 2022 defeats in the New York City suburbs, which played a major role in their losing control of the House as a whole. One sign of the elections importance to the big-business parties is the remarkable amount of money that they have lavished on it. As of February 8, the Democrats had spent more than $10 million, and Republicans had spent $6.6 million. I think its actually more money that is even approximately plausible or needed in this kind of election, Grant Lally, publisher of local newspaper North Shore Leader, told CBS New York. Pilip, the Republican candidate, is a registered Democrat who previously served two terms as a Nassau County legislator. She supported Santos in the 2022 election but now claims that he lied to her. Pilip was born in Ethiopia and fled to Israel with her family when she was 12. An Orthodox Jew, she served as a gunsmith in the Israel Defense Forces Paratroopers Brigade. Pilip is strongly pro-Israel and has vocally supported the Netanyahu governments genocide in Gaza. She has enjoyed the backing of conservative billionaire Ronald Lauder, a longtime apologist for every crime of the Israeli government. Pilip also stands foursquare behind the police and grotesquely cites her experience as a refugee to argue that she is qualified to keep desperate migrants and asylum seekers out of New York. She presents herself as a political outsider. Suozzi, the Democratic candidate, is trying to distance himself from his party and from any taint of liberalism. He held the congressional seat for which hes now running for three terms before leaving Congress to pursue an unsuccessful bid for governor of New York. Suozzi is also a former mayor of wealthy Glen Cove and a former Nassau County executive. He is now advertising himself as an experienced, moderate legislator who, as a former member of the Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress, can establish consensus and find bipartisan solutions within the realm of acceptable capitalist politics. At the same time, Suozzi is trying to outflank his opponent from the right, especially on immigration. He previously denounced calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is now appealing to nationalism by arguing that migrants are taking jobs from American citizens or residents. Hostility to immigrants and asylum seekers has been the hallmark of this ugly election campaign. Pilip, for example, held an event outside a migrant shelter in Queens to accept the endorsement of the right-wing federal Border Patrol union. During the candidates one acrimonious debate, Pilip hurled accusations against her opponent. Tom Suozzi opened the border. Tom Suozzi funded the sanctuary city. Tom Suozzi kicked ICE from Nassau County, she said. This is absolutely you; you have to own it. Such vituperation is an appeal to openly chauvinist and fascistic forces, while avoiding spelling out the most barbaric methods that might alarm middle class voters. Pilip has spoken broadly in support of completing the wall on the Mexican border and has called for technology and surveillance to monitor migrants who try to enter the United States. She also wants to tighten the standard used for evaluating asylum seekers. At the debate, Suozzi sought to turn the tables on Pilip. He rebuked her for opposing the recent Senate border/war bill that would have severely restricted asylum claims and expanded the border police. He called Pilip unprepared to serve in the House and boasted that he could strike a deal with his fascistic colleagues across the aisle. Suozzi supports restricting asylum, building the border wall, offering foreign aid to Mexico to stop migration, and creating a path to citizenship for some migrants. He would fund these efforts through a charge on the migrants themselves. The debate was far from the only occasion on which Suozzi sounded a strident nationalist note. Throughout his campaign, he has called on President Joe Biden to shut down the border. He also demanded the deportation of Venezuelan asylum seekers who were assaulted by New York City policemen on West 42nd Street. Thats outrageous. Kick em out! cried Suozzi, adopting the fascistic position of presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Suozzis father was born in Italy, and Pilip became a refugee as a child. But throughout this degraded campaign, neither candidate has displayed basic humanity, let alone sympathy, toward the migrants who are seeking asylum and better lives in the United States. It is not the candidates nationality, but their class orientation that determines their politics. Suozzi and Pilip both defend the interests of the corporate and financial oligarchy, which seeks to stir up prejudice and backwardness among workers to preserve its own hold on power, which means, above all, to prepare for war against Russia and China. The candidates differ only on tactical considerations. Although immigration has dominated the campaign, it is not the only issue that the candidates have been raising. Suozzi and Pilip are vying to show who is the more steadfast defender of the Israeli state. In fact, little separates the two candidates on this issue. Both support unconditional military aid to Israel, and both oppose a ceasefire in Gaza. A Palestinian child, injured from the US-backed Israeli bombardment, sits in a hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali] Similarly, both candidates present themselves as tough on crime. Moreover, they tie the issue of crime to the alleged invasion of migrants, although immigrants are far more likely to become the victims rather than the perpetrators. Abortion rights have been another significant issue. Attempting to thread the needle during the debate, Pilip called herself pro-life but said that she does not support a national abortion ban. Are you saying that youre pro-choice? Suozzi asked. Pilip became angry and refused to accept that characterization. The campaign is a part of a shift in New York and national politics, particularly by the Democrats. The funding for the proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, and even for the genocide in Gaza, has become tied up with the anti-immigrant program of the most right-wing sections of the Republican Party. In recent days the big-business media and leading Democrats in the state have called for the expulsion of immigrants, just as New York Citys Democratic Mayor, Eric Adams, has reduced services and unleashed the police on the citys nearly 170,000 recently arrived asylum seekers. Whoever wins the election Tuesday, the result will reflect the shift to the right of the entire ruling class. Suozzi and Pilips blaring xenophobia is a part of the political establishments preparation for world war and the deepening attacks on democratic rights that come with it. At a works meeting on February 7, the German engineering union, IG Metall and the works council at Ford Motors in Saarlouis announced a document for a social contract aimed at sealing the end of the plant. Of the almost 7,000 jobs that once existed at the factory, only 1,000 are to remain at the end of next year. This means that 2,800 of the current workforce of around 3,800 will lose their jobs by that date, in addition to around 1,500 jobs lost in the neighbouring supplier park. Ford workers demonstrate after the announcement of the closure of the Saarlouis plant, June 22, 2022 This confirms what the Ford Action Committee has always said. Jobs cannot be defended with the works council and IG Metall, but only in opposition to them. From the very beginning, the works council and IG Metall have worked intensely with the company management, in what can only be described as a conspiracy against the workforce. Their main aim throughout, and even now, has been to keep production running as smoothly as possible while organising the closure of the plant and the destruction of jobs in secret negotiations. Markus Thal, head of the works council, claimed that the plant and the jobs could be defended by workers making voluntary and far-reaching concessions on wages and working conditions. He also maintained that negotiations had to be conducted in secret in order to be successful and that an investor had been found whose name could not be made public in order not to jeopardise a possible takeover. All of these claims have proved to be lies and deception. Now Thal & Co are trying to talk up severance payments and quote high sums which, when calculated accurately and after deduction of taxes, shrink like snow in the sun. The claim that a severance payment is a replacement for a job is the next big lie told by the works council mafia. Severance pay has never and nowhere prevented massive job losses. It has invariably been the path to social devastation and the ruination of future of generations. There is no individual way out of the crisis. A common struggle in defence of all jobs is necessary and can no longer be postponed. That is why the establishment of the independent action committee is so important. The redundancies and plant closure plans at Ford are just the beginning. A job massacre is unfolding in the auto industry the likes of which the sector has not seen since the Second World War. For some time now, manufacturers and suppliers have been using the transfer to electric mobility to cut jobs and increase labour exploitation. At the end of December, the Munich-based Ifo Institute once again reported falling business expectations in the auto industry based on a company survey. Shareholders are now unequivocally demanding a huge increase in the exploitation of the around 800,000 workers employed by manufacturers and suppliers in order to ensure ever rising returns on their investments. When it comes to jobs, social security, working conditions and wages, nothing is safe. Studies estimate that up to 40 percent of jobs will be lost as a result of the switch to electric mobility, i.e., over 300,000 in Germany. The situation in other countries is very similar. This means that major class struggles are inevitable, which will go far beyond the current warning strikes and break through the control of the trade union apparatus. There will be spontaneous strikes, factory occupations and mass protests of all kinds. This is why IG Metall and its works councils are doing everything they can to suppress any initiative in defence of the Ford plant in Saarlouis. They are afraid that Ford-Saarlouis will spark a conflagration and that the heated mood and anger over mass redundancies and social cuts will turn into active resistance. The conclusion is clear: it is necessary to courageously oppose the conspiracy of the management board, works council and IG Metall to shut down the plant. Millions of workers in many other companies are waiting for someone to make a start. Thal and his cronies are threatening that anyone who fights the closure will lose their right to severance pay. Just as two years ago, when he agreed to the disgraceful bidding contest and played off the employees in Saarlouis against their colleagues in Almussafes, Spain, the works council is now once again trying to divide the workforce with the help of the social plan. Nobody should be intimidated by this. The social plan does not suspend the right to strike and industrial action. The announcement of the plant closure also ended the phase of so-called industrial peace. There is no reason to continue production under these conditions and be led like lambs to the slaughter. It is now necessary to build the action committee and prepare joint struggle measures. Two things are key to this end: building links with workers at other Ford plants and suppliers and taking stock of the reactionary divisive policy of the works council and IG Metall. The last two years, which have been especially bitter for colleagues at Ford in Saarlouis, have taught us important lessons. After the initial shock that followed the announcement of the plants closure in June 2022, the works council under Thal spread the illusion that things could somehow continue. One year earlier he had already played off the employees in Saarlouis against those in Almussafes in Spain in a brutal bidding war. Thal negotiated behind closed doors for months. To this day, he refuses to disclose the wage concessions and extensive deterioration in working conditions he offered at the time. This was followed by stalling tactics with a supposed investor who would take over the plant. In October 2023, it became clear that there was no investor. The plant was to be closed. Nevertheless, rumours were fuelled that an investor would or had already been found. In order to absorb the expected anger and disappointment, the works council and IG Metall organised short warning strikes from January 17 to 19. The reason given by Thal was that Ford management was refusing to increase severance payments beyond those stipulated in existing contracts. He later announced that the social plan that was now on the table was the result of the workforces struggle. In reality, the last warning strike spectacle by the IGM and the works council was aimed solely at concealing the fact that the social contract agreed serves exclusively to enforce the plant closure and maintain production up until the last day. What has now been decided, the extension of production until the end of November 2025, was already apparent last month. IGM and the works council are now urging the workforce to accept the overall packet in a ballot on February 22. This would be the final nail in the coffin Thal is hammering into the plant and means that car production in Saarlouis will be history by the end of 2025. The WSWS and the Ford Action Committee have been fighting against the bankrupt policy of IG Metall and its works councils from the very beginning. We therefore call on the workforce to act now: Reject Thal and his social contract! Refuse the salami tactics of implementing job cuts with a voluntary redundancy programme and job transfer company! Halt production while still possible! Make your fight the starting point to oppose the mass destruction of jobs throughout the auto industry! Contact your colleagues at ZF, Bosch, Mahle, Continental and also autoworkers at VW, Opel, Mercedes and BMW, who are all facing similar attacks! Join forces with Ford colleagues in Valencia, Cologne, Craiova, Istanbul and the US! Build the Ford Saarlouis action committee! Contact us either by WhatsApp message to the following number: +491633378340 or via the form below! Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/Shutterstock / Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Although former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is a long shot to win the Republican nomination for president, she continues to stay in the race against ex-president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. This means Social Security advocates and beneficiaries are taking a good hard look at Haleys positions on the retirement benefits program. See: How Big Is Senator Lindsey Grahams Social Security Check? Learn: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money So far, Haley has floated some general ideas about Social Security reform without offering much detail about how to implement the ideas or what their impact might be. As GOBankingRates previously reported, Haley has proposed cutting Social Security benefits for the wealthy and raising the full retirement age for younger Americans currently in their 20s or 30s. Those types of ideas were enough for Haley to win endorsements from mainstream limited-government advocates, CNN reported in December. Her calls to cut or eliminate benefits for the wealthy are especially attractive to some members of the Republican establishment. Discover: How a Trump Win in 2024 Could Impact Your Retirement Savings We need a complete reevaluation of entitlements, Ken Langone, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot, told CNN. What the hell is a guy like me (doing) getting $3,500 a month from the government? Thats outrageous. I shouldnt get a nickel. Most everyone agrees that something should be done to fix Social Security before the programs Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund runs out of money. Thats expected to happen in about a decade. When it does, Social Security will have to rely solely on payroll taxes for funding, and they cover only about 77% of current benefits. Haley advocates several changes to Social Security that would trim the program. Well keep these programs the same for anyone whos in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or older, period, she said last year. And well preserve Social Security and Medicare for the next generation. Ill limit benefits for wealthy people. Story continues As Business Insider reported in January, Haley told a town hall gathering hosted by Fox News that Medicare and Social Security will be bankrupt soon if changes arent made. The way we deal with it is we dont touch anyones retirement or anyone whos been promised in, but we go to people like my kids in their 20s when theyre coming into the system, and we say the rules have changed, Haley said at the time. Haley did not offer any further details other than to say that 65 is way too low to receive full retirement benefits even though 65 hasnt been the full retirement age in a long time. Currently, the FRA is either 66 or 67, depending on your birth date. For anyone born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67. In any case, it is instructive that Haley has mainly emphasized raising the full retirement age for younger Americans and reducing benefits for the elderly. That means if she somehow makes it to the White House, you can probably expect her proposals to veer in those directions. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security: What Would a Nikki Haley Presidency Mean for Benefits? In a sign that a new escalation of the global war between the major powers is being prepared, newly-installed Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun pledged last month to support Russia in its war with the US-led NATO military alliance in Ukraine. Dong Jun, former head of Chinese navy, current Chinese defense minister [Photo: Facebook/Republic of Singapore Navy] In a January 31 video conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, he said this was a necessary response to US-NATO aggression against Russia and China. Washington, he said, is always targeting Russia and China, seeking to retain its hegemony around the globe History and reality prove that hegemony is doomed to failure. Dong stepped away from the posture of studied ambiguity Beijing has kept on the Ukraine war since it began in 2022. He told Shoigu: We have supported you on the Ukrainian issue, despite the fact that the United States and Europe continue to put pressure on the Chinese side. Even defense cooperation between China and the European Union is threatened, but we will not change or abandon our established policy course over this. Dong linked Beijings backing for Moscow in Ukraine to Moscows support for Beijing on Taiwan, saying: We can feel strong support from the Russian side on the Taiwan issue, as well as on other topics of our key interests. Washington is encouraging Taiwan, a Chinese-speaking island, to declare formal independence from the Peoples Republic of China on the mainland, and is arming Taiwan as an offshore military base against China. Dong concluded: The militaries should play a greater role in deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperation and maintaining global security and stability China-Russia strategic cooperation is a pillar of maintaining peace around the world. Shoigu replied that he looks forward to the closest and most fruitful cooperation with Beijing, and that talks with Dong further strengthen the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership in the field of defense. He added, however, that this relationship did not constitute a military alliance like NATO: Unlike some Western countries, our two countries do not form a military bloc. Especially as Dongs remarks involve war between the worlds main nuclear-armed powers, his explicit use of the word support for Russia in Ukraine was noted and examined internationally. Inside the ruling elites of the NATO imperialist powers, there was surprise at Dongs statement, which exposes China to further US economic sanctions and, potentially, military retaliation. Indeed, some denied that Dong had made such remarks at all. The French conservative daily Le Figaro wrote that an overt Chinese statement of support for Russia in Ukraine would be far from being just an anecdote and was likely false. Le Figaro cited an unidentified China expert who asserted that Dong had been misquoted: I would be stunned if the Chinese had used the terms they were quoted as using, in a public video at any rate If Dong Jun had said that, Western officials would have immediately reacted. Over the last week, however, news outlets in America and Europe posted extracts of the Dong-Shoigu video call and confirmed that, in fact, Dong had been correctly quoted. Writing on Dongs statement, the US magazine Newsweek concluded: China would stand with Russia on the Ukraine issue despite pressure from the US and Europe. However, it also cited Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Wang Wengbin, who said: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We hope all parties will strive to cool down the tensions and create favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. This position has not changed. Workers and youth should not be taken in by the statements of capitalist governments around the world, which are primarily designed to lull them to sleep. Firstly, there are indications that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bureaucracy, while hoping to avert total war, is contemplating a shift in its foreign policy. Dong became defense minister last year, after the CCP sacked previous defense and foreign ministers, Li Shangfu and Qin Gang. While the CCP gave no explanation for their dismissal, it was rumored that Moscow told Beijing that Qin had US ties and had given Washington secret details on Chinese nuclear missiles, and that Li, the former head of Chinese rocket forces, was caught up in corruption allegations. Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, center, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, attend an official welcome ceremony prior to their talks in Moscow, Russia, November 8, 2023. [AP Photo/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service] Dong became defense minister amid the Taiwanese elections, won by Lai Ching-te of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). With tensions rising on the nearby Korean Peninsulawhere US-backed South Korea is arming Ukraine and Poland, as North Korea ships artillery shells to Russiathe danger of new wars in the Asia-Pacific is mounting. This underlies Beijings decision, for now at least, to seek closer military ties to Moscow. Secondly, and more importantly, further escalations of the global wardriven not primarily by Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but by the aggressive policies of the major NATO imperialist powers amid a global crisis of the capitalist systemare being prepared. China, which has emerged after decades of globalization as a major industrial power, is ever more in the sights of the NATO powers. Especially after the failure of their Ukrainian puppet regimes counter-offensive last year, they are outraged by Beijings critical role in helping Russia evade sanctions they hoped would crush Russias economy. Not only has Beijing purchased Russian oil and gas, which the European Union boycotted, it also gave Russia manufactured products of military value. In December, the US Treasury slapped further sanctions on 150 companies and individualsincluding in China, Turkey, the UAE, and Switzerlandfor aiding Russia. This came after the Atlantic Council, a highly-connected US imperialist think tank, issued reports on how China helped Russia avoid US-NATO sanctions. Its latest such report, published last November, admitted that China was not arming Russia but added: Open-source trade data suggests that a surge in imports of Chinese-manufactured goods with important military uses played a key role in Russias ability to shore up its defenses on Ukrainian territory Even as weapons and ammunition pour into Ukraine from NATO countries, they are being counterbalanced by Chinese importsnot of weapons, but of materials vital for Russias ability to sustain its continued stubborn efforts to hold onto Ukrainian territory. It pointed to the surge in Russian purchases of key strategic goods from China. Since 2022, these imports rose nearly tenfold for heavy excavation vehicles (to dig fortifications), 345 percent for ball bearings (armored vehicles), and doubled for integrated circuits. The Atlantic Council also alleged that Russian troops use Chinese, Iranian and Russian-made drones in Ukraine. Such reports doubtless drove the NATO powers recent decision to spend over $100 billion on military escalation against Russia, the Middle East and China. This imperialist onslaught cannot be halted based on a national strategy. Indeed, the war is driven by rivalries between capitalist nation-states over a globally-integrated economy. In the 33 years since the Stalinist bureaucracys 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the NATO powers have massacred millions in escalating neo-colonial wars from the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq to Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Mali and beyond. As the imperialist powers turn their guns on nuclear-armed Russia and China, the danger of a catastrophic nuclear conflagration is growing by the day. The decisive question is mobilizing the working class internationally in a socialist anti-war movement. While the imperialist powers are targeting Russia and China, states that descend from the October 1917 Russian and 1949 Chinese revolutions, such a movement can only be based on opposition to the Chinese Stalinist and Russian ex-Stalinist regimes. Since their restoration of capitalism in China and dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991, they cannot and will not make any appeal to workers. Their reactionary orientation is epitomized in Russian President Vladimir Putins denunciation of the Bolsheviks who led the October revolution, as Russia invaded Ukraine. Beijings now overt support for Putins war shows that its policies also lead towards catastrophic escalation. The only viable basis of revolutionary opposition to war is a Trotskyist struggle to unify Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese workers with their class brothers and sisters in the NATO countries and internationally in a struggle for socialism. Since taking office in January 2023 as Oklahomas Superintendent of Instruction, Ryan Walters has been at the forefront of the far-right campaign to destroy public education and attack public school educators. This has included attempts to introduce Christianity into public schools, an expansive school voucher program, and far-right smear campaigns against educators. Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters [AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki] Most recently, in late January, Walters crusade made national headlines after his months-long witch-hunt of a well-regarded school principal, Shane Murnan, resulted in Murnans forced resignation. Walters had initiated his public attacks on Murnan last September, appearing on Fox News to publicly denounce the educator after learning that he is a part-time drag performer. Soon after, Walters launched a baseless investigation into Murnans teaching certificate and threatened the accreditation of Western Heights school district, where Murnan worked. In response, buckling to the right-wing pressure, the school district initially placed Murnan on administrative leave. After Walters public comments, Murnan faced death threats, protests at school board meetings featuring homophobic signs and two stints of administrative leave. He was also barred from entering his school while students were present and had to work as a principal off-site. It was scary, Ive never had to deal with anything like this before, Murnan told the Wall Street Journal. Ive always been supported in being who I am. After initially defending Murnan, the district came under direct pressure from Walters to force Murnans resignation. After a meeting between Western Heights Superintendent Brayden Savage and Walters in December, the superintendent gave Murnan two options: resign or be terminated. In explaining the decision, Savage alluded to the pogrom-like atmosphere that had been whipped up by Walters, The hate has not stopped. To bring Shane back to the building is a risk to safety for all. ... I cannot be totally sure that one of those crazies would not show up to cleanse the building, which is something that Ive seen over and over again and something that weve heard over and over again. Another educator in the district who performs drag, Paul Stafford, also resigned in January after being given an ultimatum to resign or be fired, according to Murnan. Walterss shameless campaign against drag performers is just one aspect of his fascistic attack on teachers and public education more generally. A few weeks prior to the ouster of Stafford and Murnan, he proposed at a state board of education meeting vague new policies that would supposedly protect students from predatory educators. What we have seen is radical leftists and the teachers unions turning our schools into Epstein Island, Walters said at the meeting. They have opened up our schools and allowed sexual predators to target our kids unchecked, unwatched, and without accountability, he added incendiary slanders meant to whip up and mobilize the most reactionary layers to intimidate and terrorize educators. Since taking over as superintendent in January of 2023, Walters has also systematically undermined the First Amendments wall of separation between religion and the state. The Supreme Court has been wrong. There is no separation of church and state in the Constitution or Declaration of Independence. It doesnt exist, Walters claimed in September. We will bring God back to schools and prayer back in schools in Oklahoma and fight back against that radical myth. He has also called for the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Central to his agenda is the decimation of public schools altogether, which underlies his heavy promotion of the use and expansion of a school voucher program. Such schemes funnel public funding for education into private and religious schools. Oklahomas universal school choice program, which went into effect this year, provides parents up to $7,500 in public dollars per tax year to cover private school tuition. Additionally, Walters has backed the creation in Oklahoma of what would be the nations first religious public charter school, largely funded by taxpayers, but run by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Following the start of Israels genocidal assault on Gaza last October, Walters issued an executive memo urging every school in Oklahoma to have a moment of silence and prayer for Israel and disseminated a sample prayer for schools to use: Let us offer a prayer for safety and peace for the people of Israel. We pray that violence against the Jewish nation should stop and that a time of healing occurs for those lost. We pray for our leaders to stand strong and defend any attacks against the Israeli people. In Walterss prior role as state secretary of education, he called for the revocation of the teaching certificate of Summer Boismier, an English teacher in the state, after she protested against the censoring and banning of books in Oklahoma schools. Teachers were told prior to the 2022 school year to pull books from their classroom that might run afoul of a 2021 state law that bans the teaching in classrooms of concepts that could lead to feelings of discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex. In response, Boismier covered her classroom library with red butcher paper with the words Books the state doesnt want you to read and a QR code to the Brooklyn Public Librarys Books Unbanned initiative. Boismier resigned after school administrators asked her to drop her protest. In response to Boismiers principled stance in defense of freedom of thought, Walters took to Twitter to accuse her of providing access to banned and pornographic material. In the same post, he called on the Oklahoma State Board of Education to revoke her teaching certificate. As with Walters witch-hunt against Murnan, Boismier received online threats of violence. Walters has also repeatedly targeted the teachers unions, stating before the Oklahoma House of Representatives last May that I dont negotiate with the teachers union. Theyre a terrorist organization. Aside from brief denunciations on social media of the Superintendents rhetoric, the Oklahoma Education Association has barely responded to these attacks, neither demanding Walterss removal nor mobilizing teachers to defend victimized educators. Last November, Walters posted a video endorsement of the fascist coup plotter Donald Trump for president, in which he stated President Trump will be able to end radical indoctrination in our schools. ... This woke ideology will be driven out of our schools. This cancer that is the teachers union will be driven out of our schools, and parents will be put in charge of their kids education. He also called for the dismantling of the federal Department of Education. Walters is supported by numerous far-right groups, including the 1776 Project PAC, Americans for Prosperity, and Moms for Liberty, even speaking at the latters conference this past summer. Walterss attack on educators who do not conform to religious fundamentalist notions of acceptable gender and sexual identities is also of a piece with a nationwide far-right campaign to demonize LGBTQ people as pedophiles who are grooming children in order to abuse them. In 2023, Tennessee, Texas and Montana all passed laws banning drag artists from performing in certain public spaces. Florida, under the control of fascistic Governor Ron DeSantis, passed a law banning drag performances in front of minors. These laws have been stopped from going into effect through legal challenges. At least eight other states saw lawmakers introduce bills in 2023 of a similar nature that did not pass. In a similar vein, much of the so-called Parents Rights legislation in recent years has focused on the prohibition of classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, including Floridas 2022 Dont Say Gay bill. These bills, disguised as means of protecting children and giving parents freedom to control education, are in reality another blow against the democratic rights of educators and students. According to the ACLU, in 2023, 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures. So far in 2024, 398 such bills have already been introduced, with a sharp increase in such bills since 2018, when 42 were introduced. The fascist attacks against LGBTQ rights are part of a wholesale assault by the capitalist class on the democratic rights of the entire working class. The campaign against democratic rights, while led by the Republican Party, is fundamentally supported and enabled by the Democratic Party, which itself is lurching to the right and launching innumerable attacks against public education and democratic rights more broadly. The Biden administration, which is overseeing vast cuts in public school funding across the US while funneling endless billions to war, is leading the bipartisan campaign against students democratic rights on college campuses in order to stifle popular opposition to Israels genocide in Gaza. Underlying the bipartisan assault on democratic rights are historic levels of social inequality and the growing subordination of societys resources to war, neither of which are compatible with democracy. At the same time, the deteriorating living and working conditions, including in public schools, are fueling a growing movement of the working class throughout the US and internationally. It is this growing movement of the working class, fighting independently of and in opposition to both capitalist parties, that has the power to stop the growth of the far-right, the expansion of war and the growing attacks on workers living standards. The Move Forward Party (MFP), the largest oppositional party in Thailand, is facing the prospect of dissolution after the Constitutional Court characterized a plank of its 2023 election program as an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. Former leader of Move Forward party Pita Limjaroenrat, left, with the party's current leader Chaithawat Tulathon, at a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 31, 2024. Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled that the party must cease advocating amending the lese-majeste law [AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit] On January 31, a unanimous ruling by nine military-appointed judges stated that the MFPs intent to amend the infamous lese-majeste law was to separate the monarchy from the Thai nation which is significantly dangerous to the security of the state. The ruling continued: [T]he accused have an intention to subvert the monarchy in direct violation of Section 49 of the Constitution. Section 49 states that, no person shall exercise the rights or liberties to overthrow the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State. The court instructed the party and its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, to cease any and all communications relating to the laws amendment or abolishment. The MFP has complied by scrapping references to the law on its website. In a press release, Pita stated on behalf of the MFP that the gag order was a lost opportunity for parliament to discuss the law. We refuse that the attempt was an alibi nor was it an attempt to cause any deterioration of the monarchy and did not have any intention of separating the monarchy with the national security, Pita stated in English. The lese-majeste law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, forbids any criticism of the royal family with a penalty of up to 15 years jail for each offence. In January, political activist Mongkol Thirakot was sentenced to 50 years in prison for social media postings critical of the monarchy, the longest such sentence given in history. Prominent activist and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, received an additional 4-year sentence for breaches of the lese-majeste law. He is already serving 4 years after being jailed last September. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 262 people have been charged with lese-majeste offences since 2020. The court decision underscores just how central the monarchy is to the capitalist state in Thailand. In times of crisis, the king has stepped in to defuse infighting within the ruling elites and to prevent the development of mass movements that threaten capitalist rule. The ruling also opens up the party to the possibility of dissolution. Section 92 of the Political Parties Act states that any party deemed to be acting in a way that may be adverse to the government must be dissolved. This can entail lifetime bans on its top officials from applying to run in future elections. The law was strengthened following the 2014 military coup. Previously it only applied to parties that had engaged in acts to directly overthrow the government. Moreover, dissolution was only an option that may be considered. In response to the latest ruling, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, who has in the past acted on behalf of traditional elites, has resubmitted a petition from last year calling for the MFPs dissolution on the basis of its advocacy of reforming the lese-majeste law. It was rejected at the time by the Election Commission as groundless. Last months ruling lays bare the anti-democratic character of the Thai state apparatus, which is not prepared to countenance a public discussion about any reform of the monarchy. The fact that the MFP immediately fell into line underscores its class character as a capitalist party that has channelled the opposition of workers and youth into the dead-end of parliamentary politics. The MFP won the majority vote in last years elections on the basis of broad support from youth and student protests in 20192021 calling for the reform of the military and monarchy. At last years elections, the MFP watered down its demands, declaring that reforming the notorious lese-majeste law was not the partys main campaign goal. Nonetheless, the ruling class deemed the MFP too unreliable a party to form government and used the courts to sideline it. Pita, who was positioning himself as prime minister, had his parliamentary status suspended pending an investigation into his holding of shares in a media company, in contravention of electoral laws. The media company, iTV, had been defunct since 2007, and receives no revenue from media services. It only remains a business entity due to an ongoing legal dispute with the government over unpaid concession fees. Furthermore, the shares had been disclosed by Pita in 2019 when his registration as an MP was approved by the Election Commission. The trajectory of the MFP is now following a similar path to that of its predecessor, the Future Forward Party (FFP), which won an unexpectedly significant share of seats in the 2019 election on the basis of calling for democratic reforms. It was dissolved by the Constitutional Court the following year for supposedly receiving illegal donations. No other party was subject to the same level of scrutiny. On Monday, Pita and several other former FFP parliamentarians received suspended four-month jail sentences for participating in an impromptu protest in December 2019. The rally blocked a train station and involved the illegal use of loudspeakers. The raft of lese-majeste cases and the legal assault on the MFP is all the more significant in that it is taking place under a Pheu Thai-led government. With the MFP sidelined, Pheu Thai, which in the past postured as a party defending democratic rights and the poor, formed a government with pro-military parties. The MFP has waged no campaign to defend itself against any of the anti-democratic court decisions. The investigation into Pitas media shares, and the suspension of Pitas MP status was allowed to proceed. After the investigation was dropped on January 24, Pita called the proceedings a mere detour of his program. MFP lawmaker Bhuntin Noumjerm made clear that no call would be made to mobilise popular opposition if the Constitutional Court dissolved the party. Rather it would simply change the name and reorganize the party. You can kill a man, you cant kill an idea. People have already lost faith in our legal system over and over, so if they want to dig their own grave by all means, he demagogically told the media. The MFP represents a layer of big business that regards the traditional elitesthe military, monarchy, the courts and state functionariesas a obstacle to its economic interests. While it postures as a defender of democratic rights, it is just as fearful as its opponents of a movement of the working class that threatens capitalist rule. The only way to fight for democratic rights in Thailand is in conscious political struggle against the capitalist system and its state institutions. This necessitates a break from its political defenders such as the MFP and the fight to build a politically independent movement of the working class that rallies the urban and rural poor and fights for a workers and peasants government based on a socialist perspective. Since President Emmanuel Macron named Gabriel Attal to head a new French government last month, the working class has begun to again move into struggle. The recent teachers strike and calls for transport strikes are initial tremors presaging a broader eruption of the class struggle in France and internationally. They unfold amid an international wave of mass protests against the Israeli regimes genocide in Gaza, backed by Macron and other top NATO officials. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal gestures as he speaks during the first session of questions to the new government at the National Assembly in Paris, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. [AP Photo/Michel Euler] Working class anger is mounting at a surge in capitalist exploitation that is leading to a historic collapse in living standards. Europes capitalist oligarchy is diverting trillions of euros into bank bailouts and military spending increases amid the escalating NATO-Russia war in Ukraine. While Frances billionaires increase their net worth by hundreds of billions each year, food prices are up 20 percent and energy 30 percent since 2021 and wages are stagnating. This emerging objectively revolutionary situation poses urgent questions of perspective. Workers do not face trade union struggles that can be waged within a national framework, but an international political struggle against capitalisms plunge into war and fascistic reaction. The decisive question is the construction of an international revolutionary leadership fighting to bring down capitalism, bring the working class to power, and build socialism. France provides many examples that without such a leadership, not even the most militant movement can reverse the onslaught against the working class. It has seen nearly a decade of explosive struggles: against the Socialist Party (PS) labor law in 2016, the 2018-2019 yellow vest protests, against Macrons back-to-work orders in the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year saw the largest mass strikes in France since 1936 and 1968 erupt against Macrons use of emergency powers to impose overwhelmingly unpopular pension cuts without a vote in parliament. Students protest against Macron and his pension reforms in front of the Pantheon, in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Yet the explosion from below did not shift the reactionary course of the ruling elite, which responded by shifting not to the left, but to the right. This is epitomized in Macrons installation of Attal, a move transparently designed to pursue policies of war and fascistic reaction virtually indistinguishable from those of Marine Le Pens neo-fascist National Rally (RN). In December, Macrons party voted to approve an anti-immigration law repudiating the principle of birthright citizenship and threatening non-citizens access to medical care, a move Le Pen hailed as an ideological victory for the far right. Attal, once in office, pledged attacks on unemployment insurance and minimum wage laws. He will also further strengthen Frances massive police forces and ban Muslim clothing and implement patriotic education in public schools. Finally, as top British officers demands that the British people prepare for mass conscription to wage total war on Russia, Attal plans to implement mandatory Universal National Service (SNU) on French youth, coordinated by the French army. The bourgeoisies commanding staff announces openly that that the new government aims to plant neo-fascism at the center of public life. Attals nomination, Le Monde wrote, ends the hope of marginalizing the RN On the contrary, it signals a decision to challenge Le Pen based not on moral principles that have become inoperative, but on its capacity to bring a serious solution to the problems to which she points. Why does the French bourgeoisies paper of record assert that principled objections to the legacy of fascism are inoperative? It is bound up in the final analysis with imperialisms genocidal policies today. Neo-fascisms historical defense of the Holocaust, the war of annihilation on the Soviet Union, and French collaboration with Nazism is essential to a ruling class that supports genocide in Gaza, the plunge into a new world war with Russia, and fascistic reaction at home. There is widespread opposition to the Macron-Attal government: less than a month after his nomination, Attals poll ratings have fallen to 32 percent. But there is no path forward for working class opposition within an electoral-parliamentary framework. The electoral alternative the ruling class, major bourgeois media and the political establishment are grooming for power is the neo-fascist Le Pen, who exploits social grievances and appeals to anti-Muslim racism while profiting from the entire bourgeoisies neo-fascistic orientation. A new revolutionary leadership must be built in the working class. Macrons fascistic evolution exposes the bankruptcy of tendencies based on the traditions of Popular Front alliances with the liberal bourgeoisie. This includes not only Stalinist and social-democratic parties, but the middle class descendants of renegades from Trotskyism who split with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) to orient to the Stalinist or social-democratic bureaucracies. A revolutionary leadership must be built based on the ICFIs defense of the traditions of the October Revolution and of Trotskyism. This emerges from a review of the role of the union bureaucracy and its political allies in last years pension struggle in France. As strikes and protests grew over several months, and particularly after protests erupted against Macrons decision to ram through his cuts without even the fig leaf of a vote in parliament, these tendencies shrank back in fear of events. Polls found that two-thirds of the French people wanted to block the economy and bring down Macron in a general strike, but the heads of the social-democratic and Stalinist union confederations said the protests threatened unacceptable violence and had to be brought to a close. As riot police assaulted strikers and youth, the bureaucracies worked to demobilize opposition and finally called an end to all strikes against Macron. This let the pension cuts pass despite the opposition of the overwhelming majority of the French people. Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed (LFI) received 8 million votes in the 2022 presidential elections. LFI made no appeal, however, to mobilize its voters to prepare the general strike desired by the people. Like other pseudo-left groupsthe Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party, the Morenoite Revolution permanente, and Lambertiste Independent Democratic Workers Party (POID)it said the situation was not revolutionary. This milieu limited itself to appeals to Macron to see reason, or to appeals to the unions to pursue a popular, militant policy. Jean-Luc Melenchon gives a speech in Marseille, southern France, Friday, June 10, 2022 [AP Photo/Daniel Cole] The Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the ICFI, was alone in fighting to build a political movement against Macron. It called on workers and youth to adopt resolutions in their workplaces and schools calling to bring down Macron, explaining that this was a necessary first step in a struggle for workers power and socialism. Macrons adoption of neo-fascist policies and his declarations of friendship with the Zionist regime amid genocide in Gaza vindicate this position. Broad sections of the French working class know Macron rules against the people. There is still, however, a gulf separating the objectively revolutionary situation from the political consciousness of broad masses of workers. This is bound up with the domination over workers struggles exercised by national union bureaucracies and pseudo-left parties of the affluent middle class, who seek to cut workers struggles off from those of their class brothers and sisters internationally and tie them to the capitalist state. Oil workers vote to renew the strike at the Donges oil refinery, western France, Friday, March 10, 2023 in Paris. [AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez] The critical task, in France and internationally, remains the struggle for Marxist revolutionary consciousness in the working class. The only way forward is to saturate the working class with consciousness of the necessity for the international unification of its struggles into a struggle for power and for the implementation of socialist policies. This requires building the PES in France and sections of the ICFI in countries around the world. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka will hold a public lecture at the University of Peradeniya on February 21 entitled A study of the Communist Manifesto. It will be delivered by Deepal Jayasekera, general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka. The IYSSE is grateful to the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) at the University of Peradeniya for hosting this event, the second in a series at the campus. The first lectureAn Introduction to Historical Materialismwas held last year. Dates and times for other lecturesThe Historical roots of the dissolution of the USSR and The Global Capitalist Economic Crisiswill be announced. The Communist Manifesto, jointly written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, was published on February 21, 1848, and distributed throughout Europe as the 1848 revolutionary wave erupted across the continent. It laid out the foundational principles of the world socialist movement on which subsequent internationals, including the Fourth International, developed their political and theoretical work. The Communist Manifesto famously opens with the statement, The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles, and concludes with the words, Workingmen of all countries unite! The Manifesto introduces the materialist conception of history and class struggle. Its authors concretely demonstrate this in relation to capitalist society, explaining that the emergence and existence of definite social classes are bound up with a definite stage in the development of the productive forces. The immense advance of the productive forces and the global centralisation of the means of production under capitalism soon outdates those social relations, creating the objective basis for the conquest of political power by the working class and the establishment of a rational classless human society free of exploitation. The Manifesto drew attention to what is necessary for the political development and preparation of workers for this epoch-changing historical task and discussed the problems of the organisation of the proletarians into a class, and, consequently into a political party. The eruption of World War I, which expressed the breakdown of world capitalism, and the subsequent victory of the 1917 Russian Revolution guided by the Bolshevik Party and led by Lenin and Trotsky demonstrated the historical validity of Marx and Engels historic document. Once again, the global capitalist system is mired in deep crisis, with all the imperialist powers, above all the US, dragging the planet towards global conflagration. The international working class is now entering into profound class struggles which will provide it with revolutionary opportunities to overthrow this outmoded capitalist system. The need of the hour is the preparation of the working class and young people for this task. A study of the Communist Manifesto is essential to this preparation. The IYSSE invite students, workers and academics to attend this lecture, which will explain the basic conceptions and principles elaborated in the Communist Manifesto, and to participate in this critical discussion. The IYSSE takes the COVID-19 pandemic situation seriously and kindly requests all those attending the meeting to wear KN95 masks for the health safety of themselves and others. Venue: Lecture Hall No. 86, Political Science Department, University of Peradeniya Date and time: February 21 at 3.00 p.m. Israel launched a massive aerial bombardment of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, on Sunday night into Monday morning, killing over 100 people. As the sun came up, the world was horrified by images of the mangled bodies of children, in a chilling demonstration of what is to come in the weeks ahead. Palestinians mourn relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Rafah, Monday, February 12, 2024. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair] Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to carry out a full-scale military onslaught against the besieged city, declaring, Our goal ... is total victory. For the Israeli regime, total victory means killing as many Palestinians as possible and driving the rest from their homes. Over one million peoplealmost half of the population of the Gaza Stripare crowded into Rafah, with most living in squalid tents without clean water, food or sewerage systems. With the hospital system having collapsed, disease is running rampant, and famine is growing. Four out of five of the worlds hungriest people currently reside in Gaza, according to the United Nations. The full-scale assault on Rafah will further swell the death toll in Gaza, where over four months of nonstop Israeli bombardment and deliberate mass summary executions have killed over 35,000 people. The overnight massacre took place just one day after US President Joe Biden gave the administrations approval for the offensive on Rafah, replacing the assertion that an offensive cannot proceed with the declaration that the offensive requires a plan for the evacuation of Rafah. Biden reaffirmed our shared goal to see Hamas defeated and to ensure the long-term security of Israel and its people, according to the readout of a call between Biden and Netanyahu published by the White House. Following a meeting with Jordans King Abdullah II on Monday, Biden repeated this empty condition, while referring to our military operation in Rafah in one of his mistakes that reveals the essential truth. It is indeed our military operationthat is, an operation carried out by Israel but with the coordination of American imperialism. Biden could just as correctly call it our genocide. The plan, worked out between Israel and the United States, appears to have taken shape, with the Wall Street Journal reporting, The Israeli evacuation proposal includes establishing 15 campsites of around 25,000 tents each across the southwestern part of the Gaza Strip, Egyptian officials said. The tent cities would be funded by the United States and its allies in the Middle East, the Journal wrote, and would be operated by Egypt, headed by the dictator El-Sisi. In other words, with the direct complicity, funding and participation of the United States, one million sick, hungry and exhausted people will be marched across the devastated landscape of the enclave and crammed into tent cities. Significantly, when asked whether the United Nations will participate in the evacuation of Rafah, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, declared, We will not be party to forced displacement of people, adding, As it is, there is no place that is currently safe in Gaza. The clear implication is that the United States is precisely a party to this forced displacementi.e., genocide and ethnic cleansing. The events of the past 24 hours have made clear the extent to which US imperialism is directly implicated in the Gaza genocide. Israel undertakes no major actions without the approval of the Biden administration, which is not only funding and arming but politically directing the mass murder of Gazas population. Bidens reaffirmation of his support for the genocide is particularly striking given the major escalation of the US political crisis over the weekend, amid a collapse of support for the US president over his role in the Gaza massacre. Last week, the New York Times published a report of a meeting by Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, who told a group of Arab American politicians in Dearborn, Michigan, that the administration has carried out a series of missteps in its open-ended support for Israel. According to the Times, Finer said, We have left a very damaging impression based on what has been a wholly inadequate public accounting for how much the president, the administration, and the country value the lives of Palestinians. He added, I do not have any confidence in this current government of Israel and admitted that Israeli politicians compared residents of Gaza to animals, with no criticism by US officials. He added, We did not sufficiently indicate that we totally rejected and disagreed with those sorts of sentiments. Bidens actions, however, speak louder than Finers words. The systematic public dehumanization of the Palestinian people by the White House flows precisely out of the Biden administrations support for Netanyahus massacre in Gaza. The same goes for the hand-wringing by imperialist politicians in France, Germany and the EU, who have criticized certain aspects of Israels policy while in fact backing and financing the genocide. The Biden administration sees support for Israels genocide in Gaza as a critical element of its Middle East strategy. American imperialism seized on the events of October 7 to carry out a long-planned military offensive throughout the Middle East, which has already led to the bombing of Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and leads ultimately toward a direct clash with Iran. The conflict with Iran is itself part of a global struggle for world domination against Russia and China, in what the Biden administration has called the decisive decade that will set the terms of geopolitical competition between the major powers. Biden, speaking for the predatory interests of American capitalism supported by both the Democrats and Republicans, is driven by far deeper necessities of American imperialism, which sees war as a means to shore up the United States global hegemony and the viability of the US dollar. The horrors unfolding in Gaza offer humanity a glimpse of the brutality with which imperialism will conduct a full-scale war against Iran, Russia, China or all three. The past four months of unending and escalating brutality and barbarism against the Palestinian people has demonstrated the futility of appealing to any section of the political establishment of the imperialist countries. Nor can workers and youth rely on the United Nations, which, whatever its statements condemning Israels actions, is entirely subordinate to the imperialist and capitalist powers. It is the international working class that must be mobilized to stop the impending assault on Rafah and the genocide itself. This includes the escalation of global protests, combined with strike action by dockworkers, transportation workers and other sections of the working class to stop the funneling of arms and supplies to Israel and shut down production. This must be connected to the building of a socialist leadership in the working class in every country. The genocide in Gaza is imperialist barbarism in its most brutal form. Just as the fight against the genocide is necessarily a fight against imperialism, the fight against imperialism is necessarily a fight against capitalism, for the conquest of power by the working class and the socialist reorganization of economic life on a world scale. In Australia, as internationally, there is mass shock and anger over Israels genocidal assault on Gaza. The opposition is such that the federal Labor government, which has backed and aided the Israeli assault, has cynically sought to distance itself from the consequences, shedding crocodile tears over the mass civilian deaths while continuing to support the Israeli regime. In this context, it is striking that the most rabid defenders of the Israeli war crimes, aside from out and out Zionists, are a layer of prominent Indigenous leaders. Their aggressive support for a genocide, in real time, exposes the fraud that these figures speak on behalf of oppressed Aboriginal people. Instead, they are representatives of a corrupt and privileged elite, tied in to the corporate, state and military structures of capitalist rule. Nova Peris [Photo: Facebook/Flinders Island Running Festival ] In the latest example of this trend, Nova Peris, a former Olympian, Labor Party parliamentarian and Indigenous leader, put out a social media video last week, defending Israel and branding any opposition to it as antisemitic. The video, which is being boosted through paid advertising, is presented as a grassroots initiative. It was clearly developed in conjunction with Zionist organisations, which are promoting it. Since then, Peris has gone on a media blitz, including with an interview where she called for pro-Palestinian activists to be imprisoned. In the comments from the video that have received the most media attention, Peris denounced pro-Palestinian protesters for flying the Australian Indigenous flag. Adopting the tone of an exasperated lawyer, about to launch action for a copyright infringement, Peris demanded to know: Who gave free, outright, prior and informed consent to use our flag for your cause? There is an obvious irony, in that Peris played a leading role in a successful campaign to end copyright restrictions on the flag several years ago. The media focus on the flag issue has been used to obscure the extraordinary character of the video as a whole. It is among the clearest public articulations in Australia over the past four months of the ethno-nationalist and fascist program underlying the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. There is nothing in Peris diatribe with which hardened Israeli/Zionist settlers who steal Palestinian land and chant death to the Arabs would disagree. Peris begins with a potted history of the role played by Jewish lawyers in Indigenous legal cases, including those establishing Aboriginal land rights. Native title and land rights have been used by the Indigenous elite to amass substantial funds through access deals with mining and other corporations, while the vast majority of Indigenous people have remained in abject poverty. That aside, the fact that some of the lawyers who took land rights cases happened to be Jewish would be of limited interest to anyone who did not have an unhealthy obsession with race and ethnicity. But Peris is such a racialist. Her entire argument is premised on a complete identification of Judaism and the Jewish people with Israel. This line, opposed by a growing number of Jews around the world, is itself antisemitic, associating the Jewish people with a militarist and authoritarian state as it perpetrates heinous war crimes. Peris references the doctrine of terra nullius, Latin for land belonging to nobody, which was used to justify the British colonisation of Australia and the dispossession of its Indigenous population. Terra nullius formed a key component of vicious anti-Aboriginal racism, and denied any significance to the continuous Indigenous presence in Australia, which is thought to span 60,000 years or more. That is all true, but one may ask, what on earth does it have to do with defending Israel as it is ethnically-cleansing Indigenous Palestinians? Peris, in fact, decided to turn reality on its head. It was not the Palestinians who were under assault, but Israel. Peris was committed to helping your people overturn a similar lie which is now being told against the Jewish people. That they have no connection to the land of Israel, that they are settler colonists. It is clear that enemies of the Jewish people now seek to impose a myth of terra nullius on the Jewish people, the indigenous inhabitants of the land of Israel. To justify these assertions, Peris declared: It is historically and archaeologically proven that they were there fighting for their freedom in Israel before the birth of Christ and over a thousand years before the advent of Islam. Those remarks are a combination of historical falsification, religious obscurantism and ethno-supremacism straight out of the fascist playbook. No one who is honest, or on the level, denies that the Palestinians have continuously occupied the land that is now Israel for generations and generations, spanning thousands of years. Zionism, a right-wing ethno-nationalist movement, emerged in Europe in the latter part of the 19th century. Its development was a modern phenomenon, far more connected to political events in Europe than anything that had occurred in the Middle East millennia before. For decades, Zionism was a fringe movement, with far greater numbers of Jewish people adhering to the internationalist perspective of the socialist movement. It took the betrayals of Stalinism, including those that led to the victory of Hitler, and then the horrors of the Holocaust for Zionism to establish a mass base of support among Jewish people. The state of Israel was formed in 1948 as an imperialist outpost. Its establishment was based on the brutal ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through terror and mass murder. This was justified with a doctrine very similar to terra nullius, with Zionists claiming that Palestinian villages, which had been there for centuries, were transient and, in any event, that they werent putting the land to great use. In other words, there are clear and distinct parallels between the colonial dispossession of the Australian Aboriginal people and the neo-colonial dispossession of the Palestinians. Peris was simply mouthing Zionist talking points. The claim that a substantial Jewish presence in what is now Israel, some 2,000 years ago, justifies the establishment of an exclusively Jewish nation-state 2,000 years later, is a reactionary absurdity. Peris did not say, but the foundation of this argument is religious, not archaeological or historical, in the line that the Jewish people deserve the state of Israel, because it was purportedly promised to them by God. The entire premise is a mythical and ethno-nationalist one. Historical experiences, in the ancient past, before modern nation-states were even known, are marshaled as the pretext for maintaining an ethnically-exclusive nation-state in the 21st century. Peris line about a Jewish presence in Israel predating the birth of Christ and the creation of Islam was clearly aimed at justifying the doctrine of Jewish racial domination that is the foundation of the Israeli state. Peris arguments are the same as those advanced by far-right Zionists, who insist on a providential Jewish right to conquer and occupy Gaza, the West Bank and other parts of a supposed greater Israel, including territory in Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Iraq. It should be noted that the Australian Jewish Association, which has thanked Peris for her video and aggressively promoted it, has ties to settler organisations in Israel. It is these forces whose bidding Peris is doing. In an interview yesterday on the right-wing Sky News, Peris made another remarkable intervention. Last week, the contents of a secret WhatsApp chat group was leaked and published online. Among other things, the group, involving Jewish creatives and pro-Israel activists, plotted to dox Palestinians and to have them fired from their jobs for opposing the assault on Gaza. The Zionists have sought to bury this, instead presenting the leak of the chat as a violation of privacy and the publication of a Jew list. Peris repeated these talking points to Sky, but went further than most. The leaking had incited racial harassment, pain and violence, she asserted without a shred of evidence. This necessitated harsh measures. I would call for a prison sentence, Peris declared. The former athlete is not only supporting a genocide, but is also calling for police-state repression against those who oppose it. Peris reactionary positions are not an aberration. In October, another Indigenous leader Professor Marcia Langton branded all opposition to the Israeli onslaught as antisemitic and rejected any identification between the historic oppression of the Aboriginal people and the Palestinians. Speaking to the Murdoch-owned Australian newspaper, Langton declared that the Palestinians were effectively responsible for their own slaughter, because they elected Hamas in 2006. Other Indigenous leaders have put forward similar positions. Undoubtedly, crass and opportunist interests are a factor, including of the monetary variety. Mark Leibler, one of the most prominent Zionist lobbyists in the country, was also a founding board member and then co-chair of Reconciliation Australia, which purports to advance the interests of Indigenous people. He has a close relationship with Langton and several other Indigenous leaders. But more fundamental than that is the class position of the Aboriginal leaders. They are representatives of an elite that has been cultivated for years and that has its own selfish and predatory interests, distinct from and opposed to those of ordinary people, Indigenous and non-indigenous. The intensely hostile attitude of figures such as Peris and Langton to the Palestinians is not fundamentally different to their attitude to impoverished Indigenous Australians. Peris, it should be recalled, sought a political career with Labor, a party that has been involved in every attack on Indigenous people over the past century or more. Langton was a defender of the Northern Territory Intervention, a brutal military-police occupation of Aboriginal lands. Their aim is to promote division on every front. The only means by which the onslaught against the Palestinians in Gaza can be stopped is through the mobilisation of the working class on an international scale against war and capitalism. The same is true for ending the oppression of Indigenous people in Australia. Workers, youth and academics continue to send statements denouncing the violent attack on members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka by pro-government thugs. Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando were physically assaulted at the University of Moratuwa on November 30 by Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardenathe president and secretary of the Moratuwa university branch of Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS), which is affiliated to the ruling Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna. Dehin Wasantha, SEP member who was injured in the attack Wasantha, a university non-academic worker for more than two decades, is well-known for his principled struggle for workers rights and socialism. Fernando is a full-time SEP party worker. They were violently attacked with long wooden clubs causing serious injuries while campaigning with other party members near the rear gate of the university, for SEP public meetings on the Centenary of Trotskyism addressed by Joseph Kishore, National Secretary of the SEP (US). Wasantha suffered two fractured fingers and had to take almost one-months medical leave because his fingers took a considerable period to mend. Lakshman was badly bruised and left with a neck injury. When the case on the violent attack was brought before a judge at Magistrate Court in Moratuwa on January 8, the magistrate ordered the case to be referred to a mandatory Mediation Board. The case will be recalled in court on May 20. As Perera and Piyawardena were not present when the Mediation Board took the case on January 20, the board decided to reconvene the case on February 3. They were present at the boards hearing on February 3 and opted for a settlement. Wasantha categorically stated that he was not ready for a settlement. The board then directed both parties to be present at the courts on May 20. In response to the campaign launched by the SEP and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in defence of Wasantha and Fernando, and the SEPs democratic rights, workers, youth, academics and their organisations around the world have sent protest letters to relevant Sri Lankan authorities condemning the attack and demanding maximum legal action against culprits. We are publishing below protest letters sent by workers rank-and-file (action) committees in Australia and Sri Lanka, and a health worker in the UK. Health Workers RFC, Australia: Dear Sir, The Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Australia) passed a resolution at its last meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, to oppose the recent attack on Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka) members at Moratuwa University. Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Australia) [Photo: Facebook/HRWFC] The Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (HWRFC), formed under the guidance of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), is a group of health workers including doctors, nurses, hospital administration, pathology and aged care workers. We are fighting for the unity of workers throughout the sector and more broadly, to defend their jobs and basic rights under conditions in which the unions have done everything possible to isolate and defuse emerging struggles. Please see below a copy of our resolution. This meeting of the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Australia) denounces the vicious assault on Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka) members Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernandoon 30 November while they were campaigning at the rear of the Moratuwa University for an SEP public meeting to be held in Colombo on 7 December. Wasantha and Fernando were attacked by two officials from the Peoples Progressive Employees Union branch at the university using long wooden clubs as weapons. Both SEP members were injured in the unprovoked violence. The brutal assaultcarried out on behalf of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which is part of President Wickremesinghes right-wing governmentis an attack on the SEPs democratic right to freely engage in political activities. The preplanned assault is part of an ongoing attack on democratic rights and freedom of speech underway in Sri Lanka. SLPP goon squads operate in many Sri Lankan workplaces to try and silence opposition among workers to the governments International Monetary Fund-dictated onslaught against jobs, wages, social conditions and basic rights. We demand that the culprits be punished with the full force of the law and that the SEPs right to campaign freely be upheld. Hands off the SEP! Oppose all government attacks on democratic rights! Sincerely, Julia Thomas HWRFC Convenor Alton Plantation Workers Action Committee in Sri Lanka: Sanjay Rajaratnam, Attorney General Dear Sir, The following resolution for your action was passed in the Alton Plantation Workers Action Committee (APWAC) meeting held on 28.12.2023. Resolution: President and Secretary of the Moratuwa University branch of the Pojujana Pragathishile Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS), Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardena respectively, physically attacked two members of the Socialist Equality Party, Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando on November 30. The Alton Plantation Workers Action Committee strongly condemns this assault, and we consider the attack against SEP members, who are in the forefront of the struggle for workers rights, as an attack on the basic democratic rights of all workers. Dehin Wasantha was seriously injured in the attack. He has been working as a non-academic employee at the University of Moratuwa for 25 years. He is a member of the Sri Lanka University Technical Officers Union and has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of workers and students. When our plantation management illegally fired us, they were among the members of the SEP who are fighting for our basic rights. We request that legal action be taken against the perpetrators of this attack. The right of all political parties to engage in their politics democratically should be protected. Thanks you. Sincerely, E. Mahendran, Secretary of Alton Workers Action Committee Northern Province Fishermen Action Committee in Sri Lanka: Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam, Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Colombo Senior Professor N.D. Gunawardena, Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa Sirs, Attacks on Socialist Equality Party members Dehin Wasantha, a long-time member of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and an employee of the University of Moratuwa, and Lakshman Fernando, a full-time employee of the party, were brutally attacked by thugs belonging to the ruling party while they were engaged in an important political campaign of the party near the University of Moratuwa on November 30. The attack was carried out by Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardenathe president and the secretary of the Moratuwa University branch of the Podujana Pragathishile Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS), which is affiliated to the ruling Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). They attacked two SEP members using wooden poles. As a result of the attack, they suffered serious injuries and had to be treated at the hospital. Although they were discharged from the hospital the following day, Wasantha had fractured fingers from the attack and his condition was not good enough to report back to his duties at the university and so he was given extended medical leave. Our Northern Province Fishermens Action Committee strongly condemns this barbaric attack on SEP members. This attack is a violation of the SEP's democratic right to engage in political work among students and staff in all universities in the country, as well as among workers and farmers. Therefore, we strongly request you to take maximum legal action against the perpetrators of this attack. Any delay in taking action will encourage them and other such culprits to openly engage in a similar type of thuggery against democratic rights of workers and students. Thank you, Rajaratnam Thirugnagnavel Secretary, Northern Province Fishermen Action Committee Rasenthiram Sutharsan President, Northern Province Fishermen Action Committee Ajitha Gunaratne, a health worker in UK: Dear Professor N.D. Gunawardena, I am a nurse working in a major hospital in the UK. It was disturbing to read through the WSWS about the violent assault against two Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members right in front of your doorstep at the University of Moratuwa last Thursday. This criminal act was carried out by Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardena, the president and secretary of the Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS) union branch at Moratuwa University. These two union thugs premeditated the attack by arming themselves with wooden clubs and hiring a three-wheeler to come to the scene and carry out this grievous attack against Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando, who were exercising their democratic right to campaign among university employees and students that evening. By that time, Dehin and Lakshman were distributing leaflets and speaking to university employees and students about the upcoming public meetings to be addressed by Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the SEP (US). This incident further shows that democratic rights and freedom of expression are in peril under this despised right-wing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna government. The two SEP members have sustained serious injuries and had to spend a day in hospitals. Dehin Wasantha, one of your employees and well-known among staff, has fractured two fingers because of this brutal attack. I condemn this attack in the strongest terms and request you to take action against these two assailants, Perera and Piyawardena, under the full force of the law. Yours sincerely, Ajitha Gunaratne * * * * The SEP is calling on all those who are concerned to defend democratic rights of freedom of expression to register their opposition by sending protest letters to the following addresses of relevant authorities with copies to the SEP (wswscmb@sltnet.lk). Senior Professor N.D. Gunawardena, Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa Email: vc@uom.lk or ndg@uom.lk Attorney General, Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam Email: agdurgentmotions@gmail.com Last week, the final debate was held between the three candidates running in Indonesias 2024 presidential election, which will take place tomorrow. The debate, televised across the nation live from Jakarta, focused primarily on social issues including health and welfare. Indonesian presidential candidates, from left, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo. [AP Photo/Combination image] Election frontrunner, Prabowo Subianto, promoted his so-called National Transformation Strategy promising to provide free meals for schoolchildren and pregnant mothers. He claimed the scheme would prevent malnutrition and help end extreme poverty in Indonesia. Ganjar Pranowo, former governor of Central Java, pledged to distribute social aid more evenly across the Indonesian archipelago. As part of his campaign to promote himself as a progressive, Ganjar said he was committed to improving Indonesians work life by raising salaries and paying off farmers debts. The third candidate, Anies Baswedan, also agreed to provide social assistance with promises of more affordable education and to raise wages. Moreover, repeating earlier campaign statements, Anies said he would combat social inequality, both between rich and poor and between urban and rural areas. None of these three capitalist politicians has the slightest intention of addressing the deteriorating social conditions facing workers and the poor. Under conditions of a worsening global economic crisis, whoever is elected will seek to boost business profits at the expense of working people. Workers and the poor have already been hit hard by rising prices for basic commodities including housing and transport. The World Bank estimates that 9.5 percent of Indonesians, or 26.2 million people, currently live below the poverty line, while over 40 percent are deemed economically insecure and at a high risk of falling back into poverty. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Ratna, 34, a market vendor in Sumatra, explained: The cost of living is rising in Indonesia and essentials are becoming more expensive. Rice and cooking oil are more expensive now while salaries are still low. Indonesia ranks as the sixth highest in the world for wealth inequality, which has grown faster there over the past 20 years than in any other Southeast Asian country. The four richest Indonesians are worth more than the combined wealth of the poorest 100 million people, according to Oxfam. Part of the presidential debate focussed on health care in conditions where the public health system has been severely undermined by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Once again the three candidates made empty promises to improve health services. Ganjar claimed he would restore the requirement to spend 5 percent of the national budget on public health. Introduced in 2009, the measure was abolished last August as a new law was passed ending mandatory health spending. This followed the slashing of public health funds carried out by the administration of President Joko Widodo during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to bail out corporations and the banks. Ganjar declared that new health centres were needed around the country to ensure every village has one health facility and one health worker. He claimed he would aim to guarantee available doctors and essential medicines in rural locations. Indonesia has a chronic shortage of doctors. According to the World Health Organisation, Indonesia has a ratio of just 0.6 doctor for every 1,000 people, in a country of 270 million people. The low standard of healthcare has led to an outflow of better-off patients who spend around $10 billion annually for medical treatment overseas, including in Singapore and Malaysia. Another topic that arose in the debate was the Widodo administrations job creation bill, known as the Omnibus Law. The pro-business law has provoked mass protests, both before and after its enactment in 2021, by workers and young people, who correctly feared it would be used to enrich big business and slash job protections. It allows employers the ability to deny workers permanent work status and other benefits, as well as reduce wages, severance pay, and paid leave. Ganjar declared that he would review the Omnibus Law if elected. Anies cited statistics that some 45 million people lack jobs with decent salaries but had nothing to say about the legislation. Prabowo studiously avoiding saying anything on the Omnibus Law, or any labour issues. None of the candidates was challenged on their past record on these social issues. All three are connected either directly or indirectly to the Widodo administration that rammed through the Omnibus Law and presided over the gutting of workers conditions, welfare and public health. Prabowo served as defence minister in Widodos cabinet, while Anies was education and culture minister from 2014 to 2016 and served as Widodos official spokesperson for his 2014 election campaign. Ganjar is the official candidate of Widodos party, the PDI-P, and was a member of parliament from 2004 to 2013. The worsening social crisis has led to widespread alienation from the political establishment and all of its parties. Under these conditions, a new political formationthe Labour Party (Partai Buruh or PB)has been established, claiming to oppose the Omnibus Law and to represent the interests of workers. Various political analysts suggest that PB could win enough votes to enter parliament. The party was founded in 2021 by 11 major trade unions and is headed by Said Iqbal, also president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI). Nuruddin Hidayat, a leading PB member, told the South China Morning Post last month, The fact is all the political parties in the DPR [House of Representatives] assented to the Omnibus Law, which only shows that none of them are on the workers side. However, the trade union apparatus has played a crucial role in the suppression of struggles by the working class to defend its social and democratic rights. The formation of the PB is aimed at diverting the opposition of the working class into safe parliamentary channels and propping up bourgeois rule. The Indonesian unions, particularly the KSPI, are intimately involved with the political establishment in Jakarta and its sordid intrigues. In the last presidential election in 2019, the KSPI openly endorsed Prabowoa notorious Suharto-era general responsible for the brutal suppression of opposition to the dictatorship. None of the establishment parties represent the interests of workers and the poor. The task before the Indonesian working class to break from all capitalist parties and politicians and build an independent movement to defend their democratic rights and social conditions, on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program. Federal Reserve Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file] The US Federal Reserve has revealed that a significant financial milestone was passed last week. The amount of money lent by US banks to so-called shadow banks, otherwise known as non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), has passed the $1 trillion mark. As significant as the amount is, equally important is the speed with which it has occurred. As the Financial Times (FT) reported, the lending is up 12 percent in the past year, making it one of bankings fastest-growing businesses when overall loans growth has been sluggish, up just 2 percent. The rapid rise in lending by banks to shadow banks is causing concern among financial regulators. Numerous reports, including from the International Monetary Fund, as well as statements from the regulators themselves, have made clear very little is known of the connections between them. The FT reported that Michael Hsu, a top regulator at the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, had noted in a recent interview that the lightly regulated lenders, the shadow banks, were pushing the banks into lower-quality and higher-risk loans. We need to solve the race to the bottom, he said. And I think part of the way to solve it is to put due attention on those non-banks. The acceleration is indicated by the fact that when banks were first required to reveal their lending to non-banks in 2010 the total was just $50 billion for the entire banking sector. It is now 20 times that level and comprises 6 percent of all loans. This is more than auto loans, at 5 percent and just under credit card loans at 7 percent. Across the Atlantic, European Union regulators are also seeking to probe the connections between the banks and NBFIs about which they confess to know very little. The worry is that if operations by a shadow bank go sour it can pass into the broader banking and financial system. The potential damage was seen most notably in the crisis of the US Treasury market in March 2020 when a dash for cash was sparked, at least in part, by the activities of hedge funds. The freeze in the market, which went on for days, meant there were virtually no buyers for US government debt. It was only ended, and a major financial crisis averted, through a massive intervention by the Fed to the tune of $4 trillion. Last month the chair of the European Banking Authority (EBA), Jose Manuel Campa said regulators intended to dig deeper into the links between banks and NBFIs. We should be doing more and we are going to be doing more, he said. We need to have an understanding of the whole underlying chain in NBFIs. The fact that regulators do not have such an understanding was an astonishing admission given that NBFIs hold almost half of the worlds financial assets of $218 trillion. Campa told the FT the EBA would work with the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body, to develop an understanding of how a shock in the shadow banking system could be transmitted more broadly. We are at very early stages but [understanding that] is the core of what the ESRB and the FSB would like to do, he said. One of the ways a shock could develop is if NBFIs were forced to sell US Treasury bonds or financial products based on real estate. Emphasising the lack of knowledge about the connections and links, Campa said: The first step in this situation is always getting information; its an obscure sector where the quality of the data is not homogeneous. The financial authorities would like to believe that if they had a better understanding of the workings of the system over which they supposedly preside, then they would be able to introduce regulations to prevent future crises that could assume a systemic character. However, historical experience speaks loudly against such a perspective. The problems arise from the very nature of the capitalist economy and its financial system which has come to play such a dominant role. While production and finance are socialevery sector in the real economy and in finance is connected to and linked with every other on a global scalethe productive forces and finance are privately owned. This means that, in the final analysis, attempts at control and regulation flounder on the anarchy of the market where the driving force is the accumulation of private profit, whatever the consequences for overall stability. Banking regulation is a case in point. In the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008, the Obama administration put in place the Dodds-Frank Act which it claimed would prevent a repetition of this catastrophe by the restrictions, limited as they were, placed on the banks. But, as has now been widely acknowledged, even this relatively light-touch legislation only resulted in finance capital devising ways to get around it. This led to the rise of NBFIs which now have the potential to set off a crisis, accounting for 50 percent of financial asset services today. As the FT noted in an article published at the start of the year, the NBFI sector grew after [a] wave of post-crisis regulation drove some activities beyond the traditional banking sector while other areas outside the reach of regulators expanded, such as cryptocurrency. Well-known financial analyst Satyajit Das noted in an FT piece last month that the potential problems were not just a question of the quantum of debt but also of the increasingly complicated nature of modern-day leverage. Investors often make investments in assets that are already leveraged, and the underlying source of cash flow must be sufficient to meet multiple claims, reducing the margin of safety. Another factor was that lenders, often not only banks but institutional investors, public and private funds, and wealthy individuals, lent to another lender who in turn financed another party. Risk then became diffused through an often lengthy chain with complicated financial and legal rights and claim priorities. Describing leverage as an arms race, in which the authorities are handicapped, Das cited the observation of the late financial economist Hyman Minsky that in a world of businessmen and intermediaries who aggressively seek profit, innovators will always outpace regulators. Broadening the outlook to take in the present situation, Das concluded: The real constraint is that over time the economy has become reliant on speculation to generate activity and paper wealth, backstopped when needed by governments and central banks using public resources to maintain stability. Ultimately, it is difficult to limit leverage in a world where everyone is incentivized to get rich quickly using other peoples money. Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock.com Suze Orman is one of the most popular financial personalities, with numerous books, videos, blogs and TV appearances to her credit. In a Jan. 11, 2024, post on her website, Orman discussed a topic thats on the minds of all Americans at this time of year: tax refunds. Read: Trump-Era Tax Cuts Are Expiring How Changes Will Impact Retirees See: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing But rather than describing the filing process and how to boost your refund, Orman focused on how important it is to prepare to receive your refund so that you dont get into financial trouble. What does she mean by that? Heres an overview of Ormans advice for her readers, along with a deeper look at the ramifications of her suggestions. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. What Does Orman Mean by Preparing for a Tax Refund? When Orman says that you should prepare to receive your tax refund, she doesnt mean that you should get excited about all the money you get to blow. In fact, her message is quite the opposite. What Orman wants is for her readers to make a commitment as to how they are going to use that refund. If you write down your goal and commit to it, Orman suggests, youre much more likely to follow through on it. Of course, using your refund to go on an expensive vacation or buy a new iPhone is not the type of commitment that Orman is talking about. Rather, she means that you should focus on which financial goal you want to take on with your refund. Check Out: Top 7 Countries with Zero Income Tax Orman Says To Be Specific When it comes to planning what to do with your tax refund, Orman says you dont just need to write it down and commit to it you need to be specific. For example, you may want to write down that you will use your refund to fund an IRA contribution, or otherwise put it into your investments. Paying down credit card debt is another good option. Or, you may just need the extra cushion in your budget to pay for essential or even past-due bills. Another good option would be to pad your emergency fund. Story continues Any choice that will improve your financial life is a good one Orman just stresses that you need to be specific about what that choice is. How the Math Works Out If You Invest Your Refund Instead of Spending It If you do get a tax refund and are looking to solidify your finances, Orman is right paying down debt, catching up on bills and beefing up your emergency fund are all good first steps. But if youre already covered in those areas, investing your refund can make a huge difference when it comes to your retirement security. Heres a simple example, using the average 2022 tax refund of $2,753. Imagine that you invest that average tax refund every year for 30 years and earn an 8% annual return. That cumulative investment of $82,590 would grow into a sum of over $311,000. If you could invest your refunds for 40 years instead, say from ages 25 to 65, youd end up with over $700,000. While it can be hard to deny short-term desires in favor of long-term security, the math makes a compelling argument. While there are certainly a lot of fun things you could buy with 40 years of refunds, turning that $110,000 into over $700,000 in retirement savings instead would be a life-changing choice. Plus, you wouldnt even be going out of pocket to generate that nest egg. As soon as you get your refund, you could simply move that money into your investment accounts without changing your monthly budget at all. Why You Might Not Want To Get a Refund in the First Place Getting a check from the federal government isnt something that happens every day, so its understandable that people get excited when they get their tax refunds every spring. But its important to understand that a tax refund as the name actually implies is simply a return of your overpaid taxes. In other words, the IRS is simply paying back your own money that you have overcontributed throughout the year. During that time, the IRS has been able to use your money free of charge. From a financial planning standpoint, it makes much more sense for you to be in control of your own money throughout the year rather than offering an interest-free loan to the government. By paying less in taxes during the year, youll be able to use that money every month to pay bills, build an emergency fund or invest, rather than waiting to do all that when you get a tax refund in the spring. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Suze Orman Reveals What You Should Do Before Getting Your Tax Refund (Bloomberg) -- Tokyo Electron Ltd.s market capitalization surged by more than $12 billion on Tuesday, hitting a record high after the company hiked guidance for the year on the strength of sales to China. Most Read from Bloomberg The chipmaking gear producer rose 13% in Tokyo Tuesday, hitting a valuation of 15.9 trillion ($106 billion) with its highest close on record. It came after the company lifted its operating income forecast for the year to March by 11% to 445 billion. That beat analyst estimates and came on the back of a December quarter where China accounted for 46.9% of its sales. Demand is surging from Chinese semiconductor ventures buying up legacy equipment as US trade curbs prevent them from acquiring the best chips for tasks like artificial intelligence development. Tokyo Electron also said it expected investment from DRAM makers to rebound this year. The stock prices of two of its customers, South Koreas Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc., rose on optimism about their prospects given rising AI-driven demand. We have entered a frenzy stage of buying anything tech, Amir Anvarzadeh of Asymmetric Advisors said. Tokyo Electrons surge followed a near doubling of chip designer Arm Holdings Plcs market value after better-than-expected earnings, and a related spike in parent SoftBank Group Corp.s stock. However, given that China has been the biggest single engine for Tokyo Electron, we see big risks that have been ignored. The view from the company itself is more sanguine, with one executive projecting strong sales in China continuing for the next year or two. We expect strong demand from China to continue or grow stronger still, deputy general manager Hiroshi Kawamoto said on an earnings call last week. China only makes a small percentage of the chips it needs, and Kawamoto sees the country investing aggressively to lower its reliance abroad. We expect momentum to remain intact through 2025. Story continues --With assistance from Vlad Savov. (Updates with closing stock price and added market valuation. A previous version corrected attribution of Tokyo Electron executive quote in final paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A group representing rideshare and app workers is calling on its Austin drivers to halt rides for two hours Wednesday as part of a coordinated work stoppage at nearly a dozen U.S. cities. Members of the Justice for App Workers coalition hope the Valentine's Day stoppage raises awareness about issues faced by app workers, including low pay, limited benefits and sudden "unfair" account deactivations, according to a news release this week. The group represents more than 130,000 drivers and delivery workers, according to its website. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one of 10 city airports where the group plans work stoppages. Group members will hold demonstrations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Chicago; and Miami, Orlando, and Tampa in Florida. Travelers leave the parking garage to enter Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2023. Rideshare workers in Austin plan to rally at the city-owned airport and downtown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Marcos Cruz, a member and spokesperson for the group in Austin. The Killeen resident said he has been driving into Austin to work as a driver for five years. "All we are trying to do is show to Uber that we can take down the app in a second," Cruz said in an interview. Drivers in Austin, he said, are struggling to make a living off rates offered by the rideshare apps. Whether and to what degree rideshare customers in Austin could be affected is unclear. Traditionally, work stoppages like those planned on Wednesday have not had a "meaningful impact" on wait times and service levels, said C.J. Macklin, a senior manager of policy communications for Lyft, in a statement Tuesday. Last week, the San Fransisco-based company announced a series of offers and commitments "aimed at increasing driver pay and transparency," Macklin said. Among the changes are an improved deactivation appeals process and a new earnings commitment, with drivers now making at least 70% of the weekly rider fares after external fees. Story continues "It's all part of our new customer-obsessed focus on drivers," Macklin said. Uber did not immediately respond to a list of questions about the planned strikes. Planned demonstrations held at the airport must be permitted to proceed. Sam Haynes, an airport spokesperson, said the group had not started the permitting process. Organizers are required to complete an application for consideration by airport officials. "We have not received any permit applications for protests or demonstrations tomorrow," Haynes said in a statement Tuesday. "I have seen the press release that was issued and have been trying to contact the organizers. Unfortunately, they invited media to a space at the airport that they are not authorized to invite media/the general public." Asked about the permitting process, Cruz said the group would not be picketing or protesting. Instead, demonstrators would gather where they typically pick up and drop off rideshare customers. However, a permit could be needed. The five-page application, in part, states, "no person shall leaflet, picket, solicit, display signs, or otherwise attempt to communicate their views to other Airport users" without approval from airport officials. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Uber, Lyft drivers plan strike at Austin airport on Valentine's Day Gone are the decades when the line between film performers and television performers rarely blurred. In more recent years, actors and actresses are often working in both mediums. As we worked on building the recently-launched 2024 Emmys predictions center event, we discovered 11 of the 20 current Oscar-nominated performers who will also be on this summers Emmy ballot. From the following list, who do you think is most likely to take home an Academy Award and Emmy in the same year?: Annette Bening is an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in Nyad. She will be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Actress for Apples Never Fall. More from GoldDerby Sterling K. Brown is an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor in American Fiction. He will be eligible for Best Voiceover Performer for Invincible. He will possibly be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actor for Washington Black (not confirmed on release date). Colman Domingo is an Oscar nominee for Best Actor in Rustin. He will be eligible for Best Drama Supporting Actor in Fear the Walking Dead. Robert Downey, Jr. is an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor in Oppenheimer. He will be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actor for The Sympathizer. Jodie Foster is an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress in Nyad. She will be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Actress for True Country: Night Detective. SEEWatch our exciting interviews with 12 of the 20 Oscars 2024 acting nominees Paul Giamatti is an Oscar nominee for Best Actor in The Holdovers. He will be eligible for Best Drama Actor in Billions. Lily Gladstone is an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in Killers of the Flower Moon. She will be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Actress for Under the Bridge. DaVine Joy Randolph is an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress in The Holdovers. She will be eligible as Best Comedy Guest Actress for Only Murders in the Building. She will also be eligible for Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actress for The Idol. Mark Ruffalo is an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor in Poor Things. He will be eligible as Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actor for All the Light We Cannot See. Emma Stone is an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in Poor Things. She will be eligible as Best Drama Actress for The Curse. She will also be eligible as Best Comedy Guest Actress for Saturday Night Live. Jeffrey Wright is an Oscar nominee for Best Actor in American Fiction. He will be eligible for Best Voiceover Performer for What If? PREDICT the 2024 Oscar winners through March 10 Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why? SIGN UP for Gold Derbys free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. 1.That funny line from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania where a worker confuses Ant-Man for Spider-Man was actually an accident the actor confused the two characters. Marvel 2.Speaking of Marvel...in Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter wasn't meant to drop the orb in the scene where it slips from his hand and he quickly catches it. That was actually Chris Pratt accidentally dropping and catching it. Marvel 3.In A Knight's Tale, the crowd was supposed to cheer at Chaucer's speech. However, many of the extras did not speak English and didn't realize it was time for them to cheer. Mark Addy, who played Roland, then started cheering to get the extras to join in a funny moment that director Brian Helgeland kept in. Sony Pictures Releasing 4.The assistant cameraperson accidentally opened the camera magazine in one of the last scenes of The Last Temptation of Christ, causing there to be exposure from light on the edge of the film. However, director Martin Scorsese ended up loving it, saying, "The edge fog became the Resurrection." Universal Pictures / Cineplex Odeon Films 5.In Scrooged, Bill Murray's character, Frank Cross, wasn't supposed to fall after throwing water on the waiter. Murray accidentally slipped on the water on the floor, and it was so funny that they kept it in. Paramount Pictures 6.Maria's trip in "I Have Confidence" in The Sound of Music was also unscripted, but it ended up being the perfect amount of irony for the number, while also demonstrating how poorly prepared the nanny, played by Julie Andrews, actually was. 20th Century Fox 7.In Almost Famous, William asking Penny to ask him to come to Morocco with her again was actually Patrick Fugit asking Kate Hudson to give him the line again because he wanted to say his line again, only more excited. However, this take where he becomes more excited after the second time she asks the question was so sweet that it made it into the final cut. DreamWorks Distribution LLC / Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International 8.According to the commentary for American Beauty, the remote control car hitting Carolyn, played by Annette Bening, was a complete accident but it was so perfect, it ended up in the film. DreamWorks Pictures 9.The sound of lightsabers in Star Wars was actually created through a happy accident. When trying to come up with how they'd sound, sound designer Ben Burtt walked by his TV with a tape recorder that had a broken mic cable, and it picked up the sound and amplified it, creating a buzzing noise that Burtt used in the film. Lucasfilm 10.Terry, played by Charles Martin Smith, wasn't meant to crash his scooter in American Graffiti that was a funny accident that made it into the film. Universal Pictures 11.The crash heard after Uncle Billy walks offscreen in It's a Wonderful Life wasn't planned a bunch of props were dropped right as he walked offscreen, and Thomas Mitchell (who played Billy) improvised "I'm alright!," pretending the crash was him. James Stewart's laugh is real. RKO Radio Pictures 12.The "tears" reflected on Robert Blake's face in In Cold Blood were actually by accident. Conrad L. Hall, the director of photography for the film, noticed the rain effect as he was setting up the lighting of the scene using a stand-in, and he decided that it was perfect for the scene. Columbia Pictures 13.Alvy's sneeze sending his friend's expensive cocaine into a cloud in Annie Hall was unscripted and accidental. But when Woody Allen, who played Alvy, sneezed, it was decided that ruining his friend's coke was so typical of Alvy, and funny, that it stayed in the film. United Artists 14.In the scene from The Mask when Stanley, played by Jim Carrey, tries to stuff the money in the closet, Milo wasn't supposed to bite the Frisbee. But the Jack Russell terrier actually did jump and bite the Frisbee, holding on for dear life. This was so funny that they decided to incorporate it into the movie. New Line Cinema 15.Another funny scene that wasn't meant to happen was when Joel threw the arrow on the ground in Addams Family Values. The actor, David Krumholtz, couldn't get the arrow on the bow. "So in real-life frustration, that's me throwing it down and walking out," Krumholtz said. "I was super angry at myself. Then, after they cut, they all started laughing, and they were like, 'That was hilarious!' I was like, 'Oh! OK!'" Paramount Pictures 16.The cigarette ash wasn't supposed to hit McManus in the eye in The Usual Suspects it was an accident, and Stephen Baldwin's reaction is real. Gramercy Pictures / Spelling Films International / Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International 17.And the laughing in the lineup scene wasn't supposed to happen either it was meant to be serious. We were supposed to be very stoic, very unimpressed, unintimidated, Kevin Pollak, who played Hockney, said. But we would lose it over and over and over. Pollak also claimed in the DVD commentary that part of the reason they laughed was that Benicio del Toro, who played Fenster, "farted like 12 takes in a row," which created one of the most memorable scenes in the film. Gramercy Pictures / Spelling Films International / Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International 18.Similarly, Dustin Hoffman actually accidentally farted in the phone booth scene in Rain Man, and Tom Cruise's reactions were improvised. Hoffman called it his "favorite moment" of any film he's done: "That includes Shakespeare that I've done onstage, anything." MGM/UA Communications Co. 19.The tender moment when Adrian, played by Talia Shire, hesitates to kiss Rocky actually occurred because Shire was sick. She was anxious about kissing Sylvester Stallone because she didn't want to get him sick, but her reluctance ended up being perfect for the scene. United Artists 20.Similarly, Toothless hesitating to touch his nose to Hiccup's hand in How to Train Your Dragon was a mistake it was caused by a software error but it fit the moment, so it was kept in. Paramount Pictures 21.The Children of Men scene when blood splatters on the camera was a complete accident it happened on their last chance to film the six-minute continuous scene. Director Alfonso Cuaron yelled "cut" when the blood splattered onto the camera, but the assistant director didn't hear him because an explosion went off at the same time. They continued with the shot, which the cinematographer called a "miracle." Universal Pictures 22.The stuntperson filming the scene of McClane, played by Bruce Willis, falling down the elevator shaft in Die Hard actually lost his grip, leading to the fall being much longer and scarier than it was supposed to be. 20th Century Fox 23.The Pearl Harbor scene from Tora! Tora! Tora!, featuring people running from an exploding plane, happened by accident. The stuntpeople running from the flames were really running for their lives. The footage was that much more terrifying because it was real. "Shrapnel was flying everywhere," stuntperson Phil Adams said, describing what it was like to film the sequence. "It was probably some of the best footage that we shot that day." ThePropKing / YouTube / Via youtube.com 24.Timothy Dalton, who played Simon Skinner in Hot Fuzz, accidentally looked at the camera in this scene. According to the DVD commentary, the moment was kept in and accompanied with a "ka-ching" to make it seem intentional and meta. Rogue Pictures / Universal Pictures / StudioCanal 25.The elephant next to Ewan McGregor's character, Edward, in Big Fish was not meant to poop during the circus scene where he's cleaning their enclosure however, it worked perfectly to comedically contrast Edward's mood. "How amazing was that moment when the elephant craps onscreen? We'd shot the wide shot where you see the two elephants' bums and then me. We'd shot that, and we'd moved in to do a close-up. [...] As we were setting that up, it lifted its tail and we all went, 'Quick!' and they widened the camera out, I got ready, and there was no turnover. They just turned the camera on and I played the scene as it dumped next to me. Genius," McGregor said. Sony Pictures Releasing 26.Actor Patrick Scott Lewis, who played Bryan Hartnell in Zodiac, actually had indigestion during one scene. The scene where he holds his stomach was kept in because director David Fincher thought it made his fear seem more realistic. "I just thought that seemed so real, that somebody would actually kinda [have] a moment of indigestion when they see a guy in a black hood and a .45 automatic," Fincher said in the commentary. Paramount Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures 27.The helicopter crash in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was not meant to happen. It really did accidentally crash and burst into flames...which was caught on film. So they decided they might as well use it. NAI Entertainment 28.The cat that Don Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, creepily (yet iconically) pets in The Godfather was not in the script. Director Francis Ford Coppola spotted the stray on set and handed it to Brando (who loved animals) for the scene. In fact, it almost ruined multiple takes from purring too loudly. Paramount Pictures 29.And finally, Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brasi, was so terrified to act alongside Brando that he tripped up on his lines in the scene where his character greets Don Corleone. Coppola saw this and decided to make his anxiety a part of his character, adding in an additional scene in which Brasi practices greeting Don Corleone. This made Brasi far more layered and memorable. Paramount Pictures What movie moments, lines, or other aspects do you love that were complete accidents? Let us know in the comments below! The post Barbie Cast Reunites to Help Jimmy Kimmel Make It to the Oscars: Watch appeared first on Consequence. Barbies Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, and Ryan Gosling reprised their roles opposite longtime Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel in a new promo for the 96th Academy Awards on March 10th. The clip begins with narration courtesy of Helen Mirren, who also provided voice-over work for Barbie last year. Since the dawn of time, men have been getting lost, Mirren narrates as Jimmy Kimmel searches for a path back to OscarsLand. Kimmel then links up with Kate McKinnons Weird Barbie as she shows him how to make the jump from BarbieLand back to the real world: A straight shot through the Zone of Interest, past Past Lives, over Anatomy of a Fall falls, and all the way to Carnegie Hall. Then its up the hill to Burton Academy, take a Jeffery Wright and go all the way to Los Alamos, New Mexico. McKinnon and Kimmel then recreate the films traveling montage sequence with some star-studded film references (Weird Barbie shouts out Emma Stones character in Poor Things as Even Weirder Barbie and claims that she is her cousin). Several Oscars-related jokes follow including a comedic jab at Kimmels nemesis, Matt Damon until Kimmel and McKinnon finally land at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. America Ferrera then pops out to reprise her oft-quoted Barbie monologue, but instead of being about the contradictions of womanhood in society, its about how hard it is to host the Oscars. Finally, Ryan Gosling joins the trio for some typical Ken-coded buffoonery, concluding the segment by screaming with Kimmel because Greta Gerwig didnt get a Best Director nomination. Watch the clip below. Barbie is up for eight Academy Awards this year, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Gosling, and Best Supporting Actress for Ferrera. Meanwhile, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things lead the nominations for the ceremonys 96th edition. Revisit our 2023 Annual Report piece on why Margot Robbies performance as Barbie was one of the greatest of the year, and see where Barbie landed on our top 25 films of 2023 list. Ed. Note: Learn where to stream all the movies nominated for 2024 Oscars, including Barbie, here. Barbie Cast Reunites to Help Jimmy Kimmel Make It to the Oscars: Watch Paolo Ragusa Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Lalisa Manobal of Blackpink on June 28, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. - Credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Blackpinks Lisa will make her acting debut on season three of The White Lotus. HBO confirmed the news on Monday, along with the announcement that Scott Glenn and Julian Kostov will also be joining the cast. The Blackpink member will be credited under her given name, Lisa Manobal. More from Rolling Stone As for all casting for this upcoming season, details of her character have yet to be revealed. Manobal will be the second member of the South Korean group to appear in an HBO series, following the performance of Jennie (who was credited as Jennie Ruby Jane) in her debut on The Idol, the controversial show helmed by Sam Levinson and The Weeknd. Production for the series begins this month in and around the Four Seasons Koh Samui, as well as Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand. Deadline previously reported last November that the cast will include a patriarch, a female corporate executive, an actress, and several mothers, including a country club wife, a misfit, and a yogi. The first season of the hit HBO series garnered 20 Emmy nominations and 10 wins, while the Sicily-based second installment received 23 Emmy nods and took home five awards. Manobal will be joining a large ensemble that includes Walton Goggins (Justified), Michelle Monaghan (True Detective), Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid), Sarah Catherine Hook (First Kill), Sam Nivola (Maestro), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), and more. When speaking to Rolling Stone in 2022, Manobal discussed the possibility of trying things beyond the group. I respect everyones roles within Blackpink. I dont want to break this image; I want to keep doing what I do within Blackpink, she said. But personally, I have so many things I want to try. I love photography, I want to try acting, and more. Best of Rolling Stone Messi the border collie traveled from France to celebrate with his costars Neon/ Instagram 'Anatomy of a Fall' star Messi at the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon. This border collie is ready for his closeup! The Anatomy of a Fall canine star, Messi, who played Snoop in the Oscar-nominated film, traveled from France to attend the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles on Monday, per the dog's trainer Laura Martin Contini. Messi was popular with other stars at the luncheon, including Ryan Gosling, who was seen on video waving to the dog. NEON, which distributed the film in the U.S., also shared a photo of Bradley Cooper meeting Messi. The year's Best Supporting Actors go head to head. ANATOMY OF A FALL's Messi meets Ryan Gosling at the #Oscars luncheon. pic.twitter.com/UrWa4HkbBD NEON (@neonrated) February 12, 2024 The talented dog has been praised as the star of the French courtroom drama. Justine Triets movie which she directed and co-wrote centers on Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), a famous German novelist who is on trial in France, accused of pushing her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) to his death. Their blind 11-year-old son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner) is caught in the middle of the grueling court case and media spectacle while also grieving his father. Daniel and his guide dog have a strong bond and stand as the only two witnesses during Samuel's death. Neon/ Instagram "Anatomy of a Fall's" Messi at the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon. At the Oscars luncheon, Huller told Variety that she still questions whether or not her character was innocent and suggested that "the only innocent creature in the film is the dog." Huller, 45, scored a best actress nomination, while Treit, 45, was nominated for best director and best original screenplay. The film was nominated for best picture and best editing. Related: Anatomy of a Fall: Everything to Know About the French Courtroom Drama Up for 5 Oscars Neon/ Instagram 'Anatomy of a Fall' star Messi at the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon. While Messi might not win an Oscar himself, he scored an award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. He won the events Palm Dog, the award for canine performances in the festivals selected films. After Messi received the award, Triet told The Hollywood Reporter that Messi's character "was not just another character or some animal running around [but] as much a part of the films ensemble as any of the other actors." Related: See All the Stars Arriving at the Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon in L.A. Neon Messi, Milo Machado Graner, Sandra Huller and Jehnny Beth in "Anatomy of a Fall" In another The Hollywood Reporter interview, Huller shared the same sentiment that Snoop was as much a character as any other," adding that the cast and crew were fortunate to work with Messi. We had good luck this time to work with someone in the business who trains animals for the industry, said Huller. The lady [Laura Martin Contini] who owns Snoop was a really key person for us to allow him to be a character, really as much a part of the films ensemble as any of the other actors. 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. Contini told The Wildest that Messi joined the set for 22 shoot days. "There was such a great team, and he was everyones favorite on set, and we really took the time on each of his scenes," Conti said. She explained how Messi and Milo Machado Graner had to forge a bond that translated to the screen. Even during the shoot, every time there was a break, they would be playing together," said Contini. "[Machado Graner] was specifically very invested in becoming close to the dog and taking care and playing with him, which is what Messi needs as a dog. He needs to be taken care of and to be given attention and playtime. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. CNN anchor Brianna Keilar finally had enough of Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) repeatedly talking over her during a heated exchange over immigration on Tuesday, threatening to cut the interview off unless the congresswoman let her speak. The pushback from Keilar came after the CNN News Central host attempted to fact-check the Texas lawmakers claims about immigrant crime rates, prompting Van Duyne to accuse Keilar of defending the band of migrants who recently brawled with New York City cops. Ahead of House Republicans second attempt to impeach Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas, Keilar brought on Van Duyne to explain why the GOP was going down this same road after suffering a pretty embarrassing public defeat in its failed effort last week. Republicans allege that Mayorkas has committed high crimes and misdemeanors over his handling of the southern border, claiming he wrongfully overhauled existing immigration law to institute catch and release protocols for migrants. Noting that the congresswoman had previously said we dont need new laws when expressing her support for impeaching Mayorkas, Keilar asked why Van Duyne voted for HR 2House Republicans sweeping border bill that would restrict the asylum process and purge undocumented immigrants. After Van Duyne asserted that HR 2 wasnt a new law but rather a mechanism to force the Biden administration to stop ignoring laws, the CNN anchor reminded her that when a bill is passed, it then becomes a law. Youre saying that was never the intention? Are you saying it was a memo or something? Keilar snarked. Replying that HR 2 was about codifying immigration law that she claimed the administration was ignoring, Van Duyne said the damage thats been caused by the nations current handling of immigration has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. Asked to clarify where she got her numbers from, the conservative lawmaker claimed 110,000 Americans have died from overdosing on fentanyl that has come in over our borders. Keilar, however, pointed out that the vast majority of fentanyl that comes across the U.S.-Mexico border is brought in by American citizens, not migrants. Undeterred, the Texas Republican stated that the Mexican cartels are the best friends of Mayorkas and want to keep him in power, causing Keilar to again remind her that the cartels are using American citizens as drug mules. Just as the back-and-forth grew tense, Keilar informed Van Duyne that President Joe Biden was about to speak and the network would be taking it live. Following the presidents speech, she brought the congresswoman back to resume their contentious conversation. With the president urging Congress to pass a Senate bill that will provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, Keilar pointed out that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he wont bring the legislation up for a vote because it doesnt contain border security provisions. Hes talking aboutwhat would be, if passednew laws. Hes talking about new laws, Keilar noted. Reiterating her assertion that HR 2 was just about codifying existing immigration law that the administration has flagrantly ignored, Van Duyne then recalled her time as a mayor in Texas, claiming she made her city one of the safest in the state by working to remove criminal illegal immigrants in our communities. Meanwhile, Keilar pushed back on the congresswomans claims. First off, illegal immigrants criminal conviction rate is 45 percent below that of native-born Americans in your state. Just to be clear, the CNN host declared. When you raise the specter of they create so many crimes, theyre convicted. I mean, when it comes to violent crimes, property crimes, homicides, sex crimes, youve talked in the past about rapes, the numbers just dont support that, but lets focus on catch-and-release. At this point, Van Duyne and Keilar began to talk over each other, eventually leading the anchor to note that she merely fact-checked something the congresswoman said. It sounds like you were defending those immigrants that were beating our police officers, Van Duyne fired back. No! Excuse me, I did not say that, Keilar retorted. It sounds like you are saying thats OK. They should not be in our country, the congresswoman stated. Maam, I absolutely do not think that is OK, the anchor proclaimed. And anyone watching that video, I think, should look at that and absolutely say thats not OK. So yeah, I think youre really misunderstanding where Im coming from. No, thats not OK. Attempting to pivot to a discussion on catch-and-release, Keilar brought up the Senate border bill that Republicans torpedoed and how that legislation would have drastically cut the number of asylum-seeking migrants who would be released after border apprehension. Van Duyne immediately began to argue with Keilar over the bills provisions, resulting in the host finally telling her guest that the segment would come to a close if she didnt stop. Maam, may I please speak? Im going to have to cut thisif you dont let me speak, Im going to have to cut this interview off, Keilar flatly said, putting her foot down. And I will let you speak and finish sentences. Please give me that respect as well. After the congresswoman demurred, Keilar went on to dispute Republicans false claims that the bill supposedly allows 5,000 illegal immigrants to cross the southern border daily, noting that it is a trigger number of apprehensions that would effectively shut down the border if reached. Keilar also pointed out that the head of the Border Patrol Union had endorsed the legislation. The two would continue to go back and forth over the Senate border deal, with Van Duyne insisting that it would increase illegal border crossings to a catastrophic level. Keilar, on the other hand, said that while the 5,000 number may be unsatisfactory to the congresswoman, it is going to be much higher and allowed to be much higher because there is nothing to prevent it. 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. Rev. Herbert Miller, 63, was arrested on Friday at the site of a purported drug deal set up by a cooperating witness Connecticut state police; Google Maps Connecticut pastor Herbert Miller A Connecticut pastor is accused of dealing crystal meth out of his church's rectory. Rev. Herbert Miller, 63, of the Woodbury United Methodist Church was arrested on Friday and charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, and use of drug paraphernalia, among other charges, according to a Connecticut State Police news release. His arrest followed an investigation into a tip that he was selling drugs from the rectory next door to the church at 6 Church Street, according to police, Republican-American reports. Police said they took Miller into custody at the site of a purported drug deal arranged by a third-party cooperating witness, per the outlet. Miller arrived at the meeting at a predetermined location in Waterbury and was instead met by police. The pastor was found in possession of "crystal methamphetamine in both rock form and liquefied into a hypodermic needle prepared for injection," police said. Police found additional drugs and drug paraphernalia during a subsequent search of Miller's residence, police allege, per the Republican-American. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Following his arrest, Miller was transported to Troop L in Litchfield, where he was booked and later released on a $10,000 bond, according to the release. He is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Feb. 23. Miller was hired by the Woodbury church in July 2023 after previously serving as pastor of First United Methodist Church in nearby Shelton, Connecticut, according to the church's website, per the Republican-American. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PEOPLE got a behind-the-scenes look and all the scoop on how the stars' looks came together with Armani beauty Mia Andre; Dennis Leupold Isabel Merced and Sydney Sweeney Behind the Scenes with Armani beauty When Dakota Johnson, Isabela Merced and Sydney Sweeney graced the Madame Web Los Angeles premiere red carpet, our spidey senses told us to expect the best glam moments of the week. And the trio who all star in the Spider-Man spinoff over-delivered with their luminous skin. With the movies release hours away, each lit up the carpet with their gorgeous looks, and their pros spoke to PEOPLE about how to get each one. Isabela Merced Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Isabela Merced at the World Premiere Of "Madame Web" on February 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. This look was all about glowing skin, so the complexion had to be on point! says makeup artist Allan Avendano of Merceds makeup. The makeup pro reached for two iconic products, Armani beauty Luminous Silk Foundation and Armani beauty Luminous Silk Concealer, to get that complexion that looks like skin, he shares. Related: Everything to Know About Madame Web If youve never swiped one of these formulas on, run dont walk to get your hands on some. The foundation, Avendano explains, leaves the most beautiful natural finish that is buildable for areas that need a little extra coverage. Meanwhile, the concealer he describes as a perfect texture to give you natural coverage while brightening under the eyes, concealing blemishes or contouring/warming up the skin. Bonus: It blends in seamlessly and is perfect for touch-ups on the go. Mia Andre Avendano applied the foundation in shade 6.5 followed by the concealer in shades 4 and 6. When applying the foundation, he let us in on a little trick: He mixed it with a tiny bit of the Armani beauty Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer in shade 10 because its such a beautiful way to get that enhanced luminosity that isnt glittery or unnatural-looking. Related: Madame Web Exclusive Video: Dakota Johnson and Cast Tease a 'Different Kind of Superhero Story' To get a flushed look on her cheeks, the pro used Armani beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush in 60 was applied on the high point of her cheekbones. On her lips, he applied Armani beauty Lip Power Lipstick in shade 108. Right before she hit the carpet, he applied shade 2 of the Glow Enhancer with his fingers to the high points of her face, and sent her off to light up the cameras. Sydney Sweeney Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Sydney Sweeney at the World Premiere Of "Madame Web" on February 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Makeup artist Melissa Hernandez, who created Sweeneys look, shared their evolving process. "When Sydney and I first discussed makeup inspiration for the premiere, our initial thought was a smokey eye because we thought it would be fun to lean into the beaded web design of her custom Oscar de la Renta gown, Hernandez shares. Dennis Leupold But, plot twist: Once we saw it in person, we decided to go for a luminous, pared-down complexion with understated eyes and sun-kissed rosy cheeks so as not to compete with the dress, says Hernandez. Dennis Leupold The pro also reached for the aforementioned foundation and concealer. (Hers in shades 5.75 and 5.25, respectively.) She also applied the same silky powder blush Merced wore, but in shade 51, to warm up the stars cheeks. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Dennis Leupold They tied the look together with a gorgeous beige-mauve lipstick (shade 109). We also think we know what she smelled like: Armani beauty My Way Nectar Eau de Parfum (a sweet and fruity fragrance that the actress is a face of that just launched today!) Dakota Johnson Frazer Harrison/Getty Dakota Johnson at the World Premiere Of "Madame Web" on February 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Johnsons makeup artist Georgie Eisdell says that for the premiere, we wanted Dakotas look to be really cool, sexy and strong. Her Gucci gown was the inspiration, with its crystal mesh web, inspired by the movie. For her smokey eyes, Eisdell applied Armani beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eye Shadow in shade 12S and 56S and amped up the drama at her lash line with Armani beauty Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in shade 4. A few coats of Armani beauty Eyes to Kill Classico Mascara completed the look. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A 10,000-year-old Stone Age structure was found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Adjacent to Germany, the stone wall was reportedly utilized for hunting reindeer at the location when it was still dry land, according to a new study published in PNAS last Monday, Feb. 12. Hunting Wall at the Bottom of the Baltic Sea As per the authors of the study, the structure may very well be the largest of its kind in Europe dating from the early Holocene Epoch some 10,000 years ago. The notion that the stone wall was used as a "funneling" structure that herded wild animals into corral areas where they are easily killed, was based on similarly structured prehistoric walls called "desert kites" that were previously discovered across the Middle East. The study also suggests that the Baltic Sea wall resembled the structure found in the Bay of Mecklenburg, similarly located in Germany, which was mainly believed to have been used for hunting reindeer. This particular animal was endemic to Europe at the time. Around 8,500 years ago, the last ice age ended and caused a change in sea levels after tremendous amounts of ice sheets melted, flooding the area that the modern-day Baltic Sea covers today. Read Also: Netflix's 'The Crown' Props Auction More Than Tripled Its Initial Sale Estimate, Fetching Over $1.8M How the Stone Age Structure Was Found Jacob Geersen, a marine geophysicist at Germany's Kiel University, told Live Science that the discovery was made more by accident than out of a deliberate choice. He explained that even though they did not know it existed, they eventually found it after their "multibeam echosounder data" came back. Following up on that initial data, the researchers mapped the structure using sonar technology that was equipped on boats and an autonomous underwater vehicle, alongside planning dives towards different sites across its span. The physical sediment samples collected during those round diving trips indicated that it was previously built on land before the area was submerged under the Baltic Sea. Joining Geersen as a lead co-author of the study is Marcel Bradtmoller, a prehistorian at Germany's University of Rostock. As per Bradtmoller, the structure seemed to have been built near the shore, at the time. The reason for this was so that herd animals would be prevented from fleeing to a broader area, which meant they were essentially "cornered" into a specific and narrow area. More than mapping the area, the study's proponents hope that subsequent investigations on the site could unravel hidden artifacts that would provide more vivid insights regarding the structure's origin and its exact use. Read More: Nima Sarikhani is the People's Choice Wildlife Photographer of the Year with Her Shot of a Napping Polar Bear 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An unforgivable accident: This Atlanta womans home was demolished by mistake and then the city threatened to fine her for the mess. How to protect your biggest asset from the unexpected Susan Hodgson, of Atlanta, recently received the type of call homeowners dread while on holiday: a panicked neighbor, calling her up to ask: Did you hire somebody to tear your house down? The family property, which had been boarded up but diligently cared for over the last 15 years, was mistakenly demolished after a local construction company went to the wrong address. Don't miss Hodgson returned home from vacation to a pile of rubble, which she's now on the hook for cleaning up. Im just left with a big old mess, she told FOX 5, who investigated the case after Hodgson revealed the contractors initially refused to play ball and fix their mistake. Heres what happened and why you should always expect the unexpected when protecting your home. Happy memories bulldozed Luckily, no one was living in Hodgsons property at the time of its accidental demolition in October 2023. In fact, it was boarded up for about 15 years prior to its demise but Hodgson insisted she kept it covered, the grass cut, the yard cleaned up, taxes paid and so on. She also said she has happy memories of the house, describing it as a fun place where the family had a lot of good times. In particular, it reminded her of her husband, who died years ago. Its just hard to believe somebody just thinks theyve got the right to come out and tear something up and just walk away, she said, claiming the contractors did not apologize for their error or make a timely offer to fix their mistake. When FOX 5 contacted the Atlanta-based contractor, they said they were investigating the matter and working to rectify it. Story continues While that played out, another issue arose from the rubble. Shortly after the demolition, Hodgson noticed a Stop Work Order from Atlanta's Department of City Planning, giving her two weeks to fix it, clean it up, and get it all done, and have the proper permits all for a project she never wanted. The city issued the following statement to FOX 5: The correction notice affords the property owner the opportunity to bring the property into compliance. No citation has been issued to date. The structure on the property was demolished without a permit which is a violation of city code. The property owner is responsible for their property and for any violations that occur pertaining to that property. The demolition of the property without the owners consent or knowledge is not a matter for the city of Atlanta. This is considered a civil matter between the property owner and the alleged responsible party. Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Always expect the unexpected While the chances of accidental demolition are slim especially if your house looks well-kept, lived-in and youre close with your neighbors its always important to expect the unexpected when it comes to protecting your home. Thats where home insurance or renters insurance if you dont yet own a home really comes into play. The Insurance Information Institute lists the top causes of home insurance claims as: wind and hail, fire and lightning, water damage and freezing, all other property damage, liability and theft. Consider water damage, which is one of the most common and costly home insurance claims and one that could spike in severity if youre away from your property on vacation. Generally, if the cause of the water damage is sudden and accidental, like a burst pipe, then a homeowners or renters insurance policy will cover water-related damage to the structure of your home and your personal belongings. In the case of renters insurance, it may also help to cover the costs of water damage you cause to others. Of course, not all risks are covered water damage caused by a flood is typically not covered by a home insurance policy but for a relatively small premium, you can rest easy and go on vacation knowing (with all likelihood) itll still be standing when you get back. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. David Grann didnt set out to write a best seller. But eight years ago, when he happened upon the story of a young sailors account surviving a British naval shipwreck in South America, he knew he had something. After two years poring over 18th century maritime archives, Grann began writing, navigating the tempestuous tale of HMS Wager, her wreckage, mutiny, and the storys greater implications for human behavior. New York Times #1 best-selling author, David Grann, visits Savannah, Sunday, Feb. 18, to deliver the closing address of the 2024 Savannah Book Festival at the Trustees Theater. Hell speak about his most recent work, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder and highlight some of his prize-winning, meticulously researched non-fiction. Tickets are $30. Author David Grann Born into a high-achieving family his mother was the first woman CEO of Putnam Penguin Publishing; his father a nationally acclaimed oncologist Granns early life anchored him to curiosity and scholastic pursuit. After degrees from Connecticut College, Tufts University and Boston University, in 2003, he joined the staff at The New Yorker with a penchant for long-form investigative journalism. In 2009, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon landed Granns work for the first time on the New York Times best-seller list. He went on to write two more celebrated books, Killers of the Flower Moon and White Darkness, before publication of The Wager in spring 2023. A midshipman's historical account leads to Grann's latest best seller In late 2016, while fishing around the topic of mutiny, Grann found young John Byrons tale serving aboard HMS Wager. In 1740, the Wager was a ship in a British squadron of five tasked with secret mission of intercepting a Spanish transport vessel laden with gold and silver. John Byron, as history would later serve, become grandfather to poet, Lord Byron, who in turn drew from his ancestors naval adventures in crafting parts of his satirical epic poem Don Juan. I came across a digital scan of John Byrons account, a 16-year-old midshipman on the Wager, recalled Grann. He wrote of that last extremity, cannibalism. I began looking further into it to see what this story was about, and I found various accounts of what happened. The surviving crew faced a court martial in England, and because they feared being executed, each narrative had its shade, each arguing about who was telling the truth. Some allege false journals and double accounts. In many ways, it mirrors today as a parable for our own turbulent times, and the battle over history and who gets to tell it. In his next phase of research, Grann chartered a small private boat to southern Patagonia and Wager Island, trying to get as close to peoples consciousness as possible. He found a Chilean captain about 350-miles north of the shipwreck site willing to lead the venture. Their wooden boat was top-heavy, heated by wood stove and no more than 52-feet in length. They obtained water from glacial streams, chopped wood and hauled it aboard to stay warm. Cruising through inland channels, the craft plied the inlets gracefully but in open water, she pitched and rolled in precarious fervor. After five days we had to venture into the ocean to get to the island, recalled Grann. In rough seas with a top-heavy boat, we were tossed about like a ping pong ball. Id taken seasickness medicine and sat below. I sat there about 10 hours a day in rough seas for days listening to an Audible recording of 'Moby Dick' as we passed through the Gulf of Pain to Wager Island. David Grann's latest page-turner, "The Wager" Nearly 1,000 miles south of Santiago, Chile, and north of Cape Horn by roughly 650 miles, Wager Island persists in an isolated snarl of sub-Antarctic high winds, steep crags and very little game or vegetation. Once stranded, the ships remaining crew faced a new set of harrowing challenges which Grann experienced first-hand in 2019. Wager Island remains cold, desolate, raining and sleeting, emphasized Grann. Temperatures hover around 34 or 32 degrees. Its constantly so windy and rainy. These men were likely suffering from hypothermia in addition to no food. There were some mussels, clams, wild celery, some birds, but no other animals. I could begin to understand why their society would disintegrate. Its a place where the soul of man would die. This trip was instrumental in helping me understand what they went through. And in this crucible of extremes the rigid hierarchical system of British naval command broke down. A ship-smart and sea-hardened gunner stood as leader for a large faction unsatisfied with the captains leadership. The captain had his own supporters, mostly officers and men of rank. In the breakdown of order, squabbles erupted, then physical altercations, then gunshot and murder. Yet through the turmoil, several literate sailors kept detailed accounts. Wager Island became laboratory that would test humans under extreme conditions, said Grann. How people behave under extreme duressits kindness then shocking moments of brutality the next. Also, its how we tell a story, how we all try to emerge as hero, which was especially important to these men facing court martial and who could be hanged. When they are on the island, they are aware that if they do survive, they will have to stand in judgement. Creating a narrative that will withstand public scrutiny is crucial, and once they get into trouble and are shipped wrecked, no question, the gunner is conscious of shaping the story as a piece of evidence to justify his actions. In many ways this story provides illustration of how history is told, how nations and empires shape their stories. From initial subject investigation to final publication, writing The Wager took about six and a half years. For Grann, finding a story worth pursuing comes from investing time in researching nuance its about finding material compelling enough to work with for months, years even, to understand its truth and pivotal details. And sitting down, digging in to do the work of writing and re-writing, often over and over again. You become a writer because you think you dont have a superpower, chuckled Grann. Curiosity is an essential part of being a writer. Curiosity leads you to the story. The stories you choose to tell, then, are so important because this is the material you excavate and become involved with in making sense of a bewildering world. Its no great secret. The truth is, writing is a craft. It involves a lot of sitting and doing. A writer is willing to sit for eight hours rewriting the same sentence, getting better by doing. Writing and sitting, being curious and getting out in the world, going to archives, always listening this is writing. You must cultivate being a habitual professional snoop. If you go >> What: Closing Address with David Grann, Savannah Book Festival 2024 When: 2 p.m., Feb. 18 Where: Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., Savannah Tickets: $30, tickets.scadboxoffice.com/5966 Info: savannahbookfestival.org This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: David Grann delivers closing address at 17th annual Savannah Book Festival A former music executive has filed a lawsuit against Russell Simmons accusing him of raping her inside his New York City apartment in the late 1990sa crime the Jane Doe plaintiff claims thwarted her career in the music industry and decimated her well-being. Its the latest sexual assault allegation to hit Simmons, 66, who has had similar lawsuits filed against him thrown out in recent years because the incidents were outside their statute of limitations. The newest lawsuit was filed Tuesday in New York City, with his accuser identified as a former senior music executive and video producer at Def Jam Recordings in the 90s. The lawsuit was filed under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily revived the window to bring sexual misconduct claims for a year no matter when the alleged assault took place. Ex-Nude Art Performer Sues MoMA, Alleging It Didnt Do Enough to Stop Gropers Fridays lawsuit said Simmons invited its plaintiff to his Manhattan apartment so he could approve a rough cut for a music video. The business meeting quickly turned sexual, the ex-producer claims, with Simmons allegedly asking her to have sex with him. The woman said she rebuffed the advance and tried to play it off as a joke. Moments later, however, the lawsuit said Simmons made a wrestling move on the woman and pinned her arms down on his bed. He then raped her, the lawsuit said. The woman said she fought against Simmons, yelling at him to get off and stop several times, but the weight of his body was too much for her to break free. She told him she was serious and she meant it, the lawsuit said. But Ms. Doe was forcefully pinned. That alleged horror wasnt the end of Simmons harassment of the plaintiff, the lawsuit claims. From then on, the woman said Simmons made sexual advances toward her inside Def Jams offices and would repeatedly trap her inside rooms in the building. The lawsuit said Simmons would aggressively invade the womans personal space and rub the front of his pants while standing by her. The accuser said this harassment made it impossible for her to focus on her job as a music executive. She said she suffered from frequent panic attacks, was depressed, and developed an eating disorder, making her a shell of the confident and enthusiastic executive she once was. While a date for the alleged rape wasnt listed, the lawsuit said Jane Doe resigned from Def Jam in 1997, just a short time after the assault. The lawsuit said her colleagues were shocked by the decision because they knew it was a job she loved, which had placed her at the height of her success and financial viability. The plaintiff said she moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, but the trauma of Simmons alleged assault and harassment followed her there. She was experiencing debilitating anxiety, had difficulty handling emotions in a professional setting, unexplained mood shifts, and severe depression, the lawsuit said. Formerly an exemplary employee with nothing but positive and productive relationships with male employers, Ms. Doe became defensive, anxious, and sensitive. Russell Simmons Family Says He Taunts and Bullies Us Every Day Listed representatives for Simmons did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast. He did not address the new allegations publicly, but claimed previouslyafter his initial assault allegations emergedthat he was never violent with women. Simmons sold his stake in Def Jam, a label he founded, in 1999. He remained in music after the sale, but fled his native New York City for Bali in 2017 after he was accused of rape and sexual misconduct by multiple women. The disgraced mogul was the subject of a 2020 documentary about his alleged sexual assaults. Its unclear if the latest lawsuit against him will be able to stand under the survivors act because its one-year period to wave the statute of limitations expired in November, but some extensions for the act have been made by New York courts. The lawsuit said Jane Doe is seeking general, punitive, and economic damages for loss of her job, loss of business opportunities, and the loss of wages. It added that shes also seeking compensation her for the injuries she suffered as a result of the alleged assault. 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. Following the spectacular flame-out of doomed centrist news site The Messenger, owner Jimmy Finkelstein left hundreds of employees high and dry without severance pay or health insuranceprompting them to file a class-action lawsuit, citing New York worker protection laws. And staffers are particularly incensed, The Daily Beast has learned, because an employee handbookput together by The Messengers HR departmentpromised severance in the event of mass layoffs or restructuring of the business. The manual in question addressed a theoretical reduction of force or reorganization by noting that impacted employees would be paid a certain amount following job cuts. Severance will be paid at the rate of one and a half (1 ) weeks per year of service, not to exceed six (6) months in duration. Subject to applicable law, employees shall be required to execute the Companys standard release as a condition of receiving severance pay, the handbook explains. Ex-employees told Confider that the two dozen Messenger staffers who were laid off a month before the sites implosion did indeed receive two weeks severancebut those who remained until the end were left empty-handed. The personnel policies guidebook, which was reviewed by Confider, does add the following disclaimer on the very front page: The guidelines and procedures in the Guidebook are not intended or set forth as contractual commitments or obligations to any employee. Before the $50 million startup burned through all its cash in less than a year, Finkelstein went on an intense hiring spree, bringing in a bevy of high-profile journalists and media executives while promising to eventually create a newsroom of 550 staffers. (The Messenger eventually topped out at 300 employees.) Finkelstein initially dangled attractive salaries to recruits, in an effort to attract talent on both the editorial and business sidesresulting in many of the top earners bringing in high six-digits or even a million dollars annually. Top Messenger Executive Accused of Homophobic Slur The Messengers messy end might also land it afoul of New Yorks labor laws for another reason: in its final months, the company slashed the salaries of some top employees without warning, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. Dan Wakeford, the beleaguered editor-in-chief, was among those who saw their pay significantly reduced as Finkelstein scrambled to cut costs and raise money, the sources tell Confider. After The Messenger quickly burned through nearly all of its startup cash by Thanksgiving, the media mogul told Wakeford and other managers, and some high-earners on the business side, that theyd need to take pay cuts. The problem is, sources noted, some employees werent told ahead of time about the reductions and only found out when they received their paychecks, prompting them to go to HR for an explanation. Yet according to New York states Wage Theft Prevention Act, for any reduction of wage rate, an employee must be notified in writing prior to the reduction being implemented. Senior sources also told Confider that it appeared Finkelstein didnt include many highly paid editorial staffers in the emergency cuts because he was worried about leaks to the media. The sources said Finkelstein largely limited the salary cuts to those he felt were loyal to him and wouldnt squeal to the press. Finkelstein did not respond to a request for comment. Deliberately Cruel: Staffers Torch Sociopath Jimmy Finkelstein Over Messenger Implosion Sources added that one person who did not take a slash in pay to his seven-figure salary was president Richard Mad Dog Beckman, whom business-side staffers largely blame for the companys overspending and lack of ad revenue. Finkelstein, meanwhile, did reduce his own hefty salary at the end, several insiders said. Beckman did not return a request for comment. Besides filing their class-action complaint seeking lost pay and benefits, ex-Messenger employees have also started a GoFundMe to help colleagues most impacted by the sites sudden closure. With an initial goal of $50,000, the fundraiser has brought in over $20,000 from donations across the media industry. One of the largest donors is Wakeford, who has taken a lot of flack from ex-staffers over his seemingly hands-off approach towards the newsroom. Senior employees, however, noted that Wakeford was constrained by Finkelstein, who told his top editor not to engage directly with rank-and-file staff and limit his interactions to his deputy editors. As for Finkelstein, insiders say he is stewing over the criticism hes faced. With ex-staffers calling The Messenger the Fyre Festival of media, one source told Confider that Finkelstein is ensconced in Florida, brooding about how to exact his revenge against his former employees for badmouthing him to reporters. 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. The King and Queen were photographed arriving at Clarence House on Tuesday morning Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Clarence House in London on Tuesday morning King Charles has returned to London with Queen Camilla by his side amid his cancer diagnosis. The 75-year-old monarch was pictured in the back of a car alongside Queen Camilla, 76, as the pair were driven to Clarence House, his longtime residence in London, on Tuesday morning. PEOPLE understands that King Charles has returned to London for his ongoing cancer treatment appointments and meetings with palace staff. The Kings return to London comes after he and Queen Camilla attended a church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Sunday. The monarch waved at photographers as he made his way to the church alongside his wife. It was his first public outing since he began his cancer treatment last week. Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images King Charles was photographed on Tuesday morning Related: Prince William Is Coping 'Remarkably Well' amid Kate Middleton's Surgery and King Charles' Cancer News Over the weekend, the King addressed his cancer diagnosis for the first time in a statement released by Buckingham Palace as he thanked the public for their well-wishes. "I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days," the statement began. "As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement." Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Clarence House in London on Tuesday morning "It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the U.K. and wider world," the statement continued. "My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience." Related: Why King Charles' Type of Cancer Has Not Been Disclosed: 'In Time We Might Know,' Says Biographer Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images Camilla was by the King's side 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! The palace announced that the King had been diagnosed with cancer on Feb 5. The announcement, which did not specify what form of cancer King Charles was diagnosed with, came a week after his surgery for an enlarged prostate. Those close to the family were taken aback by the announcement. I was really shocked when I heard it, a palace insider tells PEOPLE exclusively. Adds a palace insider: He will want to get on with the job. But that will depend on what treatment he is having. It may be utterly draining on him. He will need a lot of support. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The mom of four is enjoying quality time with her kids while joining the Blink-182 drummer on the Australian leg of the band's tour Kourtney Kardashian/Instagram; Kourtney Kardashian/TikTok Reign and Penelope Disick enjoying time in Australia with mom Kourtney Kardashian Barker Kourtney Kardashian Barker is enjoying family time in Australia The mom of four is there with her kids as they join Travis Barker on the Australian leg of band Blink-182's tour Kardashian Barker shares Reign, Penelope, and Mason with ex Scott Disick, while Barker shares Alabama, Landon, and Atiana with ex Shana Moakler. The two share son Rocky Thirteen, 3 months Kourtney Kardashian Barker is enjoying quality time with her kids down under. The Lemme founder, 44, shared photos from her recent time in Australia, joining husband Travis Barker for tour dates with Blink-182. In the shots, followers can see that the kids are along for some family time, with Reign, 9, and Penelope, 11, appearing in photos. In one picture, brother and sister walk down a long flight of stairs toward the water at Gordon Bay. Not pictured were Kardashian Barker's youngest son, Rocky, 3 months, and her oldest, 14-year-old Mason. The Kardashians star also appeared in a TikTok with Reign and Penelope, who rocks a Blink-182 band tee. The mom of four stands between her two kids, posing and swaying along as they lip-sync to Jhene Aiko's "Stay Ready (What a Life)." 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Here's Everything You Need to Know About Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Blended Family Kardashian Barker also shared shots from the family's time in Australia last week, with several snaps from a visit to Freds restaurant in Sydney. In one photo, Kardashian Barker sat crossing her legs in a trench coat alongside a table that had a purse, menu and notebook on top, before taking a sweet bathroom mirror selfie with Penelope. Kardashian Barkers cute bathroom mirror selfie with Penelope revealed more of her beige trench coat as well as Penelopes butterfly t-shirt. My little lady, the mom of fours caption read as the duo pouted their lips. Kourtney Kardashian/Instagram Penelope Disick and Kourtney Kardashian Barker Kardashian Barker shares her three older kids with ex Scott Disick and Rocky with Barker, who shares daughter Alabama Luella, 18, and son Landon, 20, plus stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya, 24, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler. In the weeks following Rockys birth on Nov. 1, a source told PEOPLE that the Lemme founder was "over the moon about her sons arrival" after her "pregnancy took a stressful turn towards the end." "She is happy to just be able to snuggle her baby boy now," the source said at the time. "She feels so blessed." The source also shared that the Blink-182 drummer "keeps being amazing" to his wife and even supplied her with some "healthy food" at the hospital after she gave birth. "He makes sure she has everything that she needs, the source added. He is obsessed with their baby boy." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. In Ed Zwick's new memoir, the director reveals details about filming with DiCaprio on the 2006 film L. Cohen/WireImage Leonardo DiCaprio walks the walk when it comes to generosity, according to Blood Diamond director Ed Zwick. In his new memoir Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years, Zwick, 71, recalls how he learned that DiCaprio, now 49, had given money to create a well in a village where they had filmed. After investigating the source of the project, Zwick discovered that DiCaprio had quietly donated the funds to leave a place in better shape than when they arrived. In this, and in some many other areas of his life, Leo walks it like he talks it, Zwick wrote. The 2006 political thriller Blood Diamond saw DiCaprio as Danny Archer, a smuggler and mercenary on the hunt for a pink diamond discovered in the civil wartorn Sierra Leone. Filming took place in Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa. According to Zwick, DiCaprios practice of providing aid to filming locations eventually became studio policy. Related: Leonardo DiCaprio Reveals the One Thing He Wants to Do Before Turning 50 Next Year (Exclusive) Moviestore/Shutterstock A United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change since 2014, Don't Look Up actor DiCaprio has remained outspoken on protecting the environment. In July 2023, he teamed up with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to launch a $200 million fund to save the Amazon rainforest. Most recently, DiCaprio starred in Martin Scorseses acclaimed Killers of the Flower Moon playing Ernest Burkhart, who becomes complicit in his uncles deadly scheme to steal oil and wealth from the Osage Nation. Related: Lily Gladstone Shares Leonardo DiCaprios Text Celebrating Her Killers of the Flower Moon Oscar Nomination Rodin Eckenroth/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Leonardo DiCaprio on Dec. 3, 2023. When his costar Lily Gladstone's Oscar nomination was revealed in January, DiCaprio posted a celebratory tribute on his Instagram. Congratulations to my dear friend @LilyGladstone for making Oscars history, as the first Native American woman to be nominated for Best Actress in Killers of the Flower Moon, and the fourth Indigenous actress to ever earn a nomination in the category, he captioned a photo of Gladstone. Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years is available now wherever books are sold. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The cause of death for 41-year-old Bobbie Jean Carter, a former makeup artist and the sister of the late Aaron Carter and Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, has been released. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner in Florida has determined that Carter died from intoxication, by the combined effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to E! News and People. Her death was reportedly ruled as accidental. USA TODAY has reached out to the medical examiner's department. Billie Jean Carter died Dec. 23 after she was found unresponsive at Tampa, Florida, home by fire rescue crews. "They discovered a woman, later identified as Bobbie Jean Carter, in a bathroom unresponsive," the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told USA TODAY in a Dec. 27 statement. "She was immediately transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she was declared dead by hospital medical staff at 8:02 a.m." Bobbie Jean Carter, pictured here in 2006, died in December from the effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine. During their investigation of Carter's death, HCSO deputies learned that Carter was on probation for cocaine possession, according to the statement. However, Carter had "not used any narcotics since her release from prison," per the accounts given to police by Carter's roommates. She died a little more than a year after her younger brother, Aaron Carter, died in his Southern California home at 34. Carter's sister, Angel Carter, confirmed her sister's passing on her official Instagram page on Dec. 24. Angel shared a tribute, which featured childhood photos of her sister. "To my older sister Bobbie. You had a great sense of humor, and a lively spirit. Growing up, I was your baby, and you were my best friend," Angel wrote at the time. "Life wasn't fair to you, that I know. Sometimes, it feels like you didn't have a shot, no matter what." Older brother Nick Carter, 43, paid tribute to his sister in a Jan. 4 Instagram post in which he captioned a childhood photo of the two of them with the following message: "It may take a lifetime to fully process the loss my family has endured over the years most recently, with the sudden passing of our sister Bobbie Jean. I am completely heartbroken." The Backstreet Boys member added, "Thank you for all your love and kind words. We are reminded again that life is precious, fleeting and to cherish the time we have with the ones we love. I know she is finally at peace with God. I love you BJ." Nick Carter breaks his silence: Sister Bobbie Jean 'is finally at peace' Contributing: Edward Segarra, Pamela Avila and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bobbie Jean Carter's cause of death revealed: Reports Police say the 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl both attended Broken Arrow Public Schools Getty A pair of young siblings were found dead at a home in Oklahoma over the weekend in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide. Officers were called to a home in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, Sunday afternoon after a report of a suicide, the Broken Arrow Police Department said in a press release. When they arrived, they found the bodies of a 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl. Police believe the boy died by suicide, while the girls manner of death is unclear. The Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office is investigating the cause of death for both victims, who have yet to be publicly identified. Investigators said the two are siblings, and they suspect the boy killed his sister before dying by suicide, according to the Kansas City Star, KJRH and News on 6. Police added that both victims attended Broken Arrow Public Schools. This is one of the hardest calls that officers have to go on. Every time we talk about deceased kids, this is something that impacts us deeply, Broken Arrow Police Capt. Josh McCoy said, per News on 6. A neighbor told KJRH that the children were "good kids" and that their parents are "wonderful neighbors." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. As the investigation continues, police said in the release that its department is working with the school district to ensure necessary resources are available in the aftermath of this tragic incident. Further details were not immediately available. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Florida's digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with information on which local restaurants pass and fail. The database can be searched by county or by restaurant name. You will see which restaurants were fined and forced to close temporarily. Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as "a 'snapshot' of conditions present at the time of the inspection." On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in its most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not represent the establishment's overall, long-term conditions. New upscale restaurant brings internationally influenced cuisine to Flagler Beach Volusia-Flagler best restaurant inspections The following restaurants, presented in alphabetical order, passed their inspections from Feb. 4-10 with zero violations: Island Grille , 1224 S. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach. On The Sand Beach Cafe , 655 Arnau Drive, New Smyrna Beach. Palm Coast Tijuana Flats , 5890 State Highway 100 E. Suite 103, Palm Coast. Volusia Speedway Park Concession #3, 1500 E. Highway 40, De Leon Springs. Volusia County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations The following restaurants, presented in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections from Feb. 4-10: Bagel King Express 6 Charles Richard Beall Blvd., DeBary Feb. 8 Administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up inspection required. Four total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Front counter maketabke cream cheese (44F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (44F - Cold Holding); pool eggs (57F - Cold Holding); sliced lox (45F - Cold Holding)/30 minutes. Operator placed ice. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Chlorine 200. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** Best Western International Speedway 2620 International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Twelve total violations, with one high-priority violation: High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -eggs Commerciallly processed 66f sitting on counter 66f less than 4 hours -butter 70f less than 4 hours **Warning** Casey's NSB Bar / La Terraza 1414 S Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Twenty-one total violations, with nine high-priority violations: High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Rice 45F in walk in cooler overnight **Warning** High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 upstairs bar 5 downstairs bar **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Shell eggs over produce, walk in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Chicken over beef **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Gumbo 1/27 **Warning** High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Overnight bottom cookline cooler shredded cheese 49F, cheese 45F, empanada 44F **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food removed from cold holding for necessary preparation rose above 41 degrees Fahrenheit during the preparation process and was not cooled back down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Enchilada sauce 47F in the middle ambient cooling after prep previous day - not heated per operator **Warning** High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Greater than 200 pm cl **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** Casey's NSB Bar / La Terraza 1414 S Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach Feb. 6 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. Chipotle Mexican Grill 1731 Dunlawton Ave., Suite 103, Port Orange Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Four total violations, with one high-priority violation: High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. -Dishwasher not functioning properly, machine states error message "door open", operator states repairs have been scheduled **Warning** Chipotle Mexican Grill 1731 Dunlawton Ave., Suite 103, Port Orange Feb. 8 Call back complied. Chop Chop Korean 2800 S. Nova Road, South Daytona Feb. 8 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Ten total violations, with one high-priority violation: High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. -tall white reach-in cooler: raw chicken over raw pork in reach-in cooler, operator reorganized reach-in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** D'Amore's 300 Flagler Ave., Suite A, New Smyrna Beach Feb. 8 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Seven total violations, with three high-priority violations: High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Ziplock bags of raw meat over cheese, walk in cooler **Corrected On-Site** High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 1 on ledge next to cookline **Corrected On-Site** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Fresh mozzarella 45F and 45F, cut lettuce 42-45F, salad cooler for a few hours. **Repeat Violation** Denny's 1641 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Eight total violations, with three high-priority violations: High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. -tested 0ppm, operator states the establishment ran out of chlorine sanitizer **Warning** High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. -employee cracked raw shell eggs then placed slices of bread into toaster, operator educated employee, employee removed gloves, washed hands, and replaced gloves **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. -raw bacon stored above pre-cooked sausage links inside short reach-in cooler underneath Alto-Shaam, operator reorganized reach-in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** Denny's 1641 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange Feb. 6 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. Denny's 2701 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Feb. 8 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Ten total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - In-use utensil stored in unclean water at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrected On-Site** High Priority - Raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat raw animal food, such as hamburgers, steak and sushi covered under a consumer advisory. -raw bacon stored above raw beef steaks served under consumer advisory. Advised person in charge that steaks under consumer advisory would not be cooked to minimum cook temperatures for raw pork(145F). Goodfella's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant Wise Guys Lounge 2955 Enterprise Road, DeBary Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Seventeen total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sliced prosciutto (48F - Cold Holding); breaded chicken breast (47F - Cold Holding); ravioli (45F - Cold Holding);lasagna (47TF - Cold Holding); pasta (47TF - Cold Holding); butter (47F - Cold Holding). Placed over night in kitchen make table unit , in front of stove, Operator instructed to discard **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** Goodfella's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant Wise Guys Lounge 2955 Enterprise Road, DeBary Feb. 8 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. La Fiesta Mexican Cocina 348 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach Feb. 9 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Thirty-three total violations, with twelve high-priority violations: High Priority - 1 Live small flying insects in server area. **Warning** High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Tested 0 ppm. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. - allergy medicine on shelf with syrups in expedting area - cold and flu syrup on shelf over chip baskets in expediting area **Warning** High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. - chicken 48-49F, cooling overnight - refried beans, 46-49F, cooling overnight **Warning** High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Cutting board washed, rinsed, then placed to air dry without sanitizing. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Storage containers in back area - chili powder, flour, garlic **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. - raw shell eggs over sauces, walk in cooler **Warning** High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. - cooked washed hands with gloves on **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. - sour cream 46F; washed cut lettuce 46F; cooked peppers/onions 45F; goat cheese 45F; prep cooler - raw beef, 44F, low boy - housemade salsa, 60-61F, less than 2 hours **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. - rice 93F, less than 1 hour **Warning** High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing on splitter added to hose bibb. **Warning** Norwoods Restaurant 400 2nd Ave., New Smyrna Beach Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Seventeen total violations, with four high-priority violations: High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Alfredo up to 49F in the middle. Potatoes 48F. Both cooling overnight. See stop sale **Warning** High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Lobster stock 1/22, etouffee 1/29 **Warning** High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. **Warning** High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Outside back door **Warning** OBS Restaurant & Lounge 1750 N. Highway 17, DeLand Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Thirteen total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Kitchen refrigerated unit cut lettuce (50F - Cold Holding); /2 hours cheese (50F - Cold Holding);operator placed ice **Warning** Paco Submarine 515 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Four total violations, with one high-priority violation: High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Approximately 848/2258 DDBSA/lactic acid **Warning** Sakura Buffet 301 E. International Speedway Blvd., DeLand Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Eighteen total violations, with three high-priority violations: High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pooled eggs stored over carrots. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Boiled eggs 45-48F on buffet line placed 30 minutes ago. Operator placed. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** Stavro's Pizza 262 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach Feb. 8 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Twelve total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. -appropriate 10 flies by grease trap -approximately 10 flies around trash cans moving and mop bucket **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. -raw sausage and hamburger ready to eat **Warning** Stavros Pizza 262 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach Feb. 9 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. Stavro's Pizza Place 800 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Ten total violations, with five high-priority violations: High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Can of mushrooms dented across top lip **Warning** High Priority - Employee not following establishment's approved Alternative Operating Procedure for bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food. No sanitizer at handsink; employees unable to follow **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Pasta 1/30 **Repeat Violation** **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. - Glass door salad cooler: sliced provolone 45F, salad mix 44F, shredded cheese 54F, shredded lettuce 47F. - in bowls above other containers in sandwich cooler: salad meat 49F, feta 49F, diced tomatoes 50F. Operator discarded. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food removed from cold holding for necessary preparation rose above 41 degrees Fahrenheit during the preparation process and was not cooled back down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Shredded cheese 49-50F after approximately 5 hours. In walk in cooler bus tubs **Repeat Violation** **Warning** Stavro's Pizza Place 800 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach Feb. 8 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. Taqueria Guajillos 1702 N. Woodland Blvd., Suite 118, DeLand Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Eleven total violations, with four high-priority violations: High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Warning** High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Server returned soiled cup a and then returned to front Counter to serve food without washing hands. Educated operator. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Salsa 55F/3 hours. Operator relocated to another unit. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam table refried beans (99F - Hot Holding);3 hours. Operator instructed to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** The Garlic Main Kitchen 556 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna Beach Feb. 5 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Sixteen total violations, with four high-priority violations: High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Pasta cooling overnight 44-46F **Repeat Violation** High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale Can of potatoes Can of tomato puree High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooling rice stored below cooled rice from 2/3 causing cooled rice to reach 54F Blue cheese olives 44F in the bar The Munch Shoppe 556 Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach Feb. 9 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Fourteen total violations, with three high-priority violations: High Priority - Establishment operating after an emergency without notifying the division. **Warning** High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. -chicken over tomatoes **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. -chemical spray bottle by cups **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** Twin Peaks 1571 Outlet Blvd., Daytona Beach Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Fifteen total violations, with six high-priority violations: High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee touch hat and clothes with gloved hands continued working with food. Manager had employee wash hand and put new gloves on **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** High Priority - Heat strip failed to turn black to indicate the sanitization temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit was achieved on the dish surface and/or high temperature holding thermometer did not reach 160F. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. -large dish machine , manager is switch to chlorine **Warning** High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. -salmon **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -cooked mushrooms 44f less than 4 hours **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Cookiline -Butter and garlic butter **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. -mashed potatoes 109f - 124f ,manager reheating **Warning** Twin Peaks 1571 Outlet Blvd., Daytona Beach Feb. 8 Call back - complied. Met inspection standards. Flagler County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations The following restaurants, presented in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections from Feb. 4-10: Barnhills 202 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach Feb. 7 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Thirteen total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine is at 0ppm. Also soap line is busted. **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table on ice; cheese 45F, bell peppers, green beans, asparagus, onions 45F; ( - Cold Holding). Cream fresh 55F, butter 48F; ( - Cold Holding) Placed all items on time control and documented. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** Barnhills 202 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach Feb. 8 Call back complied. Crab Shack 386 109a S. State Street, Bunnell Feb. 8 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Nine total violations, with three high-priority violations: High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. On table; fried chicken 81F. Per person in charge chicken was made yesterday. It was pulled out this morning. Small cooler; tomatoes, lettuce, Cole slaw 59F; ( - Cold Holding) **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On table; fried chicken 81F. Per person in charge chicken was made yesterday. Below counter; chicken in container 51F. Placed ice on chicken. Small cooler; tomatoes, lettuce, Cole slaw 59F; ( - Cold Holding) On counter; Scallops 59F, chicken 51F; ( - Cold Holding) placed on ice and 2nd temperature scallop 42F, chicken 42F **Warning** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot holding; gumbo, clam chowder 89F. Person in charge put on stove and reheated to 165F. **Corrected On-Site**. Mezzaluna Pizzeria at Town Center 800 Belle Terre Parkway, #102, Palm Coast Feb. 6 Follow-up required: Warning issued. Nine total violations, with two high-priority violations: High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observe person put gloves on without washing hands first. Addressed immediately and person washed hands then put gloves on. **Corrected On-Site** High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler; Cheese 56F, cream 56F; ( - Cold Holding). Both out 30 minutes placed into cooler. mozzarella 54F; ( - Cold Holding). Mozzarella above fill line. Placed in cooler. Out 1 hour. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rodent activity present in NSB restaurant, inspection finds Yes, he speaks Italian. Yes, he loves marinara, and he's named after olive oil," joked the TV personality of his new dog Ryan Seacrest/Instagram Ryan Seacrest Adds Another Dog to His Pack Ryan Seacrest shared a peek at his new puppy love. Earlier this month, the Wheel of Fortune host, 49, announced on Instagram that he recently added another dog to his pack. On Monday morning, the former Live with Kelly and Ryan host visited his old stomping grounds, where he shared a bit more about Olio with the hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. During their conversation, Ripa, 53, asked her former cohost if he had any new additions to his love life, which gave Seacrest the opportunity to talk about his new puppy. Is he an Italian dog? asked Conseulos. Yes, he speaks Italian, joked Seacrest. Yes, he loves marinara, and he's named after olive oil. Now, Georgia, what does she think about this new addition? Consuelos asked of Seacrest's beloved older dog. Georgia rolled her eyes for a couple of months, quipped the American Idol host. And now they're close. He explained that Georgia is getting up there. Ryan Seacrest/Instagram Ryan Seacrest's two dogs and niece Related: Ryan Seacrest Reveals His Dog Georgia Was a Gift from American Idol Creator Simon Fuller Ripa then jokingly asked if the new puppy truffle hunts. Is this one of your truffle-hunting dogs? I haven't entered Olio into the school yet at the training of language school truffle hunting, you know, said Seacrest. Quickly, Ripa asked, Does Olio only speak English? He cheekily retorted, Dogs don't speak. But they understand, added Consuelos. He doesn't speak Italian, confirmed Seacrest. Yeah, I don't command him in Italian. But with a little help from Consuelos, Seacrest proposed he may start commanding Olio to go to sleep in exclusively Italian. Related: Who Is Ryan Seacrest's Girlfriend? All About Aubrey Paige 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Seacrest first shared snapshots of Olio and Georgia on Feb. 1 via Instagram. Your regular reminder of how much I love EVOO, the TV personality joked in the caption. Introducing our newest family member Olio! The carousel of photos includes Seacrest holding the new puppy in his lap, smiling wide for the camera. In the second shot, his niece is spotted with Georgia and Olio. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Entrance into an office building on Wall Street Shannon Stapleton/Reuters US banks have given out $1 trillion of loans to non-regulated "shadow banks." Regulators said that these alternative lenders increase banks' exposure to higher risk debt. Several major banks including Citigroup and Wells Fargo have strengthened their ties with alternative asset lenders. The amount of loans made by US banks to less regulated shadow lenders surpassed $1 trillion in January. Outstanding loans to non-depository financial entities like private equity firms and hedge funds reached $1.0024 trillion last month, representing a roughly 12.16% year-over-year surge from January 2023, according to data released by the US Federal Reserve on Friday. It has become one of banking's fastest-growing businesses at a time when lending volumes overall are growing at a slower rate. The sharp rise in lending to shadow banks has raised concerns among regulators over potential systemic risks, The Financial Times said on Monday. These so-called shadow banks are often less regulated, and many lend money to enterprises where returns may be greater but risks are much higher than what a regulated institution would be able to tolerate. Experts told the FT that such loosely regulated financial institutions have exposed banks to lower-quality loans. Major banks have steadily ramped up lending to less regulated finance companies. The FT notes that since 2010, when banks were first required to report the volume of loans made to non-bank lenders, the share of financing to shadow banks has reached 6% of all bank lending, more than auto lending and not far below credit card debt. Read the original article on Business Insider Directors, producers and subjects of the five Oscar-nominated documentary shorts gathered on Monday for a lively discussion with TheWraps editor-in-chief, Sharon Waxman, as part of TheWrap Screening Series. Among the attendees was Grace Linn, the 101-year-old activist who appears in The ABCs of Book Banning, directed by Sheila Nevins and produced by Trish Adlesic. One of the topics of discussion was the challenges the filmmakers faced while making their docs. In the case of The ABCs of Book Banning, about the ongoing campaign by arch-conservatives to ban books in public schools and libraries, Adlesic said, Were getting all kinds of threats, like were pedophiles. Were getting death threats for making the film because were standing against this injustice. I wish that the people banning books were as sophisticated and mature as the children in the film that you see. She added, Grace is such a model of inspiration for so many of us. At 101, if she can stand up and say, This is not acceptable and [show] what book banning can lead to for all of us, how could we not take the challenge and not take the risk of people, you know, attacking us and doing things to us? Sharon Waxman (left) with panelists from Oscar-nominated documentary shorts (Randy Shropshire) For Island in Between director S. Leo Chiang and producer Jean Tsien, one of the biggest challenges was finding an emotional entry point for viewers who might not be familiar with the islands of Kinmen, which are located between mainland China and Taiwan and are governed by Taiwan. Their solution was to lean into Chiangs own personal history: He was born and raised in Taiwan, went to the U.S. as a teenager and later returned to his home country. In some ways, this film was a little bit of an existential crisis film for me, Chiang said. Ive actually felt very distant from Taiwan for a long time, you know, sort of hearing stories from far away. But because the last few years, Ive been back in Taiwan, it really kind of challenged my identity of me being Taiwanese. I think that maybe thats one of the reasons why the film connected with audiences outside of the region, he continued. Because, really, its about a sense of belonging, the definition of home, which I think all of us can relate to. Doesnt matter where were from and what language you speak. Here, he turned to fellow panelist Sean Wang, the director of Nai Nai and Wai Po who is Taiwanese-American. Explaining that the nominations for his and Wangs films have caused a stir in Taiwan, he said, I actually want to shout out to Sean. The Taiwanese people are so thrilled. You cannot imagine the media madness that is happening now. Wang couldnt have asked for a happier ending to his doc, which celebrates his two nonagenarian grandmothers and was born out of the rise in hate crimes against Asians during the pandemic. It was that feeling of just wanting to remember them, honor them, help people who were only really seeing elderly people in our communities as victims, [as] headlines of the anti-Asian hate crimes, he said, adding that he wanted to capture my grandmothers spirits in a way that was joyful and silly and infectious and youthful, but without ignoring the pain, the loneliness and the mortality that comes with old age as well. The filmmakers behind The Last Repair Shop and The Barber of Little Rock were similarly inspired by unsung heroes. Repair Shop tells the story of the craftspeople who restore the musical instruments provided to students in the Los Angeles public school system, and as Kris Bowers, who co-directed with Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, noted, Oftentimes [there are] incredible artists or stars that come out of a city, but we never know about the village that really made them possible. And so, I think for us, it was really about turning a spotlight on these people that work literally in the shadows. Grace Linn (right), from The ABCs of Book Burning, was in the audience at TheWraps panel on Oscar-nominated documentary shorts (Randy Shropshire) The Barber of Little Rock, meanwhile, focuses on Arlo Washington, who founded a nonprofit community bank in Arkansas to help close the racial wealth gap. Christine Turner, the films co-director with John Hoffman, recalled how she first heard of Washington. She remembered being told of the unique headquarters of his community development financial institution (CFDI): Theres this guy named Arlo who has, in the parking lot of his barber college, a converted shipping container with a loan fund and youve got to meet him,' Turner said. And of course, sure enough, we did. And we knew right then and there, we had our subject. Later, she added, Hes really a pillar in the community. And hes a mentor to so many. So he gives anybody who comes up to him the time of day and he speaks with everyone and he listens to everyone. We were surprised by that. But thats also why we were so drawn to what hes doing. Washington, who was also on the panel, added that the film has increased the demand for our products and services, how we help people. Weve had more national attention. The CDFI industry is made up of about 1,500 CDFIs nationwide. And so the industry has really been intrigued with the fact that our film has gotten nominated for an Oscar, he said. When I go in a grocery store now, its kind of like, Hey! I saw you in a documentary!' he said, laughing. But we never did it for TV, we do it because we emerged out of unmet credit need, and it was what our community needed. And so Ive always been solutions-driven. Thats why we put the shipping container on a parking lot because we just needed a place to make access to capital happen. You can watch the full conversation with the nominees here. The post TheWrap Screening Series: Filmmakers Behind Oscar-Nominated Doc Shorts Praise Unsung Heroes | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Tucker Carlson had a curious defense of Vladimir Putin in his first interview since interviewing the Russian autocrat, saying Every leader kills people, leadership requires killing. Carlsons remarks were made at the 2024 World Government Summit in Dubai, where he was interviewed by Egyptian journalist Emad Eldin Adeeb. Adeeb asked Carlson why he neglected to ask Putin about such pressing topics as the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Im not going to lecture you, but you should challenge some ideas, said Adeeb. You did not talk about freedom of speech, you did not talk about Navlny Carlson replied that other journalists had already posed such questions to Putin, adding, essentially, that its not news that Putin has ordered hits on his enemies. Every leader kills people, leadership requires killing, said the former Fox News anchor. (Carlsons comments that leadership requires killing appear about 17 minutes into the 26-minute segment.) Although Carlson did ask Putin about the potential release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich during the interview that took place in Moscow, he told Adeeb that his primary goal was to let Putin talk and hear his thoughts. Carlson said that positioning himself as the good guy to Putins bad guy would not be fruitful. When Adeeb asked about Carlsons response to the criticism leveled at him over his Putin interview, Carlson responded,I dont like the internet and I havent seen any of the reactions. Adeeb asked specifically if Carlson had heard Hillary Clintons summation that he had proved a useful idiot to the Russian dictator and he claimed not to have heard about it. Shes a child, I dont listen to her, he said of the former Secretary of State. While Carlson insisted several times that he is not flakking for Putin, he did praise Moscow for being better than any current U.S. city. Moscow is so much nicer than any city in my country, cleaner and safer and prettier. I grew up in a country that had cities like Moscow and Abu Dhabi, and Singapore and Tokyo, and we no longer have them. Decrying the filth and graffiti found in American cities and people begging for drugs in London, Carlson seemed to be saying that if he were in charge, those kinds of things would not happen: My children dont smoke marijuana at the breakfast table because I dont allow them. Carlson also has a long history of supporting pro-Putin and pro-Russia talking points on issues like the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine or U.S.-Russia relations, and criticizing Putins enemies and people arrested and imprisoned by Russia. The post Tucker Carlson Defends Putin, Says Leadership Requires Killing | Video appeared first on TheWrap. With Valentines Day 2024 right around the corner, avid K-drama fans can choose indoor celebrations with their favorite dramas and lead couples. Cuddle up with your partner and enjoy some of the most popular romantic K-dramas on Netflix. K-dramas with the romance between the leads are one of the most popular genres among viewers, and what better day to tune in to some of them and celebrate the love for your partner, friends, or family? Below is a list of a few K-dramas, sorted as per IMDbs ranking. These dramas involve gripping storylines, interesting characters, and lovable leads, giving fans a full Valentines Day package to binge on. From the most popular to some of the underrated dramas, here are some popular series. Alchemy of Souls (IMDb rating 8.8/10) Alchemy of Souls is a popular K-drama that premiered on June 18, 2022. The drama, set in the fictional country of Deho, follows the story of an elite assassin, Naksu (Go Youn-Jung). Her whole soul traps itself inside Mu Deoks weak body. Eventually, she becomes Jang-Uks (Lee Jae-Wook) servant. He holds a dark secret about his birth and seeks her help to change the course of his life. Moreover, the series became so popular that it premiered a second season in December 2022. Viewers can stream the drama on Netflix. Crash Landing on You (IMDb rating 8.7/10) Crash Landing on You is one of the most popular romantic K-dramas. The series follows the story of a chaebol heiress, Yoon Se-Ri (Son Ye-Ji), who experiences a paragliding accident that lands her in North Korea. However, soldier Ri Jeong-Hyeok (Hyun Bin) rescues her and takes her to his home. Throughout the series, the two fall deeply in love amid enduring tensions when he helps her hide and return safely to South Korea. Viewers can stream the romantic drama, which premiered on December 14, 2019, here. Twenty Five Twenty One (IMDb rating 8.6/10) Twenty Five Twenty One is a popular K-drama that premiered on Netflix on February 12, 2022. The series, set during the South Korean financial crisis, tells the story of an ambitious fencer, Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-Ri). After her school fencing team disbands due to the crisis, she aims to join the national team. Meanwhile, she meets and falls in love with Baek Yi-Jin (Nam Joo-Hyuk), whose life turns upside down after his fathers business goes bankrupt. Although the two fall in love, they end up going their separate ways. K-drama enthusiasts can stream the drama here. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (IMDb rating 8.6/10) Guardian: The Lonely and Great God is a fan-favorite romantic K-drama. The series follows the story of an immortal goblin named Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), who is searching for his bride. His bride is the only one who can remove the invisible sword from his chest and end his life. Meanwhile, school student Ji Eun-Tak (Kim Go-Eun) crosses paths with him, revealing that she is the chosen bride. Their connection goes way back into the past, and they fall in love with each other. The drama also stars Lee Dong-Woo and Yoo In-Na in pivotal roles. It premiered on December 2, 2016, and is available to stream on Netflix. Descendants of the Sun (IMDb rating 8.2/10) Descendants of the Sun is another fan-favorite K-drama that premiered on February 24, 2016. The series follows the story of a South Korean special forces officer, Yoo Shi-Jin (Song Joong-Ki), who falls in love with surgeon Kang Mo-Yeon (Song Hye-Kyo). The two have completely different ideals of life and initially dont see eye to eye. However, they end up forming a bond during the time of war and gradually fall in love. The drama can be streamed on Netflix. Business Proposal (IMDb rating 8.1/10) Business Proposal offers K-drama fans equal dozes of romance and comedy. The series premiered on Netflix on February 28, 2022, and follows the story of office employee Shin Ha-Ri (Kim Se-Jeong), who goes on a blind date in disguise of her friend. Although she aims to scare away her friends prospective suitor, chaos ensues after Ha-Ri discovers that it is the CEO of the company, Kang Tae-Moo (Ahn Hyo-Seop). He ends up making a proposal, leading the way for the two to fall in love. The series can be streamed here. Other popular romantic K-dramas include Our Beloved Summer, My Demon, Something in the Rain, Her Private Life, Whats Wrong with Secretary Kim, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Love Alarm, Its Okay to Not Be Okay, and several others. The post Valentines Day 2024: Romantic K-Dramas on Netflix, Ranked appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of kidnapping. Reader discretion is advised. In November 2014, Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, 22, was kidnapped from a Philadelphia street while walking home from a family gathering. Within days, authorities caught up to the kidnapper, Delvin Barnes, in Jessup, Maryland, and rescued Freeland-Gaither alive. They were able to track down Barnes after he used Freeland-Gaithers ATM card, per NBC Philadelphia. Police also used security footage and tracking devices. People Magazine stated the US Attorneys Office announced in 2016 that Barnes pleaded guilty to kidnapping. Following his guilty plea, he received a sentence of 35 years in prison. Federal prison records stated that Barnes is currently serving his term in FCI Herlong in California. A new Lifetime movie, Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story, recently revisited Carlesha Freeland-Gaithers harrowing kidnapping story. The film premiered on Lifetime last Saturday, February 10, 2024. How did police track down Carlesha Freeland-Gaithers kidnapper, Delvin Barnes? On the night of November 2, 2014, Gaither-Freeland, a 22-year-old nursing aide, was returning home from a family gathering. She got off the bus and was walking along West Coulter Street in Philadelphias Germantown neighborhood when a man grabbed her. This man, later identified as Delvin Barnes, then forced her into a gray Ford Taurus, per NBC Philadelphia. Surveillance footage captured the kidnapping incident, which proved essential in the case. According to police accounts, Gaither-Freeland tried to fight back but stopped once Barnes threatened to kill her. She later told NBC that she intentionally dropped her phone and glasses as clues while the kidnapper forced her into the vehicle. A man named Dwayne Fletcher had witnessed the entire incident and even tried to stop the attack. However, Barnes brandished a knife to stop Fletcher from helping the victim. With the surveillance video and Fletcher as a witness, detectives knew that they were on the lookout for a gray Ford Taurus. While the incident prompted a nationwide investigation into Carlesha Freeland-Gaithers kidnapping, she remained tied up inside the trunk of the car. The case soon garnered significant media coverage. The NBC report stated that Gaither-Freeland let the kidnapper, Delvin Barnes, use her ATM card. This would later help authorities track down the two, proving consequential in the search. The search eventually expanded from Philadelphia to Aberdeen, Maryland, where surveillance had captured Barnes using the captives ATM card on November 3, 2014. Gaither-Freeland claimed she later learned that Barnes was trying to travel to Virginia to visit his daughter. Along the way, they stopped outside a Chinese restaurant and a McDonalds where she tried to get help discreetly. Carlesha Freeland-Gaither told the outlet that during the drive, they both continued throwing trash out of the car. These trash items ultimately led to a big break for investigators after a woman from Havre De Grace, Maryland, found a bag of trash with a receipt from an ACME supermarket, a bag of Herrs potato chips, and shattered glass. The woman later called the police after learning about Gaither-Freelands abduction. Surveillance footage from the ACME supermarket showed Barnes buying the same potato chips. Investigators then tracked Barnes Ford Taurus through a GPS device that the car dealership had placed inside the vehicle. The dealership had reportedly installed the GPS in the vehicle when Barnes bought it because he had bad credit. Investigators eventually found Carlesha Freeland-Gaither and Delvin Barnes on November 5, 2014. They found the two inside Taurus in a shopping center parking lot in Jessup, Maryland, after following a tip from a Virginia ATF Office. Authorities arrested Barnes as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle and rescued Gaither-Freeland, who had only suffered minor injuries. The NBC report further mentioned that at the time of his arrest, Barnes was already wanted for attempted murder and rape charges in an unrelated case. He had allegedly sexually assaulted and tried to kill a teenager in Virginia in October 2014 and has an extensive criminal record. The kidnapper later told investigators that he abducted Gaither-Freeland randomly. He had hoped to steal money from her so he could travel to Virginia to see his daughter. In June 2016, Barnes pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and received a sentence of 35 years in prison, per another NBC Philadephia report. The post Where Is Carlesha Freeland-Gaithers Kidnapper Delvin Barnes Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. With the Demon Lords army almost on the doorstep, The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 7 will most likely feature the imminent battle fans have been waiting for. Moreover, with Usatos unexpected vision, the episode might also cater to what he saw. Overall, the isekai anime will unravel mysteries and begin the much-awaited confrontation with the Demon Lord. The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 7 release date & time The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 7 will premiere on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 12:30 a.m. JST. Tokyo MX, BS11, and AT-X will broadcast the episode in Japan. Viewers in other parts of the world can stream the episode on Crunchyroll after waiting an hour from its original premiere in Japan. Find out The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 7 release date and time in international time zones below: Friday, February 16, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. PST Friday, February 16, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. GMT Friday, February 16, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. GMT Friday, February 16, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. CET Friday, February 16, 2024, at 9 p.m. IST The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 6 recap In The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic episode 6, Usato and Inumaki were finally found and brought to the king after news of them getting lost in the woods surfaced. The duo later met with Princess Celia. At the same time, when Rose and Siglis met the king, he filled them in on a concerning news. As such, the Demon Lords army had already started moving and could come to attack them at any time. Moreover, the episode showed that Rose was formerly in charge of leading troops against the Demon Lord. However, she retired due to the guilt of blood on her hands. Rose leaves to confront the Demon Lords army after assigning Usato to drop a letter to Ururu Fleur and Orga. The letter contained instructions from Rose to start preparing for the looming war. Meanwhile, Rose attempted to demolish the bridge the enemies were building, but the armys commander immediately recognized her. As the episode came to a close, the fox girl, who previously appeared in the series, gave Usato a vision of the war. In this vision, he witnesses the Black Knight killing Kazuki and Inumaki. The post The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic Episode 7 Will Set the Stage For Action appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. In early January, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would be expanding food benefits programs this summer in an effort to provide children nutritious meals even when school is out. Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive such benefits through the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT. Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches will be eligible for Summer EBT. The benefits will come in the form of pre-loaded cards that families can use to purchase groceries. Beginning in summer 2024, families will receive $40 per eligible child. Summer EBT benefits will work in tandem with other federal nutrition assistance programs including summer meal sites, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to boost childrens access to healthy foods year round. A USDA report, published in October, found statistically significant increases in food insecurity nationwide due to expiring pandemic-related government air coupled with rising food costs. Roughly 17 million households reported problems affording enough food in 2022 compared to 13.5 million households in 2021 and 13.8 million households in 2020. Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into Summer EBT, per the Associated Press. Fifteen states all Republican-governed chose not to opt in for this summer, citing cost and existing programs that already feed children during the summer. They will have a chance to join for summer 2025, the USDA said. Heres a closer look at all the states that will not participate in Summer EBT, and why: 01 Alabama State officials said changes to federal funding and bad timing would prevent the program from being set up in time. Unfortunately, the federal government has now cut funding for administering the program by 50% and issued guidance after our legislative session ended, Deputy Communications Director Mike Lewis wrote to AL.com, thereby eliminating the potential for securing state funds to continue administering these limited additional benefits. Alabama is reportedly considering whether to participate in 2025, but the total cost to administer the program (an estimated $10 million) has not been determined yet. 02 Alaska The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), which operated the pandemic-era EBT program during its first year, will not apply for the new Summer EBT program because the administrative requirements greatly exceeds the benefit that would be issued to children. The cost and administrative requirement to create a new EBT issuance program either with DEED or in coordination with a partner agency greatly exceeds the benefit that would be issued to children, a legislative liaison for the department wrote in an email to Juneau Empire. DEED is currently pursuing other avenues to increase (availability) of nutritious foods to children during the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program. Alaska remains open to the option to pursue Summer EBT in future years should it become more feasible to implement. The decision, announced in December, comes as state officials struggle to clear out a lengthy backlog of food stamp applications that has kept thousands of Alaskans waiting months for benefits. 03 Florida The Florida Department of Children and Families said it wouldnt be pursuing the funding for Summer EBT: We anticipate that our states full approach to serving children will continue to be successful this year without any additional federal programs that inherently always come with some federal strings attached, a spokesperson for the department wrote in an email to Governing. The Summer EBT program for 2024 would serve approximately 2.2 million children and deliver an estimated $259 million in nutrition aid, if the state were to apply. Florida previously opted out of Summer Pandemic-EBT before changing its decision in 2021 following pressure from stakeholders across the state. 04 Georgia State leaders cited existing state-administered programs that already feed children during the summer including Seamless Summer and Happy Helpings. A statement from Gov. Brian Kemps office said the state remains focused on well-established and effective programs that are tailored to address our state's specific needs by providing necessary nutrition and engagement to families and kids. Unlike the many successful programs Georgia already has in place, the most notable being GaDOE's Seamless Summer Option, which alone provided millions of breakfast and lunch meals to students statewide last year, this federal Covid-era EBT program not only lacks basic nutritional requirements and sustainability but fails to address the mission of improving the health and wellness of our children, a spokesperson for the governor told Georgias WXIA-TV via email. 05 Idaho Despite Idahos decision to opt out of Summer EBT in 2024, Gov. Brad Little has supported the program, asking the state legislature for an estimated $1 million in state funds required to administer it. Even if lawmakers approved that spending, the state funding wouldnt begin until Idahos fiscal year starts July 1. Idaho may be able to participate in Summer EBT for the summer of 2025, but a decision hasnt been made at this time. 06 Iowa Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a news release that an EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic. She added, If the Biden Administration and Congress want to make a real commitment to family well-being, they should invest in already existing programs and infrastructure at the state level and give us the flexibility to tailor them to our states needs. Participating in Summer EBT would cost Iowa about $2.2 million, the Associated Press reported. Reynolds decision was met with opposition from some state lawmakers. Democratic Sen. Izaah Knox of Des Moines said the cruel and short-sighted decision will have real impacts on children and families in my district and communities all across Iowa. 07 Louisiana State officials said Louisiana missed the Jan. 1 deadline to opt in Summer EBT benefits due to the recent changeover in administrations. Former Gov. John Bel Edwards was succeeded by Gov. Jeff Landry, who officially took office on Jan. 8. A statement from the Louisiana Department of Education said it was improper to commit Governor Landry and a new legislature to millions of dollars in increased spending toward a new government program. Local stakeholders have urged officials to reconsider participating in Summer EBT, noting federal enrollment requirements are less difficult in the first year. Roughly one in four children in the state live in poverty, compared to 17% nationally. 08 Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Human Services, which oversees SNAP, informed the Mississippi Department of Education that it does not have the personnel to manage the Summer EBT program. Mississippi declined to participate at the direction of Governor Reeves because it was originally intended to be a temporary pandemic-era program, Gov. Tate Reeves press secretary told Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Reeves added that he decided against participating in Summer EBT to protect Mississippi from "attempts to expand the welfare state." 09 Nebraska Officials said Nebraska will not participate in Summer EBT, which would cost the state roughly $300,000 annually in administrative costs, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. In the end, I fundamentally believe that we solve the problem, and I dont believe in welfare, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen told the outlet. Nebraska, however, will continue taking part in a different federal program, called the Summer Food Service Program, which combines programming like reading, physical activity and nutrition education with food assistance. We just want to make sure that theyre out. Theyre at church camps. Theyre at schools. Theyre at 4-H. And well take care of them at all of the places that theyre at, so that theyre out amongst (other people) and not feeding a welfare system with food at home, Pillen said. 10 Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt rejected an estimated $60 million in federal funds that could have benefitted more than 400,000 children in the state this year. Stitt cited concerns over the federal governments implementation of the program and said existing services like SNAP and state-level food programs already address food insecurity. We gave over $20 million over the last couple of years to different food banks, Stitt told KJRH News. So, we are satisfied that kids wont be going hungry in the summertime. We just dont know enough about the program; not saying we wont do it next year. Stitt added that there wasnt enough information surrounding Summer EBT, saying there was more bureaucracy for families to wade through. 11 South Carolina South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said the state decided not to participate in Summer EBT because officials are trying to move past pandemic aid. That was a COVID-related benefit. Weve got to get back to doing normal business. We just cant continue that forever, but were still continuing all the other programs that we have, McMaster told reporters, per The Hechinger Report. South Carolinas existing summer meals programs currently rely on support from sponsors, who have been decreasing in number over the years. The states biggest program is run by the USDA and relies on sponsors, like the Lowcountry Food Bank, to distribute the food. Since 2019, fewer sponsors have signed up to participate. According to the South Carolina Department of Education, there were 78 sponsors in 2019 compared to 45 in 2023. 12 South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem said South Dakotas low unemployment, the administrative burden of running the program, and the states robust existing food programs are just a few reasons why the state opted out of Summer EBT. Federal money often comes with strings attached, and more of it is often not a good thing, Ian Fury, the chief of communications for Gov. Noem wrote in an email to Chalkbeat. 13 Texas According to KFOX14, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said participating in the program was not possible this summer because the USDA guidance came so late last year, making it challenging for approval by the state legislature. 14 Vermont Officials at the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) decided to forego Summer EBT benefits due to administrative costs. Deputy Commissioner of Children and Families Miranda Gray said the administrative costs could be significant, due to the fact that Vermont lacks the IT system needed to streamline the collection of eligibility information from participating households, the Vermont Public reported. Gray added that moving forward with the Summer EBT program this year would cause undue budgetary pressure. Its not just bringing this [federal food assistance] income here. There is an expense to Vermont to being able to administer this program now, she said. Vermont hopes to have a new, working IT system at the Agency of Education and DCF in advance of the summer of 2025. Gray said the state plans to permanently enroll in the Summer EBT program once that system is in place. Vermont is very committed to doing this, but also wanting to make sure we are doing this thoughtfully and correctly, because it is federal money that will be audited, so wanting to make sure that we are prepared, she said. 15 Wyoming The state claimed the Summer EBT program is a welfare program mis-marketed as a program for kids. I will not let the Biden Administration weaponize summer school lunch programs to justify a new welfare program, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder said in a statement emailed to WyoFile. Thanks, but no thanks. We will continue to combat childhood hunger the Wyoming way. The airline released a host of discounted fares in time for spring travel. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Air France has released dozens of spring break flight deals to popular European destinations like Barcelona, Paris, and Nice. Traveling the world at a small cost is possible with Air France, the airline shared on its website about the sale. You can book cheap airline tickets thanks to our many promotional flight deals and other great offers. The French flag carrier flies nonstop routes between its major Paris hub and nearly 20 cities across the U.S., including Boston, San Francisco, and soon-to-be Phoenix. Travel + Leisure sifted through the promotion and found the following round-trip deals, most of which will connect through Paris first: Boston (BOS) to Paris (CDG) for $548 between Feb. 27 and March 12 Boston (BOS) to Nice (NCE) for $586 between March 13 and April 13 Denver (DEN) to Lyon (LYS) for $734 between March 13 and April 3 New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) for $546 between Feb. 27 and March 5 Miami (MIA) to Nice (NCE) for $558 between March 13 and March 20 Miami (MIA) to Porto (OPO) for $550 between March 12 and March 19 Los Angeles (LAX) to Dublin (DUB) for $595 between March 12 and March 26 Minneapolis (MSP) to Berlin (BER) for $683 between March 11 and March 25 San Francisco (SFO) to Madrid (MAD) for $678 between March 12 and April 9 San Francisco (SFO) to Valencia (VLC) for $584 between March 11 and April 8 Seattle (SEA) to Geneva (GVA) for $588 between March 11 and April 24 Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Milan (MXP) for $558 between February 28 and March 6 Air France calls these promo fares part of the economy light class, which are non-refundable but can be changed for a $199 fee and any remaining fare difference. These tickets include a personal and carry-on bag, but checked bags and seat assignments will cost extra. For the entire list of promotional fares, travelers can enter their home airport and maximum budget on Air Frances dedicated Flight Deals page. Delta and United also have their versions of flight promotions pages that can help travelers score an excellent deal on their next vacation. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. If you follow the world of fine dining, Alain Ducasse and Massimo Bottura are names that need no introduction. The former is a French chef who holds the distinction of being the first ever to run three different 3-star Michelin restaurants simultaneously; the latter is an Italian chef whose 3-star Michelin restaurant, Osteria Francescana, is famous for pushing his country's cuisine in bold new directions. Even for those who are familiar with these chefs' careers, it may come as a surprise to find out that Ducasse played a vital role in Bottura's training as a young cook. The two culinary luminaries have continued collaborating up to the present day. Thus, it makes sense that Ducasse is one of the culinary titans who will be participating in a tribute dinner for Botttura at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival later this month. In an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, Ducasse shared his memories from when Bottura trained in one of his restaurants Ducasse recruited the young Italian chef after eating a promising meal at his humble trattoria. He also related how rewarding it has been in recent years to collaborate with Bottura's charitable organization, Food For Soul. Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home How Ducasse Discovered Bottura Massimo Bottura in turtleneck - Gary Gershoff/Getty Images As Ducasse told us, Bottura was studying to be a lawyer in the '80s, but he abandoned law school and opened a trattoria in Campazzo, Italy. This is where Ducasse first ate Bottura's food. "I had been given the address and I went there. The meal I had was impressive." The French chef was particularly enamored with a savory riff on a cappuccino in which the coffee was replaced with onion and potato soup. He saw signs of promise in Bottura and convinced the younger chef to give up his restaurant to come work at Ducasse's Louis XV. Bottura was a quick study who filled up notebooks with all of the tips and tricks he learned at Louis XV. But when he was preparing to leave and start his own restaurant again, Ducasse told him to remember to preserve his original voice. "I took the notebooks and teared them up: 'No, now you will make your own, personal cuisine. Create, don't imitate.' Years after, Massimo told me that it was the best advice he ever had." Working In The Refettorios Plates at London refettorio - Bloomberg/Getty Images Food For Soul, which is a collaboration between Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmore, is a charity that runs 12 Refettorios (basically, free restaurants that serve meals to unhoused and underprivileged people). When Ducasse heard that his old student was starting up this benevolent project, he rushed to get involved. "Many talk about chefs' social responsibility Massimo acts. I did not hesitate to join Lara and Massimo's Refettorio initiative from the first in Milan to the ones in Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro." For Ducasse, in addition to helping out hungry people, the Reffetorios act as a model for testing out a less wasteful future for restaurant cooking. As he put it, "Food for Soul also illustrates another approach of alimentation, more careful vis-a-vis the natural resources, avoiding wastes." The ongoing relationship between Ducasse and Bottura is an indication of the utmost respect the pair have for each other. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival runs February 22-25. Tickets for the February 24 tribute dinner for Massimo Bottura are sold out. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Bhutan is attempting to balance the demands of economic development with the needs of spiritual wellbeing but is it humanly possible? One of our biggest challenges is being seen as this locked-up mountain kingdom, a Bhutanese politician complained to me during my visit to the tiny Himalayan land of the thunder dragon in late 2022. Id come to join the prime minister, members of government and enthusiastic locals on an inaugural hike along the new Trans Bhutan Trail a revived network of ancient trading paths. Like many of the tourists in my party, Id been lured by the mystery of what lay behind the golden temples and snow-capped peaks of a country which only opened to tourism 50 years ago. Bhutans drawcard has always been its elusiveness. A nation built on the principles of Buddhism and a philosophy of Gross National Happiness seems so foreign and exotic in a world booming and busting under capitalism that Bhutan may as well be on Mars. Education and healthcare are free, there are no advertising billboards or major fast-food chains (junk food addicts in capital city Thimphu have their own KFC Karma Fried Chicken) and this was the first country in the world to be declared carbon negative. It all adds up to a real-life Shangri-La. But things are inevitably changing. At the end of last year in an address to the nation, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced ambitious plans for a new urban development intending to put Bhutan on the economic map. Spanning 250,000 acres (2.5 per cent of the mountainous country), Gelephu Mindfulness City will include residential neighbourhoods, healthcare, spiritual and cultural centres, a university and an airport. The Gelephu Masterplan gives form to His Majestys vision to create a city that becomes a cradle for growth and innovation while remaining founded on Bhutanese nature and culture, says Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the architects commissioned to see through the ambitious project. We imagine the Mindfulness City as a place that could be nowhere else. Its a commendable concept; an attempt to balance the demands of economic development with the needs of spiritual wellbeing. But the cynic in me wonders if thats humanly possible. Could Bhutans lofty urban dream end up being nothing more than a Buddhist Disneyland or a nirvanic Center Parcs? Tuning in to the outside world To be fair, Bhutans rulers have been in a tricky situation for some time. A mass exodus of disillusioned youth seeking better job opportunities in Australia, India and Kuwait has resulted in 14,000 people (2 per cent of the population) leaving the country between 2018 and 2023, according to data from Paro International Airport. Unless we find the right solution, our population may dwindle to the point where we have more shops than customers, more restaurants than diners, and more houses than tenants, said His Majesty in his public address. When I first visited Bhutan in 2010, internet connection was patchy. Now 3G is everywhere and the trappings of a materialistic outside world are hard to resist. Even before that, the arrival of TV sets had an impact. We used to eat dinner in a circle, but now we all sit in a U-shape, one Bhutanese local joked to me. A mass exodus of disillusioned youth seeking better job opportunities in Australia, India and Kuwait has resulted in 2 per cent of the population leaving the country between 2018 and 2023 Bitcoin and biodiversity The need for development is there but it undoubtedly comes at a cost usually thats the environment. Part of the Mindfulness City masterplan involves a new hydroelectric dam, an industry thats overtaken tourism as the countrys primary source of revenue. But organisers insist nature is at the forefront of the project: residential areas will be low-density and low-rise, transport will run on clean energy, and biodiversity corridors will allow elephants and other wildlife to move freely. Considering electricity lines in the Phobjikha Valley were carefully laid underground to avoid disturbing flocks of black-necked cranes arriving from Tibet every October, its highly conceivable these claims will be followed through. Besides, plans for future development are mainly in the less invasive tech sphere: blockchain projects, green cryptocurrency mining and drone testing are already underway. With our cool temperatures and hydro power, we could become a major hub for data centres, one ambitious Bhutanese politician told me. The Bhutan blueprint Bitcoins are a world away from the auspicious pennies showering Buddhas in temples, but all these changes have positive benefits for tourism too. Regarded by pilots as one of the most difficult airports in which to land, Paro has limited flights and expensive seats sell out quickly. A new airport in a better location will undoubtedly make access easier. Jigme Dorji, a local guide working through the TravelLocal platform, predicts that the Mindfulness City could even be a blueprint for future tourism. Bhutans drawcard has always been its elusiveness, a nation built on the principles of Buddhism and a philosophy of Gross National Happiness It comes at a time when slow travel and prioritising rest and wellbeing is at the forefront of travellers minds. There are aspects of Bhutanese tourism which position the country as a pioneer that we could all learn from especially preservation of cultural traditions and avoiding overtourism. Bhutan has always been a master of intrigue: no doubt visitors will flock to Gelephu simply to see what its like. It will take the collective effort of every Bhutanese to make this a success, says a spokesperson for the Bhutanese Mindfulness City media team, aware of the many challenges ahead. Bhutan will have to make up in energy and ingenuity what it lacks in numbers and economic capacity. The gates to the kingdom are well and truly open. Time will tell if its potential can be unlocked. 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. VIRGINIA BEACH With the summer tourist season right around the corner, an Oceanfront business owner has a plan to house a core segment of the resort areas workforce. Sunsations Realty wants to convert part of a commercial building on Atlantic Avenue into dormitory-style housing for international workers who will temporarily work in Virginia Beach through a work/travel visa. Every summer, except during the height of the pandemic, more than 1,000 college students from other countries participate in the exchange visitor program to work in Virginia Beachs hospitality industry. Hotels and restaurants rely on the workers to round out their staff during the busiest time of the year. The workers rely on sponsor companies, who they pay fees, to find them safe, adequate housing. No other dormitory-style housing option currently exists at the Oceanfront. Some apartment complexes and beach cottages offer lodging. The J1 visa, administered by the State Department, allows students to work for up to four months. Most of their jobs are seasonal, entry-level, positions. Then, they can travel for a month around the country. On Wednesday, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation on the housing proposal to the City Council. Yaron Sibony, president of Sunsations Realty and the owner of retail shops and hotels, saw a need for housing international workers, said his lawyer Kyle Korte, who presented the project to the Resort Advisory Commission earlier this month. Korte didnt say how much the owner would invest in the renovations or what it will cost to rent a dorm. The proposed space would be the second floor of 2500 Atlantic Ave., above a Sunsations gift shop. Its currently vacant. While peak employment demand occurs during the summer season, the applicant believes there would be year-round demand to support the proposed use, and no other individuals will be allowed to use it, according to the planning staff report. Story continues In 2020, Virginia Beach changed its zoning law to allow for no more than eight exchange visitor program participants in one dwelling unit. The latest proposal is calling for a total of 86 beds with eight beds in most rooms. Restrooms, laundry and kitchen facilities will be provided. An on-site manager will live in the building, and the police department has provided recommendations for lighting, inspections, security cameras and bike storage. The citys planning staff is recommending approval. What I love about this project is that its literally in the heart of our resort on Atlantic Avenue, said Dee Nachnani, owner of Coastal Edge Surf Shop and president of the Atlantic Avenue Association. They can walk to their jobs. The Resort Advisory Commission endorsed the housing proposal. Following the Planning Commissions recommendation, the City Council will then vote on it. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com T+L TOP TRAVEL ADVISOR | KENYA, RWANDA, AND SOUTH AFRICA SPECIALIST Courtesy of Candice Heckel Contact Africa Endeavours Chicago, IL checkel@africaendeavours.com 1-312-951-8517 africaendeavours.com instagram.com/africaendeavours This specialist pays extra attention to pre-trip details so travelers experience a seamless safari vacation well before they leave home. On one South Africa trip, Heckels clients explored Cape Peninsula in a vintage WWII motorcycle sidecar, snorkeled with Cape fur seals, and ended the day with sunset drinks in the shadow of Chapmans Peak. Additional Specialties: Multi-generation, cultural immersion Languages Spoken: English Average Daily Spend: $1,000 Trip Planning Fees: Staring at $500+ Testimonial "Every moment of our dream trip to the Okavango Delta exceeded our expectations. Candice created the exact itinerary we wanted and took care of the granular details we didn't know we needed. More than once, other guests at our accommodations asked us for advice or information, which we could provide because Candice had prepared us so well to drop into our completely immersive safari experience." Barbara G. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. A Denver man has changed his business model and now you could probably call him a professional hero. By trade Joe Phillips is the owner of an emergency tree service company, but throughout his years in the business realized that his services could help with another common problem: getting cats out of trees. Now Phillips has saved nearly 100 cats who otherwise would've been in grave danger. Phillips is the owner of AAA Emergency Tree Service, a nationwide 24-hour tree company. As Phillips explained to KDVR, he first realized that he loved working outside when he was only a child. "I started when I was 12 years old working for one of my neighbors," he explained. "I kind of fell in love with being outside really." But he didn't go into the business right away. Related: Cat Caught on Home Camera Festively 'Un-decorating' the Christmas Tree "When I was 21, I started out in mental health," he continued. "Decided to get out of that when somebody threw me up against the wall. I started my business when I was 21 years old and Im now 71, so I have now been doing it for 50 years," he said. Usually, Phillips' work at AAA Emergency Tree Service involves removing fallen or cracked trees or possibly even trimming trees or removing them entirely. But in the 50 years he's been in the business, it became clear that he could help people in a very unique way. "People have cats that get up in trees," he explained. "They think calling a tree guy, or a tree service is the way to do it, thats essentially how I came into it." Phillips started taking on work locally in Denver, but has since expanded his services to be part of what his company does nationwide. He's even gotten requests far from Colorado one came from Puerto Rico and he recently got a call from Cape Town, South Africa. "I got people hearing about me through different human societies," he shared, before explaining how he's able to work so far from home. "Then I would essentially find people to do the work and be able to rescue them." Over the years Phillips has seen how his work has really helped people. As for the cats he's helped... They can be in real distress maybe 15-20 minutes later they move on with their life and taking a nap, he joked. But overall he knows he's doing something good. "I think people love animals and its a feel-good kind of story really," he said. The business owner said he plans on working into his 80s which means he can keep being a hero to cats everywhere. Sounds purr-fect to us. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Before Lent kicks off on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14 this year), the Italians celebrate with a huge festival called Carnevale, or carnival. Its a colorful festival filled with beautiful costumes, merriment, and delicious food. One delightful treat often served is the Chiacchiere, a beloved dessert that is oh-so-light and tasty. Giada de Laurentiis shared how to make this sweet snack, and we cant wait to try it. Light Pastry Bring the flavors of Italian Carnevale to your kitchen with Chiacchiere! the Giadzy founder wrote on Instagram Monday. Crisp, light, and impossible to eat just one, Chiacchiere are a sweet fried pastry that perfectly embody the spirit of Carnevale in Italy. More from SheKnows Theyll quickly become your new favorite treat , she added. How to Make To make, youll need double zero flour (an Italian, finely ground flour), lemon zest, marsala, confectioners sugar, and other ingredients. Youll start by making the dough, then working it to form a mound with a well in the center. This you will fill with the marsala, and other ingredients, using a fork to whisk it, slowly combining the flour mixture to the center. Switch to your hands, kneading until the dough is soft and pliable. Let the dough rest for an hour before you roll it into a long rectangle. Youll dust it with flour and use a pasta roller to cut it into strips. These go into a skillet with vegetable oil to fry them, then they are dusted with confectioners sugar and served. Its like an Italian version of funnel cake and a treat so good, you wont want to give it up for Lent! Beloved Treat A woman shows off her Carnevale di Venezia costume. (Graham Guenther/Unsplash) De Laurentiis shared the full recipe on her Giadzy website, where she explained a little more about the traditional food. According to her, Carnevale is a time with vibrant parades and lively music that celebrates the last day before Lent. The Chiacchiere is just one of many delightful foods served. These puffed and powdered sugar-dusted Chiacchiere are one of the most beloved, and youll see why after making this recipe at home, she wrote. Many people confirmed the treats deliciousness in the comments section. Real good, my Mom used to make these every February , one person wrote. Someone else commented, I used to help my Noni make these and she called them Chenci. Hers were tied in a knot or a bow. She was from northern Italy in the Piedmonte region. My Baba made them. She called then erstale. She was from now Croatia, another person said. Even if you dont have a relative that enjoys making this carnival treat, you can start a new tradition in your family by making it this year. Once you make it once, youll look forward to it every year! Get de Laurentiis full Chiacchiere recipe HERE. In search of more summer recipes? Giada De Laurentiis has plenty: Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Theyre the only pair I genuinely love. Madewell / Suzy Goodrick Two weekends ago, my life was nothing short of a dream. While vacationing in Arizona, my boyfriend ahem, now fiance got down on one knee and popped the question (Alexa, play Love Story). Everything was perfect, from the Taylor Swift lyrics etched into my ring box to a hummingbird flying around us. I was even wearing my all-time favorite jeans from Madewell; it was obviously meant to be. The pants Im officially never getting rid of? The brands Perfect Vintage Jeans, which come in sizes 24 to 33 and petite, standard, tall, and taller fits. Currently on sale for $80, the high-rise silhouette features superb stretch, tapered legs, a button-front closure, and functional pockets. Its like a pair of your moms jeans but so much cooler, offering a slightly faded design and laid-back look. Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean in Kepler Wash Madewell $80 at madewell.com Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean in Decatur Wash Madewell $80 at madewell.com Ive owned the Perfect Vintage Jeans for a few months and can confidently say theyre it. The comfortable pants never feel tight or stiff, giving me breathing room without looking baggy. I wore them to a movie night with friends where everyone thought I was crazy for not slipping on sweats. What can I say? The denim is strong enough to shape the body but soft enough to lounge in; I never want to take them off. Styling these babies is beyond simple. On that same magical day I got engaged, I paired my pants with white Alexandra Daddario-worn Cariuma sneakers and another Madewell find: a green cashmere sweater. You can dress them up just as easily with a tucked-in button-up shirt, waist-cinching belt, and strappy pumps. Wear them to brunch, the movies, and even an elevated dinner. Im not saying you should wear the Perfect Vintage Jeans to a black-tie event, but I did get engaged in them, after all. Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean in Chesthunt Wash Madewell $128 at madewell.com IMO, nothing beats this hero design from the Katie Holmes-worn brand, but other versions, like the patch-pocket wide-leg edition and cropped silhouette, are just as good. Both feature a 70s aesthetic, trouser-like construction, and the OGs star qualities. Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean Madewell $60 at madewell.com Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean Madewell $128 at madewell.com A curvy option is also available. Made for hourglass bodies in mind, the pants include extra room at the hips and thighs, holding you in and lifting you up in all the right places (wink, wink). Shop this version in six washes, starting at $50. Madewell Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Myers Wash Madewell $70 at madewell.com Madewell Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Kepler Wash Madewell $70 at madewell.com Finding a pair of jeans you genuinely adore is hard work, so make things easier for yourself by securing Madewells Perfect Vintage Jeans. You'll fall so deeply in love with them, you may even want to marry them! For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. H&M Group has dropped a Turkish sustainable textile producer following reports that a trade union leader was injured with a firearm just before what were supposed to be negotiations over unpaid wages and benefits following the factorys declaration of insolvency. The Swedish retailer was already two years into a phase-out process for Akar Tekstil in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir for business reasons, a spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. As we were informed [of] this shocking act today, we took action [to] end all our business relations with this supplier with immediate effect. More from Sourcing Journal The Leather Weaving and Textile Workers Union, better known by its Turkish acronym DERITEKS, accused Onur Akar, brother of Akar Tekstil owner Hayrettin Akar, on Monday of staging an armed attack on president Makum Alagoz and others as they were waiting to speak to factory management at the behest of the workers it represents through a collective bargaining agreement. While Alagoz was shot in the leg, the injury isnt life-threatening and he is currently recovering in the hospital, it said. We see the attack on our union president and managers at Akar Tekstil, our workplace with a collective agreement in Izmir, as an attack on the working class and all unions that are its organized power, DERITEKS, an affiliate of IndustriALL European Trade Union and IndustriALL Global Union, wrote on X after the incident. We will never step back. Akar Tekstil did not respond to a request for comment. IndustriALL European Trade Union and IndustriALL Global Union condemned the alleged attack on Monday, saying that the use of force and guns against workers representatives is criminal and totally unacceptable. We would like to send a clear message to our members in Akar Textile that we stand fully behind them in their struggle, Isabelle Barthes and Judith Kirton-Darling, acting joint secretaries of IndustriAll European Trade Union and Atle Hie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, wrote in a statement. It is their fundamental right under international law to promote the interests of workers who have chosen to stand together in a union and demand their fair share of profits and productivity. The Fair Labor Association, a Washington, D.C.-based multi-stakeholder group that promotes human rights at work, urged Turkish authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators involved in this attack to justice. Representatives from DERITEKS, which represents more than 4,000 workers and is Turkeys fourth-largest textile, garment and leather union, have actively participated in many of its virtual board meetings, as well as engaged with its civil society organization caucus. FLA stands in solidarity with Mr. Alagoz, his family and DERITEKS, and wishes him a speedy recovery, the Fair Labor Association said in a statement. FLA supports freedom of association for workers; acts of violence against labor leaders suppress and interfere with this fundamental human right and must not be tolerated. Akar Tekstil, which boasts an R&D center and design center, in addition to an expansive production floor manned by thousands of people, bills itself as the regions first and only LEED-certified textile factory. It touts sustainability at every step, writing on its website that it acts with the awareness of sustainability from human resources practices to stakeholder relations to material selection. H&M Group aside, C&A, George by Asda, Kiabi and Mango name Akar Tekstil on their public supplier lists, though Asda said that the list is outdated and that it no longer counts the facility as a contractor. C&A and Kiabi did not return emails requesting comment while Mango declined to provide a statement. Akar Tekstils website also lists Inditex brands Bershka, Pull&Bear and Zara, but the Spanish conglomerate says that it has not worked with the factory in several years. The incident is the latest in a string of violence against union representatives, sometimes with deadly results, as with the death of Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation leader Shahidul Islam in Gazipur last June. Like Alagoz, Islam was reclaiming owed wages on behalf of workers when he was beaten to death by so-called hired goons, though several representatives of a rival union have since been arrested. The same month, four Gildan San Miguel union leaders were among 13 people killed in the Honduran manufacturing city of Choloma after heavily armed men fired into a pool hall during a birthday celebration. And in the Turkish city of Urfa, former workers of Ozak Tekstil, now 80 days into what they describe as a fight over union choice, say that security forces have attacked them with water cannons, pepper spray, riot shields and batons. Birtek-Sen, their preferred union, recently moved the demonstrations to Istanbul, where they have been rallying outside stores belonging to Ozak Tekstil buyers Levi Strauss & Co. and Zara. On Wednesday, DERITEKS stood in protest outside Akar Tekstil, declaring that it will not bow down to your bullets. We will follow the process until those who carried out this treacherous armed attack on our union, in the presence of our chairman, receive the punishment they deserve, it wrote on X. This attack on the working class and workers self-organization and unions has done nothing but increase our anger. Editors Note: This article was originally published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style. Italy has donated a reconstructed Assyrian statue to Iraq in a gesture former culture minister Francesco Rutelli described as a miracle of Italian cultural diplomacy. Constructed in the ninth century BC, the 5-meter-tall (16-foot) Bull of Nimrud was destroyed by ISIS fighters in 2015, before Italian artisans made a copy of the monument using 3D-printing technology. The replica, which was previously displayed at the Colosseum in Rome and the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, has now been permanently relocated outside the entrance to the Basrah Museum in the Iraqi city of Basra. Italy is at the forefront of safeguarding cultural heritage because it is the soul of a nation and embodies its history, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italys current culture minister, said in a statement read out at an inauguration ceremony at the museum attended by Italian and Iraqi officials on Tuesday. It will therefore continue to make every effort to advance international collaboration in the field of cultural heritage protection and to work for the enhancement of the heritage of humanity. Rutelli, whose Associazione Incontro di Civilta had spearheaded the plans to make the replica, meanwhile wrote on Facebook: Here is a light, a precious Italian light. He added that the donation was a small miracle of Italian soft power, of our cultural diplomacy. "The Bull of Nimrud," a full-sized reconstruction of the bull figure from the ancient Assyrian city Nimrud, on display in the "Reborn from Destruction" exhibition at the Colosseum in October 2016. - Klaus Blume/dpa/picture-alliance/AP The ancient city of Nimrud, near modern-day Mosul, was the magnificent capital of Ashurnasirpal II, the Assyrian king who constructed an enormous palace in the city decorated with bas reliefs and numerous lamassu (lion and winged-bull statues with bearded human heads). ISIS stormed the archaeological site in 2015 and destroyed precious artifacts with bulldozers and explosives. The Bull of Nimrud, which stood at the site and is a symbol of the Assyrian civilization, was among the destroyed monuments. Following the attack, a team of experts led by restorer Nicola Salvioli studied photos and videos of the monument, allowing them to make a model in polystyrene. A 3D printer was then used to make a fiberglass copy that was covered with plastic substances mixed with stone dust to make it appear more authentic. The project was financed by the Associazione Incontro di Civilta. The bull was displayed at a 2016 exhibition at the Colosseum titled Rinascere dalle distruzioni (Reborn from destruction) alongside two other reconstructions: a portion of a ceiling of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, and the archive room of the royal palace at Ebla. The following year, it was relocated to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where it stood outside the entrance as a symbol of the organizations commitment to share history and transmit the values it carries to future generations, UNESCO said. The bulls return to Iraq follows a high-profile restitution to the country in June, when Italy handed a tablet engraved with cuneiform text and the insignia of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III, Ashurnasirpal IIs successor, to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid during a state visit to Italy. The circumstances surrounding the tablets arrival in Italy remain unclear. Editors Note: This article was originally published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In 2024 theres no question that jeans have become a genuine status symbol. That the once-humble garment has achieved such a rarefied place in the style hierarchy is largely thanks to one firm: Jacob Cohen, whose continued emphasis on comfort, quality, and craftsmanship has made it the ultimate luxury denim brand. Despite what some may lead you to believe, Jacob Cohen is Italian through and through, and continues to manufacture its denim in specialist workshops located in the Veneto region. It was founded in 1985 with the mission of elevating jeans to the level of other made-in-Italy luxury goods. The late denim visionary Nicola Bardelle relaunched the brand in 2003, imprinting the garments with his own infectious creativity and bold ideas on what constitutes luxury in the 21st centurya vision that his wife, Jennifer Tommasi Bardelle, continues to advance at the company today. More from Robb Report The truest vessels of Nicolas legacy are the jeans themselves. A minimum of 100 hours is required to construct each pair, which begins by sourcing the finest denim from renowned mills in Italy and Japan. The denim is then cut with state-of-the-art-machinery, which first projects a precise laser pattern onto the fabric before an incision is made, ensuring that measurements are accurate to the last millimeter. At least 10 individualized steps are then required to sew the jeans, which are constructed with a slightly curved belt for superior comfort and a greater range of fit. The linings, as well as the front and back pockets, are sewn by hand. Jacob Cohen maintains a library of 50 distinct, branded labels, which in the case of limited editions are made from fine materials including leather, pony skin, or crocodile, and may sport unique designs evoking a honeycomb pattern or even the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi. Limited-edition pairs might also benefit from customized patches, treatments, and embroidering, and may even feature hand-lacquered buttons made with diamond dust or semiprecious stones. Equally precious was Nicolas personal motto, which continues to be embroidered within each pair: Go to bed with a dream, wake up with a purpose. After the jeans have been sewnand their measurements strictly reviewed for accuracythe pair will be finished by hand to achieve such effects as fading, distressing, or whiskering, dependent on the styles design. All of this is done while the sewn pair is worn by mannequin legs, ensuring that the effects are carried out in proper proportion to the human body. Following this step, Jacob Cohen jeans are washed in laundries that use pumice stone to give the denim a vintage effect. Through specialized machinery, the denim is coloredutilizing a secret formula for the brands signature blueand then stained and sandblasted. According to the design, the jeans may undergo laser treatments to apply a particular logo or pattern. Once the jeans have been hand-ironed and accessorized with the Jacob Cohen logo fitting their collection, they receive one final touch that is pure luxury. Each pair is finished with an application of Jacob Cohens own perfume, a blend of patchouli and sandalwood that is sprayed directly inside of the jeans by hand. Its touches such as these that prove Nicolas mantra. His dreamjeans made to the highest standards of Italian luxury, without compromising quality at any stagecontinues to be realized with each finished pair of Jacob Cohen denim. View the Collection 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. The dynamic between the two leaders could be nearing an inflection point - Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP Has Joe Biden finally had enough of Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and, if so, will he take any action beyond swearing about him? On Monday it was widely reported the US President had described the Israeli leader as an a--hole and might start to dial down the flow of American aid and weapons to Israel. Mr Netanyahus rejection of Hamass contribution to the ongoing peace talks as delusional, his fearsome calls for total victory and his threatened assault on Rafah, where over a million displaced are sheltering, appeared to have finally cut through. The bluntness of Bidens private, unfiltered reflections on Netanyahu, as well as Israeli premiers failure to shift tactics in Gaza, suggest that the dynamic between the two leaders could be nearing an inflection point, reported NBC, the American news network which broke the story. He just feels like this is enough, it quoted one of Mr Bidens team as saying. It has to stop. Shifting opinion There is little doubt international opinion is shifting against Israel and encouraged by the strictures of international law some countries are beginning to take action. The US and UK have slapped sanctions on a small number of extremist settlers in the West Bank. The Dutch appeals court yesterday ordered the government to block the delivery of parts for F-35 fighter aircraft to Israel. And on Friday, the White House issued a new national security memorandum that requires Congress to check that countries receiving US weapons are abiding by International law. Palestinian civilians leave Rafah after attacks intensify - Abed Zagout/Anadolu via Getty Images These and other sanctions will no doubt ratchet up as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice in the Hague (ICJ) continue to pursue investigations against Israel. No government wants to be caught on the wrong side of a war crimes prosecution (not least one of genocide), and domestic law in many countries is automatically triggered, blocking exports etc, where countries are found to be in breach of international law. A key moment will come on on Feburary 26 when Israel must report back to the ICJ, explaining how it has complied with its orders of last month to alleviate suffering in Gaza and prevent and punish incitement to genocide in Israel. On the other hand, Israel is no pushover and has long factored in international pressure in its calculations for war. The Israeli defence establishment which stretches far beyond Mr Netanyahu has long talked about pursuing military campaigns against the clock of international opinion and is expert at slowing it down. Electoral calculations An entire division of the ministry of defence is dedicated to information warfare, carefully curating the information flow from within Gaza, and whipping up suspicion against the Red Cross and the UN whose activities naturally constrain military action. And in America, too, Mr Bidens calculations must stretch beyond what he judges to be right or moral. He has an election to fight in November and needs to move with extreme care. On the one hand he must deal with swing states like Michigan, where the Arab American vote is significant, and with young people, black voters and so called progressives who, polling shows, are increasingly disapproving of Israel. On the other hand, he has the Jewish vote to consider, much of which has traditionally gone to the Democrats, but which could start to erode further if he is seen as too tough on Israel. Donald Trump, meanwhile, seems content for now to sit on the fence. Will he back Mr Netanyahu to secure a larger part of the Jewish vote, or might he decide to denounce the Gaza conflict as just another expensive foreign war in a bid to woo the disenchanted young? The only thing one can say with much certainty, is that Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Biden will ultimately be led by the votes they perceive are in it for them. 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. Political leaders are speaking out on behalf of Kenyas textile industry and issuing warnings about a government plan to allow duty-free fabric imports. Lawmakers and manufacturers from 24 of the African nations cotton-producing counties have raised fears that such a scheme could derail the sectors growth amid a renaissance that has seen substantial governmental investment in farmers, gins, mills and manufacturers. More from Sourcing Journal Last week, Governor Gladys Wanga of Homa Bay and Governor Paul Otuoma of Busia told Kenyas The Standard newspaper that allowing duty-free textiles into the country could hurt cotton farmers who have already faced a downshift in demand due to fabric factory closures. Importing duty-free fabric would erase all the progress weve made, Governor Wanga told the outlet. It contradicts the bottom-up economic agendas focus on creating jobs and empowering farmers. Theres a vast market for cotton, she added. Our challenge is to meet the textile industrys needs, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in our counties. Governor Otuoma added that farmers are committed to developing the required raw material supply, but they need the governments support. He called for services that might help educate them on best farming practices that could lead to greater crop yields. The Standard reported that Thika Cloth Mills might have to cut jobs due to the growing reliance on foreign imports. Importing used clothes and fabrics hurts our local industries, managing director Tejal Dodhia said. Duty-free fabric leaves farmers and textile workers jobless. We must embrace the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya spirit. The mill is actively engaged in providing farmers with high-quality Bt cotton seeds, which are genetically modified for resistance to bollworm. Meanwhile, Rivatex managing director Thomas Kipkurgat told the outlet that its new facility is on the verge of completion, with new machinery projected to up capacity and product quality. He encouraged industry stakeholders and farmers to remain a part of the factorys upstream supply chain, noting that cotton is the groups most important raw material. Ninety-five percent of our products are 100-percent cotton. I urge everyone to oppose duty-free fabric imports we can produce ourselves, he added. Last January, the Kenyan government committed to investing $1.6 million to revitalize the local textile sector and reopen beleaguered operations like Rivatex as a part of the countrys Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative. State Department for Industrialization principal secretary Juma Mukhwana pointed to the factory as a success story, saying it had undergone a significant makeover and applauding management for bringing it back to life and creating jobs for 1,000 locals. Last week, Mukhwana said the government had invested about $30,000 into Rivatex over the past year. The principal secretary added that the push for the development of local textile manufacturing could have far-reaching consequences on economy, with major efforts underway to bring up the cotton industry. The government plans to double cotton production and up prices from 52 shillings ($0.33) per kilo to 72 shillings ($0.45) per kilo to entice farmers. Rivatex alone uses 10,000 bales of cotton each day in its production, with 3,000 of those bales sourced locally. I urge farmers to plant the crop to reap fully from the sector, he said. The government is working to support domestic makers by pouring its own dollars into the sector. Government agencies are making their garments in our local textile firms as a commitment in promoting Kenya produced products, he added. Kenyas apparel market is estimated to be worth about $5.95 billion in 2024, with a projected annual growth rate of almost 4 percent. Womens apparel accounts for the largest market segment, accounting for $2.23 billion in market volume. Steve Wright was once the edgiest man in Britain. Or so believed teenagers in the Eighties who couldnt get enough of the boisterous, taboo-shattering zoo radio format that he imported to the sleepy BBC airwaves from the United States. Wright, who has passed away at the age of 69, had been knocking around the BBC for the better part of a decade when he landed on the Radio 1 weekday schedules with Steve Wright in the Afternoon in 1986. In a grey, grim era, where radio presenters were either stuff and dully or cheesy and chirpy, he was both a breath of fresh air and a human whoopee cushion a joker, a tweaker of noses. To those who grew up with him, he was unmissable. Steve Wright in the Afternoon borrowed shamelessly from the anarchic zoo radio with which he had fallen in love while visiting New York. A surrealist work of semi-fiction, it featured Wright alongside a cast of spoof guests and comedy characters largely played by actors, they included the soon-to-be-iconic Mr Angry, social worker Damian and lifestyle guru Barry. Wright was irreverent and shameless and the kids loved it. Not everyone was so enamoured but then Wright never minded ruffling features. Among those whose plumage was ruffed were Morrissey and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, inspired to write their 1986 hit Panic! after hearing Wright play Wham!s Im Your Man straight after a news report from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I remember actually saying, What the f___ has this got to do with peoples lives? Marr would say. We hear about Chernobyl, then, seconds later, were expected to jump around to Im Your Man. That was Wright in a nutshell outrageous, fun-loving, arguably to a fault, and never cursed with crippling levels of self-doubt. And though Morrissey disapproved, Steve Wright in the Afternoon was a sensation. Steve Wright with George Michael in 1990 - PA He was also one of the first on BBC 1 to bite the hand by lampooning pop stars. Among his regular characters were Mick Jagger and David Bowie. Both were voiced by actor and comedian Phil Cornwell, who provisioned them with absurd catchphrases such as hes alright and get some therapy. Juvenile it may have been yet the audience couldnt get enough: by 1988, Steve Wright in the Afternoon was attracting 7.2 million listeners and he was named DJ of the year by Smash Hits the ultimate indication of teenage approval. It was the sort of success that couldnt last forever and so it proved. His brand of humour fell from favour in the 1990s by which time many teenagers whod enjoyed his output had grown up. He was moved to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1994 but clashed with new controller Matthew Bannister over what he felt was a restrictive format and quit. He worked briefly in commercial radio only to return to the mothership, joining Radio 2 in 1996. Steve Wright (left) and his production assistant Dianne Oxberry with Paul McCartney in 1990 - PA He remained a fixture on the airwaves through the following decades. He never came close to that early notoriety, though he did revive the zoo format with a Radio 2 version of The Steve Wright Show, once again featuring a cast of largely fictional characters. However his legacy would live on in the wacky irreverent tones of younger talents such as Jonathan Ross and Chris Evans, who adopted his philosophy that radio was no place for decorum or standing on ceremony. Wright was one of a generation of vintage DJs BBC management would try to ease out without looking as if they were culling older names. He finally bowed out from his weekday slot in 2022. His farewell song was Radio Gaga by Queen. Outrageous, a little camp, fuelled by an infectious sense of fun, it was the perfect tune with which to sign off. In his heyday, Wright was a BBC DJ like no other. Times would change but at his peak, he brought glee and anarchy to UK radio, and for that, he will be remembered. 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. To many people, Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) are synonymous. Both companies are well-known brands, owning and operating payment networks that facilitate billions of credit card transactions around the world. Millions of people have a Visa or Mastercard logo in their pocket right now. The similarities continue from an investment standpoint. Mastercard went public in mid-2006, with Visa following suit in early 2008. The stocks then went on a huge run, both rising roughly 2,000% in value. There is little doubt that these companies run fantastic businesses -- just look at their historical returns. If you want to take advantage with your own investment, which stock should you buy today? The answer might surprise you. Network effects win big The first thing to understand about Visa and Mastercard is that both owe their success to network effects. That is, the more people that use their services, the more valuable their businesses become. While both businesses now offer ancillary services like cross-border transactions and risk-management solutions, the core moneymaker for them has always been consumer payments. Whenever you swipe, insert, or tap your credit card or enter its numbers -- whether it be at a physical store or online webpage -- there is an invisible process that plays out that ensures each party pays and gets paid accordingly. Very often it is Visa or Mastercard that takes on this role, keeping a small slice of the transaction price as a fee. When it comes to market share, Visa and Mastercard dominate. In 2022, there were around 830 million general purpose credit cards in circulation in the United States. Visa was responsible for 385 million of those, with Mastercard contributing another 309 million. The next two card issuers on the list, Discover and American Express, were responsible for only 162 million combined. There are two reasons for this market share dominance. First is the aforementioned power of network effects. Customers want to shop where their method of payment is accepted and merchants want to accept the method of payment most people have. This is called a two-sided marketplace, the dynamics of which often consolidate market share to only a few competitors. Story continues The second reason Visa and Mastercard dominate the market is that both brands command trust. The networks of these companies rarely make mistakes. Their networks just work. This reality is backed by numbers. Visa, for example, facilitated $14.8 trillion worth of transactions in 2023. That's up from $14.1 trillion in 2022, and $13 trillion in 2021. Mastercard, for comparison, handled $9 trillion of transactions in 2023, compared to $8.2 trillion in 2022. Each time these businesses grow, they become even more powerful, becoming more entrenched as a market duopoly. According to the numbers, that trend is nowhere close to stopping. But what about the stocks? Visa and Mastercard are terrific businesses with strong moats, but does that make the stocks worth investing in? On the surface, shares look very expensive, but there's more to understand about this story. Right now, Mastercard stock trades at 39 times earning, with Visa stock trading at 32 times earnings. That's a 40% to 70% premium versus the average S&P 500 stock. Looking at the forward price-to-earnings ratios, however, which measure how expensive a stock is compared to estimates of next year's earnings, the valuations don't look nearly as bad. On a forward price-to-earnings basis, Visa and Mastercard trade at only 5% to 20% premiums to market's current valuation. MA PE Ratio Chart The reason that Visa and Mastercard look much cheaper on a forward price-to-earnings basis is that earnings are growing so quickly. Over the past five years, annual earnings growth for both companies has averaged between 12% and 17%. For this reason, the pricey upfront multiple has historically become a bargain within a year or two. So which stock is the better buy today? The answer is that it pays to own both. Both Visa and Mastercard are fully entrenched as the market duopoly. And while shares of both trade at high multiples, these figures should soon look like bargains for anyone with a multiyear investment window. If you want to buy into blue chip businesses with long runways for sustainable growth, consider buying both. Should you invest $1,000 in Visa right now? Before you buy stock in Visa, 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 Visa wasnt 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 February 12, 2024 American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Visa vs. Mastercard: Which Stock Is the Better Buy Today? was originally published by The Motley Fool Meghan Markle Puts On an Apron to Cook With Women of the Welcome Project "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The Duchess of Sussex continued her advocacy for women in need this past weekend, visiting a pivotal program she launched through the Archewell Foundation. On Saturday, Meghan Markle enjoyed an evening of cooking and storytelling with the women at the Southern California Welcome Project, an initiative that Meghan and Prince Harrys charitable foundation started in 2023. The Welcome Project aims to support women-led programming and create a safe haven and inclusive environment for women who have recently resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan, a mission inspired by the Meghan's work with the Hubb Community Kitchen in London. Matt Sayles/Archewell Foundation Matt Sayles/Archewell Foundation The Sussexes newly unveiled website shared details from this weekends visit. Photos show Meghan in a navy blue Archewell Foundation apron over a plain black tank top, cooking with Welcome Project participants in a large kitchen. The night saw a group of 15 women gathered to cook traditional Afghan food including Ashak and Mantuu, with the group congregating after the meal to discuss their personal stories and the support they find from this intergenerational group of women. For the event, the Archewell Foundation collaborated with nonprofit Minas List, an organization that has worked to evacuate and resettle over 2,000 Afghan women and families. Including the Southern California chapter, there are 11 active Welcome Project chapters across the United States, building community through activities like art, hiking, swimming, andof coursecooking. Matt Sayles/Archewell Foundation Matt Sayles/Archewell Foundation The Welcome Project takes after Meghan's lauded work with the Hubb Community Kitchen, a coalition of community members who cooked together following the Grenfell Tower fire. Meghan and the group released a cookbook to raise funds for the kitchen, and Together: Our Community Kitchen subsequently ended up selling over 71,000 copies in just seven weeks. The Hubb Community Kitchen marked Meghan's first-ever solo philanthropic endeavor during her time as a senior working royal. The spirit of the Hubb Community Kitchen has always been one of caring, giving back, and helping those in need, initially in Grenfell and now throughout the U.K., Meghan said in 2020 a statement shared with Harper's Bazaar. A home-cooked meal from one neighbor to another, when they need it most, is what community is all about. You Might Also Like In recent years, works of art that were taken by the Nazis have been returned to their rightful owners. But one case paints a complicated picture of such endeavors. The Museum of Modern Art quietly returned Marc Chagalls Over Vitebsk to the heirs of a Jewish gallery owner three years ago, The New York Times reported on Monday. In exchange, the museum received $4 million. And now one of the heirs is fighting in court with the restitution company that had helped him and his six family members get the artwork back. More from Robb Report You have a case which is not black and white, James Palmer, the founder of the restitution company Mondex, told the Times. The deal makes perfect sense given some of the questions that cant be resolved, he said. The Chagall was once owned by a German gallery under the leadership of Francis Matthiessen, a Jewish dealer who fled the country in 1933. In 1934, the painting was given to a German bank connected to the Nazis, reportedly for debt reduction, according to the records on MoMAs website. It was eventually sold to the museum in 1949, where it sat for decades before Mondex teamed up with Patrick Matthiessen, Franciss son, to find art that had once belonged to his fathers gallery. Matthiessen and Mondex were successful in getting Over Vitebsk returned to the Matthiessen family, but Matthiessen told The New York Times that the process was unpleasant. (Last year, the family sold the painting for $24 million.) In legal documents, Matthiessen has accused Mondex of breaching its contract, including the negotiation of the $4 million payment to MoMA without the heirs approval. They fought tooth and nail to the last ditch on giving this back, Matthiessen said about the museum. MoMA declined to address the publications questions but said in a statement that it had collaborated on extensive provenance research on the painting with the family. It added that it had gotten a payment from them and that it would go toward a provenance research fund named after Francis Matthiessen. For its part, Mondex has said in court papers that it followed all the terms of the agreement it had with the Matthiessen heirs. And Palmer defended MoMA to The New York Times, saying that he thought the return of the painting was a fair settlement. But like the subject of Over Vitebsk, which not everyone agrees on, the case isnt so clear-cut. 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. Vanessa Lachey at Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl Party held at Marquee Dayclub Las Vegas at The Cosmopolitan Vanessa Lachey is taking some time to bask in the sun, while paying homage to the island of Hawaii. The NCIS: Hawai'i star took to Instagram on Monday, Feb. 12 to share footage of herself taking in warm rays of sunshine from what looked to be an outdoor balcony, palm trees and sparkling ocean water making for a picturesque backdrop. Lachey, who was in the island location where the police procedural is filmed, penned a heartfelt caption along with the upload. "Taking a moment to Love on our Island and Her Beauty. Mahalo for letting us share in your Aina. Mahalo for showing us your respect. Mahalo for connecting us in more ways than we can ever realize," she wrote. Related: Say Aloha to Season 3 of 'NCIS: Hawaii' and Its Newest Cast Member In Hawaiian culture, Mahalo is a famously-used word which means thank you, or to express gratitude, according to the Polynesian Culture Center. Meanwhile, Aina is a word used for "land," translating to "that which feeds." It is said to encompass the "Hawaiian worldview of a reciprocal and familial relationship between people and land. Connection to aina is essential to the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Native Hawaiians," per the Trust for Public Land. Lachey wrapped up her Instagram post by writing, "Tonight, we get to share you with the world. NCIS: Hawaii will always be special because of YOU! " in closing. In the comment section, fans dropped in with adoration for the special message. "Love your Aloha and this amazing cast and crew. So proud of our Hawaii Ohana ," one wrote, while someone else called the island "the most special place." "I love this and you! Being able to live in such a tropical paradise while you work, then raise a family- #priceless," a third gushed. Others were just elated that the TV series has returned, chiming in with things like "Yes ncis is back. Wait too long for these welcome back. cant wait wat [sic] these season will bring us." and "Sooo happy youre back!!!! ." NCIS: Hawai'i returned on Thursday, Feb. 12 with its Season 3 premiere, and airs on Mondays at 10 PM ET on CBS. Next: Vanessa Lachey Confesses Who Her Celebrity 'Hall Pass' Would Be Originally consumed at lunchtime by workers in the Spanish city of Valencia, paella is in a class of its own. The undeniably savory Mediterranean comfort food dish is deliciously comprised of earthy and sweet saffron rice, vegetables, and your choice of proteins though tradition strongly suggests chicken and rabbit and modern paella recipes almost always feature spicy sausage and shellfish such as mussels, clams, and shrimp. With its rich flavors and unique texture, it's frankly a worldwide treasure. In fact, paella is so beloved that its original iteration, "Paella Valenciana," carries national protection in Spain to ensure the sanctity of the recipe and the traditional method of cooking it. But there are many exciting ways to kick this flavorful one-pan dish up a notch, and one of them is by cooking your paella on a grill. That's right, with a little prep, you can throw that paella pan on the grill for a seriously smoky twist. Read more: French Cooking Tricks You Need In Your Life How To Cook Paella On The Grill paella cooking over a fire - JGA/Shutterstock Cooking paella on the grill is easier than it sounds. For a delicious paella with a smoky charcoal flavor, you can use a barbecue grill, fire pit, or even a campfire and a hearty serving of paella in the middle of the woods will unquestionably put the "glam" in glamping. But one of the keys to making paella on the grill is using the right pan. If you don't have a paella pan, use a skillet or roasting pan. Your pan should be wide and shallow so you can spread your rice layer evenly, ensuring consistent flavor throughout. Heat your grill for about five minutes, then simply place your pan onto the grill. Prepare your paella as usual, cooking with no lid and staggering your proteins (if using shrimp, be sure to add it in the last five minutes of cooking so it doesn't get overcooked), and make sure you watch the heat. The smoke will envelop your pan and infuse your paella with a seriously delicious flavor. You can use a gas grill, too. Admittedly, your paella won't achieve the same dramatic smoky aroma or flavor, but the benefits of using a gas grill will be apparent in its even, consistent heating and your ability to control the heat more easily. Additionally, gas grills require significantly less prep. Just heat your grill to medium-high for about 15 minutes before cooking. Other Tips For A Delicious Paella bowl of paprika on a table - Synergee/Getty Images Whether you cook your paella on a grill or the stovetop, there are many secrets to making it a dish to sing about. According to Michelin Star Chef Danny Lledo -- a Valencia native -- one of the keys to a great paella is choosing the right rice, and he recommends Bomba rice, a short-grained white rice local to the region, due to its versatility. But the key to cooking great rice for paella is to cook it on high for the first 10 minutes, then medium for the next seven, and then back on high for the last minute so that the rice can cook down with the broth and form that crusty, caramelized bottom layer -- the socarrat -- which is essential to a good paella. And, equally importantly, after you've added your rice to the pan, be sure you don't stir it. Stirring your rice while cooking paella will not only spoil the consistency of the broth, but it can also prevent the delicious crust from forming on the bottom of the pan, which is one of the characteristics that make paella, well ... paella. And don't forget to add your seasonings paprika and saffron add a signature flavor paella can't do without. Read the original article on Daily Meal. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Penelope Cruz was an absolute vision while attending the Goya Awards in Valladolid, Spain, yesterday evening. The actor arrived on the red carpet at the event celebrating Spanish cinema in a striking floral gown covered entirely in sequins. The sleeveless, floor-length piece from Chanels Fall/Winter 2023 couture collection features a painterly pink, red, green, and blue floral print in colored sequins over black fabric. The dress has a pretty scoop neck and is cinched at the waist, from which a skirt of black gauze emerges and comes flowing down to the carpet. picture alliance - Getty Images Cruz coordinated the rest of her look with the cotton-candy pink hues of her dress, accessorizing with a massive pink stone ring and wearing a baby-pink manicure. She added some additional sparkle with a pair of dangly diamond earrings. As for her glam, she went full Hollywood with a sparkly pink eye shadow, heavy black liner, bronzy makeup, a pouty pink lip, and a super sophisticated side-parted wavy bob that looked like a wispy cloud. Juan Naharro Gimenez - Getty Images Cruz, a Chanel ambassador, has a penchant for floral gowns designed by the Parisian fashion house. The actor also wore a springtime look from the brand last December, to walk the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of her film Ferrari. The piece was a black floor-length slipdress with a colorful floral print in red, yellow, green, blue, and purple, from Chanels Spring 2023 haute couture collection. And she wore another floral Chanel dress during her Ferrari press run. For the New York Film Festivals closing-night premiere of the film, Cruz arrived in a curve-hugging gown featuring a white and red floral print and adorned with frilly white trim along the sleeveless silhouette. I always have a crush on the dresses that combine very big skirts with very, very tight-on-the waist tops. I think its so cool and timeless and elegant, Cruz told Harpers Bazaar last month, speaking of the custom Chanel couture gown she wore to the 14th Governors Awards in Los Angeles. It always makes me feel so lucky, as it was my dream as a little girl to be able to wear some of these Chanel pieces. You Might Also Like A Person in Oregon Contracted the Bubonic Plague, Seemingly From a CatWhat to Know "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." [table-of-contents] stripped The Bubonic plague (also referred to as the human plague or simply the plague) has been detected in Oregon. The U.S. usually sees 10 or more cases of bubonic plague a year. Bubonic plague is treatable with antibiotics. Bubonic plague is best known as a disease that killed more than 25 million people in medieval Europe. But it still existsand it just showed up in Oregon after someone seemingly contracted the virus from their cat, who also had symptoms of the disease. Health officials in the states Deschutes County shared the news. All close contacts of the resident and their pet have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness, Richard Fawcett, M.D., Deschutes County Health Officer, said in a statement. Meet the experts: William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Thomas Russo, M.D., a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York; Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Given the bubonic plagues nicknameThe Black Deathits understandable to have concerns. But in the modern day, the plague is treatable. Heres what you need to know about what many call the human plague, today. What is the bubonic plague? The plague is an infectious disease caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bacteria is found in many areas of the world, including in the U.S., and affects rodents, certain other animals, and humans. People usually get the plague by being bitten by an infected flea, the CDC says. However, you can also get the disease by having direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick with the plague or has died from the disease. You can even get the plague from inhaling respiratory droplets after having close contact with humans or cats (or any mammals really) and humans that have a type of the plague known as pneumonic plague. There are three types of the plague, according to the CDC: Bubonic plague (which is the type that was detected in Oregon), septicemic plague, and pneumonic plague. Bubonic plague history Bubonic plague has a scary history. In the 14th century, the bubonic plague killed 25 million peoplemore than a third of Europe. Since then, there have been recurring cycles of the plague throughout history. Its still endemic (meaning, it regularly occurs) in Madagascar, Congo, and Peru. Cases of bubonic plague do show up in the U.S. from time to time. It was first introduced to the U.S. in 1900 after rat-infested steamships arrived from areas where the plague was common, the CDC says. The plague spread from urban to rural rodents and became entrenched in the western U.S. Now, the plague usually shows up in two areas: Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado; and California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada. There were nine reported cases of the plague in the U.S. in 2020, per the CDC. The biggest year for plague cases in recent history was 2006 when there were 17. Symptoms of the bubonic plague Bubonic plague causes lymph node swelling, says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. A swollen lymph node is called a bubo, he explains, which may become rather pronounced with the virus. (Bubonic plague is just explaining that feature of the disease, he says.) When a person has bubonic plague, theyll have tender or painful buboes in their armpits, groin, or neck, Dr. Schaffner says. Other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, include: Sudden high fever and chills Headache Tiredness Not feeling well in general Weakness Muscle aches Skin sores (in rare cases) If someone isnt treated with appropriate antibiotics, the bacteria can spread to other areas of the body, the CDC says. When is the bubonic plague deadly? Before antibiotics were a thing, 66% of people in the U.S. who got the plague died from the condition, the CDC says. As of 2010, the mortality rate dropped to 11%. The CDC notes that the plague can still be fatal, despite using antibiotics, although its less likely to be deadly with bubonic plague compared to septicemic or pneumonic plague cases. Plague treatments All types of the plague are treated with antibiotics, says Thomas Russo, M.D., a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. Drugs like doxycycline and tetracycline can help with bubonic plague. What animals carry the bubonic plague? The plague mostly affects wild and domestic rodents, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). That can include rats, mice, and prairie dogs. Cats are also very susceptible, the AVMA says. Why? Cats may interact with rodents and pick up infected fleas from them, or bite a rodent and become infected that way, Dr. Schaffner explains. How worried about this should I be? Infectious disease doctors stress that most people should not be worried about bubonic plague. Its extraordinarily rare nowadays, Dr. Russo says. Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, agrees. It is very uncommon, he says. However, it does occur in areas in rare occasions where plague is endemic. If you want to lower your already low risk that your pet will contract bubonic plague, Dr. Russo recommends keeping cats indoors and using flea medication. That will help, he says. You Might Also Like Arizonans will have an extra opportunity to fly to the Pacific Northwest this year. Alaska Airlines is adding more than 20 new daily departures out of Portland, Oregon, in October 2024, including increasing its number of nonstop flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to four times daily. Right now, Alaska offers three nonstop flights per day between Phoenix and Portland. Alaska has been Portland International Airports largest carrier for more than two decades. Its not the first time that flight capacity from metro Phoenix to the Rose City expanded in recent years. Allegiant Air launched service to Portland from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in November 2023. New at Sky Harbor for 2024: Flights, restaurants, lounges and more When will Alaska Airlines new Phoenix-Portland flights start? Alaska Airlines will increase its nonstop service between Phoenix and Portland to four flights per day starting Oct. 1. The new flight will be in the midafternoon, around 3 p.m. Alaska's other nonstops to Portland are scheduled around 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. The airline also offers connecting flights from Phoenix to Portland. Fares for the route in October start at $134 one way and can be booked now at alaskaair.com. Why is Alaska Airlines expanding? Alaska Airlines, which was founded in 1932 as McGee Airways and launched service from Sky Harbor in 1985, said it's increasing the frequency of flights from Portland to several cities to offer more choice and convenience for flyers. Its important for us to provide our guests with a variety of convenient flight options at (Portland) along with the addition of new routes. We know travelers have a choice and we want them to fly with us, Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines, said in a statement. Alaska Airlines also flies nonstop between Phoenix and Anchorage, Alaska; Boise, Idaho; Everett, Washington; and its home base of Seattle. What other airlines fly between Phoenix and Portland? Alaska Airlines is one of four airlines that offer nonstop flights to Portland from Sky Harbor Airport. The others are American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Allegiant Air began flying nonstop to Portland via Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in east Mesa in November 2023. Another new PNW route: American adds flight from Phoenix to Pasco, Washington Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Alaska Airlines is adding new Portland-Phoenix flights New York Fashion Week has arrived with fashion and beauty trends abound, plus countless highly anticipated shows, including Prabal Gurung's. On Friday, the designer showed his fall 2024 offering amidst a busy first official day of NYFW, and the collection, entitled "Fragmented Memories," was nothing short of breathtaking. This season, he got his inspiration from an unexpected yet relatable place: his teenage diary, where he used to manifest the life of his dreamsplus the pressed flowers that bled into the pages. If you're as obsessed with the concept as we are, key pieces are already available for preorder as part of shopping platform Rakuten's collaboration with four of New York Fashion Week's biggest designers. Ahead, we chatted with Gurung about his fall 2024 collection, teaming up with Rakuten, and why our younger selves are the ultimate source of inspiration. On the Meaning of "Fragmented Memories" "Were calling the Fall 2024 collection "Fragmented Memories," which is this idea of memories, [but] it's not nostalgicit's more about the things that inspire you while you're growing up and what led to me to become a designer. I was thinking about my travels from back home in Nepal to India, Singapore, London, Europe, and more, plus the artists and designs that I've loved. How it started was I was back home in Nepal and I found an old diary of mine, and I had written down my dreams and desireswhat one would call manifestations now. I'd traveled everywhere but I'd never been to America and I wanted to be a designer, and people back home told me that it was an impossible dream. I made it possible, and when I look back at the diary, I realized I collected a lot of pressed flowers and over time, they really bled into the pages. Jeff Thibodeau The collection is those fragmented memories, and the print of the blouse that we're doing [and other pieces] is based on photographs that I took of those pressed flowers. Sometimes when were constantly on about what's next, it's good to take a pause and look at our past so we have a general sense of how to move forward. It's a personal, sentimental collection from my end." On the Exclusive Pieces "When choosing the looks to feature for preorder as part of Rakuten's New York Fashion Week partnership, we kept going back and forth, but I edited it down to two things that convey the message of the collection and what the brand stands for. The first, a chiffon pleated long-sleeved blouse with a pussy bow in the back, is signature to the brand and what we've been doing, and the print is based on those pressed flowers. The other is a black-and-white double-pleated satin wrap trench, and the style of it is much like how people up in the mountains [in Nepal] wear their jackets and coatsvery wrapped around. Prabal Gurung x Rakuten We make everything here in New YorkI'm based here. It's the idea of two worlds colliding and what's coming together. When it comes to the blouse, you can wear it to the office, you can go out, or you can wear it from work to cocktailsand the trench coat is just a chic layering piece. I felt like it was versatile enough for [the kinds of] women that inspire me and what they're looking for in a staple. When I thought about what they want, the idea of a trench and a beautiful blouse kept coming up." Prabal Gurung x Rakuten Tips Now through February 23, Rakuten members have early access to select pieces from Prabal Gurung's collection as well as fall 2024 offerings from PatBO, Sergio Hudson, and Diotima. When shopping the presale, members will receive 10% cash back. The designers' current collections are also available on the platform, with the same cash back benefits. On Reaching a New Audience with Rakuten "Normally with fashion week, buyers later come in and select which parts of the collection they want, and thats what becomes availablebut Rakuten allowed us designers to pick what we love. For us, theres a lot of sentimental value to things that we create. We spend almost six months working on a collection, sketching and building, so the fact that they asked us, "What do you want to showcase? How do you want to tell your story?" meant a lot. I think the world that we live in now no longer can operate in isolation, and collaborations make it such a collective journey, which I find really special." "If you really want to see what's happening and how the world is changing, look at the runway shows and you'll understand." More Inspo On Making Luxury More Accessible "From the day I started my brand, I've always said this: My job, yes, is to make clothes and it comes at a certain price point because of the fabrics that I wanted to use [and] where I wanted to make themmore than 98% of my collection is made in New York. But one thing as a creative person, I'm also a storyteller, and the storyteller's job is to make people feel seen. When I was a student, I couldn't afford a lot of big designers like Yves Saint Laurent and McQueen, but their dreams and their storytelling inspired me to become a designer and made me feel seen in so many ways. I always feel like how I present the story I tell, how I present the models on the runway, and diverse castingever since I started, I've been doing thatthat's what I think is important as a brand. As designers, we are supposed to do that. With this kind of access to Rakutens audience, they have access to even more of the story I want to tell, and I always want to build a community of people who care about fashion, the world, and how we live. Theres a depth and levity and a joy to it. I think that this partnership and getting access to a customer who may not have heard of me, or I may not be as familiar with themit's the perfect way of coming together." How He Hopes the Fall 2024 Collection Impacts Viewers "I hope [people who see my fall 2024 collection, both in person and at home] actually fall in love with it. My team and I always joke about how we spend six months on a collection that's going to be on a runway for maybe eight to 10 minutes. I always say that fashion is a metaphor for life and its impermanence: You have to be present in the moment. I hope the audience finds that the curated items [in the Rakuten collaboration] and the runway collection overall tell a story to them. Besides taking advantage of the preorder access and the cash back, I hope that whether it's a physical or metaphorical diary, that they revisit their memories and really take a moment to appreciate where they started and where they've come." Jeff Thibodeau On How His Design Aesthetic Has Evolved "I've never worried about trends, but two things have evolved over the years. In terms of what I believe in and the kind of women and people that I want to dress, it's always been very consistent. I always say [I make clothes for] people of substance, people who are curious. They are global glamorous nomads who are curious about the world and the space that they occupy. [My vision] has evolved simply out of curiosity. As the world changes, as values change, and as we start to feel differently and see each other more, the collection changes accordingly. I feel like the consistency and the curiosity has evolved over time. It speaks to the world Ive created of style and substance." On the Significance of Fashion Week in 2024 "The most obvious thing about fashion week is the clothes, but I think that in so many ways, the fashion industry and shows are a mirror to society and the zeitgeistwhat's about to happen and what's happening. Every six months, we're able to tell a story, which [not many people get to do so often]. Artists don't get a chance, musicians don't get a chance, filmmakers usually take years to make something, but fashion designers are able to address the moving zeitgeist. I've always said this: If you really want to see what's happening and how the world is changing, look at the runway shows and you'll understand. Besides that, I always feel like runway shows and fashion begin with lookbooks or however people want to do it, and what it represents is the idea of living your dream, that idea of being like, this is what I want. It's very easy for us to be at this point in our lives and careers and be like, oh, you should do this, you should do that, but we also remember when we were 16 or 17 years old, we had big dreams, but we were so scared. Was it possible? So I always hope that besides the economics of it, it inspires people to be big dreamers. If anything, what the world needs right now are dreamers and storytellers because storytellers are healers." Up Next: Manifestation Is Undergoing a RebrandAnd This Time, It's All About Psychology Read the original article on Byrdie. Costco isn't just people's favorite place to bulk-buy maple syrup, toothpaste, meat, and other staples. Its food court has also long been people's go-to for a snack or quick meal before or after shopping. Whether you're buying its ridiculously cheap hot dog meal or its loaded, ultra-cheesy pizza, Costco's food court prices are so low that you can usually justify the expenditure. But its newest addition, a turkey and Swiss sandwich, has customers questioning the warehouse company's recent food court decisions. "Why is it so hard to make a sandwich $4.99?" wrote one irked commenter on a Reddit post about the new item. "Is it $6.99 to compensate for some of the lost revenue from the hot dog? Just a sandwich by itself at Costco should be $4.99." Another commenter was reminded of other recent Costco food court items that customers considered misses. "I'm beginning to think Costco doesn't actually want anyone to buy the last few things they've unleashed on us." While Costco's photo of the sandwich displays sauces in the background, the sandwich itself looks rather dry and boring. "It's like they intentionally took the most bland, unreal photo possible," surmised another Redditor. The item consists of brown turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, Dijon mustard, and sun-dried tomatoes on a ciabatta roll. Read more: 20 Frozen Foods Costco Shoppers Swear By Fans Just Want Old Favorites Back Costco food court - George Rose / Getty Images While Costco's new Turkey & Swiss Sandwich has yet to be released, Instagram user @costcoinsider claims customers should see it by the end of February. If early grumblings are any indication, however, food court loyalists will feel the same about the item as they did about Costco's Roast Beef Sandwich, or the company's decision to swap out its much-loved churros for more expensive chocolate chip cookies. Of the 170-plus Reddit comments about the sandwich, the majority were less than thrilled. The response to @costcoinsider's Instagram post wasn't much better. "Get that crap outta here and bring back the supreme pizza," one commenter wrote, with others sharing similar sentiments about the Polish Dog and Combo Pizza. Some just want to see the popular Turkey Provolone Sandwich again, which even sparked a Change.org petition. "Just bring back the original sandwich," another commenter wrote on Instagram. Everyone is judging the sandwich before they've tasted it, but these initial reactions may be wrong. Maybe this sandwich will be a worthy replacement for the Turkey Provolone, or maybe Costco will realize how bland its photo looks and share another. Hopefully, the chain will realize that although higher-priced items help its bottom line, customers want a deal at the food court. A $7 sandwich that folks could make at home for less money probably won't be very popular. Read the original article on Mashed. Sarah Silvermans lawsuit against OpenAI will advance with some of her legal teams claims dismissed. The comedian sued OpenAI and Meta in July 2023, claiming they trained their AI models on her books and other work without consent. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the unfair competition portion of the lawsuit will proceed. Judge Martinez-Olguin gave the plaintiffs until March 13 to amend the suit. US District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin threw out portions of the complaint from Silvermans legal team Monday, including negligence, unjust enrichment, DMCA violations and accusations of vicarious infringement. The cases principal claim remains intact. It alleges OpenAI directly infringed on copyrighted material by training LLMs on millions of books without permission. OpenAIs motion to dismiss, filed in August, didnt tackle the cases core copyright claims. Although the suit will proceed, the judge suggested the federal Copyright Act may preempt the suits remaining claims. As OpenAI does not raise preemption, the Court does not consider it, Martinez-Olguin wrote. The US court system has yet to determine whether training AI large language models on copyrighted work falls under the fair use doctrine. Last month, OpenAI admitted in a court filing that it would be impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials. The result of Silvermans OpenAI hearing is similar to one in San Francisco in November when Silvermans claims against Meta were also slashed down to the core copyright infringement claims. In that session, US District Judge Vince Chhabria described some of the plaintiffs dismissed claims as nonsensical. Other groups suing OpenAI for alleged copyright-related violations include The New York Times, a collection of nonfiction authors (a group that grew after the initial lawsuit) and The Authors Guild. The latter filed its claim alongside authors George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and John Grisham. WebUnited Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- .WS, the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) for Samoa, proudly announces its partnership with WebUnited as the first-ever registry to fully mirror their TLD on-chain. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in integrating traditional domain services with the Blockchain technology. The integration of WebUnited as a backend provider will enable the .WS TLD to exist on the Blockchain while conserving traditional internet features and DNS resolution. The transition to a Web3-enabled backend amplifies traditional domain name use cases and capabilities. The .WS users can now look forward to amplified use cases, such as using their domains as crypto wallet addresses, a decentralized identity, and enabling full tokenization, instant transferability, and renting. Lars Jensen, Co-CEO of WebUnited, expresses his enthusiasm: "Today marks an important moment in the domain industry. By partnering with .WS, we're not just breaking new ground but laying the foundations for a future where the internet's potential is fully realized. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to innovation and vision for a seamlessly integrated digital world." Davide Vicinci, Co-CEO of WebUnited, stated, "The collaboration with .WS is about leading the path of unifying Web2 with Web3, where traditional domain services and blockchain converge effortlessly. We are excited to embark on this journey with the ccTLD .WS!" Paul Apanowicz, Director of Project Management at Global Domains International, the registry operator for .WS, shares his perspective: "Adopting DNS-Mirroring to Web3 is a big step for .WS, and we couldn't be more excited. This move positions us at the forefront of domain technology innovation and reinforces our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to our users. We are proud to partner with WebUnited, a leader in blockchain domain technologies, to bring this vision to life." Story continues WebUnited and .WS are joining forces to combine the reliability of traditional DNS with the efficiency of blockchain. This partnership will bring new features and utilities to .WS domains, allowing them to exist in the blockchain world. This partnership represents a major change in the domain industry as it moves towards a future where internet domains are versatile and secure Web3 assets in addition to being regular web addresses. By joining forces with WebUnited and .WS, the domain name world is entering a new era of domain technology. About WebUnited WebUnited is at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology with domain services, intending to provide a new internet experience. The objective is to transform digital domains into more than just web addresses by making them secure, efficient, and flexible tools for the digital age. https://webunited.com/ About .WS As Samoa's digital identifier, .WS is more than a domain; it's a commitment to innovation and reliability. .WS is managed by Global Domains International and dedicated to advancing domain services, ensuring they meet the needs of today's internet users. http://website.ws/ CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Eshan Pancholi hello-at-webunited.com https://webunited.com/ Paul Apanowicz paul.apanowicz-at-website.ws http://website.ws/ T+L TOP TRAVEL ADVISOR | EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA SAFARIS SPECIALIST Courtesy of Shaun Stanley Contact Stanley Safaris Cape Town, South Africa, shaun@stanley-safaris.com 001-619-798-8284 stanley-safaris.com instagram.com/stanley_safaris Stanley enjoys a challenge specifically, planning complex trips that span several countries. For a seven-week itinerary, he arranged for a couple to cross Namibias desert terrain, followed by stays in South Africa and Tanzania. There was even time at the end for a visit to Madagascar. Languages Spoken: English Average Daily Spend: $1,000 Trip Planning Fees: None Testimonial "Shaun worked with us over several weeks to curate a safari experience that suited our interests and budget. Regardless of the time or day, Shaun was always available to answer questions or chat through ideas until we had an itinerary we were happy with. We cannot wait to return to Africa on another safari created by Shaun." Annmary and Peter B. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Are you a fan of twin-centre holidays? For some travellers they are a golden chance to add on a whole new destination in the spirit of well, while Im over there Others see them as a distraction from a place that already has more than enough to see. Why dilute the joys of Kerala by adding on Sri Lanka? Does it make sense to tear yourself away from Cape Town for a quick taste of Mauritius? For me, the issue is that tour operators tend to pair similar places Los Angeles then a quick flutter in Las Vegas, Barbados with a side salad of St Lucia. Yet one of the undervalued joys of air travel is the chance to hop between wildly differing destinations. On a trip to Fiji, to which there are no direct flights from the UK, I decided to precede the pleasures of the South Pacific with some time in Vancouver, neither of which I knew much about. I wanted the frisson of discovering two new places with the added spice of flinging myself between contrasting landscapes and cultures. Arriving on the west coast of Canada in July, I found a scenic port charged for high summer fun. It helped that the sun was blazing bright in this most rainy of places, and I was impressed that you can whizz from the airport to downtown in just 30 minutes simply by flashing a credit card as you board the citys SkyTrain. As we sped along I realised that ticking off cliches is all part of the stopover fun and I felt absurdly satisfied when I spied huge logs floating on the Fraser River to a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Staying central is essential when time is tight. At the high-rise Fairmont Waterfront hotel I was greeted by engaging views over a harbour busy with ferries, floatplanes, helicopters and cruise ships. A short walk took me to a free shuttle bus for Grouse Mountain where an aerial tramway whisks passengers up to 2,800ft in six minutes. Besides a panoramic view of Vancouver Harbour there was another wishlist sight here: grizzly bears in the form of Grinder and Coola, two orphans who have been resident since 2001 when the motherless cubs were found by the roadside. Vancouver rejoices in outdoor fun so I joined the party on a three-hour group cycle ride around Stanley Park, stopping to admire its elaborately-carved totem poles, 200ft fir trees and a beaver dam. The next afternoon I took a 30-minute scenic flight in a five-seater floatplane, buzzing over the steep ridges and islands that frame this spectacular city. Tisdall: 'Vancouver rejoices in outdoor fun' - anouchka In the evening I found a thriving restaurant scene that has been boosted by the publication of an annual Michelin guide since 2022. This led me to one-Michelin-star Published on Main in Mount Pleasant to discover the sublime joys of British Columbia produce including prawns, halibut and fine wines from the Okanagan Valley. As my departure for Nadi, the gateway to Fiji, wasnt until 10.15pm there was still time to cap things off with a sunset kayak tour. Paddling out from English Bay, our small group included a pair of wedding anniversary celebrants who somehow managed to drink a bottle of bubbly amid the choppy waves. It was a breezy, two-mile loop that headed west to open water then turned back for a sensational view of the Vancouver skyline with its sun-burnished skyscrapers lined up like a mighty army in shining battle armour. The Vancouver skyline at sunset - Francesco Riccardo Iacomino With my 11-hour flight to the South Pacific crossing the international date line, discombobulation was a given. That didnt matter because on some airlines you feel like youve arrived in the country before youve even taken off. On Fiji Airways passengers are instantly immersed in an island vibe with guitar music playing, cushions bearing traditional motifs and smiling crew members sporting a flower behind their ear. Community is a big part of Fijian culture and my neighbours were spontaneously chatty the ice-breaker being, of course, rugby. The islanders are obsessed with the sport and many resorts have their own staff teams. With a week to play with, I started exploring on Viti Levu which is the largest island and best for adrenaline activities. My thrills included ziplining and hiking up colossal sand dunes, but the highlight was the Sigatoka River Safari where you tear upriver in a roaring jet boat to learn about village life in the lush interior. When I found myself lunching on taro leaves with coconut cream then dancing under the mango trees with a garland of flowers around my neck, Canada really did feel half a world away. Tisdall: 'Canada really did feel half a world away' - Saowakhon Brown Life is more relaxed on smaller Vanua Levu, a 45-minute flight east, where there is little traffic and a slower pace that conformed to my vision of the South Seas idyll. Superb snorkelling and diving, along with the chance to buy locally-farmed black pearls, are key reasons to head to Savusavu on the south coast. Here the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is a model of sustainability with a School Under the Sea where children learn about sharks and plant mangrove seedlings. Activities include fishing, sailing and castaway picnics but my pick was a visit to the serene Salt Lake which is reached by kayaking up a mangrove-fringed tidal river. With the help of a young guide, Ofa, we paddled into one of natures hideaways, ringed by dense green forest with a small, central island. It is an enchanting spot made for drifting along, admiring the butterflies and listening to birdsong, but my Zen moment was short-lived. On the return leg we misjudged the power of the incoming tide and were both quickly flipped over, and left clinging to a tree trunk. Ofa was embarrassed, but I just laughed and told her I was glad this had happened in the 28C heat of Fiji rather than the chilly waters of Vancouver. Essentials Nigel Tisdall travelled with Turquoise Holidays (01494 678400; turquoiseholidays.co.uk), which offers a 12-night itinerary from 4,295pp including British Airways flights from London to Vancouver, Fiji Airways flights on to Nadi, and stays at the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver, room only, the Outrigger Beach Resort Fiji on Viti Levu, B&B, and the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort on Vanua Levu, all-inclusive. For more information see destinationvancouver.com and fiji.travel. Four other adventurous twin-centre holidays Istanbul and Bali Hagia Sophia at morning twilight - Danny Hu Explore the treasures of this fabled Turkish city where Europe meets Asia then kick back on an enchanting Indonesian isle with a Hindu heritage. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; originaltravel.co.uk) has 20 nights from 7,875pp including Turkish Airlines flights from London Gatwick, four nights at Soho House Istanbul and a multi-centre stay in Bali with boutique accommodation and guided tours. Iceland and Chicago Chicago, Illinois - iStock Unreleased With its massed skyscrapers and exceptional museums, the powerhouse city of Chicago is a fine contrast to homely, lava-strewn Iceland. Icelandair has free stopovers of up to seven days on its flights via Reykjavik with departures from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Arrange transfers, activities and accommodation independently (icelandair.com, visiticeland.com, choosechicago.com). Dubai and Zimbabwe View of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe - guenterguni Enjoy a restorative break in the sunny UAE then marvel at Victoria Falls and the wildlife of Hwange National Park. Travel Counsellors (01798 850029; travelcounsellors.com) has 13 nights from 9,475pp including Emirates flights from London Gatwick, three nights in Dubai and a ten-night tour of Zimbabwe with safari activities. Helsinki and South Korea Seoul, South Korea, pictured at night - Alex Barlow Discover the elegant architecture of the placid Finnish capital then plunge into Seoul, a hi-tech metropolis with 9.6 million residents. Trailfinders (020 7368 1317; trailfinders.com) has 12 nights from 3,799p including Finnair flights from London Heathrow, four nights in Helsinki and a nine-day group tour of South Koreas highlights. 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. AI/ANs serve in the military at one of the highest rates of any group in the United States, according to the White House. (photo/Canva) WASHINGTON Secretary Of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough announced at the National Congress of American Indians Executive Council Winter Session on Tuesday morning that the Department of Veterans Affairs has exempted or reimbursed more than 143,000 copayments totaling approximately $2.5 million for more than 3,800 eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. This is a result of VAs new 2023 policy that eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans are no longer required to make copayments for VA health care, urgent care, or prescriptions. Under this policy, VA also reimburses for copayments paid on or after January 5, 2022. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. To live their best lives, Veterans need access to affordable health care, said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. This copayment exemption honors our treaties with sovereign nations and the distinguished service of American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. The copay exemption is a significant step to upholding the federal governments trust responsibility to maintain and improve the health of the Indians. AI/ANs serve in the military at one of the highest rates of any group in the United States, according to the White House. Many Native veterans receive healthcare from the Veterans Health Administration, an agency within the VA, in addition to utilizing Indian Health Services (IHS), Tribal, and Urban Indian Organization (UIO) facilities. Eligible Veterans include any American Indian and Alaska Native Veteran who meets the definitions of Indian or urban Indian under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. VA is continuing to receive, review, and process documentation for the copayment exemption. To apply for the copayment exemption, Veterans should mail 1) a completed VA Tribal Documentation Form (VA Form 10-334), and 2) a copy of official tribal documentation to VHA Tribal Documentation at P.O. Box 5100, Janesville, Wisconsin 53547. Veterans can submit documentation to qualify for the copayment exemption. Eligible Veterans include any Veteran who meets the definitions of Indian or urban Indian under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, including Veterans who are members of an American Indian Tribe, certain Veterans who are descendants of Tribe members, Alaska Native Veterans, and more. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Theres a Caviar House at Heathrow Terminal 4, where you can sup fizz and fish eggs before you board. We looked at its menu, then at each other then went and had burgers in the Wetherspoon instead. Tone set. My husband and I arent really champagne people. Which may help explain why we were at the airport, bound for Nepal far from the nearest overwater villa for a somewhat unconventional honeymoon, schlepping considerable distances up big mountains with 10 complete strangers. We were married the previous year, but our first attempt at a honeymoon, in France, was cut short by family bereavement. This drew things into sharp focus: dont put off a bucket-list trip a minute longer than necessary. Wed long dreamt of a serious trek in Nepal and the Manaslu Circuit, a loop around the worlds eighth-highest peak, near the Tibetan border, was wed been told one of the greatest treks youve probably never heard of. So, we wondered, why not make it our official honeymoon? Might this be the best way to cement a relationship? If we could survive two challenging, luxe-free weeks with strangers, surely we could survive anything? Previous hikers whod travelled with Mountain Kingdoms had called this trek life-changing, which sounded more newly-wed-appropriate than a week in the Maldives. And the Maldives this wasnt. Our first foray from the sheltered haven of the Kathmandu Guest House was into brilliant chaos. Scooters whizzed every which way, narrowly missing dogs, shrines and jet-lagged tourists; electric cables hung like some evil Spider-Mans dark webs. Wed ventured out to buy gifts: I bought the husband some metronidazole (23p a pack!), in case he got giardia up a mountain. Very romantic. That evening, we met our group aged mid-30s to 72, three solo women, three solo men, two friends, one other couple. I think they thought us mad: why honeymoon like this? We also had our first briefing, which ranged from overview to intimacy. Pee-pee should be clear, Santosh, our tour leader, declared romantically. Over the coming two weeks, wed stay at simple teahouses. Heating, reliable power and potable water were off the agenda. Hot showers, if available at all, would cost extra. Likewise Wi-Fi though that I welcomed. The husband huffs if I tell him to put down his phone. Here, I wouldnt be the nag. And no one should be doom-scrolling when the Himalayas soar outside. 'Luckily our trek-mates were all interesting, positive people': Sarah, Paul and the group - Paul Bloomfield Morning arrived with its unfamiliar magnificence, and we were off, piling into a Super Deluxe bus that claimed: Smart TV, Air Cooler, Wi-Fi Zone! None was true. Or important, as we departed Kathmandu for a rich taste of Nepalese roadside life: precipitous valleys, milky rivers, marigolds, monkeys, banana stalls. At our lunch stop we sat with Kate and Tim, the other couple, who told us about their honeymoon. After a resort week in Bali, they climbed a volcano and ended up sharing not only their tent but their sleeping bag with a woman whod forgotten hers. Perhaps our choice wasnt so unusual? It was already dark when we arrived at our teahouse in Machha Khola. Man, our sirdar, pulled aside the husband and me: dont tell, but weve got you a top-floor double! Our tiny honeymoon room was sickly pink but had an en suite and windows overlooking the valley beyond. Luxury? Maybe not. But the service from Man and all our crew was never anything less than five-star. The sickly pink 'honeymoon room' - Paul Bloomfield When morning dawned, bright and blue, so did the realisation that this trip was going to be astonishing. Id thought wed be some days in before encountering the high drama of the Himalayas. Technically, that was true but Nepal isnt like other countries. Its pre-hills sport the sort of giant gorges and waterfalls that would be the headline attraction elsewhere, but dont even have names here. And everywhere you looked there were prayer flags, endlessly flapping blessings into the universe. What better world for newly-weds to walk into than one infused with compassion and goodwill? When no one was looking, I gave the husbands hand a squeeze. On the first of 11 days trekking, we soon fell into a rhythm: wake up, squat loo, breakfast, off we go; tea break, cooked lunch, dal bhat dinner always with the group, no romantic meals for two. Luckily, our trek-mates were all interesting, positive people. The husband and I often spent much of each day chatting with others, not with each other. Weve been together 20 years; it was good to know we can still exist as individuals, not just as a couple. The rhythm became familiar but no two days were the same. We advanced over suspension bridges and along the banks of the Buri Gandaki river, its personality changing from wide and laid-back to tight, white and raging. Lush forest gave way to pink-blossomed buckwheat, glowing autumnal larch and crimson berberis. The higher we hiked, the taller the mountains towered, so heaven-scraping as to seem impossible. Manaslu itself loomed largest, its mighty peak always first to catch the dawn. And there were always villages. This isnt unpeopled wilderness but a landscape lived in for centuries. As we hiked, Santosh a fascinating font of all knowledge translated the mani walls, recited mantras and led us around monasteries, offering a window into Tibetan culture so crammed with meaning and divinities. The group encountered suspension bridges and lush forests on the 11-day trek - Sarah Baxter One night, he lent me a book, Tibetan Diary: From Birth to Death and Beyond in the Shadow of Manaslu. Chapter 6, The Merits of Matrimony, caught my eye. Buddhist clergy consider marriage an obstacle to enlightenment, it said (oops, I thought). Yet for most humble householders its key to social validation. Hence the Nubri proverb: A singe wild ass doesnt get water, a single man doesnt live life fully. I told my husband he should be grateful not to be a single ass. Though did he still want me? I wasnt at my most alluring: nose bunged, nostrils red-raw, hair limp, armpits questionable. We did share a shower, if you count wet-wiping ourselves in the same room at the same time. All this effort was building to one thing: the day when we would wake at 3am to hike over the Larkya La (16,752ft), the routes most oxygen-sucking pass, then down, down, down the other side. Snow fell the previous evening as we huddled at Dharamshala, our most basic stop. There werent even bedrooms, just makeshift mini-dorms; on that night of my honeymoon, I didnt even share a room with my husband. But what a night: bitter cold, sky star-spangled. As we set out to climb, massive mountains started to appear, first as gargantuan apparitions in the moonlight, then in increasing detail with the waxing dawn. Incomprehensible behemoths, they seemed to make silent mockery of our little lives and worries. Existential claptrap? This place had that kind of effect. It had other effects, too. The lack of oxygen strained our lungs, making each step feel semi-heroic (though the crew were always there to help). Together the husband and I got there, slogging up the final slope to the field of prayer flags marking the pass. Did we hug and kiss? Not really. We were too sumo-ed in layers, gasping for breath. Paul and Sarah at Birendra Tal lake - Paul Bloomfield The romance came later. We spent all day descending to Bimthang, which was, at 12,336 feet, still frostily cold. But here we had our own wooden cabin, while a log burner cosied the dining room. As the group gathered there, Santosh revealed a surprise: for the whole trek, Namkha, the assistant guide, had lugged two bottles of wine in his backpack, a honeymoon treat. Nepalese wine, no less. Full of lentils, bonhomie and the thrill of success, we poured mugs for everyone and chinked them delightedly. I can think of no better way to toast our future together than that. What was Pauls take? In fairness, ours was never likely to be a typical sun-sand-spa affair were just not that kind of couple. And the Manaslu Circuit is, though not technical, graded strenuous no lounging beneath swaying palms or swan towel sculptures, then. So wed girded our loins (or, rather, intestines) for lentils and curried veg each night, aware that any loving smackeroo would reek of garlic and cumin. And we knew thered be no whiff of a hot shower for several days though other whiffs aplenty. Yet some deprivations proved boons. The Wi-Fi desert was blissful: at no point did either of us gaze lovingly at the other only to find our spouse gazing fixedly at a screen. Meals, though variations on a theme, were always fresh, tasty and usually bottomless some people pay a fortune for such organic, zero-food-miles, plant-based, all-inclusive cuisine. Accommodation ran the gamut from simple (read: chilly and basic) to characterful and cute, but always clean and even, notably the Kathmandu Guest House, stylish. And our leader, guides and sherpas couldnt have been more professional, smiling and determined to make our trek enjoyable. Thats not to downplay the challenges, though. But, but, but. If variety is the spice of marriage, those 11 days epitomised conjugal bliss. We both sported near-permanent grins wide as the Himalayas are high, broken only to allow for eating, more or less. Less at 16,752ft, if Im honest but even that grimace faded rapidly once Id caught my breath and drunk in the jaw-dropping vistas. 'Jaw-dropping vistas': Paul's view of the Himalayas - Paul Bloomfield And how could we not beam? We trekked by moonlight and starlight and the glow of dawn reflected from snowy 23,000ft-plus summits. Alongside quartz boulders and icy peaks sparkling as vivaciously as any diamond. Beneath waterfalls evoking the most diaphanous bridal veils. Through larch-woods blazing fiery gold, out-autumning New England in October. I even picked up a few nuptial tips from some rather racy murals in Tantric Buddhist monasteries that would make Sting and Trudie blush. Ultimately, the Manaslu Circuit set my heart pounding. OK, that was partly the altitude but doing what we both love for a fortnight validated our yen for tackling wild adventures together, no matter the discomfort (which was never too arduous). Would I recommend it? Clearly, if your idea of romance is cocktails, pillow menus and infinity pools, a group trek in Nepal isnt for you. But as an experience those peaks, that culture, those smiles, that food, those diverse scenes its an extraordinary thing to share with your most special someone. And sharing it with another 10 like-minded people multiplied rather than subtracted from the rapture. Paul Bloomfield Essentials Sarah Baxter and Paul Bloomfield were guests of Mountain Kingdoms (01453 844400; mountainkingdoms.com), which offers an 18-day small-group Manaslu Circuit trip from 3,310pp including flights, accommodation, most meals, guides and porterage, and use of a quality down jacket and sleeping bag on trek. 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. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." In her famous column for Harpers Bazaar, legendary editor Diana Vreeland issued our readers many dares: Why dont you rinse your blond childs hair in dead champagne to keep it gold? Why dont you have every room done up in every color green? Why dont you order Schiaparellis cellophane belt with your name and telephone number on it? In a new series, well pose our own modern-day dares. Why dont you wear a chic little hat? Thats the question Joseph Altuzarra posed this Sunday at New York Fashion Week. This season, for his brands 15th anniversary, the designer created a nostalgic atmosphere, inviting close friends of the label to view his Fall 2024 collection in an intimate, salonlike setting at his showroom. The looks, too, interpreted elements from the past in a new, fresh way. Think: art deco meets all-American horse girls. Sleek styling featured fitted knit jodhpur-inspired pants, ankle-skimming dresses, and oversize coats with playful clownish ruffled collarsand atop it all was a modern take on the pillbox hat. In shades of black and white, these hats framed the browand put the perfect finishing touch on Altuzarras ladylike wardrobe. If a pillbox hat sounds old-fashioned, and not in a good way, thats part of the allure. As noted hat wearer, cult-favorite newsletter scribe, and Washington Post fashion writer Rachel Tashjian explains, the fact that these more structured hats feel vintage is part of the appeal. It takes confidence to wear something thats considered outdated. These accessories recall a time when there was more formality around getting dressed. I also love the entire theater of dressing, especially lately, Tashjian adds. I like the drama and ritual of creating an ensemble and topping it off with the right headgear, like a wax seal on a letter. If youre not yet sold, she has one final pitch: practicality. If you have a bad hair day, you put on a hat and it looks like you spent 20 more minutes getting dressed, she says. Jalil Johnson, Saks fashion office coordinator and style star, was thinking about hats preFashion Week. Does anyone still wear a hat? he wondered in an Instagram post, referencing a favorite Stephen Sondheim song, Ladies Who Lunch, and wearing a structured Gigi Burris cap. The answer: a resounding yes. So for Fashion Week, he wore a raffia hat from Jenny Walton. What I love about it is how whimsical and retro it is, he says. Pairing the cap with a workwear jacket, button-up blouse, pencil skirt, slingback heels, and a Zankov x S.Joon mohair clutch, Johnson channeled the Prada Spring 2024 collection. Although the show didnt feature hatsthe models actually wore jersey headbandsI thought the hat added an extra oomph. Indeed. For a guiding mantra, Johnson suggests asking yourself WWJDWhat would Jackie do? (As in, Kennedy Onassis.) Laura Reilly, a fashion writer and founder of newsletter Magasin, is known for her well-documented Fashion Week looks. This season, she kicked things off in an ivory driver-style hat from the Rows Spring 2024 collection. After seeing it in the brands look book and on Greta Lee at the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Reilly polled her Substack followers about whether she should buy the hat. Many of them said no lol, she says. (She obviously did not listen.) Fortunately, the reception was different IRL, thanks at least in part to Reillys masterful styling: Pairing the cream-colored hat with a belted, oversize gray coat, structured straw bag, and black Mary Jane flats proved a winning combination. Even if it wasnt always the plan. I had put [the look] together when planning out rough drafts of my outfits for the weekthis was well before I even knew when the hat would be for sale, she says. When I finally had the hat in hand, I wasnt sure Id add it until I tried it on the morning of. I dont think I could have pulled together a more hat-worthy look in the end, though. If you cant wait until Altuzarras collection hits stores in the fall, Reilly suggests scouring the secondhand market, especially if youre willing to deal with some trial and error. Ive been doing a lot of eBaying/Etsying felted hats lately, and the challenge Ive come up against is that you cant tell how exactly theyre going to sit on your crown, she sats. The best luck Ive had is with hats with a slightly deeper dome, so that way, at least your head isnt hitting the top of the hat while the brim flares awkwardly away, not quite sitting flat. So, why dont you start searching? Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics Photo credit: launchmetrics You Might Also Like A teenage girl escaped the man accused of forcing her into prostitution a few days after her 16th birthday, according to federal prosecutors. Now hes going to prison. When the teen told Gabriel Joseph Gonzalez she was leaving him and no longer wanted to work as a prostitute, he threatened her, resulting in her calling 911 on Jan. 26, 2023, court documents say. The San Diego Police Department rescued the girl that day, according to prosecutors. Gonzalez, 20, of Pomona, began sex trafficking the teen when she was 15 and a runaway, prosecutors said. He had known the girl since she was 13, they said. Gonzalez persuaded her to leave a group home she was living at in Los Angeles County and forced her to engage in commercial sex work for his financial benefit, prosecutors said. In January 2023, he made the girl walk two streets in San Diego and National City, a suburb of San Diego, to engage in commercial sex acts for seven days in a row, except on her 16th birthday when he let her take the day off, according to court documents. Now, a judge has sentenced Gonzalez to 12 years in prison on a charge of sex trafficking a minor, the U.S Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California announced in a Feb. 13 news release. The victims courage to call 911 in this case was extraordinary, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement. McClatchy News contacted Martin G. Molina, Gonzalezs court-appointed defense attorney, for comment on Feb. 13 and didnt receive an immediate response. In sentencing documents filed on Gonzalezs behalf, Molina wrote that the teen was not someone (Gonzalez) targeted for prostitution and that his client was friends with her before any pimping. In his mind, this was not a form of abuse but a form of both making some money. And he pursued her for this, Molina said. Molina wrote his client had a terrible childhood and adolescence and argued that if he had more stability in his youth and environment, he would have had a moral compass to not even consider this. Meanwhile, ahead of his sentencing, prosecutors wrote in a memo that Gonzalezs continued harm, control and manipulation of the girl continued even despite incarceration. Sex trafficking attempts from jail After Gonzalez pleaded guilty in the case in July 2023, prosecutors said he tried to sex traffic the teen while he was in jail. He spoke with the teen over the phone through a jail call system, prosecutors wrote in sentencing documents. In one call, he told her their activities do not need to stop just because he is in jail and instructed (her) to get some money, according to prosecutors. When U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns issued Gonzalezs prison sentence, he noted Gonzalezs absolute lack of remorse in continuing to try to sex traffic the teen while incarcerated, the attorneys office said. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor is inexcusable, Californias Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. Pomona, where Gonzalez is from, is about 30 miles east of Los Angeles. Human trafficking in the US Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Traffickers profit off their victims by forcing them to engage in sex acts or do labor. With an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time, human traffickers prey on people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, exploiting them for their own profit, officials said. Industries where trafficking victims are forced to work include hospitality, restaurants, agriculture, construction, landscaping, factories, home care, salons, massage parlors, retail, janitorial and many more, officials said. In the U.S., children in welfare or juvenile justice systems, such as foster care, are the most vulnerable to human trafficking, officials said. Children and teens experiencing homelessness, people seeking asylum, people who struggle with substance abuse, migrant laborers, people who identify as part of the LGBTQ community and victims of domestic violence are also more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking Traffickers can be strangers, acquaintances, or even family members, and they prey on the vulnerable and on those seeking opportunities to build for themselves a brighter future, officials said. Man sex trafficked 15-year-old and hit her when she didnt make enough money, feds say Missing 14-year-old seen in sex trafficking advertisement, feds say. Man gets prison Man forced migrants to work on farms and raped 16-year-old he kidnapped twice, feds say Mom and son used promise of America to lure girls from Mexico, traffic them, feds say Looking to view 2024's total eclipse in Western North Carolina? It looks like there may be plenty of opportunities. The moon will blot out the sun for cities across America on April 8, leaving several million in the dark between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. While Western North Carolina will not be within the path of totality, as it was in 2017, the eclipse is expected to cover roughly 87% of the sun's disk in the Asheville area, according to Eclipse2024.org, a website dedicated to providing information from eclipse experts and eclipse chasers. But there are still opportunities to view or learn about the solar-lunar collision in the area including a celebration of the event with a retired NASA astronaut. For Asheville, the maximum eclipse will occur around 3:09 p.m., but the area will experience a partial eclipse before and after that time. A total solar eclipse will happen April 8, 2024. What is a total solar eclipse? A total solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, totally blocking out the face of the sun and setting a night-like light level for areas affected. Unlike October's annular solar eclipse, this time parts of the nation will temporarily not see the sun. Only those in the path of totality will experience the full effects of the eclipse, which have been known to include changes in animal behaviors and near total darkness. However, nearly all of North America will experience a partial solar eclipse on April 8, according to the American Astronomical Society. Don't forget your glasses NASA reminds those looking to view the April eclipse of one thing: don't forget to protect yourself. "Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Suns bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing," NASA's eye safety suggestions for the 2024 eclipse read. In October, Western North Carolina Professor Enrique Gomez talked to the Citizen Times about protective glasses warning those who already have them to check if they are knock-offs. "They have to be certified with an ISO rating of 12,312, which is an international safety standard for safe viewing," Gomez told the Citizen Times. "I saw, in 2017, lots of unscrupulous vendors that have essentially stolen the ISO logo and put them in their glasses, but it's not listed as being 12,312 ISO certified." Girl Scouts bring retired astronaut to WNC If you have a Girl Scout in your family, you could celebrate the event with a retired NASA astronaut. In partnership with the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, or PARI, the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont are bringing retired NASA astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger to Brevard to celebrate and learn about April's total solar eclipse. The event will include a question and answer session with the astronaut, along with activities in coordination with PARI. The event runs from April 5-7 at Camp Pisgah and is only open to registered Girl Scouts grades K-12. Registration is required. The event does not occur on the day of the eclipse. We are thrilled to host Dottie and give girls across our state an opportunity to interact with an actual astronaut, said Jennifer Wilcox, CEO of GSCP2P in a news release. "The partnership with PARI and the activities surrounding the weekend are going to give girls a chance to experience space science in a whole new way. The Milky Way with a meteor streak from the South Ridge at PARI, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute PARI to host partial eclipse event While not a meet-and-greet with an astronaut, PARI has a day-long event where eclipse watchers can pay to view and learn about the solar event from 11 a.m to 4:30 p.m. on April 8. Tickets for the event start at $40 for children 12 and under, and $80 for adults. The day-long event includes an eclipse education session, lunch and a guided museum tour in the afternoon. Cities in totality closest to Asheville? If you are looking to view more than 87% of the eclipse, a drive or flight may be in order. Here is a list of the cities in each state that will see the total eclipse and how many miles you would have to drive from Asheville, according to Google Maps: Dallas (957 miles) Idabel, Oklahoma (848 miles) Little Rock, Arkansas (642 miles) Poplar Bluff, Missouri (537 miles) Paducah, Kentucky (427 miles) Carbondale, Illinois (494 miles) Evansville, Indiana (443 miles) Cleveland (545 miles) Erie, Pennsylvania (598 miles) Buffalo, New York (689 miles) Burlington, Vermont (963 miles) Lancaster, New Hampshire (1,042 miles) Caribou, Maine (1,305 miles) More: POLL: What's your favorite Girl Scouts cookie? More: Make plans to celebrate Valentine's Day with these events, specials in Asheville area Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 2024 eclipse in Asheville? Astronaut to visit WNC; What to know Members of the Korean Disabled Veteran's Association for Agent Orange hold a vigil near the White House in Aug. 2006. The delegation of South Korean war veterans who are say they are victims of Agent Orange, sought compensation for their injuries from the U.S. government and chemical companies. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A civilian U.S. military expert praises what he says is the United States making incremental progress in increasing veterans' access to healthcare. Patrick Murphy, the 32nd U.S. Army under secretary and the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, told UPI on Monday that the Biden administration has "made incredible strides in ensuring all veterans get access to the care and benefits they've earned and rightly deserve." The new VA policy change further expands the time frame and locations for which the federal government will assume that a military veteran was exposed to the toxic Agent Orange chemicals while in military service. Those chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects and more adverse health conditions. Murphy -- who served in 2016 as President Barack Obama's U.S. Army secretary -- said that healthcare for U.S. military veterans has been improving, as this recent change highlights. The proposed VA change -- which does not require congressional approval -- codifies provisions in the PACT Act, the Blue Water Navy Act of 2019 and the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021, two of three laws signed by President Joe Biden. Former U.S. Army Under Secretary Patrick Murphy (C), Chair of Veterans Trucking Task Force, speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in April 2022 next to President Joe Biden. Photo by Ting Shen/UPI But the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act -- passed by Congress in 2019 and which extended the location for a presumption of exposure -- arrived "decades too late for Agent Orange exposure," Murphy said. The right direction Agent Orange was a toxic herbicide used abundantly by the U.S. government from 1962-1971 during the Vietnam War to eliminate forests and farm crops to aid U.S. military incursions primarily in south Asia. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs say that they are delivering more care and benefits to more military veterans now "than ever before in U.S. history." VA Secretary Denis McDonough called the Biden administration's Agent Orange policy shift "another step in the right direction." "This proposed change would make it easier for veterans exposed to herbicides who served outside Vietnam to access the benefits they so rightly deserve," McDonough said in a statement. And while the new VA policies on Agent Orange lower even more the burden of proof needed in order to get benefits, the VA will now "automatically assume that veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to certain toxins," according to the department. Signed into law August 2022, the PACT Act, Murphy added, "continues to build on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act." He stated his belief that McDonough's VA is "moving quickly in the right direction on toxic exposures" for U.S. military veterans. A Pennsylvania congressman from 2007-2011 who lead the successful effort to end the U.S. government's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy, Murphy singled out Section 704 of the PACT Act -- which allows the VA to lease space from academic institutions or other entities to provide healthcare resources to veterans -- as evidence the VA system is getting better. "Striking the balance between VA services and utilizing private sector expertise is a challenge," he said. "One that section 704 in the PACT Act aims to fix by giving the VA authority to enter into agreements with academic medical centers to help the VA maintain access and quality of care." As Biden presses on hostage deal, Israel may skip latest talks: US officials As the U.S. attempts to push Israel and Hamas closer to an agreement that would see all remaining hostages in Gaza freed in exchange for an extended truce, U.S. officials say CIA Director William Burns will travel to Egypt for negotiations -- but that his Israeli counterparts had not yet committed to participating in the talks. The trip will be Burns' fourth known trip abroad for face-to-face negotiations on the matter, but it would be his first where neither of the main players is directly represented. A U.S. official familiar with the matter said Burns would press on with the agenda regardless of Israel's participation in the talks and meet with intelligence officials from Qatar and Egypt, two countries that have served as effective intermediaries with Hamas through the conflict. PHOTO: CIA Director William Burns testifies during the Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on 'Worldwide Threats,' March 10, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) MORE: Biden, Netanyahu speak after president criticizes Israel's campaign in Gaza At a White House press availability with the King of Jordan on Monday, President Joe Biden said he was continuing to push for an agreement. "There are gaps that remain, but I've encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve the deal. The United States will do everything possible to make it happen," he said. PHOTO: President Joe Biden shakes hands with King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein after giving remarks White House, Feb. 12, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Even if Israel ultimately participates in this latest round of negotiations, its apparent reluctance to participate in the discussions could be a bad omen overall for the prospects of reaching an agreement. Roughly 100 hostages may still be alive inside Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. U.S. officials say that figure many include as many as six Americans. PHOTO: Rescued Israeli-Argentinian hostage Louis Har is reunited with his family at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 12, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces/AFP via Getty Images) PHOTO: Rescued Israeli-Argentinian hostage Fernando Simon Marman is reunited with his family at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 12, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces via Reuters) Israeli forces conducted a successful rescue operation in Rafah early Monday, recovering two Israeli men, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Luis Har, 70, who were abducted by Hamas during its Oct/ 7 attack on Israel. MORE: Israel-Gaza updates: IDF says 2 hostages rescued from Gaza But while Israel might conduct similar missions in the coming days aimed at freeing some of the detainees, a U.S. official says the vast majority can be recovered only through a diplomatic agreement. The official also said that although high-level American and Israeli officials are regularly engaged in discussions about a host of topics, the Biden administration did not have a clear idea of Israel's red lines for a potential deal -- highlighting another disconnect between the U.S. and its closest ally in the Middle East. After Israel signed off on a framework for a hostage exchange in January, officials from Qatar and the U.S. expressed optimism that a deal was within reach. But last week, Hamas replied with a counterproposal laden with conditions untenable for Israel, including demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners convicted of serious offenses and a full withdrawal of Israel troops from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly rejected Hamas' offer, slamming it as "delusional." Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged there were "clear nonstarters" in the group's proposal, but instated there was still "space for agreement to be reached." The evident schism between the U.S. and Israel on hostage negotiations is far from the only area of tension weighing on the relationship. After the State Department said the U.S. had not seen "any evidence of serious planning" for an Israeli incursion in Rafah, a city in Gaza where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering after Israel directed them there, Netanyahu ordered his military to prepare for a potential a mass evacuation of civilians while simultaneously intensifying strikes on the area. On Monday, the department's spokesperson, Matthew Miller, downplayed the latest round of military action in Rafah. "It is not our assessment that this airstrike is the launch of a full-scale offensive happening," he said. But when it comes to military strategy, Israel has maintained a wall of separation with the U.S., and Miller acknowledged that the administration currently had little insight into Israel's plans for avoiding a new humanitarian catastrophe while conducting a possible incursion into Rafah. "We look forward to being briefed on it," he said. At the White House, Jordan's king, standing next to Biden, was blunt. "We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe," he sad. "The situation is already unbearable for over a million people, who have been pushed into Rafah since the war started. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting cease-fire now. This war must end." As Biden presses on hostage deal, Israel may skip latest talks: US officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com CHARLEVOIX The Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health discussed meeting logistics during their regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 6. At the start of the meeting, Otsego County Commissioner Henry Mason asked for a resolution to be placed on the next meetings agenda to reconsider the Antrim County Board of Commissioners' removal of Jarris Rubingh from the board. Rubingh, who had served on the Board of Health for two years, was replaced by his fellow county commissioners at their Jan. 18 board meeting. Each of the four counties in the health department's coverage area Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego appoint two commissioners to serve on the board. More: Antrim County votes to replace Jarris Rubingh on Board of Health Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you In other topics, Michelle Noirot, township supervisor for Bagley Township where 25 percent of Otsego County residents reside, spoke during public comment to request that the boards meetings be held in rotation throughout the counties in the region. I stand before you as a concerned citizen ... requesting that you fairly and equally rotate the meeting schedule of the health department board," she said. "There are people that want to attend the meeting but may not have the time or the gas money to drive for a one hour one way trip to get here just as I did this morning. You also meet during business and that is a hardship for some. To be fair, the meeting locations should be equally rotated throughout the four counties that are represented. Resident Mary Lieberman of Emmet County spoke during public response to Noirots comment explaining that to move the meetings each month would require extra costs because staff and IT would also have to be moved. Charlevoix County Commissioner Scott Hankins was reappointed as the board chair during the organizational portion of the meeting, with Otsego County Commissioner Jonathan Turnbull appointed as vice chair. The board also approved its annual meeting calendar. They will continue to meet at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Antrim County Commissioner Terry VanAlstine, who was appointed in place of Rubingh, suggested that in regards to the meeting locations, the boards meetings be streamed on Facebook Live. Our (Antrim County) board has had Facebook Live for our meetings and I think that would solve a lot of the issues without moving the location around and costing the health department numerous amounts of money to move it," he said. "Its made a big difference in county government because people attend the meeting virtually. The board currently posts their meetings on YouTube after the fact and broadcasts it live via Zoom. I think that is a great idea. Modern technology being what it is I think we can certainly accomplish that. I would defer to our IT guys, said Hankins. Conversation was also had regarding the logistics of physically moving the meetings each month. Available space in each county was discussed as was the potential additional costs such as staff gas reimbursement and other equipment. Health Officer Dan Thorell was tasked with reaching out to each of the counties to see if there was space for potential meetings available in their administrative buildings. The topic will be on the agenda at next month's board meeting on March 5 for further discussion. Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health considers rotating meeting locations New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYCB) stock suffered another fall on Monday, but the drop wasn't as severe as in some recent trading sessions. In what was more a price correction than anything else, the struggling lender's share price eased by 0.2% following a bit of a rally the preceding Friday. The insider buy high didn't last long That Friday pop was due to insider stock buying, as several New York Community Bancorp executives and members of its board of directors purchased shares of the troubled bank. Chief among these buys was a 50,000-share purchase by the board's executive chairman, Alessandro DiNello. Insider buys were also made by fellow board member Peter Schoels and the company's president of mortgage Lee M. Smith, among others. All told, regulatory documents filed that day indicate these individuals collectively spent $870,000 on the bank's stock. That level of insider buying bolstered confidence in New York Community Bancorp's beaten-down stock price, but only temporarily. It doesn't address the fundamental problems revealed in the bank's latest set of quarterly results, which featured an unexpected net loss stemming from significant net charge-offs. These derived from a pair of relatively sizable loans on its books. Serious concerns remain Other moves by New York Community Bancorp and entities tracking it are weighing heavily on investor sentiment. In order to shore up its finances, the bank slashed its dividend by a steep 70%; meanwhile influential credit rating agency Moody's downgraded its long-term rating on the company to Ba2, its "junk" designation. Should you invest $1,000 in New York Community Bancorp right now? Before you buy stock in New York Community Bancorp, 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 New York Community Bancorp wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Story continues Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of February 12, 2024 Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Moody's. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why New York Community Bancorp Stock Slumped on Monday was originally published by The Motley Fool Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has announced a new head of his office's civil division, which handles such issues as lead poisoning, police misconduct and antitrust regulation. Kathryn M. Sabatini, who will be filling the role, currently serves as executive counsel and chief of policy to Neronha. She will succeed Miriam Weizenbaum, who is stepping down after four years in the Attorney General's Office. "After years of hard work, I wish Miriam the best as she enjoys well deserved time with family," Neronha said in a statement on Monday. New civil chief credited for work on body cameras, opioid settlements The news release from the Attorney General's Office credited Sabatini with helping to lead key initiatives "including the development and implementation of a statewide body-worn camera initiative, and the passage of key legislative priorities, including legislation to restore the intended scope of our consumer protection laws, and legislation to end childhood lead poisoning in Rhode Island." "She was also an integral part of the team that conducted the review of the Lifespan/CNE merger, and an integral part of the team that secured hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlements," the release stated. Sabatini previously served as chief of policy and senior advisor to former Providence mayor Jorge Elorza. More: Multiple children were poisoned by lead in a Providence apartment. Now, the AG is suing. AG says transition will be 'bittersweet' Weizenbaum will step down April 1, according to the news release. Before joining the Attorney General's Office, she worked in private practice for nearly 30 years. In a statement, Neronha described the transition as "bittersweet." "The leadership and experience that Miriam Weizenbaum brought to our civil division at a critical point in time was key to the significant outcomes my office has achieved on behalf of the people of Rhode Island, he said. Over the last four years, it was Miriam I trusted to implement our offices expansion of affirmative work, getting out on offense for the public. We now have a Public Protection Bureau doing meaningful work in health care, consumer rights, environmental and climate, and civil and community rights, in ways that are new and impactful for Rhode Island." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: AG Neronha promotes Sabatini to head civil division If youve never encountered cicada swarms before, consider yourself lucky. And if you have had to dodge the flying insects, add yourself to the lucky list anyway because Delaware will not be welcoming a cicada brood this year. What is a cicada? A cicada crawls on a tree at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. Out of the more than 3,000 cicada species, there are only two types of cicadas: annual and periodical, according to National Geographic Kids. Annual cicadas, also known as dog-day cicadas, emerge from the ground at different times each summer and are not the fleets of broods seen during some years. They are usually dark with greenish markings and avoid predators by camouflaging themselves in trees and flying away to escape harm. Periodical cicadas all emerge from the ground at the same time in a brood, containing millions or even billions of the insect, and appear after a dormant period of either 13 or 17 years. They have orange bellies, black backs and red eyes. Cicada exoskeletons pile up on the ground at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. Periodical cicadas are only found in the central and eastern parts of the country, so unfortunately for Delaware, the state is right in the line of hazard. Due to their large population, it is difficult to get rid of them because no predator can eat enough of the bug to make a big enough dent in their presence, according to National Geographic Kids. Male and female cicadas emerge aboveground at sunset and shed their skin on the trunk of a nearby tree, transforming from a nymph to an adult. Afterward, they mate, lay their eggs and die after about five weeks above ground. In case youre wondering, female cicadas each lay between 200 and 400 eggs in tiny holes they make in the branches of trees and shrubs, so even though their lives are short-lived, they sure know how to make sure the legacy continues. Will cicadas be in Delaware this year? A cicada crawls on playground equipment at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. Yes, but not in the way you might be worried about. According to a cicada brood map from the United States Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, Delaware is known to see Brood X, a species of the 17-year periodical cicadas. Brood X cicadas last swarmed the state in 2021, meaning they are not due for another First State appearance until 2038. This is the same brood that appeared in Delaware in 2004. You might see one or two, because there are often outliers, said Brian Kunkel, an Ornamentals Integrated Pest Management Extension specialist at the University of Delaware. So, we could have some that are late to the party, but again, theyre missing the whole thing. Cicadas crawl on playground equipment at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. When they do come out, during warmer weather in spring and summer, periodical cicadas are usually found anywhere in Delaware except in southern portions of the state. While reasons for this vary, Kunkel says the sandy soil in southern Delaware may not provide desirable hatching conditions for cicada larvae. Once you get south of the canal, your likelihood of seeing cicadas declines drastically, he said. As for the annual cicadas, no part of Delaware is spared. They can be found up and down the state once they emerge. What is that noise cicadas make? Cicada exoskeletons hang from a branch at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. If cicada season arrives and you have yet to see one, theyre noisy enough to immediately let you know when theyre around. Male cicadas create shrill buzzing sounds using the rapidly vibrating drum-like plates on their abdomens to attract a mate. If the female cicadas like the sound, they make a clicking sound with their wings, according to National Geographic Kids. While we dont know if this constitutes falling in love and living happily ever after, we do know that this noise leads to the creation of offspring, ensuring years to come of buzzing cicada swarms. A cicada crawls on a tree at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. Youll hear their music pretty much all day. I think in the evening theyre quieter, said Kunkel. Although the incessant noise isnt ideal, there is a saving grace: A variety of non-aggressive wasps have an appetite for the annual cicadas, helping to keep their population in check and giving you a bit of a reprieve from the daily buzzing youll hear when the annual cicadas arrive in July and August. How are cicadas handled in Delaware? Delaware does not have any special control measures in place for cicadas because they are naturally occurring in the area and are not considered to be an introduced pest, said Christopher Wade, environmental program administrator for the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Although some people might be wondering if and how they can get rid of the few stragglers that appear this year, Wade says cicadas are actually a beneficial insect species, providing a food source for birds and other animals, and larvae providing soil aeration the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and soil while developing. During years where periodical cicadas are present, pesticide application is not a viable option because cicadas emerge in waves. The only way for pesticides to work is to spray every few days to hit newly emerged adults, but applying pesticides that frequently would cause more harm than good, impacting pollinators, beneficial insects, pets and birds and other wildlife, said Wade. Do cicadas cause any damage? A cicada crawls through the grass at Phillips Park in Newark Monday, May 24, 2021. During the egg-laying process, cicadas can damage the tips of tree branches through an act called flagging, which leaves long scars in tree branches due to the herringbone position the eggs are laid in. Flagging wont impact plants or large trees, but thin-diameter twigs and branches are at risk, said Kunkel. For the periodical ones, if youre gonna have them in your area, then you could put some netting over smaller trees and shrubs if you wanted to, said Kunkel. The annual, or the dog day, cicadas do the same thing, but their population never gets to the point to do that much damage to see. Wade adds that if you are concerned about the impact of cicadas on your shrubbery, you can delay the planting of any vulnerable small trees or saplings until the fall. If you think the trees on your property have been severely damaged by cicadas, the Delaware State Forest Service provides tree health assessments to help homeowners. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. Lights coming back soon: Boathouse Row lights to be displayed again in special relighting ceremony in March Tunes to travel for: Worth the trip: Taylor Swift, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo & more huge concerts for Delawareans Development: Sussex: 128-lot subdivision in Harbeson gets 1st approval; auto shop effectively shut down This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What to know about cicadas in Delaware. Here is when they will arrive A father was shot and killed during a custody exchange of his 4-year-old daughter, Colorado deputies say. The 36-year-old was meeting with his ex-girlfriend for a custody exchange of their 4-year-old daughter in Parker on Sunday, Feb. 11, the Elbert County Sheriffs Office said in a news release posted to Facebook on Feb. 12. During the meeting, the womans fiance got into a physical fight with the father, deputies said. The fiance pulled out a handgun and shot the father, who was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to deputies. After being called on scene, deputies said they found the suspect, identified as Jeffrey Church, 26. Church was arrested and is facing first-degree murder charges, deputies said, adding that an investigation is ongoing. Parker is about 25 miles southeast of Denver. Father shoots and kills toddlers mom during custody exchange, Texas police say Man repeatedly stabbed during child custody exchange at McDonalds, Michigan cops say Woman comes home to find parents dead in garage, Utah police say. Her son was arrested A member of the largest freshwater turtle species in the world with the power to bite through bone has been discovered in the United Kingdom thousands of miles from its native home in the United States. The reptile, an alligator snapping turtle, was found by a dog walker in a lake in Cumbria, England, last week and immediately taken to a local veterinarian's office, CBS News partner BBC reported. Denise Chamberlain, who managed to capture it from the lake using a shopping basket, told the BBC that she was anxious to get ahold of the creature, and wore three pairs of builder's gloves to prevent an injury. / Credit: Dominic Moule Alligator snapping turtles are invasive to England, as the "dinosaur-like" creatures are exclusively found in the U.S. from northern Florida to Iowa, according to the National Wildlife Federation. The massive turtles can grow to be 175 pounds and are known for their spiky shells and, according to the federation, having "a bite force of 1,000 pounds." "Their powerful jaws can snap through bone," the organization says on its website, "so they should never be handled in the wild." Local veterinary surgeon Dr. Dominic Moule told the BBC the turtle was an "extremely surprising" find. "At this size, it could give you a nasty bite. But when they get bigger...they can cause some damage," Moule said. "...I'm sure if it was left there [in the lake] it would be invasive and eat everything in the water." Despite his aggressively rough exterior and potential to wreak havoc, Wild Side Vets, the animal clinic that took in the turtle, said he's been named "Fluffy." "Our colleagues thought they looked rather hideous, but as we have a fondness for the weird and the wonderful, we both think they look cute," Moule told CBS News, adding that he and his colleague Rachael Mork decided upon the name. "...It also alleviates that strange and scary aspect of a creature that looks so prehistoric." Moule said his team spoke to experts who believe Fluffy may be between 4 and 5 years old. "They are about the size of a dinner plate, or just bigger than my hand," Moule said. Wild Side Vets wrote on Facebook that the team believes Fluffy was abandoned. "Reptiles are very expensive and difficult to keep," the team said. "... Please don't abandon or keep any reptile in suboptimal conditions." On Monday, the BBC reported that Fluffy is being sent to a specialist reptile center after Dr. Kate Hornby told the outlet that the reptile had not eaten since arriving at the vet office. That lack of consumption may have been because Fluffy is "in a state of hibernation due to the colder U.K. climate," Hornby said, adding that the turtle was "quite muddy" when he was brought in and could have been in the lake "for some time." Once with its new caretakers, Horbny said Fluffy will be placed in warmer waters to help its metabolism increase. CBS News has reached out to Wild Side Vets for further information. According to Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator snapping turtles have "tremendously long" tails and are considered a protected species in the state after they were heavily harvested in the 1960s and '70s. The department says "it could take decades" for the species to recover from that period. The animals spend a significant amount of time in water, according to the NWF, and can hold their breath for nearly an hour. Even though Fluffy is moving on from Wild Side Vets, his short stint there proved to be inspirational. The clinic posted a poem written by a friend of an office member, calling the facility a place "where wildside vets with spirits untamed, embrace each challenge, never feeling restrained." "A snapping turtle, a creature of lore, brought tales aplenty, to the clinic's door. With jaws like a vice, and eyes that gleam, it captured attention, a creature of dream," the poem reads. "...Never a dull moment, at the vet's embrace, as they welcome the weird, with a smile on their face." Investigation after shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood church in Houston Inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture | 60 Minutes Archive Breaking down Trump's appeal to the Supreme Court, other legal cases The 250 members of the Florida Republican Party's Executive Committee who arrived in Tallahassee last month to remove the party chair and elect a new one were greeted by the then-vice chair with a handshake and a smile. Evan Power stood in the doorway of the Tallahassee Conference Center, just off the interstate, next to a Cracker Barrel and minutes away from securing a long-sought goal to be named leader of the Florida Republican Party. The 41-year-old Chattanooga, Tennessee, native was in his third attempt to be state chair. He had worked nearly 20 years for the opportunity that came when Christian Zieglers term as chair was derailed by allegations of rape and video voyeurism. Ziegler is still under investigation for the latter but police decided not to charge him with sexual battery. Power greeted committee members by name as they lined up for voting credentials and posed for pictures. He introduced his wife Melissa and their newborn, then chaperoned U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, walking with a cane, through the crowded hallway and into the meeting room. I tell people this is my Super Bowl," Power said. "I really feel the party leadership is my true fit, working with elected officials, working with grassroots to build a common cause so that we can win elections. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power poses for a portrait in front of the Historic Florida Capitol building on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. A force for registering Republicans or a 'paper tiger'? Power was talking as much about his career as he was about the campaign to become Florida GOP chief. He tells people about expanding party membership in Democratic-rooted Tallahassee, even reclaiming a state Senate seat that had been blue since the end of Reconstruction, and electing a Republican to the non-partisan local school board. Although outnumbered almost 2-to-1 in Leon County, the GOP has steadily eaten into Democrats' lead in voter registration during Power's tenure. They have increased registration and turnout locally in each election cycle since 2014 and outpaced Democrats 69% to 58% in voter turnout for the 2022 election. Jon Ausman ran the Leon Democratic Party for more than 20 years beginning in the 1980s, and was the longest serving member of the Democratic National Committee in Florida history. Retired from politics but still a collector of political data, he dismisses Power's accomplishments as the kind of stuff that looks good on paper: "Very flammable paper. If he ever meets competent competition, he's going down in flames." When Ausman, for example, looks at Leon County voter registration numbers, voter turnout, and party spending in campaigns, he concludes Power is a paper tiger "blessed" with inept opposition. Florida GOP Vice Chair Evan Power speaks to reporters after an emergency meeting of the party's executive board Sunday where Chair Christian Ziegler was stripped of his authority amid a rape allegation. Of the 5,162 new voters in the last election cycle, just 58 were registered by either political party. "That's 1.1% of new voters and shows neither party is registering voters," Ausman said. An examination of the 2022 contributions and expenditures by the Leon County Republican Party finds that almost 80% of funds were used on social events not for what Ausman considers the fundamental party responsibility: Educating and turning out voters. An early life in politics After his 2004 graduation from Florida State University with a degree in finance, Power went to work for then-Florida House Rep. Marco Rubio, now the state's senior U.S. senator, before joining the Ramba Consulting Group. The six-member lobbying team consistently lands on the Top 25 lobbyist leaderboard as compiled by Florida Politics. State lobbyist compensation reports show Ramba Consulting billed clients an estimated $2.2 million in 2021. Power's clients this year include AT&T, the Automobile Dealers Association, the City of Daytona, the Florida Chiropractic Association, Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Professional Vacation Rental Coalition, state records show. Evan Power and family were on hand to greet committee members when they arrived in Tallahassee While working for Rubio he also became active in the local party, getting elected vice chair of the Leon County GOP in 2010 and then chair in 2014. Power leveraged the local chairmanship to become the assistant treasurer of the state GOP in 2017. But a bid to become state party chair in 2018 was derailed by a drunk driving charge after Power declined to take a breath test. An off-duty police officer saw Power hit a parked vehicle. An edited version of the arresting officer's body-cam video recently went viral when tweeted on X by Democratic provocateur Thomas Kennedy. It shows Power explaining how he the collision occurred: "I turned. I couldn't see that car, and I just, like, drove," he slurred to a police officer. Power said at the scene he had two bottles of Bud Light, added he was "not over the limit," but conceded he knew the incident was not going to end well for him. A year later, however, Power went old school to reestablish himself as a statewide leader. He was named chair of the committee of county GOP chairs, according to University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett, in a discussion of Powers rise in state politics. Evan Power watches as election results come in, with a group of party members on Election Night, Nov. 3, 2020. 'Chair of chairs' turns road warrior As the "chair of chairs," Power logged over 270,000 miles traveling to party events in rural Hernando and Hamilton counties and others in urban Orange and Palm Beach. He didnt do it virtually. He physically showed up, put in the miles, established relationships, persuaded people and counted votes, Jewett said, describing what he called politics the way it used to be. In 2022, Ziegler defeated Power for state chair after state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, stepped down. But Jewett noted that the role of a lobbyist and state party chair are quite similar, with the core of both being the establishment of relationships. He put in tens of thousands of miles a month traveling to see people face-to-face, meet them at their events and talk with them," Jewett said. "Thats old-school politics in the best sense. Power said his dual roles are a natural fit given his ability to work with lawmakers. That ability, he said, could reap benefits both for the GOP and for his employer. That I have really good relationships with legislators, I guess, makes me valuable to my employer. But it is also why I could be a successful party chair because I have relationships with the elected officials and the ability to get them to help me raise money, Power said. Power said his priorities as party chair include raising money to maintain the GOPs supermajority status in the Legislature, continue growing voter registration across the state and outpace Democrats in voter turnout. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Evan Power: A look at his rise to Florida Republican Party chair The California Attorney General's Office will not retry the case of a former police officer who was charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting a man in a Costco in Riverside County, after a previous trial resulted in a hung jury. Salvador Alejandro Sanchez, 33, of Corona was charged with two counts of assault and one count of voluntary manslaughter after he fatally shot Kenneth French, 32, at a Costco in Corona on June 14, 2019. Those charges have now been dismissed. Evidence presented at trial shows French struck Sanchez, a Los Angeles Police Department officer who was holding his infant son, in a food tasting line in the crowded store on Father's Day weekend. Sanchez, who was off duty at the time, pulled a firearm and shot French four times and his parents, who were attempting to tell him their son was suffering from mental illness, once each. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office declined to charge Sanchez following a grand jury hearing that resulted in no criminal indictment. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, however, filed charges soon after. The trial was held at the Larson Justice Center in Indio in December, and after a lengthy break in deliberations in early January, the jurors told the judge they were hopelessly deadlocked. A judge declared a mistrial on Jan. 18. The prosecutor, Deputy Attorney General Mike Murphy, said at the time he was disappointed in the outcome and that he needed to consult with his office before commenting on if the case would be refiled and another trial sought. Defense Attorney Michael Schwartz said he thought a second trial would be a waste of resources for the state. The parties were scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, but court records show that hearing was cancelled and one was held Feb. 9. A spokesperson for the California Department of Justice, who declined to identify themselves by email, confirmed Monday that a second trial would not be pursued. "The Department of Justice stands by the decision to charge and prosecute this case, however, after considering a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the input of the surviving victims and feedback from the trial jury, the Department has decided not to retry the case," the spokesperson said by email. Paola and Russell French took their son to Costco and were shot themselves by the man who killed him. Russell and Paola French went to the Costco with Kenneth to buy groceries for a planned celebration that weekend. They both testified that the altercation between their son and Sanchez happened so rapidly they hardly had time to do more than attempt to push their son away before the shots were fired. Both French parents recovered from their injuries after extensive medical treatment. Sanchez said he believed he had been shot when he was hit by French. He was found to be the only one armed. The two attorneys agreed that the death was tragic, but disagreed on if the violence was warranted. Murphy argued that Sanchez intended to fatally shoot French and did so in a calculated way. "Without hesitation and without a warning, the defendant aimed his gun at the French family and pulled the trigger 10 times," Murphy said. Schwartz said Sanchez reacted to being hit with gunfire to defend himself and his family. "While holding his son in his arms, in parental bliss, feeding him, he was brutally and inexplicably attacked from behind, Schwartz said. He acted to defend himself and his son." Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Salvador Sanchez waits for opening statements to begin in his trial in Indio in December 2023. Sanchez was fired by the LAPD after the shooting. The French family filed a civil suit against the city of Los Angeles, its police department and Sanchez at the end of 2019, alleging civil rights violations. A jury ruled in their favor, awarding the family $17 million in damages. Christopher Damien covers public safety and the criminal justice system. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Ex-LAPD officer won't be retried for killing unarmed man in Costco You cant blame Floridians for being skeptical when they heard there was an earthquake off the east coast last week. Life on Florida's Space Coast means youre used to sonic booms, loud rumblings that travel more than 40 miles when big rockets lift off and trailing flames streaking across the sky. As commercial launch traffic picks up at Cape Canaveral, theres more such activity than ever before. Theres also no fault line along Floridas Atlantic coast and very little earthquake activity. It's one of the few natural disasters the state doesn't have to cope with on a regular basis. In every previous instance where the U.S. Geological Survey lists an "earthquake" off Florida's Atlantic coast, dating back to 1900, all but one previous event was a massive explosion set by the U.S. Navy to test the seaworthiness of its new ships against underwater mines. The Navy also detonates big practice bombs at its Pinecastle Bombing Range complex in the nearby Ocala National Forest, occasionally rattling doors and dishes for miles away. So forgive Floridians for questioning what really happened at 10:48 p.m. on Wednesday night. But the USGS says it was an earthquake, and other seismologists agree. "The signature of the seismic waves is consistent with an earthquake," said Oliver Boyd, a research geophysicist with the USGS. The most likely cause of the earthquake is stress on fractures in the Earth's crust. "Just about anywhere you are on the planet, the plates are experiencing stress." The U.S. Geological Survey received more than 200 responses from people who reported feeling the earthquake in Florida on Feb. 7, along 200 miles of coast and inland nearly 50 miles. Florida earthquake history Expert seismologists were skeptical when word spread Thursday that a magnitude 4 earthquake had been detected about 100 miles due east of Kennedy Space Center. An earthquake? Off Florida? Even the seismologist who directs the USGS National Earthquake Information Center, Paul Earle, admitted he was skeptical at first. When he saw the report pop up, he thought "In Florida?" He wrote to ask the analysts "Are you sure?" It is highly unusual to have a seismic event in Florida or close to Florida, said Jochen Braunmiller, a research assistant professor at the University of South Floridas School of Geological Sciences. So I was very surprised when I heard about it. The USGS records dating back to 1900 show only one real earthquake offshore in the Atlantic within 400 miles of the state's coast, a magnitude 3.2 in the Bahamas about 75 miles east of Florida in 1992. USGS data shows more than a dozen earthquakes have been recorded farther out in the Atlantic, 400-1,000 Miles east of Florida. Inland, a couple of earthquakes of at least 1.5 magnitude have been recorded on the peninsula, near Jacksonville and between Gainesville and Ocala, and three at the northwest corner of the Panhandle at the Florida/Alabama line, according to USGS data. At least four have been recorded off the continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. Earle said it's possible that seismic activity below a magnitude of 2.5 could have been missed in earlier years. Earthquake on Florida's coast Braunmiller happened to be with a group of seismologists on the coast in Melbourne and the earthquake was a hot topic. We were all very intrigued by it and suspicious and wondering what was going on, Braunmiller told USA TODAY. Is it an earthquake? Is it an explosion? Is it a landslide? By Thursday afternoon, the seismologists Braunmiller was talking to, including colleagues at USF, agreed it was an earthquake. They compared the seismic data from a 2021 ship shock trial with the signal from Wednesday night's event. "They look very different," he said. We are fairly sure it was an earthquake. Wave signals on seismometers show slight differences between earthquakes and explosions, he said. "We have some comparison to some explosions the Navy did three years ago and the signal looks different." If there's an explosion in the water, a lot of energy gets trapped in the ocean and propagates slowly toward land, he said. So the sound wave goes up and down in the water column and comes in much later than the other seismic signal that travels faster. Ray Russo, an associate professor at the University of Florida's geological sciences department, agreed this recorded motion was more consistent with an earthquake than an explosion. "The waveforms look like an earthquake the S (for shear) waves ... are much larger than the P waves (for primary)," Russo told USA TODAY. "Explosions typically do not produce large S waves, although an explosion in the water could conceivably do so." The survey estimated Wednesday's activity took place at a depth of 6 miles, plus or minus 5 miles. "I've learned to never say 100% certain but Im very certain this is a tectonic earthquake," Earle said. Explore: Find earthquakes near you What is a Navy ship shock trial? Floridians and seismologists wondered if the earthquake was the Navy offshore with explosives again. They've conducted ship shock trials on vessels at least nine times in 23 years. The trials detonate the equivalent of several tons of TNT near a ship that is new for its class, to ensure the ship is battle-ready and can withstand blasts from underwater mines. One of the explosions in 2016 registered 3.7 on the Richter scale and triggered a response on seismographs as far away as Venezuela and Minnesota. The Navy said its not to blame this time. "We're not tracking any sort of large operation or shock trials or anything that would be seismic-related," said Lt. Commander Andrew Bertucci, a Navy public affairs officer. Live marine vessel tracking maps did show a couple of Navy and Coast Guard vessels out in the Atlantic Thursday, as well as several tankers, cargo ships and an unidentified tug or special craft. Navy ship shock trials off Florida These are some of the previous trials off Florida's east coast. USS Winston Churchill May, June 2001 USS Mesa Verde August, September 2008 USS Jackson June, July 2016 USS Milwaukee September 2016 USS Gerald R. Ford - June, August 2021 Life on Floridas Space Coast means learning to live with unusual sounds The National Weather Service office in Melbourne posted on Facebook, asking if people had felt the shaking. The responses revealed just how much the regions residents are accustomed to such activity. Thought it was a rocket, multiple people responded. Some said they ran outside to try to catch a last-minute glimpse of a launch. They knew a SpaceX rocket was set to launch NASAs new PACE satellite into orbit. But that didnt happen until nearly three hours later, at 1:33 a.m., from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations launch complex. Others thought it was thunder, not unusual in a state that gets the most lightning strikes per square mile. Again on Friday morning, coastal residents turned to social media to ask about a rumbling sound and learned the Dragon spacecraft had returned to Earth carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station in a joint Axiom and SpaceX mission. SpaceX launches NASA PACE spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida earthquake: How rare event compares in history Former FirstEnergy CEO Charles Chuck Jones arrives in Summit County Court with his attorney, Carole Rendon, to be arraigned Tuesday in Akron on charges related to the House Bill 6 corruption scandal. Two former Akron-based FirstEnergy executives and ex-Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a statehouse corruption scandal. Summit County Judge Susan Baker Ross kept the $100,000 pre-arraignment bonds, for which they each paid $10,000 for release, and GPS ankle monitoring on the three men. Randazzo, former FirstEnergy CEO Charles "Chuck" Jones and Michael Dowling, FirstEnergy's former senior vice president of external affairs, are restricted from traveling outside of Ohio. Indictment: Ohio AG announces indictments for ex-FirstEnergy execs, Randazzo in House Bill 6 scandal Prosecutors did not object to the pre-arraignment bonds remaining in place but argued that the men were flight risks due to their financial resources. If convicted, the three could be sentenced to decades in prison, Principal Assistant Attorney General Matthew Meyer said. Meyer said Jones, who now spends much of his time in Florida, could try to flee to Cuba. "He has the resources and ability to drink a Cuba Libre a hundred miles away," Meyer said. Jones, represented by attorney Carole Rendon, said he already handed over his passport and questioned why he would wait three years knowing an indictment was possible. The three face many charges that include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. A Summit County grand jury indicted them on Friday. Defense attorney Noah Munyer requests an arm GPS monitor for his client, former FirstEnergy CEO Charles "Chuck" Jones, during an arraignment Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Court. FirstEnergy corruption scandal with Sam Randazzo broke in 2020 Randazzo, 74, of Columbus, was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine and is accused of accepting bribes from FirstEnergy and its executives at the expense of his clients and Ohioans. Randazzo, who is represented by attorney Richard Blake, denies any wrongdoing. Jones, 68, of Akron, and Dowling, 59, of Massillon, are accused of paying bribes in the scandal. FirstEnergy concerns: Indictments raise concerns about future of FirstEnergy in Akron FirstEnergy admitted in 2021 that it bribed Randazzo and ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. The company agreed to pay $230 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement and to assist in the ongoing federal probe. It is unclear how the state prosecution will impact the ongoing federal investigation. Former Public Utilities Chairman Sam Randazzo, left, and former FirstEnergy CEO Charles "Chuck" Jones appear Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Court during an arraignment hearing presided by Judge Susan Baker Ross. Principal Assistant Attorney General Matthew Meyer concerned about flight risks Two of Meyer's primary flight risk concerns involved Dowling and Jones. In both cases, Meyer asked the court for property bonds as a means to deter them from fleeing the country. "[Dowling] has access to resources that we are concerned could be used to further flight," Meyer said. "We do not believe this is a $4.3 million coincidence. We have writings that represent the defendant's mindset and actions." Dowling's attorney John McCaffrey rebutted that his family, including his grandkids, keeps him in Northeast Ohio "He has a modest pension he draws from FirstEnergy," he said. "He does not intend to do anything thing with those properties." Jones may be the bigger flight risk because of the amount of time he spends in Florida near a country that would not extradite him to the U.S., Meyer argued. His attorney, Rendon, said he has a medical condition that requires treatment in Florida and asked the judge to allow his travel between the Sunshine State and Ohio. Defense attorney Richard Blake, left; his client, former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo; and former FirstEnergy CEO Charles "Chuck" Jones arrive Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Court. "He appeared today at the court's request," Rendon said. "If the court needs some additional assurance, I know he would be willing to agree to any freeze on any of his houses or put up a house for a surety." Ross told Jones to contact the Cleveland Clinic in Northeast Ohio to reschedule any immediate medical appointments. If that is not possible, she said they would discuss his temporary return to Florida. Because the GPS monitor could cause more medical complications, Ross allowed Jones to use an unattached monitor that he would need to carry with him. All three defendants will next appear for a virtual pretrial hearing at 9:30 a.m. on April 19. Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Chuck Jones, Michael Dowling plead not guilty in FirstEnergy scandal Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke Tuesday, Feb. 13, at a press conference in Cape Coral announcing his support for greater retail theft penalties. He's pictured in this file photo. Florida won't follow New York and California's skyrocketing retail theft problem if Gov. Ron DeSantis has his way. DeSantis held a press conference Tuesday morning in Cape Coral to announce his support for a bill that would increase penalties for retail theft. More: Name a bridge for the governor? Lee commissioners thought about naming a DeSantis bridge More: Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro returns to work after arrest, hospitalization "$112 billion was lost in 2022 alone, just from retail theft," DeSantis said, citing national figures. "So we understand that this is an issue that is really negatively impacting places around our country. We also know that we want to make sure that we continue to do things right here in Florida." DeSantis compares some stores in Florida to places such as Fort Knox, where the government stores its gold reserves, for items such as toothpaste. He points at California and New York as normalizing a culture of lawlessness through laws that allow people to walk in and take things from stores. "We believe in being a law and order state," DeSantis said. "We've got to make sure that we don't go down the road of some of these other states, and so while we've done a good job, there are always ways that we can do even better." Jon Gavin, owner of ACE Hardware in Cape Coral, spoke on the impact of retail theft. His father operated their first store. He recounted a memory of his father dealing with a morning theft. He described it as a Hollywood scene with the culprit smashing and grabbing power tools before making a quick getaway in a truck. Gavin's father perfectly described the culprit and said it was his "civil duty" to back up police and identify those responsible. Though Gavin hasn't experienced widespread theft, it's still a problem. "Between our two stores, the amount of money we lose on it and spend on recovery and dealing with it, we'd probably have four more employees," he said. Gavin said people such as him and his father create jobs, and retail theft takes them away and raises prices. What's in HB 549? DeSantis focused on HB 549, a bill targeting retail theft by Rep. Bob Rommel, a Naples Republican. The bill would make it: a third-degree felony for people who join five or more individuals in retail theft; a second-degree felony for those who encourage others to join in in retail theft through social media; and a first-degree felony for any repeat offenders who have already been convicted of the same crime within one year.Also, the punishment for criminals who steal delivery packages, from private properties, "porch piracy" as referred to by DeSantis, will be a third-degree felony if the package is between $40-$100 in value. Currently, the law enforces felony punishments if the product is valued at $100 or above. Bill sponsor speaks out Rommel, who is spearheading the bill, also spoke at the conference. "People are afraid to go shopping, and that's not going to happen in Florida," Rommel said. He said he started looking into the bill around November and recounted his past trips to places such as New York and California, which spurred him to respond to retail theft. "We are a free state of Florida, but we are not the place where you come and get free goods," Rommel said. "With this bill, this will deter people from acting." Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gov. Ron DeSantis targets retail theft, porch piracy in Florida GREEN BAY A 61-year-old Green Bay man who investigators called "a serial arsonist" was sentenced to nine years in prison for starting a fire at storage unit facility in Green Bay in 2021. Thomas Smith II pleaded no contest in May to arson of a building without the owner's consent, possession of burglary tools and resisting or obstructing an officer for the fire at Lok-Safe Storage, located at 1610 Stiles Road in Green Bay, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to at least 34 storage units. Smith was also sentenced Feb. 8 for starting a string of fires in May 2021, while the storage unit arson investigation was underway. He pleaded no contest in May to two counts of arson of property other than a building, one count of theft of moveable property and one count of burglary of a building or dwelling. Those sentences run concurrent to the nine years for the storage unit fire. A no contest plea means Smith accepted a guilty verdict without admitting or denying any guilt. According to two criminal complaints, investigators discovered Smith has been tied to numerous fires in Wisconsin and Ohio dating back to the 1980s. He was under investigation after the trailer fire in March 2021, but was not arrested until he was tied to a string of other fires, and gas and mail thefts that May. "The truth is that I have a problem that I am in the process of seeking help for and that I oftentimes do things and I do not know why I do them," Smith said in a police statement after his arrest, in which he admitted to starting numerous fires and stealing mail and gas. Smith has been in Brown County Jail since May 11, 2021. As a result, he has 1,003 days credit meaning he has already served nearly three years of the nine-year sentence. Green Bay Metro Fire Department firefighters on March 19, 2021, work the scene of a fire at Lok-Safe Storage in Green Bay. Following his time in prison, Smith will spend four years on extended supervision. Smith has a restitution hearing scheduled for 1:15 p.m. June 14 in Brown County Circuit Court. What happened in the storage unit fire? The following information is from a criminal complaint: At 1:47 a.m. March 19, 2021, a fire was reported at Lok-Safe Storage in Green Bay. The Green Bay Metro Fire Department was on scene for hours. An entire unit was destroyed, while at least 34 in total were damaged. Security footage showed Smith's vehicle enter and exit the property before the fire was discovered. Additionally, seven storage units across the road, at 707 N. Military Ave., were reported broken into with cut locks. The Green Bay Metro Fire Department said the fire was started on a pile of cardboard boxes filled with combustible personal property inside a storage unit. Later in the day on March 19, police received a report that a man was dumping items into a creek bed in the area of Norfield and Bayside roads in Suamico. Investigators identified the car at the scene as belonging to Smith's wife. When police spoke to Smith, he denied any involvement in the fire or burglaries, but admitted he was on scene about four minutes before smoke was discovered. He also admitted to "looking into multiple units" at the Military Avenue site, and dumping items near the creek bed. Investigators found Smith was in possession of a rotary power tool and a wrench, both with metal shavings on them. Smith told investigators he used the tools to "grind rims at his storage unit and work on Matchbox cars at home." However, investigators noted the same type of tool appeared to have been used at the storage units that were broken into. On March 23, 2021, one of the renters of the storage unit told police the interior of his vehicle, located in the storage unit, had been set on fire. He also matched some of the items missing from his storage unit with items that Smith had dumped in the woods and had in his vehicle, which Smith claimed to have found abandoned outside a storage unit. On April 16, 2021, at the request of police, Smith brought items belonging to one of the storage unit owners that he had in his possession to the police department. He still denied taking them out of a storage unit. What other fires and thefts led to Smith's arrest? At about 1:30 a.m. May 5, 2021, the Oconto County Sheriff's Office was called to a fire at Joel Schmit Motors, 324 E. Frontage Road in Little Suamico. Three vehicles were reported damaged. Around 4:17 a.m. that day, Brown County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to S&B Trailer Truck & RV Sales, located at 14430 Velp Ave. in Suamico about two miles from Joel Schmit Motors for a report of a fire. Four trailers had fire damage. At 5:33 a.m. May 5, 2021, deputies were dispatched from that fire location to another about a mile north, at 1855 Pinewood Trail in Suamico, where an ice fishing shanty parked on private property was on fire. On May 6, 2021, the Oconto County Sheriff's Office took a report of a gas theft from the night before. Two pickups had gas caps and gas lines removed. The caller was suspicious the gas was used in the area fires. Around 11:30 p.m. May 6, 2021, officers were dispatched to 1280 Hurlbut St. in Green Bay, near Peters Concrete Company, for a report of fire to a trailer and camper. Both were destroyed. Shortly after 2 a.m. May 7, 2021, someone reported a man stealing fuel from behind their barn in Glenmore. Officers arrived at the scene and located Smith. Inside Smith's vehicle were two plastic gas containers with a hose, as well as mail stolen from four different people from the area. After Smith posted a digital camera for sale on Facebook Marketplace, investigators determined the camera was obtained through mail theft. An undercover investigator set up a time to buy the camera from Smith, and arrested him at a gas station in Ashwaubenon. Smith eventually admitted to police that he stole the camera from a mailbox located near the barn in Glenmore where he stole gas. What other fire and burglary incidents was Smith linked to? Investigators linked Smith to various fires and reported burglaries in Ohio and Wisconsin over the past few decades. According to two complaints: Smith was convicted and sentenced for an arson in Circleville, Ohio, in 1989. He told investigators he started a fire on his porch to scare his wife "to show her that he could protect her." In Ohio in August 2001, Smith reported seeing a man in his backyard and chasing him away, as he smelled burnt rubber. Law enforcement discovered a vehicle had been set on fire. In Ohio in 2002, a burglary was reported to his ex-wife's apartment, but nothing had been stolen. In Ohio in 2004, Smith witnessed someone breaking into a neighbor's apartment. In December 2005, Smith reported a vehicle on fire in an alley in Ohio. In 2014, someone went into the basement of the Green Bay apartment building Smith lived in and damaged locks to storage units. At that time, Smith told an investigator the lock to his storage unit had been broken, but his unit had not been entered. In 2017 and 2018, when Smith lived in an apartment at 1630 Ninth St. in Green Bay, the fire department and Green Bay police investigated four apartment fires and one fire outside a home in the area. All the fires were started with an open flame set to "common materials laying around." All went unsolved. In May 2020, Smith reported his Ninth Street apartment was robbed while his wife was sleeping and Smith was gone. He said someone took money out of his wife's lock box. In an April 2021 interview with police about the storage unit fire, Smith admitted to being the one who stole $80 from his wife and staged the burglary. In July 2020, a passerby reported a fire in Smith's vehicle in the middle of the night, which was parked outside his residence. That investigation was not deemed suspicious. In September 2020, Smith called police and reported a fire at at Hurlbut Street and Atkinson Drive. The fire involved tires and brush. In December 2020, Smith was reported to be stealing items out of a mailbox on Bayside Road. He denied involvement, but was later cited for theft. RELATED: Police say Green Bay 'serial arsonist' admits to rash of fires, thefts from storage units, mailboxes Kelli Arseneau can be reached at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 'Serial arsonist' sentenced to 9 years' prison for storage fire Willis-Knighton Health is celebrating 100 years of service to northwest Louisiana. With that celebration, the health system has streamlined its name and logo. Willis-Knighton Health System will no longer carry system in its name. "System has been dropped from the name to reinforce the focus on health and reflect WKs mission, which is dedicated to Northwest Louisiana," Willis Knighton said in a news release. Willis-Knighton also has adjusted its logo, making the WK a lighter brighter, burgundy red. After a century of providing care throughout the community, we pledge to make the next 100 years at Willis Knighton even stronger, Jaf Fielder, Willis-Knighton president and CEO said. Willis-Knighton opened its doors in 1924 as a Tri-State Sanitarium, the news release said. Today, the health system includes four acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation institute, urgent care centers, fitness centers, numerous medical clinics and The Oaks of Louisiana senior living community. More: Ronald McDonald House Charities receives $250,000 from SWEPCO Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com The Donor Flag Raising Ceremony at Willis Knighton on April 8, 2022. April is the National Donate Life month which encourages Americans to register as donors as well as to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Willis-Knighton Health celebrates 100 years, adopts name change, new logo Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has released a new ad accusing former President Trump of wanting to raise taxes and allow Russia victory that will lead to more war. Haley, a former United Nations ambassador, also stepped up her ad buy in South Carolina, the next state to hold its primary on Feb. 24 and her home state, from $4 million to $6 million. The campaign said in a release on Tuesday that Trumps unhinged comments inform his dangerous policies, pointing to remarks Trump made Saturday that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to NATO countries that do not meet the alliances defense spending guidelines. With a world on fire and a crisis at home, America cant afford Donald Trumps chaos and unhinged policies, campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in the release. With Trumps temper tantrums and backward policies, there is only one warmonger in this race, and his name is Donald J. Trump. Nikki Haley offers a better way and a better America. A narrator in the ad, which was first shared with NBC News, states the chaos surrounding the former president is bad enough but Trump supports an across-the-board 10-percent tax increase and more record-breaking debt. Trump has previously called for a universal 10 percent tariff on imports to pay off debt. Critics have argued raising tariffs would likely increase costs for Americans, increasing expenses for both businesses and consumers. The ad also shows Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin while the narrator says Trump would support a Russian victory. With a world on fire and a crisis at home, with Trump, its just more chaos, the narrator states, saying that Haley is a better choice. Haley has consistently argued that chaos follows Trump and the country needs to move on with a candidate with less baggage. The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. The ads release comes less than two weeks before the critical South Carolina primary, the first in the South, in which Haley will try to gain additional momentum as she trails Trump in the polls by a large margin. Trump leads Haley in the polling average of South Carolina from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ by more than 30 points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Washington The House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, with Republicans issuing the chamber's harshest constitutional punishment against a Cabinet secretary for just the second time in U.S. history. The vote on two articles of impeachment was 214 in favor to 213 opposed, with three Republicans voting with all Democrats against impeachment. Two Republicans and two Democrats were absent. Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the vote holds Mayorkas accountable and called on the Senate "to do the right thing and remove Secretary Mayorkas from office following a thorough trial." The effort is all but certain to crash in the Senate, where Democrats have control and a two-thirds majority would be needed to convict and remove him from office. "Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country," Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. "Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe." In a statement, President Biden called the impeachment a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games." The successful vote follows an embarrassing defeat for Republican leaders last week, when a small group of Republicans who said Mr. Biden's border chief did not commit impeachable offenses voted with all Democrats to sink it. Republicans vowed they would try again once House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who had been undergoing cancer treatment, returned to Washington. The Louisiana Republican returned to work this week, giving them another vote. The vote comes the same day as a special election in New York's third congressional district to replace former GOP Rep. George Santos, which could further narrow the House's Republican majority. The possibility of Democrats picking up the swing seat put pressure on Republicans to move quickly with another vote. The impeachment case against Mayorkas Republicans assert Mayorkas should be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors for not enforcing immigration laws. They've focused much of their arguments on the failure to detain all migrants while they await court proceedings. Mayorkas and Democrats have contended that it's a matter of policy differences, arguing that Republicans are using impeachment to score political points during an election year. They say it's up to Congress to fix the "broken" immigration system and allocate more resources to border security. Legal experts on both sides of the aisle have also criticized the effort, saying Mayorkas' actions fail to meet the threshold for impeachment. Last month, Republicans unveiled two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas after speeding through impeachment proceedings. The first impeachment article accuses Mayorkas of releasing migrants into the U.S. who should have been detained. The second article alleges he lied to lawmakers about whether the southern border was secure when he previously testified that his department had "operational control" of the border, and accuses Mayorkas of obstructing congressional oversight of his department. The Department of Homeland Security has said Congress has never given the executive branch the resources and personnel needed to detain every migrant as required by federal immigration law. It also denied Mayorkas lied to lawmakers, pointing to how the department uses "operational control" internally. "The problems with our broken and outdated immigration system are not new," Mayorkas wrote last month in a letter to the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. "We need a legislative solution and only Congress can provide it." Mayorkas also said the push to impeach him had not shaken him. "I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted," he previously wrote in a letter to the committee. Republican leaders went ahead with last week's nail-biter of a floor vote amid uncertainty about whether they had enough support to impeach Mayorkas. It looked like the vote was going to succeed, with three GOP defections, until Rep. Al Green was unexpectedly wheeled onto the floor in his hospital scrubs after intestinal surgery. The Texas Democrat tied the vote at 215-215, defeating the resolution. A fourth Republican also switched his vote at the last minute to give GOP leaders the opportunity to bring up the vote again, making the final vote 214 in favor to 216 against. Scalise was the only lawmaker absent from the vote. One of the Republican lawmakers who broke with his party, Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, said in a Wall Street Journal piece last week that the GOP is setting "a dangerous new precedent that would be used against future Republican administrations." Gallagher announced days after the impeachment vote that he would not seek reelection. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters Tuesday he is not concerned about setting a precedent by impeaching Mayorkas, saying it "is an exceptional case in U.S. history." "Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly," Johnson said in a statement after the vote. "Since this Secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act." Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, urged the Senate to reject the impeachment. "History will judge what Republicans did tonight, and it won't be favorably. They threw the integrity of the House, the Constitution, as well as any glimmer of hope of working together, under the bus," he said in a statement. Which Republicans voted against impeachment? The three Republicans who voted last week against impeachment stuck with their decision this week. Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin Rep. Tom McClintock of California Ellis Kim and Patrick Maguire contributed to this report. State Department issues travel warnings for the Bahamas and Jamaica On Valentine's Day, a look at "situationships" Haley responds after Trump criticizes her deployed husband RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town in the Gaza Strip as airstrikes carried out to cover the raid killed more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children. The rescue in Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of Israelis shaken by the plight of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The nation is still reeling from the militant groups cross-border raid last year that started the war. The overnight bombardment brought devastation in Rafah, which is packed with some 1.4 million people, most of whom fled their homes elsewhere in Gaza to escape fighting. Associated Press footage showed a large area of flattened houses, tattered tents and lines of bloodied bodies brought into nearby hospitals. Israels offensive has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians in the territory, displaced over 80% of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis. More than 12,300 Palestinian children and young teens have been killed in the conflict, Gazas Health Ministry said Monday. About 8,400 women were also among those killed. That means children and young teens make up about 43% of the dead, and women and minors together make up three quarters. The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown at the request of the AP. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided evidence. In Hamas cross-border raid on Oct. 7, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has described Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the town on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after dozens were freed during a cease-fire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. The government has made freeing the hostages a top aim of its war, along with destroying Hamas military and governing capabilities. But as the fighting drags on, rifts have emerged in Israel over how to retrieve them. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says persistent military pressure will bring about the captives freedom even as families of the hostages and many of their supporters have called on the government to make another deal with Hamas. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. He said Hamas militants were guarding the captives and that members of the rescue team shielded the hostages with their bodies as the battle erupted. The army identified those rescued as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. They also hold Argentinian citizenship. They are among just three hostages to be rescued; a female soldier was rescued in November. The rescue, which Hagari said was based on precise intelligence and planned for some time, is a morale booster for Israelis but a small step toward winning the release of the remaining hostages, who are believed to be spread out and hidden in tunnels. Hars son-in-law, Idan Begerano, who saw the released captives at the hospital where they were airlifted, said the two men were thin and pale, but communicating well and aware of their surroundings. Begerano said Har told him immediately upon seeing him: You have a birthday today, mazal tov. The men held long, tearful embraces with their relatives at the hospital, according to video released by Netanyahus office. The airstrikes hit jam-packed Rafah in the middle of the night, and dozens of explosions could be heard around 2 a.m. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said at least 67 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Al-Qidra said rescuers were still searching the rubble. An Associated Press journalist counted at least 50 bodies at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Mohamed Zoghroub, a Palestinian living in Rafah, said he saw a black jeep speeding through the town followed by clashes and heavy airstrikes. We found ourselves running with our children, from the airstrikes, in every direction, he said, speaking from an area flattened by the bombardment. Footage circulating on social media from Rafahs Kuwaiti hospital showed dead or wounded children. The footage could not immediately be verified but was consistent with AP reporting. A young man could be seen carrying the body of an infant who he said was killed in the attacks. He said the girl, the daughter of his neighbor, was born and killed during the war. Let Netanyahu come and see: Is this one of your designated targets? he said. Netanyahu has said sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israels war goals. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden had warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation there without a credible and executable plan to protect civilians. More than half of Gazas 2.3 million population is now crammed into Rafah, where hundreds of thousands live in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters. Bidens remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, a senior U.S. administration official said. The official said that after weeks of diplomacy, a framework is now pretty much in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, acknowledged that gaps remain but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal. Netanyahus office declined to comment on the call. Hamas Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying any invasion of Rafah would blow up the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. TRENTON A state board has revoked the certificates of a former Cinnaminson teacher who fathered a child with a minor while serving in the priesthood. Joseph DeShan survived a tenure challenge by Cinnaminsons school board in 2018 that cited his relationship with the girl, who in 1990 gave birth days after her 16th birthday, as well as a more recent remark to a township student about her pretty green eyes. But the State Board of Examiners, alerted to the tenure action, decided to pursue a separate action the suspension or revocation of DeShans certificates. During the ensuing legal fight, a state judge sharply criticized seven Cinnaminson teachers and a district retiree who served as DeShans character witnesses. Judge blasts DeShan character witnesses It was obvious that none had concerns about these incidents or the safety and well-being of any of the children in the school district, Administrative Law Judge Dean Buono asserted in an October 2023 ruling. Buono said the teachers had questionable understanding and interpretations of DeShans inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor. Washington Township man charged Haddon Heights teacher faces child-pornography accusations Some said they had not known DeShans sexual partner in Connecticut was a juvenile, but added that did not affect their support for him as an educator. The judge also noted all of the witnesses testified that the pretty green eyes comment was acceptable despite the fact that it had made the student uncomfortable. In that 2015 incident, DeShan told a student in class, Look at me. Let me see your pretty, green eyes. You dont see them too much anymore. Teachers testifying on DeShan's behalf said comments on a students appearance could help to build a rapport. DeShan was longtime Cinnaminson teacher DeShan taught for more than 20 years at Cinnaminson Middle School and Rush Elementary School, according to the tenure charges. The sexual relationship with a 14-year-old began in 1988 when DeShan was a seminarian in his 30s and the girl worked at a rectory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the ruling said. According to the decision, DeShan requested a leave from the priesthood in 1989 after turning 40, and the relationship continued until 1993. The young mother, identified as A.J., at one point moved to Moorestown, where she lived for a year with DeShan and his family. A state board has revoked the certificates of Joseph DeShan, a former teacher at Cinnaminson Middle School. She returned to Connecticut in 1991 after becoming homesick, according to DeShans testimony at a hearing before Buono. He testified the couple were in a very good relationship, and expressed disappointment that we just could not make it happen long term. A state board has revoked the certificates of Joseph DeShan, a longtime teacher at Cinnaminson Middle School. In arguing for the Board of Examiners to overrule Buonos decision, DeShan contended the judge had bias against him, his attorneys and his character witnesses. He claimed no competent or credible evidence showed conduct unbecoming a teacher. And DeShan said the state board was improperly relying on tenure charges that had been dismissed. State Board of Examiners rejects DeShan arguments The board disagreed with all of those points, saying the tenure challenge had no bearing on its action against DeShans certificates. An arbitrator dismissed the tenure charges in April 2019, saying the district had already resolved its concerns over DeShans conduct in Connecticut. That happened in 2002 after the childs mother went public about DeShan and the district learned of their relationship, according to the arbitrator, Walter DeTreux. The district then suspended DeShan for three weeks, but he returned to the classroom after a finding that his pre-employment conduct had not violated any administrative rules. He also did not face criminal charges due to the statute of limitations for sexual assault in Connecticut. DeTreux also said the district had presented only hearsay evidence to support its charge regarding the student with green eyes. But Buono said DeShans testimony about his conduct helped proved the case against him and in no way mitigated any responsibility. The judge dismissed DeShans motion to block the state boards action in a September 2021 ruling, but said the teacher could argue for a lesser penalty than revocation. After testimony from DeShan and his character witnesses, Buonos October 2023 decision found revocation was the only appropriate penalty for conduct unbecoming a teacher. The conduct admitted to by DeShan is so egregious and disturbing that it shocks the conscience, said Buono. The seal of Cinnaminson Middle School The state board supported that view, saying it "agrees with (Buono's) assessment regarding DeShans conduct and the appropriate resultant penalty." "There will be an appeal," said an attorney for DeShan, Steven R. Cohen of Mount Laurel. The board's decision describes the Cinnaminson district as DeShan's former employer, but does not say when he left the district. State pension records put DeShans annual salary at $95,420 at year-end 2021. DeShan held standard and advanced Teacher of Elementary School Grades K-8 certificates. The districts superintendent, Stephen Cappello, declined comment about DeShans time in Cinnaminson, saying personnel matters are confidential. At this time, I will not be providing any additional information, he said. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Joseph DeShan, former priest, taught in Cinnaminson school district A bill that aims to block diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives promoting or endorsing discriminatory concepts at Kentuckys public colleges and universities was approved by the Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 6 from Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, seeks to curtail DEI practices that affect students and staff in a variety of campus settings, including non-credit classes, seminars, workshop, trainings and orientations. I offer this bill to counter a trend in higher education in our colleges and universities attempting to exclude in employment or deny in promotion (people) . . . who do not conform to liberal ideologies fashionable in our universities, Wilson said on the Senate floor. Diversity of thought should be welcome, he said. But weve seen a trend of forcing faculty, in order to remain employed, to formally endorse a set of beliefs that may be contrary to their own. The bill passed largely along party lines, 26-7. It will next go to a House committee. Offering some insight into where constituents fall on the issue, earlier on Tuesday, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky released a Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy survey of 625 registered Kentucky voters, 71% of whom agreed that businesses and institutions should be allowed to make decisions regarding their own diversity, equity and inclusion education and training programs, without government interference. The poll was conducted from January 31 to February 4. Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics Newsletter A must-read newsletter for political junkies across the Bluegrass State with reporting and analysis from the Lexington Herald-Leader. Never miss a story! Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics newsletter to connect with our reporting team and get behind-the-scenes insights, plus previews of the biggest stories. Concepts blocked under Wilsons bill include the idea that any individual is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously; any idea that suggests all Americans are not created equal; any belief that ascribes character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges . . . to an individual because of (their) race; and teaching that promotes division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people. The proposal won approval from a Senate Education Committee last week. Thats where Wilson characterized his bill as a way to counter a trend in public colleges and universities attempting to exclude in employment . . . scholars or professors that do not conform to liberal ideologies. Wilson on Tuesday again referenced a University of Kentucky students testimony last week in committee who said she was reprimanded by a womens studies professor for using transphobic language in class. The student, Rebekah Keith, told committee members she believes there are only two genders and that men cannot become women. Being told she couldnt defend this belief in class, Wilson said, is an example of students not (being) able to freely express themselves. But Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, said there were already mechanisms in place to deal with free speech incidents like this. He called the examples Wilson has cited as occurring in Kentucky as scant and hearsay. Neal, who voted against the bill, said, We dont want to put ourselves in a big government position where were micromanaging public colleges and universities. He called the bill a product of society being in a period of reaction. The bill, should it pass into law, will be an instrument to some who (have) ill intent and a reflection of a reaction that confirms we are still on a journey. Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, called the bill dangerously confused. I am sorry people in our society feel so intimidated by other groups that they literally feel they have to pass laws to protect themselves, she added. That is so sad, but that is what I see this bill as being. Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, said the bill is opaque, its definitions not clearly defined, that its likely to have a chilling effect on college campuses, and will likely end in litigation. Its designed to limit discussion, Webb said. Republicans who spoke on the Senate floor embraced the bill. I just feel that this diversity thing, whether its in corporate America, University of Kentucky, or wherever it is, is being blown way out of proportion, said Sen. John Schickel, R-Union. He called current DEI policies reverse discrimination. Of course we want diversity. Of course we want people to belong. This is the United States of America, said Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield. But were not seeing that in our institutions. Tichenor said DEI policies have gotten out of hand, and called it mission creep. She referenced an email she received from a college student who asked her to vote against the bill. In the email, Tichenor said, the student referenced his inherent privilege. Gee, I wonder where he got that idea, Tichenor said, calling the fact that students are taught to feel bad about their race a prime reason why we need to file this bill. Sen. Philip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, said the vitriol on college campuses has done more to divide us than unite us. I dont think someone who is white should be taught they are a bad person . . . any more than an African American should be taught they are oppressed, Wheeler said. Wilsons bill to regulate DEI is one of three so far proposed by Republicans this legislative session. Senate Bill 93, filed by Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, would block public K-12 schools, districts and charter schools from promoting, supporting or maintaining divisive concepts, which it defines as any programs, trainings or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, or promote or engage in political or social activism. Merediths bill also proposes eliminating statutory requirements that school mental health counselors take a trauma-informed approach when supporting students. That approach, Meredith said, is a backdoor to a DEI agenda. A third anti-DEI bill, House Bill 9 from Rep. Jennifer Decker, would dismantle and defund all DEI offices across the states public colleges and universities and eliminate race-based scholarships and end administrative promotion or justification of so-called discriminatory concepts, such as white privilege. It would also bar public higher education institutions from providing any differential or preferential treatment to a student or employee based on race, religion, sex, color or national origin. LAS CRUCES The body of slain Las Cruces Police Department officer Jonah Hernandez traveled from the New Mexico Medical Investigators Office in Albuquerque to his hometown of El Paso on Monday night. On Tuesday, Feb. 13 LCPD Chief Jeremy Story provided additional details into the incident that took the life of Hernandez, 35, on Sunday while he responded to a local business reporting a trespasser. Story identified Hernandez's killer as 29-year-old Armando Silva, who was homeless at the time of the incident and had a history of mental illness and criminal convictions. The person described by police as a "witness" who subsequently shot and killed Silva during the incident, was not identified. Story said Hernandez was responding to a trespassing call from the owner of the business in the 300 block of South Valley Drive. City of Las Cruces Chief of Police Jeremy Story gave a brief outline of the ongoing investigation and answered questions for the public and media at the press conference held for Officer Jonah Hernandez, held Tuesday morning, February 13, 2024, at the City of Las Cruces Council Chambers. "When he arrived, Armando Silva immediately attacked him with a large kitchen knife," Story said. "For no reason whatsoever, Silva killed Officer Hernandez. "A witness saw the unprovoked attack, retrieved a firearm from their vehicle and confronted the murderer. Silva tried to attack the witness and was shot at least once. Silva later died from his injuries." Hernandez was taken to Mountain View Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Story said that the LCPD would recommend no charges against the man who saw the attack on Hernandez and responded by killing Silva and then calling for help with Hernandez's radio. But the decision to prosecute will ultimately rest with the district attorney, Story said. More: Latest update on Las Cruces Police Officer Jonah Hernandez stabbing death on duty Story said it is common for officers to respond to trespassing calls alone, just as Hernandez did around 5 p.m. on Sunday. "Unfortunately officers respond to trespassing calls at a level and frequency that I think would shock most people," Story said. "In an average day, officers respond to approximately 500 calls every single day. I wish I could have two officers at every single call. It's something right now we encourage officers do for a number of reasons." Story said Hernandez is the first LCPD officer to be killed in the line of duty. The LCPD was established as a police department in 1928. Hernandez graduated from the largest class in the history of the police academy in 2022 while Story was the director of the academy. He was assigned to patrol as a young officer, Story said. "There is evil in our beautiful city and as officers, we see it every day but it takes selfless men and women to stand against that evil," Story said. "Those men and women patrol our streets and respond to cries for help. We are very blessed to have amazing police officers who guard this city. "There is a cost to having peace, order and justice in Las Cruces. Officer Hernandez's family will eternally pay that price." Hernandez was a husband and father to two young sons. Armando Silva had a history of violent crime Silva had a criminal history that involved battery and aggravated battery on a household member, and a first-degree kidnapping in 2015. Silva pleaded guilty in 2016 to aggravated battery against a household member (great bodily harm) and battery against a household member for which he was sentenced to three years incarceration followed by two years of parole, according to court documents. It was recommended Silva complete a drug abuse program while incarcerated. A charge of first-degree kidnapping was dismissed as part of Silva's plea agreement. It was alleged in 2019 he violated parole, but that incident was not prosecuted, according to court documents. "He was convicted of serious violent crimes and spent some time in prison," Story said. "He violated his probation and parole multiple times and was sent back and completed that sentence." Story said that the murder of Hernandez was an agonizing reminder of what he called a broken criminal justice system in New Mexico. Members of the New Mexico State Police and Las Cruces Police Department came to pay respect for one of their fallen officers at the press conference held for Officer Jonah Hernandez, held Tuesday morning, February 13, 2024, at the City of Las Cruces Council Chambers. "A system that should have protected our community from Silva, but instead allowed him to endanger us all," Story said. When asked to expand on his comments during Tuesday's news conference, Story deferred to a future conversation and instead preferred to keep the focus on the city grieving for the officer. At a recent town hall, hosted by the police department, with the topic of homelessness in Las Cruces, Story said 102 people in the past two years had been arrested or criminally charged at least 10 times, including one individual who had 77 citations over the past two years. Story cited three ongoing court system initiatives throughout New Mexico that could potentially alleviate the revolving door. "There will be a time where I will address those issues," Story said Tuesday. "I can make a promise that I will not let his (Hernandez's) death be in vain. Now is a time to honor Officer Hernandez and support his family." Funeral arrangements for Hernandez not yet determined Las Cruces Fire Department officers salute fallen Officer Jonah Hernandez as his body is escorted through Las Cruces to El Paso on Feb. 12, 2024. Hernandez was stabbed and killed while responding to call near Valley and Amador Feb. 11, 2024. (Credit: Provided by Las Cruces Police Department) On Tuesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered that all flags across the state be flown at half mast to honor Hernandez from Wednesday, Feb. 14 through sundown on Feb. 19. Story said the funeral arrangements were still being made for Hernandez, but it would take place in El Paso. Multiple law enforcement agencies took part in a police escort for Hernandez's body on Monday. "It was incredibly heartwarming to see the outpouring of support and love from the community and fellow law enforcement agencies across the entire state," Story said. Follow the press conference with us on X: The @LasCrucesPolice is expected to begin a press conference shortly to share additional details in the death of LCPD Officer Jonah Hernandez. Livestream here https://t.co/Uo6bK91JqX or follow this thread for updates. Las Cruces Sun-News (@CrucesSunNews) February 13, 2024 Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces police name man who killed officer Jonah Hernandez Debate over the $95 billion foreign aid bill in the Senate reached the prime minister of Poland. Well, sort of. On Monday night, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham lit into a poster of a tweet by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk castigating Republican senators for voting against giving aid to Ukraine. (Just a few hours after this meltdown, Graham would join 25 other members of his party in voting against the aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.) Graham seemed to take particular offense at Tusks invocation of Ronald Reagan, who, according to the prime minister, must be turning in his grave at his partys turning a blind eye to Russian aggression. Shame on you, tweeted Tusk. Addressing (and gesticulating at) the poster directly, Graham admonished Tusks Twitter avatar for suggesting that Republican senators had abandoned Reagans legacy. To the Prime Minister of Poland: I could care less what you think Lindsey Graham lashed out at the Polish PM, for criticizing Senate Republicans blocking aid for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/rMJI7zoEGG Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 11, 2024 To the prime minister of Poland, if Ronald Reagan were alive today, we wouldnt have this broken border. How would you feel if seven million people came in illegally into Poland? Would you have this attitude: Weve got to put Ukraine ahead of Poland? Graham has been supportive of military aid to Ukraine in the past. As recently as September, he called it a good investment. But he has recently changed his tune, parroting Donald Trumps talking points that any aid to Ukraine should instead be a loan. Graham also seems more interested in attacking Democrats over the border, even after killing a draconian bipartisan border deal last week. Adhering to a rapidly disintegrating GOP party line of theoretical support for Ukraine, Graham assured his piece of cardboard that he [wants] to help Ukraine and make a stronger NATO, but claimed that before he could support an ally facing invasion, he needed to get a bill bundling aid to Ukraine with border security provisionspresumably a different bill from the one already rejected by Graham and his colleaguesthrough the House of Representatives. The $95 billion aid bill eventually passed without Grahams support, but it faces resistance from House Republicans. In the meantime, Graham claims he could care less what Tusk thinks about him. His red-faced poster routine suggests otherwise. The Lakeshore Nature Preserve's Picnic Point, hiking trails and small Lake Mendota beaches provide an easy-to-access natural oasis just steps from downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. And soon, the thousands of students, Madisonians and others who visit the spot each year will be welcomed by a new "front door" when they arrive at the 300-acre natural area. The university announced last week that Madison philanthropist and UW-Madison alumnus Jerry Frautschi husband of American Girl founder Pleasant Rowland donated $14.3 million to help build a 9,000-square-foot visitor and education center at the preserve. "The Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center will showcase UW-Madison's commitment to sustainability and support hands-on experiential learning and research for more than 25 academic programs, in addition to serving as a new asset to environmental education for the community," the university said in a press release. Construction is expected to begin next year, and the center should open in 2026. A rendering of the future Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center, which is expected to open at Madison's Picnic Point in 2026. Sustainability and accessibility will be two of the new building's main focuses. The university intends the Frautschi Center to be certified as Wisconsin's first "living building," which means it generates its own energy. It will also be the first net-positive energy building on UW's campus, meaning it will produce more energy than it consumes. Recycled and upcycled materials, as well as green roofs, will be incorporated into the building. The structure will use geothermal heating and cooling, passive ventilation and will rely on windows and skylights during the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting. The center project will also include "safer pedestrian crossing and entry to the parking area off University Bay Drive," according to the university's release. An accessible, upper-level deck will allow visitors to view the preserve "to the north, across University Bay to the southeast and toward the Class of 1918 Marsh to the south." The preserve's bike and pedestrian paths will also receive a makeover and safety improvements, though routes will remain the same. A new rental bike B-Cycle station will also be added to the new path. The university is launching an additional $5 million fundraising effort to support ongoing operations and programming at the center. Additionally, the center plans to collaborate with the Ho-Chunk Nation to increase land care practices that take into consideration the burial mounds within the preserve. It will also offer educational displays featuring plants culturally significant to the Ho-Chunk. A young birder aims his binoculars at a bird during a BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin event at Madison's Picnic Point. This is far from the Frautschi family's first major contribution to the Madison community. Jerry Frautschi's past projects include a $205-million donation to the Overture Center for the Arts, developing the 100 block of Madison's iconic State Street and financing the Edgewater Hotel expansion. The Frautschi family's connection to the Lakeshore Nature Preserve began 34 years ago when Jerry and his brother, John, purchased what was known as "Second Point" along Lake Mendota's shoreline for $1.5 million when it was in danger of being developed, the university shared. They later renamed it "Frautschi Point" and donated it to the university. The land, which connects the western and eastern ends of UW's Lake Mendota shoreline, ultimately became the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. "My family has lived in Madison since the 1800s, and we feel a great sense of responsibility to give back to the city and community that we love," Frautschi said. "I am pleased that I am able to carry on my family's tradition of philanthropy and community service and that visitors will have a welcoming gathering place with improved access to the trails that line the lakeshore." More: 10 things to do in Madison beyond the Terrace and the Capitol More: Residents of this Wisconsin city were among the top 10 fittest in America in 2023 This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison Picnic Point is getting a sustainable visitors center in 2026 Some companies have strict rules about colleagues dating, even if they don't directly work together. Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leaders Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval. Have a question? Submit it here. Question: Two of my single co-workers would be a great match. They aren't acquainted and don't work together in any capacity, should I have any concerns about connecting them as potential romantic interests? Andrew Answer: Understandably, you might want to play matchmaker for your single co-workers with good intentions, but before you proceed, there are some considerations to bear in mind. First, check if your company has a policy regarding workplace relationships or dating among employees. Some companies have strict rules about colleagues dating, even if they don't directly work together. Understanding your company's stance on this issue is crucial. Additionally, consider your workplace culture and whether other couples exist within the organization. Assuming there's no policy against it, reaching out individually to your co-workers is wise. It's essential to gauge their interest and comfort levels with the idea of dating someone from the same workplace. Some individuals may have reservations about dating colleagues for various reasons. Introducing two co-workers can lead to different outcomes it could blossom into a positive romantic connection or potentially lead to complications. I've seen both scenarios unfold, and it's essential to recognize that the line between personal and work life can sometimes become blurred. Consider asking yourself a few questions before proceeding: What if the match doesn't work out? How would it reflect on you as the one who introduced them? Are there consequences, such as someone losing their job, that could arise from this? If they're not interested, could it create an awkward workplace environment? Moreover, if the relationship doesn't work out, could it make the workplace uncomfortable? Story continues Before making introductions, carefully think through these questions and assess the potential consequences if things don't go as planned. If you're uncertain or have concerns, reaching out to your human resources department for guidance is a prudent step. I hope everything works out well for you and your co-workers. Laid off? Can an employer fire or layoff employees without giving a reason? Ask HR I am a full-time direct employee working a hybrid schedule. I work remotely from home two-three days a week. Can I write off my home office or any associated supplies or expenses on my taxes? Drea Many workers face similar circumstances due to the widespread use of hybrid and remote work arrangements. Writing off your home office or associated expenses on your taxes depends on various factors. Your state will determine your ability to write off home-office expenses. Alabama, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania provide a deduction for unreimbursed employee business expenses. On a federal level, in the past, an employee could claim an itemized deduction for unreimbursed business expenses if it exceeded 2% of your adjusted gross income. However, that deduction was suspended until 2026. In addition, the IRS does allow small business owners to deduct their home office from their taxes, but this does not typically apply to employees. Exploring whether your employer reimburses supplies or other expenses when working a hybrid work arrangement may be worthwhile. California, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New York and the District of Columbia, require employers to reimburse employees for business-related expenses incurred when working either a hybrid or fully remote arrangement. Expenses potentially covered by state law reimbursement requirements include cellphone charges, internet or data plan charges, or other services or equipment necessary for an employee's job. Your employer may have a reimbursement policy addressing remote employee business expenses. If you work in a state that does not require your employer to reimburse your business expenses, or you cannot locate a company policy, check with human resources to see if a policy exists. If not, it never hurts to ask about other options or if your employer may consider it in the future. Always consult a tax professional or accountant who can provide personalized advice based on your situation and the most current tax code. They can guide you on potential deductions and ensure compliance with tax laws. I wish you the best of luck in navigating your options. Workplace recordings Is it illegal to record a conversation at work? Ask HR This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Office romance can be complicated. Should you set up your co-workers? A New York man thought he spotted a washed-up buoy during a recent walk in nature until he got closer and noticed it had a propeller and unsettling blinking light, photos show. The most Tyler Davis was expecting to find at Sampson State Park was peace and quiet, maybe a few fossils, and great views of Seneca Lake, he told McClatchy News. Instead, he found what appeared to be a misplaced weapon of war. Well I think I stumbled upon a torpedo maybe? Davis said in a Feb. 10 Facebook post, sharing a photo of his eye-popping find. A New York man stumbled across a torpedo-like object while visiting a state park, photos show. Did you try and hit it with a hammer? one commenter said. Another suggested the slightly safer? approach of throwing large rocks at it to see if anything happens. But, dangerous or not, Davis was too curious to keep away from the object. I knew I found something pretty cool, he said. The only unsettling thing was the blinking sensor lights that were going off. On closer inspection, markings and lettering can be seen all over the object, photos show. The object had warnings on it. Along the cluttered exterior, there was also a phone number, Davis said. He called but nobody answered, so he left a message. It had some warnings on it but I had no clue if it was dangerous or not, Davis said. While waiting for a call back, it occurred to him that the torpedo-like object would make quite a souvenir, assuming it didnt blow up or start leaking nuclear waste. The thought of taking it definitely popped up, but with it still working and blinking I wanted to return it, he said. Eventually, Davis call was returned. The mystery device belonged to a military base, the Seneca Lake Sonar Test Facility, according to Davis. And it wasnt a torpedo, but a MK 39 training device, he added. According to the Navy, the MK 39 Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target, or EMATT, is used in training to simulate the acoustic and dynamic characteristics of a submarine. In other words, it functions like a dummy submarine, a target that sailors use to train their detection, tracking and weapon employment skills, the Navy says. A closer look at the MK 39 found by Tyler Davis. Davis then helped the Navy find their lost MK 39. When I was finally contacted they thanked me and had me pinpoint it on a map so they could retrieve it, he said. They said after its course, they return to the surface and get collected but this one escaped. McClatchy News reached out to the Navy for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Davis may have lost out on having the ultimate coffee table conversation piece, he said, but at least he got a good story out of it. Its the best find Ill probably ever have! he said. Besides, I got to share it with a lot of people so Im happy! Sampson State Park is about 250 miles northwest of New York City. 1,000-pound bomb uncovered at Florida airport prompts half-mile evacuation, cops say Graveyard of WWII battle holds an immense amount of unexploded bombs, team learns Blurry shape spotted by fisherman in lake spurs 33-year-old mystery, Kansas cops say Three bombs from WWII found in Florida bay, military says. Now, theyll be detonated For Stephanie Young, a Barre native, her dad's advice has turned into a 20-year career as a librarian. "When I was younger and trying to figure out what I wanted to do, my dad handed me an article from the Boston Globe, and he said to me that he thought I would definitely be a really good librarian," she said. Right after reading the article on the state-wide librarian shortage, Young said she marched to the Woods Memorial Library in Barre to ask if they were hiring, and after a month or two of waiting, the library had an opening for a library assistant. As a library assistant, Young organized children's programs, and then she started to work her way up, gaining the responsibility of cataloging for the library. In 2006, Young said she was asked to be the interim library director while she was finishing her bachelor's degree in communications from Worcester State University. After getting her bachelor's degree, she took classes through the Massachusetts Board of Libraries Commissioners (MBLC) so she could eventually become the Woods Memorial Library director in 2007. Stephanie Young, is the new Heywood Library director. She said she wants to improve services so the library can continue to be a community center for all Gardner residents. While still working as the library director at Barre, Young graduated in 2014 with a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the Wayne State University online program. The MBLC requires different levels of college education depending on the municipal population of the community where a librarian is working. Massachusetts librarians must get a master's degree in Library Science before they are certified by MBLC to work in a municipality with a population of over 10,000 residents. In 2019, Young decided to pause her career to focus on her family. During the four years Young devoted to her three children and husband, she said she missed being in the library and always wanted to go back to work. "I was really excited to see a position open up in Gardner," she said. "It seems like there are so many opportunities at the Gardner Library and community to grow and change. I look forward to seizing those opportunities." More: Hotspots, telescopes and Santa suits: How you can borrow these and more from the library? Five-year plan to improve Heywood Library Young is in her second month as the new Heywood Memorial Library director, and she said she met with the library's Board of Trustees, and they approved her five-year plan to improve services at the Gardner library. The first step is to survey the community to figure out what residents need and want from library services. Young said the survey will reach residents starting late spring and early summer. "This library hasn't [hired] a director outside of the institution since the late 1980s," she said. "So it's really important that I dive in and take a full survey so we can make changes and become a reflection of what the community needs." Connecting with the community is Young's big goal Young said her other big goal for her first year as Gardner Library director is to connect with the community through library programs and events. She said she hopes to work closely with other city departments like the police, fire, and public works departments to do a "Touch a Truck" event for children. Another future program that Young would like to make a reality is a history program co-sponsored with the Gardner Museum. She said the library staff is also looking to enhance the library's collection, for example, shifting from DVDs to streaming services and obtaining hotspots for residents. Young said another idea she hopes to bring to the library is "Memory Kits" for people with dementia or memory loss. She said each kit would have a theme that holds certain items and activities that could spark a conversation or reminisce with the caregiver and the person with dementia. "I'm someone new coming in with a fresh look at the library with new eyes," she said. "Creating all types of access points and equity by increasing programs that we offer to adults, young adults, and kids." Who is Stephanie Young? Besides her commitment to her career as a library administrator, Young is quite involved in her community. She currently lives in Petersham with her husband and three children. She said she is the Petersham Historical Society's vice president and a cultural council member. "Civic service and being connected to the community is really important to me," she said. "A fun fact about me is in my spare time, my husband and I breed French Bulldogs, and sometimes we show them in competitions." Young said she is a big history buff, and she loves to learn about the history of industrialization of municipalities like Gardner and how it developed into today's modern community. "I have a big interest in all things related to local history, and I'm really looking forward to also diving into Gardner's history," she said. "I love the industrial side of things and seeing how it's all interconnected." This article originally appeared on Gardner News: New Gardner Library Director Stephanie Young hails from Barre A missing teenager was located by state troopers more than 100 miles away from where she was last seen, North Carolina police said. The 16-year-old was reported missing by her family at about 7 p.m. on Feb. 8, according to a Feb. 12 Thomasville Police Department news release. She was found in a Trinity mans car traveling on an interstate, police said. The girls family grew worried when she didnt return home from high school that day, per the department. An initial investigation into the girls disappearance led detectives to believe she was abducted by a non-related family acquaintance, police said. Information on the mans vehicle was shared across several states, according to the department. A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle on I-95 passing through Johnston County on Feb. 9, which turned out to be the suspects car, authorities said. The missing girl was inside the vehicle uninjured and taken out safely by troopers, police said. She has been reunited with her family, according to the department. The 53-year-old was arrested and charged with abduction of a minor, according to the department. The man was booked in Davidson County Jail and placed under a $45,000 bond, police said. Thomasville is about 25 miles southwest of Greensboro. Naked teen leaps from third story window to escape man beating him, Florida cops say Dad abducted 5-year-old, drove off in stolen car from Michigan to Arkansas, cops say Escaped prisoner abducts woman and forces her to help him flee, North Carolina cops say More than three-quarters of American Jews feel less safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. and nearly half have changed their behavior as a result, according to a report on antisemitism released Tuesday by the American Jewish Committee. The AJC's State of Antisemitism in American 2023 report comes four months after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and a subsequent wave of rising antisemitism worldwide. It found that those who feel less safe are far more likely than those who don't to see U.S. antisemitism as a serious, worsening threat and the status of American Jews as less secure than a year ago. "No one should be fearful of being targeted or harassed for being Jewish when walking down the street, going to school, or being at work," said Ted Deutch, the American Jewish Committees CEO. "This isnt a new problem, but the explosion of antisemitism since Oct. 7 demands that we take collective action now." The report is based on data collected in a survey of 1,528 American Jews ages 18 and older in October and November. The AJC adjusted its survey to add questions in response to the Oct. 7 massacre to measure awareness of the attack and the resulting influence on respondents' feelings of personal safety. "While large majorities of U.S. Jews have consistently viewed antisemitism as a problem in the United States, 2023 reflects an uptick in the share who hold that opinion," the report's authors wrote. "Moreover, the 2023 results show a sharp increase in the share of U.S. Jews who see antisemitism as a very serious problem in the United States." A vigil and solidarity gathering brought people together at the Jewish Community Center in Newington Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Changing behavior, hiding their identity According to the report, 78% of American Jews said they felt less safe because of the Oct. 7 attack, and 46% said they'd changed their behavior as a result, compared with just under 40% who said they had done so in 2021 and 2022. Three in 10 said they had avoided posting online content identifying themselves as Jewish or revealing their views on Jewish issues, and one-quarter (26%) said they had refrained from publicly wearing or displaying items identifying them as Jews or had avoided certain physical spaces or situations out of concern for their personal safety or comfort. About 4 in 10 Jews in the U.S. (39%) said they had personally seen incidents of antisemitism or heard antisemitic comments in the past year, and 3 in 4 (74%) considered antisemitism at least a "somewhat serious" problem in the U.S. More than 6 in 10 (63%) of Jewish adults described their communitys status in the U.S. as "less secure than a year ago," reflecting an increase of more than 20 percentage points, the report said. One in 5 (19%) said businesses in their community had been the target of antisemitism over the past five years. Posters of some of those kidnapped by Hamas in Israel are displayed on a pole outside of New York University (NYU) as tensions between supporters of Palestine and Israel increased on college campuses across the nation in October 2023. The Biden administration announced new actions attempting to crack down on antisemitic incidents on college campuses following the attacks. Many Jewish and Israeli students have felt threatened after large and vocal demonstrations against the fighting in Gaza broke out at numerous universities. About one-quarter of young Jews on college campuses, where incidents spiked in the wake of the attack, said they had avoided wearing or displaying items identifying them as Jewish, expressing views on Israel on campus or with classmates, or had been told they could not miss class for Jewish holidays. The committee said it was calling on Congress and President Joe Biden to take steps to implement the White Houses U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, including appointment of a national coordinator. "Now that we have this road map, we need to be sure to use it," Deutch said. "The strategy can no longer be seen as a recommendation but rather a requirement." The groups first such report was done in 2019, a year after a gunmans deadly attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American Jews feel less safe and changed behavior due to Oct. 7 attack EAST LANSING Students held each other as the sound of Beaumont Tower's carillon bells rang through the air. The bells chimed at 8:18 p.m. and 8:25 p.m., signaling when MSU students Alexandria Verner, Arielle Anderson and Brian Fraser were fatally shot. A vigil with bright green lights shining across the sky concluded a day of tears, hugs, memorials and pet therapy as Spartans and their supporters on Michigan State University's campus remembered the lives lost to a mass shooting a year ago. Emily Hoyumpa, president of the Associated Students of MSU, urged vigil attendees Tuesday to take the time to grieve whether it be here on our campus, across the state, across the nation, or around the world, to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken by the tragic violence our community experienced on February 13, 2023." Hoyumpa asked the MSU community to reflect, grieve, remember, and come together in support of one another, whatever that means or looks like to them. At the end of the day, were also all human and were doing what we can to process everything thats happened, she said. Throughout Tuesday, students expressed a range of emotions, from grief to glimmers of hope, while showing both their strengths and vulnerabilities. I think, when theres a tragedy, we want to do something and were taking it back now, reclaiming our school, said Zaria Floyd, a 20-year-old sophomore from Farmington. This is a way to change the situation. Standing toward the front of a crowd of more than 1,000 students and community members, Floyd and her friend, Gabrielle Okonski, a 19-year-old sophomore from Dowagiac, turned around to look at a sea of green luminaries and glow sticks at the vigil. They each transferred to MSU for the winter semester, so the February shooting happened their first semester away from home. Because they were transfers, they never got the emergency notices during the shooting, only finding out from friends. This is a shocker. You never expect its going to happen to you, Floyd said. Were here because we want to turn this into a positive, to get back our school. They were among the students, faculty, local leaders and community members gathered on Michigan State University's campus to pay respects and remember MSU's tragedy. President Joe Biden's X account marked the one year since the tragedy, commending students who came together and helped get stronger gun laws passed in Michigan. There were no classes but, during the day, bouquets of flowers were laid at the base of the Rock, a perpetually repainted landmark that on Tuesday was painted green with "Spartans Together" in white letters. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was one of many who laid bouquets at the Sparty statue. There were also hugs. Via Mastan didnt know how close she was to crying, until she got a mom hug, amid a crowd of MSU students and others. Mastan started to cry, on the shoulders of Heather Stallone, one of the mothers who came to campus after the shooting last year and returned Tuesday to offer mom hugs. My mom is my safe place and shes always there for me, said Mastan, a 19-year-old freshman marketing student. I think we need that. Sparty is lit up green at the vigil held on the Michigan State campus Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, marking the one year anniversary of the mass shooting that killed three students. 'I can't believe it's been a year' Aaron Iturralde is an MSU alum who graduated in May. For him, the campus sometimes still seems frozen in time. He hasn't been back since he graduated, just months after the shooting. "It's been a year. I can't believe it's been a year already," Iturralde said. A year ago, he was driving home to visit his mom in suburban Flint. He heard about the shooting while he was on the highway. He drove back to East Lansing in the morning, saying "I needed to be there." Iturralde is now a student teacher at a Greater Lansing high school. The day of the shooting was one of the first times he worked in a classroom. "That day was so joyful," he said. "And then what happened later..." He teaches civics at the high school. He thinks a lot about gun violence in schools. "How would I get 30 kids out of a classroom if something happened?" A group hugs after leaving flowers at the Sparty statue on the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, on campus in East Lansing. Chris White of Southfield and his son, Owen White, an MSU sophomore, walked gingerly around the Rock, blending into the green paint with their puffy MSU jackets. We just wanted to pay our respects, Chris White, 51, said. Even though that day is no longer here, its a new day. We still remember. Its a day you cant forget. But as long as students continue to attend, thats the best they can do is to persevere. Owen White, who is on the autism spectrum, said he was glad to help pay his respects to the students who died as they circled around the Rock, looking at the names written in spray paint, Brian Arielle Alexandria. The Whites were preparing to drive home a year ago when they heard about the shooting. Owen White was studying late on campus. His father said the mass shooting was a parents nightmare. Taking time to reflect Students visited the reflection space in the Michigan State University Main Library throughout the afternoon. Id say about 150 students overall, said Anne Bradley, director of development for Common Ground, an organization dedicated to helping people in crisis and providing support through the healing process. Two service dogs, Lakota and Gus, were in the middle of the room, with students gathered around them. Were letting (the students) come to us, Bradley said. People stop and visit outside Michigan State Universitys Berkey Hall, which was illuminated green as a tribute to those affected by the mass shooting a year ago, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in East Lansing. Cheyenne Schultz, a victim advocate with Common Ground, described the conversations she had with students that afternoon, saying most were general conversations about where they were that night, how theyre feeling today. Its more about comfort and community, Bradley said. Rather than helping students in extreme emotional distress, she characterized her role in the conversations as being the listener for students who needed one. (The students) seem to have good resources and know where to go, Bradley said. Schultz volunteered to be a counselor on MSUs campus Tuesday because she was a recent college graduate. Even though she did not attend MSU, she wanted to help those who were about the same age as her. Jamie Moriarty is the MSU Library Hollander Makerspace coordinator. The space has hosted a variety of events for students, some just so they could learn something, but also some de-stressing events around finals week. Makerspace hosted an event the week after the gun violence on campus last year. This year, they had three giant coloring sheets laid out for students. Moriarty said it was nice to see the pages slowly fill with color throughout the day. Moriarty wasnt sure what kind of event students would want or need Tuesday, but she knew that the Makerspace could provide a community center. How do you know what people need? But we decided to do something similar to what we do around finals week, something where you can be with people or sit in silence if you need to, she said. Michigan State University senior Allie Hukill, right, offers her dog Benny, center, for 'free puppy kisses' to those at the Sparty statue one year after the mass shooting at MSU on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in East Lansing. 'Difficult in the beginning...' Emerson Cywinski, a chemistry sophomore coloring at one of the pages, said being a student after the gun violence was difficult in the beginning, not as much now. Although he still thinks about it, his life has mostly moved on. I think its nice they had (coloring) for people today, if they needed to vent Jared Wadley broke into tears near the Sparty statue. He was with his therapy dog, Bree. I didnt think Id get this emotional, Wadley said. The Ypsilanti Township resident has had therapy dogs for 13 years and brought Bree to campus last year as one of her first tasks. Students pet her while they were on campus Tuesday remembering the past year since the shooting. I think she can make a huge difference, Wadley said. Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com and follow her on X @sarahmatwood. Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415 This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: How MSU observed Feb. 13, one year after mass shooting One year and a day since a St. Paul police officer fatally shot a 65-year-old man, his family said Monday theyre still waiting for a decision from prosecutors on whether to charge the officer. We used to wake up every day believing that surely today will be the day that the county attorney will announce charges against the officers, said Yia Xiongs daughter-in-law Cindy Lor. But over 365 of these days have passed and we dont know if that day will ever come anymore. Instead we find ourselves asking, Why? Why doesnt my fathers life matter?' A Pioneer Press review found this is the longest time for a charging decision in a fatal officer-involved shooting since at least 2016 in Ramsey County, based on a look at 10 previous cases investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and decided by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. Ramsey County Attorneys Office spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein said each use of deadly force case is unique for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the circumstances surrounding the incident and the often-voluminous amounts of investigative data presented to our office for review. While we always conduct our reviews as expeditiously as possible, we will never forsake thoroughness in favor of a rushed decision, he said in a Monday statement. I know that view is shared by our justice partners at the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, who are also reviewing the case with us. BCA says he held knife On Feb. 11, 2023, at 4:55 p.m., police responded to the Winslow Commons apartment building on the 100 block of South Western Avenue near West Seventh Street after receiving 911 calls. One caller reported they were having a birthday party for their daughter at the building and a man with a machete keeps coming in and out of a community room where the party was, according to a 911 transcript. Another caller reported all her grandchildren were in the community room, the man was handing them money and they wouldnt take it. Snowdon Herr, Justice for Yia Xiong Coalition chairperson, has said its part of their culture for elders to give money to children. One of the callers told a 911 operator that her husband was armed, but had put his weapon down. Well never know if this (was) why Yia Xiong equipped himself with a knife to protect himself, Herr said in April. We dont get to hear Yias story. Officers told Xiong to drop a knife, but he didnt respond and turned to unlock his apartment door, according to the BCA. Xiong went inside his apartment and the door began to close. The officers kicked the door to stop it from fully shutting and ordered him to come out, the BCA said in a statement at the time. They then backed away from the door and down the short hallway. Xiong opened the door and stepped into the hallway, knife still in-hand. The BCA said Xiong was holding a 16-inch knife when St. Paul officer Abdirahman Dahir shot him with a rifle and officer Noushue Cha deployed a Taser. Xiong died from multiple gunshot wounds. The officers body cameras were on. Xiong was a disabled Hmong veteran who saved American lives during the Vietnam War, Lor said. He was deaf in one ear from the war and didnt speak English, she and Herr said. The Justice for Yia Xiong Coalition has called for both Dahir and Cha, who remain St. Paul officers, to be fired and criminally charged. Justice delayed Xiongs family and members of the justice coalition held signs at a Monday press conference with the words months with no justice beneath the updated number: 12. In this case, justice delayed truly is justice denied, said Michelle Gross, Communities United Against Police Brutality president. Theres no excuse for this lengthy delay and making this family wait anxiously for an answer. Lor said her world came crashing down a year ago, when she received a call that the very people who were taught to trust, the police, shot and killed Xiong. He was our dad, Lor said. He was my kids loving grandpa. Lor said she hopes Xiongs memory serves as a reminder of the urgency for change, a change that ensures no other family has to endure the pain, sadness and heartache that have became our constant companion since that day. A look at past cases The Ramsey County attorneys office announced in May that the BCA had formally presented its investigative file for prosecutorial review. The county attorneys office also said at the time it has a nationally recognized officer use of force expert to assist in the review of the evidence. In 2016, the Ramsey County attorneys office began reviewing shootings by officers resulting in a death, rather than the past practice of presenting cases to a grand jury for a charging decision. In 10 cases since then, the average time between the date of a shooting and a charging decision by Choi was just over seven months, a Pioneer Press review found. The previous longest time was 11 months when a Ramsey County sheriffs deputy shot Darren Jahnke in Vadnais Heights in April 2017 after authorities said the 47-year-old disarmed another deputy. The shortest time was 48 days, after an investigation determined William James Hughes, 43, pointed a gun at St. Paul officers, who shot him in St. Paul in August 2018. Choi found officers in the Hughes and Jahnke cases to be legally justified. Related Articles Ricardo Martinelli has been granted asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City - ARIS MARTINEZ/Reuters Panamas former president has taken shelter in the Nicaraguan embassy with his dog and a barbecue set where he plans to ride out a corruption investigation and regain power. Ricardo Martinelli is hanging on to his creature comforts as he evades a prison sentence by setting up home in the diplomatic residence in Panama City. In recent days staff have been spotted moving the 71-year-olds personal belongings into the run down house with items including air-conditioning units, two flat screen TVs, a gas-powered family barbecue and his dog Bruno. A mattress is carried into the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City as Ricardo Martinelli moves in - GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Martinelli, who led Panama from 2009 to 2014, has been claiming that he is the target of political persecution and that the country is a civil dictatorship since the Supreme Court confirmed his 10-year sentence for money laundering on Feb 2. Nicaraguas president Daniel Ortega and and his wife, vice-president Rosario Murillo, regarded as running the Western Hemispheres most oppressive dictatorship, granted Martinelli asylum on Feb 7. Martinelli, a Left-wing billionaire businessman, was originally sentenced in July last year over his purchase of the Editora Panama America media group. He was also fined 15 million and barred from public office, ruling him out of Mays presidential elections. Polls show he has the support of about 40 per cent of the electorate, making him the clear frontrunner in a crowded field. Ricardo Martinelli checks out his sparse accommodation at the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City - MAURICIO VALENZUELA/AFP/Getty/ MAURICIO VALENZUELA/AFP/Getty He faces a second trial later this year for allegedly taking bribes from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company. Martinellis two sons were deported by the United States last year after serving 36-month sentences in the Odebrecht case. It is not the first time that the Ortega-Murillo regime has provided a bolthole for Latin American leaders facing legal problems, even giving them Nicaraguan nationality. Two former presidents of El Salvador, Maurico Funes and Salvador Sanchez Cerren, wanted in their homeland for stealing from public coffers, have successfully sought refuge in Nicaragua. So too have two associates of the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, now facing a drug-running trial in the US. In the 1980s, Mr Ortega once gave refuge to Pablo Escobar just as the Colombian was starting his rise to become the worlds most feared druglord. No one believes Martinells absurd rhetoric. He is trying to save his own skin and justify the unjustifiable, said Francisco Aguirre, a former Nicaraguan foreign minister, who was stripped of his citizenship last year and deported to the US after 18 months in jail for undermining national sovereignty. The dictatorship giving him asylum does not surprise me. Birds of a feather flock together, and they have done this before with other corrupt and authoritarian leaders, he added. 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. Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's former president, was imprisoned for six years in 2021 on abuse of power charges - IRAKLI GEDENIDZE/REUTERS Vladimir Putin will strike Moldova and the Baltic States if he is given Ukrainian land in exchange for peace, Georgias imprisoned former president has warned. Mikheil Saakashvili, who led Georgia when it was invaded by Russia in 2008, told The Telegraph that the Russian president will not cease his expansionist ambitions if peace in Ukraine is bought with territorial concessions. If Russia manages to freeze its control over part of Ukraine, of course the war will spread to other parts of Ukraine, Moldova and Baltic countries shortly after this temporary freeze, he wrote in a letter smuggled out of the prison hospital where he is being held in Tbilisi, Georgias capital. Thats why such a deal would never be viable. Putin is widely expected to demand Ukraine relinquish Crimea as well as the four occupied provinces he annexed to Russia in 2022 Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk as the minimum price of peace. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 - VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that he will not give up any of its internationally recognised territory to end a war that was started by Russia, despite growing uncertainty in the United States and the European Union about how long they can continue to fund Ukraines defence. Zelenskys peace plan is a rock-solid basis for any negotiated settlement, Mr Saakashvili said. Without respect for Ukraines sovereign and territorial integrity there can be no real peace but only further escalation of the conflict. Mr Saakashvili has lost half his body weight in prison since he was imprisoned for six years in 2021 on abuse of power charges, which his supporters say is a political punishment brought by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is widely seen as pro-Russian. During two terms as a pro-Western president of the ex-Soviet republic from 2004 to 2013, he introduced wide-ranging reforms and accelerated Georgias progress towards membership of Nato and the European Union. In 2008, Putin invaded Georgia in support of Kremlin-backed separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two provinces that have been under Russian control ever since but remain internationally recognised as rightfully Georgian. The war ended after five days with a France-brokered ceasefire which stopped Russias tanks 20 miles from Tbilisi and left 20 per cent of Georgias land occupied. Mr Saakashvili believes that the Wests failure to punish Putin for the invasion emboldened him to seize Crimea in 2014 and invade Ukraine in 2022, and convinced the Russian dictator that the West is weak, impatient and can always be outlasted. In 2008, our partners limited their reaction to denouncing the Russian actions, but soon the worlds attention was diverted by the world economic crisis, he said. Thats the lesson Putin learned that if the world is in turmoil, the attention of democratic countries becomes diluted and their reactions weaken. He added: The very last words Putin told me during our last meeting were: Your Western friends promise you lots of nice things but they never deliver. I dont promise you anything nice but I always deliver. Putin sees all these conflicts as episodes of his main conflict with the United States, the Anglo-Saxon world, and Western democracy in general, and he is convinced that he can outlast and outsmart the Westerners. Can Zelensky trust him? Absolutely not. Nobody can. Mr Saakashvili says Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted - MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS That perceived weakness is also why, in Mr Saakashvilis view, the West must back Ukraine to the hilt now to avoid an even costlier war with Nato in the future, which the alliances military chiefs have predicted with increasing regularity in recent months. I also find the new narrative in Europe that they should prepare for Russian attacks in three or five years very dangerous, he said. That narrative assumes a Russian victory in Ukraine and further strengthening of Russian forces that will also integrate fighters from conquered Ukraine. I dont think that the West can withstand an attack by this strengthened Russian army, so the only chance to defend itself is to make Ukrainian victory possible now. After being voted out of office in 2012, Mr Saakashvili became a Ukrainian citizen, advised then-president Petro Poroshenko and was appointed governor of the southern port city of Odesa. He is a firm ally of Mr Zelensky, who restored his citizenship in 2019 after it was stripped by Mr Poroshenko two years earlier, and holds that the West has been too slow to give Ukraine the modern weaponry which he says would have secured significant advances if deployed earlier in the war. Ukrainians could have done it already if it was not for persistent Western hesitation at the initial stage, Mr Saakashvili said when asked if Ukraine has a realistic chance of pushing Russia completely out of the five occupied provinces. Ukraine is perfectly capable of regaining control of its entire territory, but the battlefield status quo can only be tilted in Ukraines favour if twice as much financial and diplomatic effort is applied. Ukrainians have demonstrated miracles of resilience and they should be rewarded, not discouraged by permanent hesitation and talk of the Ukraine fatigue. Mr Saakashvili says modern weaponry sent to Ukraine would have secured significant advances if deployed earlier in the war - Andrii Marienko/AP Mr Saakashvili was arrested in 2021 when he returned to Georgia to lead anti-government protests. He is being treated at a hospital in Tbilisi and only eats meals brought to him by his mother after an alleged heavy metals poisoning attempt by Russian agents later that year. Georgian authorities insist he is receiving adequate medical care and that he has lost weight because of a 50-day hunger strike. But Amnesty International and the Council for Europe human rights watchdog both agree with the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party that he is a political prisoner. Mr Saakashvili alleges that his imprisonment is the personal decision of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream who returned to front-line politics as the partys honorary chairman in December. The UNM says Mr Ivanishvili, who is the countrys richest man, has personally directed Georgias pivot towards the Kremlin over the past 12 years. As I am a symbol of successful systemic reforms in our region, he keeps me in jail, despite numerous international calls to liberate me and polls showing a majority of Georgians supporting my release, Mr Saakashvili said. But his imprisonment will not stop him from banging the drum in demanding the West steps up its support of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other eastern European countries by accelerating their progress towards EU and Nato membership, sanctioning more Russian oligarchs and redoubling support for Ukraines defence. It is very important not to divert the Wests attention as the main battlefield is Ukraine, and the fate of the free world is being decided there, he said. Only a position of strength yields results and any weakness only emboldens the predator. Putin will never stop until he is stopped. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The world is 'far off' from peak oil amid strong demand, OPEC chief says The world is "far off" from peak oil consumption amid strong demand, OPEC's secretary general said, per Bloomberg. Countries like China and India are driving that demand, with the latter showing "phenomenal economic growth," he said. While OPEC has stuck to their production cuts, strong output from non-OPEC nations has continued to push oil demand higher. Peak oil consumption won't be a conversation we'll have for a long time, according to OPEC's Secretary General. At the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday, Haitham Al Ghais told a panel that oil demand is quite strong, pushing off talk of a peak, Bloomberg reported. "I think talking about peak oil demand is probably something way far out," he said. For Al Ghais, the robust oil demand is expected to come from the East, with India generating "phenomenal economic growth" and China demand staying strong. The International Energy Agency has forecasted that India will be the main driver of global oil demand growth for the next seven years, accounting for a third or about 1.2 million barrels a day of the projected increase in global oil consumption. Oil demand has rebounded from pandemic lows amid a resurgence in transport fuels too. Amid all the strong oil demand, OPEC has stuck with their oil production cuts but it hasn't tipped markets into an under-supply because of boom-time US oil production and non-OPEC nations that have filled the vacuum of supply to meet oil demand. "We're seeing good production coming out of Guyana, out of Brazil, Canada," Al Ghais said. The stunning output from non-OPEC countries has actually caused markets to become over-supplied, weighing on global oil prices that OPEC was determined to lift by engineering a supply crunch. JPMorgan's top energy strategist recently echoed Al Ghais' view, saying we won't see peak oil demand in our lifetime. But not everyone agrees. Organizations like the International Energy Agency have said peak oil demand come come in the next several years. Story continues Brent crude prices are at $82.44 a barrel, far off highs of $97 a barrel in September last year. While the glut of supply has flooded the market in the past year, Occidental's CEO Vicki Hollub recently said the oil market will face a shortage by the end of 2025 as demand outmatches output. Read the original article on Business Insider Kaja Kallas, Estonia's prime minister, during an interview in her office in Tallinn, Estonia, on Jan. 16, 2024. Credit - Peter KollanyiBloomberg/Getty Images Estonias Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was declared a wanted person by Russias interior ministry on Tuesday. The ministry listed Kallas on a database as wanted under the criminal code, marking the first time Russia has brought a criminal case against the head of a foreign government. The 46-year-old appears alongside Estonias State Secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanias Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, whose charges were not outlined in the database. The move appears to reflect Moscows increasing attempt to pressure NATO allies. Though the three Baltic politicians would face arrest if they crossed into Russia, in practical terms contact has frozen since Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, said that Kallas is a wanted person on the grounds of desecration of historical memory, according to Reuters. He told reporters, These are the people who take hostile actions against historical memory and our country. In 2022, Kallas called for the dismantling of 200 to 400 Soviet-era monuments in Estonia to prevent them from mobilising more hostility in society and tearing open old wounds, the government said at the time. Estonia, alongside the Baltic nations of Latvia and Lithuania, were the last to join the Soviet Union and the first to gain independence in 1991 following its collapse. The three nations are also NATO and E.U. members. Read More: Kaja Kallas is on the TIME100 Next 2022 List The head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, launched a criminal investigation into these efforts to dismantle the monuments. Kallas, who trained as a lawyer, joined the liberal Estonian Reform Party in 2011 as a Member of Parliament before becoming leader of the party in 2018. She became Prime Minister at the start of 2021, following the resignation of the Centre Partys Juri Ratas. Kallas has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since the war began. We believe in Ukraine, which is a country with liberal democracy and a free-market economy and which will become a member of the European Union and NATO, Kallas said last month at a meeting with Zelensky. The stronger Ukraine is, the faster the breaking point arrives for Russia, she added. Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com. Semafor Signals The News Russian forces have started deploying Starlink satellite technology in occupied Ukraine, the countrys military intelligence agency said, potentially eroding a significant technological advantage for Ukrainian forces as the war enters its third year. Ukraine credits SpaceXs Starlink as essential for soldiers to share information on the frontlines, coordinate drone strikes, and for intelligence gathering, as the satellite internet system is faster and harder to intercept than traditional radio or cell communications. There have been recorded cases of the use of these devices by the Russian occupiers. This is starting to take on a systemic nature, RBC-Ukraine quoted a military spokesperson as saying. One person working in Ukrainian defense technology, who declined to be named out of security concerns, told Semafor that: Our guys see them all over the front line. SpaceX owner Elon Musk said on X that it was categorically false that the company was selling Starlink terminals to Russia, and that to the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Russian Starlink access may limit one of Ukraines key advantages Sources: The Economist, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Ukrinform If Russian troops have widespread access to Starlink, it would curtail one of Ukraines chief battlefield advantages, The Wall Street Journal reported. Once Starlink arrived in Ukraine in 2022, it quickly became central to the countrys military and government communications, with one Ukrainian soldier telling The Economist last year that Starlink is our oxygen. While the U.S. State Department declined to comment on the specifics of the reports, a spokesperson said that Starlink has been a vital tool for the Ukrainians to communicate with each other, and particularly for the military to communicate in their effort to defend all of Ukraines territory. Even so, Russia, which has denied purchasing Starlink terminals officially, is unlikely to come close to matching Kyivs Starlink network, which is composed of more than 30,000 terminals, the Ukrainian newsagency Ukrinform reported. Russian websites and bloggers flaunt mysteriously acquired Starlink Sources: Telegram, Defense One, Kyiv Post, The Guardian A Ukrainian spokesperson told Reuters that Russian forces are purchasing the Starlink terminals illicitly via third-party countries, while Ukrainian media has reported that Russia has imported Starlink terminals via Dubai, and The Guardian said that Moscows troops may have pilfered terminals from Ukrainian positions that have since come under Russian occupation. Meanwhile, Russian web stores including Forgun.ru, iMiele.ru, and DJIRussia advertise Starlink terminals for sale. However they were acquired, Russian Telegram channels have flaunted the use of the satellite system: one Russian military volunteer group based in the occupied Donbas region posted a video of several Starlink terminals, while a popular military drone channel posted a photo of fresh Russian Starlinks. Opinions divided on whether SpaceX can stop Russian access Sources: Oleg Kutkov, Yulia Latynina, Reuters Work is being conducted to stop Russias use of the terminals on the front line, a Ukrainian military official told Reuters, while Ukrainians have called for SpaceX to move swiftly to block Starlink terminals in Russian hands from the network. But Oleg Kutkov, a volunteer Starlink technician based in Kyiv, told Semafor that: I dont think its possible to do anything unfortunately, because it is not possible to distinguish Ukrainian and Russian Starlinks. Most Ukrainian Starlinks are purchased and run by Ukrainian volunteers, so it would not be easy to identify which terminals are being operated by which side, Kutkov said. This problem is compounded by the fact that Russian and Ukrainian troops may be deploying Starlinks within a few kilometers of each other, he added. Not everyone agrees that Russian Starlink use would be challenging to block. Yulia Latynina, a prominent independent Russian journalist, wrote on X that it is not hard to write a program that will determine whether a Starlink is legitimate or came from Dubai. [Source] World-renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa, who served as a director in the Boston Symphonic Orchestra (BSO) for 29 years, has died at 88. What happened: Ozawa died from heart failure in his home in Tokyo on Feb. 6. A private funeral was already held for Ozawa, but his family is considering holding a farewell party for him at a later date, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK. Tributes and condolences: The BSO paid tribute to Ozawa after its concert on Friday at the Symphony Hall. Speaking in front of the audience, BSO President and CEO Chad Smith said in part, Seiji will be deeply missed and theres a particular sadness in the finality that he will never walk this stage again. But at his core, Seiji was a teacher and the lessons he taught live on in the players on this stage. Trending on NextShark: Young Chinese women are resorting to AI boyfriends for better communication All of us at the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy will continue to inherit the spirit that Seiji Ozawa dedicated to music and strive to create music that lives up to his name, the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy, which Ozawa co-founded with the late businessman Kenichiro Sato to nurture future musicians, wrote in a statement on Saturday. His early career: Born in Manchuria, China while it was still under Japanese occupation on Sept. 1, 1935, Ozawa and his family returned to Japan in 1944 and later studied under Japanese cellist and conductor Hideo Saito. Trending on NextShark: Viral video of daughter slapped by her father after return home from Tet sparks debate Ozawa attended Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, after moving to the United States in 1960. Leonard Bernstein appointed him as assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic in 1961 and later worked as a director of the San Francisco Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Longest-tenured director: Ozawa was tapped to lead the BSO as its music director from 1973 to 2002, making him the longest-tenured director in the orchestras history, surpassing Serge Koussevitzkys 25-year tenure. Trending on NextShark: Fewer Japanese women are giving obligatory chocolates to male colleagues on Valentine's His notable works: The late Japanese conductor earned two Emmy awards for his TV work with the BSO, notably for the PBS series Evening at Symphony, in 1976 and another in 1994 for Dvorak in Prague: A Celebration. He conducted the Saito Kinen Orchestra while it performed Beethovens Egmont Overture live for astronaut Koichi Wakata, who was aboard the International Space Station, on Dec. 1, 2022. The performance was part of the One Earth Mission Unite With Music with the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency. Trending on NextShark: Viola Davis shows love for lively atmosphere of Filipino classroom with singing student Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, center, speaks during a news conference on border security and funding on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10, 2024, as Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., right, and Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., left, listen in Washington. | Mariam Zuhaib, Associated Press Utah Sen. Mike Lee took to the Senate floor over the weekend and spoke for nearly four hours almost as long as the Super Bowl. Lee was arguing against a $95 billion supplementary aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which a handful of Republicans joined Democrats in negotiating. But more conservative Republicans Lee and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made great efforts to delay the bill. We cannot send billions of dollars to Ukraine while Americas own borders are bleeding. This betrayal is all the more loathsome as it occurs at a time when the eyes of a nation are turned to sport, family and fun, Lee said at the beginning of his filibuster, which started at 11 a.m. MST Saturday. Related During his filibuster, Lees X (formerly Twitter) account posted, Senator Lee has now been speaking on the Senate floor for 3 hours denouncing Ukraine funding without real border security. He finished talking a little before 3 p.m. MST. Lawmakers move to close debate amid filibuster Toward the end, he hammered on the need for a more open amendment process. The six amendments proposed by Lee to close the loopholes in our asylum laws and to require proof of citizenship to vote and other Republicans failed to pass, with every Democrat and a handful of GOP senators voting against them. Its not extremist for the American people to ask that noncitizens be prohibited from voting in their elections, the Utah senator said. On Sunday, he called on Republicans to vote no on a motion to achieve cloture, which allows the Senate to end the filibuster through a two-thirds majority. What that means is that weve now been shut out of the fair and open amendment process that was promised, Lee said in a post on X. This closes debate and virtually assures passage in the Senate. Only the House can stop this now, he said in another post. The same day, the upper chamber voted to move the package forward. But it didnt deter Lee or Paul from repeatedly speaking against the aid package on the Senate floor. Open the champagne, pop the cork! The Senate Democrat leader and the Republican leader are on their way to Kyiv! said Paul on Monday. Theyre taking your money to Kyiv! They didnt have much time really no time and no money to do anything about our border. Related Whats next for the federal aid package? However, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in his remarks on the floor Monday afternoon, theres strong support behind this bill. By now, we have taken numerous procedural votes that prove beyond doubt that theres strong support behind this bill, Schumer said. Its time to finish the job and get this critical bill passed. The Senate package includes roughly $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, $9.5 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine, and $4.8 for the Indo-Pacific, as CNN reported. It was negotiated after Senate Republicans backed away from supporting the bipartisan foreign aid bill, which tied foreign aid to border security and immigration reform. According to Punchbowl reporter Andrew Desiderio, senators are expected to cast their final vote overnight or early morning Tuesday. But opposing Republicans plan to filibuster until no more senators come to the floor, Paul said in a post. Wish us stamina. What did Sen. Mike Lee say on X Spaces with Elon Musk? On Monday, Lee said he would engage in an online conversation with Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, X owner Elon Musk, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and entrepreneur David Sacks on X Spaces at 4 p.m. MST. The online event kicked off nearly 15 minutes late. The truth is, this thing still has about $8 billion going directly to the government of Ukraine, Lee said during the conversation, which drew 140,000 listeners. These are not choirboys, these are not Boy Scouts, these are not Girl Scouts. These are people who have really set world records for corruption. During the online event, Lee posted an appeal on X to Republicans, asking them to vote against the package and against more border chaos. Musk chimed in, saying, We want to do the right thing, we want to help people, but prolonging the war will only lead to the deaths of young soldiers. He urged those tuned in to have some sympathy. Parts of northern Delaware received more than 2 inches of snow Tuesday. The heaviest snow remained northeast of Philadelphia, though. How much snow fell in Delaware? According to the Delaware Environmental Observing System, Greenville received the most snow in the First State, hitting 2.2 inches. Hockessin had 2 inches, and White Clay Creek had 1.5 inches. Talley got 0.8 inches of snow. Prices Corner had 0.7 inches, and Claymont had 0.5 inches of snow. Newark, New Castle and Glasgow reported a trace. Areas south of Newark did not report any accumulation of snow. Much of the Northeast is under a winter weather advisory as a storm could bring as much as 8 inches of snow to parts north of Philadelphia. How long will the snow be around? With temperatures rising into the 40s on Tuesday afternoon, most of the snow melted. Wilmington will see temperatures in the low to mid-40s through the weekend with a chance of rain Saturday. Delaware facing coastal flooding threat The coastal line of Delaware is under a coastal flood threat until Wednesday morning. The coastline in Sussex County is under a coastal flood warning for Tuesday's high tides. The coastal areas in New Castle and Kent counties are under a coastal flood advisory for high tides Tuesday. How to drive in the snow Winter driving tips For those having to drive through this storm, here are some tips from AAA. Don't drive. If winter weather is hitting, only drive if you have to. Reduce speed. Ice and snow decrease your traction with the road so slow down. Increase following distances. Instead of the traditional two seconds, increase it to five to six seconds. Remember, it takes longer to stop on snowy roads. Don't use cruise control. Keep half a tank of gas in your car. Have an emergency kit with cold-weather gear, blankets, extra food and water, a flashlight and a glass scraper. Keep your phone charged in case of an emergency. What you need to know about snow: How long do you have to shovel the sidewalk? Here are answers to Delaware snow questions How to cope with winter weather: How to deal with snow, cold temperatures This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: DE weather: How many inches of snow did we get? Evelyn Brandt Thomas, one of the founders of the worldwide agri-business Brandt Consolidated, Inc. headquartered in Springfield, was named a 2024 recipient of the Order of Lincoln, the states highest civilian honor for professional achievement and public service. The Lincoln Laureates, which include Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome and bluegrass music legend Alison Krauss, were named by the governor's office late Monday. There will be a convocation and investiture ceremony at the Chicago History Museum on April 13. Evelyn Brandt Thomas of Springfield was named a 2024 Lincoln Laureate by the governor's office. Read more: Playwright hopes original work about 1908 race riot can jumpstart conversations Brandt Thomas, who turned 100 last summer, still goes into the West Koke Mill Road office every day. She is involved with Brandt's charitable and philanthropic work. Brandt Thomas was the 2022 State Journal-Register First Citizen. In August, the Evelyn Brandt Thomas Innovation Center was dedicated at Brandt's facility in Pleasant Plains. The site has a 300-acre research farm and test plots and is close to Salisbury Township, where she was born. Brandt Thomas and her brother, Glen, founded Brandt's 70 years ago. The company now has a footprint in 80 countries. Farm World called Brandt Thomas a pioneer who helped create an agricultural empire. Evelyn Brandt Thomas in the board room of Brandt Consolidated, Inc. in Springfield in 2022. Among the other Lincoln Laureates is former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice and Aurora native Rita B. Garman. In a press release, Gov. JB Pritzker said the Lincoln Laureates "embody the spirit of our state. I am honored to recognize them for their service and dedication to Illinois. Thome, a Peoria native, clubbed 612 home runs in 22 seasons for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles. He was a five-time All-Star. Born in Decatur and raised in Champaign, Krauss has won 27 Grammy Awards in her career. She has sold more than 12 million records to date and has made 14 albums, including two collaborations with Robert Plant, with whom she is touring later this year. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 100-year-old Springfield woman named Lincoln Laureate with Jim Thome The next run of recalls rippling from the finding of listeria at a California food plant includes bagged salads and chicken street taco kits sold at some of the nations largest grocery retailers, including the Albertsons chains, Costco and Walmart. Walmarts Marketside brand of bagged salads makes the most appearances in this run of recalls related to a listeria outbreak at Modestos Rizo-Lopez Foods that the CDC credits with killing two people and hospitalizing 23 over nine years. Whats recalled from where? Walmart: Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad kits sold at stores in Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming with a best by date on or before Feb. 21, 2024. Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kits sold at stores in California and Nevada with a best by date of Jan. 20 through Feb. 19. Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kit Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Kit sold at stores at California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming with best by dates from Feb. 3 through Feb. 19. Marketside Bacon Ranch Crunch Chopped Salad Kit, lot codes from B020 to B036 with best by dates from Feb. 5 to Feb. 21. Marketside Southwest Chopped Kit sold at stores California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming with best by dates from Dec. 27 to Jan. 14. Marketside Southwest Salad Chopped Salad Kit Costco: The Southwest Wrap from all stores between Oct. 27, 2023, and Feb. 6, 2024; Chicken Street Taco Kits with best by dates from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6; Maverick Foods Chipotle Chicken and Rice Bowl at Tennessee stores with best by dates from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8; and The Perfect Bites Mexican Style Street Corn Bite, lot No. 223231, best by Feb. 21, 2025, sold in stores in California and Hawaii. The Perfect Bite Co. Mexican Style Street Corn Bites sold at Costco. Dole: Chopped Kit Avocado Ranch, lot codes W019 to W036 and N019 to N036 best by Feb. 3 through Feb. 20; Chop Kit Avocado Ranch Chop Kit Ranch A LAvocat lot codes W022 to W036, best by Feb 6 through Feb. 20; Premium Kit Southwest Salad, lot codes W022 through W036 and N022 through N036, best by Feb. 4 through Feb. 18; Cajun Ranch Chopped Kit, lot codes W029 through W036, best by Feb. 11 through Feb. 18 and N022 through N036, best by Feb. 4 through Feb. 18; Premium Kit Endless Summer, lot codes W022 through W036, best by Feb. 4 through Feb. 18, and N023 through N036, best by Feb. 5 through Feb. 19; and Supreme Kit Southwest Salad, lot codes W020 through W036, best by dates from Feb. 3 through Feb. 18. Dole Avocado Ranch Chopped Salad Kit Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Tom Thumb, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Pavilions, Randalls, Shaws, Star Market, Lucky: Chicken Mini Street Taco Meal Kit, Chicken Asada Street Taco Meal, ReadyMeals Chicken Street Tacos, ReadyMeals Chicken Street Tacos Meal, ReadyMeals Asada Street Taco Meal with a best by date before Feb. 10 from stores in California, Texas, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming. Save Mart: Chicken Street Taco Kits at Save Mart, Lucky and Lucky California delis in California and Nevada. Stater Bros. Markets: Chicken Street Taco Kits with sell by dates on or before Feb. 10. Fresh & Ready Foods: Fresh & Ready Ham Torta Sandwich and Chicken Torta Sandwich; Sprig & Sprout Ham Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll; and Jack & Olive Ham Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll sold in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Sprouts Farmers Market: Chicken Street Taco Meal Kit sold in stores in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee with a best by date from Nov. 29 through March 4. Chicken Street Taco Kit by Fresh Creations sold at Sprouts. BrightFarms: Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit with a best by date from Dec. 31 through Feb. 22. Presidents Choice: Southwest Salad Kit, lot codes W034 through W036, best by Feb. 17 through Feb. 18, and B018 through B024, best by Feb. 3 through Feb. 9. Why is Rizo-Lopez Foods seen as the source of the problem? Of the 26 people sickened in the outbreak since 2014, two have died and 22 of the other 24 have been interviewed about what they ate before becoming ill. Queso fresco, cotija and cheeses in that family were eaten by 16 people, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three people remembered eating Don Francisco brand queso fresco or cotija. (Whole genome sequencing) showed that bacteria from sick peoples samples from 2014 to present are closely related genetically, the CDC said. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food. In January, Hawaiis health department found listeria in a sample of aged cotija cheese from Rizo-Lopez Foods. That prompted a recall of 344 cases of that cheese and brought the FDA to Rizos Modesto facility. When the FDA inspected there, the CDC said, testing turned up listeria on a container where cheeses are kept before they are packaged. Then Rizo made a a major recall of dairy products. READ MORE: Listeria outbreak recall: Cheese, yogurt, sour cream from Whole Foods, 12 other brands Rizo informed customers who used cheeses and cremas from them in various products, and that brought the ripple recalls late last week. READ MORE: Recalls from listeria outbreak now hit Costco, Trader Joes, H-E-B and Albertsons Rizo has temporarily stopped producing and distributing these products while their investigation is ongoing, the CDC said. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath was fatally shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call on the city's east side on Thursday, April 9, 2020. Wiping away tears with their voices cracking, a series of Indianapolis police officers Tuesday testified how they tried to save Officer Breann Leath after shed been shot and arrested the suspect at the scene. My job was to provide cover to other officers, said Officer Daniel Hiser. Shed been shot, she wasnt breathing and she wasnt moving, The testimony came on the second day of the murder trial of Elliahs Dorsey at the Marion County Community Justice Center, where officers described the frantic moments after Leath was fatally shot on April 9, 2020. Day 1 testimony: Officer Leath's partner recalls day she was killed Dorsey, 31, is charged with murder and the attempted murder of three other officers. He is also charged with the attempted murder and criminal confinement of his girlfriend, who called 911 from an apartment they shared at 1803 Edinburge Square on the city's east side. Dorsey's lawyers say he suffered paranoid delusions that someone was out to kill him. He has been declared mentally ill but can stand trial under Indiana law. Defense attorneys are seeking a verdict of not being responsible by reason of insanity. Prosecutors said Dorsey fired eight shots from a high-powered pistol through the apartment door about six seconds after police knocked on it with a flashlight. Two bullets struck Leath and she fell in the hallway. The other officers scrambled down the stairs of the 3-story building to call for backup. Within five minutes several officers arrived and they formed a straight line, led by Hiser, who had a rifle, to go back in the building, retrieve Leath and capture Dorsey. We still didnt know where the threat was so I was looking for open doors above us, said Sgt. Justin Gray, who was behind Hiser. Hiser turned into the open doorway of Apartment 10 and saw Dorsey kneeling on the floor of the front room. A gun was on the floor about six feet away. I didn't know it was a cop, Dorsey screamed, according to Hisers testimony. He begged police not to kill him but said he feared someone was coming to kill him, according to testimony and audio from the arrest. Hiser put Dorsey in handcuffs and placed him face down on the ground. Gray checked the rest of the apartment. I did a protective sweep to make sure there was no one else inside who could ambush us from another room, Gray said. Det. Garth Schwomeyer said Dorsey was agitated at the scene, "thrashing" around for 20 to 30 minutes until officers put ankle chains on him. He said police officers carried him out of the buildings so he did not disturb the rest of the crime scene. Outside the apartment officers and paramedics tried to revive Leath. I looked for secondary wounds, said Officer Charles Ward, wiping tears away. She had a gunshot wound to her head possibly two, She wasnt moving. Testimony will continue on Wednesday. Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418 or email him at john.tuohy@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Breann Leath shooting: Day 2 of trial of man accused of killing officer On the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) issued a fiery joint statement supporting Ukraine. The gruesome Russian war crimes and atrocities must end, they wrote in February last year. President Biden needs to stop dragging his feet on providing the lethal aid necessary to end this war. Continued half-measures by the Biden administration will only drive up the cost of this war in lives and dollars, the trio said. The statement was notable not only for its vehemence but also for who McCaul, Turner and Rogers are. They head the House committees on foreign affairs, the armed services and intelligence, respectively. Even as skepticism about helping Ukraine win the bloodiest European conflict since World War II grew within the GOP party, the trios stance made them some of Ukraines foremost allies in Congress and solidified their nickname among backers of the invaded nation: the three Mikes. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, second from right, flanked by, from left, Reps. Turner, Rogers and McCaul, speaks to reporters outside the White House on Jan. 17, following their meeting with President Joe Biden. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, second from right, flanked by, from left, Reps. Turner, Rogers and McCaul, speaks to reporters outside the White House on Jan. 17, following their meeting with President Joe Biden. However, as the second anniversary nears on Feb. 22, the situation looks almost completely different. All three backed a now-failed strategy to link Ukraine aid to border policy concessions from Democrats. While Ukraine backers believe they can still count on the powerful lawmakers, the ultimate test of their backbone and influence is coming fast. After tossing Ukraine aid overboard to win passage of a stopgap spending bill in September, Republicans plot to tie immigration and Ukraine aid together blew up after GOP senators balked at a carefully crafted bipartisan bill, seemingly following the orders of their Ukraine-skeptic presidential candidate, Donald Trump. Now, in what may be the last chance for Ukraine to receive the weaponry it said it needed back in September, its aid has been tied with aid for Israel and Taiwan in the Senate. While its likely the Senate will pass the package this week, its fate in the House is hazy, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), under pressure from hardliners in his conference and antipathy toward Ukraine among Republican voters in general, has said he thinks the countries should be looked at individually. And the three Mikes? Their profile for Ukraine has dipped. When Ukrainians gathered for a rally on Capitol Hill grounds late last month to mark the start of a week of lobbying, none of the three attended, leaving the only Republican lawmaker, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), to tell the assembled activists to prosecute their case with members. It fell to Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission human rights group, to represent Republicans at an early January screening on the Hill for philosopher Bernard-Henri Levys new documentary on Ukraine. One of the Mikes, Rogers, did join in a bipartisan set of pro-Ukraine floor speeches in December. With it looking more likely that aid for Ukraine and Israel will either be packaged together or not happen at all, its unclear how much, if any, the three Mikes will push for Ukraine. I dont see how the speaker puts that on the floor, Rogers said of the Ukraine-Israel combo last week, because it still doesnt deal with the number one issue in America, particularly what were hearing from our members, and thats the border. McCaul said Republicans were disappointed to not get border concessions, especially a reinstatement of a policy that allowed border detainees to be kept in Mexico while awaiting the outcomes of their cases. Mexico has said it would not have agreed to renew the policy if the U.S. wanted to reinstate it. I think we wanted it, he said, referring to tougher border security. But, obviously, the practical matter, though, is I dont think thats going to happen now. I think Ukraine gets tied with Israel and countering China. The third Mike, though, Turner, spent this past weekend in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as part of a bipartisan group of House lawmakers and came back warning his fellow Republicans that Ukrainians are already rationing ammo and unable to fully defend themselves. We have to get this done, he told Politico on Monday. This is no longer an issue of When do we support Ukraine? If we do not move, this will be abandoning Ukraine. So far, Ukraine advocates are inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the three Mikes, even as they see Republicans in general as the obstacle to getting the aid needed to preserve Ukraines freedom. They continue to support Ukraine and Im thankful for this, Oleksiy Goncharenko said in an email. Goncharenko is a member of the Ukrainian parliament representing the Odesa area who has met with several lawmakers in the U.S. and in Ukraine. But in general, there is huge disappointment in whats going on in the U.S. about support to Ukraine. [The] USA was so united when pressing Ukraine to give up its nuclear weaponry and now, when time came to keep promises to Ukraine which were given at that time we are hearing about [the] border and are used in the U.S. elections. If it will not be done, that will be the end of the U.S. as [a] reliable partner, the end of nuclear non-proliferation policy, the end of international law, and those who are doing this should be taken to political responsibility, Goncharenko added. Doug Klain, policy analyst with advocacy group Razom for Ukraine, said he thought the three Mikes were simply waiting for an opportune time to make an impact. We have not yet seen a reason to doubt them, Klain said. I dont think theyre turning their backs on Ukraine and think the focus should still be on the Freedom Caucus and those who have actually taken Ukraine hostage in Congress, but I do wish they would be more vocal in their support at this moment. Now, Congress may end up delinking Ukraine from border security, Klain added. Im in favor of whatever gets Ukraine the help it needs, but my god, how much time and lives have been lost while Congress has done what seems to be a completely meaningless exercise? Wilson, known for almost always wearing a Ukrainian flag pin or clothing accessory, said the three Mikes keep pressing, but quietly. A majority of Republicans, indeed, understand that Putin is a war criminal. But sadly, we have a faction of isolationists. I really dont understand, he told HuffPost. It has to be at the right time, right place. But they are in place. And we have a majority, a clear majority, support the people of Ukraine and oppose war criminal Putin. Related... Some of former President Donald Trump's closest Senate allies were out in force on Monday defending his comments over the weekend that even further call into question Trump's commitments to the United States' NATO allies. Multiple Republican senators backed Trump's remarks on Saturday that he'd "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO-aligned countries that don't meet their financial obligations to the alliance. Trump's remarks echo his long-standing criticism of the role the U.S. plays in providing security for other countries -- including major allies. The former president's comments also come as he attempts to squash a foreign aid bill in the Senate that would provide billions of dollars more in support to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. MORE: Trump says he'd 'encourage' Russia 'to do whatever the hell they want' if a NATO country didn't spend enough on defense Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a close Trump ally, said he's "100% behind him" in his push to get NATO countries to pay more money toward their self-defense. Asked how allied countries should feel about a potential invasion from Russia after Trump's remarks, Tuberville doubled down. PHOTO: Senator Tommy Tuberville questions General Charles Brown Jr. during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 11, 2023. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters, FILE) "I would be worried. I would be very worried. Especially if they don't have 2% of their GDP in defense. I mean you've got to be able to protect yourself -- we can't protect everybody," Tuberville said to ABC News. "It's their country, they've got to defend it. We would love to help, but if you're not going to defend your own country, why should our taxpayers defend it for them?" Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said allied nations that are concerned about Trump's comments need to "get over it." "They need to stand up and be tough. We need to secure our own border first. We need to take care of things here at home first. When we secure our own border and we take care of home, then great, let's help other people as well," Marshall said. Marshall said it was important not to "overreact" to Trump's comments. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined Marshall in saying Trump's remarks ought to be taken "seriously, but not literally." MORE: Senate Republicans object to foreign aid and border bill moving forward But Cornyn did add that he believes the United States should remain committed to the alliance. "The message should be that the United States will live up to its treaty obligations no matter who is president," Cornyn said. Some Senate Republicans had more aggressive rebukes for Trump. PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he holds a campaign rally at Coastal Carolina University ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary in Conway, S.C., Feb. 10, 2024. (Sam Wolfe/Reuters) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called it a "mistake" for Trump to so pointedly encourage Russia to have its way with other countries, even as he backed calls for NATO nations to meet their financial obligations. "So I think it was very important what Trump was saying that they need to pay their fair share and they need to pay their way," Paul said. "I think it was a mistake to say he would encourage Russia to attack them. I think that was a careless remark and shouldn't have been said." Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said on Sunday that Trump's comments were "uncalled for." While NATO allies need to uphold their end of the bargain, Murkowski said, there's no need to be suggesting that the United States might throw its NATO allies "to the Russian wolves." Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said on Sunday that he believes Trump often makes comments to "elicit media and applause and outrage" with "no intent" of action. But whatever his motives, casting doubt on the United States' obligation to its commitments could have a cost, said Romney -- an outspoken critic of Trump. "Even if he did it just to get a rise from the audience and the media and the world at large, it has dangerous implications because people in other nations read it with concern and make their calculations accordingly -- and that has an impact in our standing in the world," Romney said on Sunday. "We're going to lose friends if we go around saying that we're not going to protect them under the obligations we have under NATO." Trump allies back his NATO comments, but some Republicans say they were a 'mistake' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Yodel The struggling parcel courier Yodel has been saved from collapse in a last-minute rescue deal that will see it join forces with rival operator Shift. YDLGP, a new company formed by Shift executives and the merchant bank Solano Partners, stepped in to buy Yodel for an undisclosed sum in the early hours of Tuesday. The deal was struck in time to save Yodel from entering administration. It is expected to save thousands of jobs, with the Liverpool-based delivery company employing around 10,000 people nationwide. Under the shake-up, YDLGP has also agreed terms to buy Shift, a tech-focused logistics company founded by entrepreneur Jacob Corlett in 2017. Mr Corlett is the only director of YDLGP, according to filings on Companies House. The company was incorporated on February 10. In a statement, YDLGP and its backers said the tie-up would create a disruptive logistics powerhouse. Mr Corlett added: At the heart of this merger is Shifts revolutionary artificial intelligence-driven technology platform, promising a future where efficiency and automation become the backbone of logistics operations. Mike Hancox, chief executive of Yodel, said: Our customers have always been our priority and the transaction announced today allows us to ensure continuity for them, as well as our employees and wider stakeholders. Yodel had been controlled by the Barclay family, the owners of the Telegraph, since 2010. The couriers customers include John Lewis, Argos, Zara, AO World and Very Group, the online shopping company that is also owned by the Barclays. However, Yodel has struggled in the face of fierce competition. Britains parcel market is dominated by five carriers Royal Mail, Evri, Amazon Logistics, DHL and UPS. Together, they account for 71pc of the 14m parcels shipped in 2022, according to the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. Yodels reported market share is 6pc. It has also repeatedly fared badly in customer satisfaction polls. Yodel was named joint-worst courier company in the country last year, along with Evri, by Citizens Advice in its annual league table of couriers. A total 40pc of recipients reported problems with Yodel the highest of all. Story continues Reports emerged last week that Yodel was being put up for sale and risked collapsing into administration if a buyer was not found, in the latest sign of upheaval across the Barclay business empire. The Telegraph was put into receivership by Lloyds Banking Group last year following a dispute about overdue debts of 1.2bn which had been secured against the business. The Barclay family repaid the debt in full in December with new borrowing mostly sourced from the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf state aims to convert 600m of the lending into ownership of The Telegraph for RedBird IMI, a media fund in which it is the majority investor. The complex deal is currently under review by regulators as a potential threat to press freedom. The Barclay family is barred by law from exercising any control over The Telegraph, which remains profitable, while its ownership is in question. 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. Vermonters can vote early by requesting an early voter absentee ballot, otherwise called a mail-in ballot. Any registered voter may request an early voter absentee ballot via mail, phone, online or in-person no later than 5 p.m. (or whenever the town clerk's office closes) the day before the election. It's recommended that voters submit requests for these ballots at least a week before, so that it has time to reach the clerk once filled out. Family members and healthcare providers are also allowed to advocate for a voter to receive an absentee ballot. Absentee or early ballots are available no later than 45 days prior to the primary or general election and 20 days before a municipal election using a secret ballot. A sign at the entrances to the Shelburne Town Offices in Shelburne identifies a polling station on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Voters can request and track the status of an early voter absentee ballot online by logging into their My Voter Page. Ballots can be returned through the mail or in-person, unless delivered by justices of the peace on the day of the election, who will bring the ballot back with them. However, voters who acquired an early voter absentee ballot but have not yet returned it can still change their minds and vote in-person on Election Day. To do so, voters must return the early voter absentee ballot, its envelop and all other corresponding voting materials to the town clerk's office, where it will be placed with spoiled or unused ballots. For more information about absentee or early voting, visit the Absentee Voting FAQs page or Early & Absentee Voting page. Voters can also contact the Elections Division at sos.elections@vermont.gov or 800-439-VOTE. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: What to know about early voting in Vermont For the better part of a year when the phone rang at his home, legendary journalist Bob Woodward didn't know if the call was coming from one of his daughters, a robocall center or then-President Donald Trump. Woodward told a packed auditorium on Jupiter's Florida Atlantic University campus Friday that the former president would frequently call him starting in mid-2020. Trump would insist that he had just a few minutes to chat before meeting with his joint chiefs of staff and then launch into 25-minute soliloquies about whatever was on his mind. Why was the president calling one of the most legendary investigative journalists on the planet? Why would Trump pontificate to one half of the duo who broke the news of the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974? Woodward doesn't know. But his reporting partner and lifelong friend Carl Bernstein told the audience Friday that he believed Trump did so because he thought he could win Woodward over. "Trump always thinks he can outsmart the next guy. Doesn't matter who the hell it is," Bernstein said. Woodward and Bernstein: Watergate does not offer a roadmap, guidance for dealing with Trump Woodward and Bernstein spoke in a lecture billed as "From Watergate to Today: Journalism, Accountability, and the Current Challenges to American Democracy" at FAU as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's lecture series. The pair answered questions posed by Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg about the details of the Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation, which took place 50 years ago this August. The story's start was unassuming. Woodward was just 29 years old and had been at The Washington Post for less than a year when he was assigned to cover the burglary at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Bernstein, whose career goal was to be a music critic and who was 28 at the time, partnered with Woodward on the story. The two broke the news that one of the five men arrested in the attempt to bug the DNC headquarters was a salaried security coordinator for Nixons re-election committee. Their work led to the indictments of 40 government officials and Nixon's resignation. On stage on Friday, Woodward and Bernstein also swapped stories about the longtime publisher at The Washington Post, Katharine Graham, and shared their views on the state of local journalism today. Pretty packed house so far! Discussion starts shortly and I probably wont live tweet but Ill be back with takeaways later for @pbpost ! pic.twitter.com/kxuidMIyzY Kati Kokal (@katikokal) February 9, 2024 Woodward and Bernstein recall publisher Graham's fearlessness Celebrated in Woodward and Bernstein's memories from the Watergate period were the paper's executive editor Ben Bradlee and Graham, who was the publisher of The Post for nearly 30 years. Both said local newspapers need more editors like Bradlee to allow reporters ample time to report a story and more publishers like Graham, who defended them each step of the way. Bernstein became emotional as he recounted a situation in which a legal courier arrived at The Post building with a subpoena for his reporting notes in the early 1970s. Nixon's re-election campaign had filed a lawsuit aiming to identify some of the pair's sources, and Bernstein told building security not to let the legal courier get in the door until he spoke with his editors. Reporters Bob Woodward, right, and Carl Bernstein, whose reporting of the Watergate case won a Pulitzer Prize, sit in the newsroom of The Washington Post in 1973. Bradlee sailed away to Graham's office to notify her of the situation. When he came back, Bradlee told Bernstein "Katharine says, 'They're not your notes. They're her notes.' If anyone is going to jail, it's going to be her." Graham, who died in 2001, was known as a forceful and pioneering woman in journalism who defied the U.S. government to publish the Pentagon Papers and the work Woodward and Bernstein did on the Watergate scandal. On Friday, the pair imagined the scenario of Graham making good on her promise to take the fall if any of her reporters were arrested chuckling at the idea of her arriving to jail via a personal car and dressed in her best. Local journalism 'holds communities together' Both Woodward and Bernstein lamented the purchasing of newspapers by large companies owned by hedge funds and the loss of local journalism jobs across the country. Their visit came on the heels of a particularly brutal year for journalism: The news industry shed 3,087 digital, broadcast and print news jobs in 2023, according to Politico, and 500 more journalists lost their jobs last month. "It's a terrible loss, because local journalism holds communities together," Bernstein said. "And we've lost that." Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today! This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Watergate journalists Woodward, Bernstein on Trump at FAU lecture The world is likely facing a more dangerous decade as military spending rises and tensions soar across the globe, according to a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Researchers said the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza indicate military powers could evoke a might is right approach to pursue claims, which will lead to increased defense ties from democracies. Moscows military actions have amplified concerns in other parts of the world, particularly the Indo-Pacific, that a militarily powerful neighbor may try to exert its will over others, they wrote. The increased concern comes at a time when governments are trying to balance appetite for advanced weapons with the need to rebuild industrial-scale ammunition production capacity, they said. And it comes amid the collapse of major accords such as the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, which limited conventional military equipment in Europe. Russia withdrew from the treaty last year, prompting the western security alliance NATO to suspend participation. IISS researchers said democratic governments are working quickly to adapt to a changing security environment. National security is no longer an afterthought and looming challenges require serious attention, they said. The report, called The Military Balance 2024, is part of an annual IISS assessment of security threats and military action and buildup across the globe. This years assessment calls attention to not just Russias invasion of Ukraine and Israels war on Palestinian militant group Hamas, but also Chinas threats against Taiwan and in the South China Sea against the Philippines. China is becoming more assertive, not just in its immediate vicinity, they said. The country flew a high-altitude surveillance balloon over the US and deployed ships near American shores, while its maritime assets had tense encounters with Canadian and Philippine vessels. The report also identified concerns with North Korean aggression against South Korea, as well as military coups in Africa. It noted the less secure environment is leading to a major reassessment of defense equipment priorities, such as increased investment in artillery or advanced weaponry like drones. Researchers also found that defense spending was up last year, rising 9 percent across the globe to $2.2 trillion. That boost was largely triggered by NATO, which increased spending by 32 percent last year, with 10 European nations reaching the 2 percent of economic output goal for the alliance. About 70 percent of global military spending is from NATO, China, Russia and India, according to the report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. For the second time in a month, the Mississippi University for Women is trying on a new name. Wynbridge State University of Mississippi is now the name of choice for the university which has struggled with its identity in recent years. "We have been challenged by a name that does not represent our diversity," said President Nora Miller during a ceremony to unveil the W's new name. "The 'for Women' creates confusion and is a barrier to education for men and women. Now our graduates, past, present and future will remain united." It's still 'The W': Mississippi University for Women new name poll The W has a new name: Wynbridge State University of Mississippi. The name was unveiled during a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at the university in Columbus, Miss. Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin praised the new name even though he realizes not everyone will like it. He encouraged others to get behind the name to move the university forward. "Regardless of the name, it will still be the W," he said. Gaskin said the university is a big economic driver for the city and the state and deserves to have a name to be proud of. Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin praised the Mississippi University for Women's chosen new name: Wynbridge State University of Mississippi, during a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at the university in Columbus. As Gaskin predicted, not everyone was happy with the new name. Zadaija Stasher, a senior public health education major, said she felt university officials already had their minds made up. "I don't like it," she said. "I don't think they took our suggestions into consideration." Jarius Ware, a junior nursing major, said it wasn't the best name, but it was one he could live with. "I like it," he said. "It's an upgrade from 'for Women' but I would have liked something different," he said. The W has a new name: Wynbridge State University of Mississippi. The name was unveiled during a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at the university in Columbus, Miss. Others thought the new name was a better representation of the university. Susan Sobley has worked at the university for more than 25 years. She is the director of accounting at The W. She said she liked the Brightwell name, but she is happy with Wynbridge, too. "I do like the bridge the path to the future," she said. Clay Blanton, a senior kinesiology and exercise sciences major, said Wynbridge is a much better name for student-athletes since the male students get ribbed for going to school at a university "for women." "I think it's a lot better than what we previously had," he said. "I didn't mind the previous name, but this is better from an athletic standpoint." In January, the university changed its name to Mississippi Brightwell University, which was met with complaints and pushback, which forced university officials to quickly reconsider. After the Brightwell name was announced Jan. 8, "it quickly became clear that it was a misstep to depart from The W identity," according to the naming-process timeline. "Overall, the feedback from our alumni stakeholders was negative, including from those who supported a name change." Returning to the company it hired to help with the process and asking for input from alumni, students, faculty and other stakeholders, the university received over 300 suggested names. Mississippi University for Women President Nora Miller announces the university's new name: Wynbridge State University of Mississippi, during a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at the university in Columbus. The company, Chernoff Newman, was asked to suggest W names for the Naming Task Force to review. After reviewing the suggestions, three names were presented for consideration: Wynbridge: The first part of Wynbridge comes from the Old English word for the letter W. Wyn was paired with bridge, which "connects the past to the future, our alums to our students, and our campus to our community." Welbright: The first part of Welbright comes from the idea of wellness, "which represents our supportive environment that promotes the well-roundedness of our students." Wynbright: The first part of Wynbright comes from the Old English word for the letter W. "Traditionally each graduation ceremony begins with a reminder of the historic purpose of the University, to 'study for light to bless with light.'" In September 2023, Chernoff Newman submitted seven name proposals and determined the university should disassociate itself from "The W" since "The W would always stand for Women." The field was narrowed to three names, including Mississippi Brightwell University. Mississippi University for Women was chartered in 1884, when it became the first state-supported college for women in the United States, according to the university's website. The charter process took more than 20 years before the university became a reality. The university began admitting men in 1982, but for more than 40 years had kept the MUW name even though it was a coeducational institution. In 2022, the university's academic deans wrote a letter to Miller asking for a name change to better reflect the student body as a whole. "MUW faces serious challenges in declining enrollment, a decreasing pool of traditional-age students from which to recruit, and especially, a significant decline in interest in womens colleges among all students," was one of the arguments the deans presented in the letter, according to the university's name-change summary report. The team tasked with the renaming of MUW chose to partner with Chernoff Newman, a fully integrated communications agency with an extensive background in higher education, according to the summary report. "Their relevant experience in this particular space includes research, branding, messaging, and public affairs," the report said. "Additionally, David Campbell, COO and Vice-Chairman of Chernoff Newman, is originally from Columbus, MS, and had connections to campus, including seven close relatives that were graduates of The W." Chernoff Newman's contract with the university ended Jan. 30. On Feb. 8, The W announced a partnership with alumna Laura Prestwich for the next phase of the renaming process, but did not go into detail of the next steps. According to a news release, "Prestwich brings more than a decade of experience in brand development and naming strategy development." Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge. This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: The W renamed again, MUW drops 'for women' Scientists know that the Moon is shrinking (albeit very slowly), and this lunar down-sizing could have a seismic impact on future Artemis Moon missions. A new study funded by NASA concludes that the lunar south pole is particularly rife with seismic activity, and contains trust faults caused by a shrinking Moon. This study, along with future research, will help NASA nail the best spot to set up shop on the lunar surface. Think youre safe from a natural disaster on the Moon? Well, think again. A new NASA-funded study published in The Planetary Science Journal late last month could shake up NASAs plans (as well as Chinas, Russias, and Indias) to explore the lunar south poleboth literally and figuratively. The study claims that the Moon is shrinking, and that this change in size is causing some intense rumbling beneath the Moons regolith. The lunar south pole regions are subjected to global stresses that result in contractional deformation and associated seismicity, the paper reads. The potential of strong seismic events from active thrust faults should be considered when preparing and locating permanent outposts and pose a possible hazard to future robotic and human exploration of the south polar region. The fact that the Moon is shrinking isnt newscientists have known about it since at least 2010. But as is often the case with geologic phenomena (on Earth or otherwise), the Moons thermal-induced downsizing has only shaved off some 150 feet over the last several hundred million years. NASA describes this Moon shrinking as a grape slowly transforming into a more diminutive raisin, but because the Moons crust (or skin, for this analogy) isnt as flexible as a grape, it tends to form cracks known as thrust faults, where one section of crust overlaps another. NASA astronauts set up seismometers on the lunar surface during the Apollo years, and from 1969 to 1977, these instruments recorded upwards of 28 shallow moonquakeseight of which could be attributed to these faults. Although none of these earthquakes cracked 5.0 on the Richter scale, moonquakes would feel worse due to lower lunar gravity. This new paper adds more details of the Moons seismic hellscape. For example, these moonquakes can last for hours, can cause landslides, and could be a big problem for anyone hoping to set up shop in the lunar south pole. The studys lead author Thomas R. Watters and his team used data collected from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiterlaunched back in 2009to more closely study (among other things) that original Apollo data. We knew from the Apollo seismic experiment that there were these shallow moonquakes, but we didnt really know what the source was, Watters told CNN . We also knew that the largest of the shallow moonquakes detected by the Apollo seismometers was located near the south pole. It kind of became a sort of a detective story to try to figure out what the source was, and it turns out that these young faults are the best suspect. Watters modeling suggests that the lunar south pole is susceptible to these quakes and landslides, and even includes a thrust fault in the Gerlache Rim 2, which is an Artemis III landing zone candidate. These geologic shake-ups even occur in permanently shadowed regions, which is particularly important, as its believed that these areas could contain water in the form of icean important resource for any future lunar settlement. Hey, no one said lunar life was going to be easy. You Might Also Like Charles Edward Adams, seated, listens during his arraignment hearing in Yakima County Superior Court Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Adams is charged with molesting and raping a student when he was teaching in the Grandview School District. Next to him is his attorney, Ulvar Klein. You are the owner of this article. Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Ready for Kindergarten, 10-11 a.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. The program is designed for children ages 1-5 and their caregivers. Stories, art, manipulatives and sensory stations will help build the skills needed for kindergarten. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Broad St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Utility and Infrastructure meeting, 4 p.m., Fremont Municipal Buildings second floor, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Fremont City Council meeting, 7 p.m., Fremont Municipal Buildings second floor, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Wednesday Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Aerie and Auxiliary meetings will begin at 7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Community Breastfeeding Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Three Rivers Health Department conference room, 2400 N. Lincoln Ave., Fremont. This support group is for mothers and their babies. Siblings are welcome. Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Thursday Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Kiwanis Club meeting, noon, Midland University Private Dining Rooms, Ninth and Pebble streets, Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Pitch will be played at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Keene Memorial Library Lego Club, 4-5 p.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. Lego bricks will be supplied.` Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave. Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479. Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland. Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. After a court ruling in Delaware last year highlighted a loophole in roughly a dozen states' laws that excluded Tesla and other direct-to-consumer auto sellers from the legal definition of car manufacturers, industry groups in Nebraska set out to update the Cornhusker State's law accordingly. Nebraska's New Car & Truck Dealers Association proposed a tweak to state law to Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, who introduced a bill last month that would add fewer than 15 words to the state's Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act. "The bill started off pretty simple," said Loy Todd, the association's lobbyist who drew Bosn's attention to the loophole. "Just updating the definition to make sure that if you manufacture motor vehicles, you're a manufacturer as simplistic as that may sound." So Bosn, who in January kicked off her first full year as a state senator after she was appointed to the Legislature in the middle of the 2023 legislative session last April, introduced LB891 which seemed to check all the boxes she was looking for in legislation she might take up this year. "That was pretty much the criteria of bringing bills to me was, Lets bring non-controversial, good policy that is not political," Bosn said. But when it came time for the bill's public hearing last month in the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, Tesla owners, an employee and the automotive company's lobbyist lined up against the measure, which, they said, would prevent Tesla from operating a service center in Nebraska. Nebraska law currently allows Tesla to operate a service center for providing service including warranty repairs in-state, rather than requiring technicians or customers to travel across state borders," Mary Vaggalis, the company's lobbyist, told the committee at the Jan. 23 hearing. Under this authority," she added, "Tesla has opened a service center in Lincoln." That was news to almost everyone, including Bosn, who learned of Tesla's new service center operating at the former Sears auto shop at Gateway Mall, and existing in a legal gray area in the days leading up to the hearing. There had been no grand opening event, nor news alerts. And the redevelopment plan for the former Sears space wasn't presented to the city's Urban Design Committee until early January. A staff report noted developers planned to convert the garage for "an American multi-national high-end green electric vehicle service facility." But the shop's service manager, Chad Hart, told the committee Tesla had opened shop in Lincoln on Dec. 18 or at least, he said, that's when Tesla "officially took possession of the building from the landlords." Suddenly, Bosn's attempt to clear up the definition of manufacturer in Nebraska's law governing car makers threatened to close a fledgling business and inconvenience, if not outrage, the roughly 3,200 Tesla owners in Nebraska. "Once they indicated they had that service center, we weren't interested in closing it down," said Todd, the car and truck dealers' lobbyist. "We basically, in this short (60-day legislative) session, just wanted to do what we could to fix up that definition. Because otherwise, any manufacturer who hasn't got franchised dealers can basically say, 'We're not a manufacturer, which makes lots of laws unenforceable.'" As written, the bill would redefine auto manufacturers to include car makers that sell their product directly to consumers, eliminating the prior definition's apparent dependence on a franchise dealership model which was at the heart of the Delaware case that prompted the change. Designating Tesla and other direct-to-consumer car sellers as manufacturers in state law would prohibit them from operating service centers due to provisions in the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act meant to protect traditional car dealers from having to compete directly with car makers. In effect, Bosn's bill would have barred Tesla from operating the service center it has opened in Nebraska which wasn't her intent, she said. Before the hearing on her bill took place in January, she worked with lobbyists for Tesla and the New Car & Truck Dealers Association to come up with an amendment to the bill to provide a carve-out for existing electric vehicle service centers. But committee members were skeptical of such a specific carve out and of the implication that a minor clarification to the state's law could have such drastic consequences for Tesla. "If (the bill) is essentially cleaning up the language that we have in statute, I guess my question is how did Tesla build a service center under the current law? Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh asked at January's hearing. Vaggalis, Tesla's lobbyist, told the committee that two tiny changes brought by Bosn's bill the addition of a comma and the word "includes" would bring Tesla under the definition that, the company believes, it was previously excluded from. Cavanaugh, still skeptical, pointed to her years of service on the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee and Tesla's prior attempts to strike parts of the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Act "so they didnt have to operate in the dealership model," she said. "So (Tesla) then created a service center, but now want to not be considered a dealership or a franchise?" Cavanaugh said. "But they are a manufacturer." Vaggalis maintained that Tesla doesn't believe it counts as a manufacturer under current law, which, she said, the company reexamined in the wake of the Delaware case. In the weeks since the hearing, Bosn and industry lobbyists from both sides have worked together to draft a compromise that will specifically let car makers provide warranty and repair services to their customers so long as they aren't opening sales floors or manufacturing plants in Nebraska, Bosn said. Will it strike the right balance to appease traditional car dealers, Tesla and the committee that must advance it to the floor of the Legislature? "Thats the goal, Bosn said last week, knocking on the wooden table in front of her. Ive talked with all the senators on the committee, answered their questions on it, and I think everybody feels as though now were at a place where that is the intention, the goal and whats accomplished. The committee hasn't yet advanced the bill an action that Bosn, who serves on the committee, said she'll only support if the amendment shielding service centers is adopted. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Fata antiunionista a PSD Am citit acceptarea obedienta si mizerabila a lui Marcel Ciolacu, prim ministru al Romaniei, a interdictiei aplicate unui cetatean roman, George Simion, de a intra in Republica Moldova. Domnia sa pretinde ca ar fi primit documentele administrative, care au caracter secret (!?) si ca doar statul care le-a emis le poate face publice. Este o decizie [citeste mai departe] VILLANOVA, Pa. (February 13, 2024)Villanova University has been named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for a 16th consecutive year, as recently announced by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The Fulbright Program is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange program and top-producing colleges and universities are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Villanova had 27 Fulbright recipients for the 2023-2024 academic year. For the full list of Top Fulbright Producers, click here. I am delighted that Villanova once again has been named a top producer of Fulbright recipients, said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. Villanovas success year after year is the result of the tireless efforts of the Center for Research and Fellowships and our remarkable students who are using what they have learned at Villanova to serve communities around the world. On behalf of the entire Villanova community, congratulations to this years recipients and all those involved in the Fulbright process. The Fulbright competition is administered at Villanova through the Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF). In the current Fulbright application cycle, 33 of Villanovas 58 applicants have been named semi-finalists for the award and will be notified over the next three months if they are selected to go abroad during the 2024-2025 academic year. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries and is the worlds largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its inception, over 400,000 people from all backgroundsrecent university graduates, teachers, scientists and researchers, artists, and morehave participated in the Fulbright Program and returned to their home countries with an expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a new network of colleagues and friends. Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright program, and several non-profit, cooperative partners implement and support the program on the Bureaus behalf. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. A Budapest appeals court has found Andras Fekete-Gyor, the former head of the Momentum party, guilty of assault against persons in official capacity, the court said. According to the charges, Fekete-Gyor acted as an accomplice of Koppany Bendeguz Szarvas on Dec 13, 2018, when they threw smoke bombs at police during a demonstration in Kossuth Square. The court sentenced Fekete-Gyor to 1 year in prison, suspended for 2 years. The court saw Fekete-Gyors clean record, as well as the fact that he had acted as an accomplice, as mitigating circumstances, spokesman Jozsef Tamas Szabo said. Szarvas, the primary defendant, had been accused of assaulting officers on two consecutive days, Dec 12 and 13, and sentenced to 2 years in prison, suspended for 3 years. Fekete-Gyor has appealed the sentence. The primary defendant and the prosecution are mulling the same, and so the procedure is set to continue at the third-instance court, Szabo said. You're very welcome to comment and discuss this, and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops group: Budapest Expats - The International Community You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! The ongoing upgrade of the Hungaroring race track is set to cost less than the hosting fee discount Hungary negotiated last year for the extension of the tracks contract to host the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix, the head of the Prime Ministers Office said on Monday. The Hungarian state will save 107 billion forints (EUR 276.2m) with the hosting fee discount negotiated with F1s commercial rights holder for the contract extension until 2032, Gergely Gulyas told Hungarian GP organiser Hungaroring Sports press conference. The public procurement to upgrade the Hungarorings infrastructure, primarily the paddock, by 2026 was won by a 78.9 billion forint bid, Gulyas noted. So far, 12 billion forints has been paid out, and the upgrade is currently in its second phase, he said, adding that a total of 9,000 people will be working at the track over the course of the project. Hungaroring Sport chairman and chief executive Zsolt Gyulay said the paddock will be expanded by 3,000 square metres to 8,300sqm, while the paddock buildings floor area will increase to 31,017sqm, explaining that the pit lane also has to be extended to comply with the FIAs regulations. Photo: courtesy of Market Epito Zrt. - Market-csoport You're very welcome to comment and discuss this, and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops group: Budapest Expats - The International Community You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Multinational automaker Stellantis is investing 45 billion forints (EUR 116.2m) in moving the key element of its electromobility strategy to Hungary, securing the future of the Opel plant in Szentgotthard, in western Hungary, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said. Stellantis, which designs, manufactures and sells 16 automotive brands, will begin manufacturing electric engines at the Szentghotthard plant, Peter Szijjarto said, adding that the company is also relocating its related R&D and testing activities there. The investment, which is being supported with a 10 billion forint government grant, will create 110 jobs, the minister said. You're very welcome to comment and discuss this, and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops group: Budapest Expats - The International Community You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! The opposition Jobbik-Conservatives have said they are calling an extraordinary session of parliament to propose a bill on directly electing the president of the republic. The right-wing party last year proposed to MPs changing how the head of state is elected, but the ruling Fidesz majority voted it down, Brenner Koloman, who is Jobbiks mayoral candidate for the capital, told a press conference on Sunday. Noting the outcry over Katalin Novaks decision to pardon the deputy director of a childrens home who was found complicit in child abuse, he said it would have been preferable had a president been elected by Hungarian citizens rather than by Fidesz MPs, adding that a figure who truly embodied the unity of the nation should be elected as head of state. Mi Hazank Nominates Economist Magdolna Csath for Hungary President The opposition Mi Hazank has named economist Magdolna Csath as their nominee for Hungarys next president, according to a social media post published by party leader Laszlo Toroczkai. It is high time Hungarys president is no longer a political party stalwart, Toroczkai said, adding that Csath meets that requirement. Csaths career has earned her broad recognition, Toroczkai said, suggesting that she could be supported by the other parties. LMP to Nominate Uni Professor Hack for Hungary's Next President Opposition LMP will nominate university professor and lawyer Peter Hack for the post of Hungarys next president, Peter Ungar, the partys co-leader said. Ungar said on Facebook that he would contact all lawmakers about their proposal in a letter. A joint nomination of Hack would enable Hungary to have a president representing the unity of the nation, and one who guards the rule of law and the constitutional order, he said. Hack has been a teacher at Budapests ELTE university for 41 years, and his areas of research include judicial independence, the organisation and operation of justice administration, the enforcement of human rights in criminal procedures, and the legal means of fighting corruption, he said. Hack has political experience, too, but he is not a party politician, Ungar added. He noted that Hack had served as an MP from 1990 until 2002 when he retired from politics. You're very welcome to comment and discuss this, and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops group: Budapest Expats - The International Community You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Katalin Novak, who announced her decision to resign from the post of president on Saturday, has tendered a written statement of her resignation to parliament, according to parliament's website. Under the law, the president can resign by submitting a written statement, while the resignation requires parliaments approval to be complete. Parliament is allowed 15 days to request the president to reconsider her decision. If the president maintains her decision, parliament cannot deny its approval. The mandate of the president expires 15 days after the signing of the resignation statement, or on the day parliament approves the resignation. Under the constitution, parliament shall elect a successor within 30 days of the expiry of the previous presidents mandate. Novak announced her resignation on Saturday, in connection with her decision to grant clemency to a person convicted of helping to cover up child abuse. Former justice minister Judit Varga, who countersigned the pardon, resigned from all her positions and said she would retire from public life a few hours later. Mate Kocsis, the Fidesz parliamentary group leader, said their decisions showed that on the right, mistakes have consequences. He said that Novaks resignation had been a straightforward decision. You're very welcome to comment and discuss this, and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops group: Budapest Expats - The International Community You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Kawasaki India has recently made a significant move by removing the Ninja 1000SX from its official website, signaling its discontinuation in the Indian market. This raises speculation about Kawasaki's future plans for the sport-tourer segment in the country. Despite its absence from the website, some speculations suggest the possibility of a new iteration of the Ninja 1000SX being in the works, with potential launch expected by the end of the year. Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Specifications Rumors suggest that Kawasaki might be gearing up to unveil an upgraded version of the Ninja 1000SX, addressing both performance and regulatory requirements. The Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX is equipped with a robust 1043 cc air-cooled four-cylinder engine, delivering an impressive power output of 142 PS at 10000 rpm. Its substantial power is complemented by a torque of 111 Nm. With a fuel tank capacity of 19 liters, this sport-tourer claims a mileage of 17 kmpl. Future Expectations While the Versys 1000 has enjoyed moderate success in the Indian market, anticipation builds for Kawasaki's next move in the sport-tourer segment. Enthusiasts eagerly await the unveiling of the next iteration, speculated to arrive towards the end of the year. With expectations for enhanced features, updated electronics, and potentially an E20-compliant engine to adhere to evolving regulations, Kawasaki aims to elevate the touring experience for riders. New Delhi: Get ready for an electrifying Diwali celebration as Bhushan Kumar's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is set to light up the screens with an unexpected collaboration! Brace yourselves, as the Shero of our times Vidya Balan and the heartthrob of the nation Kartik Aaryan join forces in the third installment of this beloved franchise directed by Anees Bazmi. The anticipation is palpable, and we can't contain our excitement for this unique pairing that promises to redefine the Bhool Bhulaiyaa experience. Kartik Aaryan extends a warm welcome back to Vidya Balan, ushering her into the biggest movie of the year. Their camaraderie off-screen only adds to the anticipation, making Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 a must-watch event this Diwali. Vidya Balan's iconic portrayal of Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa left an indelible mark on audiences, creating a lasting impact that continues to resonate. Whereas in the second instalment, Rooh Baba played by Kartik Aaryan also gauged massive love and appreciation from the audiences. The excitement reaches new heights as these two come together portraying their iconic characters in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which now seems undeniably thrilling, promising a nostalgic yet fresh experience. This announcement has filled the air with excitement and curiosity surrounding this surprising collaboration. Fans can't wait to witness the magical on-screen extravaganza between Rooh Baba and Manjulika, two of the most loved characters in Bollywood. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is shaping up to be a Diwali celebration like no other, adding an extra layer of thrill and joy to the festivities. Mark your calendars, as this collaboration is sure to make this Diwali a cinematic delight we won't soon forget. Gulshan Kumar and T-Series presents Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 releasing Diwali 2024. In Hinduism, the reverence of the Sun God holds immense importance and auspiciousness. Lord Surya is revered and worshipped on numerous special occasions, with Sankranti holding a particular significance. Occurring on varying dates each year, in 2024, Kumbh Sankranti falls on February 13th. The auspicious timing of the day is relatively brief, subject to annual variation due to the Sun's positioning. Kumbha Sankranti holds profound significance as it marks the commencement of the Kumbha Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, convened once every twelve years at revered sites like Haridwar, Allahabad, and the Godavari River in Nasik. Millions converge upon the banks of the Ganga River to partake in the holy bath, seeking purification from sins and malevolent influences. Kumbha Sankranti 2024: Date and Time According to Drik Panchang, Kumbh Sankranti is slated for February 13, 2024. The Sun is anticipated to ingress into Aquarius at 03:54 PM. In astrological circles, the act of donating black sesame seeds on Kumbh Sankranti is deemed highly propitious. Sunrise: 7:04 am Sunset: 6:17 am Punya Kaal Muhurat: February 13, from 9:22 am to 3:44 pm Maha Punya Kaal Muhurat: February 13, from 3:22 pm to 3:44 pm Kumbha Sankranti Significance The moment at which the Sun traverses into a new zodiac sign, particularly Aquarius during Kumbh Sankranti, is accorded the same significance as other auspicious occasions like Purnima (full moon), Amavasya (new moon), and Ekadashi. Observing Surya Dev during this Sankranti augments the Sun's influence in the natal chart, facilitating professional growth and nurturing familial bonds. With the impending celestial transition into Aquarius, Kumbh Sankranti heralds a day brimming with spiritual profundity and avenues for personal evolution. Kumbha Sankranti Vrat Rituals - Bathing in the holy waters of River Ganga is a primary ritual. - If unable to bathe in Ganga, alternatives like Godavari, Yamuna, or Shipra are acceptable. - Devotees should pray and meditate to Goddess Ganga with complete devotion for success in life. - Donation to Brahmin Pandits is a customary practice as part of Kumbha Sankranti Vrat Vidhi. - Offering to cows is considered highly auspicious and beneficial on this day. (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after assuming office, had said that the farmers income should be doubled. The Government has made plans in this direction, doors have also been thrown open to private investment and technology in the agriculture sector. The Narendra Modi government in the recent years has has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies for achieving higher incomes for the farmers. Here is the list of 9 such farmer-oriented programmes: (i) Supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN, (ii) Crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), (iii) Better access to irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), (iv) Creation of infrastructure through Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with a size of Rs. 100,000 crores. (v) Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) offering production loans to farmers (vi) Formation and promotion of 10,000 FPOs, (vii) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), which aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. (viii) Adoption of drone technologies in agriculture which has a potential to revolutionize the Indian agriculture. (ix) Benefits accruing under Bee-Keeping, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Blue Revolution, Interest Subvention Scheme, agro-forestry, restructured bamboo mission, implementation of new generation watershed guidelines, etc. New Delhi: Ashok Chavan, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a Congress leader who resigned on Monday, is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today. Chavan announced his decision to join the BJP, stating that he will kick off his new political journey by formally joining the party at its office today. "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today...I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra," said Chavan. "Today around 12-12:30, I am going to start a new journey of my political career, I am going to join BJP..."he added. #WATCH | After quitting Congress, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan says "Today around 12-12:30, I am going to start a new journey of my political career, I am going to join BJP..." pic.twitter.com/hpSZDoQVWp ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Hailing from a political dynasty, Chavan had been a stalwart within the Maharashtra Congress, having served as the Chief Minister from December 2008 to November 2010. His departure leaves a notable void in the party's leadership, given his influence and longstanding presence in state politics. New Delhi: In a significant blow to the Congress party in Maharashtra, senior leader and former state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday. Chavan joined the party in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders. Chavan's joined the BJP just a day after he resigned from the grand old party on Monday. Earlier today, former Maharashtra CM has announced his decision to join the BJP calling it a "new beginning" in his political career. Ashok Chavan said, "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today. I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra." #WATCH | Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan joins the BJP at the party's office in Mumbai. He recently quit Congress. Former Congress MLC Amar Rajurkar also joined the BJP. pic.twitter.com/2833wY76am February 13, 2024 Ashok Chavan was the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. He served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP. He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. LUCKNOW: Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya tendered his resignation from the position of general secretary of the party, sources said on Tuesday. The 70-year-old leader would, however, continue to remain a member of the Akhilesh Yadav-led party. In a letter addressed to the Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya said that he would continue to work to strengthen the party without holding any post. Maurya informed Akhilesh about this move to step down as the SP general secretary due to alleged discrimination within the party. Maurya has been in the spotlight for some time for making controversial remarks on the 'Sanatan Dharma', Hindutva and Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya. His controversial statement on the Ramcharitmanas was met with strong opposition from within and outside the party. The Akhilesh Yadav-led party later distanced itself from Maurya's statement and asked him to refrain from making such controversial remarks that hurt the religious sentiments of people. He also recently said that ''Hinduism is not a religion but just a deception.'' In a video shared by news agency ANI, the Samajwadi Party leader cited RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's past remarks highlighting that ''there is no religion called Hinduism but instead, it is a way of living.'' During Thursday's oral arguments before the nation's highest court about Donald Trump's constitutional eligibility to remain on the ballot, the justices explicitly and indirectly channeled the member of Colorado's Supreme Court who wrote the most impassioned critique of the legal effort to disqualify Trump. NEW DELHI: After a gap of almost two years, farmers have once again launched a massive protest against the Centre and converged at the Delhi border to press for their demands. This time, it's the farmers from Punjab rallying under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. A significant coalition of around 250 distinct organizations forms the backbone of this movement. Contrary to their previous agitation in 2020, where nearly 500 organizations united under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, this time the agitators are both farmers and labourers. In tonight's special edition of DNA, Zee News will delve into the intricacies of the ongoing farmers' protests, aiming to uncover the true motivations fueling this renewed agitation. Originating from Punjab, the current wave of protests has predominantly attracted farmer groups from the region. Despite a robust attempt by demonstrators to breach Delhi's borders today, unlike their past success, they encountered staunch opposition. The clash between protesters and law enforcement escalated, with farmers resorting to using tractors to dismantle barricades. This escalated confrontation marks a departure from the relatively peaceful protests witnessed in the past. By late afternoon, the situation had deteriorated significantly in several areas. During the previous agitation, protesters staged prolonged sit-ins at the border areas of Singhu, Tikri, Jantar Mantar, and Ghazipur. However, the police have made elaborate arrangements this time to preempt any prolonged blockade. The ongoing confrontations between farmers and law enforcement, observed throughout the day, are gradually shifting away from Delhi. Law enforcement's primary objective remains halting the influx of farmers from Punjab attempting to reach Delhi's borders for the siege. The resumption of farmers' attempts to converge on Delhi raises questions about their motives, especially considering the apparent conclusion of their previous agitation in 2021. Presenting 13 demands to the government, the farmers have seen significant progress, with the government acceding to 10 of these demands. Talks are ongoing regarding the remaining three, with the central government also mulling over the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters during the prior unrest. While promises of compensation for the injured in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident have been made, deliberations continue regarding the remaining demands. The government's reluctance to enact MSP laws, as done previously, underscores the complex financial constraints it faces. Balancing income and expenditures is crucial for any government, and the farmers' primary demand for MSP poses a significant challenge, potentially leading to further escalation in the days ahead. As the government grapples with these challenges, the burgeoning presence of farmers on the Delhi border raises concerns among ordinary citizens. Tonight's episode of DNA aims to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of the farmers' protests, shedding light on the underlying complexities driving this renewed agitation. New Delhi: The INDIA bloc has been virtually confined to the history books, after the RLD walked out of the alliance in UP it was turn of the AAP to snub the Congress in Delhi. On Tuesday the Aam Aadmi Party offered the Congress Party a single Lok Sabha seat in Delhi. This is contrary to earlier reports that had suggested a 3-4 formula between Congress and AAP in Delhi. Further, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said that even though the Congress party does not merit even a single seat in Delhi, in the spirit of alliance, the AAP party is willing to offer one seat. The AAP plans to field candidates in the remaining six seats in Delhi, Pathak added. "You must have seen in the Delhi elections that the Congress party has zero seats in the Lok Sabha, zero seats in the Vidhan Sabha, and in the MCD elections, out of 250, only 9 seats have come to the Congress party. If you look at this data on a merit basis, the Congress party does not get a single seat, according to this data. But data is not important; keeping in mind the dharma of the alliance and the respect of the Congress party, we offer them one seat. So we propose that the Congress party fights on one seat and the Aam Aadmi Party fights on six seats," he said. The AAP MP added that the candidate's announcement is not being made today. He expressed hope that a meeting will soon commence in Delhi, and the conclusion of this meeting will determine the next steps. "Today, we are not announcing the candidate. I hope that the meeting will start in the context of Delhi soon, the conclusion of the meeting will come out, we will all get on with our work and if the conclusion does not come out, then in the next few days we will announce the candidate on the six seats we are saying and we will start our preparation and our work, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said," he said. AAP also threw the gauntlet at the Congress by announcing Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas' name as the candidate to contest LS poll from South Goa seat. This is a seat that is currently held by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha. AAP has also named Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch and Umesh Bhai Makwana from Bhavnagar as candidates from Gujarat. It was reported that Congress was considering late Ahmed Patel's daughte Mumtaz Patel for Bahruch. Pathak also expressed his disappointment over the lack of progress in seat-sharing discussions with the Congress party; he added that despite two official meetings, no concrete outcomes have been achieved. "We had two official meetings with the Congress party regarding seat sharing but there was no result of these meetings. Other than these two official meetings, no other meeting has taken place in the last month. We have been waiting for the next meeting; even the leaders of Congress are not aware of the next meeting. Today, I am sitting here with a heavy heart. We announced three candidates from Assam and I hope the INDIA alliance will accept them," he said. As the Lok Sabha elections approach, political parties across the spectrum are ramping up their efforts to connect with voters. With the BJP bringing on new partners like the RLD on its platform the INDIA bloc is sinking in its efforts to put up a united front. New Delhi: Reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting the welfare of farmers, Union Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday said that the government is open to many issues, and they can work on ways to find solutions. The Union Minister in response to the 'Delhi Chalo' march, also urged the farmers to stay careful of elements that try to vitate the atmosphere. "The government is getting information that many people could try to pollute the atmosphere, I urge the farmers to stay careful of such elements. The government of India is committed towards the welfare of farmers. An agreement has been reached on some matters. We are open to many issues, and we can work on ways to find solutions," Munda said. When asked about the demand to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report, the Union Minister said that the government had agreed on many such matters. "The government had agreed on many such matters and the discussion had moved ahead, but regarding some issues, I feel that there may be some people in it who want to see it as a problem instead of a solution, but I would request the farmers to be cautious of those people who want to make the entire environment unfavourable," he said. Arjun Munda is among the team of ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders that also includes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Nityanand Rai and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Meanwhile, the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border witnessed chaotic scenes on Tuesday as the protesting farmers marching towards Delhi attempted to break police barricades. Farmers were seen attempting to remove the cement barricade with their tractors as they tried to cross the Shambhu border. The police fired tear gas to disperse the protestors at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border as they tried to breach the mutli-layered barricades. The police have deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel at Kurukshetra in Haryana in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by the farmers. Earlier in the day, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said that all efforts were made in the meeting to find a solution to avoid a confrontation with the government adding that they anticipated a positive result. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers. Also, a demand to provide compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. ABU DHABI: Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan shortly after arriving in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday where he was given a rousing welcome. The two sides also exchanged several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in their presence. "Brother, firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm welcome. We have met five times in the last seven months, which is very rare. I have also got the opportunity to come here seven times... the way we have progressed in every field, there is a joint partnership between India and UAE in every field," said PM Modi during his meeting with the UAE President. #WATCH | Abu Dhabi: During his meeting with UAE President, PM Narendra Modi says, "The construction of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) temple here would not have been possible without your support..." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the pic.twitter.com/RbKFHQ1cyh ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Here Are The Live Updates On PM Modi's UAE Visit: -Prime Minister Modi Greets Members Of Indian Community In Abu Dhabi #WATCH | UAE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets members of the Indian Diaspora gathered at a hotel in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/erHELwN6SJ ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 -PM Modi interacted with the first batch of students from the IIT DelhiAbu Dhabi Campus. He said that this not only begins a new chapter in bilateral collaboration between India and the UAE but also brings the youth from the two countries together: MEA PM Modi also thanked the UAE President for his support to the construction of the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. "The construction of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) temple here would not have been possible without your support..." the PM told the UAE President during his meeting with the latter. Importantly, PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan also introduced the UPI RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi. #WATCH | PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan introduce UPI RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/uvIY0o1kIy ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 Upon his arrival here, PM Modi was welcomed by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders shook hands and hugged each other. Prime Minister Modi also received a Guard of Honour. PM Modi also took to X to express his gratitude to the UAE President for coming to the airport to personally receive him. "I am very grateful to my brother, His Highness UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi Airport," Prime Minister Modi posted on X. "I look forward to a fruitful visit that will strengthen the friendship between India and the UAE," he said. @MohamedBinZayed . . pic.twitter.com/VltQVXgdxG Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2024 PM Modi is set to address the Indian diaspora at the "Ahlan Modi" event. He will also inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The Indian diaspora in the UAE has been eagerly waiting for PM Modi, as the number of attendees surpassed 65,000 for the 'Ahlan Modi' event. The Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.5 million is the largest ethnic community in the UAE, constituting roughly 35 per cent of the country's population. President of the Indian People Forum and leader of the Ahlan Modi initiative, Jitendra Vaidya, expressed his happiness and anticipation for the ground-breaking event. "Our gates are yet to open, but people are already standing at each gate of this stadium. I can say this with a guarantee that whenever people will remember a public event of PM Modi outside the country, 'Ahlan Modi' will be remembered as a landmark event," he said. He further added that the programmes will start here around noon (local time), adding, "Over 800 participants will perform here today. When we were planning the 'Ahlan Modi' event, we thought of bringing celebrities here but when PM Modi got to know this he said, your people are celebrities." Ved Prakash Gupta, a member of the Indian diaspora and a volunteer at the 'Ahlan Modi' event, emphasised that this is a major milestone in India-UAE relations. "...This is a major milestone in India-UAE relations...We are a team of 1500 people who are working in different departments...It rained heavily yesterday but the weather is clear today...Everyone is eagerly waiting for PM Modi...It is a proud moment for Indians...," he said. Ahead of his departure, the Prime Minister took to social media platform X to post that he is looking forward to meeting with his "brother," the President of UAE, with whom he shares a good rapport. This visit also marks the third by the PM to the Gulf country in the past eight months, as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs Minister. "My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai," the Prime Minister said in a statement ahead of his departure. "The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the PM said. The 'Ahlan Modi' or 'Hello Modi' event, organised by the Indian community in Abu Dhabi, has gathered unprecedented attention, with over 65,000 registrations received, reflecting the overwhelming response from the Indian expatriate community. PM Modi will be in the UAE from February 13-14, after which he will proceed to Doha. Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police claim to have solved a targeted killing case within 7 days, marking it a breakthrough. Inspector General of Police VK Birdi, of the Kashmir range, announced that the accused involved in the killing of two Punjab residents has been apprehended. During a press conference at the Srinagar Police Control Room, Inspector General VK Birdi stated that the Srinagar Police successfully cracked the case, leading to the identification and arrest of the individual responsible for the terrorist attack on the two non-local victims. The police recovered the weapon used in the offense along with other incriminating evidence. Furthermore, IGP Birdi elaborated that, based on technical and field analysis, the Srinagar Police narrowed down suspects and subsequently identified and detained the main suspect, Adil Manzoor Langoo from Zaldager, Srinagar. He revealed that the accused was in contact with a Pakistan-based terrorist who instructed him to carry out the terror crime. Motivated and radicalized through social media, the suspect was provided with the weapon by his handler before executing the attack. IG Vidhi Kumar Birdi emphasized, "The case was solved by the police, with the main suspect, Adil Manzoor, identified as the primary culprit behind the attack on February 7." He assured that the case would be charge-sheeted soon and action would be taken against the handlers, including their families if they are local residents in the Union Territory. He confirmed that this was a singular module and that action against other terror modules across the valley was also underway. On February 7, Wednesday, at approximately 7 pm, terrorists opened fire on two non-local carpenters, both residents of Amritsar, Punjab, in the Shallakdal area of old Srinagar city. Amrit Pal Singh was killed on the spot, while Rohit, critically injured, succumbed to his injuries the next day in the hospital. The victims were residing in the area on rent, and Amrit Pal had gone to collect Rohit, who had returned home on the same day. Both were on their way back to their rental accommodation when they were attacked. Vijay Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), who was also present at the press conference, disclosed that there are currently 55 terrorists in Kashmir, including 25 locals and 25-30 foreign terrorists. He added that only one terrorist, Momeen, is active and alive in Srinagar. New Delhi: Bhumi Pednekar, born on July 18, 1989, in Mumbai, India, hails from a middle-class Maharashtrian family. Her father, Satish Pednekar, is a former HOD of Physics at Bombay University, and her mother, Sumitra Pednekar, worked as a homemaker. Bhumi's upbringing instilled in her a strong work ethic and determination to pursue her dreams. Early Life And Education: Raised in Mumbai, Bhumi attended Arya Vidya Mandir School and later pursued a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Whistling Woods International Institute. Her upbringing in a supportive family environment laid the foundation for her aspirations. Entry Into Bollywood: Bhumi's journey in Bollywood began not as an actress, but as an assistant casting director for Yash Raj Films. Her talent and dedication caught the eye of Shanoo Sharma, the casting director, who encouraged her to audition for acting roles. Breakthrough Role: In 2015, Bhumi made her acting debut in the critically acclaimed film Dum Laga Ke Haisha opposite Ayushmann Khurrana. Her portrayal of an overweight bride challenged societal norms and garnered widespread praise. Bhumi's transformation for the role, gaining over 20 kg, showcased her commitment to her craft and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Versatility And Success: Following her debut, Bhumi showcased her versatility by taking on diverse roles. From playing a rural woman fighting for her rights in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha to a gritty portrayal of a domestic violence survivor in Sonchiriya, Bhumi proved her acting prowess with each role. Critical Acclaim And Commercial Success: With films like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bala, and Saand Ki Aankh, Bhumi cemented her position as a versatile actor capable of delivering both critically acclaimed performances and box-office success. Her ability to choose unconventional roles and portray them convincingly set her apart in Bollywood. Social Initiatives And Advocacy: Beyond acting, Bhumi is known for her commitment to social causes. She is actively involved in environmental initiatives, advocating for sustainability and climate conservation. Bhumi Pednekar continues to captivate audiences with her compelling performances and remains a prominent figure in Bollywood. Her journey from an assistant casting director to a celebrated actor is a testament to her talent, perseverance, and dedication to her craft. New Delhi: Elon Musk-owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) announced on Monday that it will enable advertisers to run video ads next to certain content creators with its new Creator Targeting feature. This move could help brands prevent exposure to unwanted posts on 'X'. Advertisers will now have the option to select specific creators' videos to run their ads before. These ads will be visible both in users' home timelines and on the creators' profiles. Moreover, the company asserted that it will soon add the ability to serve ads to individual creators' profiles, eliminating the chance of an ad appearing next to a controversial post. (Also Read: Poco X6 5G Gets New Storage Variant At Rs 23,999; Check Specs And Discount) In a recent blog post, the company announced a groundbreaking initiative, stating, "We are enabling a new opportunity for advertisers to connect with their customers by aligning with some of the worlds best content creators." "Starting this month, advertisers on X platform can leverage Creator Targeting to showcase their ads alongside carefully selected premium content creators. This will give advertisers more control, allowing them to utilize the user-friendly X Ads Manager to run pre-roll video ads alongside the video content produced by their selected creator(s), both on the home timeline and profile pages." (Also Read: Redmi Buds 5 Launched In India With Hybrid Noise Cancellation; Check Price, Specs, And Availability) In light of allegations that Musk had shared anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, numerous high-profile advertisers, such as Apple, Disney, and IBM, have recently withdrawn their advertisements from the platform. With Valentine's Day finally here, your significant other may be asking you about special plans. If the holiday snuck up on you this year, don't worry. We've pulled together this last-minute guide for those who want to celebrate the holiday of love. Where to buy sweets, flowers Chocolates are synonymous with Valentine's Day in the U.S. But not all boxes of chocolate are created equal. If you want to spend a little more money and get something a little fancier than Russell Stover, head to one of these Colorado Springs sweet shops for house-made goodies, including gourmet truffles, bonbons and more. Where to get Valentine's Day chocolates in Colorado Springs Valentine's Day calls for all chocolate lovers to indulge in the confections at these sweet shops in the Colorado Springs area. Where to get local dessert Want something sweet, but less traditional than chocolate? These spots are serving up decadent pastries, homemade cupcakes and Valentine's Day donuts. Click on the description for more information. Where to get local flowers Roses are just as synonymous with the holiday as chocolate but this year, avoid the grocery store crowds and pick up a bouquet from one of these local flower shops. Springs in Bloom Platte Floral Jasmine Flowers & Gifts My Floral Shop Bloom Bar & Co. Enchanted Florist II Sign of the Rose A Wildflower Florist Featured Local Savings Where to go, what to do (NOTE: Many of the city's popular restaurants are booked up for V-Day, but you can always celebrate the day after, or even, this weekend.) 4 Colorado restaurants among nation's 'top 100' most romantic spots In anticipation of Valentine's Day, Yelp released a list of the 'top 100' most romantic restaurants in the United States and four spots in Colorado made the cut for inclusion. Last-minute date ideas Perhaps you want to venture a little bit outside of your comfort zone with your special someone and try some painting, swing dancing or even sound bathing. Painting With a Twist: Valentine's At Home VIP Date Night Bundle with canvas, paint, paint brushes, palettes, bottle of choice wine, sweets and more. Visit here for more information. COATI swing dancing lessons: Including drink specials and door prizes. Visit here for more information. Color Me Mine: Paint by Candlelight on Valentine's Day with champagne, chocolates and music provided. Visit here for more information. Valentine's Party at Front Range BBQ: Enjoy live music and a special dinner and drink menu. Visit here for more information. Sausage Workshop + Champagne: Improve your culinary skills while sipping bubbly and having charcuterie snacks. Only four spots available. Visit here for more information. Sound Bath & Cacao Ceremony: Experience soothing tones from singing bowls, gongs and chimes while enjoying a glass of fine wine and cacao. Visit here for more information. And now you have the playbook for the perfect Valentine's Day. XOXO - The Gazette As the U.S. works to deter Chinese aggression, the Air and Space Forces expect to make major changes, such as standing up new commands, changing training and holding more complete exercises. Secretary Frank Kendall described the need for the change Monday at the Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium in Aurora, outlining how China is building up its military and has promised to invade Taiwan in 2027. China is watching the U.S. support for Ukraine carefully to guide its military action, Kendall said. "We abandon Ukraine at our own peril," he said at the event, where about 1,800 military service members and industry professionals gathered. Kendall emphasized the urgent need for modernization to be ready for a large-scale conflict, saying repeatedly: "We are out of time." Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, outlined changes the Space Force, likening the transition to merchant marines becoming a Navy capable of warfare. Schriever and Peterson Space Force Bases in Colorado Springs will see some of the broad changes he described. "We have to transform this service," he said, noting that a merchant marine can't be asked to fight without the right training and equipment. He said he expected training for officers will bring together fields that used be segregated, such as cyber operations, satellite operations and intelligence. The Space Force is also going to set up a new Space Futures Command with three centers that will help evaluate if guardians can fight in space. A new Concepts and Technology Center will evaluate future challenges and strategies. A new wargaming center will let guardians test and experiment with new technology. The new command will also incorporate the existing Space Warfighting Analysis Center that provides data analytics. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "We have to rewrite the standards for readiness centered around a contested domain," Saltzman said. To better integrate space capabilities into war, guardians will also be joining combatant commands to ensure the advantages space can offer aren't added in after plans have been made, he said. The Air Force is also planning for major change, including new warrant officer positions focused on IT and cyber fields providing an niche for those who just want to "code for their country," said Gen. David W. Allvin, chief of staff for the Air Force. "We need those airman to be on the cutting edge and stay on the cutting edge," he said. The Air Force is also going to work toward more aligned training so airmen don't need to relearn systems and tools when they move to new bases, he said. Officers will also see upgraded training before commissioning, he said. Military exercises that bring together weapons and test real-world necessities, such as deploying with speed, are also set to be a focus, Allvin said. "We need to understand critical capabilities. ... Make sure we have the health on the shelf," he said. Allvin also announced a new Information Dominance Systems Center that will elevate the importance of capabilities like cyber and electronic warfare, he said. The changes will likely have to be refined as they are rolled out, Allvin said, but modernization must happen now. "If we wait to move to have those final answers, we will be too late," he said. Two large clouds of snow tumbled down the side of Ajax Peak in San Miguel County east of Telluride on Monday, covering the valley floor at the bottom of the avalanche paths. Dozens of people gathered along Colorado Avenue in Telluride just three miles west to witness the semi-regular avalanche mitigation work being done on the 12,785-foot peak. In a coordinated effort from Telluride-based Helitrax and the Newmont Gold Co., which operates mines around the bottom of the avalanche chutes, the mitigation worked. "Monday's avalanche mitigation work in Ophir and on Ajax Peak, which looms over Telluride, was a success," the San Miguel County Colorado Government Facebook page said. "Ophir's slide paths shrugged off the bombs lobbed their way, save for a small slough on Magnolia, but no debris reached Ophir Road." Ophir Road is south of Telluride, but Ajax Peak can be seen vividly from Telluride. Featured Local Savings The massive release of snow poured off Ajax Peak at 3:30 p.m. Two avalanche mitigation bombs were dropped onto the southwest facing slopes in order to mitigate the potential for avalanches to run unexpectedly and naturally down the chutes, potentially covering and burying people if they were to be below the slide paths. The mitigation work is rather common on Ajax Peak due to its location near mines in the area. Avalanche control work is performed on Ajax to ensure slides don't occur above access points to mining interests along with access to the Pandora Mill and both Bridal Veil Falls and Black Bear Pass Road. Colorado Springs officials may move forward sooner than anticipated to purchase about 12 acres of land needed for future planned improvements to Nevada Avenue. The City Council during its work session Monday informally supported a proposal to appropriate up to $2.6 million to the city's 2024 general fund to purchase the land currently owned by BNSF Railway. The council also generally supported a proposed agreement allowing the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority in 2025 to reimburse the city for its 2024 costs related to the land purchase. "Locking in the (purchase) price now without having escalation is, one, important for us. Second, we don't want someone else to come buy the property and then be in the position where we have to go acquire the property in the future," the city's acting Public Works Director Gayle Sturdivant told the council. The BNSF-owned land runs parallel to Nevada Avenue and extends from just south of Commerce Street up to just north of Mountain View Lane, Sturdivant said. The city must eventually purchase the land to complete improvements on Nevada Avenue from Rock Island Trail to Commerce Street, then from Commerce Street to the Templeton Gap floodway, she said. Featured Local Savings Those two projects have been identified in the overall future reconstruction plans for Nevada Avenue, which voters approved in Nov. 2022 to be funded by revenues from the transportation authority's 1-cent sales tax that funds regional road projects. According to current timelines, PPRTA funding will not be available for Nevada Avenue's renovation until 2025, Sturdivant said. Colorado Springs officials have reached a verbal agreement with BNSF to purchase the property for its appraised value of $3.1 million, she said. Under the proposed agreement, the city will contribute up to $2.6 million to the purchase price and Colorado Springs Utilities has budgeted $500,000 to cover the remainder, according to a staff presentation. When the transportation authority reimburses Colorado Springs next year, it would be recognized as 2024 revenue and will not impact the 2024 general fund, city Budget Manager Chris Fiandaca told the council. The council is scheduled to formally vote on the requests via the consent agenda during the board's regularly scheduled meetings on Tuesday and on Feb. 27, staff said. Items on the consent agenda are considered as a whole and passed with one vote from the council. Colorado College announced Monday a new financial aid fundraiser in response to a multimillion dollar cash gift. Over $18 million from the estate of William Clement, a CC alumnus, was bequeathed to the college for financial aid initiatives. Clement died Nov. 15, 2022. The bequest marks the largest single individual cash gift in the schools history. We are immensely grateful to Mr. Clement for this gift and the impact it will have in propelling student opportunities," said CC President L. Song Richardson in a press release. Its exciting to think about future CC students turning their passions into meaningful impact, on campus and beyond, thanks to the generosity of a student who walked this campus before them. In recent years, leading up to his death, Clement had been in contact with the school and other alumni and had alluded to leaving behind something for the school in his estate. So, we knew that we would be receiving some sort of cash gift, said Molly Bodnar, Colorado Colleges interim vice president for advancement. But we had no idea it would be something of this magnitude. Previous gifts to the private college include a $10 million financial aid grant by the Walton Family Foundation in 2010, $10 million from the estate of Will Smith, a member of the class of 1974, in 2015, and a $33.5 million future estate commitment from an anonymous donor announced in 2021. In 2016, an alliance with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center was announced with assets gifted to the college being valued at more than $175 million. The Colorado College Board of Trustees has designated $16 million of the Clement gift to the schools financial endowment aimed at supporting financial aid. Up to $2 million from the estate will go toward a new fund-matching challenge lasting through the end of the year named the Clement Challenge. Donors can send cash gifts toward one of seven priority areas identified on the campus with a matching allocation up to $25,000 from the Clement gift. The areas identified by the campus include financial aid, sustainability, student opportunities, mental health and wellness, antiracism or its parents fund. Featured Local Savings We are just overwhelmed with gratitude for Mr. Clements generosity, Bodnar said. And, personally, I can say that its very moving to know that CC meant so much to him after all this time and a great testament to the transformational impact of a CC education that this gift will continue to benefit students in the years ahead. Current programs at the school include its Colorado Pledge, which is aimed at supporting newly admitted students from Colorado, and the Stroud Scholars Program targeted for high-promise, underrepresented high school students in the Pikes Peak area to prepare them for post-secondary education. Colorado Pledge is funded through donor contributions and offers awards for Colorado families in three income brackets: families with an adjusted gross income of less than $60,000 pay no tuition, room or board fees, while families between $60,000 and $125,000 pay room and board but no tuition, and families between $125,000 and $250,000 pay the same or less than the cost of attendance set at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Tuition at Colorado College for the 2023-24 academic year is $67,458, while housing is calculated at $8,686 annually. When factoring in fees and expenses like course materials and transportation, total estimated costs are $87,128. Bodnar said that 40% of current students apply for need-based financial assistance while an additional 8% apply for non-need merit-based assistance. This marks a 10% increase in need-based FA and a 10% increase Pell Grant eligibility in recent years. Clement attended Colorado College in 1942, where he served as the editor-in-chief for the school newspaper and was a member of the debate team, swim team and thespian group. Following graduation, he obtained a master of arts in physics and a PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley and would go on to work in technical and administrative roles in the electronics industry. Clement would express his appreciation for Colorado College through decades of donations to the school. This appreciation was also expressed in one of his columns for the school newspaper on Jan. 10, 1941. It is not too presumptuous that out of schools such as this, come the leaders of tomorrow, he wrote. A proposal at the state Capitol to ban new oil and gas drilling in Colorado by 2030 which sponsors claim is necessary to counteract climate change and address adverse health impacts is raising a furor throughout the industry. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis said he was not consulted on the proposal and had yet to review it. The measure argues Colorados economy is ready for the clean energy transition, claiming the industry produces roughly four times more natural gas, and two times more oil than Coloradans use. Sponsored by Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder, the bill says existing wells will continue to produce for decades and the states energy needs are increasingly being met by renewable sources. Oil and gas production in Colorado is among the states top industries. A study from the American Petroleum Institute said that, in 2021, oil and gas activities contributed more than $48 billion to Colorados gross domestic product $19.8 billion in direct benefits and $20.8 billion in indirect benefits, which constituted 11.2% of the states total GDP. The study, prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, shows the industry supports more than 300,000 jobs, both direct and indirect, comprises 7.7% of Colorados total employment and provides $34.1 billion in labor income. The mere introduction of this bill sends a chilling message to every business across the state that some of our elected leaders are willing to put you out of business, even if you supply a product they use every single day, Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, said in a statement. Whos next on their ban list? The draft legislation says the adverse health impacts of oil and gas pollution lead to a wide range of problems and that over half of all Coloradans live in areas exposed to pollution from oil and gas operations. It adds that climate pollution from oil and gas wells in Colorado exacerbates climate change, which has been declared the greatest global threat to public health by 200 medical journals. The legislation cites international reports and agreements, noting, for example, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and a report by the International Energy Agency, which said an end to new fossil fuel development is needed for a 50 percent chance of limiting global warming to one and one-half degrees Celsius. In addition to the oil and gas drilling ban, the measure imposes liability for decommissioning and remediating wells, saying it is just and equitable for the owners and operators that have profited from oil and gas activity to pay for the remediation costs. It goes on to say that it is a matter of great importance to public health and safety that the costs be paid to the fullest extent by all potentially responsible parties. The proposal makes prior owners and operators liable for cleanup costs of wells, regardless of how long ago they owned the facility and whether the prior operator violated any law. A draft of the proposal shows Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Julia Marvin, both Democrats, as co-sponsors in the House. Featured Local Savings A ban on oil and gas drilling in Colorado almost certainly would implicate Fifth Amendment rights, as the property rights of mineral owners, as well as royalty owners, would be rendered valueless as a result of such a statutory ban, said Jack Luellen, energy & natural resources special counsel in the Denver office of the Buchalter Law Firm. Luellen was referring go the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the taking of private property for public use without just compensation. Section 15 of the Colorado Constitution mirrors the federal provision: Private property shall not be taken or damaged, for public or private use, without just compensation. In the event of a finding that a statutory ban was a regulatory taking, those whose property was taken would be entitled to just compensation. That compensation would be paid by the government itself, Luellen said. Taxpayers would foot the bill for compensation while, at the same time, suffering the consequences of lost tax revenues. The American Petroleum Institute said shutting down production in Colorado would increase dependence on energy from foreign countries and affect national security. Kait Schwartz, director of API Colorado, called the proposal an attempt to advance the agenda of environmental extremists. The sponsors of this bill are doing nothing less than championing the most extreme anti-energy proposal in the history of our state, all the while ignoring the needs of everyday Coloradans who are already struggling with increasing everyday costs, including utility rates, Schwartz said. Haley of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association added that the state produces some of the cleanest oil and natural gas molecules across the country, under the most stringent regulations. If this bill were to pass, it would not only crush the economy, but it would hurt the environment by relying on foreign countries with lesser environmental standards to provide the energy we need, he said. Jaquez Lewis did not return a request for comment. Supporters of the transition away from fossil fuel say the move is necessary to slow or stop climate change and that it is beneficial to the environment. They argue that cleaner air benefits human health. Finally, they maintain that technological advances have made renewable energy cheaper and express optimism that, over time, such sources would become more and more reliable. In a statement to The Denver Gazette, a spokesperson for Polis said, The governor was not consulted on this legislation and has not reviewed it yet. A nursing student is dead after a medical emergency in a college gym Feb. 12, said University of Colorado Colorado Springs spokesperson Chris Valentine. Officials said that at roughly 5 p.m., a person exercising in the campus recreation room collapsed. Valentine said numerous gym patrons quickly tried to assist the collapsed person, rendering CPR and other life-saving measures as medical personnel made their way to the area. According to officials, the student, later identified as UCCS senior Mia Brown, was pronounced dead at the scene. In an email to the university, Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet confirmed Brown's identity and said she died after a medical emergency. Featured Local Savings "She was a dedicated nursing student who was highly involved on campus, and she will be very missed," Sobanet said in the statement. The chancellor's message included a thank-you to the students and staff who stepped in to help during the emergency. Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson Caitlin Ford said officers with the department responded to the scene Monday evening to assist; however, UCCS campus police were handling the case. According to Valentine, no foul play is suspected. "We are doing our best to commend those who ran to help (Monday)," Valentine said. One of Colorado's great nature shows is returning for its annual, brief run. Later this month, greater sandhill cranes are due back en masse to the San Luis Valley, where they stop along their migratory path for the nutritious fields and wetlands. And also for a chance at love. The majestic birds famously mate for life, showing their affection through ancient dances. Commonly standing 4 feet tall with wings spanning 7 feet, sandhill cranes are thought to be one of the world's oldest species. And many fans say there is no better place to view them and hear their songs than in the world's largest alpine valley. From around the end of February through March, binocular-wielding watchers and photographers head to the area's wide-open refuges to behold mass flights backdropped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is said some 20,000 cranes moving south to north are on the valley floor in early March. Featured Local Savings The 41st annual Monte Vista Crane Festival is set for the weekend of March 8. It's a three-day celebration of ticketed tours and seminars, with free entry to arts and crafts in the Ski Hi Complex. But anyone can drive themselves around lands set aside for the migrators: the most popular Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge along with the Alamosa and Baca national wildlife refuges. While the birds can be seen at all hours of the day, photographers know the best viewing to be around sunrise and sunset. The San Luis Valley cranes arrive from their winter nests in New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico. By April, they will have mostly left for breeding grounds around Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. While the Monte Vista Crane Festival celebrates "unmatched scenery" for viewing, Kearney, Neb. (about a five-hour drive from Denver) calls itself "the sandhill crane capital of the world." The town's viewing guide maintains 80% of the world's sandhill crane population gathers along the Platte River through central Nebraska from mid-February to mid-April. Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter. The Mason City Public Library is advocating against a legislative proposal that would see state funding for libraries in Iowa brought under more local control, joining the Iowa Library Association in opposition to the bill. Proposed by Sen. Jesse Green, R-Harcourt, SSB 3131 has been referred to the Committee on Local Government, and was retooled in the House as HSB 678, which would give city councils more control over the composition of library boards, and how libraries are funded. Current law requires each city and county to levy a tax of at least 6.75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value on taxable property or monetary equivalent for the purpose of supporting the public library. The library is subsidized by a special levy, first approved in 1990, that generates 14 cents of funding per $1,000 of assessed valuation, used for the purchase of library materials. Mary Markwalter, Mason City Public Library director, said this mandate from the voters indicates the community wants to see the library flourish and has helped it do so. Green's legislation would change the language of "shall" to "may," giving the levy power to the city council, and would allow a city council to alter the composition, manner of selection or charge of a library board by ordinance. In Iowa, mayors appoint library board members and city councils have to approve those selections, but voters still have the ultimate say on whether to alter or dismantle library boards in their communities. The Mason City Council in February 2023 approved maximum property tax dollars for the affected tax levies for fiscal year 2024 to not exceed $10.94, a decrease of 1.22% from the maximum property tax dollars requested for fiscal year 2023. The new law caps the city's levy rates at $8.10 per $1,000, and Markwalter said she knows the red tape will eventually force the city to prioritize funding for services like street repair, emergency management, and other costs. "Next year, we'll only have 75% available. The years after, we'll have 50%, then 25% and it's gone," said Markwalter. "Our cities are not prepared, nor will they be additionally resourced to tackle the work of over 500 public library boards around the state," wrote Sam Helmick, president of Iowa Library Association, in an op-ed for the Daily Iowan on Feb. 4. "As they say in chess," Helmick added, "we are at end game. If SSB 3131 passes, Iowa libraries will close. Iowa communities are not prepared for the fallout. Those who register or vote in favor of this bill know this tragic reality." "Public libraries are essential community hubs for many Iowans," said Markwalter. "Without public libraries, many Iowans would not have access to information, books, internet service, printing, faxing, tax forms, the ability to apply for jobs and special programs and activities for all ages." "If Mason City did not have a library levy and a library board," said Markwalter, "... it could not operate as the vibrant community hub that it is. The Mason City Public Library annual statistics strongly support this statement. The Mason City Public Library offers over 200,000 services units to the public each year. Please do not deprive Iowans of access to information and services that would otherwise not be available to them." Mason City Library Board member Jennifer Dorsey-Lee said, "Libraries are essential community resources that play a crucial role in fostering education, intellectual growth, and community engagement. The strength of our libraries lies in the local governance provided by dedicated library boards, whose members understand the unique needs and aspirations of their communities. Stripping library boards of their powers, as proposed in SSB 3131, undermines the democratic principles that guide local decision-making and diminishes the ability of these boards to tailor services to the specific needs of their communities." Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, said, "I attended the subcommittee meeting for the House bill and did not hear from one person supporting this bill ... not one. All the comments emailed in for this meeting were against. Yet, the two Republicans on the committee voted to move the bill forward to the Local Government Committee." Steckman said she does not support the bill. Emails to Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood, and Sen. Waylon Brown, R-Osage, inquiring about their position on the bill were not immediately returned. "This bill would put an unnecessary burden on city government, when they already have a board (appointed by the mayor) to do that job," Steckman said. "The volunteers that serve on the board are from the area and have a vested interest in their local library. State government should leave them alone." Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield, said there was a "lot of misinformation about this bill. The goal is not to give the cities control over what books they make available. However, libraries are a part of the city government and should be treated as such, similar to parks and rec departments. Therefore, it makes sense for cities to have a level of authority over personnel decisions, financial oversight and building construction." "This bill is still making its way through the legislative process," added Latham, "We are listening to stakeholders provided they are making a good-faith effort to ensure the best bill for the people of Iowa." "Public Libraries are essential for Iowans," said Caitlin Lauritzen, a supporter of the Mason City Public Library, in public comments while the bill was being considered by the Local Government Committee. "... They remain one of the few spaces still available to all, regardless of a person's background or economic status. This is in huge part thanks to the hard work of library boards and the funds that tax levies provide. Moreover, city councils are not equipped to handle this additional responsibility nor should they have to. It can be left in the hands of the individuals with the training and dedication chosen to be on the library board." Lauritzen concluded, "I am vehemently opposed to SSB 3131 and its undermining of library boards and the crucial importance of libraries to all Iowa citizens." The Iowa Library Association is holding weekly online legislative updates at 8 a.m. every Wednesday, and on March 5, it will a hold legislative day at the Capitol building to lobby and advocate legislation that impacts public libraries. Iowa lawmakers advanced a pair of bills Monday that would make a raft of changes to elections, including banning ranked choice voting, standardizing training and limiting ballot eligibility challenges for federal candidates. The bill with the more significant changes of the two, Senate Study Bill 3161, would do the following: Limit challenges of petitions of federal candidates to the legal sufficiency of the petition, or the residency, age or citizenship requirements of the candidate. Create a pilot program for a third party to maintain Iowas voter database. Ban ranked choice voting. Ban the use of ballot drop boxes in the state. Require that absentee ballots be received by a county auditors office the day before the election, and allow the auditor to begin mailing absentee ballots two days earlier. The bill was passed out of a Senate subcommittee on Monday by the two Republican members. Democratic Sen. Janice Weiner did not vote to advance the bill. Sen. Jason Schultz, the chair of the Senate State Government Committee and sponsor of the two bills, said the bill was a settling of our election procedures and intended to instill trust in Iowas election process. We think weve gotten 80, 90% of the way there, he said. Iowas elections are rated among the top five in the country as far as reliability and integrity, and we plan on keeping that. The limit on eligibility challenges would make it impossible for individuals to lodge challenges to former President Donald Trumps place on the election ballot on the grounds that he incited an insurrection, as groups in other states have done. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump ineligible to be on the states primary ballot because of such a challenge. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide on an appeal to that decision. The justices heard oral arguments on the case last week. Schultz said the provision is to ensure that there are no similar ballot challenges in Iowa. A separate bill, Senate Study Bill 3165, would require election workers to be trained before each election, rather than only primary and general elections. It would also direct the Secretary of State to adopt statewide rules for election worker training. In the case of a recount, the bill would also require a recount board to include a report of its findings, including a full tally of ballots reviewed by the board. Bill would require district-level election of supervisors in large counties Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill that would require Iowa's five biggest counties to elect their Board of Supervisors by voters in geographic districts rather than by the county at large. Currently, Iowa counties use one of three representation plans for the Board of Supervisors. Voters can bring a petition for a ballot measure in order to change the plan: Plan one: each supervisor is elected at large with no district requirements Plan two: the county is split into equal-population districts, and representatives from those districts are elected by voters in the whole county Plan three: the county is split into equal-population districts, and representatives from those districts are elected by voters in the districts Senate File 2283 would require that counties with a population of more than 125,000 use plan three. The rule would affect Polk, Linn, Scott, Johnson and Black Hawk counties. Polk and Linn counties already use plan three, while the other counties use plan one. Lucas Beenken, a lobbyist for state associations representing counties and county supervisors, said counties are opposed to the bill and they would prefer the representation plan to be decided by the voters. But rural residents of large counties like Black Hawk and Johnson said that they do not have proper representation on those boards, where members largely live in urban centers. The bill advanced out of a Senate subcommittee by two Republican members, while the Democratic member did not vote to advance the bill. Library supporters oppose bill City library officials and supporters from across Iowa again descended upon the Iowa Capitol to express opposition to legislation that would change library staffing and funding operations. The latest proposal is more narrowly focused than previous bills that have been considered by state lawmakers this session. Senate Study Bill 3168 would allow a city council to change and oversee the process of hiring a library director and determine how to use some library funds without a public referendum. That proposal is different from other bills, which also would give city councils the authority to change even more library operations including book selection without a public vote. The two Republicans on the subcommittee panel for Senate Study Bill 3168, Sens. Jesse Green, of Boone, and Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, signed off on advancing it to the full Senate Local Government Committee. Sen. Janice Weiner, of Iowa City, declined to sign off on the bill. Green said this proposal was introduced to ensure city council members have more input into the hiring of library directors. Library officials and advocates said while they appreciated that this bill is more limited in scope than others introduced this session, they fear it will nonetheless open the door to partisan political intrusion on library operations. Asset forfeiture would require criminal conviction under bill All assets seized by law enforcement officers would be a part of the criminal forfeiture process, and would be returned to the individual unless that person is convicted, under legislation being considered by state lawmakers. House Study Bill 634 is model legislation from the conservative, Libertarian-minded Institute for Justice. The organization said such policy is needed to better balance the rights of Iowa property owners with law enforcements ability to seize property during investigations. The Iowa County Attorneys Association expressed strong opposition to the proposal. The two Republicans on the subcommittee panel, Reps. Phil Thompson, of Boone, and Bill Gustoff, of Des Moines, signed off on advancing the proposal to the full House Public Safety Committee. Added legal protections for pesticide manufacturers Pesticide manufacturers could not be sued for failing to alert people of potential health risks if the product has a federally-approved warning label under legislation advanced by Iowa Senate Republicans. Senate Study Bill 3163 was proposed by Bayer, a pharmaceutical and chemical company that produces Roundup, a herbicide with the main ingredient glyphosate that is commonly used by growers of corn and soybeans, Iowas most abundant crops. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that glyphosate products used according to label directions do not result in health risks. During the hearing, agriculture and business groups supported the proposed legislation, while individual Iowa farmers spoke in opposition. Republican Sens. Jeff Edler, of State Center, and Mark Costello, of Imogene both farmers signed off on advancing the bill to the full Senate Agriculture Committee, while Democratic Sen. Bill Dotzler, of Waterloo, declined to support it. DES MOINES A proposal to make birth control available through a pharmacist without a physicians prescription is once again being considered by Iowa lawmakers. Democratic state lawmakers generally have been supportive of the proposal for years, and Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, has been proposing it since her 2018 campaign. Previous legislative attempts have met with varied levels of support from state lawmakers, but never made it to Reynolds desk for her signature. The tallest hurdle has been in the Republican-led Iowa House, which started the latest legislative attempt with a subcommittee hearing Monday at the Iowa Capitol. Supporters say the measure would provide better access to contraception for women, thus leading to fewer unplanned pregnancies and reliance upon government assistance programs. Opponents cited concerns for womens health, especially when a physician is not involved. Rep. Devon Wood, a Republican from New Market, heard many of those arguments during Mondays hearing. Wood said she believes that debate has been good for the legislative process and that it will produce an improved bill. Wood said that while she cannot make predictions, she is optimistic this is the year the proposal will pass the House and ultimately be signed into law. Having this input over the last few sessions is really good to have when continuing the conversation. I really think it helps us hone it to what is the root of what were trying to get to here, Wood said. And for me its where folks are going to go when theyre looking for this option. If Im a woman whos chosen to pursue this, I want to know that in addition to my doctor, there is a another person that is in the medical community that I can have these conversations with when asking how it may interact with some of the medications Im taking. Our pharmacists are an important part of this conversation already, but Im really glad that were looking at this option as an access point for folks. All three members of the subcommittee panel Wood, fellow Republican Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla, of Pella, and Democratic Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, of Waterloo signed off on advancing the proposal, House Study Bill 642, on for consideration by the full House Health and Human Services Committee. During testimony on the proposal, a lobbyist for the Iowa Pharmacy Association told lawmakers that pharmacists are well-educated and equipped to work with a woman on contraception, and a lobbyist for the Iowa Medical Society endorsed the bill, saying it strikes the right balance between increasing access and maintaining oversight. Opponents included representatives of groups opposed to abortion rights, including Pulse Life who called some forms of contraception pre-implantation chemical abortion the Christian conservative organization The Family Leader and the Iowa Catholic Conference. They expressed concerns for womens health, citing some studies that have suggested links between contraception and increased cancer rates. According to the National Cancer Institute, most of the research exploring potential links between contraception and cancer have been observational studies, which cannot definitively establish that contraceptives cause cancer. However, according to the institute, those studies have provided consistent evidence that risks of breast and cervical cancer increase in women who use oral contraceptives, while the risks of other cancers ovarian, colorectal and endometrial have decreased. The American Cancer Society has a similar analysis: that women who use hormonal contraception have a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer, but a moderate and long-term reduction in the risk of some types of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Here's how over-the-counter birth control could disrupt limited access to contraception Here's how over-the-counter birth control could disrupt limited access to contraception Current access to contraception is uneven across the country Battles for access are primarily happening at the state and local level Federal actions can have significant impact Conversations about access to contraception will continue for years GREENSBORO The two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the District 6 seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners are looking to implement tax cuts if elected. Maritza Gomez from High Point and Demetria Carter from Greensboro are the two people running in the GOP contest. The winner will go on to face incumbent Democratic commissioner Brandon Gray-Hill in the general election. Early voting for the March 5 primary will be allowed beginning Thursday through March 2. Gomez has served for three years on the citys human relations commission and said her experience as a small-business owner of Vinnys Auto Service has led her to believe that the county has unsustainable taxes that need to be addressed. How are you going to incentivize businesses to come to (Guilford County) to generate revenue when you have such high taxes? Gomez asked. Gomez, who is married with three children, said she hopes to bring accountability to local government. Carter also listed tax cuts as her highest priority if elected as commissioner, describing herself as as an especially prudent fiscal conservative. I believe that (the board of commissioners) is going to try and increase sales tax and property tax over the next year or so, Carter said. We dont need close to a billion dollar budget. Carter, who previously lost a 2022 bid for a seat on the school board, arrived in Guilford County in 2019 after visiting her grand-nephews high school graduation ceremony at Grimsley High School. She is currently retired from a 40-year career serving in various positions within the federal government in Washington, D.C., including as a contracting officer, procurement specialist and administrative attorney. When asked about what skills she could bring to the board of commissioners, Carter referenced when she was once tapped as a special assistant to the chief procurement officer of the IRS. They brought me in to ask what I would suggest in reorganizing the entire department, Carter explained. I learned a great deal which would help me in any kind of governmental agency, whether it is state or local. Gomez said her background as a first generation Cuban-American brings her a unique perspective to government. She referenced her mothers memories of communist Cuba and said she is running to make sure government does not have the same level of control. Gomez said that if elected she intends to comb through the budget and eliminate what isnt necessary. During early voting, people can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at at the Guilford County Board of Elections office in the in the Old Courthouse on 300 W. Washington St.. They can also vote at a number of locations listed on a form provided on the Board of Elections website. Those locations are open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting will also be allowed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday Feb. 24-25 but only in locations other than the Old Courthouse. On March 2, all locations will be available for early voting from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fat Tuesday. Literally; the Super Bowl spread caused the number to spike. GREENSBORO A prolonged and private saga involving City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba that threatens to sprawl took another twist when a judge ruled that members of City Council can review police body camera footage taken at his home during a domestic disturbance. Greensboro police responded to Jaiyeobas house on Dec. 28 in reference to a family disorder. The manager and two of his daughters were listed on a police report as being assault victims but it does not list a suspect or suspects. The report notes that Jaiyeoba and his daughters each suffered an apparent minor injury. No arrests were made. A transcript of the 911 call made at the managers house Dec. 28 says that there was a female on the line stating that [redacted] is abusing them... trying to say that she pushed him and broke his arm active disorder in background. The caller actually said that Jaiyeoba was hitting his children, wrote Melanie Jones, the director of Guilford Metro 911, in an attempt to provide further clarity on a difficult situation. So far, Mayor Nancy Vaughan has supported the manager and said that she has not gotten any information that would cause her to question Jaiyeobas character or fitness to serve. Still, to be certain elected officials should review body camera footage, which theyre doing today. Any whiff of domestic abuse requires a thorough, transparent and public investigation. Especially when it involves someone paid more than $280,000 annually to oversee some 3,500 employees and a $751.3 million city budget. (A different judge is scheduled to preside over a hearing next week to determine whether the body camera footage should be released to the public. And Greensboro citizens voters and taxpayers who pay the bills are entitled to that; whether official types care to admit it or not, they work for the public, not the other way around.) Not surprisingly, a lawyer for rank-and-file police has entered the fray concerned that five patrol cops might somehow eat some blame or wind up as scapegoats. This is an arrest every time, Amiel Rossabi, an attorney for the Greensboro Police Officers Association told a colleague at the News & Record last month. The only reason they wouldnt make the arrest is if the city manager called the (police) chief or the deputy chief. All the more reason for a thorough and public investigation. Public confidence in local government is at stake. Big money for math tutors If not the cure for insomnia, then reading the agenda and attached supporting documents for tonights scheduled meeting of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education surely runs a close second. Its filled in parts with acronyms and jargon only decipherable and appreciated by a cadre of administrators populating the halls of what used to be called the Central Office. The case in point involves a complicated three-way business arrangement the school board stands poised to approve that would shell out some $589,680 to pay for private math tutors at three schools for the next three months. If that sounds like a lot of dough, thats because it is. Some 18 tutors hired by an outside academic firm called University Instructors will work 35 hours a week, six tutors each deployed to Flat Rock, Paisley and Philo-Hill Magnet middle schools, between Feb. 19 and May 24. Figuring all that takes a minute to suss out, though. The header on the agenda topic is difficult Approval of University Instructors (UI) Contract to support Personalized Learning Initiative (PLI) but an accompanying description takes the prize. In fall 2023, NC Innovation Project (NC TIP) contacted WS/FCS about an opportunity to engage in a research study to support implementation of high-impact tutoring for mathematics in Middle Schools in WS/FCS, the description begins. Eyelids heavy? Read on. The purpose of this specific project is to identify tutoring programs, providers, and processes that have the greatest impact on student achievement and develop scalable, cost-efficient models that can be sustained in districts across North Carolina, it continues. It might as well have been written in Mandarin. Once the agenda code was cracked by those paying attention to the school system, online eyebrows were raised. WSFCS provides a lengthy explanation of the complicated business arrangement, however left out one detail, an undisclosed Conflict of Interest, a social media post reads. The WSFCS Superintendent (Tricia McManus) serves on the Board of Directors of The Innovation Project. One interpretation the implication would be thats improper. In todays hot-house climate run by conspiracy nutters, it wont take long for some to leap to the conclusion that the super somehow benefits. A different conclusion would be that McManus, from her position on the board of NC TIP, is able to steer money for an outside-the-box program to Forsyth County to tutor kids at three schools filled with kids who can use all the help we can muster. Peel through the jargon and that seems clear. The money to pay University Instructors comes from a stash of private foundation cash amassed by NC TIP from such sources as the William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Burrough Wellcome Fund and the Belk Foundation. The Innovation Project, founded in a Raleigh law firm in 2015 , appears to be just what its name implies a place to consider cutting-edge ideas. And if it can accrue outside funding to pay for projects that just might move the needle, itd almost be malpractice if McManus didnt help guide some money to local schools. The total promised to the local school system, if approved tonight, comes to $956,520. So yeah, dropping $589,680 of that for 18 tutors at three schools for three months seems like a lot. Parents with kids at the countys 12 other middle schools might have reason to feel left out. Teachers, underpaid and underappreciated by any measure, have the right to feel the same way. They can tutor to make extra money, and this project hires a private firm paying top dollar to outsiders for similar work. Still, even the online watchers thank goodness theyre willing and able to mine the jargon allow its worth a shot. If you are a math teacher at these schools, you will likely appreciate all the extra assistance these tutors will provide starting next week, a post about the topic reads. If you are a parent at these schools and were not aware of the extra help available, ask about this free math tutoring opportunity. We stand behind our city manager The Simkins PAC, Greensboros Black Political Action Committee, has for 75 years carried the struggle for justice, equality and opportunity in the community. We fight for fairness for all citizens of our community. The Simkins PAC publicly states its support for our city manager, who has been put under extreme stress with relentless media attacks. We understand that there is no active law enforcement investigation or criminal charges against the manager. Our elected officials have the responsibility to manage city personnel, thus they are aware of the facts in this matter. It is our understanding that the city manager has provided excellent performance in his job. The Simkins PAC has taken steps to be informed as to the status of facts surrounding a personal incident at the city managers home. The city manager has been transparent in all aspects of this personal family issue. We do not believe that the continued attacks on him are justified. The manager has our total support, and we believe the community supports our position. R. Steve Bowden Greensboro The writer is chairman of the Simkins PAC. Proud UNCG alum I agree with the headline in Sundays paper (Ideas, Feb. 11): Now is the time for UNCG to move forward, as one. As a 1961 graduate of the former Womans College of the University of North Carolina, I and thousands of alumnae, living and dead, learned civic responsibility from our service motto. The school has gone through many changes, but the Womans College mission holds: What can we do for North Carolina? We can work together for the common good. I have had 60 good years at Wake Forest, but my heart belongs to UNCG. I am a proud graduate of the great Womans College. Emily Herring Wilson Winston-Salem UNCG: Answers lacking Todays opinion column Nows the time for UNCG to move forward (Ideas, Feb. 11) glosses over a few important details. Faculty and students at UNCG have questioned this process, not because we question the premise that we need to adapt, but because of the way the process was executed. Chancellor Frank Gilliam and Provost Debbie Storrs have offered vague responses to serious questions along the way. Concerns raised by faculty, staff and students (at least in part) have to do with clarity of purpose, as well as, later in the process, clarity about how particular decisions were made. Along the way, our reputation in the community and in the eyes of students, alumni, parents and donors has suffered. All of this could have been avoided with much clearer communication, more direct consultation with faculty, a vivid and complete explanation of the problems being solved and the goals being met; a clear and purposeful statement of a vision for the future; and consistent fidelity to the process as it was laid out. While we now understand what solutions were chosen, the logic of those choices has yet to be explained. Further, while moving forward sounds enticing, we are still left wondering: What is the plan for moving forward? Whats the vision for UNCG? Where are we heading? What specifically did we gain from this exercise? What is the clear and executable plan for salvaging/healing our reputation in the community and morale on campus? We have many questions. Perhaps we should receive some clear answers. Christopher Poulos Greensboro Trump the deadbeat Donald Trumps recent NATO comments are the very definition of hypocrisy. He is one of the biggest deadbeats around. Trump has had more than 3,500 lawsuits filed against him for nonpayment of his bills. These are people like you or me who provided some service to him like new cabinets for his home. To even dare say to NATO countries he wont help to defend them if they didnt pay their share to NATO is so gratuitous and sanctimonious, not to mention shortsighted and ignorant of history. So, using Mr. Trumps logic, I say he shouldnt be allowed the privilege of running for president until he pays everyone he owes. Why should he qualify as our president? He cant even pay his own bills and yet expects everyone else to pay theirs and takes advantage of his own supporters to pay his legal fees. What a gigantic hypocrite and deadbeat. Lisa Fullington Greensboro By Fatime Letifova The work on the European-Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor (TRACECA) Fund establishment has been started, and the Fund may start operating next year in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the statement of Rufat Bayramov, Azerbaijan's TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission's national secretary. According to his speech, work is currently being done as per the foundation's charter. "This year, the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission meeting will be held in Iran. We are preparing all the documents before the meeting so that a decision on fund creation can be made at the meeting. The fund can start operating next year," he said. "All TRACECA countries, international commercial companies, and other interested parties will be invited to the fund. The main goal of creating the fund is to develop TRACECA and implement infrastructure projects when it is necessary," Bayramov added. It is worth noting that TRACECA is a special project implemented within the technical assistance framework provided by the European Union to the CIS. 8 countries founded the project in May 1993 at the conference held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. An electric vehicle charging station was destroyed over the weekend at Mountain View Park on the east side of Helena, but as to whether it was a deliberate act of vandalism or a traffic mishap remains a mystery. Either way, it has pulled the plug on efforts to provide a place for people living at or visiting Mountain View Meadows with a convenient place to recharge their vehicles. Rebecca Ryland, director of design for Mountain View Meadows, said she was notified Saturday afternoon that the charging station at 5 S. Alice St. had been damaged. Ryland said it appears to be a deliberate act, adding she believes the driver came, backed up and destroyed the station. Im distressed, she said. Lets just say I am very distressed. The EV station, now crumpled on the ground, remained along the roadway in front of Mountain View Park on Monday morning. Ryland said police were notified Saturday. Police said Monday that it had been classified as an accident non-injury crash in which a vehicle drove into the charging station. He said it was not known what type of vehicle was involved. Ryland said there is a 1% chance it happened accidentally. I think the evidence at the scene looks deliberate and they should come out and take another look, she said Monday, adding she did not know if it could have been someone making a political statement about electric vehicles. She said she and her husband, Mark Runkle, who is the developer of Mountain View Meadows, plan on offering a $500 reward. She said the charging station was the only public one installed in the 450-home housing development. Ryland said the charging station was installed through a program with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. A DEQ spokeswoman said Monday they were aware of this unfortunate event. Public Relations Specialist Moira Davin said the electric vehicle charger in Mountain View Meadows was partially funded through the states share of the Volkswagen settlement. The project cost was $16,443 and the state awarded $8,500, which amounted to 51% of the cost of the project, she said. The United States and the state of California filed a lawsuit in 2016 against Volkswagen, alleging it had manufactured diesel cars sold and operated in the U.S. with systems intended to defeat emissions tests. A $15.7 billion settlement was reached and DEQ Montana received $12.6 million from $2.9 billion of that settlement set aside for environmental mitigation trust. Davin said there are about 90 similar charging stations throughout Montana. She said DEQ has not heard of damaged chargers elsewhere in the state. A Helena mom is teaming up with a teacher who saved her 6-year-old sons life to head to Congress later this month with the goal of making an even greater difference. In 2017, Chantel Schieffers son Dax needed a bone marrow transplant to survive. Like 70% of patients, Dax didnt have a matched donor in his family, so they turned to find a volunteer donor through NMDP (formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program). Jennifer Hawkins, a teacher from Burkburnett, Texas, was a match for Dax and saved his life his life with her bone marrow donation. We are so grateful that Jennifer was our sons life-saving donor, and we are honored to have the opportunity to now work with her, so that more families can have hope just like we did, Chantel Schieffer said. Dax is now 11. Schieffer and Hawkins will join a fly-in to Congress on Feb. 26. Theyll be on Capitol Hill, sharing their story, and asking lawmakers for a $2 million funding increase so NMDP can recruit more donors to its national registry. We both have a heart for helping others, Hawkins said. Having the opportunity to attend the fly-in, where we can truly advocate and make a difference gives hope that more families can experience the blessings we have been so fortunate to experience. Schieffer and Hawkins advocacy comes at a critical time. A cancer research breakthrough made by NMDP this year allows doctors to use partially-matched donors for transplants, with the same outcomes as fully matched donors. This means more patients will now have the opportunity to find a donor instead of having to wait for a full match. For people who are ethnically diverse, their odds of getting a match had been as low as 29%, and now all ethnicities have a greater than 84% chance. But research shows the best transplant outcomes are with younger donors, aged 18 to 30. We know that we need more young and healthy donors, but many of them are just starting out in their careers. It can be hard for them to get time off work to complete the donation process, Hawkins said. Schieffer and Hawkins will also ask lawmakers to work together to quickly pass the Lifesaving Leave Act. The bipartisan bill allows donors to take up to 40 hours of nonconsecutive, unpaid leave from work so they can save someones life. The protections are similar to job protections that kidney and other organ donors have, but marrow and blood cell donors havent been included yet. Unfortunately, about half of donors say no to donating when called upon. A primary reason is they fear losing their jobs, if they take off work to donate, according to NMDP. Hawkins says she was fortunate that her donation came during summer break, and taking time off work wasnt an issue for her. She knows thats not the case for all donors, and she hopes that by taking a stand, more people can follow through like she could. I was able to help save the life of a child who now brings joy and light to every person he encounters. Seeing his smile and the delight he brings to the world and knowing that my small gift was a step on his journey, it is pride on a level I wish everyone could experience, Hawkins said. For more on NMDP, go to: https://bethematch.org/ After what they said was nearly 20 years at the Montana Club, Hometown Helena, a grassroots citizens group, said Tuesday it will now meet at a new location. Hometown Helena will now meet at Helena College, University of Montana, 1115 N. Roberts St. The weekly meetings are at 7 a.m. Thursday. Hometown Helena leadership said Tuesday in an email the groups time at the Montana Club came to an abrupt end last week. But they added it was not a total surprise. They said Ramon Mercado, secretary of the Original Montana Club Cooperative, has briefed Hometown members several times regarding the challenges faced by the historic downtown icon, which is now under voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We have really appreciated his keeping us informed and his transparency and openness, Hometown host Jim Smith wrote in an email. Thats how things happen sometime: gradually and then suddenly. The club had provided a room on the sixth floor for the hourlong meeting that usually focused on civic issues. Smith said a "Thank You" card for the Montana Club will be coming this week. Charles Robison, cooperative board president, said Tuesday the club has had insurance issues and the board decided the risk to the building is too great to limit access to the property. He said the board is working to get property insurance in place and it was not prudent for people to be in the building when it is not insured. The club, which at one time offered public dining, ended regular dinner service as of Dec. 30, but said it would be open for special events. Members of the cooperative decided in September to file for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which it did Nov. 1. The cooperative which owns the Rathskeller, the second, third and sixth floors and an office on the first floor of the seven-story building has been sued by the Montana Club Building Condominium Owners Association, which owns portions of the 31,381-square-foot Montana Club, for nearly $500,000 in unpaid assessments and interest coming out to about $700,000. Cooperative shareholders have given their board the authorization to sell all assets of the financially strapped historic downtown Helena landmark in order to stave off debt and to deal with a pending bankruptcy filing. The club, at 24 W. 6th Ave., was built in 1905 to replace the building built in 1893 that burned to the ground in 1903. The Montana Club, in the heart of downtown Helena, as a private club was founded in 1885. This weeks Hometown Helena program will be by Benefis Helena Specialty Center, which is planning to open in March at 1645 Vandelay Ave. "Get in on the ground floor of this new chapter in Hometown history," hometown leadership said in the email. Editor's note: Updates story to correct date that building was built. Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced he has directed the state's National Guard to coordinate with Texas officials about how Montana can lend resources to the southern border. The announcement officially permits Montana National Guard leadership to work with Texas to identify options to support efforts at the southern border amid state officials' standoff with the federal government, "including identifying volunteers for a potential support mission," the governor's office stated in a press release. "National security is the No. 1 responsibility of the federal government, and President Joe Biden has left Americans and our country completely vulnerable with his failure to address the cartel-fueled surge in illegal immigration and drugs," Gianforte said. "While Biden refuses to do his job and enforce the immigration laws already on the books, the state of Montana will identify meaningful ways to support Gov. Abbott and Texas in their efforts to secure the southern border." The move appears to be a step short of what other states have initiated thus far after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hosted more than a dozen other Republican governors at the southern border earlier this month. Three days ago Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced he will send law enforcement and Utah National Guard members to Texas following requests from Texas. Louisiana Gov. Leff Landry said last week he plans to deploy 150 National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border. Abbott has been at odds with the presidential administration since Biden took office, launching Operation Lone Star to ratchet up security measures beyond the federal government's own efforts. Today, I directed @GuardMontana to identify resources to support @GregAbbott_TX and the State of Texas in their efforts to secure the border. pic.twitter.com/vLWMUbW8fY Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) February 13, 2024 The Montana National Guard has in the past assisted other states with support missions. "The soldiers and airmen of the Montana National Guard are always ready to respond to requests for support from our fellow states," Major General J. Peter Hronek, Adjutant General for Montana, said in the governor's press release Tuesday. "In recent years we have provided support outside our state in response to hurricanes, flooding, and fires. We will immediately begin looking for ways to support Texas in their ongoing border mission." Options for Montana's National Guard were not immediately clear on Tuesday. The Montana State News Bureau has reached out to the governor's office for additional information. Republicans in the U.S. Senate recently blocked bipartisan border legislation, a victim of election-year politics even though the bill offered much of what the GOP wanted and as crossing remain high. For their party, Republicans said they were skeptical Biden would implement the measures in the legislation. All Jennifer Howell wanted was to find medication for her son. Instead, she was caught in a maze of desperate phone calls to pharmacies and physicians. Her son, Linus, had been diagnosed with ADHD in 2021 during the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of his behavioral traits restlessness, impulsivity, difficulty focusing suddenly made sense. When he was first prescribed medication, its effects were instantaneous. It was something that changed him within 24 hours, said Howell, of Chicago. It was enough for us to cry, saying, Oh God, I wish we had known. Howell recalled how Linus, now 10 years old, described how he felt: When my neurons are working, Im basically a genius. The relief was short-lived. In October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally announced a nationwide Adderall shortage, leaving millions scrambling to obtain prescription stimulant medication. Over a year later, theres no end in sight, and a tangled network of causes has made for no clear solution. Its the single biggest crisis right now in clinical mental health, said Greg Mattingly, president of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders and an associate clinical professor at Washington University in St. Louis. It touches everyone. ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the U.S. An estimated 9.8% of children aged 3 to 17, or about 6 million adolescents, have been diagnosed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Stimulant medications like Adderall mitigate its symptoms by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Access to prescription stimulant medications first began to unravel at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians started reporting a significant jump in ADHD diagnoses. Research compiled by FDA-affiliated scholars indicated that prescriptions for stimulant medications among people aged 20 to 29 rose 30% from April 2018 to March 2022. There are multiple theories on why thats the case, including the ease of telehealth, increased ADHD awareness and the added stressors of remote work, experts say. Theres some suspicion that working virtually seemed to really challenge individuals who had ADHD, said Julie Carbray, a clinical professor of psychiatry and nursing at the University of Illinois Chicago. Along with that was the recognition that ADHD can be diagnosed in adulthood, which is sort of a newer concept. Meanwhile, a major drugmaker began to experience an Adderall manufacturing delay, according to the FDA. When patients turned to alternative prescription stimulant medications, those too became scarce. Although the manufacturing delay has since been resolved, its long-lasting effects are exacerbated by unprecedented demand. Many pharmacies nationwide still have unpredictable inventory. It was just a horrible, perfect storm that really has trapped our patients from getting what they need to work, to perform at school, to be able to live their lives, Carbray said. Another hurdle: Because stimulant medication is a controlled substance, most people with ADHD can obtain only a 30-day supply at a time. It also means individual pharmacies cant share where the drugs are available elsewhere parents and patients have to contact each location, one by one. When Linus Adderall runs out each month, Howell and her husband divide up a list of 20 pharmacies to call. The process can take hours. It takes even more time to drive to distant pharmacies. Linus now only takes medication on school days to ration his supply. This is very real, and cognitively how he functions is dependent upon this medication being available to him, Howell said. It makes us feel like this system is not set up to accommodate people who are neurodivergent. Its difficult to pinpoint a solution. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency closely regulates controlled substances due to a high potential for abuse and addiction, imposing quotas on manufacturers to curb production. In 2022, manufacturers of amphetamine medications, which includes Adderall, only sold about 70% of their allotted quota, FDA and DEA officials said. That means about a billion doses were never made or shipped. However, because drug manufacturers are private companies, neither agency can mandate increased production. We (DEA and the FDA) have called on manufacturers to confirm they are working to increase production to meet their allotted quota amount, the agencies said in a joint statement in August. The FDA told the Tribune that it cant disclose specific production data because its considered confidential commercial information. The public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products, FDA spokesperson Chanapa Tantibanchachai said in a statement. The decreased production is likely also tied to the opioid crisis and the resulting backlash faced by manufacturers, Mattingly said. Many Big Pharma companies and some of the nations largest pharmacy chains faced a slew of lawsuits in recent years related to the handling of drugs and their role in the epidemic. In the background was the opioid crisis, and I think what happened is a number of the manufacturers, in particular generic manufacturers, became skittish about making short-acting stimulants, Mattingly said. Twenty-one-year-old Drew Goodman was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. He started taking Concerta, another prescription stimulant, about two years later. Without it, hes unable to manage his time, usually hyperfocusing on a singular activity. Its just near impossible to stop doing whatever Im doing, said Goodman, a DePaul University student. It makes it difficult just for day-to-day life. For a decade, he had no issues filling his prescription. Then, in 2021, it was out of stock at his usual pharmacy. It was the beginning of a monthly routine of tedious phone calls. Theres no alternative, he added he needs his medication. Its genuinely kind of dangerous, Goodman said. Im not exaggerating, especially if Im driving somewhere, I genuinely need it. Its dangerous to drive without it. Kathryn Gray, a clinical pharmacist at the University of Chicago, is part of a team of physicians dedicated to medication access. A large portion of her work now revolves around locating drugs that treat patients ADHD. If the hospital pharmacy doesnt have medication in stock, shell assist with the lengthy process of contacting individual stores. Its been challenging to get adequate supplies of certain medications at any given time of the year, Gray said. The back order has also exacerbated health care inequality. Many patients arent able to drive to faraway pharmacies. Others have to pay hundreds out of pocket when they switch to an available medication thats not insured. The general trend is most patients are very frustrated, very exhausted trying to deal with all of this, Gray said. Most psychiatrists now spend one hour a day, a few times a week trying to locate drugs like Adderall for their patients, according to Royce Lee, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago. I would say every single one of my patients on Adderall and its derivatives will come across this problem, Lee said. Its a very time-consuming process for everybody. Its an added layer of stress on an already difficult disorder to navigate, said Rebecca Kiel, a Buffalo Grove-based therapist specializing in ADHD. Kiel has seen dozens of patients affected professionally, academically, socially and financially by the shortage. Youve got people who are already struggling, Kiel said. Medical professionals prescribe medication as this tool, now take the tool away, and you have people struggling again with this anxiety, panic or worry because they dont have the thing that they know was helping them. The crisis doesnt appear to be abating soon. Even if Adderall was available, government agencies are wary of rapid influxes of Adderall and other prescription stimulant medications due to drug abuse, experts said. The FDA added that its working to assist manufacturers with increasing production by expediting the review process. Additional supply of Adderall is expected to return in the coming months, the agency said. In October, the DEA also increased the production quota for ADHD medications with methylphenidate, which includes drugs like Concerta. Physicians can continue to shift ADHD patients prescriptions to more readily available medication, though those in turn can experience shortages. Alternative treatment may also be more expensive for patients. It really is stressing the health care system, Lee said. This isnt sustainable. For now, ADHD patients and parents like Howell must simply hope for the best each month as they scramble to obtain essential medication. It just makes me sad, and it gives me horrible anxiety to think about, Howell said. Its just part and parcel of being one of the many parents with family members who have ADHD and cant find medication. DECATUR The community is invited to celebrate Northeast Community Funds 55th anniversary. Gifts, in the form of food donations, will be accepted. The Love Thy Neighbor drive-thru food drive will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Northeast Community Fund, 839 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Decatur. Those who donate $55 or 55 pounds worth of food will receive their own gift of a half-dozen cookies from Giggles. In the past, the agency has hosted the Love Thy Neighbor campaign with the hopes of raising $10,000, according to Paul Lidy, director of development and fundraising. But were trying to get additional food drive items, he said about the celebratory year. Northeast Community Fund benefited from the WSOY Community Food Drive before the final event in 2021. To revive a similar food drive, Salvation Army, Good Samaritan Inn, Catholic Charities and Northeast Community Fund hosted their own food drive in October. The agencies said they werent seeing community participation at the same level, according to Lidy. But we still see large needs where food costs have gone up, he said. The agencies understand the importance of providing food to the community. Therefore, Northeast Community Fund wanted to bring back Decaturs iconic drive-thru food drive. Weve combined the Love Thy Neighbor campaign with the food drive, Lidy said. According to Joshua Perkins, Northeast Community Fund food distribution director, the agency will accept nonperishable food items. Anything in a can is always good, because that lasts a good long time, he said. Anything that you would find in the dry section of your grocery store. Love Thy Neighbor Food Drive The drive-thru food drive will be from 6 am. To 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Northeast Community Fund, 839 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Decatur. Those who donate $55 or 55 pounds worth of food will receive a half-dozen cookies from Giggles. To donate or volunteer, visit northeastcommunityfund.org. During the drive-thru food drive, the items will be retrieved from the donors vehicle then weighed on the agencys warehouse scale. Throw it in a box, throw it in a bag, throw it in your truck even, it doesnt really matter, Perkins said. Donors will be directed through the building before they meet the volunteers, who will then weigh the food. For those with monetary donations, any form of payment is accepted, Perkins said. The community food drives often provide the agencies a variety of food they wouldnt normally purchase. We dont go out and buy name-brand stuff, Perkins said. It just doesnt make sense financially for us to do that. The monetary donations allow the agencies to purchase items in bulk as well as nutritional needs such as milk and eggs, and gas to retrieve the items from food distribution facilities and to make deliveries from their mobile food pantry. To encourage volunteers to join them, Northeast will hold mini celebrations throughout the food drive. The agency is also giving incentives to the individuals helping throughout the day, according to Lidy. There is traffic control, general volunteers, individuals will help weigh, he said listing the jobs. #TogetherDecatur Do you know a person or of a story that exemplifies the best of Decatur? Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983 or dbeckett@herald-review.com. Northeast Community Fund staff will be celebrating throughout much of the year, including a community celebration in July, its official birthdate. We decided to elevate that and include a couple of different things, Lidy said. To better acquaint the community with the services it provides, the agency will host Coffee and Conversation events throughout the year. The first event will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, which will include a tour of the facility. So many great donors and individuals love Northeast Community Fund, but theyve never been here, Lidy said. On Feb. 24, the agency will host a Love Thy Pet clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. A local veterinarian will provide basic medical treatment. Vouchers, pet supplies and food will also be available. Its just another way for individuals that need additional support, Lidy said. Pets are a component of that. During the anniversary celebration year, the goal for Northeast Community Fund is to represent the community. But to also continue to be out in the community, Lidy said. PHOTOS: WSOY Community Food Drive through the years DECATUR An accused Decatur drug dealer who showed off to the neighborhood mechanic fixing his car by test-firing a submachine gun has been sent to prison for six years. Treyon W. Foster, 24, took a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Caleb Brown and admitted a charge of being a felon in possession of a fully automatic weapon. Macon County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Geisler then agreed to dismiss further charges alleging the reckless discharge of a gun, two counts accusing Foster of being a felon in possession of a weapon and a charge of dealing in cannabis. Foster had been pleading not guilty and the case was headed for a trial before he made a surprise court appearance Jan. 19 and took the plea deal. A sworn affidavit filed by Decatur police said Foster was arrested Oct. 17 after patrol officers responding to reports of multiple shots fired had rushed to the 1800 block of North 34th Street around 11:30 p.m. Foster was intercepted leaving that address and told police had not heard any sounds of gunfire. But the affidavit said the cops soon found 24 spent shell casings in the area Foster was seen driving away from and officers then questioned a 27-year-old mechanic who said he had been working on Fosters car near the location of the gunfire. (The mechanic) said that Foster had mentioned having an automatic gun, said Detective Brad Hall, who signed the affidavit. He then stated Foster left and shortly after he heard rapid gunfire in the same area the shell casings were found. (The mechanic) said he then saw Foster running back to his residence in possession of a black handgun. He said he told Foster he needed to put that up. Foster then went into his own home. A subsequent search by police found the submachine gun, which was a handgun that had been modified, along with four other weapons that included an AR-15 rifle. More than 1 pounds of cannabis also was found during the search, according to Hall. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park DECATUR The Decatur Police Department is seeking the community's help in solving a string of robberies, this week's crime of the week. Police officers have responded to several burglaries during the past week. The incidents occurred to employee vehicles parked at the Decatur Fire Department building at 1415 N. Water St. "In these burglaries the suspect would arrive on a bicycle and utilize tools to break into the vehicles," officer Tucker Tool stated in a news release. The suspect was seen on surveillance camera footage wearing a black-colored stocking cap, dark-colored clothing, and a multi-colored backpack with designs throughout. The suspect was described to police as white male, thin build, six-foot tall, and having bad teeth. More information on the suspect can be found on Decatur Crime Stoppers website. Anyone with information regarding the robberies is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the crime of the week. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park WARRENSBURG Carla Miller saw an idea on social media that she thought would be fun to try with the second grade at Warrensburg-Latham Elementary School. She posted on Facebook asking people to spread the word to send valentines to the students from every state and, she hoped, other countries. I kind of debated about doing it this year, because I didn't see it until the very end of January, Miller said. So we decided we were going to go ahead and give it a shot and see if we could get all 50 states before Valentine's Day. To date, they've received 437 valentines, from all 50 states, plus Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, China, Japan, Italy, South Korea, and France. Ryder Krueger's uncle Michael Boyd, serving with the U.S. Army in Fort Stewart, Georgia, sent a supply drop box like the Army gives to soldiers. And one of Miller's friends who works at Disney World sent a card signed by Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and all the other characters. Oakbrook Elementary School in Lakewood, Washington sent a Valentine signed by an entire class, and the second grade at Warrensburg-Latham is going to return the favor. The class also made thank-you cards and cookies for their local post office to thank them for coping with the giant influx of mail for them, Miller said with a chuckle. Several cards came from countries where Landon Johansen's parents and grandparents have connections. They're not all relatives, Landon said. Some of them are friends of my parents and grandparents. My family is extended all over. The valentines are displayed on a bulletin board in the school hallway, and two maps, one of the United States, and one of the rest of the world, are covered with tiny hearts marking places where valentines have been sent from. In many cases, the people who sent the cards don't even know anyone at the school, said second grade teacher Caryn Fuiten, and it was heartwarming to know that people took the time to send the cards, often with notes added, just to do something nice for the kids. It's fun to get mail, Fuiten said. And it's just fun to see how the students are loved all over the world. And it's also a neat way to learn about our states and the states around us and the countries all over the world, and for them to learn where they are in the world. It's been a learning experience. It's been great. From matchmaking lotteries to commercial juggernaut: The evolution of Valentine's Day From matchmaking lotteries to commercial juggernaut: The evolution of Valentine's Day Ancient Roman beginnings of Valentine's Day: Lupercalia The emergence of Saint Valentine's Day Valentine's Day in a modern age BRISTOL, Tenn. Cody Johnson, Hardy and Bailey Zimmerman will headline the lineup for the fourth annual Country Thunder at Bristol Motor Speedway. Country Thunder Bristol will make its return June 28-29 and will showcase an array of country musics brightest stars. The festival will also include Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Priscilla Block, Shenandoah, Travis Denning, Jake Worthington, Josh Ross, and Emily Ann Roberts, with additional artists to be announced. From established icons to rising talents, the lineup is a testament to the festivals commitment to delivering an unforgettable two-day musical experience, according to the statement. The diversity of this years lineup guarantees something for every country music fan, says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. Whether youre a fan of traditional country, contemporary sounds, or anything in between, it will be a weekend that Eastern Tennessee will never forget Cody Johnson has established a following of passionately loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country. MusicRow predicted Cody just might be the future of real country music as his career has skyrocketed with four celebrated albums. He has 46 career RIAA certifications, a Pandora Billionaire Award and over 6 billion global streams. His numerous industry honors include recognition as a CMT Artist of The Year, three CMT Music Awards wins, two CMA Awards and being named Best New Country Artist at the iHeart Music Awards. Hardy has never been just one thing. Uncaging a new chapter, Hardy soared to new heights with the release of the mockingbird & THE CROW, his critically acclaimed half-country, half-rock sophomore album, adding to over 2 billion career streams. The17-track effort debuted top five all genre on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and led seven additional Billboard charts in its first week, including Top Country Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Album Sales. Bailey Zimmerman surged to the forefront of 21st century country music with the release of Religiously. The Album., which arrived as not only the biggest all-genre streaming debut since 2021, but also the biggest streaming country debut of all time. Deriving its name from his third consecutive #1 single, Religiously, the LP entered at No. 3 on Billboards Top Country Albums chart and No. 7 on their all-genre Billboard 200 chart. A recipient of multiple award nominations in 2023, Zimmerman earned nods from the Billboard Music Awards, ACM Awards, Peoples Choice Country Awards and CMT Music Awards. Two-day general admission, gold circle, platinum experience, camping and all the extras on sale now at countrythunder.com or by phone at 1-866-388-0007. THE U.S. DAIRY HEIFER INVENTORY FELL TO A 20-YEAR LOW, according to numbers released by USDA. At the first of this year, there were 4.06 million heifers weighing over 500 pounds across the country. THE NUMBER OF HEIFERS EXPECTED TO CALVE this year is 2.59 million head, the smallest inventory by far since tracking began in 2001. Elevated rearing costs, along with high beef prices that incentivized more producers to use beef sires, are some factors that contributed to this decline. TIGHT HEIFER SUPPLIES FORCED DAIRY PRODUCERS to rein in cull rates last fall, according to Sarina Sharp from the Daily Dairy Report. Dairy cow slaughter remained well below normal, and over the first three weeks of this year, it lagged 2023s pace by 24%. ALL CATTLE AND CALVES IN THE U.S. AS OF JANUARY 1 (dairy and beef) totaled 87.2 million head, down 2% from the year before. THE NUMBER OF DAIRY COWS FELL SLIGHTLY IN 2023 to 9.36 million head. Meanwhile, milk production rose marginally to 226.6 billion pounds, a 0.04% year-over-year gain from 2022. POTENTIAL RESTRAINTS ON MILK OUTPUT resulted in upward price movement in many product categories, including Class III futures that now sit in the $17-range for March to May as of early February. THE AVERAGE CLASS III PRICE FOR THE YEAR could be around $17.30, which is similar to 2023 and isnt good news for farmers, noted StoneXs Nate Donnay. The Class IV milk price, on the other hand, could be closer to $21, which would be almost $2 higher than in 2023. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, DONNAY SAID FEED COSTS are expected to come down by about 15%, which would improve farmer margins, especially for the second half of the year. Read more on page 91. ENROLLMENT FOR THE DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE (DMC) program remained closed. Software and database updates needed to make milk production history modifications is one reason for the delay. AFTER 12 WEEKS OF TESTIMONY AND CROSS-EXAMINATION, the longest Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing in history concluded on January 30. USDA will now proceed through the required steps before presenting a final rule for producers to vote on. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION sent a letter to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging the agency to issue a final decision on an emergency basis to speed up the implementation of the higher of Class I mover formula to buffer farmers from further losses during the remaining FMMO revision process. Read more on page 102. EXPORTS ARE A GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR DAIRY, but sales overseas weakened in 2023. Just over 5.8 billion pounds of dairy products were sent abroad, down 7.3% from the year before. A sluggish global economy and noncompetitive prices held back U.S. exports. EXPORTS TO MEXICO REACHED A RECORD HIGH of nearly 1.59 billion pounds in 2023. Unfortunately, exports to other major destinations were lower, including China (down 14%) and Canada (down 11%). CHINAS WHOLE MILK POWDER IMPORTS IN 2023 plummeted 38.4% compared to 2022, while ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, butter, and whey imports were also down. Skim milk powder imports tumbled at the end of the year but were up slightly overall in 2023. Cheese was the import winner, up 23% from the year before. One of the most fundamental distinctions between quartz and granite countertops is their manufacturing process. In the context of countertops, you can call granite a natural stone surface and quartz an engineered stone surface. Natural Origins Both quartz and granite countertops have their origins in genuine natural materials. Quartz is a crystalline mineral consisting mainly of silica. Meanwhile, granite is an igneous rock composed of various minerals, such as feldspar, mica, and quartz. Advertisement Both can be different colors, like black, brown, red, blue or green, depending on what other elements are present. Manufacturing Differences However, manufacturers use these resources in different ways when making countertops. They craft granite surfaces by taking pieces from large granite slabs and cutting them to the desired specifications. In contrast, producers combine crushed quartz crystals with resins and other minerals to create what they call "engineered quartz" or "engineered stone" before turning it into a quartz countertop. This non-porous surface has a uniform appearance and texture that resembles real stone even though it's the manmade result of a carefully honed manufacturing process. After almost a year of debates, discussions and several community events, the Cabarrus County Board of Education made their final decision on a district-wide realignment plan Monday night, voting 4-3 to approve Scenario C, which had been recommended by Cooperative Strategies. Chair Denise Adcock, vice chair Sam Treadaway, Pamela Escobar and Brian Floyd voted to approve Scenario C, while Laura Blackwell Lindsey, Rob Walter and Keshia Sandidge opposed it. Under Scenario C, roughly 4,000 students in the district are estimated to move to different schools, as students are projected to be reassigned from 13 elementary schools, seven middle schools and five high schools. The long-range realignment plan will help guide the school system for the next decade, as expected growth across the county will increase the student population from 35,000 to more than 40,000. Scenario C also includes the closure of Beverly Hills Elementary. The board, in another 4-3 vote, approved closing the school during an emotional meeting last week. I do not love everything in this plan, Escobar said. But I know its been vetted and people had an opportunity to weigh in and share if they support it. She added that growth has to be supported in a logical data-driven way, noting that more neighborhoods will stay together with Scenario C. Walter was concerned about the lack of funding from the county commissioners for the new Coltrane-Webb/Beverly Hills replacement school and that the district has not done enough to address overcrowding in schools. We talked about we want to get this right. A lot of us have said that, Walter explained. But its not right if theres issues here that were not addressing. Walter made an alternative motion to delay the approval of a realignment plan for another year, which would allow the school board and district more time to review the data and make the best possible decision. His motion failed 4-3, with Lindsey and Sandidge supporting it. Lindsey opposed Scenario C mainly because it would not allow rising fifth and eighth graders to remain at their current schools. Rising seniors will be granted legacy status to remain at their schools instead of being realigned. As part of Scenario C, 129 rising seniors from high schools that would be impacted would be allowed to stay their final year and graduate, Kopicki said, while 337 rising fifth-grade and 498 rising eighth-grade students would be reassigned to other schools. Those students have been through so much over the last few years including dealing with virtual learning due to the pandemic, Lindsey said. What would it possibly hurt to let those kids be able to do that for one more year and stay with their classes? Sandidge said she has been leery of the realignment process and Cooperative Strategies role in creating the three boundary scenarios that were presented late last year. I dont have to justify anything that Ive said, Sandidge told the board. I stand by that every single kid is one kid, of 35,000 and we have got to take into the individual as we take into account the whole. We are the sum of all our parts, not 35,000. While the plan was not perfect, Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki assured the board that Scenario C is the best option for students moving forward. Without question, I fully believe and am completely confident that the recommendation that sits before you after a years worth of homework, research, working with consultants, working with our own team that it is a better path forward for our school system, Kopicki said. Opposition To realignment Many people across the community spoke out against the realignment plan during the public comment period, highlighting the disruption having to change schools will cause to students. Parents from the Twin Creeks subdivision in Concord opposed Scenario C, as the plan would rezone 12 students in the area. The students currently attend Cox Mill Elementary, Harold E. Winkler Middle and Cox Mill High but with the realignment, they would have to commute to Carl A Furr Elementary, Roberta Road Middle and Jay M. Robinson High, which are all much further away. I cannot find one metric that meets why we should be rezoned, said parent Ryan Palmer, noting students would have to travel ten times further to attend Jay M. Robinson compared with Cox Mill. Asiya Palmer, a freshman at Cox Mill, spoke about the challenges of leaving behind the friends shes made to travel to a new school, where she would not know anyone. Ever since I found out that the rezoning was even a possibility, Ive been more stressed than I have been in a while, Palmer told the board. Its taken the joy out of knowing that theres room to grow at Cox Mill, whether its with the clubs or on a class pathway. It saddens me to know that I may not be able to have the same opportunities that my peers are going to have next year if I get rezoned and Im not going to make these in-school memories with my friends, Palmer added. Kopicki conceded that minor changes to the plan could be enacted, especially for the 12 students. I think there are a few items that could be readdressed and reviewed, he said. Other members of the public voiced their disapproval at the board closing Beverly Hills, which has been around for 70 years and was high-performing, as it scored 90.7% last year on its school report card, indicating it had exceeded academic growth. Julia Hartsell Chisholm, a member of the Save Our Schools (SOS) group, wished the district had engaged with the Beverly Hills community about the possibility of closing the school before the realignment scenarios were made public. You have eroded our trust in you as elected officials and as a byproduct, you have deepened the mistrust that we have for the CCS Staff, Chisholm said. The only way the board can start to build back the trust of the community is to keep the Beverly Hills students together once the school closes, instead of dividing them among several schools, and allow them to attend the new Coltrane-Webb/Beverly Hills replacement school. Kopicki said the majority of Beverly Hills students will be attending W.M. Irvin Elementary next year but cannot promise that all the students will be together. A smaller portion of students will likely attend Winecoff Elementary and Royal Oaks. I understand the passion behind them wanting to be swung together, Kopicki said, noting it is something the district can look into. CONCORD - Two suspects have been arrested and are facing murder charges in connection with the death of 33-year-old Jeramie Stefaun Forrest of Concord. According to a press release from the Concord Police Department, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Alfred Jerome Glascoe of Kannapolis was arrested and charged with murder and felony possession of marijuana. He is currently being held in the Cabarrus County Jail without bond. Osyris Jimal Burnett of Kershaw, S.C. was also taken into custody on Tuesday, Feb. 13, and he is awaiting extradition from South Carolina on murder and felony possession of marijuana charges. On Jan. 28, 2024, at approximately 9:54 p.m., Concord Police responded to a call to assist the Concord Fire Department and Cabarrus County EMS with a man lying in the road near the intersection of American Avenue NE and Madison Avenue NE. When officers arrived, Concord Fire Department personnel were rendering life-saving aid to an individual who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Unfortunately, the victim, later identified as 33-year-old Jeramie Stefaun Forrest, succumbed to his injuries, and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Concord Police Department said it would like to thank the Kannapolis Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Lancaster County SC Sheriffs Office, Richland County SC Sheriffs Office, and the United States Secret Service for their assistance in this investigation and apprehension of the suspects in this case. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for Black women is three times higher than for white women. The CDC also reports that 60% of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Because of persisting racial disparities and biases in the field of obstetrics, countless deaths occur for Black mothers across the United States. In high school, I completed my STEM senior capstone project about the maternal health disparities and biases in medicine. My classmates and I completed an educational session with aspiring health care professionals about common medical misconceptions by race, informed them about maternal mortality disparities and introduced doulas as a potential field of interest. This project sparked my overwhelming interest in womens health. Coming to Charlotte as a Levine Scholar, I wanted to use the opportunities available through this scholarship to understand the state of womens health in the city, work with local organizations that address womens health issues, and join clubs and organizations that support the cause. Building a foundation for the future During my first semester, through a partnership between the Levine Scholars Program Research Mentoring Initiative and the Academy for Population Health Innovation, I joined the research project Holistic Opportunity Program for Everyone Initiative led by Victoria Scott and Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, faculty in the Department of Psychological Science, and Tamikia Greene, assistant health director, Mecklenburg County Health Department. This initiatives goal is to integrate behavioral health services in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, and Family Planning Clinics in the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department with a special focus on screening women who may have postpartum depression. Joining this APHI project would establish a strong foundation for my future endeavors in the field of public health, because I had the opportunity to see how academia and public health could work together to make recommendations that are both practical and data-informed. One fundamental component of the Levine Scholars Program is a civic engagement project. Each scholar is allocated $8,000 to implement a project with a nonprofit organization of their choice. At the end of my first year, I learned of an existing project, Harvesting Healthy Habits. The goal of this project, partnered with the Salvation Army Center of Hope, a homeless shelter for single women and families, was to provide broad health education to the women and children of the shelter and supply essential products for self-care. Each session had a different focus such as dental, skin, eye or maternal health. It was perfect for me because it combined my interests in medicine and public health while serving a community that is important to me. Interacting with the women during the educational sessions stood out. I loved having meaningful and engaging conversations with the residents about their health. As I take full ownership of the project this academic year, I hope to continue providing even more essential products and health education to the women of the shelter. One of my goals is to partner with additional local organizations that share a similar goal of increasing access to health care for this community. Joining a community of student leaders Being nominated and selected to participate in the Newman Civic Fellowship is a highlight of my time so far at Charlotte. I am very excited to join a community of students from across the United States who are leaders in their cities and who have an interest in taking action to solve public problems. During my next two years at Charlotte, I hope to make a difference in the state of womens health by conducting research about maternal-child health disparities and implementing sustainable programs to help marginalized communities. I know the resources and guidance from the Newman Civic Fellowship will assist me in achieving my goals. For anyone who is interested in learning more about the maternal health crisis in the U.S., I highly recommend watching the documentary, Aftershock. The UNC Charlotte Maternal Child Health Workgroup sponsored a screening on campus. This documentary, which follows the families of Black women who died due to preventable pregnancy-related complications, sheds light on changes we can advocate for within the health care and legal systems to prevent such tragic deaths from happening. Other ways to get involved include joining the MCH Workgroup or Health Care Justice and to volunteer at local organizations such as Care Ring. The overwhelming action this country is taking to improve the maternal mortality disparities leaves me optimistic for the future. With education, advocacy and action, I know the future is marked with equitable health care outcomes for all. Morris approach to managed growth works Editor, It is my belief that growth, wisely managed, benefits us all. New businesses, new well-paying jobs, new places to explore on the weekends, new parks and trails, new friends and neighbors, new restaurants, new shops, new schools. Good growth, even in Cabarrus County, is not a given. Much of this bounty of new opportunities that we enjoy is the result of careful planning and management and a myriad of large and small decisions made by our locally-elected officials over many years. Steve Morris, as Cabarrus County Commissioner since 2012, has been instrumental in making the carefully thought-out decisions which have attracted beneficial growth to Cabarrus County. I am very grateful for Steves willingness to serve, his steady and wise leadership and his commitment to improve the lives of all Cabarrus County citizens. The future is truly in our hands. I support the re-election of Steve Morris to the Cabarrus County Commission so that we may continue to enjoy the good growth that will give us a future that we and our children can be proud of. Cyndie Mynatt Concord Listening led to help for local mental health Editor, Our children face more pressure than ever from many sources their peers, social media, expectations to perform on school testing, just to name a few. The mental health of our children and the impact on their future health is something that should concern us all. I saw this firsthand during the 30 years I worked with the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office. Many people may not realize it, but if your child has an emotional issue thats severe enough to cause an emergency room visit, your child can be placed in state protective custody and transported by the sheriff department to a facility in another area of the state, likely Raleigh. Imagine your child suffering emotional upheaval placed in the back of a law enforcement vehicle for a two-hour ride to a place unknown and not near family. The reason we dont have a treatment facility in Cabarrus County, but thanks to the efforts of Steve Morris, soon, there will be a behavioral health facility here in Cabarrus County. Steve Morris listened to health care and law enforcement professionals as we expressed concerns about the needs for public awareness of mental health issues faced by the children and adults in our community and the need to improve access to treatment and recovery. He worked directly with legislators to get $32.5 million dollars in state money to build a new mental health facility right here in Cabarrus County. When a federal grant became available, Steve Morris worked to get $3.5 million so a behavioral health emergency department can be built at our local hospital, Atrium Health. Having care and treatment close to home can mean everything when our children or loved ones are suffering. Im proud that Steve Morris cared enough about some of the most vulnerable people in our community and stepped up to help. Ill be voting to elect Steve Morris to the Cabarrus County Commission in the upcoming Republican primary. I hope youll consider joining me. Laura Heggins Retired Captain CCSO/Former Member Mental Health Advisory Committee A team of leaders keeps the economy robust Editor, North Carolina enjoys a robust state economy with unparalleled investment and job creation by both small businesses and companies locating here. North Carolina is repeatedly recognized as a business-friendly state in multiple national rankings. I have served in the North Carolina State House representing Cabarrus County since 2020. Working together in the General Assembly, Sen. Paul Newton, Rep. Kevin Crutchfield and I are pleased to report that we secured more than $185 million for the people of Cabarrus County. This state money has gone to help agencies and organizations on the front lines of critical needs in our community the Cabarrus County Sheriff Department, Concord Police Department, volunteer fire departments who struggle to fund operations and retain help, Rowan Cabarrus Community College, the Harrisburg YMCA, the Concord Airport, Cooperative Christian Ministries, the Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County. Additionally, these funds have supported much needed infrastructure critical to our community, including the development of a firefighters training facility in Midland, and the construction of sidewalks in Mt. Pleasant. Every one of these efforts enhances the wellbeing of our citizens. Bringing state money back to Cabarrus County so we can continue to attract new business and industry requires a team; Sen. Newton, Rep. Crutchfield, and I can not do it alone. We need leaders at the local level who are forward-thinking and pro-business. Steve Morris is one of those leaders. During the time I have served in the N.C.House, Steve has been a consistent and trusted partner, one who identifies needs, does his homework, and then works with those of us serving at the state level to try to find solutions and qualify for state money. He has been a driving force in aggressively recruiting more than 71 new businesses and industries like Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company to Cabarrus County. Steve has worked to restore Cabarrus Countys reputation as a place where elected officials are willing to work together to get things done. This occurs informally throughout the year, but is strengthened by dedicated forums like the quarterly Public Official Summits at which all city, town and county elected officials gather to discuss the most pressing needs of our residents. These meetings help eliminate duplication of efforts. And that saves taxpayers money. Steve is also working with those of us at the state level to find new uses for the Stonewall Jackson Training School property so that these deteriorating historic buildings can be salvaged and placed back on the tax books, again saving taxpayer money. During my time in the N.C. House, I have relied on Steve Morris to represent the interests of our citizens in Cabarrus County in a genuine and selfless manner. He has consistently demonstrated that he leads with honesty and integrity. Steve Morris is running for re-election to the Cabarrus County Commission in the upcoming Republican primary. I am pleased to support and endorse him. I hope you will join me in voting for Steve. He is the strong and effective leader we need. Rep. Dr. Kristin Baker Concord Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU. The Mill is once again hosting the Crossroads Pitch Competition. The Crossroads Pitch Competition is an annual competition that promotes some of the best entrepreneurs in Indiana. Winners of the competition receive investments to help further their business ideas. The Crossroads competition began in 2017 and has gained many notable sponsors including Indiana University, who hosted last falls competition. Last falls competition winners featured two educational-based apps. One app called Pocket, a platform used to teach students band and orchestra, received $10,000 from the Flywheel Fund, a not-for-profit fund. The other winner, Integrate School, a curriculum building software, received $20,000. This years competition begins this Friday and applications are due by February 14. This week on Noon Edition, we will speak with experts about the Crossroads competition and Bloomingtons entrepreneur scene. You can follow us on X formerly known as Twitter - at @NoonEdition or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org. Guests Katie Sensabaugh - Director of the Chamber's Foundation & Internal Operations for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Pat East - Executive Director of The Mill & Managing Partner of the Flywheel Fund Laurie McRobbie - One of the Judges of this Spring's Crossroads Pitch Competition Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, told CNN that a toddler was able to breach the fence around the White House, setting off security alarms. The "curious young visitor" crawled through the fence posts on the north side and was quickly apprehended by Secret Service police officers, who reunited him with his parents. Perhaps he's considering a bid for 2052. [CNN, 4/18/2023] CHARLESTON A Mattoon man is set to serve 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of reproducing images of child pornography involving victims under age 13. Dayqwan Slaughter, 23, accepted a plea agreement with the Coles County State's Attorney's Office during a hearing on Feb. 5. Slaughter entered a guilty plea to four counts of reproduction. He received seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the first count and six years each for the other three counts, all Class X felonies. He will serve the four terms consecutively. Under the plea agreement, the state's attorney's office is not pursuing the other 12 counts of child pornography possession or reproduction that it had filed against Slaughter following his arrest on Dec. 19. The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 said in a news release that a search warrant was executed on Dec. 19 at an address in Mattoon as part of an investigation by the state police and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to the release, Slaughter was taken into custody that day for possession of child pornography. Slaughter, who was represented in court by Public Defender Duane Deters, will get credit for the 48 days spent in jail since his arrest. Who are they? IL children reported missing as of February 11 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). MATTOON Lake Land College Trustee Mike Sullivan of Mattoon has stepped down from this position after more than 37 years of service on the board. Sullivan, who made this announcement during the board meeting Monday night, said in a Lake Land press release that he has always been a person who gives it his all when he gets involved in something. "Over the last several months personal reasons have not allowed me to be as active as a trustee as I would like and that is why I am stepping down," Sullivan said. "It has been my privilege and honor to serve as a college trustee for over 37 years, and I will deeply miss being an active board member." Board Chair Gary Cadwell said in the press release that, We thank Mike for his numerous years of service to the board, the staff and the generations of Lake Land College students who have benefited from his generous service and vision as a trustee. Sullivan was first elected in 1987 and was reelected numerous consecutive times, serving longer than any other trustee in the colleges history. Most recently, Sullivan was re-elected in April for another six-year term. In addition to his service as a trustee, Sullivan is a Lake Land alumnus and advocate for community colleges throughout the state and nation. Sullivan said he is proud of the opportunity to influence the lives of the many successful students who attended Lake Land and went on to accomplish their goals. Im immensely proud of Lake Land College and all that we have accomplished during my tenure. I have no doubt the college will continue to flourish and provide our district residents with the highest quality education for years to come, Sullivan said. Lake Land President Josh Bullock said in the press release that they are grateful for the many years of dedicated service Sullivan has given to the college. "We thank him for his visionary leadership and guidance. His exemplary service and his passion for helping students is immeasurable. We wish him the very best as he begins this new chapter in his life," Bullock said. Sullivans connection to Lake Land began when he was a student and young veteran in the late 1960s during the formative years of the college, which held its first classes in fall 1967. He continued those ties as a trustee. During his tenure, Sullivan worked with the administration and staff to bring several projects to fruition at Lake Land. These undertakings include the Veterans Memorial and Flag, Alumni Park, the John Deere program, the Kluthe Center and Effingham Technology Center, and energy conservation measures. Sullivan also represented the college at the state level for many years. He chaired or served as a member of every Illinois Community College Trustees Association Committee, including 25 years as a member of its Government Relations Committee. Lake Land's board is scheduled to honor Sullivan at its monthly meeting on March 11. The college is accepting letters of interest to fill the vacancy created by Sullivan's resignation. Those interested in filling this position may submit written materials to Lake Land College Office of the President, attention Jean Anne Highland, chief of staff, 5001 Lake Land Boulevard, Mattoon, IL 61938, or via email to jhighland@lakelandcollege.edu by March 1. Applicants should submit their reason for seeking the appointment, and qualifications and experience in other areas which may enhance public policy or decision-making. They must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of Illinois and the community college district for one year immediately preceding the election. The board will vote on the replacement at the March 11 meeting. The individual selected will be seated at the April 8 meeting and will serve until the April 2025 election. Close A contractor on a lift works within a canyon of structural steel on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. St. John's has been accommodating its growing enrollment by using temporary classroom space in the adjacent First Presbyterian Church building, seen in the background. A contractor uses a lift to work on structural steel on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Contractors begin setting up structural steel on Monday at for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School that is being constructed to the east of the church in Mattoon. Contractors lift structural steel and put it in place on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Drake Homes of Charleston is serving as the general contractor the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Workers began setting up structural steel on Monday at the construction site, across from the rest of St. John's campus. Photos: Structural steel goes up for new St. John's Lutheran School building Contractors began setting up the structural steel on Monday for construction of the building that will house the middle school and the new high school for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. A contractor on a lift works within a canyon of structural steel on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. St. John's has been accommodating its growing enrollment by using temporary classroom space in the adjacent First Presbyterian Church building, seen in the background. A contractor uses a lift to work on structural steel on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Contractors begin setting up structural steel on Monday at for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School that is being constructed to the east of the church in Mattoon. Contractors lift structural steel and put it in place on Monday at the construction site for the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Drake Homes of Charleston is serving as the general contractor the new middle and high schools building for St. John's Lutheran School in Mattoon. Workers began setting up structural steel on Monday at the construction site, across from the rest of St. John's campus. Krispy Kreme Inc. reported Tuesday another significant gain in U.S. and global retail outlets during fiscal 2023, increasing 19.5% to 14,147 in 39 countries. The companys ultimate goal is 75,000 global points of sales, including 15,000 in the U.S. However, analysts sought updates on Krispy Kremes partnership with McDonalds in Kentucky and the status of exploring strategic alternatives with its Insomnia Cookies subsidiary during the fourth-quarter conference call. McDonalds began carrying three Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties original glazed, chocolate iced with rainbow sprinkles and raspberry-filled in October 2022. The doughnuts are being delivered fresh daily and are sold individually or in a six-pack of either original glazed or mixed flavors. Krispy Kreme expanding its menu collaboration with McDonalds in March 2023, going from nine to 160 restaurants and into a second major market in Lexington along with Louisville. Bank of America Corp. analysts have said the partnership could generate $350 million in annual sales, with Krispy Kreme likely getting 75% and McDonalds 25%. Doughnuts would need to account for about 1% of McDonalds sales, or 4% of breakfast sales, to be considered a success, they said. Chief executive Josh Charlesworth cited Tuesday Krispy Kremes positive developments in its delivered fresh daily network in new markets, as well as its McDonalds partnership. Charlesworth said Krispy Kreme continues to evaluate its McDonalds sales amid analyst speculation it may expand its reach in the quick service restaurant sector. Discussions are ongoing and productive about an expanded partnership, and well provide an update when we have it, Charlesworth said. Charlesworth said the company is confident in its ability to expand its delivered fresh daily network in the U.S. and globally, including quick service restaurants. Charlesworth cited the recent securing of production sites in existing buildings in Miami, Minneapolis and Los Angeles to keep up with demand. There also are plans to expand in New York and the Northeast. The investments we are making are in broad support of the overall, not particularly dependent on McDonalds, he said. It make a lot of sense for our business going forward to bring Krispy Kreme to more people in those channels. Charlesworth said McDonalds has about 14,000 stores nationwide, and Krispy Kreme could serve about 6,000 of those with its existing network. Were actually looking all over the country as we build out our plans for delivery fresh daily and quick service restaurants, he said. He said some of its hubs have the ability to add production capacity as warranted with quick service restaurants. Charlesworth said Krispy Kreme is modernizing the making and moving of doughnuts to ensure high-quality, profitable growth. That includes conducting pilot programs in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles of third-party delivery networks. Insomnia update The company said on Oct. 3 it was exploring strategic alternatives for its Insomnia Cookies subsidiary that could include selling the business. Insomnia, known for its late-night cookie delivery services, typically is located near college campuses. It has expanded its menu to include brownies, cookie cakes and ice cream. Among its 10 stores in North Carolina are locations at 706 N. Trade St. in downtown Winston-Salem and in Boone and Greensboro. Insomnia sales rose 16.3% during fiscal 2023 that include debuts into the Canadian and U.K. markets. As has been the recent case with several corporations, Krispy Kreme said the motivation for selling Insomnia is divesting itself of a non-core product offering. Todays decision enables Krispy Kreme to unlock shareholder value and focus on its core strategy of producing, selling and distributing fresh doughnuts daily, the company said in the Oct. 3 statement. Charlesworth told analysts he would not provide an update until there is a meaningful development. The company said Tuesday it remains pleased with Insomnia sales, growth and profitability during 2023. There continues to be lots of opportunities to expand in the U.S. and internationally, to grow double digits in 2024, chief financial officer Jeremiah Ashukian said. A federal appeals court overturned on Friday certain determinations by a federal patent board involving a Philip Morris International Inc. affiliate and its heated cigarette technology dispute with a Reynolds American Inc. subsidiary. In January 2022, a three-judge panel of the federal Patent Trial and Appeal Board determined as unpatentable all RAI Strategic Holdings Inc. claims for the 915 patent and claims 1 through 12 and 18 through 30 for the 542 patent. In both cases, the decisions were the final word from the board. The 915 patent relates to smoking articles that employ an electrical heating element and an electrical power source to provide an inhalable substance in a vapor or aerosol form, without substantially burning or completely burning tobacco or other substances. Meanwhile, the 542 patent is directed to articles wherein tobacco, a tobacco derived material or other material is heated, preferably without significant combustion, to provide an inhalable substance ... in a vapor or aerosol form. Reynolds appealed the decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Circuit court ruled on the 542 patent, saying we affirm the boards holding that claims 1-9, 11, 12, 19-26 and 28-30 are unpatentable as obvious. We vacate the boards finding that claims 10 and 27 lack written-description support and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The 542 patent is designed to create improvements and alternatives to provide the sensations associated with cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking, without delivering considerable quantities of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products. According to federal law, a claim is unpatentable if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Neither party could be immediately reached for comment on the appeals courts ruling. Philip Morris said in response to the January 2022 ruling: We are extremely pleased with the well-reasoned PTAB decisions, which further demonstrate the futility of RJR/BATs efforts to litigate this patent family. Reynolds said in January 2022 that we disagree with the decision finding (the 915 ruling) invalid partially contradicting the International Trade Commissions ruling, which was based on a highly developed evidentiary record, including a six-day trial with live witnesses. Heated settlement On Feb. 2, global tobacco manufacturing rivals British American Tobacco Plc and Philip Morris International announced a settlement that resolves all patent infringement litigation related to their heated tobacco and vapor products. Perhaps the biggest impact is that BAT agrees to allow Philip Morris to re-introduce its IQOS heated cigarette products into the U.S. marketplace, potentially as early as the second quarter. Those products were branded as Marlboro HeatSticks. The agreement covers eight years and is globally applicable. BAT is the parent company of Reynolds American Inc. The series of high-profile patent lawsuits and counter lawsuits go back to 2018, with both BAT and Philip Morris gaining wins in several court and regulatory levels. The agreement does not provide for any monetary compensation in exchange for settlement, but we believe the agreement is mutually beneficial to both parties on an ongoing basis, PMI said in a statement. The manufacturers agreed to not sue each other on a perpetual royalty-free basis over electronic cigarette and heated cigarette patents, as well as allow each manufacturer to introduce new versions of those products. Although the manufacturers released a joint settlement announcement, their news releases featured a statement only from their top executive. BAT chief executive Tadeu Marroco said the agreement is an important step forward for BAT and all our stakeholders. Marroco added that both BATs glo heated cigarette and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.s top-selling e-cigarette Vuse have both eclipsed $1.2 billion in brand value. The international version of IQOS gained Food and Drug Administration authorization for sale in April 2019 with the caveat that it does not mean these products are safe or FDA approved. Over the next 2 years, PM USA sold Marlboro HeatSticks in convenience stores, primarily in the Southeast and in the Triad. The product was sold in the U.S. through a licensing agreement with PMI. However, in September 2021 BAT won a major regulatory victory when the U.S. International Trade Commission determined that PM USAs selling of the PMI heated cigarette product violated the federal Tariff Act of 1930. The violations were related to three heated cigarette product patents held by BAT/Reynolds and issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office between November 2012 and December 2019. The trade commission barred PM USA from importing three PMI versions of IQOS, as well as halted all Marlboro HeatSticks sales in the U.S. that PM USA voluntarily halted in July 2021. The U.S. Trade Representative affirmed the ITC ruling in November 2021. PMI said the settlement agreement serves to lift the ITC prohibition. Wake Forest University School of Medicine said Monday it has been awarded $340,000 from The Duke Endowment to help patients in historically Black communities. The goal is enhancing access and helping people navigate the health systems and social service resources in Forsyth County. The program is a partnership with Forsyth nonprofit Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods. Rachel Zimmer was awarded the grant for her project, Training neighbors for better neighborhoods community ambassadors. She is founder of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptists Mobile Health Program and Fresh Food Rx program. The Community Ambassadors program will help create the nonprofits place-based community health worker programming to support health navigation. The program was developed in direct response to feedback from community members during comprehensive listening sessions conducted by the nonprofit in 2022. The new team of community health workers will be hired from the communities in which they will serve, working to bridge the disparities in the quality and accessibility of healthcare services available to all. For more information, call Baptists Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at 336-716-4589 or go to Giving.wakehealth.edu. Nebraska death-row inmate Marco Torres Jr. listened from prison in Tecumseh as his public defender presented oral argument in his federal challenge last week. Federal Public Defender Stephen Ferrell made the rare request in December. Under the circumstances, and especially since this is Mr. Torres single and last opportunity for federal review of his capital convictions and sentence, his case merits an effective and thorough presentation of the issues and therefore, counsel requests the opportunity to argue all of these issues to this Court and to have the opportunity to answer any questions the Court may have. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office had objected to the move, saying they were concerned of the slippery slope for future cases and concern that Torres attorney might improperly argue information outside the record. But Magistrate Judge Michael Nelson said he found the benefit of additional arguments outweighs these hypothetical concerns. In his order granting the motion, he cited the complexity of the issues in the case, the changing legal landscape of capital habeas cases since the case has been pending, and the seriousness of the issues. At Thursdays hearing held by phone with audio later uploaded, Nelson started by pointing the attorneys to a couple of items of interest to him, two claims Torres attorney raised, involving claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct in the case. It is rather unusual, but I think that the facts of this case are unique and deserve some discussion, Ferrell said. Torres, 48, was sent to death row on two counts of first-degree murder for killing roommates Timothy Donohue, 48, and Edward Hall, 60, in Grand Island in 2007. Investigators found his DNA on the belt of a bath robe used to gag Hall, and he was on camera using Halls debit card two days before his body was found. Ferrell said he wanted to emphasize to the court that this isnt a fishing expedition or some wild goose chase. These are specific allegations for specific information that we think could potentially help our claim, he said of further discovery hes requesting in the case. Ferrell said Torres attorneys at trial were ineffective for not striking a juror who answered send them home to a question about Hispanics, in general, on a jury questionnaire mailed out before trial. He said it showed explicit bias on behalf of the man, who ultimately sat on the jury. And, he pointed to a conflict with another client, a potential witness in Torres case, that led to his prior attorneys withdrawal from the case, though the reason wasnt disclosed to new counsel. We also, through discovery, want to more firmly prove that state action was involved in covering up this evidence and keeping it from the actual trial attorneys, Ferrell alleged. The Nebraska Supreme Court previously had said it was error to allow prosecutors to offer evidence of a kidnapping three weeks earlier that never was reported to police, though it was harmless given the overwhelming evidence. Ferrell argued against the notion, saying the states theory seemed to be undone by the forensic evidence. That cigarette butts at the house simply proved he smoked there with Donohue, he said, and his DNA could have been transferred to the robe because investigators who collected it didnt change their gloves. He said it made no sense that Torres would stay in town for three days after stealing Halls car if, as the state theorized, he had been desperate to get to Texas but needed money and transportation first to do it. On the other side, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Stacy Foust said, as the prosecutor pointed out in closing arguments: We will never know why Mr. Torres stayed, but that does not mean he did not commit the murders. Ferrell described Torres as a scared man in a dire circumstance, who believed he was being set up for murder, a description to which she took issue. Torres interview with law enforcement contradicts any notion that he was a scared man. He 100% thought that he could control the narrative, she said. Foust said Torres first blamed two other men for the murders, then claimed he had a recording of one of them confessing. When that didnt work, he tried to fabricate evidence, she said. He wasnt scared. He thought he was the smartest person in the room, she said. Foust said the majority of Torres argument is, as Ferrell put it, designed to show that every brick used by the state to build its case is riddled with weakness. But, she said, a habeas petitioner cannot prevail by having the federal court chip away the circumstantial evidence the jury heard and that the state courts found was sufficient. Nelson took the matter under advisement, subject to further briefing. Nebraska's 11 death row inmates Jose Sandoval Nikko Jenkins John Lotter Raymond Mata Jorge Galindo Erick Vela Jeffrey Hessler Roy Ellis Marco Torres Anthony Garcia Aubrey Trail In between her jam-packed schedule full of debate team practices, various club meetings and presidential duties for the schools Feminist Club Cassidy Bell spends her free time unlike most high school students: Advocating for menstrual equity. The Lincoln East seniors passion started a few years back when she and her friends realized that not everybody has easy access to menstrual products, that period poverty is a very real thing, even in Nebraska. Even in their own school. It was as if a light bulb had suddenly lit up above Bells head. She instantly wanted to jump into action and she did. She started by spending a day with her friends set up outside of a local Hy-Vee asking grocery shoppers for donations to buy period products to place in the bathrooms at East. Then, Bell helped found the Feminist Club to keep the conversation going. I was really, really happy with the results, she said. But, it wasnt enough to just have the womens restrooms at her high school stocked. Bell believed everybody in need of tampons or pads at all Lincoln Public Schools middle and high schools deserved free access to those products. So, she began advocating for menstrual equity at Lincoln Board of Education meetings, speaking during the public comment period and meeting with board members one on one throughout the school year to discuss providing free period supplies to students. I feel like every step of the way was very encouraging, she said. I feel like there was never anyone who heard my idea and was like, No, thats not a good idea. Thats not appropriate. Everyone was very open, and that was really encouraging. So, when the board voted in September to allocate $100,000 in the budget toward placing period products in the womens restrooms at each of the districts middle and high schools, she was obviously thrilled. But, the satisfaction was short-lived. It still wasnt enough. She decided it was time to take her project statewide. She spent the summer researching legislation passed in other states that required schools to provide free period products in bathrooms, leading her to help draft a bill that would do just that here in Nebraska. Bell worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln to create LB1050, a bill that would require the Nebraska Department of Education to provide every public school the appropriate amount of period products for the projected number of menstruating students in each female restroom, including locker rooms and single-use restrooms. While crafting the bill, both Bell and Conrad knew they wanted to avoid creating an unfunded mandate. Currently, the bill does not specify exactly how this measure would be funded; however, Conrad said thats something that will likely be figured out later in the legislative process. Everybody agreed that we want to make sure that students have access to menstrual supplies, she said, but we also wanted to recognize that we didnt want to just add an unfunded mandate on the school districts. Funding will likely be appropriated by the Legislature, Conrad said, but she can always make amendments to the bill if needed. The Legislature held a hearing on the bill Monday evening where a handful of people, including students, parents and representatives of several school districts, testified in favor of it. No one testified against it. John Neal, associate superintendent for civic engagement at LPS, said the district provided free menstrual products for a while before the board allocated money at the start of this school year to place products in restrooms, but the location of those products matters. In the past, free tampons and pads could be found in nurses offices, but not in bathrooms where they are more readily available. Free is not the same as available, he said. Amanda Roe, a parent of a middle school-aged daughter, said free products in school bathrooms would allow menstruating students to have less stress while on their periods, thus helping them focus more in class during that time. I want my daughter and all menstruating children to be focused on learning while at school, not worrying about period products, she said. According to Conrad, bills regarding period poverty have been introduced in the past, specifically looking at incarcerated womens access to products and the sales tax on menstrual supplies. It seemed like this was a good next step to continue the dialogue, she said. A study showed that 25% of menstruating students across the nation struggled to afford or access period products last year. However, Bell said she was unsuccessful in finding data on a local scale during her research for the bill, which she found alarming. Theres no numbers on how many girls are struggling with this, particularly in rural areas, and Nebraska is a rural state. That was very frustrating, she said. This is what happens when we dont talk about things: We dont know if people are struggling. Through the bill and her advocacy, Bell hopes to not only help end period poverty for students across the state, but to end the stigma around periods and encourage other women and girls to break their silence when it comes to talking about menstruation. Menstruation is so stigmatized. The only way that we solve that is by talking about it. Issues like this just fall to the bottom. We cant legislate things and we cant make policy around things that we dont understand, she said. Advocating for this issue is so important just because more people need to be aware of what girls go through when theyre menstruating. Conrad, who has been a mentor for Bell for several years, said working with her has been a full-circle moment as she sees the same love for advocacy and will to use her voice in Bell as she did in herself when she was a teenager. Cassidy is just clearly whip-smart, super fun, completely passionate, Conrad said. She is, I think, exactly what we want young leaders to be: authentic and caring and dedicated and bright and always working to widen the circle to bring more ideas and more people to the table. Next fall, Bell plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continue to blossom her passion for advocacy while pursuing a degree in political science. Theres no better way to spend her time, she said, than by using her voice. Being able to spend my time this way, I just feel so fulfilled. For some people, its sports. For some people, its drama. For me, I feel like the best way that I can spend my time is by making a tangible impact, she said. Photos: Lincoln Public Schools' 36th annual spelling bee LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 I believe in agriculture. Agriculture impacts us every day: We have food on our table because of agriculture, we have ethanol to run our cars because of agriculture, ink for our printers, feed for our cattle and pet food for our dogs. And in Nebraska, our economy has thrived through some difficult seasons because agriculture is such a large part of our economy. My wife and I both grew up spending hours and hours on family farms, especially in the summers. I remember being with my cousins having fun, but I also irrigated, rogued, detasseled and rode along with my grandpa. My wife remembers fun with cousins and riding the combine with her uncle. As a matter of fact, my parents and my wifes parents all four grew up on farms, but in four different states (Nebraska, Texas, Montana and Minnesota). Our uncles took over the family farms, and so we have ended up being a generation away from the farm. I live and work in Lincoln, where I represent nearly 50% of Lancasters rural land on the county board. So how does a young family from the big city of Lincoln instill a love and respect for agriculture in their four children? Detasseling. We have decided that each one of our kids will experience at least one summer walking the cornfields of this great state. They will learn what hard work and early mornings produce. They will earn their paychecks and not just be given handouts. They will sweat. They will learn the meaning of hard work even at a young age. For many Nebraskan teens, like mine, detasseling is a rite of passage, a first paycheck and a step toward the strong work ethic we hope to instill. We will sign up our third child for this summers season in the coming month. There is a grave threat to detasseling in Nebraska. Multiple states across the Midwest have lost the ability for teens to detassel because large seed producers have found that they can improve their bottom line by outsourcing detasseling and roguing to migrant worker companies. These crews hire migrant worker teams who might begin the year working fields in the South, following the crop to the Midwest where they might detassel, heading North to harvest apples, then moving out to California to harvest fruits by hand, all the while living in tents. These people, classified as seasonal workers, are not subject to the labor laws of our local crews, resulting in them being exposed to unhealthy work environments and ungodly hours. Additionally, these migrant workers are not teenagers, so they are not limited to standard work hours. Yet even in light of excessively long, hard work days, they can still be paid well below a respectable earning or charged back for excessive fees and equipment. We need to protect Nebraska jobs. We need to protect migrant workers from these unhealthy, harsh conditions. Nebraska can do that by passing LB844. This bill protects Nebraska jobs by requiring big ag companies to prove that they first tried to hire Nebraskans before hiring migrant workers. The company our kids work for consistently has a wait list because there are so many teens who want to detassel. I urge our state senators to prioritize Nebraskan jobs and protect migrant workers by voting yes on this bill. And I urge Nebraskans to protect migrant workers and jobs for Nebraskans by calling on the ag committee to prioritize LB844. A jogger passes power lines during a late August sunset run in San Antonio. A watchdog for the state power grid says rules ERCOT put in place this year raised costs more than $12 billion. Eric Gay/Associated Press Adam Sinn is a principal of Aspire Power Ventures, which is suing the Public Utility Commission of Texas over what it calls illegal rule changes that caused market chaos and led to power companies facing upwards of $12 billion in extra wholesale power costs last year. / Pablo Vegas is president and CEO of grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston-based power trader Aspire Power Ventures LP is suing the Public Utility Commission of Texas over what it calls illegal rule changes that caused market chaos and led to power companies facing upwards of $12 billion in extra wholesale energy costs last year. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin is the latest drama over a contested program the state grid operators own independent market monitor has been sounding alarms about for months. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which the PUC oversees, launched the program in June to create more power reserves in an effort to prevent or minimize blackouts in case the buffer between supply and demand gets too tight. But the amount of power ERCOT took off the regular market in case of emergency created what its contracted watchdog Potomac Economics called artificial shortages. That drove up costs of wholesale power at times when the grid wasnt actually in distress, adding an estimated $12.5 billion in extra costs in 2023. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aspires lawsuit says the program was created using illegal competition rules that didnt comply with state notice and comment requirements established under the Administrative Procedures Act. Rather than give the public notice of the (programs) rules before they were enacted and allow people to challenge them before they were finalized, the PUC issued rules that were obscured from public scrutiny and ended up costing Texans dearly, Aspires attorney, Chrysta Castaneda, said in a statement. As a result, Castaneda said, the PUC kept the public in the dark rather than follow the statute that calls for public input. The PUC said it does not comment on pending litigation. ERCOT declined to comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ERCOTs power market works similarly to the stock market, with Aspire acting as a broker that trades power. The company said it has been harmed by the reserve program and the false shortages that drove prices to some of the highest levels since Uri. The program itself was created in response to Winter Storm Uri of February 2021, when the grid nearly collapsed as power demand soared, and led to the deaths of hundreds of Texans. I dont want to exaggerate how bad this is, but this is the worst performance weve ever seen since the beginning of organized electricity markets almost 25 years ago, David Patton, Potomacs president, said in December about the programs impact on pricing. Ive never seen anything remotely this bad. ERCOT leaders have disagreed with the cost estimates, but Potomac Economics stood firm in its analysis even after the the companys original independent monitor resigned suddenly amid the controversy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Patton told members of ERCOTs Technical Advisory Committee in December that the increased costs for the wholesale market were like tacking on about $400 for every man, woman and child in Texas. ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas has said the massive billion-dollar estimates in added costs and what it means were misinterpreted. An ERCOT board member called the report from Potomac erroneous. ERCOT paid power generators more than $608 million for power they kept out of the regular marketplace for the reserve program. That drove up the prices for market participants, the lawsuit says. Those market participants are now attempting to recoup the costs from customers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad RACINE No matter how you decide to celebrate Valentines Day alone; with a friend, partner or family; over a special dinner; with a movie or a night out there are plenty of options to participate in the love-filled holiday in Racine. Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tasting Littleport Brewing Company, 214 Third St., is hosting a wine, cheese and chocolate tasting from 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 13. The presentation will be by Chef Corey Oakland, owner of the Red Onion, with wine descriptions by Mark Flynn, brewmaster and vintner at Littleport Brewing Company. Tickets are $40 and will include seven wines, a selection of cheeses and chocolates, and light charcuterie at each table. Call 262-629-6976 or email littleport@dpwigley.com to make a reservation. Valentines Concert with Elvis Elvis at McDonalds? On Feb. 13, John Van Thiel, The Voice of Elvis, will perform from 6-7 p.m. at the McDonalds in Mount Pleasant, 6630 Washington Ave. The free concert will include a prize drawing and treats. Four-course dinner with Roederer wine Spend a romantic Valentines Day evening at Marguerite, 500 Main St., with a four-course dinner paired with a selection of sparkling Roederer wines. The reception begins with snacks and a welcome drink at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased at https://www.margueriteonmain.com/ Wine Tasting Kaylas, at 2054 Lathrop Ave., is hosting a wine tasting from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 14. There will be four wines and attendees will learn about each and what snack pairings they work well with. Tickets are $30 per person and RSVPs can be made by calling 262-721-7057 or through contactluxepopups@gmail.com. Craft Time with Miss Keiko From 10:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 14, the Racine Public Library is hosting a youth event for kids and tweens to make Valentines Day crafts. Guided by Keiko Skow, youth services librarian, participants will meet in the Youth Services Room on the librarys first floor. No registration is required. The Best of Sinatra and Martin From 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 14, Tom Martin will perform a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin at Corner House on the Lake, 207 Gas Light Circle. Call 262-637-1295 after 4 p.m. to make a reservation. There is no cover charge. Boo or No Boo Valentines Day Party From 9 p.m. on Feb. 14 until after midnight, you can spend your Valentines Day at 1518 Lounge & Grill, 1518 Washington Ave. There will be food and drink specials and music by DJ Prophet. Second Chance Valentines Date Night For those who cant celebrate Valentines Day in the middle of the week, Wiscobricks Toys, 1122 South Airline Road, is hosting a date night Feb. 17. The romantic dinner for two will be catered by Lees Deli and will include music, candle lights and LEGOs. Couples have a choice between the LEGO Roses Bouquet set at $95 or the LEGO Long Stem Roses set for $45. The price includes the LEGO set, dinner and a vase for the flowers. Call 262-456-1561 to make a reservation. Love You Tender Valentines Dinner Show Elvis fans can enjoy an intimate evening Feb. 17 at Infusinos Banquet Hall, 3201 Rapids Drive, while listening to John Van Thiel, The Voice of Elvis, perform authentic renditions of Presley favorites songs. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Dinner includes chicken cordon bleu, wedding salad, parsley potatoes, green beans, bread and butter, coffee and tea, and a slice of cheesecake. A vegetarian option of eggplant parmigiana is available upon request. The cost is $62. Reservations are required by Thursday, Feb. 15. Call 262-676-2690 or visit www.elvoicepresley.com. A Milwaukee woman whose trial in a high-profile, local homicide case is set for June, will now face extradition to Kenosha County after she fled the state, eluding local and federal authorities. U.S. Marshal authorities arrested Chrystul Kizer, 23, in Louisiana on Monday where she was taken into custody and was being held on four counts of extradition in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, according to jail records. Kizer was booked at the correctional center shortly before noon Central Time Monday after spending several weeks on the run from Kenosha and Milwaukee county authorities. The counts stem from earlier charges of felony bail jumping in connection with battery, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and failure to give an updated address with the court. A $40,000 warrant for her arrest had been issued by a Kenosha County judge. Sheriff David Zoerner said late Monday that Kizer is expected to be extradited to Kenosha County to face local charges first. Kizer spent nearly two years in jail in connection with a 2018 charge of first-degree intentional homicide, where she had been out on $400,000 bond raised by activist groups. If convicted, she faces life in prison. She is accused of killing Randall Volar, a 34-year-old Kenosha man who prosecutors have said had been preying on her and other underage girls. Volar had also been under investigation for producing child pornography and sexual abuse. Prior to Kizer reportedly fleeing, a trial date in the homicide case was set for June 10 in Kenosha County Circuit Court. A motion hearing in the case is scheduled for March 15. Kizers attorneys have said they expect her to be in court. Kizer was 17 at the time she was charged and is accused of shooting Volar in the head twice and then setting his house at 7732 14th Ave. on fire. Kizer then allegedly fled in his car. She also faces felonies of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, arson of a building without the owners consent, bail jumping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Demonstrators seeking peace called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as they marched from Civic Center Park through Downtown Kenosha on Saturday. Carrying signs and Palestinian flags, they chanted slogans calling for a ceasefire and for the United States to stop funding Israels military. The march had several participating groups united by activist Justin Blake, the uncle of Jacob Blake whose shooting touched off rioting in Kenosha in 2020. Groups participating included the Milwaukee branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Blake called for unity across American communities to support Palestine. If you believe in Black lives, youve got to believe in Palestinian lives, Blake said. Freedom now. We want the war to stop now." Stone Johnson, with PSL was critical of the U.S. government fordefunding our Black and brown communities and instead funding Israels military. You have money for endless war, and you cant take care of our community here, Johnson said of the government. Kenosha resident Kevin Fullin said he wanted people to realize that violence and military action are not the way to solve anything. There needs to be a ceasefire and the violence needs to stop, Fullin said. Im glad to see so many people turning out, so many people in our country that understand you cant just kill people. Kenosha resident Devynn Johnson, was glad to see the demonstration after attending a similar event in Milwaukee. Johnson said the events are important ways to get out their message. Kenosha is in a funny place; were at a tipping point, Johnson said. This shows leadership that we mean business." Assembly Republicans are slated to vote Tuesday on the GOPs latest tax cut proposal, which would dramatically expand the state's second income tax bracket and provide tax credits to Wisconsin retirees and parents. The chamber is also scheduled to vote on a GOP-authored measure that would eliminate state work permit requirements for 14- and 15-year-olds. The measure aligns with efforts being made across the country, largely by Republicans, to ease child labor laws and address ongoing workforce shortage challenges. On the proposed tax cut, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has said hell consider a cut that focuses on Wisconsins middle class but has remained largely silent on the specific bills likely to reach his desk. Speaking with WISN's "UpFront," Evers said he has looked over the bills and he's "sure there are some that we would agree on." The governor said Republicans' proposal to provide tax credits to parents "seems like something that would work," but he added "it's not going to do anything to help the providers of that child care." Evers has called on Republicans to provide more direct state funding to make up for soon-to-be-expiring federal funds. Legislative Republicans unveiled their latest tax cut plan about two weeks ago. The proposal calls for expanding Wisconsins second tax bracket, which currently covers individuals making between $14,320 and $28,640 and joint filers earning between $19,090 and $38,190. The tax cut, paired with tax credits included in the package, would reduce Wisconsins total income tax revenue by just over $2 billion per year in fiscal 2024-25 and $1.4 billion per year after that, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. If approved Tuesday, the package will head to the state Senate. The tax package Under Assembly Bill 1020, the 4.4% rate for that bracket would be expanded to individuals making up to $112,500 or joint filers making up to $150,000. The average Wisconsinite would pay $454 less in taxes under that bill, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, but the amount varies depending on income. Those making between $60,000 and $70,000 would save an average of $189, while Wisconsinites making between $250,000 and $300,000 would save an average of $965, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found. Thats because Wisconsinites with incomes outside of the proposed tax bracket would still be paying lower taxes on the amount covered by the modified bracket. Under the proposal, the total tax decrease in 2024 would be $742 million. Another bill in the package, Assembly Bill 1021, would remove taxes on up to $75,000 in retirement income from, for example, 401(k) accounts and pension funds for individuals 67 or older. For couples, the first $150,000 in retirement earnings would be exempt. The average Wisconsinite would save $1,582 under the proposal in 2024, while tax revenue for the state would drop by about $466 million that year, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Assembly Bill 1022 would expand the marriage income tax credit from $480 to $870. The average couple would save $338 under that proposal, according to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis, and it would reduce the states overall tax revenue by about $160 million in 2024. Assembly Bill 1023 would increase tax credits to $10,000 for one child or dependent or $20,000 for two or more children or dependents. Annual tax revenues would go down by about $73 million in 2024, or $656 per person, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Previous proposals In November, Evers vetoed a Republican proposal to reduce the income tax rate from 5.3% to 4.4% for people in the states third tax bracket, a vast category covering individuals earning between $28,640 and $420,420 a year and married filers earning between $38,190 and $405,000. He vetoed the same proposal when he signed the state budget in July. Hes likely to reject another proposal, AB 386, that proposes the same third-bracket tax cut along with a similar retirement tax exemption that was released Tuesday. In July 2021, as Evers approached a November race for his second term in office, which he ultimately won, the governor signed the states GOP-authored budget, which included more than $2 billion in income tax cuts. The tax cut brought down the income tax rate from 6.27% to 5.3% for individual income between about $24,000 and $263,000 a year, or between $32,000 and $351,000 for married filers. Work permits Under current law, 14- and 15-year-olds in Wisconsin need parental permission and a work permit from the state Department of Workforce Development in order to get a job. Assembly Bill 442 would eliminate that requirement, but continues to require employers to maintain records of employee's ages and hours worked. "If a teenager wants a job, they should be able to apply to a job and start working," bill co-author Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, said in written testimony provided to the Assembly labor committee in November. Moses added the proposal does not change child labor laws, but rather "removes the paper pushing form 14- or 15-year-olds need to fill out." More than a dozen states have removed work permit requirements for teenagers. In Wisconsin, the Legislature removed work permit rules for 16- and 17-year-olds in 2017. The proposal has been backed by some labor groups like the National Federation of Independent Business and Wisconsin Independent Businesses, but opposed by others like the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and union group Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. Who are they? WI children reported missing as of February 11 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Target ammunition ordered by direct mail Californians have been free to purchase ammunition, much like the rest of the United States, from January 31, 2024 to February 5, 2024. On February 5, 2024, a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit, in a split decision, granted a motion to stay the decision of the District Court by Judge Benitez. Judge Benitez had found the ammunition law to be unconstitutional for a second time on January 31. In 2016, voters in California approved a ballot measure known as Proposition 63. The proposition created a system where gun owners would apply for an ammunition permit, which would cost $50 and be good for four years. Ammunition vendors would be required to check a California list of valid permits before they could approve a purchase. This system never went into effect. Before the election day when Proposition 63 was voted on, the California legislature enacted Senate Bill 1235. The bill changed and eliminated Proposition 63, and put Bill 1235 in place. Bill 1235 required a background check every time ammunition was purchased, along with numerous other requirements, fees, and prohibitions. Bill 1235 was to go into effect on January 1, 2018. The bill was challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, on April 26, 2018. On April 23, 2020, Judge Benitez issued an order granting a preliminary injunction, to stop enforcement of the law. On April 24, 2020, an three judge panel granted a stay on the implementation of the preliminary injunction. On June 24, 2022, the case was sent back to Judge Benitez, to take into consideration the impact of the Bruen decision at the Supreme Court. On January 30, 2024 Judge Benitez issued an order granting a permanent injunction to stop the enforcement of the unconstitutional ammunition law infringements. ..... 1. Yes. It will be convenient and the fares are cheap. I plan to use the transit system often. 2. Yes. I have a vehicle, but I may still use the service now and then, especially in bad weather. 3. No. I dont use the current bus service, and I dont plan to use the micro-transit service either. 4. No. It may be fine in town, but it still involves a transfer for longer trips. That wont work. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on how well the service works once its in place. Vote View Results Susann Kazunas, the newly appointed president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc., speaks during the South Side plants 20th anniversary celebration at the Toyota Texas Experience Center on Oct. 25, 2023. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Toyota Motor Corp.s North American division appointed a new president of its vehicle plant in San Antonio, one of two promotions following the retirement of a senior executive. Susann Kazunas, who had been vice president of manufacturing for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc., steps up as president, replacing Kevin Voelkel, who had been in the role since 2018. Voelkel, meanwhile, was promoted to senior vice president of vehicle plants, responsible for production across North America, which includes operations in California, Indiana, Canada and Guanajuato, Mexico. He replaces Brian Krinock, who is retiring March 31, having overseen engineering and vehicle assembly across seven North American plants since 1991. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kazunas will report to Voelkel from the San Antonio plant, where the Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup truck are built. Toyota said in a statement the changes were designed to drive continued growth and advance its commitment to vehicle electrification. Over the past 20 years, I have been fortunate to be part of an amazing work family and community here in San Antonio, Voelkel said in a statement. It has been an honor to serve as president of Toyota Texas, and I look forward to the next step in my journey with Toyota. Kazunas grew up in central Kentucky and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky. She began her career with Toyota in Georgetown, Ky., in 1998. She began her San Antonio role in 2019 and has held several leadership positions since joining the company. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When I started my career with Toyota, I immediately felt part of a company who is committed to the success and development of their team members, and that has certainly been my experience over the past 25 years, Kazunas said in a statement. Kazunas was recognized as a 40-Under-40 emerging leader by Automotive News in 2014 and received a Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award from the Manufacturing Institute in 2015. Locally, shes a board member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and on the advisory board for workforce development group SA WORX. Toyota broke ground on the South Side plant in 2003 and produced its first Tundra there in 2006. Voelkel joined Toyota in 2005 and played an integral role in setting up the plant, the company said during his last promotion. Toyotas local employee count has more than doubled from its original 1,600-person workforce since it first opened. The campus also houses an additional 5,800 workers employed by parts suppliers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Toyotas San Antonio workforce made 126,189 vehicles in 2022. Since vehicles started rolling off the line in 2006, that number totals upward of 3 million. () As Koreas 12 love holidays show, love is a great interest in Korean society. The dating culture here is a bit different than what Americans are used to. While you might find many young Koreans are more westernized, most still follow local dating manners. If youre dating a Korean, you should know some basic manners and etiquette to follow. Here are the six interesting facts of the Korean dating culture that are fun and helpful to know. 1. Romantic holidays/anniversaries There are important romantic holidays that couples celebrate by giving nice gifts and enjoying a romantic date: Christmas, Valentine Day, White Day, year anniversary and 100 days anniversary. The 100 days anniversary is a big event for couples in Korea. Many couples even celebrate every 100 days theyve been together plus the yearly anniversaries. Not all Koreans find celebrating anniversaries important, so ask your partner what they expect. 2. Make it official If you want to keep dating, its important to make it official. Koreans count 100 days from the day you officially become a couple, so its important to ask your partner to be your boyfriend/girlfriend. After between three to five dates, if a person, usually the guy, doesnt ask their date to make it official, the other will see it as a huge red flag and think it isnt going to work out. Many Americans tend to keep dating lightly at first and build a connection as they get to know each other. However, most Koreans like to secure the commitment first, then learn about each other and build intimacy while officially dating. Trying to convince a Korean partner to slowly get to know each other, then see where it goes wont work most of the time because Koreans hate ambiguous relationships. 3. Saying I love you too soon You may be surprised when your Korean partner says I love you sooner than you expect. Because most Koreans usually decide to commit to their partner at an early stage of dating, its natural to say I love you to each other. Also, in Korean culture, there is a term called Aegyo (), which is a display of affection through behaviors, talking, voice, and facial expression in a very sweet and cute way. Aegyo is a way to be flirtatious in Korean dating culture. So, when your partner says I love you too soon while displaying Aegyo (), its just a way to be sweet. 4. Two of a kind Couples often shop together on romantic holidays and buy matching shoes, clothes and accessories. It is especially common for young couples to wear couple rings without plans to wed. Wearing a couple ring is a symbol of commitment as a couple and usually is bought on the 100-day anniversary or one-year anniversary. 5. Parents opinion matters Most Koreans introduce their partner to their parents only when they are in a serious relationship that is leading to marriage. Parents opinion can greatly affect the relationship since the majority of Koreans believe marriage isnt just the union of two people but of two families. 6. Texting all the time Koreans are huge fans of texting and being glued to their smartphone, but it gets even worse when they are in a relationship. Being able to keep in touch and text back quickly is one of the important traits many Koreans expect from their partner. Your Korean partner possibly wants to know every single move you make in a day. Many Koreans see being more closely related to a partners life and sharing a daily life as a significant way of expressing love. Useful Korean phrases for love Joahae(): I like you / I like that Saranghae (): I love you / I love that Sarang(): Love Ha-tuh () / Simjang-organ (): Heart Aegyo (): a cute display of affection toward a partner, friends, family Useful Korean phrases for dating Date (): Dating / Going out Date sincheong-hada ( ): To ask a person out for a date Gobaek-hada (): To ask a person out (to be in a relationship) / To confess Sagwi-da (): To be boyfriend/girlfriend with / To date Yeoja/Namja-chingu isseoyo? (/ ?): Do you have a girl/boyfriend? Uri Sagwija ( ): Lets make it official (*informal) Na-rang Sagwillae-yo?:( ?): Would you be my boy/girlfriend? (*formal) Titles Aein () / Yeonin (): Lover / Partner / Girlfriend/ Boyfriend Yeoja-chingu (): Girlfriend Namja-chingu (): Boyfriend Yeoja (): Girl / Woman Namja (): Guy / Man Friend (): Chingu Oppa (): A honorific title that women call older men and is often used to present Aegyo to their older boyfriend. Jagi () / Yeobo (): Honey/ Boo / Sweetheart Aegi (): Baby / Boo (The way to call a younger girlfriend very affectionately) *Try to put ya behind of those words: Jagi-ya, Aegi-ya La Crosse restaurant Lovechild has been recognized nationally for offering one of the top restaurant dining experiences in the country. The downtown establishment was one of 98 restaurants to receive the 2023 Award of Excellence from Distinguished Restaurants of North America, joining some of the most celebrated restaurants in North America. Restaurant and bar co-owners Joan Ferris and Jay Sparks met while working in a DiRoNA awarded restaurant 32 years ago; now they have a DiRoNA of their own. Weve been partners for 30 years and this was our baby our lovechild, Ferris said. We were famously unmarried for 30 years but we kind of ruined all of that and we just got married last May. We surprised everyone and got married in the middle of the restaurant in a pop-up wedding. The restaurant also was recognized as one of the most romantic restaurants in the country and will receive a new addition to its atmosphere an award plaque in the coming weeks. The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants committed to providing top-tier dining experiences and is one of the most prestigious in the restaurant industry, with only three recipients in Wisconsin, and fewer than 1,000 restaurants across North America. Any kind of recognition is really a reflection on the entire squad, Sparks said. Its not a one-man or two-man show, it takes a village. Sparks, head chef and co-owner of Lovechild, is always experimenting with new ways to liven up the restaurants menu, sourcing goods locally when possible and is constantly reading cookbooks to inspire his next creation. I think curiosity is part of his success, Ferris said. Its probably the most important part because you are always curious and always looking for something you dont know. The vision for Lovechild that Ferris and Sparks have executed has not only earned them awards, it has placed La Crosse on the map for fine dining. It is a spectacular gem, said Scott Breard, CEO of DiRoNA. The residents of La Crosse are fortunate to have something so exceptional in a small town. The four pillars that are primarily considered for the award are the dining menu, wine, beverages or cocktails, service and the ambiance, which Breard credits Lovechild with exceeding expectations. It really is top-notch, said Stacy Shapiro, a regular at Lovechild. The ambiance is wonderful, the food is great, the drinks are great, and the people are just wonderful. Ferris and Sparks credit much of the restaurants success to a positive work culture they have curated among their staff. Jay and I love what we do, Ferris said. I think that its somehow contagious with the staff a little bit. If youre working for people who are energetic, and you can tell that they like what they do, that really makes a difference. Albana Thomollari, a waitress and student at UW-La Crosse, praises the impact that Lovechild and its owners have had on her and the community. Ive been only been working here for a year, but I can already tell the difference they have made in my life and other peoples lives, Thomollari said. Ferris affirms that when guests come into Lovechild, they will be treated with warm, welcoming service. I want people to feel comfortable regardless of how theyre dressed or how much money they have to spend, Ferris said. I want everyone to feel valued from the second they walk through the door and when they leave. Inside one of La Crosse's top restaurants awarded for excellence A 51-year-old West Salem man faces a felony drunken driving charge. Brian A. Amundson was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with a fourth-offense drunken driving and fourth-offense driving with a prohibited blood-alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint, Amundson was operating a southbound vehicle on George Street in La Crosse on Nov. 15, 2023, when a radar check clocked the vehicle traveling 40 mph in a 30 mph zone. Police pursued the vehicle to the corner of Lang Drive and Monitor Street, where Amundson struck the right curb while coming to a stop. The complaint says Amundson had red, glassy eyes and slurred speech. Police detected the smell of alcohol. When Amundson was asked how much alcohol he had consumed, he reportedly replied, A little bit. Not much. The complaint says Amundson showed multiple clues of impairment during a field sobriety test. A preliminary breath test recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.132 percent. Amundsons previous three drunken driving convictions are from La Crosse County. The most recent is 2010. Amundson waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a Feb. 7 courtroom appearance. He is free on a signature bond and has a pre-trial conference set for March 8. WASHINGTON Donald Trump's claim that he once told a NATO ally that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to delinquent members of the group sent shockwaves through Europe over the weekend. But in Washington, most Republicans downplayed or defended remarks that seemed to invite Russian aggression. I was here when he was president. He didnt undermine or destroy NATO, said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a longtime defense hawk. I think Ill look at what his actions are rather than what his words are, said Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who has been a strong supporter of NATO and of sending additional aid to Ukraine as the country enters its third year of war after Russia's invasion. Trump's tightening grip on his party as he closes in on a third straight Republican presidential nomination has reshaped his party's traditional defense of longstanding military alliances and rejection of Moscow going back to the days of the Soviet Union. Many who once would have responded with alarm to such remarks have largely fallen in line with Trumps priorities or have chosen to retire as it has become clear his influence has not waned. Trump has a long history of denigrating NATO, and former administration officials say he repeatedly threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance that has been central to U.S. policy for decades. One former adviser said he expects Trump to move forward with his threats if he wins a second term. But allies and supporters argue that, despite his denunciations, Trump did not ultimately abandon NATO while president and dismiss his claims as bluster or tough negotiating tactics. Just look what he did in four years, said retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served in Trump's administration and is now an outside adviser. Thats the beauty of right now. Look at the track record. Some, including Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., credited Trump with pressuring some countries to increase their defense spending. He kept us in NATO. He didnt leave NATO. He made them do what they needed to do, he said. Even outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, a longtime Trump critic, questioned whether Trump's comments were serious, while noting that people in other nations read it with concern and make their calculations accordingly. What Donald Trump says is often designed to elicit media and applause and outrage and he has no intent of actually doing anything about it, he said. But it's clear that Trump and some around him want to change the alliance. In a policy video on his campaign website, Trump pledged to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally reevaluating NATOs purpose and NATOs mission. Asking during a Fox News town hall last month whether he would be committed to NATO in a possible second term, he responded, Depends if they treat us properly. Kellogg, who serves as co-chair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, one of the groups helping to lay the groundwork for a possible second Trump term, argued Trumps comments underscored his longstanding frustrations about countries like Germany that he believes are freeloading off the U.S. Kellogg has proposed refashioning NATO as a tiered alliance in which Article 5 the alliance's provision for collective mutual defense would only apply to members who reach their defense spending obligations. He stressed that he was speaking for himself, not Trump or the campaign, and declined to say whether he had discussed the proposal with the former president. The only time Article 5 has been invoked was after the U.S. was attacked by al-Qaida on Sept. 11, 2001. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, now Trump's last major rival for the Republican nomination this year, told reporters Monday she was appalled by Trump's comment and questioned why he was siding against our allies who were with us after 9/11. She told CNN that Trump talked many times about getting out of NATO behind closed doors and publicly. So thats just a fact. And John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser and now a strident critic, said he believed Trump would almost certainly try to withdraw from NATO if he wins a second term. To those who say this is just the way he bargains with NATO, I can tell you I was there when he damn (near) well withdrew, he said. He often referred to getting out of NATO. ... He was looking for arguments to withdraw from NATO. While Trump is often criticized for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggesting cuts to aid to Ukraine as it fights Russias offensive, the former presidents allies note that Russia seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 during the administration of then-President Barack Obama and then launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with President Joe Biden in the White House. Democrat and media pearl-clutchers seem to have forgotten that we had four years of peace and prosperity under President Trump, but Europe saw death and destruction under Obama-Biden and now more death and destruction under Biden, Trump adviser Jason Miller said. Biden said Tuesday from the White House that Trump's comments were dangerous and un-American, seizing on the former president's comments that sowed fresh fears among U.S. partners about its dependability on the global stage. The whole world heard it and the worst thing is he means it," Biden added. People in these 20 industries donated the most money to Donald Trump People in these 20 industries donated the most money to Donald Trump #20. Crop production and basic processing #19. Pharmaceuticals/health products #18. Hospitals/nursing homes #17. Lawyers/law firms #16. Education #15. General contractors #14. Civil servants/public officials #13. Miscellaneous manufacturing and distributing #12. TV/movies/music #11. Health professionals #10. Oil and gas #9. Miscellaneous business #8. Securities and investment #7. Nonprofit institutions #6. Miscellaneous finance #5. Real estate #4. Republican/conservative #3. Casinos/gambling #2. Health services/HMOs #1. Retired Waxy OConnors Irish Pub on the San Antonio River Walk has accused a minority owner and former manager of stealing funds belonging to the establishment Patrick Danner/Staff photo Waxy OConnors Irish Pub on the River Walk. Patrick Danner/Staff photo Phil Bentley is accused of taking funds from Waxy OConnors Irish Pub on the River Walk to start the Cottage Irish Pub on Broadway Street in San Antonio. Mike Sutter/Staff The Cottage Irish Pub opened in 2022. Mike Sutter/Staff Waxy OConnors Irish Pub LLC scored a court victory in a lawsuit accusing a minority owner who managed the River Walk establishment of stealing more than $240,000. State District Judge Laura Salinas on Friday granted Waxys motion for summary judgment, finding that Phil Bentley who holds a minority interest in the pub is liable for each of the businesss claims against him. Waxy sued for theft of property, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Waxy alleges that Bentley used its American Express credit card to pay personal expenses and household utilities, while charging tens of thousands of dollars for the use and benefit of a restaurant the Cottage Irish Pub at 3810 Broadway St. in San Antonio that Bentley launched in 2022. Hes also accused of taking cash from the company. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bentley largely failed to respond to Waxys court filings and requests for discovery, leading to the judgment against him. He appeared via Zoom at a Friday court hearing where he denied the allegations against him. Theres no way Im ignoring a quarter-million dollar lie against me, Bentley told the judge, adding he was under the impression that Waxys case against him had already ended. Bentley, who is not represented by an attorney, didnt respond to an email seeking comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Salinas said at the beginning of the roughly 10-minute hearing that she would base her ruling on what had been submitted in writing in the case file, leaving Bentley at a disadvantage because he hadnt filed anything beyond a January 2023 court document vehemently denying the allegations against him. David Angulo, Waxys San Antonio lawyer, said the parties now must submit an agreed order for Salinas to sign. If Bentley doesnt respond, Angulo said he will set a motion to enter the order. Waxy intends to file a separate motion asking for damages from Bentley. Audit conducted Waxy initially sued Bentley in November 2022 and amended its complaint a couple of times. Mark Rohleder and Paul McKenna, the pubs majority owners who do not live in San Antonio, entrusted Bentley to handle the day-to-day front of the house manager operations, the suit said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bentley changed the point-of-sale bar computer system in 2015 without the majority owners permission, the complaint said. He also transferred Waxys bank account to a new bank where he had sole administration of the account, the suit said. In 2021, the majority owners discovered large amounts of cash were missing from the business operations, the lawsuit said. These included months of absolutely no cash deposits. The majority owners, who had become concerned that money was being siphoned from the company, retained a Massachusetts accounting firm to audit the books and receipts. The audit uncovered a shortage of $242,344.04 and a string of suspicious checks that were either written directly to Bentley or for reimbursement for questionable items acquired for the company, the suit said. Rohleder then met with Bentley and Timothy Rooney, another minority owner and Waxy employee. Bentley promised to look through the books and records and account for the missing funds, the complaint alleged. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It added that, to date, Bentley had not accounted for a single dollar of the missing $242,344.04. He later was fired as manager, Angulo told the judge. Since the audit, Angulo said in an email, Waxy has discovered other alleged unauthorized charges including for the Cottage Irish Pub. They are in the process of calculating exact numbers, he said. Admissions requests In Waxys lawsuit, the business sought a constructive trust on all assets owned by Bentley, including the Cottage Irish Pub. Such a trust is a remedy imposed by the court to prevent the unjust enrichment of a party who obtained property it should not be holding. Waxy presumably could move to have the property sold. In March and September 2023, Waxy served Bentley with papers asking him to admit or deny various allegations against him. He failed to respond to those requests for admissions. As a result, under Texas law, hes deemed to have admitted the allegations against him including that he used a company credit card for charges related to a condo and an unnamed business of his in Austin, as well as a residence in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The spring election for Monona municipal judge, for which nobody filed in time to be on the ballot, has become competitive, with two people signing up as write-in candidates. Alyssa Mahaffay, a family law attorney in Monona, and attorney Mary Roth Burns, a former Oneida County Circuit Court judge, have registered as write-in candidates to replace Michael Finley, who is retiring after serving as municipal judge since 2015. No candidate will be listed on the April 2 ballot, so whoever gets the most write-in votes will win, said City Clerk Alene Houser. To win, write-in contestants dont have to register, which allows them to raise money for a campaign, but they must live in the city of about 8,800 residents and be eligible to serve. The salary is $9,485 a year. Mahaffay and Burns said they learned about the open judge seat from a Wisconsin State Journal article last month highlighting the lack of interest in the position. The states 232 municipal judges who rule on traffic tickets, disorderly conduct and other ordinance violations arent required to be attorneys, but about half are. Many small municipalities combine their courts while some larger cities, such as Appleton and Eau Claire, choose not to have them, leaving disputes to state circuit courts. Mahaffay, 47, has lived in Monona since 2011. She worked as a public defender and nonprofit lawyer before starting a practice in which she represents children as their legal guardian. A graduate of UW Law School, she is also a supplemental court commissioner in Dane County, a mostly honorary role that involves some hearings. She saw that there was a need in our community for somebody with experience and expertise to handle it, so she decided to run for city judge. She is especially interested in juvenile cases, which can involve truancy, or unjustified absence from school. Mononas municipal court is held the first and third Tuesday of each month, with juvenile court each following Wednesday. Burns, 73, said she moved to Monona in November from Rhinelander, where she lived for many years, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren in Madison. A graduate of UW-Madison and UW Law School, she worked for the Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office from 2008 to 2021. After she was a private practice criminal defense attorney, Gov. Tony Evers appointed her as an Oneida County judge in August 2022. She lost an election for the seat last year. Since Rhinelander, the county seat of Oneida County, doesnt have a municipal court, Burns handled some of its municipal cases in her role as a judge. I enjoyed being a judge, she said. Open seats for some other local government posts continue to have no registered candidates, including write-ins, municipal clerks said. In village board elections, just two people are running for three seats in Brooklyn and two people are competing for three seats in DeForest. No one is running for a three-year seat on the Stoughton City Council. There are many out there right now saying that for the Jesus way to be protected in America, violence must be used. Christians and Conservatives speaking in terms of "taking back America" for God through acts of violence. In Matthew 26, Jesus forever denies violence as an option to his followers. Matthew's narrative records, "Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him. But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priests slave, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father and that he would send me more than 12 legions of angels right now?" Later Jesus famously looks over the Roman soldiers and religious leaders standing by at his murder and makes the great statement that echoes for 2000 years, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." My dear friends in the Coulee Region, if you love Jesus, you can't use violence to serve him. He does not give you that option. He is clear that when enemies are around, loving them is the only Kingdom of God option. For only love can make enemies into brothers and sisters. Only love is the way of Jesus. Love refuses violence. Only love can drive out hate. Love is the only way. Christian Ricker Onalaska Developer David Adelman and his business partner will request permission from the city to demolish the Rich Book building on West Houston Street after being unable to find tenants to lease or buy it. Jessica Phelps VIA Metropolitan Transit owns the vacant Scobey complex, a row of industrial buildings a block north of the Rich Book building. The transportation agency, in partnership with private developer DreamOn Group, sought to convert the buildings into housing and commercial space, but they scrapped the plan last year, citing financing difficulties. William Luther, Staff / William Luther VIA Metropolitan Transit owns the vacant Scobey complex, a row of industrial buildings a block north of the Rich Book building. The transportation agency, in partnership with private developer DreamOn Group, sought to convert the buildings into housing and commercial space, but they scrapped the plan last year, citing financing difficulties. William Luther, Staff / William Luther Just west of downtown San Antonio, another battle is unfolding over the future of two historic buildings. Developer David Adelman and his business partner, restaurateur Barclay Anthony of the Sea Island Shrimp House chain, want to demolish the Rich Book building and an adjacent one across from VIA Metropolitan Transits Centro Plaza and a block from the University of Texas at San Antonios downtown campus. They have been unsuccessful in attracting buyers or tenants to the buildings because of the costs of renovating and homelessness in the area, and they could not recoup the cost of rehabilitating the property even if it was fully leased, according to a letter written to the city by their attorney, James McKnight. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They want to replace the buildings with housing and retail. The buildings create an unreasonable economic hardship, as their presence prevents any reasonable rate of return and prevents any reasonable use of the property, McKnight wrote. But West Side organizations are concerned about the loss of more historic buildings in Cattleman Square. Why buy into a historic neighborhood if youre not willing to honor and respect that history? said Graciela Sanchez, who leads the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Developer David Adelman and his business partner will request permission from the city to demolish the Rich Book building on West Houston Street after being unable to find tenants to lease or buy it. Jessica Phelps Areas rise, fall Cattleman Square was once the center of the citys cattle industry and a base for freight haulers. It was a buzzing commercial center with Spanish-language newspapers, bookstores and publishing houses established by refugees of the Mexican Revolution, along with restaurants, hotels, bars and other businesses that sprang up to serve railroad passengers and employees arriving at the International and Great Northern Railroad depot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Rich Book building at the southwest corner of West Houston and North Frio streets opened in 1923 as a department store. It was started by Morris Richbook, who came to America from Romania in 1902, according to application materials submitted to the city. The building was later occupied by an assortment of other businesses including a cafe, barber shop, hotel and Whitt & Co. Printers, which published the Spanish-language newspaper La Prensa from 1913 to 1959. At some point, it also was used as apartments. The other building, referred to as the Office Building, is in the middle of the block and was built in 1909 or 1915. But after World War II, Cattleman Square declined. Buildings were razed to construct the interstate highway, which cut off the area from downtown San Antonio. Some residents fled to the suburbs, railroad passenger service declined and distribution systems for goods changed. Today, some of the buildings are boarded up and the area is home to the jail, bail bonds businesses, government facilities, the Haven for Hope homeless shelter and industrial buildings near single-family homes. The Rich Book building and Office Building were part of the historic designation of Cattleman Square in 1985, which is why approval from the citys Historic and Design Review Commission is needed to demolish either one. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sabot Development bought the historic National Grocery Co. building next to the Scobey complex in 2022 with plans to renovate it, but the company later put it on the market. Courtesy of Jim Young and Sabot Development Challenges, opportunities An estimate in the owners application puts the cost of remodeling the Rich Book building for use as offices at $6.1 million, an amount the owners say they could not recover even if it was fully leased. Converting it to apartments could cost 25% more. The buildings along with other parcels they own on the same block that are not part of the demolition request are collectively valued at $2.6 million by the Bexar Appraisal District. Leaders of two organizations that considered leasing or buying the property said in letters included with the application that they decided not to do so because of the extent of the renovations that would be needed and worries about employees safety and community support. Law enforcement raided the Rich Book building because of drug activity in 2018 and there was a fire there in 2022. Adelman said he wants to construct a five-story building with rental housing and ground-floor retail at the site, according to notes from a Historic and Design Review Commission committee meeting. He and Anthony bought the Rich Book building through an entity called Master Property Partners Ltd. in 2014, followed by acquisitions of other parcels on the block in 2016 and 2018. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Adelman did not respond to an interview request. The Rich Book and Office buildings are historically significant, said Leticia Sanchez, co-chair of the Historic Westside Residents Association, and Adelman and Anthony knew both had historic designations when they bought them. They are tied to the migration of many immigrants who arrived through the historic railway close by, she said. Our community refers to that area as the Ellis Island of San Antonio. The owners could look into pursuing historic tax credits or other options for rehabilitating the buildings, Sanchez said, as Adelman has experience redeveloping other historic buildings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lets hold onto these (buildings) and make them jewels, she said. City staff say the owners so far have not proven that retaining the buildings poses an unreasonable economic hardship and suggest providing more information, such as an engineers report about the conditions of the buildings, potential alternatives to full demolition and more cost estimates for rehabilitation. Commissioners are tentatively expected to take up the demolition application this month. Developer David Adelman and his business partner will request permission from the city to demolish the Rich Book building on West Houston Street after being unable to find tenants to lease or buy it. Jessica Phelps Familiar battle Its not the first time that property owners and preservationists have clashed over historic buildings in the area. In 2021, the Lim family sought to demolish the historic Whitt Printing Co. building across the street from Adelman and Anthonys property. The circa-1930 building is named for politician, publisher and author Gilberto Whitt, who started a printing business there after fleeing to San Antonio during the Mexican Revolution. He printed Spanish-language publications at the time San Antonio had more Spanish publishing houses than any other U.S. city, according to city staff. The Lim family could not afford to renovate the deteriorating building and prospective buyers were unwilling to purchase the site without knowing what they could do with it, the familys attorney told commissioners. But representatives from West Side organizations pushed back, saying they were concerned about allowing more historic buildings in the area to be razed. They also worried about the lack of a plan for the propertys redevelopment. City staff said the Lim family had not demonstrated the building no longer met the criteria for historic designation nor shown that it could not be adapted or sold, which would mean it posed an unreasonable economic hardship. The Historic and Design Review Commission ultimately approved plans to demolish parts of the building and preserve other components. The property remains for sale. About five blocks south, preservation groups in 2021 sought to have a site that was once a brothel run by famous madam Fannie Porter and later an orphanage and a day care serving immigrants and the working poor in the primarily Mexican-American Laredito neighborhood designated a historic landmark. The owner, a company linked to Douglas W. Miller II of the Bill Miller Bar-B-Q family, was eyeing redevelopment of the boarded-up complex, potentially as housing catering to students at UTSA. A fire later destroyed the structure, and the Historic and Design Review Commission opted not to deem it historic. Other projects in the area have stalled. VIA Metropolitan Transit owns the vacant Scobey complex, a row of industrial buildings a block north of Adelman and Anthonys property. The transportation agency teamed with private developer DreamOn Group to turn the buildings into housing and commercial space, but they scrapped the plan last year, citing financing difficulties. Women are much more likely to get autoimmune diseases than men. New research may finally explain why. Autoimmune diseases happen when the bodys natural defenses, or immune system, attack the bodys tissues. Researchers from Stanford University in California say the reason for this may be connected to how the body deals with females second X chromosome. The finding could help improve doctors abilities to detect autoimmune diseases. E. John Wherry is an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania. He said the new study changes the way we think about this whole process of autoimmunity. Between 24 million and 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and many other diseases. About four of every five patients with an autoimmune disorder are women. Scientists have tried to find out why for many years. One theory is that the X chromosome might be the reason. Females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y. The new research recently appeared in the publication Cell. The results show that the extra X is involved but in an unexpected way. Our DNA is carried inside each cell in 23 pairs of chromosomes, including the final pair that decides biological sex. The X chromosome is packed with hundreds of genes, far more than males much smaller Y chromosome. Every female cell must turn off one of its X chromosome copies to avoid getting a dangerous double amount of all those genes. Scientists call this process X-chromosome inactivation. A special kind of RNA, called Xist, performs the X-chromosome inactivation. Xist is a long chain of RNA. It gathers in areas along a cells extra X chromosome and attracts proteins that connect to it in unusual masses. Then it silences the chromosome. Dr. Howard Chang is a dermatologist at Stanford University. He was exploring how Xist does its job when his lab found nearly 100 of those attached proteins. Chang saw that many of those proteins were related to skin-related autoimmune disorders. Patients can have autoantibodies that mistakenly attack these normal proteins. Chang told The Associated Press, That got us thinking: These are the known ones. What about the other proteins in Xist? He added that the molecule, found only in women, might somehow organize proteins in such a way as to activate the immune system. If true, Xist by itself could not cause autoimmune disease. If it did, all women would be affected. Scientists have long thought it takes a combination of some genes and an environmental event, like an infection or injury, for the immune system to cause problems. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus is linked to multiple sclerosis. Chang receives financial support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports The Associated Press Health and Science Department. Changs team decided to produce male lab mice to artificially make Xist without turning off their only X chromosome and see what happened. Researchers also specially bred mice susceptible to developing a lupus-like condition. The condition can be set off by a certain chemical. The Xist formed its usual protein masses. When the chemical was used, the male mice with Xist developed lupus-like autoimmunity at levels similar to females, the team found. Chang said, We think thats really important, for Xist RNA to leak out of the cell to where the immune system gets to see it. But he added that an environmental event is still needed to start the process. Beyond mice, researchers also looked at blood from 100 patients. They found autoantibodies targeting Xist-related proteins that scientists had not previously linked to autoimmune disorders. Chang said one possible reason was that most tests for autoimmunity were made using male cells. More research is necessary. But Wherry, the immunologist at Penn, said the findings might give doctors a shorter path to diagnosing patients. Wherry said one patient may have autoantibodies to Protein A and another patient may have autoantibodies to Proteins C and D. But he said knowing they are all related to Xist RNA can help doctors find diseases more easily. Im Gena Bennett. And Im Gregory Stachel. Lauran Neergaard reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - Autoimmune Diseases Affect More Women than Men Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________ Words in This Story detect v. to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, taste, etc.) dermatologist n. the scientific study of the skin and its diseases activate v. to cause (a chemical reaction or natural process) to begin susceptible adj. easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something Climate change is quickening the disappearance of the Aral Sea. Once a single body of water, the lake now exists in pieces in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Many years ago, it was one of the worlds largest inland bodies of water. But, that changed substantially over the last century. The Aral has shrunk to less than 25 percent of its former size. Engineering projects and agricultural programs are to blame for much of the lakes early losses. Now, climate change is adding to the destruction. Summers in the area are longer and hotter. Winters are shorter and colder. The area lacks water supplies. And experts say much of the water that does exist is too salty to support plant life. History and loss The Aral is fed by rivers that heavily depend on glacial melt. For many years, it held many fish, supporting a fishing industry. The area brought in thousands of migrants for jobs in the past, also. Today, a few remaining towns sit quiet along the Arals dry seabed. Dust storms often pass through. In the 1920s, the Soviet government began to empty the sea to provide water to crops like cotton. By the 1960s, it was half its former size. By 1987, the Arals level was so low it divided into two bodies of water: the northern and southern seas. The United Nations Development Program calls the destruction of the Aral Sea the most staggering disaster of the 20th century. It points to the Arals loss as the cause of desertification, drinking water shortages, and worsening health conditions, among others. National governments, international aid organizations, and local efforts have made attempts to save the sea, including dams and plant growth projects. But experts say climate change has only quickened the dying of the Aral, and will continue to worsen local peoples suffering. Loss of life The loss of much of the Aral Sea caused dust storms to blow through towns. They spread toxic chemicals from a former weapons testing center and farms into the lungs and eyes of local peoples. The U.N. says this has increased rates of diseases related to breathing and cancer. A U.N. report says dust storms, rising world temperatures, and wind are destroying the glaciers on which the feeder rivers depend. The remaining water is getting saltier and evaporating faster. The report warns that melting ice and changing river flows may further cause problems for water supply and food supply. Hydropower plants could suffer. Differences along the Aral In Uzbekistan, Adilbay and his friends fish in the Arals remaining waters. The fish are small and few. The 62-year-old holds his arms wide to demonstrate how big the Aral fish used to be. Now there is nothing, he said. As the water disappeared, a nearby fish processing plant closed. Adilbays friends and relatives moved to Kazakhstan looking for new jobs. There, fisherman Serzhan Seitbenbetov and others find success. In an hour, he caught a hundred fish, some 2 meters long. Now all the villagers make good money being fishermen, he said. That is the result of an $86 million dam project led by Kazakhstan, with assistance from the World Bank. It was completed in 2005. Known as the Kokaral Dam, it saves and gathers water from the Syr Darya River. The dam performed better than expected, leading to an increase of over 3 meters in water levels after seven months. That helped restore local fisheries and caused an increase in clouds and rainstorms in the local area, the World Bank says. Population grew. But it could not replicate life before the water started drying up, said Sarah Cameron. She is a professor at the University of Maryland who is writing a book about the Aral. It does not support the same amount of people and the fishing industry in the same way, Cameron said. Uzbekistans restoration efforts have been mixed in success. The government has not undertaken large projects like the Kokaral. Instead, the country planted trees and other plants to help prevent erosion and slow dust storms. The discovery of oil and natural gas in the Arals former seabed led to the building of gas production sites. Experts say that shows that Uzbekistan has little interest in restoration.. Kate Shields is a professor of environmental studies at Rhodes College in the American state of Tennessee. While there has been some restoration, she said, there was a sort of acceptance that ... the sea was not coming back. Government officials from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan did not answer questions from the Associated Press about restoration efforts, the lack of water, and the effects of climate change. Im Gregory Stachel. And Im Gena Bennett. Victoria Milko reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story glacier n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land evaporate staggering adj. very large, shocking, or surprising replicate v. to repeat or copy (something) exactly restoration adj. the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it or cleaning it erosion n. the gradual destruction of something by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice) Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a peace deal in 1979. The agreement, marked by a handshake, has resulted in more than 40 years of peace between Middle East neighbors Israel and Egypt. That peace agreement has held up through two Palestinian uprisings and several wars between Israel and Hamas. But the Egyptian government is threatening to suspend the agreement as Israel plans to send troops into Rafah, a city in Gaza on the border with Egypt. Israel-Egypt peace treaty In 1977, Begin, Israels new prime minister was opposed to giving back any land captured by Israel 10 years earlier in the 1967 war. Those lands included Egypts Sinai Peninsula. Egypt and Israel had fought four major wars, most recently in 1973. However, Egypts Sadat broke with other Arab leaders and decided to talk with the Israelis. The talks resulted in the Camp David Accords in September 1978 and a peace treaty the following year. Under the peace treaty, Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai, which Egypt would leave demilitarized. Israeli ships were granted passage through the Suez Canal, an important trade pathway. The countries established full diplomatic relations. It was Israels first peace agreement with an Arab country since the countrys establishment in 1948. Paige Alexander is head of the Carter Center. She said, The Camp David Accords were led by three brave men who took a bold stance because they knew the lasting effects for peace and security, both then and for the future. We need the same kind of leadership today, and that is currently lacking. What is Egypts position? On Sunday, two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat told The Associated Press that Egypt might suspend the peace treaty if Israeli troops enter Rafah. Last October, Hamas launched a surprise attack from the Palestinian territory of Gaza into southern Israel. The terrorist group killed more than 1,200 people and took more than 150 hostages including Americans. Israel answered with airstrikes and ground attacks in Gaza. The Palestinian-controlled health ministry reported in February that 28,000 people have been killed in more than four months of fighting. The number, which is not confirmed, includes both civilians and militants. Israel says Rafah is the last area under Hamas control. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said sending ground troops into Rafah is needed to defeat the group. However, Egypt opposes any move that could send desperate Palestinians fleeing across the border into its territory. Rafah serves as the main entry point into Gaza for humanitarian aid. An Israeli attack could prevent deliveries of supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. Rafahs population has expanded from 280,000 people to an estimated 1.4 million as Palestinians flee fighting in other parts of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of those evacuees are now living in tents. Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to prepare a plan to evacuate all Palestinian civilians before the offensive starts. But it is unclear where they will go. Netanyahu said Sunday that Palestinians would be able to return to open spaces in northern Gaza. But those areas have been badly damaged by the Israeli offensive. What happens if the peace treaty ends? The treaty between Egypt and Israel limits the number of troops on both sides of the border. The countries, however, have agreed in the past to make changes to deal with security threats. In addition to Gaza, Israel has engaged in regular exchanges of weapons fire with the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Israeli forces are also deployed in the occupied West Bank. If Egypt were to end the agreement, Israel would have to deploy more troops to protect its southern border with Egypt. Such a move, however, would affect Egypt as well. Since the peace agreement, Egypt has received billions of dollars in military assistance from the U.S. If the agreement is ended, it could threaten that aid while Egypts economy is struggling. The war between Hamas and Israel has already spread to the Red Sea where Yemens Houthi rebels regularly attack commercial shipping. In Jordan, militants, supported by Iran, struck an American position with a drone last month killing three U.S. service members. The U.S. answered with several major strikes against militants in Iraq and Syria. Alexander from the Carter Center said any step that could draw Egypt into the hostilities would be catastrophic for the entire region. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Julia Frankel reported this story for the Associated Press. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________ Words in This Story bold adj. unafraid, willing to do something that is difficult delivery n. the act of taking something to a person or group that requested it evacuee n. a person who has been evacuated from a place, meaning they have been moved for their safety because of a dangerous situation engage v. to be involved in a process that requires action and attention commercial adj. related to trade and business activity with an aim to make a profit drone n. a vehicle that operates without a human pilot onboard often an aircraft or boat catastrophic adj. disastrous, something that is extremely bad region n. an area of the Earth that is know for certain qualities such as its geological, geographical, or political boundaries The oldest gunmaker in America is closing its factory in a small town in the state of New York. Remington Firearms was formed two centuries ago in what is now the town of Ilion, a village in the heart of New Yorks Mohawk Valley area. It began when Eliphalet Remington forged his first rifle barrel nearby in 1816. Remingtons owners recently announced it would permanently shut the factory in March. They said costs were too high to continue making guns in Ilion. The company is uniting all its operations in the southeastern state of Georgia. Remington officials say Georgia is friendlier to the firearms industry than New York. The companys recent history has been marked by a lawsuit connected to the mass murder of 20 children and six adults in 2012 at an elementary school in Connecticut. Remington Arms agreed to pay $73 million to relatives of victims and a survivor to settle the legal action. The company also declared financial failure more than once. The factory workforce had dropped from about 1,300 workers more than 10 years ago to around 300. About 7,600 people live in Ilion. The gunmakers withdrawal is a major loss to the towns economy and more. When Remington leaves, its not going to be like a facility leaving, its going to be like part of your family has moved off, said former factory worker Jim Conover. Conover retired in 2004, after 40 years at the plant. Everyone knows someone who worked at the factory. For some families, jobs there are almost a birthright. Conovers father and sons also worked at the plant. Building engineer Frank Rusty Brown has had many family members among his coworkers. My mom worked there. My dad worked there. My wife works there with me now. My daughter works there with me now. My second daughter works there with me now. And my son-in-law works there," said Brown, who is president of the United Mine Workers of America Local 717. He added, So it's a double-hit for me and my wife: two of us out of a job. The current owners of Remington Firearms, RemArms, blamed production inefficiencies for the plant closure in a letter to union officials late last year. They noted the high cost of caring for about 92,903 square meters of space in several buildings, many dating to World War I. RemArms added that Georgia offered an environment that better supports and welcomes the firearms industry. RemArms CEO Ken DArcy also said in a news release that the industry was concerned about the legislative environment in New York. But in a stretch of upstate New York where support for gun rights tends to be strong, some Republican elected officials seized on the companys comment about Georgia. They linked the plant closure to gun control measures championed by New York City-area Democrats in recent years. RemArms, which bought the firearms business in 2020, did not answer emails and calls seeking comment. The company said in its letter to the union it expected to end facility operations around March 4. The company earlier announced in 2021 it was moving its headquarters to LaGrange, Georgia. RemArms said it would open a factory and research operation there. The days of traffic jams in Ilion every afternoon when shifts let out are long gone. Empty spaces can be found in the factory's big parking lot. Nearby businesses that have long provided meals to the workers have already seen a sharp reduction in food orders. One such business is Francos pizza. Its owner, Daniel Mendez, said orders have been dwindling down, or decreasing. This is not necessarily going to put us out of business, but it does hurt, Mendez said. Ilion Mayor John Stephens said there will be hard decisions ahead. But he said he believes the factory site will be used again. And while Remington might leave, he said the connection between the town and the factory can never be broken. Even when they are finally 100 percent no longer involved in the Village of Ilion in any way, shape or form, were still going to be known for this, Stephens said. You cant erase history. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story forge n. to form (something, such as metal) by heating and hammering lawsuit n. a legal case before a court facility n. something (such as a hospital) that is built, installed, or established to serve a special purpose birthright n. a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth inefficiency n. a state or quality that is wasteful of time or energy erase v. to remove from existence or memory The Monarch butterfly population has dropped to its second-lowest number on record in Mexican forests this winter. The forests are the insects winter home. The population decrease is worrisome as the butterfly group is already considered at risk of disappearance. Mexicos government and the non-profit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently issued findings of their yearly joint study on the butterflies. The research shows that the monarch butterfly presence has shrunk to less than a hectare of forest area. In the mid-1990s, monarch butterflies could be found on around 18 hectares of the forest. The findings represent an almost 60 percent decrease in the monarch butterfly population compared to last years study. It is also the second-lowest population finding since the first study took place more than thirty years ago. Biologists blame the drop on higher-than-usual temperatures and dry conditions in the northwestern U.S. where the butterfly reproduces. The weather conditions affect the growth of milkweed, the plant where the butterflies lay their eggs. When the young arrive, milkweed is their food for a time. In one of the planet's famous wildlife migrations, the butterflies travel south as many as 4,500 kilometers from places as far north as Canada. They spend the winter in warmer Mexico, where millions of the insects stay in trees that protect them from the rain and cold. Monarch butterfly populations change year to year. As recently as 2021, the same study showed a 35 percent increase to cover around 2.8 hectares. Officials and activists called for more action to help the species. Such calls include the need to reduce threats posed by herbicides that destroy milkweed and the need to protect forests. "We can't lower our guard," Jorge Rickards, head of WWF's Mexico office, told reporters after releasing the latest data. Im John Russell. Diego Delgado reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story species n. a group of animals that are similar and can produce young animals migration n. to move from one area to another herbicide n. a chemical used to destroy plants Researchers say new evidence suggests Saturns icy moon Mimas likely has a large underground ocean. Astronomers based their finding on data collected by the American space agency NASAs Cassini spacecraft. Cassini observed Saturn and its more than 140 moons for more than 10 years before ending operations in 2017. The spacecrafts data covered details about the moons orbit and rotation. Researchers reported the data provided the best evidence yet of a hidden ocean about 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the frozen surface. Mimas is a relatively small moon, about 400 kilometers wide. Researchers say Mimas lacks formations on its surface found on other moons, which suggest the presence of underground water. These can include a broken surface as well as geyser activity. Scientists said the fact that Mimas did not have unusual surface formations made it an unlikely candidate for an underground ocean. Valery Lainey, of the Paris Observatory, was co-author of a study describing the research in the publication Nature. Mimas was probably the most unlikely place to look for a global ocean and liquid water more generally, he said in an email to the Associated Press. Lainey added, So that looks like a potential(ly) habitable world. But nobody knows how much time is needed for life to arise." The amount of water thought to exist below the surface of Mimas would represent just 1.2 to 1.4 percent of Earths oceans, Lainey said. That is because of the moons small size. However, Mimas does have a very large crater caused by a crash with a space object. For this reason, the appearance of the moon has been compared to the fictional Death Star space station in the popular movie series Star Wars. English astronomer William Herschel discovered Mimas in 1789. It is named after a giant in Greek mythology. An article appearing with the study in Nature was co-written by Matija Cuk of the SETI Institute research center and Alyssa Rose Rhoden of the Southwest Research Institute. The two were not part of the study. But they wrote that they find the idea that a small, icy moon can contain young oceans inspiring. The researchers said the underground ocean appears to have formed recently in space terms, possibly between 5 and 15 million years ago. Lainey said the ocean would likely have an overall temperature of around zero degrees Celsius. But the temperature at the seafloor might be much warmer. The fact that the water is in contact with the moons rocky center may create the right complex chemical conditions to support life. But the researchers noted that because the ocean is believed to be young, it might not be ideal for life to form there. Scientists have said in the past that another moon of Saturn, Enceladus, might possess the warmth, water and chemical compounds necessary to support life. But because Mimas' ocean is so young, it "might be a challenge for life's development," study co-writer Gabriel Tobie told Reuters. Tobie is a scientist at the French scientific research agency CNRS and The University of Nantes. However, Tobie added, Nobody knows how long life needs to emerge from a suitable environment. Mimas may offer a unique opportunity to explore the first stage of life's development." Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story rotate v. to turn in a circular direction mythology n. old, stories that belong to certain cultures and which appear again and again in writing and art geyser n. a hole in the ground from which hot water and steam come out habitable adj. having the ability to support life potential n. existing in possibility fictional adj. not existing in real life inspire v. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it challenge n. something difficult that tests ones ability or determination emerge v. to appear somewhere opportunity n. a chance to do something Unclear guidelines for when to keep a child at home if they are sick might play a part in the nationwide problem of students missing too much school. Some activists, school officials and the state of California are now asking that parents send their children to school even if they show signs of sickness. They say acceptable problems include eye infections and lice. Families need to hear they no longer must keep children at home at any sign of sickness, said Hedy Chang. Chang is the director of Attendance Works, a nonprofit group aiming to improve school attendance. The group has issued its own guidance. It urges parents to send children to school if they can join day-to-day activities, have low-level sickness or head lice. The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization for doctors who treat children. It recommends that children stay home when there are signs of sickness like fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, or when students are not well enough to participate in class. A fever is defined as a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius. But many school districts go far beyond that, offering different signs of sickness that would prevent parents from sending their children to school. Which is it? Trenace Dorsey-Hollins has a five-year-old daughter who was sick a lot last year. Dorsey-Hollins followed school guidelines and kept her daughter home when she had a cough, painful throat, fever, or sneezing. Near the end of the year, school officials in Fort Worth, Texas, called her in to talk about why her daughter had missed so much school. During the pandemic, schools urged parents and children to stay home at any sign of illness. Although the emergency has ended, she said no one has said that those rules have changed. In the past, if the child didnt have a feverthen its okay to send them to school, said the mother of five- and 13-year-old children. But now its like if they have a coughyou might want to keep them home. Which is it? Dorsey-Hollins youngest daughter goes to school in Fort Worth Independent School District. It suggests staying home if a child has a cough, sore throat, or rash. The guidelines say a student should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Austin Independent School District in Texas lists signs of illness like eye redness, undetermined rash, or open, draining lesions as reasons to stay home. Other school districts have different guidelines. Children with lice cannot go to class in New York City schools. And Marylands Montgomery County schools recommend keeping a child home for stomach pain, pale or flushed face, or thick yellow discharge from the nose. Dr. Claire McCarthy is a doctor at Boston Childrens Hospital who teaches at Harvard Medical School. She said it is understandable that different places would have different guidelines. Each school or school district has a different tolerance for illness, said McCarthy. 10 percent of the school year Test results show that children fell behind in their studies when schools closed during the pandemic. Children who regularly missed school found it more difficult to catch up. During the 2021 to 2022 school year, more than 25 percent of students missed at least 10 percent of the school year. That number is up from 15 percent before the pandemic. Missing 10 percent or more of the school year puts students at risk. Students who miss school also might miss meals, socializing with other students and adults, physical exercise, and mental health and health care services. In addition, teachers must spend a lot of time supporting students who miss class. This takes time from students who attend class and are on target for the year. Recently, the state of California decided to change their stay-at-home guidelines for the autumn. The new guidelines say children with low-level signs of sickness can come to school. Noha Aboelata leads the Roots Health Center in Oakland, California. The group says it provides health services for poor people and those affected by inequality. Aboelata said the change in guidance might have a greater effect on poor people and minorities. Aboelata said people in those communities might be more likely to live in homes with more than one generation, to take public transportation, or have poor heating and cooling systems in their homes. She said she hoped that staying home when sick would continue after the pandemic. Instead, she said, it feels like the pendulum is swinging fiercely back in the other direction. Tracy Schmidt oversees attendance for the Office of Education in San Diego County, California. She said she feels hopeful that parents and schools will learn about the new guidance and that students will miss less school. The most important place for our kids to be is school, she said. Im Anna Matteo. And Im Gregory Stachel. Bianca Vazquez Toness reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - US Schools Change Health Guidelines for Keeping Students Home Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________ Words in This Story lice n. (pl.) a small creature that lives on peoples bodies and easily spreads from person to person participate v. to be involved with others in doing something school district n. an area created by a local government which has public schools that are overseen by local government officials and paid for through local taxes cough v. the involuntary forcing of air through the throat often because of sickness sore adj. painful rash n. a condition on the skin that makes it red or swollen and often produces itching undetermined adj. unknown lesion n. a raised area of skin that is unhealthy, damaged or cut tolerance n. the ability to accept, experience, or survive something harmful or unpleasant What do Glacierdom and Riverdom have in common? The Leprechauns know! Get a new look at a classic story at 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Lexington Middle School Auditorium, 1101 N. Washington St., when the Missoula Childrens Theatre and more than 60 local students present an original musical adaptation of The Princess and the Pea. The cast will be chosen Feb. 19 during a two-hour audition at the Middle School and throughout the week of Feb. 19-24 will rehearse under the guidance of MCT Directors Brianna Dorsey and Lindsay Wilk. Dorsey was born and raised in Eatonton, Georgia. She is a graduate of Greensboro College with a degree in theater and a concentration in acting. Among her show credits are Detroits 67s Mamma Mia! and The Winters Tale. Wilk recently graduated from Towson University in Maryland with a bachelor of fine arts in acting and a bachelor of science in mass communications. Recent credits include directing Frozen the Musical Jr. at Riderwood Elementary, playing Vanya in Uncle Vanya and Wilemina Fleming in Silent Sky. Tickets for The Princess and the Pea are $5 each for ages 5 and above and are available at the door on Feb. 24 or may be purchased at rehearsals throughout the residency week. The Missoula Childrens Theatre residency in Lexington is brought to you by the Plum Creek Community Players with support from the Lexington Community Foundation and Lexington Give BIG donors. For more information, contact Barb Bierman Batie at 308-325-2247. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a key update to the federal air quality standard for fine soot a step toward reducing deadly air pollution thats been over a decade in the making. The standards, announced Wednesday, are one of several important finalized regulations coming from EPA this year focused on both improving air quality and cutting down on planet-warming pollution coming from power plants, other major industrial facilities, and vehicles. It comes as President Joe Biden is working to cement an ambitious environmental and climate record and appeal to young voters during a crucial election year. The current standard, which has been in place for more than a decade, limits the average annual amount of fine particle pollution to 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The EPA would reduce that limit to 9 micrograms. The agency estimates the limit will prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and avoid around 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms. The stronger air quality standard announced today is grounded in the best available science and will undoubtedly save lives, Regan told reporters on a press call. Were also full steam ahead on a series of rulemakings across the power and transportation sector that are drawing down emissions and protecting communities from dangerous air pollution. Still, the new limit is higher than what the World Health Organization recommends. In 2021, the international group put out guidance that environmental agencies slash the allowable limit to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Doing so, the organization said, could reduce deaths associated with fine particle pollution by as much as 80%. Fine particulate matter also called PM2.5 pollutes outdoor air when a variety of fossil fuels are burned including gasoline, diesel and oil, as well as wood. It is the tiniest pollutant significantly smaller than fine sand, dust, and pollen but its miniscule size makes it one of the most dangerous to human health. When inhaled, it can travel deep into lung tissue, where it can enter the bloodstream and can contribute to cardiovascular disease, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Exposure to this pollution has also been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Scientists recently found a possible mechanism for that increased risk some air pollution particles may promote mutations in cells in the airways. The EPA is required by law to update the standards for fine particulate pollution every five years and according to the latest available science. The last time they were updated under the Obama administration in 2012, they were lowered from 15 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter. The new standard was criticized by industry groups, who have described it as burdensome and difficult to meet. Tightening the soot standard threatens economic growth around the country, said Marty Durbin, senior vice president for policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The trade group has argued wildfire smoke not industry pollution is responsible for much of the tiny soot particulate in the air. The standards were not tightened during the Trump administration, which prompted an outcry among environmental and public health groups. Many of those groups commended the Biden administration on Wednesday for strengthening soot standards. Today is a really big day, Earthjustice president Abigail Dillen told reporters. The body of science around this pollution is so robust. We know it takes people before their time; we know it gives children and adults asthma and other sicknesses. This is a big step forward to addressing one of the most deadly environmental injustices in our country. But some major public health groups said the rules didnt go far enough. American Lung Association president Harold Wimmer called the EPA rule a step forward for public health but added, the standards do fall short of what the Lung Association called for and what the science shows is necessary. The threat posed by microscopic soot particles Millions of people put their health at risk every time they step outside. The American Lung Associations State of the Air 2023 report says that, after a steady decline in US pollution levels, the number of people living in counties with failing grades for daily spikes in particle pollution was the highest it had been in a decade. Nearly 64 million Americans live in these counties, and communities of color bear the brunt of the negative health effects, regardless of income levels. No amount of exposure to particle pollution is healthy. Scientists believe that particle pollution can shorten lives. The number of people killed or disabled by certain heart problems caused by exposure to air pollution, for example, has risen since 1990, one study found, with particle pollution specifically to blame. Generally, a 2019 study found that exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 107,000 premature deaths in the United States in just one year, with PM2.5 accounting for the most damage to peoples health. Thats more than the number of people killed each year in traffic accidents and homicides combined, the researchers said. Since particle pollution is so tiny 1/20th of a width of a human hair it can travel past your bodys usual defenses. The particles cause irritation, inflammation and damage to cells. It may also affect the central nervous system and cause the body to release harmful substances that can hurt the blood-brain barrier, the network of blood vessels and tissues made up of closely spaced cells that protect the brain. Negative health effects were often seen at pollution levels much lower than current U.S. ambient air quality standards. The American Lung Association calls particle pollution one of the least well-controlled pollutants in the United States and one of the most dangerous. As temperatures rise with climate change, the health problems related to this kind of pollution will get worse. The risk of a deadly heart attack, for instance, may double when people are exposed to extreme heat and high levels of particle pollution, studies show. And soot is caused from wildfires, which are fueled by hot and dry temperatures due to climate change. Although wildfire smoke causes soot pollution, it cant be regulated by federal agencies like other sources of soot including industrial and agricultural pollutants. ___ 20 ways to reduce indoor air pollution in your home 20 ways to reduce indoor air pollution in your home Types of air pollution in your home How to reduce the effects of indoor air pollution Initial symptoms of indoor air contamination How air conditioning can affect your skin Health effects of indoor air pollution Homes in the Luckey Ranch subdivision are seen in a Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 aerial photo. ?Many homeowners in San Antonio and in Texas will see lower property tax bills this year. William Luther/Staff Property owners file paperwork to appeal appraised values set by the Bexar Appraisal District. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer In Texas, the property tax machinery never sleeps. It just shifts gears. Jan. 31 was the deadline to pay 2023 property taxes. If you missed it, youll owe penalties and interest. Now, the Bexar Appraisal District is busy working on fresh estimates of the market value of all property in the county. Your homes appraised value, as determined by the district, will form the basis of your 2024 property tax bill. Generally speaking, if your appraisal goes up, so will your taxes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But youre not defenseless. You can contest your appraisal, and the odds are good youll get at least a modest reduction. Heres a refresher on the process. When are appraisals done? Between January and April of every year. The district analyzes sales in your neighborhood and looks at the prices fetched by homes similar to yours. They take into account a homes size, age and condition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When will I know what my new appraised value is? By mid-April, the district will mail you a Notice of Appraised Value. It will have a description of your property, its updated value and an estimate of property taxes youll owe for 2024. Homeowner seeks answers to questions from staff members of the Bexar Appraisal District. The district's estimates of property values, updated annually, form the basis of property tax bills. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Will I be taxed on my full appraised value? No. The taxable value of your home is related to but different from and usually lower than the appraised value. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Appraised value is the same as market value: Its what someone would pay for your home in an arms length transaction. It goes up or down depending on market conditions. But for tax purposes, youre protected against sudden swings in value. For starters, your taxable value cant go up more than 10% from one year to the next. So even if your homes appraised value shot up 20%, the amount youd be taxed on would increase only 10%. Thats sometimes referred to as the Cap Value, and its further reduced by various exemptions. The most common is the homestead exemption, and it applies to your primary residence. The city of San Antonio, for instance, offers a 20% homestead exemption on its share of your property tax bill. If your home is worth $300,000, the city taxes only $240,000 of that value. Additional exemptions are available to people over 65, people with disabilities, disabled veterans and their survivors. But your appraised value is still the bedrock determinant of your tax bill. If you think your appraisal is too high, its worth fighting. How do I do that? You file an appeal (technically a contest) with the Bexar Appraisal District. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On the back of your Notice of Appraised Value, youll find a Notice of Protest form. Its important to fill it out correctly, and thats easier said than done. Its very intricate. Before you get started, consult this Express-News FAQ. Once youve completed the protest form, mail it to the Bexar Appraisal Review Board, P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio 78283-0248. Protest forms also can be emailed to cs@bcad.org or placed in a drop box in front of the appraisal districts offices at 411 N. Frio St. Whats the deadline? May 15 or 30 days after you received your Notice of Appraised Value, whichever is later. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti explains the intricacies of property taxes at a workshop. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News What happens next? Once youve filed your protest, you can request an informal conference with the appraisal district. Either online, by phone or in a virtual meeting, you produce documents that show why you think your appraisals too high. Your evidence can include information on recent home sales in your neighborhood, engineering reports describing repairs your home needs or general documentation of your homes condition. After reviewing this information, the district will offer you a settlement. Most protests are resolved at this stage in 2002, 73 percent of them were. What if I cant reach a settlement? You can take your case to the Appraisal Review Board, an independent body. Hearings are held by phone, by Zoom or in person at the appraisal districts offices at 411 North Frio St. You and the district will each present your case. Then the board will decide. The district bears the burden of proof. If the boards decision isnt to your liking, you can appeal to state district court. What if I have more questions? UW Health and UnityPoint Health-Meriter, which have a rehabilitation hospital on Madisons Far East Side, plan to open a second one in Fitchburg by 2026. The announcement on Tuesday comes after Encompass Health, a for-profit company based in Birmingham, Alabama, opened a rehabilitation hospital in Fitchburg in November. The Madison area didnt have any stand-alone rehab hospitals, which treat patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries, until the 50-bed UW Health Rehabilitation Hospital opened in 2015 next to UW Healths East Madison Hospital in the American Center business park. That facility, managed by Lifepoint Health, replaced a 21-bed rehab unit at UW Hospital and a 16-bed rehab unit at Meriter Hospital. SSM Health, which owns St. Marys Hospital in Madison and doesnt have a stand-alone rehab hospital in Wisconsin, is partnering with Encompass Health on providing laboratory and imaging services. UW, Meriter and Lifepoint plan to build a 40-bed rehab hospital at the southwest corner of Lacy Road and Highway 14, about 2 miles northeast of Encompass Healths facility. Construction is expected to start next year. Lifepoint, which has more than 40 rehab facilities across the country, will manage daily operations. We are excited to partner in adding a world-class rehabilitation hospital southwest of Madison, to complement our eastside location, Ryann DeGraff, vice president and regional chief operating officer for UW Health, said in a statement. The facility will provide nursing and physical, occupational and speech therapy for adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, neurological disease and brain or spinal cord injury. In 2017, UW Health and UnityPoint Health-Meriter formed a joint operating agreement in which they share a financial bottom line. UW-Madison Police Chief Kristen Roman has resigned amid a university investigation into alleged workplace misconduct. The university announced Romans resignation in a statement on Monday but did not immediately give a reason for the chiefs departure. UW-Madison has been investigating alleged violations of university employment policy and work rules, Kelly Tyrrell, a university spokesperson, said in an email. The investigation does not involve any allegations of criminal conduct. Roman resigned before completion of the investigation. Roman did not respond to a request for comment Monday evening. Brent Plisch, previously assistant chief for administration and support, has been named as interim chief. The university will conduct a national search to find a new police chief, Vice Chancellor Robert Cramer said in a statement. Roman had served as a police chief since 2017 and previously reached the rank of captain with the Madison Police Department, where she led community outreach efforts. A search committee landed on Roman as the new chief to replace Susan Riseling, who led the department for 25 years. During Romans tenure with campus police, the department led the investigation into the murders of Dr. Beth Potter and Robin Carre, who were killed in the UW Arboretum in 2020 by Khari Sanford, their daughters boyfriend. Sanford was convicted and received life in prison in September 2022. The outgoing chief also led department reform efforts, including a crisis response program and an online dashboard that shows report data involving people of color and complaints against officers. In 2021, Roman prohibited officers from displaying the thin blue line flag and imagery while acting in an official police capacity. While viewed by many as a symbol of solidarity with police, Roman said the flag had been co-opted by extremists with hateful ideologies, and that the department needed to distance itself from it to build trust with the community. Plisch, whos been with the department since 2005, previously served as a captain with the U.S. Army and was stationed in Iraq and Fort Carson in Colorado. He graduated from Northwestern University and Winona State University. These are the 10 most popular electric cars in America, according to Edmunds 10 of the most popular EVs available today 1. Tesla Model 3: EPA-estimated 358 miles of maximum range 2. Chevrolet Bolt EV: EPA-estimated 259 miles of maximum range 3. Ford Mustang Mach-E: EPA-estimated 312 miles of maximum range 4. Hyundai Ioniq 5: EPA-estimated 303 miles of maximum range 5. Genesis G80 Electrified: EPA-estimated 282 miles of maximum range 6. BMW iX: EPA-estimated 324 miles of maximum range 7. Ford F-150 Lightning: EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range 8. Kia Niro EV: EPA-estimated 253 miles of maximum range 9. Polestar 2: EPA-estimated 270 miles of maximum range 10. Porsche Taycan: EPA-estimated 203 miles of maximum range Three Beaver Dam Firefighters were injured, one seriously, after the departments hovercraft crashed into an island on Beaver Dam Lake Monday night. The crash occurred around 7:40 p.m. when the fire department was doing training on the lake off of Tahoe Park and ran into Grape Island, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a statement. The fire department had been on the lake since around 6 p.m. while training. All three Beaver Dam Firefighters were injured in the crash, with one firefighter being seriously injured, Schmidt said. Specifics related to injuries are not being released at this time nor are the names of the firefighters. The crash is still under investigation, Schmidt said. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation and will provide additional information on the crash after they conduct their investigation. The Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Beaver Dam Police Department are assisting the DNR in the investigation. A Milwaukee woman whose trial in a high-profile homicide case is set for June will face extradition to Kenosha County after she fled the state, eluding local and federal authorities. U.S. Marshals authorities arrested Chrystul Kizer, 23, Monday in Louisiana, where she was taken into custody and was being held pending extradition in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, according to jail records. Kizer was booked at the correctional center shortly before noon after spending several weeks on the run from Kenosha and Milwaukee county authorities. She faces charges of felony bail jumping in connection with charges of battery, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and failure to give an updated address to the court. A warrant for her arrest was issued by a Kenosha County judge. Sheriff David Zoerner said late Monday that Kizer is expected to be extradited to Kenosha County to face local charges first. Kizer, now 23, spent nearly two years in jail in connection with a 2018 charge of first-degree intentional homicide. She was free on $400,000 bond raised by activist groups. If convicted, she faces life in prison. She is accused of killing Randall Volar, a 34-year-old Kenosha man who prosecutors have said had been preying on her and other underage girls. Volar had also been under investigation for producing child pornography and sexual abuse. A trial date in the homicide case had been set for June 10 in Kenosha County Circuit Court. A motion hearing in the case is scheduled for March 15. Kizers attorneys have said they expect her to be in court. Kizer was 17 at the time she was charged and is accused of shooting Volar in the head twice and then setting his house at 7732 14th Ave. on fire. Kizer then allegedly fled in his car. She also faces felonies of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, arson of a building without the owners consent, bail jumping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. IN PHOTOS: Chrystul Kizer makes court appearance in June 2021 Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Kizer Court Fish and Game to hold open house in Jerome The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will hold an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at its regional office, 324 S. 417 E. in Jerome County, to address issues affecting anglers in the state. The address will include topics of setting the 2024 spring/summer Chinook salmon fishing seasons and bag limits, the upcoming 2025-27 statewide fishing seasons and rules and rewriting the 6-year, statewide fish management plan. Fish and Game officials hope to hear from anglers about ideas they might have about these upcoming documents, and they will outline a few proposals that are up for consideration from Fish and Game. A second open house will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 20, in Hailey at the Community Campus, Minnie Moore Room. For more information about the Magic Valley Region open houses, contact the regional office at 208-324-4359. Also: Idaho State Police is investigating a single vehicle roll over injury crash that occurred at 11:21 p.m. Feb 9, on U.S. Highway 30 near mile post 196, west of Buhl. A 24-year-old female from Murtaugh, with four passengers, was driving east on U.S. 30 in a 2004 Suzuki XL7, when she failed to negotiate a turn. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled before coming to rest in a field. A 28-year-old male from Manteca, California, was flown to a local hospital. A 41-year-old female from Twin Falls, two juveniles, and the driver were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The driver and three passengers were not wearing seatbelts. Idaho State Police was assisted by Buhl Fire Department, Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office, Buhl Police Department, Magic Valley Paramedics, and Air Saint Lukes. The Idaho House of Representatives Republican Caucus voted Feb. 12 to elect a new majority leader. Rep. Jason Monks (District 22) will finish out the Second Session of the 67th Idaho Legislature as the Idaho House Majority Leader. Rep. Monks has previously served as the House Assistant Majority Leader during the 66th Legislative Session. I am humbled and grateful to have received the vote of my colleagues to serve as the Majority Leader of the Idaho House of Representatives, Monks said. Public service is both a privilege and responsibility. I am dedicated to continuing the work of the passing of good policy for the state of Idaho. This week, Idaho drivers saw a rise in the states average price of gasoline for the first time this year. According to AAA , todays average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $2.92, which is three cents more than a week ago, but 16 cents less than a month ago and 75 cents cheaper than a year ago. Today, Idaho ranks 34th in the country for most expensive fuel. The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health on Thursday launched the Charlene Maher Nursing Scholarship with the College of Southern Idaho. The new program will provide $10,000 in funding to the CSI Foundation to award students in the nursing program. The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation plans to expand the scholarship program at public Idaho colleges and universities that offer nursing degrees. Students are encouraged to apply for the funding through the CSI general scholarship application in preparation for Fall 2024. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The Twin Falls man who caused the death of a two-month-old child in a shaken-baby case said in court Monday that he neither deserves forgiveness for his actions, nor does he want it. Logan Penner, 19, was sentenced to a 15 years fixed sentence in prison and 20 years indeterminate for second-degree murder, a crime in which the childs mother, Madison Rice, said drastically changed her life. I dont think I will ever be the same, Rice testified in court through Zoom. Rices paternal grandmother also submitted a victims impact statement, which was read in court by a deputy prosecutor. In the statement, the boys great-grandmother said she imagines the child, if alive today, would be walking now and beginning to talk. She said she spent time with her grandson as he was on life support for five days, and her initial hopes that he would survive were dashed. Penner was left to care for Peyton Rice and a 2-year-old child of Madison Rice on the night of Nov. 25, 2022, while his girlfriend, the childrens mother, did laundry at the Valley House homeless shelter in Twin Falls. The baby was constantly crying, Penner told police, and he was having a bad day. He said he blacked out and snapped, and admitted that he shook the baby, and threw it into a crib, hitting its head. He lost his temper at the worst possible moment and in the worst possible way, Deputy Prosecutor Jethelyn Harrington said Monday. First-degree murder charges were initially filed against Penner but, after a day-long mediation, the plea deal for Penner to agree to second-degree murder was reached, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said in an interview last year. The plea deal says Penner did willfully, unlawfully, with no considerable provocation, and with malice aforethought, but without premeditation, kill Peyton Rice, by violently shaking Peyton Rice and throwing him into a crib adjacent to a hard wooden frame, which resulted in the death of Peyton Rice. The baby suffered a brain hemorrhage, Harrington said. A medical evaluation of the baby revealed he also had a healing fracture on an arm, court records say. Loebs said last year that his office could not prove how that injury occurred. District Judge Roger B. Harris agreed to levy the sentence agreed to in the plea deal, and Penner has agreed he wont appeal. I am truly sorry for what happened, Penner told Harris. Despite saying he doesnt deserve forgiveness for causing the childs death, he said he will try to do what he can to make it right. Public defender Steven McRae said Penner apologized to Rice shortly after the incident occurred, and has taken responsibility. In addition to the sentence, prosecutors asked that he pay $39,000 in restitution for hospital costs. McRae was given 30 days to review the request. McRae said Penner suffered from a behavior disorder. Penner and Rice were homeless for a time, and he took on a role he wasnt ready for. In the few seconds, his rage took over, and the action will affect the rest of his life, McRae said. Harris said he believed if Penner could, he would take back his actions. I truly think you would, he said. Unfortunately, you cant. Deputies bust motorist for drugs after car slides off road Slick roads helped catch a suspected drug trafficker who had nearly 9 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 pounds of fentanyl pills in his car earl He hoped Penner can learn anger management skills while serving his sentence. Penner, who has been in custody since November of 2022, will get credit for time served. He had been held on a $250,000 bond. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Ramon Preciado, 53, sits in the back of a San Antonio Police Department vehicle on Wednesday, Jan. 3, after being arrested in connection to the fatal shootings of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra. His son, Christopher Preciado, 19, was also arrested and charged with capital murder, while Ramon was charged with abuse of a corpse, according to SAPD Sgt. Washington Moscoso. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Myrta Romanos is escorted to a car Wednesday, Jan. 10, by San Antonio police officers after she was arrested on charges related to the slayings of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A judge reduced bail Monday for Ramon Preciado, the father of the man accused of killing a pregnant teen and her boyfriend days before Christmas. Christopher Preciado, 19, has been charged with capital murder of multiple persons in the deaths of Savanah Soto, 18, Matthew Guerra, 22, and their unborn baby, Fabian. His parents, Ramon, 53, and Myrta Romanos, 47, are accused of helping their son hide the bodies. Both have been held in the Bexar County Jail since they were arrested in early January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ramon Preciados bail now totals $450,000, down from $600,000. Romanos was $1.1 million her total was cut almost in half Friday to $600,000, but she was still in custody Monday afternoon. The couples bail was oppressive, according to their attorneys. Ramon Preciado is charged with abuse of a corpse, with bail set at $100,000, and with altering, destroying or concealing a corpse, with bail lowered from $500,000 to $350,000. His court-appointed attorney, John Kuntz, said in his motion that the elder Preciado cant afford his own lawyer, that his family ties are in San Antonio and that he would not pose a flight risk if freed on bail. Kuntz also argued that Preciado has health problems, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, and has not been receiving his medications at the right time and the correct dosages at the Bexar County Jail. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Preciado was called to the witness stand to testify and detailed an incident in which he fell and experienced a seizure two days after he was arrested. His defense lawyers originally requested his total bail be reduced to $120,000. The bond amounts are so oppressive they are unconstitutional, quite frankly, Kuntz said. The second-degree bond of $500,000 is so far outside the range of normalcy here in Bexar County and any other county. Prosecutors pointed out Preciados criminal history and framed him as a repeat offender. Preciados prior charges include unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading arrest and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. They also questioned whether his family was making a proper effort to bail him out and whether he was honest about his current assets. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Romanos is charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence with intent to impair an investigation and altering, destroying or concealing a corpse. She had bail for two charges reduced. Soto and Guerra disappeared shortly before Christmas. She was due to give birth to a boy. Her family grew frantic after she failed to show up for an appointment at a hospital where doctors planned to induce labor. On Dec. 26, the couples bodies were discovered in Guerras car, a 2013 Kia Optima, which had been abandoned outside the Colinas at Medical Apartments on the Northwest Side. Both had been shot in the head. Guerras death was listed as a contact gunshot wound, meaning the barrel of the gun was pressed directly against his head, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two days after the bodies were found, police asked for the publics help in identifying two persons of interest seen on security video from the apartment complex. In the video, two vehicles pulled up side-by-side in the parking lot. One was a Chevy Silverado pickup. The other was Guerras Kia. A man emerged from each vehicle, and they spoke briefly before driving off in different directions. A third person can be seen throwing a towel to the driver of the truck to wipe off his fingerprints while they were stopped. Police said the two men were Christopher and Ramon Preciado and that they discussed how to dispose of the bodies of Soto and Guerra, which were in the Kia. Police said Romanos was the person in the truck who threw the towel. The father and son were arrested on Jan. 3. Romanos was arrested a week later. The three lived together in a house in the 5000 block of Charlie Chan Drive, near the Colinas at Medical Apartments. Police said Christopher Preciado killed the couple after they met with him to sell him marijuana. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both Ramon Preciado and Romanos have pre-hearings set for April 16. - Advertisement - Integrated solar developer SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) was included in exclusive and coveted MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index. SPNEC was the only addition to the index based on Global index provider MSCIs latest review. MSCI rebalances its indices semi-annually and quarterly. The changes in MSCI Global Small Cap Index, which was revealed on Monday, will take effect at the close of market on Feb. 29. SPNEC said this is positive development for the company as this would further stimulate interest in its stock. - Advertisement - Following the announcement, the share price of SPNEC climbed 6.03 percent Tuesday to P1.23 from P1.16 Monday. New York-listed MSCI has helped global investors build and manage portfolios using its research-based tools and insights on risks and performance. SPNEC is now controlled by the Pangilinan Group, through MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meralco Powergen Corp. after a series of acquisitions. MGreen recently raised its stake in the company, acquiring 2.17 billion shares of SPNEC from Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. for P2.50 billion, representing 4.34 percent. The latest acquisition raised MGreen and its affiliates stake in SPNEC to 55.96 percent from 50.53 percent previously. Prior to this, the Pangilinan-led company bought P15.9 billion worth of 15.70 billion common shares of SPNEC, representing 31.4 percent of the companys total outstanding common shares as well as 19.40 billion preferred shares. SPNEC is developing the worlds biggest solar project through 100-percent owned subsidiary Terra Solar Philippines Inc. The P200-billion Terra solar development in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan will consist of 3,500 megawatts (MW) of solar panels and 4,000 megawatt-hours of battery storage. - Advertisement - Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said Tuesday it renewed its alliance with Mizuho Bank Ltd. to expand and strengthen the scope of business cooperation between the two lenders. This renewed agreement between Mizuho and BPI reflects the resilience and growth of our relationship over the years. We are fortunate that this memorandum of understanding goes beyond the fundamentals by addressing the expansion of Japanese businesses through mergers and acquisitions, asset management, human resources and ESG in its broader scope of operation, said BPI president and chief executive Jose Teodoro Limcaoco. Mizuho Bank is a leading global bank with one of the largest customer bases in Japan and an extensive network of financial and business centers. BPI and Mizuho Bank are aligned in their mission to become the most trusted financial partner for their clients. In 2012, the two banks signed an agreement to offer financial services to Japanese companies considering entry to the Philippines. The collaboration focuses on local currency services, introduction of local and sales partners, mutual efforts in developing credit markets and information exchange on local financial markets and regulations. - Advertisement - With the renewed partnership, it is time to strengthen both our capabilities to better serve a larger customer base. We look forward to more collaborations with BPI as we usher in a brighter era for the Philippines, said Mizuho Bank managing executive officer and co-CEO for Asia Pacific Yasuhiro Kubota. About 1,400 Japanese companies were operating in the Philippines as of end-2023. Nearly 60 percent of the countrys foreign direct investments came from Japan. BPI said it has been servicing more than 500 Japanese companies in the country, offering trade products, providing investment opportunities and lending for capital expenditures and working capital requirements. It also supports the well-being of the companies employees by facilitating monthly payroll, providing health and insurance coverage and assisting with retirement planning. The bank also extends support to their suppliers and customers through supply chain products and solutions. BPIs journey with Mizuho Bank began in 2012 and since then, the partnership flourished, leading to a commitment with mutual growth and success. Our joint venture with Tokyo Century has only strengthened our bond with Mizuho Bank, fortifying the relationship that originated from the initial memorandum of understanding, said BPI institutional banking head Juan Carlos Syquia. May this renewed commitment pave the way for a future of convenient success, shared goals and unwavering partnership, Syquia said. - Advertisement - A group of young congressmen on Tuesday encouraged Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio to convince her father to support the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. This is to assert the UniTeam coalition, which the latter said is still alive and intact. The lawmakers also stressed that the alliance remains solid in the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, first cousin of the president. The principle of the UniTeam goes beyond the relationship of the President and the Vice President. Tulad namin sa (Like us in the) House, buo kami (we are united), on the call of the President under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez, Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said. Khonghun and his fellow administration lawmakers, however, extended an appeal to the vice president to convince other members of the Duterte clan to back the plans of the incumbent president as well. Isa lang ang hinihingi namin kausapin din sana ni (We only ask that) VP Sara ang kanyang pamilya para suportahan ang ating Pangulo (talk to her family to support the President), he said. Dahil wala namang ibang gusto ang ating Pangulo kundi ang kaunlaran at katahimikan ng ating bansa (Because the President wants nothing but progress and peace for our country). So, if youre asking me if the UniTeam is united Yes, we are united under the leadership of the President. Another member of the group, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, said the UniTeam political slogan of President Marcos and VP Duterte has been converted into a concrete and actual plan, dahil nagkaroon nga tayo ng (because of the) launching of Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines). VP Sara was there, and makikita po natin yung (we can see the) relationship. VP Sara is still in the Cabinet, nasa (in the) administration of President Marcos and shes very, very supportive of the plans of the current administration, he said. Adiong said that the House, composed of more than 300 congressmen from different political parties and party-list groups, is the perfect venue to exemplify UniTeam, kasi makikita niyo po talagang solid kami dito (because you will see that we are solid here). For his part, La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega said governance under UniTeam led by President Marcos is working on the ground, citing as examples the way things have been going right now in their respective districts. Nasa distrito kami, nasa ground, gumagana po e. Napakaayos po ng patakbo ng gobyerno, gumagana. So, ibig sabihin nabubuo lahat yun sa (We are the ones in the districts, on the ground, its functioning. Government is running well. So, that means it was accomplished because of the) UniTeam, he said. - Advertisement - Yung mga pinangako nung eleksyon, nararamdaman namin sa distrito (The promises made during the campaign period, we feel that in our districts), and Im sure our constituents feel it, because of what we are doing in legislation and what we are doing on the ground, Ortega added. Over the past few weeks, the Marcos-Duterte alliance was tested because of the public criticisms made by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte against President Marcos. - Advertisement - The Philippines is now coordinating with Japan for an investigation into the hoax bomb threats received by several government agencies in Manila. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a statement, said the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is coordinating with the Japanese government about the issue. Efforts are now on the way to request the Japanese government to investigate thoroughly and identify the senderThere is no cause for alarm as this sender and email has been tagged as hoax, the CICC said. Reports said among the agencies that received the bomb threats are Bataans Department of Education division office; Iba, Zambales local government; and Quezon Citys Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) head office. According to the CICC, the email containing the bomb threats originated from Japan. It had a locally registered domain name that also hit multiple government agencies in Seoul, South Korea. - Advertisement - The CICC said similar bomb threats also hit several government agencies in 2023. The Bureau of Immigration meanwhile is conducting an investigation against a Japanese man who allegedly sent the bomb threats. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that he has ordered a thorough investigation on the real identity of the Japanese whose name appeared from an email as a certain Takahiro Karasawa. In the email, Karasawa claimed that bombs will rock major Philippine government agencies on Feb. 12, at around 3:34 PM. No such incident was reported. However, Tansingco said the bureau will be working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine whether the suspect is indeed in the country. We will also be verifying if this is his real identity, or if he is a prankster using a fictitious name, he added. Tansingco warned that they would immediately be able to implement hold orders, blacklist orders, or arrest warrants issued against the suspect. The national government is not taking this lightly. Any security threat shall be met with the harshest penalties of the law, he added. The BI official said a quick check of their database revealed at least four namesakes, who are all not in the country. The bureau will forward results of their verification to the NBI and DOJ to assist in the investigation. It was also learned that a similar name made threats to other countries a few years back. - Advertisement - Senator Imee Marcos filed a Senate resolution seeking an inquiry into the impolite intrusion and unwarranted presence of various intergovernmental organizations in the country. In Senate Resolution No. 927, Marcos said she was referring to the United Nations (UN) and International Criminal Court (ICC) representatives. Marcos four-page resolution cited the supposed visit of ICC investigators to the country in December. The senator said the supposed unwarranted presence of these groups poses a threat to the countrys independence and sovereignty. She said that it is the prerogative of the Philippines to formulate, launch, and implement programs that address the peace and order situation of the country and ensure the general welfare of the people. - Advertisement - These undue interferences could prove counterproductive to the countrys staunch fight against terrorism, armed conflict, illegal drugs, crimes, and other acts that pose a serious threat to public security and public order, she said. Marcos also mentioned the visit of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan from late January to early February where the UN official recommended, among others, the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The abovementioned actions of the representatives of the UN and the ICC have become allegedly an impolite intrusion against the independence, sovereignty, and prerogative of the Philippines to formulate, launch, and implement programs that address the peace and order situation of the country and ensure the general welfare of the people, Marcos said in her resolution. Marcos asserted that since the NTF-ELCAC was created, it had accomplished more than any other administrations in neutralizing the Communist Party of the Philippines New Peoples Army National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). - Advertisement - The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday called out Chinas Consul General in Manila, Zhang Zhen, for her remarks that apparently misrepresented facts over the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy reported that at least 14 Chinese vessels were spotted in some features of the Kalayaan Island group in the WPS. In a related development, a Philippine Coast Guard senior official said the government will continue its transparency strategy that exposes aggressive Chinese actions in West Philippine Sea despite Manila and Beijings agreement last month to deescalate tensions in the resource-rich waters. We note the statement made by the Chinese Consul General last 8 February 2024. We take serious exception to Chinas continued misrepresentation of the law and the facts, the DFA said in a statement. The Philippine governments response came after Zhang, during a Chinese New Year celebration in Iloilo City, said that the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea was illegal, null, and void, adding that China has never and will never accept it. - Advertisement - Zhang also maintained that Chinas claim over the disputed territorial waters was based on historical and legal facts and cited news articles from Chinas state media to support their claim. The Philippines and China are both parties to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), DFA said. We have and will consistently call on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, the DFA statement stressed. In a press briefing on Tuesday, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said at least Chinese vessels were seen in the following features of Pagasa, one China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and four Chinese fishing vessels most likely militia; Panata, five Chinese fishing vessels; Kota two Chinese fishing vessels; Ayungin, one CCG vessel; and Parola, one Chinese fishing vessel; Asked if the number of Chinese vessels in these areas is unusually low, Trinidad said that the monitoring was at a particular time only and not for 24 hours. He added that a longer period of time would be needed to be able to make an assessment of the behavior of China in these areas. The normalcy of the South China Sea will not depend on the numbers. Its not alarming if the numbers will be high, Trinidad said. He quoted the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office as saying that what is alarming are the actions, not the number of ships or vessels,. Trinidad said also said that over the weekend two Peoples Liberation Army Navy vessels of China were spotted in the horizon during the Philippines-United States third maritime cooperative activity in the WPS. There was the presence of two PLA Navy ships in the horizon. No maritime militia, no coast guard vessels were monitored. They did not interfere in any, whatsoever, he said. In January, the Philippines and China sought to deescalate tensions in the South China Sea. Both sides agreed to improve an existing maritime communication mechanism to prevent incidents and any miscalculations in the disputed waters. The Philippines has repeatedly called out China over its repeated aggression in the WPS that includes the ramming and firing of water cannons at Philippine vessels. Tensions between China and the Philippines have heightened in recent months as both sides traded accusations over a series of incidents in the WPS. China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Chinas claim in a ruling on a case brought by the Philippines, which Beijing rejects. PCG spokesman for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Philippine policy has not changed and will continue, adding that it will resume the involvement of Filipino journalists in patrols in the WPS. Let me again emphasize that our transparency initiative remains to be the same, how aggressive we are, how we started until now it remains to be the same, Tarriela said at the Stratbase-ADR Institute forum in Makati City. He said there is no existing mechanism or a detailed guidance from the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) sent to the PCG to calibrate its policy or tone down its statements following the Shanghai meeting last month. Nothing has changed, said Tarriela. A vital trading and shipping lane, the South China Sea, dotted with rocks, shoals and reefs where rich oil and mineral deposits were found, are claimed in part or in whole by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Parts of the waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone have been renamed West Philippine Sea by the Philippine government. We still choose to publicize the aggressive actions of China just like we did last weekend when the Chinese coast guard did a dangerous maneuver, provocative behavior, crossing the bow of the Philippine coast guard. Those videos and photos were still released, Tarriela said. In that incident, Tarriela said the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels carried out dangerous and blocking maneuvers at sea against BRP Teresa Magbanua four times, with the CCG vessels crossing the bow of the PCG vessel twice. The PCG also said its ship was shadowed by four CCG vessels on more than 40 occasions. At a January 17 meeting in Shanghai, the Philippines and China agreed to deescalate tensions in the South China Sea and vowed to improve existing maritime communication mechanisms to prevent incidents and any miscalculations in the disputed waters that could cause a much bigger conflict. During the talks, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong had frank and productive discussions to deescalate the situation, as both sides agreed to calmly deal with incidents, if any, through diplomacy, a Department of Foreign Affairs statement said last month. Hostilities in the South China Sea have sparked fears of a major conflict that could draw in the United States, Manilas long-time treaty ally. Washington said that it stands by its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty commitments with the Philippines if Filipinos, including its public vessels, come under an armed attack in the disputed waters. Chinas vast territorial claims in the waters have sparked tensions and violent confrontations with smaller claimants, like the Philippines and Vietnam. The Philippines largely won a landmark case against Chinas massive claim in the South China Sea before an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, but Beijing refused to participate in the arbitration process and is not recognizing the ruling. The toning down a bit (of) our transparency (policy), it has never happened yet. We havent received anything yet that would, you know, say that we are deescalating because of the agreed terms of the Jan 17 meeting, Tarriela said, citing the positive gains of Manilas transparency strategy to expose Chinese aggression in WPS. I dont agree with the term both countries would deescalate because were not escalating the tensions, we are just exercising our sovereign rights, he said. - Advertisement - The merger plan for state-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines will no longer push through, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said Tuesday. I think were better off with two government depository banks. Two members in the Maharlika Board. Its as simple as we need two government depository banks. Their mandates are totally different so I think we are better off with two of them, Recto told reporters on the sidelines of the 122nd Founding Anniversary of the Bureau of Customs. I dont think theres a resolution merging it so theres no need for a resolution scrapping it, he added. The Duterte administration in 2016 stopped the planned merger of LandBank and DBP, which was approved by President Benigno Aquino III through Executive Order 198. Former Secretary Benjamin Diokno, however, revived the planned merger of the two banks in March 2023. - Advertisement - The merger would have resulted in a bank with combined assets of P4.18 trillion as of December 2022 and generated savings for the government of P5.3 billion a year or P20 billion in the next four years. Recto added that Landbank and DBP could continue their operations separately despite the contributions to Maharlika Funds. I think theyll be fine. Theyll be okay, he said. Under the law, the National Government, DBP, and Landbank of the Philippines are mandated to provide the initial capital of the MIC, contributing P50 billion, P25 billion, and P50 billion, respectively. The Maharlika Investment Fund Law was signed into law by President Marcos last July 18 with the Implementing Rules and Regulations taking full effect on Aug. 28, 2023. - Advertisement - THE Philippines is preparing the 39th edition of its annual Balikatan exercises, with organizers considering parts of Northern Luzon, including Mavulis island in far north Batanes province. Mavulis, only 98 kms from the southern tip of Taiwan, has a newly constructed military and fishermen shelter, a water desalination plant, a helipad, lighthouse and a flagpole atop the hill, part of a scenery known for its green waters, terrain and clean environment. This years three-week iteration of the Balikatan joint military exercises with the United States has been projected to be bigger than ever before and could include drills staged in areas of Batanes close to Taiwan. We have our hand for the military decision to go north which authorities have considered since security officials are now externally oriented, which means there is now a shift of focus from being internally exposed. Last year, the 38th edition had the Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and the Australian Defense Force during the bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military. - Advertisement - It included a Sink Exercise as part of the littoral live fire exercise in Zambales, where the former BRP Pangasinan, a decommissioned Malvar-class corvette, was used as a target ship. It drew 17,600 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia, the number of participants setting a record for the annual joint drills, which began in the 1990s. While there is no final decision yet on the exact areas where Balikatan would be held, Mavuli is being considered as part of the venue this summer, according to Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said. National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to expand its presence in Batanes, 658 kms from Manila which can be reached after an 80-minute flight from the capital. With this development, Trinidad said We could now focus on the greater task of defense and security with an outward) orientation. Philippine military authorities have echoed the DNDs position that China, which has thus far not commented on the Batanes exercise, has no business with how the Philippines would plan its defense and security posture, saying this move is all part and parcel of securing what is ours. This is in response to Beijings warning for Manila not to play with fire over the issue of Taiwan, where the Philippines has an economic and cultural offce. Chinas pronouncements and acts are the main reasons for its low credibility with the Filipino people. China should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities if it truly wants to earn the widespread trust and respect that it is trying so hard to gain but has, so far, been unable to, the DND had said. - Advertisement - Davao City, PhilippinesFilinvest Land, Inc.s (FLI) 8 Spatial Davao team swiftly mobilized through Pusong Filinvest, the companys corporate social responsibility program, to provide urgent assistance to families impacted by recent flooding in Barangay Ma-a, Davao City. The gesture was graciously received by barangay captain Pacito Canete and esteemed purok leaders of Ma-a, underscoring the spirit of solidarity and collaboration during times of adversity. Sharon Luntao, Regional General Manager of Filinvest Land, Inc. for Mindanao, expressed profound gratitude to the dedicated team members of 8 Spatial Davao for their unwavering commitment to serving the community in times of need. Pusong Filinvest through the 8 Spatial Davao Team prepares essential items such as drinking water, hygiene kits, rice, and hot meals for distribution to 500 affected families in Brgy. Ma-a. (FLI Photo) Our Pusong Filinvest program embodies our core values of empathy and responsibility towards the communities we serve. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting and uplifting those affected by unforeseen challenges, Luntao said. The initiative not only exemplifies Filinvest Land, Inc.s dedication to corporate social responsibility, but also highlights its enduring pledge to stand in solidarity with communities, promoting resilience and hope in the face of adversity. - Advertisement - Pusong Filinvest embodies the companys dedication to the communities where it operates and its commitment to building the nation. It exemplifies FLIs heart for service driving us in our continued passion towards building resilient communities for a better future. - Advertisement - Reggie Mutia Lambo Drilon, cervical cancer survivor, outspoken patient rights advocate, and current president of the Cancer Survivors Organization at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), is calling the attention of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. to the plight of cancer patients, particularly female patients battling cervical cancer who are highly dependent on the governments cancer health services for their treatment and survival. In an open letter to the President that Ms. Drilon published on their organizations Facebook Page, just in time for the 5th anniversary of the enactment of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), she spoke of her hope that the President will recognize the physical, emotional, and financial burden of cancer and find the means to help the many Filipinas who are already afflicted, as well as those who will still be afflicted, by the disease. Pagbabakuna ng mas marami pa, malawak na screening para sa mga kababaihan, at sapat na suporta sa mga hindinaiwasan ang kanser at kasalukuyang nakikipaglaban sa sakitna ito ang aming idinudulog sa inyo (Vaccination for many more [women and girls], expanded screening, and sufficient support for the patients who contracted cancer and are currently struggling to manage the disease, these are what we petition from you), she implored the President. She harked back to her personal experience as a cervical cancer survivor, describing a decade-long pain-filled fight that rendered her unable to work and mired in debta common plight for many cancer patients. She also spoke of how cancer impacts the lives of not just the female cancer patients like her, but also the extended networks that provide what little support they can, only to feel helpless when the person they cherishmother, wife, sister, friendstruggles to recover her health, or worst-case scenario, loses her life. Cervical cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer among Filipino women, said Ms. Drilon. Moreover, 11 women die from the disease on a daily basis; she says her own sister was one of the women lost to cancer. She expressed regret for learning too late that some types of cancer can be prevented, and that there is a vaccine that would have kept them both safe from cervical cancer. - Advertisement - Dinggin nyo po sana ang aming hinaing, bigyan po sananinyo ng importansya ang sakit na cancer upang maiwasangdumami pa ang kababaihan na magkaroon nito o kayaylumala pa ang karamdaman (Please hear our plea, and give importance to cancer so that we prevent more women from contracting the disease, or from experiencing worsened symptoms and progressively deteriorating health due to the disease), said Ms. Drilon. This Cancer Awareness Month of February, Ms. Drilon is raising awareness of the challenges experienced by cervical cancer patients, but also of the very real possibility that more women and girls will be saved through effective preventive measures such as expanded coverage for vaccination and screening, as well as quality and affordable cancer care, under a well-funded government initiative. The NICCA serves as the framework for all cancer-related activities of the government, including the National Cancer Control Program and the Cancer Assistance Fund. Isa lang po ako sa maraming umaasa sa benepisyo ng National Integrated Cancer Control Act ng Pilipinas. Umaasapo kami na magkakaroon ng Bagong Pilipinas para sa amin, at para sa iba pang pasyenta ng cancer nanangangailangan pa. (I am just one of many who are counting on the benefits under the National Integrated Cancer Control Act of the Philippines. We are hopeful that there will be a New Philippines for us, and for the cancer patients who still need assistance) said Ms. Drilon. Read the complete letter on: https://bitly.ws/3d5Xn. Ms. Drilons petition is aligned with the global initiative for cervical cancer elimination devised by the World Health Organization, where 90% of girls should be fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by 15 years of age by 2030; 70% of women are screened with a high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with precancer treated, and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed). After a slow start during the pandemic, the Philippines needs to accelerate its efforts to meet these targets. Anne Hayden holds her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden holds her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A San Antonio Water System employee holds Pipa after the puppy was rescued from a sewer pipe on Brunswick Boulevard on Nov. 15, 2023. San Antonio Water System Pipa hangs out at Brackenridge Park with her owner Anne Hayden on Feb. 12. The puppy was rescued from a sewer line this past November. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden holds her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden plays with her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden holds her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden hangs out with her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Pipa and her owner Anne Hayden, SAWS communications director, spend time at Brackenridge Park on Monday afternoon, Feb. 12, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The puppy was rescued from a sewer line by a SAWS crew last November. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio Water System employees located and rescued a puppy trapped in a sewer pipe using televising camera equipment. San Antonio Water System Anne Hayden plays with her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Anne Hayden plays fetch with her puppy Pipa at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio on Feb. 12. In November, Pipa was rescued from a sewer pipe by a San Antonio Water System crew. Hayden, who is SAWS' communications director, decided to adopt the pup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Pipa was rescued from a San Antonio sewer line this past November. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Pipa was rescued from a San Antonio sewer line this past November. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News As she walks through Brackenridge Park, Pipas attention is everywhere. The black and white puppy wants to greet everyone who passes by and constantly stops to sniff all the new smells. Shell sit, momentarily at least, for treats, taking them gently before asking for more. She bears little resemblance to the soaked, shivering puppy pulled out of a sewer main in November, rescued by San Antonio Water System workers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now almost 4 months old, shes found a happy ending: She was adopted by SAWS communications director Anne Hayden, who was there the night she was rescued. Pipa Spanish for pipe was one of three puppies that found themselves trapped in a sewer pipe on Brunswick Boulevard, on the citys south side. While the other two were able to be removed quickly from a private sewer line, Pipa moved farther into the pipe, eventually reaching the city utilitys sewer mainline. READ MORE: SAWS workers rescue puppy that was trapped in sewer line Hayden got a call about 9:30 p.m., and watched as the SAWS workers used camera equipment to push the dog about 200 feet to a nearby manhole, where a bucket was lowered and used to bring her to the surface. After she was rescued, she was taken by the citys Animal Care Services to an emergency veterinarian, then kept overnight in the ACS clinic, where she was nicknamed Damsel. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its still not clear how the three dogs ended up in the sewer pipe. The other two were returned to their owner, who gave up ownership of Pipa to ACS to ensure she received medical care, agency spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said at the time. I was up all night thinking about her, Hayden said. She already had one dog, a corgi named Reggie, and had lost another dog, a 15-year-old shih tzu, about a year earlier. The next morning, she called ACS. The puppy, who was only about 3 weeks old and weighed seven pounds, was too young to adopt, she was told, but she could foster. Hayden knew right away the puppy would be there to stay, she said. READ MORE: Dog missing for 7 years reunites with owner in San Antonio But the name Damsel didnt quite fit the dogs demeanor, she said. I would expect most dogs to be in a total panic, Hayden said, but that wasnt the case. The puppy had been calm throughout the rescue. The SAWS employees who rescued her had started calling her Pipa, and thats the name that stuck. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pipa had no issues caused by her underground adventure, and ACS covered the costs of initial vaccines and spaying, Hayden said. They took great care of her, she said. A dog DNA test, purchased for Hayden by her daughter, showed Pipa is mostly supermutt but also a mix of several other breeds: pit bull terrier, Great Pyrenees, French bulldog, boxer and golden retriever among them. Now about 4 months old, Pipa has nearly tripled in weight, and shes learned to sit and lie down. Shes still working on fetch specifically, figuring out that she needs to bring back the ball and she loves Reggie, though the corgi isnt quite as thrilled with her puppy energy, Hayden said. - Advertisement - Joining HONORs highly acclaimed X Series, the HONOR X8b will debut its powerful innovations and unmatched user experience on February 21! By combining exceptional photography capabilities, immersive display, and a stylish design, HONOR X8b will surely be a feature-packed smartphone that caters to users needs for visual excellence and unique aesthetic. If theres anything we can promise our HONOR fans, its our dedication in providing solutions to the ever-changing needs of smartphone users. With the arrival of HONOR X8b, we can give a solid example of quality technology without having to be expensive, said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng. The HONOR X8b offers massive memory and storage options, including 8GB of RAM + 8 GB RAM Turbo and 512GB of storage enabling it to handle demanding tasks and store a large amount of content. The HONOR X8b features a triple camera system, including a 108MP Main Camera, 5MP Wide and Depth Camera, and 2MP Macro Camera. The 108MP Main Camera comes with the powerful ISOCELL HM6 sensor, enabling it to capture sharp, vibrant photos even in low-light environments. - Advertisement - The 3240Hz PWM Dimming protects users from eye strain, making it ideal for digital-savvy users who spend long hours on smartphones. Additionally, the displays HBM brightness of 1200nits and peak brightness of 2000nits ensures excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. By adjusting the screen brightness from 2nits to 2000nits automatically, the HONOR X8b provides an optimal viewing experience in any lighting condition. Catch the launch live on Facebook: https://bit.ly/HONORMagicV2Launch_PR at exactly 6PM and dont forget to tune in on HONORs website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines) for more exciting announcements! To check out HONORs wide array of mobile phones, tablets, and laptops at any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores nationwide https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/) or online via Shopee (https://bit.ly/HONORPHShopee), Lazada (https://bit.ly/HONORPHLaz) and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/HONORTikTokShop). TODAYS WORD is discombobulate. Example: The sudden change in schedule discombobulated the students, throwing off their rhythm for the day. SATURDAYS WORD was quotidian, meaning daily. Example: The journalists task is to uncover the hidden stories within the fabric of quotidian life and shed light on important societal issues. Candy bars The Caesars Casino in Danville posted an interesting statistic last week. They report 4,242 candy bars were sold last year at its restaurant, Three Stacks. The Stroller took a gander at the menu at Three Stacks and a classic burger sells for $13.99, hot dogs are $7.99 each and an order of onion rings sell for $6.99. You can wash it all down with a soft drink for $4. (The menu didnt list any candy bars.) While were on the subject, the Wall Street Journal reports the top-selling candy bar in the country is the Hershey Bar, followed by Reeses, Snickers, KitKat, and Twix. Rounding out the top 10 are: 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Hersheys Cookies n Creme, Almond Joy and Dove Chocolate. Black history In celebration of Black History Month, Bassett Funeral Service spent the past week recognizing some influential people in the community. They wrapped up the week spotlighting a power couple among educators; Famous and Ruby Hairston were Bassett natives and married for 49 years. Famous Hairston taught for 33 years at four schools in Henry County while Ruby Hairston was a teacher in Martinsville City Public Schools for 40 years and both were the grandparents of Bassett Funeral Home Funeral Director Beth Edna Hairston. Bat crazy The Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville held a reception last week for the opening of Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats exhibit and the Stroller has heard it was a packed house. The exhibit officially opened on Saturday and will run for the next 11 months. The touring exhibition is produced by Evergreen Exhibitions, and brings the mystery surrounding bats out of the dark. Through a wide variety of special effects, multi-sensory interactive displays, the exhibit dispels popular misconceptions about bats. Chuckle A man had moved into a new apartment and was unaware that neighbors above and below him could easily be heard. As he was moving in, his kitten was running around, climbing onto shelves and into a dresser. The man finally exploded at the kitten: Youd better sit down; youre getting on my nerves! A second later, a voice from upstairs responded, OK! Quote of the day If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama SATURDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: A group of hyenas is referred to as a cackle. The hyena is a unique and vital component of most African ecosystems. TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What con man made millions in the 1920s using a pyramid scheme? Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have beefed up security in a district of the capital city Kinshasa where UN buildings and foreign embassies are located after they were targeted by protestors accusing the West of supporting M23 rebels amid escalating clashes between the rebel group and, the armed forces. Throughout last week, dozens of youths demonstrated outside the French, British and the US embassies. On Saturday (10 February), United Nation buildings, vehicles and staff were also targeted by demonstrators as a worsening eastern security crisis fuels a backlash against the mission. Crowds on motorbikes gathered in the capital city, where the UN mission MONUSCO and many embassies are located, burning tires and attacking people. One of the vehicles of the Ivorian embassy had reportedly been vandalized in Kinshasa, amid indiscriminate attacks on vehicles belonging to embassies and international organizations. Some demonstrators carried placards or chanted slogans accusing Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, of carrying out killing in the east of the DRC with Western support. Several of the UN missions vehicles had been set alight, said MONUSCO head Bintou Keita. I strongly condemn the series of attacks, she added. In response, the government has decided to strengthen the security arrangements in different embassies as well as in the premises of MONUSCO, it said on Sunday (11 February) in a statement after an emergency meeting. It added that an inquiry had been opened and the government strongly condemns these totally unjustified acts of violence. Clashes between the M23 rebel group and the army have intensified recently around the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, forcing thousands of people to flee. 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 Lucas was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumor at the age of six, there was no doubting the prognosis. French doctor Jacques Grill gets emotional when he remembers having to tell Lucas's parents that their son was going to die. However, seven years later, Lucas is now 13 years old and there is no trace of the tumor left. The Belgian boy is the first child in the world to have been cured of brainstem glioma, a particularly brutal cancer, according to the researchers who treated him. "Lucas beat all the odds" to survive, said Grill, head of the brain tumor program at the Gustave Roussy cancer center in Paris. The tumor, which has the full name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), is diagnosed every year in around 300 children in the United States, and up to 100 in France. Ahead of International Childhood Cancer Day on Thursday, the medical community has praised advances that mean 85 percent of children now survive more than five years after being diagnosed with cancer. But the outlook for children with the DIPG tumor remains grimmost do not live a year beyond diagnosis. A recent study found that only 10 percent were alive two years on. Radiotherapy can sometimes slow the rapid march of the aggressive tumor, but no drug has been shown to be effective against it. 'No other case like him' Lucas and his family traveled from Belgium to France so that he could become one of the first patients to join the BIOMEDE trial which tests potential new drugs for DIPG. From the start, Lucas responded strongly to the cancer drug everolimus, which he was randomly assigned. "Over a series of MRI scans, I watched as the tumor completely disappeared," Grill told AFP. But the doctor did not dare stop the treatment regimenat least until a year and a half ago, when Lucas revealed he was no longer taking the drugs anyways. "I don't know of any other case like him in the world," Grill said. Exactly why Lucas so fully recovered, and how his case could help other children like him in the future, remains to be seen. Seven other children in the trial survived years after being diagnosed, but only Lucas's tumor completely vanished. The reason these children responded to the drugs, while others did not, was likely due to the "biological particularities" of their individual tumors, Grill said. "Lucas's tumor had an extremely rare mutation which we believe made its cells far more sensitive to the drug," he added. Reproducing Lucas The researchers are studying the genetic abnormalities of patients' tumors as well as creating tumor "organoids," which are masses of cells produced in the lab. "Lucas's case offers real hope," said Marie-Anne Debily, a researcher supervising the lab work. "We will try to reproduce in vitro the differences that we have identified in his cells," she told AFP. The team want to reproduce his genetic differences in the organoids to see if the tumor can then be killed off as effectively as it was in Lucas. If that works, the "next step will be to find a drug that has the same effect on tumor cells as these cellular changes," Debily said. While the researchers are excited about this new lead, they warned that any possible treatment is still a long way off. "On average, it takes 10-15 years from the first lead to become a drugit's a long and drawn-out process," Grill said. David Ziegler, a pediatric oncologist at Sydney Children's Hospital in Australia, said that the landscape for DIPG has dramatically changed over the last decade. Breakthroughs in the lab, increased funding and trials such as BIOMEDE make "me convinced that we will soon find that we are able to cure some patients," Ziegler told AFP. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A group of international mycology experts led by Professor Dr. Oliver A. Cornely at the University of Cologne has jointly drafted a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcosis, which aims at improving infection management and, thus, the survival rate of patients. Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection of mainly the lungs that might lead to meningitis. The article "Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of cryptococcosis" was published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Cryptococcosis, especially cryptococcal meningitis (CM) as the most fatal form, is responsible for a high fatality rate among patients. It is one of the most widespread invasive fungal infections in the world and is a major threat, particularly to people suffering from immunodeficiencies. For example, around one million cases of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis are diagnosed worldwide every year in people with HIV alone, and more than 600,000 people die from the disease each year. Patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant or organ transplant are also at high risk of infection. It is transmitted through the inhalation of spores from soil. Other organs are then also infected via the bloodstream. The lungs, brain, skin, and bones are most frequently affected. "Invasive fungal infections are often difficult to recognize in everyday work in clinics because they occur so rarely. However, it is particularly important for patients at risk to be treated quickly and appropriately," said Cornely from Department I of Internal Medicine at University Hospital Cologne and Director of the Institute of Translational Research at the University of Cologne's CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research. "At the same time, we must not forget that the conditions for recognizing the infection at an early stage are not equally good everywhere in the world and that resources are sometimes very limited. There are many countries with a high number of cases that are poorly equipped in this respect. As part of our Global Guideline Programme, we would like to contribute to improving this situation." The cryptococcosis guideline is designed to support medical staff in handling invasive fungal infections. It is intended to provide practical guidance and support in decision-making and thus improve clinical approaches, diagnosis, management, and aftercare for the benefit of patients. The project was carried out by the mycological societies ECMM (European Confederation of Medical Mycology) and ISHAM (International Society for Human and Animal Mycology) in collaboration with the ASM (American Society for Microbiology). "More than 70 other international specialist institutions were involved in developing this new guideline. This is a great help for our scientific work and shows how great the interest, but also the need for such recommendations is," explained Cornely. Authors from 22 countries contributed to this guideline. Dr. Christina Chang from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Dr. John Robert Perfect from Duke University in Durham, U.S., were in charge of the project. Invasive fungal infections are emergencies. However, as a single pathogen often only occurs very rarely, it is often only discovered late. But patients' lives depend on rapid detection and well-practiced procedures. Since 2017, University Hospital Cologne has been home to one of the European Centres of Excellence recognized by the ECMM. At the center, patients have access to modern testing procedures and treatment options. In addition, the experts under the direction of Professor Cornely serve as advisory contacts for colleagues in Germany and abroad. More information: Christina C Chang et al, Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of cryptococcosis: an initiative of the ECMM and ISHAM in cooperation with the ASM, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00731-4 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 The use of a digital remote monitoring technology in care homes has been found to reduce hospital A&E attendances by 11% and emergency admissions by 25% in a new study from the Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) Better Care program, published today in Age and Ageing. There are more than 400,000 people living in care homes across the U.K., many of whom will be living with complex medical needs that put them at greater risk of needing emergency health care, especially during the winter months. Through the HDR UK Better Care program, a collaboration between the universities of Sheffield, Durham, Lancaster and Newcastle, researchers set out to investigate the benefits of using a digital technology for remote health monitoring within care homes. Health Call, an NHS-owned digital company, developed a smartphone app that care home staff can use to monitor and manage the long-term health of residents by recording daily observations. The information, held securely in the app, provides a way for doctors and other clinicians to review the resident and offer guidance for their care while the resident is in their home. Researchers looked at the impact of using the Health Call app for 8,702 residents in 118 care homes across the North East of England between 2018 and 2021. By linking routinely collected NHS secondary care data from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust with data gathered within the care homes, the team show that using the Health Call app reduced the number of attendances to A&E by 11% and unplanned emergency admissions by 25%. Alex Garner, a Ph.D. student at the Center for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics at Lancaster University and first author on the study, said, "As the age of the U.K. population increases, finding solutions that improve care and quality of life for older people has become increasingly important. "The findings of our study highlight the potential of data-driven solutions such as remote monitoring technology to improve care through reducing emergency attendances and admissions to hospital. Care home staff also reported that using the app boosted their confidence in being able to identify possible deterioration earlier and support better management of illnesses before hospitalization is needed. "Our hope is that these types of digital technology will play a vital role in improving communication between health service providers in the future, benefiting both patients and the NHS." In addition to assessing the impact on hospital attendance and admissions, the research team also performed a cost analysis. They found that use of Health Call within care homes led to a cost reduction for the NHS of 57 per resident in 2018, increasing to 113 in 2021. Suzanne Mason, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Sheffield and senior author on the study, said, "By having the capability to link data recorded by care home staff to data from NHS services, we were able to evaluate the impact of using a novel digital monitoring technology such as the HealthCall app. This study highlights the added value in capturing routine health data for research above and beyond that already being collected for the delivery of patient care." The app provides a structured method for seeking clinical advice for the management of care home residents who become unwell. Staff are trained to use the app to record the vital signs of the residents to allow calculation of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2)used across the NHS to identify patients who may be at risk of deterioration. Caregivers can also upload free text describing a resident's condition using a Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) approach, which is a structured form of communication used to enable information to be conveyed accurately. Jo Knight, professor in applied data science at Lancaster Medical School and member of the Lancaster University Data Science Institute, said, "Given the opportunities that will result from the investment into NHS secure data environments, this research looking at how to use routinely collected data to improve health outcomes is timely and important." More information: The impact of digital technology in care homes on unplanned secondary care usage and associated costs, Age and Ageing (2024). academic.oup.com/ageing/articl .1093/ageing/afae004 Journal information: Age and Ageing Provided by Health Data Research UK 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 All Jennifer Howell wanted was to find medication for her son. Instead, she was caught in a maze of desperate phone calls to pharmacies and physicians. Her son, Linus, had been diagnosed with ADHD in 2021 during the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of his behavioral traitsrestlessness, impulsivity, difficulty focusingsuddenly made sense. When he was first prescribed medication, its effects were instantaneous. "It was something that changed him within 24 hours," said Howell, a Lincoln Square resident. "It was enough for us to cry, saying, 'Oh God, I wish we had known.'" Howell recalled how Linus, now 10 years old, described how he felt: "When my neurons are working, I'm basically a genius." The relief was short-lived. In October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally announced a nationwide Adderall shortage, leaving millions scrambling to obtain prescription stimulant medication. Over a year later, there's no end in sight, and a tangled network of causes has made for no clear solution. "It's the single biggest crisis right now in clinical mental health," said Greg Mattingly, president of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders and an associate clinical professor at Washington University in St. Louis. "It touches everyone." ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the U.S. An estimated 9.8% of children aged three to 17, or about 6 million adolescents, have been diagnosed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Stimulant medications like Adderall mitigate its symptoms by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Access to prescription stimulant medications first began to unravel at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians started reporting a significant jump in ADHD diagnoses. Research compiled by FDA-affiliated scholars indicated that prescriptions for stimulant medications among people aged 20 to 29 rose 30% from April 2018 to March 2022. There are multiple theories on why that's the case, including the ease of telehealth, increased ADHD awareness and the added stressors of remote work, experts say. "There's some suspicion that working virtually seemed to really challenge individuals who had ADHD," said Julie Carbray, a clinical professor of psychiatry and nursing at the University of Illinois Chicago. "Along with that was the recognition that ADHD can be diagnosed in adulthood, which is sort of a newer concept." Meanwhile, a major drugmaker began to experience an Adderall manufacturing delay, according to the FDA. When patients turned to alternative prescription stimulant medications, those too became scarce. Although the manufacturing delay has since been resolved, its long-lasting effects are exacerbated by unprecedented demand. Many pharmacies nationwide still have unpredictable inventory. "It was just a horrible, perfect storm that really has trapped our patients from getting what they need to work, to perform at school, to be able to live their lives," Carbray said. Another hurdle: Because stimulant medication is a controlled substance, most people with ADHD can obtain only a 30-day supply at a time. It also means individual pharmacies can't share where the drugs are available elsewhereparents and patients have to contact each location, one by one. When Linus' Adderall runs out each month, Howell and her husband divide up a list of 20 pharmacies to call. The process can take hours. It takes even more time to drive to distant pharmacies. Linus now only takes medication on school days to ration his supply. "This is very real, and cognitively how he functions is dependent upon this medication being available to him," Howell said. "It makes us feel like this system is not set up to accommodate people who are neurodivergent." It's difficult to pinpoint a solution. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency closely regulates controlled substances due to a high potential for abuse and addiction, imposing quotas on manufacturers to curb production. In 2022, manufacturers of amphetamine medications, which includes Adderall, only sold about 70% of their allotted quota, FDA and DEA officials said. That means about a billion doses were never made or shipped. However, because drug manufacturers are private companies, neither agency can mandate increased production. "We (DEA and the FDA) have called on manufacturers to confirm they are working to increase production to meet their allotted quota amount," the agencies said in a joint statement in August. The FDA told the Tribune that it can't disclose specific production data because it's considered confidential commercial information. "The public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products," FDA spokesperson Chanapa Tantibanchachai said in a statement. The decreased production is likely also tied to the opioid crisis and the resulting backlash faced by manufacturers, Mattingly said. Many Big Pharma companies and some of the nation's largest pharmacy chains faced a slew of lawsuits in recent years related to the handling of drugs and their role in the epidemic. "In the background was the opioid crisis, and I think what happened is a number of the manufacturers, in particular generic manufacturers, became skittish about making short-acting stimulants," Mattingly said. Twenty-one-year-old Drew Goodman was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. He started taking Concerta, another prescription stimulant, about two years later. Without it, he's unable to manage his time, usually hyperfocusing on a singular activity. "It's just near impossible to stop doing whatever I'm doing," said Goodman, a DePaul University student. "It makes it difficult just for day-to-day life." For a decade, he had no issues filling his prescription. Then, in 2021, it was out of stock at his usual pharmacy. It was the beginning of a monthly routine of tedious phone calls. There's no alternative, he addedhe needs his medication. "It's genuinely kind of dangerous," Goodman said. "I'm not exaggerating, especially if I'm driving somewhere, I genuinely need it. It's dangerous to drive without it." Kathryn Gray, a clinical pharmacist at the University of Chicago, is part of a team of physicians dedicated to medication access. A large portion of her work now revolves around locating drugs that treat patients' ADHD. If the hospital pharmacy doesn't have medication in stock, she'll assist with the lengthy process of contacting individual stores. "It's been challenging to get adequate supplies of certain medications at any given time of the year," Gray said. The back order has also exacerbated health care inequality. Many patients aren't able to drive to faraway pharmacies. Others have to pay hundreds out of pocket when they switch to an available medication that's not insured. "The general trend is most patients are very frustrated, very exhausted trying to deal with all of this," Gray said. Most psychiatrists now spend "one hour a day, a few times a week" trying to locate drugs like Adderall for their patients, according to Royce Lee, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago. "I would say every single one of my patients on Adderall and its derivatives will come across this problem," Lee said. "It's a very time-consuming process for everybody." It's an added layer of stress on an already difficult disorder to navigate, said Rebecca Kiel, a Buffalo Grove-based therapist specializing in ADHD. Kiel has seen dozens of patients affected professionally, academically, socially and financially by the shortage. "You've got people who are already struggling," Kiel said. "Medical professionals prescribe medication as this tool, now take the tool away, and you have people struggling again with this anxiety, panic or worry because they don't have the thing that they know was helping them." The crisis doesn't appear to be abating soon. Even if Adderall was available, government agencies are wary of rapid influxes of Adderall and other prescription stimulant medications due to drug abuse, experts said. The FDA added that it's working to assist manufacturers with increasing production by expediting the review process. Additional supply of Adderall is expected to return in the coming months, the agency said. In October, the DEA also increased the production quota for ADHD medications with methylphenidate, which includes drugs like Concerta. Physicians can continue to shift ADHD patients' prescriptions to more readily available medication, though those in turn can experience shortages. Alternative treatment may also be more expensive for patients. "It really is stressing the health care system," Lee said. "This isn't sustainable." For now, ADHD patients and parents like Howell must simply hope for the best each month as they scramble to obtain essential medication. "It just makes me sad, and it gives me horrible anxiety to think about," Howell said. "It's just part and parcel of being one of the many parents with family members who have ADHD and can't find medication." 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: The Human Affectome. Credit: Mount Sinai Health System To improve upon current scientific understanding of how our feelings, emotions, and moods relate to and impact human behaviorknown in the field as "affective science"an interdisciplinary task force of 173 scientists from 23 countries, has created an integrative framework that encompasses the enormous array of affective phenomena that exist within the Human Affectome. This organizational scheme allows vastly different scientific interests to relate to one another within the same theoretical framework, facilitating collaboration, translation, and application of affective research domains to better understand and develop treatments for mental disorders that involve severe alterations in mood, depression, and anxiety. The capstone paper, led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, describing these efforts appears in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Thousands of words are commonly used in language to describe our feelings, emotions, moods, and sensory experiences like smells, sounds, tastes, and visual imagery. These day-to-day life experiences have a significant impact on decision-making and behavior. However, they fall into many fragmented areas of study, so neuroscientists have faced a longstanding challenge to find a comprehensive and integrative framework for these experiences that can serve as a common focal point for research. Although many models have been proposed, broad agreement in support of at least a unifying framework that would host these models has been elusive and many competing perspectives exist in isolation. To solve this challenge, the Human Affectome Project was launched in 2016 by Neuroqualia, a Canadian-based non-profit organization. The task force initially used a computational linguistics approach to scour data from more than 4.5 million books containing close to half a trillion words to identify more than 3,600 words in the English language that describe sensations, emotions, and moods. Then, 12 teams of researchers reviewed much of what is currently known about feelings, emotions, and moods from a neuroscience perspective, while simultaneously reviewing the linguistic terms that are commonly used to describe these experiences. The group then developed a model that situates these experiences within a single unifying framework. This final synthesis, which is a capstone effort, has been led by Daniela Schiller, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience, and Psychiatry, and Alessandra C. Yu, a Ph.D. candidate in the Schiller Lab at Icahn Mount Sinai, and Leroy Lowe, Ph.D., President of Neuroqualia. In this first attempt at modeling the Human Affectomethe conceptual umbrella that encompasses all affective experienceseach experience is marked by its valence (positive or negative) and the degree to which it is associated with energy levels or arousal. The full range of these experiences are grouped into physiological concerns (the most immediate, such as feeling hungry), operational concerns (arising through interaction with the environment, such as fear), and global concerns (our overall prospects and well-being). At the heart of this framework is an understanding that individuals are monitoring and managing various concerns simultaneously within their own comfort zones. When they are faced with experiences that are outside of these comfort zones, it creates stress and triggers restorative behaviors that are ultimately intended to preserve our well-being. This framework will be especially helpful for those who are studying mental health disorders that involve severe alterations in emotions and mood, such as depression and anxiety. It will also help researchers better understand how feelings, emotions, and moods affect decision-making and human behavior, which is particularly important in many fields. Finally, it also has enormous implications for the field of artificial intelligence, where researchers are focused on creating computers and robots that can emulate human feelings and emotions for a wide variety of tasks. "As neuroscientists, we are normally focused on the cognitive processes and brain mechanisms that underpin specific aspects of affective experience, so it has been quite refreshing and extremely helpful to collaborate with this group to develop a framework that can host all affective experiences with unifying terminology and agreement about their purpose," said Dr. Schiller. "The work is expansive in scope, but this is the first time that we have had a unifying framework that brings all of these components together. Within this framework, we can now compare various models and organize them in relation to their level of investigation and goals. In this sense, this is a truly unifying endeavorit doesn't provide one winning model but rather brings together competing models and lines of research, so that we can now construct them into an integrative understanding of the Human Affectome as a whole. We hope this work will energize discussions and instigate collaborations among many researchers." More information: Daniela Schiller et al, The Human Affectome, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105450 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 People's trust in the NHS was linked to increased uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic, a study suggests. Public confidence in the information issued by the health care system was the strongest predictor of vaccine uptake across the four UK nations, researchers found. NHS websites were the most used source of information associated with a positive vaccination status, followed by advice given by scientists, experts said. Information from a GP and the influence of televised public health information was also linked to positive uptake of the COVID-19 jab. Looking at guidance shared on social media and messenger appswhich were more frequently mentioned as sources of information among young adultswas linked to a lower likelihood of having been vaccinated or intending to get the vaccine. Researchers say the study helps understand the effects of different information sources during a public health emergency, and highlights the need for policymakers to recognize the influence of public trust in the NHS. The University of Edinburgh study assessed the views of more than 4400 people aged 18 years and over, during the period 16 to 31 July 2021a time when overall vaccination rates were high. The group was asked about their levels of trust in sources of advice on COVID-19, which sources they used and their vaccination status. Researchers found that 85 percent of those surveyed were most likely to trust the NHS. This was followed by 79 percent expressing trust in family and friends, and 77 percent trust in scientists. Trust in the UK Government was relatively low at 48 percent. Compared to those in England, respondents in other UK nations were more likely to trust their respective governments' informationwith the rates in Scotland at 63 percent and Wales at 64 percent. The lowest rates of trust in Government advice were in Northern Ireland at 40 percent. Trust in the UK government increased with age, with 35 percent of the youngest age group having confidence in its COVID-19 advice compared with 62 percent among those aged 65 years or older. Religious leaders were trusted least, with only around 1 in 4 people relying on them for information on COVID-19. The largest predictor for positive vaccination status was found to be trust in the NHS. Trust in the NHS was associated with a three times higher chance of respondents having had the jab. Trust in scientists was the second highest predictor of a positive vaccine status. Respondents aged 65 and over were four times as likely to have a positive vaccination status compared with the youngest group. The respondents least likely to be vaccinated were people aged 25 to 34 years old. The study also highlighted significant differences in trust in government by annual household income and occupational class, with higher incomes correlating with a greater likelihood of trust. Researchers say the findings reveal high levels of trust in the key sources of public health advice and a positive association between using official sources of advice and vaccination intentions, even in the context of overall high vaccination rates. Dr. Valeria Skafida of the School of Social and Political Science said, "The finding of a high-level trust in the NHS contrasts with general public views on the NHS, with a 2021 survey showing that over half of respondents found that the general standard of care provided by the NHS had worsened during the preceding years." "Overall, our findings could highlight the need for the UK and devolved governments to value the importance of public trust in the health system and take appropriate measures to preserve such trust." The study is published in the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. More information: Valeria Skafida et al, Trust in COVID-19 information sources and vaccination status: Exploring social inequalities and differences within the four United Kingdom nations using a representative survey, Journal of Health Services Research & Policy (2024). DOI: 10.1177/13558196241227749 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 bubonic plague warning sign is displayed at a parking lot near the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, in Commerce City, Colo. Officials in central Oregon this week reported a case of bubonic plague in a resident who likely got the disease from a sick pet cat. Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File Officials in central Oregon this week reported a case of bubonic plague in a resident who likely got the disease from a sick pet cat. The infected resident and the resident's close contacts have all been provided medication, public health officials say, and people in the community are not believed to be at risk. The cat was also treated but did not survive. Plague isn't common, but it also isn't unheard of in the western United States, where a handful of cases occur every year. It's different from Alaskapox, a rare, recently discovered disease that killed a man in Alaska last month. Here are a few things to know about what the plague is, who is at risk and how a disease that was once a harbinger of death became a treatable illness. What is plague? Plague is an infectious disease that can affect mammals. It's caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is carried by rodents and fleas. Sunlight and drying can kill plague bacteria on surfaces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Humans and pets suspected to be sick with plague are typically treated with antibiotics, and sometimes with other medical measures. Plague symptoms can manifest in a few ways. Bubonic plaguethe kind contracted by the Oregon residenthappens when the plague bacteria gets into the lymph nodes. It can cause fever, headache, weakness and painful, swollen lymph nodes. It usually happens from the bite of an infected flea, according to the CDC. Septicemic plague symptoms happen if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream. It can occur initially or after bubonic plague goes untreated. This form of plague causes the same fever, chills and weakness, as well as abdominal pain, shock and sometimes other symptoms like bleeding into the skin and blackened fingers, toes or the nose. The CDC says this form comes from flea bites or from handling an infected animal. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease, and it occurs when the bacteria gets into the lungs. Pneumonic plague adds rapidly developing pneumonia to the list of plague symptoms. It is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person by inhaling infectious droplets. All forms of plague are treatable with common antibiotics, and people who seek treatment early have a better chance of a full recovery, according to the CDC. Am I at risk of plague? In the U.S., an average of 7 cases of human plague is reported each year, according to the CDC, and about 80% of them are the bubonic form of the disease. Most of those cases were in the rural western and southwestern U.S. A welder in central Oregon contracted it in 2012 when he pulled a rodent out of his choking cat's mouth in 2012he survived but lost his fingertips and toes to the disease. A Colorado teen contracted a fatal case while hunting in 2015, and Colorado officials confirmed at least two cases last yearone of them fatal. Worldwide, most human cases of plague in recent decades have occurred in people living in rural towns and villages in Africa, particularly in Madagascar and Congo, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People can reduce the risk of plague by keeping their homes and outdoor living areas less inviting for rodents by clearing brush and junk piles and keeping pet food inaccessible. Ground squirrels, chipmunks and wood rats can carry plague as well as other rodents, and so people with bird and squirrel feeders may want to consider the risks if they live in areas with a plague outbreak. The CDC says repellent with DEET can also help protect people from rodent fleas when camping or working outdoors. Flea control products can help keep fleas from infecting household pets. If a pet gets sick, they should be taken to a vet as soon as possible, according to the CDC. Isn't plague from the Middle Ages? The Black Death in the 14th century was perhaps the most infamous plague epidemic, killing up to half of the population as it spread through Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. It began devastating communities in the Middle East and Europe between 1347 and 1351, and significant outbreaks continued for roughly the next 400 years. An earlier major plague pandemic, dubbed the Justinian plague, started in Rome around 541 and continued to erupt for the next couple hundred years. The third major plague pandemic started in the Yunnan region of China in the mid-1800s and spread along trade routes, arriving in Hong Kong and Bombay about 40 years later. It eventually reached every continent except Antarctica, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and is estimated to have killed roughly 12 million people in China and India alone. In the late 1800s, an effective treatment with an antiserum was developed. That treatment was later replaced by even more effective antibiotics a few decades later. Though plague remains a serious illness, antibiotic and supportive therapy is effective for even the most dangerous pneumonic form when patients are treated in time, according to the World Health Organization. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Laman Ismayilova The University of Glasgow Azerbaijan Alumni Association (UGAAA) will host a Burns Night event on February 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Shirvanshah Hotel. This special evening is dedicated to commemorating the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns, Azernews reports. The event promises to be a fascinating experience with representatives from the British Embassy, ??UK alumni and guests from a range of organizations. Guests will gather to network, enjoy an exclusive open buffet dinner, and partake in the Scottish cultural journey together. The night will continue with the reading of poems by Robert Burns and the works of well-known poets in Azerbaijan. The University of Glasgow Azerbaijan Alumni Association (UGAAA) was founded in 2023 with the endorsement of the University of Glasgow. The UGAAA proudly stands as a prominent global alumni association of the university. Its primary mission is to cultivate a strong sense of community among University of Glasgow alumni and Azerbaijani alumni affiliated with UK institutions. Additionally, the association is dedicated to building a robust network among its alumni, facilitating meaningful connections during events. For more information, please contact: [email protected] +994552182273 Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. The federal courthouse in San Antonio, where Gisselle Cabrera Rodriguez was ordered held without bail after an FBI task force alleged she had sold $1.3 million worth of cocaine in a few months. Josie Norris/Staff photographer Gisselle Cabrera Rodriguez of San Antonio, 24, was ordered held without bail after an FBI task force alleged she had sold $1.3 million worth of cocaine in a few months. Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Images A 24-year-old San Antonio stripper accused of distributing 105 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $1.3 million has been arrested after the FBI raided her apartment steps from the upscale La Cantera shopping center. Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Fedock said the conspiracy involves cartel operatives. Federal agents found more than 2 kilograms of cocaine and $45,000 in cash in Gisselle Cabrera Rodriguez's apartment on Via La Cantera on Feb. 6, court records said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a traffic stop the same day, law officers also found more than 1 kilogram of cocaine in a Mercedes SUV driven by Rodriguez, according to the testimony Monday of New Braunfels police officer Kyle Williams, who is assigned to an FBI task force. The total seized was about 3.75 kilos, but Rodriguez told agents she regularly had been getting 5 to 10 kilos of cocaine from a source in Mexico for the past five to six months amounting to about 105 kilos, according to Williams. She was selling each kilo for $13,000, Williams said. Fedock asked Williams if Rodriguez had any legitimate source of income. She provided two sources (of income), being an adult dancer and as the owner/operator of a trucking company, Williams replied. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A criminal complaint affidavit filed against Rodriguez said she worked at various adult clubs in San Antonio, Austin and Houston. Agents found the trucking company, the San Antonio-based VIP Transport LLC, was listed in U.S. Department of Transportation records as not authorized to operate because it had provided no evidence it had the $300,000 in required insurance coverage, according to Williams. Rodriguez is charged, for the moment, with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, each carrying a punishment of five to 40 years in prison. Pretrial services officers recommended Rodriguez be released on bond, an argument echoed by her lawyer, Johnny Cisneros. Fedock, however, asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Betsy Chestney to keep Rodriguez behind bars, arguing that she is a potential flight risk because most of her family is in Mexico and she has no other apparent ties to San Antonio. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Cisneros said one of Rodriguezs aunts, who lives in San Antonio, has agreed to act as a custodian if Rodriguez is granted bond. This is a very big cocaine trafficking case, Chestney said, adding that she will wait until pretrial services officers have a chance to interview and check the aunts background before determining whether to grant bail. 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 Researchers at Rutgers University have received more than $7 million to study disinformation and marketing around a proposed federal ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigarswith a particular focus on how such information affects Black and Hispanic smokers. Kymberle Sterling, the associate director for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, will lead the two studies. The proposed federal ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars was supposed to take effect last year, but in December was pushed off until at least March, dismaying public health officials. Menthol cigarettes are mint-flavored cigarettes that are attractive to some smokers because their flavor is more appealing. Research has found that menthol cigaretteswhich the tobacco industry markets heavily in Black communitiescontribute to racial health disparities among smokers. Menthol cigarettes in Black communities Black smokers are more likely to use menthol cigarettes than other demographic groups, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that menthol cigarettes have contributed to some 157,000 premature deaths among Black Americans between 1980 and 2018. People who smoke menthols also have a more difficult time quitting smoking than people who smoke non-menthol cigarettes, the CDC says, although why isn't exactly clear. Sterling said it's crucial to study how Black and Hispanic smokers, who also tend to smoke more menthols than their white counterparts, perceive messaging from the tobacco industry around the menthol ban. Opponents of the ban, some of whom have ties to the tobacco industry, have raised concerns that the plan will contribute to over-policing of Black communities and businesses. But supporters of the ban, like Sterling, say eliminating menthol cigarettes will save hundreds of thousands of lives, especially in Black communities where menthol use is prevalent. "We know that police discrimination among African American communities is a problem," Sterling said. "However, the tobacco industry is co-opting that and using that real social justice issue as a way to promote fearand sell their product." Funding counter-messaging Her team plans to use grant funding to develop counter-messaging that debunks false information and provides facts about menthol cigarettes. The group plans to study the effectiveness of their public health campaign over five years. Researchers also plan to work with community members to educate people about the menthol and flavored cigar ban. "What we would ideally like to do is develop a set of messages that our community partners can disseminate in their community. Once this grant is wrapped up, we don't want the work to stop, because the tobacco industry won't stop," Sterling said. Sterling will also study how the tobacco industry reacts when the ban is in place, for instance tracking whether cigar manufacturers change their packaging or marketing techniques to draw in customers. "We're looking at how young adults are exposed to this repackaging as well as what sort of sociopolitical rhetoric the industry will put out," Sterling said. 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: The Conversation Millions of Americans have become informal family caregivers: people who provide family members or friends with unpaid assistance in accomplishing daily tasks such as bathing, eating, transportation and managing medications. Driven in part by a preference for home-based care rather than long-term care options such as assisted living facilities, and the limited availability and high cost of formal care services, family caregivers play a pivotal role in the safety and well-being of their loved ones. Approximately 34.2 million people in the United States provide unpaid assistance to adults age 50 or above, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. Among them, about 15.7 million adult family caregivers care for someone with dementia. I am a licensed clinical social worker and an assistant professor of social work studying disparities in health and health care systems. I focus on underrepresented populations in the field of aging. Challenges for family caregivers In my research focusing on East Asian family caregivers for people with Alzheimer's and related dementia, I discovered that Chinese American and Korean American caregivers often encounter challenging situations. These include discrimination from health care facilities or providers, feelings of loneliness and financial issues. Some of these caregivers even find themselves having to retire early because they struggle to balance both work and caregiving responsibilities. My findings join a growing body of research showing that family caregivers commonly encounter five specific challenges: financial burdens, limited use of home- and community-based services, difficulties accessing resources, a lack of knowledge about existing educational programs, and physical and emotional challenges, such as feelings of helplessness and caregiver burnout. However, researchers are also finding that family caregivers feel more capable of managing these challenges when they can tap into formal services that offer practical guidance and insights for their situations, as well as assistance with some unique challenges involved with family caregiving. The demographics of informal caregivers More than six in 10 family caregivers are women. Society has always expected women to take on caregiving responsibilities. Women also usually earn less money or rely on other family members for financial support. This is because equal pay in the workplace has been slow to happen, and women often take on roles like becoming the primary caregiver for their own children as well as their aging relatives, which can drastically affect their earnings. How to find your way back if you feel that youve lost yourself in a caregiving role. While nearly half of care recipients live in their own homes, one in three live with their caregivers. Sometimes termed "resident caregivers," these individuals are less likely to turn to others outside the family for caregiving support, often because they feel that it's important to keep caregiving within the family. These caregivers are typically older, retired or unemployed and have lower income than caregivers who live separately. According to a 2020 report from the AARP Public Policy Institute, about one in three family caregivers provide more than 21 hours of care a week to a loved one. Juggling caregiving with everyday life Caregiving often creates financial burdens because it makes it harder to hold a full-time or part-time job, or to return to work after taking time off, particularly for spouses who are caregivers. Often, community-based organizations such as nonprofits that serve older adults offer a variety of in-home services and educational programs. These can help family caregivers manage or reduce the physical and emotional strains of their responsibilities. However, these demands also can make it difficult for some caregivers to even learn that these resources exist, or take advantage of them, particularly as the care recipient's condition progresses. These challenges worsened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many support programs were canceled, and it was hard to access health care, which made things even more stressful and tiring for caregivers. Research shows that those who are new to family caregiving often take care of their loved ones without any formal support initially. As a result, they may face increased emotional burdens. And caregivers age 70 and above face particular challenges, since they may be navigating their own health issues at the same time. These individuals are less likely to receive informal support, which can lead to social isolation and burnout. Support for family caregivers There are numerous programs and services available for family caregivers and their loved ones, whether they reside at home or in a residential facility. These resources include government health and disability programs, legal assistance and disease-specific organizations, some of which are specific to certain states. In addition, research has found that providing appropriate education and training to people in the early stages of caregiving enables them to better balance their own health and well-being with successfully fulfilling their responsibilities. Many community-based organizations, such as local nonprofits focused on aging, as well as government programs or senior centers, may offer case management services for older adults, which can be beneficial for learning about existing resources and services. For family caregivers of people with dementia, formal support services are particularly crucial to their ability to cope and navigate the challenges they face. The role of Medicaid Formal support may also be helpful in finding affordable home-based and community resources that can help compensate for a lack of informal support. These include home health services funded by Medicare and Medicaid-funded providers of medical and nonmedical services, including transportation. Medicaid, which targets low-income Americans, seniors, people with disabilities and a few select other groups, has certain income requirements. Determine the eligibility requirements first to find out whether your loved one qualifies for Medicaid. The services and support covered by Medicaid may vary based on a number of factors, such as timing of care, the specific needs of caregivers and their loved ones, the care plan in place for the loved one and the location or state in which the caregiver and their loved one reside. Each state also has its own Medicaid program with unique rules, regulations and eligibility criteria. This can result in variations in the types of services covered, the extent of coverage and the specific requirements for accessing Medicaid-funded support. If so, contact your state's Medicaid office to get more information about self-directed services and whether you can become a paid family caregiver. Medicare might help Medicare may help pay for certain home health services if an older adult needs skilled services part time and is considered homebound. This assistance can alleviate some of the caregiving responsibilities and financial burdens on the family caregiver, allowing them to focus on providing care and support to their loved ones without worrying about the cost of essential medical services. Peer-to-peer support is also crucial. Family caregivers who join support groups tend to manage their stress more effectively and experience an overall better quality of life. 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: An illustration of a brain cell in a person with Alzheimer's disease, showing the accumulation and clumping of tau proteins (blue squiggles) in the cytoplasm of a brain cell. Protein clumps, also known as aggregates, are thought to lead to cell death and dementia. New research suggests that such clumps may not cause brain cell death directly, but rather throw the cell's response to stress off balance so that it never gets switched off. Credit: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, are characterized by the accumulation of protein clumps, or aggregates, in the brain, which has led scientists to assume that the protein tangles kill brain cells. The search for treatments that break up and remove these tangled proteins has had little success, however. However, a new discovery by the University of California, Berkeley, researchers suggest that the accumulation of aggregated proteins isn't what kills brain cells. Rather, it's the body's failure to turn off these cells' stress response. In a study published online Jan. 31 in the journal Nature, the researchers reported that delivering a drug that forces the stress response to shut down saves cells that mimic a type of neurodegenerative disease known as early-onset dementia. According to lead researcher Michael Rape, the finding could offer clinicians another option for treatment for some neurodegenerative diseases, at least for those caused by mutations in the protein that switches off the cellular stress response. These include inherited diseases that lead to ataxia, or loss of muscle control, and early-onset dementia. In addition, Rape noted that other neurodegenerative diseases, including Mohr-Tranebjrg syndrome, childhood ataxia, and Leigh syndrome, are also characterized by stress responses in overdrive and have symptoms similar to those of the early onset dementia mimicked in the new study. "We always thought that protein clumps directly kill neurons, for example, by puncturing membrane structures within these cells. Yet, we now found that aggregates prevent the silencing of a stress response that cells originally mount to cope with bad proteins. The stress response is always on, and that's what kills the cells," said Rape, head of the new division of molecular therapeutics in UC Berkeley's Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. "We think that the same mechanisms may underlie more common pathologies that also show widespread aggregation, such as Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia, but more work is needed to investigate the role of stress signaling in these diseases." Key to the discoveries by Rape's lab was the researchers' finding that stress responses need to be turned off once a brain cell has successfully addressed a difficult situation. Rape explained this finding to his son in simple terms: You not only need to clean up your room, but also turn out the light before going to bed. If you don't turn off the light, you can't fall asleep, but if you turn it off before you clean up your room, you will stumble if you have to get up in the dark. Similarly, a cell has to clean up protein aggregates before turning off the stress response. If it doesn't turn off the stress response, the cell will ultimately die. "Aggregates don't kill cells directly. They kill cells because they keep the light on," he said. "But that means that you can treat these diseases, or at least the dozen or so neurodegenerative diseases that we found have kept their stress responses on. You treat them with an inhibitor that turns off the light. You don't have to worry about completely getting rid of large aggregates, which changes how we think about treating neurodegenerative diseases. And most importantly, it makes this really doable." In their paper, Rape and his colleagues describe a very large protein complex they discovered called SIFI (SIlencing Factor of the Integrated stress response). This machine serves two purposes: It cleans up aggregates and, afterward, turns off the stress response triggered by the aggregated proteins. The stress response controlled by SIFI is switched on to deal with specific intracellular problemsthe abnormal accumulation of proteins that end up at the wrong location in the cell. If components of SIFI are mutated, the cell will accumulate protein clumps and experience an active stress response. But it is the stress response signaling that kills the cells. "The SIFI complex would normally clear out the aggregating proteins. When there are aggregates around, SIFI is diverted from the stress response, and the signaling continues. When aggregates have been clearedthe room has been cleaned up before bedtimethen the SIFI is not diverted away anymore, and it can turn off the stress response," he said. "Aggregates kind of hijack that natural stress response-silencing mechanism, interfere with it, stall it. And so that's why silencing never happens when you have aggregates, and that's why cells die." A future treatment, Rape said, would likely involve the administration of a drug to turn off the stress response and a drug to keep SIFI turned on to clean up the aggregate mess. Ubiquitin Rape, who is also the Dr. K. Peter Hirth Chair of Cancer Biology, studies the role of ubiquitina ubiquitous protein in the body that targets proteins for degradationin regulating normal and disease processes in humans. In 2017, he discovered that a protein called UBR4 assembles a specific ubiquitin signal that was required for the elimination of proteins that tend to aggregate inside cells. Only later did other researchers find that mutations in UBR4 are found in some inherited types of neurodegeneration. This discovery led Rape to team up with colleagues at Stanford University to find out how UBR4 causes these diseases. "This was a unique opportunity: We had an enzyme that makes an anti-aggregation signal, and when it's mutated, it causes aggregation disease," he said. "You put these two things together, and you can say, 'If you figure out how this UBR4 allows sustained cell survival, that probably tells you how aggregates kill cells.'" They found that UBR4 is actually part of a much larger protein complex, which Rape dubbed SIFI, and they found that this SIFI machinery was needed when a cell couldn't sort proteins into its mitochondria. Such proteins that end up at the wrong location in cells tend to clump and, in turn, cause neurodegeneration. "Surprisingly, though, we found that the core substrates of the SIFI complex were two proteins, one of which senses when proteins don't make it into mitochondria. That protein detects that something is wrong, and it then activates a kinase that shuts down most of the new protein synthesis as part of a stress response, giving the cell time to correct its problem with bringing proteins to the right location," he said. This kinase is also degraded through SIFI. A kinase is an enzyme that adds a phosphate group to another molecule, in this case, a protein, to regulate important activities in the cell. By helping degrade these two proteins, the SIFI complex turns off the stress response that is caused by clumpy proteins accumulating at the wrong location. "That's the very first time that we've seen a stress response turned off in an active manner by an enzymeSIFIthat happens to be mutated in neurodegeneration," Rape said. While investigating how SIFI can turn off the stress response at the right timeonly after the room had been cleaned upthe researchers found that SIFI recognizes a short protein segment that acts as a kind of ZIP code that allows proteins or protein precursors to get into the mitochondria, where they are processed. When they are prevented from getting in, they accumulate in the cytoplasm, but SIFI homes in on that ZIP code to eliminate them. The ZIP code looks just like the light switch. "When you have aggregates accumulating in the cytoplasm, now the ZIP code is still in the cytoplasm, and there's a lot of it there," he said. "And it's the same signal as you would have in the proteins that you want to turn off. So it basically diverts the SIFI complex from the light switch back to the mess. SIFI tries to clean up the mess first, and it cannot turn off the light. And so when you have an aggregate in the cell, the light is always on. And if the light is always on, if stress signaling is always on, the cell will die. And that's a problem." Rape suspects that many intracellular protein aggregates characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases have similar consequences and may prevent the cell from switching off the stress response. If so, the fact that a drug can turn off the response and rescue brain cells bodes well for the development of treatments for potentially many neurodegenerative diseases. Already, another stress response inhibitor, a drug called ISRIB discovered at UCSF in 2013, has been shown to improve memory in mice and reduce age-related cognitive decline. "That means there is the prospect that by manipulating stress silencing, by turning off the light with chemicals, you might target other neurodegenerative diseases, as well," he said. "At the very least, it's another way we could help patients with these diseases. In the best possible way, I think it will change how we treat neurodegenerative diseases. That's why this is a really important story, why I think it's very exciting." Rape, already a co-founder of two startups, Nurix Therapeutics Inc., and Lyterian Therapeutics, is now looking to develop therapies to silence the stress response while maintaining the cell's cleanup of protein aggregates. More information: Diane L. Haakonsen et al, Stress response silencing by an E3 ligase mutated in neurodegeneration, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06985-7 Journal information: Nature There were Republican candidates lined up seven deep to replace U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale in Montanas Eastern District, but only if the incumbent didnt seek reelection. On Feb. 9, when the two-term representative surprised no one by launching a U.S. Senate campaign, the most congested Montana congressional primary in at least 40 years was triggered. In a race so splintered, the minimum vote share of the primary winner in a plurality could be as low as 14.29%, assuming no one else picks up more than a seventh of the vote. The winner of the Republican primary is likely to prevail in the November general election. Since 2010, Republicans have carried the counties that comprise the Eastern District by margins of victory greater than 20% in five of the last eight elections. Thats the nature of these big primaries, said Jeremy Johnson, political science professor at Carroll College. Money and name recognition become very important. And there could be an eighth candidate, should former U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg register to run, as he indicated to Politico last week that he might. Voting begins May 6, just 90 days from now. The winner of the Republican primary race will face either Democrats Ming Cabrera, of Billings or Kevin Hamm of Helena in the fall. The closest primaries with similar size were the six-candidate Democratic primary for Montanas at large house seat in 2018, which Kathleen Williams won with 33.5% of the vote and the five-candidate Republican primary of 2014, which Ryan Zinke won with 33.3%. The large primaries for either party produced some surprises. In spending, Williams was a very distant third, raising half as much as the top two campaigns in her primary, finance records show. The Bozeman resident was credited with personally campaigning in remote rural areas her opponents didnt travel to. Similarly, Republican Corey Stapleton placed second behind Zinke in 2014, despite being outspent two-to-one, not only by Zinke, but also third-place finisher Matt Rosendale. Stapleton didnt advertise as frequently, but he advertised heavily in the final weeks as absentee voting started. Johnson said small things, like an endorsement by the right person, or a message with a good hook, might be the deciding factor in this springs Republican primary. Theres not much difference between what the candidates support. These are the Republican candidates so far: Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, has served eight years directing the state Office of Public Instruction. She was also a Republican primary candidate for Montanas at-large seat in that crowded 2014 field, in which she finished fourth. Ken Bogner is a Miles City native, Marine Corps veteran and was Montana state senate president pro tempore in the 2023 Montana Legislature. Most primary voters in the Eastern District will be seeing Bogners name for the first time. Troy Downing, Montanas current state auditor, leads the pack in fundraising with about $300,000 cash one hand. He was elected Auditor as part of the Republican sweep of Montana statewide offices in 2020. Prior to 2020, Downing was a candidate for the Republican 2018 U.S. Senate primary but lost to Rosendale in a four-candidate race. Ric Holden ranches in Dawson County and served four terms in state Senate representing southeast Montana until 2002. He will be a new name on the ballots of most voters in the district, but a familiar one to voters in Glendive and southeast Montana. Joel Krautter is an attorney in Billings and a state legislator who represented Sidney. A Deer Lodge native, Krautter will be appearing on the ballots of most Eastern District voters for the first time. Ed Walker served one term in the Montana Senate starting in 2011. At the time, he had five children at home and decided it was best for his family not to run again. When he filed for the primary this spring, Walker was the Montana Chairman for U.S. Term Limits, a group advocating term limits at all government levels, but particularly Congress. Walker will be recognizable to voters in Billings, where he lives. Stacy Zinn of Billings is well-known in law enforcement circles and a frequent speaker about the states drug trafficking challenges. Her 20-plus years with the DEA include several years on the U.S.-Mexico border. This is Zinns first campaign. After the early October Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, I attended a peace seminar at my church. One moderator, a retired, history-professor friend, gave us these very wise words. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist of his words was this; there is no security without peace; there is no peace without justice; there is no justice without human rights. Finally, there are no human rights without democracies. Thinking of Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, his words haunted me. Several weeks later, I viewed a Veterans' Day Trump rally on TV, and many MAGA attendees held signs that said Peace through Strength. As usual, Trump, and the MAGAs, got it exactly backward. No country is strong without security and peace. How long will gullible voters delude themselves, pretending MAGA candidates care about honor, ethics and character? How many still pretend Trump's a kind, honest individual with stellar, moral character, fit to run our great country, once again? Current Republican officeholders, at state and national levels, have numerous opportunities to step up and speak truth to Trump's lies about voter fraud, and the 2020 election. Yet they resist, even after Colorado's and Maine's Supreme Courts ruled Trump engaged in insurrection. The sad fact about MAGA politicians is that they're monstrous hypocrites. They know the truth, but are more concerned about political power, wealth, and holding on to elected office, than governing ethically. After Republican Liz Cheney came to Missoula for the UMT Mansfield Lecture, in early October, she answered one attendee's question about Trump's dishonesty, by telling Montana voters to ask all our politicians two yes or no questions: Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen? Is it OK to publicly call for the execution of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? State Democrats answered immediately, No. State Republicans refused to answer at all. The MAGA Party is the party of banned books, climate-change green-washing and denial, opposition to women's rights to privacy, health care, and bodily autonomy, and the demonization of LGBTQ, Black, Latino and Indigenous citizens. MAGAs want to strip parental rights from families of LGBTQ youth, denying medical decisions parents deem appropriate for their own children. They deny black history, ignore slavery, and oppose common-sense gun control, even after Uvalde, when good guys with guns did absolutely nothing to stop a bad guy with a gun from killing teachers and small children with impunity. Take the rich, white, male MAGAs in Montana. One trophy hunter body-slammed a reporter for asking a question about health care, before his election to the U.S. House. Another texted Trump's Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, offering to be acting sec def, after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, when Esper wouldn't use the Insurrection Act, and sic the U.S. military on peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square. A third equated sea turtle eggs with a woman's, bemoaning his claim that turtle eggs have more protections than a woman's eggs. A misnamed Freedom Caucus representative opposes any funding for Ukraine or Israel, and remains under criminal scrutiny for allegedly taking illegal campaign dollars from the NRA, in 2018's senate race. Finally, while impoverished brown women and children, tangled in barbed wire and drowned in the Rio Grande, a prominent Montana lawyer agreed with MAGA Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, while Abbott challenges the federal government's sovereignty over the US/Mexico border, threatening civil war. MAGAs are all about power and money, not about implementing good policies to improve constituents lives. Their actions transparently reveal, as MLK phrased it, the content of their character. To many citizens, that content is circling the drain of moral bankruptcy. Vote for democracy, 2024. The Lochsa, Selway, and Clearwater watersheds just over Lolo Pass are home to some of the finest rivers in the United States. They offer world-class paddling and fishing, provide vital spawning grounds for salmon and steelhead, and are sources of clear, cold water in a rapidly warming world. Its the job of the Forest Service to protect these special values based on the streams' eligibility for Wild and Scenic River designation. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest is instead gutting protections for Idahos rivers. In its recently revised forest plan, it stripped safeguards from 86 percent of rivers worthy of preserving. Across 4 million acres in central Idaho, the Forest Service is recommending just 12 streams for protection. Since Forest Plans routinely last for decades, the detrimental decisions made now by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest will allow unacceptable and unnecessary impacts to rivers for generations. In all, the new forest plan would remove protections from nearly 700 stream miles. Thats more than the length of the Clark Fork, Flathead, and Bitterroot rivers combined. Among the waterways that would lose protections are tributaries to the Lochsa River and the North and South forks of the Clearwater River. These are the kinds of rivers the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was designed to conserve. The North Fork Clearwater River, which is losing protections it has had for more than 30 years, provides nearly 80 contiguous boatable miles and unsurpassed habitat for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. The South Fork Clearwater River, renowned for its unmatched B-run steelhead fishing, miles of walk-and-wade shoreline, and robust whitewater, is also on the chopping block. The Forest Service is also arbitrarily abandoning protections for: 72% of streams that have been protected since 1990. 80% of streams anticipated to provide future climate refuge for threatened and endangered coldwater fish. 70% of streams that have cultural significance to the Nez Perce Tribe, including the Bear Creek Salmon Hole Streams with superlative scenery and recreational values such as the longest waterfall at 300 vertical feet, the best place to view spawning salmon, and the most popular natural hot springs (Jerry Johnson and Stanley) The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest is stripping protections from these special rivers based on false assumptions that Wild and Scenic River eligibility will hamstring forest management and endangered species recovery. Wild and Scenic protections prevent wholesale commercial logging and clearcutting within designated corridors, but allow vegetation management, wildfire mitigation, habitat restoration projects, motorized travel on existing roads and trails, and other activities, as long as they dont diminish river values. In fact, well-planned projects can enhance river protections. Since 2015, five nearby forests in Idaho and Montana have revised their land management plans and collectively more than doubled the number of rivers protected and increased protected river miles by more than 75%. Not only does the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest stand apart from its sister forests in the Forest Services Northern Region, but it also ignored the 99% of commenters who repeatedly told the Forest Service they favor river protections. Instead, the Forest Service chose to abolish protections they claim are burdensome and limiting to their management discretion. Its no wonder that kayakers, rafters, anglers, and other local residents who care deeply for the Lochsa River and other neighboring rivers feel so dismissed. Protecting Wild and Scenic eligible streams benefits virtually everyone who uses the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, from anglers and hunters, to hikers and paddlers. That is why we are asking Forest Service leadership to correct the egregious errors in the new forest plan. As outdoors people who know this country well, we challenge Forest Service leadership to uphold protections for these exceptional waterways before the new forest plan is finalized and a record of decision is signed. The competition to kill the most animals is something that its recent years has become a flashpoint for many of us who care about wildlife and are tired of the abuse that people put on them, when life alone is tough enough for so many species. Part of the charm of such killing contests to rural residents is that it is part of their image of being self-reliant. Though killing hundreds of animals, only to dump them in the trash is symbolic of wanton-waste, none of it reflects this desired image of self-reliance, but rather cruelty. Every year, in America, more than 60,000 animals from coyotes to racoons to prairie dogs are slaughtered by people eager to win an often-impressive prize in terms of cash or guns, scopes etc. Today, some allow night killing, others reward the heaviest animal killed, some for the lightest. The bottom line is the winning group has often used night vision, calling devices and bait. Some sit in warmed huts elevated in trees to slaughter innocent animals that come in to feed on a carcass. Other contests focus on crows and even wolves. According to wildlife biologist Bob Crabtree, who studied coyotes in Yellowstone for many years and recently published a paper making clear that the Integrated Patch Occupancy Model (Ipom), used for counting wolves, was completely not reliable and overcounts to the tune of 150%, has stated if a rancher wanted to control coyotes, they would need to kill 70% of them in their range, something that is not going to happen. If not, then coyotes will build back bigger than before. The very groups that put theses contests on can be churches, police departments, stockmen and sportsmen groups and the usual method is to support some worthy charity to cut down on public outcry. The upcoming Coyote Derby in Huntly on Feb. 15-17 is another example with funds going to the Highway Patrols Hope Foundation. The Highway Patrol answers to Attorney General Austin Knudsen, an avowed predator hater. The other issue with such derbies is the fact that livestock interests promote them as a means of helping cattle men and women. Science show conclusively otherwise. What continues to be so wrong is the fact that people are making big money in this slob hunting adventure. Some states have come to understand that this is not hunting, for there is no real fair chase, much like trapping. These include, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Vermont, Oregon, Washington and New York which have banned such contests. In Montana and Idaho, we have bounties, which in effect are wildlife killing contests. Sponsored by the Foundation for Wildlife Management and co-paid by taxes of the citizens of Idaho. They produce outrageous and non-scientific facts to draw a large membership of mostly slob hunters and trappers, that refuse to deal with the science that wolves and predators are not ending elk and deer; last year was proof, with record numbers of both in Montana. Some of these contests occur on public lands, others on private, but public pressure is the most important tool to stop this madness. What we know is that wildlife killing contests need to be banned in all 50 states. We can, and must, fight back and let our voice be heard by the AG and those who think flagrant killing of wildlife is fun. In the interim, please call and write those involved in the upcoming Coyote Derby in Huntly, go to Bvconservation.org for more information. A former Butte-Silver Bow police detective was harassed, singled out and intimidated on the job because she was a woman and was fired in retaliation for filing discrimination complaints, her attorney told jurors Monday. Lawyers for Butte-Silver Bow told jurors that Rhonda Staton was fired for legitimate reasons, including serious mistakes such as throwing away evidence at a homicide scene, and a psychologist determined she was unfit for duty. Staton filed a civil lawsuit against Butte-Silver Bow and its police department in November 2020, a few months after she was fired by Sheriff Ed Lester, and the case went to trial in U.S. District Court in Butte on Monday. Staton says other officers, not Lester, were directly responsible for the harassment and hostile work environment, and Lester was removed as a defendant in the case. But she is seeking at least $2.3 million in damages from Butte-Silver Bow for lost pay and emotional suffering. A jury of seven four women and three men were selected for the trial Monday morning and none live in Butte. The trial is expected to last a week and if the county wins, it wants to recover attorney fees and costs to defend the suit. Staton was a Butte police officer for 18 years, the last nine as a detective. Her initial lawsuit listed numerous instances of alleged harassment, including tampons being left in her mailbox, other offensive acts and being screamed at. Her attorney, Michael Rabb of Bozeman, told jurors Monday that female detectives were not allowed to ride in the same car together or meet together in their office with the door closed. He said they were given heavier caseloads and did not have scheduling flexibility like male officers. There were only two female detectives in 2017 when one of them quit, Rabb said, because she could not bear the treatment anymore. Statons lawsuit also alleged harassing incidents such as: Posting a calendar on her office door showing a male employee with a superimposed Glock handgun in front of that mans genitals. Taking photos of her on an exercise fit ball and displaying one in the office saying she was in the Special Olympics. Shouting and screaming at her but not male employees and throwing and breaking expensive equipment in response to her comments. Staton said she tried to resolve those matters through chain-of-command, to no avail, then made written and in-person complaints in 2018 and 2019 with the countys Human Resources Department. Her supervisors, co-workers and the sheriff became aware of a complaint submitted in October 2019 but the harassment got worse, Staton claims. She says Lester fired her in August 2020 after she was placed on administrative leave and after she filed discrimination charges with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Butte-Silver Bow contends Staton was fired for sound reasons, including shoddy work at a homicide scene, not securing evidence properly and collecting evidence from a scene that warrants did not cover. Cynthia Walker, an attorney representing the county, told jurors that Statons work performance went downhill in 2018. She got behind on her caseload, Walker said, while finding time to decorate her office and carve pumpkins for a courthouse contest. She was spotted at Three Bears buying alcohol one day when she had called in sick, lost her Taser and damaged her police pistol to the point it wouldnt work properly, Walker said. A police captain ultimately asked that she be transferred back to patrol duty, Walker said, but she was not disciplined and Lester did not transfer her. Butte-Silver Bow wanted her to keep her career as a detective, Walker said. Lester did request that Staton meet with a psychologist and an evaluation determined she was not fit for duty, Walker said, and despite claims by Staton, Butte-Silver Bow did not tell the psychologist what to conclude. Walker said Staton stopped seeing a counselor while she was on paid leave and declined to take a subsequent evaluation. The county could not lawfully re-instate her with a standing evaluation that said she was unfit for duty, Walker said. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris is presiding over the trial and it is expected to last into Friday. An EPA shakeup of key personnel assigned to Superfund work in Butte stirred varied reactions Monday. Both Nikia Greene, the EPAs longtime remedial project manager for the Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit, and Dana Barnicoat, a community involvement coordinator, have been reassigned. Joe Griffin, a member of the Citizens Technical Environmental Committee, a hydrogeologist and a longtime Superfund watchdog in Butte, said Greenes reassignment is a big loss. Nikia is a fantastic RPM (remedial project manager), Griffin said. I felt better and better about Nikia the longer I worked with him. Greenes involvement in Butte-related Superfund remediation began in 2011 when he started as a community involvement coordinator. He later became the remedial project manager for the Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit. Griffin said Greenes institutional knowledge about a large and complex Superfund site is invaluable and his loss will have consequences. I think it will be a real setback, he said. Yet Butte businessman Ron Davis, also a longtime Superfund watchdog, described Greene's reassignment as great news for Butte. "I have felt that he had become too close to the Atlantic Richfield/BP representatives and seemed to be siding with them on multiple issues facing our community," Davis said. "He was seeking their assistance in answering questions from the community and responding to articles in the paper." Greene will be replaced by two remedial project managers, Emma Rott and Molly Roby. Rott, a graduate of Montana Technological University, has worked on the Streamside Tailings project and Roby has worked on the Clark Fork River and Milltown Dam sites. Davis said he hopes Greene's replacements will live in Butte to "better understand the issues facing our community in the long overdue cleanup." EPA reported that both Roby and Rott live in Helena. Evan Barrett, another Butte resident who keeps close tabs on Superfund activities, weighed in. "Hope springs eternal, so here's hoping that with these changes some things get better on the Silver Bow Creek Corridor and the 'dirty dirt' issues," Barrett said, referring to a proposal to use slightly contaminated soil as fill. "It's not personal, but the way things have been, it seems like EPA and BP-Atlantic Richfield have been like Tweedledum and Tweedledee," he said. "Perhaps now EPA will be more properly in the regulator role than they have been." Greene will focus on other operable units, including Rocker and Butte Mine Flooding, EPA said. He could not be reached for comment Monday. Eric Hassler, director of Butte-Silver Bow Countys Department of Reclamation and Environmental Services, said its too early to know how the transitions will affect cleanup in Butte. It will hinge on the Superfund experience of the two replacements, he said, and how quickly they can get up to speed. EPAs explanation for the reassignments said only that the agency regularly changes site assignments throughout Superfund sites across the county. Two news articles last year described examples of apparent collusion between the EPA, the Atlantic Richfield Co., which is the entity responsible for cleanup, Montana Resources and others to discredit research and researchers whose work drew a possible relationship in Butte to mining and smelting wastes and health problems. The EPAs Office of Inspector General, OIG, investigated those allegations. In November, EPA announced that the OIGs review of related materials did not yield recommendations for EPA action. Yet an OIG statement suggested the matter wasnt fully settled. The referral contained other matters that are still under consideration within the Office of Inspector General, the statement added at the time. The word consideration is not synonymous with investigation, the office said. The OIGs three main offices include the Office of Special Review and Evaluation, which fields a variety of complaints about EPA programs and operations, as well as violations of law, regulations and policies by EPA and Chemical Safety Board employees. On Monday, Griffin wasnt anticipating a burst of candor from Region 8. I dont know how EPA is going to spin it, Griffin said, adding that he believes the reassignments are likely linked to the news articles and the OIG investigation. Taylor Gillespie, a spokeswoman for EPA, rejected speculation that the allegations and OIG investigation motivated the personnel changes. Griffin is not a fan of KC Becker, administrator for EPAs Region 8. He suggested her experience as a politician in the Colorado state legislature affected what he described as a politicized approach to Superfund work in Butte. KC Becker came to Butte and screwed up BPSOU big time, he said. In other reassignments, Allie Archer will no longer be the remedial project manager for the Warm Springs Ponds Operable Unit but will continue work on Montana Pole. Jason Rappe will assume the Ponds position. Atlantic Richfield did not respond to a request for comment about the reassignments. Pollution and contamination from historic mining and smelting in Butte and from smelting in Anaconda created a sprawling federal Superfund site that includes portions of Butte and Anaconda, along with Silver Bow Creek, the Warm Springs Ponds, the Clark Fork River and more. Superfund remediation started years ago and has years to go. Then-Democratic nominee for Texas Congressional District 35 Greg Casar speaks during a get out the vote rally at Sewell Park in San Marcos on Sat.October, 29, 2022. Carlos Javier Sanchez / Contributor Coming out of the 2022 election cycle, Texas progressives had much to celebrate. They sent two new members to the U.S. House of Representatives. A left-wing immigration attorney running for a second time in U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellars Laredo district forced the moderate incumbent into a runoff that he won by the slimmest of margins. Progressive candidates had stepped up to run in GOP districts statewide and in bright-red Texas, having their names on the ballot was a win in and of itself. FROM 2022: Meet the Texas progressives aiming for Congress Advertisement Article continues below this ad But this year, the field is different. There are a handful of progressive candidates running in federal races, most notably in the Democratic contest for U.S. Senate. But a middle-of-the-road candidate is the apparent frontrunner in that race, and moderate South Texas Democrats, including Cuellar and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, dont have primary challengers. A Democratic candidate who lost to Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz of Edinburg two years ago has softened her progressive messaging on some issues as she vies for a rematch. The shift comes as Democrats nationwide are focused on reelecting President Joe Biden and recapturing a majority in the U.S. House, and many progressives have dedicated their time this year to advocate for issues instead of particular candidates, political experts and left-wing Democrats said. More moderate Democrats said that progressivism just isnt, and likely never will be, a winning strategy in Texas. Though some progressive policies poll well in Texas, the term isnt always well-received in the Lone Star State, evoking images of more extreme, national politicians. This year, moderate Democrats have been especially critical of party leadership over immigration issues. The last couple of cycles, progressives have done well but have not gotten over the hump, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a politics professor at the University of Houston. As a result, the perception is that a progressive is not going to be successful in an election in Texas. I guess the way to put it is that without real victories, the progressive wing of the party may scale back and focus on seats that are more clearly winnable. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Progressive pitch in U.S. Senate race Greg Casar, a progressive first-term Congress member from Austin, said this years electoral climate is part of a natural cycle of advancing the progressive movement working to elect candidates, perhaps losing at first and later winning, and then having those candidates enact progressive policies in office. When you do progressive governance thats new, oftentimes a bunch of money then gets spent against you, so we have to defend those progressives who are now in office, Casar said. And once theyve been well defended and reelected, then it starts creating opportunities to go and elect new people that have been inspired by that work. Candidates have varying definitions for the word progressive, but generally, their priority lists include improving access to health care, addressing climate change, expanding abortion access and promoting social equity and diversity. The 2022 election is not easy to replicate, Casar said, noting that he and fellow Texas freshman Jasmine Crockett were elected in open blue seats in the first cycle after the state Legislature redrew congressional districts. Crockett, of Dallas, replaced a retiring representative, and Casars district was up for grabs after the incumbent decided to switch seats. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There is one situation like that this year in North Texas, where 10 Democrats are running to replace U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, who is running for U.S. Senate. At least three of those candidates embrace more progressive policies. In his bid to run against conservative U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Allred has pitched himself as a moderate candidate willing to cross the aisle if and when necessary. He has been openly critical of Biden on border issues and refused to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, a top priority for many progressive Democrats. In a statement, Allred praised bipartisanship and said he will never let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Nine Democrats are seeking the Senate nomination, but the race will likely boil down to Allred and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who has said the state needs a more progressive candidate to make real change in the federal government. Gutierrez said that after decades of Republican rule in Texas, the candidate who got closest to a win was former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, who came within 3 points of unseating Cruz in 2018 and unsuccessfully ran against Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. ORourkes relative success was because of progressive ideas and progressive values, Gutierrez said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The idea that progressives are killing us in November is nonsense, he said. Who keeps losing? Its not the progressives. Its the mainstream Democrat. The status quo Democrats. If the status quo is so great, then why are we still under 30 years of Republican control? Casar said the progressive movement is still alive and well in Texas, but many people are directing their energy toward pressing issues, like pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, fighting for labor rights or combating anti-immigrant rhetoric from Texas Republicans. Plus, Democrats are still looking toward a tough election year with control of the U.S. House on the line, he said. Does South Texas demand moderate Democrats? When she launched her first bid for a South Texas congressional district in 2021, Michelle Vallejo rolled out an ultra-progressive platform of a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for All and a ban on assault weapons. We need to embrace the border as a fusing place of ideas and culture and encourage innovation to flourish, her campaign website read at the time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She narrowly beat five other candidates in 2022 to become the Democratic nominee against De La Cruz. In November, she lost by 8.5 percentage points. But this year, as Vallejo seeks a rematch in the GOP-leaning 15th Congressional District, which stretches from McAllen to New Braunfels, shes toned down some of her progressive messaging. Her website still touts support for an increased minimum wage, expanded health care and gun restrictions just without the specifics. And as the border has become the No. 1 issue for Republicans, especially in South Texas, shes rephrased her approach to immigration issues: Michelle is committed to securing our border while treating migrants with dignity and upholding their legal right to seek asylum, her website says now. John Villarreal Rigney, a self-identified Blue Dog Democrat who ran for the nomination in 2022 and is campaigning again this year, said Vallejo softened her messaging because she realized real quick that progressive stances just kind of dont work in South Texas. (Vallejo did not respond to a request for comment.) Were a moderate to conservative type of district, even on the Democratic side, Villarreal Rigney said. Its a very Catholic population, so we believe in family. Were close with family. We believe in God. We believe in our gun rights. We believe in border security. And when you are taking care of our people, real left-wing liberal agendas people dont tolerate it. Gonzalez, the moderate congressional representative from a nearby Brownsville district, had six primary challengers in 2022, including at least one progressive. He beat all of them handily, and that probably spooked them away this year, he said. South Texas is a pretty moderate place, and progressive politics havent played very well in the Valley, Gonzalez said. I think the national and even statewide investors have recognized that, and the last thing we want is to create vulnerabilities for November by electing a progressive in March that loses their election in November. Cuellar, the last anti-abortion Democrat in the U.S. House, is also running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Jessica Cisneros, the immigration attorney who twice gave Cuellar a run for his money, declined to run for a third time this year. Neither of them responded to a request for comment. Kathleen Thompson, the executive director of the political advocacy group Progress Texas, said she couldnt speak to the lack of candidates in South Texas but noted that election results in recent years have shown that theres a deep desire for some new leadership. Progress Texas has endorsed Gutierrez for U.S. Senate, and Vallejos race is a top priority. And while there might be fewer progressive candidates running in federal races, there are plenty down-ballot, Thompson said. NEW YORK Elise Plessis hasn't been in a long-term relationship for 26 years. It's by choice, yet she still suffers FOMO when Valentine's Day rolls around. I'm the singleton of the family and the friend group, said the 53-year-old Plessis, who lives in Manitoba, Canada. Valentine's Day makes me feel hopeless, like a loser who can't find anyone who wants me. But she won't be sitting at home cursing her fate, self-imposed after she tired of toxic hookup culture. Instead, Plessis plans to do what loneliness researchers and psychologists advise: She'll be helping others as a way to get out of her own head. In her case, she'll be helping others find love. She became a certified matchmaker last year and has organized a speed-dating event ahead of Valentine's Day. I figure if I cant find love, it's the least I can do, Plessis said. Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that haters call forced," commercialized and downright expensive to pull off if expectations are to be met. This year, the day of romance that has grown into a celebration of all-around love and friendship is the first since the U.S. surgeon general issued a public health advisory last spring declaring loneliness and isolation an epidemic with dire consequences. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the country's top public health watchdog, warned that widespread loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. It costs the health industry billions of dollars a year, he said. About half of U.S. adults say theyve experienced loneliness, he said. The problem has been stewing since well before the pandemic, worsening in recent years. Its like hunger or thirst. Its a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing, Murthy said at the time. Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and thats not right." David Sbarra, a psychology professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, studies loneliness and social isolation. He's among data crunchers who consider the idea of loneliness as a deadly epidemic a tad overblown. But he's confident about where Valentine's Day can take the chronically lonely. "You can make a very clear argument that it exacerbates the experience of psychological distress among people who are already lonely, he said. So a simple way of saying it would be that people are looking at and monitoring themselves being socially isolated instead of shifting their perception toward opportunities to re-engage, and then pursuing that. Who can I go out with? What can I do? How can I serve others? Who can I text, call? Thats very important, Sbarra said. Those are the things 27-year-old Tori Mattei in New York has discovered on her own over the last four years of singlehood. She's been dating since two back-to-back, long-term relationships ended. Because Ive been single for a while, I feel like I kind of set a goal for myself to go on a certain amount of dates just so I still feel like I can do it and dont feel awkward or nervous, she said. Ive gone on a lot of first dates in the past couple of years. Not a lot of second dates. She lives alone in Manhattan, as opposed to lots of friends who have roommates. Many of her friends are in relationships. At certain times, I enjoy being alone and having my peace and quiet. But on days like Valentines Day or even things like the Super Bowl, I have to make a little bit extra effort to not feel lonely, Mattei said. I have to make sure I make plans for myself. It just takes one sad day that you feel lonely to make it seem like youre always lonely." Her best advice for making it through Valentine's Day is as sweet as those candy conversation hearts that circulate this time of year. Show love to somebody. I love giving other people a gift, putting a smile on their face. And if you can't think of someone that you want to show love to, then show love to yourself. Buy yourself candy. I buy myself flowers very frequently. I love the way they look. I dont care that I bought them for myself, Mattei said. Dr. Jeremy Nobel, who wrote Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection, agrees with all of the above. Loneliness, he said, comes in many forms, from physical isolation to rejection based on difference. I think the science is quite clear that loneliness does increase risk of early mortality, said Nobel, who teaches a course for medical students at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health to help them better recognize loneliness in patients. Loneliness is subjective, Nobel said it's the gap between the social connections you want to have and the ones you do have. "Valentines Day, its the time to celebrate love and connection, which is fantastic unless you dont have that connection. From matchmaking lotteries to commercial juggernaut: The evolution of Valentine's Day From matchmaking lotteries to commercial juggernaut: The evolution of Valentine's Day Ancient Roman beginnings of Valentine's Day: Lupercalia The emergence of Saint Valentine's Day The Middle Ages and beyond: Shakespeare and Chaucer help romanticize Valentine's Day How the Industrial Age turned Valentine's Day into a commodity Valentine's Day in a modern age After a three-month investigation into the distribution and sexual exploitation of minors and collection of child pornography, multiple law enforcement agencies arrested Garyth Peck, 22, of Wapello. Peck has been charged with 27 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class C felony. According to a news release from the Louisa County Sheriffs Office, Peck is being held in the Louisa County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash-only bond. A Class C felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The release said a residential search in the 400 block of N. Main Street in Wapello, which resulted in Pecks arrest, was the result of a tip sent to the sheriffs office. During the investigation, the sheriffs office worked with the Burlington Police Investigations Unit and State of Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The investigation is ongoing and further charges are expected. An initial appearance is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Louisa County Courthouse. Court records say that on Dec. 12, 2023, the sheriffs office had received information from the ICAC that was sent to them from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip included 27 files that contained prepubescent children engaging in sexual acts. The tip also showed that a user on Instagram was disseminating the pornography on an Instagram chat group of subjects seeking child pornography. The report had a false name and a false date of birth for the suspect. A search warrant was signed for subscriber information from Instagram. The search warrant results showed the device used to transmit the pornography was a Samsung Z Flip-4. Google also returned data from the search warrant, showing emails to an eBay account. A search warrant result showed Peck was the owner of the eBay account. A search warrant was conducted at Pecks residence on Feb. 9. When Peck was searched, a Samsung Z Flip-4 was found. Peck also stated he knew why law enforcement was at his residence and requested a lawyer. Questioning was ceased at that time. Here's what to know about the case of Melissa Lucio What issues are being debated? Who is calling for Lucio's execution to be stopped? Where do efforts to halt her execution stand? How frequently are women executed? A House education subcommittee Monday voted along party lines to advance a proposal that would bring meaningful change to the Board of Regents, the universities they oversee, and the students those institutions serve including through tuition-hike caps and DEI-related directives. The proposals DEI restrictions and revisions would bake into Iowa law a list of recommendations regents issued its campuses in the fall including to eliminate any DEI functions not necessary for compliance or accreditation. I will reserve my comments for committee work, subcommittee member Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, said Monday referencing a regent update on what previously were characterized as its DEI recommendations. But I do support this bill, and I want to thank the board for coming to clarify that those recommendations are now directives and that we are just codifying what the universities are already doing. Before casting their votes, though, members of the subcommittee heard from supporters and opponents primarily related to House File 2327s DEI components. I urge you to take a look at this issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion from the perspective of our Black and brown and Indigenous siblings, Connie Ryan, with the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund, said to subcommittee members while speaking in opposition to the specific parts of the bill that would limit or eliminate DEI-related programming, staffing, or spending. There are many groups that benefit from the idea and from the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our higher education institutions, in our public schools. When Ryan said that being straight, white, cis, for me female, for you male, and all the other privileges that we carry with us can make it hard to recognize, understand, and empathize with others of different backgrounds, subcommittee Chair Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, started laughing. I'm sorry that you're humored by that, Ryan said. But it's hard to look at those challenges with open eyes and open hearts. Others spoke in support of the proposed DEI restrictions and revisions. Whatever the motivations behind DEI are, in practice, DEI programs have been used to perpetuate racism, said Ryan Benn, director of policy for The Family Leader, a faith-based socially-conservative advocacy organization led by President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats. DEI policies have used race-based decision making, and they discriminate against people who are unwilling to affirm certain ideologies, which were against those things, Benn said. We cant defeat racism with more racism. Scripture teaches the gospel is available to all, and that race doesn't matter. Race shouldnt matter to us either, and thats why were in support of this bill. Board changes, powers The sole subcommittee member who voted against advancing the proposal Rep. Sue Cahill, D-Marshalltown also was the only person Monday to address other aspects of the sweeping bill, like its changes to the Board of Regents and how it hires university presidents. I have to admit, Cahill said. I have a few questions. To the bills suggestion that Iowa expand its nine-member volunteer Board of Regents to 11 with the addition of two non-voting members of the Legislature, appointed by the majority leader of each chamber Cahill suggested a balancing amendment that would further swell the board to 13. I would plan on putting forth an amendment that would say we could include also the minority leader in the House and the same in the Senate, she said, in an effort to keep our thought process growing. Cahill raised questions about portions of the bill changing how the board selects university presidents, like a provision creating a presidential selection committee made up of a subset of regents. The committee would recommend the best candidate for the job, and the full board couldnt hire a president unless they were recommended by the committee. The legislation also would keep finalist names confidential where historically theyve been made public and invited to campus for community forums and public feedback. So that was a concern of mine, Cahill said about the lack of transparency. No member of the public or subcommittee who spoke Monday addressed a key piece of the legislation capping annual undergraduate tuition increases at 3% severely restricting the boards control over what has grown to be their largest revenue source, with state appropriations waning. DEI pros, cons Most speakers focused on the DEI changes the bill would make law, including: Eliminating any DEI functions, positions or job duties not necessary for compliance or accreditation. Ensuring no one on campus is compelled to submit a DEI statement or disclose their pronouns. Issuing employee guidance regarding separation of personal political advocacy from their university business. Exploring ways to advance intellectual and philosophical diversity. I would like to speak a little bit to what DEI programming has done for me, University of Iowa doctoral candidate Emma Denney told the committee, sharing ways in which shes been mocked and marginalized for her transgender status by my peers and professors. What DEI did was link me to both legal resources through Title IX and personal support resources through my community at the University of Iowa, to know that I wasn't alone and that I didn't have to abandon my studies because people didn't understand who I was and were afraid of it, she said. Courtney Collier, an Iowa mom, spoke in support of the bill even asking they expand the recommendations to Iowas K-12 education system. My first-graders were taught at school about pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving in a way that left them feeling personally responsible for harms done to the Native Americans, she said. They came home and said they were sad that their skin was white. There's so much wrong with that scenario, including the fact that although my children have fairly light skin, we have Native American ancestry. A new report from the ACLU of Nebraska accuses the U.S. Department of Justice immigration court in Omaha of routinely violating due process rights in immigrants removal proceedings. The new report, unveiled Friday, is based on more than 500 pretrial hearings that researchers watched between April and August 2023. A team recorded the process and outcome of each hearing, including its length, whether immigrants were advised of their rights, the language they spoke and whether they had an interpreter or attorney. The court oversees cases for people living in Nebraska and Iowa. Dylan Severino, legal fellow for the Nebraska ACLU and the reports lead author, said federal law guarantees that immigrants receive a full and fair removal hearing. What we saw is a far cry from that guarantee, he said in a statement. The U.S. Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees such immigration courts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Rights called an unmovable object About 40% of removal proceedings for the Omaha court include people living in Iowa, according to the ACLU of Iowa. It also said more than 2,600 new proceedings were filed against people living in Iowa in the current fiscal year. Comparable figures were not provided for Nebraska. Severino said pressures on courts, including growing caseloads and backlogs, should not affect constitutional rights. Thats an unmovable object that simply cannot be fringed upon for the sake of expediency, Severino said at a Friday news conference. The Nebraska ACLUs report, produced in partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Legal Decision-Making Lab, presents four takeaways from 534 observed hearings: The duration of each procedural pretrial hearing was 3.9 minutes. Judges read immigrants their rights in 18% of observed hearings, often in group settings. For 32 immigrants whose preferred language was a Central American Indigenous language, such as Mam, Qanjobal and Kiche, 81% did not have an interpreter. An attorney did not represent an immigrant in 19% of observed hearings. The ACLU primarily observed non-detained cases before two of the three judges U.S. Judges Alexandra Larsen and Abby Meyer. Judge Matthew Morrissey primarily presides over cases of detained immigrants, the ACLU said. The report says 387 hearings before Judge Larsen were observed. They lasted an average of 3.8 minutes, and Larsen didnt advise 79% of the immigrants of their rights. Of 147 hearings before Judge Meyer, she did not advise 92% of immigrants of their rights, and the hearings lasted an average of 3 minutes. ACLUs recommendations Rose Godinez, Nebraska ACLU legal director, said the report indicates that the immigration system is not working for anyone and she hopes federal and state leaders pay attention. It is a problem that is shared by all of us, and the solution also depends on all of us, she said. Among the ACLUs recommendations are for the court to advise immigrants of their rights individually before each hearing and provide adequate interpretation services. It also recommends that local or state governments create a program for guaranteed representation. The ACLU also argues that the immigration courts should be federally restructured as an independent court system from the executive branch, with more immigration judges, who should come from diverse work experiences. Most of the systems judges are former Immigrations and Customs Enforcement attorneys, including all three in Omaha. In the meantime, the ACLU states, this onus of depoliticization falls on the DOJ. In a system that pits immigrants against the government, that bias can be determinative in life-or-death asylum cases, the ACLU report states. Severino said the Omaha court isnt reaching the bar set by constitutional rights. He argued that reforms would help the court become more efficient by preventing retrials and appeals. The bottom line is that there needs to be action to address the problems we found and help more people stay in Nebraska and Iowa, put down roots, and continue to strengthen our communities, Severino said. Steps during a typical pretrial proceeding A typical pretrial removal hearing for immigrants, or Master Calendar Hearing, is an important step that the attorneys with the ACLU of Nebraska and an immigration attorney said are some of the most important. The following actions must occur during each immigrants pretrial hearing: The immigrants case is called for hearing. The judge asks the immigrant to pronounce their name. The judge requests that the immigrant name their attorney, if they have one. The judge advises the immigrant of their rights in the court. An ICE attorney describes allegations against the immigrant. The judge asks the immigrant to deny or admit to each allegation. The judge asks the immigrant to choose a country for deportation. If the immigrant refuses, the country is chosen for them. The judge asks if there are legal reasons the immigrant should not be deported. The judge sets deadlines for the submission of various forms, applications, statements and more. The judge schedules the next pretrial hearing or a final evidentiary hearing (known as a trial or Individual Calendar Hearing) to decide the case. This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner, which is part of States Newsroom. Earlier this month, news broke that Nakuru County under the leadership of governor Susan Kihika had seen a significant drop in revenue collection, in an unexplained manner. The news was widely reported that Nakurus revenue collection had dropped from Sh3.6 billion in 2021/2022 financial year, to a partly Sh1.6 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year, a drop of Sh2 billion. This massive drop was not explained in any of the media reports, and was first mentioned by Senate Liaison Committee Chair, Senator Mohammed Chute. The revenue has decreased to Ksh.2.6 million. If this is for a full year. then this is a very serious matter. he said. He went on to accuse Nakuru MCAs of neglecting their oversight duties. The figure came from the Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakango, who has been very vocal on matters government revenues and expenditures. However, none of the media houses reporting the figure interrogated the numbers, with the statement being reported as fact. It has now emerged that although Nakuru did report a revenue drop, the figure was nowhere close to the 2 billion announced. In a letter sent to the Controller of Budget by the Nakuru Governor, it has now emerged that the true revenue collection for Nakuru for the financial year 2022/2023 stood at Sh3.145 billion. This represented a drop of about Sh115 million from the previous years collection, which actually stood at Sh3.26 billion. The Sh3.6 billion mentioned was actually the target not the actuals. The controller of budget has now issued a correction and apology, stating that in her tabulation, she omitted over Sh1.06 billion, of which that only represented 9 months collection and not the 12 months as widely reported. This was an error as the computation did not include the Facility Improvement Fund of Ksh 1,063,820,417.05. We apologize for the omission and misrepresentation. she writes in her reply to Nakurus CEC Finance and Economic Planning. The accurate drop in revenue collection therefore is about 3.2% rather than the 55% reported. A former Nairobi County Finance Officer has successfully argued for a reduction in the cash he is required to forfeit to the State. Jimmy Kiamba and his spouse Tracy Mbinya convinced the Court of Appeal that an earlier High Court Order of seizure had included their Kes.168.7 million rental and business earnings in the Kes.282.6 million he was directed to forfeit to the State. In 2018, the High Court deemed the cash as unexplained wealth, which the anti-graft watchdog linked to shady procurement deals within City Hall and looted from the county coffers. Court of Appeal judges, Ali Aroni, John Mutivo, and Laibuta Kibaya, on Friday, February 9, ordered Jimmy Kiamba and his wife to instead surrender Kes.114 million cash in the bank. The appeal succeeds only to the extent that we hereby set aside the trial courts order requiring the 1st appellant to pay to the Government the sum of Sh282,648,604 and, in its place, we hereby order and direct that the appellants do jointly and severally pay or forfeit to the Government of Kenya the sum of Sh113,893,743, being the unexplained cash in their bank accounts, ruled the Appellate judges. Further, the court directed the former Nairobi county chief finance officer to surrender a maisonette in South C, four apartment blocks, and two parcels of land. This after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) convinced the court that some of the properties that had been dropped from the list of assets to be forfeited to the state constituted unexplained wealth. The EACC had initially categorized 15 landed properties, seven vehicles, and funds in eight bank accounts as unexplained assets, valuing them at Kes. 872 million. Subsequently, the amount was decreased to Kes. 575 million. Multi-million Properties in Upmarket Nairobi As the three judges expanded the list of properties slated for forfeiture, they questioned how Mr. Kiamba could amass several high-end properties between 2009 and 2013. While serving as a county finance officer, Kaimba earned Kes.145,000 per month, yet he managed to accumulate properties and cash deposits in bank accounts totaling over Kes.1 billion within three years. Even if one was to assume that the undisputed properties generated income, there was no evidence placed before court in support of huge sums of rent that would have enabled the appellants to acquire the properties they did in upmarket Nairobi, the justices observed. The suspect purchased the first apartment on October 27, 2010, for Kes.14 million, followed by a second and third on May 10, 2012, for Kes.15 million and Kes.15.5 million, respectively. The Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate claims that the former city county official could afford three apartments on Pritt Lane in Lavington Nairobi. Kiamba also acquired an apartment named Skyrock for Kes.25 million on August 17, 2012. He bought a maisonette in South C for Kes.10.5 million in 2010. We further order and direct the payment by the appellants of the current market value of the assets listed or forfeiture in place of payment to the Government of Kenya of the current value of the said assets forthwith, read part of the ruling. Alleged Source of Wealth The former CFO had justified his fortune, claiming involvement in large-scale wheat and livestock farming since 2006, ownership of two hotels in Mombasa and Machakos, engagement in water and quarry business in Machakos, and rental income from properties jointly owned with his wife. His wife Ms. Mbinya informed the court that she received a monthly rental income of Kes.250,000 from the Skyrock apartment, earned Kes.1 million monthly from her interior design company, and another monthly income of Kes.200,000 from a beauty parlour. The judges concurred with the EACCs argument that the trial judge, Hedwig Ongudi, made an error by neglecting to examine the disparity in income between 2009 and 2013, which surged from Sh600,000 to Sh95 million within six years. We therefore fault the learned trial judge for finding, in the absence of sufficient explanation and supporting evidence, that the appellants known income could support the purchase of the following assets, the judges said. Kenya and South Sudan have pledged to address border issues impeding the development of the Nadapal-Juba road. This commitment emerged during a meeting on Monday, February 12, 2024, between Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and his South Sudan counterpart Simon Mijok Mijak. In the meeting, the two leaders and their delegations agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that would separate border issues from connectivity, thereby clearing the path for the construction of the 350-kilometre road connecting South Sudan and Kenya. South Sudan is a crucial partner for Kenya in trade and diplomacy. It is the second-largest user of the Port of Mombasa after Uganda, moving about 3 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, Murkomen said in a statement. Our meeting focused on resolving the longstanding issues related to the development of the 350km Nadapal-Juba road, he added. According to the CS, the upgrading of the road to bitumen standards will boost socio-economic development in Kenya and South Sudan. Its benefits will include enhancing seamless direct trade between the two nations, reducing transportation costs for exports and imports, reducing travel time for traders, creating job opportunities and building peaceful coexistence between the people of the two countries, CS Murkomen said. Upon completion, Murkomen observed that the Nadapal-Juba road will connect to the route from Juba to Douala in Cameroon through the Central African Republic. This linkage will effectively connect East Africa to West Africa as part of the Trans-African Highway. I thank the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, which was represented at the meeting, for facilitating discussions between Kenya and South Sudan to enhance connectivity between the two nations, he added. Mondays resolutions come months after President William Ruto and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir committed to strengthening bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the citizens of the two nations. During the meeting held at State House, Nairobi, in August last year, President Ruto stated that the two countries are actively pursuing joint infrastructure projects to enhance regional integration and boost trade. The Kenyan Head of State emphasized the countrys dedication to implementing infrastructural projects under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor project (LAPSSET), aiming to enhance connectivity, foster integration, and promote intra-regional trade. Additionally, the two leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a fiber optic cable along the Eldoret-Juba road. Staffers from Jersey Mikes Subs in Napa are humbled and honored to present a check to Queen of the Valley Medical Foundation to help fund their cancer wellness program, according to a news release from business owner Jhing R. Lacsamana. The check totaled $16,044. We would also like to take this opportunity to give our gratitude to the whole community of Napa who have been graciously supporting us since we opened in 2021, said Lacsamana. In 2024, during our Month of Giving (in March), we will continue to have the Queen as our beneficiary for this special event at Jersey Mikes, Lacsamana said. We hope that Napa will continue to support this great cause. Jersey Mike's Subs is located at 627 Trancas St. in Napa. PHOTOS: San Francisco Giants FanFest comes to Napa The Napa County Office of Education will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a charter petition for the Mayacamas Charter Middle School as part of a regular board meeting rescheduled from last week. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the NCOE office, 2121 Imola Ave. in Napa. It can be viewed in person and online. The Mayacamas hearing, initially scheduled for Feb. 6, was rescheduled due to a power outage that blacked out the county education office and other parts of east Napa for several days following intense Bay Area storms. Speaker sign-ups from Feb. 6 will carry over to the Tuesday meeting. Proponents of the Mayacamas school seek a charter from NCOE that would allow it to operate at the county level. According to the agenda, department officials are seeking public opinion on the petition. The NCOE board will then get the chance to vote on the petition March 5. A petition would allow Mayacamas to continue teaching grades 6-8 in downtown Napa for the next five years. The school has operated since August 2023 inside the former St. John the Baptist Catholic School, amid disputes with the Napa Valley Unified School District over its charter's legitimacy. (The title under which Mayacamas is currently operating is a charter granted by the California State Board of Education over NVUSD's opposition. While the Sacramento County Superior Court ruled against that charter, its decision is on hold pending appeals.) The NCOE hearing will be limited to one hour, and the public will get a chance to provide public comment. Selected speakers will appear in sign-up order and alternate between those who support or oppose the petition. Each speaker will have up to three minutes to speak. Due to the one-hour time constraint, there is a chance not everyone who signs up will get to speak. Advanced sign-up for public comment is available at bit.ly/ncoecommentfeb2024. Attendees wanting to view the meeting remotely can participate at https://napacoe.zoom.us/j/85404848681, and information on the school's petition is available at https://napacoe.org/board-of-education/mayacamas-countywide-middle-schoolcharter-petition/. Photos: Mayacamas School prepping for first day of school Xbox Anticipated 'Business Update' Will Air in Podcast Format on this Date Microsoft is set to unveil crucial updates about the state of the Xbox business, including whether Xbox exclusives will go multiplatform, in a special podcast scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15. The announcement was made by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond, and head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty through an official Xbox account post. Read Also: PUBG Creators Await Outstanding Payments, Krafton Responds Podcast Premiere Details The special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast will be available for viewing on YouTube and various podcast platforms, starting on Thursday at 3 p.m. EST/12 p.m. PST. Microsoft aims to provide a direct and transparent discussion on the future of the Xbox brand and platform in a podcast format accessible to a wide audience. Addressing Exclusive Games Rumors The podcast is anticipated to address ongoing rumors and reports regarding Xbox-exclusive games, such as Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Starfield, potentially expanding to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. Microsoft's proactive response to these speculations indicates a commitment to providing concrete details about the Xbox brand's trajectory. In a recent statement on Twitter (hereinafter X), Phil Spencer acknowledged the rumors and reassured the community about the forthcoming business update event, emphasizing that Xbox is actively listening to its audience and is eager to share its vision for the future. The reported hardware component in the future of Xbox, as mentioned in the Updater newsletter, dispels any speculation about discontinuation of Xbox consoles. Phil Spencer's remarks during a town hall meeting with Microsoft employees emphasized a strategy that involves "multiple kinds of devices," indicating a continued commitment to hardware. Related Article: Tenderfoot Tactics Brings Modern Tactical RPG to Nintendo Switch, Xbox on this Date The five candidates vying to replace state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, agree on some issues and diverge widely on others but they have one thing in common: None is from Napa County. District 3, which covers all of Napa and Solano counties, and portions of Sonoma, Yolo, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties, includes nearly a million people. As in other parts of California, climate change, housing affordability, homelessness and education are major issues candidates will have to address as a state senator. Local political observers believed Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza would be a leading candidate for the seat as Dodd is termed out but Pedroza dropped out in May of last year, citing family issues. His profile and what hes done, (Pedroza) would have been a great legislator," said Dodd, a former Napa County supervisor. "Lots of people were going to endorse him. Then he obviously had some issues in Napa. Election 2024: California 3rd District state Senate candidates report campaign finances Five candidates vying to replace Bill Dodd as California's 3rd District state senator disclosed their campaign contributions and expenditures. The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating Pedroza regarding a potential conflict of interest over a 2021 Board of Supervisors vote regarding the proposed development of a vineyard. His in-laws had bought property adjacent to Walt Ranch, and he was a part of the ownership until a month before the vote. California state senators serve four-year terms and are limited to serving three times. Their primary responsibilities include writing laws, helping draft public spending, swearing in elected officials and meeting with their districts constituents. With that said, state senators spend a majority of their time in committees reviewing bills that may eventually become law. The district itself is largely Democratic, with 50% of voters registering with that party, compared to 19% with the Republican party. The remainder are either members of minor parties or, largely, those who do not align themselves with any party. The two candidates who get the most votes in the primary election, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the general election this November. Who is running? The Republican candidates running are Dixon Councilmember Thom Bogue and Jimih Jones, a Woodland resident and assistant manager at the Hanlees Davis Toyota dealership. The Democrats in the race are former West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Vallejo Councilmember Rozzana Verder-Aliga and Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward. Thom Bogue Thom Bogue began his political career as a Dixon City Council member in 2010, and was then elected mayor in 2016. He lost his campaign for reelection as mayor in 2020 and was reelected to the City Council in 2022. Bogue has also owned First Choice Automotive in Dixon since 2000. According to his website, his business allowed him to give back to the community and help support youth enduring drug addiction, an experience Bogue went through in his youth. On his website, Bogue states that taking on the role of Dixon mayor allowed him to serve on multiple regional boards, and expanded his knowledge of regional planning and budget constraints. In Bogues time as mayor, a community member and former councilmember alleged Bogue had overstepped his powers and got involved in a police dispute involving a large gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Solano County district attorney, Krishna Abrams, decided not to pursue the matter. Campaign Bogues key campaign focuses are homelessness, crime, parental rights and the trucking industry. In terms of Napa, Bogue said that one of the main issues he wants to work on is addressing the workforce shortage and water availability for agriculture. If elected, he believes in working together with local shareholders to solve regional problems. The bottom line is we will have to work together to find workable solutions, Bogue said. Bogue said that he will fight against over-regulation in the wine industry. Regulations are killing our businesses and trucking industry, not only with the cost to meet those regulations, but the growing cost of insurance, rents, fuel and the requirement to change over to green energy, Bogue said. Endorsements Bogue is mainly endorsed by individual workers. On his website, he is endorsed by many blue-collar workers, including truck drivers, forklift drivers, nurses and electricians. Jimih Jones Jimih Jones currently works as the assistant manager of the Toyota showroom in Davis and has been a Woodland resident for over 20 years. Jones has never held political office, but previously ran for Congress in 2022. According to his website, Jones is passionate about parental rights. I noticed parental authority was slowly being taken away from parents, and I noticed that elected officials decided they wanted to sue the tax paying parents for saying education for our children and leave out the adult content, Jones said. Jones said he is also concerned about the lack of resources for teachers, and has seen how little help teachers are given to accommodate large class sizes. Teachers need so much help, I feel so bad for them because theyre used as pawns, Jones said. Prior to his position at Toyota, Jones was in the California Conservation Corps in Camarillo, in Ventura County. Campaign Jones campaign is focused on parental rights, education and affordable housing. Jones is concerned about housing affordability, and says the younger people he works with are unable to easily rent a one-bedroom apartment. Unaffordability is one of the biggest issues in California and the super-majority who have run the state for the last 20 years said they were going to fix it. They did not fix it, Jones said. According to his website, the primary purpose of his campaign is to promote freedom. Asked what he will do about Napa-specific or wine industry issues, Jones said was unsure what those issues were. In terms of the district, Jones said that he wants to ensure that it is self-sustaining, and intends on being an approachable state senator. I simply represent stability, dependability and reliability, Jones said. Endorsements Jones does not have any endorsements listed on his website. Chris Cabaldon Chris Cabaldon served as mayor of West Sacramento from 1998 to 2020, a 22-year term that is the longest in the citys history. In his years as mayor, Cabaldon emphasized education and helped many students go to college tuition-free through the initiative West Sacramento Home Run, his city being one of the first to roll out the program. Cabaldon also helped establish urban farming, championed building affordable housing and enhanced flood management in West Sacramento. Ive been very effective at being able to capture the attention and resources of these larger governments for the community that I represent, Cabaldon said. Unlike the other candidates in this race, I want to be that champion for the six counties in the 3rd District. Cabaldon also served on numerous statewide boards and commissions. He served as the vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges system, inaugural chair of the National LGBTQ Mayor's Alliance, and national president of Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education. Campaign Cabaldons key campaign focuses are affordable housing, strengthening the economy, protecting the environment, education access and community safety. Asked about Napa-specific issues, Cabaldon said he wants to get more state assistance in maintaining and building roads, transit, parks and school construction. He added that he will focus on mitigating the risk of wildfires. Cabaldon intends to bust preconceptions about the Napa Valley in the Capitol dome. If you walk around that building and start talking about wildfire insurance, folks are like, Its Napa, theyre rich, because they only go for vacation or they know the brand from TV or movies," he said. "For me, one of the big priorities is to bust those myths. Cabaldon notes that the states investment in Napa Countys Climate Action Plan is helpful, but more must be done. Weve done a good job over the last few years of setting big stretch goals. Now our task is to actually deliver, he said. Endorsements Cabaldon is endorsed by more than 50 officials, including former state Assemblymember Helen Thompson and former state Sen. Lois Wolk. He is also endorsed by Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund, Equality California, the Sierra Club, and The Sacramento Bee and San Jose Mercury News. Jackie Elward Jackie Elward was elected to the Rohnert Park City Council in 2020 and the appointed as mayor from 2021 to 2022. She is the first Black woman elected to the Rohnert Park council. Elward is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and immigrated to the United States in 2000. In Rohnert Park, Elward has worked as an advocate for affordable housing, homelessness, and making investments in clean energy and sustainable agriculture. She has served on the Mayors & Councilmembers Association of Sonoma County, Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate Authority, and Sonoma Clean Power. Elward also sits on the board for North Bay Jobs with Justice, a coalition of more than 30 labor and community organizations across Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties. Campaign Elwards key issues in her campaign are affordable housing, with a special emphasis on housing for teachers and nurses, mental health, homelessness, climate change, civil rights and labor rights. Elward said that although she might not have as much experience as other Democratic candidates, she's been able to help Rohnert Park advance its housing goals and earn recognition from the governor last year. I may not have the 20-30 years' experience, but I also dont have the baggage that comes with that experience," she said. "I dont have corporate real estate developer billionaires or status quo politicians endorsing my campaign. In terms of what she will do for Napa, Elward said that she has been closely following the problem of falling school enrollment and wants to protect Napas tourism industry. Napa and Sonoma have similar needs. During the wildfires, I remember that it really took a toll on our wineries and the industry thats built," she said. "We need to really make sure to advocate for that. Elward also said that her experience on the board for North Bay Jobs with Justice informs her campaign, as she advocates for working people in fields such as agriculture and will continue to do so if elected. Endorsements Elward is endorsed by multiple labor groups, including SEIU California, California Labor Federation, Working Families Party and UNITE HERE. She is also endorsed by over 50 officials including the Lt. Gov. Kounalakis, Rep. Jared Huffman and Honey Mahogany, a drag queen who is chair of the San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee. Rozzana Verder-Aliga Rozzana Verder-Aliga is currently on the Vallejo City Council. She was first elected in 2013, then reelected in 2016 and 2020. She started her career in public office as a member of the Vallejo Unified School District in 1993. After that she served on the Solano County Board of Education before working for the city. Verder-Aliga presided over the Vallejo school board in 2004, when the board handed financial control to the state due to a $20 million deficit, a school closure and budget cuts. In 2005, an audit by MGT of America revealed the district superintendent, Gladys Phillips-Evans, and her assistant falsified the budget and concealed a letter to the board from Solano County that rejected the 2003-04 budget. Verder-Aliga said that the board took action and fired Phillips-Evans. I dealt with the problem, worked with the school board and found ways to make sure education continued in my city, she said. The school board depends heavily on the budget presented by the superintendent. When discussing what the experience taught her, Verder-Aliga said she learned to trust but verify financial reports, as well as communicate directly with auditors and the county superintendent. Aside from her work as a public servant, Verder-Aliga was a marriage and family therapist who recently retired after 28 years in the profession. That experience has informed her campaign. Theres always a shortage of staff. Theres not enough of them to hire because theres no pipeline or pathway," she said. "One of the things Id like to do in the long term is to collaborate with the school districts to build a pathway for health care careers. Verder-Aliga is the first Filipina-American woman to be elected to public office in the city of Vallejo and Solano County as a whole. Campaign Verder-Aligas key campaign focuses are health care, agriculture, housing affordability and homelessness, climate change and education. Asked about Napa County issues specifically, Verder-Aliga said that Napa County must support its farmworkers better. We want to make sure workers are being treated fairly with good wages and given health insurance," she said. "They have kids and I want to make sure they have access to a good education. Climate change is another issue that Verder-Aliga is prioritizing. We want to make sure were doing what we need to address wildfires, flooding and drought," she said. "Those are challenges that the wine industry in Napa faces. Verder-Aliga said that the biggest issue she sees for the district and California as a whole is homelessness, and she wants to work at the local level with lawmakers to help them meet their goals under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, which requires local governments to set targets for housing creation. Endorsements Verger-Aliga is endorsed by more than 50 elected officials, including the current 3rd District senator Dodd, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi and state Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. Dodd said he chose to endorse her despite the controversies during her time on the Vallejo school board, because facts were withheld from the board and her wealth of knowledge would be valuable in the Legislature. It was not a revelation to me. I did the background check, Dodd said. The fact of the matter is shes been elected more times, in more positions, than any Democrat in the race. Dodd also chose to endorse her due to her multifaceted experience as a therapist, city council member and school board member. He sees her commitment to Vallejo as promising for the 3rd district. Rozzana will be the adult in the room and wont be pressured by the thought of moving on to the next office, said Dodd. She has also earned endorsements from California Professional Firefighters, California Teachers Association and the Womens Political Committee. SAN BERNARDINO A man whose family's gender reveal photo shoot sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter in 2020 has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday. The El Dorado Fire erupted on Sept. 5, 2020, when Refugio Jimenez Jr. and Angelina Jimenez and their young children staged a photo shoot for their baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, authorities said. Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. Charles Morton, the 39-year-old leader of the elite Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad, was killed on Sept. 17, 2020, when flames overran a remote area where firefighters were cutting fire breaks. Morton had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, mostly with the U.S. Forest Service. On Friday, the San Bernardino County district attorney announced that Refugio Jimenez Jr. had pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He will be taken into custody on Feb. 23 to serve a year in jail. His sentence also includes two years of felony probation and 200 hours of community service. Angelina Jimenez pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing fire to property of another. She was sentenced to a year of summary probation and 400 hours of community service. The couple was also ordered to pay $1,789,972 in restitution. Resolving the case was never going to be a win, District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a news release, offering his condolences to Mortons family. To the victims who lost so much, including their homes with valuables and memories, we understand those are intangibles can never be replaced. The U.S. Forest Service in September on the third anniversary of the ignition of the fire filed a lawsuit against the pyrotechnic device's manufacturers, distributors and sellers, as well as the couple. The lawsuit alleges that the Smoke Bombs used were illegal in California and known to be defective. Mike Scafiddi, the lawyer for Refugio Jimenez Jr., said the couple has wanted to speak publicly about the fire, its impact on the community and Morton's death but cannot because of the ongoing federal litigation. They have been praying for Mr. Morton and his family every night since his death," Scafiddi told The Associated Press on Sunday. "It has touched them profoundly. The lawyer said his client had researched and tested the pyrotechnic device before setting it off that day, finding no problems online or during his test. It was unforeseeable in all minds, he said. Scafiddi said the couple had not, contrary to what's been said publicly for years, hosted a gender-reveal party. He said it was a photo shoot to discover the baby's gender with the couple, a few relatives and their children. To infer that it was a gathering of multiple people with food and celebration is simply incorrect, he said. This was simply taking photographs in what was a beautiful backdrop. An attorney for Angelina Jimenez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. The blaze injured 13 other people and forced the evacuations of hundreds of residents in small communities in the San Bernardino National Forest area. It destroyed five homes and 15 other buildings. Flames blackened nearly 36 square miles of land in San Bernardino and Riverside counties before the blaze was contained on Nov. 16, 2020. The fire was one of thousands during a record-breaking wildfire season in California that charred more than 4% of the state, including wide swaths of rural Napa County that were hit by two wildfires, while destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people. Extremely dry conditions and heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. 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FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Champions League: Quarterfinal pairs are known Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Google mocks iPhone for not having Circle to Search feature Jessica Biel prefers to tell sons the truth about periods FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Cartier presents carbine watches studded with diamonds Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Kylie Jenner wears stunning red dress Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, on Monday met with the chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France). The Armenia-European Union (EU) partnership agenda were discussed, in the promotion of which the EU legislative body has its own role, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. In this context, a reference was made to the prospects of deepening the partnership and the respective efforts being made by both sides. Regional issues in the South Caucasus were also discussed in detail. Also, Mirzoyan presented to his colleague of the European Parliament the vision of the Armenian side in overcoming the existing challenges, including with the support of international partners. The importance of curbing territorial aspirations towards Armenia, as well as unconditional respect for territorial integrity and the indivisibility of borders was emphasized. They reflected also on the principled approach shown by the European Parliament in difficult conditions for the people of Armenia and the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as to the documents adopted with clear assessments and messages. In addition, FM Mirzoyan thanked Nathalie Loiseau for her significant contribution to promoting matters of key importance for Armenia and protecting humanitarian values, and awarded her with the Medal of Gratitude of Armenia. ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation)-Dashnaktsutyun Party Bureau Chairmanand President of the Armenian National Committee InternationalHagop Der Khatchadourian met with Ambassador Andrew Turner at the Canadian embassy in Yerevan. Der Khatchadourian congratulated the recent (October 2023) inauguration of the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Armenia in Yerevan, which will help to deepen Canada-Armenia relations, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun public relations office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The main issues raised by the ARF-D Bureau Chairman were the expectations from Canada in view of the recent ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) through Azerbaijans genocidal acts and the ongoing negotiations for an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, especially the threats and actual incursion into and occupation of the Republic of Armenia territory by Azerbaijan. Also, concerns were raised regarding the recent decision of the Canadian government to lift its ban on military exports to Turkey. In early October 2020, Ottawa had suspended export permits to Turkey for the optical technology gear with which Turkey had equipped its drones redirected to Azerbaijan, which used them to target Armenians during the 2020 44-day war in Artsakh. Ambassador Turner reasserted his governments position that the right of return of the people of Artsakh should be respected and that Canada strongly supports the territorial integrity of Armenia, hence its decision to participate in the EU Monitoring Capacity (EUMCAP), whichin response to an official request by the Armenian authoritiesis deployed on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border since October 2022, contributing to build confidence between populations of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and, where possible, their authorities. Thus far, Canada is the only non-EU country to participate in this EU civilian mission on the ground. The Canadian Ambassador also reasserted that Canadian exporters have been notified that applications for new defense exports will require statements from Turkey indicating whether the goods will be re-exported to a third country or non-NATO member, and whether they will be incorporated into a weapons system. Canada is obliged under domestic law and the global Arms Trade Treaty to prevent, detect and stop the diversion of military goods to users other than intended customers. A number of Chinese migrants coming through Mexico have been crossing the border into the US using Douyin, the Chinese version of ByteDance's most famous app TikTok. The CBS news documentary "60 Minutes" recently featured a segment on the matter, including an interview with a 27-year-old female Chinese migrant who said that she crossed the US side of the border in California using the short video app. According to the program, migrants have purportedly been using videos on TikTok that provide "step-by-step instructions" for how to find gaps in the border wall and hire smugglers. SUVs were also spotted arriving along the border fence every 30 minutes to drop off more groups of migrants, totaling almost 600 people crossing the gap over the course of four days alone. "TikTok strictly prohibits human smuggling which we remove from our platform and report to law enforcement when warranted," a TikTok spokesperson told Fox News Digital. According to TikTok's website, the company provides a space for "survivors of human exploitation to share their stories, and for migrants and refugees to be able to document their journeys, so we provide a space to do so." The company also claimed that 93% of the human trafficking content in the platform was removed proactively. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher (R), chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, criticized TikTok for aiding a surge of Chinese migrants trying to cross the US southern border. Read Also: Mexico: 2 Killed in Drug Deal Gone Wrong at Beach Resort Capitol Hill Scrambles to Pass Border Bill Back in Washington, the Senate unveiled the new bipartisan border bill this month, but it was quickly struck down after Republican senators opposed it. "I've seen enough," House Speaker Mike Johnson shared on X, formerly Twitter. "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.'" House majority leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) added that the Senate border bill would "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 recipients - a magnet for more illegal immigration," he added. On the other hand, US Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens shared his disappointment over Congress's failure to pass the border deal. "We need more people. We need more agents on the line," he added. "They need more force multipliers in the way of technology and equipment infrastructure that doesn't just help them do their job better, it helps keep them safe." Related Article: Joe Biden Election Campaign Creates TikTok Account Despite App Being Banned on US Government Reuters reported that police raids on Jair Bolsonaro and associates, accused of planning a coup after the 2022 election, have weakened the right-wing opposition to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of October's local elections, according to analysts. Bolsonaro, a far-right leader who emulated former U.S. President Donald Trump, surrendered his passport to the police last Thursday, leading to the arrest of four of his former aides. Search warrants were issued for four ex-ministers, including three retired army generals. Analysts argue that this has delivered a significant setback to Bolsonaro's right-wing Liberal Party (PL), the largest opposition party. The president of PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, was arrested on an unrelated gun charge last Thursday and provisionally released on Saturday. "The Bolsonaro opposition has been badly hurt by this," said Andre Cesar, an analyst at Hold Assessoria Legislativa, a public policy consultancy. "The PL will lose political muscle and have to rethink plans to triple its mayors in the October elections." Bolsonaro is accused by Brazilian police of altering a decree to reverse his 2022 election loss to Lula, pressuring military leaders for a coup, and plotting to arrest a Supreme Court justice. PL President Costa Neto is banking on Bolsonaro's popularity among core supporters to drive up voter participation for his party in the October elections for mayors and councils in 5,568 municipal districts throughout Brazil. How Does This Potentially Affect Elections? Allegations of Bolsonaro's involvement in a coup conspiracy could weaken support from moderate center-right Brazilians who, despite not being Bolsonaro supporters, voted for him as an opposition to Lula, as per Quaest polling firm. According to Reuters, a social media survey conducted on Friday by Quaest showed 58% of the postings were critical of Bolsonaro, while 42% were favorable, indicating that he still has considerable support despite allegations of planning a coup, though less than the 49.1% who voted for him against 50.9% for Lula in 2022. "There will be a huge drain on the PL that will benefit the Workers Party," said a former PL lawmaker who left the party last year and asked to remain anonymous. Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan's aspiration for peace collides with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's "exclusion of revanchism" policy. Armenias former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian wrote this on Facebook. He added as follows: "Aliyev constantly talks about revanchism. What is he afraid of? He is afraid of any situation where Armenia is not on its knees. Therefore, there is no peace formula that implies a developed Armenia that has straightened its back, an Armenia with a growing economy because all that is Aliyev's nightmare. All the theories put forward by Armenias authorities due to naivety, inexperience or other circumstances, that there is a formula that giving up Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] today, and maybe tomorrow, some territory of Armenia will guarantee stability and development to the country, are illusions. Azerbaijan is now trying to get a resolution where Armenia will be as weak as possible, an Armenia without any development prospects in the long term. For that they will snatch everything possible and even more. Even if all of Aliyev's most unacceptable demands for us are met, new ones will be born in the process. He will try to get such a situation where the state of Armenia will always be humiliated, dependent on others, including his will, without army and economy, without investments and friends. Aliyev is well aware that any next authorities of Armenia will raise the issue of the rights of the Armenian people. Any next authorities may have better skills in negotiating, putting the issue on the table, and coming to an agreement with the forces playing on the issue. In the end, Aliyev, unlike our current authorities, knows that it is possible to negotiate better, it is possible to put diplomatically acceptable proposals on the table, that today's situation in Armenia is neither a matter of fate nor circumstances, but the matter of the negotiator of the day. Therefore, today he will snatch so much from the [incumbent] authorities of Armenia that the positions of the next authorities will be as weak as possible. Now it is obvious to everyone that Aliyev will not sign anything [except] in exchange for [Armenia] renouncing Artsakh, even [Mount] Ararat, renouncing Armenian history. Otherwise, he would have signed by today. He will extract tangible concessions in the form of Armenias territories, the corridor, unacceptable for us, with such humiliating manifestations that in case of any turn, any authorities in Armenia, being weak and humiliated, will already try to get the minimum, which even according to international maps belonged to us from the beginning. Aliyev will try to achieve that the further negotiations will be about getting ours back according to all international legal norms, and it will be ridiculous to even imagine the rights of the people of Artsakh on the agenda. The way to avoid this scenario is not to agree to all demands. The more we give, the more they will want because they have no intention of guaranteeing peace. They intend to keep Armenia in constant fear, as they have caught the fear of these authorities. The way to avoid this is to put a demand on the table: the just demand of the return of the people of Artsakh [to their homeland]. At least for the reason that it is a subject of negotiation. Otherwise, the only subject of negotiation today seems to be the right of the Armenian people to live in this region. The neutralization of revanchism does not happen on paper, it does not happen by changing the constitution. The so-called revanchism will not seem so terrible for Aliyev either if the established peace has minimal foundations of justice, at least it be partially acceptable to the Armenian people as well. Otherwise, Aliyev will always be afraid of the anger of the Armenian people accumulated over the years as a result of injustice, which may erupt in case of any next authorities, any geopolitical change. Minimum justice implies the return of Artsakh Armenians to their homes with international guarantees, even within the framework of the logic of peace put forward today, with the perspective of self-determination. All regional and international players are in favor of the return of Artsakh Armenians. Everyone is interested in the fact that the signing of peace around Karabakh has at least minimal stability. It can be concluded from this that there will definitely be countries and organizations that will contribute to the formation of international guarantees on this issue; even the forces that are in conflict with each other. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Josep Borrell, the Vice President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, had a private meeting Tuesday in Brussels, ahead of the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council. After greeting each other before the private conversation, Borrell, referred to the Azerbaijani provocation in Nerkin Hand village of Armenia, and asked Mirzoyan, unfortunately, there are problems again. To which the Armenian FM replied, unfortunately, yes. The Armenian foreign ministry had informed Armenian NEWS.am that during the talk, views were exchanged on agenda matters of Armenia-EU partnership. Reference was made to the course of implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, to democratic developments in Armenia, as well as to the recently implemented joint steps and prospects to develop the partnership in new domains. Security issues in the South Caucasus were also discussed. They reflected also on todays incident of another provocation and use of force by Azerbaijan's armed forces in Nerkin Hand village sector of Armenias Syunik Province. The Armenian FM emphasized that this incident once again shows that Azerbaijan is looking for an excuse for border escalations and is continuously trying to abort the efforts of players who are interested in the stability and security of the South Caucasus to resume negotiations. The restraint of further steps aimed at destabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus was highlighted. Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that starting at 5:30am on Tuesday, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened firefrom small armsin the direction of the Armenian positions located in the Nerkin Hand village sector in Syunik Province. As a result, the Armenian side has four casualties and one wounded. Shooting stopped as of 9:30am. The casualties are Edvard Harutyunyan (born in 1974), Gagik Manukyan (born in 1982), Arsen Hambardzumyan (born in 1979), and Hrachya Hovhannisyan (born in 1957). We expect that Azerbaijan will constructively return to the negotiating table and adhere to the reached agreements. Ararat Mirzoyan, The Foreing Minister of Armenia said during the joint press conference with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy following the results of the 5th session of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council, addressing on the perspectives of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia has such a political will. We discussed all the challenges that Armenia is facing in its efforts to create a peaceful and secure environment in our region. I reiterated Armenias commitment to agreements reflected in statements adopted in quadrilateral meetings in Prague in October 2022 and in Granada last autumn as well as the agreements, announced by the President of the European Council Charles Michel following the trilateral meetings with leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on May 14 and July 15, 2023. We remain convinced that Armenia and Azerbaijan should reaffirm that they recognize each other's territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the most recent maps elaborated by competent and authorized bodies of the Soviet Union should become the basis for the delimitation of the borders between the two countries. This means that in the process of delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan no new border has to be created, but the borders confirmed by the Alma-Ata declaration and later reaffirmed by the parties should be reproduced on the ground. I also underlined the fundamental agreed principle according to which unblocking of regional communications shall take place under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of countries, as well as based on the principles of reciprocity and equality. In this context, with HR/VP Borrell we exchanged views on the initiative of the Government of Armenia Crossroads of Peace and its implementation as part of the peace agenda and a real opportunity to increase the interconnectivity in our region. We expect that Azerbaijan will constructively return to the negotiating table and adhere to the mentioned agreements. Armenia has such a political will. Today we also discussed the efforts aimed at ensuring the needs and rights of more than 100,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan. We appreciate the EU's engagement and support in this direction, Mirozyan said. Armenian Foreign Minister informed about the transfer of new maps of minefields to Azerbaijan. The humanitarian issues, including release and repatriation of Armenian detainees, solving the issue of missing persons and preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage under the control of Azerbaijan, were also on our agenda. I also informed the EU colleagues that, guided by humanitarian purposes and as a confidence-building measure, Armenia has recently prepared through inquiries among the former Nagorno-Karabakh officials and transferred to Azerbaijan new maps of minefields. I asked for possible engagement of the EU for verification of those maps. We exchanged views on the state of implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement - a landmark document - which remains the cornerstone of our relations and serves as a blueprint for our reform agenda. Its timely implementation is one of our priorities, and Im glad that we are steadily moving towards this goal. We reviewed Armenias progress on reforms which cover a wide range of areas of life, including the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, protection of human rights, justice sector, education, green economy as well as migration institutional reforms. With Mr. Borrell, we also noted with satisfaction that since our previous Partnership Council meeting the Armenia-EU agenda was enriched with new important dimensions and mechanisms. First - the security dimension: Id like to mention the Political and security dialogue and deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission at our international border with Azerbaijan. On economy: while the EU continues to remain one of the main trade partners of Armenia, we agreed to exploit all the available mechanisms to further enhance the trade and economic ties both on a bilateral level and through regional projects. In this regard, the importance of Armenias participation in the project of the Black Sea Submarine Cable as well as the effective implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan was stressed. On mobility issues: I would like to stress that Armenia believes that all the necessary requirements have been met and it is time to launch the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue. It is a choice to be made to bring our peoples closer and provide them with tangible outcomes of our cooperation. I want to stress again Armenias willingness to further deepen the partnership with the European Union based on an ambitious agenda, for realizing the aspirations of our citizens and for a more prosperous South Caucasus, Armenian Foreign Minister underlined. Today we decided to launch a work on a new ambitious agenda of European Union-Armenia partnership. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said during the joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan following the results of the 5th session of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council. This decision, according to the head of the European diplomacy, sends a strong signal of mutual interest in a new strategic phase in Armenia-EU relations and will provide a clear road map and a vision for the way forward. Our relations are developing in a positive track. We had the opportunity to discuss the full spectrum of our relations in the framework of Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), but at the same time we also acknowledge that there is room to lock the full potential of this agreement. In October in the European Parliament your Prime Minister said that Armenia is ready to move closer to the European Union. In response, last October the European Council tasked me and the Commission to explore ways to strengthen our relations in all their dimensions. In this context today we decided to launch a work on a new ambitious agenda of our partnership. This decision sends a strong signal of mutual interest in a new strategic phase in our relations and will provide a clear road map and a vision for the way forward. This is about the future the future starts today. Human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles continue to underpin our cooperation. I welcome the steps taken in the justice reform, the fight against corruption and encourage Armenia to further address challenges in the fight against discrimination, hate speech and disinformation, Borrell stressed. The EU High Representative congratulated Armenia on becoming the 124nd member state of the Rome statute of the International criminal court. That's a very important and courageous decision from your side, Borrell said. The head of the European diplomacy informed that the option of starting a visa liberalization dialogue with the European Union was discussed, encouraging Armenia to further step up reforms in order to progress in this issue together. We discuss how to strengthen our relationship and in particular the resilience of Armenia notably in trade, on energy, connectivity and aviation safety. We will also help decommission the Metsamor nuclear power plant while improving nuclear safety. I reaffirm the European Union commitment to support Armenia's participation in the Black Sea Electricity Cable Project and other regional connectivity projects. This initiative has a strong potential to serve dividence for peace, the European official said. Borrell expressed EUs full commitment to further enhancing mutual cooperation in the areas of security and defense. We will build our dialogue on foreign security policy in the coming months. Todays meetings clearly show that EU-Armenia relations are stronger than ever, the mutual interest to advance them further, our commitment to develop this agenda, an ambitious agenda for our renew partnership. We will continue supporting the Armenians displace from Nagorno-Karabakh region. Today the commission announced an additional 5.5 million euros in humanitarian aid. This funding comes in addition to the 12.2 million already provided in September to address the urgent humanitarian needs, as well as 15 million budget support for the socio-economic needs of Armenia. We will continue supporting Armenia in the medium and long-term for the integration of refugees in your society and economy, Borrell said. In a recent report from the Associated Press, two former FirstEnergy Corp executives were indicted on Monday in the long-winded investigation into a 60-million-dollar scheme in the state of Ohio. In addition, a former House speaker has also been sentenced. CEO Chuck Jones and former Vice President Michale Dowling were charged for their roles in the corruption case. Republican Attorney General Dave Yost made these announcements during an online news conference. Yost made the following statement during the conference "Their actions over a period of years have undermined confidence in state governments, the rule of law, and very nearly made them even richer men than they already are. There can be no justice without holding the check writers and the masterminds accountable." Both Jones and Dowling were fired in the year 2020 for their roles in the case in addition both are facing criminal charges for the first time according to Yost. Yost also stated that both executives had failed to meet their promise of turning themselves in following their indictments from a grand jury in Summit County. But he expects the two to be taken into custody sometime on Monday. Yost's announcements also discussed additional charges for the former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Sam Randazzo. Randazzo was already facing 11 counts of charges because he accepted bribes from FirstEnergy Corp in exchange for regulatory benefits. The case also names Randazzo's two businesses known as IEU-Ohio Administration Co. and Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio. Randazzo had resigned in November of 2020 following a search conducted by FBI agents at his Columbus-based Townhouse. The security filings of FirstEnergy had revealed that they paid him $4.3 million for his support in the future just a month before the Republican Governor Mike Dewine nominated him for Ohio's top utility regulator. Together Chuck Jones, Michael Dowling, and Sam Randazzo face a combined total of 27 new felony counts announced Yost. These include bribery, theft, engaging in corrupt activity, tampering with records, and money laundering. Discussing the charges Yost stated "This indictment is about more than one piece of legislation. It is about the hostile capture of a significant portion of Ohio's state government by deception, betrayal and dishonesty." The aforementioned former House speaker, Larry Householder, was sentenced in June to serve 20 years for his role in organizing the scheme. In addition, former, Lobbyist and a former chair for the Ohio Republican party, Matt Borges was sentenced to five years. Who Else Is Being Held Accountable? The United States Attorney's office in Cincinnati also indicted three more individuals on racketeering charges in July of 2020. Those individuals were Lobbyist Juan Cespedes, former top Householder political strategist Jeffery Longstreth, and former statehouse lobbyist Neil Clark. Both Cespedes and Longstreth pleaded guilty in October of 2020 and are still awaiting sentencing. However, Clark pleaded not guilty before taking their own life in March of 2021. The money group Generation Now also pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge in February of 2021. All involved were accused of using the 60 million dollars in secrecy, funding FirstEnergy with cash to get Householders selected Republican nominees elected into the House back in 2018 and to then get him elected speaker in January of 2019. The money was used to help win the passage of the energy bill known as House Bill 6 and to then conduct what authorities described as a $38 million dirty-tricks campaign to prevent a repeal public vote from even reaching the ballot. In July 2021 Yost requested an unnamed judge in Columbus to add Jones, Randazzo, and Dowling to a state-level lawsuit against FirstEnergy by his office. There is also an 81-page FBI criminal complaint from July 2020 which detailed how the executives of FirstEnergy worked with Householder and the others involved in the scheme. It also details 84 phone contacts between Jones and the former House speaker. In addition, to 14 phone contacts between Dowling and Householder. FirstEnergy has admitted to its role in the scheme in July 2021 as part of a prosecution agreement with the United States Department of Justice. The company has agreed to pay 230 million dollars and also fulfill a long list of reforms to avoid being criminally prosecuted on a conspiracy charge on the federal level. A recent statement detailing the facts was signed by FirstEnergy's new CEO, Steven Strah, and discusses the involvement of Dowling, Jones, and Randazzo along with the others involved in the scheme. However, there has been pushback from Randazzo's defense who have called the claims in the document "hearsay" that were meant to keep the energy company out of legal trouble. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Sir John Whittingdale, a member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister welcomed the UK parliamentarians' visit to Armenia and referred to the Azerbaijani-initiated escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. "Mr. Whittingdale, I welcome you and your delegation to our country. Unfortunately, your visit coincided with a new escalation on the border with Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan initiated a new provocation, as a result of which four Armenian soldiers were killed. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated action, we continuously see a series of Azerbaijani provocations. According to our assessment, this is Azerbaijan's policy aimed at disrupting the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan by all possible means. This is also evidenced by the aggressive rhetoric of the official representatives of Azerbaijan, spiced with explicit territorial claims against Armenia. Obviously, the strategy of the Azerbaijani government is aimed at deepening enmity in our region, which is a very disturbing fact. But despite all these facts, our government is devoted to the peace process, because our belief is that the peace process has no alternative. Of course, we should do everything to achieve concrete results in the peace process, and we are doing it. But unfortunately, it is not possible to do this without the political will of the other side. And today's incident that claimed the lives of four soldiers testifies not only to the lack of political will for peace, but also to Azerbaijan's intentions to deepen the enmity and military escalation. This is evidenced by the events that took place yesterday and today. The Azerbaijani press published information yesterday evening, according to which, in the area of today's incident, an Armenian border guard opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions. Immediately after that, the Military Police of Armenia announced that an investigation was initiated on the basis of this information, because there is a very strict order from the Ministry of Defense of Armenia not to provoke any escalation, not to give in to provocations. And that was a very clear message from Armenia, and the press release of the Military Police clearly stated that if that fact is proven, it would mean a violation of the order, resulting in legal consequences. But despite that, early this morning, Azerbaijan started a local but large-scale attack with the use of drones, and as I mentioned, unfortunately four servicemen were killed. The issue is not even in the incident about which the Azerbaijani media talked last night, because we have a very long and complicated border and if someone is looking for an excuse to escalate, to abort the peace process, they will always find it, even if it is in the form of media publications. Unfortunately, we continuously see this practice from the Azerbaijani side," Prime Minister Pashinyan said. Referring to the relations between Armenia and the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that there has been a new dynamic in bilateral relations in recent years. Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that this dynamic will not only continue, but will rise to a new level of relations. Sir John Whittingdale expressed his condolences and support to the families of those killed as a result of Azerbaijan's military operation and to the Armenian people. At the same time, he expressed concern about the military operations and emphasized the need to implement steps aimed at strengthening peace and stability. The interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the Armenia-United Kingdom multilateral cooperation, strengthening of inter-parliamentary ties. Reference was made to the democratic reforms implemented in Armenia, the steps taken by the Armenian government to fight corruption, and the issues related to the processes taking place in the Caucasus. The UK parliamentarians also referred to the capabilities of the Armenian government in meeting the humanitarian needs of more than 100,000 forcibly displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh. Support from the international community was also highlighted. Emory Heart & Vascular reached a significant historic milestone, performing the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure on its 5,000th patient at the end of last year. Leading the way in innovative, minimally invasive procedures is part of the fabric at Emory. The academic medical center was the first site in Georgia (and one of the first in the nation) to perform it in 2007. TAVR revolutionized treatment for aortic valve disease by allowing cardiologists to replace a patients impaired aortic valve with a new prosthetic valve via a catheter. In 2007, it was only available to high-risk patients who were considered too sick or old to undergo open-heart surgery. Today, TAVR is considered a safer and less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for many low and medium-risk aortic stenosis patients, according to Vasilis Babaliaros, MD, founder and co-director of the Emory Structural Heart & Valve Center. Babaliaros has had a front row seat to the rapid evolution and widespread adoption of TAVR. He was the first American physician to go to France and train directly under the renowned Alain Cribier, MD, who invented the transcatheter heart valve and became the first ever to perform a TAVR in the spring of 2002. During Babaliaros introductory meeting with the pioneering physician, he recalls watching Cribier perform the procedure on the 16th patient in the entire world. The experience changed the trajectory of his career. Everything I had learned about interventional cardiology up until that point seemed small in comparison, he said. As an interventional cardiology fellow, Babaliaros learned that aortic stenosisa narrowing of the aortic valve openingwas typically a death sentence without surgery. Anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of those who suffered from the condition were considered too high-risk for surgery. As the number of TAVR procedures increased in France, Babaliaros watched Cribier and his team repeatedly and successfully replace damaged aortic valves via a catheter inserted into a blood vessel through a small incision in the groin. The patients were sedated but not put under general anesthesia and the procedure would last as little as 45 minutes. Patients would often be walking a few hours later and could be discharged the following day. Upon his return from France, Babaliaros joined an already pace-setting cardiology department at Emory with a history for firsts. Emory was the site of the first coronary stent placement in the United States decades ago. Now, he would form a team that would land a place in the first U.S. clinical trial for TAVR. It was clear TAVR was going to be a game-changerit was a landmark jump forward, said Peter Block, MD, emeritus professor at Emory School of Medicine and Babaliaros mentor at Emory. To win a highly coveted spot in the first-ever clinical trial in the U.S., Block said they put together a multidisciplinary team with people from different specialties across Emory including cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. At that time, it was not common for those specialties to come together, Block said. In a very short time with the help and foresight of our cardiac surgeons led by Robert Guyton, we were able to put together one of the best teams in the country, and the whole concept of the heart team changed the way people think about heart care in general. The Emory heart team was one of the highest-enrolling sites Partner I, Partner II, and Partner IIIwhich demonstrated the safety and efficacy of TAVR first on high-risk, then medium-risk, and finally low-risk patients- spanning over a decade in clinical research, 2007 to 2019. Along the way, TAVR continued to evolve as technology improved. In its early days, the entire procedure was driven by echocardiographic (ultrasound) images. It could be difficult to determine the size of valve to use while monitoring and troubleshooting the procedure as it happened. The transition to using computed tomography (CT) images by 2016 was a leap forward. CT scans give us much more high-definition images, said Patrick Gleason, director of structural imaging in the Structural Heart and Valve Center. Now we know, before the procedure starts, the exact size of the blood vessels, where any tricky anatomy may be, and the precise size of valve needed. The quality of the replacement valves continues to improve as well. There is a constant push to come up with better and better devices, said George Hanzel, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Emory Saint Josephs Hospital, which is highly ranked for its TAVR procedure. The devices are becoming easier to place, more forgivable, more durable. With TAVR, we have not peaked yet. And the Emory team itself has grown. Very early on, we decided we wanted to build a valve center to treat all four cardiac valves, not just the aortic valve, said Babaliaros. Other centers were carving treatments up between different teams, but we wanted to build a comprehensive center to treat all valves and all structural heart disease. And we did. That has contributed significantly to our success. As it evolved, this modern care team, with the addition of Adam Greenbaum, MD, from Henry Ford Hospital, would begin to modify the TAVR procedure to reach more vulnerable patient populations. Through a unique partnership with Robert Lederman, MD, at the National Institutes of Health, the Emory Structural Heart & Valve Center has been able to provide novel transcatheter options for treatment for the otherwise "no option" patients. They have pioneered a new field known as catheter electrosurgery. By electrifying a wire on the tip of the catheter, Emory interventional cardiologists can use a catheter not just to deliver a new valve but to punch through blood vessels and make incisions, broadening options for patients. Today, a second generation of TAVR cardiologists face new issues. Isida Byku, MD, an interventional and structural cardiologist, came to train at Emory precisely because of its preeminence in structural cardiology. Getting to learn directly from physicians like Babaliaros, who have pioneered these new techniques has been a profound experience, said Byku. When she joined the Structural Heart team in 2019, she was struck by how, procedures have been originated, ideated, and performed here. The overall breadth and depth of exposure and hands on experience our trainees get here is unmatched. Byku and her colleagues are focusing on what frontiers are next. The challenge for Dr. Babaliaross generation was how to make TAVR safe for low-risk patients. They have done that, she said. They took this procedure from its infancy and matured it to where its essentially now available to anyone. I dont think this kind of technology advance has been seen in any other medical device in the span of 20 years. When it comes to her generation and whats ahead of them, said, I dont know how long these valves will last in younger, healthier patients, so we are looking at how to manage TAVR over their lifetime. These patients likely will live long enough to need the valve replaced one or maybe two or three times, and our challenge is how to best manage that. If history is any indication, Emory is up for the challenge. While a sterile research laboratory is not necessarily a traditional setting for a meet-cute, Emory is home to several co-investigators who will be taking a break from analyzing data and testing samples to celebrate Valentines Day together. Following in the footsteps of Pierre and Marie Curie, these scientific power couples are proving that the best research is produced in pairs. Aubrey Kelly and Rick Thompson Meet Aubrey Kelly, an assistant professor of psychology at Emory University, and Rick Thompson, a professor of psychology, neuroscience and behavioral biology at Oxford College of Emory University. Their unique journey from scientific collaborators to life partners is a testament to love, shared passions and serendipity. Each coming from different backgrounds Aubrey from San Diego, California, and Rick, interestingly, born at Emory University Hospital and raised in Atlanta their paths crossed professionally while living in different states, marking the beginning of a long, intermittent scientific collaboration before sparks flew. Aubrey was working at Cornell University in upstate New York and Rick was splitting his time between Bowdoin College in Maine and the National Science Foundation when they moved past a purely scientific collaboration to a romantic partnership. Aubreys move to Emory in 2018 led to a subsequent opportunity for Rick to join Oxford, and the two further solidified their bond. Aubrey considers herself fortunate to have a partner like Rick who supported her career and followed her to Atlanta. The adventurous pair loves to travel, fly fish, hike and has a shared love for animals. They have two cats, a dog and seven chickens. It's wonderful to be around Aubrey's positive energy all the time, says Rick. She is a talented, dedicated scientist, but also someone who recognizes that she is not defined by that label, and that the world is much larger than the lab. Aubreys lab studies neural mechanisms of social behavior and grouping behavior in animals while Ricks lab examines the neural effects of steroids in zebrafish. In recent collaborations, theyve blended their complementary perspectives to study the impact of testosterone on social behavior in male and female Mongolian gerbils. Aubrey admires Ricks thoughtfulness and patience, while Rick values Aubreys enthusiasm and balanced perspective on life and work. Being in a relationship with a scientist who does something similar makes the science that we do in my lab better. And it helps me grow as a scientist, says Aubrey. If I ever have a problem science-related or not I know that hes going to take the time to help me think through every possible angle or outcome or consequence. I think that level of support in a partner is amazing. Rachel Hall-Clifford and Gari Clifford Pick-up lines rarely include, So, how do you want to make a difference in global health? but when Rachel Hall and Gari Clifford met in the St. Cross College bar at Oxford University, where Gari was pursuing his doctorate and Rachel her master's, it soon became clear that this was a shared passion. We got married in my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, 20 years ago now. Gari was a little overwhelmed by the 600-strong attendance at the ceremony theres nothing quite like a big Southern wedding! Rachel says. The couple, who now have two boys, say that fine-tuning global health projects is often dinnertime conversation fodder. A signature program they have been codesigning for more than 10 years is safe+natal , which uses an AI-powered app to improve maternal child health in Guatemala; the collaboration has led to multiple NIH grants and more recently, grants from Google.orgs AI for the Global Goals Impact Challenge and the MacArthur Foundation. Ive learned how important it is that you understand how other cultures perceive your intentions, says Gari, chair of biomedical informatics and a professor of biomedical engineering at Emory School of Medicine. Health care is a relationship, not a problem to be solved. This is as a true partnership with the midwives, engineers and clinicians of our partner NGO, the Maya Health Alliance. Gari does hardware, informatics and AI, that I could never do, and I guide community engagement and implementation, says Rachel, a medical anthropologist in the Center for the Study of Human Health and assistant professor in the departments of sociology and global health. Honestly, having each other to bounce ideas off of and laugh with when the work is going well and especially when its not is the best part of working together. Gari adds, I think we work together so well because we have congruent skillsets, and a shared goal. We learn what is possible from each others expertise in our respective disciplines, what barriers exist and the potential for both human and technology. Ann Chahroudi and Guido Silvestri Cupids arrow was nowhere in sight when Guido Silvestri first met Ann Chahroudi. Or maybe it was. I was doing research on AIDS at that time, says Guido, now a professor in the Emory School of Medicine. She and I sort of collided because she was doing her PhD in a lab of a close collaborator. We were talking about flow cytometry and genes and viruses, the stuff romantic people talk about. Romantic enough for two immunologists, anyway. Ann, whos also now a professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine, wanted to work on developing a vaccine that could kill the stubbornly persistent HIV. The two had already contributed to a paper before Silvestri started his own lab at Emory and before they even met. Out of these circumstances, the chemistry between their two labs sparked a reaction. More than 20 years, three kids and 50 published papers later, the two Emory faculty members have managed to retain both their scientific and their domestic partnership, driven by their common scientific quest, their mutual respect and chemistry and their continuing ability to complement each others strengths. Most importantly, that includes the ability to intuit what the other one is thinking. Shes very smart, very organized, a little bossy, says Guido. I rely a bit more on leaps and we joke about lateral thinking, but she really helps me be more organized, efficient and straightforward. Ann, meanwhile, says her husband helps her retain the big picture amid the daily minutiae of research. He has always seen the horizon, she says. Also where the field is moving. Thats a great advantage. Both researchers are affiliated with the Emory National Primate Research Center, where they study the nonhuman primate equivalent of HIV, which Chahroudi says is the best animal model for viral infection. Meanwhile, the two married researchers manage to pursue independent research agendas even as they continue to collaborate on others. Their oldest daughter is currently a pre-med sophomore at Emory. However, with their two younger kids still at home, dinner table conversations continue to be a nightly ritual, which they manage to keep relatively free from science talk. I think they benefited a lot from that, Ann says. Theres a lot to talk about other than science. If were talking about science, its often more about the people in science rather than the concepts after a long day of work. We're talking about other things in life. It goes back to the respect for each others intelligence. 08:47 After former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan resigned from the Congress party's primary membership, former Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam claimed that Chavan was upset with the working style of a leader from Maharashtra. 'Ashok Chavan was definitely an asset for the party. Some are calling him a liability, some are holding ED responsible, all this is a hasty reaction. He was basically very upset with the working style of a leader from Maharashtra,' Nirupam said in a post on 'X'. The former president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee also claimed that had his complaints been addressed by the party he would not have resigned. 'He (Chavan) had given this information to the top leadership from time to time. Had their complaints been taken seriously, this situation would not have happened,' Nirupam added. Heaping praises on the former Chief Minister, Nirupam said, "Ashok Chavan is resourceful, a skilled organiser, has a firm grasp on the ground and is a serious leader. When Bharat Jodo Yatra was in Nanded for five days last year, the entire leadership had seen his potential firsthand." "His leaving Congress is a big loss for us. No one will be able to compensate for it. The responsibility of taking care of them was ours alone," he added. Ashok Chavan, earlier today, submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole. Also, in the letter, Chavan mentioned his designation as a former MLA. The former Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president also served as MP of Lok Sabha from 1987 to 1989 and was re-elected to the lower house in May 2014. He was the vice president and general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014. He served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. -- ANI Pakistan's Bhutto backs Sharif minority government Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says he will support but not join a new minority government. Photo: AP The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday indicated it would support former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party to form a minority government, seeking to end a stalemate after inconclusive elections. But the conditions to join forces did not bode well for a stable or strong administration in the country, especially with PPP saying it would not join the government. The indication of support from PPP's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, came five days after the February 8 vote gave a split verdict and sparked worries of fresh instability. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is the largest recognised party with 80 seats and PPP is second with 54. Together, they have enough for a simple majority in the 264-seat legislature. Independent candidates backed by jailed former premier Imran Khan have won 92 seats, making them the largest group, but they cannot form a government on their own, having run as individuals and not a party, and have ruled out alliances with PML-N or PPP. Bhutto Zardari said Khan's independents and PML-N had more numbers than his party but Khan had ruled out joining forces with PPP. "That leaves us with the PML-N which is the only political party in the National Assembly which has reached out to the PPP and invited us to join their government," he told reporters. PPP does not want a perpetual economic crisis or a fresh election leading to a political crisis in Pakistan, Bhutto Zardari said. His party's support of PML-N from the outside without joining the federal government would make for a weak government. Still, Bhutto Zardari was keen that his father Asif Ali Zardari be president again. TV channel Geo News also cited PPP sources as saying the party wanted its appointees to take the governor post in all four provinces. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has alleged that the vote was rigged and vowed to legally challenge some results. The caretaker government and election commission have rejected those accusations. (Reuters) Nashville State Community College President Shanna L. Jackson and SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane sign the pact establishing the partnership between the two institutions. (Nashville State Community College photo) Nashville State Community College, SIU Carbondale ink agreement to improve access for students CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Nashville State Community College (NSCC) forged a partnership today (Feb. 13) that provides graduates who earned their associate degrees with an obstacle-free path to earn their bachelors degrees in 10 academic programs. SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane and Nashville State President Shanna L. Jackson signed the agreement that includes the Saluki Step Ahead program during an event on the colleges White Bridge campus in Nashville the first such pact in Tennessee. The signing occurred as part of the two-day Saluki Takeover Tour: Nashville, during which SIU Carbondale officials visit local high schools and Nashville State and enhance connections with alumni. Nashville State is on the move to increase economic mobility for the communities we serve by preparing students to start a career or successfully transfer to institutions like Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Jackson said. We are excited to extend that bridge of opportunity from Nashville State to SIU Carbondale." Established in 2021, the Saluki Step Ahead program will enable Nashville State students who graduate with an associate degree to complete their SIU bachelors degrees online in accounting, business administration, early childhood, elementary education, health care management, history, industrial management and applied engineering, information technology, nursing (RN to BSN) and psychology, beginning with the fall 2024 semester. Students in the Saluki Step Ahead program pay the community college rate for their first two years. They enter SIU Carbondale as juniors and receive annual $4,000 scholarships in the third and fourth years. If students decide to pursue their bachelors in Carbondale, they pay the same rate as Illinois residents and may qualify for scholarships and other financial aid. Lane said that this agreement fits well with the universitys strategic plan, Imagine 2030, and its pillars of student success and partnerships. I am excited about this partnership. Its a real game-changer for students who may have limited resources and cant relocate because of their job or family obligations, he said. SIU Carbondale is providing Nashville State Community College graduates a seamless path to a bachelor's degree, saving them time and money. And if students cant come to us in Carbondale, Illinois, we are bringing the experience and resources of a doctoral research university to them through Saluki Step Ahead. Opened in 1970, Nashville State has seven campuses and online. The colleges seven-county geographic area comprises Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery and Stewart counties, but serves a broad range of students from across the state. Nashville State offers 23 associate degree programs, 32 technical certificate programs and 47 transfer programs, including nursing, music, information technology, business, engineering and culinary arts. The Nashville State Community College agreement brings SIU Carbondale to 48 Saluki Step Ahead partnerships the university has with community college campuses in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas so far. PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 13: In today's ever-evolving digital landscape, ensuring software security from the outset is no longer an option, it's an absolute necessity. To address this critical need, Canarys Automations Limited (NSE: CANARYS), a leading DevOps consulting firm with over 20 years of experience, hosted an exclusive event titled "Embrace Shift-Left Security for DevSecOps Success" at the Radisson MIDC Mumbai on 1st February. This event, designed for technology and business leaders, delved into the transformative role of DevSecOps in fostering secure and innovative software development. Shifting Security Left: A Proactive Approach Traditionally, security testing often came as an afterthought in the software development lifecycle. This 'patch later' approach, however, leaves applications vulnerable to security breaches and compliance issues. DevSecOps offers a proactive solution by integrating security best practices throughout the entire development process. By incorporating security tools and techniques early on, DevSecOps empowers teams to identify and address vulnerabilities before they become costly problems. Mahesha Pandit, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Canarys, highlighted the importance of DevSecOps: "It's not just about deploying code; it's about embedding security into the very DNA of development and operations. DevSecOps is the key to mitigating risks, ensuring compliance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in the pursuit of secure and reliable software delivery." In his keynote talk, VP of DevOps Consulting Business at Canarys Nagaraj Bhairaji, emphasized on the shift left approach of security in software development. He talked about the evolution of DevOps into DevSecOps where the company takes on a security-first mindset, putting security into every phase of the development lifecycle, from design to delivery. He also explained how companies can gain both the speed with DevOps practices and the holistic security with peace of mind that comes with DevSecOps. Event Highlights: * Tailored for Key Decision-Makers: The event catered to both technical and business leaders, addressing the importance of DevSecOps from strategic and practical perspectives. * Igniting Transformation and Growth: Participants gained valuable insights on how DevSecOps can fuel organizational growth through secure and efficient software delivery. * Elevating Software Innovation: Attendees discovered how DevSecOps empowers teams to build better and more secure applications, unlocking true innovation potential. * Connecting with Industry Leaders: Experts, peers, and industry leaders at the forefront of DevSecOps adoption and implementation networked and shared valuable insights. Speaker Expertise: * Selza Carmel Noronha, VP Solutions Sales* Nagaraj Bhairaji, VP DevOps Consulting Business* Sriramdas Balaji, Azure DevOps Technical Consultant* Aniruddha Jere, Senior Technical Consultant Canarys Proven Track Record: Canarys is a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation, GitHub Verified Partner, GitLab Certified Professional Services Partner (PSP) and GitLab Open Partner, and Atlassian Silver Solution Partner providing DevOps & DevSecOps solutions using GitLab, GitHub, Azure DevOps, Atlassian, SonarQube, Kubernetes and other devops platforms for 1000+ customers, covering over 30+ cities across India, APAC, and USA. They provide solutions and services around DevOps platform Implementation, Pipeline Automations, implementation of DevSecOps, Containerization of applications, Process workflow automation and customization, Integrations & Migrations between various DevOps tools. They have been recognized for their commitment to innovation and excellence, receiving numerous awards, including: * 2023 DevOps Conclave Awards:* Leader in DevOps Solutions* Most Innovative DevOps Company* Best DevOps Solution Provider * Microsoft Awards:* 2018 DevOps Partner of the Year: Finalist* 2017 DevOps Partner of the Year: Finalist* 2014 Application Lifecycle Management Partner of the Year: Finalist About Canarys: Canarys is a leading IT solutions provider with over 30 years of existence in the industry. Our expertise lies in enabling digital transformation for businesses through our comprehensive range of software solutions in the space of Digital DevOps. Digitalization, Modernization, Automation and Intelligence. With a team of 500+ technology solutions professionals, we are committed to delivering innovative and tailored solutions to meet our client needs. For more information, visit www.ecanarys.com. Media Contact:Nagaraj BhairajiVP- DevOpsMobile: +91 9902651998Email: sales@ecanarys.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2338502/DevSecOps.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) The Ministry of Rural Development unveiled the National Generic Document Registration System (NDGRS) throughout Assam, alongside the launch of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) and Blockchain technology in the Darrang district. According to the press release by the Ministry, the event, presided over by Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, Nidhi Khare, and graced by Special Chief Secretary of the Government of Assam, Syedain Abbasi, marked a milestone in the digitization and security of land records. Addressing the gathering, Nidhi Khare elucidated on the significance of the NGDRS, a transformative project initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, under the One Nation One Software initiative. Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Pune, the NGDRS application serves as a common, generic platform for registration departments across the country. Notably, the Assam instance of NGDRS, hosted in the State Data Centre (SDC), has been seamlessly integrated with various essential platforms, including Dharitree for zonal value and location, NOC for party and land details, eGras for online payment, and citizen services of Sewa Setu, read the press release. Emphasizing the pioneering role of Blockchain technology in revolutionizing land records management, Nidhi Khare underscored its potential to enhance trust, auditability, traceability, and immutability of land records data. The goal of securing land records with Blockchain is to ensure that transactions are recorded and distributed securely, without the possibility of being edited. ULPIN, identified as the unique blockchain ID, is assigned to each land parcel, akin to the Aadhar or fingerprint for land, based on the longitude and latitude coordinates from geo-referenced cadastral maps, read the press release. The implementation of ULPIN aims to ensure uniqueness in all transactions, maintain spatial records, facilitate linking of property transactions, and eliminate fraudulent activities. Nidhi Khare also highlighted the importance of Blockchain, one of the IT reforms initiated by Revenue & Disaster Management, Govt. of Assam in order to bring radical transformation in Land Records Management to ensure increased trust, auditability, traceability, immutability of land records data, read the press release. She further emphasized that the goal of securing Land Records with blockchain is to allow transactions to be recorded and distributed but not edited. Blockchain technology's unique combination of cryptography and distribute network nodes allows data to be maintained and validated in trusted ecosystem. It was also pointed out that the ULPIN (Unique Land Parcel Identification Number) is taken as the unique blockchain ID and the land parcel is uniquely identified using ULPIN from Bhunaksha, read the press release. Khare further explained that the ULPIN, a 14-digit alpha numeric identification number to every land parcel can be described as the AADHAR or fingerprint for land. The identification is based on the longitude and latitude of the land parcel and is dependent on geo-referenced cadastral maps. She highlighted that the benefits of ULPIN are to ensure uniqueness in all transactions, keeping the spatial records up to date, linking of property transactions, sharing of land records data across departments, financial institutions and to eliminate fraudulent transactions, read the press release. In NGDRS, the deed is digitally signed by SRO and stored in blockchain after the approval of deed. She mentioned that Blockchain will offer, security, accountability, and record scrutinization from the start to end. The District level Blockchain based cadastre and land records registry Pilot is launched in Darrang district and will be rolled out pan Assam shortly. (ANI) India's premier global textile event, Bharat Tex 2024, is set to witness a grand confluence of iconic handloom and handicraft traditions from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh in Delhi. According to a press release, the culmination of the Textile Sustainability Awards 2024, orchestrated by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), is set to grace the Bharat Tex event at Bharat Mandpam in New Delhi on February 27. With Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra coming onboard as the 'Partner State', Bharat Tex 2024 announces Gujarat, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh joining as the 'Supporting Partner States'. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam will be setting up state pavilions at the premier global textile event. From Madhya Pradesh's iconic Batik printing, hand-block printing, Chanderi and Maheshwari silk, Gujarat's Bandhani, Patola silk, hand-painting, Uttar Pradesh's Chikankari, Zari-Zardozi, Maharashtra's Paithani saree, Warli Art, Mashru and Himroo to Andhra Pradesh's much-admired Jute, hand-drawn Kalamkari, lavish handwoven Dharmavaram sarees and fine Mangalagiri cotton weaves, Bharat Tex 2024 will boast globally acclaimed states' handicraft & handloom traditions and state's progressive initiatives in terms of policies, innovative technologies and initiatives like the upcoming textiles parks. Commenting on the state partnership, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said, "I am proud to announce Maharashtra's participation as Partner State at Bharat Tex 2024. As the largest international exposition in India, the event is shaping up to be the largest platform for industry collaboration and innovation. Maharashtra has been a significant part of the growth story of the textile and apparel sector in India; be it the rich cultural tradition of the Paithani saree or the advancement of Smart Textiles by a few aspiring start-ups". He added, "The textile and technical textile sector plays a significant role in shaping Maharashtra's economic landscape, and we are committed to nurturing its continued success. Maharashtra will ensure that every thread spun adds to the rich tapestry of our nation's progress, towards a Viksit Bharat in 2047". On Madhya Pradesh joining, Dr Mohan Yadav, Madhya Pradesh, said "Prosperity of Madhya Pradesh lies in the progress of its industries. Establishment of industries results in the growth of employment opportunities. The state government is committed to achieve comprehensive development fostering good governance and implementing an effective system". With Gujarat coming on board, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat said "For Gujarat, Textile is not just an industry, but also a tradition and a legacy which we present to the world through the magic of our handicrafts and machines". "The growth of the textiles sector lies in the growth of India and the growth of job opportunities. Our textile industry stands as a beacon that realizes 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign), the concept presented by our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, Gujarat has become a centre of attraction for the importers of garments across the globe. Gujarat is the highest contributing state in woven fibre production across the Nation, reflecting our ambition to become a leader in 'Make in India' and 'Make for the World", added Minister Patel. Anumula Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana said, "Historically, textiles have a unique relationship with the development of civilisation, and India has had a unique leadership position in the world for textiles. The Bharat Tex 2024, seen in such a context, is a welcome initiative by the Export Promotion Councils, not just for showcasing India's unique textile products to the world but also as a platform for attracting investments into the textile and apparel sector". Minister Reddy added, "Telangana has a vibrant, diverse and rich heritage of handlooms, including Gadwal, Narayanpet, Pochampalli ikkat varieties of cloth, and handicrafts like Banjara art, Bidri, et al. Telangana is also a leading manufacturing hub for textiles, with a strong presence in all of 5F sectors. With Bharat Tex 2024, we are looking forward to leveraging a sui generis platform to showcase the Telangana textile story to the entire world." Ministry of Textiles is hosting the Bharat Tex Memento Design Contest on the official MyGov website, centered around the theme 'Threads of Tradition and Innovation' at Bharat Tex. The first runner up will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000 followed by Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 for the second and third winners, respectively, read the press release. The winning design will be presented to esteemed dignitaries during Bharat Tex 2024. This event will bring together leaders in the industry, policymakers, and champions of sustainability, creating a platform to celebrate the remarkable strides made by the textile industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally aware future, read the press release. Participation from leading international textile companies, including Fortum, Lenzing, H&M, Busana Group, and Hyosung Corp highlights India's expanding influence in the global textile sector, indicating a favorable prospect for heightened investments in the nation's textile industry. Besides industry participation, ministerial and business delegations are also expected from key textiles hubs, including Australia, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Bangladesh, Russia, Peru, Egypt, and Thailand to attend. While these collaborations represent a substantial stride towards advancing growth, innovation, and sustainability within the textile industry, the mega event spread across nearly 2 lakh sq. ft area and 50+ knowledge sessions, will bring forth an impressive mix of companies showcasing apparel, home furnishings, floor coverings, fibres, yarns, threads, fabrics, printing techniques, carpets, silk, textiles based handicrafts, technical textiles and much more, read the press release. With innovation, collaboration, and the 'Make in India' spirit at its core, Bharat Tex 2024 is the embodiment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5F vision - Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign who will also be seen inaugurating the expo. The event is envisaged to be the biggest textile event at the global level, with 3500+ exhibitors and 40,000+ visitors from over 40 countries, as per the press release. Bharat Tex 2024 will be a comprehensive showcase of the entire textile industry value chain, right from showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and textile traditions to the latest technological innovations. (ANI) Actor Shilpa Shetty recently penned down a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing gratitude to him for building the historic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. In the letter, Shilpa wrote, "Some read history, and some learn it, but people like you recreate it. You have changed the 500-year-old history of the Ram Janmabhoomi. A heartfelt thank you for it. For achieving this auspicious feat, your name has forever been etched with Prabhu Shri Ram." Acknowledging Shilpa's gesture, the official X handle of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared the letter's image on social media. https://twitter.com/bjp4maharashtra/status/1757002651902820555?s=48 The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in the newly built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya was held on January 22, led by rituals that were performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While addressing the dignitaries invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, PM Modi said the unveiling of the Ram Lalla idol is not only a moment of triumph after a prolonged struggle but also one of humility. "This is not just a moment of celebration for us all but also one to reflect the coming of age of the Indian society. This occasion is as much about triumph as it is about humility. The world is replete with instances of countries that faced a lot of difficulties resolving historic wrongs and injustices. However, the way we untied the knots and resolved all outstanding issues gives us hope that our future is going to be more beautiful and fulfilling than our past," PM Modi said. The PM said that the construction of the temple, which some feared would set off a firestorm, now stands as a symbol of peace, patience, harmony and integration."There was also a time when some people used to say 'Ram Mandir bana toh aag lag jaegi' (the making of the Ram Temple would set off a firestorm). Such people lacked an understanding of the purity of our society, the spirit that binds us all. This majestic abode of Shri Ram Lalla will now stand as a symbol of peace, patience, mutual harmony and social unity. The construction of this temple did not set off a fire but exuded a positive energy that has been infectious for us all," he added. (ANI) On Monday, President Biden welcomed Jordan's King Abdullah II to the White House for talks to work on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Biden said he wishes to bring a halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip "for at least six weeks" during his remarks at the White House. Biden Meets With Jordan's King Abdullah Biden met with the Jordanian monarch to talk about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terror group as well as the ways to achieve a peace deal between the Jewish state and Palestinian leaders. The two leaders met before addressing reporters at the White House Cross Hall with prepared statements. According to Fox News, Biden said that the key elements of the deal are on the table, and some gaps remain. However, he noted that he has encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve the agreement. Biden and the king also talked about Israel's military campaign in the southern Gazan city of Rafah. He said that the operation should not occur without a credible plan to guarantee the safety and support of more than one million Palestinians sheltering there who are "exposed and vulnerable." The king claimed that they could not afford an Israeli attack on Rafah, and they were certain that it would produce another humanitarian catastrophe. Israel announced on Monday that two Israeli hostages, Fernando Marman and Louis Har, who were in Rafah, were released. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a video message that the hostages were held captive in harsh conditions, and they were intentionally kept in the middle of a civilian neighborhood to try to prevent rescuing the hostages, but they successfully rescued them. "Fernando Marmon and Luis Har are now home in Israel. They have undergone medical examination and have been reunited with their families," he said. Biden noted that a Palestinian state could make it possible for Israel to have long-term security and peace with its Arab neighbors. He added that effort was underway before the October 7 attacks and warned that it is even more urgent now. However, Israel's previous proposals for a two-state solution with the Palestinian leadership have been turned down. Abdullah claimed that the issues between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem must be resolved, including the expansion of Israeli settlements and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which he said Muslim worshippers have not been permitted to enter. Furthermore, he said that seven decades of occupation, death, and destruction have proven beyond any doubt that there can be no peace without a political device. Read Also: Boston: Airport K-9 Sniffs Out Potentially Dangerous Mummified Monkeys in Passenger's Luggage US Sees Positive Signs on New Hostage Deal According to two senior administration officials, US negotiators are making progress toward a possible agreement that would see Israel suspend military operations against Hamas in Gaza for two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages who were taken during the attack on Israel on October 7. The officials, who spoke about the sensitive discussions on condition of anonymity, stated on Saturday that the emerging terms of the yet-to-be-sealed deal would be revealed over two phases. In the first phase, the conflict would cease to allow for the remaining women, the elderly, and the wounded hostages to be released by Hamas. Israel and Hamas would try to work out details during the first 30 days of the halt for a second phase in which Israeli soldiers and civilian men would be released. The emerging deal also demands for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Although the proposed agreement would not end the war, US officials believe it could set the stage for a long-term solution. Related Article: Biden Urges Israel To Not Proceed in Rafah Without 'Credible Plan' To Protect Civilians The Sri Lankan Navy released the 18 fishermen arrested from Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram for allegedly crossing the border. The fishermen reached Chennai on Tuesday and were welcomed at the airport. The fishermen were apprehended while they were fishing near Delft Island in Palk Bay Sea on February 8. As per the fishermen's association, two fishing boats were also seized. Earlier on February 6, twelve fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 13, were released and reached Chennai airport. The recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy have become a source of concern, not only for the Central government but also for the authorities in Tamil Nadu. On February 5, in a move aimed at drawing attention to their longstanding grievances, Rameswaram fishermen held a symbolic strike and outlined a series of demands to address the challenges they face. The fishermen also declared their intent to return their voter ID cards to the central government and boycott the elections if their demands remain unmet. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed concerns about the increase in attacks on members of the state's fishing community in the region and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest. In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Stalin stated, "I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the alarming increase in incidents of apprehension of Tamil fishermen and their boats by the Sri Lankan authorities. This issue severely impacts the right to livelihood of these fishermen, as the communities have utilised these fishing waters for generations." CM Stalin urged Prime Minister Modi to renew the Joint Action Group to resolve fishermen's issues. He also highlighted a 'significant increase' in the number of fishermen being arrested. "The traditional fishing waters that Tamil fishermen have relied upon for generations are getting increasingly restricted, making it difficult to sustain their livelihood impacting the economic stability of these communities. This also threatens the cultural and social fabric of the region that revolves around the fishing industry. During 2023, the Sri Lankan navy arrested 243 fishermen and seized 37 boats. However, in the past 28 days alone, 88 fishermen and 12 boats were apprehended in six incidents," Stalin wrote. He mentioned that a legislation recently passed in Sri Lanka allows the country to nationalise the seized boats, which could drive members of the state's fishing community into penury. DMK Leader RS Bharathi, had alleged that the ruling BJP is not allowing a discussion in Parliament on the fishermen's issue. "If the DMK raises its voice to discuss this in Parliament, they say that it cannot be discussed. The Tamil Nadu government has written 35 times to the Minister of External Affairs regarding the fishermen issue. Similarly, letters have been written to the Prime Minister 13 times, but the central government has not taken any action on all of them," he told reporters in Chennai. (ANI) In the wake of the recent resignation of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has called for a key meeting of party leaders in Mumbai. The announcement was made by the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. "Today, Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has called a meeting of party leaders in Mumbai. This meeting is being held after the resignation of Ashok Chavan," Wadettiwar said. Despite rumours, Wadettiwar asserted his allegiance to the party, stating his determination to remain with Congress till the end, even though he admits to having minimal expectations from the party. "Rumors were spread about me. I am with the Congress and will remain with the Congress; I won four assembly elections on the Congress symbol, became a minister and was twice the Leader of the Opposition. Now I do not expect much from the party; I am determined to remain in Congress till the end," he said. "If there are any issues of displeasure regarding the state Congress president, these things will come forward in the discussion that will be held today with the in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala," he added. In a major setback for the Congress party, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party''s primary membership ahead of Lok Sabha polls, triggering speculation that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party bandwagon. But he allowed the rumours to rest for two days as he said that he would prefer to divulge details about his future political plans in 48 hours, emphasizing that he has not been in contact with any political party regarding his plans. He expressed that he is not the type of person to discuss the party''s internal matters publicly and has not influenced any Congress MLA with his decision. Chavan submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership. I have not decided to join any party. I will clear my stand on joining a party after two days," Chavan told reporters after resigning from Congress. When asked if he would be joining the BJP, the former Maharashtra CM said, "I will tell you in 48 hours." Chavan also clarified that he has not been in contact with any political party regarding his future plans. He further said that he is not a person who would discuss the party''s internal matters publicly. "I have not spoken to any Congress MLA about my decision. I have no such intention (of influencing them)," he added. Chavan comes from an influential political family. He is the son of Shankarrao Chavan, a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Home Minister. He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. The resignation came as a big blow to the Congress party ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. (ANI) The Delhi airport issued an advisory to passengers on Monday in view of the ''Dehi Chalo'' march at the borders of Delhi on February 13. It added, "We recommend planning your trip accordingly and staying informed about potential delays and alternative routes." The airport advised passengers to use the Delhi Metro for commuting. "It said, "To ensure timely arrival, we strongly encourage travellers to utilise the Magenta Line for Terminal 1 (T1) or the airport metro for Terminal 3 (T3) for convenient transportation options." Commuters faced traffic gridlock as vehicles were struck at the Ghazipur border and the Delhi-Noida Chilla border in view of the farmers protest. Delhi Traffic Police on Monday issued a traffic advisory in view of the proposed farmer''s protest, informing commuters there will be diversions around the Singhu Border (Delhi-Haryana). "Traffic restrictions and diversions will be imposed at Singhu Border from February 12 for commercial vehicles and from February 13 for all types of vehicles," the advisory said. Farmers are protesting over their demands, which include a law ensuring the minimum support price for their agricultural produce and a debt waiver. The protests come just ahead of the Lok Sabah elections, which are due in May-April this year. Massive security arrangements have been put in place on the borders of the national capital. To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting the entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies. As per the police, a robust force of more than 2000 personnel, including CAPF, Crime Branch staff and battalions, are keeping a vigil to maintain law and order and address any untoward incidents. Meanwhile, the meeting between the farmer union leaders and the government ended in a stalemate with no common ground in sight. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda were among the team holding talks with farmer leaders. Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was also present. On the meeting, Union Minister Arjun Munda said he remains hopeful of a breakthrough, adding that the Centre wants to arrive at a resolution through dialogue. Speaking to the reporters here after holding a fresh round of talks with the protesting farmer leaders, the Union Minister informed that while a breakthrough wasn''t achieved, a broad consensus was reached on most of the issues of contention. Delhi Police has urged residents to cooperate and support law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the city. (ANI) Union Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Assam on February 29, where he will address a mega rally in the Barpeta Lok Sabha Constituency, according to a BJP official. Assam State Bharatiya Janata Party President Bhabesh Kalita told ANI on Tuesday that preparations are on to welcome the BJP leader and Union minister at the end of this month. "We are preparing for his visit. The Union Defence Minister will address a mega rally in the Barpeta Parliamentary constituency. A party karyakartas sanmilan of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency will be held on February 29 and a Lok Sabha Prabandhan Committee meeting will also be held on the same day," Kalita said. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to visit the state again but his schedule has not been finalised yet. "The Prime Minister may visit Assam again before the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll dates," Kalita said. The state BJP president also said other senior leaders, including Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari will also visit different clusters of the state in the coming days. "We have made five different clusters by taking all 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. First, the union ministers will visit three clusters. BJP's national conference will be held on February 17-18 in New Delhi. More than 300 karyakartas, including ministers, MPs, MLAs, and the state BJP's leaders, will attend the meeting," Kalita said. Talking about the Assam BJP's preparation for the upcoming general elections, Kalita said, "We are fully gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and we have made election management committees by deputating Prabhari, Coordinator, in each Lok Sabha constituency and each assembly constituency. We are fully prepared for the upcoming election from booth level to state level." "As of now, we have more than 48 lakh karyakartas in Assam. More than 7,000 Congressmen will join the BJP in Majuli. On February 15, many people will join the BJP. There is no opposition in Assam. This month, the Prime Minister visited Assam, laid the foundation stone, and inaugurated several projects worth Rs 11,600 crore. BJP-led NDA will win more than 400 seats this time," the Assam BJP chief said. (ANI) A large number of devotees converged at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday to have a darshan of Lord Ram. Ahmedabad resident Kirti Acharya, a devotee, expressed overwhelming emotions during his visit to Ayodhya. "We have come from Ahmedabad. It was a wonderful sight. Tears welled up in my eyes, thinking that after 500 years, such a magnificent temple has been built, standing tall, symbolizing the victory of Sanatan (eternal) values. Lord Ram has arrived here, and it brings us immense joy," Kirti Acharya said. Another devotee stated, "Our journey has been blessed after witnessing Ayodhya. The geographical area of Ayodhya has been beautifully adorned in anticipation of Lord Shree Ram's arrival. The intricate work on the temple is also exceptionally beautiful. There is no difficulty for people like us who come from outside India; everything is well-arranged here." A Lucknow teacher, accompanying students, shared the joy of their journey. 'We have come to Ayodhya for a competition. After arriving here, we also visited the Ram Mandir, and witnessing it felt wonderful. There is a lot of positive energy here. Coming here, my heart is filled with joy because, after a tremendous struggle, we have achieved this success. Ayodhya has also seen significant development. Small roads have been constructed, and tourists are coming from all directions. The atmosphere is filled with happiness," the teacher said. Earlier, megastar Amitabh Bachchan visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Friday morning and offered prayers to Ram Lalla, weeks after attending its grand inauguration with son Abhishek Bachchan. After his recent visit, several images and videos surfaced online. In one of the images, Big B is seen worshipping the Lord with his folded hands. On Wednesday, a delegation from Suriname visited Ayodhya. The delegation, led by the Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname, Marinus Bee, arrived in Ayodhya on Wednesday morning and engaged in spiritual and cultural activities. The delegation offered prayers to the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple. Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu also visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "During their visit, the cabinet members were moved by the sight of Ram Lalla and the hospitality of Uttar Pradesh. They were the first political delegation from Arunachal Pradesh to have the darshan and worship of Ram Lalla after Lord Ram Lalla's 'Pran Pratishtha," as per the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's office. The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's temple was held on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the rituals, led by a group of priests. (ANI) As farmers in large numbers marched towards the national capital on Tuesday, the police fired tear gas on the protestors at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border. The police have deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, and police and paramilitary personnel at Kurukshetra in Haryana in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by the farmers. "11 companies deployed here. We are ensuring that there is no law and order situation here and citizens do not face any trouble in commuting. As of now, there is no march towards the Tikri border (with Delhi), but the situation is dynamic and we are monitoring it using various sources": SP Jhajjar Arpit Jain said To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies. DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh said, "Secc 144 CrPC is imposed in the city, tractor trolleys are not allowed in the city. Social media monitoring has also been done. Drone is an effective tool for security monitoring, we will use it" Meanwhile, the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) road witnessed heavy vehicular traffic from Noida towards Delhi following multi-layered barricading at the borders to restrict the protesting farmers from entering the national capital. Earlier in the day, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said that all efforts were made in the meeting to find a solution to avoid a confrontation with the government adding that they anticipated a positive result. Union Minister Arjun Munda, in response to the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, emphasized the necessity of time and deliberation to address the concerns raised by the farming community. "We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue." Arjun Munda is among the team of ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders that also includes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Nityanand Rai and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers. Also, a demand to provide compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. (ANI) Following the deaths of four children who lost their lives in a village in North Dinajpur the ruling Trinamool Congress has urged the Governor to visit the site and "fix accountability" for the "monumental tragedy." The TMC sought to put the blame of the children's deaths on the Border Security Force, which it said was engaged in "illegal" drain expansion work in Chopra in North Dinajpur. "Yesterday, 4 innocent children lost their lives in Uttar Dinajpur's Chopra during an illegal drain expansion by @BSF_India. Our MPs Pratima Mondal and Dola Sen wrote a letter to the Governor, who has agreed to meet our delegation on February 15th. We request that he show the same urgency in visiting Chopra and fixing accountability that he did by cutting short his trip from Kerala to visit Sandeshkhali," the AITC said in a post on X. TMC also undertook a protest today condemning the "negligence" of the BSF. "Our silent protest today reflects the deep pain & sorrow caused by the tragic deaths of 4 innocent children due to @BSF_India 's negligence in Uttar Dinajpur's Chopra. For what crime did these innocent souls pay the ultimate price, HM @AmitShah? At the protest site, each face bears the weight of mourning, demanding accountability & justice for these precious lives lost," the AITC said. TMC leader and West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said that a 12-member party delegation will be meeting the Governor on Thursday to brief him about the incident. "We want to meet the Governor, a delegation of 12 members from the political party has been given time by him on February 15. We will meet him at noon at Raj Bhavan and tell him about the incident that happened in Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur," she told ANI. A 12-member delegation comprises MPs, senior ministers, MLAs and state leaders. Chandrima Bhattacharya, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Udayan Guha, Bratya Basu, Dr Shashi Panja, Birbaha Hansda, Gautam Deb, Dola Sen, MP, Pratima Mondal, MP, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia and Kunal Ghosh are part of the delegation. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged people of his state to register in large numbers for the just-announced solar rooftop programme 'PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana'. The central government's rooftop solar project, with an investment of over Rs 75,000 crores, aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month. "On the one hand, this scheme will reduce electricity bills and on the other hand, it will encourage the use of solar energy. I urge all the people of the state to become a part of 'PM - Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana' by applying on http://pmsuryaghar.gov.in ," Dhami said in a X post. The rooftop solar programme announced in the interim Budget tabled on February 1, would be known as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed in a post on earlier today. PM Modi in the X post said his government is launching the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to to further sustainable development and people's well-being. "From substantive subsidies, which will be given directly to people's bank accounts, to heavily concessional bank loans, the Central Government will ensure that there is no cost burden on the people. All stakeholders will be integrated to a National Online Portal which will further convenience," PM Modi had said in the X thread. To popularise this scheme at the grassroots, Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats will be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions. "At the same time, the scheme will lead to more income, lesser power bills and employment generation for people," PM Modi said. PM also urged all residential consumers, especially youngsters, to strengthen the PM - Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana by applying at - https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in According to the government, the benefits expected from this solarisation are savings up to Rs 15,000-18,000 crore annually for households from free solar electricity and selling the surplus to the distribution companies; charging of electric vehicles; entrepreneurship opportunities for a large number of vendors for supply and installation; and employment opportunities for the youth with technical skills in manufacturing, installation and maintenance. India meets a sizable portion of its energy needs through coal-fired electricity, and this solar rooftop programme could be seen as an avenue to reduce the dependence of conventional sources of power. At COP26 held in 2021, India committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India as a whole also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. About 44 per cent of India's energy requirements at present come from non-fossil sources and are likely to touch as high as 65 per cent by 2030, much higher than what the country pledged at the COP summit in 2021, Union Minister RK Singh, who handles power and renewable portfolio, said recently. (ANI) Haryana police detained several protesting farmers as they marched towards Delhi on Tuesday. The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Scenes of chaos filled the Shambhu border as the police tried to stop the protestors from entering the national capital. Visuals from the border showed farmers running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors. Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed by the police at several parts of the border. Speaking on the protest, Sibash Kabiraj, IG, Ambala Range said, "We welcome the farmers coming from Punjab but if they travel on tractors it will create problems for the people." "They can travel on buses, trains or foot. If they come on tractors, we will not allow them. Section 144 has also been imposed," he added.14:37 13-02-2024 Union Minister Arjun Munda, in response to the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, emphasized the necessity of time and deliberation to address the concerns raised by the farming community. "We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue." Arjun Munda is among the team of ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders that also includes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Nityanand Rai and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers. Also, a demand to provide compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. (ANI) After the NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar won the Bihar floor test, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took a jibe at Tejashwi Yadav by reminding him of "khela hoga" slogans. "They (opposition in Bihar) raised Khelo Hoga slogans. I request the government to order a CBI investigation into the charges of horse trading claims. How much money was given must be investigated," he said. Alleging that Tejashwi Yadav's father former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was involved in various scams, the Union Minister said, "Tejashwi Yadav's father made a deal in fodder scam, land for job scam, etc. Your (Tejashwi) speech cannot hide your black deeds." Giriraj Singh accused Tejashwi Yadav of "killing democracy," adding to which he said, "A question was raised if PM Modi could guarantee that Nitish Kumar won't take a U-turn again. I just want to say that Modi's guarantee is definitely that they (Tejashwi Yadav) won't come into power again." Lashing out further at Tejashwi Yadav, Giriraj Singh said, "He is just young and handsome from the outside but inside he is corrupt." "People will not vote for you again. Somebody else gave jobs and you try to take the credit. I know how the transfer and postings were done in the state. You will soon get exposed," he added. Meanwhile, after the Bihar government won the floor test, many other leaders of Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. The Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj, talking about the floor test, stated, "Every claim of the opposition was thoroughly examined, but in the electoral test, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government succeeded, proving that they effectively countered every challenge posed by the opposition." "Regarding job appointments, especially in the education sector, it was revealed that the teachers appointed by you (Tejashwi Yadav) don't even visit the office. So how are you taking credit? The credit goes to the government, and it speaks for the work in every village under the leadership of Nitish Kumar." (ANI) Labour has dropped its support for candidate Azhar Ali for this month's Rochdale by-election in the wake of controversial comments he made about the October 7 attacks on Israel. In line with electoral law, Labour cannot replace Ali with another candidate because the deadline passed on February 2. If he were elected, he would serve as an independent MP. Labour Withdraws Support for Ali On Monday evening, the Daily Mail released a recording, allegedly of Ali, blaming "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters" for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party. McDonald received a suspension after saying, "We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis, and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty." He continued that Israel planned to get rid of Palestinians from Gaza and grab the land. He also appears to boast about stopping the flying of Israeli flags from nearby public buildings following the deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7. A Labour spokesperson said that Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognizable from the party of 2019 and that it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Labour had spent days defending Ali as a candidate after the Daily Mail released comments apparently from Ali, stating that Israel had "allowed" the Hamas attack. Later, Ali expressed regret and apologized "to Jewish leaders for my inexcusable comments." Labour's National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden said Ali was suspended after discovering "more comments." According to Labour sources, campaigners in Rochdale received instructions from party headquarters to cease distributing flyers and using social media on Ali's behalf at 5:30 pm on Monday. McFadden claimed, "The fact you have got very rare circumstances where a political party is withdrawing support for a candidate after nominations have closed" showed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was serious about "rooting antisemitism out of the Labour party." Furthermore, Labour has been under intense pressure, with opposition politicians and party members widely denouncing Ali since his comments about Israel initially came to light. Read Also: Biden Welcomes Jordan's King Abdullah To Discuss Ongoing Hostage Deal in Israel-Hamas War Groups Against Antisemitism Speak out A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said that Starmer had blotted an otherwise admirable copybook and gave the public a reason to question the sincerity of his pledge to eradicate antisemitism 'by its roots' in Labour. Furthermore, the spokesperson claimed that people will have to judge whether the additional reported comments by Ali are any worse than those that had already been reported. Rather than appearing as a principled decision, the spokesperson noted that the Labour's withdrawal of support for Ali at this late stage looks as expedient as the failed attempt to defend him. Rochdale activists expressed their disbelief at Ali's comments, pointing out that he was well-known for being an ally and for being in favor of eliminating antisemitism from the party. They believe this is the reason the leadership showed him some sympathy. Related Article: 'Aspirationally Jewish:' Elon Musk Faces Criticism After Controversial Post Amid farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march towards the National Capital to press for their demands, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced on Tuesday that the party, if voted to power, will give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to every farmer as per Swaminathan Commission. In a post on X, Rahul said "Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give a legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission. This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice." Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Central government and said that the "dictatorial Modi government" is hell-bent on curbing the voice of farmers! "Barbed wire, tear gas from drones, nails and guns... everything is arranged. The dictatorial Modi government is trying to curb the voice of farmers! Do you remember that farmers were called "agitators" and "parasites"? In 10 years, the Modi government has broken three promises made to the food providers of the country -Farmers' income to double by 2022, according to Swaminathan report, implementation of Input Cost + 50 per cent MSP and legal status to MSP," he said. "Now the time has come to raise the voice of 62 crore farmers. Today Congress party will raise the voice of "Kisan Nyay" in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. We provide full support to the farmers' movement. Will not be afraid, will not bow down!" he added. Meanwhile, Haryana police detained several protesting farmers as they marched towards Delhi on Tuesday. The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Visuals from the border showed farmers running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the Centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. (ANI) Amid the ongoing farmers' protest leading to chaotic scenes at the Punjab-Haryana border, fifty per cent less diesel and twenty per cent less gas were able to be dispatched to Punjab, government sources told ANI on Tuesday. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers. Also, they have demanded compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. Meanwhile, scenes of chaos filled the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana as the police tried to stop the protestors from entering the national capital. Visuals from the border showed farmers running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors. Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel were deployed by the police at several parts of the border. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said that demands for law on MSP, implementation of Swaminathan Committee report and debt waiver concern all farmers and they support farmers who have embarked on 'Delhi Chalo' protest over these issues. "MSP guarantee law and Swaminathan Committee report, Electricity amendment bill and debt waiver are the issues of the farmers across the country. There are several farmer unions and they have different issues. If the government creates a problem for these farmers who are marching towards Delhi, we are not far from them. We are in support of them," Tikait told ANI. (ANI) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organising Aadi Mahotsava 2024 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here in the national capital aiming to empower the tribal community, especially small tribal producers, with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish, maintain and leverage effective B2B (business-to-business) partnerships for sustainable growth and market expansion. The 'Aadi Mahotsava 2024' was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu earlier on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said, "There are many talents that tribals inherit from their tribes and we continuously strive to bring them out, as well as ways to enhance their capabilities and enable them to be successful entrepreneurs." "For this purpose, Aadi Mahotsav is being organized here in Delhi and here all the local products and their stalls from other states are set up. The most important b2b discussion is taking place here. This is a better platform to promote our local artists and it is an initiative of the Tribal and Agriculture Ministry," he added. Munda further said that the effort is to bring tribal farmers into the mainstream. "This is an effort to bring tribal farmers into the mainstream. Especially, farmers who reside in high-altitude regions, because the cost of production in those areas is much higher," he said. Meanwhile, Pratibha Advani, daughter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani, who paid a visit to the Aadi Mahotsava, told ANI that these platforms provide the producers with an opportunity to showcase their heritage. "I feel very happy to see that in our country there is so much to showcase. I feel very good about celebrating my culture. I am enjoying shopping. I like Chanderi very much. Right now, I am looking at a Chanderi suit piece. This type of exhibition is very important because, firstly, all of them get a platform to showcase their heritage and it also provides employment opportunities," Advani said. Draupadi, a Rajasthan-based artist, expressed gratitude towards the government for providing such opportunities. "Women in Rajasthan wear lac bangles. They are prepared by melting the lac on a gas stove. I have been fond of handicraft since childhood. So, I have made all these paintings out of waste bangles made of lac. I am very thankful to the government for procuring us such opportunities," she said while speaking to ANI. Another artist named Moni Hasda, from West Bengal, said that she never thought of getting such an opportunity to visit Delhi and showcase her talent. "I make various handmade stall sarees. I never thought of coming to Delhi and showcasing my talent. Many thanks to the Modi government. Within a few days, we have made sales worth one lakh. We are also thinking of expanding our business further," she said. "The benefits of all the schemes that the government has launched either at the district level or at the central level for our tribal castes are reaching us. Earlier, we had the problem of the market; our art was limited to home, but today, due to the efforts of the government, we have come this far and we are taking advantage of this market here. Now the day is not very far when we will go to the international market, and for this, we thank the Modi government very much," said Shaila Rana, an artist from Udhampur, Uttarakhand. (ANI) As Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, sets its sights on creating 33.50 lakh employment opportunities through the ambitious launch of projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore during the upcoming Ground Breaking Ceremony 4.0 (GBC), the support and commitment from industry stalwarts like JK Cement Limited herald a promising era of economic growth and prosperity. Scheduled to unfold at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, from February 19 to 21, the GBC 4.0 marks a pivotal milestone in the state's journey towards realising its developmental aspirations. It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's industry-friendly steps have garnered him widespread backing from prominent industrialists nationwide. Among them, JK Cement Limited, a leading name in India's cement manufacturing landscape, has emerged as a steadfast partner in the state's transformative agenda. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Deputy Managing Director and CEO of JK Cement Limited, is set to actively participate in GBC@IV, underscoring the company's steadfast commitment to fostering long-term developmental initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, with a special emphasis on amplifying employment opportunities within the state. Madhavkrishna Singhania expressed, "As a socially responsible organisation, we recognise the pivotal role businesses play in driving economic growth and advancing social welfare. Guided by this ethos, JK Cement has initiated numerous endeavours aimed at fostering sustainable employment opportunities and empowering the local workforce." He highlighted that the company's commitment extends beyond mere business operations to encompass active engagement in areas such as education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Singhania emphasised Uttar Pradesh's dynamic industrial landscape, abundant resources, and skilled workforce, positioning it as a prime destination for JK Cement's future endeavours. "As we tread this path of empowerment, our unwavering commitment to effecting tangible improvements in the lives of the people of Uttar Pradesh remains steadfast. Together, we can forge a brighter future brimming with boundless opportunities for all," added Singhania. Singhania reiterated JK Cement's firm belief in multidimensional progress. "As India embarks on accelerated infrastructure development to sustain robust economic growth, JK Cement remains at the vanguard, expanding its capacity to meet the burgeoning demands arising from the infrastructure, housing, and construction sectors", he stated. He added further, "With the inauguration of the Prayagraj plant in Uttar Pradesh, JK Cement is poised to contribute to the creation of diverse job opportunities and elevate the state's economic outlook. Notably, the recent unveiling of JK Cement's third gray cement grinding unit in Prayagraj, with a substantial investment of approximately Rs 500 crore, which claims to produce 2 million tonnes per year, underscores the company's unwavering commitment to responsible expansion and innovation." JK Cement Limited has earmarked substantial initial investments of Rs 300 crore and Rs 400 crore for its Aligarh and Hamirpur plants, alongside Rs 500 crore for the latest Prayagraj unit. Additionally, the company is set to collaborate with IIT Kanpur, with plans underway for establishing super specialty hospitals in Kanpur at a cost of Rs 350 crore. The establishment of the 'Yadupati Singhania Center for Safety Training' aims to empower industrial workers with essential skills and knowledge. Through strategic investments in education, healthcare, and safety training initiatives, JK Cement is not only nurturing employment capabilities but also actively contributing to the socio-economic development of Uttar Pradesh. (ANI) West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shashi Panja took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday over the violence at Sandeshkhali village in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, stating that it is a 'conspiracy' by the party to create unrest in the village. "It was a well-planned conspiracy by the BJP to create unrest in Sandeshkhali. Yesterday, Smriti Irani made provocative comments in her press release from Delhi and today, on her instructions, Sukanta Majumdar-led workers and supporters of the BJP pelted stones at the police personnel," Panja said in a video message. Earlier, locals, particularly women, marched through various sections of Sandeshkhali, carrying slippers in their hands, demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in an alleged land ration allotment scam and the alleged rape incidents. Sheikh has been absconding since a team of ED officers was attacked in the North 24 Parganas district in January while they were about to raid his residence. Several women from Sandeshkhali village have accused the TMC men of raping them on a constant basis for many days. Union Minister Smriti Irani, on Monday, said "The women of Sandeshkhali are crying out for help and protection. Mamata Bandopadhyay is known for the genocide of Hindu women, and she will now allow her men to pick out Hindu young married women to be raped night after night in the TMC office." "Women belonging to the SC/ST community from West Bengal's Sandeshkhali have informed the media that men of the TMC party will come to homes and check which woman is beautiful. The women of Sandeshkhali have told journalists regarding the intention of TMC leaders and their conversation with the husbands of women who are crying out for help. TMC leaders told husbands of these particular Hindu women that, 'You can be a husband by name only, but you will now have no rights'," she added. Earlier today, clashes broke out between the police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers who marched to North 24 Parganas' Basirhat Superintendent of Police (SP) office on Tuesday, protesting against the violence in Sandeshkhali. BJP workers, including state party president Sukanta Majumdar, who arrived at Basirhat railway station by train, were seen marching towards the SP's office. The BJP is protesting against Superintendent of Police Hossain Mehedi, under whose watch the violence took place. Police personnel were seen charging party workers as the latter broke through barricades and entered the village. Scenes of chaos filled the village as the police resorted to lathi charges to drive away the protesters. Meanwhile, in a major setback to the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High Court ordered the removal of prohibitory orders that were imposed under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the vicinity of the SP's office in Basirhat in view of the agitation by the BJP over allegations of sexual harassment by women in Sandeshkhali block. (ANI) In reaction to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) offering the Congress a single Lok Sabha seat in Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the Congress party has suffered another "no confidence motion". "Today, yet another no-confidence motion has been passed against the Congress party by its own allies. A few days ago, Mamata Banerjee offered to take two seats, you don't deserve more than two seats or else I am fighting all the seats alone. In Punjab, AAP said 13 plus one Chandigarh seat, we are going to fight it alone," Poonawala said, speaking to ANI about the recent snub received by the Congress from the AAP and the Trinamool Congress. Speaking about Congress' alliance partners in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, Poonawala said, "In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh announced his seats and said, Congress, you should take these many seats and be happy. In Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut said you (Congress) have to start from zero." The BJP spokesperson said that this shows that the alliance partners of the Congress have no confidence in it and it has turned into an alliance to diminish the footprint of the Congress. "So in every state, you can see that no alliance partner has any confidence in Congress party or in Rahul Gandhi. And therefore, this is not an alliance of 'Modi Hatao'. It is actually an alliance of 'Congress ko ghatao'," Poonawala said. Poonawala said that the Congress should be given around 200 seats as all these parties have come into existence after feeding into Congress' vote bank. "Anyhow, Congress should be given 200 or less seats to contest across the country because Congress and these parties have come into existence after finishing each other's existence," he said. Citing the example of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Poonawala said, "Aam Aadmi Party came to power after killing Congress party in Punjab, in Delhi they came into power after killin Congress party in Delhi. So why would they like to revive the Congress party?" Hitting out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Poonawala said that ever since the former started on his Nyay Yatra, his party has been losing out on its alliance partners or senior leaders withing the party. "Ever since Rahul Gandhi has started his Nyay Yatra, people are saying Bye Bye to him. We have seen how Mayawati said it, Mamata Banerjee said it, Milind Deora said it, Ashok Chavan said it. It was said in Bihar, in Uttar Pradesh, and the entire janta (people) are going to say bye bye to such an alliance," Poonawala said. Earlier in the day, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said that even though the Congress party does not merit even a single seat in Delhi, in the spirit of alliance, the AAP party is willing to offer one seat. The AAP plans to field candidates in the remaining six seats in Delhi, Pathak added. "You must have seen in the Delhi elections that the Congress party has zero seats in the Lok Sabha, zero seats in the Vidhan Sabha, and in the MCD elections, out of 250, only 9 seats have come to the Congress party. If you look at this data on a merit basis, the Congress party does not get a single seat, according to this data. But data is not important; keeping in mind the dharma of the alliance and the respect of the Congress party, we offer them one seat. So we propose that the Congress party fights on one seat and the Aam Aadmi Party fights on six seats," he said. (ANI) The Lucknow Police has arrested four officials of the Halal Council of India, Mumbai for issuing fake Halal certificates to companies without proper sampling or testing. "The organization had neither done sampling nor tested the products. They have only issued certificates by taking a certain amount. We questioned the certificate issuing body, the Halal Council of India. They accepted the charges that they did no sampling, nor visited any factory nor checked any process," Additional Director General of Police (ADG) of Lucknow Special Task Force (STF) Amitabh Yash said speaking to ANI on Tuesday. The ADG said that the Halal Council of India also did not receive any authorization from any government agency to issue such certificates. "The body that issues such certificates or allows agencies to issue certificates has not issued any certificate to the Halal Council of India," the ADG said. Yash said that two companies were convinced that a certain section of the population will not consume their products if they do not get certification. "Two companies were duped. They were convinced that if they were not certified a certain section of the population would not consume their products and they would lose market share and be out of business," he said. Speaking about the arrests, Yash said, "The president, vice president, treasurer and secretary of the Halal Council of India have been arrested." "When they were asked about their incomes and expenditures, they could not share any descriptions. We do not have any clarity on where they had spent the extorted amount. We can reveal this only after we study the financial statements," he added. Speaking on action against such fake certification bodies, the ADG said, "We have got information on several other self-proclaimed certification bodies. We will gather evidence against all of them and conduct our investigation." (ANI) The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited said that the extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge across the Narmada Main Canal of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II is nearing completion, a press release from the GMRC read. The cable bridge runs across the Narmada Main Canal on the Narendra Modi Stadium to the Gandhinagar section of the Ahmedabad Metro project. It has a central span of 145 meters and end spans of 79 meters and two pylons of 28.1 meter height. The work of the pylons and 100 segments of the total 105 segments has been completed in record time and bridge work will be completed shortly following which laying of track and installation of the third rail will be completed, the release said. Train Trials are expected to start in March or April, it added. The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II is 28.25 km long with two corridors. Corridor-1 is 22.8 km long and is from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir. Corridor-2 is 5.4 km long and is from the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) to GIFT City. The total completion cost of Phase-II project is Rs 5,384 crores. The project will provide the much-needed additional public transport infrastructure to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The project intends to streamline the urban transportation system in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, which is stressed due to intensive developments, increase in the number of private vehicles and heavy construction in the city, putting stress on travel infrastructure and industrial activities, and by providing the people a safe, secure, reliable and comfortable public transport. The Metro Rail project itself is an innovation over the conventional system of urban transport. The project involves integration with other urban transport systems in an efficient and effective manner which is possible only by adopting innovative methods of designing, technology and institutional management. (ANI) Members of the Confederation of Bahadurgarh Industries (COBI) on Tuesday appealed to farmers not to hold their protest in the industrial hub here. During the peaceful demonstration, the members of the Confederation were seen raising posters appealing to the protesting farmers not to congregate in the Bahadurgarh area to ensure minimum impact on their business. Visuals showed several industrialists and employees gathered at the protest site, holding placards. Praveen Garg, President of COBI, told ANI, "As we are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in 2020; people in our country suffered through it for almost two years. Meanwhile, the farmers' protest began and continued for 378 days. During that period, we saw businesses suffer. Bahadurgarh is the hub of the industries. Lakhs of employees work here. So if the protests happen again, they will suffer." "We are not against the farmers. Their demands should be met. But we urge them not to disturb our businesses for the sake of their demands. Internet services have been suspended for the last two days. There are electricity issues as well. People are panicking here," he added. "We appeal to our farmer brothers with folded hands to withdraw their protest. Last time, when they were sitting here for a continuous 378 days, our industries and businesses began to suffer and people went unemployed. So, there is a fear in the minds of the employees," an employee told ANI. "We are not standing against farmers. We have no demand as such. Kindly do not sit here and do not block the roads. We, too, have to run our families," he added. Meanwhile, Haryana police detained several protesting farmers as they marched towards Delhi on Tuesday. The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Police have placed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades and barbed wires at several parts of the border. Paramilitary personnel have also been deployed. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its interim stay on the proceedings against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a case against him for allegedly making objectionable remarks in Uttar Pradesh during the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti decided to examine the appeal filed by Kejriwal seeking to be discharged from the case registered against him in 2014. Last year, the apex court had stayed the trial court's proceedings and also issued notice on Kejriwal's petition. During the election campaign in 2014, Kejriwal had allegedly said that "those who believe in 'Khuda' won't be pardoned by 'Khuda' if they vote for BJP". Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order which had rejected his plea for discharge from the case. The High Court while dismissing Kejriwal's plea had said that it appeared that Kejriwal is threatening the voters in the name of 'Khuda' knowing fully well that if he uses the term 'Khuda', some set of voters belonging to different religions might have severely been influenced. Sultanpur Court had dismissed his discharge application. During the earlier hearing, the top court bench had expressed disapproval of the statement made by Kejriwal saying, "Why are you bringing God? In a secular country, leave God alone. God doesn't need anyone's protection, he can take care of himself." Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal had then said, "Sometimes during political campaigning, unintentional things are said". (ANI) (Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images) CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally at Coastal Carolina University on February 10, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina. South Carolina holds its Republican primary on February 24. Former President Donald Trump is seeking an extension from the Supreme Court for his election interference trial. He claims immunity from prosecution, arguing that he did not conspire to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The lawyers swiftly submitted an urgent appeal to the court on Monday, a mere four days after the justices listened to Trump's appeal to stay on the presidential ballot, despite facing opposition due to his actions following his defeat in the 2020 election. Trump Claims Presidebntial Immunity A significant criminal trial involving a former president is currently on hold, awaiting a decision from the nation's highest court. The deadline was met to request the intervention of the justices, as set by the federal appeals court in Washington when it dismissed Trump's claims of immunity and allowed the trial to proceed, as per AP News. The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision and the speed at which it takes action could have a significant impact on whether the leading candidate in the Republican presidential primary will face trial before the November election. There is currently no set timeline for the court's decision, however, special counsel Jack Smith's team has been advocating for the trial to occur within this year. Trump, on the other hand, has made multiple attempts to postpone the case. If Trump were to emerge victorious over President Joe Biden, there is a possibility that he might utilize his authority as the leader of the executive branch to direct a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases against him or even explore the option of seeking a pardon for himself. The Supreme Court has the option to reject the emergency appeal, allowing US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to resume the trial proceedings in Washington's federal court. The trial was originally set to commence in early March. Additionally, the court may choose to prolong the delay as it considers the arguments surrounding the immunity matter. Depending on the justices' decision, the schedule they establish will play a crucial role in determining the potential start date of the trial. This will be particularly significant if the justices concur with the lower court rulings that Trump is not exempt from prosecution. Read Also: Joe Biden Defends Nikki Haley After Donald Trump's Remarks on Former South Carolina Governor's Husband Throughout the past few months, Trump has been pushing for a broad interpretation of executive power, claiming that he is immune from prosecution due to the nature of his duties as president. The three-judge panel at the DC circuit unequivocally dismissed his position. However, Trump's legal team has consistently seen the immunity matter as a means to delay the trial rather than a valid argument they could prevail on. It was possibly the sole action they could take that prompted an appeal prior to the trial and resulted in an immediate suspension. Trump had no choice but to take his case directly to the Supreme Court, bypassing any intermediary challenges that could have caused more delays. This decision came after the DC circuit panel set specific guidelines for how Trump could proceed with further appeals if he wanted to keep the case on hold. According to a source familiar with the matter, John Sauer, who serves as Trump's chief appellate lawyer, prepared the application for a stay over the weekend. The Trump legal team has been expressing concern about whether the Supreme Court would agree to keep the case frozen while Trump makes his final appeal. Furthermore, even if a stay were to be granted, the ultimate decision of whether the Supreme Court will consider the case remains uncertain. The court's next moves will play a crucial role in determining whether Trump will face trial for federal election interference prior to the 2024 presidential election. Recent public polls indicate that voters may be more likely to support the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, who emerged victorious against Trump in 2020, if Trump were to be convicted in this case. If the Supreme Court decides not to hear the case, jurisdiction would be returned to Chutkan in the federal district court in Washington. Chutkan decided to change the trial date she had originally set for March 4th, but has otherwise demonstrated a strong commitment to moving forward with the trial quickly. If the Supreme Court agrees to take on the case, the timing of the deadlines, arguments, and ultimately, the decision, will be of utmost importance. As the court's decision approaches the end of its term, the chances of a trial occurring before the election become increasingly slim. Per The Guardian, the timing of the Supreme Court's proceedings has gained significance due to Chutkan's commitment to provide Trump with the complete seven months to prepare his trial defense, as outlined in her initial scheduling order for the 4 March trial date. Related Article: RNC Chair Talks: Donald Trump Looking To Endorse Daughter-In-Law as Committee Co-Chair The Supreme Court expressed its shock on Tuesday when it came to know that a political party's office is located on a plot that was allotted to the Delhi High Court. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud was surprised when it heard the alleged encroachment in the land allotted to the Delhi High Court. The court was dealing with a matter pertaining to judicial infrastructure across the country. Amicus Curiae K Parameshwar informed the Supreme Court that Delhi High Court officials went to take possession of land allotted to HC and were not allowed to take over it. He also apprised the court that a political party office has been constructed there now. CJI Chandrachud said, "No one can take the law into their own hands". He quizzed how a political party can sit tight on that. The Court asked the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government, the Secretary to the Delhi Public Works Department and the Finance Secretary to the Delhi government to hold a meeting with the Registrar General of Delhi High Court to resolve the issue. The court listed the matter for further hearing for next week. In the last hearing, the Supreme Court issued various directions to the Delhi Government in relation to the construction of judicial infrastructure in the national capital. In pursuance of the order of the top court, a meeting chaired by the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi was convened, which was attended by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD, Principal Secretary (Law), Principal Secretary (PWD), Secretary (Finance), other officers of GNCTD and L&DO was held in December mid-week. Various decisions were taken at the meeting. The construction of a residential project comprising of 70 residential units for judicial officers commenced at Dwarka in October 2014. The construction, however, came to a standstill due to structural defects which endangered the construction. A report has been submitted by CBRI, Roorkee highlighting the substandard quality of construction. The project is stalled and there is no other ongoing project for the construction of residential units for judicial officers in Delhi. The final decision with regard to the future course of action in respect of the residential project at Dwarka will have to be taken, the court noted. The L&DO of the Union government shall take steps to ensure that possession of the vacant area available for the Rouse Avenue Project is handed over to the High Court of Delhi expeditiously and in any event by 31 December 2023, the top court had also said. (ANI) Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, attended the National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card in New Delhi on Tuesday. Speaking at the event Pradhan emphasized how the APAAR ID is going to be the aspirational and global document for the students of the country. Highlighting the importance of several important DPIs developed in the country in recent years, he mentioned how 53 such DPIs have been developed in 16 countries, out of which 19 are in India. Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for envisioning a 'Digital India', which has gained full momentum now, as 25 crore APAAR IDs have already been created APAAR IDs. He also underscored the importance of the interconnectivity of APAAR IDs, Academic Bank of Credit, and Digilocker, creating ease of operations. He also mentioned the other important digital assets like Swayam, DIKSHA, etc. Union Education Minister Pradhan also highlighted the role of NEP 2020 in incorporating the provisions of migration and integration without compromising on the quality of education. "It is important to make competency aspirational, which comes through skilling, along with knowledge," he said. While addressing the Conference Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar highlighted the wide reach of the APAAR ID, befitting the meaning of the word in Hindi. He also mentioned the vision of NEP2020 mentioning some of its significant recommendations such as ensuring 100% GER till Class 12 and having proficiency in at least one skill, aligned with the needs of the industry. "APAAR helps in tracking the vast pool of 260 million students in the country. A Permanent Education Number for 25 crore children have been issued APAAR ID," he said. Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making schooling part of ease of living, he emphasized on ease of schooling for the children. He also mentioned the Holistic Progress Card, Vidya Samiksha Kendra, etc., highlighting its linkage with APAAR. Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education K. Sanjay Murthy in his speech mentioned the advantages of having the APAAR IDs and another important DPI, Samarth, its deployment, access, and seamless connection with APAAR. He urged every institution to adopt the Samarth platform as well. "The Swayam platform and its new version to be launched soon will have content from leading industries to provide relevant courses. For recognition and validation a digital record will be needed," he emphasized. Two panel discussions on addressing the integration of APAAR ID and Credit Systems with Job Profiles and on exploring the evolving role of DigiLocker in education were conducted during the event. The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is a transformative initiative introduced in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 and the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF). It aims to provide a unified and accessible academic experience for students across India by assigning a unique and permanent 12-digit ID to every student, consolidating their academic achievements in one place. (ANI) As farmers in large numbers marched towards the national capital on Tuesday, the police fired tear gas on the protestors at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, leading to chaotic scenes at the site. The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. The Haryana police, meanwhile, detained several protesting farmers. The police deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, and police and paramilitary personnel at Kurukshetra in Haryana in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march by the farmers. To ensure law and order, Delhi police enforced Section 144, restricting the entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies. The Congress slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre stating that the "dictatorial Modi government" is hell-bent on curbing the voice of farmers! "Barbed wire, tear gas from drones, nails and guns... everything is arranged. The dictatorial Modi government is trying to curb the voice of farmers! Do you remember that farmers were called "agitators" and "parasites"? In 10 years, the Modi government has broken three promises made to the food providers of the country -Farmers' income to double by 2022, according to Swaminathan report, implementation of Input Cost + 50 per cent MSP and legal status to MSP," he said. "Now the time has come to raise the voice of 62 crore farmers. Today Congress party will raise the voice of "Kisan Nyay" in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. We provide full support to the farmers' movement. Will not be afraid, will not bow down!" he added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, reacted to the protest, asserting that the party, if voted to power, will give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to every farmer as per the Swaminathan Commission. In a post on X, Rahul said "Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give a legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission. This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice." West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee questioned how the country could progress if farmers fighting for their basic rights are being attacked. "How can our country progress when the farmers are attacked with tear gas shells for fighting for their basic rights? I strongly condemn the brutal assault on our farmers by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)," Banerjee said in a post on 'X'. Condemning the central government, the Trinamool Congress supremo said that the BJP's failure to support farmers and labourers exposes their illusion of 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). "The Central Government's failure to support farmers and labourers, coupled with futile PR stunts, exposes the illusion of 'Viksit Bharat.' Instead of suppressing their protest, BJP must focus on humbling their inflated egos, power-hungry ambitions, and inadequate governance that has harmed our nation," she said. Expressing solidarity for the farmers' cause, Banerjee said that farmers sustain even the high and mighty. "Remember, it's these farmers who sustain us all, including the high and mighty. Let's stand in solidarity with our farmers against the government's brutality," she said. Meanwhile, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said that it is the 'darkest' day in Indian history. "This is a dark day in Indian history. Tear gas was used against the farmers... We are installing speakers here and will resume our program tomorrow morning," he said. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal criticised the government, stating that the latter showed no seriousness to the commitment made towards the farmers. "What we are saying is not a new demand. That was a commitment made to us by the government. We had tried to draw the attention of the government to those commitments again and again. But the government showed no seriousness to date," he said. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said that demands for law on MSP, implementation of Swaminathan Committee report and debt waiver concern all farmers and they support farmers who have embarked on 'Delhi Chalo' protest over these issues. "MSP guarantee law and Swaminathan Committee report, Electricity amendment bill and debt waiver are the issues of the farmers across the country. There are several farmer unions and they have different issues. If the government creates a problem for these farmers who are marching towards Delhi, we are not far from them. We are in support of them," Tikait told ANI. The BJP, meanwhile, reacted to the protests and appealed to farmers to maintain peace. "We constantly say, maintain peace and participate in the discussion. If PM Modi can save Naval officers from death sentence in Qatar and bring them safely to the country, then we can find a solution through talks...Nothing will be achieved by violence or vandalism, it will cause harm to the country, so please continue the talks. I appeal to maintain peace and request the farmer leaders to join the talks," Union Minister Anurag Thakur said. Echoing a similar remark, former education minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ramesh Pokhriyal said that every issue can be resolved by sitting and talking and the government has always been persistent and never lags behind in talking. Pokhriyal told ANI that all the people are in support of this government, and those who are opposed should think about why they are wasting their time. "If you look at the manner in which farmers have been protected under the leadership of Narendra Modi ji, for the first time after independence, farmers are getting such facilities. If we talk about Haridwar, the amount of Prime Minister Samman Nidhi given to more than 1 lakh and 34 thousand farmers have already gone into their accounts, amounting to Rs. 323 crore. Many schemes one after the other have been made in the interests of the farmers. I think this is a farmer-supported government," he said. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report. They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers. The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate. Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings.An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), linking it with farming, has also been made by the farmers. Also, they have demanded compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. (ANI) As soon as the police received word about the situation, officials reached the protest site and were promptly alerted. In a swift operation conducted by the police officials, the protesting leaders were intercepted and detained. The protestors created a chaotic scenario near the Tadepalli fuel station, said police. The incident led to a scramble as police detention resulted in several students sustaining minor injuries during the commotion. The leaders were detained for their involvement in the protest, marked by slogans expressing dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Jagan's alleged deception. Notably, the protesters raised concerns about the absence of the seven-job calendar and questioned the feasibility of conducting the DSC exam within a month. The demand for the immediate implementation of Mega DSC, featuring 25 thousand posts, added to the tension surrounding the protest. The detained student union leaders were subsequently shifted to Mangalagiri police station for further legal proceedings. The situation remained tense as authorities assessed the aftermath of the protest. On Sunday, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national secretary Nara Lokesh said that Jagan hasn't released a DSC (District Selection Committee) notification in the past four years. He is trying to fool people with the promise to release DSC notifications for 6100 posts. "TDP will form the government and conduct the DSC exam every year," he assured. Nara Lokesh made grave allegations against Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of murdering his uncle."Jagan Reddy killed his uncle. Is he ready to kill more family members now?" Nara Lokesh said while addressing a public rally. He further said that the Jagan government had illegally imprisoned Chandrababu Naidu for 53 days. "In the past 4.10 years, several cases have been filed on TDP activists with 22 cases on me including attempted murder and atrocity cases. The officials and YSRCP leaders who deliberately troubled the TDP leaders, their names have been codified in the Red Book," he added. Nara Lokesh launched a blistering attack on the Chief Minister's governance during a public meeting held in Srikakulam district's Ichchapuram constituency. Nara Lokesh took a dig at Andhra CM, saying, "He made the state the ganja capital of India." (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has given directions for constituting a committee under the chairmanship of Special Secretary (Health) to look into the grievances and demands of the medical officers of the state. The Committee will comprise of Director Health and Family Welfare, Director, Medical Education and representatives of the Medical Officers Association. He said that this committee would also study the various aspects of promotions of the doctors and recommend guidelines for the betterment of medical officers. The Chief Minister said that the State Government was considering all their genuine demands sympathetically, but the financial condition of the State is precarious, a release said. Due to the efforts of the state government, the economy of the state is coming back on the track gradually, he said. "My Government will surely provide the financial benefits of the government employees in due course," he assured. The Chief Minister urged the doctors to cooperate with the State Government and assist in improving the economy of the State. Chief Minister said that they re focusing to strengthen the health infrastructure in the State to provide specialized health services to the people at their door steps. The Government is setting up Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans in all 68 assembly constituencies of the state, with six specialist doctors in each. To meet shortage of doctors and para medical staff in health institutions, the State Government is recruiting new medical officers and supporting staff. Plans are underway to improve working conditions in health institutions and introduce fixed eight hours shift for medical personnel, the release said. The Chief Minister said that overseas exposure visits would also be conducted for the doctors on the latest techniques and skills in health care sector. He directed the Health Department to digitize the data of medical officers to streamline their functioning. (ANI) The School Education Department of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton University (USA), has launched a programme to provide tailored English assessments for students in Classes 3 to 9 across all government schools in the state, a senior official said. Praveen Prakash, Principal Secretary of School Education, informed that this initiative aimed to enhance the students' listening and speaking skills and prepare them for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. The Principal Secretary informed that it is mandatory for all government schools to conduct daily TOEFL classes for students in Classes 3 to 9. "These classes should prioritise the development of students' listening and speaking skills. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has provided schools with audio-visual (AV) content to support teachers in conducting the TOEFL classes, and this material should be actively used in classrooms," he instructed. Praveen further informed that the DEOs (District Educational Officers) are responsible for establishing a system to monitor the implementation of TOEFL classes and collect regular feedback from all the stakeholders. "DEOs will be held accountable for the successful implementation of the TOEFL programme in their respective districts, and any failure to conduct daily TOEFL classes will result in disciplinary action," he added. Detailing the importance of the programme, he said that the TOEFL programme offers a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their spoken English language skills and prepare for global opportunities. He further urged all DEOs and RJDs (regional joint directors) to take necessary steps to ensure the program's successful implementation in their districts. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that his ancestors migrated from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district about 200-400 years ago and he has a special relationship with Azamgarh and Uttar Pradesh. CM Yadav made the remark while talking to ANI in UP's Azamgarh during his visit there on Tuesday. He attended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Akhil Bharatiya Pravas Karyakram there in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "BJP's vote percentage will increase in every Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha and people should join BJP, a campaign is going on for the same in the entire country. Akhil Bharatiya Pravas Karyakram is going on in this connection. My first visit to Uttar Pradesh is in Azamgarh. It is a matter of pride for me, my ancestors had migrated from here about 200-400 years ago. I also have a special relationship with Azamgarh and Uttar Pradesh. I am extremely happy to be among my workers here," Yadav told ANI. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he felt the impact of PM Modi in every aspect of life. "Every day in every aspect of life I feel the impact of PM Modi. The PM has made January 22 immortal in history in connection with the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. It is the impact of PM Modi that he is going to inaugurate a temple in Abu Dhabi," the CM said. He further praised the Prime Minister over the release of Indian Navy veterans from a Qatar court after months of detention in the Gulf country. In a major diplomatic triumph for India, eight veterans of the Indian Navy who were sentenced to death in Qatar were released on Monday. The capital punishment was commuted to an extended prison term earlier following diplomatic intervention by New Delhi. "The post of Prime Minister is a very important post. The biggest democracy of the world is in India and PM Modi has made the highest post of this democracy proud. Definitely, once again the Modi government is going to be formed for the third time in the country. All the BJP workers are committed to visit among the public and appeal to vote in favour of BJP to form the Modi government. The information is being received from everywhere that BJP is going to be in power again under the leadership of PM Modi," he added. (ANI) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National General Secretary Nara Lokesh stated that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy made 50 promises to Vizianagaram district during his padayatra before the 2019 elections. Lokesh reminded the people that Jagan Reddy pledged to complete projects such as the Bhogapuram airport, the Ramtheertham project, and the interlinking of the Gosthani and Champavathi rivers, but failed to do so. Criticizing the current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for not finishing the Salur bypass road, constructing a dam on the Paleru river, and building a bridge on the Swarnamukhi river, the TDP leader asserted that the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government neglected the development of Vizianagaram district. Nara Lokesh claimed that YSRCP MLA Pushpa Sreevani of the Kurupam constituency has engaged in corruption in the region with her husband and brother-in-law. He claimed that the YSRCP MLA was involved in the sale of contract posts and land grabbing in the constituency. He condemned the MLA and her family for illegally transporting sand from the Naagavali river. Earlier on Sunday, TDP national secretary Nara Lokesh on Sunday made grave allegations against Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of murdering his uncle. "Jagan Reddy killed his own uncle. Is he ready to kill more family members now?" Nara Lokesh on Sunday said addressing a public rally. He further said that the Jagan government had illegally imprisoned Chandrababu Naidu for 53 days. "In the past 4.10 years, several cases have been filed on TDP activists with 22 cases on me including attempted murder and atrocity cases. The officials and YSRCP leaders who deliberately troubled the TDP leaders, their names have been codified in the Red Book," he added. Lokesh also launched a blistering attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy's governance during a public meeting held in Srikakulam district's Ichchapuram constituency on Sunday. Addressing the event, Nara Lokesh took a dig at Andhra CM, saying, "He made the state the ganja capital of India." "I feel fortunate to start my Shankharavam yatra in Srikakulam where people like Garimela Satya Narayana, Sardhar Gouthu Lachanna, and Yerramnaidu were born," he said. Nara Lokesh reached Ichchapuram for the launch of his Shankharavam campaign which is aimed at highlighting the failures of the state government. Pitching against Jagan Reddy, Nara Lokesh asked if people were ready to send Jagan Reddy to jail. "Is Jagan Reddy ready to kill more backwards-class children like Amarnath Goud and Dalits like Dr Sudhakar?" he questioned. "Three incidents happened recently. They killed Tahsildar Ramaiah in Visakhapatnam for not cooperating with the land grabbing. Second was Agricultural Assistant Poojitha, who was working in the RBK centre in Bapatla district, committed suicide. When the YSRCP leaders looted fertilizers from the RBK centres, Poojitha was forced and harassed to pay the money for the fertilizers because of this, she ended her own life. JE Ramakrishna, who was working in the Panchayat department in Vizianagaram district, hanged himself to a fan. When he opposed the stealing of sand and iron by YSRCP leaders, they harassed him and made him commit suicide," he added further. Slamming him over "deceiving" youth, Lokesh said that Jagan hasn't released a DSC (District Selection Committee) notification in the past four years. He is trying to fool people with the promise to release DSC notifications for 6100 posts. (ANI) Group of Tamil Nadu farmers in Trichy extended their support to the 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest. Farmer leader P Ayyakannu said that if PM Modi contested from any constituency in TN in the coming elections, then farmers would file nominations against him. P Ayyakannu further said, "As per the Constitution, we can move freely within the country for our rights but the police are not allowing farmers to protest in Delhi...If PM Modi contests from any constituency in TN in the coming elections, then farmers will file nomination against him from that constituency." He also said that the Swaminathan Commission had said that farmers should get 50 per cent above the cost of cultivation. P Ayyakannu said, "We got independence 77 years back. As per Article 19, we can move anywhere in the country for our rights. PM Modi had announced that he would give profitable prices for agricultural products. In the 2019 elections, he promised to give Rs 54 but so far we are getting only Rs 20 MSP for paddy per kg. So now we are protesting and we have removed our clothes," he added. Meanwhile, Haryana police detained several protesting farmers as they marched towards Delhi on Tuesday. The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. Police have placed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades and barbed wires at several parts of the border. Paramilitary personnel have been also deployed. The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they're marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. According to the protesting farmers, the Centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest. (ANI) In a first, Safdarjung Hospital performed a kidney transplant on February 6 where the donor and the recipient both had different blood groups, said the Hospital in a statement. A 28-year-old woman with AB positive blood group donated her kidney to her 43-year-old husband, whose blood group was B positive. The kidney transplant was successful, the kidney parameters came back to normal by the second post operative day and the patient was subsequently discharged without any complications, informed Dr Vandana Chakravarty, Additional Medical Superintendent in charge of organ transplantation at Safdarjung Hospital. The Principal VMMC & SJH, Dr Geetika Khanna appreciated the efforts of the transplant team. The patient had unfortunately been diagnosed with kidney failure two years back and was on dialysis for six months. What complicated the entire transplant was that while the wife's blood group was AB positive, the husband's group was B positive. This brought in unique challenges since the husband's body already had antibodies which would reject the wife's kidney and lead to failure of the transplant, said Dr Pawan Vasudeva, Professor and Head of Urology. A process of desensitization was carried out to decrease the high levels of antibodies in the husband so that the transplant could be attempted, said Dr Rajesh Kumar, Prof and Unit Head Nephrology. The transplant team was headed by Dr Pawan Vasudeva ( Prof and HOD Urology) , Prof Himanshu Verma HOD Nephrology and Dr Rajesh Kumar(Prof and Unit Head Nephrology). Anaesthesia support was provided by a team headed by Dr Sushil Guria. Dr Pawan Vasudeva, Professor and Head Urology said that all this was only possible due to the constant support and encouragement from the Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital Dr Vandana Talwar, Principal Dr Geetika Khanna and Dr Vandana Chakravarty, Additional MS. (ANI) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for large-scale production of defense equipment so that Europe could successfully restrain potential aggressors at the groundbreaking ceremony for Rheinmetall's new munitions factory. Germany has been cautious of its munitions industry and defense forces in recent decades due to its previous military activities. Scholz Calls for Large-scale Arms Production Scholz pointed to Russia's war on Ukraine and said, "This is urgently necessary because the painful reality is that we do not live in times of peace." He warned that they must move from manufacturing to mass production of armaments and argued that those who want peace must be able to successfully deter aggressors. Berlin's post-World War II pacifist views were turned upside down by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, forcing Berlin to become a proponent of heavy rearmament. Germany is currently the second-largest supplier of arms to Ukraine, and Scholz has been vocal in his calls for other EU members to contribute more. What happens in Ukraine will decide "if our peace order, our rules-based world has a future," Scholz said, adding that Russia must "fail with the attempt to swallow its neighbor by force." The chancellor reaffirmed that armament promises from other EU countries for Ukraine were still insufficient. The EU established a joint financing mechanism to fulfill Ukraine's armament demand. However, the bloc has struggled to make good on promised deliveries. Brussels had promised to give Ukraine a million artillery shells by March 2024. But the EU acknowledged last week that it could only produce just over half that by the deadline. Scholz noted that it was imperative to change course and increase much-needed production capacity after years of underinvestment in the defense sector. Furthermore, he warned that tanks, howitzers, helicopters, and air defense systems must be lined up on the shelves. He added that if nothing is ordered for years, then nothing is produced. Read Also: Rwanda Deportation Deal: Parliamentary Report Says Rishi Sunak's Plan is Fundamentally Flawed Rheinmetall Builds New Ammunition Plant Rheinmetall's new factory in Unterluess is scheduled to start production in 2025, producing 50,000 shells annually and gradually increasing to its 200,000-shell capability. Scholz said that thousands of rounds are fired at the Ukrainian frontlines on a daily basis. Furthermore, the German army's weapons store was "rather empty" even before the conflict. According to Rheinmetall's CEO, Armin Papperger, the new production aims to support Germany's "strategic sovereignty in the large-caliber ammunition domain." The company plans to produce up to 500,000 shells this year, a seven-fold increase over the 70,000 shells it produced annually before the conflict in Ukraine. Rheinmetall already has a major production facility at Unterluess. It is also where the Puma infantry fighting vehicle and other equipment are manufactured. According to DPA International, Rheinmetall currently employs 2,500 people at the site. Related Article: Ukraine Adjusts Military Leadership in Response to Escalating Conflict with Russia Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the present state government is working towards women's empowerment by implementing numerous schemes for their benefit. Saha, while addressing after the inauguration of the National Skill Training Institute exclusively for women at Anandanagar in Agartala, in the virtual presence of Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan. The CM also said that equipped with modern facilities, the institute has been developed in Agartala, aiming to give women access to better opportunities. "The inauguration of this institute's building took place today, and students have already enrolled. A girls' hostel was also inaugurated. I am very pleased to witness the establishment of such an institution. Our government is dedicated to women's empowerment and the implementation of various schemes. This skill development initiative will empower women and contribute to employment generation. Students from other states have also enrolled. Training will be provided in various sectors, marking a moment of pride for us," he said. Saha further said that the Directorate of Skill Development is implementing various skill development programs "The Tripura Skill Development Mission was established in 2015 under the Department of Industries and Commerce with the vision of developing Tripura into a vibrant, knowledgeable, and skilled workforce...At present, the Directorate of Skill Development is implementing several skill development programs, including Pradhanmantri Koushal Vikas Yojana, Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood, and Skill for capacity building in textiles, which are centrally sponsored by Centre," he said. Under the state government, we have programs like Mukhyamantri Dakkhata Unnoyon Prakalpo and Skill Development Component of SC Welfare, he added. According to the state government, in the last nine years, the skill development initiatives have trained approximately 42,000 candidates. "The Directorate of Skill Development, in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation, is executing the international skill program in Tripura. Currently, 13 candidates are undergoing Japanese language training in Delhi. Out of them, three candidates have been placed in Japan with an average salary of Rs 1 lakh in the nursing sector. The Mukhyamantri Dakhyata Unnayan Prakalpa, launched in 2023-2024, aims to provide advanced courses as per market demands, upgrade skills for those engaged in traditional service sectors, and promote the international placement of skilled candidates," he added. During the program, Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik, Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul, Chief Secretary JK Sinha and others were present. (ANI) According to the report, Biden has become increaUS President Joe Biden is frustrated behind the scenes with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, telling advisors and others that the prime minister was ignoring his advice and obstructing efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, CNN reported quoting people familiar with the matter.singly critical of Israel's operations in Gaza, saying last week he believes the campaign in Gaza is 'over the top', one of his sharpest condemnations to date of the military operation against Hamas. In private, Biden has been more willing to offer unvarnished thoughts on Netanyahu, including his deep irritation that the Israeli prime minister has not followed through on American recommendations to de-escalate military tactics in Gaza. Some officials now wonder how much longer Biden will withhold public criticism of Netanyahu as the war rages on. The US President's comments are a testament to his disappointment with the Israeli PM, as US officials had hoped that by January, Israel would have transitioned to a lower-intensity, hyper-localized targeting campaign, according to the report. The tension between the Biden administration and Netanyahu's government has only intensified in recent days over Israel's preparations for a ground incursion into Rafah, where thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled over the course of the war. US officials have been direct in their conversations with Israeli counterparts that the estimated 1.3 million people currently in Rafah simply "have nowhere to go," according to a senior administration official. The Biden administration is highly skeptical about whether Netanyahu's direction to Israel's military for an "evacuation of the population" out of Rafah before Israel forces go in is even remotely feasible. "We have made very clear that an operation under current conditions is not something that we could envision," the US official said. In the call, Biden told Netanyahu an operation in Rafah "should not proceed" without ensuring the safety of the more than 1 million people sheltering there, the White House said. CNN reported that Biden has long had his differences with Netanyahu, and officials acknowledge their relationship is complex. But in recent days, a series of actions and comments have angered some American officials, who, like Biden, are losing patience with Netanyahu's resistance to US advice and recommendations. That includes publicly rejecting as "crazy" a Hamas counter proposal on a deal to release hostages and pause the fighting, even as Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region to try to advance the agreement. The majority of a 45-minute phone call between Biden and Netanyahu on Sunday was about the hostages deal, according to an official. Biden and his team have also been irritated by Netanyahu's public rejections of a two-state solution, long a lynchpin of American policy in the region. Biden and Netanyahu, who have known each other for more than four decades, have found themselves frequently at odds, both before the October 7 Hamas attacks and after. Biden has bemoaned Netanyahu's far-right governing coalition and told donors last year that his counterpart's political predicament was making it difficult for the prime minister to alter his approach to Gaza, CNN reported. The President is also under pressure from progressive Democrats to do and say more about the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza, including through now-frequent protests at his public events. White House officials have long said the President believes any differences with his counterpart are best aired behind the scenes rather than in public. Biden has made light of his disagreements with Netanyahu, recounting an inscription he wrote on an old photograph of the two men: "Bibi, I love you, but I don't agree with a damn thing you have to say." "It's about the same today," Biden said in December. Since then, however, frustrations have only mounted over Israel's military campaign and tactics when it comes to negotiating a deal to secure the release of hostages. Biden offered his Israeli counterpart and the people of Israel his unwavering support in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack, even flying to the war zone to show what he said was his and the United States' unequivocal support for their ally. (ANI) The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday refuted allegations of rigging during the vote count after the February 8 general elections but acknowledged the occurrence of a 'few irregularities', ARY News reported. According to the report, the electoral body issued a statement in which it acknowledged that it does not deny the occurrence of a few irregularities and that relevant forms were available for investigation. "Immediate decisions are being taken on complaints filed," the poll panel added in its statement. However, the election commission said the polling was organised and held peacefully despite 'difficulties and issues'. The ECP noted further that conducting the elections smoothly was a 'major operation', which was completed successfully, according to the daily. On the delay in the publication of the election results, the poll panel said the suspension of mobile services on February 8 created some hindrances to the process of sending electronic data by the presiding officers (POs). Pakistan witnessed a countrywide shutdown of internet and cellular phone services on February 8 during the polling process, with the authorities attributing the move "to maintaining law and order" in the wake of pre-election violence. On Monday, the ECP said the move to suspend mobile internet services severely affected coordination and transport of election material. According to the election commission, the first result of the 2024 elections was received at 2 am, compared to the 2018 election result, which was received at 4 am. "Except for some constituencies, the results of the elections were completed within one and a half days," the statement said, adding, "The delay in results in some constituencies did not benefit or harm any specific political party." The polling was held for 265 seats of the National Assembly (NA) and 590 seats of provincial assemblies. Voting took place on 51 seats of the Balochistan Assembly, 128 out of 130 seats of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, 296 out of 297 seats of the Punjab Assembly, and 130 seats of the Sindh Assembly. Independent candidates consolidated their lead in the general elections over mainstream political parties, especially in the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies, as the results were announced. According to the results announced so far, Independent candidates have managed to win 101 seats. Significantly, of these 101 Independents, 92 are supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) while nine are general Independent candidates. PML-N is currently in the second position in the vote count with 75 seats while the PPP has won 54 seats. The MQM-P has been declared victors in 17 constituencies with JUI-F in four, PML-Q in three, while IPP and BNP in two seats each. The MWM, National Party, PML-Z, Balochistan Awami Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party have won one seat each. Meanwhile, the workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched nationwide protests over the alleged "rigging in the general elections" on February 8. PTI members demonstrated against what they claimed to be election tampering in Peshawar, blocking the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. (ANI) According to the report, the leader had contested the general elections from Rawalpindi's NA-57 and PP-19 constituencies as an Independent candidate. According to a statement from the spokesperson from Rawalpindi Police, the incident occurred in the Civil Lines area in front of the city police officer's (CPO) office. The police spokesperson said Rawalpindi CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani directed the Potohar SP to arrest the culprits involved in the incident immediately. Further, according to the statement, senior police officers reached the crime scene upon being informed of the incident, adding that evidence was also being collected and teams were formed to nab the suspects. "According to the initial investigation, the incident seems to be a sign of personal enmity," the statement said. "Investigations are underway from all angles," it stated, adding that the culprits would be arrested and presented in court. According to the official portal of the Punjab Assembly, Adnan was the son of Chaudhary Muhammad Jan and was born on February 15, 1976 in Rawalpindi, Dawn reported. He graduated from Punjab University and was elected as an MPA in 2018. He went on to serve the country as the parliamentary secretary for social welfare. Adnan also served as parliamentary secretary for revenue from 2018-2020. According to Dawn, two PTI workers were killed and 12 others injured when the police opened fire during a protest demonstration held in Shangla's district headquarters, Alpuri, last week amid allegations of manipulation in the poll results. (ANI) Amid the intense Israeli operations in Gaza, a Dutch court ordered the Netherlands government to halt the delivery of parts of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in its bombardment of Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported on Monday. According to the report, the court, in its verdict, said there was a 'clear risk' that the parts the Netherlands is exporting are being used in "serious violations of international humanitarian law". The court said it is likely that Israel was using its F-35s in attacks on Gaza, which are leading to unacceptable civilian casualties. It dismissed the Dutch state's argument that it did not have to do a new check on the permit for the exports. However, in response to Monday's ruling, the Dutch government said it would appeal the order at the Supreme Court, arguing the weapons parts were crucial to Israel's ability to protect itself from "threats in the region, for example from Iran, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon". Al Jazeera reported that the ruling followed an appeal by Amnesty International and Oxfam against a lower court decision last year that rejected their argument that supplying the parts contributed to alleged "contributing to wide-scale and serious violations of humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza". Human rights organisations have accused the government of being complicit in war crimes by maintaining the deliveries. In December, a court dismissed the case. It said the government had a large degree of freedom in weighing political and policy issues on arms exports. However, that was dismissed by the appeals court, which said political and economic concerns did not trump the clear risk of violations of the laws of war, Al Jazeera reported The appeals court instead ordered the government to block all exports of the fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days. "It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," Judge Bas Boele said in the ruling, drawing cheers from several people in the courtroom. (ANI) Former US President Donald Trump urged the Supreme Court to suspend the lower court ruling that he does not have presidential immunity from prosecution, CNN reported on Monday. According to the report, Trump called on the apex court to temporarily block a scathing and unanimous decision from the DC Circuit handed down last week, flatly rejecting his claims of immunity from election subversion charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith. "Conducting a months-long criminal trial of President Trump at the height of election season will radically disrupt President Trump's ability to campaign against President Biden," Trump's attorneys wrote in their request. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled that the former US President is not immune from prosecution in the January 6 election subversion case, CNN reported. Trump is not immune from prosecution for alleged crimes he committed during his presidency to reverse the 2020 election results, a federal appeals court said on Tuesday. The former president argued that the conduct special counsel Jack Smith charged him over was "part of his official duties as president and therefore shield him from criminal liability". "For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defences of any other criminal defendant. But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution," the court stated. The ruling from the three-judge panel was unanimous. The panel that issued the ruling comprised two judges--J Michelle Childs and Florence Pan, who were appointed by Joe Biden and one, Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was appointed by George HW Bush, as reported by CNN. "It would be a striking paradox if the President, who alone is vested with the constitutional duty to 'take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, were the sole officer capable of defying those laws with impunity," the ruling stated. The judges also rejected Trump's claim that his criminal indictment would have a "chilling effect" on future presidents. Trump faces four counts from Smith's election subversion charges, including conspiring to defraud the United States and to obstruct an official proceeding. The former president has pleaded not guilty. The former President, who is running for a second term in the Presidential elections later this year, argued that he was working to "ensure election integrity" as part of his official capacity as president, and therefore he is immune from criminal prosecution for trying to overturn the election results. His lawyers, too, sserted that because Trump was acquitted by the Senate during impeachment proceedings, he is protected by double jeopardy and cannot be charged by the Justice Department for the same conduct. The district judge overseeing Trump's criminal case in DC rejected Trump's immunity arguments in December, stating that being a former President does not "confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass". Challenging the ruling, Trump promptly moved the DC Circuit, which agreed to expedite its review of the matter, CNN reported. The appeals court found that Trump is not protected from criminal prosecution under the separation of powers clause. (ANI) In the latest attack, the Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated. Both missiles were launched on Monday towards MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil. The Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Moreover, it connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, by extension, the Indian Ocean. Reportedly, no one was injured; however, the ship reports being seaworthy with minor damage. Notably, CENTCOM highlighted that the MV Star Iris's destination is Bandar Iman Khomeini in Iran. "On Feb. 12 from 3:30 to 3:45 a.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandeb. Both missiles were launched toward MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil. The ship reports being seaworthy, with minor damage and no injuries to the crew. Of note, the MV Star Iris's destination is Bandar Iman Khomeini, Iran," the CENTCOM posted on social media X. https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1757221584924774791?s=20 The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting these ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November as Israel carried out a ground offensive against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis have said that they will not stop attacking until Israel ends the hostilities in Gaza. Earlier last week, the US carried out fresh 'self-defence' strikes against multiple Houthi missiles that presented an "imminent threat" to the US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it conducted strikes against two mobile unmanned surface vessels (USV), four mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, and one mobile land attack cruise missile (LACM). Earlier this month, the US and the UK launched air and surface strikes, which also included fighter jets, against Houthi sites in Yemen. (ANI) Indian-American Sonali Korde has been officially sworn in as the Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) provides life-saving humanitarian assistance--including food, water, shelter, emergency healthcare, sanitation and hygiene, and critical nutrition services-- to the world's most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach people. The ceremony, presided over by Administrator Samantha Power, highlighted Korde's extensive background and dedication to global humanitarian efforts. In her address, Administrator Power commended Korde's remarkable journey, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes. Samantha Power said, Sonali is really a gift to us all. And because we get to see a lot of her, in time and a lot of her many qualities," Korde's upbringing, marked by frequent trips to India, instilled in her a strong sense of justice and a desire to address inequity and unfairness, making her a standout candidate for the role. Korde's career trajectory reflects a profound dedication to service. After obtaining degrees in economics and international business, she embarked on a path of global health advocacy, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in the world. Her pivotal role in coordinating responses to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa underscored her effectiveness in navigating complex challenges. Throughout her tenure, Korde has demonstrated exceptional leadership and diplomatic skills, fostering strong relationships with stakeholders across various sectors. Her ability to navigate bureaucracy and advocate for humanitarian assistance has positioned her as a formidable force in global aid efforts. As she assumes leadership of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Korde faces a daunting task amidst escalating global conflicts and climate-driven disasters. With tens of millions of people depending on humanitarian aid, her appointment signifies a critical juncture in USAID's commitment to providing assistance to those in need. Korde's dedication to advancing individual dignity and promoting stability resonates with USAID's core mission. Her appointment represents a testament to the agency's ongoing commitment to addressing the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. In accepting this prestigious role, Korde reaffirms her commitment to serving the global community and upholding the principles of compassion and solidarity. As she embarks on this new chapter, her leadership promises to shape the future of humanitarian assistance and uphold America's legacy of compassion and support for vulnerable populations worldwide. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on his official visit to the United Arab Emirates from February 13 to 14, where he will hold discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office, he will visit Qatar from February 14 to 15, following his UAE visit. "I am travelling to the United Arab Emirates on an Official Visit from 13-14 February and to Qatar from 14-15 February. This will be my seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since 2014," the statement read. "I look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," it added. Notably, over the last nine years, India's cooperation with the UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. "Our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever," the statement added. Prior to his departure, PM Modi also shared a post on social media 'X', highlighting that this will be his seventh visit since assuming office, which indicates the priority we attach to strong India-UAE friendship. He further called the UAE president "his brother", while expressed excitement and said, "I am eager to meet my brother UAE President." "Over the next two days, I will be visiting UAE and Qatar to attend various programmes, which will deepen India's bilateral relations with these nations. My visit to UAE will be my seventh since assuming office, indicating the priority we attach to strong India-UAE friendship. I am eager to meet my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed. I will have the honour of inaugurating the first Hindu Mandir in UAE. I will also address the Indian Community at a community programme in Abu Dhabi. I will also speak at the @WorldGovSummit and meet @HHShkMohd in Dubai. I look forward to meeting HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad , under whose leadership Qatar is witnessing immense growth." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1757279289446162772?s=20 PM Modi further recalled the privilege of hosting the UAE President in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024. He further emphasised that, at the invitation of the UAE Vice President, he will be addressing the world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 14. "At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, PM and Defence Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, I will be addressing the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on 14 Feb 2024," the statement added. Moreover, his discussions with the Ruler of Dubai on the margins of the summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai. Further, in the statement, he noted that during his visit, he will also inaugurate the first Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi. "The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the statememt emphasised. Later, PM Modi will address the members of the Indian Community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi, 'Ahlan Modi'. Later, after concluding his UAE visit, PM Modi will leave for Qatar, where he will meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation. "I am also looking forward to meeting other high dignitaries in Qatar," statement from PM's office stated. India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations. In recent years, the multifaceted ties between the two nations have continued to deepen in all spheres, including high-level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between the two countries, strengthening energy partnerships, and cooperation in culture and education. Moreover, "the presence of over 800,000 strong Indian communities in Doha is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties," the statement added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his official visit to the United Arab Emirates from February 13 to 14, where he will hold discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister will also address the Indian Community at a community programme in Abu Dhabi. The Indian community is looking forward to the grand event called 'Ahlan Modi'. While speaking to ANI, the President of the Indian People Forum and leader of the Ahlan Modi initiative Jitendra Vaidya expressed his happiness and anticipation for the ground-breaking event. "Our gates are yet to open, but people are already standing at each gate of this stadium. I can say this with guarantee that whenever people will remember a public event of PM Modi outside the country, 'Ahlan Modi' will be remembered as a landmark event. The programs will start here around 12 noon (local time). Over 800 participants will perform here today. When we were planning the 'Ahlan Modi' event, we thought of bringing celebrities here but when PM Modi got to know this he said, your people are celebrities" Jitendra Vaidya said. Gaurav Verma , a representative from Chhappan Bhog Abu Dhabi, a renowned Indian restaurant chain that has set up shop at the venue is looking forwar to the event. While speaking to ANI, Gaurav Verma said, "...We are very excited waiting for PM Modi to come in just a few hours. We are expecting a full house. Our stall is pure vegetarian..." The enthusiasm of the Indian diaspora has been overwhelming, prompting organisers to close registrations last week as the number of attendees surpassed 65,000. The Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.5 million is the largest ethnic community in the UAE, constituting roughly 35 per cent of the country's population. The key highlights of the event include an exhibition by over 700 cultural artists, bringing to life the vast diversity of Indian arts, and ensuring an inclusive cultural soiree. Active participation from more than 150 Indian community groups in the event showcases India's regional diversity and the integration of thousands of blue-collar workers from across the emirates, weaving a rich tapestry of diversity and unity into the fabric of the event. During the visit, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders will discuss ways to further deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Prime Minister will also participate in the World Government Summit 2024 to be held in Dubai as a Guest of Honour and deliver a special keynote address. (ANI) President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis has congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his resounding victory in the snap presidential election, Azernews reports. The numerous ongoing projects between Romania and the Republic of Azerbaijan, both bilaterally and regionally, demonstrate the excellent level of our bilateral relations. Your country represents for Romania a strategic, close and reliable partner in the South Caucasus region. I wish to reconfirm, with this occasion, Romania's commitment to the consolidation and deepening of our Strategic Partnership. I am confident that, through sustained efforts, Romania and the Republic of Azerbaijan will fully capitalize on the opportunities for the development of bilateral cooperation in areas of particular significance such as energy, transport, education, trade and investments. At the same time, Romania will continue to act for the continuous and harmonious development of the dialogue between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union, the President of Romania said in his message. I take this opportunity to invite Your Excellency to pay an official visit to Romania this year, with the objective of deepening the Strategic Partnership between our countries, Klaus Werner Iohannis noted. A person with dual citizenship has confessed to participating in a plot to circumvent US sanctions by exporting $7 million worth of weapons to the Russian military, intended for use in the conflict in Ukraine. Kristina Puzyreva, 32, admitted her involvement in a money laundering scheme during a court hearing in Brooklyn. The scheme was connected to a secretive international plot to smuggle technology to blacklisted entities in Moscow, as per Daily Mail. Money Laundering Unveils Global Weapons Exports involved components utilized in undisclosed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and guided missile systems that were discovered to have been utilized in Ukraine. Admitted to charges of money laundering, underscoring her integral role in a shadowy network that included her husband, Nikolay Goltsev, 37, and Salimdzhon Nasriddinov, 52. The trio, along with four unnamed co-conspirators in Russia, allegedly collaborated with major electronics companies supplying components to the Russian military. The indictment, filed in November, outlined Goltsev's history of procuring American electronic components for the Russian military while residing in Canada. Puzyreva, operating through Montreal-based Simatech Group Inc., a company involved in dual-use technology, received over 150 packages from US companies over five years. United States Attorney Breon Peace emphasized Puzyreva's pivotal role, describing her as a key figure in laundering proceeds from the scheme. The illicit transactions aimed to circumvent sanctions and supply technology to Russia, with the components later discovered on the battlefield in Ukraine, according to CBC News. Read Also: King of Jordan Arrives in Washington as Biden Urges Netanyahu to Use Restraint US Alerts on Illicit Military Tech Tensions Court records revealed Goltsev's association with another sanctioned Montreal-based company, Electronic Network, Inc., where he served as an account manager and purchasing coordinator. The scheme, which commenced in January 2022, reportedly involved over 300 illegal shipments valued at approximately $10 million. The Russian military strategically erected a strong barrier of freight carriages, widely known as a "Tsar Train," at a distance of 19 miles to hamper any prospective responses that the Ukrainian military may launch. The Russian military strategically erected a strong barrier of more than 2,100 freight railcars, widely known as a "Tsar Train," in the occupied Donetsk Oblast area of Ukraine. The barrier is situated between the towns of Olenivka and Volnovakha. US authorities emphasized the seriousness of the situation, with components from the illicit shipments being found in Russian equipment seized in Ukraine. The geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated, with the court proceedings shedding light on the intricate web of global conspiracies and the illicit transfer of military technology. In considering the truth that Puzyreva could face a sentence of twenty years in jail, this case exposes the difficulties that are brought about by worldwide networks that engage in the illicit export of sensitive technology as well as the complexity that is involved in the enforcement of sanctions. The investigations against Goltsev and Nasriddinov illuminate the broader efforts to dismantle such networks and safeguard national security interests, Reuters reported. Related Article: Threat from Egypt to Nullify Peace Accord with Israel Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's arrival in Abu Dhabi for a bilateral visit there is a sense of anticipation amidst the Indian community as the Prime Minister is due to attend a community reception 'Ahlan Modi' in Abu Dhabi. Ved Prakash Gupta, a member of the Indian diaspora and a volunteer at the 'Ahlan Modi' event, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming spectacle. While speaking to ANI, he remarked, "...This is a major milestone in India-UAE relations...We are a team of 1500 people who are working in different departments...It rained heavily yesterday but the weather is clear today...Everyone is eagerly waiting for PM Modi...It is a proud moment for Indians..." Gupta highlighted the collective effort of 1500 individuals working across various departments to ensure the event's success, underscoring the unwavering commitment of the Indian community in fostering stronger ties with the UAE. Despite adverse weather conditions, with heavy rain preceding the event, Gupta affirmed that the skies had cleared, setting the stage for a momentous occasion. In an interview with ANI. Abdul Jaleel, another member of the Indian diaspora, underscored the event's role in bolstering India-UAE relations. "We are super excited to welcome PM Narendra Modi here. We are expecting around 60,000 people here. Around 1,000 artists are going to perform here at the cultural event. People have started coming here from all over the UAE...The India-UAE relations are at peak..." he said. Prior to his departure, PM Modi also shared a post on X', highlighting that this will be his seventh visit since assuming office, which indicates the priority we attach to strong India-UAE friendship. He further called the UAE president "his brother", while expressed excitement and said, "I am eager to meet my brother UAE President." Further, in the statement, he noted that during his visit, he will also inaugurate the first Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi. "The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the statement emphasised. Later, after concluding his UAE visit, PM Modi will leave for Qatar, where he will meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation. "I am also looking forward to meeting other high dignitaries in Qatar," statement from PM's office stated. India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations. In recent years, the multifaceted ties between the two nations have continued to deepen in all spheres, including high-level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between the two countries, strengthening energy partnerships, and cooperation in culture and education. Moreover, "the presence of over 800,000 strong Indian communities in Doha is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties," the statement added. (ANI) In the last 24 hours, a combat team from the 7th Brigade operating in western Khan Yunis eliminated over 30 terrorists while carrying out raids on Hamas terror infrastructure, sniper ambushes and patrols. Also in West Khan Yunis, soldiers killed two terrorists who tried to move under the cover of the civilian population. When one of the terrorists was spotted pointing a gun at a protected Israeli military vehicle, troops reacted immediately and eliminated the terrorist. In addition, in the Khan Yunis area, soldiers located several terrorists transporting cargo on a motorcycle. The fighters directed an air strike that eliminated the squad. Meanwhile, soldiers also directed attacks on two military depots located inside terrorists' houses. In central Gaza, soldiers from Israel's Nahal Brigade eliminated about ten terrorists during the last day. As part of the activity, the brigade's fire complex identified a terror squad that entered the building from which an anti-tank missile was fired at soldiers. A fighter jet was called in to eliminate the squad. At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead. (ANI/TPS) Central Asia's leading international conference, the Astana International Forum (AIF), will take place under the aegis of the Kazakhstan President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on June 13-14 in Astana, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India, stated in a press release. Building on the success of the inaugural Forum in 2023, this year's event will provide a critical opportunity for the international community to unite in the face of mounting challenges to global security, stability, and prosperity. The Astana International Forum 2024 will gather government and business leaders from around the world to exchange perspectives on the most pressing issues of the day and identify new avenues for cooperation. According to the embassy, over 5000 participants from more than 50 countries, including heads of state, world's foremost policymakers, business leaders, and public intellectuals, Had participated in the forum in 2023. This year, the forum will aim to expand on its previous performance. The Forum's programme will be split into four pillars: Foreign Policy and International Security, International Development and Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change, and Economy and Finance. These pillars will serve as the principal topics for two days of engaging panel sessions, armchair discussions and dedicated networking opportunities, with the ultimate aim of delivering actionable results for the revival of multilateralism and new opportunities for bilateral partnerships, the release stated. Commenting on the launch of the second Astana International Forum, President Tokayev said, "In an era marked by polarisation and fragmentation, continued economic and geopolitical disruptions threaten to erode the essential principles of cooperation and mutual respect. I am deeply proud that, through the Astana International Forum, Kazakhstan is helping protect and enhance the international system at this key juncture." He further said that under the banner of 'Empowering People, Uniting Nations: Building a Better World Together', AIF2024 is poised to once again re-energise the global community, providing fresh perspectives and collaborative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing humanity today. "Kazakhstan has long served as a vital bridge between East and West. This strategic vantage point on the world -- geographically, culturally, and politically -- positions us to drive crucial discussions and foster meaningful conversation among the world's foremost policymakers, business leaders, and public intellectuals," the Kazakhstan President said. "The Astana International Forum 2024 is an important milestone for Kazakhstan on the world stage, as the country is set to chair several leading international organisations this year, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the Organisation of Turkic States, the Islamic Food Security Organisation, and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea," he added. (ANI) US President Joe Biden held discussions with Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and the two leaders have affirmed their commitment to work together to produce an enduring end to the Israel-Hamas crisis, the White House said in a statement. In a post on X on Tuesday, following a meeting with King Abdullah at the White House, President Joe Biden said, "Today, King Abdullah II and I discussed how no major military operation in Rafah should proceed without a credible plan to ensure the safety and support for the more than one million people sheltering there." Addressing a press conference with the morarch of Jordan, Biden underscored the importance of upholding the status quo on a hill in Jerusalem's Old City known to the Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary and to the Jews as Har ha-Bayit or the Temple Mount, recognizing Jordan's crucial role as the custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, the White House said in a statement. Further, the US President said that both he and the Jordanian king remain committed to achieving a durable, lasting peace to include a two-state solution for the Palestinian people with Israel's security guaranteed. King Abdullah, who spoke after Biden, also warned against the danger of "seventy decades of occupation" as he called for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "Seven decades of occupation, death, and destruction have proven beyond any doubt that there can be no peace without a political horizon," the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan said as reported by The Jerusalem Post. "Continued escalations by extremist settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem's holy sites and the expansion of illegal settlements will unleash chaos on the entire region," King Abdullah said. King Abdullah also called for a "permanent ceasefire", while the US has pushed for an extended humanitarian pause, the Jerusalem Post reported. He stated that, "We must make sure the horrors of the past few months since October 7th are never repeated nor accepted by any human being," King Abdullah said. The Jordan monarch stressed that the only solution to the violence was "a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution -- an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital but living side by side with Israel in peace and security." Meanwhile, the White House said that Biden and King Abdullah reiterated their "shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza." Palestinian authorities have reported a staggering death toll, with over 28,340 lives lost since the onset of the Israeli offensive in October, predominantly comprising women and children. Aid agencies estimate that over 80 per cent of Gaza's population has been displaced, with extensive damage inflicted on the region. Aid agencies estimate that more than 80 percent of Gaza's population has been displaced, and extensive damage has been inflicted on the region. Israel initiated its military campaign in response to an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,139 individuals, primarily civilians. (ANI) Chants of "Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai" and "Ahlan Modi" resonated through the air as the Indian diaspora gathered in Abu Dhabi expressed their fervent excitement after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The atmosphere outside the hotel, where PM Modi will stay, echoed with chants of "Har Har Modi-Ghar Ghar Modi," reflecting the anticipation among the gathered crowd. Members of the Indian diaspora eagerly awaited the chance to meet PM Modi and capture a moment with him. Adding a delightful touch to the welcome, women showcased their enthusiasm by singing songs to welcome PM Modi. The melodies added a soulful note to the gathering. Prime Minister Modi reciprocated the warmth by clicking photographs with the excited diaspora, creating memorable moments of shared joy. Before meeting the Prime Minister, Priyanka Birla, among those outside the hotel, shared her anticipation, saying, "We are hopeful of meeting PM Modi and getting a picture clicked with him. We are going to be a part of history as PM Modi inaugurates the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi." Indian business professionals, reflecting on their longstanding relationship with PM Modi, expressed excitement about the positive changes in ties between India and the UAE. They highlighted their role in promoting India in the UAE for the past 30 to 40 years and their continued collaboration with Indian professional groups. Rupa Wahi, a businesswoman with a 34-year history in Abu Dhabi, emphasised the peak of India-UAE relations. She remarked, "The ties between India and UAE are at peak. All the people gathered here have witnessed the change of ties after PM Modi came into power." The inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Temple added an extra layer of enthusiasm, with individuals expressing their joy and satisfaction. "Every Indian in UAE is blessed with this temple," shared an excited visitor who had already performed a Havan at the temple. The sentiment among the Indian diaspora was one of delight and honour as they eagerly welcomed PM Modi. Sonam Mittal, expressing excitement, stated, "This is a feeling of honor because I have met him twice in two months. PM Modi is an ideal leader for everyone, and we are super excited to meet him again." PM Modi has arrived in Abu Dhabi for his official visit to the United Arab Emirates from February 13 to 14. He was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport. Here, the Prime Minister will also address the Indian Community at a community programme, 'Ahlan Modi'. The enthusiasm of the Indian diaspora has been overwhelming, prompting organisers to close registrations last week as the number of attendees surpassed 65,000. PM Modi will be in the UAE from February 13-14, after which he will proceed to Doha. (ANI) The terrorist, identified as Omar Fayed, was involved in several shooting attacks against Israeli forces in Samaria and was planning to carry out additional attacks, the IDF said. During the operation to arrest Fayed, two soldiers were slightly injured by shrapnel and were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. Fayed was handed over to the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) for interrogation. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces arrested 18 wanted Palestinian terror suspects during counterterror raids in Judea and Samaria on Monday night. Soldiers operating in the Jenin refugee camp discovered tunnel shafts booby-trapped with explosives. Three wanted Palestinians were arrested and troops seized illegal weapons. In Qalqilya, where seven Palestinians were arrested, soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man who tried to run them over. In the village of Silwad, near Ramallah, soldiers arrested two wanted men and confiscated thousands of shekels earmarked for terror activity. An arrest raid in the village of A-Ram lasted nine hours as security personnel interrogated dozens of suspects, seized weapons and other military equipment, and arrested eight wanted Palestinians. Since October 7, about 3,100 wanted Palestinians have been arrested throughout Judea and Samaria, of whom more than 1,350 were associated with Hamas. (ANI/TPS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the first batch of students from the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi Campus and appreciated the project for bringing the students of two countries together. PM Modi said that this not only begins a new chapter in bilateral collaboration between India and the UAE, but also brings the youth from the two countries together. The opening of a campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in the UAE was envisioned by the leadership of India and the UAE in February 2022. "The project is a joint collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and aims to provide quality higher education opportunities to students globally," the MEA statement read. It would also foster partnerships between the two countries in the fields of next generation technology, research and innovation. The first academic program -- a Masters in Energy Transition and Sustainability -- commenced this January, the statement added. Earlier, upon his arrival at the airport, PM Modi was welcomed by UAE President Al Nahyan. The two leaders shook hands and hugged each other. They also held a one-and-one and bilateral meeting during which many MoUs were exchanged between the two countries. "Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport. I look forward to a productive visit which will further strengthen the friendship between India and UAE," said PM Modi in a post on X. The 'Ahlan Modi' or 'Hello Modi' event, organized by the Indian community in Abu Dhabi, has gathered unprecedented attention, with over 65,000 registrations received, reflecting the overwhelming response from the Indian expatriate community. PM Modi will be in the UAE from February 13-14 after which he will proceed to Doha, Qatar. (ANI) Amid concerns regarding the cost of living and human rights, Indonesia will go to the polls tomorrow, as it aims to enter a new phase in politics after President Joko Widodo has completed his maximum term as president. The people will elect not only a new president and vice president but also parliamentary and local representatives - in the world's largest single-day election, according to Al Jazeera. More than 204 million of Indonesia's 270 million people are registered to vote, and while voting is not compulsory, election day is a public holiday so turnout is generally high - 81 per cent at the last election in 2019, according to Indonesia's General Election Commission. There are 18 national political parties across Indonesia, with 575 parliamentary seats up for grabs. Incumbent Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, popularly known as 'Jokowi', has completed the maximum two terms in office, so this year's election will mark the first change in leadership in 10 years. Even Sembiring, the director of the Indonesian Forum for Environment in Riau (WALHI Riau) described the election as an "opportunity for healing" for Indonesian voters and "an important moment of potential to restore Indonesia for the next five years". There are three presidential and vice presidential pairings vying for the top jobs including a former military general, a one-time academic and a self-professed "man of the people". Among other major candidates contesting the polls, Prabowo Subianto (72), former military strongman and Indonesia's current defence minister is running for the top job for a third time, having lost to Jokowi in 2014 and 2019, Al Jazeera reported. However, Prabowo has long been criticised for his time in the military and has been accused of, but never charged with, the kidnappings of more than 20 pro-democracy activists at the end of the 1990s, about a dozen of whom have never been found. He has also been accused of human rights abuses in East Timor and Papua and was discharged from the military in 1998 and banned from entering the United States until 2020, after he became defence minister under Jokowi. His running mate, 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is also considered a "controversial" candidate, as per Al Jazeera. Prabowo is the head of Gerindra, a nationalist, right-wing populist political party, and has the backing of a coalition of other parties including Golkar and the National Mandate Party (PAN). Although Prabowo and Gibran do not have Jokowi's explicit endorsement, as the incumbent president is supposed to remain neutral, they are seen as the "continuity" candidates. Prabowo has also said he plans to build three million new homes in rural, coastal and urban areas, and launch a free lunch programme for schoolchildren in a policy designed to combat stunting. Another major candidate, Ganjar Pranowo is the 55-year-old former governor of Central Java and is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), considered a "secular nationalist political party" that backed Jokowi for the presidency in 2014 and 2019 and is led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, Al Jazeera reported. Ganjar is running with 66-year-old Mahfud MD, the former coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, and the candidates also have the support of the United Development Party (PPP), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo). Ganjar and Mahfud have pitched themselves as "two men of humble origins" who understand the people of Indonesia. They claim travelling the length and breadth of the country to listen to the concerns of ordinary Indonesians, and have run a campaign based on improving their lives, partly through the wider distribution of social assistance under a programme known as KTP Sakti. They have also pledged to raise salaries for civil servants, teachers and lecturers. Former Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan is running as an independent and "opposition" candidate in the election. The 54-year-old studied in the US, entered academia and later went into politics as education minister. But, he sparked controversy when he ran for the governorship of Jakarta in 2017 and was accused of using identity politics against his rival Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, who ended up jailed for blasphemy. Anies's running mate Muhaimin Iskandar, 57, is the deputy speaker of the People's Representative Council and the leader of the National Awakening Party (PKB), the largest Muslim political party in Indonesia. They are also backed by the NasDem party and another Muslim party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), as per Al Jazeera. Anies and Muhaimin are running on a promise to make Indonesia "just and prosperous" by, among other things, building 40 new cities across the country and cancelling Jokowi's plan for Nusantara. They have also pledged to promote equal opportunities for small business owners in order to create more jobs across Indonesia. However, Indonesians' main concern continues to remain the cost of living and being able to provide for themselves and their families. Economic growth slowed to 5.05 per cent in 2023 compared with 5.3 per cent the year before, mostly as a result of weak exports and lower commodity prices, Al Jazeera reported citing Statistics Indonesia. With people under 40 making up about half the total number of registered voters, employment is a key concern. According to Statistics Indonesia, the unemployment rate in August 2023 was 5.32 percent and the average monthly wage across Indonesia was 3.18 million rupiahs (USD 203). As per Al Jazeera, other issues include human rights and democratic decline in Indonesia, with student protests flaring across university campuses in recent weeks as staff and students at some of Indonesia's largest and most prominent universities including Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and Universitas Indonesia have spoken out about the need for fair and transparent elections On February 14, polling stations across Indonesia's three time zones will open at 7 am and close at 1 pm. All voters over the age of 17 will be given five different ballot papers to choose presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as representatives at national, provincial, regional, and regency and city levels. Depending on the area, some polling stations are likely to see long queues as voters turn out early in an effort to escape the searing Indonesian heat that builds throughout the day. In the voting booth, people make their choice by piercing the ballot paper with a nail in a process known as "coblos" which means "to punch". It is felt that using a nail to punch a hole in the ballot paper makes it harder to manipulate votes, as reported by Al Jazeera. Votes are counted in public at polling stations, with the paper ballots held up so everyone can see the light shining through the pierced hole as the names of the chosen candidates are read aloud. Once they have voted, every voter dips their little finger in indelible ink to guard against casting multiple votes. Meanwhile, the process at the polling stations will be overseen by about seven million election officials and independent workers. In a stark fact, more than 890 election workers died following the exhaustive polls in 2019. There are more than 8,20,000 polling stations across Indonesia, an archipelago made up of some 17,000 islands, and the count starts as soon as voting closes. Many polling stations use a "quick count" - based on a sampling method - to give an early indication of where things are headed. A preliminary result from the elections commission is likely to be announced on the evening of February 14, but the official result could take as long as 35 days, because many things depends on whether the vote is close, Al Jazeera reported. Any legal complaints by any of the candidates involved, including the three sets of presidential and vice presidential hopefuls, will need to be filed within 35 days of the election. On his previous two outings, Prabowo challenged the result through Indonesia's Constitutional Court Among the voters, about 52 per cent of registered voters are under the age of 40, and about a third of the total are under the age of 30, making the "youth vote" an important one. This year, 49.91 per cent of registered voters are male and 50.09 per cent are female. Members of the Indonesian police and the military are banned from voting. Presidential candidates need 50 per cent of the overall vote and at least 20 per cent of votes in each province in order to claim victory. Political parties need four per cent of the vote in order to enter parliament. Al Jazeera reported citing several Indonesian pollsters, Prabowo is leading the polls, although he continues to hover close to the 50 per cent mark, meaning that he may not be able to claim an outright win in the first round. If no single candidate passes the 50 per cent threshold, the top two candidate pairs will go into a second and final round on June 26. The new president will take oath in October. (ANI) Alicia Kearns, a UK lawmaker in the House of Commons, recently shared her concerns on social media regarding the ongoing suppression and genocide of the Uyghur Muslim community in Xinjiang, China. While chairing a foreign committee meeting in the UK, Kearns recently heard the personal experiences of Yalkun Uluyol, an exiled Uyghur rights activist, who shared the atrocities faced by his relatives in China. https://twitter.com/aliciakearns/status/1756232362478780583 Taking the matter to X, Alicia Kearns mentioned that "@YalkunUluyol shared his story, and that of his family, with the Foreign Affairs Committee. It is a heartbreaking insight into the reality faced by the #Uyghur people, one of loss, forced separation, grief, and the ache of the unknown. Genocide is taking place in #Xinjiang". During the foreign affairs meeting, Uluyol said, that his last visit to his hometown in China was in 2016, as he could not revisit because of mass detentions. The Uyghur rights activist further mentions that "the first member of my Uyghur family who was taken for re-education was taken in September 2016. Further my father disappeared in June 2018". "In 2020 was able to trace my father to a re-education camp built in my hometown. He was labelled untrustworthy for having relatives abroad. I had no communication with my family back home. So it took me 2 years to trace my father back to a detention camp," Uluyol further said. While spotlighting the strict security protocol forced on the Uyghur community, Uluyol mentioned that "the day I got married, I had shared some photos of myself on a Chinese social media, to share my happiness with my relatives back home. This had resulted in the forceful interrogation of all my relatives back home". He further added that the UK government in April 2021 had voted that China had been committing genocide on the Uyghur people and that same year the foreign affairs committee held its first inquiry. And since then nothing has changed towards the positive. Narrating another incident of atrocities inflicted by the Chinese authorities on his relatives even abroad, the Uyghur rights activist added, "Another time when I had shared a photo of my daughter on the Chinese social media. It resulted in police intimidation of my in-laws abroad. Further, I came to know very late that my father was sentenced to 16 years of prison, for no reason. Just like my uncle Ahmed Yakub who was sentenced a lifetime imprisonment." The Uyghur rights activist further took names of several of his relatives, intellectuals, and other ordinary people who have been sentenced to several years in prison. He further mentioned that some of his relatives and friends back in Xinjiang were sent to production facilities as a condition of release, and some of the captured were released but were kept under strict surveillance. Yalkun Uluyol mentioned that her daughter had passed away recently. But, he does not even know that his father even knew that he had a granddaughter. While giving the conclusion of atrocities that he and his people back home have to bear at the hands of Chinese authorities Uluyol said that "this is just my storyline of witnessing the milestones of worsening conditions in the region. From Mass detentions to state-imposed labor transfers, to unjust imprisonments and transgressional repressions added to the inability to communicate back home. I can dive further into mass imprisonment in labor camps. But nothing has improved as of yet, in terms of human rights violations in my hometown. As it is reflected in my life and hundreds and thousands of other Uyghurs". (ANI) One man was killed and five more people were injured in a shooting at a Bronx subway station Monday afternoon, the New York Police Department (NYPD) said. Police said that two groups of teenagers began a fight on a 4 train at about 4:30 p.m., which devolved into a shooting at a platform once the train stopped at the Mt. Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx. Six people were shot, four men and two women between the ages of 14 and 71 years old. A 34-year-old man died from his injuries, police said. Some of the victims were in the groups of teenagers, while others were bystanders, police said. The extent of the injuries was not disclosed. New Yorks heart breaks when people are headed home, and kids who are coming home from school to do their homework are subjected to random acts of violence like what occurred here late this afternoon, MTA Commissioner Janno Lieber said at a press conference. New Yorks heart breaks when guns are on the streets, even though the mayor and the governor are doing everything possible to get guns off the streets. New Yorks heart breaks when this happens senseless acts of violence of this kind, he continued. I spoke to the governor earlier, and she wanted me to express her confidence that the NYPD, who is the best in the business, is going to catch this guy, whoever it is. But in the meantime, our hearts go out to the victims. A suspect has not been identified. Police said video footage from the subway station is under review to determine the exact number of shooters, their accomplices and their possible identities. There have been 43 mass shootings so far in 2024, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland expressed their desire to collaborate in addressing the issue of Russian disinformation. They pointed out the importance of working together to counter these efforts. During a meeting in La Celle-Saint-Cloud near Paris, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne stated that three countries have reached an agreement on a joint warning mechanism to counter Russian troll attacks. The meeting included German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Polish colleague Radosaw Sikorski, as per Yahoo News. Viginum Reveals Pro-Russian Disinformation Cybersecurity researchers from Viginum have exposed a sprawling online network named "Portal Kombat," comprising at least 193 sites disseminating pro-Russian propaganda. The disinformation campaign primarily defends Russia's invasion of Ukraine and criticizes the government in Kyiv. The mass dissemination of misleading information, identified and analyzed between September and December of the previous year, has been traced back to Moscow. The disinformation network utilizes various platforms, including social media sites and messaging apps, to target individuals propagating conspiracy theories. Researchers noted a pro-Russian channel on the French Telegram app publishing up to nine articles per hour. The scale and sophistication of the campaign prompted the European Commission, NATO, and UN agencies to recognize disinformation as a significant threat to democracy in 2024. During a high-level conference in Brussels, a senior NATO official categorized disinformation as a "national security issue," acknowledging the potential for hybrid attacks that employ disinformation to escalate to the level of an armed attack. The UN's communications secretary general, Melissa Fleming, emphasized the impact of disinformation on creating suspicion and hatred, undermining peacekeeping efforts. At the same conference, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, stating that this new form of conflict is about words and ideas that can colonize minds, rather than physical harm. Vera Jourova, the EU's vice president for values and transparency, expressed concern about the Kremlin's continuous efforts to spread propaganda and interfere in democracies. She welcomed the determination of France, Germany, and Poland to combat this disinformation, according to The Guardian. Read Also: Netanyahu Signals Intent for Ground Invasion of Rafah Amidst International Condemnation Pro-Russian Disinformation Floods Western Networks The sites linked to the network do not generate original content but aim to saturate the internet with material from Russian and pro-Russian sources on social media, Russian press agencies, and official accounts loyal to Moscow. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these sites have targeted Russian communities in Ukraine and several Western countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Spain, the UK, and the US. The Viginum report reveals that the disinformation network shifted its focus after the invasion, targeting occupied Ukrainian territories and Western countries supporting Ukraine. The primary objective is to present a positive narrative of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, denigrating Ukraine and its leaders with inaccurate or misleading narratives. Beyond the war in Ukraine, officials warn that Russia's disinformation campaign extends to influence high-stakes elections and disrupt mega sporting events in the UK, the European Union, and the United States. French officials accuse Russia of working to confuse and scare voters, discredit candidates, and create disruptions at major events. Last month, French defense officials disclosed that France, a staunch ally of Ukraine, had been a target of a Russian disinformation campaign following President Emmanuel Macron's reaffirmation of support for Kyiv. The report by Viginum underlines the ongoing threat posed by Russian disinformation campaigns and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to counteract them, AP News reported. Related Article: Parliamentary Report Says British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Deportation Plan is Fundamentally Flawed Smoke rises after a fire broke out at the Liseberg amusement park's new water world Oceana in Goteborg, Sweden, Monday Feb. 12, 2024. A fire raged through a water park attraction with several slides in the Nordic regions largest fun fair with a huge plume of black smoke drifting over Goteborg, Swedens second largest city. Authorities, including the police and fire fighters, could not say whether there were any casualties. (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency via AP) STOCKHOLM (AP) Firefighters in Sweden were struggling for the second day on Tuesday to put out a blaze at a water park that's under construction at one of the countrys biggest amusement centers. One park employee is missing and 16 people, mainly workers, were slightly injured. Authorities could not say what had caused the fire at the Oceana water park in the popular Liseberg amusement complex in Goteborg, Swedens second-largest city. The fire broke out on Monday and spread over several water slides and the pool area. Svante Carlsson of the city's fire department said his firefighters have gotten the fire under control on Tuesday. There was extensive damage and some parts of the structure have collapsed, he said, adding that he expects his crews to be on the scene for some time. A nearby hotel and office facilities were evacuated. Police earlier said they were investigating the blaze as a workplace accident and a case of gross public negligence. Quelling the blaze had been made difficult because of the risk of collapse, firefighters said, adding there still were pockets of fire burning. Oceana, which had been scheduled to open this summer, is to include an indoor swimming area of almost 6,000 square meters (7,176 square yards) and a 4,000-square-meter (4,780-square yards) outdoor swimming facility. The water park has said that up to 1,750 guests can visit at a time. Liseberg, which opened in 1923, is a popular tourist destination with some 3 million visitors a year. WPXIs 11 Cares and its partners 84 Lumber, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Duquesne Light Company, Edgar Snyder & Associates and Highmark Wholecare teamed up with Special Olympics Pennsylvania for the Polar Plunge. The Cool Schools Plunge & Happy Hour Plunge Feb. 23 and the General Plunge Feb. 24 outside Acrisure Stadium raised over $1 million for athletes in our ara. Funds raised from the plunge fund operating costs for 4,000 athletes in The Three Rivers Region who participate in Special Olympics activities. 11 Cares is sponsored 84 Lumber, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Duquesne Light Company, Edgar Snyder & Associates and Highmark Wholecare. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Whether you are seeking new adventures in central Ohio or eager to explore the state on a budget, weve got you covered. From hiking through scenic state parks to marveling at iconic landmarks like the Marblehead Lighthouse, join us as we uncover the best free places Ohio has to offer. Get ready to discover the beauty, history, and culture of Ohio all without spending a dime. This embedded content is not available in your region. Free museums in Ohio Cincinnati Art Museum Situated in Eden Park overlooking the Ohio River, the Cincinnati Art Museum was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Allegheny Mountains, according to its website. The museums collection encompasses more than 73,000 works spanning 6,000 years. Admission to the museums permanent collection is free, with a suggested donation for certain special exhibitions. Fried chicken eatery opening location on Far East Side Cleveland Museum of Art/Adobe Stock Cleveland Museum of Art Located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, the Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for its extensive collection spanning more than 6,000 years of artistic achievement, its website notes. Admission to the museums permanent collection is free, although special exhibitions may require tickets. National Museum of the US Air Force/Adobe Stock National Museum of the US Air Force The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located near Dayton, Ohio, is the largest military aviation museum in the world, according to its website. There are more than 350 aerospace vehicles on display, spanning from the early days of flight to the modern era. Admission to the museum is free, providing an exceptional opportunity for visitors to explore the remarkable legacy of the U.S. Air Force and its impact on the world. Ohio Statehouse/Adobe Stock Ohio Statehouse tours While not an actual museum, the Ohio Statehouse, located in downtown Columbus does offer free guided tours that provide visitors with insights into the states legislative process and history, according to its website. The tours offer fascinating anecdotes about Ohios political history, architectural significance, and the notable figures who have walked its halls. Whether youre a history buff, a civic-minded individual, or simply curious about Ohios governance, a free tour of the Ohio Statehouse offers a captivating glimpse into the heart of state government. Toledo Museum of Art The Toledo Museum of Art, located in Toledo, Ohio, is celebrated for its extensive collection spanning thousands of years and diverse cultures. With more than 30,000 works of art, the museum offers visitors a comprehensive artistic experience, its website states. One of its standout features is the Glass Pavilion which showcases glass art in a stunning architectural setting. Admission to the museum is free, making it an accessible and enriching cultural destination for all. Free parks in Ohio Chillicothe, Ohio: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Mound City group model/Adobe Stock Hopewell Culture National Historical Park This park, positioned near Chillicothe, Ohio, preserves several ancient earthwork complexes built by the Hopewell culture, the website notes. The park has several sites, including Mound City Group, Hopeton Earthworks, and Seip Earthworks. Admission to the park is free. Best places in central Ohio to see solar eclipse Hocking Hills State Park Hocking Hills State Park, set in southeastern Ohio, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and unique geological formations, according to its website. Visitors to the park can explore towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and intriguing rock formations such as Old Mans Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls. With miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and opportunities for outdoor adventure, Hocking Hills State Park offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park/Adobe Stock Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located in northeastern Ohio, is a stunning natural oasis boasting lush forests, picturesque waterfalls, and meandering rivers, as noted on its website. Visitors can explore hiking trails, offering opportunities for outdoor adventure and wildlife viewing amidst the parks diverse ecosystems. From scenic overlooks to historic landmarks like the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a tranquil retreat for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Free unique sites in Ohio Multiple Topiary Figurines in the Old Ohio Deaf School Park in Downtown Columbus, Ohio/Adobe Stock Topiary Park Situated in Columbus, this park features a living re-creation of Georges Seurats famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, according to its website. The topiary sculptures depict the characters and scene from the painting, making it a unique and whimsical attraction. Longaberger Basket Building/Adobe Stock Longaberger Basket Building The Longaberger Basket Building was originally built as the headquarters for the Longaberger Company, a manufacturer of handcrafted maple wood baskets. The seven-story building is shaped like a giant picnic basket, complete with two large handles. While the building was sold in 2017 and is no longer used as the Longaberger Company headquarters, it still stands as a unique landmark in Newark, Ohio. While you cant enter the building itself, you can drive by or stop to take photos of this iconic structure from the outside. Marblehead Lighthouse/Adobe Stock Marblehead Lighthouse Marblehead Lighthouse State Park offers visitors a picturesque destination along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio. Visitors can explore the historic Marblehead Lighthouse, one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and enjoy panoramic views of Lake Erie from the surrounding park grounds, its website notes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A man was arrested early Tuesday morning in Nacogdoches County after deputies reported to have found 12 bottles of promethazine cough syrup and other drugs during a traffic stop. According to the sheriffs office, Devin Hamilton, 30 of Natchitoches, La., was pulled over for speeding in a construction zone around 1 a.m. near the intersection of Durst Street and S.W. Stallings Drive. Man arrested after suspected meth found during Nacogdoches County traffic stop The first indication to an NCSO deputy that something wasnt quite right was when the driver handed over his credit card instead of his license, officials said in a release. Deputies were denied consent to search the car, according to officials, and a K-9 officer was called in who alerted to the scent of drugs. Officials said the following items were found when the car was searched: A box containing 12 bottles of promethazine cough syrup 11 THC vapes A small bag of marijuana Eight vacuum sealed packages of marijuana Photo courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office said a total of 8.4 pounds of marijuana was recovered during the stop. Hamilton was arrested for second-degree felony possession of a controlled substance, third-degree felony possession of marijuana and a class a misdemeanor charge for possession of a dangerous drug. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. An incompetently inspected scaffold and a missing pully pin were among the safety violations leading to the death of a 22-year-old working on the construction of a Miami Beach house, OSHA said in an inspection report. The U.S. Department of Labors workplace safety arm wants Homesteads Stucco Works, run by president Miguel Jimenez and agent Christopher Jimenez, to pay $74,555 in fines. Stucco Works, which has no other Occupational Safety and Health Administration citations in the last 10 years, has contested the fines. Stucco Works failure to make employee safety a priority led to the loss of a young workers life, OSHA Area Office Director Condell Eastmond said. Employers are required to follow the federal standards that are meant to protect workers from the hazards that caused this tragedy. Of the violations, 12 of the 14 were classified as serious, and two were designated other-than-serious. None were classified as :willful. A hit to the head According to OSHA, the tragedy happened around 11 a.m. July 13 during work on a two-story home being built at 1096 N. Venetian Dr.: An employee working on a plastering project for a construction company was filling buckets with concrete. The employee needed to take the buckets to the second floor of a building using a scaffold pulley system. The pulley system fell off and the top part hit the employee in the head. The employee died from blunt force trauma... The largest proposed fine, $15,625, came for the violation described by OSHA as on the north (front) side of the house, the scaffold system was overloaded in that the hoist/pulley on the scaffold system was missing a coupling pin, exposing employees to struck-by and/or crushed-by hazards. Among the other violations in the Citation and Notification of penalty: On July 13 on the north side of the house and June 29 on the west side, the scaffold systems were not inspected by a competent person, exposing employees to fall, struck-by and/or crushed-by hazards. OSHA felt that was worth $6,250, the same as on the north side of the house,the scaffold system lacked base plates, exposing employees to a fall, struck by and/or crushed by hazard. The employer did not implement an accident prevention program for employees involved in stucco work. The house being built at 1096 N. Venetian Dr. when a 22-year-old worker for Stucco Works was hit by a pulley and died on July 13, 2023. DAVID J. NEAL/dneal@miamiherald.com Each employee on a scaffold was not provided with additional protection from falling hand tools, debris, and other small objects through the installation of toe boards, screens, guardrail systems, or through the erection of debris nets, catch platforms, or canopy structures that contain or deflect the falling objects. For falling objects too large, heavy or massive to be contained or deflected, the employer did not place and secure such potential falling objects away from the edge of the surface from which they could fall. Each platform on all working levels of scaffolds was not fully planked or decked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports leaving a fall hazard from 10 to 27 feet depending on the side of the house. At two spots on the north side of the house, the scaffold system didnt have a ladder, leaving a fall hazard of 10 feet at one spot and 27 feet at another point. To file a workplace safety complaint with OSHA go to the website or call 800-321-6742 (OSHA) This embedded content is not available in your region. Pittsburgh police have arrested a teenage boy in connection to the shooting of a convenience store employee on the citys South Side earlier in February. Delvon Dobbins, 16, was arrested on the 1600 block of Morningside Avenue on Tuesday morning without incident. Only Channel 11 was there when Dobbins was walked into Pittsburgh Police Headquarters after being taken into custody. His charges stem from the shooting of a convenience store employee at the intersection of 22nd and East Carson Street on Feb. 3. Police say the victim was taking out the trash when he was shot in the chest. >>> Man shot while taking out trash in Pittsburghs South Side Flats The victim said a male walked up to him and pulled out a gun, possibly a Glock, and shot him in the chest. The male then ran up South 22nd Street towards Carey Way. The victim recognized the shooter as someone who had been in the store about a month prior. Court documents said Dobbins was seen on surveillance footage taking a black handgun from a backpack and storing it in his jacket. Surveillance cameras also captured Dobbins fleeing towards South 21st Street. Police say Dobbins will be charged as an adult and is facing attempted homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and firearm charges. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Why is Facebook chirping on phones? How to turn off the sound Man charged in overnight Moon Township shooting Were all hurting: Friend of man killed during argument with his girlfriends father speaks out VIDEO: Karns City QB Mason Martins father remains hopeful his son will fully recover from brain injury DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A Russian agent has been detained in Kyiv Oblast by the SBU Security Service of Ukraine who was collecting intelligence on the Defense Forces and critical infrastructure in the region, the SBU reported on Feb. 13. The suspect attempted to pinpoint the locations of Armed Forces aviation and showed interest in the routes and frequency of flights of Ukrainian aircraft. To gather information, the Russian agent rented an apartment near a local airfield for a few days. Read also: SBU arrests Russian agent in Zaporizhzhia region for helping target missile strikes Additionally, he surveyed the geolocation of the Armed Forces air defense systems and assessed the accuracy of strikes on power facilities. SBU officers apprehended the suspect while he was conducting further reconnaissance near a power generating facility in Kyiv. According to the investigation, the Russian agent, an 18-year-old resident of Kyiv, was recruited remotely several months ago by a Russian FSB officer. The Kyiv resident attracted the attention of the enemy special service due to his activity in pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, where he advocated for the Russian war against Ukraine. Read also: Ukrainian authorities capture alleged collaborator facilitating Russian attacks in Vuhledar For carrying out his tasks, the suspect received funds from the FSB, which were deposited into his bank account. During searches at the detainees apartment, the SBU confiscated a mobile phone and a computer containing evidence of his correspondence with the Russian special service, as well as a bank card with funds from the FSB. SBU investigators have formally notified the suspect of suspicion of high treason, committed under martial law. Security Service of Ukraine Security Service of Ukraine Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine North Korea has made important progress by creating a cutting-edge ballistic control system for a multiple rocket launcher, complete with controllable shells. According to KCNA, the Academy of Defence Science recently carried out a test firing of 240-mm calibre controllable multiple rocket launcher shells, as part of a "ballistic control" exercise. North Korea's Rocket Upgrade Raises Concerns It was stated by the official media that the rocket launcher's strategic worth is going to be "reevaluated" as a result of its recent "rapid technical improvement," which is expected to result in an increase in its function on battlefields. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stressed that the development of both the shell and the ballistic control system will bring about a "qualitative change" in the multiple rocket launcher force of the country. In recent weeks, North Korea has launched a series of missile tests, which have caused widespread worry throughout the world. The announcement comes after these tests. There has been a lot of criticism from the international community over North Korea's increasing missile programs and its deepening of its connections with Moscow, respectively. Concern has been expressed by the United States of America and its allies about the potential for these activities to further destabilize the area. To counter this, North Korea has asserted that the United States and South Korea are contributing to the escalation of tensions by conducting extensive military drills. As a result of North Korea's declaration of South Korea as its "principal enemy" earlier this year, the geopolitical environment has become even more complicated. North Korea has taken measures such as shutting offices that are committed to reunification and outreach. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, stated once again on Friday that Pyongyang would not hesitate to "put an end" to South Korea in the event of an assault. He referred to Seoul as the North's "most dangerous and first enemy state and invariable arch-enemy," according to CNU. Read Also: Imran Khan Supporters Protest Pakistan Election Results South Korea Fortifies Defense Against North Threats The language is consistent with the recent artillery bombardment that North Korea launched on two South Korean border islands in January. This barrage prompted the South to conduct a live-fire drill and issued evacuation orders for the people of the islands. In addition, Kim has increased the number of weapons tests he has conducted, including the launch of a flurry of cruise missiles, which has led analysts to speculate on the possibility of connections with Russia and the ramifications these links may have for Ukraine. Through the adoption of a hawkish approach, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has committed to provide a robust reaction to any provocations that may come from Pyongyang. Following his election to the presidency in 2022, President Yoon has expanded joint military exercises with the United States and Japan in order to counteract the mounting dangers posed by North Korea. He has also improved defense cooperation with the United States. As the international community continues to keep an eye on these happenings, an increasing number of worries are being raised over the possibility of further escalation and the impact on the stability of the area. Global attention remains focused on the fragile equilibrium existing on the Korean Peninsula, as diplomatic efforts persist to find a peaceful resolution to long-standing tensions, The Defense Post reported. Related Article: End of Indonesian Election Campaign Draws Huge Rallies A 6-year-old United Airlines passenger was left scarred after her hot meal fell off a faulty tray table, a lawsuit says A lawsuit says a 6-year-old girl was left scarred by a hot meal on a United Airlines flight in 2022. It alleges that a "defective" tray table caused the meal to fall onto the girl's lap. It also accuses United of failing to properly train flight attendants to treat burn injuries. Two parents are suing United Airlines, alleging their 6-year-old daughter was burned by a hot meal because of a faulty tray table. Michal and Ben Fefferman filed the lawsuit, which Business Insider has seen, in a Chicago court last Wednesday. It says the incident took place on a flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Newark, New Jersey, in 2022. The complaint says a flight attendant gave an "unreasonably hot" meal to the girl's mother, who then placed it on her tray table. It says that "this particular tray table was defective, slanting downward toward the seat." The suit says the meal slid off onto the 6-year-old's lap. It added that she suffered "severe" burn injuries that have left her "scarred and disfigured." The suit says that the girl's mother requested medical attention from the cabin crew but that the crew couldn't help her properly as the plane didn't have suitable supplies to treat burns. The lawsuit says the 6-year-old "suffered in extreme discomfort for the remainder of the 12-hour flight." It alleges that United didn't properly train its flight attendants to safely provide hot meals to minor passengers or to respond to burn injuries. The Feffermans requested a jury trial for medical costs and unspecified damages over $75,000. Their case claims negligence as well as liability under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty stipulating that airlines are liable for any passenger injuries aboard an aircraft unless they can prove the passenger was negligent. When reached by BI, United Airlines said it could not comment on pending litigation. Correction: February 13, 2024 An earlier version of this story misspelled the parents' surname. They are the Feffermans, not the Fettermans. Read the original article on Business Insider LIBERAL, Kan. (KSNW) The 75th Annual International Pancake Day race was held in Liberal on Tuesday. It is a friendly competition between the women of Olney, England, and the women of Liberal. KSCB News reports that Liberals Pamela Bolivar was the winner of the race. She is a 19-year-old native. Bolivar ran the race in 1:03.03. Last years winner, Isabelle Sullenger, came in second, and Minerba Lopez was third. In Olney, Kaisa Larkas, won the race with a time of 1:03.37. Eloise Kramer came in a very close second, with Rebecca Budd in third. Bolivar edged Larkas to give Liberal the win this year. Liberal leads the series 41-31. The day in Liberal had several events, including a pancake breakfast, pancake eating and flipping contests, youth races, a mens pacer race, the international race, the shriving service, and an international video call between the two cities. It will be capped off with a parade. IHOP is giving away free pancakes on National Pancake Day: How it works WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE PANCAKE DAY RACE? In Olney, England, the race tradition dates back nearly 600 years to 1445. A woman engrossed in using up cooking fats (forbidden during Lent) was making pancakes. Hearing the church bells ring, calling everyone to the shriving service, she grabbed her head scarf (required in church) and ran 415 yards to the church, skillet and pancake in hand and still apron-clad. Neighbors got into the act in the following years, and it became a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a Kiss of Peace from the verger (bell-ringer.) WHY DOES THE DATE CHANGE FOR PANCAKE DAY? Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, and Pancake Day all refer to the same day, the day before the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40 days of fasting and prayer before Easter Sunday. Since Easter changes each year, so does the date for Shrove Tuesday. Liberal attempts Guinness World Records for pancakes HOW DID PANCAKE DAY GET STARTED IN AMERICA? Liberal Jaycee President R.J. Leete contacted the Rev. Ronald Collins, Vicar of St. Peter and St. Pauls church in Olney, challenging their women to race against women of Liberal. HOW MANY RACES HAVE THE TOWNS WON? The overall score stands at 41 wins for Liberal and 31 for Olney. In 1980, the score didnt count because a media truck blocked the finish line in Olney. In 2017, the race did not count due to a malfunction in the time clock. In 2021, the event was canceled due to a global pandemic. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. About 9,400 cases of mobilization evasion are currently under investigation in Ukraine, 2,600 of which have been sent to court, First Deputy Head of the National Police Maksym Tsutskiridze said in an interview with news outlet Censor.NET on Feb. 13. Such cases are being considered in courts somewhat slowly, we understand that judges have a heavy workload, but there are already verdicts, the National Police representative said. In 2022, 250 verdicts were handed down, in 2023 about 300. However, the courts still need to work harder to make people feel that there is no reversibility of punishment for this crime. Read also: Lawyer challenges legality of 'conscription dragnet' detaining men off streets The largest number of criminal cases of mobilization evasion are being investigated in the border regions of Ukraine: Odesa, Zakarpattya, Lviv, and Chernivtsi oblasts, said Tsutskiridze, adding that most of these proceedings result in suspended sentences. The courts take into account the moral state, some ethical factors, the presence of relatives who are dependent on these people, children, their arguments about their unfitness for service, although the medical commission provides a certificate that they are fit, Tsutskiridze said. Read also: Can military-eligible men be returned to Ukraine, how will EU react? A bill was proposed in the Verkhovna Rada earlier, in which MPs propose to adopt amendments to the Criminal Code to toughen the punishment for persons liable for military service who illegally leave the country to evade mobilization. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Early Tuesday, Senators passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid package to help Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The bill now heads to the House where it faces an uncertain future. The bills passage in the Senate ends a drawn-out debate in the upper chamber but the drama has only begun in the House, where conservatives are vowing to sink the package. President Joe Biden is urging House members to unite behind U.S. allies. Biden says the House must finish the job of the Senate and green light billions in aid. House Republican, youve got to decide. Are you going to stand up for freedom or side with terror and tyranny? Biden said. Word of the vote reached Ukraine where President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Senate. 17 Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass the bill but 29 voted no and did everything they could to slow its passage. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt and Utahs Mike Lee criticized their Republican colleagues for voting yes. Why would 17 Republicans play any role in sending a bill to a majority Republican house. One that is destined to fail, said Lee. House Speaker Mike Johnson may block the bill. National security begins with border security, Johnson said. And the most conservative Republicans intend to back him up. Its time for us to serve the American people, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). But President Biden is not ready to give up on helping Ukraine. We cant walk away now, he said. The president and House democrats are calling on the speaker to bring the bill to a vote immediately. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sent a letter to House democrats where he made it clear that democrats will use every available legislative tool to get comprehensive national security legislation over the finish line. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A judge in Georgia is set to hold a hearing on evidence on Thursday to address essential concerns regarding Fulton County DA Fani Willis. During this session, the court will carefully consider the claims made to exclude herself from the case involving a Donald Trump associate. The lawyer representing the individual connected to Trump, who is facing accusations of involvement in the "fake electors" scheme in the state, intends to summon a group of witnesses who will testify about an alleged "inappropriate" relationship between Willis and a lawyer on her team. This development is expected to bring Trump into yet another legal battle. DA Fani Willis Could be Disqualified The upcoming hearing in the Trump 2020 campaign racketeering case is poised to be a blockbuster moment, featuring anticipated testimony from key figures, including special prosecutor Nathan Wade, prosecutor Willis, and even Willis's father. The courtroom drama seeks to address weeks of verbal sparring between the parties, with each side accusing the other of spreading false information about Willis's ties to special prosecutor Wade. Judge McAfee, presiding over the case, has vowed to keep the hearing focused on crucial issues, signaling a readiness to intervene if defense counsel attempts to introduce harassment or undue embarrassment for the prosecutors. The primary questions at hand revolve around the nature, timing, and continuation of the alleged relationship between Willis and Wade, and its potential impact on the case. The push to disqualify Willis gained momentum after Trump campaign operative Mike Roman brought the relationship to light, prompting support from Trump and other co-defendants. McAfee announced on Monday that decisions on whether Roman can subpoena key figures, including Willis and Wade, will be deferred until the Thursday hearing. The district attorney's office, aiming to avoid testifying, acknowledges a "personal relationship" between Willis and Wade but asserts that it poses no professional conflict. Roman's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, disputes these claims, presenting allegations that Wade's former law partner, Terrence Bradley, would testify to the pre-existing nature of the relationship. Merchant also cited contradictions in Wade's statements, pointing to divorce filings where he allegedly denied any external relationships during his marriage, contradicting his recent affidavit acknowledging the relationship with Willis, according to The Hill. Read Also: Stoltenberg Warns That Trump's Statement Regarding NATO Allies Puts Multiple Parties At Risk Testimony Despite Prosecution's Objections Despite Willis and Wade's attempts to cancel Thursday's hearing and dismiss their orders, Judge McAfee seemed open to allowing testimony from certain defense-subpoenaed witnesses, including Willis. He stressed the need of having a strong basis of relevance for their testimony. During the hearings, Fulton County prosecutor Anna Cross strongly urged the judge to dismiss the subpoenas, arguing that the defense's claims of financial conflict were unfounded speculation regarding the potential witnesses' lack of support. Cross argued that dividing the expenses from Willis and Wade's shared travel equally helps to downplay any claims of financial conflict made by the defense. Despite the prosecution's objections, the judge seemed inclined to allow testimony from subpoenaed witnesses but deferred a final ruling until the Thursday hearing. The defense argued that the witnesses have relevant information, with Merchant stressing that Willis and Wade possess the "most relevant" details. Various types of actions are involved in the ongoing legal case, including Willis's plea to invalidate subpoenas, Wade's attempt to invalidate an order for his bank records, and a former employee of the DA's office seeking to invalidate a request issued to her. Former President Trump has recently become involved in the campaign to disqualify Willis and have the charges against her dropped. He claims that there have been ethical violations by the DA's office. A group of people, including Trump and Roman, are currently facing charges in a racketeer accusation. These charges are connected to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Four defendants have already reached plea agreements in exchange for their cooperation, ABC News reported. Related Article: Boston: Airport K-9 Sniffs Out Potentially Dangerous Mummified Monkeys in Passenger's Luggage In a big win for House Democrats, Tom Suozzi won the special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday. His victory over Republican Mazi Pilip means he'll fill the House seat of disgraced former Republican Rep. George Santos. Heres why the special election took place and why it matters beyond New York. Why there was a special election Santos was kicked out of the House of Representatives last December in a bipartisan vote following the release of a report from the House Ethics Committee that found there was substantial evidence he had violated campaign finance laws. Santos became the sixth House member ever to be expelled. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement NY-03 includes the Long Island suburbs and a small portion of Queens. Voters decided Tuesday that Suozzi will fill Santoss seat to complete the 11 months remaining in his term. Who ran to replace Santos Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip went head to head for Santoss seat. At the time the Associated Press called the vote, Suozzi had 59% of the vote, while Pilip had 41%. Pilip conceded and congratulated Suozzi. Both candidates are likely to face off again this year in November since they have both committed to run for full congressional terms. Suozzi, a moderate Democrat, had the benefit of name recognition since he previously represented NY-03 for six years. He gave up his seat when he ran for governor, but lost to Kathy Hochul, in 2022. Pilip is a county lawmaker and Ethiopian immigrant who migrated to Israel when she was 12. She served in the Israel Defense Forces before moving to the U.S. While a registered Democrat, she was elected to the Nassau County Legislature as a Republican. Why the special election is a big deal Since Suozzi flipped the seat for Democrats, Republicans now have an even thinner majority over Democrats in the House (219-213). That means Republicans can only afford two defections from their GOP colleagues on key votes at a time when they have struggled to maintain unity on key legislation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement House Democrats now gain even greater leverage and could force Republicans to work across the aisle in order to pass legislation. On a national level, Suozzi's win in NY-03 could provide a messaging guide for Democrats competing in similar districts in the presidential election this November, especially when it comes to issues like immigration and border security. As New York deals with a massive influx of migrants, Suozzi held a firm line on the issue and even called on President Biden to temporarily close the U.S.-Mexico border. Welcome to The Agenda! This new weekly feature will cover all the public meetings in Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights that may be important to you. On the agenda this week is a Petersburg Area Transit Public Hearing on Thursday, which is open to the public. Interested community members are encouraged to attend the hearing and provide their input on proposed locations for a new Petersburg Area Transit Maintenance Facility, as well as bring up any concerns or questions they may have. An Architectural Review Board meeting is also on the agenda for Wednesday, Feb. 14 to review exterior alterations to properties in Local Historic Districts. Residents are welcome to attend and provide input. Regular city council meetings are scheduled for Hopewell and Colonial Heights on Tuesday, Feb. 13, both of which are open to the public. A regular city council meeting for Petersburg is scheduled for the following Tuesday, Feb. 20, which is also open to the public. These are the public meetings for Tuesday, Feb. 13 through Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024: Tuesday, Feb. 13 Hopewell City Council Regular Meeting, open to the public. 6 p.m., Municipal Building (City Council Chambers, 300 N. Main St. Hopewell, VA.) Colonial Heights City Council Regular Meeting, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Council Chambers (201 James Avenue Colonial Heights, VA.) Wednesday, Feb. 14 Architectural Review Board Meeting: A public meeting to review exterior alterations to properties in Local Historic Districts. 6 p.m., Multipurpose Room of the Petersburg Public Library (201 W. Washington St., Petersburg, VA.) Thursday, Feb. 15 Petersburg Area Transit Public Hearing, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: The City of Petersburg/Petersburg Area Transit will hold a public meeting at 100 West Washington Street, Petersburg VA (1t floor lobby area of Petersburg Station) to receive community input on proposed locations for a new Petersburg Area Transit Maintenance Facility. The community is invited to come out and ask questions or address any concerns you may have. Tuesday, Feb. 20 Petersburg Regular City Council Meeting, 5 to 8 p.m., Petersburg Public Library (201 West Washington Street, Petersburg, VA.) Hopewell Water Renewal Commission Meeting, 4 p.m., Hopewell Water Renewal GRTC Building (231 Hummel Ross Road, Hopewell, VA.) This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: City Council, Architectural Review Board And More: THE AGENDA. An aggressive moose was fatally shot after charging at a homeowner in Alaska, officials said. On Feb. 11, Alaska State Troopers received a call that a moose charged at a homeowner in Willow, knocking him down, according to a news release by the department. The attack came after the homeowner fired a gun as a warning shot in an attempt to scare the animal away, officials said. Before attacking, a moose lays its ears back and the hairs on its hump stand up, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A moose slowly walking toward you may be them initiating a warning to keep away. The homeowner was medically evaluated by paramedics and refused treatment, officials said. Troopers fatally shot the moose, said to still be acting aggressive near the front of the home, officers said. A charity was called to collect the meat, officials said. Willow is about 70 miles north of Anchorage. What to know about moose Moose are protective animals and will defend their territory and their young. If someone encounters a moose, they should give it space to leave, wildlife officials said. People shouldnt try to haze a moose to move out of the way. Wildlife officials said people should do the following if a moose charges: Run away quickly Put a tree, rock or other large object between them and the moose Get up quickly if knocked down Report the incident to wildlife officials as soon as possible Protective moose tramples hiker on trail with barking dog, Colorado officials say Terrified young moose flees garbage truck chasing it, Alaska video shows. Disgusted Cranky moose attacks dog walker on Alaska trail then the dog steps in, troopers say Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) said that if U.S. President Joe Biden really has a poor memory, then he should leave U.S. politics. The independent presidential candidate shared his remarks after a special counsel released a report about the Democrat leader's cognitive health. The special counsel even described Joe Biden's memory as "faulty," "fuzzy," "poor," and "hazy." Now, RFK Jr. decided to take advantage of this situation to slam the U.S. president. He shared with the public what he would do if he was in the position of the American leader. RFK Jr. Targets Joe Biden's Alleged Poor Memory RFK Jr. slammed Joe Biden after the release of a special counsel's report alleging that the president's cognitive health is deteriorating. When he was asked he Joe Biden should step aside, RFK Jr. said that he would hope that someone in his family would urge him to do so. The independent presidential candidate said that he hopes this will happen to him if he's in Biden's position. "I think anybody can make up their mind about [Biden's situation] as well as I can," said RFK Jr via Fox News. "If I were in that position, a member of my family or staff would approach me and assist me in gently stepping down," added the American politician. He was also asked if it was the right time for first lady Jill Biden to intervene with her husband's political agenda. RFK Jr. agreed that Jill should be the one urging Joe Biden to step aside from politics. "Yeah. I think she should," simply replied RFK Jr. But, he clarified that if Joe Biden thinks that he is still fit to run as the U.S. president again, then he should agree to "unscripted discussions in public. "We need a president who is on the ball, somebody who we all trust to answer that phone call at 3:00 in the morning..." he explained. Read Also: Nevada Republican Caucus: Donald Trump on Course To Achieve Another Victory in Presidential Campaign Joe Biden Defends His Cognitive Health According to NBC News, the controversial report regarding Joe Biden's cognitive health was released by special counsel Robert Hur, who is investigating the president's handling of classified documents. The report claims that the American leader couldn't recall the exact when his late son, Beau Biden, died. Aside from this, Robert Hur's report also stated that the president couldn't remember the exact time frame he served as the vice president. After learning about the document, U.S. President Joe Biden was furious about the allegations about his cognitive health. He said his "memory is fine." Although the report will not lead to charges for mishandling classified documents, experts said that Robert Hur's report dealt a heavy blow against Biden since it could undermine his message to voters. Related Article: Joe Biden Defends Nikki Haley After Donald Trump's Remarks on Former South Carolina Governor's Husband By Ngouda Dione DAKAR (Reuters) -Senegal cut mobile internet access on Tuesday ahead of a banned march against the postponement of a presidential election, and rights groups accused the authorities of using overly repressive tactics to stifle widespread opposition to the delay. The abrupt postponement of the Feb. 25 vote to December has plunged Senegal into crisis and intensified a backlash against what many see as an attempt to extend President Macky Sall's mandate and a threat to one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa. After deadly clashes between protesters and police late last week, the government refused to permit a silent march planned by activist groups for Tuesday and ordered mobile operators to suspend internet access. In a statement, the communications ministry said the suspension was necessary because hateful and subversive online messages had provoked the previous unrest. Internet monitor Netblocks said: "The incident underscores the growing use of mass censorship in the country." The U.N. human rights office and Amnesty International accused the authorities of disregarding fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression and using excessive force against protesters. Three people were killed and around 270 reportedly detained during the protests that swept the capital Dakar and several other Senegalese cities on Friday and Saturday. "Amid rising tensions and reports of planned further protests, it is crucial that the authorities unequivocally order the security forces to respect and ensure human rights," U.N. human rights spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell said at a briefing on Tuesday. "Today's renewed suspension of mobile internet access and the ban on the silent march are violations of the right to freedom of expression and the right to information," Amnesty's West Africa office said on X. Organisers of Tuesday's march said it would now be held at 1100 GMT on Saturday and called on people nationwide to take part. Sall has said the election delay was necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the vote, but some opposition lawmakers and civil society groups have denounced it as an "institutional coup". The standoff has raised fears of protracted unrest in a country usually seen as one of West Africa's more stable democracies. The region has witnessed a string of military coups and constitutional manoeuvres to extend presidencies in recent years. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a call with Sall on Tuesday reiterated U.S. concern about the situation and made clear that the United States wants to see elections continue as scheduled, the State Department said. "We are extremely concerned about the situation in Senegal," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing. "We want to see a return to elections. We'd like to see them February 25th and if they don't take place on February 25th, we want to see them take place as soon as realistically possible after that." The French foreign ministry said on Tuesday Senegal must hold a new presidential election "as soon as possible" and use proportionate force when dealing with protests. A diplomatic mission from West Africa's main political and economic bloc ECOWAS has been in Senegal since Monday to discuss the situation. In a statement, it recommended sending a new mission as early as next week to help organise a national political dialogue "as a matter of emergency." "The decision (to postpone the election) is a source of tensions which could lead to a deadlock and jeopardize the tradition of peace and stability needed for the organization of elections under conditions of transparency and justice," it said. (Additional reporting by Bate Felix, Emma Farge, Portia Crowe, Felix Onuah abnd Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis; writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Alessandra Prentice; editing by Bernadette Baum, Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis) A curious video featuring a Republican Congressman from Virginia began to circulate online at the end of December. In it, Rep. Rob Wittman appeared to pledge military support for Taiwan based on the outcome of the islands presidential election. According to a fact check, published by Agence France-Presse in January, the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee appears to say the following in the video: If Lai [Ching-te] and Hsiao [Bi-khim] became president, the United States would accelerate all arms sales to Taiwan, send US military personnel with combat experience to assist Taiwan's training, and invite Taiwan's army to train in the United States, to strengthen self-defense capabilities. Wittman told USA Today that his team immediately reported the video as misinformation after it was discovered. Wittman said the deep fake underscored efforts by bad actors to interfere with democratic processes around the globe. It also added to his concern for the coming U.S. elections. It is more important than ever that Congress establishes guidelines for responsible use of artificial intelligence, he said in a statement. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, there is a high possibility that well see a rise in deep fakes that could be used to influence U.S. elections. With an absence of federal legislation to regulate AI-generated content ahead of what is anticipated to be a fraught election cycle, states have been left to form a patchwork of dos and donts for candidates and campaigns. In Virginia, a handful of bills filed before the start of the legislative session take aim at the use of new technology. Some seek to regulate AI-generated content and prohibit certain uses of the technology; others propose the formation of studies or commissions to assess and get ahead of potential pitfalls. None have advanced beyond their respective committees as of early February, the halfway mark before the end of the 2024 regular legislative session. Virginia AI legislation is slow-going State Senator Suhas Subramanyam, D Ashburn, authored a bill to form one of those joint commissions. He supports the use of AI for political campaigns but he wants to make sure those uses dont lead to unintended consequences, he said. I could see really bad uses of AI when it comes to campaigning. I mean, I think about deep fakes and bots and so many other uses that can really harm our democracy, and I want to make sure that we regulate and stop the bad behaviors and the bad uses of the technology, he said. Subramanyam was elected to the General Assembly in 2019, after he worked in the Obama White House as a technology advisor. While at the White House, his focus was the affect of emerging technology on the lives of Americans and what needed to be done from a policy-making standpoint. It can be a really powerful tool for people running campaigns. Think about the way we can generate content so quickly; think about the way we can use different types of images and tell more compelling stories with the help of AI machine learning, he said. If formed, the charge of the joint commission could be to assess the impacts of AI-generated deep fakes, misinformation, and data privacy implications. It may also suggest measures to ensure the new technology does not lead to discrimination and explore how AI could be used to improve government services and policy. His bill was referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Friday. Other AI-focused legislation include a bill that regulates the use of the technology by developers which was pushed to the 2025 legislative session; a bill that requires an impact assessment to be done before a public body uses the technology; and a bill that forbids the creation and use of deep fakes. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R - Orange County, was inspired to write the bill that prohibits deep fakes after hearing about issues in the music recording industry regarding the use of the technology. His bill would ban the creation or sharing of deep-faked images, videos or audio, without a contractual agreement with the subject. It would also offer civil recourse to victims. He said his bill was written broadly and could be applied to political campaigns. It is anticipated to be discussed in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on Wednesday. Theres no doubt in my mind that there are some nefarious people in politics, just absolutely ruthless, theyll do whatever they can to win, he said. As a politician, how do you stop it? Once its out, its out. Reeves acknowledged that the mechanisms in his bill allowing a victim of a deep fake to sue the creator would work slowly while the use of the technology in the 2024 election has moved at a fast clip. Were always chasing our tail on some of this stuff because its so fast moving and then how do you get at the bad actors without hitting the legitimate uses of it? he said. Both Reeves and Subramanyam agreed that regulations are needed for the use of the new technology in elections. And the used of the new technology for political campaigns already has a precedent in Virginia. The Virginia experiment: AI-authored campaign letters During the 2023 General Assembly election, Tech for Campaigns launched an experiment aimed to determine if artificial intelligence could help state and local campaigns fundraise. The non-profit offered volunteer services to 36 different campaigns in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly race. They found that AI-aided emails raised 3.5-4.4 times more dollars per work hour than human-written fundraising emails. Jessica Alter, co-founder and board chair, noted that each AI-aided email was proofread by a human staff member before it was sent out to voters. The alternative is that most of them, in large proportion, would have no one doing it, a staff member doing it as their seventh job I think thats important for the fundraising emails or probably not the best people doing it, Alter said. A state house campaign isnt raising that much money each month on emails. If they have to pay you $5K on emails and theyre raising $6K, is it really worth it? Even if AI-aided emails earn the same amount of dollars as those written by humans, they save immense work hours for campaigns that can then spend that time on voter engagement, she said. The goal of Tech for Campaigns, which launched in 2017, is to bring commercial best practices in new technology to the political world and to help Democrats win and to fight extremism, Alter said. We certainly see the risks of AI and we aren't downplaying them, but we also want to help build, experiment, and educate in the political arena so it's not all doom and gloom and we're not left behind as a party, she said. In 2024, Tech for Campaigns plans to work across 180 largely state legislative campaigns in 14 states. Federal efforts are slow-going Much like state legislation, federal efforts to pass AI regulations have also lagged. Two bills that would regulate the use of AI-generated content in political campaigns were introduced in Congress in 2023 but have languished. One, introduced by Rep. Yvette Clarke, D New York, in May, would expand disclosure requirements for campaign ads to include if AI was used to generate videos or images. The other, introduced in September and led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D Minnesota, would forbid the use of AI in political advertising. Another AI-focused bill would form a national commission in hopes of regulating the technology. It was introduced in June by Rep. Ted Lieu, D - California, and cosponsored by Wittman. It hasn't moved since. Either is a step in the right direction, Rep. Don Beyer, D Virginia, said. Although we havent passed any AI legislation yet, the great hope, the good news is that so far all of the AI policy discussions have been bipartisan. Beyer recently returned to college to pursue a masters degree in AI and machine learning at George Mason University. The senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee and member of the House Ways and Means Committee has since become a leading proponent of policy to regulate the new technology. He noted that the right policies need to be in place to regulate AI. Were struggling to figure out what those right policies are, he said. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: AI-generated content proved to be successful in fundraising in 2023 for Va Dems From Beyond An Indonesian political party used generative AI to "resurrect" one of the most violent political figures in the nation's history in a bizarre, deepfaked endorsement message, CNN reports the latest, and possibly strangest, use of generative AI in the world of politics, elections, and information. The figure pictured in the deepfake first shared to X-formerly-Twitter on January 6 is the former Indonesian dictator Suharto, whose US-backed New Order Regime is estimated to have killed anywhere between 500,000 and about a million Indonesians. Suharto's brutal regime lasted over three decades, until mass unrest caused him to formally resign in 1998. He died in 2008. But now, it seems that Suharto is back. Sort of. Per CNN, the long-dead leader's voice and visage were brought into Indonesia's ongoing election cycle via deepfake by leaders of the nation's Golkar party, the right-wing political group to which Suharto and his New Order Regime once belonged. According to CNN, the Golkar party is supporting frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, the current Indonesian defense minister who served as one of Suharto's former generals and was even Suharto's one-time son-in-law. In the video, Suharto reportedly implores Indonesians to cast support for the Golkar party meaning it's a de facto endorsement of Prabowo, as the defense minister is more commonly known. "On February 14 2024, we will determine the fate of the Indonesian nation," Golkar party deputy chairman Erwin Aksa, who first shared the video to X, captioned the deepfaked clip (as translated from Indonesian to English using Google Translate.) "We must elect the right people's representatives and leaders for Indonesia, for all Indonesian people." https://twitter.com/erwinaksa_id/status/1743858270799003875 Memory Hole This isn't the first time AI has been deployed in the ongoing Indonesian election. According to Reuters, Prabowo's campaign previously used AI to create a cartoonish AI avatar of the general who helped carry out massacres and has attempted multiple coups in the past in a seemingly successful attempt to soften the hardline military head's image to younger voters. Coupled together, these AI use cases feel like an ominous sign of election times. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, a fact that the Golkar party clearly understands. And when a younger electorate is far enough removed from a nation's violent history, rewriting that history, one cuddly AI avatar of a violent general at a time, might get a bit easier. That said, though, not all Indonesian voters found the Suharto clip to be so inspirational. "This is the state of our country today," one Indonesian citizen posted on X, according to CNN, "bringing dead dictators back to life to fool and scare us into votes." More on AI and elections: Bill Gates Says AI Could "Undermine Elections and Democracy" Dr. Corey Murphy, Chief Officer of Operations and Student Services, speaks before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Highland Springs Middle School in North Augusta, S.C., on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Murphy has just been named the next superintendent. The hunt for Aiken County's next school superintendent is over. The school district's chief of operations and student services, Corey Murphy, will take the big chair this upcoming school year following Superintendent King Laurence's retirement, according to the school district's spokesperson Ashley Bodine. Murphy has more than 20 years of experience in public education, including time spent as a chief of staff for a Virginia school district, a principal at two different South Carolina schools, and a teacher for a Columbia high school as well as the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. 'It's absolutely wonderful': New North Augusta middle school celebrated by community He is also a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and has had more than 23 years of military service. Murphy is also a longtime Gamecock with multiple degrees from the University of South Carolina including a bachelor's in biology, master's in educational leadership and supervision, educational specialist degree in educational administration, and doctorate in educational administration. "I consider this to be the honor of my life," Murphy said. "I will build on the stalwart leadership of King Laurence to push the boundaries of public education. I will be ready from day one to take charge and continue to work to maximize every childs potential in safe and functional educational spaces." Murphy will begin his duties as superintendent on July 1. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Aiken County Public School District's next superintendent confirmed Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 16 of the 23 Shahed drones Russia launched overnight, the Air Force said in its morning update on Feb. 13. The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in southern Russia as well as cape Chauda in the occupied Crimea. Anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force were involved in repelling the air attack. The weapons were intercepted over Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. No casualties were reported at the time of the publication. Ukraines main private energy company DTEK said on Feb. 13 that one of its thermal power plants was targeted in an overnight Russian attack. The shelling severely damaged the plant, according to DTEK. The company did not specify where the plant that was hit is located, presumably to avoid giving up sensitive information about the location of Ukraines critical infrastructure. In the early hours of Feb. 13, Suspilne media outlet reported power outages in the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and Pavlohrad district Pavlohrad is located 80 kilometers east of Dnipro, regional capital. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, at least 10 attack drones were downed in Dniprovskyi district, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said via his official Telegram channel. An energy facility came under attack in the city of Dnipro as well as an infrastructure site. A fire broke out and was later extinguished by rescuers, according to Lysak. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia stops using human wave attacks in Avdiivka, deploys small assault groups instead, commander says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. AURORA, Colo. The Air Force said Monday it will create a new forward-looking capabilities planning command, refocus its training enterprise, and rethink how airmen deploy as part of a set of 24 initiatives designed to reorient the service to outpace Chinas military ambitions and prevail in future conflicts. The Air Force and Space Forces top civilian and uniformed leaders unveiled the sweeping slate of plans at the Air and Space Forces Associations Air Warfare Symposium here following a monthslong, department-wide review that began in the fall. Its results comprise one of the most significant reorganizations since the end of the Cold War. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the goal is to prove the Department of the Air Forces competitive resolve to U.S. adversaries particularly Russia and China and to execute those plans with urgency. We can no longer regard conflict as a distant possibility or a future problem that we might have to confront, Kendall said. The risk of conflict is here now, and that risk will increase with time. Among the biggest shakeups is the launch of a new Integrated Capabilities Command. The organization will become a central planning hub as the service crafts its requirements for the decades ahead removing that responsibility from the services other commands and allowing the Air Force to think more holistically about its needs. The new command, to be led by a three-star general, is just what the name infers, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin said. This is where the operators will test operational concepts against our force design, he said. They will also ensure that when we have modernization initiatives, those are rationalized to ensure we do not unintentionally put modernization on platforms that really dont have a long-term play in the future force design. It wastes money. The move also frees up the Air Forces major commands, which organize, train and equip troops for missions around the globe, to focus on daily operations rather than future force planning. The Space Force will create a similar organization, Space Futures Command, to lay the groundwork for expanding the services missions through experiments and wargames. While much of the proposed updates aim to revamp the Air Force and Space Forces acquisition enterprise including several more offices that will lend greater focus to the departments highest-priority projects, like nuclear modernization and information warfare the services also hope to improve how airmen and guardians are trained throughout their careers. To that end, Allvin said, the service will replace its Air Education and Training Command with a new Airman Development Command. While few details accompanied the announcement, Allvin said the renamed command aims to streamline the educational pipeline, so that when troops move from one part of our Air Force to another part of our Air Force, they dont need to relearn the systems and tools and they can develop faster. We believe were going to have a more coherent force that can move rapidly through the future, Allvin said. Were all also reinforcing mission-ready training. Many details of this weeks announcements, on which the service had raced to build consensus by Mondays keynote, are still being finalized. Its unclear where the headquarters of new organizations will be located, or how quickly the department can launch them. Senior leaders had discussed the possibility of consolidating the Air Forces nine major commands into a more streamlined system, according to two sources outside the military who are familiar with the internal discussions. But rather than combine or eliminate commands, Allvin said, the service can do more to highlight the various roles within them particularly, how they provide forces to the larger joint combatant commands like U.S. Cyber Command and U.S. Transportation Command. That includes a plan to move Air Forces Cyber from under Air Combat Command and elevate it to a service component command. AFCYBER would report to U.S. Cyber Command for daily offensive and defensive operations on military networks and systems. Doing so may allow CYBERCOM to more seamlessly direct Air Force cyber units and give the organization a larger role in managing its own training and resources. The shift marks Air Forces Cybers third major move since 2018, when the organization moved from Air Force Space Command to Air Combat Command. It later combined with Air Force intelligence units to create 16th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. As it seeks to become more nimble and responsive to the joint combatant commands that direct daily operations around the world, the service will also turn its operational wings into units of action, categorized as deployable combat wings, in-place combat wings and combat generation wings, the Air Force said. The idea is to create standardized packages of combat assets, like aircraft, maintainers and other support staff, that can deploy alongside the same squadrons with which they train, without shortchanging bases of the airmen needed to run daily operations and protect their perimeters. The plan is expected to contribute to more predictable deployment schedules, a top focus for the service after leaving Afghanistan in 2021. Allvin also said the Air Force will aim to mount a new service-wide training exercise in the Indo-Pacific in fiscal year 2025 that tests how pieces of the force work together, rather than limiting those lessons to individual commands. Hints of other planned personnel changes have already trickled out, including news that the service will bring back warrant officers to bolster the Air Forces technical expertise in cyber operations and information technology. The Air Forces last active duty warrant officer retired nearly 50 years ago after the service deemed them too inflexible to meet its personnel needs, according to the Warrant Officer Historical Association. The Department of the Air Force isnt requesting specific funding for the changes in the fiscal year 2024 or 2025 budgets, but will ask Congress to move money around mid-year if necessary, Kendall said. New funding will be built into the fiscal 2026 budget request that is starting to take shape, he added, but officials will largely try to use existing appropriations in new ways. One challenge the Air Force faces will be defining the separate responsibilities of each organization, one retired general officer told Air Force Times. Defense organizations tend to multiply over time because its typically easier to stand up a new unit to address a problem than to repurpose existing ones, he said, so leaders must have a clear implementation plan and ensure airmen understand the long game. Another retired general officer questioned whether the Air Force and Space Force have enough time to put the plans into action before Kendall, a political appointee, may leave his post at the end of President Joe Bidens current term. The department must see its vision through to the end to ensure piecemeal changes dont cause more confusion than good, he said. The question is, will it be done right? he said. Airlines cancel more than 1,100 flights as Nor'easter winter storm strikes More than 1,000 flights have been canceled as a winter storm hits the Northeast. Forecasters in Boston expect up to a foot of snow to fall. Several airlines are waiving change fees to give passengers more flexibility. Air passengers are facing severe disruption on Tuesday as the Northeast is hit by a strong winter storm. More than 1,100 flights have been canceled across the US as of 7:30 a.m. ET, according to FlightAware. The storm is set to dump the heaviest snowfall on New York City for more than two years, The New York Times reported. It's set to get up to six inches of snow, while forecasters in Boston expect up as much as a foot, per the National Weather Service. JetBlue has canceled about a fifth of its schedule, or 156 flights, although regional carrier Republic Airways is the worst affected with 244 cancellations, per FlightAware. Several airlines are waiving change fees for passengers due to travel on Tuesday. They include American, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United. Delta's waiver includes flights on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The terms are slightly different for each airline and the waivers apply to select airports. Passengers should check their airline's website for more information. If your flight is canceled then you're entitled to a full refund, but there isn't always compensation for delays. Always check your flight status with your airline before you leave home and monitor https://t.co/k7zrxdl7w2 for real-time airport info. #FAAWeatherSquad https://t.co/ptIUFpwsmi The FAA (@FAANews) February 12, 2024 Last month, a storm in the UK and Ireland resulted in some bizarre journeys, leaving passengers hundreds of miles away from their destinations. Ryanair passengers due to fly just 160 miles across the Irish Sea were diverted to Paris, nearly 500 miles away. And another flight that was supposed to land in Dublin ended up 640 miles away in the south of France. That's the same distance as New York City to Indiana. Read the original article on Business Insider Ibrahim Hasouna, center, the sole survivor among his family, sits amidst the debris of his bombed home in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. On Monday, February 12, Hasouna lost eight family members, including three children, He says the house was bombed during an Israeli operation to rescue hostages held in a building in another part of town. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Ibrahim Hasouna trudged over the rubble of the destroyed house, pointing out where family moments had taken place where his mother and sister-in-law used to sleep, where he played with his 5-year-old nieces, where he helped his 1-year-old nephew take his first steps. His entire family was now dead his parents, his two brothers, and the wife and three children of one of those brothers. The house was reduced to rubble on top of them in the barrage of airstrikes that Israeli warplanes inflicted across Rafah before dawn Monday as cover for troops rescuing two hostages elsewhere in the city on the southern Gaza border. At least 74 Palestinians were killed in the bombardment, which flattened large swaths of buildings and tents sheltering families who had fled to Rafah from across Gaza. Among the dead were 27 children and 22 women, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, whose researchers compiled the list from Rafah hospitals. The Israeli offensive has taken a heavy toll on women and children, with more than 12,300 Palestinian children and young teens killed in the conflict, the Gaza Health Ministry said Monday. The 30-year-old Ibrahim, his parents and his brothers arrived in Rafah a month earlier, the latest of their multiple moves to escape fighting after fleeing their homes in northern Gaza. They rented a small, one-story house on the east side of Rafah. I was close to them, Ibrahim said of his older brother Karams children. In the house, he would play cards or hide-and-seek with them to distract them from the war, he said. The twin girls, Suzan and Sedra, often asked if they would go to kindergarten and if their teacher from kindergarten back home was alive or dead, he said. The strikes came at a moment of joy. The families had just obtained three chickens the first they would have to eat since the war started more than four months ago. The children were thrilled, Ibrahim said. The family was sick of canned food, which was the main thing they were able to get under an Israeli siege that has allowed only a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza. They planned to eat the chicken Sunday night. But during the day, Ibrahim went to visit a friend on the other side of Rafah, who convinced him to stay the night. Ibrahim called home, and they decided to put off the treasured meal so he wouldnt miss it. Ibrahims mother, Suzan, put the chickens in the neighbors fridge. Just after 2 a.m. Monday, Ibrahim began getting calls from friends telling him strikes had hit in the neighborhood where his family was staying. Unable to reach them by phone, he walked and hitched a motorcycle ride back home. He found massive destruction, he said. The first thing he saw was a womans arm that had been hurled across the street to the door of a neighboring mosque. It was his mothers. He dug through the rubble, pulling out body parts. Later he went to the Youssef Najjar Hospital and identified the bodies of his mother and his father, Fawzi, an engineer. The body of his younger brother Mohammed had no head, but he recognized the clothes. In a bag that staff brought him were parts of his brother Karam and his family. He recognized pieces of his niece Suzan from her earrings and a bracelet, one she used to fight over all the time with her sister, Ibrahim said. He spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday as he walked around the rubble of the home. He recalled how the childrens noise in the morning would wake him up, but their noises were comforting for me. He pointed to part of the wreckage. There, he said he would sit with his nephew Malek to bask in the sun and to walk him for a little bit. To walk a little bit and have a sense of life. Israel said the bombardment was to cover its troops as they extracted two Israeli hostages from an apartment and made their way back out of Gaza. The military has not commented on why specific sites across Rafah were targeted in the barrage, but Israeli officials have blamed Hamas for causing civilian casualties by operating in the heart of residential areas. The extent of the bloodshed from the raid has increased fears of what could happen if Israel follows through with vows to attack Rafah in its campaign to destroy Hamas. The city and its surroundings now shelter more than half of the Gaza Strips entire population of 2.3 million after hundreds of thousands took refuge there. Already, Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, more than 70% of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel has vowed to uproot Hamas from Gaza and win the return of more than 100 hostages still in the group's hands after the Oct. 7 attacks in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. ___ Follow AP's coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Akron Public Schools is proposing closing Robinson Community Learning Center as an elementary school in order for the building to become the new home for STEM High School. Students at Robinson, located just east of downtown, would be rezoned to David Hill and Mason community learning centers, keeping them within the East cluster of schools. Students could also open enroll at another school within the district but would have to provide their own transportation if they don't choose David Hill or Mason. If approved, the change would take place next school year. District administrators said they would reopen the already closed open enrollment process for students affected by redistricting. Akron Public Schools is considering closing Robinson Community Learning Center as an elementary school and moving STEM High School into the building. Robinson has about 280 students this year. As an elementary school, it can hold more than 400 students. The building would have to be outfitted to fit a high school, especially one as specific as STEM High, which has additional offerings, including a robotics team. That cost is estimated to be between $500,000 to $1 million. The proposal would rename the school Robinson STEM Community Learning Center. The Family Resource Center, a partnership with United Way to serve all families in the East cluster, would still remain at Robinson, and resources would still be available to any family within that community, leaders said Monday night. STEM High is in need of a new home because its lease with the University of Akron for use of the former Central Hower High School building is ending after this school year. The board has heard several proposals on where to put STEM, with previous possibilities including Leggett CLC, STEM Middle, vacant space within East CLC and vacant downtown space not owned by the district. Robinson said parents have expressed their children want to stay in the same space, but "we're not able to do that." In lieu of that, he said, this solution would give parents other things they wanted for their STEM students, from ample parking to a free-standing building, not just a wing of an existing school. "I think this opportunity is the best we are able to do in order to ensure the integrity of the program," Robinson said. Other updates to Akron Public Schools' redistricting plan The administration gave an overview of the updated redistricting proposal at the school board's business meeting Monday night. Previously announced closures of Firestone Park Elementary and Essex and Stewart Early Learning Centers are still moving forward in the most recent proposal. In the proposal, Firestone Park students would be rezoned to Glover, McEbright and Voris CLCs. Early learning classrooms now at Essex and Stewart would be distributed across the district. Harris Jackson students who have been at Essex due to overcrowding at their home school would be returned to Harris Jackson, which will have boundary lines redrawn so some students will be rezoned to Barber CLC. Forest Hill CLC will also have some students rezoned to Harris Jackson, and a small number will be moved from Barber to Seiberling CLC. The board could vote on the plan at its Feb. 26 meeting. Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Public Schools proposes closing Robinson CLC, moving in STEM High Russian President Vladimir Putin has implemented a substantial blockade of freight cars spanning nearly 20 miles in order to prevent potential Ukrainian counterattacks in the future. Described as a "Tsar Train," this formidable barrier has been referred to as "exceptionally resistant to damage, displacement, or destruction" as Russia persists in its conflict in Ukraine. Russian Forces Erect 19-Mile Rail Barrier Ukrainian intelligence reports reveal that Russian forces have constructed a colossal 19-mile-long train barrier consisting of over 2,100 freight railcars, potentially serving as a defensive line against future Ukrainian attacks. The barrier, strategically positioned between Olenivka and Volnovakha in Ukraine's occupied Donetsk Oblast region, raises concerns about the effectiveness of this engineering structure. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War have been monitoring the construction of this extensive railcar barrier, initiated approximately nine months ago in July 2023. While the precise effectiveness of the barrier remains uncertain, the intention appears clear-to impede the advancement of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Ukraine's Digital Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, released an ambitious plan to manufacture a large number of long-range drones by 2024. These drones are said to have the capability of conducting deep strikes into Russia. Several Ukrainian companies have started producing drones with the ability to reach major cities in Russia. The drone industry has seen a remarkable expansion, thanks to the creation of long-range kamikaze drones that can travel distances of 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 kilometers. Fedorov emphasized the rapid expansion of the drone sector, with Ukraine training 20,000 drone operators through a program offering military training grants in private schools since the beginning of 2023. The recent surge in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil facilities indicates the sector's progress. The Digital Minister highlighted the government's efforts to deregulate the drone market swiftly, with increased funding through initiatives like BRAVE1, as per The Sun. Read Also: King of Jordan Arrives in Washington as Biden Urges Netanyahu to Use Restraint Ukraine's Private Sector Leads in Drone Production Unlike Russia, Ukraine's drone production industry is primarily driven by private companies. Out of the ten companies that manufacture long-range drones, only one is state-owned. Fedorov conveyed the government's dedication to promoting innovation in private military start-ups and providing financial support to the drone industry. The Ukrainian government allocated $2.5 million (2 million) in grants to military tech start-ups through the BRAVE1 initiative last year, with plans to increase funding tenfold in 2024. Fedorov expressed determination to secure additional financing to enhance Ukraine's capabilities further. The ongoing technological advancements in the conflict are brought about by changes in both defensive and offensive strategies. Since Russia strengthens its defenses with strong rail barriers, Ukraine is placing a priority on drone technology, seeking to close the gap in strike capabilities and match Moscow's long-range drone production. President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced an ambitious goal for Ukraine to manufacture one million First Person View (FPV) drones by 2024, highlighting the significance of technology in the ongoing conflict, according to The Standard. Related Article: Threat from Egypt to Nullify Peace Accord with Israel [Source] Sony Pictures has found its new Karate Kid in American Born Chinese actor Ben Wang. Breaking the news: The official Karate Kid movie Instagram page broke the casting news in a post on Tuesday, in which it welcomed Wang, 24, into the Karate Kid Movie family. How he got in: Wang nabbed the role after an audition that showed his connection to the character, with his fluency in Mandarin and his martial arts skills, including in karate, Wing Chun and kung fu, also helping him, according to the Hollywood Reporter, citing studio insiders. Trending on NextShark: Viral video of daughter slapped by her father after return home from Tet sparks debate He also competed with tens of thousands of actors who auditioned for the role, with as many as 10,000 entries submitted in the first 24 hours after Sony announced its global casting search in November 2023. What to expect: While Sony is still keeping the Karate Kid plot details under wraps, the new film will reportedly bring the story to the East Coast, unlike the Los Angeles setting of the classic 1984 movie of the same title, according to the Reporter. The new movie, of which the title is not yet revealed, will focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction through martial arts under the guidance of his mentor or possibly even two mentors. Jackie Chan, 69, and Ralph Macchio, 62, will reprise their roles as Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid movie and Daniel LaRusso from the classic trilogy, respectively. Trending on NextShark: Fewer Japanese women are giving obligatory chocolates to male colleagues on Valentine's Catching up: Before landing the Karate Kid lead role, Wang starred in the now-canceled Disney Plus series American Born Chinese, which also featured Academy Award-winning actor Michelle Yeoh. He can also be seen in the musical movie Mean Girls. The Karate Kid movie will crane kick its way to theaters on Dec. 13, 2024. Trending on NextShark: Angela Chao, CEO of US-based shipping company Foremost Group, dead at 50 Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! American Jews report feeling significantly less safe than they did one year ago, according to a survey released Tuesday. The annual survey from the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a global advocacy organization, shows a 22-point increase in the share of American Jews who say the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure than a year ago. In the 2023 survey, 63 percent of American Jews say the status of Jews in the country is less secure than a year ago, up from the 41 percent who said the same in the 2022 survey. About 34 percent of American Jews said in the new poll they felt about the same as a year ago. In 2022, 55 percent said they felt about the same. In an op-ed Tuesday released with the survey results, former Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), AJCs chief executive, called on non-Jewish allies to stand with Jews against antisemitism. Deutch also pointed to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that governs Gaza, as an inflection point for Jews. The survey included interviews with 1,528 American Jewish adults, conducted from Oct. 5 through Nov. 21. We are at an inflection point. The Jewish community is defiantly standing united, and we need our non-Jewish allies to stand with us, Deutch wrote. If, before Oct. 7, antisemitism was a slow-burning fire, it has now become a five-alarm emergency that requires all of us to douse its flames. The survey also showed that 46 percent of American Jews have changed their behavior in the past year out of fear of antisemitism by either avoiding certain places or events, publicly wearing or displaying things, or posting social media content that might identify them as Jewish. It is sadly not surprising that the vast majority of American Jews are feeling less safe today than they did before October 7, 2023, Deutch said in a separate statement. In the days, weeks, and months since the terror attack, the world has seen a staggering increase in antisemitic speech, anti-Jewish violence, and demonstrations glorifying Hamas terrorists. How are Jews supposed to feel secure when so many side with the murderers in the wake of the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust? The AJC survey had a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Human rights group Amnesty International said four sites hit by Israel in separate targeted attacks in Rafah that killed 95 civilians including 42 children were not lawful military targets, accusing Israel of direct war crimes for indiscriminate attacks. Amnesty International said three of the strikes hit in December and another hit in January, all in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that is acting as a major refugee camp for around 1.5 million Palestinians. The human rights group said the investigation, published Monday, indicates there is no evidence the targeted residential buildings were lawful military targets or were used by fighters, raising concerns that these strikes were direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and must therefore be investigated as war crimes. Even if Israeli forces had intended to target legitimate military objectives in the vicinity, these attacks evidently failed to distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects and would therefore be indiscriminate, Amnesty International said in the report. Indiscriminate attacks that kill and injure civilians are war crimes. The Hill has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment. The organization also alleged that Israel did not notify or warn civilians ahead of the strikes and that three of the attacks were carried out at night when families were likely to be asleep. The attacks came as Rafah has become the last so-called safe zone in Gaza, though the refugee camp has been frequently hit by Israeli strikes and humanitarian officials say there is no safe place in the coastal strip. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty Internationals senior director of research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said entire families were wiped out in Israeli attacks even after they sought refuge in areas promoted as safe and with no prior warning from Israeli authorities. These attacks illustrate an ongoing pattern of Israeli forces brazenly flouting international law, contradicting claims by Israeli authorities that their forces are taking heightened precautions to minimize harm to civilians, Guevara-Rosas said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening to move into Rafah, ordering his military last week to come up with an evacuation plan for the civilians sequestering in the area before moving in. Netanyahu said Palestinian militant group Hamas, which Israel is vowing to destroy in response to the deadly attack Oct. 7, is hiding battalions in Rafah. The U.S. has said it does not support a push into Rafah, and Washington is trying to secure another negotiated hostage-release deal between Hamas and Israel. More than 27,000 people have died in Gaza since Oct. 7 most of them civilians. The Biden administration has tried to reduce civilian casualties but has not called for a cease-fire. In the investigation, Amnesty International found at one site a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, a precision-guided weapon that is made in the U.S. by defense contractor Boeing. In light of the appalling scale of death and destruction, all states have a clear obligation to act to prevent genocide yet instead key states have failed to make a clear call for a ceasefire and are continuing to fuel war crimes by supplying arms to Israel, Guevara-Rosas said. The Hill has reached out to the Pentagon for comment. The U.S. supplies Israel with roughly $3 billion in aid per year. President Biden has circumvented Congress twice to provide Israel with emergency military aid, to the ire of some Democrats. Amnesty International documented the rubble at each of the sites and interviewed 18 Palestinians, including survivors of the attack, and analyzed the buildings with satellite imagery. The published report includes detailed accounts of the attacks from survivors and witnesses of the Rafah strikes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) - Five years ago, Matteo Salvini confirmed his status as a rising star of European far-right politics when his League party swept a third of the vote in Italian EU parliamentary elections. His fortunes have since waned even as Italians have ushered in their most right-wing government since World War Two, his popularity eclipsed by the ascent to power of his ally Giorgia Meloni and her nationalist Brothers of Italy party. Salvini's League, a junior partner in the rightist coalition, is polling below 9% ahead of new European parliament elections in June, while Meloni's party hovers close to the 30% mark, cementing its position as the largest force in Italy. In an effort to rekindle support, Salvini has driven even further to the right on issues such as crime and relations with Brussels, but the shift has not yet moved the polls his way. One of the League's European lawmakers, Gianantonio Da Re, told Reuters that Salvini would face internal pressure to step down as leader unless he stopped the rot in the June election. "We got 34% five years ago. If we get 8% this time, someone will have to answer for it," he said. League Senator Gian Marco Centinaio - a senior Salvini ally - ruled out the prospect of a looming leadership showdown, or the likelihood of the party performing badly in the EU election: "This possibility doesn't exist," he said. But the pressure is building. Salvini's rightward lurch has caused discontent within his own party ranks and poses a problem for Meloni as she seeks to present her government as a reliable partner in Europe and beyond, according to some politicians, pollsters and academics. The future of right-wing politics across Europe is also in focus, the experts said, with Salvini the flagbearer for a more radical, anti-EU front while Meloni leads efforts to bridge the divide between mainstream conservatives and hardliners. "Salvini is clearly looking to radicalise his position to be constantly in the news and put Meloni in a tight spot, because she has to maintain a more establishment position," said Mattia Diletti, a politics professor at Rome's Sapienza University. "But it is a dangerous game. How much does he want to destabilise the government or his own party?" ELECTORAL DILEMMA Belying his role as deputy prime minister, Salvini has appeared more like an opposition politician in recent weeks, enthusiastically endorsing protests by Italian farmers, despite the fact that one of their grievances is a government decision to remove agricultural tax breaks. "The major part of their demands are against the mad, pseudo-green policies of Europe," Salvini said on Jan. 31, without addressing the Italian aspect of their protest. He has taken particular aim at EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a moderate centre-right politician who has forged unexpectedly close ties with Meloni. "I wouldn't vote for Ursula von der Leyen," Salvini said last month, just after she had visited Rome to endorse publicly an African cooperation pact that is a cornerstone of Meloni's foreign policy. In 2019, Meloni's Brothers of Italy won 6.4% of the vote in the European election. Public support for the party has since shot up and is currently polling at about 28%, with the right-wing electorate seeing Meloni as a more trustworthy leader than the mercurial Salvini. The premier now faces a dilemma. She is still enjoying a prolonged public honeymoon after her 2022 domestic win, and she could now look to push above 30% in the June election by standing as a candidate herself, and win more seats both for her party and her alliance in Brussels. Meloni's group is part of an bloc of highly conservative parties in the EU parliament, while Salvini's League is affiliated to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National group in France. "A possible candidacy by Giorgia Meloni would be an important driving force for the Brothers of Italy," Carlo Fidanza, head of the party's delegation at the European Parliament told Reuters, adding that she would decide based on what was best for the government. Yet a senior party official close to Meloni, who declined to be named, said the prime minister might not stand as a candidate because she feared that if the League suffered a heavy defeat, it would be thrown into tumult and destabilise the coalition. Under Italian law, government members or lawmakers are not allowed to hold a seat at the EU Parliament, which means Meloni would only stand as a candidate to give her party a boost. ELECTORAL PRIORITIES Many Italian voters do not want the government to prioritise hot right-wing issues of the past such as immigration and relations with Europe, according to a poll of 2,000 people published on Jan. 22 by research institute Demopolis which found the top issues were the cost of living, healthcare and taxation. Pollster Antonio Noto said Salvini's lurch right risked falling flat, with his approval ratings seeing no uptick even as he revives old populist themes that worked well in the past, such as demanding chemical castration for rapists. "Salvini is conducting the same electoral campaign as in 2019, which was a success back then, but times have changed," Noto said. "Security is important, but healthcare is much more important, and he talks about the former." There are already murmurings of discontent within the League over Salvini's strategy, notably when he revealed last month that he might put forward as the party's lead candidate an army general who has published a best-selling book in which he disparaged LGBT people, migrants, minorities and feminists. In a rare sign of public dissent within the League, Da Re - the League's European lawmaker - has announced he will not stand for re-election if General Roberto Vannacci is parachuted into the party line-up. "That man has nothing to do with our values," Da Re told Reuters. "Salvini thinks that because 200,000 people bought his book, they will then vote for him. But that is nonsense. It will lose us support because many of our supporters oppose this." While Salvini has dragged the party to the right since taking charge in 2013 and broadened its appeal well beyond its northern strongholds, old stalwarts still hold great sway in the traditional party fiefdoms. One such grandee is the popular head of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia. He has denied wanting to replace Salvini at the top, saying his focus is Veneto. However, his mandate expires next year and under current rules he cannot seek re-election. Politics professor Diletti said the moderate Zaia could sweep Salvini away if he ever decided to challenge him. "Zaia would be a very strong competitor, not just for Salvini but also for Meloni," he added. "That is another reason why she wouldn't want to see the League do badly in June." (Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante; Editing by Pravin Char) The CEO of Foremost Group, Angela Chao, died in a car accident, according to several media publications. "Angela Chao was a formidable executive and shipping industry leader, as well as a proud and loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife and mother," reads the Foremost Group statement published by Hellenic Shipping News. In a tweet, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy called Chao a "trailblazer in the maritime industry." Our deepest condolences are with the family of Angela Chao. Angela was a trailblazer in the maritime industry and a true friend of the Academy. Her grace, compassion and leadership will be remembered by all who knew her. Our hearts are with the Chaos during this time of sorrow. pic.twitter.com/hQOStXw6dH U.S. Coast Guard Academy (@USCGAcademy) February 12, 2024 Life of Angela Chao Chao was the youngest daughter of Foremost Group's founder and honorary chairman, Dr. James S.C. Chao, the sister of Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Transportation, and the sister-in-law of Senator Mitch McConnell. According to Chao's website, she was a Harvard graduate, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees there. She is also a published author on topics of economics, international trade and finance, and education. Her case study on Ocean Carriers, which she wrote while attending Harvard Business School, is a part of the required curriculum for first-year business students at the school, says the Foremost Group statement. Her company, Foremost Group, is an American shipping company based in New York. According to Hellenic Shipping News, it "charters out some of the worlds largest and most eco-friendly ships to blue-chip clients who use the vessels to transport dry bulk products to markets around the world." The Maritime Executive states Chao is survived by her father and her five sisters. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angela Chao, CEO of Foremost Group, killed in fatal car accident [Source] Angela Chao, the CEO of United States-based, New York-headquartered American shipping company Foremost Group, has died at the age of 50. What happened: The company announced the news on Monday, noting that Chao, the sister of businesswoman and former government official Elaine Chao, died in a tragic car accident. Foremost Group did not elaborate on the details of her death in the press release. Her father, Dr. James S. C. Chao, and her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, founded the Foremost Group in 1964 that focuses on shipping dry bulk products to markets worldwide. What theyre saying: In a statement, Foremost Group noted that Chao was a passionate advocate for incorporating environmentally sustainable practices throughout the companys operations, which made the companys fleet become some of the largest, most modern, and eco-friendly ships in the world. Trending on NextShark: Young Chinese women are resorting to AI boyfriends for better communication James Chao said in a different statement on behalf of their family that Chao was academically gifted, hardworking and possessed strong core values. She also helped inspire others to pursue their dreams as a trailblazer for women in the executive suite. Her work: A graduate of Harvard University with a bachelors degree in economics and an MBA in business/commerce from the Harvard Business School, Chao began working for Foremost Group in 1996. She was appointed as senior vice president from 2001 to 2008, where she focused on ship operations and management before being promoted to deputy chair in 2009. Chao became the CEO in 2018. Trending on NextShark: Viral video of daughter slapped by her father after return home from Tet sparks debate Outside the company: Besides her time with the company, Chao also served as a board member of the American Bureau of Shipping Council and the Massachusetts Maritime Academys International Maritime Business Department advisory board and on the chairmans council of New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art. Chao was also The Asian American Foundations advisory council co-chair. Condolences: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy offered its deepest condolences to Chaos family in post on X on Tuesday, highlighting how the Foremost Group executive was a trailblazer in the maritime industry and a true friend of the Academy. Trending on NextShark: Fewer Japanese women are giving obligatory chocolates to male colleagues on Valentine's Our deepest condolences are with the family of Angela Chao. Angela was a trailblazer in the maritime industry and a true friend of the Academy. Her grace, compassion and leadership will be remembered by all who knew her. Our hearts are with the Chaos during this time of sorrow. pic.twitter.com/hQOStXw6dH U.S. Coast Guard Academy (@USCGAcademy) February 12, 2024 Trending on NextShark: Viola Davis shows love for lively atmosphere of Filipino classroom with singing student The Asian American Foundation also offered its condolences to the family, writing in part that the foundation was heartbroken to learn of the devastating death of Chao, A brilliant and committed leader. TAAF is heartbroken to learn of the devastating death of Angela Chao. A brilliant & committed leader, Angelas warmth, kindness & infectious energy will live on in our work for decades to come. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Chao family during this tragic time. pic.twitter.com/q6Ldd4f3NV Trending on NextShark: Angela Chao, CEO of US-based shipping company Foremost Group, dead at 50 The Asian American Foundation (@taaforg) February 12, 2024 Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Former United States President Donald Trump attended a closed-door hearing in relation to a Florida classified documents case that was held in a special secure facility on Monday. The Republican businessman arrived at the courthouse with his motorcade at around 9:00 a.m. and was in the building for just over five hours. Trump then left the area as supporters blasted his campaign song "God Bless the USA" over loudspeakers. Trump Attends Closed-Door Hearing in Florida The former president did not speak to the media or his supporters who were gathered at the courthouse. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon held two separate closed-door court sessions on Monday as part of the process that involves classified evidence related to Trump's federal classified documents case in Florida. Authorities have accused the Republican businessman of retaining documents containing national security secrets at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home. It was after he left office and he is said to have obstructed the federal investigation into how the records in question wound up outside of the strict channels for handling such information, as per Politico. Cannon, as part of the process, scheduled a four-and-a-half-hour hearing on Monday with Trump's legal team. There, they and lawyers for the former president's two co-defendants were expected to present the theories the defense may use at trial. Trump's defense lawyers were expected to explain to the judge why they should be permitted to access various types of classified evidence that could support those defenses. The former president was not required to attend the Monday session but chose to join anyway. This decision continues a recent trend on his part of showing up at court proceedings in an apparent effort to highlight his claims that he is being persecuted. It was also the first time that he would ever be face-to-face with Judge Cannon, who he nominated to the bench and was later confirmed after the 2020 election. Trump's campaign also sent a message to allies with the subject line of "I'm in court. Again!" and issued a warning that unspecified opponents want the former president arrested and erased from the ballot, according to the Associated Press. Read Also: Self-Appointed 'Hitman for Trump' Texas Woman Charged for Threatening Judge Classified Documents Case The message reinforced his team's strategy of taking advantage of his four criminal prosecutions and politicizing them. These include the one in Florida, where he faces dozens of felony counts that accuse him of hoarding the highly classified documents and obstructing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) efforts to get them back. In scheduling the hearing in Florida, Judge Cannon wrote that the defense counsel shall be prepared to discuss their defense theories of the case. She noted that they will also discuss how any classified information might be relevant or helpful to the defense. Following Trump's appearance at the closed-door hearing, special counsel Jack Smith's team presented arguments to Cannon outside the presence of Trump's attorneys. Lawyers for the former president and his two co-defendants will be back in court on Tuesday for a second day of hearings. In an order that was issued on Monday, Judge Cannon said that the hearing on Tuesday will address the "classified information produced in classified discovery in the context of the 'relevant and helpful' standard," said ABC News. Related Article: FirstEnergy Executives And Others Involved In A 60 Million Dollar Bribery Scheme A Maryland anglers decision to duke it out with his resistant catch proved worthwhile when he broke a state record, wildlife officials said. Jean-Philippe Lartigue set the Maryland state record for rainbow trout on Feb. 10 after pulling up his massive catch at Antietam Creek in Devils Backbone County Park, according to a Feb. 13 Maryland Department of Natural Resources news release. The fish shatters the previous record set more than 35 years ago, officials said. His rainbow trout weighed 17.44 pounds more than three pounds over the state record set in 1987 by Dave Schroyer, according to the department. The record-breaking trout was 32 inches long, officials said. The Bethesda resident is an avid angler, learning to fish for trout via the European technique of using natural bait on a rod from his father, according to officials. Originally from Morocco, Lartigue worked as a fisheries biologist in Africa until he retired and moved to Maryland, the department said. While out on the creek, Lartigue opted for a 12-foot rod and a worm bait to hook any potential trout, according to the department. Then, he hooked the huge rainbow trout, not fully aware he would be in for a very long fight, he said. I knew the fish was a very large trout, but I did not see how big it was at the beginning of the fight, Lartigue said in the release. The trout raced to the other side of the creek twice as Lartigue kept trying to reel in his catch, he told officials. He had to balance trying to pull in a fish that was hard to move with avoiding bridge abutments so the line wouldnt get cut, he said. The tussle between Lartigue and the fish lasted about 30 minutes, he told officials. Once he tired out the trout, he grabbed at its jaw because he didnt have a big enough net to scoop it. He cut his finger while seizing the struggling trout, but he managed to yank it out of the water and onto the rock bank, according to officials. Lartigue took his catch to be weighed on a certified scale at Ernsts Country Market in Clear Spring, and the species was confirmed by the departments freshwater fisheries and hatcheries director, John Mullican. We are extremely impressed by the weight of the fish, which bests the old record by over 3 pounds, a record that many of us in the department thought would never be broken, fisheries outreach coordinator Erik Zlokovitz said in the release. Devils Backbone County Park is about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. Angler reels in fish with real trophy potential, officials say. Its a Vermont record Man takes the day off work to go fishing, then his catch shatters Rhode Island record Monster caught in suburban lake shatters record. See the worlds longest goldfish The first Alaskapox virus death case was confirmed by the Alaska Department of Health on Friday, Feb. 9. Health officials posted a bulletin to inform the public regarding the case. Alaskapox, a species of the orthopox virus. This means that it is similar to the monkey pox (aka pox). It was first discovered in Fairbanks, Alaska, back in 2015. The state health department said that there have been only seven cases ever since the Alaskapox was discovered. Now, for the first time, a victim died after getting infected by this virus. What is Alaskapox Virus? Alaska Confirms First Death Case The Alaska Department of Health said that the first victim to die because of the Alaskapox was an elderly man who was immunocompromised. Health officials explained that his existing medical condition made him at higher risk for severe illness, as reported by ABC News. "This is the first case of severe Alaskapox infection resulting in hospitalization and death. The patient's immunocompromised status likely contributed to illness severity," explained the health department via its official bulletin. "Being the first case of Alaskapox identified outside of the Interior region, it indicates that AKPV appears to be more geographically widespread in Alaska's small mammals than previously known," added health officials. When it comes to cause, they said that the Alaskapox's infection route is still unknown. However, they said that it could be possible that getting scratches from stray cats could present a possible cause of the infection. As of writing, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) is still working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Alaska Museum to test other small mammals outside the Interior region for Alaskapox infections. Read Also: Brazil: Public Health Emergency Declared in Rio de Janeiro Amid Rising Dengue Cases Ahead of Carnival What To Know About Alaskapox As of writing, the Alaskapox is still considered a rare virus infection. The first death case is also a special one since the patient was immunocompromised. The Alaska Division of Public Health clarified that those who are not immunocompromised only had a mild illness that resolved themselves. This means that the Alaskapox is not that severe. Another thing that Americans should know is the symptoms they must look out for, such as the following: Skin Lesions (similar to insect bites) Swollen Lymph Nodes Joint or Muscle Pain Little information about the Alaskapox is known since it is a rare and new virus. But, the Alaska health department is expected to share more details as they continue their investigations. Related Article: CDC Identifies Possible Cause for Salmonella Outbreak; Sam's Club Meat Samplers Now Under Investigation WOODBURY A city man is accused of setting three fires here, including the blaze that destroyed the former home of the Sketch Club Players. Michael Lopez-Medina, 19, also allegedly spray-painted the words "Lets play" at two of the arson sites, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. He was arrested early Sunday after an exhaustive joint investigation spurred by the concern that more fires could be set, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Detectives and officers worked tirelessly around the clock, collecting and analyzing evidence and pursuing investigative leads as they developed, it said. Lopez-Medina was captured on video surveillance during each arson, and admitted to starting the fires with gasoline and matches, according to probable cause statements for each offense. He allegedly set the first fire torching two cars on Salem Avenue on Feb. 1 after a woman said she did not want to have a relationship with him, one statement said. A Feb. 3 damaged a shed at the Carriage House Apartments on the 500 block of North Evergreen Avenue, the prosecutor's office said. Lopez-Medina also allegedly set a predawn fire on Feb. 7 that destroyed a vacant three-story building on the 400 block of Glover Street. Attorney cites risk of relapse Peter Krill Jr. gets prison term for U.S. Capitol riot offense The structure, built in 1899, was a school before it held a Sketch Club theater for almost 70 years. Woodbury firefighters arrived around 3:30 a.m. to find heavy flames that thwarted an attempted interior attack, according to the city's fire department. The blaze was brought under control around 5:30 a.m. A Woodbury firefighter suffered an unspecified injury fighting the blaze, a probable cause statement said. Lopez-Medina was seen running from the Glover Street area immediately after the fire was set, the statement added. The "Lets Play" graffiti was found written in red paint at the last two fires, authorities said. Lopez-Medina was being held in Salem County Jail on three counts of aggravated arson and one count of causing an injury to a firefighter. The charges are only allegations. Lopez-Medina has not been convicted in the case. An investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutors Detective Alex Phillips at 856-384-5529 or Woodbury Police Detective Brandon Volk at 856-845-0065, extension 144. Information can also be e-mailed to tips@co.gloucester.nj.us. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Michael Lopez-Medina of Woodbury accused of setting three fires NICEVILLE After a popular food truck owner was killed in Niceville on Friday night, an arrest has been made in connection with his death. Here is what we know. The incident First reported by Christopher Saul of Mid Bay News and later confirmed by a news release from the City of Niceville, the incident happened Friday at 7:58 p.m. when the Niceville Police Department received several 911 calls about a possible gunshot victim behind a CVS convenience store on John Sims Parkway. Once officers arrived, they found Mike Ledford, owner of the local favorite My Ohana food truck, suffering from stab wounds inside of a truck. The first officer on the scene administered first aid to Ledford before EMS arrived and took him to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. 24-year-old Dylan Deschaine has been arrested for the murder of Mike Ledford on Friday night. He has been charged with two counts of battery on a first responder. As Niceville Police were processing the crime scene, the mother of Dylan Deschaine, 24, contacted police and told investigators that her son might have hurt someone. After barricading himself in a Cumberland Farms gas station bathroom in Niceville, Deschaine surrendered himself to police. He was treated at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for injuries on his hand before being booked into the Okaloosa County Jail. Deschaine has been charged with two counts of battery on an officer, firefighter or EMT. No bond amount has been set. The incident is still under investigation and further charges are pending as the Niceville Police Department continues to work with the State Attorney's Office. How you can help As news of Ledford's death spread on social media, many locals shared their love and support for Ledford and his family on various pages throughout the weekend. Popular radio personality: Family of 99 Rock's Gonzo seeks help after car accident As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe that was created to support the Ledford family had raised $66,000. Ledford leaves behind his wife, Loren, and three children. According to the page, Sushi Mike, as people called Ledford, was a few weeks away from opening his first brick-and-mortar store, Post 20. My Ohana was named "Best Food Truck on the Emerald Coast" in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by the Northwest Florida Daily News. To support the Ledford family, contributions can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/the-mike-ledford-family. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville community comes together after death of Mike Ledford NORTH PROVIDENCE State, local and federal authorities are investigating fires set Saturday night at a Pentecostal church in North Providence with a mostly Black membership. Pastor Eric Perry said a person tried forcing his way into the empty Shiloh Gospel Temple late Saturday night and apparently returned later to set several fires around the building's exterior. A window was broken, and the fires left the church filled with the smell of smoke and gasoline, forcing the Shiloh Gospel Temple to hold its Sunday service at another church. "We're definitely treating it as an arson fire," state Fire Marshal Timothy McLaughlin said. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating with the North Providence Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, McLaughlin confirmed. The fire marshal's office routinely contacts the ATF when investigating fires at houses of worship, and the ATF decides whether to get involved, according to McLaughlin. The Shiloh Gospel Temple on Charles Street in North Providence. North Providence pastor believes he knows the motive The attack has shaken members of the church, Perry said. He believes the fires were set by a person or people who want the church to move. Video from a neighbor's camera showed a person pouring gasoline around the building, Perry said. "They meant to burn the church down to get us out of the neighborhood," he said. When he initially talked to the police, Perry told them he couldn't think of anyone who would want to set fire to the church, but a church member later showed him social media posts suggesting it was a "fake church" that shouldn't be in the neighborhood, and expressing surprise that no one had burned it. "When I saw it, I said, 'Oh, my God,' I didn't believe this could happen in 2024," Perry said. The church has been at its location on Charles Street for about five years and has about 100 members. "I've been a pastor in Rhode Island for almost 37 years, and I've never had this happen," Perry said. "This is a serious thing." Fire damage to a doorway in the Shiloh Gospel Temple in North Providence. Church camera catches vandalism Video cameras might have prevented worse damage to the church, and might also help investigators find whoever set the fires. The church installed a camera outside the building a few weeks ago after their new van was vandalized, Perry said. Returning to Rhode Island from a conference in Florida on Saturday night, he was waiting for a connecting flight in North Carolina when he happened to check the camera on his cellphone and saw somebody trying to break into the front door of the church, he said. Perry was able to shout at the man via the video and audio equipment. "I said, 'I see you. Get away from the door now. I have your picture,'" Perry said. Perry could see the man looking around for the camera. He found it and smashed it. Perry called the North Providence police, who he said responded within minutes, although nobody was arrested. After Perry's flight landed in Rhode Island, he went straight to the church and was surprised to see fire trucks, a state fire marshal's car, police officers and detectives. He learned several fires had been set around the building. He believes the man he saw trying to break in came back and set the fires. North Providence Fire Department officials on the scene of an arson investigation Monday at Shiloh Gospel Temple. From left, Capt. Marc Rizzo, Assistant Fire Marshal Paul Silvestri and Assistant Fire Chief John Horan. Investigators gathering information from neighbors, businesses North Providence Police Chief Alfredo Ruggiero Jr. wouldn't comment on whether the police think that's what happened but said the police are investigating both the fires and the earlier attempted break-in. Ruggiero said police officers were canvassing the neighborhood Monday, as they had on Sunday, talking to residents and businesspeople and trying to gather any information they could from video cameras. 20th Anniversary: Remembering The Station nightclub fire "We're hoping for a positive end to this," Ruggiero said. Mayor Charles Lombardi responded to the fire scene Sunday morning. He returned later that day and talked with Perry. Lombardi said, "We want to ensure everybody is kept safe." "We need to respect each other's faith," Lombardi said. Lombardi hopes the police investigation uncovers the motive. He had previously resided in the area and described it as a "nice, quiet neighborhood." In an interview with The Journal, Perry acknowledged previously having trouble with a neighbor but said that, other than the vandalized vehicle, it had been quiet recently. On Sunday, the displaced Shiloh Gospel Temple held its service at Mount Zion Church of God in Providence. Perry was meeting with investigators Monday afternoon, and then he planned to return to the church to see if it could be aired out and cleaned up in time to reopen for Bible study on Tuesday. The incident could have been tragic, Perry said, if someone had set fire to the church during a service. With the singing and music, the people inside might not have noticed until it was too late. "What if we had been in service at the time?" he asked. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Fires at Shiloh Gospel Temple in North Providence under ATF investigation Just when we thought we were out of the Miami art fair season, Art Wynwood is about to pull us back in. Setting up shop in downtown Miami at Herald Plaza from Wednesday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 18, the show of modern and contemporary art from dozens of local and international galleries offers another chance for art lovers and collectors to explore a bustling art market. More than 50 galleries and over 500 artists will be shown, according to organizers. We have galleries introducing post-war (art) for great prices, says Julian Navarro, director of Art Wynwood. Youre gonna see Picassos, youre gonna see Miros, youre gonna see the good secondary market (artworks) from Latin America. With a little over 50 galleries showing at Art Wynwood, the art fair aims for a more intimate experience than Miami Art Week. Several galleries will be offering blue-chip art. New York-based Zeitz Contemporary Art will be showing works by such illustrious names as Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Alex Katz, and Jeff Koons hopefully theyll be able to avoid a repeat of last year, when a Koons balloon dog statue was accidentally shattered. Lesser known and international names are also represented: Kyiv-based Kedria Arts, which has a second location in Detroit, has work from five Ukrainian artists at their booth this year at Art Wynwood. Locals will also have a strong presence. Adamar Fine Arts will feature work from famous contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst and Ugo Rondinone. Coral Gables-based Cernuda Arte will show Cuban modernist and contemporary artists including Wifredo Lam and Jose Bedia, while Imaginart, also based in the Gables, will have work by local artist Gloria Lorenzo. And artist Peter Tunney, still based in Wynwood after most local galleries have left the neighborhood, will receive the fairs Lifetime Achievement Award. The artist has kept a gallery at the Wynwood Walls for the last eight years, and hell be at the fair with a special booth titled Invincible Summer. Antonio Sannino, Under Construction Sea VI, is being shown at Art Wynwood by Liquid Art System. We decided to honor him not only for his work, but for his career as an entrepreneur, as an artist helping new emerging artists, Navarro says of Tunney. Some of the galleries in the show are transplants to Miami, part of a trend of international dealers moving into the city. Liquid Art System, originally based in Capri, Italy and with several locations in the Naples area, recently opened a Miami showroom on NE 4th Avenue in Little Haiti. They plan on using the fair to get closer to their American clients and show work by artists including Marco Grassi, Silvia Berton, and Filipo Tincolini. We have a lot of important American collectors and Art Art Wynwood is a way for us to be closer to (them), says Franco Senesi, founder and CEO of Liquid Art System, adding that the gallery also shows at Art Miami. For us, its a good opportunity. Marco Grassis Pink experience n.731, will be at Liquid Art System for this years Art Wynwood in downtown Miami. The art fair takes place in tandem with the nearby and much bigger Miami International Boat Show, which is owned by the same parent company, Informa. The firm also runs the trifecta of Art Miami, Context, and Aqua during Miami Art Week and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary in March and sees Art Wynwood as a way to take advantage of customers coming to the boat show. But while last years edition benefited from two satellite fairs art-focused Superfine and the artists book fair Tropic Bound both have taken this year off. Tropic Bounds next edition wont be until 2025, and Superfine appears to be focusing on other cities like San Francisco in March and New York City in May. For Navarro, this doesnt change much. He sees an advantage to being the only game in town for art collectors this weekend. For one, attendees arent wasting time trying to get to every other fair. (During Miami Art Week) it takes two hours just to cross the bridge, right? I think with Wynwood, its a good pace, he says. The collectors are going to spend more time there. They dont need to go to other places because there are no other places. Silvia Berton,Petricore, will be shown by Liquid Art System at this years Art Wynwood. Navarro also feels the year will be better overall. The art market is cooling down after a brief post-pandemic boom, where business was frequently conducted online or over the phone. Now, collectors and gallerists alike are going into fairs to get facetime, and theyre being more intentional with whats being bought and sold. Right now, I feel like the market is leveling up, says Navarro. Youre not going to see people coming to buy a lot of things without knowing (about the art). And I feel like collectors are being more responsible in how they support not only the galleries, but the artists. If you go: WHAT: Art Wynwood WHEN: VIP Preview 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, Regular viewing: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 15 to 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. WHERE: The Art Wynwood Pavilion, One Herald Plaza (Biscayne Bay & 14th St.), Miami COST: $38, one-day general admission; $28 for one-day senior and student (12 to 18); $68, multi-day pass; $230, VIP pass. INFORMATION: 305-517-7977 or artwynwood.com ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music, and more. Dont miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com. An artist in the south of France says he's planning to destroy up to $45 million worth of art, including pieces by Rembrandt, Picasso, and Andy Warhol, if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange dies in prison, British broadcaster Sky News reports. Andrei Molodkin told Sky that he put a collection of masterpieces that had been donated to him into a 29-ton safe hooked up to two barrels one containing an acid powder and the other containing an accelerator which, when pumped into the safe, will create a reaction strong enough to destroy all its contents. The project is called "Dead Man's Switch," and it is backed by Assange's wife, Stella. Assange is currently in jail in the U.K. awaiting his final appeal over extradition to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act, which will take place later this month. WikiLeaks published thousands of leaked documents relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Assange is alleged to have conspired to obtain and disclose U.S. national defense information. The WikiLeaks founder denies any wrongdoing, and his lawyer says his life is at risk if he loses his appeal. "In our catastrophic time when we have so many wars to destroy art is much more taboo than to destroy the life of a person," Molodkin, who is originally from Russia but now lives in France, told Sky News. "Since Julian Assange has been in prison... freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of information has started to be more and more repressed. I have this feeling very strongly now." The safe will be sealed on Friday at Molodkin's studio in France, and it will eventually be moved to a museum, Sky News reports. Molodkin says that the safe will be hooked up to a 24-hour timer which must be reset every day or else it will trigger the release of the two barrel's corrosive substances inside. He says, each day, the timer will only be reset when someone "close to Assange" confirms he is alive. Giampaolo Abbondio, a Milan art gallery owner, told Sky News he initially rejected Molodkin's idea, but has now donated a Picasso to the project. "It's more relevant for the world to have one Assange than an extra Picasso, so I decided to accept [Molodkin's offer to participate]" Abbondio said. "Let's say I'm an optimist and I've lent it. If Assange goes free, I can have it back. Picasso can vary from 10,000 to 100 million, but I don't think it's the number of zeros that makes it more relevant when we're talking about a human life." Artist Franko B told Sky News that he has donated one of his own pieces to be put in the safe. "I thought it was important that I committed something I care about. I didn't donate something that I found in the corner of my studio. I donated a piece of work that is very dear to me that talks about freedom, censorship," Franko B said. "It's important. It's a small gesture compared to what Assange did and what he's going through." Assange's wife, Stella, says the project asks the question of "which is the greater taboo: destroying art or destroying human life?" "The true targets here are not just Julian Assange but the public's right to know, and the future of being able to hold power accountable," Stella told Sky News. "If democracy wins, the art will be preserved - as will Julian's life." Shooting after Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade leaves one dead Hamas commander on why terror group attacks civilians Eyewitnesses describe scene at Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting An artist in France said he will destroy paintings by icons Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and others using acid if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange dies in prison. Andrei Molodkin, an artist in the south of France, is planning to destroy up to $45 million worth of masterpieces that have been donated to him. Molodkin said he put the paintings in a 29-ton safe that is connected to two barrels. One barrel contains acid powder, while the other holds accelerators. When pumped together into the safe, the reaction will be powerful enough to destroy all of the masterpieces, according to Sky News. The initiative is backed by Julian Assanges wife, Stella, and is dubbed Dead Mans Switch. In our catastrophic time when we have so many wars to destroy art is much more taboo than to destroy the life of a person, Molodkin told Sky News. Since Julian Assange has been in prison freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of information has started to be more and more repressed. I have this feeling very strongly now. Assange, the Australian WikiLeaks founder, is currently in jail in the U.K., awaiting the results of his appeal over extradition to the U.S. where he would face charges under the Espionage Act. The final appeal will be heard later this month. WikiLeaks, a media organization, has published thousands of leaked documents related to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assange, the organizations founder, is wanted by the U.S. for allegedly conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to unlawfully obtain and publish classified national security documents that could cause irreparable injury to the United States or be used to the advantage of a foreign nation, according to his 2018 federal indictment. Assange denies any wrongdoing. Molodkin said the safe will be attached to a 24-hour timer that will have to be reset every day. If not, it substances from both barrels will be released and destroy the art. He said the safe in his studio will be sealed Friday and later transported to a museum. Human rights advocates and The New York Times editorial board have argued that Assanges prosecution would damage freedom of the press. Stella Assange, who has two kids with her husband, asked Sky News: Which is the greater taboo destroying art or destroying human life? For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Wednesday, February 14, is not only Valentine's Day. That day is also Ash Wednesday, marking the start of the Lenten season, a 40-day period of reflection before the joyful celebration that is Easter, when Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. Ash Wednesday officially known as the Day of Ashes is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. The last time Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday occurred on the same day was in 2018. This year, Lent runs through the evening of March 28, Holy Thursday, while Easter is on Sunday, March 31. (Eastern Christians celebrate Lent from March 18 to May 4, with Easter falling on May 5.) Related: VaLENTines: Start of Lent on Feb. 14 puts indulgence, abstinence in conflict for some What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday "is a day that offers all Christians a chance to reconnect with the reality of Jesus and his suffering for us because of sin and death. Deep down, we realize that if we dont appreciate that, if we dont commit to his words and his example, and if we dont do things to show that we recognize our weakness and want his help, then a terrible mistake is made. We may lose our chance for eternal happiness with God and the saints in heaven," said Monsignor Joseph LaMorte of the Archdiocese of New York, which includes the counties of Putnam, Rockland and Westchester. "Give good thought to our Lenten practices to bring us more deeply in union with Jesus Christ: For prayer consider daily Mass, praying the rosary, doing the Stations of the Cross each week, a retreat or day of recollection, reading scripture or signing up for Eucharistic Adoration," writes Monsignor Luke Sweeney, pastor of Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale, in the Feb. 11 church bulletin. Sweeney continues, "For fasting consider looking at those things that have their hooks in us from electronic devices, to food and drink, to talk and company that do not promote virtuous living or a state of grace, to all that keeps us from taking a proper sabbath rest each Sunday." St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester notes abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 60. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Why the use of ashes? During a Mass, a priest places the ashes on a worshiper's forehead in the shape of a cross. The ceremony, which also can be performed by a minister or pastor, is meant to show that a person belongs to Jesus Christ, and it also represents a person's grief and mourning for their sins the same sins that Christians believe Jesus Christ gave his life for when he died on the cross. The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them. When the priest applies the cross of ashes, he says to the worshiper: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. He also may say Repent and believe in the Gospel." You do not need to be Catholic to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Christians and even those disconnected from traditions of faith, sometimes observe. It is not required that a worshiper wear the ashes for the rest of the day, although many Christians choose to do so. However, dining out or doing non-essential shopping are considered inappropriate on Ash Wednesday. Previous Gannett stories contributed to this reporting. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season: What to know FILE - Valentine's Day balloons are displayed at a grocery store in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Feb. 10, 2022. In 2024, Feb. 14 is a holiday heavyweight due to a calendar collision of events its Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) Feb. 14 is a holiday heavyweight this year due to a calendar collision of events. Yes, it's Valentine's Day, the fixed annual celebration of love and friendship, marked by cute couples, eager elementary school students and critics who deride its commercialization. But it also happens to be Ash Wednesday, the solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Christianity's most penitent season. WHY IS ASH WEDNESDAY ON VALENTINE'S DAY THIS YEAR? Ash Wednesday is not a fixed date. Its timing is tied to Easter Sunday, and for most Christians, Easter will fall on March 31 this year. Easter also moves annually, swinging between March 22 and April 25 based on a calendar calculation involving the moon. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lays it out: Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring either on or after the spring equinox (March 21). ... To find the date for Ash Wednesday, we go back six weeks which leads to the First Sunday of Lent and four days before that is Ash Wednesday. This year, that happens to be Feb. 14. WHAT HAPPENS ON ASH WEDNESDAY? Not all Christians observe Ash Wednesday. For those who do, they typically attend an Ash Wednesday church service, where a priest or other minister draws a cross or at least what is intended to look like one of ashes on their forehead. The distribution of ashes underscores human mortality, among other themes. It's an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. The abstinence restrictions are continued on Fridays during Lent, which is the period of repentance and penance leading up to Holy Week observances most significantly their belief in the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. WHERE DO THE ASHES COME FROM? Typically, the ashes are from the palms used on Palm Sunday, which falls a week before Easter, according to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Ashes can be purchased, but some churches make their own by burning the palms from prior years. For example, several parishes and schools in the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese plan to hold palm burning ceremonies this year. CAN CATHOLICS CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY ON ASH WEDNESDAY? In addition to the candy heart and chocolate-fueled secular celebrations, Feb. 14 is also the Feast of St. Valentine. But Ash Wednesday with its fasting and abstinence requirements is far more significant and should be prioritized, said Catholic Bishop Richard Henning of Providence, Rhode Island, in the dioceses official newspaper. His predecessor shared a similar message in 2018. Ash Wednesday is the much higher value and deserves the full measure of our devotion, he said. I ask with all respect that we maintain the unique importance of Ash Wednesday. If you would like to wine and dine your Valentine, please do so on the Tuesday before. February 13 is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, a perfect day to feast and celebrate! WHO WAS ST. VALENTINE? The history of Valentines Day and St. Valentine is a bit murky, but the holiday began as a liturgical feast day for a third-century Christian martyr, according to Lisa Bitel, a history and religion professor at the University of Southern California. In the Conversation, her article titled, The real St. Valentine was no patron of love, explains there may have been more than one St. Valentine executed for their faith in the same time period, but none of them appear to have been romantics. The emphasis on love appears to have come later. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. ASHEVILLE - The city school board has adopted policies to bring the district into compliance under new state law SB 49, which area advocates fear will result in discrimination against LGBTQ+ students. The law includes requirements that parents must be notified before their child uses a different name or pronouns in school, which critics of the law say will force students to be "outed" to parents, rather than allowing them to come out on their own terms. It also bans curriculum on gender identity, sexual activity and sexuality from being taught in kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms. Asheville City Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman sits in on a school board meeting, January 18, 2024. Asheville City Schools' Feb. 12 vote came after months of delays, bypassing a Jan. 1 deadline, as board members worked to soften and tweak policy language, in some cases removing requirements from policy entirely to address through district procedures instead, a move board members say will give them greater "flexibility." Vice Chair Amy Ray, who is a lesbian, said the board attempted to adhere to the law "in a way that causes the least amount of harm while acknowledging that the purpose, in my opinion, of this law is to create harm." I am relieved that we have finished our very careful review of these policies that we had to put into place to comply with SB 49," Ray told the Citizen Times after the vote. "I remain personally frustrated and hurt for our families and our educators who are queer or identify as LGBTQ because having the state have a law that is intended to regulate curriculum that relates only to a minority of our students and their families is harmful and I hate, and I will always hate, that we had to do this." SB 49 is known as both the "Parents' Bill of Rights" or, colloquially, North Carolina's version of the "Don't Say Gay" law. Asheville City School Board of Education members, from left, Liza Kelly, Amy Ray and Jesse Warren, June 29, 2023. 'Our hands have been tied' Each of the five policy votes, one per district policy where addendums were required, were unanimous. Suggested language was created by the N.C. School Boards Association to comply with SB 49. Most of the policies were heavily line-edited by the Asheville board. In an amendment proposed prior to the vote on policy 1310, which contained some of the most controversial elements of the law, board member Sarah Thornburg edited large swathes of the policy, and in one section removed the language entirely, to be addressed instead by district procedures. We are stuck with the law," she said. "We have some flexibility as to what we put in procedures versus policies." Ray said no books will be removed from classrooms as part of adherence to the law. After the vote, Chair George Sieburg thanked his fellow board members for "countless" hours spent grappling with the law. At its core, we know that SB 49, or the so-called Parents Bill of Rights, seeks to harm our queer youth and families. As misguided and obtuse as this legislation is, it is written in such a crafty way that as a school board, our hands have been tied," Sieburg said. "(SB 49) is a law. Whatever policies and practices we as a board and we as a district choose to enact, they do nothing to change the harmful effects of this law. Therefore refusing to pass the policies as a matter of moral principle would neither negate the law or protect the kids in our view. Asheville City Schools Board Chair George Sieburg speaks during a meeting August 1, 2023. In addition to the revised policies, Sieburg said the board would be discussing a reform policy, also known as a district procedure, in its March work session to focus on further protections for students impacted by the legislation. This law and the policies around it do little to alter how our staff works with and supports our students, particularly our trans and queer youth," he said. "Before this bill, our staff listened to, loved and worked with our youth who are exploring who they are and who they need to be in this world. After this bill, after today and everyday hereafter, our staff will continue to listen to, love and work with our youth. This is their charge. It is our job as a board to make sure our staff can fulfill that charge. Edits are not enough to eliminate harm, advocates say Asheville is among the last districts in the state to approve the required policies, said Craig White, supportive schools director for Asheville-based Campaign for Southern Equality. The law was passed in August after Republican lawmakers overrode the veto of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Thought White acknowledged the hard work of Asheville board members to reduce the policies' potential harm, he said it isn't enough. "Less discrimination is not no discrimination," White told the Citizen Times in February. I think the board of education has threaded the needle as best they can on the policies that theyre passing," White said, "but in a lot of ways, it just kicks the problem downhill to make principles and teachers figure it out. White and others, like Allison Scott, also with the Campaign for Southern Equality, called on Asheville City Schools to follow the lead of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board. In January, the board defied state law by not approving policies around pronoun notifications or the K-4 curriculum restrictions which White said are the elements of the law that most directly discriminate against transgender students. Craig White, Supportive Schools Director and Special Projects Advisor with Campaign for Southern Equality, attended the school board meeting with Christina Mason, the parent of an Asheville City Schools student, January 18, 2024. Board members acknowledged that failing to implement one of the requirements of the states Parents Bill of Rights law could bring legal problems. But Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board Chair George Griffin said someone needs to stand up for whats right," reported the Raleigh News & Observer. "Opposition," not workarounds, was the call from Scott at a Feb. 5 public comment period. This was echoed by others, as advocates for LGBTQ students urged Asheville's board members to reject the policies, entirely. Legal implications for defiance are not clear. When asked about repercussions for not adhering to certain elements of SB 49, Blair Rhoades, spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, said "(p)arents can always consider suing the district if they are in disagreement with how a district has chosen to implement the policy." Asheville board attorney Chris Campbell said the General Assembly and state will expect reports from school districts on their compliance in September. Republican officials and candidates have criticized the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school boards vote, WUNC reported in January. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt called the vote unacceptable on a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Title IX violation? The Campaign for Southern Equality argues that SB 49 violates Title IX, the federal law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. It has filed both a federal Title IX complaint against the North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and another complaint against the Buncombe County Board of Education, which adopted its policies in December. The complaint against the state has been received by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice, White said, and is in the queue for investigation. After Buncombe County's Title IX coordinator declined to process the complaint, White said the campaign has filed its complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, both for its allegations that the county's policies are discriminatory, and to appeal the county's decision not to process the complaint. Sieburg also thanked the campaign for its work around the legislation, and for the legal challenges against the law. Personally," he said, "I hope the complaint gets its fair day in court. More: Asheville City Schools again delay vote on SB49, 'Don't Say Gay' policies. What now? More: Asheville Citizen Times donates 130 years of photo archives to UNCA for preservation Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville City Schools adopts 'Parents Bill of Rights' policies Officials from Trinidad and Tobago declared a national emergency following a mysterious oil spill that forced thousands of volunteers to scramble to clean up the mess. The two regions' prime ministers said that the large oil spill near the twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean is causing crews to struggle to contain it. The spill has already spread to numerous beaches on Tobago's southwest coast. Mysterious Caribbean Oil Spill Prime Minister Keith Rowley said on Sunday that the local government has not yet identified the owner of the vessel that overturned near Tobago last week, which resulted in the oil spill. It was also not immediately clear just how much oil spilled and how much remained in the largely submerged vessel. Furthermore, officials have not determined the reason the vessel overturned. Divers have not yet been able to contain the oil spill and are still trying to determine how to remove the remaining oil. The chief secretary of Tobago's House of Assembly, Farley Augustine, toured the area with the prime minister, as per ABC News. Tobago is a popular tourist destination and officials expressed concern about the impacts of the mysterious oil spill. There was no immediate comment from environmental watchdogs regarding the sudden incident. Rowley said in a statement that it is still too early to know just how much the cleanup of the oil spill will cost. However, he added that "some not-so-insignificant costs are being incurred just to respond to this incident." He also said that several unidentified countries have already offered to help with the cleanup of the oil spill and that discussions regarding those efforts are already ongoing. Rowley noted that cleaning and restoration can only seriously begin after they have brought the current situation under control. The oil spill started on Feb. 7, and the country's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said on Saturday that roughly 15 kilometers of the coastline "is now blackened," according to CNN. Read Also: Vatican Says Pope Francis Spoke With Argentine President Javier Milei in 'Cordial' Meeting Preventing Oil From Spreading Photographs of the scene showed recovery workers wading through thick black sludge with huge areas of the beach seen covered in oil. The cleanup crews include several government agencies and at least 1,000 volunteers. Authorities decided to install booms, which are floating barriers, to prevent the oil spill from spreading to other areas. Augustine noted that what has to happen now is that they have to find a way to extract every last drop of oil that was in the vessel, bearing in mind that they do not know the schematics of the vessel that overturned. Residents in the local area of Lambeau reported a constant stench from the spill, which caused some people to be worried about their health. Augustine advised people who have respiratory illnesses to wear masks and "self-relocate or find ways to mitigate against that." Environmental officials also warned that the mysterious oil spill has damaged a reef and Atlantic beaches, which bodes ill for the island's resorts and hotels. These are the lifeline of the local economy during Carnival season, said the South China Morning Post. Related Article: France, Germany, and Poland Unite Against Russian Disinformation Threats [Source] Comedian Shane Gillis, who is set to host "Saturday Night Live" on Feb. 24, is under pressure from Asian American advocacy groups demanding an apology and donations for his past racist remarks that led to his dismissal from the show in 2019. Gilllis past anti-Asian comments: Shortly after the announcement of Gillis casting alongside Bowen Yang, a 2018 video of him using an anti-Asian slur f*cking ch*nks resurfaced online. Damn, Chinatowns f*cking nuts. Its crazy. It is full f*cking China, dude. Its f*cking Chi-nee down there, Gillis said in the video. Gillis also spoke about how an Asian trying to learn English bothers him and used a mock Asian accent to portray his difficulty conversing with a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. The comedian has also previously used the n-word, the homophobic f-word and antisemitic slurs in his comedy. Trending on NextShark: Young Chinese women are resorting to AI boyfriends for better communication Sparking controversy: The surprise decision from "SNL" to bring Gillis back to host the show sparked controversy, with social media users questioning and highlighting the shows history of giving platforms to problematic individuals. Demanding an apology: Asian American organizations such as the Asian American Federation and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) have come forward to denounce his racist behavior and demand an apology. Shane getting tapped to host is bad timing, considering the Asian community has been devastated by a wave of hate that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. People in the community don't need to be reminded of the type of rhetoric that caused that trend, Jo-Ann Yoo, the executive director of the Asian American Federation, told TMZ. Trending on NextShark: Viral video of daughter slapped by her father after return home from Tet sparks debate Asian Americans are not the punchline of a joke. While these jokes may result in cheap laughs, they also result in real-world, deadly consequences for Asian Americans, added TAAF CEO Norman Chen, who hopes Gillis will issue a genuine apology on the comedy show. Advocates suggestion: Yoo suggested that Gillis can make amends to the Asian American community by contributing to campaigns like Hope Against Hate and participating in food tours to experience authentic Asian cuisine. "If Mr. Gillis is serious about making amends with those he's offended, we invite him to cut us a check to our Hope Against Hate campaign and come on our food tours if he wants a real Asian cuisine experience, Yoo said. Regardless, we still plan to watch the Bowen Yang Variety Hour on Saturday... sorry, we mean Saturday Night Live." Trending on NextShark: Fewer Japanese women are giving obligatory chocolates to male colleagues on Valentine's Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! [Source] Asian American lawmakers are urging Fortune 100 companies to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid backlash from conservative opposition. What its about: On Tuesday, the executive board of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) revealed that they sent a letter to the CEOs and heads of America's Fortune 100 companies, which are the top 100 largest U.S. companies by revenue, urging them to reaffirm their commitments to hiring and promoting Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Led by CAPAC Chair Judy Chu (D, CA-28), the initiative seeks to gauge the progress of DEI practices for AANHPI within these organizations amid the ongoing fight against anti-Asian hate. Today, CAPACs leadership announced that they wrote to the CEOs & heads of Americas Fortune 100 companies. As we continue to combat anti-Asian hate, we want to know about their DEI practices for AANHPIs and track their progress. pic.twitter.com/UNhy2XqOkt Trending on NextShark: Young Chinese women are resorting to AI boyfriends for better communication CAPAC (@CAPAC) February 12, 2024 "With this letter to Fortune 100 companies, we will determine whether the largest businesses in America have followed through on their promises and encourage them to continue this crucial work even in the face of assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion from Republican officeholders, Rep. Chu said in a statement. Trending on NextShark: Viral video of daughter slapped by her father after return home from Tet sparks debate The Congressional Black Caucus sent a similar letter to Fortune 500 companies about their DEI commitments back in December 2023. Why it matters: CAPACs letter comes amid increasing pressure on companies to address workplace diversity in the U.S. Despite heightened efforts following the surge in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, the representation of AANHPIs in corporate leadership remains starkly disproportionate. Leaders of advocacy organizations, including the National Urban League, have sent their own letter to companies in support of DEI initiatives. Trending on NextShark: Fewer Japanese women are giving obligatory chocolates to male colleagues on Valentine's We believe it is imperative that CEOs and other company leaders are able to make strategic decisions for their companies without threats of frivolous lawsuits and political pressure, and we will be here with support, every step of the way, the groups wrote. Holding efforts back Over the last two years, Republican legislators across 20 states have introduced approximately 50 bills aimed at restricting or outright banning DEI initiatives in universities and public institutions, according to the Associated Press. The conservative lawmakers have been framing the programs as discriminatory and ideologically driven. Democrats have responded by countering with their bills promoting DEI measures. In January, a Texas state law that prohibits the operation of DEI offices in higher education institutions forced the University of Texas at Austin to shut down its Multicultural Engagement Center. Trending on NextShark: Viola Davis shows love for lively atmosphere of Filipino classroom with singing student Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! A man was murdered on Monday morning, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Just before 9 a.m. on Monday, officers responded to a shooting on the 1200 block of Athens Road in Winterville, finding a 48-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound. The victim was identified as 48-year-old Willie Antonio Jewell. A suspect identified as 26-year-old Cedric Robbie Jones was arrested and charged with murder. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It is unclear if Jones and Jewell knew each other prior to the shooting. Jones remains in Athens-Clarke County Jail. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sergeant Black at 762-400-7058, or via email at scott.black@accgov.com TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Attention Pearl Jam fans: The band will be returning to Fenway Park for two shows in September. Pearl Jam will perform on Sept. 15 and Sept. 17 as part of its Dark Matter World Tour 2024, Fenway Park said in a social media post on Tuesday morning. Known for its 1994 hit Better Man, the band will make its Boston stop along with other tour spots that include New York, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles. For tickets, Pearl Jam is asking fans to register for their Dark Matter World Tour 2024 sale. Registration does not guarantee access to the sale, according to the website. Some fans who register will be randomly selected to get access to the sale and the remainder will be placed on a waitlist. Access does not guarantee tickets, which are subject to availability, the website states. Just Announced: Pearl Jam returns to Fenway on Sept 15 & 17 on the Dark Matter World Tour 2024! Register now for access to tickets: https://t.co/Km49SWXIaj pic.twitter.com/IwQXfFN8LG Fenway Park (@fenwaypark) February 13, 2024 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW DELPHI, Ind. Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen's attorneys want to know how to prepare a defense for the contempt-of-court allegations levied against them by Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland. McLeland filed a motion last month asking for a hearing focusing on Allen's attorneys' alleged contempt of the court's orders in the case. Most of the allegations McLeland raises against Brad Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin happened outside of the courtroom, making the allegations "indirect contempt of court." Allen is charged with murder and kidnapping and is accused of abducting Libby German and Abby Williams from the Monon High Bridge trails on Feb. 13, 2017, and killing the two teenagers. Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland speaks during a press conference addressing updates regarding the investigation of the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German, Monday, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, at Delphi United Methodist Church in Delphi, Ind. Allen was arrested on Oct. 26, 2022, and his trial is scheduled for this October. Both Rozzi and Baldwin have retained legal counsel to address McLeland's allegations, which are set for a hearing March 18 in front of Special Judge Frances Gull. Gull removed Rozzi and Baldwin as counsel to the murder suspect last year, but the Indiana Supreme Court reinstated them. More: What the Indiana Supreme Court said about 'extraordinary' Delphi situation in its ruling In a petition filed Monday, Rozzi's and Baldwin's counsel attorney David Hennessy asks for clarification about McLeland's allegations and whether the court plans to seek criminal contempt of court. The petition says McLeland's motion doesn't specify what was contemptuous. For example, McLeland cited the news release Baldwin and Rozzi published in November 2022 after being appointed to the case. But that was before a gag order was in place, and McLeland did not specify how or why that was contemptuous. "It seems clear that the State is really attempting to charge indirect criminal contempt," Hennessy writes in the petition. "As such, a separate filing and initial hearing would be contemplated." According to the state website, criminal contempt carries possible penalties of imprisonment and fines. The site also indicates the best practice is to file the criminal contempt charge as a separate action brought by the state and have a special judge preside. As of Tuesday, McLeland has not filed the allegations of contempt as a separate case, and no special judge has been appointed to hear the state's allegations. "The evidence must show that contemnor acted with willful and intentional disobedience," the state site says. Hennessy's petition also asks for guidance on whether the March 18 hearing "will be a formal advisement of specific allegations or whether the Court anticipates hearing testimony and receiving evidence." Special Judge Frances Gull, who presides over Allen's murder case, had not responded to Monday's petition as of Tuesday afternoon. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Delphi murders: Suspect Richard Allen's attorneys ask for clarification AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Its your chance to enjoy a freshly sliced kosher corned beef sandwich piled high on New York City bakery rye bread. The 2024 Adas Yeshurun Sandwich Celebration is set for Sunday, March 17th and Monday, March 18th. Lunch includes chips, a classic Black and White Cookie, kosher dill pickle, and your choice of drink. On Sunday, you can pickup either at AYS, located at 935 Johns Road OF, in Columbia County, at Cucina Restaurant in the Petersburg Shoppes shopping center on Furys Ferry Road. On Monday, pickup at AYS. Delivery is also available- for free for orders of 10 lunches or more to the same location. Proceeds will benefit Adas Yeshurun Synagogue with a portion going to Augustas Fisher House, Helping Military Families. Click here to place your orders now! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. GEORGIA (WJBF) An Augusta man and a Grovetown man have been prosecuted along with multiple defendants on felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution. According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgias office, Daveon Daniels, 25, of Grovetown, and Justin Anthony Brown, 32, of Augusta were indicted during the February term of the U.S. District Court Grand Jury. Daveon Daniels, 25, of Grovetown According to the indictment, Daniels was charged with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon while Brown was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. ALSO ON WJBF: Lexington Co. Sheriffs Office makes arrest in 2023 Aiken Co. murder; suspects accused in 2nd murder The indictment also states that Matthew Lacey, 26, of Savannah, was charged in a superseding indictment with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and he originally was indicted on the same charge in November 2023 and the superseding indictment adds enhanced penalties. According to the Southern District of Georgias office, two other Savannah men also were named in a recently unsealed January indictment: Jacerio Maurice Famble, 35, and Aaron Jamonta Bennett, 32, who were charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Psilocyn and Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Psilocyn and Marijuana; Famble was also charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Another Augusta man was named as a defendant recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges. According to the indictment, Christopher David Baskett, 46, of Augusta, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County sheriffs deputies arrested Baskett in September 2020 while investigating reports of gunfire in downtown Augusta. After an initial confrontation, deputies located a pistol in Basketts vehicle. Baskett has a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter in South Carolina. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Police Association (APA) filed a petition with the district court to intervene on the lawsuit advocacy group Equity Action brought forth against the City, according to the APA. That lawsuit calls for the City to implement measures put forth in the Austin Police Oversight Act, which the public voted in favor of last May. Officials are still seeking clarity on how much of that ordinance can be implemented without violating state law. RELATED: AGs office reverses ruling that would have given more power to Austin Police Oversight Act The primary element of contention is the police departments G file, an internal, confidential file that contains complaints against officers that have not been substantiated and did not result in any form of punishment. The Austin Police Oversight Act orders this information to be public. This lawsuit intends to force the City to violate state law and harm the hardworking people of the Austin Police Department, said APA President Michael Bullock in a statement. It also substantially interferes with our ability to fully negotiate a contract as we have in years past. KXAN has reached out to Equity Action about this move and will update this story when we receive a response. History of the Austin Police Oversight Act The root of this back and forth goes to the battle at the ballot box between two petitions titled Austin Police Oversight Act. One was spearheaded by the advocacy group Equity Action. The other was written by Voters for Oversight and Police Accountability, which is backed by the Austin Police Association (APA). While both petitions contain many of the same points regarding the role of the Office of Police Oversight (OPO), Equity Actions version has more provisions that give OPO more power. Equity Actions version passed in the May election. Full breakdown of the differences between the different ordinances The Austin Police Association said the unfettered access the new ordinance now allows is in violation of state law. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Indian farmers have threatened to march on the nation's capital, New Delhi, as they continued to demand better crop prices. Following the threats of a march, Indian law enforcement personnel erected barricades on key highways on Monday. The farmers have called for a "Delhi Chalo," which translates to "March to Delhi," on Tuesday. Indian Farmers' Protest In a statement, the leader of a nationwide farmers' association, Swaran Singh Pandher said that farmers from across the nation are prepared to march on the capital starting on Tuesday. On top of placing cement blocks and metal spikes along major roads, officials have also ordered a ban on gatherings of more than five people in the capital. Roughly two-thirds of India's 1.4 billion population draw their livelihood from agriculture, which forms an influential bloc in the country. However, thousands of Indian farmers die by suicide every year due to the stresses of poverty, debt, and crop failures caused by climate change, as per DW News. The demands of the farmers echo massive protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agricultural reforms that were made in 2020. Those demonstrations lasted for a whole year and saw farmers breach barricades and march into New Delhi on Republic Day in 2021. Read Also: India Begins To Deploy Naval Forces to International Waters To Challenge China A key farmers' association, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM(, expressed its "strong discontent and anger" at police for erecting anti-protest barricades. However, it said that it was not taking part in the planned march to New Delhi on Tuesday. It instead called for strikes on Friday to press for their demands. The Indian farmers began their march from northern Haryana and Punjab states as they demanded a guaranteed minimum support price for all farm produce. The local government protects agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices by announcing a minimum purchase price on certain essential crops at the beginning of the sowing season, taking into account the cost of production. Protecting the Country's Farmers Additionally, the farmers are pressing the government to meet its promise to double their income. The withdrawal of the agricultural laws in November 2021 was considered to be a major retreat by Modi's government, according to The Hill. At the time, the government said that it would set up a panel of farmers and government officials to discuss ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. However, multiple meetings since then have made no progress on the matter. The latest march comes a few months before the country's national elections, in which the prime minister is widely expected to win a third term. Pandher said that they do not want to break any barricades but instead want a resolution for their issues through dialogue. He also said that talks between farm leaders and government ministers on Monday failed to produce any consensus on their key demands. Pandher noted that the government had refused to make a decision regarding the issue. Federal ministers held a six-hour-long meeting on Monday with farm union leaders and the two sides reportedly came to an agreement on some of the demands. These include the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters during the 2020 incident, said BBC. Related Article: Indian City Faces Chaos as Hundreds Get Injured Amid Conflict Over Demolition of Madrasa MUNCIE Ball State University is expanding access to education with a new online masters program that is open to everyone and requires no application and no transcript request forms. The new programs are made possible through a Ball State partnership with Coursera online learning platform. Currently, two online master's degree programs are being offered computer science and data science. The programs are developed and taught by faculty from Ball States College of Sciences and Humanities, and feature a performance-based admissions process with no prerequisites or application required for admittance, the Ball State University webpage said. Ball State University teamed up with Coursera to create an affordable online path to a master's degree. Ball States Associate Dean of Sciences and Humanities Jill Coleman serves as the executive director of the Coursera programs, which were rolled out this past fall. Currently, there are three pathway courses that any learner can enroll in, start immediately and begin making progress on, she said. The programs are built for the non-traditional student in mind. Courses are offered online in an asynchronous format. Both programs are perfect for those thinking about transitioning careers or building upon informal training using pathway courses into the degree, which require no prior knowledge or degree in the interested field," Coleman said. Of the currently enrolled students who shared their demographic information, 50% identified as first-generation college students between the ages of 25 and 34, a Ball State University spokeswoman said. Currently, there are students from eight countries including the United States, Canada, Japan and Argentina. Those who sign up for the programs can begin working on pathway courses instantly. As long as students have a B-average at the end of the three pathway courses, they are automatically enrolled into that subjects masters program, Coleman said. No transcripts, no GRE and no application letters are required, she said. Within minutes you can be enrolled in graduate coursework and be on your way to a masters degree in a high-demand field from a university known for high-quality online programs. Tuition is set at a flat, in-state rate for all students totaling less than $17,000 to obtain the master's degree, plus a $100 per semester tech fee. On average, a masters degree program in the United States costs $65,134, according to 2023 research by educationdata.org. Students can finish their Ball State Coursera program at their own pace within approximately 24 months; the same pace it takes to complete a traditional masters degree. Enrollment is open Feb. 1 through May 5, so students can start classes on May 13, or anyone can start in open content on Coursera today to get a headstart on a degree, Coleman said. Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford computer science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world with 136 million registered learners as of Sept. 20, 2023, according to their webpage. Coursera Academic Strategist Dr. Quentin McAndrew works directly with innovative universities and directors like Coleman to ensure that a high-quality, accessible and transferable education is available to those who want to pursue a new career path. The main reason people dont go back to school is because of the price and the applications themselves, McAndrew said. What Ball State has done is remove these barriers for learners, and, in hot, in-demand fields. Its brilliant. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce, one of the fastest-growing and high-wage jobs in Indiana is that of a software developer. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that computer and IT jobs will grow much faster than other populations in the next 10 years. We are empowering learners to take that admissions decision and put it in their own hands, McAndrew said. And not only that, you dont even have to be an Indiana resident to take advantage of it. Coursera partners with over 300 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, specializations, professional certificates, guided projects, as well as bachelors and masters degrees, its webpage states. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Currently, Ball State University Coursera masters programs have interest from students in over 15 countries including Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria, Singapore and Mexico, McAndrew said. Each course is fully accredited and offers rigorous coursework taught by Ball State University professors and course facilitators, who are there to assist students with a variety of issues from technical and website support, to physical assignment and project questions, Coleman said. Per usual, each program comes with a syllabus that guides students through homework assignments, quizzes and projects. There are suggested due dates to help keep people on track, but as long as the student completes everything by the end of the semester (with a 3.0 grade point average), they will receive complete credit. These courses let Ball State meet learners where they are, Ball State Executive Director of Market Development and Division of Online and Strategic Learning Nancy Prater said. There is no in-state, out-of-state barrier. We are really trying to make this as accessible as possible." Prater supports Coleman with the Coursera partnership and has also worked with her to develop built-in certificates from top tech companies such as Google, Meta and IBM that learners can complete during their masters degree curriculum. Students who decide to pursue one of these certificates can earn degree credits upon completion, Prater said. Course listing can be found online at Coursera.org and course descriptions can be found in the Ball State University graduate online catalog. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Ball State and Coursera provide affordable masters degree program Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing, a local family-owned business has launched a charity program, Barron KARES, donating to various local nonprofits throughout the year. Through the KARES program which stands for kindness, appreciation, response, empathy and service Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing will donate $110 on select purchases to a different charity or nonprofit each month. The companys goal is to donate at least $10,000 each month to the chosen charities. With Barron KARES, we see our commitment as more than a monetary donation. It represents a dedication to making a tangible, positive impact on the causes and individuals we support. By featuring a different charity or non-profit each month, we hope to help illuminate organizations that align with our values and resonate with our team and communities, CEO Brad Barron wrote in a news release. Donations of $110 will be made when any customer purchases select tankless water heaters, heat pumps, solar installations, generators and other eligible purchases, according to the news release. Setting each donation at $110 carries a significance rooted in the wisdom of our owner John Barrons mentor, who advised, Go above and beyond your call of duty push past 100%, give 110% every time. This philosophy of exceeding expectations has become a guiding principle for us, Barron wrote. Februarys donations are being awarded to Skookum Kids, a local foster care nonprofit that licenses foster parents, places children in homes and runs emergency shelters for children. Barron Heating is also welcoming suggestions for other local nonprofits or charities to feature each month. Suggestions can be emailed to BarronKARES@barronheating.com.